| |  | | Uniting and celebrating women in sneaker culture and creating a space for everyone who loves dope kicks and fly 'fits. Check out Sneaker Fiends, hosted by The Notorious KIA -- new episodes drop every Thursday. |
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IMPORTANT
|  | Blue Georgia | Warnock Win Seals Democrats’ Majority in Senate Incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock cinched victory in Georgia’s runoff race Tuesday, giving Democrats an edge back in Washington. His 51st seat in the chamber expands the Dems’ slim Senate majority after Republicans carried the House in November’s midterms. For Warnock, it’s all about supporting Georgia: “I want all of Georgia to know, whether you voted for me or not, I am going to keep working for you,” he said Tuesday night after claiming victory. Republican challenger Herschel Walker, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, called on supporters to “believe in our elected officials” in his concession speech. (Sources: WaPo, Atlanta Journal-Constitution) |
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| | |  | Front Lines | Honduras Launches War on Gangs After Suspending Constitution Yesterday leftist President Xiomara Castro suspended parts of the Constitution for 30 days, giving security agencies the power to make arrests without warrants in parts of San Pedro Sula and capital Tegucigalpa. Violence from transnational gangs, including the infamous MS-13, has plagued Honduras in what Castro described as a “national emergency,” prompting calls for a crackdown inspired by neighboring El Salvador. “We are going to go head-on against organized crime,” national police director Gustavo Sanchez said Tuesday. Human rights advocates worry that widespread support for the move could see Honduras slide toward the authoritarian rule seen elsewhere in Central America. (Sources: The Guardian, France24) |
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|  | Big Business | Trump Organization Found Guilty in Tax Fraud Case A Manhattan jury found the Trump Organization acted illegally when handing out perks to executives — including expensive private school tuition, high-end apartments and luxury cars — while no one paid taxes on the perks. Former Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg pleaded guilty in August for setting up the plot. The family real estate business could have to shell out $1.6 million in fines and may find it difficult to access credit in the coming years. Former President Trump called the case a “witch hunt” and vowed to appeal the ruling. None of the Trump family members were personally on trial. (Sources: NYT, BBC) |
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|  | Shock Blast | Suicide Bomber Attacks Indonesian Police Station Over Law Reform Ten people were injured and one other person was killed by the suicide attack in Bandung, West Java, Wednesday morning. Police found a second bomb at the scene but said the suspect had been unable to detonate it. While no organization has claimed responsibility, investigators suspect the bomber was part of the Islamic State-linked Jamaah Ansharut Daulah group. A handwritten note on a motorbike believed to have been driven by the bomber linked the attacks to a controversial new criminal code passed Tuesday in Jakarta, which outlaws extremist ideology. According to police, the note called the code an “infidel product.” (Source: Reuters) |
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|  | Briefly | Here are some things you should know about today: Charged. The suspect in last month’s mass shooting at a gay club in Colorado has been formally charged with 305 criminal counts. Anderson Lee Aldrich faces 48 charges of hate crimes, one for each person in the club at the time of the attack. (Source: CBS) In care. New Zealand’s High Court ordered a four-month-old baby who urgently needs heart surgery to be placed under guardianship after the child’s parents refused a blood transfusion from a donor who was vaccinated against COVID-19. (Source: RNZ) Dismissed. A lawsuit filed by the fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi against Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been dismissed by a D.C. federal court judge, citing presidential immunity. (Source: Reuters) |
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| Our Favorite Gift To Give |  | | Winter is here and the festivities have begun. From caroling at your neighbor’s door to building snowmen in the front yard, these sneakers have to be in your lineup. They’re good-looking, crazy-comfy, and have been seen on everyone from surfers, to skaters and even celebs. And what better gift to give than the one that’s been a favorite of ours all year long? Made from consciously-sourced materials, they’re the perfect mix of elevated style and comfort. We can’t forget to mention – each pair purchased plants two trees in the Brazilian Rainforest AND ships to your doorstep in a single box packaging, made with 100% recycled and recyclable paper. We love gifts that are Mother-Earth-approved! Treat yourself this holiday season and use your personalized code, OZYDEC for 15% off. |
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INTRIGUING
| | | Double-Edged | UK Considers Preventative Antibiotics for Students at Risk of Strep A At least nine British children have died from complications of strep A bacterial infections in the last three months, raising fears for parents and educators. Most cases are mild, health experts say, but can develop into invasive group A streptococcal infections, which can be fatal — and have become more common among under-10s in recent months. Schools Minister Nick Gibb suggested preventative antibiotics for children in elementary schools affected by strep A. But it may not be so easy, experts warn: A large-scale rollout could build resistance in the community and isn’t typically recommended for schools and day cares. (Source: The Guardian) |
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| | | Reckless Driving | Hertz Accused Customers of Stealing Cars. Now It’s Paying Big The car rental giant will pay out $168 million to 364 customers falsely accused of stealing cars, the company announced Monday. Hertz, which has turned around a bankruptcy filing in 2020, previously estimated that of the 25 million rentals it provides each year, around 3,500 are reported stolen. But the cases against Hertz show that many of these reports were false and have led to felony charges and jail time for some of the accused. One woman was jailed for 30 days after her rental got a flat tire and was towed — by Hertz. (Source: NPR) |
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| | | | | Resigned | Hoping for a Reboot of ‘The Office’? It Can’t Happen, Star Says “That show is so inappropriate now,” said Mindy Kaling, a longtime writer and star of the cult favorite sitcom. Most of the characters would be “canceled” if it was made today, argued Kaling, who played the vapid but charming Kelly Kapoor for eight seasons — and that’s part of The Office’s enduring charm. “People feel like there’s something kind of fearless about it or taboo that it talks about on the show,” she said. Steve Carrell, or Michael Scott to fans, agreed: “Ultimately, I think it’s maybe best to leave well enough alone and just let it exist as what it was.” (Source: Variety) |
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| | | Underground | Buried Treasures Reveal Secrets of 7th Century Britain Underneath a would-be housing development near Northampton, in central England, the grave of a woman believed to be an early Christian leader or Anglo-Saxon aristocrat rested for 1,300 years. The discovery of her gold and gemstone necklace and an ornate silver cross, announced this week, will help researchers learn more about a crucial but little understood period in British history: the battle between Christianity and entrenched paganism. One archaeological consultant credits construction for a sudden glut in discoveries. Property developers must get archaeologists in before starting construction — and they often turn up treasures no one even knew to look for. (Source: AP) |
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| | | Border Games | India Denies Pakistan Team’s Visas in Blind Cricket Tournament The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council confirmed its team had been blocked by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, saying, “This unfortunate incident has left the Pakistan blind cricket team in the lurch.” Matches between cricket-mad Pakistan and India are often mired in political disputes, and the BPCC accused India of unsportsmanlike reasons for denying the visas. Players from across the cricketing world, from Sri Lanka to Australia, are in India for the ongoing T20 World Cup for the Blind. The host team is also disappointed: “Pakistan are one of the best teams and we were keen to play with them.” (Source: CricInfo) |
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| Our Favorite Sneakers This Year |  | | We all know winter can have a tendency to get us down sometimes. The temps are dropping, the days are shorter and you often are looking for that one thing that brings you the warmth of the summer sunshine. We’re proud to say that we found it. The celeb fave – OCA Low Suede by Cariuma is BACK IN STOCK after clearing a 77,000-person waitlist! You heard us. These celeb, skater, and surfer-loved kicks are back; say goodbye to their mile-long waitlist (for now). With mentions from Vogue, Fast Company, Forbes, and many, many more, they’re going to go fast…again. If you snag ‘em now, we promise you’ll be filled with warmth, cheer and you’ll sport our favorite sneakers of the year! JSYK: These sneakers never go on sale, but OZY readers get a special offer by clicking the link below and using the code OZYDEC for 15% off your next purchase. |
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COMMUNITY
What else are you curious about? Share your questions or thoughts with us at OzyCommunity@Ozy.com 
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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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