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Sharjah 24
2 hours ago
- General
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah Ruler gifts Uni. of Sacred Heart historical manuscript
The manuscript dates back to August 14 , 1624, and includes a papal decree written by Pope Urban VIII and sealed in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Additionally, His Highness gifted his book "Papal Bull" in both Arabic and English at the university's premises. Expressed gratitude and appreciation In his speech, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Rector and members of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan for their warm welcome. Sharjah Ruler conveyed his great happiness at being present at the university and speaking with its officials, praising the efforts of the administrative and academic staff, as well as the students studying Arabic, who are a product of the cooperation between Sharjah and the university. His Highness spoke about the manuscript he gifted to the university, which dates back to August 14 , 1624, highlighting that it is a papal decree written by Pope Urban VIII and sealed in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The purpose of the decree was to raise financial assistance for the Portuguese fleet. His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah discussed the conflict between the Portuguese and the English in Hormuz, stating, "In 1622, the Portuguese were expelled from Hormuz at the entrance to the Arabian Gulf from the Persian coast, where they had occupied it for one hundred and fifteen years, by English and Persian forces. The mission of the Portuguese leaders, along with the priests, was evangelization, whether in Hormuz, Persia, or India." His Highness added, "After the English expelled the Portuguese from Hormuz in Persia, King Philip of Portugal sought to retake Hormuz. However, the Portuguese government lacked the financial resources to send a military campaign for its recovery. King Philip requested financial support from the clergy, which led Pope Urban VIII to issue a papal decree to collect the necessary funds from the churches." His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah explained that he translated and studied this decree, tracking the funds collected through the churches, which amounted to two hundred thousand cruzados, a Portuguese gold currency at the time. The goal was to build a fleet and send it to India to retake Hormuz. His Highness noted that the fleet required a special type of large ship capable of crossing oceans, which would take considerable time, along with a sailing journey from Portugal to India that would last several months. His Highness indicated that King Philip ordered the funds to be sent to India to build a local fleet there, due to the short distance between India and Hormuz. He explained that the details of this fleet and its armament are mentioned in the book "Papal Decree" that he authored, as well as the account of its journey to the battle site in Hormuz against the English and Dutch forces, culminating in the defeat of the Portuguese fleet. His Highness concluded his speech by addressing the audience, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, today I present this manuscript as a gift to the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, along with the book 'Papal Bull,' which is an investigation of that manuscript, to be placed in its rightful place in this esteemed university, in recognition of our academic collaboration." Gifting Ceremony The gifting ceremony began with a musical performance featuring classical pieces in Arabic, during which the students warmly welcomed His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah. They expressed their appreciation for his significant support, particularly through the Arab Cultural Institute in Milan and his efforts in promoting the Arabic language and its studies. The students conveyed their deep respect and admiration for His Highness in the Italian academic and cultural fields. In a written statement delivered on behalf of Bishop Paolo Martinelli, the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabian Peninsula, he expressed his deep gratitude for the visit of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to the Catholic University and for gifting a valuable historical manuscript from Pope Urban VIII. He emphasised that this cultural initiative reflects the importance of cooperation between peoples and institutions through culture and knowledge, enhancing the historical relations between the Arabian Gulf and Europe. Praised the constructive cooperation Martinelli praised the constructive cooperation that embodies the spirit of openness and dialogue, which extends its impact to the university in various forms. He recalled the opening of the Arab Cultural Institute initiated by the Emirate of Sharjah, which represents an exemplary model of cultural collaboration with the Catholic University. The Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabian Peninsula noted that His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah possesses a high human, cultural, and academic sensibility, which was clearly reflected during their meeting at the beginning of his mission in the region. He expressed gratitude for His Highness's generous interest in the church and the shared cultural initiatives. Following that, Dr. Elena Beccalli, Rector of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, delivered a speech expressing her deep appreciation for this valuable initiative and the precious gift. She praised the continuous support provided by the Emirate of Sharjah for academic and cultural programmes, particularly through the Arab Cultural Institute in Milan, which is a successful outcome of the partnership between Sharjah and the university. Dr. Beccalli added, "The document presented by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah is extremely significant in the history of Europe and the Arabian Gulf. To truly appreciate its importance, we must refer to the book 'Papal Bull of Pope Urban VIII, dated August 4 , 1624.' This profound historical investigation was accomplished by the esteemed historian Dr Sultan Al Qasimi over more than two years of meticulous research and precise connections, gathering a vast number of original documents, manuscripts, and rare correspondence. This work was crafted into a scientifically rigorous text within its historical context, making the book a detailed reference for the original document, potentially exceeding the scientific and historical value of the best doctoral theses in this field." On his part, student Alessandro Botia delivered a speech on behalf of the students of the Arabic Language Institute in Milan, expressing his gratitude to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for providing them the opportunity to learn Arabic and engage with its culture through the Arab Cultural Institute, which His Highness inaugurated last year as an initiative from Sharjah. He affirmed that this support has made a profound impact on their educational journey. Signing 'Papal Bull of Pope Urban VIII' His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah graciously signed the book "Papal Bull of Pope Urban VIII', dated August 4 , 1624, in both Arabic and English. In the book dedicated to the university, His Highness wrote, "I present you this book in which I have documented, through investigation, research, and fairness, many details and facts about an important period of our history and yours. I have gathered its truths from around the world and documented them in Sharjah, and I leave it to you and to the future." This dedication is considered a scholarly contribution that reflects Sharjah's commitment to documenting history and enhancing cultural communication with global academic institutions. His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah received a commemorative gift from the Rector of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, which was an original 3D map of the city of Milan dating back to 1657. During the visit, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah also toured the accompanying exhibition of historical manuscripts, showcasing several manuscripts in different languages and artifacts belonging to the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. Additionally, His Highness viewed the original Olympic torch hosted by the university, learning about the students' participation in the Winter Olympic Games by carrying the torch during the opening ceremony in Milan next year. The gifting ceremony was attended by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, along with Abdullah Ali Al Subosi, Ambassador of the UAE to Italy, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), Elena Beccalli, Rector of Milan's Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, and several members of the administrative and academic bodies as well as university students.
Sharjah 24
2 hours ago
- General
- Sharjah 24
23 entities participate in Second Documentation Forum
The event is held at Al Dhaid Expo Centre under the theme 'Documents Accessible to All', with the aim of familiarising residents and those interested with documents that chronicle key stages in the nation's development journey. Showcasing National Milestones Dr. Al Ketbi stated that the Second Documentation Forum is being held for the second time at the Emirate level, with 23 participating entities from both the public and private sectors showcasing documents that record important events in the country's history. A Platform for Official and Personal Archives He added that the forum, held under the slogan 'Documents Accessible to All' and supported by the Municipal Council and Al Dhaid Municipality, shines a light on official documents preserved by government institutions since their inception, as well as documents collected by individuals and researchers in this field. The forum also features digital documents of interest to its visitors. Invitation to the Public Through 'Sharjah 24', the Chairman of Al Dhaid Municipal Council extended an open invitation to the public and document enthusiasts to visit the forum and explore its valuable collections of documents and records, which are of great interest to researchers .
Sharjah 24
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Sharjah 24
60 swimmers participate in Sharjah Children's Centres Forum
11 centres Eleven centres participated in the finals, namely, Al Qarayen, Al Heera, Al Khalidiya, Al Dhaid, Wadi Al Helo, Kalba, Khorfakkan, Al Thameed, Al Batayeh, and Al Madam. Competitions were divided into three age groups, ranging from 6 to 12 years old. Swimmers competed in various distances: 25m backstroke, freestyle, breaststroke, and butterfly, and 50m backstroke, freestyle, butterfly, and breaststroke. Swimmers from Al Qarayen and Halwan centres excelled in the junior categories, while swimmers from Al Dhaid Centre excelled in the 11th and 12th age groups. Discovering and developing talents The forum was held as part of the Council's plan to discover and develop talents and was supervised by the Sports Affairs and Development Department, led by Hassan Al Toumi, the department's sports specialist.
Sharjah 24
2 hours ago
- General
- Sharjah 24
Dibba Al Hisn Parents Council concludes My Language, My Identity
The event saw remarkable student interaction and active parent participation, embodying the effective educational partnership between home and school. Honouring 47 students The council hosted on Wednesday the festival's closing ceremony, which included honouring the participating students from Al-Aqd Al-Fareed Primary School and Al-Husn Secondary School. A total of 47 students were honoured in a festive atmosphere graced by the presence of parents who expressed their appreciation for the efforts made. The festival lasted for ten days, filled with interactive activities and creative workshops specifically designed to develop Arabic language skills among students in early grades and kindergarten. National identity Activities varied, covering key topics in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, using modern methods that combined fun and education. They were supervised by co-teacher Anwar Ahmed Al Salami, who excelled in presenting distinctive educational narrative content, blending the aesthetics of the Arabic language with the spirit of national identity, within an artistic educational vision that strengthens young people's sense of belonging to their language and heritage. The final day featured a post-test to measure the educational and pedagogical impact of the festival. The results were compared to the pre-test conducted on the first day, allowing for an accurate reading of the level of improvement and development in the language skills of the participating students. Supporting the educational process The festival was organised as part of the operational plan of the Parents Councils at SDAD. This initiative reflects the councils' commitment to enhancing their role in supporting the educational process and providing enriching learning environments that enhance the status of the Arabic language among the new generation, instilling in them a love of expression and a sense of belonging to their identity and language. The festival resonated widely with parents, who expressed their appreciation for the high level of organisation and the quality of the educational activities. They praised their positive impact on their children and their motivation to use the Arabic language with confidence and creativity. In a celebratory closing ceremony, writer Anwar Al Salami was honoured, along with the participating students, and awards and certificates of appreciation were distributed. This reflects the council's commitment to enhancing learning motivation, fostering a culture of excellence, and sustaining purposeful educational programs that celebrate the language and bring it to life in the hearts of generations.
Sharjah 24
2 hours ago
- General
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah Aquarium celebrates World Oceans Day
In celebration of World Oceans Day, which falls on June 8 of each year, Sharjah Aquarium organised an awareness lecture for University of Khorfakkan students on new environmental legislation to combat illegal fishing. Raising awareness about aquatic issues Rashid Jumaa Al Shamsi, Secretary of Sharjah Aquarium, emphasised the institution's commitment to raising awareness about aquatic issues and preserving the marine environment. The lecture was delivered by Professor Ahmed Al Zaabi from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, who reviewed the most prominent recent laws enacted by the UAE to protect fisheries and limit practices that harm the ecological balance. Al Shamsi pointed out that the event aims to inform the public and students about the latest legislative and technical developments in the field of ocean protection, and to enhance the responsibility of individuals and institutions towards marine sustainability.
