Religion

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

Pope Francis proclaims Teresa of Calcutta a saint

Pilgrims streamed into St. Peters Square at the Vatican in their thousands from the early morning on 4 September 2016 to honour the Nobel peace laureate, who worked among the worlds neediest in the slums of the Indian city now known as Kolkata. Franciss predecessor Pope John Paul II bent Vatican rules to fast-track Mother Teresa to sainthood - a process which usually does not start until five years after the candidates death - two years after she died in 1997. Sep 4, 2016
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