Lebanese Film ‘Costa Brava, Lebanon’ starring Nadine Labaki Wins Netpac Award at Toronto Film Festival : September 2021

Lebanese film starring Nadine Labaki wins Netpac award at Toronto Film Festival.

‘Costa Brava, Lebanon’ is director Mounia Akl’s debut feature.

Lebanese director Mounia Akl has won the Netpac award at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival for her debut feature Costa Brava, Lebanon.

The film, which stars Lebanese actress and director Nadine Labaki and Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri, premiered at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year.

Costa Brava, Lebanon follows the story of the Badri family, led by Soraya (played by Labaki) and Walid (played by Bakri), who have escaped the toxic pollution of Beirut to set up a new home in the mountains, only to find the government has turned the land next to their new home into a dump site.

The Netpac award is an annual award presented by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema to the best film from Asia that has premiered at Tiff.

Last year, the award was won by Palestinian twin brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser for Gaza Mon

www.mouniaakl.com

source/content: thenationalnews.com

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pix: mouniaakl.com

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LEBANON / USA

Exhibition Celebrates Late Calligrapher and Artist Mohammad Bajnaid

pix: arabnews.com

Mohammad Salem Bin Abdul Basit Bin Abdul Rahman Bin Junaid Bajnaid (aka) Mohammad Bajnaid – Artist. Calligrapher.

Saudi artist and calligrapher Mohammad Salem Bajnaid contributed to the design and embroidery of the Kiswah — the cloth that is draped over the Kaaba in Makkah on the day that pilgrims leave for Mount Arafat during the Hajj.

Sharbatly House Museum in Historic Jeddah is currently hosting an exhibition celebrating the work of the renowned Saudi artist and calligrapher Mohammad Salem Bajnaid.

The show is part of Saudi Arabia’s Year of Arabic Calligraphy, launched by the Ministry of Culture with the support of the Quality of Life Program

The new exhibition in Jeddah runs until December and features 21 works from throughout Bajnaid’s career, some of which are Quranic verses and prophetic hadiths.

The show is split into four main areas: The Ancient House, Family bonds, Knowledge, and Patience. 

It has been curated by the artist’s grandson, Salem Fouzi Bajnaid, who told Arab News: “The credit behind all the efforts in setting up this event goes to (the artist’s) family and friends, in cooperation with the ministry of culture. We’ve witnessed such an amazing response on the first few days, with art admirers from everywhere coming to appreciate the work being displayed here.”

Bajnaid, who died in October 2019, was widely recognized as one of the most talented calligraphers in the Arab and Islamic world. He contributed to the design and embroidery of the Kiswah — the cloth that is draped over the Kaaba in Makkah on the day that pilgrims leave for Mount Arafat during the Hajj — and was also the creator of the Kingdom’s gift to the United Nations for its headquarters in New York in 1982.

website :msalembajnaid.com/

source/content: arabnews.com

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pix: msalembajnaid.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

Egypt’s Secures 3 Guinness Records Titles in One Go : September 06th, 2021

Egyptian president launches charity caravan that earned 3 Guinness Records titles.

 President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi launched Sunday Long Live Egypt Fund’s charity caravan targeted at the most one million low-income families, and that garnered three Guinness Records titles.

Those are the world’s largest food donation, largest medical equipment donation, and largest home appliance donation.

A ceremony dubbed “Charity Doors” was held in the New Administrative Capital on the occasion. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli stated that the caravan – prepared in collaboration with civil society – is worth LE650 million.

The prime minister added that the caravan is mainly intended to deliver one million food boxes for the most low-income families benefiting a total of five million citizens. A Long Live Egypt Fund official also noted that the caravan offers 6,298 medical equipment, and home appliances.

The fund has already been providing food boxes, clothes, and medical equipment, and partnered up with Orman Charity Association to build hundreds of houses at 556 rural villages and carry out thousands of cataract surgeries.

Later, President Sisi checked on the components of the world’s largest charity caravan.

Speaking of medical equipment, there are devices measuring insulin level in blood, neonatal intensive care units, laparoscopy devices, and eye survey equipment. There are also medicines and clothes.

As for the food boxes, they contain two kilos of each of sugar and pasta as well as two packs of tea among others.

Further, the president checked the furniture and home appliances used in the furnishing of residential units distributed among low-income families in return for a symbolic monthly rent.

source/content: egypttoday.com

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pix: egypttoday.com

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EGYPT

Ali Mabkhout Surpasses Messi’s Record, as Syria secures point against UAE in World Cup Qualifiers : September 2021

Syria and the UAE played out a 1-1 draw on Match day Two of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar Group A on Tuesday at the King Abdullah II Stadium here.

Ali Mabkhout opened the Whites’ account at the 12th minute, scoring his 77th international goal, surpassing Argentine legend Lionel Messi and matching Brazil’s Pele’s record as the seventh highest international scorer of all time.

Syria’s Al Baher secured the equaliser at the 64th minute while Mabkhout could have doubled his tally with just 10 minutes to go, but the UAE’s record goal scorer could not direct his header towards the goalmouth.

The result hands the UAE their second point in as many games, while Syria get off the mark. October will see the Whites face Iraq and Iran in the 3rd and 4th round respectively.

source/content: wam.ae

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منتخبنا الوطني يتعادل مع نظيره السوري في تصفيات المونديال
pix: wam.ae

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

Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi Voted Best Arab Player in Ligue 1 : August 2021

Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi continues his phenomenal career. After making headlines in Italy’s Serie A with Inter Milan, when he won the league.

The Moroccan international player has continued to impress since his arrival at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) during the last summer transfer window.

Achraf Hakimi was named the best Arab player in the French Ligue 1 Uber Eats for the month of August.

The 22-year-old received the award following his outstanding performance wearing PSG’s jersey throughout the matches of last month. The fans were particularly taken by his pace and the great chemistry he has while playing alongside Kylian Mbappe.

In a fan poll sponsored by the official account of Ligue 1 on Facebook, the Moroccan international player ranked first after getting the majority of the votes ahead of his compatriot and Angers SCO midfielder Sofiane Boufal and Algeria’s Andy Delort.

This award comes days after the Moroccan Professional Footballers Union (UMFP) awarded Achraf Hakimi the trophy for the Best Moroccan Player in Foreign Leagues for the 2020-2021 season.

As part of its plans to clinch the Champions League title, PSG paid €71 million (add-ons included) to sign the versatile right-back, making him the most expensive defender in the club’s history.

After an impressive journey with Inter Milan, the football player has his sights set on other big challenges with PSG.

source/contents: moroccoworldnews.com

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Moroccan football player Achraf Hakimi. / pix: moroccoworldnews.com

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MOROCCO

Ain Shams University- Egypt, Wins Unesco Literacy Prize : September 2021

Ain Shams University in Egypt is awarded the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy 2021 for its project ‘Ain Shams University experience in organizing online literacy classes for rural areas in Egypt’.

The Cairo university is one of six international recipients recognised for outstanding inclusive distance and digital learning projects in Covid times.

Egypt’s Ain Shams University has won the Unesco Confucius Prize for Literacy for its project that uses digital technology to teach literacy in rural areas of the country.

The annual Unesco international literacy prizes were awarded to six programmes from Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Guatemala, India, Mexico and South Africa, on International Literacy Day.

Ain Shams University president Prof Mahmoud El Meteini spoke in an online event held to recognise the award recipients on Thursday.

The Unesco Confucius Prize for Literacy was established in 2005 with the support of the Chinese government. Each of the three prizewinners will receive a medal, a diploma and a cash prize of $30,000.

The Unesco King Sejong Literacy Prize, sponsored by the Korean government and established in 1989, gives special consideration to language-based literacy development. The three winners will receive a medal, a diploma and a cash prize of $20,000.

www.asu.edu.eg/

source/content: thenationalnews.com

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pix: asu.edu.eg/

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EGYPT

International Conservation Organization (IUCN) Elects Emirati Woman Razan Al-Mubarak as President : September 2021

Razan Al-Mubarak. Founding Managing Director, Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. Head of Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD). Managing Director, Emirates Nature (NGO).

 The International Union for Conservation of Nature has named an Emirati woman as its new president at its World Conservation Congress in Marseille.

Al-Mubarak is the founding managing director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, which under her leadership has supported more than 2,000 species conservation projects in more thsn 160 countries. 


She is also the head of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the managing director at Emirates Nature, an NGO affiliated with the World Wildlife Fund.


Members elect the chairs of IUCN’s commissions, which bring together 18,000 volunteer experts from around the world in a range of disciplines from species conservation to environmental law and protected area management.


IUCN is a union that brings together some of the world’s most influential organizations and experts to conserve nature and accelerate the transition to sustainable development.

source/content: arabnews.com

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The International Union for Conservation of Nature has named Razan Al-Mubarak as its new president. (IUCN) / pix: arabnews.com

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

‘Saahar’ Wins UAE President’s Cup World Series for Purebred Arabian Horses in Russia : August 2021

UAE President’s Cup World Series for Purebred Arabian Horses in Russia.

The horse, “Saahar,” born in 2017 and owned by Edward Modrovic, won the UAE President’s Cup World Series for Purebred Arabian Horses held in Russia.

The series is continuing its impressive successes in Europe, amidst the distinguished participation of Russian owners, as well as a considerable public presence and widespread media attention.

The event was held under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan , supported by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan , Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and monitored by H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, in line with the vision and legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to promote purebred Arabian horses globally.

The race, which took place as part of the first category of races, witnessed the participation of nine purebred Arabian horses, with prizes amounting to €50,000.

Faisal Al Rahmani, General Supervisor of the President’s Cup Series for Arabian Horses, attended the event and crowned the winners.

source/content: wam.ae

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pix: wam.ae

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

‘Lamat Shaml’ Wins ‘UAE President’s Cup World Series for Purebred Arabian Horses’, Germany: September 2021

‘Lamat Shaml’ wins 28th edition of UAE President’s Cup World Series for Purebred Arabian Horses in Germany.

 “Lamat Shaml,” owned by Walid bin Zayed, galloped to win the Cup.

Evsheim grass track in the German city of Baden-Baden hosted the seventh leg of the global series of races, in one of the largest confrontations and the most important races on European tracks.

Since 1994, the UAE President Cup Series has put Arabian horse racing in the spotlight on some of the biggest stages in the world. 

source/content: wam.ae

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pix: wam.ae

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

Tokyo Paralympics: UAE’s Sultan Alaryani Wins Gold : September 2021

Abdulla Sultan Alaryani . Rifle Shooting. Athlete.

UAE’s Abdullah Sultan Alaryani won the country’s first gold medal in the men’s 50m rifle at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

It is the two-time world champion’s second Paralympic title; he won the gold in London in 2012 and a silver at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. For Alaryani, it is his fifth games medal.

Sultan Alaryani’s gold came after Mohamed Al Hammadi won a bronze in the men’s 100m T34 at the Tokyo Games.

source/content: khaleejtimes.com

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pix: paralympic.org

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)