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US President Donald Trump and his recent comments on the war in Iran have begun to strain the nation's relationship with the United Kingdom and Spain. The entire Middle East is still reeling after the US and Israel launched a barrage of airstrikes at Iran on Saturday , assassinating their leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei . As part of their retaliation, Iran has targeted nations all over the Middle East with strikes and drone attacks, wreaking havoc across countries that were formerly their allies. Meanwhile, Trump's comments on the conflict and his reaction to the measures taken by certain nations are stirring up further geopolitical tensions. Prior to the attacks, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer rejected Trump's request to use British military bases to launch strikes, drawing the president's ire. After pressure on Starmer ramped up, he agreed to allow American forces to launch attacks from the country's bases in England and at the island of Diego Garcia , but only to hit Iranian missiles in the air and at storage facilities. Then, on Monday, Iranian attack drones struck the UK's base at Akrotiri, located on the island country of Cyprus. Defense systems were able to take down two of the drones, but at least one drone made it through and struck the runway at the base. It is unclear whether the drones were launched by Iran or by an allied militant group like Hezbollah in Lebanon, but the attack was the first to bring the conflict into Europe. Nevertheless, Starmer remained neutral on the conflict, confirming that more naval forces would be sent to the region to protect the nation's interests– but nothing more than that. This drew the anger of Trump, who blasted Starmer for refusing to support their side of the conflict. Starmer has worked hard to strengthen US-UK ties during his time, especially after Trump took office last year, but the American president's brash decision-making and confrontational negotiation style has impacted those efforts. Meanwhile, Trump also rebuked Spain for their lack of initiative in the sector of defense spending, threatening to stop all trade with the European nation. Trump has insisted on forcing members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to substantially raise defense spending since taking office, asserting that European nations needed to pull their own weight within the alliance. However, Spain has refused to do so, failing to meet the new 5% GDP defense spending target. Currently, they still lag behind at 2.1%, and while they insist that they are taking measures to raise that number, Trump remained unconvinced. Additionally, Spain followed the UK in rejecting the US' request to use their military bases in the Iran conflict, further angering Trump, who is facing widespread criticism for his attacks on the Middle Eastern nation. He has confirmed that the war could continue for up to four weeks– in the meantime, the Gulf remains shut down, with all shipping, travel, and everyday business grinding to a halt as citizens shelter indoors. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The Canadian government isn’t actually sure when Canada became a sovereign state. Canada's Supreme Court ruled that sovereignty occurred sometime between 1919 and 1931, making it more of a gradual process than an instantaneous event. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page. (Jodi Picoult) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Spiel (noun, SPEEL or SHPEEL) - A spiel is a fast speech that someone has often said before and that is usually intended to persuade people to buy something or to agree to something. In a Sentence: The founder gave us a long spiel about the benefits of joining the running club. Image credit to Getty Images

The United States and Israel's war against Iran isn't just impacting Gulf states physically– both the shipping and travel industries are suffering as strikes continue. The problems come just days after t he US and Israel launched a barrage of strikes at Iran, killing their leader , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei– a brutal dictator who oppressed and tortured the Iranian people for decades. However, the move has been criticized by the UN and other nations, labeling the attack as a flagrant violation of international law. Now, a war has begun in the Gulf, with Iran launching strikes at US bases in Gulf states like Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE. However, this conflict doesn't simply have physical implications– it is also impacting global trade and travel. The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, is a crucial shipping lane affected by the war. Over 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) travels through the strait due to the Middle East's extensive oil and gas reserves, sparking concerns that oil prices could experience a major spike in the next few days. Multinational shipping carriers like Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and MSC have all shut down routes through the region, leaving major hubs like Dubai's Jebel Ali Port completely empty. Maersk confirmed that they would also shut down service through Egypt's Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, located where the Red Sea meets the Arabian Sea between Yemen, Djibouti, and Eritrea. This means that all shipping to south and eastern Asia will now be sent around the Cape of Good Hope, significantly increasing travel times as they sail around South Africa. Furthermore, the conflict also has major implications for global travel and the aviation industry. Thousands of flights have been canceled due to the closure of several crucial airports, including Dubai International Airport – the world's second-busiest – and Doha Hamad International Airport. Emirates, Qatar, and Etihad, the three Middle Eastern carriers known for their incredible service and diversity of international routes, have all temporarily shut down operations, but they are beginning to get some high-priority flights in the air to try to allow stranded tourists or visitors to return home. Flight times on other airlines have also been affected, with the rerouting process adding as much as several hours to many routes as they avoid the conflict in the Middle East. These scheduling issues echo across other regions as pilots and flight attendants are delayed in their arrival by hours or even days, wreaking havoc on airline scheduling. Cargo planes have also been affected by the delays and cancelations, putting further stress on the shipping industry to supply goods across the globe. Trump suggested yesterday that the war could continue for up to four weeks, meaning that the global shipping, travel, and oil industries could be in for a beating until the conflict comes to an end. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Abraham Lincoln loved cats, finding them therapeutic and stress-relieving, and his wife reportedly called them his "only hobby." Some accounts even suggest he fed his cats with a golden fork during formal dinners. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Sensitive people feel so deeply they often have to retreat from the world, in order to dig beneath the layers of pain to find their faith and courage . (Shannon Alder) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Exhilarate (verb, ig-ZIL-uh-rayt) - Exhilarate means "to cause (someone) to feel very happy and excited." It is usually used in the passive voice as (be) exhilarated . In a Sentence: She was exhilarated by the prospect of attending her dream school. Image credit to Hapag-Lloyd

As the US and Israel continue to wage war against Iran's authoritarian government, Iranians across the globe are expressing mixed reactions to now-former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death. Khamenei was killed during strikes launched by the US and Israel yesterday, prompting retaliation that has impacted various states across the Gulf. His death was celebrated by leaders like US President Donald Trump, who hailed the actions of American forces. Both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have urged the Iranian people to take control of the country, but they have confirmed that strikes will continue until any remains of Khamenei's legacy are completely and utterly destroyed. However, his death has led to mixed reactions from Iranians across the nation and around the globe. Inside Iran, thousands of people gathered to mourn Khamenei's death in the streets of Tehran, waving Iranian flags and holding up posters of the deceased leader. Many were seen chanting "death to America" and "death to Israel," while others promised to take revenge on the Western world for killing their Ayatollah. Others around the world, particularly citizens in the United States, held rallies fighting back against the actions of Trump and Netanyahu. Many labeled their actions as reckless and unnecessary, while organizations like the United Nations called for immediate peace. One protest in Pakistan attempted to storm American diplomatic buildings, killing at least 17 people, and similar demonstrations against the US and Israel took place in Baghdad, Athens, Hyderabad, Srinagar, Istanbul, and Seoul. Nevertheless, that sentiment was not echoed by much of Iran, and most Iranians across the world were seen celebrating after the news of his death broke. Many Iranian citizens cited the extreme violence that the people suffered from during Khamenei's brutal crackdown on protests in January – at least 7,000 people have been confirmed dead, but most estimates place the number higher, with some as high as 36,000. Videos posted on social media showed people waving historic Iranian flags – which contain a lion holding a sword in front of a rising sun – that served as their national flag prior to Islamic control. Other videos showed people celebrating in the streets with music, fireworks, dancing, and even car horns, chanting "freedom, freedom" and reveling in the news of Khamenei's death. Iranians outside the country were also seen celebrating in various countries. Many had intentionally left Iran due to the political situation, while people of other religions – particularly Zoroastrianism – were forced to leave to avoid systematic discrimination and harassment imposed by Khamenei and his government. Rallies took place in numerous cities, including London, Vienna, Berlin, Munich, Brussels, Paris, Barcelona, Melbourne, Lisbon, Tokyo, and Los Angeles. People could be seen waving the same, pre-1979 historic flags, alongside signs that thanked Trump and Netanyahu for the strikes. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In 1943, US officials imposed a short-lived ban on sliced bread as a wartime conservation measure. It lasted less than 3 months. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you. (Walt Whitman) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Paean (noun, PEE-un) - Paean is a literary word that refers to a song of joy, praise, or victory. It can also be used as a synonym of tribute for a work that praises or honors its subject. In a Sentence: Her retirement party featured many paeans for her long years of service to the company. Image credit to AP

Yesterday, the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, spurring retaliation bombs that hit several US bases in the Middle East. However, the attack succeeded in killing Iran's Supreme Leader, accomplishing their primary mission. The move came after weeks of threats from US President Donald Trump, who announced last week that he would decide whether to strike Iran within the following ten days . The president had allegedly been conducting negotiations over the shutdown of Iran's nuclear program, but those talks appear to have failed. Trump was prepared, though, for a possible failure in negotiations. The US had been building up its arsenal in the Gulf for months, signaling that a war or some sort of conflict was inevitable. To dethrone Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and destroy his authoritarian regime, Trump authorized airstrikes in partnership with Israel. The two nations heavily damaged Khamenei's central compound in the Iranian capital of Tehran, sparking retaliation from Iran. Strikes on US military bases across the Middle East followed suit, with Iran striking Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE. Several missiles were intercepted over Dubai, preventing a full impact, but the falling debris from the collisions led to damage at Dubai International Airport and fires at the famed Fairmont hotel on the Palm Jumeirah and the iconic sail-shaped façade of the Burj al-Arab hotel. A drone strike also hit Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport, killing one person and injuring at least seven others. All flights have been grounded until further notice, disrupting air travel for thousands of people. Kuwait's Ali al-Salem Air Base was also targeted with strikes, all of which were intercepted by defense systems. However, a drone strike hit Kuwait International Airport, leading to minor damage and injuries to several employees. In Bahrain, airstrikes hit the headquarters of the US Navy's 5th fleet, along with several residential buildings in the capital of Manama. Saudi Arabia and Qatar also reported being targeted by airstrikes, but all of the missiles were successfully intercepted. Israel was also hit by a retaliation missile, which struck a residential complex in the country's largest city of Tel Aviv-Yafo. At least 22 people were injured, and one death was reported later on. After the retaliation, the US and Israel launched another round of strikes across Iran, and both nations confirmed Khamenei's death just hours later. Iran, on the other hand, has not confirmed the death of Khamenei, but they have stated that his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild were all killed in the strikes. The US and Israel have also confirmed the deaths of numerous other high-ranking Iranian officials, guaranteeing a collapse of the authoritarian leader's regime after strikes on over 19 cities. As a whole, the conflict sparked outrage from the United Nations, who condemned the US and Israel's decision to strike Iran and called for the " immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation" to protect civilians. Democrats were also quick to criticize Trump's actions, labeling it as a violation of international law and an unnecessary conflict that the US had no business getting involved in. They cited the deaths of over 200 Iranian citizens, including 108 children killed by Israeli airstrikes at a girls' school in the southern city of Minab– though some reports have alleged that the strikes were actually due to a failed Iranian rocket, while others claimed that bunker infrastructure was located below the school. Further analysis of the strikes also raised the possibility of Iran deliberately striking the school to create international sympathy, and experts and observers alike have noted the fact that the strikes took place on a Saturday, when children are usually not in school. Nevertheless, Trump justified the entire conflict with a claim that Iran was just days away from building a nuclear bomb – a claim that has been highly refuted by experts, though – and asserted that Khamenei's regime has oppressed, tortured, and killed Iranian citizens. Just last month, over 30,000 Iranians were killed during a major crackdown on protests by Khamenei's authorities. Reporters in Iran confirmed that people across the nation have rejoiced at the death of Khamenei, and both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are pushing for the Iranian people to take control of the country. Trump told Iranian citizens to "seize control of your destiny" and "unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach," while Netanyahu urged citizens to "flood the streets" and "unshackle themselves from tyranny." However, both leaders have asserted that strikes on Iran will continue throughout the week if needed to secure a transition of power and prevent Khamenei's supporters from regaining leadership of the country. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The word robot comes from the Czech “robota.” This translates into forced labor or hard work. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace. (Dalai Lama) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Congruous (adj, KAHNG-groo-us) - Something described as congruous is in agreement, harmony, or correspondence with something else. Congruous can also describe something that is appropriate for a particular circumstance or requirement, or a thing that is marked or enhanced by harmonious agreement among its constituent elements. In a Sentence: Their professional achievements were congruous with their academic abilities. Image credit to AP

Paramount Skydance has successfully sealed a hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, but California has launched their own investigations into the merger. Last June, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) announced that they would be considering a company split , dividing the company's assets into two separate corporations to increase efficiency and re-stabilize finances. The possibility of acquiring WBD piqued the interest of the newly-merged Paramount Skydance , whose CEO David Ellison – son of Oracle's billionaire founder Larry Ellison – had been looking to grow the company. However, those plans were impeded by Netflix, who signed a contract with Warner agreeing to buy the streaming side of the corporation for a whopping $82.7 billion. After the deal was signed, Paramount pitched a hostile takeover bid for the entire company at $108.4 billion , but Warner refused, labeling the bid as inadequate. Nevertheless, Ellison refused to back down, proposing a further increase to $31 a share – valuing the deal at a staggering $111 billion when accounting for the assumption of WBD's current debt situation – pushing WBD to agree. Netflix, accepting that the deal faced serious regulatory challenges, backed down from the deal, but not without a fee– Paramount will pay $2.8 billion to Netflix as a termination fee on top of the existing price to purchase Warner. Netflix's stock was sent soaring by over 13%, as shareholders viewed the deal as bad for the entertainment industry and had already expressed concerns over the hurdles it would face in the US government. Meanwhile, Paramount Skydance's stock also popped by over 20%, but many shareholders are concerned about the financial impact of the deal. The corporation's total market capitalization is just $15 billion, meaning that they would need to take on a massive amount of debt to complete the acquisition. Paramount officials have assuaged concerns by confirming that they have secured over $24 billion in funding from Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, and Larry Ellison is also backing his son's deal. Furthermore, many experts believe the deal will breeze through the US government due to Larry Ellison's close ties with US President Donald Trump. Trump confirmed himself that he would be involved in the regulatory side of the deal, which remains highly unusual for a president, who usually never get involved in regulatory reviews. Because of this, Trump's connection with Ellison – who has donated millions towards conservative candidates and advised Trump on major financial decisions – have Democrats and members of the film industry concerned that the deal could avoid raising antitrust concerns simply because of their close relationship and deep political ties. Others claim that antitrust concerns should not be raised at all– Netflix, after all, stands as the largest streaming service in the world, and several experts have stated that a Paramount takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery could finally pose a threat to Netflix's number one spot. However, the largest issue that has been raised is the impact on actors and screenwriters. Paramount confirmed that the deal will lead to over $6 billion in cost savings, which will certainly include thousands of layoffs involving actors and screenwriters that are crucial to the Hollywood industry. Instead of real humans, many experts believe that Paramount could begin utilizing AI in the entertainment industry in a more significant role. Paramount's increasing usage of AI to review screenplays has already raised eyebrows in Hollywood, and the possibility of mass layoffs is already leading to further concerns over AI-generated content appearing on streaming services in the future. Others have refuted the idea of layoffs being a harm to the industry, as job cuts would have taken place in any scenario– had Netflix acquired Warner, jobs would have been cut, and if neither had snapped up the corporation, Warner would have been forced to conduct mass layoffs to begin paying off their outstanding debt. On top of this, the number of people going to theaters and watching television has dramatically reduced since the introduction of social media. Once streaming services were introduced, theater attendance began to decline, and revenues of major companies like AMC are down by over 40% when compared to pre-pandemic levels. Now, people's attention spans are getting even shorter– instead of watching a two-hour movie or a limited series on a streaming service, they prefer to spend their time scrolling on their phones for hours on end, trapped in the endless loop of content filtered by the algorithms created by the likes of Meta, Snap, and ByteDance. Nevertheless, the possibility of major job cuts in Hollywood has caught the attention of the state of California, which is proposing its own regulatory hurdles against the Paramount-Warner deal. Paramount's proposed $6 billion in savings could include everything from layoffs to cost cuts, which would drastically impact California's economy. As proof, the Writers Guild of America confirmed that Paramount's merger with Skydance last year led to over 1,000 job cuts, and the stakes in this deal are even higher. If California decides to sue after scrutinizing the deal, it could drag the acquisition into a courtroom, where a judge would decide on the legality of the impacts of the deal. If the judge were to label the deal as unlawful, Paramount would be forced to abandon their acquisition, agree to a settlement with the state of California, or appeal the decision. However, the clock is ticking for Paramount– the company has promised to pay shareholders 25 cents per share for every quarter that the deal does not close, beginning in October. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Dinosaurs would swallow large rocks, known as gastroliths, which stayed in their stomach to help churn and digest food. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): As soap is to the body, so laughter is to the soul. (Jewish Proverb) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Nettle (verb, NET-ul) - To nettle someone is to make them angry or annoyed. In a Sentence: Though he tried to maintain a friendly tone, the town official was clearly nettled by the reporter's suggestion that the town was at fault. Image credit to Newscast Studio

The Labour Party, that of British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, finished third in the Gorton and Denton by-election today, triggering concerns and criticism over the national support for the party. A by-election in the United Kingdom takes place when a Member of Parliament, known as an MP, resigns or dies in the middle of their term, leaving the seat vacant. This requires a sort of snap election for that seat, which must be filled for Parliament to properly function. However, since by-elections come somewhere in the middle of the term of the current Prime Minister, they often serve as a marker for where public sentiment is shifting– although the UK does not hold an election for prime minister until 2029. Today's by-election decided the representative for the constituency of Gorton and Denton in the county of Greater Manchester. The Labour Party was heavily favored to win, as they maintain the most seats of any party in Parliament, and Starmer expected the same from his party. However, the Green Party's Hannah Spencer – a former plumber – took the win in the by-election, while the Reform Party's Matt Goodwin led them to second. The Labour Party finished just third, shocking citizens and politicians all over the nation. The election reveals that political support for Britain's Labour Party is beginning to fracture, as many feared. The left-wing supporters that usually vote for the Labour Party may be shifting towards the Green Party, which is much more idealist and liberal when compared to the center-left, business and economy-focused Labour Party. Furthermore, the Reform Party finishing ahead of Labour proves that there is still significant support for right-wing radicalism in the UK– an ideology that also opposes multiculturalism, promotes "nativism," and supports stricter values. Many experts believe that this could just be the beginning before a "seismic" shift in British politics, which could take a wild turn at the 2029 general election. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Eating grapefruit interacts with the active ingredients of over 85 different medications, and the effects trigged by its interaction with 43 of these medications can be adverse or life-threatening. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Ability to find the answers is more important than ability to know the answers. (Amit Kalantri) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Knackered (adj, NAK-erd) - Knackered is an adjective mostly used informally in British English to mean “very tired or exhausted.” In a Sentence: Unfortunately, I was too knackered after work to join them for dinner. Image credit to Reuters

Antarctica's famed emperor penguins are in grave danger due to melting sea ice, leaving them frozen in the icy waters around the South Pole. Emperor penguins go through an annual molting process where they must stay on sea ice for long enough to shed their old feathers and grow new, waterproof ones. Unlike other birds, emperor penguins shed all of their feathers at once, meaning that the sea ice is crucial to their ability to stay alive. This molting period lasts for around 30-40 days – between January and early March – and is a time where the penguins cannot swim to hunt for food due to their lack of protection from the cold water. Additionally, the process is extremely energy-intensive, so a stable platform of sea ice allows the penguins to feed just before and right after their fasting period. However, scientists fear that thousands of penguins may have frozen in Antarctic waters due to melting sea ice in recent years. Across the last few years, sea ice has melted much earlier than usual, primarily due to climate change caused by human-produced greenhouse gases. In 2023, Antarctic sea ice hit an all-time low, covering just 691,000 square miles– much lower than the average 1.1 million square miles. As sea ice melts earlier and earlier, the penguins are unable to complete their molting process, forcing them to enter the frigid waters before the end of the cycle. This leaves the penguins vulnerable to predators, forces them to take more time to recover, delays breeding, and, most importantly, can kill them due to hypothermia. Using satellite images, scientists were able to identify exactly where the penguins had molted due to the abundance of feathers they would leave behind. However, when they searched for the corresponding number of penguins, they found the actual number of penguins living in colonies to be much, much smaller. They fear that melting sea ice could have killed thousands of penguins this year, and it could kill just as many over the next few years as climate change worsens. Without action, endangered species like the emperor penguin will simply continue to decline until extinction. Scientists already believe that over 98% of emperor penguin colonies will not survive until 2100. Greenhouse gases are heating up the world fast, and it's up to us to protect these animals– because once they are gone, there is no coming back. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): May 29th is “National Put a Pillow on Your Fridge Day.” It is celebrated in Europe and the US to bring luck & wealth to the household. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Embrace uncertainty. Some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won’t have a title until much later. (Bob Goff) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Onomatopoeia (noun, ah-nuh-mah-tuh-PEE-uh) - Onomatopoeia refers to the creation of words that imitate natural sounds. It can also refer to the words themselves, such as buzz and hiss . In a Sentence: The author’s clever use of onomatopoeia delights children especially. Image credit to Australian Antarctic Program

Unrest and conflict across Mexico has escalated further after the killing of a prominent cartel leader. On Sunday, Mexican authorities killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," who served as the leader for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Originally part of the major Sinaloa Cartel, Cervantes broke away from the syndicate in 2009 and turned CJNG into Mexico's most powerful cartel group. The syndicate operates in almost every Mexican state– this is primarily due to Cervantes, who formed alliances with local cartels to extend his group's reach. These cartels set up discreet manufacturing centers where they mass produce drugs in Mexico before distributing them across North and Central America, primarily the United States. US President Donald Trump has attempted to crack down on drugs during his second term, placing tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China to force them to halt the fentanyl trade into the United States; those tariffs were later repealed by the Supreme Court , though. In support of the Trump administration's efforts, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has begun a crackdown on drugs and cartels, and authorities are finally beginning to make progress. At least seven members of the cartel were killed in the initial operation, including Cervantes, and officials have arrested more than 70 cartel members and killed another 34 suspects. However, critics have argued that killing leaders doesn't necessarily solve the problem– while destabilization of the organization impacts the drug trade, it also sparks local conflict. Now, unrest has erupted across Mexico, forcing Sheinbaum to deploy 10,000 members of the National Guard to handle the situation. Armed forces related to the CJNG retaliated against the government in over 20 states, setting fire to buildings and cars. Hundreds of flights were canceled due to the violence, and tourists planning trips to coastal hotspots like Puerto Vallarta began to cancel reservations. Nevertheless, Sheinbaum asserted that they have restored order, and the initial response has now cooled off. Certain states have been placed under travel advisories by the US government, so tourists should check these lists before traveling to Mexico. Tourist hotspots in Quintana Roo like Cancún, Cozumel, and Playa del Carmen remain safe, alongside Cabo San Lucas in Baja California Sur and Mexico City. However, other states like Jalisco, Sinaloa, Michoacán, Guerrero, Zacatecas, and Tamaulipas should be avoided due to heavy cartel activity and increased violence. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The first game to be played in space was Tetris– Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Serebrov took it with him in 1993 on the to the Mir Space Station. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination , and charm and gaiety to life and to everything. (Plato) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Umpteen (adj, UMP-teen) - Umpteen is an informal adjective meaning "very many" or "indefinitely numerous." In a Sentence: The artist has painted the same subject umpteen times, yet each piece has its own unique quality. Image credit to Reuters

The northeastern US was slammed by a powerful bomb cyclone this past weekend, dropping as much as three feet of snow in some areas of the region. A bomb cyclone is a strong, mid-latitude storm that drops at least 24 millibars in pressure in under 24 hours– a process known as 'bombogenesis.' This system, named Winter Storm Hernando, achieved that 24-millibar drop in just nine hours, dropping a total of 40 millibars over just 12 hours. This meant that the storm wasn't just bringing snow– it was also bringing intense winds, reaching up to 60 mph and generating dangerous blizzard conditions. The storm arrived in New Jersey first, dropping over 15 inches of wet, thick snow. Wet snow piles up significantly slower than powdery snow due to its higher water-to-ice ratio– wet snow has a ratio of around 5:1, while powdery snow can be 15:1, 20:1, or even higher. During Hernando, weather reporters confirmed that an incredible amount of snow was falling, and the snowfall's wetness allowed it to stick to all sorts of surfaces. Wet snow is also extremely difficult to shovel due to its sticky properties– when it accumulates, the snow underneath can become compacted. This type of snow is also called 'heart-attack snow' because people shoveling it can experience heart attacks due to the increased cardiovascular stress it places on the body. On top of the problems caused by the snow type, many cities experienced issues simply because of the sheer amount of snow that had fallen. More than 20 inches of snow fell in Central Park, with New York City as a whole picking up between 17 and 25 inches. Totals on Long Island also reached at least 15 inches, with areas on the south side of the island receiving higher totals– as high as 30 inches. The coast of Connecticut received around 16-20 inches, but Massachusetts and Rhode Island were the hardest-hit. Boston received between 13 and 17 inches of snow, but southern Massachusetts and Rhode Island hit staggering totals of over 30 inches. Providence, Rhode Island, smashed their all-time record for most snowfall over a two-day period, confirming a total of 33 inches. According to the National Weather Service, the highest total was reported at the city's international airport, which recorded a staggering 37.9 inches of snow– more than three feet. Travel was snarled across the New England region, with snow plows working all weekend to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that he would raise the pay for snow shovelers to $30 an hour due to the city's need, with Mamdani aiming to reopen schools and roadways today. However, Boston was not able to keep up with the snow, forcing the city to deploy all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to handle emergency situations. Massachusetts also announced a travel ban for all non-essential traffic. Across the state, the heavy snowfall had caused trees to fall on roads, but low visibility due to the blowing snow prevented drivers from being able to see the situation in front of them. Over 10,000 flights were canceled, and over 650,000 people lost power. Power crews are working to restore electricity as fast as possible, and they are already making progress. However, conditions will remain dangerous over the next few days– as the snow melts, the layers underneath will refreeze, forming a thick layer of ice on most surfaces. Larger cities like New York City will resume normal operations today and tomorrow, but areas hit harder by the storm – like Providence and Boston – have confirmed that they may not be able to get back up and running until this weekend. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Every 10 years, the human skeleton repairs and renews itself. Essentially, you have different bones now than you did 10 years ago! Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else. (Fred Rogers) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Culminate (verb, KUL-muh-nayt) - To culminate is to reach the end or the final result of something. Culminate is usually used with in or with . In a Sentence: Their efforts have culminated in the discovery of a new treatment. Image credit to Getty Images

The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina have drawn to a close, with Norway bringing home the most medals at this year's prestigious event. The Winter Olympics, occurring every four years, consist of 116 medaling events across 16 core sports. They are widely considered as the most prestigious winter sports competition in the world, with thousands of athletes vying for a gold medal in the name of their country. This year, the Olympics were held by two cities, Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, located near the Dolomite mountain range. Here's a quick breakdown of this year's Winter Olympics: Norway won the most medals of any country (18 gold, 12 silver, 11 bronze) for the third Winter Olympics in a row, having also topped the medal table in 2018 and 2022. Norway is the single-most decorated nation in Winter Olympics history, primarily due to the abundance of winter sports that take place in the nation's mountainous terrain. With Johannes Dale-Skjevdal's gold medal in the men's biathlon mass start event, Norway broke the record for most gold medals ever won by a single country, bringing home 18 gold medals at the end of this year's Winter Olympics. The United States took home second place on the medal table, with 12 gold, 12 silver, and 9 bronze medals. The nation's best moment took place during the men's ice hockey final on Sunday, where they faced off against Canada. An even score of 1-1 sent the game to overtime after 60 minutes, where both countries were forced to send out just three players and a goaltender to finish off the game. In the end, the American Jack Hughes scored the winning goal for the US, sealing their first hockey gold since 1980. The top 5 was rounded out by the Netherlands, with 10 gold, 7 silver, and 3 bronze; Italy, with 10 gold, 6 silver, and 14 bronze; and Germany, with 8 gold, 10 silver, and 8 bronze. The United States' Ilia Malinin, who was considered one of the top candidates for gold in the free skate, placed only eighth after two falls and several mistakes. Malinin is known for his signature quadruple axel, which is considered one of the most difficult moves in figure skating, and he had not lost a competition in over two years. However, he admitted afterwards that the pressure got to him during the event, and negative thoughts contributed to his performance. In the end, Kazakhstan's Mikhail Shaidorov won men's gold – the nation's only medal at the Winter Olympics – while Malinin's counterpart Alysa Liu won the women's free skate. Eileen Gu, an American-born woman who competes for her mother's home country of China, became the most decorated free skier in history at the age of just 22. Gu added to her two golds and a silver from the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, defending gold in the halfpipe and winning silver in big air and slopestyle, winning a total of 6 medals over just two Olympics. The wins come after a spate of controversy over her switch to representing China– a decision she made back in 2019. The Trump administration was notably unhappy with her representation of China, with Vice President JD Vance commenting, " I certainly think that somebody who grew up in the United States of America, who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that make this country a great place, I would hope that they want to compete with the United States of America." Gu suggested that her success at the Olympics was really causing the problem, noting that her wins likely increase the amount of backlash she gets for switching. However, there are many athletes that compete for different nations, and it remains up to them to make their decision on which country to represent. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): 1912 saw the last Olympic gold medals made entirely out of gold. After that year, the International Olympic Committee decided that Olympic medals would be made out of silver and plated with at least 6 grams of gold, reducing cost, increasing durability, and decreasing weight. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The hard days are the best because that's where champions are made. (Gabby Douglas) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Foray (noun, FOR-ay) - A foray is an initial and often hesitant attempt to do something in a new or different field or area of activity, as in “the novelist’s foray into nonfiction.” In martial contexts, foray means “a sudden or irregular invasion or attack for war or spoils.” In a Sentence: The professional wrestler’s surprise foray into ballet was at first met with skepticism, but he eventually proved himself a dancer of grace and poise. Image credit to Getty Images