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Ukraine has launched another offensive into the Kursk, further growing their territory in a Russian region that suffered from another Ukrainian incursion last year. Back in August, Ukraine launched a surprise attack on Kursk, stunning an unprepared Russia. Russia had been focusing their resources in eastern Ukraine, working to maintain their control of the oblasts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, leading Ukraine to try a different approach. Ukrainian forces quickly gained over 500 square miles of territory and over 90 settlements in just a matter of days, forcing Russia to redirect their forces away from other areas. Since then, Russia has regained around half of the territory gained by Ukraine, but Ukraine has managed to prevent Russia's much larger army from taking back the entire Kursk region. Using their soldiers along with additional soldiers from North Korea, Russia has been slowly taking back their territory, mile by mile. Russian President Vladimir Putin promised that Ukraine would be kicked out of Kursk soon, but he did not give an exact date as to when this would happen. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that it is crucial for Ukraine to keep their control over the area in Kursk, as it could be a vital piece of leverage to use in peace talks. However, according to Ukraine, Russia has been struggling in Kursk. Zelenskyy stated that Russia had lost an entire battalion in Kursk over the past few days-- his claim could not be confirmed, though. The Pentagon also said that North Korean soldiers have suffered over 1,000 casualties in the region over the past few weeks. Meanwhile, Russia has stated that they have killed hundreds of additional Ukrainian soldiers, but this claim could also not be confirmed. Ukraine has now launched their second offensive in Kursk, consisting of multiple tanks and dozens of armored vehicles. Russia seemed to be unsure as to where to place their troops, as the incursion was spread out and traveled in multiple different directions. The fighting includes both heavy-duty artillery weapons and smaller infantry battles, which are resulting in losses for both sides. They are also equipped with a mine-clearing vehicle, helping to clear the way for Ukrainian soldiers to enter Russian territory on foot. Now, the world is watching to see if Ukraine will be able to maintain their territory in Kursk or if Russia will take it back-- there is sure to be some intense fighting in the area over the next few weeks. Upcoming Events: Australian Open Begins (Monday, January 6) Three Kings Day (Monday, January 6) Birth of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib (Monday, January 6) Bodhi Day (Tuesday, January 7) Fact of the Day: Penguins weren't always this small. Scientists have found that giant penguins lived around 60 million years ago, averaging around 5 and a half feet tall and weighing around 250 pounds. The tallest specimen ever found was 6 and a half feet tall, while the heaviest specimen was over 350 pounds. Quote of the Day: It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. (Theodore Roosevelt) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cerulean (adj, suh-ROO-lee-un) - Cerulean describes things whose blue color resembles the blue of a clear sky. In a Sentence: The painting depicts leafless trees bordering a cerulean lake.

Yet another European country has been plunged into political chaos amid an unstable time for governments-- this time, Austria is the one affected. Following the collapse of coalition talks between parties, Austrian chancellor Karl Nehmammer announced his resignation from his post as chancellor and as leader of the Austrian People's Party ( ÖVP). Currently, there are five primary parties in the Austrian parliament: the Austrian People's Party ( ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ), the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), the Greens, and the New Austria and Liberal Forum (NEOS). The FPÖ is far-right, the ÖVP is slightly conservative, the SPÖ and the Greens lean left, and NEOS is extremely liberal. While these five parties make up the parliament, no single party has enough members to attain a majority, so coalitions must be made between parties with similar views. In recent years, a successful coalition between the ÖVP and the Greens led to the rise of Karl Nehmammer's government, but their support has been dwindling in recent times. Far-right governments have been gaining ground across Europe, and Austria is no exception. In September's elections, the far-right FPÖ won with the largest percentage of 29%, but still nowhere close enough to achieve a majority in Parliament. Due to this, centrist parties began talks over forming a coalition that could shut out the FP Ö, but those talks broke down yesterday after disagreements between the ÖVP and the SPÖ over issues like taxes. NEOS had already left the coalition talks earlier in the week. Now, the most likely coalition will be between the FP Ö and the ÖVP, as they are both on the conservative side of the scale. It will depend on who the new leader of the ÖVP is, as Nehmammer is resigning, but a large portion of the party is in favor of the idea. If the FPÖ and the ÖVP were to join forces, they would easily gain the majority, also resulting in a far-right government that completely contrasts the views of other parties. Another option would be for the government to call for snap elections, which is used to gain ground against other parties. However, as shown by Macron's snap elections in summer 2024, that can backfire on the party who calls it. Polls show, though, that the FP Ö has gained even more ground since September's election, meaning that calling for a snap election could prove detrimental to the ÖVP's coalition efforts while boosting the FPÖ into a better position. Fact of the Day: After a five-year selection process, Idaho chose the Idaho giant salamander as their official state amphibian. These salamanders are, in fact, massive, growing up to 13 inches in length. Quote of the Day: You don’t get stressed if you think of your job as a hobby, not as a duty. (Henry Lau) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Fulminate (verb, FULL-muh-nayt) - To fulminate is to complain loudly or angrily about something. In a Sentence: The editorial fulminated against the corruption in the state government that has been recently uncovered.

South Korean authorities were caught up in a standoff at impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's house yesterday, preventing them from arresting him as they were ordered to. South Korea was initially plunged into political chaos when Yoon declared martial law , stunning the entire country. He claimed that his opposition was plotting against him with North Korea, forcing him to put the country under temporary military rule until the situation was handled. However, this decision was taken harshly by his opposition and their supporters. The order for martial law was quickly rescinded, and Yoon was impeached around 10 days later. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo then took office as interim president, but he was also impeached two weeks later. Choi Sang-mok, South Korea's Minister of Economy and Finance, is now the acting president and prime minister, and he has only been in office for about a week. Earlier this week, police were successfully able to get a warrant for Yoon's arrest after he refused to attend any of his hearings, and he is being investigated for abusing his power as the president. They ran into some issues, though. Police arrived at Yoon's house with a group of around 20 officers, but they happened to find hundreds of Yoon's supporters who had camped out in front of his house. Despite the freezing temperatures of as low as 17 degrees Fahrenheit (-8 degrees Celsius), his supporters have been staying outside, vowing to prevent the government from arresting him. Protestors have been doing the same, though, and the same area is full of anti-Yoon citizens carrying signs and chanting slogans. As police backup arrived at the scene, more people poured into the area as the word spread. Soon, there were thousands of protestors on one side calling for his arrest and thousands of others on the other side preventing it. Police officers were also part of the anti-Yoon side, while a large number of officers from the presidential security service (PSS) were on Yoon's side. The tense standoff between the two forces lasted for over six hours until police gave up, displaying the strong support on both sides. Unfortunately, a standoff like this could appear again in the near future, and fears that it could turn violent are growing. In addition, while Yoon still requires security as president, albeit one stripped of his powers, the PSS should not have been protecting him from officers with an arrest warrant, as they still need to follow the orders of acting President Choi Sang-mok. However, Yoon was the one who selected the PSS chief, so there is a significant possibility that they could be acting out of loyalty to him. The next step is for acting President Choi Sang-mok to explicitly instruct the PSS to stand down, allowing police officers to arrest Yoon. If Choi denies, then he could be impeached, and the PSS denies, then they could be arrested as well. Also, they will need to act fast, as the police's arrest warrant expires on January 6. It is still unknown whether the government will attempt to arrest Yoon again or if they will choose a different route-- South Korean politics are extremely murky right now, and it is tough to predict what will come next. Fact of the Day: While snails' heads are just the size of the head of a pin, they (along with slugs) have thousands of microscopic teeth on a flexible band inside their mouths, which is known as a radula. Quote of the Day: By three methods we may learn wisdom : First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience , which is the bitterest. (Confucius) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Addlepated (adj, AD-ul-pay-tud) - Someone described as ad dlepated is mixed-up or confused. Addlepated can also be used as synonym of eccentric . In a Sentence: Some addlepated clerk confused our hotel reservation with that of another, similarly named, party.

Investigations are taking place after 15 people were killed and another 35 people were injured during a New Year's Day massacre in New Orleans, Louisiana. The attack took place on Bourbon Street, a famous New Orleans road known for its history, bars, and nightclubs, at 3:16 am. It began when a man in a pickup truck slowly drove up the adjacent Canal Street, staying inconspicuous until he reached the intersection of Canal and Bourbon Streets, where he came to a stop. While Bourbon Street was blocked off by a police car, the truck is seen swerving right on cameras, driving onto the sidewalk and avoiding the barricade. In the following moments of the video, it can be seen rapidly accelerating down the sidewalk of Bourbon Street, bulldozing the crowd of people milling about. All the civilians could do was watch as the truck continued speeding down the sidewalk, mowing down everyone on the left side of the street. The truck, a electric Ford F-150 Lightning, finally came to a stop when it crashed into a boom lift in the middle of the road, shattering the entire front end of the vehicle. Pedestrians who had ducked out of the way cautiously edged out of their hiding spots, attempting to process the situation and begin mourning the dead. However, the man stepped out of the truck to find law enforcement officers rushing down the street, and he quickly opened fire with an assault rifle. Onlookers scrambled back into shops and stores as the culprit fired at police officers, who fired back and killed the man on the spot. 15 people were killed, including the driver, in the attack. Investigators and police officers stormed the scene just minutes after, working to secure the area before identifying the dead. First, the attacker was found to be Texas native Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who is also an Army veteran. Inside his truck, they found various explosives and an ISIS flag. ISIS, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is a Sunni jihadist group known for acts of terrorism around the world that have killed hundreds of people. Two explosive devices were later discovered in two coolers within the area, which is known as the French Quarter, and investigators determined that Jabbar himself had placed the explosives just hours before changing clothes and driving the pickup truck. A remote detonator was also found inside his car, but he never set them off. Jabbar's house in Houston also yielded similar results, as investigators found materials used to build explosives at home. The family of the attacker stated that Jabbar was always a calm, kind man who never showed any signs of going through any sort of mental issue, and they had never talked about ISIS. However, his records show that Jabbar was divorced twice, his second wife obtained a restraining order against him, and he was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in 2015 and 2020. The FBI is still trying to find out how and when he went through the transformation from the man he used to be to the terrorist who conducted the attack. Jabbar also posted several videos on his Facebook page in the hours before the attack which gave various pieces of information to the FBI as well. In the videos, he detailed how he was inspired to join ISIS just before the summer of 2024 and how he was actually planning to invite his family over to a celebration before killing them. However, he decided that killing his family would not put the supremacy of Islamic beliefs in the spotlight, which he wanted news headlines to focus on. Initially, one of the unusual pieces of the puzzle was why the driver was easily able to enter Bourbon Street, which is usually blocked off. However, investigators found that a report from 2019 strongly recommended the government of New Orleans to replace the old bollards which usually block off Bourbon Street. Due to this, the government was in the process of replacing them ahead of the Super Bowl next month, but they did not put any temporary safety measures into place. The Super Bowl is scheduled to take place at Caesars Superdome, a massive stadium just miles from Bourbon Street. In addition, the 2025 Sugar Bowl, a major college playoff football game between the University of Georgia and the University of Notre Dame, was postponed to the following day, as it was also scheduled to take place at the Caesars Superdome. Before the game, a moment of silence was held for the victims of the attack. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish later won the game, 23-10. The street was later shut down as law enforcement attempted to uncover additional evidence, but it was later reopened. A memorial covered in flowers and candles is now growing near Bourbon Street, and a vigil will take place tomorrow at 7 pm local time to mourn the victims of the deadly attack. Fact of the Day: Starfish primarily eat mollusks like oysters and clams, and they eat them in a disturbing way. First, the starfish uses its suction-cupped feet to open the mollusk. Then, the starfish ejects its stomach through its mouth, and the stomach's digestive juices break down the inside of the shellfish. Lastly, the starfish sucks the stomach back into its mouth with the mollusk meat, providing it with a meal. Quote of the Day: Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey. (Babs Hoffman) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Potpourri (noun, poh-pur-REE) - Potpourri is a mixture of dried flower petals, leaves, and spices that is used to make a room smell pleasant. When used figuratively potpourri refers to a collection of various different things. In a Sentence: Her favorite winter potpourri includes cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel.

Ukraine has decided not to renew a crucial agreement that allows Russia to send gas to Europe through their territory, leaving Russia's economy in an even tighter spot. Russia's largest export is oil and gas, making up around 20% of its total GDP. Russia is also the world's second-largest natural gas exporter after the United States and the world's second-largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia. The European Union used to be one of the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, but that amount has dwindled in recent years. According to the European Commission, the volume of oil and gas that the EU imported in the third quarter of 2024 was only 7% of what it had imported in the first quarter of 2021. In 2023, Russian gas made up less than 10% of their gas imports, while that number was 40% in 2021. Due to Russia's war with Ukraine, the EU has attempted to choke off Russia's economy with sanctions and tariffs while decreasing their consumption of Russia's oil and gas. They have managed to make this transition relatively smoothly, and their largest imports of oil and gas now come from the United States, Norway, and various North African countries. However, while the EU was working towards successfully moving away from Russian oil and gas, there were several pipelines in the way of those efforts. There are 23 gas pipelines traveling from Russia to Europe, but three major ones make up a large portion of their supply. The Nord Stream pipeline traveled from northern Russia through the Baltic Sea and into Germany, passing the Danish island of Bornholm along the way. In September 2022, both the Nord Stream 1 (NS1) and Nord Stream 2 (NS2) pipelines exploded in the waters around Bornholm due to clear sabotage. It has not been proven as to who conducted the explosions, but Ukraine is the primary suspect. The second large pipeline between Russia and the EU was the Yamal Europe pipeline, which traveled from Russia across Belarus and into Poland. However, that pipeline was shut down by Poland in 2022 as part of an attempt to move away from Russian oil and gas. The last large pipeline traveled through Ukraine, but the country was forced to keep it open due to a five-year deal made before the war. The agreement expired this week, though, allowing Ukraine to shut down the pipeline and closing down Russia's last oil and gas passageway to Europe. Gazprom, a Russian company controlling the pipeline, confirmed that they stopped the flow of oil into Ukraine yesterday. Unfortunately, while the shutdown of the pipeline will have a serious effect on Russia's revenue from oil and gas exports, it may have major repercussions for several European countries. Slovakia still heavily depends on Russian oil, as it used to be the gateway for Russian oil to enter the rest of the EU. They have confirmed that they will need to pay more for oil from other sources and that gas prices within the country will certainly go up in 2025. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was extremely angry over the end of the agreement, threatening to stop supplying electricity to Ukraine. Due to Russia's consistent attacks on Ukraine's power plants, they require electricity from other countries, and losing Slovakia's energy would be a significant hit. However, Poland stepped in and stated that they would make up for the loss while encouraging Slovakia to use alternate routes like other EU countries are doing. Austria also depends on Russian oil, but they stated that they have shifted to other sources and built up reserves to avoid being in a tight spot. The country worst affected by the end of the pipeline is Moldova, which relies almost completely on Russian gas and is not part of the EU. Most of Moldova's gas is piped into the unrecognized breakaway region of Transnistria, where it is used to generate power that supplies electricity to most of the country. However, Gazprom has claimed that Moldova maintains over $709 million in debt to them, further pushing them to stop the flow of gas into the country. Moldova, which is sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania, has argued that their debt is only $8.6 million, and while Gazprom is able to send gas into Moldova through other pipelines, they have refused to do so until Moldova pays their alleged debt. Gazprom has stopped supplying Moldova with gas, leaving the entire region of Transnistria without heat and light in the middle of a cold winter. Temperatures this week are dropping below freezing, leaving citizens with just blankets and electric heaters, if they have them. To battle this new energy crisis, Moldova has confirmed that they will reduce their electricity exports, and they have urged citizens to conserve power. While they do receive a meager supply of gas from other sources, long blackouts will occur across the region, and Transnistria will likely be the hardest hit. To get back up and running, Moldova will need to either pay the massive bill to Gazprom or quickly shift to other sources-- currently, most of the EU's alternative routes involve gas from the United States, Qatar, or Norway. Fact of the Day: It takes almost triple as much money to print a $100 bill compared to a $1 bill. Also, printing a $50 bill is 4 cents cheaper than printing a $20 bill! According to the US Federal Reserve, it takes around 3.2 cents to print a $1 or $2 bill. However, $5, $10, $20, and $50 bills are all somewhere between 5 and 6 cents each, and a $100 bill costs 9.4 cents to make. Quote of the Day: Luxury to me is not about buying expensive things; it’s about living in a way where you appreciate things. (Oscar de la Renta) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Rejuvenate (verb, rih-JOO-vuh-nayt) - To rejuvenate a person, parts of the body, etc., is to make them feel young, healthy, or energetic again. To rejuvenate something abstract, such as an economy or career, is to give it new strength or energy. In a Sentence: The hotel package includes a day at the spa to rejuvenate guests.

Happy New Year! Here's our first daily update of 2025! Over 50% of Puerto Rico is still out of power after a major power grid failure occurred on New Year's Eve. LUMA Energy, the company managing the power supply of Puerto Rico, reported a power grid failure at around 5:30 am local time on the morning of New Year's Eve. They suspect that it was due to an issue with an underground power line, and they told residents that it would take one to two days to fix. The effects were severe-- over 90% of Puerto Rican customers were out of power as one of the biggest nights of the year rapidly approached. LUMA Energy is the primary energy distributor for Puerto Rico-- they took over from the government's Puerto Rico electric power authority in 2021. Meanwhile, another company by the name of Genera supplies the power LUMA sent out crews to fix the issue and improved the outage numbers to around 50%, but that number remained for the night-- around half of Puerto Ricans had to spend the transition of the New Year in darkness, leading to frustration among citizens. Thankfully, crucial services like water treatment and hospitals were the first to regain electricity. Unfortunately, power grid problems are a consistent issue in Puerto Rico, where much of the infrastructure is old and crumbling. The island's fragile power lines have long needed repair, but they are left in their tattered states. Due to its location in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico is frequently hit by hurricanes, which further damage its brittle power grid. In 2017, Hurricane Irma brushed Puerto Rico with strong winds, causing serious damage. Just two weeks later, Hurricane Maria slammed into the island with heavy rain, storm surge, and winds of over 155 mph, crippling their power grid and killing 2,975 people. By three months after the hurricane, 45% of customers were still without power, and another 14% of citizens remained without tap water. Locals say that Puerto Rico is still recovering from Maria, and additional weather events have slowed down that process. Several hurricanes and tropical storms pass or make landfall on Puerto Rico each year, each of which brings heavy rain that causes flooding and more power outages. In addition, even before Maria hit, their grid was in bad shape after years of carelessness on the government's part. However, they are slowly making progress. As more and more storms hit, Puerto Rico discovers the weak points in their power grid, and the system is improving. While many citizens are extremely frustrated with the island's poor infrastructure, reconstructing and renovating takes time, effort, and money. Puerto Ricans, though, are angry with the lack of effort that the government seems to be putting into solving this issue, which they believe is the reason why it is taking so long to recover. Fact of the Day: One bottle of wine is usually made up of around 600-800 grapes. Quote of the Day: Holding on is believing that there's only a past; letting go is knowing that there's a future. (Daphne Rose Kingma) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Zeitgeist (noun, TSYTE-gyste) - Zeitgeist refers to the general beliefs, ideas, and spirit of a time and place. In a Sentence: The artist’s songs perfectly captured the zeitgeist of 1990s America.

We apologize that this article was published late due to a scheduling issue. Tonight, 2024 is coming to an end! We have published a special article today with the highlights of this year's news! Enjoy! Here's our 2024 News in Review. January: Dozens of people were killed after a major earthquake struck Japan . Boeing's bestselling 737 Max plane was grounded by the FAA after a plug door blew out on an Alaska Airlines flight  during a flight in the Pacific Northwest. A massive landslide struck the Colombian region of Chocó , killing dozens of people. The Icelandic town of Grindavík was evacuated  after lava reached the town during the eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano. Several winter storms struck the United States ,  killing 40 people and wreaking havoc with blizzard conditions and strong winds across the country. The death toll of the Israel-Hamas War passed 25,000. India celebrated the opening of the city of Ayodhya's new Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. A large earthquake struck northwestern China,   killing three people. Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, set sail on its inaugural journey  from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Pakistan sentenced their former prime minister, Imran Khan, to 10 years in prison. February: The CEOs of major social media companies were called to a hearing at the United States Capitol   due to suspected exploitation of children and their information. Hundreds of wildfires ravaged Chile , killing over 130 citizens. Coca-Cola announced the arrival of Coca-Cola Spiced  in the United States and Canada. Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano near the town of Grindavík erupted for the third time , setting the record for the fastest-moving lava ever. The Kansas City Chiefs took home their second Super Bowl win in a row  after defeating the San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium. A massive oil spill off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago caused an environmental disaster,  turning Tobago beaches black. Israel bombed and raided Gaza's largest hospital  after receiving information that Hamas was operating out of the building. The first US spacecraft since 1972 made a successful moon landing , allowing them to join China, India, and Japan as the only countries to do so in the 21st century. Hungary approved Sweden's bid to join NATO , guaranteeing them a spot in the strengthening organization of western powers. March: Over one million acres were burned by a dangerous Texas wildfire , making it the largest fire in state history. The United States managed to airdrop aid into Gaza for the first time. 3,600 prisoners escaped from Haiti's largest jail,  wreaking havoc across the country. The World Cholera Vaccine Stockpile began running dry , spelling doom for African countries that have been plagued with cholera for years. Oppenheimer took home many of the largest awards at the 2024 Oscars. The first round of aid by sea was delivered to Gaza. IQAir's top 100 most polluted cities list was released,  and 83 of the top 100 cities were located in one country: India. The Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen foods lists were released , giving consumers insight into which foods they should be careful about buying at the grocery store based on the amount of pesticides in them. The Global Happiness Report was released , with Finland topping the list once again. Thousands of people were left homeless after extreme gang violence in Haiti  following the prison break earlier in the month. 133 people were killed and hundreds of others were injured after a shooting at a Moscow concert hall. Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed  after a large cargo ship smashed into one of its support piers. 45 people were killed after a bus plummeted into a ravine in South Africa. April: A massive earthquake struck Taiwan , killing nine people and damaging important infrastructure. Thousands of people were evacuated after a dam broke in Russia's Ural Mountains. A rare total solar eclipse crossed the United States -- the last total eclipse in North America until 2044. Kyiv's largest power plant was destroyed  after a series of intense Russian attacks. Scottie Scheffler won the Masters,   a prestigious golf tournament, in Augusta, Georgia with an 11 under par. Dozens of people were killed and cities were sent into chaos after heavy rain hit the Middle East , an area unprepared for storms due to its location in a desert. A 400-year-old Danish stock exchange was destroyed in a devastating fire. 800 people were evacuated after a stratovolcano eruption in Indonesia. Heavy rain struck Pakistan and Afghanistan,  killing over 135 people. NASA finally managed to regain communication capabilities with Voyager 1 , one of their five deep space modules currently outside the solar system. The United States Congress passed a major bill that would effectively ban TikTok within nine months if the company is not sold , among other things. Pro-Palestinian protests in US colleges increased significantly , sparking controversy over the handling of the demonstrations. May: Extreme rain and serious flooding in East Africa killed hundreds of people. The United Arab Emirates was flooded again  after additional heavy rain following the previous month's surprise weather event. Brazil was flooded with rain  as well, killing dozens. Dozens of people were killed in a China highway collapse  after heavy rains. A massive solar storm struck the Earth , sending the aurora borealis much farther south than usual. Switzerland's singer Nemo won the prestigious Eurovision competition , making Switzerland a three-time winner. Hundreds of people were killed in serious flooding in Afghanistan. Several people were killed after a billboard collapsed in Mumbai, India. The Prime Minister of Slovakia survived despite being shot multiple times  in an assassination attempt. Iran's President and Foreign Minister were killed in a helicopter crash. The International Court of Justice ruled that Israel's invasion of Rafah was unlawful  and demanded them to stop their offensive and return the land. At least 670 people were killed in a major landslide in Papua New Guinea. Severe weather struck the United States , bringing dangerous tornadoes. Cyclone Remal wreaked havoc across India and Bangladesh  with strong winds and heavy rain. A heatwave hit India , bringing record-breaking temperatures to much of the northern part of the country. June: US President Donald Trump was convicted on 34 counts  in his hush money trial, making him the first-ever former president to be convicted of a felony. Mexico elected their first-ever female president. Boeing launched their crewed Starliner spacecraft  on their third attempt. Carlos Alcaraz took home the 2024 Men's French Open title while Iga Swiatek won the Women's French Open. Apple announced new features at their annual WWDC conference,  including the arrival of Apple Intelligence. Torrential rains slammed the state of Florida , bringing over two feet of rain. Wildfires raged across California,  burning thousands of acres. Dozens of people were killed after deadly alcohol poisoning in South India  following the spread of illegal alcohol in the area. Protests erupted across Kenya  after the government proposed a tax raise. A major earthquake struck Peru,  killing nine people and damaging infrastructure. India defeated South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup Final. July: The first US presidential debate took place  between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. 116 people were killed after a massive stampede  at a religious event in northern India. Hurricane Beryl raged across the Caribbean, striking the Windward Islands , Jamaica , the Cayman Islands , and Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula  before making landfall in Texas and pounding the United States. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his conservative government were defeated  by Keir Starmer's Labour Party during the elections. French President Emmanuel Macron was surprised when the snap elections he called resulted in his party losing the majority  in the French Parliament. Former President Donald Trump was shot in the ear  at a rally in Pennsylvania. Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in a dramatic Wimbledon final. Dozens were killed in Bangladesh amid violent protests  against the government's job quota system. Chaos ensued after a worldwide Windows IT outage  following a faulty update from security company Crowdstrike. US President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race,  allowing Kamala Harris to take over as their leading candidate. 229 people were killed after a massive landslide struck Ethiopia. Typhoon Gaemi battered the Philippines and Taiwan , killing several people. Protests erupted across Venezuela after the country's elections  due to beliefs that it was heavily biased. August: Hamas' top political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed  in an Israel airstrike on his house. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was released from Russian captivity  after a major prisoner exchange involving multiple countries. Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida  and moved north, delivering heavy rain and dangerous flooding to Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Another major earthquake struck Japan , injuring nine people. 61 people were killed in a devastating plane crash in Brazil. A raging wildfire in Greece scorched dangerously close to the capital city of Athens , destroying dozens of structures. Ukrainian forces invaded Russia's Kursk region , allowing them to gain over 386 square miles of Russian territory. Typhoon Ampil slammed Tokyo  with strong winds and heavy rain. Hurricane Ernesto battered Puerto Rico and Bermuda  before moving north to Canada. A yacht carrying several passengers, including British tech billionaire Mike Lynch, sank  in the Mediterranean Sea. Concerns began rising over a global monkeypox outbreak that began in Africa. Hurricane Hone struck Hawaii with strong winds and heavy rain. Boeing announced that astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore would stay on the International Space Station until 2025  after issues with their Starliner spacecraft. Japan was pummeled by Typhoon Shanshan's heavy rain and 85-mph winds. September: Brazil banned X  as a part of their crackdown on online misinformation. The CEO of social media network Telegram was arrested in France  on several different charges. Four students were killed  in a deadly mass shooting at Georgia's Apalachee High School. Super Typhoon Yagi slammed southwestern China  and Vietnam , bringing raging winds and pouring rain. Italy's Jannik Sinner won the US Open , defeating the United States' Taylor Fritz to take the win. Wildfires raged across the western United States again , burning hundreds of thousands of acres of land. Hurricane Francine made landfall in Louisiana  with winds of over 100 mph and heavy rain. The world's first civilian spacewalk was conducted  as part of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission. Former President Donald Trump was targeted in another assassination attempt  on the golf course at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. The heaviest rain in over 100 years hit parts of Europe , killing dozens of people with dangerous flooding. Hundreds of people were killed after an elaborate Israeli scheme against Hezbollah led to the explosions of pagers across Lebanon. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida  with winds of over 140 mph and heavy rain before moving north, devastating the entire Deep South . Hezbollah leader Hassan Nazrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Over 150 people were killed after days of torrential rain struck Nepal , dropping over a foot of rain in some areas. October: The United States Vice Presidential Debate took place , with Democratic nominee Tim Walz facing off against the Republicans' J.D. Vance. Iran fired hundreds of missiles at Israel  in a massive attack that further escalated the conflict in the Middle East. Brazil lifted their ban on X  after the social media company finally complied with their demands. Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida  with strong winds and heavy rain. Parts of the Sahara Desert received a year's worth of rain in two days , flooding towns. SpaceX caught a returning rocket in midair with two mechanical arms  in a revolutionary accomplishment. Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israel , though he was accidentally killed in battle. The entire island of Cuba lost power  after a major power plant near the capital of Havana ran out of fuel. Cyclone Dana made landfall in eastern India  with winds of around 75 mph and heavy rain. Tropical Storm Trami crossed the Philippines , killing over 125 people and flooding towns, streets, and buildings. Israel decided to halt all operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) within their country. North Korea sent over 10,000 troops to their close ally, Russia,  to help their fight against Ukraine. Torrential rain pounded the Spanish city of Valencia , killing hundreds of people and submerging entire towns. November: Typhoon Kong-rey battered Taiwan  with strong winds and heavy rain. Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted in a massive smoke cloud,  blanketing the entire area around it in ash. Polio vaccines finally arrived in Gaza , allowing children in a grief-stricken area to receive some of the care they need. Donald Trump won the United States presidential election , defeating Democratic opponent Kamala Harris in a landslide. Hurricane Rafael slammed Cuba as a Category 3 storm , battering the island country with strong winds and heavy rain. Cuba was hit by two strong earthquakes , shaking the entire Caribbean. Toxic smog engulfed India and Pakistan , bringing air quality levels over triple as much as the threshold for hazardous air. Toxic-Free Future released their annual report on how the top 50 retailers are working to eliminate dangerous chemicals from their products. Typhoon Man-Yi pummeled the Philippines  with heavy rain and strong winds. Low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Two fiber-optic cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea,  and the European Union is attributing the incidents to a Chinese ship being instructed by Russia. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant  due to their conduct in the Israel-Hamas War. World leaders agreed on a landmark new climate deal at COP29 , with wealthy countries pledging to provide at least $300 billion a year by 2035 to help developing countries deal with the effects of climate change. Israel and Hezbollah finally agreed on a ceasefire deal , ending their 13-month-long conflict. Syrian rebel groups began a major offensive into the city of Aleppo. December: Violent protests broke out across the country of Georgia  after the government backed out of their efforts to join the European Union. US President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, of all of his charges , including tax evasion and illegal possession of a gun. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law  due to suspicions that his opposition was conspiring with North Korea, sparking outrage among the people and later leading to his impeachment. The CEO of American health insurance company UnitedHealthcare was shot in Manhattan , sparking a manhunt to find the gunman. After an extensive investigation by the FBI and NYPD, he was found at a fast food restaurant in Pennsylvania. A major earthquake struck California , increasing fears that "The Big One" could be on the way. Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad fled the country , allowing the rebels to take over the country and putting an end to Syria's 13-year civil war. Paris' Notre Dame cathedral reopened five years after a fire devastated the building in 2019. President Emmanuel Macron named François Bayrou as the France's next prime minister , hoping to restore unity to the country. Cyclone Chido battered the French island of Mayotte , killing hundreds of people. Germany experienced a no-confidence vote , ousting Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Several people were killed after an earthquake struck the island nation of Vanuatu. The United States government managed to pass a stopgap funding bill  in the nick of time, preventing a government shutdown. Dozens of people were killed in several deadly crowd crushes in Nigeria. Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan began talks over a major merger. Authorities and experts believe that the blame for a deadly Azerbaijani plane crash can be put on Russian defense fire. 179 people were killed in a devastating plane crash in South Korea , making it the country's worst-ever aviation disaster. Fact of the Day: When startled, ladybugs emit a foul-smelling fluid from their leg joints that helps to scare away predators. Quote of the Day: Sometimes you have to take a step back to move forward. (Erika Taylor) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Urbane (adj, er-BAYN) - Someone described as urbane is notably polite, confident, or polished in manner. Urbane is also used to describe things that are fashionable and somewhat formal. In a Sentence: "When did my willful, childish cousin turn into this urbane young artist greeting the guests at her opening reception?" wondered Elena.

Finnish authorities have confirmed the existence of drag marks near the location of a severed cable in the Baltic Sea, which comes just after a ship carrying Russian oil was arrested in the area. An underwater power line and four communication cables traveling between Finland and Estonia were cut on Christmas Day, sparking extensive investigations into yet another incident involving fiber-optic cables. Fiber-optic cables are wires that consist of long, thin strands of glass or plastic within a protective tube. The material inside the casing is used to transmit encoded light pulses at the speed of light, allowing for quick, easy transportation of signals. There are over 930,000 miles of fiber-optic cables across the seafloor that carry over 95% of the world's i nternational data and voice transfers, including emails, texts, and financial transactions. In addition, a power line was severed-- it is known as Estlink 2 and is an important cable that allows Estonia and Finland to send electricity to each other. Unfortunately, the break in Estlink 2 has caused a significant reduction in Estonia's power supply, and Finland expects it to take upwards of 6 months to fix the cable. However, Estonia has confirmed that they have plenty of electricity-generating sources to make up for the loss. After the cables were cut, the Eagle S, an oil tanker registered under the Cook Islands, was arrested by Finnish officials, and the ship was escorted into Finnish waters soon after. The crew onboard are currently being questioned by authorities. Meanwhile, an investigation into the cable-cutting took place. While undersea cables can be damaged by sea life or natural occurrences, it is rare, and five different cables all suffering issues in a small period of time clearly displayed that there was sabotage involved. Upon investigation, Finnish officials quickly discovered drag marks along the seafloor that stretch for miles. Drag marks are usually created when a ship drags its anchor along the seabed, which is the easiest way to rupture cables. The anchor from the suspected ship has not been found yet, though. The European Union heavily suspects Russia to be at fault, primarily due to their involvement with several other incidents. The EU believes that Russia maintains a "shadow fleet" of ships registered under other companies from other countries to cover up their covert operations following the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine War-- many of which involve destroying European infrastructure. The Kremlin has declined to comment. This incident comes just one month after another incident involving a ship with Russian connections. In November, the Arelion cable connecting Sweden's Gotland island and Lithuania and the C-Lion 1 cable connecting Finland and Germany were both severed . The Chinese-flagged Yi Peng 3 is suspected to have cut the cables by dragging its anchor, and it was boarded by NATO authorities soon after. However, it was released last week. NATO has decided to increase the number of ships they maintain in the Baltic Sea to protect undersea cables, and Estonia's navy has done the same. Unfortunately, it is impossible to protect every foot of these cables, some of which stretch for hundreds of miles. Concerns over the vulnerability of fiber-optic cables and the rising prevalence of hybrid warfare have been rising in recent years, and its usage by NATO's opposition could rise even further in the future. Upcoming Events: New Year's Eve (Tuesday, December 31) New Year's Day (Wednesday, January 1) Kwanzaa Ends (Wednesday, January 1) World Braille Day (Saturday, January 4) Fact of the Day: V is the only letter in the English language that is never silent. Quote of the Day: Whether you think you can or you think you can't-- you're right. (Henry Ford) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Linchpin (noun, LINCH-pin) - Linchpin , sometimes spelled lynchpin , literally refers to a locking pin inserted crosswise, as at the end of an axle or shaft. In figurative use, linchpin refers to a person or thing that serves to hold together parts or elements that exist or function as a unit; such a linchpin is often understood as the most important part of a complex situation or system. In a Sentence: Investors are betting that the new product line will be the linchpin that secures the company's place in the very competitive market in the years and decades to come.

At least 151 people are dead after a devastating plane crash in South Korea, and has already become the worst-ever aviation disaster to take place within the country. Jeju Air Flight 2216 was a Boeing 737-800 traveling from Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, and was carrying 175 passengers and 6 crewmembers. Jeju Air is South Korea's largest low-cost airline, but it has a strong safety record. The incident took place at Muan International Airport in the province of South Jeolla, which is located in the southwest corner of South Korea. As the flight arrived around 9 am local time, it slid down the runway as it touched down with immense speed. The plane proceeded to skid off the runway before crashing into a wall, where it exploded in a massive fireball. Much of the remaining debris was lit ablaze, leaving a massive pile of burning metal and smoke across the area. The only part of the plane left intact was the tail area, which holds the black boxes. Reports have confirmed that while the fire has been extinguished, the area still smells of smoke and blood. Only two people have been confirmed to have survived the devastating crash, both crewmembers who were rescued from the tail section of the plane. Every passenger onboard was South Korean, apart from two Thai nationals. Everyone who has not been found is presumed dead, and the death toll has slowly been rising since the crash as more bodies are recovered. Unfortunately, the current death toll means that the incident is already the worst-ever aviation disaster on South Korean soil-- until now, the worst aviation disaster to take place within the country's borders was an Air China crash in 2002 which killed 129 people. Preliminary investigations suggest that the cause of the crash may have been a bird strike. In fact, the control tower at Muan International Airport sent out a bird warning just minutes before the pilot of the flight began a mayday call on the radio. However, not much information has been publicized about the incident, and authorities are looking to keep the investigation under wraps until a confirmed cause has been determined. Video footage of the aircraft on the runway showed that the plane was without landing gear, suggesting that there may have been a malfunction due to the possible bird strike. Authorities have not determined, though, whether the gear came off upon landing or if it was never there in the first place. Officials have stated that the crash landing attempt may have been due to severe weather, but skies around the airport were clear on the morning of the crash. This has puzzled investigators. While Boeing has experienced some issues in the past, the 737-800 is one of the world's most reliable planes. Unlike its problem-plagued successor, the 737 MAX, the 737-800 is extremely safe, and over 4,200 are in service around the world. In addition to this, weather was perfect during the incident, meaning that the cause must have been some sort of internal issue. As of right now, one of the black boxes has been recovered, but local officials are still sifting through the debris for the other one. Black boxes are crucial to an investigation, as they record essential data about the flight along with audio recordings of the cockpit. Currently, the flight data black box has been found, but the cockpit voice recorder has yet to be discovered. Over 1,500 people from the South Korean police, fire department, military, and coast guard are working to find the second black box while searching for any bodies, but they are also aiding in the investigation. Jeju Air has offered their condolences to the families impacted by the crash, but the recovery of the second black box and the investigation to determine the definitive cause could take some time. In the meantime, officials are working to find and identify the bodies from the crash, which will bring peace to relatives and friends and help them come to terms with the shock and trauma they will be facing. Fact of the Day: Surprisingly, the city in the United States with the highest percentage of immigrants is in Florida. Hialeah, Florida, has the highest percentage of residents who are immigrants-- a staggering 74.4% of the city's population of approximately 220,000 people. Quote of the Day: Jobs fill your pockets, but adventures fill your soul. (Jaime Lyn) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Condone (verb, kun-DOHN) - To condone something that is considered wrong is to forgive or approve it, or to allow it to continue. In a Sentence: We cannot condone that kind of behavior.

US President-elect Trump threatened to take control of the Panama Canal recently, a territory the country lost to Panama 25 years ago. Trump made the threat during an event called AmericaFest. The event was organized by the non-profit Turning Point USA, a conservative group focused on urging conservative policies. Trump accused Panama of demanding too much payment for using the canal. A day earlier, he posted the same threat and accusation on the social media website Truth Social, which Trump currently owns a majority of. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino defended his country's sovereignty over the canal through a recorded statement on X, saying that Panama's independence is unchangeable. The United States originally built the canal in 1914, and it administered the surrounding area from 1903 to 1979. A 22-year transition period took place, and Panama officially gained control over the Canal Zone in 1999. 2.5% of the global seaborne trade goes through the canal and is vital to the importation of automobiles by the US. The canal is also crucial for the transport of commercial goods from Asia and American exports of commodities like natural gas. Trump also claimed that Chinese soldiers were secretly operating the canal and "always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in 'repair' money but will have absolutely nothing to say about 'anything.'" Mulino has stated that there are no Chinese soldiers present in the canal. However, a subsidiary of Hongkongese company CK Hutchinson operates 2 ports, one at the canal's Caribbean entrance and one at the canal's Pacific entrance. (Hongkongese means someone/something from Hong Kong). The president-elect's comments suggest a shift in US diplomacy, where tactics will include threatening allies and using aggressive oratory. Fact of the Day: Trump's foreign policy was characterized by a shift towards "America First" principles, questioning traditional alliances and trade agreements. He renegotiated NAFTA, resulting in the USMCA, took a hard stance on China with tariffs, and engaged directly with North Korea's leader. His approach was often unilateral, prioritizing American interests in a way that sometimes strained relationships with allies. Quote of the Day: Sometimes by losing a battle you find a new way to win the war. (Donald Trump) Word of the Day (Vocabulary.com): Sapience (noun, SAY-pee-ens) - Sapience is the quality of being wise, or wisdom. When voters are choosing a candidate, they usually hope for one with at least a degree of sapience . In a Sentence: Many people believe that when we grow older, our sapience also increases as we gain experience and knowledge.