Latest news with #Agencies
Arab Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Arab Times
Is Kuwait the Hottest Place on Earth Right Now? Scientists Say This Is the New Normal
KUWAIT CITY/TEHRAN/ ATHENS, July 21, (Agencies): A brutal and far-reaching heatwave is scorching regions across the Middle East and Europe this week, with Kuwait, Iran, Greece, and Türkiye battling record-breaking temperatures, raging wildfires, and intensifying climate emergencies. Meteorological officials warn that these extreme conditions, driven by global climate change, could persist through the week, posing severe risks to public health, infrastructure, and energy systems. Kuwait is currently enduring some of the most extreme weather this year, with daytime temperatures soaring between 49°C and 52°C, and nighttime lows offering little relief, hovering between 32°C and 35°C. Acting Director of the Meteorological Department, Dhirar Al- Ali, announced that the intense heat is being driven by a low-pressure system extending from the Indian monsoon, combining with a hot, dry air mass and strong, persistent northwesterly winds. 'These winds are generating widespread dust storms, reducing horizontal visibility to under 1,000 meters in open areas,' Al-Ali told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). 'Sea conditions remain hazardous, with wave heights frequently exceeding six feet.' Wind speeds are forecast to increase between Tuesday and Wednesday, ranging from 15 to 60 kilometers per hour, further worsening conditions. Officials have urged residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities and take precautions as the punishing heatwave continues through the end of the week. In neighboring Iran, temperatures have also climbed above 50°C in several regions, with the capital Tehran reaching at least 40°C on Sunday. The country is grappling with its hottest period of the year, prompting closures of all government offices, banks, and businesses in the capital province on Wednesday to conserve energy. State-run media report that dam reservoirs supplying Tehran have plummeted to 'their lowest levels in a century,' prompting urgent appeals from local authorities for residents to slash water use by 20%. In Borazjan, a city in southern Bushehr province, thermometers recently registered 50°C (122°F) – the highest in the nation in the past 24 hours. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani urged the public to stay indoors during midday hours, limit electricity and water consumption, and remain alert to health advisories. Iran has announced heat-related public holidays in previous years, and the frequency of such measures is increasing as the region faces more frequent climate shocks. Further west, Europe is also reeling from a punishing heatwave as hot air from North Africa forms a persistent heat dome over southern and southeastern Europe. Greece is experiencing its first prolonged heat event of the summer, with temperatures expected to peak at 44°C in some areas. The National Herald, a Greek daily, described the capital, Athens as 'hotter than hell.' The extreme heat has triggered severe wildfires, especially on the island of Crete, where over 1,000 residents were evacuated after flames consumed forests and olive groves. Near Athens, new fires continue to creep dangerously close to populated areas. In Türkiye, 761 wildfires have erupted across the country since June 26, particularly in the western Izmir Province. The fires have claimed at least two lives and destroyed large tracts of farmland and forested areas. Elsewhere across Europe, authorities have reported at least eight heat-related deaths in countries including Spain and Italy. Energy grids are under strain, and hospitals are reporting increased admissions due to heatstroke and dehydration. Experts say the current weather pattern is part of a broader shift driven by climate change. 'We are currently under the influence of a strong high-pressure system that's trapping hot air from northern Africa over the region,' said Clare Nullis, spokesperson for the World Meteorological Organization. 'As we can see, it's having a major impact on the way we live.' The EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service has sounded the alarm, projecting that 'damage to the built environment from extreme weather events is expected to increase tenfold by the end of the century.' The agency stressed the urgent need for adaptation, including changes in urban design, water management, early warning systems, and climate-resilient infrastructure. With meteorologists forecasting more dangerous temperature spikes throughout the summer, the heatwave that is currently scorching Kuwait, Iran, Greece, and beyond may be only a glimpse of what's to come. 'Adaptation is required across all sectors and governance levels,' Copernicus warned, 'and actions must address both current climate impacts and protect against future risks.' As the full force of summer bears down, officials across the Middle East and Europe are racing to respond to the escalating crisis – one that scientists say the world must learn to live with, and prepare for, as the planet continues to warm.
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Qatar Tribune
Marquez fends off Bezzecchi for Czech MotoGP victory
Agencies Brno (Czech Republic) The 'unstoppable' Marc Marquez emerged victorious yet again on Sunday at the Czech MotoGP to become the first Ducati rider to win five Grands Prix on the spin, but he was made to work for it in the first half of the battle. It was the Spaniard's eighth victory in 12 races this season and fifth in a row, extending his commanding lead in the world championship. The factory Ducati rider beat Marco Bezzecchi on an Aprilia by almost two seconds, while Pedro Acosta on a KTM came in third in his first race podium finish of the season. Marquez had a fifth straight perfect weekend, winning both the sprint on Saturday and Sunday's race. The 32-year-old Spaniard now leads the world championship with 381 points, 120 ahead of his younger brother Alex who crashed, and 168 ahead of Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia. 'It has been a super first part of the season and especially these last races,' Marquez said. 'I feel better and better and I'm riding super good,' he added. Bagnaia started from pole in bright sunshine but only retained the lead until the second lap when Bezzecchi eased past him, with Marquez following suit soon afterwards. Acosta did the same to settle down in third after getting a boost from a second-place finish in Saturday's sprint. Marquez glided past Bezzecchi in lap eight as the runaway trio kept building up their lead, and as so often this season kept widening the gap comfortably. The three stayed put until the finish line, although fourth-placed Bagnaia gave Acosta a hard time pressing from behind. 'The first lap was unbelievable,' said Bezzecchi. 'I had so much fun in the first half of the race but unfortunately when Marc passed me I immediately saw that he had something more.' 'I tried to attack but he was strong. Anyway, I made a fantastic performance, I'm very, very happy,' added the Italian. Marquez took 40min 04.628sec to complete the 21 laps on the resurfaced 5.4-kilometre Brno circuit returning to the MotoGP calendar after a five-year break due to financial woes. Bezzecchi crossed the line 1.753 seconds adrift, while Acosta trailed Marquez by 3.366sec. Almost 220,000 fans gathered in the stands for the weekend as Marquez sped to his fourth MotoGP win at Brno after 2013, 2017 and 2019. The MotoGP circus will now take a summer break and resume with the Austrian GP on August 15-17.
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- General
- Qatar Tribune
5 killed as passenger ferry catches fire off Indonesian coast
Agencies MANADO A passenger ferry carrying hundreds of people caught fire at sea on Sunday off Sulawesi island in Indonesia, killing at least five people, officials said. More than 280 people were rescued and evacuation efforts were ongoing. The KM Barcelona 5 was headed to Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, from Talaud, an island district in the province when it caught fire in waters near Talise, said Vice Adm. Denih Hendrata, commander of the Indonesian Fleet Command. He said that three navy ships had been deployed, and 284 passengers and crew members had been evacuated so far. The rescue operation included assistance from local fishermen, who saved some survivors wearing life jackets as they were drifting to nearby islands in the choppy waters. Rescuers retrieved five bodies, including a pregnant woman. There were no immediate reports of injuries, and no exact figures of passengers and crew members onboard the ferry. 'We are still focusing on evacuation efforts,' Hendrata said, adding that the cause of the fire was being investigated. Photos and videos released by the National Search and Rescue Agency showed terrified passengers, mostly wearing life jackets, jumping into the sea. Orange flames and black smoke billowed from the burning vessel. Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands where ferries are a common method of travel. Disasters occur regularly, with weak safety enforcement often blamed. Residents of Mentawai Islands found several people stranded on July 14 after a speedboat carrying 18 people capsized during a storm the day before, authorities said. All were in good condition. A ferry sank near Indonesia's resort island of Bali early this month, leaving at least 19 dead and 16 others missing. A two-week search operation involved more than 1,000 rescuers, three navy ships, 15 boats, a helicopter and divers.
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Moscow airports shut temporarily after Ukraine drone attacks
Agencies Moscow A sustained Ukrainian drone attack on Russia caused Moscow's major airports to be temporarily closed and saw at least 140 flights cancelled, officials said. More than 230 Ukrainian drones were downed over Russia since Saturday morning — including 27 over the capital — according to the Russian defence ministry. According to Russia's aviation watchdog, the four major airports serving the capital were disrupted and more than 130 flights also had to be redirected. All have since resumed normal operations. Meanwhile, at least three people were killed during Russian air strikes on Ukraine overnight, according to regional officials. Russia's Association of Tour Operators (Ator) said on Sunday that Moscow airports were closed 10 times in 24 hours due to the strikes. The Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow, was also affected. Russia's defence ministry said it had intercepted 45 drones since Saturday morning, resulting in Kaluga International Airport also being temporarily closed. Russia's defence ministry said drones were also shot down over regions near the Ukrainian border including Rostov and Bryansk, as well as over the Black Sea. No fatalities were reported. This is not the first time that Ukrainian drone attacks have caused travel disruption in Russia. In May, at least 60,000 passengers were stranded at airports across the country after Kiev launched more than 500 drones in a 24-hour period, according to Russia's defence ministry. Regional officials in Ukraine said two people died after Russian air strikes in different parts of Donetsk, while a 78-year-old woman died after residential buildings burned down in Sumy. Ukraine's air force said it shot down 18 out of 57 Russian drones overnight into Sunday, while a further seven drones were lost after their radars were jammed. As well as Sumy and Donetsk, other front-line areas of Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk were attacked, as was Zaporizhzhia. The latest attacks come as the Kremlin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was ready to move towards a peace settlement with Ukraine but that Moscow's priority was to 'achieve our goals'. 'President Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy,' he said in a televised interview. It has been nearly three-and-a-half years since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Google's Android chief Sameer Samat says you don't need a computer science degree anymore, here's what will really matter in big tech.
Agencies Google's Android chief Sameer Samat believes a computer science degree isn't essential to thrive in tech. In a candid conversation, he emphasized that passion, problem-solving skills, and domain expertise matter more than formal qualifications. At a time when degrees still define worth in many professions, Google's Android chief Sameer Samat is reshaping that narrative for aspiring tech professionals. Speaking candidly about what truly lands someone a coveted role in Silicon Valley, Samat made it clear—a computer science degree is not your golden ticket into big tech. Passion, problem-solving, and deep expertise matter more. In a powerful conversation, reported by Times of India, Samat dismantled a long-held belief that success in tech is gated by traditional education. 'If all you want to do is learn Java or Python, you don't need a degree,' he said. 'Computer science is the science of solving problems—it's not just about syntax and code.' As artificial intelligence continues to take over basic programming tasks, Samat stressed that the real value of a tech education lies in understanding systems, tackling complex problems, and working collaboratively in real-world environments. Sameer Samat isn't speaking from theory—his own journey is proof. After graduating from UC San Diego with a degree in computer science, he didn't just chase titles. He founded startups, sent a cold email to Google co-founder Sergey Brin (which led to a spontaneous job interview), and eventually carved out a leadership role at Google after turning down that very first offer. Today, as President of the Android Ecosystem, he's shaping the future of mobile technology, including the integration of ChromeOS with Android—an evolution in computing years in the making. But what he advocates for is even more futuristic than merging operating systems. In his view, programming languages will eventually become so abstract that developers might just describe problems in natural language and let machines take over the implementation. 'That might still take time,' he admitted, 'but foundational understanding will always be crucial.' Samat's advice for aspiring engineers is simple but profound: don't pursue computer science just because it's trendy. Instead, focus on something that genuinely excites you. 'Becoming a top 5% expert in a niche you're passionate about makes you more relevant to the world's best companies,' he said. This depth of knowledge—whether in system design, user experience, or even a specific branch of AI—is what hiring managers at elite tech firms now seek. As many graduates struggle to find roles despite academic credentials, Samat's words echo what the industry is increasingly valuing: specialized, applied expertise over generalist degrees. So for students staring at a syllabus or developers stuck in routine coding jobs, his message is clear: dare to go deeper, be curious, and build something meaningful. Because at the end of the day, it's not the degree that sets you apart—it's the depth of your passion.
