Five things to know to start your Thursday

Bitcoin hit $100k

Bitcoin hit a big milestone today, breaking through the $100,000 mark. This surge has been happening since Donald Trump won the presidential election, with many people believing his administration would be more supportive of cryptocurrencies.

The cryptocurrency has been on a wild ride this year, more than doubling in value. In just the four weeks after Trump’s election, Bitcoin jumped by about 45%. This increase came alongside the election of several lawmakers who are seen as friendly to digital currencies.

As of report time, Bitcoin was trading at $100,027, which is about 2.2% higher than its previous value. This milestone is especially significant because Bitcoin has been around for over 16 years and has faced lots of doubts and controversies.

Now, it seems like Bitcoin might finally be moving from a niche technology to something more mainstream, with more people and businesses taking it seriously.

You could go to jail for selling corn.

Yes, you read that right.

The Senate recently updated a bill that aims to stop people from exporting large amounts of unprocessed corn. Under the new law, anyone caught exporting significant quantities of corn could face up to a year in jail.

The bill, which originally came from the House of Representatives, wants to completely block the export of corn and corn products in large commercial amounts. During a Senate meeting, most senators approved the bill by voice vote.

The new rules are quite specific. If someone tries to export corn in any form—whether it’s fresh or dried, on the cob or in grains—and the amount is one metric ton or more, they would be breaking the law. This includes not just the person doing the exporting, but also anyone who helps them or encourages them to do so.

South Korea is debating President Yoon’s impeachment

Political drama is still unfolding in South Korea, with the opposition party moving to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol. The controversy stems from a controversial attempt to impose martial law that went badly wrong. As a result, the defence minister who advised this move has already resigned.

The opposition Democratic Party plans to hold an impeachment vote on Saturday evening. They’re accusing President Yoon of causing “great confusion and fear” among the South Korean people with his emergency martial law declaration.

But getting the impeachment to pass won’t be easy. The Democratic Party needs to win over at least eight lawmakers from Yoon’s ruling People Power Party. This is crucial because they need a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat parliament to successfully remove the president.

Yoon’s party is currently divided about the situation. While they’re publicly saying they’ll fight the impeachment, internal disagreements are apparent. This comes with just two years left in Yoon’s five-year presidential term.

Read Also: French far right and left join forces to topple government

Netflix says they’re not leaving Nigeria

Netflix has jumped in to stop rumours that it’s leaving Nigeria. The video streaming company firmly stated that it’s not going anywhere and will continue supporting Nigerian filmmakers and storytelling.

The rumours started after a well-known Nigerian filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, spoke about Netflix cancelling several film projects. In a video that went viral, Afolayan shared that he had signed a three-film deal with Netflix three years ago and was initially very excited about the partnership.

Speaking directly to these rumours, a Netflix spokesperson told the press: “We are not exiting Nigeria. We will continue to invest in Nigerian stories to delight our members.” The company made these comments in an official email, hoping to calm down the speculation about its future in the country.

Trump nominated Fiserv’s Bisignano for Social Security Administration

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Frank Bisignano to lead the Social Security Administration. Bisignano is a seasoned business executive with extensive experience in the financial world.

Bisignano has an impressive background in the financial sector. He previously worked at major banks like JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, holding top leadership positions. Later, he led First Data Corp., a payments processing company, guiding it through an important initial public offering in 2015.

If confirmed by the Senate, Bisignano will take charge of the Social Security Administration—a critical agency that currently faces budget challenges.