Asia

Sydney, Australia: Sea turtles fitted with tracking devices and oceanographic sensors are helping scientists in Australia improve tropical cyclone forecasts by collecting critical data from otherwise inaccessible waters. The storm-chasing sea turtles are gathering information that could revolutionize cyclone forecasting and make communities safer and more resilient during cyclone season, according to a release from Australia's University of New South Wales (UNSW) on Wednesday. The team analyzed data from dozens of Olive Ridley and Flatback turtles tagged between 2014 and 2024 across northern Australia, which recorded more than 8,000 ocean temperature profiles at depths up to 80 meters before, during, and after cyclones, the release said. The instruments were attached to turtle shells with a special adhesive designed to degrade with the turtles' natural oils and remain in place for up to a year, it said. Tropical cyclones draw strength from warm seas, but current forecasts rely mainly on sea surface temperatures and lack data on deeper water layers, reducing accuracy, especially in remote regions, researchers explained. "Traditional tools like ships and ocean gliders can only sample small areas, and taking measurements from the middle of a cyclone is dangerous," said oceanographer Christopher Chapman from UNSW Canberra, who led the study, published in Environmental Research Letters. Data from cyclone-chasing turtles during five cyclones, including 2023's Category 5 Cyclone Ilsa, showed significant cooling beneath storms as winds mix surface and deeper waters -- a process poorly captured in existing models, leading to overestimates of cyclone strength, Chapman said. The relatively low-cost approach could improve the accuracy of forecasts, especially in developing countries, with data "transmitted by satellite almost instantaneously," he said, adding sea turtles could be "the heroes we need" to help save lives and livelihoods across the tropics.

Gulf

Kuwait: Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense spokesperson Colonel Saud Al Attwan announced that the armed forces detected and successfully intercepted two ballistic missiles and 13 drones that entered Kuwaiti airspace early Wednesday. No material damage or casualties were reported. In a statement issued by the Ministry, Al Attwan said that the armed forces remain fully prepared to carry out their duties with efficiency and professionalism under a state of continuous operational readiness to safeguard the country’s security and ensure the safety of citizens and residents. Read Also US Central Command strikes over 80 targets in Iran Trump says Iran ceasefire 'is over'

Americas

Brussels, Belgium: The European Union on Wednesday said "decisions about the future of Greenland are for Greenlanders and Danes" after US President Donald Trump said he still wanted the Arctic island. "Territorial integrity, national sovereignty and inviolability of borders are fundamental principles of international law," EU spokesman Olof Gill said. "The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland."