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TIL that China’s army holds annual training exercises against a ‘Blue Force’ equipped to resemble a NATO adversary like the United States. The Blue Force nearly always wins; in 2014, only one visiting brigade was able to defeat it at the cost of 50% casualties.

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9YK7m TIL the red-whiskered bulbul is native to tropical parts of Asia, but the bird has also established itself on other continents including many Pacific islands. In Florida they feed on fruits and berries of as many as 24 exotic fruit plants including loquat aiding in its dispersal and propagation.
1aM04 TIL In 1885, Taiwan was established as a province of China. Though occupied by Japan during the Second World War, it came back to China after Japan was defeated. Ma Ying-jeou, the former leader of Taiwan, tried hard to deepen the connections with the mainland
oB6v7 TIL Ivan VI became Emperor of Russia at only two months old. His reign was short-lived, as his cousin, Elizabeth overthrew him, and placed his family in prison. Ivan would go on to spend the rest of his life in prison before being executed. His siblings were than placed under permanent house arrest.
7rPKM TIL the name X-Ray came from its discoverer Wilhelm Röntgen while he investigated many properties of the new rays. He temporarily termed them "X-rays", using the mathematical designation ("X") for something unknown.
1aR6d TIL: Tupac Amaru Shakur's mother was a black panther activist who named her son after an Incan ruler who, in the late 1700s, lead the largest rebellion in Spanish Colonial history. The rebellion was unfortunately unsuccessful and he died as a consequence.