## Thousands of Iranians left without water in searing heat after US hits reservoirs

Authored by scmp.com

Thousands of Iranians in the southern port town of Sirik have lost access to drinking water after US strikes hit two reservoirs in the area, Iranian state media said on Wednesday.

The United States carried out strikes on the southern cities of Jask and Sirik and on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, after what Washington said was Iran’s downing of a US Army Apache helicopter over Gulf waters.

The strikes damaged two reservoirs supplying the Bemani and Kouhestak areas of Sirik town.

“Unfortunately, following this attack, 20,000 residents of the region have lost access to safe drinking water, and with temperatures ranging between 45 (113 degrees Fahrenheit) and 50 degrees Celsius, conditions have become extremely difficult and critical for local inhabitants,” Iran’s state television quoted local water company officials as saying.

“The destruction of these reservoirs has created a major problem for the region’s water supply network,” it added, noting that the area had insufficient groundwater to replace the damaged reservoirs.

Efforts were under way to find alternatives for villages affected in the area, according to Abdolhamid Hamzehpour, a senior water company official in the southern province of Hormozgan. »

### Zambia Passes Landmark Free Education Law

Authored by von.gov.ng

The new law makes free education a legal right, ensuring that no learner can be denied a place in a public school because of an inability to pay fees.

The free education policy was one of President Hichilema’s flagship commitments during the 2021 election campaign and was implemented shortly after he took office.

The policy abolished tuition fees from early childhood to secondary school, leading to a surge in enrolment, the recruitment of more than 41,000 teachers and expanded school feeding programmes. »

### Postal Service won’t deliver mail ballots for states that don’t hand over voter lists, under plan for Trump directive

Authored by cnn.com

Summary States face a choice under proposed Postal Service rules: Provide voter lists to the Trump administration or risk losing mail ballot delivery.

State election officials could soon face a stark choice: Hand over voter lists to the Trump administration or risk losing Postal Service delivery for mail-in ballots.

The proposed rules lay out new conditions that states would have to meet to send ballots through the mail, including giving the agency lists of all voters set to receive mail ballots. »

### Xbox Boss Comments on the Challenge of Making an Affordable Next-Gen Console

Authored by ign.com

Nintendo has also not been immune, and recently acknowledged it would up the price of Switch 2, just over a year after its arrival.

It's a comment that feels somewhat ironic, considering Sharma's recent recommitment to building a next generation Xbox console — currently codenamed Project Helix.

Is Sharma suggesting Microsoft will again offer a lower-powered console alternative, such as the current Xbox Series S? »

### UFC White House event to be staged at Lincoln Memorial as images released

Authored by irishstar.com

UFC White House event to be staged at Lincoln Memorial as images released.

View 3 Images Construction for another UFC event has begun at the Lincoln Memorial.

The Lincoln Memorial is set to become the latest high-profile location to feature on the UFC White House schedule. »

## In pictures

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