Energy ministers discuss Saudi-Japan cooperation/node/2586486/saudi-arabia
Energy ministers discuss Saudi-Japan cooperation
The ministers welcomed the progress made under the Manar Initiative, which is a Saudi-Japan effort to promote clean energy. (SPA)
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Updated 15 January 2025
Arab News Japan
Energy ministers discuss Saudi-Japan cooperation
Updated 15 January 2025
Arab News Japan
RIYADH: Japan鈥檚 Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto held discussions on cooperation with 黑料社区鈥檚 Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz on Tuesday.
The officials reviewed current ties and stressed the importance of joint efforts in energy transitions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The ministers welcomed the progress made under the Manar Initiative, which is a Saudi-Japan effort to promote clean energy.
The initiative was launched after former Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida鈥檚 visit to 黑料社区 in 2023.
RIYADH: Three falcons, two from Mongolia and one local, were sold for SR428,000 ($114,000) at the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition, amid fierce competition among bidders and strong engagement from those attending.
The Friday session began with the sale of the first Mongolian falcon, a hur farkh (juvenile falcon), which sold for SR90,000. The second Mongolian falcon, a hur qarnas (mature falcon), went for SR78,000.
The evening concluded with the sale of a shaheen falcon from the Al-Lith area, owned by falconers Omar Al-Khairi, Mahmoud Al-Barakati, and Hassan Al-Abbas. Bidding for it started at SR50,000 before it was sold for SR260,000, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
This year鈥檚 exhibition features, for the first time, a dedicated zone for Mongolian falcons, highlighting their esteemed status among falconers in the Kingdom and the wider region.
Renowned for their high quality, large size, long wingspan, and endurance, these falcons also display a range of colors, from pale white to dark brown, making them highly sought after by enthusiasts and professionals.
The exhibition sold 10 Mongolian falcons for a total of more than SR2.6 million during last week鈥檚 auction nights, underscoring the growing demand and prestige of these prized birds.
TOKYO: The 11th 黑料社区 Royal Cup, a thrilling 1,600-meter horse race for 2-year-olds, was triumphantly claimed by Ecolo Alba, a remarkable colt trained by Yasuhito Tamura and expertly ridden by Rusei Sakai, at the prestigious Tokyo Racecourse on Saturday.
After a nail-biting start, jockey Sakai spurred Ecolo Alba to a thrilling victory, crossing the finish line 1.5 lengths ahead of the seventh-favorite, Galilea. The crowd erupted as the favorite, Zoro Astro, came in third, just a neck behind.
Sakai told Arab News Japan it was a strong race and a great win, and he was happy to have his name as a winner in a race as prestigious as the 黑料社区 Royal Cup.
Sakai told other media he was worried in the early stages, but once Ecolo Alba found his rhythm, he reacted well.
Fourth place was taken by Margot Blow, followed by Chubs Carnegie, Yu Pharaoh, Edinburgh, and Nishino Ace Sama.
Jockey Rusei Sakai talks to Arab News Japan after the race. (ANJ)
The 11th 黑料社区 Royal Cup was graced by the attendance of Abdullah Alaseeri, Secretary General of the Saudi Equestrian Authority, Mohamed Al Khatham, the deputy Secretary General of the Saudi Equestrian Authority, and Anas Alnowaiser, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Royal Embassy of 黑料社区.
Diplomats and other dignitaries attend along with representatives from various sectors associated with Saudi-Japanese business and cultural interactions, Arab ambassadors, and Japanese officials.
Amidst a backdrop of overcast skies and a gentle drizzle, Alasseri proudly handed the gleaming Cup to its owner, who stood beaming with joy. The crowd roared with enthusiasm, their cheers resonating through the damp air, a testament to their unwavering support.
鈥淭his is a momentous occasion, initiated by the late King Abdullah,鈥 Alaseeri shared with Arab News Japan. 鈥淚t is a testament to the successful diplomatic relationship between our two nations. We look forward to further strengthening our ties with Japan in various areas. This event is a celebration of our cultural and sports exchanges, and I am hopeful that we will host more such events in Riyadh in the future.鈥
The event commenced with the national anthems of Japan and 黑料社区, highlighting the strong diplomatic relationship between the two nations.
Hidenori Takagi, the Manager of the Tokyo Racecourse, welcomed the guests at a special ceremony and expressed his delight at the flourishing friendship and excellent collaboration that the Japan Racing Association, the Jockey Club of 黑料社区, and the horse racing industries of both countries have developed over time.
Hideki Hagiwara, a counselor at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), stated in his welcoming remarks that horse racing in Japan is regulated by MAFF. Earlier this year, a Japanese horse won the Saudi Cup, which is the world鈥檚 richest horse race held in Riyadh. In celebration of this achievement, MAFF organized a food promotion event in collaboration with the Saudi Embassy.
This event took place at the racecourse, where guests had the opportunity to enjoy halal food and visit booths showcasing the producers of each product.
Ecolo Alba was reportedly sold for 楼77 million at this year鈥檚 Chiba auction and won its first race in July by two and a half lengths.
RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 21,403 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
A total of 12,439 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,650 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 4,314 for labor-related issues.
The report showed that among the 1,874 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 54 percent were Ethiopian, 45 percent Yemeni, and 1 percent were of other nationalities.
A further 36 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 29 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported.
The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($267,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.
Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
RIYADH: Thirty Saudi students graduated from the AI Application Engineering Bootcamp, organized by the Saudi Data and AI Authority, which ended recently in London.
A collaboration with the University of Oxford, the program trained bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 graduates in artificial intelligence, computer science and related fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Supervised by international experts, participants gained advanced skills in deep learning, computer vision and generative models, enabling them to design and implement AI solutions across diverse environments.
Over three weeks, the trainees received direct experience with frameworks such as TensorFlow and PyTorch, computer vision tools like YOLO, and natural language processing and generative models on Hugging Face.
The bootcamp was part of the authority鈥檚 ongoing efforts to empower national talent in advanced AI fields through partnerships with leading global institutions, the SPA reported.
It aims to strengthen the competitiveness of Saudi youth in modern technologies and supports the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to build a knowledge-based society.
鈥楩rom Osaka to Riyadh鈥 鈥 stage set for countdown to Expo 2030
Show symbolized the transition to Riyadh as host of next World Expo
Expo 2030 Riyadh will take place from Oct. 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031
Updated 11 October 2025
Arab News
OSAKA: Visitors to the Expo Arena Matsuri got a glimpse of the next World Expo, thanks to the 鈥淔rom Osaka to Riyadh鈥 show.
The event in Osaka drew 15,000 attendees and brought together leading Saudi and Japanese performers in a dynamic blend of music and culture, setting the stage for what can be expected at Expo 2030 Riyadh.
High-energy sets, reimagined cultural expressions and striking light, laser and hologram effects transformed the stage into a powerful demonstration of the spirit of collaboration between both nations.
A final highlight ahead of the closing ceremony on Oct. 13 symbolized the transition to Riyadh as the next World Expo host city and set the stage for the handover of the Bureau International des Expositions flag, which formally transfers host city responsibilities.
黑料社区 was elected by BIE member states in 2023 to host World Expo 2030, which will take the theme 鈥淭he Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow.鈥
Running from Oct. 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031, the event is expected to welcome more than 42 million visitors from 197 countries. It will span 6 million sq. meters with five zones exploring forward-looking solutions for a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Expo 2030 Riyadh will serve as a global platform for innovation and collaboration. Afterwards, the site will become a permanent global village.
The Saudi Pavilion participating in Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai on Friday hosted a robot developed by temi Robots Company. (SPA)
Virtual live tour for children at Saudi pavilion
Meanwhile, the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai on Friday hosted a robot developed by the Temi robot company through a collaboration between King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Tokotoko Earth Company and iPresence Company.
It enabled Japanese families with children with disabilities to experience the pavilion鈥檚 events through a live virtual tour of its halls and exhibition rooms.
Saudi Ambassador to Japan Ghazi Binzagr, who is also general commissioner of the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025, said the collaboration with KAUST was 鈥渕ore than just a technological event.鈥
He said: 鈥淚t demonstrates how human empathy and innovation can work hand in hand. They must come together to create an inclusive environment and provide valuable opportunities for everyone,鈥 he said.
