7th December 2022 |
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Argentina. A federal court sentenced Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to six years in prison for corruption. Lázaro Báez, the businessman who is purported to have benefitted from the scheme, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for money laundering last year. Fernández served as President of Argentina from 2007 to 2015 and was the first lady between 2003 and 2007, during the presidency of her late husband Néstor Kirchner.
Italy. The population fell below 59 million this year due in part to low birth rates and migration. Italy's population has fallen by more than 1.36 million since 2014. In 2021, Italians over 65 years old made up 23.5% of the country's population, a percentage that is expected to increase to 34.9% by 2050. There were just under 400,000 births in Italy in 2021, compared to over 700,000 deaths. The country's birth rate is at its lowest level since the unification of Italy in 1861.
World Cup. Morocco have booked their place in the World Cup’s quarter-finals after a sensational penalty shootout win against Spain, becoming the first Arab country to ever reach the tournament’s last eight. The Atlas Lions’ Spanish-born superstar wing-back Achraf Hakimi brought the curtain down on Tuesday’s last-16 clash at the Education City Stadium, notching the winner from the spot to make it 3-0 on penalties and sending the tens of thousands of raucous Moroccan fans in attendance into rapture. In the other game, Portugal’s Goncalo Ramos scored three goals as his team thrashed Switzerland 6-1 to set up a quarter-final against Morocco in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
1941 Pearl Harbor Bombed
At 6:55 p.m. Nigerian time, a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on its wings appears out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed, descending on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet and drew the United States irrevocably into World War II.
NIGERIA
Supreme Court Cries Foul
The Story
Nigeria's Supreme Court has alleged attempts to blackmail and silence the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and other judicial officers.
Blackmail, how?
In a statement signed by its Director of Press and Information, Dr. Akande Festus, the court expressed dismay over a publication that alleged that the CJN was questioned by the Department of State Services (DSS) over remarks he [the CJN] made in Port Harcourt during a recent state banquet that was organised by the Rivers State government. "This is yet another round of the avalanche of lies that have been disingenuously packaged by individuals with unenviable pedigree to malign the character and personality of, not just the CJN, but several other Judicial Officers that they considered to be too unpliable and principled to be approached for any form of underhand dealings, especially as election cases (petitions) will soon be streaming to the tribunals (courts) for adjudication", the court said.
Did it name the individuals?
No, it did not. The court, which also dismissed the said publication's claim that five Justices of the Supreme Court are calling for the CJN’s resignation, said it has become very obvious that those with sinister motives have perfected plans to unleash all manner of coordinated attacks on Judicial Officers, starting from the CJN, with a view to arm-twist, blackmail, and ridicule them to silence - ultimately for their [culprits'] ulterior motives. "For the records, no single Justice of the Supreme Court has asked the CJN to resign, and no Justice of the Supreme Court has or is writing any letter of protest whatsoever", the court added. SOURCE
AFRICA
Rwanda Accuses United States
The Story
Rwanda has accused the international community - led by the U.S. - of 'exacerbating' the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
What's America's role in the crisis?
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, during a call with Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Sunday, "made it clear that all external support to non-state armed groups in the DRC must end, including Rwanda's support for M23". Congolese forces have been involved in fighting with rebels from the M23, a former Tutsi rebellion that the Congolese government accuses Rwanda of supporting, an allegation Kigali denies. Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Biruta, decried "the erroneous approach of the international community" which he said continues to exacerbate the problem.
How does this concern Rwanda?
Rwanda has raised concern over the impact of the crisis on its own security. Kigali holds the government in Kinshasa (DRC's capital) responsible for the crisis in eastern DRC, and accuses the international community of turning a blind eye to Kinshasa's alleged support for FDLR, a group of Hutu rebels in Rwanda, some of whom were complicit in the 1994 Tutsi genocide. The FDLR militia's presence and acts of violence were used by Kigali to justify previous incursions into Congolese territory.
"Rwanda's security problems must be taken into account", Biruta said, adding that the "M23 should not be equated with Rwanda". All efforts to end the crisis have been unsuccessful. After the Congolese army accused the rebels of the massacre of 300 civilians (an allegation rejected by the rebels), fighting resumed last week in eastern DRC, breaking a five-day truce. SOURCE
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OCEANIA
New Zealand’s New Media Deal
The Story
New Zealand has announced that it is introducing new regulations targeted at social media giants.
What regulations?
A new law has been proposed in the country that would make digital platforms like Google and Facebook pay news publishers for hosting their content. New Zealand is not the first to do this though, as similar pieces of legislation have been proposed in both Canada and Australia with the goal of persuading digital giants to enter into voluntary agreements with local news organizations.
What's the reason for this?
The move is aimed at helping the news sites benefit more from their work, especially in cushioning the cost of producing their content. “It’s not fair that the big digital platforms like Google and Meta get to host and share local news for free,“ said New Zealand’s Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson, who added that, “It costs to produce the news, and it’s only fair they [Google and others] pay.”
What's the reaction from the targeted platforms?
They are not pleased with the proposal. While Meta contends that news publishers are the ones who control and profit from their content being posted on social media, news publishers all over the world assert that their content is a key factor in drawing users to social media sites, and that it is challenging for smaller publishers to negotiate deals with the tech giants.
The legislation will permit Google and Facebook to negotiate agreements with publishers without the involvement of the government, but it will also establish a negotiating process in case no agreement is reached. SOURCE
LAW
Whose citizen is this baby?
Quora Question: If a baby is born on a cruise ship sailing in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, what nationality does it take?
David Moe: If a baby is born on a cruise ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it normally gets the nationality of its parents. However, if it is born on a Canadian cruise ship, it also gets Canadian citizenship. This is somewhat unusual internationally, but it is the law in Canada.
"…all persons who were born on Canadian soil or a ship registered in Canada on or after 1 January 1947 acquired Canadian citizenship at birth"
The same applies if it is born on an Canadian airplane.
"A baby born over the Pacific Ocean during a Canada-to-Japan flight could have grounds to become a Canadian citizen, no matter where her parents are from. Parentage will be the first factor in determining Canadian citizenship for baby Chloe, who was born in international territory.
Chloe was born mid-flight on an Air Canada aircraft heading to Tokyo from Calgary. Even if both the child's parents were from another country, they could apply to have her declared a Canadian citizen because the aircraft was registered in Canada."
Her mother said she had no idea she was pregnant. Oops!"
It is quite easy to get Canadian citizenship by birth since the rules are quite loose compared to other countries. Anybody born in Canada, or Canadian territorial waters, or Canadian airspace, or on a Canadian ship, or on a Canadian airplane, even if by accident, gets Canadian citizenship.
CBN limits withdrawals to N100k, highest ATM denomination now N200
Police arrest three for ‘hacking POS platform to steal N16m’ in Oyo
Gunmen kidnap Benue commissioner, three others
‘Nigeria deserves better than comedy of gaffes’ — APC chieftain dumps party
Tenant sues landlady for refusing to sell her house to him
Ghana begins domestic debt swap amid IMF bailout talks
Chad jails more than 260 people after mass trial over protests
Glencore to pay $180m over DRC corruption claims
Indonesian parliament ratifies law criminalising premarital sex
Trump Organization found guilty in US tax fraud trial
Musk says Twitter lawyer fired amid Hunter Biden laptop dispute
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY
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ChatGPT: Should Google Watch Its Back? Medium
Five rules to remember when investing. FreshlyPressed
The best space movies ever made. IMDB
Why is there so much stoppage time at World Cup 2022? Al Jazeera
COUNTRY PROFILE
NAURU
Official Name: Republic of Nauru
Region: Central Pacific
Government: Parliamentary Republic
Country Calling Code: +674
Capital City: Yaren
Independence Day: 31 January 1968
Population: 10,834 (2020 estimate)
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD)
Official Language: Nauruan
President: Russ Kun
GDP Per Capita: $9,995 (2021 estimate)
TRIVIA
Hump Day Puzzle
The words “won” and “sun” rhyme despite having different vowels. Can you name four common, uncapitalized, four-letter words that a) rhyme with each other b) have only one vowel each but c) all have different vowels?
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