| | | Indian security forces pose Friday with the national flag and pictures of the pilot captured by Pakistan earlier this week. Source: Getty |
| | IMPORTANT | | 01 | President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, a White House adviser, reportedly received top-secret credentials last year despite concerns from intelligence leaders and legal experts. No specifics were revealed about what prompted the pushback — including from then-chief of staff John Kelly, who was reportedly concerned enough that he documented the request in writing — but speculation has centered on Kushner’s foreign contacts. Trump denied involvement in the matter.
What’s next? The Democrat-chaired House Oversight and Intelligence Committees are already looking into the administration’s security clearance process. | |
| | 02 | Amid calls for restraint from the global community over its recent clashes with nuclear rival India, the Pakistani government is preparing to hand over an Indian air force pilot it captured this week. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is being returned “as a gesture of peace,” according to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Will diplomatic relations now improve? While fighting in the disputed Kashmir region reportedly eased Friday — though not completely — Qureshi said he dropped out of a regional summit because his Indian counterpart had also been invited.
Don’t miss OZY’s Special Briefing on the India-Pakistan skirmish. | |
| | 03 | North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho told reporters yesterday that Pyongyang requested only partial relief from sanctions in exchange for dismantling its key nuclear complex. If true, that stands in contrast to a claim by President Trump that his second summit with Kim Jong Un collapsed over demands that Washington lift all its sanctions.
Is there still room to maneuver? That’s unclear, since Ri also indicated that Pyongyang’s fundamental position wouldn’t change in the future.
Don’t miss OZY’s Special Briefing on the state of North Korea’s economy. | |
| | 04 | They’re driving a hard bargain. Several years after floating the idea of a $35,000 sedan, the electric carmaker announced yesterday it’s finally making good on that pledge. But to do so, Tesla’s shuttering some of its 378 stores and laying off workers to pursue online-only sales, which it says could cut vehicle costs by 6 percent. Meanwhile, Elon Musk has warned the company probably won’t turn a profit this quarter, but a second-quarter boost is “likely.”
Will this strategy work? Some experts aren’t so sure, saying the Model 3’s new rock-bottom price might turn off consumers expecting top-of-the-line features. | |
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| | | | INTRIGUING | | 01 | A new report commissioned by Congress suggests current rates could be cut in half with an annual $90 billion investment that includes direct assistance and tax credits for working families. Doing nothing would cost tenfold, the report says, due to increased crime, bad health and lower productivity that result when poor children become adults. An estimated 13 percent of American kids lived in poverty in 2015, with higher rates among immigrant families.
Will Congress go for it? It’s unclear: The government has been reducing assistance to the poor, while the Trump administration is looking to chop domestic spending. | |
| | 02 | Although President Trump has low overall approval among Chinese-Americans, some pockets of support are still cheering for him, OZY reports. From middle-class families buying property to conservative older voters worried about illegal immigration to activist groups organizing on WeChat, they’ve been won over by Trump’s pro-business stance and are undeterred by his trade war with China.
What’s the future of Chinese-American activism? Recent immigrants are more politically involved than previous generations — suggesting they could become a formidable voting bloc. | |
| | 03 | The platform removed the ability to leave comments on tens of millions of videos after reports of sexual messages being posted on clips of young children, as well as threats from companies like Disney and Epic Games to pull ads that were appearing alongside such predatory messages. YouTube said it would broaden its enforcement in the coming months to include videos featuring older children.
Who’s moderating? The company is reportedly working on a new artificial intelligence system to remove inappropriate comments at twice the current pace.
Read this OZY feature about how YouTube killed the radio star. | |
| | 04 | The legendary German-born musician died Thursday at his home in New York City. A child talent, Previn was hired by MGM at age 16 to score films, winning four Oscars and 10 Grammys before moving on to conduct esteemed classical orchestras. The pianist married five times and is survived by nine children, though he disavowed his adopted daughter with Mia Farrow, Soon-Yi Previn, over her relationship with director Woody Allen.
What’s his legacy? In addition to his many musical accomplishments, British comedian Stephen Fry says his generation may remember Previn best for his appearance on the TV comedy Morecambe & Wise. | |
| | 05 | He’s hit the jackpot. The former Washington Nationals slugger has agreed to a record 13-year, $330 million deal with the Phillies, finally ending a dramatic and drawn-out free-agency contest. The 26-year-old outfielder, who reportedly hopes to play in one city for the rest of his career, also snagged a no-trade clause in the deal.
Is he worth the big bucks? Harper, a No. 1 draft pick, NL MVP and six-time All Star, is undoubtedly talented, but has also been described as volatile and arrogant, while his injuries may have prevented him from reaching his full potential.
Don’t miss OZY’s take on the future of baseball’s megastars. | |
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