There is a troubling contradiction at the heart of the global transition to a cleaner, greener, tech-driven future: Modern technologies – everything from AI to wind turbines, as well as cellphones, electric vehicles and defense systems – depend on critical minerals. But many of the communities where those minerals are mined end up with polluted…
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — When Africa’s Heads of State and Government gathered in Addis Ababa on 14 February 2026 for the African Union’s 39th Ordinary Session, they did more than adopt another resolution. They made a choice: to place at the centre of the agenda the most fundamental, life-sustaining and strategic resource our continent possesses:…
New digital tools are revealing the hidden patterns of lakes, rivers and dams, offering Africa a clearer path to water security On the shores of Lake Sulunga in central Tanzania, researcher Nancy Wayua is tracing three decades of change in a water body that has shaped, and sustained, surrounding communities for generations. Using satellite-derived datasets…
Bahrain and the UAE also reported attacks resulting in fires, which were put out quickly. Kuwait has said Iranian drone attacks damaged two power and water desalination plants and sparked a fire at an oil complex, without causing injuries. Gulf countries have borne the brunt of Tehran’s response to the US and Israeli strikes on…
In rural sub-Saharan Africa, access to clean drinking water often depends on a simple technology: the handpump. These manually operated systems pump water out of the ground for more than 184 million people. Yet despite their importance, research has found that at least 100,000 handpumps out of the 500,000 to 1.3 million in use in…
NewsFeed The UN’s nuclear watchdog says Iran’s Khondab heavy water production plant is no longer operational after suffering severe damage in an Israeli strike on March 27. The reactor, which contains no declared nuclear material, was hit along with other key infrastructure sites. Published On 30 Mar 202630 Mar 2026 Click here to share on…
Majority of citizens say they suffered shortage of clean water during the past year. Key findings On average across 38 countries, water supply ranks third among the most important problems that Africans want their government to address, trailing unemployment and health and tied with education, the increasing cost of living, and infrastructure/roads. Water outranks all…
A new United Nations report has warned that global water inequality remains one of the most pressing development challenges of the decade, with billions still lacking safe drinking water and sanitation – while women and girls continue to bear the heaviest burden of water insecurity. The United Nations World Water Development Report 2026, titled Water…
New York — As delivered “Excellencies, distinguished delegates, and colleagues, good morning. “For millions of girls around the world, the global water crisis is not abstract. It is the reason they wake before dawn to collect water, the reason they miss school when they are menstruating the reason their safety, their health, and their futures,…
The effects of Africa’s richest city running dry would be disastrous for its residents, the country’s economy and the continent. African leaders recently adopted a visionary plan to transform water from a source of vulnerability into a foundation for prosperity. Part of the plan’s success depends on major regions and cities leading the way. But…
