Somalia: Al-Shabab’s ‘Halal’ Football a Different Game
As thousands of football fans descend on Brazil for the World Cup and millions across the world get ready for a summer of football festivities, in Somalia’s rebel-ruled territories a slightly different kind of football is played.
It is exactly 3.45pm local time in the picturesque port town of Barawe which acts as the al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab’s headquarters, and dozens of young men are getting ready to play “halal football” - that’s football that complies with the hardline group’s set rules for the beautiful game. … (Read more)
Dalsan Radio via All Africa
Guyana: Burglar gets nine months for stealing toilet bowl
Troy David, caught red-handed attempting to steal a toilet bowl, will be spending the next nine months behind prison bars.
David, 44, admitted to charge that he attempted to commit a felony; that is, to steal a toilet bowl, valued $75,000, which was the property of Raj Beverage Company, on June 11. … (Read more)
Stabroek News
New Zealand: Dog on a log goes viral
A dog, which had been washed out to sea following this week’s wild storm, was rescued by the Navy and has now become an overnight sensation. … (Read more)
New Zealand Herald
Ecuador: Will Latin American become the world’s new ‘bread basket’? With changes, new report says it’s possible
With new policies designed to improve agricultural productivity, Latin America and the Caribbean region can help feed a global population of nine billion people in 2050, according to a new report released today by the Global Harvest Initiative (GHI) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). ... (Read more)
Cuenca High Life
Canada: Haunted stamps ’scaring' Canadians Friday, June 13
The first Canada Post haunted stamps and collectibles were released on one of the spookiest days of the year - Friday, June 13. The five stamps tell popular ghost stories from across the country.
One of the main tales is of a young bride who stayed at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in the 1920s. She tripped on her wedding dress, falling down a flight of stairs - and died. Hotel employees and guests say they have seen the ‘ghost bride’ dancing the wedding waltz all by herself. … (Read more)
Toronto Star
Wales: Harry Poole was just 14 when his mum was murdered, and he fell into a life of drink and drugs. Today he’s an award-winner
Harry Poole was just 14 when a police officer knocked on the door to break the devastating news that his mother had been murdered.
As his world fell apart around him, he changed from a hard-working school pupil into a rebellious teen, who ran away from his family and fell into drink and drugs. ... (Read more)
Wales Online
Romania: The isolated Czech villages in Romania’s Banat region
Guest writer Madalina Visan traveled to a remote area of Romania to discover the isolated Czech villages and a world few people know about. ... (Read more)
Romania Insider
