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Surgery Begins in Riyadh for Most Complex Conjoined Twins Cases in the World

The Filipino conjoined twins (SPA)
The Filipino conjoined twins (SPA)
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Surgery Begins in Riyadh for Most Complex Conjoined Twins Cases in the World

The Filipino conjoined twins (SPA)
The Filipino conjoined twins (SPA)

The medical and surgical team of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program began on Thursday the separation surgery for the Filipino conjoined twins Klea and Maurice Ann, who are joined at the head, at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh.

The surgery is in implementation of the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Supervisor-General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and head of the medical and surgical team Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah stated in a press briefing that the conjoined Filipino twins arrived in the Kingdom on May 17, 2025.

He explained that following their admission, the medical team conducted extensive examinations and held multiple consultations, ultimately determining that the case was among the most complex in the world.

This was due to several critical medical factors, including the complex angle of the twins’ heads, extensive sharing of cerebral venous sinuses, and overlapping brain tissue.

He further noted that one of the twins, Klea, was suffering from heart failure and severe kidney atrophy leading to complete renal failure, which significantly increased the surgical risks associated with the separation procedure.

Al Rabeeah stated that the surgical team decided to carry out the operation in five stages, with the participation of 30 consultants, specialists, and nursing and technical staff across multiple disciplines, and noted that the procedure is expected to last approximately 24 hours.

He pointed out that this operation is the 70th procedure in the program, which, since its launch in 1990, has assessed and provided care for 157 conjoined twins from 28 countries across five continents.

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Red Sea Destination Announces Opening of Global Resort on Shura Island

The resort offers a comprehensive wellness retreat experience through 180 upscale rooms, suites, and villas - SPA
The resort offers a comprehensive wellness retreat experience through 180 upscale rooms, suites, and villas - SPA
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Red Sea Destination Announces Opening of Global Resort on Shura Island

The resort offers a comprehensive wellness retreat experience through 180 upscale rooms, suites, and villas - SPA
The resort offers a comprehensive wellness retreat experience through 180 upscale rooms, suites, and villas - SPA

Red Sea Global announced that Miraval The Red Sea will begin welcoming guests starting May 15. The launch marks the first international expansion of the luxury “Miraval” brand outside the United States, reinforcing the status of the Red Sea destination as a leading global tourism hub, especially after occupancy rates across the destination reached 82% during the final days of Ramadan, SPA reported.

The resort offers a comprehensive wellness retreat experience through 180 upscale rooms, suites, and villas.

CEO of Red Sea Global John Pagano stated that attracting a prestigious brand such as “Miraval” reflects the strong global confidence in the Kingdom’s tourism offerings.

He noted that the momentum witnessed by the destination has been clearly reflected in strong occupancy rates and early bookings for the Eid season.

Resort guests will enjoy a variety of activities and culinary experiences inspired by locally sourced ingredients.

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Czech Police Seek Thief who Stole Saint's Skull

Police officers patrol the Czech-Slovak green border near Stary Hrozenkov, Czech Republic, September 29, 2022. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa
Police officers patrol the Czech-Slovak green border near Stary Hrozenkov, Czech Republic, September 29, 2022. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa
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Czech Police Seek Thief who Stole Saint's Skull

Police officers patrol the Czech-Slovak green border near Stary Hrozenkov, Czech Republic, September 29, 2022. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa
Police officers patrol the Czech-Slovak green border near Stary Hrozenkov, Czech Republic, September 29, 2022. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa

An unidentified thief stole the skull of Czech saint Zdislava of Lemberk from a glass shrine in a northern Czech church, causing "incalculable" historic damage, police said late on Tuesday.

St Zdislava of Lemberk (estimated 1220-1252), a noblewoman known for her merciful and charitable deeds, was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1995.

The theft in the basilica of St Lawrence and St Zdislava in the northern town of Jablonne v Podjestedi was committed after 1600 GMT, said police spokeswoman Dagmar Sochorova.

"An unknown culprit broke a shrine in which the skull was stored and ran away from the site," AFP quoted her as saying.

Police published "low quality footage" depicting the culprit clad "probably" in black and wearing "probably" white shoes, and asked the public for help.

"The value of the stolen skull is currently being investigated. However, its historic value is obviously incalculable," Sochorova added.

Prague Archbishop Stanislav Pribyl, who also heads the Litomerice diocese in charge of the Jablonne church, said the news was "devastating".

Placed on an altar in a side chapel, the skull "was the subject of adoration for pilgrims travelling to Jablonne where Zdislava lived and worked more than 750 years ago," he said.

"I can't believe that someone commits a daylight robbery to steal from a church a relic whose value is above all historic," added Pribyl, who was named Prague archbishop in February.

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Saudi Arabia: KAUST Study Reveals How Plants Protect Photosynthesis During Extreme Heat

The research team identified a protective mechanism within chloroplasts. SPA
The research team identified a protective mechanism within chloroplasts. SPA
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Saudi Arabia: KAUST Study Reveals How Plants Protect Photosynthesis During Extreme Heat

The research team identified a protective mechanism within chloroplasts. SPA
The research team identified a protective mechanism within chloroplasts. SPA

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has completed a research study identifying how plants protect photosynthesis under high temperatures, an outcome that could support the development of more resilient crops in desert climates.

The research team identified a protective mechanism within chloroplasts, lead researcher Professor Monika Chodasiewicz said, noting that it helps preserve and restore the plant’s ability to convert sunlight into chemical energy.

The findings are particularly significant, as heat is one of the main threats to plant productivity, and protecting photosynthesis is essential for sustaining plant growth and crop yields, Chodasiewicz added.

She explained that the chlorophyll protein forms protective granules, revealing their previously unclear functional significance. The findings provide new insights that could be applied for future crop breeding and biotechnology, Chodasiewicz said.

The results also contribute to the emerging field of phase-separated biomolecular condensates in plant biology, while supporting broader priorities related to sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, and food security.