عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Varieties

Oil Spill from Cargo Ship Washes up on Thai Tourist Islands 

People walk along Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand, June 29, 2021. (AFP)
People walk along Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand, June 29, 2021. (AFP)
TT
TT

Oil Spill from Cargo Ship Washes up on Thai Tourist Islands 

People walk along Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand, June 29, 2021. (AFP)
People walk along Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand, June 29, 2021. (AFP)

An oil spill from a capsized cargo ship in the Indian Ocean is washing ashore on the pristine beaches of Thailand's most famous resort island, a lawmaker told AFP Friday.

The Panama-flagged Sealloyd Arc sank off Phuket on February 7 while sailing for Chattogram in Bangladesh, Thai authorities said, spilling around 1,700 liters of oil.

The coagulated residue has begun washing up on the island's Ya Nui Beach, as well as a smattering of smaller islands in Phuket province, local lawmaker Chalermpong Saengdee told AFP.

The oil has tainted Koh Hey's Banana Beach -- a popular destination for island-hopping tourists seeking turquoise clear waters -- and is expected to keep spreading, he said.

"It's very worrying because the incident happened two weeks ago, but the situation is not improving and it poses a threat to marine life and coastal reefs," he said.

"We are also concerned it could affect Thailand's tourism and economy."

The ship lies at a depth of about 60 meters (197 feet), making it difficult for divers to contain the leak, Chalermpong said.

Footage on public broadcaster Thai PBS showed locals combing beaches with rakes and buckets to collect globs of the oil.

While the Thai Navy has been using dispersants to treat the spillage, Chalermpong has called for government funding to salvage the wreck.

Thailand suffered 130 oil spills affecting more than 23 provinces between 2017 and 2021, according to the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.

Environmental organizations warn oil spills cause severe and long-lasting damage to ecosystems -- coating wildlife, contaminating food sources and releasing toxic chemicals.

Most Viewed

 
 
Varieties

Wadi Al-Aqiq in Madinah Blends Spiritual, Natural Appeal

Wadi Al-Aqiq was famed for the quality and sweetness of its water (SPA)
Wadi Al-Aqiq was famed for the quality and sweetness of its water (SPA)
TT
TT

Wadi Al-Aqiq in Madinah Blends Spiritual, Natural Appeal

Wadi Al-Aqiq was famed for the quality and sweetness of its water (SPA)
Wadi Al-Aqiq was famed for the quality and sweetness of its water (SPA)

Wadi Al-Aqiq in Saudi Arabia's Madinah region stands out as one of the area’s most significant geographical and tourist landmarks, known for its striking terrain and the sweetness of its water.

The valley draws much of its fame from its association with the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and is known as the “Blessed Valley,” based on his saying: "Tonight there came to me a visitor from Allah, saying: 'Pray in this blessed valley.'"

Although several valleys across the Arabian Peninsula share the same name, Wadi Al-Aqiq remains the most renowned.

According to a report by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the valley was famed for the purity of its water, to such an extent that some Umayyad caliphs transported it to Damascus.

At the time, it was likened to the “Ghouta of Damascus” for its dense trees and lush greenery. Several of the Prophet’s companions settled along its banks, including Abu Hurairah and Saied bin Al-Aas.

They died there and were later carried to Madinah. Among the successors, Urwa bin Al-Zubayr and Sukaynah bint Al-Hussein had palaces in the valley, some of which remain standing today.

Wadi Al-Aqiq is now undergoing rehabilitation and development overseen by Al Madinah Region Development Authorityand related bodies.

The project stretches nearly 15 kilometers, from the Miqat Dhi Al-Hulayfah, south of Madinah, to Al-Jurf, in the north, aiming to balance urban growth with natural resources.

Works span key sites along the valley, including Qasr Urwa, the Al-Salam Road intersection, the Islamic University Square and the agricultural areas of Al-Jurf.

The projects are part of broader efforts to improve Madinah’s urban landscape and introduce environmentally friendly developments that enhance the city’s visual appeal.

The Wadi Al-Aqiq walkway has emerged as a leading destination for walking and recreation in Madinah, thanks to its distinctive natural setting.

Extending about 1,500 meters, it overlooks the “Blessed Valley,” mentioned in the Prophet’s traditions, giving it spiritual and historical weight that attracts visitors interested in religious and nature tourism.

Designed to blend with its surroundings, the walkway features prepared paths, seating areas overlooking the valley and shade trees lining the route. A modern lighting system enhances safety and highlights the site’s beauty at night.

Varieties

Contrary to Jurassic Park Movie, T-Rex Dinosaur Ran on Tip-Toes

Rather than stomping heel-first, T-rex may have actually tip-toed as it roamed around on its giant feet (Shutterstock)
Rather than stomping heel-first, T-rex may have actually tip-toed as it roamed around on its giant feet (Shutterstock)
TT
TT

Contrary to Jurassic Park Movie, T-Rex Dinosaur Ran on Tip-Toes

Rather than stomping heel-first, T-rex may have actually tip-toed as it roamed around on its giant feet (Shutterstock)
Rather than stomping heel-first, T-rex may have actually tip-toed as it roamed around on its giant feet (Shutterstock)

Ever since the release of the blockbuster Jurassic Park, the Tyrannosaurus rex has been associated with ground shaking tremors as it moved.

But in fact, rather than stomping heel-first, the prehistoric beast may have actually tip-toed as it roamed around on its giant feet, a study has found.

And it may have moved 20% faster than previously thought, the experts claim, at a speed fast enough to beat Usain Bolt.

The findings, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, contradict previous theories on how the extinct species moved, according to The Independent.

Earlier analysis of T-rex footprints suggested their heels struck the ground first.

However, the team of scientists have now gathered data on T-rex anatomy to find that they have more in common with how birds walk. They said that the T-rex had a “very bird-like gait defined by higher stride frequencies” and moved with “elevated speeds.”

According to the researchers model, a T-rex that weighed about 1.4 tons and could have reached a top speed of 11.4 meters per second - meaning it could run 100 meters in 8.77 seconds.

In comparison, world record holder Usain Bolt ran 100 meters in 9.58 seconds.

A bigger T-rex, weighing 6.5 tons would still be able to move at 9.5 meters per second, the study found.

Study authors concluded that their study represents the first quantitative biomechanical analysis of the effects of foot-strike patterns on the gait of Tyrannosaurus.

A separate fossil study has recently revealed T-rex grew much more slowly than previously thought, taking several decades to reach their full size of around eight tons.

The study of 17 tyrannosaur specimens, ranging from early juveniles to massive adults, has revealed that the king of carnivores took 40 years to reach their full size.

Varieties

NASA Overhauls its Artemis Program to Return Astronauts to the Moon

NASA logo (Reuters)
NASA logo (Reuters)
TT
TT

NASA Overhauls its Artemis Program to Return Astronauts to the Moon

NASA logo (Reuters)
NASA logo (Reuters)

NASA said Friday it’s adding an extra moon mission by Artemis astronauts before attempting a high-risk lunar landing with a crew.

The shakeup in the flight lineup came just two days after NASA’s new moon rocket returned to its hangar for more repairs and a safety panel warned the space agency to scale back its overly ambitious goals for humanity’s first lunar landing in more than half a century.

Artemis II — a lunar fly-around by four astronauts — is off until at least April because of rocket problems, The AP news reported.

The follow-up mission — Artemis III — had been targeting a landing near the moon’s south pole by another pair of astronauts a year or two later. But with concern growing over the readiness of a lunar lander and moonwalking suits and long gaps between flights, NASA’s new administrator Jared Isaacman announced that mission would instead focus on launching a lunar lander into orbit around Earth for practice in 2027.

The new plan calls for a moon landing — potentially even two moon landings — by astronauts in 2028.

Isaacman stressed that three years between flights is unacceptable and that he’d like to get it down to one year or even less. During NASA’s storied Apollo program, he said, astronauts’ first flight to the moon was followed by two more missions before Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon.

The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel recommended this week that NASA revise its objectives for Artemis III “given the demanding mission goals.” It’s urgent the space agency do that, the panel said, if the United States hopes to safely return astronauts to the moon.