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Dozens of people were killed after a train carrying hundreds of people was hijacked in Pakistan yesterday, leading to an intense rescue operation that saved almost 350 people. The incident occurred in the Pakistani province of Balochistan, a large province covering the southwest corner of the country, and the attack was carried out by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a rebel group looking to achieve independence for Balochistan. The BLA has been around for quite some time now, and they have executed multiple dangerous, deadly plans that have killed dozens of people over the past few years. The BLA opposes many decisions that the Pakistani government has made, specifically several major decisions that have grown their relations with China, and they believe that the Baloch people are being used and deserve an independent state. China has recently made massive investments into what is known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which works to grow Pakistan's economy while providing China with a new trade route and easier access to the Middle East. One of the largest of these projects is the ongoing construction of the port of Gwadar, a city in Balochistan with a strategic location on the coast. However, many of the Baloch people maintain a stance against the Chinese government, leading to conflict in the region. In the latest attack, the BLA attacked the Jaffar Express, a long-distance train route traveling between the Balochi capital of Quetta and the city of Peshawar, which is located in the far north of the country. The group began firing rocket-propelled grenades and sprayed heavy gunfire onto several carriages, and while there were soldiers onboard to defend the train, they were greatly outnumbered by the BLA. Then, the BLA stormed onto the train and began to separate people by their ethnicity, immediately killing anyone from the province of Punjab. Anyone who tried to escape was shot at, and many were killed. However, several people managed to evade BLA forces and run to nearby towns, where Pakistani troops were already stationed. In the end, 26 passengers and the train driver were killed by the BLA, but Pakistani forces managed to kill all 33 BLA militants involved in the hijacking. Nevertheless, Pakistani officials have referred to this attack as a wake-up call for their nation to address the growing threat of the BLA in the southwest. While Balochistan makes up 44% of Pakistan's total land area, it contains only 6 to 7% of its population, and much of the province's population has been stricken by serious poverty. In addition, growing Chinese influence in the region has further displeased the BLA, leading to a sharp increase in attacks over the past few years. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): There is a type of predatory fish known as a snakehead fish, which can get up out of the water and walk over a quarter of a mile. They have both gills and an organ located in their “gill arches” that permits them to breathe oxygen, and they can weigh up to 14 pounds. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled. (Plutarch) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Multifarious (adj, mul-tuh-FAIR-ee-us) - Something described as multifarious has great diversity or variety, or is made up of many and various kinds of things. Multifarious is a formal word and a synonym of diverse. In a Sentence: He participated in multifarious activities throughout college.

The United States and Ukraine have reached a major ceasefire deal, which could bring some temporary peace to a region ravaged by war over the past three years. The United States has been working to broker a deal between Ukraine and Russia for some time now, but Europe was being shut out of negotiations. They believed that the US would create a deal favoring Russia due to President Donald Trump's closeness with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but those suspicions have proved incorrect. Yesterday, the US and Ukraine met for talks in Jeddah, a port city on the west coast of Saudi Arabia. Throughout recent wars, Saudi Arabia has served as a neutral ground for negotiations, as it is neither inclined to support Ukraine nor Russia. The two countries agreed on a 30-day ceasefire deal that could be extended if both parties agree. This agreement would see Ukraine and Russia take one month to engage in formal talks on a permanent ceasefire, and this period would also allow citizens in war zones to recover and escape. The United States has provided the most aid and weapons to Ukraine of any country over the past three years. Due to this, Ukraine needs the United States as an ally to keep going in this war, which is why they have followed Trump and his negotiations despite renewed support from Europe. Since Ukraine has agreed to the proposal, the United States has resumed military aid supplies and the sharing of important information with Ukraine, which was banned several weeks ago by Trump. The United States has also confirmed that Ukraine has now made a commitment to peace, proving that they are not in this just for the war. However, the deal still has to be brought to Russia. Several Russian officials have expressed displeasure towards the proposal, claiming that it just gives Ukraine more time to rest and come back stronger into the war. The Kremlin, though, has maintained that they are willing to speak further with the United States government. Previously, though, Russia has maintained that they are ready to work on a ceasefire on two main conditions. Firstly, they need Ukraine to drop their bid to join NATO, and second, they will be able to keep all of the territory they have gained in the war so far. It is still unknown whether Russia will accept or decline the ceasefire agreement, but official negotiations between them and the United States will begin later this week. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The average American believes that they are smarter than the average American. According to a recent poll, 55% of people polled said they thought they were smarter than the average American. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): You don’t have to be larger than life to be a hero, just larger than yourself. (Mitt Romney) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Quark (noun, KWORK) - Quark is a word used in physics to refer to any one of several types of very small particles that make up matter. In a Sentence: Quarks , which combine together to form protons and neutrons, come in six types, or flavors : up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom.

Oil is now leaking into the North Sea after a Portuguese container ship hit a United States-flagged oil tanker in a major collision yesterday, and both ships suffered serious damage and were set ablaze after the incident. The Stena Immaculate, belonging to the United States military, was anchored in the North Sea yesterday morning carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel when the Portuguese-flagged Solong slammed into it, leading to severe damage on both vessels. A massive fire quickly erupted across the scene, with one of the ships being completely swallowed in flames before the British Coast Guard and other organizations stepped in to help. The crew immediately left the ships and escaped the potentially dangerous area, with the help of local authorities. In total, 36 people made it out of the incident, while one member of the Solong is still missing. However, searches proved unsuccessful, and they recently confirmed that the search for the man has ended. Now, the Stena Immaculate is leaking jet fuel into the ocean, while the Solong happened to be carrying a toxic chemical that could also prove deadly. Experts have confirmed that while jet fuel is not as bad as crude oil, which is thicker and heavier, it still poses a major risk to the environment. Marine life can swim through this jet fuel or worse, swallow it, killing off scores of animals, and the flaming jet fuel on the surface of the water is emitting thick, black smoke into the air. Meanwhile, the Solong was carrying primarily alcohol, but it also had 15 containers of a toxic chemical known as sodium cyanide onboard. Sodium cyanide is a chemical used in many industrial processes like mining, but it is extremely deadly. When it comes into contact with acids, water, or carbon dioxide, sodium cyanide turns into hydrogen cyanide, a dangerous gas that also happens to be highly flammable, and inhalation of hydrogen cyanide can result in death in mere minutes. Nevertheless, authorities still do not know whether the chemical even leaked into the ocean, nor have they have established a number for an estimate of how much jet fuel has entered the sea. Due to the fuel, though, the fires onboard the ships are still burning despite strong efforts from authorities. As of right now, the greatest concern is the environmental damage that could be done by the incident, as the arrival of jet fuel in the ocean could kill off hundreds or even thousands of fish, seals, and other local marine life. Ships with booms, or floating barriers that stop oil from spreading, have been sent to the area, and several planes that are able to spray a dispersant onto the fuel. These dispersants break the oil down into much smaller particles, making the oil easier to dissolve into the water. In addition, authorities have also been looking at the cause of the incident, which is still unknown. The US-flagged ship had been anchored around 10 miles off the coast of the United Kingdom while it waited to be accepted at a nearby port, while the Solong was en route from Grangemouth, Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands when the collision occurred. Some suspect that heavy fog may have played a role, but speculation is being avoided by authorities and experts alike. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The average American uses around three rolls of toilet paper per week-- an excessive amount that is destroying Earth's forests. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I believe that life is a process of continuous change and a constant struggle to make that change one for the better. (Lee Kuan Yew) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Wend (verb, WEND) - Wend is a literary word that means “to move slowly from one place to another usually by a winding or indirect course”; wending is traveling or proceeding on one’s way in such a manner. In a Sentence: Hikers wend along the marked trails to the top of the mountain, which provides a panoramic view of the area towns.

Over 200 people have been killed in a clash between Syria's new government and supporters of Assad, the dictator who ruled the country for the last 25 years whose government was recently overthrown. In 2000, Bashar al-Assad took power from his father, but a civil war began in 2011 after years of uprisings. During the 13-year war, different factions took power over different parts of the country, with Assad maintaining control over the main part of Syria that included the major cities of Aleppo and the capital, Damascus. However, in December, a group known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham stormed Aleppo before taking over Damascus, kicking out Assad and his government. The group then took control of the country, replacing Assad's dictatorship and beginning their attempt to rebuild the country's democracy. This new government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, has confirmed that they are hoping to unite the country, which has been divided for 14 years. Earlier this week, officials from the new Syrian government were in the small town of Jableh, located on the country's small Mediterranean coast, when they were attacked by supporters of Assad. While Assad has already fled the country for Russia, he still maintains a significant following of supporters within Syria. Many of these supporters are located on the coast, leading the new government to pay more attention to the area. Due to this, forces stormed into several coastal towns over the past few days, killing hundreds of men. One man reported that they had killed every man they saw, but no women were killed in the attacks. However, the government has stated that these forces do not belong to them-- instead, they are independent individuals who have taken action out of support for the new government. Ahmed al-Sharaa has instructed supporters of Assad to hand over all of their weapons, but he has also urged his own armed supporters to avoid clashing with others. He has stated that they must not stoop down to the level of Assad's supporters, but instead stay nonviolent and ignore their provocations, which will just make the situation worse. Other officials have backed this, as they believe that more violence could escalate into another civil war, which would go against their collective goal of uniting the country. Upcoming Events: International Day of Women Judges (Monday, March 10) Holi (Friday, March 14) International Day to Combat Islamophobia (Saturday, March 15) Special Olympics World Winter Games End (Sunday, March 16) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Have you ever wondered why you feel sedated after a large meal? Well, most foods have carbohydrates, and carbs contain an amino acid called tryptophan that can cause sleepiness. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Read not only between the lines, but also what is not written. (Vijay Kedia) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Imperturbable (noun, im-per-TUR-buh-bul) - Imperturbable describes someone or something marked by extreme calm; such a person or thing is very hard to disturb or upset. In a Sentence: The imperturbable captain did not panic when the boat sailed into the path of a violent storm.

Cyclone Alfred has now disintegrated into a group of strong storms, but it has done significant damage to Australia's eastern coast and is continuing to dump rain over the area. Alfred began as a tropical cyclone in the waters northeast of the state of Queensland, and it quickly moved south while slowly strengthening in the warm waters off the coast. Then, the storm took a sharp turn to the west, making landfall near Brisbane yesterday. Brisbane, a major Australian city of around 2.7 million people and the capital of Queensland, rarely experiences storms like this due to its low latitude. However, Alfred brought strong winds when it approached the coast, and the slow-moving storm has flooded the entire region with heavy rain. Large storm surge was also reported, with waves of over 40 feet arriving on some beaches. Thankfully, the winds weakened before landfall, but the damage done by water was still an issue. Alfred was expected to become the first cyclone since 1974 to make landfall in southeastern Queensland, but it weakened to a tropical low before reaching the coast. In addition, while it was initially expected to arrive near Brisbane, its track slightly shifted to bring the worst conditions to Gold Coast, an area farther from the city. At least one person was killed after being swept away by floods, and 13 members of the military were injured after a car crash when they were attempting to reach areas in need of help. In total, over 300,000 homes and businesses are out of power, as winds and floods have wrecked power lines and felled trees. Over 1,000 schools have been shut down, all public transport has been stopped, and air travel in the region has also been halted. Unfortunately, cleanup and recovery operations will not be able to begin for several days-- despite the breaking up of the storm, the remnants of Alfred continue to dump heavy rain over the area. Cyclones in regions this far south are extremely rare-- the area hit by Alfred has not experienced a cyclone warning since 1990 due to its position south of generally warm waters. However, as climate change worsens, natural disasters and extreme weather events like this will continue to become more frequent as waters warm, creating stronger, deadlier storms in areas currently unprepared for them. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Startlingly, around 25% of the American population believes that the Sun revolves around the Earth, according to a 2012 study that surveyed over 2,200 people. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one. (Malcolm Forbes) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Gregarious (adj, grih-GAIR-ee-us) - Gregarious is used to describe someone who enjoys the company of other people. In a Sentence: Justin’s gregarious personality made it easy for him to get to know people at the networking event.

Europe has successfully launched a French spy satellite into space aboard their brand-new Ariane 6 rocket after years of delays. Europe has been planning to build a rocket capable of competing with US-made rockets for years, but their plans never came together until recently. The European Space Agency (ESA) initiated the process, but the ideas were executed by ArianeGroup. ArianeGroup is a joint venture between Airbus and Safran, two European aerospace engineering companies, which is paid by the ESA to build rockets. Ariane 5, the group's previous rocket, was extremely successful, with over 110 launches. The heavy-lift rocket was recently retired, though, as Ariane 6 was in the works. Ariane 6 was first proposed in 2014 after increasing advancements on the American side of space innovation, but years of delays set the initial launch back several times from its original date in 2020. However, due to the setbacks, Europe has been left without a working rocket for missions for two years, as Ariane 5 was retired in 2023. While Ariane 6 began a test flight last July, it ended up leaving the upper stage of the rocket in the atmosphere after a glitch in the system. Nevertheless, this time around, Ariane 6 lifted off from the EU's launchpad in Kourou, French Guiana, yesterday afternoon. The rocket was successfully launched into space, where it released a French spy satellite by the name of CSO-3 into orbit. Europe believes that this could be the first step towards making more advancements in the space industry, which could bring them closer to competing with the likes of SpaceX and other private American companies. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The most used computer password is 123456, and "password" happens to rank relatively high on the list of most common passwords as well. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I have far less than what people think, but far more than I need. (Rakesh Jhunjhunwala) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Emolliant (noun, ih-MAHL-yunt) - An emollient is something, such as a lotion, that softens or soothes. In a Sentence: She keeps a number of oils in the bathroom—argan, almond, and coconut—to use as emollients .

Dozens were injured after a South Korean fighter jet accidentally bombed a village near the border with North Korea yesterday. Several South Korean fighter jets were conducting live-fire training drills with United States troops yesterday during a routine exercise when the mishap occurred. The jets flew over the town of Pocheon as they released their bombs, which were set to hit a firing range away from the city. However, at least one pilot seems to have entered the wrong coordinates into their system. Instead, several bombs were dropped onto an area known as Nogok, located on the outskirts of the city of Pocheon. Multiple buildings were destroyed, and dozens of people were injured-- at least four people needed surgery after the explosions. Windows were shattered, roof tiles were broken, walls were damaged, and some trees fell down as well. The city's mayor described the area as "chaotic" and stated that it "looks like a battlefield," truly giving perspective as to the amount of damage done during the bombing. The South Korean government quickly responded to the situation, promising compensation for the victims of the incident. They also halted all other live-fire drills until an investigation is complete, and investigators have promised transparency with the entire operation. Due to the location of Pocheon near the North Korean border, it is used frequently for training sessions, which many residents have been unhappy about due to other incidents involving stray bullets and other mishaps. However, these specific training drills are part of the lead-up to the Freedom Shield next week, which is a yearly event where the South Korean and American militaries train during 11 days of joint exercises. While many American troops are just beginning to arrive in South Korea for the event, there are already 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea to deter North Korean attacks, meaning that many drills repeat year-round. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): India has the highest percentage of vegetarians in the world, with around 38% of its population identifying as vegetarian. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Be like the lotus: trust in the light, grow through the dirt, believe in new beginnings. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Career (verb, kuh-REER) - To career is to go at top speed especially in a headlong manner. In a Sentence: The tourists gripped their seats and exchanged anxious looks as the bus careered along the narrow roads.

Cyclone Alfred is expected to slam into Australia's eastern coast tomorrow, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to a region that has not experienced a cyclone of this strength in decades. Cyclones are rare in Australia, apart from the northernmost regions of the country, and cyclones that form farther south rarely make landfall. However, Alfred is packing winds of over 60 mph as it slowly approaches eastern Australia. Alfred began as a tropical cyclone in the waters northeast of the state of Queensland, and it quickly moved south while slowly strengthening in the warm waters off the coast. Now, the storm has taken a sharp turn to the west, and it is projected to make landfall in the coming days. Unfortunately, Alfred has set its sights directly on Brisbane, a major Australian city of around 2.7 million people and the capital of Queensland. However, the cyclone will also affect the northeastern part of the state of New South Wales, bringing heavy rain to a region that is rarely hit by such storms. Cyclone Alfred is bringing strong winds of over 60 mph and gusts of up to 95 mph, along with heavy rain that is already sparking flooding across the Brisbane metropolitan area. It will also arrive with major storm surge, and the conditions are creating waves of up to 40 feet in some areas. Dangerous flooding is also possible in New South Wales, where several strong storms in the past few years have devastated communities. Creeks and rivers are likely to overflow, washing away homes, roads, and businesses. The storm's slow-moving speed will also allow it to dump more rain over Brisbane and its surrounding towns, exacerbating the flooding. Preparations are already being made, with people lining the exteriors of their homes with sandbags, and the government has closed hundreds of schools, several airports, and all public transportation. Some people have also chosen to leave temporarily, but no mandatory evacuations are in place. Cyclones in regions this far south are extremely uncommon-- the area has not experienced a cyclone warning since 1990, and Alfred will be the first cyclone to make landfall in southeastern Queensland since 1974. However, as climate change worsens, natural disasters and extreme weather events will continue to become more frequent as the world's climate changes. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The world's longest pizza was baked by a group of US-based companies and one Italian company-- over 250 chefs worked together to create a pizza over 1.15 miles long. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Wasting time is one of the worst faults of the world. Life is so short, every moment is so precious and yet, we live as if life will never end. (Franz Liszt) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Askew (adj, uh-SKYOO) - Askew means “not straight” or “at an angle,” and can be used as both an adjective and an adverb. In a Sentence: The picture on the cabin wall was slightly askew .

Protests across Belgrade ramped up yesterday after a lull, bringing violence and unrest back to Serbia's capital city as civilians and government officials alike fight against corruption in the government. In early November of 2024, the concrete roof of a train station in the northern town of Novi Sad collapsed, killing 15 people. The train station had recently undergone a major renovation, leading locals to believe that the work was made sloppy on purpose while officials pocketed the extra cash. Protests began almost instantly, with people taking to the streets with claims that the government was corrupt. Then, in January, demonstrations in Belgrade continued, with university students leading the way. The students led large crowds of people into the middle of highways, blocking traffic for 15 minutes to honor the 15 people killed in the incident. Following the January protests, Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vučević resigned from his post, but the protests continued-- they seem to be centered around targeting incumbent President Aleksandar Vučić and his government. Now, other lawmakers have joined into the protests, with the fight escalating within Parliament. During a session on Tuesday, just as Vučić's coalition was about to approve a major decision, the opposition party began a riot inside the Parliament building. Lawmakers got into fights with security guards while smoke bombs went off across the room, and tear gas was released into the area as well. Whistles and horns blew in a cacophony of noises as chaos erupted within the building, and protestors calmly marched past the building carrying banners and signs as usual. Protestors have become increasingly angry over the government's denial of any sort of corruption, and Vučić has also refused to respond to pressing questions with clearer answers. A lack of evidence has also led people to believe in a corruption scandal, and the demonstrations do not seem to be coming to an end. The next major protest is scheduled to take place on March 15 in Belgrade. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Mountain goats are actually not goats at all-- they are a species of antelope. Does that make them mountain goat-antelopes or mountain antelopes, though? Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): There is more to talking than just words. (Humphrey Bogart) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Schadenfreude (adj, SHAH-dun-froy-duh) - Schadenfreude refers to a feeling of enjoyment that comes from seeing or hearing about the troubles of other people. In a Sentence: Schadenfreude was felt by many viewers when the arrogant contestant was voted off the show.

United States President Donald Trump has confirmed that tariffs on Canada and Mexico have taken effect, just one month after he announced a delay on the tariffs. Back in early February, Trump signed multiple executive orders placing 25% tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China , scheduled to begin on February 4. Canada and Mexico were set to receive 25% tariffs, while China would receive a 10% tariff on all goods. In addition, several clauses within the executive orders permitted Trump to raise those tariffs by a certain amount if retaliation tariffs were implemented by the three countries. Trump believed that the tariffs were the only way to stop the dangerous illegal trade, where immigrants and drugs like fentanyl were being brought into the country illegally. Most of this illicit business travels through the three countries, and primarily Canada and Mexico as border countries of the US. He also believes that slapping tariffs on the two countries will demotivate companies from setting up their factories there, bringing business back to the United States. However, after much deliberation from the leaders of both countries, they both decided to take major action . Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to send over 10,000 Mexican troops to the border, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that Canada would soon begin implementing a $1.3 billion plan to stop illegal trade on the US border. Due to this, Trump agreed to suspend the tariffs and grant them a one month delay, but that delay has come to an end. Today marks one month since the agreement, and Trump has confirmed that there will be no further delays in the implementation of the tariffs. He also confirmed that the 10% tariff on China, which did take effect last month, has been doubled to 20% starting today. Canada has stated that they will place a retaliation tariff of 25% on certain American goods, but Mexico has not taken any action yet. Trump maintains that it will bring business back to the US, but stock markets took a plunge after the announcement. Many American consumers have begun to become concerned over a possible price hike due to the tariffs, and it could spark an all-out trade war between the countries of North America. Experts have backed this idea, establishing that tariffs will lead to a dramatic rise in prices across the board. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The fastest reptile is the leatherback sea turtle, clocking a maximum recorded speed of 21.92 mph. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If you don’t know where you’re from, you’ll have a hard time saying where you’re going. (Wendell Berry) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Draconian (adj, dray-KOH-nee-un) - Draconian describes something (often a law, policy, restriction, etc.) that is very severe or cruel. In a Sentence: The editorial criticizes the draconian measures being taken by city hall to rein in spending.