Number of sanitizing robots at Grand Mosque to increase

The robot contains an early warning feature with voice transmission and works from 5 to 8 hours without human intervention. (Supplied)
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Updated 15 October 2020
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Number of sanitizing robots at Grand Mosque to increase

  • The robot performs internal sterilization on six levels, which improves the strength and safety of environmental health

MAKKAH: The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has announced that it will increase the number of robots used to sanitize the Grand Mosque.

More than 4,500 liters of sterilization materials are being used each day to disinfect the Grand Mosque to achieve a safe and healthy environment.

“The presidency is working to the highest standards to intensify sterilization operations in the Grand Mosque and its external squares, to provide the highest levels of readiness and to apply precautionary and preventive measures,” director of the environmental protection and epidemic control department at the presidency, Hassan Al-Suwairi, told Arab News.

He said that the presidency was studying all the options to mechanize technology and adapt it to serve pilgrims and create a safe and healthy environment in which they could practice their rituals with ease.

Al-Suwairi said that specialized robots were used for sanitization to keep pace with the latest inventions and to use the best technology devices in confronting the coronavirus.

“The smart robot, which is used in sterilization and environmental protection in enclosed spaces, works with an automatic control system programmed on a pre-map, and it holds a SLAM patent, with a high-performance atomization unit,” he said.

Al-Suwairi said that the launch of the high-precision robot would contribute to reducing the spread of coronavirus and other diseases and epidemics.

The robot performs internal sterilization on six levels, which improves the strength and safety of environmental health, and it intelligently analyzes sanitization requirements according to usage scenarios. It works from five to eight hours without human intervention.

The device can accommodate 23.8 liters. The volume of spraying is estimated at 2 liters per hour, and it eliminates bacteria in an area of 600 square meters at a time. The size of dry mist particles used in the disinfection process is from 5 to 15 micrometers.

“There are work teams in the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque that continuously study the possibility of increasing the number of smart robots in the Grand Mosque in proportion to its area,” Al-Suwairi said.

Al-Suwairi said that the technology reduced human intervention and measured the safety of environments that required continuous sterilization and disinfection.

He called on pilgrims to adhere to regulations and instructions to help the implementation of security, health and preventive plans aimed primarily to serve them and ensure their comfort.


GCC holds Gulf-US Joint Ministerial Meeting to advance regional security

Updated 30 April 2024
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GCC holds Gulf-US Joint Ministerial Meeting to advance regional security

  • In Riyadh, Blinken is expected to meet with senior Saudi leaders and hold a wider meeting with counterparts from five Arab states

RIYADH: Secretary Anthony Blinken participated in a joint US-Gulf Cooperation Council ministerial meeting to advance coordination on regional security on Monday in Riyadh.

“There really are two paths forward for the region as a whole. One driven with division with destruction, with violence with permanent insecurity. The other, greater integration, greater security, greater peace,” Secretary Anthony Blinken said.

“ I think the region today shows that many more of us want to pursue that affirmative path, and I’m grateful to our colleagues in the GCC for working in partnership to advance in that direction,” he added.

During his opening remarks, Secretary Blinken expressed that the meeting serves as an opportunity to advance efforts to promote greater stability in this region.

Blinken arrived in Riyadh Monday morning as a part of a 3-day visit from April 29-May 1 to meet with regional partners.

The secretary highlighted that in the upcoming days as he travels to Jordan and Palestine he will meet with humanitarian groups and the Israeli governemnt to discuss the developments in Gaza.

During his remarks Secretary Blinken highlighted the current U.S. interventions such as the increased value of aid delivered to Gaza and the building of the US maritime corridor.

“It is not enough we still need to get more aid in and around Gaza,” he explained.  

During his speech, Blinken underlines that the U.S. will continue to work with its GCC partners to “build just and lasting peace.”

“We are focused on addressing the greatest threat to regional stability and regional security, Iran,”

“ This is the first meeting since Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel, The first direct attack from Iran to Israel with more than 300 projectiles including over 100 holistic missiles," Blinken explained.  

Blinken underlined that the attacks from Iran stress the importance of working together in integrated defense.

He highlighted that this will be the discussion topic in the upcoming US-GCC meeting in a few weeks on integrated air, militry defense and maritime security.

The other discussion topic underlined by Blinken was the “ ways to preserve freedom of navigation in the Red Sea,”

“The Houthi attacks not only undermine security but they undermine the lives and livelihoods of people throughout the region including in Yeman, the very people they profess they want to represent, The cost of goods have gone up, and it’s harder to get things into Yemen, to the north we’re people so desperately need it,”

“This needs to stop and we are being resolute in doing everything we can to put a stop to it,” Blinken sid.

During his opening remarks, the GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called for an international conference on implementing a two-state solution.

He also underlined the need for effective international measures to end the violence in the West Bank.

He also expressed the importance of ensuring the security of relief corridors for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Al-Budaiwi emphasized that the continuous escalation between Iran and Israel threatens the security and stability of the region.

The GCC Secretary General also expressed concern over the Houthi attacks on the Red Sea.

Following his visit to the Kingdom, Blinken will be meeting with counterparts in Jordan and Palestine.

As a part of his visit, the secretary will discuss various topics including the ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza that secures the release of hostages.

Other topics in the meetings will include humanitarian aid to Gaza, limiting the spillover of conflict and ongoing efforts to achieve regional security.

A pathway to an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel will also be one of the topics of discussion during his visit.

On the sidelines of the meeting, The Saudi Minister of foreign affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Secretary Blinken. The two discussed the developments in the Gaza Strip, the importance of a ceasefire, efforts to ensure entry of urgent humanitarian aid, and joint efforts.


Saudi FM discusses two-state solution with French, Turkish counterparts

Updated 29 April 2024
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Saudi FM discusses two-state solution with French, Turkish counterparts

  • The discussions took place on the sidelines of a ministerial consultative meeting to discuss Gaza war

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held talks with his French and Turkish counterparts on Monday.
The discussions took place on the sidelines of a ministerial consultative meeting of the six-party Arab Committee to discuss developments in the Gaza war, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Talks with Hakan Fidan of Turkiye and Stephane Sejourne focused on coordinating efforts to advance the two-state solution and acknowledge the Palestinian state, SPA added.
 


Saudi crown prince receives world officials after WEF special meeting in Riyadh

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Updated 29 April 2024
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Saudi crown prince receives world officials after WEF special meeting in Riyadh

  • Two-day special meeting of the World Economic Forum ended on Monday

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received officials from around the world in Riyadh after a special meeting of the World Economic forum ended on Monday.

The officials included Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, the Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim, and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif.

The officials attended the two-day special meeting during which the crown prince called for global collaboration to help build a more resilient and integrated global economy. 

Blinken is visiting the Kingdom on his seventh trip to the Middle East since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which responded with a relentless offensive in Gaza that has drawn global criticism.


Saudi Arabia, UNEP launch World Environment Day campaigns

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli inaugurated the annual event. (SPA)
Updated 29 April 2024
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Saudi Arabia, UNEP launch World Environment Day campaigns

  • Faqeeha noted that on the occasion of World Environment Day, Saudi Arabia will shed light on the urgent need for global investments in conserving nature, restoring lands, and working toward sustainability

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and the UN Environment Programme have announced campaigns to combat desertification, restore ecosystems, and strengthen drought resilience ahead of World Environment Day celebrations on June 5 in Riyadh.

The announcement was made at the opening of Saudi Arabia’s Environment Week on Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli inaugurated the annual event that aspires to raise awareness of the importance of environmental protection.

Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy executive director, UNEP

During the event, Deputy Minister for Environment Osama Faqeeha emphasized the shared responsibility in addressing land degradation and combating desertification. This responsibility extends to policymakers, the private sector, and civil society organizations globally, who must work together to restore agricultural areas, rehabilitate land, and tackle desertification and drought, he said.

Faqeeha noted that on the occasion of World Environment Day, Saudi Arabia will shed light on the urgent need for global investments in conserving nature, restoring lands, and working toward sustainability.

This year, we are calling on people — from the grassroots to governments — to help tackle the climate and extinction crisis we face by restoring the ground we depend on for survival.

Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy executive director, UNEP

He highlighted the importance of uniting national and international efforts to safeguard and rehabilitate ecosystems across the globe, aiming to fulfill sustainable development objectives.

“Without action, 95 percent of land on Earth could be degraded within the next 30 years, which could spell disaster for humanity and the planet,” said Elizabeth Mrema, deputy executive director of UNEP, launching the global campaign at a Saudi Environment Week event in Riyadh.

“We have seen how previous campaigns have catalyzed climate action across the globe. This year, we are calling on people — from the grassroots to governments — to help tackle the climate and extinction crisis we face by restoring the ground we depend on for survival,” she added.

Countries worldwide have committed to restoring 1 billion hectares of land, aiming to protect 30 percent of land and sea for nature and restoring 30 percent of the planet’s degraded ecosystems.

Supporting the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, World Environment Day 2024 will boost climate action efforts by gathering support for ecosystem restoration.

At the opening event of the Saudi Environment Week, Al-Fadhli emphasized that achieving the goals of environmental protection and conservation of the Kingdom’s natural resources requires active engagement from governmental and private sectors, as well as individuals.

He stressed the significance of adopting eco-friendly behaviors in daily routines and applying these practices across different sectors to reach sustainable development objectives.

“The continuation of this national event annually in the Kingdom reflects our wise leadership’s dedication to environmental protection and commitment to sustainable development, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030,” Al-Fadhli said.

“Moreover, the Kingdom’s dedication to environmental protection is evident at national, regional, and international levels. This is demonstrated by Saudi Arabia’s active participation in numerous environmental agreements and organizations, as well as its … initiatives like the Middle East Green Initiative and other significant global environmental efforts under the G20 umbrella,” he added.

 


Saudi Leadership Society Council honors new graduates

Updated 29 April 2024
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Saudi Leadership Society Council honors new graduates

  • ‘The Saudi Leadership Society was founded with the aim of providing a dynamic and empowering environment in which future leaders’ contributions to key objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 can be enhanced’

RIYADH: The latest graduates of Saudi Arabia’s Leaders 2030 program and the Misk Fellowship program were honored during the first annual meeting of the Saudi Leadership Society Council.

The graduation ceremony for the third and fourth groups to complete the Leaders 2030 program took place during the meeting, along with the announcement that they will join the council.

Guests at the event, hosted by the Misk Foundation, included Prince Saud bin Turki, adviser to the chairman of the board of directors at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, other members of the royal family, ministers, and members of Misk’s board of directors, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The aim of the council is to assemble an exceptional community of ambitious future leaders and harness the diversity of its members to foster cooperation, drive growth and make a significant impact on the country and the world, SPA said.

It also seeks to encourage members to develop as leaders who drive positive change, contribute to the progress and leadership of the Kingdom, enhance its global status, and help achieve the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 national development and diversification plan. The council is also dedicated to creating new opportunities for sustainable growth and other positive effects.

The Saudi Leadership Society was founded with the aim of providing a dynamic and empowering environment in which future leaders’ contributions to key objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 can be enhanced, officials said, thereby playing a crucial role in shaping the development of the influential leaders of tomorrow.