Check Archive

April 2009

• Uruknet.info of April 1 and Scoop and the Palestine Chronicle of March 31 reported on the United States’ interest in Lebanon’s upcoming parliamentary elections on June 7. It quoted former U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, Jeffrey Feltman as saying, “The US cannot and should not interfere in the election, but neither should we be impassive,” which a student at the American University of Beirut deemed as blatant intervention in Lebanese affairs.

• The Middle East Online of April 1 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about how officials in the United States are slowly adopting a critical stance towards Israel. He said, “In the United States these days, there is a slow but steady erosion of the once absolute taboo to speak out about the excessive influence of pro-Israeli groups on the country.”

• Al-Mustaqbal, Ad-Diyar, Al-Bayraq, L'Orient Le Jour , Al-Anwar , Ash-Sharq, As-Safir, and Ar-Rai (Kuwait) of April 2 reported on the conference organized by the MIT Forum of the Pan Arab Region in collaboration with AUB's Olayan School of Business and the World Trade Organization entitled "The Development of the Private Initiative: Direction and Prospects in the Arab World."

• Alarab Online of April 2 reported on the Arab Journalism Award’s new board. It consists of a number of top Arab media figures from across the Arab world including Majidah Abu Fadhil, the director of the Journalism Training Program at the American University of Beirut.

• Arabian Business of April 5 published an interview with Mohamed Moghrabi, founder of KAIZEN Management Consultants. He holds BSc and MSc degrees in Engineering from the American University of Beirut and completed his research thesis at the University of Texas at Austin. He has also been recently awarded with AUB’s “Distinguished Young Alumnus Award”. Moghrabi has worked on several large-scale engineering projects such as the Palm Jumeirah and Dubai International Airport.

• The Middle East Online of April 6 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, on what he viewed as double standards by the Israeli and American governments in dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

• The Daily News Egypt of April 6 reported on a recent meeting of scholars from the Arab world to discuss family and Arab youth. Among the researches discussed was “Displaced Arab Families: Iraqi Refugees in Lebanon” presented by Jihan Makhlouf, from the Department of Public Health at the American University of Beirut.

• Al-Jareeda (Kuwait) of April 6 published an article discussing the recent graffiti on the streets of Hamra and next to AUB saying the Lebanese youth support Disney's character Mickey Mouse, following a recent fatwa by a Saudi sheikh demanding the killing of this cartoon character.

• Oman Tribune and Middle East Times of April 7 reported on Lebanon’s upcoming parliamentary elections and whether the Hizbullah-led or pro-government alliance will win the majority of seats. “These elections represent a football match. Most of the MPs have been assigned their posts and the only surprise will come as concerns 10 to 15 percent of the candidacies,” said Fawaz Trabulsi, a political science professor at the American University of Beirut.

• Better Trends Financial Live and ICIS of April 8 and TMCnet.com and RBC Dain Rauscher Inc. of April 7 reported on the American University of Beirut’s Business School earning accreditation from AACSB International. It said, “AUB once more proved the excellence of its business education by becoming the first university in Lebanon to earn accreditation from AACSB International in a record time of three years.”

• AFP (Other), 14 March, Weyak (UAE), and The Jordan Times (Jordan) of April 8 published a political editorial analyzing the forthcoming Lebanese parliamentary elections. The papers included a quotation by AUB professor of political studies Fawaz Traboulsi as saying that "These elections represent a football matchÅ Most of the MPs have been assigned their posts and the only surprise will come as concerns 10 to 15 per cent of the candidacies."

• The Middle East Online of April 8 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about U.S. President Barack Obama’s recent speech in Turkey in which he reached out to the Muslim world. Khouri commended Obama for adopting a different rhetoric than that of his predecessor George W. Bush, adding that he should place the necessary efforts to fulfill his pledges.

• GulfConstructionOnine.com of April 12 published a report by George Berbari and Abdullah Abu Gallioun on how insulation can cut down on power costs. Berbari is the CEO of DC Pro Engineering, with a bachelor of mechanical engineering from the American University of Beirut in 1985. Abu Gallioun is a Leed-accredited professional (US Green Building Council) with a bachelor of mechanical engineering from the University of Jordan.

• Emirates Business of April 12 published an interview with Rabih Saab, Vice President of Travelport’s Middle East branch about the company’s future plans in the region. Saab was born in Lebanon and graduated in business administration at the American University in Beirut. He is based at Travelport's regional headquarters in Dubai and has lived in the emirate since 1992.

• The Middle East Online of April 13 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, on the United States’ decision to join international negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. He said, “Barack Obama has initiated a courageous first step in diplomacy with Iran. Iran must do likewise. Courage and boldness on both sides can initiate serious diplomatic engagement.”

• Dar Al-Hayat (Britain) of April 14 and Al-Ayyam (Palestine) of April 15 published a profile of world-renowned Palestinian physicist Munir Nayfeh. The paper said that Nayfeh, who is a specialist in nanotechnology, graduated with a BS in physics from AUB in 1968.

• Gulf News of April 18 reported on the 21^st Gulf Education and Training Exhibition (Getex) 2009 that was held in Dubai. The job fair featured students from all over the UAE with many favoring studying abroad in universities like the American University of Beirut to pursue their higher education.

• The Middle East Online of April 20 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about the United States’ new stance in the Middle East where it seems to have abandoned the policy of threats of the previous administration. He observed, “The United States has taken a courageous initiative in revising its policy of pressure, threats and boycotts towards Iran and Syria, and that policy will have more chances of succeeding if Israeli-Palestinian and wider Arab-Israeli peace talks proceed in parallel.”

• Al-Ahram (Egypt) of April 20 published a political editorial discussing the recent heated debates between the Egyptian government and Hizbullah. The paper quoted AUB professor of political studies professor and chair Hilal Khashan as saying "I don't think this [the conflict] will have much to do with the Arab outlook, which is not very good anyway, though they've been trying to contain their differences."

• Al-Ittihad (UAE) of April 20 reported on the forthcoming dermatology conference to be held in Dubai from April 26-28 and included a quotation by dermatologist Dr. Ibrahim Kaldari who teaches at the faculty of medicine of the Emirates University that he intends to participate in dermatology conferences including forthcoming ones in AUB.

• Al-Rai (Kuwait) of April 20 published a profile on one of its journalists Rabab Baddah who reportedly worked at AUB.

• 24-7 PressRelease of April 21 reported that the Bisharaf non profit organization has concluded Business Ethics Roundtable discussions with leading businesses in Beirut. One roundtable discussion took place at the American University of Beirut on February 27 in which business leaders analyzed ethical behavior within four quadrants: Legal / Illegal and Ethical / Unethical.

• Al Ahram Weekly Newspaper of April 21 reported on the tension between the Lebanese militant group Hizbullah and Egypt in light of discovery of the group’s cell in the Arab state. Hilal Khashan, chairman of the department of Political Science at the American University of Beirut, said that the conflict “has to do with the continuing confrontation between the international community and Iran over its ambitions.”

• AME info and Trade Arabia of April 22 reported that the Bahrain-based First Energy Bank (FEB) has appointed Mr. Vahan Zanoyan as its Chief Executive Officer during its first year of operation. Zanoyan holds degrees in Economics and Political Science from the American University of Beirut and University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining FEB, his career spans years of acting as an advisor to hundreds of oil and gas companies, and oil producing governments.

• The Middle East Online of April 22 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, in which he reviews a book, “Resistance: The Essence of the Islamist Revolution,” by Alastair Crooke. Khouri said that the book provides “one of the most comprehensive, accurate and useful analyses of the core philosophy and motivating political principles of political Islamism.”

• Al-Jamahir (Syria) of April 22 published a profile on Syrian intellectual Dr. Fakher Akel who studied education at AUB.

• Ash-Sharq (Qatar), Al-Waqt (Bahrain), and Al-Wasat (Bahrain) of April 23 announced that Fahan Zanouian has been appointed chief executive officer of the first Islamic bank in Bahrain specializing in investments in energy projects. The paper said that Zanouian has a BS in economics from AUB.

• The Arab Times (Kuwait) of April 23 reported that the Kuwaiti deputy at the ministry of higher education Dr. Rasha Al-Sabbah met with representatives from the Kuwaiti petroleum institute and discussed with them the degree in executive administration offered at AUB.

• AME Info of April 23 announced that a lecture, entitled, “Contemporary Mexican Architecture”, will be held on April 24 at the American University of Beirut. The lecture is organized by the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Mexico, the Mexican Embassy in Lebanon, Ambassador Jorge Alvarez Fuentes, and Cultural Attaché Antonio Lopezríos, in collaboration with the Department of Architecture and Design at AUB. It will be presented by Architect Miguel Adria.

• Gainesville Sun of April 23 reported on Jose Zaglula, the founding president of EARTH University in Costa Rica. He holds a BS in agricultural economics and master's degree in animal science from the American University of Beirut and a master's in food science and human nutrition and Ph.D. in animal science fro the University of Florida.

• Al-Ghad (Jordan) of April 25 published an op ed piece discussing the pervasive use of foreign languages in the dialect of Arab youth. The paper said that the language of instruction at AUB used to be Arabic.

• Gulf News of April 26 reported on the wave of protests against the plan to build a massive artificial island in the shape of a cedar tree off the coast of Lebanon. A group of American University of Beirut professors teamed up to protest Cedar Island, describing it in a statement released last month as an “urban, economic and environmental disaster.”

• The Middle East Online of April 27 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, on the situation in the Gaza Strip months after the end of Israel’s offensive against it. He said, “The Palestinians in Gaza are not passively watching their own dehumanization on television and wallowing in self-pity. What they are doing, and how their actions will translate into new political or military dynamics, is not evident on the surface. What is clear is that the status quo will not hold, and will be shattered in ways we cannot now predict.”

• Pipeline Magazine of April 27 reported on the appointment of Vahan Zanoyan as the Chief Executive Officer of the Bahrain-based First Energy Bank (FEB). Prior to joining FEB, he was Chairman and CEO of PFC Energy International for four years, and President and CEO of PFC Energy for the preceding ten years. Zanoyan holds graduate degrees in Economics and Political Science from the American University of Beirut and University of Pennsylvania.

• The Middle East Online of April 29 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about the Arab Anti-Corruption Organization (AACO) that recently held a conference in Beirut. Khouri observed, “The AACO is one of several institutions in the Arab world working to break through - or at least chip away at - the steel wall that protects the prevailing centralized, autocratic power structures.”

• Alarabiya.net of April 29 published an article by an Iraqi fan of the Lebanese singer Fayrouz. She suggested that the singer should appear on the show of famous American talk show host Oprah Winfrey because of her legendary status in the Arab world. In 2005, Fayrouz was the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the American University of Beirut.

• The Armenian Reporter of April 29 reported on Guydzag Boyadjian and Manug Aydin, to Armenians in the United States who had survived the Armenian genocide in the early 20^th century. Boyadjian completed his studies at the American University in Beirut and migrated to the United States to pursue a career in computer programming.