1 Israel Responds To Hamas Rockets With Airstrikes In Gaza
What happens when Hamas fires 150 rockets into Southern Israel? First, Israel stops a number of them courtesy of the Iron Dome defense system – but then, Israel returns fire. Fast forward and now Hamas has reportedly fired 250 missiles in all, and the Israeli Defense Forces say they’ve struck 130 militant targets. Beyond that, Hamas is claiming hundreds as injured while the list of Israeli casualties reportedly stands at less than a dozen. The skirmish has seen Hamas targeting Jerusalem for the first time since 2014 explosions could be heard in what was believed to be the first time the city had been targeted since a 2014 war. Still officials say there are already signs that tensions are calming.
2 Pfizer’s COVID Vaccine Now Authorized For Adolescents
The FDA says Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine can be given to adolescents 12 through 15-years-old. The agency says the emergency use authorization expansion is a key step in fighting COVID-19. Commissioner Janet Woodcock says vaccinating younger people will allow the U.S. to return to normalcy. The two-dose vaccine has been available for people over 16-years-old since December. The vaccine is reportedly 100% effective in preventing serious illness. Still, a new survey finds that parents aren’t exactly jumping to vaccinate their kids – in fact, mothers are said to be more hesitant than fathers to participate. How hesitant? While 11% of father say they’ll hold off on vaccinating their children, that number jumps to 27% of mothers.
3 Gas Stations Starting To Run Out Of Fuel
All hands are on deck in the Biden Administration in the wake of the Colonial Pipeline shutdown. A security breach forced the move and now, gas stations in the South are already running on empty. At issue? More than five-thousand miles of a pipeline that serves the South and the East Coast were shut down after a cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline's computer system. There are reports of stations running out of fuel around the South. Apart from shortages, the pipeline shutdown is also expected to cause prices to spike. If there’s good news, it’s that the pipeline is preparing to come back online – as officials say they hope to restore full service by the end of the week. In a statement, Colonial said it's working closely with the Energy Department which is "leading and coordinating the federal government's response." The company added the situation "remains fluid" and it's following an incremental approach with safety and compliance driving its decisions.