Just a Lickle Water

There are 24 time zones in the world.  There are 23 full-time zones and 2 half zones.  Russia has 11 time zones, and it is the only country in the world where its zones are in one “landmass.”  Russia does not observe daylight savings time.

In Romania, the Astra Museum opened its “doors” in 1709 and has multiplied in many areas since then.  On a land space of over 900 acres, you can find traditional structures, over 400 of them, a lake, windmills, church, children’s play area and the list goes on. Note: Itinari https://www.itinari.com/a-journey-through-the-rural-history-of-romania-the-astra-museum-pzos

The oldest and still operating bookstore in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records, in 2011, is found in Lisbon, Portugal.   It is the Bertrand bookstore, and it was opened in 1732 by Pedro Faure.   However, in 1755, the bookstore was destroyed by the Lisbon Earthquake of 1755.   It was later rebuilt.

On the 12th of June 1898, the Philippines declared independence from Spain.   On the 4th of July 1946, they declared independence from the United States of America.

There are over 3800 different types of potatoes in Peru.   Papa Peruanita, Papa Huamantanga and Papa Purpura, just to name a few. LimaEasy – The Lima Guide https://www.limaeasy.com/peruvian-food-guide/typical-potatoes

Some websites across the Internet have claimed, as fact, (just for my emphasis), that in Paraguay, duelling is legal! However, those duelling must meet specific requirements. One such condition is that the participants must be blood donors.  A duel is when two people agree to fight with weapons and follow the combat rules. However, according to the Mississippi Library Commission, this is more fiction than fact. In Paraguay, duelling is illegal. Ms. Gloria Montiel confirmed this from the Embassy of Paraguay in February 2010.  Note: Mississippi Library Commission http://mlcref.blogspot.com/2010/02/paraguayan-smackdown.html

On the 20th of March, Papua New Guinea announced its first case of Covid-19.   On the 24th March (yesterday), Prime Minister James Marape declared a state of emergency for the country.   All domestic flights have been grounded and some people have begun working from home. The Coronavirus is said to have begun spreading in December 2019, in Wuhan, China. To date, according to the Johns Hopkins University & Medicine website, there are 470,973 total confirmed cases, 21,276 deaths and 114,012 recoveries throughout the world.

In 2002, the Harpy Eagle was named the National Bird of Panama.   Monkeys and tree slots are some of its prey.   The Harpy Eagle is not the largest in the eagle family, but it is the strongest. Note: The Panama Perspective https://panamaadvisoryinternationalgroup.com/blog/news-from-panama/see-harpy-eagle-panama/

In 1939 – 1945, Germany invaded Poland.   In 1947 the Auschwitz- Birkenau State Museum was opened, and in 1979, UNESCO named this sight a World Heritage Site.    The museum is also called: Memorial and Museum, Auschwitz – Birkenau, Former German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp. Note: Museum http://auschwitz.org/en/

On the 2 nd of May 2011, Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda’s leader was killed by US Special Forces during a raid in Abbottabad.   The building that bin Laden lived in was demolished by the Pakistani government in 2012. Note: CNN https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/09/world/death-of-osama-bin-laden-fast-facts/index.html

In 1932 Said bin Taimur became the Sultan of Oman and at that time, the country was named, Sultanate of Muscat and Oman.    Then, in 1970, with the help of the British, his only son, Qaboos bin Said al-Said, staged a coup against him, and he became the next Sultan.    Qaboos bin Said remained the Sultan of the country until his death by cancer on the 10th of January 2020.    His cousin Haitham bin Tariq al Said is the current Sultan. Notes: The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/12/obituary-sultan-qaboos-bin-said Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sultan-qaboos-bin-said-death-age-cause-oman-ruler-arab-gulf-a9292461.html

If you live in Norway and have a TV receiver, by law, you must pay a licensing or broadcasting fee.   The fee is set by the government.   Note: NRK https://www.nrk.no/about/licence-fee-1.8019040

Some of the tasty foods that can be found in Nigeria are Porridge Yam, Suya, Pepper Soup, Egusi Soup, Akara, Puff puff and Eba.

In April of 2014, 276 girls were kidnapped from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok. They were kidnapped by Boko Haram. In the Hausa language, Boko Haram means Western education is forbidden.   Today about 112 “girls” are still missing. AlJazeera https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/04/nigeria-chibok-school-girls-years-112-missing-190413192517739.html

Nicaragua is said to be one of the poorest countries in Latin America.   However, there has been an improvement in some areas of the country’s development. Nevertheless, about 75% of people who left the country are permanent residents of Costa Rica, a neighbouring country.

New Zealand has two (2) official languages, and they are Maori and Sign Language.   Maori has seen its share of ups and downs throughout the years, but to date, it is still here.   In 2006, when Sign Language was declared an official language this made New Zealand the first country to have this as an official language. Nevertheless, English is spoken by about ninety-five percent (95%) of the people. Note: New Zealand Immigration Concepts https://www.new-zealand-immigration.com/migrate-to-new-zealand/language/

Four famous Dutch people are Rutger Hauer, Isabelle de Charriere, Eefke Mulder and Helen Berman.

In 2015, Nepal’s Constitution states that the country’s national animal is the cow.   Additionally, the slaughtering of cows in this country is illegal.   If a person is found guilty of harming a cow, he/she can spend as much as three years in jail.   Nevertheless, the importation of beef into the country is not illegal.  

Nauru does not have a military force.   They are one of at least fifteen countries in the world that do not have one.   However, they do have an informal agreement with Australia to protect them.   They do have the police force.

In 2017, in Namibia's capital city, which is Windhoek, the police announced that they would be breathalyzing pedestrians.   That is if they were involved in a road accident.

This country changed its name from Burma to Myanmar in 1989.   However, the United States of America officially refers to the country as Burma. In 2006, Naypyidaw became the country’s capital and Yangon, the previous capital, is the largest city in the country.

In 2015, the Halo Trust declared this country free of landmines.   This Trust has removed more than 170,000 landmines from Mozambique. There is now the hope that these “free” lands can be put to agriculture or some other productive use.

Morocco left the Organization of African Unity, as it was known at the time, in 1984.   They did this because some of the members of the African Unity recognize Western Sahara is an independent state. Nevertheless, Morocco rejoined the African Union in 2017.

Montenegro became independent from Serbia on the 3 rd June 2006.   Before its recent independence, the country was known as the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

Presently, the world’s tallest Equestrian Status is in Mongolia.  It is the Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue.  It was “unveiled” in 2008, and it cost millions in USD.  They built the statue out of steel, and it has an elevator to take visitors to the horse’s head, where they can see some of the country’s beautiful scenery.

There are no airports in Monaco.   However, there is one heliport in the country.   This heliport was created, in 1976 with the approval of Prince Rainier III.   Visitors to the country can get there from Nice, in France.

Moldova was formerly Moldavia.   In November 2016, Igor Dodon was elected as the President of the country.   This was the first time in sixteen years that the Head of State was chosen by the citizens and not Parliament.

A school bus in Yap and taxies are the only form of land public transport available in Micronesia.   Additionally, there are no rail services here.   However, vehicles are available for rental.

In Mexico, there are “women only” public transport. This came into effect to combat sexual harassment from men towards women. Notes: CBS https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mexico-city-rolls-out-sex-segregated-buses/ City Lab https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2015/09/hoping-men-can-behave-a-mexico-city-bus-line-aims-for-better-than-women-only/404938/

The country Mauritius was named after Prince Maurice Van Nassau.   He was a stadtholder of the Dutch Republic.   The capital city of the country is Port Louis, and it was named after King Louis XV of France.   Additionally, on the 12th March 1968, Mauritius became independent from the British. The country also became a Republic on the 12 March 1992.

Mauritania abolished slavery in 1981, then in 2007, it became a crime.   Nevertheless, today, it is estimated that 1% to 20% of the people are still enslaved.   However, since 2007, both men and women have been convicted of been slave owners. Notes CNN http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/03/world/mauritania.slaverys.last.stronghold/   Anti-slavery https://www.antislavery.org/double-court-victory-potential-game-changer-slavery-mauritania/ BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-12205329