Westward Leading, Still Proceeding

www.ozy.com [OZY]() Your World. Bold & Bright Sponsored by 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. Mar 14, 2022 Today Russia bombarded a military base near Ukraine’s border with NATO-member Poland, killing 34. Despite the intensifying invasion, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators sounded optimistic about a potential diplomatic resolution after weekend talks. Saudi Arabia executed 81 men in 24 hours, its largest mass execution in modern history. And two major Chinese cities imposed restrictions on residents as COVID-19 cases spiked there for the first time in a year. All this and more in today’s PDB. IMPORTANT ‘Black Day’ Russia Bombs Western-Ukraine Base 11 Miles From NATO Border President Vladimir Putin expanded his attack to all corners of Ukraine on Sunday, as a barrage of missile strikes on a military base near the Polish border killed at least 35 people and injured 134. The base, called the International Peacekeeping and Security Center, has been used by Western military troops to train Ukrainian forces since 2015, but all foreign troops left before the invasion began on Feb. 24. In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it a “black day” and warned that it was only a matter of time before Russian missiles fell on NATO territory. (Sources: [NYT](, [Al Jazeera]() Glimmer of Hope? Russia-Ukraine Talks Seem to Be Getting Somewhere Despite continuing bloodshed, Ukrainian and Russian officials hinted at the possibility of a diplomatic solution to the invasion after negotiations this weekend. “Russia is already beginning to talk constructively,” said Ukrainian negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak. “I think that we will achieve some results literally in a matter of days.” Russian delegate Leonid Slutsky was similarly optimistic: “According to my personal expectations, this progress may grow in the coming days into a joint position of both delegations, into documents for signing.” Global financial markets rallied at the news with stocks rising and oil prices relinquishing some of their massive recent gains. (Sources: [Reuters](, [i24 News]() Modern Mass Execution Saudi Arabia Executes 81 Men in 24 Hours Saudi Arabia has conducted the largest mass execution in its modern history. The 81 men, including seven Yemenis and one Syrian national, were executed for “allegiance to foreign terrorist organizations,” holding “deviant beliefs” and murder. The number far outstripped the 67 people executed in the kingdom in 2021 and the 27 killed in 2021. Saudi Arabia is known for its restrictive laws on political and religious expression and its liberal use of the death penalty. “The accused were provided with the right to an attorney and were guaranteed their full rights under Saudi law,” said the Saudi Press Agency. (Source: [Al Jazeera]() Locked Down! Shenzhen Locks Down as China COVID-19 Cases Soar Shenzhen, a major tech and electronics manufacturing hub near Hong Kong, has imposed a citywide lockdown after 66 residents tested positive for the coronavirus on Sunday. Shanghai also severely restricted citizens’ movements. While China’s case numbers remain low — 3,122 new cases yesterday — the daily count has accelerated rapidly and the country is experiencing its worst surge since February 2021. A lockdown in Shenzhen, home to one of the world’s largest ports, might further disrupt global supply chains, but management companies are expected to try and keep the port running by requiring dockworkers to live on-site for weeks at a time. (Source: [NYT]() Briefly Here are some things you should know about today: MOMA Stabbings. Police are hunting for a 60-year-old male suspect who stabbed two employees at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art. The victims, stabbed in the back, collar bone and neck, are both expected to survive. (Source: [CNN]() ‘Scratchy throat.’ Former President Barack Obama, who is vaccinated and boosted, has tested positive for COVID-19. Apart from a “scratchy throat,” he’s “feeling fine.” Michelle Obama tested negative. ([CBS News]() Brady’s back. Seven-time Super Bowl-winner Tom Brady tweeted that he won’t be retiring after all. Instead, he’ll play his 23rd season — his 3rd for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. ([BBC]() Catch the Newest Episodes of The Carlos Watson Show, Season 4! [A Special Offer For the OZY Family]( The shoe with a 34K waitlist is back in stock! If you missed them the last time around, the sneakers we can’t get enough of are back — and just in time for spring! These all-season low-tops are OZY’s favorite look for dressing up or down. But don’t wait around — these comfy kicks fly off the shelves and won’t be here for long. [Exclusive to OZY readers: Get $15 off your pair of Cariumas OZY2022](, before they sell out again! [Shop Now]( INTRIGUING Strong Medicine Will Doctors Soon Be Prescribing ‘A Pill a Week’? New technology that allows daily medications to be taken weekly or monthly could transform the lives of people suffering from a host of illnesses, including schizophrenia and opioid addiction. A contraceptive pill is also in the pipeline. The new capsule retains its shape on its way to the stomach, before unfurling six “arms” connected to a flexible core. The star-shaped panacea remains in the stomach for up to three weeks, gradually releasing its goodness. While the technology won’t work for all drugs, experts are excited about its potential to increase adherence to medication regimes. Trials in humans start later this year. (Source: [The Guardian]() Bum Deal Assistant Principal Axed For Reading Butt Book to Kids Whatever happened to turning the other cheek? Toby Price, assistant principal at a Mississippi elementary school, was fired for reading the children’s book I Need a New Butt to second-graders. The book, about a boy who wants a new butt because his has a crack, was a hit with the kids — but not the district superintendent. “If kids see that books can be funny and silly, they’ll hang around long enough to see all the other cool things that books can be,” said Price. No parents complained, and past pupils are campaigning for the “amazing” lifelong educator’s reinstatement. (Source: [WaPo]() Oops! India Fires Missile Into Pakistan After ‘Technical Malfunction’ Pakistan has demanded a joint probe after India accidentally fired a missile into its territory last Wednesday. The unarmed missile crashed near the city of Mian Channu, about 60 miles from the India-Pakistan border, harming no one. India attributed the incident to a “technical malfunction” during routine maintenance and planned to conduct only an internal investigation. But Pakistan is having none of it: “Such a serious matter cannot be addressed with the simplistic explanation proffered by the Indian authorities,” said Pakistan’s foreign office. Military experts have long warned of the risk of accidents or miscalculations by the nuclear-armed neighbors. (Source: [Reuters]() Chancellor's Vice UNC Vice-Chancellor Resigns Amid Plagiarism Scandal Terry Magnuson has resigned as vice-chancellor for research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill after the U.S. federal government’s Office of Research Integrity found he “engaged in research misconduct by intentionally, knowingly or recklessly plagiarizing text.” The developmental geneticist copied text from a product manual and a review article into one of his grant applications. Magnuson accepted a settlement agreement that includes a two-year supervisory period during which his grants will be subject to scrutiny. He “accepts responsibility for his mistake” and will soon explain the situation publicly. UNC saw steady growth in research funding under Magnuson. (Source: [The Scientist]() Soccer’s GOAT? Cristiano Ronaldo Tops All-Time Scoring List A spectacular hattrick (scoring three goals in one game) by returned Manchester United star Ronaldo took his professional career tally to 807 — two ahead of Austrian-Czech dual national Josef Bican, who played professionally from 1931 to 1957. Some say Bican scored 1,500 goals in his career, but FIFA only recognizes 805 of them. Ronaldo’s 59th career hattrick — the English Premier League’s first by a player older than 37 — helped the Red Devils beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-2. The record burnishes Ronaldo’s claim to be soccer’s GOAT, ahead of Lionel Messi. Tom Brady, undisputed GOAT from another football code, watched live. (Source: [Sports Illustrated]() [be what's trending]( We’re always telling you the next big thing in names, trends and ideas, so listen up: These colorful kicks from Cariuma are the next big thing. These trendy kicks are made with bamboo and recycled plastic, and are lightweight, breathable and flexible. 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