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Saudi Arabia, Canada Launch New Phase of Cooperation in Education, Knowledge, Capabilities

The Canadian ambassador said his country is working in partnership with Saudi Arabia to strengthen relations in the educational fields. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Canadian ambassador said his country is working in partnership with Saudi Arabia to strengthen relations in the educational fields. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia, Canada Launch New Phase of Cooperation in Education, Knowledge, Capabilities

The Canadian ambassador said his country is working in partnership with Saudi Arabia to strengthen relations in the educational fields. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Canadian ambassador said his country is working in partnership with Saudi Arabia to strengthen relations in the educational fields. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Riyadh hosted on Tuesday the first Saudi-Canadian Forum for Educational Partnership, in the presence of Saudi Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan and Canadian Ambassador to the Kingdom Jean-Philippe Linteau.

The forum aims to strengthen cooperation and partnerships between educational institutions in the two countries. It witnessed the participation of around 180 experts and stakeholders in the fields of education, health and industry.

Al-Benyan underlined the importance of education in achieving the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, especially in terms of qualifying students to compete globally. He noted that the forum reflected the commitment of Saudi Arabia and Canada to develop the existing strategic partnership between them.

The minister touched on his recent visit to Canada and pointed to many existing opportunities for cooperation in the fields of general and higher education, early childhood programs, teacher development, in addition to medical, technical and vocational training programs.

He stressed the importance of boosting cooperation between the two countries in research and development in priority areas in line with Vision 2030.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Linteau said Canada is a committed partner in supporting the Kingdom’s move towards a knowledge-based economy as described in the goals of Vision 2030.

He added that the forum will serve as a platform for dialogue, communication and cooperation in the fields of joint research, technical training, capacity building, student and faculty exchange, curriculum development and opening external centers.

The ambassador said his country is working in partnership with Saudi Arabia to strengthen relations in education due to the importance of this sector in developing human capital and supporting innovation to achieve a prosperous future for the two countries.

The forum aims to explore the most important areas of educational cooperation, such as: information technology, tourism, health care, clean energy, mining, and agriculture, he went on to say.

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Business

TotalEnergies Board Backs CEO Pouyanne's Mandate Renewal

Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of TotalEnergies, attends the ROG.e, Brazil's largest oil and gas event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 21, 2026. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of TotalEnergies, attends the ROG.e, Brazil's largest oil and gas event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 21, 2026. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
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TotalEnergies Board Backs CEO Pouyanne's Mandate Renewal

Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of TotalEnergies, attends the ROG.e, Brazil's largest oil and gas event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 21, 2026. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of TotalEnergies, attends the ROG.e, Brazil's largest oil and gas event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, September 21, 2026. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

TotalEnergies said on Friday its board unanimously backed the renewal of Chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanne's mandate and reaffirmed the relevance of the ⁠energy major's strategy ⁠ahead of its investor update scheduled for Monday.

In May, investors had overwhelmingly approved lifting the age limits for ⁠its chair and CEO roles, paving the way for Pouyanne to remain at the helm through 2033.

The board says TotalEnergies' strategy remains built around Oil & Gas and Integrated Power businesses.

Business

Asian Markets Mixed after Oil Gains

Japan's 10-year yield reached a fresh 30-year high in morning trade on Friday. Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP
Japan's 10-year yield reached a fresh 30-year high in morning trade on Friday. Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP
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Asian Markets Mixed after Oil Gains

Japan's 10-year yield reached a fresh 30-year high in morning trade on Friday. Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP
Japan's 10-year yield reached a fresh 30-year high in morning trade on Friday. Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP

Asian markets were mixed Friday after recent oil price surges and as US and Japanese bond yields hit multi-year highs with no end in sight for the Middle East war.

A two-month extension of a trade truce between the United States and China left several issues unresolved, analysts said, shifting lingering risks into the future.

Oil prices eased slightly on Friday, with Brent Crude shedding 0.7 percent after spiking more than three percent Thursday to extend previous gains, AFP said.

Global stocks had mostly fallen Thursday, as the benchmark US 10-year Treasury yield rose to its highest level since 2007, and the 30-year yield reached its highest since 2004.

Japan's 10-year yield reached a fresh 30-year high in morning trade on Friday.

"Bond yields are bouncing around like a see-saw," Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB, wrote in a note.

"There is no clear direction for markets," she said, listing various unknown factors such as "are we in a bond crisis or not?" and "Is the Iran war getting worse or is the situation improving?"

"While these questions remain unanswered, volatility will continue to dominate, especially in the commodity and bond markets," Brooks said.

Tokyo rose 1.2 percent Friday, but Hong Kong fell nearly two percent, with Sydney and Jakarta also down. Shanghai, Taipei and Seoul were closed for holidays.

Stock falls this week have been mild, along with "fairly moderate" movements in foreign exchange markets despite nonetheless a "clear preference for the dollar", Brooks said.

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama told reporters that US President Donald Trump had expressed concerns over the weak yen during a bilateral meeting in Washington this week.

Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping for a lavish state dinner at the White House on Thursday, after a day of pomp and ceremony that masked deep tensions between the rival superpowers.

While business was on the menu at the state dinner, expectations of any major breakthroughs from Xi's visit are low.

One minor success -- the extension of a trade truce by two months until January -- was less than the two years that the Chinese had been hoping for.

Lloyd Chan at MUFG said that "renewed geopolitical risks in the Middle East are occurring against an already tight oil-market backdrop, raising concerns over both supply and inflation".

"Meanwhile, US-China trade risks remain in the background," he added.

"The trade truce has been extended by just two months to 10 January, leaving issues over tariffs, agricultural purchases, rare earths, and technology restrictions unresolved."

Business

US Business Lobbies Say Diesel Export Ban Would Backfire

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright holds a press conference on the sidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna, Austria, September 14, 2026. (Reuters)
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright holds a press conference on the sidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna, Austria, September 14, 2026. (Reuters)
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US Business Lobbies Say Diesel Export Ban Would Backfire

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright holds a press conference on the sidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna, Austria, September 14, 2026. (Reuters)
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright holds a press conference on the sidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna, Austria, September 14, 2026. (Reuters)

Trade associations representing large US companies and energy suppliers urged President Donald Trump to resist calls for a diesel fuel export ban, arguing the move would backfire.

"Export bans would lead to less fuel production, tighter supplies, and rising costs for American families, farmers, and truckers," said the September 23 letter, which was signed by the US Business Roundtable, the American Petroleum Institute and more than two dozen other trade groups.

"While we understand the urge for a silver bullet, there are no easy answers."

High fuel prices have emerged as a major drag in the upcoming midterm elections for Trump's Republican Party. Candidates from rural regions in Iowa and other states have urged an export ban on diesel, which is also used in trucks and other hauling vehicles.

While Trump administration officials such as Energy Secretary Chris Wright have rejected a ban, Trump himself on Tuesday signaled support for the move.

"I've called for that too. I've said let's not send out the diesel," Trump said on Tuesday.

Diesel prices in the United States have hit records due to the ongoing US-Iran war. Diesel prices currently average $6.51 per gallon, up 76 percent from the year-ago level.

The business groups argue exports allow "US refineries to balance their systems and maximize production," according to the letter. "An export ban would require refineries to throttle utilization to reduce diesel production to equal domestic demand. Falling utilization would result in less gasoline and jet fuel production and higher prices for those products as well."

Andy Lipow, of Lipow Oil Associates, a Houston consultancy, said there is limited storage capacity in the US Gulf Coast, home to much of the nation's refining capacity.

"If you were to ban diesel exports, the refiners have two choices. One is find a place to store it, or two is not to make it," said Lipow.