KFSHRC Saves Saudi 7-Year-Old Through Cross-Border Heart Transplant with UAE Donor Organ

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Aug 22 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Riyadh has successfully performed a life-saving heart transplant on a 7-year-old Saudi child using an organ donated by a brain-dead donor in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The complex procedure was made possible through seamless cross-border cooperation between the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation and the UAE’s National Program for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissue (HAYAT), with full consent from the donor’s family and all regulatory approvals in place.

This cooperation involved precise medical and logistical coordination, starting with the organ extraction, followed by air transportation to Riyadh, and concluding with the preparation of operating theaters in record time. The transplantation was performed within a critically time-sensitive window, ultimately saving the life of a child who had no other treatment options available.

The medical team at KFSHRC performed the transplantation on the child, who was suffering from advanced heart failure due to a complex congenital heart defect. After exhausting all available treatment options—including medications, respiratory support, and pacemaker implantation—without any significant improvement, the child was placed on the urgent transplant list.

Time is a critical factor in heart transplant operations. According to medical standards, the period between removing the heart from the donor and transplanting it into the patient must not exceed five hours to ensure transplant success. This time constraint creates significant logistical challenges in addition to the complex medical procedures, particularly when the brain-dead donor is located in another region within the Kingdom or overseas. In such circumstances, every minute of delay becomes crucial to the operation’s success.

The KFSHRC Heart Centre is recognized as one of the world’s leading cardiac centers, having achieved exceptional milestones including the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant and robotic artificial heart pump implantation without chest incision. These unprecedented medical breakthroughs demonstrate the Kingdom’s leadership in complex cardiac surgery.

KFSHRC has been ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa and 15th globally in the list of the world’s top 250 Academic Medical Centers for the second consecutive year and has been recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East, according to the 2024 Brand Finance rankings. It was included in the world’s best 250 hospitals and in the World’s Best Smart Hospitals list for 2025 by Newsweek magazine.

For more information, visit http://www.kfshrc.edu.sa or contact our media team at mediacoverage@kfshrc.edu.sa

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aaf4d900-7f18-4871-9809-29e19875c14a

SOURCE: King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre

Mary Kay’s Iconic Pink Cadillac Goes Electric with the All-New OPTIQ

“For decades, the Mary Kay pink Cadillac has symbolized accomplishment, aspiration, and the power of recognition,” said Ryan Rogers, Chief Executive Officer of Mary Kay. “With the introduction of the all-electric OPTIQ, we’re honoring that iconic legacy while driving into a transformative future—one grounded in our commitment to sustainability and dedication to inspiring and celebrating the achievements of our independent sales force for generations to come.” (Photo Courtesy: Mary Kay Inc.)​

Next-Gen Career Car Drives Innovation, Sustainability, And Business Opportunity into the Future

DALLAS, July 25 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — Global cosmetics giant, Mary Kay Inc., today announced a major milestone in its legacy of empowerment: the transformation of its beloved pink Cadillac into a fully electric vehicle (EV). The pink Cadillac OPTIQ made its debut during Mary Kay’s annual Seminar, hosted for the first time in the vibrant city of Charlotte, North Carolina.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250724749681/en/

The Cadillac OPTIQ is a significant step forward in Mary Kay’s commitment to innovation, environmental responsibility, and meeting expectations of the next generation of both Mary Kay independent sales force members and their customers. The transition from internal combustion to electric symbolizes more than just a vehicle upgrade, it marks a recharged vision for the future of the iconic beauty brand.

“For decades, the Mary Kay pink Cadillac has symbolized accomplishment, aspiration, and the power of recognition,” said Ryan Rogers, Chief Executive Officer of Mary Kay. “With the introduction of the all-electric OPTIQ, we’re honoring that iconic legacy while driving into a transformative future—one grounded in our commitment to sustainability and dedication to inspiring and celebrating the achievements of our independent sales force for generations to come.”

“Our relationship with Mary Kay spans decades and is built on shared values of innovation, empowerment, and excellence,” said Ian Hucker, VP GM Envolve. “As the organization takes bold steps into the future with the transition to an electric vehicle, we are proud to stand beside them, supporting a vision that’s not only sustainable but also deeply inspiring. The pink Cadillac OPTIQ is an exciting step forward, bringing together the performance and luxury you expect from Cadillac with meaningful innovation and purpose-driven impact.”

About The Pink Cadillac OPTIQ:

  • OPTIQ retains the instantly recognizable pink pearl exterior, while introducing a sleek, modernized chassis with cutting-edge features. As part of Mary Kay’s commitment to sustainability, the vehicle showcases the company’s dedication to reducing its carbon footprint while continuing to inspire.
  • OPTIQ’s exceptional aerodynamic performance enables its EPA-estimated 302-mile driving range1. The revolutionary GM EV Battery Platform and drive units, along with the use of low rolling resistance tires, also play an important role in the impressive range of the vehicle.
  • A vented rear spoiler, diffusers, and other sculptural elements enhance aerodynamics at the rear of the vehicle without compromising the striking SUV vehicle design.
  • OPTIQ packages interior spaciousness and luxury into a comfortable suite. Illuminated décor and embellishments add to OPTIQ’s unique interior interpretation of Cadillac luxury, while the suite of in-vehicle technology includes features such as the 19-speaker AKG Audio System and Dolby Atmos, creating an intuitive experience.

Did You Know:

  • The iconic pink Cadillac was born in 1968 when Mary Kay Ash purchased a Cadillac Coupe De Ville from a Dallas dealership and promptly had it painted to match the pale pink Mary Kay® lip and eye palette. General Motors later named the color Mary Kay Pink Pearl, and the shade is exclusive to Mary Kay.
  • Mary Kay has been named the #1 Direct Selling Brand of Skin Care and Color Cosmetics in the World2 by Euromonitor International for three consecutive years, in 2023, 2024, and again in 2025.

About Mary Kay
One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 40 markets. For over 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X.

    
1 GM-Estimated range based on development testing and/or analytical projection consistent with SAE J1634 revision 2017- MCT and subject to change prior to production. Actual range may vary based on several factors, including temperature, terrain, battery age, loading and how you use and maintain your vehicle. Visit www.cadillac.com for more information.
 
2 “Source Euromonitor International Limited; Beauty and Personal Care 2025 Edition, value sales at RSP, 2024 data”

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250724749681/en/

Contact

Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications
marykay.com/newsroom
972.687.5332 or media@mkcorp.com

Source : Mary Kay Inc.

CGTN: A letter to inspire: Xi’s words resonate across China’s thriving film industry

CGTN published an article exploring how Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent reply to veteran film artists struck a chord across the country’s dynamic film industry. The article underscores the sector’s unwavering drive for innovation as well as its impressive blending of technology and culture.

BEIJING, July 15 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In 1905, a silent, 30-minute black-and-white reel captured Peking Opera master Tan Xinpei performing as a general in “Dingjun Mountain” – China’s first-ever film – ushering in an era of visual storytelling for the nation.

Now, 120 years later, China has rewritten global box office records with “Ne Zha 2,” an animated epic that stands as the highest-grossing animated film of all time and one of the top five films worldwide by total earnings.

In a recent reply letter to eight veteran Chinese film artists, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the country’s film industry to create more outstanding cinematic works that reflect the spirit of the times and express the aspirations of the people.

Xi encouraged them to inspire the broader film community to strengthen cultural confidence, stay grounded in real life, and make new contributions to the prosperity of the arts and the building of a culturally strong nation.

When tech meets Chinese culture

From the muted flickers of early reels to the dazzling spectacle of AI-powered epics, China’s 120-year cinematic journey has been defined by unyielding innovation.

The runaway success of “Ne Zha 2” – which follows the rebellious boy-god Ne Zha and his dragon companion Ao Bing as they reclaim their physical forms and rewrite their destinies – is fueled by breathtaking, action-packed visuals.

Behind this cinematic hit lies a technological feat: advanced computer graphics and custom algorithms powered hyper-realistic lava flows, explosive particle effects and vast crowd simulations.

To achieve these immersive scenes – some featuring up to 200 million characters in a single frame – a collaborative network of 138 animation studios across China worked in unison, elevating both the scale and precision of the film to unprecedented heights.

A growing wave of Chinese films is also harnessing cutting-edge technology to enrich storytelling and push the boundaries of cinematic innovation.

In “The Wandering Earth 2,” a Chinese sci-fi blockbuster, production teams leveraged 3D printing to craft highly detailed props, including futuristic spacesuits, quantum AI computers and robotic arms. The Chinese fantasy trilogy “Creation of the Gods,” known for its heroic clashes between good and evil, utilized motion capture technology and Hollywood-style production pipelines to standardize its filmmaking process.

China’s film industry today blends state-of-the-art technology with the richness of a 5,000-year cultural legacy, producing visually stunning narratives that resonate with global audiences.

Recent hits such as the “Ne Zha” saga, the “Creation of the Gods” trilogy, and “Chang An” have reimagined ancient Chinese legends through modern storytelling and visual artistry.

CMC Pictures announced last week that the English-language version of “Ne Zha 2” will debut in IMAX and 3D across theaters in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand starting August 22.

Ellen Eliasoph, an Academy Awards juror and veteran filmmaker, emphasized that the global expansion of Chinese cinema is driven not merely by commercial ambition, but by its profound cultural influence – which she described as the true cornerstone of its success.

“China is truly an untapped goldmine of intellectual property when it comes to filmmaking,” said Eliasoph, who was the first Hollywood executive to work in China, in an interview with China Media Group in April.

A thriving industry

China is now the world’s second-largest film market. In 2024, over 1.01 billion cinema visits were recorded across the country. As of July 8, data from online platforms showed that China’s cumulative box office revenue for 2025 – including presales – had exceeded 30 billion yuan (about $4.18 billion), reaching this milestone in just 189 days, 28 days ahead of last year’s pace.

The country is also playing an increasingly influential role in reshaping the global cinematic landscape. In 2024 alone, China hosted international film festivals in more than 30 countries and regions. At home, Chinese theaters screened 93 imported films, generating over 9 billion yuan in box office revenue.

Chen Daoming, a renowned actor and chairman of the China Film Association, said President Xi’s reply letter offers a guiding framework for the Chinese film industry.

“It’s an essential and profound source of inspiration,” said Chen, who was one of the writers of the letter to Xi. “I hope that through our joint efforts, we can create many outstanding works that contribute to the prosperity of the arts and the building of a culturally strong nation.”

Gao Ying, a manager at the time-honored Capital Cinema in Beijing, said the president’s letter awakened a deep sense of mission within her.

“We are committed to transforming every screen and theater into a cultural window that tells China’s story and celebrates the Chinese spirit.”

For more information, please click:
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-07-14/A-letter-to-inspire-Xi-s-words-echo-through-China-s-film-industry-1EZPEXHS38A/p.html


Contact: CGTN, cgtn@cgtn.com

SOURCE: China Global Television Network Corporation

ECO FORUM GLOBAL GUIYANG 2025 TO FOCUS ON GREEN TRANSFORMATION

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 (Bernama) — The Guizhou Provincial Government has announced that the Eco Forum Global Guiyang 2025 will be convened from July 5 to 6 in the provincial capital of Guiyang, following approval by the State Council of China.

Hosted by the People’s Government of Guizhou Province, the two-day event will carry the theme “Harmonious Coexistence between Humans and Nature – Discussing Global Development and Green Transformation” and is expected to draw approximately 800 delegates, according to a statement.

As China’s sole national and international forum focused on the theme of eco-civilisation, the Eco Forum Global Guiyang has steadily built its profile over the course of 12 previous editions, earning growing attention on the global stage.

Organisers aim to position this year’s iteration as a dynamic platform for dialogue, partnership, and actionable outcomes, particularly in the realm of sustainable development and ecological governance.

Preparations for the forum are reportedly progressing in an orderly fashion, with a rich programme of activities scheduled, including the opening ceremony, thematic forums, off-site visits, promotional displays, green investment promotion, and the debut of new environmental protection products and technologies.

Notably, this year marks a significant step forward in international collaboration. For the first time since 2018, international organisations will play a substantive role in shaping the forum’s agenda. Of the 20 planned thematic forums, 11 will feature participation by international entities, with four forums to be independently hosted by these organisations.

The forum also serves as an extension of China’s engagement with major multilateral climate processes. It is expected to respond to key themes arising from global environmental conferences such as COP16 and COP29, with a focus on practical cooperation in areas including climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

A core objective of the 2025 edition is to share China’s experience in eco-civilisation and green transformation, particularly with developing nations across the Global South, reinforcing cooperation in sustainable development. The forum also seeks to catalyse global efforts to address what it identifies as the three pressing environmental challenges.

Through this initiative, Guizhou is positioning itself as a hub for international green collaboration and innovation, seeking to “pool wisdom” and “attract investment”, empowering new quality productivity and high-quality development.

— BERNAMA

Guizhou’s Fruitful Eco-Construction: from ‘Experimental Zone’ to ‘Pilot Zone’

GUIYANG, China, June 30, 2025 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

Citizens visit Denggaoyunshan Park in Guiyang City.

Guizhou, located in the southwest of China, is using an ecological pen to paint a gorgeous green picture along her mountains and rivers. From an ‘Experimental Zone’ to a ‘Pilot Zone’, Guizhou has embarked on a new path of green development characterized with prosperous economy, wealthy people and ecological beauty.

SignificantImprovement inEco–environment

Guizhou persists in winning the ‘Five Major Battles’ of pollution prevention and control and coordinates the integrated eco-restoration of mountains, rivers, lakes, farmland, forests, grasslands and deserts. By 2024, the ambient air quality in 9 key cities and 88 counties in Guizhou has met Grade II, and the overall surface water quality has been remarkable. The excellent water quality rate of 222 monitoring sections of major rivers is 99.1%, and that of 23 exit sections reaches 100%. The water quality compliance rate of centralized drinking water sources at or above the county level remains 100%.

The Wushui River (Wuyang River) in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture has been successfully selected as one of the Outstanding Cases of Beautiful Rivers and Lakes in China. Since 2019, the water quality in Qiandongnan Prefecture has been among the top 10 in China for six consecutive years. Mr. Wu Hougui, a member of the Loong Boat Team in Ximen Community, Zhenyuan County, said, ‘The Loong Boat Competition tradition can not be inherited for thousands of years without lucid waters and lush mountains.’

FlourishingGreenIndustries

Guizhou is accelerating the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, integrating green and low-carbon concept throughout the entire process of high-quality development. Guizhou has successfully established 85 national level green factories and 22 green industrial parks. The green economy accounts for about 48%.

The first commercial hydrogen locomotive in China has started trial operation on Guizhou Meijin Railway Special Line in Zhongshan District, Liupanshui City, opening up a new path for clean coal transportation. The construction of ‘Electric Guizhou’ has achieved fruitful results. Since the beginning of 2025, a total of 3,054 electric heavy-duty trucks have been promoted and applied in the energy sector, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 332,000 tons.

The forestry has also achieved a huge leap forward. In 2014, the total output value of Guizhou’s forestry was only 60.1 billion yuan, and it exceeded 465.4 billion yuan in 2024. Over the past decade, the forest coverage rate has increased from 49% to 63.3%, with a forest area of 166 million mu.

Innovative Eco–protectionSystem

In 2024, Guizhou took the lead in establishing a unified and standardized mechanism for issuing forestry carbon tickets at the provincial level in China, granting the first batch of 10 provincial forestry carbon tickets and achieving a total of 11 million yuan in transactions. In addition, a total of 120 water rights transactions have been completed, with a transaction volume of 86.0287 million cubic meters, amounting to 31.5387 million yuan.

Public Participation inEco–construction

Guizhou’s tradition of ‘Tree Planting for New Year Celebrations’ has continued for 11 years, with 605 million more seedlings newly planted here. Since the 14 th  Five-Year-Plan, Guizhou has shifted its greening focus from ‘coverage expansion’ to ‘quality improvement’. Through projects such as degraded forest restoration and forest nurturing, the forest has been both ‘greened’ and ‘increased in value’.

Meanwhile, with both ‘civil defense and technical defense’, Guizhou has successfully protected the ecological foundation. For instance, there are 87 remote video surveillance points established in Guiyang to prevent forest fire. There are 400 infrared cameras installed to track the rare species in Mount Fanjing and more than 40,000 forest chiefs ready to guard forest resources. Collaborative mechanisms such as ‘forest chief+procurator’ and ‘forest chief+sheriff’ have formed a comprehensive matrix for ecological protection.

EfficientResource Utilizationand Green Transformation

Guizhou has implemented the strategy of ‘Refined Development of Rich Minerals’ to promote efficient utilization of resources. In the field of phosphorus chemical industry, Qiannan Prefecture has laid out modern chemical and new energy battery material industries, realizing the transformation of phosphorus from ‘fertilizer’ to ‘material’. The total output value of phosphorus based modern chemical and new energy battery materials has exceeded 50 billion yuan. Furthermore, in the field of aluminum industry, Shuicheng Economic Development Zone has achieved 100% in-situ conversion of aluminum liquid, and the number of aluminum related enterprises has increased from 1 in 2016 to 54.

Guizhou is also actively developing the cultural tourism industry and digital economy. The Zhenyuan Loong Boat Race Cultural Festival has unleashed the consumption potential of cultural tourism. During the Loong Boat Festival this year, Zhenyuan County received 253,900 tourists, realizing a total tourism revenue of 234 million yuan. Additionally, Guizhou’s digital economy growth rate has been among the top in the country for 9 consecutive years. There are 48 national key data centers under construction and in operation, making Guizhou one of the regions with the most intelligent computing resources and the strongest capabilities in China.

Source: Guizhou Environmental Protection Industry Association

Caption: Citizens visit Denggaoyunshan Park in Guiyang City.

–BERNAMA