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important | 1 | | Is it peace, or an exit strategy? American and Taliban officials, including U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, are poised to sign a historic agreement to end their 19-year-old conflict in Afghanistan. To be signed this afternoon in Doha, Qatar, it establishes conditions under which 12,000 U.S. troops would be drawn down to an 8,600-strong anti-terrorism force. The pact requires the Taliban to end its association with al-Qaida and other terror groups. What happens next? The agreement fosters talks between the Islamist militant force and the U.S.-backed Kabul government, which would need to incorporate Taliban members in its political and military ranks. Read OZY’s series on ending the war. | |
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| 2 | | As U.S. President Donald Trump called coronavirus concerns a “hoax,” 813 new cases were reported today in South Korea, where the total hit 3,150 — second only to China — and 28,000 American service members are stationed. Trump compared the disease to flu and said the press was hyping its severity to hurt his reelection chances. Some argue that measures including travel bans and school closures, as OZY reports, are more damaging than the illness, fueling xenophobia and economic harm. Should Americans worry? Three cases on the West Coast appear unconnected to foreign contact, raising fresh concerns of COVID-19 spreading through communities. | |
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| 3 | | Friday’s frenzied market swings, which shaved 3 percent from London’s FTSE index and caused wild drops and rebounds on Wall Street, were a dramatic close to a week that saw the Dow shed 12.4 percent — its worst week since the 2008 financial crisis. Uncertainty over the economic disruptions caused by coronavirus sparked the sell-offs, but few analysts could explain how things got so bad so quickly. Can it be helped? Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell indicated that the “evolving risks” may require new interest rate cuts, but analysts warned that jittery consumers’ behavior will probably have far more impact than cheaper borrowing. OZY examines globalism’s viral weakness. | |
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| 4 | | Bernie Sanders is offering Democrats voting on Super Tuesday a revolution. But as OZY columnist Susan Del Percio asks, is that what they want? With 14 states, including the biggest, California, and a Pacific territory up for grabs, they may resoundingly answer her question. A big impact on those choices may come today in South Carolina’s primary, where lagging former frontrunner Joe Biden leads polls, boosted by his appeal among Black voters. Where does Trump stand? Yesterday, he urged South Carolina Republicans to vote in the Democratic primary for “Crazy Bernie,” suggesting he would be easier to defeat in November. | |
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| 5 | | The United States has offered to help Iran with its coronavirus outbreak. Roman Polanski, convicted in a 1977 U.S. underage sex case, was awarded a French “Oscar” for best director Friday while some women attending walked out in protest. And an appeals court that blocked President Trump’s policy of keeping asylum seekers in Mexico has suspended that ruling, allowing the policy to continue for now. In the week ahead: Voters in Slovakia are expected to increase support for a neo-fascist party today. Israel holds its third parliamentary election in a year on Monday. And on Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a pivotal abortion case. OZY Fest is coming! New York’s biggest and boldest festival of cutting-edge music, comedy, conversation and food is returning to Central Park July 25. Among this year’s guests will be Miguel, Tan France, Dulce Sloan, Andrew Yang, Alex Rodriguez — and many more. Get your tickets today at ozyfest.com. |
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| intriguing | 1 | | In January, a British Airways pilot became unresponsive just before his plane landed in London. But it wasn’t a one-off incident. A study by the University of Kansas found that such incidents occur at least five times a day in the United States alone, while a cabin crew union says they average once a day on British Airways flights. Is there a solution? Airlines are already testing filtration systems for air intake, while some new aircraft don’t draw fresh air through their engines, which is thought to be the source of contamination. OZY’s Special Briefing examines Boeing’s viability. | |
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| 2 | | The problem with COVID-19 is not that it’s likely to kill people — just the opposite. It’s predicted to infect 40 to 70 percent of humankind in the next year largely because many people won’t get sick, and some will appear healthy. That means stopping the coronavirus, as was done with the highly fatal and visible avian flu of the late 1990s, is likely impossible, and it could well become a recurring seasonal illness. Is a vaccine on the way? In the best-case scenario, a vaccine could be developed in a year, but more time will be needed to manufacture and distribute it. | |
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| 3 | | Infant dolls retrofitted with lifelike features are portrayed in popular culture as surrogates assuaging childless women’s longing to be mothers, but aficionados say that’s incorrect. The dolls are simply a hobby, involving fun with collectibles women make, buy and sell. Fans spend thousands of dollars on silicone-enhanced infants and accessories that include strollers, bottles and diapers, which some exhibit on YouTube. Why does this creep us out? One researcher believes the unease is rooted in societal norms that equate motherhood with women’s success. Meanwhile, she says, the dolls might offer therapeutic benefits for those with anxiety or depression.
OZY observes another creepy doll phenomenon. | |
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| 4 | | Pandit Jasraj has a minor planet named after him, but in India’s classical music tradition he pulls his own orbit. The 90-year-old Hindustani classical vocalist boasts a career of more than 1,000 performances in 200-plus cities, but his latest work may be his most ambitious, OZY reports: Jasgranth will define Jasraj’s legacy, compiling all of his work digitally and allowing anyone with broadband to access it. What will it mean for future musicians? The archive will be a 21st-century update on the long tradition of handing down knowledge from teacher to student, with documentation of Jasraj’s composition and teaching techniques. | |
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| 5 | | All Nippon Airways is going for tech gold ahead of July’s Tokyo Olympics. With global visitors slated to descend on the city, a variety of new gadgets are to be rolled out, beginning with a hand-held 74-language translator. But none are as futuristic as Newme, a two-wheel device remote users can hire to whir through the city, providing digital eyes and ears and robotic hands for virtual tourism. Will there even be a 2020 Olympics? Good question. Coronavirus may force its cancellation — leaving Newme as a healthy alternative to visiting Japan. OZY asks if the crisis will sink China’s chance for gold.
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| caught up? now vault ahead ... | To get more fresh stories and bold ideas in your inbox, check out The Daily Dose. | | News + Politics As America plots an Afghanistan exit, this series looks at who gains and what that means. | READ NOW |
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