Evening Briefing: Flooding and climate change in Europe

July 16, 2021

By Remy Tumin

Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday.

Floodwaters tore through Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany.Christof Stache/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

1. Floods and extreme downpours are devastating parts of Europe, in a visible sign that the climate is changing.

The death toll has passed 125 and 1,300 are unaccounted for. Most of the dead were in Germany. Sinkholes swallowed up buildings, streets once lined with houses and shops were destroyed and cars were carried away by torrents of water. These images show the extent of the devastation from some of the worst flooding to hit Europe in decades.

Studies have found that extreme downpours like the ones that occurred in Germany are now happening more frequently and more intensely as a result of warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

National and regional forecasters knew about the risk of flooding days before the deluge made its way across Western Europe. But many people still remained in areas that were among the worst affected. "There should not have been so many deaths from this event," one scientist said.

In the U.S., this weekend is set to bring another string of potentially record-breaking high temperatures to the West.

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A sign of vaccine encouragement in Birmingham, Ala.Elijah Nouvelage/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

2. "This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated."

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the head of the C.D.C., urged people to get vaccinated as the Delta variant continued to fuel outbreaks in parts of the U.S. with low vaccine coverage. Cases, hospitalizations and deaths remain far below last winter's peak and vaccines are effective against Delta, but case numbers are ticking up in every state.

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Concern is gathering that the virus may be poised for a resurgence, although not one nearly as concerning as previous spikes. Los Angeles County said it would again require face masks indoors starting this weekend. The University of California said that most unvaccinated faculty, staff and students would be barred from its campuses this fall.

A health care worker waits to vaccinate patients in Hammanskraal, South Africa.Alet Pretorius/Associated Press

3. Africa is in its deadliest stage of the pandemic, with little relief in sight.

The Delta variant is devastating the continent. Namibia and Tunisia are reporting more deaths per capita than any other country. Across Africa, deaths jumped 40 percent last week. Only about 1 percent of Africans are fully vaccinated. Hundreds of millions of Covid shots from a global vaccine-sharing effort have failed to materialize and rich nations have bought up most doses long into the future.

In Tokyo, several coronavirus cases have emerged among Olympic competitors and personnel, a week ahead of the start of the Games, and cases are climbing in Tokyo.

Central American migrants in Sunland Park, N.M., on Thursday.Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

4. A record number of migrants arrived at the southern border in June, a slight uptick from May.

According to new data, border officials encountered migrants on the southern border in June 188,829 times, the largest number in a single month in recent history. The numbers are a sign that this year's surge may be extending into the hotter summer months when numbers typically drop off.

The fate of immigrants known as Dreamers was again thrown into question when a federal judge in Texas ruled the program unlawful. The Obama-era program has shielded more than 800,000 undocumented young adults from deportation. In a nuanced decision, the judge said he would not order that the program be immediately vacated.

A prekindergarten in the Bronx.Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

5. Once considered a progressive dream, free prekindergarten and community college could be headed toward reality.

Included in the list of programs in the Democrats' $3.5 trillion budget blueprint are President Biden's campaign proposals to offer free prekindergarten enrollment for every 3- and 4-year-old in the country, and tuition-free community college to every young adult. By expanding free early childhood education, one economist said, "You're creating a ladder into the middle class."

On Thursday, hundreds of dollars began to arrive in parents' bank accounts in the first installment of the Biden administration's monthly child tax credit. Here's why that money is more likely to be spent on children.

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Dr. David Ferrucci, in 2011, warned his colleagues to not over-promise the supercomputer's abilities.Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times

6. IBM's Watson was supposed to showcase the power of artificial intelligence. Now IBM has settled on a humbler vision for the supercomputer.

The company's missteps with Watson began with its early emphasis on big and difficult initiatives, according to many current and former IBM managers. As one former general manager put it, the original objective — to do pioneering work that was good for society — was laudable. It just wasn't realistic.

While some researchers say Watson's technology has made major strides, it stands out as a sobering example of the pitfalls of technological hype and hubris around A.I.

From Opinion: A.I. is reshaping our world. Can thousands of years of religious text and tradition help ensure it's ethical?

Clockwise from left, Monique Holt, Marsellette Davis and Frank Dattolo demonstrate name signs.The New York Times

7. What matters in a name sign?

Name signs, also known as sign names, are the equivalent of a person's name in American Sign Language and an important component of "capital D Deaf" culture — a term used by some deaf people who embrace deafness as a cultural identity.

"To give a sign name, you have to have a reason behind it," said Marsellette Davis, whose sign name is the hand shapes associated with the letters "M" and "D."

Recently, deaf people have started creating sign names for hearing politicians and well-known individuals. Five women joined forces to give Vice President Kamala Harris a name sign, drawing inspiration from the sign for "lotus flower" — the direct translation of the word "Kamala" in Sanskrit.

Emmanuelle Polack at the Louvre.Joann Pai for The New York Times

8. A magazine once called her "the Indiana Jones of looted paintings." Now she's in charge of the Louvre's restitution investigations.

Emmanuelle Polack, an art historian and an archival sleuth, is helping the Louvre uncover the origins of works that suspiciously changed hands during the Nazi occupation of France. Her methods include analyzing auction catalogs, correspondence and gallery receipts. On the backs of paintings, she often finds clues that might lead back to the rightful owners.

"For years I cultivated a secret garden about the art market during the Occupation," Polack said. "And finally, it is recognized as a crucial field for investigation."

Ever wonder what happened to Keith Haring's 85-foot-long masterpiece that was sold at auction? It's at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver — sliced and diced.

Previews begin Aug. 4 for Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu's "Pass Over."Jeremy Daniel

9. Take your seats please. Broadway is back.

Bruce Springsteen is already onstage; an actual play, "Pass Over," by Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu, opens in August (gasp!); and in September, show upon show arrives anew or picks up where it left off. We broke down everything you need to navigate Broadway as it reopens, from what to see to how to nab tickets. We're also keeping a comprehensive list of returning shows.

In London, many theaters are canceling performances because of spikes in coronavirus infections, and people in the industry fear that more cancellations will come when England ends Covid restrictions on Monday. One big name in theater has become a surprising thorn in the British government's side: Andrew Lloyd Webber has pledged to open his new "Cinderella" musical "come hell or high water."

The pandemic was a time to let Roland Mesnier's dessert molds leave the nest.Kenny Holston for The New York Times

10. And finally, the year of shopping and purging.

The pandemic spurred many of us to stock up on electronics and outfits we hoped we could wear one day. But it also compelled many people to shed belongings that once felt impossible to sell, driving a spike in business for junk haulers and auction houses.

A case in point: Roland Mesnier, a former White House pastry chef, decided to auction off his roughly 300 dessert molds, including one shaped like a dove that he used for an ice cream dessert at a 1993 lunch during the Oslo peace negotiations. "They were my babies," Mesnier said. "I'm not that happy to let them go, but what am I going to do with them?"

Have an uncluttered weekend.

David Poller compiled photos for this briefing.

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