Biden is set to travel to the Middle East to reaffirm support for Israel and press for humanitarian aid in Gaza. Spending time indoors — often looking at screens — could be behind nearsightedness.

The cause of the explosion has not yet been confirmed. Protests broke out in Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Jordan in response to the blast, with crowds chanting against Israel.

Gas stoves emit potentially harmful pollutants, but utilities and their trade group avoided regulation with tactics perfected by the tobacco industry to cast doubt on science showing health problems.

Russia and China have forged an informal alliance against the United States and other democratic nations that is now complicated by the Israel-Hamas war.