Global Pulse

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大洋洲

  • Dozens of countries at UN condemn Moscow’s ‘threats’ to embassies in Ukraine

    Dozens of countries at UN condemn Moscow’s ‘threats’ to embassies in Ukraine

    Fresh tensions have surged at the United Nations after nearly 50 countries signed a joint statement Tuesday condemning what they call unacceptable threats from Moscow against foreign diplomatic missions based in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv. The unprecedented rebuke comes one day after Russia issued an explicit call for Washington to evacuate its Kyiv embassy, warning of impending “systematic strikes” across the Ukrainian capital. Similar evacuation warnings were extended to other diplomatic missions operating in the city.

    Delivered to the UN assembly by Ukrainian representative Andriy Melnyk, the joint statement made clear that the signatories would not normalize Russian actions against diplomatic infrastructure. “We also condemn recent threats by Russia to diplomatic institutions and embassies in Kyiv. This is something which we cannot accept,” Melnyk told the gathered body. The list of signatories includes a broad coalition of European nations, Japan, South Korea, and other countries, with the United States notably absent from the official signatory list.

    The public condemnation follows a devastating weekend barrage of Russian drone and missile attacks across Kyiv that left four civilians dead and sparked widespread destruction to residential and public infrastructure. Among the weapons deployed in the strikes was Russia’s new Oreshnik hypersonic missile, a system Moscow confirms can travel at up to 10 times the speed of sound and is designed to carry nuclear warheads.

    The weekend Russian escalation came in direct retaliation for what Moscow claims was a Ukrainian drone attack on a vocational college and dormitory in Starobilsk, a city in the Luhansk region currently under Russian occupation. Russian officials say the alleged Ukrainian strike killed 21 people, prompting President Vladimir Putin to order a direct military response against Ukrainian targets.

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used an address to the UN Security Council to voice deep alarm over the escalating violence. Guterres noted that Russia announced its systematic strike campaign in Kyiv targeting Ukrainian defense facilities, government decision-making hubs, and military command posts in response to the Starobilsk incident. “Now more than ever it is imperative to avoid any escalation of a conflict that has already exacted a devastating toll on civilians and that risks making the search for peace even more distant,” Guterres warned.

  • Ferrari unveils ‘Luce’, its first fully electric car, in a tough market

    Ferrari unveils ‘Luce’, its first fully electric car, in a tough market

    In a landmark moment for one of the world’s most iconic luxury automakers, Italian supercar brand Ferrari has pulled back the curtain on its first-ever fully electric vehicle, the Luce — marking the brand’s long-awaited entry into the premium clean mobility space, years after rivals including Porsche and Lamborghini launched their own electric high-performance models.

    Named for the Italian word for “Light”, the Luce made its debut in Rome, where executives including Ferrari chairman John Elkann presented the vehicle to Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and later to Pope Leo XIV at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, where the pontiff got a chance to sit behind the wheel. Ferrari confirmed that Elkann donated the car’s steering wheel to the pope as a symbolic gesture during the meeting.

    As the second four-door model in Ferrari’s 78-year history, following the Purosangue SUV launched in 2023, and the brand’s first five-seater, the Luce breaks with decades of Ferrari tradition that centered on sleek, two-seater sports cars built around roaring, high-output internal combustion engines. Today, nearly half of all Ferrari vehicles sold already feature hybrid powertrains, but the prancing horse brand took years to commit to a fully electric offering amid internal debate over preserving its signature driving experience.

    Engineered with performance at its core, the Luce boasts specifications that match the brand’s high-performance pedigree: it can hit a top speed of more than 310 kilometers per hour (192 miles per hour), accelerates from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in just 2.5 seconds, and is powered by a 122 kWh battery that delivers a range of more than 530 kilometers on a single charge. Weighing in at 2.26 tonnes, the car supports ultra-fast charging that can boost the battery from 10% to 80% capacity in just 20 to 25 minutes, per Ferrari’s official claims.

    While most core components were developed in-house at Ferrari’s facilities in Maranello, the brand tapped high-profile external design talent for the Luce: the vehicle’s styling was created by LoveFrom, the design collective founded by former Apple chief design officer Jony Ive — the mind behind many of Apple’s most iconic products — alongside renowned industrial designer Marc Newson. Ferrari describes the Luce as a “glass house”, featuring distinctive hidden headlights that are invisible when turned off, and a rear design that pays homage to classic Ferrari models including the 360 Modena. The vehicle is built in a purpose-built new factory at Ferrari’s historic Maranello headquarters in northern Italy, with first customer deliveries scheduled to begin by the end of 2026. Industry analysts project the starting price will exceed 700,000 euros ($815,000) before customizations.

    Despite the brand’s legacy and the Luce’s impressive specifications, the unveiling failed to win over investors, as the launch comes amid a broader global slowdown in consumer demand for electric vehicles that has forced many major automakers to scale back their EV ambitions. By midday Tuesday on the Milan stock exchange, Ferrari shares dropped 6.3% to 290.45 euros, making it the worst-performing stock on the index that day. This share drop follows a sharp decline in October 2025, when the first details of the Luce were released, and analysts expressed disappointment that Ferrari’s long-term profit forecasts fell short of market expectations.

    Ferrari has already adjusted its electrification roadmap in response to shifting market conditions: at the end of 2025, the automaker cut its 2030 target for electric vehicle share of its lineup from 40% to just 20%, reflecting broader industry caution around EV adoption. Many analysts remain skeptical that the high-priced Luce will deliver enough sales volume to meaningfully boost Ferrari’s bottom line. “We maintain the view that an electric model with a high price tag… will not generate significant volumes capable of bolstering Ferrari’s earnings,” Equita analysts wrote in a research note published Tuesday.

    Other analysts are more optimistic about the model’s financial prospects. Analysts at Banca Akros noted that while the Luce carries some risk of margin dilution, the extremely high starting price — which climbs even higher with popular customizations — offsets that risk, and the model is already projected to be profitable at launch. Banca Akros also highlighted comments from Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna, who expects half of all Luce orders to come from buyers who have never owned a Ferrari before, opening up a new segment of customers for the brand.

    Elkann emphasized in his debut speech that the Luce carries forward the core values that have made Ferrari a globally recognized symbol of luxury and performance, even as it moves the brand into a zero-emission future. Whether the new electric model will live up to that promise and win over both consumers and investors remains to be seen as the first deliveries approach later this year.

  • Trump builds giant stage at White House for birthday cage fight

    Trump builds giant stage at White House for birthday cage fight

    For more than two centuries, the White House South Lawn has stood as the backdrop for some of the most consequential moments in American political history—from Richard Nixon’s 1974 farewell departure after the Watergate scandal to the iconic 1993 Oslo Accord handshake between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. Now, the iconic green space is undergoing an unprecedented transformation: U.S. President Donald Trump is constructing a full-scale Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) cage fighting arena on the grounds, set to host a major event on his 80th birthday, June 14, which also coincides with the U.S. national holiday Flag Day.

    AFP correspondents on site documented construction crews using heavy cranes to position massive metal arches for the event’s signature eight-sided Octagon ring on Tuesday. The spectacle, branded “UFC Freedom 250” to tie into this summer’s 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, will feature a six-fight card headlined by a lightweight championship bout between top competitors Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, as first announced by the UFC in March.

    In remarks earlier this month from the Oval Office, surrounded by four of the event’s scheduled fighters, Trump framed the gathering as a one-of-a-kind historic occasion. “We’re having a big fight. It’s never going to happen again, never happened before,” he said, while displaying a concept rendering of the Octagon ring set against the White House facade, flanked by spectator seating. The president, a lifelong UFC fan with longstanding ties to the promotion, outlined that 4,500 attendees will be able to watch the fights directly on the South Lawn, with an additional 100,000 people expected to view the event for free on large outdoor screens just outside the White House perimeter.

    Political observers have widely noted that the event is strategically targeted at UFC’s core demographic of young men, a key voting bloc in the 2024 U.S. presidential election that Trump has actively courted through his repeated appearances at UFC events, where he regularly receives rock-star level receptions from crowds. This is not the first dramatic alteration Trump has made to White House grounds during his tenure: he has already paved over portions of the iconic Rose Garden and demolished the entire East Wing to construct a $400 million presidential ballroom, a permanent change that drew criticism from historical preservation groups.

    The plan has sparked significant controversy from the outset, with critics raising questions over both the extravagant cost and the decision to host a commercial combat sports event on one of the nation’s most revered public historical sites. The UFC’s parent company initially confirmed in February that staging the event would cost a minimum of $60 million, though organizers project they will recover roughly half of that sum through corporate sponsorships and other revenue streams. White House officials have pushed back against claims of public funding, telling AFP that “no taxpayer money is being used” and that the entire cost is being covered directly by the UFC.

    Even some of Trump’s own allies and supporters have questioned the timing of the spectacle. With the U.S. currently engaged in active conflict with Iran that has driven sharp increases in global oil prices and elevated domestic cost of living for American households, the multi-million dollar event has drawn accusations of being out of touch with public struggles. Popular podcaster Joe Rogan, who hosted Trump for a high-profile interview ahead of the 2024 election, commented in March that holding a major fight event at the White House amid an ongoing war felt “weird.”

    UFC CEO Dana White pushed back against criticism of the event in a Time magazine interview published Tuesday, rejecting claims that the gathering is a politically motivated campaign stunt. “You can make anything political if you want to,” White said. “This is basically me spending a shit-load of money to celebrate the 250th birthday of America, with America and the rest of the world.”

    Tight security arrangements are already in place for the open-air event, coming on the heels of a string of recent security incidents targeting Trump. Just this past Saturday, the U.S. Secret Service fatally shot a gunman who opened fire near the White House grounds, and an alleged assassination attempt was foiled at the White House Correspondents Dinner held at a Washington D.C. hotel in April.

  • Even moderately hot days raise risk of koala deaths: study

    Even moderately hot days raise risk of koala deaths: study

    As climate change continues to drive more frequent and severe heatwaves across the globe, new research has uncovered a sobering threat to one of Australia’s most iconic native species: even moderately warm sustained temperatures can drastically increase a koala’s risk of death or urgent medical intervention.

    Published in the journal *Biology Letters* and led by researcher Valentina Mella from the University of Sydney, the study draws on more than two decades of koala rescue and mortality data from New South Wales (NSW), one of the species’ key remaining habitats. Analyzing nearly 12,000 records of koala admissions to care facilities and recorded deaths collected between 2000 and 2022 from local rescue groups and koala hospitals, the team built the first statistically verified link between long-term ambient temperature trends and koala mortality, adapting a methodology commonly used to study heat risk in human populations.

    The research revealed a clear upward trend in danger as sustained average peak temperatures climb. When seven-day average maximum temperatures hit 27 degrees Celsius – a threshold most would consider mild rather than extreme – the odds of koalas being rescued or dying already began to climb. Once average peaks reached 30C or higher, those risks jumped to between 1.5 and 3.5 times the rate observed around 25C, according to Mella.

    “Our findings suggest that even what might seem like moderate heat can become physiologically stressful when it is sustained over time,” Mella told AFP in an interview.

    Koalas have evolved a suite of adaptations to survive Australia’s naturally warm climate. On short hot days, they cool off by hugging tree trunks to pull excess heat away from their bodies, retreat to dense foliage and lower tree branches away from direct sunlight, and conserve water by reabsorbing moisture from their colons and producing concentrated urine. They also use heterothermy, allowing their body temperatures to shift with surrounding conditions to reduce energy and water use. For short periods, the species can even survive temperatures above 40C.

    But the study confirms that these adaptations are no match for prolonged heat, even at much lower, less alarming temperature thresholds. Mella explained that prolonged exposure to sustained moderate heat significantly undermines koalas’ health and ability to survive.

    The species’ inherent biological traits and changing landscape make them uniquely vulnerable to rising temperatures compared to many other wild animals. Unlike creatures that can adapt to shifting conditions by changing their diets or moving to cooler habitats, koalas are largely sedentary, tied to specific forest ecosystems, and get most of their water from eucalyptus leaves. When high temperatures persist for days on end, koalas rapidly develop dangerous dehydration, and widespread habitat fragmentation often blocks their ability to travel to cooler, more shaded areas.

    Koalas already fighting disease face even greater risk: the study found that individuals living with chlamydiosis, one of the most widespread and damaging diseases affecting wild koala populations, see their existing conditions worsened by heat stress, putting them at even higher risk of death.

    These threats are growing worse by the year. As climate change pushes once-rare high temperatures to become a regular summertime occurrence, Mella noted that koalas will increasingly face prolonged periods of heat stress on an annual basis. The threat is particularly acute for already endangered inland northwest koala populations, which are exposed to more extreme heat and face the greatest risk of population collapse.

    The study does offer clear pathways for intervention to reduce risk. Mella noted that protecting large, mature shade-producing trees and providing accessible water sources for koalas during heatwaves can cut rates of dehydration and death. Without targeted, proactive conservation action, however, the growing frequency of extreme heat events could push already vulnerable koala populations closer to permanent extinction.

    The findings add to a growing body of evidence confirming that climate change does not only threaten human communities – it puts a wide range of wildlife species at growing risk of mortality and extinction, even through threats that may seem moderate at first glance.

  • Trump, days from 80th birthday, has annual medical exam

    Trump, days from 80th birthday, has annual medical exam

    Just five days before he marks his 80th birthday, sitting U.S. President Donald Trump underwent his scheduled annual medical examination on Tuesday at Walter Reed Military Medical Center, reigniting long-running public and political discussion about the state of the commander-in-chief’s physical and mental health.

    As the oldest person ever inaugurated to the U.S. presidency, Trump has repeatedly positioned his own perceived vitality as a point of contrast against his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, frequently claiming superior physical and mental fitness on the campaign trail and in public appearances. However, this latest check-up comes amid renewed public speculation over Trump’s well-being, sparked by recent visible bruising on his right hand and multiple observations of apparent drowsiness during high-stakes official meetings.

    This exam marks Trump’s third formal physical assessment since he returned to the White House for his second term in January 2025. He completed a scheduled annual check in April 2025, followed by an unannounced after-hours visit to Walter Reed that October, which the White House later classified as a second “annual” physical – a move that drew criticism and fresh questions from political observers and transparency advocates about the consistency of the administration’s health disclosures.

    Criticism over the lack of full transparency around Trump’s personal health has followed him throughout his political career, and that pattern has held during his second term. While the White House has confirmed it plans to release limited details about Tuesday’s exam later in the day, the administration retains full discretion over how much clinical information it makes public.

    An Agence France-Presse reporter embedded with the presidential motorcade confirmed Trump arrived at the Bethesda, Maryland, medical facility, located roughly 10 miles outside Washington D.C., at approximately 8:50 a.m. local time (12:50 GMT). Per the president’s publicly released daily schedule, he is set to return to the White House for a 1:30 p.m. (17:30 GMT) policy briefing where the ongoing conflict in Iran will be the top agenda item.

    Trump’s 80th birthday, scheduled for June 14, will coincide with a high-profile Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bouts hosted on the White House South Lawn, an event expected to draw thousands of invited spectators. The president has long leaned into public boasts about his personal health, repeatedly claiming he is far more physically fit than prior Oval Office occupants despite his well-documented preference for fast food and publicly disclosed higher-than-average body weight.

    “I feel the same as I did 50 years ago,” Trump told attendees at an Oval Office event earlier this month, adding with characteristic dry humor, “Maybe junk food is good.” The president is widely known for his public fondness for beef burgers, well-done steaks, and Diet Coke, a diet that has long been noted by health commentators as inconsistent with standard cardiovascular wellness guidance.

    Public discussion of Trump’s health first ramped up last summer, when the White House officially confirmed that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency after observations of persistent swelling in his lower legs. The common vascular condition, caused by faulty valves in leg veins that allow blood to pool in lower extremities, causes symptoms including swelling, muscle cramping, and visible skin discoloration.

    More recently, Trump has repeatedly appeared in public with unexplained bruising on his right hand, which makeup artists have regularly attempted to cover during televised appearances. He also developed a visible neck rash during one widely watched Oval Office address last year. Administration officials have attributed the hand bruising to daily low-dose aspirin Trump takes as part of a standard preventive cardiovascular care regimen.

    Following his unannounced October 2025 visit to Walter Reed, Trump told reporters that an MRI conducted during the appointment confirmed his cardiovascular health was “excellent.” His personal physician, U.S. Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, released a public letter after that visit claiming Trump’s “cardiac age” was calculated to be roughly 14 years younger than his actual chronological age at the time.

    The subject of presidential age and fitness has dominated U.S. political discourse for the better part of a decade, and gained renewed attention during the 2024 general election cycle. Then-incumbent Joe Biden, who was 81 years old at the time, was forced to suspend his re-election campaign following a widely panned debate performance against Trump that stoked widespread public concern over his cognitive fitness. Biden previously held the title of oldest inaugurated U.S. president, a record he lost when Trump was sworn in for his second term at age 78. Trump still holds the record as the third oldest person to be inaugurated as president, a mark he set when he first took office at age 70 in 2017.

  • Sabalenka thrives in French Open heat, Sinner waits in wings

    Sabalenka thrives in French Open heat, Sinner waits in wings

    The opening day of main draw action at the 2025 French Open delivered a mix of dominant wins, shocking upsets and highly anticipated upcoming matches on Tuesday, as top seeds navigated soaring Paris temperatures and tricky first-round hurdles to kick off their fortnight at Roland Garros.

    Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka got her tournament campaign off to a flying start, wrapping up a straight-sets 6-4, 6-2 victory over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, the world No. 50, in just 75 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier. The Belarusian 28-year-old, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, only faced one minor scare when she failed to close out the match on her own serve, but responded immediately with a break in the next game to seal her spot in the second round.

    The result marked a strong bounce-back for Sabalenka, who suffered a surprise early exit at the Italian Open earlier this month. Speaking after her win, the top seed acknowledged that first-round matches at major tournaments always carry extra pressure. “I’m super happy to be through. I feel like it was a tricky first-round opponent,” she said. “I’d say that for me the first rounds are always not easy. And then, as I get further in the tournament, as I get more comfortable, my level becomes better.”

    Sabalenka will next face the winner of the opening-round match between French wildcard Elsa Jacquemot and Czech qualifier Linda Fruhvirtova in the round of 64. She also noted that the unseasonably hot conditions at this year’s tournament actually worked in her favor, a stark contrast to the cold, wet weather she faced in Rome and during her first week of practice in Paris. “I’d say that it was a bit warm,” she joked. “Especially compared to the first days when I first got here, it was like 14C, freezing. Now it’s boiling hot and balls are flying, everything is much faster. But physically I feel strong, so I feel like it can benefit me.”

    As Sabalenka wraps up her opening match, all attention turned to the evening’s night session, where men’s world number one Jannik Sinner was set to make his 2025 French Open debut. The Italian 24-year-old is one win away from completing a career Grand Slam, with the Paris title the only major still missing from his trophy cabinet. With double defending champion Carlos Alcaraz sidelined through injury and Sinner bringing a 29-match winning streak into the tournament, he enters as the overwhelming favorite to lift the trophy. Still, six matches stand between him and the men’s final on June 8, and he will open against French wildcard Clement Tabur, who is expected to receive a rapturous welcome from the home crowd on Chatrier. Tuesday’s match marks almost exactly one year since Sinner’s heartbreaking five-set loss to Alcaraz in the 2024 final, where he held three championship points before being overturned.

    Before Sinner takes the court, women’s defending champion Coco Gauff will face off against compatriot Taylor Townsend in the preceding match on Chatrier.

    The opening day also brought a major upset when Russia’s sixth seed Daniil Medvedev suffered a five-set first-round exit at the hands of Australian wildcard Adam Walton. The result extends Medvedev’s poor run of form at Roland Garros: it is now the seventh time he has been knocked out in the opening round in 10 tournament appearances. Despite the disappointing loss, the former world number one insisted he remains committed to competing in Paris. “I know that I am in good shape and I can play well in Roland Garros. I can,” Medvedev said. “It’s just tougher for me, and first rounds are usually tougher for me, but I will always come here.”

    Elsewhere in the draw, 18-year-old American rising star Iva Jovic continued to turn heads with a dominant 6-4, 6-2 win over Philippines’ Alexandra Eala, booking a second-round clash with compatriot Emma Navarro, the former world No. 8 who eased past Indonesia’s Janice Tjen in straight sets. 2021 French Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas also advanced after his opponent Alexandre Muller was forced to retire through injury early in the match. The Greek 27-year-old, who has plummeted to No. 79 in the ATP rankings after a poor run of results, could reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in seven appearances when he faces Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi next. The day ended with a fairy-tale win for home crowd favorite Moise Kouame: the 17-year-old French wildcard notched his first ever Grand Slam match win with an impressive 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-1 victory over 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic of Croatia.

  • Trump has annual medical exam, days before turning 80

    Trump has annual medical exam, days before turning 80

    Just one week before he marks his 80th birthday, sitting U.S. President Donald Trump underwent his scheduled annual physical examination on Tuesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, a facility located just outside Washington, D.C. in Bethesda, Maryland. The visit comes amid growing public discussion and unaddressed questions about the Republican incumbent’s overall health, a topic Trump himself has weaponized against his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden in recent political discourse.

    As the oldest person ever inaugurated to the U.S. presidency, Trump has repeatedly made public claims about his exceptional mental and physical fitness, often contrasting his perceived vitality with Biden’s public appearances. Tuesday’s check-up, which included both medical and dental screenings, follows recent observations of the president that have fueled new speculation: multiple witnesses have noted apparent sleepiness during high-stakes policy meetings, and persistent bruising on his right hand that is regularly concealed with makeup.

    According to an AFP reporter embedded with the presidential motorcade, Trump arrived at the medical facility at approximately 8:50 a.m. local time (12:50 GMT). Per the White House’s publicly released daily schedule, the president is set to convene a critical policy meeting at the White House by 1:30 p.m. local time (17:30 GMT), with ongoing tensions over the Iran conflict topping the meeting’s agenda.

    By longstanding convention, the White House typically releases a public summary of presidential physical examinations within hours or days of the appointment, but the level of detail shared is entirely at the administration’s discretion. Transparency around Trump’s health has long been a point of public criticism, dating back to his first term in office. Last year alone, the president underwent two separate medical visits: a routine scheduled check-up in April, and an unannounced trip to Walter Reed in October that sparked widespread unconfirmed speculation about unreported health issues.

    Last summer, White House officials confirmed that Trump had been evaluated for persistent leg swelling and received a diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, a common circulatory condition where damaged vein valves cause blood to pool in the lower extremities, leading to swelling, cramping, and skin discoloration. The confirmation came after multiple public appearances showed Trump with visibly swollen ankles. For the bruising on his right hand, the White House has explained that the marks are a side effect of daily aspirin use, part of what the administration calls a standard cardiovascular prevention regimen.

    Following his unscheduled October 2024 check-up, Trump told reporters that an MRI conducted during the visit showed his cardiovascular health was “excellent.” His attending physician, U.S. Navy Captain Sean Barbabella, released a public letter at the time stating that Trump’s cardiac age was “approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age.”

    Trump’s 80th birthday on June 14 will coincide with a high-profile public event at the White House: a Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) cage match hosted on the South Lawn, which is expected to draw thousands of spectators from across the country.

  • Pilgrims pray on Mount Arafat as hajj reaches peak

    Pilgrims pray on Mount Arafat as hajj reaches peak

    On Tuesday, millions of Muslim worshippers from across the globe gathered on Saudi Arabia’s Mount Arafat to mark the sacred climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, turning the rocky desert hill near Mecca into a sea of faith as they fulfilled one of Islam’s most fundamental obligations, even as regional conflict and record-breaking heat created unprecedented challenges for organizers and pilgrims alike.

    This year’s gathering drew more than 1.5 million total participants, a figure that reflects strong international turnout despite ongoing armed conflict in the Middle East sparked by recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran. In response to those attacks, Tehran launched retaliatory drone and ballistic missile strikes targeting key infrastructure and energy facilities across the Gulf region, including sites within Saudi Arabia, creating widespread uncertainty that impacted travel plans for many Iranian pilgrims. Official data shows just over 30,000 Iranians have completed the journey this year, equal to roughly one-third of the 86,000 pilgrims the country originally expected to send. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency confirmed that the reduced numbers are a direct result of the ongoing wartime situation. Even amid this regional unrest, Saudi officials noted over the weekend that overall international participation this year still exceeds the total recorded in 2024.

    From the first break of dawn, worshippers clad in the traditional seamless white ihram garments gathered on the 70-meter hill, which holds profound religious significance: it is the site where the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his final farewell sermon more than 1,400 years ago, outlining the core principles of the Islamic faith. Pilgrims recited verses from the Quran and offered personal prayers, enduring searing desert temperatures that reached as high as 44 degrees Celsius in Mecca over recent days. For many, the moment marked the fulfillment of a lifelong spiritual goal.

    “It is an indescribable feeling,” shared Ahmed Abu al-Ezz, a 35-year-old Egyptian engineer making his first hajj journey as he approached the hill. “This is something I have dreamed of my entire life, and to be here now is beyond words.”

    To support the massive crowd of pilgrims traveling to the site, volunteer teams distributed free bottled water, portable parasols, and pre-prepared food packages, while security and medical support helicopters regularly patrolled the airspace above the gathering to monitor conditions and respond to emergencies.

    Hajj is one of the five central pillars of Islam, a religious obligation that every physically and financially able Muslim must complete at least once in their lifetime. This year’s gathering presented unique heat-related challenges, amplified by human-caused climate change, which scientists confirm is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heatwaves across the globe. Unlike female pilgrims, male worshippers are prohibited from wearing head coverings during hajj rituals, forcing many to rely on portable umbrellas to block the blistering midday sun.

    Saudi authorities have implemented sweeping heat safety reforms since the 2024 hajj, when temperatures soaring above 50 degrees Celsius contributed to the deaths of more than 1,300 pilgrims. Upgrades for 2025 include expanded shaded walkways and gathering areas, as well as the deployment of thousands of additional trained medical personnel. The Saudi Ministry of Health confirmed it has mobilized more than 50,000 healthcare workers and 3,000 ambulances across the pilgrimage route to treat heat exhaustion and other medical emergencies.

    Following the day of prayer on Mount Arafat, pilgrims will travel to the nearby plain of Muzdalifah to spend the night in open air, collecting small pebbles that will be used for the symbolic “stoning of the devil” ritual in the valley of Mina, which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday. The full sequence of hajj rituals typically takes five days or more to complete, tracing the exact path Prophet Muhammad took during his final pilgrimage in 632 CE.

    For the Al Saud royal family, which rules Saudi Arabia and holds the ceremonial title of “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques” (referring to the sacred sites in Mecca and Medina), successful organization of the annual hajj has long been a core source of domestic and international political legitimacy.

  • Australia secures 850,000 tonnes of fertiliser from Indonesia as Iran peace in doubt

    Australia secures 850,000 tonnes of fertiliser from Indonesia as Iran peace in doubt

    Geopolitical volatility in the Middle East has pushed the Australian government to lock in a critical emergency supply of agricultural fertiliser to shield the nation’s farming sector and food supply chain from potential global market disruptions. As hopes for a tentative de-escalation deal between the United States and Iran collapsed following fresh US military strikes on Iranian targets this week, Canberra moved to confirm an additional 80,250 tonnes of urea secured through a partnership with Indonesian fertiliser producer PT Pupuk and Australian industrial firm Incitec Pivot.

    The new shipment is part of a broader 250,000-tonne urea agreement arranged through Indonesia, and marks the sixth additional critical input delivery secured via the Australian government’s $10.7 billion Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility. The first of these extra shipments are scheduled to arrive on Australian shores in the coming weeks. Export Finance Australia, which was recently granted expanded regulatory powers to support private suppliers in sourcing critical fuel and fertiliser cargoes amid global instability, facilitated the transaction.

    The tense standoff in the Middle East carries outsized importance for Australian supply chains: roughly 20 percent of the world’s total crude oil exports transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint whose security has been thrown into doubt by the renewed hostilities. Urea, a core input for modern agricultural production, is heavily dependent on global energy markets for its manufacturing and shipping, meaning supply disruptions in the Middle East can quickly send fertiliser prices soaring and cut off access for domestic producers.

    Agriculture Minister Julie Collins emphasized that stabilizing fertiliser supplies is a core priority for keeping Australia’s food production network operational during a period of unprecedented global uncertainty. “We have been working around the clock to help secure the critical inputs our farmers and producers need, including fuel and fertiliser,” Collins said. “Supporting the purchase of additional fertiliser shipments is about getting more fertiliser into Australia at a time of global uncertainty, helping to provide our farmers and producers with confidence for the future. The additional fertiliser we’ve secured from Indonesia, in partnership with industry, is the result of our Government’s careful and considered work to strengthen Australia’s relationship with Indonesia.”

    Trade Minister Don Farrell added that the federal government remains committed to partnering with industry and agricultural peak bodies to maintain consistent, reliable supply chains for the nation’s critical agricultural sector. “The Albanese Labor government will always support Australian farmers, and the many jobs and communities this vital sector sustains across the country,” Farrell said.

    The new fertiliser deal comes just days after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a separate agreement to secure 660,000 additional barrels of jet fuel from China, following high-level diplomatic talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Albanese warned that even if a peace deal is reached in the Middle East in the near term, lingering supply chain disruptions will continue to impact global energy and commodity markets for some time.

    “The longer the conflict goes on, the more enduring the impact will be, the economic tail,” Albanese said. “We are very hopeful that the positive signs of a de-escalation and peace in the region will lead to a conclusion. We know, though, this is volatile and uncertain times, and I want to make it clear that when the conflict ends, that doesn’t mean that the economic tail concludes. There will be a period of time before ships are able to go through the Strait of Hormuz.”

    As of this week, the government reports that national stockpiles of key fuels have improved since the outbreak of open hostilities between the US, Israel and Iranian-aligned forces on February 28. Current national reserves hold five more days of petrol, two additional days of diesel (bringing the total to 38 days) and two extra days of jet fuel (totaling 31 days) compared to levels recorded at the end of February. In addition to the new deals with Indonesia and China, the government has also arranged alternative fuel shipments from other regional partners including South Korea and Brunei as part of its broader $10.7 billion strategy to bolster national fuel and fertiliser security.

  • Saudi Arabia turns to drones to shield pilgrims from extreme heat

    Saudi Arabia turns to drones to shield pilgrims from extreme heat

    As record-breaking temperatures soar to 45 degrees Celsius across Mecca during this year’s annual Hajj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabian health authorities have turned to cutting-edge drone technology to address a critical logistical challenge: delivering life-saving medical supplies to hundreds of clinics treating pilgrims suffering from extreme heat exposure. For centuries, the sacred rituals of the Hajj have remained largely unchanged, but the 21st century influx of more than 1.5 million pilgrims from across the globe has pushed traditional logistics methods to their limit, prompting officials to integrate modern digital and autonomous technologies into crowd and resource management. Drones have emerged as the most transformative solution among these new tools, solving the persistent problem of supply delivery through congested road networks packed with pilgrim crowds. Prior to the adoption of drone delivery systems, ground vehicle drivers often spent more than an hour navigating gridlocked routes to restock clinics running low on heat exhaustion treatments and emergency medications. Today, 127 clinics spread across the holy sites of Mecca, Mina, and Arafat receive consistent, timely restocks via unmanned aerial vehicles, cutting delivery times dramatically and ensuring patients can access care when they need it most. Fahd Al-Bathi, chief operating officer of the National Unified Procurement Company (NUPCO), the public body overseeing medical supply logistics for the pilgrimage, told reporters that the core mission of the new drone program is to deliver fast, reliable service to the millions of pilgrims gathering for the sacred event. Preparations for the 2024 Hajj medical support operation began nine months in advance, with logistics teams mapping out flight routes, testing drone payload capacities, and training staff to manage the automated delivery network. NUPCO operations officer Turki Al-Obaidi explained that his teams work around the clock throughout the pilgrimage, with staff monitoring every drone delivery in real time from a central command center equipped with a large integrated data display. For large-scale crowd events like the Hajj, speed of access to medical care is a critical factor in preventing avoidable harm, Al-Obaidi added. The central logistics hub now coordinates all drone missions, loading medications, heat relief supplies, and other medical necessities onto aircraft before they launch for their designated clinics. Staff also use electric scooters to move quickly around the sprawling hub, keeping the delivery pipeline running smoothly. “We are seeking to integrate new innovations through which we can ensure that medical supplies arrive safely, as quickly as possible, and with the highest quality,” Al-Bathi said. Drones are just one component of a broader technology-driven overhaul of Hajj management designed to address the unique challenges of the region’s scorching desert climate. Artificial intelligence systems are also being deployed to analyze footage from thousands of security and surveillance cameras across Mecca, helping officials identify crowd congestion hotspots and respond to emergencies faster. These high-tech solutions work alongside traditional heat mitigation strategies that have long been used to protect pilgrims, including giant cooling fans, mobile water trucks distributing free drinking water, and misting systems that lower ambient temperatures for gathered crowds. Saudi health official Jamil Abu Al-Aynayn noted that heat exhaustion and heat stroke remain one of the most common and pressing health threats during the hot-weather pilgrimage, but authorities have maintained a state of constant high readiness to respond to cases, supported by the new technology infrastructure that speeds up access to care across all pilgrimage sites.