Saudi Minister of Media Launches Hajj Media Hub Initiative in Makkah 

Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Youssef Al-Dossary  inaugurates the first version of the “Hajj Media Hub” initiative on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Youssef Al-Dossary  inaugurates the first version of the “Hajj Media Hub” initiative on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi Minister of Media Launches Hajj Media Hub Initiative in Makkah 

Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Youssef Al-Dossary  inaugurates the first version of the “Hajj Media Hub” initiative on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Youssef Al-Dossary  inaugurates the first version of the “Hajj Media Hub” initiative on Monday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Youssef Al-Dossary inaugurated on Monday the first version of the “Hajj Media Hub” initiative, held in Makkah from June 10-16, in a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program.

The hub is part of the initiatives of the Year of Media Transformation, which was announced by the minister of media three months ago at the third annual “Saudi Media Forum.”

The Hajj Media Hub aims to provide an integrated media environment to support media professionals in completing their coverage during this year’s Hajj.

More than 150 local, Arab, Islamic, and international media outlets, and more than 1,500 local and international media professionals are expected to benefit from the hub’s services.

The hub boasts 11 supportive media areas, an interactive media exhibition highlighting the services provided to pilgrims, a headquarters for news conferences, a media center with integrated services, various studios and vehicles for direct injection of media materials.

It also boasts the Virtual Press Center (VPC) where a dedicated team participates in presenting via an interactive screen, providing continuous updates and services around the clock throughout the proceedings of the forum.

The hub brings together all media agencies to support the work of all media figures and outlets and provide modern technologies to achieve more innovation in local and international coverage during the Hajj.



NASA's Stuck Astronaut Steps Out on a Spacewalk after 7 Months in Orbit

FILE PHOTO: The NASA logo is seen at Kennedy Space Center ahead of the NASA/SpaceX launch of a commercial crew mission to the International Space Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, April 16, 2021. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The NASA logo is seen at Kennedy Space Center ahead of the NASA/SpaceX launch of a commercial crew mission to the International Space Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, April 16, 2021. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo
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NASA's Stuck Astronaut Steps Out on a Spacewalk after 7 Months in Orbit

FILE PHOTO: The NASA logo is seen at Kennedy Space Center ahead of the NASA/SpaceX launch of a commercial crew mission to the International Space Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, April 16, 2021. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The NASA logo is seen at Kennedy Space Center ahead of the NASA/SpaceX launch of a commercial crew mission to the International Space Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US, April 16, 2021. REUTERS/Joe Skipper/File Photo

One of NASA’s two stuck astronauts got a much welcomed change of scenery Thursday, stepping out on her first spacewalk since arriving at the International Space Station more than seven months ago.

Suni Williams, the station's commander, had to tackle some overdue outdoor repair work alongside NASA's Nick Hague. They emerged as the orbiting lab sailed 260 miles (420 kilometers) above Turkmenistan, The AP reported.

“I'm coming out,” Williams radioed.

Plans called for Williams to float back out next week with Butch Wilmore. Williams and Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s new Starliner capsule last June on what should have been a weeklong test flight.

But Starliner trouble dragged out their return, and NASA ordered the capsule to come back empty. Then SpaceX delayed the launch of their replacements, meaning the two won’t be home until late March or early April — ten months after launching.

It was the first spacewalk by NASA astronauts since an aborted one last summer. U.S. spacewalks were put on hold after water leaked into the airlock from the cooling loop for an astronaut's suit. NASA said the problem has been fixed.

This was the eighth spacewalk for Williams, who has lived on the space station before.