Party Peeper: China’s Dodgy Privacy Law

Actions speak louder than words. The Taliban have embarked on a door-to-door search for people who have worked with Western forces or Afghanistan’s ousted elected government, betraying their promise to not seek revenge. A report by a Norwegian group that provides intelligence to the U.N. says that mass executions can’t be ruled out. Meanwhile, anti-Taliban protests continued across eastern cities and have reached the capital. NATO says about 18,000 people have been evacuated since the fall of Kabul on Sunday and another 6,000 are expected to fly out before the end of Friday. They won’t include 19-year-old Zaki Anwari, a soccer player with Afghanistan’s national youth team who died while falling from an American plane leaving Kabul. (Sources: BBC, NYT, Yahoo)

2 - Failed Attacker Arrested

Authorities say they arrested a 49-year-old supporter of former President Donald Trump in Washington after he threatened to detonate a bomb near the Capitol. Although no explosive was found, the threat triggered the evaluation of several buildings on Thursday and revived memories of the Jan. 6 assault on Congress. Do you think we might see a repeat of the Jan. 6 insurrection? Vote here or on Twitter. (Source: CNN, WaPo)

3 - Do as I Say (But Not as I Do)

China has imposed strict new privacy laws similar to Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation, limiting how much personal data tech companies can harvest without consent. They’re among the world’s toughest, but don’t reference Beijing’s comprehensive government-sponsored surveillance. Tech stocks plunged in China following the passage of the law. Another country regulating the internet is Cuba, which this week imposed its first cybersecurity law that critics say aims to curb freedoms. (Sources: WSJ, FT, Deutsche Welle)

4 - Burkinabe Bloodbath

Islamist militants are believed to have killed at least 80 people in northern Burkina Faso. It’s the latest in a series of attacks against civilians in Africa’s Sahel region in recent weeks. Thousands have died in terrorist strikes since 2018, mainly near the frontier where Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso meet. (Source: France 24, Guardian)

5 - Fresh Facebook Faceoff

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has refiled its monopoly lawsuit against Facebook, opening a new chapter in a high-stakes antitrust battle after a judge threw out regulators’ initial action in June. The body argues that by buying Instagram and WhatsApp, Facebook was seeking to illegally eliminate competition. (Source: Al-Jazeera)

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Patti LaBelle, Snoop Dogg and media mogul Gary Vaynerchuk have all appeared on the 18-year NBA veteran’s YouTube series What’s in Your Glass? He chats with different guests on their careers, current events and, of course, their favorite wines. Anthony’s love for wine developed through a ritual with his longtime teammates at the New York Knicks, for which each person brought two bottles of their best wine every Sunday. Anthony appeared on the May cover of Wine Spectator magazine. And if the success of his YouTube show is any indicator, he’s aging well too.

2 - Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird

One’s the biggest name in women’s soccer. The other is an iconic hoopster who just won her fifth Olympic gold. But the couple have another side: During the pandemic-enforced lockdowns, they hosted an Instagram live show called Wine Down, where they sat on their couch and interacted with fans over a bottle.  

3 - Will Blackmon

The retired NFL player and Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants is now on a wine high. He attended Sonoma State University’s wine business program and achieved Level 1 certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. The 36-year-old has started his own business called The Wine MVP where you can get his curated picks or a monthly subscription. Blackmon’s passion started when Hall of Fame NFL player and former teammate Charles Woodson taught teammates about the wine they drank during dinners. Now Blackmon can teach others a thing or two.

Germany has agreed to return invaluable relics that were stolen from the Kingdom of Benin in modern-day Nigeria. In 1897, British troops carted off thousands of artworks known as Benin Bronzes. Auctioned off, they landed in museums and private collections across Europe. Pressure for such repatriation has grown in the wake of last year’s Black Lives Matter protests. 

2 - Belgium Owns Up

Showcasing stolen Congolese art in a museum celebrating past colonial rule is finally going out of style. Belgium’s Africa Museum is planning a multi-year process of trying to meet Democratic Republic of Congo demands to return anything that was acquired through illegitimate means. Thousands of artifacts — including manuscripts, elephant ivory masks, wooden statues and musical instruments — were taken amid a murderous Belgian occupation by European explorers and collectors from the late 19th century until 1960. 

3 - Will the U.S. Be Next?

Americans might follow the Europeans’ lead. The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C., has not made any official commitments about returning looted Benin treasures, but it has convened a working group to discuss its policy on stolen art. New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art announced in June that it will return three pieces of art to Nigeria, two of which were brass plaques stolen by British soldiers from the Benin Royal Palace in 1897. Expect the pressure to mount on other American museums, especially if these institutions claim to be committed to antiracism but are slow to return their pilfered prizes.

Families picnicking by the giant lake in this green paradise. Young kids and tourists soaking in its vast open spaces. And the Museo Nacional del Prado a 10 minute walk away (there are some great cafés along the way). There are few better ways to spend a sunny day in the capital of Spain.

2 - Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo

Unlike El Retiro, you don’t need to step outside Ibirapuera Park to visit awesome museums: From Japanese art to a big dinosaur exhibition, you’ll find it all within this massive 391-acre refuge. It’s where the São Paulo Fashion Week is held. But it’s also perfect if you just want to bike or skateboard away from the crowds. 

3 - Lumpini Park, Bangkok

Runners and walkers unite in this Thai park. In fact it’s reserved for them in the morning between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and again in the afternoon. But do be mindful of the giant lizards.

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We are joined by Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. The billionaire entrepreneur shares his personal path from “lost kid” to powerful CEO and opens up about Airbnb’s “near death” experience during COVID-19. Hear him share how people’s kindness around the world has encouraged him to take on issues of race and learn the best advice he’s received from Warren Buffett. Watch now on Amazon Prime!