RIYADH: Thunder and dust storms are expected to affect the Riyadh region from the early hours of Friday till 9 p.m.
Areas affected will include Riyadh, Al-Kharj, Rumah, Al-Muzahimiya, Hawtat Bani Tamim, Huraymila, Al-Aflaj, and surrounding areas.
Dust and thunderstorms are also expected in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Meteorology and Environmenal Protection also said that dust storms will limit visibility in the Kingdom’s northern and western regions.
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Thunder and dust storms expected to hit various regions of Saudi Arabia
Thunder and dust storms expected to hit various regions of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Islamic affairs minister meets Malian counterpart
JEDDAH: Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Dr. Abdullatif Al-Alsheikh met Malian Minister of Religious Affairs Mohammed Omar Kony on Thursday.
They discussed means to boost cooperation in serving Islam and Muslims, and ways to combat extremism in all its forms.
Saudi flynas airline celebrates new Riyadh-Uganda flight route
- Flynas will operate three flights weekly on the Riyadh-Entebbe route
- Inauguration ceremony took place at King Khalid International Airport
RIYADH: Saudi flynas airline celebrated the inauguration of its first direct flight between Riyadh and Entebbe in Uganda this week.
Flynas has launched a new route themed, “We Connect the World to the Kingdom,” as part of its expansion into the African market.
An inauguration ceremony took place at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, with representatives from flynas and the Riyadh Airports Company in attendance.
Flynas will operate three flights weekly on the Riyadh-Entebbe route.
The airline currently serves 139 routes to more than 70 domestic and international destinations across 30 countries, with more than 1,500 flights weekly, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Since its launch in 2007, flynas has served more than 80 million passengers and plans to expand to 165 destinations by 2030, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
The Kingdom plans to become a regional aviation hub, connecting 250 international destinations and accommodating 330 million passengers by 2030.
Saudi Social Entrepreneurship Summit launched
- Prince Saud bin Khalid bin Faisal praised the significant support provided by leaders of the social entrepreneurship sector
- Prince Saud bin Khalid bin Faisal emphasized that the forum served as a national platform, bringing together leaders of government, and the private and non-profit sectors
MADINAH: The Saudi Social Entrepreneurship Summit, along with an accompanying exhibition, has been launched by empowerment development company Namaa Al-Munawara.
It is being held under the patronage of Madinah Deputy Gov. Prince Saud bin Khalid bin Faisal, on behalf of Madinah Gov. Prince Salman bin Sultan.
Prince Saud bin Khalid bin Faisal praised the significant support provided by leaders of the social entrepreneurship sector, which helps reinforce the Kingdom’s position as a leading model in sustainable development, in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
He emphasized that the forum served as a national platform, bringing together leaders of government, and the private and non-profit sectors. The aim is to enhance partnerships and build an integrated system that supports social entrepreneurship.
Prince Saud bin Khalid bin Faisal also commended the efforts of Namaa Al-Munawara and all parties involved in organizing the summit, saying the initiatives presented during the event would empower entrepreneurs and highlight success stories.
Saudi-Thai Coordination Council holds inaugural meeting in Bangkok
- Cooperation between nations has been growing in several areas
- Talks co-chaired by Saudi, Thai foreign ministers
RIYADH: The first meeting of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council was held in Bangkok on Thursday, in the latest sign of warming relations between the two nations after diplomatic ties were restored in 2022.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Thai counterpart Maris Sangiampongsa co-chaired the meeting, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The council aims to enhance cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including politics, security and defense, energy, economy, investment, education, culture, tourism and other areas of common interest.
The co-chairs reviewed relations, emphasized the importance of ongoing coordination and expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of related meetings, which have resulted in more than 70 joint initiatives.
Ties between Saudi Arabia and Thailand stalled in the 1980s but were renewed following a visit by the Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to Riyadh at the invitation of the crown prince.
Numerous diplomatic, trade agreements and official visits have followed and the two governments have signed a series of cooperation deals.
Cultural outreach programs include Arabic language training in Thai universities by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, which launched the Arabic Language Month in Thailand in November.
Riyadh also hosted a Thailand International Mega Fair in November, aiming to boost trade between the two countries.
Following Thursday’s meeting, the two sides signed a program for joint cooperation between the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies, and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs.
The program was signed by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ambassador Saud Al-Sati and Phubadi La-or-ngern, ambassador and dean of the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute.
The next meeting of the council will be held in Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh hospital performs world’s first robotic-assisted artificial heart pump implantation
- Surgery was performed on a 35-year-old man who had been hospitalized for 120 days due to advanced heart failure
- Dr. Feras Khaliel: The patient was amazed at the minimal scarring, reflecting the advanced capabilities of robotic technology
RIYADH: The world’s first robotic-assisted implantation of an artificial heart pump has been carried out at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh.
The surgery was performed on a 35-year-old man who had been hospitalized for 120 days due to advanced heart failure, leading to deterioration of kidney and lung functions.
The ground-breaking procedure to implant the HeartMate 3, developed by Abbott, marks a significant advancement in medical technology and patient care.
It was led by Dr. Feras Khaliel, head of cardiac surgery and director of the hospital’s Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery Program.
The patient spent just four days in the intensive care unit, a stark contrast to the 26-day average for similar procedures performed using traditional methods. Recovery time is also expected to be significantly reduced, with discharge anticipated within 10 days instead of the usual 63.
Dr. Bjorn Zoega, deputy CEO of KFSHRC, said: “This milestone demonstrates our ability to balance bold innovation with strict safety measures, delivering cutting-edge medical solutions that redefine the possibilities in healthcare.”
He added it solidified the Kingdom’s position as a global leader in medical innovation.
Khaliel emphasized the precision and safety of robotic-assisted surgery, adding the patient experienced no infections or bleeding during or after the operation.
“The patient was amazed at the minimal scarring, reflecting the advanced capabilities of robotic technology,” he said.
Keith Boettiger, vice president of Abbott’s heart failure division, said: “We are honored to have partnered with KFSHRC in Saudi Arabia on this transformative initiative, with underscores the pivotal role of health technology in improving lives and enhancing health outcomes.”
This success builds on KFSHRC’s legacy of global achievements, including the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant and robotic liver transplantation.
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