RIYADH: YouTube on Monday launched a new hub called Batala (youtube.com/batala) just for female creators from the Middle East and North Africa, which featured more than 100 female creators from the region.
Announced during an event in Riyadh, the channel has more than 1,000 videos and is categorized by genres such as comedy, education, fitness, and many more. The hub will also highlight a new list of creators every month at the top of the channel.
“With the continuing growth of female content creators in MENA, we want to keep the momentum going. With YouTube Batala, discovering new creators and their work is now easier than ever. The hub highlights the work of some of our best creators in the region, and showcases high-quality Arabic content to YouTube’s 1 billion users,” head of YouTube Partnerships in the Middle East of North Africa Diana Baddar said.
“We continuously grow the amount of Arabic content that exists on YouTube, and that is due to the fact that all these creators that you see here today took the first step and got on to the platform,” she added.
“We are seeing on a day-to-day basis that more and more creators are opening their own channels, making content that interests them with the hope that it would interest other people, so we expect a growth in content creation in the region.”
YouTube Batala highlighted top creators from Saudi Arabia like Njoud Al-Shammari, a lifestyle YouTuber, Hatoun Kadi, owner of the Noon Al-Niswa channel, Al-Jauhara Sajer, discusses fashion and beauty tip on her channel, Hissa Al-Awwad, who specializes in nail art, Amirah Al-Abbas, owner of the Qawareer channel, Rana Al-Ahmadi, a make-up artist.
The event also featured Enji Aboul Seoud, an amateur film critic from Egypt, and Haifa Bseiso, a travel vlogger from Palestine. It also featured top MENA creators such as Noor Stars and Hayla Ghazal, who each have more than 2 million subscribers.
The announcement comes as the supply and demand of female-related content continues to grow on the platform. In the Middle East and North Africa alone, the total number of hours spent watching female-related videos grew by 50 percent in 2015. While in Saudi Arabia, the Consumer Connected Survey found that 63 percent of Saudi females are motivated to watch their most recent online video sensation to be entertained or inspired.
YouTube Batala kicked off with morning panels/workshops lasting until 3:30 p.m., with female creators discussing challenges and opportunities for women and brand building on YouTube, and the importance of female-led content, the value of female presence in media, and how to deal with harassment.
Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, vice president for women’s affairs of the General Sports Authority, held an essential panel conversation motivating young women to build a better reality despite their frustrating surroundings/circumstances.
Princess Reema shed light on her 10KSA, an awareness campaign highlighting breast cancer.
“Batala, or heroine in today’s meaning, is the one who thinks about herself and others around her, and how to benefit others,” said Al-Saud.
Asked about Alf Khair, a social enterprise, founded by the princess, she said that there is nothing wrong with working and getting money in return. However, in today’s logic, if your work doesn’t benefit your society, it means it has no sustainability and scalability, and you want to develop it in order to succeed; but if you don’t develop it, it will remain a small business, which okay, too, but small business doesn’t benefit the whole society.
Al-Saud discussed problems facing women in the retail/sales sector, which led her to withdraw from the administration department at Harvey Nichols and head to Amsterdam to join the Think program school for creative leadership.
“The women in retail do not have the training that they need as women before entering the labor market,” she added.
The princess also pointed out the importance of the self-branding tool kit, “If you need to approach/achieve your goals in a certain area, your need to develop that area in yourself, and then go from self-branding to self-sufficiency.”
“Self-sufficiency is financial independence. The money in your hand today, is the money you will live on 10 years from now. Self-sufficiency teaches you how to invest in yourself and what your priorities are, and how to develop yourself to reach your desired distention.”
Talking about the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, Al-Saud said that we want a healthy society and a healthy generation, “that’s my goal!“
She advised creators and those who wish to be content creators to focus on the product they are marketing, “you have a responsibility. Pick the product well, pick the project well, pick your program well, and pick your message well. Think about how to build a good reputation and bring something to the table. Find the hole in the market and focus on your essence.”
“I am very proud of what is happening, because where we were four years ago to where we are today, there has been a massive growth! We have thousands of channels in Arabic created by Arabic female content creators. That in itself proves that women haven’t found the content that interests them as much, so they felt the need to create it themselves,” Baddar said.
“Because we still haven’t reached the peak of Arabic content creation, these girls are stars in their own right, as people are hungry for Arabic content so they are driven to these channels,” she added.
The female-only YouTube Batala event exceed Baddar’s expectations, for today, “the region has such a large number of creators expressing themselves and talking about their journeys on the platform, and what we see here with all these people around us, it was the best opportunity, and it is not the last one in Saudi Arabia.”
Baddar revealed a coming YouTube event in early 2017, “stay tuned for something else that will impress you even more by the size of event compared to this one.”
YouTube Batala hub kicks off for first time in Saudi Arabia
YouTube Batala hub kicks off for first time in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Falcons Club CEO and Kazakhstan ambassador discuss ways to boost cooperation
RIYADH: The CEO of the Saudi Falcons Club, Ahmed Al-Hababi, met Kazakhstan’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Madiyar Menilbekov, in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss opportunities for cooperation and ways in which these might be enhanced to benefit mutual goals.
One of the topics was the Hadad Program, a leading initiative developed by the club with the aim of returning falcons to their natural habitats and saving the species from the threat of extinction.
Menilbekov praised the club for the important role it plays in enhancing falconry and preserving its cultural heritage.
The club said the meeting was part of its efforts to strengthen international partnerships in keeping with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification.
Saudi envoy to US outlines efforts to maintain safety of Saudi citizens amid LA wildfires
LOS ANGELES: Saudi ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar, reaffirmed on Thursday the embassy’s commitment to the safety and security of Saudi citizens in Los Angeles and surrounding areas impacted by wildfires, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In a statement, Princess Reema emphasized that the embassy and the consulate general were working tirelessly to support citizens affected by the fires.
She highlighted that ensuring their well-being remains a top priority for Saudi diplomatic missions in the United States.
She said the team was monitoring the situation closely and was prepared to provide immediate assistance to those in need. The embassy and consulate were dedicated to ensuring the security and safety of all Saudi citizens in affected areas, she added.
The embassy and consulate have activated a round-the-clock response team to address concerns and offer necessary support, SPA added.
The wildfires in California have prompted widespread evacuations and caused significant disruptions in the Los Angeles area, with officials working to contain the blazes.
KAUST conducts research study on microbiomes in glacier-fed streams
- Collaboration with scientists from Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne
RIYADH: The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with scientists from the Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne, has conducted an unprecedented, in-depth study on microbiomes — microorganisms that live symbiotically with humans or other organisms — in glacier-fed streams.
These streams, originating from glaciers atop the Earth’s highest mountains, harbor a wealth of unique microorganisms.
The research team collected and analyzed samples from 170 glacier-fed streams over five years across regions including New Zealand, the Himalayas, the Russian Caucasus, the Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains, the European Alps, the Scandinavian Alps, Greenland, Alaska, the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda, and the Ecuadorian and Chilean Andes, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The findings, published in the renowned scientific journal Nature, represent the first global reference for microbiomes in glacier-fed streams.
These streams, which are among the most extreme natural freshwater ecosystems in the world, are located at mountain summits and are characterized by near-freezing temperatures and low nutrient levels.
They also serve as the origin for many of the world’s largest rivers, functioning as vital water reservoirs for the planet.
KAUST researcher Dr. Ramona Marasco emphasized that glacier-fed streams were highly vulnerable to climate change.
She spoke of the importance of establishing a baseline for their microbiomes to better understand the rate of ecological change, while highlighting KAUST’s extensive genetic sequencing efforts, which have significantly contributed to creating a comprehensive picture of these endangered microbiomes.
The researchers successfully developed the first global atlas of microorganisms in glacier-fed streams.
Their work revealed that these streams harbor a unique microbiome distinct from other cryospheric systems, such as glaciers, frozen soils, and ice-covered lakes.
About half of the bacterial species in these streams are endemic to specific mountain ranges. The scientists attribute this phenomenon to the geographical isolation of mountain ranges, similar to islands, and to the powerful natural selection exerted by the harsh conditions in glacier-fed streams.
Saudi swimmer’s remarkable 30km swim from Alkhobar to Bahrain
- Mariam Binladen’s feat of endurance and grit completed in over 11 hours
JEDDAH: In a remarkable feat of endurance and determination, Saudi Arabia’s Dr. Mariam Binladen recently completed the Khalid bin Hamad Swimming Challenge, covering a distance of 30km from Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia, to Salman City, Bahrain.
Binladen achieved this incredible feat in 11 hours, 25 minutes and 47 seconds.
Among her achievements, the open-water swimmer became the first Arab woman to cross the Red Sea to Egypt in October 2022, and the first to traverse Dubai Creek with a swim of 24 km in 2017.
In addition, she was the first woman from the Gulf to swim across the English Channel, covering 33.5 km in August 2016.
Speaking to Arab News about her feat on Dec. 26, Binladen said: “This swim was on my radar for 7 years.
“Unfortunately it was difficult to find an optimum window to do the challenge, primarily because weather conditions in the Gulf of Bahrain are incredibly difficult to predict.
“I had to study the sea very well taking into account the tides, wind speed, wave patterns, swells, water temperature and marine life cycles in order to minimize risk and achieve this goal.”
She added: “Amongst the many challenges of this event was swimming at night in the dark, in fluctuating cold-to-warm water temperatures, with the added complexity of tidal changes.
“As a way of mitigating the hazardous conditions the swim started at the Water Tower at Alkhobar at 1:50 a.m. Visibility was zero so I was swimming blind coupled with water temperatures ranging from 17 to 22 degrees.
“Instead of feeding every 30 minutes I fed every 15 minutes to avoid hypothermia and to maintain my body heat until sunrise, which was half-way through the swim.
“The tide in this area shifts every six hours which meant swimming part of the way against the tide which requires a huge amount of stamina and mental agility in order not to become exhausted.”
She added: “Each challenge poses its own distinct difficulties and unique set of conditions; during the Red Sea swim it was how to maneuver around sharks and avoid their feeding times.
“The English Channel, for example, was freezing cold and it is a busy shipping lane so it was necessary to address those concerns and plan accordingly.
“The Bahrain swim was undoubtedly hazardous and posed many issues, the distance being one of them. Before any swim I undertake area studies, conditions, risks and train to mitigate risks and for the conditions that I will face. Of course there are always some surprises.”
She has faced other challenges during her career. “My most unusual swim was in an ice glacier in Switzerland, this challenge was to swim in (minus) 2 degrees for 85 meters.
“I undertook extensive physical and cognitive training in order to prepare for this unique challenge. The burn of the ice-cold water will remain with me forever.”
In addition to being an athlete and dentist, Binladen also helps refugees and creates awareness through her platform, which has been acknowledged by organizations worldwide.
In 2016, she opened the first free medical facility of its kind for dental treatment in a Syrian refugee camp in Azraq, Jordan.
“Of course it is rewarding to treat any patients, I love to help people in any capacity I can, whether through treatment, inspiring them in sport or supporting them to swim gives me enormous satisfaction.”
As the Kingdom empowers women, Binladen said that she is delighted to be living at a time when Saudi women can pursue their ambitions in the workplace, sports and business.
“My advice to Saudi women is to never give up on your dream, with hard work and dedication you can fulfill your goals.”
On her future, she said: “It’s a common question, everybody is interested to know what’s next. All I can say is that I have a few possibilities in the pipeline and am carrying out area studies at the moment.”
“My ambition is to lead a fulfilling life in which I am constantly learning, developing, growing and making a positive impact on those around me, through my career, relationships or personal endeavors.
“I strive to pursue excellence and leave a lasting legacy that inspires others.”
Authority warns against overuse of ginseng by pregnant women, says no proof of safety
- Adverse effects of the plant-based supplement include insomnia or high blood pressure when used in large doses, warns SFDA
- It stressed that stressed that herbal supplements should be used with caution, like any other medicine
RIYADH: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority has warned against overuse of the herb ginseng due to possible negative side-effects and the lack of evidence of its safety for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Adverse effects of the plant-based supplement include insomnia or high blood pressure when used in large doses, and the SFDA warned that there was no proof of it being safe to use during pregnancy, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
In addition, the herb may interfere with medicines for blood thinners, diabetes, heart conditions, insomnia and schizophrenia, and can interact negatively with caffeine, it said.
Ginseng, known by its scientific name Panax ginseng, is used in alternative medicine for its purported effects on energy levels, concentration and mood.
The recommended average dose is between one and two grams of the root, taken three to four times a day, for between three and four weeks, according to the report.
SFDA further stressed that herbal supplements should be used with caution, like any other medicine.
It added that claims about the safety of such supplements not supported by evidence should be handled with caution, and advised consulting a doctor before using them.
Herbal supplements can also interfere with certain foods, as well as medication, the authority added.
SFDA provides a list of prohibited medicinal plants and cosmetic products on its official website: https://www.sfda.gov.sa/ar/informationlist/66327.
