United Press InternationalStoryboard9/11: 20 years laterCurated byUnited Press InternationalIt's been 20 years since September 11, 2001, when terrorists orchestrated by Osama bin Laden hijacked four passenger planes and attacked on American soil. A total of 2,977 people were killed. The attacks changed America and the world in many ways. Thousands still suffer health effects of exposure to the toxic dust at Ground Zero. Many others may be traumatized again by coverage of the anniversary. TV and film producers have sought to tell the stories of 9/11, personal and communal tragedies.
United Press InternationalStoryboardA question of religion -- how First Amendment cases are playing out in courtCurated byUnited Press InternationalQuestions over First Amendment freedoms related to religious practice are being debated -- in the courts and elsewhere -- around the United States. From whether a public school football team can hire a chaplain, to whether employers can require vaccinations, here’s a rundown of some of the latest cases.
United Press InternationalStoryboardFollow North Korea’s nuclear ambitionsCurated byUnited Press InternationalThe nuclear threat from North Korea appears to be growing as the reclusive regime continues to stockpile weapons. It has not conducted nuclear or long-range missile tests since 2017, but North Korea launched a pair of short-range ballistic missiles in March and showed off a new ICBM at a military parade in October. It also has a new air defense system. Diplomatic efforts at denuclearization from the U.S. and South Korea have stalled over the past two years. Follow the developments.
United Press InternationalStoryboardLEBANON IN CRISISCurated byUnited Press InternationalLebanon has survived civil war, foreign occupation, political assassinations and other crises over the past 45 years. But the current political and economic disaster -- exacerbated by a massive explosion at the Beirut port in August and the COVID-10 pandemic -- has pushed the country to the brink of starvation. More than half the population is living in poverty. Foreign aid is contingent on government reform that has yet to materialize. Said one Beirut woman, “There is so much sadness and pain."
United Press InternationalStoryboardRemembering Space Shuttle Columbia -- 40 years after first launchCurated byUnited Press InternationalSpace Shuttle Columbia launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 12, 1981. The mission marked many firsts for space exploration, including proving the reusability of a piloted space plane. Columbia would go on to fly a total of 28 missions. But its story ended in tragedy. Seven astronauts were killed when the shuttle broke up on re-entry in 2003.
United Press InternationalStoryboardWas there life on Mars? Follow Earth’s quest to find outCurated byUnited Press InternationalThe United States, China and the United Arab Emirates have launched missions to Mars. NASA has landed the new Perseverance rover on the Red Planet, carrying the first helicopter, Ingenuity, to operate on another planet. The explorers’ ultimate mission is to drill rock samples to look for conditions that may have supported ancient life.
United Press InternationalStoryboardFollow NASA’s journey back to the moonCurated byUnited Press InternationalThe United States is planning its first rocket trip to the moon since 1972. The new space race is fueled by private partnerships and out-of-this-world advances in technology. Follow the preparations, from astronaut training to test launches, on the quest for the next moon walk -- which will likely be made by a woman.
