Health minister tours new medical facilities in Madinah

TOKYO: The former governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority has been awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, a highly esteemed honor in Japan.
Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki Al Saud was recognized for his role in strengthening economic ties between Japan and Saudi Arabia, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who is also a former foreign minister of Egypt, and Jordan’s former ambassador to Japan Leena Madhuhar Hassan Annab received the same honor for their roles in promoting friendship between Japan and their respective nations.
Yousef Ahmed Al-Hnaity, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
Four individuals from Tunisia, representing various fields and achievements, were awarded the Gold Rays with Rosette. The recipients are Habib Gamra, co-founder and chairman of the Pan-African Course on Interventional Cardiology; Adnene Khouaja, the first vice president of the Tunisia-Japan Friendship Association; Jamel Boujdaria, former director of the Asia, American and Asian Affairs Bureau at Tunisia’s Foreign Ministry; and Imed Ben Ammar, former director of the Bourguiba Institute of Modern Languages.
A total of 1,888 people, including 107 foreigners from 45 countries, have been honored. Among the overseas winners are the former US Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, both of whom will receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.
The awards ceremony will take place on May 9 at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife has conducted a study of marine biodiversity in the Red Sea.
The research examined underwater habitats, and was part of efforts to safeguard the Kingdom’s natural resources, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Scientists used an environmental sensitivity map to classify different underwater areas based on the vulnerability of the species found there, prioritizing areas with a high number of at-risk species.
Surveys were carried out on 64 locations along the coastline to investigate the health of the species in those regions.
Changes in water temperature were measured in 37 different spots, to monitor the impact that higher temperatures have on wildlife.
CEO of the NCW, Mohammed Qurban, said that the study aligned with the green development goals of Saudi Arabia, which promote environmental sustainability in the Kingdom.
He also talked about the significance of surveys and how they were a critical tool to detect signs of any changes to habitats, which allowed organizations to address any issues.
NCW said in a statement that it would continue a number of studies and programs throughout the year to protect the marine and terrestrial biodiversity in the Kingdom.
The Red Sea is home to an array of wildlife including whales, dolphins, hammerhead sharks and sea snakes.
This week, one of the largest coral colonies in the world was discovered in the Red Sea.
The massive Pavona coral colony is expected to become an environmentally friendly tourist attraction managed by Red Sea Global.
Earlier this month, marine scientists found creatures thriving in deep waters of the Red Sea under seemingly unfavorable conditions of low oxygen levels and high acidity.
The unusual ecosystem was found in Difat Farasan near the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
The NCW is also leading initiatives to protect the dugong population in the Red Sea from further decline.
Efforts by the center include satellite tracking and scientific research to monitor its distribution in Saudi Arabia’s territorial waters.
Additionally, national plans are in place to manage and rehabilitate the species’ natural habitats, supporting long-term sustainability and the conditions necessary for dugong reproduction and survival.