berlin

Although it isn't Monifa (who's currently a close second in our cutest zoo baby of '08 poll), this equally adoro hippo is having some watery fun with mama, Kati, at the Berlin Zoo! Born less than a month ago on Nov. 29, it makes sense that the yet-unnamed babe can already swim since many hippopotamuses are born underwater with the mom pushing the lil one to the surface to breathe, and even nursing while in there.

See more underwater shots from today's public debut when you read more

The fella I'd name the world's most famous polar bear (followed by Flocke) celebrates his second birthday today at Zoo Berlin! That means Knut got even more visitors than usual . . . and a special dessert. 'Cause, really, what's a birthday without cake and ice cream? Of course, bears can't eat chocolate buttercream (my fave), so his "cake" was made of vegetable in ice – well, I bet he enjoyed it anyway.

This bear's faced some tough times from dealing with fame to the death of his BFF and original caretaker, Thomas Doerflein earlier this year but he's doing a-OK now.

Check out more piccys of Knut's birthday celebration and read more

These llama-like creatures are actually the smallest members of the camel family, rarely weighing over 130 pounds full-grown. Lil Antonio was born on Oct. 14 in the Zoologischer Garten in Berlin – the first of his species born at the zoo in 10 years.

Native to the Central Andes Mountains in South America, the rare Vicuñas have been heavily exploited for their coat, which is said to make the best wool in the world.

Enough facts. Now it's time for more cute when you read more

It's one small step for tigers as lil Antares takes a tentative stumble at his enclosure at the Tierpark Berlin in Germany yesterday. The 121st tiger cub was born at this zoo on June 23 and just had a public debut. As you can see, he's all ready for his closeup . . . and already knows how to tilt his fuzzy head just so. Arrgh, I'm such a sucker for baby animals.

Melting. And. Can. Not. Help. It. See more Siberian Tiger cuteness when you read more

Barack Obama spoke to tens of thousands of Berliners gathered at the foot of the Victory Column, chanting "Yes We Can" or "O-bam-a." Using the image of a wall in the city formerly home to the most infamous one, Barack Obama highlighted the common challenges facing America and its allies, especially Europe.

That is why the greatest danger of all is to allow new walls to divide us from one another. The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand. The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand. The walls between races and tribes; natives and immigrants; Christian and Muslim and Jew cannot stand. These now are the walls we must tear down.

While sharing pride for his country, Obama also discussed concerns shared with Europe, including: working for a successful NATO mission in Afghanistan, securing loose nuclear material, working with Russia, getting Iran to abandon its nuclear plan, securing a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine, bringing the Iraq war to a close, and addressing climate change (which got some of the loudest applause).

For more from the speech, and to find out how the Bush Administration and John McCain handled the event, read more