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Tunisian Women Entrepreneurs Honored for Innovation and Impact at the 10th FET Awards
On February , 2025, the 10th edition of the Trophées de Femmes Entrepreneures de Tunisie (FET) honored nine outstanding Tunisian women entrepreneurs for their innovation, resilience, and the impact of their ventures. Organized by Managers magazine in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, the event brought together a distinguished audience, including ministers Asma Jabri (Family, Women, Children, and Seniors), Fatma Thabet Chiboub (Industry, Mines, and Energy), and Jihene Srioui (Financing and Partnerships, Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training).
In her opening speech, Sahar Mechri, Executive Director of Managers, emphasized that the FET Awards are more than a celebration, they are a validation of bold journeys and a source of inspiration for future generations of women leaders.
Spotlight on the 2025 Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
Malak Boukthir, founder of Ecofeed, was named Tunisian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 for her groundbreaking project that transforms crab waste into sustainable animal feed a powerful example of eco-innovation.
Imen Bakhti (La Seine) – Microcred Empowerment Award
Fatma Midani (Soul & Planet) – Meninx Marketplaces Award
Beyond Recognition: Support for Growth
Along with financial prizes from sponsors, the winners will benefit from a tailored mentorship program offered by the Club des Femmes Entrepreneures de Tunisie. Thanks to the support of the European Union Delegation, they will also receive personalized guidance through various EU-funded projects, including Adapt, Greenov’i, CQE (Qualitative Growth for Employment), Insadder, and Initiative Tunisie.
The FET Awards go beyond accolades, they celebrate a thriving community of women entrepreneurs driving Tunisia’s social and economic development. By highlighting their stories and successes, the event strengthens the spirit of sorority and underscores the transformative power of female entrepreneurship in Tunisia.
source/content: freiheit.org /Friedrich Naumann Foundation (headline edited)
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Tunisian Women Entrepreneurs Honored for Innovation and Impact at the 10th FET Awards
Announcement came during black-tie White House dinner honoring crown prince
Mohamed bin Salman hails new phase in bilateral cooperation, economic ties
President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that the US will formally designate Saudi Arabia a major non-NATO ally, marking a significant elevation in defense ties between the two countries.
He revealed the decision during a black-tie White House dinner honoring Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“Tonight, I’m pleased to announce that we’re taking our military cooperation to even greater heights by formally designating Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally — something that’s very important to them,” Trump said.
“And I’m telling you now for the first time, because they wanted to keep a little secret for tonight.”
The new status paves the way for deeper military cooperation and carries strong symbolic weight, with Trump saying it will advance US-Saudi defense coordination “to even greater heights.”
The crown prince thanked Trump for a “warm and great welcome,” adding: “We feel home.” He referenced the historic foundations of the US-Saudi relationship, noting that the partnership dates back nearly nine decades to the meeting between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia.
He also pointed to upcoming milestones for both nations, the US approaching its 250th anniversary and Saudi Arabia nearing its 300th, saying these celebrations underscore the long arc of shared cooperation.
Reviewing the history of the alliance, the crown prince highlighted joint efforts across the Second World War, the Cold War, and the long fight against extremism and terrorism.
Yet he stressed that today marks a new phase in bilateral cooperation, with economic ties expanding across unprecedented sectors.
“Today is a special day,” the crown prince said. “We think the horizon of economic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and America is bigger and wider in many areas.
“We’ve been signing a lot of agreements that can open the door to develop the relationship deeper in many areas, and we’re going to work on it.”
He added: “We believe the opportunities are huge, so we have to focus on implementation and keep increasing the opportunities between our two countries.”
Trump repeatedly expressed appreciation for the crown prince’s partnership and leadership, highlighting major agreements signed during the visit, including on civil nuclear energy, critical minerals and artificial intelligence, describing the scale of investment as unprecedented.
Trump emphasized that Saudi Arabia is undertaking a major expansion of its defense capabilities, referencing the Kingdom’s plans for nearly $142 billion in purchases of US military equipment and services, which he called “the largest arms purchase in history.”
He framed the acquisition as part of a broader strategy to enhance Middle East security and reinforce the Kingdom’s role as a stabilizing force.
In addition to the major non-NATO ally designation, Trump announced that the US and Saudi Arabia had signed a historic strategic defense agreement that would create “a stronger and more capable alliance” and support what he called the closest the Middle East has ever come to “truly everlasting peace.”
Trump thanked the crown prince “for all the help” in shaping what he described as a historic moment for regional peace and US-Saudi cooperation, and for playing a central role in recent diplomatic breakthroughs, including steps that contributed to ending the war in Gaza.
“Even the great experts … are calling it a miracle,” he said of recent regional shifts. Both leaders framed the moment as the beginning of a new chapter.
This book demolishes one French myth about Algeria after the other.
Algerian leaders are too prone to dwell on their war for independence, nostalgia for an exalted past cannot help to build a modern nation.
The first twenty years of the French conquest of Algeria (1830-1850) cost 400,000-500,000 natives lives, between ten and 12.5 percent of the population. The First World War, the costliest in lives France ever fought, cost the country an estimated 3.5 to 3.7 percent of the native population. Nothing better illustrates the sheer brutality of France’s conquest of Algeria than these bare statistics. European colonial wars were usually brutal but this one was particularly so, mirrored by an equally bloody war on independence in 1954-62. That Algerian and French modern politics and broader relations should be haunted by the sheer amount of blood spilt, the human brutality and lasting resentment these conflicts provoked should not surprise the modern reader. History offers a useful guide when trying to understand the deep crisis diplomatic relations between France and Algeria have been going through over the past 18 months, the worst crisis since the latter’s independence.
The theory of France’s “civilising” mission to the world remains to this day the mainstay of many TV debates. Where Algeria is concerned it was traditionally the mainstay of public discourse in academic and political circles. That discourse predates the conquest of Algeria by a century and was given new impetus by the French Revolution after 1789 which turned the idea of Revolutionary Enlightenment values into the bedrock of public discourse. Such ideas combined with the missionary discourse of the Catholic church which before 1789 took the form of “rescuing” Christian lives from captivity in the prisons of the “Algerine pirates” in other words the privateering sea captains of the Regency of Algiers which at the height of their power in the 16th and 17th centuries regularly raided the coast of Devon, Ireland and once in 1632, Iceland. By the 19th century the Catholic Church had taken on a novel form, at least in Algeria, that of bringing the native Berbers back to the faith of their ancestors, notably that prince of the early Christian Church St Augustine, bishop of Hippo (modern day Annaba).
he reasons king Charles X invaded Algeria in 1830 are well known but the extent to which such an idea had been discussed in the Paris press is explained in Alain Ruscio’s remarkable book more fully than ever before. The British admiral Lord Exmouth had bombarded Algiers in 1816 after the Congress of Vienna had decided that the activities called “privateering” had to stop. They had virtually disappeared by then but the European powers after their victory against Napoleon felt morally righteous as never before and that righteousness turned, after 1815, against the Ottoman empire and, more broadly, the Muslim world. Greece was about to break loose from Constantinople, Algiers came at the same time though the circumstances of Western intervention were very different.
Continuous warfare in the 20 years after 1830 across the northern region of Algeria witnessed methods of war the native population did not use: the systematic burning of towns, destruction of irrigation works, cutting down of fruit trees and burning of crops. The French miliary commanders enjoyed overwhelming superiority in weapons but they had to fight a tenacious enemy: Abdelkader and Hadj Ahmed Bey are but two of the most famous Algerians who fought the French army with tenacity for years. Eventually outgunned, the first surrendered to the French in 1847, the French generals promptly betrayed their word and imprisoned the Emir in France. It took five years for the new emperor Napoleon III to free Abdelkader and let him leave for the East in 1852.
French settlers were not attracted to Algeria and never were in great numbers. By the mid century the majority of European settlers was not French, but Spanish and Italian. Nor did they care to farm a land the troops had so devastated during the conquest. Most Europeans resided in cities. It was only much later in the 1880s while phylloxera devastated the vineyards of France that Algerian grapes and winemaking prospered.
This book demolishes one French myth about Algeria after the other. It is very well documented and written in chronological order which makes it very pedagogical. The sorry story it tells puts paid to any idea of a French civilising mission but it is one which conservative and radical right wing politicians evoke regularly on TV talk shows, in their view Algeria remains the “barbary state” so beloved of their 18th and 19th century forebears. Nor have attitudes towards Islam changed all that much.
Algerian leaders are too prone to dwell on their war for independence, nostalgia for an exalted past cannot help to build a modern nation. La Première Guerre d’Algérie should be required reading for many French political readers. Clearly written and argued with a wealth of previously difficult to access statistics and references, this book demonstrates once and for all why Algeria is the black box of French history.
Ahmed Malek made history as the first Egyptian to win the El Gouna Star for Best Actor at the El Gouna Film Festival, which closed yesterday. During the closing ceremony, many other awards were also presented to Arab and international films.
The 8th edition of the El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) concluded, celebrating a remarkable lineup of films that illuminated the power of storytelling across cultures. The evening crowned winners in the festival’s five competition sections: Feature Narrative, Feature Documentary, Short Film, Cinema for Humanity, and the El Gouna Green Star.
Egyptian actor Ahmed Malek was awarded the El Gouna Star for Best Actor for his performance in My Father’s Scent, directed by Mohamed Siam, making history as the first Egyptian actor ever to receive this honour in the festival’s eight editions.
The jury praised Malek for delivering “a layered emotional journey between father and son,” commending the depth and subtlety of his performance. In his acceptance speech, Ahmed Malek pointed out that, for the first time in the festival’s eight editions, the Best Actor award had finally come to Egypt.
He expressed his deep happiness at being the first Egyptian to receive it, saying, “I am really proud to be part of this industry, in which I have worked since I was a child. Acting chose me, and it has been—and will always be—my greatest passion.”
Over the past editions, the El Gouna Star for Best Actor has recognized outstanding performances from across the globe.
Previous winners include Daniel Giménez Cacho (Zama, Mexico) in 2017, Mohamed Dhrif (Dear Son, Tunisia) in 2018, Bartosz Bielenia (Corpus Christi, Poland) in 2019, Ali Suliman (200 Meters, Palestine) in 2020, Petri Poikolainen (The Blind Man Who Did Not Want to See Titanic, Finland) in 2021, Bottsooj Uortaikh (If Only I Could Hibernate, Mongolia) in 2023, and Adam Bessa (Ghost Trail, France/Tunisia) in 2024.
Feature Narrative Competition
The Golden Star for Best Feature Narrative Film ($50,000) went to A Poet, a deeply human portrayal of a man torn between his poetic dreams and harsh social realities, directed by Colombian filmmaker Simón Mesa Soto. The jury praised the film’s “observational, semi-documentary approach and its politically aware gaze sustained by empathy and humor.”
The Silver Star ($25,000) was awarded to Lucky Lu by Lloyd Lee Choi (Canada/USA), recognized for its “urban symphony of struggle and dignity” embodied by a standout performance from actor Chang Chen.
Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Rashad received the Bronze Star ($15,000) for his debut feature, The Settlement (Al Mosta’mara) — a stark, neorealist portrayal of Egypt’s shrinking working class that the jury described as “a powerful, unembellished look at social predetermination.”
Rashad accepted the award on stage during the closing ceremony, accompanied by his young protagonist Zeyad Islam, who charmed the audience and couldn’t leave the stage without thanking his mother and family.
The Best Arab Narrative Film Award ($20,000) went to Where the Wind Comes From by Tunisian filmmaker Amel Guellaty, praised for its “free, dreamlike road-movie spirit that captures the betrayed hopes of a generation.” Guellaty thanked the El Gouna Film Festival for its continuous support throughout the film’s post-production. Léa Drucker received the El Gouna Star for Best Actress for her role in Adam’s Sake by Laura Wandel (Belgium/France). The jury commended Drucker for delivering “an intense and complex performance rooted in realism.”
Feature Documentary Competition
The Golden Star for Best Documentary ($30,000) was presented to Always by Deming Chen, a poetic reflection on childhood dreams and imagination. Egyptian-French filmmaker Namir Abdel Messeeh triumphed at the El Gouna Film Festival, taking home two major awards for his latest documentary Life After Siham: the Silver Star for Best Documentary ($15,000) and the Best Arab Documentary Award ($10,000).
The film, a tender, humorous, and deeply personal exploration of memory, family, and intergenerational connection, impressed the jury, who praised its “delicacy, sincerity, and the power to bridge generations.”
In his heartfelt acceptance speech, Abdel Messeeh reflected on the intimate roots of the project, saying, “This film could have been called An Egyptian Tale — it tells the story of my parents, which began 75 years ago. I tried to tell it while connecting it to my children.”
He added with emotion, “We have so many stories, and I think as Arabs we need to tell our stories — but in our own way.”
The Bronze Star ($7,500) went to Orwell: 2+2=5 by Raoul Peck, honoured for its “uncompromising, lucid critique of systemic violence.” A Special Mention was also given to How to Build a Library by Maia Lekow and Christopher King, praised as “a profound act of resistance through knowledge preservation.”
Cinema for Humanity Audience Award
This year’s Cinema for Humanity Audience Award was shared between Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk by Sepideh Farsi (France/Palestine/Iran), an intimate account of Gaza’s resilience, and Happy Birthday by Sarah Goher (Egypt), a moving debut exploring Cairo’s class divides. Both films were celebrated for their heartfelt portrayal of humanity and empathy.
El Gouna Green Star Award
The environmental award, the Green Star, went to Seeds by Brittany Shyne (USA), honoured for its “immersive meditation on sustainability and survival through the preservation of land and agriculture.”
Behind the Camera Awards
In recognition of excellence in cinematic craft, the Behind the Camera Creative Achievement Award was presented to veteran cinematographer Dr Tarek El-Telmissany for his outstanding contribution to Egyptian and Arab cinema. The Recent Achievement Award went to editor Heba Osman for her exceptional technical artistry.
Short Films Competition
The Golden Star for Best Short Film was awarded to Agapito by Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Danelle Romero (Philippines), which the jury called “a tender and magical portrayal of the extraordinary in the everyday.”
The Silver Star went to Loynes by Dorian Jespers, described as “a mysterious and witty short that defies convention,” while the Bronze Star was presented to Water Girl (Fille de l’Eau) by Sandra Desmazières, celebrated as “a poetic meditation on aging and the passage of time.”
The Best Arab Short Film Award went to The Devil and the Bicycle by Sharon Hakim (France/Lebanon), commended for its “bold and nuanced storytelling that explores faith and desire with wit, charm, and emotional depth.”
In his speech, Eng. Naguib Sawiris, founder of the El Gouna Film Festival, reaffirmed the festival’s guiding motto, “Cinema for Humanity,” stressing cinema’s duty to shed light on global suffering—from Sudan and Ukraine to the children of Gaza.
He concluded by presenting a Special Tribute Award to Intishal Al-Tamimi, the festival’s former director and current advisory board member, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to GFF’s legacy and to Arab cinema.
Oil, defense, technology provided links in recent years
Diverse economic collaboration built on Vision 2030 initiatives
Saudi Arabia and the US have seen steadily growing economic ties throughout a relationship spanning more than 80 years, beginning with oil and expanding to defense and technology in recent years.
What began as a reliance on oil and gas has expanded to more diverse economic collaboration built on Vision 2030 initiatives.
Economic cooperation between the two nations was solidified in the early 1930s when King Abdulaziz granted the right of oil exploration to the American company Standard Oil through a 66-year contract. This led to the formation of the Arabian-American Oil Company, better known as Aramco.
Saudi Arabia and the US signed an interim diplomatic trade agreement in 1932, establishing an initial framework for trade, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Aramco’s Dammam Well No. 7 struck commercial quantities of oil in 1938, ushering in a new age in the Kingdom’s development.
In the early 1970s the two countries deepened their trading relationship. In 1972, the value of the Kingdom’s imported goods and materials from the US was $314 million, and the Kingdom’s exports were $194 million.
Economic relations between the two countries were underlined in June 1974 through the formation of the US-Saudi Arabian Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation, which provided US expertise to develop infrastructure to advance Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economic development.
The two countries agreed to increase the number of private US companies working on local projects in the Kingdom.
The two nations went on to maintain a steady and growing economic relationship with partnerships largely focusing on defense, energy, investment and technology.
The partners took a step forward in their economic cooperation in 2005 by formalizing a partnership in education with the King Abdullah Scholarship Program. This program allowed thousands of Saudi students to study in US universities, building a long-term foundation for a knowledge-based economy.
According to a White House fact sheet, Saudi Arabia is now one of the US’ largest trading partners in the Middle East.
The Kingdom’s direct investment in the US totaled $9.5 billion in 2023, and was focused on the transportation, real estate, and automotive sectors.
US-Saudi goods trade totaled $25.9 billion in 2024, with US exports at $13.2 billion and imports at $12.7 billion.
One recent major platform for economic cooperation was the Saudi-US Investment Forum held in Riyadh in May, at which Saudi Arabia signed deals with the US worth more than $300 billion.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, speaking at the forum, said the Kingdom was looking at $600 billion of investment opportunities, adding that he hoped this would rise to $1 trillion.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha, speaking to the Saudi Press Agency on the sidelines of the forum, said that the event reflected the Kingdom’s growing prominence on the global digital economy map, with the country the largest digital economy in the region and a key hub for investment in artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
Nov. 18 will mark another milestone in the Saudi-US relationship with the Saudi crown prince meeting US President Donald Trump in Washington.
The relationship between the countries, which was underlined by the meeting between King Abdulaziz Al-Saud and President Franklin D. Roosevelt on board the USS Quincy in 1945, has endured and prospered.
And these ties have witnessed continued economic expansion and moves into new sectors like technology.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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On Feb. 14, 1945, as World War II neared its end, President Franklin D. Roosevelt met King Abdulaziz aboard the USS Quincy in Egypt’s Great Bitter Lake, following the Yalta Conference. (Supplied/MOFA)
US President George W. Bush dances with a sword with then Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz (R), who was governor of Riyadh, during their tour of the Murabba Palace and National History Museum. (AFP file photo)
The Crown Prince and US President in a group picture with investors during the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh on May 13. (Supplied)
Sidi Ould Tah is the first Mauritanian to become president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and will need all his international experience to tackle the challenges facing the institution.
The 60-year-old economist was the last to declare his candidacy for the post and ran a whirlwind campaign during which he highlighted his 10 years as head of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).
He claimed to have transformed it from an institution “unknown to rating agencies” to one of the highest-rated development organisations in Africa.
“I have demonstrated my transformative leadership style that has elevated the bank to the level of a leading player in the African development landscape,” he said in his application statement to the AfDB.
A discreet man who speaks sparingly, his style will be a clear contrast with his flamboyant predecessor, Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina.
Tah’s programme is based on four main points: strengthening regional financial institutions; asserting Africa’s financial independence in global markets; leveraging demographic dynamics as a development tool; and building resilient infrastructure to climate change.
His entourage is touting his ability to replicate his successes at the BADEA at a larger institution like the AfDB, which has $318 billion in capital.
“The AfDB has to abandon traditional bureaucratic models for a more fluid approach based on results,” he said.
– African legitimacy –
Tah, who was Mauritania’s economy minister from 2008 to 2015, is calling for a “break with the approaches of the past”, in a world where the “challenges and opportunities of Africa have taken a new dimension”.
The new AfDB president speaks French, English, Arabic and Wolof, which is spoken in several west African countries.
He managed the impressive feat of rallying diplomatically diverse supporters behind his candidacy, from Sahel countries such as Mali to France.
His score of more than 72 percent among African voters gives him continental legitimacy. His entourage claimed before the vote he had support from the very first round from all African regions.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has vowed to suspend $500 million in aid to the AfDB, but Tah has argued other financial backers such as Gulf countries could step in.
On environmental questions, he intends to promote Africa’s natural resources to move towards a “viable energy transition, reconciling economic and environmental imperatives”.
“Even though Africa is a minimal contributor to global CO2 emissions, it bears the full brunt of the effects of climate change,” he said.
“It is therefore imperative to integrate sustainable practices and to harness renewable energy in development projects.”
Tah holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Nouakchott in his native Mauritania and a doctorate from the University of Nice in France.
source/content: digitaljournal.com / Pierre Donadieu (headline edited)
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Sidi Ould Tah is the first Mauritanian to serve as African Development Bank president – Copyright AFP/File SAUL LOEB
Syria’s new administration announced on Monday the appointment of Maysaa Sabrine as the governor of the Central Bank of Syria, making her the first woman to hold this position in the bank’s history.
Prior to her new role, Sabrin held several prominent positions within the Central Bank, including First Deputy Governor and Supervising Director. She also served as the Head of the Office Supervision Department.
In addition to her roles within the Central Bank, Sabrin has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Damascus Securities Exchange since 2018, representing the Central Bank.
Sabrine holds a master’s degree in accounting.
Her appointment comes amid calls for the inclusion of Syrian women in the new Syrian government.
Earlier this month, Aisha al-Dibas was appointed as the head of the Office for Women’s Affairs, becoming the first woman to hold an official position in the new Syrian administration.
source/content: english.alarabiya.net / AlArabiya English (headline edited)
This combination of compassion and technology earned Al-Matrudi’s team multiple global awards this year.
For Dalal Al-Matrudi, innovation began not in a lab but at home, watching a loved one battle multiple sclerosis. What started as empathy soon turned into invention, leading her and her team to develop a smart medical device that is now winning awards on international stages.
“Our innovation is a smart medical device designed to assist patients with multiple sclerosis by providing localized muscle massage controlled through a mobile application,” said Al-Matrudi. “It helps relieve pain, reduce muscle stiffness and improve patients’ comfort and daily mobility.”
The device also connects patients directly with their doctors for real-time monitoring. “In emergency situations, it can instantly alert healthcare providers to ensure the patient receives immediate assistance,” she said.
This combination of compassion and technology earned Al-Matrudi’s team multiple global awards this year, including the Gold Medal with Jury’s Honor, the GCC Patent Office Award, and the Grand Prize at the International Invention Fair of the Middle East, or IIFME, hosted by the Kuwait Science Club. The invention was also recognized at the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions, one of the most prestigious global platforms for innovation.
For Al-Matrudi, 21, who hails from Riyadh, the project was deeply personal. “Our inspiration came from personal experience — one of my family members suffers from multiple sclerosis, and seeing their daily struggle with pain and mobility challenges deeply affected me,” she said.
Together with her teammates, she transformed that emotional drive into a purpose-driven invention. “We wanted to create something practical and compassionate that could truly improve patients’ lives,” she said.
Under the mentorship of Prof. Dr. Kholoud Al-Muqrin, a distinguished professor of nuclear physics known for empowering young Saudi innovators, the team refined their prototype into an award-winning solution. “Her continuous guidance and scientific insight played a vital role in shaping our project and transforming our idea into a tangible, award-winning innovation,” Al-Matrudi said.
She believes the foundation of every great innovation is care. “We believed that technology should serve humanity, and that small ideas born from care can evolve into meaningful advancements that bring relief and hope to many,” she added.
Months of research, design and testing culminated in an unforgettable moment at IIFME 2025.
“The most emotional moment was standing on stage when our team’s name, Team May, was announced as the Grand Prize Winner,” she said. “I remember holding my teammates’ hands tightly, feeling both disbelief and overwhelming pride.”
For Al-Matrudi, the victory symbolized much more than recognition. “It wasn’t just about the prize — it was about realizing that months of dedication, late nights and countless trials were finally worth it,” she said.
She recalls how their mentor’s tears turned the win into a collective triumph. “I could see tears in everyone’s eyes, especially our supervisor’s, which made it even more special,” she said. “That moment reminded me that passion and persistence can turn ideas into achievements that reach beyond borders.”
Although the invention is not directly tied to her academic major, medical physics, Al-Matrudi says her background gave her the edge she needed to design effectively.
“Studying medical physics enhanced my scientific thinking and deepened my knowledge of how the human body interacts with medical devices,” she said. “This understanding helped me design a solution that is both safe and effective.”
She believes the key to meaningful innovation lies in combining technical knowledge with emotional intelligence. “Gaining international recognition encouraged me to continue combining my medical knowledge with creative thinking to develop innovations that make healthcare more compassionate, practical and accessible for all,” she said.
Al-Matrudi’s story reflects a growing wave of young Saudi women who are redefining the global image of innovation.
“I hope my journey shows Saudi women that ambition and creativity have no limits,” she said. “Science and innovation are not exclusive fields — they welcome curiosity, persistence and passion.”
Her experience also underscores how inclusion fuels progress. “When women step into these spaces, they bring empathy and fresh perspectives that drive real progress,” she said.
Her message is simple but powerful: “I want every Saudi girl with a dream to believe that she can represent her country globally, no matter her field. Our achievements are proof that with teamwork, guidance and confidence, Saudi women can lead the way in shaping the future of science and technology.”
Today, Al-Matrudi stands as one of the brightest examples of how Saudi youth are translating Vision 2030’s goals into real-world impact. Through her invention, she’s proving that innovation is not just about devices, it’s about dignity, hope and humanity.
As she proudly waved the Saudi flag on stage in Kuwait, surrounded by fellow inventors and mentors, Al-Matrudi’s message was clear: Saudi women are not just participating in the global innovation movement, they’re leading it.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Saudi innovator Dalal Almatrudi proudly holds the Saudi flag after winning the Grand Prize at the International Invention Fair of the Middle East 2025 in Kuwait. (SUPPLIED)
Egyptian Islamic scholar and geologist Zaghloul El-Naggar, a leading figure in the field of scientific interpretation of the Qur’an, has died at the age of 92.
El-Naggar passed away in Amman, Jordan, after a battle with illness, according to statements released on his official social media accounts on Sunday.
His funeral prayer will be held on Monday at Abu Aisha Mosque in Amman, followed by burial at Umm Al-Qutain Cemetery.
Born on 17 November 1933 in the village of Mashal in Egypt’s Gharbia Governorate, El-Naggar showed an early passion for science.
He graduated with honours in geology from Cairo University in 1955, earning the Mustafa Baraka Award in Earth Sciences. He obtained a PhD from the University of Wales in 1963 and became a full professor in 1972.
El-Naggar’s career spanned decades of teaching and research at universities in Egypt, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Yemen, Jordan, and the United States.
He chaired the geology department at Qatar University, taught at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and served as a visiting professor at UCLA.
He also directed Al-Ahqaf University in Yemen and later taught at the World Islamic Sciences and Education University in Jordan.
He became one of the Arab world’s most recognised voices on the relationship between science and faith, authoring numerous books and delivering hundreds of lectures on what came to be known as the “scientific miracles of the Qur’an and Sunnah”.
His popular TV programme Ayat Bayyinat (“Clear Verses”) aired across Arab channels, exploring Quranic descriptions of natural phenomena.
El-Naggar was a member of the International Commission on Scientific Signs in the Qur’an and Sunnah and was honoured several times for his contributions to promoting scientific understanding within an Islamic framework.
source/content: newarab.com (headline edited)
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El-Naggar passed away in Amman, Jordan, after a battle with illness [Al-Araby Al-Jadeed]
Under the auspices of H.E. Mr. Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq marked a major step toward safeguarding its agricultural heritage and enhancing its food security with the laying of the foundation stone for the first-ever Gene/Seed Bank in the Region.
The facility, located in Hawari Shar Park in Sulaymaniyah, is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Federal and Regional Governments as part of the “Restoration and Strengthening the Resilience of Agri-Food Systems in Iraq” project. The facility will enable the preservation of plant genetic diversity, enhance food security, and build resilience against climate change.
The event was inaugurated by H.E. Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Mr. Qubad Talabani; H.E. Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Ms. Begard Talabani; the Governor of Sulaymaniyah, Dr. Haval Abubakir; the Mayor of Sulaymaniyah, Ms. Leyla Omar Ali; the FAO Representative in Iraq, Mr. Salah El Hajj Hassan; along with a number of senior representatives from academic and agricultural institutions.
H.E. Mr Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister, emphasised the importance of this initiative, saying: ‘The gene bank is an investment for the future; it protects our past and secures our future.’
The Gene/Seed bank is a strategic facility for conserving Iraq’s rich plant genetic diversity, which includes over 3,500 plant species originating from the ancient civilizations that once flourished in Iraq—the cradle of civilization. These species hold scientific, historical, and human value across the region and globally. The facility will enable the conservation of rare plant genetic resources, including wild varieties of grains, vegetables, and indigenous crops. It will also strengthen Iraq’s capacity to conserve seeds and make use of valuable genetic traits—such as drought tolerance—from wild species to support the development of more climate-resilient crops.
In her remarks, H.E. Minister Begard Talabani stated: “This initiative represents a strategic milestone in the journey of developing the agricultural sector by protecting plant diversity and supporting scientific research. It will enable farmers to benefit from our historical plant heritage and will allow us to preserve our agricultural legacy for future generations.”
FAO Representative in Iraq, Mr. Salah El Hajj Hassan, expressed his sincere appreciation to FAO’s national partners in the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government for their close collaboration and support. He also acknowledged and thanked the European Union for funding this initiative under the scope of the “Restoration and Strengthening the Resilience of Agri-Food Systems in Iraq,” project, which also reflects the follow-up to the recommendations resulting from the FAO Director-General visit to Iraq and his meetings with senior officials. He added that this facility represents a center for scientific innovation in research and resilience-building. It enables the preservation of Iraq’s historical, environmental and agricultural heritage, ensures that future generations can benefit from it, and stands as a testament to FAO’s commitment to transforming Iraq’s agricultural legacy into a powerful tool for sustainable development.”
The gene bank will house modern storage vaults, laboratories, research and training facilities, and seed data documentation and conservation areas. Future expansion is anticipated to include a field gene bank, a tissue culture laboratory, and a cryobank.
The initiative directly contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2: Zero Hunger and SDG 13: Climate Action, by investing in biodiversity conservation and climate-resilient agriculture.
source/content: fao.org – FAO of the UN (headline edited)
