Category: RECORDS IN ME & AFRICA*

Lbachir BenMohamed – Scientist, Immunologist. Cutting Edge Work on New Covid-19 Vaccine in the US

Moroccan scientist Lbachir BenMohamed is making headlines in the US for working on a universal COVID-19 vaccine — a vaccine that would work on all variants of the coronavirus, even those that have not appeared yet.

At the Institute for Immunology affiliated to the University of California, Irvine, BenMohamed is leading a nine-member research team tasked with developing a universal COVID -19 vaccine .

Vaccine on a patch

Another original concept that BenMohamed and his team are working on is the injection method of the vaccine.

While all currently-available COVID-19 vaccines are injected through a syringe, the in-development universal vaccine would be administered through a patch, similarly to the widely-available nicotine patches.

Currently:

  • Professor, of Immunology,University of California, Irvine (2014). Founder and Head of Cellular and and Molecular Immunolgy
  • Assistant Researcher, University of California, Irvine (2002)

Education:

  • Diploma – Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Alghadir, Morocco
  • Licence (Bachelor’s equivalent) – Biochemistry
  • Diploma of Advanced Studies in Immunology – University of Paris VII (aka) Paris Diderot University
  • M.S. in Immunolgy and Parasitolgy – Pasteur Institute, Paris
  • Ph.D. in Immunology – Pasteur Institute, Paris (1997)

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The immunologist and his team are developing a universal vaccine against COVID-19.The immunologist and his team are developing a universal vaccine against COVID-19. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) / pix: moroccoworldnews.com

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U.S.A. / MOROCCAN AMERICAN

A New Museum Dedicated to the Life of the Prophet (pbuh) inaugrated : February 02nd, 2021

The opening ceremony of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Life of the Prophet and Islamic Civilization took place in Madinah on February 02nd.

The International Exhibition and Museum of the Life of the Prophet and Islamic Civilization was launched under the supervision of the Muslim World League (MWL) and is the first in a series of Islamic museums scheduled to be constructed around the world under the organization’s umbrella.

Located next to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, the museum is open 24 hours a day, and is dedicated to the history of the Islamic world and the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The exhibition features dozens of paintings and interactive displays. At the moment, there are seven languages available to visitors — Arabic, English, Spanish, Urdu, French, Turkish and Indonesian. It also includes a 4DX theater, which screens a series of films about the Prophet’s life.

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FASTFACTS

The International Exhibition and Museum of the Life of the Prophet and Islamic Civilization

• Size: 5,000 square meters

• Location: Next to the Prophet’s Mosque, Madinah

• Number of floors: Two

• Exhibit and pavilion displays: 25 main pavilions

• 500 antique items from the Prophet’s era

• A main screen to feature the masterpieces found in the Qur’an and the Sunnah

• A movie theater showing a film about the Prophet’s life

• Virtual reality shows

• A special presentation of the Constitution of Madinah and the Makkah Document

• A presentation of the efforts of Saudi Arabia in serving the Qur’an and the Sunnah

• Languages: French, English, Urdu, Spanish, Turkish, Indonesian, Arabic

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source: arabnews.com

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pix: arabnews.com

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Madinah , SAUDI ARABIA

Mohammed Dewji. Businessman. Philanthropist.

Mohammed Dewji (aka) Mohammed ‘Mo’ Gulamabbas Dewji – Businessman. Entrepreneur. Philanthropist. President of the MeTL Group.

The MeTL group has investments in textiles, energy, petroleum, agriculture, insurance, mobile telephony, transport and logistics, trading, real estate, and food and beverages (edible oils, milling, carbonated soft drinks, water).

The group is conducting business in 8 countries and employs over 28,000 people. MeTL’s operations contribute ~3.5% of Tanzania’s GDP.

Member of Parliament for Singida Urban – Tanzania.

Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree – International Business and Finance, Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA

Awards / Honours

  • 2012: Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum
  • 2014: 10 Most Powerful Men In Africa, Forbes Magazine
  • 2014: African Philanthropist of the Year Award by the African Leadership magazine
  • 2014: Top 100 of young economic leaders
  • 2015: Philanthropist of the Year Award for the East African region by All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA)
  • 2015: Business Leader of the Year Award by African Business Magazine
  • 2015: Forbes Africa’s Person Of The Year 2015
  • 2016: Choiseul 100 Africa 2016: Economic Leaders for Tomorrow

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pix: weforum.org

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TANZANIA

Reema Dodin – First Palestinian-American to Serve as White House Staffer : January 2021

Biden appoints Jordanian-American Reema Dodin as White House Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs

Serves as Co-Deputy Director, White House Office of Legislative Affairs.

Education:

  • BA – University of California, Berkeley – Economics and Political Science (2002)
  • JD – Law Degree – University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign(JD) – (2006)

Book:

  • Book – Co-Author : ‘Inside Congress: A Guide for Navigating the Politics of the House and Senate Floor (2017)

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Senate staffer Reema Dodin speaks at the Gibran Gala in 2018. (Screen capture/YouTube)

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U.S.A / ARAB-AMERICAN /PALESTINIAN- JORDANIAN -AMERICAN

Tunisian Filmmaker Kauther Ben Hamaad and Tunisian-French Actor Samir Bouajila Win Awards at France’s Lumiere Awards : January 2021

Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania’s “The Man Who Sold his Skin” was awarded the International Coproduction Lumiere Award, while Tunisian-French actor Sami Bouajila took home the Best Actor Lumiere Award for his performance in Mehdi Barsaoui’s “A Son.”

The Lumieres — the French equivalent of the American Golden Globes — was held in January 2021 and broadcast on French TV channel Canal+. France-based foreign reporters vote on the film awards.

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pix: arabweekly.com / Tunisian film director Kaouther Ben Hania (L) and producer Nadim Cheikhrouha (R) pose during a photo session in Paris on January 15, 2021 following the 26th “Ceremonie des lumieres” cinema award ceremony. (AFP)

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TUNISIAN / TUNISIAN-FRENCH

Trump Grants Bahrain’s King Hamad Top Honor on last Day in Office

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa was awarded a rare medal by US President Donald Trump in recognition of his “remarkable efforts” to consolidate relations and the close partnership between the two countries, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported on Tuesday.

Trump decorated the monarch with the Legion of Merit, Degree Chief Commander, “a rarely-awarded, prestigious decoration that can only be bestowed by the president, typically to chiefs of state or heads of government of other countries,” the White House said.


The king was also recognized for his “prominent role in pushing bilateral cooperation to broader and more comprehensive horizons, which promoted the common interests of the two countries and its peoples,” BNA said.

source: arabnews.com

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pix: arabnews.com / Creator: Mandel Ngan | Credit: AFP/Getty Images

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BAHRAIN

Moroccan Nidal Benali to Represent the UN Youth Engagement Group

Nidal Benali is the first Moroccan to represent the UN Major Group for Children and Youth.

The United Nations has appointed Al Akhawayn University Graduate Nidal Benali to represent the UN Major Group for Children and Youth (UN MGCY.)

Benali will serve as one of its Global Focal Points for Peace and Security. The appointment makes him the first Moroccan under the age of 30 to be granted this diplomatic honor.

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pix: moroccoworldnews.com

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MOROCCO

ADFD-funded Solar Project Lights Up and Powers Berbera City in Somaliland

Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) funded solar energy project at Berbera City in Somaliland has been connected to the local electricity grid. It will meet the increasing demand of the entire city of approximately 50,000 people.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on the sidelines of the event, which was witnessed by ADFD that had transferred the plant’s ownership to the Ministry of Energy and Minerals on behalf of the Government of Somaliland and appointed a consulting company, Coretec, to provide necessary support to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in developing an overall operational structure for the project.

The deal agreed in principle on a public-private partnership (PPP) to operate and maintain the solar plant, the first of its kind in the country. “This could well serve as a reference model for the rest of the country,” said Jama Mohamoud Egal, Minister of Energy and Minerals, Republic of Somaliland.

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pix: wam.ae

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E) / SOMALILAND

Asrar Damdam and Lama Al-Abdi honored by L’Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents Program

 Two Saudi Women Asrar Damdam and Lama Al-Abdi recently won awards from the L’Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents Program for their work.

Dr. Asrar Damdam, was honored in the Ph.D. students’ category for her role in the development of a pump meant to revolutionize the way a healthy heartbeat is regulated — combining medicine, electrical engineering and electro-physics.

 Dr. Lama Al-Abdi in recognition of her research on chromatin — a substance within chromosomes consisting of DNA and protein — and the regulation of genes in relation to vision loss.

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pix: twitter ( L t R) Dr. Lama AlAbdi and Dr. Asrar Damdam

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SAUDI ARABIA

Ouahib Timoulali, First Moroccan to Win NY Academy of Sciences Cybersecurity Challenge : June 2020

Ouahib Timoulali claimed a win in the Global STEM Alliance competition.

Timoulali is an industrial engineer from the National School of Applied Sciences (ENSA) in Kenitra.

He worked within a team of different nationalities. Their idea labeled the “Cybercastle,” won the “Cybersecurity in the Age of IoT” challenge.

First Moroccan national to win the competition in the history of the New York Academy of Sciences.

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pix: moroccoworldnews.com

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MOROCCO