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This remarkable achievement underscores the university’s leadership in scientific research, affirming its pivotal role in Algeria’s innovation landscape and commitment to academic excellence. The recognition of these five esteemed scholars not only highlights their individual contributions but also elevates M’Sila University as a beacon of scientific advancement on the global stage.
Five distinguished professors from Mohamed Boudiaf University in M’Sila have earned recognition in the 2024 Stanford University ranking of the top 2% of scientists worldwide. This prestigious classification highlights their contributions to research and places them among a total of 68 Algerian researchers honored in this global assessment.
M’Sila University stands out as the leading Algerian institution, boasting the highest number of researchers included in this elite ranking. This achievement underscores the university’s commitment to advancing scientific research and fostering academic excellence, positioning it as a vital contributor to Algeria’s development and innovation landscape.
Professor Amar Boudellaa, the university director, emphasized the significance of this accomplishment as a reflection of the institution’s dedication to scientific inquiry. He affirmed the university’s ongoing support for researchers, inventors, and start-up founders, aligning with the vision outlined by the Minister of Higher Education.
The five notable researchers recognized in this ranking are:
Professor Bouarissa Nadir (Natural Sciences/Physics)
Professors Berri Saadi and Maireche Abdelmadjid (Faculty of Sciences)
Professor Chouder Aissa (Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Technology)
Hocini Abdesselam (Electronics, Faculty of Technology)
Since its inception in 1885, Stanford University has published the Top 2% Scientist ranking annually since 2020, based on comprehensive studies conducted by its researchers. This accolade not only celebrates individual achievements but also enhances the reputation of M’Sila University as a hub for scientific advancement in Algeria.
The Council of Arab Information Ministers approved the internal bylaws of the Arab Institute for Peace and Journalism, for which the Libyan capital, Tripoli, was chosen as its headquarters.
This came during the activities of the 54th regular session, held in the Bahraini capital, Manama, in which the Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs, Walid Al-Lafi, participated.
In his speech, Al-Lafi welcomed the steps aimed at establishing and approving the internal system and organizational structures of the Institute, as it is the first international institution affiliated with the League of Arab States with its permanent headquarters in Tripoli, calling for the completion of the steps for the opening.
Al-Lafi stressed the responsibility that the Arab media bears through various digital, media and audio interfaces, toward the massacres taking place in Gaza. He also reiterated Libya’s support for Arab initiatives aimed at stopping the aggression, exposing the crimes of the occupation, and supporting youth initiatives in social media platforms in support of the Palestinian Cause.
Al-Lafi also called on Arab Information Ministers to participate in the activities of the Tripoli Media Days in its third edition, which will be held at the end of next December, coinciding with Libya’s celebrations of the 73rd anniversary of independence.
Eight medical professionals from around the world were feted for their unique roles and contributions to public health in their countries and the world at a special ceremony during the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva on Friday.
Of the eight, four recipients are from the Eastern Mediterranean Region of which three are from Oman, a first for a country in the region.
Dr Bader bin Saif al Rawahi
The Dr Lee Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health 2024 was presented to Dr Bader bin Saif al Rawahi, who leads a major public health programme as Director of Communicable Diseases and Control, and manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation at Ministry of Health (MoH).
Dr Rawahi has made considerable effort to leave no one behind in the immunisation programme, including migrants, displaced populations and underprivileged people.
Dr Ahmed Hamed Saif al Wahaibi, head of Elderly Care Section in Primary Health Care Department of MoH, and the Chinese Geriatrics Society, China, were jointly awarded the Sheikh Sabah al Ahmad al Jaber al Sabah Prize for Research in Health Care for the Elderly and in Health Promotion.
Dr Ahmed Hamed Saif al Wahaibi
Dr Wahaibi is a family doctor who has made an important contribution to integrating high-quality care for older people within primary health care in Oman. He has also played a part in the development of a national programme for people aged 60 years and older that provides screening, assessment and early intervention as part of primary health care.
Dr Jamila Taiseer Yasser al Abri, a renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist with extensive experience and leadership in women’s health, currently Director of Department of Woman and Child Health, was honoured with the Ihsan Doğramacı Family Health Foundation Prize.
Dr Jamila has demonstrated significant leadership in teaching and managing national health programmes, including on breast cancer, mental health and autism spectrum disorders, besides other family health issues. She has played an important role in contributing to the strategic plans for women’s and children’s health as part of Oman’s long-term vision, Health Vision 2050.
Dr Jamila Taiseer Yasser al Abri
The United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize went to National Death Registry System, Saudi Arabia.
“I feel so proud to see four experts and institutions from the Eastern Mediterranean Region receive four of the eight highly valued WHO awards,” said Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.
“This sends a strong message about how rich the region is in talented, distinguished and knowledgeable people. The awardees’ expertise and achievements, across different health fields, show that we have human assets who contribute to the improvement of regional and global health.
“Heartfelt congratulations and a big thank you to Saudi Arabia’s National Death Registry System and to Dr Rawahi, Dr Wahaibi and Dr Jamila from Oman. You have made us all very proud and filled us with hope and determination.”
The winners were awarded by Dr Edwin Dikoloti of Botswana, President of the 77th World Health Assembly, alongside high-level representatives of the foundations providing the public health awards and prizes and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO and administrator for the prizes.
Boasting an attendance of 16,000 people, including Nobel laureates in literature, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture concluded its ninth annual Iqra competition on Saturday.
Amin Nasser, Saudi Aramco’s president and CEO, and other senior officials attended the two-day event in Dhahran.
Nobel literature laureates Abdulrazak Gurnah and Olga Tokarczuk were also present and offered insights during speaking sessions.
Visitors experienced a series of activities, culminating in the announcement of the competition’s winners.
Moroccan Meryem Bououd was awarded Reader of the Year, while 10-year-old Moroccan Fatima Kettani won the Promising Reader prize.
Iraqi Hira Karkhi secured the Text of the Year prize, while the Reading School award went to Tarbiyat Al-Ajial of the Private International School, Hafr Al-Batin, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Safia Al-Ghubari claimed the People’s Reader award, while teacher Najla Ghazi Al-Suhaimi took home the Reading Ambassador prize.
Noura Al-Zamil, Ithra’s program director, spoke of the competition’s significant milestones since its inception in 2013.
Over nine editions Iqra has attracted more than 225,000 applicants and offered 48,000 hours of educational programming.
It has also engaged more than 600 speakers from 30 countries, bringing three Nobel Prize-winning authors to its stage.
Al-Zamil stressed Ithra’s continued efforts to innovate, introducing new elements like the Iqra Travels, Iqra Marathon, and Kitabiya Exhibit, to foster a reading culture among Arab youngsters.
The closing event featured cultural sessions, including a talk by Tokarczuk, who discussed literature as a tool for bridging languages and cultures.
Discussing the future, Tokarczuk expressed both optimism and caution, adding: “I embrace modern tools like ChatGPT but remain concerned about their potential misuse.”
Gurnah, reflecting on his roots, said: “Zanzibar will always be my true homeland, despite my long absence.”
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Boasting an attendance of 16,000 people, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture concluded its ninth annual Iqra competition on Saturday. (Supplied)
Egypt bids farewell to the guard of Semsemya, Zakaria Ibrahim.
For the past 44 years, Zakaria Ibrahim or “El-Rayes” (meaning the chief) had played and safeguarded the heritage music of his hometown Port Said through the Port Said Folk Heritage Troupe, which he established in 1980.
In an interview with Ahram Online, Ibrahim previously said that his initial approach relied on the sounds of the Semsemya musical instrument. Five years later, he reintroduced the ancient Tanboura instrument, a larger predecessor and origin of the Semsemya, dating back to ancient Egyptians. Consequently, he rebranded his ensemble as Al-Tanboura.
“We the Bamboteya, no one is like us, merchant boatmen in the canal” the troupe sang about the Semsemya’s affiliation with the history of trade on the Port Said marina. Small boats, called ManBoats, moored offshore, and sold goods to passing vessels, using sign language in trading. This language is the foundation of the heritage dance affiliated with Semsemya.
To safeguard and revive heritage music, beyond Semsemya, Ibrahim co-founded the Mastaba Centre for Egyptian Folk Music in 2000. Documenting and archiving traditional Egyptian songs, music, and musical instruments, as well as the voices and history of Egyptian music were among the centre’s main goals.
He also established El-Damma theatre in Abdeen district, Cairo, where heritage troupes played for years on a weekly basis. El Damma means coming closer, and it was a social ritual in Port Said where people would come together and sing their heritage songs and play the Semsemya.
University students from Tunis Business School in El Mourouj, Tunisia are the 2024 Enactus World Cup Champions with their social enterprise BOVITA. The team won the competition from a field of 29 challengers comprised of National Champions from the Enactus country network around the world.
The Enactus team from Mohammad V University in Morocco clinched second place at Kongress-Tsentr in Astana. Rounding out the Final Four teams were Karlsruhe Institute of Technology of Germany and Konkuk University of Korea.
The Enactus World Cup 2024 brought together over 700 of the world’s brightest young social entrepreneurs from over 30 countries with a joint mission to solve critical global challenges. At Enactus World Cup, students compete, collaborate, make intercultural connections, and are inspired to further develop skills that drive impact through social entrepreneurship.
BOVITA provides a range of 100% natural phytotherapy-based products designed to replace antibiotics and chemical treatments in the prevention and treatment of Bovine Mastitis. Their product line includes an extramammary cream for mild cases, an oil-based gel for prevention, and a natural intramammary injection for severe cases, all aimed at effectively healing infected areas, reducing inflammation, and eliminating bacteria.
The event was graced by several notable attendees, including ecologist and philanthropist, Aselle Tasmagambetova; Director of UN Global Compact Kazakhstan, Dinara Seijaparova; Chairman of the Board of Kazakh Tourism, Kairat Sadvakasson; and Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek, who delivered a special welcome message on behalf of the President of The Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
In his message, President Tokayev emphasized the importance of the event, stating:
“In Kazakhstan we have created the very best environment for young people to access quality education and engage in entrepreneurship. Hosting this prestigious event in our country and within the commonwealth of independent states is a testament to this progress. The Enactus World Cup 2024 will inspire the growth of youth entrepreneurship and help cultivate the next generation of business leaders.”
As Enactus Global navigates a period of transition, the organization’s commitment to inspiring and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders continues to grow. This dedication is evident in the success of the Enactus World Cup in Astana and the announcement that Bangkok, Thailand will host the 2025 Enactus World Cup. Furthermore, Enactus Colombia has officially joined the network, and Enactus Thailand has rejoined, expanding the Enactus presence to 35 countries worldwide.
Supporting this vital mission and global expansion, Resolution Project has committed over $2 million to Enactus Global, ensuring the continuation of its nearly 50-year legacy of educating and equipping young social entrepreneurs.
“The Enactus World Cup truly showcases the incredible potential of youth innovation,” said Lauren Horn, Interim CEO of Enactus Global & United States. “Over the past few days, we’ve seen firsthand how the innovation and passion of these young entrepreneurs can create real change. The spirit and impact of Enactus remain as strong as ever, thanks to the dedication of our students, partners, and supporters worldwide. With Resolution Project’s commitment and our expanding global network, we can ensure that the Enactus World Cup will continue to be a platform where young changemakers collaborate, innovate, and turn their ideas into real-world solutions that shape our future.
The event would not have been possible without the host country Enactus Kazakhstan, and support from sponsors and partners such as Kazakh Tourism, The Sunshine Charitable Foundation, BIC, John Dobson Foundation, Harmony Gold, Jeanne Sauvé Foundation, and more. “I’m really happy to see everyone here in my beautiful country,” said Albina Yerzhanova, President & CEO of Enactus Kazakhstan. “Hosting the Enactus World Cup in Astana shows how much Kazakhstan values innovation and young entrepreneurs. It’s exciting to bring together these brilliant students and showcase their ideas for making the world better.”
Enactus Global and Resolution Project’s combined impact includes engaging over 40,000 young social entrepreneurs annually, with a presence in nearly 100 countries. These young leaders have cumulatively impacted almost 20 million lives.
Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) has won five major category awards from the Financial Times’ fDi World’s Best Free Zones 2024, including being ranked number one in the comprehensive global list of free zones.
Jafza said that winning these awards underscores its global standing in the field of trade and logistics, noting that it was ranked number one, in addition to the titles of “Best Industrial Zone” and “Best Sustainable Zone” for this year, in the global and Middle East categories.
Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director, DP World, GCC, said: “As we approach our 40th anniversary, we are proud of our achievements in the fields of global trade and industry. Jafza has evolved over these four decades to meet the changes in the global trade arena and has maintained its leadership in promoting innovation and sustainable growth.
For his part, Abdulla Al Hashimi, Chief Operating Officer, Parks and Free Zones, DP World, GCC, said that these prestigious awards confirm the effectiveness of the investment approach in infrastructure and sustainability, after Jafza was able to establish the foundations of a vital infrastructure that benefits customers, and maintained the clarity of its goal of driving innovation and sustainable growth, by keeping pace with the latest developments in the sector, and responding to customer needs, while continuing to focus on efficiency.
On January 21, Ambassador Larry André hosted a lunch in honor of, Fatimata M’baye, the 2016 Mauritanian Woman of Courage Award winner, and a nominee for the United States Department of State International Woman of Courage Award.
M’baye was Mauritania’s first ever female attorney and she is the president of local human rights NGO Association Mauritanienne des Droits de l’Homme. She has spent her career courageously for advocating and defending human rights, equality, and justice in Mauritania.
The lunch was attended by notable leaders from Mauritanian civil society, especially women and human rights leaders, and is a part of the American Embassy’s on-going efforts to engage in a dialogue with government and civil-society on shared priorities.
source/content: mr.usembassy.gov / US Embassy in Mauritania (headline edited)
“I believe in the power of women. The seaweed farm is run by women, and women represent 80 to 90 percent of all staff in administration, the labs and research.”
For most people, the word ‘engineer’ doesn’t immediately bring up images of food, and even fewer will think of seaweed. And yet, that’s exactly the niche where Nadia Selmi is pioneering new uses for an oft-overlooked marine resource.
Today, she is the commercial director of SELT Marine, a Tunisian seaweed company that employs more than 100 women in producing nutritious seaweed powder that can be made into vegetable gelatin for dairy, sweets and vegan products
“I believe in the power of women,” says Nadia. “The seaweed farm is run by women, and women represent 80 to 90 percent of all staff in our administration, the labs and research.”
Many of the women working on the seaweed farm come from vulnerable rural communities and have found a new kind of job in the growing sector.
And the potential that the sector holds for food security and food system transformation is significant. Using just 0.03 percent of our oceans’ surface, seaweed could add up to 10 percent to the world’s food supply. Importantly, seaweed tends to be rich in vitamins and fibres and low in calories, making it a great addition to a healthy diet.
Beyond the food industry, seaweed powder is already used in many pharmaceutical and cosmetics products. And more recently, it is being transformed into biodegradable bottles and bags.
But that’s not the only way seaweed can contribute to a better environment.
Increasingly, scientists and policy makers are also seeing its potential as a “nature-based solution” to mitigate climate change and support ecosystem services. For example, if seaweed production keeps growing at the current rate, it could absorb 135 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year by 2050, and 30 percent of all the nitrogen entering the oceans from land-based pollution.
Nadia, who started out as a researcher in the company’s lab, is now championing the uptake of Tunisian seaweed by building partnerships with businesses around the world and working with research institutions to get even more goodness out of the aquatic greens.
FAO supports innovators like Nadia through its General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, which promotes seaweed aquaculture as a way to boost sustainable growth, marine conservation, and livelihoods in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Ashwag Mukhtar is working as a visiting researcher at the National Cancer Research Centre thanks to the Ellas Investigan programme organised by Fundación Mujeres por África
“It will be the most important experience of my life, I am now part of CNIO,” says Sudanese scientist Ashwag Mukhtar, assistant professor with the Department of Histopathology and Cytology at the University of Alneelain (Khartoum), referring to her time at the National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), where she has been a visiting researcher linked to the Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group of this centre since last December.
Ashwag Mohammed Mukhtar is one of the African scientists selected by Fundación Mujeres por África to take part in its Ellas Investigan programme, which promotes stays in Spain for senior African women researchers from affiliated scientific institutes. The stays are for six months and allow these researchers to carry out, in collaboration with these institutes, projects previously selected by the programme’s Scientific Committee. In this case, funding was provided by Exolum.
The Sudanese scientist aims to compare bladder cancer in Spain and North African countries. She will compare and contrast the environmental factors causing this cancer and genetic diversities in order to provide important findings and data regarding this type of cancer and its treatments.
Holder of a PhD from the University of Alneelain, Ashwag Mohammed Mukhtar explains what her work will entail during her time in Spain: “On the one hand, I am conducting a meta-analysis, focusing on reanalysing the treatment of bladder cancer, genetic mutation, and mortality, and comparing it with data from the Spanish Bladder Cancer Foundation. On the other hand, I intend to determine the expression of certain genes that can predict the type of chemotherapy. We are doing this on Sudanese tissue samples and comparing our findings with Spanish tissue samples.”
As well as science, her other passions are music, meditation, and nature walks, as she explains in this video. In it, she gives recommendations about the Sudanese music she likes most, including the band AGD Aljalad.“Having the opportunity to work in another country is a very enriching experience, both professionally and personally,” says the scientist.
About Ellas Investigan
Ellas Investigan (Women Researching) is the most important programme promoted by Fundación Mujeres por África in the scientific field and has achieved spectacular growth. Since it was launched in 2014 with five associated research centres, it has grown to more than 20 affiliated centres and has launched seven editions.
The centres brought into this programme in the last edition are the Barcelona Institute of Material Science (ICMAB); IIS Biodonostia; and INCLIVA, Research Institute of the Clinical Hospital in Valencia. The company Abertis has also been brought on board as a sponsor, which will finance the chosen researcher’s stay at the National Biotechnology Centre on Biodiversity Issues. So far more than a hundred African women scientists have been involved in Ellas Investigan.
About CNIO
CNIO is a Spanish institution dedicated to the research, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. CNIO has obtained accreditation as a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence for the third time in a row. It is ranked seventh among the world’s best cancer research centres (according to the Scimago report; Nature Index) and has been named Europe’s leading cancer research centre.
More than 450 scientists work at CNIO to transfer their results quickly and efficiently to Spain’s National Health System and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology market. In recent years, the strand of research devoted to metastasis – responsible for 90% of cancer deaths worldwide – has been strengthened with the incorporation of several fully dedicated research groups. Interdisciplinarity has also been boosted by recruiting computer experts to gain a more in-depth view of the complexity of cancer and to propose new therapeutic hypotheses.
One of the goals at CNIO is to bring science closer to society through initiatives such as CNIO Arte , a project that brings together scientists and artists to create new works of art around scientific research, and CNIO Friends, a philanthropic platform through which any person, company or association can support cancer research carried out at the Centre, and through which a CNIO Friends International Contracts Programme has been launched to attract research talent.
source/content: cnio.es (headline edited)
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Ashwag Mukhtar. / Laura M. Lombardía. CNIO
Ashwag Mukhtar. Visiting researcher from Sudan. Women for Africa Foundation / source: youtube.com / canalcnio
