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Terns are seabirds in the family Sternidae that are found worldwide, generally near the sea, rivers or wetlands. They are slender, lightly built birds with long forked tails, narrow wings, long bills and relatively short legs. Most species are pale grey above and white below, with a contrasting black cap, but the marsh terns, the Inca tern and some noddies have dark plumage for at least part of the year. The sexes are identical in appearance. They are birds of open habitats that typically breed in noisy colonies and lay their eggs on bare ground with little or no nest material. Many terns are long-distance migrants, and the Arctic tern, migrating each year between the Arctic and Antarctic, may see more daylight in a year than any other animal. They are long-lived birds and are relatively free from natural predators and parasites, but most species are declining in numbers through habitat loss, polluted waters, human encroachment and predation by introduced mammals. Three tern species are classed as endangered, and the Chinese crested tern is critically endangered. International agreements provide a measure of protection, but adults and eggs of some species are still used for food in the tropics. (Full article...)

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Claudia Cardinale
Claudia Cardinale

In the news

England cricket team in August 2015
England cricket team

On this day...

August 14: Independence Day in Pakistan (1947)

Recording of The Lost Chord
Ricky Martin in Sydney, Australia, 2014
Ricky Martin in Sydney, Australia, 2014

Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin has recorded material for ten studio albums and sang songs in Spanish, English, Italian and Portuguese; he has also recorded bilingual tracks. He began his career at age of 12, in 1984, as a lead singer of the band Menudo. Five years later he left the band and pursued a solo career, releasing his debut eponymous studio album in 1991. In 1995, Martin teamed up with former band member, Robi Draco Rosa to work on his third studio album, A Medio Vivir. Martin released "Livin' la Vida Loca", a track co-written by Rosa, Child and Escolar; it became a worldwide success and Martin's best-selling single. It was succeeded by Martin's second eponymous studio album and his first English recording, in 1999. The next year, the singer released his sixth overall and second English album, Sound Loaded. Child, alongside Gary Burr and Victoria Shaw, penned the ballad, "Nobody Wants to Be Lonely", which was later remixed with additional vocals from Christina Aguilera. In 2014 he sang "Vida" in Spanish, Portuguese and Spanglish; the latter version was part of the One Love, One Rhythm compilation. His tenth studio album, A Quien Quiera Escuchar was released in 2015; this Latin pop record also featured such artists as Rayo, Yotuel Romero, and Pedro Capó. (Full list...)

Whistlejacket

Whistlejacket is an oil painting on canvas completed by the British Artist George Stubbs in c. 1762. It shows the Marquess of Rockingham's racehorse approximately at lifesize and in considerable detail, rising to a levade against a plain background. The composition was unprecedented at the time and the painting received popular acclaim. The painting was held by the Fitzwilliam family until 1997, when it was purchased by the National Gallery, London.

Painting: George Stubbs; edit: Chris Woodrich

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