Happy New Year 2025

Tag: Island

Adams vows to let ICE agents work at Rikers Island after meeting with border czar

New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday said a plan was being worked on to allow federal immigration authorities to operate on Rikers Island following a meeting with border czar Tom Homan, a significant step given the city’s sanctuary policies.

Adams met with Homan during a closed-door meeting. In a statement, he said an executive order was being worked on to “reestablish the ability for ICE agents to operate on Rikers Island — as was the case for 20 years.”

“But now, instead, ICE agents would specifically be focused on assisting the correctional intelligence bureau in their criminal investigations, in particular those focused on violent criminals and gangs,” he added.

TOM HOMAN BELIEVES ICE RAID LEAKS ARE ‘COMING FROM INSIDE’ AS AURORA LEAKER CLOSER TO BEING IDENTIFIED

The Rikers Island jail complex is seen with the Manhattan skyline in the background on June 20, 2014. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Adams said the pair discussed how to combat violent migrant gangs and embedding more New York Police Department officers into federal task forces.

Unlike many blue city mayors, Adams has expressed interest in working with the Trump administration to crack down on illegal immigration in an effort to combat crime.

He noted that New York shouldered a larger number of migrants transported to blue cities from the southern border.

“New York City has been forced to shoulder the burden of a national humanitarian crisis where more than 230,000 migrants have come to our city seeking support, at a cost of approximately $7 billion, with little help from the previous administration,” Adams said.

AG PAM BONDI VOWS TO ‘FIGHT BACK’ AGAINST JUDGES BLOCKING TRUMP’S ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENDA

Border czar Tom Homan, left, met with New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday to discuss the city’s ongoing migrant crisis. (Getty Images)

“That is why I have been clear that I want to work with the new federal administration, not war with them, to find common ground and make better the lives of New Yorkers,” he added.

The meeting came days after the Justice Department ordered federal prosecutors to drop a bribery case against Adams.

Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove sent a letter to the acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) on Monday, instructing the SDNY to drop the federal case against Adams and dismiss it without prejudice.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams sits down for an interview with Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum. (Fox News / The Story)

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In response, Acting U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon resigned on Thursday in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has taken a hard stance against sanctuary cities. On Wednesday, Bondi put New York and other cities on notice.

“This is a new DOJ,” she told reporters while announcing a lawsuit against New York state and government officials. “New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops. It stops today.”

February 14, 2025
Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck 2025 Date in Malta: Know Aim, History and Significance of the Day That Marks the Apostle Paul’s Shipwreck on the Island of Malta

The Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck is an annual religious celebration observed in Malta on February 10 each year. This day marks the Apostle Paul’s shipwreck on the island of Malta, as described in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 27-28) in the Bible. According to tradition, St. Paul was on his way to Rome as a prisoner when his ship was caught in a storm and wrecked on the Maltese coast. He and the other survivors were warmly welcomed by the islanders. The Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck 2025 falls on Monday, February 10. As per records, during his stay, Paul is believed to have performed miracles, including healing the sick and converting many to Christianity. February 2025 Holidays and Festivals Calendar: Get Full List of Major Events in the Second Month of the Year.

Many people in Malta view St. Paul as the father of their faith, and hence, the feast reflects their deep-rooted traditions. Even today, the feast continues to unite communities, attracting locals and visitors who come to witness the rich history and faith of Malta. In this article, let’s know more about The Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck 2025 date and the significance of the annual event.

The Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck 2025 Date

The Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck 2025 falls on Monday, February 10.

The Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck Significance

The Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck is an annual feast and is said to be one of Malta’s most important religious events. This day is not just a religious observance but also a celebration of Malta’s strong Christian heritage. It is celebrated with great devotion and fanfare by people across the region. The highlight of the day is a grand procession in Valletta, featuring a revered statue of St. Paul carried through the streets.

On this day, churches hold special masses, prayers, and sermons recounting Paul’s time in Malta and his influence on spreading Christianity across the region. Fireworks, music, and community gatherings are witnessed on this day, making it both a spiritual and cultural event.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 10, 2025 08:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).

February 10, 2025
Greek island Santorini evacuated after earthquakes shake tourist destination

Hundreds of earthquakes that have rattled the Greek islands since last week have prompted the evacuation of thousands from the tourist hotspot Santorini.

Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos told The Associated Press that the tremors are a “seismic swarm” and could continue for weeks before eventually diminishing.

“This phenomenon may play out with small quakes or a single, slightly stronger one, followed by gradual subsidence,” Zorzos said, adding he was cautiously optimistic after speaking to seismologists.

More than 200 undersea earthquakes up to magnitude 5 have been recorded in the volcanic region since Friday.

EMERGENCY CREWS DEPLOYED ON SANTORINI AS EARTHQUAKE SWARM WORRIES GREEK EXPERTS

Tourists walk on the narrow streets of Fira after an earthquake swarm on the island of Santorini, southern Greece, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Roughly 9,000 people have left Santorini since Sunday, with more emergency flights and ferries adding services to accommodate departures, the BBC reported.

People wait for the arrival of a regularly scheduled ferry to Athens’ port of Piraeus, after a spike in seismic activity raised concerns about a potentially powerful earthquake in Santorini, southern Greece, on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Santorini has canceled public events, restricted travel to the island and banned construction work in certain areas. The quakes have caused cracks in some older buildings, but no injuries have been reported. The island has a population of approximately 15,500 residents.

EARTHQUAKE OFF COAST OF MAINE SHAKES NORTHEAST

A woman from China looks on from a caldera at Firostefani while authorities are taking emergency measures in response to intense seismic activity on the popular Aegean Sea holiday island of Santorini, southern Greece, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Efthimios Lekkas, head of the state-run Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, said the epicenter of the earthquakes in the Aegean was moving northward away from Santorini, and emphasized there was no connection to the area’s dormant volcanoes.

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“This may last several days or several weeks. We are not able to predict the evolution of the sequence in time,” Lekkas told state-run television.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

February 4, 2025
Danish PM wants boosted US ‘footprint’ in Greenland, but island ‘not for sale’

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen repeated on Monday that Greenland is “not for sale,” but she remained open to bolstering the American “footprint” on the Arctic island.

As European Union leaders convened for a meeting in Brussels, Frederiksen addressed President Donald Trump’s prospect of acquiring control of Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, a U.S. ally, through military or economic force.

“I think we have been very clear from the Kingdom of Denmark, with great support from the European partners and the European Union, that everybody has to respect the sovereignty of all national states in the world, and that Greenland is today a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, it is a part of our territory, and it’s not for sale,” Frederiksen told reporters, speaking in English. “The chairman, the leader of Greenland, has been very clear that they are not for sale.”

Frederiksen signaled that Denmark would welcome Trump sending more troops to Greenland, where the U.S. Space Force already has a base to monitor missile threats.

US FLIES JOINT PATROL WITH THE PHILIPPINES NEAR SHOAL REGION GUARDED BY CHINA

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen talks to media before an informal EU leaders’ retreat on Feb. 3, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)

“I totally agree with the Americans that the High North, that the Arctic region is becoming more and more important when we are talking about defense and security and deterrence,” Frederiksen said, as China and Russia have both been increasingly active in the region. “And it is possible to find a way to ensure stronger footprints in Greenland. They [the U.S.] are already there, and they can have more possibilities. And at the same time, we are willing to scale up from the Kingdom of Denmark. And I think NATO is the same. So if this is about securing our part of the world, we can find a way forward.”

Frederiksen also responded to Trump’s threat of implementing tariffs on imports from the European Union. The Danish leader said EU members “are willing to help each other and to stick together, and I will never support the idea of fighting allies, but of course, if the U.S. puts tough tariffs on Europe, we need a collective and robust response.”

Last week, her government announced a nearly $2 billion agreement with parties, including the governments of Greenland and the Faeroe Islands, to “improve capabilities for surveillance and maintaining sovereignty in the region.” It would include three new Arctic naval vessels, two additional long-range surveillance drones and satellite capacity, the Danish Defense Ministry said.

Meanwhile, European Council President Antonio Costa, noting that the EU has stood beside Ukraine in defense of its borders, said of Greenland on Monday: “Of course, we will stand also for these principles, all the more so if the territorial integrity of a member state of the European Union is questioned.”

Trump has said the United States needs control of Greenland, as well as the Panama Canal, for “national security purposes.” While Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama this week, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino pledged to end his country’s key Belts and Road project agreement with China. Trump had lamented Beijing’s increased control of the strategic waterway, built by the United States, connecting the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

The Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base, with the domes of the Thule Tracking Station, in northern Greenland on Oct. 4, 2023. (Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

SECRETARY OF STATE RUBIO CONFIRMS BECOMING ACTING USAID CHIEF

In Brussels on Monday, Frederiksen also reacted to Vice President JD Vance recently asserting that Denmark has “not been a good ally.” In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Vance repeated that Greenland is “really important to our national security,” as China and Russia increasingly traverse sea lanes near the island, and “frankly, Denmark, which controls Greenland, it’s not doing its job, and it’s not being a good ally.”

“You have to ask yourself, how are we going to solve that problem, solve our own national security if that means that we need to take more territorial interests in Greenland? That is what President Trump is going to do, because he doesn’t care about what the Europeans scream at us. He cares about putting the interests of America’s citizens first,” Vance said, adding, “You’ve got probably 55,000 people living on Greenland who are not actually happy with Danish government. They’ve got great natural resources there. They’ve got an incredibly bountiful country that the Danes aren’t letting them develop and explore. Of course, Donald Trump would take a different approach if he was the leader of Greenland.”

Speaking in Danish, Frederiksen told reporters that Danes “have fought side by side with the Americans for many, many decades,” according to reports and an online translation.

Prime Minister Frederiksen signaled that Denmark would welcome Trump sending more troops to Greenland, where the U.S. Space Force has a base to monitor missile threats. (Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)

“We are one of the United States’ most important and strongest allies – and I will not accept the notion that Denmark is a bad ally. We are not, we never have been, and we never will be in the future. The Arctic Cooperation is important. It is something we are willing to prioritize,” Frederiksen said, arguing that it would align with the interests of Denmark, the U.S. and NATO.

“It is sensible, but it is also important that we work together against terrorism, against the destabilization we see in the Baltic Sea right now with sabotage, and it is important that we work together on NATO’s Eastern flank and thereby holding firm in relation to Russia,” she added, turning to the Ukraine war. “So we would be able to work together in many ways, but I do not want to be sitting on Denmark’s name and remuneration that we should be a bad ally, because we are not.”

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Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., visited Greenland’s capital Nuuk, to meet with locals last month, weeks before his father took office.

Trump’s 10% tariffs on Chinese imports into the U.S. took effect this week, as the administration aims to hold Beijing accountable for precursor chemicals said to be fueling the fentanyl crisis. He agreed to suspend a 25% additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tax on energy imported from Canada, including oil, natural gas and electricity, by 30 days after both countries agreed to send additional troops to their borders with the U.S., among other stipulations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Danielle Wallace is a breaking news and politics reporter at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on X: @danimwallace.

February 4, 2025
Earthquakes near Greek island of Santorini worry experts, residents
- More than 200 undersea earthquakes have been recorded near Aegean Sea islands, popular summer vacation destinations, over the past three days.
- Local authorities are taking precautions, including deploying emergency crews, banning access to some seaside areas near cliffs and instructing hotels to drain swimming pools.
- Greek experts say the quakes are not linked to Santorini’s volcano, which was the source of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in human history more than 3,500 years ago.
Schools were closed and emergency crews deployed on the volcanic Greek island of Santorini on Monday after a spike in seismic activity raised concerns about a potentially powerful earthquake.

Precautions were also ordered on several nearby Aegean Sea islands — all popular summer vacation destinations — after more than 200 undersea earthquakes were recorded in the area over the past three days.

“We have a very intense geological phenomenon to handle,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said from Brussels, where he was attending a European meeting. “I want to ask our islanders first and foremost to remain calm, to listen to the instructions of the Civil Protection (authority).”

EARTHQUAKE OFF COAST OF MAINE SHAKES NORTHEAST

Mobile phones on the island blared with alert warnings about the potential for rockslides, while several earthquakes caused loud rumbles. Authorities banned access to some seaside areas, including the island’s old port, that are in close proximity to cliffs.

“These measures are precautionary, and authorities will remain vigilant,” Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias said late Sunday following an emergency government meeting in Athens. “We urge citizens to strictly adhere to safety recommendations to minimize risk.”

While Greek experts say the quakes, many with magnitudes over 4.5, are not linked to Santorini’s volcano, they acknowledge that the pattern of seismic activity is cause for concern.

The volcanic island of Nea Kameni, left, is seen from Fira, Santorini’s main town, as Greek authorities take emergency measures in response to intense seismic activity on the popular Aegean Sea holiday island in Greece, on Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Government officials met with scientists throughout the weekend and on Monday to assess the situation, while schools were also ordered shut on the nearby islands of Amorgos, Anafi and Ios.

Residents are concerned

The frequency of the quakes, which continued throughout Sunday night and into Monday, has worried residents and visitors.

“I have never felt anything like this and with such frequency — an earthquake every 10 or 20 minutes. Everyone is anxious even if some of us hide it not to cause panic, but everyone is worried,” said Michalis Gerontakis, who is also the director of the Santorini Philharmonic Orchestra.

“We came out yesterday and performed. Despite the earthquakes, the philharmonic performed for a religious occasion,” Gerontakis said. “When you are playing, you cannot feel the quakes but there were earthquakes when we were at the church. No one can know what will happen. People can say whatever they like, but that has no value. You cannot contend with nature.”

Residents and visitors were advised to avoid large indoor gatherings and areas where rock slides could occur, while hotels were instructed to drain swimming pools to reduce potential building damage from an earthquake.

Fire service rescuers who arrived on the island on Sunday set up yellow tents as a staging area inside a basketball court next to the island’s main hospital.

“We arrived last night, a 26-member team of rescuers and one rescue dog,” said fire brigadier Ioannis Billias, adding that many residents, including entire families, spent the night in their cars.

Some residents and local workers headed to travel agents seeking plane or ferry tickets to leave the island.

“We’ve had earthquakes before but never anything like this. This feels different,” said Nadia Benomar, a Moroccan tour guide who has lived on the island for 19 years. She bought a ferry ticket Monday for the nearby island of Naxos.

“I need to get away for a few days until things calm down,” she said.

Tourists pass by closed shops in Fira town as Greek authorities prepare for a potential earthquake following the detection of more than 200 undersea earthquakes nearby, on the island of Santorini, Greece, on Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Others said they were willing to take the risk. Restaurant worker Yiannis Fragiadakis had been away but said he returned to Santorini on Sunday despite the earthquakes.

“I wasn’t afraid. I know that people are really worried and are leaving, and when I got to the port it was really busy, it was like the summer,” Fragiadakis said. “I plan to stay and hopefully the restaurant will start working (for the holiday season) in three weeks.”

South Korean tourist Soo Jin Kim, from Seoul, arrived Sunday on a family vacation.

“We had dinner last night at the hotel and felt mild shakes about 10 times. But at midnight we felt a big one, a big shake, so I checked the news report. We are half-worried and half-looking to see what the situation is,” she said, adding she didn’t plan to change her travel plans.

Santorini volcano blew up 3,500 years ago

Crescent-shaped Santorini is a premier tourism destination with daily arrivals via commercial flights, ferries, and cruise ships. The island draws more than 3 million visitors annually to its whitewashed villages built along dramatic cliffs formed by a massive volcanic eruption — considered to be one of the largest in human history — more than 3,500 years ago.

That eruption, which occurred around 1620 B.C., destroyed a large part of the island, blanketed a wide area in feet of ash and is believed to have contributed to the decline of the ancient Minoan civilization, which had flourished in the region.

Although it is still an active volcano, the last notable eruption occurred in 1950.

Prominent Greek seismologist Gerasimos Papadopoulos cautioned that the current earthquake sequence – displayed on live seismic maps as a growing cluster of dots between the islands of Santorini, Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi — could indicate a larger impending event.

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“All scenarios remain open,” Papadopoulos wrote in an online post. “The number of tremors has increased, magnitudes have risen, and epicenters have shifted northeast. While these are tectonic quakes, not volcanic, the risk level has escalated.”

In Santorini’s main town of Fira, local authorities designated gathering points for residents in preparation for a potential evacuation, though Mayor Nikos Zorzos emphasized the preventive nature of the measures.

“We are obliged to make preparations. But being prepared for something does not mean it will happen,” he said during a weekend briefing. “Sometimes, the way the situation is reported, those reports may contain exaggerations… so people should stay calm.”
February 3, 2025
Here’s why comedian Matt Rife traded glitzy city living for cozy Rhode Island suburbs

Serhant founder and CEO Ryan Serhant reveals how those impacted by the California wildfires are managing evacuation and relocation on ‘The Claman Countdown.’

Comedian Matt Rife is taking over the comedy scene – and – the Rhode Island suburbs in his latest real estate venture.

While appearing on the popular “Bad Friends” podcast last August, Rife revealed to fellow comedians and co-hosts Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino that he had recently purchased 80 acres of property in Rhode Island.

According to Rife, Rhode Island originally “wasn’t even in the top 10” states he was looking to buy property in, but something specific drew him to the Ocean State.

MATT RIFE FACES BACKLASH FOR ALLEGEDLY TELLING 6-YEAR-OLD HIS MOTHER BUYS HIS PRESENTS WITH ONLYFANS PROFITS

Comedian Matt Rife pictured alongside an image of the Castle Hill Lighthouse in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. The illustration comes on the heels of Rife’s recent real estate move to Rhode Island. (Fox News / Fox News)

Rife cited sky-high real estate costs as one of the main reasons he left Los Angeles’ notorious comedy scene.

The state of the U.S. real estate market is causing many long-time residents to leave for less expensive areas — including one of 2024’s highest grossing comedians like Matt Rife, according to Billboard.

CALIFORNIA HOUSING CRISIS TURNING MANY WORKING-CLASS TOWNS INTO ‘MILLION-DOLLAR CITIES’: REPORT

“There were three things on my checklist. I wanted to get what I was actually f—ing paying for. ” Rife began. “There was this massive place that was probably the same price of a two-bedroom with no yard in L.A.”

“I needed to have some kind of comedy scene, and Providence has the “Comedy Connection” out there, a great club. Boston is 45 minutes away, an amazing comedy scene, and also convenient for travel. Providence is like my Burbank Airport and Boston is like my LAX,” he joked.

THEO VON ATTENDS TRUMP’S ‘INSPIRING’ INAUGURATION, DECLARES IT’S ‘TIME TO PUT AMERICA FIRST’

Rife went on to express gratitude for his “beautiful” new property, saying that although he has “never been a morning person,” he wakes up every single day “happy” in his home.

“I’m so happy I did that,” he said.

Comedian Matt Rife at the 82nd Annual Golden Globes pictured alongside a photo of California’s highways. (Fox News / Fox News)

THESE WERE THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOMES SOLD IN 2024, ACCORDING TO REDFIN

The young star continued, hilariously revealing that he had purchased his current home while visiting Rhode Island for the first time before one of his shows in Connecticut.

“I was performing at Mohegan Sun, five shows or something like that,” Rife playfully bragged. “[Mohegan Sun] was an hour away, and we were on, I don’t know, Zillow, and I was like, ‘oh I’ll peep this real quick.’ And we went and checked it out, and I was like, ‘this [costs] like one show at Mohegan Sun.’ So, awesome.”

BH Group CEO and founder Isaac Toledano speaks to Fox News Digital about how Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory will fuel positive activity in real estate.

In December, Billboard revealed their list of top ten highest-grossing comedy tours of the year, with Rife quickly climbing the list and earning the number two spot for 2024.

GOLDEN GLOBES HOST NIKKI GLASER MOCKS DIDDY, BEN AFFLECK IN OPENING MONOLOGUE

Rife’s comedy tour grossed more than most of the biggest names in comedy last year, topping all but one comedian: Nate Bargatze, whose tour had a net gross of $82.2 million in 2024, selling over one million tickets.

According to the Billboard study, throughout Rife’s 256 shows in 2024, the new Rhode Island resident grossed about $57.5 million, selling roughly 733,000 tickets.

The 10-person list has a combined $396.7 million in gross-earnings for 2024, a 52% spike from 2023 — making comedians top earners in the entertainment industry.

READ MORE FROM FOX BUSINESS

February 2, 2025
Exploring Greenland’s majestic history as President-elect Trump shines spotlight on island nation

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Before President-elect Trump took a shine to it, Greenland was already on the radar of the cruise ship industry with many vessels choosing picturesque Greenlandic towns for their ports of call.

Cruise ship passengers take photos of fjords in Greenland (Danuta Hamlin)

One of the ports is Qaqortoq, the largest town in southern Greenland.

Qaqortoq means “white” in the Greenlandic language. (Danuta Hamlin)

Sailing from Iceland, the ship followed in the footsteps of Eric the Red, a Norseman who settled this area in 982. As Eric was exiled from Iceland, he made his home here and called it Greenland.

Some 80% of the island is covered by icecap and the remaining parts do not appear very green either.

‘MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN’: TRUMP’S HOUSE GOP ALLIES UNVEIL BILL TO AUTHORIZE COUNTRY’S PURCHASE

Majestic shores of Greenland (Danuta Hamlin)

According to some historians, Eric the Red came up with the name simply for promotional purposes.

He set out to attract more settlers from Iceland and advertised the island as a green land. Some experts say that Greenland could have been warmer at the time, but starting in the 15th century it experienced what is known as “The Little Ice Age.”

Children in Nanortalik, Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)

Life in Greenland became too harsh for Europeans. But the native population of the Island found ways to persevere.

Julianehåb River runs through the center of Qaqortoq, Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)

Nestled in the midst of a scenic fjord system, with a creek cascading across the town, and snow capping the mountain peaks even in the spring, Qaqortoq is a fascinating place to explore.

RUSSIA MONITORING TRUMP’S ‘DRAMATIC’ COMMENTS ON GREENLAND ACQUISITION

Qaqortoq is the fourth-largest town in Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)

Building highways in Greenland is expensive, therefore Qaqortoq is not connected by road to any other town or village. However, when the weather is warmer, the region provides ample opportunities for nature hikes, kayaking and fishing.

Qaqortoq Greenland (Danuta Hamlin)

The town was founded in 1775, as a trade colony, by Norwegian explorer Anders Olsen. With a population of just a little over 3,000, it offers a glimpse of Greenlandic life, Viking history and Nordic-inspired architecture.

The hills are peppered with colorful houses, creating a delightful contrast with the severe peaks of the surrounding fjords.

A street sign in Greenland. Greenlandic is an Eskimo–Aleut language with about 57,000 speakers. (Danuta Hamlin)

Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, but the official language is Greenlandic. It’s a polysynthetic language which means that, technically, there is no limit to the length of a Greenlandic word.

Deciphering local signs can be fun and challenging at the same time.

Stone & Man, an open-air art project in Qaqortoq, Greenland, featuring rock carvings and sculptures (Danuta Hamlin)

TRUMP ESCALATES PLANS TO ACQUIRE GREENLAND AFTER RESIDENT PLEADS: ‘DENMARK’S USING US’

Although trees are not easy to find, the area is full of all kinds of rocks and boulders. Some of them were turned into carvings of faces and whales, in a tribute called “Stone & Man.” This open-air gallery is the work of local Qaqortoq artist Aka Høegh.

Mindebrønden fountain is the older of the only two public fountains in Greenland. (Danuta Hamlin)

Qaqortoq boasts the oldest fountain in the country – Mindebrønden – Memorial Fountain. The fountain was completed in 1932 and is turned off during the winter months.

A fish market in Qaqortoq. Seal meat is a key ingredient in Greenland’s national dish, Suaasat. (Danuta Hamlin)

The town’s fish market sells whatever has been caught on a given day by local fishermen. It could be fish, or it could be whale meat, or perhaps a seal.

Qaqortoq is, after all, a fisherman’s town and seafood plays a vital part in Greenland’s diet.

Nanortalik is a village on Nanortalik Island, with some 1,072 inhabitants. (Danuta Hamlin)

The official religion of Greenland is Evangelical Lutheranism. In another port of call, a village called Nanortalik, members of the local congregation welcomed tourists with a musical performance.

Nanortalik choir singing outdoors in Greenland in 2018. (Danuta Hamlin)

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Nanortalik means the “Place of Polar Bears”. No bears, however, were spotted loitering around the village.

Nanortalik’s old colonial port area is an open-air museum. (Danuta Hamlin)

Greenland is the world’s largest island – a treat for any tourist adventuresome enough to venture there.

Cruise ship passengers take photos of fjords in Greenland (Danuta Hamlin)

The author recently took a cruise to Greenland.

January 23, 2025
Kiribati Becomes First Country To Enter New Year 2025: Kiritimati aka Christmas Island in the Republic of Kiribat, in the Pacific Ocean First Place To Bid Farewell to 2024

Depending on the time zone, some countries are a few hours away from New Year’s Eve and entering a new chapter in their lives, while some are a day away. Some have entered the New Year already. Different countries enter the new year at different times, with some welcoming 2025 much earlier than others. The first country to celebrate New Year 2025 is Kiribati Island. Kiritimati, also known as Christmas Island, which is a part of the Republic of Kiribati, is also the first to ring in the new year. Midnight in Kiribati is 03:30 PM IST. First and Last Countries To Celebrate New Year 2025: Which Is the First Country To Enter New Year? Know When January 1 Begins Around the World at Different Time Zones.

Kiribati Is First Country to Enter New Year 2025

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user’s social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

December 31, 2024
Fiji Welcomes New Year 2025: The Pacific Island Nation Rings in the New Year With Joy (Watch Video)

Many across the globe have already begun preparing for New Year’s Eve celebrations to welcome 2025 with open arms. While some countries are still a day or just a few hours away from the new year, others have already ushered it in and are celebrating the start of a new chapter. Countries like Kiribati, Tonga, Samoa, and New Zealand have already entered 2025. Now, Fiji joins them in celebrating the arrival of the new year. The country is welcoming New Year 2025 ahead of many other countries. Midnight in Fiji on January 1, 2025 is 05:30 PM IST on December 31, 2024. First and Last Countries To Celebrate New Year 2025: Which Is the First Country To Enter New Year? Know When January 1 Begins Around the World at Different Time Zones.

Fiji Welcomes New Year 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V7nRjIZitY

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user’s social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

December 31, 2024