|
IMPORTANT
|
|
Bills, bills, bills
|
Inflation at 40-year high forces Fed’s hand
Belts need to be tightened, but it will help contain inflation, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Wednesday. Interest rates rose 50 basis points for the first time since 2000. The increase fell short of the upper expectation of 75 points – and well below the high 20% peak introduced by the President of the United States. 1980s, Paul Volcker – and the market reacted accordingly, closing at the highest after a Fed announcement in 10 years. “Inflation is way too high and we understand the hardship it is causing, and we are moving quickly to bring it down,” Powell told Americans. (Source: Bloomberg, WSJ)
|
|
|
 |
Rebell
|
Supreme Court launches inquiry as Roe’s protests against Wade mount
Chief Justice John Roberts has authorized an investigation into the near-unprecedented leak of a draft opinion that the Supreme Court could overturn Roe v. Wade. Colonel Gail A. Curley, Marshal of the High Court, will lead the investigation, which is expected to include dozens of young lawyers and clerks who had access to the document. Still, legal minds say it’s unclear whether the leaker can be charged with a criminal act. Meanwhile, protests have exploded in cities across the country and thousands have rallied outside the Supreme Court. “This is a five-alarm fire,” Washington Sen. Patty Murray said. (Source: PA, The Guardian)
|
|
|
|
|
 |
The holy war
|
EU prepares sanctions as Pope and Orthodox leader clash
The sixth round of European Commission sanctions targeting Russian interests targets a new institution: the Russian Orthodox Church. Patriarch Kirill, the church leader, is “one of the most prominent supporters of Russian military aggression against Ukraine”, according to documents from the European External Action Service. Kirill is a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, prompting Pope Francis to warn that he should not “turn himself into Putin’s altar boy”. The warning was emphatically rejected by Kirill, with the Russian Church chastising the pope for his “incorrect tone”. (Source: Policy, Reuters)
|
|
|
 |
Back to containment
|
Beijing cautiously closes transport and schools amid rising cases
Officials in China’s capital are scrambling to enact new COVID-19 restrictions, hoping to avoid the same fate of locked-down Shanghai. Public transport and public places like schools, restaurants and gyms have been closed, with office workers strongly encouraged to work from home. Mass testing of the country’s 22 million population is aimed at identifying emerging hotspots and stamping out the spread of the virus, with 51 cases discovered on Wednesday. Meanwhile, restrictions in Shanghai remain tightly in place. Residents are increasingly pushing back against critical content that is rapidly spreading on social media and shaking up the government. (Source: AFP, Reuters)
|
|
|
 |
Briefly
|
Right here are some things you should know today:
“Absurdity.” That’s what Russian officials are saying about the chatter that Moscow plans to declare full-scale war on Ukraine on May 9, a day celebrating the end of World War II. The Kremlin is currently calling the invasion a “special military operation.” (Source: BBC) On the road once again. Uber saw its ride-sharing business rebound in the first quarter, leaving Lyft in the dust, thanks to cities dropping movement restrictions. (Source: FT) Slap stick. Comedian Dave Chappelle escaped injury after being attacked on stage in Los Angeles. The same cannot be said for his attacker, who was allegedly beaten on stage by 10 people. “Was it Will Smith? Chris Rock asked the audience. (Source: Vulture)
|
|
|
|
|
|
INTRIGUING
|
 |
Strong test
|
US State Department Tells Russia It’s Game Time For Griner’s Freedom
US officials have announced that WNBA star Brittney Griner is being “wrongly” detained in Russia, and her case has been assigned to Roger Carstens, the president’s special envoy for hostage cases. The Phoenix Mercury Center and UMMC Yekaterinburg was arrested in February when Russian authorities allegedly discovered cannabis oil in his luggage. Tuesday’s statement is an escalation in the language of the State Department, which is struggling to balance condemnation of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine with the release of US nationals in Russia. LGBT advocates fear Griner, who is openly gay, could face harsher imprisonment under Russia’s draconian anti-LGBT laws. (Source: Yahoo Sports, NYT)
|
|
|
|
|
|
bugging
|
Insect plague welcomes Chicago to spring
Meet the Chicago midge swarm. Social media is buzzing as the Windy City enters spring and the bugs take over with a much larger seasonal midge swarm than in previous years. That might sound ominous, but Allen Lawrance, associate curator of entomology at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, says there’s nothing to worry about: “This year we’re definitely seeing a lot of them, so it’s is a bit unusual. big, but it’s not the end of the world or anything.” Bugs only live 3-11 days, so an end is in sight. (Source: IPU)
|
|
|
|
Childhood pictures
|
Parents reluctant to COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5
Demand for vaccines for under-5s is dragging on as the US Food and Drug Administration continues to deliberate on approval. The Kaiser Family Foundation’s Vaccine Monitor survey found that fewer than one in five American parents plan to have their young children vaccinated as soon as a vaccine becomes available. The ‘wait and see’ approach is the most popular, with 40% of parents indicating they would be happy to wait. Yet 11% said they will only vaccinate if required, while 27% will ‘definitely not’ vaccinate infants and toddlers no matter what. (Source: CNN)
|
|
|
|
Still watching?
|
Shareholders Turn on Netflix, File Suit
When bulimia goes bad. Netflix shareholders are taking the lead following reports last month of plummeting subscriber rates and revenue that led to the loss of $50 billion in value. Investors who held shares from October to April say Netflix made misleading claims and did not disclose how many viewers were abandoning the service, especially amid growing competition from other streaming platforms. Money-saving announcements like the password-sharing crackdown plan have done little to allay fears that Netflix’s golden days of growth are officially behind them. (Source: Vulture)
|
|
|
|
GOOOOOOOOOOO!
|
Maradona’s iconic ‘Hand of God’ shirt attracts record auction price
A last miracle for Diego Maradona. The Argentina national team jersey worn by the late football player when he played his infamous ‘Hand of God’ – when he scored with a handball, invisible to the referees, to knock England out of the 1986 World Cup – sold for $9.3 million. A Sotheby’s spokesperson said the auction was brimming with “unfiltered enthusiasm”, which the auction house had expected after weeks of enquiries. Still, it wouldn’t be a Maradona title without some controversy. His daughter says it’s the shirt her father wore in the first half – meaning he didn’t wear it during the play. (Source: Sky News, PA)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Catch the latest episodes of
|
|
|
COMMUNITY
What else are you curious about?
Share your questions or thoughts with us at OzyCommunity@Ozy.com
|
|
|
ABOUT OZY
OZY is a diversified, global, forward-looking media and entertainment company focused on “new and next.” OZY creates space for new perspectives and provides fresh perspectives on everything from news and culture to technology, business, learning and entertainment.
www.ozy.com / #OZY
Curiosity. Enthusiasm. Stock. It’s OZY!
|
|
|
|
|
