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KAUST Launches Pioneering Centers of Excellence to Address Key National, International Priorities

Officials are seen at the launch of the Centers of Excellence (CoEs). (SPA)
Officials are seen at the launch of the Centers of Excellence (CoEs). (SPA)
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KAUST Launches Pioneering Centers of Excellence to Address Key National, International Priorities

Officials are seen at the launch of the Centers of Excellence (CoEs). (SPA)
Officials are seen at the launch of the Centers of Excellence (CoEs). (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) announced on Sunday the launch of four pioneering Centers of Excellence (CoEs) to drive research and development in priority national and international fields.

The move brings KAUST further in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and is fundamental to its Accelerating Impact strategy that strengthens its position as a "global leader in applied science", said KAUST in a statement.

The newly established CoEs, each led by renowned experts, will tackle issues concerning health and wellness, sustainable environment and essential needs, energy and industrial leadership, and economies of the future. They are crucial to KAUST’s goal of providing impactful solutions that support national economic objectives.

The Center of Excellence for Generative AI, led by professors Bernard Ghanem and Juergen Schmidhuber, will spearhead the development of general-purpose AI models that can be tailored to meet the unique demands of the Kingdom’s research, development, and innovation (RDI) priorities.

The center aims to become a leading force in Generative AI research, driving advancements in various sectors.

Prof. Husam Al Shareef, an expert in battery technologies and material science, along with chemistry professor Zhiping Lai, will lead the Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies, which focuses on cutting-edge renewable energy and storage technology development and deployment.

It will play a critical role in Saudi Arabia's shift to sustainable energy by “prototyping and commercializing innovations that enhance the Kingdom’s industrial competitiveness”.

The Center of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security, led by Prof. Mark Tester, an expert in plant science and agriculture in arid environments, and co-chaired by professors Brande Wulff, a leader in crop genetics, and Peiying Hong, an expert in environmental microbiology and wastewater treatment, will focus on advancing technology-driven agricultural solutions.

It will address resource efficiency, crop improvement and sustainable biosystems, to boost food security in Saudi Arabia and beyond, with minimum negative impact.

Prof. Imed Gallouzi, an expert in RNA biology and mRNA processing, along with Professor Xin Gao, an expert in computational biology and AI, will lead the Center of Excellence for Smart Health, which focuses on developing and deploying digital and AI-driven technologies with the goal of transforming healthcare in Saudi Arabia through precision medicine, promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and education to revolutionize the Kingdom’s healthcare system.

Commenting on the launch, KAUST President Prof. Edward Byrne AC stated: “The establishment of these new Centers of Excellence exemplifies our commitment to pioneering scientific leadership and discovery.”

“By Focusing on AI, renewable energy, sustainable food security, and smart health, we are not only addressing the Kingdom’s most pressing challenges but also positioning KAUST as a global leader in these critical fields,” he added.

“I am excited to collaborate with our exceptional teams to turn ideas into solutions that enhance the quality of life and create a sustainable future for the Kingdom and beyond.”

These CoEs were launched because they strongly align with national priorities, are interdisciplinary in nature and have the potential to create tangible economic and social impacts.

“They will play a vital role in leading pioneering research, in line with KAUST’s Accelerating Impact strategy, and will be integrated with KAUST’s National Transformation Institute to drive research excellence and innovation,” said the statement.

“KAUST’s Accelerating Impact strategy was launched by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of KAUST Board of Trustees. This strategy focuses on aligning research with national priorities and supporting the Kingdom’s economic diversification through impactful RDI projects,” it added.

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Varieties

Fetching Votes: In Paris Mayor’s Race, Dogs Dominate Campaigns

People walk dogs on a pedestrian crossing in Paris, France, March 6, 2026. (Reuters)
People walk dogs on a pedestrian crossing in Paris, France, March 6, 2026. (Reuters)
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Fetching Votes: In Paris Mayor’s Race, Dogs Dominate Campaigns

People walk dogs on a pedestrian crossing in Paris, France, March 6, 2026. (Reuters)
People walk dogs on a pedestrian crossing in Paris, France, March 6, 2026. (Reuters)

Paris will choose a new mayor on Sunday, with one unlikely issue dominating campaigns alongside all the partisan acrimony - dogs.

Candidates from socialists to conservatives have set out policies to deal with an issue which voters have regularly ranked among their top concerns, a lack of space for the capital's estimated 100,000 canines.

"Paris isn't exactly a very dog-friendly capital," said Vincent Danna, founder of the Monceau Dog Club, a group of around 1,000 owners who have campaigned for more open spaces for their pets.

"It can indeed be a decisive factor in municipal elections. I think the candidates have understood that well."

Rachida ‌Dati, the conservative ‌candidate backed by President Emmanuel Macron, has filmed herself ‌with ⁠dogs on the ⁠campaign trail and told Reuters she would create new parks where owners can take their dogs for walks, or even let them run free.

"We're going to develop dog parks specifically to create these shared spaces. And not just for the sake of shared spaces, but so people can bring their pets along freely, without being bothered or judged. That's the idea," Dati ⁠said.

Socialist Emmanuel Gregoire, who led the first round of voting ‌last Sunday, has also committed to ‌expanding outdoor spaces for pets.

"The main goal is to have outdoor spaces where ‌animals can live as comfortably as possible," Gregoire told Reuters.

Sophia Chikirou, from ‌the hard-left LFI party who came third in the first round, has proposed letting owners take their dogs on all forms of public transport.

Pets have long played a role in French political life. Every president since Charles de Gaulle has ‌owned at least one dog. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen studied to get a cat-breeding diploma in 2021.

An Ifop ⁠poll in ⁠February showed 58% of French voters saw animal welfare as a priority issue in their municipality. So far, activists have taken the lead.

Following pressure from the Monceau Dog Club, the park of the same name has let dogs run free in a dedicated area in the first trial of its kind in the capital.

Still, not everyone is convinced dogs will make a difference in the second and final round of voting this weekend.

"If you ask me whether a dog plan is going to sway my vote one way or the other, I would say no. Because I think there are perhaps more important things," local resident Marie-Christine Alary said.

"But I do think it's a very good thing."

Varieties

Fans of Niche Japanese Crisps Brand Panic After Oil Shortage Halts Production

A shopper checks food items at a supermarket in Tokyo, Japan January 20, 2023. (Reuters)
A shopper checks food items at a supermarket in Tokyo, Japan January 20, 2023. (Reuters)
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Fans of Niche Japanese Crisps Brand Panic After Oil Shortage Halts Production

A shopper checks food items at a supermarket in Tokyo, Japan January 20, 2023. (Reuters)
A shopper checks food items at a supermarket in Tokyo, Japan January 20, 2023. (Reuters)

Die-hard fans of ‌a niche Japanese crisps brand took to the internet on Tuesday to lament a production halt the snack maker Yamayoshi Seika blamed on a shortage of cooking oil caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

The US and Israel's war on Iran and the resulting effective closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz have fuelled fears of a knock-on impact on prices in ‌Japan. But news ‌of the crisps brand's suspension is ‌among ⁠the first tangible ⁠fallout for consumers.

Once the news spread, Yamayoshi Seika's "Wasabeef" became the third-most trending buzzword in Japan on social media platform X, with the company name trailing not far behind.

"I never expected the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to result in ⁠the production stoppage of Wasabeef," ‌user @JoshuaGboyega5 posted on X. "I ‌can't imagine life without Wasabeef!"

CEO Satoshi Kada said Yamayoshi ‌Seika's heavy oil wholesaler had warned him in ‌early March of an expected price hike of 20% to 30% and soon after said it could no longer send any supplies.

"We had no choice but ‌to stop the factory," he told Reuters, adding that he did not know ⁠when ⁠production could resume.

Yamayoshi Seika, which was established in 1953, calls Wasabeef a "national brand" characterized by a flavor blending wasabi and savory beef essence. The company has monthly sales of about 400 million to 500 million yen ($2.5 million to $3 million), Kada said.

Japan, which depends on the Middle East for around 95% of its crude oil supplies, this week began releasing about 80 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves to mitigate disruptions.

Varieties

Shigeaki Mori, Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Survivor Embraced by Obama, Dies at 88

US President Barack Obama (L) hugs atomic bomb survivor Shigeaki Mori as he visits Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan May 27, 2016. (Reuters)
US President Barack Obama (L) hugs atomic bomb survivor Shigeaki Mori as he visits Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan May 27, 2016. (Reuters)
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Shigeaki Mori, Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Survivor Embraced by Obama, Dies at 88

US President Barack Obama (L) hugs atomic bomb survivor Shigeaki Mori as he visits Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan May 27, 2016. (Reuters)
US President Barack Obama (L) hugs atomic bomb survivor Shigeaki Mori as he visits Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan May 27, 2016. (Reuters)

Shigeaki ‌Mori, the survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing whom former US President Barack Obama embraced during a historic visit to the city in 2016, has died at 88, Jiji Press reported on Tuesday.

The image of Obama's arms wrapped around a tearful Mori at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial ‌Park became ‌a defining moment of that ‌visit - ⁠the first ever ⁠by a sitting US president.

Mori was eight years old when the US dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, flattening the city on August 6, 1945 and knocking him ⁠unconscious with the force ‌of its ‌blast.

Thirty years later, Mori embarked on a ‌multi-decade quest to find victims who ‌were cremated at his school playground. His work also identified 12 Americans who died in the bombing.

He died in ‌a hospital in Hiroshima on March 14, Jiji reported.

Many nuclear ⁠bomb ⁠survivors - known as "hibakusha" in Japanese - despite their advanced age and dwindling numbers have tried to keep alive the legacies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only two cities to ever suffer a nuclear attack.

The cities have counted some 550,000 deaths from the attacks to date, including from illnesses related to acute radiation exposure.