



On February 17, 1972, the Volkswagen Beetle overtook the Ford Model-T as the most popular car ever made. On this day, the 15,007,034 car rolled off the assembly line in Germany, making the new record for most highly produced car in history. This record was eventually surpassed by the Toyota Corolla, but there’s no doubt that the Beetle has one of the most recognizable designs, originating in pre-war Nazi Germany to present day – the look of the Beetle has remained largely unchanged.


During World War II, Singapore was a major British military base, nicknamed "Gibralter of the East." It was considered an impregnable fortress and it's fall, was a major blow to British forces. Prime Minister Winston Churchill called the defeat to the Japanese the "worst disaster" and "largest capitulation" in British history. Indeed, roughly 62,000 troops were taken prisoner and more than half had died as POWs. Singapore had been a British colony since the 19th Century. On February 8th, the first wave of Japanese troops landed on the island, outgunning British defense.

Happy Valentine’s Day! The legend of St. Valentine is one of mystery. The Catholic Church recognizes no less than three martyred saints in history with the name Valentine. One legend claims he was a Roman priest, third century. Emperor Claudius II decided single men made better soldiers and thus outlawed marriage for young men, but the priest saw the injustice and married young lovers in secret… until he was put to death for his actions. Other stories suggest Valentine had helped Christians escape from harsh Roman prisons, until he was put in one.

It’s World Radio Day, adopted by UNESCO in 2011. The proclamation was requested by the Spanish Radio Academy for February 13, on the anniversary of the establishment of United Nations Radio in 1946. Various radio industry bodies around the world are supporting the initiative by encouraging stations in developed countries to assist those in the developing world. See more about World Radio Day on the official website.

The Midway Atoll is a 2.4 square-mile group of formerly-inhabited islands claimed by the United State between Hawaii and Japan. It is currently home to the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and is open to the public for visitors interested in ecology and military history. Indeed, Midway played a significant role in the Pacific Campaign in World War II. The Battle of Midway was one of the most important naval battles in the war, which took place 70 years ago this June. Due to its strategic location, it became a convenient refueling stop for transpacific flights and Navy ships.