‘LAQAH’ created by Oman’s Middle East College Students Wins Coveted ‘Injaz Oman’ Prize : November 2020

A group of students and alumni from Middle East College in Oman have developed a spray from palm pollen that helps protect trees and plants from pests, enabling them to thrive for longer.

Their product, named Laqah, (the Arabic word for ‘pollen’) recently won the Best Sustainable Prize at a competition organised by Injaz Oman, a company that provides training and resources to youths and encourages them to become entrepreneurs.

The team, consisting of MEC graduates Mouath Al Shuaili, as well as students Nasra Al Sawafi, Athari Al Hassani, Maysa Al Balushi, and Fatma Ali Rahbi, came up with the product to help Oman’s agricultural sector.

“This has helped us market our products and increase our customers’ confidence in us,” said Mouath Al Shuaili, who serves as the CEO of the company, which is also named Laqah

source: http://www.timesofoman.com

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pix: timesofoman.com

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OMAN

First Joint Saudi-Japanese Anime Film “The Journey” : March 2021

Saudi Arabia’s Manga Productions has launched a promotional video for the first joint Saudi-Japanese anime film “The Journey” using 4 G technology.

A number of famous Arab actors have taken part in the Arabic version of the movie, including Nassar Al-Nassar, Abdo Chahine and Rasha Rizk.

It is a joint production with famous Japanese studio Toei Animation, and is directed by renowned international director Kobun Shizuno, who has directed anime hits including “Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle” and “Detective Conan.”

“The video will be featured in the region and worldwide to export our Saudi culture and historical stories from the Arabian Peninsula,” added CEO of Manga Productions, Dr. Essam Bukhari. “This will be the first of a number of videos that will be produced by Manga Productions and will be featured in cinemas in the Middle East and the world.

source: http://www.arabnews.com

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‘The Journey’ tells the story of Aws, a potter with a mysterious past who indulged in an epic battle in defense of his city. (SPA) / pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

Jamal Shakhtor – Palestinian Student Creates Robotic Hand

 Palestinian student, Jamal Shakhtor, has created a robotic hand in his workshop in Bethlehem on the West Bank.

Earlier Innovations:

  • Breathing Vest
  • Transformable Disability Chair

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Jamal Shakhtor, a 26-year-old Palestinian student in industrial automation, demonstrates the movements of a robotic hand that he built at his workshop in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, on February 5, 2021. (Photo by HAZEM BADER / AFP) / pix: arabnews.com

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WEST BANK, PALESTINE

Egypt launches 1st Platform for Entrepreneurship in Middle East, N Africa (MENA) : February 2021

 The Ministry of Planning launched in cooperation with Facebook and Rise Up Foundation an interactive platform “SMB Business BOT” for entrepreneurship to support small and medium enterprises in the Middle East and North Africa.

Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Hala El-Said asserted the keenness of the ministry to provide mechanisms supporting the entrepreneurship thinking, saying the ministry is keen on establishing business incubators via “Rowad 2030” project that was launched by the ministry .

Facebook Managing Director in the Middle East and North Africa Ramez Shehadi said Facebook is committed to provide the tools that would enable small and medium enterprises push forward economic growth wheel, creating job opportunities and boosting local societies in Egypt,

The Founder of Rise Up Foundation Abdel Hamid Sharara said the Business BOT program will provide support needed by the different companies in the Middle East and North Africa. (MENA)

source: egypttoday.com

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Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Hala El-Said – Press photo / pix: egypttoday.com

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EGYPT

Sarah Al Amiri named in Time’s 2021 List of ‘Next 100 Most Influential People’ : 2021

Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology and Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency, has been named as one of Time’s 2021 list of the Next 100 Most Influential People in the World for successfully leading the UAE’s Hope Probe into Mars’ orbit, in the first-ever Arab interplanetary mission.

In addition to her work in sending the Arab world’s first spacecraft to Mars, Al Amiri is now ahead of bigger missions: to lead ambitious space and technology projects that contribute to the UAE’s bigger goal in establishing a knowledge-based economy. A lunar mission in 2024 and plans to build a human settlement on Mars by 2117 are among the ambitious projects that await the young minister who’s looking to promote research and development to create new industries as part of her role.

She took part in building the UAE’s first two satellites – DubaiSat-1 and DubaiSat-2, and the first entirely Emirati-made KhalifaSat.

She has been holding several responsibilities as the Chairwoman of the Emirates Scientists Council, Chairwoman of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Council and Chairwoman of the Dubai Future Academy Board of Trustees.

In 2017, she became the country’s first Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, a title that later changed in the latest cabinet reshuffle in August 2020 to the Minister of State for Advanced Technology. She was also then named the Chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency.

In 2015, the World Economic Forum honoured her as one of its 50 Young Scientists for her contributions to science, technology and engineering.

She was also invited by the World Economic Forum to speak at Davos 2019 and became the first Emirati citizen to speak at an international TED event in 2017.

Mostly recently, she was selected in the BBC’s 100 Women 2020, a documentary that highlighted women leading change and making a difference during last year’s turbulent times.

source: wam.ae

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pix: wam.ae

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)

Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder – Abu Dhabi Festival

Huda I Alhamis-Kanoo, Patron of the Arts

  • Founder – Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) – 1996
  • Founder & Artistic Director : Abu Dhabi Festival (2004)

www.admaf.org / www.abudhabifestival.ae

Awards:

  • The Abu Dhabi Award and Abu Dhabi Medal (conferred by H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi)
  • The UN-affiliated Women Together Award
  • The Aspen Institute Emerging Voice Award for Cultural Stewardship
  • The Puccini Festival Foundation Award,
  • The Middle East Institute’s Visionary Award,
  • etc…

Orders Conferred:

  • The Commander of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (Orden de Isabel la Católica), conferred upon her by HM Juan Carlos, former King of Spain, by order of HM Philip IV, King of Spain
  • The Medal of Civil Merit of Spain
  • The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesverdienstkreuz)
  • Commendatore dell’Ordine della Stella della Solidarietà of Italy
  • Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur of France
  • Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France
  • The Belgian Officer of the Order of the Crown, bestowed upon her by HM Albert II, King of Belgium
  • The Gloria Artis Medal of Poland
  • Order of the British Empire (OBE), bestowed upon her by HM Queen Elizabeth the Second
  • etc…

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Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo is the founder of Admaf and artistic director of the Abu Dhabi Festival. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Festival / pix: thenationalnews.com

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

Moroccan Poet Abdellatif Laabi Wins 2021 Roger Kowalski Award, Lyons-France

Moroccan francophone poet Abdellatif Laabi has won the 2021 Roger Kowalski Award for Poetry, organized by the city council of Lyon, in east-central France

The Award was for his most-recent poetry book, “Presque riens” (Almost Nothing), published in October 2020.

Named after a famous Lyon-native poet, the Roger Kowalski Award for Poetry each year honors a living francophone poet who is connected to the city of Lyon. Laabi was eligible for nomination because his wife, Jocelyne, is a Lyon native. He is the first Moroccan to ever win the award.

Founder of the first ever Moroccan francophone poetry magazine, called “Souffles” (Breaths) along with other writers Mohammed Khair-Eddine and Mostafa Nissaboury (1966).

Abdellatif Laabi published a novel in 2003, “Le Chemin des ordalies” (The Path of Ordeals), where he shares memories from his experience in prison.

Published 20 poetry books and five novels, along with tens of works translated from Arabic.

source: moroccoworldtoday.com

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pix: moroccoworldnews.com

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FRENCH /MOROCCAN- FRENCH / FRENCH-ARAB / EUROPEAN ARAB

Agro-Products of Egypt Featuring in Top 10 of the World

Egypt is among the world’s top 10 exporters and producers of certain crops.

Orange

Egypt is the world’s top exporter of orange in terms of volume. In 2019, it exported 1.8 million metric tons of oranges worth $660 million.

Fig

Tthe second largest producer of fig globally for it produces 167,622 tons per annum.

Dried Onion

Egypt ranks third globally in terms of exporting dried onion. In 2019, it exported 13.6 tons of dried onion worth $30.4 million, representing 8.1% of the total global exports of dried onions.

Potatoes

Egypt is the fifth largest exporter of raw potatoes in terms of dollar value worth of the shipments. In 2019, it exported raw potatoes in the value of $259.6 million, which composes 5.4% of the world’s exports.

Prepared/preserved potatoes, Egypt ranks 13th exporting in 2019 shipments worth $31.1 million, representing 0.3% of the world’s global.

Dates

Egypt’s annual production of dates surpasses 1.7 million tons contributing in global production standing at eight million tons by 21 percent. Yet, Egypt’s rank in dates export market is not as high because of the weak value chain starting from the cultivation of palm trees until packaging and distribution.

source: egypttoday.com

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Fruits and vegetables – Wikimedia Commons

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EGYPT

World’s First Shipment of Blue Ammonia, Saudi Arabia to Japan : Sep. 27, 2020

The world’s first shipment of blue ammonia was dispatched from Saudi Arabia to Japan on Sep. 27, 2020 for use in a power station for the production of zero-carbon power generation, paving the way for the further use of hydrogen in the energy system.

The Saudi-Japanese collaboration is part of a pilot project, conducted by the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) and oil company Saudi Aramco in partnership with Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC).

“The shipment is considered the first around the world, and it represents a crucial opportunity for Aramco to introduce hydrocarbons as a reliable and affordable source of low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia,” said Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, chief technology officer, Saudi Aramco, according to Saudi media.

source: arabnews.com

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A blue ammonia carrier at Jubail terminal in Saudi Arabia. The renewable fuel is being touted as a new opportunity to meet climate change targets and power the future. (Aramco) / pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

Abdul Jerri – Mathematician

Dr. Abdul Jerri (aka) Dr. Abdul Jabbar Hassoon Jerri – Mathematician

Academician:

  • Last position held : Professor Emeritus – Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York (1967-2002)

Editor:

  • Founding Editor – Sampling Theory in Signal and Image processing (STSIP- An International Journal)
  • Owner – Sampling Publishing

Books:

  • Introduction to Integral Equations with Applications (Pure & Applied Mathematics) – 1985
  • Integral and Discrete Transforms with Applications and Error Analysis (Chapman & Hall/ CRC Pure and Applied Mathematics) – 1992
  • Linear Difference Equation with Discrete Transform Methods (Mathematics and Its Applications) 363 – 1996
  • The Gibbs Phenomenon in Fourier Analysis, Splines and Wavelet Approximations (Mathematics and Its Applications ) 446 – 1998 ..
  • etc..

Education:

  • B.Sc – Physics – University of Baghdad (1955)
  • M.S. – Physics – Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago (1960)
  • Ph.D – Mathematics, Oregon State University (1967)

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pix: en.wikpedia.org

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AMERICAN / IRAQI AMERICAN / ARAB AMERICAN