Three women died and five children suffered severe fractures and bruises on Friday in a stampede at the Umayyad Mosque in the Syrian capital Damascus while attempting to get free meals in a charitable activity, according to the Syrian Civil Defence.

The incident occurred during a banquet promoted by a well-known chef, Abu Omari al-Dimashqi, who had invited the public to a free meal in the yard of the historic mosque in the Old City of Damascus.

Local sources and eyewitnesses said large crowds flocked into the mosque's courtyard and nearby areas amid an apparent shortage of crowd control measures, leading to chaotic scenes.

Five people have died as a result of heavy rains in South Africa's Limpopo Province, with extensive damage to infrastructure, according to the local government.

The Limpopo provincial government has reported significant damage to school infrastructure, roads, and houses, with several areas left inaccessible.

"We are saddened by the loss of five lives reported as a result of this rain, especially in the Waterberg and Vhembe areas. The outpouring has resulted in damages beyond our anticipation, and we extend our condolences to the families and friends of those who have passed away," Premier of Limpopo Province Phophi Ramathuba said.

She said a multi-departmental team had been assembled to assess the damage and address the situation.

Turkish police seized nearly 1.8 million illicit drug pills and detained three suspects in a major operation in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, the interior ministry said Friday.

On social media X, the ministry said the police launched the operation in the Kucukcekmece and Esenyurt districts on the European side of the city.

A video released by the ministry shows armed teams breaking down the door of a manufacturing facility and revealing large quantities of pills packed in boxes, ready for distribution.

During the raids, three suspected manufacturers were detained, and several pieces of equipment, including pill press machines, vacuum machines, and a precision scale used in the production process, were seized

Over 900 people, including women and children, were abducted and 152 sexually assaulted or molested in Pakistan's Islamabad in 2024, the capital city's police authorities have revealed.

The shocking statistics have raised a serious doubt about Islamabad's reputation as being one of the safest zones for the country's citizens.

A record number of 891 cases of kidnapping were also registered in Pakistan's capital last year, including those of teenage girls (483), men (306), boys, and over 150 women during 2024, making the city severely unsafe.

"267 kidnapping cases were reported from Soan, 214 in Saddar, 204 in Rural, 127 in City and 79 cases in the industrial zones of Islamabad," said a police officer.