What's Going On Around The World Today?

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Pope Francis pushes for climate change action during his visit to Washington D.C.

Unlike popes who visited the U.S. before him, Francis didn’t really address “traditional moral issues like abortion and homosexuality,” the New York Times writes. Instead, His Holiness embraced President Barack Obama’s plans to fight climate change. “It seems clear to me also that climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to our future generation,” the pontiff said during his arrival ceremony at the White House.

The pope’s approach on climate change, however — one that largely ignores practical solutions — probably won’t motivate people to take action, according to social scientists.

Today, Francis will make history when he becomes the first ever pontiff to address both houses of Congress. The address will also be the “most challenging English-speaking appearance of his papacy,” the New York Times writes.

Some other papal stats: Francis is the 266th pope. He's the fourth to visit the U.S. and only the third to visit Washington D.C. The pope is the spiritual leader of roughly 1.2 billion Catholics world-wide, 70 million of which live in the U.S.

And a little extra.

A 5-year-old American girl got the pope’s special attention. Sophie Cruz handed the pontiff a letter during yesterday’s pope mobile parade in Washington D.C.

In the heartfelt letter, she looked to the pope to get President Obama and Congress to pass an immigration overhaul so that her Mexican immigrant parents can stay in the country, BuzzFeed News’ Adrian Carrasquilo writes. “Pope Francis, I want to tell you that my heart is sad … because everyday I am scared that one day they will take them away from me.”

More than 450 people were killed and hundreds more injured in a stampede during the annual Hajj pilgrimage outside the holy city of Mecca.

The incident, which occurred on the first day of the Eid al-Adha festival, happened on Road 204 in Mina, located between camps for pilgrims, outside of the holy city of Mecca, Al-Jazeera writes. About 4,000 rescue workers were sent to help and roughly 220 ambulances were dispatched to the scene. Officials have advised pilgrims to take alternate routes.

“Some two million people are estimated to have undertaken the pilgrimage this year,” BuzzFeed News’ Francis Whittaker writes. All Muslims are required to make the Hajj pilgrimage at least once, if they’re physically and financially able to.

And a little extra.

The Hajj has become a major security and logistical challenge for Saudi authorities, with millions of Muslims making the pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina every year, the Associated Press writes. Earlier this month, a crane collapse at Mecca’s Grand Mosque killed 107 people and injured 238.

Today’s incident is the worst one since 1990, when a stampede in a tunnel in Mina killed 1,426 pilgrims. The Associated Press has a look at major Hajj-related incidents in Saudi Arabia in recent years.

WE’RE KEEPING AN EYE ON

Volkswagen chief executive Martin Winterkorn resigned in the wake of the carmaker’s admission that it manipulated emission tests on as many as 11 million cars.

The CEO, who announced his resignation on Wednesday, stated the need for a “fresh start,” after having accepted responsibility for the “irregularities” found in VW’s diesel engines. Winterkorn insisted, however, there was no wrongdoing on his part, BuzzFeed News’ David Mack writes.

“I am shocked by the events of the past few days,” the CEO said in a statement. “Above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group.”

Winterkorn joined Volkswagen’s Audi subsidiary in 1981 and has served as Volkswagen’s boss since 2007. More resignations are expected at the company, the Associated Press reports.

What’s next?

Cheating the system isn’t a new phenomenon in the auto industry. “Cheating in the United States started as soon as governments began regulating automotive emissions in the early 1970s,” the New York Times writes. Gadgets and software to circumvent emissions testing are banned by the Environmental Protection Agency.

“In Europe, some automakers have taped up test cars’ doors and grilles to bolster their aerodynamics. Others have used ‘superlubricants’ to reduce friction in the car’s engine to a degree that would be impossible in real-world driving conditions,” the Times reports.

Britain, France and Germany are under scrutiny as well. While the countries have called publicly for a European investigation into Volkswagen’s rigging practices, the countries previously lobbied the European commission in favor of outdated car tests for carbon emissions, a Guardian investigation found.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS?

Warehouse staff striking in Los Angeles called on Amazon for better pay and conditions.

Staff at a major Los Angeles warehouse and distribution center that serves Amazon and other big retailers is protesting unpaid wages and overtime, dangerous conditions, a lack of breaks and water during hot summer months, and retaliation by management against their organizing efforts, BuzzFeed News’ Cora Lewis writes. While the workers aren’t directly employed by Amazon, they say the e-commerce giant should take responsibility.

Over the summer, the New York Times published an investigation into unfair working conditions at Amazon. Jeff Bezos, the company’s chief executive, responded by saying the article didn’t represent “the Amazon I know.”

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the top FARC rebel commander have announced a peace deal which puts an end to their 50-year war.

The two parties set a six-month timeline to sign the deal. The government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia have been negotiating this agreement in Cuba since 2012. “On Wednesday, they reached an agreement on how to punish human rights abuses committed during the conflict,” BBC News writes.

The Colombian government and the rebels failed to reach a peace deal during three previous attempts, the New York Times reports.

FARC — the country’s oldest and largest left-wing rebel group — has been fighting the government since 1964. Altogether, the conflict has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced millions.

Quick things to know:

• A suicide bombing at a mosque in Yemen’s capital killed dozens of people during prayers for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday. (BuzzFeed News)

• The European Union is pledging an additional €1 million to help agencies support Syrian refugees. During an emergency summit on Wednesday, where EU interior ministers debated the migration crisis, European Council President Donald Tusk said that "the greatest tide of refugees and migrants is yet to come.” (BuzzFeed News)

• The U.S. and China are discussing a cyber arms pact though critics say the deal doesn’t go far enough. (BuzzFeed News)

• Al Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were released from prison after being pardoned by Egypt’s president. They were imprisoned for aiding the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. (BuzzFeed News)

• This summer’s battle over abortion rights in the U.S. was the most fierce in decades, advocates on both sides say. (BuzzFeed News)

• Facebook’s latest visual feature has arrived: a 360-degree video format. (BuzzFeed News)

• The Dalai Lama said he’d support a future female successor with a certain caveat: her “face should be very attractive, otherwise not much use.” (BuzzFeed News)

• The reporters behind the wildly popular Serial podcast may spend an upcoming season digging into something far more high-profile: the disappearance of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. (BuzzFeed News)

• Fashion month is in full force and the one phrase dominating the runway is “gender fluidity.” (Mashable)

• The Australian government may not let Chris Brown into the country. (BuzzFeed News)

And here’s what’s happening in the world of comedy: This woman is tackling the Upright Citizen Brigade’s diversity problem. (BuzzFeed News) Kenan and Kel reunited on the Tonight Show. (BuzzFeed News) And Amy Schumer scored a $9 million advance for her upcoming book, The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Happy Thursday

An adorable, shy red panda named Tofu made her first public appearance at the Detroit Zoo over the weekend. Red pandas are native to Nepal, Myanmar, and Central China, BuzzFeed News’ Michelle Broder Van Dyke writes. There are fewer than 10,000 of the fluffy, red animals left in the wild. Red pandas are slightly larger than a domestic cat and have a bear-like body with thick fur. They’re threatened due to deforestation and poaching. Welcome to the world, Tofu!

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This letter was edited and brought to you by Claire Moses and Brianne O’Brien. You can always reach us here.