America lacks firefighters; Consequences of the Rafah airstrike: NPR
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Israel is being condemned by the international community after its airstrike on Rafah on Sunday caused a fire in the tent area for displaced people. Attack killed at least 45 Palestinians and injured dozens of others, according to local health officials. The Israeli military said it was targeting a Hamas facility and did not expect to harm civilians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called this a “tragic mistake”. But UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said: “Calling this ‘a mistake’ is a message that means nothing to those who died, those who are grieving and those who are trying. try to save lives.”
- 🎧 NPR’s Aya Batrawy reports Up first that this attack stands out for a number of reasons: Its The most dangerous attack into Rafah since Israel launched an offensive against Hamas there three weeks ago, and it attacked families in makeshift tents. Sam Rose, director of plans for the United Nations’ Palestinian relief agency, told NPR that civilian casualties are inevitable when attacking a tent camp. “It really crippled us and made me personally quite sick to my stomach,” he said.
As wildfires break out in Canada and Mexico, US fire officials are concerned about the upcoming wildfire season. More than a quarter of government wildland firefighting jobs are vacant. The pay is low – especially for newbies – and the risks are high. Overgrowth, rising temperatures and drought add to the danger. Many people who take on firefighting jobs cannot afford to live where they work. 🎧 Labor shortages are not new, especially since the pandemic. NPR’s Kirk Siegler says. The federal government will likely continue to use private contractors or borrow teams from Mexico and Canada – strategies that Siegler says are “not ideal”.
A Virginia-based IT staffing company has settled with the Department of Justice and the Department of Labor after a job posting that included race and citizenship requirements sparked outrage. Listing from Arthur Grand Technologies candidates are sought “Only American-born citizens [White] are local within 60 miles of Dallas, TX [Don’t share with candidates].” Arthur Grand will pay a civil penalty of $7,500, along with a total of $31,000, to the 31 people who complained about the post. In a statement to NPR, CEO Arthur Grand said his company “vehemently denies any guilt or wrongdoing” and said a fraudulent employee posted the job posting.
Dive deep
GLP-1 agonist drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound have helped many people, like Jonathan Meyer, lose weight after many cycles of gaining and losing weight on various restrictive diets. Because many people have stopped taking medications due to cost, shortages, side effects, and life events, they now face the reality of the limitations of medicine.
- ➡️ Doctors admit that dietary and lifestyle changes may not be enough to help patients with obesity weight loss. GLP-1 agonists address various hormonal and metabolic factors that contribute to obesity.
- ➡️ Once a patient stops treating these biological factors that cause obesity, the obesity can return. New analysis shows that only 17% of people were able to maintain 80% of their weight loss after stopping the drug.
- ➡️ A person’s response to drug use – or stopping drug use – will depend about their biological characteristics, genetics or hormonal makeup.
- ➡️ So what should you do if you have to stop using the drug? Obesity experts recommend creating a personalized plan with your doctor – such as gradually tapering off medication, while increasing dietary advice.
Picture show
Julia Gunther
The Okalolies of Tristan da Cunha, a remote inhabited island in the middle of the South Atlantic, come alive on New Year’s Eve. Young men don masks and costumes to wreak havoc on their town in a tradition known as Old Year’s Eve. The identity of the Okalolies and where they will be dressed is a closely guarded secret. After the chaos, the islanders welcomed the New Year with dancing and a so-called barbecue braais.
- 📸 Photographer Julia Gunther followed the Okalolies for a day. See pictures of their preparations and festivals, and read about how the men of the island keep the tradition of “threaten the old year and bring in the new” alive.
3 things to know before going
Isabella Gomez Sarmiento/NPR
- A new museum in New York City is trying to recreate the experience of stumbling across Banksy graffiti in the wild. The chase? These Banksys is not realand Banksy never agreed to copy his work.
- Road planners across the country are pursuing the unique diverging diamond intersection more than two decades after it was invented. While it may feel like you’re driving on the wrong side of the road, experts say it can happen. safer and more effective than the regular left turn lane.
- Across Rwanda, people wear NBA jerseys of legends like Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. Some kids there see the sport as a path to a bigger future. The NBA hopes basketball can opponent one day The state of football in Africa.
This newsletter has been edited by Majd Al-Waheidi.