Search Results for: Defence Ministry

Hajj: Why Saudi Arabia is stepping up security for this years pilgrimage

Disaster struck in September 2015 as two groups of pilgrims collided at a crossroads of two a narrow streets killing at least 2,426 people. There are various factors that affected the stampede including: pilgrims rushing to complete the time-sensitive rituals, heat and exhaustion, masses of people pushing in opposite directions, and confusion of first-timers. This hasnt been the only incident; hundreds of other pilgrims have been killed during the same ceremony in years past but 2015’s disaster was the deadliest at Mina since 1990 when 1,426 people died. This year Saudi Arabia have to step up security after Iran called its organisers incompetent. Iran, Saudi Arabia’s regional rival, blamed the disaster on organisers’ incompetence straining international relations. Sep 7, 2016

Chinas territorial disputes explained

China is embroiled in multiple territorial disputes with its neighbours both over land sea. The country contests ownership of islands in the South China Sea against Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Vietnam. There is also a long-running fued between China and Japan over Senkaku/ Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. In the west of the country China and India fought a war over a swathe of disputed Himalayan border in 1962 and even in 2016 the spat continues to provoke fiery exchanges between Asia’s two biggest super-powers. Sep 7, 2016

Syrian government helicopters drop chlorine on Aleppo

A suspected chlorine gas attack on the opposition held Syrian city of Aleppo has caused a reported 80 cases of suffocation, rescue workers say. The Syrian Civil Defence group posted footage on their Facebook page allegedly showing the aftermath of government helicopters dropping barrel bombs filled with chlorine. The footage shows children and adults having to be doused in water and treated with oxygen masks. The Syrian government has denied previous accusations it used chemical weapons during the five-year-old civil war. Sep 7, 2016
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