What the world can learn from the Middle East’s wellness vision
Across the region, countries are aligning national visions with real investment in health, longevity, and quality of life.
Opinion
Gaza’s Al-Amal hospital ‘virtually out of service’: WHO
The Al-Amal Hospital in Gaza, one of the few still operating in the Palestinian territory, is now "virtually out of...
Science
Geostrategy
Nations start negotiations over global plastics treaty at Nairobi meet
Nairobi, Kenya -- Nations grappling with the plastic "suffocating" nature and leaching into food and the human body began fresh...
- Around 60 so-called "high ambition" nations have called for binding rules to reduce the use and production of plastic
- Kenyan President William Ruto described plastic pollution as "an existential threat to life, to humanity and everything in between."
Economy
Saudi Arabia to produce 80-90% insulin domestically
"More than 200 essential medications have been identified, making up about 40 percent of the total purchases by government health...
- Saudi Arabia is making strides in its pharmaceutical sector, with aims to produce 80 to 90 percent of its insulin domestically
- At the Global Health Forum, key agreements were inked, spotlighting the Kingdom's commitment to medical biotechnology
Business
Positive trial for Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-flu jab
Berlin, Germany - Germany's BioNTech and US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Thursday announced "positive" results from initial trials of their combined...
- The messenger RNA method made its debut with the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, which was the first jab against Covid to be approved in the West in late 2020
- Pfizer and BioNTech first announced in November 2022 that they were planning to use the same technology to develop a combined Covid and flu vaccine
Business
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment inks 3 MoUs at FII7
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Kingdom’s Ministry of Investment signed three memoranda of understanding (MoU) in the fields of biotechnology,...
- The MoUs related to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors aim to explore, develop, manufacture and market a range of potential new medicines.
- The MoU of the financial services sector aims to provide an opportunity for investors to invest directly in key projects in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.
Science
Swedish researchers find snoozing in the morning isn’t bad
Stockholm, Sweden - You snooze, you lose? Swedish researchers said Wednesday that might not be the case, after their study even...
- Researchers at Stockholm University found that in general younger people were the ones snoozing and they were to a high degree night owls.
- In a second study, the researchers found that most of the respondents who snoozed for half an hour managed to get a lot of sleep during that half hour even though it was disturbed.
Market Report
Markets fall as Biden set for Middle East diplomacy drive
US and European stock markets mostly fell and oil prices rose as US President Joe Biden prepared for a trip...
- Wall Street opened in the red, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq shedding more than one percent, while Frankfurt and Paris fell 0.6 percent afternoon deal.
- "Understandably, not many people are in the mood to put their hard-earned cash at risk in these uncertain economic times," said an expert.
Geostrategy
WHO transports Gaza aid to Egypt, waits for humanitarian access
Geneva, Switzerland - The World Health Organization said on Saturday enough basic health supplies to serve 300,000 people in the Gaza...
- The WHO supplies include enough medicines to treat 1,200 wounded patients and 1,500 patients suffering from various diseases.
- The supplies were ready to go in once humanitarian access could be established through the Rafah crossing from Egypt into the southern Gaza Strip.
Business
SFD to provide US$20m loan to Central African Republic for development projects
MARRAKESH, MOROCCO - The CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, signed an additional US$20...
- The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 2023 World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Morocco.
- The US$20 million loan agreement aims to finance development projects in CAR, including the establishment of a 250-bed hospital.
‘Broken in two’: Libya flood survivors grapple with mental health
Last month's flood was the latest catastrophe to strike the oil-rich North African country that has been wracked by war...
- IRC warned of the "immense psychological toll the emergency is taking on those affected, particularly in the city of Derna, one of the areas hardest-hit
- UNICEF's partners had "reported several instances of suicides, withdrawal, lack of sleep, bed wetting... among children, especially in shelters"
Science
EU wants to renew herbicide glyphosate for next 10 years
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - The European Commission is proposing to renew the use of the controversial and widely used herbicide glyphosate in...
- Current authorization expired in December 2022 but was extended by a year pending a scientific study of the herbicide.
- Environmental activists said there was scientific evidence that glyphosate may cause cancer, poison aquatic life.
Most Read
Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
What the world can learn from the Middle East’s wellness vision
Across the region, countries are aligning national visions with real investment in health, longevity, and quality of life.
Opinion
Company News
The future is already here
Analysis
UNFPA and corporate partners drive reproductive justice in workplaces
World Economic Forum
Latest News
Trump’s aid freeze could cause millions more AIDS deaths: UN agency
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - President Donald Trump's decision to suspend US overseas funding could result in millions more deaths from AIDS,...
Science
UNFPA and corporate partners drive reproductive justice in workplaces
Mariarosa Cutillo, UNFPA Chief of the Private Sector and Civil Society Branch, says businesses need to provide adequate maternal health...
World Economic Forum
Closing the women’s health gap a boon for the global economy
Closing the women’s health gap is a US$1 trillion opportunity to improve lives and economies, the WEF and McKinsey Health Institute...
Most Read
Saudi Arabia to host largest health event with global participation on Oct 21-23
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the seventh edition of the Global Health Forum under the...
- As one of the three most attended and fastest-growing health forums globally, the event will focus on raising health awareness and encouraging people to invest in their well-being
- Major investment launches and agreements are expected to be announced, with a dedicated exhibition showcasing individual and business health advancements
Global fears spread about Mpox- How worried should you be?
The World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Europe warned on Thursday that Mpox could spread to other countries after...
- Sweden reported the first case of the more contagious variant of Mpox outside of Africa
- The virus seems to be spreading quickly and little is known about it
Saudi king treated for lung infection: statement
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's King Salman has a lung infection and is undergoing a treatment programme involving antibiotics, the...
- Earlier in the day, the Royal Court said King Salman was suffering from "high temperature" and would undergo medical tests at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah
- It was the second time in less than a month that the Saudi government had commented publicly about the 88-year-old king's health