Korva Coleman

"Suffering On A Huge Scale": World Refugee Numbers Swell

Korva Coleman — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:38:00 +0000

The United Nations Refugee Commission says more than 45.2 million people were in "situations of displacement" around the world as of last year — the most since 1994.

A report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says there were 15.4 million refugees in other countries, 937,000 people seeking political asylum and 28.8 million people forced out of their homes but still inside their own countries.

"Those are the highest numbers since 1994, when people fled genocide in Rwanda and bloodshed in former Yugoslavia," according to The Associated Press.

The U.N.'s ye

Oops. Wrong Birth Year Fixed On NYC Mayor Koch's Tombstone

Korva Coleman — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:24:00 +0000

"You could call it a 'grave' mistake," says WNBC-TV of New York City.

The tombstone of Edward I. Koch, the city's colorful, three-term mayor who died in February, listed an incorrect birth date for him. Instead of showing Dec.

Boston Tops Chicago In Game 3 Of NHL's Stanley Cup

Korva Coleman — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:06:00 +0000

The Boston Bruins have taken the lead in the NHL's Stanley Cup championships, beating the Chicago Blackhawks 2-0 Monday night in Boston. Interestingly, last night wasn't a tense, drawn-out reprise of Games 1 and 2 and did not require an overtime.

Boston's goalie, Tuukka Rask, playing peerlessly, had another shutout, letting the Bruins put it away in the second period.

U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin To Step Down

Korva Coleman — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:03:00 +0000

After four years on the job, the nation's top doctor is leaving. U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin announced late Wednesay that she plans to step down next month.

"Regina has served as America's doctor since 2009 and has impacted the health and lives of Americans across the country. I am deeply grateful for her leadership and service," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wrote in an email to staff, according to CNN.

NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs Open Tonight

Korva Coleman — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:15:00 +0000

Yes, the NBA finals are well underway, and yes it's mid-June, but tonight marks Game 1 of the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup championship. A strike-shortened season pushed the finals later into the spring than usual.

The Chicago Blackhawks, who just knocked off defending champion Los Angeles Kings, will face the Boston Bruins, the NHL 2011 victors. Chicago will have home ice, which is probably a good thing, as the Chicago playoffs against L.A.

'I Didn't Want To Be Pope,' Francis Tells Group Of Children

Korva Coleman — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:18:00 +0000

Speaking to a huge group of children Friday at the Vatican, Pope Francis pushed aside a set of prepared remarks to talk directly to them and answer some of their questions.

One of his frank responses to a girl named Teresa was this: "Anyone who wants to be Pope doesn't care much for themselves, God doesn't bless them. I didn't want to be Pope," reports Reuters.

Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina, is known for his intense focus on the poor and inequality.

'An Inland Ocean Of Flooding': Disaster In Central Europe

Korva Coleman — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 17:57:00 +0000

At least 16 people are dead after several days of flooding in Austria, Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Historic cities are underwater, and flood victims are perching on rooftops for safety.

Get In Line! Enormous Powerball Jackpot Up For Grabs

Korva Coleman — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:58:00 +0000

If it seems as though lottery jackpots keep growing in size, you're right — the multistate Powerball lottery has ballooned to its third-largest size in history, and one or several lucky people could win Wednesday night's drawing.

At this writing, the Powerball is worth an estimated $360 million, with a $229.2 million cash value.

Need A Lift? See Japan's New 'Branomics Bra'

Korva Coleman — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:43:00 +0000

As Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe focuses on boosting his country's bottom line, a lingerie company is hoping to give Japan a different type of lift.

The "Branomics Bra" from Triumph International is a play on Abe's economic policy known as "Abenomics." The company says the garment has a "growth strategy" to help bust Japan's persistent inflation problem, according to Reuters.

The concept bra features three toy arrows and a target shaped pouch, modeled after the

After Socking The Rockies, Snowstorm Moves East

Korva Coleman — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:57:00 +0000

Arbor Day celebrations have come and gone, but winter weather is gripping the Plains and Upper Midwest.

Send Your Haiku To Mars! NASA Seeks Poets

Korva Coleman — Thu, 02 May 2013 14:42:00 +0000

Galactic poet?

Here's how to become famous.

Send your work to Mars!

NASA is raising awareness for its upcoming launch of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution spacecraft with its Going to Mars project.

Snow In May? The Nation's Midsection Bundles Up

Korva Coleman — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:47:00 +0000

Update at 4:55 P.M ET: The Associated Press reports that Cheyenne, Wyo. has now received at least 15 inches of snow.

Our original post: It's a good thing Punxsutawney Phil's handler admitted he'd misinterpreted the early spring forecast from the world-famous groundhog weather prognosticator.

Just In Case: Cruise Line Insured Against Loch Ness Monster

Korva Coleman — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:14:00 +0000

There's word that a Scottish cruise line has taken out an insurance policy in case of a beastly disaster. Jacobite Cruises is now insured against damage from the Loch Ness Monster.

"We see it as keeping in line with good business practice," Freda Newton, managing director of Jacobite Cruises, tells The Scottish Sun. "There is so much going on — people have tried to hunt the Loch Ness Monster, people have tried to capture it. We just don't know what could happen.

4-Year-Old Rape Victim Dies In India

Korva Coleman — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:54:00 +0000

A young girl raped this month in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has died, according to several news reports. The 4-year-old child had been lured with chocolate by her alleged attacker, who later dumped her at a farm, as NPR's Julie McCarthy has reported.

The New York Times' India Ink blog says the girl's parents found her April 18, the day after the attack, and that she had been in a coma since.

Tarantino's Stolen 'Pulp Fiction' Chevy Found After 19 Years

Korva Coleman — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:33:00 +0000

Remember that cherry red Chevy Malibu convertible that John Travolta drives in Pulp Fiction? You know the one that he crashes, trying to get help after Uma Thurman overdoses? Did you know it's been missing for 19 years because it was stolen? Well, it's not missing anymore.

The car, which belongs to filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, turned up in the Oakland, Calif., area, according to the San Bernardino Sun.