Despite repeated pleas from Australia, Brazil, and France, Indonesia refused presidential clemency for those who were sentenced to death due to drug-related charges.
International
Spain hit by magnitude 5 quake but no damage reported
A magnitude 5 earthquake shook central and eastern Spain yesterday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake’s epicenter was close to the town of Ossa de Montiel, 170 km (105 miles) south of Madrid, at a depth of about 15 km, according to Spain’s National Institute of Seismology. It gave a magnitude of 5.2 for the earthquake. Buildings could be felt shaking as far as Madrid, according to Reuters witnesses. There were no immediate reports […]
Suicide bombing in Nigeria kills five
In Nigeria, five were confirmed dead while 46 were injured after a seven-year old suicide bomber attacked.
Japan allows Filipino nurse and caregivers to train in their country
Following the terms of the bilateral trade agreement between Japan and the Philippines, Japan allowed trainee Filipino nurses and caregivers to extend their stay in the said country by one year, so that they can further develop their skills.
Obama says Homeland Security partial shutdown will hurt U.S. economy, security
(Reuters) — U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday (February 23) that a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would mean more than 100,000 border patrol, port inspection and airport security agents would be left without a paycheck. “It will have a direct impact on your economy, and it will have a direct impact on America’s national security because their hard work helps to keep us safe,” Obama said in a speech to a meeting of […]
Lebanese government approves law protecting animals
Lebanon’s government has recently approved the draft of an animal welfare and protection law which when passed would be the country’s first law of its kind. The law was drafted by animal rights group Animals Lebanon with a committee from the Agriculture Ministry, the head of the group Jason Miers told Reuters TV in an interview. ”Animals Lebanon started this campaign to enact a national law about animal welfare specifically at the end of 2009. […]
Robot attends school in place of injured student
A Pennsylvania student injured in a car crash was still able to attend classes on Friday with the help of a robot. Cole Fritz is a junior at Commodore Perry High School in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. He hasn’t been able to attend classes in person since the crash last month. But now, he’s able to see everything that goes on with the help of a robot. The district leases the device from a company that […]
Ukraine fears unrest may spread
After an attack in a memorial rally, Ukraine expressed its fear that the unrest would spread beyond territories held by pro-Russians.
Most expensive food in the world
Worth 40, 000 dollars per teaspoon, the White Gold Caviar is hailed as the most expensive food in the world. It is made from the eggs of the rare albino sturgeon from the Caspian Sea mixed with 22 carat gold.
JK Simmons wins Oscar for best supporting actor
J.K. Simmons won the best supporting actor on 87th Academy Awards for playing a brutally demanding jazz teacher who pushes a drummer to the edge in “Whiplash.” It was the first Academy Award for the 60-year-old actor, who had never been nominated before for an Oscar. He had been a favorite to win for the film, after sweeping the supporting actor category in all the major awards shows today. Simmons thanked his wife and his […]
Early Oscars arrivals shine on the red carpet
The red carpet for the 87th Academy Awards is now happening under gray skies where the early arrivals were dominated by international filmmakers happy to talk about their Oscar experience. Polish filmmaker Pawel Pawlkikowski, director of “Ida,” a nominee for best foreign-language film, said he hoped people would respond positively to his film. “If people enjoyed the film then that is a big thumb up,” said Pawlkikowski. “If you were not a fan of the […]
More than 1,000 Muslims form human shield around Oslo synagogue
More than 1,000 Muslims formed a human shield around Oslo’s synagogue on Saturday (February 21), offering symbolic protection for the city’s Jewish community and condemning an attack on a synagogue in nearbyDenmark last weekend. The event was organised by Norwegian youth and 17-year-old organiser Hajrah Arshad said the impetus behind it was the prejudice faced by Jews andMuslims on a daily basis. “It was the terror attack in Denmark that triggered us young people, and […]
