Crash comes amidst heavy rain and winds
A large construction crane crashed into the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Friday, killing 107 people and raising fears about the safety of the site before the yearly hajj pilgrimage that is expected to bring in millions of visitors to Saudi Arabia this month. More than 180 people were injured in the accident. Visitors posted videos said to show the crane falling amid heavy winds and rain. Images circulated on social media of worshipers covered in blood on the mosque’s white marble floor.
Central European nations reject migrant quotas
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier heard a unanimous no from his counterparts from four Central European nations to his call for introducing mandatory quotas for accepting migrants on Friday. Steinmeier said 40,000 migrants are expected to arrive in Germany over the coming weekend and 800,000 this year. But the foreign ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia rejected the European Union's latest plan to relocate 160,000 migrants across the 28-nation bloc.
Russia calls on other nations to help arm Syria
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday called on global powers to help arm the Syrian army, describing it as the most efficient force against the Islamic State. The US and Nato have raised concerns over Russia's military buildup in Syria since they see President Bashar Assad as the cause of the crisis. Moscow has sought to cast arms supplies to Assad's government as part of international efforts to combat Islamic State militants.
Turkey's crackdown raises tension
As the military crackdown on Kurdish militants in a southern Turkish town continued, a Kurdish group called on Friday for total resistance against Turkish forces. Cizre, a town very close to the Syrian border has been under curfew and Turkish Interior Minister Selami Altinok said it will only be lifted after a security operation was finished.
UN approves Palestinian proposal
The UN General Assembly approved a resolution on Friday to allow the Palestinians and the Vatican to raise their flags at its headquarters. Israel strongly objected to the proposal and joined seven other countries, including the United States, in voting no. But 119 voted in favour of the plan. The resolution allows non-member observer states to raise their flags alongside those of the 193 member states.
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A large construction crane crashed into the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Friday, killing 107 people and raising fears about the safety of the site before the yearly hajj pilgrimage that is expected to bring in millions of visitors to Saudi Arabia this month. More than 180 people were injured in the accident. Visitors posted videos said to show the crane falling amid heavy winds and rain. Images circulated on social media of worshipers covered in blood on the mosque’s white marble floor.
Central European nations reject migrant quotas
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier heard a unanimous no from his counterparts from four Central European nations to his call for introducing mandatory quotas for accepting migrants on Friday. Steinmeier said 40,000 migrants are expected to arrive in Germany over the coming weekend and 800,000 this year. But the foreign ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia rejected the European Union's latest plan to relocate 160,000 migrants across the 28-nation bloc.
Russia calls on other nations to help arm Syria
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday called on global powers to help arm the Syrian army, describing it as the most efficient force against the Islamic State. The US and Nato have raised concerns over Russia's military buildup in Syria since they see President Bashar Assad as the cause of the crisis. Moscow has sought to cast arms supplies to Assad's government as part of international efforts to combat Islamic State militants.
Turkey's crackdown raises tension
As the military crackdown on Kurdish militants in a southern Turkish town continued, a Kurdish group called on Friday for total resistance against Turkish forces. Cizre, a town very close to the Syrian border has been under curfew and Turkish Interior Minister Selami Altinok said it will only be lifted after a security operation was finished.
UN approves Palestinian proposal
The UN General Assembly approved a resolution on Friday to allow the Palestinians and the Vatican to raise their flags at its headquarters. Israel strongly objected to the proposal and joined seven other countries, including the United States, in voting no. But 119 voted in favour of the plan. The resolution allows non-member observer states to raise their flags alongside those of the 193 member states.
