The Daily Populous

Monday June 24th, 2024 morning edition

image for More than 1,300 people died during Hajj, many of them after walking in the scorching heat

He said the identification process was delayed because there were no identification documents with many of the dead pilgrims.

Egypt has revoked the licenses of 16 travel agencies that helped unauthorized pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia, authorities said.

Unlike authorized pilgrims, they had no hotels to return to to escape the scorching heat.

AP journalists saw pilgrims fainting from the scorching heat, especially on the second and third days of the Hajj.

Historically, deaths are not uncommon at the Hajj, which has seen at times over 2 million people travel to Saudi Arabia for a five-day pilgrimage.

Islam follows a lunar calendar, so the Hajj comes around 11 days earlier each year.

By 2029, the Hajj will occur in April, and for several years after that it will fall in the winter, when temperatures are milder. »

Vietnam calls U.S. strategic partner following Putin's visit

Authored by global.espreso.tv

The Vietnamese minister expressed Hanoi's readiness to develop a strategic partnership with Washington.

"Vietnam considers the United States a strategic partner and supports the strengthening of U.S. cooperation with Southeast Asian countries, which will contribute to peace, stability, and development in the region and around the world," Bùi Thanh Sơn stated.

Assistant Secretary of State Kritenbrink reaffirmed the United States' commitment to supporting "a strong, independent, self-sufficient, and prosperous Vietnam.". »

Neom: Saudi forces 'told to kill' to clear land for eco-city

Authored by bbc.com
image for

Neom: Saudi forces 'told to kill' to clear land for eco-city.

Saudi authorities have permitted the use of lethal force to clear land for a futuristic desert city being built by dozens of Western companies, an ex-intelligence officer has told the BBC.

Neom, Saudi Arabia's $500bn (£399bn) eco-region, is part of its Saudi Vision 2030 strategy which aims to diversify the kingdom's economy away from oil. »