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The Safety Wings drone can detect individuals in distress in water, swiftly navigate to their location, and drop inflatable life buoys.
Three Moroccan students from the Faculty of Sciences and Technologies (FST) in Settat have won a gold medal at the Innovation Week (IWA 2025) for their groundbreaking project, Safety Wings.
A drone that saves lives at sea
The winning project introduces a drone designed to revolutionize aquatic rescue operations.
The Safety Wings drone can detect individuals in distress in water, rapidly fly to their position, and deploy inflatable life buoys.
In contrast to existing buoys that sell for around $300 and are typically disposable, the Moroccan designers developed a reusable model that costs under $20. The only recurring expense is replacing compressed air cartridges.
Through the combination of reusability and affordability, the project provides an essential loophole in global rescue missions. The project is an affordable and scalable solution for impoverished communities with fewer resources but frequent aquatic emergency cases.
From Morocco to the world stage
Salah Bouhlal, Moad Es-Sraoui, Mohamed Kerroum, and Aziz Hraiba (supervisor) developed Safety Wings during their days as FST Settat students.
Their success at IWA 2025 places Morocco on the international innovation map and also shows how youthful scientists can convert pressing humanitarian needs into practical technological solutions.
OFEED, the organizer of the Innovation Week, describes the event as both a premier platform for showcasing and fostering cost-effective innovation and a “global community that believes ideas can become impact when courage meets collaboration.”
Innovation with human impact
Safety Wings is one component of a greater movement toward harnessing new technology for the public good. With their provision of life-saving gear, the Moroccan students seek to leave a positive impact on global standards of safety in aquatic environments, from seaside public beaches to remote fishing villages.
In addition to the Safety Wings team, other Moroccan innovators also figured among the winners of IWA 2025. Their projects spanned diverse fields. This collective achievement reinforced Morocco’s reputation as a hub of creativity and problem-solving on the international stage.
Dr. Andilyat Mohamed is a dedicated Comorian scientist who has been actively engaged in plant ecology, specifically in phytogeography, since 2007, accumulating 16 years of experience in Comorian plant formations. She expanded her focus to marine and coastal ecosystems in 2012, concentrating on mangrove algae and seagrass. As a university professor, she delivers lectures and practical work in applied plant ecology and general botany, using special mangrove field trips to demonstrate the theory and practice of different types and their roles to students at the Faculty of Science.
In 2010, Dr. Mohamed established the National Herbarium at the University of the Comoros, where 98% of the staff are women. She also initiated the Comoros mangrove house in partnership with a local village women’s association called “JEUNE FILLE DE DOMOIBOINI .” As the national focal point for the Comoros in the WIOMN network on mangroves in WIOMSA, she authored the first publication of the 23 localities hosting mangroves on the island of Ngazidja as part of her doctoral thesis.
Currently, Andilyat is concentrating on the restoration and assessment of blue carbon in the mangroves of the Comoros, searching for a specific algorithm corresponding to the particular characteristics of amphibious Comorian ecosystems dominated by a recent lava flow substrate as part of her Habilitation to Supervise Research (HDR).
Tell us, what led you to pursue a career in marine/ocean science?
What pushed me to pursue a marine career was the fact that I read the bibliography of an official document printed in 2002 that said there were 5 mangrove sites on the island of Ngazidja. However, when I supervised a master’s student in 2012, we worked on 7 sites, and I knew that there were others. In 2016, I used remote sensing to find out for the first time that the island has mangroves in 23 localities and that the ecosystems had been reduced and divided into several sites by lava flows. Since then, I’ve been working closely with the islands’ conservationists.
As a marine/ocean professional, what critical lessons have you learned? Share your insights and experience with others who aspire to become experts in this field.
Mangroves are more capricious than humans, they are mute but shout loudly in the silence by releasing CO2 when under anthropic pressure or by trapping carbon when conserving and protecting the site.
In celebration of International Women’s Day theme “Invest in Women, accelerate progress”, what progress do you envision for women in the Western Indian Ocean region?
Comorian women are fortunate to be among the few countries where inheritance is matrimonial. This gives them authority and independence in social activities. It is with this vision that I am working with my team to ensure the survival of the mangroves of the Comoros. I started by joining forces with the Jeune Fille Association.
Sara Albagir Abdalla Mohammed is many things—a student, a scientist, an ASM Young Ambassador—but, above all, she is unstoppable. Amid ongoing socio-political upheaval and conflict in her home of Sudan, she is determined to advance her own microbiology journey and ensure others can do the same.
“The challenges I’ve faced have ultimately shaped me into a more resilient and adaptable microbiologist,” Albagir Abdalla Mohammed said. “These experiences have strengthened my commitment to making science accessible to those in resource-limited settings and finding innovative ways to promote scientific development, even in the face of adversity.”
Her penchant for tackling scientific challenges predates her academic activities. As a child, Albagir Aballa Mohammed wanted to find treatments for “untreatable” diseases, though it was during her high school biology classes—where she learned about the intricate complexities of the human body—that her interest in health sciences blossomed. She took that interest and ran with it, going on to pursue a degree in medical laboratory sciences at the University of Khartoum.
Albagir Abdalla Mohammed began her college career by diving head-first into disciplines ranging from hematology to clinical chemistry, though medical microbiology and immunology really drew her in. “I became particularly interested in how such tiny beings [i.e., microbes] could have massive impacts on global health systems. This contrast between the micro and the macro fueled my desire to understand how microbiology could contribute to solving some of the world’s most pressing problems,” she shared. Her experience training in laboratories at Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital—one of Sudan’s largest hospitals for liver diseases, including those caused by microbes like hepatitis B virus—solidified her decision to specialize in medical microbiology.
But, as certain as Albagir Abdalla Mohammed was about her chosen educational path, external circumstances have made the road difficult to navigate. The Sudanese December Revolution shut down the education system in Sudan for almost 2 years; the COVID-19 pandemic tacked on another year. Then, in April 2023, as Albagir Abdalla Mohammed neared the end of earning her degree, conflict broke out in her home of Khartoum, Sudan’s capital. The conflict has displaced over 10 million people, with Albagir Abdalla Mohammed—who was forced to relocate to a rural area—among them.
“Over the past year and a half, I’ve faced ongoing disruption, displacement and uncertainty,” she shared. “This was an especially difficult time, as I was so close to completing my education and reaching my long-awaited goal of graduation. My academic journey, originally planned to take 4 years, [has] stretched into over 6 due to these repeated interruptions.”
Yet, for each obstacle thrown in her path, Albagir Abdalla Mohammed has found ways to continue her scientific development. “I refused to let my educational journey come to a complete halt. I have continued learning, even under challenging conditions with poor internet connectivity in the rural area I’m in,” she said, noting that she has completed various online programs and specializations in public health, epidemiology and data analytics.
What’s striking about Albagir Abdalla Mohammed is that she is not just concerned about her own scientific advancement. She is also invested in the future of countless scientists facing similar circumstances. When universities in war-affected regions of Sudan closed, she watched as her peers lost hope and disengaged from their academic paths. For Albagir Abdalla Mohammed, this was a call to action. “I was determined to keep microbiology alive in Sudan, even amid these challenges.”
Fueled by this determination, she founded MicroGen, an online initiative aimed at empowering early-career microbiologists in Sudan through career guidance, professional development and capacity-building opportunities. Now with a community of 5,000 students and professionals from over 50 Sudanese universities and institutions, MicroGen has hosted informational sessions about various microbiology career paths, highlighting connections between the diverse scientists, disciplines and roles spanning the microbial sciences.
Such interconnectivity has been foundational to Albagir Abdalla Mohammed’s efforts. She considers a strong network of peers and collaborators instrumental for navigating obstacles and creating new opportunities, and credits the ASM Young Ambassador program, with its vast global community of scientists, with helping her build that network. As Young Ambassador to Sudan (an appointment she considers one of the most pivotal moments of her career), Albagir Abdalla Mohammed has focused on leveraging her platform to “increase the engagement of Sudanese microbiologists within ASM and promote its mission of advancing the microbial sciences.”
To say she has been successful in this mission is an understatement. A free online Bioinformatics Workshop she organized in the summer of 2024 attracted a whopping 1,144 participants—over 700 from Sudan and the rest from 32 other countries—and resulted in 865 new ASM members. Albagir Abdalla Mohammed designed the workshop to meet the needs of Sudanese microbiologists who are unable to conduct lab-based research. “By focusing on in silico research, participants were empowered to use computational tools to simulate biological processes, analyze large datasets and conduct meaningful research without the need for fully equipped laboratories,” she said.
Feedback from the event, where participants learned everything from how to analyze microbial genomes, to the ins and outs of bioinformatic data interpretation, was overwhelmingly positive. One participant from Sudan wrote that the workshop was “comprehensive and nicely delivered, even with the war running in the background,” adding that they no longer “feel really stuck, nor [that] the world is steps ahead of me.”
For her part, Albagir Abdalla Mohammed learned that “with the right approach, it is possible to sustain research momentum even in the most difficult circumstances, and that the scientific spirit of curiosity and perseverance can thrive in adversity.”
In many ways, she embodies this spirit of curiosity and perseverance. This is evident not just from her work with MicroGen and the ASM Young Ambassador program, but also from other endeavors. Case in point: Albagir Abdalla Mohammed was behind the effort that led to a collaboration between the non-profit organizations HealthGoes Global and Partners for World Health . The partnership resulted in the shipment of over $340,000 worth of essential medical supplies to aid Sudan’s overwrought health care system. She was also recently appointed a Champion for the Microbiological Society in the U.K. and is currently organizing Sudan’s first national symposium on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), aimed at fostering collaboration among Sudanese microbiologists and health care professionals to address the AMR crisis.
The throughline here? Albagir Abdalla Mohammed is a force, a passionate science advocate. She may be early in her career, but that hasn’t stopped her from taking on leadership roles to enact change. She encourages other future and early-career scientists to adopt a similar outlook.
“Never underestimate your abilities and know that leadership isn’t confined to titles or seniority; it’s about how you contribute, collaborate and support others, regardless of your career stage,” she said. “Often, early-career scientists feel they need to wait for a certain level of experience or recognition before stepping into leadership roles, but that’s not the case. Leadership comes from taking initiative, sharing your ideas and offering guidance—even as a student or young professional.”
Still, while showing initiative as a young scientist is crucial for advancement, Albagir Abdalla Mohammed acknowledged barriers that can slow forward motion. She pointed specifically to the limited number of mentorship and training opportunities for undergraduates like her, as many are geared toward graduate students and advanced professionals. Investments in these advanced scientists is imperative, she noted, but such focus means young scientists at formative stages of their development can get left behind. This is felt strongly in countries like Sudan, where political instability and conflict can extend an undergraduate degree to 6-8 years.
“These delays hinder access to mentorship and resources, and the lack of available opportunities further reinforces these existing barriers, leaving talented students behind and limiting their ability to participate in the global scientific community,” Albagir Abdalla Mohammed explained. “Addressing this gap is essential to fostering a truly inclusive STEM field. Empowering undergraduates, particularly those from underrepresented regions, will not only cultivate diverse talent, but also enrich the global scientific dialogue with fresh perspectives and ideas,” all of which are paramount for propelling science forward to solve big problems.
To that end, Albagir Abdalla Mohammed, who is Sudanese, Muslim, identifies as African and speaks Arabic as her native language, considers diversity in all its forms the cornerstone of innovation. She advised scientists at every career stage to view their background as an asset, not a limitation, highlighting that all the pieces that make her who she is have inspired her work. “My faith emphasizes the values of compassion, community and social responsibility, motivating me to uplift marginalized voices and create inclusive spaces where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and thrive,” she shared.
It doesn’t take much to see that Albagir Abdalla Mohammed is a bright light—and the future of microbiology is brighter because of her. Wherever her path takes her next, one thing is certain: she won’t give up. And she encourages other young scientists not to give up either. “The journey in science will likely present challenges, including systemic barriers, limited resources or unexpected disruptions. In those moments, persistence and resilience are key. Let the obstacles you face shape you into a stronger, more adaptable version of yourself.”
Saudi Arabia actress and filmmaker Sarah Taibah has nabbed a role in a social media campaign for US luxury jewelry house Tiffany & Co.
The actress shared a post on her Instagram account, in which she goes about her day adorned in various pieces by Tiffany & Co.
“Sketchbook in hand, eternal sunshine of a stormy mind, and days rarely slow down. Absolutely in (love) with HardWear by @Tiffanyandco, it’s been my little talisman throughout,” she captioned the short clip.
The HardWear collection draws on a design from 1962, according to the brand.
“HardWear is an expression of love’s transformative strength. Like New York, the city in which it was born, the collection embodies an enduring resilience and ability to be free,” the label wrote on its website.
The collection features necklaces, bracelets and earrings with interlocked links, veering into a more industrial aesthetic than the dainty jewelry the house is known for.
Taibah shows off a pair of diamond encrusted earrings, along with a necklace and watch from the collection that was handcrafted in Switzerland.
Taibah shot to fame for her show “Jameel Jeddan,” the first local production that was wholly created and starred in by a Saudi Arabia woman.
The plot of the 2022 release was anything but typical. Strong-headed Jameel wakes up from a five-year coma and is forced to finish her last year in high school and rejoin an unfamiliar society.
As a coping mechanism, she begins to experience glitches in the form of an animated alternative reality.
Taibah is working on an offbeat Saudi romcom “A Matter of Life and Death,” which she wrote. The film is being directed by Anas Batahaf and will star Taibah and Yaqoub Al-Farhan.
Her collaboration with Tiffany & Co. is not the first time she has worked with a global luxury brand.
In February, Spanish fashion house Loewe unveiled a Ramadan campaign directed by Lebanese-Sudanese auteur Dana Boulos and starring Taibah and Saudi Arabia Olympic rower Husein Alireza.
The cast included Omani artist Mays Almoosawi, Kuwaiti visual artist Najd Al-Taher, Emirati film director Sarah Al-Hashimi, Kuwaiti DJ Cascou and Bahraini contemporary artist Salman Al-Najem.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Sarah Taibah shot to fame for her show “Jameel Jeddan.” (File/ AFP)
Long before streaming took over, these film theatres shaped how the Arab world fell in love with cinema. Some still stand, holding stories of generations past.
In 1895, cinema was born. In the French coastal town of La Ciotat along the Mediterranean, the Lumière brothers screened ‘L’arrivée d’un train en gare de La Ciotat’ at the Eden Theatre – now considered the oldest purpose-built cinema still in operation. This moment marked the public birth of film as both an art form and a collective experience. And it didn’t stay in France for long. Crossing oceans and borders, it found new audiences around the globe. Everything started to change, rapidly, violently, and so quickly. Films stormed every means of expressionism out there and, in the process, changed how we literally view life.
The Middle East and North Africa – dreamy, reflective, and rich in storytelling, qualities that are evident in our folklore – embraced this new medium with open arms. In a time when much of the Arab world was under the plague of colonialism, a factor that ironically accelerated cinema’s arrival, films offered a glimpse of hope and a window into other possibilities. Film theatres began to appear, and audiences were obsessed with these ‘moving pictures’. Just a year after the Lumières’ screening, one of the earliest film showings in the world took place in Egypt, at the Zawani Café in Alexandria, in January 1896.
Since then, our love for cinema has been undeniable. The buildings that housed these films became places where we shared our deepest fears, hopes, and desires. So, we’ve taken the opportunity to rewind and take a look at some of the oldest film theatres across the Middle East and North Africa, from Al Maghreb to Egypt to the Levant, where some of these spaces still stand…
Diana Palace Cinema, Cairo
Originally opened in 1932 as Diana Palace, the cinema was once one of Cairo’s most luxurious and expansive movie theatres, with a grand hall that could seat up to 1,500 people. Designed by Italian architect Gaston Rossi, it quickly became a cultural fixture in the city. The building was damaged during the Cairo fire of 1952 but reopened in 1960 under a new name – Cinema Diana. Located at the intersection of Al-Alfi Street and Bustan Al-Dikka in the Azbakeya district of Downtown Cairo, the cinema has since shifted into the category of second-run theatres. Still, it remains one of the oldest standing film venues in Egypt, a familiar presence tied to the city’s deep-rooted cinematic history.
Empire Cinema, Beirut
Originally built as a hotel, the building was converted into a theatre in 1920 by George Haddad and Nicola Kattan, who saw its potential as a cultural space. Just nine years later, in 1929, it was transformed into a film theatre, r. Since then, it has screened countless films from around the world and has remained a cherished destination for generations of moviegoers. Today, Empire stands as one of the oldest surviving cinemas in Lebanon, and a witness to the country’s long love affair with cinema.
Cinema Rialto, Casablanca
Cinema Rialto is one of Casablanca’s most iconic landmarks, opened in 1929 during the French colonial era. Known for its striking Art Deco architecture and 1,350-seat hall, it was once the go-to spot for moviegoers in Morocco. Over the years, it hosted everything from blockbuster films to live performances by international stars like Edith Piaf and Josephine Baker. Though its popularity has faded with time and multiplexes, Cinema Rialto still stands—and occasionally screens films—offering a nostalgic glimpse into Casablanca’s cinematic golden age.
Cinema Dimashq, Damascus
Cinema Dimashq opened its doors in 1943 and quickly became a landmark in Damascus, bringing the magic of cinema to Syrian audiences. With 1,500 seats, it was one of the biggest single-room theaters in the Arab world. After shutting down in 2005, it made a comeback in 2009 as Cinema City – renovated, and rebranded. Today, it houses four mid-sized screening rooms and remains the only cinema in Syria that regularly screens new American and European releases.
Cinema Le Palace, Tunis
Cinema Le Palace, originally opened in 1903 as Politeama Rossini, was built as a theatre for Tunisia’s Italian community. Located on Avenue Habib Bourguiba in Tunis, the venue was converted into a furniture store in 1923, before later becoming a cinema. In 2002, the building’s historic façade was restored by the Association for the Protection of the Medina of Tunis as part of wider beautification efforts along the avenue. Today, it continues to operate as a movie theatre.
Ciné-Palace Theater, Marrakech
Built in 1926 by architect Serge Escharavil during the French protectorate, Ciné-Palace in Marrakech was the vision of Monsieur Friggeri, who dreamed of creating an artistic, multicultural cinema. Throughout the 1930s, it hosted renowned performers like Nat King Cole and Rita Hayworth. Often seen as Marrakech’s answer to France’s Eden Theatre, Ciné-Palace stood as a cultural hub for nearly four decades before closing in 1984, eventually overshadowed by the rise of luxury hotels.
Metro Cinema, Alexandria
Metro Cinema in Alexandria opened in 1950 as part of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer chain, bringing international films and studio prestige to the city’s growing cinema scene. It stood out for its sleek design and strong programming mix, showing both local and foreign titles. While it’s no longer the draw it once was, its presence remains part of Alexandria’s film-going history – less nostalgia, more cultural fixture.
Al Hussein Cinema, Amman
Cinema Al-Hussein opened in 1959 in downtown Amman, Jordan, and quickly became a major cultural hotspot. Designed by Egyptian architect Sayed Karim, it stood out for its bold Art Deco style and modern design. It screened major international films and was popular through the 1960s and ’70s. But with the rise of suburban cinemas and shifting city life, it eventually closed. Today, the building still stands – empty and neglected.
Saudi Arabia was elected to the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) during the organization’s 69th General Conference in Vienna on Friday.
The Kingdom will serve as a member of the 35-member Board for the next term, running until 2027, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency (@iaeaorg)
September 19, 2025
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The IAEA board is a key decision-making body, overseeing sensitive issues such as safeguards, which involve verifying the peaceful use of nuclear energy by States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
The board also reviews the agency’s program, budget, and financial statements, and makes recommendations to the General Conference.
Saudi Arabia previously held a seat on the Board from 2022 to 2024.
Its election reflects international confidence in the Kingdom’s constructive role in promoting global cooperation and using atomic energy to support development and peace, SPA added.
The 28th Universal Postal Congress – Dubai 2025, hosted by the UAE over the past two weeks, concluded today with member countries unanimously adopting the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) 2026–2029 Strategy, also known as the ‘Dubai Strategy’, serving as a global roadmap for the future of the postal industry and reaffirming its critical role in promoting trade and communication in light of the rapid transformation shaping the global logistics and eCommerce sectors.
The ‘Dubai Strategy’ reflects UPU member nations’ shared vision of an integrated, inclusive and sustainable global society empowered by a seamless, smart and innovative postal system that promotes social and economic development and supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The strategy is the result of the most comprehensive consultation process in UPU history, which involved over 2,200 participants from all 192 member countries as well as other public and private sector organisations. The collaborative process reflects broad consensus around the strategy and strengthens its inclusivity.
The UAE has also been appointed to supervise the implementation of the new strategy through the ‘Dubai Business Plan’ in its capacity as Chair of the UPU Council of Administration (CA) over the next four years. The Council, comprising 41 member states elected during the Congress, oversees the Union’s activities and addresses organisational, administrative, and legal matters, ensuring effective governance for the future of the global postal sector.
Furthermore, the UAE has won membership in the UPU’s Postal Operations Council (POC) for the 2026–2029 cycle after achieving 144 votes from member countries, marking another significant achievement that underscores its leading status on the international stage.
The UAE was elected as one of 48 member states of the POC, selected from among the Union’s 192 member countries. The POC is the UPU’s specialised technical body, responsible for supervising the development of key operational policies and postal services, unifying standards, improving quality and enhancing coordination among global postal networks to build a more efficient and sustainable international postal system.
Badr Al-Olama, Chairman of 7X, said, “The UAE’s election to the UPU Postal Operations Council represents a clear affirmation of our nation’s leadership in shaping the future of postal and logistics services worldwide. Hosting the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai and spearheading the implementation of the 2026–2029 Strategy with the chairmanship of the Council of Administration, further demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to fostering consensus that delivers tangible improvements in connectivity, sustainability, and efficiency.
“This new mandate gives us a decisive voice at the heart of the UPU’s key decision-making processes, enabling us to guide the next phase of technologies and policies that will define the future of this critical industry. Guided by our leadership’s vision, we will continue to strengthen the UAE’s role as a platform where sustainable solutions and digital tools are developed and deployed, in collaboration with the global postal sector.”
The Congress re-elected UPU Director General Masahiko Metoki and Deputy Director General Marjan Oswald for a new four-year term, reflecting member countries’ satisfaction with their leadership and trust in the Union’s institutional development trajectory.
Masahiko Metoki, Director-General of the Universal Postal Union, said, “This Congress has been more than a gathering. It has been a moment of transformation, during which we faced challenges head-on, redefined our role in a rapidly changing world, and reaffirmed the values that unite us. I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to the Government of the United Arab Emirates for generously hosting this important assembly of postal decision makers.”
The comprehensive ‘Dubai Strategy’ aims to enhance member countries’ dedication to quality standards, expand access to postal services, and strengthen the rules-based global postal system by establishing national regulatory frameworks.
The strategy also prioritises accelerating innovation and digital transformation by developing new customer-centric products and services, adapting to shifts in the eCommerce sector, and offering digital services at postal access points. Additionally, the vision aims to reinforce cooperation through regional capacity building, technical collaboration, and stakeholder engagement platforms that facilitate postal development.
By modernising regulations, enhancing cross-border supply chains, and ensuring greater compliance with quality standards, the ‘Dubai Strategy’ aims to leverage the single postal territory made possible through an effective, rules-based global postal system.
During the closing session, Tariq Al Wahedi, 28th Congress Chair and GCEO of 7X, stated, “The ‘Dubai Business Plan’ represents a significant transition in the way the global postal sector operates, enabling member countries to curate services in line with their national priorities while ensuring combined efforts at a global level. In the upcoming phase, we seek to create a more efficient, innovative and sustainable postal network that contributes to enabling trade, promoting digital integration and enhancing the quality of life of communities.”
Al Wahedi added, “By chairing the Council of Administration and overseeing the plan implementation, we seek to achieve strategic outcomes such as improved, market-relevant, multilateral systems that guarantee the provision of quality, accessible, affordable, viable postal services. We will make conscious efforts to strengthen customer-focused postal products, encourage innovation in products and services, and fortify cross-border postal supply chains. By expanding partnerships, strengthening regional integration and modernising the postal infrastructure through collaboration and technical assistance, we will also work to solidify the sector’s role in advancing national economic and social objectives and actively contributing towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals.”
The 2026–2029 Strategy includes KPIs, such as increasing the percentage of member countries with comprehensive postal regulatory frameworks aligned with UPU standards and guidelines; boosting the annual growth rate of postal access points to ensure seamless access for all; raising annual nominal growth in operating revenue (SDR); increasing the percentage of international postal items delivered end-to-end in accordance with applicable UPU quality of service standards; and raising the proportion of member countries that integrate the postal sector into their national development plans.
As a result of the significant international momentum that accompanied the adoption of this strategy, the Congress witnessed the signing of multiple memoranda of understanding between member countries, alongside bilateral and multilateral meetings, and the introduction of qualitative policy documents on governance, innovation and sustainability. By strengthening its global footprint and emulating the Congress’ theme, ‘Leading the Change, Creating the Future,’ the UAE further solidifies its position as an active partner in driving the future of the global postal industry, and a major contributor to achieving the Union’s vision in the coming years.
Tomatoes make up over 30% of Morocco’s fruit and vegetable export earnings, ranking the country third in global tomato exports behind Mexico and the Netherlands.
Despite Morocco’s challenging circumstances of drought and worker shortages, the North African country succeeded in exporting 745,000 tons of tomatoes in 2024/25, setting a new record.
Morocco earned nearly $1.2 billion from tomato sales during the period from July 2024 to June 2025, according to EastFruit data from Morocco’s Foreign Exchange Office.
While dealing with long-term drought and insufficient farm workers, Morocco’s exports jumped 8.3% from the previous year and beat the 2022/23 record by four percent.
Tomatoes top Morocco’s farm exports
Tomatoes make up over 30% of Morocco’s fruit and vegetable export earnings, ranking the country third in global tomato exports behind Mexico and the Netherlands.
Morocco ships tomatoes year-round, but exports the majority between November and March. In November 2024, with a monthly shipment of 105,000 tons.
In May 2025, the country’s tomato exports to Norway alone reached a milestone, Morocco sent 5,000 metric tons of the Moroccan produce from July 2024 to March this year.
Where Morocco sells its tomatoes
France buys nearly half of Morocco’s tomato exports, and the UK comes in second place with over 15% of the total
The Netherlands and Spain buy more Moroccan tomatoes each year to fill gaps in their own export seasons. Germany and Portugal also increased Morocco’s tomatoes their purchases.
Sales to West African countries like Mauritania and Senegal continue to grow.
New markets expand fast
Belgium nearly quadrupled its tomato imports from Morocco in just two years, while Denmark and Norway have bought record amounts for three straight years.
Over the last three years, Sweden, Ireland, and Finland’s tomato exports have increased significantly.
Tomatoes make up over 30% of Morocco’s fruit and vegetable export earnings, ranking the country third in global tomato exports behind Mexico and the Netherlands.
Dubai has reinforced its status as a leading global maritime hub, earning the title of “the crown jewel of the Middle East’s maritime sector,” according to the 2025 International Shipping Centre Development Index report, issued by Xinhua News Agency in collaboration with the Baltic Exchange. The report ranks Dubai among the top five global shipping centres and first in the Arab region.
Sheikh Dr. Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, CEO of the Dubai Maritime Authority, part of the Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation, hailed the achievement stating: “Dubai’s ranking as fifth globally and first in the Arab world in the 2025 International Shipping Centre Development Index reflects the vision of our leadership, as well as the effective coordination between strategic partners and maritime sector companies in the emirate.
We remain committed to continuous development, delivering world-class services, adopting global maritime best practices, implementing innovative solutions, updating regulations, and fostering a thriving maritime business environment to position Dubai as an innovative and sustainable global centre for shipping and logistics.”
The report highlights Dubai’s comprehensive maritime ecosystem, offering navigation services, shipbuilding and repair, and capacity to handle the increasing number of vessels. It also emphasised the Dubai Maritime Transport Plan 2030, aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to expand maritime transport usage, enhance the network of marine transportation, and develop Dubai Maritime City.
The report specifically praised Jebel Ali Port for its strategic role as a regional shipping hub, underpinned by continuous investment in infrastructure and services. In 2024, the port handled 15.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the highest since 2015, accounting for 18% of the total 88.3 million TEUs managed by DP World, the port operator.
On sustainability, the report highlighted Jebel Ali Port’s initiatives to reduce emissions, including the provision of biofuel for ships, installation of 50,000 m² of solar panels for renewable energy, and the use of electric vehicles for container handling—contributing to an annual reduction of 2,000 tons of CO₂ emissions.
Captain Ibrahim Al Blooshi, Executive Director of Dubai Ports Authority, commented: “We take pride in this achievement, which underscores Dubai’s strong position as a global maritime hub. Jebel Ali Port, operated by DP World under the Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation, continues to excel at both regional and international levels.
Dubai Ports Authority is committed to proactive measures to enhance the maritime sector’s contribution to the strategic objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, through its three ports—Jebel Ali, Port Rashid, and Hamriyah—despite global economic challenges and market fluctuations. We are dedicated to preserving the emirate’s marine environment and ensuring the highest operational safety standards in the maritime sector.”
Hasan Hadi, the first filmmaker from Iraq to be selected for the prestigious Cannes Festival, on Saturday won a top prize for his childhood adventure under economic sanctions in “The President’s Cake”.
His first feature-length film follows nine-year-old Lamia after her school teacher picks her to bake the class a cake for President Saddam Hussein’s birthday or risk being denounced for disloyalty.
It is the early 1990s, the country is under crippling UN sanctions, and she and her grandmother can barely afford to eat.
The pair set off from their home in the marshlands into town to try to track down the unaffordable ingredients.
Hadi dedicated his Camera d’Or award, which honours first-time directors, to “every kid or child around the world who somehow finds love, friendship and joy amid war, sanctions and dictatorship.
“You are the real heroes,” he said.
He later shared the stage with dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who won the festival’s Palme D’Or top prize for his “It Was Just an Accident”, the tale of five ordinary Iranians confronting a man they believed tortured them in jail.
“The President’s Cake” has received excellent reviews since premiering last week in the Directors’ Fortnight section. Cinema bible Variety called it a “tragicomic gem”.
Deadline said it was “head and shoulders above” some of the films in the running for the festival’s Palme d’Or top prize, and “could turn out to be Iraq’s first nominee for an Oscar”.
– Palestinian films –
Also from the Middle East, Palestinian director Tawfeek Barhom received his award for his short film “I’m Glad You’re Dead Now”.
After giving thanks, he took the opportunity to mention the war in Gaza.
“In 20 years from now when we are visiting the Gaza Strip, try not to think about the dead and have a nice trip,” he said.
US President Donald Trump sparked controversy this year by saying he wanted to turn the war-ravaged Palestinian territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East”.
Outside the main competition, Gazan twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser on Friday received a directing award in the Certain Regard parallel section for “Once Upon A Time In Gaza”.
One of them dedicated the award to Palestinians, especially those living in their homeland of Gaza, which they left in 2012.
He said that, when they hesitated to return to Cannes to receive the prize, his mother had encouraged him to go and tell the world about the suffering of people in Gaza.
“She said, ‘No, no, no, you have to go. Tell them to stop the genocide’,” he said.
Amnesty International last month said Israel was carrying out a “live-streamed genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza, claims Israel dismissed as “blatant lies”.
