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South Korea completely shut down yesterday as part of their annual tradition to allow students to focus when taking the CSAT– arguably the biggest moment of every South Korean's life. The College Scholastic Ability Test, or CSAT, is an annual exam given to university applicants on the third Thursday of November, also known as the Suneung in South Korea. The nine-hour exam encompasses Korean, English, math, and Korean history, but they can opt into a second foreign language, classical Chinese, or one or two elective subjects. Based on these scores, the Suneung can decide an individual's potential career, income, where they live, and who they marry if they go to university. Because of this, parents often begin preparing their children for the Suneung as young as preschool, hoping for them to get into a good university. However, the system has been blamed for years as one that promotes educational inequality, leads to increased stress and worse mental health, and discourages people from having kids because parents don't want their children to go through that situation. South Korea, in particular, has struggled with their fertility rate in recent years– the nation is one of the fastest-aging countries in the world due to the low number of people who want to have kids. While South Korean universities do take other factors into account, a high CSAT score is crucial for getting into a top-tier institution. Any student in at least their third year of high school or with a diploma can take the exam, and they can retake it the following year if the desired result is not achieved. Hundreds of thousands of students take the Suneung each year, making it an important day for the country. Yesterday, the third Thursday in November, over 550,000 South Korean students arrived at testing centers to take their exams – their highest participation level since 2019 – and the entire country shut down to allow them to focus in peace. Flights were canceled for 35 minutes as students took the listening portion of the English exam, the stock market opened late, military training came to a halt, and police were deployed to the streets to help escort late students to their testing spots. In fact, any students who run late for the test can call 112 to get a free ride in a police car or on a motorcycle to reach the center as soon as possible. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The American roulette wheel is different from the European wheel. The American one has 2 green spaces, 0 and 00, while the European one only has 1 green space, a zero. Although on both, if you add up all the numbers on a roulette wheel, you will get 666. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Childhood means simplicity. Look at the world with the child’s eye – it is very beautiful. ( Kailash Satyarthi) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Peremptory (adj, puh-REMP-tuh-ree) - Peremptory is a formal word used especially in legal contexts to describe an order, command, etc., that requires immediate compliance with no opportunity to show why one should not comply. It is also used disapprovingly to describe someone with an arrogant attitude, or something indicative of such an attitude. In a Sentence: The soldiers were given a peremptory order to abandon the mission. Image credit to Getty Images

Several native Amazonian tribes stormed the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, just after its kickoff several days ago, in an effort to gain representation amid a major conference over climate change and its global impacts. COP30 is the 30th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change, being hosted by Brazil at a time when the Amazon rainforest is reaching a critical point in its life. At climate change conferences, countries discuss major issues, possible solutions, new technology, and other ways that climate-related problems can be mitigated. This year, officials have emphasized that the conference will be primarily to execute plans that have been made at past meetings, like the Paris Agreement, instead of creating new goals. Also, ,COP30 is taking place in the city of Belém, a city that embodies the fears and concerns of the Amazon. Located on the edge of the Amazon River, Belém is the capital of the state of Pará, which has experienced intense deforestation over the last few decades. Since 2002, the state has lost around 13% of its forest cover – equivalent to around 30 million acres – and several other Brazilian states like Rondonia and Mato Grosso have lost even more. Indigenous tribes within the region have also been heavily impacted– their entire lifestyle depends on the Amazon rainforest, but deforestation is slowly taking away their land. The Amazon River is littered with trash and poisoned with mercury and arsenic from the manufacturing plants along the river, and animal populations continue to dwindle because of habitat loss. On a global scale, while native tribes are the people who have the smallest impact on the environment, the actions taken by others often harm them much more than it harms the true cause of the problem. Then, countries refuse to allow indigenous peoples to attend the conference as a delegation, and the ones that are permitted are often not able to attend because of high airfare costs or other logistical problems. These are real issues in the Amazon and across the world, and they are exactly what Indigenous tribes aim to put into the spotlight during their time at COP30, which makes them the host of these delegations in their own rainforest. Because of this, indigenous groups stormed the conference on Tuesday after protesting outside, fighting with security in an attempt to gain attention. While delegates from major cities were inside, discussing climate plans, native Amazonian tribes were left with no say in the process. Nevertheless, they are finally managing to bring attention to their cause, and several Brazilian delegates actually come from indigenous origin. Furthermore, many countries are already taking action on climate change, and the COP's main goals will be to secure funding for additional investments in green energy and new technologies in developing countries. The United States, one of the world's largest polluters, has taken a hardline, pro-oil stance because of President Trump's beliefs, and Europe's climate efforts are stalling after making significant progress over the past few decades. But other countries are now taking the lead, including one in particular: China. Physically, China is the world's largest producer of wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles, but they are also the world's largest producer of solar power, wind energy, and hydropower. In 2024, renewable energy made up around 30% of China's demand, and their capacity is growing incredibly fast. Plans for new, ultra-large wind turbines, solar farms, and dams are already being designed, while the latest projects continue to innovate in the renewable sector. Meanwhile, they are also supplying their products to various other countries that are looking to expand in renewable energy. Cheap Chinese technology has allowed other countries to invest in renewables, rather than it being solely for wealthy, developed nations. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Underneath the streets of Beijing, there are over a million people – typically low-income migrant workers or students – who live in a complex network of former nuclear bunkers and basements. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It is not tears but determination that makes pain bearable. ( Rose Kennedy) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Abide (verb, uh-BYDE) - If someone cannot abide someone or something bad, unpleasant, etc., they cannot tolerate or accept that person or thing. Abide can also mean "to accept without objection" and "to remain or continue." In a Sentence: I just can't abide such blatant dishonesty. Image credit to Reuters

Just one day after a possible terrorist-related car blast struck India's capital city, a suicide bombing killed 12 people outside a court in Pakistan's capital city, raising concerns over terrorism across the region. The incident occurred yesterday at around 12:30 pm local time when a car carrying a bomb entered the area surrounding several district court buildings in Islamabad. The resulting blast killed 12 people and injured 27 others, spewing debris across the plaza. According to interior minister Mohsin Naqvi, the car initially attempted to drive closer to the court and even get the car up next to the building, but he was unable to do so. Because of this, the bomber targeted a police car, which quickly went up into flames after the explosion. An investigation was quickly launched, but the Pakistani Taliban, also known as the Tehrik-e-Taliban, later claimed responsibility for the bombing. Naqvi later alleged that the attack was supported by India and the Afghani Taliban, which left India bristling. However, unfortunately, terrorism remains a serious problem in the region, with India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan suffering from consistent attacks. Afghanistan remains under the control of the Afghani Taliban, an extremist terrorist group who have suppressed the rights of women within the country, censored local media, and killed ethnic minorities, opposition party members, and others. Meanwhile, Pakistan has also struggled with terrorism, particularly due to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group. Also known as the Pakistani Taliban, they believe that Pakistan has not been strict enough in imposing Islamic Sharia Law on the people– their ideal country looks more like Afghanistan's state of oppression. Because of this, they continue to execute terrorist attacks across Pakistan to rile up the people and cause chaos. In fact, the TTP has conducted at least 600 attacks on Pakistan in 2025 alone, although most of them occur in the Afghanistan-bordering state of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. While the country has worked to eradicate the terrorist group's operations from Pakistani soil, they have accused the Afghani Taliban of harboring the TTP within their territory. India, on the other hand, remains the most stable of the three countries and is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. However, they still struggle with occasional terrorism linked to Pakistani-affiliated militias– India claims that Pakistan allows these terrorist groups to operate in their territory, keeping tensions elevated between the two countries. Indian authorities are still investigating a car blast outside the Red Fort from this weekend that could be linked to an act of terrorism. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Madagascar was once home to giant lemurs that were the size of today’s gorillas and weighed hundreds of pounds. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Not one ounce of my self worth depends on your acceptance of me. ( Quincy Jones) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Doughty (adj, DOW-tee) - Doughty is a word with an old-fashioned flair used to describe someone who is brave, strong, and determined. In a Sentence: The monument celebrates the doughty townspeople who fended off invaders centuries ago. Image credit to CNN

At least eight people were killed and 20 others were left injured yesterday after a car blast at Delhi's historic Red Fort, sparking chaos across the area. The incident involved a Hyundai i20, a relatively popular car in India, which exploded as it arrived at a traffic signal at around 7 pm local time. The debris and flames from the blast damaging vehicles up and down the street, with photos revealing remains of broken glass and charred metal. Additionally, the incident occurred right next to one of the gates of the Red Fort, a historic monument from the Mughal Empire, built in the 1600s. A specific cause has not been determined, but Indian officials have asserted that an act of terrorism is not out of the question– they are yet to make a decision, though. Authorities have confirmed that they are investigating all angles of the crash, helping them determine the true cause instead of making an assumption. However, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commented that the perpetrators would be brought to justice, further hinting that the explosion had been planned or caused on purpose. Police are also investigating for a connection between the blast and the recovery of explosives in the nearby city of Faridabad. Just before the explosion occurred, authorities seized over 793 pounds (360 kilograms) of ammonium nitrate, which can become a cheap but dangerous explosive when mixed with fuel oil. Various areas across the country were quickly alerted of possible terrorism threats, including New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, government headquarters like Rashtrapati Bhavan, and train stations in the state of Uttar Pradesh and the major city of Mumbai. Security around the explosion site is also extremely tight, preventing people from going in and out. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Somebody hid an episode of South Park inside the first 100,000 copies of the Playstation video game, Tiger Woods 99 PGA Tour , as an Easter egg, forcing EA to do a massive recall. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): They do not know their own defects, who search for the defects of others. ( Sanskrit Proverb) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Temerity (noun, tuh-MAIR-uh-tee) - Temerity is the quality of being confident and unafraid of danger or punishment, especially in a way that seems rude or foolish. Temerity may also refer to a rash or reckless act. In a Sentence: She had the temerity to ask me for another loan when she had yet to begin repaying the first one. Image credit to AP

The United States' longest government shutdown in history has finally come to an end, with the Senate successfully passing a funding deal that will restore order across the country. Originally, Democrats and Republicans remained at an impasse, with both parties on extreme sides of the political spectrum. However, a group of eight centrist Democrats agreed to side with Republicans in yesterday's referendum, in exchange for a future vote on Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which Trump has been working to remove. These ACA subsidies remain at the center of the battle between Democrats and Republicans, and they are crucial to over 22 million people. The Affordable Care Act, signed into law by former President Barack Obama in 2010, expands the availability of health insurance and Medicare across the country. The act makes health insurance more affordable by offering the aforementioned subsidies to citizens whose incomes are within 400% of the poverty line; expands Medicare eligibility in certain states; prevents insurers from denying coverage for someone because of a pre-existing condition; and allows young adults to stay on their parents' health insurance plan until the age of 26. Trump has long been against the ACA– he attempted to completely repeal the bill in 2017 during his first term, but was unsuccessful. Trump also tried to challenge the act in court, but the Supreme Court ruled the ACA as constitutional. While he has taken various other actions, the most pressing issue in the Capitol in 2025 is the expiration of the ACA's premium tax credits at the end of the year. Without renewal, this will halt the delivery of healthcare insurance subsidies for over 22 million people that depend on the program. Now, several Democrats, in exchange for ending the government shutdown, have been guaranteed a vote on extending those tax credits. However, Republicans did not agree to renew them– they simply confirmed that they would hold a vote. If Democrats are able to pass such a bill once the vote takes place in around a month, it would be an incredible win for the left side of the political spectrum amid an administration that has maintained a strongly right-wing stance on domestic and global politics and economic policies. Additionally, the Democratic party as a whole was outraged by the decision of those eight centrist senators, but the bill will be finalized today before being sent to President Trump for approval. Nevertheless, the bill only guarantees funding until January, as the crucial laws required to extend funding for a new fiscal year have not been passed yet. This means that the government could face another shutdown in early 2026, but that is yet to be seen. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): It is thought by Russians that eating ice cream will keep you warm. The idea is that the body has to work harder to digest the cold, calorie-rich food, which generates heat and warms you up from the inside, and it is so cold in Russia that eating an ice cream fresh out the fridge is warmer than the outside. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): A company is only as good as the people it keeps. ( Mary Kay Ash) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Improvident (adj, im-PRAH-vuh-dunt) - Improvident is a formal word used to describe something that does not foresee or provide for the future, especially with regard to money. An improvident relationship, habit, or practice is financially unwise or impractical. In a Sentence: The directors were blasted at the committee hearing for their improvident use of public money. Image credit to Architect of the Capitol

Typhoon Fung-Wong is already gearing up for landfall in the Philippines, just one week after the devastating Typhoon Kalmaegi that continues to batter Vietnam. Fung-Wong, colloquially known as Typhoon Uwan, began as a tropical depression in the western Pacific before slowly strengthening as it moved westward at a rapid pace. Over the past few days, the typhoon underwent a process known as rapid intensification, where a tropical storm increases wind speeds by 35 or more miles per hour in 24 hours or less. Now, Fung-Wong is bearing down on the north and eastern sides of the Philippines, packing winds of over 110 mph and heavy rain. The storm brushed past the eastern Philippine province of Eastern Visayas last night before moving farther north, and it is now making landfall on the northernmost island of Luzon. Luzon is the largest island in the archipelago and maintains a population of a staggering 64.3 million people– over half of the Philippines' total population. The isle is home to mountain ranges, beautiful beaches, and the two largest Philippine cities of Quezon City and the capital of Manila. Ahead of the typhoon's landfall, over 100,000 people have been evacuated and a Signal 5 warning has been issued for the entire country– the nation's highest storm warning. Hundreds of flights have been canceled, schools have been shut down, and people have secured their homes to prevent flooding and storm surge. This comes just after Visayas, the middle third of the Philippines, was just thrashed by Typhoon Kalmaegi, killing over 200 people . Winds of around 105 mph impacted the region, along with heavy rain and storm surge that led to serious flooding and landslides. Then, the system restrengthened and headed towards Vietnam, where it made landfall several days ago and has now fizzled out– it did drop heavy rain and bring strong winds to the region, though, killing five people. However, the Philippines is no stranger to typhoons. Due to the archipelago's location in the western Pacific, it is especially prone to being hit by tropical systems, and the process is only worsening as climate change continues to warm the Earth. Fung-Wong is the 21st tropical system to directly impact the Philippines in 2025, putting them slightly above their average typhoon season number of 20 storms per year. Now, Fung-Wong will continue through Luzon before curving back away from China; the typhoon is expected to restrengthen slightly over the South China Sea before making landfall in Taiwan. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Roselle, a guide dog, led her blind owner down 78 flights of stairs during 9/11. The descent took about an hour, and they both safely made it out. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try. ( Seth Godin) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Bromide (noun, BROH-myde) - A bromide is a statement intended to make someone feel happier or calmer, but too dull and unoriginal to be effective. In a Sentence: Their speech had nothing more to offer than the usual bromides about how everyone needs to work together. Image credit to NOAA

Typhoon Kalmaegi struck the Philippines several days ago, but the death toll continues to rise as the impacts of the devastating storm are uncovered. Kalmaegi began as a tropical depression near Micronesia's Yap Island in the Pacific, moving westward at a steady rate as it strengthened. By the time the typhoon arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday, winds had increased to around 105 mph, along with heavy rain. Over 200,000 people were evacuated prior to the storm's landfall. Kalmaegi's track took it straight through the center of the Philippines, traveling across the Visayas region before emerging into the South China Sea. The popular, tourist-loved island of Cebu was the hardest-hit, with cars washed away, roadways flooded, and homes inundated. As the floodwaters receded, the scale of the damage was revealed, showing vehicles stuck in previously-flooded areas and hundreds of homes decimated by winds. The largest issue for the country is the waste and debris that the flooding left behind– while waters washed objects downstream, winds whipped up debris that was then strewn everywhere, causing a massive mess. In total, the death toll from the typhoon has reached 114 people with another 127 missing. Authorities fear that the death toll is likely to continue to rise as bodies are discovered, but a new threat is on the way. As Kalmaegi battered Visayas, another tropical depression formed in the Pacific, and it has begun to strengthen as it moves west on a similar track to Kalmaegi. The new typhoon, named Fung-Wong, could maintain winds of over 130 mph upon landfall, though it is expected to impact the Philippines' northernmost and largest island of Luzon. This will likely bring rain to the already-saturated Visayas region, hindering search-and-rescue efforts and possibly leading to additional flooding. However, Typhoon Kalmaegi is also not to be disregarded. As it moved through the South China Sea, the storm strengthened, and it is now packing winds of over 125 mph as it approaches southern Vietnam. Over 350,000 people have been evacuated from the province of Gia Lai, which is expected to bear the brunt of the landfall along with its surrounding regions. Additionally, Vietnam has already been handling severe flooding this week, which have killed over 35 people– the ground is extremely saturated already, and Kalmaegi could have a catastrophic impact. Storm surge of around 26 feet is expected as well. Unfortunately, the frequency and intensity of these storms continues to rise with the amplification of climate change. As humans emit more greenhouse gases, the Earth continues to heat up, leading to warmer waters across the globe. Tropical systems feed off of warm water, allowing them to strengthen and form more often. Kalmaegi is already the 20th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this year, and another is already on the way. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Rebecca Felton was the first woman to ever serve in the United States Senate – but she only served for one day. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): We don’t get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life. ( Steve Jobs) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Lout (noun, LOUT) - A lout is an awkward brutish person. In a Sentence: It was difficult for us to focus on the movie due to the noise coming from the group of louts seated in front of us. Image credit to AP

A United States federal judge has blocked Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, calling the move unconstitutional. The district court judge – Karin Immergut – who made the call decided that the protests around Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities in Portland were not severe enough to justify the deployment of the military, making Trump's actions unconstitutional. Trump claimed that demonstrations at ICE facilities in Portland had gotten extremely out of control, warranting the need for the National Guard to arrive on the scene. More specifically, Trump utilized Title 10 of the federal code, which states that the president is authorized to deploy the military domestically if they see a rebellion or the impending danger of a rebellion. However, the judge found that most conflicts at protest scenes were between people of different political stances, rarely involving federal agents. The decision comes as Trump attempts to deploy the national guard to various cities across the country– he has successfully sent them to Memphis, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. Meanwhile, Chicago and Portland were under consideration by judges, but Immergut's ruling could pave the way for the blocking of military deployment in Chicago as well. Of these cities, Trump has placed significant emphasis on Chicago, calling the city a mess of protests and violence. Locals have disputed this fact, though, accusing Trump of attempting to exert his influence as a Republican president onto what remains an extremely Democratic city. Others suspect that he could be trying to do the same thing with Portland, which is also heavily democratic. Nevertheless, Immergut's decision will prevent the National Guard from being deployed to Portland, which is a huge victory for Democrats and other anti-Trump and anti-ICE groups. The Trump administration is expected to appeal, though, which could send the case to the Supreme Court. Due to the fact that Trump appointed three of the nine current Supreme Court justices, there are still persisting allegations that the court is biased towards Trump and his Republican policies. Trump and the Supreme Court have strongly denied these accusations, of course, but the path forward for the deployment of the military into domestic cities is still relatively unclear. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Amber-colored rear turn signals are statistically proven to reduce collisions by between 3% and 28%. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The healthiest competition occurs when average people win by putting above average effort. ( Colin Powell) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Vamoose (verb, vuh-MOOSS) - Vamoose is an informal word that means "to depart quickly." In a Sentence: With the sheriff hot on their tails, the bank robbers knew they had better vamoose . Image credit to AFP

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced that they will impose a 10% reduction on US flights at 40 major airports amid the ongoing government shutdown. These reductions begin today at around 4%, with airlines beginning to cut some extra flights or routes that are unnecessary for operation. This will further expand over the weekend, reaching 10% by sometime next week. Although the FAA has established that they will cut domestic flights only, leaving international flights on schedule, the reductions apply to both commercial and cargo flights. Airlines are now scrambling to adjust schedules and change flight plans, though major carriers like American, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Frontier, and Delta have reported that the reductions impact a minimal number of planes. Nevertheless, they are still offering refunds and other packages to be shifted to another flight or cancelled, but they have confirmed that the reductions will not have an extremely significant impact on their operations unless they are raised further in the future. The reductions have been caused by the persisting government shutdown in the United States, leading to shortages of air traffic controllers and TSA security officers. During a shutdown, FAA workers, TSA officers, and air traffic controllers are all considered essential workers, meaning that they continue to work despite receiving no pay. While the workers do receive backpay at the end of the shutdown for their work, many do not maintain enough savings to support themselves and their families for months at a time. This forces them to find other side jobs to afford essentials and pay their bills, creating stress for workers. Because of this, many air traffic controllers simply choose not to work for that time period, creating problems at airports. The FAA reported that almost 80% of ATC officers did not come to work last Friday, forcing the remaining 20% to take on additional stress and manage hundreds of flights with less support. Unfortunately, the government remains at an impasse over the shutdown, with both Democrats and Republicans blaming each other. Both sides are trying to capitalize on the fact that they need to pass a new bill for the fiscal year ahead, leaving neither side with a clear majority. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Webster's Dictionary accidentally included the nonexistent word "Dord" for several years. The error occurred in the 1934 edition of Webster's New International Dictionary, Second Edition , and the word was removed after being discovered in 1939, though its complete removal took until 1947. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Time to me is a renewable resource that pays infinite dividends when invested in purposed priorities. ( Richie Norton) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Conciliatory (adj, kun-SILL-yuh-tor-ee) - Something described as conciliatory is intended to reduce hostility or to gain favor or goodwill. In a Sentence: As the customer’s voice rose, the manager adopted a soothing, conciliatory tone and promised that the situation would be remedied. Image credit to Getty Images

Zohran Mamdani, a far-left, democratic socialist candidate, won the New York City mayoral election yesterday, meaning that the city could receive some major changes over the next four years. Mamdani, born to Hindu and Muslim parents in Uganda, won the election with around 50.4% of the vote, edging out Trump-endorsed independent candidate Andrew Cuomo (41.9%), and Republican Curtis Sliwa (7.1%). Cuomo dominated across Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn while winning the Upper East Side of Manhattan and central Queens, but Mamdani scored the votes of most Manhattanites, almost all of downtown Brooklyn, and flipped the Bronx from the primaries in June. Mamdani will now become the mayor of the most populous city in the United States, which could have implications on policies in other cities as well. He is also the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor in New York City's history. The Muslim leader has strongly expressed his support for many policies that can be viewed as socialist, including universal childcare, free buses, government-owned grocery stores, and a rent freeze, helping New Yorkers with the city's largest problem: affordability. Mamdani, as a Muslim, also maintains an anti-Israel stance and supports Palestine in their fight against the Jewish state. Nevertheless, his plans rely on a funding program that taxes the rich. To supply the New York City government with the money to implement his plans, Mamdani has proposed a 2% increase in taxes on millionaires – New York City is the city in the world with the most millionaires, encompassing 1 in every 24 people – and an increase of the corporate tax rate from 8.85% to 11.5%. Additionally, many critics have pointed out that Mamdani has never held a real job for a long period of time and has remained in subsidized housing for most of his post-graduate life. This drew ire among citizens, many of whom believe that he does not have their interests in mind and cannot deliver on his promises. Mamdani also faces opposition from US President Donald Trump, who is far-right and strongly rejects the mayor's socialist ideologies. In fact, Trump has even threatened to halt federal funding for the city if Mamdani was elected, but it is unclear whether he will go through with that decision. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The 8-year-old Grinch in The Grinch (2000) was actually played by an 18-year-old with dwarfism. Unfortunately, he passed away just two years after the film was released, at the age of 20. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable. ( David Tyson) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Spontaneous (adj, spahn-TAY-nee-us) - Spontaneous describes something that is done or said in a natural and often sudden way and without a lot of thought or planning. It can describe a person who does things that have not been planned but that seem enjoyable and worth doing at a particular time. In a Sentence: The kitten captured our hearts, and we made the spontaneous decision to adopt. Image credit to AP