Joe Neguse – First Eritrean-American Elected to US Congress : January 2021

Joseph D Neguse (aka) Joe Neguse . American Politician. Leader. U.S. Representative for Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District since 2019.

Neguse is an attorney, co-founder of a voter registration group and a former regent of the University of Colorado.

Firsts:

  • First Eritrean-American elected to U.S. Congress
  • Colorado’s First Black member of Congress
  • First African-American to represent Colorado in Congress

Education:

  • Bachelors Degree – Political Science and Economics, University of Colorada (2005)
  • Juris Doctor – University of Colorado Law School (2009)

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pix: en.wikipedia.org

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AMERICAN / ERITREAN-AMERICAN

Dr. Farouk El Baz – Egyptian American Space Scientist and Geologist

Farouk El Baz Ph.D., Space Scientist. Geologist

  • Formerly – President Sadat’s Scientific Advisor (1978-1981)
  • Founder – Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, National Museum of Atmospheric and Space, at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC
  • Dr. El Baz played a pivotal role for the Apollo mission where he served as the secretary for the Apollo landing board on the moon, and was responsible for leading the astronaut training team in general science, particularly in moon imaging

So pivotal was he to Apollo that in Tom Hanks’ HBO TV-series, From the Earth to the Moon , El-Baz’s role as an Apollo scientist and astronaut trainer was featured in a segment entitled, “The Brain of Farouk El-Baz,” and a shuttle craft named El-Baz soared through the popular TV-series Star Trek : The Next Generation

Awards:

  •  He has won over 31 awards, including achievements in science, in NASA, incl:
  •  Golden Door Award of the International Institute of Boston
  • Nevada Medal of the Desert Research Institute
  • The Pioneer Award of the Arab Thought Foundation.
  • The Apollo Achievement Award

Honour:

  • Asteroid 7371 El-Baz, discovered by American astronomers Eleanor Helin and Schelte Bus at Palomar Observatory in 1978, was named in his honor.   The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 27 August 2019 ( M.P.C. 115893).

Book:

  • Deserts and Arid Lands , Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, ISBN 90-247-2850-9

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pix: scoopempire.com /egypttoday.com

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AMERICAN / EGYPTIAN-AMERICAN / ARAB AMERICAN

Lebanon’s Ray Bassil – World Class Medal Winning, Trap Shooter

Ray Bassil (aka) Ray Jacques Bassil.

Won her first title at age 15, Female Arab Championship, Algiers.

  •  First and only woman ever to represent the Arab countries in Trap Shooting at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016
  • First Arab Woman to compete in 2 Olympics games and win 3 consecutive world cup medals
  • Twice represented Lebanon at Olympic games (2012, 2016)

Other Honours:

  • UNDP – Youth and Gender Goodwill Ambassador

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pix: fondationsaradar.org

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LEBANON

Tunisian-American Chemist Moungi Bawendi : MIT Professor

Dr. Moungi Bawendi is a Tunisian-American chemist.

He is the Lester Wolfe Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Moungi Bawendi is one of the original participants in the field of colloidal quantum dot research, and among the most cited chemists of the last decade.

This work has included: (1) the development of novel methods for synthesising, characterising, and processing quantum dots, magnetic nanoparticles, and tubular J-aggregates as novel materials building blocks, (2) studying fundamental optical and magnetic properties of nanostructures using a variety of spectroscopic methods, including the development of optical photon correlation tools to study single nanoscopic emitters, (3) incorporating quantum dots and magnetic particles into various optical and electronic device structures, and (4) developing nanoparticles and other agents for biomedical imaging.

  • Became a Clarivate Citation Laureate in 2020.
  • Received his A.B. in 1982 from Harvard University
  • Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1988, University of Chicago.
  • Two years of postdoctoral research at Bell Laboratories, working with Dr. Louis Brus, where he began his studies on nanomaterials.
  • Joined the faculty at MIT in 1990, becoming Associate Professor in 1995 and Professor in 1996.

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pix: energy.mit.edu

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AMERICAN / TUNSIAN-AMERICAN

Dr Malik Badri, Founder and President – ‘International Association of Islamic Psychology (IAIP)

Professor Dr Malik Badri (aka) Malik Babikr Badri Mohammed Ph.D.

Founder and President – ‘International Association of Islamic Psychology  (IAIP) (www.islamicpsychology.org)

First/s :

  • The first one who reminded many of modern Muslim psychologists not to be trapped in Western psychology ‘lizard hole’.
  • Founding father of Islamic Psychology
  • The First President of International Association of Muslim Psychologists (IAMP)

Education:

  • Ph.D – University of Leicester, England (1961)
  • Postgraduate Certificate of Clinical Psychology, Academic Department of Psychiatry Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London University (1966)
  •  Fellow of the British Psychological Society (1977)
  • Holds the title of Chartered Psychologist, C.Psychol
  • Master’s degree, University of Leicester (1958)
  • Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, American University of Beirut (1956)
  • Honorary D.Sc. , Ahfad University

Honours:

  • Decorated by President of Sudan with Medal of Shahid Zubair
  • Chair of Ibn Khaldun, Faculty of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences,e International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).

Books :

  • Contemplation: An Islamic Psychospiritual Study
  • Abu Zayd al-Balkhi’s Sustenance of the Soul: The Cognitive Behavior Therapy of a Ninth Century Physician
  • Cultural Adaptation and Islamization of Psychology: A book of collected papers
  • Cyber-counseling for Muslim Clients
  • Islam and AIDS: Between scorn, pity and justice
  • Islamizing and Indigenizing Psychology
  • The AIDS crisis: A Natural Product of Modernity’s Sexual Revolution
  • The AIDS Dilemma: A Progeny of Modernity
  • The AIDS Crisis: an Islamic socio-cultural perspective
  • The Wisdom of Islam in Prohibiting Alcohol
  • Use and abuse of human sciences in Muslim Countries
  • Tafakkur from perception to insight
  • Psychology from an Islamic perspective
  • Islam and Alcoholism
  • General Psychology
  • Educational Psychology
  • The Psychology of Arab Children’s Drawings

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pix: iamphome.org

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SUDAN

Mohammed bin Rashid Launches ‘100 Million Meals’ to Provide Food Support in 20 countries : April 2021

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has launched ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign to provide food parcels for families and people in need across 20 countries during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Launched as an expansion from last year’s locally-held ’10 Million Meals’ campaign that empowered COVID-19-hit communities across the UAE, the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign will provide food support for the vulnerable in the Middle East, Africa and Asia

The campaign is part of UAE’s response to global efforts to combat world hunger, a major challenge that has been exacerbated by outbreak of COVID-19 that has pushed millions of disadvantaged populations to greater insecurity, poverty and unemployment. The campaign also aims to support the international community in achieving the second of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to end hunger by 2030.

The MBRGI will carry out the campaign in collaboration with the UN World Food Programme, the Food Banking Regional Network, humanitarian and charity organizations in beneficiary countries, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment (MBRCH), and UAE federal and local entities.

source: wam.ae

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pix:pressreleasenetwork.com

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

Qatari Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani among World’s Richest Arabs – Forbes : April 2021

Hamid bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani (aka) Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani (aka) HBJ is among the world’s richest Arabs according to Forbes.

Highlights:

  • Former Prime Minister of Qatar (2007 – 2017)
  • Former Foreign Minister of Qatar (1992 – 2013)
  • Paramount Services Holdings – Owns 3% of Deutsche Bank
  • etc….

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pic: flickr.com

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QATAR

Samia Hassan – First Female President of Tanzania : March 2021

Samia Suluhu Hassan (aka) Samia Hassan makes history by becoming the First Female President of Tanzania and the country’s 6th President.

  • Former First Female Vice President of Tanzania
  • Minister of Union Affairs 92014)
  • Minister of Trade & Tourism (2000)

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pix: dw.com

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TANZANIA

Najla El-Mangoush – Libya’s First Woman Foreign Minister : 2021

History is being created with the first female woman foreign minister of Libya – Najla El-Mangoush. She will be accompanied with 4 other women who will be joining her.

Presently:

  • Practising Advocate and Lawyer in Criminal Law
  • Assistant Professor – University of Benghazi

Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Law
  • Master’s Degree in Conflict and Peace Management, Eastern Mini Knight University, USA
  • Ph.D in Conflict and Crisis Management, George Mason University, USA

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pix: libyaherald.com

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LIBYA

Aimee Cutrona – Appointed as Acting Special Representative for Syria Engagement, at the U.S. – National Security Council : February 2021

Aimee Cutrona. US Diplomat.

Assignments:

  • Deputy Assistant Secretary for Levant Affairs, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
  • Formerly – Office Director, Office of Levant Affairs (NEA/LEV)
  • Deputy Chief of Mission, Bahrain (2016-2019)

Education:

  • Masters Degree : International Relations and Conflict Management, John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

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Aimee Cutrona. Photo Courtesy of US State Department / pix: english.aawsat.com

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AMERICAN / SYRIAN-AMERICAN / ARAB AMERICAN