Joan Isus, Correspondent (Europe) REYKJAVIK — The launch of a whale meat beer in Iceland has angered conservationists who say the brew is “immoral.” Steojar brewery and the whaling company Hvalur have collaborated to produce this beverage, coinciding with the mid-winter festival in honour of the Norse god Thor. In addition to the brewery’s website’s claims that those who drink it will become “true Vikings”, both makers have highlighted that whale meat is low […]
Lockie Gatehouse, Correspondent (Oceania) TONGA — More than 400 homes were destroyed when severe Tropical Cyclone Ian made landfall earlier this week in Tonga, officials say. The system has been likened to tropical cyclone Larry that smashed into the Australian east coast in 2006. Leveni Aho, Director of Emergencies in Tonga, says it is “almost unbelievable” that the death toll did not rise beyond one, following the assessment of damage caused by cyclone Ian. […]
Simona Botviciute, Editor (Asia - Far East) SEOUL – Last Sunday, South Korea and the United States have agreed to share the cost of the US military presence in the country. The officials of both countries have struck a five-year cost sharing plan which includes South Korea paying 920 billion ($866.86 million) in 2014 – a rise of 5.8 per cent from the previously agreed figure of 2012. Such a deal stands for a military […]
Julia Baldanza, Correspondent (South America) STANLEY — For more than two centuries, Argentina and England have fought over the right to control the Falklands islands area, known in Argentina as Malvinas. Several arguments can be made to each side sovereignty claim, however international law has yet to find a satisfying solution for the problem. Even though during a moment both sides agreed to sit down and talk, the war initiated by Argentina in the […]
Felipe Maciel, Correspondent (South America) SANTIAGO – Chile’s Supreme Court has ruled in favour of local fishermen against Chilean largest electric utility company, Endesa Chile, due to the environmental hazards caused by its coal power plants, Bocamina I and II. The ruling marks an important legal precedent in environmental regulation in the country, and may provide clearer guidance for future mega-projects. Local fishermen and environmentalists accuse the 128 megawatt Bocamina I and the 350 […]
Cecilia Zinicola Correspondent (Europe) VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has announced on January 5, 2014 at Saint Peter’s Square that he will make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in May of this year. The main purpose is to commemorate the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, which took place 50 years ago. “In the climate of joy typical of this Christmas period, I would like to announce that from May 24 […]
Jennifer Ubah Correspondent (Europe) DUBLIN — A man has been held in custody after stabbing his landlord to death in a ‘ritualistic style of killing’ following an argument they had over a chess match. Saverio Bellante, 34, from Palermo, Sicily supposedly cut open his landlord’s chest and tried to eat his heart. He admitted to murder in court and said he did not want any legal representation. The police in Dublin called the killing […]
Stefano Duc Correspondent (Europe) KIEV – Clashes have broken out today in downtown Kiev during a protest against the new laws which aim to curb public protests. According to the latest news,thousands of anti-government and pro-EU demonstrators started heading towards the Ukrainian parliament,which was cordoned off by policemen and buses. The first pictures of the clashes show protesters overturning and burning these buses, while the riot police tries to make the demonstrators back off by […]
Ritambhara Rai Bhattarai Correspondent (Asia: South) TELANGANA — Indian congress party’s head Sonia Gandhi’s idol has been built in the Indian state of Telangana. Shankar Rao, a state legislator, has built the nine foot long bronze idol. Rao stated that the temple was built to honour Sonia Gandhi for her party’s decision to split Telangana from Andhra Pradesh and form a new state that is home to 35 million people. According to Rao, this is […]
Preeti A Karna, Correspondent (Asia – South) HANGU — A Pakistani schoolboy who died stopping a suicide bomber from attacking his school has been recommended for the highest award for bravery by the country. Fifteen year-old Aitzaz Hassan, a student in the Hangu district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was on his way to school on January 6 when he witnessed a man wearing a vest and confronted him. The teenager tackled the man […]
