Latest from Gulf Today
Gulf Today
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Gulf Today
Heatwave across the Med sparks health and fire warnings
Southern European countries braced on Friday for a punishing weekend heatwave, with temperatures predicted to hit up to 40˚C and beyond, prompting health warnings for residents and tourists plus fears of wildfires. The searing heat spreading across the Mediterranean from the Iberian peninsula to the Balkans and Greece comes as climate scientists warn that galloping human-induced climate change is causing more extreme weather, including longer and more intense heatwaves. Tens of millions of people have already been sweltering in what the National Weather Service called an "extremely dangerous" heatwave across the eastern United States, including in New York and Washington, straining the power grid as people cranked up air conditioning. A tourist with an umbrella walks in front of the ancient Propylaea temple at the Acropolis Hill. AP Across the Atlantic in Spain, emergency medical staff readied to deal with an expected surge in heatstroke cases, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses. In neighbouring Portugal, the national meteorological agency IPMA said the heatwave would hit from Saturday, with temperatures passing 40˚C in the south of the country as well as in the central Tagus and the Douro valleys in the north. A boy jumps in the river Treska near Skopje as a heatwave with temperatures around 40˚C hits North Macedonia. AFP Sunday will be even hotter, the agency added, and two-thirds of the country has already been put on orange alert. Temperatures are expected to hit 42˚C in the capital, Lisbon. The risk of fire is at its highest inland in the northern half of Portugal, as well as on the Algarve coast popular with holidaymakers in the south. A Sofia Zoo employee sprays water on Chiko, a white rhino, to cool him off during a heatwave with temperatures over 40˚C. AFP France has been gripped by its 50th national heatwave since 1947 for more than a week now, and four regions in southern France were placed under an orange alert on Friday — the second-highest warning — as temperatures were expected to reach 35˚C to 38˚C locally, and up to 39˚C inland. The Meteo France weather agency said surface sea temperatures from the Mediterranean were an "aggravating factor" that could make nights "more stifling." Nine additional French regions are expected to be placed on orange alert from 12:00 pm (1000 GMT) on Saturday. WARNINGS In Italy, the health ministry issued its top red alert for 21 cities this weekend including the capital Rome, the economic powerhouse Milan and Venice, where the rich and famous were celebrating the wedding of Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos. People were advised not to go outdoors between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm, and to seek shelter in air-conditioned public places. Kris Jenner takes a picture of Khloe Kardashian and Kim Kardashian on a boat, ahead of the anticipated wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez in Venice. Reuters In Venice, the temperature was set to hit 32˚C on Saturday, when Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are expected to be throwing a dance party starring Lady Gaga — but it will feel like around 36˚C due to humidity. In Florence, which was already on red alert on Friday, the temperature is forecast to reach 37C on Saturday, while it will go up to 36˚C on Sunday in Rome, Milan and Naples. A tourist drinks water during his visit at the Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis Hill. Reuters Across the Adriatic, the authorities in Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia also issued health warnings, while in Albania, firefighters battled Thursday to bring at least eight blazes under control after flames destroyed dozens of homes in the south of the country last weekend. Further south, weather agencies in Greece forecast a heatwave in the coming days with temperatures of more than 40˚C, including in the capital Athens. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez leave for their pre-wedding reception in Venice. AP The country has become particularly vulnerable to summer fires in recent years fuelled by strong winds, drought and high temperatures linked to climate change. Firefighters said Friday that a forest blaze that had forced evacuations around Athens was under control but warned that scorching temperatures were keeping fire risk at a highly elevated level around the capital and on northern Aegean islands. Fields, olive groves and some houses were ravaged by the blaze around Athens, which came after another on Greece's fifth-largest island Chios that destroyed more than 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of land in four days. Agence France-PResse
Gulf Today
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
UAE, Iraqi Presidents discuss bilateral relations, regional developments in phone call
UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday received a phone call from Dr Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, President of the Republic of Iraq. During the call, the two leaders discussed the latest developments in the Middle East, with both sides underscoring the importance of promoting dialogue and diplomacy as a means to foster peace, safeguard regional security, and fulfil the aspirations of all for development and prosperity. The call also explored opportunities to further strengthen the close ties between the UAE and Iraq, in a way that advances progress and prosperity for both nations and their peoples. Sheikh Mohamed and the Iraqi President exchanged greetings on the occasion of the Hijri New Year, expressing their hopes that it brings peace, security, and stability to the region and the wider world. WAM
Gulf Today
2 hours ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr until 2027
Cristiano Ronaldo inked a two-year extension with Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr, the club announced Thursday, following months of speculation over which team he would sign for next season. "Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at @AlNassrFC until 2027," the club wrote in a post on X. Minutes before the official confirmation, the team posted a teaser video, with the 40-year-old Ronaldo walking along a beachfront and saying: "Al Nassr forever". The Portuguese superstar arrived in 2023 in the kingdom to play with the club, heralding a rush of players in the latter stages of their careers to the oil-rich country. Last month, Ronaldo posted "This chapter is over" hours after the Saudi Pro League wrapped up with Al Nassr finishing third and trophyless once again. Cristiano Ronaldo signs a new deal with the Saudi club, in the presence of club chairman Abdullah Al Majid at an undisclosed location. AFP "Ronaldo's presence is a key factor in developing the Saudi league in the last two years and a half. He opens the door for elite and young players to come to Saudi Arabia," a source from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a major investor in Saudi football, told AFP last month. The oil-funded PIF, the sovereign wealth fund behind a number of big-ticket Saudi investments, controls a group of Pro League clubs including Al Nassr, Al Hilal and Al Ahli. Ronaldo's announcement in May came just months after Brazilian star Neymar ended his injury-plagued 18-month stay in January, after playing just seven times for Al Hilal -- on a reported salary of around $104 million a year. Although Ronaldo was the Pro League's top scorer with 25 goals, he has been unable to win a Saudi or continental trophy with Al Nassr, who lost in the Asian Champions League semi-finals last month. Last year, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner said he could end his career with Al Nassr, the Riyadh team favoured by a number of Saudi royals. Saudi Arabia has shaken up football by spending heavily on stars from Europe, starting with Ronaldo's move in late 2022, and the desert nation will host the World Cup in 2034. For the past two years, Saudi football fans could watch the likes of Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, with six Ballons d'Or between them, on any given weekend during the football season in the kingdom. Agence France-Presse
Gulf Today
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
UAE's top court reconvicts 24 defendants of terror group to life in prison
In its session held on Thursday, the Criminal Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court ruled to partially overturn the judgment issued by the State Security Chamber at the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal and to reconvict 24 defendants in the case known publicly as the "Terrorist Justice and Dignity Organisation" case. The court sentenced the defendants to life imprisonment for collaborating with the "Terrorist Justice and Dignity Organisation," and providing funds to the "Al Islah Terrorist Organisation," in addition to ordering the confiscation of all funds and items seized in connection with these crimes. Attorney General, Chancellor Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, had partially appealed the appellate court's ruling that dismissed the criminal case against the defendants for collaborating with the "Terrorist Justice and Dignity Organisation" and financing the "Al Islah Terrorist Organisation," citing their prior trial in Case No.79 of 2012 — State Security. The Attorney General argued that the ruling was legally flawed in its application of the law, and should therefore be overturned. He emphasised that the court should have applied the penalties prescribed for the more serious offenses of financing and collaborating with a terrorist organisation, while accounting for any portion of the sentence already served under the previous ruling. The court's decision to dismiss the criminal case for these two offenses based on a final ruling issued in Case No. 79 of 2012 — State Security Crimes — was misplaced. The prior judgement only convicted the defendants of a single crime, namely the establishment and management of the "Al Islah Organisation" as stipulated in Article 180/1 of the Penal Code, and did not address the separate crimes of financing a terrorist organisation and collaborating with it, both of which are stipulated in Federal Law No. 1 of 2004 on Combating Terrorist Crimes, and carry independent and more severe penalties. The Federal Supreme Court reviewed the Attorney General's appeal, and in its session yesterday, ruled to partially overturn the judgment and reconvict 24 defendants, sentencing them to life imprisonment. The court based its decision on the clear legal distinction between the incidents in the two cases, which invalidates any claim that they share the same cause or subject matter. Each incident constitutes an independent criminal act subject to its own punishment under the law. Accordingly, the previous ruling in Case No. 79 of 2012 - State Security Crimes - does not carry legal weight that would prevent the prosecution of the defendants for the charges of financing and collaboration in the present case. Since the challenged judgment overlooked this principle and dismissed the criminal case based on the prior ruling- despite the difference in cause and subject matter- the judgment erred in its application of the law. This necessitated the partial overturning of these specific charges, limited to the defendants named in the Attorney General's appeal. It is worth noting that the State Security Chamber of the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal had previously convicted, in Case No. 87 of 2023, known publicly as the "Terrorist Justice and Dignity Organization" case, 53 defendants who were leaders and members of the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood organization, in addition to 6 companies. Sentences ranged from life and temporary imprisonment to fines totaling 20 million dirhams, while one defendant was acquitted. Following yesterday's ruling by the State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court, the total number of convicted individuals in this case has risen to 83 out of 84 referred to trial. WAM
Gulf Today
2 hours ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
Air Arabia launches its new route from Sharjah to Russian city of Sochi
Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa's first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) operator, inaugurated its new route to the Russian city of Sochi with a frequency six weekly flights. The new service marks the sixth Russian city to be served directly from Sharjah, alongside Moscow, Kazan, Samara, Ufa, and Yekaterinburg, further expanding Air Arabia's network in the country. Commenting on the launch, Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said, "We are glad to inaugurate our non-stop flights to Sochi, further strengthening our connectivity with Russia. This expansion not only provides our customers with a convenient and affordable air travel option between the UAE and Russia but also further strengthening tourism and trade ties between both nations. Sochi complements our growing network in the country and reflects our ongoing commitment to offering more travel opportunities to our customers." "Today, Sochi is actively developing as an international hub, attracting more and more foreign tourists and offering extensive travel opportunities for Russian citizens. The United Arab Emirates ranks among the top destinations served by the airport. The Emirate of Sharjah will become the third city in the UAE connected to Sochi Airport's route network, once again confirming the growth and strengthening of ties between our countries. Thanks to Air Arabia's wide route network, travelers will benefit from convenient connections to destinations across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, significantly expanding their international travel options," Alexey Starostin, CEO Aerod, managing company of Sochi airport. With the addition of Sochi to its network, Air Arabia now serves Russia from three airports in the UAE, including Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah. This expansion highlights the airline's ongoing commitment to enhancing connectivity between the United Arab Emirates and Russia, while promoting tourism, trade and cultural exchange between the two countries. WAM
