One million fewer Americans

Plus, Finland wants to join NATO.

One million Americans have died from Covid-19; Finland wants to join NATO.   Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin. TOP NEWS One million American lives lost Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Thursday, President Joe Biden ordered flags to be flown at half-staff to remember at least 1 million Americans who have now died from Covid-19. [Axios / Ivana Saric] Due to inconsistencies in record keeping, it's not clear when exactly the US passed the 1 million dead mark (some counts say it hasn't yet been reached), but federal officials say the grim milestone was hit Thursday. [CBS News / Alexander Tin] Three-quarters of US deaths were among those 65 and older. And minorities have been twice as likely to die from the virus as white people. [ABC News / Arielle Mitropoulos] Globally, 6.7 million deaths have been recorded, but the World Health Organization estimates that the actual toll of the pandemic is closer to 15 million. [Reuters / Maria Caspani] The US vaccination campaign has helped to slow the rate of deaths, though they continue, currently averaging over 300 per day. [New York Times] Thursday, Biden pledged an additional $200 million to the World Bank's efforts to fight Covid-19 globally and prepare for the next pandemic — but any funding must pass Congress. [CNN / Sam Fossum,  Nikki Carvajal,  Maegan Vazquez and Deidre McPhillips]  Finland wants to join NATO Thursday, Finland announced it would like to join NATO following Russia's ongoing attack on Ukraine. [Associated Press / Jari Tanner] "NATO membership would strengthen Finland's security," President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said in a joint statement. [BBC] Finland shares an 810-mile border with Russia; the invasion of Ukraine caused the Nordic country to reconsider its tradition of military neutrality. According to recent polling from public broadcaster Yle, 76 percent of Finns support joining NATO, up from 25 percent a few years ago. [Guardian / Jon Henley] Further NATO expansion is an outcome Russian President Vladimir Putin didn't want; Russia threatened Finland with military retaliation Thursday. [Politico / Victor Jack] NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said NATO would swiftly and warmly welcome Finland. NATO members will likely discuss Finland's application on June 28. [NBC News / Patrick Smith] MISCELLANEOUS Thursday, the January 6 committee subpoenaed House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and other top Republicans to testify about efforts to overturn the 2020 election. [ABC News / Benjamin Siegel] North Korea ordered a nationwide lockdown Thursday as it faces its first admitted coronavirus outbreak of the pandemic. [AP / Kim Tong-Hyung and Hyung-Jin Kim] Trump officials and the meatpacking industry reportedly worked together to downplay the seriousness of the coronavirus to workers and prevent Covid-19 regulations. [Guardian / Nina Lakhani] The US canceled oil lease sales in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico, which means no new offshore drilling this year. [Washington Post / Anna Phillips]   Support our journalism   Reader contributions help keep newsletters like Sentences free for all. Support our work with a one-time gift today. Give VERBATIM "As a nation, we must not grow numb to such sorrow. To heal, we must remember." [President Joe Biden on US Covid-19 deaths / National Public Radio] LISTEN TO THIS Anita Hill finally gets even Vox's Fabiola Cineas talks with Anita Hill, whose testimony during the 1991 confirmation hearings for Justice Clarence Thomas highlighted the prominence of sexual harassment and unwanted sexual advances in the workplace.   Listen now   ▶ Read more from Vox Two GOP judges just stripped social media companies of basic First Amendment rights Why baby formula is in short supply — and who is most at risk 4 questions about long Covid experts wish they could answer Biden's American Rescue Plan worsened inflation. The question is how much. In an uncivil age, calls for "civility" are about squashing effective protest This email was sent to edwardlorilla1986.paxforex@blogger.com. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe. If you value Vox's unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.   View our Privacy Notice and our Terms of Service.   Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved.