A strengthening El Nino is placing at least 11 million children in east and southern Africa at risk.
According to Unicef, the El Nino has triggered the worst drought experienced by Ethiopia in over 30 years, threatening hunger, disease, and water shortages. Somalia has also been affected, with the nation at high risk of flooding. The El Nino weather phenomenon is caused by the Pacific Ocean warming, and is likely to result in more floods and droughts, as well as Pacific typhoons and cyclones. Unicef has reported that more areas may be affected if the weather phenomenon continues to strengthen.
Syrian government forces lift airbase siege
Government forces have put a stop to a siege by Islamic State (IS) on a northern Syrian airbase, which has been repeatedly attacked by jihadists during the past two years. Army units have made contact with troops defending Kuwairis airbase, eliminating large numbers of militants. Syrian government forces were within the base during the siege, while pro-government forces attempted to reach them using Russian air support. This assault comes a week after the Syrian army battled IS to regain control of a strategic road southeast of Aleppo, the government’s only supply route linking to the city.
Brazil dam burst triggers calls for stricter mining laws
Six people have died and 22 are still missing after a deadly dam burst in the Brazilian town of Minas Gerais, making it one of the worst mining disasters in Brazil’s history. Brazilian law makers are advocating for the introduction of stringent mining regulations after the recent disaster left approximately 750 of the town’s inhabitants displaced. Rescue operations have taken place over the past five days, with six bodies uncovered from the mud-flow. Rescuers have abandoned the search for seven-year-old Tiago Damasceno as hopes to uncover survivors diminish. At this stage, a cause explaining the dam’s collapse is yet to be confirmed.
David Cameron identifies Britain’s EU demands
British Prime Minister David Cameron has laid out demands for the European Union (EU), threatening to leave the group if they are not met. Mr Cameron has expressed confidence in solidifying an agreement to avert “Brexit” in a “once-in-a-generation” referendum to be held in 2017. He also hopes to reduce immigration by restricting state benefits to asylum seekers from elsewhere in the EU for their first four years in Britain. A European Commission spokesman labelled the idea “highly problematic”, and European leaders confirmed that his list of demands will prove difficult to meet; however, German Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed she is “reasonably confident” of a deal.
Arthur Cave on LSD when he fell to his death in Brighton
An inquest into the death of Arthur Cave, son of musician Nick Cave, has revealed the fifteen-year-old had taken the hallucinogen LSD prior to falling to his death in Brighton, UK. Arthur Cave suffered a fatal brain injury after falling from a cliff to the underpass of Ovingdean Gap on July 14. He was rushed to Royal Sussex County Hospital but died that evening. – Compiled from web sources by Samantha Barrie
Top photo of a drought-stricken waterhole in Ethiopia from BBC’s TV coverage.
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