Today is August 31 and Queen Rania of Jordan celebrates her 50th birthday. Born Rania al Yassin on August 31, 1970, in Kuwait to Palestinian parents. In 1993 she met Prince Abdullah II bin al-Hussein of Jordan at a party, and the two were married six months later. Rania is a strong progressive female voice in the Arab world and a powerful global advocate for education, health and women's rights.
