In the news today: Qatar reacts to leaked remarks by Israel’s prime minister; grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners could soon fly again; and a look at why states like Alabama are exploring new execution methods. Also, do you take salt with your tea? Over the next few weeks, we'll be testing some changes to the newsletter format. Please let us know what you think! |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Ronen Zvulun/Pool via AP) |
Qatar, key mediator in sensitive Israel-Hamas talks, lashes out at Netanyahu over critical remarks |
Qatar said it was appalled Wednesday by leaked remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he criticized the Arab country’s mediation efforts with Hamas, complicating already arduous negotiations meant to halt the hostilities in exchange for a release of hostages. Read more.
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- Qatar, along with Egypt, is working on a new agreement that could set free more hostages, and potentially offer some respite in the devastating 3-month war. But officials say the gap between the two sides is still wide, and the spat between Netanyahu and Qatar could rattle negotiations.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said his government was “appalled” by the reported remarks but that they were “not surprising.” If the remarks are confirmed, Netanyahu “would only be obstructing and undermining the mediation process, for reasons that appear to serve his political career instead of prioritizing saving innocent lives, including Israeli hostages,” Majed al-Ansari said.
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FAA approves inspection process that could clear the way for grounded Boeing planes to fly again |
Federal regulators have approved an inspection process that will let airlines resume flying their Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners, which have been grounded since a side panel blew out of a plane in midflight earlier this month. Read more. |
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Boeing said it will work with the FAA and airlines to get the grounded planes back in the air. Alaska and United Airlines — the only U.S. carriers with Max 9s — have canceled hundreds of flights, and United said this week that it would lose money in the first three months of this year because of the grounding.
The FAA would not agree to any Boeing request to expand production of Max planes until the agency is satisfied that quality-control concerns have been addressed, FAA head Mike Whitaker said.
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Why are states like Alabama exploring new execution methods? |
An Alabama execution Thursday that would be the first to use nitrogen gas is the result of a long history of problems with lethal injections since Texas first used the method in 1982. Read more. |
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Three states — Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma — have authorized nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method, but no state has attempted to use the untested method until now.
Many states have had difficulty obtaining the lethal chemicals used to carry out executions. Many manufacturers of the drugs have prohibited the use of their products being in executions or stopped manufacturing them altogether.
- Nitrogen gas isn’t the only method states are exploring. South Carolina passed a law allowing a firing squad in 2021 and electrocution, hanging and other forms of lethal gas also remain on the books in several death penalty states.
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A cup of English grown tea at Kew Gardens in London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) |
A US scientist has brewed up a storm by offering Britain advice on making tea
An American scientist has sparked a trans-Atlantic tempest by offering Britain advice on its favorite hot beverage. Chemistry professor Michelle Francl says one of the keys to a perfect cup of tea is a pinch of salt. |
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