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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.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party has officially declared peace with the government after their imprisoned leader recently called for a ceasefire, bringing a sense of calm to a region that has experienced conflict for decades. The Kurds are an ethnic group situated in the mountainous region of Kurdistan, which is spread out across southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northern Syria, and northwestern Iran. The Kurds have had conflict with Turkey for centuries as they attempt to create their own independent nation, but the more recent fighting has taken a large toll on both sides. In 1978, the fighting restarted after a lull, with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leading the way. The PKK fought hard for an independent state, launching attacks on Turkish military and police. Since 1984, at least 37,000 people have been killed in the conflict. In 1999, the party's leader, Abdullah Öcalan, was captured in Nairobi, Kenya. He was quickly placed into solitary confinement on Imrali island in the Sea of Marmara for leading , where he still sits today. Several days ago, Öcalan made an announcement from his prison, calling on the PKK to end their yearslong fight for an independent state and make peace with the Turkish government. He instructed the group to lay down their weapons and dissolve the organization, but many people were unsure whether the group would obey him. Read more about his initial announcement here . Incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been trying to appease the Kurds for some time now, as he requires their support in Parliament. Currently, Turkish law only permits a president to run for office twice, but Parliament can change that using an amendment to their constitution. Erdogan has been trying to do this to enable himself to run for president again in 2028, but he needs the support of several pro-Kurdish parties to reach the two-thirds majority that is needed. Now, the PKK has agreed to end their fight, bringing peace to the region and praise for Erdogan. In addition, Öcalan will be freed from his prison, ending his 25-year tenure, in return for telling the Kurds to put a stop to the violence. The Kurds and the Turks have been at war for decades, and this decision may finally bring the divided people of Anatolia together. Nevertheless, many people believe that the ceasefire may not last. Several have pointed out how not all members of the PKK may agree with the dissolution of the party, which could lead to the formation of a new, more radical group. Furthermore, the PKK has multiple allies in Syria, such as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who are currently adjusting to the new governmental situation over there and may not agree with Öcalan's views. Additionally, a similar situation to this occurred over a decade ago. In 2013, Turkey began attempting to make peace with the PKK, and Öcalan made a call for the dissolution of the party in 2015. However, the fighting resumed just months later, proving that the situation in Turkey is still extremely fragile. Upcoming Events: World Wildlife Day (Monday, March 3) International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness (Wednesday, March 5) International Women's Day (Saturday, March 8) Special Olympics Winter World Games Begin (Saturday, March 8) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Many turtles snack on jellyfish. Apparently a relatively nutritious snack, jellyfish can be prey to young green sea turtles. However, as they age, green sea turtles become more herbivorous and stray away from eating just anything. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Thoughts will lead you in circles. Silence will bring you back to your centre. (Rasheed Ogunlaru) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Transpire (verb, tran-SPYRE) - Transpire is a formal verb that means “to happen,” or in other words “to take place or occur.” It can also mean “to come to light” or “to become known,” as in “It transpired that they had met previously.” In botany, to transpire is to give off or exude watery vapor especially from the surfaces of leaves. In a Sentence: The monument will ensure that posterity will not soon forget the historic events that transpired on that day.

Israel has approved a new proposal for an extension of their ceasefire with Hamas, which expired yesterday. The proposal was drafted by United States envoy Steve Witkoff and would last for another six weeks, keeping the peace in Israel and Gaza across Ramadan and Passover celebrations for Muslim and Jewish citizens, respectively. According to the plan, half of all hostages in Gaza would be released at the beginning of the ceasefire, but the rest of the hostages would not be sent back unless a permanent agreement is made. The deal would also allow both sides to negotiate for an additional six weeks on the next phase of their original ceasefire agreement, which began on January 19. The Israeli government quickly convened for a four-hour meeting before confirming their support for the deal, but Hamas has refused to agree. Hamas stated that they require a guarantee that a second phase will take place, but the United States has maintained that Israel can return to fighting if negotiations end up unsuccessful. The original deal began on January 19 and was slated to have three phases. The first phase consisted of a six-week ceasefire that secured the release of 33 hostages, but the second phase was supposed to be negotiated during the first phase. However, due to tensions between Israel and Hamas in recent weeks, negotiations are still getting off the ground, and there was no chance of approving a second phase before the end of the first six weeks. If Hamas continues to refuse the United States' proposal, the situation could break down into fighting once more, as Hamas seems intent on keeping their current position of power over Gaza. Nonetheless, if they accept, it would guarantee peace across the region throughout a holy time for major religions on both sides and allow them to conduct further negotiations on a longer, possibly even permanent ceasefire deal. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Goats have a very high emotional intelligence. Research shows that goats are very socially aware of the environment they’re in, and they can actually tell whether other goats are happy or sad by listening to their voices. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): At the end of a marathon, it’s going to hurt whether you’re speeding up or slowing down. You may as well push. (Summer Sanders) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Factoid (noun, FAK-toyd) - A factoid is a brief and usually unimportant or trivial fact. Factoid may also refer to an invented fact believed to be true because it appears in print. In a Sentence: The book is really just a collection of interesting factoids .

Businesses and roads across Greece were shut down yesterday after hundreds of thousands of people protested across the country against the government's lack of action regarding a train crash from two years ago. On February 28, 2023, a passenger train collided head-on with a freight train in eastern Greece, just south of Mount Olympus between Athens and Thessaloniki. The two trains had been traveling on the same railway track due to errors made by train station masters and electrical issues, and they crashed into each other near the town of Tempi. The first four cars of the passenger train were derailed and the two cars at the front were destroyed completely. There were 342 passengers onboard the passenger train along with 10 crewmembers, and two additional staff members were aboard the freight train. 57 people were killed in the crash, making it Greece's deadliest-ever train crash, and over 85 others were injured. Investigations following the crash yielded several conclusions, with the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) confirming that the ensuing explosion was due to large amounts of silicone oils aboard the freight train. However, expert reviews stated that it was most likely due to the presence of certain chemical solvents on the train, which would have been placed there illegally. In addition, audio recordings of passengers onboard the train during their emergency calls show them declaring that they had a lack of oxygen. Chemical solvents would have been the likely cause of this issue, specifically aromatic hydrocarbons like xylene and toluene, further backing up the people's case. Other reports confirmed that many of the electronics across the Athens-Thessaloniki line are dysfunctional, and the required funds to fix and update the equipment have not been supplied. These conclusions led to massive protests across Greece in the following weeks, accusing the government of avoiding the assumption of responsibility of the crash and trying to cover up the true cause, with the combined turnout of the protests arriving at a staggering 2.5 million people. Now, this year, on the second anniversary of the crash, protests broke out once again. This year's protests stretched far and wide, with every sector experiencing major problems. Everyone from pilots to doctors to lawyers went on strike for a 24-hour period, bringing all business to a halt. Transportation was also stopped, with all flights, trains, and ferries canceled for the day. Estimates place the total turnout at around 180,000 people in Athens alone, with numerous prominent slogans on banners such as "I have no oxygen," the passengers' words during their call to emergency services, and "Text me when you get there," the last message that many parents sent to their children before the crash. While the protests began as nonviolent, multiple violent riots occurred later in the afternoon, leading to the arrests of 41 people. The protests continue to accuse the government of trying to cover up the incident and refusing to upgrade safety standards when it comes to the country's railway system. Over the past several years, minimal action has been taken, with few upgrades to safety or management of the Athens-Thessaloniki line, and a court case has remained stagnant for some time. Additionally, nobody has been detained, despite calls from thousands of people to arrest the allegedly corrupt government officials who they claim are behind the entire crash. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): C is the most common key used in pop songs. A man analyzed 1,300 songs from the Top 100 charts in pursuit of patterns and discovered that the most common key in music is C, with 26% of the 1,300 songs. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration, and inspiration. (Evan Esar) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cryptic (adj, KRIP-tik) - Something described as cryptic has or seems to have a hidden meaning, or is difficult to understand. In a Sentence: The singer posted a cryptic message on her social media accounts, and fans raced to decipher it.

A decades-long conflict between the Kurdish people and Turkey could be coming to an end after an imprisoned leader of the group confirmed that their rebel organization should be dissolved. The Kurds are an ethnic group situated in the mountainous region of Kurdistan, which is spread out across southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, northern Syria, and northwestern Iran. The Kurds have had conflict with Turkey for centuries as they attempt to create their own independent nation, but the more recent fighting has taken a large toll on both sides. After decades of intense fighting, the government took major steps against the Kurds in 1937. Villages were destroyed and hundreds of people were deported to other countries, and the entire area was put under the control of the military. Kurdish as a language was banned completely and the words "Kurds" and "Kurdistan" were removed from the dictionary. However, in 1978, the fighting restarted, with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leading the way. The PKK fought hard for an independent state, launching attacks on Turkish military and police. Since 1984, at least 37,000 people have been killed in the conflict. The PKK was led into this fighting in 1984 by their leader, Abdullah Öcalan, who founded the party in 1978. He served as the chief of the organization for over 20 years and operated out of Syria until he was forced to leave in 1998. Öcalan proceeded to visit several different countries searching for a solution to benefit the Kurds, but he was almost arrested multiple times. Then, once he arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, he was kidnapped and brought back to Turkey, where he was imprisoned. While Öcalan was supposed to serve the death penalty, it was soon abolished in Turkey, and his sentence was changed to life imprisonment in solitary confinement. This is where he stands today, alone at the Imrali island in the Sea of Marmara. However, recently, from his cell, Öcalan called on the PKK to stop the fighting. Throughout his confinement, he had always been confident of finding some sort of political solution, but he has instructed the group to lay down their weapons and dissolve the organization. Nevertheless, many people are unsure whether the conflict will really come to an end. The Kurds and Turks have been at war for centuries, so both sides will need to make a conscious effort to bring peace to the region. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Viruses are not considered living things by biologists. They are not made up of cells and do not create their own energy, so they are considered nonliving. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Many eyes go through the meadow, but few see the flowers in it. (Ralph Waldo Emerson) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Doff (verb, DAHF) - To doff a hat or other piece of clothing is to take it off. In a Sentence: They doffed their coats when they came inside the house.

Hamas has handed over the remains of four additional hostages as Israel begins to release Palestinian prisoners, and it will be the last exchange before the end of the first phase of the ceasefire deal. As the agreement's negotiated 42-day deal came to a close, Hamas made good on their promises and returned the bodies of four deceased hostages, who ranged in age from 49-85 when they were taken from their homes on October 7, 2023. The bodies were given to the Israeli military in coffins, with Israel taking the bodies straight to forensic testing labs. Earlier this week, a major incident led to an increase in tension between the two sides and resulted in forensic testing on all hostage bodies. Hamas was instructed to send back the bodies of four more hostages, and three of the four were part of the Bibas family. The mother, Shiri Bibas, was supposedly sent back, but testing revealed that the b ody belonged to a Palestinian woman killed during the war. Hamas eventually sent back the correct body, but the incident sparked outrage across Israel. Due to this, Israel withheld the release of the hundreds of Palestinian prisoners that were scheduled to be exchanged for the four bodies. Read more about the initial incident here . Now, Hamas has handed over the next four bodies, and Israel's testing has verified that they are, in fact, deceased hostages. Israel began by simply releasing several dozen prisoners, but the rest were sent back to Gaza after the bodies' identities were confirmed. In addition, another major change was that Hamas did not have a release ceremony for the latest exchange. For previous releases, troops heavily equipped with weapons stood around the stage which the hostages were being transferred on, and the hostages were forced to thank Hamas members before departing for the Red Cross buses. The ceremonies were meant to portray Hamas as strong and display their power, but Israel bristled at the idea. This gave Israel another reason to hold back over 620 Palestinian prisoners scheduled to be sent back after the exchange including Shiri Bibas, but the prisoners were finally exchanged after the ceremonies came to an end. This happens to be the final exchange of the negotiated six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, meaning that their truce has come to a close. While both sides repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire agreement, it managed to hold together. Nevertheless, the two sides were slated to begin negotiating the second phase several weeks ago, but mediators seem ready to move ahead. While Hamas recently confirmed that they are willing to negotiate, Israel has not made any statements regarding talks yet. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): American men spend more time doing leisurely activities than American women. In 2023, American men spent 5.6 hours a day on leisure and sports, while women spent just 4.8 hours-- and this has appeared as a consistent trend over the last several years. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If you want to achieve excellence, you must refuse to let anything stand in the way of your potential. (Sai Pradeep) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Ignoramus (noun, ig-nuh-RAY-mus) - An ignoramus is an utterly ignorant or stupid person. In a Sentence: I can't believe they let an ignoramus like that run the company.

Chile has declared a state of emergency after a massive power outage cut electricity to most of the country, including the capital of Santiago. The incident occurred on Tuesday and knocked out power across the country, affecting over 8 million homes across 14 out of Chile's 16 regions. The blackout lasted for hours, and only around half of all homes have received electricity again. The National Electric Coordinator, or CEN, of Chile is a company that manages the electrical grid. The grid, named the National Electric System, provides power to around 97% of Chileans. The CEN stated that a high-voltage transmission line between the Atacama Desert and the capital of Santiago had experienced an issue, leading to the blackout. However, they are still investigating the cause of the incident. Meanwhile, several measures were taken to prevent the country from breaking down into chaos during the power outage. A state of emergency was quickly declared, a curfew was established in some areas, and local forces were sent into the streets to direct traffic. Thankfully, hospitals and government facilities have been running on backup generators, but millions of homes and businesses are still out of power. The world's largest copper mine, Escondida, located in the Atacama Desert, is also out of power. Officials are racing to restore electricity to the country, but it may take time. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Corn, rice, and wheat act as staple foods for around 80% of the world's population, and they provide around two-thirds of the global population's food energy intake. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Emotions are celebrated and repressed, analyzed and medicated, adored and ignored — but rarely, if ever, are they honored. (Karla McLaren) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Superfluous (adj, soo-PER-floo-us) - Superfluous is a formal word used to describe things that exceed what is necessary or sufficient, or that are simply not needed. In a Sentence: Further discussion seems superfluous , given the thorough conversation we just had.