Latest news with #cleanwater
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Travel + Leisure
5 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
These 2 Countries Have the Cleanest Coastal Waters in Europe, Report Finds
If you're dreaming of a European beach vacation, there are two countries with exceptionally clean water that you might not have considered. The European Environment Agency (EEA), in cooperation with the European Commission, has released their European bathing water assessment for the 2024 bathing season, which declares that Slovenia and Lithuania have tied for first place for the cleanest coastal waters in the world. The report assesses bathing water quality across 22,127 sites in the 27 EU member states, plus Albania and Switzerland. In the most recent assessment, 85 percent of the locations met the stringent standard of 'excellent' bathing water quality, while 96 percent met the minimum quality standards. The sites include beachers, rivers, lakes, and swimming holes, which are all tested by national and local authorities for bacterial quality of coastal bathing waters—defined as waters "situated on the sea or transitional water coastline"—was found to be generally better than that of rivers and lakes. It's all part of the EU Bathing Water Directive, which was adopted in 2006. It's important to note that both Slovenia and Lithuania, while rated most highly, also had a relatively small number of sites tested, with only 21 tested in Slovenia and only 16 in Lithuania. But, the sites cumulatively gained top marks. 'The results … show that Europeans can confidently bathe in the vast majority of the EU's bathing sites that meet the EU's bathing quality standards,' Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, said in a statement obtained by Travel + Leisure. Slovenia, which famously has 29 miles on the Adriatic Sea, recently announced the launch of a digital nomad visa that will be available from November 2025 and will allow remote workers to live in the country for up to a year, similar to schemes available in other EU countries including Greece, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Germany, and Estonia. The most popular bases for a coastal Lithuanian vacation are Palanga, Neringa and Klaipeda. In 2024, Lithuania was ranked the happiest country in the world for young people under the age of 30, according to the World Happiness Report. In 2024, Slovenia's neighbor Croatia was ranked the highest for the cleanest coastal waters by the report, with 894 bodies of water tested.
Zawya
11 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
More than 943,000 people benefit from Suqia's projects in Tanzania
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia UAE), announced that more than 943,000 people have benefitted from Suqia's projects in Tanzania to date. Suqia's projects that implement the grant from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in collaboration with the Emirates Red Crescent, aim to provide clean drinking water to over one million people in Tanzania and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025. Al Tayer made the announcement while chairing the second Board of Trustees meeting of 2025. The meeting was attended by Fahad Abdelrahman bin Sultan, Deputy Secretary General for Development and International Co-operation at Emirates Red Crescent and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Suqia; Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Development Affairs and International Organisations; Nasser Lootah, Executive Vice President of Generation at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA); Waleed bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development & Excellence at DEWA; Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA; and Mohammed Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Suqia UAE. The meeting also highlighted the honouring of 12 winners from eight countries in the fourth cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Suqia UAE oversees the award, which carries total prizes of US$1 million and comprises four main categories. 'We follow the noble path established by the Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, extending a helping hand to those in need around the world. We aim to create a sustainable, positive impact on the lives of millions by promoting innovative solutions to the global water crisis and implementing humanitarian initiatives that embody the values of giving and generosity, which are cornerstones of Emirati society,' said Al Tayer. The Board also reviewed Suqia's past achievements to encourage innovation in sustainable water solutions and to advance humanitarian and development projects to provide clean water to disadvantaged communities. Suqia UAE's projects have benefited approximately 15 million people in 37 countries, through the implementation of more than 1,000 sustainable water projects, since the Foundation's launch in 2015.
Zawya
12 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Suqia UAE's Board of Trustees: More than 943,000 people benefit from Suqia's projects in Tanzania
Dubai, UAE: HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia UAE), announced that more than 943,000 people have benefitted from Suqia's projects in Tanzania to date. Suqia's projects that implement the grant from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in collaboration with the Emirates Red Crescent, aim to provide clean drinking water to over one million people in Tanzania and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025. Al Tayer made the announcement while chairing the second Board of Trustees meeting of 2025. The meeting was attended by HE Fahad Abdelrahman bin Sultan, Deputy Secretary General for Development and International Co-operation at Emirates Red Crescent and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Suqia; HE Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Development Affairs and International Organisations; Nasser Lootah, Executive Vice President of Generation at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA); Waleed bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development & Excellence at DEWA; Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA; and Mohammed Abdulkareem Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Suqia UAE. The meeting also highlighted the honouring of 12 winners from eight countries in the fourth cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Suqia UAE oversees the award, which carries total prizes of USD 1 million and comprises four main categories. 'We follow the noble path established by the Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, extending a helping hand to those in need around the world. We aim to create a sustainable, positive impact on the lives of millions by promoting innovative solutions to the global water crisis and implementing humanitarian initiatives that embody the values of giving and generosity, which are cornerstones of Emirati society,' said Al Tayer. The Board also reviewed Suqia's past achievements to encourage innovation in sustainable water solutions and to advance humanitarian and development projects to provide clean water to disadvantaged communities. Suqia UAE's projects have benefited approximately 15 million people in 37 countries, through the implementation of more than 1,000 sustainable water projects, since the Foundation's launch in 2015. -Ends- For more information, please contact: Shaikha Almheiri / Mohammad Almheiri / Ribal Dayekh Mariam Mikhail / Esraa Hamed Dubai Electricity and Water Authority Seen Media / / mariam@ / esraa@ For more information, please visit UAE Water Aid website UAE Water Aid social media accounts:
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Rock star offers support to Scots brothers rowing across Pacific
A world-famous rock star has offered his support to three brothers who are attempting to row across the Pacific in record-time. Michael Balzary – better known by his stage name, Flea – is the bassist for Red Hot Chili Peppers, and is the latest celebrity to back Scottish brothers Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan Maclean. On Sunday, the brothers marked 100 days of their non-stop, unsupported row from Peru to Australia in a bid to raise money for clean water projects in Madagascar. The entire trip will be around 9,000 miles, and the Macleans are expected to complete their challenge within the next 20-30 days. Celebrities including actor Mark Wahlberg, rugby star Blair Kinghorn, TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and actor and comedian Greg Hemphill have also backed the brothers. Ahead of the 100-day mark, Flea spoke with the brothers via a podcast, where they bonded over the challenge and revealed how living with your brothers or bandmates can lead to difficulties. Flea, who was born in Melbourne, Australia, said: 'For us … (the Chili Peppers) we were together and touring for 10 years before we started becoming a really popular band and really making money. 'Without those 10 years, if that would have happened in the beginning, we would have fallen apart right away. 'I think it's really rare … Like, if you hear about a young artist that puts out their first record and they're a big success — very, very rarely do they continue on having a career that works. Something about just paying your dues. 'Like you already rode across the Atlantic (the brothers completed this voyage in 2019). But I'm sure before you did that, you did a million little trips where you learned how to do it. Learned what it is to be stuck on a boat with each other for months. 'There's days when we f***ing hate each other. And that's when it's really hard. When you can live together and everyone's getting along, it's this magical thing — you're this travelling entity and it's all love.' The brothers' 28ft (8.5m) carbon fibre boat, Rose Emily, is named in memory of their late sister. It has no engine and no sail and the brothers are powering their way across the ocean in two-hour shifts. They left Peru in March on a mission to reach Australia and raise £1 million for clean water projects. While speaking with Flea, Lachlan spoke of how he was washed overboard during a violent storm. Lachlan, who turned 27 while rowing the Pacific, said he was 'lucky' to be attached to his boat by a safety line during 40mph (64kmh) winds and 6m (20ft) waves last week. He was dragged along behind the craft before his brother Ewan, 33, was able to help him to scramble back on board. Flea also spoke about what drives him to keep performing after more than four decades with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He said: 'There's definitely times when I'm running on fumes and I've got nothing. We've been doing this for 43 years or something. And you know, our performance is really physical. I try to stay in the best shape I can. But for me, emotionally, the whole thing is, I'm doing this to be of service. 'I like money as much as the next person, but like a long time ago, I could have retired. I could be eating papayas, taking bong hits on the beach somewhere, you know? 'It's a job to bring joy to people through music. And when I stay in that mindset … because there are so many nights where I'm sitting in a hotel room and it's like, 'I don't wanna get up'. 'I don't wanna go face 50,000 people in the stadium and play a concert. But it's time to go. And it's like, OK, it's not about me. I feel like shit, I'm tired, I got the flu, whatever's going on with me — I'm heartbroken, my wife left me, whatever's going on — but it's like, I have to let go of my life completely and do it. 'Be there for the people. Be there for my bandmates. And be there to honour the tradition of music.' Jamie commented: 'We've got a beautiful sunrise, we're sipping coffees out of baby beakers, and we're chatting to Flea. Doesn't get much better.' They also swapped food stories, as the Macleans shared tales of freeze-dried meals prepped in Jamie's old school kitchen, while Flea reflected on years of bad roadside burgers. 'For years and years, we toured in a van, sitting up all through the night, driving through the night for like six months on end,' he said. 'You kind of start feeling like a caged animal, just eating shitty food … roadside truck stop food, whatever you can get. 'You always pull into town after a show, you're starving and there's just nothing to eat … but now we have it good. We eat like kings.' The podcast, Dinner with the Macleans, is available on Spotify, and YouTube. The brothers have raised around £218,000 so far. To donate, click here.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rock star offers support to Scots brothers rowing across Pacific
A world-famous rock star has offered his support to three brothers who are attempting to row across the Pacific in record-time. Michael Balzary – better known by his stage name, Flea – is the bassist for Red Hot Chili Peppers, and is the latest celebrity to back Scottish brothers Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan Maclean. On Sunday, the brothers marked 100 days of their non-stop, unsupported row from Peru to Australia in a bid to raise money for clean water projects in Madagascar. The entire trip will be around 9,000 miles, and the Macleans are expected to complete their challenge within the next 20-30 days. Celebrities including actor Mark Wahlberg, rugby star Blair Kinghorn, TV presenter Lorraine Kelly and actor and comedian Greg Hemphill have also backed the brothers. Ahead of the 100-day mark, Flea spoke with the brothers via a podcast, where they bonded over the challenge and revealed how living with your brothers or bandmates can lead to difficulties. Flea, who was born in Melbourne, Australia, said: 'For us … (the Chili Peppers) we were together and touring for 10 years before we started becoming a really popular band and really making money. 'Without those 10 years, if that would have happened in the beginning, we would have fallen apart right away. 'I think it's really rare … Like, if you hear about a young artist that puts out their first record and they're a big success — very, very rarely do they continue on having a career that works. Something about just paying your dues. 'Like you already rode across the Atlantic (the brothers completed this voyage in 2019). But I'm sure before you did that, you did a million little trips where you learned how to do it. Learned what it is to be stuck on a boat with each other for months. 'There's days when we f***ing hate each other. And that's when it's really hard. When you can live together and everyone's getting along, it's this magical thing — you're this travelling entity and it's all love.' The brothers' 28ft (8.5m) carbon fibre boat, Rose Emily, is named in memory of their late sister. It has no engine and no sail and the brothers are powering their way across the ocean in two-hour shifts. They left Peru in March on a mission to reach Australia and raise £1 million for clean water projects. While speaking with Flea, Lachlan spoke of how he was washed overboard during a violent storm. Lachlan, who turned 27 while rowing the Pacific, said he was 'lucky' to be attached to his boat by a safety line during 40mph (64kmh) winds and 6m (20ft) waves last week. He was dragged along behind the craft before his brother Ewan, 33, was able to help him to scramble back on board. Flea also spoke about what drives him to keep performing after more than four decades with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He said: 'There's definitely times when I'm running on fumes and I've got nothing. We've been doing this for 43 years or something. And you know, our performance is really physical. I try to stay in the best shape I can. But for me, emotionally, the whole thing is, I'm doing this to be of service. 'I like money as much as the next person, but like a long time ago, I could have retired. I could be eating papayas, taking bong hits on the beach somewhere, you know? 'It's a job to bring joy to people through music. And when I stay in that mindset … because there are so many nights where I'm sitting in a hotel room and it's like, 'I don't wanna get up'. 'I don't wanna go face 50,000 people in the stadium and play a concert. But it's time to go. And it's like, OK, it's not about me. I feel like shit, I'm tired, I got the flu, whatever's going on with me — I'm heartbroken, my wife left me, whatever's going on — but it's like, I have to let go of my life completely and do it. 'Be there for the people. Be there for my bandmates. And be there to honour the tradition of music.' Jamie commented: 'We've got a beautiful sunrise, we're sipping coffees out of baby beakers, and we're chatting to Flea. Doesn't get much better.' They also swapped food stories, as the Macleans shared tales of freeze-dried meals prepped in Jamie's old school kitchen, while Flea reflected on years of bad roadside burgers. 'For years and years, we toured in a van, sitting up all through the night, driving through the night for like six months on end,' he said. 'You kind of start feeling like a caged animal, just eating shitty food … roadside truck stop food, whatever you can get. 'You always pull into town after a show, you're starving and there's just nothing to eat … but now we have it good. We eat like kings.' The podcast, Dinner with the Macleans, is available on Spotify, and YouTube. The brothers have raised around £218,000 so far. To donate, click here.
