Get smarter in just 5 minutes
Together with
Good Morning.“Burnt Hair”. That's the perfume Elon Musk’s selling...and he’s already made more than $1 million.
Smells Musky.
United States. The Congressional committee investigating the riot at the US Capitol last year has voted to subpoena former President Donald Trump in an unprecedented move that compelled the former president to testify under oath in front of the panel. Trump denounced the subpoena on Thursday, reiterating his false election fraud claims. Trump’s legal team is likely to challenge the decision.
Qatar. The country says there will be special zones at the tournament for drunken football supporters to sober up during the World Cup. The sale of alcohol will move from hotel bars to fan zones and outside stadiums during the World Cup, which runs from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18. Qatar is a predominantly Muslim country where public drinking is restricted, and it has decided to control public drunkenness by ensuring there is an alternative to arrests or jail time.
West Africa. Cameroon and Nigeria requested to join the Cote d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI), a joint body spearheading the interests of the two countries in the cocoa trade. The initiative was set up after a 2018 declaration by Ivory Coast and Ghana, the world’s first and second-largest cocoa producers, on willingness to define a common sustainable cocoa strategy that would raise prices paid to farmers. It was created with the view of including other African countries.
Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, arrived Nigeria on a two-day working visit at the head of a 150-member delegation made up of Indian parliamentarians, businessmen and journalists.
NIGERIA
Nnamdi Kanu 1 - 0 FG
The Story
The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, scored one against the Federal Government on Thursday.
What's the news?
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has thrown out the terrorism charge the FG made against the IPOB leader. Acquitted of the seven-count charge pending against him before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Kanu was discharged by the Court of Appeal, which ruled, in a decision by a three-man panel led by Justice Jummai Hanatu, that the FG flagrantly violated the law when it forcefully rendered Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria for the continuation of his trial.
Does this lift IPOB's proscription?
No, it does not. The court noted that it would be pre-judicial for it to make an order on the proscription of IPOB when the issue is still on appeal. It said that the proscription order by the lower court would remain until it is set-aside. Noting that the FG failed to refute the allegation that Kanu was in Kenya and that he was abducted and forcefully brought back to Nigeria without any extradition proceeding, the court ruled that the FG's action was a breach of the Appellant’s fundamental human rights.
The Court of Appeal held that the FG's abduction of Kanu did not follow due process, and was a gross violation of all international conventions, and guidelines that Nigeria is signatory to. It described the FG's action as “an abuse of criminal prosecution in general”. SOURCE
AFRICA
Rus(sia) Division
The Story
African States were divided during a United Nations General Assembly vote to reject Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territories.
How did Africa vote?
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday denounced Russia's annexation of four Ukrainian regions. While 26 African countries voted in favor of the UNGA resolution, 19 others abstained. The resolution was adopted with 143 votes in favour. While there were 5 votes against (by Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea, and Nicaragua), there were 35 countries that abstained, including China, India, and Pakistan.
Which African countries abstained?
Despite previously voting to reject a UN resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Eritrea abstained from the latest vote which rejected Russia's referenda in the four Ukrainian territories. Other African countries that abstained from the vote include Mali, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, the Republic of Congo, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Absent at the assembly were Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Sao Tome. SOURCE
TOGETHER WITH VFD BANK
Never Miss Out On Opportunities
With absolutely zero charge on transactions, free account maintenance, and monthly interests on savings, VFD Bank has redefined the meaning of more when it comes to virtual banking services in Nigeria.
Fully licensed by the CBN and deposits insured by NDIC, you can expect a streamlined digital and mobile banking experience, with ease of access to your accounts, swift and secure transfers, withdrawals and bill.
Simple • Easy • Stress Free
With V, you take charge of your banking. No confusing charges, no paperwork and everything happens on your phone.
It is banking fully re-imagined to get you more; with customer service like you have never seen before.
Download on Google Playstore
Use this referral code while signing up for a gift: CPYQ6
LATIN AMERICA
Pulling the Seat
The Story
Venezuela lost its seat on the United Nations Council of Human Rights on Tuesday, a move celebrated by activists and human rights defenders.
The South American country failed to be reelected to its seat due to its spotty human rights record over the past few years. The council describes itself as “an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.”
Which country did Venezuela lose to?
The country competed with Chile and Costa Rica for two council seats allocated to Latin American countries. Chile won a seat with 144 votes and Costa Rica joined them with 134. Venezuela ended up in third place with 88 votes. “This result comes thanks to the diplomatic efforts and the denunciation of human rights abuse in Venezuela. Victims and NGOs have worked constantly to obtain this result,” said the representative of Venezuela’s political opposition at the U.N.
What's Venezuela's human rights record like?
According to Venezuelan human rights organization Provea, government extra-judicial executions declined 50% between 2020 and 2021, but still accounted for 1,502 deaths in the country last year. The Venezuelan government has yet to comment on the vote. Given that the Council cannot bring cases against those who violate human rights, some have questioned its efficacy.
Nevertheless, a lot of campaigners and victims consider it as crucial to advancing human rights globally. Additionally, the investigations ordered by the Council may result in enforcement by other authorities, such as the International Criminal Court. SOURCE
KNOWLEDGE
Reddit Question: If diamonds and other gemstones can be lab created, and indistinguishable from their naturally mined counterparts, why are we still paying so much for these jewelry stones?
Contributor:
I'm an exploration geologist, I don't work in diamonds though. But the statement that diamonds are not unique or rare is a common trope.
The conditions under which diamonds form are rare, they grow at great depths at the base of the earths crust where carbon can form in a stable environment to produce a diamond. We don't see many rocks from this depth, rare examples occur but in my 20 years I have only visited a single locality where I could look at mantle rocks.
Diamonds then need to be brought to the Earths surface rapidly, over the course of days, in order for them to not start to reequalise with their new pressure and temperature conditions, this occurs through a sorta weird magmatic eruption in a diatreme like eruption in a rock called a kimberlite. Kimberlites are narrow, relatively small, do not have a large surface expression. The diamonds are then are relatively minor accessory mineral component within the kimberlite. Then you have to think the majority of diamonds are industrial and not gem quality. I have in my 20 years never mapped, sampled or visited a kimberlite.
Real diamonds are rare, gem quality even rarer. They form under common conditions that we rarely ever see at surface. Diamonds are rare as fuck. If that rareity is something to you then you can place a value on it.
ASUU suspends strike after eight months
‘Incoming vice-president’ — Jonathan declares support for Okowa
2023: Nollywood practitioners endorse Tinubu
Court acquits Turaki, ex-Jigawa governor, of N8.3bn fraud
Osun Speaker, aides hospitalised after convoy accident
Reactions as ex-General against #EndSARS makes Obi's list
‘Japa’: UK set to curb excess dependants from Nigerian migrants
As NATO holds more nuclear talks, Russia warns of World War III
As China doubles down on ‘zero-COVID’, some have had enough
North Korea fires missile after aircraft buzz South Korean border
JOBS OPPORTUNITY
ExxonMobil Graduate Internship (Medical Science) - Nursing
This program offers recent Nigerian graduates the opportunity to gain invaluable industry experience in a world-leading engineering company.
Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN) is a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation with a long and established history of operations in Nigeria. The company’s oil & gas production activities constitute one of the largest sources of revenue for the Nigerian government.
Applicants to this program must be Nigerians with Degrees in Nursing.
Must have graduated with a minimum grade of Second Class, Upper division (2:1) and must have completed the National Youth Service Corps scheme (NYSC) after 2020 year. APPLY HERE
Folasade Ogunsola, the infection control expert who is UNILAG’s first female VC. The Cable
20 celebrities you can hire for your event. MSN
How A Political Campaign Should Be. Medium
Weird! Suspicious ailment affecting only U.S Spies. Freshly Pressed
Book Review — Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe. Medium
FOOTBALL KNOWLEDGE
The Man Edgar Davis
In 1995, Edgar Davids suffered a severe head injury which consequently affected his vision. In 1999, he underwent a surgery in his right eye for glaucoma, after which he started wearing protective goggles.
A defensive midfielder, he was nicknamed "The Pitbull" by his manager Louis van Gaal because of his marking ability, aggression, and hard tackling style of play.
Davids played for various clubs across Europe, most notably Ajax where he won three consecutive league titles and one UCL title, and Juventus where he won three league titles.
Internationally, he made 74 appearances for the Dutch national team. He was a part of the 1998 World Cup squad that finished 4th and he was named in the tournament's all-star team.
He was also a part of the Euro 2000 squad that reached the semi-finals and he was also included in the Team of the Tournament.
TRIVIA
Easy Logic Quiz
Interesting story...
King Nupe of the Kingdom Catan made the following decree: All child-bearing couples must continue to bear children until they have a daughter!
ACROSTIC CORNER
WORDS ON MARBLE
READ PAST PUBLICATIONS
Written by Seun, Mercy, Kingsley, and Tosin.
WANT MORE PRESS?
Smart, witty, and concise content, every day.
- Book Club: Join bibliophiles to read great books.
- Sidekick: Destination Saskatchewan, Canada
- Featured: Guides for smarter living
- Learn: Personal finance & Careers
Was this newsletter shared to you? Join the WhatsApp community to know as soon as it drops. Click here