
New Afghan dam sparks concern in Iran's Mashhad amid water crisis
In an article published Tuesday, the Iranian state newspaper Jomhouri-e Eslami warned of a looming water shortage in the city, which is home to millions. Afghanistan's Taliban government is accused of hostility after it opened the Pashdan Dam on the Hari River near the western city of Herat.
The 1,000-kilometre Hari originates in Afghanistan, flows westward through Iran and comes to an end in Turkmenistan. The river is also dammed on the Iranian side near Mashhad. Iran is facing a severe water crisis as temperatures soar. (DPA)

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Macron fears ‘permanent war' amid fresh Israeli offensive
dpa Paris French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday warned of a 'permanent war' amid Israel's planned military operation in Gaza City. 'The military offensive in Gaza that Israel is preparing can only lead to disaster for both peoples and risks plunging the entire region into a cycle of permanent war,' Macron wrote on X after talks with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sissi. Macron reiterated his call for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. He also named the release of all hostages, a large-scale provision of humanitarian aid for the people in Gaza as well as the disarmament of the Palestinian Hamas organization and the strengthening of the Palestinian Authority as prerequisites for an end to the war. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has approved a military deployment plan to capture Gaza City, according to media reports. The authorization came despite Hamas saying it had presented a 'positive response' to a fresh proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to international mediators. Macron has stepped up his critique of Israel in recent months over its conduct in Gaza. He has also pledged to recognize a Palestinian state, a move lambasted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.


Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
NATO sends two fighter jets after Russian weapons approach Romania
BerlincTypeface:> NATO scrambled two German Eurofighter jets in response to Russian airstrikes near Ukraine's border with Romania overnight into Wednesday. The jets were activated after Russian weapons systems approached Romanian airspace. Ultimately they did not cross into what is also NATO airspace. The jets, which took off from the Romanian military airbase Mihail Kogalniceanu near Constanta, returned without incident. This marked the first alert of a new mission there. The German Air Force is participating in armed patrol flights to secure the NATO alliance's south-eastern flank. The operation involves five Eurofighters and approximately 170 soldiers, providing military capabilities that Romania does not sufficiently possess on its own. The German fighter jets are part of a quick reaction alert unit stationed on-site, ready to deploy around the clock. (DPA)


Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Al Jazeera
China FM in Afghanistan, offers to deepen cooperation with Taliban rulers
China wants to explore mining in Afghanistan and have Kabul formally join its Belt and Road Initiative, a massive infrastructure plan, which is a central pillar of President Xi Jinping's bid to expand his country's global influence, the Afghan Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Kabul and held talks with Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that both countries wanted to deepen ties in a number of areas. Beijing will continue to support the Afghan government to achieve long-term peace and stability, Wang told Muttaqi, according to a readout of the meeting released by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. China is willing to deepen political mutual trust with Afghanistan and step up cooperation in areas including trade and agriculture, Wang said. He called on Afghanistan to combat armed groups, adding that tighter security ties would provide a guarantee to bilateral economic cooperation. 'Mr Wang Yi also mentioned that China intends to initiate practical mining activities this year,' the Afghan statement said. Wang also met Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund, according to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the administration. 'China has cooperated not only with Afghanistan but also with other countries around the world in their development, and it has played a constructive role,' Akhund told Wang, urging Beijing to continue its 'efforts and cooperation on the international stage in support of Afghanistan's legitimate position'. Wang told the prime minister that China was a 'sincere and steadfast' in its friendship with Afghanistan. 'We fully support the Afghan people in their progress,' he said, according to Fitrat. Wang is in Kabul for trilateral meetings between China, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Neither Beijing nor Islamabad formally recognise the interim administration, but both nations have posted their ambassadors in Kabul and have received Afghan envoys in their capitals. China was the first country to appoint an ambassador to Afghanistan under the Taliban and has sought to develop its ties with the hardline group that took control of the war-torn country in 2021. The impoverished country, rich in lithium, copper and iron deposits, could offer a wealth of mineral resources to boost Beijing's supply chain security, analysts say.