Saudi forces deployed to assist in last stage of Haj
Saudi Arabia deployed large numbers of special forces on Saturday to ensure the smooth conduct of the final rituals of the Haj, which was marred by a double tragedy. On September 11, a crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque, killing 111 people. On Thursday, a stampede in Mecca left 769 dead. "That is an increase of 52 on the previous figures,” Saudi Health Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Saturday. He added that 934 people were wounded.
Support for Merkel falls over handling of refugee crisis
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's popularity has dropped sharplyover her handling of the refugee crisis, two polls showed on Saturday, indicating a shift in the mood in Europe's most populous country towards the record influx of new arrivals. Merkel has been accused by her allies in Bavaria ‒ the entry point to Germany for most refugees ‒ and some eastern European Union neighbors of fuelling the influx of people by effectively giving refugees from Syria a green light to come to Germany. While some Germans warmly welcome people fleeing conflict in the Middle East and Africa, others are concerned about whether it would be possible to integrate them easily.
Thailand says man behind Bangkok bombings been detained
Thai police on Saturday said a man detained for last month’s deadly Bangkok attack was the main suspect seen on CCTV leaving a rucksack at a shrine moments before the blast. Authorities said they were now convinced their first arrest, a man named as Adem Karadag, planted the bomb on August 17, which killed 20, people after weeks of an often-confusing and contradictory police investigation. Karadag now faces up to eight charges, including premeditated murder, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of death.
New remains of MH17 victims found
Ukraine authorities have collected new remains of victims of the MH17 flight disaster, the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice said. Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 last year after being apparently shot down on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. All 298 people on board were killed. Their mortal remains and personal belongings were found in the vicinity of a charred site near Hrabove, where the flight came down. The mayors of the surrounding districts have collected all material and secured them over the past few months, Xinhua news agency reported.
Seven killed as landslide hits Sri Lanka
At least seven people were killed and over 180 others marooned as torrential rains triggered landslides in Sri Lanka’s central hill area. Several houses were swept away in the landslides after heavy rains lashed central Nuwara Eliya district's Kotmale area on Friday. Over 180 people displaced by the earth slip have been accommodated temporarily, National Disaster Management Centre officials said.
Saudi Arabia deployed large numbers of special forces on Saturday to ensure the smooth conduct of the final rituals of the Haj, which was marred by a double tragedy. On September 11, a crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque, killing 111 people. On Thursday, a stampede in Mecca left 769 dead. "That is an increase of 52 on the previous figures,” Saudi Health Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Saturday. He added that 934 people were wounded.
Support for Merkel falls over handling of refugee crisis
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's popularity has dropped sharplyover her handling of the refugee crisis, two polls showed on Saturday, indicating a shift in the mood in Europe's most populous country towards the record influx of new arrivals. Merkel has been accused by her allies in Bavaria ‒ the entry point to Germany for most refugees ‒ and some eastern European Union neighbors of fuelling the influx of people by effectively giving refugees from Syria a green light to come to Germany. While some Germans warmly welcome people fleeing conflict in the Middle East and Africa, others are concerned about whether it would be possible to integrate them easily.
Thailand says man behind Bangkok bombings been detained
Thai police on Saturday said a man detained for last month’s deadly Bangkok attack was the main suspect seen on CCTV leaving a rucksack at a shrine moments before the blast. Authorities said they were now convinced their first arrest, a man named as Adem Karadag, planted the bomb on August 17, which killed 20, people after weeks of an often-confusing and contradictory police investigation. Karadag now faces up to eight charges, including premeditated murder, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of death.
New remains of MH17 victims found
Ukraine authorities have collected new remains of victims of the MH17 flight disaster, the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice said. Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine on July 17 last year after being apparently shot down on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. All 298 people on board were killed. Their mortal remains and personal belongings were found in the vicinity of a charred site near Hrabove, where the flight came down. The mayors of the surrounding districts have collected all material and secured them over the past few months, Xinhua news agency reported.
Seven killed as landslide hits Sri Lanka
At least seven people were killed and over 180 others marooned as torrential rains triggered landslides in Sri Lanka’s central hill area. Several houses were swept away in the landslides after heavy rains lashed central Nuwara Eliya district's Kotmale area on Friday. Over 180 people displaced by the earth slip have been accommodated temporarily, National Disaster Management Centre officials said.
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