Day: June 13, 2024

Makkah, Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa received a media delegation from Arab, Islamic, and international news agencies at the league's headquarters in Makkah on Wednesday. The delegation came to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to cover the Hajj season for 1445 AH in partnership with the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). SPA President Dr. Fahd bin Hassan Al Aqran attended the meeting. During the meeting, Al-Issa elaborated on the clash of civilisations theory and the league's efforts to counter it through the "Building Bridges between East and West" initiative. This initiative, celebrated by the UN during its international conference held at its headquarters in New York, is based on the Islamic values of understanding, peace, and cooperation. The MWL secretary general also spoke about the Museum of the Prophet's Biography and Islamic Civilization, which the league launched from its main headquarters in Madinah and has since aim ed to create replicas around the world. He explained the museum's concept and objectives, highlighting its use of modern technology present the Prophet's biography and Islamic civilization in a contemporary manner, with scenes depicting significant aspects of the prophetic community. Al-Issa addressed the tragedy of Gaza, reiterating that this tragedy represents a "stain on humanity's conscience" and stressed the critical role of the media in revealing the truth. He praised the sincere and practical efforts toward the Gaza issue and Palestinian rights, referring to Saudi Arabia's political and humanitarian endeavours in this regard. Al Aqran expressed his gratitude to Al-Issa for the opportunity to meet with the news agencies, stressing that the meeting would mark the beginning of genuine media cooperation with the MWL to convey the league's noble message to all the peoples of the Islamic world. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Manama, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today sent a cable of condolences to the Amir of the State of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, following the Al Mangaf fire incident, which has left several casualties and injuries. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister also sent two similar cables to the Crown Prince of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, and to the Prime Minister of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Source: Bahrain News Agency

Makkah, The General Directorate of Civil Defense unveiled diverse qualitative services through artificial intelligence and technologies available at the command-and-control center of the directorate in Mina, during the Hajj season of the current year 1445 AH. The directorate adopts the use of modern technologies and artificial intelligence in the context of the efforts of various security agencies working during the Hajj season, as it presents the smart platform service that uses smart surveillance cameras in the holy sites to analyze, detect and deal with risks, including detecting smoke, fire, emergencies, and risk prediction. These services increase the speed of response of civil defense teams and immediate intervention and provision of necessary assistance. Technical services include licenses for pilgrims' accommodation companies, which make it easier for safety inspectors at the general directorate to verify licenses by reading the QR Code installed at the entrances of the pilgrims' camps using cameras of the smart patrols and displaying the license data on the patrol's mobile device. The center also optimally used digital twinning technology, which relies on integration with the geospatial portal of Hajj civil defense forces, by building an interactive map of the holy sites to distribute workforce and determine the supervisory scope of each field unit. This includes the training system, identifying dangerous places, and avoiding risks. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Manama, As part of the Kingdom's celebrations of the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's Accession, the Nationality, Passports, and Residence Affairs has issued a commemorative stamp to mark this national occasion. This stamp will be used to for the passports of travellers arriving and departing through the Kingdom's ports. Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, the Undersecretary of the Interior Ministry for Nationality, Passports, and Residence Affairs (NPRA), stated that the initiative came as a celebration of this national occasion. The Undersecretary added that the Kingdom of Bahrain has achieved numerous accomplishments across various domains during the reign of His Majesty the King, expressing the pride felt by every Bahraini citizen on this occasion. Source: Bahrain News Agency

Makkah, The General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has implemented additional measures to assist pilgrims in performing their rituals with ease and convenience during this Hajj season 1445 AH. The authority has designated entrances and exits for pilgrims in coordination with the government agencies operating within the Grand Mosque to ensure a high level of smoothness, making it easier for pilgrims and Umrah performers to complete their rituals and worship in a safe and spiritual atmosphere. The authority has designated specific entrances, bridges, and stairs for pilgrims arriving at the Grand Mosque. These include the King Abdulaziz Gate, the King Fahd Gate, the Umrah Gate, the Al-Salam Gate, Walkway Gate 153, and Walkway Gate 145. Additionally, it has allocated the Al-Shubaika Bridge, Al-Shubaika Stairway, Ajyad Bridge, and Al-Arqam Stairway. For exits from the Grand Mosque, the authority has designated several gates, bridges, and stairways, including the Ajyad Gat e, Ismail Gate, Al-Marwah Gate, Al-Fatah Gate, and gates 89, 90, 93, and 94, as well as the Al-Safa and Quraish gates. Moreover, the designated bridges for exiting include the Al-Marwah, Othman, and Al-Arqam bridges. As for the stairways, the authority has allocated Al-Shubaika Stairway 65, Morad Stairway, and Al-Qarara Stairway. In addition, the authority has prepared eight entrances specifically for people with disabilities and the elderly, marked with clear Braille signs to assist those with visual impairments. These are gates 68, 74, 79, 84, 89, 90, 93, and 94. For exits, the designated bridges include the Ajyad, Al-Shubaika, Al-Marwah, and Al-Arqam bridges. The authority indicated that these organizational arrangements aim to facilitate pilgrims, Umrah performers, and visitors in performing their rituals and ensuring their safety and comfort while at the Grand Mosque. This is achieved through ongoing collaboration between the authority and various concerned government entities. Source: Saudi Press Ag ency

The River Police affiliated with the Babylon Police Command retrieved the body of a young man today, Thursday, from the Euphrates River passing through the city of Hillah. The Director of Media for Babylon Police, Brigadier General Adel Al-Husseini, said, "The police retrieved the body of a young man from the Euphrates River passing through the city of Hillah today, Thursday, after a call was made to them. He added that the police transferred the body to the forensic medicine, indicating that this is the fifth case of drowning as a result of swimming in the Euphrates River recorded in Babylon within a week. Source: National Iraqi News Agency