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š š¾āāļø You Canāt Sit With Us
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Good morning š¤ļø Oxford University Press named ārizzāāextracted from ācharisma,ā and used to refer to someone with āgameā or āvibeā depending on the color of uniform trousers/skirts you wore in the early 2000sāthe word of the year. This is it; this is the fork in the road, dear millennials. This is the absolute point that officially makes us old and out of touch.
Todayās newsletter might feel a little shorter, and thatās by design. Weāre trying to adhere to that ā5 minutes or lessā line we throw around liberally. Let us know if you love (or hate) the change here.
Have a good week!
āGloria Mbabazi, Shem Opolot
HEADLINES
š
š¾āāļø You Canāt Sit With Us
If youāre wondering how to avoid inviting that group you detest to the family Christmas dinner, look no further than the recent example set by the U.S. government. The United States imposed travel restrictions on over 300 Ugandan politicians and their immediate family members who supported the Anti-Homosexuality Act and were allegedly involved in the disputed general elections of 2021. This is the most sweeping visa restriction on Ugandan government officials in recent memory, including family members for the first time. The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, stated that the restrictions are aimed at those responsible for undermining the democratic process in Uganda and repressing marginalized populations.
While we relish the prospect of Ugandan lawmakers facing any form of retribution, we have two burning questions: 1) How did the U.S. government compile its list of culprits, and 2) Are they taking requests for additions to the list like a Saturday morning radio show? Asking for a friendā¦
š°šŖ Kenya
The High Court of Kenya awarded four Kenyan women living with HIV $20,000 each for enduring unlawful involuntary sterilization. Marie Stopes, Pumwani Maternity Hospital, and MĆ©decins Sans FrontiĆØres are to pay the compensation.
š·š¼ Rwanda
The proposed "Safety of Rwanda Bill" is intended to tackle a recent Supreme Court ruling in the U.K., which deemed the government's plan illegal. This bill aims to declare Rwanda safe and bypass certain parts of the Human Rights Act. The emergency legislation is being implemented to control borders, discourage dangerous journeys, and end continuous legal challenges. Flights to Rwanda are expected to begin in 2024.
š¹šæ Tanzania
President Samia Suluhu Hassan demands a thorough inquiry into the Hanang District mudslide disaster in Tanzania, which claimed 76 lives. President Samia urged citizens in risky areas to relocate and emphasized preparedness for epidemics and access to clean water. A fund of 2.5 billion Tanzanian shillings (around $1.08 million), which the Prime Minister's Office will manage, has been mobilized for victims.
Other headlines
Opposition criticizes the government for sending 370 officials to the COP28 Summit in Dubai.
Uganda Prisons boss Byabashaija sanctioned by the U.S. government over torture.
Uganda unveiled an ambitious energy transition plan at the COP28 Summit.
The Uganda army under The East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) begins withdrawal.
Facebook will not be unblocked in Uganda anytime soon.
BEYOND BORDERS
Africa
A Sudanese family that fled the conflict | Source: Reuters
šøš© Sudanās crisis. Sudanās humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels due to the conflict between rival generals, leaving millions in dire need. Moreover, only 38.6% of the required aid funding has been received, as aid organizations struggle to reach those in need due to restricted access to specific regions. The U.N. warns that the crisis could repeat the horrors of Darfur and that the termination of political missions exacerbates the situation. Civilians are bearing the brunt of the crisis, fueled by generals who are ignoring the needs of their people and are suspected of receiving external support. As Sudan cries out for a ceasefire and peace, the rest of the world contends with compassion fatigue, and their attention shifts elsewhere.
Other headlines
Burhan is back in IGADās fold as he attends the summit.
Somalia secured $4.5 billion in debt relief from lenders.
ECOWAS to negotiate with Niger junta on return to democracy
Sierra Leone ex-president Koroma was summoned for questioning over the failed coup.
Cameroonās two female scientists and how they broke the glass ceiling.
The rest of the world
Find Guyana on a map | Source: Mapsland.com
š»šŖ Guyana annexation. Like the nerdy girl in a high school movie who finally removes her glasses and discovers makeup, Guyana, a little-known S. American country thatās clearly terrible at football (because weāve never heard of her), has Venezuela chomping at its bits. While Venezuela has been claiming a large portion of Guyanaās territory, known as the Essequibo region, since 1899, ExxonMobilās discovery of major oil deposits in Essequibo turned Guyana into a major offshore oil producer and reinvigorated Venezuelaās desire to annex the disputed region.
Here are the cliff notes of the issue:
The dispute is rooted in a historic land treaty signed between the two countries in 1899, which awarded the Essequibo region to Guyana. Still, Venezuela has never recognized the validity of the treaty.
A referendum in Venezuela was held on December 3, 2023, in which 95% of voters approved claims of sovereignty over the Essequibo region, a large and oil-rich area currently administered by Guyana.
Venezuela has ordered oil exploration in the region and displayed it on a revised map, prompting condemnation from Guyana and the international community.
The issue awaits a ruling from the International Court of Justice, though Venezuela does not recognize the courtās authority.
Tensions remain high as both sides seek diplomatic and legal resolutions to their competing territorial claims over the resource-rich Essequibo region.
The U.S., U.K., Russia, and China are divided on the issue, with the U.S. and U.K. backing Guyana and Russia and China backing Venezuela.
NNāEBIGENDERAKO
Everything elseā¦
Israeli forces continued to bombard Gaza, leading to a high death toll, which the Hamas-led Ministry of Health places at north of 15,000. U.N. Secretary-General AntĆ³nio Guterres dubbed the conflict a āspiraling humanitarian nightmare.ā At the same time, the U.S. maintained that āmore can be doneā to reduce civilian casualties despite vetoing a U.N. resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Researchers released a brain implant that could ease the effects of a traumatic injury years later by up to 52%.
Meta, IBM, Intel, NASA, and 50 other organizations launched an AI alliance to open-source AI models.
In a mind-blowing video they later admitted to fabricating, Google unveiled Gemini, the so-called ChatGPT killer.
FDA approved two gene therapy treatments for sickle cell disease. One uses CRISPR technology, and the other uses a virus to help produce hemoglobin. Both are approved for patients 12 and older.
Taylor Swift is TIMEās Person of the Year, selected above Hollywood strikers, Barbie, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
PROCRASTINATION CORNER
Games and Puzzles
From Braingle.
Five words containing AY as a letter pair have had all their other letters removed and placed into a pool. Put those letters back in their proper places. What are the words?
*AY**, *AY***, **AY**, ****AY, *AY****
Pool: B, B, C, E, E, F, F, H, I, L, M, N, O, O, R, R, S, U, W, W
Answer at the bottom.
Our picks
š” Watch: This vault holds 5% of the worldās gold
š” Browse: Forbesā list of the most powerful women in the world
š” Visualize: Earthās increasingly limited agricultural space
Games answer
Answer: MAYBE, LAYOFF, CRAYON, SUBWAY, HAYWIRE
Have a good week!
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