| | | British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves Parliament on Wednesday. Source: Getty |
| IMPORTANT | 01 |
“I know there is a desire for a new approach.” So said the British prime minister yesterday before saying she’d step down in exchange for parliamentary support for her Brexit plan. While that move won over some lawmakers — who also failed yesterday to settle on an alternative to her plan — May still faces long odds in securing approval for the unpopular withdrawal agreement. What’s the stumbling block this time? The Democratic Unionist Party, which gives May her majority, is refusing to play ball, claiming her deal poses “an unacceptable threat” to the country’s unity. Don’t miss OZY’s Special Briefing on the future of Europe.
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| 02 |
Facing growing concerns over the safety of its 737 Max, the U.S. planemaker outlined a software overhaul yesterday during a meeting at its Renton, Washington, factory with more than 200 pilots and airline executives. The update would reportedly give pilots more control over a system that’s been blamed in two deadly crashes. On Capitol Hill, meanwhile, Boeing was grilled by lawmakers — who also took aim at the Federal Aviation Administration over its safety certification procedures. Will these concerns subside? Some experts say attempts by both Boeing and the FAA to downplay the scale of the problem aren’t encouraging.
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| 03 |
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced yesterday that a ballistic missile brought down a low-orbiting satellite, making India only the fourth country after the U.S., Russia and China to claim anti-satellite capabilities. Although he said the technology is aimed at keeping peace, observers believe the development pits India against regional rivals China and Pakistan — and fuels concerns about the militarization of the cosmos. What does this mean for Modi? Coming just weeks before national elections, in which his party has campaigned on hawkish security policies, Wednesday’s success may strengthen his standing. Check out OZY’s original series, States of the Nation: India.
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Maltese soldiers have successfully retaken the El Hiblu 1 oil tanker after it was hijacked by the migrants it rescued off the Libyan coast Wednesday. Officials say the group of 108 migrants wrested control of the vessel after learning it was bound for Libya — and shifted its course toward Italy instead. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini described the incident as “the first act of piracy” by migrants. Is Europe still patrolling the seas? This week the EU announced it would end its rescue boat patrols in the central Mediterranean, dubbed Operation Sophia, in a move activists called “irresponsible and reckless.”
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Thailand’s Election Commission says a pro-junta party has won the most votes in last Sunday’s election — although the results aren’t official yet. The Trump administration has reportedly approved six secret deals for the sale of nuclear power technology to Saudi Arabia. And Japan is preparing to name an new imperial era next week ahead of Emperor Akihito’s abdication later this year. #OZYfact: In 2022, the NBA is expected to allow 18-year-olds to jump from high school straight into the pros. Read more on OZY. Listen Up! Get inside the minds of Lorena Bobbitt, James Holmes and John Hinckley — and explore the history of the insanity defense — with Season 4 of The Thread, the latest installment of OZY’s popular podcast. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
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INTRIGUING | 01 |
Hate has no friends. After the measure takes effect next week, the social media giant will funnel users attempting to post White nationalist, separatist or supremacist content to a nonprofit group aimed at deradicalizing them. Facebook had been criticized in the wake of the New Zealand mosque shootings for providing the gunman, who livestreamed part of the attack, a public platform. A French group has sued the company for not removing the video quickly enough. What counts as offensive content? Interestingly, not Holocaust denial — which Facebook reportedly classifies as misinformation rather than hate speech. Read this OZY story about what life after Facebook might look like.
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| 02 |
It’s a big deal. Saudi Arabia’s state-controlled oil company — the world’s largest — has reportedly agreed to purchase a 70 percent stake in Middle Eastern petrochemical giant SABIC, currently owned by the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund. The $69.1 billion deal will diversify Saudi Aramco’s footprint in refining and provide the Saudi Public Investment Fund with a healthy cash injection. How much will Aramco grow? It’s planning to more than double its refining capacity, currently at 4.9 million barrels per day, by 2030.
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Amazon’s recent attempt to set up a second headquarters in New York City was meant to tap into the Big Apple’s tech talent, but perhaps it shouldn’t have banked on its millennials: Between 2012 and 2017, OZY reports, NYC saw the largest net exodus of any American city in the same period — and 75 percent more than during the previous five-year period. Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami saw similar demographic losses. Where are they going? Cities where average property prices are far lower: Minneapolis-St. Paul, Columbus and Kansas City are magnets for young professionals.
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Along with fellow singer and songwriter Carlos Vives, the Colombian performer appeared in a Spanish court yesterday to testify against accusations that she copied the work of Cuban-born singer Livan Rafael Castellanos, known professionally as Livám. Shakira denied that her track La Bicicleta contains similarities to Livám’s 1997 song Yo te Quiero Tanto. Livám claims he sent a sample of his tune to Vives, who ended up using some of it. How common is music plagiarism? Accusations are rampant and cases can be tied up in courts for years, while the financial stakes are only growing larger. Check out OZY’s Special Briefing on Jamaica’s controversial musical hero.
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| 05 |
The University of Texas has suspended the Texas Cowboys, who dress up as bull riders and fire cannons at Longhorns home games, for six years after an investigation into the death of one of its members. The 20-year-old student died from injuries sustained when he was thrown from the back of a pick-up truck during an accident. Evidence of hazing — including violent paddling, brutality and “degradation” — later emerged. Is this their first offense? The Cowboys were previously disbanded for a few years in the 1990s after a member drowned due to “alcohol-fueled hazing.”
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Acumen
Midsize cities are emerging as the preferred destination for young adults and top tech talent.
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