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Al Etihad
4 days ago
- Climate
- Al Etihad
Hajj pilgrims gather in Makkah, world's largest cooling system to provide comfort
2 June 2025 13:50 YOUSUF SAIFUDDIN KAPADIA (ABU DHABI) More than a million Muslim pilgrims poured into the holy city of Makkah ahead of the annual Hajj, with authorities vowing to hold a safer pilgrimage amid searing desert heat and a massive crackdown on illegal have beefed up heat mitigation were forecast to exceed 40°C this week as one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings starts on Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the of Friday, more than 1.3 million pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the multi-day pilgrimage, according to year, authorities have mobilised more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials, doubling their efforts against heat-related illness following the lethal heatwave of areas have been expanded by 50,000 square metres (12 acres), thousands more medics will be on standby, and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed, Saudi Arabia's Hajj minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah told AFP last Monday, with temperatures topping 40° latest artificial intelligence technology will also help monitor the flood of data and footage, including video from a new fleet of drones, from across Makkah to better manage the mammoth the punishing heat, pilgrims were overjoyed as they arrived in the holy city. World's Largest Cooling System The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque has activated the world's largest cooling system, with a total capacity of 155,000 refrigeration tons, to provide a comfortable and spiritually uplifting environment for millions of pilgrims arriving from around the world as part of its intensive preparations for the 1446 AH Hajj season. The Grand Mosque is served by two main cooling stations: the Shamiya station, with a capacity of 120,000 tons, and the Ajyad station, with 35,000 tons, both covering the extensive expansions and vast areas within the Grand systems maintain moderate temperatures ranging from 22 to 24°C, utilising advanced air purification technologies that remove 95% of impurities to ensure ideal air quality for pilgrims. Safety Guidelines The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has also issued safety guidelines in light of high temperatures at the holy sites, urging pilgrims to remain in their tents on Arafah Day from 10 am to 4 pm and advising against venturing to Jabal Al-Rahmah or Namirah Mosque to avoid exposure to extreme ministry emphasised the importance of adhering to the authorisation schedules set by the relevant authorities and ensuring compliance at all stages of movement between the holy sites. It also stressed the necessity of using the approved means of transport, as outlined in the official transportation plan, and refraining from walking between locations during the designated times. 'Blessing from Allah' "This is really a blessing from Allah," Abdul Majid Ati, a Filipino lawyer and Sharia counsellor, told AFP near the Grand Mosque."We feel so peaceful and safe in this place."The rites in the holy city and its surroundings, which follow a lunar calendar, fall again this year during the hot month of June. Crackdown on illegals In the run-up to this year's Hajj, Saudi authorities launched a widespread crackdown on unregistered worshippers, using frequent raids, drone surveillance and a barrage of text permits are allocated to countries on a quota system and distributed to individuals by with hefty fines, those found illegally entering Makkah during the Hajj face a potential 10-year ban from Saudi Arabia. (with inputs from AFP and SPA)
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Heavy rain alert: From Delhi to Tamil Nadu, Gujarat to Northeast, IMD forecasts thundershowers in 10+ states. Here's full weather update
Delhi Weather Mumbai, Pune Weather Bengaluru Weather and IMD alert for Karnataka Andhra Weather Live Events Telangana and Hyderabad Brace for Thunderstorms Hyderabad Weather Forecast Uttarakhand Weather Assam and Guwahati Brace for Continued Heavy Rainfall Tamil Nadu Kerala West Bengal Gujarat Weather Update Northeast India Monsoon Update (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall across several Indian states and cities from May 21 to May 24, 2025. This weather pattern is influenced by a developing cyclonic circulation over the east-central Arabian Sea near the Karnataka coast, expected to intensify into a low-pressure area around May is expected to experience thunderstorms with rain on May 21, providing some relief from the prevailing heatwave. The maximum temperature is likely to be around 39°C, down from 41.8°C recorded on May 20. Similar weather conditions are anticipated on May IMD has issued orange and yellow alerts across Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Pune, and Konkan regions, anticipating heavy to very heavy rainfall from May 21 to May 24. This is due to a developing low-pressure system over the east-central Arabian Sea. Residents are advised to stay updated with IMD advisories and take necessary precautions during this Karnataka is under a red alert for May 21, with forecasts of extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning accompanied by strong surface winds. South interior Karnataka, including Bengaluru, is expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall through May 26. Recent heavy rains in Bengaluru have caused significant damage, resulting in three fatalities due to IMD has forecasted isolated heavy rainfall across Andhra Pradesh, particularly in the south coastal, north coastal, and Rayalaseema regions for the next two days. Previously, districts such as Bapatla, Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, and Srikakulam experienced significant rainfall, leading to waterlogging and traffic issues. An upper air cyclonic circulation and trough from the Bay of Bengal are causing the persistent rainfall, also leading to a drop in maximum temperatures by 5–9° India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Yellow Alert for Telangana, including Hyderabad, forecasting heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds over the next few days. This weather pattern is attributed to a developing cyclonic circulation over the east-central Arabian Sea near the Karnataka coast, expected to intensify into a low-pressure area around May ChronicleIn Hyderabad, light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds (30–40 km/h) are expected through May 23. The maximum daytime temperatures are anticipated to remain between 32°C and 34°C, providing some relief from the recent May 21, 2025, Dehradun experienced early morning rainfall, providing relief from the prevailing heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts light to moderate rain or thunderstorms in several hilly districts of Uttarakhand, including Pauri, Nainital, Champawat, Almora, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh, over the next few days. In the plains, isolated areas may witness very light to light rain accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds of 30–40 km/h during the faced severe flooding on May 20, 2025, following heavy overnight rainfall, with areas like Zoo Road, Nabin Nagar, Hatigaon, Ganeshguri, and Maligaon significantly affected. The IMD predicts heavy to very heavy rainfall across Assam, including Guwahati, over the next two to three days, with isolated areas potentially receiving up to 200 mm of rain. Residents are advised to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel during periods of intense to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 30-50 kmph are likely over Tamil Nadu during the next seven days. Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over the Ghat areas of Tamil Nadu on May 20, with heavy rainfall over coastal regions on May 21 and is expected to receive significant rainfall over the next seven days. The IMD stated that the southwest monsoon may reach Kerala within the next four to five days, marking an early onset compared to the usual June 1 APACThe IMD has forecasted heavy rain in the northern districts of West Bengal and thunderstorms in the southern parts till May 23. An upper air cyclonic circulation over north Bangladesh and favorable wind patterns from the Bay of Bengal are leading to enhanced thunderstorms with gusty winds, along with heavy rainfall over some districts of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a weather alert for Gujarat, predicting light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms across various districts from May 21 to May 26, 2025. This weather pattern is influenced by a developing cyclonic circulation over the northeast Arabian to the IMD's latest bulletin, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are expected at isolated places in the districts of North Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, Sabarkantha, Aravalli, Kheda, Anand, Panchmahal, Dahod, and Mahisagar. Similar conditions are anticipated in all districts of South Gujarat, such as Vadodara, Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Bharuch, Surat, Dang, Navsari, Valsad, and Tapi, as well as in Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli. In the Saurashtra region, districts like Surendranagar, Botad, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir Somnath, Morbi, and Diu are also likely to experience rainfall during this widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 30-50 kmph are likely over Northeast India during the next seven days. Isolated heavy rainfall is expected over Arunachal Pradesh on May 20 and during May 22-26; Assam and Meghalaya, and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura during May 20-26, with isolated very heavy rainfall over Assam and Meghalaya on May 20 and southwest monsoon is likely to set over Kerala during the week of May 22 to May 28. There is also the possibility of the simultaneous advance of the southwest monsoon over Northeast India during the same Meteorological DepartmentResidents in the affected regions are advised to stay updated with the latest weather forecasts and take necessary precautions to ensure safety during this period of intense rainfall.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Ahmedabad heats up again as max temp hits 39.1°C on Wednesday
Ahmedabad: The sun made a sharp comeback on Wednesday, nudging the city's maximum temperature up to 39.1°C — a rise, though still 2.9 degrees below the seasonal normal. The night, however, stayed unusually warm, with the minimum temperature at 28°C, nearly a degree above normal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects Thursday to sizzle at around 39° forecast also indicated chances of light to moderate rain with gusty IMD report indicates an upper air cyclonic circulation continues to hover over Gujarat, paired with a trough stretching from Saurashtra to the east-central Arabian Sea. The IMD has warned of a 2°C to 4°C spike in daytime temperatures through the may also bring light thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across districts in south Gujarat and pockets of Saurashtra including Rajkot, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, and Gir Somnath. On Wednesday, 10 talukas recorded rainfall of 1mm or more, with the heaviest showers logged in Poshina, Sabarkantha (23 mm), Umergaon, Valsad (21mm), and Dahod (19mm) by the heat was more intense. Surendranagar topped the state's temperature chart at 40.8°C, trailed by Rajkot at 40.6°C, Kandla at 40°C, and Ahmedabad at 39.1°C. The IMD has predicted that temperatures will climb back to the seasonal average over the next few days.
BBC News
10-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
HIV-positive man welcomes Berkshire hospital A&E blood testing
A man living with HIV believes a new initiative to test people for the virus when they visit A&E will help save aged 16 and over who receive blood tests while at Royal Berkshire Hospital's (RBH) emergency department will also be checked for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis hospital in Reading is in a "high-prevalence" area for the blood-borne viruses, and has become one of 47 across the country running the opt-out from Maidenhead, said because he was diagnosed early, effective medication meant the virus was now undetectable and not transmittable. 'I thought my life was over' Speaking about his HIV-positive status publicly for the first time, Allan wants to challenge the stigma around it."I can understand some of the ignorance, because I myself was ignorant until I got it and I learned a little bit more about it", he said."Initially it affected me a lot because I isolated and I thought my life was over."But now he said the virus has minimal impact on his life, and only crosses his mind when he takes his said: "It's the people that don't know they've got HIV that are the ones that pass it around, unknowingly."Once you know then you can do something about it. Why would you not want to know?" The scheme has also been expanded to other hospitals across the south, including Southampton General Hospital, Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital, and Queen Alexandra Hospital in can opt-out of the additional checks by telling a member of A&E RBH consultant physician Dr Alan Tang hopes most will realise the benefits of having their HIV status checked for free and confidentially."I think people are not diagnosed partly because they think they are low risk or have no risk at all," he said."So we looking at people who have no idea they could have been HIV infected, and therefore they could pass it on and become sick." Rise in heterosexual referrals The most recent NHS data, from 2023, showed a 15% rise in HIV cases across England, up from 2,451 to 2, Macadam, CEO of Thames Valley Positive Support, expects the A&E testing will lead to an increase in demand for the Slough-based HIV charity."We're aware that more people will be diagnosed with HIV and therefore more people will need our support," she said."The highest rise in new referrals for us, is heterosexual people - that's the biggest group that we see coming through our doors in need of support having been diagnosed." Consultant microbiologist at RBH, Dr George Jacob, said even though HIV was not curable, it was very treatable with early detection and diagnosis."With HIV and hepatitis B, there's very good anti-viral treatment available that can suppress the disease, enable patients with the infection to live long, productive lives, with very limited complications," he government said it wants to end new HIV transmissions in England by 2030. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
