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Mid East Info
3 days ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
CDF Champions Cultural Entrepreneurship and Strategic Investment at Expo 2025 Osaka - Middle East Business News and Information
Embracing new possibilities and cultural impact, the Saudi Cultural Development Fund (CDF) hosted a networking event titled 'Cultural Entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: Fostering Innovation and Heritage' at the Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. The event featured a panel discussion that explored the Kingdom's thriving cultural economy, where Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Japan and Commissioner General of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion, joined entrepreneurs and international investors sharing in growing global interest in Saudi Arabia's dynamic cultural economy. Moderated by cultural researcher and podcast host of Vision, Culture, and Policy, Saba Alkhamis, the conversation brought together Basil Al Alola, CDF Chief Credit & Investment Officer; Darren Barker, Founder of Barker Langham; and Hessa Alajaji, Founder of Accents, a design brand highlighting Saudi artisan. Guests explored Saudi Arabia's cultural renaissance and the rise of culture-sector entrepreneurship as a powerful engine for economic and social growth—underscoring the pivotal role of CDF's holistic financing and enablement solutions in driving the sector's sustainable expansion. In a vibrant celebration of cultural exchange, the event served as a platform to spotlight Saudi Arabia's artistic heritage and its growing global connections. Building on the momentum of the 2025 Year of Handicrafts, the reception showcased works created in collaboration with Saudi artisans, reflecting the depth and vibrancy of the Kingdom's creative spirit. Complementing this showcase of handicrafts, the evening also celebrated cultural dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Japan, elevated with a performance by Japanese violinist and composer Ikuko Kawai, whose music embodied culture as both a bridge for collaboration and a catalyst for creativity. Across Expo 2025 Osaka, CDF's participation spans a diverse range of activations presenting Saudi Arabia's thriving cultural ecosystem and investment opportunities across the Kingdom's cultural landscape. With a particular emphasis on positioning culture as a driver of economic diversification and global collaboration, CDF shares real success stories, spotlights opportunities, and delivers meaningful impact. The Fund will also join local and international experts for panel discussions and networking sessions pertaining to all 16 cultural sectors, showcasing the Fund's tailored financing and enablement solutions. About the Saudi Cultural Development Fund (CDF). Founded in 2021, the CDF seeks to enrich Saudi Arabia's cultural landscape. It is organizationally linked to the Saudi National Development Fund and aims to foster the development of a self-reliant cultural sector. By supporting cultural activities and projects, empowering those interested in them, and facilitating investment in the sector, the CDF works to improve the cultural sector's profitability in alignment with the National Culture Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.
7NEWS
28-04-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
New ketamine-type nasal spray can help 30,000 Australians suffering depression
A new nasal spray, that's chemically similar to Ketamine, is being added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, for adults with treatment resistant depression. Spravato® (Esketamine) is the first new type of depression medicine to be added to the PBS in 30 years. Professor Ian Hickie AO, Co-Director of Health and Policy, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney says Spravato targets a different chemical in the brain, than traditional antidepressants. 'Treatment resistant depression is a very important and a very disabling illness in Australia. About one in seven Australians has a depressive illness, about two thirds of those will respond to commonly available psychological or medical treatments.' 'You will not be able to get this medicine from your GP and take it home and squirt it up your own nose.' Instead, it will be provided under strict medical supervision. Twice a week at first, weekly for the next month, and then weekly or fortnightly until depressive symptoms improve. The treatment will only be given to patients who have not responded adequately to at least two different antidepressants of adequate dose and duration. Pensioner or concession card holders will pay just $7.70 and general patients will pay $31.60 for each dose of the medicine. Veteran Garth Camac has been living with treatment resistant depression for 15 years, and untreated depression for 15 before that. 'It is an expensive medication and having it added to the PBS is a great thing.' During his service in the Australian Army, he was deployed to Iraq twice. In Malaysia, completing training, five of his men died in a horrific car accident. Life after war was a battle he couldn't seem to win. 'I've been in a really uncomfortable place where I've had to decide whether or not today is the day to kill myself, or can I go a little bit further.' 'I had no plans to be alive at 50.' He's now 52. For the past two years, he's been taking Spravato. 'It's taken me two years to get to where I am now.' 'I enjoy being out in public now, I'm not scanning for danger, I'm not worrying that something will explode.' If you or someone you know is struggling:
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
4th annual Healthy Georgia report published. What's the diagnosis?
The fourth annual Healthy Georgia report from the Augusta University School of Public Health came out and shows how Georgia residents are doing compared to the other states in the region. The 64-page report compares Georgia to the 11 other states that make up the Southeastern Region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The report also focuses on 31 health topics and compares Georgia to the overall U.S. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] An executive summary of the report said that 'Compared to the US national average, Georgia has higher prevalence rates of HIV, STIs, firearm-related suicide, childhood asthma, ACEs, and obesity. On the contrary, rates of methamphetamine use, flu vaccination, cancer, breastfeeding, and adult health insurance coverage were lower among Georgians. In general, rates of poor mental health, high cholesterol, opioid use, COPD, multimorbidity, nutritious meal access among children, and child health insurance coverage were comparable to respective national averages.' Additionally, when compared to just the southeast, Georgians were shown to have 'higher prevalence rates of HIV and STIs, and lower rates of skin cancer, CVD, COPD, cancer, and methamphetamine use. Rates of obesity, asthma, Long COVID, and child health insurance coverage among Georgians were comparable to the Southeastern regional averages.' TRENDING STORIES: Will Georgians get another special tax refund in 2025? GA lawmakers propose fines, civil forfeiture cap for local governments, with excess going to state Georgia craft beer industry says brewery closures put them at crossroads According to the report, a lot of Georgians have hypertension, 44.1% of rural Georgia adults and 35% in urban areas. Overall the state is ranked 18th for the highest rate of hypertension in the United States. Across the state, more than 17% of Georgians have diabetes in rural areas while 12.3% do in urban areas. The report notes that hypertension and diabetes are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and that between urban areas and rural areas, residents in Georgia face a 'striking difference' when it comes to chronic conditions. 'Hypertension and diabetes are the major risk factors for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide, so these are some concerning numbers to see,' Biplab Datta, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Health Management, Economics, and Policy in SPH, said. Compared to the rest of the U.S., fewer Georgians are getting cancer or using methamphetamine, but there are higher rates of childhood asthma and adult obesity. The report says that Georgians have the 23rd highest rate of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. However, the level of CVD in Georgia is much lower than the U.S. average, according to the same data. Nationally, Georgia has the 12th highest rate of diabetes in the country and is the fourth highest among southeastern states. When it comes to sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia, Georgia ranks high, and not in a positive way. For rates of HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, Georgia has the second highest rate in the entire country. Georgia is also ranked as having the sixth-highest rate of chlamydia, the fourth-highest rate of gonorrhea and 13th highest rate of syphilis in the U.S. The state also has the second lowest rate of adults who have health insurance among all 50 states, according to the report from Augusta University. Georgia is also ranked 13th for children with health insurance. In terms of preventive care, Georgia has the ninth lowest rate of flu vaccination in the country and ranks 15th for children with health needs not being met, meaning many children in Georgia do not have their health needs covered. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
