FOREIGN

Vulnerable fear Cape Town’s water shut-off

Published

6 years ago

February 8, 2018

At Cape Town’s Nazareth House, a care home for dozens of vulnerable, disabled and orphaned children, feeding time is executed with military precision.

The youngsters who depend on the Catholic charity’s care are fed according to strict instructions on a whiteboard that shows each child’s name and how much water they need.

“We make so many bottles a day — this is such a big place. And before you go to each child, you need to wash your hands,” care assistant Carmilla Slamdien told AFP as she described the water-intensive routine of feeding, washing and sterilisation.

Nazareth House’s residents are among the city’s most vulnerable people.

They now face the prospect that their taps will be shut off within months as the three-year-long drought — the worst in more than a century — leaves reservoirs empty.

“Is there a plan? No. I can’t think of how we’ll do it after ‘Day Zero’,” said Slamdien, referring to the day when ordinary water supplies to more than a million homes will be shut off, currently forecast for May 11.

For Zone Janse Van Rensburg, an occupational therapist at the home who is eight months pregnant, “Day Zero” could bring real hardship.

Most Cape Town residents will be forced to queue at communal taps at 200 water points — likely under police or military guard — to collect a daily ration of 25 litres (6.6 US gallons) or half the amount allowed now.

‘Crisis just overwhelming’
“I will have a tiny newborn with no water which will be a massive challenge,” said Rensburg, 31.

“I don’t know what we’ll do. The whole crisis is just overwhelming. When you’re pregnant, they say ‘don’t lift anything’ — but then you’re lifting a bucket to flush the toilet.”

City councillor J.P. Smith, an official leading Cape Town’s drought relief efforts, told AFP that facilities like Nazareth House will instead be supplied by tankers or volunteers carrying bottles — but many locals have little confidence in authorities.

For many residents in Cape Town’s impoverished townships, the state’s failure to provide domestic tap water is an established fact of life.

Vuyo Twani was among a steady stream of residents in Langa township this week sharing a tap to fill plastic containers, as well as to wash chicken feet and rinse mops.

“You don’t know if there’ll be water,” said Twani of the three taps that supply several hundred residents.

“If you can’t find any water I have to go the Shoprite” supermarket, he added. “That’s expensive.”

City officials estimate that informal settlement’s like Twani’s use just five percent of the city’s water.

Twani — who works as a bartender at the five-star Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in the city centre — said that he, along with his wife and young daughter, use just 10 litres per day at home.

He doubted that residents of Cape Town’s wealthier areas — which account for more than 65 percent of total consumption — would cope with water queues and ever stricter limits.

‘Save water!’
“These people in the suburbs, they’re just used to waking up and showering and brushing their teeth,” he said, wearing a singlet over his slim frame.

But Twani said guests at his hotel bar are well aware of Cape Town’s water crisis.

“Even if we wash the drinks shakers, they’ll say ‘save water!’,” Twani said as he caught the last few drops from the tap.

At the Theewaterskloof dam, an hour-and-a-half from central Cape Town, a once verdant reservoir has given way to a craggy, sun-baked plain of mud pocked with scrub and long cracks.

The reservoir sits exposed to the baking sun and is now only 12.5 percent full. Experts warn that anything below 10 percent is unlikely to be usable.

Back in the city, thousands of Capetonians queue every day to collect fresh water from the Newlands spring, next to a brewery, to supplement their individual 50-litre quotas.

Residents are watched over by a unit of private security guards, deployed in response to recent tensions at the natural spring.

A rigidly-enforced system of limits and a recently implemented express queue have imposed order after a scuffle.

Women wearing expensive floral-print pencil dresses waited alongside young men in labourers’ overalls and families with children wearing uniforms from both private and government schools.

“It’s not just about the water, it’s about the social impact of not having access to a resource,” said researcher Fairuz Mullagee, 56, as she filled up at the spring.

“It’s going to amplify inequalities… We already experience it here — the tensions and the conflict.”

FOREIGN

BTS Singer V Ties Bandmates J-Hope, Jimin And Suga With New Hot 100 Hit

Published

4 weeks ago

March 27, 2024

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South Korea’s global superstars, BTS, are currently fulfilling their mandatory military service. But that hasn’t slowed them down. A dedicated fan base continues to propel V, one of the BTS members, to new heights on the American music scene.

While the group is focused on their national duty, this particular member’s solo work resonates with American audiences.

BTS’s influence remains strong, even with all seven members enlisted. This latest achievement proves that their music transcends borders and continues to captivate listeners around the world.

V, a member of the global phenomenon BTS, is making waves as a solo artist. His brand new single, “Fri(end)s,” hit the prestigious Billboard Hot 100 chart at a very impressive No. 65 in its first week.

This marks V’s fourth time landing a song on the Hot 100, and this time, it’s all him. BTS, as a group, has already achieved an incredible record with 27 hits on the chart. But V’s solo success ties him with three of his bandmates for another impressive feat.

With “Fri(end)s,” V joins J-Hope, Jimin, and Suga in the exclusive club of BTS members with four Hot 100 hits to their names.

However, the top soloist title goes to another BTS member. Jung Kook has a whopping six Hot 100 entries under his name. That’s just one slot ahead of K-pop legend Psy, who boasts five hits on the chart.

V’s solo journey on the Hot 100 began in 2022 with the release of “Christmas Tree.” The song gained significant traction during the holiday season, but its official chart debut came in the new year.

This strong debut for “Fri(end)s” is a great sign for V’s solo career. Fans are eagerly awaiting to see how high the song can climb on the chart in the coming weeks.

ENTERTAINMENT

Ariana Grande Surpasses Tie With Travis Scott, Reaches Justin Bieber’s Chart Record

Published

4 weeks ago

March 27, 2024

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Ariana Grande is dominating the Billboard charts this week. Her brand new album, “Eternal Sunshine,” has skyrocketed to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart, making it the biggest album debut of 2024 so far. Ariana Grande’s new single, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love),” also rocketed to the top of the Streaming Songs chart in the US. This chart tracks the most-played songs each week, considering both audio and video streams across major platforms.

This chart success isn’t just a one-off win for her. This feat marks Ariana Grande’s sixth time leading on the Streaming Songs chart, officially breaking her tie with rapper Travis Scott. Previously, both artists were locked in a four-way tie for third place with five chart-topping hits each. Now, Grande takes the solo bronze medal position, pushing Scott down to fifth.

Ariana Grande Reaches Justin Bieber’s Chart Record | Fab.ng

Ariana Grande now shares the number-two spot with pop superstar Justin Bieber. Both singers have snagged six No. 1 hits on the Streaming Songs chart. But Ariana Grande achieved her latest win much more recently than Justin Bieber.

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Drake continues to dominate the streaming song chart. He has 20 No. 1 hits, a record no other artist has even come close to matching.

Following Drake is Taylor Swift, who has secured an impressive eight No. 1 hits on the Streaming Songs chart. She’s poised to add to her tally soon with the upcoming release of her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”

Ariana Grande has been on a roll this year, scoring two new No. 1 hits already. Her latest track, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love),” debuted at the top spot, following the success of her previous chart-topper, “Yes, And?” These two new hits join her previous four leaders: “Thank U, Next,” “7 Rings,” “Positions,” and the collaboration with The Weeknd, “Die For You.”

FOREIGN

House Of The Dragon’ Season 2 Drops Premiere Date

Published

4 weeks ago

March 27, 2024

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Get ready for fire and blood! HBO released two thrilling trailers for the highly anticipated second season of “House of the Dragon” on Thursday.

These action-packed “duelling trailers” offer a glimpse into the brewing Targaryen civil war, packed with conflict and drama.

The trailers confirm that Season 2 premieres on Sunday, June 16th.

The prequel series to the smash-hit “Game of Thrones” takes viewers back 200 years to explore the history of Daenerys Targaryen’s ancestors. The Targaryen family, known for their mastery of dragons, is on the brink of war, and these trailers showcase the intensity of the coming conflict.

The first season of “House of the Dragon” premiered in August 2022 and was a massive success, capturing the attention of a reported 29 million viewers each week.

The movie is based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood.” It dives into a brutal civil war within the Targaryen dynasty.

The story centers on Rhaenyra Targaryen, who defies tradition by being named heir to the Iron Throne, a position typically held by men. Rhaenyra faces opposition from the very beginning. Her initial close friend, Alicent Hightower, becomes her stepmother after marrying King Viserys, Rhaenyra’s father. This marriage strains their friendship and sows the seeds of future conflict.

The Targaryens, known for keeping their bloodline pure, are also infamous for marriage within the family. In this case, Rhaenyra is married to her uncle, Daemon Targaryen, a powerful and unpredictable warrior.

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King Viserys dies in the course of the movie. This tragedy leads to trouble. Aegon, Rhaenyra’s half-brother, steps forward with the claim that he, not Rhaenyra, should be king. Alicent, now firmly on Aegon’s side, fuels the flames of war.

Supporters have formed behind each heir, creating clear factions. Those who back Rhaenyra are known as the “Blacks,” while Aegon’s supporters are called the “Greens.”

Adding to the chaos is Aegon’s violent brother, Aemond. Aemond’s actions escalate the conflict to a horrifying new level, leaving one of Rhaenyra’s sons dead by the end of season one.

This brutal act ignites a fire of vengeance in Rhaenyra, setting the stage for a bloody war known as the Dance of the Dragons.

The intense rivalry between these two sides promises a thrilling and ruthless battle for ultimate power. The show has even released separate trailers for each faction, further amplifying the excitement for fans

Get more movie updates here.