The Arabic Media Watch institute awarded famous media man Hamdi Qandil with the prestigious Media Accomplishment Award in London. The famous presenter is known best for his TV show “Kalam Rasas” or “Pencil” on Dubai’s satellite channel. The award was given on the basis of his creativity and participation in the media world during his outstanding career which spans over half a century.
Qandil received his award on his 70th birthday which also happens to date 50 years in the media business switching from printed journalism to broadcasted TV.

Starting from his show “Press Releases” in Egypt to “Pencil” in Dubai, Qandil chaired a number of high-ranking positions in International and Arabic institutes of media and journalism, such as the UNSCO where he was the director of media and the Arabic Union of Broadcasters in Egypt.

The 70-year-old classical music icon Luciano Pavarotti was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer few days after he underwent his regular check-up in an undisclosed hospital in New York City. The results of his medical tests prompted his doctor to carry out an “emergency surgery” but he is recuperating now, according to his manager in statement released last Friday.

The current & 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, celebrates his 71st birthday today.
The fifth of sixteen children of a farming family, Tenzin was born on July 6th 1935.
Not only is he the most influential spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama traditionally claims to be Tibet's Head of State and most important political ruler.
A charismatic figure and noted public speaker, Tenzin Gyatso is the first Dalai Lama to travel to the West, where he has helped to spread Buddhism, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
Some of his famous quotes are: ...

Tonight on MBC 4 queen Rania of Jordan appears on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
Queen Rania, which is the youngest queen in the world, is her usual self on the show, a spontaneous, active, fresh & casually chic with a very warm smile. She represents a sophisticated Jordanian woman, who walks steadily towards a bright future, thanks to her intelligence & self confidence.
During the show, Queen Rania talks about being a queen & a mother, she also tackles many important issues like women's rights, the Palestinian-Israeli crises, the Jordanian society & many other topics.

Dr Phil McGraw, renowned life strategist and best-selling author, has stunned his fans since his show started in September 2002.
He was selected one of the ten most fascinating people on earth because he focuses on people's behavior and helps improve lives.
Robin McGraw, Dr. Phil's wife, is always present among the audience during his shows. They have 2 sons, Jay who is 26 years old and Jordan who is 19.

Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Doyle originally studies medicine & became a doctor & that's why you might not recognize his name, but you have to! He's the genius storyteller behind the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.
Doyle published his first Sherlock Holmes tale, A Study in Scarlet, in 1887.
Over the following 40 years he published 56 short stories and four novels featuring Holmes and his sidekick, Dr. Watson.
The character of Dr. Watson & Sir Arthur Conan Doyle have a lot in common: both are medical doctors, both are writers, and both served in the British Army.
Doyle was knighted in 1903 for his services to the crown & died in 1930.

For those who have no idea who Thalia is, here is Thalia's story:
Thalia Ariadna Sodi Miranda was born on August 26th, 1971 in Mexico City, height for about 167 cm and weight of 51 kilos.
She is the youngest of five children. Her family, when she was little, were calling her "Yuya". Her father, Ernesto Sodi, died when she was 5 years old, silencing her for a year. Her first solo album was released in 1990, simply titled "Thalia". Her first telenovela (soap opera) was Pobre Senorita Limatour in 1987, followed by Quinceanera in 1988, Luz y Sombra (Light and Shade) in 1989, Maria Mercedes in 1992 at which she became famous in Middle east and especially in Lebanon though her song Amor a la Mexicana made her a diva, Marimar in 1994, and Maria La Del Barrio in 1996. Her last one is Rosalinda (1999). Her first movie was Mambo café.

Bill Gates who is the owner of Microsoft is the richest man in the whole world for the 12th year in a row; His fortune is 50 billion dollars, Forbes magazine has just published the news. Bill Gates has been known with his extreme modesty. In addition to that, his wife and he are known for the charity work they do all over the world. Warren Buffet comes next in the list with 42 billion dollars...

Saudi Prince Walid Ben Talal has been given the title of Strongest Arab Personality in the World by Arabian Business Magazine this year.
Prince Walid Ben Talal is the fourth richest person in the world. He controls his riches through his position as Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company.
He has investments & shares around the world, in the four continents; Apple Computers, Fairmont Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels, Kingdom Hotels International, George V in Paris, The Plaza in New York, Movenpick, Saks Fifth Avenue, CitiyBank, Disney land Paris, America Online ...

Radwa Ashour an Egyptian writer born in 26-05-1946. She is graduated from the Faculty of Arts, English department, Cairo University. She has an M.A. in comparative literature from the University of Cairo, Egypt and a PHd in Afro American literature from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA. Now she is a professor of English literature in Ain Shams University, Egypt.

She has written several books including both fiction and literary studies. Fiction such as:

I just read that Michael Jackson is about to convert to Islam. Rumors say he already did, and has been following the five tenets of Islam. I watched in MBC last week, the new show "Shahrazan" and they played a part of a new song of his. The song contained lyrics in arabic, and it was a pure Islamic song...

From the deserts of Saudi Arabia, comes a thin, tall man. He has a deck of cards in his pocket, and a beautiful wooden stick in his hand. He looks mysterious. But who is he?
He can make cards appear, and disappear. He can make the stick fly and hover around. He can make anything fly actually! even a human! He is Ahmad Al Bayedh.
You might not have heard of him, but he is famous! He is the first Arab, and certainly the first Saudi to enter the realm of magic, or illusion as he insists on calling it!

Osama bin Laden's niece Wafa Bin Laden ( Wafa Dufour ) has taken a huge step that has taken her over the red line!
Her uncle would not be too pleased with her as she appears in the GQ magazine January issue, where she is lying on a bed with rumpled pink silk sheets and lots of pillows, and covered only with pink feathers! She has got big dark eyes, long lashes, plump lips and caramel skin, and she wants to show it all to the world!

She has got guts!

Wafa Bin Laden GQ Magazine Photos

Bill Gates, his wife Melinda and Bono have something in common ; they are all celebrities, they do a world of charity work for africa's poor children and sick people, and they are THE persons of the year according to the famous Time magazine.

Time said the trio were chosen because of “their work in trying to find ways to eradicate such calamities as malaria in Africa, HIV and AIDS and the poverty that kills 8 million people a year.”