Water is not distributed evenly over the globe. Fewer than 10 countries possess 60% of the world's available fresh water supply: Brazil, Russia, China, Canada, Indonesia, U.S., India, Columbia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, local variations within countries can be highly significant.

Less than 3% of the world's water is fresh - the rest is seawater and undrinkable.

clean energy Nuclear deal gets through With the International Atomic Energy Agency clearing India

China will build a US$300 million hydroelectric power plant in neighbouring Tajikistan to help alleviate frequent energy shortages in the Central Asian nation, Tajik Energy Minister Sherali Gul said on Wednesday.

The agreement was reached during talks between Chinese leader Hu Jintao and Tajik President Imomali Rakhmon, he said.
Hu is in Tajikistan for the Thursday summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Gul said the planned power plant, Nurobad-2, would have capacity of between 160 and 200 megawatts.

Coping strategies: countries adjust to all-time-high oil prices Bangladesh increased fuel prices for the first time since April 2007. The government maintained subsidies on diesel and kerosene, used predominantly by the poor. Texan motorists, in search of cheap gas, crossed the border into Mexico, which subsidizes its fuel. Indian truckers went on strike from July 2 to 4,

Subhash Narayan NEW DELHI RELIANCE Power has zeroed in on Shanghai Electric, a $7-billion electrical and engineering equipment company of China, for sourcing primary equipment for Sasan ultra mega power project (UMPP). The Chinese major, which is planning to enter India in a big way, will supply boilers, turbines and generators (BTG) to the Madhya Pradesh-based UMPP. The supply contract is likely to be signed in the next few days.

China Sunday became the latest country to declare war on plastic bags in a drive to save energy and protect the environment. Under new regulations, flimsy bags under 0.025 millimetres thick are banned and shopkeepers must charge for carrier bags. Those found breaking the law face fines and could have their goods confiscated. Shoppers in downtown Beijing and in Internet chatrooms seemed largely sympathetic to the idea. China, which goes through 3 billion plastic bags a day, is increasingly aware of the damage to the environment caused by its breakneck growth.