The Globalist Weekly: 3rd February 2020
A concise weekly digest of the top readings, content, ideas, and discussions from our global bureaux and correspondents at ComplexGlobal.
This week we’re exploring the Coronavirus pandemic out of China, earthquakes in Turkey, militant attacks in Mali, Trump’s Middle East peace plan & an inquiry into the Australian bushfires.
We’ve also recently published Forecast2020. ComplexGlobal’s annual view on the issues, risks, and events shaping the year ahead for you, your projects and your business. It’s all viewable and readable at our website, www.complexglobal.co/forecast2020
Coronavirus: Death toll rises as virus spreads
The coronavirus outbreak has killed at least 305 people and infected more than 14,300 globally, as it continues to spread beyond China. One person outside mainland China, a man in the Philippines, has died. The virus has been confirmed in more than 25 countries and territories since it was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December. Countries are now sending planes to evacuate their citizens from the infection zone and imposing travel bans or restrictions on mainland China. Nearly 60 million people are under lockdown in Chinese cities as international researchers race to develop a vaccine and halt its spread.
Situation Report & Recommendations
Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was first reported on December 31, 2019, in Wuhan, China. Since then, the death toll has risen to 81 with over 3,000 identified cases and affected people. Cases have been identified across China as well as Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, and the US. The national Lunar new year holiday in China has been extended by three days to Sunday, in an attempt to contain the spread. The World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that this outbreak does not meet the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). However they do state there is a very high risk of spread in China, high risk regionally and a moderate risk globally.
Death toll rises in Turkey earthquake
At least 36 people died and more than 1,607 have been hospitalized in eastern Turkey after an earthquake rattled the region on Friday evening, according to state broadcaster TRT Haber. The 6.7-magnitude quake struck near the town of Sivrice, in eastern Elazig province, causing at least 10 buildings to collapse, Interior Minister Sulyman Soylu said. About 1,607 people were hospitalized, Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management President (AFAD) said on Sunday. At least 45 people have been rescued from collapsed buildings, AFAD said, adding that 1,521 buildings have been inspected, with 76 found to be collapsed and 645 heavily damaged.
Militants on motorbikes kill 20 troops
Twenty members of the security forces have been killed in Mali by suspected Islamist militants, officials say. The attack came early on Sunday at the Sokolo military camp in the central Segou region. An official speaking to AFP news agency said the gunmen arrived on motorbikes and that all those killed were gendarmes or paramilitary police. Militants linked to the Islamic State group or al-Qaeda often carry out attacks in Mali and the wider region. Late last year, 24 soldiers were killed by militants in eastern Mali. Only weeks earlier, 54 troops had died in another attack.
Trump unveils Middle East peace plan
Donald Trump has unveiled his vision for Middle East peace in a White House launch that gifted Israel a wishlist of its long-held demands while promising Palestinians a potential “state”, but with severe restrictions. Standing next to the smiling Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced details of the 181-page plan to cheers and applause. Palestinian leaders were absent from the launch, having pre-emptively rejected his proposal, citing flagrant bias.
NSW inquiry to probe climate change impact
The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has announced an independent inquiry into the ongoing bushfires, promising to “leave no stone unturned”. The six-month inquiry will examine the causes of the fires, as well as how the state prepared and responded to them. State Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the inquiry would consider how climate change, human activity, and other factors had contributed to the blazes. Bushfires have killed 25 people in NSW and damaged thousands of homes.
Originally published at https://www.complexglobal.co
