World

Libya’s floods: Everything to know about the disaster that left thousands dead

The death toll from Libya’s devastating floods continued to rise on Thursday as more bodies show up on the shores along the country’s coastline, and at least 9,000 others remain missing.

In Derna alone – the city most affected by the disaster – health authorities have recorded at least 5,100.

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At least 30,000 people have been displaced in Derna and several thousands of others were forced to flee their homes in other eastern towns, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration.

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As rescuers race to help survivors, many questions remain about how the disaster unfolded.

How did Storm Daniel come to be?

Satellite images showed the scale of destruction after a severe storm swept away entire buildings and the people inside them on September 8.

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But four days earlier, the storm had been brewing over Greece, with reports of strong winds, heavy rains, and flooding in the country as well as in Turkey and Bulgaria.

As the storm moved over the Mediterranean, it transformed into what is known as a “medicane,” or tropical-like cyclone. Daniel grew stronger as it drew energy from the warm Mediterranean waters, where temperatures have risen drastically over the past few years due to climate change.

It then moved over to northeastern Libya where the heavy rainfall caused two river dams to burst, releasing an overwhelming surge of water over the coastal city.

Why was the city of Derna most affected?

According to Libya’s National Center of Meteorology, a record 24-hour rainfall of 414.1 millimeters was recorded in the country’s fourth-largest city, Bayda from Sunday to Monday.

Most of the rainfall happened in just six hours, according to Weather Historian Maximillian Herrera.

Derna, known for its white villas and palm trees, was the hardest hit because the city is located at the end of the Wadi Derna Valley. Its low-lying location and cracked, dry soil – caused by a record-breaking hot summer – made it more susceptible to flooding.

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Unable to handle the immense pressure of the water that had gathered against its walls, two dams in the city eventually caved and swept off everything that stood in its way.

According to local media, both dams were built in the 1970s using clay, stones, and rocks and had not been maintained since 2002.

A general view of the city of Derna is seen on Tuesday, Sept. 12., 2023. (AP)

When one of the dams collapsed, the already-deteriorating infrastructure of the other dam succumbed to the powerful force of water coming in from the first. The elevation difference between the first and second dams only added to the water pressure.

According to reports, the water traveled approximately 12 kilometers from the top of the first dam before it reached the sea.

Experts estimate that 30 million cubic meters of water – the equivalent of 12,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools – were released when the dams broke.

With no evacuation plans in place in Derna, the city’s population of 90,000 had no warning for what was to come except the deafening sounds of the dams rupturing.

The city had no internet connection or phone service after the devastation, and first-aid convoys only began arriving after 36 hours.

How does political turmoil play a role?

Prior to the floods, the oil-rich country was already mired in difficulty as armed conflict left Libya divided between rival governments – one in the east and the other in the west.

A lasting effect has been neglected infrastructure. While both governments say they are currently banding together to help those affected, progress has been slow because key bridges, roads and other infrastructure were completely destroyed.

UN says most of the thousands of deaths in Libya’s flood could’ve been avoided

Thousands buried in mass graves in Libya’s Derna as rescuers scour the area

Original Article

World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM