Weekly Report May 29 2020

Coronavirus

After U.S. President Donald Trump reported that he has been using hydroxychloroquine, an antimalaria drug, to keep him from contracting COVID-19, “prescriptions surged 2,000% in March.” However, scientists have stated that coronavirus patients who take the drug actually have a higher risk of death than those who do not take it. Users have a higher chance of developing heart issues, and the Food and Drug Administration has warned that hydroxychloroquine should not be used because of its “serious side effects, including muscle weakness and heart arrhythmia.”  

United States

Black Lives Matter: After a video of a police officer killing an unarmed African American man surfaced online, Black Lives Matter protesters took to the streets demanding justice for the deceased party. The protests were initially peaceful until police used tear gas to disperse the crowds; there have also been reports of police firing rubber bullets at protesters. The protests have evolved into riots; buildings are being set on fire, including police precincts, and stores are being looted. The riots have ensued for four days and show no signs of slowing down.

 President Donald Trump tweeted about the looting and stated that the military stands with the city; the National Guard has also gotten involved. Trump also tweeted that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” Twitter has since flagged the tweet because it violates “policies regarding the glorification of violence.” 

The officer responsible for Floyd’s death, Derek Chauvin, as well as the three other officers at the scene, has been fired. Lawmakers, politicians, and protesters are demanding that Chauvin be arrested and tried for murder. 

The murder of George Floyd comes just weeks after the video of Ahmaud Arbery, another unarmed African American man, was murdered while jogging. The Black Lives Matter movement has gained serious momentum over the past month as a result of more videos of other racist occurrences are being posted online. 

International Relations: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Wednesday that his government would no longer consider Hong Kong to have “significant autonomy” from China. This likely means that the United States will “end some or all of [its] special trade and economic relations” with Hong Kong. 

China

China is moving forward to tighten its control over Hong Kong; its controversial national security law passed the National People’s Congress Thursday with a vote of 2,878-1. The law will alter Hong Kong’s Basic Law constitution, requiring the territory to follow any measures passed by the NPC. Hong Kong activists say that this undermines the “one country, two systems” promise that was made to them. 

Hong Kong 

Thousands of protesters gathered outside the legislative building on Wednesday, shouting pro-democracy slogans as lawmakers inside debated a bill that will criminalize insulting the Chinese national anthem. Riot police were out in full force, shooting pepper balls into the crowd, demanding that journalists stop recording, and arresting 360 people. 

Myanmar 

The Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT) is offering financial assistance to the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) so that 441,726 women and elders in the nation’s five most vulnerable areas can receive “an extra one-time payment of 30,000 kyats (US$21.36).” The payment will provide these demographics with funds to “prevent their exclusion” and will ultimately help “communities and the country as a whole.” 

Zimbabwe 

The Zimbabwean government has been “accused of using lockdown to silence reporters” after two journalists were “charged with violating lockdown regulations.” The journalists were interviewing three female opposition officials who were allegedly “abducted, sexually assaulted and tortured by state agents after staging a protest.” The journalists stated that they were granted the right to conduct interviews under Zimbabwean law but were detained anyway. 

Chile

The coronavirus is testing the capacity of Chile’s health care system. President Sebastián Piñera stated that Chile is being pushed to its limit because of “a very large increase in the needs and demand for medical attention.” The government has declared that it will provide a quarter of its citizens with “a planned emergency basic income” that will last for three months.”

Iraq

The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service has stated that Mu’taz Numan ‘Abd Nayif Najm al-Jaburi, one of the heads of the Islamic State, was killed in a U.S.-led airstrike in eastern Syria. Jabburi “headed the terrorist group’s foreign operations… [and] was known as the Islamic State’s governor of Iraq.” The United States has been offering a reward for information on Jaburi since last September. 

Libya

Russian military fighter jets were deployed to Libya’s Al Jufra Airfield “where they are expected to back Russian state-sponsored private military contractors.” According to the United States Africa Command’s General Townsend, “Russia has denied the full extent of its involvement in the ongoing Libyan conflict. Well, there is no denying it now.” Russia’s recent actions have been interpreted as an attempt to “tip the scales in its favor in Libya.” 

Syria  

ISIS is reportedly “using the coronavirus to rebuild its terrorism network in Iraq and Syria.” Because of the ban placed on international travel, ISIS has been able to strengthen regionally, expanding “upon the rebuilding effort it began last fall.” Nation-wide lockdowns and the “COVID-19 distraction” have given the terrorist organization the opportunity to carry out violent attacks.

Lebanon 

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab visited peacekeepers from the United Nations on Wednesday at the south border shared with Israel, “describing the presence of force in the volatile area as a necessity.” Israel has demanded that it be granted “access to all sites and freedom of movement,” but Diab has reiterated that it is absolutely necessary to keep Lebanese armed forces at the border. 

Palestine 

Palestinian officers traveled to the northern occupied West Bank on Monday night to break up a fight between families. Upon their arrival, Israeli soldiers blocked the way and prevented the Palestinian forces from passing. The Israelis “began stopping all vehicles… and checking everyone’s IDs.” After the background checks finished, the Palestinian officers arrived at the scene of the fight after it had de-escalated. One of the injured parties later passed away in the hospital. 

Russia 

Russian health care workers are not receiving the same appraisal as other doctors around the world. Instead, they say that “they face fear, mistrust — and even open hostility.” General mistrust of health care professionals has permeated throughout the nation, reflecting a “broader mistrust of the state.” 

North Korea

A United Nations-led investigation has found that both North and South Korea have “violated the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War” after a gunfire exchange took place at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on May 3rd. While both sides are guilty of breaching the armistice, North Korea was the country that initiated the gunfire and shot a South Korean soldier. 

Iran

Lawmakers have appointed the new speaker of Parliament. The speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, is a former police chief, the former mayor of Tehran, and a former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 

Nicaragua 

The Pan-American Health Organization, a regional office of the World Health Organization, has called upon Nicaragua’s government to take massive steps to control the stead of COVID-19. “The protection of life and health cannot wait,” a representative said. President Ortega’s government has reported relatively few cases, but there are growing worries that this is not true. With no social distancing restrictions in place, schools remain open and large gatherings are being held. 

Sudan

Yasser Abbas, the Sudanese Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, met with Egyptian Minister Mohamed Abdel-Ati and Ethiopian Minister Seleshi Bekele on Monday “to discuss arrangements for the resumption of negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).” Negotiations regarding the construction of the dam have been taking place for several months, as the dam will heavily impact Egypt’s water supply. 

Venezuela

The Venezuelan navy has escorted four Iranian fuel tankers into its waters “through its exclusive economic zone.” The United States has spoken out against the shipments, saying that they are “a distraction from problems facing President Nicolas Maduro.” 

Weekly Report May 22 2020

Coronavirus

Global attention has shifted towards finding a COVID-19 vaccine, the key step in allowing many countries to return to normal. One vaccine that China is developing passed the crucial test of being able to neutralize antibodies in test patients. However, other health officials remain skeptical that the very nature of the virus is not suited to vaccines.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that he was taking hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, to combat the disease and encouraged others to do so as well. However, a recent study shows that when administered to patients, it causes more deaths.

China

A proposed Chinese law went before Parliament today in an attempt to limit Hong Kong’s opposition activity. The law has been set into motion. Under the title Establishing and Improving the Legal System and Enforcement Mechanism of Hong Kong, the bill could “ban sedition, secession, and subversion.” Already, the international backlash has been strong, as China is sidestepping Hong Kong’s own lawmaking body to limit their freedom of protest.

Hong Kong

Lawmakers in Hong Kong are mourning the passing of the new Chinese security law, as this most likely marks the “end of [the] homeland.” The law allows China to “sidestep the territory’s own legislative body to crack down on activity Beijing considers subversive.” Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, has expressed her approval of the law because of the increase in violence over the past year. She believes that the law ensures the safety of citizens. 

Iran

After years of heightened tensions, Iran’s relationship with the United States is seemingly on the mend. Iran has chosen to support Iraq’s new pro-American prime minister and has agreed to stop rocket attacks on U.S. troops. Experts say the turn towards détente is highly strategic; heightened tensions will only help American President Donald Trump in his reelection campaign this November.

However, the differences between the two nations are stark. In a statement Wednesday, the Supreme Leader said that Iran will support “any nation or group that fights Israel.” The same day, the Trump administration accused Iran’s interior minister of committing human rights abuses during last November’s protests.

Myanmar

Myanmar’s army has been accused of arson after “around 200 houses in Lekka Village, Rakhine State were burnt down.” The military stated that the Arakan Army (AA) had initiated gunfire towards the military and that they shot back – they also blamed the fire on AA. Villagers have said that the remains of their village look nothing like the aftermath of a fight and that it instead looks like houses were intentionally set ablaze. 

Chile

Citizens of the poverty-stricken town El Bosque were protesting shortages of necessities; they “were seen throwing stones and setting fires” around neighborhoods. Police used tear gas and a water cannon to disband the demonstrators. The government released a statement regarding the food supply with President Piñera even promising to “provide 2.5 million baskets of food and other essentials over the next week or so.” 

Libya

The Libyan government has confirmed via Twitter that it “has captured the strategic al-Watiya airbase from fighters loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar.” Libyan troops have been trying to push allies of Haftar’s forces out of western Libya for over a month. The airbase has been deemed “the last stronghold for [Haftar’s] forces in western Libya,” making this a huge success for the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA). 

Lebanon 

Lebanon’s financial crisis reached a new low this week after the country’s banking association rejected the government’s five-year rescue plan, stalling any form of relief from international donors. Additionally, courts charged a senior central bank official with “manipulation of the exchange rate and money laundering.” Mazen Hamdan, the head of cash operations, is the most senior official to be charged in an ongoing overall of the bank. 

Palestine 

President Mahmoud Abbas has stated that his administration, himself included, “consider all agreements signed with Israel and the United States null and void, after Israel declared it would annex parts of the occupied West Bank.” President Abbas has threatened to withdraw from the agreements in the past, specifically after American President Donald Trump shared his Middle East plan, “which included the possibility of annexation.” Abbas has said that he is still willing to negotiate with Israel regarding “a two-state solution.” 

Bolivia 

Bolivia’s health minister was arrested for “ventilator corruption” on Wednesday. The ventilators are extremely overpriced – 170 ventilators cost $5 million – and do “not meet the requirements for use in intensive care.” 

Russia 

Moscow received fifty ventilators from America this past Thursday and is expecting another shipment next week. Russia shipped ventilators to New York in April, but “they were never used and are unlikely to be after the same model was implicated in two fires in Russian hospitals.” 

United States   

Donald Trump has stated that the United States is planning to formally withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty in six months if Russia does not comply. The treaty, signed into effect in 1992 by 35 countries, allows “reconnaissance flights over… [Russian] territory.” Russia has recently banned flights over the region between Poland and Lithuania, “as well as over regions where it conducts major military exercises.” 

Zimbabwe 

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has decided to “indefinitely” extend the government-mandated lockdown in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. Street markets will close, leaving millions of Zimbabweans without a primary income source. Manufacturers and businesses, on the other hand, will remain open and even extend their hours. In his address to the nation, President Mnangagwa declared that schools will open in phases, but when these phases will commence remains unknown.

Nicaragua 

Nicaragua has been having “express burials,” leading international officials and human rights advocates to believe that the reported number of COVID-19 cases is much lower than what it should be. The government has only confirmed 25 cases and eight deaths but is ordering “‘express burials’ to hide the true number of infections.” 

Iraq

A rocket was fired from an eastern district of Baghdad, hitting an empty house in the Green Zone near the U.S. embassy. The blast “triggered security sirens at the US embassy compound,” and Iraq was slow to claim responsibility. 

Sudan

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that Sudan must “pay punitive damages to some of the victims of the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania carried out by al-Qaeda.” Sudan is currently trying to be removed from the U.S.’s state sponsors of terrorism list; this ruling may affect their chances of removal. 

Venezuela

Venezuela has struck a trade deal with Iran as both countries have suffered under U.S. sanctions. At the center of the deal is five oil tankers carrying at least $45.5 million worth of gasoline that will sail from Iran to Venezuela. While Venezuela was once a major oil producer, days-long lines at gas stations have become commonplace in recent years. 

Syria  

Hezbollah: Lebanon’s Hezbollah has significantly increased its influence over the Syrian Arab Army (SAA); it is reportedly “preparing the Syrian Arab Army’s 1st Corps for a future war against Israel.” 

Travel Ban: The government has imposed a travel ban on President Bashar al-Bassad’s cousin, Rami Makhlouf, “a Syrian tycoon.” Makhlouf the head of the largest mobile operator in Syria that supposedly owes the government approximately $185 million. 

North Korea  

The coronavirus has been wreaking havoc upon the world since January, but North Korea has yet to confirm any cases. Many officials are skeptical of this claim, and more questions have arisen as a result of Kim Jong-un only making one public appearance over the past five weeks. The nation has begun to open up slowly, signaling an end to the government-mandated lockdown. 

Weekly Report May 15 2020

Coronavirus

Rick Bright, the American coronavirus whistle-blower, addressed Congress and openly criticized the government’s slow response to COVID-19. Bright stated that the United States is lacking a vaccine plan and warned that the “US could face [the] ‘darkest winter in modern history’ if leaders don’t act quickly.” He received emails in January concerning the lack of N95 masks – one of them said that “We’re in deep s***. The world is. And we need to act.” Bright believes that he was removed from a coveted scientific post because he shared all of this information with Trump’s administration and was issuing warnings about the pandemic.

Hong Kong 

A violent confrontation between more than 200 pro-democracy protesters and Hong Kong authorities this past Sunday. The protest originated in a shopping mall but quickly overflowed on to the streets. Several hundred riot police arrived on the scene and violently dispersed the crowd. Bystanders took videos that “showed protesters being subdued on the ground, scuffles and people bleeding.” 

China

Outbreak: Five new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Wuhan, creating the first small cluster “to emerge since the end of the strict lockdown.” A few of the newest cases were classified as asymptomatic, which China does not include in its reports of confirmed cases. 

Military: As the world continues to battle the novel coronavirus, “China has intensified a campaign of military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan.” Chinese forces have reportedly been occupying the “median line of the Taiwan Strait” and flying over the border with fighter aircraft. 

Syria 

Both the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) have partnered with the Syrian regime and have halted offering support and aid to Eastern Syria, home of millions of “the poorest and most vulnerable people” who “are recovering from ISIS atrocities.” Turkey has cut off water supplies to the area, and Russia has openly decided to support the Syrian regime. These actions have “indicated how dictatorships and regimes that abuse human rights come first at controlling UN and international aid, enabling them to use it only for charities linked to them.” 

Lebanon 

Economy: As the value of Lebanese currency continues to plummet at exponential rates, authorities are arresting “scores of money changers in an attempt to stabilize” the exchange rate. These money changers are believed to be manipulating the value of the dollar “for financial gain.” They have also been accused of illegally trading money. 

COVID-19: Lebanon has been quite successful in containing the virus in the past; it “managed to flatten the number of new cases into the low single digits” last month. However, more than 100 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the last four days, resulting in a nation-wide lockdown starting this Thursday. The only businesses that will remain open during this four-day lockdown are grocery stores and “agricultural and industrial sectors.”

United States

Ahmaud Arbery, an African American man, was murdered while going on a run through a Georgia neighborhood two months ago. However, his assailants were not arrested until this past week due to severe backlash online. A video surfaced of Arbery jogging and being gunned down by two white men who claimed that he looked like a suspect in a burglary case. To show solidarity with Arbery’s family and the Black Lives Matter movement, demonstrators put on masks and protested against the lack of justice and other “supporters also ran 2.23 miles to honor” him on what would have been his 26th birthday. 

Palestine 

A Palestinian teenager was shot and killed by Israeli forces who were “raiding a refugee camp in the illegally occupied West Bank.” The Israeli military had planned on making arrests at the camp and has stated that its troops were “met with a ‘violent riot’ in which shots were heard and a soldier was lightly wounded.” Four other Palestinian minors were shot during the confrontation. 

Myanmar

After a video of prisoner abuse surfaced on social media on Sunday, “Myanmar’s military has conceded its troops abused prisoners in Rakhine state.” The army has been accused of physically abusing prisoners in the past, but this is the first concrete evidence that supports this accusation. 

Bolivia 

A riot broke out in a prison on Monday where three inmates have died from the coronavirus. Prisoners were able to stage “a massive protest” but were later broken up by police before the demonstration turned violent. Inmates who were in close proximity to the three detainees who died from the novel virus have been isolated. 

Russia 

President Vladimir Putin has eased stay at home policies despite the fact that the number of covid cases is steadily rising; Russia now has “the second highest toll in the world after the US.” Putin’s response to the coronavirus has resulted in a decrease in his approval rating; the virus has posed “the most serious challenge to Putin as a national leader in the 20 years he has been in power, and he is failing it.” A fire broke out in a hospital dedicated to treating coronavirus patients, killing five people. The incident has only increased the pressure that has been placed on the government and is “further testing… [its] response to the Covid-19 pandemic.” 

Nicaragua 

In order to slow the spread of COVID-19 in prisons, Nicaragua has “released more than 2,800 inmates to house arrest.” None of the detainees are political prisoners; most of them were arrested during the 2018 protests against Daniel Ortega. The government has yet to impose any sort of strict measures to contain the virus, which has resulted in the overflow of patients in hospitals. While the reported number of coronavirus cases is only 16, over packed hospitals have caused officials to cast doubt upon these official reports. 

Iraq

The suicide rate in the Yazidi community has skyrocketed as a result of the Islamic State (IS) attacked the area in 2014. Thousands of men were murdered and thousands of women and children were sold as slaves. The United Nations has described these actions as an “ongoing genocide’ against the Yazidi minority,” but major rights groups and international organizations have yet to offer aid. 

Iran

19 soldiers were killed and 15 more were injured after a naval exercise went awry on Sunday. An Iranian ship “struck another Iranian vessel,” making this the second time this year that Iran has mistakenly fired a missile at its own forces. 

Sudan

Sudan has refrained from signing an agreement regarding the filling of a controversial dam that would negatively impact the environment and the nation’s water supply. Ethiopia issued the proposal and is “calling its neighbor to resume the stalled United States-brokered negotiations on the issue.” Egpyt would also be negatively affected by the mega-dam and is also included in the negotiations between Sudan and Ethiopia. 

Libya

A hospital in Tripoli fell victim to a missile attack supposedly from Khalifa Haftar’s forces on Thursday; at least 14 people sustained injuries. 

North Korea

North Korea has issued a warning to South Korea for its “‘reckless’ military drills near their disputed sea boundary.” South Korea has defended its drills, stating that they have not broken any preexisting agreements between the two nations. 

Zimbabwe 

The Zimbabwean government has extended the nation-wide lockdown for another two weeks and has also “made the wearing of masks compulsory in public” in order to decrease the chances of spreading the coronavirus. The virus has wreaked havoc upon the nation, worsening both the economic and food crises. 

Chile

The coronavirus has resurged in Chile’s capital, Santiago, causing the city to go into total lockdown. Santiago saw a 60% increase in cases over the course of just one day. 

Weekly Report May 8 2020

Coronavirus

In a recent discovery, researchers have found that the coronavirus “can persist in men’s semen even after they have begun to recover.” Professionals have yet to confirm whether or not the virus can be transmitted sexually, but studies will be taking place in the near future. There are also plans to further research fetal development and whether or not the virus can cause birth defects. 

Venezuela 

Coup: Two American veterans were arrested on Monday after a failed “raid purportedly aimed at capturing the socialist leader” President Nicolás Maduro. Venezuelan politicians are blaming the United States and Colombia for the raid, saying that both governments were somehow involved in the “defeated raid.” Over 300 people were involved, and several people were killed by security forces. One of the American detainees has already claimed responsibility for the failed coup. 

Riot: At least 40 people died after a prison riot erupted in central Venezuela on May 1st. The riot originally began as a peaceful protest led by inmates at Llanos Penitentiary Center who were asking that their visiting family members be allowed to bring them food. Human rights groups have been concerned with violence and overcrowding at Venezuelan prisons.  

Iraq

ISIS: On Sunday night, ISIS targeted several different Iraqi areas hitting tribal Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and a local administrator, resulting in the death of three men. The PMF “organized a unit alongside the Iraqi army and police to raid the site resulting in four deaths and five injuries” following the attack. As a result of ISIS’s ambush, Iraq’s government declared that a military operation would be going after the Islamic State operatives who currently reside in western Iraq. 

Prime Minister: Former head of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, was sworn in as the new prime minister, ending five months of “deadlock” in Iraq. Al-Kadhimi is “a political independent and a pragmatist” who has stated that “his government ‘will provide solutions, not add to the crises’ facing Iraq.” 

Iran

Despite the rising tensions between Iran and the United States, the two countries are in the midst of negotiating a prisoner release. The American detainee, veteran Michael R. White, has been in Iran for two years. The Iranian prisoner’s identity has yet to be released. Currently, Iran supposedly holds at least four Americans and claims that “about two dozen Iranians are held by the United States.” A conclusion has yet to be reached regarding the prisoner exchange. 

Lebanon 

The looming threat of famine has driven Lebanese citizens to defy the government-mandated lockdown. The economic collapse has made necessities unaffordable, lessening the frequency of food donations. Charities are also losing money. Protesters have been shot as the poverty rates continuously skyrocket. 

Libya 

On Monday, the Libyan military targeted seven oil tankers belonging to militias that openly support Khalifa Haftar. The tankers were supposed to meet Haftar’s militia in Tarhuna, “a major focal point for Haftar’s militia in their onslaught against Tripoli.” 

Myanmar

Myanmar’s police have used the coronavirus as an opportunity to increase “its attacks on ethnic minorities… killing dozens of civilians in shellings and airstrikes.” The military has yet to deny these claims and has instead stated that the lives lost are simply “collateral damage.” 

North Korea 

Kim Jong-un: Kim Jong-un has returned to the public eye after about a month of remaining out of the media’s view. News outlets had originally claimed that the leader was on his deathbed, but such claims have been disproven after Kim Jong-un was pictured cutting the ribbon at a fertilizer company earlier this week. 

DMZ: North Korean guards at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) exchanged gunfire with South Korea on Sunday. Mike Pompeo, the UnitedStates’s Secretary of State, said “that initial reports indicated the gunfire from the North was ‘accidental.’” 

Palestine 

On May 4th, Facebook deactivated 52 profiles that belonged to Palestinian journalists and activists, claiming that the content of the pages did not follow its “Community Standards.” Facebook failed to “provide any specific reason” and said that it has “already reviewed this decision and it can’t be reversed.” Censorship on social media platforms in Palestine is no new occurrence – Palestinian activists have experienced many cases of censorship from the Israeli government in the past. As the fight for Palestine’s statehood trudges on, it can be expected that cases similar to these deactivations will occur. 

Russia 

Over the past two weeks, three health care professionals treating coronavirus patients have fallen out of hospital windows; two have died and one is still being treated. One of the medical professionals, Alexander Shulepov, is an ambulance doctor who was treated for COVID-19 but was also being forced to work despite his diagnosis. His colleague, Alexander Kosyakin, had uploaded a video of himself critiquing “hospital administration for protective gear shortages… and was questioned by the police for allegedly spreading fake news.” Kosyakin confirmed Shulepov’s story to news outlets, resulting in the hospital releasing a statement contradicting Shulepov’s experience. Shulepov took back his original story and the head doctor of the hospital claimed that his staff has an adequate amount of protective equipment. 

Sudan

Violence between Arabs and non-Arabs broke out in Darfur on Wednesday, leaving more than 30 people dead and a dozen injured. The Sudanese transitional government has attempted to resolve riots and rebellions such as this one but has failed to do so, as was apparent on Wednesday. The clashes between Arabs and non-Arabs have been present since 2003 when the “Arab-dominated Sudanese government” was accused of discrimination by “ethnic Africans.” 

Syria 

An unknown gunman killed nine Syrian police officers in the province of Daraa, where an uprising against the government began in March 2011. The Interior Ministry stated that police officers were killed “after a terrorist group attacked them as they were performing their job,” using the government’s term for rebels and fighters.” For now, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

China

China is one step closer to building a space station after a “large carrier rocket made its first successful flight Tuesday.” The rocket has spent ten years in development, and with the threat of coronavirus slowly decreasing in the nation, more attention has been placed in fields other than medicine. Currently, China is not only planning on launching its own permanent space station by 2022 but also on sending a person to the moon in the 2030s. 

Zimbabwe  

The opposition party has boycotted parliament to “protest against the dismissal of four of its legislators at the behest of a faction opposed to the party leadership.” It is likely that the dismissal of the legislators could “trigger a by-election,” but the coronavirus has made it difficult to predict what is next for the Zimbabwean government.

Nicaragua 

Nicaragua has been very slow to respond to the spread of the coronavirus, endangering not only its population but also that of its neighbors. The government has claimed that quarantine measures are “alarmist and extremist,” and has yet to discourage large social gatherings. Schools have remained opened, and the government has started to clean them weekly. 

Hong Kong

Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters are planning a march for this upcoming Sunday, resuming a campaign that began a year ago. After several prominent pro-democracy activists were arrested last month, the movement has gained serious momentum. 

China’s Hong Kong Affairs Office said that the Hong Kong protests are a “political virus” and warned that the city will never be calm unless “black-clad violent protesters” are removed. Although protesters do not expect to get permission for the rally, many young people have planned on attending the rally because social distancing controls have relaxed.

United States

Many states have begun to reopen despite the fact that over 76,000 people have died from the coronavirus. Small businesses are being forced to close, and 33 million people have filed for unemployment. As people begin to travel between states, more cases are being reported. Recently, researchers have discovered that the “outbreak in New York City became the primary source of infections around the United States.” 

Weekly Report May 1 2020

Coronavirus

More information about remdesivir, a possible COVID-19 treatment that we have covered in the past, has surfaced this past week. The drug will most likely “become the ‘standard of care’ for all infected patients,” but it will not prevent death nor will it be “widely accessible to the public.” Despite these downfalls, the research has provided health care professionals with hope “that a drug can indeed have an impact on COVID-19.” 

Hong Kong 

Researchers believe that they have “developed an antiviral coating which could provide 90 days of ‘significant’ protection against bacteria and viruses such as the one causing COVID-19.” The coating has been tested and developed over the past ten years and will be available in stores across Honk Kong next month. 

Sudan

Land Dispute: The head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council acknowledged for the first time that Ethiopian forces are in control of Sudanese territory on the border between the two countries. The agricultural lands that separate Sudan from Ethiopia have been disputed for many years, and Sudanese troops were deployed to defend it earlier this year. 

Human Rights: The Sudanese government has decided to criminalize female genital mutilation, a medical practice that has affected 65% of all Sudanese women in 2018. In the past, Sudan has been considered “one of the worst countries for women’s rights.” The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has asked that all community groups and civil society organizations add to the effort to put an end to female genital mutilation after a “special article” is “added to the country’s criminal law.” 

North Korea

As rumors of leader Kim Jong-Un’s health have disseminated throughout the world, South Korea released a statement saying that he is “alive and well.” The rumors began to appear after Kim Jong-Un did not attend a celebration for his great-grandfather’s birthday on April 15th; it was said that “he may have died” or that he was “in a vegetative state following cardiovascular surgery earlier this month.” 

Syria 

Both western and southern Syria were targeted by “alleged” Israeli airstrikes on Thursday night and Friday. Syrian media outlets have stated that “the targets belonged to Hezbollah.” Several civilians were injured near a military site; ten people are currently being treated in hospitals.  

Libya

Power Shift: Khalifa Haftar, the eastern-based military leader, has stated that “his Libyan National Army (LNA) was accepting a ‘popular mandate’ to rule the country.” He has yet to specify what exact changes will come with this shift of power, but his statement directly brushed “aside the civilian authorities that nominally govern eastern Libya.” 

Ceasefire: On Thursday, Khalifa Haftar announced that “his forces will cease hostilities during… Ramadan.” However, shortly after the announcement was made, the sounds of explosions erupted from Tripoli. An unnamed source from the United Nations-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) does not believe that Haftar’s troops will “adhere to the truce.” 

Chile 

Despite the fact that that World Health Organization (WHO) has claimed that “there is ‘no evidence’ that people who contract coronavirus are immune from being infected again,” the Chilean government has decided to distribute certificates to those who have recovered from COVID-19. Chilean Deputy Health Minister Paula Daza stated that “the documents would be given to people to allow them to return to work.” However, WHO has argued that these “immunity certificates” could do more harm than good, as recipients are most likely going to ignore public health guidelines. 

Iran

Over 700 Iranians have died after using methanol to cure the coronavirus. There were only 66 deaths from alcohol poisoning last year, but from February 20th to April 7th in 2020, more than 720 Iranians have fallen victim to alcohol poisoning. Those who have ingested methanol but have not died have lost eyesight and are experiencing severe eye damage.  

Palestine 

On Thursday, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, “reiterated her position that Palestine is a state for the purposes of transferring criminal jurisdiction over its territory to The Hague.” Her statement further clarified that the ICC has jurisdiction to investigate ongoing war crimes in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. Israel has denounced this decision, claiming that Bensouda has disregarded “the opinions of many of the world’s leading experts on international law points” so she can “harm the state of Israel and tarnish its name.” 

United States

Several states have decided to slowly open businesses, but recent data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) shows that the coronavirus could cause more than 70,000 deaths, which is “an increase of over 6,000 deaths from its latest forecast.”  COVID-19 could claim more than 74,000 lives in the first wave alone, and this new data estimates that the highest projection is now greater than 130,000 deaths. 

Nicaragua 

Nicaragua is one of a few countries that has continued to allow sporting events to take place. This past Saturday, 16 boxers competed in matches because they “have to eat, they can’t stay shut up in their house,” according to Rosendo Álvarez, a former world champion. Nicaragua has only reported 11 cases of the virus and three deaths. Before competing, the boxers underwent checkups but were not tested for COVID-19. 

Lebanon 

As the government slowly eases lockdown measures, multiple protests have taken place throughout the country. On Saturday, protesters “lobbed an explosive device at a bank.” On Monday, demonstrators blocked a major highway north of Beirut with burning tires after they were “forcibly removed” by Lebanese troops. The army has stated that “it respects the people’s right to protest as long as the protesters don’t close roads or attack public and private property.” 

Russia 

Nurses in Moscow have “quit en masse” because of the “poor working conditions and low wages.” Health care professionals in Moscow have limited access to “clean protective gear [and] food and adequate accommodations.” Russia has over 87,000 confirmed covid cases and half of those are in Moscow. 

China

On Monday, officials announced that there are no more hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Wuhan. More than 80% of coronavirus deaths in China occurred in Wuhan. 

Zimbabwe 

Zimbabwe’s opposition forces are facing new challenges after last month’s Supreme Court ruling that Nelson Chamisa’s leadership over the Movement for Democratic Change was illegitimate. COVID-19 restrictions have prevented the party from having any large gatherings. However, Chamisa has remained silent since the decision, leaving the party in disarray over who their leader should be.

Myanmar

Despite the fact that Myanmar is currently under investigation by the International Court of Justice for the Rohingya Muslim Genocide, the military has continued to openly discriminate against minorities, and it has been accused of  “carrying out ‘war crimes’” against said groups.  The government has been abusing power since COVID-19 surged throughout the country and is once again committing “crimes against humanity,” according to the United Nations’ reporter on human rights in Myanmar. 

Iraq

Iraq’s medical infrastructure is heavily unprepared for the coronavirus; there are “only 0.8 doctors and 1.4 beds per thousand people.” The country has also been ruled by a transition government since December and has yet to form a new, more stable government structure. 

Venezuela

As the food shortages worsen during the COVID-19 outbreak, the government has “set new price controls for more than two dozen products.” Civil unrest has led to protests and riots throughout the nation, especially in the countryside. So far, more than 500 protests have taken place in the past month; some have resulted in “looting and violence.”