Saudi engineering students win medals, patents at Warsaw exhibition

Short Url
Updated 09 November 2022
Follow

Saudi engineering students win medals, patents at Warsaw exhibition

  • Inventions can cut ATM card theft, traffic accidents
  • Chosen out of 300 entries from 25 nations

RIYADH: King Abdulaziz University honored Saudi students on Tuesday for receiving two bronze medals and two patents at the Warsaw International Exhibition of Inventions in Poland.

The students from the Rabigh Faculty of Engineering won for two projects, smart cat eyes for monitoring traffic, and a device to warn about stolen cards, following a competitive evaluation of 300 inventions from 25 countries. 

The participating students were Hassan Al-Sulami, Faisal Sebaa, Muhammad Al-Harbi, Raed Al-Anazi, Sultan Al-Zanbaqi, Abdul Rahman Al-Laqmani, Ziyad Al-Ghanimi, Hassan Al-Hazmi, and Marwan Al-Biladi, who were supervised by the Talent and Creativity Center at King Abdulaziz University.

Team captain Al-Sulami said that the two inventions would help reduce identity theft and monitor traffic. 

Explaining the smart cat eyes, Al-Sulami said: “To reduce light pollution and save energy, our invention of cat eyes aims to alert the driver if he exceeds the speed (limit) or (crosses a traffic line) on the street, and contains a motion sensor that senses cars on the street.”

“The other invention is a theft alert for ATM cards, which will connect the vending machine to the store’s camera. And if the card is stolen, the card owner can alert the bank, and the bank, in turn, sends the data to the existing POS machines … and the store owner is alerted loudly that the used card has been stolen.” 

“It is a nice feeling to represent Saudi Arabia in an international exhibition and win two patents. Saudi Arabia has adopted these inventions and supported the youth. We hope investors will support and develop the ideas,” Al-Sulami told Arab News.

The students thanked the university and the center for supporting them by creating a conducive environment to innovate.


First flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye land in Saudi Arabia

Updated 30 April 2025
Follow

First flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye land in Saudi Arabia

  • Qualified staff fluent in several languages and equipped with the latest technology will help simplify entry procedures for pilgrims

Madinah: The first flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye arrived at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah on Wednesday. The annual Islamic pilgrimage is set to take place this year between June 4 and 9.

Authorities are providing qualified staff who are fluent in several languages and equipped with the latest technology to help simplify entry procedures for pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported, and are ready to assist people arriving by land and sea as well as air.

An estimated 1.8 million pilgrims participated in Hajj last year.


Jeddah communication conference explores anime’s digital evolution

Updated 30 April 2025
Follow

Jeddah communication conference explores anime’s digital evolution

  • The session focused on anime’s shift from traditional television broadcasts and DVDs to digital platforms, including live streaming, instant subtitling and cloud-based production

RIYADH: The eighth session of the Digital Communication Conference, titled “Anime in the Digital Space,” explored the transformation of Japanese anime over the past two decades, highlighting the impact of digital innovation and the internet.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the session focused on anime’s shift from traditional television broadcasts and DVDs to digital platforms, including live streaming, instant subtitling and cloud-based production.

Streaming giants such as Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Funimation were highlighted as pivotal players in the transition, offering translated or dubbed episodes immediately upon release and funding original series such as “Devilman Crybaby” and “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.”

Speakers in the session, including Manga Productions CEO Essam Bukhary, said that social media and online forums have opened the door to unprecedented engagement among fans, as well as community and cultural interaction, since audiences now take part in evaluating episodes.

Concerns were raised that heavy dependence on technology could erode the handcrafted aesthetic that defines traditional anime.

Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning interest in manga and anime, which dates back to the 1970s, is helping to usher in a revolution in cultural production.

Japanese art forms have captivated audiences of all ages, gaining significant popularity in recent years. Their ability to combine entertainment, culture and education has made them of great interest to Saudi society.

To support this interest, the General Entertainment Authority has hosted events like the Saudi Anime Expo, drawing international visitors.

In line with these efforts, the ministries of culture and education launched the Manga Education program to nurture student talent, as well as integrate arts and culture into public education.
 


Muslim World League chief meets UK Islamic leaders in Madinah

Updated 30 April 2025
Follow

Muslim World League chief meets UK Islamic leaders in Madinah

  • Delegation visits International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography
  • Visitors reaffirm support for Palestinian cause, call for end to genocide in Gaza

LONDON: The secretary-general of the Muslim World League, Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, met British Islamic leaders in Madinah on Wednesday to discuss issues facing the UK’s Muslim community.

The visitors praised the MWL’s important role in the Islamic world and among Muslim minorities in Europe and the UK, highlighting its work to preserve cultural and religious identities.

They also noted that King Charles welcomed Al-Issa as the first Arab and Muslim figure from outside the UK to visit Buckingham Palace after his coronation.

The delegation visited the MWL-affiliated International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography, which tells the story of the Prophet Muhammad’s life.

During the talks they reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian cause and called for an “immediate end to the genocide being perpetrated against the people of Gaza by the brutal war machine of the Israeli occupation government.”

Gaza should be a symbol of unity, not division, among Muslim communities, they said, according to an MWL statement.

The delegation commended the 2019 Charter of Makkah, saying it helped foster interaction with non-Muslim audiences and promoted moderation in addressing contemporary issues.


Saudi deputy foreign minister receives Russia’s envoy in Riyadh

Updated 30 April 2025
Follow

Saudi deputy foreign minister receives Russia’s envoy in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati received Russian Ambassador Sergey Kozlov in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The pair discussed relations between their countries and other topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.

Also on Wednesday, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki met Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah Al-Yahya in Islamabad, the diplomat wrote on X.

They discussed the importance of digital transformation and other topics of interest.


Saudi Arabia welcomes Rwanda, DRC declaration to draft peace deal

Updated 30 April 2025
Follow

Saudi Arabia welcomes Rwanda, DRC declaration to draft peace deal

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has welcomed the signing of a declaration of principles between the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it appreciated the diplomatic efforts made by the two sides and looked forward to their commitment to the declaration, which would enhance security and stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The foreign ministers of Rwanda and the DRC signed a declaration at the US State Department on Friday. They agreed to draft a peace deal by May 2, respecting each other’s sovereignty and refraining from supporting armed groups after fighting resumed in the DRC’s mineral-rich east in October.