Po River Drought Signals Alpine Water Strain

Italy's Po River has fallen to historically low levels as the country endures its fourth heatwave of the summer, exposing wide stretches of dry riverbed near Pavia and raising fresh concerns over water supplies and farming across northern Italy, according to Euronews.

The drought comes as forecasters warn of a sweltering Ferragosto weekend with highs of 40C, according to The Local Italy, extending a summer that has tested the country's water infrastructure and agricultural resilience.

For the Valle d'Aosta, the Po's troubles are not a distant news item. The river begins in the Alps of this region, fed by glaciers and snowmelt that have been in steady retreat for decades.