Over the past few days, Earth has experienced a substantial solar storm, serving as a vivid reminder of the Sun's profound effect on our planet.
This latest storm created stunning auroras visible far beyond their usual range and disrupted satellites, including Elon Musk’s Starlink fleet.
Northern lights were being reported by residents in North America, India, Tasmania and Europe, with thousands of images posted on social media.
While it was the most intense solar storm to strike Earth in the past two decades, there have been even stronger ones in the past that caused chaos because of infrastructural damage and caused auroras in unusual locations.
The Carrington Event of 1859
The most powerful solar storm on record, the Carrington Event, took place in early September 1859.
An intense white light flare was erupted by the Sun, which was followed by a massive coronal mass ejection, or charged particles, that reached Earth in about 17 hours.
The geomagnetic storm caused spectacular auroras visible as far south as the Caribbean.
Telegraph systems around the world failed, with some operators reporting sparks and fires from their equipment.
This event highlighted the potential for solar activity to disrupt technology and served as an early wake-up call for the field of space weather forecasting.
The event was named after British astronomer Richard Carrington, who was the one to discover the solar flare that caused the storm.
The Quebec blackout of 1989
Another significant solar storm struck in March 1989, causing a massive power cut in Quebec, Canada.
A coronal mass ejection hit the planet, including currents that overwhelmed the province’s power grid.
Quebec was plunged into darkness for more than nine hours, affecting millions of people and causing economic losses that were estimated to be at hundreds of millions of dollars.
The storm also caused minor disruptions in other parts of North America and Europe.
This event showed how vulnerable modern infrastructure can still really be to space weather.
Halloween storms of 2003
The storms started on October 19 in 2003 and peaked around Halloween, earning its name after the celebration.
These storms were caused from several coronal mass ejections rapidly launched from the Sun.
It caused widespread auroras, visible as far south as Texas and Florida, and disrupted satellite communications, GPS systems and power grids.
Planes were rerouted to avoid high radiation levels and astronauts on the International Space Station had to take shelter from increased radiation.
The Bastille Day Event of 2000
The Bastille Day Event, named after the French national holiday on July 14, happened in 2000 and was known to be the most powerful solar storms of the first space era at the time.
A massive solar flare had erupted, followed by a coronal mass ejection, that reached Earth about 24 hours later.
The storm caused intense auroras visible across Europe and North America and temporarily disabled some satellites.
It also disrupted radio communications and GPS signals, causing issues for aviation and maritime navigation.
August 1972 storm
The solar storm of August 1972 took place during a period of heightened solar activity and had significant implications for military and civilian technology.
Between August 2 and August 11, 1972, a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections bombarded Earth.
The resulting geomagnetic storms disrupted communications and radar systems used during the Vietnam War, leading to a pause in naval operations.
Auroras were observed at unusually low latitudes, and some satellites suffered damage from increased radiation levels.
The New York Railroad storm of 1921
One of the lesser known but highly impactful solar storms happened in May 1921, affecting the north-eastern US and parts of Europe.
A powerful coronal mass ejection struck Earth, causing geomagnetic disturbances.
Telegraph and telephone lines were disrupted, with some stations experiencing fires due to induced electric currents.
It also caused widespread railway signal failures, leading to transport disruptions.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
Scoreline
Swansea 2
Grimes 20' (pen), Celina, 29'
Man City 3
Silva 69', Nordfeldt 78' (og), Aguero 88'
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Profile of RentSher
Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
UAE squad v Australia
Rohan Mustafa (C), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Fahad Nawaz, Amjed Gul, Shaiman Anwar, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Muhammad Naveed, Amir Hayat, Ghulam Shabir (WK), Qadeer Ahmed, Tahir Latif, Zahoor Khan
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
The Scale for Clinical Actionability of Molecular Targets
Hamilton profile
Age 32
Country United Kingdom
Grands Prix entered 198
Pole positions 67
Wins 57
Podiums 110
Points 2,423
World Championships 3
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.