Italy: Some 3.5 million Italians smoke cannabis - report
Alarming heroin-use data
Some 22.5 million Europeans and 3.5 million Italians have made use of cannabis drugs in the past year, whilst cocaine users totalled 4 million in Europe and 520,000 in Italy, according to a new report on addictions released on Friday.
The use of antidepressants has risen, as have addictive gambling habits amongst Europeans and Italians, according to the report. ...
ANSA
Canada: Two blind cows in Canada, U.S. find comfort, company at sanctuary
A love story starring rescuers in Canada an the U.S. who worked across international borders for nearly a month to bring two cows together.
Two blind, aging cows were 560 kilometres apart, distressed and facing a dark future.
What happened next is a love story starring, not cows, but rescuers who worked across international borders for nearly a month to bring the bovines together.
Toronto Star
Libya: Opinion: Valuing Sacredness of 17th February
...On 17th February, 2014, Libya celebrates its third anniversary of emancipation from slavery. It marks the end of autocracy and sets in motion the spirit of democracy. …
Tripoli Post
Finland: “Arctic immigrants” join forces to ease culture shock
The trauma of arriving in wintry, near-deserted Rovaniemi from Bangladesh’s capital of 15 million people was enough to make Nasifa Yeasmin resolve to help other immigrants relocating inside the Arctic Circle, by setting up a new association. ...
Yle Uutiset
South Africa: Apartheid era images speak volumes (Video)
If a picture speaks a thousand words, some of the images taken during the apartheid era, speak volumes. ...
eNCA
Papua New Guinea: Six survive 19-day ordeal at sea
Six men from Siassi Island, in Morobe, are thankful to be alive after spending 19 days drifting at sea when their dinghy outboard engine failed.
The six were found on Kiriwina in Milne Bay, after drifting in the Solomon Sea for almost three weeks when their 40-horse power engine broke down. Their relatives had given them up for dead and had started mourning rites. ...
The National
Papua New Guinea, north of Australia. (Google Maps)
Maldives: Maldives voted number one honeymoon destination
A survey taken by online reservations service Agoda has revealed the Maldives to be the number one honeymoon destination in the world.
Agoda’s Global Honeymoon Survey carried out in January and February asked over 15,000 visitors to choose their ideal destination, with over 20 percent choosing the Indian Ocean nation. ...
Minivan News
Maldives (A), an island nation in the Indian Ocean. (Google Maps)
*Image of Finland in winter via Shutterstock
