Amazon Cloud Directory enables you to build flexible cloud-native directories for organizing hierarchies of data along multiple dimensions. With Cloud Directory, you can create directories for a variety of use cases, such as organizational charts, course catalogs, and device registries. While traditional directory solutions, such as Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) and other LDAP-based directories, limit you to a single hierarchy, Cloud Directory offers you the flexibility to create directories with hierarchies that span multiple dimensions. For example, you can create an organizational chart that can be navigated through separate hierarchies for reporting structure, location, and cost center.

You can now use upgraded versions of Apache Spark (2.1.0), Apache Hive (2.1.1), Apache Flink (1.1.4), Hue (3.11.0), and Apache Oozie (4.3.0) on Amazon EMR release 5.3.0. Apache Spark 2.1.0 resolves over 1,200 tickets, including better SparkR support for machine learning algorithms, improvements to Structured Streaming, and performance enhancements for Spark SQL. Hue 3.11.0 adds improvements to the SQL editor with a new autocompleter and a more advanced results grid. Flink 1.1.4 , Hive 2.1.1 , and Oozie 4.3.0 all have various improvements and bug fixes.

Pressure energy specialist Energy Recovery has signed a master agreement with Germany-based pumps manufacturer Duchting Pumpen to provide a new combined solution for desalination.

GE Water & Process Technologies will supply advanced wastewater treatment technology to Luo Fang Wastewater Treatment Plant, Shenzhen City, making it China’s largest membrane bioreactor (MBR) facility.

The contract for a major power and desalination plant in Yanbu Industrial City, Saudi Arabia, has been cancelled by Saline Water and Conversion Corporation (SWCC) after it disagreed with EPC contractor Samsung Engineering over project changes.

Almar Water Solutions, a new water infrastructure development company led by former Abengoa chief executive Carlos Cosin, was launched at World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, January 2017.

Singapore’s water agency PUB officially opened the country’s fifth water reuse plant, BEWG-UESH, the second in the planning zone of Changi, on Tuesday 17 January 2017.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has reported the “mechanical completion” of Escondida Water Supply project, Chile, with the first water expected in March 2017.

GE expects to complete the sale of its Water business by mid-2017, it said in its Q4 2016 earnings call on 20 January 2017.

Gradiant Energy Services (GES) has appointed Danny Jimenez as chief executive with a brief to oversee strategic direction and growth, including expanding its offer to oil and gas operators.