Category: Information

The Promising Children’s Charitable Medical Society, on Sunday on the campus of Palestine Ahliya University, gave a group of mothers of orphan children a first aid course in cooperation with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.

The graduation ceremony took place in the presence of the Chairman of the Society’s Board of Directors, Dr. Muhammad Al-Muati, Colonel Bassem Abu Hashhash, representing the Palestinian National Security Command, Colonel Akram Abu Al-Halawa, representing the Palestinian Police Command in Bethlehem, Abdel Halim Jaafra, Medical Director of the Red Crescent, Marwan Fararja, a member of the Red Crescent Authority, and Omar Al-Arouj, an official. Orphans file in the Social Development Directorate in Bethlehem, and Professor Nawal Al-Shamli.

Al-Muati expressed his thanks to the sponsors of this course, which lasted 21 credit hours, with the participation of 35 women, and which aims to raise the health cultural level of mothers, in implementation of the “A Paramedic in Every Home” initiative Al-Muati called for supporting the association’s progress at all popular and official levels to work on developing programs provided to serve orphan children and their mothers.

Source: Maan News Agency

Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth Affairs, met with members of the fifth batch of the national leadership programme HIPO-Youth.

The programme is organized by the Institute of Public Administration (BIPA) in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and INJAZ Bahrain.

The minister stressed the pivotal role played by Bahraini youth in advancing the development process in Bahrain, through their capabilities to initiate youth programmes that would raise the level of national aspirations.

Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa, Director General of BIPA, explained that the meeting of the minister with the programme’s members is a meeting from youth to youth, which reflects what Bahrain possesses today in terms of youth energies and leaders capable of participating in the decision-making process.

She noted that the exchange of experiences and applied practices by an elite group of government leaders is a mechanism that has proven effectiveness in motivating and encouraging Bahraini youth to develop their abilities and skills, and come up with innovative ideas and projects that contribute to achieving national accomplishments that keep pace with government visions.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

The Fourth International Conference on the Future of Digital Education in the Arab World concluded in Jeddah yesterday, with the participation of a group of faculty members in public and private universities and colleges in the Arab world. The last session of the conference was on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and its various applications in the future of Arab education, and the growing symbiotic relationship between cybersecurity and digital citizenship.

During its scientific sessions, the conference was keen to include research on ways to develop the academic preparation of teachers from the digital side, the role of AI and its various applications in the future of education and harnessing it to deliver information of the highest quality. Additionally, the conference covered the importance of collective commitment to security, inclusiveness, and responsibility in the digital world to address the potential risks of AI.

The scientific conference sessions made several recommendations, including the importance of employing emerging technologies and the role of AI in maintaining cybersecurity. The recommendations also covered the importance of developing the skills and tools used in digital education institutions and cognitive perception. Additionally, the recommendations included enacting academic legislation and laws that regulate the digital environment, activating awareness and education initiatives in the fields of cybersecurity, working to develop talents among education students in digital education skills and tools, and protecting intellectual rights in the digital academic community.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) invites the public to submit their input on the Space Data Regulations Platform and Application Document for Obtaining a Permit to provide Space Data Platform Services, which aims to establish the regulatory environment for the space sector and attract investments to contribute to the growth of the GDP, as well as to increase the effectiveness of space data governance.

CST stated that through the publication of these two documents, any entity that undertakes to establish a platform that acts as a marketplace for space data, and to collect and process the space data received from satellite operators, such as satellite images, remote sensing data, orbital data, weather data and astronomy data, can get informed with the view to obtain a license.

The platform also connects satellite operators, technical solution and application developers, researchers and entities wishing to obtain space data-based solutions.

CST underlined that the Application Document for Obtaining a Permit to provide Space Data Platform Services includes guidelines and requirements for entities interested in acquiring a license, as well as obligations of relevant parties to ensure user rights and data security.

CST calls on all concerned parties and stakeholders to provide their comments, observations and suggestions regarding the documents, emphasizing its commitment to transparency and clarity in engaging all relevant entities. The deadline for submitting the input is September 12, 2023; submission can be done through the CST website:

https://regulations.citc.gov.sa/en/Pages/PublishedPublicConsultations.aspx#/PublishedPublicConsultations

Source: Saudi Press Agency

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed solidarity with the Rohingya Muslims and reiterated its commitment to pursue justice and accountability for the atrocities committed by the Myanmar military against them, particularly at the International Court of Justice.

OIC thanked the government and people of Bangladesh for providing shelter and humanitarian relief to the Rohingya people, and expressed appreciation for the support extended by many OIC member states to these refugees.

OIC also reiterated its firm resolve to support the Rohingya Muslims and called on the international community to renew its commitment to create conditions conducive to the “voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees to their homeland in Myanmar”.

The OIC General Secretariat called upon the international community to redouble efforts and provide urgently needed humanitarian assistance for the displaced Rohingya living in refugee camps, in light of the considerable decline in funding that resulted in cuts in food assistance.

August 25, 2023, marked the sixth year since the forced mass displacement of the Rohingya Muslims and of other communities from Myanmar’s Rakhine State and the beginning of the huge influx of these people to Bangladesh

Source: Saudi Press Agency

UDST President reiterated the university’s great attention to scientific research, pointing that during the academic year 2022-2023, UDST conducted over 250 research papers that were published in prestigious international journals.

He revealed that UDST will organize during the academic year 2023-2024 a large number of local and international scientific conferences and workshops, in vital and important sectors, within the framework of the university’s focus on the research environment, in cooperation with the Qatar National Research Fund of the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council. The university has distinguished faculty members who excel in conducting scientific research in all its disciplines, including engineering, food security, informatics and health sciences.

Dr. Al Neami told QNA that the university is also has important local and international partnerships, including more than 50 local partners in the governmental, private and mixed sectors, universities and professional centers, in addition to more than 20 global partners in a number of countries, including, US, Canada and Ireland to name a few.

On the University’s priorities for the new academic year, Dr. Al Neami said that they include expanding the infrastructure to accommodate a bigger number of students, as well as providing services that help students diversify their orientations and interests, in a way that helps them go beyond the local scope.

UDST priorities also include keeping up with and simulating the requirements of the local labor market, offering and providing not only academic programs, but specialized ones that meet the needs of various sectors in the country, and expanding researches on local and international problems.

Dean of the College of Engineering Technology Dr. Awni El Otoom told QNA that all college programs enjoy a remarkable turnout from students, such as marine engineering, mechanical engineering, and smart manufacturing engineering. They are all new programs that use the latest technology, including artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, and the Internet of Things, he noted.

For her part, Dean of the College of Health Sciences Dr. JoAnne MacDonald talked about the college’s programs and their importance to society in Qatar and abroad, including the midwifery program.

She indicated that UDST offers two types of certificates in this specialization, one of which is a post-diploma bachelor’s degree for professionals who practice different health professions and wish to complete their studies in this specialty to obtain a bachelor’s degree, in addition to another program, which is a bachelor’s degree in midwifery for those who enroll in the college after secondary school.

She stated that this program was selected and developed in response to a national need, adding that it graduates midwives who contribute to achieving the National Health Strategy in the State of Qatar.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Qatar University (QU) is due to open the new academic year on Sunday. The opening of the new academic year 2023-2024 comes amid full preparation and mobilization to proceed with the march of academic, research and institutional milestones as QU is on the verge of launching a new strategy which is consistent with the third National Development Strategy 2023-2030.

The university is poised to receive nearly 30,000 male and female students this year among them over 6000 new students in a variety of scientific levels, colleges and academic disciplines who have finished the electronic orientation meetings during the two past weeks which included an overall presentation for various college procedures and services.

The university received a new contingent of teaching staff in various disciplines and organized the annual orientation meeting for them in quest of highlighting the university services, various departments and sections, as well as defining its identity, policies, and strategic academic, research and administrative orientations that require engagement of all in achieving them to ensure advancement in the sphere of global classifications and achieve objectives and purposes related to local development and develop human knowledge.

With the new academic year approaching, QU is pleased to highlight the accomplishments made over the past years at scientific and academic levels, including infrastructure, as well as the partnership relations it has fostered with the local community and higher education’s institutions in many countries worldwide.

In its endeavors to continue its triumph on this track, QU stands ready to announce the new strategy which is apparently consistent with the third national development strategy that combines a review of the current programs as previously underscored by the university officials and open new colleges, departments and programs that respond to the requirements of the current generation and generations to come, along with the requirements of Qatar National Vision 2030.

The strategy also offers interaction with the digital age and the tremendous technological evolution to be optimally employed to have a crucial impact on Qatar’s renaissance and chart its bright future.

The strategy, in question, will determine work tracks for the university to proceed with excellence in performance and new developments locally and globally to build on the milestones it has achieved, and the successes scored in education, scientific research, corporate development, responsibility and societal partnership.

Such milestones did not happen in a vacuum, but came in accordance with strategic visions and plans that were meticulously charted over the past years transforming QU from a traditional educational institution into a premium edifice where experiences and expertise react and ideas and knowledge converge to represent a major tributary for business market through supplying it with talents in multi-disciplinary fields to keep up with development plans that are responsive to the global evolution in knowledge fields.

The expansion in academic programs was followed by a tremendous growth in research facilities as QU today embraces 18 research centers and other supporting research facilities which contribute to achieving national priorities in development, modernization, upgradation, and global knowledge which bolster students’ capabilities and skills in scientific research, development, and creativity.

All affiliates of this national university are proud of the premium status QU has attained after it has climbed up the QS world rankings 2024, placing 173. The latest achievement follows the announcement by Times Higher Education (THE) that QU placed 28th in the THE Asia rankings 2023, moving up 18 places from 2022 and proudly entering the top 30 universities in Asia, as well as placing 24th worldwide and first in the MENA region on the Young Universities ranking by the same ranking agency. (MORE)

Source: Qatar News Agency

In addition, QU has a substantial global credit in terms of research, as its researchers have registered their local, regional, and international presence in services, research consultations and conducting joint research with numerous industrial institutions and companies. The university is proud of having research partnerships with scientists and researchers from over 350 institutions worldwide.

Thanks to this research excellence, a modern study from Stanford University (USA) classified scientists and researchers from QU as the most outstanding in the world citing their research papers in a variety of disciplines.

According to the study published last year, %80 of researchers in QU were among %2 most prominent scientists worldwide, citing their research production and works which is an indicative of QU’s tremendous success in educations trailblazing and producing high-quality and impactful research.

Such research successes and milestones are not limited to QU-affiliated researchers, teachers, and scientists, but its students have also contributed to this research and achieved tremendous successes, in addition to reaping gold and silver medals during the recent years in many scientific and international forums through Qatar University Young Scientists Center (QUYSC).

In light of the research successes, QU has established the Qatar University Holding Company to embrace the creative ideas of faculty members, students and researchers, within the framework of supporting Qatar’s orientation toward a knowledge-based economy, opening the door for the emergence of startups that adopt these ideas and research to be transformed into marketable products locally and externally.

There are three startups in QU namely ‘Genesis Technologies LLC’ which is primarily specialized in fintech, Clear Exhaust whose innovation is based on a new technology that significantly reduces CO2 emissions from existing diesel engines which represent a key factor in global warming phenomena and lastly the SpaceVision Digital Solutions LLC which is focused on industrialized drone applications and services related to construction, energy, agriculture, and oil and gas sectors.

The progress in academic and research fields were followed by an evolution in QU’s facilities that essentially serve students and all affiliates as the university has witnessed a tremendous renaissance in its infrastructure during the recent years which kept up with change requirements at academic, research and recreational levels. QU gears up to launch new projects that respond to the current needs and future aspirations.

In implementing its plan to enroll the increasing numbers of students annually, QU has opened several new academic buildings and premises during the past two years such as college of education, college of law, student affairs office and college of engineering which constituted a paradigm shift at the level of technological equipment, cutting-edge laboratories and study halls fitted with state-of-the-art technologies to offer a world-class environment that spurs students towards excellence and innovation.

At the institutional level, QU has received this year the institutional accreditation from the US Senior College and University Commission ‘WSCUC’ in a new achievement that promotes its status and reputation among world-class educational institutions, as such an accreditation is a vital and major step to ensure QU’s commitment to its students and community in maintaining constant optimization and providing high-quality educational environment whose objectives and procedures are in conformity with the local and international standards.

In opening its doors to receive the new academic year and getting ready for its new strategy, QU has major milestones in a variety of sectors to strengthen planning and maintain perseverance and work with one team based on the visions and ambitions of its board of trustees with clear-eyed plans that enhanced its local impact towards universalism.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Meta announced that it is implementing new transparency measures on Instagram and Facebook in response to the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

The measures will reportedly include archiving all targeted ads for users in the EU in its existing Ad Library and providing additional information on both Facebook and Instagram explaining how the Feed, Reels, and Stories are ranked by its AI systems.

“Were now giving our European community the option to view and discover content on Reels, Stories, Search and other parts of Facebook and Instagram that is not ranked by Meta using these systems,” Metas President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg said in a news release.

“For example, on Facebook and Instagram, users will have the option to view Stories and Reels only from people they follow, ranked in chronological order, newest to oldest,” he added.

“They will also be able to view Search results based only on the words they enter, rather than personalized specifically to them based on their previous activity and personal interests,” Clegg said.

Meta is making the changes to comply with the DSA, a new piece of regulation that will impact how tech companies moderate content on their platforms.

The DSA requires very large online platforms to allow users to opt out of receiving personalized recommendations.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Microsoft has officially launched a new business version of Microsoft Edge browser on all platforms and operating systems.

Edge for Business offers a new business experience that enables businesses and organizations to fine-tune their settings to maximize productivity and security.

The Edge for Business browser is similar to the regular version of the browser, with some settings that make the browsing experience more convenient for business purposes.

Microsoft marked the new version with a modified icon and minor visual modifications in the user interface, and the addition of new settings.

Microsoft allows business owners to control browsing policies and settings in the Edge for Business.

The new browser allows for separation between business and personal browsing and does not share the synchronization of users’ personal data through business browsing windows.

Microsoft Edge for Business can reduce the surface area for cyberattacks, which enhances the security situation for institutions and companies.

No separate download is required for this new browser, as it launches automatically when you log in with your dedicated Microsoft Entra ID account.

Microsoft explained that its developers are working on developing new features and improvements for the new browser, scheduled to launch with the upcoming updates.

In a related context, Microsoft is developing new features based on AI in a number of its various applications in the Windows system.

The new AI features will be added to Windows apps including Paint, Photos, and Snipping Tool.

Source: Qatar News Agency