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As 'Drought' Approaches, Iranians Warned To Conserve Water

As 'Drought' Approaches, Iranians Warned To Conserve Water

In Tehran — Photo: Kamyar Adl

As Iran approaches another long, scorching summer with possible water shortages, the Energy Ministry is telling millions of Iranians to make cautious use of their air-conditioning systems because each could use up to 200 liters of water a day, the newspaper Jaam-e Jam reported.

The Ministry characterized it as “more than the standard” amount of water used by one Iranian every day, and observed that having AC running all day was like adding a person to every household.

[rebelmouse-image 27087978 alt="""" original_size="800x600" expand=1]

Low water levels near Tehran’s Lar dam — Photo: Alireza Javaheri

Officials regularly warn Iranians about wasting water, gas and electricity. It is not uncommon for a passerby to smell gas leaking from building pipes on buildings during winter, and gas shortages are a recurring theme of official warnings in wintertime. The Ministry urged Iranians to keep their AC's “cooling boxes” (often stuck on walls or placed on roofs) away from the sun, or to buy more efficient systems.

Jaam-e Jam reported that water levels in one of Tehran’s dams had fallen so low that “cars could easily drive inside.” The Lar dam is currently holding 53 million cubic meters of water, compared to 96 at the same time in 2013. Reporters from Fars news agency drove into the dam and observed that boats are now stuck there.

— Ahmad Shayegan

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FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

Black Sea Survivor: Tale Of A Ukrainian Special Agent Thrown Overboard In Enemy Waters

This is a tale of a Ukrainian special forces operator who wound up surviving 14 hours at sea, staying afloat and dodging Russian air and sea patrols.

Black Sea Survivor: Tale Of A Ukrainian Special Agent Thrown Overboard In Enemy Waters

Looking at the Black Sea in Odessa, Ukraine.

Rustem Khalilov and Roksana Kasumova

KYIV — During a covert operation in the Black Sea, a Ukrainian special agent was thrown overboard and spent the next 14 hours alone at sea, surrounded by enemy forces.

Stay up-to-date with the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war, with our exclusive international coverage.

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The agent, who uses the call-sign "Conan," agreed to speak to Ukrainska Pravda, to share the details of nearly being lost forever at sea. He also shared some background on how he arrived in the Ukrainian special forces. Having grown up in a village in a rural territory of Ukraine, Conan describes himself as "a simple guy."

He'd worked in law enforcement, personal security and had a job as a fitness trainer when Russia launched its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. That's when he signed up with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Main Directorate of Intelligence "Artan" battalion. It was nearly 18 months into his service, when Conan faced the most harrowing experience of the war. Here's his first-hand account:

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