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Can the Olympics be covid-safe? Jul 21, 2021

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The Tokyo Olympics are set to begin Friday, after dozens of people in the Olympic bubble have tested positive for the coronavirus. How soaring rent prices are becoming the new norm across the U.S. And, Anthony Bourdain and the ethics of audio deepfakes.
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After a year’s delay, Tokyo 2020 will kick off this Friday despite concerns over the coronavirus: At least 67 people in the Olympic bubble have tested positive. Michelle Ye Hee Lee reports on the precautions that the International Olympic Committee is taking.
Follow The Post’s live coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Games here.
Senior economics correspondent Heather Long says that bidding wars and spiking rental prices are becoming the new norm as the pandemic recedes in the United States.
A new documentary about Anthony Bourdain features a deepfake of the celebrity chef’s voice, evoking criticism. Timothy Bella reports.

The release of Abdul Latif Nasir Jul 20, 2021

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The Biden administration has resumed repatriation of Guantánamo Bay detainees — a practice largely halted under former president Donald Trump. Plus, why some states are considering reinstating mask mandates.
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The Biden administration on Monday repatriated a detainee from Guantánamo Bay to Morocco, the first transfer of an inmate from the high-security prison since President Donald Trump mostly halted resettlements when he took office in 2017. We hear from The Post’s Missy Ryan about what the release of Abdul Latif Nasir signals about the Biden administration’s plans to close the Guantánamo Bay detention facility. Plus, we hear from Radiolab’s Latif Nasser, who chronicled Nasir’s case on the podcast series “The Other Latif,” to understand his life beyond being a detainee.
Two months after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said vaccinated individuals did not need to wear masks in most settings, a growing number of public health officials are warning that it might be time to put them back on. Health reporter Dan Diamond on the return of mask mandates – and the return of the political debate around them.

The spyware secretly hacking smartphones Jul 19, 2021

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The military-grade spyware that’s being used to spy on journalists, human rights activists and business executives. Plus, a long overdue trip to space.
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Military-grade spyware leased by the Israeli firm NSO Group to governments for tracking terrorists and criminals was used to hack smartphones belonging to journalists, human rights activists, business executives and the two women closest to murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to an investigation by The Washington Post and 16 media partners led by the Paris-based journalism nonprofit Forbidden Stories.
Wally Funk was supposed to go to space 60 years ago. Now she’s going with Jeff Bezos. At 82, the “Mercury 13″ pioneer is poised to become the oldest person to reach space when the first crewed Blue Origin rocket takes flight Tuesday.

Crying in H Mart with Michelle Zauner Jul 16, 2021

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Michelle Zauner, author of “Crying in H Mart,” on grief, food and embracing her Korean heritage. Plus, what happens when a head of state gets a really bad case of the hiccups.
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Michelle Zauner is the lead singer of the band Japanese Breakfast and also the author of the best selling memoir “Crying in H Mart.” The book chronicles Zauner’s journey through grief when her mother is diagnosed with cancer. Food and trips to the Asian grocery store H Mart, become a central vehicle for exploring her connection with her mother and her Korean heritage. In this episode, Zauner speaks about the process of writing her memoir and what it means to be an Asian American musician and author today.
Plus, Sammy Westfall reports on an unusual case of the hiccups that has become international news.

America’s collective amnesia in Haiti Jul 15, 2021

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How the killing of Haiti’s former president has sparked a constitutional crisis — and how years of U.S. intervention in the Caribbean country contributed to the chaos we’re seeing now.

The assasination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse last week has plunged the country into turmoil, with many unanswered questions left surrounding the attack. The Post’s Widlore Merancourt and Ishaan Tharoor report on what’s known so far about the investigation into killing and what a vacuum of power could mean for the safety and security of Haitians.

The international response to Haiti’s political crisis is made more complicated by the legacy of slavery, colonialism and U.S. occupation — and that shapes how we understand the country today. “Haiti is the poorest country in the hemisphere because of — not despite — foreign intervention,” anthropologist Mark Schuller says in this episode. “Slaveholders punished Haiti for their role in ending slavery.”

Texas Democrats’ exodus Jul 14, 2021

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Why Texas Democrats are camping out in D.C. And how to stay safe in extreme heat.
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This week, Texas Democrats left the state and flew to Washington, D.C., to prevent Texas Republicans from passing restrictive voting legislation. Eugene Scott reports on why Democrats made this extreme move and what it means for the future of voting rights and lawmaker relationships in the state.
A series of heat waves across the Pacific Northwest may have killed hundreds over the past month. Ollie Jay, a professor of heat and health at the University of Sydney, explains how people can die from these extreme conditions and what you can do to stay safe.

To boost or not to boost? Jul 13, 2021

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The latest on coronavirus booster shots. What to expect from the Olympic Games with no spectators. And for better or worse: how to survive this summer’s wedding fatigue.
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Concerns over booster shots are growing as new coronavirus variants become more pervasive. Yasmeen Abutaleb shares the latest developments on these extra shots domestically and abroad.
Last week, the Japanese government announced all spectators would be banned from Olympic venues in and around Tokyo. Simon Denyer reports on what to expect from the Games without the normal fanfare.
After the pandemic forced many couples to postpone their weddings, the celebrations are back in full force. Ashley Fetters reports on how guests are handling the jam-packed summer wedding season.

How to not get scammed Jul 12, 2021

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How to keep yourself and your employer safe from ransomware attacks. And, what to do if you get a scam call.
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Major ransomware attacks are becoming more frequent and their demands more extreme. Tatum Hunter explains how to identify and avoid these attacks.
Social Security-related telephone scams routinely trick people out of their money — which is what almost happened to personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary’s sister. Michelle shares the tactics the scammer used and how she helped her sister out of the nerve-racking situation. If you’ve also been a victim of a government imposter scam, you can report it to the government by filling out this form.

Curating Black history Jul 09, 2021

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As museums open up, we wanted to talk to the new director of the National African American Museum of History and Culture about what it means to interact directly with history. Plus, why air travel feels worse than ever.
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Archivist and poet Kevin Young became the director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in D.C. this year. As museums open back up, he’s reflecting on the role he and the museum play in reassessing our national history and preserving Black culture.
With more people traveling again, many flights are being delayed or canceled. Natalie Compton reports on why these disruptions are happening and what you can do to avoid them.

Leaving Afghanistan Jul 08, 2021

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The future of Afghanistan as U.S. troops withdraw after a 20-year war. Plus, the future of autonomous weapons.
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The slow process of withdrawing the U.S. military presence from Afghanistan reached a milestone: American forces handed over control of Bagram air base to Afghan leaders. Foreign affairs columnist Ishaan Tharoor on Afghanistan after America leaves.
Military weapons powered by AI are becoming easier to build. Tech reporter Gerrit De Vynck explains how these weapons are being used now, and how they might be used in the future.
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