Why Do Flight Paths Look Curved?

When flying from *Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles*, you might expect a straight path across the Atlantic or Mediterranean. In reality, the flight takes a curved route over Iran, Russia, the North Pole, and Canada before reaching the US west coast.

The reason? The Earth is *spherical*, and the shortest distance between two points on a sphere is called a *Great Circle Route*—a curved line on flat maps, but actually the most direct path.

Flat maps are misleading
Projections like the *Mercator map* distort distances and shapes. A route that appears curved is actually shorter, while a "straight" line on the map may be longer.

Why do planes take this route?
- Shorter distance
- Less flight time
- Lower fuel consumption
- Reduced operating costs
- Sometimes to catch favorable jet streams

Ancient knowledge
Muslim scholars like *Al-Biruni* and *Al-Idrisi* understood Earth's shape and calculated such paths centuries ago for navigation and determining directions.

So, what looks strange on a flat map is actually the most *efficient and direct path* on our spherical Earth.

#GreatCircleRoute #FlightPaths #AirTravelFacts
#GeographyMatters #AviationScience #TravelSmart #CurvedNotCrooked #Map

We extend our warmest congratulations to the Government and people of Azerbaijan on the auspicious occasion of their National Day.

May this day bring elevated prosperity, unity, and continued progress. Here's to stronger cooperation and lasting brotherly and sisterly relations between Azerbaijan and other #D8 Member States.

#Azerbaijan #D8

🛰TÜRKSAT, mobil operatör olarak hizmet vermeye hazırlanıyor. Gerekli yasal düzenlemeler sonrası, Türkiye’nin dördüncü mobil operatörü olacak

#saltokunur #mobil #operatör #türksat

Islamic World

The Islamic world refers to countries and regions where Islam is dominant, influencing various aspects of life, including culture, politics, law, and education. It is not just limited to the Middle East; it spans Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Critical Aspects of the Islamic World:
1. Geographical Spread:
Middle East and North Africa (MENA): The heartland of Islam, including countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, and Turkey.
South Asia: Countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, where Islam plays a central role.
Southeast Asia: Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Countries like Nigeria, Sudan, and Somalia have significant Muslim populations.
Europe: There are significant Muslim communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and growing populations in Western Europe due to migration.
2. Cultural and Religious Practices:
Religious Practices: The Five Pillars of Islam (Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj) are central to Islamic life.
Islamic Law (Sharia): In many Muslim-majority countries, Sharia law influences or directly governs legal systems, covering everything from criminal law to personal status issues like marriage and inheritance.
Language: Arabic is the liturgical language of Islam, but other languages, such as Persian, Turkish, Urdu, and Malay, are widely spoken in the Islamic world.
3. Historical Contributions:
The Golden Age of Islam (8th to 14th century) was a period of significant advancements in science, medicine, mathematics, and philosophy, with learning centres in cities like Baghdad, Cairo, and Cordoba.
Architecture: Islamic architecture is renowned for its mosques, madrasas (schools), and palaces, featuring minarets, domes, and intricate geometric designs.
4. Modern-Day Dynamics:
Political Landscape: The Islamic world includes various governance systems, from monarchies in the Gulf States to republics in Iran and Turkey. Political Islam and movements like the Muslim Brotherhood have had significant influence in some regions.
Economic Power: The Islamic world includes some of the world's largest oil producers, like Saudi Arabia and Iran, which play a critical role in global energy markets.
Social Issues: The Islamic world faces diverse social challenges, from modernisation and globalisation to debates over women's rights, democracy, and the role of religion in the state.
5. Global Influence:
Diaspora: Significant Muslim communities in Europe, North America, and other parts of the world contribute to the global influence of Islam.
Interfaith Relations: Islam is one of the world's major religions, with interfaith dialogue becoming increasingly important in promoting understanding and cooperation between different religious communities.
The Islamic world is diverse and complex, with a rich history and significant impact on global culture, politics, and economics.

Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that a newly purchased natural gas vessel will be operational in the Sakarya Gas Field in the Black Sea, poised to produce enough natural gas to meet the needs of 5 million households.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the Extended Session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, where he arrived for the 24th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is in Astana for the 24th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, met with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar.

Congratulations to friendly and brotherly Somalia on the occasion of its National Day!🇹🇴

We will do our utmost to enhance the comprehensive cooperation between our countries and continue to work for the lasting stability and prosperity of Somalia.

Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, the D-8 Secretary-General, participated in the 19th Session of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Meeting of the Foreign Ministers, hosted by the Government of Iran in Tehran on 24 June 2024.

Attending upon the invitation from H.E. Ali Bagheri, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, the #D8SG delivered remarks at the ACD Meeting, delineating an update of the #D8. The #D8SG also reiterated the call to forge closer collaboration between the #D8 and #ACD, considering the aligned interest to pursue the two organizations’ shared objectives.

While in Tehran, the #D8SG also paid a courtesy call to the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran to present the progress of the #D8.

Spain will request to participate in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel’s actions in Palestine’s Gaza before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the country’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on June 6.

Spain is the second European nation after Ireland to join the case, which has also been joined by Chile and Mexico.

“Our sole goal is to put an end to the war and to advance on the road of applying the two-state solution,” Albares said in a press conference held in Madrid.

South Africa brought the case before the top court last year, alleging that Israel’s Gaza offensive breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention — a charge Israel strongly denies.

In a ruling on January 26, the ICJ ordered Israel to do everything it could to prevent acts of genocide during its military operations in Gaza.

On May 24, the court ordered Israel to “immediately” halt its military offensive in the city of Rafah and keep open the key border crossing there for “unhindered” humanitarian aid.

ICJ rulings are legally binding, but the court has no concrete means to enforce them.