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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.

Contents: NASA Re-Establishes Communications With Voyager 1 After Issue Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day NASA has managed to regain communication with the Voyager 1 spacecraft after five months of troubleshooting a persisting issue. Voyager 1 was launched just 16 days before its counterpart, Voyager 2, in 1977, and is the only spacecraft to ever leave the heliosphere-- the Sun's magnetic field that is the official border between our solar system and interstellar space. In November, Voyager 1 suffered from an issue where it began to send jumbled data that was impossible to understand. After months of troubleshooting, NASA finally managed to find out that there was a corrupted chip aboard the vessel, possibly ruined by wear or hit by some kind of space particle, and it was messing up over 3% of Voyager 1's memory. The team on Earth then split the corrupted code up and sent it to different parts of the spacecraft, allowing it to send readable messages again. Both spacecrafts have had issues in the past, including a seven-month period where Voyager 2's antenna was facing in the wrong direction, but it is a new challenge every time. The NASA Voyager team expects to receive some new scientific data from Voyager 1 in the coming days, which will be exciting for them-- every update has the possibility for new discoveries as the spacecrafts cruise through interstellar space. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The processed meat company Spam actually gets its name by combining spice and ham. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Ideas are easy. Implementation is hard. (Guy Kawasaki) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Exodus (noun)- An exodus is a situation in which many people leave a place at the same time—in other words a mass departure or emigration. In a Sentence: The resort town eagerly anticipated the mass exodus from the cities to its beaches as summer approached.

Contents: 15 People Injured After Tram Incident at Universal Studios Hollywood Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Over a dozen people were injured after a tram incident at Universal Studios Hollywood on Saturday night. The tram was carrying numerous passengers late into the evening, around 9:00 pm local time, when the driver made a quick turn into a studio lot. The tram suffered from a mechanical failure during the turn, according to the driver, and the last car smashed into a nearby guardrail, sending passengers tumbling out of the car. 15 people were sent to a hospital to be treated for mild injuries, and Universal is trying to find out the cause of the mechanical failure to prevent the incident from happening again. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Humans can only use 0.007% of Earth's water, as only 2.5% of it is fresh water and even less of that is accessible. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): High expectations are the key to everything. (Sam Walton) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Palpable (adj)- Something described as palpable is obvious and notable. Palpable may also be used as a synonym of tangible to describe something that can be perceived by one's sense of touch. In a Sentence: The tension in the courtroom was palpable as the jury foreman stood to announce the verdict.

Happy Earth Day! Make sure to treat the planet well this year to try and reduce our carbon footprint and lower our impact on the Earth. Contents: 11 Missing After Heavy Rains Strike China's Guangdong Province 135 Dead After Heavy Rains Strike Pakistan, Afghanistan Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day 11 people are missing after heavy rains in China's coastal Guangdong province, which includes the massive metropolises of Shenzhen and Guangzhou, home to over 17.5 million and 16 million people, respectively. Thankfully, the storms have avoided the larger cities, but multiple regions have been relatively hard-hit. Over 50,000 people have been evacuated after rivers burst their banks and streets were covered in waist-level waters, and vehicles were completely washed away. Entire first floors were inundated, wiping out homes and businesses, and landslides even occurred in remote mountain areas that trapped citizens. These powerful storms are quite unusual for the area at this time of the year, and unfortunately, they are expected to return later this week. In a similar scenario, over 135 people have been killed by heavy rains in Afghanistan and Pakistan over the past week. 21 of those 135 killed were farmers harvesting wheat when they were struck by lightning, and the rest were affected by the high water levels. After an unusually dry winter, heavy rains have inundated buildings and caused rivers to burst their banks, covering villages in multiple feet of water, in addition to damaging over 100,000 acres of farmland and killing thousands of livestock. The region of Balochistan has suffered the most, taking on over three times its average for this time of year, and the entire country of Pakistan has suffered from over two times its April average. This is extremely unusual for this month, as the monsoon season for South Asia is normally from June to September. Upcoming Events: Earth Day (Monday, April 22) Passover Begins (Monday, April 22) World Book and Copyright Day (Tuesday, April 23) English Language Day (Tuesday, April 23) Spanish Language Day (Tuesday, April 23) World Immunization Week Begins (Wednesday, April 24) International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace (Wednesday, April 24) International Girls in ICT Day (Thursday, April 25) World Malaria Day (Thursday, April 25) International Delegate’s Day (Thursday, April 25) International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day (Friday, April 26) World Intellectual Property Day (Friday, April 26) World Day for Safety and Health at Work (Sunday, April 28) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): In the English grading system, E and F were both used for failing grades, but E was omitted because students and parents kept thinking of an E as 'excellent' instead of representing a fail, like F. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): In the end, a vision without the ability to execute it is probably a hallucination. (Steve Case) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Noblesse oblige (noun)- Noblesse oblige refers to the idea that people who have high social rank or wealth should be helpful and generous to people of lower rank or to people who are poor. In a Sentence: As the inheritor of a great fortune, he was raised to have a strong sense of noblesse oblige, not only volunteering and donating to charity, but advocating for structural change to address inequality.

Our new Unsolved Mystery is now out: the Disappearance of the Roanoke Colony! Check out the new article here. Contents: Ford Recalls Over 455,000 Broncos and Mavericks Due to Battery Issues Various Vehicle Recalls Over the Past Few Months Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Ford has recalled over 455,000 Bronco Sport and Mavericks after an issue where the battery indicator can fail to give a warning. The problem has been found in Ford Bronco Sport SUVs made between 2021 and 2024 and Ford Maverick pickup trucks made between 2022 and 2023. The undetected low battery could cause a failure of multiple battery-affiliated features like hazard lights, and it could even lead to a loss of drive power that could result in a crash, according to the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Ford has stated that if customers seem to be having some sort of battery problems in one of the models listed above, they should take it to the nearest dealer to get the issue fixed for free, while owners will be notified on May 13. In just the past few months, there have been a slew of recalls issued by multiple dealers over various issues. Almost 43,000 2022-2023 Ford Broncos and 2022 Ford Escapes were recalled last week due to possible cracked fuel injectors, and Subaru also recalled over 118,000 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy models in late March over a problem where the airbag would fail to deploy in a crash. The same week, Chrysler recalled 286,000 2018-2021 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 models for an issue where the side airbag would randomly rupture, possibly harming the passengers of the car. In addition, Kia recalled over 427,000 of their popular 2020-2024 Telluride SUVs because of a problem where the car could start moving while in park due to an improper assembly of the right front driveshaft and intermediate shaft. Lastly, Hyundai and Kia jointly recalled over 147,000 2022-2024 Hyundai Ioniq, Genesis, and EV6 models over issues with the battery charging. For all of these issues, owners of these models should take the car to the nearest dealer to get the problem repaired for free. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): There's enough molten gold in the core of the Earth to coat the entire surface of our planet in 1.5 feet of it. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The only thing worse than starting something and failing… is not starting something. (Seth Godin) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Gingerly (adj)- An act or manner described as gingerly is very cautious or careful. In a Sentence: It’s a delicate subject, and we need to approach it with gingerly care and tact.