Royal Commission for AlUla Partners with Ferrandi Paris to Establish Culinary Arts College

The college will offer three-year diploma programs in culinary arts, tourism, and hospitality. SPA
The college will offer three-year diploma programs in culinary arts, tourism, and hospitality. SPA
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Royal Commission for AlUla Partners with Ferrandi Paris to Establish Culinary Arts College

The college will offer three-year diploma programs in culinary arts, tourism, and hospitality. SPA
The college will offer three-year diploma programs in culinary arts, tourism, and hospitality. SPA

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has announced the establishment of Ferrandi Paris College (CAMPUS ALULA).
The college will offer three-year diploma programs in culinary arts, tourism, and hospitality to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for successful careers in these fields.
The partnership between RCU and Ferrandi Paris, announced at the recently held 8th Future Investment Initiative (FII8) Conference, aligns with AlUla's broader vision of sustainable and human capital development.
The college aims to enroll 100 students in its inaugural year and will offer comprehensive training in traditional and modern French cuisine, confectionery, bakery, and hospitality and tourism services.
This move aims to develop human capital in the fields of culinary arts, hospitality, and tourism, positioning AlUla as a global education hub for these sectors.



Peru Scientists Unveil Crocodile Fossil Up to 12 Million Years Old

Paleontologists unveil the fossil of a young marine crocodile dating back 10 to 12 million years discovered in Peru. Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP
Paleontologists unveil the fossil of a young marine crocodile dating back 10 to 12 million years discovered in Peru. Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP
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Peru Scientists Unveil Crocodile Fossil Up to 12 Million Years Old

Paleontologists unveil the fossil of a young marine crocodile dating back 10 to 12 million years discovered in Peru. Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP
Paleontologists unveil the fossil of a young marine crocodile dating back 10 to 12 million years discovered in Peru. Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP

Paleontologists unveiled on Wednesday the fossil of a young marine crocodile dating back 10 to 12 million years that was discovered in a Peruvian desert.
The fossil of the gharial -- or fish-eating -- crocodile, around three meters long (nearly 10 feet), was discovered late 2023 in perfect condition in Peru's Ocucaje desert, around 350 kilometers (190 miles) south of the capital Lima, AFP said.
"This is the first time we found a juvenile of this species, that is to say, it had not reached its maximum size yet. It died before that," vertebrate paleontologist Mario Gamarra told a news conference.
The skull and jaws of these specimens differed from that of today's crocodiles and alligators, according to Gamarra, who headed the reconstruction of the fossil.
"They had an elongated snout and their diet was entirely piscivorous, feeding on fish," said Gamarra.
"The closest current relative to this crocodile would be the Indian gharial," he added.
The discovery was made jointly by Peru's Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute and the La Union school.
Peru's Ocucaje desert is rich in fossils, such as four-legged dwarf whales, dolphins, sharks and other species from the Miocene period -- between 5 and 23 million years ago -- that were previously discovered there.