Trump: Taliban Talks Back On | Hong Kong Protesters Seek Momentum

www.ozy.com [ozy.com]( [VIEW ONLINE]( YOUR PRESIDENTIAL DAILY BRIEF [sponsor][sponsor]( Friday Nov 29, 2019 [LISTEN FROM 8:00AM EST]( President Donald Trump speaks to U.S. troops at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan Thursday. Source: Getty IMPORTANT 01 [In Afghan Visit, Trump Says Taliban Talks Back On]( “They want to make a deal very badly.” That’s what President Donald Trump said about the militant group during a surprise Thanksgiving trip to the war-torn country yesterday. Several months after breaking off peace talks with the Taliban, he announced that he’s relaunching them — which the group reportedly confirmed today. What does the Taliban want? While continuing to stage deadly attacks, they’re demanding that Americans commit to leaving Afghanistan before they’ll sit down with Afghan officials. Don’t miss [OZY’s feature]( about the Taliban’s PR campaign. SOURCES: [NYT]( / [Reuters]( / [Washington Post]( [facebook]( [twitter]( 02 [Hong Kong Protesters Seek New Momentum]( Emboldened by President Trump’s approval of legislation that supports them, demonstrators in [China’s rebellious semi-autonomous territory]( have called for more weekend protests. Today, police finally lifted the cordon around the formerly besieged Hong Kong Polytechnic University — though lunchtime protesters were also pepper-sprayed by officers during demonstrations in several districts. What’s Beijing saying? Besides summoning the U.S. ambassador to China over the recent laws, its state media cast global pressure on the government as “the price we have to pay for China’s rise.” SOURCES: [AP]( / [The Guardian]( / [SCMP]( [facebook]( [twitter]( 03 [Sudan Dismantles Ex-Dictator's Ruling Party]( Transitional authorities in the newly democratic African nation of 40 million have passed legislation aimed at dissolving ex-President Omar al-Bashir’s political party. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said the move wasn’t about revenge against al-Bashir, who was [ousted amid popular protests]( in April, but about the “dignity of the Sudanese people.” The law also allows officials to seize and redistribute the National Congress Party’s assets. Is Sudan really reforming? That will become clearer after authorities implement this new legislation, which represents a key test for them. SOURCES: [Al Jazeera]( / [BBC]( [facebook]( [twitter]( 04 [Report: Huawei to Fight New FCC Ban]( The Chinese telecom giant is reportedly planning to sue the U.S. Federal Communications Commission over its recent decision to block rural American firms from purchasing Huawei equipment using federal subsidies. It’s part of the company’s broader campaign to legally challenge recent restrictions by the U.S. government, which believes [Huawei is a national security threat]( for allegedly spying on behalf of China. How else is the company fighting back? It’s embarked on a PR makeover — thanks in part to reclusive founder Ren Zhengfei emerging from the shadows — and has spent more on Washington lobbyists. SOURCES: [Reuters]( / [WSJ (sub)]( [facebook]( [twitter]( 05 [Also Important...]( North Korea [has suggested it could soon deploy]( a “super-large” multiple rocket launcher. The single-day [death toll in yesterday’s Iraqi anti-government protests]( rose to at least 44. And former [Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone]( has died at the age of 101. Try This: Feeling presidential after a week of briefings? Prove it with [the PDB Quiz](. OZY is hiring! We’re looking for an analytical and globally minded tech reporter to sniff out today’s most important stories in science, technology and health. Check out our [jobs page]( and read the description [here](. [Sponsored by: CARIUMA]( [Crazy. Comfortable. The Sneaker That Understands Your Life.]( You've got a lot on your plate. A lot on your mind. The last thing you need is a lot on your feet. These kicks are consciously made, good-looking and crazy comfortable. Because while life can be complicated, your sneakers should be simple. Classic styling. Lightweight cushion technology. Sleek, sturdy canvas. What you see is what you get, and what you get is great. This is CARIUMA. A smart brand for smart people. Treat yourself to a pair and [save 15% by using the OZY code here.]( SOURCES: [CARIUMA]( [facebook]( [twitter]( INTRIGUING 01 [Italian Police Raid Mafia-Linked Neo-Nazi Party]( Police yesterday stormed 19 homes linked to an Italian neo-Nazi group with ties with the Calabrian mafia. The suspects allegedly planned to create the National Italian Socialist Workers’ Party — modeled after Adolf Hitler’s own party. Nazi flags and books about Hitler and Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini were discovered in 16 towns and cities across the country. How dangerous is the group? In addition to finding a large arsenal of weapons and explosives, detectives also revealed the suspects [had been building alliances with]( far-right groups in Portugal and Britain. SOURCES: [ANSA]( / [Daily Mail]( / [The Local]( [facebook]( [twitter]( 02 [South Korea to Suspend One-Quarter of Its Coal Plants]( In a bid to fight pollution, South Korea’s government announced yesterday that it would temporarily close as many as 15 coal-powered plants for three months starting Dec. 1, while the rest will run at 80 percent capacity. Officials in the world’s 11th-largest economy hope the effort will cut toxic fine dust pollutants by 44 percent. How important is coal there? While locals largely blame China for polluting the air, coal-powered plants still produce more than 40 percent of South Korea’s energy. Check out [OZY’s feature]( about Asia’s energy revolution. SOURCES: [AFP]( / [Bloomberg]( [facebook]( [twitter]( 03 [Militias Kill 4 Ebola Health Workers in Congo]( The World Health Organization described two late Wednesday attacks as “unmistakably” targeting Ebola responders. Authorities are currently investigating the incidents, but pinpointing one of the area’s 130 armed militias will be difficult. A WHO spokesperson says 386 attacks have been perpetrated against Ebola medical workers in the Congo during the last 16 months. What’s the bigger picture? With only a few infections detected in recent weeks, further attacks risk reversing the progress frontline workers have made against the epidemic. Don’t miss [OZY’s Newsmaker profile]( of Congo’s “Ebola hunter.” SOURCES: [NPR]( / [UN News]( [facebook]( [twitter]( 04 [These Apps Find Love in a Photoless Place]( A new wave of dating platforms is shifting the focus away from users’ looks by revealing their photos only after chatting begins. One app gradually unblurs photos as matches continue communicating, [OZY reports](, while another automatically reveals images after 10 messages. It’s not a new concept: Similar apps launched and then shuttered in the early days of app-based dating. But the new breed is building niche support, especially in the LGBTQ community. What challenges remain? These apps will need to sign up plenty of potential matches if they want to live happily ever after. SOURCES: [OZY]( [facebook]( [twitter]( 05 [UK Police Commander Cleared in 1989 Soccer Stampede]( Thirty years after a crowd crush that left 96 people dead at an FA Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, David Duckenfield has been found not guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence. The 75-year-old former chief superintendent with the South Yorkshire Police was accused of ordering his staff to open Hillsborough Stadium’s exit gates after crowds gathered outside. More than 2,000 fans entered, causing the deadly stampede. What’s next? Three other police officials will stand trial next year for the Hillsborough disaster on charges of perverting the course of justice. SOURCES: [ESPN]( / [NBC Sports]( [facebook]( [twitter]( Caught Up? Now Vault Ahead ... To get more fresh stories and bold ideas in your inbox, [check out The Daily Dose.]( The New + the Next [Finding Love in a Photoless Place]( These apps are trying to crack the code of true romance — without relying on looks. [READ NOW]( [facebook]( [twitter]( OZY Media, 800 West El Camino Mountain View, California 94040 This email was sent to {EMAIL} [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Read Online](