Saudi minister meets Chinese and Moroccan officials at World Health Assembly in Geneva
Saudi minister meets Chinese and Moroccan officials at World Health Assembly in Geneva/node/2520256/saudi-arabia
Saudi minister meets Chinese and Moroccan officials at World Health Assembly in Geneva
Saudi Arabia’s health minister Fahad Al-Jalajel on Thursday met with a Chinese delegation headed by the country’s deputy minister of health Cao Xuetao in Geneva. (SPA)
Saudi minister meets Chinese and Moroccan officials at World Health Assembly in Geneva
Meeting at 77th World Health Assembly currently being held in Swiss city
Updated 30 May 2024
Arab News
GENEVA: Saudi Arabia’s health minister, Fahad Al-Jalajel, held talks with a Chinese delegation led by the country’s deputy minister of health, Cao Xuetao, on Thursday.
During the meeting, on the sidelines of the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, they discussed ways to enhance cooperation in health services and health security, investment opportunities in the health sector, and the promotion of global health, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Jalajel held a similar meeting with Morocco’s health minister, Khalid Ait Taleb, on the same day.
KSrelief delivers critical aid across Yemen, Sudan, and Lebanon
Updated 6 sec ago
Arab News
KSrelief continues its wide-reaching humanitarian efforts, providing crucial aid and healthcare services to various regions affected by crises.
In Yemen's Waalan Camp, located in the Harad District of Hajjah Governorate, mobile medical clinics operated by KSrelief delivered essential healthcare services from August 14 to 20, 2024. During this period, 98 individuals benefited from treatment, including 42 patients in the epidemic control clinic, 26 in the emergency clinic, 18 in internal medicine, and 10 in reproductive health.
At least 34 patients visited the nursing services department, 98 individuals received medication, and 7 beneficiaries were cared for in the surgery and dressing clinic.
In Al-Soum District, Hadhramaut Governorate, Yemen, 195 shelter bags and 195 food baskets were distributed, benefiting 2,505 people.
Meanwhile, in Kassala State, Sudan, 480 food baskets were provided to displaced families and those in need, assisting 2,871 individuals. Further support was offered to the River Nile State in Sudan, where 1,164 shelter bags were distributed to 6,693 people affected by heavy rains and flash floods.
In northern Lebanon, KSrelief funded the ambulance services of the Subul Al Salam Social Association, which conducted 61 ambulance missions in the Miniyeh district.
Completion of Saudi Arabia’s Qunfudhah-Sabt Al Jarah road project expected to improve traffic safety
Updated 08 September 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s road development project connecting the western regions of Makkah and Asir is now complete, the General Authority for Roads said in a report carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.
The two-lane Qunfudhah-Sabt al-Jarah road is 8 kilometers long and has three bridges, the report said.
The new concrete road is expected to reduce accidents resulting from vehicles slipping into valleys during torrents, as well as increase road capacity and reduce travel time between the two regions.
Engineers have modified the path of the old Sabt Al-Jarah Road to bypass flood channels, installed 100 guidance panels, 2,000 ground reflectors, 97,000 meters of paint lengths, and warning vibrations, to raise the level of safety, said the report.
Saudi interior minister arrives in Egypt on official visit
Updated 07 September 2024
Arab News
CAIRO: Saudi Arabia’s interior minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif arrived in Egypt on Saturday evening on an official visit.
His trip is being made on the directives of the Kingdom’s leadership, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Abdulaziz was received at Cairo International Airport by his Egyptian counterpart Major General Mahmoud Tawfiq and the Saudi ambassador to Egypt Saleh bin Eid Al-Hussaini.
Young Saudi paves way in tech, artificial intelligence
Abdullah Hakeem is pursuing his dream to advance AI in the Kingdom
His journey has led to his involvement in the upcoming Global AI Summit
Updated 07 September 2024
Waad Hussain
RIYADH: As the Kingdom forges ahead in the tech industry, young Saudis like Abdullah Hakeem are playing a crucial role in shaping its future while inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals graduate, 25, is tapping into the power of technology to bridge gaps, enhance communication, and empower communities.
Hakeem’s story began during his studies at KFUPM, where he quickly became a well-known figure among students for his inventive spirit. His first major project was a WhatsApp bot designed to enhance the platform’s functionality.
Abdullah Hakeem, SDAIA strategic competitiveness specialist
“It was a learning tool for me,” Hakeem told Arab News. “I applied new skills and implemented user-suggested features, evolving it based on feedback.”
The bot garnered over 1,000 users, primarily students at the university.
One notable challenge was maintaining the bot’s efficiency amid numerous simultaneous requests. “I overcame this by employing various technical solutions and continuously refining them over time,” he explained.
Understanding the value of community-building, he founded around 30 WhatsApp groups that fostered connections among students interested in development and skill enhancement.
Contributing to the success of my country is a key goal for me.
Abdullah Hakeem, SDAIA strategic competitiveness specialist
Hakeem also organized competitions to encourage peers to challenge themselves and learn. “Bringing people together to learn and grow has always been my passion,” he added.
This commitment to community engagement facilitated a collaborative environment in which students could share knowledge and support one another.
His internship at Takamul Technologies in 2022 marked a pivotal moment in his career. Tasked with resolving a critical issue on the company’s website, he reduced the load time of the 3D section from a cumbersome 70MB to a lightning-fast 100KB.
“This impressive feat earned me a part-time job offer from the CEO, a rare opportunity for an intern,” he said. “It was a confidence boost (to have) my abilities recognized in a professional setting.”
This experience fueled his desire to tackle complex challenges in the tech industry. His innovative spirit culminated in a series of competitions, notably the KFUPM Innovation Hackathon last year, in which he led his team to victory in both web and mobile development tracks.
The hackathon provided a platform for students to showcase their skills and creativity. It honed Hakeem’s leadership skills and also reinforced the importance of collaboration in achieving common goals.
“I adapted my approach to motivate each team member according to their needs,” he said. “Being closely involved in every task allowed me to guide the project effectively.”
Hakeem’s graduation project won first place at the KFUPM Graduation Expo in May last year. The project involved integrating with Foodics, the largest point-of-sale system in the Middle East.
He said: “One of our major challenges was securing a partnership with a restaurant to facilitate the integration process. We designated one team member to manage communications with Foodics and the sponsorship, allowing the rest of us to focus on development.”
This strategic division of responsibilities proved crucial in overcoming obstacles and delivering the project.
Recognition followed, especially through social media. Hakeem and his team shared their journey on X, attracting almost 400,000 views. This exposure led to an invitation from the MISK Foundation to join the prestigious MISK Launchpad program in 2023, where they secured a grant to bring their product to market.
“The experience taught me to build real products, not just software solutions,” he said.
The program provided valuable insights into the product development process, shaping Hakeem’s perspective on the importance of creating meaningful solutions that address real-world problems.
His talents caught the eye of major players in the tech industry. During the Metathon competition toward the end of 2023, he impressed judges, including Rehab Alarfaj from the Saudi Data and AI Authority, who offered him a position on her team.
“Joining SDAIA (this year) was a dream come true,” he added. “It’s a sought-after opportunity in the tech community … my goal is to secure recognition for Saudi Arabia in global AI rankings.”
In his current role within the General Management of Partnership and Competitiveness, Hakeem is committed to advancing artificial intelligence in the Kingdom.
He is currently involved in organizing the Global AI Summit, which is set to take place between Sept. 10-12. This event will showcase the Kingdom’s advances in AI and foster collaboration among international experts.
“Contributing to the success of my country is a key goal for me,” Hakeem said.
As Hakeem continues to contribute and innovate, he embodies the spirit of a new generation of young Saudis supported by the nurturing ecosystem of Vision 2030, and dedicated to paving the way and leaving a mark on the tech industry and beyond.
The commission aims to attract global interest in Saudi stories and productions while fostering connections with filmmakers worldwide
Updated 07 September 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Film Commission is participating in Canada’s 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, which runs until Sept. 15.
One of the world’s top film festivals, it attracts filmmakers, critics and audiences from around the globe, serving as a key platform for the genre.
The commission is this year showcasing a pavilion which features major Saudi film projects and initiatives, offering visitors a chance to explore the Kingdom’s creative film industry.
A delegation from the commission is representing the diverse talent of the Kingdom’s film community, along with some Saudi filmmakers.
The pavilion also highlights the commission’s commitment to advancing Saudi Arabia’s film industry, showcasing recent achievements and opportunities for international collaboration.
The commission aims to attract global interest in Saudi stories and productions while fostering connections with filmmakers worldwide.
Its participation aligns with its strategy to promote Saudi cinema internationally, support local talent, and contribute to the film industry on a global level.
