Germany, Israel: Israel’s infatuation with Berlin
For many young Israelis, Berlin beckons with its free-spirited lifestyle and hot nightlife. While the Holocaust will never be forgotten, the present generation is packing their bags and moving on.
“The place to be – be Berlin.” At the moment, Berlin is all over Tel Aviv. Whether visiting the Habima Theater, a local cinema, Jaffa Harbor, or on the steps of the central bus station, known locally as “White Elephant,” posters calling attention to Berlin-themed events are plastered everywhere. …
Deutsche Welle
Italy: Italian ’80s pop star Ivana Spagna mugged in Milan
‘Men on scooter took my Rolex’
Italian 1980s pop singer Ivana Spagna was attacked and mugged in Milan, according to a police report for a stolen Rolex watch registered Friday. Spagna, who made it to the top of international dance charts with the hits Easy Lady (1986) and Call Me (1987), says she was struck multiple times …
ANSA
France: Hollande honours African role in France’s WWI fight
As France launched commemorations for next year’s centenary anniversary of WWI, President François Hollande said Thursday that no soldier should be “forgotten” in recognition of the sacrifices made by African troops in the fight for France. …
According to Hollande, the commemoration will also be an opportunity to pay homage to all soldiers who fought for France, including those who hailed from what were then French colonies. “Today, I would like no French soldier who shed blood in battle to be forgotten,” he said in his address, singling out the 430,000 troops “who took part in a war that was not necessarily theirs”…
France 24
Canada: Regina eatery offers ‘crack’ed pepper burger to mock Toronto’s Rob Ford
Special hamburger selling like hotcakes
A Regina restaurant has added a menu item which mocks Toronto’s mayor Rob Ford, based on his recent admission to having used crack cocaine.
Nicki’s Cafe created a cracked pepper hamburger and — with a simple tweak to the punctuation on the specials board — the menu item became a ‘crack’ed pepper burger, which took off like hot cakes.
“We don’t want to make fun of anybody, that’s the last thing I want to do,” Perry Makris, the owner of the restaurant, told CBC News Friday. “Especially when it comes to drug abuse and stuff like that. But we don’t want to offend anybody with it, it’s like I said. We’re just making light of the situation.” …
CBC
New Zealand: Polar-melt map shows disaster for coastal NZ
Much of northern New Zealand, including Auckland, and parts of the South Island would be almost wiped out by rising sea levels if all the world’s ice melted, according to new mapping by National Geographic magazine.
New Zealand would be among many countries to lose vast amounts of their landscape if the polar ice caps melted, the nature publication said.
A huge swathe of eastern Europe, the entire eastern seaboard of the United States, Bangladesh and a large chunk of China would disappear. …
New Zealand Herald
India: Kerala named among world’s top 10 holiday destinations
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Travel guides publisher Lonely Planet has named Kerala among the world’s 10 best destinations for taking the family on a holiday in 2014.
The Lonely Planet’s award for the best family destination was bestowed on [Kerala] …
Kerala joined the likes of New York City, Denmark, Prague, Iceland, Italy and Hawaii in being described by the travel expert as a child-friendly destination ideal for the family. …
Times of India
Ecuador: Latin America is the fastest growing Internet market; Ecuador leads in smart phones; Docs work on new law
With the fastest growing Internet population in the world, social media and other online services have their eyes on Latin America. As successful businesses look to expand, the rise of the Latin American digital consumer deserves strong consideration — Twitter, Netflix and Waze are examples of businesses that have scaled in Latin America. And with the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics set to take place in Brazil, big things are on the way for Latin America and its economies. …
Cuenca High Life
*Image via Shutterstock
