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1. South Korea
South Korean President Park Geun-hye has been impeached over alleged corruption. The country’s first female president is now its first president to be removed from office. After judges finalized the decision, citizens took to the streets – some in protest, others in celebration. Two people were killed when some demonstrations turned violent.
An election will be held in 60 days for a new president. Until then, South Korea’s political uncertainty could be a problem for the region, as North Korea ramps up its nuclear weapons testing program.
2. Russia
Former Utah governor and 2012 Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman has signed on as Trump’s new ambassador to Russia. It’s not hard to understand why that’s maybe not the most coveted job at the moment, since Huntsman will have to deal with tense issues like missile deployments, conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, and, oh right, Russia’s role in the 2016 US election.
Speaking of, the FBI is still investigating records of an “odd” computer server connection between the Trump Organization and a Russian bank during the 2016 presidential campaign. Computer scientists say the link is definitely unusual, but there could be a perfectly innocent explanation.
3. Germany
A man wounded seven people with an ax Thursday in an attack at a train station in Dusseldorf, Germany. Police arrested the suspect, who they called “a 36-year-old man from the former Yugoslavia” who “obviously had mental problems.” They believe he acted alone. A similar stabbing attack happened in July in Wurzburg, Germany, when police say a Pakistani teen influenced by ISIS propaganda injured five people before being shot dead by officers.
4. Marines
The nude photo scandal involving a Facebook group for Marines has started to blow up. Four branches of the military are now investigating, and more illicit photo exchanges have been found on other private Facebook groups and image message boards. Investigators are trying to figure out how many service members or veterans may be involved.
5. Kellyanne Conway
Remember when White House counselor Kellyanne Conway made an overt plug for Ivanka Trump’s fashion brand on live TV? Yeah, the Office of Government Ethics still isn’t happy about that. The agency’s director sent a letter to the White House questioning the lack of punishment for Conway and disputing the administration’s claim that ethics policies don’t apply to the president’s staff.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.
Florida agency to hire 25 snake hunters to cull pythons in the Everglades
When you see “Florida” at the start of a sentence, it’s gonna be a wild ride.
Plane diverted after passenger freaks out over $12 blanket
MAN, air travel makes people weird.
‘Game of Thrones’ premiere date and teaser revealed!
No. 1 best-selling book on Amazon is just 266 blank pages
Is it a joke, political satire or a confusing piece of modern art? Maybe all three.
A transgender beauty queen’s amazing story of triumph
“There are a lot of people who will hate, so you have to stay strong,” she says.
TODAY’S NUMBER
2 a.m.
IT’S DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME! Remember to set your clocks FORWARD an hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 12. Yes, you’ll lose an hour of sleep. Ugh.
AND FINALLY …
Human innovation truly knows no bounds
This is a Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina – an automatic violin player. Three violins are played by one round rotating bow, and the device uses bags of air to press down the strings. It also has a player piano attached! Will wonders never cease? (Click to view)