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A letter from Guterres, dated Dec. 11, confirmed Salih’s five-year term starting Jan. 1
Salih aims to broaden funding sources, tap Islamic finance, and enlist private-sector partners
Barham Salih, a former Iraqi president who fled persecution under Saddam Hussein, has been appointed the next UN High Commissioner for Refugees, breaking the tradition of selecting leaders mainly from major European donor nations.
A letter from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, dated Dec. 11, confirmed Salih’s five-year term starting Jan. 1, pending UNHCR committee approval. He will succeed Italy’s Filippo Grandi, who has led the agency since 2016.
A UNHCR spokesperson declined comment, while a UN spokesperson said the process was ongoing.
Salih, who studied engineering in Britain to escape Saddam’s rule, served as Iraq’s president from 2018 to 2022.
He takes over as global displacement hits record highs — roughly double the level when Grandi began — while funding falls sharply.
Key donors like the United States under US President Donald Trump have cut contributions and others have shifted funds to defense.
Salih, from Iraq’s Kurdish region, has pledged to ensure that refugees are not trapped in what he called cycles of dependency and have access to education and jobs.
“I believe deeply in UNHCR’s mission — because I have lived it,” he said in remarks during the campaign. “My vision is a UNHCR that places refugees at the center, recognizing that humanitarian aid is meant to be temporary.”
The Geneva-based agency, which relies mostly on voluntary donations, has already cut its 2026 budget back nearly a fifth to $8.5 billion and is cutting close to 5,000 jobs, even as conflicts in Sudan and Ukraine drive needs higher.
This is forcing tough decisions about whom to help and creating new life-threatening risks for refugees, UNHCR says. Salih aims to broaden funding sources, tap Islamic finance, and enlist private-sector partners through a proposed “Global CEO Humanitarian Council.”
He faces growing Western restrictions on asylum amid anti-immigration sentiment as well as frustration in poorer states sheltering refugees.
About a dozen candidates competed for the role, including politicians, an IKEA executive, an ER doctor and a TV personality. Over half were European, reflecting the 75-year-old Geneva-based agency’s tradition — nine of its 11 previous chiefs were from Europe.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited0
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Photo dated August 2021 shows former Iraqi President Barham Salih speaking during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq. (AFP)
Her tenure as Minister of Environment included a modern waste management system, the issuance of the region’s first sovereign green bond, work across protected areas, and nearly 20,000 green jobs.
The Nobel Sustainability Trust has selected Dr. Yasmine Fouad to receive the 2025 Nobel Sustainability Medal, an announcement that comes as she concludes her role as Egypt’s Minister of Environment and takes up the position of Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Over 26 years, Fouad’s work has moved across environmental policy, climate diplomacy, and sustainable development, from early research on ecological resilience to convening communities, scientists, and policymakers. That human-centred lens has taken her to countries facing climate impacts, meeting pastoralist communities navigating drought, women rebuilding livelihoods after environmental shocks, and youth calling for climate justice. In Egypt, her tenure as minister included a modern waste management system, the issuance of the region’s first sovereign green bond, work across protected areas, and nearly 20,000 green jobs. During COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, she put adaptation and resilience at the centre of negotiations, bringing the needs of vulnerable communities into the room. The medal reflects values present in her work — resilience, collaboration, and belief in people’s role in shaping their future — and places attention on the Arab region and Africa within the sustainability conversation. As climate pressures intensify — from water scarcity to land degradation and drought — Fouad often frames sustainability as a human agenda focused on dignity, safety, and livelihoods, with an eye on what future generations will inherit. In her acceptance message, she dedicated the medal “to the women who rebuild their communities, the young people who refuse to inherit despair, the workers who turn scarcity into innovation, and the families who choose hope every day.
QSI signed agreement with KSA Eupen’s current owner Aspire Zone Foundation
Eupen play in the second tier of Belgian football
The Qatari owners of Paris Saint-Germain are expanding their soccer portfolio with a deal to take over KAS Eupen, the Belgian league club said Tuesday.
Eupen currently plays in the second tier of Belgian soccer.
QSI, which also owns a minority stake in Portuguese side Sporting Braga, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Eupen’s current owner Aspire Zone Foundation — also a Qatari entity — for the full takeover of the club.
Financial terms of the deal were not announced.
“Throughout our discussions, Qatar Sports Investments has demonstrated a genuine commitment to the long term development of the club,” Eupen said in a statement.
PSG has won 11 Ligue 1 titles since QSI’s arrival and generated club-record revenue of 837 million euros ($976 million) last season.
PSG’s men’s team won the domestic double and clinched the Champions League for the first time this year by routing Inter Milan 5-0 in the final, finally giving QSI the trophy it craved after taking over the club in 2011.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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PSG celebrating their Champions League win earlier this year. The club is owned by QSI which has agreed to purchase Belgium club KAS Eupen. (AFP/File)
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid praises novelist’s insights into intricacies of Arab societies.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated Algerian Professor Waciny Laredj on winning the Great Arab Minds Award in Literature and Arts.
The novelist, short story writer and academic is one of the Arab world’s most prominent literary figures and well-known throughout the Arabic-French speaking countries.
“We congratulate Professor Waciny Laredj on winning the Great Arab Minds Award in Literature and Arts, honouring his exceptional literary contributions. Professor Waciny has presented over 30 novels that delve into the intricacies of Arab societies, culture, and the environment. His impactful works have been translated into more than 20 languages and endorsed by numerous universities worldwide,” Sheikh Mohammed said in a congratulatory message posted on his official X account.
نبارك للبروفيسور واسيني الأعرج فوزه بجائزة نوابغ العرب فئة الأدب والفنون تقديراً لإسهاماته الأدبية الكبيرة .. حيث قدم البرفيسور واسيني أكثر من 30 رواية ترتبط بالمجتمعات العربية وثقافتها وبيئتها .. وتم ترجمة رواياته لأكثر من 20 لغة واعتماد دراستها في عدد من جامعات العالم .. ويشغل… pic.twitter.com/e4FPpAQJkg
“Holding the esteemed position of Chair Professor at the Central University of Algiers and the Sorbonne University in Paris, Professor Waciny’s achievement is a testament to his remarkable dedication to literature. We commend his efforts and deeply appreciate his profound contributions to Arabic literature, enriching the global readership.”
source/content: gulfnews.com (headline edited)
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Laredj’s works have been translated into over 20 languages and endorsed by numerous universities worldwideX/@HHShkMohd
AlUla has strengthened its reputation as a global hotspot after being named the World’s Leading Cultural Tourism Project 2025 at this year’s World Travel Awards.
The award, one of the most respected in the travel industry, was decided by votes from international experts, senior executives, buyers, tour operators, and agents, according to a recent Saudi Press Agency report.
Founded in 1993, the World Travel Awards recognize achievements across tourism and hospitality, covering categories from hotels and airlines to experiences and events.
This recognition follows a series of recent accolades for AlUla. The region’s honors include the Middle East’s Leading Cultural Tourism Project 2025, Middle East’s Leading Festival and Event Destination 2025, and Saudi Arabia’s Leading Cultural Tourism Project 2025 at the regional edition of the awards.
Known for its dramatic desert landscapes and rich history, AlUla is home to major cultural sites including Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its well-preserved Nabataean tombs.
With a history stretching back 200,000 years, and 7,000 years of continuous civilization, the region’s story is brought to life through the Royal Commission for AlUla’s year-round immersive experiences.
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Known for its dramatic desert landscapes and rich heritage, AlUla is home to major cultural sites such as Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its well-preserved Nabataean tombs. (SPA)
Following the official ceremony of her receiving the Order of the British Empire (OBE) from King Charles III, Sudanese born, UK national, artist Omeima Osman Khalid Mudawe has been on the spotlight, not only within her country of birth, the Sudan, but globally.
When she moved to live in the UK, Omeima had carried her first country Sudan in her heart. Her work there as a crafts and visual artist was influenced by her Sudanese heritage. She was nominated for the award thanks to her significant services with and for people with special needs, namely deaf, within the arts field.
Omeima spoke to Altaghyeer about the OBE and other topics. Following are excerpts from theinterview:
Khartoum, Altaghyeer: Abdallah Berair
1/ did you expect to win the award?
When I received the news from Buckingham Palace informing me of the award, it arrived in an envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL. I wondered what it was, opened it up, saw the Buckingham Palace logo and decided that it was my husband playing a practical joke on me. I had no idea!
2/ how did you feel when you got the news that you were awarded an MBE?
I was in shock and confused – why had I been awarded it? What did it mean? I confess that I didn’t really know what an MBE was, so I had to look it up. My nomination was for services to deaf and disabled people in the Arts but I didn’t know who had nominated me for it. Eventually I discovered that the Crafts Council had nominated me for the award, in recognition of the 25 years I have spent working to be a positive role model and develop projects that bring hearing and Deaf artists together. I had conducted some work with the Craft Council, specifically looking at Access and Equality policies, and helping to ensure that crafters and artists who are also Deaf have equitable opportunities and access to the work that they do.
I kept my award confidential but on 1 January 2022, it was announced in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. I was overwhelmed by the response I received from people getting in touch to congratulate me and from various news outlets and organisations to interview me. I even received a personal letter from my local MP. The public recognition of my life’s passion and work is what has moved me the most, and from that time on I have gradually adjusted to feeling proud to be a role model for aspiring artists and craft-makers who are also Deaf. I also want to show wider society that once Deaf people have our communication needs recognised and accommodated, we can achieve anything. The sky’s the limit! I am proud to be a Muslim woman of colour who has been recognised first for her work as an artist and then for her Deafness. This is what this honour means to me – that other young artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, but who also happen to be Deaf, can see that it is possible to achieve their dreams because their work comes first and their deafness/disability second, not the other way round.
3/ did the Qatar trip and visit affect your career in any way?
The trip to Qatar happened when my daughter was 3 – it was the first time I had been away from her for so long, so it was difficult, but it really helped to open doors to new networks that have sustained my working career. The relationship I developed with the British Council led to me making connections at the Arab British Centre, and later I had my first solo exhibition with their support. This led me to meeting many other mainstream hearing artists which helped to develop my confidence and self-belief. Ultimately, because of the networks I have developed since that time, I received a runner-up prize from the Arab British Centre in 2019 (for cultural achievements), the same year I became a Clore Fellow: another life-changing, career-defining moment.
4/ what did you take from your Sudanese culture that is present in your work?
The shapes and recurring motifs that are present in my work are directly influenced by my Sudanese heritage. Shapes are influenced by things like the cowrie shells and the beads of a prayer bracelet, and the sweeping lines of Arabic calligraphy and architecture. Colour plays an important part in my work, particularly colours that represent the heat of the Sudanese landscape that I remember so well, like reds, browns and oranges. I like to contrast these with the colours of my adopted country, the UK, to reflect the integrated nature of my identity. My memories as a child in Sudan have formed the inspiration for several of my exhibitions, for example A River Runs Through where I worked with several members of the Sudanese ex-pat community in the town where I now live, Brighton and Hove, to explore what the River Nile means to them and how it influence their journeys to the UK. I carry Sudan in my heart through everything that I do.
5/ your time in Saudi, do you remember it?
I remember it as a very lonely time as there was no access to the education there – there was very little understanding of what a deaf child needed in order to access what the teacher was saying and so it was a frustrating experience. I felt like I was the only deaf child in the world as I didn’t see any other deaf children or adults. That was when the decision to move to the UK was made. You can see more here about my brother’s experience that mentions this time: https://www.bslzone.co.uk/watch/found-uk
6/ are you going to have a art exhibit in Khartoum?
I had a solo exhibition in Khartoum at the Hilton Hotel in 2002 – a long time ago! Even though it wasn’t at a proper gallery, I did manage to sell a few pieces of work but it was a challenge to organise. There was not a good understanding around the needs of an artist who was also Deaf which meant that barriers were not easily overcome. I would love to organise an event that celebrates art work made by people that happen to be disabled or deaf but without that being the main focus.
7/how do you feel when you see the revolution in Sudan on the TV?
It was shocked to see this news and obviously I was worried for my father, siblings and other family who were living in Khartoum. Later, when it became clearer what was happening, I was inspired to see women taking a lead in the demonstrations, especially the woman who stood above the crowds, whose image became famous around the world.
8/ how was the support from the family during your upbringing?
I had a lot of support at home as a child, but it reached a point where it seemed the best thing was for myself and my deaf brother Ahmed to receive our education in the UK and get other kinds of support that would help us to be independent later in life. It meant a lot of upheaval for all my family and from that time on my mother spent much of her time in the UK to be with us, separating her from Sudanese life and friends. Sadly, my MBE investiture was delayed due to covid, and my mother passed away before my ceremony was due to be held. Losing her and my father in such a short space of time meant that the day of my award investiture was emotionally charged; their absences were keenly felt. But I am grateful that, although my father passed before I received news of the award, my mother was alive for me to share the news with her. We both cried a lot that day as we recognised that this honour was only possible because of her incredible sacrifice. Because of her selflessness, I am who I am today and have achieved what I have. My mother asked me to remember my heritage as a Sudanese woman by wearing a traditional Sudanese sari on the day and I was so proud to wear the outfit that my sister had brought for me and the necklace that my mother had gifted to me when she died.
Ten prizes, covering research, development, innovation, and entrepreneurship, were awarded to companies and young Tunisian entrepreneurs during the 2nd edition of the “TEX AWARDS” competition, held last Friday in Tunis at the initiative of the Tunisian Federation of Textiles and Clothing (FTTH).
The exporting garment company Altutex Group won the award in the Digital Innovation category. The startup Green Nonwomen Visline, specialized in transforming textile waste into sustainable and eco-friendly solutions, received the “Influential Startup” award.
Meanwhile, Trading Logistic Service, a company specialized in textile platforms and packaging, received the “Distinguished Exporter” award.
Sartex – Société des Arts Textiles, specialized in producing finished denim products, was recognized in the “Sustainable Textile (Green Textile)” category.
The prize dedicated to research, development, and innovation was awarded to Vizmerald, a company specialized in creating connected electronic products and intelligent 3D graphic simulations. The Ksour Essef Textile Training Center was honored in the “Training” category.
Additionally, Walid El Ghoul and Abir Obeid were recognized in the “Young Leaders” category. In the “Pioneering Women” category, the award went to Salwa Zouari.
The ready-to-wear brand Kontact also received an award in the “Tunisian Brand” category. Finally, Mesjed Aïssa Confection (MACO) was honored in the “Influential Personalities” category.
During the ceremony, presided over by Minister of Industry, Mines, and Energy, Fatma Thabet Chiboub, a tribute was paid to the pioneers of the textile sector: Abdelaziz Dahmani, Béchir Saïdani, Anis Saïdani, and Helmi Kâali.
The TEX AWARDS competition aims to honor innovative companies and highlight success stories that can inspire young entrepreneurs and startups, thereby boosting creativity and innovation.
According to data from the Ministry of Industry, the textile and clothing sector includes 1,365 companies, employing more than 160,000 people. It also comprises 200 integrated companies with a global presence and fully oriented toward exports. Sector exports are expected to exceed 9 billion dinars by the end of the current year.
Sarah Goher has become the first Egyptian director included in Variety’s “10 Directors to Watch” list.
Among the 10 emerging directors on Variety’s list are Kristen Stewart, Walter Thompson-Hernandez and Akinola Davies. Goher’s selection follows the runaway success of her debut feature film, Happy Birthday, a tender yet powerful story about class and longing, told through the eyes of an 8-year-old maid.
Goher co-wrote the script with Mohamed Diab; production is handled by Ahmed El Desouky, Ahmed Abbas, Ahmed Badawy, along with Hollywood-heavyweights Jamie Foxx and Datari Turner.
‘Happy Birthday’ premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, winning Best International Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay and the Nora Ephron Award for Outstanding Female Director.
The film was also Egypt’s official submission to the Oscars.
Foulath Holding, the parent company of Bahrain Steel and SULB, has announced a major sustainability collaboration with Yellow Door Energy, a leading sustainable energy developer in the Middle East and Africa. The partnership will deliver a large-scale 123-Megawatt-Peak (MWp) solar project, marking a milestone in industrial clean energy. The initiative includes the development of the world’s largest single-site rooftop solar power plant with a capacity of 50 MWp. A total of 77,000 solar panels will be installed across a newly constructed 262,000-square-meter stockyard shed. The project is being executed under a power purchase agreement (PPA).
This announcement was made during the third edition of Gateway Gulf, a major investment forum hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board at the Four Seasons Hotel, Bahrain Bay. The forum brought together global industry leaders, investors, and policymakers from across various regions such as the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Gulf.
H.E. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB, expressed pride in this initiative, stating that Bahrain is at the forefront of global sustainable innovation. She emphasized that the project reinforces Bahrain’s regional leadership in clean energy and supports its long-term national vision for competitiveness and sustainability.
Mr. Meshary Al-Judaimi, Chairman of Foulath Holding, highlighted that the company has invested nearly USD 250 million in sustainability projects over recent years. He noted that this solar project reflects Foulath’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, responsible industrial development, and community well-being.
Sherif ElKholy, Managing Director and Head of Middle East and Africa at Actis, and Chairman of Yellow Door Energy, congratulated both partners on what he described as a landmark agreement. He said the project sets a global benchmark for decarbonizing steel production through cost-competitive clean energy solutions.
This project will be among the largest industrial-scale on-site solar developments worldwide. It includes ten rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) plants and four ground-mounted PV installations. Over 189,900 high-efficiency solar panels will cover 707,000 square meters, generating 200 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity in the first year alone. The system is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 90,000 metric tons annually, contributing significantly to Bahrain’s Net Zero 2060 target.
Yellow Door Energy will manage financing, design, construction, commissioning, operations, and maintenance through the PPA duration. Its operating solar projects have already produced more than 1 billion kWh, avoiding 400,000 metric tons of carbon emissions. With a portfolio of 400 MWp and 10 years of operations, the company continues to lead renewable deployment across the MEA region.
Foulath Holding affirmed its dedication to sustainable development aligned with Bahrain’s Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Egyptian novelist Salwa Bakr has won the inaugural BRICS Literary Prize, receiving one million Russian rubles at a ceremony in Khabarovsk, Russia.
The first edition of the prize drew nominees from across the BRICS bloc—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—as well as the United Arab Emirates.
Bakr’s victory reflects the growing international recognition of Arab authors on major literary platforms.
The BRICS Prize Board of Trustees had previously announced a longlist of 27 writers competing in the literature category.
Egyptian authors included Ibrahim Abdel Meguid, Salwa Bakr, and Fathi Imbabi, alongside UAE writers Sheikh Ali bin Tamim, Maisoon Saqr, and Reem Al Kamali.
The longlist also featured Russian writers Alexey Varlamov, Andrey Gelasimov, and Dmitry Danilov; Brazilian authors Ana Maria Gonçalves, Patrícia Melo, and Ricardo Aleixo; Indian writers Jay Vasavada, Dr. Rajan Kumar.
It also included Sonu Saini; Chinese authors Ma Boyong and Ai Yi; South African nominees Ntabiseng Jah Rose Jafta, Bongiwe Mhlongo, and Zainab Khan; Ethiopian writer Abere Adamu; Iranian authors Mansour Ali Moradi, Majid Ghasemi, and Reza Amerihani; and Indonesian writers Ekasakti Panu, Intan Paramaditha, and Deni Jha.
The winner receives a cash prize, a commemorative shield and a certificate of appreciation.
Organizers said the award aims to promote cultural exchange among BRICS nations and highlight literature’s role in advancing shared human values, including solidarity and peace.
Salwa Bakr (born 1949, Cairo) is a renowned Egyptian writer, novelist, and critic. She is the author of seven short story collections, seven novels, and a play.
Bakr graduated from Ain Shams University and has worked as a film and theatre critic for leading Arab publications, as well as a professor at the American University in Cairo.
Her works, including the novel The Golden Chariot, often explore the lives of the disadvantaged and marginalized, with a particular focus on the challenges faced by women in Egyptian society.
Bakr’s books and stories have been translated into numerous European languages. Her novel The Man from Bashmour was selected for the Arab Writers Union’s list of the 100 Best Arabic Novels.
She has received the Deutsche Welle Literary Prize and is a member of Egypt’s Supreme Council for Culture and the Egyptian Writers’ Union.
The award was established by participants of the BRICS Forum “Traditional Values” in Moscow, November 2024.
