Puzzle: International Imaginary News

PERU: International Imaginary News Agency opens for business today

The above headline caught my eye- so I went to check out the website for this unconventional news source. Here are some of their other leading news stories- but can you provide the missing word in each one?

SOUTH AFRICA: _____ ownership at record high level, surveys report

FINLAND: Use of leather _______ in kindergarten to be banned

EGPYT: ‘Toxic _____ of distrust’ mars OAU summit

NORWAY: Progress on CO2 offsetting ‘too _____’ experts warn

Guessing that PERU is something of a clue in and of itself:

SOUTH AFRICA: Pet ownership at record high level, surveys report

FINLAND: Use of leather erotica in kindergarten to be banned

EGPYT: ‘Toxic rumors of distrust’ mars OAU summit

NORWAY: Progress on CO2 offsetting ‘too upsetting’ experts warn

The Peru headline is indeed a clue on how to go about filling in the blanks- but not in the way you’ve guessed. However, one of your answers is correct!

If only one is correct, I’m guessin’ it’s FINLAND.

[quote=“cheeses_of_nazareth, post:1, topic:954976”]

I will try:

SOUTH AFRICA: Cell phone_____ ownership at record high level, surveys report

FINLAND: Use of leather restraints_____ in kindergarten to be banned

EGPYT: ‘Toxic graffiti___ of distrust’ mars OAU summit

NORWAY: Progress on CO2 offsetting ‘too occultish___’ experts warn

None of those four are correct.

New story just added:

BULGARIA: Diaries of Ian Fleming to be auctioned for charity

Okay, I figured out which one of Prof. Pepperwinkle’s answers is correct. Good puzzle.

How about:

ITALY: Certain mummies from Egyptian tombs can be “re-animated”, Vatican scientist claims.

or

SWITZERLAND: Mountaineer bank robber nabbed trying to scale Matterhorn to hide stolen euros.

Pet, satchels, air, slow!

And what country (to reverse the challenge a bit) has just named Hava Nagila its official International Folk Dance?

Good puzzle. Apparently, in JAPAN, travel to Kyoto has been banned under new COVID restrictions.

Also, I got a sneak preview of tomorrow’s edition. What’s missing?

WALES: Soccer goal keepers to be punished with red ____ if found using superglue on their gloves.

BANGLADESH: Studies show that performing the New Zealand _____ makes you 500% better at rugby.

NETHERLANDS: A giant rampaging pet _______ damaged the world’s oldest windmill.

Hint for those still working on it:

Try reading the OP’s headlines very slowly.

Would that be CUBA, by any chance?

Well done, all.

One thing about the International Imaginary News Agency is that their coverage can be erratic. On the subject of Tunisia, for example, they’ll print anything!

Someday I’ll tumble to this.