Considered the birthplace of human civilisation, Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq, and parts of Kuwait, Turkey and Syria) was situated in the fertile valley between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. What do we know of this ancient civilisation? What characteristics did Mesopotamia have that made it a civilisation?

The world's first civilisations arose around rivers. Why do you think this was? Think about the characteristics of a civilisation and how advanced agricultural practices allowed civilisations to flourish. This video mentions four ancient civilisations. Can you think of other civilisations that emerged near a river?

The Indus River is located in present-day Pakistan and is the birthplace of the Indus Valley Civilisation. What do we know of this civilisation? What are some characteristics of this civilisation that are similar to that of other river valley civilisations? Why do we know less of the Indus Valley Civilisation than we do of other civilisations like Ancient Egypt or Mesopotamia?

The basin of Huang He, or the Yellow River, is considered the birthplace of Ancient China. What did this ancient civilisation have in common with other ancient civilisations? New advances in science and technology are traits of a civilisation. How did iron smelting revolutionise farming for the ancient Chinese?

Have you ever wondered why everybody in the world doesn't speak the same language? Or at least why we don't all share a common second language? If we did, what language would it be? Listen to why Robert McCrum says that 'Globish', a version of English, is the world's second language. If you like this clip, listen to the full ABC RN documentary by clicking ‘Download Audio' at http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/broken-english/3042354 

One of the world's brightest festivals is the festival of Holi. Learn about this colourful Hindu celebration and how it is celebrated.

Want to go on a guilt-free holiday? Then consider taking an eco-holiday. This might be a trip with a difference and it's more than likely to have a low carbon footprint. Judging by recent trends, getting back to nature without contributing to atmospheric pollution seems to be all the rage!

What does culture mean to you? We all have a culture we identify with, whether it's linked to our nationality, ethnicity, religious beliefs or language. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culture plays an especially significant role. Why do you think this is? Think about what happened to Aboriginal Country, clans and languages and how this has affected many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ identities.

Many Indigenous Australian soldiers enlisted to serve in World War I despite being discriminated against, and many were awarded medals for heroic acts. Do you think they were recognised for their loyalty and courage when they returned home from war? What happened to Frederick Prentice when he returned home?

Do you know what virtual reality (VR) is? VR is something you can experience if you put on a VR headset. The headset lets you see and hear things that make you feel like you're in a completely different place. Perhaps you've seen people using VR headsets or even tried one out yourself. In this video, Margot shows us an object called a stereoscope. It's about 150 years old! What did people use it for? How is the stereoscope similar to virtual reality headsets of today? How is it different?

Bee populations around the world have started vanishing, in a process known as colony collapse disorder. Scientists have many ideas about what causes colony collapse, including one possible culprit: the varroa mite. Australia is one of the last places on Earth unaffected by varroa. Could this mean that Australia could have the last bees on Earth? What can you do to help bee populations?

A global pandemic that’s made life harder for nearly everyone is adding an even greater burden on many people who are disabled. And then there's the risk that people with disabilities could be denied life-saving medical treatment if a surge in COVID-19 diagnoses leads the state to ration care

Four years ago, Portland voters approved a 10-cents-a-gallon gas tax to fund road projects. Four years later, the tax is up for renewal. But this time around, the debate around the tax is limited.

The in-person events that were the heart of voter outreach efforts have been put on hold. But Multnomah County election officials are still holding office hours, as they also go virtual.

Two Oregon teenagers placed in a Michigan facility where at least 37 youth tested positive for COVID-19 will soon be moved to quarantine in Oregon. 

More than 3,000 Oregonians have been diagnosed with the coronavirus as of Friday, and more than 16,000 people in Washington. Both states are gradually easing restrictions, but beaches are still closed.

IBM Business Partners can listen to this series of short, powerful discussions and learn how to help their clients deal with the pain points of the current complex economic environment.

View this recorded presentation and learn about the strategies that IBM thinks midsized organizations should implement to survive the current economic crisis.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is making more changes to its film eligibility rules for the 2021 Golden Globes in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The organization implemented new rules last month that are in effect until April 30. However, the HFPA announced on Tuesday morning that the date has been extended indefinitely because of […]

Director Chris Bolan, producers Alexa L. Fogel and Brendan Mason and subject Pat Henschel talk about the new Netflix documentary "A Secret Love."

For a long time, Olivia Munn didn’t fully grasp a question that she got asked all the time in interviews: Journalists would want to know about the difference between being a man and woman in Hollywood. “I got it for years before it clicked with me one day when I answered it,” Munn said. “I […]

After bypassing theaters, Universal's animated sequel shattered on-demand records. AMC vows to stop running the studio's films.

Irrfan Khan, the wide-eyed actor who enjoyed art house acclaim in his native India and crossover-success with major Hollywood roles including "Life of Pi," "Jurassic World" and "Inferno," died on Wednesday. He was 53. Khan was previously diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour in 2018 and underwent extensive treatment in London. He recovered well enough to […]

Priyanka Chopra, Kal Penn and "Jurassic World" director Colin Trevorrow were among those to pay tribute.

Here's your first look at Disney's new masks that will benefit families in vulnerable communities.

"12 Monkeys" director Terry Gilliam and screenwriters David and Janet Peoples are not taking any credit for predicting a pandemic in their sci-fi classic starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt.

Disney is going zero to hero as the studio is in the works on a live-action adaptation of “Hercules,” tapping “Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings” writer Dave Callaham to write the screenplay, with the Russo Brothers attached to produce, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.Joe and Anthony Russo, best known for “Avengers: Endgame,” will produce through their AGBO banner the adaptation of the 1997 animated film, a retelling of the classic Greek myth of Hercules.No casting has been set.Also Read: ABC Sets 'Disney Family Singalong: Volume II' Special for Mother's DayThe movie shows Hercules, the son of the God Zeus, growing up on Earth as a human but gifted with superhuman strength as he works to become a true hero and stop an evil plot by the lord of the Underworld, Hades, to release four monstrous titans to wreak havoc on the world.The animated “Hercules” starred Tate Donovan, Danny DeVito, James Woods, Susan Egan and the late Rip Torn along with Bobcat Goldthwait, Hal Holbrook, Matt Frewer, Samantha Eggar, Josh Keaton and Paul Shaffer. The film grossed $252.7 million and was nominated for an Oscar for the original song “Go the Distance.”While the original film included a variety of songs, particularly in the form of five musical muses who help narrate the film’s action, it’s unclear if the remake will be a musical or incorporate the original songs. Though there has been a lot of fan rumors and speculation about the project for weeks, in part after Ariana Grande performed a version of “I Won’t Say I’m in Love” during a recent Disney singalong special.Also Read: Carlos Lopez Estrada to Direct 'Robin Hood' Remake For Disney PlusDisney’s next live-action remake is the equally action-heavy “Mulan,” and the studio is also in the works on a remake of “Robin Hood,” which is planned for Disney+.Callaham is the writer who created “The Expendables” characters and wrote the screenplay for the first film. He also wrote the upcoming “Wonder Woman 1984” for Warner Bros. and the recent “Zombieland 2: Double Tap” for Sony.The Russo brothers recently produced the Chris Hemsworth Netflix action film “Extraction” through their AGBO banner.THR first reported the details of those involved. DisInsider reported Thursday morning that the film was in development.Read original story ‘Hercules’ Live-Action Film in Development at Disney, Russo Brothers Producing At TheWrap

Disney is in early development of a live-action remake of its 1997 animated movie "Hercules," with "Avengers" filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo producing through their AGBO production company. Disney has hired action specialist Dave Callaham to write the "Hercules" script. Callaham teamed with Sylvester Stallone for the original screenplay for "The Expendables," creating his character […]

The coming-of-age story is being seen as a modern, LGBTQ version of the classic play "Cyrano de Bergerac."

The "Felicity" alum talks about her own real-life parallels to the film, directing Huffman on set and why she’s left acting behind permanently.

"Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer announced the release of her new book "Midnight Sun," a companion novel to her vampire love saga. "Midnight Sun" will hit bookstores Aug. 4. While "Twilight" -- and follow-up's "New Moon," "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn" -- centered around shy high-schooler Bella Swan, the new novel will be retold through the eyes […]

During the coronavirus pandemic, when most of us are staying at home, we’re going to spotlight products that you can enjoy from your couch, whether solo or in small groups, and leave out the rest. With that in mind, here are our picks for May 4-10, including the best deals we could find for each.

D Smoke first wowed the music world when he won the inaugural season of "Rhythm + Flow," Netflix's hip-hop  competition show with Cardi B, Chance the Rapper and T.I. as judges. Impressing both the panel and viewers at home with meaningful, uplifting verses, the Inglewood, Calif. native, whose real name is Daniel Farris, dropped his […]

Robert Wagner presents his side of the story in "Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind," the HBO documentary produced by Wood's daughter Natasha Gregson Wagner.

ABC is bringing back "The Wonderful World of Disney" this summer with a quartet of titles from the Disney Plus film catalogue. The network has announced that it will air "Moana," "Thor: The Dark World," "Up" and "Big Hero 6" across four Wednesdays this summer, starting with the world broadcast debut of the Auliʻi Cravalho […]

Natasha Gregson Wagner reflects on her personal memories of Natalie Wood's life and career on Mother's Day weekend.