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The Short List: A tragedy near Mecca; pope powers on to New York; Vladimir Putin gives Elton John a ring

The Short List: A tragedy near Mecca; pope powers on to New York; Vladimir Putin gives Elton John a ring

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Editors, USA TODAY 9:19 p.m. EDT September 24, 2015

Devastating tragedy hits the hajj — again

They were only 3 miles from the holy city of Mecca when tragedy struck Thursday in Mina, Saudi Arabia. A stampede broke out, killing more than 700 people and injuring more than 800. It's not the first time the annual hajj pilgrimage has been marred by a fatal incident, and as 2 million pilgrims participate each year, it's unlikely to be the last. What's the hajj? It's an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. All adult Muslims who are capable of making the journey — physically and financially — must complete it at least once. When is it? The date of the hajj is determined by the Islamic calendar, which is a lunar year. This year's hajj began Tuesday and ends Saturday. Why do people die? It depends. Saudi Arabia's health minister blamed Thursday's tragedy on "undisciplined pilgrims" who hadn't followed instructions. But it’s not just the risk of stampedes that make completing the hajj dangerous. In the past, hundreds have been killed in fires and violent unrest. And just this year, the World Health Organization warned that the hajj could spread the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus. What's next? Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki, spokesman for Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry, says King Salman has ordered a committee investigation into the incident.

The Short List: A tragedy near Mecca; pope powers on to New York; Vladimir Putin gives Elton John a ring

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More than 450 people were killed and over 700 injured in a stampede Thursday during the annual hajj pilgrimage just outside Mecca, Saudi officials said. The civil defense directorate said teams were leading pilgrims to safety and that rescue operati USA TODAY

Pope Francis kissed babies, addressed Congress and zipped around Washington in awesome rides. Next up: New York

While Pope Francis spoke Thursday to a joint session of a Congress, a historic first, we also learned more about one of the children he kissed during his enchanting popemobile ride Wednesday through Washington. Sophie Cruz, 5, had a crayon-scrawled letter and a message for the pope: "I would like to ask you to speaking with the president and Congress in legalizing my parents because every day I am scared they will take them away from me." Meanwhile, back at the Capitol, the pontiff had a message of his own on immigration: "Our world is facing a refugee crisis of a magnitude not seen since the second World War," he told Congress. (Here's the full text of his speech, a powerful read.) After leaving the Capitol, and tootling again through D.C. in his papal Fiat, Francis headed to New York, where two NYPD policemen, Officer Pope and Officer Francis (among others, of course), were ready to greet him. Here's his full schedule for the next several days.

The Short List: A tragedy near Mecca; pope powers on to New York; Vladimir Putin gives Elton John a ring

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Watch 5-year-old Sophie Cruz's father lift her over a barrier to run to Pope Francis in what's become the most memorable moment of the pontiff's visit. She delivers a message pleading with him to ask Congress to legalize her immigrant parents. Josheph Reblando

Just hours before Pope Francis lands in New York City,

Just hours before Pope Francis lands in New York City, two New York City police department officers named “Pope” and “Francis” tweeted that the city is ready for the pope. The NYPD 19th Precinct tweeted a photo of their badges with a special message to the pope. (Photo: NYPD, Photo by Officer Pope)

Not the kind of record we want to see broken

The amount of land burned by wildfires in the U.S. this year has surpassed 9 million acres, according to data released Thursday. That's roughly equivalent to the size of New Jersey and Connecticut combined. This is only the fourth time on record the country has reached the 9 million-acre mark, the National Interagency Fire Center says. More shocking: All of the record-setting years for acres burned have occurred just since 2000. The worst year was in 2006, when 9.8 million acres burned. In 2007 and 2012, 9.3 million acres were burned. If an additional 800,000 acres are burned this year, an all-time record would be set. We're hoping that doesn't happen.

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Kinder, gentler Putin: Reachin' out and takin' names since 2015

Hold the phone! Russian President Vladimir Putin called Elton John on Thursday — for real! The former KGB officer — who doesn't exactly have a reputation for being a big human rights champion — agreed to meet with the pop legend on LGBT issues in Russia. Putin's gesture comes a week after the musician posted on Instagram, thanking Putin for calling him to discuss gay rights. That call turned out to be a fake. To recap: John has publicly criticized Russia for its anti-gay laws and Putin in particular for comments suggesting that gays prey on children. Never one to let barriers stand in the way of understanding, Putin reached out. Still riding his wave of magnanimity, Putin will meet President Obama on Monday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Relations between the U.S. and Russia have been frosty over Russia's activities in Ukraine and Syria. But we're sure that the call to Elton John — the real one — also showed the Russian leader's softer side, like the one we see in this video. Can we get a hug, Vlad?

Speaking of Russia: There's a new twist in a century-old royal murder case

The truth is often stranger than Russian fiction: The well-traveled bones of Czar Nicholas II and his wife are being exhumed and their 1918 murder case reopened. This is complicated, so let's start at the beginning. Nicholas II, his wife and their five children were gunned down where they were being held by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution. In 1991, the remains of the czar, his wife and three of their children were uncovered and DNA testing confirmed their identity. (They were laid to rest in 1998 in St. Petersburg and canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 2000.) So what happened to the two other children? That's the mystery. Rumors had persisted that they escaped, though the legend seemed to be put to rest when, in 2007, bone fragments were found in a nearby grave. And although forensic experts confirmed that the fragments did belong to the children, the church wants to be super sure before it buries them alongside the rest of the royal family, hence the new investigation. Nearly a century later, this case could finally be closed.

Hey! Give 'The Short List' audio version a listen!

If you read only one thing tonight: Iranians quietly question their government's role in Syria and beyond

Stories you're clicking on today:

Dems block bill to defund Planned Parenthood

Four killed in crash of bus, Duck vehicle

Couple fighting with Verizon over $2M bill

Ahmed Mohamed's family fights to get clock back

Jon Stewart dances to Drake, gets hit by a chair

Extra bites:

Today's wonderful reader photo from Your Take is out of this world. Swipe through more fantastic images from people just like you.

Police in Nevada are still investigating the deaths of paranormal investigators Mark and Debby Constantino, but court records reveal the couple's startling history of domestic violence. Allegations of knife attacks, beatings, strangulations and attempted rape paint a grim picture of the couple fans knew from the Travel Channel hit series Ghost Adventures.

Meet Matthias Mueller, the guy tapped to steer Volkswagen out of its big, honkin' emissions scandal.

Have you seen it? Ah-nold is on Snapchat — and you should totally follow him.

We all need a little distraction at some point during the day (what else are smartphones for?), so add DISTRACTME on the YO app. It'll be fun, we promise.

Want the Short List newsletter in your inbox every night? Sign up here.

This is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY.

Contributing: Jane Onyanga-Omara, John Bacon, Aamer Madhani, Susan Miller, Christine Rushton, Paul Singer, Maria Puente, David Jackson, Oren Dorell, Doyle Rice, USA TODAY; Garrett W. Haake, WUSA-TV; Mary Bowerman, USA TODAY Network; Anna Arutunyan, Special for USA TODAY; the Associated Press. 

Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1FjfffF

0) { %>Smoke from the Valley Fire rises from charred vegetation

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The Short List: A tragedy near Mecca; pope powers on to New York; Vladimir Putin gives Elton John a ring
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The Short List: A tragedy near Mecca; pope powers on to New York; Vladimir Putin gives Elton John a ring

Out of the loop today? We've got what you missed.

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Posted!

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Editors, USA TODAY 9:19 p.m. EDT September 24, 2015

Devastating tragedy hits the hajj — again

They were only 3 miles from the holy city of Mecca when tragedy struck Thursday in Mina, Saudi Arabia. A stampede broke out, killing more than 700 people and injuring more than 800. It's not the first time the annual hajj pilgrimage has been marred by a fatal incident, and as 2 million pilgrims participate each year, it's unlikely to be the last. What's the hajj? It's an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. All adult Muslims who are capable of making the journey — physically and financially — must complete it at least once. When is it? The date of the hajj is determined by the Islamic calendar, which is a lunar year. This year's hajj began Tuesday and ends Saturday. Why do people die? It depends. Saudi Arabia's health minister blamed Thursday's tragedy on "undisciplined pilgrims" who hadn't followed instructions. But it’s not just the risk of stampedes that make completing the hajj dangerous. In the past, hundreds have been killed in fires and violent unrest. And just this year, the World Health Organization warned that the hajj could spread the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus. What's next? Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki, spokesman for Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry, says King Salman has ordered a committee investigation into the incident.

AP MIDEAST SAUDI ARABIA HAJJ I SAU

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More than 450 people were killed and over 700 injured in a stampede Thursday during the annual hajj pilgrimage just outside Mecca, Saudi officials said. The civil defense directorate said teams were leading pilgrims to safety and that rescue operati USA TODAY

Pope Francis kissed babies, addressed Congress and zipped around Washington in awesome rides. Next up: New York

While Pope Francis spoke Thursday to a joint session of a Congress, a historic first, we also learned more about one of the children he kissed during his enchanting popemobile ride Wednesday through Washington. Sophie Cruz, 5, had a crayon-scrawled letter and a message for the pope: "I would like to ask you to speaking with the president and Congress in legalizing my parents because every day I am scared they will take them away from me." Meanwhile, back at the Capitol, the pontiff had a message of his own on immigration: "Our world is facing a refugee crisis of a magnitude not seen since the second World War," he told Congress. (Here's the full text of his speech, a powerful read.) After leaving the Capitol, and tootling again through D.C. in his papal Fiat, Francis headed to New York, where two NYPD policemen, Officer Pope and Officer Francis (among others, of course), were ready to greet him. Here's his full schedule for the next several days.

The Short List: A tragedy near Mecca; pope powers on to New York; Vladimir Putin gives Elton John a ring

UP NEXT

03

Watch 5-year-old Sophie Cruz's father lift her over a barrier to run to Pope Francis in what's become the most memorable moment of the pontiff's visit. She delivers a message pleading with him to ask Congress to legalize her immigrant parents. Josheph Reblando

The Short List: A tragedy near Mecca; pope powers on to New York; Vladimir Putin gives Elton John a ring

Just hours before Pope Francis lands in New York City, two New York City police department officers named “Pope” and “Francis” tweeted that the city is ready for the pope. The NYPD 19th Precinct tweeted a photo of their badges with a special message to the pope. (Photo: NYPD, Photo by Officer Pope)

Not the kind of record we want to see broken

The amount of land burned by wildfires in the U.S. this year has surpassed 9 million acres, according to data released Thursday. That's roughly equivalent to the size of New Jersey and Connecticut combined. This is only the fourth time on record the country has reached the 9 million-acre mark, the National Interagency Fire Center says. More shocking: All of the record-setting years for acres burned have occurred just since 2000. The worst year was in 2006, when 9.8 million acres burned. In 2007 and 2012, 9.3 million acres were burned. If an additional 800,000 acres are burned this year, an all-time record would be set. We're hoping that doesn't happen.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Kinder, gentler Putin: Reachin' out and takin' names since 2015

Hold the phone! Russian President Vladimir Putin called Elton John on Thursday — for real! The former KGB officer — who doesn't exactly have a reputation for being a big human rights champion — agreed to meet with the pop legend on LGBT issues in Russia. Putin's gesture comes a week after the musician posted on Instagram, thanking Putin for calling him to discuss gay rights. That call turned out to be a fake. To recap: John has publicly criticized Russia for its anti-gay laws and Putin in particular for comments suggesting that gays prey on children. Never one to let barriers stand in the way of understanding, Putin reached out. Still riding his wave of magnanimity, Putin will meet President Obama on Monday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Relations between the U.S. and Russia have been frosty over Russia's activities in Ukraine and Syria. But we're sure that the call to Elton John — the real one — also showed the Russian leader's softer side, like the one we see in this video. Can we get a hug, Vlad?

Speaking of Russia: There's a new twist in a century-old royal murder case

The truth is often stranger than Russian fiction: The well-traveled bones of Czar Nicholas II and his wife are being exhumed and their 1918 murder case reopened. This is complicated, so let's start at the beginning. Nicholas II, his wife and their five children were gunned down where they were being held by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Revolution. In 1991, the remains of the czar, his wife and three of their children were uncovered and DNA testing confirmed their identity. (They were laid to rest in 1998 in St. Petersburg and canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 2000.) So what happened to the two other children? That's the mystery. Rumors had persisted that they escaped, though the legend seemed to be put to rest when, in 2007, bone fragments were found in a nearby grave. And although forensic experts confirmed that the fragments did belong to the children, the church wants to be super sure before it buries them alongside the rest of the royal family, hence the new investigation. Nearly a century later, this case could finally be closed.

Hey! Give 'The Short List' audio version a listen!

If you read only one thing tonight: Iranians quietly question their government's role in Syria and beyond

Stories you're clicking on today:

Dems block bill to defund Planned Parenthood

Four killed in crash of bus, Duck vehicle

Couple fighting with Verizon over $2M bill

Ahmed Mohamed's family fights to get clock back

Jon Stewart dances to Drake, gets hit by a chair

Extra bites:

Today's wonderful reader photo from Your Take is out of this world. Swipe through more fantastic images from people just like you.

Police in Nevada are still investigating the deaths of paranormal investigators Mark and Debby Constantino, but court records reveal the couple's startling history of domestic violence. Allegations of knife attacks, beatings, strangulations and attempted rape paint a grim picture of the couple fans knew from the Travel Channel hit series Ghost Adventures.

Meet Matthias Mueller, the guy tapped to steer Volkswagen out of its big, honkin' emissions scandal.

Have you seen it? Ah-nold is on Snapchat — and you should totally follow him.

We all need a little distraction at some point during the day (what else are smartphones for?), so add DISTRACTME on the YO app. It'll be fun, we promise.

Want the Short List newsletter in your inbox every night? Sign up here.

This is a compilation of stories from across USA TODAY.

Contributing: Jane Onyanga-Omara, John Bacon, Aamer Madhani, Susan Miller, Christine Rushton, Paul Singer, Maria Puente, David Jackson, Oren Dorell, Doyle Rice, USA TODAY; Garrett W. Haake, WUSA-TV; Mary Bowerman, USA TODAY Network; Anna Arutunyan, Special for USA TODAY; the Associated Press. 

Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1FjfffF

0) { %>A firefighter looks at an automatic teller machine

0) { %>

0) { %>

Smoke from the Valley Fire rises from charred vegetationimageRichard and Kathie Reeves embrace as they stand inFirefighter Jeff Ohs looks into a burned-out car thatFirefighters hose down a hot spot in the ruins of aAdam Bailey, left, looks through the still smolderingJames Hough takes a photo of a relative's new car forPower lines continue to burn along Highway 175 outsideMartin Lawson, who has lived in Sheep Ranch for overA firefighter sets a backfire near Mountain Ranch RoadDestruction caused by a wildfire at an apartment complexA firefighter lights a back burn along Highway 29 northFirefighters battle the Valley Fire on in Middletown,Flames continue to burn near gas lines at a destroyedA fire continues to burn in the remains of a home inFirefighter Scott Martinez, of the El Segundo FireOnly a chimney and burned cars remain of a home destroyedA Sacramento firefighter puts markings on a streetThe skeletal remains of a trailer still stands afterTwo firefighters with the CalFire Santa Clara UnitRichard and Kathie Reeves embrace as they stand inFirefighter Jeff Ohs looks into a burned-out car thatFirefighters hose down a hot spot in the ruins of aAdam Bailey, left, looks through the still smolderingJames Hough takes a photo of a relative's new car forPower lines continue to burn along Highway 175 outsideDestruction caused by a wildfire at an apartment complexA firefighter lights a back burn along Highway 29 northFirefighters battle the Valley Fire on in Middletown,Flames continue to burn near gas lines at a destroyedA fire continues to burn in the remains of a home inFirefighter Scott Martinez, of the El Segundo FireOnly a chimney and burned cars remain of a home destroyedA Sacramento firefighter puts markings on a streetThe skeletal remains of a trailer still stands afterTwo firefighters with the CalFire Santa Clara Unit
Shane Barnett peers down a steep hill toward his burnedFirefighters put out a hot spot at the Valley FireUtility worker Michael Quinliven shovels dirt ontoUtility worker Michael Quinliven looks over a charredA California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationMelted metal flows from a burned out car abandonedStockton firefighter Sean Caywood walks past an apartmentFire burns on a hillside behind firefighters who standA CalFire firefighter tends to a backfire as he battles
A firefighter hoses off a hot spot in a home destroyed
Deanna Hingst, right, embraces her mother Shirley Leuzinger
Animal rescue group volunteers herd goats from a home
Firefighters of the Los Prietos Hot Shot Crew backdropped
The figure sits on a rock wall outside a hillside home
The remains of several homes destroyed by fire in Middletown,
A firefighter with the Montezuma Fire District puts
A firefighter looks at an automatic teller machine
Smoke from the Valley Fire rises from charred vegetation
Shane Barnett peers down a steep hill toward his burnedFirefighters put out a hot spot at the Valley FireUtility worker Michael Quinliven shovels dirt ontoUtility worker Michael Quinliven looks over a charredA California Department of Corrections and RehabilitationMelted metal flows from a burned out car abandonedStockton firefighter Sean Caywood walks past an apartmentFire burns on a hillside behind firefighters who standA CalFire firefighter tends to a backfire as he battles

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