‘Unexplained Illness’ Halts COVID Vaccine Trial

Pharma giant AstraZeneca has halted clinical trials for a COVID-19 vaccine after one participant developed an “unexplained illness.” It’s one of nine major drugmakers that earlier on Tuesday issued a “historic pledge” to hold their vaccine projects to scientific and ethical scrutiny amid pressure from President Donald Trump to develop a vaccine before the November election.

2. Law and Order?

The Justice Department moved Tuesday to take over President Trump’s defense from his private lawyers against a defamation suit brought by E. Jean Carroll, a former Elle magazine columnist who has accused him of raping her in the 1990s, decades before Trump entered the White House. Meanwhile the police chief of Rochester resigned amid protests over the death of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died after officers put a spit hood on him in March.

3. Breaking Records in Flames

At least 25 fires are raging across California, and many of them might be “uncontrollable” until a heat wave scorching the region eases, fire officials said Tuesday. A record 2.2 million acres of land have been burnt — and the autumn heart of the fire season hasn’t begun. Brazil’s Amazon forests and its Pantanal region — the world’s largest wetlands — are also aflame.

4. Inside Job

JPMorgan is probing employees and customers accused of misusing Paycheck Protection Program loans meant for small businesses as part of the $2.2 trillion federal stimulus package. Meanwhile South Africa’s economy shrunk by 51 percent in the second quarter year-on-year — the first time its GDP has contracted for four successive quarters.

5. Mulan Mess

The $200 million Disney film, already battered by criticism because of lead Chinese actress Liu Yifei’s public show of support for Hong Kong Police, is now facing fresh calls for a boycott over scenes that were shot in Xinjiang, where Chinese authorities have imprisoned up to 1.5 million Uighurs and other Muslims since 2015. Will you watch Mulan? Tell us on Twitter.

We declare it: Cariumas are the shoes of this fall. The beautiful colors and suede fabric of these sustainable, stylish and crazy comfortable sneakers will bring you those cozy fall feelings wherever you are.

Better yet, for a limited time, OZY readers get $15 off these premium kicks. Order now with code OZYxCariuma before they sell out again!

Former New York Times columnist Adam Bryant and Chevron executive Rhonda Morris are interviewing top Black executives in a new LinkedIn series, “Leading in the B-Suite.” Their guests include OZY co-founder and CEO Carlos Watson, Bob Johnson (co-founder of BET) and Ursula Burns (former CEO of Xerox and VEON), among others.

2. Netflix Narratives

Films and television shape our impressions of the world. Which is why a surge of global content on streaming platforms like Netflix, often representing women of color, could prove a game changer. Bela Bajaria, the daughter of Indian-origin parents from East Africa, has driven the firm’s hunt for international shows. On Tuesday, Netflix said it had appointed her head of Global TV.

3. Glass Cliff

It’s a welcome change that companies are appointing top executives of color. But asking anyone to slot into a top executive role amid a pandemic, recession and a racially charged environment is a tall ask. These executives face a glass cliff — potentially high rewards, but an equally high risk of falling off.

1. Alex Da Kid

Otherwise known as Alexander Junior Grant, this 38-year-old record producer and songwriter from London started off as a promising young soccer player and has since won multiple Grammy nominations, producing smash hits like the Eminem and Rihanna hit “Love the Way You Lie," which went No. 1 for seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.

2. WondaGurl

Black women constitute less than 1 percent of music producers, so when Canadian producer Ebony Oshunrinde, better known as WondaGurl, produced “Crown” for Jay Z at the age of 16, it was truly groundbreaking. She had won Toronto’s Battle of The Beat Makers competition a year earlier and has since gone on to produce for Travis Scott’s “No Bystanders”, Mariah’s “One Mo’ Gen” and much, much more.

3. FnZ

Michael "Finatik" Mulé and Isaac "Zac" DeBoni might be from Perth, Australia, but this production duo has shaped more hit American songs than you can think of. If Kanye’s “Everything We Need” featuring Ty Dolla $ign or A$AP Rocky’s “L$D” don’t sound familiar, take a listen to Wiz Khalifa’s “Promises.” 

Wanted: Single Men. OZY’s groundbreaking new series will use scientific methods to match compatible couples. If you live in the Chicago area and are ready to get serious about settling down and finding the perfect match, just fill out the application here.

1. X Losing Hope?

It’s not Generation Z and Millennials, who have most of their careers and lives ahead of them, nor Boomers, who are the most vulnerable because of their age, who are losing hope amid the pandemic. It’s Gen X that’s the most distrustful of the future, surveys show. Read more.

2. Gen Z Says No

To working before college, that is. They’re more keen on pursuing education than their predecessors, are less likely to have a driver’s license and are super picky about their profession. All of that is combining to make them the least likely generation in American history to work while they’re teenagers. Read more.

3. The Next Hoops Hotbed

The next generation of top foreign basketball imports might come from the Philippines. Kai Sotto, the 18-year-old who ranked 65 in the U.S. class of 2020 and is joining the G League, could become his country’s first homegrown NBA player. He won’t be the last. Read more.

Call it the South African Shepherd’s Pie if you like, but forget those English mashed potatoes and instead revel in a combination of minced meat, dried fruit and curry. It’s topped off with either an egg custard or pastry. The dish has roots in the Cape Malay community that’s descended from enslaved Asian workers shipped to Cape Town by the Dutch East India Company.

2. Yam Pie

This Guyanese pie consists of yams, cabbage, grated cheese, butter, and onions! Although it doesn’t have meat, its flavors will remind you of the best pies you’ve had — and then go one better.

3. Nigerian Meat Pie

It’s not made in a pan or shareable dish where you have to fend off the hands of others. It doesn’t have fruit or cheese in it. It’s moist, handheld and comes with minced meat, potatoes and carrots. What else do you need in this life of sin? 

Try making one of these and send us a photo!

India’s Leander Paes has won 18 Grand Slam titles — 10 in mixed doubles, and eight in men’s doubles. Jay S, Glenn G, Georgina R and K Miller, you got it right!!!!