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☆ After fatal Greek train crash, a campus simmers with rage
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Karolina Tagaris | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/6] A man stands next to flowers and messages for the victims of a fatal train crash, at the closed train station of Thessaloniki, Greece, March 24, 2023. REUTERS/Alexandros AvramidisTHESSALONIKI, Greece, April 4 (Reuters) - A month after 12 students at Greece's largest university were killed in a train crash, messages of grief across the campus are tinged with rage. "This crime will not be forgotten," a note on a makeshift memorial at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki reads. Fifty-seven people died in the country's deadliest rail disaster on Feb. 28, when a passenger train and a cargo train travelling on the same track collided head-on. "This sadness, this anger, we tried - as students - to turn it into a fight," said Evangelia Grigoriou, a civil engineering student.

☆ Philippines reveals locations of 4 new strategic sites for U.S. military pact
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Karen Lema | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The locations are significant, with Isabela and Cagayan facing north towards Taiwan, while Palawan is near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, where China has built artificial islands equipped with runways and missile systems. Defence chief Carlito Galvez called the sites "very strategic" and stressed the Philippines had a responsibility to the international community in the South China Sea. "Their locations are in areas where they are needed," said Jay Batongbacal, a South China Sea expert at the University of the Philippines. "It also provides us with coverage not only on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) but also on the Pacific side," he added. The United States has committed more than $80 million worth of infrastructure at the five existing sites - the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Lumbia Air Base in Mindanao.

It suspended its probe in November 2021 at the request of the Philippines after Manila said it was carrying out its own investigations. The ICC investigation was reopened in January 2023 and on March 27 the ICC rejected Manila's request to suspend it pending an appeal questioning the court's jurisdiction and authority. It is not clear even among some government officials what cutting contact meant or whether the Philippines will completely drop its appeal against the ICC investigation. Police say they killed 6,200 suspects during anti-drug operations that ended in shootouts but reject accusations by human rights groups of systematic executions and cover-ups. There doesn't seem to be any political will within the Philippine government to seriously investigate," Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, told CNN Philippines.

☆ This California city is the No. 1 happiest place to live in the U.S.—and it's not LA, San Diego or San Francisco
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Isabel Engel | In Isabel--Engel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Cities across the United States vary greatly in their environment, income, citizens' overall well-being and community. For 2023, California dominated the list of the happiest cities in America, while Fremont, California, topped the list for the second year in a row. That's according to a recent WalletHub study, which analyzed happiness-related data metrics to determine which American cities are home to the happiest residents. "The more equality there is among the residents, the happier the residents tend to be." Here are the 10 happiest cities in the U.S.:

After nearly two decades of Western-led intervention and engagement with the world, 18% of the population had internet access, according to the World Bank. "For girls in Afghanistan, we have a bad, awful internet problem," Sofia said. "It's too hard to access internet in Afghanistan and sometimes we have half an hour of power in 24 hours." Seattle-based Ookla, which compiles global internet speeds, put Afghanistan's mobile internet as the slowest of 137 countries and its fixed internet as the second slowest of 180 countries. She was working with international companies to find solutions to poor internet access but said she could not elaborate.

☆ Cold, remote and short of women: A portrait of life on the Faroe Islands
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —In her striking images of the Faroe Islands, a remote archipelago between Iceland and her native Norway, photographer Andrea Gjestvang depicts islanders and livelihoods that are as tough and unforgiving as the windswept landscape. Visiting several times annually over the course of six years, Gjestvang trained her lens on the lives and communities of the islands’ unmarried men. Young women, meanwhile, often choose to study or work in Copenhagen (the Faroe Islands are part of the Kingdom of Denmark) or elsewhere in Europe. Gjestvang also captured the rugged geography of the Faroe Islands. “I think this has, of course, affected society, even though I will say that Faroese women are also very strong — they are tough, too.”“Atlantic Cowboy,” published Gost Books, is available now.

Persons: Andrea Gjestvang, I’m, ” Gjestvang, “, Hjalmar, Gjestvang, Young, Aksel V, Johannesen, ”, Firouz Gaini Organizations: CNN, World Bank, University of, Faroe Islands Locations: Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Faroe, Kaldbaksbotnur, Copenhagen, Kingdom of Denmark, Europe, United States, Tórshavn

☆ Fact Check-‘Adrenochrome’ keg is an art project, not a Heineken barrel transported by Shell
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A keg with “adrenochrome” embossed on its rim was created as part of an art project exhibited in London in 2018; images of the keg have recently been misrepresented online alongside false claims that it is among Heineken barrels filled with adrenochrome and transported worldwide by Shell. The keg image and claims circulated following Feb. 22 reports that Bill Gates bought a 3.76% stake in Heineken Holding NV (here). Reuters could not source the exact photograph in the posts, but it matches others depicting an art project exhibited at the University of the Arts London (UAL) in 2018. Reuters found no credible media reports to support the claim that Heineken barrels were used to transport the substance or that Shell conveyed them. This photograph shows an object created as part of an art project exhibited in London in 2018, not a Heineken barrel transported by Shell.

☆ More Students Are Turning Away From College and Toward Apprenticeships
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Douglas Belkin | Photographs Valerie Plesch For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Last spring Dina Sosa Cruz sat with her parents and sister in the family’s living room and reviewed her options: a full academic ride to the University of the District of Columbia, or an apprenticeship in the insurance industry. The college route meant at the end of four years the 22-year-old would have a degree, a little debt and no work experience. The apprenticeship would leave her with a two-year degree, money in the bank and training in a profession that appealed to her.

☆ Philippines beefs up efforts to contain oil leak from sunken tanker
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An aerial view shows the oil spill from the sunken fuel tanker MT Princess Empress on the shores of Pola, in Oriental Mindoro province, Philippines, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez/File PhotoMANILA, March 14 (Reuters) - Philippine authorities have increased efforts to contain an oil spill from a sunken fuel tanker that has affected coastal towns and was still spreading, the environment ministry said on Tuesday, as the country grapples with cleanup challenges. The vessel was carrying about 800,000 litres (211,338 gallons) of industrial fuel oil when it sank, according to the coast guard. Resorts in Oriental Mindoro, also known for world-class beaches and dive spots, have already been reeling from the impact of the oil spill, as tourists cancel reservations during what is supposed to be peak season. They also raised concerns about whether the tanker owner could file insurance claims despite questions about the ship's permit to operate.

China's defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment about the researchers' findings. Reuters could not determine how closely the conclusions reflect the thinking among China's military leaders. A U.S. defence official told Reuters that despite differences with the situation in Taiwan, the Ukraine war offered insights for China. The conflict has also forged an apparent consensus among Chinese researchers that drone warfare merits greater investment. Beyond the battlefield, the work has covered the information war, which the researchers conclude was won by Ukraine and its allies.

☆ Fact Check-Bill Gates was not issued an arrest warrant in the Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

One tweet said: “An arrest warrant was just issued for BILL GATES? Some users are sharing the claim alongside a March 2 story on NewsPunch that says: “Bill Gates Arrest Warrant Issued in Philippines For ‘Premeditated Murder’ Linked To Vaccine Roll Out” (archive.is/azhdX). A Gates spokesperson told Reuters that a Philippines court had not issued an arrest warrant for Gates due to the COVID-19 vaccine. The NewsPunch story says the Heinous Crimes Court in Manila, Philippines, issued the supposed arrest warrant for Gates. Bill Gates was not issued an international arrest warrant by a Philippine court, a Gates spokesperson told Reuters.

☆ With pails and mugs, Philippine residents clean up oil spill
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

POLA, Philippines, March 7 (Reuters) - Residents of a central Philippine province affected by an oil spill from a sunken tanker endured the powerful stench of petroleum as they cleaned it up using buckets and mugs while authorities raced to contain environmental damage. Wearing personal protective equipment and masks, residents of the town of Pola in Oriental Mindoro, with the help of Philippine coast guard crew, collected debris soaked in oil and wiped thick sludge from rocks along the shore. "Here in our area the oil is really thick and the smell is strong," said 34-year-old resident Maribel Famadico while cleaning along the shore with other volunteers. "There is so much oil that we become nauseous when we are not wearing protection. [1/3] Volunteers dressed in personal protective equipment clean up the oil spill from the sunken fuel tanker MT Princess Empress, on the shore of Pola, in Oriental Mindoro province, Philippines, March 7, 2023.

☆ Philippines to deploy underwater vehicle to pinpoint location of stricken tanker
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A view of an oil spill at a beach in Caluya, Philippines March 4, 2023 in this still image obtained from social media video. A remotely operated autonomous vehicle would be deployed to help determine the exact location of the tanker, it said. Authorities want to know how much oil is inside and how to pump the remainder out and stop any leaks, experts said. The tanker's owner has contracted local agencies, Harbor Star Shipping Services and Malayan Towage and Salvage Corp., for the cleanup. If sea conditions are bad, it is also unsafe for our contractors to work," Rodrigo Bella, vice president of Harbor Star, told the media briefing.

☆ Marcos Jr.'s Japan trip is his 'most important' foreign visit yet, lecturer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMarcos Jr.'s Japan trip is his 'most important' foreign visit yet, lecturer saysRichard Heydarian of the University of the Philippines says Japan has been, by far, the Philippines' "most consequential" economic partner in the last 20 years.

☆ Omicron COVID booster cuts hospitalization in over 65s, Israeli study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The study by researchers from healthcare provider Clalit, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Sapir College has not yet been peer reviewed. The study was carried out from the end of September until mid-December and looked at 622,701 people aged 65 and over who were eligible for the bivalent booster. "Hospitalization due to Covid-19 occurred in 6 bivalent recipients and 297 participants who did not" receive it, the study said. "Participants who received the bivalent vaccine had lower hospitalization and mortality rates due to Covid-19 than non-recipients up to 70 days after vaccination." While the bivalent vaccine targets the original strain and its BA.4/BA.5 Omicron subvariant, scientists have been closely watching another Omicron subvariant, XBB.1.5, which has been rapidly spreading in the United States.

☆ HIV vaccine candidate induces immune response in early clinical trial
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —An experimental HIV vaccine has been found to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies among a small group of volunteers in a Phase 1 study. “We know that broadly neutralizing antibodies are a potentially effective strategy to prevent HIV,” del Rio said. “However, the incorporation of many different shots into an HIV vaccine regimen is unappealing. More than 20 HIV vaccine clinical trials are ongoing around the world, according to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. But having an HIV vaccine available would make protection against the virus more accessible, he said.

[1/5] A person enters a cannabis shop near the venue of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bangkok, Thailand November 17, 2022. Since Thailand decriminalised cannabis this year shops selling homegrown and imported strains, pre-rolled joints and gummies sprang up rapidly. A cannabis regulation bill to govern cultivation, sale, and consumption has been delayed in parliament, causing confusion over just aspects will be legal. The president of Thailand's association of forensic physicians, Smith Srisont, petitioned a court last week to re-list it as a narcotic. Akira Wongwan, the chief executive of a medical cannabis business, Adam Group, said profit margins for recreational cannabis were "super high".

That is why, leaders say, HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions will be even more important to students of color should the Supreme Court end affirmative action in college admissions. Allison ShelleyThe Supreme Court is hearing cases that challenge affirmative action policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. Although HBCUs are predominantly Black institutions, non-Black students made up 24% of HBCU enrollment in 2020, according to the NCES. That diversity is important to consider amid claims that HBCUs make race-conscious admissions unnecessary, said Marie Bigham, the founder and executive director of the race-conscious admissions advocacy group Admissions Community Cultivating Equity & Peace Today. Late last month, the coalition and students from across the country protested outside the Supreme Court as it weighed the cases.

But this focus obscures what is happening on the ground, every day: Local and national public health workers and epidemiologists, or “disease detectives,” around the world are stopping outbreaks in their tracks and preventing epidemics. The case studies show what is possible when local, state and national communities mobilize a whole-of-society effort to prevent epidemics. When local efforts are supported by national and local government, we can stop and prevent epidemics. Another lesson is the substantial return on investment we can realize by prioritizing and funding preparedness efforts. Finally, there is a crucial role that coordination among local, state and federal agencies plays in epidemic prevention.

☆ Fact Check-Image of Jacob Rees-Mogg at centre of scuffle is from 2018, not alleged House of Commons incident in October 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Social media users are sharing a photo of UK Parliamentarian Jacob Rees-Mogg at the centre of a fracas and claiming it shows an alleged scuffle inside the House of Commons on Oct. 19, 2022. However, the picture was taken at an event at the University of the West of England (UWE) on Feb. 2, 2018. One Facebook page (here), uploaded an article (here) which uses a thumbnail image of the British MP in the centre of a group of tussling men. Similar social media posts can be seen on Facebook (here and here) and Twitter (here and here), where the tweets have amassed more than 1,500 shares combined. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team.

☆ How a fly-fishing Instagram account grew into a digital media company on track to make over $1 million in revenue in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Jp Mangalindan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jared Zissu began an Instagram account about fly fishing in 2012 that now has over 293,000 followers. He also leverages his fly-fishing site and digital marketing agency to sell brands ad bundles. While Zissu initially posted some pictures on his personal Instagram account during his freshman year, he started a dedicated Instagram account (@Flylords) that July. Financed initially by capital from sponsorships for the Flylords Instagram account, Flylords Mag is a news site with original videos, photos, and articles. "We love telling stories about people in places we love and driving emotion through our content," Zissu said.

☆ China is using civilian ships to enhance navy capability and reach
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Aerial view of fishing boats setting sail to South China Sea for fishing on August 16, 2022 in Yangjiang, Guangdong Province of China. Hundreds of fishing boats anchored for months at a time among disputed islands in the South China Sea. The civilian vessels do more than just augment the raw numbers of ships, performing tasks that would be difficult for the military to carry out. "Because they are ostensibly civilian fishing vessels, navies' ships are unable to deal with them lest China accuse the Philippines of provoking an incident and using force against civilians," he said. In the event of a conflict, China's use of civilian vessels would complicate the rules of engagement, he said.

☆ NASA astronaut, Russian cosmonauts launch to space
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The spacecraft took off from the famed Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, carrying NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and Russian cosmonauts — Dmitri Petelin and Sergey Prokopyev.— on what is expected to be a six-month stay on the International Space Station. When Rubio and his Russian counterparts make it to the space station, they’ll be tag-teaming with astronauts from the United States, Russia and Europe. The fact that Rubio is traveling to space on a Russian Soyuz capsule is notable. That was answered in July when NASA and its Russian counterpart, Roscosmos, confirmed that sharing seats on rocket rides to the space station would continue. Russian cosmonauts are now expected to fly on SpaceX capsules in addition to NASA astronauts sharing seats on Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

☆ 'Never forget': Filipino activists mark 50th anniversary of martial law declaration
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Candles are lit as part of an art installation during an event commemorating the 50th anniversary of martial law declaration by late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, father of the current president, at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, Philippines, September 21, 2022. REUTERS/Eloisa LopezRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterMANILA, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Filipino activists on Wednesday took to the streets to mark the 50th anniversary of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos Sr's declaration of martial law. Activists chanted "never forget" and held banners condemning the crimes allegedly committed by the regime during martial law including extra-judicial killings, human rights abuses and forced disappearances. His son and namesake, current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has defended the decision to impose martial law at that time, claiming it was done to protect the country from communist rebels and insurgents. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Jay Ereno; Writing by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Laura Saunders — Reporter at The Wall Street Journal
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Laura Saunders | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Laura SaundersLaura Saunders has long specialized in writing about taxes, first at Forbes and since 2009 for the Wall Street Journal. “Taxes sit squarely at the intersection of economics and politics, with consequences for everybody,” she says. When not writing about the code, she indulges her passion for literature and has published essays on Ralph Ellison, Flannery O’Connor, and Herman Melville. from Sewanee: the University of the South, and an M.A. She lives with her family in New York City.

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