WHO warns of second peak & cautions against easing restrictions

President Trump has been eager to scale back coronavirus restrictions in hopes of restoring the US economy. However, the World Health Organization warns against lifting back shelter-in-place orders too quickly, as this could lead to an immense growth in the number of new cases. Mike Ryan, head of the WHO's health emergencies program, warns that countries could experience another peak in the number of coronavirus cases even before the second wave, which is expected to hit in a few months.

However, enforcing coronavirus restrictions is becoming increasingly difficult as summer approaches. Over the Memorial Day weekend, Americans crowded pools and stands and danced together in the streets, blatantly disregarding social distancing guidelines. In response to viral images of partners at the Lake of the Ozarks, St. Louis County officials issued a travel advisory.


Party at Lake of the Ozarks


Based on the weekend's occurrences, the prospects of keeping coronavirus cases in check seems bleak. We must all continue to do our part in preventing the spread of the virus by staying at home, social distancing, and wearing masks when exiting our homes.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/who-warns-of-second-peak-and-cautions-against-scaling-back-restrictions-too-soon/2020/05/26/1ea21676-9f63-11ea-81bb-c2f70f01034b_story.html

1. How can we effectively encourage people to stay home amidst the festivities that come with the summer months?
2. Based on how things are going now, do you believe that there could be another peak in the number of coronavirus cases before the peak that is expected to hit in a few months? Elaborate.

Germany's factories close due to Covid-19 causing an economic recession

Like many former posts, Covid-19 has again disrupted the chain of supply and demand.This has caused Europe's largest economy to enter a recession. Part of what has caused Germany to enter this recession is that their economy relies heavily on exports. More specifically, some of Germany's major exports includes cars, vehicle parts, pharmaceuticals, and aircraft engine parts, for example. With German factories closed due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the world has lost its leading supplier of precision engineered goods 

1. How can Germany save its economy while keeping its factory workers safe? 

2. Can Germany find alternate sources of revenue that don't depend on producing engineered goods in a large scale factory?

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/15/856785115/germany-europes-largest-economy-enters-recession-due-to-coronavirus

  

Brazil Goes Through Two Health Ministers in a Month

   





Should places start to open despite the pandemic? In Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro believes things such as gyms should open up for the public. In disagreement, Nelson Teich, the health minister, criticized  Bolsonaro's opinion and believes people should maintain social distancing.  Bolsonaro isn't taking the pandemic very seriously as he compared Covid-19 to the common flu. Even with Brazil surpassing France in Corona virus cases with around 200,000 cases according to BBC News, Bolsonaro still believes things should open. Mr. Teich did not like this and resigned from his position due to their clashing views about the precautions that should be taken during this pandemic. This is the second health minister Brazil has gone through in a month! Earlier this month, the previous health minister was fired by Mr. Bolsonaro after he advocated for people to continue social distancing. Bolsonaro seems very insistent to get things up and running in Brazil even though two separate health ministers didn't agree with his opinions. Now, Brazil currently doesn't even have a health minister employed during this crisis. The death tolls are rapidly increasing in Brazil and Bolsonaro chooses to ignore it and make the whole pandemic seem less severe than it really is.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-52682358
1. Do you think Brazil will be able to find somebody to fill the position of health minister because of Bolsonaro's antics?




2. Do you think things like gyms, salons, and restaurants should open?






3. Do you think Brazil will reek the consequences of Bolsonaro's actions?

Senate Narrowly Rejects New Limits on Internet Surveillance

Whether or not to protect the browsing history of internet users has arisen as a discussion. On Wednesday, May 13th, the Senate was voting on this topic. The Senate ended up short one vote of approving the proposal to keep federal law enforcement from getting internet browsing information or obtaining search history without getting a warrant. Ron Wyden, the co-author of the bipartisan amendment and democratic sen, said, “Should law-abiding Americans have to worry about their government looking over their shoulders from the moment they wake up in the morning and turn on their computers to when they go to bed at night? I believe the answer is no. But that’s exactly what the government has the power to do without our amendment.” Before congress left due to the coronavirus pandemic, the vote came as the Senate considered the renewal of three surveillance provisions. The Senator’s Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, inspired the senators to vote against Wyden and Daines amendment and their reasoning for that was already a “delicate balance”. They advised provisions wouldn’t be renewed had they change it. McConnell said before the vote, “We cannot let the perfect become the enemy of the good when key authorities are currently sitting expired and unuseable,” Two months ago, the compromise legislation was passed by The House. However, McConnell couldn’t get enough support to approve the part in the Senate. As a substitute, a simple extension of the surveillance laws was passed. It is not clear if McConnell will be able to get all the votes he needs for the passage on Thursday.

1. Do you think the proposal to prevent federal law enforcement from obtaining internet browsing information or searching history without seeking a warrant should be approved?   
2. Should Americans have to worry about the government looking into them all the time?

How Long Until You Can Watch Your Favorite Sport Be Played?

Throughout the past few weeks, as nations across the world and their various semi-autonomous regions have aimed to reopen the economy, they have also had to consider the reentry process of sports leagues. In the United States, the return of these competitions will be a slow process and with a number of question marks still remaining, return dates are unclear. As Trump continues to push for “liberation”, he drives claims of vanquishing coronavirus, although various health officials and politicians interpret the data otherwise. Despite encouraging signs, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci, views the information differently. He stated on Tuesday that failure to take adequate precautions could lead to an economic groundhog day in which the nation struggles to get fully up and running. He also notes that to not approach the pandemic with appropriate caution will invite “some suffering and death that could be avoided”. So, what does this mean for American competitions? LA county, the largest in the nation, recently informed the public of it’s plans to extend the stay at home orders, adding a further layer of complexity to the matter. Although Trump’s White House approves of the reemergence of sports leagues, precautions taken by the states and their individual counties make it far more challenging to identify return dates. In Germany, a similar paradox has appeared. After the premier soccer league in Germany, the Bundesliga had its return set for May 16th, a few players from the second division team Dynamo Dresden tested positive for coronavirus. Although the Bundesliga advocates for a quarantine of individuals who were found to have the virus, the states make the final decision. In this case they demanded a 14 day quarantine of the entire team. Despite the scare, Germany’s governing soccer body will continue with the previously decided scheduling of leagues. They’ve only canceled games which fall in Dynamo Dresden’s quarantine period, inviting criticism of the situation’s handling.

1. What health standards must be met in order for professional sports to continue?

2. How should athletes be permitted to function in society in light of their physical contact with others? Should they be allowed to be in public?

3. Is the return of sports a reasonable idea, or should they be delayed until the outbreak is properly contained?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/05/13/coronavirus-updates-los-angeles-reopening-plans-fauci-rand-paul/3116843001/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/05/12/coronavirus-fauci-issues-stark-warning-disease-odds-trump/3117983001/

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/plans-finish-german-football-season-22003944

Image Source:

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/480/cpsprodpb/10E92/production/_111266296_gremio2.jpg

Cyber Crime in Pandemic Time

As more of the world's business moves online cybercriminals have more opportunities than ever. Cybercriminals have been targeting VPNs, virtual private networks that people use in hopes of protecting themselves from these threats. Additionally they target the IoT which is a system of computers that communicate data without human to human or human to computer interaction. A leading Managed Security Service Provider, Nurspire released its quarterly Landscape Report which details cybercrime activities, techniques, and procedures. Phishing is a method that cybercriminals use to obtain information by sending emails impersonating companies and organizations in hopes of getting the recipient to click a link that while then extract information from their system. This form of cybercrime has more than doubled in the first quarter of 2020. Additionally Nuspire has reported a resurgence in the use of macro malware which are lines of code that are run when opening a Microsoft word document that then invade your system extracting information and potentially running ransomware. Furthermore, emotet malware use has surged peaking in the first week of March. Emotet malware is a costly trojan that can infect entire systems and can affect any computer linked to the system. This virus is virtual machine-aware which can develop false indicators making it much harder to remove from systems. This viruses can be spread from phishing emails, macro malware and pretty much any link that has a download attached. In this time of increased internet usage it is important to stay safe on the internet and be careful of suspicious links.

1. What methods can you use to prevent yourself from being hacked?

2.What can our government do to protect us from cyber-attacks?

Source: https://www.nuspire.com/resource-library/quarterly-threat-landscape-report-2/

What is the Future of the Pandemic?

Safe distances for passengers to wait in shown by the white circles (Paris train station)

2020 has been an extremely hard time for the entire world. One of the most key points has been the outbreak of COVID 19. It has changed everyone's lives from going to work and school every day to staying at home and only leaving when necessary. Civilian protests are encouraging many states to loosen restrictions. As Marc Lipstich, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Harvard's TH Chan School of Public Health said, "It's going to be a matter of managing it over months to a couple of years. It’s not a matter of getting past the peak, as some people seem to believe" (nytimes.com). Many people would get upset at the scientists and doctors that are working hard to combat this epidemic for its slow cure. However, people forget that our generations have never been in this situation before and as most viruses do, COVID 19 could change or adapt to anything because we just don't know enough about it. Another important thought to realize is that studies show 70% of the world will get infected by the Coronavirus. Now, it's perfectly reasonable to ask, "So why should we quarantine and wear masks if most of us will contract it anyways?".  The reasoning is that even if a high majority of people will receive the virus, the goal is to slow the transmission from person to person so that the healthcare system doesn't get overwhelmed. Will the world be able to stay in this situation for much longer?

1. What are some ways people can stay calm during this period?

2. Do you think the rules on quarantine should be lifted?

Sources:

This Is the Future of the Pandemic - The New York Times

Coronavirus may infect up to 70% of the world's population, expert warns - CBS News

Should Remote Learning Stick Around After This Pandemic?

 School has changed a lot since the pandemic started, one of the biggest changes being remote learning. About a month ago, a New York Times Journalist by the name of Nicole Daniels asked about 400 high schoolers how they felt towards remote learning. Many said they missed their friends and the ambiance they would have while at school. Some said they felt that they were being robbed from a good and traditional education. The surprise was when some students said they loved it, they said they liked being free from "the stressful environment of school" and being able to work at their own pace and set their own school schedule. Some students even said that they would like for some of the remote learning strategies integrated into their everyday school life. When thinking about whether or not this is a good idea there's lots of things you have to think about. What would that mean for the typical 8:oo am- 3:00 pm school schedule? Would there be days where school is fully online and students don't have to come to school? These are some of the questions students were asked too, their answers were very different from what was expected. Some students said that they would be okay with adding more time into the school day while others said the 8 hours they have to spend at school was already too much time to begin with and that adding time would be worse for the students. For reference, college-bound high school were asked in December if they were open to taking even some of their classes online, fewer than a quarter said they would be open to the idea. The same students were asked late March after a few weeks of remote learning, if they would be open to having some online classes while starting college, about 50% of the students who had said no said that they would be open to the idea. There are mixed emotions about whether it's a good idea is up to debate but the question still stands, should schools change the way they operate once we go back to school?


1) What are some benefits from remote learning? What are the repercussions of remote learning?

2) Do you think that grade level should play a part on how remote learning is used?

3) Do you think that once we are back to a normal school schedule we should still enforce some of what we use during remote learning?

Source: When the Pandemic Ends, Will School Change Forever? - The New York Times

Gunfire Exchanged Along the Korean DMZ

South Korean troops stationed along the Korean DMZ

On Sunday 03-May-2020, North and South Korean soldiers exchanged gunfire across the demilitarized zone along the North-South Korean border. All sources indicated that there were no casualties taken on either side. A defense official from South Korea stated that they believe the incident to be accidental. According to the South Koreans on Sunday morning gunfire hit a South Korean guard post in the town of Cheorwon. South Korean troops in response fired 20 warning shots along with a warning broadcast. They state that their warning shots were fired into an uninhabited zone, eliminating the chances of North Korean casualties. So far there has been no response from the DPRK in any way shape or form. They haven't made a press statement or told anything to the South Koreans. Currently all troop movements in the North remain normal and there are no signs of any mobilization. This incident occurred days after Kim Jong Un made a public appearance for the first time in 3 weeks. No one knows what the Supreme Leader was doing during that time, and it seems that it will remain that way. It seems very unlikely that this was a Marco Polo Bridge Incident. Even if the North wanted a war, creating one right now makes zero logical and strategical sense. After all, Disease and war are a deadly combination. It's also fair to assume that due to the DPRK's isolation they have relatively few Covid-19 cases, and it would make no sense to put themselves at risk by pouring into South Korea. Thankfully as time goes on, war it seems is becoming both too expensive and risky. Leading everyone to try to avoid it as much as possible no matter what.

1. Did this situation have the potential to spark a conflict?

2. Is it possible that Kim Jong Un's unusual absence is in any way related to the incident?

3. Was this another Marco Polo Bridge incident (was is provoked)?

Sources:
https://www.vox.com/2020/5/3/21245664/north-south-korea-gunfire-exchange-shoot
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/at-the-border-between-north-and-south-korea-royalty-free-image/916185938?adppopup=true

Elon Musk's Newest Release: X Æ A-12

Elon Musk and his wife (Claire Boucher) Grimes

This Monday, Elon Musk's announcement of his newborn child took the internet by storm. The reason for the commotion amongst the general public was the child's name: X Æ A-12.
Many wondered whether it was a joke at first because it seemed extremely odd that anyone would give their kid such an unusual name. However, Musk and his wife have made it quite clear that they were serious. Still, people are questioning the legitimacy of the name since California, like many other places such as Sweden and New Zealand, have regulations on baby names. Regardless, Musk and Grimes seem insistent on keeping the name. Grimes even posted on Twitter giving an explanation of the name's origin. The first letter of his name X, stands for the variable representing and unknown value often used in math. The Æ, according to Grimes is her elven spelling of love/artificial intelligence. The symbol is pronounced "ash" and can also be found in Latin and Old English as well as a letter in languages like Icelandic, Danish, and Norwegian. Lastly, the A-12 stands for the couple's favorite aircraft that was built for the CIA and is known by its designers by the name; Archangel. It is still unclear how the name is pronounced but the most common speculation is "X Ash Archangel". The newborn hasn't even been alive for a week and he already has millions of people tracking his growth. 


1.) Do you think that because of Elon Musk's announcement we'll begin to see an increase in unusual baby names around the world?

2.) Was it a good move to give the child such an odd name considering that he will be growing up in public eye for his entire childhood and early life?

3.) How might the newborn's unusual name affect his life as he gets older?




Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52557291
https://www.hellomagazine.com/imagenes/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/2020050589328/elon-musk-grimes-baby-boy-name-fans-react/0-428-187/elon-musk-grimes-baby-t.jpg

Covid-19's Threat to the Amazon Tribes

In the midst of a pandemic, people from all over the world has been affected by the potentially deadly Coronavirus. Precautions have been taken everywhere around the world, including school closures, social distancing measures, and shelter-in-place orders. However, one group has been gravely overlooked throughout this; the indigenous groups who live in Brazil's rain forest, also known as the Amazons. This community of people are well known for being completely detached from the rest of human society, which means Coronavirus proves a threat to their kind because of their lack of modern technology and medicine. Currently, a global coalition of artists, celebrities, scientists, and intellectuals are calling for Brazillian leaders to take action against a potential "genocide", as some are calling it. They point out that throughout history, Amazons have been devastated by new diseases brought by other people, and Coronavirus will be no different. If no action is taken to protect these indigenous groups, we may be looking at a genocide capable of wiping out the entire Amazon population.

1. What are some ways Brazilian leaders could protect these tribes from Coronavirus?

2. Why do you think Brazilian leaders have not taken any action about this already?

3. Would you classify this situation as a potential genocide? Why or why not?

Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/03/eve-of-genocide-brazil-urged-save-amazon-tribes-covid-19-sebastiao-salgado
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/indigenous-tribe-celebrates-court-decision-to-protect-amazon-rainforest

President Trump's comment on injecting disinfectants quickly debunked

https://apnews.com/697d9ecef7f89cf5e9abb3b008c7faa7

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/24/disinfectant-injection-coronavirus-trump/


Thursday, April 23rd, there was a briefing in the White House which included President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus taskforce. During the briefing, President Trump made a remark regarding the disinfectants which have been selling out fairly quickly throughout stores. He mentions that since they have been so effective in fighting the spread of COVID-19, if "there's a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning...it would be interesting to check that." The media was quick to react to this statement and go on social media and news outlets to debunk this suggestion and call him out on his stupidity. The manufacturer of Lysol even went ahead and issued a statement warning that "Under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body." Hillary Clinton and Hakeem Jeffries tweeted how idiotic and irresponsible it was for a man who was speaking from the presidential pulpit to suggets something so dangerous. The White House responded to the backlash by saying that "the media was mischaracterizing Trump's comments regarding coronavirus treatment" and Trump said that he was only being sarcastic.


1) How do you think the media handled debunking Trump's statement?
2) Many say that Trump was speaking sarcastically, while others thought the opposite, what do you think?
3) Should The White House have handled the situation better?

European Privacy Law Enforcement is Lacking

In 2018 the General Data Protection Regulation was passed in Europe, and heralded as a new era of progress in internet safety. However, the law has suffered from a critical lack of budget and personnel. In the two years since this law was passed, the only giant tech company which has been penalized is Google. While some supporters say that it is too early to draw conclusions about the law, and that there will be new rulings soon, others claim that the cases take far too long, and that due to the limited budget and personnel, governments are discouraged from fighting more complex cases. This failure to limit big companies could also have a large effect on worldwide privacy laws. In any case the future of this law remains to be seen.
(image and article source):
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/27/technology/GDPR-privacy-law-europe.html?referringSource=articleShare

Keeping Kenyan Schoolkids Fed

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools across the world are closed, leading to children without access to meals. However, a non-profit named Food for Education was founded by Wawira Njiru, a nutritionist who grew up near the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Their mission is to supply inexpensive and fulfilling lunches to poor primary school children and has provided over a million meals. Amazingly, Njiru's program only costs $2 per week to feed one person and has developed into a 24-hour kitchen that delivers food to 13 schools. The lunches consist of rice, beans, maize, and other vegetables that contain nutrients that are important in a child's development. After the coronavirus is under control, Njiru has plans to expand the program and open a second kitchen, which would increase the non-profit's reach to 30,000 children.

1. What are ways people in the USA can help support efforts around the world to mitigate damage/chaos resulted from Corona?

2. By 2025, Njiru wishes to reach a million kids a day. Is this goal realistic, and what can the program do to make that goal?

3. How are the meal programs in San Mateo similar/different than Food for Education?


https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/24/africa/kenyan-keeping-children-fed-lockdown-spc-intl/index.html

Kim Jong Un: Dead or Alive?

Numerous unconfirmed reports regarding Kim Jong Un are leaving millions wondering: is he alive? After he reportedly “clutched his chest and fell to the ground” while in the countryside, he was rushed to the hospital for a routine procedure in which Hong Kong broadcast networks claimed he died. Community Party sources in Beijing say that the surgeon’s “hands were shaking so badly” and he botched the surgery. So far, no official verification has come from the North Korean state media but many are questioning whether or not Kim Jong Un is alive, brain dead, or in “grave danger”. However, North Korea continues to send gifts to foreign leaders in his name despite the fact that the leader hasn’t made a public appearance in two weeks, with his last appearance on April 11. However, South Korea has stated he is "alive and well". Speculations about his health began when he missed state celebrations for his grandfather’s (the founder of North Korea) birthday. Regardless of whether he is alive, dead, or dying, millions are wondering about what this would mean for the fate of North Korea.

Why would North Korea neglect to confirm the state of Kim Jong Un?

What would the death of Kim Jong Un mean for North Korea?

How could this affect international relations?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/04/26/world/asia/kim-jong-un-absence-north-korea.amp.html 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/04/26/asia/kim-jong-un-north-korea-health-intl/index.html 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/04/20/politics/kim-jong-un-north-korea/index.html 

RSF Criticizes CPC for Censoring Early CoronaVirus Outbreak Coverage

2020 Annual Press Freedom Index Map: China ranks 177 out of 180

According to the 2020 annual press freedom index, China stands out internationally as a severely substandard country in terms of freedom of the media: China ranks 177th out of 180 countries.

In the past, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a worldwide organization that promotes the universal right to freedom of information, has frequently criticized the Communist Party of China (CPC) for censorship and surveillance of press. With the exacerbating CoronaVirus crisis, RSF's disapprobation only sharpens; the group believes that the CPC's iron grip on the press threatens not only Chinese citizens, but the people across the world.

The RSF's UK bureau director Rebecca Vincent points to the CPC's censorship of early CoronaVirus outbreak coverage as the reason that the virus escalated into a pandemic. Notably, at the end of 2019, Dr. Li Wenliang and other doctors in Wuhan attempted to warn about CoronaVirus, but Chinese authorities silenced them. 

The CPC's lack of transparency about the true origin and extent of CoronaVirus prevented other countries from imposing travel restrictions, coordinating testing, installing tracing measures, and initiating research for treatment earlier. An earlier response would have spared countries globally from as immense of a death toll, economic staggering, interrupted student education, etc. Misinformation from China impairs governments' and scientists' understanding of CoronaVirus and, therefore, the ability of countries to combat the global issue.

Referred from https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-04-21-20-intl/index.html

Questions for Discussion:

1) Should the Community Party of China be forced to take responsbility for allowing CoronaVirus to spread extensively and/or have to pay reparations to other countries, even if this may mean war?

2) Despite CoronaVirus, do you think China will be able to sustain its integral role in the global economy? Why or why not?

US Oil Prices Drop to Negative as Demand Shrinks

     Because storage capacity could be full in May, oil producers are paying buyers as much as $37.41 to take barrels of oil off their hands; they've been as desperate as to rent tankers to store oil. This is due to a drop in demand from the global oil market, worldwide shelter in place/lockdown means little oil is burned in cars, planes, trucks, trains, and ships. Additionally, storing oil has become more expensive than selling it, as the world is running out of storage locations. If oil prices continue to be this low, nearly 500 companies will have to file for bankruptcy in the coming months. Oil prices have never been negative before, but have been dangerously low in the past. In 2008, the recession diminished energy demand, decreasing oil prices, and this was a short term situation. Leading exporters have agreed to slash production in order to cope with the situation, but even though the market is in shambles right now, a resurgence in demand once businesses are opened and life returns to normal will bring the industry back to where it was before the virus. 

1. How has coronavirus affected oil prices?

2. How will this dip in oil prices motivate governments to move quicker toward renewable energy?

3. How will turmoil in the oil industry affect governments' decision to give bailouts to failing companies? 

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52350082

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/20/business/oil-price-crash-bankruptcy/index.html

Many experimental drugs are coming out that are allowing Covid-19 patients to recover quickly

Although we are in the supposed two-week peak of coronavirus outbreaks, there are treatments different companies are working on that have shown promise for potential coronavirus cures. Gilead has come out with an experimental drug called remdesivir, and is currently in the process of their clinical trial where they are testing the drug in 2,400 patients with severe Covid-19 symptoms and in 1,600 patients with moderate symptoms. With taking the drug, most patients have been discharged from the hospital within 6 days. Israel has also created an experimental drug called Pluristem. They have only tested it on 6 Covid-19 patients, but they were all in critical condition and were all able to recover. There are many other companies around the world today still experimenting with different possible cures for the virus, providing a sense of hope to this crisis.

1.With today's technology do you think a cure will be created?

2.Should we be putting in more money, time, and effort in finding a cure? To what extent?

3.If the virus mutates, do you think with the knowledge we have now on Covid-19 that a cure would be developed more rapidly?

Sources:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/16/health/coronavirus-remdesivir-trial/index.html

https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Israeli-COVID-19-treatment-with-100-percent-success-rate-tested-on-US-patient-624653

One of Brazil's Most Wanted Criminals Caught in Mozambique

Currently, the news is dominated by news of Covid-19 and US politics. The BBC has stepped away from these two looming topics and brings an interesting article detailing the capture of a Brazilian fugitive caught in Mozambique. Gilberto Aparecido dos Santos or Fumino has been caught in Mozambique after being on the run for more than 20 years. He was finally caught after a sting operation led by Interpol, US drug officials, and Brazilian federal police in a country almost 6000 miles away. Fumino is accused of being the largest supplier of cocaine for a Brazilian gang, shipping cocaine around the world, being a leader of the PCC drug gang, and financing a breakout attempt for another leader of the PCC. The PCC is considered to be Brazil’s largest and most powerful drug gang. This could be a big blow to the PCC’s leadership because they now have two of their leaders behind bars. However, knowing Brazil’s prison system, Fumino will still be able to run the PCC behind bars. The PCC have been at war with the Red Command for four years. Fumino’s capture may lead the Red Command to see an opportunity and attack the PCC leading to more violence. However, Covid-19 may have an influence on how things plays out. Even though the US and Brazil may disagree on certain political subjects they will almost always work together to bring criminals to justice.

1. Do you think Fumino will be extradited to Brazil to stand trial or be tried in Mozambique?
2. Why do you think the US was involved in the capture of Fumino and the Mozambique police were not?
3. How do you think Covid-19 will affect Brazil and especially its overcrowded prisons?

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52288303

John Krasinski Sheds Positive Light on the Negativity Surrounding the Coronavirus

    With the spread of Covid-19 taking more and more lives as it sweeps through the country, many have begun to lose hope in seeing a brighter outlook for the world we are living in now. The media outlets are filled with news about the death tolls or the new hotspots of the novel Coronavirus, leaving behind darkness in its wake. However, actor John Krasinski, star of the popular Netflix show The Office, has begun to fight against the negativity and pessimism which the Coronavirus spreads. He started a news outlet on Youtube which only reported the good news which happened around the world. His videos detail the heroic acts first responders have done and how people commemorated them. Many listeners of SGN submit their own stories, many of which include celebration of the life itself, the power of the human spirit and victory over the pandemic. He details how normal individuals make masks for people fighting on the front lines, how more and more people are getting discharged from hospitals and how there is light at the end of this tunnel. Even if the fight against Coronavirus is still raging on, Krasinski proves that there is hope by spreading the good which people have done. In a world with negativity brought about by huge media sources such as CNN or ABC, Krasinski's small youtube channel has reached millions in giving them hope to continue the fight.

1. Should media outlets report the good news along with the negativity?

2. Have you seen negative stories on the news regarding the spread of Covid-19?

3. What have you done to maintain hope and what other sources provide more inspirational news?

Source: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOe_y6KKvS3PdIfb9q9pGug

Bernie Sanders drops out of Presidental Campaign

On Wednesday, April 8, 2020, Bernie Sanders announced that he would be ending his presidential campaign. This would clear the way for Joseph Biden to be the Democratic nominee for the presidential election against Donald Trump. Along with many other democratic candidates, Sanders has decided to endorse Biden's campaign. He said, "I cannot in good conscience continue to mount a campaign that cannot win and which would interfere with the important work required of all of us in this difficult hour. " Many voters believed that Biden would have a better chance against President trump than Sanders, because Sanders was very socialist supporting free medicare for all as well as tuition free colleges. As the democratic nominee, one of the things on Biden's agenda will be to help prevent climate change.

1. Do you think that Bernie Sanders should have continued his presidential campaign?
2. Do you think that Bernie Sanders will try to run for President again in the future? Why or why not?
3. Do you think that Biden will pursue some of Sander's ideas such as medicare for all?

sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/us/politics/bernie-sanders-drops-out.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bernie-backs-biden

Questions rise about Zoom's security in light of rapidly increasing usage

With Covid-19 being so widespread at the moment, many have to find alternate ways to work or attend school while staying safe at home. Most turn to Zoom, a video conferencing app currently in heavy use amidst the pandemic. With an increase in popularity, so do security concerns. The app doesn't provide end to end encryption for it's video calls which allows Zoom full access to any user's video or audio. Zoom's security becomes especially worrisome considering major political figures, such as Boris Johnson in the picture above, use Zoom to run entire countries. The company has a history of sending analytics data to Facebook and occasionally exposing user's private information to strangers. Recently, several security concerns have surfaced, including a vulnerability allowing hackers to steal Windows passwords and another allowing hackers to access Mac user's computers and webcam.

1. The company has pushed back at any security claims, saying that privacy and security were their top priorities. Do you believe that Zoom can be trusted to keep information secure?

2. Should politicians such as Boris Johnson be using the app considering the possible danger it poses to security?

3. How should the general public treat Zoom's security concerns?



sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52115434
              https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52126534

Pollution Levels in India Drop Dramatically After Coronavirus Lockdown

A week ago, India imposed a nationwide lockdown. All factories, markets, shops, and places of worship have been closed, and most public transport has been suspended. India’s 1.3 billion citizens have been asked to stay home and practice social distancing. Not only has the shutdown affected the spread of the virus, but it has also made a dramatic impact on pollution in India. In the capital of New Delhi, government data shows that the average concentration of PM 2.5, a harmful microscopic particulate matter, dropped by 71% in a week after the shutdown. Nitrogen dioxide levels also dropped from 52 per cubic meter to 15 - a 71% decline as well. "I have not seen such blue skies in Delhi for the past 10 years," said Jyoti Pande Lavakare, the co-founder of Indian environmental organization Care for Air, “It is a silver lining in terms of this awful crisis that we can step outside and breathe."

There have been similar impacts on Europe and China from the lockdowns, as industries and transportation has come to a halt. 

1. With nations around the world having a similar problem with both the coronavirus and pollution, is a shutdown a viable solution to the pollution problem?
2. Even after the outbreak is contained, do you think that these nations will continue to reduce their emissions?
3. What policies/solutions can be enforced to continue to reduce the amount of pollution?

source: https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/31/asia/coronavirus-lockdown-impact-pollution-india-intl-hnk/index.html

Indian State Employees Seen Spraying Migrant Workers with Disinfectant

Employees of the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh were caught on video spraying some migrant workers with bleach disinfectant that is typically used to sanitize buses. According to an officer in charge of Covid-19 operations in this state, around 5,000 people have been sprayed. They claim that they were just disinfecting the people from the virus. However, the method of disinfecting is controversial. The chemical disinfectants can be dangerous and they have no effect when the virus is within people. A couple of Indian officials have said that the actions of the employees were unnecessary and overzealous. The affected workers are under medical surveillance. This event connects to the issue of migrant workers in India. 45 million migrant workers have been moving from cities back to their rural hometowns after losing their job due to the pandemic. Officials have been ordered to find migrant workers and quarantine them for 14 days to prevent the spread of the virus.

1. Do you think that people will continue to react to the coronavirus situation in negative ways similar to this?
2. Do you think India is handling the migrant workers the right way?
3. What do you propose India should do to confront the coronavirus problem especially considering their huge population and immense poverty?

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/30/india/india-migrant-workers-sprayed-intl/index.html