10 Unbelievable Events That Took Place This Week (04/17/20)

Another week has passed, and 2020 is determined to earn the title of the longest year in history. The conversation continues to revolve around COVID-19, which has completely taken over the news cycle.

Though the majority of headlines are focused on the virus's spread and the various attempts to slow its impact, there have been a few stories that may have been overlooked. These ten events surfaced this week, and while most are related to the pandemic in some way, not all of them are.

10. Man Accidentally Receives 2.8 Million Dollars

This week, the U.S. Treasury began distributing stimulus payments to American taxpayers, and many woke up to find a deposit in their accounts. The first wave of payments is being sent via direct deposit, while others can expect physical checks in the coming weeks. Individuals earning under $75,000 will receive $1,200, while couples making less than $150,000 will get $2,400. Families with children under the age of 16 will also receive an additional $500 per child.

Charles Calvin, a volunteer firefighter in New Chicago, Indiana, was stunned when he checked his ATM balance and discovered his account had a whopping $8.2 million more than expected. He double-checked, but the amount stayed the same. Unfortunately, Mr. Calvin learned that real life doesn’t follow the “bank error in your favor” rule from Monopoly, so he wasn’t able to keep the money. He shared in an interview, “It kind of sucks. You go from being a millionaire one second, then back to being broke again. But hey, once you’re poor, you don’t have anywhere else to go but up.”

9. Oil Production Severely Reduced in the Largest Cut Ever

With more people staying home to curb the spread of COVID-19, numerous industries around the world are facing a reduction in demand for their products. The oil industry has been hit especially hard, as it finds itself with a surplus but little need. As a result, an agreement has been made to cut oil sales for May and June. OPEC, Russia, and Mexico announced on Sunday that they had agreed to reduce production by 9.7 million barrels per day—the largest reduction ever agreed upon.

OPEC has faced significant losses due to the decline in sales as global energy demands continue to drop. This has resulted in some of the lowest gasoline prices seen in the 21st century, and any reductions in production will help minimize the damage caused by the reduced demand. The agreement is groundbreaking, but it only represents about 10% of the world’s typical oil supply, making it an important first step in addressing the surplus issues OPEC faces. The last major cut occurred during the 2008 financial crisis, which saw a gradual reduction totaling 4.2 million barrels per day.

8. World’s Longest Creature Found

Scientists from the Western Australian Museum have discovered a new species, now recognized as the longest living organism ever found. The discovery took place aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel, while exploring the Abyssal Deep Sea Canyons near Ningaloo. The creature in question is a newly identified type of Apolemia siphonophore, a species of gelatinous string capable of growing to extraordinary lengths. The species' unique reproduction method is part of what enables them to grow so large.

Unlike most organisms that grow a single body, a siphonophore clones itself repeatedly through thousands of specialized clone cells, which are then strung together. The newly discovered siphonophore measured approximately 150 feet in length, making it the longest of its kind ever found, and the longest known individual organism in existence. These deep-sea creatures feed on small fish and crustaceans, and most are opportunistic feeders, spreading out over vast areas with stinging tentacles to capture prey, which is then slowly digested. The newly identified species adopts a unique “UFO-like feeding posture.”

7. Sailor Dies From COVID-19 On Controversial Ship

Two weeks ago, the captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt was relieved of duty after an email he wrote was leaked to the public. This action was followed by the resignation of the Acting Secretary of the Navy, stemming from the captain’s email about the ship’s condition amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the USS Theodore Roosevelt remains in the news, as the Navy confirmed on Monday that a sailor had passed away due to complications from a COVID-19 infection.

The sailor, Aviation Ordnanceman Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker Jr., first tested positive for the virus on March 30. During a routine medical check, he was found unresponsive, and despite attempts to revive him with CPR, he was transferred to a Navy hospital’s ICU. Sadly, he passed away shortly after. The USS Theodore Roosevelt has become the epicenter of the Navy’s COVID-19 outbreak, with over 600 crew members testing positive by Thursday. To date, 93% of the crew has been tested, and efforts to halt the spread continue as more sailors are admitted to the ICU.

6. First March Without A School Shooting Since 2002

In March 2020, the United States experienced its first March without a school shooting in years. This isn’t remarkable simply because there was no shooting, but because it marked the first time in 18 years that March went by without an incident. Since 2002, every March had seen at least one school shooting. This streak was broken in 2020, and it’s significant not only for the lack of shootings but also because school closures have extended this break, making it the longest stretch without an incident for many students.

The last March without a school shooting was in 2002, meaning this year’s high school seniors have experienced a shooting in every March of their school years. While not every school nationwide has had a shooting during this month, those that did often affected students nationwide, whether locally or not. In 2002, there were several close calls, including an incident on March 20 when an 8th-grade student brought a .22 caliber weapon to school with 50 rounds of ammunition, though no shots were fired.

To be fully transparent, it’s worth noting that the two shootings in 2019 were both caused by external sources—a drive-by shooting that struck a school bus and an accidental gun discharge at a university—so it can be argued that 2019 also technically had no school shootings.

5. German Zoos To Feed Animals To Each Other

On Tuesday, a German zoo made an alarming announcement: it might be forced to feed its animals to other animals due to dwindling funds. Verena Kaspari of the Neumünster Zoo explained that in the worst-case scenario, if they could no longer afford to buy food or if their suppliers couldn't deliver due to new restrictions, they might have to slaughter some animals to provide food for others.

If such extreme measures are taken, Vitus, the zoo's beloved polar bear, could be the last one left. With the loss of visitors due to social distancing, Germany's National Zoo Association is urgently requesting €100 million in aid. Unlike many businesses forced to shut down during COVID-19, zoos require ongoing funding to maintain their animals' health and safety. On average, German zoos are losing around €500,000 a week, and without help, the animals may soon be gone.

4. South Korea Holds In-Person Elections Without A Hitch

On Thursday, South Korea's ruling liberal party won the parliamentary elections with the highest voter turnout in nearly 30 years. With 66.2% of voters participating, this was the largest turnout since the 1992 elections. Despite the ongoing spread of COVID-19, the government’s strict social distancing measures at polling stations made it possible for voters to cast their ballots safely. The ruling party, in alliance with a satellite party, secured 180 out of 300 seats in the National Assembly.

In contrast, the conservatives suffered one of their worst showings in years in the highly populated capital city. President Moon Jae-in's party now holds a commanding majority, enabling him to pursue his domestic and foreign policy goals with greater ease, including restarting diplomatic talks with North Korea. Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party, expressed during a meeting, “We feel a heavy responsibility, which overshadows our joy in winning the election. We will make preemptive and aggressive efforts to address the novel coronavirus crisis and the threats it poses to our livelihoods and national economy.”

3. Google Censorship Unveils Anti-Jewish Images

If you search for antisemitic or Holocaust denial material, it’s still accessible online, but those results are now appearing more frequently when searching for less direct terms related to Judaism, despite Google claiming it has implemented fixes. Recently, innocuous search terms related to Jews are returning controversial results when doing a Google Images search. Typing in ‘oy vey’ on Google Images, for example, leads to suggestions like ‘merchant,’ ‘shoah,’ ‘6 trillion,’ (referring to the belief that Holocaust casualty numbers are exaggerated), and ‘shlomo.’

Most of the images appearing in these searches come from platforms like Chinese-owned Reddit, 4Chan, 8Chan, and similar websites. Clicking on any of the results leads users deeper into a web of antisemitism, with each click spiraling further into offensive territory. For example, a search for '6 million' leads to an added phrase: '6 million wasn't enough.' Despite facing criticism for years over its algorithm's return of these results, Google has attempted to increase censorship to filter them out, but the efforts seem to be largely ineffective.

2. President Trump Halts Funding To The WHO

On Tuesday, President Trump announced a suspension of $400 million in funding for the World Health Organization, accusing it of 'severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.' He elaborated that 'The reality is the WHO failed to obtain, vet, and share information in a timely fashion,' adding, 'The WHO failed in its basic duty and must be held accountable.' Trump's response to the outbreak has drawn increasing scrutiny, and this decision shifts much of the blame onto the WHO, which had advised against his initial travel ban from China and has consistently supported China's stance.

The WHO finally warned about the potential spread of COVID-19 from China on January 23rd. A week later, on January 30th, the Director-General declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the highest alert level the WHO can issue. The United States is the largest contributor to the WHO’s annual budget, which is approximately $2.8 billion.

1. Actor Brian Dennehy Passes Away At 81

On Wednesday, legendary actor Brian Dennehy passed away at the age of 81 due to natural causes. His daughter, Elizabeth Dennehy, shared the sad news on Twitter, writing, 'It is with heavy hearts we announce that our father, Brian, passed away last night from natural causes, not COVID-related. Larger than life, generous to a fault, a proud and devoted father and grandfather, he will be missed by his wife Jennifer, family, and many friends.' Dennehy died from cardiac arrest caused by sepsis at his home in New Haven, Connecticut.

Dennehy enjoyed a remarkable seven-decade-long career that spanned television, film, and theater. He was widely recognized for his portrayal of Sheriff Will Teasle in 'First Blood,' another villainous sheriff role in 'Silverado,' and his work in films like 'Cocoon,' 'F/X,' and 'Presumed Innocent.' Dennehy’s illustrious career earned him two Tony Awards, a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film, and six Primetime Emmy nominations. He continued working up until the end of his life, with his final two films, 'Son of the South' and 'Long Day’s Journey Into Night,' set to be released posthumously.

In addition to Dennehy’s passing, British actor Tim Brooke-Taylor also died on April 12th at the age of 79. Known best for his role in the cult British television series 'The Goodies,' Brooke-Taylor died due to complications from Coronavirus.