Latest News
Hajj Pilgrims perform stoning ritual at Jamrat al-Aqaba in smooth operation
Over the decades, the Hajj pilgrimage has faced several major tragedies, largely linked to crowd crushes, extreme heat, and tent fires during peak rituals.
Large numbers of Hajj pilgrims began performing the stoning ritual in Mina from the early hours of the first day of Eid al-Adha, casting seven pebbles at the largest pillar, Jamrat al-Aqaba, amid smooth and orderly movement in line with the approved crowd-management plan.
Pilgrims carried out the ritual in an organised manner across the levels of the Jamarat Bridge, with no overcrowding or pushing reported. Security, medical, ambulance, sanitation, and civil defence teams were fully deployed throughout the area, while security personnel regulated the flow of pilgrims at entrances, exits, and surrounding routes.
Movement toward the Jamarat Bridge and surrounding courtyards remained gradual and well-coordinated, with pilgrims travelling in managed groups distributed across different levels according to the operational plan.
After completing the ritual, they returned smoothly to their accommodation sites, while roads across Mina experienced steady and flexible traffic flow for both vehicles and pedestrians throughout the day.
Careful crowd control
Over the decades, the Hajj pilgrimage has faced several major tragedies, largely linked to crowd crushes, extreme heat, and tent fires during peak rituals. In response, Saudi authorities have invested heavily in expanding infrastructure and improving crowd-management systems to reduce risks and enhance pilgrim safety.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred in 1990, when 1,426 pilgrims died in a stampede inside a pedestrian tunnel in Mina due to overcrowding and ventilation failure.
In 2015, another major disaster struck during the stoning ritual at Jamarat, where at least 2,000 pilgrims were killed in a crowd crush, making it one of the worst incidents in Hajj history.
Extreme weather has also taken a heavy toll. During the 2024 Hajj season, more than 1,300 pilgrims reportedly died amid an intense heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 50°C, leading to widespread cases of heatstroke and dehydration.
Earlier disasters also prompted major safety reforms, including the Mina tent fires of 1975 and 1997.
The 1975 blaze, triggered by a gas cylinder explosion, killed around 200 people, while the 1997 fire claimed more than 340 lives.
Following these incidents, authorities replaced traditional tents with modern fire-resistant structures as part of broader safety upgrades.
Latest News
Turkish intelligence captures suspected Daesh operative in Afghanistan-Pakistan region
Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has captured a suspected member of the Daesh terrorist group operating in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region and transferred him to Türkiye, Turkish security sources said.
According to a report by Daily Sabah, the suspect, identified as Uğur Bahadır, also known by the alias Abdullah, allegedly joined Daesh’s Khorasan branch (ISKP) in 2024 after travelling from Türkiye to the region.
The report said Bahadır received training at several terrorist camps and carried out various assignments for the group.
Following intelligence operations, MIT located and arrested him in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region before transferring him to Türkiye for questioning.
During interrogation, Bahadır reportedly provided information about Daesh’s recruitment networks, training programmes, operational activities and organizational structure in the region.
He also disclosed details of his links with other Daesh members, including Özgür Altun, known as Abu Yasir al-Turki, who was captured in early 2025 and allegedly facilitated the transfer of recruits from Türkiye to the region.
The report further said Bahadır had connections with Ahmet Kazancı, also known as Abu Ubeyde and Abu Ibrahim, who was captured in early 2026 and allegedly worked in the group’s media unit.
According to Turkish intelligence findings cited by Daily Sabah, the operation helped uncover Daesh’s recruitment networks and alleged plans to carry out attacks in Türkiye.
Latest News
OCHA: 15.9 million Afghans face severe food insecurity ahead of winter
The agency said nearly one in three Afghans is facing severe hunger, warning that food insecurity could worsen further during the coming winter months.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that 15.9 million people in Afghanistan are expected to face crisis-level food insecurity or worse as winter approaches, raising concerns over the country’s worsening humanitarian situation.
In a statement posted on X, OCHA said that despite food being available in markets across Afghanistan, millions of people cannot afford to purchase it due to widespread poverty, economic hardship and limited household incomes.
The agency said nearly one in three Afghans is facing severe hunger, warning that food insecurity could worsen further during the coming winter months.
OCHA also raised concerns over child malnutrition, saying more than four million children aged between six months and five years could require treatment for malnutrition in 2027.
The UN agency stressed that humanitarian assistance remains critical to saving lives, but said addressing the crisis requires longer-term investment in livelihoods, essential services and economic opportunities.
OCHA called for urgent international support ahead of winter to help vulnerable families meet their basic needs and prevent further deterioration in food security.
The agency emphasized that combining immediate humanitarian assistance with sustained investment in communities’ resilience is essential to addressing Afghanistan’s ongoing hunger crisis and reducing the impact of future economic and humanitarian shocks.
Latest News
Afghanistan’s refugee minister meets new UNAMA chief over returnees, humanitarian aid
The minister further urged the United Nations to help provide essential services in settlements established for returning Afghan refugees.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, has met with Rabab Fatima, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and newly appointed head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), to discuss the challenges facing returning Afghan refugees and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, the meeting focused on providing humanitarian support to vulnerable Afghans, ensuring permanent shelter, creating employment opportunities and facilitating the social reintegration of returnees.
Fatima reportedly assured the Afghan authorities that the United Nations would continue cooperation with them and support efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, sustainable housing and livelihood opportunities for returning refugees.
She also highlighted mobilizing humanitarian aid, expanding international engagement with Afghanistan and addressing human rights concerns as key priorities.
Abdul Kabir, meanwhile, said the Afghan government seeks positive relations with the international community based on the principles of Islamic Sharia, calling on other countries to respect Afghanistan’s Islamic system and territorial integrity.
He also said security had been established across the country and development projects were underway.
The minister further urged the United Nations to help provide essential services in settlements established for returning Afghan refugees.
give me english tag words with comma, also less and viral english hashtags without comma plz
-
Sport3 days agoAfghanistan advance to Tier C at FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival
-
Regional4 days agoOfficials from Mecca pact countries to meet Iranian officials in Tehran
-
World5 days agoFour ways US foreign policy could change if Democrats win in November
-
Climate Change4 days agoAfghanistan’s environmental protection chief travels to Malaysia for global education conference
-
World4 days agoHouthis say they attacked Saudi oil pumping stations, Riyadh airport as fighting intensifies
-
Regional3 days agoSaudi defence pact countries push for peace in Tehran as Houthis launch more attacks
-
Business4 days agoWFP report notes high food and fuel costs continue to pressure Afghan households
-
Latest News4 days agoAfghanistan opium ban shifts cultivation to Pakistan and Iran, experts warn
