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Good Morning. Usually, a nickel is worth five cents, but some are worth…more. A century-old Liberty Head, ‘Roman numeral V’ nickel that once belonged to collector George Walton sold for $4.2 million at auction this week.
You may not know but that kobo coin your grandfather kept is an inheritance.
Syria. French cement firm Lafarge SA has pled guilty and agreed to pay a $777.8M fine for paying ISIS more than $10M between 2012 and 2014 to keep a Syrian cement plan open. The payments were made from 2012 through 2014 and occurred even as the terror group was kidnapping and killing Westerners.
Australia. The government no longer recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Australia's foreign minister announced today that Canberra will now consider Tel Aviv as Israel's capital, reversing a decision made by the country's previous government. Israel’s Prime Minister Yair Lapid opposed Canberra's decision and said, “Jerusalem is the eternal undivided capital of Israel, and nothing will change that.”
United Kingdom. Prime Minister Liz Truss apologized for making "mistakes" during a recent interview with the BBC. Her comments come after the economic fallout that was sparked off by controversial fiscal reforms announced by the British government last month. Truss newly appointed finance minister, Jeremy Hunt announced on Monday that he would reverse many of the measures originally included in the controversial tax plan.
France. Transportation and education workers joined energy workers calling for wage hikes as high inflation eats away their purchasing power in a national strike on Tuesday. The strike was preceded by a major left-wing rally over the weekend. France's interior ministry said that 107,000 people took part. Black-clad protestors broke storefront windows and battled with police in Paris, and 11 people were arrested. Nearly a third of French gas stations are low on petrol.
Dele Giwa, Nigerian journalist, editor, and founder of Newswatch magazine, reportedly killed after he received a parcel bomb which detonated at his residence. The journalist who died at 39 was known for exposing corrupt and illegal dealings of the government and this earned him recognition.
The assassination occurred two days after he had been questioned by officials of the State Security Service (SSS).
NIGERIA
Flood Carnage
The Story
The number of casualties from Nigeria's worst flooding in a decade has passed 600.
What's the source of this figure?
The figure was reported by Nigeria's Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs via a tweet on Sunday. Three of Nigeria's overfilled reservoirs were predicted to overflow, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of Nigeria, which earlier this month issued a warning about catastrophic floods for states situated along the Niger and Benue rivers' courses. According to NEMA, the flooding was caused in part by the release of extra water from a dam in neighboring Cameroon.
How are they managing the situation?
The humanitarian affairs ministry said "relief has gone to every state of the federation". To better coordinate flood response operations, the government will implement a National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan. More than 2 million people have been impacted by the flooding that has spread throughout sections of the country's south following an especially heavy rainy season, according to the ministry, which added that over 200,000 houses have suffered full or partial damage.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, warned that more flooding was likely, as she urged states and local governments to prepare accordingly. "We are calling on the respective State Governments, Local Government Councils and Communities to prepare for more flooding by evacuating people living on flood plains to high grounds, provide tents and relief materials, fresh water as well as medical supplies for a possible outbreak of water-borne diseases,” the ministry said. SOURCE
ASIA
Japan’s Shadowy Debt Cult
The Story
On Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered an investigation into the Unification Church, a South Korean Christian cult, following the death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Is the church linked to Abe's assassination?
No, it is Abe that has been linked to the cult in various indirect ways, including speaking at church events. His killer’s mother was also a member of the cult and made a “huge donation” to the group. The church was founded by Sun Kyung Moon, a South Korean Christian anti-communist with an addiction to corruption and strong ties with the U.S. – not a new trope to anyone familiar with South Korea. Members are called “Moonies,” a reference to the founder’s name as well as the cult’s alleged use of brainwashing techniques.
What's the reason for the investigation?
Kishida’s call for an investigation comes after almost half of all Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers declared their ties to the Moonies following Abe’s death, triggering discontent among struggling citizens who blame the church for their woes. Kishida states that the government has received over 1,700 requests for help from Japanese citizens facing financial struggles and mental health problems caused by the cult. Kishida denies any personal ties to the church and stated that the investigation would begin this year.
In 1954, Moon founded the church after supposedly receiving a vision of Jesus Christ, who told him to bring humanity to a state of “sinless” purity. The Moonies grew throughout post-war Asia, forming ties with the U.S. and U.S.-backed right-wing East Asian politicians over their shared opposition to communism, including former Prime Minister Nobuske Kishi, Abe’s grandfather. As a side note, the grandfather was held by the U.S. for three years after World War 2 as a suspected Class A war criminal before being released and propped up as a pro-U.S. Japanese PM. SOURCE
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EUROPE
Kicking The Ball Into Court
The Story
Brazilian soccer star Neymar is on trial over fraud and corruption charges, appearing in court Monday as part of an investigation by Spanish authorities.
What fraud?
The 30-year-old soccer (or football) superstar currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain and is set to appear in Brazil’s World Cup effort later this year. His career began at Brazilian club Santos before being transferred to Spanish soccer giant Barcelona in 2013, in a transaction worth $81.2m. According to Brazilian investment firm DIS, which owned a 40% stake in Neymar’s rights during his time at Santos, Neymar and the case’s other defendants hid the true value of the trade from the firm in order to reduce DIS’ cut in the deal.
How did they do that?
Originally, Santos and Barcelona only reported the deal’s value to be $16.6m, of which DIS received their 40% cut. However, a Spanish judge later found the deal was worth at least $81.2m, meaning DIS should be expecting a payday if that's right. If Neymar is found guilty, he and other defendants could face a two-year prison sentence as well as a $9.7m fine to the Spanish government. DIS is separately suing for a five-year prison sentence and $32.1m in fines, as well as a $190m to the Spanish state.
What's Neymar saying to the charges?
DIS also asked that Neymar be disallowed from playing soccer during any punishment period. On Monday, Neymar was in court for approximately two hours. He is expected to testify on Friday, according to Reuters. All the defendants, including Neymar, have denied wrongdoing. Due to the fact that the alleged crimes were committed in Brazil, his attorneys have argued that Spanish courts lack the authority to bring charges against him. However, the Spanish High Court decided in 2017 that the case can proceed in Spain. SOURCE
FEATURE
Career With Topelizbeth: The Inspirational Media Personality at Dukia Radio
The internet and social media may slowly be taking over television and radio especially in relaying the news and that is why broadcasting is ever-evolving with the times. But if you still love to listen in the mornings or in cars to a calming voice interchanged with music on the radio, then you would love to meet a versatile on-air personality in this interview.
Today, we had a chat with a radio broadcaster and she shared what the important skillsets are to succeed in broadcasting, journalism, and voice-over art.
FP: What do you do?
I am a broadcaster, voice-over artist and content creator, and writer. I currently work at Dukia Radio.
FP: How did you begin your career?
I have always loved the media but preferred journalism because I believed I’m not eloquent. But when I was in 200level in college, I had an assignment that had to do with anchoring a show. I did it and everyone working there gave me a standing ovation when I was through asking if I’ve ever worked in the media. From there I was connected with stations and got my first job as a Voice Over Artist.
Do you have a budding/great career? Have you a growing business? We invite you to tell our audience about it. Inspire students, upcoming professionals, entrepreneurs, goal-getters, and those who may be struggling to get on their feet. If you would like to share about it, shoot us a mail at info@freshlypressed.ng or click WhatsApp. We'd love to hear from you.
Tinubu to Buhari: No one can dismiss your achievements
Oyebanji freezes Ekiti accounts, warns banks, accounting officers
NLNG shuts operations over flooding, gas scarcity looms
Inflation hits 20.77%, food supply, FX crises worsen
Extortion: Immigration Chief ‘withdraws’ officials at Lagos airport
31 policemen dismissed for misconduct in 18 months
60 Nigerians flee Indian university over clash with locals
Wike declares support for Sanwo-Olu, PDP kicks
Wike: PDP should apologise to Nigerians over Atiku’sremark
Ghana’s cedi now world’s worst-performing currency against US dollar
Ethiopian army captures several towns in war-torn Tigray
Germany dismisses cybersecurity chief over alleged Russian ties
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Erasmus Mundus GLOCAL Scholarship
GLOCAL Erasmus Mundus scholarships is offered to students from any region of the world; however, no more than three applicants with the same nationality will be awarded in the same intake under the same category.
The scholarship’s terms depend on the student’s nationality and residence. The European Union’s Erasmus Mundus programme aims to enhance quality in higher education through scholarships and academic co-operation between the EU and the rest of the world.
Application Deadline: January 7, 2023. APPLY HERE
A complete guide to the World Cup 2022 fixtures. Al Jazeera
EXPLAINER: France and the CFA in Francophone Countries. Medium
How to tell if you’re not getting enough sleep. CNet
Five leadership strategies not to emulate. ChiefExecutive
The Science Behind Why Calls Fail. Freshly Pressed
BIOGRAPHY
Aeschylus
Aeschylus (c. 525/524 – c. 456/455 BC) was an ancient Greek tragedian, and is often described as the father of tragedy. Academic knowledge of the genre begins with his work, and understanding of earlier Greek tragedy is largely based on inferences made from reading his surviving plays. According to Aristotle, he expanded the number of characters in the theatre and allowed conflict among them. Formerly, characters interacted only with the chorus.
Only seven of his estimated seventy to ninety plays have survived. There is a long-standing debate regarding the authorship of one of them, Prometheus Bound, with some scholars arguing that it may be the work of his son Euphorion. Fragments from other plays have survived in quotations, and more continue to be discovered on Egyptian papyri.
These fragments often give further insights into Aeschylus' work. He was likely the first dramatist to present plays as a trilogy. His Oresteia is the only extant ancient example. At least one of his plays was influenced by the Persians' second invasion of Greece (480–479 BC). This work, The Persians, is one of very few classical Greek tragedies concerned with contemporary events, and the only one extant.
The significance of the war with Persia was so great to Aeschylus and the Greeks that his epitaph commemorates his participation in the Greek victory at Marathon while making no mention of his success as a playwright.
TRIVIA
Wanna feel old? Eminem turned 50 last Monday.
Can you guess other celebrities who turn 50 in 2022? We will give a brief bio and you give a name.
- a legendary basketball star who stands at a staggering 7ft 1inch.
- a rapper, actor, and activist known for intelligent and positive lyrics that are performed in a spoken-word style.
- a pro-wrestler turned actor. Also called The Rock, he played the voice of Maui in Moana.
- a screen goddess, who has played roles in high school movies like the musical Annie, Bad Teacher, and My Sister's Keeper.
MUMS ARE THE SAME WORLD OVER
READ PAST PUBLICATIONS
October 10, 2022
October 7, 2022
Rest of the Archive Here
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Written by Seun, Mercy, Kingsley, and Tosin.
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