In parts of Spain, the water level in reservoirs is already dangerously low for this time of year. Farmers fearing for their crops and livestock hope politicians will act quickly. But they've been told the necessary funds aren't available.

Madrid

Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently amid rising sea-levels and increasing temperatures.

Climate Crisis

Spain is currently grappling with a severe water crisis, particularly evident during this spring season, as reservoir levels in some regions have fallen to alarmingly low points. The crisis is causing significant concern among farmers who depend on these water resources for their crops and livestock. Despite urgent calls for government intervention, officials have reported that the funding necessary to address the crisis is not available.

In the northeastern part of Spain, specifically in the region of Catalonia, the situation has become critical enough to prompt a declaration of a state of emergency due to the ongoing drought. Water reserves in the area have plummeted to below 16 percent, leading to the implementation of drastic water restrictions. The drought has severely impacted local agriculture, with farmers like Tony Quintana from Figueras noting unprecedented challenges in growing sufficient fodder for his cows due to the lack of rain. The decline in water availability has forced Quintana and his nephew Ferran to consider purchasing feed, a move that puts additional strain on their already limited resources.

The regional government of Catalonia is facing financial pressures as it attempts to implement drought relief measures. A recent proposal for an early election was triggered by the failure of an initial budget proposal, underscoring the fiscal challenges in managing the crisis. Local farmers, feeling marginalized by the political focus on more lucrative sectors like tourism, express skepticism about the government's commitment to addressing their needs.

The crisis also extends to the tourism sector, with concerns about water consumption during the peak summer months. Restaurant owner Marta Sanés criticized the delayed political response to the drought, highlighting the unfulfilled promise of new desalination plants that could mitigate water scarcity.

At the governmental level, there is recognition of the need for broader collaboration to tackle the water crisis, with officials calling for regional cooperation and European-level policy interventions. However, for farmers like Tony Quintana and his nephew, immediate concerns about their livelihood and the well-being of their livestock overshadow these long-term strategies. Despite the difficulties, they remain determined to continue their farming operations, clinging to the hope that seasonal changes and melting snow from the Pyrenees will provide some relief.



Spain faces springtime water crisis

These fields are green because it recently rained here a bit, but Tony Quintana says it wasn't nearly enough. The farmer from Figueras cultivates alfalfa as fodder for his cows. He says he's never experienced such a drought. The plants ought to be coming up to our knees at this point, but they barely grew in February because there wasn't enough rain. The Spanish region of Catalonia has declared a state of emergency because of the drought. Water reserve levels have fallen below 16 percent. Drastic water restrictions are already imposed, and summer has not even begun yet. This canal used to bring water to Tony Quintana's fields. He doubts that will ever happen again. It's practically impossible. Only God can help us. Hopefully he will. Otherwise there's going to be a fight here. There's no life without water. For now, the cows can still feed on the reserves, but stocks are running out. Tony Quintana and his nephew Ferran have to make tough decisions. We now have to buy what we can't produce, because the crops in the fields won't grow properly without water. We don't know how it's going to pan out, whether we'll have enough water for our animals, so we're being careful with our investments. Drought relief measures are putting a strain on the regional government's budget, and Catalonia has called an early election after an initial budget proposal failed to pass. Tony Quintana is not optimistic. We make up just one percent of the electorate. Tourism is much more important, because there's more money in it. I always say that it's not politicians who rule here, it's money. Just a few kilometers further lies Rosas, on the Costa Brava. The tourism sector here is preparing for the summer. Water consumption increases as visitor numbers rise. Marta Sanés runs a restaurant, and says that politicians reacted too late to the drought. We should have had new desalination plants by now. They are planned, but I don't think they'll come this summer. Maybe next year with a bit of luck. The minister in charge says the Catalonia government does not have enough funds to solve the water crisis alone. We have cooperation projects with other regions suffering from the climate crisis in the Mediterranean. We want to raise water policy to a higher level, a European one. We must understand we can only solve this together. The future of Europe also depends on the future of the Mediterranean. Funding for EU support isn't an option for Tony Quintana and his nephew. They worry about their animals and the ongoing drought, and have asked themselves whether they should continue at all. It would be easy to say we quit, but to really give up the farm would hurt. My parents' whole life is in it, and mine, and now also my nephew's, so somehow it's still worth carrying on. For now, he'll keep hoping for more rain. There is still snow on the nearby Pyrenees, and when that melts, there will be some water for his fields.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a trip to Kyiv that part of a major U.S. aid package had arrived in Ukraine and that more was on its way.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Blinken says Putin must pay for damage in Ukraine

In his second day on the stand at Donald Trump's criminal trial, the prosecution tried to build up the former fixer's credibility as a witness who can link Trump to the alleged scheme of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

New York

Star witness Michael Cohen grilled by defence at Trump trial

A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report says the cargo ship Dali that collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore lost power twice in the hours before it left port.

Baltimore

Report: Ship lost power twice before ramming Baltimore bridge

At least two French prison guards were shot dead and three others seriously injured after heavily armed men ambushed a prison van to free an inmate, French police said, triggering a major manhunt.

Incarville

Manhunt underway after prisoner van ambushed

The Georgian parliament has approved in the third and final reading a divisive bill that sparked weeks of mass protests, with critics seeing it as a threat to democratic freedoms and the country’s aspirations to join the European Union.

Tbilisi

Georgian Parliament adopts controversial law despite protests

U.S. President Joe Biden has unveiled a bundle of steep tariff increases on an array of Chinese imports including electric vehicles, computer chips and medical products, risking an election-year standoff with Beijing in a bid to woo voters who give his economic policies low marks.

Washington

Biden sharply hikes U.S. tariffs on China chips, cars

The Treasurer has announced a $300 power bill rebate for households and a $325 rebate for small businesses, alongside measures to address inflation and support low-income households, aiming to alleviate the country's cost of living pressures.

Canberra

Federal Budget tackles cost-of-living crisis

The New South Wales State Government has announced tougher bail laws for domestic violence accused persons, including electronic monitoring. The reforms follow the alleged murder of Molly Ticehurst in Forbes last month, after her accused killer breached bail.

Council of the City of Sydney

NSW announces tougher bail laws for domestic offenders

The Federal Government will announce the budget in a few hours. Cost of living is said to be the key focus, along with energy rebates for Australian households and Commonwealth rent assistance. However Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor says Australian households have already shown great restraint. Inflation is also a concern.

Budget forecast ahead of announcement

Trump's former fixer and personal lawyer Michael Cohen takes the stand as a key prosecution witness at the former president's hush money trial. His testimony links the former president to alleged falsifying of business records to cover up payments to an adult film star and a Playboy model, in the 2016 campaign.

Ex- Trump fixer Michael Cohen takes stand at hush money trial

Israel's Memorial Day is typically sombre, but today angry protests over the government's handling of the war disrupted several events. The war itself is getting worse for Palestinians in Gaza as hundreds of thousands have fled the city they were already taking refuge in and still more are trapped amid intensifying fighting.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel-Gaza War

Protests, fighting in Gaza mark Israel's Memorial Day

The exodus of Palestinians from Gaza’s last refuge accelerated as Israeli forces pushed deeper into the southern city of Rafah. Israel also pounded the territory’s devastated north, where some Hamas militants have regrouped. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated opposition to a major military assault on Rafah.

Jerusalem

UN urges reopening of aid lines as exodus from Rafah continues

More than a dozen student volunteers from Albury, Victoria are stranded in Vanuatu after the country's airline went into liquidation. The group having to arrange their own charter flight back to Australia after Qantas were unresponsive.

Tanna

Air Vanuatu collapse leaves teenage volunteers stranded

Australians are feeling the financial pinch, making significant cuts to their spending habits according to a report by the Commonwealth Bank. Analysis of expenditure revealed a reduction in purchases at supermarkets, liquor stores and butchers.

Aussies slash spending, according to new survey

Thousands of people been evacuated from border areas in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, as Russia kept up constant strikes on a key town as part of a cross-border offensive, officials said. The surprise Russian attack across Ukraine's northeastern border began on Friday, with Moscow's troops making small advances in an area from where they had been pushed back nearly two years ago.

Kharkiv

Thousands evacuated from Kharkiv after surprise Russian offensive

The Federal Government says tomorrow's budget is designed to provide cost-of-living relief without worsening inflation. The Treasurer expected to deliver policies that ease the housing shortage, plus wage stagnation.

Budget won't impact inflation, Government says

Three people have walked away unhurt after a light plane made an emergency landing at Newcastle Airport. The aircraft touching down on its belly after the pilot reported the plane's landing gear failed this morning

Newcastle

Pilot makes successful 'wheels up' emergency landing

Russian President Vladimir Putin tapped a civilian economist as his surprise new defense minister in an attempt to better integrate Russia's military spending into the country's overall economy, and harness greater innovation to win in Ukraine.

Moscow

Putin taps economist to run defense, replacing Shoigu

Flash floods triggered by heavy rain in Afghanistan have killed at least 315 people, and there are fears the death toll could rise. Al Jazeera spoke to displaced residents in Baghlan, one of the hardest hit areas.

Baghlan

Hundreds killed in Afghanistan flash floods

As attacks on Rafah continue, the U.S. secretary of state criticises Israel’s war planning for not doing enough to protect civilians or stopping Hamas.

Rafah

Israel intensifies Rafah attacks as U.S. ups criticism

Weather has delayed the planned controlled explosion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which is necessary to free a ship that has been trapped for weeks.

Baltimore bridge demolition delayed by weather

Large plumes of smoke could be seen over Alberta and in British Columbia as out-of-control fires raged across Western Canada. The federal government warned of another "catastrophic" wildfire season as it forecast higher-than-normal spring and summer temperatures.

Fort St. John

Canada blazes trigger evacuation orders

Israel has ordered thousands more Rafah residents to evacuate the city as it steps up attacks in Gaza. The UN says more than 150,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah since Monday, after Israel warned people to evacuate ahead of a major offensive.

Nowhere to go in Gaza as Israel prepares final assault

Parts of New South Wales have been hit with up to 200 millimetres of rain in the past 24 hours, seeing roads giving way. Severe weather warnings remain in parts of the state, mainly the south coast. However the weather bureau is promising clearer skies this week.

Bondi Beach

Torrential rain continues throughout New South Wales

Tens of thousands of people have rallied in Georgia’s capital against a proposed law many say will silence dissent. There are fears the legislation could cost Georgia its bid to join the EU.

Anger across Georgia over Kremlin-inspired laws

Our planet is experiencing its most powerful geomagnetic storm in more than 20 years, creating stunning colours in the night sky known as auroras. It's an event which experts warn could trigger power and communication blackouts.

Gothenburg

Stunning night skies across the globe amid solar storm

Switzerland has won the 2024 Eurovision song contest in an event marred by protests over Israel's participation. Thousands protesting outside the venue in the Swedish city of Malmo.

Malmö

Switzerland wins a Eurovision overshadowed by Gaza war

Rescue workers are braving torrential rain while searching for survivors after last week's devastating floods that killed 136 people in southern Brazil. Thousands have evacuated their homes but many in poor areas remain stranded.

State of Rio Grande do Sul

Torrential rain hampers Brazil flood rescue efforts

Israel's closest ally and biggest arms supplier, the United States, says Israel's use of American weapons likely breached international law in Gaza. The long-awaited report by the Biden administration to Congress issues a rare criticism to Israel.

U.S. report finds possible rights violations in Gaza

The biggest geomagnetic storm in two decades resulted in dazzling lights displays across large swathes of the Northern Hemisphere over the weekend. Curtains of green, pink and purple lights could be seen in skies around the world.

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Climate Crisis