• King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia decreed this week that women in the country will be permitted to drive by June 24, 2018.  While activists hail the order as a step forward for women’s rights, many restrictions remain in place, including a requirement that women who wish to travel, work or access healthcare must be accompanied by (or obtain written permission from) a male guardian. [BBC]
  • The Trump Administration revealed its proposed tax plan Wednesday.  The bill would raise the lowest individual tax bracket from 10% to 12%, and lower the highest bracket from 39.6% to 35%.  The plan gives Congress the option of creating a higher bracket above 35% but does not specify any details or even direct Congress to implement the bracket. [New York Times]
  • The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico continues to struggle with island-wide power outages, limited food and gasoline, and an ever-dwindling potable water supply in the wake of Hurricane Maria, which devastated the region last week.  [NPR]
  • Drug company Novartis has come under fire for the $475,000 price tag on its innovative cancer therapy treatment approved by the FDA late last month.  Since gene therapies like this one are targeted at a small number of patients and used once, Novartis has few chances to recoup its investment in the revolutionary discovery. For Dr. Science’s take on what the treatment means for cancer treatment, check out Gene Therapy Makes Cancer Its Bitch. [Bloomberg]
  • Popular improvisational fantasy comedy podcast Hello from the Magic Tavern has announced its first-ever live show in Washington, D.C.  The Chicago-based trio, composed of Arnie (Arnold Niekamp), Chunt (Adal Rifai) and Usidore the Blue —Wizard of the 12th Realm of Ephysiyies, Master of Light and Shadow, Manipulator of Magical Delights, Devourer of Chaos, Champion of the Great Halls of Terr’akkas, known to the elves Fi’ang Yalok, known to the dwarves as Zoenen Hoogstandjes, and known in the Northeast as Gaismunēnas Meistar — (Matt Young), has previously performed in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Anaheim.

FACT OF THE WEEK: Koala populations across Australia are widely infected with chlamydia.  In Koalas, the disease results in blindness, infertility, and incontinence, and can be fatal. In some areas of the country, up to 90% of Koalas are infected with the sexually transmitted infection. [BBC]