Over 800 Haj pilgrims injured
At least 717 people taking part in the Haj pilgrimage were killed in a stampede near Mecca on Thursday, Saudi officials said. The crush in Mina also left at least 863 people injured. The tragedy occurred as two million pilgrims were taking part in the last major rite of the Haj. A crane collapse in Mecca nearly two weeks ago left 111 people dead.
Merkel says migrant solution is far away
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that a solution to the migrant crisis is far away and how it is handled will shape Europe in the long term. She told German Members of Parliament that the latest European Union measures agreed to on Wednesday were only the first step and that “selective relocation” of migrants was not enough. The flow of migrants over Europe's borders continues. Rows among nations also continue, the latest being between Serbia and Croatia. The crisis has also sparked a warning from the European Commission that if it is not addressed properly there could be a surge of right-wing extremism across Europe.
Singapore shuts schools as air quality worsens
Singapore will close its primary and secondary schools on Friday as the haze from Indonesian forest fires pushed air quality into the “hazardous range” for the first time this year. The city-state was covered with a layer of smog on Thursday . The three-hour pollutant standards index hit 319 at midnight Singapore time, according to National Environment Agency, the highest level this year. A reading exceeding 300 is classified as hazardous, where the public is advised to minimise outdoor activities.
MH370 searchers will revisit 30 sites
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau announced that the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will revisit more than 30 sites that were earlier ruled out, to ensure that nothing has been missed. These are sites at which search vessels have previously made “sonar contacts of interest”. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau believes they warrant a second look. More than 60,000 sq km of the sea floor has been covered since the Australian-led search was launched in October.
Syrian army uses Russian jets in air strikes
Syrian government forces used newly acquired Russian warplanes to bomb Islamic State fighters in Aleppo province in northern Syria, a group monitoring the conflict said on Thursday. This was done in an attempt to break a siege on a nearby air base. Russia is bolstering its ally Damascus with military aid that United States officials say has included fighter jets, helicopter gunships, artillery and ground forces.
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At least 717 people taking part in the Haj pilgrimage were killed in a stampede near Mecca on Thursday, Saudi officials said. The crush in Mina also left at least 863 people injured. The tragedy occurred as two million pilgrims were taking part in the last major rite of the Haj. A crane collapse in Mecca nearly two weeks ago left 111 people dead.
Merkel says migrant solution is far away
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that a solution to the migrant crisis is far away and how it is handled will shape Europe in the long term. She told German Members of Parliament that the latest European Union measures agreed to on Wednesday were only the first step and that “selective relocation” of migrants was not enough. The flow of migrants over Europe's borders continues. Rows among nations also continue, the latest being between Serbia and Croatia. The crisis has also sparked a warning from the European Commission that if it is not addressed properly there could be a surge of right-wing extremism across Europe.
Singapore shuts schools as air quality worsens
Singapore will close its primary and secondary schools on Friday as the haze from Indonesian forest fires pushed air quality into the “hazardous range” for the first time this year. The city-state was covered with a layer of smog on Thursday . The three-hour pollutant standards index hit 319 at midnight Singapore time, according to National Environment Agency, the highest level this year. A reading exceeding 300 is classified as hazardous, where the public is advised to minimise outdoor activities.
MH370 searchers will revisit 30 sites
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau announced that the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will revisit more than 30 sites that were earlier ruled out, to ensure that nothing has been missed. These are sites at which search vessels have previously made “sonar contacts of interest”. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau believes they warrant a second look. More than 60,000 sq km of the sea floor has been covered since the Australian-led search was launched in October.
Syrian army uses Russian jets in air strikes
Syrian government forces used newly acquired Russian warplanes to bomb Islamic State fighters in Aleppo province in northern Syria, a group monitoring the conflict said on Thursday. This was done in an attempt to break a siege on a nearby air base. Russia is bolstering its ally Damascus with military aid that United States officials say has included fighter jets, helicopter gunships, artillery and ground forces.
