February 4, 2023

360 Scholarships to Accelerate Sustainability Education for Young Women Worldwide

NEW YORK, Feb. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Available to young women (ages 15-17.5) around the world, applications are now open for the AFS Global STEM Accelerators: a full-scholarship virtual exchange program in sustainability, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), and positive social impact.

Global Stem Accelerators’ voices echo the desire for a brighter and more inclusive future.

The program is run by AFS Intercultural Programs, a global non-profit intercultural exchange network with more than 75 years’ experience in international education. AFS received Diversity Abroad’s 2022 Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion in International Education (EDIIE) Award for the Accelerators’ successful inauguration. 20% of the scholarships will be allocated specifically for refugees and girls from displaced populations, whether from war, violence, or natural disaster.

The Accelerators program is part of a broader five-year scholarship initiative aimed at reaching 5,000 young people worldwide, with a focus on supporting women. The initiative is funded by bp, and the curricula is co-developed by AFS and the University of Pennsylvania Center for Social Impact Strategy. AFS conducts outreach with support from SPARK, an international NGO that creates pathways for young people, particularly women and refugees, in fragile communities worldwide. The program also provides internet and technical support for users in need.

Previous scholarship awardees reflect the diversity the program was designed to embrace: 20% were refugees or displaced persons; 82% identified as People of Color; 51% were from low-income households; and 10% are set to be the first in their families to graduate from high school.

AFS scholars’ voices echo the desire for a brighter and more inclusive future: “I am from a traditional society where girls don’t even have the right to go to school,” says Harira, a participant from Afghanistan. “Participating in this program is my first step toward achieving my goal to explore the world and become influential in improving sustainable societies.”

The Accelerators program culminates with scholars developing social impact capstone projects and presentations that offer potential solutions to real-world challenges, with an emphasis on sustainability. Participants earn the Advanced Certificate on Global Competence for Social Impact, awarded by AFS and the University of Pennsylvania.

“It is always exciting to see strong interest from brilliant young women around the world,” says Kerry Dryburgh, EVP people & culture, bp. “With their passion to make a difference and the skills they will learn, they are future changemakers, leaders and innovators.”

Applications are open until March 15, 2023, and the first cohort begins on May 13.
Learn more & apply: https://afs.org/global-stem/accelerators.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1995738/AFS_Intercultural_Programs_Accelerators.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1809272/AFS_Logo.jpg

February 4, 2023

‫التذاكر معروضة للبيع الآن للنسخة الخامسة عشرة من بطولة الاتحاد للطيران للفورمولا 1 #ABUDHABIGP

أبوظبي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة،, 4 فبراير 2023/PRNewswire/ — قبل بداية موسم للفورمولا 1 لعام 2023، أعلنت إدارة أبوظبي لرياضة السيارات (ADMM) اليوم عن بيع تذاكر النسخة الخامسة عشرة من سباق الجائزة الكبرى للاتحاد للطيران للفورمولا 1 أبوظبي 2023.

Fans can secure their seat for the 15th edition of the #AbuDhabiGP from today with tickets now on sale

سيقام السباق الثالث والعشرون والأخير لموسم 2023 في الفترة من 26 إلى 29 نوفمبر في حلبة مرسى ياس، ليختتم أطول موسم في تاريخ الرياضة. ستشهد عطلة نهاية الأسبوع # AbuDhabiGP ، الممتدة على أربعة أيام، مجموعة فريدة من الرياضات الرائعة على المسار الصحيح، والتي تكملها مجموعة عالمية من تجارب الترفيه والضيافة على حلبة جزيرة ياس.

بعد عطلة نهاية أسبوع # AbuDhabiGP التي حطمت الرقم القياسي في عام 2022 والتي شهدت حضور أكبر عدد من الجماهير على الإطلاق، ولمكافأة المشجعين المخلصين، أكد المنظمون أن مشتري التذاكر المبكرة سيستفيدون من خصم “الطائر المبكر” والذي يصل إلى 20 في المائة على التذاكر المختارة أثناء طالما هي متوفرة. شهد الحدث بالفعل طلبًا غير مسبوق على تذاكر 2023، ويجب على أولئك الذين يتطلعون للحضور التحرك بسرعة لتجنب خيبة الأمل.

شهدت تذاكر نسخة 2022 مبيعات قياسية، حيث بيعت التذاكر بشكل أسرع من أي وقت مضى. لن يشهد هذا العام نهاية مثيرة فقط لموسم الفورمولا 1 الأطول على الإطلاق والتحولات المذهلة في فئتي دعم الفورمولا 2 والفورمولا 4، بل أيضًا مجموعة مذهلة من نجوم الموسيقى العالميين ومجموعة من تجارب الضيافة ذات المستوى العالمي في جميع أنحاء أربعة أيام عطلة نهاية الأسبوع.

This year's #AbuDhabiGP, serving as the final race of the F1 season, will bring exciting new additions to the region's biggest sports and entertainment weekend in November

بالإضافة إلى الوصول إلى يومهم في الحلبة، يمكن لحاملي تذاكر # AbuDhabiGP 2023 الاستمتاع بحفل المساء بالإضافة إلى الدخول المجاني إلى واحدة من حدائق المغامرات المليئة بالمرح في جزيرة ياس، بما في ذلك عالم فيراري أبو ظبي، وعالم Warner Bros . أبو ظبي، و Yas Waterworld ، أو عالم البحار أبو ظبي، مع العرض الذي يمتد عبر عطلة نهاية الأسبوع # AbuDhabiGP من 22 إلى 27 نوفمبر لحاملي التذاكر.

وقال سيف النعيمي، الرئيس التنفيذي لإدارة أبوظبي لرياضة السيارات: “إنه يوم فخر لنا أن نعلن أن تذاكر الإصدار الخامس عشر من الجائزة الكبرى للاتحاد للطيران للفورمولا 1 معروضة للبيع في وقت أبكر من أي وقت مضى. وبعد تسجيل رقم قياسي في عام 2022، والذي شهد حضور حشود قياسية في عطلة نهاية الأسبوع في جائزة أبوظبي الكبرى، شعرنا بسعادة غامرة لمشاهدة الطلب على التذاكر من قاعدة جماهيرنا الدولية، وتمثل بداية الموسم فرصة فريدة لضمان أن يتمكن مشجعونا محليًا ومن جميع أنحاء العالم من شراء تذاكرهم والتخطيط للموسم المقبل”.

“بالنسبة لعام 2023، كنا سعداء للعمل عن كثب مع شركائنا وجيراننا في جزيرة ياس لتقديم عدد من المزايا لرواد السباق، للمساعدة في بناء تجربة وجهة جزيرة ياس النهائية. وسيحظى المشجعون بفرصة حضور حفل موسيقي مذهل بعد السباق في حديقة الاتحاد ويوم واحد في واحدة من حدائق المغامرات ذات المستوى العالمي في الجزيرة، إلى جانب أربعة أيام من السباقات في عطلة نهاية الأسبوع في جائزة أبوظبي الكبرى، وكل ذلك كجزء من التذكرة. سيكون هناك المزيد للإعلان عنه خلال الأسابيع المقبلة، لذا ترقبوا”.

بعد تقديم التجارب المفضلة لدى المشجعين خلال عطلة نهاية الأسبوع، بما في ذلك المدرج الشمالي المستقيم الجديد و Deck at Nine ، الذي يمتد على طول ركن مرسى الجنوبي، هناك مجموعة من الخيارات المرنة لرواد السباق لتحقيق أقصى قدر من عطلة نهاية الأسبوع في # AbuDhabiGP هذا العام. ويشمل ذلك تذكرة “الجناح الدراج” و “جناح ياس المتعدد” الشهيرة، حيث يمكن للضيوف الاختيار بين تجربة أجزاء مختلفة من المكان خلال عطلة نهاية الأسبوع.

مع المزيد من الإعلانات المثيرة في المستقبل، يمكن للجماهير العثور على مزيد من المعلومات حول كيفية تأمين مقاعدهم في أكبر حدث رياضي وترفيهي في المنطقة على: www.yasmarinacircuit.com

الصورة – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1995586/Abu_Dhabi_Motorsports_Management.jpg

الصورة – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1995587/Abu_Dhabi_Motorsports_Management_2.jpg

February 4, 2023

‫احتفل وافرح بالسنة الصينية الجديدة مع العالم، قم بزيارة جيانغسو في عام الأرنب

نانجينغ، الصين , 4 فبراير / شباط 2023/PRNewswire/ — مع وصول عام الأرنب للتو في عام 2023، أطلق حساب وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي في الخارج @Visit Jiangsu التابع لإدارة الثقافة والسياحة بمقاطعة جيانغسو العديد من أنشطة السنة الصينية الجديدة على Facebook, وTwitter, وInstagram, وYouTube وTikTok من خلال أشكال تفاعلية إبداعية متنوعة مثل مقاطع الفيديو والصور والنصوص والبث المباشر الرقمي والتفاعل عبر الإنترنت وتحدي تحية السنة الصينية الجديدة بلغات متعددة وما إلى ذلك لمساعدة الأشخاص من جميع أنحاء العالم على التعرف على السنة الصينية الجديدة وثقافة جيانغسو. وصلت المنشورات إلى 3.08 مليون متابع وحذت على 662000 تفاعل، غطت ما يقرب من 100 دولة ومنطقة حول العالم، مما جلب للناس عيد سمعي وبصري لـ “سحر جيانغسو” المليء بأجواء السنة الصينية الجديدة.

هذا العام، منتجات وسائط التقارب المرئي للعام الصيني الجديد، مع دمج عناصر المعالم في جيانغسو، وقطع الورق للتراث الثقافي غير المادي، وعناصر مميزة أخرى، أنشأت لافتة عام الأرنب لوسائل التواصل الاجتماعي الخاصة بنا، وصور احجيات عبر الإنترنت وملصقات السنة الصينية الجديدة وغيرها من المنتجات المرئية الإبداعية التي تم تثبيتها في الأعلى على منصات متعددة. ونحن نسعى جاهدين لتقديم سنة صينية جديدة مثيرة للاهتمام وفريدة من نوعها في جيانغسو لمعجبينا في الخارج مع رؤية متعددة المستويات.

في الوقت نفسه، تم إعداد عمود خاص من “سحر جيانغسو” على حسابنا على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي @ Visit Jiangsu مع موضوع “سنة صينية جديدة سعيدة”. يتم إنتاج العمود مع موضوع “معرفة عادات السنة الصينية الجديدة في جيانغسو”، و”طعام السنة الصينية الجديدة في جيانغسو” و”جولة جيانغسو خلال السنة الصينية الجديدة” باللغات المحلية في الخارج لإدخال الثقافة والطعام ومناطق الجذب السياحي المتعلقة بالعام الصيني الجديد.

بالإضافة إلى ذلك، قدمت @ Visit Jiangsu باستمرار برامج السنة الصينية الجديدة الغنية إلى “البث المباشر السحابي” وحافظت على تحسين ابتكارها الرقمي. كما جمعت بين أشكال الأداء المتعدد والمشاهد الغامرة من خلال تقديم أنماط مختلفة من عروض السنة الصينية الجديدة حول ثقافة جيانغسو، وتخصيص فلتر AR للسنة الصينية الجديدة وطرق أخرى لخلق تجربة حسية جديدة في الثقافة والسياحة حول السنة الصينية الجديدة. حتى الآن، تم استخدام فلتر AR لـ 250000 مرة وحذت على 116000 تفاعل. شارك الناس من جميع أنحاء العالم في @ Visit Jiangsu عام الأرنب فلتر AR للاحتفال بالسنة الصينية الجديدة معًا.

@ Visit Jiangsu نفذت نشاطًا بعنوان “تحية السنة الصينية الجديدة بلغات متعددة” على منصات التواصل الاجتماعي في الخارج في ليلة رأس السنة الصينية لجعل الأصدقاء في الخارج يشعرون بالأجواء القوية للسنة الصينية الجديدة. لقد قمنا بدعوة المعجبين و KOLs في الخارج لاستقبال العام الصيني الجديد، والاحتفال بالعام الصيني الجديد مع @ Visit Jiangsu ، وتقديم أطيب التمنيات بالعام الصيني الجديد والشعور بسحر الترحيب بالعام الصيني الجديد بلغات مختلفة، مما يجعل اللغات والثقافات المختلفة أقرب معًا في شكل مقاطع فيديو وصور.

سلسلة من أنشطة “السنة الصينية الجديدة السعيدة” التي أنشأتها إدارة الثقافة والسياحة في مقاطعة جيانغسو أظهرت للجمهور في الخارج الأجواء الاحتفالية والحياة الترفيهية خلال السنة الصينية الجديدة وصورة أكثر انفتاحًا وتنوعًا وحيوية لجيانغسو، الصين.

الفيديو – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1995489/video.mp4

February 4, 2023

Celebrate & Rejoice Chinese New Year with the world, Visit Jiangsu in the Year of Rabbit

NANJING, China, Feb. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — As the Year of the Rabbit just arrived in 2023, the overseas social media account @Visit Jiangsu of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism launched several Chinese New Year activities on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok through various creative interactive forms such as videos, pictures and texts, digital live streaming, online interaction, Greeting the Chinese New Year in Multiple Languages Challenge and so on to help people from all around the world to learn about the Chinese New Year and the culture of Jiangsu. The posts reached 3.08 million followers and accumulated 662,000 interactions, covering nearly 100 countries and regions around the world, bringing people an audio-visual feast of “Charm of Jiangsu” which is full of Chinese New Year atmosphere.

This year, the Chinese New Year visual convergence media products, integrating elements of the landmarks in Jiangsu, paper cutting-an intangible cultural heritage, and other characteristic elements, created the Year of the Rabbit banner of our social media, photos of the online puzzle games, Chinese New Year posters and other creative visual products which were pinned to the top on multiple platforms. We strive to present an interesting and unique Chinese New Year in Jiangsu for our overseas fans with a multi-level vision.

At the same time, a special column of “The Charm of Jiangsu” was set up on our social media account @Visit Jiangsu with the topic of “Happy Chinese New Year”. The column is produced with the theme of “knowledge of Chinese New Year customs in Jiangsu”, “Chinese New Year food in Jiangsu” and “tour Jiangsu during the Chinese New Year” in localized languages overseas to introduce the Chinese New Year-related culture, food, and tourist attractions.

In addition, @Visit Jiangsu continuously introduced rich Chinese New Year programs to “cloud live broadcast” and kept improving its digital innovation. It also combined multiple-performance forms with immersive scenes through the introduction of different styles of Chinese New Year performances about Jiangsu’s culture, customizing Chinese New Year AR Filter and other ways to create a new sensory experience in culture and tourism about Chinese New Year. Up to now, the AR Filter has been used for 250,000 times and accumulated 116,000 interactions. People from all around the world participated in the @Visit Jiangsu Year of the Rabbit AR filter to celebrate the Chinese New Year together.

@Visit Jiangsu carried out an activity named “Greeting the Chinese New Year in Multiple Languages ” on overseas social media platforms on Chinese New Year’s Eve to make overseas friends feel the strong atmosphere of Chinese New Year. We invited fans and overseas KOLs to greet the Chinese New Year, celebrate the Chinese New Year with @Visit Jiangsu, extend best wishes for Chinese New Year and feel the charm of greeting the Chinese New Year in different languages, which brings different languages and cultures closer together in the form of videos and pictures.

A series of “Happy Chinese New Year” activities created by Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism has showed the overseas audience the festive atmosphere and leisure life during the Chinese New Year and a more open, diversified and energetic image of Jiangsu, China.

Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1995489/video.mp4

February 4, 2023

Pope Francis Implores Clergy to Raise Voices Against Injustice

Pope Francis called on Catholic clergy Saturday, especially those in Africa, to raise their voices against injustice and abuse of power by authorities. Francis was speaking to church leaders on his second day in Juba, South Sudan, where he is on a three-day ecumenical peace pilgrimage.

Pope Francis said Saturday the church should play a significant role in ending violence and bad governance in Africa by speaking out about injustices committed by those in power.

The pope said, if we want to be pastors who intercede, we cannot afford to remain neutral before the pain caused by acts of injustice and violence. To violate any right against any woman or man is an offense against Christ.

The pope was addressing Catholic bishops, priests, and nuns at Juba’s St. Therese Cathedral, where he also cautioned against remaining neutral to injustice.

He said we are called to intercede for our people, to raise our voices. We cannot afford to remain neutral.

Using a metaphor, the pope equated the Nile River, which passes through Juba from Lake Victoria, the world’s largest freshwater lake, to the Mediterranean Sea, as the tears of the people of South Sudan immersed in endless suffering.

The pontiff asked, how can we exercise our ministry in this land, along the banks of a river bathed in so much innocent blood, among the tear-stained faces of the people entrusted to us?

He challenged the clergy to be “courageous and generous souls, ready to suffer and die for Africa.

He told said we need courageous, generous souls ready to die for Africa,”

On Friday, Pope Francis urged South Sudanese leaders to shun violence and embrace peace and he also called on the international community to refrain from interfering in the affairs of a sovereign Africa.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is accompanying the ecumenical pilgrimage.

“My heart breaks. I can hardly speak with sorrow for South Sudan. I beg that at every level, from the president to the smallest child, that people find the mercy of God and are transformed. And that there is peace and good government,” Welby said. “That they will not steal money. That no one kills their neighbors for cattle.”

Rebecca Nyandeng, wife of South Sudan founding father the late John Garang, told citizens to shun ethnic divisions.

She said, I am heartbroken that Dr. John died for the independence of this country, yet the very people he died for are now killing themselves. By the fact that you are still killing yourselves, it means he had died in vain. Please accept one another, stop division and stop killing each other. God has come to us in the form of the visit of Pope Francis, Archbishop of Canterbury and Moderator General of the Church of Scotland.

The three religious leaders later, participated in a joint interdenominational prayer session.

This historic ecumenical visit by the prominent religious leaders is considered a sign of inter-religious unity and their commitment to bear witness to the Gospel, as well as an action to promote peace and reconciliation among the people of South Sudan.

Source: Voice of America

February 4, 2023

Regional Leaders Urge Immediate Cease-fire in Eastern Congo

Regional heads of state have called for an immediate cease-fire by all parties in eastern Congo, where tensions have grown amid talk of war as Congo and neighboring Rwanda trade allegations of backing armed rebels.

The communique issued Saturday at the end of an East African Community summit also directed troop-contributing countries to immediately deploy more troops to a regional force created and sent to eastern Congo last year. It also directed defense chiefs to meet within one week and called for more dialogue and de-escalation of tensions.

The heads of state of both Congo and Rwanda attended in a “cordial and friendly atmosphere,” the communique said.

Some observers fear the toll and regional effects if the two countries slide again into all-out conflict as they did in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Alarm soared last month after Rwanda fired on a Congolese military aircraft it alleged violated its airspace. Congo called it “a deliberate act of aggression that equals an act of war” with the goal of sabotaging regional peace efforts.

Congo for months has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 armed group — whose origins lie in the region’s ethnic fighting — and powerful voices in the West have openly agreed. Rwanda denies backing the M23 group, which is one of dozens operating in mineral-rich eastern Congo, and accuses Congo of backing another rebel group that reportedly includes ethnic Hutus who participated in the 1994 Rwanda genocide that killed more than 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

United Nations experts have said they have “substantial evidence” of Rwandan government forces crossing into Congo to reinforce M23 rebels or to conduct operations against the other rebel group. The United States, France and Germany have urged Rwanda to stop supporting the rebels.

Saturday’s regional summit occurred days after Pope Francis visited Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, to highlight the toll that decades of conflict have taken on the country, particularly eastern Congo, a volatile region rich in minerals critical to much of the world’s technology. A planned visit by the pope to Goma in eastern Congo was called off because of the insecurity.

At a Nov. 23 summit in Angola, which included Congo’s president and Rwanda’s foreign minister, regional leaders called for a cease-fire in eastern Congo to be followed by a withdrawal of rebels from major towns under M23 control. The group said it would leave some of the occupied territories before Jan. 15, but some areas remain under its control and fighting has intensified in some areas.

Source: Voice of America

February 4, 2023

Breast Cancer Is Leading Cause of Cancer Deaths Among Women

As it marks World Cancer Day, the World Health Organization is calling for action to tackle breast cancer, the most common and leading cause of cancer deaths among women.

Every year, more than 2.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and nearly 700,000 die of the disease, which disproportionately affects women living in low- and middle-income countries.

WHO officials say women who live in poorer countries are far less likely to survive breast cancer than women in richer countries.

“Breast cancer survival is 50 percent or less in many low- and middle-income countries, and greater than 90 percent for those able to receive the best care in high income countries,” says Bente Mikkelsen, director of the Noncommunicable Diseases Department at the WHO.

She says the odds are stacked against women who live in poor countries, noting many must sell their assets to pay for the treatment they need.

She notes that women also are discouraged from seeking and receiving a timely diagnosis for their condition because of the stigma attached to breast cancer.

“A woman subjected to racial and ethnic disparities will receive lower quality care and be forced to abandon treatment,” she says.

WHO data show more than 20 high income countries have successfully reduced breast cancer mortality by 40 percent since 1990. It finds five-year survival rates from breast cancer in North America and western Europe is better than 95 percent, compared to 66 percent in India and 40 percent in South Africa.

Mikkelsen says by closing the rich-poor inequity gap, some 2.5 million lives could be saved over the next two decades.

“Time is, unfortunately, not on our side. Breast cancer will be a larger public health threat for tomorrow, and the gap in care will continue to grow.

She says that “by the year 2040, more than 3 million cases and 1 million deaths are predicted to occur each year worldwide. Approximately 75 percent of these deaths will occur in low- and middle-income countries.”

Coinciding with World Cancer Day, the WHO is launching a global breast cancer initiative to tackle the looming threat. The initiative contains a series of best practices for addressing this significant public health issue.

The strategy rests on three main pillars: early-detection programs so at least 60 percent of breast cancers are diagnosed and treated as an early-stage disease; starting treatment within three months of diagnosis; managing breast cancer to ensure at least 80 percent of patients complete their recommended treatment.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO, says, “Countries with weaker health systems are least able to manage the increasing burden of breast cancer … so, it must be a priority for ministries of health and governments everywhere.

“We have the tools and the knowhow to prevent breast cancer and save lives,” he says.

Benjamin Anderson, medical officer and lead of the WHO’s global breast cancer initiative, says one of the best ways to implement the initiative is through primary health care systems.

“The patient pathway is the basis of the three pillars of the global cancer initiative framework. What we anticipate is that by using awareness, education in the public, combined with professional education, it sets us up for the diagnostic processes that must take place and the treatment that has to follow.”

The World Health Organization warns failure to act now to address cancer in women, including breast cancer, will have serious intergenerational consequences.

It cites a study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer that reported that because of “the estimated 4.4 million women who died from cancer in 2020, about 1 million children became maternal orphans in that year,” 25 percent of which was due to breast cancer.

Mikkelsen observes, “the children whose mothers die from cancer experience health and educational disadvantages throughout their lives.”

WHO officials acknowledge the cost of drugs to treat breast cancer could be a matter of life or death. It notes the price of certain oral drugs is less than $1, while others range from $9,000 to $10,000.

As many countries are unable to negotiate prices, they say the WHO is working to increase the availability and affordability of breast cancer medication.

Source: Voice of America