Be informed. Be challenged. Be inspired.

Europe’s water resources under pressure, most surface bodies polluted, EU says

Brussels, Belgium Reuters Most of European Union surface water bodies are polluted by chemicals, the European Commission said on Tuesday, in a report that revealed the damaged state of Europe’s water resources. The European Union is drafting plans this year to tackle water shortages and droughts being worsened by climate change, and address the intense […]

France holds day of mourning for Mayotte islands devastated by cyclone

Paris, France/Pamandzi, Mayotte Reuters France held a national day of mourning for Mayotte, its Indian Ocean territory devastated by a violent cyclone on 14th December, beginning in the morning on Monday with a minute of silence for the scores of residents left dead by the storm. Cyclone Chido was the worst storm to hit Mayotte’s […]

Macron swears in angry exchange with residents of cyclone-hit Mayotte

Mamoudzou, Mayotte Reuters Angry residents of a Mayotte neighbourhood damaged by Cyclone Chido heckled French President Emmanuel Macron, who replied they would be in “deeper s***” without France as he toured the Indian Ocean archipelago. Nearly a week after the storm hit, the lack of potable water was testing nerves in France’s poorest overseas territory. […]

OECD-backed group calls for global pact to solve water crisis

Singapore Reuters Countries need a new international pact to fix a mounting water crisis that could cut economic growth by at least eight per cent and put half the world’s food supplies at risk by 2050, an OECD-backed commission said on Thursday. Climate change, destructive land use and chronic mismanagement has put the global water […]

Water profiteers thrive in Sicily as drought intensifies

Caltanissetta, Italy Reuters A drought on the Italian island of Sicily has become so severe that many residents of the city of Caltanissetta have been without running water for two months, leading to handsome profits for unauthorised private sellers. In a situation more readily associated with a developing country than an advanced European economy, thousands […]

In Spain’s drought-hit Costa Blanca, people queue for bottled water

Teulada-Moraira, Spain Reuters A severe drought has rendered tap water undrinkable in several towns along Spain’s Costa Blanca, forcing holidaymakers and locals to queue at distribution points for bottled water to cover their basic needs. As water levels have dropped, salinity has increased, prompting authorities in some areas to deem tap water unsafe for drinking […]

Martian subsurface harbours oceans’ of life-giving liquid water

Singapore Reuters A study released Monday using data from NASA’s Mars InSight lander shows evidence of liquid water far below the surface of the fourth planet, advancing the search for life there and showing what might have happened to Mars’ ancient oceans. The lander, which has been on the Red Planet since 2018, measured seismic […]

Destruction of Gaza water wells deepens Palestinian misery

Gaza Reuters Israel’s military blew up more than 30 water wells in Gaza this month, a municipality official and residents said, adding to the trauma of airstrikes that have turned much of the Palestinian enclave into a wasteland ravaged by a humanitarian crisis. Salama Shurab, head of the water networks at Khan Younis municipality, said […]

Crisis-hit Ukrainian city prepares for life after the war

Mykolaiv, Ukraine Reuters For the mayor of the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, wartime crises like water and power outages and a crumbling local economy are short-term obstacles to a long-term plan. Oleksandr Sienkevych believes that reforms and accountability, including overhauling how public firms are run, are critical to the Black Sea port’s future as […]

Greek islands face water crisis as tourist season peaks

Naxos, Greece Reuters The biggest reservoir on the Greek island of Naxos has dried up, useful only to the turtles that cruise its muddy shallows. Downstream, sea water has seeped into empty irrigation wells, harming the island’s prized potato crop. Further south, on Karpathos island, authorities have imposed restrictions on topping up swimming pools, while […]