22nd August 2022 | Advertise | Shop | Archive
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Good morning. Thanks to an Apple AirTag left in one piece, Florida police were able to track and arrest an airline subcontractor who stole thousands of dollars worth of luggage.
A great reminder that one of the best places to put an AirTag is in a discrete place inside your checked luggage.
United Kingdom. Workers have gone on strike at the busiest container port - Port of Felixstowe. 1,900 workers are expected to go on strike after the union rejected the port operator's offer of a 7% pay raise. The port manages 48% of the country's container trade and employs 2,550 workers.
Russia. The daughter of Vladimir Putin’s spiritual aide was killed. Darya Dugin, whose father Alexander Dugin has been guiding the Russian president in his invasion of Ukraine, died in a car bombing on the outskirts of Moscow. Alexander is believed to have been the intended target from Ukraine.
South Africa. The Zulu royal palace has a new king in the country’s richest and most influential traditional monarchy. Misuzulu Zulu, 47, is set to succeed his father who died last year after 50 years in charge. Although the title of king does not bestow executive power, the monarchs wield great moral influence over more than 11 million Zulus, who make up nearly one-fifth of the population.
1864 International Red Cross founded
The Geneva Convention of 1864 for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick of Armies in the Field is adopted by 12 nations meeting in Geneva. The agreement, advocated by Swiss humanitarian Jean-Henri Dunant, called for nonpartisan care to the sick and wounded in times of war and provided for the neutrality of medical personnel. It also proposed the use of an international emblem to mark medical personnel and supplies. In honor of Dunant’s nationality, a red cross on a white background—the Swiss flag in reverse—was chosen. The organization became known as the International Committee of the Red Cross. In 1901, Dunant was awarded the first Nobel Peace Prize.
NIGERIA
Factional ASUU
The Story
As the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) continue to bicker over the payment of salaries for the period of the strike, another disagreement has emerged between both parties.
What's the disagreement?
The federal government recently made its proposal to ASUU for the potential resolution of the dispute, and was awaiting ASUU's feedback on the content of the proposal, which included the remuneration of lecturers in Nigerian universities. ASUU is reported to have now rejected the FG's proposal which it says would result in the reduction of the salaries of some members of the union - specifically junior lecturers in the graduate assistant cadre.
Reduction?
Yes, reduction. This contradicts the fact that better pay and general improvement in their terms of engagement are significant parts of the demands of ASUU. This is in addition to their demand for the payment of salaries for the period of the strike that is now more than 6 months. In the FG's proposal, which ASUU's president Emmanuel Osodeke described as a "miserable offer", senior professors will see their annual pay increased to N9m, but entry level lecturers will have their own pay reduced to a monthly net of less than N90,000.
How much is their current pay?
According to a source that spoke to The Punch, graduate assistants on step 4 currently earn around N1.6m annually, which translates to a gross monthly pay of about N133,000. After various deductions, each person goes home with about N111,000. But under the new arrangement, "the government proposed N1m per annum for starters, while senior graduate assistants will get N1.2m per annum and by the time the necessary deductions will be made in terms of pension, tax and others, some of them may be going home with less than N90,000 monthly", the source said.
The Punch reported that another source confirmed the new terms, saying "it is more like they removed money from junior lecturers and added the small change to senior ones". The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had said last week that the strike's call-off was being stalled by disagreement over the salaries for the 6 months of the strike, which the FG is not willing to pay since the members of ASUU didn't work in the period. It remains to be seen how long it would take both sides to reach a compromise. Source
ASIA
Singapore's LGBT Dilemma
The Story
Singapore has announced plans to decriminalize sex between men, but will protect the country's definition of marriage.
What does that mean?
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong disclosed the plan during the annual National Day Rally yesterday, August 21, 2022. According to the PM, the government will repeal a colonial-era law that criminalized intimacy between men, and under which some have been prosecuted and jailed. The PM, while arguing that the time is right for the anti same-sex law to be discarded, said he hopes the move will bring some relief to gay Singaporeans. He, however, noted that there'd be some limit to the reform.
What limit?
While the private sexual acts of Singaporeans will no longer be subjected to legal scrutiny, the government will ensure that the country's traditional beliefs on marriage are preserved. According to the PM, issues like how marriage is defined, what children are taught in schools, what is shown on TV, and general public conduct will remain controlled. And while the constitutional amendment will allow people to freely perform their sexual acts in private, there will be no constitutional challenge to allow same-sex marriage. "Private sexual behavior between consenting adults does not raise any law and order issue. There is no justification to prosecute people for it nor to make it a crime," Lee said.
The PM expressed hope that the move will bring reconciliation and create a middle ground for both the concerns of conservative religious groups and the desires of gay Singaporeans. On the potential reactions that might follow the announcement, the PM called for caution on every side. "All groups should exercise restraint, because that is the only way we can move forward as a nation together," he said, adding that “I hope the new balance will enable Singapore to remain a tolerant and inclusive society for many years to come". Source
QUORA SECTION
QUORA QUESTION:
What human organ has the most superpowers?
SEAN KERNAN
The human liver is magnificent.
When surgeons do transplants, they often cut out as much as 60% to 70% of the liver and give it to the new patient.
The donor patient, who lost most of their liver, will be able to regenerate a full liver in turn.
The recipient will also get a brand new liver. The liver also has more than 100 functions in the body. It cleans waste, processes nutrition, the list goes on and on. All blood that is leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver.
The liver is probably the most underappreciated organ in the body.
Per my doctor friend, it is also one of the bloodiest transplants they do because the liver is filled with so many veins.
But yes, livers are awesome.
MIDDLE EAST
Saudi Special Sentencing
The Story
Saudi women's rights campaigner Salma al-Shehab was a PhD student at England's Leeds University in January, 2021, when she was arrested and questioned for almost a year before being brought to Saudi Arabia's Specialized Criminal Court.
What was her crime?
The charges against her included "providing succor to those seeking to disrupt public order and undermine the safety of the general public and stability of the state, and publishing false and tendentious rumors on Twitter." Late last year, al-Shehab was sentenced to a 6year jail term, but after the 33-year-old mother of two filed an appeal, her sentence was increased to 34 years.
What! Seriously?
Yes, you read that right, and that's not all. She was also banned from traveling outside Saudi Arabia for another 34 years. Her sister Loujain al-Hathloul, a prominent activist, was arrested in 2018 and later sentenced to 5 years and 8 months in jail for opposing the Kingdom's now-rescinded law barring women from driving. Al-Hathloul said her sister's sentence "makes a mockery of the Saudi authorities' claims of reform for women and of the legal system."
Will the judgement stand?
Well, unless something unusual happens. Leeds University has condemned the ruling and said it is currently studying the situation to see if there's any way it can intervene. The judgement has also not escaped the attention of Washington, whose State Department says it is studying the judgement. Speaking on the subject, the State Department spokesperson, Ned Price said, "exercising freedom of expression to advocate for the rights of women should not be criminalized", and added that the U.S' engagement with Saudi Arabia has made it clear "that human rights is central to our agenda". Source
SSANU, NASU suspend strike after five months
Illegal detention: AGF, police to pay lady N60m
Peter Obi accuses opposition of spreading fake news
Tompolo wins multi-million dollar contract to curb oil theft
Inflation: Salaries of civil servants will be reviewed, says Buhari
Valentine Ozigbo quits PDP, throws weight behind Peter Obi
Usyk beats Joshua, retains heavyweight boxing belts
Edwards defeats Kamaru Usman to claim UFC 278 title
UAE ambassador to Iran to return, 6 years after relations severed
Japan encourages youths to drink more alcohol to boost economy
POLITICS TODAY
What Is Your Price For Compromise?
Criticism of government is, perhaps, one of the easiest things to do. As a matter of fact, it is a part of us, especially in the absence of political apathy. In other words, if you are one who has an interest in how the society is run, whether as an observer or an active participant in politics, you cannot help criticizing the actions/inactions of players in government.
And while there are those who criticize the ills of government, there are those who choose to see no evil, for whatever reasons. Their reasons might include fear, cowardice, personal gains from the perpetrators of the evil, or even admiration for the perpetrators. Yes, there are those who just like someone for no reason, even when that someone has perceived or established baggage
Why did Trump endorse the Democrat who led the impeachment probe? Al Jazeera
Libertarians Propose Controversial New 'Do Whatever You Want' Mandate (Satire) Babylon Bee
Six tips for when you’re feeling emotionally overwhelmed. Stylist
Eat the rich! Why millennials and generation Z have turned their backs on capitalism. The Guardian
The way we view free time is making us less happy. BBC
TRIVIA
The Monday Quiz
We love Mondays, Yes or Yasss?! Take this fun Monday quiz to show your love for the 1st day of the working week.
- If Tuesday's child is full of grace, what was Monday's child?
- Solomon Grundy was born on Monday, But on which day was he married?
TWITTER AFANG
Written by Seun, Mercy, Kingsley, and Tosin.
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