September 2009

• Al-Ghad (Jordan) and Trade Arabia (Bahrain) of September 1 announced that AUB graduate Samih Darwazah was elected as chairman of the board of directors of the Capital Bank of Jordan.

• Al-Jazeera (Qatar) of September 2 published an article featuring scientific and technology projects at universities in Lebanon including Apollo, a solar car designed by a group of mechanical engineering students at AUB.

• Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat (KSA) of September 3, and Ar-Raee (Syria) of September 4 published an article reassessing the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Palestinian caricaturist Naji Al Ali. The paper said that Al Ali began his political activities when he joined that Arab nationalist party started by George Habash when he was still a student at AUB.

• March 14 and www.tayyar.org of September 3, and An-Nahar, As-Safir, Al-Anwar, Al-Akhbar, L'Orient Le Jour, The Daily Star, Al-Liwa', Al-Bayraq, Weyak (UAE), Masrawy (Egypt), Al-Qabas (Kuwait), and Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat (KSA) of September 4, and Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda (Palestine), Al-Watan (Kuwait), Al-Waqt (Bahrain), Al-Ayyam (Palestine), The Peninsula (Qatar), Az-Zaman (Iraq), and Al-Watan (Qatar) of September 5, and Al-Hayat of September 6, and Dar Al-Hayat (Britain) of September 7 reported that an AUB medical team successfully performed, at AUBMC, the first "artificial heart" implant in Lebanon, thus saving the life of a 37-year-old man suffering from terminal heart failure. The papers said that the six-hour procedure was led by two AUB doctors, Drs. Pierre Sfeir and Hadi Skouri, and was deemed successful as the patient survived the first critical 72 hours, showing improvements in all his vital signs. The papers also said that the "artificial heart" implant operation involves the insertion of a device called the Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) into the defective heart and that LVAD takes over the functions of the left ventricle of the heart, the dominant chamber which is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood via the aorta to the rest of the body.

• The Middle East Online of September 7 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about how American President Barack Obama may use his speech at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly to push forward the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Khouri suggested that Obama refer to previous U.N. resolutions, and update them to adjust to today’s realities, saying that the key to resuming the peace process lies in previous U.N. resolutions.

• The Middle East Online of September 9 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, commenting on the effectiveness of western invasions of nations in Middle East and the region.

• Al-Liwa' (Jordan) of September 9 published an interview with the General Secretary of The Arab Environmental and Development Forum Najib Saab. The paper said that Saab taught engineering at AUB.

• Al Ahram Weekly of September 10 reported on Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri’s stepping down from his position in light of the failure to reach an agreement between majority and opposition blocs to form a new government. Karim Makdisi, a professor of political science at the American University of Beirut, said, “I think this will escalate, this is how things start in Lebanon. The majority are going to start to create the impression that the opposition are making things worse. There's nothing really stopping this government formation but I now don't think it will happen soon.”

• Tehran Times (Iran) of September 10 reported that an AUB medical team successfully performed, at AUBMC, the first "artificial heart" implant in Lebanon, thus saving the life of a 37-year-old man suffering from terminal heart failure. The paper said that the six-hour procedure was led by two AUB doctors, Drs. Pierre Sfeir and Hadi Skouri, and was deemed successful as the patient survived the first critical 72 hours, showing improvements in all his vital signs. The paper also said that the "artificial heart" implant operation involves the insertion of a device called the Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) into the defective heart and that LVAD takes over the functions of the left ventricle of the heart, the dominant chamber which is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood via the aorta to the rest of the body.

• Kuwait Times of September 12 and The Peninsula Qatar of September 11 reported on the fears of possible unrest in Lebanon due to the ongoing disagreements over the formation of a new cabinet and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri stepping down from his post. Karim Makdisi, a political science professor at the American University of Beirut, ruled out the possibility of violence and predicted that Hariri will once again be selected to form a new government.

• The Daily Star and The Peninsula (Qatar) of September 12, and Tehran Times (Iran) and Kuwait Times (Kuwait) of September 13 published a political piece discussing the ramifications of the recent resignation of PM designated Saad Hariri after he failed to form a national unity government. The papers quoted AUB professor of political studies Karim Makdisi as saying "No one, neither in Lebanon nor abroad, has an interest in seeing fighting resuming in the streets."

• Al-Ahram (Egypt) of September 13 published a political piece discussing the recent political crisis in Lebanon after PM designate Saad Hariri's attempt to form a national unity government failed. The paper quoted AUB professor of political studies Karim Makdisi as saying ""The majority are going to start to create the impression that the opposition is making things worse."

• Al-Waqt (Bahrain) and Al-Wasat (Bahrain) of September 14 reported that Bahrain University College is receiving academic support by AUB which is assessing and guiding its academic and curricular developments.

• ADN (Other) of September 15 published an interview with Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. The paper said that Salehi is an AUB graduate.

• Arab Times (Kuwait) of September 15 published an interview with Lebanese singer Haneen who said that the last time she performed was at the American University of Beirut at a concert organized by WAAAUB.

• The Middle East Online of September 16 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, urging the United States to adopt a different approach towards dealing with Iran. Khouri said, “It would be a tragic wasted opportunity for the United States now to enter into talks with Iran using the same old approaches. It is particularly juvenile, offensive and counter-productive for American officials and analysts to say, as some do regularly that the US is talking to Iran only to be able to impose tougher sanctions soon with a clear conscience, based on the fact that it had tried talking but got nowhere.”

• UNDP of September 16 reported that 150 Lebanese university students paid a visit to the Lebanese house of parliament to mark the United Nations International Day of Democracy. Yahia Ouieni, an American University of Beirut student, said that the visit was very significant. He said, “It was a very rich experience to visit the parliament, have a tour in its departments and meet a number of deputies.”

• Al-Ahali (Jordan) of September 16 and The Jordan Times (Jordan) of September 18 reported on the sit in organized by the labor union of the employees of UNRWA. The papers quoted the head of the union's executive council Musa Nimer who questioned why the employees' benefits, which once included medical coverage at AUBMC, no longer existed.

• www.aljazeera.net (Qatar) of September 16 published a profile of Grace Khoury who, despite being visually challenged, has become a successful writer and translator. The paper said that Khoury has a bachelor's degree in English language from AUB.

• The Middle East Online of September 21 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about the ineptness of the Arab countries in dealing with issues of climate change, criticizing their lack of action towards mounting global climate challenges.

• The Middle East Online of September 23 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, in which he suspects that American President Barack Obama’s efforts to make a breakthrough in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process will fail. He added however, that unlike his predecessors, Obama will not surrender upon failure, but rather, he will resume his efforts once he settles more pressing issues back in the United States.

• ReliefWeb of September 23 reported on the events that were part of the commemoration of the 60^th anniversary of the formation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Present at the commemoration were U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, as well as several dignitaries from all over the world. The event also featured two panel discussions that were moderated by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, and dealt with the theme of “Contributing to a Better Future: UNRWA's Record and the Road Ahead.”

• MENAFN of September 24 reported on King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) that aims at attracting world-class scientific and research talent. Among its faculty is Niveen Khashab, an assistant professor of chemical science who started her studies in chemistry at the American University of Beirut.

• Al-Waqt (Bahrain) of September 24 published an article featuring the role of women in contemporary Bahraini society. The paper said that the director of Higher Educational Institute for Girls is an AUB alumna.

• Ar-Rouiah (Kuwait) of September 26 published a profile of Shadia Rifai Habbal, a recipient of an MS in physics from AUB, who is the first Arab woman scientist to study the atmosphere surrounding the sun.

• The Middle East Online of September 28 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, praising the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees for its efforts since its formation in light of the commemoration ceremony marking its 60^th anniversary.

• At-Tajdeed Al-Arabi (Other) of September 28 and www.aljazeera.net (Qatar) of September 29 published an article reviewing the political thought of former Palestinian Christian Knesset member Azmi Bishara. The paper quoted Azmi Bshara on May 14 during a lecture he gave at AUB's Issam Fares Hall on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the NAKBA.

• Al-Awan (Kuwait) of September 29 published a profile of the chair of the Kuwaiti Banking system Sheikh Salem Abdul Aziz. The paper said that Abdul Aziz graduated from the AUB 33 years ago.

• Al-Rai (Kuwait) of September 29 reported that an AUB medical team at AUBMC successfully performed the first "artificial heart" implant in Lebanon, thus saving the life of 37-year-old Muhammad Awada who was suffering from terminal heart failure. The paper said that the six-hour procedure was led by two AUB doctors, Pierre Sfeir and Hadi Skouri, and was deemed successful as the patient survived the first critical 72 hours, showing improvements in all his vital signs.

• Al Watan Daily of September 29 reported on the second phase of the high-level training program for talented National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) employees in collaboration with the American University of Beirut. The sessions of the second phase of the talented staff development program entitled “Developing and Managing People” was conducted in September for 30 participants selected from the various departments in the bank.

• The Middle East Online of September 29 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about the necessary principles needed to reach successes in collaborations between foreign and Middle Eastern organizations. One of the eight points he mentioned was his observation that “any international organization that hopes to succeed in our region must enjoy legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of three different but critical players: major Western and international institutions, and also governments and civil society/grassroots groups in the Middle East. Ignoring even one of these three parties will almost automatically guarantee failure.”

• Al-Yawm (Kuwait), Ar-Rouiah (Kuwait), Al-Jareeda (Kuwait), Awan (Kuwait), Al-Seyassah (Kuwait), and Ar-Rai (Kuwait) of September 30 reported that the National Bank of Kuwait launched the second round of development training for its staff to enable them to assume leadership positions and achieve future promotions. The papers said that the training was held in collaboration with the American University of Beirut, and that the AUB Olayan School of Business Dean George Najjar and AUB professor Muhammad Zeidan personally oversaw and monitored the training sessions.