ANIMAL » INTERNATIONAL

Iraqi Politicians Tackle Country’s Real Problems

Bucky Turco — Thu, 12 May 2011 20:55:31 +0000

Like smoking. Lawmakers in Iraq are proposing legislation that would overhaul the war-ravaged nation’s tobacco industry and basically make it a lot like New York City under Mayor Bloomberg. The New York Times summarizes some of the new changes being proposed that are sure to make life better for Iraqis.

On Sunday, they are set to consider a law that would ban smoking from schools, universities, government offices and a wide range of private businesses, including restaurants and cafes. Billboards advertising cigarettes, which wallpaper commercial districts of Baghdad, would be outlawed. And cigarette companies would be forced to print harsher warning labels.

Australia Fears War With China, Battles Japan

Bucky Turco — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:35:26 +0000

Australia is having some problems with its Asian neighbors: They’re worried about the future military threat China presents and the current environmental impact Japan is creating with its whale hunting in Antarctic waters.

Russians Playing War Games With the UK

Bucky Turco — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:50:31 +0000

The Russians are keeping the UK’s Royal Air Force busy, forcing them to scramble at least 20 times. It’s like the Cold War all over again!

Protestant Farmer’s Sheep Humiliated By Irish Tricolour

Bucky Turco — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:03:51 +0000

A Protestant farmer in Ireland isn’t too happy that six of his sheep—all pregnant—were spray painted with the Irish tricolour in what has been characterized “as an ongoing campaign of intimidation” by the Belfast News Letter. |Belfast News Letter|

Only Men Wear the Pants In Sudan

Bucky Turco — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:23:44 +0000

Similar to the women-haters in Uganda, the Sudanese have also adopted a perverse form of Islam that mandates strict dress codes for females. A woman is facing 40 lashes for wearing “trousers that were too tight and a blouse that was too sheer” according to the country’s real life fashion police. |CNN|

The U.S. Puts Bolivia On Notice

Bucky Turco — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:41:59 +0000

The United States announced that it will punish Bolivia by retracting “import duty waivers,” arguing that the small country isn’t doing enough to fight its massive cocaine production. Translated: if the CIA doesn’t gets a cut, we can’t do business. |AP|

Sumo Wrestler Sized Sea Monsters Set To Invade Japan

Bucky Turco — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:27:28 +0000

The Japanese can’t catch a break. When they’re not ducking for cover from biblical style animal rain on the mainland, it’s deadly Nomura’s jellyfish approaching their coastal waters. Researches are warning of an imminent and “catastrophic invasion this year” of the massive, species-stinging sea creatures. And these aren’t your typical jellyfish, they can “grow up to 2 meters (6 ft 7 in) in diameter and weigh as much as to 220 kilograms (about 450 lbs).” They create havoc for commercial fisherman by overloading nets, decimating fish populations, and stinging the shit out of them. |PinkTentacle|

Photo by Y.Taniguchi/Niu Fisheries Cooperative |via|

Jamaicans Like Guns As Much As Americans

Bucky Turco — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:49:32 +0000

In addition to Club Med-ready tourists, blue jeans, and whole lot of wheat the United States is the premiere exporter of illegal guns to Jamaica, accounting for “eighty percent of the weapons seized in the Caribbean island” according to the Associated Press. How do so many of these firearms “pour into violent slums”? Mostly because American authorities are more concerned with imports than exports. Says a Jamaican police commissioner: “There aren’t any checks or any controls on goods leaving the United States. Yet anything leaving here, we have to make sure it’s double-checked and tripled-checked for drugs.” In semi-related news, Dancehall veteran Ninja Man still can’t get bail in his murder case. |AP|

Photos by Ricardo Arduengo/AP

Shark Victim Single Handedly Returns To Surf

Bucky Turco — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:45:27 +0000

So that whole stereotype about Australians being hardcore and stuff? Totally true. A surfer that lost his hand in a shark attack in February has returned to the water and enjoyed it. |TimesOnline|

Cocaine Production Is Up and Down Like Its Wall Street Holmes

Bucky Turco — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:47:47 +0000

The UN released some report on drugs and it appears that cocaine production in Colombia has dropped off significantly. However, evidence suggests that Peru and Bolivia are picking up the slack as their cultivation of the coca crop increases dramatically. |AP|