New Syrian regime’s school curriculum changes spark backlash
Syria’s new regime has announced sweeping changes to the national school curriculum, triggering concerns about “Islamisation”.
Critics fear the changes, including an increased focus on Islam and the removal of content related to the ousted Bashar al-Assad regime, will be divisive and erode the country’s diverse historical and cultural identity.
The changes, first posted on the Ministry of Education’s Facebook page, include replacing the phrase “defending the nation” with “defending Allah” and removing references to pre-Islamic gods.
The curriculum overhaul also removes the big bang theory and evolution from science books, and edits history and philosophy subjects to exclude topics like Chinese philosophical thought and Ottoman rule, which is now being described as “brutal” in the context of Syria’s past.
Another controversial shift is the elimination of the subject of national education, which promoted the Baath Party’s ideology under Mr Assad.
It will be replaced by Islamic or Christian religious education.
The changes, which affect children aged six to 18, are aimed at replacing content seen as glorifying the Assad regime, but the introduction of more religious teaching has led to strong reactions, particularly on social media.
“The current government is a caretaker government that does not have the right to make these amendments,” one user posted on the Ministry of Education’s Facebook page, CNN reported.
Nazir al-Qadri, the new education minister, downplayed the significance of the changes in a statement to the Syrian news agency Sana, claiming the curriculum will stay largely unchanged until expert committees are set up to review the educational material.
He said the revisions are aimed at correcting what he described as “inaccuracies” in the Islamic education curriculum which previously misinterpreted Quranic verses.
In spite of the minister’s assurance, activists, many of whom have returned to Syria after years in exile, are concerned about the lack of consultation with the broader society before implementing such changes. The transitional government’s claim that they are striving for inclusivity appears undermined by these unilateral decisions.
“After reviewing the amendments, it’s clear that aside from removing signs of the criminal Assad regime, the rest of the changes have a distinct religious tone,” Syrian journalist Hussam Hammoud said.
The new Syrian regime, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a rebranded Al Qaeda and Isis affiliate, has sought to distance itself from its extremist roots, promising a future of tolerance and coexistence for all religious and ethnic groups.
The curriculum changes have revived fears that HTS is pushing an “Islamist agenda” and sidelining the country’s pluralistic, secular history.
The modifications have sparked calls for protests before the start of the new school term on Sunday, with activists and citizens planning demonstrations against any further changes to the education system or other state institutions without comprehensive public participation.
Mysterious giant metallic ring falls in Kenya
A large metallic ring suspected to be debris from space crashed in southern Kenya’s Mukuku village on Monday, the country’s space agency said.
Villagers discovered the “red and hot” ring suspected to be rocket parts at about 3pm local time on 30 December, the Kenyan Space Agency said, adding that it “secured the area and retrieved the debris“.
“The agency wishes to clarify that the object, a metallic ring measuring 2.5 metres in diameter and weighing about 500kg, is a fragment of a space object,” the agency said in a statement.
“Preliminary assessments indicate that the fallen object is a separation ring from a launch vehicle.”
Rocket debris is designed to burn up during re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere or to fall over unoccupied areas such as the oceans.
“There are many pieces of debris in space and one cannot be 100 per cent certain which will fall where,” the agency said. “However, most debris burns up in the atmosphere, and incidents like this are extremely rare.”
“KSA officials rushed to the scene and, working alongside a multi-agency team and local authorities, secured the area and retrieved the debris.
Space junk is a growing problem, and while this may be an isolated case, the threat is real. Some pieces of space junk are as large as cars or even buses, and if they were to fall, they could pose significant risks to property and human life.
Everyone needs to be aware of this and report anything suspicious to the authorities.”
Space observer Jonathan McDowell, who tracks rocket movements, said the Kenyan agency could be “mistaken” about the source of the debris.
He emphasised that it could not have come from a space shuttle’s rocket booster. “Totally impossible. The SRBs never reached orbit and have not been ‘in the sky’ since 2011,” the researcher from the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics said on social media.
“I’m not convinced it’s not from an airplane. Don’t see obvious evidence of reentry heating,” the astrophysicist told Inside Outer Space.
Nerve-stimulation therapy can get people out of severe depression
Nerve-stimulation therapy can greatly improve symptoms of severe, treatment-resistant depression, a new clinical trial shows.
The results of the trial, published last month in a pair of studies in the journal Brain Stimulation, show that stimulating the vagus nerve can alleviate depressive symptoms, improve life quality, and enhance the patient’s ability to complete everyday tasks after only a year.
The trial involved nearly 500 people at 84 sites across the US who all suffered from severe depression that could not be treated effectively with medication or other approaches.
Around 75 per cent of the patients were so ill they were unable to work, researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis said.
The participants were all implanted with a device to stimulate their left vagus nerve, a major conduit between the brain and the internal organs, but only half the devices were turned on.
This type of vagus nerve stimulation device was approved for treatment-resistant depression nearly two decades ago by the US Food and Drug Administration, but did not become widely available.
It is a pacemaker-like device implanted under the skin in the chest with a wire connected to the left vagus nerve in the neck.
The device stimulates the nerve, which in turn sends electrical pulses to areas of the brain associated with mood regulation.
In the 12-month randomised control study, the device was implanted in 493 people but activated for only 249. Researchers tracked the responses of the participants and found that the device provided “life-changing” benefits to many of them.
“Despite that super-high level of sustained illness, we still see statistically significant, measurable improvements in depressive symptoms, quality of life and functional outcomes,” study co-author Charles Conway said.
Several participants went from being unable to get out of bed to being productive and interacting with loved ones, researchers said.
The trial, part of which is still underway, was intended to evaluate the effectiveness of nerve-stimulation therapy for severe depression, both alone and as part of bipolar disorder.
The cost of the device and the surgery to implant it, though, could make the therapy unaffordable as most private insurance plans do not cover it.
The researchers said they were hopeful the new findings could convince the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to cover the device and the implantation surgery and make the therapy available to many more people.
“You have a population of people that has been failed by a ridiculously high number of treatments, including aggressive treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy. And they’re not just saying, ‘Yeah, I feel a little better.’ They’re saying they are seeing meaningful improvements in their ability to function and live their lives,” Dr Conway noted. “And the nice thing about vagus nerve stimulation, we know from other studies, is that when the patient responds, the effects usually stick.”
China hits 28 US defence firms with export ban over Taiwan arms sales
China banned the export of dual-use products to over two dozen US defence contractors, targeting top players like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, as it objected to Washington’s latest arms sales to Taiwan.
Beijing imposed the ban on 28 US defence contractors, placing 10 of them on an unreliable entities list over weapons sales to Taiwan, the commerce ministry said on Thursday.
The decision, “based on China’s export control law and regulation on export control of dual-use items”, was taken to “safeguard national security and interests and fulfil international obligations including non-proliferation,” the ministry said.
The targeted firms also included General Dynamics and Boeing.
The 10 “unreliable entities” were engaged in the American weapons sales to Taiwan “despite strong opposition” from Beijing.
“The so-called military technology cooperation seriously undermines China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, violates the One China principle and the provisions of the three joint communiques between China and the US, and significantly threatens peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” a ministry spokesperson said.
China considers Taiwan a part of its territory and does not rule out the use of force to “reunite” the island.
The export ban mimics last month’s sanctions on defence and aerospace entities involved in a previous sale of weapons to Taiwan. The sanctions targeted Insitu, Hudson Technologies, Saronic Technologies, Raytheon Canada, Raytheon Australia, Aerkomm, and Oceaneering International Inc.
The firms under the latest ban will be barred from import and export activities in China and from making new investments. Their officials cannot enter the country and their work permits or residency will be revoked.
It was not immediately clear how many individuals would be impacted by the decision.
Taiwan last month received a batch of 38 advanced Abrams battle tanks from the US in a significant boost to the island’s land defence capabilities. Another 42 tanks, considered the heaviest in the world, are due to be delivered this year, and 28 the year after.
The island has been upgrading its defence capabilities – acquiring F-16 fighter jets, missiles, submarines and artillery systems from the US – in the face of increasing military drills by China.
Waste from world’s deadliest industrial disaster moved after 40 years
A convoy of trucks took away 337 metric tonnes of hazardous waste from the site of the Bhopal gas tragedy, 40 years after what is regarded as the world’s worst industrial disaster.
The trucks left the abandoned Union Carbide plant in the capital of India’s Madhya Pradesh state on Wednesday night despite protests by workers at the disposal plant the waste was destined for.
A gas leak from the pesticide plant on the night of 2 December 1984 wound up killing over 20,000 people – activists working in the affected community put the toll much higher – and poisoning half a million.
The toxic waste was transported under heavy security for disposal at a plant in Pithampur, 143 miles away, Bhopal gas tragedy relief and rehabilitation department director Swatantra Kumar Singh said.
“The 12 container trucks carrying the waste set off on a non-stop journey around 9pm,” he said. “A green corridor was created for the nearly seven-hour journey of the vehicles to the Pithampur industrial area in Dhar district.”
Nearly 100 workers toiled over four days to load the trucks. The workers “underwent health check-ups and were given rest every 30 minutes”, Mr Singh said.
“The 337 metric tonnes of waste will undergo scientific disposal within three to nine months,” he added.
Five district administrations were put on alert and some 700 security personnel were deployed to move the convoy, The Times of India reported.
The long-pending disposal of the toxic waste began after the state High Court last month set a four-week deadline to clear it away.
“Are you waiting for another tragedy?” the court asked while rebuking authorities for not cleaning up the Union Carbide plant site.
A trial run to dispose of the waste had seen 10 metric tonnes transported away in 2015.
The impending arrival of the toxic waste in Pithampur, a small town near Dhar city, had sparked concerns and protests from the local population.
Many workers at the Pithampur industrial area and their relatives feared for their health and safety, and some had even requested leave. They also held a protest march on Sunday.
Rachna Dhingra, a campaigner for survivors of the gas tragedy, said the solid waste would be buried in a landfill after incineration, likely contaminating local water sources. “Why is the polluter, Union Carbide and Dow Chemical, not being compelled to clean up its toxic waste in Bhopal?” she asked.
The Union Carbide factory was built in 1969 and for years seen as a symbol of India’s industrialisation, generating thousands of jobs for the poor and, at the same time, manufacturing cheap pesticides for millions of farmers.
A settlement with the Indian government, signed in 1989 and overseen by the Supreme Court, saw Union Carbide pay out a total of £367m in compensation.
Dow Chemical, the American multinational which now owns Union Carbide, has been under pressure from campaigners to pay additional compensation to the survivors of the gas leak disaster.
Jeju Air and Muan airport raided over fatal South Korea plane crash
South Korean police raided Jeju Air and the operator of the Muan airport as they ramped up their investigation into Sunday’s catastrophic plane crash that claimed 179 lives, marking the worst aviation disaster in the country’s recent history.
A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashlanded after failing to deploy its landing gear, skidded off the runway at the Muan airport and rammed into a concrete embankment.
The plane burst into flames, killing all but two of its 181 passengers and crew. The survivors, crew members seated at the rear, suffered injuries but were rescued.
Investigators searched the offices of the airport operator and the transport ministry’s aviation authority in the southwestern county of Muan as the well as office of Jeju Air in Seoul, the South Jeolla provincial police said in a statement.
They planned to seize documents and materials related to the operation and maintenance of the aircraft as well as the operation of airport facilities, a police official told Reuters.
Jeju Air was cooperating with police, a director at the airline, Song Kyeong Hoon, said. The airport operator was yet to issue a comment.
Authorities also banned the chief executive of Jeju Air from leaving South Korea. “The investigation team imposed a travel ban on two individuals, including Jeju Air CEO Kim E Bae,” police said.
In the wake of the crash, aviation safety experts expressed concerns about the embankment the plane rammed into, questioning the design of the structure designed to support navigation equipment.
“This rigid structure proved catastrophic when the skidding aircraft made impact,” Najmedin Meshkati, engineering professor at the University of Southern California, said.
Such installations should use lighter materials such as metal towers to minimise damage during collisions, he said.
Investigators were also examining whether the embankment should have been constructed from lighter materials to reduce its potential danger.
The incident was also under investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, and Boeing, in collaboration with South Korean authorities.
Preliminary analysis indicated the aircraft encountered multiple issues, including a bird strike and an engine problem, before the crash.
A video of the crash showed the aircraft belly-landing at speed and bursting into flames after hitting the concrete wall. The pilot had declared an emergency after warning of a bird strike but reportedly attempted a second landing without success.
Black boxes found in the wreckage were being analysed. The conversion of data from the cockpit voice recorder to audio files, which could provide critical information about the final minutes of the flight, was completed on Thursday, deputy transport minister for civil aviation Joo Jong Wan said.
Transport ministry officials said the audio files might not be publicly released due to the sensitivity of the investigation.
Acting president Choi Sang Mok, meanwhile, ordered immediate inspections of all Boeing 737-800 aircraft in South Korea. “Given the public concern, thorough reviews of operation, maintenance, and training procedures must be prioritised,” Mr Choi said during a disaster management meeting.
The tragedy sparked a week of national mourning. Save for two Thai citizens, the victims of the crash were all South Koreans, many of them returning home from holidays in Bangkok.
Bereaved relatives held a memorial service at the site of the crash on New Year’s Day, laying white flowers and offering traditional rice cake soup in tribute to their loved ones.
Common blood pressure drug could cure rare brain tumour
Chinese scientists have found a common hypertension drug could prove potent in treating a rare but highly invasive brain tumour.
Although craniopharyngioma is a benign tumour, it can cause complications due to its growth along the critical nerve structures of the brain close to the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland.
Given its location, the tumour can cause hormone dysfunction and metabolic disorders, like obesity, diabetes and hypothyroidism.
The main treatment option currently is surgery, which carries high risks, including the recurrence of the tumour.
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Scientists found that a common blood pressure medicine, amlodipine besylate, has potent effects on the tumour.
In their study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the scientists developed two mouse models to replicate craniopharyngioma.
The models mimicked the pathological progression of the tumour, allowing the scientists to study the connections between the nerve cells of the hypothalamus and the craniopharyngioma cells. They found that activating some neurons accelerated tumour growth while reducing nerve cell activity inhibited it.
The researchers screened some 3,000 compounds for potential antitumor effects and identified 74 that showed promise. They found amlodipine besylate, a calcium channel blocker commonly prescribed for hypertension, especially potent in suppressing tumour growth.
The drug’s established safety profile and widespread use could make it a key candidate for tackling the tumour, the scientists say.
They suspect the drug acts by blocking calcium signals that are key for communication between nerve cells of the hypothalamus and the tumour cells.
“Through close cooperation with neurosurgeons, neurologists, endocrinologists and oncologists, we will promote the clinical transformation of this drug to meet patient needs,” study lead Wu Qingfeng told the South China Morning Post.
The researchers say further verification of the drug’s effects on the human brain is needed, including an assessment of its potential side effects like headaches and palpitations.
“The therapeutic effects were associated with dampened calcium transients implicated in neuron-tumor cell interactions and with neuroendocrine neuronal activity,” the study notes.
“These findings deepen our understanding of suprasellar tumour biology and offer promising avenues for clinical exploration of effective chemotherapies.”
Influencer dies after accepting £700 whiskey-drinking challenge
A 21-year-old Thai social media influencer died after being hired to chug whiskey at a party for £700.
Thanakarn Kanthee, popularly known as Bank Leicester, was a garland seller who gained popularity after the rap songs that he improvised to entice buyers made their way online.
He had previously been seen in videos accepting similar challenges, consuming alcohol, as well as hand sanitiser and wasabi, in exchange for money.
Kanthee was hired for a birthday party on 25 December in the Tha Mai district of Chanthaburi, according to Bangkok Post. He arrived at 11pm.
He was dared to drink Regency whiskey and offered 10,000 baht (£233) for every 350ml bottle he gulped.
Kanthee was reportedly paid 30,000 baht (£700) for the challenge after apparently drinking three bottles.
Social media videos showed him gulping down at least two bottles within 20 minutes. Thai media reports said he appeared sick after completing the challenge, vomited and lost consciousness.
Kanthee was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3.40am.
The autopsy revealed acute heart failure as the cause of death, The Nation noted.
On Saturday, police arrested two influencers from Chanthaburi and Pathum Thani provinces in connection with Kanthee’s death. One of them, Ekachart “Em” Meephrom, admitted to daring Kanthee to take up the challenge but denied knowing him personally or hiring him.
Mr Meephrom was charged with negligence resulting in death. He was denied bail after the local court he was presented in ruled that Mr Meephrom had exhibited reckless behaviour, The Nation reported.
According to Thai law, Negligence causing death could result in a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine of up to 20,000 baht (£465).
The second suspect was identified as Theerawat Srirot from Pathum.
Videos of the partygoers cheering Kanthee on as he drank went viral on social media after his death, drawing wide condemnation.
Social media users dug up Kanthee’s old posts in which the influencer said he performed such risky challenges to support his family.
“I am willing to be bullied and insulted to just get scraps of money from the rich people in order to provide for my family,” one of his posts read.
Kanthee lived with his 80-year-old grandmother, who had raised him.
“Currently, I live in this house with my son and Thanakarn, just the three of us. Thanakarn took care of everything for me. Now that he’s gone, I have no idea how I will continue to manage,” she told The Nation.
Kanthee had gone away promising to return with 60,000 baht (£1,396) they needed to settle overdue payments, the grandmother added.