Check Archive

November 2008

• The National Newspaper of November 1 reported on the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies receiving the Hamdan Award for best medical institute in the Arab world. The Center’s success is attributed to its cooperation with the institutions throughout the Middle East, such as the American University of Beirut, and the Jordan University. The Hamdan Award is sponsored by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the deputy ruler of Dubai. The objective of the prize is to provide an incentive for the development of research and health education in the Arab world.

• Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat (KSA) of November 1 reported that AUB has received a $10-million pledge from Beirut MP Saad Hariri to name and endow the School of Nursing at the University. The paper said that the school will be named after his late father, Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic B. Hariri, who was an AUB trustee and a generous supporter of the University.

• Al Jazeera of November 2 reported on doubt in Lebanon that the United States’ policies towards Lebanon will change with the arrival of a new American administration. “In the foreseeable future there will be no policy change, particularly with all the economic problems that have beset the US. And there are more important issues that will take space before Lebanon - Iraq and Iran to name two,” said Ahmad Moussalli, a political science professor at the American University of Beirut.

• Al-Rai (Kuwait) of November 2 reported on a panel discussion held by Lebanese political scientist to discuss the effect of the recent US elections on US policies towards the Middle East. The paper quoted AUB professor of political studies Shafiq El Masri as saying "the US perception of and policy towards Hizbullah will be constant."

• The Middle East Online of November 3 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, on how the United States is coming realize that its policy of military action to achieve its demands may not be the best option. He made his statement in light of the United States’ recent announcement that it is willing to hold talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan, the same regime it waged a war against a few years ago. He said that this development, among others in the Middle East, is the beginning of conflict resolution in the region.

• Saudi Gazette of November 3 reported on the nomination of Khalid al-Falih to succeed Abdallah S. Jum’ah as president and CEO of Saudi Aramco, who is retiring after 40 years of service at the company. Falih graduated from the American University of Beirut and completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard University in 1976. He is currently executive vice president of Operations at Saudi Aramco where he has been working for nearly 30 years.

• The Middle East Times of November 4 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, the director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about issues of racism and religious discrimination that emerged during the political campaign of the two presidential hopefuls, seeing as Democratic candidate and president-elect Barack Obama is African American and whose father, Hussein, has a Muslim name.  

• Masrawi (Egypt) and AFP of November 4, and Al-Ghad (Jordan) and Al-Bawaba (Britain) of November 5 published an editorial on the sessions held to discuss the Lebanese national unity government by Lebanese MPs. The papers included a quotation by AUB professor of political studies Hilal Khashan.

• Al-Watan (Jordan) of November 4 reported on the ceremony held to graduate the fourth class of students at Dhofar University. The paper said that the university seeks collaboration and consultation AUB and that AUB professor Hassan Diab was present at the ceremony.

• The Peninsula Qatar of November 5 reported on the resumption of the national dialogue in Lebanon and speculation of whether the talks will help end disputes among the rival political parties. “I am willing to bet my last penny that nothing will happen on Wednesday or in subsequent meetings,” said Hilal Khashan, head of the political science department at the American University of Beirut.

• The Gulf Today of November 5 and Middle East Events of November 4 reported that the sources and health effects of air pollution will be discussed by global experts in a conference to be organized by the Environmental Center for Arab Towns (ECAT). The conference, to be held on November 11, will be under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum the Deputy Ruler of Dubai. Speakers at the event include Dr. Najat Saliba, Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry at the American University of Beirut.

• Times of Oman of November 5 and Oman Tribune and the Jordan Times of November 4 reported that the Dhofar University graduation ceremony will be attended by representatives from the American University of Beirut along with a number of other dignitaries.

• AME Info of November 5, Express 4 Me, Middle East Business News, and Arabian Business of November 4, and Middle East Events and Emirates News Agency of November 3 reported on the Arab Journalism Award's new board that includes a number of figures from across the Arab world. Among the new figures are Majidah Abu Fadhil, Professor of Media Studies at the American University of Beirut.

• Middle East Business News of November 7 reported on the graduation of ceremony of the fourth batch of 386 Dhofar University students for the academic year 2007-2008. The ceremony was attended by Dhofar governorate, top officials, representatives of the American University of Beirut, university academic and teaching staff.

• Dar Al-Hayat of November 7 published an article on the pervasiveness of smoking in Lebanese public and domestic spaces and its service as a means to alleviate psychological stress. The paper included information provided by the AUBMC that the Lebanese government subsidizes medication that help with mental health.

• Redtram of November 8 reported on the inauguration of the Mahmoud Malhas Common Room on November 7 at the American University of Beirut. The common room’s renovation at the university’s West Hall was possible through a $600,000 donation by Malhas, an AUB alumnus. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Culture Minister Tammam Salam, Jordanian former ministers Rajaa Muasher and Adnan Badran, Lebanese former minister Karam Karam, Palestinian former minister Maher Masri, and former Ambassador Khalil Makkawi, who is currently the president of the Worldwide Alumni Association of AUB.

• Al-Waqt (Bahrain), Al-Ayyam (Palestine), Radio Sawa (USA), Al-Qabas (Kuwait), and Al-Ra'i (Kuwait) of November 8 published an editorial on the significance of the election of Barak Obama as the US new president and included a quotation by AUB professor of political studies Amal Saad Ghareeb.

• Al-Rai (Jordan) of November 9 published an article discussing types of universities among which are ones that depend on endowments and donations for extra funding. The paper gave the example of AUB which recently held a ceremony at AUB West Hall to dedicate the Common Room to Mahmoud Malhas, an AUB alumnus of 1975 who donated $600,000 to renovate and equip it.

• Al-Ru'ya (Kuwait) of November 9 published an editorial on the significance of the election of Barak Obama as the US new president and included a quotation by AUB professor of political studies Amal Saad Ghareeb.

• The Middle East Online of November 10 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about the recent election of Barack Obama as president of the United States. He said that the United States now has an opportunity to rectify the mistakes of the outgoing administration. He said, “Obama now has an extraordinary opportunity: to realign American domestic and foreign values, and thus to reconnect the United States with the world. He can build on the recently demonstrated uplifting and best traditions of America that have brought him to the White House.”

• Ad-Dustour (Jordan) of November 11 published a profile on Jordanian pilot Sheikh Berjes Al-Hadeed who was admitted to the American University of Beirut Medical Center after he had a pilot training accident.

• Al-Qabas (Jordan) and Al-Rai (Kuwait) of November 11, and Al-Jareeda (Kuwait) of November 12 published an in memoriam on Kuwaiti journalist Muhammad Khaled Al-Qatma who received a BA from AUB in 1957.

• The Central News Agency of November 11 and Al-Balad and Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat (KSA) of November 13 reported that AUB has signed an agreement with Booz and Company, a prestigious international management consulting firms, under which the firm will donate $300,000 toward an endowed scholarship fund for engineering students at AUB.

• The Middle East Online of November 12 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, on the inauguration of the Network of Global Agenda Councils at the World Economic Forum that took place in Dubai recently. He praised the meeting as “one example of how like-minded people around the world can pool their knowledge and resources in a global collaboration to address growing challenges and threats that are no longer confined to a single sector, country or region.”

• The National Newspaper of November 12 reported on the expansion of the Zaatar W’Zeit franchise, which is popular with students from the American University of Beirut, to the Arab Gulf region to include five branches in Kuwait, two in Jordan and seven in the UAE.

• Middle East Business of November 13 and Calibre Macro World of November 12 stressed the need for Arab states to invest in educational centers within the Arab world rather than “squandering” their resources on international institutions that have only “gathered disdain” in the West due to the anti-Arab sentiments in the world. The article suggested that more should be done on the local Arab scene through bolstering already existing institutions, such the American University of Beirut.

• Ad-Dustour (Jordan) of November 13 published a profile of Palestinian journalist Muhammad Al-Khatib who established professional relationships with ambassadors who graduated from AUB.

• All for Syria of November 14 reported on a lecture by Rana Salam at the American University of Beirut about her book of undergarments, “The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie.” She conducted her study by touring the traditional marketplaces in Syria where she discovered extravagant lingerie produced by Syrian companies.

• Al-Rai (Jordan) of November 15 reported on the Middle East's first solar-powered car which was built at AUB by n FEA team.

• Ad-Dustour (Jordan) of November 16 published a profile of Jordanian journalist Nizar Jardana who graduated from AUB in the early 1940s.

• Al-Awan (Kuwait) of November 16 published an interview with Khaled Al-Turky, member of the board of trustees of the Arab Thought Foundation. In the interview, Al-Turky refers to an Arab educational reform project, TATWIR, being implemented in partnership with AUB's department of education.

• The Middle East Online of November 17 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, Director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about how the new American administration under President-elect Barack Obama must tackle the two main causes of conflict in the Middle East, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and Iran’s dispute with the West, rather than concern itself with the results of these core issues. He said, “A critical first step is to sort out the genuine conflicts from the ideological rhetoric -- the political posturing, electoral populism, and demagoguery.”

• Al-Watan (KSA) of November 18 published a political editorial on the recent election of Barack Obama as the new US president. The paper said that the new US administration should follow suite of American educational institutions such as the American University of Beirut in spreading tolerance.

• Gulf Daily News and Calibre Macro World of November 19 reported on Lebanese stand-up comedian Nemr Abou Nassar. An American University of Beirut graduate, he said that he started off his professional career in stand-up comedy after the July 2006 war between Lebanon and Israel to "create a scene of cultural entertainment where people can truly escape". He since gained popularity giving shows in Lebanon and the Arab world.

• Kazinform of November 19 reported on English Foreign Minister David Miliband’s recent visit to Syria and Lebanon in which he tackled the issues of terrorism and security in the region. Speaking at the American University of Beirut, he said Britain “will cooperate on counter-terrorism issues with the Syrian authorities.”

• Gulf Weekly of November 19 published an interview with Lebanese comedian Nemr Abou Nassar in light of an upcoming show he will be giving in Bahrain. In the interview, he explained his rise as a comedian that started during his university years at the American University of Beirut.

• Kuwait Times and the Middle East Online of November 19 reported on British Foreign Minister Miliband’s recent visit to Syria in Lebanon. In Lebanon, he held talks with President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, and attended a question and answer session at the American University of Beirut.

• The Daily Gulf News (Bahrain) of November 19 reported that Nassir Abu Nemr, an AUB student, who is pursuing a career in stand up comedy, will be performing in Bahrain next week.

• Saba (Yemen) of November 19 published an interview with the director of the Thawra Hospital of Yemen Dr. Ahmad 'Unsi who thinks that there is a lack of transparency on the part of the physicians at hospitals in the Middle East including the American University of Beirut Medical Center.

• Maktoob Business and AME Info of November 20 reported that Fujitsu Siemens Computers has donated a number of its mid-range workstations to the students of the American University of Beirut. The CELSIUS M460 workstations will be deployed at the Faculty of Engineering's new Information Research Lab as part of an initiative to make the most up-to-date technologies accessible to graduate students preparing to enter the professional world.

• Al-Liwa', Al-Mustaqbal, Ad-Diyar, As-Safir, An-Nahar, Al-Bayraq, Al-Akhbar, L'Orient Le Jour, The Daily Star, Ash-Sharq, Sharq Star, Al-Anwar, Anwar Star, The Central News Agency, Dar Al-Hayat (Britain), Kuwait Times (Kuwait), Al-Ittihad (UAE), Middle East Times (Britain), and the Guardian Unlimited (Britain) of November 20 reported that the British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and MP David Miliband gave a one hour talk at the American University of Beirut. The paper said that Miliband was invited by the Center for Arab and Middle Eastern Studies and that the debate was held in West Hall's Bathish Hall and attracted a large audience of AUB students and faculty, as well as British Ambassador Frances Guy.

• Al-Rai (Kuwait) of November 20 reported that the Arab Thought Foundation is implementing an Arab educational reform project, TATWIR, in partnership with AUB's department of education.

• The National Newspaper of November 21 presented a guide to visiting Beirut that recommended areas to visit such as the American University of Beirut and Beirut’s central district.

• Arabian Business of November 22 conducted an interview with Elie Khouri, Regional Managing Director of Omnicom Media Group (OMG). Based in New York, Khouri was born in Lebanon where he studied Business Administration at the American University where he graduated in 1986. The interview starts his early rise in finance and later his branching out into advertising and reaching his current position in OMG.

• The National Newspaper of November 22 reported on a new program at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation that allows students in the Emirates to study in world famous universities such as the American University of Beirut and Harvard University in the United States.

• UAE Interact and The General Secretariat of the Executive Council - Abu Dhabi of November 23 and Emirates News Agency and Breitbart.com of November 22 reported on 37^th anniversary of UAE’s National Day on December 2, 2008. President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan highlighted the UAE’s achievements and its contributions to the Arab world such as aiding various states throughout the Arab world. The UAE also witnessed the establishment of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charity and Humanitarian Foundation that donated $100,000 to the Children’s Cancer Center in Lebanon at the American University of Beirut Medical Center.

• The Middle East Online of November 24 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, about the recent seizure of Somali pirates of a Saudi oil ship. He said that the incident is significant since it involves one of the most impoverished Arab states, Somalia, taking on one of the most powerful Arab countries and oil giant, Saudi Arabia.

• The Middle East Online of November 26 published an article by Rami G. Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, in which he stressed the need for change in American foreign policy towards Iran. He noted that some voices in the United States have started to emerge urging officials to adopt a more diplomatic stance toward Iran, rather than the policy of intimidation and that has characterized the outgoing administration.