Drone Footage, Macron's Gamble, and a History of Stargazing

Drone Footage Released

US officials released video yesterday showing the moments a Russian fighter jet engaged with a US drone over the Black Sea Tuesday, capturing the most direct interaction between the two countries since Russia invaded Ukraine last February.

The tape reveals two Russian Su-27 jets intercepting an uncrewed MQ-9 Reaper (watch here), a type of drone typically used by the US and allies to conduct high-altitude surveillance. One of the two jets performs a fuel dump, reportedly damaging the drone's propeller and forcing it to crash into the sea. Officials say the US routinely conducts reconnaissance in the international airspace above the Black Sea—an area the Kremlin has claimed now falls under its territory as part of its war in Ukraine. 

In related news, Poland became the first NATO member to agree to transfer fighter jets—four Soviet-era MiG-29 planes—to Ukraine. See updates on the war here.

Macron Goes Alone

French President Emmanuel Macron's government invoked a special provision of France's constitution yesterday to bypass parliamentary votes on a proposal to increase the country's retirement age to 64 by 2030. The pension overhaul plan has been met with weeks of nationwide protests (see photos).

The bill passed France's Senate yesterday and was due for a vote in the National Assembly, the lower house of France's parliament. To avoid potentially having it voted down, administration officials invoked a constitutional provision that allows Macron to circumvent the legislature (see 101)—but also allows opponents the chance to call for a no-confidence vote. If such a vote passed, the bill would be scrapped and the Macron government must resign (otherwise, the bill will become law). 

Polls suggest around 60% of the public oppose the proposed reforms, which were a pillar of Macron's reelection campaign. Macron, who is 10 months into his second five-year term, also no longer has a majority in parliament. 

El Salvador's Mega Prison

El Salvador officials transferred a second batch of 2,000 suspects to its newly built Terrorism Confinement Center while extending emergency powers for the 13th consecutive month in the fight against gangs. The prison, built to house 40,000 suspected gang members, will be the largest in the world if it reaches capacity.

The emergency measures allow arrests to be made without a warrant and include a suspension of some constitutional rights, including access to a lawyer. Approximately 65,000 alleged gang members have been arrested since the measures were enacted. The crackdown largely targets members of the MS-13 and Barrio 18 gangs and is supported by many Salvadorans. However, human rights groups have criticized the measures for arbitrary arrests, torture, deaths of prisoners, and the wrongful detainment of innocent people.

El Salvador has the world's highest incarceration rate, with nearly 2% of the population behind bars. See video from inside the center (warning—sensitive content).

Science & Technology

Business & Markets

Politics & World Affairs

In-Depth

> Beyond the Booze

The Manual | Steven John, Dannielle Beardsley. Brush up on the history of the real St. Patrick and the holiday celebrated all over the world in his name. (Read)

> Human Lab Rats

Free Press | Katherine Dee. The wild story of professional participants in clinical drug trials where freelancers join a "giant sleepover" for sometimes tens of thousands of dollars. (Read)

> Mappa Mundi

Aeon | Jeremy Shuback. The largest surviving complete map of the medieval world reveals how 14th-century Europeans imagined their cosmos. (Watch)

> Fabio Saved Me From a Cult

Was I In A Cult? | Tyler Measom, Liz Iacuzzi. (Podcast) Male supermodel Hoyt Richards tells his dramatic story of being lured into—and eventually rescued from— the Eternal Values cult. (Listen)

Help share 1440

Wouldn’t the world be a better place if more people read fact-focused, unbiased news? Take a minute to share this digest with your friends—They’ll thank you for it!

⭐1440 List: A history of stargazing.

America's best St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

... and how green became the day's official color.

Ranking the 50 top destinations to explore this year.

Scientists raise alarm over proposed octopus farm.

Researcher revives debate over Leonardo da Vinci's mother.

The year's best mobile phone photography.

OpenAI's latest language model will (probably) not take over the world.

Clickbait: Couple ties knot at a Metaverse Taco Bell.

Historybook: First St. Patrick’s Day parade held (1601); Golf legend Bobby Jones born (1902); Singer Nat King Cole born (1919); National Gallery of Art opens in Washington, DC (1941); Soccer great Mia Hamm born (1972).