Maybe I’m just very easily impressed but how were the subways ever not fast enough?

Editor’s warning: mentions of violence and death

Happening in the World: In Bangladesh, a fire at a Rohingya refugee camp left at least 15 people dead, with several more presumed dead, and more than 400 people missing. The incident was traumatic to the Rohingya people that lived in these camps, who found shelter there after fleeing their homes in western Myanmar as the local military engaged in brutal crackdowns against Rohingya villages— razed some of their homes to the ground. The fire burnt down over 40,000 huts, rendering over 45,000 people homeless, and destroyed health clinics, mosques, and community centers at the camp. For several families that dealt with loss as they fled Myanmar, and again in yesterday’s tragedy— the incident is a testament to the dire extent to which the international community has failed to ensure their safety. (NPR)

Happening in the US: In Boston, Kim Janey is now the acting mayor of the city—making her the first Black person to hold this position in an incredibly hopeful moment in Boston’s politics. Janey assumed the position when the previous mayor, Martin J. Walsh, was confirmed as the US labor secretary. As president of Boston’s City Council, she automatically assumed the position for a period of six months until mayoral elections are held. While it is unclear whether Janey herself will run for election—notably, the other five candidates running are all people of color. (NYT)

Happening in NYC: Yesterday, the Metropolitan Transport Authority of New York announced that it had successfully increased speeds at 270 points in the New York subway system. Further, century-old damaged signals on trains were replaced with 900 digital signals. The effort was a continuation of the work of MTA’s former President, who figured out that the reason for frequent train delays lay in the outdated nature of signaling mechanisms that triggered emergency brakes and compelled drivers to slow down. MTA says that subway users should be able to feel the difference on the E, F, M, and R lines where speeds have increased from 35 to 50 miles per hour. (Gothamist)

Happening in the Columbia Community: Today at 7 pm, Andrew Revkin—a Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia—will be speaking at an online panel on mainstream media’s reportage related to climate change. Revkin will be joined by other renowned journalists including, Genevieve Guenther, Dharna Noor and Rachel Ramirez. The panel will address the necessity for full-time climate reporters, the effect of declining local journalism on environmental justice coverage, and the general void of stories that reveal the ‘everyday’ effects of climate change. You can learn more about the event, and register here.

From a fun corner of the internet: This hilarious New Yorker cartoon series, on Imagined Histories of Artists and Their Parents, always brings me so much joy. Check it out for a good laugh (or a silent smirk at the very least), and send it to your parents the next time they question your life decisions.

Subway via Bwog Archives