Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Hard Numbers

Hard Numbers: Doctors’ orders in Korea, runaway train in India, self-immolation in DC, Case closed on Nord Stream

South Korean doctors march towards the Presidential Office while holding a banner during the protest. South Korea has raised its public health alert to the highest level, authorities announced on February 23, saying health services were in crisis after thousands of doctors resigned over proposed medical reforms.

South Korean doctors march towards the Presidential Office while holding a banner during the protest. South Korea has raised its public health alert to the highest level, authorities announced on February 23, saying health services were in crisis after thousands of doctors resigned over proposed medical reforms.

KIM Jae-Hwan / SOPA Images via Reuters

4: The South Korean government has given junior doctors four days to end a mass walkout over government plans to increase medical school admissions. The authorities say the admissions plan is meant to solve doctor shortages, but the junior docs say med schools can’t cope with larger student bodies, and that the biggest shortfalls are actually due to low pay. At the end of the four days the government will suspend medical licenses and open criminal cases against the strikers.

43: Social media posts showed a ghost train careening through northern India on Monday, after the crew hopped out for a tea and forgot to set the parking brake. The freight train began rolling down a hill and managed to travel without a conductor for 43 miles before it was stopped by officials who laid woodblocks across the tracks. Not quite as cinematic a save as the time that guy caught a runaway Indian locomotive on a bike, but still, with 53 cars laden with stone chips barreling down the track, this version had plenty of blockbuster appeal of its own.


2: There have now been two incidents of pro-Palestine protesters setting themselves on fire in front of Israeli diplomatic buildings in the US. On Sunday, a 25 year old US airman died after igniting himself outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC. In December, an unidentified protester self-immolated outside the consulate in Atlanta.

17: A full seventeen months after mysterious explosions rocked the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines linking Russia to Europe, Denmark has closed its investigation into the incident. The Danes follow the Swedes who did the same earlier this month. The explosions occurred in the two countries’ economic zones. Copenhagen says it’s sure there was “deliberate sabotage” but doesn’t have more than that. Remember our piece on who likely did it? Read or watch it again here

.

More For You

Zimbabwe’s information minister said dozens of citizens were lured via social media by shadowy agencies promising lucrative jobs abroad, but ended up on the front lines.

Zimbabwe’s information minister said dozens of citizens were lured via social media by shadowy agencies promising lucrative jobs abroad, but ended up on the front lines.

Natalie Johnson
Zimbabwe’s information minister said dozens of citizens were lured via social media by shadowy agencies promising lucrative jobs abroad, but ended up on the front lines. The country is ramping up diplomatic efforts to bring home more than 60 people they believe are still fighting for Russia. Zimbabwe isn’t alone; Other African countries, like [...]
Jury finds social media giants negligent in landmark trial
On Wednesday, a jury found the tech giants liable for designing platforms – Instagram and YouTube – that are harmful to young people, a landmark verdict outcome that could open up social media companies to more lawsuits over users’ mental health. Half of each company’s payment is to compensate the plaintiff for her losses, including therapy, and [...]
Signs of Russia’s spring offensive
Moscow also launched 23 cruise missiles and seven ballistic missiles at Ukrainian cities, including the city of Lviv, which is near the Polish border and not usually targeted. The strikes also come as Russia intensifies its front-line attacks out East, leading analysts to conclude that Russia’s spring offensive has begun. The Kremlin’s goal: take [...]
The amount of money that was wagered in the oil market on Monday just 15 minutes before US President Donald Trump boasted of “productive” talks with Iran.

The amount of money that was wagered in the oil market on Monday just 15 minutes before US President Donald Trump boasted of “productive” talks with Iran.

Natalie Johnson
Trump’s comments on social media yesterday morning sent fuel prices tumbling, as investors increased their hopes for a swift end to the Iran conflict. But right before the post, there was a flurry of activity between oil traders, per a Financial Times analysis of Bloomberg data. The well-timed trades have raised eyebrows among market strategists, [...]