Category: Technology

Dozens of schoolgirls suffocated this morning when Israeli soldiers fired teargas at them as they were heading to their school in al-Lubban al-Sharqiya village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, according to local sources.

They said that the soldiers attacked the girl students near the school located on the main Ramallah-Nablus road, firing teargas in their direction and causing a large number of suffocation cases estimated at over 70.

A soldier hit one of the students with his gun causing her pain and bruises in the arm. She was taken to hospital.

Classes were disrupted as a result.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency

Syria and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the domain of higher education and scientific research.

The memo was signed on Wednesday in Tehran by Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Bassam Ibrahim and Iranian Minister of Health and Medical Education Dr. Bahram Einollahi in the presence of the accompanying delegation to Ibrahim and Syria’s Ambassador to Iran Dr. Shafiq Dayoub.

The memo includes the provision of scholarships at the master’s and doctoral levels in various medical specialties, the exchange of researchers and faculty members, visits for qualification and training, participation in scientific activities and medical conferences in both countries, and the benefit of research published in scientific journals.

Minister Ibrahim underlined the importance of the memorandum and its positive effects on the field of higher education, scientific research in medical specializations, and scholarships offered to graduates of Syrian universities.

Ibrahim noted that the cooperation between the two sides in the field of health, medical education and the qualification of human cadres has contributed to supporting the medical and educational sector, especially during the terrorist war that Syria faced over ten years, in addition to the unjust sanctions imposed on it and the Coronavirus pandemic.

In a relevant context, Ali Akbar Velayati, Head of the Board of Trustees of Iran’s Islamic Azad University (IAU), stressed during his meeting with Minister Ibrahim and the accompanying delegation the importance of scientific cooperation between Syrian and Iranian universities.

Minister Ibrahim and the accompanying delegation along with Ambassador Dayoub, also met Dr. Sorena Sattari, Iranian Vice-President for Science and Technology.

Talks during the meeting focused on the need to benefit from Iranian expertise and technology in the medical and engineering fields, in addition to reviewing the aspects of cooperation in the field of nanotechnology and the subsequent steps in this regard.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

Damascus, Education Minister ,Darem Tabbaa, discussed with a delegation of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) ,means of boosting cooperation between the ministry and the organization in a way that brings benefit to the educational process on several levels.

Minister Tabbaa stressed the importance of cooperation with UNICEF in order to achieve better education for students and support the educational process ,pointing out to the ministry’s plan in the field of returning the dropouts and reintegrating them through ‘Curriculum B’ programme that helps students catch up on their learning and pass two years studies in one ,in addition to teaching them a career that enables them to go ahead with their private project via the vocational schools.

He also talked about a plan for rehabilitating the schools in all provinces and supporting teachers in the remote schools.

Tabba pointed out to the plan of the ministry in the field of social emotional learning and its role in building the youth personality and promoting their skills ,stressing the continous work according to the health protocol and measures to protect health and prevent the spread coronavirus.

In turn, Deputy Representative of the UNECIF in Syria Dr.Ghada Kejah Je, highlighted the continuous cooperation with the Education Ministry in many fields ,especially in the domain of supporting interactive activities, life skills in addition to the social emotional learning, referring to its importance in enhancing the vocational learning to develop the student skills and provide them with expertise that qualifies them to enter the job market.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

RAMALLAH, Israeli forces today detained at least 17 Palestinians, including a university lecturer, from various parts of the occupied territories, according to various sources.

In the southern West Bank, the sources confirmed a raid in Hebron city, resulting in the detention of a Hebron University lecturer identified as Huthayfa Jabari, 31.

In the central West Bank, mayor of Ni’lin town, Imad Khawaja, said that a large Israeli military force conducted a large-scale detention campaign in the town, west of Ramallah, at around 4:00 AM, resulting in the detention of five Palestinian residents, including two former prisoners.

While in the town, the soldiers surrounded several houses. When the families took some time to open them, the soldiers hit the doors, smashing them, went inside, interrogated the inhabitants and conducted a thorough search and ransacking them.

The soldiers held scores of youths from the town, interrogated them and threatened to detain them should they continue to resist Israeli colonial settlement construction encroaching on the town’s lands.

The youths have been participating in the nighttime protests, dubbed Night Confusion, which last until dawn, during which they use various means, such as igniting rubber tires, to disturb the settlers and confuse the Israeli army. During ensuing confrontations, dozens suffered from suffocation due to tear gas inhalation.

Tensions have been running high in the town in the recent months following the leveling of some 300 dunums of the village lands at the site of al-Alem Mount (Jabal al-Alem) for the construction of a new colonial settlement outpost.

Also in the Ramallah district, Israeli forces rounded up four others, including a father and his two sons, from Jalazone refugee camp, north of Ramallah city.

In Nablus district, Israeli military vehicles stormed Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus city, where soldiers searched several houses and detained two residents.

In East Jerusalem, Israeli police detained another after forcibly entering his family house and interrogating them in Ras al-Amoud neighborhood. They also detained a resident of al-Tur neighborhood, while in West Jerusalem, and another person from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Isawiyya.

In the southern West Bank, Israeli forces raided Doha town, west of Bethlehem, resulting in the detention of one person. They also conducted a similar raid in Dheisheh refugee camp, south of Bethlehem city, resulting in the arrest of a former prisoner.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency

Damascus, About 276 projects and innovations in the fields of technology, medicine, electricity, chemistry and other fields that serve economic, industrial and agricultural development were hosted by al-Basel Exhibition for Creativity and Invention, which concludes its 20th session on Thursday.

Member of the Executive Office of the National Union for Syrian Students, Eng. Omar al-Jibae indicated that about 120 students from various Syrian public and private universities are participating in the exhibition.

He added that the exhibition is an opportunity to show the creativity of the Syrian youth despite the terrorist war waged against Syria.

The pavilion of the Ministry of Education has included about 40 projects in fields of electrical, medical, mechanical and information domains.

Revolutionary Youth Union, participated with 50 projects and inventions by students of the basic and secondary education stages , a member of the organization’s leadership and head of the Central Informatics and Technology Office, Muhammad al-Qasim, said.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

A number of Palestinian students and teachers suffocated today by tear gas during clashes that broke out in the vicinity of a school in the village of Burin, south of Nablus, according to a local activist.

Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors Israeli settlement activities in the north of the West Bank, said a number of students and teachers suffocated after inhaling tear gas used against them by Israeli forces during clashes in the village of Burin.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency

Hundreds of protesters, including international solidarity and Israeli peace activists, demonstrated today in the South Hebron Hills in the farthest south of the occupied West Bank in protest of Israeli settler violence and the Israeli denial of access to water to Palestinian shepherding communities in the area.

Rateb Jabour, a local anti-colonization activist, said the protesters chanted slogans against the Israeli colonial settlement expansion at the expense of the native Palestinian population, as well as slogans that condemned the ongoing Israeli settler attacks against Palestinian civilians.

The protesters marched towards a tent which was recently erected by Israeli settlers in the area, but were quelled by the Israeli occupation soldiers who fired teargas and stun grenades to disperse the protesters.

On Tuesday afternoon, dozens of masked Israelis, marking the last day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, threw stones at Palestinians in the South Hebron Hills. The rocks smashed cars and injured at least 12 Palestinians including Mohammad Bakr Hussein, aged three.

In videos from the scene, Israeli settlers can be seen breaking Palestinian car windows and hurling stones at Palestinian homes.

The confrontations took place near the small Palestinian shepherding village of al-Mufaqara, a cluster of homes located close to two illegal Israeli outposts, Avigayil and Havat Maon.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency

Damascus, Under the patronage of Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Armed forces, President Bashar al-Assad, a celebration was held on Thursday to graduate the 16th round of high command and staff at the Higher Military Academy.

The President was represented to the ceremony by Deputy Commander-of-Chief of Army, Minister of Defense, General Ali Abdullah Ayoub.

General Ayoub conveyed President al-Assad’s congratulations to the graduated officers, wishing them success and excellence in carrying out all the tasks and responsibilities assigned to them.

Defense Minister stressed that the most difficult and hard chapters in this systematic terrorist war have been overcome, and that the certainty is absolute that the Syrian State, with the wisdom of its leader, the sacrifices of its people, the heroism of its army and the support of its partners and friends is today more powerful, present and effective.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency

A Palestinian Journalist was shot and injured and dozens of university students suffocated by tear gas as Israeli forces attacked a rally near Beit El (DCO) Israeli military checkpoint, near the northern entrance of al-Bireh city, according to witnesses.

Israeli forces attacked Birzeit University students who rallied in condemnation of the Israeli army killing of five Palestinians in Jenin and Jerusalem yesterday.

Forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas canisters towards protesters, causing dozens to suffocate.

A journalist was shot and injured in the foot with a rubber-coated steel bullet while covering the protest.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency

A survey that tracks the opinions of Middle East scholars based in the United States has stated that nearly 2/3 of U.S.-based Middle East scholars say Israel is practicing apartheid, while 57% said a two-state solution was impossible.

The survey, which came as result of the a finding by the Middle East Scholar Barometer, a joint initiative from the University of Maryland Critical Issues Poll and the Project on Middle East Political Science at George Washington University, has said that 72% thought the Abraham Accords had a negative impact on the prospect of peace in the region.

Back in February, the group’s first round of findings were released. In that poll 59% of scholars described Israel as “one-state reality akin to apartheid”, and 52% said that a two-state solution was no longer possible.

The poll shows that academics have a very low opinion of the Abrahams Accords. 72% of those poll said they would negatively impact the prospect of Israeli-Palestinian peace and 70% said they’d have a negative impact on expanding human rights in the region.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency

Nesreen Qutainah, a science and maths teacher at Dura Martyrs Elementary School in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, has been included in the top 50 shortlist for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2021 in partnership with UNESCO.

Now in its seventh year, the $1 million Global Teacher Prize is the largest prize of its kind.

Nesreen, shortlisted for the Global Teacher Prize 2021, was selected from over 8,000 nominations and applications from 121 countries around the world.

The Global Teacher Prize was set up to recognize one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society. By unearthing thousands of stories of heroes that have transformed young people’s lives, the prize hopes to bring to life the exceptional work of millions of teachers all over the world.

This year, the Varkey Foundation launched the Chegg.org Global Student Prize, a sister award to the Global Teacher Prize, to create a powerful new platform that shines a light on the efforts of extraordinary students everywhere who are reshaping our world for the better. The winning student will receive $100,000.

Together, the Global Teacher Prize and the Global Student Prize will tell inspirational stories from both sides of education. The prizes will shine a spotlight on the great work teachers do in preparing young people for the future and the amazing promise the brightest students are showing in their learning and far beyond.

Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO, said: “UNESCO is a proud partner of the Global Teacher Prize, which has done so much to highlight teachers’ transformational role in young people’s lives. Inspirational teachers and extraordinary students alike deserve recognition for their commitment to education amid the learning crisis we see today.

“If we are to rebuild a better world in the wake of COVID we must prioritize giving every child their birthright of quality education. It is the next generation, with teachers as their guide, who will safeguard the future for us all.” Nesreen Qutainah, who teaches science and maths in a Palestinian primary school, follows two guiding principles: “enlighten a mind, and you will revive a person”, and “no to stereotypes, yes to creativity”. Learning through play is key to her approach, particularly as many of her students struggle in mathematics and dislike school. For example, she asks children to compose stories based on what they have learned in science or sing songs about math.

She often shares what she has learned about teaching, as well as educational videos, on her YouTube channel, which has 12,000 followers. During COVID, she designed colorful educational booklets to keep children learning, which she personally distributed to her own students and children living in marginalized communities.

Sunny Varkey, founder of the Varkey Foundation, said: “Congratulations to Nesreen for reaching the final 50. Her story clearly highlights the importance of education in tackling the great challenges ahead – from climate change to growing inequality to global pandemics. It is only by prioritizing education that we can safeguard all our tomorrows. Education is the key to facing the future with confidence.” Applications and nominations for this year’s teacher and student prizes opened on Tuesday 2 February and closed on Sunday 16 May.

Teachers who applied for the Global Teacher Prize are being assessed on teaching practices, how they innovate to address local challenges, achieve demonstrable learning outcomes, impact the community beyond the classroom, help children become global citizens, improve the teaching profession and gain recognition from external bodies. The $1m award was won last year by Indian village teacher Ranjitsinh Disale.

Following today’s announcement, the top 10 finalists of both the Global Teacher Prize and the Global Student Prize will be announced in October this year. The winners of both prizes will be chosen from the respective top 10 finalists by the Global Teacher Prize Academy and the Global Student Prize Academy made up of prominent individuals. The winners are due to be announced at an awards ceremony in Paris in November.

If teachers or students were nominated, the person nominating them was asked to write a brief description online explaining why. The teacher or student being nominated was then sent an email letting them know they had been nominated and inviting them to apply for the prize.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency

The Student Union at Birzeit University organized today a sit-in in front of the university in protest of the Israeli occupation forces’ detention of 33 students.

Soldiers yesterday stopped 45 students following their solidarity visit to the Shalabi family in Turmous Ayya village, north of Ramallah, and detained them for several hours before allowing the females students to leave while holding 33 male students.

All 33 students were released today, including two Jerusalemite students carrying the Israeli identity card who were handed summons to appear before the Israeli intelligence for interrogation.

The students called upon human rights institutions, international bodies and relevant authorities to intervene to prevent the occupation from continuing to target students, calling for support for the electronic campaign that demands the release of student detainees, whose number is estimated at 78.

According to the University, the Israeli occupation forces have arrested 81 male and female students since the beginning of the current academic year in September, of whom 78 are still in detention.

Lecturer at Birzeit University Ghassan Al-Khatib said the university is making great efforts through lawyers to secure the release of the students, and it continues to raise the issue through media and human rights institutions in order to put pressure on the Israeli occupation.

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency