Friday Risk Watch: July 19, 2024

Stay ahead of potential risks and ensure the safety of your employees with Friday Risk Watch, a weekly newsletter curated by our Global Intelligence Team.

Expect updates on emerging risks, geopolitical developments, weather forecasts, etc. We'll notify you of the latest incidents that could impact your organization, allowing you to make informed decisions and mitigate potential risks.

What We're Watching

Major Tech Outage Prompts Global Disruptions Across Various Industries: A Microsoft systems outage sparked by a defective software update pushed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike has disrupted industries worldwide, with impacts likely lingering through the weekend.

• The outage has affected business and government systems worldwide, impacting various industries, including air and rail travel, financial services, health institutions, and emergency services.?
• CrowdStrike’s CEO reported that the cause of the outage, which he asserted was not due to a security issue, was resolved, and many impacted customers were operational after rebooting their systems. However, as of Friday morning, numerous entities were still experiencing issues.
• Reports suggest that getting back online will be difficult and protracted for a lot of businesses, as the process will require manual restarting of impacted devices.

U.S. and Canadian Fire Officials Battle Escalating Mid-July Wildfires:?The U.S. National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) raised the national preparedness level to PL 5, the highest level, which is uncommon for mid-July. Around 60 large active wildfires are burning nationwide, affecting over one million acres, while Canada faces similar conditions.?

• Fire managers are employing full suppression strategies on active fires, involving 19,800 wildland firefighters and support personnel. Evacuation orders have been issued for residents near the Lone Rock (OR), Larch Creek (OR), Falls (OR), Pioneer (CA), Cougar Creek (WA), Lake (CA), Texas (CA), Graff Point (UT), Hill (CA), and Shelly (CA) Fires, among others. On Thursday, FEMA approved an assistance grant to help battle the Lone Rock Fire.?
• Anomalous heat will likely return through the weekend. High temperatures ranging from the 90s to over 100 degrees, with minimal overnight relief, are expected in large parts of interior California, Southern Nevada, and Arizona into the Upper High Plains. Isolated dry thunderstorms, which bring frequent lightning but little rain, will likely spark new brushfires over the next few days.
• The British Columbia Wildfire Service warns of a potential increase in fire activity. Gusty, dry, and warm conditions could worsen the over?250?wildfires currently burning in the region. Storms and high winds could significantly influence the behavior and spread of these fires, posing heightened risks for the affected areas.

Violence Flares in Bangladesh as Student Protests Continue: The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka advised citizens to reconsider travel to Bangladesh due to ongoing protests that have led to clashes between government forces and student activists. This week, over 25 people have been killed and hundreds injured in unrest across the country. Protesters demand an end to a government quota system that reserves 30% of government jobs for the families of veterans who fought in the 1971 War of Independence.

• Protesters attempted to shut down transportation nationwide, blocking major highways and railway lines. In Dhaka, clashes have led to fires and vandalism, including an attack on the state-run Bangladesh Television headquarters.??
• Multiple diplomatic missions have issued alerts limiting the movement of their personnel in Bangladesh. The country has experienced a near-total internet shutdown, complicating communication and access to information. Authorities have closed universities and conducted raids on opposition party headquarters, escalating political tensions.?
• Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged protesters to await the court's decision on the quota system, promising justice and a judicial investigation into the recent deaths. The Supreme Court's ruling on the quota system is expected by August 7.?

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Demonstrators Gear Up for Netanyahu Visit to Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to arrive in the US capital on Monday, where he will likely be met with significant protest activity.??

• The primary demonstration against Netanyahu is set for Wednesday, the day he is slated to address the U.S. Congress. Thousands plan to gather at the Capitol at 11 am, with protest organizers urging attendees to "surround" the building.??
• Additional protest activity is expected during Netanyahu's visit. While in-depth details on his travel are not currently available, he is expected to meet with President Biden at the White House on Monday.??
• Netanyahu's travel comes as he faces growing calls and demonstrations at home for a new election and a deal to secure the release of remaining hostages. Widespread protests are expected this weekend before he leaves, with a major protest planned at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on Sunday.

Several European Cities to See Significant Demonstrations: Environmental activists in France are protesting water storage projects known as "mega-basins," while climate activists in Germany are planning street protests against the fossil fuel industry. Meanwhile, in Austria, opposing groups with a history of confrontation will hold rival demonstrations in Vienna's Innere Stadt.

• Thousands of activists opposed to "mega-basins" have gathered in Southwest France near the town of Melle, where authorities deployed more than 3,000 police officers and banned the transport of weapons and material that could be used to erect blockades or start fires. Activists set up a protest camp earlier this week and plan to block the Port of La Pallice in La Rochelle on Saturday, July 20. Similar demonstrations have resulted in violent clashes.
• Germany's most prominent climate activist group, Letzte Generation (LG), is organizing two demonstrations on Saturday. The primary action will be at Munich's Karlsplatz at 3 pm, with more than 15 other climate activist groups supporting the demonstration. To the north, LG activists will gather in Bremen's Bahnhofsplatz at noon.?
• In Vienna, individuals associated with the Identitarian Movement, led by contentious spokesperson Martin Sellner, plan to march near Helmut-Zilk-Platz beginning at 4 pm. In response, the Attac activist group is organizing a counter-demonstration near the intersection of Wipplingerstrasse and B?rseplatz at 2:00 pm. Several other organizations, including Socialist Youth Austria and antifascist groups, are calling on people to attend the counter-demonstration.?

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