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Contents: 39 Dead, 68 Missing After Flooding Strikes Brazil Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day This seems to have become a recurring theme in our daily updates: flooding. At least 39 people are dead after severe flooding in southern Brazil, with 68 others still missing. Thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes as rivers burst their banks and dams break, engulfing their homes. These rains are even worse than a massive round of storms that hit the state of Rio Grande do Sul in 1941, which were the previous record holders. One hydroelectric dam, located on the Taquari River, partially collapsed recently, sending water rushing into nearby cities downstream of the disaster. The towns were quickly inundated, sending citizens scrambling to their highest floors and rooftops as the water approached. Other rivers have also caused damage in various areas. The Caí River in the city of Feliz burst its banks a few days ago, sending one of the city's two bridges crashing into the water. All electricity, water, and internet has been cut to most communities in the state, and it is most likely going to take a while to recover. It has been raining for a continuous five days, and this can all be linked to climate change. Climate change leads to a more severe version of the phenomenon of El Niño, which means that there are warm waters in the Atlantic Ocean, among other things. This brings drier weather to northern Brazil and wetter weather to southern Brazil. Due to the extreme El Niño effects this year, the Amazon Rainforest has been undergoing a huge drought, and more and more precipitation is expected for the southern part of the country in the coming years. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Giant Pacific octopi lay 56,000 eggs over the course of a month. The babies float around in the surrounding water without being attached to anyone, but the mother brings all of the eggs together. She then weaves them into braids so she can supervise all of them at the same time. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Courage is the foundation of determination. Determination and courage are the cornerstones of success. (M.K. Soni) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Agrarian (adj) - Something described as agrarian has to do with farms and farming. In a Sentence: Joan hopes to leave city life behind and move to a more agrarian region where she plans to raise lambs and grow heirloom vegetables.

If you're a Star Wars fan, May the Fourth be with you! Contents: Heavy Rains Strike Middle East Again, Dubai and Abu Dhabi Inundated Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Just two weeks after the record-breaking downpours that inundated Dubai recently, the heavy rains have returned. Strong winds and floods came back to the UAE in these past few days, sparking multiple flight cancellations from Dubai-based luxury airline Emirates and prompting the government to tell people to work/learn from home. Most of the rain has ceased and flight schedules are back to normal, but there is still a large amount of standing water on the roads. This round of severe weather comes just after multiple days of downpours and intense thunder and lightning recently, which brought life in many UAE and Oman cities to a halt and killed a total of around 24 people. The latest storms weren't as bad as the ones from two weeks ago, which were the region's worst storms since 1949, but they still brought the equivalent of double the rainfall Dubai receives throughout April and May combined. No deaths or injuries have been reported as of right now. The effects also were not as severe, as citizens and authorities seemed to be more prepared this time around. They recommended that citizens stay home and keep away from coastal or low-lying, flood-prone areas to prevent loss of life like last time. Contrary to prior beliefs that the rains were due to botched cloud seeding by the UAE government, scientists have connected the unusual weather patterns to climate change. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Firefighters actually use special chemicals to make their water wetter. The chemicals lessen the surface tension of the water, making it easier to spread and soak into objects. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try. (Beverly Sills) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Melee (noun) - Melee refers to a confused fight or struggle, especially one involving hand-to-hand combat. In a Sentence: What started as a verbal disagreement at the football game soon turned into a general melee involving scores of spectators.

Contents: 343 Dead After Months of Heavy Rain Across East Africa Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day 188 people are dead in Kenya and another 155 are dead in Tanzania after months of heavy rain. The Indian Ocean Dipole is a weather event that occasionally occurs in the area during this time of year, sparking heavy rains and unpredictable storms. Warmer ocean temperatures, all thanks to climate change, create stronger, more persistent storms that cause this severe flooding across eastern Africa. Floods have inundated numerous cities in Kenya and Tanzania, leading to multiple mudslides and landslides as well-- one of which killed 50 people near the town of Mai Mahiu. Numerous tourists and staff became stranded at the popular destination of Maasai Mara National Reserve, which is known for its famous savannah tours and safaris, following life-threatening flooding in the area. In total, over 150,000 people have been displaced due to the disaster across the region. Unfortunately, the situation is only expected to get worse. Cyclone Hidaya is on its way, carrying more rain and flooding with the addition of 70-85 mph winds. It is expected to make landfall tomorrow night near the city of Dar es Salaam, which is the largest city in Tanzania with over 2.7 million people. Since the ground is already heavily saturated due to the recent rains, flooding will be even more serious. Ahead of this round of storms, the Kenyan government has ordered everyone living near any of 178 dams and reservoirs to evacuate due to the risk of water overflow. Shelters and food have been set up for the evacuees, which will be surging into safer areas. Human rights groups all over the world are now pressuring the Kenyan government to stop this from happening again, as they ignored the lessons they could have learned from last year's rainy season that killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands of others. Money was set aside to be put toward citizen safety this year, but no one knows what happened to the funds and if they may have been misused. Kenyan citizens are also blaming the government of sending an extremely slow response and being unprepared despite being aware of the situation, and rescue teams have still not arrived in some towns to find bodies and survivors. The Kenyan government has promised to try harder to lessen the impact of climate change on our world to prevent severe weather events like this from happening again. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Peanuts actually aren't nuts, they're legumes. Technically, a nut is defined by being a hard-shelled dry fruit or seed with a separable rind or shell and interior kernel. Due to this, walnuts, almonds, cashews, and pistachios are actually classified as seeds instead of nuts. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting. (Buddha) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Forfend (verb) - Forfend is used in contexts relating to some kind of real or pretended danger or other unpleasantness. In humorous and ironic use, forfend typically appears in the phrase “heaven forfend,” and, like “heaven forbid,” expresses a usually ironic desire that something not happen or be done. In general use, if you forfend something unwanted or undesirable, you ward it off or prevent it; and if you forfend yourself from or against something, you protect or preserve yourself from it. In a Sentence: Heaven forfend that people actually pick up dictionaries and read them!

Contents: 36 Dead, 30 Injured After China Highway Collapse Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day 36 people are dead and another 30 people have been injured after a devastating highway collapse in China. Following consistent rainy conditions and strong storms in the Guangdong region, a large section of the S12 highway collapsed, sending asphalt, concrete, and cars tumbling down a steep hillside. About 59 feet of the road fell down the hillside, bringing 23 cars with it. A massive crane had to be brought in to lift out the damaged vehicles, leading to a closure of the entire highway. This comes after heavy rains that have been going on for months, which is quite unusual for this time of year. It is only the latest incident due to this severe weather, leading to dead, injured, or missing citizens. Tornadoes have struck populated areas and flooding has sparked hundreds of thousands of evacuations in China's most populated province, which also contains the megacities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Researchers believe that the unusual rains are due to climate change, which continues to cause more and more severe weather across the world. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The hybrid of a cow and a bison is called a beefalo. You can even buy beefalo meat in 21 US states. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The will to persevere is often the difference between failure and success. (David Sarnoff) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cohesive (adj) - Something described as cohesive sticks together and forms something closely united. The word is usually used with abstract terms in phrases like "a cohesive social unit" or "a cohesive look/aesthetic." Cohesive can also be used to describe something, such as the design of a room or the plot of a movie, that is coherent—in other words, logically or consistently ordered. In a Sentence: The couple chose their wedding colors and designs carefully to make sure everything had a cohesive look.

Contents: Columbia University Protests Escalating Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The New York Ivy League school has been facing pro-Palestinian protests for many days now, and things are escalating quickly. Protesters have occupied the school's Hamilton Hall and symbolically renamed it Hind's Hall, after a 6-year-old Palestinian child who was killed by the Israeli military. The 8-story building has been occupied by student protesters at one point or another since 1968. The entrance to the building has been barricaded by tables and the protesters' linked arms, and they chanted pro-Palestinian slogans. Columbia University has called the New York Police Department to handle the situation, a situation reminiscent of the protests this previous Monday when 100 people were arrested on campus. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): It is impossible for a kangaroo to walk backwards. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Those of us who ask little of life, get little. Those who ask much, get much, but those who ask for too much get nothing. (Thomas Phelps) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Demagogue (noun) - A demagogue is a political leader who tries to get support by making use of popular prejudices, as well as by making false claims and promises and using arguments based on emotion rather than reason. In a Sentence: His opponent called him a bigoted demagogue for demonizing those who don't intend to vote for him.

Contents: Scotland's First Minister Resigns After 1 Year Columbia University Suspends Student Protesters Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf has resigned after only one year in office, due to his coalition falling apart. Yousaf gained power as the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), the first minister, and the leader of the parliamentary coalition with the Scottish Green Party in March 2023. But he accidentally threw it away when he made an unforced error in dismissing two Green Party members out of the legislature. He failed to gather enough support to overturn a no-confidence vote, and so he has resigned. He has stated a vote for a new first minister will commence soon. On another note, Columbia University, NY, has taken to suspending pro-Palestinian protesters who stayed on campus after the 2:00 p.m. EDT deadline. They will not be able to complete the semester or graduate, and they are not allowed inside school buildings and housing. To ensure that its 15,000 graduates could still have their commencement ceremony as scheduled, this decision was made. People have started to question whether the university has crossed the line between protection against anti-semitism and violation of the freedom of expression. However, many Jewish students have participated in the protests, and freshman Nicholas Fink said the movements are not anti-semitic. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): H&M actually stands for something. The clothing retail shop was originally called Hennes - Swedish for “hers” - before acquiring the hunting and fishing equipment brand Mauritz Widforss. Eventually, Hennes & Mauritz was shortened to H&M. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer. (Albert Einstein) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Inviolable (adj) - Inviolable is a formal term that is used to describe something too important to be ignored or treated with disrespect. In a Sentence: She considers herself a person with inviolable moral standards.

Contents: Pro-Palestinian Protests in US Colleges Not Slowing Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The Israel-Hamas War has sparked much criticism among the people and leaders of the world, and the U.S. is no exception. University and college students across the country are protesting en masse, demanding several things ranging from an immediate ceasefire in the region to calls for universities to stop investing in Jewish businesses to the United States government to stop sending military assistance to Israel. After the arrest of more than 100 people at Columbia University, NY, on Thursday due to unauthorized protesting and trespassing, protests have spread across the country. This has in turn led to 200 more people being arrested during protests in a handful of schools. One of the arrested was 2024 presidential candidate Jill Stein of the Green Party. This confusion has caught the attention of President Joe Biden and his staff. "He understands that, he respects that and as he has said many times, we certainly respect the right of peaceful protest," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. "People should have the ability to air their views and to share their perspectives publicly, but it has to be peaceful." He also said the president criticizes anti-semitism and hate speech. Upcoming Events: International Jazz Day (Tuesday, April 30) Passover Ends (Tuesday, April 30) World Immunization Week Ends (Tuesday, April 30) World Tuna Day (Thursday, May 2) Ridvan Ends (Friday, May 3) World Press Freedom Day (Friday, May 3) Kentucky Derby (Saturday, May 4) World Portuguese Language Day (Sunday, May 5) Formula 1 United States (Miami) Grand Prix (Sunday, May 5) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The first oranges, from Southeast Asia, used to be green, not orange. Quote of the Day (BrainyQuotes): There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in. (Graham Greene) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Ken (noun) - Ken refers to someone’s range of perception, knowledge, or understanding, and is most often used in phrases like “beyond/outside/within one’s ken.” In a Sentence: The author advised the aspiring writers in the crowd to develop an authoritative voice by sticking to subjects within their ken.

Contents: Israel and Hamas Propose New Ceasefire India and Oman to Sign Significant Trade Agreement Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day On Saturday, Hamas announced that it was reviewing an Israeli-proposed ceasefire in Gaza right before an Israeli ground attack near the city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have been displaced. This news also follows protests by college students in the United States, though the two events are unlikely to be connected. There is growing pressure from many countries around the world for an immediate stop to the war. In fact, the UN Security Council voted to incorporate the Palestinian state into the UN, with 12 out of 13 votes in favor. However, the US placed a veto against the decision. On another note, India and Oman will sign a trade deal in the coming months. The two countries only have a trade of about $13 billion, compared to the India-USA trade of about $71 billion as of 2023. However, this agreement will secure the vital trade point of the Strait of Hormuz for Indian imports and exports. This is an especially vital route due to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, making that area impossible to conduct trade in. This agreement will result in Oman eliminating tariffs on Indian exports and India reducing tariffs on Omani exports. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): McDonald's used to make bubble gum-flavored broccoli. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer. (Albert Einstein) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Assail (verb)- Assail has a number of meanings relating to violent or powerful confrontations. It can be a straightforward synonym of assault, as in "assailed by armed robbers," or it can mean "to oppose, challenge, or criticize harshly and forcefully," as in "citizens assailing the proposed changes." It can also mean "to trouble or afflict in a way that threatens to overwhelm," as in "assailed by fears." Assail can also apply to powerful perceptions: a smell that assails you, for example, is strongly noticeable and usually unpleasant. Occasionally, assail is used to mean "to encounter, undertake, or confront energetically," as in "with a deadline fast approaching, we assailed the project with renewed vigor." In a Sentence: Most worthwhile achievements require that one persevere even when assailed by doubts.

Contents: 5 Injured After Strong Storms Strike Central US, More Expected Soon Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Five people are injured after a quick round of severe storms through the central United States, and more are on the way. Multiple tornadoes touched down in Nebraska and Iowa, leveling buildings and bringing traffic to a halt after they roared across busy highways. Over 60 tornadoes were reported across the area, with numerous hail and strong wind reports as well. One tornado also touched down at Omaha's Eppley Airfield, causing a temporary closure of the airport. Over 30,000 people are still out of power in Texas, with another 10,000 without power in Arkansas following the severe weather. Neighborhoods were in shambles and houses were completely leveled after the tornadoes, and there is a large possibility of more storms and tornadoes to arrive across the region today and tomorrow. Today is expected to be the worst day with the most significant storms, but the weather will still be quite bad on Sunday. Cities like Dallas, Omaha, Des Moines, Kansas City, and Oklahoma City are all in the paths of the storms, and some of the severe weather could even extend into Illinois and Indiana as well as southern Texas. This round will also bring tornadoes in addition to heavy rain, large hail, and strong, gusty winds. People living in these areas should stay indoors during the storm, and if a tornado arrives, the best thing to do is to go to the lowest floor of the building and hide in a room with no windows. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Japan has numerous vending machines for various items. In fact, Japan is estimated to have the highest vending machine density in the world: one for every 40 people. These vending machines sell everything from snack foods and drinks to noodles and disposable cameras. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem more afraid of life than death. (James F. Byrnes) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Homage (noun)- An homage is something that is done to honor someone or something. It is often used with the word pay (as in “pay homage”) to mean “to respect or honor.” In a Sentence: Her latest book is an homage to her favorite city.

Today, we have a YNH Exclusive on the new bill just passed by the United States Congress! Contents: New Bill Includes Billions in Foreign Aid, Possible TikTok Ban Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day United States President Joe Biden has signed a huge bill into law which includes foreign aid, Russian sanctions, and a part that could end up leading to a ban on TikTok. Here are the parts of the new bill: Part 1: This section includes $60.8 billion in aid for Ukraine in their war. 23.2 of those 60.8 billion are solely for new weapons to be sent to Ukraine. Part 2: This section includes $26.4 billion in aid for Israel for their war against Hamas and increasing their defense capabilities in case of more Iranian attacks. Out of those original $26.4 billion, $4 billion are for their Iron Dome defense system, but a lot of it is also meant for humanitarian aid to save the suffering citizens of Gaza. Part 3: This final foreign aid section includes $8.1 billion for Taiwan to prepare their military for possible incoming Chinese attacks in the near future, as China has hinted at. It will also be put toward new patrols to prevent China from trying to assert control the South and East China Seas. Part 4: This part is highly controversial, as it contains a huge threat to popular social media app TikTok. Firstly, this section also includes sanctions on multiple Russian holdings. More importantly, the bill states that TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, has nine months to sell the company before a ban takes effect. Concerns in the US government have arisen in the past few months over the Chinese origins of TikTok and whether China could be spying on citizens of the US using the app, leading to the introduction of this section to the House as a standalone bill earlier this year. In total, the bill is sort of a compound bill, as four different bills were merged together and edited to create one large bill that would pass through the House of Representatives and the Senate. Just hours after the bill was signed into effect by President Joe Biden, aid was already on its way to Ukraine and Israel, but the fourth part of the bill faces some obstacles before it gets to its final destination. TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users (out of the 5.3 billion people in the world that regularly use the internet), almost 50% of the American population uses TikTok, and the average American spends an hour a day on TikTok. It is even expected to pass Facebook, one of its longtime competitors, in terms of usage by 2025. It is now the 6th-largest social media network in the world with 1.218 billion users, behind Facebook (3.03 billion), YouTube (2.491 billion), WhatsApp (2 billion), Instagram (1.5 billion), and WeChat (1.327 billion). There is an upside to TikTok, though (from an economical perspective). Over 7 million small businesses use TikTok for advertising, and the app supports over 224,000 jobs in the US. Due to all of this, banning TikTok would be a huge move that could drastically affect the lives of many Americans. This section of the bill is sure to face legal challenges in the near future, with people (and TikTok themselves) possibly even taking cases to the Supreme Court as they fight the law. Not many companies have the funds to buy TikTok, as its purchase would come with a large price tag -- its parent company is valued at $225 billion -- meaning that a ban would be in its future. The company and the citizens fighting the law are most likely to use the 1st Amendment to contradict the bill, stating that it would be a violation of their free speech. The entire purchase process would be a large mess, which lawyers will figure out in court when the time comes. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): It takes a drop of water 90 days to travel through the entire Mississippi River, flowing over 2,340 miles. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If hard work is the key to success, most people would rather pick the lock. (Claude McDonald) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Burgeon (verb)- To burgeon is to grow or develop quickly—in other words to flourish, blossom or sprout. In a Sentence: The trout population in the stream has burgeoned since the town implemented its laws against overfishing.