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☆ A plan to extract gold from mining waste splits a Colorado town with a legacy of pollution
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

The magnitude of mining waste globally is staggering, with tens of thousands of tailings piles containing 245 billon tons (223 billion metric tons), researchers say. Overseeing Leadville’s water supply is Parkville Water District Manager Greg Teter, who views CJK Milling as potential solution to water quality problems. As long as Leadville’s piles remain, their potential to pollute continues. Despite the mess from Leadville’s historic mining, Teter spoke proudly of his industry ties, including working in two now-closed mines. “If it were not for mining, Leadville would not be here.

Persons: “ We’re, ” Brice Karsh, Thomas Peipert, Nick Michael, Michael, ”, Christian Luna, Leal, ” Luna, Michael said, geochemist Ann Maest, remining, Maest, Greg Teter, Teter, ” Teter, CJKs, Richard Mylott, Mylott Organizations: National Mining Museum, “, Parkville Water, U.S . Bureau of Reclamation, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Rockies Locations: LEADVILLE, Colo, —, Colorado, Leadville, Arkansas, Mount Elbert, ”, Leadville —, Mexico, town’s, “, Parkville, Leadville’s, East Helena, Anaconda , Montana, Midvale , Utah, South Dakota, Creede , Colorado

☆ Why Elon Musk Is Really Taking Twitter Out of San Francisco
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

From the front door of X, which is closing up shop in San Francisco on Friday, Market Street runs straight through downtown to the bay. Now, as X leaves its spot, Market Street is still suffering from all the same problems it had before Twitter. After handing over millions of dollars in tax breaks to one of the world's wealthiest corporations, San Francisco has nothing to show for it. AdvertisementI keep remembering a work trip I took to San Francisco in 1999, a few years before I moved here. "Our focus remains on working with and supporting the many businesses that call San Francisco home," the statement reads.

Persons: Daniel Burnham, Elon Musk, Twitter, Ted Egan, Bon Marché, Paula Smith Arrigoni, restaurateurs, Dolby, Twitter didn't, Egan, Uber decamped, Musk, San Francisco, Adam Rogers Organizations: Twitter, Central Market, Anadolu, Getty, AQ, Area, Coalition, Apple, New York Times, San, Sony, Microsoft, Ikea, London Breed, Business Locations: San Francisco, Austin, South Park, California, Brisbane, Texas, scuzzy, gentrify, Alta, Oro, Bon, Kaya, Bay, Oakland

☆ LinkedIn's chief product officer explains the change in mindset that led to finding success
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Jaures Yip | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewWhile LinkedIn is the mecca of job search, chief product officer Tomer Cohen said he didn't actually apply for his role at the company before being asked to join. After accumulating a student visa and massive school debt, Cohen co-founded a now-defunct startup called FellowUp, a personalized automated assistant. Cohen said that LinkedIn was exciting and and the opportunity to make an impact — which he had a plan for. Related stories"I don't know if this is a recommendation for everybody, but for me, it's worked really, really well," Cohen said.

Persons: —, Tomer Cohen, didn't, Cohen, Nishar, recalibrated, monetarily, it's Organizations: Service, LinkedIn, Business, VP Locations: Israel

☆ It's no wonder Taco Bell is winning the fast-food wars. Just look at how they treat their biggest fans.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-02 | by ( Anneta Konstantinides | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

When Taco Bell announced the event back in July, it invited hundreds of fast-food lovers to slow down and enjoy "early retirement" with all-you-can-eat Taco Bell meals and "senior-inspired recreation." Hanging among the racks were limited-edition Taco Bell merchandise, vintage T-shirts, basketball shorts, hot pants, and many, many hats. I opted for the Cantina chicken burrito and soft taco, my favorite new menu items at Taco Bell. Tim revealed he was an avid runner who had trekked two miles to grab a single taco from Taco Bell for 97 days in a row. Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderWhen I asked Rotter why Taco Bell was so important to him, he recalled a trip to the only Taco Bell in Hawaii that sells kalua pork, where the staff lit up over his Hawaiian Taco Bell shirt.

Persons: —, Taco, Taco Bell, Uber, tacos, Kenny Rotter, Rotter, fanny, there's, Snoop, I've, Anneta, Taylor Montgomery, Taco Bell's, Montgomery, Dolly Parton, Bell, Gen Z, Tim, dink, influencer Joey Zauzig, Zauzig, Will, James, Caroline Organizations: Service, Taco Bell, Bell, Business, New York, Subway, Planters, KFC, Mac Locations: San Diego, La Valle, San Diego's, Santa Fe, Los Angeles, San, Woodstock, LA, Taco, Hawaii, America

☆ I live in Boston and New York City. Supercommuting is hard, but I'm unwilling to sacrifice my personal or professional life.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-04 | by ( Samantha Grindell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewThis as-told-to essay has been adapted from a conversation with Sophie Rae, a 27-year-old graphic designer and artist, who lives in both Boston and New York City. AdvertisementSophie Rae lives in Boston and New York City. Sophie RaeI was like, "OK, this could be a really good excuse to have that New York moment in my life, in my career." My boyfriend lives in Boston, and his whole family lives in the surrounding area. He was with me when I got the job offer, and he was the first one to say, "OK, you've got to say yes.

Persons: —, Sophie Rae, I've, It's, They're, it's, you've, he's, You'll Organizations: Service, Business, Amtrak, Netflix Locations: Boston, New York City, New York, York, Massachusetts

☆ The best Japanese cities to visit, according to someone who's traveled there 11 times — and Tokyo's not one of them
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Maria Noyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Though often thought of as a natural second city to visit alongside Tokyo, Kyoto is Cheng's undisputed No. 1 Japanese city. The old city is lined with small walkable roads, has many temples, and boasts a riverbank lined with small houses and shops. Even though it is also a tourist hot spot, Cheng said Kyoto feels more serene than Tokyo. "It's just a lot calmer and peaceful," she said, adding that the city's qualities exemplify "Japanese culture."

Persons: Grace Cheng, Grace Cheng Cheng, Cheng, It's Organizations: Kyoto, UN Locations: Kyoto, Japan, Tokyo

The tragedy is sadly far from unique; extreme heat is turning ordinary activities deadly. Heat is the deadliest type of extreme weather, and the human-caused climate crisis is making heat waves more severe and prolonged. What heat does to your heartVideo Ad Feedback A rise in heat and humidity pushes the heart rate up. In extreme heat, your heart must work much harder to keep your body’s internal temperature stable. Blood flow to your brain decreases in extreme heat as breathing speeds up and blood vessels constrict inside your neck and skull.

Persons: Philip Kreycik, Kreycik, Santiago Mejia, Taylor, We’ve, ”, Matthew Huber, Damian Bailey, Bailey, “, ” Bailey, Laura Paddison, Catharina Giudice, Harvard T.H, it’s, Pope Moseley, ” Moseley, Moseley, they’ve, Giudice, Purdue University’s Huber, ” Huber, Richer, Jane Baldwin, Bharat Venkat, Venkat, Jen Christensen, Mary Gilbert, Angela Dewan, Angela Fritz , Mark Oliver, Henry Zerkis, Angelica Pursley , Yukari Schrickel, Elisa Solinas, Lou Robinson Organizations: CNN, Police, San Francisco Chronicle, Purdue University, Olympic Games, University of South, Harvard, of Public Health, Arizona State University, Purdue, University of California, World Health Organization, UCLA, Mary Gilbert Story Locations: Pleasanton, California, Mecca, Paris, University of South Wales, Chan, West Africa, South Asia, University of California Irvine

☆ Olympians are calling the food in Paris a 'disaster' — and one team is flying in its own chef
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Athletes and team officials are no fans of the cuisine at the Paris Olympics. With a lack of protein and raw meat, Great Britain said it was flying in another private chef. The CEO of Paris 2024 acknowledged 'adjustments' — including a lot more eggs and meat. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The UK team has had to resort to flying in another private chef to Paris due to a lack of protein and raw meat being served at the Olympic Village, Andy Anson, the CEO of the British Olympic Association, told The Times.

Persons: —, Olympics hasn't, Andy Anson Organizations: Paris, Service, Paris Olympics, Olympics, British Olympic Association, Times, Business Locations: Great Britain, Germany, Paris

☆ Bye-bye bitcoin, hello AI: Texas miners leave crypto for next new wave
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

watch nowThere are a lot of synergies between the bitcoin mining and AI infrastructure businesses. watch nowBeefing up the gridFor years, Crusoe's work has been virtually synonymous with the bitcoin mining industry. But Crusoe's Lochmiller told CNBC that AI infrastructure has actually been part of the vision since the company's founding six years ago. Back in 2018, Fenn says that the only load that was a good fit for this was bitcoin mining. "That has all changed now, with AI data centers optimized for massive scale energy availability, cost, and greenness.

Persons: Nolan, Robert Daemmrich, Ali Fenn, Chase Lochmiller, Crusoe's, JPMorgan Chase, Asher Genoot, Riley, CoreWeave, Crusoe's Lochmiller, Lancium's Fenn, Lancium, Fenn Organizations: Corbis, American, Energy Systems, CNBC, Mining, JPMorgan, Nvidia, CoreWeave, Core, ExxonMobil, Crusoe Industries, Miners Locations: Buffalo, Taylor, Abilene , Texas, West Texas, Abilene, Houston, Denver, U.S, Iceland, Miami, North Dakota, Texas

☆ This school has 12-hour days, 'relaxing' meals — and no smartphones
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Helping an 'Anxious Generation'All Saints' experiment with an extended school day comes as concern mounts about the impact of smartphones and social media on teenagers. AdvertisementUS Surgeon-General Vivek Murthy also recently called for social media to carry cigarette-style warning labels to warn of the health risks. Writing in The New York Times, he said social media increased the risk that children would suffer anxiety and depression. However, the extended school day program has produced some noteworthy results. AdvertisementRausch said his research had shown that constant access to smartphones and social media only increases social inequality.

Persons: —, London that's, It's, Andrew O'Neil, O'Neil, it's, Andrew O'Neill ., mick, Zacariah Pinto, Mia Benoit, Benoit, I'm, Pinto, Jonathan Haidt, Vivek Murthy, Zach Rausch, Haidt, Rausch, Rebecca Fuller, Jonathan Brenner, Helena, Brenner, She's Organizations: Service, Saints Catholic College, Business, Grenfell Tower, All, YouTube, The New York Times, NYU, Stern School of Business, Saints, Eton Locations: Notting Hill, London, Notting, Portobello

☆ 65-year-old quit his job and emptied his life savings to start a business—now he's worth $11 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-15 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Not really," Chaudhry, the billionaire founder and CEO of cloud security company Zscaler, tells CNBC Make It. Together, they plunged their life savings — roughly $500,000 — into SecureIT, a cybersecurity software startup they co-founded in 1997. His timing was perfect: In 1998, Chaudhry sold SecureIT to VeriSign in an all-stock deal worth nearly $70 million. I said, "If [Netscape co-founder] Marc Andreessen could start a company — he was a young guy [right] out of college — why shouldn't I start a company?" It took us a few years to really start getting traction in the market, and VCs can write you off and move on.

Persons: Jay Chaudhry, he'd, Chaudhry, Jyoti, SecureIT, Chaudhry —, —, Marc Andreessen, Let's, we'd, Zscaler, you'll, VCs Organizations: IBM, Unisys, CNBC, Netscape, Atlanta, Software, BellSouth, Fortune, Forbes, IDC, Gartner, VCs Locations: India, SecureIT, Atlanta, Alpharetta , Georgia

☆ Opinion: We built our world for a climate that no longer exists
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Opinion Jeff Goodell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But it’s evidence of one of the central truths of our time, and one that is becoming more and more apparent every day: We have built our world for a climate that no longer exists. But less than two months earlier, a sudden windstorm in the city blacked out electricity for more than a million people. How many blackouts will it take before we realize today’s power grid was built for yesterday’s climate? One clear example: the incredible decline in the cost of renewable power in recent years. In virtually every part of the world, electricity generated by renewable power is cheaper than electricity generated by fossil fuels.

Persons: Jeff Goodell, Read, – wouldn’t, Firefighters, Hurricane Beryl, Ethan Swope, I’ve, Andreas Solaro, –, ”, Rafiq Maqbool Organizations: CNN, Big Oil, Hurricane, AP, Nature Medicine, Big, Toyota, GM, Kodak, Getty Locations: Manhattan, New York City, Houston, Big, Oroville , California, California, Palm Springs, London, Paris, Madrid, Europe, Phoenix, Saudi Arabia, Rome's, AFP, Texas, Mecca

☆ The Arizona primary where the MAGA movement is devouring itself
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

"He is running a very bigoted race," Hamadeh told me of Masters, "and MAGA and the America First movement is bigger than that." An anti-Hamadeh yard sign, paid for by the Masters campaign, beside one of Hamadeh's own signs in the 8th district. "This guy, he lost against Mark Kelly because he's a weirdo," Hamadeh told me. "I think that warrants some investigative journalism," Hamadeh told me. "I can't vote for you," one woman, apparently not a prospective constituent, told Hamadeh as she shook hands with him after the event, "but I'll give you a donation."

Persons: Abe Hamadeh, Hamadeh, I've, He's, Donald Trump, Kari Lake, MAGA, Blake Masters, Peter Thiel protégé, who's, It's, Bryan Metzger, Ben Toma, Debbie Lesko, Sen, Anthony Kern, There's, Trent Franks, Israel, there's, Lesko, —, Abraham, Abe, Ron Paul, Prophet Muhammad, Jesus, fashioning, he's, Trent, They're, MAGA bromides, JD Vance, Ohio, Masters, Vance, Ted Kacynski, Blake, Mark Kelly, Kari, Brandon Bell, Trump, Clarence Thomas, Thiel, Hamadeh's, Arizona Republic —, Rebecca Noble, Toma Organizations: Service, Republican, GOP, Arizona, Capitol, Trump, Masters, Supreme, Daily, University of, Maricopa County Attorney's, US Army Reserve, Republican Party, Senate, Sun City, Justice, Republicans, Sun City West, Stanford University, FBI, Thiel Capital, Fox News, Arizona Republic, Sun, Arizona House Locations: Phoenix, Arab American, Arizona, America, Tucson, North Phoenix, Washington, There's, Maricopa County, Mecca, Chicago, Skokie, United States, Saudi Arabia, Jerusalem, Istanbul, Vatican, Thailand, Japan, Sun City, crazies, Scottsdale, it's

Domestically, slot machines are prohibited on military bases, though casinos are frequently located nearby. The VA began treating gambling disorders in the late 1960s, about nine years after Congress banned slot machines from domestic bases. The Department of Defense declined CNBC's request for an interview, but said in a statement there hasn't been any systemwide increases in resources to address problem gambling. "DoD researchers are aware of changes in gambling availability due to new mobile and sports gambling options and will consider these variables in future military gambling research," a department spokesperson said in an email. The military is conducting a new survey, with results expected in the fall, the spokesperson addedThe Department of Defense operates slot machines on military bases abroad.

Persons: Dave Yeager, Yeager, servicemembers, Heather Chapman, It's, Dominick DePhilippis, Chapman, hasn't Organizations: Istock, Army, Defense Department, CNBC, Department of Defense, Office, Lewis, McChord, Department of Veterans Affairs, DoD Locations: South Korea, Washington, U.S

☆ Billionaire Joe Ricketts' latest drama is right out of 'Yellowstone'
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

While the regional wildlife coordinator for Wyoming Game and Fish supported the proposal, Ricketts' neighbors were another story, the Nebraska Examiner said. That's what I kind of equate it to," one local told The Daily Beast about Ricketts at the time. "That's just not something that's ever going to be well received, whether it was Mr. Ricketts or the next billionaire with a big dream and a big plan." And in the end, Ricketts is getting his big dream and big plan — just not when he wants it. According to estimates at the town meeting, the hotel will now take six years to build rather than three.

Persons: —, Joshua Coursey, Joe Ricketts —, Donald Trump, Ricketts, Forbes, Jackson, " Ricketts, Little Jackson, He's, Fish, Foundation's Coursey, Matthew Prince, Prince, Bill Gross, Dale Chihuly, Gross, Vinod Khosla, Coursey, That's Organizations: Service, Business, Foundation, Chicago Cubs, Wyoming, Nebraska Examiner, City, Daily Locations: Bondurant, Wyoming, Paramount's, Sublette County , Wyoming, Teton County, Los Angeles and New York, Northwest Wyoming, Sublette, Laguna Beach , California

☆ For many Muslim pilgrims, a dangerous unauthorized Hajj is the only option
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Magdy Samaan | Clamping Down On Unauthorized Pilgrimage | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

He was among the more than 1,300 pilgrims who died during this year’s Hajj as temperatures in Saudi Arabia reached record levels. The tragedy, resulting in one of the highest Hajj death tolls in years, has brought attention to the shadowy industry of unauthorized pilgrimage agents. It is unclear how many unauthorized pilgrims made it to this year’s Hajj, but Saudi news outlet Al Sharq Al Awsat reported Tuesday that 141,000 such pilgrims received free medical treatment during the Hajj season. Clamping down on unauthorized pilgrimageBefore this year’s Hajj season started, Saudi authorities warned pilgrims against using agents selling unauthorized Hajj packages and had been in contact with other governments in an effort to crack down on the trend. Authorities had also arrested some illegal agents and issued warnings about penalties for those found to assist unauthorized pilgrims.

Persons: Cairo CNN —, Mahmoud, Salem, “, Abdelzaher Abdo Salem, Om Waleed, Abdelzaher, Mount Arafat, Salem’s, ” Mahmoud, –, Atef, ”, ” Aglan, Aglan, Al Sharq Al Awsat, Hania Hassan Salama, Salama, Mustafa Mohammed, Ahmad, General Muhammad bin Abdullah Al, Rafiq Maqbool Organizations: Cairo CNN, Al, Ma’aisam, Saudi, Egyptian Travel Agents Association, CNN, Hajj, Authorities, Public Security, Hajj Security Locations: Cairo, Abdo Salem, Mecca, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Salem, Abdelzaher, Mount, Mina, “, AFP, Saudi, Medina , Saudi Arabia

☆ More Than 1,000 Hajj Pilgrims Died. Here’s What to Know.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Cassandra Vinograd | Vivian Nereim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

At least 1,300 people died during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca this year. It was unclear whether the death toll was higher than usual, as each year pilgrims die from heat stress, illness and chronic disease. But the toll has raised questions about whether Saudi Arabia made adequate preparations for intense heat and the influx of unregistered pilgrims who, the authorities say, relied on illicit tour operators to skirt the official permit process. Here’s what to know about this year’s hajj. The hajj, a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims who are physically and financially able are obliged to perform it at least once in their lives.

Locations: Mecca, Saudi Arabia

☆ More than 1,300 people died during Hajj, many of them after walking in the scorching heat
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

More than 1,300 people died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia as the faithful faced extreme high temperatures at Islamic holy sites in the desert kingdom, Saudi authorities announced Sunday. All but 31 of them were unauthorized pilgrims, according to two officials in Cairo. Egypt has revoked the licenses of 16 travel agencies that helped unauthorized pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia, authorities said. Those agencies left pilgrims in limbo in Mecca and the holy sites in scorching heat, the newspaper said. AP journalists saw pilgrims fainting from the scorching heat, especially on the second and third days of the Hajj.

Persons: Fahd bin Abdurrahman, Jalajel, Egypt's, Mina Organizations: Sunday, Saudi Health, Saudi, Saudi National Center for Meteorology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Locations: Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Riyadh, Cairo . Egypt, Mecca's Al, Muaisem, Egypt, Ahram, Indonesia, India, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Malaysia, U.S, Islam

☆ ‘We are happy he’s buried in Mecca,’ says daughter of man who died in Hajj heat wave
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Sentono had registered for the Hajj in 2018 and traveled to Mecca with his 83-year-old wife and neighbors from the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta, Jumartiyah said. Some 241,000 Indonesian pilgrims were scheduled to make the journey to Mecca this year, according to Indonesian officials – the country’s largest ever quota. Mecca, the holy city that is central for Hajj pilgrims, saw temperatures soar to a record 125 degrees Fahrenheit (51 Celsius) on Monday. “Everybody is affected by deadly heat and sadly I am not surprised by (the Hajj) death toll,” he added. “Spending time outdoors in the extreme Mecca heat is risking death … so I am afraid there will be more deadly Hajj pilgrimages in the future.”

Persons: Heru Jumartiyah, Ngatijo Wongso Sentono, ”, Sentono, Jumartiyah, “, ” Jumartiyah, Pariyem, –, CNN ‘, Ahmad, Maximiliano Herrera, ” Herrera Organizations: CNN, Saudi, Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs Locations: Indonesian, Mecca, Indonesia, Mina, Yogyakarta, Hajj, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, ”

On Today’s Episode:Democrats Lean on Abortion Rights Message for Anniversary of End of Roe, by Katie GlueckFor Biden and Trump, a Debate Rematch With Even Greater Risks and Rewards, by Lisa Lerer, Shane Goldmacher, Jonathan Swan and Maggie HabermanPilgrim Deaths in Mecca Put Spotlight on Underworld Hajj Industry, by Emad Mekay and Vivian NereimGunmen Attack Synagogues and Churches in Russian Republic, by Anton Troianovski and Ivan Nechepurenko

Persons: Lean, Roe, Katie Glueck, Trump, Lisa Lerer, Shane Goldmacher, Jonathan Swan, Maggie Haberman Pilgrim, Emad Mekay, Vivian Nereim, Anton Troianovski, Ivan Nechepurenko Organizations: Biden Locations: Mecca, Russian Republic

☆ Travelers underestimate the dangers of heatwaves in popular summer hotspots
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailTravelers underestimate the dangers of heatwaves in popular summer hotspotsFrom New York City to Mecca and the Mediterranean, popular tourism destinations battle high temperatures at the outset of the summer season.

Locations: New York City, Mecca

☆ Egypt to revoke licenses from Hajj tourism companies over illegal pilgrimages amid reports of hundreds of deaths
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Zahid Mahmood | Housam Ahmed | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Egyptian government will revoke the licenses of 16 Hajj tourism companies involved in making illegal pilgrimages to Mecca and refer the company’s managers to the public prosecutor amid fears hundreds of Egyptians could have died in this year’s Hajj. The decision was made in a cabinet meeting on Saturday after a report highlighted the dubious nature of how some tourism companies operate. The official toll among Egyptians stands at 31, but it is being reported by Reuters news agency and other outlets that as many as 500 to 600 Egyptians died during the pilgrimage. A CNN tally puts the total dead from Hajj at nearly 500 but the figure is likely to rise. Muslim pilgrims perform the farewell circumambulation or "tawaf", circling seven times around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca.

Persons: Mostafa Madbouly, ”, Ahmed Organizations: CNN, Reuters, Getty, Egyptian Locations: Mecca, Hajj, AFP, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, ”

☆ Pilgrim Deaths in Mecca Put Spotlight on Underworld Hajj Industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Emad Mekay | Vivian Nereim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The deaths of more than a thousand pilgrims in Saudi Arabia for the hajj have put a spotlight on an underworld of illicit tour operators, smugglers and swindlers who profit off Muslims desperate to meet their religious duty to travel to Mecca. Some pilgrims this year described watching people faint and passing bodies in the street as temperatures hit 120 degrees or higher. On Sunday, in an interview on state television, the Saudi health minister, Fahd al-Jalajel, said that 83 percent of the more than 1,300 deaths occurred among pilgrims who had not had official permits. “The rise in temperatures during the hajj season represented a big challenge this year,” he said. “Unfortunately — and this is painful for all of us — those who didn’t have hajj permits walked long distances under the sun.”

Persons: Fahd al, ” Locations: Saudi Arabia, Mecca, Saudi

☆ Hajj deaths: ‘Not enough medics’ to help pilgrims with heat, witnesses tell CNN as toll mounts
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Xiaofei Xu | Masrur Jamaluddin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —There were not enough medics or basic facilities to protect Hajj pilgrims from the effects of the sweltering heat in Saudi Arabia last week, two pilgrims recently returned from Hajj told CNN, as the official death toll from this year’s Hajj pilgrimage soared to almost 500. This years’ Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca has been held amid extreme weather conditions which saw temperatures consistently soar above average figures. Ali’s comments were echoed by another witness, 44-year-old Ahmad from Indonesia, who told CNN he saw many people falling ill and even dying from the heat. According to Ali, five hours walking every day is the minimum, but many pilgrims spent 12 hours outside per day. Because the Islamic calendar is lunar and shorter than the Gregorian calendar, the timing of Hajj on the Gregorian calendar shifts slightly each year.

Persons: Witnesses, Zirrar Ali, ” Ali, ”, Ahmad, Fadel Senna, “, Rafiq Maqbool, Ali, that’s, Hajj ’ it’s, Ramadan Organizations: CNN, Hajj, Getty, Saudi General Authority, Statistics Locations: Saudi Arabia, Mecca, London, Indonesia, Hajj, AFP, ”, Saudi

☆ ‘They saved their whole lives for this’: American woman’s heartbreak as parents die on Hajj
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-22 | by ( Pauline Lockwood | Maija-Liisa Ehlinger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Saida Wurie said it was her parents’ lifelong dream to participate in Hajj, the religious pilgrimage that brings Muslims from around the world to Saudi Arabia each year. Speaking to CNN’s Whitfield on Saturday, Wurie said she had been in close contact with her parents while they were in Saudi Arabia via a family group chat. As of Saturday, diplomats have not committed to meeting them in person in Saudi Arabia, she said. Mecca, the holy city that is central for Hajj pilgrims, saw temperatures soar to a record-setting 125 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday. Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty ImagesBut CNN has spoken to other Hajj pilgrims who said the preparations weren’t enough, with one describing seeing fellow worshipers lose consciousness and walking past bodies covered in white cloths.

Persons: Saida Wurie, They’d, “, ”, CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield, Wurie, Isatu Tejan, Alieu Dausy, Prince George’s County, CNN’s Whitfield, Arafat, Mount Arafat, Whitfield, Fadel Senna, Mina . Organizations: CNN, Kaiser Permanente, ”, Saudi Interior Ministry, US Embassy, General’s Office, US State Department, Saudi, Ahram Locations: Hajj, Saudi Arabia, Maryland, Bowie , Maryland, Kaiser, Prince George’s, Mina, Jeddah, Saudi, Mecca, AFP, Egypt, Saudi Arabian

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