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Over 2.2 Million Zamzam Water Bottles Will Be Distributed during Hajj

Muslims perform Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
Muslims perform Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
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Over 2.2 Million Zamzam Water Bottles Will Be Distributed during Hajj

Muslims perform Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)
Muslims perform Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah. (SPA)

The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz’s Zamzam Project is ready to prepare more than 2.2 million Zamzam water bottles during this year's Hajj season to meet increasing demand.

General President of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais called for doubling the maximum production capacity of bottled Zamzam water to reach 200,000 bottles per day, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.

He also urged the continued selling of Zamzam water bottles through accredited contractors.

The service aims to achieve the project's mission and is in line with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz to serve Islam and Muslims, stressed Dr. Al-Sudais.

The service seeks to provide Zamzam water to the pilgrims in an easy way. It uses the latest automatic mechanisms throughout the stages of water purification, from the moment it is extracted from the well and until it is bottled at the factory, Dr. Al-Sudais explained.

The water is automatically bottled in healthy and safe packages without any human intervention to preserve the quality and safety of the blessed water provided to the pilgrims.

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Australian Prime Minister Defends Himself from an Accusation That He Asked for Free Flight Upgrades

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks as QANTAS unveil their Yes23 livery being carried on some of their aircraft at Sydney Domestic Airport in Sydney, on Aug. 14, 2023. (Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP)
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks as QANTAS unveil their Yes23 livery being carried on some of their aircraft at Sydney Domestic Airport in Sydney, on Aug. 14, 2023. (Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP)
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Australian Prime Minister Defends Himself from an Accusation That He Asked for Free Flight Upgrades

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks as QANTAS unveil their Yes23 livery being carried on some of their aircraft at Sydney Domestic Airport in Sydney, on Aug. 14, 2023. (Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP)
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks as QANTAS unveil their Yes23 livery being carried on some of their aircraft at Sydney Domestic Airport in Sydney, on Aug. 14, 2023. (Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday said he had always “acted in a transparent and appropriate way” after a new book claimed that he had repeatedly requested free upgrades for personal flights on Qantas Airways.

Albanese, who was transport minister in a previous government, was accused in a book released Monday of developing an inappropriately close relationship with Alan Joyce, who was Qantas chief executive for 15 years until 2023.

Qantas is Australia's largest airline and was state-owned until the 1990s. The Sydney-based airline is the country's flag carrier and must by law remain at least 51% Australian owned.

“According to Qantas insiders, Albanese would liaise with Joyce directly about his personal travel,” a published extract of the book said. The insiders were not named.

Albanese said he had declared 22 free Qantas upgrades in a register of gifts to lawmakers valued at more than 300 Australian dollars ($197). He noted opposition lawmaker Paul Fletcher had declared 69.

“I’ve declared everything in accordance with all of the rules,” Albanese told reporters.

“I have, at all times — at all times — acted in a transparent and appropriate way,” he added.

Albanese said on Tuesday he only recalled two conversations with Joyce about flights. Those flights did not involve personal travel.

“There’s no accusation being made with any specifics at all about any of this. None. None,” Albanese said.

Albanese noted the book's author, Joe Aston, was a former opposition party staffer and former Qantas employee. The book is titled “The Chairman’s Lounge: The Inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out.”

Joyce could not be immediately contacted for comment. Qantas did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Australian newspaper reported Albanese might have been in breach of the then-government’s code of ministerial conduct when he was transport minister from 2007 until 2013.

The code explicitly banned ministers from seeking or encouraging any form of gift in their personal capacity.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton on Monday described the accusation that Albanese contacted Joyce to solicit free upgrades as “a bit strange.”

“I’m not aware of anyone else having done it,” Dutton told reporters.