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Kopacz, Ewa

(Encyclopedia)Kopacz, Ewa, 1956–, Polish politician. A graduate of the Medical Univ. of Lublin (1981), she worked as a pediatrician and as a health-care administrator. Kopacz was first elected to parliament as a ...

Matovič, Igor

(Encyclopedia)Matovič, Igor, 1973–, Slovakian political leader. A businessman before he entered politics, he founded a publishing house that acquired control of a number of regional newspapers and also invested ...

Eiffel Tower

(Encyclopedia)Eiffel Tower, structure designed by A. G. Eiffel and erected in the Champ-de-Mars for the Paris exposition of 1889. The tower is 984 ft (300 m) high and consists of an iron framework supported on four...

scale, in weights and measures

(Encyclopedia)scale, in weights and measures, instruments for determining weight, generally for other than laboratory use. For the principles of operation of all weighing devices, see balance. Platform scales utili...

Tusk, Donald

(Encyclopedia)Tusk, Donald to͞osk [key], 1957–, Polish political leader, prime minister of Poland (2007–14), b. Gdańsk. After studying history at Gdańsk Univ., he became active in the Solidarity movement in ...

puffin

(Encyclopedia)puffin, common name for a diving bird of the family Alcidae (auk family). Its large, triangular bill, brilliantly colored in yellow, blue, and vermilion, is adapted to carrying several fish at one tim...

Kós

(Encyclopedia)Kós kŏs, kôs [key], Lat. Cos, island (1991 pop. 26,379), 111 sq mi (287 sq km), SE Greece, in the Aegean Sea; 2d largest of the Dodecanese, near the Bodrum peninsula of Turkey. Although it rises to...

Simeon Stylites, Saint

(Encyclopedia)Simeon Stylites, Saint stīlīˈtēz [key] [Gr.,= of a pillar], d. 459?, Syrian hermit. He lived for more than 35 years on a small platform on top of a high pillar. He had many imitators (called styli...

Daman and Diu

(Encyclopedia)Daman and Diu dəmänˈ, dēˈo͞o [key], union territory (2001 provisional pop. 158,059), 50 sq mi (130 sq km), W India, on the Arabian Sea, composed of two former Portuguese colonies seized by India...

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