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Happy Tuesday! There’s little I crave more than eating some juicy squid. So it both thrilled and scared me when one of you wrote in recently, requesting a section on the future of seafood in this newsletter. What would I find, I wondered? As you’ll read today, there’s a surprising reason to smile for fellow seafood lovers. Also, meet the scientist and mayor who could be Mexico’s first female president, discover how Cuba’s musicians are surviving the pandemic and fly high over some of the world’s most stunning landscapes. |
| | Charu Sudan Kasturi, Senior Editor |  |
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|  | | 1. Brazil DangerThe Brazilian variant of COVID-19 has reinfected several people who had recovered from the virus, scientists have concluded, sparking concerns over the efficacy of the vaccines that are currently available to combat the strain. Meanwhile, African and Southeast Asian governments are asking pharma firms to share vaccine knowledge with them so shots can be produced locally. (Sources: NYT, FT) |
| 2. ‘Can I Kiss You?’That’s what New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo allegedly asked a young woman he met for the first time at a crowded wedding reception. He didn't wait for an answer, according to the woman, before grabbing her face and planting a kiss on her cheek — a moment caught by a photographer. It’s the latest sexual harassment allegation against Cuomo. (Sources: CBS, Globe and Mail) |
| 3. Sarkozy SentencedA French court has sentenced former President Nicolas Sarkozy to jail for attempting to bribe a judge in 2014. Sarkozy will appeal the verdict and will meanwhile remain free. Which other world leader could be headed for jail next? Vote on Twitter or here. (Sources: Guardian, Al Jazeera) |
| 4. Is Bond the Villain?Yes, for Wall Street … a threat that’s as serious as Ernst Stavro Blofeld. But we’re not talking about secret agent 007. Investors are increasingly worried that bonds are overheating the market — though Monday saw the S&P 500 rise to its highest since June amid hopes for a stimulus package and increasing COVID-19 inoculations. (Sources: CNN, WSJ) |
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| | President Biden wants you to “buy American.” President Tsai Ing-wen is more specific. Taiwan’s leader wants her people to “eat pineapples all together!” after China banned imports of the fruit from the self-governing region that Beijing claims. It’s a prickly patriotism test. |
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|  | | Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease in which patients lose hair in random patches, impacts 2 percent of people globally. Yet at the moment, there are no FDA-approved treatments for the condition. Now new cutting-edge research is illuminating the path forward against this disease. |
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|  | Mayors to KnowTheir stunning journeys are portents of larger political churn in their countries. Could they lead their nations some day? |
| 1. Claudia Sheinbaum PardoShe was part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that won the Nobel Peace Prize. Today, the daughter of Lithuanian Jews is Mexico's most influential female politician, as mayor of capital Mexico City. An ally of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the scientist-turned-politician has drawn criticism amid the pandemic for her reluctance to enforce lockdowns, in keeping with her boss’ controversial positions. But as a potential successor to Obrador, she could become the country’s first female president. |
| 2. Sam CramblitDonald Trump might have won Ohio in the presidential election, but Cramblit, a 6-foot, 260-pound former all-state football lineman, offered early evidence of the blue swing that helped Joe Biden win nationally. In 2019, the 28-year-old Democrat won the mayoralty of Ironton, a small Ohio town where Trump had won comfortably in 2016. The son of an ironworker and a nurse, Cramblit pitched himself as a moderate, opposing a tax increase. It worked — just as a moderate approach did for Biden nationally. Read more on OZY. |
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|  | This Week on ‘The Carlos Watson Show’ |
| Meet the “Rulebreakers” — change-makers who break barriers and defy the odds. Today, that's filmmaker Ava DuVernay. She tells Carlos about how she's amplifying the stories of women and people of color, and trying to hold law enforcement accountable through art. Watch now. |
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| Survival Games: Making Money in the PandemicMillions of people have lost their jobs, exhausted savings and slipped into poverty. These survival tricks are helping some stay afloat. |
| 1. Co-Living CrazeAmid a public health crisis, sharing bathrooms and kitchens with strangers might not sound very appealing. But contrary to industry expectations, co-living hasn’t just survived the pandemic, but it’s taking off like never before as young people with tight budgets try to get around the loneliness of lockdowns with affordable housing, from Shanghai to Seoul and across America. Read more on OZY. |
| 2. Tone to TongueMusic and the arts are central not just to the culture of Cuba but are a pivotal means of economic sustenance for the island nation’s creatives. With the pandemic killing their tourism-dependent revenue, Cuba’s musicians have embraced a new skillset: baking and cooking at home, and selling their crafty crusts. |
| 3. The New UbersMore and more self-employed workers — including millions who’ve been laid off — are turning to platforms like Patreon and Substack that allow them to charge subscriptions for their content. These platforms, which are witnessing a surge in sign-ups, could be the next Ubers and Lyfts of the gig economy. Read more on OZY. |
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|  | Future of SeafoodThis deep dive — yes, you know I like puns — was requested by George Dunne from Lincoln, Vermont. I hope it’s to your taste. |
| 1. Who’ll Feed Your Food?The future of your favorite tiger prawn will depend on the impact of climate change on the base of the food chain: marine microbes that zooplankton and small fish consume. Take them out of the equation and we wouldn’t have seafood. Read more on OZY. |
| 2. Fishing in a DesertSomaliland, the self-declared state on the Horn of Africa, never had a fishing tradition with its coastline a sandy desert. But stung by frequent droughts that are killing off the region’s livestock — which contributes 30 percent to its GDP — Somalilanders are boldly reorienting their future and their diet. Within a decade, they’ve emerged as exporters of fish, building a new economy that’s creating jobs and empowering women. Read more on OZY. |
| 3. Crab in a Lab?Here’s another way to sustain the seafood industry. Scientists and companies are now starting to grow seafood in a lab. They’re trying it with tuna first, but if it works, the sky — or rather the ocean — is the limit. Is there a subject you’d like covered in a future Whiskey in Your Coffee? Tell us and we’ll get your cocktail ready! |
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| |  | Brilliant BallooningIf you want a socially distant way to soak in some of the world's most stunning landscapes, you can't do better than these magnificent hot air balloon rides. |
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| | To us, you’re part of the OZY family. So whether you’ve just graduated, had a baby or done something amazing … tell us and we’d love to amplify your special moments and accomplishments in this email! Because that’s what families do. |
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