The kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, announced official Hajj numbers and statistics, confirming nearly 2.5 million as the final tally of pilgrims who performed the major Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah this year. International and domestic pilgrims who travelled to Makkah for Hajj, according to the Centre for International Communication, CIC, performed…
A Spiritual Journey in the Age of Technology
Machine is increasingly making our lives comfortable and safe. Look no further than the holy city of Makkah, where Hajj is underway, to understand how It is hard to think of anything in our lives that has remained untouched by technology. Not even our innermost spiritual recess. Such a development might have had a disruptive…
Saudi Arabia Lifts Restrictions on Issuance of Passports to Women
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday announced groundbreaking legal changes to enhance the role of women in society, including an end to restrictions on travel that puts women above the age of 21 on the same legal footing as adult men. According to a statement from the Center for International Communication, Ministry of Media, Kingdom…
HAJJ Stampede: 54 Nigerians Confirmed Dead
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed that 54 Nigerians died during last Thursday’s Hajj stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia. This was disclosed by Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, Chairman, NAHCON on Monday at a news conference in Makkah. Mukhtar stated that 61 other Nigerian pilgrims sustained injuries during the incident. According to Mukhatar,…
Saudi Recalls Ambassador To Sweden
Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador to Sweden amidst a row over military ties, Sweden officials say. “We were informed yesterday [Tuesday] that Saudi Arabia had called back its ambassador,” said Swedish foreign ministry spokeswoman Veronica Nordlund. Earlier this week, Sweden said it plans to end a long-standing defense co-operation deal between the two countries.…
New Saudi King Seeks Unity Among Arab, Islamic Nations
King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud, the new Saudi Arabia monarch has pledged to continue the policies of his predecessors and called for unity among Arab and Islamic nations at this time of regional unrest. “The Arab and the Islamic nations are in dire need of solidarity and cohesion,” the 79 -year-old King said in…
Saudi Arabia’s King Is Dead
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Saudi King has died in Riyadh hospital after suffering from a lung infection. He was aged 90. Abdullah, the force behind the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC and a U.S. ally in the fight against al-Qaeda, came to power in 2005 after his half-brother King Fahd died. His 79-year-old half brother,…