Latest news with #mobility
The National
5 hours ago
- Health
- The National
'I want to run and play with my siblings': Palestinian-Jordanian girl hopes for new life after US surgery
For much of her childhood, Leen Mohammad has depended on a wheelchair and walker to move around. Born in Amman with cerebral palsy, the Palestinian-Jordanian girl has spent her life with limited mobility, often watching from the sidelines as other children run, jump and play. Now 12, Leen has travelled thousands of kilometres with her mother to Shriners Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where doctors carried out complex, six-hour surgery on her legs, offering her a new chance at mobility. 'When I start walking, I will feel so happy,' Leen told The National. 'I want to play with my siblings. I want to run. I want to go shopping with my mother.' Leen suffers from spastic quadriplegia, a severe form of cerebral palsy affecting all four limbs. The family, originally from Jenin in the occupied West Bank, have travelled to the US for medical treatment three times. In 2016, when Leen was only four, she underwent surgery at Shriners Hospital in Minnesota to help her walk, with the procedure fully covered by the hospital due to the high cost of overseas care. Four years later, in 2020, Leen and her mother travelled to St Louis Children's Hospital in Missouri for a procedure known as selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), a form of neurosurgery that helps reduce spasticity, a condition that causes muscle stiffness and tightness. The treatment cost about $70,000, said Leen's mother Sana'a Shllak. With no medical insurance, the family raised the funds through a GoFundMe campaign and by creating and selling handmade frames inscribed with the word "hope". 'What she has going on now is actually very common in kids with spastic quadriplegia,' explained Dr Terrence Ishmael, paediatric orthopaedic and spine surgeon at Shriners in Philadelphia, who in May carried out Leen's third operation. 'When they have surgery at a really young age, often times the clinical scenario can change as they grow, because, you know, her body and her bones are growing really quickly, but often times, her muscles and her tendons don't quite grow at the same rate. "Sometimes the bones are not aligned in the position that is the most efficient for her to walk, so it's actually very common for originally treated issues to recur again.' Leen is approaching skeletal maturity, which means the likelihood of her needing more surgery is lower than it would have been at a younger age. 'The hope is that the results we get with this procedure, or this combination of procedures, will be durable and last year into adulthood,' the surgeon added. The family expressed deep gratitude to the hospital for covering the full cost of Leen's medical treatment. They also received crucial support from Heal Palestine, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping Palestinian children rebuild their lives. 'Without Heal Palestine, the trip would not have been possible,' said Ms Shllak, who explained that the organisation funded their flights and accommodation in Philadelphia. Established on January 1 last year, Heal Palestine has been providing essential support to children affected by the Israel-Gaza war. Leen is the first Jordanian-Palestinian child the group has assisted. From struggle to strength 'It is heartbreaking. I feel lost, sad, but I need to be strong for her. I always Google about her case to choose the best for her,' said Ms Shllak. Leen was only nine months old when she fell into a six-day coma. It was then that doctors diagnosed her with cerebral palsy. For the first four years of Leen's life, Ms Shllak carried her everywhere, all while desperately searching the internet for treatment options. That's how she discovered Shriners Children's Hospital. 'The US offers more advanced treatment and equipment compared to Jordan and the doctors are experts. So I chose the US to treat my daughter," she said. Leen currently has casts on both legs, which will be removed six weeks after surgery. She and her mother are staying with a host family in the US state of Delaware and plan to return to Jordan in August. 'Once the casts come off, she'll be placed in new braces for her feet, and we expect that she'll be able to take her first steps with a walker right after having the cast removed,' said Dr Ishmael. Leen dreams of one day walking, and even running, without assistance. But given her condition, the doctor says it's difficult to predict whether she will ever be able to move entirely on her own. 'The treatment is ultimately to make her walk more efficiently, but in terms of her becoming an independent walker of any meaningful distance, it's unlikely because of her underlying condition,' said Dr Ishmael. He explained that Leen's voluntary motor control is significantly limited, affecting her upper and lower limbs. 'There are kids who have less severe cerebral palsy, who do achieve meaningful, independent ambulation with minimal assistance. But it's not clear as to whether or not Leen is one of those, and it's hard to predict,' he added. Despite the challenges, Leen's family remains determined to give her a more independent future. For them, this journey is about more than mobility - it's rooted in the belief that every child deserves the chance to thrive. As for Leen, no dream feels out of reach. 'When I grow up, I want to be a doctor so I can help kids like me,' she says with a smile.
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Post-Brexit youth visa scheme with EU given green light in major step towards closer ties with the bloc
The European Union has given the green light to post- Brexit youth visas with the UK, after member states approved talks on how they would work in practice. Campaigners welcomed what they hailed as a 'massive step forward for young people in the UK.' The European Council, which comprises the leaders of EU member countries, has backed opening up detailed discussions with the UK to determine how many visas would be issued and what conditions they would have. Britons lost the right to live and work in the UK, so-called 'freedom of movement', and vice versa, after the UK left the bloc. But there have long been calls for a scheme for 18-30 years olds that would allow Brits to work on the continent, and young people from EU countries to come here, for a short period of a few years. Britain already has similar agreements on youth mobility with 13 separate countries, including Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Iceland, Uruguay, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Most of these are open to 18 to 30-year-olds or 18 to 35-year-olds, depending on where they are from, and allow them to live and work in the UK for up to two years. But idea of a youth visa deal with the EU has proven controversial, with Labour ministers forced to defend it and deny it's a return to pre-Brexit style freedom of movement. Earlier this year Downing Street made clear that anyone coming to the UK as part of a youth mobility scheme with the EU will not be able to access benefits, nor bring family members with them. It is understood that they would also have to pay an immigration health surcharge to use the NHS. The council has now adopted plans to open official negotiations with the UK on such a scheme. Alfred Quantrill, from the Young European Movement UK, said: "The EU deciding to formally start talks on a Youth Experience Scheme is a massive step forward for young people in the UK. "Young Brits deserve the same chances enjoyed by most of their peers across the continent. 'Whether you call it a Youth Experience Scheme or Mobility Scheme, it amounts to the same - more opportunities for a whole generation of young Brits who have seen their chances of working and studying abroad shrinking for a decade. "That means rejoining schemes like Erasmus+, but also opening up broader access to apprenticeships, internships, and leisure. While our parents could freely work, study and travel across borders, this generation is trapped by paperwork and high costs. The Youth Experience Scheme is Starmer's chance to fix this failure." The moves comes just days after a poll showed that nearly nine years on from the narrow Brexit referendum result, which led to the UK leaving the union, most Britons want to see the UK return to the EU. 'Bregretful' about the outcome of the vote, which ended David Cameron 's term as prime minister.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- BBC News
Tuk-tuk service helping people with mobility issues
Businesses in a village in Cornwall have said a new tuk-tuk shuttle service has helped people with mobility issues enjoy the service, called Tuk You There Dreckly, launched in April and takes people from Polperro car park to Polperro Pennington, who owns The Cottage Bed and Breakfast in Polperro, said it was "really handy", and helped people with less mobility to explore. She added: "This is really helping people to come back to visiting the village who have maybe stayed away because they've been worried about being able to get down and back up again." 'Makes a difference' Ms Pennington said the shuttle stopped outside her bed and breakfast."If you're fully mobile it makes no difference but lots of people aren't," she are three wheeled motorised taxis which are common in You There Dreckly owner Darren Sereika said: "Local people are loving it, kids are loving it, people waving all the time. And all with a smile on their face."He added: "It makes a difference for the entire village. "Hopefully long term it will be a huge impact and bring everything back to such a beautiful busy village that it is."On his busiest day Mr Sereika has clocked up 49km (30 miles) transporting people and can take up to six passengers at a time.A milk float and a horse and cart have been used in the past to take passengers down the hill to the harbour.
Associated Press
13 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Tencent Cloud Empowers Ryde to Elevate In-App Communication in Southeast Asia
HONG KONG, CHINA / ACCESS Newswire / June 20, 2025 / Tencent Cloud,the cloud business of global leading technology company Tencent, today announced a strategic partnership with Ryde Group Ltd (NYSE American: RYDE) ('Ryde' or the 'Company'), a technology company with a leading platform for mobility and quick commerce in Singapore, to elevate in-app communication for ride-hailing services in Southeast Asia. By integrating Tencent Real-Time Communication (TRTC) technology powered by Tencent Cloud, along with WeChat Mini Program, Ryde is enhancing driver and rider interactions with ultra-low latency, secure, and seamless communication directly within its platform. As Ryde expanded its user base and platform capabilities, the limitations of traditional telecom-based communication systems have become evident. Reliance on third-party number masking added unnecessary complexity, increased operational costs, and failed to meet the expectations of a mobile-first, digitally savvy audience. To maintain its competitive edge, Ryde sought a cutting-edge, cloud-native solution to ensure secure, real-time communication, protect user privacy, and optimize operational efficiency. With its proven global leadership in real-time communication infrastructure, powering platforms like Weixin/WeChat, QQ, and PUBG, Tencent Cloud's ultra-low latency solution, carrier-grade stability, and seamless integration capabilities aligned perfectly with Ryde's vision of building a future-ready mobility platform. Enhancing Mobility with Tencent Cloud's Real-Time Technology As one of the powerful solutions under Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS), TRTC is renowned for its carrier-grade stability, ultra-low latency architecture, and seamless integration into mobile-first environments. By leveraging this solution, Ryde can replace traditional telecom methods with a scalable, secure, and cost-effective in-app solution, ensuring seamless voice interactions between riders and driver-partners. Beyond core infrastructure, Ryde also benefited from Tencent Cloud's comprehensive offerings, including scalable support for user demand, robust security compliant with international standards, improved performance with minimized latency, and access to AI and analytics for smarter pricing and customer engagement. Driving Long-Term Digital Mobility Transformation in Southeast Asia The partnership between Ryde and Tencent Cloud marks a strategic alliance between two growth-oriented platforms committed to advancing high-impact digital infrastructure across Southeast Asia. This collaboration is grounded in a shared vision to unlock value in rapidly evolving sectors such as urban mobility, platform-as-a-service, and AI-powered digital solutions. For Tencent Cloud, this partnership aligns with its regional expansion goals and strengthens its role in enabling super-app ecosystems. By offering scalable, secure infrastructure and advanced solutions like TRTC, Tencent Cloud is deepening its presence in the fast-growing mobility sector, with Ryde as a key partner. For Ryde, the collaboration accelerates its product development, enhances platform reliability, and drives operational efficiency-crucial factors as it expands into new areas including ride-hailing, deliveries, payments, and sustainable mobility. Tencent Cloud's robust ecosystem empowers Ryde to deliver exceptional user experiences while maintaining cost efficiency and technical agility. Kenneth Siow, Regional Director for Southeast Asia and General Manager for Singapore & Malaysia at Tencent Cloud International, said, 'We are thrilled to partner with Ryde in transforming the ride-hailing communication experience across Southeast Asia. By integrating our Real-Time Communication (TRTC) technology, we enable seamless, secure, and ultra-low latency interactions within the Ryde platform. This collaboration underscores Tencent Cloud's commitment to empowering innovative companies with cutting-edge cloud solutions that enhance user experiences and drive operational efficiency. Together, we are establishing a long-term strategic foundation to capture emerging revenue opportunities, optimize margins through advanced infrastructure, and future-proof our platforms in Southeast Asia's rapidly evolving digital economy.' Nitin Dolli, CTO at Ryde Group, said, 'Our partnership with Tencent Cloud is more than a technological upgrade-it is a transformative step that accelerates Ryde's evolution beyond ride-hailing into a comprehensive regional super-app. Leveraging Tencent Cloud's robust TRTC technology, we have further enhanced the communication experience for both riders and driver-partners, while upholding the highest standards of privacy, security, and scalability. We believe this collaboration strengthens our competitive edge and reaffirms our commitment to delivering smarter, more seamless solutions for our users.' In addition to TRTC implementation, Tencent Cloud and Rydeare jointly exploring new opportunities with WeChat Mini Program in areas such as AI-driven fleet optimization, intelligent dispatch systems, and green mobility analytics-initiatives designed to boost operational performance and support scalable, long-term growth. About Tencent Cloud: Tencent Cloud, one of the world's leading cloud companies, is committed to creating innovative solutions to resolve real-world issues and enabling digital transformation for smart industries. Through our extensive global infrastructure, Tencent Cloud provides businesses across the globe with stable and secure industry-leading cloud products and services, leveraging technological advancements such as cloud computing, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT, and network security. It is our constant mission to meet the needs of industries across the board, including the fields of gaming, media and entertainment, finance, healthcare, property, retail, travel, and transportation. About Ryde Group Ltd: Ryde, a homegrown super mobility app founded in Singapore, is the world's FIRST on-demand carpooling app since 2014! As a publicly listed company on the NYSE American, we are reimagining the way people and goods move around. We offer a full suite of services, including carpooling, private hire, taxi, and delivery, but what truly sets us apart is our commitment to empower our private-hire and taxi partners. We take 0% commission, ensuring that more of every hard-earned dollar goes to driver-partners on our platform. For more information, please visit to learn more. Media Contact Melody Huang Tencent Cloud [email protected] Andy Miu Current Global [email protected] +852 2533 9908 Media Team Ryde Group Ltd [email protected] Investor Relations Ryde Group Ltd [email protected] FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected trading commencement and closing dates. The words 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'continue,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'plan,' 'potential,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'should,' 'target,' 'will,' 'would' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Ryde Group Ltd specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE: Ryde Group press release
Bloomberg
20 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
China's Baidu Eyes Robotaxi Expansion to Singapore and Malaysia
Baidu Inc. is planning to launch its Apollo Go robotaxi service in Singapore and Malaysia as early as this year, according to a person familiar with the matter, as the company continues to expand its global footprint. Apollo Go is in discussions with potential partners to explore the right business models for the two markets, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters. Baidu Chief Executive Officer Robin Li has previously said the company was seeking partners such as mobility service providers, local taxi companies and third-party fleet operators for an asset-light approach.
