RIYADH: A batch of Saudi cadets will travel to Brazil this month to undergo military training at the prestigious Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras (AMAN).
Their training will include a one-year language and adaptation program, followed by a four-year degree at AMAN.
This will be the second group of Saudi cadets to travel to the South American country under the scholarship program offered by the Brazilian Army.
The first group, which went in 2017, has just successfully concluded the language and adaptation program, and will begin training at AMAN in a few weeks, Wagner Antunes, political counselor at the Brazilian Embassy in Riyadh, told Arab News on Wednesday.
Brazil regularly offers opportunities for Saudi officers in many military courses, on various levels and in distinct areas, he added.
Saudi cadets to undergo military training in Brazil
Saudi cadets to undergo military training in Brazil
More than 84,000 visitors attend Hira Winter events in Makkah
RIYADH: The Hira Winter events, organized by the Hira Cultural District and which recently concluded in Makkah, attracted more than 84,000 visitors.
Highlights included the Revelation Exhibition, which used cutting-edge technology to simulate the story of Prophet Muhammad’s revelation, blending tradition and innovation.
The exhibition featured a pavilion detailing the Cave of Hira and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, the Mother of Believers, along with a depiction of the first revelation.
Rare historical artifacts, such as a photographed copy of the Qur’an manuscript of Uthman bin Affan and ancient stone inscriptions of Qur’anic verses, gave visitors a unique experience that combined the past and present.
Poetic performances inspired by Arab heritage underscored poetry’s role as the Arabs' diwan (repository of culture) and a tool for documenting events and emotions.
Poetic jousts highlighted live interaction and pride in the Arabic language and literature, enriching the cultural experience.
The Caravan Experience revived the cultural heritage of camel caravans, underlining their role in ancient Arab trade and society.
Visitors were taken back to ancient trade routes where camels played a key role in transporting goods and facilitating travel.
The Challenge Zone attracted adventure enthusiasts with various games blending entertainment and competition.
The Winter Theater delighted visitors with interactive performances, including contests and games inspired by winter traditions.
The district also featured a Crafts and Heritage Industries Market, where visitors explored local products, bought souvenirs, and enjoyed traditional and contemporary food and beverages, creating a holistic experience of entertainment, culture and shopping.
The Hira Cultural District is an area of approximately 67,000 sq. meters near Jabal Hira, one of Makkah’s most famous landmarks. It is a tourist and educational destination, bridging the past and present, and aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 to enhance quality of life and visitor experiences.
Saudi ambassador to Japan expresses high hopes about Expo 2025 Osaka
TOKYO: Saudi Ambassador to Japan Ghazi Bin Faisal Binzagr told Arab News Japan that he has high hopes of achieving the goals for which he was appointed general commissioner of the Kingdom’s pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka.
“We are striving to create an amazing experience for our visitors,” he said. “We are capturing the essence of our Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 and bringing it live to Japan.”
Binzagr shared that the construction work on the Kingdom’s pavilion is progressing rapidly, with around 85 percent already complete. This progress is a testament to the Kingdom's commitment to the Expo, and we can all look forward to the grand opening in April.
Binzagr extended a warm invitation to visitors to “come and immerse themselves in our past, our present, and our future. Experience our rich heritage, our diverse food, our vibrant music, our colorful culture, and our ambitious future aspirations.”
This invitation is an opportunity to discover the beauty and potential of Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi ambassador expressed his sincere hope that visitors would be inspired to visit the Kingdom. This desire reflects the warm welcome and value the Kingdom places on its visitors.
“We want you to experience our pavilion,” he said. “We are confident that when you do, you will want to visit Saudi, perhaps even do business, partner with us, dream with us, or work with us to make a wonderful world.”
The Kingdom’s pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka aims to highlight Saudi Arabia’s culture, traditions and transformation and look towards a sustainable form of human development.
Binzagr’s responsibilities as the general commissioner of the Kingdom’s pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka include supervising efforts and initiatives to strengthen relations between the Kingdom and Japan and ensuring the successful representation of Saudi Arabia at the Expo.
Effat University conference maps out pathways for sustainable tech
JEDDAH: Experts at the 22nd International Learning and Technology Conference have underlined the critical role of synergy between humans and machines in driving sustainability and educational innovation.
The event, organized by Effat University in Jeddah, had the theme “Human-Machine Dynamics: Fueling a Sustainable Future” and brought together speakers who discussed how technology could be harnessed to address global challenges like climate change and resource scarcity.
It focused on the transformative potential of human-machine dynamics in education, emphasizing innovative approaches that combined human insights and machine intelligence to address sustainability challenges.
The two-day conference featured a dynamic exchange of ideas through keynote speeches, an engaging panel discussion and interactive workshops, all highlighting the latest advancements in human-machine dynamics.
The keynote speakers at the inaugural session were Dina Hasan Al-Nahdy, chair of CES Consulting; Mohammed-Slim Alouini, Al-Khawarizmi distinguished professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; and Ahmed Hassan, president of Elsewedy University of Technology.
In her speech, “Technological Innovations for Sustainability,” Al-Nahdy stressed the need for the optimal use of technology to reduce emissions.
“It is required to capture emissions before entering and polluting the atmosphere by converting it into energy,” she said, adding: “Technology is the heartbeat of driving sustainability.”
Alouini spoke on “Towards Connecting the Remaining Unconnected,” while Hassan addressed “Generative AI for University Contributions to SDGs.”
Effat University President Dr. Haifa Jamalallail said the university reviewed and accepted 70 papers out of a total of 117 submissions from 330 authors and researchers worldwide. She added the university has been committed to sustainability over the years, recognizing its importance in addressing global climate change crises.
“The outcome of the conference is that sustainability is not only a word but an action that needs to be taken into account to make sure academia are interactors with other stakeholders like governments and industries in reducing emissions and ensuring sustainability,” she said.
Referring to the role of Effat University in research, community service, and teaching and learning, Jamalallail said the conference significantly contributed to achieving sustainability by bridging learning and technology.
“These days technology is the one that helps us significantly in reducing emission footprint and thus we are joining with the global mission in ensuring sustainability,” she said.
In her opening remarks, conference chair and dean of Effat College of Engineering, Akila Sarirete, highlighted the legacy of the university in organizing the conference since 2002.
She said the conference offered groundbreaking insights into areas such as human-machine interfaces, sustainable education, smart campuses, technological transformation, policy ethics, human-centric technology in education, and the role of artificial intelligence in health and environmental well-being.
“These discussions offered fresh perspectives on integrating advanced technologies into educational frameworks,” she added.
This year’s event also featured a high school competition, themed “Human-Machine Fusion,” in which 30 local schools took part. Students from Pakistan International School Jeddah secured both first and second prizes, while third place went to International Indian School Jeddah.
Jazz legend Herbie Hancock hopes to expand his training institute to Saudi Arabia
- Jazz-funk pioneer wants to have a footprint in the Kingdom
- ‘Great experience’ performing in Riyadh, Hancock said
RIYADH: American jazz legend Herbie Hancock hopes to expand his music training program to Saudi Arabia, he revealed in an interview with Arab News.
“We’d love to have a presence here in some way, you know, and some activities here,” Hancock told Arab News.
“Then this would be a place I could visit and have my footprint here in some way. That would be absolutely amazing,” he said.
The 14-time Grammy winner was referring to the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz at UCLA, which is a nonprofit education organization that uses internationally-acclaimed jazz masters to train promising young musicians.
Hancock made the comments during a week-long visit to Riyadh accompanied by Janis Siegel, and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance Ensemble.
The group performed at the capital’s King Fahad Cultural Center alongside Saudi jazz vocalist Nourah Alammary on Tuesday, in an event organized in collaboration with the US Embassy in Riyadh and the Saudi Music Commission.
“She was fantastic … she has enormous potential, extremely talented. The way she was improvising and it was really great,” Hancock said.
Speaking about his experience performing in Riyadh, Hancock said: “I was just overwhelmed when I looked at it and saw the incredible design, and the futuristic parts of its display were amazing because there’s a sense of history there, but a sense of the future in its design. It was really, really a great experience.”
During their time in Riyadh, Hancock and the delegation also led a masterclass for Saudi music students at the Music Hub, a roundtable on women in the arts with female Saudi artists, and an event with Saudi traditional musicians at the Ahmed Mater Studio.
“We’ve gone to Ahmed Matar’s studio and met some of the young students that are working there, I saw his library,” he said.
“I saw so much of his equipment. Some of it’s very old … that he bought over the several years that he’s been really mastering his work. And, I mean, he’s a very learned person.
“And, and he’s a lover of jazz too, he had a bunch of jazz records, (a) bunch of my records that were there,” Hancock said.
When asked how his experience in the Kingdom has been, Hancock proudly stated: “It’s been really amazing. I’ve been treated like a king, really it’s been fantastic.”
Siegel highlighted her experience in the Kingdom, stating: “I have to say, the people have been so warm and welcoming.
“It just feels fantastic. And I didn’t know what to expect, so I’m so happy,” she said.
Speaking about her performance alongside Hancock at the King Fahad Cultural Center, Seigel said: “First of all, let me say that it’s a gorgeous hall. It’s stunning. And the sound is very good as well.
“I just saw a sea of smiling faces out there. And I felt in a way, that people were moved by the music and the rhythm, but they didn’t quite know how to express it... they seemed to really know and appreciate Herbie’s contribution to this art form and his place in music history,” Siegel said.
Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney welcomed the visit, saying: “Saudi Arabia’s cultural scene is evolving at an incredible pace, and hosting a legend like Herbie Hancock is a huge milestone.
“His music has inspired generations and having him here is a testament to the Kingdom’s remarkable cultural transformation.”
Chinese consul general in Jeddah visits Al-Serrian archaeological site
Arab News
JEDDAH: Chinese Consul General in Jeddah Wang Qimin visited the archaeological site of Al-Serrian Port in Al-Lith to observe excavation work being carried out by a joint Saudi-Chinese team.
During the meeting, Qimin was briefed on the different stages of the work and its key findings to date, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.
He said the Al-Serrian Port site represented a significant milestone in the history of the Maritime Silk Road, reflecting important chapters of the friendship between China and the Arab world. The consul general also wished the team success in their endeavors as the work progressed.
The excavation project is part of the executive program of the recently signed agreement between the Saudi Heritage Commission and China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration. The initiative aims to expand archaeological excavation efforts at the site and foster partnerships with universities and international heritage research centers.
It is also helping to strengthen cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and China and is in line with efforts by the Ministry of Culture and other cultural entities to explore new horizons for national heritage.
The Al-Serrian archaeological port is one of the most significant landmarks in the Al-Lith governorate, serving as a crucial link between Arab and Chinese civilizations for over 2,000 years. It also contains relics from ancient civilizations that once inhabited the region.
