News
Over 550 Hajj Pilgrims Die in Mecca as Temperatures Soar Above 50°C
In a tragic turn of events, more than 550 pilgrims have died during this year’s Hajj in Mecca, as temperatures soared above 50°C (122°F). The extreme heat has underscored the harsh and grueling conditions of the pilgrimage.
Heat-Related Deaths
According to two Arab diplomats coordinating their countries’ responses, at least 323 Egyptians succumbed to heat-related illnesses. One diplomat mentioned that these deaths were primarily due to heat, except for one individual who died from injuries sustained in a minor crowd crush. The morgue in the Al-Muaisem neighborhood of Mecca reported 550 deaths.
Jordan has reported at least 60 deaths among its pilgrims, up from an earlier official tally of 41. These new figures bring the total reported deaths to 577, based on an AFP tally from multiple countries.
Response and Medical Aid
Egypt’s foreign ministry has stated that it is collaborating with Saudi authorities in search operations for Egyptians who went missing during the Hajj. The ministry acknowledged “a certain number of deaths” without specifying whether Egyptians were included.
Saudi authorities have reported treating over 2,000 pilgrims for heat stress but have not updated this figure since Sunday, nor provided specific details on fatalities. Last year, at least 240 pilgrims, mostly Indonesians, were reported dead during the Hajj.
Increasing Climate Challenges
The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, requires all Muslims with the means to complete it at least once. However, the pilgrimage is increasingly affected by climate change. A recent Saudi study revealed that temperatures in the Hajj area are rising by 0.4°C per decade. On Monday, temperatures at the Grand Mosque in Mecca reached a staggering 51.8°C.
Safety Measures
Despite Saudi officials advising pilgrims to use umbrellas, drink plenty of water, and avoid sun exposure during peak hours, many rituals require prolonged outdoor presence. AFP journalists observed pilgrims pouring water over their heads, with volunteers distributing cold drinks and fast-melting ice cream to help them cool down.
Overwhelmed Services
Pilgrims described seeing motionless bodies along the roadsides and ambulance services appearing overwhelmed. About 1.8 million pilgrims participated in the Hajj this year, with 1.6 million coming from abroad. Tens of thousands attempt the Hajj without securing official visas, which prevents them from accessing air-conditioned facilities provided by Saudi authorities.
Efforts to Clear Unregistered Pilgrims
Saudi officials had cleared hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca before the Hajj. One diplomat noted that the Egyptian death toll was significantly increased by a large number of unregistered Egyptian pilgrims.
Deaths from Other Countries
Other countries reporting deaths during this year’s Hajj include Indonesia, Iran, and Senegal. However, most countries have not specified the number of heat-related deaths.
Official Statements
Saudi Arabia takes pride in hosting the Hajj, with King Salman holding the title “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.” Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdul Rahman Al-Jalajel stated that health plans for the Hajj had been successfully carried out, preventing major disease outbreaks and other public health threats. A virtual hospital provided consultations to over 5,800 pilgrims, primarily for heat-related illnesses, enabling prompt intervention and mitigating potential surges in cases.
The extreme heat conditions and resulting fatalities have highlighted the growing challenges of hosting the Hajj amid rising global temperatures, emphasizing the need for enhanced safety measures and infrastructure to protect pilgrims.
Two Australian nurses have been suspended after a video surfaced showing them making violent antisemitic remarks, including threats to harm Israeli patients. The incident, which allegedly took place at a hospital in Sydney, has sparked outrage and is now under police investigation.
New South Wales (NSW) Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed that the two individuals had been stood down immediately and would never work in the state’s healthcare system again. Authorities are conducting a thorough review of hospital records to ensure no patients were harmed, though a rapid preliminary check found nothing unusual.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the video as “sickening and shameful,” emphasizing that antisemitism has no place in Australia. His comments come just days after the country passed stricter hate crime laws in response to a surge in antisemitic incidents.
The video, shared online by Israeli content creator Max Veifer, appears to have been recorded in a hospital setting. In the footage, a man claiming to be a doctor tells Veifer he has “beautiful eyes” but adds, “I’m sorry you’re Israeli,” before making a throat-slitting gesture and stating he sends Israelis to “Jahannam” (an Islamic concept of hell). A woman later appears on screen, saying she refuses to treat Israelis and will “kill them” instead.
Despite the video being edited with emojis and censoring certain comments, authorities have not questioned its authenticity. NSW Police stated they have identified the individuals involved and are investigating whether criminal charges should be pursued.
Albanese vowed that anyone found guilty of committing hate crimes will “face the full force of our laws.” Park echoed this sentiment, apologizing to the Jewish community and reassuring them that NSW hospitals remain committed to providing “first-class” healthcare to all patients, regardless of background.
Coca-Cola has warned that it may have to increase the use of plastic bottles in the U.S. if President Donald Trump’s new tariffs make aluminium cans too expensive. The announcement was made by Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey during a call with investors.
Trump’s recent order imposes a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the U.S., a move expected to raise costs for canned food and beverage manufacturers. Quincey acknowledged that Coca-Cola could shift more emphasis to PET plastic bottles to manage affordability.
“If aluminium cans become more expensive, we can put more emphasis on PET bottles,” he said, while noting that packaging costs are only a small fraction of the company’s overall expenses.
This shift comes shortly after Coca-Cola scaled back its sustainability goal of using 50% recycled materials in its packaging by 2030, adjusting the target to 35-40% by 2035. The beverage giant has been under pressure from environmental groups, which have labeled it the world’s “top global plastic polluter” for six years in a row.
Aluminium cans, despite being pricier, are far more recyclable than plastic bottles. The U.S. imports nearly half of its aluminium, according to the United States Geological Survey, making the tariffs a significant factor in production costs. Unlike in 2018, when some can-makers received exemptions from similar tariffs, Trump has now ruled out any exceptions for products or countries.
In a separate move, Trump also signed an executive order rolling back efforts to replace plastic straws with paper alternatives in government facilities—undoing a policy introduced by former President Joe Biden, who had called plastic pollution a “crisis.”
The U.S. Justice Department has directed federal prosecutors to drop the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, citing concerns that the indictment was hindering his ability to address illegal immigration and crime.
The directive came from Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, a former defense attorney for President Donald Trump, who stated in a memo that no further investigative steps should be taken until after the 2025 mayoral election. The memo also instructed prosecutors to work toward restoring Adams’ security clearance.
Adams, a Democrat, has recently forged a closer relationship with Trump and ordered city law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration raids—a move that critics argue undermines New York’s sanctuary city policies. However, he denies having discussed his case with Trump.
Adams was indicted in September on five charges related to accepting over $100,000 in illegal gifts and campaign contributions from Turkish officials in exchange for political favors, including allegedly assisting with safety regulation exemptions for a Turkish consulate in New York. He has pleaded not guilty.
Despite the Justice Department’s order, prosecutors have not yet confirmed whether they will comply. Any decision to drop the case must be formally submitted to the court and approved by a judge.
The move has sparked concerns about political influence in the justice system. While Bove’s memo states that the decision does not assess the strength of the evidence against Adams, it acknowledges that his past criticism of immigration policies under the Biden administration “cannot be ignored.”
Adams, who attended Trump’s presidential inauguration and recently met with him in Florida, has faced backlash from Democratic leaders for aligning with the Republican president. Meanwhile, Trump has previously claimed that both he and Adams were “persecuted” for opposing Biden’s immigration policies.
The Justice Department’s decision to delay potential future prosecution until after the next mayoral election raises questions about the case’s trajectory and whether it may be revisited under a new administration.
Australian Nurses Suspended Over Antisemitic Video Amid National Crackdown on Hate Speech
Coca-Cola May Increase Plastic Bottle Use Due to Trump’s Aluminium Tariffs
