Revealed: millions of Americans can’t afford water as bills rise 80% in a decade
Exclusive: analysis of US cities shows emergency on affordability of running water amid Covid-19 pandemic
Millions of ordinary Americans are facing rising and unaffordable bills for running water, and risk being disconnected or losing their homes if they cannot pay, a landmark Guardian investigation has found.
Exclusive analysis of 12 US cities shows the combined price of water and sewage increased by an average of 80% between 2010 and 2018, with more than two-fifths of residents in some cities living in neighbourhoods with unaffordable bills.
In the first nationwide research of its kind, our findings reveal the painful impact of America’s expanding water poverty crisis as aging infrastructure, environmental clean-ups, changing demographics and the climate emergency fuel exponential price hikes in almost every corner of the country.
Russian hospitals may not cope
Russia inherited enough hospital beds from the old Soviet health system to cope with Covid-19 patients, though not the medical personnel or critical supplies now needed. With the private sector growing, is state healthcare being dangerously hollowed out?
by Estelle Levresse
Moscow’s tree-lined Rozhdestvensky Boulevard was almost deserted. Behind a barrier, a litter-picker was at work while another rested on a bench. These municipal employees in Day-Glo orange overalls were among the few Muscovites who could enjoy the tulip display. Russia’s capital normally returns to life in spring, but this year has stayed dormant: shops, restaurants and cafés closed, public spaces padlocked. People go out to buy food or walk their dogs, but this mega-city of 12 million, on lockdown since 30 March, is quiet. There are no children or old people in the streets, as they are forbidden to leave home except to go to the family dacha (1).
Russia managed to delay the coronavirus outbreak by a few weeks through early preventative action: it closed its land border with China on 30 January, banned Chinese nationals from entering the country soon after, quarantined citizens returning from high-risk countries, and began disinfecting public transport and taking the temperature of Moscow school pupils daily.
'As an Afghan refugee in Iran, I grew up with fear and humiliation'
Journalist Zahra Nader recounts her experience as an Afghan refugee in Tehran. She told DW that the bias and prejudice she faced in the 1990s still exists today.
Whenever I read about the situation of Afghan refugees in Iran, it reopens old wounds of trauma, fear and humiliation that I experienced as an Afghan refugee in Iran.
In Iran, Afghan refugees face two levels of racism: systematic racism supported by law, and community racism. The first one imposes additional fees and taxes on Afghan refugees without allowing their access to public services. However, community racism is more dangerous. Iranian citizens humiliate Afghan refugees on a daily basis, and it affects them mentally by destroying their confidence and hopes for the future. As a result, a young generation of Afghan refugees is growing up fearful and humiliated.
Saudi coalition shoots down Houthi ballistic missiles and drones
Missiles and 'booby-trapped unmanned aircraft' from Yemen's Houthi rebels intercepted, including one fired on Riyadh.
The Saudi-led military coalition said on Tuesday it intercepted and destroyed drones and missiles launched against the kingdom by Houthi rebels in Yemen, including one fired towards the capital Riyadh.
The Iran-aligned Houthis said they would announce details of a "major attack" on Saudi Arabia on their Al Masirah TV, amid ongoing fighting in Yemen where the rebels took control of the northern province of Al-Jawf earlier this year.
Maps reveal new details about New Zealand's lost underwater continent
Updated 0731 GMT (1531 HKT) June 23, 2020
Under New Zealand, there lies a vast continent on the sea floor.
Once part of the same land mass as Antarctica and Australia, the lost continent of Zealandia broke off 85 million years ago and eventually sank below the ocean, where it stayed largely hidden for centuries.
Now, maps reveal new research about the underwater continent where dinosaurs once roamed -- and allow the public to virtually explore it.
Seattle to end police-free protest zone after shootings
Seattle's mayor has said the city plans to take back a district that is being occupied by armed protesters, after three people were shot at the weekend.
Mayor Jenny Durkan said the violence had become "increasingly difficult" for businesses and residents.
She said the city would work with the demonstrators to end the so-called Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone.
The city centre zone was taken over by protesters on 8 June after police withdrew following violent clashes.
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