Culture and Art: Launching of the Tripoli International Theater Festival including Arab and Foreign Participants
August 17, 2023, 4:23 pm

Tripoli International Theater Festival lebanon

Culture and Art: Launching of the Tripoli International Theater Festival including Arab and Foreign Participants

The Tiro Association for Arts (TAA) and the Istanbouli Theater announced the establishment of the Tripoli International Theater Festival’s second edition, taking place from August 28th, 2023, until August 31st, 2023, at the free Lebanese National Theater in Tripoli. This festival’s edition is established in tribute to the artist Khalid Al Qasimi’s spirit and under the slogan "Tripoli: The Capital of Arab Culture." It also includes Arab and foreign performances, which comprise: "The Boat" directed by Shareh AlBal Abed AlHadi from Libya; "Swear in the Name of God", performed and directed by Mostafa Al Hilali from Iraq; "The Sultan", written and directed by Salem Al Mansouri from Qatar; "Dose of Art", directed by Emna Gharbi from Tunisia; "Waiting for the Birds", written by Carlos Pessoa, directed by Ana Palma and Herlandson Duarte from Portugal; "Hope for Life", performed and directed by Zillur Rahman John from Bangladesh and Canada; "Howa Yjer w Ana Njer", performed by Mohammad Akyoud from Morocco; and a playback theater performance by Tiro Association for Arts’ trainees.

Actor, director, and founder of the Lebanese National Theater, Kassem Istanbouli confirmed: "The continuation of free festivals and training workshops despite all crises around us is an important opportunity to meet as well as an opportunity for the public to learn about different cultures of the world so that art is always a right to everyone as long as the persistence of young volunteers to work for art is there."

As for the performances, these compete for the festival’s official competition within the following categories: best actress, best actor, best script, best cinematography, best director, best artistic work, and the jury award consisting of Dr. Khalifa Al Hajri from Kuwait, actor Salah Al Mulla from Qatar, Majid Al Oufi from the Sultanate of Oman, and Dr. Hakima Abou Ali from Lebanon. Noting that Kuwaiti artist Mohammed Al-Mansour will be the festival’s guest of honor.

Along with the performances, the festival includes a training workshop for children entitled "Story Builders," trained by Ana Palma and Ana Dias from the Teatro da Garagem in Portugal. In addition to this, seminars are conducted by Dr. Jana Al Hassan, director Salah Atwi, and actor Omar Mikati.

Moreover, the Tiro Association for Arts (TAA), which is led by youth and volunteers, aims to establish free and independent cultural forums in Lebanon. That is, by renovating Al Hamra and Stars Cinema in Nabatieh and Rivoli Cinema in Tyre, which became the Lebanese National Theater, the first free theater and cinema in Lebanon, as well as Empire Cinema in Tripoli, which became the Lebanese National Theater in that city. TAA also implements artistic training workshops for children and youth, opens and renovates cultural forums, and organizes festivals, activities, and artistic exhibitions. In addition to this, the association screens artistic and educational movies for children and youth and works on maintaining partnerships with international festivals, as well as granting young directors the opportunity to screen their movies and letting people get acquainted with the history of cinema and local and international performances. The Lebanese International Theater Festival, the Watch Lebanon in Mobile Cinema Festival, the Tripoli International Theater Festival, the Tyre International Music Festival, the Lebanese International Theater Festival for Storytelling, the Tyre International Short Film Festival, the Tyre International Fine Arts Festival, the Tyre Cultural Days Festival, the Lebanese International Theater Festival for Women’s Monodrama, the Lebanese International Theater Festival for Contemporary Dance, the Tiro International Arts Festival, and the Lebanese Epic Theater Festival are among the festivals that TAA implements.

Check out the following link about the Lebanese National Theater in Tripoli:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl2PKxxLhK0

Levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.