Coronavirus
The Coronavirus has its first casualties in the United
States over the weekend as two people have died in Washington State, and one
died in New York State.[1]
NBC also reports that the Florida Department of Health confirms two cases in
separate counties in the state with a tweet, quoting the following statement on
March 1, 2020 at 6:55 PM: “Florida has 2 presumptive positive #COVID19 cases:
one adult resident of Hillsborough County and one adult resident of Manatee
County. Both individuals are isolated and being appropriately cared for.” South
Korea reports 599 cases of the virus, being the largest of a country’s count outside
of China. They have also announced 6 deaths on Monday. The Shincheonji Church
of Jesus’s leaders have received a murder investigation criminal complaint by
officials of Seoul for “its refusal to cooperate with efforts to contain the
disease.”[2]
February 29th was the highest rate of new infection for Mainland China with a
count of 573. The death count for that day is 35 as “the tally of deaths in
mainland China is now 2,870, the National Heath Commission said.”[3]
Armenia[4]
and Jordan reports there first Coronavirus case today.[5]
Afghanistan: US &
Taliban signs peace deal
The United States and the Taliban agrees to peace in a deal,
planning “for the U.S. to pull all its forces out of Afghanistan over the next
14 months.” This comes after a successful week of reduction in violence. The
war is in its eighteenth year. [6]
Malaysia’s New Prime
Minister
I reported recently that Mahathir Mohamad resigned his
position as Prime Minister of Malaysia due to corruption within the government.
Muhyiddin Yassin was named Prime Minister by the king on Sunday; although, he
does not have majority support. “The process to appoint the prime minister
cannot be delayed because the country needs a government for the wellbeing of
the people and the nation,” a palace statement said.[7]
Turkey opens their
western border to migrants
Turkey opened their western borders as a result of the
Syrian Civil War and Assad’s regime, pressuring the Syrian rebels at their last
position. Turkey has been the predominant supporter against Assad’s regime;
however, the war is coming to a close. On the Syrian war front of Idlib, “Syria’s
official news agency said two of its warplanes were shot down by Turkish forces
inside northwest Syria on Sunday”.[8]
Turkey hosts more than 3,600,000 refugees, and nearly one
million camp at their border to Syria according to my report from the 27th of
February 2020. The UN determined that more than 13,000 refugees have gathered
at Turkey’s western border country of Greece. Greece arrested 66 migrants last
Friday and 70 more on Saturday for illegal border crossing. “Greek authorities
fired tear gas and stun grenades through Saturday to prevent repeated attempts
by a crowd of more than 4,000 people massed at the border crossing in Kastanies
to cross.”[9]
Nigerian villages
attacked
Six villages were attacked in the Igabi district in Kaduna,
a state in Nigeria. The assailants numbered about 100 armed men were not exactly
determined after they kill 50 people in the following villages: Kerawa, Rago, Zareyawa,
Marina, Hashimawa, and Unguwar Barau. Boko Haram and bandits are suspected of
the attacks on Sunday.[10]
Jihadists attack Mali
army
The Mali army base in Mopti reported an attack at the
village of Mondoro by jihadists on Sunday. “A local official said the militants
had launched the assault "using rocket launchers fired at parked military
vehicles"”, killing about 5 soldiers. The counterattacks, including
airstrikes, did not conclude with a count of the assailants killed.[11]
[1] Stelloh, Tim. “Live Blog / Coronavirus
Updates Live: Second Death Confirmed in Washington State.” NBC News, NBC Universal, 1 Mar. 2020,
www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/live-blog/coronavirus-updates-live-countries-prepare-outbreak-spreads-n1143556/health/health-news/live-blog/coronavirus-updates-live-countries-prepare-outbreak-spreads-n1143556/ncrd1146676#liveBlogHeader.
[2] “Coronavirus: South Korea Reports 599
New Cases and Six More Casualties, Taking Death Toll to 26.” South China Morning Post, Agence France-Presse, 2 Mar. 2020,
www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3064544/coronavirus-south-korea-reports-476-new-cases-and-four-more.
[3] “Mainland China Adds 573 Coronavirus
Infections in Week's Hig Hest Daily Rise.” Times of India, Reuter, 1 Mar. 2020,
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/mainland-china-adds-573-coronavirus-infections-in-weeks-highest-daily-rise/articleshow/74425063.cms.
[4] “Armenia Reports First Coronavirus
Infection .” The Star, Reuters, 1 Mar. 2020,
www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2020/03/01/armenia-reports-first-coronavirus-infection.
[5] “Jordan Confirms First Case of
Coronavirus.” The Jordan Times, 2 Mar. 2020,
jordantimes.com/news/local/jordan-confirms-first-case-coronavirus.
[6] https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-taliban-set-to-sign-deal-meant-to-end-america-s-longest-war-11582977729
[7] “Mahathir Mohamad Questions Legitimacy
of Malaysia's New PM .” The
Guardian, Agence
France-Presse, 29 Feb. 2020,
www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/29/muhyiddin-yassin-named-as-malaysian-prime-minister.
[8] “Two Warplanes and Three Drones Shot
Down in Syria-Turkey Escalation .” Haaretz, The Associated Press and Reuters, 1 Mar. 2020,
www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/two-warplanes-and-a-drone-shot-down-in-syria-turkey-flare-up-1.8601757.
[9] “UN Says 13,000 Refugees Amass at Greek
Border After Erdogan Opens Frontier to Europe .” Haaretz, The Associated Press, 1 Mar. 2020,
www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/un-says-13-000-refugees-amass-at-greek-border-after-erdogan-opens-frontier-to-europe-1.8601492.
[10] “Over 50 Killed as Armed Men Attack
Villages in Northern Nigeria .” VOA
News, Voice of America
, 2 Mar. 2020,
www.voanews.com/africa/over-50-killed-armed-men-attack-villages-northern-nigeria.
[11]“Five Soldiers Killed in Checkpoint
Attack in Central Mali.” France
24, News Wires , 2
Mar. 2020, www.france24.com/en/20200302-five-soldiers-killed-in-checkpoint-attack-in-central-mali.
