Plan of action for Yemenis
A meeting was held in Brussels on Feb. 13 in order to determine plans of action for providing aid to millions of Yemenis, according to BBC. A briefing given to the UN Security Council declared that 6.7 million Yemenis requiring aid were being affected by access constraints. Yemen has been impacted by conflict and areas of control by different entities, such as the Yemeni government and Houthi forces.
Barcelona Technology Trade Show canceled
The Barcelona Technology Trade Show was canceled on Feb. 12 amid the Coronavirus outbreak, along with “travel concern and other circumstances”, according to The New York Times. The trade show is among the largest in the world, typically drawing in over 100,000 people from almost 200 countries. Some companies, such as Nokia and Vodafone, had already withdrawn their attendance for the conference.
Coronavirus given an official name
The illness largely known as the Coronavirus that began in Wuhan, China and quickly spread across the globe, has been named COVID-19. COVID-19 stands for Coronavirus Disease 2019, as the infection began in late 2019. The World Health Organization stated they chose this name, rather than using geographical places, animals, people or a group in order to avoid any stigma, according to The New York Times.
South Africa to use more renewable energy
Amid efforts to build up its economy, South Africa is looking to utilize more renewable energy sources. The country, which is 77% reliant on coal for power, has been experiencing power cuts that have damaged economic progress, according to AP News. The administration is currently looking into other ways to potentially help with the power crisis, as well as utilizing more existing renewable energy.
Opposition of the Canada pipeline
An indigenous community in Canada began a legal challenge over the environmental impact of the construction of a pipeline, which could affect their territories, according to Reuters. Protests have been staged across the country, hindering the function of the Canadian National Railway for multiple days in a row. The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, explained that he supports the peaceful protest, and he encourages the parties to find a solution.
Photo: A. Gucklhorn
