MINA — As dawn broke on Monday, pilgrims began flowing into the sacred site of Mina west of Mecca, marking the beginning of what is considered the most significant spiritual journey for Muslims around the world. Nearly 2 million Muslims are expected to perform Hajj in 2026 as Saudi Arabia continues to record rising pilgrim […]
RIYADH — To avoid the punishing sun, Inas Gamal abandoned her ambitious plan of spending the days ahead of the hajj praying in Mecca’s Grand Mosque and retreated to the comfort of an air-conditioned hotel room to perform her daytime prayers. Despite travelling all the way from Egypt for the annual pilgrimage, Gamal said it […]
TEHRAN — Iran warned Monday that, while some progress had been made, it was not yet close to striking a deal with the United States to end the Middle East war, after a weekend of mixed messages from Washington and Tehran. World oil prices tumbled on renewed optimism about an agreement, after top US diplomat […]
SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday condemned the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Budgam district, describing it as “shocking and deeply distressing”. Expressing grief over the tragedy, Abdullah condemned the heinous act and conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family. “May she find a place […]
NEW DELHI — Petrol and diesel prices were raised by Rs 2.61-2.71 per litre on Monday, marking the fourth increase in less than two weeks as state-owned fuel retailers continued to pass on rising international oil prices to consumers. With the latest revision, cumulative increases in petrol and diesel prices have nearly touched Rs 7.5 […]
SRINAGAR — PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-girl in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district was shocking, disconcerting and unsettling. “Devastated to hear about the cold blooded murder of a 12-year-girl in Budgam. The allegations of rape just make it all the more shocking, disconcerting & unsettling. […]
NEW DELHI — In a major breakthrough for Ladakh’s governance, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) have struck an in-principle deal with the government to restore democracy and provide strong constitutional safeguards, modelled on Article 371. The pact shifts power from fragmented district councils to a unified Union Territory-level legislative body […]
SRINAGAR — A 12-year-old girl, who was reported missing in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district, was found murdered around 200 metres from her house on Sunday, police said. A senior police officer said the girl was reported missing on Saturday evening from Galwanpora area of the district. “A case of kidnapping a minor child was […]
BEIJING — Rescuers in northern China searched on Sunday for two people still missing after a gas explosion killed 82 in a mine that authorities said was beset by serious safety violations. The blast at the Liushenyu shaft in Shanxi province on Friday was the country’s worst mining disaster in nearly two decades, with 247 […]
SRINAGAR — Security forces have recovered a cache of ammunition from a hideout in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday. Police, Army and Central Reserve Police Force launched a search and destroy operation in Nilsar orchards in the Chandoosa area of Baramulla on Saturday based on information about the presence of […]