KSrelief continues medical projects in Jordan and Somalia
Updated 15 July 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief continued its humanitarian aid projects in Jordan and Somalia, reported state news agency SPA on Sunday.
In Jordan, the aid agency provided medical services to 2,271 patients living in Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees. The services ranged from general medicine for adults and children to dental care and vaccinations.
In Somalia, the kidney dialysis center at Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu, supported by the aid agency, served 348 patients last month.
A total of 163 dialysis patients underwent 1,051 scheduled sessions and 12 emergency sessions.
These initiatives are part of the Kingdom’s effort to alleviate suffering to those in need.
King Salman, crown prince offer condolences to Emir of Kuwait on death of Sheikh Salem
Updated 12 August 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday offered condolences to the Emir of Kuwait following the death Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Sheikh Salem, who was 98, served as the sole Chief of the National Guard from its inception six decades ago to the present day.
The king said: “We learned of the news of the death of His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah - may God have mercy on him - and as we send to Your Highness and the family of the deceased our deepest condolences and sincere sympathy, we ask God Almighty to bestow upon him His vast mercy and forgiveness, and to inhabit him in His spacious gardens, and to protect you from all harm.”
Prince Mohammed sent a similar message.
Kuwait News Agency reported Sheikh Salem was buried on Monday after the sunset prayer.
Unearthing the story behind Asir’s Al-Meger Palace
From Al-Namas to Nablus, Mohammed Al-Meger’s journey led him to create a museum of rare artifacts
Updated 12 August 2024
Ghadi Joudah
RIYADH: One man’s labor of love and passion, Al-Meger Palace nestled in Asir’s Al-Namas governorate, tells the story of history, tradition, and the beauty that is born out of resilience and hardship.
The museum is home to some of the oldest manuscripts from Islamic history, including 60 volumes from the era of the Prophet Muhammad, and thousands of handwritten manuscripts of the Holy Qur’an.
Al-Meger Palace’s interiors bear thousands of Islamic motifs and its walls are saturated with architectural details of Umayyad and Abbasid civilizations. (Supplied)
Speaking about how he acquired the manuscripts for the museum, Mohammed Al-Meger told Arab News: “People from all around the country, especially the south, sold me historical manuscripts of great significance.”
The palace is a convergence of world cultures, meticulously curated by Al-Meger. Its interiors bear thousands of Islamic motifs and its walls are saturated with architectural details of Umayyad and Abbasid civilizations.
My interest sparked when I was in Jerusalem marveling at the amalgamation of different styles of architecture from different periods of time.
Mohammed Al-Meger, Museum founder
“The construction of Al-Meger Palace was no small feat, taking a staggering 35 years to complete and costing SR80 million ($21.3 million) to build,” he said.
With over 2 million stones sourced from the surrounding Asir region, the palace stands as a beacon of local architectural heritage. Al-Meger transformed a barren land populated by wildlife into an exquisite palace perched 2,400 meters above sea level.
This palace also bears thousands of Islamic decorations and contains more than a thousand hand-written manuscripts of the Holy Qur’an. (Supplied)
“My journey to creating the palace was fueled by a powerful discovery — a supplication manuscript penned by my father before his untimely passing,” he said.
This poignant relic became the guiding force behind his quest to immortalize his family's legacy through the palace, starting with collecting manuscripts.
The palace stands as a beacon of architectural wonder with over 2 million natural stones sourced from the surrounding region. (Supplied)
Orphaned at a young age, he faced challenges in his education, but Al-Meger persevered, spurred on by the memory of his late parents who were esteemed intellectuals. The palace is now part of the heritage village he built where tourists can stay.
“One of the most striking features of Al-Meger Palace is its astronomical design, which allows the sun to trace a complete circle around the palace through its myriad windows,” he explained. “Sunlight streams into the palace from over 360 windows, facilitating the observation of the sun’s path within the structure.”
The seven domes that crown it symbolize the continents of the world, a reminder of global unity and interconnectedness. Inside, more than 365 columns stand tall, representing the days in a year and fostering a sense of timelessness.
The walls of Al-Meger Palace are also steeped in the rich history of the Umayyad and Abbasid civilizations, creating a visual tapestry that weaves together centuries of cultural legacy.
As visitors roam its hallowed halls, they are enveloped in a world of wonder and discovery, with each artifact being a testament to the enduring spirit of human creativity and ingenuity.
“Tourists can see a collection of ancient Islamic texts covering a range of subjects such as medicine, mathematics, and astronomy,” he noted.
Al-Meger said that scholars and historians have marveled at the architectural ingenuity of the palace, along with its rare manuscripts.
The museum’s collection includes the oldest manuscript penned by Jamal Al-Din Ibn Tumert Al-Andalusi from 720 AD, indicating that Arabs took up chemistry and physics. “The minister of culture sent a Chinese and French delegation with equipment to document and prove its authenticity,” said Al-Meger.
The cultural marvel’s success is born out the difficulties Al-Meger faced to achieve academic success.
“I grew up without parents and attended school for three years before being expelled. I chose to care for village animals and relied on their milk for sustenance,” Al-Meger added, noting that he cared for the villagers’ sheep in Al-Namas until visiting his uncle in Tabuk at age 14.
His parents’ friends influenced him greatly as a child and he was told they were scholarly and intellectual.
Al-Meger said: “I told my uncle that I am willing to attend any school that accepts me and so I left for Nablus, Palestine. I didn’t spend a single penny (on) it as all the people of Nablus honored me and hosted me better than any of their children.”
When Al-Meger failed yet again, he moved to Jerusalem and a family took him in and enrolled him in Terra Sancta College. He wanted to become a doctor but failed once more.
“My interest sparked when I was in Jerusalem marveling at the amalgamation of different styles of architecture resembling different periods do time,” he recalled.
Back in Saudi Arabia, he joined the military and gained an interest in learning English and French: “I ranked ninth among 202 students in an officers’ course selection process and King Faisal awarded me my first certificate as a lieutenant after completing my training.”
He was then sent to the US. “After that, during my travels to Europe, I happened to pass by Spain and Andalusia and (learned about) the Islamic civilization there.
“Then I took a vacation and took a tour from the US to the Philippines and Indonesia, looking for a homeland to live in … I did not mean to return to Saudi Arabia.”
But fate brought Al-Meger back home and he decided to visit his hometown of Al-Namas once more.
Al-Meger visited the site his palace is now perched upon, describing it as one of the most beautiful sites he had seen in the world.
“I took a trip to India, Pakistan, and the Philippines and found 20 talented builders to bring my vision to life,” he added.
Upon its final opening in 2009, Al-Meger Palace captured the attention of visitors with its unique blend of world cultures, rare manuscripts, and breathtaking Andalusian architecture.
Today, Al-Meger Palace serves as a tangible reminder not just of its historical significance, but also of resilience amid challenges and hardships.
Prince Sultan University students develop device for visually impaired cane users
Desire to inspire positive change led to project’s success
Updated 12 August 2024
Waad Hussain
RIYADH: Six female students at Prince Sultan University have developed an accessibility attachment that can help to provide better spatial awareness for the visually impaired.
Percevo was more than just a class project, but resulted from the enthusiasm of the students at the College of Computer and Information Sciences.
Raneem Al-Soby, Aisha Ashworth, Haifa Eddin, Asma Khan, Danna Bakkr, and Dana Elhaj created their innovative device under the guidance of their supervisors, Dr. Anees Ara and Prof. Tanzila Saba.
Their efforts paid off when Percevo won the first prize at the CCIS Expo at Prince Sultan University and was showcased at LEAP 2024, which Al-Soby said was “a validation of our hard work and dedication.” (Supplied)
Al-Soby told Arab News: “Our group was driven by the desire to make a positive change using the skills we’ve developed and the knowledge we’ve gained.”
The team saw an opportunity to enhance the traditional white cane used by the visually impaired, which has remained largely unchanged since its invention in 1921.
Al-Soby’s personal connection to vision impairment through her sister and a colleague’s visually impaired grandfather further fueled their commitment.
Our group was driven by the desire to make a positive change using the skills we’ve developed and the knowledge we’ve gained.
Raneem Al-Soby, Prince Sultan University student
The process of designing Percevo was meticulous, the team said. They started off with extensive research on existing technologies and looked at the common challenges faced by visually impaired individuals.
They created diagrams and built virtual circuits to ensure compatibility of physical components. Understanding the importance of comfort, they designed an ergonomic bent handle for natural wrist movement.
They created diagrams and built virtual circuits to ensure compatibility of physical components. (Supplied)
The entire project, from system design to a working prototype, took about three months to develop.
Their efforts paid off when Percevo won the first prize at the CCIS Expo at Prince Sultan University and was showcased at LEAP 2024, which Al-Soby said was “a validation of our hard work and dedication.”
Al-Soby added: “We wanted to develop a device that’s not only functional but also accessible and affordable for those who need it the most.”
Percevo uses a discreet camera and sensors to provide spatial awareness, recognizing objects and locations in real time. The camera detects and comprehends objects and conveys the information to the user through voice prompts, creating an experience akin to having a constant companion. It achieves this through the use of a microcomputer and artificial intelligence algorithms for identification.
Al-Soby said: “As we developed Percevo we made sure to incorporate sustainable practices. Using eco-friendly materials and rechargeable batteries was a crucial part of our design philosophy.”
Percevo is also designed as an attachment to the classic white cane, allowing users to upgrade without discarding their existing cane. This approach not only promotes eco-consciousness but also ensures ease of use and cost-effectiveness for users.
The students plan to expand their dataset for better object detection and will involve end users through surveys and feedback channels.
“We’re dedicated to continuous improvement,” Al-Soby said.
The students’ development of Percevo showcases the remarkable potential of young innovators in Saudi Arabia, who are committed to making a difference through enhancing lives and promoting inclusivity.
Jeddah hospital performs robotic pancreatic surgery
The robot-assisted procedure involved removing the pancreatic head, part of the stomach, the duodenum and the bile duct
Updated 12 August 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah performed a pioneering fully robotic resection of a pancreatic head tumor on a patient in his 60s, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
This surgery demonstrates the center’s commitment to medical innovation and delivering the highest standards of patient care.
The robot-assisted procedure involved removing the pancreatic head, part of the stomach, the duodenum and the bile duct.
The remaining organs were reconnected through small abdominal incisions, reducing recovery time in hospital compared to traditional surgery, which involves a large incision, higher infection risk and a longer recovery period.
Such an advanced procedure required intensive collaboration among surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, radiologists and intensive care teams, the medical group said.
The patient was an ideal candidate for robotic surgery due to his excellent health and absence of prior abdominal surgeries, the team added.
The achievement paves the way for broader use of robotic surgery, improving medical outcomes, patient experience and operational efficiency.
Saudi crown prince congratulates South African president on re-election during call
The leaders discussed relations between their countries and ways to enhance and develop them in a number of areas
A number of topics of common interest were also reviewed
Updated 12 August 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the phone call, Prince Mohammed renewed his congratulations to Ramaphosa on his re-election as president.
The crown prince had previously congratulated the president shortly after he was re-elected for a second time in June via a cable of congratulations.
The leaders also discussed relations between their countries and ways to enhance and develop them in a number of areas. A number of topics of common interest were also reviewed.
