If the sound of your partner's snoring keeps you up at night, there may be a surprising solution beyond just earplugs or separate bedrooms. Recent research suggests that altering one's&nbsp;diet, specifically towards a more plant-based approach, could significantly reduce the risk of sleep apnoea.

Published in ERJ Open Research, the study reveals that individuals consuming a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and nuts have a 19 per cent&nbsp;lower risk of developing sleep apnoea compared to those with a less plant-based diet. This finding underscores the potential impact of dietary choices on sleep-related conditions.

Interestingly, the study also highlights disparities between men and women regarding the effects of diet on sleep apnoea risk. Specifically, a plant-based diet appears to have a more pronounced effect in reducing the risk for men.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-grow-pair-of-laboratory-testicles-with-hope-of-easing-male-infertility-692250">Also read |&nbsp;Scientists grow pair of 'laboratory testicles' that could help treat male infertility</a>

<h2>Understanding sleep apnoea</h2>

Sleep apnoea occurs when the airways become constricted during sleep, leading to disrupted breathing patterns. Factors such as obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleeping position contribute to its development. Common symptoms include loud snoring, intermittent breathing pauses, and gasping or choking sounds upon waking.

Beyond disturbing sleep patterns, obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with various health risks, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. Treatment typically involves weight management and lifestyle modifications alongside other interventions.

Dr&nbsp;Yohannes Melaku, the study's lead researcher,&nbsp;who spoke to the Guardian underscored&nbsp;the significance of diet quality in managing sleep apnoea risk. A plant-based diet's potential to reduce inflammation and obesity may explain its protective effects against sleep apnoea.

Also watch |&nbsp;Neuralink's first human patient able to use mouse through thinking says Elon Musk

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/neuralinks-first-human-patient-able-to-use-mouse-through-thinking-says-elon-musk-692299/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The research analysed data from 14,210 participants in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants reported their dietary habits, while also completing a questionnaire assessing sleep apnoea risk.

Food groups were classified into healthy plant foods (whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes), less healthy plant foods (refined grains, sugary drinks, sweets), and animal foods (animal fat, dairy, meat, fish). These distinctions helped researchers evaluate dietary patterns and their association with sleep apnoea risk.

(With inputs from agencies)

If the sound of your partner's snoring keeps you up at night, there may be a surprising solution beyond just earplugs or separate bedrooms. Recent research suggests that altering one's diet, specifically towards a more plant-based approach, could significantly reduce the risk of sleep apnoea.

If the sound of your partner's snoring keeps you up at night, there may be a surprising solution beyond just earplugs or separate bedrooms. Recent research suggests that altering one's diet, specifically towards a more plant-based approach, could significantly reduce the risk of sleep apnoea. Published in ERJ Open Research, the study reveals that individuals consuming a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and nuts have a 19 per cent lower risk of developing sleep apnoea compared to those with a less plant-based diet. This finding underscores the potential impact of dietary choices on sleep-related conditions. Interestingly, the study also highlights disparities between men and women regarding the effects of diet on sleep apnoea risk. Specifically, a plant-based diet appears to have a more pronounced effect in reducing the risk for men. Also read | Scientists grow pair of 'laboratory testicles' that could help treat male infertility Understanding sleep apnoea Sleep apnoea occurs when the airways become constricted during sleep, leading to disrupted breathing patterns. Factors such as obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sleeping position contribute to its development. Common symptoms include loud snoring, intermittent breathing pauses, and gasping or choking sounds upon waking. Beyond disturbing sleep patterns, obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with various health risks, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. Treatment typically involves weight management and lifestyle modifications alongside other interventions. Dr Yohannes Melaku, the study's lead researcher, who spoke to the Guardian underscored the significance of diet quality in managing sleep apnoea risk. A plant-based diet's potential to reduce inflammation and obesity may explain its protective effects against sleep apnoea. Also watch | Neuralink's first human patient able to use mouse through thinking says Elon Musk The research analysed data from 14,210 participants in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants reported their dietary habits, while also completing a questionnaire assessing sleep apnoea risk. Food groups were classified into healthy plant foods (whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes), less healthy plant foods (refined grains, sugary drinks, sweets), and animal foods (animal fat, dairy, meat, fish). These distinctions helped researchers evaluate dietary patterns and their association with sleep apnoea risk. (With inputs from agencies)

Study reveals plant-based diet reduces sleep apnoea risk by one-fifth

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is riding high in the polls to the alarm of mainstream parties and is on track to win three state votes in the east of the country with calls to stop migration and curb what it sees as a costly green agenda.

AfD is polling 17-19% nationwide, around a record high for the party that now vies with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats for second place in some surveys, up from fifth in the 2021 election when it secured 10.3% of the vote.

It was last at such highs in 2018 after Europe's migrant crisis. This time, the nationalist, anti-immigrant party has also benefited from infighting in Scholz's three-way coalition.

Far-right parties have gained ground across Europe. In France, the far-right has become a stronger rival at the ballot box, while in Italy and Sweden, they are now are in government.

But the rise of the AfD, which lambasts the German government for high immigration levels, surging inflation and a costly green transition, touches a particularly sensitive nerve in Germany because of the country's Nazi past.

Germany's domestic spy agency has branded the AfD's youth wing "extremist", saying it propagated "a racial concept of society". The spy agency's head has also accused the AfD, which opposes sanctions on Russia, of helping spread Russian propaganda about the Ukraine war.

Germany's main parties have ruled out cooperating with the AfD to keep it out of government, but the AfD's critics worry that it is dragging mainstream politics further right.

"We are seeing the rhetoric on topics like migration get shriller," said Stefan Marschall, political scientist at the University of Duesseldorf.

Migration is moving up Germany's political agenda. Michael Kretschmer, the premier of the east German state of Saxony and who is from the right of centre Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said last week that the number of migrants was "too big", calling for limits on refugees allowed in and cuts to benefits.

<h2>The cost of transition</h2>

The CDU's national leader, Friederich Merz, has however dismissed any comparisons with the AfD, saying in comments on Sunday that his party's language was "nothing like" the AfD's.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has partly blamed the AfD for stoking anti-immigrant attitudes that have fuelled a rise in attacks on refugees. The AfD denies this.

The AfD, which disputes that human activity is a cause of climate change, has also tapped into concerns among some voters about the cost of the transition away from fossil fuels.

AfD leader Tino Chrupalla said more voters appreciated that the policies of the Greens, Scholz's junior coalition partner which wants a swifter shift away from hydrocarbons, brought "economic war, inflation and de-industrialisation."

"We are the only party that would not form a coalition with these dangerous Greens," he said.

In Thueringen, Saxony and Brandenburg, the east German states that are holding state elections in 2024, the AfD is on track to top voting for the first time, with surveys showing its support at 23%-28%.

Analysts say voters in the east, where party loyalties are less well-established, have been more receptive to the AfD in part because they blame mainstream parties that have rotated through various governments over the years for lower incomes that persist in the east, three decades after reunification.

Even if the AfD's is kept out of power, its rise has sucked votes from other parties, forcing them into more unwieldy coalitions at state and national levels, particularly in the east where the AfD is strongest.

<h2>Wave of discontent</h2>

Marc Debus, a political scientist at Mannheim University, said it could bolster calls among some voters for conservatives in particular to work more closely with the AfD, even if not in a formal coalition, rather than aligning with the left.

Some AfD initiatives have won backing from mainstream voters on the more local level. In December, members of the CDU in the small town of Bautzen in Saxony voted in favour of an AfD proposal to cut some benefits, such as language courses for migrants whose asylum applications had been rejected.

"This dogmatic way in Berlin of excluding the AfD, saying they are all Nazis, is wrong," said Matthias Grahl, head of the CDU in the Bautzen district council.

Others say the AfD is riding a wave of discontent because of a confluence of crises that will not last. Inflation has already dipped from its peak and sky-high energy prices over the winter, fuelled by the Ukraine war, have eased.

Wolfgang Buechner, a Scholz government spokesman, said he was confident the coalition could whittle away at AfD support.

"The chancellor is optimistic that if we do good work and solve the problems of this country ... then we will not need to worry much longer about this topic," he said.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is riding high in the polls to the alarm of mainstream parties and is on track to win three state votes in the east of the country with calls to stop migration and curb what it sees as a costly green agenda.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is riding high in the polls to the alarm of mainstream parties and is on track to win three state votes in the east of the country with calls to stop migration and curb what it sees as a costly green agenda. AfD is polling 17-19% nationwide, around a record high for the party that now vies with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats for second place in some surveys, up from fifth in the 2021 election when it secured 10.3% of the vote. It was last at such highs in 2018 after Europe's migrant crisis. This time, the nationalist, anti-immigrant party has also benefited from infighting in Scholz's three-way coalition. Far-right parties have gained ground across Europe. In France, the far-right has become a stronger rival at the ballot box, while in Italy and Sweden, they are now are in government. But the rise of the AfD, which lambasts the German government for high immigration levels, surging inflation and a costly green transition, touches a particularly sensitive nerve in Germany because of the country's Nazi past. Germany's domestic spy agency has branded the AfD's youth wing "extremist", saying it propagated "a racial concept of society". The spy agency's head has also accused the AfD, which opposes sanctions on Russia, of helping spread Russian propaganda about the Ukraine war. Germany's main parties have ruled out cooperating with the AfD to keep it out of government, but the AfD's critics worry that it is dragging mainstream politics further right. "We are seeing the rhetoric on topics like migration get shriller," said Stefan Marschall, political scientist at the University of Duesseldorf. Migration is moving up Germany's political agenda. Michael Kretschmer, the premier of the east German state of Saxony and who is from the right of centre Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said last week that the number of migrants was "too big", calling for limits on refugees allowed in and cuts to benefits. The cost of transition The CDU's national leader, Friederich Merz, has however dismissed any comparisons with the AfD, saying in comments on Sunday that his party's language was "nothing like" the AfD's. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has partly blamed the AfD for stoking anti-immigrant attitudes that have fuelled a rise in attacks on refugees. The AfD denies this. The AfD, which disputes that human activity is a cause of climate change, has also tapped into concerns among some voters about the cost of the transition away from fossil fuels. AfD leader Tino Chrupalla said more voters appreciated that the policies of the Greens, Scholz's junior coalition partner which wants a swifter shift away from hydrocarbons, brought "economic war, inflation and de-industrialisation." "We are the only party that would not form a coalition with these dangerous Greens," he said. In Thueringen, Saxony and Brandenburg, the east German states that are holding state elections in 2024, the AfD is on track to top voting for the first time, with surveys showing its support at 23%-28%. Analysts say voters in the east, where party loyalties are less well-established, have been more receptive to the AfD in part because they blame mainstream parties that have rotated through various governments over the years for lower incomes that persist in the east, three decades after reunification. Even if the AfD's is kept out of power, its rise has sucked votes from other parties, forcing them into more unwieldy coalitions at state and national levels, particularly in the east where the AfD is strongest. Wave of discontent Marc Debus, a political scientist at Mannheim University, said it could bolster calls among some voters for conservatives in particular to work more closely with the AfD, even if not in a formal coalition, rather than aligning with the left. Some AfD initiatives have won backing from mainstream voters on the more local level. In December, members of the CDU in the small town of Bautzen in Saxony voted in favour of an AfD proposal to cut some benefits, such as language courses for migrants whose asylum applications had been rejected. "This dogmatic way in Berlin of excluding the AfD, saying they are all Nazis, is wrong," said Matthias Grahl, head of the CDU in the Bautzen district council. Others say the AfD is riding a wave of discontent because of a confluence of crises that will not last. Inflation has already dipped from its peak and sky-high energy prices over the winter, fuelled by the Ukraine war, have eased. Wolfgang Buechner, a Scholz government spokesman, said he was confident the coalition could whittle away at AfD support. "The chancellor is optimistic that if we do good work and solve the problems of this country ... then we will not need to worry much longer about this topic," he said.

Analysis: Germany's far-right rides high on anti-immigration, anti-green agenda

Repeatedly questioned about how she will juggle motherhood with work, the only woman with a chance of succeeding Angela Merkel as&nbsp;German Chancellor&nbsp;says many&nbsp;Germans don't seem ready for a mother with young children to take over.

Merkel was&nbsp;Germany's first woman&nbsp;chancellor&nbsp;but she never had children. Now the Greens believe 40-year-old Annalena Baerbock faces a lingering stereotype that the incumbent never had to deal with: mothers should be running families, not countries.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-greens-election-hopeful-targeted-by-fake-news-381474">German Greens' election hopeful targeted by fake news</a>

Three months before&nbsp;Germans go to the polls, the media has questioned whether a mother could successfully lead&nbsp;Germany, prompting a heated debate about prevalent sexist attitudes.

On the campaign trail, Baerbock has been asked often about her children. An editor of mass-circulation newspaper Bild asked in an interview: "You are&nbsp;chancellor&nbsp;and are in the middle of negotiations, and you suddenly get a call from your children, would you&nbsp;answer? Did your children find it ok that you want to be&nbsp;chancellor?"

The host of a popular political TV talk show, Anne Will, pressed Baerbock on whether she won the Greens' nomination for&nbsp;chancellor&nbsp;because she is a woman, even though the party's backing was almost unanimous.

"It's been the elephant in the room for some time now that you only got it because you are a woman," Will said.

Baerbock responded: "I'm not going to have a sex change in the next six months. Of course the question of emancipation played a role but it wasn't the only reason."

The Greens, the only party in the Bundestag national parliament with more female than male lawmakers, briefly surged in the polls to overtake Merkel's conservative bloc after Baerbock's nomination but is now polling some 10 points behind at around 20 per cent.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germanys-greens-make-first-bid-for-chancellery-promise-change-378640">Germany's Greens make first bid for chancellery, promise change</a>

Pollsters say this is a sign that&nbsp;German&nbsp;voters want them to be in the next coalition government but not in the driver's seat.

The ecologist party says the relentless questioning of Baerbock's suitability for top office is unjustified and that the media have not scrutinised her male rivals as vigorously.

It also points to a fake news campaign that appeared online soon after her nomination. This has included false claims that she was paid for a nude photoshoot - the pictures of which turned out to be of a Russian adult entertainment model that bears a striking resemblance to Baerbock - fake quotes that she wants to ban owning pets, and another false report that she does not have a university degree.

"The hate campaign against Baerbock is unprecedented in&nbsp;German&nbsp;election history and far exceeds anything we have seen against Merkel," Michael Butter of the University of Tuebingen said. "It shows that people took it seriously that a Greens&nbsp;chancellor&nbsp;could end up leading&nbsp;Germany."

To be sure, missteps by Baerbock like an unreported party bonus and inaccurate details in her curriculum vitae have invited media scrutiny, and her lack of experience in government has been picked on by critics, often with sexist undertones.

"Character Assassination"

Late last month, the Greens hired a prominent libel lawyer to fight allegations that Baerbock had in her new book lifted phrases from other texts without proper citation, accusations rejected by the party as "character assassination".

She has denied any wrongdoing.

Baerbock has shaken up the election campaign with vows to scrap a controversial pipeline project to bring Russian gas to&nbsp;Germany, confront China on its human rights record and permanently abolish strict constitutional limits on new debt to finance a transition to a carbon-neutral economy.

Pollsters say her style and focus on the environment are particularly appealing to young voters, especially women.

Trousers Vs Skirts

Merkel also faced media scrutiny ahead of the 2005 election, in which she won her first term.

Commentators, economists and members of Merkel's own conservative bloc cast doubt on her ability to make sound decisions on the economy. Photographers snapped pictures of sweat stains beneath her armpit as she waved to journalists on the red carpet outside an opera house, which made it to newspapers' front pages.

"Baerbock looks more feminine than Merkel: she is younger, has longer hair, wears dresses and skirts," Katharina Wrohlich of the&nbsp;German&nbsp;Institute for Economic Research DIW said.

"Merkel is older, has shorter hair, and wears trousers and jackets. So this makes her (Baerbock) an easier and more obvious target of gender bias and sexism than Merkel," she said.

Baerbock's male rivals jumped to her defence after the plagiarism accusations surfaced.

Armin Laschet, the conservative&nbsp;chancellor&nbsp;candidate most likely to succeed Merkel, said the media's questioning of whether Baerbock could juggle motherhood and the chancellery was inappropriate. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, a chancellor&nbsp;candidate of the Social Democrats, said she was being treated unfairly.

Baerbock summed up how she feels about media coverage of her flagging campaign in an interview with women's magazine Brigitte: "I&nbsp;sense, or am often told, that it is an imposition that I, as a 40-year-old woman with young children, am standing as&nbsp;chancellor&nbsp;candidate. This is where I say women must be able to everything."

Repeatedly questioned about how she will juggle motherhood with work, the only woman with a chance of succeeding Angela Merkel as German Chancellor says many Germans don't seem ready for a mother with young children to take over.

Repeatedly questioned about how she will juggle motherhood with work, the only woman with a chance of succeeding Angela Merkel as German Chancellor says many Germans don't seem ready for a mother with young children to take over. Merkel was Germany's first woman chancellor but she never had children. Now the Greens believe 40-year-old Annalena Baerbock faces a lingering stereotype that the incumbent never had to deal with: mothers should be running families, not countries. Also read | German Greens' election hopeful targeted by fake news Three months before Germans go to the polls, the media has questioned whether a mother could successfully lead Germany, prompting a heated debate about prevalent sexist attitudes. On the campaign trail, Baerbock has been asked often about her children. An editor of mass-circulation newspaper Bild asked in an interview: "You are chancellor and are in the middle of negotiations, and you suddenly get a call from your children, would you answer? Did your children find it ok that you want to be chancellor?" The host of a popular political TV talk show, Anne Will, pressed Baerbock on whether she won the Greens' nomination for chancellor because she is a woman, even though the party's backing was almost unanimous. "It's been the elephant in the room for some time now that you only got it because you are a woman," Will said. Baerbock responded: "I'm not going to have a sex change in the next six months. Of course the question of emancipation played a role but it wasn't the only reason." The Greens, the only party in the Bundestag national parliament with more female than male lawmakers, briefly surged in the polls to overtake Merkel's conservative bloc after Baerbock's nomination but is now polling some 10 points behind at around 20 per cent. Also read | Germany's Greens make first bid for chancellery, promise change Pollsters say this is a sign that German voters want them to be in the next coalition government but not in the driver's seat. The ecologist party says the relentless questioning of Baerbock's suitability for top office is unjustified and that the media have not scrutinised her male rivals as vigorously. It also points to a fake news campaign that appeared online soon after her nomination. This has included false claims that she was paid for a nude photoshoot - the pictures of which turned out to be of a Russian adult entertainment model that bears a striking resemblance to Baerbock - fake quotes that she wants to ban owning pets, and another false report that she does not have a university degree. "The hate campaign against Baerbock is unprecedented in German election history and far exceeds anything we have seen against Merkel," Michael Butter of the University of Tuebingen said. "It shows that people took it seriously that a Greens chancellor could end up leading Germany." To be sure, missteps by Baerbock like an unreported party bonus and inaccurate details in her curriculum vitae have invited media scrutiny, and her lack of experience in government has been picked on by critics, often with sexist undertones. "Character Assassination" Late last month, the Greens hired a prominent libel lawyer to fight allegations that Baerbock had in her new book lifted phrases from other texts without proper citation, accusations rejected by the party as "character assassination". She has denied any wrongdoing. Baerbock has shaken up the election campaign with vows to scrap a controversial pipeline project to bring Russian gas to Germany, confront China on its human rights record and permanently abolish strict constitutional limits on new debt to finance a transition to a carbon-neutral economy. Pollsters say her style and focus on the environment are particularly appealing to young voters, especially women. Trousers Vs Skirts Merkel also faced media scrutiny ahead of the 2005 election, in which she won her first term. Commentators, economists and members of Merkel's own conservative bloc cast doubt on her ability to make sound decisions on the economy. Photographers snapped pictures of sweat stains beneath her armpit as she waved to journalists on the red carpet outside an opera house, which made it to newspapers' front pages. "Baerbock looks more feminine than Merkel: she is younger, has longer hair, wears dresses and skirts," Katharina Wrohlich of the German Institute for Economic Research DIW said. "Merkel is older, has shorter hair, and wears trousers and jackets. So this makes her (Baerbock) an easier and more obvious target of gender bias and sexism than Merkel," she said. Baerbock's male rivals jumped to her defence after the plagiarism accusations surfaced. Armin Laschet, the conservative chancellor candidate most likely to succeed Merkel, said the media's questioning of whether Baerbock could juggle motherhood and the chancellery was inappropriate. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, a chancellor candidate of the Social Democrats, said she was being treated unfairly. Baerbock summed up how she feels about media coverage of her flagging campaign in an interview with women's magazine Brigitte: "I sense, or am often told, that it is an imposition that I, as a 40-year-old woman with young children, am standing as chancellor candidate. This is where I say women must be able to everything."

Greens candidate for German Chancellor says sexist scrutiny holding her back

Germany's liberal Free Democrats (FDP) will not join a coalition led by the ecologist Greens after an election in September, mass-selling Bild daily reported on Monday, citing party sources. 
 
The decision would make it more difficult for the Greens, who are expected to come second in the election behind Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, to try to form a government after the vote. 
 
The Greens are running about 8 points behind the conservatives and polling at about 20%. 
 
The conservatives and Greens could seek to form a coalition after the election but may find it difficult to bridge differences on whether to raise taxes to fund a transition to a carbon-neutral economy and ramp up investments in digital infrastructure and schools. 
 
The conservatives argue that tax hikes would harm the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. 
 
Opinion polls show the Greens would have a majority in parliament with the FDP and centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), who are polling on about 13% and 16%, respectively. 
 
The FDP are the conservatives' preferred ruling partners but the two parties are unlikely to win enough votes for a parliamentary majority given that the conservative bloc is on 28%. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Germany's liberal Free Democrats (FDP) will not join a coalition led by the ecologist Greens after an election in September, mass-selling Bild daily reported on Monday, citing party sources.

Germany's liberal Free Democrats (FDP) will not join a coalition led by the ecologist Greens after an election in September, mass-selling Bild daily reported on Monday, citing party sources. The decision would make it more difficult for the Greens, who are expected to come second in the election behind Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, to try to form a government after the vote. The Greens are running about 8 points behind the conservatives and polling at about 20%. The conservatives and Greens could seek to form a coalition after the election but may find it difficult to bridge differences on whether to raise taxes to fund a transition to a carbon-neutral economy and ramp up investments in digital infrastructure and schools. The conservatives argue that tax hikes would harm the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Opinion polls show the Greens would have a majority in parliament with the FDP and centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), who are polling on about 13% and 16%, respectively. The FDP are the conservatives' preferred ruling partners but the two parties are unlikely to win enough votes for a parliamentary majority given that the conservative bloc is on 28%. (With inputs from agencies)

German liberal FDP rules out coalition with Greens after election: Report

The lush volcanic hills surrounding Volvic in central France have long been a source of mineral water prized worldwide, but locals and geologists warn that too much is now being pumped out, putting the entire region at risk.

"We used to have water up to our knees and the stream could turn two mills," said Pierre Grodecoeur, 69, pointing out the flow outside the house where he was born in Les Moulins Blancs.

The mills are long gone, Grodecoeur said, and these days the stream bed is often dry.

His village in the Auvergne region is just down the road from the hulking Volvic bottling plant owned by French food and beverage giant Danone.

Since 2014, the government has allowed Danone to bottle up to 2.8 million cubic metres a year -- or 2.8 billion one-litre bottles.

That translates into an extraction of nearly 89 litres per second from the Volvic water table, compared with just 15.6 litres when bottling operations first began in 1965.

But at the nearby fish hatchery of Saint-Genest-l'Enfant, a registered landmark dating from the 17th century where the Volvic source naturally emerges, there are now some months when no water flows at all.

The owner, Edouard de Feligonde, had to shut down the fishery a few years ago after duckweed formed slick green films over basins that became stagnant for lack of current.

"Danone is destroying a historical monument so that it can send its bits of plastic to the other side of the world," said Feligonde, who is waging a legal battle against the multinational with the lawyer and former environment minister Corinne Lepage.

'Desertification'

Robert Durand, a geologist, told AFP that the average flow rate at the Volvic source had fallen to 50 litres per second, far below the 470 litres per second measured in 1927.

Water shortages are already impacting the region's biodiversity by reducing the natural humidity of the forested hills.

"It can be described as the beginning of a desertification," said Christian Amblard, an expert with France's CNRS research institute in Clermont-Ferrand, the historic capital of Auvergne.

He cited declines in black alder trees and the siskin songbirds that nest in them, and in ash trees and golden orioles.

"Only the hand of man and Volvic are responsible," he said.

Laurent Campos-Hugueney, a farmer and member of the Water is a Public Good collective, said streams around Volvic no longer flow strongly enough to support irrigation.

"There hasn't been any plant or vegetable operations in the area for several years," he said.

But Jerome Gros, director at the Volvic bottling site, disputed the claim that his operations were sucking the waterbed dry and said Danone was investing heavily in protecting the source.

"We have saved 380 million litres between 2017 and 2020 even as sales remained stable," Gros told AFP.

In 2014, for example, Volvic needed to pump out two litres to fill a one-litre bottle, with the excess used for sterilising and rinsing equipment.&nbsp;

"Today we're down to just 1.4 litres for every litre bottled," he said.&nbsp;

'Shooting itself in the foot'

Critics are not convinced, noting that Volvic pumps up water from up to 100 metres deep, and that stream depletions cannot be ascribed to the weather since rainfall has remained steady over the past years.

"It's like you're emptying a bathtub from the bottom," said Francois-Dominique de Larouziere, a geologist who is member of the local Preva environmental preservation group.

Authorities have also allowed Volvic to spread its volume allotment over the entire year, meaning it can pump more in summer when demand spikes, leaving everyone else high and dry.

The government's top official for the region, Philippe Chopin, told a parliamentary commission in April that "environmental conditions, in particular drought, caused a drop in the aquifer that we do not believe can be blamed" on Volvic's extractions.&nbsp;

His assertions were rejected by many in Volvic, where the issuance of building permits was suspended last August because of the risk of drinking water shortages -- though the mayor denied any proof that Volvic's operations were the cause.

"How can you tell people they can't water three tomato plants in the middle of summer, when they see full trucks leaving this factory?" De Larouziere said.&nbsp;

"Danone is shooting itself in the foot, but when the faucet stops running, it's going to be painful."

The lush volcanic hills surrounding Volvic in central France have long been a source of mineral water prized worldwide, but locals and geologists warn that too much is now being pumped out, putting the entire region at risk.

The lush volcanic hills surrounding Volvic in central France have long been a source of mineral water prized worldwide, but locals and geologists warn that too much is now being pumped out, putting the entire region at risk. "We used to have water up to our knees and the stream could turn two mills," said Pierre Grodecoeur, 69, pointing out the flow outside the house where he was born in Les Moulins Blancs. The mills are long gone, Grodecoeur said, and these days the stream bed is often dry. His village in the Auvergne region is just down the road from the hulking Volvic bottling plant owned by French food and beverage giant Danone. Since 2014, the government has allowed Danone to bottle up to 2.8 million cubic metres a year -- or 2.8 billion one-litre bottles. That translates into an extraction of nearly 89 litres per second from the Volvic water table, compared with just 15.6 litres when bottling operations first began in 1965. But at the nearby fish hatchery of Saint-Genest-l'Enfant, a registered landmark dating from the 17th century where the Volvic source naturally emerges, there are now some months when no water flows at all. The owner, Edouard de Feligonde, had to shut down the fishery a few years ago after duckweed formed slick green films over basins that became stagnant for lack of current. "Danone is destroying a historical monument so that it can send its bits of plastic to the other side of the world," said Feligonde, who is waging a legal battle against the multinational with the lawyer and former environment minister Corinne Lepage. 'Desertification' Robert Durand, a geologist, told AFP that the average flow rate at the Volvic source had fallen to 50 litres per second, far below the 470 litres per second measured in 1927. Water shortages are already impacting the region's biodiversity by reducing the natural humidity of the forested hills. "It can be described as the beginning of a desertification," said Christian Amblard, an expert with France's CNRS research institute in Clermont-Ferrand, the historic capital of Auvergne. He cited declines in black alder trees and the siskin songbirds that nest in them, and in ash trees and golden orioles. "Only the hand of man and Volvic are responsible," he said. Laurent Campos-Hugueney, a farmer and member of the Water is a Public Good collective, said streams around Volvic no longer flow strongly enough to support irrigation. "There hasn't been any plant or vegetable operations in the area for several years," he said. But Jerome Gros, director at the Volvic bottling site, disputed the claim that his operations were sucking the waterbed dry and said Danone was investing heavily in protecting the source. "We have saved 380 million litres between 2017 and 2020 even as sales remained stable," Gros told AFP. In 2014, for example, Volvic needed to pump out two litres to fill a one-litre bottle, with the excess used for sterilising and rinsing equipment. "Today we're down to just 1.4 litres for every litre bottled," he said. 'Shooting itself in the foot' Critics are not convinced, noting that Volvic pumps up water from up to 100 metres deep, and that stream depletions cannot be ascribed to the weather since rainfall has remained steady over the past years. "It's like you're emptying a bathtub from the bottom," said Francois-Dominique de Larouziere, a geologist who is member of the local Preva environmental preservation group. Authorities have also allowed Volvic to spread its volume allotment over the entire year, meaning it can pump more in summer when demand spikes, leaving everyone else high and dry. The government's top official for the region, Philippe Chopin, told a parliamentary commission in April that "environmental conditions, in particular drought, caused a drop in the aquifer that we do not believe can be blamed" on Volvic's extractions. His assertions were rejected by many in Volvic, where the issuance of building permits was suspended last August because of the risk of drinking water shortages -- though the mayor denied any proof that Volvic's operations were the cause. "How can you tell people they can't water three tomato plants in the middle of summer, when they see full trucks leaving this factory?" De Larouziere said. "Danone is shooting itself in the foot, but when the faucet stops running, it's going to be painful."

Too thirsty? France's Volvic blamed as streams run dry

The co-leader of Germany's Greens, Annalena Baerbock, said on Monday, she would run to become chancellor in September's elections, the first time the left-leaning party has sought the top job in its 40-year history.&nbsp;

Baerbock, a former champion trampolinist, who has seen support for her party rise over the past year, said she would offer a 'new start' and focus on investing in education, digital and green technologies.&nbsp;

Analysts said the chance of an outright win for the ecologist party was still a long shot - though the Greens have become a formidable force that has profited from voters' fatigue with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives. &nbsp;

Baerbock's group still trails the conservatives by around five points in the polls, despite signs of divisions in the conservative camp that has ruled Germany for 16 years.&nbsp;

Baerbock, 40, sought to allay fears about her relative lack of experience. "Democracy lives off change. Yes, I was never a chancellor and never a minister," she told a news conference. "I stand for renewal. Other stand for the status-quo."&nbsp;

"We would like to lead this government - but since politics is not a wish-fulfillment exercise, it will be up to the voters to decide who will come out of this election with how much strength," she added.&nbsp;

Baerbock was nominated for the chancellorship by her party and formally presented on Monday by co-leader Robert Habeck - an orderly process that stood in contrast to public divisions among the conservatives.&nbsp;

Armin Laschet, chairman of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and Markus Soeder of their CSU Bavarian sister party, remained at loggerheads on Monday over which of them should lead their increasingly strained alliance.&nbsp;

"While Laschet and Soeder are still fighting in the arena and the potential damage to the party could be great, the Greens have delivered a masterpiece of political professionalism," ING economist Carsten Brzeski said.&nbsp;

The Greens, who were born in 1980 out of the ecologist movement of the late 1960s and 1970s, govern the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, a former conservative stronghold.&nbsp;

A Forsa poll last week put support for the Greens on 23%, behind 27% for Merkel's alliance.&nbsp;

To lead a coalition government, the Greens could team up with the left-leaning Social Democrats (SPD), which the Forsa poll showed to have 15% support, and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), at 9%. Another three-way tie-up could be with the SPD and the far-left Linke.&nbsp;

In a more likely scenario, given the current numbers, the Greens could also join government as junior partner to Merkel`s conservatives. &nbsp;

Finance Minister and SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz was quick to congratulate Baerbock on her candidacy, tweeting that he was "looking forward to an exciting and fair competition".&nbsp;

A person close to Scholz, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Scholz and Baerbock had a good and professional relationship and their parties had many overlapping policy goals. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The co-leader of Germany's Greens, Annalena Baerbock, said on Monday, she would run to become chancellor in September's elections, the first time the left-leaning party has sought the top job in its 40-year history.

The co-leader of Germany's Greens, Annalena Baerbock, said on Monday, she would run to become chancellor in September's elections, the first time the left-leaning party has sought the top job in its 40-year history. Baerbock, a former champion trampolinist, who has seen support for her party rise over the past year, said she would offer a 'new start' and focus on investing in education, digital and green technologies. Analysts said the chance of an outright win for the ecologist party was still a long shot - though the Greens have become a formidable force that has profited from voters' fatigue with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives. Baerbock's group still trails the conservatives by around five points in the polls, despite signs of divisions in the conservative camp that has ruled Germany for 16 years. Baerbock, 40, sought to allay fears about her relative lack of experience. "Democracy lives off change. Yes, I was never a chancellor and never a minister," she told a news conference. "I stand for renewal. Other stand for the status-quo." "We would like to lead this government - but since politics is not a wish-fulfillment exercise, it will be up to the voters to decide who will come out of this election with how much strength," she added. Baerbock was nominated for the chancellorship by her party and formally presented on Monday by co-leader Robert Habeck - an orderly process that stood in contrast to public divisions among the conservatives. Armin Laschet, chairman of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and Markus Soeder of their CSU Bavarian sister party, remained at loggerheads on Monday over which of them should lead their increasingly strained alliance. "While Laschet and Soeder are still fighting in the arena and the potential damage to the party could be great, the Greens have delivered a masterpiece of political professionalism," ING economist Carsten Brzeski said. The Greens, who were born in 1980 out of the ecologist movement of the late 1960s and 1970s, govern the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, a former conservative stronghold. A Forsa poll last week put support for the Greens on 23%, behind 27% for Merkel's alliance. To lead a coalition government, the Greens could team up with the left-leaning Social Democrats (SPD), which the Forsa poll showed to have 15% support, and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), at 9%. Another three-way tie-up could be with the SPD and the far-left Linke. In a more likely scenario, given the current numbers, the Greens could also join government as junior partner to Merkel`s conservatives. Finance Minister and SPD chancellor candidate Olaf Scholz was quick to congratulate Baerbock on her candidacy, tweeting that he was "looking forward to an exciting and fair competition". A person close to Scholz, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Scholz and Baerbock had a good and professional relationship and their parties had many overlapping policy goals. (With inputs from agencies)

Germany's Greens make first bid for chancellery, promise change 

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