This will be the first season in history that Germany will be unable to produce ice wine, a UN report found most men and women hold biases against females, the coronavirus continues to take its toll on the global economy, the U.S. and Taliban signed a historic deal.

These, and more, are the newsworthy stories from this past week.

Science and Environment

• Scientists say half of the world’s sandy beaches could disappear by the end of the century if climate change continues unchecked.
  
  By 2100, around half of the beaches in the world are expected to experience erosion of more than 100 meters.
  
  – AP
  

• A warm winter means that, for the first time in the history of German winemaking, this season will produce no ice wine.
  
  – AP
  

• Dozens of factories have temporarily shut down across China in a move to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus, with over 80,000 confirmed cases in the country.
  
  This had the unexpected effect of reducing nitrogen dioxide levels in China’s airspace.
  
  – ZME Science
  

Health and Society

• Nearly 28 million Americans remain uninsured, despite the insurance gains made under the Affordable Care Act.
  
  Uninsured people are more likely to rely on the emergency room. During a pandemic, that can overburden ERs and increase the risk of exposure for uninfected patients waiting to receive care.
  
  – Axios
  

• Air pollution shortens life expectancy by almost three years, which is more than tobacco, AIDS, wars or diseases such as malaria, according to a new study.
  
  – ZME Science
  

• A new UN report has found at least 90% of men and women hold some sort of bias against females.
  
  The “Gender Social Norms” index analysed biases in areas such as politics and education in 75 countries.
  
  Globally, close to 50% of men said they had more right to a job than women. Almost a third of respondents thought it was acceptable for men to hit their partners.
  
  There are no countries in the world with gender equality, the study found.
  
  – BBC News
  

Business and Economics

• Sales of cauliflower, once so slow it often spoiled in the store, are now among the fastest-growing in foods. Adaptable and mild in flavor, rich in protein and fiber, low in carbohydrates and calories, cauliflower benefits from the rise of keto and paleo diets that advise avoiding grains like rice.
  
  U.S. sales of raw cauliflower and foods containing cauliflower hit $700 million last year, up nearly 40% from 2016.
  
  – The Wall Street Journal
  

• Walmart and Verizon Communications are in discussions to outfit the retailer’s stores with equipment to create 5G wireless service. it is part of an effort to remake Walmart’s roughly 4,700 U.S. stores into hubs that draw shoppers for medical treatment and other services.
  
  – The Wall Street Journal

• The coronavirus has the airline industry bracing for the worst downturn since the Great Recession.
  
  Travel agents are being inundated with calls and emails from panicked clients canceling trips and seeking refunds.
  
  – Axios
  

• The Fed made an emergency half-percentage-point rate cut, the first rate change between scheduled policy meetings since the 2008 financial crisis.
  
  But U.S. stock markets fell anyway, and the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note slipped below 1% for the first time, reflecting fears of a coronavirus recession.
  
  – The Wall Street Journal
  

Government and Politics

• Greece rushed more soldiers and border guards to its eastern border in an attempt to hold back thousands of migrants after the Turkish government said it would no longer prevent refugees in Turkey from reaching Europe.
  
  – The Wall Street Journal

• The U.S. and the Taliban signed a historic deal Saturday meant to end America’s longest war and pave the way for Afghan factions to bring 18 years of costly fighting in their country to an end.
  
  The war in Afghanistan has spanned the administrations of presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. The cost has been high.
  
  – The Wall Street Journal
  

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