Saudi Arabia Lifts Pandemic Restrictions On Hajj Pilgrimage

Saudi Arabia is lifting restrictions imposed on the Muslim Hajj Pilgrimage following the coronavirus pandemic forced a downsizing of the annual event for three years. The minister in charge of the Hajj, Tawfiq bin Fawzan al-Rabiah, said that the numbers of pilgrims would return to pre-pandemic figures with restrictions, including age limits, being lifted according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

Taliban Bans Women From University Education, Attracting International Condemnation

Afghanistan government on Tuesday barred women from attending private and public universities, until further notice. The higher education minister announced the regression on Tuesday, saying it would take immediate effect. A letter, confirmed by a spokesperson for the higher education ministry on Tuesday, and signed by Minister for Higher Education, Neda Mohammad Nadeem instructed Afghan public and private universities to suspend access to female students immediately, in accordance with a Cabinet decision. “You all are informed to immediately implement the mentioned order of suspending the education of females until further notice.”

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin Has Died At 96

Former President of the Peoples’ Republic of China Jiang Zemin is dead.State media announced that Jiang died in Shanghai on Wednesday, 30 November, at the age of 96.The former Chinese president Jiang Zemin led his country out of isolation following the crushing of pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square and supported economic reforms that led to a decade of explosive growth.

Court Grants Retrial of Iran’s Protester On Death Row

Iran's top court has ordered the retrial of a third death row inmate sentenced over the nationwide protests that started more than 100 days ago. The Islamic Republic has been rocked by demonstrations since the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, after her arrest in Tehran for an alleged breach of the country's strict dress code for women.

Nigeria, Vietnam Signs MoU On Defence, Others

Nigeria has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vietnam in the areas of defence collaboration, agriculture, telecommunications, amongst others, for the mutual benefit of both countries. The signing of the MoU took place on Monday during Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo’s bilateral meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart, Madam Vo Thi Xuan at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam.

5.6-magnitude Earthquake kills Dozens In Indonesia

A 5.6-magnitude earthquake that hit Indonesia’s West Java province on Monday at 1;21 p.m. have killed many people local officials revealed. Disaster management officials in Cianjur regency, near the epicenter of the quake, put out a statement announcing that dozens people had died and hundreds more were injured in the disaster, believed to be the deadliest this year in Indonesia, an earthquake-prone country. This marked a significant jump from figures released earlier in the day and reflected ongoing efforts to unearth victims from the rubble. The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 5.6. quake was at a depth of 10 kilometres.