UNESCO Elects Saudi Arabia as Vice-Chair of World Heritage Committee for 2021-2023 : August 2021

The member states of the World Heritage Committee of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) elected Saudi Arabia as vice chair of the Arab group for the period between 2021 and 2023 at the organization’s 44th session held in Fuzhou in China.

Princess Haifa bint Abdul Aziz Al-Muqrin, the Kingdom’s permanent representative at UNESCO, said that the election of the Kingdom had occurred due to its prominent role in supporting world heritage alongside the committee’s member states, in addition to achieving UNESCO’s objectives in general, and the committee’s objectives in particular.

source/content: arabnews.com

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Princess Haifa bint Abdul Aziz Al-Muqrin. (Photo/Twitter) / pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

‘Noon by Noor’ Womenswear Fashion Label, Caters Locally and Internationally

Noon by Noor – Womenswear Designer Label, based in Bahrain serving the domestic, Regional and International markets.

Founded in 2008 by cousins Shaikha Noor Al Khalifa and Shaikha Haya Al Khalifa, Noon by Noor has built a loyal customer base over the years, with its self-assured pieces that focus on details.

First GCC brand to be invited by IMG to showcase at NYFW in 2013

“Noon By Noor Mini”

In 2018, Noon By Noor introduced Noon By Noor Mini, an indulgent spin off, which captures innocence, and undeniable charm in luxuriously playful silhouettes.

www.noonbynoor.com

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pix: nyfw.events

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BAHRAIN

Arabic, 5th Most Spoken Language in The World

The Arabic language ranks in the top five of the most spoken languages in the world.

Today, there are 7,117 languages spoken in the world, spread over 220 countries.

Among these languages, about 40% are unfortunately threatened with extinction. This is due to the decreasing number of speakers, resulting in the language’s gradual disappearance. 

According to UNESCO, one language disappears every two weeks.

In fact, out of a total of more than 7,000 languages spoken in more than 220 countries, only 200 languages are both spoken and written, and only 23 languages are spoken by more than half the world’s population. 

These numbers are constantly changing, and research on world languages is constantly being released. 

If 7,117 languages are currently listed around the world, not all of them radiate in the same direction or undergo the same evolution.

According to the scientific publication, Chinese, Spanish, English, Hindi, and Arabic are among the top five native languages in the world.

Arabic is the sixth most spoken language in the world, behind English (1268 billion speakers), Mandarin Chinese (1.012 billion), Hindi (637 million), Spanish (538 million) and French, which is closely tied to Arabic for this ranking.

Arabic is spoken by 274 million people in the world, while french speakers make up 277 million. In France, Arabic is the second most spoken language with more than 4 million speakers.

To complete this Top 10 of the most spoken languages in the world, we find behind Arabic, Bengali (265 million speakers), Russian (258 million), Portuguese (252 million) and finally Indonesian (200 million).

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com

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pix: moroccoworldnews.com

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ARABIC SPEAKING WORLD / MOROCCO

Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, MWL Secretary-General, Awarded ‘Hijra of the Prophet Award’ by Malaysia: August 2021

Malaysia has granted Muslim World League (MWL) Secretary-General and Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars Dr. Mohammed Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the ‘Hijra of the Prophet award’ — the most prestigious award granted to Muslim scholars in the world.

Al-Issa was honored for his efforts during a ceremony held by the Malaysian government to celebrate the new Islamic year.

The ceremony was held in the presence of Malaysia’s King Al-Sultan Abdullah, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, government members and representatives of Islamic and non-Islamic states in the country.

source/content: arabnews.com

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pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

French-Algerian Filmmaker Farida Khelfa Releases Documentary on Arab Women : July 2021

Algerian-French former model and documentary filmmaker Farida Khelfa is set to release a new film that aims to dismantle misconceptions and stereotypes that often surround Arab women.

Titled “From The Other Side of the Veil,” the new film, which is debuting on Khelfa’s YouTube channel July 2, is also a celebration of Middle Eastern women.

source/content: arabnews.com

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Khelfa is one of the first women of Arab descent to have a successful modeling career. Instagram

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FRENCH / ALGERIAN

World’s Largest Hampton by Hilton, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE : July 2021

Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Ali Construction & Development (AACD)has marked the handing over of the $81.6m (AED300m), 39,625m2 Hampton by Hilton Hotel at the Al Marjan Island.

With the handover milestone, the project has become the largest Hampton by Hilton in the world to date.

The 515-keys beach hotel has been engineered by JT+Partners, with International Engineering Center as the supervision consultant, and developed by Mohamed Ruqait Properties (MR Properties). 

The tower level comprises 515 rooms and suites, while the wide rooftop consists three chiller zones and two fire exits. The hotel will also feature 450m of a private white sand beach, a 1,000m2 pool, other recreational facilities and an observation deck. 

source/content : constructionweekonline.com

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AACD marks handover of world’s largest Hampton by Hilton / pix: constructionweekonline.com

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RAS AL KHAIMAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

Winners of 5th Critics Awards for Arab Films at Cannes Film Festival : 2021

Held within the events of the 74th Cannes Film Festival, Arab Cinema Center announced the winners of the 5th Critics Awards for Arab Films. 

Here’s the winners’ list: 

Best Documentary

Lift Like A Girl | Directed by Mayye Zayed | Egypt

Best Actress

Hiam Abbas | Gaza Mon Amour | Palestine

Best Actor:

Ali Suliman | 200 Meters | Palestine 

Best Screenplay:

Kaouther ben Hania | The Man Who Sold His Skin | Tunisia

Best Director:

Ameen Nayfeh | 200 METERS | Palestine 

Best Feature Film

Gaza Mon Amour| Directed by Arab Nasser – Tarzan Nasser | Palestine

The first edition of the Critics Awards for Arab Films was held on the margins of the 70th Cannes Film Festival. The awards are given to the best Arab film productions every year in the following categories: Best Feature Film, Best Documentary Film, Best Director, Best Writer, Best Actress and Best Actor. For the first time in the history of Arab cinema, the jury committee brings together 160 of the most prominent Arab and international film critics from 63 countries from all over the world this year.

Arab Cinema Center (ACC) is a nonprofit organization registered in Amsterdam.

source/content: egypttoday.com

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200 Metres’ by May Odeh, twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser and Rani Massalha pose with their accolades at the Arab Critics Awards. Arab Cinema Centre / pix: thenationalnews.ae

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ARAB WORLD / PALESTINE/ EGYPT / TUNISIA

Saudi Arabia Wins Presidency of Arab League’s – ALECSO’s Executive Council & Hani Al-Muqbel Elected as its President : July 2021

Saudi Arabia has won the presidency of the executive council of the Arab League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).

Saudi representative and member of ALECSO’s executive council Hani Al-Muqbel on Thursday was elected president of the council from 2021 through 2023, winning a majority of the vote and the participation of 21 Arab countries.

Al-Muqbel has over 18 years of work experience. He graduated from Harvard Business School after completing several executive training programs, including the executive program in developing leaderships, and other programs specialized in the strategic leadership, negotiation, board of directors’ governance, building strategic partnerships, design thinking and business growth from Harvard Business School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and business schools in Stanford, Columbia, INSEAD, and the International Institute for Management Development (IMD)

source/content: www.arabnews.com

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Saudi representative and member of ALECSO’s executive council Hani Al-Muqbel. (Supplied) / pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

Wafa Zaiane – TV News Anchor at BBC

Wafa Zaiane. BBC News Anchor. Reporter. Broadcaster

Hosts her own TV show Ana Shahid (Eye Witness)

First/s:

  • First Tunisian News Anchor to appear on the BBC since it began broadcasting more than 75 years ago.

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pix: youtube / showreel 2017

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BRITISH / TUNISIANBRITISH

Egyptian Painter Riham El-Adl Wins Prestigious Italian Art Award

Egyptian painter Riham El-Adl has won an award at Italy’s Il Biennale Internazionale D’Arte Contemporanea Della Versilia, a prestigious arts competition in Florence.

The artist will have her paintings – “Sun Shining Day” and “Promised Land” – exhibited for a year at an art gallery in Florence under the management of Art Expertise, the organisation behind the contest.

source/content: arabnews.com

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pix: twitter.com/rihameladl

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EGYPT