Good morning. It's Tuesday, May 11, and we're covering escalating violence in Israel, pushback on Facebook's latest project, and much more. Have feedback? Let us know at [email protected].

First time reading? Sign up here.

NEED TO KNOW

Violence in Jerusalem

A week of escalating tensions in Israel crescendoed yesterday, as the country's military launched an operation in the Gaza Strip after Hamas militants fired dozens of rockets into Jerusalem. The first rocket attack by Hamas on Jerusalem since 2014, the barrage followed clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians near the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount, an area sacred to both Judaism and Islam.

More than 700 people were reportedly injured throughout the day, with 24 Palestinians killed in Israeli counterstrikes in the Gaza Strip. Israel said the home of a Hamas commander was targeted; Gaza officials claimed nine children were among those killed. 

The violence coincided with Jerusalem Day, an Israeli national holiday marking the reunification of the city following the 1967 Six-Day War. Officials rerouted a flag parade—often viewed as a provocation as it moves through Muslim neighborhoods—to avoid violence.

Fueling the clashes are the looming evictions of a number of Palestinian families from their longtime homes in the Old City neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Israeli settler groups have waged a decadeslong legal battle claiming ancestral rights to the land—the country's Supreme Court delayed a planned hearing on the case yesterday until at least June 8. See an overview of the evictions here.

Hamas has threatened to respond to military attacks by Israel, prompting fears the crisis may continue to escalate. 

DarkSide Admits Hack

Officials from the FBI confirmed yesterday a cyberattack that shut down one of the nation's biggest gas pipelines was carried out by a cybercriminal outfit known as DarkSide. The group, based in Eastern Europe, is believed to develop, use, and sell ransomware—malicious software capable of locking IT systems until payment is made. Colonial Pipeline, which supplies an estimated 45% of the East Coast's gasoline, shut down its network as a proactive measure after being hit with the attack late last week. 

In a twist, DarkSide representatives said they didn't mean to create problems, but rather to simply "make some money." The group, which claims to have an ethical code, represents an emerging phenomenon of hackers operating as enterprises—DarkSide even reportedly has a call-in number and help desk for its victims. 

It's unclear whether the company paid the ransom; service is expected to be restored by next week.

Instagram for Kids

Forty-four state and territory attorneys general sent a letter yesterday to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, urging him to abandon plans for an Instagram-like platform designed for children younger than 13 years old. The letter cited a range of concerns, including mental health effects, increased cyberbullying, child predators, and more. 

Children under 13 are technically not allowed on the platform currently (though nothing prevents them from misrepresenting their age). The company has been tight-lipped about the project but has confirmed it is exploring an option that would allow parental control. Facebook has previously developed a children's version of its messenger app—a bug discovered in 2019 allowed children to chat with unauthorized strangers.

Read the letter here.

If you found today's 1440 valuable, consider sharing us with a friend.

BLOOM OR BUST

This spring, April showers brought May flowers in full force, and we've enjoyed every day of the wonderful blooming (minus the allergies, of course).

But flowers aren't the only thing that can grow this month: Why not see if your home and auto insurance savings can bloom too? No, really—what you find might surprise you! Policygenius has saved shoppers up to $1,055 per year on what they were previously paying for home and auto insurance, simply by comparing policies in one place. They can help you find options that are nearly identical to what you have now: just at a lower price.

And once you find a policy you like, the Policygenius team will handle all of the paperwork to set up your new home and auto insurance, or switch over your current one. It's totally free; see how much you could be saving today.

Please support our sponsors!

IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> Washington Wizards star Russell Westbrook breaks NBA record for career triple-doubles (double digits in three of five statistical categories) with 182 (More) | Medina Spirit heads to this Saturday’s Preakness Stakes without trainer Bob Baffert after the Kentucky Derby-winning horse failed a postrace drug test (More)

> NBC won’t air 2022 Golden Globes as criticism mounts over the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s lack of diversity among its members (More) | Tom Cruise returns three Golden Globes in protest (More)

> Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry's new series "The Me You Can't See" on mental health issues to premiere May 21 on AppleTV+ (More) | More than 1.7 million Americans took flights over Mother’s Day, a US pandemic-era record (More)

Science & Technology

> Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in the US for adolescents aged 12 to 15 (More) | Vaccination rate falls to around 2 million doses per day; roughly 58% of US adults have received at least one shot (More)

> Brain implant allows scientists to trigger instant social bonds between mice; social engagement could also be deprogrammed in real time (More)

> NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft begins two-year return voyage, carrying rubble retrieved from the asteroid Bennu; mission is the first time the US has returned asteroid material (More)

Business & Markets

Brought to you by The Ascent

> US stock markets slide (S&P 500 -1.0%, Dow -0.1%, Nasdaq -2.6%) as investors rotate out of high-growth stocks (More)

> Online gaming platform Roblox sees 140% quarterly revenue growth in first report as public company; shares up 4% in after-hours trading (More)

> Chipotle to increase wages, offer referral bonuses as it seeks to hire 20,000 workers (More)

From our partners: A cash back dream. This card offers incredible cash back rates across spending categories every quarter, along with a sign-up bonus worth $200. Check it out today for no annual fee.

Politics & World Affairs

> House GOP to vote tomorrow on whether to oust Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) from her leadership position over continued criticism of former President Donald Trump (More) | Biden administration reinstates Obama-era antidiscrimination healthcare rules for transgender patients (More)

> China's population growth slows, rising by 72 million people since 2010 to 1.41 billion; number of working-age adults falls as overall population ages (More)

> California reports a record surplus near $76B, driven by tax receipts from Silicon Valley and capital gains taxes; state required by law to send refund checks to residents (More)

IN-DEPTH

What Caused the Roaring Twenties?

Smithsonian | Lila Thulin. With many predicting an economic boom as the US emerges from the pandemic, historians remain skeptical of drawing parallels to the 1918 flu and the uproarious decade that followed. (Read)

The Inexplicable World of Dowsing

Outside | Dan Schwartz. For centuries, dowsers have claimed the ability to discover buried treasure, oil deposits, groundwater, and more through a mystical sixth sense. Is it a mere hustle or uncanny intuition? (Read)

COMPARE TO SAVE

In partnership with Policygenius

We're almost halfway through 2021. It's high time you take home and auto insurance off your to-do list and head into June with one less thing to worry about.

Policygenius compares quotes to help you see if you're overpaying on your current insurance. If you find a better deal, their team will handle all the paperwork and red tape to set up your new policy or switch over your existing one. They've saved shoppers up to $1,055 per year—compare quotes for free today.

Please support our sponsors!

ETCETERA

Last year's most popular baby names.

Breaking down the Dogecoin phenomenon.

Harvard application essay on a lost parent goes viral.

From our partners: Artificial ingredients? Not here. Kettle & Fire's bone broths are packed with collagen, amino acids, and the nutrients your body needs—without preservatives, additives, coloring, or artificial flavors. It's the perfect afternoon snack to get you through the day; just use code 1440 for 25% off, then simmer and sip.

Get vaccinated in Dracula's castle.

The 2021 travel hot list.

Mother and newborn bond with new gorilla mother. (via YouTube)

Mapping America's broadband problem.

Nothing to see here, just a tiger wandering around residential Houston

Clickbait: High winds leave man in China dangling from a glass bridge.

Historybook: Composer and songwriter Irving Berlin born (1888); Salvador Dalí born (1904); Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is founded (1927); RIP Bob Marley (1981); Deep Blue becomes the first computer to defeat a world champion in chess (1997).

"Don't be afraid of perfection. You will never attain it."

- Salvador Dalí

Enjoy reading? Forward this email to a friend.

Why 1440? The printing press was invented in the year 1440, spreading knowledge to the masses and changing the course of history. Guess what else? There are 1,440 minutes in a day and every one is precious. That’s why we scour hundreds of sources every day to provide a concise, comprehensive, and objective view of what's happening in the world. Reader feedback is a gift—shoot us a note at [email protected].

Interested in advertising to smart readers like you? Apply here!