GLIC Weekly Report Series 1.12
- Israel-Hamas War
Security
Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” inside Israel, killing dozens and taking hostages in a shocking assault on 7th October 2023. The attack executed by a group of Palestinian gunmen. They breached security barriers and barrages of rockets were fired from Gaza at dawn during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. Saturday’s attack came 50 years and a day after Egyptian and Syrian forces launched an assault during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur in an effort to retrieve territory Israel had taken during a brief conflict in 1967.
Accessed October 11th, 2023
- Deaths due to stroke may reach 10 million annually by 2050 — Study
Health
Deaths due to stroke are expected to increase to 10 million annually by 2050, a staggering 50 per cent surge; the Lancet Neurology Commission has projected.
Deaths due to stroke may reach 10 million annually by 2050 — Study Accessed October 12th, 2023
- 50% of Osun public schools at risk of attacks – Report
Security
About 50 per cent of the public secondary schools in Osun State do not have night security guards, thereby, making them vulnerable to attacks by hoodlums, according to an exclusive report. Investigation revealed that while special schools were facing infrastructural challenges, most of the buildings in the schools were old, dilapidated and without perimeter fencing.
50% of Osun public schools at risk of attacks – Report Accessed October 13th, 2023
- 64m Nigerians Face Stress, Food Insecurity – FAO
Economic
Nearly 64 million Nigerians have faced stress and food insecurity between the June and August 2023 lean season across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
64m Nigerians Face Stress, Food Insecurity – FAO Accessed October 13th, 2023
- AI: Voice cloning tech emerges in Sudan civil war.
Technological
An AI campaign impersonating Sudan’s former leader, Omar al-Bashir, has gained significant TikTok attention, sowing online confusion in a country already grappling with civil strife. An anonymous account has been sharing purported “leaked recordings” of Bashir since late August, although the voice is counterfeit. Given Bashir’s absence from the public eye and Sudan’s ongoing turmoil, such campaigns underscore the rapid and cost-effective dissemination of fake content through social media, reflecting the worrisome democratization of audio and video manipulation technology, according to experts. These counterfeit recordings, posted on a channel called The Voice of Sudan, mix old clips with supposed leaks attributed to Bashir, adding to the uncertainty surrounding their authenticity. Experts suggest these are likely not recent recordings due to Bashir’s poor health, although conclusive evidence remains elusive.
AI: Voice cloning tech emerges in Sudan civil war. Accessed October 5th, 2023
- Migrant crisis: Sunak urges Europe-wide solutions at a summit in Granada.
Social
Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime Minister, has urged European leaders to coordinate efforts in addressing the increasing numbers of irregular migrants arriving at European borders. He characterized the situation as “immoral and unsustainable” and called for “creative Europe-wide solutions,” focusing on combatting human traffickers and enhancing border security. Sunak, who co-chaired a leaders’ meeting with the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, during a summit in Spain, reached agreements with leaders from Belgium, Bulgaria, and Serbia to disrupt criminal networks through intelligence sharing and operational cooperation. While Sunak has been advocating for a tougher stance on immigration, it remains uncertain how many European leaders share his priorities or are willing to engage in more collective action on this issue. The EU has recently reformed its internal asylum rules to assist member states dealing with irregular migration surges. Sunak emphasizes the need to address the root causes, particularly criminal human traffickers, which would require coordination among both EU and non-EU countries. He also announced further humanitarian aid for Ukraine and discussed ways to help the country increase its grain exports. The Foreign Office released intelligence suggesting that Russia is planning to lay sea mines near Ukrainian ports to obstruct the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.
Migrant crisis: Sunak urges Europe-wide solutions at a summit in Granada. Accessed October 4th, 2023
- Afghanistan: 4.6 magnitude earthquake jolts country days after 6.3 quake killed over 2,000
Environment
Afghanistan has been witnessing several aftershocks after a massive 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the country on Saturday ( October 7) which killed over 2,000 people and left over 9,000 injured.
Afghanistan: 4.6 magnitude earthquake jolts country days after 6.3 quake killed over 2,000 Accessed October 13th, 2023.
- Death toll from flash floods in Indian Himalayas climbs to 74 with at least 100 still missing
Environment
Following days of torrential rain in the northeastern state of Sikkim, torrents of water swept down narrow river valleys from Lohnak Lake, in the northern part of the state, damaging a dam and wreaking destruction in villages and Rangpo town, about 50 km (30 miles) south of state capital Gangtok.
Death toll from flash floods in Indian Himalayas climbs to 74 with at least 100 still missing Accessed October 13th, 2023.
- Nimet predicts 3 day dust haze thunderstorm from friday
Environment
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted dust haze and thunderstorms from Friday (October 13-15) to Sunday across the country. NiMet’s Weather Outlook released on Thursday (October, 12) in Abuja forecast dust haze on Friday (october, 13) with a visibility range of 2Km to 5Km over the northern region.The agency anticipated slim prospects of localized thunderstorms over parts of Taraba state in the morning hours. Later in the day, dust haze with a visibility range of 2km to 5km is expected over the region, with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba, Adamawa and Kaduna states.
Nimet predicts 3 day dust haze thunderstorm from friday Accessed October 13th, 2023.
