| |  | President Donald Trump meets with Republican lawmakers at the White House Thursday. Source: Getty |
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Following yesterday’s defeats of rival Democratic and Republican spending bills, Senate leaders are making a new push to negotiate a way out of the 35-day partial federal shutdown. Still, few signs suggest they’ll succeed soon. President Donald Trump is standing firm on his demand for $5.7 billion in border wall funding, asking Democrats for a “down payment” on the project in any legislation they propose.
What’s happening to the 800,000 furloughed workers? Some have sought replacement work as substitute teachers or Uber drivers — raising questions over what others might do for cash after missing their second paycheck today.
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Following President Trump’s recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate president — a move backed by U.S. allies and other Latin American nations — Russia, China and Turkey have all criticized Washington for messing with another country’s domestic affairs. “It’s just pouring gas on fire,” said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
What’s Nicolás Maduro’s next move? The embattled president is effectively thrusting Guaidó back on the defensive after winning public support from Venezuela’s military chief and key ally Russia.
Don’t miss OZY’s Special Briefing on the crisis in Venezuela.
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In a speech at the Sandringham Women’s Institute today, the British monarch called for “respecting different points of view” and urged her compatriots to “seek out the common ground.” While she’s supposed to stay politically neutral, most analysts are interpreting the queen’s comments as a reference to the thorny debate over the U.K.’s tumultuous withdrawal from the European Union.
When will lawmakers vote on a Brexit deal? They’ll consider a new version of Prime Minister Theresa May’s unpopular plan next week — but if they fail to approve it, the U.K’s looking at a messy no-deal divorce March 29.
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These skies aren’t so friendly. American, Southwest and JetBlue announced Thursday that although they expected increased quarterly revenues, passengers would soon feel the impact of furloughed air traffic controllers and security screeners. Longer wait times and canceled flights are likely, executives warned. Meanwhile, 7.5 percent of U.S. airport security officers — double the amount last year — missed work Wednesday.
Are travelers in danger? The president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said he’s clocked an increase in anecdotal reports of minor errors by controllers, adding that the shutdown is “inserting risk” into the system.
Read this OZY feature to learn why airlines are rushing to Azerbaijan.
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| INTRIGUING | | 01 |
They’re pressed for space. Built by students from private space-education firm Space Kidz India, the 2.8-pound Kalamsat-V2 entered orbit Thursday. Launching a privately built probe is a first for the Indian Space Research Organization, whose chief claimed Kalamsat — reportedly weighing less than a wooden chair — is the lightest satellite ever put into orbit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his “heartiest congratulations” to the team.
Why does it matter? Kalamsat’s mission also reuses the rocket’s fourth stage, which is typically discarded, converting it into an innovative orbital platform for low-gravity experiments.
Don’t miss OZY’s feature on the new space race in Asia and the Middle East.
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Weeks after CEO Sundar Pichai voiced his support for November’s employee walkout over the company’s handling of sexual misconduct, Google’s lawyers asked the National Labor Relations Board in an unrelated case to rescind federal protections for employees who use work email to organize. The request was uncovered by a Freedom of Information Act request. Google, which has long attempted to foster a feedback culture, has denied “lobbying” for any rule change.
What would happen if Google got its way? One activist employee believes it could have “a huge chilling effect” on labor organization writ large.
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Amid historically high rates of suicide and loneliness in the U.S., new apps using artificial intelligence, machine learning and natural language processing are aiming to improve users’ mental health, OZY reports. From offering real-time communication with professionals to analyzing smartphone activity, this new health-focused technology can tailor care to individuals like never before.
Will these apps really work? Experts say keeping up a high level of engagement between therapists and patients, particularly through a simple and user-friendly interface, is key to their success.
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Following what he claims was a “slanderous accusation,” the singer filed a lawsuit in French court yesterday against a defendant identified only by her initials. The 24-year-old had alleged that Brown, his bodyguard and another man raped her in a Paris hotel earlier this month. Police arrested the performer Tuesday but released him without charges the next day.
Are police still investigating the incident? Yes, but Brown — who’s sticking around Paris to film a new music video — is reportedly free to leave the country.
Check out OZY’s original series on the #MeToo movement going global.
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Nissin Foods has apologized and assured customers it values diversity after pulling its online campaign that sparked widespread criticism by depicting an extremely pale animated version of the biracial tennis star. “I’m tan. It’s pretty obvious,” said Osaka, who was born in Japan to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, adding that she didn’t think Nissin had intended to whitewash her.
Shouldn’t they know what she looks like? The 21-year-old shot to international fame by beating Serena Williams in September’s U.S. Open, and is currently heading into the final of the Australian Open.
Don’t miss OZY’s profile of the rising tennis star.
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Acumen
Though military budgets are murky, a whole lot of cash is getting funneled to space from the Defense Department.
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