Latest news with #Karami
Muscat Daily
6 days ago
- Climate
- Muscat Daily
Is Iran running out of water?
Tehran, Iran – Authorities in Iran ordered many government offices and public institutions in 16 of Iran's 31 provinces, including Tehran, to remain closed on Wednesday in an attempt to cut power consumption amid an extreme heat wave that has been ongoing since mid-July. The extreme weather is expected to continue for at least five more days in many parts of the country, according to the meteorological agency, with temperatures forecast to hit 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in some areas. The heatwave has been accompanied by drought, with the capital, Tehran, experiencing its lowest rainfall in 60 years, severely impacting the city's water resources, according to the Tehran Provincial Water and Sewage Corporation. Water pressure in Tehran's pipeline network has been reduced to counteract the falling water levels in the city's reservoirs. 'All rivers and water sources within a 100km radius of Tehran have been depleted,' according to Nasser Karami, who researches sustainable development, climate change and water management. 'Tehran is not a place where authorities can simply resort to another source when water is scarce,' the Norway-based researcher told DW. Mismanagement of resources Tehran city, which is home to more than nine million people, is located on the northern edge of the central Iranian desert zone. Water scarcity has been a central issue for the city administration since at least 1969. Building code violations, resource mismanagement and over-consumption have impacted the capital's drinking water resources, which are only adequate for a limited number of people. Experts have been warning for decades that Iran – whose population tripled from 28mn in 1969 to 92mn in 2025 – does not have sufficient resources to support its growing number of inhabitants, expanding agriculture needs, or the high water consumption of its industry and households. 'Nature has paid the price for this policy,' said environmental expert Mansour Sohrabi, who has been based in Germany since 2015. 'Water shortages, heat waves in cities that have hardly any trees left, sandstorms, and particulate matter pollution are the result of these misguided developments.' In recent weeks, water has been turned off for up to 48 hours in several Iranian cities. Electricity is also in short supply. The use of air conditioning puts additional strain on the already unstable power grids. With temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius, power outages lasting hours are a regular occurrence, which is an almost unbearable burden for many people. Frustrated experts 'We have been warning the authorities in Iran about this situation for 30 years,' said climate researcher Karami. 'It was clear that the uncontrolled development of large urban metropolises would lead to precisely this point. 'All of this was predicted,' Karami emphasised, adding that the government knew about it, but did nothing. 'And that is how the current situation came about.' 'The isolated measures currently being taken are not enough to address the crisis,' warned Sheena Ansari, head of an environmental protection organisation in Iran. Years of neglecting sustainable development have led to the country now facing numerous environmental problems. No concrete plans to address the crisis have been announced. According to recent statements by climate experts in Iran, 80% of the country's reservoirs are nearly empty. Normal water supplies will not be restored for at least two months, when seasonal rainfall will help ease the situation. Experts who have offered concrete solutions have long been frustrated, one of which is Mohammad Darvish. He has spent decades researching deserts and advocating for the development of sustainable water sources during the rainy season. 'One of the most effective ways to save water is to channel surface water into underground layers – especially those containing coarse sediments,' Darvish told German public broadcaster ARD. In such layers, the water can easily seep into the ground and be stored underground, preventing it from being lost through evaporation, Darvish explained. 'It can serve as a long-term reservoir and provide a sustainable water source for years to come.' 'There won't be any water' Last week, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian warned against excessive water consumption which he said could leave the capital facing severe shortages by September, according to Tasnim news agency reported. Iran is facing recurring electricity, gas and water shortages during peak demand months, coupled with over-consumption, 'In Tehran, if we cannot manage and people do not cooperate in controlling consumption, there won't be any water in dams by September or October,' Pezeshkian warned. DW
LBCI
30-04-2025
- General
- LBCI
Lebanese Education Minister Rima Karami says official exams to begin July 9, no optional subjects
Lebanese Education Minister Rima Karami announced Wednesday that official high school exams will begin on July 9 and span five days, with the academic year extended until June 13 to ensure sufficient instructional time. Speaking at a press conference, Karami confirmed that adjustments have been made to the content of several subjects based on their relevance to the official certificate. However, she said there will be no optional subjects, as the current conditions support all candidates. Karami emphasized that the educational decisions resulted from thorough studies, focusing on the level of material covered in each subject. She added that all necessary material and logistical requirements have been secured to ensure the exams proceed smoothly.
Shafaq News
16-04-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Beyond state lines: Iran's Ilam calls for cooperation with Karbala
Shafaq News/ The governor of Iran's Ilam province on Wednesday called for enhanced cooperation with Iraq's Karbala, with a focus on boosting religious tourism and mutual investment. During a meeting with local officials in the Iraqi holy city of Karbala, Ilam Governor Ahmad Karami advocated for the activation of "border diplomacy" to complement formal state-level relations, highlighting Ilam's 430-kilometre shared border with Iraq and its significance as a 'key transit point' for religious pilgrims. Karami proposed the establishment of joint committees across sectors including health, agriculture, science, and tourism. He also extended an invitation to Iraqi investors to pursue development projects within Ilam province. Furthermore, he suggested the creation of a dedicated follow-up committee to ensure the implementation of bilateral agreements between the two provinces. The Governor of Karbala welcomed the proposals, stating the city's support for the construction of a railway line connecting Karbala and Ilam to facilitate the movement of pilgrims.
National News
11-04-2025
- Politics
- National News
Minister Karami discusses educational projects with high-level German government delegation
NNA - Minister of National Education and Higher Education, Dr. Leila Karami, on Friday met with a high-level German government delegation, headed by German Ambassador to Lebanon, Kurt Georg Stoeckl-Stillfried, accompanied by senior diplomats from the Embassy. The delegation was also accompanied by Representatives of the German Agency for International Development (GIZ), the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the German Development Bank (KFW). The delegation is on an official mission to review the projects being implemented in cooperation with these German governmental institutions, and to be briefed about the priorities needed by the Education Ministry. Minister Karami welcomed the Ambassador and the delegation, thanking the German side for its support for education in Lebanon under all circumstances, especially during crises and wars. Karami also emphasized that "Germany is one of the major donor countries, whether directly or through the European Union and international organizations." The Minister briefed the delegation on the urgent priorities needed by the ministry to carry out its duties.
LBCI
19-03-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Education minister discusses official exam preparations, proposes canceling Brevet exams
As part of preparations for the official exams, Education Minister Rima Karami held a series of administrative and educational meetings on Wednesday. The meetings reviewed administrative, educational, and logistical preparations for the official Lebanese Baccalaureate exams in all four tracks, scheduled for the last week of June. The minister stated that she had submitted a draft decree to the Cabinet requesting approval to cancel this year's official exams for the Brevet certificate and replace them with school-based exams. She noted that the proposal has been referred to the State Shura Council before being presented to the Cabinet for a final decision. Karami emphasized that it is up to the Cabinet to approve or reject the proposal. She urged both administrators and students to continue their preparations for the exams, stressing their importance as a national assessment tool. She also pointed out that the curriculum development project will include improvements to evaluation and assessment methods, adopting a competency-based approach.
