Rana Sanaullah says PML-N set to secure two-thirds…

Thousands of students across the Gaza Strip achieved success in this year’s Tawjihi high school examinations despite months of conflict, displacement and severe disruptions to daily life, demonstrating remarkable determination to continue their education under extraordinary circumstances. The annual Tawjihi examinations, which play a decisive role in determining admission to universities and future careers, were completed by thousands of Palestinian students who prepared for the tests while living through prolonged instability, damaged infrastructure and limited access to educational resources. Among the success stories were three siblings from Khan Younis who earned outstanding grades after months of dedicated study. Despite facing repeated challenges during the academic year, the family celebrated their achievements, describing education as a source of hope and resilience. The students said the difficult conditions often made it emotionally exhausting to continue studying. However, they remained focused on their academic goals and credited their family for providing encouragement throughout the year. They said their success represented not only personal achievement but also a reward for months of perseverance. The family’s journey was particularly challenging because two of the siblings have physical disabilities, making regular attendance at private tuition difficult. Their parents arranged for teachers to conduct lessons at home, ensuring they could continue their studies despite mobility challenges and the difficult security situation. Their mother said years of continuous support, confidence and determination helped her children overcome obstacles. She expressed pride in their achievements, saying their success proved that dedication and family support can help students overcome even the most difficult circumstances. Education officials said nearly 89,000 students from the occupied Palestinian territories took the Tawjihi examinations this year, while thousands of Palestinian students living abroad also participated. Authorities added that more than 36,000 students from Gaza alone sat for the examinations despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Officials also noted the heavy impact of the conflict on the education sector. Hundreds of schools have reportedly been damaged, while many educational institutions remain unusable because of destruction. In many areas, students attended lessons inside temporary shelters, tents or partially damaged buildings where classrooms lacked desks, chairs and basic learning facilities. Teachers continued providing instruction despite the challenging conditions. Many educators said they had to support students emotionally as well as academically because many had lost family members or been forced to leave their homes during the conflict. One mathematics teacher said students often arrived carrying emotional trauma, making psychological support just as important as classroom instruction. She explained that teachers tried to encourage students, helping them remain focused on their studies despite the hardships surrounding them. Several students also shared deeply personal stories of loss. One student who lost multiple close family members during the conflict said completing her examinations became both an emotional struggle and a tribute to her loved ones. Although she celebrated passing the exams, she said the moment was bittersweet because many family members were no longer alive to witness her achievement.

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s central bank governor Perry Warjiyo has unexpectedly stepped down, raising concerns among investors about the future independence of monetary policy and the stability of financial markets. President Prabowo Subianto accepted Warjiyo’s resignation on Monday. The government said the governor resigned for personal reasons. Destry Damayanti, a senior deputy governor at Bank Indonesia (BI), has been appointed interim governor. She has pledged to maintain continuity and ensure that the central bank continues carrying out its responsibilities. The surprise resignation came at a sensitive time for Indonesia’s economy. Bank Indonesia has faced growing pressure to support the government’s ambitious economic growth plans. The Indonesian rupiah has also faced significant pressure. It fell to a record low in June amid concerns over fiscal management and the independence of the central bank. Following news of Warjiyo’s departure, the rupiah weakened further. It fell as much as 0.36% to around 18,000 against the US dollar. Indonesia’s main stock index also moved between gains and losses during volatile trading. Analysts warned that the sudden leadership change could unsettle investors. Some economists said concerns could increase if the next permanent governor is seen as closely aligned with the government. They stressed that Bank Indonesia’s independence is important for maintaining investor confidence and stable monetary policy. Warjiyo submitted his resignation to the president on Saturday. Officials did not provide further details about his personal reasons. Warjiyo has spent decades at Bank Indonesia. He joined the institution in 1984 and was appointed governor for the first time in 2018. He was reappointed in 2023 for another five-year term. The appointment of his permanent successor will require both presidential and parliamentary approval. The president will nominate a candidate, who will then face a parliamentary suitability review before a final decision is made. The government has not yet submitted a permanent nomination. Officials have urged investors and other market participants to remain calm during the transition. They said the selection process would be conducted transparently and would not interfere with monetary policy or financial stability. Destry said the central bank would continue working to maintain rupiah stability and protect the country’s financial system. The leadership change comes after Indonesia introduced legislative changes affecting the central bank and other independent financial regulators. The new framework gives lawmakers greater authority to issue binding recommendations to these institutions. The changes have already raised questions about the level of Bank Indonesia’s independence. Credit rating agencies have also been monitoring developments surrounding the central bank’s mandate. Moody’s and Fitch previously highlighted concerns about changes to the institution’s role when they revised Indonesia’s credit outlook to negative. S&P Global Ratings, however, maintained a stable outlook this month. It said Bank Indonesia had maintained operational independence broadly comparable with other central banks in the region. Bank Indonesia has recently taken measures to support the rupiah and attract foreign investment. It unexpectedly kept interest rates unchanged last week while introducing new incentives aimed at encouraging capital inflows. The central bank had previously raised interest rates by a total of 100 basis points since May to support the currency. The latest resignation adds another layer of uncertainty for investors as the government seeks faster economic growth. Markets will now closely watch the selection of Warjiyo’s permanent successor. Investors are expected to assess whether the new leadership can maintain monetary stability while responding to the government’s economic priorities.

At least 44 people have died after an severely overcrowded passenger ferry capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, according to updated statements from national police authorities. The vessel, which had a maximum rated capacity of 90 individuals, was carrying at least 114 adult passengers, five crew members, and an unrecorded number of children under ticketing age when it encountered severe waves. A surviving crew member reported that up to 153 passengers may have been aboard when the boat began taking on water roughly 30 minutes after departing the port town of Kariba. Zimbabwe’s Civil Protection Unit deployed a specialized aquatic rescue team and helicopters to locate dozens of individuals who remain unaccounted for. While initial emergency reports placed the confirmed death toll at 15, police retrieved additional bodies from the water throughout Wednesday afternoon, raising the official fatality count significantly. Lake Kariba, the world’s largest man-made lake by volume, serves as a crucial transit route for rural communities traveling between mainland settlements, fishing camps, and islands. Local officials and disaster management agencies have recommended that the incident be formally declared a national disaster as search and recovery operations continue.