Riyadh has ‘open channel’ with Houthis: Saudi official
Updated 07 November 2019
AFP
RIYADH: Riyadh has an “open channel” with Yemen’s Iran-backed militia with the goal of ending the country’s civil war, a Saudi official said Wednesday.
The comment comes after Saudi Arabia brokered a power-sharing agreement between Yemen’s internationally recognized government and southern separatists, which observers say could pave the way for a wider peace deal.
“We have had an open channel with the Houthis since 2016. We are continuing these communications to support peace in Yemen,” a senior Saudi official told reporters. “We don’t close our doors with the Houthis.”
The official, who declined to be named, did not describe the nature of the communication.
There was no immediate comment from the Houthis, who seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen in 2014.
Washington too is in talks with the Houthis, Assistant Secretary of Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker said during a visit to Saudi Arabia in September.
Wednesday’s confirmation comes amid the slow implementation of a landmark ceasefire deal for the key aid port of Hodeida, which was agreed between the government and the militia in Sweden late last year.
“If the Houthis (are) serious to de-escalate and agree to come to the table, Saudi Arabia will support their demand and support all political parties to reach a political solution,” the Saudi official said.
Ithra hosts screening of Japanese indie horror hit
Shinichiro Ueda: One key point is that this film was created as part of an acting workshop we conducted, and then we made a film with the participants
Ueda: As a result, there were no casting costs. We also assembled a strong team from within the workshop, which helped keep the budget low
Updated 11 sec ago
Jasmine Bager
DHAHRAN: As a part of Japan Cultural Days in Dhahran, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Ithra, recently hosted a special screening of the 2017 film “One Cut of the Dead.”
It was followed by an exclusive Q&A with director Shinichiro Ueda.
“One key point is that this film was created as part of an acting workshop we conducted, and then we made a film with the participants,” Ueda told the crowd.
“As a result, there were no casting costs. We also assembled a strong team from within the workshop, which helped keep the budget low,” he said.
The event gave audiences a rare opportunity to explore the film’s creative process, behind-the-scenes secrets, and the journey that turned this indie film into an international phenomenon.
“For the protagonist’s house, we used my own home, and as for the baby … that was my own child."
“Yes, ‘One Cut of the Dead’ was indeed shot in one continuous take,” he confirmed, earning applause from the audience.
At first glance, it seems like a typical horror movie — a film crew shooting a bloody zombie film in an abandoned location, complete with exaggerated movements and endless screams — only to find themselves caught in a real zombie outbreak.
Chaos ensues as they struggle to survive, all while the cameras keep rolling. However, nothing is as it seems.
Before the screening, audiences at Ithra were advised not to be deterred by the seemingly chaotic and confusing beginning.
“You will be rewarded after the first 40 minutes, and it will all make sense,” an announcement assured viewers before the 96-minute film began.
The film’s innovative structure and execution have made it a favorite among directors who appreciate smart and unconventional filmmaking. American filmmaker and actor Quentin Tarantino called it one of his favorite films of the year.
Edgar Wright, director of “Shaun of the Dead,” highlighted its clever storytelling, and Rian Johnson, director of “Knives Out” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” praised its creativity.
For the discussion, Ueda wore a Saudi thobe and shemagh, joining several of the film’s actors, along with a moderator and translator.
They explored how the film defied genre conventions, blending horror and comedy with an inventive storytelling structure that surprised audiences worldwide.
The film won multiple honors, including the Audience Award at the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival and Best Director at the Fantaspoa International Fantastic Film Festival.
Dammam resident Ahmed Albather shared his excitement with Arab News about finally watching the 2017 classic he had heard so much about.
“I heard about this screening and came specifically to watch it. The film is said to be one of the best Japanese indie zombie films of the last decade, if not longer. I love Japanese movies, so I had to come,” Albather said.
“This is my first visit to Ithra’s Japan Cultural Days, and I am really impressed by it and how they brought the director to talk to us here,” he added.
The film is being showcased in its original Japanese with Arabic and English subtitles.
For those who missed the event, “One Cut of the Dead” will have another screening at Ithra Cinema on Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m., without the director’s talk.
Tickets can be purchased through the Ithra website or at the venue.
KSrelief to empower Yemeni women in renewable energy
Updated 05 February 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief, in cooperation with the UN Development Programme, launched a project in Aden to empower Yemeni women in renewable energy initiatives.
The project includes establishing 375 small programs for producing and marketing solar-powered household devices, such as lanterns, stoves, and traditional ovens, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It provides vocational training for 375 women on solar energy use, life skills, and business management, as well as training guides on solar lanterns and traditional ovens.
Moreover, the initiative supplies alternative solar energy sources, including basic lighting and household cooking devices produced by women-led businesses in Hadramout and Lahij, benefiting 21,375 women.
UNDP project manager Alaa Ali said the project focuses on meeting the energy needs of vulnerable communities and creating sustainable livelihoods for Yemeni women.
Ali noted that it aims to enhance women’s participation in solar energy businesses and expand renewable energy use for household activities and lighting.
The UNDP official indicated that the initiative will also support women in establishing market-driven projects that meet local community needs, boost economic opportunities for rural women, improve the quality of life for them and their families, and promote sustainable development.
The initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to empower women in Yemen by providing them with tools to generate income and strengthen their role in society.
Saudi Arabia says no to displacement of Gazans, rejects relations with Israel without Palestinian state
Updated 05 February 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Wednesday said its long-held position that Palestinians must have their own independent state was firm and not open to negotiation, a stance Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reiterated many times before.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry statement came shortly after President Donald Trump said he wants the US to own the Gaza Strip after all Palestinians are displaced from there and sent to other countries, where settlements will be constructed for them.
The Kingdom’s position has been a longstanding one with its leaders repeatedly calling for justice for Palestinians, who they say deserve a state of their own alongside Israel as a way to find a lasting solution to the decades long conflict.
Saudi leaders have repeatedly said any formal relations between the Kingdom and Israel hinge on the creation of a viable Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.
The ministry statement highlighted a speech by the crown prince at the Shura Council on September 18, 2024, where he stressed that Saudi Arabia will continue its tireless work towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, adding the Kingdom will not normalize ties with Israel without it.
The crown prince expressed a similar sentiment during the extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh on Nov. 11, 2024, where he stressed the continuation of efforts to establish a Palestinian state and demanded an end to Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.
He also urged more countries to recognize the State of Palestine, stressing the importance of mobilizing the international community to support the rights of Palestinians, which were expressed in the resolutions of the UN General Assembly by considering Palestine eligible for full membership of the world body.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also stresses its previously announced categorical rejection of any violation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, annexation of Palestinian territories, or attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land,” the statement added.
Trump, standing next to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, said the Palestinians would be better off living outside of Gaza which has been bombed to rubble during Israel’s brutal 15-month attack.
“I don’t think people should be going back,” Trump said. “You can’t live in Gaza right now. I think we need another location. I think it should be a location that’s going to make people happy.”
The president insists Egypt and Jordan would have to take the Gazans he plans to displace. Both countries have rejected the idea outright.
The Kingdom said that it’s the international community’s duty to work to alleviate the severe human suffering of the Palestinian people, who will remain in their land.
“Lasting and just peace cannot be achieved without the Palestinian people obtaining their legitimate rights in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions, and this is what was previously explained to the previous and current American administrations,” the ministry statement said.
WORLD REACTS TO TRUMP'S PLAN
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday praised Saudi Arabia’s stance in favor of the establishment of a Palestinian State and the kingdom’s rejection of displacing Palestinians.
Abbas also “strongly rejected” Trump's proposal to take over Gaza.
“President Mahmud Abbas and the Palestinian leadership expressed their strong rejection of calls to seize the Gaza Strip and displace Palestinians outside their homeland,” Abbas's office said in a statement, adding that “legitimate Palestinian rights are not negotiable”.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also lashed out at Trump's proposal, saying “this is an unacceptable issue,” in statements to Anadolu news agency.
Hamas spokesman Abdel Latif al-Qanou said the proposal is a “racist” idea.
“The American racist stance aligns with the Israeli extreme right's position in displacing our people and eliminating our cause,” al-Qanou said in a statement.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Wednesday said: “I want to be very clear on this: Gaza is the land of Gazan Palestinians and they must stay in Gaza”.
“Gaza is part of the future Palestinian state Spain supports and has to coexist guaranteeing the Israeli state's prosperity and safety,” he added.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for swift reconstruction of Gaza Wednesday without the displacement of Palestinians from the territory.
France said Wednesday the future of Gaza must not involve “control by a third state” following Trump's remarks.
The French foreign ministry said it “will continue to campaign for the implementation of the two-state solution, the only one that can guarantee long-term peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
The Kremlin said in a statement that Russia believes a settlement in the Middle East is only possible on the basis of a two-state solution.
“This is the thesis that is enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolution, this is the thesis that is shared by the overwhelming majority of countries involved in this problem. We proceed from it, we support it and believe that this is the only possible option.”
British Foreign Minister David Lammy said it should be ensured that Palestinians have a future in their homeland, saying: “We've always been clear in our belief that we must see two states. We must see Palestinians live and prosper in their homelands in Gaza and the West Bank”.
The UN Human Rights Office said any forcible transfer in or deportation of people from occupied territory breaches international law.
“It is crucial that we move towards the next phase of the ceasefire, to release all hostages and arbitrarily detained prisoners, end the war and reconstruct Gaza, with full respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” said the UNHR in a statement to Reuters.
“Any forcible transfer in or deportation of people from occupied territory is strictly prohibited,” it said.
People around the world want long, healthy lives, but independent ones, says expert
Summit aims to focus on issues of age-related disease
Saudi nonprofit organization says it is dedicated to extending healthy human lifespan
Updated 05 February 2025
Haifa Alshammari
RIYADH: People around the world want to remain healthy and independent into old age, according to the chief executive of Saudi Arabia’s Hevolution Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to extending healthy human lifespan.
“We at Hevolution do not like to use the word longevity,” said Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation, during the opening session of the organization’s Global Healthspan Summit in Riyadh on Tuesday, which has Arab News as a media partner.
“Most people that we serve around the world actually don’t want to live longer just for the sake of living longer. They want to be independent; they want to be functional mentally and physically,” Khan added.
The summit is back for its second edition in Riyadh, with health professionals, decision-makers, and investors gathering until Feb. 5.
Most people that we serve around the world actually don’t want to live longer just for the sake of living longer. They want to be indepen-dent; they want to be functional mentally and physically.
Mehmood Khan, Hevolution Foundation CEO
The two-day conference aims to focus on issues surrounding diseases resulting from aging, their impact on society, economics, and overall health. At the same time the event is negotiating investment opportunities to improve the quality of health in the Kingdom and worldwide.
Khan added: “I have to acknowledge Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose vision has led to the creation of Hevolution today.
“His unwavering support, I can tell you, as recently as four or five days ago, he wanted to know if everything was on track.”
The CEO further touched on some of the keys for improving healthy human lifespan, including scientific research and the quality of healthcare.
He said: “This is no longer a discussion for a few experts and patients, and I like to use the word consumers because we are in the business of maintaining them as consumers and not becoming patients.”
Touching on the networking opportunities presented by the summit, Khan added: “You are all here in this unique gathering, which is unprecedented anywhere else in the world. This is your opportunity, and your opportunity is to communicate, to figure out how to collaborate, how to convene in smaller groups and subgroups, and to push the boundaries of science.
“For the entrepreneurs in this room, there is no other business in the world that is going to affect every single human in 8 billion people.
“You have the chance to create businesses that will not only give you financial opportunity, given the scale, but will touch the life of every single human being.”
He concluded his speech by noting the concept of “sadaqah jariyah,” an Islamic belief of doing good not only for now but for the long term.
Khan added: “If we do this today, the benefit of this, and the value of this, will not only be seen in our generation but for generations to come. That is a fundamental belief not only for Islam but probably for most faiths.”
Officials highlight importance of research ecosystems to develop Saudi health policy
Collaboration between scientists, clinicians and government key, panel told
‘We need a robust governance structure to align research with national strategies’
Updated 04 February 2025
Ghadi Joudah
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is building a robust health research ecosystem to inform policy development and promote sustainable growth, three Saudi health officials said on Tuesday.
The comments were made during a panel discussion at the Global Healthspan Summit 2025 in Riyadh, which has Arab News as a media partner.
Speaking during the panel discussion titled “GCC Exchange,” Dr. Nouf Al-Numair, secretary general of the Saudi Ministerial Committee for Health in All Policies (HiAP), highlighted how the Kingdom is embedding health considerations into all sectors to tackle age-related diseases and foster collaboration across the Gulf Cooperation Council.
"GCC Exchange" discussed ways Gulf countries are fostering collaboration to fight age-related diseases and develop sustainable healthspan research. (AN Photo by Huda Bashatah)
“In Saudi Arabia, we are governing HiAP at a higher level — it’s embedded within the central government,” said Dr. Al-Numair.
She added that through a ministerial committee exercising this topic, HiAP is supported by 11 ministries working together to activate health in all policies across the Kingdom.
Dr. Al-Numair highlighted Saudi Arabia’s focus on developing a strong research ecosystem as a foundation for addressing national challenges.
“This ecosystem is crucial because it informs policy development and research allows us to set priorities, understand challenges and proactively solve them through policies — not just isolated initiatives or programs,” she said.
"GCC Exchange" discussed ways Gulf countries are fostering collaboration to fight age-related diseases and develop sustainable healthspan research. (AN Photo by Huda Bashatah)
Dr. Al-Numair outlined five key pillars essential for building a strong research ecosystem: Strong governance and alignment, building capabilities, clear funding mechanisms, data and digital infrastructure, and collaborative platforms.
“We need a robust governance structure to align research with national strategies,” she said, highlighting the importance of central coordination to ensure that research addresses priority areas.
Dr. Al-Numair said that investing in the workforce and preparing for futuristic jobs within the research environment is key to creating a sustainable ecosystem.
“A defined funding mechanism ensures that researchers, scientists and innovators are adequately supported to contribute to the ecosystem,” she added.
Digitalizing data and creating a comprehensive digital infrastructure is critical for enabling research and collaboration, she said.
Dr. Majed Al-Jeraisy, executive director of research and education at the Saudi NIH, further highlighted the challenges of building research infrastructure from scratch and highlighted the need to first change cultural mindsets.
“This is the most important element to start with,” said Dr. Al-Jeraisy. “We need to shift the mindset and culture around research before focusing on other key elements such as setting clear milestones and measurable goals within the strategy.”
Dr. Al-Jeraisy also highlighted the importance of recruiting high-caliber scientists to support the collaborative nature of research into extending the healthy human lifespan.
He said that this research requires a collaborative approach between scientists and clinicians.
“This integration doesn’t exist yet, so we need to foster more collaboration and even recruit experienced scientists from abroad to embed this culture within the system.”
Leveraging artificial intelligence and big data is another critical priority, Dr. Al-Jeraisy added.
“Without a robust database for our community, we cannot develop a strategy, road map, or even efficient planning and funding,” he said.
Dr. Al-Jeraisy added that having sustainable funding is crucial.
“Setting up infrastructure requires securing resources to support long-term healthspan and longevity research.”
He added that the field demands sustained momentum and stakeholder engagement over time.
Adding to the discussion, Dr. Walid Al-Keridy, director, home health care administration at the Ministry of Health, highlighted how the ministry is taking a holistic approach to address healthy longevity and lifespan in alignment with Vision 2030.
“In the Ministry of Health, our North Star and vision are to ensure that every individual in our society is not only living longer, but also healthier, supported by a resilient healthcare system,” Dr. Al-Keridy said.
He outlined the ministry’s guiding principles, which prioritize prevention, health and digital transformation, private-sector partnerships and program sustainability.
Dr. Al-Keridy highlighted the importance of designing programs that meet people where they are, linking them to Vision 2030 priorities and ensuring sustainability.
“We address this at multiple levels within the ministry through resilient programs that ensure value in the healthcare system. These principles are embedded in our initiatives, such as the value-based program and even in our contractual agreements with new therapies,” he said.
The “GCC Exchange” panel explored how Gulf countries are fostering collaboration to tackle age-related diseases and promote sustainable growth in healthspan research.
Dr. Al-Numair concluded by highlighting Saudi Arabia’s leadership in health policy and research innovation within the region.
“By focusing on governance, capabilities, funding, infrastructure and collaboration, we can build a health ecosystem that not only addresses current challenges, but also prepares us for the future,” she said.
