Latest news with #MichaelAllen
Fox News
5 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Trump's drastic NSC cuts spark debate: Does fighting the 'Deep State' put national security at risk?
As the White House trims over 100 aides from its National Security Council staff, some former officials and analysts are asking if the smaller team can meet the demands of a fast-moving and dangerous global security environment. Roughly half of the NSC's 350-person team will depart in what the White House is calling a "right-sizing" of a historically bureaucratic body composed largely of career diplomats – many of whom are seen as out of step with the president's agenda. Aides originally on loan from agencies like the State Department and the Pentagon are being sent back to their home departments. Political appointees placed on administrative leave have been told the White House will find other roles for them elsewhere in the administration. Some former NSC officials told Fox News Digital it's too early to tell whether the overhaul will result in a more efficient agency – or one ill-equipped to deliver timely intelligence for national security decisions. Privately, national security sources questioned whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is currently serving as interim national security advisor, might be paring back the agency to avoid internal power struggles once he returns to his original post. Michael Allen, a former senior director at the NSC, said the staffing changes reflect President Donald Trump's desire for direct control over key decisions. "I think he wants people to bring decisions to him earlier than previous presidents," Allen told Fox News Digital. The NSC has charted rocky waters since it lost national security advisor Mike Waltz following the inadvertently publicized Signal chat. His deputy, Alex Wong, also recently departed the agency, and other aides who had a large impact on the administration's early foreign policy decisions were pushed out in Friday's restructuring. Eric Trager, the senior director for Middle East issues who traveled with envoy Steve Witkoff for some of his Iran negotiations, is out. So is Andrew Peek, senior director for Europe and Eurasia, who helped coordinate the approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Additionally, the restructuring will move Andy Barker, national security advisor to Vice President JD Vance, and Robert Gabriel, assistant to the president for policy, into roles serving as deputy national security advisors. "This happens naturally on NSCs, the kind of stasis we saw in the Biden administration is highly untypical," said Victoria Coates, former deputy national security advisor to Trump. She noted that President Ronald Reagan had six national security advisors over two terms as president, in addition to two acting NSAs. "For the president, he has legitimate concerns about the NSC from the first term, given what happened, and then, you know, there's no sugar-coating it: the situation with Signalgate was a problem for NSA Waltz," Coates went on. "The president is taking actions to get the NSC into a condition that he would have complete confidence in it." With a slimmer NSC, the president is expected to lean more heavily on Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard for his daily intelligence briefings. "One thing that makes this administration unique is that it's the president himself and a small circle of advisors who truly matter and make decisions," said Brian Katulis, a former NSC official and fellow at the Middle East Institute. "They just don't see the need for ongoing interagency meetings like in previous administrations." Katulis added that the biggest risk isn't necessarily a lack of intelligence – but a lack of coordination. "Rather than gaps in intel or knowledge, what I'd worry more about is whether different agencies are singing from the same sheet of music," he said. Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment on Friday's cuts and their intent. Others argue that the NSC has become bloated and is in need of a reset. "The NSC under Democratic presidents grows to 300, 400 people," said former Trump NSC official Alex Gray. "It becomes its own department." "When I was there, we took it down to about 110 people doing policy – and it could probably go down another 50 and still be effective," he said. "Do you want an NSC that formulates and directs policy, or one that gives the president advice, lets him decide, and then implements it? You don't need hundreds of people to do that." But the NSC is the primary agency tasked with making sure other agencies are in line with the president's agenda. "Rather than preparing options for him, they should take his direction and implement it," said Coates. But, she added, "if you take it down too far, it's not going to have the manpower to implement those directions from the White House into the departments and agencies which are always bigger and better funded than the NSC." "How many heads do you have to bash together to get them to do what the president wants them to do? Our experience was in the first term that we needed a fair amount of heft on our end to get them to do stuff they didn't want to do, like designate the IRGC as an FTO, for example," Coates added. Even with a leaner staff, the NSC remains responsible for managing critical global challenges – from Iran nuclear talks and the war in Ukraine to military competition with China. That puts added pressure on Rubio, who will bear the blame if any crucial intelligence slips through the cracks. "The big issue is the national security advisor needs to make sure the president has all the information he needs to make a decision," Allen said.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
An uncertain time for solar, thanks to politics: Q&A with All Energy Solar CEO Michael Allen
President Donald Trump's budget request, released on May 2, 2025, proposes slashing $21 billion in unspent funds from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law for renewable energy, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and other efforts to cut climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions. Shown are solar panels and wind turbines. (Photo by Marga Buschbell-Steeger/Getty Images) If you live in Minnesota, you may have already had an inkling, but a quick glance at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's U.S. solar resource map confirms: Minnesota is among the least sunny states in the Lower 48. Yet Minnesota gets a surprising amount of its electricity from the sun. It's in the top 20 for installed solar capacity overall and boasts the country's fourth-largest community solar program, thanks in part to a trailblazing 2014 law allowing customers to purchase shares in the smallish arrays that now dot warehouse roofs and farmland across the state. More recently, residential solar has taken off in Minnesota as more utility customers — mostly but not exclusively in the Twin Cities metro — look to lessen their reliance on the electric grid. Few local enterprises have done more for those folks than St. Paul-based All Energy Solar, which helped kickstart the market in 2009 and now does business across the United States. Solar power was still a novelty for most Minnesotans back then, but not for All Energy Solar co-founder and CEO Michael Allen. Allen became fascinated with the technology in junior high school, wrote the business plan for his company-to-be in college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and then spent several years in the 2000s learning the ropes as a California-based employee in BP's nascent solar division. (His brother and fellow All Energy Solar cofounder Brian Allen was one of the first employees of SolarCity, now a Tesla subsidiary.) Today, solar power is the world's fastest-growing source of electricity. Deployments of large lithium-ion batteries to store excess power are rising quickly too. All Energy Solar installs both for a customer base that Michael Allen says is around 70% residential and 30% commercial. But the U.S. solar industry also faces tremendous uncertainty thanks in part to stiff tariffs imposed by President Trump and instability around the future of generous federal tax incentives for clean energy equipment. SunPower, once one of the country's biggest solar installers, declared bankruptcy last summer; another, Sunnova, is in serious trouble. The Reformer spoke with Michael Allen last month about the state of the solar energy industry, the state and federal legislation he's watching closely this year, and his not-sales pitch to solar-curious customers. We actively say we don't have a sales pitch, to be clear. Most people come to us because they're interested in learning about solar. We listen to them and try to position ourselves as consultants who can help them solve their energy challenges. A lot of that is education, focused on the basics of how the technology works, how it helps customers produce their own energy and pay less for electricity, and getting past some of the myths and misconceptions. No, you don't need a giant battery to make it work. That said, it's still surprising when people ask us, 'Is this stuff for real?' Yes, solar energy is a multibillion-dollar industry. We're not doing it just for fun! The Minnesota Senate's energy omnibus bill has some provisions that could harm the industry. The proposal to do away with Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards program, the primary funding mechanism for Xcel customers who want to go solar. There are also provisions to kill net metering for customers of municipal utilities and electric cooperatives [reducing how much they get paid for excess electricity] and to discontinue the community solar program. Less talked about are the unfair solar access fees charged by some Minnesota cooperatives, which I brought up in Senate testimony earlier this year. They're some of the highest in the country. We see solar access fees as potentially even more detrimental for rural solar customers than the proposed net metering changes. In effect, solar customers are charged an additional fee even if they never sell electricity back to the grid. It's like charging someone who installs LED light bulbs. My biggest concern is that we continue this approach of imposing fees instead of trying to come up with better rules. In general, we need to get away from emotional thinking on energy policy. Policymakers and state energy regulators should take into account the countless data-driven studies showing the long-term value of customer-owned energy production. Right now, utility companies seem to be dominating the conversation and winning these battles, which in turn is stifling our ability to innovate toward a better energy system. We should be considering more ideas and working with utilities to test them. We've worked with 400 or 500 different utilities across the country and Xcel is right up there with the most difficult, which is frustrating. Fighting each other on everything is not going to get us anywhere. Our solution literally gives power back to the people, which not only makes customers more resilient but increases the grid's resilience as well. In turn, that avoids the need to build as much new infrastructure, like substations and power plants. The problem is that investor-owned utilities make more money when they build new infrastructure. So they continue the traditional model of building big, centralized power plants. The technology [wind and solar power] might be newer and cleaner, but the model is the same. Customers end up paying for this. We need to find a healthy balance before we get a snowball effect where more folks say 'I'm done,' and cut the cord, which increases costs for the remaining customers and ultimately hurts the people who can least afford to pay their bills. That's where we're headed if we continue to have an adversarial relationship with utilities. We can. The solar industry is learning that we need to compromise, that we can't just have our cake and eat it too. We can't see ourselves as the only solution because we're just one of many. The reality is, we build thousands of projects in Xcel's territory every year, which shows that we can work together. They — and we — are willing to come to the table. We can do more, though. We would like utilities to be partners in allowing new solutions, like placing more customer-owned batteries on the grid to capture and store power for times when it's needed most. That's a powerful solution that utilities should value appropriately. We also believe utilities should value the non-energy benefits of customer-owned resources, like jobs and economic activity. Yeah, it's concerning to hear [government officials] speaking out of both sides of their mouths. You can't say you want a manufacturing renaissance in the United States and then eliminate incentives for people to buy the products you want to make here. [Editor's note: To pay for tax cuts expected to cost $4.5 trillion over 10 years, congressional Republicans are considering repealing or sunsetting tax incentives for buyers and manufacturers of clean energy products, including solar panels and grid-connected batteries. They're also mulling deep cuts to Medicaid.] So if the tax credits are reduced or eliminated, we'll see a reduction in American manufacturing activity. That said, we believe that solar will continue to make sense regardless and that innovation could actually accelerate out of necessity in the absence of incentives. We'll see added pressure to make these products better and cheaper. From a global perspective, the industry will continue to grow. Just look at China. While I'm disheartened by some of the proposals under consideration in the state Legislature right now, I know that we have really intelligent, thoughtful lawmakers who are willing to fight for common sense. The House energy bill has none of the cuts proposed in the Senate, for example. And I don't think the Senate wants to kill everything either. They want to make programmatic adjustments because they want a smart, cost-effective electric grid. They're just going about it differently. That's policy. From a technology standpoint, I'm encouraged by the ongoing adoption of batteries for energy storage. It's happening fast, it's already making the grid stronger, and it's going to continue. We just need to push for a wider adoption of customer-owned and sited solutions so power continues to be put back into the people's hands. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
StrikePoint Drills Broad Zones of Near Surface Oxide Gold at the Hercules Gold Project, Nevada
H25005 intercepts 12.19m of 2.17 g/t Au and 9.55 g/t AgWithin 117.35m of 0.45 g/t Au and 3.55 g/t AgH25006 cuts 10.67m of 1.17 g/t Au and 18.13 g/t Ag starting at surfaceAnd 44.20m of 0.35 Au and 4.34 g/t Deposits remain open Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2025) - StrikePoint Gold Inc. (TSXV: SKP) (OTCQB: STKXF) ("StrikePoint" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce final assay results from its Spring 2025 drill program on the Hercules Gold Project located in Nevada's prolific Walker Lane. Michael G. Allen, President and CEO of StrikePoint said, "This drill program successfully demonstrated that the Hercules Gold Project has a predictable, large, epithermal footprint hosting abundant near surface oxide gold. Our geological model for the project has been confirmed and we believe that the mineralization at Hercules shows the grade and consistency to move forward with the project. Holes 5 and 6 were particularly interesting as they delivered strong mineralization at the southern extremes of the target areas, indicating that the mineralizing systems remain robustly open." (Video: Strikepoint CEO Michael Allen reviews results: Cannot view this video? Visit: Hercules Gold Project May 5, 2025, Drill Results Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) H25005 187.45 304.80 117.35 0.45 3.55 incl. 210.31 222.50 12.19 2.17 9.55 H25006 0.00 10.67 10.67 1.17 18.13 incl. 0.00 6.10 6.10 1.90 29.90 and 66.58 112.78 44.20 0.35 4.34 incl. 92.96 99.06 6.10 0.83 14.73 H25007 121.92 124.97 3.05 0.50 2.45 and 138.68 141.73 3.05 0.59 5.33 Length reported above is sample length, there is insufficient data to estimate true thickness. Drilling Discussion: The Company completed 7 drillholes totaling approximately 1,400 meters of reverse circulation drilling in March of 2025 on the Hercules Gold Project. All seven holes hit near surface gold in significant quantities. Initial results were reported in the Company's April 28, 2025 news release. Complete drill results from the Spring 2025 program are presented below. Hole H25005 which cut 117.35 m of 0.45 g/t Au with 3.55 g/t Ag is the furthest south drilling on the Cliffs target to date and shows that the system remains open to the south. The next nearest hole to the to H25005 is hole H20040 which returned 39.62m of 1.12 g/t Au with 5.38 g/t Ag. These two holes give a strong indication of the strength of the mineralization at the southern portion of the Cliffs Target. Similarly, H250006 encountered 10.67m of 1.17 g/t Au and 18.13 g/t Ag starting at surface with an additional 44.20m of 0.35 g/t Au and 4.34 g/t Ag showing that multiple zones of the Hercules showing are also open to the south. Hole H25007 was drilled to test a geochemical anomaly to the east of the Loaves showing and hit two zones of encouraging grades. As expected, shallower gold intercepts showed higher cyanide solubility than deeper intercepts. Comparing cyanide soluble gold assays to fire assays showed that cyanide solubility ranged between 89% and 32% on a per hole basis. With drilling and subsequent testwork showing abundant near surface cyanide soluble gold, the Company is optimistic of the potential of an open pit heap leach operation at the Hercules Gold Project. Figure 1: Hercules Gold Project Spring 2025 Drill Collars To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: About the Hercules Gold Project Located approximately 1 hour from Reno, Nevada, the Hercules Gold Project consists of 1,323 unpatented claims, and four patented claims covering approximately 100 square kilometers. The Company bought the Hercules Gold Project for $250,000 in August of 2024. The Hercules Gold Project features an Exploration Target, as defined by NI 43-101, as follows: Hercules Gold Project Exploration Target Model * Exploration Target Tonnage Range (tonnes) Grade Range (g/t) Au 40,300,000 - 65,600,000 0.48 - 0.63 * The stated potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, and there has not been sufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource. The Exploration Target Model has not been evaluated for reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction. The Exploration Target expressed should not be misrepresented or misconstrued as an estimate of a mineral resource or mineral reserve. The Exploration Target was developed using historical drilling, trenching data, and gold assay results. Mineralization trends were evaluated using Artificial Intelligence ("AI") to generate a trend model, which informed the construction of grade shells in combination with current geological understanding. These grade shells were used to estimate the distribution of mineralized tonnes and to support the generation of grade-tonnage curves. The Exploration Target and AI generated model will be utilized to guide future drilling in these areas of known mineralization. The Exploration Target used data from the Sirens, Hercules, Cliffs, Loaves, Lucky Rusty, Rattlesnakes, and Northeast showings on the Hercules Gold Project. In this area there are a total of 306 historical drillholes yielding a total of 31,776 meters in the drillhole database along with data for 121 surface trenches. The drillhole database contains a total of 18,409 sample interval entries, with the trenches providing another 475 sample entries. A total of 5,620 sample intervals are contained within the mineralization domains utilized for the Exploration Target. Using the Exploration Target as a guide, the Company drilled 7 holes into the Hercules Gold Project in the Spring of 2025, complete results are presented below. Hercules Gold Project Spring 2025, Complete Drill Results Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) H25001 4.57 9.14 4.57 0.22 7.37 and 12.18 41.11 28.93 0.45 6.05 incl. 30.45 36.54 6.09 1.04 14.27 and 62.42 80.69 18.27 0.61 4.66 incl. 66.99 73.08 6.09 1.33 10.38 H25002 0.00 18.29 18.29 0.30 1.68 and 89.92 115.82 25.91 0.55 2.73 H25003 0.00 3.05 3.05 0.23 1.60 and 19.81 25.91 6.10 0.43 2.28 and 30.48 60.96 30.48 0.37 3.57 incl 32.00 35.05 3.05 0.97 4.50 and 73.15 86.87 13.72 0.25 2.37 H25004 0.00 32.04 32.04 0.54 4.62 incl 0.00 4.57 4.57 1.14 10.53 and incl 24.38 30.48 6.10 1.50 11.75 and 103.63 121.92 18.29 0.30 3.12 H25005 187.45 304.80 117.35 0.45 3.55 incl. 210.31 222.50 12.19 2.17 9.55 H25006 0.00 10.67 10.67 1.17 18.13 incl. 0.00 6.10 6.10 1.90 29.90 and 66.58 112.78 44.20 0.35 4.34 incl. 92.96 99.06 6.10 0.83 14.73 H25007 121.92 124.97 3.05 0.50 2.45 and 138.68 141.73 3.05 0.59 5.33 Hercules Gold Project May 5 2025, Drill Hole Information HoleID Az Inc. Hole Length (m) H25001 290 -45 152.44 H25002 300 -60 160.06 H25003 360 -90 152.44 H25004 320 -60 152.44 H25005 270 -45 382.62 H25006 270 -45 250 H25007 300 -45 155.49 For further information on the Exploration Target on the Hercules Gold Project refer to the Company's March 3, 2025 release. About Nevada Nevada is one of the most globally recognized mining jurisdictions in the world, with over 218 million ounces of gold produced to date. Multiple operators in the state, including Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont), Kinross, SSR Mining, McEwan Mining, Integra Resources and Calibre Mining. Many of the operations are open pit, heap leach operations, producing at similar grades to the Exploration Target defined on the Hercules Gold Project. About StrikePoint Headed by CEO Michael G. Allen, StrikePoint is a multi-asset gold exploration company focused on building precious metals resources in the Western United States and in Canada. Mr. Allen has been working in the Walker Lane for the last 15 years, with multiple transactions completed in that timeframe including the acquisition of the Sterling Gold Project, located near Beatty, Nevada, and the sale of Northern Empire to Coeur Mining for approximately $120 million. The Sterling Gold Project is now part of AnglogGold Ashanti's "Expanded Silicon" project. In addition, Mr. Allen was the past President and CEO of Elevation Gold Mining Corporation, which operated Arizona's largest gold mine. The Management and Board of StrikePoint has strong expertise in exploration, finance and engineering. StrikePoint is rapidly becoming one of its largest holders of mineral claims with approximately 145 square kilometers of prospective geology under claim, encompassing two district scale projects, the Hercules Gold Project and the Cuprite Gold Project. In addition, the Company controls two advanced-stage exploration assets in British Columbia's Golden Triangle: the past-producing high-grade silver Porter-Idaho Project and the high-grade gold Willoughby Project. QA/QC Samples were split in the field using industry standard techniques. Samples were sealed in individual numbered bags prior to shipment to ALS Global in Reno, Nevada for sample preparation, prior to assaying in ALS Global facilities in North Vancouver. Gold is determined by fire-assay fusion of a 30-gram sub-sample with atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Various metals including silver, arsenic, and antimony are analyzed by inductively-coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission spectroscopy, following multi-acid digestion. ALS Geochemistry meets all requirements of International Standards ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015. ALS Global operates according to the guidelines set out in ISO/IEC Guide 25. The Company maintains a robust QA/QC program that includes the collection and analysis of duplicate samples and the insertion of blanks and standards (certified reference material). Qualified Person Statement All technical data, as disclosed in this press release, has been verified by Michael G. Allen, P. Geo, President and CEO of the Company. Mr. Allen is a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF STRIKEPOINT GOLD INC. "Michael G. Allen" Michael G. AllenPresident, Chief Executive Officer & Director For more information, please contact: StrikePoint Gold HendersonT: (604) 551-2360E: kh@ Cautionary Statement on Forward Looking Information Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "speculates", "could" or "would". All of the forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, forecast or intended and readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. Readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this document. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, except as required by applicable law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. 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Associated Press
01-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
On Belay Health Solutions Announces New Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
BOSTON, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Belay Health Solutions is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Allen, as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective May 1st, 2025. In this role, Michael will oversee the company's financial operations, including financial planning, reporting, and strategy, and will play a key part in driving the company's growth and long-term financial success. Michael brings 20+ years of experience in the financial sector, with a proven track record of successful performance in Value Based Care programs. Prior to joining On Belay, he served as Chief Financial Officer at Collaborative Health Systems, where he successfully scaled the finance team and operation, created the FP&A framework, and successfully completed the company's recent M&A process. 'We're very excited to welcome Michael to the On Belay team,' said Andrew Allison, Co-founder & CEO of On Belay. 'He brings extensive experience leading another successful ACO's financial operations, which will contribute to On Belay's next phase of growth while ensuring we continue to deliver value to our provider partners. The industry has seen several unstable ACOs unable to navigate through the financial intricacies of the complex value-based programs we participate in. Mike's financial leadership will help ensure On Belay continues to outperform for the independent provider partners we serve.' Michael expressed enthusiasm about joining On Belay Health Solutions, stating, 'I am excited to join an organization where every financial decision ultimately supports something greater: the health of patients served by On Belay provider partners. I look forward to driving continued financial discipline and performance at On Belay.' As Chief Financial Officer, Allen will work closely with the executive team to manage the company's financial activities and work collaboratively across departments overall to position On Belay for continued future success. About On Belay Health Solutions On Belay Health Solutions is on a mission to empower primary care providers to deliver the best possible care, while optimizing their financial and operational performance. On Belay supports practices in successfully transitioning to value-based care with solutions that improve patient outcomes and care team experience. On Belay currently operates in 24 states and U.S. territories, partnering with practices to create a brighter, more sustainable future for healthcare. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE On Belay Holdings, Inc.
Zawya
16-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Zayed University marks milestone with graduation of inaugural cohort from 'Modern Rhetoric and Public Speaking in Arabic' training program
Strategic collaboration aligns with the UAE's vision to nurture innovation, leadership, and future-ready talent Abu Dhabi, UAE: Zayed University hosted the graduation ceremony for the inaugural cohort of the 'Master Class: Modern Rhetoric and Public Speaking in Arabic' training program. Launched by the ZAI Arabic Language Research Center in partnership with Hattlan Media, the initiative is part of a strategic collaboration between the two entities. The inaugural cohort comprised students and alumni from Zayed University's Abu Dhabi and Dubai campuses. Throughout the program, participants engaged in a series of practical workshops and expert-led lectures designed to strengthen their professional communication, expressive clarity, public speaking confidence and skills in dialogue and persuasion — all key competencies for success in today's job market. The training was thoughtfully developed and delivered by a team of media and communication specialists. The graduation ceremony was attended by Dr. Michael Allen, Acting Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Zayed University, Dr. Hanada Taha, Director of the ZAI Arabic Language Research Center and Professor of Arabic Language at Zayed University, Dr. Sulaiman Al-Hattlan, CEO of Hattlan Media, along with a distinguished group of media professionals and academic experts from the UAE and the wider region. Commenting on the important of the collaboration, Dr. Hanada Taha, Director of the ZAI Arabic Language Research Center and Professor of Arabic Language at Zayed University, said: 'The training program offered by the ZAI Arabic Language Research Center in collaboration with Hattlan Media is a key pillar in advancing the mission of both the center and the university. It reflects our commitment to investing in young minds and equipping youth to meet the evolving challenges of the labour market. 'This initiative enhances students' academic and professional journeys, providing them with a comprehensive learning environment that aligns with the highest international standards and the latest global developments.' Highlighting the pioneering step this collaboration is taking in bridging the gap between academic education and the real-world demands of the labour market, Dr. Al Hattlan said, 'By equipping students with essential media skills, we are empowering them to thrive and lead in the future. This initiative supports the UAE's long-term vision for the next fifty years and aligns with national strategies aimed at fostering innovation and leadership across various sectors.' The partnership between the ZAI Arabic Language Research Center and Hattlan Media is dedicated to empowering students with strong communication skills by nurturing their self-expression, building their confidence in public speaking, and enhancing their abilities in dialogue and persuasive communication.
