MAKKAH: Lt. Gen. Saeed bin Abdullah Al-Qahtani, deputy interior minister for operations affairs and general supervisor of public security, visited the headquarters of the facilities security forces in Mina on Monday and reviewed a crowd-control plan for train stations at the holy sites.
Accompanied by the commander of Hajj security forces, Lt. Gen. Khalid Al-Harbi, they observed a drill carried out by forces responding to a simulated train breakdown at Station 2 in Mina.
Al-Qahtani listened to a detailed explanation from the commander of the facilities security forces, Maj. Gen. Saad Al-Jabri, about the tasks of the forces during this Hajj season.
The tasks include organizing the entry of crowds to the train stations, preventing squatting inside them, and taking immediate measures to maintain pilgrims’ safety.
The supervisor of the facilities security forces’ operations, Maj. Gen. Hamid Al-Jahdali, gave a detailed description of the stages of pilgrims’ movement by train to the holy sites, and the main developments in this service over the past few years.
A l-Qahtani expressed his satisfaction with what he saw and heard during his visit, and expressed hoped that all forces keep up their good work in providing the best services for pilgrims, in line with instructions from the Kingdom’s leadership.
Saudi officials review Hajj crowd-control plan
Saudi officials review Hajj crowd-control plan
KSrelief continues aid projects in Yemen, Gaza
- The project aims to improve services and promote hygiene among those affected by the humanitarian crisis
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief has signed an agreement with a civil society organization to implement a $359,000 water and sanitation project in Yemen’s Hodeidah governorate.
The project aims to improve services and promote hygiene among those affected by the humanitarian crisis, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
It includes the distribution of personal hygiene kits, toilet cleaning supplies, and the installation of 20 mobile toilets. Access to safe drinking water for domestic use will also be ensured, benefiting 131,662 individuals.
Ahmed Al-Baiz, assistant supervisor general of operations and programs at KSrelief, signed the agreement in Riyadh.
Meanwhile, KSrelief distributed 2,100 shelter kits to support residents and displaced families in northern Gaza, benefiting 21,000 people.
This aid comes amid a large influx of displaced people due to ongoing Israeli military operations in northern Gaza for over two months, the SPA added.
KSrelief’s executive partner in Gaza, the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, has begun distributing the aid packages to alleviate suffering during the severe cold and ongoing siege.
The kits include blankets, mattresses, cooking utensils, and water containers to help families cope with the harsh conditions.
The distribution is expected to continue in the coming days, reaching thousands more displaced and needy families in Gaza, the SPA reported.
Authorities review Ramadan readiness in Madinah
- The meeting included a presentation by the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque on Ramadan preparations
RIYADH: Prince Salman bin Sultan, the governor of Madinah, chaired a meeting to discuss preparations for Ramadan.
The meeting was attended by heads of several government agencies in the region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Salman, who is also chairman of the Hajj and Visit Committee in the region, commended the leadership’s care for visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque.
He emphasized the need to enhance readiness among all parties to ensure the highest levels of comfort, security and reassurance for visitors during Ramadan.
The meeting included a presentation by the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque on Ramadan preparations.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah reviewed its operational plans, while the Ministry of Health’s regional branch presented its health system readiness for visitors.
The meeting concluded with a discussion of developments related to operations at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.
New initiative to train Saudis in generative AI
RIYADH: A professional training program in generative artificial intelligence has been launched at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran.
The program is offered by the Gen AI Academy in collaboration with the Saudi Data and AI Authority and NVIDIA.
This initiative marks the first step in a plan to train 4,000 Saudi citizens, according to the Saudi Press Agency report.
The program will train and qualify Saudi citizens in generative AI. It aims to build the next generation’s capabilities in AI, enhance participants’ expertise to foster innovation, and underscore the Kingdom’s advanced position in the field.
It targets individuals with a solid foundation in computer science or related fields, as well as academic professionals and practitioners.
The training includes advanced, up-to-date materials provided by certified Saudi experts from NVIDIA.
Participants will engage in a blend of virtual self-learning modules and interactive in-person workshops.
On completion, participants will receive professional certifications accredited by NVIDIA, recognized globally as leading credentials in generative AI.
The program is part of the authority’s efforts to promote learning and build national AI capabilities, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position among data- and AI-driven economies.
Security exhibition showcases KSA’s tech advancements
RIYADH: The Ministry of Interior’s Security Oasis exhibition recently concluded at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Al-Sayahid, northeast of Riyadh.
Visitors were immersed in the Kingdom’s rich history of security and service, spanning from its founding to the present day, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The exhibition highlighted the ministry’s key development projects, investments in technology, AI applications and digital solutions aimed at enhancing public safety, environmental sustainability, traffic safety, and Hajj and Umrah services.
Visitors also learned about the ministry’s security services for individuals, businesses and government entities through platforms like Absher and the 911 call centers, the SPA reported.
The exhibition showcased anti-drug smuggling efforts, border security awareness, search and rescue operations, and land and sea monitoring.
A major highlight of the exhibition was the shooting range, where visitors enjoyed supervised shooting experiences under the guidance of professional trainers.
It also featured captivating military scenarios, performances by musical bands, camel and cavalry bands, and engaging folk performances from various regions of the Kingdom.
First Saudi aid plane arrives at Damascus International Airport, second despatched
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief sent the first two relief planes to Damascus on Wednesday morning.
Carrying medical, food and shelter supplies, the planes are part of a fleet set to provide urgent relief over the next few days.
The total aid provided by the Kingdom to the Syrian people from 2011 to the end of 2024 amounted to 856 million and 891 thousand US dollars, state news agency SPA reported.
لحظات مغادرة الطائرة الأولى من الجسر الجوي السعودي الإغاثي إلى #سوريا
— العربية السعودية (@AlArabiya_KSA) January 1, 2025
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