| | | British Prime Minister Theresa May attends a press conference Monday in Strasbourg, France. Source: Getty |
| IMPORTANT | 01 |
The Chicago-based company is under increasing pressure after more than a dozen air carriers — together with the Chinese and Indonesian governments — ordered their 737 Max 8s grounded following the death of 157 people in Sunday’s Ethiopian Airlines crash. Boeing shares dropped 5 percent yesterday as investigators began studying the plane’s flight recorders, but the company warned against speculating over the cause of the crash while the probe is underway. Where else is pressure coming from? Pilots themselves have expressed concerns over the Max 8’s safety, with one union spokesman saying, “Everybody should be looking at this.”
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The British prime minister assured lawmakers that she’s secured “legally binding changes” to her EU withdrawal agreement that address the thorny Irish border issue. But it remains unclear if they’ll be enough to convince skeptical MPs, who are due to deliver their final verdict on her Brexit deal tonight. “There will be no third chance,” said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. What if Parliament rejects May’s plan? MPs will vote Wednesday on whether to leave without a deal — and if that fails, they’ll vote Thursday about asking for a Brexit delay. Don’t miss OZY’s Special Briefing on the future of Europe.
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Following weeks of demonstrations, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced yesterday that he won’t seek a fifth term in office — a response, he told Algerians, “to the urgent demand that you have made of me.” The ailing 82-year-old, who has seldom been seen in public since a 2013 stroke, said next month’s elections would be postponed to promote “tranquility and public security.” What’s next for Algeria? While many citizens celebrated, analysts warned that Bouteflika’s regime is propped up by a wide-ranging bureaucracy and security apparatus that won’t be easy to change. Check out this OZY feature on Algeria’s massive defense budget.
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Citing the “deteriorating situation,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington would withdraw all its Caracas-based diplomatic staff from the chaos-stricken country, which has suffered from widespread power outages in addition to its protracted political crisis. In a televised address yesterday, President Nicolás Maduro blamed the U.S. “imperialist government” for orchestrating the blackout, which has claimed 15 lives since last week. What are Maduro’s opponents doing? The National Assembly approved a national emergency decree by opposition leader Juan Guaidó that could pave the way for foreign intervention, though U.S. officials say that’s still unlikely.
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| | INTRIGUING | 01 |
A new study published by health journal PNAS confirmed that America’s Black and Hispanic communities are far more likely than White ones to experience dangerous levels of air pollution, leaving minority groups at higher risk of health problems. But researchers went further: Relying partly on census data, they found that consumption habits by White Americans cause much of that pollution. How deadly is poor air quality? It’s America’s single largest environmental health risk, reportedly causing more deaths each year than accidents and murders combined.
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Hoping to avoid the need for PINs or signatures, NatWest will begin a trial with 200 customers next month using a new type of payment card with a built-in fingerprint scanner. Contactless payments are already ubiquitous in the U.K., allowing shoppers to simply tap their cards onto readers for charges under $40, and requiring a PIN — or now a print — for pricier purchases. What are the risks? While faking a fingerprint is possible, the biometric payment method is more secure than a PIN, especially because the data is stored locally on the card, rather than in a hackable central database. Read OZY’s profile of the economist trying to change the meaning of money.
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Will a dental stick a day keep the vet away? That’s what many dog lovers believe these days, OZY reports, as they’re increasingly caring for their canines’ canines. In 2017, pet owners spent a staggering $5.2 billion on their furry companions’ dental needs — with dog owners twice as likely as cat people to shell out the big bucks for prime dental care. Is it really necessary? Perhaps more than you think: Over 80 percent of dogs will develop gum disease before they turn 3, prompting vets to suggest dental wipes as the most practical solution.
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The 28-year-old singer in the popular South Korean group Big Bang announced yesterday that he’d immediately retire from showbiz after police charged him with seeking to hire prostitutes for foreign investors at his private club. He posted on Instagram that retiring was meant to prevent further damage to his boy band — which has sold more than 140 million records — or its talent agency, YG Entertainment. How big is this scandal? YG shares sank nearly 16 percent on the news, while Seungri is banned from traveling abroad and his mandatory military service, which was set to begin this month, is likely to be postponed. Check out this OZY profile of the Korean singer reviving French jazz.
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He’s got career goals. The French-Algerian soccer legend is back with the Spanish club after Santiago Solari became the second manager sacked in less than a year. Solari’s predecessor, Julen Lopetegui, lost his job on the eve of the World Cup last year. Zidane, who led Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles during his first stint with the team, has signed a three-year contract. What’s his top task? The 46-year-old is charged with turning around a team that underperformed this season, especially after star Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure last summer. Don’t miss OZY’s story about the Paraguayan star lighting up U.S. soccer.
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Provocateurs
A veteran global jihadi, Masood Azhar’s latest attack has inflamed the nuclear-armed neighbors’ tensions.
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