Saudi Arabia to host pre-pandemic numbers for 2023 Haj pilgrimage season

Over the years, the state has spent billions of dollars to make one of the world’s largest religious congregations more secure. The Hajj, a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it, is a major source of income for the government from worshippers’ housing, transportation, fees and gifts. An economic reform plan by […]

Chinese traveler tests positive for Omicron subvariant in Bangladesh

One of the four Chinese air travelers who arrived in Bangladesh five days ago has tested positive for the BF.7 subvariant of the Omicron strain of COVID-19. According to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), the subvariant was discovered in a “genome sequence report” on a Chinese citizen. IEDCR director Dr. Tehmina […]