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Staying on top of the news can be exhausting. To save you time, we've curated the most jaw-dropping events that unfolded in the past month. While February 2017 didn't feature the usual big events like major attacks, elections, or conflicts that dominate headlines, it still offered plenty of bizarre, unsettling, and fascinating stories. Here are ten moments that made waves around the world when our attention was focused elsewhere.
10. Romania Experienced Its Largest Protests Since the End of Communism
Romania’s history has been shaped by rulers who have long kept their foot on the necks of ordinary citizens. Yet it also proves that there's a breaking point when the people can no longer tolerate the oppression. In 1989, Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu learned this the hard way. Now, 28 years later, Romania's left-leaning PSD government is discovering the same lesson.
After passing emergency legislation aimed at freeing their leader from a well-deserved corruption charge, the PSD found themselves facing the largest protests since the 1989 revolution. Around 300,000 Romanians braved freezing temperatures to take to the streets, demanding the imprisonment of PSD politicians. Ordinary citizens gathered in droves to express their outrage over political corruption. The PSD was thrown into chaos.
Though the government reversed the controversial legislation in mid-February, protests have continued, albeit on a smaller scale. As of February 28, 5,000 protesters were still occupying Bucharest, calling for the resignation of the government.
9. North Korea Executed a Shocking Assassination
Now might be the right time to thank your lucky stars that you’ve never encountered VX. A nerve agent related to Sarin, VX is the most lethal chemical weapon known to mankind. Classified as a weapon of mass destruction, it induces convulsions, paralysis, blindness, and a long, agonizing death. It’s a weapon no nation should possess, let alone a rogue state. On February 13, North Korea used VX to assassinate Kim Jong-Un’s half-brother, Kim Jong-Nam, at a Malaysian airport.
Nam was once the heir apparent to the North Korean throne. However, after being caught attempting to sneak into Tokyo Disneyland with a forged passport, he was bypassed for succession. Following his father's death, Nam became a vocal critic of Kim Jong-Un, which likely contributed to his tragic assassination.
As bizarre as this story sounds, it could have been even more terrifying. The assassin—an individual from North Korea wearing a “LOL” t-shirt—directly sprayed VX into Nam’s face. Even in minute quantities, VX is capable of causing mass casualties. It was nothing short of luck that the toxic nerve agent didn't harm any innocent bystanders.
8. A New Cave of Dead Sea Scrolls Has Been Discovered
Back in 1947, a shepherd boy unknowingly stumbled upon one of the most significant archaeological finds in history when he entered a cave on the north shore of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea Scrolls were a vast collection of manuscripts, shedding light on previously unknown aspects of Jewish, Christian, and Middle Eastern history. Among them were early versions of Biblical texts, offering rare insight into the development of the Hebrew Bible. Between 1947 and 1967, 11 such caves were discovered. Now, in 2017, it seems we've uncovered a twelfth.
The recently discovered cave was uncovered by a collaborative team from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Liberty University in Virginia, marking the first such discovery in 60 years. Unfortunately, the cave was empty. While pots that once held scrolls were found, the actual parchments were likely looted by Bedouins many decades ago.
However, the story doesn't end there. The team believes there are numerous other caves waiting to be uncovered, possibly containing dozens of scrolls yet to be discovered. This find may only be the beginning of a process that will eventually reveal even more priceless Dead Sea Scrolls.
7. We Unveiled an Entirely New Solar System
Located forty light-years away, the ultracool dwarf star TRAPPIST-1 shines with only a fraction of our sun’s intensity. First identified by a Chilean observatory in 2016, this small and seemingly lifeless star was initially thought to have just two exoplanets in its orbit. However, when NASA turned its Spitzer telescope on the star, we realized this was a vast understatement. Surrounding TRAPPIST-1 is a whole new solar system—one that NASA believes could potentially support life.
The seven planets orbit so closely to their star that their orbits would take only a few days. They would not rotate, always showing one face scorched by the heat of TRAPPIST-1, while the other side remains frozen in the cold expanse of space. However, along the boundary between day and night, there exists a habitable zone—a place where liquid water could flow and temperatures stay stable, surrounded by a vast landscape of ice and fire.
For any potential life that may exist in this system, the view upwards would be nothing short of spectacular. TRAPPIST-1 would loom on the horizon, larger than our own moon, while the six other planets would pass overhead, so massive they would dominate the sky.
6. A Bold Russian Millionaire Attempted to Resurrect the Romanov Empire
On July 16, 1918, the overthrown Romanov family was taken to a house basement in Russia, where they were executed by Bolshevik forces. This massacre marked the end of Russian imperial rule and ushered in the Communist era. Yet, the vision of restoring the monarchy lived on. In 2017, millionaire Anton Bakov entered into advanced discussions about resurrecting the once-powerful Romanov Empire.
Bakov’s plan fits the category of “so wild it could actually work.” Using his considerable wealth, the businessman and former Russian MP aims to purchase three islands from the Pacific nation of Kiribati and turn them into a new Romanov haven. These islands would become an autonomous state, complete with its own infrastructure, university, and services for Russians seeking an escape from Putin’s rule. In need of funds, the Kiribati government was on the brink of approving the deal.
At least, that was the case. Between the time this article was written and its publication, the Kiribati government rejected Bakov’s proposal. Nonetheless, Bakov has pledged to continue his empire-building dreams elsewhere.
5. The US Walked Away from its Support for a Two-State Solution
For decades, the cornerstone of US-Middle East diplomacy has been the idea of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. At times, this seemed within reach; at others, a distant dream. Yet the commitment to the two-state solution remained constant—until now. In February, President Trump signaled the end of US involvement in the pursuit of a two-state resolution.
This marks a monumental shift in US foreign policy, possibly the largest since Nixon’s historic visit to China. For years, US diplomacy in the region has been dedicated to creating a Palestinian state while recognizing Israel as a separate, Jewish nation. The end of this policy could drastically reshape how nations engage with the Israel-Palestine conflict.
This shift holds the potential to radically reshape Israel’s future. While the current government supports a one-state solution, the changing demographics would eventually result in Jews becoming a minority. The debate centers on whether this state can remain both Jewish and democratic, or if it will ultimately have to choose between the two.
4. The Internet’s Two Most Prominent Provocateurs Were Dramatically Taken Down
Just one month ago, YouTube sensation PewDiePie and the controversial conservative figure Milo Yiannopoulos were the undisputed provocateurs of the internet. However, within a span of just 30 days, both saw their careers spiral into decline for strikingly similar reasons.
PewDiePie’s fall from grace began with anti-Semitic comments. For those unfamiliar, the 27-year-old Swede is YouTube’s biggest star, with 53 million subscribers and a Disney contract. Known for his provocative humor, he made headlines after paying two men in India to hold up a sign that read “Death to All Jews.” Although PewDiePie claimed it was intended as a joke, neo-Nazi site Daily Stormer began using his name to promote anti-Semitism. The ensuing scandal proved damaging enough to cost PewDiePie millions and severely tarnish his reputation.
Just days after PewDiePie’s controversy, Milo Yiannopoulos, the former Breitbart editor, found himself in a scandal of his own due to comments seemingly endorsing pedophilia. Known for his role as a professional provocateur, Yiannopoulos has a history of inflammatory remarks meant to provoke a reaction. His earlier history of riling up liberals earned him an invitation to speak at the prestigious CPAC conference. However, when his comments veered into territory that offended conservatives, CPAC quickly withdrew their support, revealing that even free speech has its limits. Yiannopoulos’s speech was canceled, he resigned from Breitbart, and, ironically, there were calls for his deportation back to the UK.
3. We Witnessed the Horrors of Syria’s Infamous Torture Facility
In the years to come, Syria’s Saydnaya prison may be remembered as one of the most horrifying sites of human suffering, similar to Cambodia’s notorious S24 genocide facility. Under the rule of Bashar al-Assad, Saydnaya has earned a reputation as one of the most brutal torture camps of the Syrian Civil War. On February 7, Amnesty International released a chilling report based on interviews with over 80 former guards, prisoners, judges, and defectors, revealing that Saydnaya was not just a prison, but a central part of an extermination campaign aimed at executing Assad’s enemies.
The details are staggering. An estimated 13,000 people are believed to have been executed at Saydnaya, their bodies disposed of in the outskirts of Damascus under the cover of night. Those who survived the executions were subjected to unspeakable torture, starvation, and disease, ultimately succumbing to their conditions. Their bodies were discarded in mass graves. These accounts, gathered from those who witnessed the atrocities up until 2015, suggest that the death toll has only risen in the years since.
The horror of Saydnaya is just one example of the many atrocities committed by the Assad regime. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 60,000 people have died from torture in regime prisons since the beginning of the conflict, and this number does not even account for the 13,000 executed at Saydnaya. The cruelty inflicted is on par with the worst acts perpetrated by figures like Kim Jong-Un. Tragically, the international community remains disturbingly indifferent to these horrors.
2. We Witnessed the First Glimpse of a Star’s Final Moments
Supernovae are among the most cataclysmic and awe-inspiring events in the universe. These cosmic explosions occur when a star exhausts its fuel and collapses, releasing an immense burst of energy that can outshine entire galaxies for a brief time. Until recently, astronomers considered it a remarkable achievement to capture data a week after the explosion. However, starting in February 2017, that benchmark was shattered. Researchers succeeded in capturing a full-spectrum reading just three hours after a distant star exploded.
This dramatic event took place in the spiral galaxy NGC 7610, a massive swirling wheel of light located roughly 160 million light-years away. Within moments of the explosion, astronomers realized the significance of what they were witnessing. Less than three hours later, telescopes worldwide were focused on SN 2013fs, collecting extensive data on the fiery demise of this distant star.
From a scientific standpoint, this moment was nothing short of extraordinary. Not only was it a groundbreaking achievement, but it also offered valuable new insights into the violent process of a star’s collapse. With a bit of good fortune, this fleeting burst of light unlocked fresh mysteries of the cosmos.
1. Indonesia Faced a Defining Crossroad
Home to more than 200 million Muslims within a population of nearly 250 million, Indonesia’s constitution historically upholds its secular nature, with religion kept separate from governance. However, the very fabric of this democratic system was brought into question during the gubernatorial elections in Jakarta.
The controversy ignited when hardline Muslim clerics began asserting that non-Muslims should be barred from holding political office in Indonesia. Jakarta’s incumbent governor, the Chinese-Christian Ahok, denounced these clerics as deceivers. This led to his arrest on charges of blasphemy, triggering massive protests against him and rallying support for Islam-based politics. His centrist opponents capitalized on the situation, fueling fears that populist, hardline Islam might take hold in one of the world’s largest Muslim-majority nations.
In a positive turn for democracy, Ahok emerged with the largest share of the February vote despite enduring a brutal anti-Christian and anti-Chinese campaign. Though he will still face an Islamist rival in a runoff, many commentators believe the outcome highlights Jakarta’s commitment to multiculturalism over the desire to turn Indonesia into a strict, theocratic state.
