GOIANIA, Brazil — A man in Brazil says he is “not a bad person” after stealing a priest’s car at gunpoint. He later sent an apology note, claiming he was “very high” at the time. Clues in the note from Joao Marcos Landmann were enough for police to track him down and arrest him for stealing the car and two mobile phones from the unnamed evangelical pastor outside his church. The theft, which occurred on Nov. 15, followed a service in the Brazilian city of Goiania. The suspect was arrested on Dec. 16, while driving a stolen motorbike. Landmann decided…
Author: zenger.news
One would think that tamales are the exclusive property of Mexico but they are not. Many Latin American countries have their tamales, including Colombia. Tamales are so prevalent in Colombia that its people proudly call their land “the King of the Wrapped Ones.” Colombian tamales might have corn dough, vegetables, chickpeas, spices, and meats, everything wrapped in fresh banana leaves. They are a traditional Christmas dish prepared all over the country. “Aztecs gave us tamales, but we Colombians made them ours adding pork, carrots, and peas. We call tamaleada when the family gets together to make tamales. Tamaleadas are a tradition of the…
NEW DELHI — Milk production in India — the highest in the world — has been hit by a relatively new disease. Lumpy skin disease (LSD), a transboundary animal disease that spreads quickly, has started affecting Indian cattle and Asian water buffalo. The disease can decrease milk production by more than half, damage hides and cause emaciation, infertility, and abortions in animals. It has spread to 20 of India’s 28 states, putting at risk more than 303 million cattle and buffaloes that drive India’s milk production. Characterized by skin nodules, nasal and ocular discharge, fever, and reduction in milk production,…
TAMIL NADU — Payments banks, a new category approved by the Reserve Bank of India in 2015 to extend financial inclusion, are struggling to stay afloat. Unlike full-fledged banks, payments banks are limited to a deposit of INR 100,000 ($1,355) per customer and are not allowed to issue loans or credit cards. The idea originated in 2013 with the aim of serving low-income households. “The fundamental problem in India is that financial inclusion itself has a long way to go,” said Sumita Kale, adviser at Indicus Centre for Financial Inclusion. “Jan Dhan Yojana helped to some extent in getting accounts to…
KOLKATA, India — After months of slowdown, the real estate sector in India has picked up as home developers sweeten deals with discounts and perks. “We are witnessing a good demand after several months,” said Jitendra Khaitan, director of Pioneer Properties, a property consultancy firm. “The conversion ratio has gone up from 5-10 percent last year to close to 20 percent now. We are seeing good demand for residential properties across segments, including the luxury category. Before March, the demand for luxury residential projects was not good. A lot of buyers tell us they now want to buy a house…
BAYEUX, France — Matthiew Louvel, a professional steelpan player, can no longer tour for concerts like he usually does at this time of year—so he decided to take his act to the streets of Caen, France. “To do away with the boredom, I often come to play at Centre Ville in Caen,” he said, playing the handpan outdoors. But since France imposed a second lockdown starting late October, Louvel has been robbed of this little joy—and the extra income it provided. The stricter rules banned all “non-essential” activities outside the home, including performing arts. While some lockdown restrictions lifted on…
Many of Colombia’s favorite dishes are customary sights come Christmas season: fritters, Christmas Eve sweet, rum and raisin custard, empanadas, tamales, sancocho, and lechona. But for most Colombians, the Christmas picanha is the belle of the ball. Colombians choose the best meat for their Christmas picana. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images.)Picanha is a South American beef cut referred to in the United States as top sirloin cap. It comes from the back of the cow, near the end of the spine and its sides. As a single cut, it is barely known in the United States, as American butchers tend…
MOLSHEIM, France — A luxury automobile manufacturer is spreading holiday cheer by putting one of the most expensive cars in the world on display in a small French town. After Molsheim, France, located in the heart of the northeastern Alsace region, was forced to cancel its annual Christmas market due to the coronavirus pandemic, Bugatti gave the city, the brand’s birthplace and location of its current headquarters, “a special Christmas present” on Dec. 14. “In order to maintain a certain level of festivity, the French luxury brand decided to offer a special presentation that will be on exhibit right next…
ALTEA, Spain — Spanish veterinarians were able to treat an injured seal with antibiotics fired from a blowgun. The unusual injection method was needed as the seal was skittish and difficult to catch in the water. The gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) was first spotted at a marina in the city of Altea in the Spanish province of Alicante on Dec. 10, according to a press release from Valencia-based Oceanographic Foundation. Veterinarians called to the scene noticed that the animal appeared to be ailing from some sort of exposure to ocean waste, but were not able to identify the exact injury…
GINGELOM, Belgium — A trove of more than 14,000 Roman coins led investigators to a French man’s stash of illegally accumulated ancient artifacts. Authorities made the discovery earlier this month after the suspect, identified only as Patrice T., reported uncovering the massive treasure in Gingelom, Belgium, about 40 miles east of Brussels, last year. After investigating, the Flemish Organization for Immovable Heritage determined it was impossible all of the coins could have come from the reported location. Instead, the department noted the coins appear to have been excavated from French soil. Immovable Heritage Agency found coin depot of more than…