KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan, described as the deadliest country for civilians, has seen an increase in violence in recent months with a number of high-profile officials being targeted. Most recently, two female judges from the Supreme Court of Afghanistan were killed by unknown assailants in Kabul on Jan. 17. The judges, who have not yet been named, were targeted by two gunmen on a motorbike as they were driving to work in a court vehicle around 8:30 a.m. Though no one has claimed responsibility, the Afghanistan government has blamed the Taliban for the attack. “Attack on any Afghan citizen, women,…
Author: zenger.news
KOLKATA, India — An acute shortage of semiconductors is hurting the automotive industry in India at a time when car sales had started picking up after months of slowdown. The industry had been in a slump throughout much of 2020 due to green policies, an increased Goods and Services Tax, and higher prices for passenger vehicles while the economy slowed during the pandemic. However, passenger vehicles sales increased 13.59 percent in December over the same month in 2019, data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) shows. In November, year-on-year growth was 4.65 percent. Auto manufacturers are now forced to…
Yes, even Mexico gets cold. That’s often traceable to a weather event called a “Norte” (north), a series of anticyclonic cold surges that come from the Gulf of Mexico and disrupt maritime activities and lower the overall temperature. In coastal regions, such as the state of Veracruz, it is common to hear the local terminology for this event How are Nortes created? Nortes are steams of cold air that produce gusts of over 60 kilometers per hour (roughly 38 mph). These northern winds are prevalent during the cold-front season, affecting Mexican states on the Gulf of Mexico (Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco,…
When someone has a birthday in Mexico, their family and friends do not sing the “Happy Birthday” song, but a traditional one called ‘Las Mañanitas.’ However, due to its festive nature and tone, it is common to sing it at almost any type of celebration, such as Mother’s Day or patronal feasts (festivals dedicated to saints). The song has passed down from generation to generation without losing its meaning, even though its origins are unknown. A little history Due to its composition style, some believe the song originated in the Sephardic Jewish quarters of Medieval Spain. When the “romanza” genre…
Is feeling frightened an illness? Throughout Latin America, the answer is a resounding “yes.” Even before the Spanish arrived in the Americas, the native civilizations held the belief of an illness wrought by a strong impression. They called it “Susto” referring to an “absence of soul” caused by profound fear and can affect both human beings and animals. Most people who suffer from this disorder are children, since they are prone to lasting impressions. Among the symptoms that someone suffering from Susto has: low appetite, chills, susceptibility to loud noises, fever, headaches, crying, insomnia, vomiting, and diarrhea. Although there is…
The famed Rio de Janeiro Carnival was a casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and it wasn’t alone. Other Latin American countries hold their own carnivals with food, music, dancing and the joy of embracing generations of tradition. Whether they bounce back in 2021, the committees and governments that showcase their cultural heritages don’t plan to let old customs die. The Rio de Janeiro Carnival is the largest in the world. Millions of people gather to admire a float parade in the Sambadrome, the celebration’s most important event. The Carnaval at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is one of the…
During the deadly Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 22-year-old Harrisburg, Pennsylvania woman Riley June Williams actively participated and entered the building. An FBI affidavit for her arrest on other charges also cites her possible theft of a laptop belonging to an aide of House Speaker Nancy P. Pelosi. A witness claims she conspired to sell it to Russian intelligence. Williams was captured on video in multiple locations on or near the Capitol grounds. FBI Special Agent Jonathan Lund of the Cyber Crime section cites video footage that “depicted evidence of violations of local and federal law, including scores of individuals…
Penang, Malaysia — This pet-loving child vowed to continue feeding wild strays near his home after one wildcat scratched his face to the limits. Achik Lieya, the mother of nine-year-old Adam, said her son was always fascinated by cats and started to feed strays near his home in the town of Nibong Tebal in the Malaysian state of Penang when he was old enough to notice their poor condition. “The incident happened when Adam was about to feed a wild cat,” said the 36-year-old mother. When he got too close to one wild stray and tried to pick it up,…
Lille, France – The novel creations of an eco-conscious fashion designer, who used 600 can ring pulls and three weeks to make just one stylish handbag, is catching attention. Marlene Lallart, 45, an artist from Hauts-de-France in the northern French city of Lille said she needs 600 drink cans to make just one handbag and that it can sometimes take her three weeks. “It requires a lot of effort to make just one handbag because it takes 600 ring pulls and a lot of time,” Lallart said. The artist uses can ring pulls and other recyclable items to make the…
Madrid, Spain — The Spanish emergency services used helicopters to feed hundreds of cattle in Madrid left stranded by the devastating Filomena storm. Deputy mayor Begoña Villacís and Economy, Innovation and Employment delegate Miguel Ángel Redondo said the losses caused by Storm Filomena were estimated to be $1.2 billion. “If the pandemic was already seriously affecting, the snowfall has made the start of the year catastrophic,” said Villacis. Named as operation Tulipan, the rescue work was conducted in rural areas outside the Spanish capital. Video footage of the same was shared by the authorities on Jan 13 which showed a…