World News: 04 February 2023

No lights, no water: South Africans fume at cascading crisis
Africa's most industrialised economy has been crippled by record power cuts in the past year, as troubles at debt-laden state energy firm Eskom worsened.
The utility provides about 90 percent of the country's electricity.
But for years it has failed to keep pace with demand as it struggles to maintain its ageing coal-powered infrastructure.

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Spanish court: Amazon violated labor law with delivery app
A Spanish court has ruled that Amazon broke labor laws by forcing more than 2,000 delivery drivers to use an app that the company controlled for scheduling work and payments and requiring them to use their own cars and cellphones on the job.
Amazon could not treat workers using its Flex app as self-employed because the e-commerce giant's Spanish subsidiary “assumes the authority to make all decisions regarding the service, setting the conditions of execution and remuneration, and the circumstances of the day, time and duration” of labor, according to the Madrid labor court's decision released Friday.

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Iran behind hack of French magazine Charlie Hebdo, Microsoft says
A group of hackers calling itself 'Holy Souls' posted that they had access to the names and contact details of more than 200,000 Charlie Hebdo subscribers
Security researchers at Microsoft on Friday said that an Iranian government-backed hacking team allegedly stole and leaked private customer data belonging to the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

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Peru Congress shelves President Boluarte's bill for early elections
So far, the benches have only been able to agree on an early call for elections, which would take place in April 2024. However, when the vote was to be confirmed, the president of Peru, Dina Bolaurte, urged Congress to bring the elections forward to 2023, as demanded by the demonstrators in the protests.
Since then, none of the proposals of the different benches have been carried. Among other reasons, the left demands that the electoral call be linked to the holding of a referendum to establish a Constituent Assembly, an idea that the right rejects.

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Jupiter’s moon count jumps to 92, most in solar system
Sheppard — who discovered a slew of moons around Saturn a few years ago and has taken part in 70 moon discoveries so far around Jupiter — expects to keep adding to the lunar tally of both gas giants.

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Six Nations set for blockbuster opening weekend
Wales, inspired by the return of heroic head coach Warren Gatland, host world number one side Ireland first in a match live on BBC One.
Then Steve Borthwick takes charge of his first game as England boss when Scotland travel to Twickenham.
The weekend concludes when an improving Italy host defending Grand Slam champions France on Sunday.

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