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Contents: Heavy Rain Strikes Milan, Power Out For Much of the City Storm Ciarán Lashes UK, France With Strong Winds and Heavy Rain Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Heavy rain has struck the Italian city of Milan, and the entire city is inundated in deep water. Lake Como burst its banks on Wednesday amid the floods, and strong winds blew down power lines- knocking out electricity for a lot of the city. They also knocked down trees and tore apart furniture across Milan, and the high water levels flooded any homes that weren't damaged by the winds. Thankfully, no injuries or deaths have been reported. All of this is because of the worsening global climate crisis, which also caused the terrible flooding in Italy's Emilia Romagna region earlier this year. On another note, Storm Ciarán is lashing the United Kingdom and France with strong winds and heavy rain, with winds over 100 mph hitting some areas. Subways have been flooded and roads are impossible to drive on, and swells of over 50 feet are pounding coastal areas. Cities have been completely inundated amid the storm, and power is also out in many areas- and it is only expected to get worse throughout the day. Fact of the Day: Armadillo shells are bulletproof. There have been multiple reports of bullets ricocheting off of their shells, including one incident where a Texas man was hit in the jaw by his own bullet after firing at the armadillo. Quote of the Day: In a gentle way, you can shake the world. (Mahatma Gandhi) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Fuliginous (adj)- Fuliginous is a formal adjective that is synonymous with sooty; it describes things related to, containing, or producing soot. It can also describe things that are figuratively sooty—that is, dark or murky, as in "fuliginous soul"—as well as things that are dark or sooty in color, from crystals and insects to the plumage of some bird species. In a Sentence: Stringent environmental regulations eventually helped the city rid itself of the fuliginous haze that had plagued its citizens for decades.

YNH Members, we apologize for the slight mistake in yesterday's update- it was October 31, not the 30th. It has now been fixed. Now, before we start, today is Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)! You can read more about this holiday in this article by Mihir Gupta. Contents: Apple Releases New MacBooks and iMacs in "Scary Fast" Event Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Apple had a fun Halloween event for some new products, titled "Scary Fast" by the tech company. They unveiled some cool, speedy new MacBooks and iMacs, all of which have their new M3 chips. This comes amid a slow season after the initial rush to buy their new iPhone 15 that was released in September, and it is sure to boost their sales again. These new chips will enable newer, better graphics and speeds 2.5x faster than the M1 in MacBooks, and its core processing speeds will be up to 50% faster than before. It also promised up to 22 hours of battery life and a new color- Space Black. The new Macs will start at $1,599 for the 14-inch and $2,499 for the 16-inch one. For iMacs, the new ones start at $1,299. Fact of the Day: Chicago's nickname, the Windy City, actually wasn't given because there is a lot of wind. The term was coined by 19th-century journalists who described Chicago's political leaders as "full of hot air" and "windbags," and the name stuck. Quote of the Day: It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves. (Edmund Hillary) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Eldritch (adj)- Eldritch describes things that are strange or unnatural, especially in a way that inspires fear. The word is often used as a synonym for eerie. In a Sentence: She's afraid to visit haunted houses because the eldritch decor and sound effects are too realistic for her liking.

Happy Halloween! Kids (and parents) all over the world will enjoy trick-or-treating in their costumes tonight, so have fun! We even have a Halloween-themed quote and word of the day! Now, let's dive into today's news. Contents: Death Toll From Otis Emerges, Recovery Begins Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The death toll has come in from the deadly Hurricane Otis, and it is not good. 43 people have died and hundreds of others are injured after Otis slammed into the western Mexican coast with winds of over 165 mph as a Category 5 hurricane, and the city of Acapulco was the worst-hit. Acapulco is located in the state of Guerrero and is home to over 1 million people, and over 80% of its famous hotels and beautiful beaches have been destroyed by the storm- which is a huge detriment to their economy. Thousands of people have been displaced, and the long recovery process is now beginning. Fact of the Day: Scotland has 421 words for snow, including "feuchter," which means to fall lightly, "sneesl," which means to begin raining or snowing, "skelf," which means a large snowflake, and "flindrinkin," which means a slight snow shower. Quote of the Day: A mask tells us more than a face. (Oscar Wilde) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Werewolf (noun)- Werewolf refers to a person transformed into a wolf or capable of assuming a wolf's form, especially during the full moon. In a Sentence: She went to the Halloween party dressed as a werewolf, wearing faux fur from head to toe.

Contents: Israel-Hamas War Escalates, Israeli Ground Invasion Commences Upcoming Events Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Israel has officially launched their big ground operation into Gaza, with Israeli forces crossing the border over the weekend. Death and destruction is looming ahead as the war escalates even further, with over 8,000 Palestinians already dead in Gaza after Israel cut off all communications, food, and water to the strip. Aid trucks are trickling in through the Egypt border, but it is not coming fast enough to save the innocent citizens of Gaza. The UN and other countries are still urging Israel to make peace and stop the invasion, but President Netanyahu is continuing on. However, Hamas is still holding over 200 Israelis hostage, which is most likely why Israel has pressed on. Hopefully they come to terms soon, but looking at the near future, it seems quite unlikely. Upcoming Events: World Cities Day (Tuesday, October 31) Halloween (Tuesday, October 31) International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists (Thursday, November 2) Major League Baseball World Series Final (Saturday, November 4) World Tsunami Awareness Day (Sunday, November 5) Fact of the Day: Every single odd number has the letter e in it. Quote of the Day: Life has got to be lived- that's all there is to it. (Eleanor Roosevelt) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Pandemonium (noun)- Pandemonium refers to a situation in which a crowd or mass of people act in a wild, uncontrolled, or violent way because they are afraid, excited, or confused. In a Sentence: Pandemonium ensued when a power failure knocked out the city’s traffic lights during rush hour.

Contents: Megaquake Fears Ramp Up After Light Quakes Rattle San Francisco Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Residents of the Bay Area became a bit scared in these past few days as multiple small earthquakes rattled San Francisco. A 3.7 magnitude quake struck during the nighttime rush hour and had its epicenter at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), scaring citizens. Thankfully, the quake did not cause any damage, but fears are ramping up across the west as the chances of a megaquake on the San Andreas Fault continue to increase. Large earthquakes like the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, which measured at 7.9 on the Richter scale and killed 3,000 people, come every century or so, which means that this century's quake is a bit overdue. Cities like San Francisco have been working on buildings to make them more earthquake-proof, but they might not be able to withstand a massive one like 1906. Meanwhile, there hasn't been a megaquake in Cascadia (Washington-Oregon-British Columbia) in over 320 years, and that kind of earthquake would take place on the ridge between the Pacific and Juan de Fuca tectonic plates, which could generate a life-threatening tsunami as well. Fact of the Day: Lemons float, but limes sink. Since limes are denser, they sink to the bottom, while the less-dense lemons float on the surface. Quote of the Day: If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit. (Banksy) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Irascible (adj)- Someone who is irascible is easily angered and annoyed. In a Sentence: That tidy little house belongs to an irascible crank who never has a kind word for any of his neighbors.

Contents: 18 Dead, 13 Injured After Deadly Maine Mass Shooting Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day At least 18 people are dead and 13 others are injured after a mass shooting in the US state of Maine, which has been the country's deadliest shooting since the Uvalde School Shooting of last year. The gunman, Robert Card, was a US Army reservist and bought the gun legally a few days before. He arrived at a bowling alley and opened fire before moving onto a nearby restaurant, and then fled the scene. Card was recently found dead in a forest 8 miles from Lewiston, where the shooting took place, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was found after two days of searching by land, water, and air, as it he was still at large. The United States continues to suffer from these deadly shootings from time to time, and protests for stricter gun laws just keep building up. Fact of the Day: It takes a drop of water 90 days to travel the entire Mississippi River. Quote of the Day: Don't be afraid of losing people. Be afraid of losing yourself by trying to please everyone around you. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Shill (noun)- an informal word that is used disapprovingly to mean “to talk about or describe someone or something in a favorable way for pay.” It is usually paired with for. In a Sentence: It’s very common to see influencers shilling for different brands on their social media accounts.

Contents: Acapulco Devastated By Otis, 27 Dead, Thousands Displaced Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day After communications were re-established in western Mexico, officials were able to get in touch with Acapulco, the worst-hit city, and the death toll is currently 27 while 4 people are still missing. Hurricane Otis rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane within one day, and it slammed into the state of Guerrero on Wednesday with winds of over 165 mph. The storm hit Acapulco the hardest, where entire high-rises have been destroyed and highways have been completely inundated. All airports around the area have temporarily closed down after the storm as the airports themselves have taken big hits and airplanes have been shredded to debris. Thousands of people are staying in shelters for the time being after their homes were destroyed by winds, landslides, and flooding, and many of them are in need of aid, food, and water. Power is also still out for almost the entire city of 1 million people, and the long, tough recovery process is now beginning. Fact of the Day: The Philippines consists of 7,461 permanent islands (always above water, does not emerge and disappear based on tides). Quote of the Day: Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. (Anais Nin) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cadre (noun)- Broadly, cadre can refer to any group of people with a unifying relationship, as in “a cadre of lawyers,” or “a cadre of sportswriters.” More specifically, cadre can also be used for a group of people who are trained in a role or task, and who in turn can train others. In a Sentence: A small but influential cadre of students ultimately persuaded their peers and then the administration to change the school’s mascot.

Contents: Catastrophic Hurricane Otis Fizzles Out, But Leaves Massive Damage Behind Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Hurricane Otis has now fizzled out, but it has done a lot of damage across western Mexico. The death toll remains unclear as the storm completely cut communications, but debris is everywhere and almost everything has been destroyed across the state of Guerrero. Landslides have wiped out entire villages in the more mountainous areas, and the city of Acapulco (with a population of over 1 million) has been plunged into darkness by the hurricane. It brought winds of over 165 mph earlier this week to the city with extremely heavy rain after rapidly intensifying in the eastern Pacific. In fact, it intensified so fast that meteorologists were scrambling to get coverage on it and make new predictions, because it was forecast to hit as a weaker hurricane. Guerrero is now starting to recover from the catastrophic Otis, but it will be a while before things return to normal. Fact of the Day: Africa is the world's only continent with parts in all four hemispheres. Quote of the Day: If you're always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be. (Maya Angelou) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Extraneous (adj)- Something described as extraneous does not form a necessary part of something else, and may also therefore be considered irrelevant or unimportant (as in “extraneous details”). In a Sentence: The woman who reported the robbery kept bringing up extraneous facts, such as what she'd had for lunch.

Contents: Hurricane Otis Batters Acapulco, Strongest Storm to Hit Guerrero in Decades First Big Snowfall Takes Place, Over a Foot Expected in Some Areas Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Hurricane Otis is pounding the west coast of Mexico, and it is the strongest hurricane to hit the city of Acapulco in decades. The storm is currently packing winds of over 160 mph and bringing extremely heavy rain, and is sure to be a huge issue. Storm surge will also be a problem, and flooding is already inundating towns all over the state of Guerrero. Otis formed as a tropical depression on Sunday, but it rapidly intensified into a major hurricane within a day. It is now a Category 5, and will soon make landfall in western Guerrero later today before weakening and fizzling out in a few days. On another note, the first big snowfall is taking place, with much of the northwestern US and Rockies being coated in white for the first time this winter. Cold air and moisture mixed over the area last night, leading to up to a foot of snow falling over the mountains. In lower areas, ice formed over roadways and bridges, causing hazardous travel conditions across the northwest. Parts of Washington and Oregon are getting some snowfall, but most of Idaho, northwestern Wyoming, most of North Dakota, and all of Montana will receive the most significant amounts. After this round, South Dakota will get some huge snow totals while states like Minnesota and Wisconsin get some light flakes before the cold front fades away. Fact of the Day: The formal word for sneezing is sternutation. Quote of the Day: What lies behind you and what lies in front of you pales in comparison to what lies inside of you. (Ralph Waldo Emerson) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Regale (verb)- Regale is a somewhat formal word that means “to entertain or amuse by telling stories, describing experiences, etc.” It is often followed by with. In a Sentence: He regaled his party guests with stories of his adventures abroad.

Contents: World's Oldest Ever Dog Dies 7 Dead, 25 Injured After Massive Pileup on Louisiana's I-55 Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Bobi, the world's oldest ever dog, has died in Portugal at 31 years old (217 dog years). He lived for 11,478 days, which is a lot more that most dogs live. However, everyone who knew and loved him will miss Bobi deeply, and he has now been returned to nature. On another note, 7 people are dead after a massive pileup on Louisiana's Interstate 55 amid dense fog conditions, leading over 150 vehicles to crash into each other. At least 25 people were injured as what meteorologists described as "super fog" settled in, causing visibility to plummet to under 10 feet when wildfire smoke and damp conditions mixed with thick fog. Multiple trucks were involved as well, including a tanker that officials said was carrying hazardous chemicals, and some vehicles even caught fire after the pileup. Thankfully, the super fog will only return in some scattered areas today because of some strong winds that will help it dissipate. Fact of the Day: Kangaroos never stop growing- that is why they are the largest marsupials on the planet! Quote of the Day: The calmer you are, the clearer you think. Move with strategy, not emotions. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Threshold (noun)- A threshold is a piece of wood, metal, or stone that lies across the base of a doorway. In figurative use, threshold refers to the point or level at which something begins or changes. In a Sentence: As he stepped across the threshold a chorus of friends yelled "surprise!"