Winners of 16th ‘Al Burda Award’ announced at Expo 2020 Dubai: December 19th, 2021

The Ministry of Culture and Youth announced the 30 winners of the 16th edition of the Al Burda Award at a gala evening held on 19th December, 2021, at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo 2020 Dubai.

The awards were in six categories: Classical Poetry, Nabati Poetry, Classical Calligraphy, Modern Calligraphy, Ornamentation and Typography.

Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of State, attended the awards ceremony and honoured the 30 winners and took memorial photos with them. Alongside was Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth.

The current edition awarded Egyptian poet, Heba Alfeky, the first prize in Classical Poetry, with the second position in the same category secured by her compatriot Diyaa Alkilany. Lamis Al Rahabi and Bahija Masri Idlbi from Syria won the third and fourth prize, respectively, in the Classical Poetry category.

Abdulaziz bin Hamed Mohammed Al-Omairi from Oman won first place in Nabati Poetry, followed by Mohammad Hamdan Alanezah from Jordan in second place. Ali Alqarni from Saudi Arabia and Muzna Rabia Albrieki from Oman took the third and fourth places,respective.

Egypt’s Mohamed Gaber Abouelella was placed first in Classical Calligraphy, followed by Meryem Nuruzi Halilani of Turkey, who secured the second place. Noman Tayseer Rajab from Syria, Ahmad Ali Namazi Reihanloo from Iran and Mahfod Thunnun from Iraq won third, fourth and fifth positions respectively in the Classical Calligraphy category.

The Modern Calligraphy category had four awards, with Mahsa Javad Davachi, from Iran, winning first prize and Dhia Al-Jazaeri from Canada coming second. Third and fourth prizes were taken by Iran’s Babak Mohammad Ali Hejazi and Masoud Asghar Mohebbifar, respectively.

Mihriban Beyza Kaya, from Turkey, won first prize in Ornamentation, while the second, third, fourth and fifth positions went to Iranian compatriots Masoumeh Ahmad Moradi, Afsaneh Khademreza Mahdavi, Asgar Ahmad Moradi, and Zaynab Ibrahim Shahi.

Eight winners were announced in the Typography category, namely Syrian national Duaa Abzeed, Jamal Eldin Elsamani Mohammed from Sudan, Tarek Samir Alsawwa, from Syria, Reza Babajani, from Iran, Bita Amel, from Iran, Lama Kadri, from Lebanon, Asia Alsheshani, from Jordan and Fatima Abdulla Alketbi, from the UAE.

The awards evening hosted several standout performances from a cross-section of genres, with artists including Watar Orchestra from Iraq, Dubai Chamber Choir and Sheikh Mahmoud Eltohamy from Egypt, the latter with a piece titled “Anin”. Noumoucounda Cissoko from Senegal delivered a musical recital titled “Mandi Strings”, while Lebanese singer Jahida Wahba presented several songs from her catalogue.

The closing performance was an Emirati Malid delivered by Rashid Al Nuaimi and Saif Fathel.

The Al Burda Award is a global platform that reflects the diversity of creative expression throughout the Islamic world and seeks to revitalise the Islamic cultural and artistic movement. The award was launched by the Ministry of Culture and Youth in AH 1425/2004 under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

source/content: wam.ae

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E) / EGYPT / IRAQ / JORDAN / LEBANON / OMAN / SAUDI ARABIA / SYRIA

Mariam Abuzahra, 13-year old Egyptian-Hungarian Violinist, Wins ‘Silver Nutcracker’ in Moscow : December 06th, 2021

Mariam Abuzahra. Violinist.

The 13-year-old Egyptian-Hungarian violinist Mariam Abuzahra won the silver award at the Nutcracker International Television Contest for Young Musicians in Moscow, Russia, on 6 December.

Abuzahra, representing Germany and Austria, participated in the third and final round of the Nutcracker, a renowned contest organised by the state cultural TV channel ‘Russia-K’, whose most recent edition took place in Moscow at the Tchaikovsky Hall.

In the string instruments category, Abuzahra competed with two other young finalists: Franz Ludwig Serafin Kraggerud (8) from Norway and violinist Sofia Demetriades (14), representing Great Britain and Russia.

Mariam Abuzahra started playing violin at the age of three, following the example of her elder sister Amira. Both sisters have been performing extensively and winning in international contests, such as the German youth national competition, the Virtuózok Talent show in Hungary and many others.

Just recently in 2020, the sisters received the highest awards at one of the most prestigious competitions for young violinists, the International Arthur Grumiaux Competition in Belgium.

Born to a Hungarian mother, Nóra Emödy, and an Egyptian father, Ahmed Abuzahra, both pianists, the young musician is also the granddaughter of famous Egyptian actor Abdelrahman Abuzahra.

source/content: english.ahram.org.eg

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Egyptian-Hungarian violinist Mariam Abuzahra

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EGYPTIAN / HUNGARIAN

UAE bag two silver medals at Asian Karate Championships 2021 in Kazakhstan : December 22nd, 2021

AE bagged two silver medals at the Asian Karate Championships 2021 hosted by Kazakhstan on December 18-22.

UAE female Karate player Salwa Ahmed Al Mansouri won the Kumite silver for the +59kg category, while Mohamed Ahmed Al Ameri got the same in the Men’s Kumite +76kg.

Major General Nasser Al Razooqi, Vice President of World Karate Federation, and President of UAE and Asian Karate Federations, congratulated the players for their distinctive performance at the prestigious continental championship.

source/content: wam.ae

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

Ons Jabeur, First Arab to Win at Mubadala Tennis Championship : December 16th, 2021

Tunisian world No 10 defeated Belinda Bencic in the one-off women’s match.

Ons Jabeur said it was a dream to compete at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship after the Tunisian world No 10 became the first Arab player to win at the pre-season tournament in Abu Dhabi.

Jabeur defeated Switzerland’s Olympic champion Belinda Bencic in a third set championship tie-break 4-6, 6-3, 10-8 in an entertaining match .

“It’s amazing to be here in Abu Dhabi; to be here in an Arab country, representing Tunisia, representing the Arab world. I’m so glad I had this opportunity, so I’m really grateful for that.”

Jabeur is accustomed to creating new milestones for Arab tennis. After becoming the first Arab female player to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final at the 2020 Australian Open, Jabeur emulated her feat at Wimbledon in July – two weeks after becoming the first Arab player to win a WTA Tour title.

The world No 10, who reached a career-high No 7 last month, is the highest-ranked Arab player, female or male, in tennis history.

source/content: thenationalnews.com

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Ons Jabeur of Tunisia at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. Victor Besa/The National.- thenationalnews.com

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TUNISIA

Sanae Abdi, Morocco-born Female Politician Elected to German Parliament in Historical First

The Moroccan-German woman won a seat in the Cologne 1 region under the banner of the Social Democratic Party.

Abdi is the first Moroccan woman to successfully be elected to Germany’s legislative body. Born in Tetouan, Abdi moved to Germany to attend the Adolf Reichwein Comprehensive School in Ludenscheid.

During this time, Abdi also joined the SPD in 2008, at the age of 22. 

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com

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Sanae Abdi was elected to represent the Cologne I constituency after Sunday’s elections. Photo Credit: Sanae Abdi / pix: moroccoworldnews.com

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GERMANY / MOROCCO

Deqa Dhalac, First Black Mayor of a small coastal US city – South Portland, Maine : December 2021

Deha Dhalac. Community Activist. Community Leader.

South Portland’s other city councilors, who are all White, elected her in a unanimous vote. The 4th largest city in Maine, is the whitest state in the country and South Portland is 90% White.

In 2018, she ran against a local business owner and won, making history as the first African American and first Muslim elected to the council.

In 2020, she ran unopposed for a second term. The city council selects from among its members who will be mayor, and in November, her colleagues unanimously supported her nomination.

Education / Community Work highlights:

  • Master’s Degree in Development Policy and Practice, University of New Hampshire 
  • Master’s Degree in Social Work, University of New England
  • Past Program Manager for The Center for Grieving Children
  • Former South Portland Schools Community Builder for the Opportunity Alliance
  • Somali Community Center of Maine
  • Board president of the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition
  • Board member of the Maine Women’s Fund
  • Family Engagement and Cultural Responsiveness Specialist with the Maine Department of Education
  • South Portland City Council, District 5 Representative

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pix: Twitter / @NewAmericanLd , New American Leaders

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AMERICAN / SOMALI

Ghofrane Belkhir of Tunisia Wins Two Gold Medals, World Weightlifting Championships, Tashkent : December 09th, 2021

Ghofrane Belkhir. Weightlifter.

Tunisian weightlifter Ghofrane Belkhir (59 kg) won Thursday two gold medals in both the categories – snatch and total weight (203 kg) at the World Weightlifting Championships (December 7-17) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Belkhir is Tunisia’s only representative at this event.

On May 25; 2021 – she had already won three gold medals; weighing 59 kg during the IWF World Junior Championships competitions.

2018 Summer Youth Olympics / By Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons / en.wikipedia.org

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TUNISIA

Cairo Selected as ‘Culture Capital of Islamic World for 2022’ : December 2021

Minister of Culture Dr. Ines Abdel-Daim said Egypt being chosen as the capital of Islamic culture for 2022 attests to Egypt’s outstanding cultural role in the world.

Ines Abdel-Daim said Cairo is a city of diversity and cultural richness reflecting many of the salient features of human civilisation in general and the Islamic civilisation in particular, as it has always been a meeting-point of civilisations, old and modern, and a unique centre of art, intellect, and creativity.

Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) Salim bin Mohammad Al-Malik participated in the gathering that took place in the Cairo Opera House’s Small Hall to elaborate on the details marking the start of the festivity.

source/content: english.ahram.org.eg

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Egyptian Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Daim and Director General of the ISESCO Salim bin Mohammad Al-Malik during the press conference in Cairo on Tuesday (photo courtesy of Egyptian cabinet)

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EGYPT

Algerian Athletes Skander Djamil Athmani & Safia Djelal, make History with Two World Records in one day – Tokyo Paralympics : September 2021

Two Algerian athletes set new world records on Thursday at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. 

Skander Djamil Athmani and Safia Djelal smash world records as they take home the gold.

Skander Djamil Athmani :

Skander Djamil Athmani, 29, defeated his opponents in the men’s 400 metres T13 event to take home the country’s second gold of the games

Athmani smashed the world record, finishing with a dazzling time of 46.70 seconds. Morocco’s Mohamed Amguoun finished one second after Athmani, securing a silver medal, while Johannes Nambala of Namibia took home bronze.

Amguoun had held the previous world record of 46.92 seconds, which he set at the 2017 World Championships in London.

Algeria’s jubilation did not end there.

Safia Djelal :

Safia Djelal also went on to secure another gold for the North African country, as well as a new world record, this time in the women’s shotput F57 event.

With a staggering distance of 11.29 metres, Djelal gained a huge advantage over her opponents to take home the gold. 

The previous record was held by Mexico’s Maria De Los Angele Ortiz Hernandez in Dubai in 2018 with a distance of 11.16 metres.

hina’s Xu Mian took silver with a throw of 10.81 metres. Meanwhile, Eucharia Iyiazi from Nigeria secured bronze. 

On 27 August, Cherine Abdellaoui won Algeria its first gold medal of the Tokyo Games in the Paralympic women’s 52kg Judo event. 

source/content: www.middleeasteye.net

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pix: algerie-expat.com

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ALGERIA

Emirati Doctor, First Arab Woman elected as President Designate of the International Hospital Federation (IHF) : November 2021

Dr. Muna Tahlak, CEO, DHA’s Latifa Hospital for Women and Children.

The United Arab Emirates achieved an important victory in the global health front as Emirati Dr. Muna Tahlak, CEO of DHA’s Latifa Hospital for Women and Children, was elected as the President of the International Hospital Federation. (IHF).

This is the first time that an Arab woman will hold this esteemed position, the highest international position in the history of the Union.

The IHF Governing Council voted to elect Dr Tahlak as the new IHF President Designate. In doing so, Dr Tahlak ends her term as Treasurer with IHF and now begins her two-year term as President Designate of the IHF.

She added that her work with the IHF over the past five years has helped her gain experience and gave her the opportunity to highlight the successful work of hospitals in the UAE on a global scale.

Awadh Al Ketbi, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), congratulated Dr Muna Tahlak on this important and historic victory.

A few days ago the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO) selected Dr Muna Tahlak, CEO of Latifa Hospital for Women and Children, for the for the position of FIGO Regional Trustee Africa – Eastern Mediterranean 2021–2023.

source/content: wam.ae

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)