Day: June 14, 2024

Mina: The Ministry of Sport, in partnership with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, has readied the field monitoring and crowd movement center in preparation for receiving pilgrims in Mina this Hajj season 1445 AH.

The Ministry of Sport supports this effort through three centers: Al-Rabwah, which is the main, Wadi Muhassar, and Center 120 Al-Muaisim.

Recently, participants did field survey training, studied crowd management, and were introduced to the service centers that contribute to guiding pilgrims from Mina according to specific routes and schedules, enabling them to perform their rituals easily.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Makkah: The Ministry of Health has been providing comprehensive care for pilgrims during the Hajj season; from the first day of the month of Dhu Al-Qi’dah until the eighth day of the month of Dhu Al-Hijjah 1445 AH, around 93,000 pilgrims have received medical assistance at healthcare centers.

According to the ministry, such assistance was offered at medical and specialized clinics, pharmacies, kidney dialysis centers, intensive care units, and isolation units. Notably, the ministry has performed 19 open-heart surgeries, 218 cardiac catheterizations, and 676 kidney dialysis treatments. Additionally, 2,022 pilgrims were admitted to hospitals and medical centers to receive the necessary care.

The ministry remains committed to providing the highest quality of healthcare to pilgrims. With dedicated medical and administrative staff, well-equipped facilities, and health centers spread across Makkah, Madinah, and other holy sites, pilgrims’ safety and comfort are ensured throughout the Hajj season.

Source: Saudi
Press Agency

WhatsApp announced several feature improvements related to video calling for mobile and desktop users.

The Meta-owned instant messaging platform explained that the latest update will bring improvements to screen sharing on the app. When watching videos with other participants while sharing their screen, a user will also be able to share the audio playing, according to the company.

WhatsApp also revealed an increase in the number of participants who can join video calls together. While up to 32 mobile users could join the calls, the number was previously limited to eight for users on the desktop apps. It has now been made uniform across all devices and up to 32 participants can be part of a video, call irrespective of which platform a user is joining from.

A new “speaker spotlight” feature will also be introduced, highlighting the current speaker on a video call. In theory, it could prove to be useful when attending video calls in large groups, enabling users to easily identify the speaker without requirin
g them to go through the participant list.

In addition to the video calling features, Meta Platforms also introduced a new tool which aims to improve the call quality. The feature – known as Meta Low Bitrate (MLow) codec – helps compress the audio/video captured for efficient transfer over the internet, according to Meta.

Although compression often comes at a cost of quality, Meta says the MLow codec is an upgrade over the previous open source Opus codec and can improve the audio quality, especially on slow-speed connections. This codec was already available on other Meta platforms such as Instagram and Messenger, and is now being rolled out to WhatsApp.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Makkah: The Ministry of Health said that 99% of domestic pilgrims had received the vaccines needed for the 1445 AH Hajj season. Meanwhile, the permits of 150 pilgrims were canceled by relevant authorities due to incomplete vaccinations.

The ministry stressed that the health and safety of pilgrims are a top priority and that vaccines help prevent infectious diseases from spreading and maintain public health at the holy sites, so that pilgrims can perform their rituals in good health and with peace of mind.

The ministry had urged those intending to perform Hajj from inside the Kingdom to complete their vaccinations well in advance of Hajj and to save the proof on the Sehhaty app.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Mina: The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) announced the delivery of more than 54,000,000 food items scheduled to be consumed by pilgrims during the Tarwiyah Day, the day preceding the peak of Hajj in Arafat.

The MoC oversaw the security of food supply chains by authorizing the entry of more than 54,398,000 soft drinks, baked goods, water, and ice cubes.

It confirmed the follow-up of its field teams deployed to cover the food situation for pilgrims, by visiting the sales outlets in the holy sites, and ensuring the availability of necessary goods and products.

The Ministry’s teams continue to verify the compliance of sales inlets with consumer protection regulations and control commercial violations.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Mina: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance has announced the readiness of the holy sites’ accommodation for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit. The program is set to receive 3,322 pilgrims from 88 countries.

Service committees are diligently preparing all facilities and providing necessary services at the accommodation before the guest’s arrival to ensure a seamless and comfortable experience for the guests.

The ministry has equipped the pilgrims’ accommodation in the holy sites with guidance and welcome boards, as well as interactive smart screens displaying welcoming phrases.

In addition to comprehensive services, the ministry has also deployed dedicated personnel to further ensure the guests’ security, safety, and peace of mind while performing their rituals.

Expressing their gratitude, the guests appreciated the Kingdom’s leadership for their unwavering commitment to serving Islam and Muslims.

Source: Saudi Press Agency