Tag: international

News Politics

Ukrainian Prime Minister Resigns

The Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mykola Azarov, resigned from his job on Tuesday.

Experts say this should help to ease some of the tensions that have been building in that country.

The tensions began in November when Ukraine’s president, Viktor Yanukovych, made a surprise move to bring Ukraine closer to Russia rather than European Union (EU).

He asked Russia to lend Ukraine some money, rather than asking the EU for it. Ukraine needed the money to help its economy.

Many Ukrainians had looked forward to a closer association with the European Union because they felt it would bring democracy to their country.

News

Bronze Bunny In “Mandela’s” Ear Causes A Stir

A tiny bunny has created a lot of debate.

The bunny at the centre of the controversy is made of bronze—and it’s in Nelson Mandela’s ear.

Following the death of the famous world leader, officials in South Africa hired two sculptors to build a monument in his honour.

Sculptors Ruhan Janse van Vuuren and Andre Prinsloo created a majestic, nine-metre likeness of Mandela, with his arms open wide as if to embrace the world.

News

Genie (And Her “Army”) Marching Towards Tennis Stardom

Eugenie “Genie” Bouchard from Montreal, Quebec, recently made tennis history for her country.

She made it to the semi-final round of a tournament called the Australian Open.

Bouchard is the 30th ranked female tennis player in the world.

On Monday she played against Ana Ivanovic, the 14th ranked female tennis player in the world.

Ivanovic had just recently beaten the world-number-one ranked female tennis player, Serena Williams. With that huge win, Ivanovic seemed poised to beat Bouchard.

However, Bouchard had other plans.

News Technology

$40 Tablet Comes To Canada And The U.S.

Many people use tablet computers, like the Apple iPad or the Samsung Galaxy.

The small, flat computers, which you operate by swiping their surface with your fingers, are very expensive. They can cost as much as $800.

But one company, Datawind, says they have a tablet that sells for just $40.

Datawind’s tablet is called Ubislate, and it is already widely used in India.

Datawind has just launched Ubislate (pronounced oo-bee-slate) in Canada and the U.S. There is a lot of interest as well as debate over whether it offers enough speed, screen clarity and features.

Ubislate can’t do everything the expensive tablets do, but Toronto Star technology reporter Raju Mudhar used the tablet for a few days and said that what it does, it does well.

News

Take Our Fun Quiz: 2013 In Review (Part I)

How much do you know about the news that happened in 2013?

Take our quiz and see how much you remember about these stories from the past year. The link beside each question will take you to the TKN article that will give you the answer.

1) First Nations, Inuit and Metis people came together to form a movement for peaceful protest. What did the group call itself?

2) Chris Hadfield is famous for _____________. (Note: There are many possible correct answers for this one — fill the blank with what you know about Hadfield.)

Lighter

Bad Manners Will Cost You Extra In This French Café

A café in France has found a way to encourage politeness.

The more polite you are, the less you have to pay for your coffee.

A cup of coffee at La Petite Syrah cafe costs a whopping €7 (seven Euros, or more than $10).

However, you can bring the price down if you’re nice to the server.

If you say please when you order (or s’il vous plait in French) the price comes down to €4,25 (about $6.18).

And if you say hello as well (“bonjour, un café, s’il vous plait”) the price comes down to a much more reasonable €1,40 (just over $2).

News Politics

Top Secret Document Released By CBC News

There has been a lot of interest lately into the way countries obtain information about each other.

CBC News recently reported that it has a document showing that Canada has spied on its trading partners.

“Spied” (spying) in this case means obtained information about another country which that country may not otherwise have been willing to openly share.

The CBC said Canada was conducting “espionage” (spying) because it was asked to by a department of the United States.

The document the CBC is referring to is a four-page document that outlines the spying activities.

The CBC said someone “leaked” it to them, meaning that someone sent it out when it was supposed to be secret.

The document was marked “Top Secret.”

News Politics

“A Great Tree Has Fallen” – Nelson Mandela Laid To Rest

The father of South Africa was laid to rest on Sunday.

Nelson Mandela was an international icon who fought for peace and reconciliation.

During his life, he affected millions of people. He helped bring about the elimination of “apartheid” in South Africa.

Mandela died on December 5 at the age of 95.

On Sunday, he was given a state funeral, in his home village of Qunu, followed by a private graveside ceremony.

News

Pope Francis Chosen As Time’s Person Of The Year

Time Magazine has named Pope Francis its “Person of the Year” for 2013.

The magazine has been handing out the honour each year since 1927.

Time chose the pope “for his strong leadership, humility and concern for the poor.” They said he has “brought new energy to the church.”

On March 13, 2013, the Catholic Church chose Argentinian-born Jorge Mario Bergoglio to be its new pope; he later selected the name Pope Francis.

The pope lives simply, in a modest apartment. He drives around in a 30-year-old vehicle, although he could—as past popes have done—own expensive cars.

Pope Francis, 77, strongly believes in helping the poor.

News Politics

Nelson Mandela Memorialized By Prime Ministers, Presidents, Royalty, Citizens, Celebrities

The skies wept over thousands of mourners gathered yesterday in a soccer stadium in South Africa to remember Nelson Mandela.

Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, attended along with four former prime ministers: Jean Chretien, Kim Campbell, Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney. Also in attendance was Shawn Atleo, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

Leaders of many other nations attended the memorial service to commemorate “the father of South Africa,” who passed away on Thursday at the age of 95.

But it was U.S. president Barack Obama that brought the crowd to its feet in a standing ovation with his words of praise for Mandela:

He makes me want to be a better man. He speaks to what’s best inside of us. After this great liberator is laid to rest, and when we’ve returned to our cities and villages and rejoined our daily routines, let us search for his strength, let us search for his largeness of spirit somewhere inside of ourselves.