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Crown prince briefs Saudi cabinet on Gaza after Macron call

Update Crown prince briefs Saudi cabinet on Gaza after Macron call
The cabinet also reviewed ongoing efforts to expand housing supply and achieve real estate balance across the Kingdom. (File/SPA)
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Crown prince briefs Saudi cabinet on Gaza after Macron call

Crown prince briefs Saudi cabinet on Gaza after Macron call
  • The cabinet reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for regional and international efforts aimed at promoting global security and peace

RIYADH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman briefed the council of ministers on Tuesday about developments in the Gaza Strip, following a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The crown prince emphasized the urgent need to end the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people, ensure a complete Israeli withdrawal, and take steps toward achieving peace based on the two-state solution.

The cabinet reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for regional and international efforts aimed at promoting global security and peace. It also welcomed the agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan on an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of mechanisms to strengthen lasting peace and stability between the two countries.

Minister of Media Salman bin Youssef Al-Dosari said the cabinet reviewed progress on several government development programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing services, improving productivity, and achieving sustainable growth.

The council welcomed the launch of the King Salman Gate Project, describing it as a major transformation in Makkah’s infrastructure that will enhance services for visitors to the Grand Mosque.

The cabinet also reviewed ongoing efforts to expand housing supply and achieve real estate balance across the Kingdom, supporting development, offering citizens diverse housing options, and attracting more investors and developers to the Saudi market.

Dosari said that the Kingdom’s recent international awards in open education, rural development, and rail transport reflect its commitment to excellence and global leadership in these sectors.

The council also praised the success of the Saudi International Railway Exhibition and Conference, which saw participation from 22 countries and the signing of over 50 contracts and agreements supporting the objectives of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services.


King Faisal Specialist Hospital performs world’s first robotic brain tumor surgery

King Faisal Specialist Hospital performs world’s first robotic brain tumor surgery
Updated 20 October 2025

King Faisal Specialist Hospital performs world’s first robotic brain tumor surgery

King Faisal Specialist Hospital performs world’s first robotic brain tumor surgery
  • Achievement reflects ‘our growing role in shaping the future of global medicine,’ CEO Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad says
  • Procedure involved removing a 4.5-centimeter brain tumor with robotic arms from a 68-year-old man who had been experiencing severe headaches

RIYADH: In a historic leap for robotic medicine, the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh has performed the world’s first robotic intracranial tumor resection.

This groundbreaking achievement sets a new global standard in neurosurgical precision and recovery.

The procedure involved removing a 4.5-centimeter brain tumor with robotic arms from a 68-year-old man who had been experiencing severe headaches and loss of concentration.

Remarkably, the patient was discharged fully conscious within 24 hours — a recovery time nearly four times faster than that of traditional brain surgeries.

Dr. Homoud Al-Dahash, KFSHRC consultant for skull base tumors and lead surgeon, stated that the robotic system provided exceptional precision and control, which enabled surgeons to navigate critical neurovascular structures with a high level of safety.

“The patient’s same-day discharge, fully conscious and without complications, represents a new benchmark for neurosurgical innovation,” he added.

Guided by a 3D optical system, the one-hour surgery enabled surgeons to operate with a clear, magnified view of the brain.

Advanced image-guided navigation technology ensured precise tumor removal while protecting vital areas of the brain.

KFSHRC CEO Dr. Majid Al-Fayyadh linked the milestone to the hospital’s ongoing transformation journey.

“This achievement reflects KFSHRC’s growing role in shaping the future of global medicine,” he said.

“It aligns perfectly with our vision, where innovation and patient-centered care define the future of healthcare.”

Before the advent of robotic neurosurgery, similar procedures required manual removal under a surgical microscope, where precision depended heavily on human steadiness and visual clarity.

Robotic systems now provide enhanced instrument stability, tremor elimination, and superior visualization — redefining global standards of safety and precision in neurosurgical care.

This landmark procedure adds to KFSHRC’s expanding portfolio of robotic surgical breakthroughs.

The institution previously performed the world’s first robotic heart transplant and robotic liver transplant, earning international acclaim and solidifying its standing among the world’s leading centers for robotic and minimally invasive surgery.

KFSHRC has been ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa and 15th globally among the world’s top 250 academic medical centers for 2025.

It was also recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Middle East by Brand Finance 2024 and listed among Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2025, Best Smart Hospitals 2025, and Best Specialized Hospitals 2026.

These accolades reaffirm its position as a global leader in innovation-driven patient care.


Muslim World League’s chief delivers lecture at Pakistan’s Supreme Court

Muslim World League’s chief delivers lecture at Pakistan’s Supreme Court
Updated 21 October 2025

Muslim World League’s chief delivers lecture at Pakistan’s Supreme Court

Muslim World League’s chief delivers lecture at Pakistan’s Supreme Court
  • Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa details his organization’s efforts to counter Islamophobia by clarifying the principles and objectives of Islamic law
  • Separately, he welcomes signing of ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, after a week of deadly clashes along their border

RIYADH: The Muslim World League’s secretary-general, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa, delivered a lecture at the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Islamabad detailing his organization’s efforts to counter Islamophobia by clarifying the principles and objectives of Islamic law.

He also highlighted its advocacy for legislative justice to protect fundamental human rights, especially those of minorities.

At the conclusion of his talk, organized by the Supreme Court in cooperation with the Federal Judicial Academy and the Law and Justice Commission, Al-Issa was honored for his work.

The audience at the lecture on Oct. 16 included the country’s president, Asif Ali Zardari, a number of other dignitaries and members of the diplomatic corps, along with members of the Supreme Court, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Meanwhile, Al-Issa on Monday welcomed the signing of a ceasefire agreement a day earlier between the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan, after a week of deadly clashes along their border.

He praised the truce, which he said established mechanisms designed to consolidate lasting peace and stability through dialogue and negotiation, and expressed hope that it would spare both nations further suffering and tragedies as a result of armed conflict.

 


New initiative to plant 2.1m trees in Madinah

New initiative to plant 2.1m trees in Madinah
Updated 20 October 2025

New initiative to plant 2.1m trees in Madinah

New initiative to plant 2.1m trees in Madinah
  • Aligned with the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030, the project uses digital tools such as smart tree tagging to monitor growth and health

RIYADH: The Madinah Municipality has launched the Green City Initiative to expand green spaces, enhance quality of life, and promote environmental sustainability.

The initiative aims to plant 2.1 million trees across Madinah to increase vegetation cover, reduce carbon emissions, lower temperatures, and improve the urban landscape.

It also seeks to optimize natural resource use and enhance residents’ well-being, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Aligned with the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030, the project uses digital tools such as smart tree tagging to monitor growth and health.

It aims to strengthen Madinah’s leadership in urban greening by expanding vegetation along roads, parks, and neighborhoods, while encouraging community participation in environmental volunteering.

The initiative also seeks to enrich the city’s tourism experience and position Madinah as a model for sustainable green cities, balancing its Islamic heritage with modern sustainability goals.

 


Hail to host forum on daily life challenges

Princess Seetah bint Abdulaziz Award for Excellence in Social Work. (SPA)
Princess Seetah bint Abdulaziz Award for Excellence in Social Work. (SPA)
Updated 20 October 2025

Hail to host forum on daily life challenges

Princess Seetah bint Abdulaziz Award for Excellence in Social Work. (SPA)
  • Held under the patronage of Hail Gov. Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad, the forum supports Vision 2030 goals to improve the quality of life for citizens and residents

RIYADH: A community forum addressing everyday challenges will begin in Hail on Saturday, with more than 45 government, private, and civil society organizations participating.

The Derayah Forum, organized by the Princess Seetah bint Abdulaziz Award for Excellence in Social Work under the theme “What if… How do you act?” will run from Oct. 25 to 27 at Al-Maghwa Center.

Held under the patronage of Hail Gov. Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad, the forum supports Vision 2030 goals to improve the quality of life for citizens and residents.

The program features more than 30 workshops and dialogue sessions with contributions from various government bodies. The Qassim region will attend as guest of honor, SPA reported.

Fahad Al-Maghlouth, secretary-general of the award, said the forum brings together specialists and youth from Hail to discuss practical solutions.

It promotes the concept “Be aware today so you do not lose tomorrow,” offering interactive sessions, preventive practices, and scientific solutions for critical life situations.

 


Saudi deputy FM attends Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Egypt

Saudi deputy FM attends Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Egypt
Updated 20 October 2025

Saudi deputy FM attends Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Egypt

Saudi deputy FM attends Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Egypt
  • The two-day forum, which concluded on Monday, focused on strengthening multilateral coordination to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and ensure the safety of international maritime navigation

CAIRO: On behalf of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Vice Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji attended the fifth Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Egypt.

The two-day forum, which concluded on Monday, focused on strengthening multilateral coordination to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and ensure the safety of international maritime navigation.

It highlighted the importance of cooperation among countries bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and of expanding economic, environmental, and maritime partnerships to promote stability and prosperity.

The forum was attended by ministers, decision-makers, and representatives of regional and international organizations, and was organized by the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding.