Melbourne: An Australian domestic flight was delayed for two hours after a stowaway snake was found in the plane’s cargo hold, officials said on Wednesday. The snake was discovered on Tuesday as passengers were boarding Virgin Australia Flight VA337 at Melbourne Airport, bound for Brisbane. According to Emirates News Agency, the snake was identified by snake catcher Mark Pelley as a harmless 60-centimetre green tree snake. Initially, Pelley feared it might be venomous due to the dim lighting in the cargo hold. ‘It wasn’t until after I caught the snake that I realised that it wasn’t venomous. Until that point,

Cambridge: Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created a high-tech “bubble wrap” capable of collecting safe drinking water directly from the air – even in Death Valley, the driest desert in North America. According to Emirates News Agency, the new water harvester is a major step towards providing safe, accessible drinking water to people across the globe. It functions wherever water vapor can be found in the air, the researchers said. The device is composed of hydrogel, a highly water-absorbent material, enclosed between two layers of glass, resembling a window. At night, it absorbs water vapor from the

Kirkuk: Health authorities in Iraq’s northern Kirkuk province reported dozens of cases of suffocation after a heavy dust storm swept through the region in recent hours. Saman Yaba, Spokesperson for the Province’s Health Directorate, said that 109 people suffered respiratory distress and were treated across local hospitals. According to Emirates News Agency, ‘all medical facilities were on full alert,’ he confirmed, noting that most patients recovered after receiving prompt care. The storm, which began early Tuesday, intensified throughout the day and sparked widespread discomfort, particularly among residents with chronic respiratory conditions.

Egypt: Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population announced on Wednesday that four people were killed and 22 injured after the “Adam Marine 12” barge sank off the coast of Gebel El-Zeit in the Gulf of Suez on Tuesday evening. According to Emirates News Agency, the four people who died were brought to Egypt’s Hurghada hospital on the Red Sea coast, the ministry said on social media. It added that four of the injured were airlifted, while 18 others were taken by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment.

Lerida: Firefighters in Spain have said they found two bodies after a blaze in the north-east of the country, which is currently experiencing a severe heatwave. The heatwave across Europe this week broke high temperature records, caused the closure of schools, and increased the risk of fire. According to Emirates News Agency, authorities in Spain’s Catalonia region on Tuesday ordered around 14,000 residents to remain indoors after two wildfires ignited almost simultaneously in the province of Lerida. In one of the fires near the city of Cosco, “two people were found lifeless by firefighters,” as per a statement issued by

Dortmund: Borussia Dortmund held off a stirring second-half fightback from Monterrey to complete the Club World Cup quarter-final line-up with a 2-1 win in a round-of-16 thriller at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on Tuesday. Clinical finishes from Serhou Guirassy in the 14th and 24th minutes put Dortmund on top at the break, but German Berterame hit back for Monterrey in the 48th minute, and the Mexican club pressed for an equaliser until the final whistle. According to Emirates News Agency, the Dortmund defence held firm to set up a last-eight meeting with 15-times European champions Real Madrid in New Jersey on

Dubai: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (MBRL) is set to host a series of recreational and educational events throughout July, aiming to promote knowledge and culture across the community. According to Emirates News Agency, the month kicks off with a musical evening in collaboration with the Emirates Music Band. Under the guidance of maestro Ahmed Taha, artists Ahmed Al Radwan, Saif Al Ali, and Jassim Mohammed will perform well-known Emirati and Khaleeji melodies. In the creative workshop titled “The World Between Lines and Symbols”, attendees will delve into the history of map design. The session offers interaction with rare historical

Vienna: The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Exolaunch GmbH have revealed that institutions in Bolivia, Guatemala, Jordan, and Nepal are set to deploy their CubeSats through Exolaunch’s EXOpod Nova deployment system. This initiative is part of UNOOSA’s ‘Access to Space for All’ program, which provides fully funded launch slots aimed at enhancing local expertise and contributing to the global space community. According to Emirates News Agency, the selected projects focus on a range of objectives that include building national development capabilities and inspiring future generations. In Bolivia, Universidad Cat³lica Boliviana San Pablo is working on the