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Feeling All Cooped Up In The Syrian Capital

Credit Muzaffar Salman / AP

Many Syrians in the capital Damascus are feeling cooped up by the ongoing war. Here, a woman and her child who fled the fighting in their home area take refuge at a school in Damascus last September.

Credit Louai Beshara / AFP/Getty Images

Damascus residents still get out during the day, but the streets empty at night. Here, Damascenes walk past a poster of President Bashar Assad on Jan. 10, following a heavy snow.

By editor

The author, a Syrian citizen, is not being identified due to safety concerns.

Rami is buff and athletic. For the past few years, he has supported himself and his wife working as a full-time personal trainer in the Syrian capital Damascus.

Now, he complains that his daily routine has been reduced to spending hours at home watching television.

"I end up watching the sultan's harem with my in-laws," he said, referring to a popular Turkish soap opera set in Ottoman times and dubbed into Arabic. "It's driving me crazy."

1:24 pm

Mon January 28, 2013

Queen Beatrix, Of The Netherlands, Abdicates In Favor Of Son

Credit Chris McGrath / Getty Images

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands inspects the honor guard with Singapore President Tony Tan at the Istana in January.

By editor

Originally published on Mon January 28, 2013 6:34 pm

Beginning April 30, the Netherlands will have a king.

Queen Beatrix announced in a nationally televised address today that after more than 30 years on the throne, she will abdicate in favor of Prince Willem-Alexander.

The BBC reports:

"Queen Beatrix is the sixth monarch from the House of Orange-Nassau, which has ruled the Netherlands since the early 19th Century.

12:47 pm

Mon January 28, 2013

Iceland Wins Big Case Over Failed Bank

Credit Olivier Morin / AFP/Getty Images

A file picture shows a woman entering a branch of Iceland's second largest bank, Landsbanki (Landsbankinn) on October 8, 2008 in Rejkjavik.

By editor

Iceland was handed a huge win today by the court of the European Free Trade Association.

The court said that Iceland did not break the law when it decided not to cover the losses of foreigners who had deposited money in Landsbanki, the Icelandic bank that failed in 2008.

The AP explains:

12:39 pm

Mon January 28, 2013

VIDEO: Look Out! Car Suddenly Emerges From Foam On Highway

Credit YouTube.com

On Australia's "sunshine coast" over the weekend, storms whipped up sea foam. It was so thick it covered this car. Thankfully, as it emerged the people who had been watching were able to get out of the way.

By Mark Memmott

Originally published on Tue January 29, 2013 12:46 pm

12:34 pm

Mon January 28, 2013

What's Wrong With Calling Obesity A Medical Problem?

Credit iStockphoto.com

Fat, fit or both?

By editor

Originally published on Wed January 30, 2013 11:26 am

Americans have gotten heavier since 1980 — this we know.

And most doctors would say that the extra weight has made us more prone to heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, hypertension and even cancer.

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1:43 pm

Mon January 28, 2013