Latest news with #Arbaeen
Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Over 1,000 journalists cover Arbaeen pilgrimage in Karbala
Shafaq News – Karbala Over 1,000 journalists, media professionals, and technical crews from Iraq and abroad are covering this year's Arbaeen pilgrimage, one of the world's largest religious gatherings, according to the Karbala branch of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate. Hussein al-Shammari, head of the syndicate's Karbala office, told Shafaq News that 41 satellite TV channels, nine radio stations, and 11 news agencies are covering the event. The total number of participating media personnel has reached 1,080, including 167 Arab and international journalists. He added that the field coverage relies on 16 SNG vehicles and 20 LiveU units, enabling uninterrupted global broadcasting of the pilgrimage. Arbaeen marks the end of the 40-day mourning period for Hussein bin Ali, the third Shia Imam and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD (61 AH). The event falls on 20 Safar in the Islamic calendar and draws millions of Shia pilgrims annually to Karbala, many of whom walk long distances from across Iraq and beyond.
Rudaw Net
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraq's electricity back online after nationwide outage
Also in Iraq Iraq says nearly 8,000 prisoners released under general amnesty law Iraq, Kurdish forces capture nearly a dozen ISIS suspects in joint ops Grid collapse causes widespread power outage across Iraq Kirkuk landowners face arrests, lawsuits despite land restitution law A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's electricity ministry said on Tuesday that the national grid came back online after a countrywide power outage a day prior, citing a major transmission line failure as the cause. 'The electricity situation has returned to normal in all provinces and there are no such problems remaining in the lines,' ministry spokesperson Ahmed Musa told Rudaw. He explained that 'significant load' on the Musayyib and Babil transmission line was the reason for the nationwide blackout. Power was restored at midnight, but sporadic cuts continued due to testing, according to Musa. On Monday, a nationwide power outage struck Iraq following a sudden and unexpected failure in the national grid. The electricity ministry said that the grid abruptly 'lost over 6,000 megawatts,' leading to a complete system shutdown. Ministry undersecretary Adel Karim told Rudaw that the failure in Babil and Karbala provinces had a 'cascading impact on power stations in other provinces.' The strain on the grid comes as millions of pilgrims make their way to Karbala for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, which commemorates the end of the 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. According to the electricity ministry, power production in the country is at 26,000 megawatts, but in the summer, demand rises to 54,000 megawatts. The outage excluded the Kurdistan Region, which was unaffected.
Shafaq News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iranian Security Chief arrives in Najaf: Religious tourism in focus
Shafaq News – Najaf Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani arrived in Najaf on Tuesday, home to Iraq's leading Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, as part of his two-day official visit to the country. According to a statement from the Najaf governor's office, Larijani met with Governor Youssef Kanawi to discuss expanding cooperation on religious tourism and public services, particularly during the massive Arbaeen pilgrimage, which draws millions of visitors each year. He commended the province's 'exceptional' security measures and service provisions during the event. The Najaf meeting followed Larijani's talks with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, President Abdul Latif Rashid, Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, and other influential political figures, with potential plans to meet al-Sistani. At a press conference in Baghdad on Tuesday, he described Iraqis as 'mature and courageous' and rejected allegations of Iranian interference in Iraq's elections as inaccurate, emphasizing that Tehran 'shares ideas but does not issue orders.'
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Climate
- Express Tribune
Iraq faces major power outage
Power was out on Monday across Iraq as scorching summer temperatures pushed demand on the electricity grid to unprecedented levels, authorities said. The electricity ministry said the grid suffered a "total outage" as heat reached 48-50C in Baghdad and central and southern regions. It said two transmission lines were shut down "due to a record rise in temperatures, increased consumer demand, and increased electrical load in the provinces of Babylon and Karbala, which are experiencing an influx of millions of pilgrims" for Arbaeen. The transmission lines shutting down caused "a sudden and accidental loss of more than 6,000 megawatts on the grid", the ministry added, with power plants also halting operations. The outage comes amid a heatwave that Iraqi meteorological services expect to last more than a week. "Our teams are currently mobilised on the ground to gradually restore the grid over the next few hours," the electricity ministry said
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Rawalpindi bans Arbaeen mourning walks
The Chehlum of Imam Hussain (RA) and the martyrs of Karbala will be observed on Friday, August 15. In remembrance, six major mourning processions, including Zuljinah, Ta'ziya, and Alam, will be taken out across Rawalpindi. However, Rawalpindi Commissioner Aamir Khattak has issued a formal order banning all 12 traditional "mashi walks" (mourning marches) that originate from different parts of the Rawalpindi Division. Those who defy the ban will be added to the Fourth Schedule and face legal charges. The district administration has requested 20 government buses to transport participants free of charge to central Imambargahs and procession points. The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by the commissioner. What is Arbaeen Walk? Arbaeen in Arabic means forty - referring to the 20th of Safar, the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA), when people from all over the world travel to Karbala. On ordinary days, pilgrims usually arrive at Najaf Airport or travel from Iran to Najaf by bus, but on the occasion of Arbaeen, they specially walk from the shrine of Hazrat Ali (RA) in Najaf to Karbala. This distance from Najaf to Karbala is 80 kilometres, and the walkers include people of all ages, colours, ethnicities, religions, and sects. Although Najaf and Karbala are connected by a dual carriageway, the Iraqi government has built a separate road alongside it for pedestrians, making the walk easier while keeping vehicular traffic smooth and uninterrupted. The tradition of the Arbaeen Walk is very old. The first visitor to Imam Hussain's (RA) shrine was the elderly and venerable companion of the Holy Prophet (pbuh), Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari (RA), who in the second year after the tragedy of Karbala, walked to the grave of Imam Hussain (RA). Thereafter, his followers joined him every year, and the walk continued in various forms until today. In Pakistan, this walk has been observed for the past five to six years, following the same tradition. Mourners gather at their local imambargahs and then jointly participate in the main mourning processions. The mashi (walk) from Taxila to Rawalpindi has been taking place for the last 10 years. From Taxila, mourners travel together in 20 to 30 vehicles to Saddar, park their vehicles there, and walk about one kilometre from Saddar to Raja Bazaar - men, women, children, and youth walking together - before joining the central mourning procession. Over time, this practice has spread further.
