On March 10, Professor Robert Kelly was doing what the expert on South Korea does regularly — discussing a political situation on live television with a BBC News reporter via Skype. In this case, the topic was South Korean President Park Geun-hye's unprecedented March 9th impeachment for committing “acts that violated the Constitution and laws.”...
Read news articleResidents of the US East Coast still recovering from last week’s record snowstorms will be happy to know that today is not just the first day of spring, but also the International Day of Happiness. First celebrated in 2013, this fun holiday was established by the United Nations (UN) to remind us that "the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal."...
Read news articleEven if math doesn’t rank high on your list of favorite subjects, chances are you still look forward to Pi Day. That’s because though the discussions may begin with Pi — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — they invariably end with a piece or two of yummy pie! The event is commemorated on March 14 because though the irrational number (its decimal representation never ends and never repeats) has been calculated to over ten trillion digits, it is widely recognized as 3.14....
Read news articleOn February 21, after a week of feasting on her favorite treats that included a multi-tiered ice cake, giant panda Bao Bao started preparing for her one-way journey to China. The National Zoo resident began the morning with a hearty breakfast comprising 17 pounds (8 kg) of bamboo and 5.4 pounds (2.4 kg) of leafeater biscuits before heading out for some fresh air. Shortly after, she was put inside a custom-made, four-by-six, steel travel crate and transported to the Washington Dulles International Airport....
Read news articleWinter means different things to different people. For some, it is the chance to cozy up to a warm fire, for others, a time to frolic in the snow. Then there are those that head to the Takhini Hot Springs in Yukon, Canada to participate in the wacky and hilarious International Hair Freezing Contest....
Read news articleWhile the world is still debating the safety of self-driving cars, the futuristic city-state of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is preparing to launch an autonomous aerial taxi. Starting in July, commuters will be able to summon the world’s first passenger drone, the EHang 184, to transport them to their desired destination without having to deal with Dubai’s congested freeways....
Read news articleTwo days before Valentine’s Day, 40 couples dressed in gorgeous wedding gowns and black tuxedos tied the knot at a mass wedding ceremony in Peru’s capital, Lima. Not impressed? How about if we tell you that the brides and grooms were dogs?...
Read news articleOn February 11, thousands of people, many dressed in costumes and masks, gathered at the Rio de Cannaregio in Venice to watch the spectacular water show that marked the opening of the Carnevale di Venezia, or Carnival of Venice. The brainchild of the creative minds at Corona Events artist company, it featured colorful floating structures and acrobatic performers, many of whom were dressed as sea creatures....
Read news articleEvery February 14, people worldwide demonstrate their affection for family members, friends, teachers, and significant others with a gift or two. However, this display of love does not come cheap. The National Retail Federation say that 55% of Americans will celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, spending an average of $136.57 USD each. Though lower than the $146.84 USD expended in 2016, it will add a respectable $18 billion USD to the economy! It is no wonder that retailers love the holiday....
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