Saudi Arabia stops Makkah access without permit, suspends Umrah visas / Image: file Saudi Arabia has enforced sweeping new restrictions ahead of Hajj 2026, halting entry into Makkah without official permits and suspending Umrah visas as authorities prepare for one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings.The move, led by the Ministry of Hajj and…
US President Donald Trump. (AP photo) Iran on Monday mocked US President Donald Trump by ridiculing his blockade announcement earlier that day with a meme that said ‘Break an enemy blockade by blockading their blockade.’Along with the meme, Iran also took a dig at Trump by writing in his style. “I have, believe me, 100…
US President Donald Trump on Monday slammed Pope Leo XIV, calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy”, escalating tensions between the White House and the Vatican.Trump criticised the pontiff’s stance on global issues, particularly accusing him of being soft on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and opposing US military actions abroad. He also took…
Image used for representative purposes Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps asserted their sweeping control over the Strait of Hormuz, even as it signalled that civilian maritime traffic remains permitted under regulated conditions.In a statement, quoted by AFP, the Guards’ naval command said, “All traffic… is under the full control of the armed forces,” accompanied by…
Three Pakistan Coast Guard personnel were killed on Sunday after Baloch fighters opened fire on a patrol boat in the Arabian Sea near the Iran border, marking the first-ever attack of its kind on a maritime security vessel, according to security officials.Intelligence and police officials said the boat was on a routine patrol in a…
By the beginning of the 15th century, China possessed the most formidable navy that had ever existed. This fleet, known as the Treasure Fleet, was under the command of Admiral Zheng He and made journeys into the Indian Ocean, travelling to East Africa and even the Middle East. It was a clear indication of the…
The theory that East Africa is the most likely birthplace for human beings has persisted over many years. A new find, however, from a part of Egypt not extensively studied before, is raising doubts about this theory. New evidence shows that humans’ earliest ancestors might have evolved over a more extensive geographic territory than had…
The US military has announced it will begin blockading all Iranian Gulf ports on Monday at 1400 GMT (April 13), while allowing vessels not bound for Iran to continue transiting the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.“The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including…
One of the most remarkable discoveries made by astronomers in recent years is the identification of an extremely strong “mega-laser” signal that has travelled over 8 billion light-years without losing its strength and reaching Earth. It is worth noting that this signal has been detected with the help of the MeerKAT radio telescope in South…
Hate crimes targeting Sikh Americans in the United States have risen over the past decade, increasing by about 3,700%, according to preliminary FBI data cited by Axios.The figures show anti-Sikh incidents jumped from just six cases in 2015 to 228 in 2025.The data also suggests shifts in hate crime patterns across the US, even as…
