Check Archive

July 2008

• Ad-Dustour (Jordan) of July 1 published an article about the Jordanian Pharmacist Sameeh Darwaza, who was nominated by the King Abdullah the Second as the best Businessman in the Middle East. The paper said that Darwaza was at AUB 60 years ago.
• Ar-Rai (Kuwait) of July 1 reported on the Seminar held in Al-Mouasat Hospital on the effects of obesity on pregnancy. The paper said that Abir Helo, who got her BA in nutrition from AUB was among the participants.
• AME Info (United Arab Emirates) of July 2 reported on the team of AUB engineering students who have successfully built the first solar-powered vehicle in the Arab World. The paper said that the team was lead by Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Daniel Asmar and included AUB students Elie Maalouf, Amin Kanafani, Ahmad Hammoud and Rawad el-Jurdi.
• Al-Bayan (United Arab Emirates) of July 3 published an article about the common satirical and comic Lebanese TV shows. The paper included the opinion of several experts including AUB Sociology Professor Nabil Dajani, who said that these shows are a escape for the Lebanese people.
• Ash-Sharq al-Awsat (KSA) of July 3 published an article about the political crisis in Lebanon and the military role of Hizbullah. The paper included the opinion of several experts including AUB lecturer and former UNIFlL Advisor Timur Goksel who said that Hizbullah works in groups, which do not exceed 20 persons each, and that you can not destroy their military institution.
• E-life (Britain) of July 5 reported on the preparation held by LBC Broadcasting for the coming elections of Miss Lebanon. The paper said that among the finalists is 20 year-old Roza-rita Taweel, who is studying business administration at AUB.
• Al-Watan (Amman) and Al-Wassat (Bahrain) of July 5 published a lengthy article about the Iraqi war and the task of the US foreign policy in the region. Papers emphasized the role played by AUB in the region, outlining its importance since its founding by missionaries in 1866. Papers described AUB as a beacon for change in Lebanon. Papers also talked about the American interest and care about AUB, mentioning that Peter Dorman will become the 15th president of the university and that he descends from the family of Daniel Bliss, the founder of AUB.
• AME Info of July 5 reported that the American University of Beirut is set to receive a $5 million grant from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Foundation on July 10. The grant will be used to fund the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Olayan School of Business.
• Ar-Rai (Kuwait) of July 6 reported that the Lebanese Singer Rowaida al-Mahrouki graduated from AUB.
• < http://www.arab48.com/> www.arab48.com (Palestine) of July 6 published an article by Asaad Abu Khalil, a political science professor at California University, commenting on a talk show which hosted Rami Ollaik from AUB, with others.
• AME Info of July 6 reported on the appointment Dr. Iman Nuwayhid, professor of environmental health, as the new Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut succeeding Dr. Huda Zurayk. Dr. Nuwayhid received her MD from AUB. A faculty member at AUB since 1991, he became a professor in 2004.
• Dar al-Hayat (Britain) of July 7 published an article about the unemployment crisis in the Middle East. The paper referred to a study conducted by AUB Professor in Economics Jad Shaaban who said that the price paid by 11 Arab countries as a result of unemployment crisis $ 25 trillion a year.
• Al-Wassat (Bahrain) of July 7 reported that Abdulaziz Jasem Kato was re-elected the General Manager of Al-Jazeera Company for Tourism. The paper included a brief biography of Kato, outlining his achievements and saying that he had graduated from AUB.
• My Solutions Info of July 7 reported on the IT consultancy company, Berytech presenting a number of workshops at various universities in Lebanon in order to promote entrepreneurship. Among the universities included in the workshops was the American University of Beirut.
• Jerusalem Post of July 7 reported that the expected prisoner swap between the Lebanese militant group Hizbullah and Israel is being received with mixed reactions in Lebanon. Some citizens have criticized the party for not cooperating with the government to organize the swap. The paper quoted and AUB student on the matter.
• The Middle East Times of July 7 reported on the failure of the United Statesâ?? policy in the Middle East where it resorted to force to introduce change. It said that what is needed is â??soft power,â? which entails tapping into a culture to achieve change. The article explained that the policy of soft power has been greatly demonstrated in Lebanon through the establishment of the American University of Beirut. It described the institution as the â??beacon of changeâ? in the region that has due to its â??commitment to critical thinking and a well-rounded liberal arts education.â?
• AME Info of July 7 reported on the American University of Beirutâ??s hosting of a three-day media management Journalism Training Program (JTP) attended by 15 media outlets from Iraq. The program focused on regional and international media trends, and on consumer research and market analysis.
• The National Newspaper of July 8 reported on the fate of the Lebanese militant group Hizbullah in wake of the indirect negotiations between its close ally Syria and Israel. It wondered if this alliance, along with Syriaâ??s alliance with Iran, is about to break up as a result of the talks. â??Hizbullah is neither worried nor uneasy because this is not the first time that Syria has held peace talks with Israel. My understanding is that it will take a long time before anything materializes,â? said Ibrahim Mussawi, a lecturer in politics at the American University of Beirut.
• Ar-Rai (Syria) and Noble News Online (Syria) of July 9 published an article by Sami Moubayyid, about the strong bond between Lebanon and Syria, saying that before 1918, the certificates issued by AUB used to carry the expression "Given in Beirut, Syria."
• Egypt Today of July 9 reported on the eruption of the 1956 Suez War and the effect it had on life in Egypt. The country lost half of its air force in a surprise attack devised by France, Britain, and Israel. Students who were planning to study abroad, including at the American University of Beirut, were forced to put their plans on hold.
• Ash-Sharq al -Awsat (KSA) of July 10 published an article about writer and poet Thuraya al-Aridi, highlighting her ideologies about the Saudi culture, the Saudi women and issues related to the Saudi society. The paper said that Al-Aridi was born in Manama in Bahrain and that she received her MA in the Administration of Higher Education Institutes from AUB.
• Tishreen (Syria) of July 10 reported on the death of the writer Ismail al-Lir Ali. The paper included his brief biography of the latter saying that he was born in Silmiyyeh in 1922 and that he studies philosophy at AUB.
• E-Life ( Britain) of July 10 reported on the ceremony held at AUB, where a memorandum of understanding was signed between AUB Olayan School of Business and Sheikh Mohammad Rashil al-Maktoum Foundation, for establishing the new Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, with an endowment of $5 million.
• IPS of July 11 reported on the recent earthquakes that have taken place in southern Lebanon. It reported that since February 12, 500 earthquakes have hit the area, five in the village of Srifa. Dr. Maya el-Kibbi, geologist at the American University of Beirut said that there are no fears of a major earthquake hitting the area near Srifa because it is located on a relatively small fault, adding that the size of an earthquake is usually proportional to the size of the fault.
• Dar al-Hayat (Britain), E-Life (Britain), Gulf News (UAE), Al-Ittihad, (UAE), Trade Arabia (Bahrain) of July 11 and The Gulf News (UAE) Emirates News Agency-WAM (UAE) of July 12 reported on the ceremony held at AUB, where a memorandum of understanding was signed between AUB's Olayan School of Business and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation to establish a center for entrepreneurship and innovation at AUB, with an endowment of $5 million. The papers said that the center will serve as a regional nucleus for entrepreneurship research and knowledge dissemination in the Arab world.
• Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat (KSA) of July 12 published the names of the new ministers of the recently-formed National Unity Government in Lebanon, saying that Mohammad Safadi (Minister of Trade and Economy) is an AUB graduate in business administration.
• At-Tajdeed al-Arabi of July 12 published an interview with former Lebanese Minister and MP Bshara Mirhij, about his accomplishments and his political recollections. Mirhj talked about his acquaintance with Michel Aflaq of the Baath Party in the early sixties during his days at AUB. The interview was conducted by Ghassan Charbel from Al-Hayat.
• E-Life (Britain) and Ash-Sharq al-Awsat (KSA) of July 12 published a conversation with the Executive President of Dr. Suleiman al-Habib Medical group Naser al-Haqbani about the groups' latest investment projects which exceeded 880 million dollars. Al-Haqbani talked about the group's success in the Gulf countries and its cooperation with AUBMC.
• AME Info of July 12 and Emirates News Agency, Maktoob Business, Gulf News, Trade Arabia, Middle East Events, and Albawaba of July 10 reported on the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundationâ??s announcement that it plans to build a center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Olayan School of Business at the American University of Beirut. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Beirut by Sultan Lootah, Vice President, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation - Employment and Entrepreneurship, and George K. Najjar, Dean of the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business. The Foundation has so far presented nearly $5 million to fund the center.
• Ar-Rai of July 13 announced that Rosarita Taweel was elected Miss Lebanon 2008. The paper said that Rosarita is a 20-year old student at AUB in business administration.
• The Middle East Online of July 14 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, the Director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about the change of tone between the United States and Iran. He noted that both nations have come to acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses in the Middle East and the consequences of their actions if a war were to erupt between them.
• AME Info of July 15 reported on a workshop organized by the Italian Embassy in Lebanon and the American University of Beirut aimed at coordinating efforts in environmental protection. The workshop entitled, â??Common Ground: Coordination and Exchange of Knowledge for an Integrated Approach to Environment,â? was held on July 15 with the participation of representatives of ministries, municipalities, universities, NGOs, UN agencies, and the European Commission.
• The Middle East Times (Britain) of July 15 published an article by Rami Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute of Public Policy and International Affairs at AUB, entitled "The Fourth Round of the American Game of Iran."
• Daily News Egypt and Middle East Times of July 16 reported on Syrian-Lebanese relations and on how these ties go beyond just being ties between neighbors. The article said that Syria views Lebanon as being part of it, adding that this mentality dates back to 1920 when what is now Lebanon was annexed from greater Syria. Even after the creation of Lebanon, said the article, residents of Lebanon still viewed themselves as Syrian. Institutions such as the American University of Beirut even signed their degrees at one point as being â??Granted in Beirut, Syria.â?
• The Middle East Online of July 16 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, the Director of Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about the International Criminal Court accusing Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir of genocide. Khouri highlighted the significance of the development, hoping that it could be implemented in other parts of the world where crimes are taking place unpunished. He said, â??Investigating and indicting Sudanese leaders while ignoring the crimes of Arab, Israeli, American and other officials are seen as a sickening example of double standards that reek of colonialism and tinged with racism.â?
• AME Info of July 17 reported on a meeting at the American University of Beirut by students from various Lebanese universities to discuss the findings of a research by AUBâ??s Atmospheric Chemistry Group on pollution. The students worked within a framework launched by the Association for Forests, Development, and Conservation (AFDC), a Beirut-based environmental NGO.  The students examined air samples from various Arab cities, including Beirut, in order to create an air pollution map to raise awareness about the issue.
• Gulf Times of July 20 reported on the appointment of Joseph Evan LeBaron as the United Statesâ?? new Ambassador to Qatar. He started his diplomatic career in 1980 and served as U.S. ambassador to Mauritania from 2003 too 2006. LeBaron holds a PhD in Near Eastern studies from Princeton University. He has also studied at the American University of Beirut and the University of Khartoum.
• TradingMarkets.com of July 21 and AME Info, PR Newswire and Link 2 Media of July 21 reported on the appointment of Jay Srage as Qualcomm Incorporatedâ??s as vice president of business development for the Middle East and North Africa. Prior to joining Qualcomm Incorporated, he spent ten years at Texas Instruments. He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the American University of Beirut, and he has Masters in Business Administration from the University of Chicago.

• Akhbar al-Kuwait (Others) and At-Tajdeed al-Arabi of July 17 published an article by Khaled Ad-Dakhil, reviewing the article written by the Egyptian Journalist Mohammad Hassanain Haikal about Moammar al-Qaddafi, the Libyan leader. In his article, Ad-Dakhil said that Haikal's article is a model of the Arab presidential and political speeches of the fifties and the sixties during the Arab-Arab struggles. The paper added that AUB president Malcolm Keer had described the struggles as the "Arab Cold War.

• Al-Jazeera.com (Qatar) and The Middle East Times (Britain) of July 17 published an article by Rami Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute of Public Policy and International Affairs at AUB, related to the ICC decision of July 14 declaring the Sudani President Omar al-Bashir as a criminal of war.

• Al-Jazeera.com (Qatar) of July 18 published an article by Ibrahim Nasrallah entitled "Palestine a memory which does not die." In his article, Nasrallah revealed the danger to the Palestinian people and their culture and heritage caused by Israeli policies and occupation. The paper said that one of the earlier movements for protecting the Palestinian heritage was lead by Dr. Toufic Kanaan who graduated from AUB in 1905 as a physician and who was known as the oldest Arab physician from Jerusalem.

• Awan (Kuwait) of July 18 published an article about AUB, its foundation in 1866, its importance and its role in the region, highlighting its distinctive characteristics. The paper included the opinion of Dr. Waddah Nasr of AUB as saying that since its foundation, emphasized the freedom of opinion and expression and the respect of other opinions. The paper said that AUB is well known for its diversity.

• Al-Qabas (Kuwait) of July 19 published an article by Hamza Olayan entitled "When the Lebanese Presidents wear a white suit." The paper said that PM Ismail al-Azhari of Sudan, who used to study at AUB, was affected by the Lebanese tradition in wearing white suit and he transferred this tradition to al-Khartoum.

• Gulf Times of July 20 and Ar-Raya ( Qatar) and The Peninsula (Qatar) of July 22 reported that Joseph Ivan Lebaron had been appointed the new US representative to Qatar. The papers said that he had lectured in AUB.

• Ad-Dustour (Jordan) of July 20 published an article about Abdulhamid Shouman, outlining his biography and life achievements. The paper said that Shouman who was born in 1947 in Palestine and who inherited from his grandfather the Arab Bank, studied business administration at AUB.

• Al-Jazeera.com (UAE) of July 21 15 published an article by Rami Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute of Public Policy and International Affairs at AUB, entitled "The Fourth Round of the American Game of Iran."

• Tradearabia (Bahrain) of July 21 reported on the ceremony at AUB, where a memorandum of understanding was signed between AUB Olayan School of Business and Sheikh Mohammad Rashid al-Maktoum Foundation, for establishing the new Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, with an endowment of nearly $ 5 million.

• <http://www.sotaliraq.com>www.sotaliraq.com (Iraq) of July 22 published an article about Abduljabbar Wehbeh (Abu Saeed), the Iraqi communist figure, marking his assassination 45 years ago on July 21, 1963. The paper said that Abu Saeed who was born in Al-Basra studied Mathematics and Philosophy at AUB.

• Al Jazeera of July 22 reported on United States Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obamaâ??s recent visit to Jordan as part of his Middle East tour. Rami G. Khouri, the Director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, said that the trip is targeted at improving his image regarding foreign policy. He said, â??It is his weakest point, and this tour of the Middle East is part of his electoral campaign aimed at highlighting his capability to handle foreign affairs.â?

• The Middle East Online of July 23 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, the Director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about the consequences of the US-led war in Iraq. He quoted an American scholar, Stephanie Kaplan, as saying that the war has increased Islamist fundamentalism in the Middle East, therefore creating more problems, when the war was supposedly aimed at combating terrorism in the world. She said, â??Arriving at sound judgments about the unintended consequences of the Iraq War is the first step toward reversing the conflictâ??s unfortunate terrorism legacy.â?

• AME Info of July 23 reported on the appointment of Ali Jaber as Dean of the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Communication, which was established recently at the American University in Dubai (AUD). With a degree in Business Administration from the American University of Beirut, and a Masterâ??s a degree in Communications from the Syracuse University, Jaber has a wealth of experience in media. He commissioned the establishment and headed Future TV in Lebanon from 1992 until 2003. Prior to assuming his position in AUD, he was a media consultant at Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI).

•   Aljazeera.com of July 25 and The Middle East Online of July 21 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, Director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, in which he highlighted the significance of the various negotiations taking place in the Middle East. He noted that Israel is holding indirect talks with Syria, and the United States is willing to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear ambitions, in developments that would have been unheard of last year. Khouri said that these new approaches are part of a realization by all sides that they have entered a stalemate and none of them would emerge victorious if they decide to wage a war against each other. They have finally realized that diplomacy may be the key to ending the stalemate.

• AME Info of July 28 reported that United Arab Emirates newspapers Gulf News and â??Emarat al-Youmâ? will be main topics of discussion in Septemberâ??s Society for News Design Congress set be held in Las Vegas. International designer Tarek Atrissi will have a special session to show the Arabic Culture and typography. He has a BA in Graphic Design with distinction from the American University of Beirut; a Masters of Arts in Interactive Multimedia from the Utrecht School of the Arts in Holland and an MFA in Design from the School of Visual Arts in New York.

• The Middle East Online of July 28 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, the Director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about the negative and positive aspects of American public policy in light of the recent appointment of James Glassman as the new American Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Khouri credited the United States for realizing that it needs to â??respect and listen to others, or take them seriously.â? Despite this, Khouri said that it remains a vague statement when compared to the fact that the policy still focuses on combating al-Qaeda, which may divert attention away from the issues the United States should focus on.

• Tradearabia.com of July 28 reported on the launch of a series of educational forums on ophthalmology by the Center for Healthcare Planning and Quality (CPQ). The series, aimed at healthcare providers in the region, is sponsored by four Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC)-based service providers: the American University of Beirut (AUB) Consultant Physicians, Moorfieldâ??s Eye Hospital, Welcare Eye Center, and Laser Eye Center.

• Arabian Business of July 29 reported on the second annual Developing actions for better Outcomes in Diabetes care â?? Devoted â?? meeting that was recently held in Dubai. It found that lack of proper treatment and awareness of the disease has contributed to making the Middle East the highest affected region in the world with diabetes. Key speaker at the event, Sami Azar, Professor of medicine and endocrinology at the American University of Beirut Medical Center said, â??Insulin clearly suffers from physician and patient misperceptions, which leads to its delayed use contrary to recommendations in guidelines issued recently by the American Diabetes Association.â?

• Gulf News and TVNZ of July 30 reported on environmentalist fears that the cedars of Lebanon may be threatened by global warming. Preferable altitude for cedar growth is between 1,200 and 1,800 meters, but as the climate warms up they may be forced to grow at higher elevations. However, Nasri Kawar, a retired professor at the American University of Beirut contested this view saying, â??Global warming canâ??t be assessed overnight, it's a matter of many years. We have not yet seen any serious deterioration in the cedars over the years.â?