DP World, Somaliland Open New Terminal at Berbera Port : June 24th, 2021

DP World and the Government of Somaliland on Thursday June 24th, inaugurated the new container terminal at Berbera Port, as part of its development into a major regional trade hub to serve the Horn of Africa.

The new terminal was officially opened by Muse Bihi Abdi, President of Somaliland, and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, at a special event attended by over 200 guests, including a Government delegation from Ethiopia, led by Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance, and Dagmawit Moges, Ethiopia’s Minister of Transport.

The event also included a symbolic ground-breaking for the new Berbera Economic Zone, the first phase of which is under construction.

The new container terminal with a deep draft of 17 metres, a quay of 400 metres and three ship to shore (STS) gantry cranes, can handle the largest container vessels in operation today, and increases the port’s container capacity from current 150,000 Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) to 500,000 TEUs annually.

The terminal also includes a modern container yard with eight rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs).

A new port One Stop Service Centre is also currently being built and will be ready in quarter three this year.

source/content: wam.ae

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

History Made. Ons Jabeur became First Arab Woman to Win a WTA Title : June 20th, 2021

Ons Jabeur makes history. Professional Tennis Player.

Ons Jabeur, the Tunisian 26-year-old became the first Arab woman to win a WTA title defeating Daria Kasatkina 7-5, 6-4 to win the 2021 Viking Classic Birmingham.

Jabeur has crossed Selima Sfar’s career high of No.75 to become the highest-ranked Arab Woman ever.

Few other Records :

First Arab Girl to win a Junior Slam title, Roland Garros, 2011
First Arab to win any Junior Grand title since 1964
First Arab Woman to make a WTA final, Moscow, 2016
etc…

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pix: https://commons.wikimedia.org/ – si.robi

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TUNISIA

Twitter Introduces New ‘Arabic Feminine’ Language Option Setting : June 16th, 2021

Twitter unveiled a new version that allows Arabic language users to be addressed as female rather than male, in efforts to use “inclusive language” on the platform, popular in the Arab world.

Arabic verbs and adjectives have both masculine and feminine forms, including imperative verbs such as “tweet” and “explore” found on social media apps.

People who select this setting will be addressed in the feminine form. For example, “Tweet” will be “غرّدي” (which addresses women) rather than the default Arabic today which is “غرّد” (addressing men). Also, “Explore” will be “إستكشفي” rather than “إستكشف”.

To access the new feature, users can go to “settings and privacy,” select “accessibility, display and languages,” select “languages” and go to “display language,” and easily switch to “Arabic feminine.”

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TWITTER

World’s Largest Coral Garden in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

Officials in Saudi Arabia have announced a joint project to establish the largest coral garden in the world at NEOM, the futuristic mega-city being built in the Kingdom’s northwest.

NEOM and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) said that the project that will cover 100 hectares on Shusha Island on the shores of the Red Sea.

The Shusha Island Coral Park will become a global center to showcase innovations to protect and restore coral reefs and accelerate conservation solutions, helping to reduce the effects of climate change, a statement issued by Saudi Press Agency said.

Shusha Island is home to more than 300 species of coral and 1,000 species of fish.

The project is scheduled to be completed in 2025, making NEOM a world leader in restoring and developing coral reefs.

source/content: arabnews.com

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A picture shows coral reefs at the Obhor coast, 30 kms north of the Red Sea city of Jeddah, 20 December 2007. AFP PHOTO/HASSAN AMMAR (Photo by HASSAN AMMAR / AFP) / pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

HISTORY RECORD – Egypt’s Al-Azhar Mosque Opens for Prayer in the 9th Century : June 22nd, 971

Al-Azhar Mosque opens for prayer in 971.

It was commissioned for construction by Al-Mu’izz li-Din Allah of the Fatimid dynasty in the new capital of Egypt in 970 and built by the builder of Egypt, Gawhar El-Seqelly. Construction began on April 04th, 970.

Cairo’s historic Al-Azhar mosque was the first artistic architectural building constructed by the Fatimids, the Islamic dynasty that ruled Egypt, North Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula from the tenth to the twelfth centuries.

Previously called ‘Cairo’s Mosque,’ Al-Azhar was named after the Prophet Mohammed’s daughter Fatimah al-Zahraa.

Because it was the first mosque and the first Islamic university to be built in Cairo, the city was named since then “The City of A Thousand Minarets”. After Al Karaouine in Idrisid Fes, which is a university in Morocco, Al-Azhar has developed to be the second most important university in the world.

Al-Azhar mosque was later turned into a university under the ruling of a senior Fatimid Islamic scholar Al-Aziz Billah. The university included 37 scholars who carried out religious teachings and dormitories to accommodate students.

After operating as an educational platform, Al-Azhar mosque was shut down in 1171 for 100 years under the auspices of the Ayyubid caliphate.

The historical mosque was later reopened by Mamluk Sultan al-Zaher Baybars in 1266.

Al-Azhar was first renovated following an earthquake in 1302.

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EGYPT

AUS students – Nour Elbery and Marawan Mahmoud from Egypt amongst 3 who Won ‘The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award 2021’ : June 22nd, 2021

Nour Elbery and Marawan Mahmoud from Egypt, and Rashid Modibbo from Nigeria, selected a winners of the 9th edition of The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award 2021.

The Award is held under the patronage of Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), in partnership with Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF).

The winning trio are architecture students from the American University of Sharjah (AUS).

Their winning submission, titled Cocoon, seeks to demonstrate how yesterday and tomorrow merge into one another, blurring time and rhythm, and forcing us to reflect on our shared experience of the pandemic, both individually and collectively. The installation will be available for viewing in November.

Members of this year’s selection committee included ADMAF Founder, Huda Ibrahim Alkhamis, NYUAD Interim Dean of Arts and Humanities, Awam Amkpa, Director of Abu Dhabi Art, Dyala Nusseibeh, and artist, Azza Al Qubaisi.

Executive Director of The NYUAD Art Gallery and the University’s Chief Curator Maya Allison added, “The Christo Award offers the unique opportunity to young artists to create an artwork that, in the spirit of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s work, can be publicly exhibited and enjoyed. This year we witnessed how the artists responded to the uncertainty and challenging environment of this time, by using their creativity to design a Cocoon for humanity.”

The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award is open to UAE-based students and recent graduates and was established as a launchpad for visual artists across the Emirates.

source: wam.ae

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

Obituary – Iraqi Poet Lamia Abbas Amara : June 18th, 2021

Lamai Abbas Amara. Arabic Poetess. Writer. Columnist. Cultural Ambassador.

Published her first poem when she was thirteen (13).

Popular Poems:

The Empty Corner – 1960
I Am Iraqi –
They Call Him Love – 1972
Had The Fortune Teller Told Me – 1980’s
etc..

Posts held:

Member, Board of Directors, Iraqi Writers Association – 1963-1975
Deputy to the Iraqi Representative for UNESCO in Paris – 1973-1975
Director of Culture, Arts – University of Technology, Baghdad – 1974

Laid to rest in California, US – June 18th, 2021

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AMERICAN / IRAQI

Arab Filmmakers Kaouther Ben Hania and Sameh Alaa Join the Short Film Jury – Cannes Film Festival 2021

The jury for short films and the Cinefondation competition for Cannes Film Festival 2021, which will take place next month, has been announced, and it includes Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania and Egyptian director Sameh Alaa.

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Arab filmmakers Kaouther Ben Hania, left, and Sameh Alaa join the short film jury for Cannes Film Festival 2021. La Biennale di Venezia, Getty Images / pix: thenationalnews.com

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EGYPT & TUNISIA

June 17th – Birth Anniversary of Legendary Egyptian Yusuf el-Sebai

Yusuf el-Sebai was an Army Officer, Novelist, Journalist and Minister of Culture, Editor in chief of Al-Ahram National newspaper and the Head of the Journalist’s Syndicate.

Sebai had an effective role in establishing the Supreme Council of Arts and Literature.

Sebai was born on June 17, 1917, and outside the borders of his homeland was killed in 1978.

He wrote many works that turned into successful cinematic works, including 10 works of the 100 best films in the history of Egyptian cinema.

Through his writings, the prominent writer was able to chronicle the 1952 revolution, the aftermath of the war of attrition and the positive vibes of the October war.

Rod Qalbi :This is one of the most powerful accounts of the pre-July 1952 revolution period. It portrays the previous feudal domination of the land, classism and injustice that took hold of the Egyptian society during that era. The novel was turned into one of the most successful films depicting the 1952 revolution in 1957.

Hata Akher el-Omr (Until the last breath) : The film illustrates the impact of war on the lives of individuals, and the negative consequences that prevail. The film stars include Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, Omar Khorshid and Najwa Ibrahim. It is the production of 1975, and is the story, script and dialogue of Youssef Sibai. The film’s music was composed by Nina Rahbani.

Gafat al-Domoo (No more tears) : The novel was political, with a romantic love story happening on the sidelines. The novel focused on the unity between Egypt and Syria and the events that preceded it through the character of Sami, the famous journalist and politician. Sami falls in love with an infamous singer struck by numerous rumors.

El-Omr Lahza (Life is short) : This novel speaks of the situation that preceded the victory of October 6, 1973 in the war of attrition. It describes the political situation, exploiting power, and corrupt citizens making use of the sacrifices of the soldiers fighting in the battlefield.

Aqwa Min el-Zaman (Stronger than time) : This novel depicts Egypt in the era of building the High Dam and the ambitions and dreams that accompanied this period in the history of Egypt, shedding light on the challenges the country faced.

source/content: egypttoday.com

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EGYPT

Winners of the ‘World Business Outlook Awards 2021’ : June 2021

World Business outlook is a print and online magazine providing comprehensive coverage and analysis of the financial industry, international business and the global economy.

Award Winners

Africa	Africa50 Infrastructure Fund	Best Infrastructure Investment Company Africa 2021



Bahrain	BBK Bank	Best Retail Bank Bahrain 2021
Bahrain	GFH Financial Group	Best Diversified Investments Portfolio Bahrain 2021











Global	Hotforex	Best Customer Service Experience Global 2021
Egypt	Arab African International Bank	Best Microfinance Company Egypt 2021
Egypt	Arab African International Bank	Best Investment Bank Egypt 2021
Egypt	Arab African International Bank	Best CSR Bank Africa 2021
Egypt	Banque Misr	Best New Digital Loan Provider Bank Egypt 2021
Egypt	Banque Misr	Best SME Bank Egypt 2021
Egypt	Banque Misr	Best Islamic Bank Egypt 2021
Egypt	CI asset management	Best Asset Manager In Egypt 2021
Egypt	CI asset management	Best Money Market Fund In Egypt 2021
Egypt	CI asset management	Best Equity Fund In Egypt 2021
GCC	Riyad Bank	Most Innovative SME Banking Product of the Year (Monshaat) GCC 2021




Jordan	Fine Hygienic Paper FZE	Most Innovative Mask Manufacturing Brand MENA 2021
Jordan	James Michael Lafferty (CEO – Fine Hygienic Paper FZE)	Best Health Care CEO of the Year Jordan 2021






MENA	Gulf Insurance Group	Most Sustainable Insurance Group MENA 2021











Oman	Bank Nizwa	Best Islamic Retail Bank Oman 2021
Oman	Bank Nizwa	Best Islamic Corporate Bank Oman 2021
Oman	National Bank of Oman	Best Digital Bank Oman 2021
Oman	National Bank of Oman	Best Mobile Banking App Oman 2021


Qatar	Doha Bank	Best Digital Payment App “Doha Easy Pay” 2021
Qatar	Doha Bank	Best Commercial Bank Qatar 2021
Saudi Arabia	Falak Investment Hub	Most innovative acceleration program (Falak Flagship Program) Saudi 2021
Saudi Arabia	Riyad Bank	Most Innovative SME Banking Product of the Year (Monshaat) Saudi Arabia – 2021
Saudi Arabia	Saudi Payments	Best Digital Payment Solution Provider Saudi Arabia 2021















Tanzania	Jubilee Insurance Company Limited	Best General Insurance Company Tanzania 2021
Tanzania	Mr. Dipankar Acharya (CEO – Jubilee Insurance Company Limited)	Best General Insurance CEO Of The Year 2021





UAE	Aafiya TPA Services	Best Customer Service Insurance Provider UAE 2021
UAE	FERG – Foreign Exchange and Remittance Group	Best Non-Profit Financial Support Group UAE 2021
UAE	Genero Capital	Best SME Financing Advisor UAE 2021
UAE	Mashreq Bank	Best Digital Bank of the Year UAE 2021
UAE	MultiBank Group	Most Innovative CFD Broker Global 2021

source: worldbusinessoutlook.com

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ARABIAN RECORDS COUNTRIES