News Watch

July 2020 issue | Appears on page 4

COVID-19 update

At press time, COVID-19 infections had been confirmed in 213 countries and territories, with more than 6.2 million cases and, of those, more than 373,000 deaths. A rise in newly reported cases occurred in some countries that had eased quarantine restrictions, including Germany, South Korea and China, leading to fears of a second wave of cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the number of COVID-19 cases reported worldwide on May 19 — more than 106,000 —...

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July 2020 issue | Appears on page 4

Pakistan airplane crash

A Pakistan International Airlines flight flying from Lahore with 99 people on board crashed into a residential neighborhood in Karachi, Pakistan, as it was landing at Jinnah International Airport on May 22. At least 97 people were killed, while eight people on the ground were injured. Two passengers were found alive.

The flight was approaching the airport when the pilot reported engine trouble, issuing a mayday before losing contact with the airport tower. The cause of the crash was...

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July 2020 issue | Appears on page 4

Afghanistan nursery attack

Gunmen stormed a maternity ward at a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 12, killing at least 24 people, including children and babies, and injuring 15 others. Authorities believe that the maternity ward was specifically targeted by the gunmen, as they had passed through multiple sections of the hospital without attacking anyone before reaching the ward.

Two militant-Islamist groups, the Taliban and Daesh (ISIL), operate in Afghanistan, and both have...

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July 2020 issue | Appears on page 4

Rangers attacked in DRC park

An armed group, believed to be a Rwandan separatist militia, killed 12 rangers and injured six people in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on April 24. According to a government official, the militia ambushed a group of Congolese being escorted through the park by the rangers. 

Due to the presence of mountain gorillas, Virunga National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Africa for tourists. The park was closed to visitors on March 24 out...

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July 2020 issue | Appears on page 4

East Africa floods

Heavy rains in East Africa caused deadly flooding in early May in Somalia, Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda, killing more than 260 people throughout the region. The unusually heavy rains also caused the water level of Lake Victoria to reach record levels, forcing villages on the shore to be evacuated. 

The rainy season in East Africa typically begins in late April and lasts into June.

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July 2020 issue | Appears on page 4

Indian Ocean cyclone

Cyclone Amphan, classed as a super cyclone, made landfall in India and Bangladesh on May 20 with wind gusts of up to 115 miles per hour. At least 84 people were killed, 72 of whom were in India. The city of Kolkata was badly damaged, leaving all of the city’s 14 million citizens without power. It was the first super cyclone to form in the Indian Ocean since 1999.

Prior to its making landfall, millions of people were evacuated from the area. However, many evacuation shelters were...

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July 2020 issue | Appears on page 4

Current advisories

The US Department of State posts up-to-date travel advisories on every country and many territories, ranking each 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions), 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), 3 (Reconsider Travel) or 4 (Do Not Travel). Note: A country’s regions are also ranked and may have different rankings than the country as a whole. Visit travel.state.gov and click on “Travel Advisories” at the top of the page.

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June 2020 issue | Appears on page 4

COVID-19 update

At press time, COVID-19 infections had been confirmed in 212 countries or territories, with more than 3.5 million confirmed cases and, of those, more than 250,000 deaths.

As described by the CDC, common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, a dry cough and shortness of breath. Most cases are mild, with people recovering at home, but anyone experiencing a high fever, difficulty breathing or chest pains should seek medical attention. For more information and advice, visit www.cdc.gov/...

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