Foreign Intelligence Briefs

There is more to life than Vancouver, you know (but not much more). FIB looks at the myriad newsworthy things that interest us from over the mountains, across our shores and far away.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

Animation Reveals How One of Europe’s Most Beautiful Bridges Was Built Over 600 Years Ago

Prague's beautiful 14th century Charles Bridge has survived world wars, revolutions and floods. Now watch it being built...

Foreign Intelligence Briefs / California

This Drone Footage of Smoke Hazed San Francisco Really Fits Its ‘Blade Runner’ Soundtrack

It's been pretty smoke this past week, thanks to all the forest fires burning down in Washington. It's looks to be worse in California.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

Visualizing the Dangerous Ingredients and Circumstances of Beirut’s Massive Port Explosion

Jugs of kerosene and acid. Thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate. The New York Times shows how it all went wrong.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

How One Texas Library Hustles Curbside Pickup Service During Covid-19

Our libraries do an excellent job overall, they jazz up their marketing and follow the lead of Texas' Curbside Larry...

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

Watch the National Park Service’s Film on ‘Alone in the Wilderness’ Legend, Richard Proenneke

If you've ever seen 'Alone in the Wilderness' you've probably already fallen a little in love with Dick Proenneke.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

Understanding the Obstacle That Makes Driving to South America Practically Impossible

The Darien Gap remains dangerous on so many levels that building an actual road through it might not be such a great idea.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

How the American Market for Wagyu Beef Is Changing the Way Its Made

The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the competitive present and future of a market that will be worth $1.1 billion by 2023.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

Watch This Incredibly Detailed Breakdown of Trump’s Violent Photo-Op Walk to Church

There have been many Trump moments that have been worthy of the title "Worst", but this might just be the champ.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

“F-ck you, Corona. You Sound Like the Name of a Sneaky-Assed Bitch”

Chicago's famously abusive late night hot dog stand, The Wiener's Circle, is enduring the pandemic with attitude.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

How the US National Parks Were Being Loved to Death Prior to Covid-19

This short video explains the myriad forces behind a recent massive increase in visitation to National Parks in the USA.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

When Cartography and Satire Collided to Explain Complex Geopolitical Situations

In this short documentary, Richard Tilney-Bassett explains a fascinating pop phenomenon at the end of the 19th century.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

Closed by Covid-19, One of the Best Restaurants in the World Will Reopen as a Burger Bar

Copenhagen's Noma is set to reopen this week with a surprising new concept: burgers and wine in the garden.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

Chicago Potholes Filled With Colourful Mosaics Depicting Covid-19 Essentials

Dubbed "Holy Trinity", Jim Bachor's latest work sees three mosaics celebrating toilet paper, hand sanitizer and beer.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

Architect of Swedish Response to Covid-19 Explains and Defends Unique Policy

Unherd interviewed the refreshingly blunt Professor Johan Giesecke about his country's controversial pandemic response.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

An American Bar Owner Found a Unique Way to Help Her Struggling Employees

Have you ever been to a bar or restaurant where part of the interior schtick is to let customers tape or staple dollar bills to the ceiling?

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

Watch Italy’s Mayors Furiously Admonish Their Own Citizens for Ignoring Calls to Stay Home

At the time of writing (March 30th, 2020), the death toll in Italy is over 10,000 -- now the highest in the world.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

Distilleries are Starting to Make Hand Sanitizer for the Most Vulnerable in Their Communities

Hand sanitizer scarcity is stressing people out, and since stress weakens the immune system, it's a problem that needs solving fast.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs / Japan

How Japan Recovered After the Devastating 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami

Nine years ago this week the island nation of Japan suffered the devastating T?hoku earthquake and tsunami.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

How Some Japanese Are Trying to Stay Social While ‘Social Distancing’

The practice is called On-nomi, or 'drinking on[line]'. "It's the touchless, pathogen-free gathering of the immediate future."

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

This Dude (Technically) Held the Office of the American President for Just One Day

A unique set of circumstances may have elevated David Rice Atchison to the Office of the US President for a single day in 1849.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

Wuhan Timelapse Shows Special Hospital Built by Small Army in Eight Days

Wuhan has become ghost town since the coronavirus scare rose to Threat Level: Freak Out. Not everyone is on lockdown, however.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

In a Remote Part of Turkey, This ‘Bird Language’ Is Whistled Rather Than Spoken

"It’s a language called ku? dili that is still used to this day, though fewer people are learning it in the age of the cell phone."

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

That Time a Real Estate Developer Scammed Investors With an Extra Apostrophe

According to widespread local legend, duped investors they thought they were investing in a 480 foot high skyscraper...

Foreign Intelligence Briefs / Japan

‘Osaka Power’ Lights Up Japan’s Second-Largest City

This wonderful, fast-moving short film from Christoph Gelep brilliantly captures two sides of the bustling Japanese city of Osaka.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

Understanding the Controversial Rise of Chick-Fil-A

This explainer from CNBC details the ascension of the American fast food company with the famous chicken sandwich.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

These Germans Swam to Freedom Instead of Climbing Over the Berlin Wall

It's been 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall and we never knew that there was an alternative to braving the "death strip".

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

Security Robots Are Now a Thing in San Francisco. How Long Before They’re in Vancouver?

The Knightscope K5 acts as a mobile robotic security guard with a slew of built-in sensors to help it patrol and monitor an area.

Foreign Intelligence Briefs

How Small Teams of Protestors Are Quickly Dealing With Tear Gas in Hong Kong

With sweet moves like this it looks like these guys are just starting to hit their stride. Respect!