Coronavirus
The effects of the virus on the stock markets were felt
heavily in the past few days as the S&P 500 lost more than $1,747,000,000,000
in value. The 6.3% loss is the largest “since August 2015, when the Chinese
government devalued the yuan amid the U.S.-China trade war.”[1]
As Canada confirms 10 people infected, United States reports an increase of 6
cases of the Coronavirus, totaling 59.[2]
4 are people that evacuated from the Diamond Princess Cruise ship, “CDC
officials confirmed to CNN.”[3]
Russia also reports new cases from the Diamond Princess Cruiseliner, confirming
3.[4]
The first US soldier has been confirmed to be infected in South Korea at Camp
Carroll near Daegu, where “the majority of known infection cases in South
Korea” are. The country is facing the most infections outside of China with a
count of 1,100 as of the report.[5]
Iran has confirmed their 19th death from the Coronavirus on
Wednesday[6]
as Iranian cyber police arrest 24 people “accused of online rumour-mongering”
of the 19 deaths.[7]
North Korea announces “stricter inspection and quarantine measures for imported
goods” as the country has not officially reported any cases to date.[8]
Japan reports the first death of the virus. The Hokkaido Prefecture, where the
elderly person resides, confirms the “death due to COVID-19.”[9]
France reports two people have died due to the Coronavirus on Wednesday. The
second death was only detected that day.[10]
The first case of the virus in South America is confirmed in Brazil. The 61
year old man infected recently visited Italy.[11]
Italy has shown a high infection rate as it has been the source of many other
countries’ first cases. Their case count has jumped up to 400, “a 25% surge in
24 hours.”[12]
Greece has reported their first case of Coronavirus. She was visiting Milan,
Italy.[13]
Greece
About 500 local people, living on “the Greek islands of
Lesbos and Chios on Tuesday”, protest the construction of refugee camps. They
have “seen hundreds of thousands of migrants land on their shores”. They “tried
to block construction workers from bringing ashore building materials”. The
Greek government sent riot police to disperse the protesters with tear gas.
Greece’s current refugee camps are overcrowded, and they have plans to build
“five new migrant centres”. [14]
India
The conflict in India continued in New Delhi about the law,
easing the immigration process for non-Muslim people, until police began their
effort to reduce violence, arresting 106. The death count rises to 27,[15]
becoming “the worst religious violence to hit India's capital in decades”. The
protest lasted for about 4 days.[16]
“The 2019 World Air Quality Report [was] published Tuesday.”
It reports that India has the “14 of the top 20”. “Several Chinese cities,
including Beijing, have dramatically improved their air quality in recent years”.[17]
Philippines
OPAC, the
Overseas Passengers Assistance Center, observed “signs that … women passengers
were ‘being trafficked,’ prompting them to alert the authorities.” 56 women
were rescued on Monday by the Philippine Coast Guard in the city of Zamboanga.
“They are staying…[at The Home of the Women in Barangay San Roque] and after
the assessment, we will send them back to their respective places”.[18]
Yemen
Sanctions on Yemen have been extended by the UN Security
Council on Tuesday, disregarding “UN experts’ findings” that the Houthi militia
had drones and weapons with parts manufactured in Iran.[19]
Syria
UN announced that nearly 950,000 people have been displaced since
December 2019 from the northwestern region of Syria as Assad’s regime and the
Syrian rebels fight over Idlib.[20]
Three people were killed on Wednesday after “dozens of villages, including
major rebel strongholds in the last opposition-held area, have been captured
over the past few days.”[21]
United States
The leader of a white supremacist group was arrested in
Texas today. His name is John Denton of “the Atomwaffen Division, a neo-Nazi
group”. He is charged with “"swatting" calls targeting victims in
Virginia, including an unnamed member of President Trump's Cabinet and an
investigative journalist.” “Swatting involves calling in fake emergencies to
authorities with the goal of provoking a large law enforcement response.”[22]
Disney’s CEO Bob Iger is leaving his role; however, he will
“stay on as executive chairman, overseeing the company’s creative endeavors
through the end of next year, when his contract expires.” Bob Chapek is the new
CEO as of the announcement.[23]
[1] Fitzgerald, Maggie. “Coronavirus Wipes
out $1.7 Trillion in US Stock Market Value in Two Days.” CNBC, 25 Feb. 2020,
www.cnbc.com/2020/02/25/coronavirus-wipes-out-1point7-trillion-in-us-stock-market-value-in-two-days.html.
[2] “Coronavirus: Should Americans Be
Worried?” BBC News, 26 Feb. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51649897.
[3] Phillips, Jack. “CDC Confirms 57 Cases
of Coronavirus in US.” The Epoch
Times, 25 Feb. 2020,
www.theepochtimes.com/cdc-confirms-57-cases-of-coronavirus-in-us_3250350.html.
[4] “3 Russians from ‘Diamond Princess’
Cruise Ship Test Positive for Coronavirus – Official .” RT, 26 Feb. 2020, www.rt.com/newsline/481745-russians-diamond-princess-coronavirus/.
[5] Fang, Frank. “First US Soldier Infected
With Coronavirus in South Korea.” The
Epoch Times, 25 Feb.
2020,
www.theepochtimes.com/first-us-soldier-infected-with-coronavirus-in-south-korea_3250996.html.
[6] “Covid-19: Iran Raises Death Toll to 19
amid 139 Coronavirus Cases.” Khaleej
Times, AP, Reuters, 26
Feb. 2020,
www.khaleejtimes.com/region/mena/covid-19-iran-raises-death-toll-to-19-amid-139-coronavirus-cases.
[7] Havasi, Amir. “Cyber Police in Virus-Hit
Iran Arrest 24 over COVID-19 Rumours.” Yahoo!, AFP, 26 Feb. 2020,
news.yahoo.com/cyberpolice-virus-hit-iran-arrest-24-over-covid-142622257.html.
[8] Beech, Samantha. “ North Korea Steps up
Import Inspections over Coronavirus Fears.” CNN World, Cable News Network, 26 Feb. 2020,
edition.cnn.com/asia/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-02-26-20-intl-hnk/h_be1a3c1edaa1ed6a9eedf8f07176438b.
[9] Abe, Hiroaki. “1st Coronavirus Death
Reported in Japan’s North Hokkaido Area .” The Asahi Shimbun, 26 Feb. 2020, www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13166393.
[10] “Covid-19: France Reports Second
Coronavirus Death.” Khaleej Times, Reuters, 26 Feb. 2020,
www.khaleejtimes.com/coronavirus-outbreak/covid-19-france-reports-second-coronavirus-death.
[11] Sousa, Marcelo De, and Mauricio
Savarese. “Brazil Confirms First Coronavirus Case in Latin America.” AP News, 26 Feb. 2020, apnews.com/fd3d0d0120dd10f3d09bad78a4dd9539.
[12] “Coronavirus Cases Surge to 400 in
Italy.” BBC News, 26 Feb. 2020,
www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51645902.
[13] “Coronavirus: Greece Confirms First
Case, a Woman Back from Milan.” The
Straits Times, Reuters, 26 Feb.
2020,
www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/coronavirus-greece-confirms-first-case-a-woman-back-from-milan.
[14] Wyatt, Tim. “Riot Police Sent in as
Greek Islanders Protest Refugee Camps’ Construction.” Independent, 25 Feb. 2020, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/greece-refugee-migrant-protests-lesbos-chios-riot-police-tear-gas-a9357511.html.
[15] “Violence in Delhi: Uneasy Calm in
Riot-Hit Areas; 106 Arrested, 18 FIRs Lodged.” Times of India, Times Internet, 26 Feb. 2020,
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-violence-uneasy-calm-in-riot-hit-areas-106-arrested-18-firs-lodged/articleshow/74324207.cms.
[16] “At Least 25 Killed in India Violence:
Latest Updates.” Al Jazeera, 26 Feb. 2020, www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/india-violence-latest-updates-200226070002041.html.
[17] Marlow, Iain, and Hannah Dormido.
“Two-Thirds of the World’s Most Polluted Cities Are in India.” Yahoo!, Bloomberg, 25 Feb. 2020, news.yahoo.com/world-most-polluted-cities-mostly-030001223.html.
[18] “56 Victims of Human Trafficking Rescued
in Zamboanga City Port .” The Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News
Network, 26 Feb. 2020,
www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2020/02/26/56-victims-of-human-trafficking-rescued-in-zamboanga-city-port.
[19] “UN Security Council Approves Resolution
Extending Yemen Sanctions.” Al
Arabiya, The Associated
Press, 26 Feb. 2020,
english.alarabiya.net/en/News/2020/02/26/UN-Security-Council-approves-resolution-extending-Yemen-sanctions.html.
[20] Hughes, Clyde. “United Nations: More
than 948K Displaced in Syria in Last 12 Weeks.” UPI, 26 Feb. 2020,
www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2020/02/26/United-Nations-More-than-948K-displaced-in-Syria-in-last-12-weeks/3231582728122/.
[21] “Syrian Troops Push into Last Rebel
Area, Hit Civilian Sites.” Egypt
Independent, AP, 26
Feb. 2020,
www.egyptindependent.com/syrian-troops-push-into-last-rebel-area-hit-civilian-sites/.
[22] Swatting
involves calling in fake emergencies to authorities with the goal of provoking
a large law enforcement response.
[23] Watson, R. T., et al. “Disney CEO Bob
Iger Steps Aside; Bob Chapek Named New Head .” The Wall Street Journal, 25 Feb. 2020,
www.wsj.com/articles/disney-names-new-ceo-to-succeed-iger-11582665764.
