31st August 2022 | Advertise | Shop | Archive
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Good morning. Chris Rock has declined to host the 2023 Oscars and has joked it is like going back to a crime scene. Since the Chris Rock and Will Smith slapping incident occurred six months ago, the comedian said he has gotten invitations to appear in films, host ceremonies, and promote merchandise with slap-related themes but he declined all.
The entertainment industry seems to want to put the incident to rest and move on hence Chris's invitation to host the next Oscar.
Oh well...
China. Police have arrested 234 suspects allegedly involved in a rural banking scandal, a month after hundreds of depositors protested over their lost savings in one of the largest demonstrations the country has seen since the pandemic began.
Taiwan. The US is preparing a $1.1 billion arms sale to Taipei. The package, coming weeks after Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island, will need to gain congressional approval. Meanwhile, Taiwan fired shots at a Chinese drone as tensions stretched ever thinner.
Pakistan. The effects of flooding is getting worse with an estimated 33 million Pakistanis have been affected. The floods have caused more than $10B in damage already, not including the possibility of future famines. Yesterday the IMF approved a $1.2B loan.
1997 Princess Diana Dies in a Car Crash
Shortly after midnight on August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales—affectionately known as "the People’s Princess"—dies in a car crash in Paris. She was 36. She was one of the most popular public figures in the world. Her death was met with a massive outpouring of grief. Piles of flowers reached some 30 feet from the palace's gate. Diana’s funeral in London, on September 6, was watched by over 2 billion people. She was survived by her two sons, Prince William, who was 15 at the time, and Prince Harry, who was 12.
NIGERIA
With or Without ASUU
The Story
The federal government is reportedly planning to reopen universities without members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Is the government recruiting new lecturers?
That's not clear from reports. From a report by Vanguard newspaper, the government's planned reopening of universities is coming after members of various non-academic unions called off their own industrial action. According to the Vanguard report, which quoted sources in the Federal Ministry of Education, members of ASUU are not the only set of workers in the university system, and other workers willing to work should not be denied the opportunity to do so.
What's the point of reopening if studies aren't resuming?
According to the source in the Vanguard report, some academic staff in the universities have dissociated themselves from ASUU's lingering strike, and are working to get registered as a recognized group in the university system. The lecturers, on the platform of the "Congress of University Academics (CONUA), and under the leadership of Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, are said to have indicated willingness to resume work. "Moreover, there are some lecturers who are also ready to work, such people should not be shut out", the source said.
Education Minister To Meet With Universities Management
The industrial action of various university unions is said to be the subject of a meeting slated for next Tuesday at the National Universities Commission (NUC) Complex, Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, is to deliberate with Pro-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of federal universities. The letter inviting the universities' management, titled “Industrial actions by university-based unions: Invitation to a special interactive meeting with the Honourable Minister of Education", was signed by the NUC Deputy Executive Secretary, Administration, Chris Maiyaki, on behalf of the Executive Secretary. Source
AFRICA
A'Weah of the Bribes
The Story
A year before Liberia's presidential election, President George Weah has come under scrutiny for his response to the U.S government's indictment of three senior officials in his cabinet.
What were they indicted for?
The top ranking members of Weah's cabinet, who are also his close allies - Minister of Presidential Affairs Nathaniel McGill, Attorney-general Sayma Syrenius Cephus, and National Port Authority chief Bill Twehway - were indicted by the U.S Treasury on charges bothering on corruption, bribery, and embezzlement of funds. In a report on the business climate in Liberia in 2022, the United States condemned "widespread government corruption", which it described as the hindrance to investment, development, and basic infrastructure like electricity and roads in Liberia.
What was Weah's response?
In response to the indictments of the officials, president Weah's office released a statement announcing the suspension of the three officials, but that has been described as insufficient. The main opposition leader, Alexander Cummings, said the suspension "is not enough", adding that, "nor is it enough to protect the president from the growing perception among the people that he is involved in high-profile crimes". The presidency of Weah, who rode to power in 2017 on the promise of fighting corruption and poverty, has been rocked by scandal.
Did the officials admit guilt?
No, they did not. Nathaniel McGill, who dismissed the charges against him as "vague", was accused of "bribing business leaders, receiving kickbacks from potential investors, and accepting kickbacks for bringing contracts to companies in which he has an interest". Calling for the sack of the indicted officials, the NGO Regional Watch for Human Rights said "this should not be just another case". Under Weah, Liberia was ranked 136th out of 180 by the anti-corruption NGO Transparency International in its 2021 report. Source
KNOWLEDGE
QUORA QUESTION:
What overly simplistic life advice is deceptively effective if used correctly?
NEMAN ASHRAF
A man sitting in the hotel said to his friend; "Look at that kid waiting tables, he’s so dumb that if I put 500 and 50 notes in front of him, he will pick up the fifty note…. let me show you.
He hollered at the kid, put both 500 and 50 notes at the table and said; "Take a note of greater value out of these two". When the child picked up the fifty note, they both laughed out loud and left, the child went back to his work.
Another person who sat besides and witnessed this called the child afterwards and asked; "You're a grown kid who still doesn't know the difference between fifty and five hundred notes. How come? That's a loss".
The child smiled and said; "This man often comes here and demonstrates the same thing to his buddies for kicks and giggles, to amuse over my stupidity as I pick up the note of fifty each time, they have a momentary laugh over this, and I get fifty rupees. The day I picked 500 would be the day this game will be over and… my extra money too”.
There is no need to be wise (to people) everywhere (and every time)…
EUROPE
Ban Thy Neighbor
The Story
Officials of the European Union (E.U) are unsatisfied with the impact of sanctions and other measures initiated against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, and are considering targeting all Russians, including civilians.
Target in what way?
E.U. Foreign Ministers have been in talks about whether to limit travel permits for Russian citizens or outright ban Russian tourist visas. It would be “inappropriate for Russian tourists to stroll in our cities, on our marinas,” a senior E.U. official involved in the talks said. “We have to send a signal to the Russian population that this war is not OK, it is not acceptable.”
Why punish civilians for their government's wrong?
The proposal for a complete travel ban is coming after a plea to that effect from the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It is, however, in doubt if the move will come through, as the E.U is not completely in support of it. On Monday, E.U. foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who chairs the E.U. foreign ministers’ meetings, played down the prospects for implementing the complete travel ban, and he is not alone as Germany, Cyprus, and Greece have also expressed opposition to the move.
All or Nothing
Forbidding all Russians from entering the E.U. “is not a good idea,” Borrell said, adding that, “We have to be more selective.” Despite Zelenskyy's plea and support from Finland, Czech and others, the foreign ministers would need to reach a unanimous agreement to implement a ban. But in the absence of a unanimous agreement, they are expected to back suspending a visa facilitation agreement with Moscow, which would make the visa application process significantly more difficult and expensive for Russians. Sources: 1, 2, 3
Sex-for-marks: TASUED suspends lecturer declared wanted by ICPC
Man Utd to sell Ronaldo for record €140m Osimhen
Obasanjo: I have no preferred candidate, but ‘national agenda’
Nigeria’s Diaspora remittances rise 20.3% to $5.16bn in Q1’22
Lagos begins regulations of borehole drilling
Court nullifies ‘outrageous’ N20bn damages awarded to Igboho
Delta Air Lines to suspend New York-Lagos direct flights Oct 4
Mikhail Gorbachev, who ended the Cold War, dies aged 91
US Navy says Iran’s IRGC seized and released US sea drone in Gulf
South Korea to scrap COVID tests for arrivals in boost for travel
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Netflix Scholarships for African Students
Netflix is pleased to invite you to submit an application for the Netflix Creative Equity Scholarships for Nigeria, West & Central Africa.
The scholarship fund will cover tuition, housing, study materials, and living expenses at selected partner schools in Nigeria, Gabon, Ghana & Benin where beneficiaries have been accepted to pursue a programme of study in the television and film disciplines in the 2022 academic year.
Application Deadline: 4th September 2022. APPLY HERE
Mikhail Gorbachev: The rise and fall of the last Soviet leader. Al Jazeera
Three dangerous warning signs you should delete your Whatsapp text immediately. The Sun
This Rare Medical Condition Makes You Love Everyone. Natgeo
The Many Lives of a Fake Pro Cyclist. Cycling Tips
Junk Food Is Bad For Plants, Too. Naulitus
TRIVIA
Hit or Miss
You either get this or you don't. These are simple, smart questions that test how fast you can think on your feet -
- A farmer had 17 goats. All but six died. How many survived?
- Barry's dad has three sons: Snap, Crackle, and ____.
INTERNET GIGGLES
Written by Seun, Mercy, Kingsley, and Tosin.
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