RationalWiki:What is going on in the world?/April 2020

April 2020
While multiple states threaten to take away unemployment benefits to workers that refuse to return to their job after ending of restrictions, American oligarchs have become even more wealthy since the beginning of the pandemic Groundbreaking new method has allowed scientists to reverse blindness in mice Tara Reade's former neighbor confirms Tara's account of what happened to her at the hands of Joe Biden A new bill has been put forward in the German Parliament that will give employees the right to work from home if requested. Adding to Jair Bolsonaro's troubles, his son is being investigated for his alleged role in a "fake news criminal scheme." This may be the reason why President Bolsonaro fired the Federal Police chief, which sparked the conflict between him and Moro that ultimately led to the latter's resignation. Donald Trump cancels his daily coronavirus press briefing because of fears that his blatant lies could hurt his re-election chances. Anti-corruption judge and long-time Bolsonaro ally has resigned from his post as justice minister and accused Bolsonaro of political meddling (English version), dealing a massive blow to the president. Rumours have been circulating for days about the health of North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un. It is unclear what his condition is in. Some unconfirmed (and disputed) reports have suggested that he is in a vegetative state following botched surgery. What we do know is China have sent doctors to check on him Update North Korean state media claim that Kim Jong Un has appeared in public at a ribbon cutting ceremony. These reports are, however, unconfirmed as no pictures of the event have been released. The school board in Palin’s old neighbourhood of Mat-Su borough has removed five books including Catcher in the Rye, Catch-22, and The Great Gatsby from high school reading lists.

The Belgian potato board Belgapom is asking people try and eat French fries a least twice a week, which is twice the average home consumption. The reason is to prevent the country's huge surplus of 750 000 tonnes of bintjes potatoes from being destroyed. Iran launches military satellite and promises a "decisive response" to Trump's threats Polish parliament debates two bills, one to ban abortion and another to ban sex ed by labeling teachers as gay activists and pedophiles According to scientists, the oceans can be restored to former glory in just 30 years Senator Kelly Loefller calls criticism of her insider trading a "socialist attack" Investors have piled on China's $13 trillion bond market with foreign ownership of bonds reaching record highs (FT Paywall) Non-paywall South China Morning Post article along same lines Oldest human proteome discovered from 800ky old archaic human tooth [https://www.ssu.gov.ua/ua/news/1/category/21/view/7475#.YWHVui9W.dpbs Authorities in Ukraine have found their own Walter White, after the local intelligence agency the SBU has found a Kyivan university professor making amphetamines in makeshift lab in the country. ] It's official. According to the IMF, the current economic crisis, nicknamed the Great Lockdown, is the worst since the Great Depression Palestinians decry Israel's consensus over annexation of West Bank. Michigan ex-governor Rick Snyder knew about Flint's toxic water and lied about it. Kim Jong-Un is allegedly gravely ill, following surgery. His sister, Kim Yo-Jong would become North Korea's first female God-Empress, should Jong-Un die. US faces a hunger crisis, with soaring demand for food banks and long lines causing some food banks to worry they might need to ration After backlash from taking a stimulus check from military families, USAA bank changes its polices and returns emergency payments US oil prices crash into negative territory (i.e. producers would pay you to take it away), for the first time ever, as reduced global demand results in storage space running out. President Moon Jae-in's victorious Democratic Party will seek to implement a Korean version of the Green New Deal which will seek to reach net zero emissions by 2050 This year just continues to be shit: Canada suffers deadliest mass shooting since. At least 13 dead in Portapique, Nova Scotia. RCMP reports the shooter is also dead. Update: 16 dead. Worst mass shooting in Canadian history. Update 2: Death toll now at 22. Egypt will soon be home to Africa's first vertical forest as urban planners design three buildings covered with pollution-absorbing plants for the country's New Administrative Capital In another blatant cash grab for the rich, Congress has given 43k US millionaires stimulus average 1.6 million dollars each Approximately 22 million Americans have applied to unemployment benefits, bringing the official unemployment rate to 13.5% of the labor force with economists predicting that a lot of the lost jobs will not come back Edward Snowden is forced to reapply for residency in Russia. Treasury Department gives banks authorization to seize the stimulus checks to pay off outstanding debts Washington’s Attorney General is suing Facebook for "repeatedly" violating the state’s campaign finance law, despite requests to stop from an earlier lawsuit. Washington, Oregon and California announce Western States Pact on a shared vision for reopening their economies in a controlled fashion. In an absolute shitshow of a press briefing, Trump first plays a misleading propaganda video, then claims as President, he has "total authority" to reopen the country. Everybody (staring at Krakatoa) "April can't get worse, right?" Still April: Wildfires edge closer to Chernobyl, releasing radiation. One of the reports of the investigation into antisemitism in the Labour Party has revealed that might have cynically used antisemitism charges against left-wing activists and push for institutional opposition to former leader Jeremy Corbyn, including red-baiting and casual misogyny, and that the report will not be sent to the Human Rights Comission Oil companies are collapsing but wind and solar are growing as renewable energy sources are set to account for nearly 21% of electricity generation in the United States, an increase in 18 points from the previous year (warning:paywall bitching from NYT) Virginia governor signs law extending LGBT non-discrimination protections on public employment, housing and credit Spanish government plans to roll out a universal basic income soon and for it to become permanent Everybody: "April will be better, right?" April: Krakatoa erupts. The company that owns the UK’s only national Jewish newspaper, has said that the newspaper is to close and its staff laid off. European Parliament president is sidelined in teleconference between the finance ministers of member states that fell apart due to the Netherland's minister demands for strict conditions on soft loans. However the Portuguese former minister of finances believes that a European Marshall Plan could be in reach Stephanie Grisham, the White House Press Secretary who never held a single press briefing, is out, presumably to go back to day drinking. Trump cheerleader, Kayleigh McEnany, takes over. The has quashed the conviction of Australian cardinal, on  five charges of child sexual abuse, and ordered his immediate release (He was released a few hours later). The reason given by the court was (in short): jurors failed to adequately consider reasonable doubts raised by the defense. Pope Francis made some very pointed “persecution that Jesus suffered” remarks, that while not referencing Pell by name, seem unlikely to be a coincidence. Further undermining the credibility of the US military, the captain of the USS Franklin D Roosevelt is fired for raising concerns about an outbreak of coronavirus among the crew, something he later tests positive for himself. Acting Secretary of the Navy, Thomas B. Modly, then addresses the crew of the vessel, calling the captain "too naïve or too stupid to be a commanding officer." Following the leaking of his remarks, the Trump toady apologises. UPDATE: Modly's resigned.

William Neil “Doc” Gallagher, a Christian radio personality from Texas, is sentenced to 25 years in prison after ripping off his elderly listeners for more than US$25 million in a Ponzi scheme Justin Trudeau is facing backlash from critics and labor groups after choosing Amazon to distribute medical supplies in Canada Bad news for lovers of the hazelnut-chocolate spread Nutella as a parasite called stinkbug, is affecting the supplies of hazelnuts in Turkey home of 70% of world’s supply of hazelnuts. Research suggests that Antartica was once a swampy rainforest, which would imply that the greenhouse gases levels were much higher in the Cretaceous Period than scientists estimated and that the continent did not have glaciers Germany exceeds 50% renewable energy milestone while other countries seek to exploit sea energy NHS has £13 billion and a half debt written off to help combat the pandemic and that NHS workers will get fully tested by the end of the month The FDA has relaxed the rules for LGBT+ persons on donating blood citing current urgent needs. It would allow gay men to give after three months abstinence rather the current twelve months. The FAA has said that owners of Boeing 787 aircraft must reboot their aircraft every 51 days otherwise, there could be serious problems with the plane’s avionics including possibly "several potentially catastrophic failure scenarios" In a welcome stopped clock moment, Trump's treasury announces that people who had not filed tax returns in 2019 are now eligible for support payments. President Trump threatens Iran if they attack troops in Iraq after the IRGC Quds force enter Iraq to aid proxy groups Whiting Petroleum Corporation, once the largest shale oil company, declares bankrupcy