The Nuclear Option

Start your day smarter with the most important world news, plus intriguing and offbeat stories. www.ozy.com [OZY]( [OZY]() Your World. Bold & Bright [Presidential Daily Brief]( Sponsored by [Cariuma]( Start your day smarter with a dossier on the most important world news, rounded off with a shot of intriguing and offbeat stories. Like the president, you deserve no less. Oct 28, 2022 Today Elon Musk officially took the reins at Twitter and promptly fired top executives. The U.N.’s nuclear watchdog warned that North Korea may be heading toward a nuclear bomb test. Vladimir Putin told an audience in Moscow that the world is headed for a dangerous period. And Brazilians prepare to vote in Sunday’s run-off presidential election. All this and more in today’s PDB. [GET ‘EM BEFORE THEY’RE GONE]( [Cariuma]( From walking the dog around the block to playing outside with the kids and jumping into leaf piles, we have never received so many compliments on our stylish kicks. 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CEO Parag Agrawal was shown the door, along with the chief financial officer, a top policy executive and the general counsel. When Musk first floated his interest in April he said Twitter had “tremendous potential” but was floundering. Now observers worry that Musk’s plans — like reinstating former President Donald Trump’s account — could unleash anarchy on the platform. Musk downplayed fears to advertisers, saying there’s no plan to make Twitter a “free-for-all hellscape.” (Sources: [NYT](, [Bloomberg]() Bombs Away? Nuclear Watchdog Sounds Alarm as North Korea Blasts Sea of Japan Pyongyang may be inching toward a test of its nuclear bomb capabilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, is hoping North Korea walks back its threats, “but indications unfortunately go in another direction,” Director General Rafael Grossi said. However, he did note that while preparations have been observed there is no indication of an immediate test. His stark warning follows a statement by the U.S., South Korea and Japan on Wednesday promising an “unparalleled” response to further testing. Pyongyang appears undeterred. It launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan early Friday. (Sources: [Kyodo](, [Al Jazeera]() Hot Headed Putin Gives Moscow a Lesson in Revisionist History Everything is going exactly as planned, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Still, he told a conference in Moscow on Thursday, the decade ahead is “probably the most dangerous” since the end of World War II. Putin also said the West is using the threat of nuclear escalation to further isolate Russia. It’s a charge he’s increasingly making, as well as accusing Ukraine of planning to detonate a “dirty bomb.” While Putin’s made thinly veiled allusions to nuclear weapons recently, he claimed Russia has “never proactively” threatened their use, saying, “We've only responded with hints to comments voiced by the leaders of Western countries.” (Sources: [Reuters](, [BBC]() Polarized Brazil Braces for Sunday’s Run-Off Vote Amid Voter Fraud Allegations Incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro and challenger Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will meet for a final televised debate Friday evening. Former president da Silva had polled well ahead of far-right Bolsonaro before the Oct. 2 first round, but only edged him by five points in the vote. Polling released this week shows a similar gap between them — a far cry from da Silva’s 21-point lead in May. Already the Bolosnaro camp is claiming voter fraud in an effort to destabilize results. “Every last vote is going to count,” one observer said. “I wouldn't bet a lot of money on the outcome.” (Sources: [France24](, [The Guardian]() Briefly Here are some things you should know about today: Locked back down. Wuhan is among dozens of cities in China that have been put back into lockdown under the country’s zero-COVID policy. Around 800,000 people in one Wuhan district alone will be staying home until Sunday. (Source: [BBC]() Unanimous. Canada’s Parliament has voted unanimously that historical residential schools, where 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to live, should be described as genocide in accordance with United Nations conventions. (Source: [CTV]() Up and up. The European Central Bank raked interest rates up three-quarters of a percentage point in a meeting Thursday. It’s the fastest pace in rate hikes since the euro was founded. (Source: [AP]() [Sneaker Season, Spooky Season]( Once the calendar flips to October, the ghouls come out to play, PSLs make a comeback – and just like that the weather shifts to a crisp breeze having you say “sneakers please!” If you’re searching for cute, crazy-comfy kicks to show off this autumn season, then surfer-loved brand, [Cariuma](, has got you covered. Crafted from consciously-sourced materials, and featuring a memory foam insole, perfectly weighted rubber sole, and a classic cap-toe design, the OCA Low Canvas and Suede options will provide you with a crazy-comfy, stylish look all season long. Grab yourself a pair with our exclusive code, [OZYOCT](, which scores you 15% off on any sneaker you choose. [SHOP NOW]( INTRIGUING Viral Load Republican Senators Push Coronavirus Lab Leak Theory The COVID-19 pandemic is “more likely than not, the result of a research-related incident,” Republican staff on the bipartisan Senate Committee on Health said in an “interim report.” The World Health Organization and U.S. agencies have dismissed the theory, concluding that the virus made the jump from animals to humans, although many scientists have said investigation is warranted. Still, with COVID-19 being a partisan issue in parts of America, some see the report as a political rather than a scientific endeavor. It could be “a cynical effort to try to win Republican votes,” evolutionary biologist Michael Worobey said. (Source: [Science]() Big Bet Is the Metaverse Sending Mark Zuckerberg Broke? The Meta CEO has lost $100 billion from his net worth over the last 13 months. Things aren’t looking much better for his company. Revenue for Meta, the parent group of Facebook and Instagram, is dropping quickly, sending it out of the U.S.’s top 20 companies, and shares dropped 25% Thursday after Zuckerberg warned of more poor revenue ahead. Low advertising dollars are afflicting all internet companies, but his metaverse project is costing billions with little to show for its promised virtual reality revolution. But Zuckerberg insists that investors who are “patient will end up being rewarded.” (Sources: [Bloomberg](, [The Wrap]() That Scientology Show Masterson Accuser Says Scientologists Waged ‘Terror Campaign’ A former girlfriend of Danny Masterson — who has accused the That ‘70s Show actor of raping her during their relationship — testified Thursday that the Church of Scientology has been harassing her. Masterson is a practicing Scientologist, and his accuser is one of three former church members testifying against him. She previously sued both Masterson and the Church of Scientology in 2019 over the harassment. “It doesn’t matter how many police reports or FBI reports I would file,” she explained. “No one would stop them — no one. And they’re doing it to this day.” A church spokeswoman said the claims are “categorically untrue.” (Source: [Variety]() Spaghetti-Uh-Ohs Barilla Sued for Not Being Italian Enough “Italy's #1 Brand of Pasta” may be misleading. According to a class-action lawsuit filed in California, Barilla deliberately deceived American shoppers into thinking its pasta was made in Italy. Matthew Sinatro and Jessica Prost said in the suit that they fell victim to Barilla’s advertising after buying a combined $6 worth of pasta. Most Barilla products sold in the U.S. are made in Iowa and New York, while just two — tortellini and lasagne sheets — are made in Italy. The complaint argues that the pasta-maker uses Italian branding in an “effort to increase profits and to obtain an unfair competitive advantage.” (Source: [NPR]() Shock Dog Inflation Has Come to Play at Stadiums Across US Professional sports in the U.S. have long relied on an accounting axiom: Keep ticket prices low and fans will pay the box office back at the concession stand. “The whole model has been kind of disrupted in a pretty big way as we’re dealing with inflation of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30% when we have typically underwritten 2 or 3%,” one sports hospitality executive said. For now, fans are still buying tickets and beers, but don’t be surprised if the usual six-chicken-finger serving turns to just five as stadiums look for ways to keep fans happy and books balanced. (Source: [AP]() The OZY Genius Awards Are Back! OZY believes college students hold the keys to unlocking a brighter future. Do you have a genius idea? Share it with us for a chance to win up to $10,000 in grants! 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