pilgrims

A fresh batch of 7,754 Amarnath pilgrims departed Jammu for Kashmir amid tight security. Since the yatra began on July 2, a total of 87,701 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp.

A leopard sighting on the Tirumala trekking route caused panic among pilgrims. The incident disrupted the trekking route, which is frequented by devotees visiting the temple.

Eight Buddhist monks were killed and over a dozen injured in northeastern Thailand when an 11-year-old boy driving his parents’ truck crashed into pilgrims on a rural road. The incident occurred in Mukdahan province, with social media images showing monks’ bodies and alms bowls scattered at the scene.

The Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act, a Tennessee law allowing public schools and higher education institutions to teach the positive impacts of Christianity on American history, goes into effect July 1. The law, signed by Gov. Bill Lee in April, permits but does not require instruction on topics like the Pilgrims, the Declaration of Independence's references to divine authority, and the Ten Commandments' influence on American legal tradition. Teaching under the law is scheduled to begin in the Fall 2026 semester.

Khawar and his men follow a shackled prisoner, Usmaan, to the uranium mines for an extrajudicial 'encounter' typically reserved for violent criminals. Usmaan, a protester, had dumped dead animals on a shrine road to highlight environmental damage from the mines, which locals blame for harming their livestock and children.

Over 1.5 million pilgrims have begun the Hajj pilgrimage, a spiritual and physical journey described as transformative and deeply meaningful. The event occurs amid regional tensions, though the focus remains on the religious significance of the journey.