Water contamination

Water is the latest battleground in Syria

It is a half-hearted attempt to make light of a water crisis that is impacting millions in Damascus, a city that has been relatively sheltered from the violence raging elsewhere in the country.

Nour said that her family just got water on Tuesday morning, after four days without access. Her family quickly lined up to use the shower and she switched on the washing machine. Now, when she hears the sound of the water motor running, she says it is "like a wedding."

Accident makes Russian village's taps run with oil

The local YakutiaMedia website says a central heating system accident in the village of Chersky resulted in three tonnes of oil leaking into the water supply. The oil also made its way into a nearby river and contaminated the soil.