DAMMAM: Saudi municipalities have shut 79 commercial outlets as part of their efforts to monitor compliance with health and safety measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The Eastern Province municipality carried out 10,139 inspection tours in one week across shopping malls, commercial centers and stores.
These checks resulted in 43 commercial outlets being shut down, while 544 violators were issued with penalties for ignoring health regulations.
The violations included noncompliance with social distancing and wearing a mask, leniency in measuring the temperature of customers, overcrowding issues, and a failure to effectively use the Tawakkalna app.
The municipality said it had received 2,320 reports of violations. It urged all commercial facilities to respect and abide by regulations to ensure public safety and prevent the virus from spreading. Jeddah authorities closed 36 commercial outlets for breaching coronavirus protocols. The municipality of Jeddah governorate carried out 8,103 inspection tours of commercial centers and facilities in two days, identifying 61 violations.
79 outlets shut due to COVID-19 violations across Saudi Arabia
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79 outlets shut due to COVID-19 violations across Saudi Arabia
- The municipality of Jeddah governorate carried out 8,103 inspection tours
Jazan car dealerships undergo official inspections
JAZAN: Inspection teams from the Saudi Ministry of Commerce have visited more than 130 car dealerships and showrooms in Jazan this week.
The inspections are part of the ministry’s ongoing monitoring activities throughout the region to ensure all vehicles in such outlets comply with requirements to display a fuel economy label.
Labels display clear information about a vehicle’s fuel consumption in a bid to encourage consumers to choose more efficient vehicles, with an overall aim of promoting fuel conservation.
The fuel economy label was developed and implemented as part of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Program’s initiatives to provide consumers with information about the most energy-efficient vehicles.
Saudi efforts to boost innovation pay off
- Official figures show that 8,029 patent applications were submitted in the country in 2024, an increase of 13.3 percent on the previous year
RIYADH: Support provided by Saudi authorities for scientific research, innovation and university teaching have been credited for recent achievements by innovators in the Kingdom.
Official figures show that 8,029 patent applications were submitted in the country in 2024, an increase of 13.3 percent on the previous year. In addition, 31,834 trademarks and 1,578 industrial designs were registered, and 4,355 patents were published.
Investment in research and development in Saudi Arabia increased to SR22.6 billion ($6 billion) in 2023, a 17.4 percent increase compared with 2022.
Recent examples of Saudi innovators honored with awards for research and innovation at international events included ophthalmologist Dr. Saad Al-Anzi, who won the grand prize at the Geneva International Exhibition in April this year for inventing a cost-effective surgical tool for cataract operations, while six other Saudi innovators received global awards at the event and 134 received global medals.
And 39 students from King Abdulaziz University received a global award at the IENA Expo for ideas, inventions and new products in Germany last October.
Saudi Arabia provides $30m in support for Palestinian Authority
- Financial aid from the Kingdom has been instrumental in sustaining the health and education sectors in Palestine, finance minister says
- The total value of support provided by Saudi authorities for the Palestinian people over the years exceeds $5.3bn
LONDON: Saudi Arabia has delivered $30 million to the Palestinian Authority to help alleviate the severe financial crisis it faces, which is blamed on Israeli policies designed to weaken it.
The assistance was presented in Amman on Thursday to the Palestinian minister of finance, Omar Al-Bitar, by Mohammed Mounis, the acting chargé d’affaires at the Saudi Embassy in Jordan.
Al-Bitar commended the Kingdom for the ongoing financial and political support it provides for Palestinians and their rights to independence and statehood. He thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their leadership, and acknowledged the political, economic and humanitarian support they provide for his country.
The minister added that the money given by Saudi Arabia is a significant contribution that is helping the Palestinian Authority cope with a financial crisis that is exacerbated by the policies of a far-right Israeli government.
The financial support has been instrumental to the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to maintain the health and education sectors, the Palestine News Agency reported. It has helped meet the costs of running hospitals, purchasing medicines and medical equipment, keeping schools open, and paying the salaries of medical staff, teachers and administrative workers.
Over the years, support provided by the Kingdom for the Palestinian people has exceeded $5.3 billion for a total of 289 projects, according to figures from Saudi aid agency KSrelief.
Mounis said his country remains committed to support for the Palestinian government, to help it fulfill its financial obligations and assist its people during this time of economic and humanitarian hardship, the Saudi Press Agency reported. He reaffirmed the Kingdom’s steadfast support for upholding the rights of the Palestinian people.
Saudi Ministry of Health launches nationwide campaign to tackle obesity
- Campaign aims to target 1 million beneficiaries, bringing together several governmental, private, and non-profit entities
- GM of Lilly in Saudi Arabia Mustafa Abdul Rahman: The company supports the ‘A Nation Without Obesity’ campaign
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Health launched on Thursday its “A Nation Without Obesity” campaign in Riyadh, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and combating obesity across the Kingdom.
In its initial phase, the campaign aims to target 1 million beneficiaries, bringing together several governmental, private, and non-profit entities.
“A Nation Without Obesity” was launched in response to multiple calls from Shura Council members and aligns with the Kingdom’s health transformation efforts, which have recorded notable progress toward the targets set out in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Mustafa Abdul Rahman, general manager of Lilly in Saudi Arabia, emphasized that obesity is not a personal choice or a lifestyle issue, but a chronic disease that demands long-term management grounded in science, innovation, treatment, and prevention.
He highlighted the urgent need to shift societal perceptions and eliminate the stigma surrounding obesity, which often discourages individuals from seeking the help and treatment they need.
“The company supports the ‘A Nation Without Obesity’ campaign, which aims to raise awareness, remove psychological and social barriers, and empower individuals to access the support and treatment they need,” Abdul Rahman added.
Real transformation, he noted, starts with formal policies that back sustainable solutions and with strong partnerships between the public and private sectors.
Obesity impacts not only physical health, but also leads to a decline in mental well-being and social stability, often intensifying social isolation and reducing overall quality of life. Eliminating the stigma surrounding individuals living with obesity is therefore essential, Abdul Rahman explained.
The economic toll of obesity is equally pressing, with escalating healthcare costs linked to associated diseases and a notable decline in productivity driven by its complications — factors that cannot be ignored. For this reason, Lilly places economic impact at the core of its comprehensive strategy to combat obesity, Abdul Rahman said.
Mohammed Alghasham, CEO of Qalb Health Association, praised the campaign’s remarkable spirit of collaboration, emphasizing the strategic partnership with the Quality of Life Program and the engagement of Kayl Association for Combating Obesity as key contributors to a unified awareness effort.
“The association is committed to driving forward innovative social, awareness, and pharmaceutical initiatives while continuing to conduct studies and research aimed at enhancing existing solutions to the complex challenge of obesity, and supporting healthcare providers with insights that strengthen decision-making,” Alghasham said.
Masam Project clears more than 4,600 explosive devices from Yemen conflict in Abyan
- Operation took place on Thursday in Wadi Dufs area of Zinjibar, east of Yemen’s de facto capital Aden
- Clearance took place in high temperatures, rugged terrain of Abyan Governorate
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Project for Landmine Clearance, known as Masam and launched by Saudi aid agency KSrelief, has successfully destroyed more than 4,600 explosive devices left behind from the war in Yemen.
The operation took place on Thursday in the Wadi Dufs area of Zinjibar, in Abyan Governorate, east of Yemen’s de facto capital Aden.
The project reported the destruction of 4,620 pieces of ammunition and remnants of war, including 155 projectiles, 235 combat fuses, 85 pieces of armor-piercing ammunition, 4,096 bullets, 13 anti-personnel mines, five anti-tank mines, and 31 grenades.
The Masam Project added that its efforts aimed to enhance community security and protect the lives of civilians in Yemen.
Engineer Munther Qassem, commander of the first special task force at Masam, said that the operation had been conducted in a safe area, away from residential communities and agricultural regions, ensuring full compliance with international standards.
He added: “The work of the special task teams does not stop throughout the year, given the importance of our missions in protecting the lives of innocent citizens.”
Qassem added that the team had successfully carried out the operation despite the high temperatures and rugged terrain of Abyan.
The Masam Project stands as a vital contribution to enabling a safe and dignified life for Yemenis.
KSrelief has implemented 3,438 diverse humanitarian projects across 107 countries, valued at over $7 billion, since its launch in May 2015.
