Cape Town will be out of running water in less than 90 days.
The water in reservoirs will not last. (Image courtesy of Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg)
Three years of drought in Cape Town have left the South African city with less than 90 days worth of water left in its reservoirs. Day Zero, the date when water will be shut off and is currently 22 April 2018, is calculated weekly based on reservoir capacity and daily consumption. Although the city will not be completely void of water, authorities have decided to turn off the municipal water supply once dams reach 13.5% capacity. Other than essential services like hospitals, water will be distributed from around 200 municipal water points throughout the city. Residents will be allowed to collect a maximum of 25 litres of water per day but there are already many companies that are willing to bring water from other parts of the country for citizens who are wealthy enough to pay for it.
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Turkish strikes hit points on the Syrian side of the border. (Image courtesy of AFP)
Turkey warplanes launched air strikes on the Afrin Region of Syria.
On 20 January 2018, Turkey announced that an air and ground campaign was launched targeting the Kurdish YPG, also known as the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units, and Islamic State group jihadists. According to the YPG, the strikes killed at least six civilians and three fighters and left thirteen civilians wounded. Turkey wants to expel the US-backed YPG militia, which they call a terrorist group, away from the Afrin region that lies beside its southern border. In response to the strikes, Russia has moved its troops away from Afrin, saying it is concerned but will not interfere. The air strikes also put a heavy strain on Turkey–US relations.
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Oil spill from collision in the East China Sea continues to spread.
Concerns have been raised about the threat to marine life. (Image courtesy of European Pressphoto Agency)
An Iranian tanker carrying 136,000 tons of highly flammable fuel oil crashed into a Chinese freighter on 6 January 2018. The tanker, known as the Sanchi, sank after a huge blast that set the surface of the water on fire. Strong winds have caused the spill to spread and move away from China, towards Japan. There is a large concern that marine life will be endangered due to the fuel oil spreading rather than burning off. Experts are also worried about the fuel that was powering the tanker, a much dirtier substance, that could further damage delicate marine life.
Source and more information can be found here.
North and South Korea last marched together in the 2006 Winter Olympics. (Image courtesy of Amy Sancetta/Associated Press)
North and South Korea agree to march together at the Winter Olympics.
On 17 January 2018, North and South Korea agreed that their athletes would march under one flag at the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics in February. The Games will begin on 9 February in Pyeongchang, South Korea. In total, the two countries have marched together nine times, the last time being at the Asian Winter Games in 2007. The athletes will march behind a “unified Korea” flag that will feature an undivided Korean Peninsula and negotiators announced that supporters of the two Koreas will cheer for athletes from both countries together. South Korea has said that it hopes this partnership in sports could help relieve the strains on their political relationship.
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Dolores O’Riordan, lead singer of the Cranberries, dies at 46.
O’Riordan performing at a concert in France in 2016. (Image courtesy of GUILLAUME SOUVANT/AFP/Getty Images)
On 15 January 2018, Dolores O’Riordan, lead singer of Irish band The Cranberries, died in London where she had been recording. The cause of her death was not immediately available. O’Riordan was the chief lyricist and co-songwriter of The Cranberries, and her compelling voice helped create the band’s distinctive sound. Fellow artists and fans paid their tributes to the singer, many of whom were greatly impacted and inspired by O’Riordan. Irish President Michael D. Higgins also said in a statement, “To all those who follow and support Irish music, Irish musicians and the performing arts, her death will be a big loss.” In more recent years O’Riordan produced two solo albums, Are You Listening? in 2007 and No Baggage in 2009 before The Cranberries reunited and released the album Roses in 2012.
Source and more information can be found here.
