How It Is Celebrated: Christmas In Iceland

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December 23, 2022

Christmas is often known as ‘Jól’ (Yule) in Iceland. This comes from the ancient winter solstice celebrations, that were taken over by the early Christians. Jól also include the New Year celebrations.

Jóladagur – Christmas Day / Jól Day

Jóladagur is usually celebrated with the extended family. The main Jól meal is ‘Hangikjöt’, a leg of roast lamb. Sometimes ‘Rjúpa’ (Rock Ptarmigan a gamebird) is also eaten. Another Jól meal speciality is ‘Laufabrauð’ or leaf bread.

This is made of thin sheets of dough cut into delicate patterns and fried. Each family often has their own patterns for the Laufabrauð.

Annar Jóladagur – Boxing Day

This is another day for visiting friends and family and eating lots more! Public entertainment is considered inappropriate on Jól Eve and Jól Day, and it is on Boxing Day that dancing is again allowed in public!

Bonfires have been lit on Gamlárskvöld since the late 1700s. People also have big fireworks displays to bring in the New Year. This is called ‘sprengja út árið’ or ‘blowing out the year’.

Happy/Merry Christmas/Jól in Icelandic is ‘Gleðileg jól’.

2023: Nigerian Govt To Make Pronouncement On Workers’ Salaries

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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December 23, 2022

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The Nigerian government says a pronouncement on workers’ salaries would be made in the new year, raising hope of wage increase for workers in the country.

Minister of Labour and Employment in Nigeria, Chris Ngige stated this on Friday while briefing State House correspondents on the meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“As we enter the New Year government will make some pronouncements in that direction,” Ngige said when asked to give a timeline on government plans to increase worker’s salaries to cushion the effect of inflation in the country.

“I briefed and we are doing some review within the Presidential Committee on Salaries. Discussions are ongoing. The doctors are discussing with the Ministry of Health; insurance people in the public sector discussing under ASSIBIFIE.

“There is a general calmness, and hopefully within available resources, government can do something in the incoming year.”

He said that the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission is mandated by law to fix salaries, wages, emolument in, not only in the public service but also in the private sector.

“If you want their assistant and you are in the private sector, they will also assist you. They have what is called the template for remuneration for compensation.

“If you work, you get compensated; if you don’t work you are not compensated. So, they have the matrix to do the evaluation.

“So, they are working with the Presidential Committee on Salaries”, chaired by the Finance Minister; I’m the co-chair, to look at the demands of workers.“

The Labour Minister said he also discussed labour issues with the president as the year is coming to an end.

“You know the year is coming to an end, and we have to look at our 2022 exhaustively. On the part of my ministry, we had to discuss labour issues and what we were able to do.

“First and foremost, we looked at the unemployment situation in the country and what we have achieved and what we have not achieved.

“Unemployment is high; various policies we have. We have to tell him the successful ones.

“I also gave him a briefing on productivity vis-à-vis the various industrial disputes we had in 2022.

“ It’s a year we can a year of industrial disputes, starting from the February ASUU strike which was joined by other sister unions in the university system, and even crippling research institutes.

“Thereafter, strikes from various unions, including the medical doctors association and the youthful wing of Resident Doctors Association, JOHESU, which is also the Joint Health Sector Union, asking for wage increase.”

Ngige pointed out that asking for wage increase could also be understandable because of what inflation has done in the economy and what the attendant cost of living has been workers especially in the public sector.

ASUU OUTSTANDING SALARIES

Ngige also commented on the eight months outstanding salaries that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is demanding for its members, following government’s insistence on the no-work-no-pay policy.

“ASUU has not pronounced anything on their salaries anymore because it is one of the issues that was referred to the National Industrial Court for determination, whether a worker who is on strike should be paid in violation of Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act, which says when you go on strike, the consequences are these:

“Number 1, you will not be paid; you will not be compensated for not going to work to enable your employer keep the industrial or his industry afloat.

“That money should not be given to you; that compensation should not be given. It is there in Section 43 (1).

“The second leg to Section 43 also says that that period that you’re on strike will not count for you as part of your pensionable period of work in your service.

“That leg, government is not yet touching. The leg of no work no pay has been triggered off by that strike.

“So, we are asking the court to look at it. The matter is out of the hand of the executive now and in the hand of the judiciary.

“ASUU has also put up a defence in court, asking the court yes, we went on strike but we did that for a reason.”

He said the matter is left for the National Industrial Court to decide.

Only 27,000 Nigerian homes were connected to hydropower between 2014 to 2021 – IRENA

By

Henry Williams

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December 23, 2022

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Only 27, 000 Nigerian homes were connected to hydropower sources between 2014 to 2021.

This is according to the December 2022 off-grid renewable energy statistics report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

According to the report, Nigeria also recorded steady growth in solar energy connections during the period highlighted.

Solar lights less than 11 watts: The data showing the number of people using solar lights less than 11 watts in Nigeria revealed a steady growth over the years from 2012 to 2021.

In 2012, it was 117,000 people.
In 2013 it was 382,000 people.
As of 2014, the number had risen to 674,000.
Meanwhile, by 2015, the number of connections had grown to 1,450,000 people.
By 2020, 2,652,000 people were connected to solar lights less than 11 watts.
By 2021, the number had grown to 3,516,000 people.

Solar home systems between 11 and 50 watts: Between 2013 and 2021, there was reported growth in the number of people using solar home systems (SHS).

In 2013, 26,000 people were connected to solar home systems between 11 and 50 watts.
As of 2018, 464,000 people were connected to the highlighted solar home systems.
By 2020, there were 847,000 people were connected to the highlighted solar home systems.
And by 2021, 813,000 people were connected to the highlighted solar home systems.
Tier-1 solar mini-grids: The data revealed that the number of Nigerians connected to tier-1 solar mini-grids grew from 14 in 2012 to 78,000 in 2018 and has remained at 78,000 through 2021.

According to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), tier-1 mini-grids have over 1-watt peak capacity and provide the least amount of electricity with the most restrictive hours of use.

The hours of supply under tier-1 mini-grids range from over 4 hours during the day and over 2 hours in the evening. Those under tier-1 mini-grids can access task lighting (increased lighting for specific tasks like sewing), radio and phone charging.

Tier-2+ solar mini-grids: The data revealed that the number of Nigerians connected to tier-2 solar mini-grids and higher grew from 54 in 2016 to 91,000 in 2019 and has remained the same through 2021.

Tier-2 mini-grids have over 20-watt peak capacity and provide over 4 hours during the day and 2 hours in the evening. However, those on tier-2 mini-grids can access general lighting, television, computing, radio, phone charging, air circulation, printing, and task lighting (increased lighting for specific tasks like sewing).

The data shows that a lot has been achieved in Nigeria’s renewable energy space. However, the country still needs to focus on developing relevant renewable energy policies that will increase stakeholders’ capacity to develop large-scale solar energy projects with minimal bottlenecks. This will close power supply gaps that still exist in Nigeria, especially in unserved and underserved areas.

Exploring Koh Rong, Cambodia

By

Angel Gimalo

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December 23, 2022

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Koh Rong is one of the most famous islands, which is also the second biggest one that is part of the Mittakpheap district in Sihanoukville Province of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Even though it is one of the biggest Cambodian islands, it is still undeveloped which makes it more attractive to the travelers who would like to discover something that is not ordinary, and in some ways secretly hidden.

As it once was a jungle-clad wilderness that was rimmed by swaths of sugary-white sand, with a few beach-hut resorts speckling the shore, nowadays, Koh Rong represents something what is a must visit for the travelers, especially the backpackers who are visiting the countries in South East Asia.

With an area of about 78 square km (30 square mi), the island has a coastline that is measured to be 61 km (38 mi) long, out of which around 43 km (27 mi) are delicate beaches, and the highest point is 316 meters (1,037 feet) that can be found to the northwestern side of Koh Rong.

With the uncertainty about the origin of the name, there are some locals who claim that the word Rong actually refers to a historical person’s name, while others think it might refer to an old term for ‘cave’ which in some way may meant to be the ‘shelter island’.

Nowadays, most of the island’s forest is slowly diminishing due to the illegal logging, however, most of the island is still covered with forest where in some parts it is with the dense and very lush jungle.

Unfortunately, the huge, old and slow growing hardwood trees have become a very rare sight, and the original varieties of the trees are becoming replaced by a more commercial ones, such as the coco and oil palms which are very common along the coast and the lowlands.

The locals living on the island are settled in the four villages, among which the most famous one is the Koh Tuich village since there are more tourist businesses in the village than residential homes.

The local population is slowly abandoning the traditional fishing and crop cultivation, as they are surely moving towards the tourism sector which has become more popular all around the island, offering different services to the visitors. In addition, plenty of reality TV programs have been filmed here, among which the most famous one is Survivor.

All in all, the plans that the Cambodian government has for the development of the island is somewhat tricky, as the investors would like to develop Koh Rong and make it an impressive paradise which would be regarded as the new diamond of South East Asia, not regarding the protection of the vulnerable nature which will need quite long time to adapt to the changes that have already been made.

Once Upon A Time – December 23 – 1954 – First Human Kidney Transplant Is Performed By Dr. Joseph E. Murray

By

Angel Gimalo

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December 23, 2022

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962 Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under future Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas, Byzantine troops storm the city of Aleppo, recovering the tattered tunic of John the Baptist

1688 King James II, the last Roman Catholic British monarch flees to France from William of Orange

1783 US General George Washington resigns his military commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Army to Congress

1920 Government of Ireland Act / Home Rule Act passed partitioning Ireland

1954 The first human kidney transplant is performed by Dr. Joseph E. Murray at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts

Historical Events Today Events in 2022

Today in Film & TV

1928 NBC sets up a permanent, coast-to-coast radio network

1951 National Football League Championship, LA Memorial Coliseum: Los Angeles Rams beat Cleveland Browns, 24-17; first coast-to-coast televised NFL title game

Today in Music

1893 Opera “Hansel und Gretel” by Engelbert Humperdinck and his sister Adelheid Wette premieres in Weimar, conducted by Richard Strauss

Today in Sport

1951 National Football League Championship, LA Memorial Coliseum: Los Angeles Rams beat Cleveland Browns, 24-17; first coast-to-coast televised NFL title game

1996 Four women ordained priests in Jamaica, 1st in 330-year Anglican history

2002 A MQ-1 Predator is shot down by an Iraqi MiG-25, making it the first time in history that an aircraft and a modern unmanned drone had engaged in combat

Famous Weddings

1847 Prime Minister of Canada Mackenzie Bowell (24) weds Harriet Moore

1951 MLB centerfielder Mickey Mantle (20) weds author Merlyn Mantle (19) in Commerce, Oklahoma

1961 Actor Martin Sheen (21) weds Janet Templeton

High prices force Nigerians to ration Christmas expenses

By

Henry Williams

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December 23, 2022

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Many Nigerians are having to ration their spending during this Christmas season due to high consumer costs across the country. This is according to a field survey across some markets in Lagos and Ogun.

Since February 2016, Nigeria has been grappling with a double-digit inflation rate which worsened to a 17-year high of 21.47% in November, according to official stats. And this high inflation rate is inevitably impacting negatively on household spending this Christmas.

Everything is expensive, from energy costs to transportation, food, clothes, etc. These are all essential goods and services Nigerians need to spend on in order to have a merry Christmas. It is, therefore, not surprising that many Nigerians are rationing their expenses given the economic realities in the country.

Last year Christmas, a 50kg bag of rice was selling for an average of N29,500. Right now, it is now selling for a minimum of N38,500 and as high as N42,000.

In the same vein, the price of chicken, turkey, groundnut oil, onions and other food items that makes the popular Christmas Jollof a worthwhile meal have also surged in recent times. Nairametrics visited some markets in Lagos and Ogun State, and responses from traders and customers indicate slow trading activities compared to previous festive periods, largely attributed to price increases.

Nigeria Vice President Advocates For More University Endowments

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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December 23, 2022

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Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo says the future of the university system depends on the adoption of creative sources of funding, including the establishment of an endowment fund.

Prof. Osinbajo was speaking on Thursday when he hosted a delegation from the Olabisi Onabanjo University OOU on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa. The team was led by the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola.

Osinbajo said budgetary allocations alone cannot sustain the running of public universities.

“Funding in the university system (public universities) has to be diversified. The system has to find a way to sustain itself. We have to look carefully at how universities can make money independently. Whether it is an endowment or some other way, adopting a business model.

“All of the great universities around the world have endowment funds. Raising money through independent sources for funding university education is a serious thing,” the Vice President said.

The VP urged the management of OOU to adopt other approaches to funding its activities, noting that “depending on government alone or the Tetfund for development of infrastructure is not sustainable.

“I encourage you to create an endowment fund, in addition to the other approaches that you will adopt. Olabisi Onabanjo University can become a model for others but it has to have independent sources of raising funds.

“There should be serious-minded people running the endowment office. This is the future and way forward for the university system in Nigeria. If you do it well, the university will excel.”

The Vice President recalled how he and two other academics from the University of Lagos’ Law Faculty were involved in teaching Law in the earlier years of the university.

The VP narrated how, for three years every Tuesday, he and the two other lecturers would travel with the then Dean of Law at the University of Lagos to Ago-Iwoye (where the institution is located), to take lessons and return to Lagos the next day.

Earlier in his remarks, Prof. Agboola thanked the VP for his selfless contribution to the growth of the University especially as a pioneer lecturer in the Faculty of Law, building it from the scratch.

He recollected how the VP mentored many law students at the University and his support in entrenching the culture of research at the institution.

The VC also made a presentation to the Vice President on the current state of the University, its challenges and projections for the future, seeking more support, especially in the area of infrastructure development.

Other members of the OOU management at the meeting were Dr. Adekunle David from the Faculty of Engineering; Joseph Osifeso, a Principal Assistant Registrar and Goodwill Ambassador of the institution, Michael Matthew and Abah Adejoh.

Gov Makinde Approves N10,000 Christmas Bonus For Pensioners

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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December 23, 2022

5

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Friday, approved a Christmas bonus of N10,000 for every pensioner in the state.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, said the action was taken to assist retired workers, who served the state meritoriously, to have a good Yuletide.

The bonus, according to the statement, is coming days after the government paid December 2022 salary to the workers and pensions.

The government had also approved the payment of the 13th month’s salary, which Makinde said would be paid on or before December 31, 2022.

It read: “His Excellency has approved the payment of N10,000 to all pensioners in the state as Christmas Turkey bonus. It is a flat rate for all pensioners.

“The bonus is coming days after the state government paid the December 2022 salaries to workers and pensioners. The governor had equally approved the payment of 13th month salary, which is expected to be paid on or before December 31, 2022.

“His Excellency wishes that all retirees will enjoy a Merry Christmas.

Taliban minister defends ban on women’s university studies

By

Henry Williams

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December 23, 2022

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The minister of higher education in the Taliban government on Thursday defended his decision to ban women from universities — a decree that had triggered a global backlash.

Discussing the matter for the first time in public, Nida Mohammad Nadim said the ban issued earlier this week was necessary to prevent the mixing of genders in universities and because he believes some subjects being taught violated the principles of Islam. He said the ban was in place until further notice.

In an interview with Afghan television, Nadim pushed back against the widespread international condemnation, including from Muslim-majority countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. Nadim said that foreigners should stop interfering in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.

Earlier on Thursday, the foreign ministers of the G-7 group of states urged the Taliban to rescind the ban, warning that “gender persecution may amount to a crime against humanity.

The ministers warned after a virtual meeting that Taliban policies designed to erase women from public life will have consequences for how our countries engage with the Taliban.” The G-7 group includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.

Paris shooting kills 3, wounds 3: suspect arrested

By

Henry Williams

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December 23, 2022

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A shooting targeting a Kurdish cultural center in a bustling Paris neighborhood Friday left three people dead and three others wounded, authorities said. A 69-year-old suspect was wounded and arrested.

The Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation for murder and attempted murder. The Paris prosecutor said the suspect had a prior police record, including an arrest for attacking migrants living in tents, and that investigators are considering a possible racist motive for the shooting.

The shooting occurred at midday at a Kurdish cultural center and a restaurant and hairdresser nearby, according to the mayor for the 10th arrondissement, Alexandra Cordebard. Speaking to reporters at the scene, she said the “real motivation″ for the shooting remains unclear.

As she spoke, a crowd nearby chanted, “Erdogan, terrorist” — referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan — and “Turkish state, assassin.”

Police cordoned off the area in the 10th arrondissement of the French capital, on a busy street with shops and restaurants near the Gare de l’Est train station. The shooting came at a time when Paris is buzzing with activity before the Christmas weekend. The Paris police department warned people to stay away from the area.