
Conjoined Jamaican twins arrive in Riyadh for evaluation
The evaluation took place following a directive by the Kingdom's leadership, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The twins were taken to King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital, renowned for its advanced pediatric facility and specialization in conjoined twins.
Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, supervisor general of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, and head of the surgical team for the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, highlighted his team's extensive experience in separating twins.
Rabeeah is also adviser to the Royal Court.
His team earlier this week separated Syrian conjoined twins Celine and Eline in an eight-hour procedure.
The 17-month-old twins, born in February last year at Beirut's Rafik Hariri Hospital in a triplet birth, were conjoined at the chest and abdomen.
Their brother, Sanad, was born separately.
The twins were medically evacuated to Riyadh in December 2024 to receive specialized care in preparation for the surgery.
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Asharq Al-Awsat
3 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Dozens Killed Seeking Aid in Gaza as Israel Weighs Further Military Action
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Netanyahu's far-right coalition allies have long called for the war to be expanded, and for Israel to eventually take over Gaza, relocate much of its population and rebuild Jewish settlements there. US President Donald Trump, asked by a reporter Tuesday whether he supported the reoccupation of Gaza, said he wasn't aware of the 'suggestion' but that 'it's going to be pretty much up to Israel.' More Palestinians killed in scramble for food Of the 38 Palestinians killed while seeking aid, at least 28 died in the Morag Corridor, an Israeli military zone in southern Gaza where UN convoys have been repeatedly overwhelmed by looters and desperate crowds in recent days, and where witnesses say Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire. The Israeli military said troops fired warning shots as Palestinians advanced toward them, and that it was not aware of any casualties. 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Hospitals recorded four more malnutrition-related deaths over the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 193 people, including 96 children, since the war began in October 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Jordan says aid convoy attacked by Israeli settlers Jordan said Israeli settlers blocked roads and hurled stones at a convoy of four trucks carrying aid bound for Gaza after they drove across the border into the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israeli far-right activists have repeatedly sought to halt aid from entering Gaza. Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammed al-Momani condemned the attack, which he said had shattered the windshields of the trucks, according to the Jordanian state-run Petra News Agency. The Israeli military said security forces went to the scene to disperse the gathering and accompanied the trucks to their destination. Hamas-led fighters killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted another 251. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals. Of the 50 still held in Gaza, around 20 are believed to be alive. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters or civilians but says around half were women and children. It is part of the now largely defunct Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The UN and independent experts consider it the most reliable source for the number of war casualties.


Arab News
14 hours ago
- Arab News
Inside the Jeddah fitness movement that's racing with Saudi Vision 2030
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Argaam
15 hours ago
- Argaam
Dallah's Al-Ahsa, Al-Khobar hospitals to add over SAR 500M to 2025 topline: CEO
Tarek Alkasabi, CEO of Dallah Healthcare Co., said the outlook for the third quarter and beyond is very optimistic, pointing to broad areas for potential growth, especially after recent acquisitions. In an interview with Argaam, the top executive expected Dallah's recently-acquired Al-Khobar and Al-Ahsa hospitals to contribute more than SAR 500 million to revenues in 2025 (starting from their acquisition date). This uptrend should persist at high rates in the following years, in tandem with increased occupancy rates at both hospitals, especially Dallah Hospital Al-Khobar, he further stated. In Q2 2025, Dallah's topline increased by 38.8% year-on-year (YoY), exceeding the SAR 1 billion mark for the first time in the Saudi-listed company's history. This came thanks to elevated operational capacity and strategic expansions undertaken by the group, both being carried out at existing and recently-acquired medical facilities. This in turn has bolstered the growth momentum in patient visits, according to the CEO. The March 23 acquisition of Al Salam Medical Services Co., which owns Dallah Hospital Al-Khobar, and Al Ahsa Medical Services Co., owner of Dallah Hospital Al-Ahsa, reflected positively on higher revenues. Prior to this takeover, existing medical facilities had posted a YoY revenue hike of about SAR 121 million (or 15.8%), he highlighted. Commenting on the impact of Dallah's ongoing expansions on operating margins, Alkasabi said it is only normal for margins to be slightly hit for a relatively short period, especially since Dallah Hospital Al-Khobar is still in its early stages of operation. He also clarified that operating expenses may top the benchmark average, albeit the two hospitals have already begun to see improved operating margins during the second quarter of this year. This uptrend is likely to prevail going forward, bringing margins on par with the rest of the group's facilities. As for Dallah's planned expansions, the coming period will see more focus on expanding Dallah Hospital Al-Khobar through the addition of new clinics, beds, and specialities. At present, the hospital encompasses 150 beds. The goal is to bring the full run rate at more than three times its current bed capacity, or about 475 beds. This would translate into a group-wide operating capacity of over 1,900 beds, and a total of 2,560 beds when factoring in those of associates, according to the CEO. Regarding the quantitative impact of recent expansions, Alkasabi stated that the acquisition of Dallah Hospital Al-Ahsa and Dallah Hospital Al-Khobar boosted the group's operational capacity by 37%, adding 424 beds (274 in Al-Ahsa and 150 in Al-Khobar). He expects this percentage to reach 65% when the Al-Khobar hospital hits its full run rate. In Q2 2025, Dallah witnessed a notable YoY surge in patient visits. At existing facilities, the footfall accelerated by 14%, particularly after the latest expansions (mainly the operation of the Dallah Hospital Namar expansion project). Alkasabi also pointed to a potentially deeper influence from the recent hospital acquisitions, through which the total number of patient visits to all Dallah medical facilities increased by nearly 44%.