Mangaluru's Noushad on walking journey to Hajj stranded in Riyadh without Hajj permission
Mangaluru: Noushad, a 25-year-old from Uppinangadi, Dakshina Kannada, has undertaken an extraordinary journey from Karnataka to Makkah, covering a remarkable distance of 8640 kilometers. His trek, initiated in January 2023, is not just a pilgrimage but a testament to determination and the pursuit of dreams against challenges.
Inspired by his mother's unfulfilled dream of walking to Makkah for the Hajj pilgrimage, Noushad adopted this aspiration as his own. His aim is to inspire the youth by demonstrating that dreams can be realized through persistent efforts.
Having faced bureaucratic hurdles during his initial attempt in 2021, where he covered 3500 kilometers from Karnataka to Kashmir, Noushad retraced his steps. Undeterred, he embarked on a second attempt, overcoming visa challenges to enter Pakistan by foot. Despite being advised to take a flight from Pakistan to Oman due to extreme weather and security concerns, he resumed his journey from Muscat, walking through the UAE and reaching Riyadh after covering 7800 kilometers.
Currently stationed in Riyadh, Noushad faces a new challenge—he lacks the crucial Hajj permission despite being on an Umrah visa.
"It was my mother's dream to walk to Makkah for Hajj, and since she couldn't take the up the journey by walk, I made that dream mine. I want to inspire the youth that dreams can be achieved," Noushad said while he awaits for a solution to his issue of acquiring a Hajj permission.
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UK workers face some of Europe's greatest job stress: Report
London: British workers are facing some of the highest levels of job stress in Europe, with long working hours, tight deadlines, and limited autonomy, without being any more productive, according to a new report. The findings come as the UK's new Labour government prepares to introduce tougher regulations for employers.
The report, produced by the Commission for Healthier Working Lives — a body set up by the Britain's Health Foundation think tank and trade union representation — reveals that three-fifths of the UK workforce experience tight deadlines, and two-fifths had to work at high speed, as cited by Reuters on Monday. These figures are among the largest proportions in Europe. In contrast, only a third of workers have the autonomy to choose the pace of their work.
Jonny Gifford, principal research fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies and one of the report's authors, stressed that long hours, work intensity, and lack of control are problem areas that should be addressed.
The report noted that workers in certain sectors, particularly construction, transport, warehouses, retail, and hospitality, face the most demanding conditions, while professional roles like teaching and nursing also reported particular strain.
The report highlighted that the UK ranks poorly across nearly every measure of workplace demands, control, and job strain in comparison to other European nations. About half of the UK's workforce reported feeling exhausted from work, and stress levels have risen significantly over the past 25 years.
