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Happy American Independence Day to everybody who celebrates! For those of you who would like to get to know more about it, check out this article written by Mihir Gupta! Contents: Belarus to Join Russia, China Anti-Western Bloc; India Steps Out Hurricane Beryl Underway, Smashing Jamaica En Route To Mexico Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Belarus joined the Russian-and-Chinese-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization at its meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, confirming its place in the member states. The summit started on Wednesday and will end today. Founded by Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in 2001, the SCO's original goal was to combat terrorism and promote border security. However, it has shifted to a largely geopolitical organization, and it is sending out anti-US vibes, especially with its admittance of Iran in 2023. (India and Pakistan were admitted in 2017.) Belarus's joining of the main body of the SCO might seem irrational to some. Belarus does not give any security or economic cooperation to the organization. But when you remember Belarus's involvement in the original invasion of Ukraine back in 2022, it makes sense. It's a geopolitical statement. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to opt out of this year's meeting, showing signs of not totally agreeing with the organization's policies. He has sent External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to be India's representative instead. Many Central Asian countries are also showing signs of unease, not wanting to cease good relations with the West. On another note, Hurricane Beryl hit Jamaica hard on Wednesday, killing at least one person and taking the lives of at least 6 others in a rampage across the Windward Islands on Sunday and Monday. Beryl's eyewall passed over the southern coast of Jamaica, pummeling the area as emergency groups hurried to evacuate people. After the disaster, nearly a thousand people in the country were in shelters. Power outages were widespread, and some of the roads near the coast were washed away by the extremely heavy rain. By Wednesday evening, the eye of the hurricane was about 100 miles west of Kingston, Jamaica's capital. The devastating storm's most recent victim was the British territory of the Cayman Islands, where hurricane conditions were expected late Wednesday night. It will then move through the rest of the Caribbean Sea before hitting the Yucatán Peninsula, and possibly smashing into eastern Mexico or southern Texas. This is a developing story, so make sure to check back in future articles to view the latest updates on damage and deaths. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): The person who scored the winning goal in the first soccer world cup only had one arm. Héctor Castro accidentally cut off his right arm as a child with an electric saw, and he was actually the one who scored Uruguay's winning goal in the first world cup in 1930 to help them win the title. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Your mind is like a parachute: If it isn’t open, it doesn’t work. (Buzz Aldrin) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Insuperable (adj) - Something described as insuperable is impossible to gain control of, solve, or overcome. In a Sentence: The book tells the inspiring story of a group of people who achieved a great deal despite nearly insuperable obstacles.

Contents: 116 Dead, Dozens Injured After Stampede at India Religious Event 30 People Injured After Steep Drop During Air Europa Flight From Spain to Uruguay FDA Follows California, Bans BVO From All Foods in US Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day 116 people are dead after a massive stampede at a religious event in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and many more are in critical condition. The religious event, known as a 'satsang sabha,' was being hosted by a local guru known as Narayan Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba, and thousands of people flocked to the district of Hathras, southwest of the state's capital of Lucknow, to watch the event. Bhole Baba actually used to be an officer in the state police force, but he claims to have had a vision that led him to become a preacher. Since then, he has amassed a huge following across numerous states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Unfortunately, in this scenario, an unclear disturbance caused some panic in the crowd, which led to a huge stampede that killed dozens on the spot. Since the area was so crowded, people just started falling on top of each other, leading to suffocation of the people buried under other bodies. Prime Minister Modi immediately gave his condolences to the families of the deceased victims, and any injured survivors were rushed straight to the hospital. Crowd stampedes like this often occur when there are too many people packed into a tight space. In fact, the area where Bhole Baba was hosting the event was prepared to host 5,000 people, but reports show that around 15,000 people were there. This type of density has occurred at previous religious gatherings by Bhole Baba as well-- one of his sabhas in 2022 was meant for 50 people, and around 50,000 people showed up. Sadly, this isn't the first time events like this have happened in India. In 2013, around 115 people were killed in Madhya Pradesh after a stampede during the Hindu festival of Navratri when rumors spread that a bridge they were on was about to collapse. In 2011, over 100 people died during a religious festival in the southern state of Kerala. And these crushes don't only happen in extremely populous countries. In 2023, a stampede in a narrow alleyway in Yemen killed 78 people after they swarmed around a charity event giving out $10 to anyone celebrating Ramadan. In 2022, 159 people were killed during a crush in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, during Halloween festivities. On another note, 30 people were injured after an Air Europa flight from Madrid, Spain to Montevideo, Uruguay yesterday dropped in midair, and the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Brazil. The plane, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, had been flying smoothly for most of the trip, but when approaching Brazil, the pilot reported that there was some slight turbulence ahead and turned on the seatbelt sign. After around 20 minutes of very minimal turbulence, passengers became complacent and began to walk around the cabin and relax without their seatbelts even though the sign was still on. Suddenly, the plane nosedived, plummeting around 1,300 feet before they regained control. People slammed into the ceiling as the flight lost control, breaking bones and creating an extremely chaotic scene all over the cabin. Bags, personal items, and people flew all over the place before the pilot finally regained control, and they were forced to make an emergency landing in Brazil. Later flights came to pick up stranded passengers and take them to their original destination in Uruguay, while other injured passengers remained in hospitals across the landing area. Reports showed that various people had broken arms, legs, noses, and even their spine from the impact. This comes just weeks after numerous other accidents involving Boeing aircraft: counterfeit titanium was found in Boeing aircraft in June, a Boeing engineer raised concerns over the shortcuts taken in the production of their 787 Dreamliner and an engine cover fell off mid-flight on a Boeing 737-800 in April, 50 people were injured after a LATAM Airlines flight experienced a steep mid-air drop in a similar incident to this one in March, and a door plug fell off of an Alaska Airlines flight in January, forcing the FAA to ground the plane. Lastly, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has followed in California's footsteps and banned brominated vegetable oil (BVO), a harmful food and drink additive, from all products in the United States. The new law will go into effect on August 2, 2024, and all companies will have up to one year to remove the chemical from all of their products sold in the United States. Read more about the dangers of BVO and other popular additives in this YNH Exclusive! Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): According to the Vatican, the Pope’s entire body must be buried completely intact because his body belongs to the Catholic Church, meaning that he is not allowed to be an organ donor. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Risk is what you make of it. (Kenneth C. Griffin) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Glade (noun) - A glade is a grassy open space in a forest. In a Sentence: She felt the most at ease outdoors, often taking delight in the peaceful glades she came across on her hikes.

Contents: Recap of 2024's First United States Presidential Debate Hurricane Beryl Makes Landfall in Windward Islands, Strengthens to Massive Category 5 Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day On Thursday, 9:00 pm EDT, the first presidential debate of 2024 took place in Atlanta, GA. The candidates facing off in the CNN-held event were Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and the moderators were Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. Over the course of the debate, the two candidates fought over issues such as abortion and foreign policy. Today, we will explore how it went down. First, the economy. When the moderators raised the point of voters feeling worse off under Biden’s presidency, he maintained that the economy in 2020 was “in freefall,” and that it was brought back by his administration. He also added that he did not think the economy was bad in the present day, and he was trying to bring prices down. Trump countered back by saying Biden had only given jobs to illegal immigrants and “bounceback jobs.” He had also said Biden did a bad job dealing with the inflation crisis. Next, they talked about the abortion issue. When the moderators asked if Trump would block abortion medication, he said he wouldn’t. He also said overturning Roe vs. Wade was a good decision. Biden countered back, saying it was a bad decision and that the majority of “constitutional scholars” were against it.  Other topics included immigration and border security, veterans, foreign policy, domestic policy, problems faced in the candidates’ respective first terms, Social Security, child care, addiction, and voter concerns. To find out what each candidate said in detail, plus some interesting crosstalk, check out the transcript of the debate . On another note, Hurricane Beryl has moved past the Windward Islands, doing some serious damage, and it has become a destructive Category 5 storm en route to Jamaica. In case you missed it, Beryl began on June 28 as a tropical depression, and went through rapid intensification as it approaches the Windward Islands. For more information on that, click here . The storm then made landfall on Grenada's Carriacou Island with winds of over 130 mph, heavy rain, and storm surge of 6-9 feet. Authorities immediately responded to issues on Grenada's main island, but they were not able to fully assess the damage on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique due to the fact that communications were down and ferries could not sail over because of the intense waves and strong winds. One person was killed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as well, but police and first responders faced the same communication issues. However, they did manage to find out some unfortunate news: most of the country's islands are in bad shape, especially one in particular, Union Island-- around 90% of all buildings on the island are either severely damaged or destroyed. Beryl left destruction across St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and Grenada, and it will take some time to recover. Pieces of fallen trees were scattered everywhere along with parts of roofs, walls, and personal items. Water from the extensive flooding is also all over the area, as storm surge of 6-9 feet and 3-6 inches of rain led to intense floods. This is the first strong storm to hit the area since Hurricane Ivan in 2004, which came as a Category 4 with winds of 135 mph. Also, many of the thousands of fans who flew into Barbados to watch the T20 Cricket World Cup Final on Saturday are just getting the chance to leave, but many flights have still been canceled because the airport is still clearing debris and getting everything up and running again. Soon after moving past Grenada, Beryl's winds strengthened to 150 mph, and just yesterday, it became a Category 5 hurricane after sustained wind speeds reached 160 mph. It is the earliest-ever Category 5 storm, smashing the previous record set by Hurricane Emily on July 16, 2005 by a staggering two weeks. Beryl is now moving into the Caribbean Sea as it heads west towards Jamaica, but it is expected to weaken to a Category 3 before hitting the island country as it faces high wind shear ahead. The storm will most likely weaken further to a Category 1 before slamming Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, after which it could fizzle out or restrengthen before delivering heavy rain and strong winds to eastern Mexico. All of this rapid intensification is a sign of climate change, which continues to warm the oceans, leading to more, stronger hurricanes. The warmer waters get, the earlier strong storms will appear, and it is tough to fathom what this year's peak in September will have in store for the Atlantic if massive Category 5 storms like Beryl are already forming in July. If humans keep burning more fossil fuels and releasing more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, then we can only expect for problems like these to become worse. Check out this article to find out what Denmark is doing about their methane problem. This is a developing story, so make sure to check back in future articles to view the latest updates on damage and deaths. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): Albert Einstein's eyes are in New York City, while his brain is in Philadelphia. After Thomas Harvey completed an autopsy on Einstein's dead body, he kept the brain for himself after receiving permission from Einstein's son, and gifted the eyes to Einstein's eye doctor, Henry Abrams. To this day, his eyeballs are still kept in Abrams' safety deposit box, while Einstein's brain was given back to his heirs, who donated it to Philadelphia's Mütter Museum. Unfortunately, Einstein's wishes were actually for them to cremate his body and scatter the ashes. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I got my start by giving myself a start. (Madam C.J. Walker) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Abhor (verb) - Abhor is synonymous with loathe . Something or someone who is abhorred is regarded with extreme disgust or hatred. In a Sentence: Mariah is an animal rights activist who abhors any and all mistreatment of animals.

Contents: Hurricane Beryl Becomes Earliest-Ever Category 4, Pummeling Windward Islands Tropical Storm Chris Forms, Makes Landfall in Mexico Upcoming Events Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Hurricane Beryl is pummeling the Windward Islands, and it has become the earliest-ever Atlantic storm to reach Category 4 status-- spelling danger for the Caribbean's already-grim outlook on the 2024 hurricane season. Beryl formed on June 28 in the middle of the Atlantic as a tropical depression, and it rapidly intensified in 42 hours to become a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher), making it the only hurricane ever to reach Category 4 before July. It is also only the fourth-ever Atlantic hurricane to reach Category 3 or more this early in the season, after Hurricane Dennis on June 8, 2005, Hurricane Alma on June 8, 1966, and Hurricane Audrey on June 27, 1957. To add onto those records, Beryl is also the easternmost storm to form inn June, beating a hurricane in 1933. In fact, the average date for the first hurricane of the season is August 11, meaning that Beryl is a truly abnormal storm. It weakened slightly before passing Barbados, which was hit with powerful winds and heavy rain, but it restrengthened and is packing winds of over 130 mph and widespread rain of 3-6 inches across the area. Barbados, Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada are all under hurricane warnings, and the last three are all possibly expected to get hit by the eyewall-- the strongest portion of the storm. It is currently moving in, and multiple airports across the area are closing down due to Beryl. This will also affect the thousands of cricket fans who traveled to Barbados from around the world to see this year's T20 World Cup, and the buzzing summer travel industry. After striking the Windward Islands, Beryl's future is unknown, but it is expected to continue at this intensity through the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea as it passes Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. It will pass quite far south of Haiti as it weakens slightly, and it should weaken to a Category 2 before slamming Jamaica and Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula before fizzling out around the eastern Mexican coast. However, as conditions are very abnormal and meteorologists don't know what to expect, it could end up stronger than expected due to warm waters or even completely fizzle out before it even makes it to Mexico due to high wind shear. In some other Atlantic hurricane season news, Tropical Storm Chris has also formed just off the coast of eastern Mexico with some rain and strong winds, and it has already made landfall. However, it is not expected to do much damage, as did not have any time to strengthen before it hit the coast. Upcoming Events: Wimbledon Begins (Monday, July 1) International Day of Cooperatives (Saturday, July 6) World Swahili Language Day (Sunday, July 7) Formula 1 British Grand Prix (Sunday, July 7) Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): Only baby cats produce enough of the lactase enzyme to drink milk, meaning that all adult cats cannot drink milk because they are lactose intolerant. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Don’t let your limitations define you. Let your ambition and hard work speak for you. (Jessica Alba) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Kudos (noun) - Kudos refers to praise someone receives because of an act or achievement, or to fame and renown that results from an act or achievement. In a Sentence: Kudos to everyone who helped clean up the community garden.

Today, we have a YNH Exclusive on the ICC T20 World Cup Final! Read a synopsis of the match, the awards given out, and the next steps for the teams after this world cup. Contents: ICC T20 World Cup Ends in a Nail-Biter of a Finale Awards/Achievements Retirements Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 has ended after almost a month of play, and the finale was quite a nail-biter. The finale took place at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, which is a relatively high-scoring pitch located in one of the host countries of this World Cup. India won the toss and elected to bat, and South Africa's captain Aiden Markram later stated that he would have done the same if they had won the toss. India began their batting with openers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli-- Rohit has been quite consistent this tournament, while Kohli has not performed as well as he usually does. However, it was Rohit who went out early in this match, with a failed sweep shot on a ball by spinner Keshav Maharaj heading straight to a fielder after he had scored just 9 runs. India's other top order batsman, Rishabh Pant, also went out early, going for a duck in the same over as Rohit. Suryakumar Yadav then came in, but his partnership with Kohli didn't last long, either. He went out for just 3 runs after being caught out by Heinrich Klaasen following a quick ball from bowler Kagiso Rabada. India then sent out all-rounder Axar Patel to stabilize the innings, as they were struggling at 45-3. He played very well, scoring 47 runs before being run out by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock after a mistake during what he thought might be a single. One of India's biggest hitters, Shivam Dube, walked in after Axar, and he scored a solid 27 runs before getting caught out on a ball bowled by Anrich Nortje. Kohli also got out around the same time, getting caught out on a ball from Marco Jansen, but he scored a game-changing 76 runs off 59 balls. He was the one who powered India to their final score of 176/7 after their horrible start. Dube and Axar also chipped in at the end after their slow start with multiple boundaries. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja then finished off the innings, scoring 5 and 2 runs, respectively. When South Africa came out to bat, they knew they had a big total on their hands, as India had registered the highest-ever total by any team in a T20 World Cup Final. Opener Reeza Hendricks was clean bowled by fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah on a quick inswinger, and captain Aiden Markram also went out early after a wider delivery from Arshdeep Singh that he nicked to wicketkeeper Pant. South Africa seemed to be struggling by the middle of over 3, just 12/2, which was not helping their required run rate. However, they recovered quickly, with opener Quinton de Kock and middle order batsman Tristan Stubbs scoring a strong 58 run partnership, which took them to 70/2 before Stubbs was bowled by off spinner Axar Patel, finishing with 31 runs. Consistent hitter Heinrich Klaasen came in next, and he did even better. Klaasen and de Kock achieved a small partnership, as de Kock was caught out on a ball by Arshdeep Singh after he tried to go for a six-- he scored 39 runs. Klaasen kept going, though, scoring the fastest 50 in a World Cup Final off just 23 balls. David Miller also chipped in to contribute to the pair's 45-run partnership, but that was ended when Klaasen caught an edge from a ball bowled by Hardik Pandya, and it went straight to Pant. He finished with 52 runs off 27 balls. South Africa then needed 26 runs off 23 balls, which is very doable for such a strong team. Marco Jansen and David Miller attempted to forge a partnership, but those efforts were quickly ended by Jasprit Bumrah when he clean bowled Jansen for just 2 runs. Arshdeep kept the penultimate over to just 4 runs, and South Africa then needed 16 runs off the last over with David Miller and Keshav Maharaj at the crease. On the first ball of the last over, bowled by Hardik Pandya, Miller almost smashed a six. However, Suryakumar, who was at the boundary, made a spectacular catch that changed the game. He caught the ball but had too much momentum and was going to go over the boundary, so he threw the ball up in the air, went over the boundary, ran back onto the field, and caught the ball again. They then needed 16 off 5, and Rabada and Maharaj tried to get there, but it came to 9 off 2 balls. Rabada tried to hit a boundary, but it went straight to a fielder, dashing their hopes of bringing home their first-ever T20 World Cup victory in their first time ever making it to the final. India ended up winning the nail-biting match by just 7 runs. The last time India won the T20 World Cup was during the first-ever tournament, all the way back in 2007. Kohli was given the Man of the Match award for his 76 runs off 59 balls, and Bumrah was given the Player of the Tournament award for his 15 wickets at an economy rate of only 4.17. Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the tournament's highest run-scorer, with 281 runs, while India's Arshdeep Singh and Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi tied for most wickets-- 17. West Indies' Nicholas Pooran achieved the highest score of the World Cup, with 98 runs off 53 balls vs Afghanistan, while Fazalhaq Farooqi had the best figures with 5/9 against Uganda. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and India's Rohit Sharma tied for most fifties, with 3 each. Nicholas Pooran scored the most sixes, with 17, while Australia's Travis Head scored the most fours with 26. Travis Head also had the most overall boundaries, with 41. Unfortunately, this win for India also had a slight melancholy note. This was India's last match being coached by legendary batsman Rahul Dravid, who will be leaving the team after this World Cup. Also, in his post-game interview, Virat Kohli confirmed that this was his last T20 International (T20I) match for India. At just 35 years old, he has scored 4,188 runs with a strike rate of 137 across 125 matches in 14 years, scoring one century and 38 fifties. The only person who has scored more T20I runs that Kohli is fellow teammate Rohit Sharma. To add onto these two retirements, captain Rohit Sharma also announced that he will be ending his T20I career at the end of this World Cup. At 37 years old, he has scored 4,231 runs with a strike rate of 141 across 159 matches in 17 years, scoring five centuries and 32 fifties. Both of these batsmen are the top two best batsmen in the T20I format, and it will be sad for India to see them go. In addition, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja announced his retirement from T20s a day later. At 35 years old, he scored 515 runs with a strike rate of 127 across 74 matches in 15 years. As an off spinner, he took 54 wickets with an economy of 7.13 across 74 matches in 15 years, bowling a total of 226 overs. He was also known for his masterclass fielding, with amazing catching skills and superior aim that allowed him to throw numerous run outs. Kohli, Rohit, and Jadeja will continue to play on India's One-Day International (ODI) and Test match teams, though. These retirements will make way for new batsmen to make their debuts onto the team, such as skillful opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who didn't get to to play this World Cup as he was drafted as a reserve, or massive hitter Rinku Singh, who was not selected for the Indian team. Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Abhishek Sharma are all other possible openers for the team, and the decision must be made quickly-- India plays Zimbabwe in a 5-match T20I series starting July 6. Another question at hand is the change of captaincy-- who will take over for Rohit Sharma? Many people believe it will be vice-captain Hardik Pandya who takes on his role, but other prospects like strategic bowler Jasprit Bumrah, calm batsman Suryakumar Yadav, or wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant are also in the mix for the captaincy in future T20Is. It has also been confirmed that India are looking to former cricketer Gautam Gambhir to become the team's new coach. Congratulations to India fans on their first win in 17 years! Also, bravo to South Africa for escaping their 'semifinal curse' and making it to the T20 World Cup Final for the first time in the history of the tournament! This story has been updated with the latest information on the World Cup match and retirements. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): Bees make colored honey based on what they eat. In France, bees were found making green and blue honey after eating waste from a nearby M&M plant. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): You cannot change how someone thinks, but you can give them a tool to use which will lead them to think differently. (Buckminster Fuller) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Fecund (adj) - Fecund is a formal word that typically describes a person, animal, or plant that is producing or able to produce many offspring. It is synonymous with fertile and fruitful. Fecund is also used figuratively to describe something especially intellectually productive or inventive, as in "a fecund source of ideas." In a Sentence: The farm’s fecund fields abounded with produce.

Contents: 8 Injured After Strong 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Peru Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day 8 people were injured after a huge 7.2 magnitude earthquake smashed into southern Peru recently, but fortunately, there is no risk of any tsunami. The quake struck in the middle of Wednesday night at 12:36 am local time, shaking buildings and roads across Peru. The epicenter was located just a couple of miles west of the small town of Atiquipa, in southwestern Peru, and was around 17 miles deep. However, the earthquake was felt all the way in the capital of Lima hundreds of miles away. Multiple reports stated that it was a long earthquake compared to others, lasting around 30 seconds, with consistent shaking that forced people to make a mad dash out of their homes. Most of the injured only sustained minor injuries, and no one was killed. There was an initial warning for a possible small tsunami, but that warning was soon contradicted after they confirmed that there was no chance of any incoming tsunami. As of right now, they have stated that there was minimal damage to infrastructure, but surveys are still taking place to ensure that every building and road in the area is stable. Unfortunately, many of the homes in the area were not built of materials that can withstand such long, powerful earthquakes, and multiple landslides also affected the area. Earthquakes are quite normal in the area, as it is at the border of two major tectonic plates: the South American Plate and the Nazca Plate. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): Nikola Tesla hated pearls. One day, when his secretary showed up wearing them, he sent her home. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If we followed our own advice, we’d be successful. (Fred Astaire) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Deference (noun) - Deference refers to respect and esteem that is appropriate to show to someone, such as a superior or elder. Something done in deference to, or out of deference to, someone or something is done in order to show respect for the opinions or influence of that person or thing. In a Sentence: The children were taught to show proper deference to their elders.

Contents: Kenya Pulls Back Proposed Tax Hike After Violent Protests Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Kenya has pulled back their proposed tax raise following intense protests from the population, which involved violence that killed multiple people. In case you missed it, following the tax proposal, serious protests took place in front of Kenya’s parliament building in the capital of Nairobi, and some protestors even burned down half of the building. Lawmakers were able to escape, but firefighters couldn’t save the building fast enough. Kenya’s President William Ruto authorized soldiers to take military action and use lethal force– and it did not end well. Multiple people were killed after soldiers opened fire on crowds, and more were injured by rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons. After the extreme unrest, Ruto has decided to withdraw the bill, voiding the new tax proposal. He stated that “the people had spoken,” and immediately voided what was set to become a controversial tax raise in Kenya amidst sky-high prices of living. Kenya is still in extreme debt, though, and the only thing other than taxes that can bring them out of that debt is cuts in government spending. However, Kenya’s population is still protesting for Ruto to step down, as they believe that his reversal of the proposed bill came too late– and at the cost of the lives of dozens of people. More protestors gathered across the streets of Nairobi on Thursday, shouting “Ruto must go, Ruto must go!” Roadblocks were constructed across the city, wreaking havoc on traffic. It will be a huge task for Ruto to address the youth and bring peace to Kenya’s streets once again, while a large portion of the population seems to be urging him to step down. We’ll keep you updated on the latest with this topic. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): Neil Armstrong's hair was sold in 2004 for $3,000 to John Reznikoff, who holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of hair from historical celebrities. Armstrong’s lawyers threatened to sue Marx Sizemore, the barber who cut the hair, as they stated that he had violated an Ohio law that protects the rights of famous people. The barber said he wouldn’t pay, and Reznikoff said he wouldn’t give back the hair, but he did donate $3,000 to charity instead. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The older you get, the more it becomes about what you’re doing and less about what you haven’t done. (Michelle Pfeiffer) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cardinal (adj) - Cardinal is an adjective used to describe things—usually abstract things such as rules or principles—that are of basic or main importance. The word is also used, especially in the phrase “cardinal sin,” with the meaning “very serious or grave.” In a Sentence: “Seek out multiple sources” is a cardinal rule of good news reporting.

Contents: Denmark Plans to Impose First-of-its-Kind Carbon Tax For Livestock to Combat Climate Change Ex-General Juan Zuniga Attempts Coup D'Etat in Bolivia Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Denmark has taken another giant step forward in the fight against climate change: they will impose the world’s first carbon tax on livestock. Starting in 2030, Denmark will impose a tax on farmers based on the amount of greenhouse gases their cows, pigs, and sheep release through farts, burps, and dung, specifically methane. Carbon dioxide is commonly thought to be the driver behind climate change, but methane is one of the real instigators of the crisis. According to the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, methane traps over 87 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year scale, making it highly potent– and it is the chemical that is released when animals fart, burp, and excrete waste. In 2030, farmers will be charged 300 Danish kroner ($43) per metric ton of emissions released by their livestock, and that tax will increase to 750 kroner ($108) by 2035. However, to ensure that agriculture-related businesses do not take a hit, the Danish government has offered a compromise in return: farmers will get a 60% income tax deduction. As a reference point, one Danish cow releases around 6 metric tons of greenhouse gases per year. After this deduction, the price per cow will decrease to 120 kroner ($17) per ton and increase to 300 kroner ($43) by 2035. Farmers will pay approximately 720 kroner ($103) per cow annually, rising to 1,800 kroner ($258) in 2035. There are around 1.48 million cows across Denmark. Also, this is just the price for cows– sheep and pigs will also be counted in the tax. This is part of Denmark’s goal to reach a carbon-neutral status by 2045, and this tax will help motivate farmers to find alternatives that can reduce the total emissions of their livestock. They also hope other countries will follow their new movement– Denmark is the first country to impose a carbon tax on livestock, but it probably won’t be the last. On Wednesday, Bolivian former general Juan Jose Zúñiga, recently stripped of his military commander title, attempted a coup d’etat on President Luis Arce. Earlier in the day, Zúñiga gathered military units in the Plaza Murillo square, home to the presidential palace and the Congress building. A witness saw an armored vehicle ram a door of the palace, and soldiers storm it. A few hours later, President Arce swore José Wilson Sanchez in as the new military commander, the troops withdrew from the palace and square, and Zúñiga was arrested. This comes during a tense election season between the former allies, Arce and ex-President Evo Morales. Many people, including Zúñiga, do not want Morales to retake power after a disastrous term when he was ousted. Zúñiga threatened to block Morales if he attempted to. This statement caused Arce to fire him. At least nine people were hurt during the attempted coup, but everything is under control now. This situation highlights the political turmoil Bolivia has been facing for many years now. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): Deep sea divers discovered bottles of champagne from the 1800s at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Apparently, those extremely cold temperatures are great for champagne aging. Wine experts sampled the champagne and reported that it tasted “sometimes cheesy” with “animal notes” and elements of “wet hair.” Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is. (Earnest Hemingway) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Zero-sum (adj) - Zero-sum describes something, such as a game, mentality, or situation, in which any gain corresponds directly with an equivalent loss. In a Sentence: Dividing up the budget is a zero-sum game.

Contents: Multiple Dead After Major Protests Across Kenya After Proposed Tax Raise U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman Defeated By George Latimer in New York Primary Mecca Death Toll Update Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Several people were killed, and many others were injured after intense protests at Kenya’s parliament in Nairobi yesterday following an unpopular proposal to raise taxes. This comes after lots of frustration over high living costs across Kenya, as it is the seventh-most populous country in Africa and one of the most expensive to live in. A tax hike would only increase the struggles that many residents of Nairobi and other cities face against the high prices, which sparked protests in the capital that later spread to other towns as well. The protests began in front of the parliament building and quickly became quite violent. They also burned down about half of the parliament building. The lawyers proposing the tax raise managed to pass the bill before the invasion of protestors, but Kenya’s President William Ruto still has to approve it. Some groups are pressuring him to pass it, while others strongly recommend he veto the bill– the residents of the East African nation will anxiously await his decision. Police responded violently to the situation– multiple officers opened fire on crowds, and others fired tear gas into swaths of protestors. Five people were shot dead as they tried to help the injured, and more were wounded near hospitals and churches as they sought immediate medical attention. The fire at the parliament building was put out with police water cannons, which were also used to ward off incoming protestors. The Kenya Human Rights Commission expressed concern about the killings and told President Ruto to stop them as soon as possible. However, Ruto maintained that he was doing exactly what was needed to ensure peace and stop the unrest. On another note, on Tuesday, a heated battle between U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman and candidate George Latimer took place for the Democratic nomination for New York’s 16th District. Latimer ended up winning the race, and here’s why. Firstly, Bowman and Latimer have different stances on the war in Gaza. Both condemned the Oct. 7 attack, and both support a two-state solution. However, Bowman believes the U.S. should stay out of the war and rejected a symbolic House resolution in support of Israel. At the same time, Latimer backs Israel and said negotiating a cease-fire with Hamas will have no chance of success because it is a terrorist organization. The boundaries of District 16 have changed, and so have the people. In 2022, before the boundaries were reshaped, 30% of the voting-age population was Black, while 34% was White. After the redrawing in 2024, 21% is Black, and 42% is White. This is relevant because Bowman is Black, and Latimer is White. At YNH, we don’t usually cover local news, especially local elections. However, this example shows us how things like war can create two different ideologies and how demographics can easily sway an election. Lastly, a quick update on the heat deaths during this year’s Mecca pilgrimage: the death toll has reached a total of 1,301. In case you missed it, here’s the article explaining the disaster. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): The exact birthday of blue jeans, according to Levi's, is May 20, 1873. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Changes that seem small and unimportant at first will compound into remarkable results if you’re willing to stick with them for years. (James Clear-- Atomic Habits) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Renumeration (noun) - Remuneration is a formal word that refers to an amount of money paid to someone for a service, loss, or expense, or to the act of paying such an amount. It is synonymous with recompense and pay. In a Sentence: The actor was offered a modest speaking fee by the host as remuneration for giving her speech at the awards ceremony.

We apologize that our daily updates have been releasing late this week due to a time zone change. The issue has been fixed and our updates will now resume publishing on their regular schedule. Contents: Sister of Hamas Chief Killed in IDF Air Force Attack 22 Dead After South Korea Lithium Battery Plant Fire Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Early Tuesday morning, Israeli media reported that the sister of Hamas' chief political leader Ismail Haniyeh had been killed during a strike on the al-Shati refugee camp. The Israeli Defense Force said an Air Force plane struck two buildings in al-Shati and the community of Daraj Tuffah. They said the structures were being used by Hamas terrorists, who were reportedly operating from a school. Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya also reported that Israeli forces hit one of Haniyeh's houses, killing 13 people. This comes soon after Israel arrested another one of Haniyeh’s sisters in April when she praised the Oct. 7 attack on the southern region of the country and showed solidarity with a terrorist group. Sabah al-Salem Haniyeh was 57 years old at the time of the arrest and lived in the town of Tel Sheva. On another note, 22 people are dead in South Korea after a devastating fire at a lithium battery plant, but the blaze has been extinguished. Around 10:30 am local time on Monday, a couple of lithium batteries exploded within the plant, which contained over 35,000 batteries. That set off a small chain reaction of explosions, which led to an all-out fire in the plant. It was located in Hwaseong, an industrial area southwest of Seoul, South Korea’s capital, past the city of Incheon. The company, called Aricell, is a relatively small business, employing around 50 people and mainly focusing on the creation of lithium batteries for sensors and other machinery. When burned, lithium batteries release a dangerous, toxic gas. Soon after the fire began, workers were quickly killed by the gas inhalation, as the gas is poisonous enough to kill you after just one or two breaths. In addition, the blaze spread very quickly– within a minute, it had already engulfed most of the floor. To add onto that, the fire later sparked more explosions, which shook the building and may have killed more workers who had managed to survive the gas. Fire crews arrived and were able to put out the fire within 6 hours of the initial explosions, but it wasn’t fast enough to save the workers inside from the toxic gases. Among the dead were 18 Chinese workers, two South Koreans, one Laotian, and one unidentified person. Multiple workers managed to make it out unscathed, while others were unluckier and escaped with moderate to severe burns. However, the dangerous gas from the batteries was the true killer. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the plant on Monday, and the country’s Interior Minister Lee Sang-min ensured that the local authorities were taking steps to prevent the chemicals and toxic gas from spreading to nearby areas. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): An architect named William Kent actually invented the stroller for the third Duke of Devonshire in 1733, but he originally designed it to be pulled by a goat or a similar animal. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Consider the source… Don’t be a fool by listening to a fool. (Sylvester Stallone) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Clandestine (adj) - Clandestine describes something done secretly, or in a private place or way. In a Sentence: The wedding was a clandestine affair in Las Vegas.