Learn a language in 3 weeks | | | | Whether you’re studying abroad, dreaming of future travel, or just feeling the itch to learn something new, now’s the time to get cozy and start speaking a new language with Babbel. From Spanish and French to German, Russian or Norwegian, the Babbel method — constructed in consultation with more than 150 expert linguists and teachers — focuses on learning through speaking. With just 10 minutes a day, you can be having actual conversations in as little as 3 weeks. Make 2023 your year of adventure, or give the gift of Babbel and say “I love you” in a whole new language. Get 55% off for a limited time! Get 55% off |
|
|
|
IMPORTANT
| | | | | Misfired | Two Killed in Poland by Likely Errant Missile The “Russian-made” missile landed in Przewodów, on the Poland-Ukraine border. Russian authorities immediately denied responsibility, and President Joe Biden said it was “unlikely” the blast originated in Russia. Instead, according to unnamed U.S. officials, the missile appears to have been fired by Ukraine at an incoming Russian offensive. Biden, who is in Indonesia for this week’s G-20 summit, convened an emergency meeting of NATO and G-7 leaders at his hotel and placed the blame on Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Russia continues to escalate in Ukraine, while we’re meeting,” he said. “There were scores and scores of missile attacks in western Ukraine.” (Sources: BBC, AP) |
|
| | | There She Goes! | NASA Launches Artemis 1 in Next-Gen Space Program The unmanned 32-story Space Launch System blasted off from Cape Canaveral early Wednesday morning. The rocket’s Orion capsule will go on a journey around the moon and back for about three weeks. Two earlier attempts to launch in August and September were ditched over safety concerns, while Florida’s wild weather in recent months kept Artemis 1 grounded. NASA plans to follow this launch with Artemis 2 and 3 missions, which will eventually see the establishment of a manned mission on the moon. Artemis 1 is “the first step in returning our country to the moon and on to Mars,” launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson said. (Sources: Reuters, Space) |
|
| | | Fool Me Once … | Twice Impeached, Not Third Time Shy for Trump’s 2024 Bid “I’m a victim,” former President Donald Trump told supporters during an hour-long announcement speech in Florida Tuesday night, before vowing to “make America great again.” It’s a message not everyone wants to hear. Some Republicans have pointed to the former president’s rhetoric — and numerous legal troubles — as a major reason for last week’s unexpectedly poor showing in the midterm elections. Daughter and former adviser Ivanka Trump said she will not be taking part in the campaign. “While I will always love and support my father, going forward I will do so outside the political arena,” she said in a statement. (Sources: NYT, The Guardian) |
|
| | | Horror | Idaho College Students Head Home Early After Mystery Slaying Police in Moscow, Idaho, have released little information about the weekend killing of four students, raising fears among students for their safety on campus. The victims, three women and one man who were aged 20 or 21 years old, were all involved in the university’s vibrant Greek life, and much of Greek Row has left for an early break. Authorities believe a knife or another bladed weapon was used in the “targeted, isolated attack” but no suspect is in custody and no weapon has been found. Federal and state authorities have been called in to assist with investigations. (Sources: NYT, NPR) |
|
| | | Briefly | Here are some things you should know about today: Spiralling. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared a state of public emergency in parts of Kingston and areas in central and western Jamaica amid a rise in gang violence. (Source: Reuters) Aussie open? Serbian tennis champ Novak Djokovic is one step closer to playing the Australian Open as his visa ban looks likely to be overturned following his deportation in January. (Source: The New Daily) Shelved. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will not meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G-20 summit as planned. It would have been the first in-person meeting between a British leader and the Chinese president since 2018. (Source: BBC) |
|
|
|
| | | | |
INTRIGUING
| | | Swimming Upstream | Is Humanity Facing a Reproductive Crisis? A recent study says so. Researchers collected samples from 153 men and found the average sperm concentration had declined from around 101.2 million to 49.0 million sperm per milliliter from 1973 to 2018 — a 51.6% drop. In 2017 the same team found sperm concentration had halved in 40 years — but the study covered only Europe, North America and Australia. The new findings, from 53 countries across Asia and Central and South America, spell “a huge problem for society,” said professor Richard Sharpe, “as less and less young folk will be around to … support the increasing bulge of elderly folk.” (Source: The Guardian) |
|
| | | Past Its Prime | Amazon Slashes Staff Numbers in Latest Round of Big Tech Downsizing Around 10,000 employees, or 3% of the entire Amazon workforce, will be let go. The downsizing has already begun in the Boston, Vancouver and Bay Area offices, as well as the home base in Seattle. It’s a change in direction for the tech giant, which hired huge numbers of staff in the past decade of expansion, and is the largest round of layoffs to date. One observer said the massive staff cuts in the tech industry could be a sign of an imminent recession: tech companies “got significantly bloated, and they’re not built for a softer economy like we’re seeing.” (Source: WaPo) |
|
| | | | | Superqueue | Ticketmaster Can’t Shake Off Swift Fans “FIX THIS” pleaded desperate Swifties as demand for presale tickets to Taylor Swift’s upcoming tour throttled the website. Ticketmaster denied the website had crashed but did say “there has been historically unprecedented demand with millions showing up” for tickets for her “The Eras Tour” beginning next year. Megafans were given a code for early access. It’s another notch for Swift who has reclaimed her spot at the top of U.S. pop music with the release of new album Midnights last month. She became the first artist to claim all 10 top spots of the Billboard Hot 100 on release. (Source: CNN) |
|
| | | Slip-Ons | For Sale: Jobs’ Shoes, Heavily Worn There’s being an Apple fan and then there’s this ... One superfan of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs bought a pair of well-worn Birkenstock sandals formerly owned by the late tech giant for a whopping $218,750. Julien’s Auctions in California, which oversaw the sale, said an NFT was included in the purchase. Jobs was frequently seen in the shoes during the early days of Apple. “These beloved Birkenstocks were worn by Jobs as he made history in the making of the Apple computer and were the tech icon’s signature staple,” Darren Julien, CEO and founder of the eponymous auction house said. (Source: UPI) |
|
| | | Smokin’! | Puffing and Not Bothered, Uncle Chen Runs a Marathon A Chinese runner known as Uncle Chen, 50, has again stunned the running world and the internet alike after completing the Xin’anjiang Marathon. He came in at 3:28:45 and finished 574th in a race of 1,500. That’s impressive enough on its own, but that he chain-smoked the whole time is remarkable. It’s all part of Uncle Chen’s game plan. Chen first went viral after completing the Guangzhou Marathon in 2018 and the Xiamen Marathon a year later — both while smoking. In 2018, he finished at 3:36, meaning he’s shaved off a few minutes in the years since. (Source: CBS Sports) |
|
|
|
|
COMMUNITY
What else are you curious about? Share your questions or thoughts with us at [email protected] |
|
|
EPISODE ONE NOW STREAMING! Featuring the WNBA's Didi Richards WATCH HERE |
|
|
|
| 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! |
|
|
|
|
