UAE Makes History, Becomes 5th Nation in the World to Reach Mars. First Arab Nation : February 09th, 2021

“If you ventured in pursuit of glory, don’t be satisfied with less than the stars.”

The Iraqi poet – Al Mutanabbi’s writings were chosen by Nasa to congratulate the Hope probe project team.

Those words were chosen by US space agency Nasa in a congratulatory tweet to the UAE Mars Mission team after its Hope probe successfully entered the Red Planet’s orbit on Tuesday, February 09th, 2021.

Nasa told the UAE: “Congratulations on arriving at Mars!” before using the words quoted above.

Who is the Arab poet Al Mutanabbi ?

The man behind the words is the 10th century Iraqi poet Al Mutanabbi, considered to be the greatest in the Arabic language.

Born into a distinguished family in Kufa in 915 AD, Abu Al Tayyib Ahmad ibn Al Husayn Al Mutanabbi received an education because of his poetic talents. He is remembered in the country of his birth. A street is named after him, which is a historic bookselling centre of Baghdad. A statue of him still stands in the Iraqi capital today

source: thenationalnews.com

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Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid personally thank staff from mission control in Dubai. / The National / pix: thenationalnews.com

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)

A New Museum Dedicated to the Life of the Prophet (pbuh) inaugrated : February 02nd, 2021

The opening ceremony of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Life of the Prophet and Islamic Civilization took place in Madinah on February 02nd.

The International Exhibition and Museum of the Life of the Prophet and Islamic Civilization was launched under the supervision of the Muslim World League (MWL) and is the first in a series of Islamic museums scheduled to be constructed around the world under the organization’s umbrella.

Located next to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, the museum is open 24 hours a day, and is dedicated to the history of the Islamic world and the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The exhibition features dozens of paintings and interactive displays. At the moment, there are seven languages available to visitors — Arabic, English, Spanish, Urdu, French, Turkish and Indonesian. It also includes a 4DX theater, which screens a series of films about the Prophet’s life.

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FASTFACTS

The International Exhibition and Museum of the Life of the Prophet and Islamic Civilization

• Size: 5,000 square meters

• Location: Next to the Prophet’s Mosque, Madinah

• Number of floors: Two

• Exhibit and pavilion displays: 25 main pavilions

• 500 antique items from the Prophet’s era

• A main screen to feature the masterpieces found in the Qur’an and the Sunnah

• A movie theater showing a film about the Prophet’s life

• Virtual reality shows

• A special presentation of the Constitution of Madinah and the Makkah Document

• A presentation of the efforts of Saudi Arabia in serving the Qur’an and the Sunnah

• Languages: French, English, Urdu, Spanish, Turkish, Indonesian, Arabic

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source: arabnews.com

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pix: arabnews.com

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Madinah , SAUDI ARABIA

Winners of Arab Journalism Awards : December 2020

In the virtual presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Press Club held a virtual ceremony to honour the winners of the 19th Arab Journalism Award.

President of the Dubai Press Club and Secretary General of the Arab Journalism Award Mona Al Marri, members of the Board of Arab Journalism Award and a host of editors in chief, journalists and media leaders attended the virtual event.

The winners represented daily newspapers, magazines, online web portals and various media organisations from the Arab world. 

The winners were announced at the 19th Arab Media Forum.

The 11 winners of the Arab Journalism Award 2020 are:

•    Media Personality of the Year: Nayla Tueni, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Annahar newspaper, Lebanon

•    Best Column Award: Othman Mirghani, Editor-in-Chief of the independent newspaper Al-Tayar, Sudan

•    Political Journalism Award: Mohamed Amin Al Masri from Al-Ahram newspaper, Egypt

•    Economic Journalism Award: Al Khaleej newspaper, UAE

•    Investigative Reporting Award: Jamal Jouhar from Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper

•    Press Interview Award: Mohammed Mansour from Al-Roeya newspaper, UAE

•    Cultural Journalism Award: Tareq Al Taher from Akhbar Al-Adab magazine, Egypt

•    Sports Journalism Award: Motaz El Shamy from Al-Ittihad newspaper, UAE

•    Photojournalism Award: Saber Nooraldin from the European Pressphoto Agency

•    Young Journalist Award:
–    Samar Saleh from El-Watan newspaper, Egypt
–    Abdul-Samad Edinadin from Bayane Al-Yaoume newspaper, Morocco
–    Ahmed Atef from Al-Dostor newspaper, Egypt

•    Smart Journalism Award: Youm7 newspaper, Egypt

This year, the General Secretariat of the Arab Journalism Award decided to host the award ceremony virtually due to the current global challenges related to COVID-19 and the travel restrictions imposed in some countries.

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pix: wam.ae

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Record of Fastest 300 km by Speed Boat Record held by Qatari – Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani and Abdullah al-Sulaiti

The fastest 300 km by speed boat is 1 hour 55 minutes and 14 seconds and was achieved by Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor al-Thani and Abdullah al-Sulaiti .

The event was organised by Qatar Marine Sports Federation in Doha on 10 February 2010. 

The route, pre-approved by Guinness World Records, was from Abu Dhabi to Doha, Qatar.

The boat used was a twin gas turbine engine Nor-Tech speed boat named Qatar Challenger. The engines on the boat are also used on Cobra helicopters.

source: guinnessworldrecords.com

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pix: m.facebook.com /QatarDay

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QATAR

Nayla Tueini Wins Media Personality of the Year At The 19th Arab Journalism Awards : December 2020

Nayla Tueini , the CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Lebanon’s Daily – Annahar was chosen as Media Personality of the Year at the 2020 Arab Media Forum, held virtually from Dubai, for her strong and steady leadership of Annahar.

December 23rd, 2020.

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Nayla Tueni holds a blank edition of her newspaper during a news conference in Beirut. (Reuters) / pix: arabnews.com

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LEBANON

Leila Ben Youssef – Record Holding Athlete – Pole Vault

Leila Ben Youssef (aka) Leila Maryam Ben Youssef. Track Athlete. Pole Vault.

Currently: Dr. Leila M. Ben-Youssef, MD – Emergency Medicine

Awards / Honours:

  • Gold Medal – All African Games, Algiers, Algeria (2007)
  • Gold Medal – Pan African Games, Egypt (2007)
  • Gold Medal – African Championship, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2008)
  • Represented Tunisian National Track & Field Team, Summer Olympics Beijing

Education :

  • Masters Degree – Medical Anthropology, Stanford University

Grand daughter of Tunisian Politician Salah Ben Youssef

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pix: amchamjrtbs.com

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AMERICAN / TUNISIAN / AMERICAN-TUNISIAN

World Record-breaking UAE Flag made with Mosaic Cards. Goal to Feed 49,000 families : December 24th, 2020

The UAE flag, measured an 490 square metres, was constructed outside Dubai Police, Al Wasl, behind City Walk.

The occasion organized by nefsy has raised funds to buy food boxes to feed 49,000 families in need, following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

49,000 food boxes made up of essential items including rice, wheat, oil, sugar, salt, water and also sanitiser, are now being distributed by Emirates Red Crescent – and will feed more than 250,000 individuals for more than 10 days.

The challenge was launched in celebration of the UAE’s 49th National Day to celebrate the spirit of the UAE, but to also help combat world hunger, nefsy’s primary aim. .

The Guinness World Records title awarded to nefsy – of the Largest greetings card mosaic (flag) made from folded, greetings cards is a representation of the UAE flag and a celebration of this significant achievement – as well as the first and biggest flag of a good cause.

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Image Credit: Antonin Kelian Kallouche, Gulf News Photographer / www.gulfnews.com

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

Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture

Abdullatif Al Fozan Award for Mosque Architecture was established in 2011.

Its focus is the architectural, urban, and technical aspects of mosques all over the world, and is awarded to the related designer/architect.

The main objective of this award is the development of contemporary design of mosques, throughout a specialized and classified database.

The award is triennial.

The winning mosques will be awarded based on assessment of an international architectural jurors experienced with mosque architecture, who will relatively evaluate and assign the winning mosques.

The candidate mosques will be categorized into three categories; Central Mosques, Jumaa’ Mosques, and local mosques.

Yet, there are prizes given to innovations and ideas which helps in developing the concept of mosques in the twenty first century.

The Founder is Shaikh Abdullaatif Al Fozan

www.alfozanaward.org

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SAUDI ARABIA

UAE leads with Highest Number of Guinness World Records across the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Region : November 2020

  • The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is home to 425 Guinness World Records with 34 of them achieved in 2020.
  • Saudi Arabia comes second with 96 GWR titles
  • Egypt is a close third place with 93 GWR titles
  • Dubai is also the most record breaking city across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region

source: Khaleej Times, by Waheed Abbas, November 14th, 2020

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pix: logo / guinnessworldrecords.com

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Dr. Elias Zerhouni – Scientist, Radiologist, Inventor and Entrepreneur

Dr. Elias Zerhouni (aka) Elias Adam Zerhouni. Scientist. Inventor. Entrepreneur. Researcher. Radiologist and bio-medical engineer.

Position/s:

  • President – Global Research and Development at pharmaceutical company – Sanofi (2011 – 2018)
  • Senior Fellow – Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (2009 – 2010)
  • President Obama appointed Dr. Zerhouni as ‘Presidential Science Envoy’ – (2009)
  • First immigrant to head the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in (2002 – 2008)
  • Executive Vice-Dean – Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine (1995-2002)

Awards:

  • Gold Medal for American Roentgen Ray Society
  • Gold Medal – Radiological Society of North America
  • 2 awards – Paul Lauterbur Awards for MRI Research
  • Woodrow Wilson Award for services to the Johns Hopkins University
  • Ben Franklin Medal
  • etc….

Honours:

  • Elected to National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine (2000)
  • Elected to National Academy of Engineering (2013)
  • Legion d’honneur for French National Order by President Nicolas Sarkozy (2008)
  • etc….

Entrepreneur : Co-Founder of

  • Computerized Imaging Reference Systems (CIRS) – (1982)
  • Advanced Medical Imaging (1989)
  • Biopsys Corporation
  • American Radiology Services (1996)
  • Surgivision Inc.

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pix : en.wikipedia.org

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AMERICAN / ALGERIAN-AMERICAN