Beauty is in the eye of the composer

The World Food Program says the hunger crisis in Gaza has reached “new and astonishing levels of desperation.” / NPR

News organizations say they’re “desperately concerned” about reporters on the ground also starving. / The Guardian

Massive Attack forms an alliance for musicians facing “intimidations” within the industry for supporting Palestinians. / Billboard

President Macron says France intends to recognize the state of Palestine. / Reuters

Meanwhile, the “new hot topic” in European politics is said to be air conditioning. / The Wall Street Journal [$]

The FCC allows Paramount to merge with Skydance, following Paramount’s $16 million “big, fat bribe” to President Trump. / CNN, NBC News

Brian Stelter: America is a very different country than Hungary, but the democratic backsliding in Hungary was partly achieved through media capture and control of culture. / Reliable Sources

Amy Sherald cancels her solo show at the Smithsonian after learning one of her paintings might be removed to avoid provoking the White House. / Artsy

“Apparently nobody can be blamed for anything.” A patchwork essay made from essays by Lewis Lapham. / Lapham’s Quarterly 

British people now need to verify their age to look at adult websites, including certain social media platforms. / BBC News

Nearly a million American women signed up last week for an app where users anonymously post and review boyfriends. / Dazed

Delta says its plan to use artificial intelligence to set flight prices won’t use personal data—but that’s exactly what its AI partner bragged last month about doing. / Thrifty Traveler

Lawyers for LeBron James send cease-and-desist letters to an AI company over making “brainrot” videos of the basketball player looking pregnant. / 404 Media

Unrelated: The DNA of the late American composer Alvin Lucier continues to compose music. / Futurism

People are turning their apartments into makeshift coffeeshops and cafes, complete with signage. / The New York Times [$]

A new search engine enables you to browse nearly every word appearing on New York City streets. / The Pudding

A Chinese artist revives a village by making it a home for two-hundred-plus cats. / Sixth Tone


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