Category: RECORDS IN MIDDLE EAST

Egyptian-American Dr. Sherif Zaki : Founder & Chief of the Infectious Disease Pathology Branch – Coordinating Centre for Infectious Diseases (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia (1955-2021)

Sherif Zaki (1955-2021): ‘CDC’s secret weapon’. Pathalogist. Legendary Disease Detective. Infectious Disease Expert.

Prominent pathologist Doctor Sherif Zaki, founder and chief of the Infectious Disease Pathology Branch in the Coordinating Centre for Infectious Diseases in Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on 21 November, 2021.

Dr. Zaki was renowned for cracking medical mysteries by finding signatures of pathogens in diseased cells.

Through the application of classic and new technologies, Dr. Zaki and his team have made significant contributions to advancing the understanding of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of emerging infectious diseases.

Moreover, for his leadership, scientific contributions and commitment to Centre for Disease Control’s (CDC) public health mission, Dr. Zaki has been widely recognised and awarded, including receiving the US Health and Human Services Secretary’s Awards for Distinguished Service – the department’s highest honour – nine times.

Dr. Zaki and his staff were the first to identify the Hanta virus, later called the Sin Nombre virus, that caused the deaths of several people in the Navajo nation in the Southwest in 1993.

He also helped discover the Zika virus in the brain tissue of babies stricken with the mosquito-borne virus in Brazil, proving that it could be transmitted during pregnancy.

Dr. Zaki also helped identify the mechanisms that made Ebola and SARS so contagious and lethal.

Sherif Ramzy Zaki was born 24 November 1955, in Alexandria, Egypt.

He spent the first six years of his life in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where his father was attending graduate school.

Dr. Zaki received his medical degree from Alexandria University in 1978, before earning a master’s degree at his alma mater in pathology.

He earned a doctorate in experimental pathology from Emory University in Atlanta in 1989.

Dr. Zaki’s data on Scopus database showed that Zaki had published in the neighborhood of 400 scientific papers and had an advanced “H score” of 102 thus placing his impact on the field way above the 35-70 range for Noble Prize hopefuls.

source/content: english.ahram.org.eg

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) / EGYPT / EGYPTIAN AMERICAN / ARAB AMERICAN

Saudia’s Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, MWL Chief Receives ‘Bridge Builder Award’ in Oslo, Norway : November 2021

Dr. Mohammed Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa

Dr. Mohammed Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) and Chairman of the Muslim Scholars Association, has received the Norwegian Bridge Builder Award at a ceremony in Oslo.

He was one of three recipients of the award in 2021, which is given to people who have helped to build bridges between individuals, nations and societies.

The other two were Rev. Prof. Dr. Ioan Sauca, acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches, and Michael Melchior, Chief Rabbi and leader of the Religious Peace Initiative in Israel.

source/content: arabnews.com

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Dr. Mohammed Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) and Chairman of the Muslim Scholars Association, has received the Norwegian Bridge Builder Award. (Supplied) / pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

Dubai Hosts ‘ Dubai Run 2021 ‘ the World’s Largest Run with 146,000 Participants : November 26th, 2021

Dubai hosts world’s largest run as 146,000 participants join Dubai Run on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Presented by Mai Dubai, the event was held on the closing weekend of this year’s Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC), the citywide initiative of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, which aims to make Dubai the world’s fittest city.

Inspired by the vision of its leadership, Dubai is the only city in the world to offer its citizens, residents and visitors an entire month of all inclusive, free fitness events, including the Dubai Run, while also keeping the nation and its people safe and healthy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city’s superhighway, Sheikh Zayed Road, was transformed into a giant running track for Dubai Run, as participants of all ages and abilities ran and walked at their own pace on 5km and 10km routes.

As the sun rose, the city turned into a sea of blue as runners took to the streets in official Dubai Run t-shirts, supplied by Sun & Sand Sports, and kicked off the Run at the start line by the Museum of the Future. Passing some of Dubai’s instantly recognisable landmarks including Emirates Towers and Burj Khalifa, runners crossed the finishing line at Al Mustaqbal Street near Dubai World Trade Centre.

source/content: wam.ae

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)

Latif Al Ani: ‘Father of Iraqi Photography’

Latif Al Ani: ‘father of Iraqi photography’ dies aged 89.

The renowned cameraman was the first to chronicle life and society during the country’s ‘golden age’.

Known by many as the “father of Iraqi photography “, Al Ani was famed for documenting daily life in Iraq during the country’s “golden age”.

At a time when Iraq was forming into a new republic, Al Ani captured daily life as a site of modernity’s contrasts: old meets new, East meets West.

The photographer from Baghdad cemented his art in the fabric of the nation when he founded the photography department at the Ministry of Education in 1960 and later became director of photography at the Iraqi News Agency.

In 2017, at the Les Rencontres d’Arles, he was selected as the winner of the Historical Book Award from a shortlist of 15.’

Latif Al-Ani passed away in Baghdad on November 19th, 2021

He is the subject of two books:

  • Tamara Chalabi and Morad Montazami, Latif Al Ani, Hajte Cantz, 2017,
  • Hoor Al Qasimi, Kathleen Butti and Muʼassasaẗ al-Šāriqaẗ li-l-funūn, Latif Al Ani: Through the Lens, 1953-1979, Sharjah Art Foundation, 2018

source/content : thenationalnews.com

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Latif Al-Ani, Photographer Latif Al-Ani in the North of Iraq. Gelatin silver negative on film, 6 x 6 cm. Latif Al-Ani Collection

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IRAQ

September 21st, 1991 – Egyptian Boutros Boutros Ghali Elected Secretary-General of United Nations (U.N), becoming First Secretary-General from an Arab Country

Boutros Boutros Ghali. Politician. Diplomat. Academic

6th Secretary-General of the United Nations. First Arab Secretary-General of the UN.

Later, First Secretary-General of the Organisation International de la Francophonie from 16 November 1997 to 31 December 2002.

Vice Foreign Minister of Egpyt

source/content: egypttoday.com

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Boutros Boutros Ghali – abcnews / egypttoday.com

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EGYPT

Emirati Rashid Al Mulla Wins Freestyle in UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship : November 2021

The Abu Dhabi Aquabike Team has recorded a new success for Emirati sports, with Rashid Al Mulla winning the title in the “Freestyle” category in the final round of the World Aquabike Championship, which was held in Kuwait.

The championship, witnessed the participation of 52 bikers from 26 countries from throughout the world.

Al Mulla won the gold medal and the overall title, reaching 100 points in the overall standings of the competition.

The Emirati’s latest triumph came after Abu Dhabi team-mate Emma-Nellie had won the ladies title in the Parallel Slalom World Championship staged under floodlights on Friday evening.

Al Mulla’s title is one of the new achievements for the Emirati team this summer, especially after the Abu Dhabi Team won gold and the title in the Formula 2 World Championship, as well as gold and silver in the 12-hour Formula 2 World Championship, in addition to leading the current world championship standings.

source/content: wam.ae

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)

Muslim World League Launches Exhibition on Prophets’ Lives at Expo 2020 Dubai : November 2021

he 25 prophets and messengers mentioned in the Qur’an will be introduced in five different languages.

The Muslim World League has launched an exhibition on the lives of the prophets at its Expo 2020 Dubai pavilion.

“The Prophets As If You See Them” uses the latest technology to present the biographies of Islam’s prophets and messengers.

It sheds light on the messages of peace, love, affection, tolerance, coexistence, and humanity that they brought to the world.

Visitors can learn about the prophets’ titles, nicknames, characteristics, morals, childhoods, relatives, the books that were revealed to them, the miracles they performed, and the languages they spoke.

source/content: arabnews.com

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The Muslim World League has launched an exhibition on the lives of the prophets at its Expo 2020 Dubai pavilion. (Muslim World League)v/ pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

9th Ajyal Film Festival 2021 – Winners of Ajyal Jury Competition and Made in Qatar Awards : November 2021

The ninth Ajyal Film Festival presented by the Doha Film Institute announced the winners of the Ajyal Jury Competition and the Made in Qatar Awards in a festive closing ceremony at Katara Cultural Village.

Winners of the Made in Qatar Awards:

  • Best Narrative Award: Olayan (Qatar, 2021) by Khalifa Al Marri
  • Best Documentary Award: And Then They Burn The Sea (Qatar, 2021) by Majid Al Remaihi
  • Abdulaziz Jassim Award for Performance Award: Saleh Salem Al Marri for Olayan
  • Special Jury Mention: Virtual Voice (Sudan, Qatar, 2021) by Suzannah Mirghani

Winners of the Ajyal Jury Competition Awards are:

  • Mohaq:
    • Best Short Film Award: Umbrellas by José Prats, Álvaro Robles
    • Best Feature Film Award: Poupelle of Chimney Town by Yusuke Hirota
  • Hilal:
    • Best Short Film Award: Olayan by Khalifa Al Marri
    • Best Feature Film Award: Captains of Zaatari by Ali El Arabi
  • Bader:
    • Best Short Film Award: When Beirut Was Beirut by Alessandra El Chanti
    • Best Feature Film Award: Little Palestine, Diary of a Siege by Abdallah El Khattib
  • Audience Award: ORCA by Sahar Mossayebi

This year’s esteemed international Made in Qatar Awards Jury included actress Sheila Vand; Executive Board Member and CEO of Katara Studios Ahmed Al Baker, and Farah Nabulsi, Oscar-nominated and BAFTA award-winning filmmaker. Jurors were divided into three age categories: Mohaq (8–12-year-olds), Hilal (13–17-year-olds), and Bader (18–25-year-olds).

The week-long festival, held under the theme, ‘Press Play!’ signifying the aspirations of the community to return to normalcy, featured 85 films from 44 countries, including Qatar. The programme included 31 feature films and 54 shorts from accomplished directors as well as first-time and emerging talent. 22 of the films are by Arab filmmakers, with 32 helmed by women filmmakers – nearly a third, highlighting the significant role of female talent.

Ajyal featured 13 films supported by the Doha Film Institute, including recipients of the Spring/ Fall Grants, co-financing, Qatari Film Fund and mentorship through the year-long labs and development workshops. The 2021 Made in Qatar programme presented by Ooredoo, had 10 films representing promising homegrown talent and storytellers.

The seven-day festival featured a diverse mix of virtual and in-person events including film screenings, interactive discussions, multi-media art exhibit, Qatar’s largest pop-culture event Geekdom, and a drive-in cinema as part of a multisensory experience for all ages.

source/content: www.iloveqatar.net

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On the cover image: Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, Abdulla Al Mosallam with the team of Captains of Zaatari. / Source and image credit: Ajyal Film Festival

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QATAR

UAE Retains Jiu-Jitsu World Championship Title. Sets a New National Record of 53 Medals Tally: November 11th, 2021

The UAE national Jiu-Jitsu team came through an intense final day on the mats to retain their Ju-Jitsu World Championship title at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City.

Setting a new National Record of 53 medals.

Leading the medal table heading into final day, the country’s elite adult athletes grabbed another four medals, two silvers and two bronze, to take their medal tally to 53 across five days of intense competition in the men and women Under-16, Under-18, Under-21 and Adult divisions.

It was a fine return for the strong team, who did the host nation proud and set a new national record, beating the 52 medals in the previous edition, in front of a vociferous crowd at the home of jiu-jitsu. The 53 medal tally put the UAE Falcons on top of the world ahead of RJF in second and Kazakhstan in third place.

The first two medals of the day came from Wadima Al Yafei, 45 kg and Saif Al Hemani, 85 kg, clinching the bronze. Cheered on by a knowledgeable crowd, Hamdah Al Shkeili produced a fine performance to win silver in the women’s Adult 45kg event. The UAE’s 53rd and final medal of the championship came when jiu-jitsu legend Faisal Al Ketbi took silver in the men’s 85kg final, narrowly losing out on gold to Australia’s William Diaz.

The record-breaking performance enhanced the UAE’s reputation as a jiu-jitsu nation and provided the country’s leading athletes with the perfect preparation heading into the 13th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, the largest and most prestigious championship on the global jiu-jitsu calendar, which runs from 14-19 November, at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena.

“As the defending champions the pressure was on our athletes to perform this week and match the performance of previous years. They showed great heart, desire and commitment to not only match previous editions but set a record for the number of medals,” said Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, General Secretary of UAEJJF.”

Al Shkeili, who added a silver in the Adult 45kg to the gold medal she won in the Under-21 45kg category, the only UAE athlete to win two medals this week, said: “I couldn’t have wished for this. It was great experience just representing the UAE on this stage. To win a gold and a silver really is a dream come true.

The UAE national team ended the championship with 18 gold, 16 silver and 19 bronze medals. RJF in second, collected 15 gold, 15 silver and 14 bronze, with third-placed Kazakhstan taking 8 gold, 6 silver and 23 bronze.

The UAE will host the 27th Ju-Jitsu World Championship in 2022.

source/content: wam.ae

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pix: wam.ae

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)

AUC Celebrates Inauguration of its First Ever Arab President Ahmed Dallal : October 25th, 2021

The American University in Cairo (AUC) celebrates the inauguration of Lebanese American scholar Ahmed Dallal as its first Arab president throughout its 102-year-long history.

The AUC named Dallal, a former provost at the American University in Beirut (AUB) and a professor at many universities in the US, as its 13th president.

Dallal is an engineer, a former dean of Georgetown University in Qatar, and also a prominent scholar of Islamic studies, with many publications in this field.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the AUB and his MA, MPhil, and PhD in Islamic studies from Columbia University.

He has written dozens of articles, book chapters, and publications, as well as several books.

Established in 1919, the AUC has been among the top-ranking universities in the Arab World, ranking first in Egypt and second in Africa, according to the 2020 QS World University Rankings.

source/content: english.ahram.org.eg

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Ahmad Dallal, the AUC s 13 president (Photo courtesy of Georgetown University)

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AMERICAN / LEBANON