Search The Website!

Australia has confirmed that they will begin enforcing a major social media ban for minors, and they have encouraged the rest of the world to do the same. The new law, which would legally force social media companies to shut down accounts of people under the age of 16, was passed around a year ago , but it is now finally set for implementation. The social media apps included are Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X and YouTube, and live-streaming gaming platform Twitch was also added to the list later on. While the law is set to be enforced for the first time next week, apps like Facebook and Instagram have already begun shutting down accounts ahead of the check-in, according to Reuters. Others have sent users an email offering them the option of deleting their account or halting all activity until they reach the age of 16, when it can be reactivated. These emails also allow users to download any photos or contacts they may have before the possible deletion of their account. From December 11, Australia will begin requiring a monthly report from each social media company stating exactly how many accounts they removed, and corporations that fail to comply with the order could face fines of up to $33 million. Studies show that between 20% and 40% of children lie about their age online, but companies have confirmed that they will be using alternate methods to determine a child's age– Google, for example, will use signals and statistics found in data across its services to determine a user's age on YouTube. However, the law has still received mixed reactions from the public. Many lawmakers and adults have emphasized how social media can be a massive detriment to teens' mental health and can distract them from more productive tasks like schoolwork. Banning social media also largely eliminates the prospect of cyberbullying, slows the spread of misinformation or AI-generated content among kids, and builds real-life relationships with friends and family instead of online ones. Meanwhile, opposition to the ban has claimed that suddenly removing social media from the lives of teens could have a serious negative impact on the mental health of existing child users of social media, leaving them feeling disconnected or depressed and doing more harm than good. They have also pointed out the benefits of social media, which can give children new ideas or foster new forms of learning and creativity if it is used correctly. Nevertheless, Australia has already begun implementing the ban, and all users under 16 that can be identified will be signed out of their social media accounts beginning December 10. The law is set to have a massive impact on the children of Australia, as over 96% of Australian teens under 16 have at least one account on one of the social media services listed above. Australia is also encouraging other nations to take similar action, and the idea of an under-16 social media ban is already spreading. Malaysia confirmed last year that it will begin a similar ban from 2026, and according to AP, the European Commission, France, Denmark, Greece, Romania and New Zealand are also interested in a possible ban. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): While the US state of Colorado appears to have four straight sides, it actually has 697 sides because of minor errors made by surveyors in the 1800s because they used a magnetic compass. Because of this, technically, Colorado is not a four-sided rectangle, but a 697-sided hexahectaenneacontakaiheptagon. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): How you treat the one reveals how you regard the many, because everyone is ultimately a one. ( Stephen Covey) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Frowsy (adj, FROW-zee) - Something described as frowsy has a messy or dirty appearance. In a Sentence: The lamp, discovered in a neglected corner of a frowsy antique store, turned out to be quite valuable. Image credit to Politico

The European Union is considering a major plan that would take a loan from Russia's frozen assets in Belgium to allow them to fund Ukraine, in addition to an alternate idea for common borrowing. Over the last few months, Europe has worked on devising a plan that would give Ukraine a stronger position against Russia, hoping to have some sort of influence over the war after they were left out of peace talks by US President Donald Trump. Now, the EU is considering two plans that would help fund Ukraine, but both have raised concerns and remain controversial. The European Commission's primary plan utilizes frozen Russian assets in Belgium. Due to the war, over €210 billion ($244 billion) in Russian assets have been frozen in Belgium– and the EU's latest plan attempts to take a loan from these assets. The majority of frozen Russian assets belong to Euroclear, a global securities company headquartered in Belgium, allowing the EU to borrow from these assets to supply cash to Ukraine. Providing Ukraine with such a massive amount of money would allow the country to continue their war against Russia for several more years, at least, putting them in the perfect place for negotiation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose financial backing is beginning to falter. Meanwhile, the EU would give Euroclear zero-coupon bonds in exchange for the money– a zero-coupon bond does not accumulate interest, but maintains Russia's ownership of their assets. However, Belgium has expressed financial concerns over the reparations-backed nature of the loan. The intended final outcome of the plan is for Ukraine to use the money to rebuild and fight back against Russia, while Russia would eventually pay reparations to Ukraine for the war. The money from these reparations would then be given to the EU, who would be able to use it to pay back Euroclear, and therefore Russia, for the EU bonds if Russian assets were unfrozen. Basing the plan on reparations carries great risks, though. Belgium and other countries have pointed out that if Russia were to pay no reparations, Ukraine is not obligated to pay money to the EU. If this were to occur, the European Union would be forced to pay the entire sum from their budget, taking money from taxpayers and governments to repay Euroclear for the bonds. Due to these concerns, the EU have also drafted an alternate plan that would provide Ukraine with less funding but carries less risk. The alternate plan would see the EU borrow on international markets, which would place the burden on taxpayers but would delay the repayment of the borrowing. This plan carries much less risk, as it is an established policy that many countries use, but would also provide much less funding to Ukraine than the other plan. The European Union is set to vote on the matter later this month, where they will decide on which plan to execute– Ukraine is in desperate need of funding, and without the EU's help, Russia may ramp up their attacks and take more territory. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): After the release of the 1996 film Scream , which involved an anonymous killer calling and murdering his victims, Caller ID usage tripled in the United States. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It doesn’t matter how slow you go as long as you don’t stop. ( Confucius) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Alchemy (noun, AL-kuh-mee) - Alchemy refers to a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way. In a Sentence: They practiced their alchemy in the kitchen, turning a pile of vegetables and legumes into an extravagant meal. Image credit to European Commission

India has revoked a mandate to download a cyber safety app on all smartphones after massive backlash and suspicions of government spying and other issues. Several days ago, India announced that they would be mandating the addition of Sanchar Saathi to all smartphones, new and existing. Sanchar Saathi, a state-owned cybersecurity application, had been growing in popularity, and the Indian government soon decided to mandate it to increase cyber safety among the people of India. Specifically, the government stated that they needed to handle the problem of tampering with the International Mobile Equipment Identity, or IMEI. Each device contains its own unique IMEI, and Sanchar Saathi allows users to block or track a lost or stolen devices using the IMEI. The app also allows users to prevent other forms of fraud and cheating, like identifying the phone numbers of scammers and reporting any sort of fraudulent communication, along with verifying the authenticity of a used device before purchasing it. After seeing the app's success, the government told all smartphone companies – including Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi – to pre-install the app on all future phones sold in India and disable its deletion. Meanwhile, on existing phones, the companies would need to download the app using a software update. However, the move sparked massive backlash, forcing them to revoke the mandate just days later. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's opposition quickly denounced the mandate as a way to gain access to the country's 700 million smartphones, raising the potential for future spying on citizens. Additionally, before the mandate was taken back, Apple confirmed that they would not comply with the new order, as it would violate the privacy guarantees that they provide to each of their customers. The app's supporters in Parliament argued that the app can still be deleted – which remains true – despite their original mandate that instructed smartphone companies to disable any restrictions or the deletion of the application. Modi's side established that keeping the app is completely optional and it would only benefit the people, but much of the population still resisted the mandate. Following the backlash, the government decided to rescind the mandate, claiming that the installation of Sanchar Saathi was already on the rise. They confirmed that over 14 million users have already downloaded the app, and it is already seeing over 2,000 fraudulent claims per day. They have also reasserted that the app has no other purpose than to increase cyber safety for the citizens, and it does not function until a user registers after downloading it. While the mandate has been revoked, the heightened awareness for Sanchar Saathi could assist India in their fight against fraud and cyber threats, which are becoming more and more prevalent as devices gain traction across the country. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The longest unbroken alliance in world history is between England and Portugal. It has lasted since 1386, when the Treaty of Windsor was signed, and still stands today. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success . ( Dale Carnegie) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cajole (verb, kuh-JOHL) - To cajole someone is to use flattery or gentle urging to persuade them to do something or to give you something. Cajole can also mean “to deceive with soothing words or false promises.” It is often used with the word into . In a Sentence: She cajoled her partner into going to the party with her. Image credit to Sanchar Saathi

International Living just released their Annual Global Retirement Index for 2026, and they have named Greece as the number one country to retire. In the report, International Living takes into account six factors that determine the country's ranking on the list: housing, cost of living, healthcare, visas and benefits, climate, affinity rating, and development. In total, the report saw many previous winners or high scorers drop down on the list, especially in Europe. Countries like Portugal, Italy, France, and Spain, some of which have placed in the top three in previous years, fell to 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th place, respectively, especially because of rising cost-of-living and housing costs. Greece, in particular, scored well in housing, healthcare, and climate, with low housing costs by comparison to other parts of Europe. Private healthcare is relatively inexpensive and offers high quality care, and many retirees find Greece's climate extremely appealing– their hot, dry summers and mild winters without frequent cold snaps allow for balmy weather throughout most of the year. Greece is also widely known as one of the most beautiful countries in the world due to its picturesque, village-dotted islands, offering endless exploration throughout the Aegean Sea. Additionally, their golden visa program allows foreigners to attain citizenship with an investment of €250,000 ($290,000), which is much less than other countries and offers a straightforward process with a short timeframe. Panama came in at number two on the list, with incredible ocean views, tropical rainforests to explore, low cost-of-living, almost non-existent property taxes, and incredible benefits for retirees. Specifically, Panama topped the category for visas/benefits in IL's report, with various discounts for retirees in all aspects of life, like 50% off entertainment tickets, 20% off for medical consultations, 25% off electricity, 25% off airplane tickets, 30% off transportation tickets, and more. These are all included in the country's Pensionado Program, which has a high acceptance rate and a low wait time of around three months. Number three on IL's report was Costa Rica– a similar climate and terrain to Panama, but with slightly higher cost-of-living, particularly with imported items. It also takes more time to attain citizenship – around 6-18 months – but US and Canadian citizens can stay up to 180 days without a visa. Also, policies are similar in many ways, like low property taxes (just 0.25%) and a solid public healthcare system and established private healthcare. Fourth was taken by Portugal, which has consistently placed high on the index over the past few years, while Mexico scored fifth due to its high American influence, relatively low costs, and beautiful resorts and beach views on the Yucatán Peninsula. Italy, France, and Spain are widely known as some of the most beautiful countries in the world and remain ideal for retirement, but rising costs have brought them down the list in recent years. Italy stayed strong in most categories but fell slightly in the development category, while both France and Spain scored much lower on cost-of-living than other countries on the index, bringing them down to 6th, 7th, and 8th, respectively. Thailand ranked 9th on the list, with strong development and cost-of-living, and its recent prevalence in TV shows and movies have led it to become a top country for retirement. However, the climate can be extremely hot and muggy for many retirees, and the country lacked in other categories like housing and healthcare. The last of the top 10 was Malaysia, a country known for a similar tropical environment to Thailand. Malaysia scored higher than Thailand in many categories, like housing, benefits, healthcare, and development, and their cost-of-living is also relatively high. However, the country was brought down by their affinity rating, likely due to recent political instability. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): A man named Ronald MacDonald robbed Wendy’s in 2005, ironically creating a bit of a feud between the two chains on social media. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Lack of direction, not lack of  time , is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days. ( Zig Ziglar) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Pseudonym (noun, SOO-duh-nim) - A pseudonym is a name that someone (such as a writer) uses instead of their real name. In a Sentence: Bell hooks is the pseudonym of the American writer Gloria Jean Watkins. Image credit to iStock

Hundreds of thousands of people are conducting massive protests in the Philippines against a recent corruption scandal that the people blame for widespread deaths after heavy flooding this year. The largest demonstrations took place in the capital of Manila, a city of around 14 million people, after the testimony of two construction company owners revealed the nature of a deeply-rooted corruption scheme within the Filipino government. The couple disclosed that 17 members of the country's House of Representatives had forced them to pay 25% kickbacks on flood-control projects that were under construction. Kickbacks are a common form of corruption where a legislator or other official receives additional fees from another person to secure a contract and give them "preferential treatment," preventing another party from bidding higher for the contract. Usually, both sides are at fault in a kickback scheme, but a thorough investigation in court is still ongoing. When this information was made public, it sparked outrage among the Filipino people, who began blaming the corruption scandal for the devastation caused by flooding this year. Typhoons and monsoons have led to intense rainfall in recent years, forcing the Philippines to spend almost $10 billion on flood-control projects within the last three years. However, the legislators' kickback scheme likely allowed them to pocket a significant portion of this money. Furthermore, others were left fuming that their taxes had been traveling straight towards the lavish lifestyles of these representatives, while they battle the effects of climate change and continue to struggle through periodic flooding. In fact, even the Roman Catholic Church has called for Filipinos to take action, spurring them forward in their protests against corruption. Some people continue to call for the kickbacks to be returned, while others have demanded the resignation of various officials– including their president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The police are already attempting to take control of the situation, with demonstrations beginning to get out of hand. Now, the court faces the issue of which representatives are at fault, which they are currently investigating. According to AP, Marcos Jr. has stated that they have already arrested 37 people on different counts of graft, corruption, and plunder, in addition to charging at least 86 construction company executives and nine other government officials with tax evasion. Seven officials have already been placed in jail, and authorities are working with the construction companies involved in the scandal to attempt to recoup some of the kickbacks they have lost. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Until 2007, owning another person was not a crime in Mauritania. Slavery was abolished in 1981, but its prevalence did not decline until after the new law from 2007, and even still, 1-4% of the population still live as slaves. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Falling down is not a failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen. ( Socrates) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Iconoclast (adj, eye-KAH-nuh-klast) - Iconoclast originally referred to someone who destroys religious images or who opposes their veneration. It is now used to refer broadly to anyone who criticizes or opposes beliefs and practices that are widely accepted. In a Sentence: The comedian had developed a reputation as a contrarian and an iconoclast for whom no topic was off-limits. Image credit to AFP

Hundreds of people are dead and hundreds of others are missing after devastating floods hit multiple countries across south and southeast Asia this week. At least 350 people have died in Indonesia alone, where heavy rain battered the island of Sumatra. 279 others are missing, and around 3,500 police officers are aiding in the country's aid response and search-and-rescue operations. Over 80,000 people have been evacuated across Sumatra, an island known for its incredible biodiversity and lush rainforests. Monsoons swept away entire villages, destroying roads and homes, but continuous rainy conditions prevented authorities from beginning recovery operations until yesterday, when the Indonesian government initiated cloud-seeding to redirect the rainfall to another region. Additionally, the flooding has stopped officials from bringing heavy machinery to the area, forcing locals to dig through mud with simple tools and utilize rubber boats or wooden rafts to move around from place to place. Meanwhile, the monsoons have also heavily impacted the mainland region of southeast Asia, slamming Thailand and Vietnam with heavy rain and strong winds. In Thailand, millions of people have been affected, with up to 10 feet of rain falling in some areas. At least 162 people have been killed, and thousands of buildings have been inundated or completely washed away. Officials are also facing intense scrutiny for their slow response to the disaster, leaving people stranded on rooftops and in trees. Others complained about the lack of security after the flooding occurred– various stores were looted, incurring hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages for many storeowners. Vietnam, on the other hand, experienced heavy rain when the monsoons arrived, and is set to suffer from more intense rainfall in the coming days. Over the last two weeks, over 100 people have been left dead or missing due to heavy rains across the Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, and Lam Dong provinces, and over 272,000 homes were submerged in the process. Now, the country is already feeling the impact of the incoming Tropical Storm Koto, which is packing winds of 60 mph and generating strong waves near the Vietnamese coast. At least three people have been killed after two fishing boats sank in rough seas. Malaysia was also affected, with heavy rain in the tiny northernmost state of Perlis killing two people. Lastly, Sri Lanka has been heavily affected by Cyclone Ditwah, which crossed the island country with 40-mph-winds and raging rainfall. Hundreds of people were left stuck on rooftops, and over 150 people have been confirmed dead. Many people remain stranded in high-rises or other buildings with no food or water, trapped by the rising floodwaters around them. Roads have also been washed away and highways remain blocked after landslides in the mountains, preventing authorities from sending aid by truck, and communications have been impacted in many regions. Over 400,000 people have been affected, and around 25% of Sri Lanka's population is without electricity. India and the United States have sent aid to Sri Lanka to help with the disaster recovery, but officials fear that the death toll could significantly rise as they work to uncover more bodies and search for any possible survivors. Unfortunately, monsoons and tropical storms continue to worsen as climate change intensifies, leading to more unpredictable, stronger storms in tropical regions. Monsoon season runs between June and November depending on the location, but climate change has led to a more erratic, intense pattern with heavier rainfall at random times and large droughts during others. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The Red Cross emblem is actually the inversion of the Swiss flag– it was not a coincidence. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Some people look for a beautiful place. Others make a place beautiful. ( Hazrat Inayat Khan) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Exculpatory (adj, ek-SKUL-puh-tor-ee) - Something described as exculpatory serves to prove that someone is not guilty of doing something wrong. In a Sentence: Their lawyer presented insurmountable exculpatory evidence at the trial. Image credit to Reuters

Dozens of flights were delayed or canceled after Airbus announced an urgent new update for their popular A320 family of jets to account for solar radiation in their equipment. The move came after a JetBlue A320 plunged from the sky several weeks ago on a trip from Cancún to Newark, New Jersey, injuring 15 people. The plane was able to make an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida, but Airbus thoroughly investigated the incident to determine its cause. After the investigation, Airbus found that solar radiation at high intensities, like during solar flares, could corrupt the software within equipment on their A320 jets, causing pilots to lose control of the aircraft. While the incident only occurred once, Airbus created an update for the system to prevent it from happening again, protecting all of their passengers worldwide. Airbus quickly confirmed that all airlines needed to install the update as soon as possible, and the US' Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) quickly released mandates for the fix. Airbus' A320 family includes A319s, A320s, and A321s, and is the best-selling jet in the world, with over 6,000 of them in use. However, this meant that all 6,000 jets would need the update to prevent corruption from solar radiation, and installing the new software would take approximately two hours. Because of this, many airlines were forced to delay or cancel dozens of flights, but this depended on how many A320 jets they owned– some airlines, like United, maintain just five or six A320s, while other airlines, like JetBlue, IndiGo, and Air India, maintain hundreds of the jets, forcing them to ground most or all of their fleet. However, US airlines attempted to avoid cancellations due to the timing of the update release– as Thanksgiving week winds down, millions of people across the United States are now flying back home after travel, leading to peak airport crowds. In fact, this year remains one of the busiest travel years in American history, with almost 82 million people projected to travel during Thanksgiving, according to AAA. While most residents traveled by car, over 6 million people are expected to have flown domestically, and the FAA expects a total of around 360,000 flights across the US during the week– the busiest Thanksgiving travel week in 15 years. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): All new FBI special agents and intelligence analysts are required to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as part of their training program. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Rejection doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough; it means the other person failed to notice what you have to offer. ( Mark Amend) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Sustain (verb, suh-STAYN) - To sustain someone or something is to provide what is needed for that person or thing to exist or continue. Sustain also means "to hold up the weight of," "to suffer or endure," or "to confirm or prove." In legal contexts, to sustain something is to decide or state that it is proper, legal, or fair. In a Sentence: Hope sustained us during that difficult time. Image credit to Unsplash

United States President Donald Trump has outlined the next steps in his immigration crackdown after a fatal shooting on two National Guard members. The shooting took place in Washington DC, the US capital, on Wednesday afternoon, with a suspect ambushing two National Guard members just a few blocks away from the White House. Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old, and Andrew Wolfe, a 24-year-old, were both members of the West Virginia National Guard and had been deployed under Trump's plan to protect the streets of DC using over 2,000 deployed guardmembers. Beckstrom died the following day after being hospitalized, and Wolfe remains in critical condition after undergoing surgery to attempt to save his life. At the time, Trump expressed his outrage over the shooting and vowed to hold the perpetrator responsible for the crime. Later, authorities identified the suspect, who injured himself in the attack and was quickly arrested after the incident. He was identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghani immigrant who entered the US during former President Joe Biden's term. According to officials, he previously worked with the CIA on missions in Afghanistan, and was allowed into the country for a two-year term but received asylum earlier this year. Following the identification of the suspect, Trump announced that his administration would be tightening immigration laws and more effectively vetting any foreigner who entered the country, specifically 19 countries on which he placed a travel ban earlier this year– total bans on Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen and partial bans on Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela . Any green card that has been issued to a resident of these 19 countries will also be re-evaluated to determine whether they are still eligible to remain in the United States. However, he also announced that they would be temporarily halting all immigration from "third-world countries," but it remained unclear as to which exact nations he was referring to and how long the stoppage would be. Trump also deployed 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington DC, claiming that the situation remains out of control in the city and the military continues to be necessary to prevent further violence. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): All the paint on the Eiffel Tower weighs around the same as ten elephants. The tower gets repainted every seven years without closing to the public. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see. ( Arthur Schopenhauer) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cornucopia (noun, kor-nuh-KOH-pee-uh) - A cornucopia, also known as a horn of plenty, is a curved, hollow goat’s horn or similarly shaped receptacle (such as a horn-shaped basket) that is overflowing, especially with fruit and vegetables. The image of a cornucopia is commonly used as decoration and as a symbol of abundance, but the word cornucopia is today more often encountered in its metaphorical use referring to an overflowing abundance, or to a seemingly inexhaustible amount of something. In a Sentence: The zoo’s new aviary is a veritable cornucopia of color and sound, with scores of different bird species swooping and squawking through the canopy. Image credit to AP

At least 44 people are dead and hundreds of others are missing after a massive fire at an apartment complex in Hong Kong, and three potential perpetrators have been arrested. While the fire broke out over 24 hours ago, firefighters are still battling the remnants of the blaze after it jumped buildings, burning down an entire apartment complex. What began as a small fire quickly erupted into a multi-structure inferno, killing at least 44 people. Additionally, over 270 people remain missing, and officials fear that the death toll will continue to rise in the coming days. Dozens of people have been hospitalized with injuries like burns and smoke inhalation, and hundreds of others are now in temporary housing after evacuating from the buildings. Eight apartment buildings were in the complex, and seven burned down in the ferocious fire, which took place at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district. Over 4,600 people lived in the complex, which contained almost 2,000 apartments. Firefighting teams rushed to the scene, working to rescue as many people as possible, but many residents on upper floors became trapped after stairways and elevators were obstructed by flames. Furthermore, the complex maintains an abundance of senior citizen residents, rendering them even more vulnerable during the disaster. Authorities are not completely sure what initiated the blaze, but they have determined that it spread in an unusually quick manner and was able to bound from high-rise to high-rise. They have begun a thorough investigation into the incident. Officials have found, though, that a renovation was taking place, and bamboo scaffolding surrounded the under-construction facades of various buildings. Bamboo scaffolding remains prevalent across China and Hong Kong, as it is an ancient construction material that has been used for centuries, but recent incidents involving its safety have led to calls for safer scaffolding materials. Other construction materials, like safety netting and plastic covers were also in place, but police discovered that many of these other materials were not in compliance with local safety laws, suggesting that they may have contributed to the incredibly quick spread of the fire. Three people have been arrested under the charges of manslaughter due to gross negligence, as all three serve as higher-ups within a construction company that could allegedly be responsible for the fire. The company's logo was found on several boards that were blocking windows, and they could also be at fault for the aforementioned material violations that could have also contributed to the blaze. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Berries are simple fruits stemming from one flower. This means that pineapples, bananas, watermelons, pumpkins, and avocados are technically berries. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I believe success is preparation, because opportunity is going to knock on your door sooner or later– but are you prepared to answer that? ( Omar Epps) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Unabashed (adj, un-uh-BASHT) - Someone who is unabashed is not embarrassed or ashamed about openly expressing strong feelings or opinions. In a Sentence: Unabashed by their booing and hissing, the artist continued with the musical performance. Image credit to Unsplash

According to a new report from the United Nations , Jakarta is now the world's most populous city, overtaking Japan's Tokyo for the number one spot. Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, has seen incredible population growth within the last few decades, soaring from a city of 10 million people in 1971 to a city of almost 42 million people in 2025. In fact, the city has grown so fast over such a short period of time that Indonesia no longer has the infrastructure to support the city, which was originally built on a low-lying, swampy plain. Illegal pumping of groundwater and the massive weight of thousands of buildings have led to drastic land subsidence– Jakarta is sinking at a rate of around 4-12 inches per year, and some estimates predict that the entirety of North Jakarta could be underwater by 2050. Because of this, Indonesia has confirmed that they will be moving their capital to the city of Nusantara, on the island of Borneo, within the next few years. This is expected to slow the growth of Jakarta, possibly allowing the government to take control of the city's environmental situation. However, a lack of funding and construction issues have delayed the project– Indonesia claims that their new capital will be complete in 2028, but it is yet to be seen whether they can successfully reach that target. Meanwhile, the report's second-place city is also at risk of flooding– Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, came in at number two on the list, with a population of 36.6 million people. Due to its low-lying surroundings and frequent monsoons, Dhaka floods almost annually, yet its population continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. While Dhaka's growth rate is also expected to slow slightly within the next few decades, the UN report predicts that the capital will overtake Jakarta as the most populous city in the world by 2050. Next, Tokyo came in at number three, a surprise for many. The Greater Tokyo area initially became the world's most populous city in 1955 after a post-World War II economic boom, and it had kept the position until this year. Contrasting against the high birth rate of cities like Jakarta and Dhaka, located in lesser-developed countries, Tokyo is experiencing a dramatic drop in births. The Japanese government is currently attempting to offer additional incentives to increase the fertility rate across the city, which stood at 0.99 in 2023– well below the 2.1 needed to sustain a population. As a whole, Japan is suffering from a quickly aging population, with a nationwide birth rate of 1.2 that represents a wider issue across East Asia. China's birth rate stands at 1.2 as well, Taiwan's fertility rate is 1.1, and South Korea's is a mere 0.9. By comparison, the fertility rates of Indonesia and Bangladesh were 2.13 and 2.16 in 2023, respectively, allowing them to maintain consistent population growth throughout the last decade. Six of the other seven cities among the top 10 were located in Asia, consisting of New Delhi (30.2 million), Shanghai (29.6 million), Guangzhou (27.6 million), Cairo (25.6 million), Manila (24.7 million), Kolkata (22.5 million), and Seoul (22.5 million). Of the top 10, Cairo was the only megacity not located in Asia, being the capital of Egypt. As a whole, the report found that 45% of Earth's population now lives in cities, representing a worldwide shift towards urbanization. Furthermore, an additional 36% reside in towns, meaning that cities and towns now contain a staggering 81% of the global population. In 1975, just 8 megacities – urban areas with over 10 million inhabitants – existed in the world. Now, that number stands at 33 in 2025, 19 of which are in Asia. While urbanization often leads to increased habitat loss and pollution, the increased population density can have several benefits for the enviroment, like decreasing per capita energy consumption. Urbanization also preserves more rural land for natural purposes– though major issues like waste management and biodiversity decline must be addressed before such benefits can be reaped. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In Korea, there is a breed of dog called a Sapsali, which was originally thought to banish ghosts and evil spirits. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge. ( Socrates) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Perdition (noun, per-DISH-un) - Perdition refers to hell, or to the state of being in hell forever as punishment after death—in other words, damnation. It is usually used figuratively. In a Sentence: Dante’s Inferno details the main character’s journey through perdition . Image credit to Unsplash