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Hoop troupe: Croquet an unlikely hit for Vietnam retirees

Best known as a historic pastime among Europe's upper crust, croquet has found an unlikely fan base among Vietnamese retirees eager to fill their diaries and move their limbs. "We don't have to move a lot when playing croquet... and it also exercises our brains," Nguyen Van Tuu told AFP from the dirt pitch in the capital's Soc Son district. While little-known in Vietnam today, croquet was transported to Soc Son in 1996 by a local official who wanted to give the retirees something to do.

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 01:46:17 -0400

Polish city declares free transport for readers of Nobel laureate

Public transport will be free through the weekend for anyone carrying a book by Poland's newly minted Nobel literature laureate Olga Tokarczuk in her western city of Wroclaw, local officials said Friday. "As soon as we heard the news Thursday that Olga Tokarczuk won the Nobel, we wanted to share our joy with all the residents of our city which recently made the writer an honorary citizen," city hall spokesman Przemyslaw Galecki told AFP. "Through Sunday, every passenger carrying a book or e-book by Olga Tokarczuk can ride public transit free in our city" of 650,000 people.

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 06:28:46 -0400

New Caledonia to hold new independence poll from France in 2020

France's Pacific island territory of New Caledonia will hold a second referendum on independence next year, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Friday. Voters in a November 2018 poll chose to remain part of France by 57 percent to 43 percent, a result hailed by President Emmanuel Macron as "historic". French since 1853, New Caledonia is a remote island territory in the southwestern Pacific and has around 270,000 inhabitants.

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 21:30:20 -0400

Belgrade's naked 'Victor' statue to be restored

Symbol of Belgrade, the "Pobednik" (Victor) statue, which has overlooked the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers since 1928, was taken down from the city's Kalemegdan fortress Thursday to be restored. Initially, Belgrade commissioned the statue from sculptor Ivan Mestrovic to mark the defeat of the Ottoman empire during the First Balkans War in 1912-13. An alliance of the region's Slavs ended the five-century Ottoman domination, but Serbs and Bulgarians then fought each other over the spoils -- in the Second Balkans War.

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 17:23:00 -0400

Ukraine's Zelensky 'breaks record' for world's longest press conference

Volodymyr Zelensky, a popular comedian before he was elected president of Ukraine this spring, promised to bring a fresh kind of politics to the ex-Soviet nation. Around eight hours into the marathon event, Zelensky's first major press conference since coming to power in May, a representative of the agency stood up to deliver the news. The previous record was held by Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko, with a press conference that lasted over seven hours, Ukrainian media reported.

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 14:57:50 -0400

'One small nibble for man': 3D printer makes meat in space

The prospect of astronauts tucking into a roast dinner has grown slightly closer after a successful experiment used a 3D printer to create meat on the International Space Station. The bioprinter produced beef, rabbit and fish tissue using magnetic fields in microgravity, a Russian medical technology company involved in the experiment said Wednesday. The experiment -- an international collaboration involving US, Russian and Israeli companies -- was carried out in September by cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka in the station's Russian segment using a 3D printer developed in Moscow.

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 20:59:04 -0400

British MPs seek answers about post-Brexit toilet paper

British lawmakers have asked the government to give guarantees that supplies of toilet paper don't dry up in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The country is due to leave the European Union on October 31, and with three weeks to go there is still no deal to smooth over the flow of goods post-Brexit. Fearing supplies of imported loo roll might run out, MP Jonathan Edwards on Tuesday asked ministers how long toilet paper stocks would last if there was no agreement.

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 11:44:03 -0400

South Korean judge turned MP sparks row with personal insult

A prominent South Korean judge turned senior lawmaker sparked a political row by personally insulting a rival MP during a live-streamed meeting. Yeo Sang-kyoo, of the opposition Liberty Korea party, was chairing a parliamentary committee meeting when a ruling Democratic party politician objected to his handling of the proceedings.

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 03:14:20 -0400

Putin puts on birthday show gathering mushrooms

Russian President Vladimir Putin is renowned for posing for high-octane photo opportunities like tiger-tracking or deepwater diving. Putin, who has turned 67, spent a mini-break in mountains above the Yenisei River in Siberia at the weekend foraging for wild mushrooms with his defence minister Sergei Shoigu. In video footage released by the Kremlin, Putin and Shoigu were shown picking and sniffing mushrooms.

Mon, 07 Oct 2019 05:48:51 -0400

Mexican church blesses furry friends for World Animal Day

Chihuahuas, parakeets and turtles joined their human companions for services at a Catholic church Friday in the Mexican city of Zapopan, where they got a special blessing for World Animal Day. Pets joined their owners in the pews of the city's Saint Francis of Assisi church, named for the patron saint of animals, whose feast day is October 4. Lucia Rincon, who attended the mass with her German shepherd, said she and her brother try to bring him every year.

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 19:20:38 -0400

Spanish police saved from sea by smugglers they were chasing

Three Spanish police officers who were thrown into the sea when their boat crashed early Friday during a high-speed chase were pulled to safety by the drug-smugglers they were chasing, police said. The unexpected rescue happened after a police vessel began pursuing a speedboat "with four people on board that was suspected of transporting drugs" in waters off the southern coast of Spain, a police statement said. During the chase, the two vessels collided, causing three police officers to fall into the sea as their boat "span out of control".

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 14:41:50 -0400

Turkey rules Rebel Girls children's book be treated as porn

Turkey has ruled that the million-selling book "Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls" book should be partially banned and treated like pornography because it could have a "detrimental influence" on young people. The book, which has been published in 47 languages, offers a series of inspiring stories about women from history for young children, from British nurse Florence Nightingale to French designer Coco Chanel to singer Beyonce. Speaking to AFP on Friday, one of the authors, US-based Francesca Cavallo, said she was saddened by the decision.

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 09:13:05 -0400

New EU president to sleep in her office

The EU's incoming president Ursula von der Leyen plans to live in a tiny flat attached to her Brussels office rather than rent an apartment, her staff told AFP on Thursday. The president of the European Commission has no official residence -- a fact that irked von der Leyen's predecessor Jean-Claude Juncker, who complained to a German newspaper that he was forced to live in a hotel suite at a cost of 3,250 euros ($3,560) a month. Instead von der Leyen is having a 25-square-metre (270-square-foot) room next to her office on the 13th floor of the commission's Berlaymont building converted so she can sleep there during the week.

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 05:48:43 -0400

Russian man sues Apple for 'turning him gay'

A Russian man has filed a lawsuit against Apple for moral harm claiming that an iPhone app had turned him gay, according to a copy of the complaint seen by AFP. The man filed suit in a Moscow court asking for one million rubles ($15,000) after an incident this summer in which a cryptocurrency called "GayCoin" was delivered via a smartphone app, rather than the Bitcoin he had ordered. "Apple pushed me towards homosexuality through manipulation.

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 20:41:21 -0400

French police detain man over stolen panther

French authorities have detained for questioning a man suspected of keeping a wild panther in an apartment from where it was rescued, only to be stolen from a zoo, legal sources said. The ink-black feline was tranquilised with a dart and taken to a zoo in Maubeuge near the Belgian border, awaiting a transfer to a centre that rehabilitates domesticated wild animals. On Tuesday, the man from whose apartment the cat had escaped presented himself to police for questioning, according to the prosecutor's office in the city of Lille.

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 04:01:21 -0400

Hidden for 21 years, Ethiopian crown set to return home

A priceless 18th-century Ethiopian crown is set to be returned from the Netherlands to Addis Ababa after a one-time refugee found it in a suitcase and hid it in his apartment for two decades. The ornate gilded copper headgear, featuring images of Christ and the Twelve Apostles, was unearthed after refugee-turned-Dutch-citizen Sirak Asfaw contacted Dutch 'art detective' Arthur Brand. Brand, dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the art world" for his discoveries of missing works, said the crown, which is currently being held in a secure location, would soon be handed to the Ethiopian authorities.

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 02:14:21 -0400

Robots, deliverymen and 'Xi Thought' at China's 70th anniversary

Delivery men, the world cup-winning women's volleyball team and a special float hailing "Xi Jinping Thought" were part of a colourful 70th anniversary celebration of Communist China's 70th anniversary Tuesday -- a stark contrast with unrest in Hong Kong. A huge fireworks show in the evening capped a day of festivities that included a pageant of more than 100,000 civilians and a massive military parade showcasing China's emergence as a global superpower. The daytime event included giant portraits of the top leaders of the People's Republic of China, including its founder Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, the economic reformer who opened the country's doors to the world.

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 09:28:35 -0400

Polish daredevil abandons attempt to ski down Everest

A hanging chunk of ice the size of an apartment block has forced Polish daredevil Andrzej Bargiel to abandon his bid to ski down Mount Everest, he announced on his Facebook on Monday. The 31-year-old -- who last year skied down K2 -- was making a rare attempt to summit the world's tallest mountain and then ski down without supplemental oxygen. Bargiel and other teams were waiting at the base camp hoping the serac -- which he said is around 50 metres (165 feet) by 30 metres (98 feet)-- would break off so they could pass.

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 05:46:06 -0400

Elvis lookalike steals fake vagina from NZ sex shop

A man bearing a strong resemblance to Elvis Presley has been accused of stealing a fake vagina from a New Zealand sex shop, prompting a police investigation. The Elvis lookalike allegedly stole the prosthesis from the Peaches and Cream sex store in suburban Auckland after a failed attempt to purchase it. "He was very energetic and erratic, going around the shop, talking a lot... he brought a sex toy called 'Like a Virgin' up to the counter but his card declined," staff member Kat Maher told stuff.co.nz.

Mon, 30 Sep 2019 03:35:49 -0400

NZ sports store apologises over porn played on big screens

The New Zealand arm of Japanese sports brand Asics has apologised after pornography was broadcast on large television screens above its central Auckland store for several hours, startling Sunday morning shoppers. Pornography played on the retailer's outdoor screens for up to nine hours -- until staff arrived at the shop around 10am on Sunday and switched them off, the New Zealand Herald reported. "Some people were shocked, but others just stopped and watched," security guard Dwayne Hinango told the newspaper.

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 22:23:01 -0400

Artist-scientist breathes new life into ancient fossils

It measures up to 10 metres (32.5 feet) from snout to tail, has four stumpy legs and -- most noticeable of all -- boasts a jaw lined with scary, jagged teeth. It is the work of Viktor Radermacher, a South African who is half scientist and half artist.

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 12:29:44 -0400

Silent protest against Bangladesh's loud horns sparks noisy support

Bangladeshi Mominur Rahman Royal is stopping traffic -- literally. The 36-year-old is on a one-man crusade to reduce unnecessary honking in one of the world's noisiest cities, where the cacophony of vehicle horns in heavy traffic is as loud as a rock concert. "This is my silent protest against the nuisance.

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 03:12:25 -0400

No kidding: Japan airlines offer seat maps to avoid tots

Fed up with finding yourself next to a screaming child on a long-haul flight? On some Japanese airlines a seat map will warn you where potentially bawling babies are sitting. The facility, offered as part of Japan Airlines' "Smile Support" travel service for those with infants, is not new, but lit up the internet after a Twitter user praised it.

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 23:48:10 -0400

South Korea mayor dumps tonne of trash on beach for clean-up day

A South Korean mayor who dumped a tonne of trash on a clean beach to give environmental campaigners something to pick up has said sorry for his deception. The following day hundreds of volunteers scoured the shores and bagged up the garbage as part of an event to mark International Coastal Cleanup Day, a global event aimed at countering the scourge of sea-borne waste. "We brought in waste styrofoam and other coastal trash gathered from nearby areas so the 600 participants could carry out clean-up activities," said Lee Dong-jin, Jindo county mayor, in a statement.

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 04:33:18 -0400

Top of the mops: wacky hair all the rage at Rugby World Cup

With the Rugby World Cup in full flow, players have been lighting up the tournament with their power and skill -- but many are catching the eye with their outlandish hairstyles. Football's preening stars have long used their sport's biggest stage to make some dubious fashion statements, from David Beckham's mohican to Roberto Baggio's ponytail. Now as rugby's titans unveil some of the wackiest hairdos ever seen at a World Cup, expect the odd bad hair day in Japan -- or in many cases crimes against hairdressing.

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 02:40:56 -0400

Slip slidin' away: Record-breaking Malaysian water chute unveiled

One of the world's longest water slides was unveiled in Malaysia Wednesday, a kilometre-long chute that starts on a hilltop before twisting and turning through dense jungle and splashing into a pool. The blue and yellow chute at the ESCAPE theme park runs for 1,111 metres (3,645 feet) and has been awarded the Guinness World Record for the longest water slide where riders use an inflatable tube. "The idea of this water slide came about over frustration that most fun rides and water slides last merely a few seconds, and having the water slide start on a hilltop at a 70 metre elevation would make this ride last a good few minutes," said Sim Choo Kheng, boss of park operator Sim Leisure Group.

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 09:54:54 -0400

Limbless chickens, killer robots: UK's Johnson bemuses in UN speech

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivered an unconventional speech at the UN General Assembly Tuesday that referenced "terrifying limbless chickens" and "pink-eyed terminators" but only mentioned Brexit once. The shock ruling plunged his plans to exit the European Union by October 31 into crisis and sparked calls by opposition MPs that he resign immediately. "Helpful robots washing and caring for an ageing population or pink-eyed terminators sent back from the future to cull the human race?" Johnson pondered.

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 00:01:24 -0400

Panther stolen from zoo after rescue from French rooftops

It appears to be France's most coveted cat: A black panther rescued from rooftops near the northern city of Lille last week has been stolen from the zoo where it was taken after capture, officials said. The feline was seized overnight from the zoo in Maubeuge near the Belgian border, the city's mayor, Arnaud Decagny, told AFP on Tuesday. Firefighters caught the cat last Wednesday as it roamed rooftops in Armentieres after escaping through the window of a private apartment believed to have been its home.

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 20:12:39 -0400

A tangled web: UK judge's #spiderbrooch goes viral

Her words had huge implications, but for many social media users watching the president of Britain's Supreme Court rule Tuesday on the suspension of parliament, it was all about her spider brooch. Judge Brenda Hale delivered the court's damning verdict against Prime Minister Boris Johnson with a huge glittery spider pinned to her right shoulder. "I really hope that spider doesn't get Lady Hale before she announces it," commented comedian Tiernan Douieb as the court president began her ruling.

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 10:31:05 -0400

Wedding misery for man named Thomas Cook as travel firm collapses

A British man named Thomas Cook said Monday he feared his dream wedding in Greece was ruined after the collapse of the holiday firm with the same name. Cook, 29, is on the island of Rhodes with his partner Amelia Binch, 27, and their two children ahead of their planned wedding on Friday. "Thomas Cook promised us a surprise on our wedding because of my name but this was not the surprise we were expecting," he told the paper.

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 11:20:13 -0400

German court rules hangovers are 'illness'

Frankfurt am Main (AFP) - A German court said in a ruling published Monday that hangovers are an "illness", in a timely judgement days after the annual Oktoberfest beer festival began in Munich.

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 10:20:10 -0400

Jones ready for '15 Donald Trumps' when England face USA

England coach Eddie Jones has told his side to prepare for "15 Donald Trumps" when they face the United States at the Rugby World Cup. Jones's men have just a four-day turnaround from their opening 35-3 win over Tonga on Sunday until Thursday's match in Kobe, which sees the United States launch their Pool C campaign. "It's going to be like 15 Donald Trumps out there, so we'll have to be on our job, because we know they're going to give it everything they've got, just like Tonga did.

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 00:32:19 -0400

Runaway bear cub returns to the wild in French Pyrenees

A runaway bear cub that tunneled its way out of an enclosure in southern France but was eventually recaptured after a chase through the countryside has been returned to the wild, local authorities said at the weekend. The bear, named Douillous, was first spotted on June 10 wandering alone, malnourished, near the village of Couflens in the French Pyrenees. About 50 brown bears live on the French side of the Pyrenees mountains that straddle the border with Spain.

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 04:42:01 -0400

Seven to stand trial over French fake politician scam

French judges have ordered a trial for seven people accused of orchestrating an audacious scam to trick rich targets out of millions of euros by impersonating of one of France's top politicians. Armed with a silicone mask and plenty of nerve, the suspects sought to convince business chiefs, heads of state and other high-profile prey that they were speaking to Jean-Yves Le Drian, currently the foreign minister. Two Franco-Israeli suspects, Gilbert Chikli and Anthony Lasarevitsch, are thought to be the masterminds of the group facing trial for fraud, under a ruling by investigative magistrates seen by AFP.

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 05:30:08 -0400

Black panther found roaming French rooftops

A black panther found roaming the rooftops near the northern French city of Lille like a stray cat on Wednesday evening was captured after being cornered inside a home, local authorities said. The regional fire department tweeted pictures of the big cat, one of which showed it peering in the top-floor window of a three-storey red-brick building. "Called out... for a dangerous animal, the northern fire service was confronted with a big feline roaming the gutters," the fire service tweeted.

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 09:47:44 -0400

Thieves nab 2-mn-euro haul from vaunted French chateau

The owners of a 17th-century French palace said to be the model for Versailles were tied up as their opulent home was ransacked Thursday by robbers who fled with a haul worth two million euros ($2.2 million), police said. A police source said six hooded but unarmed robbers found neckties belonging to Patrice de Vogue, 90, to tie up him and his wife Cristina, 78, in their lodging on the grounds of the palace. Patrice de Vogue opened the estate to the public in 1968, and it is now run by the couple's three sons.

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 07:45:05 -0400

Selfies banned at Dutch museum's Nazi design expo

's-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands) (AFP) - A Dutch museum has banned visitors from taking photos at a controversial exhibition of designs from Hitler's Nazi regime to stop them being "interpreted the wrong way". The crowds at the Design Museum in Den Bosch -- which has been sold out since "Design in the Third Reich" opened earlier this month -- look like those at any other museum, but with two important exceptions. Firstly, there is the extraordinary backdrop -- 277 articles ranging from a 1940s Volkswagen Beetle to statues of Hitler's favourite sculptor Arno Breker, propaganda posters and films by Nazi director Leni Riefenstahl.

Thu, 19 Sep 2019 05:26:26 -0400

Paris art sale goes ahead despite Mexico protests

A controversial sale of pre-Columbian art went ahead in Paris on Wednesday despite furious calls from Mexico for it to be halted. The Mexican government filed a formal complaint against the auction of 120 religious and cultural artefacts from several private collections, with UNESCO also urging auctioneers Millon to postpone the sale. Mexico insisted that 95 of the 120 works were part of its "cultural heritage", with its ambassador to France Juan Manuel Gomez Robledo warning that some "could turn out to be imitations".

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 13:14:46 -0400

'Flying' river taxi tests Seine waters in Paris

A "flying" electric river taxi hailed by its creators as the future of clean city transport is being put through a battery of tests in Paris this week, with a view to being in service by the spring. Named the "Sea Bubble", the white aerodynamic craft skimmed over the River Seine at speeds of up to 30 km/hour (17 m/hour), hovering 50 centimetres (1.5 feet) above the water. It makes no noise and no waves and also emits no CO2, winning the approval of French transport officials looking to endow the capital with new clean transport options in the run-up to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 09:39:16 -0400

UK makes second arrest in golden toilet theft

British police on Tuesday made a second arrest in their hunt for thieves who stole a functioning 18-carat gold toilet from Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Designed by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and once offered on loan to US President Donald Trump, the toilet was stolen on Saturday -- just three days after it had been put on display. "We are continuing to investigate this incident and have made a second arrest in connection with it," investigative officer Steven Jones said in a statement.

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 14:43:08 -0400

Thailand's sex-shy giant panda dies aged 19

A beloved male giant panda on loan to Thailand from China has died aged 19 in Chiang Mai, leaving Thais on Tuesday to mourn the death of a mammal whose sex life captivated the kingdom. The pair's mating habits -- or lack of -- became a source of relentless public intrigue, with Chuang Chuang put on a low-carb diet and shown video clips of panda's coupling in an attempt to spice up their sex drive. After struggles to conceive, Lin Hui finally gave birth thanks to artificial insemination to Linping in 2009, spurring a widely-watched live 24-hour "Panda Channel".

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 04:05:18 -0400

Buzz off! Angry bees delay Air India flight

An Air India flight was delayed by several hours after a swarm of bees landed on the cockpit window, attacking ground staff when they tried to remove them, officials said. Ground staff tried to shoo the insects off, angering them, and when attempts to use the windscreen wipers failed officials switched to 'plan b' and blasted them off with water. "Fire tenders were deployed to spray water to dislodge the honey bees and they could be driven away after nearly an hour-long operation," airport official Kaushik Bhattcharya told AFP.

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 03:11:13 -0400

Artist hopes gold toilet taken by 'Robin Hood' types

The artist whose solid gold toilet was stolen from Britain's Blenheim Palace said he hoped it had been taken in a "Robin Hood-inspired action", as police scrambled Sunday to locate it. Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan told the New York Times that when he first heard news of Saturday's pre-dawn theft of his fully-functioning work "America", he thought it was a prank. Cattelan has described the 18-carat gold work, famously once offered on loan to US President Donald Trump, as "one-percent art for the 99 percent".

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 11:01:09 -0400

Solid gold toilet stolen from English stately home

A gang of thieves on Saturday stole an 18-carat gold toilet from Britain's Blenheim Palace, police said, causing flooding that damaged the world-famous stately home. The fully-functioning toilet, dubbed "America", was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and estimated to be worth around £1 million. The toilet was one of the star attractions in an exhibition of Cattelan's works that opened on Thursday at the palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sat, 14 Sep 2019 11:03:01 -0400

Cats, dolphins and one smart raven: the CIA's secret animal spies

In early 1974, Do Da was top in espionage class, on the way to becoming a high-flying CIA agent: he handled himself better in the rough, carried heavier loads, and could brush off attackers. The bird was a central figure in a decade-long US Central Intelligence Agency program to train animals as agents, helping Washington fight the Cold War against the Soviet Union. On Thursday, the CIA released dozens of files from its tests on cats, dogs, dolphins and on birds from pigeons to some of the smartest: ravens and crows.

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 21:49:56 -0400

India's Stalin admits to problems visiting Russia

Sharing a name with one of Europe's most brutal dictators isn't a problem in his home country, but Indian politician MK Stalin admitted Friday it raised eyebrows on a visit to Russia. When I said 'Stalin' many people at the airport started looking at me," Stalin told the Times of India. MK Stalin's father M. Karunanidhi, the socialist former chief minister of Tamil Nadu state, deliberately named his son after the Russian communist leader Joseph Stalin.

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 07:56:12 -0400

Russia scraps robot Fedor after space odyssey

It's mission over for a robot called Fedor that Russia blasted to the International Space Station, the developers said Wednesday, admitting he could not replace astronauts on space walks. There's nothing more for him to do there, he's completed his mission," Yevgeny Dudorov, executive director of robot developers Androidnaya Tekhnika, told RIA Novosti news agency. The silvery anthropomorphic robot cannot fulfill its assigned task to replace human astronauts on long and risky space walks, Dudorov said.

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 09:52:04 -0400

Soldiers hospitalised as reindeer crashes Lapland wargames

A reindeer that wandered into the middle of a military exercise in Lapland caused a pile-up of armoured vehicles with 12 soldiers rushed to hospital, the Finnish military said Wednesday. "A Pasi armoured personnel carrier crashed into the one in front, which swerved to avoid a reindeer," a statement from the Kainuu Brigade said. Finnish Lapland is home to up to 340,000 reindeer during summer and the animals represent a real hazard, not least as they tend not to fear motor vehicles.

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 05:06:33 -0400

Foody tale ending: Shanghai Disney allows food, but not durian

Disney's Shanghai theme park is loosening a ban on outside food in the wake of a lawsuit, but the home of Mickey Mouse still won't tolerate visitors taking in instant noodles or pungent foods such as durian. A student surnamed Wang filed a lawsuit against Shanghai Disneyland in March after being barred from bringing in her own food, a move that garnered widespread support on Chinese social media. Disney's rules were criticised online as an example of double standards and discrimination against Asians since its theme parks in Europe and the United States allow visitors to bring in outside edible items.

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 03:19:23 -0400

New Saudi minister jokes oil outlook could drive him to Prozac

Saudi Arabia's Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman brought some humour to his debut as the kingdom's new oil minister Monday, joking that the industry outlook could drive him to take Prozac if he took it seriously. Speaking at an international energy forum in Abu Dhabi where he was the star of the show just a day after being appointed by his father King Salman, the new minister deflected concerns over the health of the energy sector. The International Energy Agency (IEA) last week lowered its growth forecast for oil demand for 2019 and 2020, blaming the ugly US-China trade dispute which has triggered fears of a global recession.

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 11:06:12 -0400

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