Saudi Arabia condemns raid on Qatari embassy in Khartoum

Saudi Arabia condemns raid on Qatari embassy in Khartoum
Smoke billows above buildings in Khartoum on May 20, 2023, as violence between two rival generals continues. (AFP)
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Updated 20 May 2023
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Saudi Arabia condemns raid on Qatari embassy in Khartoum

Saudi Arabia condemns raid on Qatari embassy in Khartoum
  • The GCC and Arab Parliament also issued statements condemning the attack

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s on Saturday condemned and denounced the storming and vandalising of Qatar’s embassy in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

“Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom’s total rejection of all forms of violence and sabotage toward diplomatic missions and representations,” it added in a statement.

The ministry called on all Sudanese parties to abide by the truce, in accordance with the results of the recent Jeddah talks, and to engage in the political path that seeks to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the crisis in Sudan.

On Saturday, Qatar’s embassy was the latest diplomatic mission to be attacked, following attacks on the embassies of Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in recent weeks.

Saturday’s attack came a day after Arab leaders meeting at a summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, urged Sudan’s feuding generals to halt the fighting.

The Gulf Cooperation Council also strongly condemned the attack on the Qatari embassy, and all forms of violence and vandalism, especially those targeting the headquarters of diplomatic missions and their buildings recently. 

GCC Secretary-General Jassem Albudaiwi reiterated the call for the parties to the conflict to move quickly toward ceasing military operations, exercise maximum restraint, avoid escalation, respect international agreements and diplomatic norms that guarantee the sanctity and safety of diplomatic missions’ headquarters and their employees, and to spare civilians the effects of conflicts.

He also called on all parties to engage seriously in the Jeddah talks, to reach a comprehensive political solution that achieves security, stability and prosperity for Sudan and its people.

The Arab Parliament issued a statement condemning the incident and stressed the need to not damage diplomatic missions and provide them with full security, calling on all Sudanese parties to immediately and permanently implement a cease-fire and return to political dialogue.


International Diriyah Forum to promote cultural heritage 

International Diriyah Forum to promote cultural heritage 
Updated 9 sec ago
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International Diriyah Forum to promote cultural heritage 

International Diriyah Forum to promote cultural heritage 

JEDDAH: The “Diriyah International Forum,” organized through collaboration between the Diriyah Gate Development Authority and the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, will be held from Dec. 10-11.

The forum, themed “Diriyah: A Meeting Point of Cultures,” will bring together a distinguished gathering of scholars, thinkers and researchers.

The two-day forum aims to encourage creative thinking and promote collaboration between different specialties and experiences, and promote a global cultural and tourist destination.

The focus will be on reviewing the architectural style of Diriyah, especially after the opening of the historic Turaif district, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and Bujairi Quarter, the destination for fine dining in Diriyah, among other heritage sites.

The main topics to be covered during the diverse sessions of the forum include three key themes.

The first, titled “Architectural and Artistic Intersections,” explores the influences that shaped the distinctive architectural character of the region, from traditional mud buildings to the incorporation of modern design elements.

The second theme is “Historical Intersections,” focusing on prominent figures and significant historical events that contributed to shaping Diriyah’s history

The third is “Exploring the Past,” addressing the importance of archaeological discoveries, including artifacts and remnants of settlements while highlighting the rich cultural heritage of the region.

The forum contributes to shedding light on efforts to protect and preserve the history and heritage of Diriyah and celebrate it.


KSrelief sends 14 ambulances to Gaza 

KSrelief sends 14 ambulances to Gaza 
Updated 5 min 57 sec ago
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KSrelief sends 14 ambulances to Gaza 

KSrelief sends 14 ambulances to Gaza 

RIYADH: Fourteen out of the planned 20 ambulances provided by Saudi aid agency KSrelief are en route to the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. 

The ambulances are carrying crucial medical supplies including biometric devices, oxygen devices, first aid kits, burn treatment kits, transport beds, splints and straps.

Rafah, overseen by Egypt, is the only crossing into Gaza not controlled by Israel.

KSrelief has finalized four cooperation agreements with international organizations to provide relief worth $40 million for Palestinians in Gaza.

On Thursday, the 24th Saudi relief plane departed from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh to Al-Arish International Airport in Egypt.

On board the plane are 31 tons of aid supplies, including food, shelter and medical provisions. 

This initiative is part of an ongoing campaign dedicated to alleviating the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.
 


Saudi Arabia and Brazil detail areas of joint cooperation

Saudi Arabia and Brazil detail areas of joint cooperation
Updated 14 min 50 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia and Brazil detail areas of joint cooperation

Saudi Arabia and Brazil detail areas of joint cooperation

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday released a joint statement on the visit of President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to the Kingdom and the shared areas the two countries aim to enhance cooperation in.

On Tuesday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Lula at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. The Brazilian president was in the Kingdom from Nov. 28 to Nov. 29.

Lula congratulated the crown prince on winning the bid to host Expo 2030.

The crown prince and Brazilian president reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to develop them. They also exchanged views on current regional and international situations.

The two countries agreed to establish the Saudi-Brazilian Coordination Council to frame and enhance joint cooperation. The leaders also agreed to complete the initial procedures and activate the council with its committee members in the near future.

The crown prince and the Brazilian president discussed economic, trade and investment cooperation and reviewed the most prominent challenges of the global economy and ways to enhance and diversify intra-regional trade. They also discussed ways to intensify joint private-sector partnerships.

The leaders praised the results of the Brazilian-Saudi Investment Forum, held in Sao Paulo in August 2023, which saw the signing of 25 investment agreements between the two countries, valued at about $3.5 billion.

In light of the recent increase in bilateral trade between Brazil and Saudi Arabia, the two sides discussed ways to further expand trade and investment, and agreed to deepen the partnership in other key areas such as defense, science, technology, renewable energy, education, climate and space cooperation.

The leaders agreed on establishing a mechanism for dialogue on investments to stimulate and facilitate investments.

They also agreed on the need to strengthen negotiations between financial and investment agencies such as the Brazilian Development Bank and the Public Investment Fund, and the need to strengthen the stimulation of bilateral talks to facilitate investment and improve the business environment.

The leaders welcomed the signing of an MoU between the National Industrial Development Center and Brazil’s Vale to develop a factory and logistics center for the manufacture of high-quality iron pellets.

They also welcomed the signing of an MoU between the two countries’ energy ministries.

The two sides discussed the importance of strengthening cooperation in the agricultural, fishery and animal fields. They agreed on the importance of enhancing cooperation in aviation, food manufacturing and distribution, communications, technology, digital economy, innovation and space.

Other areas of enhanced cooperation included combating cross-border corruption crimes, judiciary and justice cooperation, transportation and logistics, health, global initiatives to confront current and future pandemics, education (working with universities to strengthen the exchange of academic, educational and research experiences).

The last areas of enhanced cooperation discussed included radio, television and news exchange, and training and cooperation in the cultural areas of museums, music, theater, performing and visual arts.

On Brazil’s presidency of the G20, the two leaders stressed the importance of giving priority to the three dimensions of sustainable development — economic, social and environmental.

They highlighted the importance of intensifying efforts to reach a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in accordance with the principle of the two-state solution.


Hevolution demonstrates healthspan journey service at Riyadh summit

Hevolution demonstrates healthspan journey service at Riyadh summit
Updated 39 min 1 sec ago
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Hevolution demonstrates healthspan journey service at Riyadh summit

Hevolution demonstrates healthspan journey service at Riyadh summit
  • ‘We’re not providing medical advice,’ vice president Dr. Sophia Pathai says
  • ‘It’s a snapshot for you to start to elevate … your healthspan journey’

RIYADH: The Hevolution Foundation demonstrated its new healthspan journey service at the Global Healthspan Summit.

Called Nafatha, the service comprises finger-prick and blood pressure tests, body composition analysis and a retinal scan.

The pop-up clinic was offered at the summit after the company was granted approval from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.

Ophthalmologist and Vice President of Medicine Dr. Sophia Pathai said Nafatha, which means window in Arabic, provided a “window into your health.”

“We’re not providing medical advice per se and we’re not providing medicines,” she said.

“We had to keep ourselves very much within the safety regulations. But what I’ve learned as I’ve been a physician for over 20 years is that you can have all the best technology in the world. But (it’s) you what’s really valuable indeed, what we found in the other is the personalized human touch.”

The process begins with a questionnaire about the client’s diet, lifestyle, sleep and stress that allows physicians to gain a better understanding of their health journey.

“It’s a snapshot for you to start to elevate, not your health, but your healthspan journey,” Pathai said. “If you have 45 minutes of your precious day to spend with us, we can offer you a 360 experience.”

Patients are told how stress levels can affect the body and receive a personal consultation with experts in biomedical nutrition and sports physiology.

“We know that stress is a key driver of aging,” Pathai said. “So, if you can measure it happening at the cellular level, we have a window into what’s happening at the organ level. And then what’s happening in our whole body.

“There are those who are very stressed and others who really know how to manage that work-life balance that we have these archetypes. With that information, we can understand how best to put you on your healthspan journey.”

Patients receive their results in downloadable reports with recommendations for exercise, sleep and nutrition that are localized to the Gulf region.

Pathai said: “The eye is the window to the soul. So, the retinal scanning gives that added dimension.

“We are complementing that with personalized retinal scanning by one of my colleagues from Heidelberg Engineering, who have developed a machine for looking at the back of the eye and we can detect very early who might have an increased likelihood of diabetes or even diabetic changes in the back of their eye.”

To support local Saudi talent, the Hevolution team hired local healthcare professionals to be a part of the Nafatha team.

Pathai said she was optimistic about the future.

“I think it’s so exciting that we can be almost futuristic in this aspiration where you could have a point of care testing that is looking at body parameters by parameters and elevate you on your healthspan journey.

“So many people, clients who went through who are thought-leaders, CEOs and members of the royal family said, ‘We would love to have this.’ So in my mind, it’s about scaling across and up. I would love to think about how this would be in Taif, Jazan and Dammam.”


PIF’s Lifera, Centogene aim to deliver world-class multiomic testing in Kingdom

PIF’s Lifera, Centogene aim to deliver world-class multiomic testing in Kingdom
Updated 30 November 2023
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PIF’s Lifera, Centogene aim to deliver world-class multiomic testing in Kingdom

PIF’s Lifera, Centogene aim to deliver world-class multiomic testing in Kingdom
  • Strategic cooperation between Lifera and Centogene set to increase local and regional access to world-class multiomic testing in the Kingdom and the Gulf region
  • CEO of Centogene Kim Stratton: The vision is to have end-to-end diagnostics here in Riyadh and we will be the wet lab, setting up the wet lab, the wet lab capabilities

RIYADH: Centogene, a life science partner for data-driven answers in rare and neurodegenerative diseases based in Germany, and Lifera, a biopharmaceutical company owned by the Public Investment Fund, have announced Lifera Omics, their new joint venture.

Chairman of Lifera Ibrahim Al-Juffali, joined Kim Stratton, CEO of Centogene, and Peter Bauer, its chief medical and genomic officer, on the second day of the Global Healthspan Summit in Riyadh to discuss a new era of diagnosing patients, understanding diseases, and accelerating precision medicine.

Strategic cooperation between Lifera and Centogene was announced in June this year and is set to increase local and regional access to world-class multiomic testing in the Kingdom and the Gulf region.

Stratton said: “The vision is to have end-to-end diagnostics here in Riyadh and we will be the wet lab, setting up the wet lab, the wet lab capabilities. So that’s everything from sample entry to increasingly doing the diagnostic.”

Lifera Omics will look to transform the lives of people in the Gulf region by offering cutting-edge genomic and multiomic testing services to patients, health systems, biopharma companies, and research institutes.

Lifera Omics works by merging information from phenomics, genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to deliver a comprehensive clinical picture.

Bauer said: “It is a product from the patient back to the patient.”

The collaboration between Lifera and Centogene will also provide Saudis with training opportunities, while helping to nurture local and international talents.

Al-Juffali said: “We are going to have a team that is composed of local and international talents, and potentially be able to attract local talent, taking into consideration the diverse capacity of university research centers and educational institutions here that will be able to educate people interested in the field.”

Training will include opportunities for Saudis to travel to Germany.

Stratton said: “(This will) immerse (them) in the way we do (things). It is the incentive to help train them and then (they can) be taken back to Saudi so that they can train others.”

Lifera aims to create partnerships with leading local and international companies while attracting targeted investments to boost local capacity and drive domestic manufacturing in the sector.

Stratton said: “We should be able to attract pharma partners to come here to the region, and if you are developing a product for certain high-risk diseases here, we should be able to attract the clinical development of those products here.”

Investment aims at manufacturing lifesaving and essential pharma products, including insulins, vaccines, plasma therapeutics, monoclonal antibodies, cell and gene therapies, and innovative small molecules.