Qatar slams US lawmaker over allegations of funding anti-Israel protests: What to know Rep. Randy Fine criticized Qatar for allegedly backing Gaza war-related protests at American universities after the Pentagon said Qatari pilots would start training in the US, leading to a denial and rebuke from Doha. Qatar
Feature How Trump's USAID cuts threw Lebanon's education system into tailspin Students benefitting from USAID programs in Lebanon have been left in limbo after President Donald Trump ordered a freeze of international aid. By Mayah Hamadeh
Indian teachers gravitate to Iraq's Kurdistan as New Delhi's soft power grows While the US’ presence in the Kurdistan Region — and the Middle East more broadly — is defined by its security role, India’s approach is defined by its soft power. By Winthrop Rodgers In Sulaymaniyah, reporting on Kurdish issues
Over 20 US universities join in Gaza protests: What we know A pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University has sparked similar protests throughout the United States, as well as France, eliciting both praise and condemnation as authorities in some areas attempt to disperse the crowds. Palestine
Analysis How much damage will Israel’s Smotrich funding cut do to east Jerusalem, Arab towns? By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Breaking Last Updated: July 2, 2023, 3:04 am US return to UNESCO leaves Israel in awkward spot Israel
Will northern Sinai’s new cultural centers promote moderate Islam? Egypt’s Ministry of Religious Endowments has opened an Islamic cultural center in each governorate to teach moderate Islam and fight radicalism; the volatile northern Sinai Peninsula, where the army fights religious fundamentalists, has three. Egypt
School bells ring again at Mosul's Christian school Shimon Safa Elementary School has welcomed students of many faiths for years, and now the Christian school has opened again, thanks to the residents of the city. Iraq
East Jerusalem students clean up city An EU-sponsored project called "My Green Jerusalem" has students from nine East Jerusalem schools cleaning up the city and recycling waste into artwork. Palestine
Gaza University launches drama course, but few enroll Riyad Saidam, an actor and playwright, has just launched a drama school in the Gaza Strip, a dream he has had since the mid-1980s. Palestine
Egypt reaches out to expat kids with free language program Cairo's “Speak Egyptian” initiative aims to teach Egyptian children abroad the Egyptian dialect Arabic along with Egyptian history, values, customs and traditions. Egypt
Netanyahu ignores Iran's scientific, educational advances Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised himself for security achievements, but neglected to address the worrying decline in Israeli research and higher education. Israel
What is behind Tunisia's rising illiteracy? Tunisians' first reaction to rising levels of illiteracy is to blame it on the economy, but experts say the mindset toward education has changed for the worse since the days of independence. Tunisia
India, Iran or Turkey: Iraqi students look abroad for post-grad studies Stiff competition for a very limited number of seats at public universities and high fees at private institutions are pushing Iraqi students to pursue post-graduate studies abroad. Iraq
Syria, Turkey more than just neighbors A civil society platform in Erzurum in eastern Turkey has funded the renovation of a damaged school building in the Syrian city of al-Bab. Syria
Students at Qom seminary are leaving for Najaf Due to political intervention and lack of freedom in the religious seminary, hundreds of Shiite clerics are migrating from Qom seminary to Najaf seminary for its traditional activities. Iran
Diyanet flexes its muscles to back Erdogan’s soft power in Syria In Syria, Diyanet assumed a role beyond religious diplomacy in coordinating various aid, vocational and religious education agencies, all to win the hearts and minds of the locals. Syria
Saudi association to provide aid, training to Syrian town The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center partners with Istanbul-based Ihsan to open a youth support center in al-Atarib, west of Aleppo Saudi Arabia
