This Country Pays Tourists Who Catch COVID

Russia has approved a second COVID-19 vaccine just like the one it released in August — without completing clinical trials. Meanwhile, it’s (temporary) lights out for Paris’ famed nightlife, with France announcing nightly curfewsin the capital and other cities to control a surge in COVID-19 infections. Other European nations are also reimposing restrictions as cases reach record levels.

2. Thai Trick

What about daytime gatherings?Sorry, not in Thailand. An emergency decree has barred all public protests in a bid to crack down on the largest demonstrations the country has witnessed in decades against Thailand’s monarch. Meanwhile Chile’s government faces growing pressure to institute police reforms over allegations of abuses against protesters in recent weeks.

3. No Comment Barrett

Judge Amy Coney Barrett appeared poised for a Supreme Court confirmation from the Senate before Nov. 3, without committing to positions on subjects such as the Affordable Care Act and abortion rights. Republicans aren’t holding back on criticism of Facebook and Twitter, though, after the platforms restricted the distribution of an article claiming that then-Vice President Joe Biden met a controversial Ukrainian business partner of his son Hunter. Are social media giants censoring conservatives? Vote on Twitter.

4. Goldman’s Golden Quarter

Goldman Sachs’ profits nearly doubled in the quarter ending in September. Meanwhile Zambia has warned it’s on the cusp of becoming Africa’s first economy to default on debts amid the pandemic. But the management label behind South Korea’s superstar boy band BTS debuted on Seoul’s stock exchange at twice its IPO value.

Male baboons live longer if they have female friends — whether or not they mate — new research on monkeys found near Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro shows. That’s because the friends clean each other’s fur for bugs and dirt. While female baboons also do that with others of their sex, male baboons are useless at grooming each other. Ouch!

1. Gross National Happiness

Bhutan measures itself on seven parameters ranging from public health and education to living standards and emotional well-being. And it doesn’t come at the cost of the formal economy: Bhutan’s GDP per capita is 60 percent higher than neighboring giant India’s.

2. Happy Planet Index

This calculates a country’s ecological footprint, its citizens’ life expectancy, income equality and overall well-being. Costa Rica is at the top in this ranking — and economic heavyweights China and the U.S. flounder at 72nd and 108th respectively. The result? Costa Rica is a rare success story against COVID-19.

3. Living Standards Framework

Since 2011, New Zealand has used this measure — which tracks everything from levels of trust and rule of law to the state of the environment, incomes and housing — to shape its policies and determine budget allocations. If it weren’t working, the world’s wealthiest wouldn’t view New Zealand as the perfect bolt hole for when catastrophe strikes.  

Famed comic Chelsea Handler keeps OZY founder and CEO Carlos Watson laughing as she encourages us to "get out of your own a--holes" and approach others with empathy. Need a laugh today? Check out The Carlos Watson Show on YouTube.

The Thai monarch spends more time in Bavaria than in Bangkok, and controversially transferred $40 billion in royal assets to his personal control in 2018. Thailand’s government has banned public gatherings, signaling that it isn’t backing down. Nor are the country’s youth.

2. Queen Elizabeth II

When your own grandson can't stand your family anymore, it's hard to expect other nations to stay in line. Barbados declared last month that it plans to remove Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state, the latest former British colony to do so. "The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind," its government said.

3. King Mohammed VI

TheMoroccan king likes to be called the "king of the poor." So the revelation earlier this month that he’d just bought a $94 million mansion in Paris near the Eiffel Tower amid an economic crisis sparked criticism. The monarch has faced increasing protests in recent years. Maybe that’s why he needs a home in Paris. 

All right, here’s a quiz. The last queen of this kingdom was an American student who finally fled the palace. What place am I talking about?

You're looking out at the blue Mediterranean Sea, sun filtering through a glass roof angled like eyelashes so the rays are never too sharp. Warm yellow light surrounds you as you sit at one of seven levels that can house 8 million books. If you need a break, take the elevator to check out a range of art galleries and museums in the gigantic building. Hungry? Cross the street for an open-air seafood meal by the water. This Alexandria, Egypt-based marvel is easily the most thrilling library I’ve ever visited.

2. Real Gabinete Português de Leitura

Some call it "library porn." This Rio de Janeiro institution will excite the book-lover in you like few places can. Bookshelves rising three stories high surround you in this historic Brazilian institution that's home to the largest Lusophone collection of books outside Portugal.

3. Tianyi Pavilion Library

Asia's oldest library was built more than 450 years ago in Ningbo in eastern China. At its peak, the library had 70,000 books before it was looted first by the British and then by local thieves. If you want to stretch your legs after reading at the library, take a stroll along the nearby Moon Lake.  

1. Uzbekistan

The Central Asian home to many of the most iconic spots along the ancient Silk Road has decided to pay $3,000 to any tourist who gets infected with COVID-19 while in the country — as long as they travel with a local guide.

2. Iceland

The Scandinavian island nation has set aside $9 million in free vouchers to encourage residents to travel within the country while it waits for international visitors to return.

3. Mexico

Hotels often offer deals to compete against each other. In Cancún, they’re now offering a collective deal — book two nights and you get two nights free — at any of 200 hotels as the tourism-dependent city tries to bring visitors back. Tempted?

Yesterday we asked you to match colors to the things they come from. Adele K., Shirley H., Jon T., Share G., Cassandra T., Gordon K. and Alli L., you all got it right! Purple comes from sea snails, yellow from cow urine and black from peach nuts.