FILE PHOTO: Vials with a sticker reading, "COVID-19 / Coronavirus vaccine / Injection only" and a medical syringe are seen in front of a displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken October 31, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo
As the world returns to normal activities, the faint calls for public vaccinations can still be heard, as big pharma tries to motivate consumers to pay for vaccines many believe they do not need.
As data on hospitalizations and cases tick up again, consumer apathy remains.
Meanwhile, in August Pfizer said it was eyeing possible cost-cutting measures to manage potential losses from low uptake of its COVID-19 vaccine and antibody treatment — a sign of how the market for COVID products has weakened.
The pharmaceutical giant’s disclosure on quarterly earnings reflects both the public’s apathy for booster shots and declining support from governments for its COVID-19 products.
Many are eager to move on from COVID and get back to pre-pandemic activities as 60% of americans said they agree that the country has spent enough time fighting COVID and it’s time to move on.
According to reports, Pfizer NOW wants in on the weight loss drug market – and upcoming data will be crucial for its success.
President Bola Tinubu has announced the cancellation of the automatic deduction of 40 percent from federal universities’ Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, revealed the president’s decision during his speech at the 75th Founder’s Day ceremony of the University of Ibadan (UI). In October, the Ministry of Finance notified academic institutions nationwide of its plan to automatically deduct 40 percent from their IGR. The move attracted a lot of criticism, mostly from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other stakeholders, who said it was ill-advised and retrogressive. ASUU, in a statement signed by its National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, explained that universities were not revenue-generating agencies for the government. It also reminded the government that the obligatory fees paid by students were to provide the necessary tools for them to be properly educated. Osodeke noted that the policy will impoverish the university system. The Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities had written a protest letter to the Federal Government, demanding that the government rescind the plan, adding that the government could not be demanding 40 percent of varsities IGR when it had refused to grant them autonomy. Also, at the just concluded 19th All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) held in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, the editors, during the presentation of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister, Wale Edu via zoom, asked for the moral justification of the government decision on the 40 percent IGR deduction at such a hard time when every Nigerian is suffering from the backlash of fuel subsidy removal. Edun, who must have been apparently cut unaware, lacking substantive facts to defend the government, was unable to justify the proposal. He said he wondered if the editors who were supposed to understand the government’s plight on this proposal did not know, “how would you be able to explain this to the people?” In a dramatic volte-face on Friday, Tinubu conceded that the policy implementation was ill-timed. He said, “The 40 percent IGR automatic deduction policy stands cancelled. This is not the best time for such a policy since our universities are struggling.” Reacting to the news, the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) commended President Bola Tinubu for discarding the idea of tertiary institutions, including colleges of education, remitting 40 percent of their internally generated revenue to the national treasury. President of COEASU, Smart Olugbeko who stated this in a statement on Monday, enjoined the federal government to also review the centralization of payroll administration through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). He lamented that the policy undermines the statutory functions of the governing councils and breaches the establishment integrity of the tertiary education sector in general and the college of education system in particular. According to Olugbeko, IPPIS has become a means of defrauding COEASU members, as there are thousands of cases of short-payment, outright non-payment, unlawful delay, and/or withholding of third-party deductions.
One of the most peculiar modern Christmas traditions has to be the Christmas pickle tradition, as nobody really knows why it started in the first place!
In the 1880s Woolworth stores started selling glass ornaments imported from Germany and some were in the shape of various fruit and vegetables. It seems that pickles must have been among the selection!
Around the same time it was claimed that the Christmas Pickle was a very old German tradition and that the pickle was the last ornament hung on the Christmas tree and then the first child to find the pickle got an extra present.
However, the claim that it’s an old German tradition seems to be a total myth!
Not many people in Germany have even heard of the Christmas Pickle! (Similarly in Russia virtually no one knows the supposedly Russian story of Babushka!)
Some families now have the tradition of hanging the pickle on the tree, with the first person/child to find it getting a present. But it probably didn’t start in Germany!
Christmas Pickle Legends
There are two other rather far-fetched stories linking the pickle to Christmas.
One features a fighter in the American Civil War who was born in Bavaria (an area of what is now Germany).
He was a prisoner, and starving, he begged a guard for one last pickle before he died.
The guard took pity on him and gave a pickle to him.
The pickle gave him the mental and physical strength to live on!
The other story is linked to St. Nicholas. It’s a medieval tale of two Spanish boys traveling home from a boarding school for the holidays.
When they stopped at an inn for the night, the evil innkeeper, killed the boys and put them in a pickle barrel.
That evening, St. Nicholas stopped at the same inn, and found the boys in the barrel and miraculously bought them back to life!
There is an old legend about St. Nicholas rescuing boys from a barrel but the barrel was originally holding meat for pies – not pickles!
So, it’s most likely that an ornament salesman, with a lot of spare pickles to sell, invented the legend of the Christmas Pickle!
The American city of Berrien Springs, MI (also known as the Christmas Pickle Capital of the World) has an annual pickle festival held during the early part of December.
For most people in Zimbabwe, Christmas day starts with a Church service.
After the Church service, everyone has a party in their homes and people go from house to house, visiting all of their family and friends on the way home!
Sometimes, this can take all of the rest of the day! At every house you have something to eat, exchange presents and enjoy the party.
A lot of people get their biggest stereo speakers out and put them outside the front of the house and play their favorite music very loudly! It is not only Christmas music that is played, but also the latest pop tunes and old African favorites.
Everyone wears their best clothes for Christmas, as for some families the only new clothes they get every year are for Christmas. The parties are a good place to show off their new clothes.
Children in Zimbabwe believe that Santa Claus brings them their presents early on Christmas Day, ready to show their friends at Church and at the parties.
Only the main room in the house is often decorated in Zimbabwe. Some Zimbabweans have a traditional ‘European’ Christmas Tree, but they decorate the room with plants. This is draped around the whole of the top of room.
Christmas Carols are sung during the Christmas Day morning service and in services leading up to Christmas.
The Christmas Cards that are used in Zimbabwe sometimes have pictures on them including wild animals, but most are imported so they have the traditional ‘snow scenes’ and pictures of the Christmas story on them.
The special food eaten at Christmas in Zimbabwe is Chicken with rice. Chicken used to be an expensive food in Zimbabwe. Chicken and rice is often eaten at the Christmas Day parties.
The streets in the big cities also can have colorful Christmas lights.
Deborah Abiodun is on cloud nine following her nomination for the 2023 CAF Women’s Young Player Of The Year
CAF unveiled their nominees for the award on Tuesday.
Abiodun will compete for the award with Comfort Yeboah (Ghana), Mary Amponsah (Ghana), Nesryne El Chad (Morocco), Esther Ajakaye (Nigeria), Oluwatosin Demehin (Nigeria), Hapsatou Diallo (Senegal), Thubelihle Shamase (South Africa), Winifreda Gerald (Namibia) and Fauza Najiemba (Uganda).
Abiodun has been in fantastic form for American team University of Pittsburgh this term since making her debut for the side.
She has also thrilled audiences with her performances for the Super Falcons.
She took to her X handle to share her excitement after the announcement by CAF.
“Thrilled to be nominated for CAF Young Player Of The Year! This journey wouldn’t be the same without the incredible support from the coaches, teammates, friends, family and fans. Your belief in me keeps me pushing boundaries. Let’s continue this adventure together!,” she was wrote.
Abiodun was part of Super Falcons’ squad to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
She was red carded in her FIFA Women’s World Cup debut game against Canada for a rough challenge on Ashley Lawrence.
Super Falcons players Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Christy Ucheibe, Osinachi Ohale, Rasheedat Ajibade amongst others were nominated for the CAF Women’s Player Of The Year award.
Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie is also nominated in the newly introduced category for Goalkeeper Of The Year.
Victor Osimhen has been named in the final 10-man shortlist for the 2023 CAF Men’s Player of the Year.
CAF reduced the list to 10 from the original 30 released two weeks ago.
Africa’s soccer ruling body announced the contenders for the individual accolade on its X handle on Friday.
Senegal’s Sadio Mane, who won the prestigious award for the first time last year, Mohamed Salah, Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou and Yousef En-Nesyri made the shortlist.
Osimhen’s Napoli teammate, Frank Zambo-Anguissa, Vincent Aboubacar, Riyad Mahrez and Sofyan Amrabat were also included.
Osimhen is overwhelming favourites to win the award following his impressive displays for Napoli in the 2022/23 season.
The Nigeria international scored 26 goals in 32 league outings to help the Partenopei win the Scudetto for the time in over three decades.
The 24-year-old also registered five more goals in the UEFA Champions League.
Osimhen, who is currently recovering from a hamstring injury has scored six goals 10 appearances across all competitions for the Serie A champions this season.
His compatriot Gift Orban failed to make final shortlist for the Young Player of the Year.
The award ceremony will hold in the city of Marrakech, Morocco on December 11.
The trio of Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Uchenna Kanu are among 22 Super Falcons players invited for the final qualifying round of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The list of invited players was unveiled on Monday, 20 November, 2023.
Onome Ebi, Ashleigh Plumptre, Michelle Alozie and Ifeoma Onumonu were not listed for the games.
Both Onumonu and Alozie featured in the Olympic qualifiers against Ethiopia.
The first leg between the Falcons and Cape Verde comes up on November 30 while the second leg is billed for December 5.
Nigerian goalkeeper Francis Uzoho has deactivated his social media account and is reportedly considering a break from the Super Eagles amidst heavy criticism.
Nigerians have been critical over Uzoho’s performances in goal for the Super Eagles a situation that wasn’t helped by 1-1 draws vs Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
The fans are disappointed the Omonia Nicosia shots-stopper was beaten by Walter Musona’s 30-yard free-kick in the 1-1 draw vs Zimbabwe on November 19, 2023.
The strained relationship has not gone better since Uzoho spilled a shot by Thomas Partey in Nigeria’s ill-fated 2022 World Cup playoff loss vs Ghana in March 2022.
Subsequent errors during International friendly games, most recently vs Saudi Arabia and Mozambique have led to calls for his replacement as the Super Eagles first-choice goalkeeper, a call head coach Jose Peseiro has not yielded to.
After the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Uzoho’s account on X, @Uzohof, has been taken down.
Amidst heavy criticism , the former Golden Eaglets goalkeeper is reportedly considering going on break from the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
This is according to an unnamed source quoted by OWNGOAL who said the goalkeeper want to tow the path taken by fellow gaolkeeper Maduka Okoye when he took a break from international duties due to online abuse and threats to his life and family.
Uzoho who made his Super Eagles debut in October 2017, is favourite in Peseiro’s plans to man the Super Eagles goal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations In Ivory Coast.
If the Omonia Nicosia goalkeepers purported International break plans happens, the Super Eagles will turn to Udinese goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, Isreal based Adebayo Adeleye or home-based goalkeeper, Ojo Olorunleke.
Other options are Noah Atubolu, Jonathan Rasheed and youngster Arthur Okoronkwo.
Coach Justin Madugu has called 21 players to the Super Falcons’ camp ahead of next week’s 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying round, first leg clash with the Senior Women National Team of Cape Verde.
The nine-time African champions will host the Cape Verdians at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday, 30th November, before both teams trade tackles in a return leg in Praia on Tuesday, 5th December.
To be eligible for this final round, the Super Falcons accomplished a commanding 5-1 aggregate win over their counterparts from Ethiopia, with the first leg in Addis Ababa ending 1-1 before a 4-0 lashing of the ‘Lucy’ in Abuja.
All invited players have been advised to report to the team’s camp in Abuja between 25th and 27th November.
The Falcons have never failed to reach the Women Africa Cup of Nations since the competition was launched as the African Women Championship in Nigeria in 1998, and have swept nine out of 12 titles that have been contested so far.
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Christiana Obia (Edo Queens)
Christmas tree growers Amber Scott and Alex Church, Cline Church Nursery, Fleetwood, NC waited for the arrival of special guests from Washington D.C. who were sent to select the 2023 White House Christmas tree.
Robert Downing, White House Chief Usher and Dale Haney, White House Superintendent of Grounds arrived at the appointed field to look over Cline Church Nursery’s choice firs to select the perfect tree to be the 2023 White House Christmas tree.
Amber and Alex were named 2023 Grand Champion Grower in the National Christmas Tree Association’s National Christmas tree contest.
With this award goes the honor of presenting a Christmas tree to the White House.
Amber and Alex are celebrating their second time placing in the national contest. Cline Church Nursery was named Reserve Champion grower in 2022 and presented a Christmas tree to the Vice President’s Residence.
After much searching and measuring Mr. Downing and Mr. Haney selected an 18 ½ foot tall tree to be displayed in the Blue Room of the White House this holiday season.
This special tree has to fit exact and particular specifications to go on display is such a historic room.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to represent the Christmas tree growers of America, by continuing the tradition of providing a tree to the White House Blue Room, which will be viewed by millions of people,” said Amber.
Members of the National Christmas Tree Association have presented the official White House Christmas tree for display in the Blue Room since 1966.
2023 will mark the 58th year a member of the National Christmas Tree Association has presented the official White House Christmas Tree.
About the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA)
The National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) was founded in 1955, it is the national trade association and advocacy organization for the farm-grown Christmas tree industry leading its public policy/governmental affairs and serving as the “voice of the industry” with the media.
NCTA represents hundreds of active member farms, 38 state and regional associations, and more than 4,000 affiliated businesses that grow and sell Christmas trees or provide related services.
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