
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Google parent Alphabet’s blockbuster earnings report Thursday sent its stock price surging in limited afternoon trading, setting up the search engine giant to achieve a historic milestone.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Alphabet shares soared more than 12% after Thursday’s market close, indicating the company’s market capitalization will jump by more than $200 billion to about $2.2 trillion when normal trading resumes Friday, setting the company up for its first-ever $2 trillion valuation.</p>



<p>The massive surge came after Alphabet&nbsp;<a href="https://abc.xyz/assets/91/b3/3f9213d14ce3ae27e1038e01a0e0/2024q1-alphabet-earnings-release-pdf.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">delivered</a>&nbsp;a first-quarter earnings report well above expectations: Its $80.5 billion in revenue and $1.89 earnings per share were well above respective analyst estimates of $78.8 billion and $1.51, according to FactSet.</p>



<p>That’s the company’s best-ever quarterly profit thanks to the whopping 62% year-over-year growth, with overall net income climbing to nearly $24 billion.</p>



<p>Alphabet is on track to join Microsoft, Apple and Nvidia as the only other companies in the world valued at over $2 trillion.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



<p>The company announced its first-ever cash dividend Thursday, which, at about $0.20 per share at an after-hours share price of about $175, indicates a modest 0.5% dividend yield. It does indicate Google’s maturity as a company, as dividends directly reward shareholders of a company’s profits. Rival Meta paid out its first-ever dividend earlier this year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



<p>The massive earnings expansion came as Alphabet trimmed its headcount from 191,000 during 2023’s first quarter to 181,000 last quarter.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The final quarter of 2023 was Alphabet’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2024/01/30/google-earnings-record-profits-as-stock-trades-at-record-high/?sh=5a045a5039ff">best quarter ever</a>&nbsp;by profits and sales in its history. Though Google’s revenue moderated in 2024’s opening stretch from that historic run, it should come as no surprise, as the fourth quarter has been Google’s highest-grossing quarter during each of its 20 years as a public company, according to FactSet data. Alphabet is a massive conglomerate, but it’s an advertising business at its very core, with ads accounting for more than 75% of all revenues. That’s still a smaller share than its closest ads-focused competitor in big tech, Facebook parent Meta, which relies on ads for about 99% of its total sales. Up about 13% this year, Alphabet shares touched a new all-time high earlier this month,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2024/04/09/google-stock-hits-all-time-high-with-2-trillion-valuation-in-sight/?sh=6a6a47ee2ffa">flirting</a>&nbsp;with a $2 trillion valuation for the first time ever.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent-0">TANGENT</h2>



<p>Google stock’s strong returns come even as users and investors react fairly coldly to its Gemini generative artificial intelligence program, with the company notoriously shedding some&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2024/02/26/googles-gemini-headaches-spur-90-billion-selloff/?sh=2f2c923372e4">$90 billion</a>&nbsp;in market value on one fateful February day after Google admitted it “missed the mark” and pulled Gemini’s image-generating service offline. Still, Google has maintained its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-18/microsoft-s-bing-market-share-barely-budged-after-adding-chatgpt" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">dominance</a>&nbsp;in online search market share despite Microsoft’s Bing’s earlier integration of generative AI, and Gemini has yet to make a prominent mark on Alphabet’s income statement, though CEO Sundar Pichai&nbsp;<a href="https://abc.xyz/assets/95/eb/9cef90184e09bac553796896c633/2023q4-alphabet-earnings-release.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">declared</a>&nbsp;2024 the early days of “the Gemini era.”</p>


FRANCE-ECONOMY-TECHNOLOGY-VIVATECH

Google Soars Toward Record $2 Trillion Valuation On Earnings


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Food recalls in 2023 reached the highest levels the U.S. has recorded since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly driven by undisclosed allergens and listeria contamination, according to a new report released Thursday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Some 313 food recalls (impacting products that were still on sale) and alerts (involving products no longer on sale, but may be in consumers’ homes) were announced last year by the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an 8% increase from 2022 and the highest number since the COVID pandemic began in 2020, according to a report released Thursday by the nonprofit U.S. Public Research Interest Group Education Fund.</p>



<p>Contaminated food resulted in six deaths and over 1,100 illnesses last year, though the researchers suspect there were more illnesses since most people recover from food poisoning without medical attention.</p>



<p>The most commonly recalled food items in 2023 were snacks like cookies and granola bars, which accounted for one in five recalls, though other commonly recalled foods included fruit—mainly cantaloupes—beef, soup, salads and greens, poultry, cheese, vegetables, supplements and pet food, according to the report.</p>



<p>Almost half of all recalls (49.3%) in 2023 were related to allergens undeclared on packaging, while other major reasons for recalls were listeria contamination (15%), salmonella contamination (8.6%) and uninspected products (6.1%).</p>



<p>This uptick in undisclosed allergen cases was partially driven by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/allergic-sesame-food-labels-now-must-list-sesame-allergen#:~:text=As%20of%20January%201%2C%202023%2C%20sesame%20is%20required%20to%20be,milk" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">inclusion</a>&nbsp;of sesame—which accounted for 39% of the increase—as a required disclosed allergen, a rule that began in January 2023.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-5-biggest-food-recalls-of-2024-so-far">WHAT ARE THE 5 BIGGEST FOOD RECALLS OF 2024 SO FAR?</h2>



<ul>
<li><strong>Dairy products: </strong>An investigation into a “multi-year, multistate” <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/02/08/costco-trader-joes-walmart-recall-dairy-products-over-listeria-outbreak-what-to-know/?sh=7902e28a47f5">listeria outbreak</a> was reopened after listeria was found in several food products containing dairy like queso fresco and cotija cheese. This outbreak includes cases dating back to 2014, and the FDA investigated it in 2017 and 2021, though it couldn’t link a specific brand to the outbreak. The most recent investigation was reopened in January, and manufacturer Rizo-Lopez Foods voluntarily recalled around <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/176015/download?attachment" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">60</a> dairy products. Major retailers like Walmart, Costco and Trader Joe’s recalled products including salad and taco kits due to potential contamination. As of April 9, the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-listeria-monocytogenes-queso-fresco-and-cotija-cheese-february-2024" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> the outbreak is over. The agencies said there were 26 cases, 23 hospitalizations and two deaths across 11 states.</li>



<li><strong>Trader Joe’s Dumplings: </strong>Over 61,000 pounds of Trader Joe’s steamed chicken soup dumplings were recalled in March due to potential hard plastic contamination from a permanent marker. The products were voluntarily recalled by manufacturer CJ Foods Manufacturing Beaumont Corporation, <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/cj-foods-manufacturing-beaumont-corporation-recalls-trader-joes-chicken-soup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a> to the USDA. The problem was discovered after customers submitted complaints of hard plastics in their dumplings, though no adverse reactions were reported.</li>



<li><strong>Ground cinnamon: </strong>The FDA issued an <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-alert-concerning-certain-cinnamon-products-due-presence-elevated-levels-lead" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alert</a> in March warning it found unsafe levels of lead in six ground cinnamon products. These products were sold in discount stores like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar across several states. This recall came after the FDA investigated the recall of lead-tainted <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/02/07/lead-poisoned-applesauce-ecuadorian-cinnamon-processor-likely-source-behind-recalled-pouches-fda-says/?sh=27a6e3082618">cinnamon applesauces</a> in 2023 that led to over 500 reports of adverse events in children.</li>



<li><strong>Trader Joe’s cashews: </strong>Wenders LLC, the manufacturer of the nuts, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/caileygleeson/2024/03/18/trader-joes-cashews-recall-product-pulled-in-16-states-over-salmonella-concerns/?sh=3ac5e89e58d4">recalled</a> four lots of Trader Joe’s 50% Less Sodium Roasted &amp; Salted Whole Cashews in March due to potential salmonella contamination. Though no illnesses have been reported, the potentially contaminated nuts were sold in 16 states.</li>



<li><strong>Quaker Oats products: </strong>Quaker Oats <a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/update-quaker-issues-revised-recall-notice-additional-products-due-possible-health-risk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">expanded</a> its list of recalled products in January after it recalled several in December due to possible salmonella contamination. This expanded list included over 20 granola, protein and cereal bars, cereals, instant oatmeals and snack mixes sold in all 50 states. However, no adverse events have been reported.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>48 million. That’s how many Americans the CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/2011-foodborne-estimates.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">estimates</a>&nbsp;get sick annually due to foodborne disease, totaling one out of six Americans. Out of that number, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Food gets recalled in one of four ways, according to the report. One way is consumers get sick, seek medical attention and then local officials or the CDC test fluids and trace an outbreak to a specific food item; another is consumers file a complaint with companies or regulators; a third is local, state or federal officials discover an issue through investigations or routine surveillance; and the other method is by companies self-reporting a problem after testing. The FDA regulates around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/143704/download" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">78%</a>&nbsp;of the country’s food supply, and its oversight includes everything except meat, poultry and some fish and eggs products, which are regulated by the USDA. The FDA was behind 224 recalls in 2023, while the USDA accounted for 89, according to the report. Although the number of recalls via the FDA were virtually unchanged, the number of USDA recalls increased by 31% in 2023 compared with 2022—the highest levels since 2019.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/02/08/costco-trader-joes-walmart-recall-dairy-products-over-listeria-outbreak-what-to-know/?sh=7902e28a47f5">Costco, Trader Joe’s, Walmart Recall Dairy Products Over Listeria Outbreak—What To Know</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/02/07/lead-poisoned-applesauce-ecuadorian-cinnamon-processor-likely-source-behind-recalled-pouches-fda-says/?sh=27a6e3082618">Lead-Poisoned Applesauce: Ecuadorian Cinnamon Processor ‘Likely Source’ Behind Recalled Pouches, FDA Says</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/caileygleeson/2024/03/18/trader-joes-cashews-recall-product-pulled-in-16-states-over-salmonella-concerns/?sh=3ac5e89e58d4">Trader Joe’s Cashews Recall: Product Pulled In 16 States Over Salmonella Concerns</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>


A Safeway Grocery Store Ahead Of Alberston’s Earnings Figures

2023 Had Most Food Recalls Since Start Of COVID-19 Pandemic, Report Finds


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Surgeons at NYU Langone Health&nbsp;<a href="https://nyulangone.org/news/first-ever-combined-heart-pump-gene-edited-pig-kidney-transplant-gives-new-hope-patient-terminal-illness" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;Wednesday they completed the world’s first successful combined heart pump and gene-edited pig kidney transplant surgeries on a 54-year-old woman with end-stage kidney disease, a landmark procedure that closely follows the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/03/21/worlds-first-pig-kidney-transplant-given-to-massachusetts-man/?sh=6ec06fec4052">first successful transplant</a>&nbsp;of a pig kidney in late March.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Lisa Pisano, a 54-year-old woman from New Jersey, was facing heart failure and undergoing routine dialysis for end-stage kidney disease—but was not eligible for heart or kidney transplants given the reduced likelihood of success due to several chronic illnesses, NYU Langone Health&nbsp;<a href="https://nyulangone.org/news/first-ever-combined-heart-pump-gene-edited-pig-kidney-transplant-gives-new-hope-patient-terminal-illness" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>.</p>



<p>The hospital said Pisano was matched to a gene-edited kidney of a pig with an attached thymus from United Therapeutics Corp., called a “<a href="https://ir.unither.com/press-releases/2024/04-24-2024-140050479" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">UThymoKidney</a>.”</p>



<p>Pisano underwent the two procedures over the course of nine days in early April, according to a press release, the first of which involved implanting a heart pump, dubbed a&nbsp;<a href="https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/l/lvad.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">left ventricular assist device</a>, and the second being a xenotransplant of the pig kidney on April 12.</p>



<p>NYU Langone Health cardiac surgeon Dr. Nader Moazami said in a statement Pisano would not have been eligible for an LVAD without a kidney transplant due to “high mortality in patients on dialysis with heart pumps,” going on to say: “This unique approach is the first time in the world that LVAD surgery has been done on a dialysis patient with a subsequent plan to transplant a kidney.”</p>



<p>Pisano is currently recovering in the ICU and is expected to have at least a month of rehabilitation before she can potentially be discharged, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/24/health/combined-heart-pump-pig-kidney-transplant/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CNN</a>, and transplant surgeon Dr. Robert Montgomery told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/04/24/1246577224/gene-edited-pig-kidney-transplant-nyu" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">NPR</a>&nbsp;Pisano may need several months of rehabilitation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



<p>Surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/03/21/worlds-first-pig-kidney-transplant-given-to-massachusetts-man/?sh=6ec06fec4052">announced</a>&nbsp;in late March that the world’s first successful transplant of a kidney was completed on a 62-year-old male patient suffering from end-stage kidney disease.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>More than 89,000. That’s the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/organ-donation-statistics" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">number of people</a>&nbsp;on the national transplant waiting list who are in need of a kidney as of March, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. More than 103,000 people are on the national organ transplant waiting list.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



<p>NYU Langone Health&nbsp;<a href="https://nyulangone.org/news/progress-xenotransplantation-opens-door-new-supply-critically-needed-organs" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">completed</a>&nbsp;the first experimental transplant of a pig kidney on a brain-dead patient in September 2021.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/xenotransplantation" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Xenotransplantation</a>&nbsp;refers to any procedure involving the “transplantation, implantation or infusion” of non-human organs, tissues or cells, according to the Food and Drug Administration. It has become more&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2024/january/first-successful-external-liver-perfusion-using-a-porcine-liver" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">frequently&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/25/health/pig-transplant-drugs-study/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">studied</a>&nbsp;as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/30/health/pig-organ-transplant-xenotransplantation/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">need for organs grows</a>. The procedure is not currently approved by the FDA, but it is allowed under the agency’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/30/health/pig-organ-transplant-xenotransplantation/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">expanded access</a>, or “compassionate use,” pathway, which allows patients to seek out experimental treatments under certain conditions, such as life-threatening issues.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/organ-donation-statistics" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Seventeen people</a>&nbsp;die each day while waiting for an organ, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration, and a new person is added to the national transplant waiting list every eight minutes. Given the increasing need for organs, doctors hope that xenotransplants will become an alternative to human organs to&nbsp;<a href="https://archive.bio.org/articles/xenotransplantation-benefits-and-risks-special-organ-transplantation#:~:text=While%20still%20in%20the%20experimental,heart%20disease%20and%20kidney%20failure." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">save more lives</a>&nbsp;while also improving&nbsp;<a href="http://i/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">patient quality</a>&nbsp;of life.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/03/21/worlds-first-pig-kidney-transplant-given-to-massachusetts-man/?sh=6ec06fec4052">World’s First Pig Kidney Transplant Given To Massachusetts Man</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/willskipworth/2023/09/22/doctors-transplant-pig-heart-into-dying-man-only-the-second-time-its-ever-been-done/?sh=2ae089123fd2">Doctors Transplant Pig Heart Into Dying Man—Only The Second Time It’s Ever Been Done&nbsp;</a>(Forbes)</p>


Obesity surgery, Gastric Bypass surgery surgical instrument table and instruments

Surgeons Perform World’s First Combined Heart Pump And Pig Kidney Transplant—Latest Breakthrough Involving Pig Organ


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Patients treated by female doctors fare better than patients treated by male doctors, according to new research published Monday, despite the field struggling to improve female representation in research and among practitioners.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Patients treated by female physicians in the U.S. had lower mortality rates and lower rates of readmission compared to patients treated by male physicians, according to peer reviewed research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.</p>



<p>The findings come after researchers from the University of Tokyo in Japan analyzed data from the medical records of more than 700,000 Medicare patients aged 65 years or older hospitalized and treated between 2016 and 2019 to assess the differences between patients treated by male and female physicians.</p>



<p>Just under a third of the roughly 460,000 female and 320,000 male patients included in the study were treated by female physicians, the researchers said, and there were no significant differences between groups when it came to key metrics for evaluating hospital care including length of stay, spending, how likely a discharge to home was, management claims and the proportion of time spent under intensive evaluation.</p>



<p>While both male and female patients treated by female physicians fared better than those treated by male physicians in terms of lower death and readmission rates, the researchers found the difference was especially large and clinically meaningful for female patients, who are underrepresented in medical research and far more likely to suffer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/medical-mistakes-are-likely-women-minorities-rcna133726" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">misdiagnoses</a>&nbsp;and medical mistakes during treatment than men.</p>



<p>The researchers said multiple reasons could be behind the stark difference in outcomes for female patients when treated by female physicians, such as male physicians potentially underestimating the severity of illnesses in their female patients and female physicians probably having better communication skills and a more patient-centered approach when it comes to female patients.</p>



<p>Being treated by a female physician could also help alleviate the embarrassment, discomfort and social and cultural taboos that can arise for female patients during sensitive examinations, the researchers said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The finding that patients treated by female clinicians fare better than those treated by male clinicians has been repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/women-doctors-may-be-better-for-patients-health/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">borne out&nbsp;</a>by research around the world. For example,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/30/female-surgeons-patient-outcomes-better-studies" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">studies</a>&nbsp;published last year from researchers in Sweden and Canada found people operated on by female surgeons had better outcomes and fewer problems during recovery than when male surgeons had been performing the operations. In the U.S., research has shown women who have heart attacks are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-45096070" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">more likely to survive</a>&nbsp;when treated by a female doctor. The same is true of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/355/bmj.i6808" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">elderly hospital patients</a>. While studies are typically observational and so cannot determine cause and effect,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/well/doctors-male-female-women-men-heart.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">research</a>&nbsp;has shown female doctors tend to listen to their patients more, spend more time with their patients and are more likely to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/01/21/patients-get-better-care-female-doctors-sexism-persists-medicine/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">follow guidelines and collaborate</a>&nbsp;with specialists. While patients might fare better under female clinicians, women doctors face a variety of issues hindering their ability to enter and remain in the field. Female doctors tend to be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/gender-identity/women-doctors-earn-2-million-less-than-men-in-their-careers-they-want-to-know-why-is-nothing-being-done/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">paid less</a>&nbsp;than their male counterparts, face&nbsp;<a href="https://hbr.org/2018/08/how-discrimination-against-female-doctors-hurts-patients" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">systemic discrimination&nbsp;</a>and struggle with higher&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/how-women-physicians-can-find-balance-and-out-workplace" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">rates of burnout</a>&nbsp;amid efforts to manage brutal medical schedules with other commitments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT</h2>



<p>Despite decades of vowing to address systemic bias against women in healthcare and research, medical research still <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/nov/20/women-health-research-jill-biden-white-house" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">knowingly and consistently overlooks</a> women and women are still <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/06/27/underrepresentation-women-clinical-trials/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">underrepresented</a> in clinical trials. The bias pervades the entirety of medical research, even down to the laboratory level, with animal <a href="https://nautil.us/which-sex-of-mouse-should-you-ask-for-directions-313331/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">subjects</a> like <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/07/science/female-mice-hormones.html#:~:text=But%20a%20large%20sex%20gap,by%20a%20factor%20of%20five." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mice</a> and <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2021/05/14/health/sex-biological-variable-research-science-drugs-scn/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">rats</a> all overwhelmingly male.</p>


Doctor soothing senior patient

Patients Fare Better With Women Doctors, Study Finds


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>A class action lawsuit with hundreds of claimants was filed at the High Court in London Monday as plaintiffs accuse the LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr of sharing sensitive medical information, including HIV status, with advertisers, who then allegedly sold that data on to other businesses,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj7mxnvz42no" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/apr/22/lawsuit-in-london-to-allege-grindr-shared-users-hiv-status-with-ad-firms" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">outlets</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-22/grindr-sued-in-london-for-sharing-users-hiv-status-with-ad-firms" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>English law firm Austen Hays alleges Grindr breached data protection laws in Britain when it sold information on users’ ethnicity, sexual orientation, HIV status and beyond with ad companies Localytics and Apptimize between spring of 2018 and April 2020.</p>



<p>The lawsuit goes on to allege those companies may have then passed the data on to fourth parties, allowing &#8220;a potentially unlimited number&#8221; of firms to target users online using the information.</p>



<p>Hays said in a statement to Forbes that more than 670 people have already signed up to the claim with potential for thousands of others to join—Grindr had almost 1 million&nbsp;<a href="https://www.them.us/story/grindr-most-popular-dating-app-users-over-54" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">U.K. users</a>&nbsp;as of last May.</p>



<p>Chaya Hanoomanjee, director of Hays&#8217; firm, said in a statement that clients whose data was shared &#8220;have suffered feelings of fear, embarrassment and anxiety as a result.&#8221;</p>



<p>Grindr did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment Monday but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj7mxnvz42no" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">told the BBC</a>&nbsp;the lawsuit &#8220;appears to be based on a mischaracterization of practices from more than four years ago&#8221; and that the company will &#8220;respond vigorously&#8221; to the claim.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>“Grindr owes it to the LGBTQ+ community it serves to compensate those whose data has been compromised and have suffered distress as a result, and to ensure all its users are safe while using the app, wherever they are, without fear that their data might be shared with third parties,” Hanoomanjee said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Grindr was first found to be sharing sensitive sexual health data, including HIV status of users, with advertisers and analytics companies back in 2018. Norwegian research organization&nbsp;<a href="https://github.com/SINTEF-9012/grindr-privacy-leaks" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">SINTEF</a>&nbsp;first discovered the data was being shared, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/azeenghorayshi/grindr-hiv-status-privacy" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Buzzfeed</a>&nbsp;followed up with its own report that GPS data, phone ID and email addresses were also being shared. In April of 2018, Grindr issued a privacy statement both denying and defending its actions.&nbsp;<a href="https://grindr.tumblr.com/post/172528912083/heres-what-you-should-know-regarding-your-hiv" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CTO Scott Chen</a>&nbsp;said in a statement that Grindr has &#8220;never&#8221; sold HIV status information to third party advertisers, but also said it was clear in the app&#8217;s privacy policy that &#8220;if you choose to include this information in your profile, the information will also become public.&#8221; That same day,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/exclusive-grindr-security-chief-on-hiv-disclosure-b5a64fdb-8c1d-4a08-a94e-67506d4a0d0b.html?utm_source=twitter&amp;amp;utm_medium=social&amp;amp;utm_campaign=organic" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Axios reported</a>&nbsp;Grindr had stopped sharing users’ HIV status. The controversy drew the ire of several regulatory authorities, including the Spanish Data Protection Authority and the Information Commissioner’s Office in the United Kingdom, which each went on to file data breach complaints. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority ultimately&nbsp;<a href="https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/national-news/2021/norwegian-dpa-imposes-fine-against-grindr-llc_en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">fined Grindr $6 million</a>&nbsp;for violating data privacy practices.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>13 million. That&#8217;s how many people use Grindr monthly, according to Austen Hays, making it the most popular LGBTQ+ mobile app in the world.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



<p>In 2020, Grindr faced regulatory complaints over its Chinese owner similar to those currently plaguing the popular video app TikTok. Chinese gaming giant Beijing Kunlun acquired Grindr, originally developed in Los Angeles, in 2016 and the app was soon hit with national security concerns stemming from the Chinese government potentially gaining access to the personal data of U.S. users. The company <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/6/21168079/grindr-sold-chinese-owner-us-cfius-security-concerns-kunlun-lgbtq" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ultimately sold</a> its stake to a U.S.-based company, which allowed Grindr to continue operating. The story is similar to that of TikTok, which is currently under intense scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers because its parent company, ByteDance, has <a href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3255539/us-lawmakers-want-tiktok-sale-or-ban-chinas-bytedance-wont-give-without-fight" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">refused to divest </a>from the social media app. The House of Representatives on Saturday <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/tiktok-raises-free-speech-concerns-bill-passed-by-us-house-that-may-ban-app-2024-04-21/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">passed a bill</a> that will ban TikTok if ByteDance doesn&#8217;t sell its stake within a year. The bill now moves to the Senate, where a vote could happen this week, and President Joe Biden has said he will sign the legislation if it makes it to his desk.</p>


Social media app Grindr

Grindr Dating App Shared HIV Status Of English Users With Advertisers, New Lawsuit Says


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Oil prices briefly surged Friday morning in the wake of Israel’s reported airstrike on Iran, and then quickly dropped following Iran state media’s apparent downplaying of those strikes, as conflict in the Middle East continues to leave behind lingering effects on already climbing oil and gasoline prices.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Brent Crude, an international benchmark, shot up nearly 2% Friday morning to a peak just under $88 per barrel, though the benchmark has since dropped to roughly $87.50, representing a marginal 0.5% uptick on the day.</p>



<p>National benchmark West Texas Intermediate also increased by roughly 2% Friday morning, following reports of an Israeli airstrike, though like the Brent, the WTI has also tapered off, dropping just above $83.50 per barrel.</p>



<p>AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross speculated international conflict could lead to instability in the oil market, saying in a&nbsp;<a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/is-the-recent-climb-in-the-price-of-gas-about-to-stall/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;on Thursday the “situation overseas with the war in the Middle East and Ukraine has the oil market on edge.”</p>



<p>While increases in the price of oil typically come with price hikes at the pump, analysts expect those effects on gasoline prices to be delayed, and multiple other factors could help swing the price of gas down from its $3.69 national average this week—its highest point since October, according to GasBuddy.</p>



<p>Patrick De Haan, head petroleum analyst for GasBuddy,&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/1781303050570781081" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;he expects gas prices to hit $3.70 per gallon in the near future, though the return of U.S. oil refineries from scheduled maintenance and Iran’s state media’s apparent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/2024/04/19/iran-downplays-israeli-strikes-and-may-not-launch-large-scale-retaliation/?sh=47337ea3f5d9">downplaying</a>&nbsp;of Israel’s attack, he said there’s “potential we’re nearing an end to the rise” in prices at the pump.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contra">CONTRA</h2>



<p>Another positive sign for gas prices has been an increase in crude oil inventories, which shot up this week by 2.7 million barrels, to approximately 460 million barrels, though it remains 6 million barrels below its level this time last year, according to the Energy Information Administration. Andrew Gross also estimated gas prices could plateau as U.S. demand hits a typical low ahead of Memorial Day. Gasoline demand in the U.S. declined narrowly from 8.84 million barrels in the week ending April 5 to 8.81 million barrels last week, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/weekly/gasoline.php" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">EIA data</a>, and is slightly below where it had been last April. Gross expects the national average gas price “may waffle a bit with small increases, some flat days, and even some price dips” as a result.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Israel&#8217;s military early on Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/04/19/israeli-missiles-reportedly-strike-airbase-in-central-iran/?sh=43f5240f120f">reportedly</a>&nbsp;launched limited airstrikes in Iran, unnamed officials told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/04/18/world/israel-iran-gaza-war-news/blasts-are-reported-near-the-iranian-city-of-isfahan?smid=url-share" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">multiple</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas-war/?id=108860743" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">outlets</a>. The reported strikes came several days after Iran’s unprecedented drone and ballistic missile strike on Israel days earlier, which Israeli officials said caused only minor damage. Iran’s attack itself was in retaliation for Israel’s airstrike earlier this month on an Iranian embassy in Syria, which killed at least 16 people, including two senior military leaders. Iranian state TV dismissed Friday’s strike, blasting it as “Israeli and American media propaganda.” Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for any strikes on Iran. Tensions between Iran and Israel have boiled over in recent months in the wake of Israel’s invasion of Gaza, which has left over 33,000 Palestinians dead, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Israel estimates another 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. Earlier this week, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/04/17/iran-threatens-fierce-and-severe-response-if-israel-launches-tinest-invasion-in-response-to-weekend-attack/?sh=7eace4a1083b">threatened</a>&nbsp;“fierce and severe” retaliation for the “tiniest invasion” by Israel, though world leaders have urged both sides to de-escalate the situation.</p>


Oil pump with candle stick graph chart in the background. World Oil Industry

Oil Prices Spike—And Fall—As Iran Downplays Israel’s Reported Airstrikes: Here’s How That Could Affect Gas Prices


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>The Israeli military reportedly launched airstrikes targeting Iran early on Friday, in response to Tehran’s drone attack on its territory over the weekend, amid concerns about escalation between the two Middle Eastern nations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Citing unnamed Iranian officials, the New York Times&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/04/18/world/israel-iran-gaza-war-news/blasts-are-reported-near-the-iranian-city-of-isfahan?smid=url-share" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;the strikes hit an airbase near the city of Isfahan in central Iran, while an unnamed “senior U.S. official” told&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas-war/?id=108860743" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">ABC News</a>&nbsp;that Israel had launched a missile strike against Iran.</p>



<p>The Iranian state controlled Fars News Agency also reported explosions being heard near the Isfahan airport, but an official later told the state media that explosions were caused by air defense batteries firing at a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irna.ir/news/85449584/%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%BE-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B4%D9%84%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D9%BE%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">suspicious object</a>.</p>



<p>On Iranian state TV, however, the country’s officials publicly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-18/ty-article-live/five-idf-reservists-in-serious-condition-following-rocket-drone-strike-on-northern-israel/0000018e-eecd-daad-a3de-eeff299e0000?liveBlogItemId=11850594&amp;utm_source=site&amp;utm_medium=button&amp;utm_campaign=live_blog_item#11850594" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">dismissed</a>&nbsp;reports of the strike, calling it “Israeli and American media propaganda” and denied that an emergency meeting of the Supreme National Security Council had been convened.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/live-blog/2024-04-19/middle-east-latest?cursorId=6621F343688C0000" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">According to</a>&nbsp;Bloomberg, Israel had informed the U.S. officials on Thursday about its plan to carry out a strike on Israel in the following 24-48 hours.</p>



<p>Sources cited by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/iran-israel-attack-live-updates-rcna148496/rcrd39372?canonicalCard=true" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">several</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-strikes-site-iran-retaliation-weekend-assault" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">outlets</a>&nbsp;referred to the retaliatory attacks as “limited” while a retired military general appearing on Israel’s Channel 12 said he believed it was a “symbolic attack” that may not force a response by the Iranians.</p>



<p>The Israeli military has refused to comment on reports of the attack so far.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TANGENT</h2>



<p>Real time air traffic data on FlightRadar24 showed&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/OrenCNN/status/1781132736423403933" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">several airplanes diverting</a>&nbsp;away from Iran just after the strikes were reported. FlightRadar24 then&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/flightradar24/status/1781150391280750655" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that Iranian authorities had issue a notification informing pilots that the airports in Isfahan, Shiraz and the national capital Tehran were closed. Budget Emirati carrier Fly Dubai&nbsp;<a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/mena/flydubai-airline-cancels-flights-to-iran-statement" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">confirmed</a>&nbsp;receiving the notification and announced the cancellation of its flights to Iran. The notices of closure at all three airports were&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/flightradar24/status/1781194845991633032" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">lifted</a>&nbsp;a few hours later.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>An unnamed Israeli official cited by the Washington Post said the attack “was intended to signal to Iran that Israel had the ability to strike inside the country.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>The extent of the damage from the attack remains unclear. Iranian authorities said nuclear facilities located near Isfahan <a href="https://www.irna.ir/news/85449584/%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%BE-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%87%D9%86-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%81%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B4%D9%84%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D9%BE%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">were safe</a>. The International Atomic Energy Agency also <a href="https://twitter.com/iaeaorg/status/1781196309329793463" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">confirmed</a> this while calling for restraint and saying “nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>On Wednesday, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/04/17/iran-threatens-fierce-and-severe-response-if-israel-launches-tinest-invasion-in-response-to-weekend-attack/?sh=447e1fd11083">warned</a>&nbsp;that any military incursion by Israel would be met with a severe response. Over the weekend, Iran launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles targeting Israeli territory in an unprecedented attack. Israel claimed the strikes resulted in only minor damages as its military—along with U.S. and other allied forces in the region—were able to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/04/13/world/israel-iran-gaza-war-news/611216e4-0347-518a-bd58-51184c463120?smid=url-share" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">shoot down 99%</a>&nbsp;of the missiles and drones. Iran said its attack was in response to an Israeli airstrike on its diplomatic compound in Damascus that resulted in the deaths of 16 people—including two senior military leaders.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-mideast-tensions-4-19-2024-a7ccbae2e2844bab089e8e4377a24ddb" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Iran fires air defense batteries at Isfahan air base and nuclear site after drones spotted</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/04/17/iran-threatens-fierce-and-severe-response-if-israel-launches-tinest-invasion-in-response-to-weekend-attack/?sh=447e1fd11083">Iran Threatens ‘Fierce And Severe’ Response If Israel Launches ‘Tinest Invasion’ In Response To Weekend Attack</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>


Iranian official TV confirms ‘massive explosions’ in central Isfahan province

Israeli Missiles Reportedly Strike Airbase In Central Iran


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Set to occur on Saturday is the highly anticipated bitcoin halving event, a somewhat mysterious phenomenon that occurs every four years, which should theoretically provide a major tailwind to bitcoin prices flatlining in recent weeks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>The halving event refers to the 50% reduction in the new bitcoins available daily to digital miners who unlock tokens on the blockchain via a complex, energy-intensive process.&#8221;</p>



<p>Halving previously occurred in 2012, 2016 and 2020, and is programmed directly into the bitcoin ecosystem to occur every four years, with the fourth instance widely expected to come Saturday, or within a few days, cutting the amount of bitcoins available for mining each day from 900 to 450.</p>



<p>Between 19 million and 20 million bitcoins now exist, with only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/article/the-21-million-question---is-bitcoin-supply-really-capped/?sh=16f31a4a7984">21 million</a>&nbsp;tokens ever programmed to exist, and halvings are designed to keep the supply of bitcoin limited, and maintaining the decentralized currency’s storage of value.</p>



<p>By lowering the supply, some expect the 2024 halving will drive demand for bitcoin, and therefore its price, which happened in the immediate aftermath of the three other events.</p>



<p>Bitcoin&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coindesk.com/learn/bitcoin-halving-explained/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">rose</a>&nbsp;8,069% in the 12 months after the 2012 halving, 284% following the 2016 halving and 559% after the 2020 halving.“It’s pretty much Economics 101” that bitcoin prices go up after halving, according to Sevens Report analyst Tom Essaye, who explained that so long as demand doesn’t decrease and new supply goes down, the “only thing left to move is price.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contra">CONTRA</h2>



<p>It’s far from a given that bitcoin demand will stay steady or increase, and three halving data points hardly make enough of a trend to definitively declare how bitcoin prices will behave during this halving cycle. It’s often hard to sift through the opinions of bitcoin revilers and zealots, but the former will tell you that bitcoin is already overvalued considering its limited use cases. But bitcoin’s ludicrous market-beating returns in recent years are hard for even the biggest pessimist to dismiss: The $61,000 per token bitcoin fetched Wednesday is roughly seven times its price at the 2020 halving, 90 times its 2016 level and 4,000 times its 2012 level.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-so-why-are-bitcoin-prices-down">SO WHY ARE BITCOIN PRICES DOWN?</h2>



<p>Bitcoin is about 17% below its all-time high of $73,768 set last month, with Saturday’s flash&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/04/13/bitcoin-plummets-after-iran-launches-attack-on-israel/?sh=14a5c6681f70">10% crash</a>&nbsp;as Iran launched a drone attack on Israel exemplifying the fragile nature of the rally. Bernstein analyst Gautam Chhugani explained to clients Wednesday that it’s actually “new demand catalysts” overlapping with prior halvings that helped drive price increases, explaining that the current cycle’s catalyst actually already happened: January’s approval of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds, which unlocked billions of dollars of new capital into bitcoin and contributed most strongly to the positive price action, as bitcoin remains up nearly 300% dating back to the beginning of last year. Chhugani expects bitcoin to reach as high as $150,000 next year, a highly bullish forecast that is more than double even its all-time high.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">TANGENT</h2>



<p>Halvings are likely a boon for bitcoin holders, but it’s a major challenge for miners, considering it quite literally halves their potential revenue stream – imagine if regulation allowed McDonald’s to sell Big Macs but no fries. Shares of CleanSpark (up 38%), Marathon Digital (down 36%) and Riot Platforms (down 48%), the three most prominent publicly traded American bitcoin miners, have all underperformed bitcoin this year, Chhugani noted, adding that the halving may actually be a good thing for investors as the pressure can lead to consolidation and more profitable companies.</p>


Crypto in Tbilisi as Devotees Begin to Contemplate a Market Bottom

Bitcoin Halving: Here’s Why Some Expect Prices To Soar


<p><strong>A fight over a vital federal tax credit intended to kickstart a market for clean hydrogen and worries over high production costs are cooling near-term expectations for the climate-friendly fuel.</strong></p>



<p>Clean hydrogen has been heralded as a carbon-free fuel that’s key to efforts to remediate the climate crisis. It would help clean up dirty industries like chemical and steel production, be a source of clean transportation fuel and help the U.S. hit a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/us-long-term-strategy.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">by 2050</a>. But getting things started isn’t going so well.</p>



<p>After years of hype, fundraising, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2023/10/13/us-amps-up-clean-energy-push-with-50-billion-hydrogen-hub-plan/?sh=431f604144f9">billions of dollars of federal support</a>&nbsp;to get a green hydrogen market off the ground, there’s growing pessimism over how fast the carbon-free fuel can ramp up. Frustrated by proposed guidelines for a crucial government incentive that they deem too strict, companies including ExxonMobil and Plug Power are threatening to scrub or delay big hydrogen projects.</p>



<p>“Two years ago this was super-hyped. It was like, everybody&#8217;s exuberant,” Raffi Garabedian, CEO of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2024/02/21/green-hydrogen-could-help-save-the-planet-this-startup-wants-to-make-it-cheap/?sh=1cd8fe4e2835">Electric Hydrogen</a>, told <em>Forbes</em>. “What’s happened is people started realizing, ‘Oh, shit, this thing I&#8217;ve been talking about for a while — the hype-to-reality ratio — projects aren&#8217;t getting built. I wonder why? People have started realizing this is really hard.”</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p>Clean hydrogen — particularly the “green” variety made from just water and renewable electricity — is central to the Biden Administration’s strategy for slashing carbon pollution. But proposed rules for a tax credit worth up to $3 a kilogram to offset the fuel’s higher production costs favor projects that rely on new renewable (or nuclear) power sources, which raises the cost substantially. Garabedian is fine with that, but some competitors say it’ll keep the price of green hydrogen too high. And ExxonMobil is unhappy that its approach — making hydrogen from natural gas but capturing the CO2 before it can escape into the atmosphere — probably won’t get the full credit.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>Dirty hydrogen can be made for $1.06/kilogram. Green hydrogen costs up to four times as much.</p>
</blockquote>



<p>As with other low-carbon technologies, including solar panels, wind turbines and electric car batteries that had to conquer early high costs, clean hydrogen has to get cheaper to be competitive and impactful. But getting even to cost parity with the dirty industrial variety made from natural gas won’t be easy — it’s made for as little as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61763&amp;src=email" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">$1.06 a kilogram</a>. Green hydrogen costs about four times as much.</p>



<p>The world uses about 92 million tons of hydrogen a year, mainly for heavy industry. By the end of the decade, industry researcher Wood Mckenzie estimates clean hydrogen production could grow to about 14 million tons, from essentially nothing now. It’s an amount that would mark the start of critical mass for the fuel. But that’s about 1 million tons less than it had previously anticipated in late 2023.</p>



<p>“We expected some delays, but they&#8217;re a bit more than what we and others had thought,” said Murray Douglas, vice president for hydrogen research at Wood Mackenzie in Edinburgh, Scotland.</p>



<p>“It’s everything: the cost of the renewable generation; it’s the rules; it’s general cost inflation across all industries; and then it&#8217;s also convincing (customers) that they should sign up now, rather than waiting for costs to come down,” he said. “When you put these things together, you begin to get a more bearish view of 2030.”</p>



<p>That’s leading some fossil fuel companies to take a presumptive victory lap.</p>



<p>“We should abandon the fantasy of phasing out oil and gas, and instead invest in them adequately, reflecting realistic demand assumptions,” Amin Nasser, CEO of Aramco, the world’s largest oil company,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aramco.com/en/news-media/speeches/2024/ceraweek-keynote-speech-by-amin-h-nasser" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;at S&amp;P Global’s recent CERAWeek conference in Houston. “Many of us have been saying for a long time that the world has been trying to transition in a fog, without a compass, on a road to nowhere.”</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-credit-critics"><strong>Credit Critics</strong></h2>



<p>Along with green hydrogen startups, incentives to ramp up a clean hydrogen industry need to compel fossil energy companies that are a big part of the climate problem to join in. But the plan as proposed doesn’t do that.</p>



<p>In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.regulations.gov/comment/IRS-2023-0066-28305" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">letter to regulators</a>, the biggest U.S. oil company said a project in Baytown, Texas, that it’s touted as the world’s largest low-carbon hydrogen plant, is at risk from the proposed credit rules that don’t incentivize carbon capture and storage. If they’re not altered, “the cost of the hydrogen produced will be such that the market for low carbon hydrogen will not be catalyzed and our project, and possibly others, will not proceed,” wrote ExxonMobil vice president Jim Chapman in the letter.</p>



<p>Even Plug Power, an early leader in green hydrogen, isn’t pleased with having to use power from new, clean sources to get the full credit. The company told&nbsp;<em>Forbes</em>&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.plugpower.com/plugs-california-green-hydrogen-plant-saves-water-creates-new-energy-source/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">green hydrogen plant in California</a>&nbsp;intended to make 500 tons of carbon-free hydrogen a day may not open next year as planned due to the 45V tax credit proposal and other factors. (Its first such facility opened in Georgia this year, getting electricity to make hydrogen from a new nuclear power plant. All hydrogen made there will be eligible for the credit)</p>



<p>As currently proposed, “we think the U.S. now takes a real backstep to Europe on hydrogen,” Plug CEO Andy Marsh said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2023/12/22/green-hydrogen-makers-say-strict-federal-tax-credit-rules-will-stall-us-boom/?sh=7877597f2e1c">December 2023 interview</a>.</p>



<p>A final version of the credit rules is expected late this year, likely before the November election.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pricey-fuel"><strong>Pricey Fuel</strong></h2>



<p>ExxonMobil’s interest in making cleaner hydrogen is understandable. Like Aramco, it already uses huge amounts of conventional hydrogen — and ranks among the&nbsp;<a href="https://carbonmajors.org/briefing/The-Carbon-Majors-Database-26913" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">world’s largest sources of carbon pollution</a>. That’s not a good look as the worsening climate crisis brings new record temperatures on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/04/09/march-record-global-heat/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">land</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/10/climate/ocean-heat-records.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">sea</a>&nbsp;almost weekly.</p>



<p>Given the global scale of its operations and cash reserves of more than $31 billion, ExxonMobil is well-positioned to be a leader in capturing and storing CO2 from its operations, making what’s known as blue hydrogen. But the Biden Administration has decided not to reward that approach.</p>



<p>A landmark&nbsp;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ese3.956" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">study by Cornell scientist Robert Howarth</a>&nbsp;found that carbon capture and storage is energy-intensive and leads to even more climate pollution than if the CO2 just wafted into the air. Its greenhouse gas footprint is also “more than 20% greater than burning natural gas or coal for heat and some 60% greater than burning diesel oil for heat,” the study found.</p>



<p>Unlike petroleum-based fuels, there’s no commodity market price for hydrogen. It’s supplied directly from producers to consumers. Big users, like oil refineries and chemical plants, get it for the lowest cost. Others pay much more.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>“The cost of hydrogen is running about 2.5 times more than for compressed natural gas.”Foothill Transit CEO Doran Barnes</p>
</blockquote>



<p>In California, the only U.S. market for hydrogen vehicles, Toyota-backed First Element operates dozens of fuel stations dispensing highly compressed hydrogen for an eye-popping $36 a kilogram to drivers of Toyota Mirai sedans and Hyundai Nexo SUVs. (The price is distorted by the fact that most hydrogen vehicle owners get prepaid cards for up to six years of free fuel.)</p>



<p>Prices are a bit better for Foothill Transit, a Los Angeles-area agency with three dozen hydrogen buses and that’s adding 20 more. It negotiated a multiyear rate from a hydrogen supplier of $9.12 a kilogram, said Foothill CEO Doran Barnes. And while the buses are reliable, “the cost of hydrogen is running about 2.5 times more than for compressed natural gas,” he said.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-need-for-power"><strong>Need For Power</strong></h2>



<p>The requirement that power to make green hydrogen come from new clean energy sources is understandable. The electric grid is already struggling to keep up with rising demand from power-hungry data centers, booming U.S. manufacturing and growth in electric vehicles that require charging.</p>



<p>“If we&#8217;re going to grow energy demands by producing electrolytic hydrogen we have to add new clean power resources to support that,” said Eric Guter, vice president of hydrogen mobility for Air Products, the world’s biggest supplier of the gas. “Otherwise we&#8217;re going to exacerbate the emissions problem on the backs of taxpayers, and that will destroy the long-term outlook for a viable clean hydrogen market.”</p>



<p>Air Products plans several large-scale green hydrogen projects that open later this decade — including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.airproducts.com/energy-transition/neom-green-hydrogen-complex" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">one in oil rich Saudi Arabia</a>&nbsp;— and supports the proposed tax credit rules. So too does Electric Hydrogen, which is developing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2024/02/21/green-hydrogen-could-help-save-the-planet-this-startup-wants-to-make-it-cheap/?sh=2543f9f28351">large-scale green hydrogen plants</a>. Cofounded by two solar industry veterans, the Boston-based company’s business plan is to locate hydrogen operations near new wind or solar projects and, ideally, avoid plugging into the grid. It’s raised more than $600 million from investors including Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Energy Impact Partners, BP Ventures and Amazon.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p>“We&#8217;re competing against 100 years of global subsidy, war, blood, fortune and gold that&#8217;s gone into making oil and gas what it is today.”Electric Hydrogen CEO Raffi Garabedian</p>
</blockquote>



<p>It wants to deliver its first commercial-scale green hydrogen plant late this year to billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://eh2.com/electric-hydrogen-to-supply-electrolyzer-technology-green-facility/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Wes Edens’ New Fortress Energy</a>. New Fortress intends to sell the fuel it makes to an ammonia producer. Powered by 100 megawatts of electricity, the plant will be capable of making up to 45 tons of fuel daily.</p>



<p>Garabedian said another early market for green hydrogen may be for sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, as regulations in Europe force airlines to use more low-carbon fuel. But as the company lines up customers, he understands the challenge ahead.</p>



<p>“We&#8217;re competing against 100 years of global subsidy, war, blood, fortune and gold that&#8217;s gone into making oil and gas what it is today. And it&#8217;s still the most highly subsidized industry in the world, other than the military,” he said. “Trying to compete with that on a cost basis, it&#8217;s insane.”</p>


New Green Hydrogen Tank construction site.

Green Hydrogen’s Hype Hits Some Very Expensive Hurdles


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Apple ceded the position of the world’s biggest phone maker to rival Samsung in the first quarter of 2024 after global iPhone shipments saw a steep slump, the latest setback for the tech giant since the start of the year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS52032524" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">latest report</a>&nbsp;by market research firm IDC, Apple’s smartphone shipments fell to 50.1 million units in the first quarter of 2024, down 9.6% year-on-year.</p>



<p>Apple’s sharp slump came despite the overall smartphone market growing 7.8%—driven largely by booming shipments of smartphones made by Chinese firms.</p>



<p>The drop in iPhone shipments means Samsung became the world’s biggest smartphone maker in the first three months of the year, with 60.1 million shipments.</p>



<p>Despite beating out the iPhone maker, Samsung’s smartphone shipments were down around 0.7% year-on-year.</p>



<p>Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi retained its spot as the world’s third-biggest phone maker while its shipments saw a major 33.8% growth.</p>



<p>Another Chinese firm Transsion, which makes low-cost smartphones that are popular in Africa, Latin America and Asia, saw its first-quarter shipments nearly double from 15.4 million in 2023 to 28.5 million this year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>Apple shares were down 1.18% in premarket trading Monday. The company’s stock has had a poor 2024, down nearly 5% since the start of the year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Apple, which started the year as the world’s most valuable company, has been plagued by bad news since the start of the year. Last month, Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Research reported that iPhone sales in China were down 24% year-over-year in the first six weeks of 2024. This is a major blow for the company as China accounts for more than 15% of its revenues. Apple also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2024/02/27/apple-abandoning-electric-car-quest-and-focusing-on-ai-report-says/?sh=52cdf327ac09">reportedly</a>&nbsp;abandoned a decade-long ambitious and expensive internal effort to build a self-driving car earlier this year. Last month, the Justice Department and multiple U.S. states&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/caileygleeson/2024/03/21/us-sues-apple-in-landmark-iphone-antitrust-case/?sh=7bafd4715ffc">filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;against Apple, accusing the company of violating antitrust laws through restrictive policies that hurt competitors and consumers. Apple’s investors have also been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2024/03/05/apple-stocks-plunge-continues-heres-why-its-at-a-crossroads/?sh=48ae2eeb3477">concerned</a>&nbsp;about the company’s artificial intelligence efforts, especially compared to rivals like Google, Microsoft and Meta. Last month, the Wall Street Journal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/03/18/apple-reportedly-in-talks-with-google-to-integrate-geminis-ai-service-into-the-iphone/?sh=130770907683">reported</a>&nbsp;that Apple held talks with Google to discuss integrating the search giant’s Gemini AI service into the iPhone—a likely sign that Apple’s internal AI efforts are still significantly behind its rivals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2024/03/05/apple-stocks-plunge-continues-heres-why-its-at-a-crossroads/?sh=22196a9e3477">Apple Stock’s Plunge Continues: Here’s Why It’s At A Crossroads</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/"></a></p>


iPhone15 On Sale in Chongqing

Apple Is No Longer The World’s Biggest Smartphone Maker By Volume—As Samsung Ships More Handsets In Q1


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>The price of bitcoin dropped by 7% on Saturday over the course of less than an hour, as prices for other cryptocurrencies also sharply declined after Iran launched an attack on Israel.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>The price of bitcoin was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/digital-assets/assets/bitcoin-btc/?sh=57fc0c8a4357">down</a>&nbsp;7% to $62,570 as of 4:40 p.m. Saturday afternoon, after the cryptocurrency briefly fell to a low on the day of $60,908 minutes earlier.</p>



<p>The price of ethereum fell over 9% to $2,923, while prices for Binance coin and solana dropped 9% and nearly 18%, respectively.</p>



<p>Prices for several less-traded cryptocurrencies dropped by at least 15%, including avalanche (20%), XRP (20%) and the meme token dogecoin (18%).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>$73,750. That’s what the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/in/investing/cryptocurrency/bitcoin-down-to-64000-after-record-high/">price</a>&nbsp;for bitcoin was on March 24, the all-time high price for the cryptocurrency.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Concerns over increased geopolitical conflict in the Middle East have impacted U.S. markets in recent days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/12/investing/stocks-oil-banks-geopolitics/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">dropped</a>&nbsp;by 475 points Friday, after the White House said the U.S. and Israel were preparing for a potential attack by Iran. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon told investors geopolitical conflict was cause for concern, noting it could “be determinative on what happens to the global economy if oil and gas prices go too high,” CNN&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/12/investing/jpmorgan-chase-bank-earnings-q1/index.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reported</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/2024/04/13/iran-launches-drone-attack-on-israel/?sh=343044cb2130">Iran Launches Drone Attack On Israel</a> (<em>Forbes</em>)<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/"></a></p>


Iran-Reaction, IRGC Missile And UAV Attack On Israel

Bitcoin Plummets After Iran Launches Attack On Israel


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Iran’s long-anticipated attack on Israel has started, as the country has launched unmanned aerial vehicles from within Iran set to reach Israel in the next “several hours,” the <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1779242779182288964" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Israel Defense Forces</a> confirmed Saturday afternoon.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>In a press conference, IDF spokesperson&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1779241449889919327" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Daniel Hagari</a>&nbsp;said the IDF is going to “try to prevent them from reaching Israeli territory.”</p>



<p>He added the IDF would inform the public of additional threats if necessary, while the IDF is on “high alert and is constantly monitoring the operational situation”—Iran has also launched cruise missiles in addition to the drones, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-04-13-24/h_459325a36ff45ef1b197dc12352d75ce" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CNN</a>, citing Israeli media.</p>



<p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/04/13/statement-from-nsc-spokesperson-adrienne-watson-on-attacks-against-israel/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">White House</a>&nbsp;issued a statement confirming Iran’s “airborne attack against Israel,” noting President Joe Biden is being “regularly updated on the situation” by national security officials and is in “constant communication” with Israel and other allies.</p>



<p>The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly confirmed the strikes in a statement read on Iranian state media, according to<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-04-13-24/h_885917fe5b91668450e443aab2c20d29" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> CNN</a> and the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/04/13/world/israel-iran-gaza-war-news" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Times</a>, claiming it had launched “dozens of drones and missiles” toward “certain targets in the territories of the Zionist regime.”</p>



<div class="wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile"><figure class="wp-block-media-text__media"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="705" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GettyImages-2147801988.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-61656 size-full" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GettyImages-2147801988.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GettyImages-2147801988-300x207.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GettyImages-2147801988-768x529.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure><div class="wp-block-media-text__content">
<p><strong><em>An Iranian man is sitting on a sidewalk in downtown Tehran, Iran, on April 14, 2024, holding a Jam-e Jam daily newspaper that features an illustrated image of Iran&#8217;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) missile and UAV attack. He is looking on as Iran launches dozens of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and missiles against Israel in response to the Israeli attack on its Consulate in Damascus. (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)</em></strong></p>
</div></div>



<p>The attacks have been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/2024/04/13/everything-we-know-about-a-potential-iranian-attack-on-israel-as-us-suggests-strike-is-imminent/?sh=1a2984c665a9">highly anticipated</a>&nbsp;following a strike on an Iranian embassy in Syria—which Iran blamed on Israel—that killed several Iranian military officials, prompting global concern that an Iranian strike could widen tensions across the region amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.</p>



<p>Just ahead of the attack, the IDF issued new <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1779202651688702286" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guidelines</a> for Israeli citizens at home, limiting certain gatherings to 1,000 people and prohibiting educational activities across the country, while <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/jordan-temporarily-close-airspace-state-media-says-2024-04-13/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jordan </a>and <a href="https://www.barrons.com/news/iraq-closes-airspace-as-iran-launches-attack-on-israel-ministry-4adb745a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iraq</a> reportedly closed their airspace temporarily.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>“The United States will stand with the people of Israel and support their defense against these threats from Iran,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in the White House statement.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT WE DON’T KNOW</h2>



<p>It’s unclear what Iran is targeting—though recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-10/us-sees-missile-strike-on-israel-by-iran-proxies-as-imminent?sref=yYYRek8e" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reports&nbsp;</a>had suggested Iran was planning on targeting military or government sites. It’s unclear how, or if, Israel will respond to the attack. Israeli officials had in recent days vowed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-latest-04-11-2024-9774f91ef80126e580ea5a9b3b84eb74" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">retaliation</a>&nbsp;in the event of an attack.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mollybohannon/2024/04/12/biden-expects-iran-to-attack-israel-sooner-rather-than-later/?sh=11f13de82b53">Biden</a>&nbsp;had also promised the United States would support Israel in the event of an Iranian attack. Iranian officials had criticized both Israel and the United States immediately following the embassy attack—Iran’s U.N. ambassador<a href="https://newyork.mfa.ir/portal/NewsView/742465/Ambassador39s-Statement-Before-UNSC-Following-Israeli-Regime39s-Airstrikes" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;Zahra Ershada</a>&nbsp;said in a statement that the “United States is responsible for all crimes committed by the Israeli regime,” while&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/MhmmdJamshidi/status/1776238843710058907" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Mohammad Jamshidi</a>, an advisory to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, said in a message directed to the U.S. on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Stay away so you won’t get hurt.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CONTRA</h2>



<p>Some reports suggest Iran is aiming to avoid a wider conflict, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-edge-iranian-retaliation-after-embassy-strike-2024-04-12/#:~:text=IRAN%20WANTS%20TO%20AVOID%20ESCALATION%2C%20SOURCES%20SAY&amp;text=Iranian%20sources%20and%20diplomats%20from,might%20spin%20out%20of%20control." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Reuters&nbsp;</a>reporting Friday that Iranian sources said Tehran had alerted the U.S. that it hopes to avoid a broader conflict.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>At his press conference, Hagari said Israel’s army had been preparing for the attack in advance and “all of its elements both on the defensive and the offensive are prepared.” He said Israel has various “circles of protection” from its navy and air force with additional circles of protection from the United States. He added: “We have an excellent air defense system and it is now in full operation, but you must remember it’s never 100%—the defensive measures,” and urged residents to remain calm.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The airstrike on the facility in Syria reportedly killed seven Iranian military officials. Israel has been widely blamed for the attack, though it has not claimed responsibility. The strike and anticipated response has prompted concern that continued tit-for-tat between Israel and Iran could significantly widen the crisis in the Middle East, expanding out from the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Iran has long been a vocal supporter of Hamas and materially supports other proxy groups that oppose Israel, like the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon.</p>


Iranians Celebrate Iran’s IRGC Missile And UAV Attack Against Israel

Iran Launches Drone Attack On Israel


<p><strong>World Central Kitchen has delivered 43 million meals to Palestinians facing starvation. Now the organization is calling for an investigation into the attack in which seven workers were killed.</strong></p>



<p>What were the clearly marked World Central Kitchen vans full of as they delivered food in the southern Gazan city of Deir al-Balah this week, before the horrific killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers? Rice, flour, legumes.&nbsp;<strong>Also among the supplies: Dates.</strong>&nbsp;To celebrate Ramadan. To bring a brief moment of tradition to a region facing catastrophic loss.</p>



<p>World Central Kitchen has <strong>delivered 43 million meals to Palestinians facing starvation</strong>, as access to food and water have been under attack. People like chef José Andrés’ volunteers have been risking it all to bring humanity to an inhumane crisis. The deadly attack this week is far from the first time food has been weaponized in Palestine, and while World Central Kitchen is <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/04/04/world-central-kitchen-demands-independent-probe-into-israeli-strike-that-killed-seven-aid-workers-in-gaza/">calling for an independent commission to investigate the killings</a>, millions are waiting to see if this shocking loss will create change.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-related-stories">Related Stories</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2022/06/16/russia-widens-attack-on-food-with-bombing-of-train-bound-for-jos-andrs-world-central-kitchen/">Russia Widens Attack On Food With Bombing Of Train Bound For José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2022/11/07/jos-andrs-has-some-things-to-get-off-his-chest-as-world-central-kitchen-prepares-for-brutal-ukraine-winter/">José Andrés Has Some Things To Get Off His Chest As World Central Kitchen Prepares For A Brutal Ukraine Winter</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2023/10/20/fresh-take-cooking-through-crisis/">Finding Moments Of Joy And Inspiration In <em>The World Central Kitchen Cookbook</em></a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2022/04/27/water-emerges-as-weapon-of-war-in-ukraine-and-beyond/">Water Emerges As Weapon Of War In Ukraine And Beyond</a></li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center"><strong>What’s Fresh</strong></h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/errolschweizer/2024/04/03/how-food-industry-workers-want-to-modernize-the-farm-bill/"><strong>How Food Industry Workers Want To Modernize The Farm Bill</strong></a></h3>



<p>Essential&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/errolschweizer/2024/04/03/how-food-industry-workers-want-to-modernize-the-farm-bill/">food workers are organizing</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<strong>ensure that the Farm Bill is keeping up</strong>&nbsp;with the needs of their communities.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/errolschweizer/2024/03/27/why-independent-grocers-are-pushing-for-better-antitrust-enforcement/"><strong>Why Independent Grocers Are Pushing For Better Antitrust Enforcement</strong></a></h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="740" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1237046063.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-53534" style="width:612px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1237046063.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1237046063-300x217.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/GettyImages-1237046063-768x555.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(Photo by Kyodo News via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


<p><strong>Independently owned grocery stores</strong>&nbsp;are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/errolschweizer/2024/03/27/why-independent-grocers-are-pushing-for-better-antitrust-enforcement/">enthusiastic about recent FTC actions</a>&nbsp;that could start to level the industry playing field.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/daphneewingchow/2024/03/31/spread-the-word-here-are-the-biggest-trends-in-butter/"><strong>Spread The Word: Here Are The Biggest Trends In Butter</strong></a></h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="767" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Roasted-coffee-laid-out-for-a-cupping-tasting-session-767x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-53663" style="width:524px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Roasted-coffee-laid-out-for-a-cupping-tasting-session-767x1024.jpg 767w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Roasted-coffee-laid-out-for-a-cupping-tasting-session-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Roasted-coffee-laid-out-for-a-cupping-tasting-session-768x1025.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Roasted-coffee-laid-out-for-a-cupping-tasting-session.jpg 809w" sizes="(max-width: 767px) 100vw, 767px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Roasted coffee laid out for a cupping (tasting) session. </figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Social&nbsp;<strong>conversations about Butter have increased by 23.57%</strong>&nbsp;over the past year. Here are the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/daphneewingchow/2024/03/31/spread-the-word-here-are-the-biggest-trends-in-butter/">trends driving butter&#8217;s growth</a>.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/daphneewingchow/2024/03/31/policy-makers-should-not-overlook-the-role-of-culture-in-food-security/"><strong>New Movement Emphasizes The Role Of Culture In Global Food Security</strong></a></h3>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="774" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-200530070-001-1024x774.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-60561" style="width:496px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-200530070-001-1024x774.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-200530070-001-300x227.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-200530070-001-768x581.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-200530070-001-1536x1161.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/GettyImages-200530070-001.jpg 1991w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">(Getty Images)</figcaption></figure></div>


<p>With its&nbsp;<strong>focus on leveraging food culture as a catalyst for change</strong>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/daphneewingchow/2024/03/31/policy-makers-should-not-overlook-the-role-of-culture-in-food-security/">Food Culture Alliance offers tangible pathways</a>&nbsp;toward achieving food security.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveknox/2024/03/25/mls-journey-from-restaurant-success-to-cpg-triumph/"><strong>MìLà’s Journey From Restaurant Success To CPG Triumph</strong></a></h3>



<p>From its&nbsp;<strong>humble beginnings as a restaurant in 2018</strong>&nbsp;to its foray into the CPG realm,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveknox/2024/03/25/mls-journey-from-restaurant-success-to-cpg-triumph/">MìLà&#8217;s unique approach</a>&nbsp;has captured the hearts and palates of a diverse audience.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/errolschweizer/2024/03/24/why-austin-frerick-is-taking-on-the-grocery-barons/"><strong>Why Austin Frerick Is Taking On The Grocery Barons</strong></a></h3>



<p>Iowa-born antitrust scholar Austin Frerick has seen firsthand&nbsp;<strong>how consolidation has wrecked the American food system</strong>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/errolschweizer/2024/03/24/why-austin-frerick-is-taking-on-the-grocery-barons/">His crucial new book</a>&nbsp;shows how to fix it.</p>


Closeup shot of a man holding his hands under a stream of water outdoors

Fresh Take: Food And Water Access Under Attack


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Hundreds of content creators signed an open letter asking Meta to scrap a decision to curb the reach of “political content” on Instagram and Threads, amid concern the change could limit marginalized creators’ reach across the platforms.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://accountabletech.org/wp-content/uploads/Open-Letter-to-Instagram.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">letter</a>, first reported on by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/04/10/politics-instagram-threads-limits/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>, was organized by the groups Accountable Tech—a nonprofit that advocates for better regulation of Big Tech companies—and the LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD, and includes the handles of more than 200 accounts, including popular accounts like the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/feminist/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">@feminist</a>&nbsp;account, with which has 6 million followers on Instagram.</p>



<p>The signatories argue the&nbsp;<a href="https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/continuing-our-approach-to-political-content-on-instagram-and-threads/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">policy</a>, announced in February, is “undermining the reach of our content online,” and is hurting efforts to “foster more inclusive and participatory democracy and society during a critical inflection point for our country.”</p>



<p>Forbes has contacted Meta for comment and did not immediately hear back—but Meta spokesperson Andy Stone told the Washington Post the change “expands on years of work on how we approach and treat political content based on what people have told us they wanted,” and Meta officials have previously<a href="https://deadline.com/2023/07/instagram-boss-politics-hard-news-not-pushed-threads-not-worth-scrutiny-negativity-integrity-risks-1235432486/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">&nbsp;suggested</a>&nbsp;they believe Instagram and Threads should focus their content on other topics aside from politics or hard news.</p>



<p>With Meta’s definition of “political content” including “social topics,” creators are concerned the new policy could “limit the reach of individuals and organizations whose identities and/or advocacy have been rendered a ‘social topic’ in this country,” the letter states, singling out advocacy efforts on climate change, gun violence prevention and transgender rights.</p>



<p>The creators are calling for Meta to change the policy so that users could “opt-in” to limiting so-called political content, rather than by opting them out by default.</p>



<p>The decision comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/familyequality/p/C5ixsJeLnSk/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">several</a>&nbsp;affected&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/innercitystruggle/p/C486cuxv-jo/?img_index=1" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">accounts</a>&nbsp;have been raising concern that the policy could affect the reach of news about LGBTQ+ issues, and have been providing instructions for followers to turn off the new settings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-has-the-policy-changed">HOW HAS THE POLICY CHANGED?</h2>



<p>In a February&nbsp;<a href="https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/continuing-our-approach-to-political-content-on-instagram-and-threads/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">blog post</a>, Instagram said it will no longer “proactively recommend content about politics” from accounts users don’t follow across Instagram or Threads. Users who still want recommended posts on political content will be able to access an option to turn off limits in their content preferences. The policy applies to public accounts, and doesn’t change how users will see content from accounts they actively follow. Professional accounts can see whether their content is eligible to be recommended, and can request reviews if they disagree.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>The open letter comes as content creators in recent weeks have been voicing concern about Meta’s new approach and also about how LGBTQ+ issues are treated across the tech giant’s platforms. Last month,&nbsp;<a href="https://glaad.org/smsi/report-meta-fails-to-moderate-extreme-anti-trans-hate-across-facebook-instagram-and-threads/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">GLAAD</a>&nbsp;released a report detailing how anti-transgender posts proliferated across the platforms despite policies aimed at preventing them, as LGBTQ+ creators have said that their own content is being limited by the policy, according to the Washington Post. Some creators have raised concern about how “political content” is defined, with Instagram influencer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/katiegrossbard/?hl=en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Katie Grossbard</a>&nbsp;telling&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/creators-reaction-meta-instagram-limiting-political-content-rcna144969" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">NBC News</a>&nbsp;last month: “This decision directly harms communities whose entire existence is political.”</p>



<p>PROMOTED</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-contra">CONTRA</h2>



<p><a href="https://deadline.com/2023/07/instagram-boss-politics-hard-news-not-pushed-threads-not-worth-scrutiny-negativity-integrity-risks-1235432486/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Adam Mosseri,</a>&nbsp;Instagram’s head, has suggested he doesn’t see Instagram or Threads as being a central place for politics, writing on Threads that while “politics and hard news are important,” using them as a revenue source “is not at all worth the scrutiny, negativity (let’s be honest) or integrity risks that come along with them.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>16%. As the open letter points out, that’s the percentage of adults who say they regularly get news on Instagram, per a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/social-media-and-news-fact-sheet/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Pew Research Poll</a>.</p>


INDIA-US-INTERNET-FACEBOOK

Creators Say Meta Shouldn’t Curb ‘Political Content’ In Policy Change Backlash


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said Israel will be moving forward with a planned attack on the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip despite pleas from the United States and other countries concerned for the 1 million civilians sheltering there.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Netanyahu&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1777380259131789536" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">on Monday said</a>&nbsp;a victory against the militant group Hamas, which attacked Israel in October, &#8220;requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen &#8211; there is a date.”</p>



<p>The prime minister has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/02/09/israeli-prime-minister-orders-plan-to-evacuate-13-million-people-in-rafah/?sh=69e1c8e22e08">for months insisted</a>&nbsp;attacks in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza strip, are necessary to eliminate Hamas and win the six-month war, but Western allies have warned against attacking the city that holds more than 1 million civilian refugees who have been driven from their homes.</p>



<p>Netanyahu’s announcement follows backlash from his far-right supporters after <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2024/04/07/rafah-invasion-on-pause-israel-withdraws-most-troops-from-southern-gaza-heres-what-that-could-mean/?sh=5046a14124b2">Israel withdrew</a> most of its troops from southern Gaza on Sunday, a decision met with scrutiny and a threat from security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/5b4fed42-cbb6-472d-8e3a-6249c6d9c6cb" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warning</a> that if he didn’t launch a &#8220;large-scale offensive&#8221; in Rafah, Netanyahu &#8220;will not have a mandate to continue&#8221; as prime minister.</p>



<p>The United States has put increasing pressure on Netanyahu to not authorize a major military strike in Rafah—President Joe Biden weeks ago said to do so would be a “<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/18/biden-warns-netanyahu-against-mistake-of-invading-rafah-white-house" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">mistake</a>” and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/biden-warns-israel-to-protect-civilians-aid-workers-in-gaza-or-risk-losing-u-s-support#:~:text=Today%2C%20for%20the%20first%20time,the%20civilian%20suffering%20in%20Gaza." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Thursday said</a>&nbsp;continued U.S. support for the war in Gaza would depend on how well Israel worked to protect civilians and aid workers.</p>



<p>Biden told Netanyahu that he needed to take “measurable” steps to ease &#8220;civilian harm, humanitarian suffering and the safety of aid workers” or risk losing the support of the United States, Israel&#8217;s closest ally.</p>



<p>About two-thirds of the entire population of the Gaza Strip (some 1.5 million people) was sheltering in Gaza as of two weeks ago with no safe way to evacuate, Deepmala Mahl of the humanitarian organization CARE International&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/israeli-invasion-rafah-palestinian-civilians/story?id=108395828#:~:text=With%20about%20two-thirds%20of,evacuate%20them%2C%22%20she%20said." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">told ABC News</a>&nbsp;while warning of a &#8220;terrible loss of life&#8221; if Israel&#8217;s military invades.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Netanyahu&#8217;s announcement comes one day after the six-month anniversary of an attack on Israel by Hamas that saw the group kill about 1,200 Israelis and take 253 hostages on Oct. 7. Twenty days later, Israel responded by carrying out attacks in Gaza that the territory’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.barrons.com/news/health-ministry-in-hamas-run-gaza-says-war-death-toll-at-33-207-1c950825" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">health ministry says</a>&nbsp;have killed more than 33,000 people. In that time, more than 2.3 million residents of Gaza have been displaced, more than half of whom&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-09-2024-d3229eec6a85c071248d3ddc2de2a73e" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">sought shelter</a>&nbsp;in Rafah. Military operations in Rafah have been increasingly criticized by foreign governments and international organizations. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nrc.no/news/2024/february/gaza-israels-military-operation-in-rafah-would-be-fatal-for-displaced-civilians-and-humanitarian-aid/#:~:text=Any%20further%20deterioration%20in%20humanitarian,showers%2C%20or%20personal%20hygiene%20items." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Norwegian Refugee Council</a>&nbsp;said an attack would &#8220;turn Rafah into a zone of bloodshed and destruction&#8221; and&nbsp;<a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/care-statement-grave-humanitarian-consequences-military-operation-rafah" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CARE International&nbsp;</a>warned against &#8220;devastating consequences for civilians.&#8221; In addition to Biden&#8217;s concerns on behalf of the United States, more than two dozen countries in the&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/israeli-invasion-rafah-palestinian-civilians/story?id=108395828#:~:text=With%20about%20two-thirds%20of,evacuate%20them%2C%22%20she%20said." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">European Union</a>&nbsp;(all but Hungry) last month warned against what they called a &#8220;catastrophic&#8221; offensive plan in Rafah.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-to-watch-for">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h2>



<p>Continued negotiations in Cairo. Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz on Monday told Israel’s Army Radio that the country has reached a &#8220;critical point&#8221; in its negotiations with Hamas over the safe return of 133 hostages still held in Gaza by the militant group. “I am more optimistic than I was,&#8221;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/5b4fed42-cbb6-472d-8e3a-6249c6d9c6cb" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">he reportedly said</a>, &#8220;but we can’t promise things when dealing with Hamas.” Netanyahu&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1777380259131789536" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;Monday also referenced the talks in Cairo, saying &#8220;we are working all the time to achieve our goals, primarily the release of all our hostages and achieving a complete victory over Hamas.&#8221;</p>


Author: Forbes

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