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Australia's Outback is in a mess after days of torrential rains, turning the desert into a lake the size of Texas. The flooding has primarily been in the province of Queensland, located on the northeast side of the Australian continent. The rain has been caused by a combination of factors, though it began from the remnants of Post-Tropical Cyclone Dianne last week. Over the last few days, rain has poured onto the Outback, full of wide plains and small hills, turning what was a desert into a massive lake. The record-breaking rain was the strongest to hit Queensland in over 50 years, flooding homes and wiping out power to thousands of people. In just four days, some areas of western Queensland received over four times their monthly average rainfall for March, and other areas surpassed their yearly precipitation averages during the same period of time. Several other towns, such as Winton, smashed their daily rainfall records-- Winton beat their previous record of 102 mm by 56 mm. Now, all of that water that fell is beginning to drain, as it is currently pooled in the usually-dry Outback. The water will slowly begin to flow into Lake Eyre, known as Kati Thanda by the locals, delivering nutrients from the water into the areas that it moves through. Scientists predict that this could be extremely beneficial for the local wildlife, who would receive a significant boost in food and nutrients following the movement of the water. However, this flooding is still unusual, and it has done major damage to the areas affected by it. Unfortunately, odd weather events like this will continue to become more and more common and increasingly prevalent as climate change persists, drastically changing weather patterns all over the world. Fact of the Day (Today): The Caesar salad was invented on July 4, 1924 by Italian immigrant Caesar Cardini at his restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened. (Dr. Seuss) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Benign (adj, bih-NYNE) - Benign describes something that does not cause harm or damage. In medical contexts it is used to describe something that does not threaten life or health (as in "a benign tumor"). Additional meanings include "mild and pleasant" (as in "benign weather conditions") and "showing kindness and gentleness" (as in "a benign outlook"). In a Sentence: The project required that we manage some inconvenient but ultimately benign conditions.

The death toll from the Myanmar earthquake has surpassed 3,100 people, and their military government has declared a temporary ceasefire in the country's civil war to allow residents to recover. In case you missed it, a deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit southeast Asia last Friday, with an epicenter near the town of Sagaing in central Myanmar. Unfortunately, the epicenter also happened to be quite close to a highly populated area-- the city of Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city with a population of 1.7 million people, is located just across the Irrawaddy River from Sagaing. Due to the quake's magnitude, its effects were spread across the region. While the epicenter was located near Sagaing, a large stretch of central Myanmar around the Sagaing Fault experienced severe shaking of similar intensity to the epicenter, including the capital city of Naypyidaw. Strong shaking also stretched into northern and southern Myanmar, the latter of which contains the country's largest city, Yangon, and the shaking also extended into neighboring countries like India, Bangladesh, China, and Thailand. Read more about the initial effects of the quake here . Due to Myanmar's unpreparedness for these sorts of scenarios, they were forced to call on other countries to send aid for their people. Read more about Myanmar's call for aid here . Myanmar is currently going through a civil war after the military overthrew the government in a 2021 coup, and intense fighting has persisted since then. However, the military has declared a temporary ceasefire until April 22 to allow people to recover from the quake. Despite the ceasefire, the United Nations claims that the military is halting aid from going to areas that do not support their government, and the UN is also investigating dozens of attacks by the military on opposition targets after the ceasefire was declared. Now, after over a week of search-and-rescue efforts, the death toll has risen to at least 3,145 people. Over 4,500 others are injured, and at least 200 people are still missing. Unfortunately, to add onto their problems, the monsoon season is coming up in around a month, with heavy rains expected. Those rains could flood the region that was just hit by the quake, exacerbating the effect as the impact of the two combine into a major disaster. Fact of the Day (Today): Silverback gorillas are extremely strong-- they can lift over 1,763 pounds. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): When you’re limited on parts and you have reliability issues, you don’t get the testing done. You need to really develop the car. (Rubens Barrichello) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Hew (verb, HYOO) - Hew is commonly used with to to mean "to conform to or adhere to (something)." Hew on its own has several meanings having to do with cutting or shaping with a sharp tool, such as an ax. Both hewed and hewn are past participles of hew . In a Sentence: The senator has always hewed closely to the party line.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has finally been impeached by the country's Supreme Court after a monthslong process following his declaration of martial law. Back in December, South Korea was plunged into chaos for a day after President Yoon declared martial law, putting the country under the control of the military for one day. Yoon stated that it was due to the danger of an incoming threat from their North Korean neighbors, who he claimed were plotting against him and his government. Outrage against Yoon followed, as martial law is similar to a temporary authoritarian rule. South Korea, having struggled with dictatorship in the past, has people who vividly remember those times, and the institution of martial law brought back many of those memories for older people. The order for martial law was quickly repealed after a vote by lawmakers, and President Yoon was urged to resign by opposition parties. Nevertheless, he refused to resign, and a motion to impeach him was sent to the National Assembly. While this motion failed by a mere five votes, another motion to impeach Yoon passed the threshold by 4 votes the following week. This all occurred back in December, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo began his term as interim president. However, he was also impeached, giving the position to Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, but Duck-soo was brought back into office later on. Despite these steps, Yoon had been only temporarily impeached until now. The final part of the impeachment of a South Korean president is that it must be approved by the Supreme Court of Korea, the country's top court. Then, earlier today, the court unanimously voted to impeach President Yoon, confirming that the National Assembly's attempt to dismiss him from office was justified. Yoon just needed three or more justices to take his side, but all eight of them voted against him. Now, South Korea will need to hold elections within the next 60 days, with Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the opposition, expected to be the candidate in front. Meanwhile, Yoon will not be able to return to his position as president, as South Korean presidents can only serve one term, and he is not permitted to run for any political position for the next five years. In addition, Yoon is also facing several criminal charges, as he has been accused of attempting to start an insurrection by imposing martial law upon the country. Since his impeachment does not affect those charges, he may still face fines or jail time if he is found guilty in criminal courts. Fact of the Day (Today): While it only receives 1/900th of the energy emitted by the Sun, Neptune has the fastest wind speeds in the solar system, reaching up to 1,500 mph. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. (Bernard M. Baruch) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Snark (noun, SNAHRK) - Snark is an informal word that refers to an attitude or expression of mocking irreverence and sarcasm. In a Sentence: The stand-up comedian’s set was full of snark about current events, which had the audience rolling in the aisles.

United States President Donald Trump has executed his Liberation Day plans, which involve a massive round of tariffs that have been slapped onto every single country that exports goods to the US. After placing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico earlier this year, Trump has now announced a sweeping round of additional tariffs on other countries. These levies, labeled "reciprocal tariffs," are Trump's way of punishing other countries for stealing money from the United States. He claims that the global trading system has been ripping America off for years, as other countries have found ways to charge the US various amounts of money. Now, in response, all countries will face a baseline tariff of 10%, but other countries will face additional tariffs as the "worst offenders." Countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore will only face 10% tariffs, as they have imposed minimal tariffs and other moneymaking sources like currency manipulation. Then, after some calculations by the White House, they found that many countries, considered the "worst offenders," have been charging America high amounts for years. In response to this, they will face additional tariffs-- countries facing higher tariffs include the European Union (20%), Japan (24%), India (26%), Thailand (36%), Vietnam (46%), and China (54%-- includes earlier tariffs). However, Trump claims that these tariff numbers are only half of the cheating his team has found, and that he was extremely kind with the percentages. Finally, the round of new orders also includes a 25% tariff on all vehicles made outside the United States as part of his attempt to bring manufacturing back into the country. Unfortunately, many economists fear that this could spark a global trade war, as some countries are already planning tariffs and other methods of retaliation. Meanwhile, US markets took a plunge after Trump broke the news, with almost all stocks sinking after hours yesterday. Fact of the Day (Today): The strongest bone in the body is the femur, or thighbone-- it can withstand up to 6,000 lbs of compressive force. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is. (Alan Watts) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Effusive (adj, ih-FYOO-siv) - Someone or something described as effusive is expressing or showing a lot of emotion or enthusiasm. In a Sentence: Jay positively glowed as effusive compliments on the meal echoed around the table.

At least 100 people have been injured after a massive gas fire erupted in Malaysia's capital city, and dozens of homes have been destroyed. The fire began around 8 am local time on a gas line in Putra Heights, a neighborhood outside of Kuala Lumpur, but quickly erupted into a giant blaze. Social media quickly blew up with images and videos of the fire, which reached over 20 stories tall at one point. Petronas, the company in charge of all oil and gas resources within Malaysia, reported that they knew about the fire, and the gas supply to the pipeline was later shut off. However, the flames did not subside for several hours. The enormous inferno could be seen from miles away, and it devastated the area around it as well. Dozens of homes were destroyed, dozens more were damaged, and hundreds of people were injured-- at least 145 people were hospitalized. Eventually, just before 3:00 in the afternoon, firefighters were able to get to the fire and begin to contain it, and the entire area around the gas line was evacuated as a precaution. Thankfully, no deaths have been reported from the incident, and Malaysian officials are now beginning an investigation into the fire and why it occurred. They have also confirmed that Petronas takes full responsibility for the blaze, and the government will be working with them to restore the area. The residents affected will also receive compensation for the problems caused by the incident. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): There were active volcanoes on the Moon when the dinosaurs were alive. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Anyone can have a good day, but you have to be able to perform on a bad day. (Jürgen Klopp) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cynosure (noun, SYE-nuh-shure) - A cynosure is a person or thing that attracts a lot of attention or interest. As a proper noun, Cynosure may refer to the North Star or its constellation Ursa Minor. In a Sentence: He was the cynosure of all eyes as he walked into the room.

French right-wing political leader Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzlement by an official court, preventing her from looking to take office for the next five years. Marine Le Pen is the leader of the far-right National Rally party, making her a prominent politician with a strong backing. In 2017 and 2022, Le Pen came second to incumbent President Emmanuel Macron, and her support has continued to grow since then. Because of this, the verdict after her trial in a French court was shocking-- the move is a massive game-changer for French politics. The courts ruled that she was guilty of embezzlement, and she will receive two years of house along with two years of suspension as punishment, in addition to the five-year ban from running for office. The chief judge of the court confirmed that in their findings, Le Pen and several other members of her party had been using European Union parliamentary funds to pay other staff, which is prohibited by EU law. This five-year ban most likely means that Le Pen will not be able to run in the 2027 French election, which flips French politics upside-down. Now that Macron is serving his second term, France needs a prominent leader to follow him, and Le Pen was thought to be that person. Le Pen is now appealing the decision, but it is unknown whether she will be able to fix her situation. Appeals in France can take years to get to court, meaning that she could still miss the 2027 election anyway. Additionally, the appeals court could choose to uphold the previous decision, making the effort a waste. Now, the effects of this decision will begin rippling across French politics, but exactly what those effects will be remains to be seen. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): There are now only two countries in the world where you cannot find Coca-Cola -- North Korea and Cuba -- and it is due to US trade embargoes on both countries. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Life is too short to waste time on things that don’t matter. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Penchant (adj, PEN-chunt) - Penchant refers to a strong liking for something, or a strong tendency to behave in a certain way. It is usually used with for . In a Sentence: My penchant for mathematics helped me become an engineer.

Eight medics have been killed by Israel strikes in Gaza after they purposely targeted ambulances, sparking from humanitarian organizations and the Red Cross. The attack took place in Rafah, a prominent border city in Gaza that has been the center for incoming aid. Officials have confirmed that the medics were actually killed over a week ago, but the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) was not allowed into the area to retrieve their bodies until yesterday. Reports from the area state that there was a convoy of vehicles which began moving towards Israeli troops, leading the troops to believe that they were "suspicious vehicles." After firing into the convoy and eliminating the vehicles, they later realized that some of them were ambulances and fire trucks carrying medics. Eight medics were killed, and one is still missing. However, Israel confirmed that the attack did manage to kill several Hamas-affiliated terrorists, and they claim that terrorists have previously used ambulances for nefarious purposes throughout the war. Nevertheless, international law guarantees the protection of rescue workers and medics, and their deaths have outraged the IFRC and other aid organizations. The IFRC called on both sides to "stop the killing," Hamas officials have also called out the attack, labeling it as a "flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions" and a "war crime," and the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) also released a message with a similar view. Unfortunately, an end to the war in the near future seems unlikely. After ceasefire negotiations failed earlier this month, Israel has continued their full-scale attacks on Gaza. Since March 18, they have already killed 921 people, bringing the total death toll of the war past 50,000. In addition, the IFRC has confirmed that a total of 30 aid volunteers and workers have been killed since the beginning of the war, reinforcing their claims of a violation of international law. Upcoming Events: World Autism Awareness Day (Tuesday, April 1) April Fools' Day (Tuesday, April 1) International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (Friday, April 4) International Day of Conscience (Saturday, April 5) Grand National Horse Race (Saturday, April 5) International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (Sunday, April 6) Rama Navami (Sunday, April 6) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): There’s a river in the Peruvian Amazon where water temperatures can actually cook unlucky animals that fall into the water. The river naturally boils as a geothermal feature, reaching temperatures of over 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Life is a balance between holding on and letting go. (Rumi) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Untoward (adj, un-TOH-erd) - Untoward is a formal word that describes something that is improper or inappropriate, or that is adverse or unfavorable. In a Sentence: The medication is safe and effective, with no known untoward side effects.

At least 1,600 people have been confirmed dead after the deadly Myanmar earthquake on Friday, but search-and-rescue efforts are still going in full force. In case you missed it, a deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit southeast Asia on Friday afternoon local time, with an epicenter near the town of Sagaing, located in the Sagaing Province. Unfortunately, the epicenter also happened to be quite close to a highly populated area-- the city of Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city with a population of 1.7 million people, is located just across the Irrawaddy River from Sagaing. Due to the quake's magnitude, its effects were spread far and wide. While the epicenter was located near Sagaing, a large stretch of central Myanmar around the Sagaing Fault experienced severe shaking of similar intensity to the epicenter, including the capital city of Naypyidaw. Strong shaking also stretched into northern and southern Myanmar, the latter of which contains the country's largest city, Yangon, and the shaking also extended into neighboring countries like India, Bangladesh, China, and Thailand. Read more about the initial effects of the quake here . Now, after over a day of search-and-rescue efforts, the death toll has risen to at least 1,640 people, with thousands of others injured. Unfortunately, because of Myanmar's situation in a civil war, emergency services are extremely disorganized and ill-prepared for a disaster of this size. Due to this, many people across the affected area have been forced to attempt to rescue people with just household tools or their bare hands. Also, authorities have reported that they are critically low on medical supplies, preventing them from treating the wounded. However, there is hope. After the collapse of an apartment building in Mandalay, a woman was rescued alive from the rubble after over 30 hours of being trapped. At least 90 people are thought to be still trapped inside, but rescuers are trying their best to get to the people buried under the rubble. Additionally, after the collapse of an under-construction apartment building in Bangkok, dozens of workers are missing. Despite the tough task, officials have brought in heavy machinery to move the rubble, and drones and sniffer dogs are searching the area for survivors. Also, after Myanmar's government sent out a call for aid, countries have already begun to send help. Rescuers have already arrived from Russia, China, Malaysia, and India to assist with the searches, and Russia and China have also sent supplies for the people affected by the quake. The United Nations has promised to give $5 million for aid, the United Kingdom has sent almost $13 million in supplies, and the European Union has pledged $2.7 million for Myanmar. President Donald Trump of the United States confirmed that they would also help, but they have not sent any aid yet. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Australia’s tectonic plate is moving so quickly that it requires updates to maps and GPS systems fairly regularly-- it moved almost 5 feet between 1994 and 2016. Some experts believe that in about 50 million years, Australia will collide with southeast Asia. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Sometimes the questions are complicated, and the answers are simple. (Dr. Seuss) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Elucidate (verb, ih-LOO-suh-dayt) - To elucidate something is to make it clear or easy to understand. In a Sentence: The writer elucidates complex medical findings for a general audience.

Over 700 people are dead after a massive earthquake struck Myanmar yesterday, with rippling effects across neighboring countries like China and Thailand as well. The earthquake struck near the town of Sagaing, located in the Sagaing Province, at 12:50 pm, and it had a recorded magnitude of 7.7. Unfortunately, the earthquake's epicenter happened to be extremely close to a highly populated area-- the city of Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city with a population of 1.7 million people, is located just across the Irrawaddy River from Sagaing. Several aftershocks were also recorded, including one of magnitude 6.7, and numerous others of magnitudes 3-5 have struck the region over the past day. Due to the quake's magnitude, its effects were spread far and wide. While the epicenter was located near Sagaing, a large stretch of central Myanmar around the Sagaing Fault experienced severe shaking of similar intensity to the epicenter, including the capital city of Naypyidaw. Strong shaking also stretched into northern and southern Myanmar, the latter of which contains the country's largest city, Yangon. Buildings came crumbling down as the shaking obliterated their foundations, and other infrastructure like roads and bridges were also quickly destroyed by the earthquake. Many of the buildings imploded after they lost support, leading to the belief that many people could still be trapped inside the rubble. So far, officials have reported almost 700 fatalities, and they expect the death toll to rise as more bodies are uncovered. However, the effects were not just limited to within the country. Shaking equivalent to around a 4.0 magnitude earthquake or greater was also felt across eastern Bangladesh, some parts of eastern India, and a large swath of northern Thailand. In Thailand's capital, Bangkok, the shaking was especially dangerous, as high-rises tower over the streets-- the megacity has a population of over 17.4 million people. Scary videos posted on social media showed water spilling off the edge of an infinity pool at the top of a skyscraper, while a 33-story, under-construction high-rise in the Chatuchak neighborhood came smashing down to the ground. While people tried to quickly flee the scene, authorities have confirmed that as many as 100 construction workers are still trapped inside the ruins of the building. Search-and-rescue operations are now kicking into high gear, with officials and volunteers swarming the streets and sifting through rubble to search for any survivors. India, the European Union, and the United States, among others, have confirmed that they are ready to supply aid if needed, which will likely be crucial to rescue efforts in hard-to-reach, rural areas affected by the quake. Additionally, Myanmar is currently experiencing a civil war, which has left the country with weak, unorganized emergency response teams that are unprepared to handle disasters of this size. Unfortunately, major earthquakes like this are common in Myanmar due to the location of the Sagaing Fault. While the Indian Plate meets the Eurasian Plate just west of Myanmar, there is also a smaller tectonic plate in between the two on the east side of India, which is known as the Burma Microplate. This microplate forms a fault line where it meets the Eurasian Plate-- the Sagaing Fault. This fault line runs straight down through the center of Myanmar, and it is notorious for producing major earthquakes. Between 1930 and 1956, in a span of just 26 years, six earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater were recorded, and another strong quake on the fault in 2016 had a magnitude of 6.8. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Vikings never wore horns on their helmets-- putting horns on Viking helmets was actually an idea created by a costume designer for an opera in the 19th century. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I don’t think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains. (Anne Frank) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Derelict (adj, DAIR-uh-likt) - Derelict is a formal word that describes something that is no longer cared for or used by anyone. It can also describe someone who is negligent or who fails to do what needs to be done. In a Sentence: The kids made sure to stay away from the spooky derelict houses in the neighborhood on Halloween.

The Australian elections are coming up in May-- let's take a look at the candidates, parties, and what issues will dominate the field in 2025. Australian elections take place every three years, with the incumbent Prime Minister making the call on the exact date of the next election. Elections are always held on Saturdays, but the incumbent party is always able to decide when the election will be-- usually, they choose a time that benefits them politically in some way. Another thing to note is that in Australia, citizens 18 and above are required by law to vote, leaving them with a true representation of the country's opinion. The frontrunner for this election is incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, leader of the Labor Party. The Labor Party is center-left, meaning that they lean slightly towards the liberal side. Also, Australia has no maximum tenure for a Prime Minister, meaning that parties often end up winning elections for many years in a row. However, if the Labor Party loses this election, they could become the first party in almost a century to have a prime minister in office for just one term. Meanwhile, his biggest opponents are the Liberal-National Coalition, a team of two right-wing parties that are working together to defeat Albanese. The Liberal National Party, as it is now called, was formed with the merger of the Liberal Party and the National Party in 2008, and they are led by Peter Dutton. Several major issues are sure to make the headlines during this year's elections, but the most important of them all is cost of living. Cost of living prices across Australia have skyrocketed over the past few years, with three cities making the top 10 most unaffordable cities in a recent study. Other issues include immigration, climate change, and crime. Albanese has promised to stimulate growth, denouncing Dutton's ideas and stating that he only had plans to cut. Albanese has promised additions to free healthcare, tax cuts, and to cut student debt. Meanwhile, Dutton has argued that Albanese has ruined the country over the last three years, and he plans to cut government spending, slow down immigration, and make energy cheaper for consumers. While these two parties are at the front, as of right now, it does not seem that either has enough support to win a majority-- parties need at least 76 of the Parliament's 150 seats to take power. In the scenario that neither party receives enough votes to win this majority, they would need to form a coalition with another party, such as the Green Party, to win the extra seats required. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Contrary to popular belief, gum does not sit in your stomach for seven years if ingested. Instead, the chewy base of gum, which is indigestible, goes straight through your digestive system and is excreted as waste. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Take a deep breath, relax and imagine yourself exactly as you wish to be. (Brian Tracy) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Archetype (noun, AHR-kih-type) - Archetype refers to someone or something that is seen to be a perfect example. It is also a word for the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies. In a Sentence: The college’s most popular philosophy professor is the archetype of the preoccupied academic, complete with the messy desk, disheveled hair, and brilliant theories.