KFSHRC's Organ Transplant Center of Excellence Wins Innovation Award

KFSHRC's Organ Transplant Center of Excellence Wins Innovation Award
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KFSHRC's Organ Transplant Center of Excellence Wins Innovation Award

KFSHRC's Organ Transplant Center of Excellence Wins Innovation Award

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) Organ Transplant Center of Excellence (OTCoE) has received the Innovation Award in the Regional Institute Category at the Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week (ADGHW) 2025, in recognition of its pioneering contributions to transplant innovation and regional impact on patient care. Consultant of Transplant, Hepatobiliary, and Pancreatic Surgery Dr. Yasser Al Nemary accepted the award on behalf of OTCoE during the ADGHW ceremony held at the ADNEC Center in Abu Dhabi.
Since 2011, OTCoE has performed more than 6,600 organ transplants, including kidney, liver, lung, and pancreas procedures, reaching a record high with 1,096 organ transplants. It has also achieved several surgical firsts, including the world's first fully robotic liver transplant and the region's first robotic pancreas transplant performed on a type 1 diabetes patient, SPA reported.
With over 5,000 kidney transplants completed and 500 successful paired kidney exchanges under its pioneering Kidney Paired Donation Program, OTCoE is a regional and global reference for multidisciplinary collaboration and patient-centered innovation.
"This award affirms our drive to transform organ transplant through innovation and precision, powered by a team relentlessly committed to advancing patient care," said OTCoE Executive Director Dr. Dieter Broering.
The ADGHW Innovation Awards celebrate transformative achievements in healthcare, spotlighting institutions that improve patient outcomes, expand access, and drive progress through innovation.
For the third consecutive year, KFSHRC has been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 15th globally in the list of the world's top 250 Academic Medical Centers. According to the 2025 Brand Finance rankings, it is recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East. Additionally, it was included in Newsweek magazine's World's Best Smart Hospitals list for 2025.



Spain and Portugal Continue to Battle Storm Leonardo as New Storm Approaches

 A mountain landslide blocks railway tracks during heavy rains, as storm Leonardo hits parts of Spain, in Benaojan, Spain, February 6, 2026. (Reuters)
A mountain landslide blocks railway tracks during heavy rains, as storm Leonardo hits parts of Spain, in Benaojan, Spain, February 6, 2026. (Reuters)
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Spain and Portugal Continue to Battle Storm Leonardo as New Storm Approaches

 A mountain landslide blocks railway tracks during heavy rains, as storm Leonardo hits parts of Spain, in Benaojan, Spain, February 6, 2026. (Reuters)
A mountain landslide blocks railway tracks during heavy rains, as storm Leonardo hits parts of Spain, in Benaojan, Spain, February 6, 2026. (Reuters)

Storm Leonardo continued to batter the Iberian Peninsula on Friday, bringing floods and putting rivers at risk of bursting their banks while thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in Spain and Portugal.

In southern Spain's Andalusia region, some 7,000 people have had to leave their homes due to successive storms.

Among them were around 1,500 people ordered to evacuate the mountain village of Grazalema, where Andalusia's regional leader Juan Manuel Moreno warned that aquifers were "full to the brim with water,” and at risk of collapsing.

“It's raining on already saturated ground. The land is unable to drain," Moreno said. “We urge extreme caution. This is not over.”

Spanish police said Friday they had found a body located 1,000 meters (about 0.6 miles) away from where a woman had disappeared Wednesday after she fell into a river in Malaga province while trying to rescue her dog. Police said they had not yet identified the body, but believed it belonged to the 45-year-old woman.

Another storm front, Marta, was expected to arrive Saturday, with Spain's weather agency AEMET saying it would bring even more rain and heavy winds, including to areas already drenched by Storm Leonardo.

Marta is expected to affect Portugal, too.

Of particular concern was southern Spain's Guadalquivir River, which flows through Córdoba and Seville and eventually into the Atlantic Ocean, and whose water levels have dramatically risen in recent days.

Additional rain Saturday could leave many more homes at risk in Córdoba, local authorities warned.

In Portugal, parts of Alcacer do Sal were submerged after the Sado River overflowed, forcing residents to leave the city located 90 kilometers (about 56 miles) south of Lisbon.

Alerts were issued also for regions near the Tagus River due to rising water levels.

A separate storm in late January left a trail of destruction in Portugal, killing several people, according to Portuguese authorities.


AROYA Cruises Debuts Arabian Gulf Voyages for 2026

AROYA offers a curated experience featuring culturally inspired entertainment and diverse dining options - SPA
AROYA offers a curated experience featuring culturally inspired entertainment and diverse dining options - SPA
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AROYA Cruises Debuts Arabian Gulf Voyages for 2026

AROYA offers a curated experience featuring culturally inspired entertainment and diverse dining options - SPA
AROYA offers a curated experience featuring culturally inspired entertainment and diverse dining options - SPA

AROYA Cruises, a subsidiary of the PIF-owned Cruise Saudi, has officially launched its inaugural season in the Arabian Gulf.

Running from February 21 to May 8, the season marks a milestone in regional tourism by blending authentic Saudi hospitality with international maritime standards, SPA reported.

AROYA offers a curated experience featuring culturally inspired entertainment and diverse dining options.

The season is designed to provide guests with a dynamic way to explore the Gulf, setting a new benchmark for luxury travel that reflects the Kingdom's heritage on a global stage.


Snowstorm Brings Much of Denmark to a Halt

A car drives in heavy snow at Store Heddinge in South Zealand, Denmark, 05 February 2026.  EPA/Mads Claus Rasmussen
A car drives in heavy snow at Store Heddinge in South Zealand, Denmark, 05 February 2026. EPA/Mads Claus Rasmussen
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Snowstorm Brings Much of Denmark to a Halt

A car drives in heavy snow at Store Heddinge in South Zealand, Denmark, 05 February 2026.  EPA/Mads Claus Rasmussen
A car drives in heavy snow at Store Heddinge in South Zealand, Denmark, 05 February 2026. EPA/Mads Claus Rasmussen

Denmark authorities halted public transport, closed schools and cancelled flights on Friday as heavy snowfall blanketed much of the country.

The Nordic country's meteorological institute DMI warned that heavy snow would likely continue until Friday evening in the east, where the capital Copenhagen is located.

Police said people should avoid going outdoors unless necessary and stay indoors in the capital and the surrounding region.

Copenhagen's airport cancelled flights to Paris and Berlin and warned of "delay and cancellation risks because of snowy conditions." Many schools were closed.

In the second-largest city of Aarhus, bus services were cancelled.