Category: Uncategorized

Lamia was first elected in 2014 in Paris’s 20th district and quickly took on responsibilities related to health, disability, and mental health.

Moroccan-born politician Lamia El Aaraje has been elected as the new First Deputy Mayor of Paris, in replacement of the outgoing Patrick Bloche.

Born on November 22, 1986, in Rabat, El Aaraje is known as a key figure in the city’s Socialist Party and for her firm political stance, especially her opposition to the radical leftist party La France Insoumise.

She moved to France at the age of 18 to pursue her studies. She later built a strong career within the Socialist Party and rose through the ranks to become the first secretary of the party’s powerful Paris federation in 2023, a position she held until mid-2025.

El Aaraje is part of what has been described as the party’s social-democratic wing. She played a major role in building alliances during the recent political campaign, helping bring together socialists, environmentalists, and communists early on. She also supported key figures such as Emmanuel Grégoire and previously backed Rémi Féraud in the Socialist primary race.

‘I changed my opinion about her during the campaign’

Before entering politics, El Aaraje earned a doctorate in pharmacy but chose not to practice. Instead, she shifted toward health law and worked in leadership roles at mutual insurance organizations. Her political engagement began in the 2010s, including her time as a student union leader at the University of Limoges.

She was first elected in 2014 in Paris’s 20th district and quickly took on responsibilities related to health, disability, and mental health. She gained more influence over the years. She served as a Paris councilor and led key city committees on public spaces, infrastructure, and safety.

El Aaraje also briefly served as a member of parliament in 2021 before her election was rejected by the Constitutional Council. She later lost a re-election bid in 2022 to Danielle Simonnet.

Despite political rivalries, colleagues across the spectrum describe her as determined, hardworking, and highly organized. “I changed my opinion about her during the campaign. I mainly saw the brutal side of the character,” AFP quoted a Parisian elected official from the majority as saying. “In reality, she has a great work ethic, she is determined, and has excellent organizational skills.”

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com (headline edited)

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FRENCH / MOROCCAN

Egypt-based Tunisian filmmaker and actor Dhafer L’Abidine has won the Best Director Award at the Manchester Film Festival (19 to 29 March), for his latest feature Sophia.

Set between Europe and North Africa, Sophia follows Emily, a woman who travels from London to Tunisia against her father’s wishes in an attempt to reconnect her daughter, Sophia, with her estranged husband.

The situation quickly spirals into crisis when the young girl disappears, plunging the fractured family into a web of secrets and deception. As tensions mount, Emily races against time to uncover the truth and find her daughter.

The film features an international cast led by Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey, Brave New World), alongside Dhafer L’Abidine, Kais Setti (Dogs of Berlin, Blood Red Sky), and veteran actor Jonathan Hyde (Titanic, Anaconda).

Sophia, a family thriller, is a co-production between Double A Productions and New Sparta Productions, with cinematography by Willie Nel and editing by Hafedh Laaridhi. The film’s original score was composed by Selim Arjoun. 

The film had its world premiere at the Marrakech International Film Festival, launching its global festival journey to critical attention.

Dhafer L’Abidine
 

L’Abidine, 53, a graduate of the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama, built his early career in British television, appearing in series such as Dream Team and Spooks. He later featured in international productions including Children of Men and Sex and the City 2, before becoming widely known in the Arab world through television dramas such as Maktoub, Halawat El Donia, and Arous Beirut.

Behind the camera, he made his directorial debut with Ghodwa, which won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Cairo International Film Festival and was shortlisted for the Golden Globe Awards.

His second feature, To My Son, earned Best Film at the Hollywood Arab Film Festival, further establishing him as a prominent Arab filmmaker working across international markets.

source/content: english.ahram.org.eg (ahram online)/ headline edited

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TUNISIA

The event forms part of the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum from March 30 to April 1 at the King Salman International Convention Center in Madinah.

King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, in cooperation with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program, is organizing a forum on historical sites associated with the Prophet’s biography.

The event forms part of the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum from March 30 to April 1 at the King Salman International Convention Center in Madinah.

Several researchers and specialists in Prophetic biography and Islamic history will attend the three-day forum, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Organizing the forum is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to serve the Prophetic biography, aiming to enhance the scientific documentation of historical sites associated with it and highlight their intellectual and cultural value.

The forum will focus on several key pillars, notably documenting the landmarks of the Prophet’s life, linking its events to geographical locations, and supporting specialized scientific research.

It also includes scientific sessions discussing mechanisms for verifying historical narratives and distinguishing between authentic and unreliable accounts.

Additionally, the forum reviews the Kingdom’s efforts to revive historical sites related to the Prophetic biography and present them through modern technologies and innovative approaches that enrich the visitor experience.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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SAUDI ARABIA

The Government of the Sultanate of Oman announced the completion of its acquisition of SalamAir, affirming that both Oman Air and SalamAir will continue to operate as fully independent brands while preserving their operational identity, fleets and services.

Eng. Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said this approach aims to reduce overlap in destination networks between the two airlines, ensuring optimal utilisation of fleets and expanding air connectivity within the Sultanate and the wider region.

He added that this will enhance operational efficiency and provide travellers with broader options and greater diversity within the two economic categories served by the carriers.

He noted in a statement to Oman News Agency that this strategic transformation is expected to improve the financial position of both airlines, as well as companies associated with ground services, through the development of cost structures and enhancement of revenue quality.

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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OMAN

Oman has achieved a global milestone with the Barmajan Digital Transformation Hackathon officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest multi-site hackathon in the world.

Organised by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the record-breaking event was held simultaneously at National Museum and Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex Bausher, drawing more than 250 young participants from across the sultanate.

H E Sayyid Said bin Sultan al Busaidi, Undersecretary in Ministry for Culture, Sports and Youth, who attended the closing ceremony on Thursday, described the recognition as a proud moment for the sultanate.

“Oman’s entry into the Guinness records book is an achievement with many dimensions and objectives. When the hackathon was first launched, it was not intended to break a record, but the scale, interest and quality of the programme drew international attention,” H E Sayyid Said said.

He added, “We did not break a previous record but created a new benchmark, leaving space for others to build upon. We also hope this achievement will serve as a platform to promote Oman’s tourism and national identity.”

Sultan bin Mohsen al Subhi, Project Manager of the hackathon, said the recognition marks a milestone in Oman’s digital journey. “This global recognition will amplify Oman’s visibility and send a strong message about the importance of digital transformation in modern governance.”

Launched on July 21, Barmajan featured technical challenges, workshops and training sessions aimed at developing innovative solutions for government services. It brought together developers, programmers, UX designers and business analysts, highlighting the creativity and skills of Omani youth in shaping the future of digital governance.

source/content: muscatdaily.com (headline edited)

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OMAN

Saudi Arabia has launched a new international rail logistics corridor linking its Eastern Province ports with the Al-Haditha border crossing in a move aimed at boosting trade flows and improving supply chain efficiency. 

The route connects King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Al-Jubail Commercial Port and King Fahd Industrial Port in Jubail to Jordan and neighboring northern countries, according to Saudi Arabia Railways, also known as SAR. 

Spanning more than 1,700 km, the corridor can handle trains carrying over 400 containers each, expanding freight capacity and strengthening regional connectivity. 

The development comes at a time of disruption to regional trade routes following the US-Israel conflict with Iran, which has pushed up energy prices and affected shipping flows across key Gulf corridors. 

In a post on X, Transport Minister Saleh Al-Jasser said the launch of the new logistics corridor via freight trains represents a “practical model for integrating modes of transportation.” 

He added that SAR “supports the diversification of trade routes and boosting the flow of goods movement,”  while limiting reliance on long-distance trucking, improving the efficiency of utilizing logistics assets, supply chain operations, and expanding modern transportation solutions within the transportation and logistics services system.

The initiative supports the Kingdom’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Vision 2030 objectives, which aim to enhance integration across all transport modes and logistics services. 

In a post on its official X account, SAR stated that the route has the potential to connect domestic markets with neighboring countries to the east and north, adding that it “reinforces connectivity between Saudi Arabia’s seaports and northern and eastern land crossings.” 

SAR added that the service also reduces shipping time by half compared to other land transport methods. 

The corridor aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader Logistics Corridors Initiative, which aims to redirect freight from Eastern Region ports to Red Sea gateways such as Jeddah Islamic Port.   

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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Spanning more than 1,700 km, the corridor can handle trains carrying over 400 containers each. File/X @SaudiTransport

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SAUDI ARABIA

 Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Chairman of the UAE Football Association, expressed his sincere congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, on Manchester City’s victory in the English Football League Cup for the ninth time, following their 2-0 win over Arsenal in the final yesterday evening.

He praised the outstanding performance and distinguished results of Manchester City, noting that the club’s professional experience in the English Premier League and European competitions reflects a high level of professionalism and sports planning, and presents a bright image of English football on the global stage.

He added that this new achievement reinforces Manchester City’s position as one of the leading clubs in European and world football, stressing that the title is the result of hard work and a well-structured sporting strategy, representing a source of pride for football followers and fans.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan wished Manchester City and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan continued success and achievements in the future, expressing his aspiration for further excellence that enhances the club’s presence at both European and global levels.

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

Efforts demonstrated effective coordination in crowd management, operational services

Fasting month culminated in Eid celebration

The figure reflects the Kingdom’s care for worshippers and its commitment to providing an integrated spiritual atmosphere.

The iftar distribution operations were carried out under an integrated service system overseen by the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.

This included organized locations and health standards to ensure smooth and safe distribution for worshippers and Umrah performers, particularly during peak periods before the Maghrib prayer, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

These efforts demonstrated effective coordination in crowd management and operational services, enhancing the quality of services at the two holy mosques in line with Saudi Vision 2030, it added.

The food was served in designated iftar areas at the mosques, in adherence with strict health standards to ensure the safety of worshippers.

The authority introduced an online service prior to the holy month through which individuals, charitable organizations and endowments could submit requests to donate iftar meals.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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Over 33.8 million Iftar meals served at the Two Holy Mosques during Ramadan. (SPA)

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SAUDI ARABIA

 the award recognizes his pioneering project titled ‘Recycling Glass and Rubber Tire Waste to Improve the Properties of Concrete’.

Kuwaiti Engineer Abdullah Al-Gharib, a member of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Society of Engineers, has won the Arab Youth Excellence Award in its 13th session, organized by the League of Arab States. He received the honor in the category of Research and Innovation Achievement in the ministerial and civil field.

Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Al-Gharib said the award recognized his pioneering project titled “Recycling Glass and Rubber Tire Waste to Improve the Properties of Concrete.” He described the recognition as a tribute to the collective efforts of Arab youth in advancing research and innovation.

Al-Gharib expressed pride in this achievement, noting that the project seeks to tackle environmental waste by transforming it into value-added materials that enhance concrete quality and contribute to a more sustainable infrastructure.

He explained that the research demonstrates how industrial waste can improve the mechanical properties of concrete while reducing environmental impact—an approach that supports the development of sustainable building practices across the region.

He dedicated the award to His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and the Kuwaiti people, emphasizing that the country’s support for innovation and scientific research played a key role in this success.

Al-Gharib also thanked the Arab Youth Council for Integrated Development and the League of Arab States for their continuous encouragement of youth-led initiatives. He said the recognition serves as a motivation to continue working on projects that benefit society and advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He concluded by calling on Arab youth to invest in education, pursue scientific research, and embrace innovation as tools to overcome challenges and shape a brighter future for the Arab world.

source/content: timeskuwait.com (headline edited)

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KUWAIT