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TikTok's appeal against a recently passed law has failed, meaning that the social media app is one step closer to being banned in the United States. TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is one of the most popular social media apps in the world. The platform has over 1 billion monthly users, around 1/8 of the global population, 170 million of which are in the United States. However, the United States has been taking steps towards phasing out TikTok. Earlier this year, the US Congress passed a law giving ByteDance nine months to sell TikTok before it was banned across the countries, which would have a major effect on the lives of Americans. The average adult in the US spends almost an hour a day on TikTok, and over half of the country's population uses it. From an economical perspective, the app provides a massive benefit to the US: 7 million small businesses use TikTok for advertising, and the app supports over 224,000 jobs in the country. Nevertheless, due to fears of spying by the Chinese government, the United States continued with the ban. Another company buying TikTok would be one of the least likely possibilities, as ByteDance is not willing to sell the platform and TikTok comes with a hefty price tag-- its parent company is valued at a staggering $225 billion. Another possibility would be the recreation of TikTok by an American company, but that is also highly unlikely. The platform utilizes a complex network of data processing centers, artificial intelligence, and other technical infrastructure that is extremely expensive and requires large amounts of space. This would make the replication of TikTok a long, costly, and tedious process that could require billions of dollars and take several years to develop. TikTok swiftly appealed the law, taking their case to a federal appeals court. They stated that the law heavily impeded upon the free speech of their 170 million American users, making it a violation of the 1st Amendment. The court made their decision yesterday, though, and they did not agree. They claimed that the ban " was part of a broader effort to counter a well-substantiated national security threat posed by the PRC (People's Republic of China)," upholding the ban. TikTok has confirmed that they will take their case to the Supreme Court, who they hope will view the issue a different way. However, there is also the impending arrival of Trump to consider. The law is set to take effect on January 19, one day before Trump is inaugurated as the next president of the United States. While Trump attempted to ban TikTok as part of his anti-China efforts in 2020, he promised during his campaign to block the TikTok ban if he was elected. Despite that pledge, he will also be battling against members of his own party, as numerous representatives and senators in both the Democratic and Republican parties support the efforts. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The largest one-day temperature hike ever recorded was in Loma, Montana, from January 14 to January 15 in 1972. On those days, the temps climbed from -54 degrees F to 49 degrees within 24 hours-- a 103-degree rise. Quote of the Day: Maturity is not when we start speaking big things, it is when we start understanding small things. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Ambigram (noun)- An ambigram is an image of a written word or phrase that is intended or able to be oriented in either of two ways for viewing or reading. In a Sentence: Angel started taking calligraphy classes to learn how to create ambigrams and other fun designs that can be read both upside down and right side up.

A massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck northern California yesterday, and while little damage was done, it is further proof that "The Big One" could be on the way. The earthquake struck around 30 miles west of Cape Mendocino, located in northern California's Humboldt County, at a depth of around 6.2 miles. The shaking began at 10:44 am local time and continued on, knocking items off stores shelves and sending furniture toppling over on the Mendocino coast. Minimal structural damage was done, though, limiting the impact of the quake. Tsunami warnings quickly came up on every phone across the area, sending beachgoers and surfers scrambling for higher ground. However, no tsunami arrived, and the warning was later retracted. Officials often send out overly dramatic tsunami warnings after a major earthquake, but they are often retracted or dialed back once more information is gained on the situation. The West Coast of the United States is located in one of the most high-risk areas for earthquakes in the world. Earthquakes are caused when tectonic plates slide against each other, which can set off rumblings between them. The Pacific Northwest, which includes Washington and Oregon, is on the border of the North American and Juan de Fuca plates, the latter of which is sliding under the North American plate. This area is known as the Cascadia subduction zone. Meanwhile, southern California is divided by the boundary between the Pacific and North American plates. Arguably the most famous of faults, the San Andreas Fault begins around the Bay Area and moves east through California, passing east of Los Angeles and splitting California into two tectonic plates. Meanwhile, the Hayward Fault stretches through Berkeley and Oakland, while the San Jacinto Fault splits out of the San Andreas Fault into southern California. However, the location where this earthquake struck is located in the Mendocino triple junction-- a zone where the Gorda plate, Pacific plate, and North American plate all converge at one point. These three faults, combined, are some of the most dangerous faults in the world, and recent research shows that they could end up setting off each other. However, the true possibility that scares locals is the possibility of The Big One. Seismologists have been talking about The Big One for years, and it could do massive damage when it occurs. When a plate such as the Juan de Fuca plate subducts under another one, pressure builds up, and eventually that pressure becomes too much for the tectonic plates to hold. The plates spring back from each other, sparking an earthquake with a magnitude upwards of 8.0 and a large tsunami that would devastate the Pacific Northwest. However, if there is enough pressure built up, the entire subduction zone will rupture, sparking a huge quake between 8.7 and 9.2 on the Richter scale. This possibility, known as "The Really Big One," would be the worst-case scenario and would give rise to a massive tsunami that would wipe out over seven million people-- including the cities of Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Salem, and Portland. It would also have severe repercussions across northern California, including the zone that was affected by yesterday's quake. In addition, the entire region is exceptionally unprepared for an event like this, as minimal earthquake security measures are in place and architecture on the West Coast is nowhere close to ready to withstanding an earthquake like The Big One. In fact, 45 years ago, nobody even knew that the Cascadia subduction zone existed. Unfortunately, research shows that the probability of The Big One occurring in the next 50 years is one in three, while the probability of The Really Big One occurring would be one in ten. This means that the entire West Coast is at risk of a massive earthquake every day, making it an extremely unsafe zone, and yesterday's earthquake could be a sign that the pressure between the plates is reaching a breaking point. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Toucans pass a piece of fruit  back and forth between their beaks during their mating ritual. Quote of the Day: When gardeners garden, it is not just plants that grow, but the gardeners themselves. (Ken Druse) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Drub (verb)- To drub an individual or team, as in a game or contest, is to defeat them decisively. In a Sentence: Morale after the game was low: the hometown team had been drubbed by the worst team in the league.

Warning: This article contains content that may be inappropriate for young children. The CEO of American health insurance company UnitedHealthcare was killed in a targeted shooting in midtown Manhattan yesterday morning, and police are currently conducting an intense manhunt throughout the city to find the shooter. UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, is the world's largest health insurance company, insuring over 52 million people worldwide. UnitedHealth Group is the world's ninth-largest company by revenue and is the United States' fourth-largest public company, behind Walmart, Amazon, and Apple. The company is headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, a western suburb of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, had held the position since early 2021, and leads a staff of around 140,000 of UnitedHealth Group's 396,000 employees. Thompson, a 50-year-old man, was shot dead at around 6:45 am on Wednesday morning as he was entering the New York Hilton Midtown, in what was called a "brazen targeted attack" by local police commissioner Jessica Tisch. Video footage showed the assailant waiting outside the hotel for around five minutes. When Thompson approached the building, the gunman walked up to him from the back, firing several times. Police reported that he was shot at least once in the leg and once in the back before he turned around to get a good look at his attacker. The gunman continued firing until his gun seemed to jam, but he quickly fixed the issue and continued shooting before quickly walking away as Thompson collapsed onto the ground. Thompson was heading into the hotel for an annual investor conference, which was taking place on the third floor. In fact, many of the executives at the meeting did not even know about the shooting until several minutes later, when people began looking out the window and seeing the swaths of police and news crews arriving at the scene. Footage showed the gunman clothed in total black, including a black mask, and additional cameras displayed tapes of him fleeing the scene on an electric Citi Bike. However, police do not know where he is. A manhunt has begun throughout New York City to search for the culprit, who is still at large. Prominent business figures in the area have also been warned, as there is a possibility that the gunman could be targeting other executives as well. Police are primarily utilizing the abundance of video cameras around a highly dense city like the Big Apple, which they are using to track the previous movements of the suspect to discover his motive, any accomplices he might have had, or how he obtained the gun. The New York Police Department (NYPD) have also announced a $10,000 reward for any citizens with useful information that could aid the police in the investigation. Officials have not found out anything about the gunman's possible motive yet, but they do know that Thompson recently received several death threats from an unknown source. These threats are still being investigated. Curiously, despite these threats, Thompson did not seem to have any idea that danger was coming his way, as he did not have any guards with him at the time. Nevertheless, his friends and family, along with the entire company, is mourning for him. Dozens of prominent executives within UnitedHealth Group have issued or posted statements regarding the loss of Brian Thompson, who was a good friend and a great leader. Officials from Minnesota, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have also expressed their shock over the "horrifying" incident. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Sea otters have the thickest fur of any animal, with up to one million hair follicles per square inch. By comparison, the average human head has around 100,000 hair follicles. Due to their lack of blubber, sea otters stay warm in cold temperatures with their extremely thick fur. Quote of the Day: Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare. (Japanese Proverb) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Hoity-toity (adj)- Someone or something described as hoity-toity may also be called snooty or pretentious; hoity-toity people appear to t hink that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people, and hoity-toity places and things seem to be made for those same people. An informal word, hoity-toity is a synonym of pompous , fancy , and highfalutin . In a Sentence: The guidance counselor emphasized that students do not need to go to a hoity-toity college to achieve success.

Warning: This article contains content that may be inappropriate for young children. United States President Joe Biden has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, of his federal convictions for several tax charges and three other charges for illegally purchasing a gun. Hunter Biden, 54 years old, is the second son of incumbent President Joe Biden, who will leave office in early 2025 and hand the presidency over to Donald Trump. Hunter Biden was convicted in June after a long trial that exposed his usage of drugs and substances, proving that he had illegally purchased a gun. A Firearms Transaction Record, also known as ATF Form 4473, is a form required by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) when attempting to buy a firearm from a licensed dealer. Included on the form is the customer's history with drugs, which is a crucial element in the process to buy a firearm. Hunter Biden was found by a Delaware jury to be guilty of lying on the form about his drug use, leading to a possible sentence of up to 25 years. In addition, Hunter Biden also pleaded guilty in September during a case that accused him of failing to file and pay his taxes, tax evasion, and filing a false tax return. He was found to be guilty of failing to pay over $1.4 million in taxes, which led to another possible sentence of up to 17 years in prison. However, even if he had not been pardoned, Hunter Biden would likely be facing much less than 42 years in jail due to his family's status, and in cases where people face multiple charges, the sentences are usually served at the same time. Throughout the indictment and the trial, Joe Biden did not interfere in the proceedings despite having the power to dismiss the charges, and even after Hunter Biden was found guilty, he promised not to pardon his son. However, he went back on that promise on Sunday. Representatives of the Biden administration stated that they had pondered over the issue during Thanksgiving and had decided to pardon him due to a number of factors. One official told media that Biden's political opposition was going after Hunter Biden solely due to the fact that he was the president's son, leading to " a miscarriage of justice." First Lady Jill Biden also supported the pardon, which clears him of all convicted felonies between 2014 and 2024. Several years ago, Hunter Biden served a term on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, known as Burisma. During his time on the board, he made several business decisions that have been heavily criticized by Republicans, so he has also been cleared of any possible charges stemming from those agreements. Hunter Biden made a statement soon after his pardoning: "I have admitted and taken responsibility for my mistakes during the darkest days of my addiction -- mistakes that have been exploited to publicly humiliate and shame me and my family for political sport." Joe Biden also pointed how his son has maintained sobriety for five and a half years, and has also paid back all of the taxes he owed. The pardon has seen mixed reactions from citizens and politicians, though. Several prominent Republicans, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, publicly expressed their displeasure over the pardon, claiming that Hunter Biden's trial was completely fair and the pardon further damaged Americans' trust in the justice system. Donald Trump also made a post on social media saying, "such an abuse and miscarriage of justice!" In fact, a handful of Democrats criticized Biden's pardoning as well. Both trials were led by special counsel David Weiss, who was appointed by Trump during his term as the United States attorney for Delaware. Weiss responded with confirmation that the trial was executed in a perfectly fair manner, and Hunter Biden was truly guilty of all of his tax and gun charges. He also countered the Biden administration's claims with a statement in a court filing on Monday, pointing out how there is no evidence that a biased or politically skewed trial took place. However, many Democrats backed Joe Biden over his decision, responding to the criticism. They claim that others across the country who have committed similar crimes have received completely different punishments, and that Hunter Biden was being targeted by his father's political opposition. Despite the controversy of the pardon, presidential pardons are irreversible. Hunter Biden's sentencing that was scheduled for later this month will be canceled, and when Donald Trump takes office in 2025, he will not be able to take back Biden's pardon. However, Trump plans to do some pardoning of his own-- he has confirmed that he will pardon his supporters who participated in the January 6, 2021 riot on the Capitol. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Cats sleep about 70% of their life, which equates to around 13-16 hours per day. Meanwhile, humans only spend about one-third of their life sleeping-- the average human gets about eight hours of sleep every day. Quote of the Day: If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try spending the night with a mosquito. (African Proverb) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Complaisant (adj)- Someone described as complaisant is willing or eager to please other people, or is easily convinced to do what other people want. In a Sentence: Derek was a complaisant boy, always happy to oblige whenever his mother or father asked him to run an errand.

South Korea is in chaos after a controversial incident involving the establishment of martial law occurred last night, with the entire country erupting over the government's decisions. Martial law is when a country is temporarily placed under military rule. This usually happens during war, rebellion, or serious natural disasters to reorganize and settle the population. For example, Ukraine is currently under martial law due to their ongoing war with Russia, giving military commanders the authority to create or enforce laws when needed. President Yoon Suk Yeol made a major announcement on Tuesday night local time, around 10:30 pm, when he imposed martial law upon the country due to suspicious activities by his opposition parties. He claimed that they were scheming with North Korea to take him down, which gave reason for a state of emergency. The arrival of martial law would have imposed military rule upon the entire country and led to a temporary ban on all public protests and other actions by his opposing political parties. His statement called on citizens to endure "some inconveniences" in order to "eradicate pro-North Korean forces" within the country, but the idea of martial law sparked severe backlash. Due to the late declaration and the fact that no signal was given beforehand, the entire world was extremely surprised by the announcement. South Koreans immediately began taking to the streets, protesting with banners and signs calling for an end to the martial law and the impeachment of the president. The outrage was primarily due to the fact that martial law is similar to authoritarian rule, which many South Koreans still remember from the years prior to 1987, when the country shifted to democracy for the first time. Members of the country's major political parties also rushed to the parliament building to sort out the situation. Soldiers had been deployed across the area to keep protestors away from the building, forcing some lawmakers to fight through crowds of people. During the meeting, lawmakers questioned President Yoon's decision to impose martial law, including members of his own party who were puzzled and angry over his declaration. After a brief discussion, the South Korean parliament voted unanimously, 190-0, to rescind the order for martial law, which the president is required to comply with. However, Yoon Suk Yeol is not exactly the most popular of all South Korean presidents. He won a close election in 2022 and has been caught up in several scandals since then, including one which accused both him and his wife of interfering in the nomination process of his right-wing political party, the People Power Party. Polls showed his approval ratings dropping below 20% after the alleged scandal. Then, in April, his conservative party lost South Korea's parliament majority to the Democratic Party, which is more liberal. Currently, the Democratic Party holds 170 of the parliament's 300 seats, compared to the People Power Party's mere 108. This has led to a deadlock in the South Korean government, as Yoon Suk Yeol cannot pass any conservative-oriented laws due to the liberal nature of the parliament. This deadlock has led to extreme frustration on the president's part, as he has not been able to achieve his primary goals, such as lowering taxes and relaxing rules on businesses. Unfortunately for Yoon, this impromptu declaration of martial law has not helped his approval ratings, and it has led to problems for his entire government. The president's chief of staff and at least 10 other secretaries have resigned after the fiasco, and his opposition parties are threatening to initiate the impeachment process if he does not resign as well. The defense minister is also being told to step down, as he was the one who instructed the president to impose martial law in the first place. Also, South Korea's largest labor union, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), called on its staggering 1.2 million members to go on strike indefinitely, and it will continue until President Yoon Suk Yeol steps down. Whether he will step down or not is still unknown, though, meaning that the South Korean government could enter a period of turmoil over the next few weeks if opposition parties begin the impeachment process. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The Sun loses around 4.7 million tons of mass as energy every second due to the nuclear fusion happening in the star's core. Quote of the Day: Trust is the glue that holds people together and is the lubricant that keeps an organization moving forward. (Colin Powell) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Eschew (verb)- To eschew something is to avoid it, especially because you do not think it is right, proper, or practical. In a Sentence: Their teacher was known as a Luddite because he eschewed the use of smartphones and tablets in the classroom.

Global talks over reducing plastic pollution came to a disappointing end in South Korea yesterday, with countries failing to agree on a solution. Over 170 countries attended the talks in the coastal city of Busan, South Korea, aiming to address the world's mounting problem of plastic pollution. At least 8 million pieces of plastic enter oceans, lakes, and rivers every day-- the equivalent of around 2,000 garbage trucks of plastic. There is an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste in the ocean right now, and an additional 33 billion pounds enter the ocean each year. Around 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million sea birds are killed by marine plastic pollution every year. In fact, plastic waste is entering the ocean so fast that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish (by weight). On top of that, only 0.5% of plastic waste ends up in the ocean-- 10% of the world's plastic waste is recycled, and the rest is either incinerated or sent to landfills. In total, humans have produced over 8 billion metric tons of plastic since 1950. Clearly, this is a problem that needs to be addressed quickly-- so why didn't anything happen in Busan? Despite its environmental issues, plastic production is one of the world's largest industries. Global plastic production makes up around 1-2% of the world's GDP-- while that doesn't seem like much, the global plastic trade has a value of around $1 trillion. 99% of plastics are made of fossil fuels like oil and natural gas, making plastic production responsible for around 5% of global carbon emissions. However, this dependency on fossil fuels for plastic makes oil-rich countries a large factor in plastic production. United Nations rules stated that all delegates must agree for a deal to go forward, and countries were heavily divided over an effective solution to stopping plastic pollution. Over 100 countries attempted to strike a deal to cut down plastic production, but that idea received serious disapproval from oil-rich nations. The world is switching to renewable energy, and the popularity of electric cars continues to rise as environmental friendliness and sustainability comes more into focus. Because of this, global gasoline consumption is expected to peak in the next few years and begin falling, making plastic production all the more important to oil-rich nations. Several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, and Russia, which have some of the world's biggest oil reserves, claimed that reducing plastic production was not needed. Their plan involved placing more emphasis on managing plastic waste, stating that plastic production would become irrelevant if plastic waste was managed properly. They also said that decreasing plastic production would heavily impact the economic development of numerous countries, as well as impacting the fact that plastic has greatly benefited society as a whole. In addition, many delegates were concerned over the impending arrival of Trump in the United States government. The United States is the world's largest producer of plastic per capita, with the average American producing 130 kilograms of plastic waste per year. While China produces more total plastic than the US, China's population is over four times larger. Incumbent President Joe Biden's representatives took more of a middle standpoint to the issue, but countries fear that the Trump administration could drastically change the talks next year due to their intense focus on economic growth and Trump's negative views on sustainability. Trump claims that climate change and global warming are a hoax, and he has publicly stated that he aims to get rid of almost all of the Biden administration's regulations that are intended to cut carbon emissions and reduce the usage of fossil fuels. After this year's failed talks, another meeting is expected in next year to make another attempt at putting an end to plastic pollution. Both sides of the debate on an effective solution are willing to meet again, but they will not be able to meet the U.N. Environment Assembly's goal to establish a binding treaty against plastic pollution by 2024. The arrival of Donald Trump as US President could also change things. The big question is, what will it take for every country to agree on a solution? Upcoming Events: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (Monday, December 2) International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Tuesday, December 3) International Day of Banks (Wednesday, December 4) IWF World Weightlifting Championships (Wednesday, December 4) International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development (Thursday, December 5) World Soil Day (Thursday, December 5) International Civil Aviation Day (Saturday, December 7) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The popular pastries known as "danishes" are actually from Austria, not Denmark. During the mid-1800s, a bakery strike caused Danish companies to hire Austrian bakers, and the foreign bakers brought the recipe for danishes with them. While the pastries are globally known as danishes, they are called wienerbrød in Denmark -- which means Vienna bread -- to honor the Austrian bakers who brought the famous pastry with them. Quote of the Day: Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. (Saint Augustine) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Scintilla (noun)- A scintilla is a very small amount of something. Scintilla is usually used in negative statements, as in “not even/nary a scintilla.” In a Sentence: There wasn’t even a scintilla of evidence to support their story.

Violent protests have broken out across the capital of Georgia, with the entire city of Tblisi in chaos after the country backed out of their attempts to join the European Union. Georgia has long been one of the strongest advocates to enter the EU since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, but those efforts were recently stopped by the government. Very few Georgians are pro-Russia due to the fact that USSR annexed the territory in 1921, making it all the more important for the people that the country joins the EU. In last month's parliamentary election, the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party took a controversial win with 54% of the vote, and they recently elected Irakli Kobakhidze as Georgia's newest Prime Minister. Opposing parties claimed that the election was rigged, while the EU reported bribery and violence occurring during voting, leading to manipulation of the votes. However, the Dream party has strongly denied these allegations. The country's current president, Salome Zourabichvili, has refused to step down after her term comes to an end next month. While the Georgian President does not have much power, she is still a prominent figure. Zourabichvili described the recent election as "illegitimate" and refuses to accept the allegedly rigged results, taking the side of the EU and opposition leaders. After the election, which took place on October 26, protests took place across the country, but they finally came down during the last few weeks. However, Kobakhidze's recent move to back out of EU talks for at least four years has reignited those protests. Over 80% of the Georgian population believes that they should join the EU at some point in the future, and others stated that the move to halt talks for such a long period of time goes against the wishes of the entire country. In fact, it is even enshrined into the country's constitution-- the document clearly states that Georgia will strongly pursue full integration into the European Union. However, Kobakhidze has passed this off, mentioning that the government at the time was extremely pro-Western due to their recent independence from the Soviet Union and the intentions of the government of the past might not necessarily represent the intentions of Georgia today. Protestors filled the streets on Saturday, wreaking havoc across Tblisi. Walls and miscellaneous objects obstructed roadways, windows were shattered, and loud firecrackers were set off outside the parliament building-- several were directed towards police officers. A small fire was also reported on the parliament building. Police were forced to intervene with tear gas and water cannons, preventing further damage to buildings and other infrastructure, but reports showed that at least 32 officers were injured in the violent protests. At least 107 people were detained, but no information has been reported regarding civilian injuries among the protestors. Kobakhidze has accused the opposition parties of attempting to overthrow the government and take power, as well as representing a strongly anti-Russia Western world. He also accused the European Union of trying to blackmail Georgia into changing the results of the election, as the European Parliament has instructed member countries to impose sanctions on Georgia. Meanwhile, the EU and other Western powers are criticizing the Dream party's pro-Russian views as authoritarian and have called for a re-election, which would be under close global scrutiny, within the next year. However, Kobakhidze is not necessarily anti-EU. He stated publicly that the talks would be put on hold until 2028, but he aims to get the country into the European Union by 2030. Georgia was not planned to join the European Union anytime soon, though. Earlier this year, the Georgian Parliament passed a major bill establishing that organizations which receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign donors would be forced to specifically register as "bearing the interests of a foreign power." Georgia's Justice Ministry would keep a close eye on those organizations, and they may face large fines if they refuse to share sensitive information about their business. This bill is extremely similar to a law of the same type that was passed by Russia, putting the EU on high alert. Soon after it was passed, the European Union announced in June that they were indefinitely suspending Georgia's application. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The triangular, V-shaped pad of tissue on the underside of a horse's hoof is called the frog. Quote of the Day: Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear hardship today. (Thich Nhat Hanh) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Frugal (adj)- Someone described as frugal is careful about spending money or using things unnecessarily. Frugal can also describe something that is simple and plain in a way that reflects such carefulness with money and resources. In a Sentence: By being frugal and limiting unnecessary purchases, the family is able to stretch its monthly budget.

Syrian rebel groups have made major progress in their largest offensive since 2020, taking control of the city of Aleppo and marking a huge step forward in the country's ongoing civil war. The Syrian civil war began back in 2011 when massive protests began erupting across the nation, primarily due to discontentment with the leadership of the existing authoritarian government, led by dictator Bashar al-Assad. Armed rebel groups began forming in different areas, and they were given weapons by other Middle Eastern countries and anti-authoritarian groups like NATO. By mid-2012, the conflict had blown out of proportion, intensifying into a proper civil war. NATO and wealthy Middle Eastern countries are on the side of the rebels, while Iran and Russia are on the Syrian government's side. Since then, those rebel militias have organized into several larger groups which oppose Syria's central government. The Syrian Arab Armed Forces (SAAF) represent the existing government, known as the Syrian Arab Republic. Major opposition groups to the SAAF include the Syrian Interim Government (SIG), the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG), and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). While the SAAF controls most of Syria (around 70%), including the capital of Damascus and all of the country's small Mediterranean coastline, the AANES maintains the entire northeastern side of the country, and SIG also controls a significant portion of Syria's northern border with Turkey. However, none of the rebel groups have made any headway into the Syrian Arab Republic's territory since 2020 until now. The area around Syria's second-largest city, Aleppo, is highly contested, and it has been for over a decade. The eastern side of the city was taken over by rebels in 2012 before Russian warplanes helped the SAAF regain control of the city in 2016. Now, the actual city is still under the control of the SAAF, but the territory to the west of the city is controlled by the SSG and the territories to the north are split between the AANES and SIG. On Wednesday, SSG forces, known as Hayʼat Tahrir ash-Sham, began a strong offensive into Aleppo, and they quickly gained control of the city. At least a dozen villages and military bases were taken by the rebels as unprepared Syrian, Iranian, and Russian forces were quickly taken down by the insurgence, and the attack could spark yet another rise in fighting in a seemingly endless war that has been at a lull for years. The United States has confirmed that they were not involved in the attack, as they, along with the United Nations, consider Hayʼat Tahrir ash-Sham a terrorist group. The organization was also previously affiliated with al-Qaeda, but they severed ties years ago. They are estimated to have around 6,000 to 15,000 active members. Fierce fighting has ensued after the incident, and various forces are now battling for control over Aleppo. Russia is primarily focused on their war with Ukraine, preventing them from supplying more troops, but the rebels have been stockpiling for months in preparation for the attack. Currently, the situation inside the city is rapidly degrading-- most businesses, shops, and public services, including the airport and several hospitals, have shut down, and troops from different forces are now marching through the streets. The Syrian civil war is in its 13th year now, and the conflict has no end in sight. Across the long war, at least half a million people have been killed, while around 6.8 million other Syrians have been displaced. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Water's density is highest at 4 degrees Celsius, so its density decreases as the temperature gets lower from that densest point. This is why lakes and ponds freeze from the top down-- while the warmer water is pushed to the bottom, the colder water is lifted to the top, where it freezes. This contrasts with other particles, like air, where warmer particles rise and colder particles sink. This is also the reason why ice floats-- the ice is less dense than the cold water beneath it, so it stays at the top. Quote of the Day: In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion. (Albert Camus) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Obfuscate (verb)- To obfuscate something is to make it more difficult to understand. Obfuscate can also mean “to be evasive, unclear, or confusing.”  In a Sentence: The revised wording of the rule obfuscates its meaning.

Australia has approved a first-of-its-kind ban on social media for children under 16, but it has faced serious mixed reactions from the public. Many social media companies have age restrictions or recommendations, but children can easily lie about their age on these applications. Most social media apps, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat state that anyone under the age of 13 is not permitted to create an account-- the numbers vary, but studies show that between 20% and 40% of children lie about their age online. In addition, evidence continues to mount up that there are countless detrimental effects of social media use in young children. One study found that teenagers who spend more than three hours per day on social media are over twice as likely to experience mental health problems like depression and anxiety, while other effects of social media include everything from poor sleep quality to eating disorders to low self-esteem. Most doctors and scientists agree that children should not have access to social media before, at minimum, the age of 13 or 14, but Australia's latest ban has gone a step above that. The new law was approved by Australia's parliament this week, and is the world's first of its kind. Several other countries have imposed bans on social media, but Australia's is the world's strictest. France has a national ban on social media for children under the age of 15, while Belgium requires children to be at least 13 before they open an account without parental permission. Several US states have also passed legislation on social media age restrictions. Australia's ban relies on some sort of technology to confirm the age of a person, and social media networks which fail to implement this can expect a fine of around $50 million Australian dollars ($32.6 million USD). However, it does not penalize children who attempt to get around the law. It is expected to take effect in around one year, giving social media companies time to adjust. The ban has seen seriously mixed reactions across the board, as there are certain aspects of it that are strongly supported by groups and other parts that have been questioned. Many parents and affiliated government officials have pointed out the good in the ban, as it works to prevent underage children from becoming addicted to social media. However, many groups, including several social media companies, have criticized the ban over its vagueness. It does not specify which platforms would be affected, but officials have confirmed that gaming, education, and messaging sites will not be taken into account, along with sites that do not require an account at all-- that instantly makes sites like YouTube, WhatsApp, and Google Classroom exempt. Also, it does not specify how the government would find out the ages of social media users, drawing concern over users' privacy, but Australia's communications minister remarked that they would not force users to give companies their personal information. Other critics have mentioned that it could have a serious negative impact on the physical and mental health of existing child users of social media, leaving them feeling disconnected or depressed and doing more harm than good. In addition, many people have pointed out that the system can be quickly cheated using a virtual private network, or VPN. VPNs are secure connections between a device and the internet that encrypt your data and mask your IP address, hiding users' browsing activity, location, and identity online. In fact, one study showed that over half of social media users were able to evade France's ban using a VPN. In total, many critics supported the goal of the bill but thought that it was too rushed and would not help child users of social media. Many believe that the government should have taken more time to think through the ban and make adjustments, in addition to adding more details and specifications. Despite all of the criticism, the ban has passed, and it will go into effect in 12 months' time. Most social media companies have promised, regardless of their disapproval of the new law, to comply with whatever rules Australia is putting into place. What will be interesting to see is whether it is effective or not, and how other countries may respond to this-- will they follow in Australia's footsteps or aim for an alternative strategy? Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest ): Since penguins don't leave their nesting areas to feed, some species go through the entire courtship, nesting, and incubation period without food or water. For male king penguins, this period lasts for around 55 days, but for the male emperor penguin, the fast can last up to 120 days. Quote of the Day: Reliability is the quality that leads others not just to believe you, but to believe in you. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Victuals (plural noun)- Victuals is a word with an old-fashioned feel that refers to food, and sometimes to both food and drink. In a Sentence: Rachel’s grandparents’ larder was full of canned tomatoes and peaches, jars of pickled beans, jugs of dandelion wine, and other time-honored victuals .

Happy Thanksgiving! The controversy around last week's incident involving fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea has continued, and the European Union and the United States now have contrasting views on the cause of the incident. Last Sunday, a fiber-optic cable connecting Lithuania and Sweden was found to be severed, while a second cable connecting Finland and Germany was damaged on Monday. Thankfully, the severed cables were not an integral part of the communications of the aforementioned countries, with minimal effect. Internet speeds in Lithuania were temporarily slowed down before the online traffic was redirected, but there was very little effect on internet connection in Germany, Finland, and Sweden. Read more about the original incident here . The severing of two cables in the Baltic Sea on Sunday and Monday led to serious skepticism from officials in the affected countries, with strong beliefs that the damage was due to sabotage. Anchors from ships can be a problem, though, as cargo ships dragging their anchors can sever buried cables on the seafloor. Boris Pistorius, Germany's minister of defense, clearly told media that they believed the damage was sabotage and enforced his belief that it was not a ship anchor, but he avoided explicitly mentioning a suspect of the sabotage. While Russia was the initial primary suspect, the possibility of China as the culprit later came into focus. Previous incidents with ships dragging their anchors to cut through fiber-optic cables had been traced back to China in the past, and the Chinese ship Yi Peng 3 was in the area at the time of the incident. A Danish Navy ship stopped the Chinese vessel a day after the second cable was severed, and it has been stuck there in the Kattegat Strait since then. Ships from all over the European Union have constantly surrounded Yi Peng 3 as suspicions of sabotage from member countries continue, but the United States believes that sabotage was not a factor in the incident. It is still unknown whether the severing of the cables was intentional or not, and there is strong evidence on both sides of the claim. Last year, a Chinese ship was seen dragging its anchor in the Baltic Sea, severing a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, but the ship escaped by entering international waters before it was caught by navy ships. However, on the other side of the argument, Russia and China could have nothing to do with the incident, as anything from an earthquake to an underwater landslide to a strong ocean current to even human activities like fishing or oil and gas activities can damage fiber-optic cables. Whether the incident was done on purpose or not is still under investigation, making this an ongoing, developing story that will be mentioned in future articles. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Over 248 million turkeys are raised in the US every year, and a large portion of those turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving. However, two turkeys are pardoned by the United States president-- this year, President Joe Biden pardoned "Peach" and "Blossom." They are now headed back to their home in Minnesota, where they will live out the rest of their days at an agricultural center. Quote of the Day: The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for. (Norman Vincent Peale) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Guttural (adj)- A guttural sound -- such as speech, laughter, or a grunt -- is formed or pronounced in the throat. In a Sentence: Her friends always found her deep, guttural laugh to be highly contagious.