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Contents: India Announces Amazing News About Goals For Greenhouse Gas Emissions Severe Floods Strike India's Himalayan Region As Monsoon Season Amps Up Quote/Word of the Day Today, we have some great news about India's greenhouse gas emissions. India has announced that in a new report, they have officially decreased their emissions by 33% since 2009, putting them on track to meet every single one of their climate goals. This is a huge accomplishment for India, as they are one of the only countries in the world that are on track to meet all of their climate goals- and they are the most populous country in the world! They continue with their reductions for total emissions each year, and they have also increased tree cover in India by 2,000 square miles (5,180 square kilometers) in an effort to strengthen India's soil following Sadhguru's Save Soil movement. Even though India also relies on renewable energy for 25.3% of their power, they still heavily focus on coal as an energy source, as they do not have the capability to cut coal out of their energy sources. If they did, it would be a huge detriment to their economy and energy output, but India is still working toward phasing it out in the future. On another note, unfortunately, dozens of people are dead and hundreds more are injured as weather strikes India's Himalayan region, sparking landslides and mudslides across India's states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The town of Shimla was hit especially hard, with two landslides washing away houses and shops while killing 12 people. One of the landslides also brought down a Hindu temple with worshipers still inside, so rescue crews fear that the death toll could rise as they remove the hard-packed, dark earth from the remains of the temple. In total, 33 people have been confirmed dead in Himachal and 8 more in Uttarakhand, with 12 of those 33 being killed in the Shimla landslides and 9 of them in heavy rains that struck the town of Solan. Flash floods and more landslides disrupted road and rail networks across the two states as well, causing all schools and colleges in the state to be shut down. This monsoon season has been especially harsh on northern India, with at least 100 people being killed in Himachal Pradesh and over 60 others in Uttarakhand. However, the rain is common, and scientists say that they are bound to become worse as climate change progresses and the world continues to warm- but India is trying to stop that! Quote of the Day: Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. (Mahatma Gandhi) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Nexus (noun)- A nexus is a relationship or connection between people or things.

Happy Indian Independence Day! To read about the interesting history of India's independence day, check out this article by Mihir Gupta! Now, let's dive into today's news. Contents: Death Toll in Maui Wildfires Rise As Hawaii Launches Official Review of Response to Emergency Toyota Recalls 2022/2023 Tundra Once Again Quote/Word of the Day The deadly Maui wildfires' death toll has officially reached 96, and more and more residents of Lahaina continue to feel the loss and pain that comes with losing a family member or friend. The town had a population of over 13,000 before the fire, and only 3% of the town has been searched for survivors or victims- Hawaii Governor Josh Green expects the death toll to rise in the coming days as more land is searched. The cost of the catastrophic natural disaster is approaching 6 billion USD, and they are now launching an official review of the response to the emergency, which will include the answer to the highly speculated question on everyone's minds: why wasn't Hawaii's extensive emergency siren system activated during the fire? Residents say they had just a few minutes' warning to gather their things and evacuate their homes, and Hawaii is now investigating why the siren system wasn't activated to warn Lahaina residents of the coming wildfire. To donate to the victims of this horrible tragedy, click here. On another note, Toyota has announced another huge recall for their 2022 and 2023 Tundra, which has been a big nuisance for many customers. The 2022 and 2023 Tundra has been recalled six times so far, making this the seventh one, and past reasons have included electronic parking brake issues (making the car move after being put in park), loose axle nuts (making the wheels fall off), rearview camera software problems (causing drivers' rearview cameras to fail), truck-bed covers that can detach from the vehicle (causing crashes behind the car), and more. This time, the recall is for a plastic fuel line that could rub against a brake line and cause the vehicle to catch fire if the fuel leaks. Toyota will notify affected owners in October, so for now the recall is voluntary, but Toyota will fix the issue for free if you take it to a dealership. Quote of the Day (BrainyQuote): Happiness is a direction, not a place. (Sydney J. Harris) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Asunder (adv or adj)- Asunder is most often used as an adverb—often with a verb such as tear or pull—to mean "apart" or "into pieces." It is more rarely used as an adjective meaning "apart from each other," as in "he stood with his legs wide asunder."

Today is the 78th anniversary of the end of the infamous World War II, when Japan surrendered in 1945. This saved millions of lives and ended a six-year war in which over 15 million military personnel were killed and 45 million other civilians were killed. Let's take a minute to honor all of the brave soldiers who died fighting for their country and all of the innocent civilians killed in the horrifying war. Now, let's dive into today's news. Contents: Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars Stolen As Flash Mobs Strike Los Angeles Typhoon Khanun Strikes China As Typhoon Lan Takes Aim At Japan Upcoming Events Quote/Word of the Day An absurd crime has just taken place in Los Angeles, California, where over $100,000 worth of items was stolen from a Nordstrom at the Topanga Mall. People have reported that 30-50 people were involved in the robbery, where they defended against officials and employees using bear spray. This comes after another recent attack earlier this week, where 30-40 people stole $300,000 worth of goods from a Yves Saint Laurent store in Glendale, California on August 8. The criminals were seen escaping in over 20 vehicles, and the robbery took place in broad daylight! These organized robberies are being called "flash mobs" and "smash-and-grab robberies," and are becoming increasingly concerning, where multiple people overwhelm a store's employees and move out with as much as they can carry. Multiple more flash mobs have taken place in the past few weeks, including an event where nine men stole $48,000 worth of goods from a Gucci store on July 10. On another note, we at YNH know you must be bored of hearing about this storm, but Typhoon Khanun has struck once again. After moving through the Korean peninsula, the storm managed to crawl over the border and into China, but it made one last impact before it fizzled out. As heavy rain and strong winds hit northeastern China, a massive mudslide was triggered on a hillside in western China. The death toll has been confirmed to be at least 21, and six others are missing. Even though Khanun hit the northeast of China, bands have dumped rain in western and central China as well. This triggered a mudslide in the Shaanxi province, which has proved deadly. Meanwhile, Japan is still not getting a break from the typhoons. After its Okinawa islands were smashed by Typhoon Khanun twice, Typhoon Lan is now taking aim at the cities of Osaka and Kyoto with winds of over 100 mph and heavy rain. It is expected to make landfall on August 15. Trains and flights have been canceled ahead of the deadly storm, and evacuations are also taking place. Upcoming Events: India Independence Day (Tuesday, August 15) FIFA Women's World Cup Semifinals 1- Spain vs Sweden (Tuesday, August 15) FIFA Women's World Cup Semifinals 2- Australia vs England (Wednesday, August 16) Never Give Up Day (Friday, August 18) World Humanitarian Day (Saturday, August 19) World Photo Day (Saturday, August 19) FIFA Women's World Cup Finals- TBD vs TBD (Sunday, August 20) Quote of the Day (BrainyQuote): If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. (Dalai Lama) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Travesty- Travesty refers to something that is shocking, upsetting, or ridiculous because it is not what it is supposed to be, but is instead a distorted or badly inferior imitation of it. The word is often used in the phrase “a travesty of.”

Contents: Perseid Meteor Shower Peaking Now, Lighting Up Skies Around The World Maui Wildfires Become United States' Worst In 100 Years Quote/Word of the Day The Perseid meteor shower is peaking now, and it is truly a spectacular sight to see. The meteor shower is associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle, and peaks from August 12-13. The best time to see it is around midnight, in low light pollution areas and away from cities. At the peak, you can see up to 100 meteors per hour, because Earth is smashing into the debris left by the comet. They are called Perseids because the meteors come from the direction of the constellation Perseus. The shower runs from July 14 to September 1, but the peak time was last night. However, if you didn't manage to catch a glimpse, a day after the peak is also quite beautiful! On another note, the Maui wildfires have officially become the United States' worst wildfire in over 100 years, as the death toll has risen to 89. As the wildfires fade, devastated residents are now returning to what remains of their homes in the town of Lahaina, which was the worst impacted by the fire. The entire town was burned to the ground, with some residents describing it as being "wiped off the map." Hawaii Governor Josh Green said that it may take them years to recover. Let's dive into what made the fires spread so fast and so violently. The main factor was the wind and the dry conditions. All that was needed was a slight spark or a cigarette butt to ignite a tree or house, and that was all that was needed. Strong winds were coming out of the northeast, gusting at over 40 mph. Since Lahaina was on the opposite side of the mountain, on the island's southwest side, the wind was amplified coming down the mountain. This created 60 mph gusts coming into the town, causing the fire to spread extremely fast. Buildings and trees were practically kindling, as Hawaii has been facing a drought lately. The fire burned everything it touched, leveling the entire town. This entire event is extremely unfortunate, and Lahaina residents are devastated after this catastrophic wildfire destroyed everything they know. To donate to the victims of this horrible tragedy, click here. Quote of the Day: Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. (Søren Kierkegaard) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Fungible (adj)- Fungible describes things, such as currency, goods, and commodities, that can be exchanged for something else of the same kind or value. In broader usage, fungible can also mean “interchangeable,” as well as “readily changeable to adapt to new situations.”

Contents: Town of Lahaina Devastated By Brutal Maui Wildfires Quote/Word of the Day A new update has just come in on the devastating wildfires in Maui, and it is not good. 55 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds of others are injured, but the main fire is quite contained. Two fires are still blazing on the east side of the island, but the severe wildfire that ravaged the town of Lahaina on Maui's west coast is 80% contained. Hawaii's Governor, Josh Green, stated that the wildfires would most likely be the worst natural disaster the state has ever seen, as over 1,000 acres have been burned and over 1,700 buildings have been destroyed- including many historic sites that date back to the 1800s. At least 11,000 residents of Maui are still without power, and US President Joe Biden has signed a disaster declaration to give extra federal resources to the island to help recover from these catastrophic wildfires. Quote of the Day: The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. (Nelson Mandela) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Boycott (verb)- To boycott something is to refuse to buy, use, or participate in that thing as a form of protest. To boycott an entity, such as a company or country, is to stop using the goods or services of that entity until changes are made.

Contents: Typhoon Khanun Finally Fizzles Out in North Korea 53 Dead As Wildfires Rage On In Hawaii's Maui Island Quote/Word of the Day Today, we have a little bit of good news. After causing a boatload of destruction across Japan and South Korea, Typhoon Khanun has fizzled out earlier than expected. The storm was supposed to smash through South Korea, hit the capital of Seoul, hit North Korea, go through the capital of Pyongyang, and then enter northeastern China. Thankfully, it veered east of Seoul, so the winds were not as strong and the rain impact was not as bad. It also entered North Korea in an area that is not very populated, and moved right by Pyongyang without hitting it directly. It soon fizzled out in another area that was not very populated, and didn't hit China at all. It is finally over, after raging through Japan's Okinawa islands, Taiwan, Okinawa again, southern Japan, South Korea, and now North Korea. On another note, unfortunately, the death toll continues to rise as catastrophic wildfires scorch the Hawaiian island of Maui, turning the island paradise into an apocalyptic scene. 53 people have been confirmed dead so far, and the historic town of Lahaina on the island's western coast has been 'wiped off the map.' Many sites that are very important to Hawaii's history were scorched in the fires, including buildings that even date back to the 1800s. Mass evacuations are taking place to other islands like Oahu, and firefighters have rushed in to battle the intense blazes. The US military has also stepped in, but the weather will have to help them to relieve the island. Drought conditions combined with winds from the distant Hurricane Dora helped fuel the fires, and they show no sign of stopping soon. Some Hawaii officials estimate that the recovery could take years, as over 1,000 acres have been burned and over 1,700 buildings have been destroyed. Quote of the Day: In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. (Albert Einstein) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Encomium (noun)- Encomium refers to an expression of glowing and warmly enthusiastic praise.

Contents: $1.58 Billion Mega Millions Winning Ticket Sold in Florida Six Dead As Wildfires Strike Hawaii Typhoon Khanun Makes Landfall In South Korea Quote/Word of the Day Someone from Florida, USA just got a whole lot richer. The Mega Millions lottery jackpot ticket, worth $1.58 billion, was sold on Wednesday, making it the largest jackpot in Mega Millions history. However, the winner has not claimed the prize yet- let's hope they don't forget! To win the jackpot, you actually have to turn in the ticket; numerous people have purchased a winning ticket and forgotten to turn it in, leading to a loss of millions of dollars! On another note, wildfires have struck another US state, but it's not one that you would expect. Hawaii is now under a state of emergency as wildfires strike the island state, primarily on the islands of Hawaii and Maui. Six people are dead and countless others are injured as structures quickly burn and forests catch fire. Dry vegetation, strong winds, and low humidity in drought conditions have caused the fires, but the exact cause (such as a lightning strike or cigarette butt) has not been determined. At least 271 structures have been burned and evacuations are now taking place as Maui is scorched by the wildfires. Notable structures that have been burned include the oldest house on Maui and important, historic buildings in the town of Lahaina. Hundreds of firefighters are already battling the blazes, and US President Joe Biden has sent the military in to help. Lastly, the disastrous Typhoon Khanun has finally made landfall in South Korea, lashing the southern part of the country. Major cities that are being hit include Busan, Changwon, Ulsan, and Daegu. It is expected to weaken and hit South Korea's capital of Seoul and then go through North Korea's capital of Pyongyang before fizzling out in northeastern China. Khanun is lashing South Korea with strong winds, high surf, and heavy rain, causing flooding and landslides. No injuries or deaths have been reported so far, but Khanun still has a long way to go before exiting the East Asian country. Quote of the Day: When everything seems to be going against you, remember that an airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. (Henry Ford) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Reticent (adj)- Reticent is often used as a synonym of reserved to describe someone who does not readily or openly talk to others. Despite objections from some, reticent is also often used as a synonym of reluctant.

YNH Readers, this is our 250th blog post! Enjoy! Contents: Typhoon Khanun Pummels Southern Japan As Tropical Storm Lan Takes Aim At Tokyo Quote/Word of the Day Over 60,000 people have been advised to evacuate their homes as the destructive Typhoon Khanun approaches Japan, taking aim at the southern prefectures. It is already pummeling the area right now with strong winds, storm surge, heavy rain, and flooding. It formed in the Western Pacific about two weeks ago, and then intensified before smashing Japan's Okinawa islands and brushing Taiwan. Before making landfall in China, it turned back and hit Okinawa again, and has now turned north and hit Japan's southern coasts with winds of over 65 mph. Japan also is now worrying about Tropical Storm Lan, which is expected to hit eastern Japan and the Tokyo area with winds of over 90 mph as a typhoon in the coming days. Meanwhile, Khanun is now taking aim at South Korea, where the World Scout Jamboree has been ended early. Scouts from around the world gather each year for a meeting, but this year's meeting has been cut short due to the typhoon and a heat wave plaguing the region. Khanun will bring destructive winds and a load of rain, which will ease off the impact of the brutal heat wave, but could also start fires due to the dry brush. Quote of the Day: A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it isn't open. (Frank Zappa) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Preen (verb)- To preen is to make one's appearance neat and tidy or to behave or speak with obvious pride or self-satisfaction. In ornithology, preen means "to groom with the bill."

Due to some confusion amongst our readers, we have added the part of speech to our word of the day. Enjoy the daily update! Contents: Severe Storms And Power Outages Strike East Coast World Scout Jamboree Cut Short As Typhoon Khanun Approaches South Korea Quote/Word of the Day Over 120 million people were affected on Monday after severe storms swept across the eastern US, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, flooding, and even tornadoes. The entire east coast, including cities such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh, Washington DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, was impacted, and power outages are still affecting most areas. Around 232,000 places are out in North Carolina, 156,000 in Pennsylvania, 109,000 in Georgia, 96,000 in Maryland, 64,000 in South Carolina, 52,000 in Tennessee, 40,500 in Virginia, 20,000 in Delaware, 14,500 in New Jersey, and 11,500 in West Virginia- almost 800,000 outages! Crashes were also reported across the coast, as visibility was extremely poor and weather conditions caused sliding and slipping on roads. The outages also caused chaotic situations at intersections when traffic lights stopped working, leading cars to inch across the intersection with zero visibility. Two tornadoes were also confirmed in southern Indiana, but thankfully little damage was done. Potential tornadoes are also under investigation in upstate New York and Tennessee. On another note, the World Scout Jamboree is going to be cut short because of weather conditions. The World Scout Jamboree is yearly meeting of scouts around the world, and they all come together to a gathering. This year, the jamboree is being held in South Korea, but it is going to be stopped early due to the weather. Sweltering conditions have burned South Korea in a heatwave for the past few weeks, but Typhoon Khanun is what provoked the scouts to leave early. Khanun was expected to hit Japan's Okinawa islands, brush Taiwan, turn back toward Okinawa, and fizzle out. However, a change in weather patterns is now taking the storm into Japan and then South Korea. After brushing Taiwan, Typhoon Khanun turned back and is now smashing into Okinawa again, and it will soon turn north and make landfall on Japan's southern prefectures. It will then weaken, but restrengthen in the Yellow Sea before making landfall in South Korea. It will then go into North Korea, and if the storm is strong enough, even into northeastern China. Khanun will bring strong winds, heavy rain, flooding, and storm surge- unfortunately for the scouts, this means they will have to go home early. Quote of the Day: Learning never exhausts the mind. (Leonardo da Vinci) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Malaise (noun)- Malaise refers to a slight or general feeling of not being healthy or happy.

Contents: Barbie Movie Tops $1 Billion in Global Box Office Typhoon Khanun Strikes Again, Takes Aim At Korean Peninsula Upcoming Events Quote/Word of the Day The Barbie movie has officially topped $1 billion in the global box office, smashing the record for the highest-grossing movie with a female director (Greta Gerwig). It has also surpassed Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 ($845 million) to take the place for second-highest grossing movie of 2023, after The Super Mario Bros. Movie - which made a whopping $1.35 billion in the global box office. It has also shot past the movie that was largely boosted by Barbie- Oppenheimer. The movie, which talks about the creation of the first atomic bomb, still made $500 million, making it the highest-grossing movie ever about World War II. On another note, Typhoon Khanun is still causing a ruckus in the East China Sea, after aiming toward Taiwan and eventually China. However, a change in weather patterns occurred, and the storm doubled back after brushing Taiwan, taking aim once again at Japan's Okinawa prefecture. The islands were hit by Khanun at full force last week, and were hit again a few days later after it came back. It is now turning north and aiming at southern Japan. First, it was expected to fizzle out there. It's not. The typhoon will restrengthen in the Yellow Sea, and then hit South Korea. The coastal city of Busan is expected to take the biggest hit, but other inland cities such as Daegu and Gwangju could also be impacted. The storm will weaken, but it will go on to hit South Korea's capital, Seoul, and move into North Korea and maybe even northeastern China. However, South Korea needs the rain. A heatwave has been keeping the country dry and arid for the past few weeks, and the rain will bring some much-needed relief. It could bring flooding and high winds, though, which is also a threat. Upcoming Events: International Cat Day (Tuesday, August 8) International Day of the World's Indigenous People (Wednesday, August 9) World Lion Day (Thursday, August 10) International Youth Day & World Elephant Day (Saturday, August 12) Quote of the Day: Ideologies separate us. Dreams and anguish bring us together. (Eugene Ionesco) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Debonair- Debonair describes someone who may, by definition, also be called fashionable, attractive, and confident.