Ramla Ali – First British Female Muslim Boxing Champion

Ramla Ali (aka) Ramla Said Ahmed Ali

Somali-British. English Professional Boxer, Model, Author and Racial Equality Activist.

First/s :

  • First Muslim Woman Boxer to win English National Titles in 2016
  • Somalia’s First ever Boxing Representative for Tokyo 2020 Olympics
  • First Female Somali Boxer in history to compete professionally
  • First male or female to win the African Boxing Title and International Gold medals whilst representing Somalia
  • First Boxer in history to have represented Somalia in Women’s World Championships, New Delhi, India

Winner : a few listed below :

  • As an amateur – Won Novice National Championship, England (2015)
  • England Boxing Elite Championship (2016)
  • African Zone Featherweight Title (2019)
  • etc..

Social Activist:

  • Launched a club ‘ The Sister’s Club’, UK (2018)

Model:

  • Front covers of British Vogue, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Guardian Observer, Wonderland, ELLE, The Square Mile, The Week, Swiss Style, Puss Puss Magazine etc..

Brand Ambassador:

  • Pantene nominated her as its newest Ambassador and Face of their Hair Care Brand (2019)

Book:

  • ‘Not Without A Fight’

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pix: olympicchannel.com/en

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UNITED KINGDOM / SOMALIAN-BRITISH

Lebanese Animator Louaye Moulayess living out his Disney dream : April 2021

Lebanese animator Louaye Moulayess was born and raised in the village of Elissar in Lebanon.

With Disney Animation Studios’ “Raya and the Last Dragon,” his latest major project, he had the chance to tell the story of a fictional land not unlike his own.

“Raya and the Last Dragon,” directed by Don Hall and Carlos Lopez Estrada, is set in the fictional kingdom of Kumandra, which is not based on the Middle East, but Southeast Asia.

He is presently working as an animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios, Burbank, California.

www.louaye.com

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Louaye Moulayess Lebanese animator. (Supplied) / pix: arabnews.com

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LEBANESE

UNESCO Competion to Rebuild Iraq’s Al-Nouri Mosque, Mosul – Won by Egyptian Architectural Design : April 2021

The “Courtyards Dialogue” design submitted by eight Egyptian architects has won the UNESCO competition to rebuild the historic Al-Nouri mosque complex mostly destroyed in Iraqi Mosul.

The Egyptian design was selected by an international jury from among 123 entries in the global competition as part of the UNESCO’s project to rehabilitate the ancient city of Mosul, the UN wrote on its website.

The winners of the competition are Salah El Din Hareedy, Khaled El-Deeb, Sherif Ebrahim, Tarek Ali Mohamed, Noha Ryan, Hager Abdel Ghani, Mahmoud Saad Gamal and Yousra El-Baha, the UN said.

Winners at the competition, the Egyptian team, has been awarded the contract for the complex as well as $50,000 prize.

source/content : egypttoday.com

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The winning design “Courtyards Dialogue” – Supplied/UNESCO/©Salah El Din Samir Hareedy and team / pix: egypttoday.com

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EGYPT

Mohammed bin Rashid Launches ‘100 Million Meals’ to Provide Food Support in 20 countries : April 2021

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has launched ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign to provide food parcels for families and people in need across 20 countries during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Launched as an expansion from last year’s locally-held ’10 Million Meals’ campaign that empowered COVID-19-hit communities across the UAE, the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign will provide food support for the vulnerable in the Middle East, Africa and Asia

The campaign is part of UAE’s response to global efforts to combat world hunger, a major challenge that has been exacerbated by outbreak of COVID-19 that has pushed millions of disadvantaged populations to greater insecurity, poverty and unemployment. The campaign also aims to support the international community in achieving the second of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to end hunger by 2030.

The MBRGI will carry out the campaign in collaboration with the UN World Food Programme, the Food Banking Regional Network, humanitarian and charity organizations in beneficiary countries, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment (MBRCH), and UAE federal and local entities.

source: wam.ae

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pix:pressreleasenetwork.com

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

Qatari Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani among World’s Richest Arabs – Forbes : April 2021

Hamid bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani (aka) Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani (aka) HBJ is among the world’s richest Arabs according to Forbes.

Highlights:

  • Former Prime Minister of Qatar (2007 – 2017)
  • Former Foreign Minister of Qatar (1992 – 2013)
  • Paramount Services Holdings – Owns 3% of Deutsche Bank
  • etc….

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pic: flickr.com

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QATAR

Omani Businessman Suhail Bahwan among World’s Richest Arabs – Forbes : April 2021

Forbes has released its annual World’s Billionaires ranking for 2021, featuring the world’s 2,755 richest people—660 more than there were in 2020, including 493 newcomers that have never featured on the Forbes’ list before.

This year there are 22 Arab billionaires worldwide compared to 21 in 2020. Combined, the cohort has seen their aggregate fortune climb to $53.4 billion in 2021, compared to $47.3 billion a year earlier.

Qatar’s Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani with an estimated wealth of $1.3 billion, and Morocco’s Othman Benjelloun & family, also with $1.3 billion.

Egypt’s Nassef Sawiris is still the wealthiest Arab worldwide, with a net worth of $8.3 billion—$3.3 billion more than last year. His most valuable asset is a nearly 6% stake in sportswear maker Adidas. He also runs OCI, one of the world’s largest nitrogen fertilizer producers, with plants in Texas and Iowa.

Algeria’s only billionaires, Issad Rebrab & family, are the world’s second-richest Arabs, worth $4.8 billion. Rebrab is the founder and CEO of Cevital, Algeria’s largest privately-held company. Cevital owns one of the largest sugar refineries globally, with the capacity to produce two million tons of refined sugar a year.

Oman’s only billionaire, Suhail Bahwan, is valued at $2.3 billion.

Lebanese jeweler Robert Mouawad is the only billionaire living in Bahrain and is valued at $1.4 billion.

Najib and Taha Mikati are the only Lebanese billionaires living in Lebanon and are worth $2.5 billion each. Bahaa, Ayman, and Fahd Hariri—sons of the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafiq Hariri— all now live in Europe and are worth $2 billion, $1.3 billion, and $1.1 billion, respectively.

Forbes has not considered Saudi Arabia for the ranking since 2018.

source/content: timesofoman.com

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pix: timesofoman.com

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OMAN

Naima Lamcharki Wins Best Actress at Malmo International Arab Film Fest : April 2021

Moroccan actress Naima Lamcharki won the best actress award at Sweden’s 11th annual Malmo International Arab Film Festival (MAFF). 

In the film “L’Automne des Pommiers” (Autumn of the Apple Trees), directed by Moroccan director Mohamed Mouftakir, Lamcharki plays the role of a wisdom-filled grandmother, filling a crucial role in the film’s unique dynamic. 

Along with the Malmo International Arab Film Festival, the film won awards at the Moroccan Film Festival of Tangier. Namely, the prize for the Best Picture 2020, the Critics Prize 2020, and the Prize for the Federation of Cineclubs 2020.

Naima Lamcharki has accomplished many other great feats throughout her career as an actress. Starring in films like The Garden of Eden (1998) and Bad Faith (2006), her career in the international film industry dates back to 1958. 

Two years ago, Moroccan actress Fatima Atif won the best actress award at the ninth edition of the Malmo Arab Film Festival for her role in the film “The Healer”, where the director was Moroccan.

source/content: www.moroccoworldnews.com

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pix: moroccoworldnews.com

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MOROCCO

UAE’s First ever Female Astronaut, Noura Al-Matroushi : April 2021

A woman has made history in the United Arab Emirates as the country’s first female astronaut.

Noura Al-Matrooshi is one of two new astronauts in the UAE’s Mohammed Bin Rashid (MBR) Space Centre astronaut program, UAE vice president and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced on Twitter .

She was chosen with Mohammed Al-Mulla, two of over 4,000 candidates who applied to the program, Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, said.

In 2019, Maj. Hazzaa al-Mansoori became the UAE’s first astronaut in space, spending an eight-day mission aboard the International Space Station.

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UAE’s first female astronaut Noura al-Matroushi.   | Photo Credit: Twitter@MBRSpaceCentre

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

OIC Chief Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen Awarded Azerbaijan’s Order of Friendship : April 2021

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev awarded Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) – Azerbaijan’s Order of Friendship, in appreciation of his efforts in advocating and strengthening relations between Azerbaijan and the OIC.

Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmad Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Othaimeen (aka) Yousef Al-Othaimeen Ph.D.

The Award was at a reception held in Baku.

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pix: aze.media

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SAUDI ARABIA

Samira Ghannoum – First Winner of Arab Descent in ‘Bake Off Brasil’ Competition, Sao Paulo

Samira Ghannoum – First Muslim woman of Arab descent to have won this competition

A Lebanese Brazilian Muslim woman who won the first series of  Bake Off Brasil in 2015 is now a well-known figure all over the country. Samira Ghannoum won the competition over 13 weeks watched by millions in 20 countries across Latin America.

As a winner of Bake Off Brasil, she published her first cookbook in partnership with the programme.

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Samira Ghannoum on the set of “Bake Off Brazil” [Middle East Monitor] / pix: middleeastmonitor.com

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BRAZIL / LEBANESE BRAZILIAN / SOUTH AMERICAN ARAB