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Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Iran's triple crisis is reshaping daily life
Tehran, Iran – Every morning at 6am, Sara reaches for her phone – not to check messages, but to see when the day's blackout will begin. The 44-year-old digital marketer in Tehran has memorised the weekly electricity schedule yet still checks her phone each morning for last-minute changes as she plans her life around the two-hour power cuts. 'Without electricity, there is no air conditioner to make the heat tolerable,' Sara says, describing how Iran's convergent crises – water scarcity, power shortages and record-breaking temperatures – have fundamentally altered her daily routine. The water service cuts are unannounced. They last hours at a time and truly unnerve Sara, so she scrambles to fill buckets whenever she can before the taps run dry. Crisis For millions of Iranians, this summer has brought survival challenges in light of record-breaking heat, according to data from Iran's Meteorological Organization. The country is simultaneously grappling with its fifth consecutive year of drought, chronic energy deficits and unprecedented heat, a perfect storm that is exposing the fragility of basic services. The Meteorological Organization said rainfall is down 40 percent during the current water year, the 12-month rainfall-tracking period, which starts in autumn. As of July 28, Iran had received only 137mm (5.4 inches) of precipitation compared with the long-term average of 228.2mm (9 inches).The electricity shortage is rooted in both infrastructure limitations and fuel supply challenges that have caused production capacity to fall behind rapidly rising demand. An October report from parliament's Research Center showed 85 percent of Iran's electricity comes from fossil fuels, 13 percent from hydropower and the remainder from renewables and nuclear power. While Iran possesses vast gas and oil reserves, decades of sanctions and underinvestment in transmission networks and power plants mean the system can't keep up with consumption. Adding to these capacity constraints, fuel supply disruptions have forced some power stations to resort sometimes to using mazut (heavy fuel oil) instead of natural gas, but authorities try to restrict it due to air pollution concerns. Summer droughts compound the crisis by reducing hydroelectric generation precisely when air conditioning demand peaks, leaving millions of Iranians planning their lives around predictable blackouts and unpredictable water outages. Survival Twenty-six-year-old Fatemeh moved to Tehran from Andisheh, a town 15km (9 miles) west of the capital, a year ago to pursue her education. She rented her first apartment, an exciting milestone that became a daily exercise in crisis management. Fatemeh's first unannounced water cut saw her in a sweltering apartment with temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). 'The first thing I did was to stop moving altogether so my body temperature wouldn't rise,' she recalls. With only two bottles of drinking water and a block of ice available, she carefully rationed her supplies although she used precious ice to cool her feet. Showering and using the bathroom became challenges, she says, describing how she ordered expensive bottled water online and used two bottles just to shower. Now, after months of unpredictable outages, Fatemeh has a survival routine: storing water in multiple containers, pouring it into her evaporative cooler when cuts occur and tossing blocks of ice into vents during extreme heat. When both the water and electricity go, she says it 'feels like having a fever' and she soaks towels in her stored water to press them against her body for relief. The balcony offers no escape. The air outside remains hotter than indoors, even at night. Ripple effect The infrastructure crisis extends beyond household inconveniences and is threatening livelihoods across the economy as offices and retail shops are forced to close for hours or for the day. The repeated shutdowns and the economic pinch they cause could lead to layoffs, affecting families who depend on these jobs. Small businesses face particular challenges. Pastry shop owners have shared videos of themselves throwing spoiled cakes away after refrigerators fail. Remote work, promoted as a solution, becomes impossible when homes lack both electricity and internet connectivity. Shahram, a 38-year-old software company manager, says he has to send his employees home sometimes. 'Power cuts usually occur between 12 and 5pm,' he says. 'That coincides with peak work hours, … [so] if the power cuts happen at 2, 3 or 4pm, I usually send everyone home because there's no point. By the time power comes back, it is the end of their working day.' Experts attribute the energy crisis to insufficient investment, failure to adopt new technologies – both of which are influenced by international sanctions – and unsustainable consumption. Mohammad Arshadi, a water governance researcher and member of the Strategic Council of the Tadbir-E-Abe Iran think tank, agrees, saying Iran's water crisis requires fundamental changes in consumption patterns. While natural scarcity has been amplified by climate change, he says the main reason behind the current problem is how water is being used in Iran. Expansion of water-intensive farming, large industries and urban sprawl have 'fuelled the runaway growth of water demand', he says. Uncertainty Back in her apartment, Sara continues checking her phone each morning, adjusting her schedule like millions of Iranians who have learned to navigate this new reality. For Fatemeh, the psychological adjustment proves as challenging as the practical adaptations. Each morning brings new uncertainty about whether water will flow from her taps or electricity will power her laptop. In a country where citizens once took infrastructure for granted, a generation is learning to live with scarcity. As Iran approaches another winter with unresolved water and energy deficits, the experiences of Sara, Fatemeh, Shahram and millions like them suggest that the country's infrastructure crisis has moved beyond temporary inconvenience to become a defining feature of modern Iranian life. This story was published in collaboration with @. Solve the daily Crossword
Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Iran's triple crisis is reshaping daily life
Tehran, Iran – Every morning at 6am, Sara reaches for her phone – not to check messages, but to see when the day's blackout will begin. The 44-year-old digital marketer in Tehran has memorised the weekly electricity schedule yet still checks her phone each morning for last-minute changes as she plans her life around the two-hour power cuts. 'Without electricity, there is no air conditioner to make the heat tolerable,' Sara says, describing how Iran's convergent crises – water scarcity, power shortages and record-breaking temperatures – have fundamentally altered her daily routine. The water service cuts are unannounced. They last hours at a time and truly unnerve Sara, so she scrambles to fill buckets whenever she can before the taps run dry. Crisis For millions of Iranians, this summer has brought survival challenges in light of record-breaking heat, according to data from Iran's Meteorological Organization. The country is simultaneously grappling with its fifth consecutive year of drought, chronic energy deficits and unprecedented heat, a perfect storm that is exposing the fragility of basic services. The Meteorological Organization said rainfall is down 40 percent during the current water year, the 12-month rainfall-tracking period, which starts in autumn. As of July 28, Iran had received only 137mm (5.4 inches) of precipitation compared with the long-term average of 228.2mm (9 inches). The electricity shortage is rooted in both infrastructure limitations and fuel supply challenges that have caused production capacity to fall behind rapidly rising demand. An October report from parliament's Research Center showed 85 percent of Iran's electricity comes from fossil fuels, 13 percent from hydropower and the remainder from renewables and nuclear power. While Iran possesses vast gas and oil reserves, decades of sanctions and underinvestment in transmission networks and power plants mean the system can't keep up with consumption. Adding to these capacity constraints, fuel supply disruptions have forced some power stations to resort sometimes to using mazut (heavy fuel oil) instead of natural gas, but authorities try to restrict it due to air pollution concerns. Summer droughts compound the crisis by reducing hydroelectric generation precisely when air conditioning demand peaks, leaving millions of Iranians planning their lives around predictable blackouts and unpredictable water outages. Survival Twenty-six-year-old Fatemeh moved to Tehran from Andisheh, a town 15km (9 miles) west of the capital, a year ago to pursue her education. She rented her first apartment, an exciting milestone that became a daily exercise in crisis management. Fatemeh's first unannounced water cut saw her in a sweltering apartment with temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). 'The first thing I did was to stop moving altogether so my body temperature wouldn't rise,' she recalls. With only two bottles of drinking water and a block of ice available, she carefully rationed her supplies although she used precious ice to cool her feet. Showering and using the bathroom became challenges, she says, describing how she ordered expensive bottled water online and used two bottles just to shower. Now, after months of unpredictable outages, Fatemeh has a survival routine: storing water in multiple containers, pouring it into her evaporative cooler when cuts occur and tossing blocks of ice into vents during extreme heat. When both the water and electricity go, she says it 'feels like having a fever' and she soaks towels in her stored water to press them against her body for relief. The balcony offers no escape. The air outside remains hotter than indoors, even at night. Ripple effect The infrastructure crisis extends beyond household inconveniences and is threatening livelihoods across the economy as offices and retail shops are forced to close for hours or for the day. The repeated shutdowns and the economic pinch they cause could lead to layoffs, affecting families who depend on these jobs. Small businesses face particular challenges. Pastry shop owners have shared videos of themselves throwing spoiled cakes away after refrigerators fail. Remote work, promoted as a solution, becomes impossible when homes lack both electricity and internet connectivity. A post shared by hadi (@hadi929392) Shahram, a 38-year-old software company manager, says he has to send his employees home sometimes. 'Power cuts usually occur between 12 and 5pm,' he says. 'That coincides with peak work hours, … [so] if the power cuts happen at 2, 3 or 4pm, I usually send everyone home because there's no point. By the time power comes back, it is the end of their working day.' Experts attribute the energy crisis to insufficient investment, failure to adopt new technologies – both of which are influenced by international sanctions – and unsustainable consumption. Mohammad Arshadi, a water governance researcher and member of the Strategic Council of the Tadbir-E-Abe Iran think tank, agrees, saying Iran's water crisis requires fundamental changes in consumption patterns. While natural scarcity has been amplified by climate change, he says the main reason behind the current problem is how water is being used in Iran. Expansion of water-intensive farming, large industries and urban sprawl have 'fuelled the runaway growth of water demand', he says. Uncertainty Back in her apartment, Sara continues checking her phone each morning, adjusting her schedule like millions of Iranians who have learned to navigate this new reality. For Fatemeh, the psychological adjustment proves as challenging as the practical adaptations. Each morning brings new uncertainty about whether water will flow from her taps or electricity will power her laptop. In a country where citizens once took infrastructure for granted, a generation is learning to live with scarcity. As Iran approaches another winter with unresolved water and energy deficits, the experiences of Sara, Fatemeh, Shahram and millions like them suggest that the country's infrastructure crisis has moved beyond temporary inconvenience to become a defining feature of modern Iranian life. This story was published in collaboration with @Egab.
CNA
08-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Is rivalry in marriage a good or bad thing? What should women do when the desire to win takes over?
Denise (not her real name) married her teenage sweetheart seven years ago. She admitted that the two of them 'always compete somehow' in terms of the positions they have at work, how much they are earning and where they are in their careers. 'We don't argue about this rivalry but I can feel that my husband is somehow trying to 'compete' with me,' said the 36-year-old digital marketer-entrepreneur. 'I'm not sure if it's because we have always been together … he always tries to go above and beyond what I accomplish in my career.' After having her first child four years ago, JK (who only wanted to be known by her initials), took a step back in her career. She gave up promotion opportunities because she felt that she'd have a heavier workload, which would mean she would have less time with her daughter. Her husband, whom she has been married to for eight years now, is around mostly on the weekends. 'While my husband was progressing in his career and took on better opportunities, it made me feel very frustrated as I'm a career-driven person,' said the 36-year-old who works in human resources. 'I thought that when we had kids, we would share parenting duties but, somehow, it still falls on me till today. 'He has told me that he feels jealous at times as our kids choose me over him for anything but the only advice I give him is to be home with them before they go to bed,' added the mum of two girls. Competing in your careers or for your children's affection is not uncommon in marriage. Theresa Pong, founder and counselling director at The Relationship Room, revealed that competition in relationships is natural because both partners want to feel seen, valued and appreciated for what they bring to the relationship. She cited examples where rivalry can pop up in a marriage: In parenting (who spends more time with the kids, who handles school responsibilities or who sacrifices more for the family), household contributions (who earns more, who does more housework or who manages the mental load of organising the family's schedule), as well as career and success (who has the more demanding job, who receives more recognition or who contributes more financially). Couples could also compete over seemingly minor issues pertaining to their social life, like who makes more effort to maintain friendships, how much personal time each of them sacrifices for the sake of the family, or who initiates family outings. It could also be a rivalry involving emotional labour – who remembers birthdays, plans holidays or makes more effort in maintaining family traditions. 'These often reflect a deeper need: To be recognised, to feel like an equal and to know that their role in the relationship is valued,' said Pong. EMOTIONAL MEANING BEHIND MARRIAGE RIVALRY Dr Natalie Games, clinical psychologist at Alliance Counselling, said that couples may compete for a variety of reasons, such as insecurity, a need for validation or unresolved power dynamics. And while a little friendly rivalry can be healthy and fun, ongoing competition often signals deeper issues like lack of emotional safety or misaligned values. 'The healthiest relationships are built on collaboration, where partners celebrate each other's wins and see success as shared, not rivalled,' Dr Games told CNA Women. 'We know that emotional intimacy thrives when partners champion each other rather than compete.' However, it's important to note that being competitive in a relationship isn't inherently bad. What is key is how partners respond to each other's success or independence, said Dr Games. 'It's the emotional meaning behind it that's important – if the competition is underpinned by fear, insecurity or disconnection, it becomes toxic. If it stems from admiration and playfulness, it can energise the relationship,' she explained. If left unchecked, rivalry in a marriage can quietly erode the foundation of trust and connection between partners. Dr Games said this is because, when one or both people start viewing the relationship as a competition, it shifts the dynamic from 'we're on the same team' to 'I need to win'. This can lead to resentment, jealousy and emotional distance, especially if one partner constantly feels like they're falling behind or being judged. 'Be warned that when couples compete, they can stop seeing each other as lovers or teammates and start treating each other like opponents,' said Dr Games. 'This shift reduces emotional safety and intimacy. Instead of turning to each other in vulnerability, they put up emotional walls.' Dr Games gave an example of a woman who may feel resentful about her husband's work promotion. She may cheer him on but deep down, might be feeling 'diminished' – he is soaring while she is doing the school pick-ups, helping their kids with homework and organising the family schedule. In such a situation, the woman is not 'competing for power but competing to feel seen, valued and remembered in a life where her contributions often go unnoticed', she said. CELEBRATING EACH OTHER'S WINS Denise shared that, most of the time, the rivalry in her marriage is seen 'like a friendly game'. 'We don't talk about it in a serious way but with humour. I feel like it's healthy competition because we tend to always give our best in everything we do now.' JK confessed that while she and her husband do talk about their rivalry and find solutions, 'there are also times I don't talk about it to him because I want to avoid an argument'. 'He does acknowledge that he isn't around the majority of the time and that I have sacrificed my career for the family,' she added. 'He appreciates what I have done, which makes me feel a little better but it took me many years to come to terms with the fact that I am settling with my job and not moving further, as my kids need me.' For women looking to navigate feelings of rivalry, Pong's advice is to first understand what it's pointing to – perhaps a need for more personal fulfilment, recognition or reassurance in the relationship. Then, acknowledge the emotions rather than feeling guilty about them. It's also important to have open conversations with your partner about your own aspirations and needs. 'Practise self-compassion and self-love by reminding yourself that your worth is not defined by achievements alone and celebrating your own unique journey,' Pong added. 'When both partners feel secure and valued, they can celebrate each other's wins rather than feel threatened by them.' If you've noticed yourself feeling resentful about your partner's success, constantly comparing roles or achievements, or needing to 'win' arguments or be 'the better' parent, partner or professional, it may signal that competition is taking over connection. Dr Games suggested reflecting on the root of the feelings – often, it's not about outdoing a partner but about wanting recognition or a sense of balance. 'Practising vulnerability, like saying, 'Sometimes I feel left behind when you're thriving', can open space for honest conversation,' said Dr Games. 'Therapy or journalling can help unpack deeper insecurities and shift the focus back to shared growth.' One partner's competitiveness can hurt the relationship if they downplay their other half's achievements, or compare efforts or struggles. They might feel like they're walking on eggshells or like one views the other as a rival instead of an ally. Dr Games recommended calling attention to the dynamic gently but directly. For example, say, 'I sometimes feel like we're competing and I don't want that between us'. Setting clear emotional boundaries and expressing need for mutual support can help. If the behaviour continues or turns controlling, couples counselling may be a healthy next step, said Dr Games. 'The key is self-awareness, honest communication and shifting the mindset from 'me versus you' to 'us together',' she added.
