Algeria Beat Tunisia 2-0 to Claim 2021 FIFA Arab Cup Title in Qatar : December 18th, 2021

Algeria defeated Tunisia 2-0 to lift the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup trophy in Qatar on Saturday, in a hard-fought final between the two North African giants.

It took a spectacular strike from Amir Sayoud after 99 minutes to break the deadlock in a tight game that had been goalless at the end of normal time. Yacine Brahimi then sealed the win with the final kick.

Earlier on Saturday, Qatar took third place ahead of Egypt, winning a penalty shootout 5-4 after 120 minutes of football ended goalless. Mohamed Sherif was the one to miss the target for Egypt.

source/content: arabnews.com

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Algeria’s goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi lifts the trophy as they celebrate winning the Arab Cup Final against Tunisia at Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar on Saturday. (Reuters) / arabnews.com

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ALGERIA

Ons Jabeur, First Arab to Win at Mubadala Tennis Championship : December 16th, 2021

Tunisian world No 10 defeated Belinda Bencic in the one-off women’s match.

Ons Jabeur said it was a dream to compete at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship after the Tunisian world No 10 became the first Arab player to win at the pre-season tournament in Abu Dhabi.

Jabeur defeated Switzerland’s Olympic champion Belinda Bencic in a third set championship tie-break 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 in an entertaining match .

“It’s amazing to be here in Abu Dhabi; to be here in an Arab country, representing Tunisia, representing the Arab world. I’m so glad I had this opportunity, so I’m really grateful for that.”

Jabeur is accustomed to creating new milestones for Arab tennis. After becoming the first Arab female player to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final at the 2020 Australian Open, Jabeur emulated her feat at Wimbledon in July – two weeks after becoming the first Arab player to win a WTA Tour title.

The world No 10, who reached a career-high No 7 last month, is the highest-ranked Arab player, female or male, in tennis history.

source/content: thenationalnews.com

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Ons Jabeur of Tunisia at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. Victor Besa/The National.- thenationalnews.com

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TUNISIA

Sanae Abdi, Morocco-born Female Politician Elected to German Parliament in Historical First

The Moroccan-German woman won a seat in the Cologne 1 region under the banner of the Social Democratic Party.

Abdi is the first Moroccan woman to successfully be elected to Germany’s legislative body. Born in Tetouan, Abdi moved to Germany to attend the Adolf Reichwein Comprehensive School in Ludenscheid.

During this time, Abdi also joined the SPD in 2008, at the age of 22. 

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com

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Sanae Abdi was elected to represent the Cologne I constituency after Sunday’s elections. Photo Credit: Sanae Abdi / pix: moroccoworldnews.com

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GERMANY / MOROCCO

Arabic Calligraphy Added to UNESCO Heritage List : December 2021

 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced that Arabic calligraphy was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, as a monumental cultural symbol in the Arab and Islamic worlds.

The addition was underpinned by the fact that Arabic calligraphy “represents the story of a civilization, heritage and culture, and that it is closely linked to the Arabic language,”

After a successful collaboration between 15 Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia and under the supervision of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization, Arabic Calligraphy: Knowledge, Skills and Practices has been officially added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In addition to the importance of its use in religious texts, calligraphy has played a pivotal role in the advancement of the Arabic language throughout history. For centuries, it has contributed to the transfer and spread of Arab culture, customs and religious values, in the process instilling a sense of pride and belonging among Arabs.

It is the ninth element registered by the Saudi Kingdom on this list, after registering eight elements of the intangible cultural heritage. Arabic calligraphy is a symbol of Arab identity, and has contributed to the transmission of culture and religious texts throughout history.

source/content: arabnews.com

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pix: arabnews.com

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15 Nations by SAUDI ARABIA

Deqa Dhalac, First Black Mayor of a small coastal US city – South Portland, Maine : December 2021

Deha Dhalac. Community Activist. Community Leader.

South Portland’s other city councilors, who are all White, elected her in a unanimous vote. The 4th largest city in Maine, is the whitest state in the country and South Portland is 90% White.

In 2018, she ran against a local business owner and won, making history as the first African American and first Muslim elected to the council.

In 2020, she ran unopposed for a second term. The city council selects from among its members who will be mayor, and in November, her colleagues unanimously supported her nomination.

Education / Community Work highlights:

  • Master’s Degree in Development Policy and Practice, University of New Hampshire 
  • Master’s Degree in Social Work, University of New England
  • Past Program Manager for The Center for Grieving Children
  • Former South Portland Schools Community Builder for the Opportunity Alliance
  • Somali Community Center of Maine
  • Board president of the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition
  • Board member of the Maine Women’s Fund
  • Family Engagement and Cultural Responsiveness Specialist with the Maine Department of Education
  • South Portland City Council, District 5 Representative

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pix: Twitter / @NewAmericanLd , New American Leaders

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AMERICAN / SOMALI

Saudia’s Mansour Al-Saleem Wins Gold Medal, World Weightlifting Championships, Tashkent : December 07th, 2021

Mansour Al-Saleem (aka) Mansour Abdulrahim Al-Saleem . Weightlifter.

Mansour Al Saleem won Saudi Arabia’s first medal in the World Senior Weightlifting Championships, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

He won the gold medal in the 118 kg category, and the silver medal went to Arly Chunti from Kazakhstan.

source/content: thenewsglory.com

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pix: thenewsglory.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

Ghofrane Belkhir of Tunisia Wins Two Gold Medals, World Weightlifting Championships, Tashkent : December 09th, 2021

Ghofrane Belkhir. Weightlifter.

Tunisian weightlifter Ghofrane Belkhir (59 kg) won Thursday two gold medals in both the categories – snatch and total weight (203 kg) at the World Weightlifting Championships (December 7-17) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Belkhir is Tunisia’s only representative at this event.

On May 25; 2021 – she had already won three gold medals; weighing 59 kg during the IWF World Junior Championships competitions.

2018 Summer Youth Olympics / By Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons / en.wikipedia.org

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TUNISIA

Cairo Selected as ‘Culture Capital of Islamic World for 2022’ : December 2021

Minister of Culture Dr. Ines Abdel-Daim said Egypt being chosen as the capital of Islamic culture for 2022 attests to Egypt’s outstanding cultural role in the world.

Ines Abdel-Daim said Cairo is a city of diversity and cultural richness reflecting many of the salient features of human civilisation in general and the Islamic civilisation in particular, as it has always been a meeting-point of civilisations, old and modern, and a unique centre of art, intellect, and creativity.

Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) Salim bin Mohammad Al-Malik participated in the gathering that took place in the Cairo Opera House’s Small Hall to elaborate on the details marking the start of the festivity.

source/content: english.ahram.org.eg

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Egyptian Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Daim and Director General of the ISESCO Salim bin Mohammad Al-Malik during the press conference in Cairo on Tuesday (photo courtesy of Egyptian cabinet)

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EGYPT

Algerian Athletes Skander Djamil Athmani & Safia Djelal, make History with Two World Records in one day – Tokyo Paralympics : September 2021

Two Algerian athletes set new world records on Thursday at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. 

Skander Djamil Athmani and Safia Djelal smash world records as they take home the gold.

Skander Djamil Athmani :

Skander Djamil Athmani, 29, defeated his opponents in the men’s 400 metres T13 event to take home the country’s second gold of the games

Athmani smashed the world record, finishing with a dazzling time of 46.70 seconds. Morocco’s Mohamed Amguoun finished one second after Athmani, securing a silver medal, while Johannes Nambala of Namibia took home bronze.

Amguoun had held the previous world record of 46.92 seconds, which he set at the 2017 World Championships in London.

Algeria’s jubilation did not end there.

Safia Djelal :

Safia Djelal also went on to secure another gold for the North African country, as well as a new world record, this time in the women’s shotput F57 event.

With a staggering distance of 11.29 metres, Djelal gained a huge advantage over her opponents to take home the gold. 

The previous record was held by Mexico’s Maria De Los Angele Ortiz Hernandez in Dubai in 2018 with a distance of 11.16 metres.

hina’s Xu Mian took silver with a throw of 10.81 metres. Meanwhile, Eucharia Iyiazi from Nigeria secured bronze. 

On 27 August, Cherine Abdellaoui won Algeria its first gold medal of the Tokyo Games in the Paralympic women’s 52kg Judo event. 

source/content: www.middleeasteye.net

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pix: algerie-expat.com

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ALGERIA

Emirati Doctor, First Arab Woman elected as President Designate of the International Hospital Federation (IHF) : November 2021

Dr. Muna Tahlak, CEO, DHA’s Latifa Hospital for Women and Children.

The United Arab Emirates achieved an important victory in the global health front as Emirati Dr. Muna Tahlak, CEO of DHA’s Latifa Hospital for Women and Children, was elected as the President of the International Hospital Federation. (IHF).

This is the first time that an Arab woman will hold this esteemed position, the highest international position in the history of the Union.

The IHF Governing Council voted to elect Dr Tahlak as the new IHF President Designate. In doing so, Dr Tahlak ends her term as Treasurer with IHF and now begins her two-year term as President Designate of the IHF.

She added that her work with the IHF over the past five years has helped her gain experience and gave her the opportunity to highlight the successful work of hospitals in the UAE on a global scale.

Awadh Al Ketbi, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), congratulated Dr Muna Tahlak on this important and historic victory.

A few days ago the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO) selected Dr Muna Tahlak, CEO of Latifa Hospital for Women and Children, for the for the position of FIGO Regional Trustee Africa – Eastern Mediterranean 2021–2023.

source/content: wam.ae

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)