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