Freezing soap bubbles during Maryland’s cold spell
Baltimore Sun photographer Karl Merton Ferron took advantage of the slightly-warmer-but-still-chilly polar vortex weather to test a cold-weather experiment: freezing soap bubbles.
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Ice and snow festival in China brings winter wonderland to life
While much of the U.S. prepares for potentially record-breaking cold temperatures this week, the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival has visitors flocking to northeast China to, uh, chill out. The event kicked off Sunday with an ice swimming competition, but the festival really heats up (we know, we know) at night when guests stroll past giant ice sculptures illuminated in a winter village.
As Olympics in Russia approach, gay scene shrinks in Sochi
For some time, Sochi was one of Russia’s top gay scenes. But after the coastal city was chosen as the site for the 2014 Olympics and President Vladimir Putin signed a “gay propaganda” law into action, Sochi’s LGBT scene has been shrinking.
Reuters photographer Thomas Peter documented slices of LGBT life in Sochi in October, about four months before the 2014 Winter Olympics were slated to begin.
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Dec. 25 Photo Brief: South Sudan conflict continues, Christmas worldwide
The crisis in South Sudan continues, severe weather strikes Western Europe, survivors of typhoon Haiyan observe Christmas and more in today’s daily brief.
Pope Francis delivers first Christmas Day address
In his first Christmas as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis used his “Urbi et Orbi” address to call for an end to the conflict in South Sudan and peace worldwide.
Scotland reindeer herd prepares for Christmas Day
Believe it: Britain has a reindeer herd. The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd, introduced to Scotland in 1952, has grown in numbers and currently has about 130 reindeer in its ranks.
Same-sex marriage continues in Utah after federal judge’s ruling
A federal judge declined Monday to halt same-sex marriages in Utah as the state appeals his earlier ruling that overturned Utah’s same-sex marriage ban and declared it unconstitutional.halt while the state appeals Shelby’s ruling that Utah’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional. Reuters reports that about 900 couples lined up in Salt Lake City early Monday to obtain marriage licenses, which the Salt Lake County clerk’s office began issuing Friday.
Related: Ohio must recognize same-sex marriages held out of state, judge rules.
In South Africa, crowds bid farewell at Nelson Mandela memorial
Tens of thousands of mourners gathered at Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium to pay their respects at a memorial service for fallen South African leader Nelson Mandela. They were joined by about 100 World leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, who spoke of Mandela’s legacy.
25th annual World AIDS Day commemorated
Sunday brought the 25th commemoration of World AIDS Day, an event meant to boost awareness of the spread of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. UNAIDS, a United Nations program, estimates 1.6 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2012.
Baltimore, where the Washington Monument was illuminated in red to mark World AIDS Day, is consistently ranked as having one of the nation’s top 10 urban HIV infection rates.
Oct. 29 Photo Brief: Belarus commemorates victims of political repression, Turkey’s Republic Day
Belarussians observe an unofficial day of commemoration for the victims of political repression, Turkey celebrates the 90th anniversary of its republic and “Treasure of San Gennaro” goes on display in today’s daily brief.