Latest news with #confidencebuilding
Arab News
02-06-2025
- General
- Arab News
Syrian government and Kurdish force exchange prisoners
ALEPPO, Syria: Syrian authorities and a Kurdish-led force exchanged Monday more than 400 prisoners as part of a deal reached earlier this year between the two sides. The exchange in the northern city of Aleppo is a step in the process of confidence- building measures between the government in Damascus and the US-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. A similar exchange took place in April. Mulham Al-Akidi, the deputy governor of Aleppo province, said 470 prisoners were released by both sides adding that the exchange 'aims to reduce tensions on the ground.' He added that if there are more prisoners they will be released in the near future. Yasser Mohammed Hakim said he was detained six months ago after he drove into an SDF-controlled area by mistake. The man added that he was held in a jail where members of the Daesh group are held in Syria. 'They put us with the biggest terrorists,' Hakim told The Associated Press after his release by the SDF. 'I am a civilian who took the wrong road. I lost six months of my life.' In March, Syria's interim government signed a deal with the Kurdish-led authority that controls the country's northeast, including a ceasefire and the merging of the main US-backed force there into the Syrian army. Since the deal was signed, the clashes between the SDF and the Syrian National Army, a coalition of Turkiye-backed groups, almost stopped in northern Syria after months of fighting that left dozens killed or wounded on both sides. Syria's new rulers are struggling to exert their authority across the country and reach political settlements with different ethnic and religious groups in the war-torn nation.
Washington Post
02-06-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Syrian government and Kurdish-led force exchange prisoners in a step toward easing tensions
ALEPPO, Syria — Syrian authorities and a Kurdish-led force exchanged Monday more than 400 prisoners as part of a deal reached earlier this year between the two sides. The exchange in the northern city of Aleppo is a step in the process of confidence- building measures between the government in Damascus and the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces . A similar exchange took place in April. Mulham al-Akidi, the deputy governor of Aleppo province, said 470 prisoners were released by both sides adding that the exchange 'aims to reduce tensions on the ground.' He added that if there are more prisoners they will be released in the near future. Yasser Mohammed Hakim said he was detained six months ago after he drove into an SDF-controlled area by mistake. The man added that he was held in a jail where members of the Islamic State group are held in Syria. 'They put us with the biggest terrorists,' Hakim told The Associated Press after his release by the SDF. 'I am a civilian who took the wrong road. I lost six months of my life.' In March, Syria's interim government signed a deal with the Kurdish-led authority that controls the country's northeast, including a ceasefire and the merging of the main U.S.-backed force there into the Syrian army. Since the deal was signed, the clashes between the SDF and the Syrian National Army, a coalition of Turkey-backed groups, almost stopped in northern Syria after months of fighting that left dozens killed or wounded on both sides. Syria's new rulers are struggling to exert their authority across the country and reach political settlements with different ethnic and religious groups in the war-torn nation.
The Independent
02-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Syrian government and Kurdish-led force exchange prisoners in a step toward easing tensions
Syrian authorities and a Kurdish-led force exchanged Monday more than 400 prisoners as part of a deal reached earlier this year between the two sides. The exchange in the northern city of Aleppo is a step in the process of confidence- building measures between the government in Damascus and the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. A similar exchange took place in April. Mulham al-Akidi, the deputy governor of Aleppo province, said 470 prisoners were released by both sides adding that the exchange 'aims to reduce tensions on the ground.' He added that if there are more prisoners they will be released in the near future. Yasser Mohammed Hakim said he was detained six months ago after he drove into an SDF-controlled area by mistake. The man added that he was held in a jail where members of the Islamic State group are held in Syria. 'They put us with the biggest terrorists,' Hakim told The Associated Press after his release by the SDF. 'I am a civilian who took the wrong road. I lost six months of my life.' In March, Syria's interim government signed a deal with the Kurdish-led authority that controls the country's northeast, including a ceasefire and the merging of the main U.S.-backed force there into the Syrian army. Since the deal was signed, the clashes between the SDF and the Syrian National Army, a coalition of Turkey-backed groups, almost stopped in northern Syria after months of fighting that left dozens killed or wounded on both sides. Syria's new rulers are struggling to exert their authority across the country and reach political settlements with different ethnic and religious groups in the war-torn nation.
Associated Press
02-06-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Syrian government and Kurdish-led force exchange prisoners in a step toward easing tensions
ALEPPO, Syria (AP) — Syrian authorities and a Kurdish-led force exchanged Monday more than 400 prisoners as part of a deal reached earlier this year between the two sides. The exchange in the northern city of Aleppo is a step in the process of confidence- building measures between the government in Damascus and the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. A similar exchange took place in April. Mulham al-Akidi, the deputy governor of Aleppo province, said 470 prisoners were released by both sides adding that the exchange 'aims to reduce tensions on the ground.' He added that if there are more prisoners they will be released in the near future. Yasser Mohammed Hakim said he was detained six months ago after he drove into an SDF-controlled area by mistake. The man added that he was held in a jail where members of the Islamic State group are held in Syria. 'They put us with the biggest terrorists,' Hakim told The Associated Press after his release by the SDF. 'I am a civilian who took the wrong road. I lost six months of my life.' In March, Syria's interim government signed a deal with the Kurdish-led authority that controls the country's northeast, including a ceasefire and the merging of the main U.S.-backed force there into the Syrian army. Since the deal was signed, the clashes between the SDF and the Syrian National Army, a coalition of Turkey-backed groups, almost stopped in northern Syria after months of fighting that left dozens killed or wounded on both sides. Syria's new rulers are struggling to exert their authority across the country and reach political settlements with different ethnic and religious groups in the war-torn nation.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Charlene Andersson Champions Emotional Safety in Classrooms as Key to Student Success
Veteran educator calls for nationwide focus on social connection and confidence-building in education reform LOS ANGELES, CA / / June 2, 2025 / With over 28 years of experience in California public schools, award-winning educator and certified educational therapist Charlene Andersson is using her platform to advocate for a nationwide shift in how schools define-and measure-success. Her message: emotional safety and student connection are not just nice-to-haves; they are critical to academic growth. "Success doesn't start with a test score," said Andersson. "It starts when a student feels safe enough to take a risk, speak up, or ask for help. That's where real learning begins." Andersson, who received the Japanese International Educators Award in 2005 and held the highest standardized test scores in her district for a decade, attributes her results to student-centered strategies. One such example is her use of "looping," where students stayed with her for up to three years by parent request. "Students who feel seen and understood are more likely to engage deeply with learning," Andersson said. "That's not theory-that's decades of experience." The numbers support her point. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, students who report strong relationships with teachers are 32% more likely to feel confident in their abilities, and a study by CASEL found that school programs integrating social-emotional learning see an 11% gain in academic achievement. Andersson recalls one student who was socially isolated but fascinated by the Mars Rover. She turned his passion into a collaborative class project that led to a provisional patent and a letter of encouragement from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. "He went from isolated to celebrated," she said. "That kind of transformation doesn't come from a worksheet. It comes from creating a classroom culture where every student belongs." Andersson is calling on schools and education policymakers to prioritize social-emotional learning (SEL), build teacher training around relationship-building strategies, and give teachers time and autonomy to support students holistically. "We need to stop treating SEL like an add-on," she urged. "It's the foundation. Without it, we're just checking boxes." In addition to her classroom work, Andersson has created arts education programs for children at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House, authored three children's books, and served on the California Board for Gifted Students. About Charlene Andersson Charlene Andersson is a professional educator and certified educational therapist based in Los Angeles, California. With nearly three decades in public education, she is known for her student-first teaching philosophy, her work with gifted and special needs students, and her advocacy for compassionate, connected classrooms. Today, she continues to mentor fellow educators, speak at conferences, and push for systems that value empathy as much as academics. "We ask kids to meet our standards," she said. "But first, we have to meet their needs." Media Contact Charlene Anderssoninfo@ SOURCE: Charlene Andersson View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
