Russia’s World Cup win was good for Putin. Russian dissidents loved it anyway.

stunts such as hosting the World Cup and the Olympics — that it would rarely celebrate something like this. And yet, here the opposition was, temporarily putting aside an issue that worries so many: Putin raising taxes and the retirement age as the economy continues to putter along. Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oil magnate turned revolutionary after Putin jailed him for a decade on trumped-up charges, was jubilant. “Incredible!!” he tweeted. Even Alexei Navalny, the undisputed leader of the opposition, was over the moon. On Saturday, Navalny met his younger bother, Oleg, outside the prison gates where Oleg had spent three years, often in solitary confinement for months at a time, for the crime of being Alexei Navalny’s brother. Yet when the Russian team rocked Spain in the shootout, Navalny wasted no time in calling for protests — to make the Kremlin bestow Russia’s highest honor, Hero of Russia, on Akinfeev, the goalie. (“It’s so wonderful,” he gushed later.) After the past two years, Americans would readily recognize the Russia these Russians inhabit, a country so deeply polarized that every little thing is viewed through a political lens: Does this help the president, or hurt him? Does it legitimize him in the eyes of the world, or bring him one step closer to self-destruction? But Russia has existed this way for far, far longer. And since the war against Ukraine began in 2014, Russia has been keyed up at a level of previously unseen jingoism. Yet there was no anti-Western schadenfreude Sunday, even though Spain is a member of both NATO and the European Union, which issued sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. More surprisingly, there was very little anti-Putin rhetoric even among the people who spend their waking hours imagining a Russia after his demise. Putin wasn’t at the game. He has never been much of a soccer fan; he’s much more of a hockey man, and the World Cup was more of an exercise in securing global legitimacy than in celebrating the beautiful game. (That, and who wants to be there if the team loses?) But he was present behind the scenes, reportedly calling the Russian coach before the game and telling him that he is interested only in “results.” (This would explain the comically tense joylessness of the Russian coach.) Putin may be on to something: A victory like this feels like a win for


Here’s what you need to know about Mexico’s presidential election

ensnared in scandals as well. Anaya has denied the accusations against him. José Antonio Meade, 49, the Yale-trained economist and experienced government minister who is the candidate of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, enjoys a reputation of personal honesty and competence. But the PRI has suffered from scandals of the past four years involving President Enrique Peña Nieto’s family, several top aides and some dozen governors. The Peña Nieto administration also is widely reviled for its failure to properly investigate the September 2014 disappearance and all but likely murder of 43 students from a teachers college, in a case involving local police allied with a crime gang. The government’s strategy for taking on the criminal gangs has also proved a failure, with murders expected to hit records this year. Independent candidate Jaime Rodríguez Calderón, 60, a longtime PRI politician-turned-populist governor of northern Nuevo Leon state, met widespread derision this spring when he called in a televised debate for cutting off the right hand of any official found to be corrupt. His polling support has held steady at around 3 percent. WHAT COMES NEXT? Mexico’s once-lockstep politics dominated by the presidency ended long ago. Congress, governors and mayors now all wield greater power, autonomy and financing. Should he win, López Obrador’s ability to push his programs — which to many analysts remain undefined — will largely depend on his coalition’s support in the congress, but also in state houses and city halls. Polls suggest that his coalition will win a large plurality of congressional seats, if not an outright majority. Whoever prevails Sunday faces at least 2½ years of dealing with Trump, who has kept up the harsh criticism of Mexico and of Mexicans that helped him win his 2016 election. Trump has demanded a rewritten NAFTA, and the stalled negotiations may wind up on the next president’s plate. Both Anaya and Meade support both NAFTA, under which 80 percent of Mexico’s exports go to the United States, and the market-friendly economic policies that have been built around it. While he’s said he supports the trade agreement, AMLO has said Mexico would do fine without it. He’s called for substituting imports of U.S. agricultural and energy products with Mexican goods. His advisers say López Obrador wants to woo private investment to replace government spending. But he also has called for reviewing recent contracts given to Mexican and foreign companies


These animals depend on darkness. But humans have ruined their nights.

the light, and the human response of circadian disruption,” said Longcore, it becomes “very clear that lamps that have less blue in them are going to have on average less impact.” There’s variance among taxonomic groups; blue light more clearly affects insects, for example, than shearwater birds. Longcore worries that we have too zealously embraced LEDs. A study published in November in Science Advances found that the artificially lit areas of Earth grew by 2.2 percent each year from 2012 to 2016, as LEDs became much more common. “When something becomes more efficient and cheaper, we use more of it,” Longcore said, describing a phenomenon called the rebound effect. “And so LEDs are so much more efficient that people actually now overuse them.” The authors predict that filtered yellow‐green or amber LEDs should have the least effects on wildlife. The goal should be enough light to safely get by without turning night to day, Longcore said. For many mammal species, day has already shifted to night. A recent meta-analysis, published in Science, reveals that normally day-dwelling animals are becoming more active at night. The study's authors examined 141 case studies, representing 62 mammal species on all continents except Antarctica. In each case study, GPS, camera traps or other trackers recorded animals' behavior. Some lived in areas of high human disturbance, others in protected areas or remote habitats. In areas disturbed by humans, animals were 1.36 times more nocturnal on average. Put another way: “An animal that naturally split its activity evenly between the day and night, for example, would increase its nighttime activity to 68 percent around people,” said Kaitlyn Gaynor, a doctoral student at the University of California at Berkeley and an author of the Science paper. Hunting, urban development and agriculture were all risk factors for increasing nighttime activity. But more mundane behaviors, such as nature hikes, chased animals into the night, too. “Daytime walking, particularly with people with dogs, even dogs on leashes, had these powerful effects in displacing wildlife species,” said Justin Brashares, a wildlife ecologist at Berkeley and an author of the study. Larger animals were more likely to spend increasing amounts of time active at night. In undisturbed parts of Indonesia, sun bears were active after sundown about 19 percent of the time. Near humans, though, the sun bears' habits flipped: They performed 90 percent of their activity at night. Lions in Tanzania had


Here’s your guide to navigating July 4th traffic, transit and events

be close to impossible. If you’re taking transit, please note that Metro will operate 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (Keep reading for more details.) Here are some highlights of the planned road closings that are listed in detail below: Arlington Memorial Bridge and Arlington Memorial Circle on the Virginia side of the bridge, Rock Creek Parkway south of Virginia Avenue NW to Lincoln Memorial Circle and approaches, the ramp from the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge to Constitution Avenue NW, Constitution Avenue NW between 23rd and 14th streets. The Mall will open to the public at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Entry will be restricted to specific points, where you will be subject to security checks. The list of prohibited items includes: alcohol, glass containers and personal fireworks. No firearms are allowed. See this map for the Mall access points and other information on travel to central Washington. Nationals game. Palisades Parade Capitol Hill Parade Other parades and fireworks SoberRide D.C. parking rules The Fourth of July is one of the busiest events of the year for Metro. The biggest crowds will be in the evening, around fireworks time. But with events all day long, riders should expect crowded platforms and trains. Make sure to load your SmarTrip card in advance to avoid potentially long lines at the station. Parking at Metro lots and garages will be free all day, and off-peak fares will be in effect all day. Here are details of the Metro service: Metro: The Smithsonian station will be open all day. Smithsonian is the closest station to the Mall, but it gets very crowded during big events, especially on Independence Day. You can choose to exit at another station within walking distance of the Mall. Among them are: Federal Triangle, Metro Center, Gallery Place, Archives, L’Enfant Plaza and Federal Center SW. Metro has not scheduled track work for the holiday but there is an important change in the Yellow Line schedule: beginning at 6 p.m., trains will operate only between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square. Travelers going north of Mount Vernon will need to use the Green Line to complete their trip. Metrobus Other transportation options: D.C. Circulator. Water taxi. This is the long list, compiled by the National Park Service. Closings from 6 a.m. to about 10 p.m.: Closed from 11 a.m. until approximately 10 p.m. Closed from 3 p.m. July 4 until midnight July 5 Memorials partially closed


Donald Ritchie, record-setting ultrarunner, dies at 73

Palace on Oct. 25, 1977, with a time of 11 hours 30 minutes 51 seconds; and for 100K on the same track on Oct. 28, 1978, when he clocked 6 hours 10 minutes 20 seconds. Fellow distance runner Glen Elliot wrote in 1989: “His 100 mile race at Crystal Palace in the late 70s still staggers the ultra-distance fraternity . . . a phenomenal pace of under seven minutes per mile — yes, for every mile.” On June 16, 1979, at an event in New York City, Mr. Ritchie set a world road race record of 11 hours 51 minutes 11 seconds for a 100-mile race. Ten years later, running on behalf of the British charity Cancer Research — the disease killed both his parents — he ran from John O’ Groats at the northerly tip of Scotland to Land’s End at the southerly tip of England. He covered the 844 miles in just over 10 days — more than three marathons a day for 10 days. Queen Elizabeth II awarded him an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in 1995. In 2016, he published his autobiography, “The Stubborn Scotsman,” which has become a guidebook for what he himself called “the crazies” — men and women who feel compelled to run until they drop. In the book “Training for Ultras,” written by his friend, Andy Milroy, Mr. Ritchie explained: “To run an ultra marathon, you require a good training background, and a suitable mental attitude, i.e. you must be a little crazy. A certain type of mentality seems to be advantageous. I think you require to be a calm, determined, patient person with a high toleration for prolonged discomfort and a high capacity for delayed gratification.” Asked about the secrets of ultrarunning, Mr. Ritchie admitted he never stopped at the portable toilets but preferred to urinate while running. It saved him vital minutes or seconds, he said, and dehydration meant that no one but he would probably notice. Contrary to some reports, he never ran a race in his Scottish kilt, although he once wore it from Scotland to Finland in the hope of getting lifts. Although he came from a working-class family, Donald Alexander Ritchie was born July 6, 1944, in a famous stately home, Haddo House in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Its aristocratic owners had allowed the house and estate to be used as a maternity hospital for mothers evacuated


Israel says Hamas tried to infiltrate its military using smartphone dating, sports apps

official said. “Technically, they are not that smart, but they have a very good understanding of what Israeli youths are interested in, what they talk about, and their level of Hebrew is excellent.” The army said the Wink Chat, Glance Love and Golden Cup apps, which were removed from Google's app store in the past few months, were downloaded by 400 to 500 people, though not all of them were soldiers. While it could not give exact numbers on how many soldiers were allegedly approached or duped into conversation with Hamas’s cyberoperatives, the army said hundreds of recruits reported being approached through their Facebook accounts. About 2 percent of those agreed to download the apps. It is possible that more people will come forward now that the information about the purported cyberthreat has been made public. A Hamas official declined to comment on the allegations. Israel has fought three wars with Hamas, which also operates from the West Bank and abroad, since the group took over the Gaza Strip in 2007. Hamas, which is viewed as a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States, has used a variety of means to infiltrate Israel, including underground tunnels and, more recently, incendiary kites and balloons. [Gazans challenge Israel’s high-tech defenses with flaming kites] Tensions between Israel and Hamas have flared recently as residents of Gaza hold weekly protests that often turn lethal along the border with Israel, demanding the return of land that Palestinians lost when Israel was created and highlighting the humanitarian crisis facing the enclave. Israel and Egypt have imposed a land, air and sea blockade of Gaza since Hamas took over the territory. This is the second time that Hamas allegedly has attempted to infiltrate the Israeli military in this way. In January 2017, the army said it had detected fake Facebook accounts used by Hamas militants to connect with young Israeli recruits in an attempt to gain access to sensitive army information. [Israel says Hamas hacked Facebook accounts, cellphones of army recruits] It reported then that soldiers, mostly from combat units, were enticed into chatting with people on the social media network who they believed were young, attractive women in Israel and abroad. The soldiers were then duped into downloading chat applications to their cellphones. After that purported infiltration, the army changed its rules on using social media and smartphones. It also undertook a vigorous program to


Happy Hour Open Thread

Enjoy.


More money, more fitness: Why people in the wealthiest states get more exercise

Just 23 percent of American adults age 18 to 64 meet federal guidelines for weekly physical activity, according to a report released last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the report finds that some states are doing a much better job of staying active than others. The share of adults meeting federal guidelines ranges from a low of 13.5 percent in Mississippi to a high of 32.5 percent in Colorado. What's driving those differences? In other words, why do people in Colorado exercise so much more than people in Mississippi? To find out, we pulled state-level data from a variety of sources in a semi-scientific effort to identify the factors — demographic, cultural, economic and otherwise — that have the biggest relationship to whether residents of a given state accomplish their weekly workouts. Among the nine indicators we analyzed, the biggest predictor of weekly physical activity at the state level was money: Residents of states with bigger median incomes were more likely to get out and exercise than people in low-income states. We uncovered some surprises in the data, too. Heavy drinking is slightly correlated with more physical activity, believe it or not. Warmer temperatures are linked to less exercise. And other characteristics of the physical environment, such as daily sunshine and mild winters, don't actually seem to matter much. Here are a few definitions before we dig in. According to federal guidelines, adults should perform at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity, each week. They should also do some muscle-strengthening activity, such as calisthenics or lifting weights, at least twice a week. The CDC report looks at the percentage of adults in each state meeting those guidelines through leisure time physical activity — e.g., jogs, bike rides, trips to the gym and other activities that aren't part of their jobs. Some adults may also meet those guidelines through work, particularly if they have demanding physical jobs. But the CDC isn't as interested in that activity for a number of reasons: Those types of jobs are becoming less common, and research has shown that occupational physical activity carries health risks and even risks of mortality that don't exist for leisure time physical activity. The federal guidelines set a high bar for physical activity — fewer than 1 in 4 working-age adults are actually getting that much exercise. We


World Digest: July 3, 2018

ISRAEL Army: Hamas used fake dating apps to spy The Israeli army said Tuesday that Hamas, the militant Palestinian Islamist group that rules the Gaza Strip, has been attempting to infiltrate the military using dating and sports apps on smartphones. A senior army official in Israel’s intelligence directorate told journalists that the army had detected at least three malicious phone applications — including dating apps named Wink Chat and Glance Love — that contained malware designed to infiltrate networks and steal data. The apps had been available in the Google Play store for Android phones and were removed in the past few months. The army official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in keeping with military protocol, said Hamas operatives posing online as young, attractive and, in most cases, female Israelis attempted to lure young Israeli recruits via Facebook and WhatsApp to download the apps. Once embedded in a person’s phone, the malware in the apps can read text messages, view visual content and other documentation stored on the device, as well as allow outside sources to listen in on conversations and take photographs remotely. The army said the apps were downloaded by 400 to 500 people, though not all of them were soldiers. It did not give exact numbers on how many soldiers were allegedly approached or duped into conversation with Hamas’s cyberoperatives. A Hamas official declined to comment on the allegations. This is the second time that Hamas allegedly has attempted to infiltrate the Israeli military in this way. In January 2017, the army said it had detected fake Facebook accounts used by Hamas militants to connect with young Israeli recruits in an attempt to gain access to sensitive information. — Ruth Eglash CONGO Atrocities by rebels, security forces alleged Rebels and government troops in Congo have committed atrocities, including mass rape, cannibalism and the dismemberment of civilians, according to testimony published Tuesday by a team of U.N. human rights experts, who said the world must pay heed. The team, investigating a conflict in the Kasai region of Congo, told the U.N. Human Rights Council last week that it suspected all sides were guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The 126-page report catalogued gruesome attacks carried out in the conflict, which erupted in late 2016, involving the Kamuina Nsapu and Bana Mura militias and Congo’s armed forces. The testimony included boys being forced to rape


Suicide is on the rise. Depression therapy is limited. Let’s try psychedelics.

An unnerving aspect of our times is the rise of unthinkable events such as mass shootings and rampant opioid overdoses. To that list we can add rising rates of suicide. Each year 45,000 Americans take their own lives. Many reasons drive them, but a final, common pathway involves feeling helpless and hopeless. Traditional psychotherapy and medications go only so far in treating these hallmarks of severe depression. But novel therapies exist, with the potential to effectively treat depression and save the lives of people contemplating suicide: It’s time to seriously consider psychedelics. President Trump recently signed into law a bill intended to grant patients who are expected to die access to medications that might extend their lives. The federal law follows similar “right to try” initiatives in more than 30 states that let incurably ill patients try drugs not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA’s own Expanded Access program (also called Compassionate Use) does so, as well. Why not extend these provisions to prevent suicide by people suffering from persistent depression? As Michael Pollan details in his book, “How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence,” plant-based psychedelics have been used for millennia by indigenous people for mind-altering benefits. In 1938, Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann synthesized LSD, and a few years later he discovered its profound psychoactive properties. In the 1950s, the Sandoz company made the drug available to psychiatrists interested in treating ailments such as depression, anxiety and addictions. By the time LSD and similar drugs were outlawed in the 1970s, more than 1,000 medical papers had been published documenting the drugs’ therapeutic potential. In recent years, the FDA has permitted a few new clinical trials of psychedelic-assisted therapies, using improved methodologies. The results have been striking. When prescribed to carefully screened patients, under the care and monitoring of health professionals, these medications appear to be highly beneficial and safe. Psychedelics are not intoxicants in the usual sense; they do not dull a person’s senses or induce sleepiness. Side effects include temporary changes in sensory perception and diminished coordination and fine-motor function. These occur mostly during the first few hours of a session. The drugs are not toxic to the brain or other organs. “Bad trips,” the terrifying episodes of panic that occasionally occurred during recreational use of these drugs, are exceedingly rare when


Detailed July 4 forecast for D.C. area: The swelter takes a small step back

Good news: It won’t feel as though it’s 110 degrees for your Independence Day. But it may feel close to 100. The oppressively hot weather eases for July 4. Winds from the southeast, off the ocean, and a bit more cloud cover should lower high temperatures from Tuesday’s mid- to upper 90s to about 90. Humidity may also be slightly less intense than Tuesday but will remain quite high. While the heat won’t quite reach dangerous levels, anyone spending long hours outside should be sure to drink plenty of water, avoid prolonged strenuous activity and seek shade or, better, air conditioning to cool off. Of course, the big question is whether storms may interfere with outdoor plans, particularly the evening fireworks. The chance of measurable rain, in any particular area, is just about 10 to 20 percent. And we think that by sunset, the chance should fall below 10 percent. In other words, don’t be surprised if there’s a stray shower during an afternoon picnic or early evening cookout, but the fireworks should be fine. During the fireworks, a light breeze from the southeast at 5 to 10 mph should be enough to disperse the smoke so that visibility is decent. When the air is stagnant, the smoke can settle, impairing visibility. Have a happy and safe July 4!


New information in N.Y. explosion that maimed local man

A possible new clue was revealed Tuesday in an explosion in New York City that seriously injured a local man. New York and federal officials displayed a poster seeking information about the blast in New York’s Central Park two years ago. The blast nearly blew off the foot of Connor Golden, a Fairfax, Va. man who was 18 at the time. The poster displayed Tuesday showed a photo of a bag from a bakery that reportedly is now closed. In a twitter message, a woman identifying herself as Carol Golden, the victim’s mother, said her son was maimed by a bomb that was in a bag like the one shown on the poster. She said an ingredient of the explosive was TATP, which she said was used by terrorists worldwide. Police had said two years ago that the explosive material was in a plastic bag that may hve been discarded. Martin.Weil@washpost.com


PM Update: Muggy but dry for tonight’s fireworks as most storms should stay well west

Intense, slow-moving thunderstorms have flared up along Interstate 81 from Hagerstown to south of Winchester, where heavy rainfall and even some pockets of flooding are possible. But radar shows no rain within a one country radius of the District. We don’t expect this rain in our far western areas to make much progress to the east, but can’t totally rule out a pop-up shower or storm through sunset. Temperatures after sunset, when fireworks begin, should be in the mid-80s but feel closer to 90 given the high humidity. From 1:30 p.m. Keep an eye on the radar this afternoon if you are spending any time outdoors. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will probably develop, and with these kinds of “air mass” storms, model guidance will not be much help. The good news is the D.C. area should be rain-free by the time most fireworks shows start tonight. Happy Independence Day! Listen to the latest forecast: Get our daily forecasts on your Amazon Alexa device. Click here to find out how. Through tonight: As the sun retreats below the horizon, any storms will lose their main source of energy and begin to dissipate, leaving the region rain-free by fireworks time. Temperatures at the start of the fireworks on the Mall should be in the low to mid 80s. Warm and muggy overnight with lows in mid-70s and a light southeast wind at 5 mph. Areas of patchy fog will probably develop, especially east of D.C. View the current weather at The Washington Post. Tomorrow (Thursday): Weather in Philadelphia in 1776: Considering how hot and humid it was during the entirety of the Second Continental Congress, 76 degrees does not seem that bad! See Ian Livingston’s forecast through the weekend. And if you haven’t already, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For related traffic news, check out Gridlock. Want our 5 a.m. forecast delivered to your email inbox? Subscribe here.


For Americans, it’s the Fourth of July. For Brits, it’s Flying Ant Day.

I want to be here to focus on tennis, not eating bugs,” she said. “We already knew the biology of it; they're basically doing it to have sex,” said Adam Hart, a University of Gloucestershire professor who is also a Royal Entomological Society fellow. In short, here's how to get intimate like an ant: Be a queen. Fly into the sky. Mate with different colonies. Drop back to the ground. Try not to get eaten by birds. Side note: The luckiest of ants are able to dodge death by shedding their wings and digging holes in the ground before going back into hiding to start a new colony. And they say romance is dead. Despite being labeled “Flying Ant Day” and often overdramatized British media — there are even reports of birds getting “drunk” on the winged insects — the emergence of ants can actually last longer than 24 hours. Hart explains that warm weather can trigger the ants to emerge at different times. “It really depends on the weather. There's not a single day, but there are some days where the ants are a lot more active than others,” Hart said. “We have this idea of Flying Ant Day, but they can fly throughout the summer on multiple days.” Despite landing on people, taking over gardens and generally being a nuisance, Hart assures that the ants are not at all harmful, but in fact are important to soil fertility, pest control and, of course, as a source of dinner for hungry birds. “They're really important; we need to have more ants flying around,” though many might be inclined to disagree, said Hart, who worked with a group of colleagues to produce a flying ant survey that explored what was happening with the insects in the summer. Flying Ant Day doesn't normally coincide with the Fourth of July, though the bugs normally do show up some time during the month. Hart's survey and analysis revealed that temperature and wind speed are key factors when it comes to the emergence of winged ants. "As soon as they get a good day, off they go," he said. Britain has been enjoying a particularly long spell of warm weather, which probably triggered the ants to emerge from underground earlier than in recent years. Referring to Wednesday's plague of ants as “the little things that run the world” (just what would Beyoncé think of


Ethiopia fires prison officials over human rights abuses amid torture report

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia’s attorney general announced the dismissal of five top prison officials for alleged human rights violations, hours before the Thursday release of a Human Rights Watch report on torture in one regional prison. Berhanu Tsegaye said the top prison officials “were relieved of their post for failing to discharge the responsibilities and respect prisoners’ human rights,” according to the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting late Wednesday. The announcement came hours before the release of a harrowing report by Human Rights Watch describing systematic torture in Jail Ogaden, a prison in Jijiga, the capital of Ethiopia’s Somali region. The report’s author, Felix Horne, said federal and regional authorities never responded to letters in April and May conveying the group’s findings. The report calls for a probe of the abuses cited in the report as well as criminal charges against those responsible. None of the officials dismissed were linked to the prison described in the report. Ethiopia has long been criticized for its human rights violations and egregious prison conditions, but new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed — inaugurated in April — has spoken forcefully against the old way of doing things. In a landmark question-and-answer session before Parliament in June, Abiy condemned the historical use of torture by security services, describing it as a form of “terrorism.” “Does the constitution demand people be flogged, be injured, be kept in dark rooms? It doesn’t. That is the terrorist act of us, the government,” he said. Abiy, set to visit the United States this month, has also released thousands of prisoners and reached out to both political opposition and rebel groups. The Human Rights Watch report concentrates on the Somali region, which has been a focus of criticism by rights groups over its president, Abdi Mohamoud Omar, known as Abdi Iley, and his regional security force, the Liyu police. Under Ethiopia’s federal system, the nation’s regions have great autonomy, and a real test of Abiy’s moves will be whether they are extended to the Somali region, where rights groups say authorities are particularly oppressive and there is little federal oversight of the prisons. “We were always being told to humiliate each other, but the worst was one day they brought together a number of prisoners, and each was told to beat another person to death,” said one prisoner quoted in the Human Rights Watch report. “They had metal sticks to give us


The real World Cup losers: The Russian people

possible for the World Cup to backfire on Russia and trigger the potential for political protest. Mass demonstrations in Moscow protesting against electoral fraud in the winter of 2011-2012 could be reignited if the population is no longer under the thinly veiled illusion that the recently reelected ruling party is succeeding at making Russia great again. The distant and recent past of sporting mega events suggest that hosting the World Cup can cause problems that will persist long after the fans walk out of Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow after the World Cup final on July 15. The 1968 Olympics in Mexico City And, as is now painfully clear, the most recent World Cup and the Olympics blew up in the faces of the Workers’ Party of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff in Brazil. Worse, millions of their fellow citizens were negatively affected by the enormous resources wasted on the events that were supposedly going to bring respect and international stature to Brazil. The recent Winter Olympics in PyeongChang produced memorable performances and kindled hopes for a unified Korea, but it left behind an economic and environmental disaster for the South Korean government to clean up. Questions about LGBTQ rights and the Putin regime’s treatment of political opposition, along with the ongoing international tensions surrounding Russia, will not be easily glossed over by the cheering and flag-waving during this World Cup. Although mass demonstrations were banned for the duration of the World Cup in major cities across the country, this past weekend seven people were detained in four Russian cities, including Moscow, following protests against the Russian government’s plans to raise the retirement age. As witnessed in history, the temporary feel-good shine of the World Cup will fade, and Russians themselves will have to deal with the consequences of celebration capitalism. The seductive spectacles generated by events such as the World Cup may seem to work in tandem with the Putin government’s agenda, but the enormous financial, logistical and potential political challenges posed by staging such events make their outcomes far from certain. The sporting mega event of today is fool’s gold. While the Putin regime may be successful at its short-term goal as the momentary winner, the long-term negative effects of the World Cup will likely linger, affecting the real losers — the Russian people. Read more: England knows how to adjust its World Cup expectations. But


Mosquitoes are at three times their normal number in Maryland this summer

in June at Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport. If those dormant mosquito eggs were embers of a fire, the flooding rains were like gasoline. State officials monitor mosquito populations using cylindrical traps that lure the insects with a light and then suck them in with a fan. They leave the trap out overnight, and if at least 24 female mosquitoes are inside by morning, the mosquito-control program gets to work spraying the area with pesticide. In some areas, as many as 150 females have crowded traps in a single night, Prendergast said. Most mosquitoes are active from about two hours before dusk until dawn. Luckily, he said, the booming numbers don’t include too many of the most notorious of mosquito species, the Asian tiger, known for its persistence and aggression, even during the day. Asian tiger mosquitoes breed most commonly in plastic garden containers, buckets, cans and flower vases. So while the increased precipitation means more of those objects hold puddles for the mosquitoes to breed in, it does not have as much of an impact on their numbers as it does on floodwater varieties whose eggs might collect for years before hatching. “Whatever is collecting rainfall in people’s yards can, and is, flooded in every single year,” Prendergast said. “Maybe it’s two times as bad. But it’s always an issue.” To reduce mosquito numbers, the state program sprays a pesticide known as permethrin from the back of a pickup truck or, on the Eastern Shore, from the air. It kills mosquitoes on contact and thus must be deployed at night, when mosquitoes are active, and only when their populations boom. The state budget for mosquito control is $2.7 million. Pesticide is sprayed at a rate of 0.8 of an ounce per acre, which Prendergast called “a very low amount of material.” According to the National Pesticide Information Center, permethrin is not known to cause cancer or affect hormone systems. It can remain on plants for several weeks, and if it gets into lakes or streams, it can remain in sediment for more than a year. It is considered highly toxic to fish and bees, but low in toxicity to birds, according to the center. The spraying is, in part, aimed at reducing the nuisance of pesky insects, but also to prevent the spread of disease. “It’s a very robust nuisance-control program, but it’s not strictly a nuisance-control program,” Prendergast said.


as 150 females have crowded traps in a single night, Prendergast said. Most mosquitoes are active from about two hours before dusk until dawn. Luckily, he said, the booming numbers don’t include too many of the most notorious of mosquito species, the Asian tiger, known for its persistence and aggression, even during the day. Asian tiger mosquitoes breed most commonly in plastic garden containers, buckets, cans and flower vases. So while the increased precipitation means more of those objects hold puddles for the mosquitoes to breed in, it does not have as much of an impact on their numbers as it does on floodwater varieties whose eggs might collect for years before hatching. “Whatever is collecting rainfall in people’s yards can, and is, flooded in every single year,” Prendergast said. “Maybe it’s two times as bad. But it’s always an issue.” To reduce mosquito numbers, the state program sprays a pesticide known as permethrin from the back of a pickup truck or, on the Eastern Shore, from the air. It kills mosquitoes on contact and thus must be deployed at night, when mosquitoes are active, and only when their populations boom. The state budget for mosquito control is $2.7 million. Pesticide is sprayed at a rate of 0.8 of an ounce per acre, which Prendergast called “a very low amount of material.” According to the National Pesticide Information Center, permethrin is not known to cause cancer or affect hormone systems. It can remain on plants for several weeks, and if it gets into lakes or streams, it can remain in sediment for more than a year. It is considered highly toxic to fish and bees, but low in toxicity to birds, according to the center. The spraying is, in part, aimed at reducing the nuisance of pesky insects, but also to prevent the spread of disease. “It’s a very robust nuisance-control program, but it’s not strictly a nuisance-control program,” Prendergast said. “It’s much less likely someone is going to contract a disease if they live in an area that’s regularly sprayed.” Even amid the spraying, officials urge residents to use any of four insect repellents found to be safe and effective on mosquitoes: DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, Picaridin and IR3535. Prendergast emphasized the importance of emptying any yard containers in which Asian tiger mosquitoes breed. “It’s something that people cannot be told too often,” he said. — Baltimore Sun


No giant panda cub this year, National Zoo announces

Alas, there will be no giant panda cub this year. It would have been nice in this season of heat and hot air, but the National Zoo said Thursday that experts have determined that the female giant panda, Mei Xiang, is not pregnant. It’s the second year in a row that Mei Xiang has had a false pregnancy . Mei Xiang will turn 20 this month and is near the end of her reproductive life cycle, the zoo said last year, but pregnancy was still possible for her. She was artificially inseminated on March 1, and last week the panda house was closed in anticipation and to maintain a quiet atmosphere. The panda gestation period usually lasts 90 to 185 days. Mei Xiang, as usual, had shown all the signs of a pregnancy — nesting, eating less, showing sensitivity to loud noise. But giant panda reproduction is mysterious. Females can exhibit many signs of pregnancy without being pregnant. And experts often must wait until the panda’s cycle ends — with or without a cub. Mei went on 24-hour-a-day cub watch, via the panda cams, July 1. “A final ultrasound [Thursday] confirmed that there is no developing fetus,” the zoo said in a statement. Mei Xiang, whose name means “beautiful fragrance,” has given birth to three surviving cubs: Tai Shan, Bao Bao and Bei Bei. Tai Shan was born July 9, 2005, and now lives in China. Bao Bao was born Aug. 23, 2013, and was moved to China last year. Bei Bei, born Aug. 22, 2015, is to move to China by the time he turns 4 years old. China, which is home to the giant panda, owns and leases all giant pandas in U.S. zoos. The animals are listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the zoo said. There are believed to be about 1,800 in the wild and about 500 in captivity worldwide. The giant panda house, which had been closed while experts monitored Mei Xiang, reopened on Wednesday. michael.ruane@washpost.com


World Digest: July 5, 2018

ETHIOPIA Prison officials fired ahead of torture report Ethiopia’s attorney general announced the dismissal of five top prison officials for alleged human rights violations, hours before the Thursday release of a Human Rights Watch report on torture in one regional prison. Berhanu Tsegaye said the officials “were relieved of their post for failing to discharge the responsibilities and respect prisoners’ human rights,” according to the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting on Wednesday. The announcement came hours before the release of a harrowing report by Human Rights Watch describing systematic torture in Jail Ogaden, a prison in Jijiga, the capital of Ethiopia’s Somali region. None of the officials dismissed were linked to the prison described in the report. Ethiopia has long been criticized for its human rights violations and egregious prison conditions, but new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed — inaugurated in April — has spoken forcefully against the old way of doing things. In a question-and-answer session before Parliament in June, Abiy condemned the historical use of torture by security services, calling it a form of “terrorism.” Abiy has also released thousands of prisoners and reached out to both political opposition and rebel groups. The Human Rights Watch report concentrates on the Somali region, which has been a focus of criticism by rights groups over its president, Abdi Mohamoud Omar, known as Abdi Iley, and his regional security force, the Liyu police. Under Ethiopia’s federal system, the nation’s regions have great autonomy, and a real test of Abiy’s moves will be whether they are extended to the Somali region, where rights groups say authorities are particularly oppressive and there is little federal oversight of the prisons. Interviews with 70 former prisoners revealed pervasive torture, rape and horrific conditions. Women often became pregnant after being raped by guards and other prison officials and had to give birth in the prison, the report said. — Paul Schemm MACEDONIA Lawmakers again ratify name deal with Greece Macedonia’s parliament on Thursday ratified a historic deal with neighboring Greece for the second time in two weeks, after the Macedonian president temporarily blocked the accord. But many hurdles loom in the coming months before the agreement to rename the country “North Macedonia” can be fully implemented. The renaming would clear the way for the Balkan country’s accession talks with the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Parliament had already ratified the deal last month, but conservative President


While everyone watches the World Cup, a political prisoner starves in Russia

Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian filmmaker who has been imprisoned since 2014 and on hunger strike since mid-May. Mr. Sentsov, an activist and director based in Crimea, was vocally opposed to Russia’s annexation of his homeland. He resisted the occupation and worked with protesters to deliver supplies to Ukrainian soldiers trapped in Crimean bases. Soon after, he was arrested by Russian security forces on flimsy terrorism charges. The authorities claim he set fire to the door of a Russian political party and planned to blow up a statue of Vladimir Lenin. Mr. Sentsov has denied any wrongdoing and has said that he was beaten and tortured in prison; the main witness in the case retracted his testimony after similar reports of coercion. Though human rights groups have called his trial “fatally flawed,” Mr. Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in prison and transported to a Siberian penal colony more than 3,000 miles from Crimea. Mr. Sentsov’s case garnered international attention when he embarked on his hunger strike to demand the release of 64 Ukrainian political prisoners held by Russia. (He did not include himself in this list.) The European Parliament passed a resolution calling for his release, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron both reportedly raised the issue in talks with Mr. Putin. The State Department also called for his release, though this was undermined by speculation that President Trump could recognize the Russian annexation of Crimea when he meets Mr. Putin on July 16. As he nears the 60th day of his hunger strike, Mr. Sentsov has drawn attention to the human cost of Mr. Putin’s thirst for power. His story stands in stark contrast to the glamour and glory of the World Cup. Mr. Putin is likely hoping that the tournament will distract from the myriad injustices committed by his regime. But the democratic world — and particularly the United States — cannot afford to let Mr. Putin’s abuses in Crimea go unchallenged. We can only hope that Mr. Trump remembers this when he travels to Helsinki for his summit with Mr. Putin later this month. Mr. Putin, meanwhile, would do well to release Mr. Sentsov, perhaps as part of a proposed prisoner exchange involving other Ukrainian political prisoners. If he does not, Mr. Sentsov’s imprisonment could cast a shadow on the legacy of this World Cup long after the fans and festivities have disappeared


‘We haven’t made any progress’: Black homeownership is stuck near 30-year lows

but was recently renovated, will be a natural gathering place for his parents, siblings and large extended family. He also views it as an investment for the future. “I’m thinking about just the opportunity to pass it on to someone,” he said. “Not only my current family, but my future family.” After the downturn, banks and other lenders clamped down on credit, added more consumer protections and raised the qualifications for mortgages. Some consumer groups say the higher lending standards resulted in an overcorrection that made it especially difficult for people of color, who may have lower credit scores and modest down payments, to break into the market. Many black borrowers find the loans they qualify for come with high fees that make them unaffordable, Bailey said. For example, some borrowers face loan level price adjustments, or additional fees based on credit scores or the size of a down payment. Buyers providing down payments of less than 20 percent of the purchase price may also need to pay for private mortgage insurance, which increases their monthly costs. Together, the fees can add three percentage points to the interest charged over the life of the mortgage, making the loan too expensive for some would-be owners, Bailey said. Wealth gap persists Homeownership is one of the main avenues Americans have for building wealth. A long-standing wealth gap between black and white households — the median net worth of white families is nearly 10 times that of black families, according to the Federal Reserve — makes it especially difficult for people of color to build up the savings needed to buy a home. In turn, the lower homeownership rate among blacks makes it more difficult to close that wealth gap. “How can blacks and Latinos have high down payments with a history of discrimination making it difficult for them to acquire any wealth?” asked James H. Carr, the lead co-author of an annual report on the state of black housing that is published by the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. Black workers who do not buy homes can also be left with fewer assets to live on in retirement or to pass along to the next generation, he said, contributing to an “intergenerational downward trajectory for wealth in our country.” African Americans’ path to homeownership has been hindered by a long history of unfair housing policies that either banned black workers from


An ‘outdated’ provision in Ireland’s Constitution describes women’s duties in the home. A referendum seeks to delete it.

the referendum to have a public debate about gender equality in Ireland.” Article 41.2, he added, “has no place in our Constitution.” “It undermines today's goal to achieve real gender equality by ensuring women have real choices about what to do with their lives,” he said. In 2017, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission released a report to the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women stating that gender stereotyping remains common in Ireland. During the group's research, “women and girls frequently expressed the view that stereotyping, traditional gender roles and prejudice impacted adversely on their lives,” the report said. It added that Article 41.2 is “evidence of such stereotyping” because the text “presumes that women occupy primary carer roles within the home.” In March of last year, following a review of whether Ireland has properly implemented the U.N. convention that prohibits discrimination against women, the U.N. committee urged the government to remove Article 41.2 from the Constitution. Another of the U.N. committee's concerns was the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, which restricted abortion in the country. That law was overturned in a landslide referendum vote in May. Sex abuse scandals have contributed to the Roman Catholic Church losing much of its influence in once socially conservative Ireland, and the results of recent referendums show just how much the country has changed. In 2015, Ireland legalized same-sex marriage in a widely watched referendum. And following the vote in May to legalize abortion up to 12 weeks, it was announced last month that another referendum would be held this fall on whether to overturn a law against blasphemy, which carries a fine of up to $30,000. “By removing this provision from our constitution, we can send a strong message to the world that laws against blasphemy do not reflect Irish values and that we do not believe such laws should exist,” Flanagan said last month. After the abortion ban was overturned, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar called it “the culmination of a quiet revolution.” Both the blasphemy vote and the referendum on a woman's place in the home are expected to coincide with the presidential vote, which should occur by November. Read more Ireland votes to overturn its abortion ban, 'culmination of a quiet revolution,' prime minister says Ireland's voters approve same-sex marriage. Here's how that happened. Ireland votes on its abortion ban, a 'once in a generation' decision


10 trendy foods you’ll soon be seeing everywhere

one of Jcoco‘s bars of “culinary inspired chocolates.” Unreal is selling crispy quinoa-filled versions of M&Ms and Reese’s peanut butter cups. The most blatant expression of this trend might be a product line called Undercover Quinoa, chocolate-covered quinoa snacks. Moringa goes mainstream: Mankind’s quest to discover new superfoods continues apace. Next up: moringa, an ancient plant that has long been used in Asia and Africa for its reputed health benefits. According to Healthline, it is rich in nutrients and antioxidants, and it may reduce inflammation. So it’s no surprise that it’s starting to pop up in products here. Kuli Kuli, started by a Peace Corps volunteer, sells powdered moringa smoothie mix, energy shots and moringa superfood bars, with a half-cup of greens in each bar. Stash is selling a new organic roasted moringa mint tea. And Brad’s Organic, another tea company, has it in its unadulterated flavor, as well as moringa with lemon and ginger. If you would rather crunch your moringa like cheese puffs, Vegan Rob’s makes snackable puffed moringa bites. Cauliflower gets convenient: Have you ever wanted to make something with cauliflower and thought, “Ugh, this vegetable is just far too much work?” Good news: Cooking with this brassica, which has been one of the trendier veggies for a few years now, has never been easier, thanks to a bunch of new convenience products that go beyond your basic cauliflower rice. Caulipower has a cauliflower-based baking mix, in regular and Paleo-friendly (the Paleo version uses almond flour instead of rice flour). Glean also makes cauliflower flour. Kitchen & Love sells cauliflower cups intended to be a quick convenience meal in three globally inspired flavors: Peruvian vegetable ceviche, Indian vegetable curry and Moroccan vegetable harissa. They can be eaten cold or warm. If you need more than an individual serving of cauliflower, Path of Life has cauliflower fried rice in the frozen aisle. A company called From the Ground Up has cauliflower-based replacements for all of your favorite junk food, such as pretzel sticks and Cheez-Its. And there’s cauliflower in chocolate ice cream — yes, ice cream — by Peekaboo, a company that hides veggies in every pint. Don’t worry, it tastes like chocolate ice cream. Boozy kombucha: Kombucha is great, but wouldn’t it be even better if it could get you drunk? Now, it can! The fermented tea drink has a tiny amount of alcohol in it, but


What’s next for Mexico? Here are 5 things you need to know.

Last Sunday, a political earthquake struck Mexico. Running on a platform of change and promises to root out government corruption and address economic inequality, leftist Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his new MORENA party won the strongest mandate in Mexico’s brief democratic history. Here’s what you need to know about these elections. Mexico’s elections were free and fair The first thing a U.S. audience should know is that the elections were free, fair and well run. The National Electoral Institute organizes all aspects of federal elections, doles out mass media time by formula (there are no party, candidate or private ad buys), and manages the public financing that accounts for nearly all legal campaign resources. Polling officials are chosen at random, much like jury duty in the United States. More international observers were accredited than for any prior election. All but 10 of the 156,807 polling stations nationwide opened and operated as planned. This is an astounding feat for a country plagued by extreme levels of violence. Of course, not everything went perfectly. One hundred thirty-two mostly local candidates have been killed in the last several months. The specialized prosecutor for election crime in the attorney general’s office received 1,106 complaints of attempted vote buying, ballot stealing and other crimes. The outcome of the gubernatorial election in Puebla remains disputed. Nevertheless, these will go down as the smoothest of Mexico’s three general elections since the advent of fully competitive democracy in 2000. It was a tectonic victory When the final and official count is finished, leftist Andrés Manuel López Obrador (widely called AMLO) will come away with about 53 percent of the vote. That’s a huge victory in a four-candidate race. And it’s a vindication for the left, which came close to the presidency in 1988 — and again in 2006, when AMLO lost by just 0.58 percent of the official vote count. This year, the second-place finisher, Ricardo Anaya, who represented an uncomfortable coalition of the center-right PAN and the center-left PRD, will be around 30 points below at about 22 percent. José Antonio Meade of the incumbent and formerly dominant PRI will turn in a weak 16 percent. Despite fanfare about Jaime Rodríguez (“El Bronco”), Mexico’s first-ever independent candidate will scarcely peak above 5 percent. Together with its coalition partners, AMLO’s Movement for National Regeneration (Morena) party will hold a majority of seats in both houses of Congress.


See it, say it: Climate change

The June 25 front-page article “With more floods, fear also flows” mentioned “long-rising air temperatures” and increases in “global temperature.” Don’t reporters know the name for this phenomenon? It’s “climate change.” Calling problems by their right name helps us identify their causes and specify their solutions. This is essential because we can still prevent the worst effects of climate change by rapidly replacing fossil fuels with clean renewable energy. If we don’t, we condemn ourselves to weather calamities more intense and more frequent than the flooding we see today. Floods and other climate-change impacts — heat waves, crop losses, expanding disease ranges and more — place our health, our lives and ultimately our survival at risk. Barbara Gottlieb The writer is director for environment and health for Physicians forSocial Responsibility.


National Zoo wants new security checkpoints

The National Capital Planning Commission next week is set to review a proposal by the National Zoo to add extensive security fencing — some of it to prevent vehicle “ramming” — and reduce pedestrian entrances to the complex from 13 to three. The proposal is part of an overall security plan that would eventually include permanent security checkpoints, like those that exist at entrances to other Smithsonian buildings around the city. “The safety and security of our visitors, staff and animals are the . . . Zoo’s No. 1 priority,” zoo spokeswoman Pamela Baker-Masson said in a statement. “The security checkpoints will be similar to those experienced by the public at museums, major sporting events and entertainment venues,” she said. “The Zoo . . . is a sprawling outdoor park that does not have defined and controlled entrances and exits,” she said. “It is very difficult to keep a safe environment under those conditions.” In a submission to the NCPC, the zoo said the checkpoints “would consist of permanent pavilions, each with several controlled guard posts, security screening magnetometers and areas for bag searches.” The commission, in a summary of the project on its website, said the fencing should not affect any archaeological sites, and an “engineering field study will be conducted” to make sure it can be installed with minimal impact to trees and vegetation. Some of the fencing would also be “vehicular-rated . . . to mitigate potential ramming events at certain areas of the Zoo deemed vulnerable” by security experts. After the commission review, funding must be requested for fiscal year 2020 and 2021, Baker-Masson said. michael.ruane@washpost.com


Illnesses in Md. linked to Venezuelan crab meat

MARYLAND 19-year-old man fatally shot in Greenbelt A man was shot and killed Friday in Greenbelt, Md., Greenbelt police said. They said the man was found about 5:30 p.m. in the 9100 block of Edmonston Terrace after a possible shooting was reported there. According to police, Andres Giovanni Perea, 19, of Greenbelt died at a hospital. — Martin Weil Illnesses linked to Venezuelan crab meat The state’s Health Department is warning Marylanders to avoid eating fresh Venezuelan crab meat after several reports of illness. News outlets report that the Maryland Department of Health has confirmed at least nine cases of Vibrio infections linked to consumption of fresh, unpasteurized crab meat from Venezuela. No one has died, but two of the nine confirmed cases have resulted in hospitalization. Vibrio bacteria can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramping, vomiting, fever and chills. The imported crab meat is sold in plastic tubs under various brand names. — Associated Press VIRGINIA Man killed in head-on crash in Nokesville A 31-year-old Nokesville man was killed early Saturday in a head-on collision in Prince William County, police said. Dylan Christopher Davis was driving a 2002 Ford Ranger in the area of Nokesville Road and Fauquier Drive at 6:11 a.m. when the crash occurred, Prince William County police said. They said the Ranger collided with a 2013 Ford box truck. Davis was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The driver of the other vehicle, a 48-year-old Fredericksburg man, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The cause of the crash was under investigation. — Maria Glod Honeybee population found to be declining Virginia’s honeybees had a rough winter. Charlottesville’s Daily Progress reports that the state lost nearly 60 percent of its colonies over the winter. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says that’s double the average rate for the past decade. Officials say that there’s no single cause but that habitat loss, pests, diseases and pesticides are all factors in the decline. — Associated Press


One U.S. service member killed, two wounded, in apparent insider attack in Afghanistan

One U.S. service member was killed and two were wounded Saturday in an apparent insider attack in Afghanistan, according to the U.S.-led military coalition. The ambush occurred in southern Afghanistan, U.S. military officials said in a written statement. They did not indicate a specific location where the attack occurred. The two wounded Americans were in stable condition, the statement added. None of the Americans was identified. Officials at the top U.S. military headquarters in Kabul could not immediately be reached for additional comment. The Taliban released a statement praising an Afghan soldier for carrying out the attack, without asserting responsibility for it themselves. That statement and an Afghan official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the situation’s sensitivity, said the attack occurred in Uruzgan province. The incident marks the first combat fatality for the U.S. military in Afghanistan since April 30, and the third there this year. In the April 30 incident, Army Spec. Gabriel D. Conde, 22, was shot by enemy fighters in a firefight in Kapisa province while providing security for U.S. Special Operations troops. Attacks by Afghan security forces against coalition troops working alongside them were common in Afghanistan several years ago, when the Pentagon had more than 100,000 personnel deployed there. They became more rare as the number of American troops declined, and as the military coalition added security precautions. Sharif Hassan and Sayed Salahuddin in Afghanistan contributed to this report.


D.C.-area cybertech companies persuade West Coast investors to head east

in companies that utilize talent and know-how from the region’s spy agencies. The other is NightDragon Security, a fund set up by Dave DeWalt, who ran cybersecurity giant FireEye as chief executive for four years. That investment followed a $20 million one led by Scale Venture Partners, another Silicon Valley-based fund, in a Herndon-based company called Expel. Expel is headed by Dave Merkel, who was a top executive at AOL before becoming chief technologist at Mandiant, a cybersecurity company that was bought by FireEye for close to $1 billion. They are riding a wave that has been building for years. Cybersecurity companies in the District, Maryland and Virginia struck 47 deals with venture investors in 2017 compared with just 15 in 2011, according to an internal analysis by Paladin Capital, a D.C.-based venture capital firm. There have already been 24 such deals in the first half of 2018, suggesting the trend will continue. All of that extra capital, combined with new federal cybersecurity spending from defense and intelligence agencies, has spawned hundreds of new companies in the D.C. area. A 2017 survey by Amplifier Ventures and the Kogod School of Business at American University found a whopping 858 D.C.-area companies engaged in cybersecurity work. Their business is more than just protecting IT networks. Bethesda-based Quantum Xchange, for example, wants to build futuristic fiber-optic cables between Washington and Boston, using a novel encryption method it says will be able to resist not-yet-developed code-crackers based on the laws of quantum mechanics. The company has raised $10 million for the effort. Another is Social SafeGuard, which helps companies including Johnson & Johnson, Sun Life Financial and McAfee track their social media presence, which includes spotting accounts that have been commandeered by hackers. Some companies use its service to find fake social media accounts set up by hackers to spoof their way into corporate networks. Some projects involve tracking down accounts set up to impersonate corporate executives, for example. In other cases, Social SafeGuard’s corporate customers are surveilling their own employees to make sure they don’t leak proprietary information or do anything improper online. Executives say the company gathers the data from more than 50 “digital and social channels” including Facebook and Twitter, all of it with employees’ consent. “If you’re a CEO of a well-known company, chances are there are hundreds of people spoofing you. In addition to that, you have lots of


After 20-year military standoff, Ethiopia and Eritrea agree to normalize ties in historic breakthrough

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed traveled Sunday to Eritrea, once a bitter adversary, and agreed to normalize ties after an unprecedented summit. The rapprochement between the two neighbors could have far-reaching consequences for improving the stability of the Horn of Africa, which is home to several conflicts and environmental crises. The two nations, sworn enemies for two decades, fought a brutal war from 1998 to 2000 in which at least 70,000 people were killed. In the intervening years, the two sides have clashed repeatedly and supported rival rebel movements. Abiy was hugged by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki at the airport in Asmara, the Eritrean capital, and they smiled and laughed as they strode past a uniformed band and honor guard. The friendly welcome set the tone for the visit; the two men were shown several times on Eritrean state television smiling together before announcing at an evening banquet that relations will be normalized. The two countries will reopen embassies, restore flight links and allow direct telephone calls. Landlocked Ethiopia will look to start using Eritrea’s Red Sea ports. “We have agreed to open up embassies in our respective countries, allow our people to visit each other’s cities, and allow our airlines and ports to operate freely,” Abiy said. “Love is greater than modern weapons like tanks and missiles. Love can win hearts, and we have seen a great deal of it today here in Asmara.” Abiy, who came to power in April and has already turned Ethiopia’s stagnant political scene on its head, has frequently preached about love and unity in his speeches in Ethiopia. The convoy of vehicles that carried him from the airport through downtown Asmara was swamped by loudly cheering crowds that spilled onto the road and slowed the cars to a crawl. “Peace is everything; it is health, development, education,” an elderly man wearing a turban and sunglasses told Eritrean state television the morning of the visit. “Everyone in the world loves peace.” “The Eritrean people have today got the chance to express their true love and emotion for Ethiopians,” Isaias said at the evening banquet, according to news agencies. “We can imagine that the decision the prime minister of Ethiopia took was not a simple one. But we can assure you we will face the future together. We will work as one.” The change in relations has stunned observers. Hallelujah Lulie,


By day, he runs for president of South Sudan. By night, he unloads trucks at Lowe’s.

a functioning financial system. The east-central African nation, which started out with a population of 12 million, has 2.5 million citizens living in camps in neighboring countries, 2 million internally displaced and 7 million in need of humanitarian assistance, according to State Department figures. Deng was about 7 years old when raiders from Sudan’s Muslim north swept into his Dinka village in the south, killing men, raping women and kidnapping him and hundreds of other boys and girls. Enslaved for years, he managed to escape while tending cattle by hopping on a passing train. He made his way to refugee camps in Khartoum and Cairo. In 1999, when he was about 17, he reached suburban Richmond, where a church had offered to resettle him and three fellow Sudanese teens. It’s hard to square that horrific past with the sunny, 6-foot-4 string bean who strides through Lowe’s like a small-town mayor in a Fourth of July parade. He has friends all over the store, from fellow unloaders in back to customer service reps out front. Members of the unloading crew take turns going inside the truck, rolling the contents down a conveyor belt for the others to sort and move to store shelves. It gets terribly hot in the truck in summer. When Deng’s not inside, he’s always checking on the guy who is, said Kim Gray, 27, one of three men helping Deng empty a truck one weeknight last month. “He cares for people a lot,” Gray said. “He has a kind heart, very kind heart.” Deng’s life now is a mind-boggling leap from the village of his youth, which had no electricity or running water, much less lawns and patio sets. His home was a grass hut with a dirt floor and a loft for sleeping, in case lions crept in at night. His family grew wheat and okra, raised dairy cows and hunted game in the bush with spears. He was one of “about 13” children. (It’s regarded as a “curse” to count them, he said.) His parents died of injuries sustained in raids, but several sisters and at least one brother are alive in South Sudan and elsewhere. (He is vague about their whereabouts out of fear for their security.) Deng alone made it to the United States, where even today he eats just one meal a day, as he did as a child. Initially housed in


Norton seeks meeting with zoo over enhanced fence, checkpoint proposals.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) has asked for a meeting with the acting director of the Smithsonian National Zoo, Steven Monfort, to discuss the zoo’s proposed security enhancements, the congresswoman’s office said Monday. The zoo, voicing concerns about public and animal safety, wants to increase fencing around its complex, reduce the number of entrances from 13 to three, and eventually erect permanent checkpoints that could be staffed at periods of high visitation or threat levels. “I want to hear more from the Zoo about its proposals, some of which I can understand given today’s security concerns,” Norton said in a statement. “The current proposal appears to be a wish list of a government security agency rather than an approach that balances legitimate security concerns with public access.” A review of the fence proposal before the National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled for Thursday. Linda St. Thomas, a spokeswoman for the Smithsonian, said a meeting with Norton on the security issue will be held shortly. michael.ruane@washpost.com


Triple murderer sentenced to life for execution-style 1991 killings in D.C. park

It took 27 years, but the man who authorities say was responsible for the execution-style murders of two men and a woman by lining them up in a District park and shooting them multiple times was finally sentenced to life in prison. In D.C. Superior Court on Monday, Judge Judith Bartnoff sentenced an Alexandria man, 47-year-old Benito Valdez, to 94 years to life in prison. A jury in February convicted Valdez of multiple charges, including first-degree murder, in the fatal shootings of Curtis Pixley, 29, and Samantha Gillard, 23, both of the District, and Keith Simmons, 26, of Fort Washington, Md. Bartnoff had earlier delayed the formal sentencing after Valdez’s attorneys argued there was some inaccurate information in some of the pre-sentencing reports regarding Valdez’s mental health and drug-use history. For more than 30 years, the fatal shootings of the three victims remained unsolved. Four witnesses emerged in 2016 and cooperated with authorities by identifying Valdez as the killer. Prosecutors said Valdez was a onetime drug dealer who controlled Langdon Park in Northeast Washington during the crack epidemic of the late 1980s and 1990s. Valdez killed the three on April 23, 1991, during a drug buy in the park, when Pixley, one witness testified, failed to hand back to Valdez a $20 rock of crack cocaine. Prosecutors said in court Monday that Valdez will not be eligible for consideration of parole until he has served a minimum of 20 years. keith.alexander@washpost.com


Photos: Bumblebees swarm Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens as lotus flowers reach peak bloom

It’s peak bloom time for lotus flowers at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, and thousands of the pink blooms are opening their large petals over the ponds at the national park. Despite the stunning scenes of big, pink flowers everywhere, it was the bumblebee that caught my eye. Almost every lotus flower had multiple bumblebees buzzing about as they foraged for pollen and nectar. Occasionally, the bees would clash and appear to battle in the air as they attempted to enter a lotus flower. At other times, the bumblebees would fly together rather peacefully and take turns entering the flower. It was fascinating to watch. I have included a slow motion video of a bumblebee to show the action of its wings as it flies, and I have also included various bumblebee close-up photos, including a fight sequence that occurred as two bumblebees attempted to enter a lotus flower at the same time. The flight of a bumblebee in slow motion at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. The video was slowed down to 25 percent of its actual speed. (Kevin Ambrose) My friend, Dennis Govoni, took me to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens early Sunday to photograph the flowers and bees. The weather was beautiful, even a bit chilly, and the park was bustling with photographers. I have never photographed bees until Sunday’s trip, and Dennis advised me that I should hold my camera’s shutter button down and let it shoot rapid fire at the bees. Bumblebees are too quick to easily time individual photos well, but if you shotgun lots of photos, at least one will turn out okay. I set my ISO to 3200, hoping it would be quick enough to freeze the bees in air without blur, and it seemed to work well. My lens was a 28-300 mm, which was not perfect for bee photography, but it was adequate. And I actually filled up a 128-gigabyte memory card with bee photos. Two years ago, Capital Weather Gang’s Angela Fritz wrote an article on the lotus bloom at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Here are some facts from Angela’s post that I found interesting: Lotus take root at the bottom of ponds and rivers, and their leaves float on the surface of the water. The flower stem can grow as tall as 15 feet, and scientists discovered that a single lotus plant can live for over a thousand years. Lotus are native to


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World Digest: July 9, 2018

HORN OF AFRICA Ethiopia and Eritrea restore diplomatic ties Ethiopian and Eritrean leaders formally restored relations Monday, ending 20 years of enmity. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki also signed agreements to open embassies in their respective capitals, restore flight services and use port facilities in Eritrea. The signing took place in Eritrea’s capital before Abiy flew back home. “The march toward peace might have been a long time coming, but we have faith in the love and solidarity of our people,” Abiy said at the signing. “We can now imagine a future where we see no national boundaries or high walls dividing us. The people of our region are joined in common purpose.” Abiy flew to Eritrea on Sunday and was welcomed with hugs and laughter by Afwerki, a scene unthinkable just months ago. The two leaders announced the end of the long-standing border war between their nations. — Associated Press ROMANIA Top prosecutor fighting corruption is dismissed Romania’s chief anti-corruption prosecutor was fired Monday over accusations of misconduct and incompetence by the Justice Ministry, raising concerns at home and abroad about the country’s commitment to fighting corruption. Laura Codruta Kovesi’s dismissal complies with a ruling from Romania’s top court, which ordered it over the accusations of incompetence, President Klaus Iohannis’s office said. In a February report, Justice Minister Tudorel Toader had accused Kovesi of being authoritarian and claimed that prosecutors under her command had falsified evidence and that an inordinate number of defendants had been acquitted. He also accused Kovesi of harming Romania’s image in interviews with foreign journalists. Kovesi, an experienced prosecutor widely praised for investigating senior officials, disputed his accusations. The European Commission has lauded the anti-corruption agency, and Romania’s justice system remains under special monitoring by the European Union. Under Kovesi’s leadership, the agency has successfully prosecuted lawmakers, ministers and other top officials for bribery, fraud, abuse of power and other corruption-related offenses. But her prosecutions and popularity among ordinary Romanians angered some politicians, particularly members of the ruling Social Democratic Party. — Associated Press JAPAN Death toll in floods hits 114; dozens missing Rescuers in Japan dug through mud and rubble on Monday, racing to find survivors after torrential rain unleashed floods and landslides that killed at least 114 people, with dozens missing. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe canceled an overseas trip to deal with what is Japan’s worst flood disaster


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The Health 202: Medicare for all is new Democratic mantra in congressional races

of the federal family planning program known as Title X,” Murray wrote in a Friday letter to members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. In the memo, Murray charges that Foley has “been an outspoken opponent of abortion and advocate for abstinence-only education, and she too has spread misinformation about women’s health and sex education.” — The American Action Network, a group backed by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), launched a new ad to promote the package of bills passed overwhelmingly last month to combat the opioid crisis. The group is spending $2.5 million in ads in 10 House districts, the Washington Examiner’s Al Weaver reports. The House wrapped 60 smaller bills into one larger piece of legislation that included such proposals as the development of nonaddictive pain medication and the creation of opioid recovery centers. “We thank the House for working in a bipartisan fashion to curb opioid addiction and provide resources for treatment and recovery,” Corry Bliss, the executive director of the group, said in a statement. “However, there is still more to be done, and AAN’s latest campaign urges both Republicans and Democrats to continue fighting on behalf of families across the country who are suffering because of this crisis every day.” — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there have been 212 cases of an intestinal parasite, known as cyclosporiasis, linked with vegetables from Fresh Del Monte Produce vegetables, the New York Times’s Mihir Zaveri reports. The cases were reported in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin as of Thursday and were connected with purchases from Kwik Trip or Kwik Star stores in those states. People infected with cyclosporiasis can experience symptoms about a week after consumption, and the infection can lead to stomach-related illnesses, fever and fatigue. Mihir reports from the CDC: “Outbreaks of cyclosporiasis in the United States have been linked to imported fresh produce contaminated with a microscopic parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis. The infection first gained prominence in the United States during an outbreak in the mid-1990s, and has shown up nearly every year since.” — And here are a few more good reads from The Post and beyond: Today Coming Up ‘We know where you live, Mitch’: Anti-ICE protesters confronted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.): Vice President Mike Pence: “We will never abolish ICE:” The president says there’s a border crisis. This border city begs to differ.


My athletic husband stumbled. He was tired. He had a disease we’d never heard of.

Later that year, in 2010, he was diagnosed with a disease that we had never heard of, and that he shared with millions of other Americans: peripheral neuropathy, or PN. As we were to learn, the nervous system is composed of two parts. The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system, while the nerves running from them form the peripheral nervous system. PN encompasses damage to the nerves that deliver messages to or from the brain. Damage to the sensory nerves can mean tingling or numbness in the hands, feet and legs; damage to motor nerves that control the muscles causes loss of strength and balance; damage to the autonomic nervous system, which regulates automatic functions, affects things such as heart rate, blood pressure, bladder control and digestion, along with a host of other involuntary responses. In Robert’s case, numbness that had started in his feet was slowly working its way up his legs. He had begun using his muscles differently to compensate for information his nerves could no longer transmit. It had happened so quietly and slowly, he hadn’t been aware of it until our Italian trip. In a great many cases, PN is crippling, limiting mobility and increasing the likelihood of falls, which can be disastrous. The pain of PN in the extremities has been likened to a horrific case of shingles. For many, its debilitating pain prevents sleep and requires medication. My husband turned out to be in the minority of lucky ones who do not have any pain. Most cruelly, with or without pain, the disease robs people of the things they loved doing — think tennis or dancing — and renders everyday activities such as walking the dog impossible. With the loss of balance, walking without support is risky, stepping over the cat can be deadly, and picking up the grandkids becomes just a memory. Exercise can ameliorate some of the effects of nerve damage. The exercises that build up strength and promote balance can help preserve and improve the condition of the nerves, postponing their deterioration. But without adequate guidance, many patients can only feel their lives slipping away from them, with no relief in sight. Estimates of the number of Americans with peripheral neuropathy vary, with the National Institutes of Health putting it at 20 million and the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy at 30 million. The foundation, which has established


neuropathy: The sensory nerves were withering away. When my neurologist learned that my husband also had PN, he immediately advised me to have our well water tested. Metals, chemicals, organic compounds, dozens of substances including mercury, arsenic, pesticides, herbicides and lead were tested for, and none turned up in unacceptable levels in our drinking water. Robert and I have peripheral neuropathy that is “idiopathic,” which simply means that there is no known cause. Nor is there a cure. And the prognosis is a sure if unpredictable deterioration in balance, strength and mobility. Theories on the causes of PN abound. Some people claim that the statins we took for several years are responsible. Another theory links PN to cooking with aluminum. Probably unnecessarily, I jettisoned the heavy-duty aluminum pots and pans I had used almost exclusively for 30 years. In my initial panic I was willing to do anything to slow the pace of my illness. I also joined a health club to work on strengthening the muscles that would help me remain steady in the years to come. This came with an unexpected bonus, because I am finding the mood elevation of an aerobic workout to be really enjoyable, if not outright addictive. My diet was fairly healthy to begin with, but it is better now and I shop more in the organic aisles. Too little, too late, but it can’t hurt. Robert has remained active, fighting to beat back the creeping numbness that robs him of his balance. He pesters his doctors, unwilling to accept that there is nothing more to be done. In May of last year, we hiked in Sicily again. At that time, Robert could still do five or six miles a day, sometimes using hiking poles to steady himself. (It is odd but true that he finds uneven trails much easier to walk on than flat concrete.) This year, though, after a minor injury led to a few months of near-inactivity, he lost so much strength in his legs that a hiking vacation was out of the question. Shocked by this, he joined my health club, where he pushes himself harder than he did at home. He feels a few pangs as he walks by the basketball court, now permanently off-limits, but he enjoys the bike and the pool well enough. I am proud of him, and grateful. He will be 80 in August, and


With ‘Moscow Muellers’ and other promos, D.C. businesses bank on Trump themes

are bubbling up in their minds.” Yet it’s a risk for businesses to be outspoken about their political views, Balderrama said. Hill, the owner of Chef Brian’s, said he felt compelled to take that chance after the president’s comment over Haiti. He went to his restaurant the next day and put up a sign that always has political commentary from Hill on some recent event above a never-changing sign-off of: “All are welcome.” Hill, who grew up in Petworth, said making the decision to be honest about his political views was not difficult, given his identity as a black man. But he “really stuck (his) neck out” when it came to the finances of his business, which had been open for less than 18 months when he decided to start specials with a political theme. His business is new enough that he can’t compare sales over long periods, but he said he believes being open about his politics has brought in customers. Hill said one woman came into the restaurant and was upset about his sign. “After reading us the riot act . . . she still ate the food.” “This is the best time to tell other brown people that can’t stand up for themselves . . . (that) I can speak . . . I will not stop,” Hill said. Curtin, of D.C. Central Kitchen, said as long “as there’s a politically active debate in the community, that’s good for us,” because the Capitol Hill-based nonprofit is “trying to get people to be engaged and not be content with slogans.” Activism by restaurants and other businesses is more overt and “loud” recently, but it is not a new phenomenon. “Restaurants have always had their finger on the pulse of what’s going on and maybe have been cautious about being too active,” Curtin said. The covfefe tweet drew so much attention that it was hard not to jump on it, said Michael Dorf, CEO of City Winery. Dorf saw it as a message that was “compelling” to the company’s mostly liberal customers while being capable of bringing a smile to their Republican customers — without being overly partisan. “It was a calculated, and I think smart, marketing opportunity for us,” he said. (Correction: This file has been corrected to say that Chef Brian Hill grew up in Petworth. A previous version said he was a native of Haiti.) shira.stein@washpost.com


How to raise ‘farm to table’ kids, even if you don’t live on (or near) a farm

providing this kind of education in a hands-on way is a challenge for many parents. Not all families have a back yard. Some don’t have easy access to grocery stores that sell fresh foods. And others cannot afford to purchase higher-quality, locally grown foods or participate in Community Supported Agriculture programs. In an ideal world, “farm to table” eating habits would be possible for all families. In reality, it can feel like an unattainable goal. But teaching kids about the origins of their food isn’t impossible; it just requires a little bit of creativity and a whole lot of community cooperation. Here are some simple ways to get started. Get in the kitchen with your kids. Deborah Grieg, farm director at Common Ground in New Haven, Conn., recommends starting simply. “You can involve your child in the basics, like helping with dinner, or try interesting projects like making butter, pizza, jam or something else they might have only seen in the store or in a restaurant,” she said. “[Cooking with kids] raises conversations and helps expand their palate.” Start with a seed. A wide variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs are grown on-site in the campus gardens, but Grieg says the simple act of sprouting seeds on a windowsill offers just as much opportunity for childhood learning: “Even if it doesn’t make it to a large plant, it’s a great way to see something growing.” Seed sprouting Practice “food mapping.” Most of us don’t consider the resources, like electricity and gas, that are required to transport our food from its point of origin to the supermarket. Grieg encourages families to create a “food map” to better understand the relationships among nutrition, farming and freshness. “After [grocery] shopping, look at where your food is coming from — the locations where it was grown or shipped from — and map those routes out,” she said. “You can then start talking about how traveling long distances can affect the nutrients and quality of the food you eat, who might be growing your food, what their lives might be like and the environmental impact of eating [certain foods].” Get your hands dirty. Communicate with your child’s school. There is also a wealth of educational material available online for teachers who want to promote this kind of learning in their classrooms: The Edible Schoolyard Project offers lesson plans by grade, Netflix is home to several


Theresa May might make Trump look stable for once

to visit the Trump White House, in early 2017. Back then she was regarded as the insuperable leader of her nation’s politics. In a June 2016 referendum, Britons had unexpectedly voted to leave the European Union, and the then-premier, suave David Cameron, who had opposed this “Brexit,” promptly resigned. May was appointed to succeed him without a vote by her Conservative Party’s activists. She swept into power on a theory that her low-key (another way of saying dull) managerialism was just what Britain needed. The slogan that helped Brexiteers win the referendum was “take back control,” meaning that Britain would retrieve independent command of its laws and borders rather than pool its sovereignty with the 27 other countries of the increasingly federal E.U. That might complicate trade within the E.U., but it would allow Britain to establish free-trade deals with the non-E.U. world, including China, India and the United States. In June last year, May sought to increase her clout by calling an unscheduled general election. She thought she would thrash her main opponent, the Labour Party’s veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn. She was wrong. Though she scraped home in that election, the prime minister lost her parliamentary majority. She goofed. If Brexit hypnotized London a year ago, it has since sent British politics into an acidic, all-consuming frenzy. The people voted “leave,” but the political elite wanted to “remain” — and the elite has stymied the referendum result and grumbled every inch of the way. Previously phlegmatic Brits became distinctly antsy with each other. Critics of London’s Brexit plan say it has been waffly and unrealistic, seeking to keep the tariff-free and customs advantages of E.U. membership, which facilitate industrial supply chains, while demanding an end to more onerous aspects, such as multibillion-pound annual payments by Britain to Brussels and freedom of movement for people. The British government has not been frank in explaining some of these realities to the voters. Brexit supporters accuse “Remainers” of being “Remoaners” — i.e., wailing about calamities they fear will ensue from leaving the E.U.’s regulatory/protectionist club. Major British institutions, from the judiciary and Parliament to big business, the BBC and the civil service, are regarded as being in the Remainers’ grip. The prime minister herself was in 2016 a Remain supporter, although after the referendum May minted the slogan “Brexit means Brexit” and said she would honor the results of a referendum that


America should support Theresa May’s ‘soft’ Brexit

EVER SINCE Britain voted to leave the European Union two years ago, the exit has been complicated by the refusal of its chief promoters to face the fundamental contradictions in their position. They claimed that the country could escape from the diktats of the E.U. bureaucracy in Brussels and the European Court of Justice and curtail the flow of European workers across British borders without wrecking the economy, which is heavily dependent on free trade with Europe. In fact, it has long been clear that the government of Theresa May must choose between losing privileged access to continental markets — on which both large manufacturing industries and the crucial London financial sector depend — and accepting continued E.U. regulation in some form. After prolonged and damaging procrastination, caused by deep divisions in her Conservative Party, Ms. May finally bowed to reality last week. She presented her cabinet with a plan for a “soft” Brexit that would, among other things, accept E.U. rules for manufacturing and agriculture. The program, which has yet to be disclosed in full, might not pass muster with E.U. leaders, who have been reluctant to grant Britain any special arrangements as it leaves the bloc. But with time running out to complete negotiations before the Brexit date next March, it was, at least, an important step in the right direction. This week came the consequence: Two of the most aggressive and irresponsible promoters of Brexit — Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit negotiator David Davis — resigned from Ms. May’s cabinet. The resulting political crisis threatens to topple Ms. May from office and perhaps even trigger a general election. But if the prime minister can survive — which was looking more likely than not by Tuesday — she will have successfully passed a hurdle she should have tackled long ago. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Davis, who campaigned hard for Brexit, have never offered their own plan for how it might work — though Mr. Johnson recently mused that President Trump’s tactics of provocation and bluster should have been employed. Meanwhile, the Brexit hard-liners have been quick to offer theatrical denunciations of any steps by Ms. May toward solving such problems as how to retain British-based automotive and aviation firms dependent on European markets and supply chains, and how to keep the open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. By continuing to accept some E.U.


As D.C. dive bars go extinct, summer interns find Washington less welcoming

Svetlana Legetic remembers fondly what it was to be a D.C. intern in the early 2000s. She had to scrimp and save just to make it onto the Metro — but then it would whisk her off to a bar offering $3 rail drinks and as many wings as you could devour. “I have a very romantic memory” of those days, she says. Bargain-basement happy hours were hidden all over Washington; finding a gratis steak sandwich or a 25-cent beer “was like a game to some extent.” Washington has never been an inexpensive city. But the District of past decades was at least moderately comfortable for the annual influx of baby-faced summer workers. It had bars that were all too pleased to cede their sticky dance floors to interns on slow nights. On the Hill, a generation of tuition-addled students made passable dinners from $1 tacos and washed them back with pale, flavor-deficient beers that cost little more. Many nightclubs offered DJs and no cover; others charged a flat rate at the door that let the young gorge on as many lagers and rail whiskey-cokes as they could toss back. But the intern class of 2018 has arrived to a vastly different city, squeezed dry of dives, dollar beers and even once-popular free diversions such as Screen on the Green. It’s a Washington of $2,000-a-month studio apartments, $14 cocktails, $22 bowls of pasta and $37 fitness classes. And it’s exacting a psychic toll. “I try to drink wine and stay in,” said Sophie Peters, 21, a Scripps College senior who is doing an unpaid internship on Capitol Hill. “The guilt I feel paying $15 for breakfast,” added her friend, Ally Merkel, 20, over matcha lattes at a coffee shop in Dupont Circle, “is just not worth it. . . . We barely manage.” Rough estimates on what it costs — yes, costs — to be a D.C. intern range from $4,500 (how much the University of Pennsylvania tells its students they will need for eight weeks of rent, groceries and incidentals) to nearly $7,000 (according to Time magazine’s educated guess, across all major cities). “I’m very careful with my money. I count everything. I don’t go out every night,” said Lilia Popova, 24, an international policy intern from Russia, on her way out of happy hour at the Front Page in Dupont Circle. Legetic, a founder of the event promoter