Wine-Loving France Gets A Taste For The Alcohol-Free

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November 25, 2022

When a pandemic lockdown kept the French indoors in 2020, Augustin Laborde decided to give up wine but struggled in Paris to find a non-alcoholic alternative.

Two years later, Laborde has opened what he says is the first alcohol-free wine store in a country renowned the world over for its Bordeaux red wines and white Burgundies.

“We’re responding to very strong demand,” he said. “We’re already receiving proposals to open similar shops elsewhere in France.”

France, where vineyards cover the landscape from the Jura mountains in the east to the foothills of the Pyrenees in the southwest, is the second largest consumer of wine, behind only the United States, 2021 figures from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine show.

While non-alcoholic drinks have gained popularity elsewhere, they have lagged in France.

The country’s consumption of non-alcoholic wine grew by 4% in 2021, compared with growth of 24% worldwide, consultancy group IWSR Drinks Market Analysis found.

But even in France attitudes are changing as alcohol awareness campaigns highlight its health risks and well-being trends gain traction.

“We see a strong interest for low-alcohol and no-alcohol beverages” alcohol addiction researcher Mickael Naassila told newsmen. “People are more concerned about their health.”

Customers in Augustin Laborde’s shop echoed that view.

As she tasted a glass of alcohol-free red wine, Helene Bourgy said the drink was a compromise that allowed for an alcohol-free but still “festive atmosphere”.

Even if the French have been slow to take up non-alcoholic drinks, their wine consumption has fallen from 20th-century peaks.

It dropped from over 20 litres of alcoholic drinks sold per inhabitant in 1961, to 5.6 litres in 2020, according the French Observatory of drugs and addictive tendencies (OFDT).

While the French are drinking less in quantity, they are favouring quality, Naassila said, as the country’s love of wine is deeply rooted.

Mary Peltola: 1st Alaska Native In Congress, Wins Full Term

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Angel Gimalo

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November 25, 2022

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U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola has been elected to a full term in the House, months after the Alaska Democrat won a special election to the seat following the death earlier this year of longtime Republican Rep. Don Young.

Peltola defeated Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich, as well as Libertarian Chris Bye in the Nov. 8 election.

Palin and Begich also were candidates in the special election.

Peltola, who is Yup’ik, with her win in August became the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress and the first woman to hold Alaska’s House seat.

The win also buoyed her fundraising, outpacing those of her rivals in the lead-up to this month’s election.

Kherson: Russia Rains Missiles On Recaptured Ukrainian City

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Angel Gimalo

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November 25, 2022

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A barrage of missiles struck the recently liberated city of Kherson for the second day on Friday in a marked escalation of attacks since Russia withdrew from the city two weeks ago.

The city was shelled 17 times before midday on Thursday, and strikes continued into the evening, killing at least four people and injuring 10, according to Kherson’s military administration.

City workers were at first too overwhelmed to retrieve her as they responded to a deadly barrage of attacks that shook Ukraine’s southern city of Kherson.

It comes as Russia has stepped up bombardment of Ukraine’s power grid and other critical civilian infrastructure in a bid to tighten the screw on Kyiv.

Officials estimate that around 50% of Ukraine’s energy facilities have been damaged in the recent strikes.

Exploring Basotho Hat Center, Lesotho

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Angel Gimalo

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November 25, 2022

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The Basotho Hat Center is an interesting shopping center that resembles the traditional Basotho hat which was used in the past by the royalty of the Kingdom of Lesotho, and it is located in the northwestern part of the country, more precisely in the capital city, Maseru.

What once was preserved only for royalty, today the symbol of Lesotho, the Basotho hat, is worn by everyone and it is also featured on the national flag, making it one of the most common art form associated with Lesotho.

This two floors building is an interesting architectural piece in Lesotho’s capital, as it can teach every visitor how the hats are being created, and even though the market inside can be a little bit expensive when compared to other places, it is definitely worth the visit as one can find alluring craft works of the locals among which the horsehair fly whisks are the most popular ones, together with the Basotho hat.

Being a true symbol of the kingdom which should be promoted better in the world so that more people would be drawn to this small and beautiful kingdom in south Africa, the Basotho Hat Center shall continue to be one of the places in Maseru that are well worth the visit.

Idris Elba To Speak At Creative Africa Nexus Weekend

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Koko Lawrence

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November 25, 2022

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Award-winning actor, musician, and filmmaker Idris Elba will bring his wealth of experience and insights to the global film industry at the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND 2022)

CANEX WKND 2022, a three-day gathering of creatives from across Africa and the diaspora, is billed to take place from 25–27th November 2022 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

With roots in Sierra Leone and Ghana, Elba represents the astounding success of people of African descent within the global entertainment industry.

The organisers say Elba is scheduled for “When giants speak” Fireside Chat on Saturday, 26 November.

He joins a list of more than 100 top speakers from Africa and the diaspora, representing a range of creative sectors, who have confirmed their participation in Africa’s most sought-after gathering of creatives.

Other activities at the three-day summit include panel discussions, Fireside Chats, Masterclasses and live performances.

Over 2,000-Year-Old Celtic Coins Worth Millions Stolen From German Museum In Under Ten Minutes

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Koko Lawrence

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November 25, 2022

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In a matter of no more than nine minutes, hundreds of Celtic coins were stolen from a museum in Germany’s Bavaria region on Tuesday. Officials in the area have mourned the heist as a tragedy, with some calling it a disaster.

The heist took place at the Celtic and Roman Museum in Manching, a city about 45 minutes away from Munich. In total, it’s believed that around 483 coins were taken. Local police have estimated that trove to be worth “several million euros,” according to reports.

To conduct the heist, the thieves cut off the telephone service and internet connection for all of Manching, making it difficult for anyone with the institution to contact local authorities as the event was taking place.

Herbert Nerb, the mayor of Manching, told the German-language publication Suddeutsche Zeitung, “The museum is actually a high-security location. But all the connections to the police were severed.”

The coins had been discovered in 1999 during an excavation at an archaeological town near Manching. They are thought to date back the 3rd century B.C.E.

On its website, the Celtic and Roman Museum said it that it will “remain closed for the time being.”

Markus Blume, Bavaria’s minister of science and arts, said in an interview with the German press agency dpa, “As a testament to our history, the gold coins are irreplaceable.”

LS Lowry Going To The Match Painting Rehung In Salford

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Koko Lawrence

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November 25, 2022

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An iconic LS Lowry painting has gone back on public display in Salford after it was bought at auction for a record-breaking £7.8m.

The Lowry art centre bought Going to the Match at Christie’s last month after the Players Foundation was forced to sell the 1953 piece.

A donation by The Law Family Charitable Foundation meant the gallery could keep the work.

The painting has been rehung and has gone back on display to the public.

Salford Mayor Paul Dennett, who led a campaign to keep the work in the region, described the moment as a “real victory”.

“Going to the Match is a quintessential and iconic LS Lowry painting, and it should rightly be here amongst many of Lowry’s painting and drawings,” he said.

“It’s a real victory to see the painting hung here in The Lowry.”

LS Lowry, who died in 1976, spent much of his life in Salford and his work is strongly associated with north-west England.

Going to the Match, painted in 1953, was one of a number of paintings he did on the theme of sports and was inspired by Bolton Wanderers’ old Burnden Park stadium.

The painting had been on public display since the gallery opened in 2000, but was not owned by the venue.

Lowry chief executive Julia Fawcett said: “It was taken off our gallery walls six months ago, it was probably the darkest day in our organisations history, and at that point I don’t think we could have dreamed that the painting would come back to us.

“This is an artist who speaks to the north in a way others simply can’t. He has a very special place in the hearts of, not just Salford, but right across the north.”

After 13years, Nigeria Re-Introduces History Subject In Basic Schools

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 25, 2022

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The Nigerian Government has announced the reintroduction of history as a subject in the basic education curriculum in Nigeria thirteen years after its abolition.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who made the announcement in Abuja on Thursday, said a total of 3,700 history teachers have also been shortlisted for the first round of training to enhance the teaching of the subject.

Adamu spoke at the flag-off ceremony of the reintroduction of the teaching of history and training of history teachers at the basic education level.

The minister lamented that the national cohesion was being threatened with the country retreating into primordial sentiments due to the lack of knowledge of the evolution of Nigeria following the removal of History from the basic education curriculum.

Adamu was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah, at the event attended by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, and other key stakeholders in the education sector

History was removed from primary and secondary education curriculums from the 2009/2010 academic session.

Following the nation’s clamour for the return of history as a subject in the basic education curriculum the Minister of Education ordered the reintroduction of the subject in 2019.

While speaking further at the flag-off, Adamu said, “History used to be one of the foundational subjects taught in our classroom but for some inexplicable reasons, the steam of teaching and learning was abolished.

“As a result, history was subsequently expunged from the list of subject combinations our students could offer in both external and internal examinations compared to the subjects that were made compulsory at basic and secondary levels in Nigeria.

“This single act no doubt relegated and eroded the knowledge and information that learners could otherwise have been exposed to. It was a monumental mistake and has already started seeing its negative consequences

“The immediate implication of this was that we lost ideas even of our recent past, and we scarcely saw ourselves as one nation and gradually began retreated into our primordial sentiments,” he said.

On capacity building for teachers, having been disconnected from History teaching for several years, the Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, said a total of 3,700 History teachers have been selected from the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for training.

Bobboyi added that the selection was done on a pro-rata basis, with 100 teachers each from a state and FCT, stressing that this would equip them with the necessary skills to teach the subject, especially with the modification of the subject content.

He said following the directive by the Minister of Education for History to be restored as a subject in schools, the Commission and Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, went to work, saying he was glad that the task had been accomplished with the eventual flag-off of the teaching of History in schools on Thursday.

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, in his goodwill message, said Nigeria, as a country, is still evolving and striving to achieve nationhood, adding that the rich history of the country’s diverse constituents could be explored and exploited to serve as an effective tool for nation building.

He appealed to traditional rulers as custodians of the nation’s rich culture, traditions, and values, and indeed, all Nigerians to support the bold step taken by the government and given effect by UBEC to return the teaching of history as a subject at the basic education level.

“We owe it a duty to encourage research for the documentation of the history of our people and should be forthcoming in granting access to historical records in our custody,” he said.

FG Restates Commitment To Stimulate Innovative Tech Via Partnership

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 25, 2022

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The Nigerian government says, it remains committed to working with relevant stakeholders in implementing programmes and initiatives that will accelerate innovation and provide jobs for young people in the country.

The Director General National Information Technology Development Agency NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa made this known in Abuja at the graduation of twenty startups trainees drawn from the North East Nigeria.

The North East Startups NEST is programme initiated by NITDA in Collaboration with Japan International Corporation Agency JICA hosted by the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation ONDI.

The training is aimed at promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology among young people from the North East of Nigeria that has suffered economic hardship due to insurgency.

Inuwa, represented by Inyene Ibanga said, “the Nigerian Government will make no compromises in implementing a variety of strategic initiatives to equip people with the necessary digital skills to support commercial technology innovation. We also nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in them to catalyze the Nigerian digital economy to the next level.”

He called on participants to take advantage of the knowledge gained and insights of the programme to transform and reposition their businesses to impact on the North East region and Nigeria as a whole.

“I urge you all to stay focused and open-minded in order to put into practice the new processes to enhance your business operations.”

The NITDA Boss called for a sustainable partnership with Japan for technologcal and entrepreneurship development.

“We trust that JICA will sustain its work with us to upskill Nigeria’s talented young population with marketable digital skills and brilliant ideas to position the country as a leading producer and exporter of digital talents to the rest of the world. I believe Japan can leverage our young population to complement its aging population while exposing our digital talents to opportunities to develop innovative tech products, services, and solutions with global impact.”

Also, the Chief Representative of Japan International Corporation Agency JICA, Susumu Yuzurio believes that the training will impact the knowledge and business ideas of the youths to help expand their operations and strengthen their brands by generating more jobs and opportunities.

“It is vital to use the training to enhance your business models and improve it’s impacts in the North East.”

Also speaking, the Ag. National coordinator Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation ONDI, Yakubu Musa represented by Amina Bello commended the trainees and urged them to use the skills of the training to advance their entrepreneurship.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed satisfaction with the training and called for support from the government to expand their business ideas.

The participants made presentations on their business models in various areas using technology innovation.

Nigeria National Assembly Passes Student Loan Bill

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 25, 2022

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Nigerian students in higher institutions of learning stand to gain more access to financial assistance as the two chambers of the National Assembly have passed the Students Loan Bill sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Reps, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila.

The draft legislation has as its short title, the ‘Students Loan (Access to Higher Education) Bill, 2019,’ While its long title is ‘A Bill for an Act to provide for easy access to higher education for Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Bank established in this Act with a view to providing education for all Nigerians and for other purposes connected thereto.’

The House had passed the bill earlier this year and forwarded it to the Senate for concurrence and the Red Chamber has also passed it.
With the Senate’s concurrence on the Bill, a clean copy will be produced and transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent. Once it is signed into law, Nigerian students could begin accessing the loans.

The Bill seeks the establishment of the Nigerian Education Bank, which shall have powers to supervise, coordinate, administer, and monitor the management of student loans in Nigeria and receive applications for students loan through higher institutions in Nigeria on behalf of the applicants, screen the applications to ensure that all requirements for the grant of students’ loan under the Act are satisfied.

The bank shall also have the powers to approve and disburse the loan to qualified applicants; control and monitor and coordinate the students’ loan account/fund and ensure compliance in respect of disbursement; monitor academic records of grantees of the loan to obtain information on their year of graduation, national service, employment to ensure that grantees of the loan commence repayment of the loan as at when due, among other functions.

The Bill provides that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in other enactments, all students seeking higher education in any public institution of higher learning in Nigeria shall have an equal right to access the loan under this Act without any discrimination arising from gender, religion, tribe, position or disability of any kind.

“The loan referred to in this Act shall be granted to students only for the payment of Tuition fees. The grant of the loan to any student under this Act shall be subject to the students/applicant(s) satisfying the requirements and conditions set out under this Act.”

Gbajabiamila had argued in the Bill that the hardship being faced by the unemployed and low-income earners coupled with the very high cost of living in Nigeria over the years has made access to quality higher education difficult, stressful and in some cases impossible for many Nigerians.

He also noted that a well-educated citizenry is critical to National development and the Nation’s ability to compete in the Global Economy, arguing that higher education should be regarded as a public good benefiting the entire country rather than a commodity solely benefiting the individual recipients.

“In tandem with the Federal government’s interest and quest in ensuring access to higher education, the National Assembly has agreed to prescribe a legislation that will guarantee access to quality higher education by qualified Nigerians,” he said during the debate on the Bill.