Saudi Arabia, France Sign MoU to Boost Health Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim and French Minister of Health, Families, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities Stephanie Rist sign the agreement on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim and French Minister of Health, Families, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities Stephanie Rist sign the agreement on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, France Sign MoU to Boost Health Cooperation

Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim and French Minister of Health, Families, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities Stephanie Rist sign the agreement on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim and French Minister of Health, Families, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities Stephanie Rist sign the agreement on Monday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim, on behalf of Minister of Health Fahad AlJalajel, signed on Monday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the French Ministry of Health, Families, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities on the sidelines of the visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to France.

The MoU aims to boost health cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France in several priority areas, most notably public health and health security, governance of health systems, quality of care, patient safety, preparedness and response to health emergencies, and development of the health workforce and capabilities.

It also covers digital health and artificial intelligence, research and development, innovation and clinical trials, supply chains and pharmaceutical industries, as well as investment and health partnerships.

The agreement builds on the longstanding relations between the two countries and seeks to strengthen the exchange of expertise and partnerships.

It supports research and innovation, the development of future health solutions and technologies, capability building and investment, the resilience of supply chains, health and pharmaceutical security, and the sustainability and quality of health services. These efforts support the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program under Saudi Vision 2030.

The Saudi National Institute of Health signed an MoU with French pharmaceutical company Sanofi on the sidelines of the Saudi-French Investment Forum in Paris.

The MoU aims to boost cooperation in research and development, innovation, and clinical research, and develop public-private partnerships to support the development of promising therapeutic solutions and health technologies, strengthen the health research and innovation ecosystem, and build research capabilities in line with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program under Saudi Vision 2030.

The MoU builds on the longstanding relations between Saudi Arabia and France and reflects both sides' commitment to exchanging expertise and developing high-impact partnerships that support clinical research, advance innovation, and translate research outputs into innovative and sustainable healthcare solutions that serve human health.



Euro Zone Yields Fall after Iran Raises Prospect of Hormuz Reopening

Euro banknotes (Reuters)
Euro banknotes (Reuters)
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Euro Zone Yields Fall after Iran Raises Prospect of Hormuz Reopening

Euro banknotes (Reuters)
Euro banknotes (Reuters)

Euro zone bond yields fell for a second straight day on Tuesday, hitting their lowest in almost two weeks after Iran raised the prospect of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Washington hinted it could restart talks with Tehran, pushing oil prices lower.

Germany's 10-year bond yield, the benchmark for the bloc, fell 1 basis point to 3.44% after rising as much as 4 bps earlier in the session. It fell 7 bps on Monday as energy prices retreated.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the strait, which carried about a fifth of global energy supplies before the war, could reopen within seven days if the US also lifts its blockade of Iranian ports.

The official added that Iran's delegation to a UN meeting in New York this week has full authority to revive diplomacy over the conflict.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC's "Today" show that Washington was open to speaking with Tehran.

The dip in energy prices helped pull yields lower globally after a surge in recent weeks fuelled by expectations of further interest-rate hikes to combat energy-driven inflation. Traders are pricing in around 35 bps of additional European Central Bank tightening this year, down from 40 bps on Friday.

Germany's two-year bond yield, which is sensitive to interest-rate expectations, fell 1 bp to 3.19%, following a 6-bp drop on Monday.

Rabobank senior rates strategist Lyn Graham-Taylor said lower oil prices following the Iranian comments were weighing on bond yields.

Brent crude futures were last down 1% to $100 a barrel after earlier falling to $97.40, the lowest in two weeks.


Libya's NOC Says Sharara Crude Pipeline Closure Losses at 130,000 bpd

General view of the Sharara oil field in Libya (Reuters)
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Libya's NOC Says Sharara Crude Pipeline Closure Losses at 130,000 bpd

General view of the Sharara oil field in Libya (Reuters)

Libya's National Oil Corporation said on Tuesday that the Sharara-Zawiya crude loading pipeline closure has led to daily losses of about 130,000 barrels per day, Reuters reported.

An armed military group closed valve seven on the Sharara crude pipeline to Zawiya port on Monday, resulting in a significant decline in production at the Sharara oilfield, the National Oil Corporation said in a statement.

 

 

 

 


Sources: Saudi Arabia Restarts East-West Oil Pipeline

FILE PHOTO: A model of an oil pump is seen in front of a Saudi Arabian flag in this illustration taken January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A model of an oil pump is seen in front of a Saudi Arabian flag in this illustration taken January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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Sources: Saudi Arabia Restarts East-West Oil Pipeline

FILE PHOTO: A model of an oil pump is seen in front of a Saudi Arabian flag in this illustration taken January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A model of an oil pump is seen in front of a Saudi Arabian flag in this illustration taken January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Saudi Arabia has restarted operations at its East-West Pipeline and could resume exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu later on Tuesday, three sources briefed on the matter said.

Drone attacks forced Saudi Arabia to shut its East-West Pipeline on September 13, halting crude loadings at the kingdom's Yanbu port.

The resumption of supplies on Tuesday helped to drive selling on global oil markets, traders said. Brent crude futures fell by more than $2 a barrel to its lowest since September 8.

Two trading sources said traders were getting ready for Saudi oil loadings by moving tankers to Egypt's Mediterranean Port Said for ship-to-ship transfers and also to Sidi Kerir.