AUB - International News

march 2009

AUB in the News - International version

Check Archive

March 2009

Tehran Times of March 1 and CNN International of February 27 reported on the establishment of the international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, said that the development is an extraordinary symbol of the whole world coming in here, to the Arab world, and saying this has to stop, we're going to find who did it and hold them accountable.
PR.com of March 2 reported that the World Economic Forum (WEF) named Syrian entrepreneur, Abdulsalam Haykal, to be among 200 most distinguished young leaders in 2009. Founder and CEO of Transtek Information Systems and Haykal Media, Haykal is also a trustee at the American University of Beirut.
Radio Sawa (USA) of March 2 reported on the Hariri assassination international tribunal that is taking place in The Hague. The paper quoted AUB professor of International Law Shafic Al-Masri as saying that the laws upon which the tribunal will operate will be a mixture of Lebanese and International laws.
The Lancet of March 5 published the findings of a report by a team of doctors from a number of regional universities and health institutes that included Dr. Marwan Khawaja from the Center for Research on Population Health at the American University of Beirut. The report, entitled, Health Status and Health Services in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, focused on demographic characteristics, health status, and health services of the Palestinian population living in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory, and the way they have been modified by 60 years of continuing war conditions.
Qantara of March 5 reported on fears that freedom of opinion in Iran is at risk in light of the weak representation of Iranian philosophy in various Iranian institutes. Dr. Gholam-Reza Aavani, director of the Iranian Institute of Philosophy (IRIP), noted that western and Iranian philosophers are taught side by side at the American University of Beirut, in a freedom that is diminishing in Iran.
MND of March 6 reported the death of Jim Cook, who is often referred to as the The Father of Joint Custody. Cook had served in the foreign service in Teheran, Iran at the time of the 1953 coup, and had also studied at the American University of Beirut.
Islamonline.net of March 7 reported on the resignation of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to give way for the formation of a Palestinian national unity government. Born in 1952 in the West Bank, he received a bachelor of science in engineering from the American University of Beirut, and a masters in business administration and a doctorate in economics from the University of Texas.
Breitbart.com of March 7 reported that President of the American University of Beirut, Professor Peter Dorman, held talks with the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the UAE, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.
HeraldNet of March 8 and Star Tribune and The Arizona Republic of March 7 reported on the recent visit of two American diplomats to Syria where they held talks with Syrian officials, marking a shift in American policy towards the Arab state. The previous administration had shunned holding talks with Syria. Karim Makdisi, a professor of international relations at the American University of Beirut, said, The U.S. is dangling the carrot instead of only wagging the stick. They want to test how much Syria is willing to give.
Pearson of March 9 reported the death of Khalil Habib Sayegh, founder of the Librairie du Liban. He played a pivotal role in publishing in Lebanon and the Arab world. His career included working for the International College in Lebanon, which was at the time a part of the American University of Beirut.
University of Delaware of March 9 announced that Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, will be holding a lecture at the University of Delaware entitled, Tinderbox: Understanding the Middle East on March 11.
The Huffington Post of March 12 published an article by Magda Abu-Fadil, the director of Journalism Training Program at the American University of Beirut, about attempts to bolster investigative journalism in Yemen.
University of Delaware of March 12 reported on a lecture that was presented by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, at the University of Delaware entitled, Tinderbox: Understanding the Middle East. He said, The Arab-Israeli conflict, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and all the others. It is very difficult to take any one of these conflicts and look at it in isolation because the players themselves don't separate these conflicts.
Reuters Foundation of March 12 reported on tensions in Lebanon between the rival March 14 and March 8 political camps ahead of the country's parliamentary elections in June. Political leaders have played down the threat of the widespread of violence before the polls, but Samir Khalaf, a professor at the American University of Beirut, said, We mobilize people, then we rush to contain them. These bubbles could very easily become ignitable.
Zvents of March 13 reported that Catherine Evans Latta, a former faculty member of the American University of Beirut, will be holding a poetry reading, entitled, Beirut Summerâ? at Stanford University.
Broadway World of March 13 reported that Baghdadi Bath, a play by renowned Iraqi playwright, Jawad al-Assadi will premier at La MaMa E.T.C. in the United States. The play has been translated by Nada Saab and American University of Beirut professor, Robert Myers.
The Australian of March 13 reported on the possibility that the March 8 political camp in Lebanon, led by the militant group Hizbullah, will win the parliamentary elections in Lebanon in June. Professor Ahmad Moussalli of American University of Beirut said of Hizbullah, There's only one force who can fight a war if there is a war: Hizbullah.
Oman Tribune, Reuters Foundation, and Kuwait Times of March 15 and Yahoo! India News of March 16 reported on reactions in the Middle East towards the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. The overwhelming sentiment was that the warrant is politically motivated. Karim Makdisi, a professor at the American University of Beirut observed, When these international principles are selectively applied, they are seen as purely political maneuvers, the justice of the victors. If there was a real movement to try Israeli leaders for decades of war crimes, stretching from the 1940s until the last war in Gaza, you would find a lot more support for trials of Bashir or any number of Arab leaders.
FWD Magazine of March 16 conducted an interview with Samir Maamari, vice president of facilities at the American University of Beirut, about the Charles W. Hostler Student Center at the University. Maamari spoke about the construction of the center, as well as future plans at AUB that include the awaited opening of the new Olayan School of Business building in the fall of 2009.
18 WLFI.com of March 16 reported on the appointment of Dr. F. Dennis Riegelnegg as the new president of St. Joseph College. He spent 13 years as Vice President for Student Development and Community Development at St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. He also served as a Reviewer at several institutions such as Bloomfield College and the American University of Beirut.
World Focus of March 16 reported on Hamra Street saying it bore witness to the various tumultuous times of Lebanon's modern history. Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, described the area as the last, great cosmopolitan neighborhood in the Arab world.
Guardian Unlimited of March 17 reported the death of London-based journalist Kassem Jaafar. A graduate of the American University of Beirut in 1978, he worked in London as a researcher, and on Middle East Report (al-Taqrir) before joining the BBC World Service in 1985.
Voice of America of March 18 reported on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's recent proposal to mediate between the West and Iran. Hilal Kashan, a professor at the American University of Beirut, thinks it is unlikely the United States will accept Assad's offer. He said, The Americans want to distance Damascus from Tehran, plus, the Syrians are lacking in credibility to be used as mediators You know he's [Assad] willing to do anything to win the new administration's support.
Free Lance Star of March 19 reported that Majid Fakhry, professor emeritus at the American University of Beirut, will be holding a lecture entitled, The Dialogue of Civilizations: Islam, Christianity and the West, at the University of Mary Washington on March 19.
Renal and Urology News of March 20 reported on a research by Dr. Muhammad A. Bulbul, of the Department of Surgery at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, where he found that intermittent alpha blocker therapy is a feasible strategy for men suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic obstruction (BPO).
Renal and Urology News of March 20 reported on a research by Dr. Muhammad A. Bulbul, of the Department of Surgery at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, where he found that intermittent alpha blocker therapy is a feasible strategy for men suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic obstruction (BPO).
Chicago Tribune.com and Ya Libnan of March 21 reported on the potential threats of global warming on cedar trees in Lebanon. Nabil Nemer, an entomologist at the American University of Beirut, said, The cedar tree is the symbol of our country, and it would mean a lot if we were to lose it. It would be like losing our identity.
Chicago Tribune.com and Ya Libnan of March 21 reported on the potential threats of global warming on cedar trees in Lebanon. Nabil Nemer, an entomologist at the American University of Beirut, said, The cedar tree is the symbol of our country, and it would mean a lot if we were to lose it. It would be like losing our identity.
The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, and Free Internet Press of March 23 reported on the assassination of Palestinian official Kamal Midhat, of the Fatah faction, in Beirut on Monday. Observers viewed the assassination as an attempt to hinder the recent rapprochement between Hamas, backed by Iran, and Fatah. Hilal Khashan, a professor at the American University of Beirut, did not rule out the possibility that Iranian agents in Lebanon may have been behind the attack.
The Palestine Chronicle of March 24 and Scoop and Uruknet.info of March 23 reported on the Israeli lobby in the United States attempts at character assassination of U.S. diplomat Charles Freeman, British MP George Galloway, and journalist Dr. Ibrahim Mousawi. The Israeli lobby's efforts have reached such an extent against Mousawi that he was banned from entering the UK. Hilal Khashan, a professor at the American University of Beirut, had even written to the UK government urging it to reverse the ban.
Timesnews.net of March 24 announced that Graham Leonard, a specialist on the Middle East, will be holding a lecture, entitled, Origins of Problems in the Middle East: An Overview, at Kingsport Library auditorium on March 25. Leonard holds a doctorate in education from Harvard University. Leonard was a Middle East resident for over 35 years and taught at Quaker schools and at the American University of Beirut.
Money Line Magazine and Better Trends Financial Live of March 25 reported that Arab economies are likely to grow at a slower rate as a result of the world economic crisis. It quoted Lebanese former Prime Minister and professor at the American University of Beirut, Salim al-Hoss as saying that the global crisis is expected to continue for a few years due to its severity and depth.
Individual.com and RBC Dain Rauscher Inc. of March 27 and Arab News of March 26 published an interview with Kindah Sais, the founder of Kookielicious, one of Saudi Arabia's first cookie/bouquet businesses. Born in England to a Lebanese mother and Saudi father, she was raised in Jeddah, Lebanon and the United States, and recently earned an MBA from the American University of Beirut.
UCLA International Institute of March 30 reported on assassinated President of the American University of Beirut, Malcolm Kerr and efforts by his family to reconcile this issue with the sides behind the murder.
Electronic Intifada of March 30 published a petition entitled, Lebanese Campaign for the Boycott of Zionism, that included the signatures of a number of academics from various Lebanese institutions such as the American University of Beirut.
Electronic Intifada (USA) and Al-Akhbar of March 30 carried the announcement by academics in Lebanon calling, on the occasion of World Earth Day and in protest against the Israeli onslaught on the people of Gaza, for the academic boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel. The paper said that the academics in Lebanon who have signed this petition consist of faculty, lecturers and graduate students from the University of Balamand, AUB, LAU, NDU, Lebanese University, Beirut Arab University, USEK, Lebanese International University and Global University.