RIYADH: American country music sensation Toby Keith and Saudi legend Rabeh Saqer made history on Saturday at the Green Halls auditorium in the Saudi capital.
The concert was held to coincide with US President Donald Trump’s visit to the Kingdom, proving that the two countries do not only have strengthening relations in the arenas of politics, business, and diplomacy — but in the music and entertainment world too.
Saqer took to the stage first to kick off the concert to loud applause by fans, followed shortly by Keith who played a guitar duet with his Saudi counterpart. After the duet, Keith played his songs to the fans in attendance marking a monumental moment as Saudi fans cheered for country music on their own soil.
Yousif, a fan in attendance, said he could not believe he was attending a country music concert in Riyadh. He added that it took him back to time he was studying in the US.
Khalid said it was an amazing sight to see his favorite Saudi singer playing side-by-side with a country legend.
Abdulrahman said: “I’m having an amazing time. I want to see more events in the Kingdom like this concert.”
Musaad said that seeing Saqer perform in Riyadh in itself is a special treat for him. He also added that Toby Keith’s performance was an added bonus.
Turki said he had never been a fan of Western music but after listening to Keith’s performance he is going to start to dabble in the world of country music.
The concert, organized by MBC Group, was sold out.
Keith released his first four studio albums — “Toby Keith,” “Boomtown,” “Blue Moon” and “Dream Walkin” — in the 1990s.
Saqer, also known as “Abu Sager,” is celebrating his 35th anniversary as a singer this year. One of his hit songs is “Sahratna Al Laila.”
Toby Keith, Rabeh Saqer wow music fans in Riyadh during Trump visit
Toby Keith, Rabeh Saqer wow music fans in Riyadh during Trump visit
Japan’s beloved last pandas leave for China as ties fray
TOKYO: Two popular pandas are set to leave Tokyo for China Tuesday, leaving Japan without any of the beloved bears for the first time in 50 years as ties between the Asian neighbors fray.
Panda twins Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao are due to be transported by truck out of Ueno Zoological Gardens, their birthplace, disappointing many Japanese fans who have grown attached to the furry four-year-olds.
“Although I can’t see them, I came to share the same air with them and to say, ‘Hope you’ll be OK,’” one woman visiting the zoo told public broadcaster NHK.
The pandas’ abrupt return was announced last month during a diplomatic spat that began when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hinted that Tokyo could intervene militarily in the event of an attack on Taiwan.
Her comment provoked the ire of Beijing, which regards the island as its own territory.
The distinctive black-and-white animals, loaned out as part of China’s “panda diplomacy,” have symbolized friendship between Beijing and Tokyo since they normalized diplomatic ties in 1972.
Their repatriation comes a month before their loan period expires in February, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which operates Ueno Zoo.
Japan has reportedly been seeking the loan of a new pair of pandas.
However, a weekend poll by the liberal Asahi Shimbun newspaper showed that 70 percent of those surveyed do not think the government should negotiate with China on the lease of new pandas, while 26 percent would like them to.
On Sunday, Ueno Zoo invited some 4,400 lucky winners of an online lottery to see the pandas for the last time.
Passionate fans without tickets still turned out at the park, sporting panda-themed shirts, bags and dolls to demonstrate their love of the animals.
China has discouraged its nationals from traveling to Japan, citing deteriorating public security and criminal acts against Chinese nationals in the country.
Beijing is reportedly also choking off exports to Japan of rare-earth products crucial for making everything from electric cars to missiles.
However, China routinely removes pandas from foreign countries and the latest move may not be politically motivated, said Masaki Ienaga, a professor at Tokyo Woman’s Christian University and an expert in East Asian international relations.
“If you talk about (Chinese) politics, the timing of sending pandas is what counts,” and pandas could return to Japan if bilateral ties warm, he said.
Other countries use animals as tools of diplomacy, including Thailand with its elephants and Australia with its koalas, he added.
“But pandas are special,” he said. “They have strong customer-drawing power, and... they can earn money.”
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