Buzz
Another week has passed, marking what may go down as the longest year in human history. The majority of the world remains under lockdown, striving to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Meanwhile, global economies stagnate, teetering on the brink of a possible depression.
While the virus dominates headlines, there have been several significant events this week, both tragic and less so. Though the pandemic touches most news stories, life continues in various forms as the world observes the unfolding crisis.
10. Nova Scotia Shooting Spree Claims 22 Lives
On Sunday, a gunman impersonating a police officer went on a shooting spree across Nova Scotia that lasted over 12 hours. The rampage started in a single neighborhood but spread across the province, seemingly targeting random victims. The assailant also altered his vehicle to resemble one used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, with his victims including a police officer. This violent event stands as the deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history, prompting widespread calls for tighter gun control across the country.
The massacre stands as the deadliest mass shooting since the 1989 Montreal Ecole Polytechnique college tragedy, which took the lives of 14 people and led to sweeping changes in Canada’s gun-control laws. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated that new regulations are likely to follow the latest shooting that claimed 22 victims, with the gunman also killed. No clear motive has been identified for the senseless attack, which began around 10:30 PM on Saturday and continued until around noon the next day. The massacre left victims in Wentworth, Debert, Shubenacadie/Milford, and Enfield, the latter being the location where the gunman was shot and killed by police.
9. Major Companies Quickly Depleted The Small Business Loan Fund in Just Two Weeks
The U.S. government recently passed a COVID-19 stimulus package, which included $349 billion to fund small business loans. The money was meant to help small businesses cover employee wages and expenses, but by Thursday of last week, the funds were completely exhausted in under two weeks. By Monday, it became clear that the depletion wasn’t caused by an overwhelming number of small businesses, but rather because large hotel and restaurant chains applied for and received funds, leaving many smaller business owners with nothing.
Companies that benefited from the program included Shake Shack, Potbelly, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, along with another subsidiary of Ruth’s Hospitality Group. The latter took $20 million from the fund, while Shake Shack received half of that. After the news broke that large companies—some publicly traded—had drained the fund, they returned the loans. Shake Shack did so almost immediately, and after months of delays, Congress is now preparing to pass new legislation to inject an additional $310 billion into the fund to ensure the money goes to businesses that truly need it.
8. Pet Cats Are Not Immune to COVID-19 Infections
Although much remains unknown about COVID-19 and its exact origin, it is established that the virus is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted between animals and humans. It is believed to have originated from pangolins in a Wuhan food market, but it has now been confirmed that the virus can also transfer from human hosts to pet cats, with two cases confirmed in New York City on Wednesday. These are the first known instances of pets in the United States testing positive for COVID-19. Thankfully, both cats only experienced mild respiratory issues and are expected to recover.
The first cat was diagnosed by a veterinarian after it displayed signs of a mild respiratory infection. The household members were not confirmed to be carriers, leaving the route of transmission unknown. A second cat in a different area of the city also tested positive, though another cat in the same household remained uninfected. The discovery does not imply that infected cats can transmit the virus back to humans, a concern considering the abundance of cats throughout New York City, which could potentially serve as vectors for the disease.
7. Protests Erupt Over Shelter-in-Place Orders Due to Coronavirus
As COVID-19 infection rates begin to decline following various 'stay at home' mandates in the United States, more people are taking to the streets to protest. Demonstrators are demanding that state governments allow them to return to work. While some protesters followed social distancing protocols and wore masks, a significant number ignored these guidelines. President Trump voiced his support for the protests on Twitter, urging the liberation of Michigan, Virginia, and Minnesota.
One media outlet described the situation as 'America on the brink' of insurrection, as tensions continue to rise. Right-wing groups have organized rallies in multiple states, including Texas, Indiana, New Hampshire, Nevada, Maryland, Utah, Wisconsin, Washington, and Colorado. While these protests did not escalate into armed insurrection, the defiance of stay-at-home orders has increased the risk of further spreading COVID-19. Dan Patrick, the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, was quoted saying, 'There are more important things than surviving,' reflecting earlier remarks he made prioritizing economic stability over public health concerns.
6. Netanyahu Secures Extended Rule as Political Rival Joins Israeli Unity Government
Israel's prolonged political turmoil may finally be over following a deal struck between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political rival, Benny Gantz, on Monday. The two leaders, who had been at odds for over a year, agreed to form a unity government in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Israel had been caught in political gridlock, with three elections held that failed to produce a government. Under the new agreement, Netanyahu will remain Prime Minister until 2021, at which point he will step down and hand the position to Gantz.
5. Oil Market Plummets into Negative Prices
Monday marked a historic moment in oil trading as the price of crude oil fell to $0 per barrel before continuing its plunge into negative territory, reaching -$37.63 per barrel. This is the lowest price recorded since the NYMEX began trading oil futures in 1983. The dramatic drop was fueled by a massive selloff, as demand for oil waned due to the global lockdowns caused by COVID-19, and storage facilities neared capacity as more businesses and people ceased activity to prevent the virus's spread.
Last week's agreement to cut oil production by 9.7 million barrels per day in May and June was one of the largest reductions ever made by oil-producing nations. However, this move did little to stabilize the market as energy demand continues to plummet. To address the issue, President Trump ordered the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to add up to 75 million barrels to its stockpile in an attempt to balance the trading deficit. With oil prices now in the negative, producers are essentially paying buyers to take delivery of the oil.
4. Unverified Study Claims Hydroxychloroquine is Ineffective
Across the globe, medical professionals have been exploring hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19 patients, but a new study released Tuesday casts doubt on its effectiveness. The study suggests that not only is the drug ineffective against the virus, but it could also cause harm to patients. The findings, based on an analysis of veterans' medical records, were shared on medrxiv.org but have not yet undergone peer review or been published in any medical journals. Further investigations are underway to determine the true impact of hydroxychloroquine in treating COVID-19.
The study in question involved 368 patients, of which 97 who were treated with hydroxychloroquine experienced a death rate of 27.8%, compared to 11.4% for the 158 who did not receive the drug. The researchers concluded that there was an increased mortality rate among those treated with hydroxychloroquine alone. They stressed the importance of awaiting results from ongoing, randomized, controlled studies before any widespread use of the drug. This research was conducted by teams from the Columbia VA Health Care System, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Virginia.
3. YouTube Removes Videos Not Supported by WHO Recommendations
In an interview with CNN on Wednesday, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki outlined new platform policies that involve removing videos deemed ‘medically unsubstantiated.’ She specified that content claiming alternative treatments for COVID-19, such as using vitamin C or turmeric, would be removed. Furthermore, any video not in alignment with the World Health Organization's official guidelines regarding the virus would be taken down. This policy has raised concerns due to the WHO’s ties to the Chinese government, especially considering Google’s controversial history in supporting China over its people.
YouTube is known for removing videos that violate its community guidelines, but with recent policy updates, this process has accelerated to prevent content that contradicts Google’s stance. One of the examples Susan Wojcicki, the CEO, mentioned was the removal of videos claiming that 5G cell towers were responsible for spreading the virus. While Wojcicki didn’t specify the exact number of videos taken down, she acknowledged that these removals are happening much faster than before, which she attributed to the ongoing pandemic.
2. Iran Successfully Launched Its First Military Satellite
On Wednesday, Iran successfully launched its first military satellite, confirmed by U.S. Space Command via Twitter at 4:03 PM. The 18th Space Control Squadron reported tracking two objects: the satellite, NOUR 01, and the rocket body that placed it into a stable orbit. Iranian state television also reported the success, stating, 'Iran’s first military satellite, Noor, was launched this morning from central Iran in two stages. The launch was successful, and the satellite reached orbit.'
The satellite is now positioned 264 miles above Earth, as reported by the Revolutionary Guard, which was responsible for launching the two-stage satellite from Iran’s Central Desert. As news of the launch spread online, U.S. President Trump tweeted an order for the U.S. Navy to destroy any Iranian gunboats that harass U.S. ships at sea. While it is unclear whether the satellite launch and the Navy order are connected, tensions between the two nations have been escalating recently, with Iranian gunboats often confronting U.S. vessels in international waters.
1. There Are Concerns About Kim Jong-Un’s Health
Kim Jong-un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, has been the subject of rumors suggesting that he is seriously ill, although details regarding his health are closely guarded by the secretive state. Speculation grew after reports surfaced that Kim had undergone an unspecified cardiovascular procedure on April 12th. Adding to the mystery, Kim missed a key annual event honoring his grandfather, the founding leader of North Korea, leading to increased concerns about his wellbeing and the possibility that complications arose during his treatment.
As the rumors about Kim Jong-un's health continued to swirl on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump shared his thoughts on the situation. 'Well, these are reports that came out, and we don’t know. We don’t know. I’ve had a very good relationship with him. […] I wish him well. Because if he is in the kind of condition that the reports say… that’s a very serious condition. […] If somebody else were in this position, we would have been, right now, at war with North Korea. And we’re not at war. And we’re nowhere close to war with North Korea.'
