South Korea doctor strike, postal theft, and gator attacks.

Happy Wednesday! Today’s edition is 815 words, a 3 minute read.

First-time reader? Sign up here!

Big Stories

South Korea acts against striking doctors

The South Korean government is taking action against thousands of striking doctors after the month-long dispute has begun to affect healthcare services.

• Around 12,000 doctors from 100 teaching hospitals are on strike, leading to surgery cancellations, longer wait times, and treatment delays, even for emergencies. The health ministry has begun suspending the licenses of nearly 4,900 striking doctors who refuse to return to work. The doctors face potential long-term career consequences because of the strike.

• The strike began to protest government plans to increase the number of trainee doctors to address healthcare shortages, especially in rural areas and due to an aging population. Striking doctors argue that the plan would compromise service quality. They advocate for better pay and working conditions instead.

• Critics accuse President Yoon Suk Yeol of exploiting medical reforms for political gain ahead of upcoming national elections. Public opinion is divided, with many supporting the need for more doctors but also calling for severe punishment for striking physicians.

Boeing whistleblower found dead

John Barnett, a former Boeing manager who raised safety concerns about the company's practices, was found dead on Saturday.

• Barnett's body was discovered in a vehicle at a Charleston hotel, just a day after he testified in a deposition regarding safety issues at Boeing's South Carolina plant. Early reports indicate he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

• Barnett had raised concerns about declining manufacturing standards at Boeing, alleging pressure from management to overlook potential defects. He accused Boeing of prioritizing profits over safety, a sentiment echoed in his whistleblower complaint filed against the company in 2017.

• Barnett's family attributed his declining health and ultimately his death to the stresses of confronting Boeing's alleged hostile work environment. Despite facing PTSD and anxiety, Barnett was determined to pursue his case against Boeing, hoping to bring about cultural change within the company to prioritize aircraft safety.

Letter carrier robberies

Postal Carriers are being robbed at an alarming rate.

• Despite the launch of Project Safe Delivery by the US Postal Service to combat letter carrier robberies, incidents have continued to escalate. In 2023, robberies increased by nearly 30%, while injuries from those attacks doubled.

• Project Safe Delivery has resulted in hundreds of arrests and targeted law enforcement surges in high-risk areas. Additionally, Measures such as installing high-security blue boxes and electronic locks on mail receptacles have been implemented to enhance security. Recent statistics show some improvement in robbery rates, but there is a need for sustained efforts to continue the downward trend in thefts.

• Congressional legislation is being introduced to expedite the replacement of outdated mailbox keys and bolster prosecutions and sentencing for postal crimes. However, letter carriers are afraid and believe postal officials must do more to ensure their safety.

Little Stories

• An international crew of astronauts returned to Earth safely aboard the SpaceX Dragon Endurance after a six-month mission on the International Space Station. The four-person crew, part of NASA's Crew-7 mission, splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Pensacola, Florida, before being transported to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston for debriefing. (More)

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers as a potential running mate on his independent presidential ticket in November. Kennedy confirmed both Rodgers and former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura could get the nod. Rodgers said that he and Kennedy speak frequently. (More)

• Two detectives searching for 43 missing students in Mexico's Guerrero state have gone missing themselves, announced President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Tuesday. A search effort has been started for the two federal detectives. López Obrador expressed hope that their disappearance is unrelated to those opposing the search for the missing kids. (More)

• Daniel Rodriguez, the police chief of Uvalde, Texas, is retiring. His decision follows the release of an independent report commissioned by the Uvalde City Council, investigating the actions of Uvalde police officers during the May 24, 2022, mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. The investigation found no policy violations or serious misconduct among the initial five responding officers, despite responders waiting 77 minutes before breaching and killing the gunman. (More)

• Influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, who are facing charges of human trafficking and rape, can be extradited to the UK. The decision came after they were detained in Bucharest following an arrest warrant obtained by Bedfordshire Police. However, extradition will occur only after their separate trial in Romania on human trafficking charges concludes. The brothers have since been released from custody. (More)

Extra Credit

A crocodile and an alligator attacked two Florida men on the same day.

Double swiping a rewards card led to free gas for months — and a felony theft charge.

Parents vs teens on cell phone screen time.

How to play Instagram’s hidden game.