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Saudi women must share their stories with pride, Princess Noura Al-Saud tells London forum

Balakleets says women are 'united by their belief in making a creative impact'. (AN Photo/Mustafa Abu Sneineh)
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Balakleets says women are 'united by their belief in making a creative impact'. (AN Photo/Mustafa Abu Sneineh)
Shaikha Fouz Al-Sabah, founder of Khaleejesque, a Kuwait-based online magazine that covers the cultures of the Arab Gulf youth. (AN Photo/Mustafa Abu Sneineh)
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Shaikha Fouz Al-Sabah, founder of Khaleejesque, a Kuwait-based online magazine that covers the cultures of the Arab Gulf youth. (AN Photo/Mustafa Abu Sneineh)
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Updated 12 May 2025

Saudi women must share their stories with pride, Princess Noura Al-Saud tells London forum

Saudi women must share their stories with pride, Princess Noura Al-Saud tells London forum
  • The founder of 2 leading Saudi cultural spaces was speaking at the Creative Women Platform
  • Networking forum’s CEO, Olga Balakleets, says women are ‘united by their belief in making a creative impact’

LONDON: Saudi creatives are writing and telling their stories to the world after years of borrowing the narratives of others, Princess Noura Al-Saud, the founder of two leading Saudi cultural spaces, said on Wednesday.

“Finally, now, we are taking ownership and writing our own stories. We are proud of it and are showcasing who we really are. (We’re) not trying to fit into other people’s expectations,” she said.

Princess Noura was speaking at the annual networking forum of the Creative Women Platform, of which she is a Saudi patron, at Plaisterers' Hall in London’s Square Mile.

She is the the founder of Rukun Creative Exchange and AlMashtal Creative Space, a destination for creatives in Riyadh to receive support and nurture their talent.

On Wednesday, she joined dozens of entrepreneurs, policymakers and business leaders from the food, steel and sports sectors, as well as philanthropists and fitness experts, to discuss sustainability and the role of women in shaping the future.

 I tell (Saudi women) to be proud and share their stories as it will inspire others.

Princess Noura Al-Saud

She acknowledged that building a space for creatives could be relatively easy but said that the most critical factor was creating a place of belonging where people could share meaningful experiences.

At AlMashtal, which means plant nursery in Arabic, the focus was on the tiny details, such as the interior design and the background music, to foster a cultural identity in the space, Princess Noura said.

“Nature is a major source of inspiration for me. Plant nurseries provide the right climate and nutrition, so the plant builds strong roots to live in the outside world, and this is also our goal at AlMashtal,” she told Arab News.

AlMashtal, founded in 2019, has four labs focusing on creativity, business, glass and sound, and offers workshops, mentorship and other resources. The space has become essential for sharing ideas, networking and experimenting among Saudi creatives, Princess Noura said.

She told Arab News that Saudi women in the private sector who work in sciences, technology and entrepreneurship should “speak more about their work and achievements, and show the efforts it took to reach this stage.

“I tell them to be proud and share their stories as it will inspire others,” she added.

Coming to (the Creative Women Platform), I feel really inspired and the women here have become role models, and I'm learning a lot from them.

Aswar Kadie, CEO of Aswar Sports Agency

Ƶ’s Vision 2030 has transformed women’s lives in the Kingdom through a series of reforms since 2016 that empowered them to take part in the workforce and business. There are increased opportunities for women to pursue careers in the creative industries such as design, architecture, film, fashion and the arts. The Kingdom made “major strides” in the cultural sectors, according to a 2024 Harvard Business Review report, driven by a “commitment to preserving and showcasing its abundant history, national identity and heritage.”

During a conversation with Olga Balakleets, founder and CEO of the Creative Women Platform, Princess Noura said: “Creativity is essential to life. It is what grounds us ... it is how we connect, and it has always been that for me, and my mission is to help others see and understand that.”

Balakleets told Arab News that her journey with the forum was “an exciting one,” and added that creative women are “united by their belief in making a creative impact,” contributing positively to society by finding solutions to global problems.

At Wednesday’s event, speakers included author and philanthropist Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York; Shaikha Fouz Al-Sabah, founder of Khaleejesque, a Kuwait-based online magazine that covers the cultures of the Arab Gulf youth; and Tessa Clarke, co-founder and CEO of Olio, a community app designed to help people share food and reduce waste. Daniela Baumann, CEO of LOFTI Studios, spoke about the ups and downs that led her to establish a series of pole fitness studios, while Paula Owen, founder and CEO of ECO Action Games, highlighted the importance of raising climate awareness through games and avoiding tactics that induce guilt or fear.

Creative women are united by their belief in making a creative impact, contributing positively to society by finding solutions to global problems.

Olga Balakleets, CEO of the Creative Women Platform

Aswar Kadie, a young entrepreneur of Somali descent who grew up in Sweden, is the founder and CEO of Aswar Sports Agency, established in 2021. She told Arab News that Aswar’s clientele includes football players under 18 and 21 in the Premier League and La Liga academies.

She recently returned from a visit to the Kingdom and said her agency is set to be involved with the Saudi Ministry of Sport as the country prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034. She described the Creative Women Platform as a “huge” opportunity for a woman entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry.

“I always worked with men in a very competitive environment ... coming (to this event), I feel really inspired and the women here have become role models and I’m learning a lot from them,” she said.

The Creative Women Platform will return to Riyadh next November to feature Saudi entrepreneurs and leaders from various sectors, according to organizers.

Since launching in 2016, the networking forum has celebrated the leadership and entrepreneurial achievements of women from more than 50 countries.


Arrest tally grows after Philippine anti corruption protest clashes

Updated 12 sec ago

Arrest tally grows after Philippine anti corruption protest clashes

Arrest tally grows after Philippine anti corruption protest clashes
MANILA: Police in the Philippine capital arrested more than 200 people during clashes with masked protesters that erupted on a day of largely peaceful anti-corruption demonstrations, a spokesperson said Monday.
At least 88 minors were among the initial count of 216 taken into custody Sunday as police deployed water cannons and deafening sirens against crowds of mostly young, rock-throwing protesters.
Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno said a 12-year-old boy was the youngest detained.
Thousands of Filipinos rallied in Manila on Sunday to vent their anger over a ballooning scandal involving bogus flood-control projects believed to have cost taxpayers billions of dollars.
The scandal has seen numerous lawmakers implicated and the leaders of both houses of Congress step down from their positions during an investigation.
But Sunday’s street battles, which saw multiple police vehicles set ablaze and the windows of a precinct headquarters shattered, threatened to overshadow demonstrations that had been filled with families, activists, clergy and politicians.
“So far, none of them are saying the reasons behind their actions or if somebody paid them to do it,” regional police spokesperson Major Hazel Asilo told AFP.
“As soon as we know their affiliations, we can know if they were part of the protesters or if they were just causing trouble,” she added.
According to a statement released Monday by the department of health, about 50 people were brought to a single Manila hospital following the clashes.
Another police spokesperson, Major Philipp Ines, said 93 officers had been injured on Sunday, while adding the number of arrested could yet rise as people were still being processed.
Rage over the so-called ghost infrastructure projects has been mounting in the Southeast Asian country since President Ferdinand Marcos put them center stage in a July state of the nation address that followed weeks of deadly flooding.
The Department of Finance has estimated the Philippine economy lost up to 118.5 billion pesos ($2 billion) from 2023 to 2025 due to corruption in flood control projects.
Greenpeace has suggested the number is actually closer to $18 billion.
The Philippines was expecting heavy flooding on Monday as Super Typhoon Ragasa bore down on the country’s northernmost provinces.
The archipelago nation is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, putting millions of people in disaster-prone areas in a state of constant poverty.

Russia, Ukraine trade blame for deadly overnight strikes

Russia, Ukraine trade blame for deadly overnight strikes
Updated 2 min 6 sec ago

Russia, Ukraine trade blame for deadly overnight strikes

Russia, Ukraine trade blame for deadly overnight strikes

MOSCOW: The head of the Kremlin-backed government in annexed Crimea blamed Ukraine on Monday for a deadly drone strike, while Kyiv said a Russian attack had killed three people in the country’s southeast.
Sergey Aksyonov said the Ukrainian military had targeted the Crimean resort town of Foros, damaging the grounds of a sanatorium and a school building.
“According to updated data, three people were killed and 16 were wounded as a result of (the) UAV attack,” Aksyonov said on Telegram.
Fragments of the downed drone also caused a fire near the coastal city of Yalta, he said.
Russia’s defense ministry called the strike a “terrorist attack” and initially put the death toll at two.
Ukraine said Moscow had carried out 46 air strikes on its territory as of 10:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Sunday.
Kyiv said overnight Russian strikes in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia had killed three people and wounded two others, one seriously.
Russian forces had “dropped at least five” bombs on the city, according to Ivan Fedorov, the head of the regional military administration.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and wants Kyiv and Western countries to recognize the peninsula as part of its territory.
Ukrainian forces frequently carry out strikes on the heavily fortified region, including on a bridge connecting it to the Russian mainland.
After meeting Russian leader Vladimir Putin for high-profile talks last month, US President Donald Trump said Ukraine would not be able to regain Crimea as part of a peace deal.
Progress toward a truce has stalled since that flurry of diplomacy, which also saw Trump hold a separate meeting with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.


World summit to meet on two-state solution as support grows for Palestinian state

World summit to meet on two-state solution as support grows for Palestinian state
Updated 6 min 10 sec ago

World summit to meet on two-state solution as support grows for Palestinian state

World summit to meet on two-state solution as support grows for Palestinian state
  • The summit, ahead of this week’s United Nations General Assembly, follows Israel’s launch of a long-threatened ground assault on Gaza City

UNITED NATIONS: France and Ƶ will convene dozens of world leaders on Monday to rally support for a two-state solution, with several of them expected to formally recognize a Palestinian state – a move that could draw harsh Israeli and US responses.
Israel and the United States will boycott the summit, said Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon, describing the event as a “circus.” “We don’t think it’s helpful. We think it’s actually rewarding terrorism,” he told reporters on Thursday.
Israel is considering annexing part of the occupied West Bank as a possible response as well as specific bilateral measures against Paris, Israeli officials have said.
The US administration has also warned of possible consequences for those who take measures against Israel, including against France, whose president, Emmanuel Macron, is hosting the New York summit.
The summit, ahead of this week’s United Nations General Assembly, follows Israel’s launch of a long-threatened ground assault on Gaza City and amid few prospects for a ceasefire two years after Palestinian Islamist militants Hamas attacked Israel, triggering the war in the Palestinian enclave.
Amid Israel’s intensified Gaza offensive and escalating violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, there is a growing sense of urgency to act now before the idea of a two-state solution vanishes forever.
The General Assembly endorsed a seven-page declaration this month outlining “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps” toward a two-state solution, while also condemning Hamas and calling it to surrender and disarm.
Those efforts drew immediate rebukes from Israel and the United States, calling them harmful and a publicity stunt.
“The New York Declaration is not a vague promise for the distant future, but rather a roadmap that begins with the top priorities: a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza,” France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told reporters on Thursday.
“Once the ceasefire and release of hostages are achieved, the next step is a plan for the day after, which will be on the agenda for Monday’s discussions.”
France is hoping that Macron’s announcement in July that he would recognize a Palestinian state would give greater momentum to a movement hitherto dominated by smaller nations that are generally more critical of Israel.
Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal all recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday. France and five other states are expected to also formally recognize a Palestinian state on Monday.
Some have said there would be conditions and others have said normalization of diplomatic ties would be phased and dependent on how the Palestinian Authority advances in its promises to reform.
In Gaza, Palestinians were fleeing Israeli attacks on Gaza City on Sunday.
Displaced Palestinian Nabeel Jaber expressed doubts that recognition of a Palestinian state would bring tangible progress because no countries will push Israel enough to agree to a two-state solution.
“Even if countries such as Australia, Canada, and France – who are now among those initiating this recognition – acknowledge Palestine, I believe there will still be no serious pressure on Israel to grant the Palestinians their rights,” he said.
“I also hope that diplomatically, this recognition by major world powers with global influence will serve as a tool to pressure, strong enough to push for a complete ceasefire and an end to the war.”
Residents of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Palestinians want to establish a homeland, appeared more optimistic.
“It is a victory for the historic rights of the Palestinians,” said Mohammed Abu Al-Fahim.
In Tel Aviv, Israelis, still angered by the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, said the Palestinians turned down many chances to establish a state in the past.
“We’ve offered them peace about five times. They could have agreed to any one of those, and they never, ever chose peace. So why do we need to choose peace with people who want to kidnap, murder, rape our people? I don’t think we need to do that,” said film student Tamara Raveh, 25.
The Hamas attack killed 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s ensuing campaign in Gaza has killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to local health authorities, spread famine and displaced most of the population – often multiple times.
Israel has said it is opposed to the move and has no confidence in the 89-year-old Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas keeping pledges to reform and modernize as outlined in a letter to Macron earlier this year.
Abbas and dozens of Palestinian officials will not be there in person. The US, a staunch Israeli ally, refused to issue visas and Abbas is due to appear via video.
The General Assembly agreed on Friday – by consensus, without a vote – that he could appear via video at Monday’s meeting.
“The world is saying out loud a Palestinian state and we need to materialize it. Now they need to show what these measures are,” Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin told reporters on Sunday.


Nepal panel to probe violence during anti-graft protests that killed 74

Nepal panel to probe violence during anti-graft protests that killed 74
Updated 14 min 1 sec ago

Nepal panel to probe violence during anti-graft protests that killed 74

Nepal panel to probe violence during anti-graft protests that killed 74
  • The demonstrations, which began as a Gen Z led movement against widespread corruption and a lack of jobs, escalated into the Himalayan nation’s deadliest violence in decades

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s interim government, led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, has set up a panel to investigate the violence during anti-corruption protests this month that killed 74 people and forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to quit, a minister said on Monday.
The demonstrations, which began as a Gen Z-led movement against widespread corruption and a lack of jobs, escalated into the Himalayan nation’s deadliest violence in decades.
More than 2,100 people were injured while protesters set fire to the main office complex that houses the prime minister’s office, the Supreme Court and the parliament building as well as malls, luxury hotels and showrooms that the demonstrators said were owned by people close to corrupt politicians.
Rameshwore Khanal, who Karki put in charge of the finance ministry, said the three-member panel headed by retired judge Gauri Bahadur Karki had been given three months to complete the probe.
“It will investigate ... the loss of life and property during the protests, excesses by both sides and people involved in the acts of arson and vandalism during the movement,” Khanal told Reuters.
In a social media post, former Prime Minister Oli also demanded an investigation into the violence and said his government did not order police to fire at the protesters. The protests were infiltrated by outsiders and police did not possess the type of weapons which were used to fire on the crowd, Oli said.
Karki is the former chairman of a special court that hears corruption cases in Nepal and has a reputation for honesty and integrity.


UK explores plan to abolish visa fees for top global talent, FT reports

UK explores plan to abolish visa fees for top global talent, FT reports
Updated 22 September 2025

UK explores plan to abolish visa fees for top global talent, FT reports

UK explores plan to abolish visa fees for top global talent, FT reports
  • Starmer’s “global talent task force” is working on ideas to lure to the UK the world’s best scientists, academics and digital experts

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is exploring proposals to abolish some visa fees for top global talent at a time when the US has taken a tougher stance on immigration, the Financial Times reported on Monday.
Starmer’s “global talent task force” is working on ideas to lure to the UK the world’s best scientists, academics and digital experts, seeking to boost economic growth, the report said.
The Treasury department and Downing Street did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
US President Donald Trump said his country would impose a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas from Sunday, in line with a wide-ranging immigration crackdown.