That is a such a key concern right now because so much of the Persian Gulf they live on desalinated water. This is a process that takes a lot of energy to take seawater, push the salt out of it either through a membrane or by heating it up. Something like 90% of the fresh water in places like Kuwait and Oman is desalinated. Seventy percent in Saudi Arabia.
There is nothing quite as eerie as living in a city with no power. Outside, ice and snow, Inside, there is no water from the tap, no electricity, not even the background noise of normal life. The city goes quiet, unnaturally quiet, until the low growl of generators breaks the silence. In that moment, everything stops. It feels apocalyptic, not because of panic or chaos, but because of what's missing.
The air raid sirens screamed first, their wail cutting through the nighttime hush, keening danger. Then came the low whine of drones. Over cities of sleeping people, the Iranian-designed Shahed drones swarmed, their dark bellies crammed with explosives. At their approach, Ukraine's air defenses fired up, a stream of bullets disappearing into the stars, rat-tat-tat, followed by the bang of explosions. But still the drones came, too many to shoot down.
The Israeli army has launched a raid on Ramallah and el-Bireh in the occupied West Bank, with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reporting that at least 24 Palestinians have been wounded in the attacks. The wounded included a 12-year-old child, shot in the back near a vegetable market, the Wafa news agency, citing medical teams, reported on Tuesday.
