Saudi Arabia’s national health regulator has approved the registration of Foundayo (orforglipron) on Sunday, August 2, 2026, to help reduce excess body weight, as oral medications to fight obesity gain more popularity in the Gulf region. In a statement, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) stated that the decision improves the quality of healthcare in the Kingdom in alignment with the goals of the Health Sector Transformation Programme, one of the key initiatives of Saudi Vision 2030. According to the latest data shared by the Saudi Ministry of Health, the obesity rate among adults in the Kingdom (18 years…
Author: Editorial Team
SEOUL — South Korea recorded its hottest day since modern weather observations began in 1904, with temperatures soaring to 42.5C (108.5F) on Sunday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. The record temperature was measured in the southeastern city of Yangsan, about 310 kilometers southeast of Seoul, surpassing all previous national records. Yangsan has endured temperatures above 40C (104F) for five consecutive days, fueling concerns that temperatures could climb even higher. In nearby Gyeongju, temperatures reached 40.2C (104.4F), marking the first time this year the city has exceeded the 40C threshold. The South Korean government activated a Level 2 emergency response…
JEDDAH — Thundery rain showers are forecast to persist across several regions of Saudi Arabia through the end of the week, according to the National Center for Meteorology (NCM). The forecast is based on the Saudi Numerical Model displayed in an animated weather map released by the NCM. According to the map, light to moderate rain is expected to affect southern parts of Jazan and Asir from late Sunday afternoon until the evening. No rainfall is forecast overnight, although light showers are expected near Najran city on Monday morning. By Monday afternoon, light showers will return to southern Najran and…
Sumit Dhawan, CEO of Proofpoint. Proofpoint, Inc., a leading cybersecurity and compliance company, launched Active Exploits Protection, a new solution that empowers organisations to defend against the growing exposure to AI-accelerated cyber threats. Based on real-world threats observed across Proofpoint’s telemetry, it identifies vulnerabilities actively abused in the wild and automatically translates that intelligence to enable immediate protection across the primary attack paths. Advanced AI models, including frontier systems capable of autonomously discovering software vulnerabilities, are dramatically increasing the speed at which they are discovered and weaponised. The patch cycle is no longer the security clock, with time-to-active targeting collapsing from…
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has delivered over 100,000 free medical services through its Specialized Hospital for Ophthalmology in Marib Governorate, Yemen, providing specialized eye care to patients in need. From August 2025 to July 2026, the hospital examined 42,167 beneficiaries, conducted pre-operative laboratory tests for 14,633 cases, diagnosed 8,491 cases using advanced medical devices, performed 5,322 surgeries covering a range of eye conditions, and distributed 32,012 prescription glasses, bringing total free services to 102,625. The hospital also dispensed 56,352 medication units during the same period. The initiative forms part of Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian efforts through KSrelief…
Abu Dhabi-based healthcare group PureHealth reported a 20 per cent increase in net profits to Dh1.2 billion in the first half of 2026, driven primarily by its Dh3.3 billion (€800 million) acquisition of Greek-based Hellenic Healthcare Group (HHG). Group revenue increased 9 per cent to Dh14.9 billion, while EBITDA increased 24 per cent to Dh2.9 billion due to its growing contributions from higher-margin international operations, which accounted for 33 per cent of the group’s revenues. In its international care portfolio, revenue increased 56 per cent to Dh5.0 billion in this period, primarily due to the Dh3.3 billion (€800 million) consolidation…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia recorded a wide range of international achievements in July 2026, from topping global digital rankings and aviation performance tables to earning recognition in higher education, healthcare, sports, and sustainability. Together, the milestones illustrate the Kingdom’s expanding international presence across sectors that have become central to its long-term development strategy. Digital Transformation July saw Saudi Arabia strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading digital economies. The Kingdom ranked first globally in the ICT Development Index, placed among the G20’s top five countries for mobile internet speeds, retained its regional leadership in digital government services, secured…
JEDDAH — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday to discuss developments in the region and their regional and international implications. During the call, the Crown Prince stressed the importance of prioritizing dialogue to reduce tensions. He also emphasized the need to make every possible effort to achieve de-escalation, paving the way for diplomatic solutions that would deliver positive outcomes, preserve the region’s security and stability, and prevent the situation from escalating into a broader conflict with repercussions for regional and international security and stability. The two leaders also reviewed…
Hundreds of residents gathered at Dubai Frame on Saturday evening, August 1, as Spider-Man descended one of Dubai’s most iconic landmarks in a live stunt celebrating International Spider-Man Day. Organised by VOX Cinemas, the event saw a professional stunt performer dressed as the Marvel superhero abseil from the top of the 150-metre-tall Dubai Frame, drawing cheers from families, moviegoers and fans who had gathered below. As Spider-Man made his way down the landmark, spectators watched from the Dubai Frame parking area, many filming the stunt on their phones before the performer greeted the crowd. Stay up to date with the…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia regained the top spot in the Esports World Cup 2026 Club Championship standings after 15-year-old Chilean player Jaime Bustos made history by winning the Street Fighter 6 title, becoming the youngest champion in the tournament’s history. Busots’ “Craime” victory gave Team Falcons its first tournament title of this year’s Esports World Cup and lifted the club to 1,000 points, putting it atop the Club Championship standings at the close of Saturday’s competitions. Craime defeated 30-year-old Japanese veteran Hibiki, the oldest competitor among the top eight, by a score of 5-2 in the grand final, and subsequently…