海角直播

海角直播 charts an innovative path to water sustainability

海角直播 charts an innovative path to water sustainability

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Water is often called the soul of life, as essential to humans as air. However, its availability is decreasing as global populations grow and climate challenges intensify.

Water sustainability refers to the efficient use of water to meet current and future needs, ensuring the welfare and development of societies worldwide.

In 海角直播, water sustainability is not merely an aspiration, but a necessity for survival and growth, in a country marked by an arid climate and limited renewable water resources.

海角直播 is among the world鈥檚 most water-scarce nations, a reality shaped by its desert-like environment, with no perennial rivers or lakes.

The Kingdom relies heavily on non-renewable groundwater, which is depleting rapidly, and desalination plants, which supply 50 percent of its water.

Notably, per capita water use in 海角直播 is 234 liters per day 鈥 almost double the global average. While desalination ensures access to fresh water, it comes at a high cost. The process is energy-intensive, environmentally taxing and generates brine that harms aquatic ecosystems.

海角直播 is tackling its water challenges by embracing advanced technologies. The Kingdom leads in energy-efficient desalination, incorporating renewable energy sources. Notable projects like the solar-powered Al-Khafji Plant, launched by the Saudi Water Partnership Co., showcase this innovation.

Wastewater treatment and reuse are also key priorities, conserving water resources and reducing pollution. The Kingdom treats and reuses 21 percent of its wastewater, with plans to increase this to 70 percent by 2030.

In agriculture, which consumes 80 percent of the nation鈥檚 water, advanced methods like drip irrigation and hydroponics enhance water efficiency. These initiatives demonstrate 海角直播鈥檚 commitment to resource optimization.

Vision 2030 serves as the cornerstone of the Kingdom鈥檚 water strategy. This comprehensive development plan focuses on diversifying the economy and ensuring sustainable resource use. It includes goals such as reducing water subsidies, increasing wastewater reuse and raising public awareness about conservation.

Key initiatives like the National Water Strategy 2030 focus on achieving water demand-supply balance, enhancing governance in the water sector and ensuring resource sustainability. Social marketing campaigns are also driving positive behavioral shifts toward water conservation.

海角直播 is among the world鈥檚 most water-scarce nations, a reality shaped by its desert-like environment, with no perennial rivers or lakes.

Majed Nezar Al-Qatari

海角直播 is heavily investing in sustainable water management through its ambitious megaprojects. The $500 billion futuristic city of NEOM will feature renewable energy-powered desalination and advanced water reuse technologies.

The Red Sea Project, a luxury tourism initiative, aims for zero wastewater discharge and high water recycling rates. Similarly, the Saudi Green Initiative promotes afforestation and sustainable irrigation to reduce water wastage. These efforts underscore the Kingdom鈥檚 commitment to environmental sustainability.

Recognizing that water security is a global concern, 海角直播 collaborates internationally with organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN to share knowledge and technology. Regionally, the Kingdom works with the Gulf Cooperation Council to address shared challenges such as declining water tables and seawater intrusion.

Despite significant advancements, achieving water sustainability in 海角直播 remains challenging. Factors such as demographic shifts, infrastructure growth and climate change continue to drive up water demand. To secure a sustainable future, the Kingdom must further invest in research, development and public education on conservation measures.

Citizen engagement is essential. Small reductions in household water use, when widely adopted, can make a significant impact. By combining conservation efforts with advanced technologies, 海角直播 can ensure its water resources support economic growth and environmental preservation for years to come.

海角直播 is charting a path for water innovation through technology, policy reforms and cooperation. The Kingdom鈥檚 efforts demonstrate its resolve to address critical needs and challenges. However, sustained commitment and global collaboration are essential to maintain progress.

As the world faces growing water scarcity, 海角直播鈥檚 story can teach valuable lessons in innovation, perseverance and resilience. Achieving a sustainable water future requires collective effort 鈥 every drop counts.

鈥 Majed Nezar Al-Qatari is a sustainability leader, ecological engineer and UN youth ambassador with experience in advancing environmental, social and corporate governance and sustainability goals in corporate businesses, nonprofit organizations and financial institutions.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News' point of view

India鈥檚 PM Modi maintains there was no US mediation in ceasefire with Pakistan

India鈥檚 PM Modi maintains there was no US mediation in ceasefire with Pakistan
Updated 48 sec ago

India鈥檚 PM Modi maintains there was no US mediation in ceasefire with Pakistan

India鈥檚 PM Modi maintains there was no US mediation in ceasefire with Pakistan
  • Trump had said last month the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors agreed to a ceasefire after talks mediated by the US
  • Pakistan has previously said ceasefire happened after its military returned a call the Indian military had initiated on May 7

NEW DELHI: India鈥檚 Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintained in a conversation with US President Donald Trump late on Tuesday that a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after a four-day conflict in May was achieved through talks between the two militaries and not US mediation, India鈥檚 senior-most diplomat said

Trump had said last month that the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbors agreed to a ceasefire after talks mediated by the US and that the hostilities ended after he urged the countries to focus on trade instead of war.

鈥淧M Modi told President Trump clearly that during this period, there was no talk at any stage on subjects like India-US trade deal or US mediation between India and Pakistan,鈥 Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a press statement.

鈥淭alks for ceasing military action happened directly between India and Pakistan through existing military channels, and on the insistence of Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that India has not accepted mediation in the past and will never do,鈥 he said.

Misri said the two leaders spoke over the phone at the insistence of Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada which Modi attended as a guest. The call lasted 35 minutes.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the Modi-Trump call.

Pakistan has previously said that the ceasefire happened after its military returned a call the Indian military had initiated on May 7.
 


India grants license to Musk鈥檚 Starlink

India grants license to Musk鈥檚 Starlink
Updated 14 min 34 sec ago

India grants license to Musk鈥檚 Starlink

India grants license to Musk鈥檚 Starlink
  • The launch of Starlink has sparked fierce debate in India over issues ranging from predatory pricing to spectrum allocation
  • Elon Musk has butted heads with Jio Platforms owner Mukesh Ambani over how the satellite spectrum should be awarded

NEW DELHI: New Delhi had granted a license to Elon Musk鈥檚 Starlink satellite Internet service, opening India鈥檚 鈥渘ext frontier of connectivity,鈥 according to the country鈥檚 communications minister.

The launch of Starlink, which provides high-speed Internet access to remote locations using low Earth orbit satellites, has sparked fierce debate in India over issues ranging from predatory pricing to spectrum allocation.

Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said he held a 鈥減roductive meeting鈥 with Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of Starlink owner SpaceX.

Shotwell 鈥渁ppreciated the license granted to Starlink, calling it a great start to the journey,鈥 the minister said late Tuesday on Musk-owned social media platform X.

It follows two of India鈥檚 biggest telecom service providers 鈥 Jio Platforms and its rival Bharti Airtel 鈥 in March announcing deals with SpaceX to offer Starlink Internet to their customers.

SpaceX owner Musk has butted heads with Asia鈥檚 richest man and Jio Platforms owner Mukesh Ambani over how the satellite spectrum should be awarded.

While Musk鈥檚 business interests in India are currently limited to X, the tech mogul鈥檚 electric vehicle maker Tesla is preparing its entry into the country.


India regulator says no 鈥榤ajor safety concerns鈥 on Air India鈥檚 Boeing 787 fleet

India regulator says no 鈥榤ajor safety concerns鈥 on Air India鈥檚 Boeing 787 fleet
Updated 29 min 58 sec ago

India regulator says no 鈥榤ajor safety concerns鈥 on Air India鈥檚 Boeing 787 fleet

India regulator says no 鈥榤ajor safety concerns鈥 on Air India鈥檚 Boeing 787 fleet
  • 24 of Air India鈥檚 33 Boeing 787 aircraft had completed an 鈥榚nhanced safety inspection鈥 it had ordered the airline to carry out
  • The regulator raised concerns about recent maintenance-related issues reported by the airline

India鈥檚 aviation safety watchdog said on Tuesday surveillance conducted on Air India鈥檚 Boeing 787 fleet did not reveal any major safety concerns, days after one of its jets crashed, killing at least 271 people.

鈥淭he aircraft and associated maintenance systems were found to be compliant with existing safety standards,鈥 the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a statement. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London with 242 people on board crashed seconds after take-off in Ahmedabad on Thursday hitting nearby buildings. All but one passenger on board was killed, along with about 30 people on the ground.

The DGCA also said 24 of Air India鈥檚 33 Boeing 787 aircraft had completed an 鈥渆nhanced safety inspection鈥 it had ordered the airline to carry out.

The regulator, in a meeting with senior officials of Air India, raised concerns about recent maintenance-related issues reported by the airline.

It advised the carrier to 鈥渟trictly adhere to regulations,鈥 strengthen coordination across its businesses and ensure availability of adequate spares to mitigate passenger delays, it added.

The DGCA had met senior officials of Air India and Air India Express to review their operations amid increasing flight volumes.


Massive fire at Karachi electronics market causes over $3.6 million in damages 鈥 union

Massive fire at Karachi electronics market causes over $3.6 million in damages 鈥 union
Updated 26 min 23 sec ago

Massive fire at Karachi electronics market causes over $3.6 million in damages 鈥 union

Massive fire at Karachi electronics market causes over $3.6 million in damages 鈥 union
  • Large fire broke out at Aamir Electronics Market in Karachi鈥檚 Saddar area on Monday and destroyed over 40 shops and several warehouses聽
  • Affected traders call for stronger enforcement of fire safety regulations and dedicated fire response units for high-density commercial zones

KARACHI: A large fire that ripped through the Aamir Electronics Market in Karachi鈥檚 Saddar area this week and destroyed more than 40 shops and several warehouses has caused financial losses estimated at over Rs1 billion ($3.6 million), according to the president of a local association. 

The blaze broke out unexpectedly on Monday afternoon and quickly engulfed large parts of the electronics hub, reducing inventories of batteries, solar panels, and other high-value goods to ashes. Traders said they were unable to save most of their merchandise as the fire spread rapidly.

鈥淭he government should immediately compensate the affected shopkeepers and work with the association to help them restart their businesses,鈥 said MinHajj Gulfaam, President of the Karachi Mobile and Electronics Dealers Association (KMEDA).

鈥淲e also demand that trade associations be equipped with their own firefighting systems, just like some industrial associations. Preventive measures are urgently needed.鈥

Initial reports suggest an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire, though some eyewitnesses claimed it started in an adjacent empty plot where garbage was being burned and later spread to the market. Authorities have not issued an official cause.

Traders said fire brigade teams arrived late at the scene, by which time the blaze had intensified, adding that they tried to extinguish the flames themselves but the damage was already extensive.

Affected traders are calling for stronger enforcement of fire safety regulations and dedicated fire response units for high-density commercial zones.

Fires in commercial markets have become alarmingly common in Karachi. In April 2023, a fire at the city鈥檚 Cooperative Market destroyed dozens of shops, and in August 2022, a multi-story mobile phone market near Saddar also caught fire.

Many old commercial markets in Karachi have outdated electrical infrastructure and shopkeepers often add extra appliances, fans, lights, and unauthorized connections, leading to short circuits and electrical fires. Building codes and fire safety rules exist but are rarely enforced. Most markets don鈥檛 have proper fire exits, fire alarms, or functional extinguishers. Many are overcrowded with encroachments and illegally added stalls.

Karachi鈥檚 wholesale and retail markets, like Empress Market, Bolton Market, and Cooperative Market, often sprawl into narrow lanes with flammable goods stacked in unsafe conditions. Unauthorized mezzanines and storage units block escape routes and complicate firefighting.

Karachi鈥檚 fire brigade has also long struggled with outdated equipment, an insufficient number of vehicles, and poor access to congested market streets. Fires sometimes rage for hours before being brought under control.

Occasionally, traders or shop owners have also been suspected of starting fires intentionally to claim insurance money or erase debts, though proving this is challenging.


PIA repatriates more Pakistanis stranded in Iran as regional tensions ground flights

PIA repatriates more Pakistanis stranded in Iran as regional tensions ground flights
Updated 8 min 39 sec ago

PIA repatriates more Pakistanis stranded in Iran as regional tensions ground flights

PIA repatriates more Pakistanis stranded in Iran as regional tensions ground flights
  • Iranian airspace shut to commercial traffic last week after Israeli airstrikes on Iran and a military confrontation that has entered sixth day
  • Foreign office official says Pakistan has started evacuating families of its diplomats and staff and some members of non-essential staff聽

ISLAMABAD: A special PIA flight carrying 107 Pakistanis who had been stranded in Iran landed in Islamabad early Wednesday, the national carrier said, after regional airspace disruptions forced days-long travel delays and overland detours.

Flight PK-9552, arranged under government instructions, departed from the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat and arrived at Islamabad International Airport at 3am, PIA said in a statement.

The passengers had crossed into Turkmenistan by road after being unable to depart directly from Iran due to ongoing airspace restrictions following the start of a war between longtime Middle Eastern enemies Israel and Iran, since Friday. The two rivals launched new missile strikes at each other on Wednesday as the air war between them entered a sixth day despite a call from US President Donald Trump for Tehran鈥檚 unconditional surrender.

鈥淒ue to the closure of Iranian airspace, Pakistani nationals in Iran had to reach Turkmenistan through ground routes,鈥 PIA said, adding that the repatriation was coordinated by Pakistan鈥檚 embassies in Tehran and Ashgabat.

鈥淥ur missions in Iran and Turkmenistan played a key role in facilitating this process,鈥 PIA added.

Passengers stranded in Iran were mostly short-term visitors, religious pilgrims and workers caught in the fallout of recent regional hostilities. 

Iranian airspace was shut to commercial traffic last week amid rising military tensions, following Israeli airstrikes on Iran and heightened fears of a wider conflict. Several international carriers, including PIA, suspended or rerouted flights passing through Iranian airspace. Pakistani citizens thus found themselves unable to return home through normal flight routes.

An elderly Pakistani pilgrim who has been evacuated from Iran walks at the Pakistan-Iran border in Taftan on June 17, 2025. (AFP)

A PIA spokesperson said the national carrier took action 鈥渋n continuation of its decades-long tradition of serving national interest in difficult times.鈥

Pakistan also repatriated 268 nationals from Iraq via two flights on Monday and 450 nationals from Iran on Sunday. 

Pakistan has condemned Israel鈥檚 strikes, calling them an unjustified violation of Iranian sovereignty, and has urged the international community to help de-escalate tensions through dialogue.

While no official figures have been released on how many Pakistanis remain in Iran, foreign ministry officials have confirmed that further evacuations would be arranged if the situation worsens. The foreign ministry has also said diplomatic missions were 鈥渋n close contact with local authorities鈥 to ensure the safety of all nationals.

Separately, a senior foreign office official said on Monday Pakistan had started evacuating families of its diplomats and staff as well as members of some non-essential staff from Iran.

鈥淭he foreign ministry is moving out families of diplomats and staff and some non-essential staff from Iran,鈥 a foreign office official said in a statement.

鈥淗owever Pakistan embassy in Tehran and our consulates will continue to remain functional.鈥