A walrus named Freya rose to fame after clambering onto boats to sunbathe – sometimes even sinking them. However, she was euthanised owing public safety concerns, drawing widespread criticism across Norway and the rest of the world. A statue of the deceased walrus, made by artist Astri Tonoian, has been unveiled in the Norwegian capital.
Month: April 2023
World’s oldest surviving daily newspaper to halt print edition
Wiener Zeitung (meaning Viennese newspaper in English), one of the world’s oldest newspapers, will cease to publish its print edition after a decision made by the Austrian Parliament.
KnowALLedge Plus: Founded in 1703, Wiener Zeitung claims to be the oldest surviving daily newspaper in the world. It is the official publication used by the Government of the Republic of Austria.
In a historic first, five women Army officers commissioned into Regiment of Artillery
Lt Mehak Saini, Lt Sakshi Dubey, Lt Aditi Yadav, Lt Pious Mudgil and Lt Akanksha have joined the Indian Army’s premier artillery units. The first batch successfully completed their training at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai. Three of them have been deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
Madhurr Mittal to play Muttiah Muralitharan in an upcoming biopic
Acclaimed actor Vijay Sethupathi was to play the role of Muttiah Muralitharan on screen, however, he opted out of the biopic after being asked by the cricketer himself, following outrage in Tamil Nadu. Now, Madhurr Mittal will play him in the biopic aptly named ‘800’, after the legend’s total test wickets.
Brazilian football giant Pele enters dictionary
The Portuguese-language Michael’s dictionary, one of the most popular in Brazil, added “pelé” as a new adjective to its online edition, as a synonym for “exceptional, incomparable, unique.” Widely considered to be among the best footballers in history, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, nicknamed Pele, passed away in December 2022 aged 82.
Former NZ PM to join Harvard University
Jacinda Ardern, the former prime minister of New Zealand has announced she will join Harvard University as a fellow later this year. In 2017, she became the world’s youngest female head of government at age 37. She served as the leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. Her leadership during the pandemic received worldwide appreciation.
Ikea copycat opens first store in Moscow
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, several Western firms halted their operations in Russia and eventually exited the country. Sensing a business opportunity, Swed House, a Belarusian furniture firm that is a copycat of Ikea, has opened its first store in Moscow.
Singer and activist Harry Belafonte passes away at the age of 96.
The American singer, actor and activist, who popularized calypso music with international audiences in the 1950s, died from congestive heart failure at his home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York City on April 25, 2023 at the age of 96. He earned his career breakthrough with the album Calypso (1956), which was the first million-selling LP by a single artist.
Japanese giant Sega makes an offer to buy Angry Birds
Sega, the company behind Sonic the Hedgehog, recently announced it has made a €706 million ($776 million) offer to buy Finland’s Rovio Entertainment, the maker of the popular gaming franchise Angry Birds.
Melbourne pips Sydney, becomes Australia’s most populous city once again
Melbourne becomes Australia’s biggest city once again, in terms of population, after more than 100 years. In the late 19th century, Melbourne was Australia’s biggest city amid the gold rush and outnumbered Sydney until 1905.