Helicopter Crash in Scotland

On Nov. 29 a police helicopter crashed into a bar in Glasgow, Scotland. At least nine are dead and dozens injured. Three of the people who were killed were on the helicopter, and the other six were in the bar when the crash occurred. Many people had been trapped in the bar for a short period of time after the crash, and authorities are still looking for remains inside the bar.  It is unclear what caused the helicopter to crash.

Barricades in Thailand taken down

Police removed barricades on Dec. 3 in the capital and negotiated a truce with protestors for the next few days so that they can honor the birthday of Thailand’s king. The government will allow anti-government demonstrators to enter the compounds of government buildings.

Protests in Ukraine grow

Protests in Kiev, Ukraine, continue as opposition leaders rallied crowds to protest Ukraine’s government failure to integrate with Europe. This protest is one of the largest demonstrations since the Orange Revolution nine years ago. Protesters took over government offices, gathered in Kiev Independence Square, and asked for President Victor Yanukovich to resign.

China launches its first moon rover

On Dec. 2 China successfully launched a lunar probe into space from Beijing. The probe is on a two-week trip to deliver a robotic rover to the surface of the moon. This is China’s first attempt at launching a moon rover, and could eventually lead to sending Chinese astronauts to the moon.

Students in Shanghai earn top education ranking

Based on a global education survey released on Dec. 3, as far as math, science, and reading goes, students in Shanghai have the best education. They are ranked to be equivalent to having at least one more year of schooling than students in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.  The Program for International Student Assessments (PISA) had more than half a million students, age 15 and 16, take part in an exam to assess their country’s education system. East Asian countries had seven of the top 10 spots for all three subjects.