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Contents: Mexico Set to Elect First-Ever Female President Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Mexico is electing their first-ever female president, Claudia Sheinbaum, and she will also become the first Jewish person to ever lead the country. The final verdict of the election will technically come on Sunday, but Sheinbaum has already secured around 60% of the vote. Meanwhile, competitors Xóchitl Gálvez and Jorge Álvarez Máynez had only 28% and 10%, respectively. However, as Gálvez is also a woman, there was no doubt that Mexico would make history this week. The other candidates have already conceded the win to her, meaning that Claudia Sheinbaum is sure to take the presidency. Sheinbaum was a climate scientist in the past and also served as the mayor of Mexico from 2018 to 2023, meaning that she has lots of experience, and she addressed the nation in a brief speech at Mexico's Zocalo plaza recently. The 61-year-old promised to not let them down, as she will be expected to continue incumbent President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's leftist movements and policies. Sheinbaum comes from the Morena party, which is extremely leftist and focused towards social and economic equality. However, she will also have to focus on other issues across the country, most importantly the widespread crime across larger cities. Robberies and murders are much more common than they should be, which most Mexican residents are hoping will be the first thing that Sheinbaum takes action on. She will take office on October 1, 2024, beginning her six-year term. The Mexican constitution prohibits any reelection, though. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Pigeon poop is technically owned by the British Crown. Since pigeon poop was used to make gunpowder in the 1700s, King George I declared all of it the property of the Crown. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If you wait, all that happens is that you get older. (Larry McMurtry) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Deride (verb) - To deride someone or something is to subject them to usually harsh and bitter insults or criticism. In a Sentence: Although derided by classmates for his insistence that he would be a millionaire by the age of 25, he achieved his goal when his Internet startup went public.

Contents: U.S. Senator Joe Manchin Leaves Democratic Party 11,000-Acre California Wildfire Forces Residents To Leave Delhi's Record Temp. Off By 4℃ Upcoming Events Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day On Friday, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin left the Democratic Party, claiming the party to be straying towards extremism. He registered as an independent, however he will continue to to meet with Democrats in party meetings called caucuses. Manchin announced last year that he wouldn't run for re-election. This means Republican Jim Justice has a very good chance of capturing his seat, and gaining the party a majority in the Senate. Manchin currently serves the state of West Virginia, and he was previously a state legislator and governor. He gained his seat in the Senate in 2010, and has worked to pass many bills, such as a massive infrastructure bill. He has also pushed back against some legislature, like on that aimed to reform the filibuster, a piece of procedural law that requires a 2/3 majority to pass a bill. When he registered as an independent, he said both parties had adopted partisan extremism. On a weather-related note, a grass fire that began on Saturday in the city of Tracy, California, has spread over 14,000 acres, and it is still growing. The Corral Fire, as it is known, was only 30% contained as of Sunday night, and the hot, dry conditions in the area could make it worse. Strong winds are helping to spread it, and the dry grass across the area is just more fuel for the fire. Mandatory evacuations are being put into place for some residents as the fire continues to grow larger and larger. However, the cause of the fire is unknown, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. A temporary evacuation site was set up at the Larch Clover Community Center in Tracy, hopefully assisting locals in the city and elsewhere in the county as much as possible. Unfortunately, a section of Interstate Highway 580 has been closed in both directions because of the zero visibility situation caused by the fire. Over 400 firefighters are responding to the situation, but two from Alameda County were injured while trying to fight it and were transported to a local hospital. Further escalating the situation, an excessive heat watch has been sent out by the National Weather Service, affecting millions of people in the San Joaquin Valley and its foothills, as scorching temperatures of 95-108℉ are expected from Tuesday to Thursday. Winds of 20-30 mph are also expected, worsening the circumstances. On another slightly better weather-related note, the record temperatures New Delhi had been facing earlier last week have been shown to not been correct. The reading was too high by 3.8℃ (38.84˚F), and the Indian government blamed a weather sensor error. However, the temperatures of 49.1℃ (120.38˚F) and 49℃ (120.2˚F) still break the hottest temperature record, while the city's third highest temperature was 48.4˚C (119.12˚F) in 1998. This heatwave has been going on since Wednesday, and it has been very harsh on the country. India experienced 33 deaths in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha on Friday. For everyone being affected in California and India, we at YNH hope they can make it out of this all right. Upcoming Events: World Bicycle Day (Monday, June 3) International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression (Tuesday, June 4) World Environment Day (Wednesday, June 5) International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (Wedneday, June 5) Russian Language Day (Thursday, June 6) World Food Safety Day (Friday, June 7) World Oceans Day (Saturday, June 8) Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix (Sunday, June 9) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): While most people think Windsor Castle was named after the House of Windsor, the British royal house, it’s actually the other way around. The royal family changed its name from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1917 so it would sound less German and chose Windsor because they had ties with the English town. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): All change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end. (Robin Sharma) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Incidence (noun) - Incidence refers to the number of times something happens or develops—in other words, the rate at which something occurs. In a Sentence: The neighborhood boasts excellent schools and a low incidence of crime.

Contents: China's Chang-e Spacecraft Lands on Far Side of Moon Boeing Cancels Starliner Launch After Mechanical Issue Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The Chang-e 6 spacecraft touched down on the far side of the Moon on Sunday, continuing China's intense space race with the United States. Chang-e 6 is the second Chinese spacecraft designed to bring back samples from the surface of the Moon, following Chang-e 5, which collected samples from the near side. It touched down in the South Pole-Aitken Basin at 6:23 am Beijing time, which is the largest, oldest, and deepest impact crater on the Moon at about 1,600 miles wide and 3.9 to 5.1 miles deep. The spacecraft aims to collect dust and rocks from the surface to help scientists back at the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to learn more about the far side of the Moon. It will do this by using a drill to amass about two pounds of material over about two days, and it will then transfer the samples to another module, which will return to China by June 25. Researchers back at CNSA are also eager to compare the latest data with the data from Chang-e 5 to figure out the differences between dust and rocks on the near side and dust and rocks on the far side, which will be interesting to see. This landing will help fuel their rapidly advancing space program, which is hoping to put a person on the Moon by 2030. That would make China the second-ever country to put a person on the Moon, and Japan and India are also making large gains. The United States is also very much involved in this space race, though-- the current leader in space exploration has announced its plans to send another person to the Moon by 2026. However, this landing comes just after a big blow for NASA recently. Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, sitting aboard an Atlas V rocket, was scheduled for launch on Saturday when the computer canceled the launch due to a mechanical issue with just 3 minutes and 50 seconds to go on the countdown timer. The Starliner was carrying two astronauts and was expected to reach the International Space Station within 24 hours of takeoff, but an alarm was tripped by the computer, meaning that something had gone wrong. The next available window is on June 6, and Boeing will be hoping to get the rocket up and running as soon as possible. NASA has a $4.2 billion contract with Boeing, and the aerospace company is competing with Elon Musk's SpaceX to become NASA's go-to private company for rocket launches. However, both companies have been struggling lately with various issues across different launches, meaning that the last time NASA had a proper launch was on January 14, 2023, with SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The longest ever jump by a human was 8.95 meters by Mike Powell in 1991, while the longest ever jump by a horse was 6.10 meters by Extra Dry in 1900. That means that the longest ever human jump was over 2.85 meters longer than the longest ever horse jump! Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Happiness is a mood. Positivity is a mindset. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Svelte (adj) - Someone described as svelte is considered slender or thin in an attractive or graceful way. Svelte can also be used to describe something sleek, such as a vehicle or an article of clothing. In a Sentence: The svelte dancer seemed to float across the stage.

Contents: Former US President Donald Trump Convicted on 34 Counts in Hush Money Trial Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Former United States President Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 charges against him, making him the first former president in American history to be formally convicted of a felony. Trump has had dozens of charges against him in multiple states across four different cases-- this one was in New York City. He was allegedly involved in a hush money scandal involving actress Stormy Daniels, and was put on trial in Manhattan for 34 counts of falsifying business records after the hush money scandal. His lawyer, Michael Cohen, was also involved and was put on the stand during the trial. In the end, a unanimous decision was required to reach a verdict, and the jury unanimously voted Trump guilty. This is horrible publicity for him, but Trump and other Republicans have strongly denied the claims. House Speaker Mike Johnson said it was a “shameful day in American history," and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance stated that the verdict was a “disgrace to the judicial system.” Texas Senator John Cornyn also commented, saying “this verdict is a disgrace, and this trial should have never happened.” Trump himself condemned the decision and stated that the entire case was rigged. Other Trump supporters reacted fiercely and with fury online, and protesters quickly gathered in front of the Manhattan courthouse following the release of the verdict. Meanwhile, Democrats and anti-Trump citizens were swift to back up the decision of the jury online and in counterprotests at the courthouse, supporting them for upholding the law, and incumbent President Joe Biden said that the verdict confirmed that "no one is above the law." Trump, despite the allegations, is still allowed to run for president. According to the U.S. Constitution, a person can run for president if they were born in the U.S, at least 35 years old, and have lived in the country for at least 14 years. Trump meets all of the requirements, and the Constitution says nothing about the person in question being convicted. In fact, a man named Eugene Debs ran for president in 1920 while in jail. His sentencing has been scheduled for 10 am EDT on July 11 by Judge Juan Merchan, but that could be delayed by his appeal. Trump is sure to appeal the decision, just as he has appealed all of the other verdicts against him, which could possibly delay his sentencing. However, he could be subject to probation or up to 4 years in jail per count he is guilty of-- with a maximum of 20 years in jail. It is all up to Judge Merchan-- there is a lot riding on his decision. If Trump is sent to jail, it could be even worse for his presidential campaign. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): In the olden days, people used to use pig bladders to store paint. They would tie them up with string and then prick the bladder to get the paint out. The only issue would be that the bladders would occasionally burst, sending paint everywhere. However, that all changed in 1841, when John G. Rand invented proper paint tubes. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): In life one has a choice to take one of two paths: to wait for some special day – or to celebrate each special day. (Rasheed Ogunlaru) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Foist (verb) - Foist, which is almost always used with on or upon, is used when someone forces another person to accept something, usually something that is not good or is not wanted. Foist can also mean “to pass off as genuine or worthy.” In a Sentence: I don’t want to foist anything on you, but if you like this old quilt you’re welcome to have it.

Contents: Grindavík Volcano Erupts for the Fifth Time in Six Months Haiti Elects New Prime Minister Amid Continued Wave of Gang Violence Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The volcanic activity near the town of Grindavík in southwestern Iceland has resumed once again, marking the fifth eruption in the past six months. The volcano initially erupted in December after over a month of fears across November that an eruption was on the way, and the latest eruption was in mid-March. On Wednesday, lava came bursting out of the nearby fissures for the fifth time, and it quickly rushed towards the town of around 3,600 people. Seismic activity is normally an indicator of a looming eruption, and a lot of it was detected recently. Then, the magma chamber blew, sending dramatic blasts of lava into the air. This was the volcano's most powerful initial eruption yet, as there was a lot more magma built up in the chamber, but thankfully, it has since cooled down. After the lava came towards the town, most remaining residents scrambled to evacuate. However, three residents refused to leave their homes. Grindavík is still without power and water, as the lava flow has destroyed the power lines coming into the town and taken out the hot and cold water pipes. It has also covered two of Grindavík's three access points, and the lava is closing in on the third one. The flow has slowed down, though, and Grindavík's protective barriers have helped shield the city from the worst of the impacts. Officials stated that if it weren't for the barriers, the lava would have already engulfed a large portion of the area by now. Also, smoke has not become an issue for the country yet, but strong easterly winds are expected to carry some of the dangerous gases to other parts of Iceland. Grindavík is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland, and the area is known for its famous geothermal spa: the Blue Lagoon. Unfortunately, the spa was evacuated due to the lava flow, making it the third time since December that the Blue Lagoon has been evacuated. These recent eruptions have been detrimental to the travel plans for many tourists, as the geothermal spa is one of Iceland's most popular tourist attractions. Officials will be eyeing the region to defend the heart of the town from the incoming lava flow, and tourists and residents alike will be hoping that this is the last of the area's eruptions. On another note, Haiti has chosen another prime minister to lead the country after recent gang violence that has overtaken the Caribbean island country. The entire capital of Port-au-Prince has become unsafe after gangs launched a planned, coordinated attack on February 29. They broke into both of the city's main jails and released over 4,000 felons, which have since taken over about 80% of the city. Ever since Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in 2021, dangerous groups have been using that small, unstable gap in the government to take control of the country. The gangs have been looting entire communities, kidnapping citizens, and attempting to take control of the entire area with no regard for the innocent lives being taken around them. They are also spreading to other cities, slowly moving east from Port-au-Prince and stealing from new cities as well. Over 2,500 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds of others have been kidnapped. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in the process, and dozens of buildings and cars have also been burned down by the gangs-- specifically police headquarters and other government buildings. Following the gang takeover and the jail releases, former Prime Minister Ariel Henry stepped down after the United States pressured him into doing so. During the wait for a new prime minister, gangs saw this as an opportunity to strengthen their grip on the already-distraught capital city. They targeted important buildings like Port-au-Prince's international airport to try and bring down the government. However, Haiti has made it through and have chosen Garry Conille as their new Prime Minister, who will be taking the place of interim Prime Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert. He has a lot of experience in the world of politics, as he has previously worked at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), served as the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Haiti and UNICEF’s regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, and was previously Prime Minister of Haiti from 2011-2012. Conille also supported the country in healthcare after studying medicine in college and using his knowledge to help impoverished communities after Haiti's devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2010. He has pledged to promote unity and peace across the country to help restabilize, but he has a lot of work to do. Thankfully, the upcoming 2026 presidential elections will fill the void that has been sitting empty ever since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse, and getting a president back into the game to help him out will be crucial to truly getting things back on track. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): In Ancient Egypt, if someone had a toothache, they would use a dead mouse and put it in their mouth to help with the pain. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I grew up in a world where I just wanted to be perfect. And I realized that perfect was the enemy of the great. (Viola Davis) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Dynasty (noun) - Dynasty refers to a group (such as a team, family, etc.) that is very powerful or successful for a long period of time. It is also often used for a family of rulers who rule over a country for a long period of time, as well as the period of time when a particular dynasty is in power. In a Sentence: The team’s draft picks reflected the ownership’s strategy of building a long-term football dynasty.

Contents: Update on the Situation in Southern Gaza, US-Constructed Pier Breaks Apart Heatwave In Northern India Breaks All-Time Record for Highest Temperature Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The southern border of the Gaza Strip with Egypt is now under the control of the Israeli military. The Philadephi Corridor, as it is referred to by the Israeli military, is a 9-mile (14 km) long corridor along this border, and its takeover has given the country effective authority over all of Gaza's border. This comes just days after Israel's invasion of the refugee-filled city of Rafah, and things in the city have gotten much worse. Early Wednesday, the military sent tanks into Rafah. They had moved into the center of the city on Tuesday, despite an order from the International Court of Justice to stop the assault. The U.S. has maintained its position in condemning the invasion of Rafah, calling for an immediate cease-fire. However, Hamas has proclaimed they will only proceed in cease-fire negotiations if Israel stops this offensive. Furthermore, after Israel has captured Rafah, it has slowed down the progression of aid through the crucial border city into the Gaza Strip. Because of this, there was slightly more dependency on other sources of aid, like air and water, but that was further hindered when United States President Joe Biden's $320 million dollar makeshift pier was damaged by rough seas over the past week. The pier was up and running a week ago, but storms in the area made it impossible to deliver aid through the port. Then, large waves ended up damaging the pier, breaking it apart.Those same waves also sent the US Army ships that were docked there aground, and they became beached. However, two of the four ships have since been freed. Officials have stated that they hope to get the pier back online in a couple of weeks, maybe even sooner. For now, it has been dismantled and taken to a port in Israel, where the pier will be reassembled and reinstalled to its original location. They hope to send at least 150 trucks of aid per day when it is ready, but there is still a long way to go. On a weather-related note, we have another update on the latest temperatures in India. People are sweltering across the country as temperatures crushed India's previous all-time record for highest temperature, with a scorching temperature of 127.2˚F (52.9˚C) in New Delhi. This sudden temperature change was caused by an unexpected transition from El Niño to La Niña, creating a lack of moisture-bringing winds and prolonged heating. This, paired with global warming, has raised temperatures this high. Because of the high temperatures, the India Meteorological Department has considered this to be a severe heat wave. To handle the heat, people have been handing out cool drinks, fanning each other, and covering their heads. In addition to Delhi, northern and central India have also faced the record heat. In Rajasthan, 451 cases of heat stroke were reported just on Wednesday. We at YNH hope that everyone in South and East Asia, no matter what disaster they are facing, can overcome this. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Stan Munro from the United States is the mastermind behind the world’s largest display of toothpick sculptures. It took Munro more than ten years, three million toothpicks, and 75 gallons (283.91 l) of glue to make the 101 structures that are part of his display, featuring buildings from 37 different countries. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): There is a clarity, a brilliance to space that simply doesn’t exist on earth, even on a cloudless summer’s day in the Rockies, and nowhere else can you realize so fully the majesty of our Earth and be so awed at the thought that it’s only one of untold thousands of planets. (Gus Grissom) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Obstreperous (adj) - Obstreperous is a formal word that describes people or things that stubbornly resist control; in this use, it’s a synonym of unruly. A person or thing described as obstreperous may also be defiantly or aggressively noisy. In a Sentence: The moment the paper airplane landed, the instructor addressed the unruly class, telling them in the harshest tone that obstreperous conduct would not be tolerated.

Contents: 23 Dead After Cyclone Remal Strikes India and Bangladesh, Northern India Scorching in Extreme Heat 1 Dead, Hundreds of Thousands Out of Power After Severe Weather Slams Texas Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day 23 people are dead and millions of others are out of power after Cyclone Remal struck eastern India and Bangladesh over the weekend, but it has since faded out. Millions of people were evacuated from Bangladesh before the storm even made landfall, as the area is extremely dense and vulnerable to natural disasters. Sections of the country like the compact suburbs of Dhaka are among some of the least sanitary places in the world, leading to an abundance of diseases like cholera and typhoid. Just the slightest bit of flooding can wash away entire homes, some of which are very unstable and haphazardly constructed from waste materials. Cyclone Remal slammed into Bangladesh on Sunday night (local time) with strong winds of over 70 mph and heavy rain. Thousands of homes in Bangladesh were flooded or torn down, killing 13 people. Trees were ripped out of the ground and over 13 million people lost power across the country as power lines were taken down as well. Another 10 people were killed across eastern India after the flooding led to the collapse of a stone quarry in the state of Mizoram, which also suffered from the effects of the cyclone-- in addition to other eastern states like West Bengal. Millions of others are still without power in that region as well. Flights were also affected at major airports like Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, which had to halt all operations for 21 hours following the storm. This comes after weeks of scorching weather across India and Bangladesh, as temperatures have consistently exceeded 110˚F (43.3˚C) in some areas of northern India and over 100˚F (37.7˚C) in eastern India. A heatwave in the north has been blazing for days, breaking records, and they show no signs of letting up. India's capital, New Delhi, topped out at 121.8˚C (49.9˚C), which is an all-time record for the city. In the city of Churu in the nearby state of Rajasthan, temperatures hit 122.9˚F (50.5˚C)-- the hottest in the country so far this year. It almost beat the India's all-time temperature record: 123.8˚F (51˚C) in 2016 in the town of Phalodi, Rajasthan. Due to climate change, the situation in Bangladesh will continue to worsen as natural disasters like this cyclone become more and more common, while more heatwaves and extreme weather will also strike India in the coming years if the world does not take action immediately. On another weather-related note, an update on the storms in the Midwest: just as other states have been starting to recover from the latest storms this weekend, Texas has taken a hard hit. Strong winds and heavy rain from multiple supercells swept through the Dallas area on Tuesday, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of people and killing at least one person. Highways and roads were completely inundated by the downpours, and power lines and trees were blown down by the 80 mph winds. Dangerous golf ball-sized hail also smashed windows and cars, adding to the damage. Many citizens also woke up to a blaring siren after a tornado warning was issued for a lot of the city at around 6:00 am. Multiple water rescues took place after citizens were trapped in high floodwaters, and crews had to come rescue others after they were trapped in their homes by flooding or downed trees and power lines. In addition to that, numerous car accidents were strewn across highways and roads after flooding, low visibility, and slick surfaces made it very difficult to drive. The storms caused widespread delays at Dallas airports as well, with 17% of flights leaving Dallas Love Field and 13% of flights leaving Dallas-Fort Worth International being canceled, and over 1/3 of all outbound flights were delayed. Officials stated that it could take days to restore power to some areas, and over 570,000 people were still out of power as of Tuesday night, according to poweroutage.us. Over 250,000 of those outages were in Dallas County, which took the brunt of the hit. However, it may take weeks or even months to recover from the damage done by the storm. More severe weather later this week will also complicate efforts to bring power back to the city. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Bees can fly up to around 29,525 feet above sea level, which is taller than Mount Everest! Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I like to use the hard times of the past to motivate me today. (Dwayne Johnson) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Gadfly (noun) - In literal use, gadfly refers to any of various flies (such as a horsefly, botfly, or warble fly) that bite or annoy livestock. Gadfly is most popular in figurative use, however, where it refers to someone who provokes or annoys other people especially by persistent criticism. In a Sentence: The journalist was known as a gadfly for exposing hypocrisy in politics.

Contents: Storms Kill At Least 21 during Memorial Day Weekend Israeli Attack on Rafah Kills At Least 45 Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Over the weekend, tornado-creating storms have killed at least 21 people in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kentucky. Hundreds of thousands of people were left without power and electricity on Monday, and severe thunderstorms raged throughout the country on Sunday night. For Georgia and some of South Carolina, the weather service put out a severe thunderstorm watch until Monday afternoon. As for New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, another severe thunderstorm watch was enacted until Monday evening. In a speech, United States President Joe Biden gave condolences to all the people who died. The war in Gaza has already taken many lives, but an Israeli attack on the city of Rafah has killed at least 45 people after an airstrike struck a refugee tent. The attack happened on Sunday night, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike was not meant to kill civilians. Israel's military released a statement saying the strike killed two senior Hamas officials. Still, there has been large condemnation of Israel by countries around the world. French President Emmanuel Macron made a post on the social media platform X, urging Israel to halt their operations and highlighting how there are barely any safe areas left in Rafah for Palestinian citizens. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly also made a public statement on X, emphasizing that Canada does not support the latest Israeli military operations in Rafah in any way and calling for the end of the conflict. The attacks in Rafah also continued into Monday, with another airstrike on a house killing seven people and tanks bombarding the city, killing at least eight more. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The Mississippi River is 2,340 miles long, making it the third-largest watershed in the world (after the Amazon and Congo drainage basins). 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. (Ernest Hemingway) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Glean (verb) - To glean is to gather or collect something bit by bit, or in a gradual way. Glean can also be used to mean “to search (something) carefully” and “to find out.” In a Sentence: Neil has a collection of antique tools gleaned from flea markets and garage sales.

Contents: At Least 670 Dead After Massive Landslide Strikes Papua New Guinea Recap of the Indian Premier League Final Upcoming Events Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day At least 670 people are dead and the search is on for survivors after a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea a couple of days ago. The landslide struck very early in the morning on Friday, around 3 am, and sent massive rocks and tons of dirt tumbling down on three villages in the Enga Province. The province is quite secluded and is in the central part of Papua New Guinea within a valley, meaning that only one main road goes in and out of the villages. Since the valley walls are steep and consistent, heavy rains are common, landslides occur a lot. However, officials have stated that this could be one of the country's largest landslides ever. The death toll was originally placed at a few dozen, but it quickly rose by hundreds as bodies were discovered throughout the weekend. Over 4,000 people live in the area buried by the landslide, but the number of people in the villages may have been much more due to the fact that numerous residents of surrounding villages had come to the area to get away from nearby conflicts between native tribes. Many of the homes in the villages were crushed by up to 20 feet of dirt and rock, and large, dangerous boulders also took out multiple buildings after they came plummeting down the hill. Since the landslide occurred so early in the morning, residents were caught completely off guard. Officials believe that even though the toll has already reached 670, it could dramatically rise even more in the near future. The town is also quite dense and packed together, meaning that it is easy to take out a large percentage of the village with a strong landslide because every building is so close to the next one. This disaster took out an area the size of three to four soccer fields, which is a considerable amount of the valley. Included in that area were homes, businesses, and a large stretch of the main highway that travels through the villages. Aid like shelter and water arrived quickly, and more supplies like mattresses and various foods are on the way. As the main road has been blocked by debris, the villages are only accessible by helicopter, which makes the scenario more complicated. One team of rescuers has managed to reach the site and is helping to dig through the ruins, while the townspeople are pitching in by digging with everything from sticks to pitchforks. Violence between various tribes in the area is not helping, as 8 others were killed in the conflict. They also burned down 5 stores and 30 homes, meaning that they may not hesitate to attack incoming vehicles carrying crucial aid. Survivors are now taking shelter under temporary tarps as search-and-rescue crews carefully sift through the rubble to look for any bodies or even people who may have been buried and have managed to stay alive until now. On another note, the IPL final in Chennai between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Sunrisers Hyderabad yesterday was action-packed! Here's the rundown: The Sunrisers Hyderabad seemed to be doomed from the start in Chennai, with the team losing their first two opening batsmen in the first two overs after electing to bat first. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma have been crucial to the team this year, bringing in a large portion of their runs. Sharma was dismissed in the first over after being bowled by Mitchell Starc, and Head went out with a golden duck to show for his efforts after being caught by the slip on the first ball he faced (bowled by Vaibhav Arora). From there, the Sunrisers' batsmen went down like bowling pins, losing Rahul Tripathi in the fifth over and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the seventh. By the time the 10-over mark came around, they were already 4 wickets down, and they lost Aiden Markram, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Impact Player Abdul Samad in the next three consecutive overs. Heinrich Klaasen became their last chance, and he was quickly dismissed after being bowled by Harshit Rana. The Sunrisers were then 90/8 with 6 overs to go, and Jaydev Unadkat and captain Pat Cummins came in to bat. Both went out in the next few overs, meaning that the Sunrisers finished their innings 9 balls early with a mere 113 runs and no wickets to spare. Then, the Kolkata Knight Riders came out to bat. Sunil Narine, the team's shining star this season, slammed a six in the second over and then went out on the next ball after mistiming a hit, and hope returned to the Sunrisers. However, those hopes were quickly dashed as opening batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Venkatesh Iyer carried KKR to victory. Gurbaz went out before the end for 39 runs, though, allowing captain Shreyas Iyer to come in and help Venkatesh finish the game off. In the end, Venkatesh Iyer was the true star of their batting, playing a fine knock of 52 runs off 26 balls. The Kolkata Knight Riders won the match by 8 wickets with 57 balls left, giving them their third-ever IPL victory after their wins in 2012 and 2014. Mitchell Starc was declared Man of the Match after his two crucial wickets (Sharma and Tripathi) against Hyderabad, and Sunil Narine was declared Player of the Tournament after his amazing batting and bowling this season. Congratulations to KKR fans! Avid cricket fans will now be awaiting the beginning of the T20 World Cup on June 1, which is sure to be exciting! Upcoming Events: International Day of UN Peacekeepers (Wednesday, May 29) International Day of Potato (Thursday, May 30) World No-Tobacco Day (Friday, May 31) ICC T20 World Cup Begins (Saturday, June 1) UEFA Champions League Final (Saturday, June 1) Global Day of Parents (Saturday, June 1) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Giraffes have extremely long necks, but they actually have the same number of neck bones as we (and most animals) do: seven. In fact, a sloth has more neck bones than a giraffe-- sloths have 10 neck vertebrae. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Once you’ve accepted your flaws, no one can use them against you (George R.R. Martin) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Symposium (noun) - Symposium can refer either to a formal meeting at which experts discuss a particular topic, or to a collection of articles on a particular subject. Symposium has two plural forms: symposia and symposiums. In a Sentence: Professors and graduate students attended a three-day symposium on climate change.

Contents: Locals Protest Mass Tourism in Balearic Islands Indian Premier League Final Today; Recap of This Season Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The residents of the Balearic Islands in Spain protested against mass tourism on Friday and Saturday, trying to stop the continuation of home demolition in the archipelago. According to a local real estate agent, over half of rental properties in the area were too expensive for residents and used as holiday rentals. On Saturday, in Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the archipelago, 10,000 protesters marched through the streets. A sign held in front said, "It's for sale, but I can't afford it! # Mallorca is not for sale." Too many homes of longtime residents are being destroyed and replaced by costly projects for the massive amount of incoming tourists, which the locals are not happy about. Additionally, about 1,000 protesters gathered on Friday on the island of Ibiza for another demonstration. A representative of the organizers of the protest talked about their needs for a limit on new tourist houses and a ban on illegal flats, which have been increasingly popping up in the area. If there are less flats for sale, the price automatically goes up, which will bring down demand. This would keep housing affordable for residents while also providing tourists with various options on where to stay. On another note, the IPL final between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Sunrisers Hyderabad is here! Starting at 10:00 EDT / 7:30 IST, this match will culminate what was surely one of the most exciting seasons in IPL history. Not only were the boundaries pulled closer into the field, allowing for more 4s and 6s, but the concept of the 'impact player' was also kept from the 2023 season. This allowed for someone to be substituted into the game to either bat or bowl. Impact players who bat are usually big hitters, so it is easy to see that the impact player provides a tactical advantage. This has also allowed for scores to reach well over 250. Also, SRH has been doing especially well this season after years of losing records. After being quite low in the league standings since 2021, they made a huge comeback this season and earned second place on the leaderboard with a record of 8-5-1. However, when they faced off against SRH on Tuesday, they lost by 8 wickets with 38 balls left. SRH did beat the Rajasthan Royals on Thursday by 36 runs, however, so the outcome of today's match can go either way. If SRH's opening batters, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, do not get out very early, it is possible that they could beat KKR, who have remained strong all season with a record of 9-3-2. Whatever the outcome, this match is going to get very exciting. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): South American river turtles talk in their eggs. Turtles don’t have vocal cords, and their ears are internal, so scientists believed that turtles were deaf and didn’t communicate through sounds. But research has found that turtles actually communicate at an extremely low frequency, making various noises that can only be heard through a hydrophone (a microphone used underwater). These sounds even come from the egg before the turtle hatches. Researchers think that this may help all of the turtle siblings hatch at once. Quote of the Day (BrainyQuotes): The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living. (Marcus Tullius Cicero) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Countermand (verb) - To countermand an order is to revoke it, especially by giving a new order. In a Sentence: Orders to blow up the bridge were countermanded by local officials.