Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 24-10-2025 — Zambia

24th October, 2025: Zambia.

I’ve woken up, this morning: which should be obvious, by now … !

Let’s restart that, shall we?

I’ve woken up, this morning, half convinced it’s Saturday.

But very aware it’s Friday.

Why am I thinking it’s a day it’s not?

I think I have an idea.

I usually get my Universal Credit on the 23rd of the month: yesterday, in other words.

I get my Personal Independence Payment, every fourth Friday.

So … ?

I think my subconscious believes today is Saturday, as it thinks I got my PIP, yesterday, rather than UC.

Heigh ho!

~≈£≈~

I’m very aware that the UK’s government planning to introduce a Digital ID: something I don’t especially like.

Mostly on cost grounds.

Cost, and redundancy: I’ve already got ID.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, has now gone on the record to say the scheme will only be mandatory for those seeking work.

And only be needed when you change jobs, after the scheme is introduced.

In addition?

It will not be needed for anything else: will not be needed for those needing healthcare, as an example, or for housing, or to be able to vote.

Do you mind a confession?

That’s not something I find reassuring.

I remain as sceptical as I ever was.

~≈🫆≈~

Let’s move on.


Yesterday’s Teaser saw Olga*, Mum†, Irene‡ and Debbi§ putting in their answers: with Olga and Irene scoring six out of six, Debbi on five, and Mum on four.



Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video.

Q1)        24th October is Independence Day in Zambia.   It marks the country’s Independence from where: the UK, France or Belgium?

Q2)        Zambia declared itself independent on the last day of the 1964 Summer Olympics.   Those games were being held where: Tokyo, Beijing or Seoul?

Q3)        Zambia had been called Northern … what?

Q4)        Zambia is in — on? — which continent?

Q5)        Zambia is a republic.   As such, its head of state is a what: a monarch, a president or an arch-theocrat?

Q6)        What’s Zambia’s capital city: Livingston, Lusaka or Lukulu?

Q7)        What’s Zambia’s official language: English, French or Kaonde?

Q8)        Some seventy percent of Zambia’s export earnings come from what: copper, tin or aluminium?

Q9)        Zamrock is a type of Zambian what: music, stew or painting?

Q10)        Finally … ?   The Zambian Kwacha is Zambia’s what: parliament, high court or currency?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        23rd October, 2025, is the International Day of the Snow Leopard.   The Snow Leopard is a big … what?

A1)        Big cat.

Q2)        The Snow Leopard is one of five species in the genus, panthera.   Name one of the other four.

A2)        Jaguar, leopard, lion or tiger.

Q3)        23rd October is also Mole Day.   Mole Day is an informal holiday marked by whom: physicists, chemists or biologists?

A3)        Chemists.   It’s derived from Avogadro’s constant: which is approximately 6.02*10²³.

Q4)        23rd October is the feast day of the Blessed Joséphine Leroux.   She was beatified — made Blessed — in 1920.   By which pope: Benedict 14th, Benedict 15th or Benedict 16th?

A4)        Benedict 15th.

Q5)        Who started decommissioning their weapons on 23rd October, 2001: the IRA, UDA or UVF?

A5)        The Irish Republican Army, or IRA.

Q6)        Finally … ?   23rd October is Independence Day in Zambia: true, or false?

A6)        False: Zambia’s Independence Day is on the 24th.   Strangely …

Here’s a motto …

“One Zambia, One Nation.”

Zambia’s motto.

And a national anthem …

The next ten question set is on 31st October: it’s about “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

Your comments will be published, tomorrow morning.

Today’s questions will be answered in tomorrow’s Teaser.

Where possible, we avoid writing these questions with AI.

Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        They have so many people to help, Olga: and not enough volunteers, to be honest.   It’s something I’d think about … except I can’t drive, which is the skill these places are crying out for.   I’ve always regretted not learning, to be frank: it could come in useful!

        I think that’s always the way, Olga, in these circumstances: contacting, contacting, then contacting, again!   I’d imagine you’d develop a thick skull, from banging your head against a bureaucratic wall!   But yes: well informed call centre agents can be damn useful.   (We didn’t get as much training as I’d’ve liked, when I worked in the emergency repairs centre.   The customer services training was good, as was the training for using the software, and phones: but the training in what each organisations requirements were, was very ad-hoc.)

†        Hello, Mum!   (It was the IRA, Mum, rather than the UVF.   And Zambia’s Independence Day is on the 24th October …)

‡        Morning, Irene: I hope you enjoy today’s music … !

§        It was ‘cat’, rather than ‘panther’, Debbi, so you know!

        I’m saying nothing on the novels front!   :D   Except that the Octavia E. Butler book I’m reading, Parable of the Sower, has struck as being deep.   There’s a line or two that have struck me as deeply profound.

“God can’t be resisted or stopped, but can be shaped or focussed.   This means God is not to be prayed to.   Prayers can only help the person doing the praying, and then, only if they strengthen and focus that persons resolve.   If they’re used that way, they can help us in our only real relationship with God.”

Parable of the Sower, Chapter Two, by Octavia E. Butler.

There’s more I could add, there, Debbi, but my gods, those words struck me as powerful!