Torrential rainfall battered Buenos Aires and its metropolitan area in May 2025, leading to widespread flooding, traffic chaos, and the evacuation of over 7,500 people. At least one fatality and two missing persons have been reported amidst the severe weather event.
King Letsie III of Lesotho has been bestowed with the Presidential Global Water Changemakers Award by the Global Water Partnership. Botswana Minister Onneetse Ramogapi presented the award, recognizing the King's pivotal role in championing the Lesotho Highlands Water Project as a model for regional water security and sustainable development. The ceremony took place in Maseru, marking a significant acknowledgment of Lesotho's contribution to transboundary water cooperation.
Lahore, Pakistan, was declared the world's most polluted city on Friday, October 24, 2025, with Air Quality Index (AQI) levels reaching hazardous highs of 362. The severe smog prompted urgent public health warnings and highlighted ongoing environmental challenges in the region.
The Bulgarian Parliament has adopted a new Water Supply and Sewerage Bill at first reading. The legislation seeks to establish a new regulatory entity, introduce a revised pricing structure including a 'water meter fee,' and consolidate the management of water services across the country, addressing long-standing issues within the sector.
An international study warns that Shanghai faces severe flooding risks due to global sea levels rising at the fastest rate in 4,000 years and worsening land subsidence. The combination of these factors threatens China's financial hub and global supply chains.
A widespread internet outage on Monday, October 20, 2025, originating from Amazon Web Services' (AWS) US-EAST-1 region, impacted numerous global online platforms including Snapchat, Fortnite, and Prime Video. The disruption, attributed to an 'underlying DNS issue,' led to millions of user reports worldwide before AWS announced significant recovery efforts.
Saudi Arabia has cut Nigeria's 2026 Hajj allocation to 66,910 slots, down from 95,000, due to the underutilization of the previous year's quota. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) confirmed the reduction, which will impact over 25,000 intending pilgrims.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a nationwide flood alert, warning of imminent flooding in several states due to rising water levels in the River Niger and River Benue. Residents in affected areas are advised to remain vigilant and relocate to higher ground.
North Korea released water from its Hwanggang Dam on Tuesday without prior notification, causing water levels at South Korea's Pilseung Bridge to exceed the evacuation threshold. This unannounced discharge on the Imjin River led to immediate safety alerts and evacuations in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, highlighting ongoing inter-Korean tensions over shared water resources.
Top diplomats from Turkey and Iraq have reached a tentative draft agreement on a water-sharing framework for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The deal, aimed at addressing severe drought conditions, is expected to be signed soon in Baghdad and includes provisions for increased water releases and infrastructure rehabilitation.
Jordan's Ministry of Water and Irrigation announced on October 14, 2025, that tests confirmed Mujib Dam water is free of contamination. This follows recent social media reports of fish deaths, prompting comprehensive testing by multiple agencies to ensure the dam's vital water supply remains safe.
The Mozambican government is set to significantly invest in strategic water infrastructure, aiming to increase clean water access from 62% to 68% and sanitation coverage from 37% to 47% during its current five-year plan. This initiative seeks to benefit 5.6 million people, installing 154 new water systems and 133,000 connections, with substantial funding from national and international partners.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has issued a stark warning regarding the severe deterioration of the healthcare system in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. A September 2025 assessment revealed that 85% of health facilities face critical drug shortages, and nearly 40% suffer from staff flight due to escalating conflict and funding shortfalls.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has issued a stern warning to citizens protesting in Havana over severe shortages of basic services like water and electricity. He stated that measures would be taken against those blocking public roads, calling such actions 'unacceptable public disorder,' while acknowledging the legitimacy of some grievances.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that moving the capital from Tehran is no longer a choice but a mandate, citing a severe water crisis and alarming land subsidence. The proposed new capital is the southern coastal region of Makran, a move estimated to cost between $77 billion and $100 billion.
Swiss glaciers experienced a significant 3% volume loss in 2025, making it the fourth-largest annual reduction on record. This accelerated melting, attributed to low winter snowfall and summer heatwaves, highlights a quarter of ice mass lost in the last decade, according to GLAMOS and the Swiss Academy of Sciences.
A boat accident on the River Niger in Kogi State, Nigeria, on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, resulted in 14 confirmed deaths, 24 rescued passengers, and 42 individuals still missing. The vessel, carrying approximately 80 people, capsized while traveling between Onugwa community and Olushi village.
A 38-year-old mother of three, Marianna Bello, went missing in Favara, Agrigento, Italy, after being swept away by severe floodwaters during a cloudburst on Wednesday. Search and rescue operations are underway involving firefighters, divers, and local authorities as torrential rains caused widespread flooding in the region.
Mayotte's water utility has published a new water rationing schedule, effective from September 30 to October 5, 2025. This measure highlights the ongoing severe water scarcity in the French overseas department, driven by prolonged drought, inadequate infrastructure, and mismanagement, impacting daily life for residents.
Leaders from Kiribati and other Pacific Island nations addressed the 80th UN General Assembly, demanding urgent global climate action, increased and accessible climate finance, and robust measures against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which costs the region hundreds of millions annually.
