Shooting stops for now in Israel-Hamas conflict: Weekend Reads

[Bloomberg]( Follow Us [Get the newsletter]( Celebrations erupted with the news of a cease-fire between Israel and the Hamas group that runs the Gaza Strip, marking an end to their 11-day conflict. The truce alone does nothing to address the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, making future cycles of violence likely. In India, the pandemic began ravaging [rural]( areas across the world’s second-most populous country after devastating its cities. The crisis is stoking anger at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration and local authorities for failing to bolster medical infrastructure following a virus wave last year. The role of women takes center stage in the United Arab Emirates and South Korea. And in Brazil, Lula is on the comeback trail. Dig deeper into these and other topics with this edition of Weekend Reads. — [Karl MaierÂ]( Palestinians celebrate in Ramallah after the cease-fire was announced Friday. Photographer: Abbas Momani/AFP/Getty Images Click [here]( for this week’s most compelling political images and tell us how we’re doing or what we’re missing at balancepower@bloomberg.net. Paid Post Capture and store the CO2 of an entire industrial area? That's big. ExxonMobil is working on a plan that could capture and store roughly 100 million metric tons of CO2 annually by 2040 along the Houston Ship Channel. [Learn more at EnergyFactor.com]( ExxonMobil The Conflict in Gaza is Over. What’s Next? Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group that runs the Gaza Strip have ceased fire after fierce fighting that killed at least 243 Palestinians and 12 people inside Israel. [Amy TeibelÂ](and [Gwen Ackerman]( outline what comes [next]( after the two sides’ fourth major confrontation. Fungal Epidemic, Sick Babies: Worst of Covid Plays Out in India Rare, life-threatening Covid-19 [complications]( appear to be escalating in India, [Bhuma Shrivastava](, [Jason Gale]( and [Chris Kay]( report. That’s creating a fresh wave of critical medical challenges in a country that has already seen short supplies of oxygen and other basic needs.  “The second wave has taken us into uncharted territories,” Guleria said in an interview in New Delhi. “We knew there would be a second wave given the international experience, but didn’t expect such ferocity.” How the India Covid Variant Exposed U.K.’s Pandemic Weaknesses Scientists fear Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s slowness in banning travel to India exposed the U.K.’s [vulnerability]( as a dangerous Covid-19 variant surged. The question now, [Kitty Donaldson](, [Emily Ashton]( and [Tim Ross]( write, is if the government machine can respond quickly enough when the next strain arrives. Vaccine Holdouts in Africa Reject World’s Route to Recovery A handful of African countries have so far [rejected]( the World Health Organization’s advice to register for the Covax initiative to distribute vaccines to poorer countries. [Antony Sguazzin]( explains why that could pose another big challenge for global efforts to end the pandemic. Supplies of Covid-19 shots are beginning to outstrip demand in the European Union’s east. But with bigger western nations among the EU’s top skeptics, the developments call into [question]( whether vaccination can deliver the herd immunity the continent seeks. Global Tax Revamp Gathers Pace as Europe Salutes U.S. Proposal A U.S. proposal for a global [minimum]( corporate tax of at least 15% met with an enthusiastic reception in Europe, [William Horobin]( reports, in a sign the world is getting closer to a deal on sweeping changes to how much multinationals pay and to which governments. Lost N.Y. House Seat Stirs Echoes of Racist 1929 Congress Debate New York will have one [less]( U.S. congressional seat next year because of a 92-year-old law rooted in fears over African-Americans and immigrants gaining too much political power. [Gregory Korte](, [Allison McCartney]( and [Ryan Teague Beckwith]( outline the huge loss it poses for the state. Lula Starts to Rekindle Old Magic in Brazil Souring on Bolsonaro Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the former Brazilian shoeshine boy who became a popular president, then was jailed for corruption and cleared by the supreme court, is [emerging]( as the main challenger to President Jair Bolsonaro in next year’s election. [Simone Iglesias]( explains why. Lula speaks at a news conference in Sao Bernardo do Campo on March 10. Photographer: Victor Moriyama/Bloomberg A Xinjiang Solar Giant Breaks Ranks to Try and Woo the West The Daqo New Energy Corp. factory in China’s Xinjiang region allowed reporters and analysts to [witness]( its operations for the first time since the nation’s dominant solar industry came under scrutiny for its labor practices. How London’s Property Boom Left Black Britons With Nothing Buying a home is the single most important way of achieving prosperity in the U.K. But as [Olivia Konotey-Ahulu]( writes, Black people risk falling further behind for generations as urban [gentrification]( exposes gaping racial wealth disparities. Singapore Bloggers Turn to Crowdfunding to Pay Defamation Bills Two bloggers in Singapore recently turned to crowdfunding to pay [damages]( and costs from defamation suits brought by the city state’s leader. “People realize that speaking up for something is something you need to protect,” says Roy Ngerng, who raised roughly $108,000 he still owed in just nine days via 2,132 people, [Philip Heijmans]( reports. Women in Military Becomes Gender Battleground in South Korea A debate in South Korea about mandatory military [service]( for women is inflaming divisions in a country facing chronic income disparities and systemic gender discrimination. [Jeong-Ho Lee]( and [Jihye Lee]( look at how the issue affects almost every family in the country. Female cadets participate in basic military training for reserve officers in Seoul. Photographer: Pool/Getty Images Outsider Candidates Upend Chile Politics and Unnerve Investors Upheaval has gripped Chilean politics as a new generation of leaders challenges the parties that have led the country for 30 years. [Matthew Malinowski]( provides a [guide]( to the main contenders vying to become the next head of state. Rare Middle East Push for Women on Boards Runs Into Culture Wall After a UAE directive that listed companies should have at least one [female]( board member, only four of the 23 people added to such roles at firms on the country’s two major stock exchanges have been women, [Abeer Abu Omar]( and [Filipe Pacheco]( reveal. That barely moves the needle in a country where men hold about 96% of such positions. And finally …  Once relegated to weekend escapes from urban fatigue, centuries-old villages in Italy became refuges from the claustrophobia of pandemic lockdowns, promising more space to inhabit and improved [quality]( of life at cheaper prices. Now local leaders are trying to make sure their visitors stay to reverse the long-term flight of people to wealthier cities. But as [Stefania D'Ignoti]( finds, it’s easier said than done. The Medieval hamlet of Castelbuono, perched in the mountains of Sicily. Photographer: Tullio Puglia/Bloomberg   Like Balance of Power? [Get unlimited access to Bloomberg.com](, where you'll find trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters.  You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Balance of Power newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Bloomberg.com]( | [Contact Us]( Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022