Aid groups hope for extended ceasefire in Homs
Humanitarian agencies are pushing to extend a ceasefire in the Syrian city of Homs in hopes of giving more civilians safe passage from the war torn area and allowing groups like The Red Crescent to deliver much-needed aid to those trapped there. The three-day truce ended Sunday, the BBC reported. Gunfire and fighting resumed overnight, but a ceasefire deal is expected to be reached Monday. President Bashar al-Assad’s government and opposition have resumed peace talks in Geneva, after the first round ended in insults and brick walls. The two sides are not yet meeting face to face over the civil war that has claimed more than 100,000 lives since it began in 2011. [Source: BBC]
Rob Ford story sold
Blue Ice Pictures has bought the film and TV rights to Toronto Star reporter Robyn Doolittle’s book Crazy Town: The Rob Ford Story. Fantastic. The film, the details of which are scant at this time, will be produced by Blue Ice’s Daniel Iron and Lance Samuels. “This is a story about the city in which I have lived my entire life and has great political, cultural and civic meaning to me,” Iron said in a statement, according to CTV. “Robyn Doolittle’s book is a testament to dogged, fearless and exemplary journalism. We are excited to be working with Ms. Doolittle to bring this story to the screen.”
Ford admitted Monday to lying about drug use because he was embarrassed. [Source: CTV and National Post]
Endangered Tiger haunting villages in India
A Bengal tiger believed to have wandered from the Jim Corbett National Park in India has killed 10 people in six weeks, as it prowls northern villages and evades hunters. “On Saturday night the tigress almost fell in trap and was close to the calf,” Deputy director of the park Saket Badola was quoted as saying in a Globe and Mail article. “But she did not attack the bait and left silently.” The tiger made itself known to the area on Dec. 29 when a 65-year-old man was mauled. Thousands of villagers have been told to avoid the forests, as the tiger has taken to hunting humans in the absence of its natural prey. Of the estimated 3,200 tigers left in the wild, India is home to more than half. India considers all its wild tigers endangered due to poaching and disappearing habitat. [Source: Globe and Mail]
University of Winnipeg deal reached
A deal has been reached between the University of Winnipeg and its professors, marking with success the end of three days of mediated talks between the groups. The details of the deal have not yet been published, but students can rest easy knowing the school they are attending will not have its first ever faculty strike at this time. They came close, according to the Freep, in 2010. [Source: Freep]
Will Ferrell challenges lookalike Chad Smith to drum vs. cowbell showdown
Will Ferrell challenged lookalike Chad Smith, Red Hot Chilli Pepper drummer, to the “greatest drum vs. cowbell showdown the world has ever seen.” Ferrell cameoed on a Reddit feed Smith started in response to Instagram requests for Ferrell to stop impersonating Smith. The Chilli Pepper’s comments where to promote a drum auction to raise support for Make A Wish Foundation. Ferrell’s response to this was in support of Smith’s but also to raise awareness for Cancer for College “Hi, Chad. Will Ferrell here. I saw your video and I graciously accept your invitation to a drum battle. If we can raise $300,000 for Cancer For College I will face off with you in the greatest drum vs. cowbell showdown the world has ever seen. We can do it on stage at a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert or in front of a mutually convenient public library. Your call. Also, would you rather fight a hundred duck sized ducks or one horse sized horse?”
The details of the possible showdown are not yet known. [Source: Death and Taxes]
Honourable mention: This:
[vimeo url=”http://vimeo.com/86019637″]
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