Turkey and Syria
The Story
We’re starting to get a clearer picture of the widespread devastation in Turkey and Syria.
Go on.
More than 5,000 have been killed, while about 20,000 have been injured — and counting. That’s the result of both the initial 7.8-magnitude earthquake early Monday, as well as the dozens of aftershocks, including an unusually strong 7.5-magnitude tremor. Now, a massive search operation is underway as some 5,600 buildings have been destroyed in Turkey alone. In neighboring Syria, more than 200 buildings have collapsed in the northwestern region.
How did it get so bad?
Turkey has long been vulnerable to earthquakes. That’s because it sits in the middle of three tectonic plates. But this particular region — in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria — hadn’t seen a major earthquake for over 200 years. That meant building infrastructure was outdated and many were not prepared. Now, it’s been hit by the strongest earthquake since 1939.
What happens now?
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared a seven-day period of national mourning. Countries across the world — from the US to Israel — have deployed rescue teams and offered aid. That’s especially important since Turkey hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees, the most in the world. Meanwhile, Syria is approaching its 12th year of civil war. And one of the areas most impacted by the earthquake remains split between Kurdish, rebel, and government-controlled areas. That makes getting aid to the region especially challenging, with only one Turkish border crossing in use. On top of that, hospitals are overwhelmed.
theSkimm
This week, Turkey and Syria have endured a series of earthquakes not seen in the region in generations. The focus now: rescue and recovery, which could determine the number of lives saved.
And Also...This
What we’re checking in on…
The State of the Union. Tonight, President Biden will deliver his second address. This time, amid a different backdrop. Think: GOP investigations, a divided Congress, tensions over the federal budget — plus, criticisms over the Chinese spy balloon fiasco. Rumor has it, he’ll touch on the last three topics and try to pitch his admin’s actions on the economy as successes. That includes talking up the lowest unemployment rate in decades, while maybe downplaying the record-high inflation (and recession concerns). That may be harder to do as the layoff notices across tech, media, and retail keep rolling in. Gun control and police reform are also expected talking points — with Tyre Nichols’s parents in the audience. Tune in tonight at 9 pm ET on most major networks — then stick around for Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR) to deliver the Republican rebuttal.
Why we’re passing the popcorn...
Chatbot wars. With everyone from college students to journalists playing around with ChatGPT, Google and Microsoft have now entered the chatbot. Yesterday, Google unveiled Bard, the AI chatbot it hopes will rival ChatGPT. And it better do so soon: GPT has been so successful that it prompted Google’s management to declare a “code red” in December to expedite its own AI products. While one of Gmail’s creators warned that Google may only be a year or two away from “total disruption” due to the rise of AI. Now, Google says Bard’s already rolling out to “trusted testers,” but will become widely available in the coming weeks. In the meantime, Microsoft decided to Teams up with ChatGPT rather than compete. Today, it’s expected to announce that it will offer ChatGPT on Bing. What’s Bing again, you ask? Google it.
...Oh and speaking of popcorn, AMC. Starting Friday, the country’s largest movie theater chain will start offering tiered ticket prices depending on where you sit. (Think: Seats in the front will be cheaper, while seats in the middle will be more expensive.) It’s the latest attempt to combat stubbornly low ticket sales — the result of everything from COVID to streaming competition. Roll the credits on a coveted aisle seat.
Where abortion is top of mind…
Florida. Many are pushing back over a draft proposal that’d make it mandatory for female high school athletes to answer questions about their periods. That includes when they first got their period, when the most recent one was, and how many they've had in the past year. While answering those questions is currently optional, the sports medicine advisory committee — which developed the proposal — says making them mandatory is reportedly consistent with national guidelines for sports physicals. But critics are concerned it could be a plan to exclude transgender athletes — and create privacy concerns around info on girls’ cycles. The proposal will be reviewed by the Florida High School Athletic Association in late February.
Texas. As soon as this week, a judge could issue a ruling that could amount to a nationwide ban on abortion pills, at least temporarily. The lawsuit — filed by a group of anti-abortion activists in November — is challenging the decades-old FDA approval of mifepristone, a medication used to terminate pregnancies. According to the group, the FDA exceeded its regulatory authority and chose politics over science in approving the drug. Meanwhile, the FDA has described the lawsuit as “extraordinary and unprecedented.” And warned that it would cause “significant harm” if the judge sides with the anti-abortion group. If that happens, any appeals would go to the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, then to SCOTUS.
What legacy is being changed…
Who's down to bend and snap...
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