February’s News Bytes

Februarys+News+Bytes

XXIII Olympic Winter Games: Held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, the Winter Olympics officially kicked off on Feb. 9. North and South Korea agreed to unify their teams at the opening ceremony while their athletes marched together under a single, unified, blue and white unification flag. According to the New York Times, it is “the most dramatic gesture of reconciliation between them in a decade.” This is the first time this has happened since 2007 and many saw it was an incredible moment in the history of both countries.

Stock Market Decline: The stock market sharply dropped within the past few weeks. Economists strongly believe the reason for this is that the stock market is entering a “correction territory,” which is when at least 10 percent in stocks drop. The volatility is a result of fear looming over the American economy because it’s growing too strong. Senior economists are examining whether investors have the right to be worried about inflation in the near future.

Influenza Epidemic: Flu season has now become an epidemic, causing 63 deaths in children with influenza. Dr. Anne Schuchat, the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control, said there is “a deaths increase in adults and children.” According to Canadian statistics, vaccines have only been 17 percent effective against this strain of flu. However, doctors report that vaccinations are still the best option in defense against the flu, but symptoms should not be treated with indifference.

Government Shutdown: The U.S. government briefly shut down yet again on Feb. 8 at midnight because a single Republican senator, Rand Paul, held up a vote on a far-reaching budget deal. The House approved a budget bill that will raise spending by hundreds of billions of dollars.

Turpin Family: The case of the Turpin family caught the attention of the nation this past month. 13 siblings, ranging from ages two to 29, were held captive by their parents in their Perris, Calif. home, which “reeked” and was “evidently repulsive,” according to authorities. Physically and mentally abused by years, the siblings lived in inhumane conditions and appeared to be extremely malnourished. They were prohibited from using any form of communication devices but were allowed to keep journals. The parents, David and Louise Turpin, have pleaded not guilty to 37 charges and their court case continues.