Arabs & Arabian Records Aggregator. Chronicler. Milestones of the 25 Countries of the Arabic Speaking World (official / co-official). AGCC. MENA. Global. Ist's to Top 10's. Records. Read & Enjoy./ www.arabianrecords.org
Talal Omar, Guinness World Records’ Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Regional Director, announced that Egypt’s Silo Foods Industries company has been named by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest distributor of school meals in less than a year – from September 2021 until June 2022 – with 600,426,453 meals.
His announcement came during the inauguration of the second stage of the Silo Foods Industries city in Sadat City in Menofiya governorate, which was attended by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Thursday.
Silo Foods, an affiliate of the National Service Projects Organisation (NSPO) of the Armed Forces, is the first food industries city in the Middle East.
Omar said Silo Foods company fulfilled key criteria of the Guinness World Records and provided the evidence required for official documentation.
Afterwards, Omar awarded the Guinness World Record certificate to Chairman of Silo Foods company General Taimour Abul Magd.
“The Brink of Dreams” received the L’Œil d’or (the Golden Eye Award) for Best Documentary Film at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.
Directed by Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir, “The Brink of Dreams” marks the first Egyptian film ever to win this award at the festival.
It is noteworthy that 22 documentary films were nominated for the award in all the festival’s categories and programs, including films by salient directors such as Oliver Stone, Ron Howard, and Claire Simon.
“The Brink of Dreams” landed its premiere during the official competition of the Critics’ Week that was attended by the film’s cast and crew including directors Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir alongside the girls of Panorama El Barsha Troupe. The film received a wide audience acclaim after its premiere, in addition to critics’ who wrote about the film in Le Monde, Variety, and Screen Daily.
“The Brink of Dreams” is directed by Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir and produced by Felucca Films. The film stars Panorama El Barsha troupe; Magda Masoud, Haidi Sameh, Monika Youssef, Marina Samir, Myriam Nassar, Lydia Haroun, and the founder of the troupe, Youstina Samir.
The events of “The Brink of Dreams” take place in a remote village in southern Egypt, in which a group of girls rebel by forming an all-female street theatre troupe. They dream of becoming actresses, dancers, and singers, challenging their families and villagers with their unexpected performances. Shot over four years, The Brink of Dreams follows them from childhood to womanhood, facing the most crucial choices of their lives.
The most recent work of directors Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir includes the short fiction “Fakh” (The Trap), which premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and received a special mention at the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) in the same year. Their feature-length documentary Happily Ever After premiered at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam in 2016, one of the most important documentary film festivals around the world.
“The Brink of Dreams” is produced by Felucca Films and its crew including; line producer Mohamed Khaled, assistant directors Hamees El Balshy and Doha Hamdy, DOPs Dina El Zeneiny, Ahmed Ismael, and Ayman El Amir, sound recording by Mostafa Shaaban, Sameh Nabil, Osama Goubail, and Shadwa Ali, music by Ahmad El Sawy, and editors Veronique Lagoarde-Segot, Ahmed Magdy Morsy, Ayman El Amir and Nada Riyadh. The PR in Egypt and the Middle East is handled by Carrots (Marwa El Sawy). Nada Hossam is the actresses’s stylist, in collaboration with Mystic, La blanca, Cache, Indira, and Rana Ghazy Jewellery.
The Red Devils clinched the title following a thrilling final match against rivals Manchester City that saw the team win 2-1.
Morocco international and Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat became today the first Moroccan to have won the English FA Cup title.
Manchester United clinched the title following a thrilling 2-1 win in a highly anticipated final match against rivals Manchester City.
The Red Devils scored two goals in the 33rd and 39th minutes through Garnacho and Meino.
Doku scored a goal for City in the final minutes of the game, but a comeback was ultimately prevented as Amrabat’s teammates put on a solid display of resilience to shut down City’s attacking initiatives.
This FA Cup win comes after Amrabat had a less-than-optimal season with Man United. Amidst speculation and criticism surrounding his underwhelming performances with the English club, there have been reports that the player may return to Italian club Fiorentina.
While fans hoped to see their solid Moroccan defensive midfielder rediscover his stellar 2022 World Cup level, Amrabat has constantly struggled to make a significant impact on the field for Manchester United.
Joining the club on loan from Fiorentina in September last year, Amrabat’s transfer followed a remarkable showing at the 2022 World Cup, where his performance caught the attention of most elite football clubs.
However, the transition to the Premier League has proven challenging for the Atlas Lion, who has openly acknowledged the difficulties he has faced in Manchester and hinted at his determination to put this underwhelming episode behind him by next season.
Saudi fashion star Nojoud Al-Rumaihi turned heads this week at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, wearing a blush ensemble by Saudi designer Mohammed Ashi, founder of Paris-based label Ashi Studio.
The pink two-piece set from the designer’s 8PM collection featured a strapless corset-style top with simple yet intricate embroidery, and a criss-cross back.
The skirt had a mermaid silhouette with a train that trailed on the red carpet. To complete the ensemble, the set included fluffy, feathered detached sleeves.
The fashion icon, with her makeup done by Dior Beauty, styled her brunette locks in a short retro bob. She accessorized with Marli jewelry.
Al-Rumaihi attended the premiere of the highly-anticipated movie “The Apprentice,” directed by Ali Abbasi.
As Donald Trump’s hush money trial entered its sixth week in New York, an origin story for the Republican presidential candidate depicted a critical portrayal of the former president in the 1980s.
“The Apprentice” stars Sebastian Stan as Trump. The central relationship of the movie is between Trump and Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the defense attorney who was chief counsel to Joseph McCarthy’s 1950s Senate investigations.
Cohn is depicted as a longtime mentor to Trump, coaching him in the ruthlessness of New York City politics and business. Early on, Cohn aided the Trump Organization when it was being sued by the US government for racial discrimination in housing.
According to AP, “The Apprentice” is a potentially explosive big-screen drama in the midst of the US presidential election. The film is for sale in Cannes, so does not yet have a release date.
Al-Rumaihi was not the only Saudi celebrity in Cannes this week.
Actress Maria Bahrawi attended The Red Sea International Film Foundation Industry Networking Event which took place on Sunday, at which she donned a long-sleeved dress adorned with white florals, featuring pastel hues of purple, yellow, and orange, elegantly cinched at the waist.
She also graced the celebration of “Norah,” a film in which she stars, hosted by Film AlUla during the festival. For the occasion, she opted for a black jumpsuit with a white cape attached to the sleeve, sourced from Dubai-based Etoile La Boutique.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 20: Nojoud Alrumaihi attends the “The Apprentice” Red Carpet at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 20, 2024 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)
The events are expected to gather more than 4,000 participants, including 250 speakers and 200 notable media figures.
Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, and President of the Dubai Press Club, has announced the launch of the Arab Media Summit. This new initiative will serve as the umbrella for key media events organised by the Dubai Press Club (DPC), creating a unified platform for events and activities focused on knowledge exchange and dialogue in the media industry.
The 22nd Arab Media Forum, set to be held from 28 – 29 May, and the second Arab Youth Media Forum, scheduled for 27 May, will be organised under the Arab Media Summit umbrella. Additionally, the 23rd Arab Media Award and the fourth Arab Social Media Influencers Award, to be held during the upcoming Arab Media Forum, will form part of this summit.
Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri emphasized that the Arab Media Summit will serve as a prestigious platform for exchanging ideas, insights, expertise, and experiences. This will help the media industry contribute to realising the aspirations of the people in the region. The Summit aims to bring together media professionals to discuss the sector’s transformations and challenges, ensuring that Arab media fulfills its role as a key partner in sustainable development.
At a press conference, the organising committee of the 22nd Arab Media Forum, chaired by Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, revealed the forum’s agenda. As the premier platform in the Arab world for discussing the future of the region’s evolving media landscape, this year’s forum will feature participation from prominent politicians, media industry leaders, editors-in-chief, distinguished writers, thinkers, influencers, and content creators from the UAE, the Arab world, and the region. The forum will include discussions focused on analysing the key political, economic, social, technological, and cultural developments driving media transformation and the sector’s role in these changes.
An expanded agenda has been developed to discuss significant media issues, the positive impact, and potential challenges from the shifting economic and social landscape both in the region and globally. The Arab Media Forum will feature several closed sessions with experts and specialists to discuss various topics directly impacting the media sector, aiming to generate ideas and suggestions to enhance Arab media’s capacity to fulfill its mission effectively.
The second Arab Youth Media Forum will be dedicated to empowering the next generation of media professionals and influencers in the region. Notable speakers include His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and National Security Adviser, and His Excellency Dr Sultan AlNeyadi, UAE Minister of State for Youth, in a main session titled ‘Aspirations of the Youth’.
Her Excellency also highlighted the inclusion of more young media talent in the next Board of Directors of the Arab Media Award, marking the end of the current board’s term. The new board will focus on evolving the award to keep pace with regional and global media advancements.
Key sessions at the 22nd Arab Media Forum include ‘Future of Yemen’ with His Excellency Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, Prime Minister of Yemen, sharing his vision for peace in Yemen and the media’s role in promoting dialogue. His Excellency Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, will speak on ‘Charting the GCC’s Future,’ discussing media integration in the GCC. His Excellency Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash will engage in a conversation covering regional challenges. His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama will speak on ‘Tech Updates in Media,’ exploring technology’s role in advancing media excellence.
Other notable sessions include ‘Palestine Through the Lens of Arab Media,’ discussing media coverage of the Palestinian cause amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and ‘Impact of US Elections on the Region,’ analyzing the ramifications of the US elections on the region.
Global industry leaders like Pavel Durov, Founder of Telegram and VKontakte, will participate in discussions. The forum will also highlight success stories of Arab women in global media organisations, with sessions featuring Caroline Faraj and Samia Nakhoul. Dan Murphy will lead a session on regional peace and stability, and Rani Raad will discuss media investment trends.
The forum will address the growth of streaming platforms, the complex world of disinformation and AI in media, and feature renowned media figures like Bassem Youssef.
Shaima Al Suwaidi, Director of Brand Dubai, highlighted the involvement of Brand Dubai’s ‘Proudly from Dubai’ network, showcasing innovative AI-driven media applications.
The prestigious Arab Media Award will honour outstanding achievements in regional media, and the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit Award will recognise the contributions of digital influencers. The Arab Youth Media Forum will feature masterclasses by leading global digital platforms, offering young media professionals valuable opportunities to hone their skills.
The 22nd Arab Media Forum will also celebrate renowned Arab authors and their literary contributions, reflecting the forum’s commitment to supporting the Arab creative and literary world.
The Algerian Academy of the Arabic Language (AALA) has announced the launch of the constitutive session of its National Prize for Arabic Language Sciences for the year 2024, aiming to encourage studies and research into Arabic language sciences and contribute to its dissemination, according to a press release from the Academy.
Saudi Space Agency awards 10 winners in arts, botany, engineering.
The Saudi Space Agency wrapped up its Space Madak competition on Tuesday by awarding 10 winning contestants prizes for their arts, botany and engineering projects.
Hailing from seven Arab countries, the winners were revealed at a ceremony hosted by the agency at the Communications, Space and Technology Commission headquarters in Riyadh.
The event marked the first anniversary of Saudi Arabia’s “Journey to Space” mission and was attended by the agency’s CEO Mohammed Al-Tamimi, officials, experts, and ambassadors from the winning students’ countries.
The competition, engaging ambitious Arab students, showcased their enthusiasm for space exploration and skills development.
The panel of judges comprised scientists, experts and space enthusiasts.
Following rigorous evaluation rounds, the top 10 contenders were chosen for their exceptional contributions.
In the arts category, winners included Yamen Al-Zaabi from Jordan, Preeti Sami from Egypt, Jawaher Farhan from Bahrain, Rafqa Mansour from Lebanon, and Aline Al-Issa from Saudi Arabia.
Sadan Al-Dosari from Saudi Arabia, Hooriya Basheikh from Morocco, and Fatima Al-Khabouriah from Oman won in the botany category.
Engineering-category winners were Abdulrahman Qattan from Saudi Arabia and Yara Reda from Syria.
The ceremony celebrated the winners and acknowledged the creative endeavors of more than 50 finalists, chosen from a pool of 80,000 submissions vying for prizes totaling SR500,000 ($133,320).
The winning projects will be showcased on the International Space Station, offering an opportunity to advance research, development, and innovation in space exploration while enriching Arab contributions in this field.
The competition represents a significant milestone in the Saudi Space Agency’s mission to support research, development, and innovation within the domain of space exploration.
With a focus on nurturing creative thinking among Arab students, the initiative aims to ignite curiosity about space and inspire breakthroughs in this burgeoning field.
The space mission, carried out by astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni, included 14 pioneering scientific experiments.
According to a press release issued by the agency, the mission was a part of the “Saudi Toward Space” program, aligning with the Kingdom’s focus on research, development and innovation driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Al-Tamimi praised the achievements of the SSA-HSF1, or Saudi Space Agency-Human Space Flight 1, mission. This was a major milestone in the Kingdom’s journey toward leadership in the space sector.
He said there were 14 research experiments conducted in microgravity, yielding valuable contributions to research, development and innovation.
Al-Tamimi said the mission helped foster national expertise and enhance cooperation with leading international institutions.
He added that the agency remained committed to supporting innovative projects.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Above, Saudi astronaut Rayyanah Barnawi, the first Arab woman to orbit Earth. (SPA)13
At the helm of Hormuud Telecom for two decades, this month Yusuf scooped two prestigious, international CEO of the year awards, putting Hormuud Telecom and the Somalia firmly on the world map.
Ahmed Yusuf’s journey is inspirational. When Ahmed joined the company, Somalia was recovering its most tumultuous period, where financial and telecommunications infrastructure were all but destroyed in the civil war.
Twenty years later, through Ahmed’s dedication and entrepreneurial drive, Somalia has become one of the most promising countries for digital transformation in Africa.
Ahmed’s achievements as CEO have unlocked economic growth and kickstarted the country’s digital economy. He re-established 2G services in 2011, before going on to introduce 3 and 4G, and fibre optic cables — a first for Somalia.
Under his leadership, Hormuud launched a EVC plus, a mobile money platform now used by over two thirds of the population. Its boosted financial inclusion for women and rural communities and spurred entrepreneurial activities up and down the nation.
Understanding the gaps in the reach of humanitarian aid, he led the launch of Hormuud’s innovative portal for INGOs. This has enabled them to reach Somalia’s last-mile communities with traceable, secure cash aid, regardless of location.
From the beginning, Ahmed’s vision for Hormuud was clear: connect Somalis with the world and each other. Ahmed’s wins show Somalia’s presence is restored on the global stage.
The first award was won in Cape Town where he was joined by industry leaders from Orange Egypt and Vodacom. The second was won in Amsterdam where he was up against industry giants Deutche Telecom and Colt.
Ahmed’s successes show our telecoms sector stands out on the world’s stage, and Somalia’s journey forward will be propelled by its digital economy.
We could not be prouder of his achievements, and his ongoing dedication to Somalia and Somali people.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has struck a share purchase agreement to buy a 10% stake in TOPCO, the holding company of Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd, from Ferrovial.
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is to buy ten percent of London’s Heathrow airport from Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial, whose departure from the hub after almost two decades leaves Qatar as its biggest shareholder.
Ferrovial late Tuesday said it was offloading its 25 percent stake for nearly £2.4 billion ($3.0 billion), with the other 15 percent going to French private equity group Ardian.
Heathrow, which is one of the world’s busiest airports, is owned by the consortium FGP Topco Limited, which going forward is set to be led by Qatar Investment Authority, with an existing 20-percent stake.
Ardian will be the second biggest player, while Riyadh’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will join China Investment Corporation at ten percent, around the level held by other members of the consortium.
It is yet to be seen if the UK government will intervene in the sale.
Last week, the Conservative administration headed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was “minded” to review the proposed sale of the Telegraph Media Group to an Abu Dhabi-backed investment fund on public interest grounds.
Announcing Ferrovial’s exit, the head of its airport business, Luke Bugeja, said in a statement:
“Over the last 17 years, we have been contributing to Heathrow’s transformation, together with our fellow shareholders, achieving some excellent milestones throughout our long-term role as investor.
Saudi Arabia has won the right to host World Expo 2030, which is set to take place from October 2030 to March 2031 on the theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow,” according to the Saudi bid.https://t.co/IAjb7qa9mw — The New Arab (@The_NewArab) November 29, 2023
“We are very pleased to have made Heathrow one of the world’s most connected airports and the busiest airport in Europe.”
The specialist in transport infrastructure management operates a vast portfolio of global assets, including airport interests in Turkey and New York. Heathrow was not seen as a core asset by Ferrovial.
It bought its stake in Heathrow in a 2006 takeover and initially held 56 percent of the hub, before gradually reducing its interest.
Heathrow recently said it recorded its highest-ever September passenger numbers of more than seven million, which also marked the first time it exceeded pre-pandemic traffic figures.
Ferrovial said it remains “fully committed to advancing its airport business”, which includes a 50-percent stake in three other UK hubs — Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton.
It owns also 60 percent of Turkey’s Dalaman Airport and a 49-percent stake in the new Terminal 1 at JFK Airport in New York.
This summer, the firm angered Spain’s government by relocating its headquarters to the Netherlands in a decision it said would give it access to cheaper credit and make it more attractive to investors ahead of a planned US stock listing.
source/content: newarab.com (headline edited)
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Saudi Arabia’s PIF to buy 10% stake in Heathrow airport holding company [Getty]
The former Algerian middle-distance runner won her country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal. She navigated a deadly and divisive political crisis within her nation to emerge as “a symbol of victory and defiance”.
Hassiba Boulmerka and her family received death threats, and she was even denounced as anti-Islam at her local mosque.
However, in her home country of Algeria, there was no safe space for her to run.
The world 1500m world champion feared that radical Islamist militants would kill her, and the surrounding atmosphere was equally terrifying.
But despite the risks, the ‘Constantine Gazelle’ continued to train, running even faster and defying the threats to her life.
A year after clinching the first of her two world titles, she made history at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, winning the first Olympic gold for Algeria .
Hassiba Boulmerka: Africa’s first world track champion
Running had been Boulmerka’s way of life since the age of 10.
Growing up in Constantine, in the east of Algeria, she gained recognition for her speed and stamina, which led her to claim four African gold medals in the 800m and 1500m.
Two years after her double triumph at the continental championships, she stunned the field, sprinting to the lead in the homestretch of the 1500m race to clinch the gold.
It was a glorious moment for Boulmerka, as she became the first African woman to earn a World Championships title.
“I screamed for joy and for shock, and for much more,” she said. “I was screaming for Algeria’s pride and Algeria’s history, and still more.”
Her triumph was significant, symbolising progress for Algerian sport and Arab women.
Despite the heroic reception that awaited her and her teammates upon their return from the 1991 World Championships, her running didn’t quite resonate with everyone.
Her sporting endeavours continued to be frowned upon.
Training and competing meant exposing her arms and legs, which was perceived as not adhering to Islam’s code of modesty.
Hassiba Boulmerka was labelled ‘anti-Muslim’ for choosing to run
Boulmerka pressed ahead, enduring the criticism.
She faced hostility, being spat on and having to dodge stones thrown at her while training on Algerian roads.
In a matter of months, her hopes and dreams of participating in the Olympics started to fade as her country was plunged into civil unrest, resulting in over 150,000 lives lost.
Training became not only impossible but also dangerous during the crisis, with Islamist militants seeking to impose oppressive rule.
She was forced to relocate to Berlin to train ahead of the 1992 Olympic Games.
“I remember it well,” she recalled in an interview with the BBC. “It was Friday prayers at our local mosque, and the imam said that I was not a Muslim, because I had run in shorts, shown my arms and my legs. He said I was anti-Muslim.”
When she arrived in Barcelona just before her event, Boulmerka was accompanied by armed escorts into the stadium, highlighting the unprecedented security measures.
“There were police everywhere. In the stadium, in the changing rooms – they even came with me to the bathroom!” she said.
Despite these challenges, the ‘Constantine Gazelle’, as she was affectionately dubbed for her agile and graceful running style, defied the odds and her performance at the Estádio Olímpico was remarkable.
Hassiba Boulmerka: A heroine for women in sport
The Unified Team’s Lyudmila Rogacheva set the pace for most of the 1500m race before the Algerian powered past her with half a lap to go, securing her greatest career victory. Her time of three minutes, 55.30 seconds earned her the Olympic gold medal, marking the second time second time an Arab woman had stood atop the Games podium (after Morocco’s Nawal El-Moutawakel at Los Angeles 1984).
It was a beautiful ending after months of navigating political challenges – an example of ‘courage in defying taboos and pursuing passion’.
“As I crossed the line, I thrust a fist into the air. It was a symbol of victory, of defiance. It was to say: ‘I did it! I won! And now, if you kill me, it’ll be too late. I’ve made history!'”
As Boulmerka stood on the podium, feeling the weight of the medal around her neck, she was overwhelmed by emotions.
“I tried to hold myself together, to be brave…but the tears just started to fall. They were tears of sacrifice, for all the people I loved that I had abandoned for this race.
“It was a triumph for women all over the world to stand up to their enemies. That’s what made me really proud.”
There was no fanfare when the two-time Olympian returned home to reunite with her family.
Algeria was still far away from the end of its dark period, prompting he exile in Cuba before she returned to Algeria after recapturing the gold medal at the 1995 World Championships.
Her medals stand as a testament to her courage, and Hassiba Boulmerka continues to serve as a beacon of inspiration for women in sport.
