Up First Briefing: Gazans struggle to survive; Biden seeks Israel and Ukraine aid amidst the ongoing conflict between Gaza and Egypt
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza will reopen to humanitarian aid for Palestinians under siege by Israel. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in the Gaza Strip.
It has been a struggle to survive with no guarantee of safety for those leaving to southern Gaza, according to Batrawy. Fuel, water, and food are running out. Israel’s prime minister’s office said there is no cease-fire yet and that aid would come if the border opens.
The White House plans to ask Congress for billions of dollars in foreign aid this week for Ukraine and Israel. Though there’s widespread bipartisan support for the request, a vocal group of Republicans — including House speaker nominee Jim Jordan — has reservations.
The Rings of Fire at the Solar Eclipse: A Special Event for the U.S. Senate Judgment Committee on the Investigation of Donald Trump’s Interference Trial
Later today, a federal court judge is expected to consider a request for a partial gag order on Donald Trump and his attorneys related to the former president’s criminal election interference trial.
Residents in parts of the U.S. saw a rare “ring of fire” in the sky this weekend during the annular solar eclipse. There won’t be another one in the country until 2039, but a total solar eclipse will be viewable next year. If you could not see it in person, you can take a photo of the sky here.
Across the U.S., classes are popping up that combine lessons in math, science and reading all in one. At farm-to-school events, kids swap paper and pencils for measuring cups and spatulas as they learn to cook with ingredients they’ve grown.
President Biden plans to travel to the Middle East today to reaffirm U.S. solidarity with Israel and press for humanitarian aid to Gaza civilians. He’s going to meet with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and with the leaders of the Arab world in Amman. There is an anticipated ground invasion at the Gaza border. The president will travel with a NPR reporter on his trip.
Body Electric: An Interactive Panel Discussion with Manoush Zomorodi on the FDA’s Concerns about Food Labels and Implications for Myopia Rates
A new speaker is going to be voted on later today. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is the nominee after Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., dropped out. It’s unclear whether he has enough votes to get the job.
The FDA is looking at a petition to ban the use of synthetic food colors like Red 3 that was filed by advocacy groups a year ago. The agency faces renewed pressure to weigh in on the dye’s use after California banned it and three other food additives last week.
Body Electric is a six-part investigation and interactive project with TED Radio Hour host Manoush Zomorodi exploring the relationship between our technology and our bodies… and how we can improve it.
In the last 50 years myopia rates in the US have gone up. Many diagnosed are kids. Increased time spent indoors could be a factor inbad eyesight, which used to be attributed to genetics.
The countertenor thinks he’s the only breakdancing opera singer in the world. As a teenage extreme sports enthusiast, he found “purity and spirituality” in opera and “music and personal expression” in breakdancing.