Oldest woman in the world celebrates her 115th birthday, a satellite view of an enormous winter storm, violence in Egypt continues and more in today’s daily brief. | Warning: Visual coverage may show injury and/or death.
On March 5, 1963, Wham-O’s co-founder, Arthur “Spud” Melin patented the Hula Hoop® (U.S. Patent Number 3,079,728). However, the folks at Wham-O can’t technically claim to be the first to spin hoops around their midsections. For centuries, many cultures have been using hoops for exercise and religious ceremonies. It just so happens that the sock hoppin’ 50’s and the gyrating hips of a king meant the time was right for the toy makers to introduce their hoop en mass to the hip-shaking American youth. The first modern Hula Hoop was first marketed 1958 leading to hundreds of millions of units sold before Wham-O’s patent was even granted.
Never one to let rivals like McLaren and Ferrari have all the fun unveiling their $1-million-plus supercars, Lamborghini brought its $3.9-million Veneno to the Geneva Motor Show.
Kenyan voters returned to the polls today for the first time since bloody post-poll violence broke out five years ago that resulted in over 1,100 people killed and some 600,000 displaced. According to media reports, at least 15 were killed today in attacks as most voters experienced long lines at the polls. 14.3 million voters were expected to turn out for Election Day.
One of Britain’s most notorious heist stories is also one of the greatest crime stories of the 20th-century. The 1963 “Great Train Robbery” introduced the world to mastermind Bruce Reynolds and his gang of thieves, who robbed a Royal Mail night train traveling from Glasgow to London on August 8, 1963. Nearly $7 million was stolen, most of it never recovered.
Most recently, the death of Reynolds made headlines, coming just months before the 50th anniversary of the heist.
Dennis Rodman returns from North Korea, the Afghan Ski Challenge, SpaceX Dragon cargo vehicle in space, sinkholes in the news and more in today’s daily brief.
The United States Naval Academy is an institution rich in history and traditions. One of the lesser known is its storied background in boxing. Superintendent Admiral David Porter started the sport at the academy in 1865. The sport was initially treated as a casual recreation in the beginning.
The Royal Australian Air Force draws 180,000 patrons to the Australian International Airshow, Egyptian activists perform the “Harlem Shake” in front of the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters, the Shanghai Nature museum prepares panda specimens, Cirque du Soleil’s “Kooza” hits Madrid and more in today’s daily brief.
Cockfighting, known as “Murgh Janghi” in the Afghan Dari language, is a popular game among Afghans during the winter season, which was banned by the Taliban rulers. The heels and bills of the birds are sharpened before fights, which run around 4-6 rounds. Each round lasts between 10 to 20 minutes with a gap of 5 minutes in between bouts. Some 100,000 to 200,000 Afghanis ($2,000 to $4,000 USD) can exchange hands among spectators placing bets during these fights.
Reuters photographer Omar Sobhani and Getty Images photographer Shah Marai captured today’s cockfight in Kabul.
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