|
IMPORTANT
|
|
russian in
|
Moscow sends troops to separatist regions in eastern Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin ordered the dispatch of “peacekeeping” forces to the rebel-held areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, dashing any lingering hopes that conflict could be averted. The move comes a day after Putin recognized the independence of the breakaway regions, incurring new international sanctions. In a televised address to his country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of violating his country’s sovereignty, but said: “We are not afraid of anything or anyone.” At Ukraine’s request, the UN Security Council met last night, with Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo warning: “The risk of major conflict is real and must be avoided at all costs. (Source: PA, BBC)
|
|
|
 |
UK says no
|
England to lift all COVID-19 restrictions – and free tests
Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled his ‘living with COVID’ plan on Monday, which involves dropping all pandemic precautions in England from Thursday. Free testing will end on April 1 for all but the most vulnerable. Opposition Leader Keir Starmer called it “a half-baked announcement from a government crippled by chaos and incompetence”, and the British Medical Association criticized the move as far too sudden and likely to cause “more uncertainty and anxiety”. While England has passed its peak of omicron infections, it is estimated that one in 20 people still have COVID-19. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will make their own plans. (Source: BBC)
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Troubles in Sudan
|
Thousands of people protest against the military coup and demand the release of prisoners
They called for civilian rule in the northeast African country after General Abdel-Fattah Burhan led a military coup in October. Months of protests have been met with violent repression by the army, leaving at least 82 people dead, and more than 200 citizens have been arrested, including political figures and anti-coup activists. Yesterday, thousands of protesters gathered outside government buildings and endured tear gas to demand civilian rule and the release of prisoners. When the coup happened, Sudan was in the midst of a transition to civilian rule following the 2019 removal of authoritarian President Omar al-Bashir. (Source: AlJazeera)
|
|
|
 |
rock launch
|
Trump’s social media app Truth Social makes glitchy debut
Former President Donald Trump hoped his new venture would rival Big Tech and attract the millions of subscribers he once enjoyed before he was banned from Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Its new Truth Social platform launched yesterday to a limited number of subscribers who pre-ordered the app, with others joining a waiting list to gain access over the next 10 days. The launch was plagued with technical issues almost immediately, with users reporting that they had been kicked out or had trouble logging in for hours. Truth Social isn’t expected to support full public downloads until next month. (Source: ABC News, Tech Crunch)
|
|
|
 |
Briefly
|
Right here are some things you should know today:
Bernie Madoff’s sister and her husband have died after an apparent murder-suicide. Elderly couple Sondra and Marvin Wiener were found unresponsive with gunshot wounds at their residence in Florida. (Source: PA) The hate crime trial of Ahmaud Arbery’s killers begins deliberation. The jury will now decide whether the three men convicted of murder also committed a federal hate crime. (Source: The hill) Australia is reopening its international borders after almost two years. The country has imposed some of the strictest travel bans during the pandemic. (Source: BBC)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Catch the latest episodes of
|
|
|
INTRIGUING
|
 |
Challenging workload
|
IRS assigns 1,200 employees to deal with discouraging US tax season
The Internal Revenue Service is still working through a backlog of millions of returns from last year, and this year’s tax season is already halfway through. The agency is also facing a higher workload with fewer staff than usual to handle the financial chaos of 2021. Tax credits and COVID-19 relief payments have all flowed through the IRS , which has 22% fewer staff and 20% less funding than in 2010. While the Biden administration hoped to provide additional funding for the Build Back Better plan, it ran into opposition from Republicans who reluctant to accept any significant increase in expenditure. (Source: NPR)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Held back by history
|
Study shows criminal records have overwhelming effect on employment
Policy think tank RAND Corporation has released a new study examining the relationship between criminal records and unemployment among American men. Researchers found that by age 35, 64% of unemployed men had been arrested and 46% had been convicted of a crime. These shocking numbers are consistent with U.S. government data, which shows incarceration rates rose 220% from 1980 to 2014. The researchers noted that most government programs that focus on reducing unemployment aim to foster new skills, but they’re “missing a big part of the problem” so little is being done to de-stigmatize applicants’ criminal histories. (Source: The hill)
|
|
|
|
Meet Hank
|
A 500-pound bear named Hank takes a B&E jaunt in South Lake Tahoe
The sleepy town of California has been hit by a smooth (hairy) criminal. Hank, who weighs 200 pounds more than the average black bear, managed to break into at least 28 homes, kicking down doors to search for food. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and local law enforcement are attempting to trap Hank the Tank, as he is affectionately known, and will ideally place the big, fluffy guy in a controlled habitat or wildlife sanctuary. They say euthanasia is the last option, but warn that “he is a bear who has lost all fear of people”. (Source: The Guardian)
|
|
|
|
crushed spirits
|
Kentucky Derby winner stripped of title, coach fined
Medina Spirit, the horse that easily won the Kentucky Derby in 2021, will lose his title and a $1.86 million prize after a nine-month investigation into a failed post-race doping test. Bob Baffert, his trainer, will be suspended for 90 days and will have to pay a fine of $7,500. The Mandaloun runner-up has now been declared the official winner of the race. Three-year-old Medina Spirit died of unknown causes while training in December, and the scandal is a black mark on the horse’s reputation. Baffert’s attorney says he plans to appeal the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s decision. (Source: BNC News)
|
|
|
|
A dramatic move
|
Goran Dragic will end the NBA season with the Brooklyn Nets
The 35-year-old free agent is known for quickly stepping into a leadership role when he joins a team. Dragić started this season with the Toronto Raptors, then went to the San Antonio Spurs before landing with the Nets – although the Lakers, Warriors, Clippers, Bucks and Bulls were all vying for veteran custody. It’s Dragić’s 15th NBA season, but there’s no indication the Slovenian’s best years are behind him. In 2020, he started 16 postseason games and averaged 19 points in the Miami Heat’s run to the NBA Finals. He joins Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons in Brooklyn. (Source: ESPN, IF)
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 / #CarlosWatson / #OZY
Curiousity. Enthusiasm. Action. It’s OZY!
|
|
|
|
|
