GOING, GOING…GONE! | | Walk into a winter wonderland with Cariuma’s OCA Suede sneakers. They’re soft, warm, and sure to make a statement this winter with their exceptionally timeless design. From catching some waves to riding the pipes at the skatepark, cool and sustainable sneaker brand, Cariuma, has your back with this perfect pair. They’re so popular they go fast. In fact, they’ve back after racking up a 77,000+ person waitlist! They’re sustainable and durable, with a premium look and feel. Crafted from high-end, raw materials (shout out to the premium soft suede from LWG-certified tanneries). These sneaks are sure to vamp up your wardrobe this holiday season. We forgot to mention…slip-resistant rubber on the bottom makes them perfect for those frosty days! Hurry and grab a pair before they’re gone! Enter code OZYDEC at checkout for an additional 15% off. |
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| IMPORTANT | | | Farewell to a Legend | Brazil and the World Mourn Soccer’s ‘King’ Pelé, Dead at 82 Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known simply as Pelé, was hospitalized last month after years of health issues including colon cancer and kidney problems. During his 21-year career, he scored a record 1,281 goals, including 77 in 92 matches for Brazil’s national team. He’s the only player to win the World Cup three times — 1958, 1962 and 1970 — and FIFA, soccer’s governing body, named him Player of the Century in 2000. But as the Brazilian Football Confederation noted, for Brazilians, “Pelé was much more than the greatest sportsperson of all time.” President Jair Bolsonaro has declared three days of national mourning. (Sources: BBC, ESPN) |
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| | Sixth Time’s the Charm | Benjamin Netanyahu’s Back — With the Help of Israel’s Far Right It’s the sixth time he’s been sworn in as Israel’s prime minister, but he’s historically been supported by more moderate factions teaming up with his center-right Likud party. The new governing coalition, the most right-wing in the country’s history, issued a manifesto declaring Jewish people’s “exclusive and inalienable right to all parts of the Land of Israel.” It vowed to bolster West Bank settlements — effectively abandoning the middle-ground policy of previous governments. The coalition includes one powerful party boss, Bezalel Smotrich, who is a self-described “proud homophobe” and was once arrested on suspicion of planning a violent pro-settlement demonstration. (Sources: NYT, Times of Israel) |
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| | To Test or Not to Test? | A World of Confusion for Chinese Travelers Flying from Beijing to New York? You’ll need a negative COVID test. To London? No test required, at least for now. With restrictions on international travel suddenly lifted in China, demand has skyrocketed — but destination countries fear the introduction of new variants as COVID spirals out of control in the mainland. Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proposed testing wastewater from planes to identify and track strains, and some epidemiologists believe that would be more effective than entry tests. Chinese state media called testing requirements “discriminatory” and accused countries of downplaying Beijing’s previous success in managing the pandemic. (Sources: CNBC, The Guardian, CNN) |
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| | Heads Down | Ukraine Shudders Under Drones, Belarus Flinches at Missile Russia launched 16 exploding drones across the border early Friday morning, but all were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses. Officials said at least five were identified as Iranian Shahed drones launched over capital Kyiv. Residents in cities across Ukraine were warned of an imminent attack and told to seek shelter as Russia continues its escalated barrage. Meanwhile, Belarus, one of Russia’s few allies in Europe, claimed one of Ukraine’s air defense missiles landed within its borders Thursday. “Locals have absolutely nothing to worry about,” a Belarusian military official said, while a presidential spokesperson said it could have been accidental. (Sources: Euronews, DW) |
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| | Briefly | Here are some things you should know about today: Fly-by. A Chinese military jet came within 10 feet of a U.S. Air Force plane in the contested South China Sea last week, the U.S. military said Thursday. The American plane was forced to make evasive maneuvers. (Source: Reuters) Sentenced. Myanmar’s ousted de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been handed another seven years in prison on five corruption charges. The junta-run court has now sentenced the 77-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate to a total of 33 years imprisonment. (Source: DW) Climbing. New York state’s death toll after last weekend’s devastating winter storm continues to climb, with at least 40 people now confirmed dead. (Source: AP) |
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| The World’s Fave Sneaker | | If you missed them the last time, the world’s fave sneaker from Cariuma is back. These all-season low-tops are OZY’s favorite look for dressing up or dressing down and are great for every occasion. The OCA Low Canvas brings you old-school aesthetics with new-school ethics, providing the perfect mix of classic and comfort, making them loved by many. With over 20,000 five-star reviews and mentions from Vogue, Fast Company, Forbes, Los Angeles Times, Hypebeast, and more, we’re surprised you haven’t added to your cart yet! These sneakers never go on sale, but to spread some holiday cheer, we’ve snagged you a code for 15% off. Use code OZYDEC at checkout. |
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| INTRIGUING | | Bad Influence | Romanian Authorities Arrest Andrew Tate in Sex Trafficking Probe
Tate, who rose to prominence as a professional kickboxer before becoming an “alpha male” influencer, will be held along with his brother and two Romanian nationals for 24 hours. They were detained Thursday at Tate’s Bucharest property for suspected human trafficking, rape and organized crime. Prosecutors said six women have alleged sexual exploitation in a scheme where the Tate brothers would fake romantic relationships with women before moving them to Romania and forcing them to create porn to be sold online. Tate reportedly revealed his location to investigators when he attempted to taunt climate activist Greta Thunberg on Twitter. (Sources: Reuters, The Verge) |
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| | Green Crops | Massachusetts’ Cannabis Growers Hope to Nip Virus in Bud A plant disease called hop latent viroid has made its way from the western U.S. to the Bay State, where cannabis now rivals cranberries as the most lucrative cash crop. The virus affects potency and stunts growth, but it’s difficult to identify until it’s too late. Growers are trying their hardest to keep their crops up to Massachusetts’ cannabis regulations, which medical marijuana expert Dr. Benjamin Caplan described as “ridiculous” and maybe even “overboard.” But that reputation serves the state well: “When I consume a cannabis product from Massachusetts, boy, do I know that I am safe,” Caplan said. (Source: Boston 25 News) |
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| | | Mourning in the UK | British Fashion Designer, Punk Icon Vivienne Westwood Dead at 81 She died at home in South London on Thursday. Westwood is credited with introducing the essence of punk into the world of high fashion, combining Victorian bustiers and tartan prints with daring cuts. In 1971, before the catwalks, she opened a London boutique with then-partner Malcolm McLaren and dressed the Sex Pistols in the band’s iconic slogan T-shirts and zipper pants. As Westwood’s star climbed, politics was never far from her work. Models carried placards warning against fracking and austerity measures at her spring 2016 show: “We’re trying to tell everyone the end of the world is here,” Westwood said. (Source: Vogue) |
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| | Doctor, Doctor | Text Message Bungle Tells Patients They Have Cancer Askern Medical Practice in Doncaster, England, had an unwelcome pre-Christmas message for patients on Dec. 23. The office sent a text message telling all its registered patients that they’d been diagnosed with “aggressive lung cancer with metastases” rather than holiday wishes. Management hasn’t confirmed how many people received the text, but around 8,000 patients are registered at the clinic. One woman waiting for results of a biopsy “felt sick” and “broke down” upon receiving the message. An hour after the initial text patients received a second text apologizing and wishing them a merry Christmas. (Source: BBC) |
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| | He’s Back! | Novak Djokovic Ready to Take On Australian Open The Serbian tennis superstar was deported shortly before the 2022 tournament and banned for three years, though that was overturned in November. The nine-time Australian Open winner is keen to put it behind him this weekend at the Adelaide International, a tournament often used as a pre-Open demonstration. Still, Djokovic said the deportation was “one of those things that stick with you,” and while he hoped it would never happen again it was a “valuable life lesson.” He was favored to win a fourth straight Australian Open in 2022 before authorities rescinded his visa for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. (Source: Reuters) |
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| ABOUT OZY OZY is a diverse, global and forward-looking media and entertainment company focused on “the New and the Next.” OZY creates space for fresh perspectives, and offers new takes on everything from news and culture to technology, business, learning and entertainment. Curiosity. Enthusiasm. Action. That’s OZY! |
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