BOSTON: A jury in Boston ordered the payment of $3.5 million to visiting Saudi researcher at Harvard University.
Hayat Sindi had filed a defamation suit against a woman and her mother, who had publicly accused Sindi of forging her educational qualifications.
Sindi's lawyer said she filed the case against Samia El-Moslymani and her mother Ann, 77, saying: “The daughter and her mother were engaged in a campaign to embarrass and humiliate her and destroy her by publicly spreading lies on the Internet, social media and e-mails.”
The comments made by Samia and her mother were lies, the lawyer said. He pointed out that with the decision, Sindi could resume her efforts to promote sciences and entrepreneurship among youths in the Middle East. He said that the work which researcher Sindi was doing derailed due to the accusations, which harmed her reputation.
Sindi is a Saudi researcher and inventor who had faced difficulties in Saudi Arabia and received her doctorate degree in biotechnology for electromagnetic and acoustic measurement tools from Cambridge University. She was selected as one of the 100 most powerful Arab women for the year 2015 by the Arabian Business magazine.
After getting her doctorate degree, Sindi set up her own company for research in sensor technology. She moved very fast, despite being young, and reached Harvard University as a visiting researcher working at a major laboratory from where many important discoveries and healing medicines have emerged. At the George Whiteside Lab, the Saudi researcher, with the lab’s scientific team, came out with an innovation described as having the ability to change the human life.
On the basis of this, she established a non-profit company with the university to operationalize this innovation known as “Diagnostics for All.” It can be described as a kind of sensor made of paper. It doesn’t cost more than a cent and is easy to use and carry. It can help a human being anywhere, particularly poor people who cannot reach a doctor or hospital. It can indicate the diseases and monitor their health, replacing heavy and large diagnostic machines. It is expected that every year. this innovation could save the lives of 4-5 five million people, suffering from malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis and water pollution.
Saudi researcher wins $3.5m in defamation suit
Saudi researcher wins $3.5m in defamation suit
Children’s Theater Festival opens in Qassim region
- To develop future ‘cultural architects,’ says CEO Khaled Al-Baz
- ‘Nurture creativity, aesthetic awareness and sense of belonging’
BURAIDAH: The Qassim Children’s Theater Festival opened on Tuesday bringing together professionals from across Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.
The event is being held under the patronage of Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, governor of Qassim, at the Science Center in Unaizah governorate.
It has been Organized by the Theater and Performing Arts Association and executed by the Unaizah Theater Association, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Running until Jan. 31, it features shows, panel discussions, as well as training workshops to develop children’s theater and strengthen professional skills in the field.
Khaled Al-Baz, CEO of the Theater and Performing Arts Association, told the SPA the festival forms part of a broader strategy to position children’s theater as a distinct cultural sector.
“Children today constitute genuine audiences — tomorrow’s cultural architects,” Al-Baz said.
Ahmed Al-Humaimidi, president of the Unaizah Theater Association, said it was an investment in young people, noting that it extends beyond performances to include cultural and educational programming.
He said the initiative aims to nurture creativity, aesthetic awareness and a sense of belonging, while also identifying emerging talent and encouraging knowledge exchange among theater practitioners.
“Our association recognizes children’s theater as foundational to cultivating aware, creative character,” he said.
The festival serves as both an artistic showcase and a platform for professional dialogue, reflecting the Kingdom’s expanding cultural landscape and growing focus on children’s theater as an educational and cultural tool, the SPA noted.
This occurs alongside support for signature initiatives and performing arts promotion as quality-of-life enhancement.
