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March 2, 2021

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Quote of the Day

"Mindestabstandsregelung" â German for social distancing. Fitting for the word itself to be six feet long.

Tigray

The Story

There may have been crimes against humanity in Ethiopia's Tigray region.

I'm going to need some background.

In November, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed claimed that the regional ruling party â the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) â attacked a military base and tried to steal equipment (think: weapons and artillery). So he launched a military operation in the country's northern Tigray region â reportedly with the help of soldiers from neighboring Eritrea. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed. UNICEF said the conflict's displaced at least 280,000 people. Now, two reports â one from The Associated Press and one from Amnesty International â are shining a light on the alleged war crimes that have taken place in the region.

Go on.

They accuse Eritrean soldiers of killing hundreds of unarmed civilians â including going door to door, searching, and killing men and boys in the holy city of Axum. Amnesty International spoke to dozens of survivors and witnesses and found new mass burial sites using satellite imagery. The human rights org said the atrocity is "among the worst documented so far" in the conflict. And the AP has reported that survivors face starvation as crops were burned and shops and homes looted during the conflict. And humanitarian officials have reportedly said they feared "hundreds of thousands might starve to death" if people in Tigray don't get help.

What are people saying?

The US called on Ethiopia to pull its troops from the region, saying it's "gravely concerned" by the reports. But Ethiopia reportedly claimed Amnesty International used "scanty information." And Eritrea said its report was made up of "outrageous lies." Ethiopia has apparently tried to keep journalists far away from the region, which seems to have made it harder for officials to understand the full scope of the alleged massacre.

theSkimm

After months of conflict, the world is finally getting a glimpse of what may have happened in the Tigray region. And how it may have amounted to war crimes. Here's how you can help.

And Also...This

What's a hot topic of debate...

The minimum wage. For weeks, members of Congress have been debating President Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package and all it entails. Especially a $15/hr minimum wage provision that would bump up nearly 2 million Americans' paychecks (note: it's been $7.25/hour since 2009, despite rising inflation). But a nonpartisan report found that the move could cost over 1 million jobs. Over the weekend, the Democratic-controlled House passed the bill (and the minimum wage hike). But some Republican senators aren't for it â they think a gradual increase to $10/hr would help address inflation and wouldn't cost as many jobs. Now Dems are exploring other options for the wage hike.

Tick tock: Unemployment benefits (set in place in December) end in less than two weeks. So the pressure is on Congress to provide assistance to an estimated 11 million people who face losing benefits.

Where people are calling for justice...

Hong Kong. Yesterday, hundreds of people gathered outside a Hong Kong court for one of the largest protests in months. Reminder: Last summer, China passed a national security law, which allowed police to crack down on Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests. And in January, authorities arrested dozens of pro-democracy activists â claiming they'd tried to overthrow the gov by holding unofficial primaries. Now, 47 people â including some of the city's most prominent activists â have been charged with violating the law, and could face life in prison. And could also remain in jail for months until their trials begin. The US and world leaders are standing by them.

Who's saying 'orange is le new noir'...

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Yesterday, he was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to a year in prison â a first for a president in France's modern history. In a trial that lasted several months, prosecutors argued that Sarkozy bribed a judge with a cushy job in Monaco in exchange for access to confidential info on a separate case against him. The former president, who's denied any wrongdoing, can ask to stay home for his sentence (with an electronic bracelet). But his lawyer said he'll appeal the ruling.

Un, deux, trois: Sarkozy still faces multiple other legal woes. Later this month, he'll be back in court over accusations he exceeded the spending limit during his 2012 presidential campaign.

Who's a national treasureâ¦

Pamela A Smith. On Sunday, she took over as head of the US Park Police â making her the first Black woman to ever lead the 230-year-old federal agency. Now, she oversees efforts to police the country's national parks and landmarks.

What kicked a national anthem policy to the curb...

US Soccer.

Thing to Know

WFH Mullet

An outfit that's business on the top, party (read: sweatpants) on the bottom. Billy Ray would be proud.

This may have been all of our go-to lewk for the past year, but Athleta can upgrade you. Their pull-on, silky sleek, light-as-air Brooklyn Jogger and Brooklyn Ankle Pant are comfy yet polished. So you can look and perform your best without having to button or zip anything. PS: they come in fun colors and patterns so you can spice things up...and tell the difference between one day and the next. Mullet over.

Not gonna lie, these Press Pause picks are all about pressing play. Because we wanna help you make the most of your downtime this Women's History Month. So we're sharing some of our fave Hulu movies and shows about and made by women. Recs coming in 3, 2, 1...

1. "The Great." This hysterical, twisted satire back, back, backs it up to the 1700s, when Catherine the Great broke glass ceilings before it was cool. Pretty empress-ive.

2. "The United States vs. Billie Holiday." This inspired-by-real-events drama just dropped Friday. It takes place in the '40s, but the racial tension feels v. relevant today. Don't miss it.

3. "Pen15." Grab your gel pens and get ready to laugh, cry, and cringe. This series reminds us what middle school in the early 2000s was really like. *Grimace emoji*

PS: There's lots more where this came from. Get a Hulu subscription to start streaming.

Here are today's recs to help you live a smarter life...

1. A club that can help you save 90% on your next adventure. Think: roundtrip flights to Hawaii from $109 or Portugal from $227 on airlines with flexible change policies. For the next 48 hours, Skimm'rs can join for just $1. Get planning.*

2. A smarter way to shop. This membership comes with serious benefits. Like free delivery on food, gadgets, toys, and more when you spend at least $35. Oh, and Skimm'rs get a 15-day free trial. Go for it.*

PS: Like what you see here? Make sure you're signed up to get more picks like these in your inbox every Monday. We've got exclusive shopping recs, streaming ideas, life hacks, and more.

*PS: This is a sponsored post.

Skimmârs

This last year has been one for the books. Let's not wait 'til 2040 to celebrate women who are making history in big and small ways right now. Got someone in mind? Tell us here.

Sharing courage...Genny J (MO). On the fifth anniversary of her daughter's death, she wrote a blog post about her family's journey to accepting and coping with their loss. She hopes it helps other parents feel less alone. Learn more here.

Speaking out...Sally F (CA). Her agency's presenting a free virtual speaker's series about schizophrenia to explain what it is, how it's treated, and its effects on families. Sign up here.

(Some) Birthdays...theSkimm's Kelsey Dobbs (CT), Susan Danilow (NY), Robert Connelly (NY), Keshia Ashe (VA), Cassandra Eattock (NJ), Mallory Beane (OH), Heather Hartley (IA), Sami Zoss (SD), Joan Tonning (TN), Courtney Saffie (NC), Caitlan Kern (WA), Kimberly Silva (NJ), Kaitlin Lynch (TN), Timothy Moore (CA), Lori Esser (OK)

PSâ¦we've also got a video wall to shout out a woman in your life who's making an impact on you. Check it out.

We've got tips to help you refresh your LinkedIn profile. Like sharing your top skills and updating your profile pic.

And if you're looking for other smart ways to spend your timeâ¦

Listen to our news podcast "Skimm This" for clarity on the biggest stories of the week.
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