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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. Nov 11, 2022 Today Democrats and Republicans eyed crucial counts in Arizona and Nevada as the Senate hangs in the balance. Ukraine remained wary of Russia’s sudden exit from the seized city of Kherson. China announced relaxed COVID-19 precautions in a sign that it may be turning a pandemic corner. And Xi Jinping and Joe Biden are readying to meet for the first time since Biden became president. All this and more in today’s PDB. [A 77,000-PERSON WAITLIST!?]( [Cariuma]( We’re always telling you the next big thing in names, trends, and ideas, so listen up: The OCA Low and High Top sneakers from [Cariuma]( are the next big thing. Made from natural rubber, organic cotton, and premium suede, they’re lightweight and breathable – handcrafted for comfort. And in their seriously soft suede colorways, they’ll easily become your go-to sneaker from day to night, work week to weekend plans. With over 20,000 five-star reviews, and a 77,000+ person waitlist, we’d say they’ve become a favorite for many. So, we think we’re on to something. 😉 These sneakers never go on sale (even for Cyber week), but OZY readers can get [15% off with code, OZYNOV.]( Pssst…this offer won’t last forever. [SHOP HERE]( IMPORTANT Slow and Steady As Senate Count Drags, Democrats’ Optimism Grows in Arizona Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is “feeling good.” Fellow Democrat Sen. Tim Kaine is also upbeat: “I think we have a very legit chance of expanding our majority from 50 to 51.” While Georgia voters head back to the polls next month in a runoff, Dems say Arizona and Nevada are looking good — and if they manage to pick up those two they’ll hold onto the majority. Still, Arizona Republicans have already flagged a challenge. “We’re expecting a contested road forward and legal battles to come,” candidate Blake Masters’ team said. The count is expected to continue into next week. (Sources: [NYT](, [The Hill]() Slow March Ukraine Wary But Hopeful as Russia Backs Out of Kherson The port city is the only provincial capital Russia had fully seized before troops began pulling out this week. Ukrainian officials fear an ambush or hidden land mines could turn it into a “city of death” if civilians or armed forces rush in, and they’re revealing little about operations. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed civilians have been tuning in to check the advances by Ukrainian forces in the region “almost every hour.” Only with official clearance can the country celebrate the Russians’ departure: Ukrainians have “learnt not to believe a word the Russians say” eight months into the invasion, one woman said. (Sources: [AP](, [BBC]() Cracking the Door China Signals Move Away From ‘Zero-COVID’ Policy Close contacts of infected people and incoming travelers will have their quarantine time cut by two days and airlines will no longer be fined if they’re found to be importing many cases, new rules announced Friday said. It comes a day after Communist Party leadership met to discuss its handling of the pandemic. Observers say it’s a move in the right direction, but a full reopening of China isn’t expected until the March session. Regardless, global markets have responded well, sending the yuan back up on the news that the world’s second-largest economy may be on the road to recovery. (Sources: [Reuters](, [Bloomberg]() Friends Like These Xi, Biden Prepare for Face-to-Face Meeting U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Monday for the first time since Biden took office. The pair are expected to meet on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, to “discuss a range of regional and global issues” and “build the floor” of a productive relationship, according to a White House statement. The leaders have long been acquainted after both serving as vice president at the same time, but their relationship faces fresh strains amid a trade war and rising tensions with North Korea. Taiwan will likely be a sore point in the discussion. (Sources: [CNN](, [The Guardian]() Briefly Here are some things you should know about today: Stabbed. A police officer in Brussels was stabbed to death Thursday night in what the Belgian government suggests may have been a thwarted terror attack. The suspected attacker has been arrested. (Source: [Politico]() No go. U.S. authorities have blocked over 1,000 shipments of solar energy technology since an import ban on products from China’s Xinjiang province came into effect in June. The policy is intended to pressure Beijing over its treatment of the Uyghur minority. (Source: [France24]() Hack attack. Authorities in Australia have blamed Russia for a hack on private health insurance company Medibank that’s affecting almost 10 million customers. (Source: [ABC]() [All ⭐Status]( [Cariuma]( Step into fall fashion the right way with [Cariuma’s]( OCA High Top Suede sneakers. They’re seriously soft, and warm, and are sure to make a statement this fall. They’re a take on the signature sneaker, with elevated high-top status. Crafted from high-end, raw materials, they feature lightweight cushion technology, a perfectly weighted rubber sole, and a classic cap-toe design. It’s the quintessential old-school look made with new-school ethics. We’re talking made in ethical factories, from natural and premium materials, with carbon-neutral shipping, and recycled/recyclable packaging. They’re sustainable and versatile – perfect for when the temps are dropping. And with over a dozen colors to choose from and a broken-in feel, the outfit options are limitless. These sneakers never go on sale (even for Cyber week), but OZY readers can get [15% off with code, OZYNOV.]( [LET’S GO]( INTRIGUING Slippery Business COP27 Sees a Record Year for Fossil Fuel Execs Over 600 lobbyists have registered for the ongoing United Nations-backed climate change summit in Egypt — up 25% from last year. It’s a “twisted joke” say climate campaigners who analyzed a list of attendees. The fossil fuel industry is represented by more delegates than any country at the summit, bar the United Arab Emirates with 1,070 attendees. The finding comes as researchers again sound the alarm on rising emissions, including a U.N. report stating there’s “no credible pathway” to capping global temperature increases at the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold. “It’s time to kick Big Polluters out!” one Africa-based campaigner said. (Source: [CNBC]() Verified Mess From Bad to Worse at Musk’s Twitter “Bankruptcy isn’t out of the question,” Elon Musk told employees Thursday. In his first email to workers since taking over the company two weeks ago, he pushed the controversial subscription model as necessary to survive an economic downturn. The higher-ups aren’t convinced. Yoel Roth, head of content moderation at the platform, had been tapped by Musk to reassure advertisers and users as Twitter changed hands. He resigned Thursday along with a top cybersecurity executive, the chief privacy and compliance officers and the head of marketing and sales. The Federal Trade Commission said it is “tracking the developments at Twitter with deep concern.” (Sources: [TechCrunch](, [WaPo]() Million Dollar Ruling Celebrated Director Ordered to Pay Up in #MeToo Case Paul Haggis, the Academy Award-winning director behind Crash and Million Dollar Baby, will pay at least $7.5 million in damages and other punitive charges, a civil court jury ruled Thursday. Haggis was accused of a 2013 rape by publicist Haleigh Breest in a high-profile #MeToo case. Four other women accused Haggis of unwanted sexual attention in separate instances dating back to 1996. “I’m going to continue to, with my team, fight to clear my name,” Haggis said after the ruling. He previously suggested his very public split from the Church of Scientology in 2009 may be behind the allegations. (Source: [AP]() Cluck Up Chicken With a Side of Hate Crime? KFC Blunders in Germany German fast food fans received a push notification suggesting some fried chicken and cheese to commemorate Kristallnacht — a violent antisemitic assault in 1938 when Nazi supporters destroyed Jewish businesses, synagogues and homes. An hour later another push notification apologized for the error. In a statement, the fast food giant acknowledged “the gravity and history of this day” and called the misstep “obviously unplanned.” It blamed a semi-automated content creation system that links promotions to national holidays and events. KFC Germany later confirmed the app’s notification system is on a hiatus as it reviews the system to ensure no further incidents. (Source: [CNN]() Dress Code Human Rights Shirts for Danes a World Cup No-Go The Danish Football Association confirmed that FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, rejected the proposed “Human Rights For All” message. The training shirts, along with minimizing commercial activities in host country Qatar, were part of a strategy to avoid promoting the Gulf country. “We believe the message ‘human rights for all’ is universal and not a political call, but something everyone can support,” DBU chief executive Jakob Jensen said. FIFA’s guidelines banning any political, religious or personal messaging on team equipment have been [increasingly challenged]( ahead of this year’s World Cup as players across the globe protest Qatar’s draconian social policies. (Source: [Reuters]() COMING 11/15: OZY'S LATEST DOCUSERIES Get a SNEAK peek [HERE](! COMMUNITY What else are you curious about? 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