Elias Rahbani – Lebanon’s Maestro – Legendary Musician and Composer.

Elias Rahbani – Musician, Composer, Song Writer, Performer, Conductor.

Elias was the youngest brother of celebrated musicians Mansour and Assi Rahbani, known together as the Rahbani brothers.

In a career spanning almost six decades, Elias Rahbani wrote music for many famous Lebanese singers Fairuz including the late Wadih al-Safi and Sabah.

Elias Rahbani distinguished himself from his brothers, who were the industry’s best known duo, with his more modern styles and mix of Middle Eastern and Western music that won him international awards. He wrote some of Fairouz’ best hits, as well as the music and lyrics for many patriotic songs.

He has more than 2,500 songs to his credit, almost half of which were composed for film, television or advertising, a field in which he was a pioneer among the artists of his region.

Elias Rahbani passed away on Monday – January 04th, 2021

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pix: kawa-news.com

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LEBANON

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) adds Emirati referee Yahya Ali Al Mulla to elite panel for 2021

Emirati Referee Yahya Ali Al Mulla has been included in the Asian Football Confederation’s referees for the elite panel for 2021

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pix: wam.ae

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

Winners of Arab Journalism Awards : December 2020

In the virtual presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Press Club held a virtual ceremony to honour the winners of the 19th Arab Journalism Award.

President of the Dubai Press Club and Secretary General of the Arab Journalism Award Mona Al Marri, members of the Board of Arab Journalism Award and a host of editors in chief, journalists and media leaders attended the virtual event.

The winners represented daily newspapers, magazines, online web portals and various media organisations from the Arab world. 

The winners were announced at the 19th Arab Media Forum.

The 11 winners of the Arab Journalism Award 2020 are:

•    Media Personality of the Year: Nayla Tueni, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Annahar newspaper, Lebanon

•    Best Column Award: Othman Mirghani, Editor-in-Chief of the independent newspaper Al-Tayar, Sudan

•    Political Journalism Award: Mohamed Amin Al Masri from Al-Ahram newspaper, Egypt

•    Economic Journalism Award: Al Khaleej newspaper, UAE

•    Investigative Reporting Award: Jamal Jouhar from Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper

•    Press Interview Award: Mohammed Mansour from Al-Roeya newspaper, UAE

•    Cultural Journalism Award: Tareq Al Taher from Akhbar Al-Adab magazine, Egypt

•    Sports Journalism Award: Motaz El Shamy from Al-Ittihad newspaper, UAE

•    Photojournalism Award: Saber Nooraldin from the European Pressphoto Agency

•    Young Journalist Award:
–    Samar Saleh from El-Watan newspaper, Egypt
–    Abdul-Samad Edinadin from Bayane Al-Yaoume newspaper, Morocco
–    Ahmed Atef from Al-Dostor newspaper, Egypt

•    Smart Journalism Award: Youm7 newspaper, Egypt

This year, the General Secretariat of the Arab Journalism Award decided to host the award ceremony virtually due to the current global challenges related to COVID-19 and the travel restrictions imposed in some countries.

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pix: wam.ae

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Record of Fastest 300 km by Speed Boat Record held by Qatari – Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani and Abdullah al-Sulaiti

The fastest 300 km by speed boat is 1 hour 55 minutes and 14 seconds and was achieved by Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani and Abdullah al-Sulaiti .

The event was organised by Qatar Marine Sports Federation in Doha on 10 February 2010. 

The route, pre-approved by Guinness World Records, was from Abu Dhabi to Doha, Qatar.

The boat used was a twin gas turbine engine Nor-Tech speed boat named Qatar Challenger. The engines on the boat are also used on Cobra helicopters.

source: guinnessworldrecords.com

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pix: m.facebook.com /QatarDay

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QATAR

Oman’s Jokha Alharthi – First Arab Woman to Win Man Booker International Prize

Omani Author Jokha Alharthi became the first Arab Woman Arabic language novelist to win Man Booker International Prize 2019 for the novel ‘Celestial Bodies’.

The award also carries a cash prize of GBP 50,000 (USD 64,000).

The novel ‘ Sayyidat el-Qamar ‘ published in Arabic was translated into English by US academic, now UK based translator Marilyn Booth who teaches Arabic literature at Oxford University. Celestial Bodies was published by Sandstone Press, Scotland.

Dr. Jokha Alharthi studied Arabic poetry and did her Ph.D in Classical Arabic literature in Edinburgh and is now a Professor teaching at the Sultan Al Qaboos University, Muscat.

Alharthi has published three collections of short stories, three children’s books, and three novels (ManamatSayyidat el-Qamar and Narinjah)

  • Winner of the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature, for her novel Narinjah (Bitter Orange) in 2016. 

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Omani author Jokha Al Harthi wins the Man Booker International Prize for 2019 / bbc.com //AFP

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OMAN

Morocco’s Mehdi Bennani wins TCR Europe 2020

Moroccan racing driving driver Mehdi Bennani won the TCR Europe series after a strong performance in the 2020 season.

Bennani finished second in the race which took place this weekend at Circuito del Jarama, in San Sebastián de los Reyes, north of Madrid.

The Moroccan driver (Audi RS 3 LMS TCR – Comtoyou Racing) secured the title with 285 points, ahead of French John Filippi, who finished second with 257.

Bennani debuted his career in 2009 in Shanghai WTCC 2014. He became the first Moroccan driver to win a world championship race organized by the International Automobile Federation (FIA).’

November 2020

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pix: moroccoworldnews.com

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MOROCCO

Nayla Tueini Wins Media Personality of the Year At The 19th Arab Journalism Awards : December 2020

Nayla Tueini , the CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Lebanon’s Daily – Annahar was chosen as Media Personality of the Year at the 2020 Arab Media Forum, held virtually from Dubai, for her strong and steady leadership of Annahar.

December 23rd, 2020.

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Nayla Tueni holds a blank edition of her newspaper during a news conference in Beirut. (Reuters) / pix: arabnews.com

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LEBANON

Sheikh Zayed Festival sets two Guinness World records : Abu Dhabi, UAE : 2021

The Sheikh Zayed Festival has set two Guinness World records with a dazzling fireworks display that lasted for 35 minutes to welcome 2021.

The second was for the longest Girandola fireworks show in the world.

The Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival is a cultural festival that is held annually in Abu Dhabi.

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source : wam.ae

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

World Record-breaking UAE Flag made with Mosaic Cards. Goal to Feed 49,000 families : December 24th, 2020

The UAE flag, measured an 490 square metres, was constructed outside Dubai Police, Al Wasl, behind City Walk.

The occasion organized by nefsy has raised funds to buy food boxes to feed 49,000 families in need, following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

49,000 food boxes made up of essential items including rice, wheat, oil, sugar, salt, water and also sanitiser, are now being distributed by Emirates Red Crescent – and will feed more than 250,000 individuals for more than 10 days.

The challenge was launched in celebration of the UAE’s 49th National Day to celebrate the spirit of the UAE, but to also help combat world hunger, nefsy’s primary aim. .

The Guinness World Records title awarded to nefsy – of the Largest greetings card mosaic (flag) made from folded, greetings cards is a representation of the UAE flag and a celebration of this significant achievement – as well as the first and biggest flag of a good cause.

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Image Credit: Antonin Kelian Kallouche, Gulf News Photographer / www.gulfnews.com

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

Designer of the Door of Holy Kaaba – Syria’s Engineer Muneer Sarri Al-Jundi

The door of the Holy Kaaba was designed by Syrian Engineer Muneer Sarri Al-Jundi last in 1399 AH (1978). The door was commissioned by King Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz.

The entrance of the Holy Kaaba is made of 280 kg of pure gold.

The door is 3 metres in height, 2 metres in width and half metre in depth. It consists of 2 rudders and a 10cm base made of Thailands’, Macca Moon Wood.

It was made in the factory of the famous goldsmiths the Badr family of Mecca – Sheikh Al-Sagha, Sheikh Mahmoud Badr.

The lines engraved on the door were made by Syed Abdul Rahim Bukhari.

Engineer Muneer Sarri Al-Jundi had the honour of having his name inscribed on the door of the Holy Kaaba.

Muneer Al-Jundi died on December 16th, 2020 (Wednesday – Jumada Al-Awal 04, 1442 AH).

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pix: haramainsharifain.com

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SYRIA