Overview
- The UAE Education Ministry introduced a digital absence-weighting system for grades 4–12 that counts ordinary absences as 1, applies a “double” value of 2 on Fridays, days around official holidays, and specified pre-exam windows, and classifies students as failing after more than 15 unexcused days with a set escalation of warnings.
- The new guide requires schools to record attendance electronically per lesson or day, notify parents immediately about absences or tardiness, keep official records of excuses, and activate remote learning and individualized support for prolonged or exceptional absences.
- Schools in Ras Al Khaimah instructed families via WhatsApp and Telegram to ensure students bring fully charged smart devices to engage with daily lessons and digital platforms.
- Lebanon’s information minister said the army completed “phase one” with operational control south of the Litani and pledged to continue phased implementation to extend state authority, noting Israeli shelling and occupied points limit wider deployment and that needs will be reassessed with another report in early February.
- Iran’s Intelligence Ministry issued a statement urging citizens to report alleged U.S.- and Israel-linked “mercenaries” as protests expanded, while AFCON in Morocco is pairing a Morocco–Cameroon quarterfinal with short-term earnings for vendors using free city kiosks to sell to fans.