فتيان دجلة

**Published by Arab Scientific Publishers, the English original of the novel “The Watermelon Boys” has been translated under the title "The Boys of the Tigris." The novel is written by Iraqi-Welsh author Rukaiya Al-Zidani and translated by Rabi' Hindi, with review and editing by the Center for Arabization and Programming in Beirut. This novel was nominated for and won the Betty Trask Award, telling a vivid human story that presents a different perspective on the Iraq War.**

In the winter of 1915, while Iraq was engulfed in World War I, young Iraqi Ahmad—who aspired for his country's independence from Ottoman rule—left his quiet family life on the banks of the Tigris to join the revolution led by Britain. At the same time, thousands of miles away, the young Welshman Karoine reluctantly enlisted in the British Army and was sent on a campaign to Mesopotamia. Thus, Karoine and Ahmad's paths crossed, intertwining their fates together; their personalities changed forever, not only because of the experience of war they endured but also due to the injustice and betrayal they both faced.

Rukaiya Al-Zidani's debut novel "The Boys of the Tigris" offers a powerful retelling of the history of British intervention in Iraq, filled with poignant memories and rich with the sorrow and passion that arise when personal loss clashes with political fervor.

**The Author**
Rukaiya Al-Zidani is an Iraqi-Welsh writer who grew up in rural Wales and lived for a time in Gaza and Egypt before finally settling in Morocco. She specialized in modern languages at Durham University in the UK and later worked in journalism, publishing her articles in several international institutions. The author was a resident writer at the London Book Fair in Sharjah in 2020 and participated as a resident writer in Malta in 2023. Her literary works have been published by BBC Radio and in literary anthologies, with her most famous work being the novel "The Boys of the Tigris," published in 2018 and awarded the Betty Trask Award.

Until They Change What Is Within Themselves Joint Patrols: Security Coordination Between Damascus, SDF, and the International Coalition

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”