RIYADH: The Ministry of Health recently announced its plans to launch the second phase of its initiative to reduce obesity among schoolchildren.
According to an official from the ministry, the formal launch was made in February this year in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and 160 public and private schools, targeting some 50,000 students at all levels.
Under the program, teams of officials from the ministries of health and education will visit schools and conduct preliminary tests on boys and girls to evaluate their weight and height to determine their level of obesity.
As part of the program, educational lectures on the importance of a balanced diet and physical activity will be delivered.
Within the framework of its efforts, the Ministry of Health, represented by the Media and Health Awareness General Department, has developed many programs to lose weight by reducing the number of calories consumed by the individual and increasing physical activities.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. The problem is global and is steadily affecting many low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings.
Overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood and more prone to develop non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age. Obesity, as well as its related diseases, are largely preventable.
According to Saad Salman Al-Qarni, from the King Saud Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is now among the nations with the highest obesity and overweight rates due to a number of factors.
He said research reveals that the rate of obesity is significantly high in the country among different age groups and occupations; at different locations in the country; and among both males and females.
The main factors causing obesity include family history, diet pattern and eating habits, genetic factors, marital status, hypertension, and lack of physical activity.
The major consequences are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and ischemic heart disease.
Research has stressed the need to raise awareness on obesity and design programs and strategies to combat it in the Kingdom.
Saudi health, education ministries ready for second phase to reduce obesity among students
Saudi health, education ministries ready for second phase to reduce obesity among students
King Abdulaziz Foundation launches Darah Documents initiative for greater accessibility to records
- Initiative seeks to connect new generations with their heritage and enhance the role of historic documents as primary sources for helping to understand the Kingdom’s past
- Darah Documents features a digital system that supports browsing and advanced search capabilities
RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives has unveiled the Darah Documents initiative, a project designed to broaden public access to Saudi Arabia’s historic records and deepen national awareness of their significance.
The initiative, which was launched on Monday, seeks to connect new generations with their heritage and enhance the role of historic documents as primary sources for helping to understand the Kingdom’s past.
At the heart of the initiative is a digital portal and beneficiary services center, which together offer researchers, historians and interested individuals streamlined access to a diverse range of archival materials.
These collections span local and foreign documents, manuscripts, photographs, oral histories and more, covering topics from politics and the economy to society, culture and education.
Darah Documents features a digital system that supports browsing and advanced search capabilities. Users can request documents electronically or explore them directly at the beneficiary services center.
The platform also provides descriptive information and translations for non-Arabic content, making the archives more accessible to a broader audience.
As a nationally recognized authority on historic preservation, the foundation is committed to collecting, organizing, cataloging and digitizing documents according to rigorous scientific and archival standards.
This phased initiative includes ongoing indexing and the release of high-value historic records, ensuring their preservation and optimal use for research and cultural enrichment.
Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, Darah Documents reinforces national identity and supports the Kingdom’s digital and knowledge transformation by making historic content more widely available.
First graduates complete KSGAAL’s linguistic proofreading course
- Abdullah Al-Washmi said the program reflected the academy’s commitment to empowering the Arabic language within government institutions
- One-year program is open to professionals working in editing and proofreading roles within government agencies
RIYADH: The first cohort of the Higher Diploma in Linguistic Proofreading program at the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language celebrated their graduation on Tuesday.
The ceremony was held at the academy’s headquarters in Riyadh and attended by prominent academics, students and trainers.
Abdullah Al-Washmi, the academy's secretary-general, said the program reflected the academy’s commitment to empowering the Arabic language within government institutions.
He added the program was a pioneering model in supporting the professional development of Arabic language specialists.
The one-year program is open to professionals working in editing and proofreading roles within government agencies and is accredited by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
The training pathway designed by the academy focuses on preparing specialized national linguistic teams.
Its methodology integrates theoretical and practical aspects to meet the needs of government sectors and enhance the efficiency of Arabic language usage.
Tuesday’s ceremony saw 60 graduates honored for completing the program, which includes 435 training hours delivered by 16 trainers.
Saudi Arabia’s Uruq Bani Ma’arid gains spot on global conservation list
- UNESCO World Heritage Site praised for ecological restoration, biodiversity efforts
- Uruq Bani Ma’arid has implemented a breeding and reintroduction program for the endangered Arabian oryx
RIYADH: Uruq Bani Ma’arid, one of Saudi Arabia’s most ecologically significant protected areas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been admitted to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas.
The recognition confirms the site’s global ecological importance and highlights the Kingdom’s growing leadership in conserving arid-land habitats, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia’s inclusion of Uruq Bani Ma’arid follows earlier Green List achievements, notably the Ibex Protected Area and the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve.
These milestones reflect sustained progress toward excellence in protected-area management, according to the SPA report.
Uruq Bani Ma’arid covers 12,765 sq. km at the western edge of the Empty Quarter — the world’s largest continuous sand desert — and harbors the greatest biodiversity in the region. In 2023, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding natural value.
The union’s Green List sets the global benchmark for effective and equitable protected-area management. To qualify, sites must demonstrate transparent governance, measurable conservation outcomes and meaningful engagement with local stakeholders.
Uruq Bani Ma’arid met the criteria through integrated planning, resilient ecological monitoring and habitat restoration programs, the SPA reported.
Under the stewardship of the National Center for Wildlife, Uruq Bani Ma’arid has implemented a breeding and reintroduction program for the endangered Arabian oryx.
Mohammad Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, said: “Uruq Bani Ma’arid exemplifies what science-guided conservation can achieve in extreme landscapes. Its inclusion on the IUCN Green List reflects our dedication to protecting biodiversity and delivering real conservation impact at both national and global levels.”
He added that the milestone supports Saudi Arabia’s contribution to the global 30x30 biodiversity target — protecting 30 percent of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030 — and aligns with the Saudi Green Initiative, a core pillar of Vision 2030.
Islamic coalition launches training program in Comoros
- Organized by the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, the initiative is part of the organization’s broader intellectual strategy
- Comoros Defense Minister Youssoufa Mohamed Ali reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the coalition in combating extremism and eradicating terrorism
RIYADH: A new training program, “Building the Capacity of Imams and Preachers,” has been launched in Moroni, Comoros, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
Organized by the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, the initiative is part of the organization’s broader intellectual strategy.
Comoros Defense Minister Youssoufa Mohamed Ali reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the coalition in combating extremism and eradicating terrorism.
He highlighted the coalition’s key role, particularly its focus on intellectual engagement, and said the program’s launch was a significant step forward.
Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Moghedi, the coalition’s secretary-general from Saudi Arabia, said the initiative was part of a wider effort involving 15 strategic programs across four areas — intellectual development, media, counter-terrorism financing and military operations.
Recently, the coalition held specialized training on combating terrorist financing in Bamako, Mali. The program aimed to strengthen national capacity to counter terrorist financing and money laundering.
MWL chief, UK speaker hold talks on social unity, countering hate speech
- Two officials highlighted importance of combating hate speech, discrimination and exclusion — especially when stemming from influential legal or institutional sources
LONDON: Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa met UK House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle in London.
They discussed the foundations of social cohesion in religiously and ethnically diverse societies, highlighting mutual respect and the need for legislation that protects national unity, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The two officials highlighted the importance of combating hate speech, discrimination and exclusion — especially when stemming from influential legal or institutional sources.
Al-Issa said that the vast majority of Muslims in Britain show strong religious and national awareness. He added that discordant voices are isolated cases that reflect individual views, not the values of Islam.
Separately, the UK parliament hosted Al-Issa for a side meeting at its London headquarters, organized by several members of parliament and attended by the speaker.
Talks focused on enhancing integration and harmony in British society, fighting extremism and hatred, and showcasing the league’s efforts to build bridges between civilizations and promote mutual understanding.
