Author Archives: Paul Roberts

“China has formally opened what it says is the world’s longest sea bridge with a ceremony and fireworks. The 36km (22.5 mile) bridge spans the mouth of Hangzhou Bay in the East China Sea, linking the commercial capital Shanghai and the port city of Ningbo.”

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7377928.stm

“United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is to launch a new campaign to eliminate deaths from malaria, to mark the first World Malaria Day.
The disease causes over a million deaths a year, with 90% of all cases occurring in Africa.”

Link:

• http://news.bbc.co.uk
• http://www.rbm.who.int

“You’re settled into seat 20D when you hear a sniffle, sniffle coming
from seat 20B and a rumbling cough erupts from the occupant of 21A.”
Link: http://edition.cnn.com

“The Belgian judiciary has accused Irish budget airline Ryanair of
forgery and fiscal fraud, it was revealed on Wednesday. Federal police
in Charleroi have summoned two directors of the company, Michael
Cawley and Bernard Berger, to answer questions about the allegations
at the start of December.”
Link: expatica.com

“Hundreds of Ryanair pilots are set to cash in windfalls worth an average of £34,000 when the budget airline’s latest share-option scheme matures at the end of this month.”
Link: independent.co.uk

“Thomas Cook is offering family tours of Amsterdam’s red-light district. The package, from the UK’s longest-running holiday operator, costs £12, but a half-price rate is offered for children.”
Link: thisistravel.co.uk

“A famous signpost at the Scottish village of John O’Groats marks it as the farthest tip of mainland Britain — 874 miles from Lands End in Cornwall, the country’s most southerly settlement.”
Link: cnn.com

“Archaeologists studying the tomb of China’s first emperor say he may have been buried with his state treasure.”
Link: bbc.co.uk

“Jeanie Reavis has come for Mardi Gras and Jazzfest and Creole Christmas, dozens of trips to the city she loves. She will head to New Orleans again Monday, undeterred by the destruction she witnessed on her TV screen from 700 miles away.”
Link: cnn.com

“A husband-and-wife team reached the Pacific Ocean on Saturday after a 4,900-mile cross-country hike, becoming the first to backpack the transcontinental American Discovery Trail in one continuous trek.”
Link: cnn.com

“World Music Central is a portal dedicated to World Music. Featuring the latest World Music news, CD and concert reviews, articles, an events calendar, and resources for music fans, industry professionals and researchers.”
Link: http://www.worldmusiccentral.org

“The three newest inhabitants at the London Aquarium move like all others in nearby tanks, but the brightly colored fish are robots.”
Link: CNN.com

“Until now it was believed potatoes had no single origin US scientists have found that all modern varieties of potatoes can be traced back to a single source – a spud grown in Peru over 7,000 years ago.”

Link: bbc.co.uk