Cyprus receives mobile desalination units from UAE to tackle water crisis
NICOSIA, May 26 (Reuters) - Cyprus has received 13 mobile desalination units from the United Arab Emirates, delivered free of charge to help the island deal with a severe water shortage just ahead of the water-intensive tourism season.
Cyprus has four large desalination plants with a combined daily water production capacity of about 220,000 cubic metres.
The UAE will supply it with 14 mobile desalination units under a bilateral deal, boosting its daily production capacity by about 15,000 cubic metres.
While the mobile units are a valuable addition in tackling the water crisis, the situation remains challenging, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou said.
"This shouldn't make us complacent. People must still use water sparingly," she said as she thanked the UAE for dispatching the units within a matter of weeks.
Although Cyprus has a widespread reservoir network, it has increasingly relied on desalination in recent decades to offset declining rainfall.
As of Monday, the country's 18 largest reservoirs were only 21.7% full, according to official data.
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The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
Lebanon aims to bring tourists back to its beaches as travel bans finally lift
In a bid to revive Lebanon 's tourism sector, the Tourism Ministry recently hosted a retro-themed event at Beirut 's St. Georges Hotel. Fireworks illuminated the night sky above the Mediterranean Sea, while classic hits from the 1960s and 70s played in the background. The event aimed to evoke the "golden era" before the civil war of 1975, when Lebanon was a prime destination for wealthy tourists from the Gulf, drawn to its beaches, mountains, and vibrant nightlife. The event hopes to promote the upcoming summer season. In the decade after the war, tourists from Gulf countries – and crucially, Saudi Arabia – came back, and so did Lebanon's economy. But by the early 2000s, as the Iran -backed militant group Hezbollah gained power, Lebanon's relations with Gulf countries began to sour. Tourism gradually dried up, starving its economy of billions of dollars in annual spending. Now, after last year's bruising war with Israel, Hezbollah is much weaker and Lebanon's new political leaders sense an opportunity to revitalize the economy once again with help from wealthy neighbors. They aim to disarm Hezbollah and rekindle ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, which in recent years have prohibited their citizens from visiting Lebanon or importing its products. 'Tourism is a big catalyst, and so it's very important that the bans get lifted,' said Laura Khazen Lahoud, the country's tourism minister. On the highway leading to the Beirut airport, once-ubiquitous banners touting Hezbollah's leadership have been replaced with commercial billboards and posters that read 'a new era for Lebanon.' In the center of Beirut, and especially in neighborhoods that hope to attract tourists, political posters are coming down, and police and army patrols are on the rise. There are signs of thawing relations with some Gulf neighbors. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have lifted yearslong travel bans. All eyes are now on Saudi Arabia, a regional political and economic powerhouse, to see if it will follow suit, according to Lahoud and other Lebanese officials. A key sticking point is security, these officials say. Although a ceasefire with Israel has been in place since November, near-daily airstrikes have continued in southern and eastern Lebanon, where Hezbollah over the years had built its political base and powerful military arsenal. As vital as tourism is — it accounted for almost 20% of Lebanon's economy before it tanked in 2019 — the country's leaders say it is just one piece of a larger puzzle they are trying to put back together. Lebanon's agricultural and industrial sectors are in shambles, suffering a major blow in 2021, when Saudi Arabia banned their exports after accusing Hezbollah of smuggling drugs into Riyadh. Years of economic dysfunction have left the country's once-thriving middle class in a state of desperation. The World Bank says poverty nearly tripled in Lebanon over the past decade, affecting close to half its population of nearly 6 million. To make matters worse, inflation is soaring, with the Lebanese pound losing 90% of its value, and many families lost their savings when banks collapsed. Tourism is seen by Lebanon's leaders as the best way to kickstart the reconciliation needed with Gulf countries -- and only then can they move on to exports and other economic growth opportunities. 'It's the thing that makes most sense, because that's all Lebanon can sell now,' said Sami Zoughaib, research manager at The Policy Initiative, a Beirut-based think tank. With summer still weeks away, flights to Lebanon are already packed with expats and locals from countries that overturned their travel bans, and hotels say bookings have been brisk. At the event hosted last month by the tourism ministry, the owner of the St. Georges Hotel, Fady El-Khoury, beamed. The hotel, owned by his father in its heyday, has acutely felt Lebanon's ups and downs over the decades, closing and reopening multiple times because of wars. 'I have a feeling that the country is coming back after 50 years,' he said. On a recent weekend, as people crammed the beaches of the northern city of Batroun, and jet skis whizzed along the Mediterranean, local business people sounded optimistic that the country was on the right path. 'We are happy, and everyone here is happy,' said Jad Nasr, co-owner of a private beach club. 'After years of being boycotted by the Arabs and our brothers in the Gulf, we expect this year for us to always be full.' Still, tourism is not a panacea for Lebanon's economy, which for decades has suffered from rampant corruption and waste. Lebanon has been in talks with the International Monetary Fund for years over a recovery plan that would include billions in loans and require the country to combat corruption, restructure its banks, and bring improvements to a range of public services, including electricity and water. Without those and other reforms, Lebanon's wealthy neighbors will lack confidence to invest there, experts said. A tourism boom alone would serve as a 'morphine shot that would only temporarily ease the pain" rather than stop the deepening poverty in Lebanon, Zoughaib said. The tourism minister, Lahoud, agreed, saying a long-term process has only just begun. "But we're talking about subjects we never talked about before,' she said. 'And I think the whole country has realized that war doesn't serve anyone, and that we really need our economy to be back and flourish again.'
The Independent
9 hours ago
- The Independent
Lebanon aims to lure back wealthy Gulf tourists to jumpstart its war-torn economy
Fireworks lit up the night sky over Beirut's famous St. Georges Hotel as hit songs from the 1960s and 70s filled the air in a courtyard overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The retro-themed event was hosted last month by Lebanon's Tourism Ministry to promote the upcoming summer season and perhaps recapture some of the good vibes from an era viewed as a golden one for the country. In the years before a civil war began in 1975, Lebanon was the go-to destination for wealthy tourists from neighboring Gulf countries seeking beaches in summer, snow-capped mountains in winter and urban nightlife year-round. In the decade after the war, tourists from Gulf countries – and crucially, Saudi Arabia – came back, and so did Lebanon's economy. But by the early 2000s, as the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah gained power, Lebanon's relations with Gulf countries began to sour. Tourism gradually dried up, starving its economy of billions of dollars in annual spending. Now, after last year's bruising war with Israel, Hezbollah is much weaker and Lebanon's new political leaders sense an opportunity to revitalize the economy once again with help from wealthy neighbors. They aim to disarm Hezbollah and rekindle ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, which in recent years have prohibited their citizens from visiting Lebanon or importing its products. 'Tourism is a big catalyst, and so it's very important that the bans get lifted,' said Laura Khazen Lahoud, the country's tourism minister. On the highway leading to the Beirut airport, once-ubiquitous banners touting Hezbollah's leadership have been replaced with commercial billboards and posters that read 'a new era for Lebanon.' In the center of Beirut, and especially in neighborhoods that hope to attract tourists, political posters are coming down, and police and army patrols are on the rise. There are signs of thawing relations with some Gulf neighbors. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have lifted yearslong travel bans. All eyes are now on Saudi Arabia, a regional political and economic powerhouse, to see if it will follow suit, according to Lahoud and other Lebanese officials. A key sticking point is security, these officials say. Although a ceasefire with Israel has been in place since November, near-daily airstrikes have continued in southern and eastern Lebanon, where Hezbollah over the years had built its political base and powerful military arsenal. Tourism as a diplomatic and economic bridge As vital as tourism is — it accounted for almost 20% of Lebanon's economy before it tanked in 2019 — the country's leaders say it is just one piece of a larger puzzle they are trying to put back together. Lebanon's agricultural and industrial sectors are in shambles, suffering a major blow in 2021, when Saudi Arabia banned their exports after accusing Hezbollah of smuggling drugs into Riyadh. Years of economic dysfunction have left the country's once-thriving middle class in a state of desperation. The World Bank says poverty nearly tripled in Lebanon over the past decade, affecting close to half its population of nearly 6 million. To make matters worse, inflation is soaring, with the Lebanese pound losing 90% of its value, and many families lost their savings when banks collapsed. Tourism is seen by Lebanon's leaders as the best way to kickstart the reconciliation needed with Gulf countries -- and only then can they move on to exports and other economic growth opportunities. 'It's the thing that makes most sense, because that's all Lebanon can sell now,' said Sami Zoughaib, research manager at The Policy Initiative, a Beirut-based think tank. With summer still weeks away, flights to Lebanon are already packed with expats and locals from countries that overturned their travel bans, and hotels say bookings have been brisk. At the event hosted last month by the tourism ministry, the owner of the St. Georges Hotel, Fady El-Khoury, beamed. The hotel, owned by his father in its heyday, has acutely felt Lebanon's ups and downs over the decades, closing and reopening multiple times because of wars. 'I have a feeling that the country is coming back after 50 years,' he said. On a recent weekend, as people crammed the beaches of the northern city of Batroun, and jet skis whizzed along the Mediterranean, local business people sounded optimistic that the country was on the right path. 'We are happy, and everyone here is happy,' said Jad Nasr, co-owner of a private beach club. 'After years of being boycotted by the Arabs and our brothers in the Gulf, we expect this year for us to always be full.' Still, tourism is not a panacea for Lebanon's economy, which for decades has suffered from rampant corruption and waste. Lebanon has been in talks with the International Monetary Fund for years over a recovery plan that would include billions in loans and require the country to combat corruption, restructure its banks, and bring improvements to a range of public services, including electricity and water. Without those and other reforms, Lebanon's wealthy neighbors will lack confidence to invest there, experts said. A tourism boom alone would serve as a 'morphine shot that would only temporarily ease the pain" rather than stop the deepening poverty in Lebanon, Zoughaib said. The tourism minister, Lahoud, agreed, saying a long-term process has only just begun. "But we're talking about subjects we never talked about before,' she said. 'And I think the whole country has realized that war doesn't serve anyone, and that we really need our economy to be back and flourish again.'
Wales Online
a day ago
- Wales Online
Cardiff restaurants and bars targeted in early morning break-ins have message for intruder
Cardiff restaurants and bars targeted in early morning break-ins have message for intruder Three independent businesses suffered attempted break-ins Damage was caused to Ballers Pizza restaurant (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Three independent businesses in Cardiff were targeted in a spate of attempted burglaries in the early hours of Monday morning. South Wales Police have confirmed that they are investigating the incidents, which reportedly took place around 1.53am on June 2. Among those affected were the popular Ballers pizza restaurant, the Mediterranean eatery BODEGA and the neighbourhood off-licence and bar, State of Love and Trust. While it's understood no goods were stolen from any of the businesses, the break-in attempts caused significant disruption. All three are based in the Lakeside suburb of the city on Clearwater Way, a stone's thrown from Roath Park. Business owners have since spoken out to reiterate that they don't leave cash on the premises overnight and "this won't beat us". Benito Martinez, the co-owner of both Ballers and BODEGA, said: "To clarify, nothing was actually taken during the break-in attempts, thankfully. We are a cashless business, so it seems the intruders were after cash. The main impact was the damage and disruption it caused." Ballers was one of the three local businesses affected (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Article continues below A veteran of the hospitality scene, Benito said: "I've been an independent business owner for well over a decade now. Being independent, everything in-house - no corporate backing, no safety nets, just graft, passion and unshakable commitment to creating great spaces for people to eat, drink and feel something." Yet, despite being used to navigating the turbulent hospitality landscape, this kind of incident is a definite first. "Never. In all my years, I've dealt with the ups and downs of hospitality - recessions, COVID, energy hikes, staffing crises - but two attempts in one night? That's a first. It's gutting." The reality of being an independent operator, he explained, means there's no one else to fall back on when disaster strikes. He said: "When you run independent venues, you are the response team. "There's no 'head office' or 24-hour facilities team to swoop in. We don't have the luxury of downtime - our team, our customers, our livelihoods rely on us being open." Ballers co-owner, Benito, shared that he had never experienced an incident like this before (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Benito went on to describe how he and his staff felt, upon discovering signs of forced entry. "Drained. Angry. But also proud. The team have been brilliant - pulled together, showed up early, stayed late. There's a real sense of 'this won't beat us.'" He also praised the support of the local community: "The community have been amazing. Messages of support and locals popping in just to say they're sorry it happened. That's the thing about being a local independent - you're not just a business, you're a part of the neighbourhood." Benito added: "We're patching things up as best we can. Ballers is operating again, albeit with a bit of battle damage. BODEGA didn't have to close, but it's had a knock-on effect on everyone's nerves. Still, we're open - because that's what we do." Popular bar and off licence, State of Love and Trust was another business targeted (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Despite all the challenges, Benito took a moment to reflect on the wider realities facing independent business like his: "I don't think most people truly see what goes on behind the scenes. The risk. The pressure. The cost of everything going up while margins get tighter and expectations get higher. "Then something like this happens, and it can be a knockout blow. But we keep going, because we care. Because independent hospitality is what keeps a city interesting - it's where the soul is." On their Facebook page, State of Love & Trust said on Monday: "At 1.57am this morning we had the privilege of ticking off 'Burglary' on the Bingo Card of owning a business… "We sadly are a card and cash business, and tend to clear it periodically, now daily. Annoyingly he scored with us, I would have more respect if he could have taken a nice bottle of wine with him to celebrate. "It's tough out there for indies and having police forensics, glaziers, insurance on your day off is never the best. Hats off to our Abi for her 3am cardboard crafting skills. "Any information please contact @swpolice regarding the perpetrator whose image you will find in our stories. Thanks as always for the all the custom we have to soften the blow. Back at it from tomorrow at 10am." All three businesses assured customers that they remain open. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here A glazer replaces a window at State of Love and Trust, after the bar was broken into (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) A spokesperson from South Wales Police, stated: "Officers are investigating commercial burglaries that occurred on Clearwater Way, involving three businesses, at around 1.53am on June 2. "Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact 101 and give reference 2500173350. "We recognise that being a victim of burglary is traumatic, whether it's your home, business, or workplace, and we are making extensive enquiries to identify those responsible. "As always, we ask business to review their security systems and make it clear that there is no cash on the premises overnight. We also ask people to be vigilant of anyone seen hanging around businesses or retail premises during the early hours of the morning. Article continues below "If anyone is seen acting suspiciously, please call police immediately on 999."
