World Status Report

This report intends to give the UTD Community a snapshot of international risks, and other issues as reported by the linked media and official sources from the U.S. and other countries.

More health and security information for each country can be found in the travel advisories issued by the governments of the United States, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia, and the CDC, ECDC, and WHO sites. Not all advise in these sites will apply to US travelers.

Please note the publication date of this report and go to the direct sources linked for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.

Security

• France recalls its ambassador from Burkina Faso after demands to pull out troops (France24). France said on Thursday that it was recalling its ambassador from Burkina Faso, a day after agreeing to demands from the ruling junta to pull out troops from the former French colony in Africa’s Sahel region.
• Police in Nigeria confirm killing of 27 pastoralists in Nasarawa airstrike (Vanguard). The Police Command in Nasarawa State has confirmed the alleged killing of 27 pastoralists in an ‘airstrike’ in the Doma Local Government Area of the State.
• At least one dead, several injured in machete attack at southern Spain churches (Reuters). Spanish authorities said they were investigating what they called a possible “terrorist” incident after a machete-wielding man attacked several people at two churches in the southern port city of Algeciras, killing at least one person.
• Central American gangs raising fears in southern Mexico (AP News). With threatening phone calls, burned minibuses and at least three drivers shot to death, street gangs more closely associated with Central America are imposing their brand of terror-based extortion on public transportation drivers in southern Mexico.
• India’s government has blocked web access (Reuters) to the BBC film, which questions Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership as a local official during deadly riots in 2002. Students were detained by the Delhi police on Wednesday as they gathered to watch the documentary. This follows other similar disruptions, some of which turned violent, at gatherings this week by students to watch the documentary.
• Russia launched a rush-hour barrage of missiles (Reuters) towards Ukraine, killing at least one person, the day after Kyiv secured Western pledges of dozens of modern battlefield tanks to try to push back the Russian invasion.
• Israeli commandos killed nine Palestinians (Reuters), including an elderly woman, and wounded 12 others during clashes with gunmen in a flashpoint town in the occupied West Bank, witnesses and medics said.

Demonstrations

• In Peru, after almost two months of nationwide social unrest, anti-government protests persist, resulting in numerous road blockades across the country and damage to infrastructure (ERCC). Up to date, 56 people have died, 45 of whom died in direct clashes with security forces, including 9 children.

Natural Disasters

• Severe weather including low temperatures and heavy snowfall has been reported across Japan (ERCC), resulting in casualties.
• At least eight people died, and ten others are missing after the passage of Tropical Cyclone CHENESO on 19-23 January in Madagascar (ERCC). The number of temporarily displaced people increased to 60,603. Some 47,000 people are affected, about 13,000 houses and some 100 classrooms are damaged. Search and rescue operations could be hindered by the disruption of several roads, which has isolated several communities.
• Since 24 January, heavy rain and widespread floods have been affecting parts of Malaysia (ERCC) both the peninsular areas and the Malaysian regions of Borneo Island, resulting in displacement and damage.
• Strong winds and tornadoes have affected the southern USA over the past few days (ERCC) resulting in casualties and damage. In addition, the northern USA has been experiencing heavy precipitation (snow and rain).

Infrastructure

• Britain sounds alarm on Russia-based hacking group (Reuters). A Russia-based hacking group named Cold River is behind an expansive and ongoing information-gathering campaign that has struck various targets in government, politics, academia, defence, journalism, and activism, Britain said on Thursday.

Health

• North Korea locks down capital due to ‘respiratory illness’ outbreak (France24). Residents of Pyongyang have been ordered to stay in their homes from Wednesday to Sunday and must submit to multiple temperature checks each day, Seoul-based specialist site NK News reported, citing a government notice. The notice did not mention Covid but said that the illnesses currently spreading in the capital included the common cold, the report said. It is unclear if other areas have imposed similar lockdowns and state media has not announced any new measures.
• China Covid: Coffins sell out as rural losses mount (BBC News). In Xinzhou region of northern Shanxi province the coffin makers have been busy. Over recent months, they say, they haven’t had time to stop. One villager, a customer, told BBC that at times the coffins have sold out.
• Is WHO ready to end the global health emergency over Covid? (STAT). Three years ago, the World Health Organization declared SARS-CoV-2, the cause of Covid-19, a public health emergency of international concern. On Friday, an emergency committee will meet again to deliberate whether the time has come to recommend to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that he declare the global health emergency is over. The final decision rests with Tedros, who generally — though not always — follows the advice of WHO emergency committees.

Please note the publication date of this report and go to the direct sources linked for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.

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