June 23 - Every week, Reuters journalists produce
scores of multimedia features and human-interest stories from
around the world.
Below are some stories from this week selected by our
editors, as well as explanatory context and background to help
you understand world headlines. For a full schedule of news and
events, please go to our editorial calendar on Reuters Connect https://www.reutersconnect.com/planning.
Scientists probe link between 'snow blood' and climate
change
CHAMONIX, France - Standing on a snowy mountainside about
2,500 meters above sea level, Eric Marechal holds up a crimson
test tube. Inside is an algae sample known as "snow blood," a
phenomenon that accelerates Alpine thaw and that scientists
worry is spreading. (CLIMATE-CHANGE/GLACIER-BLOOD (TV, PIX), 340
words)
Cubans sweat in the dark as government scrambles to end
blackouts
GUANAJAY, Cuba - Summertime power outages, when demand is
highest, are nothing new to residents of Cuba. But a convergence
of pressures from high fuel prices to the lingering economic
toll of the pandemic are now straining the the Communist-run
island's already frail grid. (CUBA-BLACKOUTS/ (TV, PIX), 641
words)
Chilean beachgoers become guardians of Elasmosaurus fossils
SANTIAGO - While strolling along Los Tubos beach on the
central Chilean coast, a group of neighbors found strange
remains which turned out to be fossils of an ancient marine
reptile that lived in the surrounding sea millions of years ago.
(CHILE-FOSSIL/ (TV, PIX), 290 words)
Mekong villagers land heaviest ever freshwater fish
Cambodian villagers on the Mekong River have caught what
researchers say is the world's biggest freshwater fish ever
recorded, a stingray that weighed in at 300kg (661 lb) and took
around a dozen men to haul to shore. (MEKONG-RIVER/STINGRAY (TV,
PIX), 221 words)
In Italy, a glimmer of resurrection for art damaged in 2016
quakes
SAN SEVERINO MARCHE, Italy - At the opening of a new museum
in the picturesque Italian town of San Severino Marche, the
guests of honor did not dress up. They were firemen in gear worn
when they rescued artworks damaged in earthquakes in 2016 that
is now restored and on display. (ITALY-QUAKE/ART (PIX), 641
words)
Pizza wars: heated words in Italy over fair price of dish
ROME - Pizza: high-end gourmet fare or affordable food for
the people? That is the question pitting Italian billionaire
Flavio Briatore against chefs in Naples, where pizza making has
UNESCO world heritage status. (ITALY-PIZZA/ (PIX), 281 words)
Volunteer archaeologists discover ancient Roman temple in
Netherlands
AMSTERDAM - Archaeologists have discovered an ancient Roman
sanctuary with a relatively intact Roman temple in the Dutch
central-east Gelderland province, the country's cultural
heritage agency said, describing the find as "exceptional."
(NETHERLANDS-ARCHAEOLOGY/ROMAN EMPIRE (PIX), 187 words)
Limited edition of Citroen's mini EV sells out in under 18
minutes
PARIS - A limited edition of 50 Citroen mini electric cars
sold out in less than 18 minutes, parent company Stellantis
said, prompting the French brand to post a cheeky message to
electric car pioneer Elon Musk. (STELLANTIS-CITROEN/AMI (PIX),
196 words)
Desperate Chinese property developer willing to 'swap wheat
for house'
HONG KONG - A desperate developer in China's softening
property market is coming up with a novel promotion to attract
buyers, offering to take wheat and garlic as down payments.
(CHINA-PROPERTY/DEBT-SALES (PIX), 387 words)
Italy's "drugged" construction boom hits a wall
ROME - Innovative incentives for people to green up their
homes revived Italy's construction sector last year boosted its
economy and drew international praise. A few months on it is
close to ending in tears. (ITALY-ECONOMY/CONSTRUCTION (ANALYSIS,
PIX), 1,009 words)
EXPLANATORY CONTENT
EXPLAINER-What to know about COVID vaccines for young
children
FACTBOX-What's in, and what's out, of the U.S. Senate's gun
safety bill
EXPLAINER-What's at stake in U.S. Supreme Court abortion
case?
FACTBOX-U.S. companies offering abortion travel benefits
EXPLAINER-Why is there a worldwide oil-refining crunch?
FACTBOX-Quake in Afghanistan is its deadliest since 2015
FACTBOX-From Meta to Peloton, companies slow hiring as
economy sputters
NEWSMAKER-Colombia's new leftist president Petro promises to
fight inequality
(Compiled by Mark Porter and Patrick Enright)