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
Making history again! Egyptian heart surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub innovates valves that grow naturally in body.
This pioneering innovation envisions the development of biological heart valves that can grow and be accommodated naturally within the human body. This opens the door to a new era in heart disease treatment.
The prospect of heart valves naturally expanding within the body, a concept once confined to science fiction, is now on the brink of realization, thanks to the remarkable discovery spearheaded by renowned heart surgeon Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub.
While the initial study documenting this breakthrough was unveiled in Nature in 2023, recent media coverage has underscored its practical implications.
Esteemed publications like The Times have pinpointed this cutting-edge innovation’s profound impact on biomedical science and medical engineering. They have recognized it as a monumental leap in the realm of healthcare.
On Monday, Dr. Yacoub discussed the latest developments in this field with Egyptian talk show host Amr Adib.
He explained how his team has engineered temporary heart valve scaffolds composed of surgically implanted fibres into the body.
These scaffolds gradually disintegrate over time, leaving behind a living, fully functional valve crafted from the patient’s tissues, a testament to the marvels of modern medical ingenuity.
Oman Across Ages Museum in Manah has been honoured with one of the world’s most prestigious architecture awards – the Prix Versailles World Titles.
The museum received the ‘Special Prize for an Exterior’, while the ‘Special Prize for an Interior’ was awarded to the Smritivan Earthquake Museum in Bhuj, India. The grand prize, the Prix Versailles, went to the Simose Art Museum in Otake, Japan.
Granted annually at Unesco headquarters in Paris since 2015, the Prix Versailles celebrates architectural excellence by showcasing the finest contemporary achievements worldwide.
In June, for the first time, Prix Versailles unveiled its World’s Most Beautiful Museums List for 2024, featuring seven newly opened or reopened museums that embody creativity, local heritage, and ecological efficiency.
Among the listed museums was Oman Across Ages Museum, recognised for its exceptional impact on its surroundings. Other shortlisted museums included the A4 Art Museum in Chengdu, China; Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt; Paleis Het Loo in Apeldoorn, Netherlands; and the Polish History Museum in Warsaw, Poland.
This year’s ceremony was held on December 2, celebrating 70 of the ‘World’s Most Beautiful’ achievements across eight categories: Museums, Hotels, Restaurants, Emporiums, Airports, Campuses, Passenger Stations, and Sports.
This year’s finalists were selected through a rigorous process that reviewed new and recently opened sites across 31 nations. The 2024 World Jury, chaired by Benjamin Millepied, awarded three World Titles in each category.
Commenting on the event, Millepied said, “Architecture has the ability to display creative and stylistic diversity with great force. That diversity is the sign that the attention given to nature, togetherness, and different forms of expertise can help an environment emerge – one that is both receptive to expression and capable of harmony. Such an assembly of actors from every background reminds us of culture’s unique talent for leading humankind into dialogue.”
The recognition affirms Oman Across Ages Museum’s standing as a cultural and architectural beacon, reflecting the nation’s commitment to preserving heritage while embracing modernity.
The Kingdom and the international police organization sign host country agreement.
Interpol is to establish an office in Saudi Arabia that will serve the Middle East and North Africa region.
Hisham Al-Faleh, undersecretary at the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior, and Jurgen Stock, secretary-general of the international police organization, signed a host country agreement on Wednesday.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, the Saudi Minister of Interior, and Maj. Gen. Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, the president of Interpol, also attended the signing ceremony, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In addition, they discussed Interpol’s activities during a meeting that also included Nasser Al-Dawood, the deputy minister of interior; Brig. Gen. Abdulmalik Al-Saqeeh, the director general of Saudi Interpol; and other senior officials.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
____________
Hisham Al-Faleh, undersecretary at the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior, and Jurgen Stock, secretary-general of the international police organization, signed a host country agreement. (SPA)
Jordanian academic Omar Yaghi, a chemistry professor at the University of California, Berkeley, has been awarded the 2024 Arab Genius Minds Award in the Natural Sciences category for his pioneering work in reticular chemistry.
Yaghi is celebrated for his transformative innovations in designing and synthesising metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
These frameworks address critical global challenges in energy storage, water harvesting, and environmental sustainability.
His research portfolio includes over 300 peer-reviewed papers, which have collectively garnered more than 250,000 citations, underscoring the “far-reaching” impact of his work.
Since 2012, Yaghi has held the James and Neeltje Tretter Chair in Chemistry at UC Berkeley.
His contributions to reticular chemistry have “revolutionised” the ability to assemble molecular building blocks into highly porous structures with applications in gas storage, catalysis, and drug delivery, among others, yielding significant economic and environmental advancements.
The Arab Genius Minds Award, launched by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, honours achievements by Arab scientists and innovators across six key categories essential for the region’s developmental and cultural progress.
The British magazine The Telegraph published its annual list titled “Travel’s 50 Biggest Winners and Losers in 2024.” Topping the list of winners was the Grand Egyptian Museum.
The British magazine wrote that the Grand Egyptian Museum has finally opened on a trial basis for visitors. It spans an area of 490,000 square meters and, once fully operational, will house over 100,000 artifacts, with the most notable being the complete collection of items discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb.
The list also included other places, such as the UAE and Notre Dame Cathedral following its reopening.
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) project continues to achieve international milestones, winning the 2024 Project of the Year Award for users of FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers).
The award was presented during the 6th Annual FIDIC Contract Users Awards ceremony held in London.
GEM is the first Egyptian project that win this prestigious award.
Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, highlighted President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s unwavering support for the Grand Egyptian Museum, recognizing its importance as one of the most significant cultural and heritage projects in Egypt and globally.
President Sisi has consistently followed every stage of its implementation, ensuring the removal of obstacles to deliver a museum that reflects the grandeur and legacy of ancient Egyptian civilization.
The minister emphasized that this remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the President’s ongoing support and interest.
The President’s chairmanship of the museum’s Board of Trustees further demonstrates his commitment to developing the museum as a global hub for heritage and culture.
The Minister also praised this award, which is the second international recognition for GEM this month.
Last week, the museum won the Prix Versailles, ranking among the seven most beautiful museums in the world for 2024.
He expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the completion of this monumental project over the years, and to the extensive efforts of all state agencies and entities that helped elevate the museum to its prestigious global status.
The 1 Billion Followers Summit, the world’s first and largest event dedicated to shaping the content creator economy, organised by the UAE Government Media Office, will convene over 125 prominent CEOs from major global firms, as it returns for its third edition, organised by the UAE Government Media Office and hosted in the UAE from 11 to 13 January 2025 at Dubai’s Emirates Towers, DIFC and the Museum of the Future, under the theme “Content for Good.”
These CEOs will join a prestigious lineup of content creators and influencers from around the world, sharing their expertise during panels, interactive discussions, workshops and roundtables. These sessions will explore the latest trends in business, economy, investment, and content creation, empowering aspiring talents and fostering innovation within the industry.
The list of speakers at the third edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit include Maye Musk, mother of Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. A 76-year-old millionaire and model, Musk’s career began in 1969 as a Miss South Africa finalist. She became a prominent model, representing numerous major brands, and continues to work today. Despite her busy schedule, she earned two degrees in dietetics and nutritional science and founded her own nutrition company.
Musk, who enjoys an active social media presence with over 3.35 million followers, will share her parenting journey at the 1 Billion Followers Summit, discussing how she raised three children, including Elon, and the parenting style that contributed to his success.
Leading Egyptian businessman and global entrepreneur Naguib Sawiris, who has over 10.6 million social media followers, will share his insights at the Summit. He leads global companies in various sectors, including mining, real estate, financial services, telecom, investment, and media. Naguib Sawiris is the owner of Orascom Telecom, launched the first mobile network in North Korea in 2008 and founded ONTV network. He also owns 88% of EuroNews shares, and is the founder of Egypt’s El Gouna Film Festival.
Andre Le Masurier, Senior Director and Global Head of brand and Creative at Skyscanner, will share his experience of over 20 years in brand vision, marketing and product design, as he held leadership roles in leading companies and contributed award-winning work that spanned major brands.
Andrew Graham, Head of Digital Corporate Advisory & Partnerships at the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), will share his experience in cultivating and monetizing digital-native talent, and his work in developing digital strategies for A-list celebrities.
Ben Relles, who leads Content Strategy at the Office of entrepreneur and LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffman, will address the topic of AI and its utilization in social media content creation.
Cayman Rojas, Community Manager at LinkedIn, will discuss how he works with, and supports prominent voices on the platform. He works closely with influencers with an outsized impact on the community, from CEOs and content creators to musicians, actors, and celebrities.
Joining the speakers lineup is Chris Williams, who founded and leads Pocket Watch, a studio specializing in kids and family entertainment through digital-first content and lifestyle products. Williams will share his experience of 20 years in developing online video content.
Emma Harman, President, EMEA at Whalar Group, will share her experience of over 25 years blending entertainment, music, and social marketing, and applying this experience in brand-talent collaborations. Harman will also highlight the importance of impactful content and supporting the Creator growth Economy.
Grigory Lavrov, VP Marketing, Local Brands & Franchise Management in CEE & MENAT at Warner Bros. Discovery, is also speaking at the Summit. In addition to his publishing experience, Lavrov oversees brands like TLC, DMAX, and Fatafeat.
Kate Ward & Zach Honarvar will share their experience as Founders of Creator Now, a platform that aims to build a film school reimagined for creators to help the next generation turn their creative passions into a full-time career.
The list includes Lewis Crosbie, Co-founder and CEO of Komi, which is a software platform and “one-stop-shop” for creators, bringing features found on Shopify, Patreon, and Linktree into one place to help creators engage with their fans around the world.
Paul Bakaus, Executive Vice President of Product and Creator Tools at Spotter, will showcase the platform’s efforts in empowering content creators everywhere to accelerate their workflow and unlock their creative potential.
Also joining the lineup of prominent speakers at the Summit are Brittany Brown, Director of Digital Communications & Strategy at NASA, sharing insights into impactful visual storytelling; Aliana Miller, Director of Influencer Marketing at Roblox, discussing strategies for building authentic creator relationships and achieving record-breaking results; Elise Swopes, Sr. Adobe Express Evangelist & Community, offering her perspective on mobile creativity and the intersection of art and technology; Sherry Wong, CEO at Roster, focusing on building strong support teams for creators; Ahad Khan, CEO at Kajabi, sharing insights into scaling online businesses using creator-focused platforms; and Jonathan Chanti, President of Talent at Viral Nation & CGO of Viral Nation Group, who will share insights into leveraging data-driven strategies and emerging technologies for influencer collaborations and brand growth.
Qatari Diar received a Guinness World Records distinction for “the most fireworks launched by multirotors/drones in an aerial display.”
The distinction was awarded to Qatari Diar on the occasion of the January 1, 2025, New Year’s celebrations that took place in Lusail Boulevard.
The city of Lusail had earlier announced that the “historic” New Year’s festivities held at its boulevard had attracted 300,000 visitors, a record-breaking figure.
The distinction was awarded to Qatari Diar on the occasion of the January 1, 2025, New Year’s celebrations that took place in Lusail Boulevard.
The city of Lusail had earlier announced that the “historic” New Year’s festivities held at its boulevard had attracted 300,000 visitors, a record-breaking figure.
The ‘Rig 1938’ tower made two entries in the Guinness Book of Records, as the world tallest water slide tower with a height of 76.309 meters; and the first tower of its kind to have 12 water slides.
General Manager and Chairman of Qetaifan Projects Company, Sheikh Nasser bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said in a press conference that the tower provides an exceptional experience that enhances Qatar’s position as a world class global tourist destination.
He added that the tower is not just an entertainment landmark, but a symbol that expresses Qatari culture and promotes creativity.
The tower, which is 85 meters high and includes 12 water slides, is an architectural masterpiece inspired by the history of oil and gas discovery in Qatar. It was designed according to the highest safety standards to be suitable for all age groups to enhance the visitor experience.
The tower is located in the heart of Meryal City, which extends over an area of 281 thousand square meters, and is one of the largest water parks in the region, with 36 innovative water games.
Meryal is part of Qetaifan Island North, which is an integrated tourism project extending over an area of 1.3 million square meters, and includes multiple facilities as well as residential, educational and health projects, making it a destination that combines authenticity and innovation.
The Ministry of Culture unveiled the largest painting on canvas in the world by the artist Emad Al Salehi, at Qatar University yesterday.
The 9,652 sq metre artwork, equivalent to the size of a football field, is titled The Story of a Ball and was adjudged as the largest art canvas by the Guinness Book of Records officials.
The 9,652 sq metre artwork, equivalent to the size of a football field, is titled The Story of a Ball and was adjudged as the largest art canvas by the Guinness Book of Records officials.
The painting tells the history of the World Cup from its inception in 1930 until the World Cup 2022, which combines culture, history and sports and embodies the landmarks and icons of all the World Cup tournaments in Qatar.
The unveiling of the artwork comes at a time when the country is in the midst of the FIFA World Cup Qatar and as it readies to celebrate its National Day on December 18, 2022.
At the inaugural ceremony, a video was shown about the stages of completion of the huge artwork, after which the Guinness Book of Records certificate was handed over, marking its entry into the record book, in the presence of the Ministry of Culture officials and media.
Artist Emad Salehi receives Guinness World Record Award from the Minister of Culture, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al Thani during the inauguration Reuters/Hamad I Mohammed
Artist Emad Salehi receives Guinness World Record Award from the Minister of Culture, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al Thani during the inauguration Reuters/Hamad I Mohammed
After just twenty years in aviation manufacturing, Morocco has outpaced all African nations to become the continent’s primary supplier of aircraft parts.
Morocco’s aviation manufacturing sector is concluding 2024 with unprecedented growth, as exports surged 17.3% to reach MAD 21.86 billion ($2.1 billion) in the first ten months, surpassing the entire previous year’s record of MAD 21.85 billion.
The North African country has solidified its position as Africa’s primary aviation equipment and spare parts manufacturer, ranking fifth globally among the most dynamic countries in the aviation sector, according to Afaf Saïdi, Director of Aviation, Railway, Naval Industries and Renewable Energies at the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
“Morocco has become the main source of equipment and spare parts at the African level after just twenty years of launching its first initiative in this sector,” Saïdi told the Moroccan News Agency. “This exceptional performance not only demonstrates the resilience of our national aviation industry but also reflects its ability to adapt to global market momentum.”
The sector currently employs 21,000 skilled workers across 142 companies, with a local integration rate exceeding 40%. Industry Minister Riyad Mzour announced in July that Morocco aims to double the sector’s employment by 2030.
This year marked several significant developments for Morocco’s aviation industry. The country hosted the Morocco Air Show 2024 in Marrakech, which facilitated new strategic partnerships with industry giants Boeing and Airbus.
A major milestone was the inauguration of Safran’s $300 million aircraft engine manufacturing facility in Casablanca, expected to create hundreds of jobs and facilitate advanced technology transfer.
‘Adopting a proactive approach’
Other major manufacturers including Bombardier, Stelia, and Aerospace have expanded their investments in the country through new facilities and expansions of existing sites. These initiatives aim to meet growing demand from major aviation companies for high-quality components while contributing to local economic growth.
The government has developed specialized industrial zones for aviation manufacturing, including the Midparc zone, which offers modern infrastructure, ready-to-use land, and tax incentives. The Tanger Med Port plays a pivotal role in supporting the sector’s growth through export operations.
“We are adopting a proactive approach to ensure our aviation industry aligns with rapid global developments,” Saïdi explained. “Innovation is at the core of our priorities, with special focus on environmentally friendly technologies and reducing carbon footprint, strengthening the kingdom’s position as a competitive and sustainable industrial platform.”
The sector’s growth in 2024 represents a significant improvement from 2023’s modest 2.4% increase in exports. This expansion is attributed to strong global demand and product diversification, encompassing spare parts and complete equipment for major aviation manufacturers.
Looking ahead, Morocco’s aviation sector is positioning itself for further expansion through new ecosystem development, implementation of more complex projects, and addressing challenges in digital transformation, decarbonization, and technological innovation, while leveraging the talents of young Moroccan professionals.
