Unlike in previous conflicts, Israeli politicians are blaming the incumbent government for the escalating crisis. / The New York Times See also: Last month, Human Rights Watch accused Israel of committing "crimes against humanity" in its treatment of Palestinians. / NPR Instagram removed content about one of Islam's
Dozens are killed—mostly Palestinians—as Hamas and Israel approach war. "We have not seen this kind of violence since October 2000." / The Economist, The Washington Post What led to the escalation? The forced expulsion of Palestinian families from an East Jerusalem neighborhood. / Al Jazeera Ezra Klein interviews
In an escalation of violence between Gaza and Israel, 24 people—including nine children—were killed, most in Israeli airstrikes. / Associated Press America's energy infrastructure is a patchwork of internet-connected and legacy equipment—creating vulnerabilities that can be exploited, as evidenced by the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack. / The
India’s coronavirus infections and deaths hold close to record daily highs, increasing calls for a nationwide lockdown. / Reuters The Lancet blasts the Indian government for ignoring warnings of a second wave and failing to be transparent on Covid data. / Lancet See also: What it’s like to be a
President Biden’s separation from past Democratic presidents reflects an evolution in thinking among economists and “a bet that boldness may be a better political strategy than moderation.” / The Atlantic Making the case for a new Reconstruction Finance Corporation—to become “a new bulwark for states and cities against the
Together, Florida and Texas represent 70 Electoral College votes. This week, Republicans in both states have passed—or are ready to pass—new voting restrictions. / The New York Times Related: A breakout of the limits included in each state's bill. / Wake Up to Politics A postmortem on Bernie
The White House backs a World Trade Organization proposal to waive intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines. / NPR Alex Tabarrok says patents are not the problem! Helen Branswell says it’s more of a symbolic milestone anyway. / Marginal Revolution, STAT Canada is the first to authorize Pfizer’s vaccine
The number of US births has fallen to its lowest level since 1979. / CBS News What's changing Covid vaccine skeptics' minds: loved ones, trusted figures, and not thinking about Will Smith's I Am Legend. / The Washington Post Related: A demographic breakout of the three kinds
The FDA plans to authorize Pfizer’s Covid vaccine for adolescents aged 12 to 15 by early next week. / Ars Technica A plan to waive patents to enable other countries to make generic vaccines wins some backers in the Biden administration. It might just be in our best interest. / The
Arundhati Roy: "[India's] government has failed. Perhaps 'failed' is an inaccurate word, because what we are witnessing is not criminal negligence, but an outright crime against humanity." / The Guardian See also: What's happening in India is what happens when rich people do
