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Hundreds of thousands of people are conducting massive protests in the Philippines against a recent corruption scandal that the people blame for widespread deaths after heavy flooding this year. The largest demonstrations took place in the capital of Manila, a city of around 14 million people, after the testimony of two construction company owners revealed the nature of a deeply-rooted corruption scheme within the Filipino government. The couple disclosed that 17 members of the country's House of Representatives had forced them to pay 25% kickbacks on flood-control projects that were under construction. Kickbacks are a common form of corruption where a legislator or other official receives additional fees from another person to secure a contract and give them "preferential treatment," preventing another party from bidding higher for the contract. Usually, both sides are at fault in a kickback scheme, but a thorough investigation in court is still ongoing. When this information was made public, it sparked outrage among the Filipino people, who began blaming the corruption scandal for the devastation caused by flooding this year. Typhoons and monsoons have led to intense rainfall in recent years, forcing the Philippines to spend almost $10 billion on flood-control projects within the last three years. However, the legislators' kickback scheme likely allowed them to pocket a significant portion of this money. Furthermore, others were left fuming that their taxes had been traveling straight towards the lavish lifestyles of these representatives, while they battle the effects of climate change and continue to struggle through periodic flooding. In fact, even the Roman Catholic Church has called for Filipinos to take action, spurring them forward in their protests against corruption. Some people continue to call for the kickbacks to be returned, while others have demanded the resignation of various officials– including their president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The police are already attempting to take control of the situation, with demonstrations beginning to get out of hand. Now, the court faces the issue of which representatives are at fault, which they are currently investigating. According to AP, Marcos Jr. has stated that they have already arrested 37 people on different counts of graft, corruption, and plunder, in addition to charging at least 86 construction company executives and nine other government officials with tax evasion. Seven officials have already been placed in jail, and authorities are working with the construction companies involved in the scandal to attempt to recoup some of the kickbacks they have lost. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Until 2007, owning another person was not a crime in Mauritania. Slavery was abolished in 1981, but its prevalence did not decline until after the new law from 2007, and even still, 1-4% of the population still live as slaves. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Falling down is not a failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen. ( Socrates) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Iconoclast (adj, eye-KAH-nuh-klast) - Iconoclast originally referred to someone who destroys religious images or who opposes their veneration. It is now used to refer broadly to anyone who criticizes or opposes beliefs and practices that are widely accepted. In a Sentence: The comedian had developed a reputation as a contrarian and an iconoclast for whom no topic was off-limits. Image credit to AFP

Hundreds of people are dead and hundreds of others are missing after devastating floods hit multiple countries across south and southeast Asia this week. At least 350 people have died in Indonesia alone, where heavy rain battered the island of Sumatra. 279 others are missing, and around 3,500 police officers are aiding in the country's aid response and search-and-rescue operations. Over 80,000 people have been evacuated across Sumatra, an island known for its incredible biodiversity and lush rainforests. Monsoons swept away entire villages, destroying roads and homes, but continuous rainy conditions prevented authorities from beginning recovery operations until yesterday, when the Indonesian government initiated cloud-seeding to redirect the rainfall to another region. Additionally, the flooding has stopped officials from bringing heavy machinery to the area, forcing locals to dig through mud with simple tools and utilize rubber boats or wooden rafts to move around from place to place. Meanwhile, the monsoons have also heavily impacted the mainland region of southeast Asia, slamming Thailand and Vietnam with heavy rain and strong winds. In Thailand, millions of people have been affected, with up to 10 feet of rain falling in some areas. At least 162 people have been killed, and thousands of buildings have been inundated or completely washed away. Officials are also facing intense scrutiny for their slow response to the disaster, leaving people stranded on rooftops and in trees. Others complained about the lack of security after the flooding occurred– various stores were looted, incurring hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages for many storeowners. Vietnam, on the other hand, experienced heavy rain when the monsoons arrived, and is set to suffer from more intense rainfall in the coming days. Over the last two weeks, over 100 people have been left dead or missing due to heavy rains across the Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, and Lam Dong provinces, and over 272,000 homes were submerged in the process. Now, the country is already feeling the impact of the incoming Tropical Storm Koto, which is packing winds of 60 mph and generating strong waves near the Vietnamese coast. At least three people have been killed after two fishing boats sank in rough seas. Malaysia was also affected, with heavy rain in the tiny northernmost state of Perlis killing two people. Lastly, Sri Lanka has been heavily affected by Cyclone Ditwah, which crossed the island country with 40-mph-winds and raging rainfall. Hundreds of people were left stuck on rooftops, and over 150 people have been confirmed dead. Many people remain stranded in high-rises or other buildings with no food or water, trapped by the rising floodwaters around them. Roads have also been washed away and highways remain blocked after landslides in the mountains, preventing authorities from sending aid by truck, and communications have been impacted in many regions. Over 400,000 people have been affected, and around 25% of Sri Lanka's population is without electricity. India and the United States have sent aid to Sri Lanka to help with the disaster recovery, but officials fear that the death toll could significantly rise as they work to uncover more bodies and search for any possible survivors. Unfortunately, monsoons and tropical storms continue to worsen as climate change intensifies, leading to more unpredictable, stronger storms in tropical regions. Monsoon season runs between June and November depending on the location, but climate change has led to a more erratic, intense pattern with heavier rainfall at random times and large droughts during others. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The Red Cross emblem is actually the inversion of the Swiss flag– it was not a coincidence. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Some people look for a beautiful place. Others make a place beautiful. ( Hazrat Inayat Khan) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Exculpatory (adj, ek-SKUL-puh-tor-ee) - Something described as exculpatory serves to prove that someone is not guilty of doing something wrong. In a Sentence: Their lawyer presented insurmountable exculpatory evidence at the trial. Image credit to Reuters

Dozens of flights were delayed or canceled after Airbus announced an urgent new update for their popular A320 family of jets to account for solar radiation in their equipment. The move came after a JetBlue A320 plunged from the sky several weeks ago on a trip from Cancún to Newark, New Jersey, injuring 15 people. The plane was able to make an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida, but Airbus thoroughly investigated the incident to determine its cause. After the investigation, Airbus found that solar radiation at high intensities, like during solar flares, could corrupt the software within equipment on their A320 jets, causing pilots to lose control of the aircraft. While the incident only occurred once, Airbus created an update for the system to prevent it from happening again, protecting all of their passengers worldwide. Airbus quickly confirmed that all airlines needed to install the update as soon as possible, and the US' Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) quickly released mandates for the fix. Airbus' A320 family includes A319s, A320s, and A321s, and is the best-selling jet in the world, with over 6,000 of them in use. However, this meant that all 6,000 jets would need the update to prevent corruption from solar radiation, and installing the new software would take approximately two hours. Because of this, many airlines were forced to delay or cancel dozens of flights, but this depended on how many A320 jets they owned– some airlines, like United, maintain just five or six A320s, while other airlines, like JetBlue, IndiGo, and Air India, maintain hundreds of the jets, forcing them to ground most or all of their fleet. However, US airlines attempted to avoid cancellations due to the timing of the update release– as Thanksgiving week winds down, millions of people across the United States are now flying back home after travel, leading to peak airport crowds. In fact, this year remains one of the busiest travel years in American history, with almost 82 million people projected to travel during Thanksgiving, according to AAA. While most residents traveled by car, over 6 million people are expected to have flown domestically, and the FAA expects a total of around 360,000 flights across the US during the week– the busiest Thanksgiving travel week in 15 years. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): All new FBI special agents and intelligence analysts are required to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as part of their training program. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Rejection doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough; it means the other person failed to notice what you have to offer. ( Mark Amend) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Sustain (verb, suh-STAYN) - To sustain someone or something is to provide what is needed for that person or thing to exist or continue. Sustain also means "to hold up the weight of," "to suffer or endure," or "to confirm or prove." In legal contexts, to sustain something is to decide or state that it is proper, legal, or fair. In a Sentence: Hope sustained us during that difficult time. Image credit to Unsplash

United States President Donald Trump has outlined the next steps in his immigration crackdown after a fatal shooting on two National Guard members. The shooting took place in Washington DC, the US capital, on Wednesday afternoon, with a suspect ambushing two National Guard members just a few blocks away from the White House. Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old, and Andrew Wolfe, a 24-year-old, were both members of the West Virginia National Guard and had been deployed under Trump's plan to protect the streets of DC using over 2,000 deployed guardmembers. Beckstrom died the following day after being hospitalized, and Wolfe remains in critical condition after undergoing surgery to attempt to save his life. At the time, Trump expressed his outrage over the shooting and vowed to hold the perpetrator responsible for the crime. Later, authorities identified the suspect, who injured himself in the attack and was quickly arrested after the incident. He was identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghani immigrant who entered the US during former President Joe Biden's term. According to officials, he previously worked with the CIA on missions in Afghanistan, and was allowed into the country for a two-year term but received asylum earlier this year. Following the identification of the suspect, Trump announced that his administration would be tightening immigration laws and more effectively vetting any foreigner who entered the country, specifically 19 countries on which he placed a travel ban earlier this year– total bans on Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen and partial bans on Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela . Any green card that has been issued to a resident of these 19 countries will also be re-evaluated to determine whether they are still eligible to remain in the United States. However, he also announced that they would be temporarily halting all immigration from "third-world countries," but it remained unclear as to which exact nations he was referring to and how long the stoppage would be. Trump also deployed 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington DC, claiming that the situation remains out of control in the city and the military continues to be necessary to prevent further violence. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): All the paint on the Eiffel Tower weighs around the same as ten elephants. The tower gets repainted every seven years without closing to the public. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see. ( Arthur Schopenhauer) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cornucopia (noun, kor-nuh-KOH-pee-uh) - A cornucopia, also known as a horn of plenty, is a curved, hollow goat’s horn or similarly shaped receptacle (such as a horn-shaped basket) that is overflowing, especially with fruit and vegetables. The image of a cornucopia is commonly used as decoration and as a symbol of abundance, but the word cornucopia is today more often encountered in its metaphorical use referring to an overflowing abundance, or to a seemingly inexhaustible amount of something. In a Sentence: The zoo’s new aviary is a veritable cornucopia of color and sound, with scores of different bird species swooping and squawking through the canopy. Image credit to AP

At least 44 people are dead and hundreds of others are missing after a massive fire at an apartment complex in Hong Kong, and three potential perpetrators have been arrested. While the fire broke out over 24 hours ago, firefighters are still battling the remnants of the blaze after it jumped buildings, burning down an entire apartment complex. What began as a small fire quickly erupted into a multi-structure inferno, killing at least 44 people. Additionally, over 270 people remain missing, and officials fear that the death toll will continue to rise in the coming days. Dozens of people have been hospitalized with injuries like burns and smoke inhalation, and hundreds of others are now in temporary housing after evacuating from the buildings. Eight apartment buildings were in the complex, and seven burned down in the ferocious fire, which took place at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district. Over 4,600 people lived in the complex, which contained almost 2,000 apartments. Firefighting teams rushed to the scene, working to rescue as many people as possible, but many residents on upper floors became trapped after stairways and elevators were obstructed by flames. Furthermore, the complex maintains an abundance of senior citizen residents, rendering them even more vulnerable during the disaster. Authorities are not completely sure what initiated the blaze, but they have determined that it spread in an unusually quick manner and was able to bound from high-rise to high-rise. They have begun a thorough investigation into the incident. Officials have found, though, that a renovation was taking place, and bamboo scaffolding surrounded the under-construction facades of various buildings. Bamboo scaffolding remains prevalent across China and Hong Kong, as it is an ancient construction material that has been used for centuries, but recent incidents involving its safety have led to calls for safer scaffolding materials. Other construction materials, like safety netting and plastic covers were also in place, but police discovered that many of these other materials were not in compliance with local safety laws, suggesting that they may have contributed to the incredibly quick spread of the fire. Three people have been arrested under the charges of manslaughter due to gross negligence, as all three serve as higher-ups within a construction company that could allegedly be responsible for the fire. The company's logo was found on several boards that were blocking windows, and they could also be at fault for the aforementioned material violations that could have also contributed to the blaze. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Berries are simple fruits stemming from one flower. This means that pineapples, bananas, watermelons, pumpkins, and avocados are technically berries. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I believe success is preparation, because opportunity is going to knock on your door sooner or later– but are you prepared to answer that? ( Omar Epps) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Unabashed (adj, un-uh-BASHT) - Someone who is unabashed is not embarrassed or ashamed about openly expressing strong feelings or opinions. In a Sentence: Unabashed by their booing and hissing, the artist continued with the musical performance. Image credit to Unsplash

According to a new report from the United Nations , Jakarta is now the world's most populous city, overtaking Japan's Tokyo for the number one spot. Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, has seen incredible population growth within the last few decades, soaring from a city of 10 million people in 1971 to a city of almost 42 million people in 2025. In fact, the city has grown so fast over such a short period of time that Indonesia no longer has the infrastructure to support the city, which was originally built on a low-lying, swampy plain. Illegal pumping of groundwater and the massive weight of thousands of buildings have led to drastic land subsidence– Jakarta is sinking at a rate of around 4-12 inches per year, and some estimates predict that the entirety of North Jakarta could be underwater by 2050. Because of this, Indonesia has confirmed that they will be moving their capital to the city of Nusantara, on the island of Borneo, within the next few years. This is expected to slow the growth of Jakarta, possibly allowing the government to take control of the city's environmental situation. However, a lack of funding and construction issues have delayed the project– Indonesia claims that their new capital will be complete in 2028, but it is yet to be seen whether they can successfully reach that target. Meanwhile, the report's second-place city is also at risk of flooding– Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, came in at number two on the list, with a population of 36.6 million people. Due to its low-lying surroundings and frequent monsoons, Dhaka floods almost annually, yet its population continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. While Dhaka's growth rate is also expected to slow slightly within the next few decades, the UN report predicts that the capital will overtake Jakarta as the most populous city in the world by 2050. Next, Tokyo came in at number three, a surprise for many. The Greater Tokyo area initially became the world's most populous city in 1955 after a post-World War II economic boom, and it had kept the position until this year. Contrasting against the high birth rate of cities like Jakarta and Dhaka, located in lesser-developed countries, Tokyo is experiencing a dramatic drop in births. The Japanese government is currently attempting to offer additional incentives to increase the fertility rate across the city, which stood at 0.99 in 2023– well below the 2.1 needed to sustain a population. As a whole, Japan is suffering from a quickly aging population, with a nationwide birth rate of 1.2 that represents a wider issue across East Asia. China's birth rate stands at 1.2 as well, Taiwan's fertility rate is 1.1, and South Korea's is a mere 0.9. By comparison, the fertility rates of Indonesia and Bangladesh were 2.13 and 2.16 in 2023, respectively, allowing them to maintain consistent population growth throughout the last decade. Six of the other seven cities among the top 10 were located in Asia, consisting of New Delhi (30.2 million), Shanghai (29.6 million), Guangzhou (27.6 million), Cairo (25.6 million), Manila (24.7 million), Kolkata (22.5 million), and Seoul (22.5 million). Of the top 10, Cairo was the only megacity not located in Asia, being the capital of Egypt. As a whole, the report found that 45% of Earth's population now lives in cities, representing a worldwide shift towards urbanization. Furthermore, an additional 36% reside in towns, meaning that cities and towns now contain a staggering 81% of the global population. In 1975, just 8 megacities – urban areas with over 10 million inhabitants – existed in the world. Now, that number stands at 33 in 2025, 19 of which are in Asia. While urbanization often leads to increased habitat loss and pollution, the increased population density can have several benefits for the enviroment, like decreasing per capita energy consumption. Urbanization also preserves more rural land for natural purposes– though major issues like waste management and biodiversity decline must be addressed before such benefits can be reaped. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In Korea, there is a breed of dog called a Sapsali, which was originally thought to banish ghosts and evil spirits. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge. ( Socrates) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Perdition (noun, per-DISH-un) - Perdition refers to hell, or to the state of being in hell forever as punishment after death—in other words, damnation. It is usually used figuratively. In a Sentence: Dante’s Inferno details the main character’s journey through perdition . Image credit to Unsplash

The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in northern Ethiopia, erupted yesterday after being dormant for almost 12,000 years, blowing ash across western Asia. Hayli Gubbi is a shield volcano in northeastern Ethiopia within the region of Afar, close to the country's border with Eritrea and Djibouti. The volcano's last recorded eruption was over 12,000 years ago, leading many to believe that it was completely extinct. The volcano lies on the Erta Ale range, situated near the triple junction of the African, Arabian, and Somali tectonic plates. The divergent nature of these plates creates a gap in between where magma can seep through and rise to the surface, forming a chain of volcanoes along the border. This rift zone is known as the Danakil Depression– it is one of the hottest, driest, and lowest places on Earth, with average temperatures of over 119°F and 4-8 inches of annual rainfall, along with the fact that it is located around 410 feet below sea level. The depression is known for its otherworldly landscape, involving sulfur springs and massive salt flats. Despite the Danakil Depression's adverse climate, the slopes of the Hayli Gubbi volcano are covered in farms and pastures, and ash from the volcano's eruptions long ago has enabled greater growing capabilities. Then, yesterday, the volcano erupted for the first time in over 12,000 years, blanketing the surrounding region in ash. Locals described the eruption as similar to a bomb blast as thousands of tons of ash and rock blasted into the sky, creating a cloud that could easily be seen from space. Strong winds then carried this ash across the Red Sea into the Middle East, dropping ash over Yemen, Oman, and even over the Persian Gulf into Pakistan and India. Unfortunately, New Delhi and the rest of northern India are already grappling with toxic smog due to the annual burning of the fields, leading to skyrocketing AQIs. In fact, breathing has become so hazardous that local merchants have begun selling masks attached to tanks filled with clean air– and the addition of ash and smoke from the volcano will not help the situation. Thankfully, most of the ash is flying at a high level, preventing it from impacting the ground, but it will have a greater impact on the Himalayas once it reaches that region. However, several international and domestic flights were canceled due to the incoming ash, while others were rerouted to avoid passing through it. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): When we’re born, the only innate fears we have are the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds. All other fears are learned. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Imagination is more important than knowledge . Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. ( Albert Einstein) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Amalgamate (verb, uh-MAL-guh-mayt) - Amalgamate is a formal verb meaning "to unite (two or more things) into one thing." In a Sentence: The school district has proposed amalgamating the two high schools. Image credit to AP

New Delhi's notoriously toxic air pollution has returned once again, leading to increased sickness and breathing problems along with violent protests. The toxic smog is primarily due to agricultural practices and certain emissions, creating a hazardous environment for Delhi locals. October to December serves as the rejuvenation season, where farmers fertilize the soil and plant new seeds for the next harvest. However, in India, many farmers burn their existing plants to try to get rid of them, as they are no longer needed. By burning them, these farmers release thousands of tons of smoke and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, blanketing northern Pakistan and India in a layer of smog so thick it can be seen from outer space. Now, air pollution levels have spiked once again, with some areas recording AQI index levels as high as 400– extremely hazardous to human health. This sparked several protests across the city, with the largest group swarming India Gate, a 94-year-old historical monument in the middle of Delhi. Then, police arrived to handle the situation, attempting to restore order and peace to the area. Nevertheless, protestors burst through the barricades set up by local police, assaulting police officers with chili spray and releasing their anger over the constantly-polluted air of the city. Local authorities were forced to use pepper spray to repel protestors– according to police, the demonstrations were blocking a path needed by emergency services, but the people refused to move out of the way. Several officers were injured by the chili spray and have been sent to the hospital for further checkups. Many protestors were also temporarily detained, allowing authorities to move them to other locations to break up the demonstrations. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): English is not native to the British Isles. It was brought to Britain in the mid-5th to 7th centuries by German, Danish, and Dutch settlers. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It is true that integrity alone won’t make you a leader , but without integrity you will never be one. ( Zig Ziglar) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Desolate (adj, DESS-uh-lut) - Desolate describes places that lack people, plants, animals, etc., that make people feel welcome in a place; desolate places are, in other words, deserted or barren. Desolate can also mean “joyless” or “gloomy.” In a Sentence: We drove for hours along a desolate stretch of road until finally a lone gas station appeared in the middle of nowhere. Image credit to Bloomberg

After weeks of negotiations, delegates managed to agree on a frail, fossil fuel-avoiding deal as COP30 in Belém came to an end. COP30, a major meeting among delegations from various countries, met in Belém, Brazil, over the past few weeks to discuss possible climate action, preferably as soon as possible. However, the summit was incredibly divided between oil-producing countries and oil-opposing nations, and featured action from several perspectives. At first, Indigenous tribes struggled to gain representation at the summit, leading to protests outside the grounds. Eventually, tribes broke through the barriers around the COP30 building and forced their way inside , allowing them to attract attention for their cause– the prevention of Amazon deforestation. Then, several days later, a fire broke out at the venue, leaving at least a dozen people injured due to burns and smoke inhalation. Throughout the conference, lobbyists for fossil fuels remained a permanent fixture, constantly fighting against any sort of climate action that could cost oil-producing nations. In the end, these nations, such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, were able to stop the committee from passing a major bill to limit fossil fuel production, limiting the conference's benefit to the environment. In the end, countries were forced to settle for a frail agreement that provides poorer nations with additional finances to be able to adjust to global warming and work to reduce their emissions, but took almost no action to address the root problem– the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by major emitters. The deal, named the Belém Package, encourages countries to reach their emissions goals and reaffirms the Paris Agreement, signed over 10 years ago, along with calling for wealthy nations to triple their climate investments by 2035. However, the agreement takes almost no legally binding action on any of these issues or the persistent fossil fuel problem, which was prevented by lobbyists and oil-producing countries. Countries impacted by climate change, like Colombia and Sierra Leone, clearly expressed their disappointment and anger over the lack of an agreement to save the planet. Others placed significant blame on the United States as well – the world's single largest emitter of fossil fuels – who did not send a delegation to COP30 at all. However, Arab states and Russia were extremely contented with the outcome of the conference, claiming that offsetting the impacts of climate change would eliminate the need for fossil fuels to be phased out. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The Great Pyramid of Giza actually has eight sides, rather than four. Subtle indentations in the center of each side create an extremely unnoticeable concavity that can only be seen under specific lighting conditions, like during equinoxes, and is virtually invisible from the ground. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Until you treat everyone as an equal, you have no right to complain about the treatment you receive from anyone. ( Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Metonymy (verb, muh-TAH-nuh-mee) - Metonymy refers to a figure of speech in which a word that is associated with something is used to refer to the thing itself, as when crown is used to mean “king” or “queen.” In a Sentence: Wall Street , Silicon Valley , and Hollywood are common examples of metonymy . Image credit to AP

At least eight people are dead and over 450 others are injured after a strong, 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh yesterday. The earthquake's epicenter was located near the city of Narsingdi, around 16 miles away from the capital of Dhaka, at a depth of 6 miles. According to local reports, the shaking lasted for approximately 26 seconds after beginning at 10:38 am local time. While the shaking was not extremely strong, at a magnitude of 5.5, the quake still did significant damage, and shaking was felt as far as the Indian city of Kolkata– over 200 miles away. Eight people have been confirmed dead due to failing infrastructure, with bricks toppling into roadways and roofs collapsing across Dhaka. Some buildings began falling over, endangering the people inside, and officials were also forced to respond to a fire in one neighborhood within Dhaka. Hundreds of people were injured, with stampedes and other incidents leading to various hospitalizations. Unfortunately, infrastructure has long been an issue in Bangladesh. The nation continues to grapple with extremely outdated, poor infrastructure due to lack of funding and constant government instability, leading to decreased emergency response times and more deaths in times of crisis. Additionally, Bangladesh lies on the intersection points of the major Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates along with the Burmese microplate, making it more vulnerable to tremors. While large earthquakes like yesterday's are relatively uncommon due to the constant sliding nature of the plates, tremors and occasional shaking happen often, and they do even more damage due to the country's lack of strong infrastructure. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Will Smith owed $2.8 million to the IRS and almost went bankrupt just before he signed the contract for The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air , launching him into the film industry. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. ( Marcus Garvey) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Bloviate (verb, BLOH-vee-ayt) - To bloviate is to speak or write in an arrogant tone and with more words than are necessary. In a Sentence: The podcaster tends to bloviate endlessly on topics about which he is not particularly knowledgeable. Image credit to Reuters