Thursday, December 18, 2025
Home Blog Page 296

Journalist Antonio de la Cruz murdered in Mexico, his murder makes 12 so far this year

Peninsula 360 Press
-
0
Journalist Antonio de la Cruz murdered in Mexico, his murder makes 12 so far this year
Antonio de la Cruz
Antonio de la Cruz, photo Expreso.press

Violence against journalists in Mexico has increased significantly so far this year. On Tuesday morning, June 29, journalist Antonio de la Cruz, a reporter for the newspaper El Expreso, was murdered in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas. This brings to 12 the number of journalists who have been violently deprived of their lives so far in 2022.

The journalist, who had worked for the newspaper Expreso for more than 15 years, was shot dead as he left his home on Puerta de la Luna Street in the Puerta de Tamatán neighborhood in Ciudad Victoria.

So it is The same media reported for which Antonio worked, who said that his daughter was also injured and is in serious condition in the hospital, while his wife was unharmed.

"In light of this new act of violence, the publishing group Expreso-La Razón demands that authorities at all levels do justice," the media outlet stated.

The cowardly crime was perpetrated by men on a motorcycle, who repeatedly fired at the reporter who was in his vehicle with his daughter and wife.

For its part, the Tamaulipas Prosecutor's Office reported that the proceedings are being carried out in accordance with the Homologated Protocol for the Investigation of Crimes Committed against Freedom of Expression. The Specialized Unit for the Investigation of Crimes Committed against Freedom of Expression, Human Rights and Vulnerable Groups also took note.

Antonio de la Cruz became the twelfth journalist to be murdered this year, along with Yesenia Mollinedo, director of the El Veraz website, and reporter Johana García from the same outlet, who were shot dead in May. 

These murders are in addition to those of Lourdes Maldonado and Margarito Martinez in Tijuana, Baja California; Heber Lopez Cruz in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca; Juan Carlos Muniz in Fresnillo, Zacatecas; Jorge Camero Zazueta in Empalme, Sonora; Roberto Toledo in Zitacuaro, Michoacan; Jose Luis Gamboa in Veracruz, Veracruz; Armando Linares in Zitacuaro, Michoacan; and Luis Enrique Ramirez in Culiacan, Sinaloa.

From this media outlet located in San Francisco Bay, California, USA, we deeply condemn the murders of Mexican journalists who seek to freely and safely carry out their journalistic work in Mexico, while, as fellow citizens, we demand that the government clarify, resolve and exercise the full weight of the law against those who took the lives of these and all the murdered journalists.

We also demand that all reporters, photographers, cameramen, writers, editors and other journalistic positions be protected by the State, because, although our media is focused on the Latino community in California, we have collaborators who carry out their work in Mexico and today their integrity is compromised.

You may be interested in: 11 journalists have been murdered in Mexico so far in 2022

UC Berkeley returns archaeological artifacts to Mexican government

Pamela Cruz
-
0
UC Berkeley returns archaeological artifacts to Mexican government
Berkeley University returns archaeological artifacts to Mexican government

The Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco reported that this Tuesday, June 29, the Phoebe A. Hearst Anthropology Museum of the Berkeley University, returned 18 archaeological pieces from the pre-Columbian period to the Government of Mexico.

Prior to this procedure, the consulate explained, the pieces were certified by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), determining that 11 pieces correspond to the Teotihuacan style that developed in the central highlands of Mesoamerica, in the classical period, specifically from 200 AD to 600 AD.

He also highlighted that the remaining 7 pieces are of pre-Hispanic manufacture from Mesoamerica. Of these, 2 correspond to the Mexica style dating from 1325 AD to 1521 AD.

The Government of Mexico, represented by the Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco, recognized and thanked the action as a "friendly and selfless gesture" on the part of the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology and the University of California, Berkeley.

"It is worth noting that the Government of Mexico has a priority in promoting international cooperation in order to restore and protect our country's cultural assets, and thus combat the sale and trafficking of our cultural heritage abroad," the consulate said in a statement.

It is worth noting that on June 8, 79 archaeological pieces and two paleontological objects were also handed over to the Mexican government at the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles, California. 

At the event, the head of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon, said: "As you know, it is a priority for Mexico to recover its historical and artistic heritage, and this is a great gesture by American citizens committed to Mexican civilization and who are interested in having these pieces returned to our country, so we are very grateful to you."

Among the goods handed over were objects belonging to the Mayan, Zapotec, and Teotihuacan cultures, as well as the Shaft Tombs tradition and those settled in the Central Highlands, the West, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Particularly noteworthy are the paleontological objects: two plates with printed fish fossils, in the form of cut slabs. Given their morphological and stylistic characteristics, they are two specimens of the Clupeomorpha order, originating from Mexican territory.

You may be interested in: Carmen Aristegui joins the Gabo Foundation Board of Trustees

Smallpox, experts report on the disease that has gained prominence in the U.S.

Peninsula 360 Press
-
0
Smallpox, experts report on the disease that has gained prominence in the U.S.
experts report on simian smallpox

To date, there have been around 2,000 cases of monkeypox detected in countries where it is not normally recorded. Of these, at least 155 cases are in the United States, 98 percent of which are in men. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been no deaths related to this virus. 

Experts met at the panel "How afraid should we be of monkeypox?" organized by Ethnic Media Services, to talk about the symptoms of the disease and the possibility that it could become a pandemic as happened with COVID-19.

The first case identified in the U.S. occurred on May 17 in the state of Massachusetts. The case involved an adult male who traveled to Canada and was treated without needing to be hospitalized. 

According to William Schaffner, a professor in the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, "monkeypox clinically resembles common smallpox."

What symptoms should you pay attention to?

Common symptoms of monkeypox include headache, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and others. A rash also develops on the face, inside the mouth, and genitals. These lesions can be in different phases simultaneously. These symptoms disappear in about three weeks.

The incubation period of the disease is 1 to 2 weeks for the appearance of the first symptoms, which last a couple of days and then give way to the appearance of the rash. 

Schaffner said that this virus can cause lesions in the genital area, the buttocks and even the anus, so there may be confusion when making the diagnosis, which is why it is advisable to do a PCR test similar to the one used to detect COVID-19.

It is important that those affected by these symptoms or suspect they may have "monkeypox" go to their health care provider to receive the appropriate tests and treatment.

Is there any way to protect ourselves from monkeypox?

According to Dr. Schaffner, there are two vaccines originally designed to prevent smallpox, however, these also prevent the disease.

The safest vaccine is administered in two doses and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In this regard, he noted that some men have already received the vaccine in New York.

They call to avoid the stigmatization of LGBTIQ+ groups

Monkeypox has symptoms that can be confused with sexually transmitted diseases because, according to Shaffner, monkeypox has been confined to men who have sex with men.

For his part, Gregg Gonsalves, public health correspondent for The Nation, pointed out that there is a notion that it is a disease related to the LGBTIQ+ community.

However, the reality is that it is an endemic condition in Central and Western Africa, which is why she called for avoiding discrimination and stigmatization of LGBTIQ+ groups.

"There is a need to not discriminate, not stigmatize, but at the same time it is important to talk about LGBTIQ+ communities that are familiar with these diseases," because not stigmatizing allows for better communication with public health departments to work with these communities and thus minimize the risk of infection, she explained.

Monkeypox vs COVID-19

Monkeypox is a virus that spreads through close personal contact, Schaffner said, noting that it is usually skin-to-skin through the respiratory tract or from contaminated towels or clothing, so “it is not a virus that spreads widely or rapidly compared to COVID-19.”

"It's very tempting to compare this to the spread of COVID-19 and the changes that we've seen. We don't know if there are other possible mutations that could make the virus more stable or more efficient or more effective at getting into cells through the nasal passages, but it is something that can be very transmissible," said Dr. Neuman, who added that monkeypox is a virus that changes slowly.

You may be interested in: San Mateo County calls for smallpox awareness this summer

California Assembly approves constitutional amendment in favor of abortion and contraceptives

Peninsula 360 Press
-
0
California Assembly approves constitutional amendment in favor of abortion and contraceptives
constitutional amendment in favor of abortion and contraceptives

In a historic moment for California, the State Assembly passed SCA 10, a constitutional amendment in favor of abortion and contraception, on Monday in a 58-16 vote. 

The bill, co-authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, as well as co-authored by a large coalition of Democratic lawmakers, successfully passed its final legislative requirement just three days after the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion overturning Roe v. Wade.

“Abortion is health care and should be a private conversation between a patient and her health care provider,” Atkins said. 

“When politicians and judges force their way into that room, safety disappears. Friday was a dark day. Today we provided a ray of hope by allowing voters to enshrine reproductive rights in our constitution, reflecting California values and protecting all who need abortion, contraception and other reproductive care in our state,” she added.

Atkins and Rendon filed SCA 10 shortly after the draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson was leaked in May, signaling that the Court was likely to issue a ruling that would reverse Roe v. Wade and undermine nearly five decades of precedent protecting access to abortion.

“With the court poking holes in constitutional protections, our rights are in free fall,” Rendon said. “SCA 10 is our opportunity to speak to California voters, who have strongly supported abortion rights, and allow them to enshrine this fundamental right in the California Constitution. I am proud to be its co-author.”

SCA 10 passed both chambers with a two-thirds majority vote, the only requirement to qualify for the November 2022 ballot, which does not require the governor to sign it. 

In November, voters will be able to decide whether it should become law, marking the first time California has given voters the opportunity to add the right to abortion and contraception to the state constitution, and further cementing California’s long-standing position as a national leader in reproductive rights.

In 1969, four years before Roe v. Wade, the California Supreme Court held that Californians have a fundamental constitutional right to procreative choice. Three years later, the state passed a constitutional amendment to explicitly establish the right to privacy. 

These rulings complemented the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision which held that the constitutional right to choose is vested in the U.S. Constitution.

SCA 10 is one component of a slate of legislation introduced this year to protect and expand reproductive rights in the “Golden State,” including a package of thirteen bills from the California Legislative Women’s Caucus. 

Two of those bills, SB 245, authored by Senator Lena Gonzalez, and AB 1666, authored by Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, have already been signed into law. 

Additionally, the 2022 budget agreement between the Legislature and the Governor includes hundreds of millions in funding for reproductive health services; the final agreement will be voted on by the Legislature later this week.

You may be interested in: California, Oregon and Washington pledge to protect abortion access

San Mateo is California's healthiest county, report says

Peninsula 360 Press
-
0
San Mateo is California's healthiest county, report says
healthiest county in California

San Mateo County has been ranked the healthiest county in California according to the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report 2022, placing him at number 36 in his overall ranking.

The results are part of an assessment of nearly 3,000 counties evaluated across 89 parameters in 10 categories related to the health of their residents, medical care, healthy behaviors, and health conditions, including mental health.

In this survey, each participant distributed 100 points among the 10 health categories and subcategories, assigning more points to the condition they considered most important.

San Mateo County is joined by Santa Clara and Marin counties, which are among the 100 healthiest communities, according to the document.

San Mateo County received the highest score in health, with a score of 91 after evaluating access to health care, healthy behaviors, health conditions, and mental health.

And while the national average life expectancy is 77.5 years, the county averages 85 years, while only 8.5 percent of the population does not have health insurance, when the national average reaches 11 percent, and the smoking rate is 9.2 percent, while the national average is 20 percent.

The Economy category also received a score of 91, given that the average family income is $109,135, when the national average is $58,759; the poverty rate is 6.2 percent, when the national average is 13.6 percent; however, the unemployment rate is 7.0 percent, when the national average is 6.5 percent.

The Food and Nutrition category, which tracks the availability and use of healthy foods in a community, as well as the prevalence of chronic diseases that have been linked to poor nutrition, received 90 points.

In San Mateo County, the prevalence of diabetes was 8.7 percent, compared to the national average of 10.4 percent; and obesity was 20.6 percent, compared to 36.2 percent in the country.

Public safety was rated 89 points, due to the fact that in the county there is an average of 209.1 violent crimes per 100,000 people, when the national average is 204.5; in addition, there are 0.66 percent of public safety professionals in the population, when in the country the average is 0.73 percent; however, the per capita expenditure on health and emergency services is 1,216 dollars, when the national average is 358 dollars.

In the Infrastructure category, the county received 84 points. This could be due to the fact that the walkability index score is 10.2, while the national average is 6.1; however, 10.9 percent of workers commute 60 minutes or more, when the average is 6.8 percent; while the population with access to broadband is 100 percent, when the national average is 96.7 percent. 

Education scored just 77 points after examining the strength of a community's education system and the educational attainment of its residents through measures of participation, infrastructure and achievement.

The high school graduation rate is 85.9 percent, compared to the national average of 89.4 percent; the population with a higher degree is 58.9 percent, compared to the national average of 30.6 percent; spending per student reaches $21,013, compared to the national average of $13,452.

On the other hand, the environment category reached 71 points and community vitality 50 points.

In the equity category, the county received a score of 45 measuring income, education, health and social equity to determine the extent to which all community members have the opportunity to lead productive and healthy lives. 

The racial disparity in educational attainment is 0.29, compared to the national average of 0.16; the premature death disparity index score is 0.054, compared to a national average of 0.041; and the segregation index is 0.25, compared to the national average of 0.25.

The housing category received the lowest rating, with a score of just 34, after tracking the availability, affordability and quality of housing in a community.

In San Mateo County, 36.3 percent of residents spend at least 30 percent of their income on housing, compared to the national median of 22.8 percent; the hours of work required to pay for affordable housing is 45.9, compared to the national median of 40.6; and only 5.5 percent of homes are vacant, compared to 16.3 percent nationwide.

You may be interested in: San Mateo beaches among the worst rated in California according to new report

Carmen Aristegui joins the Gabo Foundation Board of Trustees

Peninsula 360 Press
-
0
Carmen Aristegui joins the Gabo Foundation Board of Trustees
Carmen Aristegui

Carmen Aristegui, renombrada periodista mexicana, es una de las tres mujeres que recientemente se unieron –junto con María Jesús Espinosa de los Monteros (España) y Luz Mely Reyes (Venezuela)– al Consejo Rector de la Fundación Gabo, órgano perteneciente a la institución creada por Gabriel García Márquez.

Fundación Gabo es una institución sin fines de lucro creada por el periodista colombiano Gabriel García Márquez, que busca promover el periodismo y estimular la creatividad, así como incentivar la investigación a través de talleres, becas, premios y publicaciones. 

Por su parte, el Premio Gabo reconoce e incentiva la excelencia entre los periodistas que trabajan en español y portugués.

Reconocida por su excelencia, profesionalismo y lucha por la libertad de expresión, Carmen Aristegui –directora general de Aristegui Noticias– ofreció una charla con la Fundación Gabo donde compartió su experiencia dentro del mundo del periodismo.

«La palabra es alegría, el estado de ánimo es de entusiasmo y con todas las ganas de trabajar en lo que nos corresponda en este Consejo Rector de esta fundación», expresó Aristegui sobre su incorporación al equipo del Consejo de la Fundación Gabo.

Aristegui resaltó la importancia que ha tenido para ella incorporarse al Consejo Rector de la fundación, pues para ella, hablar de periodismo, ver lo que hacen los colegas y participar con los mismos, siempre ha sido estimulante y agradecible.

Comentó también que está convencida de que «el papel de los periodistas es fundamental para las democracias» pues mostrarle al público lo que ocurre en el mundo es una banda sin fin muy importante para la sociedad, pues un publico informado y crítico es mejor.

Por otra parte, mencionó el problema que enfrentan los periodistas en México, pues existe una violencia sistémica que promueve las agresiones en contra del gremio, mismos que han llegado al asesinato y a la impunidad de los mismos. 

Adicionalmente, resaltó que existe un fenómeno muy importante en el que los gobiernos buscan desgastar, desprestigiar y colocar a los periodistas como enemigos del pueblo.

En relación con los jóvenes que desean ser periodistas, Aristegui comentó que «el periodismo está lleno de desafíos,problemas y circunstancias, pero es una tarea fascinante con una adrenalina a tope. El mejor oficio del mundo, es una actividad que tiene una serie de características que te hacen que sea imposible abandonar». 

Finalmente, Carmen Aristegui contó las dificultades que pasó posterior al reportaje de La casa blanca de Enrique Peña Nieto -el cual ganó el Premio Gabo- debido a la insistencia del gobierno por callar y desprestigiar a los periodistas. 

Asimismo, resaltó que los presidentes reaccionan de distintas formas a su trabajo periodístico y de investigación, sin embargo ha notado una tendencia en todos por desprestigiar a quienes llevan la información al público.

La incorporación de Carmen Aristegui al Consejo Rector de la Fundación Gabo no sólo significa un reconocimiento a su trabajo sino también la oportunidad de luchar desde distintas trincheras por la libertad de expresión.

You may be interested in: "Muchachada" is ready to face possible fraud in Colombia: "Cucho" Tejada

Fourth of July festivities return to Redwood City

Peninsula 360 Press
-
0
Fourth of July festivities return to Redwood City
July 4 in Redwood City

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Redwood City's Fourth of July festivities return this year.

The city is preparing for a day full of free events for all ages. 

Festivities range from the return of the annual parade and the Peninsula Celebration Association-organized pancake breakfast, Chalk Full of Fun, a concert and one of California's most popular fireworks shows. 

Thus, the Redwood City Fire Department Pancake Breakfast at the main fire station on Marshall Street will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. to benefit the Redwood City Firefighters Association. 

Breakfast costs $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and children. Payment is cash only.

The annual Fourth of July parade, beginning at 10 a.m., will take place in the heart of Redwood City and wind through downtown, starting on Winslow Street at the corner of Brewster, and continuing to Marshall Street, Main Street, Middlefield Road, Winslow, up Broadway, and on to Arguello where it ends at the corner of Alden Street. 

The Independence Day Festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. will feature crafts, food, drinks, bands and children's activities covering several city blocks. 

Chalk Full of Fun takes place this year over two days, beginning on Sunday, July 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday, July 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Redwood City.

The July 4 fireworks show will take place at the Port of Redwood City. Food trucks will be available, as well as a live concert by The Fog City Swampers at the port access area beginning at 7 p.m.

The 20-minute fireworks show will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. 

Fireworks can be viewed from areas where there is a clear view of the sky over the Port, and from high points throughout the Peninsula. 

The Port has set up a public viewing area along the waterfront, adjacent to Seaport Court. Portable toilets and handwashing facilities will be available. 

It should be noted that barbecues and alcohol are not permitted, while personal fireworks are always illegal in Redwood City.

For those who decide to go to the Port, it is highly recommended to arrive early as the area is a private property with very limited public parking. 

Once public parking capacity at the Port is full, the Redwood City Police Department may, at its discretion, close Seaport Boulevard at Blomquist Street. 

For parking downtown, please note that Jefferson Avenue Garage, Box Garage, and the San Mateo County Garage will not be accessible during the parade. 

All three parking lots will reopen after the parade has concluded. 

The public is therefore encouraged to take public transportation to the event, as the Caltrain station is located in downtown Redwood City.

Among the restrictions, the placement of chairs, barricades, coolers, ribbons or other objects on the sidewalk or in the street for the parade has been prohibited before 12:00 a.m. on July 4.

“Any chairs, barricades, coolers, tape or other objects placed on the sidewalk or street prior to July 4, 2022 will be removed and stored at the Redwood City Corporation Yard at 1400 Broadway. Confiscated items may be picked up at the City Corporation Yard between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. during regular business hours,” the mayor’s office said in a statement.

It is important to know that fines for illegal use of fireworks and their application will be in force. To learn more about the celebration, those interested can give click here.

You may be interested in: Full of color, the LGBTQ+ pride flag will fly celebratory this weekend

San Mateo County calls for smallpox awareness this summer

Pamela Cruz
-
0
San Mateo County calls for smallpox awareness this summer
simian pox

As the summer season begins with increased travel and large events and gatherings, Bay Area health officials have urged people to protect themselves against the monkeypox virus, better known as “monkeypox,” which spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact and bodily fluids, such as through crowded environments or sexual contact.

While there are no reported cases of monkeypox in San Mateo County to date, the alert from nine health jurisdictions comes as cases, which appear in people as distinctive rashes and sores that can look like blisters or pimples, continue to pop up across the Bay Area, the nation and the world. 

Monkeypox is not new, but this is the first time the virus has spread to so many countries at once. 

Most cases of monkeypox resolve on their own, although they can be severe. The disease often begins with flu-like symptoms before a rash appears and can last 2 to 4 weeks. 

It is worth noting that a post-exposure vaccine is available through healthcare providers.

Unlike COVID-19, which spreads easily through the air, the risk of monkeypox to the general public is currently low unless they engage in higher-risk behaviors. 

Having sex with multiple sexual partners may increase a person's risk of becoming infected when monkeypox is spreading in the community. 

Health authorities have urged people to be aware of crowded indoor spaces where people have close skin-to-skin contact, sex, kissing and breathing closely. The virus can also spread through shared clothing or bedding. 

“Even with the low public risk of monkeypox, it is important to be vigilant for signs of infection,” said Dr. Scott Morrow, San Mateo County health officer. “Anyone experiencing symptoms should stay home and contact their health care provider immediately.”

Many of the cases currently appearing are within networks of self-identified gay and bisexual men, trans people and men who have sex with men, they said.

While it is true that people in such networks are at higher risk today, people of any sexual orientation or gender identity can become infected and spread monkeypox.

"Public awareness is important as the disease could spread within potentially larger groups or networks of people," San Mateo County said in a statement.

Bay Area health officials urge the media, government officials and the community at large to avoid stigmatizing any particular group or person for monkeypox, but to instead support those most at risk and prevent others from becoming complacent.

There are other contagious diseases that can cause rashes or skin lesions. For example, syphilis and herpes are much more common than monkeypox, which can look similar and also need to be treated.

Protecting yourself against monkeypox

To protect against the disease, health officials ask that you consider covering exposed skin in dense indoor crowds, as well as not sharing bedding or clothing with others; talking to close physical contacts about their general health, such as recent rashes or sores; and being vigilant if traveling to countries where there are outbreaks.

To protect others if you have symptoms, particularly a rash consistent with monkeypox, or if you have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox, it is important to stay home if you feel sick, contact a health care provider as soon as possible for evaluation, and avoid skin-to-skin or close contact with others, including sexual contact, until a medical evaluation has been completed.

Additionally, you are urged to tell your sexual partners about any symptoms you are experiencing, as well as cover the rash with clean, dry, loose clothing, wear a well-fitting mask, and if you are contacted by public health officials, answer their confidential questions to help protect others who may have been exposed.

You may be interested in: First case of monkeypox detected in San Francisco

Mexicans, Guatemalans and Hondurans among migrants killed in Texas

Pamela Cruz
-
0
Mexicans, Guatemalans and Hondurans among migrants killed in Texas
migrants killed in Texas

The afternoon of Monday, April 27, was tragic in the United States and for several Latin American countries when the bodies of 50 migrants who died in Texas were found inside the back of an abandoned truck southwest of San Antonio.

The terrible news was announced by local authorities, who confirmed on Tuesday morning that among the deceased there are 22 Mexicans, seven Guatemalans and two Hondurans, while 19 of them have not been identified.

"You don't come to work expecting to open the door of a semi-trailer and see a pile of dead people," Fire Chief Charles Hood said Monday night.

During a press conference, he explained that the people locked in the trailer had no water or air conditioning, all in the midst of a massive heat wave that was not letting up.

According to authorities, emergency services rescued 16 people: 12 adults and four minors, who were conscious when they were transferred to hospitals in the city, 250 kilometers from the border with Mexico. 

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard reported the tragic event on his Twitter account, where he highlighted that the Mexican consul in San Antonio, Rubén Minutti, was already at the scene, obtaining details of what happened.

He also said that the injured were sent to four hospitals: University, Methodist del Centro, Baptiste del Centro and Santa Rosa West Overhills.

"The patients were very hot to the touch, they had suffered heat stroke, as there was no indication that there was water in the vehicle," Hood said of the migrants found.

He also said that survivors are expected to make a full recovery.

It should be noted that three people have been arrested so far, said William McManus, San Antonio police chief, who did not give further details about the role of those arrested in the latest tragedy, which is one of many cases like this, where people who are victims of traffickers lose their lives in their attempt to reach the United States in search of a better life.

Police said they responded to a call to emergency services at 5:55 p.m. Monday, where a person reported the presence of a body at Cassin and Quintana streets, near Lackland Air Force Base, 10 miles from downtown. 

In the 911 call, the informant detailed that he had heard screams coming from inside the trailer of the truck that was parked near the train tracks.

Police arrived at the scene to find a tragedy. There was a body lying outside in the back of the truck, and others were visible when the doors of the vehicle were opened.

Following the discovery, 20 units with 65 firefighters and a dozen ambulances arrived at the site to offer support to the survivors who were too weak to make their way through the remains. The first was rescued seven minutes after six. The last, at 18:57.

McManus explained that the investigation of the case has been left in federal hands, actions to which Mexico will join, said Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who confirmed a meeting between Presidents Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Joseph Biden on July 12, where, without a doubt, the topic of migration will be discussed.

With information from The Country and the Twitter account of the Mexican foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard. 

You may be interested in: Inequity in Silicon Valley persists for people of color

Twitter, the price of the digital giant in world politics

Hans Leguízamo
-
0
Twitter, the price of the digital giant in world politics
Elon Musk Twitter

A lot has happened since Elon Musk announced that he was willing to pay $44 billion to own Twitter. While he walks around the company's facilities sharing his vision for the future of the platform, Twitter shareholders have launched a lawsuit against the businessman, alleging that he is damaging the value of the company in order to renegotiate the price of his purchase.

Adding to that are fears that the deal simply won't happen, as Elon argues that the platform has too many users who aren't real. According to a tweet from Musk last month, the eccentric billionaire claimed that 20 percent of accounts on the platform are fake or spam, far above the 5 percent that Twitter reports internally. 

From tweet to politics

In Latin America, political parties and candidates have well understood the importance of social networks in electoral processes. 

During the recent presidential election in Colombia in which Gustavo Petro was elected president, according to data from Meta, the left-wing candidate spent 2.23 billion Colombian pesos in the last ninety days, equivalent to just over 538 thousand dollars on his platforms from March 27 to June 24. 

Meanwhile, Federico "Fico" Gutierrez, another of the candidates for the presidency in the Colombian presidential race this 2022, spent 1.78 billion Colombian pesos, which means just over 428 thousand dollars, in the same period.

It should be noted that these figures do not include other social networks, time on radio, television, or inserts in national circulation newspapers, among others.

While researchers warn that there is no causal relationship between fake news and bot activity on social media and actual votes in elections, it is undeniable that the political propaganda landscape has been profoundly disrupted by technology and social media. Otherwise, we would not see these million-dollar expenditures in electoral contests. 

Another example is the 2016 elections, where. a Princeton University research determined that despite fake news and suspicious accounts that sought to position then-candidate Donald Trump, Twitter acted against the former president because the platform was used to criticize him during his candidacy and presidency.

In general, the researchers say, social media users tend to be young people from urban areas, who tend to have a preference for the Democratic Party. However, they warn that this research does not include Facebook or other social media, where the picture can be very different.

It is this difference between users who support Democratic candidates that is at the root of Musk's interest, as he has openly declared himself against left-wing politicians and Democrats in general. 

The reason for buying the social network, according to Musk, is that "it is very important that it be an exclusive arena for freedom of expression." An action clearly driven by policies to combat the false information and hate speech that the platform and user migration after Donald Trump's account was suspended. 

The truth is that the American Far Right's speeches openly and frankly approach hate speech that clearly violates Twitter's community rules. From rejection and aggression against the LGBTIQ+ community to calls for attacks motivated by religious extremists. 

The problem of bots

For current executives of the blue bird social network, bots and fake accounts help inflate the number of active users to investors, while generating interaction on the platform.

Musk's intentions, on the other hand, are contradictory. He is preparing to reduce the presence of fake accounts while announcing a position of disdain for active moderation and restriction of scandalous posts. 

Behind the tycoon's speech about freedom of expression lies a purely political motivation: he doesn't like the composition of the population of his favourite social network and has enough money to change it. Bots and other questions about the ethics and importance of the platform in our daily lives, unfortunately, are secondary.

The problem of statistics lies in the methodology, in other words, in how the parameters are constructed to measure the object of study of interest. 

Twitter notes that its 5 percent calculation is based only on monetizable users, so the figure applies only to that population. In contrast, SparkToro conducted an investigation in which they conclude that 19.42 percent of a sample of 44,058 randomly selected public Twitter accounts are fake or spam.

We can get close to a definitive figure, but the answer is as elusive as the definition of fake users itself. They are not just “bots” – programs and code designed to write tweets automatically and mechanically – there are also people paid for specific purposes.

SparkToro’s methodology, for example, makes a distinction between the two and explains the differences between an “organic” and a “designed” account. Of course, these “designed” accounts, which are often called “trolls” or “spam,” can interact with other users when they are accused of being “bots,” making it harder to recognize them.

The job of these accounts is to spread disinformation and attack people and figures like in the case of the Mexican State News Agency, Notimex, in Mexico. They are also used for marketing and to promote products, but without a doubt the most common use of fake accounts is in politics, from buying interactions to position a character in the public scene to dirty war campaigns.

You may be interested in: Alexa to bring back the voice of deceased people

1...295296297...447Page 296 of 447

Peninsula 360 Press made by Kainos MX