Hard Numbers: "Rampant" human rights abuses in Idlib, UK unemployment bailout, Ethiopian clashes continue, Arizona tops global COVID list

52: Pro-government forces in Syria committed gross human rights violations against civilians during the recent military campaign to take back war-torn Idlib province, according to the United Nations Human Rights Council. The new UN report cites 52 separate attacks that led to vast destruction of infrastructure and civilian deaths.

30 billion: The British government has pledged 30 billion pounds ($37.7 billion) to address the country's pandemic-induced unemployment crisis. The scheme, similar to models adopted by many continental European countries in recent months, offers cash bonuses to employers who bring back furloughed workers.

239: At least 239 people have been killed in protests in Ethiopia following the murder last week of a popular singer named Hachalu Hundessa, who had called for the empowerment of the Oromo, the country's largest ethnic group.

1: If the US state of Arizona were a country, it would be number one in the world for racking up new daily COVID-19 cases, after recording an average of 3,300 new cases per million people over the past week. Arizona is followed by Florida, South Carolina, and Bahrain.

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Demonstrators attend a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, in front of the U.S. consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, February 6, 2025.
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President Donald Trump on Thursday doubled down on his proposal to remove Palestinians from Gaza for resettlement, insisting that Israel will give the territory to the US, with no military intervention required. He then imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court for having issued an arrest warrant last year against Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Be sure to catch next week’s groundbreaking discussions on new technologies for global energy security in disruptive times live from the MSC Energy Security Hub at the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt Pavilion. On Friday, Feb. 1: See the exclusive keynote by Fatih Birol, executive director of International Energy Agency, entitled “Europe’s Energy Power Struggle: Rising Demand and a New Competitive Landscape”, Join an expert panel as they discuss “Net Zero for Global Security? Geopolitics of Energy Transition and Hydrogen Trade,” featuring Leila Benali (Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of Morocco), Jennifer Morgan (State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action, German Federal Foreign Office), Rainer Quitzow (professor for Sustainability and Innovation, TU Berlin), Katherina Reiche (CEO, Westenergie AG; Chairwoman, National Hydrogen Council), Narendra Taneja (energy expert & chairman, Independent Energy Policy Institute). Saturday, Feb. 15 “Shaping Tomorrow’s Renewable Energy Paradigm in Times of Uncertainty,” the keynote by William Chueh, director, Precourt Institute for Energy, associate professor of materials science and engineering, Stanford University Plus many more panels and fireside chats. If you’re eager to explore how nations can boost their competitiveness, strengthen their economies, and create a future-proof society, sign up for our free livestream here.