Taxi driver drunk with 49 passengers

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa: A drunk mini-bus taxi driver was stopped during the morning hours and found to have 49 children in a bus seating 16. The driver was pulled over at a routine check-point in KwaZulu-Natal province and found to be five times over the legal blood alcohol limit. According to Reuters, 49 children ranging in age from 3 to 13 were piled on top of each other in the vehicle. Millions of South Africans use mini-buses on a daily basis for travel between cities and townships. Police are beginning to get tough with taxi drivers and driving regulations with the imminent World Cup soccer tournament being held in June, expecting many visiting foreigners to use minibuses for transport.

Naples given pizza honour

NAPLES, Italy: The Italian city that gave birth to the pizza received official recognition for its most famous creation. The European Union approved Neapolitan pizza for the Traditional Specialty Guaranteed label which came into effect last week. Italian pizzerias are now supposed to have their pizzas scrutinized by a special commission who ensure certain pizza standards are met. BBC News reported the Italian Farmers association believes that half of Italy’s pizzerias use the inauthentic pizza ingredients. The newest admission into the TSG puts Italy with the highest amount of protected products with 180 items.

Mexican official promotes legalization of pot

MEXICO CITY, Mexico: Former foreign minister Jose Castaneda is advocating the United States and Mexico should both legalize marijuana in an effort to combat Mexican drug cartels and trafficking across the border. Since Mexican president Felipe Calderon took office in 2006, 17,000 people have died as a result of the drug wars going on between the government and the cartels; in February alone, 900 have already died. CNN reports the Drug Enforcement Administration states 60 per cent of Mexican drug cartels’ profits are from marijuana sales; Castaneda feels that legalizing the drug will minimize a large portion of the cartels’ strength.

Camel burger new on menu

DUBAI, UAE: The Local House, an Emerati restaurant, is now offering camel burgers on its menu as a healthy option for fast-food fare. Camel meat is commonly eaten in some Arab countries however, it is not typically found in supermarkets or on restaurant menus. The Local House sells the camel burger for approximately $6.00 and touts it as fat- and cholesterol-free. It is loaded with cheese and burger sauce and can come with fries or potato wedges. The Telegraph reported the burger may soon be offered at the recently opened Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, where Local House may open a franchise.

Published in Volume 64, Number 19 of The Uniter (February 11, 2010)