International News

Kabul, Afghanistan - Two women doctors part of the new coalition government

Two women have been chosen to be part of Afghanistan's 30-member power-sharing interim government, chaired by Mr. Hamid Karzai. The first is Dr. Sima Samar MD, who was named minister of women's affairs and one of the five vice-chairs of the transitional government. She is known as a women's rights activist who has established hospitals and schools, while fighting for women's rights throughout her war-torn country. In 1984, she lost her husband and 36 members of her extended family during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and fled with her son to Pakistan, where she setup a non-governmental organization that built hospitals and clinics in Afghanistan. Her goals in the new government is to "...develop a constitution and advance the life of Afghan women." The second woman is Dr. Suhaila Seddiqi, a 60-year-old Kabul surgeon, who will be responsible for public health. Recently the Afghan Women's Summit for democracy was held in Brussels, calling for the equality and full participation of women in the new Afghanistan. Around fifty woman leaders attended the 3-day summit which ended with a request for the re-establishment of civil rights, education and health care. Dr. Samar's first priority, even before healthcare, is education. She mentioned, "I believe education is the key to change society." On International Human Rights Day, Dr.Samar was awarded the John Humphrey Freedom Award in Canada for her efforts for women's emancipation in Afghanistan. Check Women for Women Afghanistan's website for more information at www.w4wafghan.ca .

USA - New York Mayor named TIME's Person of the Year for 2001

New York governor Rudy Giuliani was chosen by TIME magazine as Person of the Year 2001. Starting in 1927, TIME's selection of the Person of the Year highlights the powerful personalities who shape the world in ways both creative and destructive. In another poll for newsmakers of the year conducted by the Globe and Mail, Rudy Giuliani got second place (19%) after Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden (58%). An exhibition, "TIME's Person Of The Year At 75" will open in New York this year. Charles Lindbergh was the first to complete a non-stop flight across the Atlantic in 1927, for which he was selected Person of the Year. Other people selected include, Mahatma Gandhi, Pope John XIII, Martin Luther King Jr., Mikhail Gorbachev, Winston Churchill, Ayatollah Khomeini,  Lech Walesa and President Roosevelt who was named a record three times. Mrs. Simpson the Duchess of Windsor, wife of King Edward VIII., was the first woman was selected by TIME in 1936. Since then, other prominent women who earned this honor were Queen Elizabeth II and Philippines former president Corazon Aquino. Other interesting selections were the "Statue of Liberty" and the "computer".  

VATICAN -  "No peace without justice, no justice without forgiveness," says Pope.

As the world saw the birth of a new year 2002, Pope John Paul II addressed the world on the World Day of Peace. In the backdrop of the dramatic events of September 11, the Pope expressed that "throughout the world  people have felt a profound personal vulnerability and a new fear for the future." His message to the world emphasized that "evil does not have the final word in human affairs." 

He prayed that the perpetrators of pitiless acts look into their hearts and recognize the evil  of their acts. "In these troubled times, may the whole human family find true and lasting peace, born of the marriage of justice and mercy!" 

European Union - Festivities mark arrival of Euro

Millions of Europeans from Athens to Paris, and Rome to Madrid exchanged their currencies for the new Euro. They celebrated on New Years the most ambitious currency change in history as a symbol of dreams for a united Europe. While some enjoyed the festivities with fireworks, other added their unique touch to the occasion. A Naples chef, Giulio Buonomo, showed off a special pizza he baked that displayed the Euro symbol. Hopes are high that this change will herald a new economic era in the continent and beyond.    

Massachusetts, USA - First human embryo cloned
Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) scientists have succeeded in cloning the first human embryo. ACT stressing that its aim is to use the technology as a source of stem cells - not to create a human being. The owner of ACT, Mr. Michael West mentioned, "I am talking about ending of suffering of aging: macular degeneration, cancer, diabetes, spinal injuries, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and heart disease." This scientific breakthrough has re-ignited an ethical debate over the controversial topic of human cloning. President Bush is 100% opposed to any cloning of human embryos and supported moves in the House of Representatives recently to have the whole area - reproductive and therapeutic cloning - made illegal. The Ambassadors is interested in hearing your opinions on this debate. 

Brazzaville, Congo Republic - Deadly Ebola virus crosses borders

An Ebola outbreak in the central African nation of Gabon has crossed into neighboring Republic of Congo, despite health controls at the border to prevent the deadly virus from spreading. World Health Organization (WHO) officials noted that 11 cases were identified in a remote forested region on the northeastern border of Congo. The outbreak of the Ebola fever had spread from Gabon, where 15 cases have already died in December, to the neighboring Republic of Congo. Last year in Uganda, 224 people died from the deadly virus. A student nurse died recently in Gabon, believed to have treated another health worker who died of the virus. 

Tokyo, Japan -  The Birth of Japan's "Love Child"
Crown princess Masako, a 37-year-old Harvard graduate and a former career diplomat and wife of crown prince Nairuhito (41 yrs old), delivered their first baby in more than eight years of marriage on a full-moon night - which is a good sign for a safe birth. After the seventh day from birth, the new princess has been named Aiko (Love Child). The baby was also given the official royal name Toshimomiya. "Toshi" means respect, while "miya" means imperial prince/princess.

The birth Princess Aiko has brought joy to the Japanese public but has also re-ignited the debate whether a woman should be allowed to occupy the Chrysanthemum Throne. Japan's constitution forbids women from ruling as emperor, but under those rules the imperial line of succession ends with Prince Naruhito or his brother, Prince Akishino. Neither has so far fathered a male heir. 

Japan's prime minister Junichiro Koizumi has said he has no plans to change the law but women have ruled before. Chief cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda, has said he would support a female emperor. Japanese national identity is closely linked to the imperial family so should the law be changed to avoid a potential crisis? Is it unfair that men are allowed to become emperor but women are not?

Yokohama, Japan - Swedish Queen condemns child slavery

HM Silvia Queen of Sweden , the honorary president of the inaugural conference in Stockholm, considers trade in youngsters for sex a crime against humanity. She is appalled that more than one hundred child pornography websites are opened everyday. More than three thousand delegates from 138 countries, organizations and law enforcement agents met in Yokohama, Japan on Dec. 17-20 in the UNICEF Second World Congress Against Commercial Sexual  Exploitation of Children. The congress discussed how to free 250 million children trapped in smuggling and prostitution rings. UNICEF said that more than one million youngsters are sold as sexual slaves.

New York, USA - The cries of 60 fatherless babies!

Sixteen women who were widowed by the tragedy of the September 11, 2001 attacks were photographed with their seventeen babies. The group of women represent a wide array of cultures, ethnicities and religious beliefs. By summer 2002, there will be about 60 fatherless babies, born to women whose partners died in the terrorist attacks. The question that will haunt these babies is why they had to loose their fathers. The image taken by Virginia Sherwood for the Associated Press represents a strong message to all the world on how the effects of terrorism affect everyone and therefore, unity and support should stand as the lessons to be learnt from these tragic experiences.

Calgary, Canada - Malignant email virus hits the Internet's "immune system"
The Goner email virus attacked many computers worldwide on December 4th in North America, Britain, France, Germany and South Africa. Among the hardest hit was the city of Calgary which had to close its entire email system. Sam Curry, security architect for McAfee.com corporation, mentioned "Goner is attacking the immune system of the internet." The virus appears to have jumped from N.America to Europe, then returning to clog email inboxes in USA and Canada. The scale of Goner's spread is second only to the "Love Bug" virus which saturated email inboxes last year. But it is also more sophisticated in that it can disable anti-virus software making the clean-up much harder.

Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish women resist "skirt law"
Women working at state offices throughout Turkey wore trousers to work to protest against a law that requires female civil servants to wear skirts on December 7, 2001. They said that the law creates a dress code that reflects authoritarian attitudes which are still widespread in the largely traditional Turkish society. Prime minister, Bulent Ecevit, backed the women's groups in their protest. He was quoted as saying, "I had never being able to understand why wearing trousers constitutes a threat."

Ottawa, Canada - Nelson Mandela granted Honorary Canadian citizenship

The 83-year-old, charismatic and revered international icon of human rights and South Africa's first black president, Nelson Mandela, received an honorary Canadian citizenship from prime minister Jean Chretien. Mr. Mandela's wife, human rights crusader, Graca Machel visited a school in Toronto which was named after her husband (Nelson Mandela Park Public School) and both Mandela's were awarded honorary degrees at Ryerson University.

Mr. Mandela, who spent 10,000 days in prison in South Africa fighting apartheid before becoming president in 1994, was walking with a pronounced limp recovering from a broken knee, heavy hearing and was recently treated for cancer prostate. Despite his health concerns, he managed to dance happily for a few children attending the ceremony. He has long been miscast as a pacifist in the tradition of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. (Photo from ANC - www.anc.org.za)

London, UK - Freud Jr.'s unforgiving Royal portrait

Mr. Lucian Freud, the greatest living British painter and the grandson of Sigmund Freud the founder of psychoanalysis, presented a tiny portrait (15cm x 24cm) of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as a gift to the Royal Collection to be displayed in the new gallery at Buckingham Palace to mark her golden jubilee in May 2002. Mr. Freud is best known for is brutal nudes and stark portraits and is regarded as one of the most important painters of the post-war era. Some of his works sell for about $10 million. Mr. Robert Hughes, the art critic for TIME magazine held Mr. Freud as the greatest living figurative painter. Many of the  British press have reacted negatively to the portrait as being unrealistic, even defamatory. You can post your views of the portrait on BBC online.

Toronto, Canada - Conference contemplates Shakespeare portrait 

About 200 experts from half a dozen fields (historians, forensic scientists, physicians and paleographers) will gather in Toronto November 2002 to weigh the evidence in favor of the Sanders portrait, which some say is of William Shakespeare. The portrait John Sanders painted belongs to a retired Ontario engineer, and has been passed on in his family for ten generations. The portrait, which was shown in The Globe and Mail in December 2001, could be the only image of Shakespeare created while the English playwright was alive. The November symposium will include a lecture by the Shakespearean scholar Alexander Leggatt. Both Robert Tittler, Concordia University historian and professor of English literature William Ingram, Michigan University will attend the meeting.

YEMEN - A new member joins the international correspondents for The Ambassadors Magazine

The 28-years-old Yemeni journalist, Mohammed Al-Asadi, has joined The Ambassadors Magazine International Correspondents team. He is one of the key figures in the Yemen Observer Weekly Magazine (www.yobserver.com) and was a journalist advisor to CNN & BBC teams in Sana'a since September 11th. He graduated from Taiz University with a BA in English and has completed several advanced courses on internet journalism. Mr. Al-Asadi is currently a member of the Content Team in charge of developing the permanent exhibition of the National Museum of Yemen and of the Higher Committee of Unifying the Archeological Terminology at the General Organization of Antiquities, Museums and Manuscripts. He also worked as a consultant in Yemen to the Press Media of Germany, Middle East News Online Service, The Washington Times- Hala Nasraddine, the well-known CNN announcer & journalist - Peter Bergen…etc. He has been involved at the Dutch Support Project to the National Museum in Yemen since September after being Yemen's private media representative in Expo2000 (Hanover, Germany).

HEALTH NEWS

Edmonton, Canada - First healthy twins born to heart transplant patient

The 19-year-old, Kristy Plotsky, who had her heart transplant five years ago, was overjoyed with her two little miracles - the first twins in the world born to a heart transplant patient at Royal Alexandra Hospital.

"I'd been pretty much told that I couldn't get pregnant because of the anti-rejection medication I have to take because of the transplant - I thought I'd have to adopt, and then I was told there was a chance of a miscarriage because of the medication. Now I'm looking forward to getting them home and changing all those diapers" she explained. 

But when Shaylynn and McKayla were delivered Sept. 30, 10 weeks premature, they came after only 20 minutes of labour. The safe delivery of the twins, who weighed in at just over one kilogram each, was a relief for dad Josh Meyer. 
Neonatologist Jan Van Aerde said the twins could be transferred from the neonatal intensive-care unit at the Royal Alex to Red Deer within a month and be out of hospital within eight weeks. 

Chicago, USA - New treatment for common cold

Dr. Frederich Hayden from Virginia University presented in the American Society for Microbiology meeting, a new effective cold treatment called "Pleconaril," which rapidly clears up a runny nose by attacking the cold virus. The new drug attacks a large group of viruses known as picornaviruses. Rhinovirus alone causes about half of all colds reported. As millions worldwide suffer from these viruses every year, this drug may prove to be of great value.

Montreal, CANADA -  First blind doctor and advocate dies at 49 

Dr. Martha Jane Poulson was the first blind person in Canada to graduate from McGill University's medical school and become a fellow of internal medicine. She worked as an emergency room doctor and in Arctic clinics. She was  inducted as a member into the Order of Canada in 1987. The 49-year-old doctor died in September 2001. She was also a skilled pianist and singer. She published two extraordinary articles for the Canadian Medical Association Journal as cancer spread through her body, recording her painful and exhausting path towards death with the same wit and eloquence and style with which she lived her life. Her blindness resulted from juvenile diabetes and she also had severe heart disease. She was an advocate for people with disabilities.

Sweden - Breast screening urged for under-50

In a conference held in Toronto organized by the Ontario Breast Screening Program, Prof. Tabar, a professor of radiology in Uppsala University and director of mammography at Falun Central Hospital in Sweden, explained his research which showed that many women with breast cancer in their forties have a fast-growing type. He also noted that the incidence of breast cancer drops after menopause. The study, which involves 6,807 women whose breast cancer was diagnosed between 1968 and 1997, has found that regular, organized mammographic screening resulted in a 63 percent reduction in breast carcinoma deaths. It shows that clinical screening in the community - outside a research setting - substantially reduces breast carcinoma mortality. His latest study was published in the June issue of the American Cancer Society journal, Cancer. He has devoted much of his career to establishing the value of mammogram screening. 

Kentucky, USA - Pioneering heart transplant patient dies

On July 2, 2001, Robert Tools, 59,  became the first person in the world to replace his entire heart with the completely implanted, battery-powered AbioCor artificial heart. The man who made medical history by receiving the first fully implanted artificial heart has died. Tools had developed severe abdominal bleeding and multi-organ failure from which he was not expected to recover. The bleeding was not related to the AbioCor artificial heart, nor to the stroke Tools suffered on November 11, but was linked to blood clotting problems caused by Tools' chronic illness.
"Bob became a dear friend to all of us. We will miss Bob's laugh, his sense of humor and his fighting spirit," said Dr. Robert Dowling, one of the surgeons who implanted the artificial heart. "Our sympathy and support go out to his family and to all those who knew and loved Bob. His pioneering spirit will long live on in the fight against heart disease." Despite his death, the surgery conducted on Tools constitutes a medical breakthrough that will save many lives in the future. 

London, UK - Sophie Countess of Wessex's ectopic pregnancy
Prince Edward's wife, Sophie, the Countess of Wessex had to undergo an emergency operation for an ectopic pregnancy in King Edward VII Hospital. The wife of the Queen's youngest son developed an embryo outside the womb in a Fallopian tube. In a previous interview, the Countess showed her desire to have children saying "If I am lucky enough to have one, one of each would be nice." However, in a statement made by the Countess after the operation she said, "I am obviously very sad, but there will be other chances."

(Picture of Earl Edward & Countess Sophie visiting Bahrain and Qatar 2001)

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - Conference highlights Arab children's health
The Union of Arab Pediatric Associations organized by the Saudi Medical Association held its ninth successful conference in Jeddah in November 2001. Many international figures attended this conference which discussed many modern health issues pertaining to the 21st century. The conference also discussed strategies to improve the well-being of children in the 22-Arab countries. It also proposed an agenda for preventive pediatrics for both communicable and non-communicable disorders. One of the more critical issues covered in the conference is the improvement of public education on health issues. Saudi Arabia has been a pioneer in this area with such campaigns as blood diseases and Down syndrome. Former Ambassadors Megastar Prof. Mohsen Al-Hazmi spearheaded many of these efforts. Both Prof. Abdel Rahman Al-Frayh (Riyadh) and Prof. Abdelaziz Al-Twain (Jeddah) chaired the conference which was held in Jeddah.  Among the international guest speakers was Prof. Ahmed S. Teebi (Univ. of Toronto), founder of MEGA and AGDDB, Prof. Mohamed Hafez, Dean of Mansoura Medical College; Prof. Mark Gardinner (UK), Prof. Sami Bahna (USA); Prof. Khalil Abdel Khalek (Egypt); and Prof. Samir El-Naggar (Lebanon).

ITALY - Aerobic exercise treatment for erectile dysfunction?

Dr. Romualdo Belardinelli of the Lancisi Heart Institute in Italy mentioned that aerobic exercise can have Viagra-like effects. His study showed that riding a bike at a moderate intensity three times a week for two months may substitute for Viagra in some men with erectile dysfunction and weak cardiac muscles. All his patients reported an improvement in their sex lives.

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