Bees once thrived among the date palms along the Shatt al-Arab, where Iraq's mighty Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet, but drought has shriveled the green trees and life in the apiaries that dot the riverbank is under threat.

Basrah

Beekeepers in Basra, Iraq, are struggling to sustain their livelihoods as drought and increased water salinity threaten the region's delicate ecosystem. The once lush banks of the Shatt al-Arab, vital for bees and honey production, have been severely impacted by declining river levels and rising sea water intrusion, largely due to upstream dams and climate change.

Honey production in Basra has dropped dramatically, from 30 tons annually at its peak to a projected six tons this season. Experts warn that if the water crisis persists, honey production in the area could come to a complete halt, endangering both the local economy and the traditional beekeeping culture.

Bees hit by Iraq's water crisis

Beekeepers in the historic port city of Basra are struggling to maintain their age-old traditions. Drought and rising levels of salt in the water are threatening the delicate ecosystem that bees rely on. Honey production here is expected to decline by up to 50% this season compared to last year. The banks of the Shatt al-Arab, where Iraq's Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet, were once a lush paradise for bees, with the riverbanks teeming with palm trees and flowers. High-quality honey from this area was a significant source of income for Iraqi beekeepers. But conflict and climate change have slowly diminished the greenery, putting the bee population at risk. From nearly 16 million palm trees, fewer than three million remain today. Iraq has endured decades of warfare, and now its latest challenge is a water crisis. The Euphrates and Tigris rivers have seen sharp declines in water levels, exacerbated by upstream dams mostly in Turkey. This has caused a surge of sea water into the Shatt al-Arab, raising salinity to unprecedented levels. Mahmoud Shaka is a professor at Basra University. Bees need clean, pure water, not stagnant water. The lack of this water leads to their death along with other direct and indirect factors. Direct factors such as the lack of vegetation cover, which involves nectar and flowers, because of the salt tide. Secondly, bees also cannot take water from the Shatt al-Arab or the tributary rivers because of changes in the physical, chemical and salt properties of water. With summer temperatures in Basra soaring to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, the bees are facing extreme heat in addition to the salinity challenge. Every hive you see with its outer cover turned upside down is a hive that has perished, due to the lack of vegetation cover and the expansion of the salt front that therefore had significant negative and destructive effects on the beehives, both directly and indirectly. At its peak, Basra's honey production reached about 30 tons annually. But since 2007, it has plummeted to just 12 tons in recent years, with this season projected to yield only six tons. Experts say that if the water crisis continues, honey production could cease entirely.

The Trump administration is rehiring hundreds of federal employees who were laid off during cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. CBS News' Olivia Rinaldi has more details.

Washington

Trump administration rehires hundreds laid off during DOGE cuts

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy faces up to 10 years in prison if a Paris court convicts him of secretly using funds from the Libyan government of late dictator Moammar Gadhafi to finance his presidential campaign in 2007.

Paris

Ex-French President Sarkozy awaits verdict in trial

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Middle East Conflict

Italy sends navy ship to help Gaza aid flotilla after drone attack

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Dallas

Three people shot at ICE facility in Dallas, officials say

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Beijing

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New York

Ukraine Invasion

Trump reverses stance on Ukraine after meeting with Zelenskyy

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Los Angeles

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Yangjiang

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Kowloon

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West Palm Beach

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Santa Clara

Rise of AI

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Houston

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Hong Kong Island

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Moscow

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Jimmy Kimmel returning to air

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Rome

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Glendale

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Lisbon

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Nashua

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Phoenix

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Breakdown