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We apologize that this article was released late due to a scheduling issue. Protests in Iran continued into their second straight week amid a massive internet outage and threats of a looming crackdown. The demonstrations initially began back in December after a spike in inflation, leading to widespread discontent among the people. Over the last two weeks, the protests escalated into a wider expression of anger and unhappiness over the country's current social, political, and economic state, quickly turning violent in some areas. Many of the demonstrations included chants like "death to the dictator," referring to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but authorities were forced to intervene. Local reports mentioned hearing gunfire and sound bombs, designed to scare others away, while others saw buildings like homes and mosques, along with various vehicles, bombed and set ablaze. The protests are due to a wider, changing sentiment against the Iranian government, which many believe has failed to provide their citizens with adequate necessities and resources to help the country thrive. Because of this, people have begun to revolt against Khamenei's regime, sending the nation into chaos. Pro-government protests have also taken place, though– in some areas, people began to host demonstrations supporting Khamenei, leading to clashes between pro- and anti-government citizens on the streets. As a response, all state-affiliated news channels have been shut down, and internet has been blacked out for days across Iran. Authorities have also prevented calls and messages from coming into the country while blocking intra-country communications, stopping protesters from organizing further demonstrations via technological means. However, several organizations were able to communicate with Iranians through Elon Musk's Starlink satellites, which continued to provide services despite the outages. Several countries, particularly members of the European Union, have spoken out against authorities' violence against protesters and condemned Khamenei's response, and US President Donald Trump also asserted that the United States is watching the situation. Trump also hinted at a future US intervention if the violence continues, mentioning that "we'll start shooting, too" and that he plans to "hit them very, very hard where it hurts." According to human rights groups, at least 45 people have been killed in the police response to the protests, and they are predicted to continue for quite some time. Nevertheless, a change in the Iranian government still seems unlikely, as Khamenei continues to hold an iron grip over local politics, but Iran's future is still unknown. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): During the World War II, German tank drivers would drive their vehicles over camel droppings, thinking it would bring them good luck. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The real workout starts when you want to stop. (Ronnie Coleman) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Innocuous (adj, ih-NAH-kyuh-wus) - Innocuous describes either something that is not likely to bother or offend anyone (as in “an innocuous comment”), or something that causes no injury, or is otherwise considered harmless (as in “an innocuous prank”). In a Sentence: The reporter asked what seemed like an innocuous question, but it prompted the candidate to storm off, abruptly ending the press conference. Image credit to Getty Images

Just one day after the deadly Minneapolis shooting of a local driver by an ICE agent, two people were shot in Portland yesterday by members of the Border Patrol, and protests have erupted across the United States. On Wednesday, a woman – identified as Renee Nicole Good – was shot in her car in Minneapolis, drawing fury from the surrounding neighborhood. The White House quickly responded that the officer, identified as Jonathan Ross, was acting in self-defense, claiming that the woman was trying to run him over after impeding an ongoing ICE operation. Local bystanders recorded videos of the incident, though, which quickly circulated through news channels and social media. After analyzing the footage, the widespread consensus is that the Trump administration is now attempting to cover up a case of excessive force and violence. In the video, the woman appears to be blocking ICE agents and allowing nearby cars to continue through, until several ICE officers exit an unmarked vehicle and approach her car. Then, they give her conflicting instructions– one man tells her to move her car out of the way, one man attempts to yank her door open and sticks his hand in through the window, and a third man – Jonathan Ross – walks in front of her car. Then, as the woman attempts to turn, Ross pulls out his gun and fires into the windshield, delivering a shot to her head before firing twice more through the open driver's side window. Video analysis shows that the woman's wheels were clearly pointed to the right, not at the ICE agent. Additionally, as the gunshots ring out, Ross is no longer in front of the car– he actually jumps out of the way, with his feet on the side of the car. While video taken from across the street appears to show the car hitting the ICE officer, these two videos together actually prove that the officer was able to move out of the way and the use of force was not required at all. Additionally, after the situation had unfolded, civilians flocked to the area to try to help. Good sat in her car, unconscious, and one physician nearby attempted to help. However, he was stopped by ICE officers, who denied him access to the site of the shooting despite his claims of his physician status. Good was taken to the hospital and died later on. This directly violates the code of conduct for most police departments, but ICE maintains a slew of untrained officers who are not aware of these characteristics. As law enforcement, all officers must hold civilian lives above their own, and the use of excessive force or violence on an unarmed woman goes directly against that. Nevertheless, the Trump administration continues to claim that the woman is the culprit in the situation– Vice President JD Vance proclaimed that her death was "a tragedy of her own making," and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled the woman's manipulation of the ICE operation is, in itself, "an act of domestic terrorism." Local officials have disagreed with the administration, though, with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz calling the White House a "propaganda machine" and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey labeling Noem's accusations as "bull****." Most local protests have taken place at the Whipple Building, which serves as the headquarters for ICE in Minneapolis. Thousands of protesters have gathered at the building over the past two days, with federal agents spraying them with chemical agents and tear gas. Some demonstrations turned violent, with civilians and authorities clashing, and several people were also taken into custody. Furthermore, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (MBCA) confirmed yesterday that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has taken them off the case. According to officials, the FBI will now be the sole investigation agency handling the case, and the MBCA will no longer have access to any of the materials from the site. This drew suspicion from Democrats that the Trump administration is attempting to interfere in the investigation– usually, state agencies are allowed to investigate alongside federal agents in major crimes. Walz backed this up, expressing doubt that the findings will be any sort of "fair outcome" if local investigations are not allowed to continue. Meanwhile, another shooting struck, this time in Portland, Oregon. According to local reports, federal agents belonging to the US Border Patrol shot two people at an alleged traffic stop before driving away, and the victims were forced to wait until local police arrived to call for help. Both people were sent to the hospital, one of which required a tourniquet, but their current condition is unknown. Oregon officials are still investigating the situation, but the Department of Homeland Security claims that the two victims were members of a gang known as Tren de Aragua and attempted to run over the officers, who fired defensive shots before fleeing the scene out of fear. Nevertheless, this second shooting has worsened protests against Homeland Security and ICE that are already taking place in numerous cities across the country. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Despite being landlocked, Mongolia has a small navy consisting of seven men and one tugboat, the “ Sukhbaatar III ,” stationed on Lake Khövsgöl. The boat's patrols are primarily for tourism and transport, though. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things. (Peter F. Drucker) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Gumbo (noun, GUM-boh) - Gumbo refers to a soup thickened with okra pods or filé and containing meat or seafoods and usually vegetables. The word is also used figuratively to refer to a mixture or blend of something. In a Sentence: The reputation of the family’s gumbo guaranteed them an invitation to any and all neighborhood potlucks. Image credit to KPR

An ICE officer fatally shot an unarmed Minnesota woman in her car yesterday, sparking outrage across the country. The incident occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota's largest city, which is notably a heavily-Democratic city and has been the target for numerous operations involving Trump's immigration crackdown. Various analysts have attempted to decipher the exact course of events that took place in Minneapolis – one bystander managed to capture the entire incident on video – but there are several interpretations. Some experts agree that the woman, identified as 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, was attempting to block the roadway during a nearby ICE operation. In the video, she can be seen waving people ahead of her while she positions her car horizontally across the road, until several ICE vehicles arrive. The officers quickly surround her car, but Good attempted to escape by quickly steering to the right. Another video angle does show the front of her car making contact with an ICE officer, but her wheels are angled to the right side. Then, the ICE officer in front of her quickly pulls out his gun and fires straight into the driver's side of the windshield, delivering a fatal shot to the head. Good's car – with her now incapacitated – continues down the street before plowing into a pole, where it comes to a stop. Hundreds of protesters could be seen swarming the site of the incident later in the day, chanting "Shame!" at ICE officers. As the video of the shooting circulated on social media, it quickly sparked an uproar among Democrats and citizens alike. Republicans were quick to defend the ICE officer, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accusing the woman of trying to run over the officer. Noem called the woman's actions an "act of domestic terrorism" and praised the officer for his defensive shot and quick response. However, the same accusations were not made by local politicians. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called Noem's description "garbage," "bull****," and "positively ridiculous," accusing ICE officers of "reckless" behavior that creates "chaos and distrust." Towards the end of his public announcement, he also told ICE to "get the **** out of Minneapolis." Minnesota Governor Tim Walz promised to investigate the tragedy and called the shooting a result of "the Trump administration's dangerous, sensationalized operations" that are "designed to generate fear, headlines, and conflict." Many Minneapolis residents felt that the nature of the killing was similar to that of George Floyd in 2020– a murder that took place just one mile away from the site of yesterday's shooting. Floyd was an African-American in Minneapolis who was arrested on suspicion of having used a counterfeit 20-dollar bill at a local shop. The white policeman who arrested Floyd, Derek Chauvin, pushed him to the ground and knelt on his neck for over nine minutes, slowly suffocating Floyd by blocking off his air supply. The murder sparked massive protests across the United States and had major implications for the future of police brutality against Black people– and some Minneapolis residents feel that yesterday's shooting contains a bit of familiarity to Floyd's murder, almost six years later. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Cold showers have more health benefits than hot or warm showers. These include improving circulation, stimulating weight loss, and easing depression– though hot showers still maintain the title of most relaxing. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in. (B.K.S. Iyengar) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Eminently (adverb, EM-uh-nunt-lee) - Eminently is used as a synonym of very and means "to a high degree." In a Sentence: Our team came up with an eminently sensible plan to reduce waste. Image credit to AP

The Trump administration has confirmed that they are considering different options to acquire Greenland from Denmark, and they have not ruled out the use of military to achieve their goal. The administration stated that acquiring Greenland is one of their most crucial priorities, particularly due to its location and natural resources. Due to environmental concerns, Denmark has not taken advantage of Greenland's treasure trove of materials, which includes rare earth elements, zinc, gold, iron ore, copper, uranium, and titanium, along with billions of barrels of oil and at least 148 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Meanwhile, Greenland's proximity to Russia via the Arctic Circle would give the United States a decisive advantage against their enemies in Asia. However, developing the massive, icy territory would require billions of dollars of investment due to the frigid temperatures and currently uninhabitable terrain. Nevertheless, Trump has asserted that he wants to acquire Greenland, whichever way possible. Greenland has long been a self-governing autonomous territory of Denmark, but they maintain a clause in their agreements with the European country that allows them to hold a referendum for independence at any point in time. A lack of economic self-sufficiency has prevented them from taking this action, though, as Greenland does not have the infrastructure or governmental strength to be an independent country. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced earlier in the week that the administration was contemplating the possibility of buying Greenland from Denmark, while press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed the United States' ability to use their military to take control as another option. Other Trump-appointed officials expressed questions over Denmark's true right to the territory and encouraged Trump to move forward with the idea, but maintained that any sort of invasion or military intervention is unlikely at this time. On the other hand, numerous Democrats – and even several Republicans – strongly opposed Trump's agenda, calling on Congress to "stop him before he invades another country" and telling Trump to "stop the 'we want Greenland BS.'" This was followed, though, by announcements from various European countries and Canada, who reiterated their support for Denmark and encouraged the United States to collaborate with Europe to ensure security of the Arctic Circle. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that a US attack on Greenland would end NATO, weakening the western world and making them all more vulnerable to attacks from powers like Russia and China. Additionally, reports have found that the people of Greenland have already expressed disinterest in joining the United States. When US Vice President JD Vance traveled to Greenland in March of last year, locals strongly resisted his arrival, labeling it as a completely unwelcome show of power– they did not invite the delegation, neither did they want them to be there. Vance and other officials attempted to meet local residents and take part in cultural activities, but most Greenlanders did not want to meet the delegation at all. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): During a conversation, each speaker’s “turn” averages 2 seconds, and the pause in between is only 200 milliseconds. That figure is nearly universal with almost all languages. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours. (Swedish Proverb) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Loll (verb, LAHL) - Loll most often means “to droop or hang loosely.” It can also mean “to act or move in a relaxed or lazy manner.” In a Sentence: We’re counting down the days until the weather will be warm enough again to laze and loll by the pool. Image credit to Guide to Greenland

The Harbin Ice Festival has begun in northeastern China, drawing millions of tourists to see the incredible ice sculptures. The festival takes place every year between late December and mid-February, with master sculptors shaping huge blocks of ice for the exhibition. It opens to the public towards the end of December, but the official opening ceremony takes place during the first week of January, where the competition winners are also announced. Despite taking place in the remote, frigid Chinese province of Heilongjiang, the event saw over 90 million visitors at the 2024-2025 festival, with up to 30,000 per day. However, these tourists are required to bring heavy gear– average temperatures in Harbin during the winter range between 14°F and -13°F (-10°C and -25°C). Additionally, ice sculptures aren't the only attraction at the festival. Harbin also hosts an art expo for snow sculptures and a full ice lantern art fair, and more– almost everything is made of ice, including bars and restaurants. In fact, some of these restaurants even serve their food and drinks using ice plates and ice cups, and guests are seated on ice furniture as well. The festival also offers winter swimming, where visitors can watch professionals swim through the freezing waters of the Songhua River. Visitors themselves are not allowed to take a dip because of the training required to handle such extreme temperatures, but they can observe others during morning hours when the events take place– usually between 10 am and 2 pm. Harbin also has other attractions outside the festival, including skiing, sledding, and snowboarding, and some tourism companies in the city can bring visitors outside the city for Siberian Tiger and Arctic animal watching. In addition to drawing tourists, the Harbin Ice Festival also hosts several competitions for sculptors, sparking international recognition and interest from creators around the world. These competitions typically take place at the center of the festival, known as the Harbin Ice-Snow World, and they are the only annually-held ice sculpture competitions in the world. This year, the 37th edition of the contest drew 76 sculptors from 12 different countries, with a Russian team taking home the win. Coming from the isolated Siberian town of Amursk, the team won the competition with their sculpture, Alone in the Forest . Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Studies have shown that feeding curry spices like coriander and turmeric to both sheep and cows reduces the amount of methane in their farts by up to 40%. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Art is not what you see, but what you make others see. (Edgar Degas) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Marginalia (noun, mahr-juh-NAY-lee-uh) - Marginalia is a plural noun that refers to notes or other marks written in the margins of a text, and also to nonessential matters or items. In a Sentence: I loved flipping through my literature textbooks to find the marginalia left behind by former students. Image credit to CNN

Dozens of flights were canceled across the United States yesterday after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. On Saturday, the US military launched a major operation against Venezuela , launching strikes while a covert team of undercover agents broke into the home of dictator Maduro. The leader was captured and brought to New York before being indicted on several drug and weapons charges, sparking criticism and praise from various countries across the world. However, due to the American operations, Venezuelan airspace was completely shut down, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prevented many airlines from flying to Caribbean destinations during one of the busiest times of year for the travel industry. The FAA also placed temporary restrictions on the airspace of Puerto Rico. In total, hundreds of flights were canceled, but most airlines are already back to regular schedules. Hundreds of people were left stranded after a radio issue impacting Greek airports led to numerous flight cancellations. According to local reports, Greece was forced to shut down their entire airspace for much of the day yesterday due to the radio issue, which they did not clarify the nature of. They simply confirmed that some sort of accidentally-produced, continuous noise that interfered with their radio systems, and air traffic controllers were left unable to communicate with any airplane in the sky. All departures and arrivals were halted for safety reasons, with flights in the air being diverted to other nations. Several people blamed the issue on an extremely old system, according to Reuters, but the problem has been resolved– Greek airspace is now open, and flights have resumed along their usual schedules. Hundreds of flights were cancelled across northern Europe after a major snowstorm impacted cities like Brussels, Amsterdam, and Paris. Over 450 flights have been canceled at Amsterdam's Schiphol International Airport alone, though the snow remains light. However, due to dropping temperatures, ice has formed in many places, and roads and tarmac have become relatively slippery. De-icing efforts are also commencing, but the snow is still contributing to significant delays and cancellations during one of the busiest times of year as the holiday season winds down. Both departures and arrivals were affected by the snowstorm, with many flights being diverted before reaching Amsterdam due to the unsafe landing conditions. Traffic is also snarled, particularly in the Netherlands, where numerous car accidents have occurred in the snow. The country has been experiencing snowfall since Friday, and weather forecasts anticipate the precipitation to continue throughout the week as temperatures remain below 32°F (0°C). Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): There is a liquid that humans and animals can breathe in called perfluorohexane, or PFC. The chemical dissolves large amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide, allowing us to breathe it in. In fact, animals can even be submerged in a bath of perfluorohexane without drowning. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It is always possible to be thankful for what is given rather than to complain about what is not given. One or the other becomes a habit of life . (Elizabeth Elliot) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Titanic (adj, tye-TAN-ik) - Something described as titanic is very great in size, force, or power. In a Sentence: The batter saved the game in the bottom of the ninth inning by hitting a titanic home run right out of the park. Image credit to Getty Images

Yesterday, the United States launched multiple strikes on Venezuela, taking control of the country, and an operation within the capital, Caracas, managed to capture dictator Nicolás Maduro. The strikes took place around 2 am local time, when American forces launched missiles towards several locations in northern Venezuela, including the capital city of Caracas. While the strikes were taking place, an undercover team of CIA agents in Caracas managed to sneak into Maduro's residence, capturing him and his wife before flying them to New York. According to the New York Times, the team of Army Delta Force commandos had been tracking Maduro's movements since August, but the mission proved extremely difficult due to his unprecedented place of residence. The dictator alternated between six to eight houses, preventing the agents from finding out where his location would be for the night. The commandos also practiced the mission with an exact replica of one of the residences, created in Kentucky for the sole purpose of the mission– named 'Operation Absolute Resolve.' Then, they were forced to wait for the day when confirmation was received that Maduro would be staying at that exact residence, prompting them to make their move. The Venezuelan leader was successfully captured with no loss of American life– a huge win for Trump, who has maintained a strongly anti-Maduro stance since assuming office. Trump has attributed the downfall of Venezuela's once-promising oil industry to Maduro's administration, but more importantly, Trump claims that Maduro's authoritarian regime is the source of various drug cartels that have spread across Latin America and the United States. According to American reports, Maduro and his wife worked together to facilitate the trafficking of cocaine for years, using their governmental power to kidnap, beat, and kill their opponents without making the information public. Maduro arrived in New York City in a helicopter soon after the operation, where he was met with chants of "down with the dictator" and "dirty scumbag." Maduro and his wife are now being charged with narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. The entire operation comes after the Trump administration had been consistently trying to build pressure on Maduro for months, primarily through the seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers in the Caribbean. Soon after the strikes, President Donald Trump asserted that the US would "run the country" until further notice, giving them control of the Venezuela's gigantic oil reserves. Venezuela currently holds around 303 billion barrels of crude oil beneath its surface, making up around 20% of the world's total– the most of any country. However, according to OPEC, they only pump around 1 million barrels per day– a mere 0.8% of global oil production. Meanwhile, Trump also claimed that he would send American companies into Venezuela to invest in building new oil infrastructure and turn the nation into a major oil-producing country once again. In total, the United States stands to gain an incredible amount from these developments, due to the nation's proximity to Venezuela and their newfound control over the South American country's oil– which many have labeled as highly illegal. Nevertheless, many people in Venezuela strongly supported US intervention prior to Maduro's downfall, as shown by the sentiments of Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado , but Machado has called for Venezuelan opposition leader Eduardo González to assume leadership– something that may not happen under Trump's assertion of control. According to various reports, González won the 2024 Venezuelan election by a significant margin, but Maduro allegedly skewed the results to secure his position as dictator. Because of the complexity of the situation, various countries have shown mixed reactions to the United States' actions. Other authoritarian regimes, like Cuba, Belarus, and Russia, condemned Trump's actions, along with China and several other Latin American nations– particularly those whose relationships with the US have soured since Trump assumed office. Mexico, Brazil, and other countries were quick to reject the American intervention, labeling it as a major violation of international law. Brazilian President Lula de Silva called it a "dangerous precedent for the entire international community," and Uruguay also took a similar stance– in particular, they pointed out the importance of respecting the Charter of the United Nations, but avoided mentioning Maduro. Other nations, like Argentina, Israel, and Ukraine, supported Trump's decisions, emphasizing the Maduro regime's authoritarian policies and lack of democracy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Trump's "leadership" as "bold" and "historic" and saluted his "decisive resolve" and the "brilliant action" of American forces. Most nations shifted closer towards a middle ground, commending the end to Maduro's administration while expressing their concerns over the UN Charter and international law. Specifically, several countries, including France and other members of the European Union, highlighted the urgency of ensuring de-escalation of the situation and a proper democratic transition without further violation of the law. However, the action that will be taken in the next few days is yet to be seen– whether the US will back out of Venezuela or stay involved is still unknown, and Maduro could be locked up in America for a long time. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Since 1990, the United States has added more acres of forest than it has lost, with almost 20 million new acres of forest land added in the last 2 decades. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It is impossible to make your own luck without the ingredient of hard work . (Matshona Dhliwayo ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Senescence (noun, sih-NESS-unss) - Senescence is a formal and technical word that refers to the state of being old or the process of becoming old. In a Sentence: Our grandparents, now in their senescence , are enjoying spending more time with family and going on new adventures together. Image credit to a local witness

Saudi forces launched several strikes yesterday on a United Arab Emirates-backed group in Yemen, raising tensions in the area amid an ongoing civil war. The current political state of Yemen remains extremely complicated due to the country's ongoing civil war, with three factions fighting for power. Since 2014, Yemen has been caught up in an intense civil war involving these three sides, complicating relations between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The first faction is the Supreme Political Council, or SPC, a group that continues to assert control over the Yemeni government. The SPC strongly supports the Houthis, an Islamic terrorist group that took over the country's capital of Sana'a in 2014, and they continue to control the capital and much of Yemen's western coast along the Red Sea. The second of the groups is the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), a body that also claims to maintain rightful control over the government of Yemen. However, the PLC is the only group that is internationally recognized to hold power over Yemen. The PLC is backed by both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, two countries that remain strongly against the Houthi group. However, after the two nations intervened to attempt to restore control of the country to the PLC, the UAE began to back a third group: the Southern Transitional Council, or STC. The STC, on the other hand, is a separatist group that aims to establish southern Yemen as an independent state, as they were before 1990. Prior to the year 1990, the region known as North Yemen, currently controlled by the SPC and PLC, was an independent state known as the Yemen Arab Republic. Meanwhile, the rest of modern-day Yemen was a communist nation known as the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. In 1990, the leaders of both countries decided to unify the two states, which created peace for a short period of time before relations began to break down. In 1994, a civil war took place, but southern forces were defeated, leaving the government with frayed support and instability. Now, the PLC – primarily backed by Saudi Arabia – and the STC – backed by the UAE – have opposing agendas, leading to conflict in the region. While the Houthis continue to sink ships and exchange strikes with Israel, Saudi and UAE-backed forces have clashed in Yemen, leading to several heated battles. Last month, STC militias invaded PLC territory to gain control of oil resources, leading to conflicts where Saudi forces were fighting UAE forces. Relations between the two Arab nations, which were in good standing, rapidly degraded. This week, Saudi-backed forces launched strikes on a UAE shipment arriving in Yemen's port of Mukalla, located along the southern coast in STC-controlled territory. In order to de-escalate the situation, the UAE pulled its forces out of Yemen to avoid further conflict, and Saudi-backed militants were quick to retake the land lost in December's invasions. According to local reports, at least 20 people have been killed in the attacks, but Saudi Arabia has insisted that the situation was an endangerment to their national security. Now, the STC has officially declared independence from Yemen, naming themselves South Arabia. They have proclaimed their new capital to be Aden, a city of around 1.15 million people that was previously the capital of the southern state prior to Yemen's unification. They also stated that they will hold a referendum for independence to assess the willingness of the people after two years, but that period can be extended. Unfortunately, Yemen remains divided over these differences, and the Houthi terrorist group will only use these battles to their advantage as they work to take control of the country. Which faction will prevail – or whether the country will split in two – is yet to be seen, but the conflict could continue for many years to come. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The Shawn Mendes EP reached Number 1 on iTunes in 37 minutes. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Living with fear stops us from taking risks, and if you don’t go out on the branch, you’re never going to get the best fruit. (Sarah Parish ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Febrile (adj, FEB-ryle) - Febrile is a medical term meaning "marked or caused by fever; feverish." It is sometimes used figuratively, as in "a febrile political climate." In a Sentence: I'm finally back on my feet after recovering from a febrile illness. Image credit to AP

At least 40 people are dead and 115 others were left injured after a deadly fire spread through a Swiss alpine resort on New Year's Day. The Crans-Montana resort, where the incident occurred, is one of the most famous in Switzerland, having hosted major ski events like the World Cup ski races and golf events, like the Omega European Masters golf tournament. Known for its gourmet dining options, high-end shopping opportunities, and incredible views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc in southwestern Switzerland, Crans-Montana is often sold out during the holiday season. Unfortunately, celebrations quickly turned into tragedy early on Thursday morning, around 1:30 am– just one and a half hours after 2026 had begun. The resort's Le Constellation bar was packed with party-goers commemorating the New Year when a fire broke out in the basement nightclub below the bar, rapidly engulfing the building in towering flames. People scrambled to escape, but many were taken by the flames, while others suffocated from smoke inhalation before they could reach fresh air. Survivors described having to break windows to escape alive, with others comparing it to a scene in a horror film. Within minutes, police cars arrived on the scene, along with over 40 ambulances and at least 10 helicopters. The town's on-site hospital was quickly overwhelmed with patients, forcing first responders to transport victims to other locations. Around 10 people were taken to the hospital at Zurich University, while another 22 people were taken care of at Lausanne, a city near Geneva. Many of the partiers were under the age of 18, and officials have confirmed that at least 13 of those injured are Italian nationals. Six Italians are still missing, as well. In total, at least 40 people have been confirmed dead, and over 115 others are injured, but rescue teams are still searching through the wreckage for dozens of missing victims. According to officials, it could take days to identify all of those killed in the fire. Authorities have stated that the fire does not appear to be an attack, but investigations have not yet begun. They have asserted that they will look into the bar's maximum capacity and its emergency exits, and forensics teams are already on-site. According to CNN, some experts believe the cause could be attributed to an incident known as a "flashover," where a pre-existing fire causes hot gases to rise to the ceiling of a room. Those hot gases begin to radiate heat downward, heating everything in the room until all flammable materials in the room combust simultaneously. This sort of event would cause an incredibly hot explosion with temperatures up to 1000°F– impossible for anyone inside to survive. However, according to local French news station BMFTV, reports from two different survivors of the fire confirmed that a woman inside the bar had been holding a champagne bottle with a lit sparkler inside, which could have contributed to the fire. Switzerland will hold five days of mourning for the victims of the fire, with all flags flying at half-mast during what is usually one of the happiest times of year in the tourist hotspot. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Whenever Charles Dickens was away from home, he would always realign the bed he was sleeping in to face northwards, because he felt that this fostered and unlocked his creativity. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Habit is a cable; we weave a thread each day, and at last we cannot break it. (Horace Fann ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Amortize (verb, AM-er-tyze) - To amortize something, such as a mortgage, is to pay for it by making regular payments over a long period of time. In a Sentence: If you apply extra payments directly to your loan balance as a principal reduction, your loan can be amortized sooner. Image credit to AP

To kick off the new year, we've included a list of the biggest events coming up in 2026! Once again, thank you for being a loyal reader of Your News Hub. We look forward to continuing our commitment towards providing you with high-quality, reliable news for the fourth year! What's happening in 2026? January: On January 1, Bulgaria will join the Eurozone, adopting the euro as its official currency. On January 11, the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards will take place at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. On January 22, the US will officially leave the World Health Organization (WHO), as ordered by President Donald Trump. February: On February 1, the 68th Annual Grammy Awards will take place at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. On February 5, the New START treaty, a nuclear arms treaty between the US and Russia, is set to expire. On February 5, NASA's window to launch Artemis II will open, lasting until April 2026. Artemis II is set to be the United States' first crewed mission to the Moon's vicinity since Apollo 17 in 1972. Between February 6 and February 22, the Winter Olympics will take place in the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. On February 7, the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will kick off in India and Sri Lanka. On February 8, the NFL's Super Bowl LX will take place, with Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny scheduled to perform at the game's renowned halftime show. On February 24, the Russia-Ukraine War will reach its grim fourth anniversary, having begun on the same date in 2022. March: On March 2-3, a total lunar eclipse will take place across the Pacific Ocean, visible to skywatchers in Russia, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania. Between March 6 and March 15, the Winter Paralympics will take place in the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. On March 8, the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Final will take place at the massive Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, in India. On March 15, the 98th annual Academy Awards (Oscars) will take place at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. Between March 20 and March 22, the World Athletics Indoor Championships will take place in Toruń, Poland. April: On April 3, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will release in theaters– a direct sequel to its predecessor, The Super Mario Bros. Movie from 2023. On April 12, Benin will elect its next president. On April 24, a major Michael Jackson biopic, Michael , releases in theaters, starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson. May: On May 1, the long-awaited The Devil Wears Prada 2 releases in theaters. Between May 12 and May 16, the Eurovision song contest will take place in Vienna, Austria. On May 31, the first monthly blue moon since August 2023 will take place. A blue moon does not appear blue– rather, it is the second full moon to occur in one month. On May 31, Colombia will elect their next president. June: On June 7, the 79th annual Tony Awards will take place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. On June 11, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will commence, taking place across 16 cities in Canada, the US, and Mexico. On June 12, the ICC Women's T20 World Cup will begin in England and Wales. July: On July 4, the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday– known as a semiquincentennial. On July 5, the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final will take place at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground in London, England. On July 10, the live-action remake of Disney's Moana releases in theaters. On July 17, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey releases in theaters. On July 19, the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York City. On July 31, Marvel Studios' Spider-Man: Brand New Day releases in theaters. August: On August 12, a total solar eclipse will cross the Arctic Circle, with a path of totality passing through Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. Much of northern Europe will also get a good look at the eclipse. September: Between September 4 and September 13, the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup will take place in Berlin, Germany. Between September 5 and September 27, the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup will take place across four cities in Poland. On September 14, the 78th annual Emmy Awards will take place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. On September 19, the Asian Games will kick off in Aichi Prefecture in Japan. October: On October 4, the Asian Games will come to an end. On October 31, the Summer Youth Olympics will commence in Dakar, Senegal. November: On November 13, the Summer Youth Olympics will come to an end. Somewhere around November 15, Voyager 1 will reach 1 light day in distance from Earth, 49 years after its historic launch in 1977. On November 19, the highly anticipated video game Grand Theft Auto VI will finally release, over 13 years after the release of its predecessor. On November 20, the sixth installment in the renowned The Hunger Games film franchise, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping , releases in theaters. December: On December 5, The Gambia will elect its next president. On December 11, the third installment in the Jumanji film franchise releases, though it is currently untitled. On December 18, the star-studded Dune: Part Three releases in theaters, along with Marvel Studios' highly-anticipated Avengers: Doomsday . Fact of the Day : According to the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Horse, specifically the Fire Horse. People born in these years are often seen as energetic, independent, and optimistic, while the Horse year itself signifies adventure, freedom, and bold decisions. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): New year – a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately, we write it. The choice is ours. (Alex Morritt ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Charisma (noun, kuh-RIZ-muh) - Charisma refers to a special magnetic charm or appeal that causes people to feel attracted and excited by someone. A person with charisma is captivating and often admired. In a Sentence: The young singer has the kind of charisma that turns a performer into a star. Image credit to iStock