Tag: Arabian Records

JORDAN: First Jordanian, Arab female Doctor Asil Jallad to enter Gaza hails Gazan women as ‘real heroes’ of war

 Making history by being the first Jordanian and Arab female doctor to enter Gaza, Asil Jallad assisted in delivering 500 babies during her two-month voluntary work in the war-torn Strip. 

Jallad, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist, has volunteered with the International Medical Corps and arrived to Gaza during the sixth week of the Israeli offensive on October 7. 

With a daily workload of 10 to 15 childbirths, Jallad said she was extending medical assistance to Gaza’s most marginalised populations: Women and children. 

Citing a UN report, Jallad said that every 10 minutes, a child is born in Gaza. Currently, between 50,000 to 60,000 women are pregnant, and there are approximately 155,000 women, including pregnant women and wet nurses, in need of medical attention.

Reflecting on her experiences, Jallad hailed the resilience of the women of Gaza, whom she described as the “true heroes amidst the chaos of war”.

“When I decided to go to Gaza, they kept telling me that I am a hero, but when you see the women of Gaza, you realise that you are merely a small heroine compared to the heroes you see every day,” she said.

 In her role at the field hospital in the southern region by the International Medical Corps, Jallad said she had focused on providing comprehensive care for pregnant women, conducting surgeries, and offering consultations on sexual and reproductive health.

Despite grappling with limited medical equipment and resources, the International Medical Corps clinics in the field hospital in Gaza provide medical aid to 700 to 1000 patients every day, with the female clinic alone attending to 100 to 120 patients daily.

Jallad has witnessed firsthand the dire consequences of malnutrition among women in Gaza, leading to blood deficiency, dehydration and reproductive health issues.

She emphasised the “profound” challenges faced by pregnant women, including the dire shortage of postnatal care facilities. “Due to the limited number of beds available, pregnant women are compelled to vacate the center within two hours of giving birth, depriving them of crucial recovery time and support.”

“Pregnant women should have 10.5 hemoglobin levels as minimum, however I saw a pale pregnant woman with 4 hemoglobin level walking on her feet to support her other children in the tent.”

“One of the most touching cases, is when people come to consult to get pregnant, because the six months of war means six months in a woman’s life, and age is considered the most important factor in the pregnancy and birth.”

According to UNFPA, around 155,000 pregnant women and new mothers in Gaza are in desperate need of basic healthcare, while 690,000 women and girls in Gaza lack access to menstrual hygiene supplies and privacy with some reports of contraceptive pills being taken to avoid the unhygienic menstrual conditions.

Jallad said that the dire living conditions of displaced Palestinians, cramped into tiny tents with inadequate facilities, exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.

She decried the scarcity of essential medical supplies and the impact of restrictions on medication entry imposed by Israeli authorities.

As the conflict continues, Jallad warns of the looming threat of chronic health problems and blood clots due to the lack of medical aid delivery to the strip. She stresses the urgent need for increased access to medical care, particularly for pregnant women and new mothers who are struggling to survive amidst the devastation.

“Deformities will be seen in the next few years, or in the next 10-20 years, as we don’t know what are the ingredients used in the bombs.”

Jallad shed light on the mental health toll of the conflict, with many individuals unaware of the whereabouts or well-being of their families. 

Despite recent efforts to improve medical facilities in certain areas, Jallad raised concerns about the neglect of the north, where millions of refugees reside. She underlined the urgent need for sustained international support to address the ongoing medical and humanitarian needs across Gaza.

Seven months since Israeli strikes began in response to October 7 attack, more than 10,000 women have been reportedly killed in Gaza, among them 6,000 mothers. Some 19,000 children have been orphaned, UN Women said. 

The UN agency’s survey of 360 respondents, including 182 women in Rafah, revealed disturbing data that more than six in 10 pregnant women reported complications, including 95 per cent with urinary tract infections and 80 per cent with anemia. In households with nursing mothers, 72 per cent reported challenges in breastfeeding and in meeting the nutritional needs of their babies.

source/content: jordantimes.com (headline edited)

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JORDAN

EGYPTIAN Professor Mahmoud Abdel-Aty was awarded Best Mathematician in the World by China!

Born in Sohag, Egypt, Mathematician Mahmoud Abdel-Aty was awarded the world’s best mathematician by China for his contribution to quantum algorithms and quantum optics!

The scientist told Sky News Arabia “My name was nominated by a number of scholars from more than one country, and the committee filtered all the applicants and selected the best among them,”

The Chinese award Qin-Jiu-Shao is considered to be one of the most important awards in mathematics in the world will be awarded to winners in November.

The Egyptian scientist, who occupies the position of Chairman of the National Committee for Mathematics, confirmed that through him he was able to explain a large number of problems that had no explanation in the past, especially with the great and amazing progress in the manufacture of computers, especially quantum computers.

He also mentioned how happy he gets whenever he’s awarded saying, “It’s the most beautiful in his life,”

Adding “It gives us confidence that what we are doing is of real value.

The Award represents the great appreciation of our country, and the international awards represent a global appreciation for the name of Egypt and its great scientists.”

source/content: loving.co / Lovin Cairo (headline edited)

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EGYPT

SYRIA-BRITISH : Microsoft hires British-Syrian Mustafa Suleyman to head its AI business

Microsoft has hired British-Syrian Mustafa Suleyman to head its AI business, cementing his role in the industry.

Mustafa Suleyman , a highly respected British-Syrian AI expert, has been named as Microsoft’s artificial intelligence business head, as the company cements its position in this booming field.

Suleyman co-founded DeepMind , which Google purchased in 2014, before starting up Inflection.ai in 2022 with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, to guide AI away from racist, sexist or violent behaviour. It has also been named a rival to Microsoft in the field of AI.

He also co-wrote ‘The Coming Wave’, a highly influential book in the tech industry that examines the potential and pitfalls of AI.

Microsoft said in a post on LinkedIn on Monday named Sulyaman as CEO of Microsoft AI, leading all of its consumer products and research, including its generative AI service Copilot as well as its Bing search engine and Edge browser. 

He will report directly to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella , who welcomed his appointment in a blog post.

“This infusion of new talent will enable us to accelerate our pace yet again,” Nadella wrote.

The hiring is likely to bolster Microsoft’s lead position in the booming AI industry, as big tech companies battle for positions to capitalise on the demand for AI services.

Microsoft has teamed up with ChatGPT maker OpenAI, investing billions of dollars into the San Francisco company, and recently partnered with France’s Mistral  , a hot AI startup.

Suleyman is the son of a Syrian taxi driver and English nurse and grew up in North London. He dropped out of Oxford University aged 19, before founding the Muslim Youth Hotline, which became one of the biggest counseling services for Muslims in the UK.

His appointment to the top Microsoft position has been welcomed by British Arabs and Syrians worldwide, who have commended him for his journey from relatively humble beginnings to one of the leading positions in the IT industry.

He was named in The New Arab‘s ‘The notable British Arabs making a difference’ list in 2021 .

source/content: newarab.com (headline edited)

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Sulayman is one of the most influential people in the field of AI [Getty]

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BRITISH / SYRIAN

SAUDI ARABIA : Taekwondo athlete Donia Abu Taleb wins Best Arab Achievement Award, Cairo

  • Taleb, the first Saudi athlete to directly qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics, receives honor from Egyptian sports minister
  • Saudi Taekwondo Federation named Best Arab Federation in recognition of its achievements both locally and internationally

Saudi taekwondo standout Donia Abu Taleb has been honored with the Best Arab Achievement Award at a ceremony in Cairo celebrating the achievements of Arab athletes.

About 40 athletes from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Tunisia, Jordan, Algeria, Qatar and Morocco were honored, along with businessmen from various Arab countries.

Egypt’s Minister of Youths and Sports, Ashraf Subhi, handed the recognition to Taleb, the first Saudi athlete to directly qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Saudi Taekwondo Federation was also awarded the Best Arab Federation in recognition of its achievements both locally and internationally, particularly Taleb’s qualification for the Paris Olympics.

Mohammed Al-Shehri, executive director of the federation, accepted the award on behalf of the sports group.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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Saudi taekwondo standout Donia Abu Taleb was the first Saudi athlete to directly qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Supplied)

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SAUDI ARABIA

U.A.E: Emirates Global Aluminum Completes the Acquisition of German ‘Lichtmetal Aluminium Gesserei Hannover GmbH’

Emirates Global Aluminium, today, announced the completion of the acquisition of the German company, Lichtmetall Aluminum Gesserei Hannover GmbH.

Last March, Emirates Global Aluminum announced its intention to acquire “Lichtmetal” from “Lichtmetal Holding Limited”, a subsidiary of an investment fund managed by “Quantum Capital Partners Limited”. The transaction met all regulatory approvals and conditions required for completion.

Lichtmetall is a specialized European smelter that uses renewable energy to produce about 30,000 tons annually of aluminum cylinders, and secondary aluminum represents about 80% of the raw materials used in production. The company primarily produces solid cylinders with a diameter of up to 1,150 mm for use in the manufacture of heavy-duty extruded aluminum profiles and large cast parts.

The acquisition of Lichtmetal strengthens EGA’s existing business in Europe, as EGA exports more than 600,000 tons of primary aluminum to Europe annually, and is considered one of the largest aluminum suppliers in Europe to many sectors, including automobiles and construction.

Abdul Nasser Bin Kalban, CEO of Emirates Global Aluminum, said: “I am pleased to welcome our new colleagues at Lichtmetal in Hannover to the Emirates Global Aluminum team. The acquisition will provide significant growth opportunities for Lichtmittal within the Emirates Global Aluminum portfolio, the largest producer of high-quality aluminum in the world.” “It is considered an important step for Emirates Global Aluminium, in accelerating our journey towards sustainability and building aluminum recycling operations in Europe, as we are one of the largest suppliers of primary aluminum in the region and globally.”

For his part, Thomas Witt, CEO of Lichtmetall, said: “This acquisition and joining Emirates Global Aluminum, the largest producer of high-quality aluminum in the world and the main supplier of aluminum in Europe, represents a major step in Lichtmetall’s successful journey, and will help us grow our business further and provide better services.” To our customers all over the world.

According to industry experts, global demand for recycled aluminum will double by 2040. Recycled aluminum is expected to contribute to the growth of global aluminum supplies by 60% by 2030, and by 70% between 2030 and 2040.

Aluminum can be recycled continuously and infinitely thanks to its distinctive properties. The recycling process requires 95% less energy, compared to the energy consumed to produce primary aluminum, and results in a small amount of emissions compared to producing aluminum from raw bauxite.

This deal is considered the first major acquisition for Emirates Global Aluminum since its founding through the merger of Dubai Aluminum and Emirates Aluminum ten years ago.

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

SHARJAH, U.A.E: Arab Leader Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qassimi Develops Rich Historical Work on France in Arabic to Educate the Region on Their Invaluable Contributions to Western Civilisation

Sharjah Ruler collected 8,000 rare titles documenting French cultural history.

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, is a leading Arab scholar and historian who has made contributions to documenting France’s cultural history from an Arab perspective.

The historian has been recently conferred the title of The Legion of Honour, with the rank of Commander – one of the highest national honours in the Republic of France in recognition of his efforts to strengthen cooperation relations between the French Republic and Sharjah in a variety of fields, particularly culture. The honour was granted to the Sharjah Ruler by His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, the French President, and presented by Nicolas Niemtchinow, Ambassador of the French Republic to the UAE.

His Highness is currently developing the chapters of a comprehensive work, the first of which is titled ‘The Century of Lights.’ Set in the 18th century – the chapter focuses on the era that established the foundations of Western society and examines the pivotal role played by Denis Diderot, the founder of the Encyclopédie, in collaboration with D’Alembert, as well as the contributions of liberal philosophers of that century such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire.

The Arab historian navigates the remainder of the 18th and 19th centuries in the following two chapters, before penning the fourth chapter titled, ‘Controversial Issues on Globalisation and Cultural Exception’ detailing everything that had happened in relation to globalisation and France’s role in it.

“France, at the helm of the European Union, began vigorously defending the idea of cultural exception; it has prevailed. From my end, I will publish this book in Arabic to introduce all Arabs to French culture,” His Highness said.

“In 2003, the French Republic conferred the ‘Order of the French Republic for Arts and Letters,’ with the rank of ‘Knight Commander’ upon me. I saw this honour as a mandate to continue cultural giving, and I discussed the Republic of France’s pioneering role in intellectual enlightenment and civilised communication, as well as its contributions to the cultural field, translation, and literature, and the spread of the concepts of freedom and justice,” His Highness added.

From that day forward, the Ruler of Sharjah initiated the acquisition of available written records that document the cultural history of the French Republic, using the titles of books in the Egyptian Scientific Institute in Cairo. “I collected nearly 8,000 rare titles in French and decided to establish a scientific institute for those books in Sharjah, similar to the French and Egyptian Institute,” His Highness added, saying he donated his entire collection to the institute in Egypt after it was turned to ashes by a violent fire in December 2011.

source/content: businesswire.com / AETOSWire (headline edited)

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His Highness Ruler of Sharjah while receiving the title of The Legion of Honour, with the rank of Commander (Photo: AETOSWire)

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SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

SAUDI ARABIA: Riyadh set to host World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Meeting amid rising geopolitical tensions, April 28-29

The event aims to bridge the growing North-South divide and drive inclusive economic development and a sustainable energy transition.

The World Economic Forum’s special meeting on global collaboration, growth and energy for development, scheduled to take place in Riyadh on April 28 and 29, is expected to address global challenges as geopolitical tensions increase.

The meeting will bring together more than 700 participants, including stakeholders from governments and international organisations, politicians and corporate leaders, as Saudi Arabia aims to boost its global profile.

The Riyadh gathering of global leaders will overlap with a recently announced visit by US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday to meet with regional partners. The goal is to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages, according to the State Department on Saturday.

WEF, held under three themes – catalysing action on energy for development, a compact for inclusive growth and revitalising global co-operation – the event aims to bridge the growing North-South divide, which has further widened on issues such as emerging economic policies, the energy transition and geopolitical shocks, it said.

Amid these intricate challenges, there is a strong need for action-orientated dialogues from the Global North and South, the Switzerland-based organisation added.

Faisal Al Ibrahim, the Saudi Arabian minister of economy and planning, said the world was at a global inflection point and that his country will implement its “full diplomatic might”, and ensure that conclusions made are not one sided.

“We are working to ensure that progress for one part of the world does not come at the expense of another,” he said, as the kingdom seeks a mutually beneficial path to prosperity for the intertwined destinies of the global community.

“This WEF special meeting comes at a time when Saudi government officials are accelerating efforts to shine a positive light on the country’s economic transformation and specific development initiatives,” Robert C Mogielnicki, senior resident scholar, The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, said.

“This special meeting is almost certainly going to be a net positive for Riyadh, as it is hard to see significant downsides to convening a dialogue with prominent global voices.

“However, events alone will not accomplish the government’s ambitious agenda. International investors are increasingly looking beyond splashy, organised events and talking points to gauge for themselves examples of concrete progress and future opportunities in Saudi Arabia.”

The world economy is facing geopolitical shocks, unabating inflationary pressures and central banks’ efforts to keep interest rates at elevated levels to stabilise consumer prices.

After a “surprisingly resilient” 2023, the International Monetary Fund revised global growth slightly higher this year to 3.2 per cent.

The global economy is set to post its slowest half-decade growth in 30 years, with the raging conflict in the Middle East among key downside risks to the outlook, the World Bank said in its Global Economic Prospects report.

Global economic prospects remain subdued and are fraught with uncertainty as more than half of chief economists expect the world economy to further weaken this year, a WEF report said in January.

The report stated that the world is facing a critical turning point and identified economic downturn and inflation, the lack of economic opportunity, disrupted supply chains for essential goods and energy, in addition to the impact of climate change as the issues that need the immediate attention over the next two years.

source/content: thenationalnews.com (headline edited)

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SAUDI ARABIA

SAUDI ARABIA : World’s Largest Grand Arabic Opera opens in Riyadh

The opera was produced by the Saudi Theater and Performing Arts Commission.

 “Zarqa Al-Yamama,” the world’s first and largest grand opera in Arabic, made its debut at the King Fahad Cultural Center in Riyadh, taking the audience on a lyrical journey through one of the best-known folkloric tales in the Arabian Peninsula.


The opera was produced by the Saudi Theater and Performing Arts Commission, and will run until May 4, telling the story of the central character’s attempts to warn her Jadis tribe of an imminent invasion.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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ـ “Zarqa Al-Yamama,” the world’s first and largest grand opera in Arabic, made its debut at the King Fahad Cultural Center in Riyadh. (SPA)9

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SAUDI ARABIA

US State Department’s Arabic spokeswoman Hala Rharrit resigns over Gaza policy

Hala Rharrit also served as the Dubai Regional Media Hub’s deputy director.

The US State Department’s Arabic-language spokeswoman has resigned over Washington’s Gaza policy.

“I resigned April 2024 after 18 years of distinguished service in opposition to the United States’ Gaza policy . Diplomacy, not arms. Be a force for peace and unity,” the bio portion of a LinkedIn page believed to belong to Hala Rharrit said.

Ms Rharrit’s resignation took effect on Wednesday, according to her State Department biography page.

She also served as the Dubai Regional Media Hub’s deputy director.

A State Department official confirmed to The National that Ms Rharrit no longer works for the Dubai Media Hub.

She first joined the Foreign Service in 2006. Her tours have included Yemen, Hong Kong, Qatar and South Africa.

In a previous interview with Al Arabiya News, which first reported her resignation, Ms Rharrit had warned about the generational cycle of violence and advocated for a return to diplomacy, not more arms transfers.

“There are channels … through which our workforce can share their points of view when they disagree with a certain policy or a certain action that the US government is taking,” Vedant Patel, deputy State Department spokesman, told reporters on Thursday after being asked about Ms Rharrit’s reported resignation.

He added that dissenting opinions “help lead to stronger, more robust policymaking”.

“Ultimately, anybody’s decision on whether they want to continue to repeat, remain employed somewhere or not, that is ultimately a decision for them to make.”

Ms Rharrit is the latest State Department employee to resign over President Joe Biden’s policy on Gaza, where more than 34,300 people have been killed amid the Israeli siege, according to local health authorities.

Late last month, staffer Annelle Sheline resigned publicly over the administration’s Gaza policy.

Josh Paul, another staffer who resigned last year over Gaza, told The National in March that while the resignations have likely put pressure on the administration, “it will still take an awful lot to actually shift” its actions.

There has been growing domestic discontent over Washington’s continued support of Israel, which includes a bill that was signed into law this week allocating $26 billion in aid to Israel.

US State Department official condemns Gaza policy after announcing resignation

source/content: thenationalnews.com (headline edited)

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Hala Rharrit called for ‘diplomacy, not arms’. US Department of State

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U.S.A / ARAB

SAUDI ARABIA / MENA : IMF opens First MENA office in Riyadh

The International Monetary Fund has opened its first office the Middle East and North Africa region in Riyadh.

The office was launched during the Joint Regional Conference on Industrial Policy for Diversification, jointly organized by the IMF and the Ministry of Finance, on April 24.

The new office aims to strengthen capacity building, regional surveillance, and outreach to foster stability, growth, and regional integration, thereby promoting partnerships in the Middle East and beyond, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Additionally, the office will facilitate closer collaboration between the IMF and regional institutions, governments, and other stakeholders, the SPA report noted, adding that the IMF expressed its appreciation to Saudi Arabia for its financial contribution aimed at enhancing capacity development in its member countries, including fragile states.

Abdoul Aziz Wane, a seasoned IMF director with an extensive understanding of the institution and a broad network of policymakers and academics worldwide, will serve as the first director of the Riyadh office.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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The office will facilitate closer collaboration between the IMF and regional institutions. Shutterstock

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SAUDI ARABIA / MENA