MAKKAH — Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif said that the security situation during Hajj 2026 was stable and no incidents disrupting the Hajj or compromising the safety of the pilgrims happened. He attributed this to complete discipline of pilgrims and close monitoring of the pilgrims’ conditions, movements, and accommodations by the concerned authorities. The interior minister made the remarks in cables of greetings sent to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on the occasion of the Eid Al-Adha…
Author: Editorial Team
The National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) in Madinah has heightened its preparedness as pilgrims return from the holy sites after performing Hajj rituals, through an inspection plan targeting high-density areas and facilities with significant environmental impact in the city and along access roads. NCEC Madinah branch Director Sultan Al-Zahrani stated that inspection efforts during the 1447 AH Hajj season included 550 inspection tours conducted before, during, and after the season. He noted that the tours revealed a high overall level of compliance, except for 63 non-compliant cases that were addressed in accordance with applicable regulations to mitigate their environmental…
BERLIN — The German government on Friday expressed “concern” over Israeli plans to expand control in Gaza, saying it would complicate humanitarian aid efforts for Palestinians living in the war-ravaged territory. “We view these announcements and the reports about them with concern, and if this were to happen, it would complicate our efforts—particularly the provision of further vital humanitarian aid, especially for the population,” Germany’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kathrin Deschauer told journalists in Berlin. Deschauer also said Germany opposes any permanent division of the Palestinian territory. “You also know that it is the position of the federal government and the…
Abu Dhabi’s largest indoor summer sports event returns on June 6, with the fifth edition of Abu Dhabi Summer Sports (ADSS) running through August 19 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The Al Ain edition opens simultaneously for its fourth year. Organised by ADNEC Group, Capital 360, and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, ADSS is the largest indoor summer sports event of its kind in the Middle East. This year’s edition expands to Halls 1 through 11 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, a significant increase from previous editions, offering residents an air-conditioned sporting destination through the peak of the UAE summer.…
TEHRAN — Iranian authorities are preparing for a “grand” funeral for slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, official media reported Friday, nearly three months after his death in the initial wave of US-Israeli bombings that triggered the region to the war. The ceremony, which had been planned for shortly after his death, was frequently postponed due to the fighting and increased security concerns. Though the timing was still uncertain, “a special headquarters has been formed to prepare for the funeral ceremony, and various agencies are currently planning and making arrangements,” state TV reported, citing Mohsen Mahmoudi, head of the Tehran…
The National Center for Environmental Compliance, partnering with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, deployed satellite imagery and artificial intelligence for the first time during the 1447 AH Hajj season to enhance environmental monitoring in Makkah and the holy sites. By pairing daily satellite feeds with AI modeling software, the system enables early detection of environmental changes, mapping extensive geographic areas to alert field squads of violations before they impact pilgrim health. According to the center, over 50% of the season’s environmental alerts were generated directly by this program, which analyzed 176 satellite images across 31 locations. This space-based…
LOS ANGELES — A former Southern California mayor pleaded guilty on Friday to acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government, admitting she promoted Beijing-backed content in the United States without notifying federal authorities. Wang, 56, stepped down as mayor of the Southern California city of Arcadia earlier this month after being charged in April with acting in the United States on behalf of a foreign government. Prosecutors said she worked to advance the interests of Chinese officials by sharing articles favorable to Beijing while failing to register her activities as required under US law. Wang was elected to…
GAZA — Hamas said on Friday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that his country would expand its area of control in Gaza was a dangerous escalation, as European states and residents of the Palestinian territory also voiced alarm at the plan. “In a blatant violation of all agreements, as is their usual practice, Netanyahu announced expanding control over 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, while the killing and starvation continue,” Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim told AFP news agency. “Any attempt to impose a new reality of occupation in Gaza is null and illegitimate,” said Ismail Al-Thawabta,…
The Civil Defense is continuing its field operations across the Grand Mosque and its surrounding courtyards to enhance preventative safety measures, protect visitors, and deliver vital humanitarian services to pilgrims and worshippers. Deployed teams are managing routine civil defense duties while maintaining a high state of readiness to respond immediately to emergencies, ensuring a rapid deployment framework that upholds maximum public safety during the final stages of the Hajj season. Source: Riyadh Daily
CAIRO — A force affiliated with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed at least 27 civilians, including elderly residents, in an attack on villages west of Bara in Sudan’s North Kordofan state, a humanitarian organization said on Friday. The Cairo-based Sudan Doctors Network said the attacks took place on Thursday in the al-Murrah area, describing them as “a new crime targeting unarmed civilians in areas with no military presence” during the Eid Al-Adha holiday. It said the attacks worsened already “catastrophic humanitarian conditions that citizens are enduring due to the ongoing war.” A full-scale war erupted in April…