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The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned all flights to Haiti for the next 30 days after three planes were hit by gunfire in recent days while flying over the country's capital of Port-au-Prince. Haiti had been in a grim state for months after gangs freed thousands of prisoners from the country's largest penitentiary in March, leading to violent protests in the months afterward. The prisoners quickly formed dangerous gangs after the escape, and since then, those gangs have ruled the streets of Port-au-Prince. The gangmembers have burned cars, set up barricades, shot innocent citizens, and looted towns, sending Haiti into chaos. In May, Prime Minister Ariel Henry stepped down amid the turmoil, with the country choosing Garry Conille to lead Haiti once again. Back in 2011, he was elected to prime minister of Haiti, but he stepped down in 2012 and continued his longtime work with the United Nations. However, on Sunday, Conille was fired by the Haitian government after a large uptick in gang violence, which he has failed to control during his term. They have announced that businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé will be the next prime minister, hoping to finally restore democracy and peace to the nation. Gangs have shot at government vehicles and passenger planes several times over the past few months, endangering numerous people. In October, a helicopter belonging to the United Nations was hit by gunfire from gangmembers on the ground, and another attack on UN vehicles around the same time forced dozens of evacuations. UN properties weren't the only things attacked, though. The entire aviation mishap began when Spirit Airlines Flight 951 arrived in Port-au-Prince, finishing off a two-hour flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Heavy gunfire was heard during its descent, with several bullets striking the plane-- one flight attendant onboard sustained minor injuries. The flight was quickly diverted away from the violence, landing in the Dominican Republic's capital of Santiago. Other airlines quickly realized that incidents like this may have occurred on their planes as well, and investigations into recent flights to and from Haiti began soon after. JetBlue discovered that Flight 935 from Port-au-Prince to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport had sustained a bullet impact, and American Airlines found that Flight 819 from the capital city to Miami had also been hit by gunfire. However, no passengers on any of the flights were injured. Spirit, JetBlue, and American quickly stopped services to Port-au-Prince after the incidents, with JetBlue extending the shutdown to December 2 and American specifically extending the shutdown for Miami to Port-au-Prince flights until February 12. These shutdowns sparked an FAA investigation, which led to a formal ban on all flights to and from Haiti for 30 days. The ban also states that US planes must stay above 10,000 feet when passing through Haiti's airspace to prevent any stray bullets from hitting passenger planes. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): A cricket's ears are located on the tibia of its front two legs. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Not having the best situation, but seeing the best in your situation is the key to happiness . (Marie Forleo) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Bevy (noun)- A bevy is a large group of people or things. Bevy is usually used in the singular form and accompanied by the word of . In a Sentence: The new streaming platform featured a bevy of new movies to choose from.

Israel and Hezbollah have finally agreed on a permanent ceasefire deal, ending the 13-month-long conflict between the two warring sides. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed organization that maintains a strong presence in Lebanon, has kept up its strong support for Hamas since the latter's invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023. Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged fire numerous times, including hundreds of airstrikes. Over 3,100 Lebanese citizens have been killed and at least 1.3 million people in Lebanon have been displaced over the last few months amidst increasing tension, while a total of 122 Israelis have died in Hezbollah bombardments. Because of continued Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel, Israel has persisted with devastating missile strikes, ground operations, and pager explosions in the Lebanese capital city of Beirut, one of the most vulnerable areas to attacks due to its high population density. Hezbollah and Israel attempted to strike up peace talks earlier in the year, but the constant fighting made it tough for the two sides to come to an agreement. Then, when Hezbollah leader Hassan Nazrallah was killed, ceasefire talks stopped altogether as Hezbollah focused its resources on retaliation. However, on Tuesday, a proposal for a ceasefire passed through the Israeli security cabinet, and it was quickly approved by Hezbollah soon after. The deal states that all conflicts must be resolved and forces must be withdrawn within 60 days, including the fact that Hezbollah forces must retreat at least 25 miles from the country border and all Israel troops must quickly pull out of Lebanon's territory. It also calls for the Lebanese government to work with the United Nations to ensure that Hezbollah troops stay north of the Litani River, which will keep their forces many miles away from the Israel-Lebanon border to prevent any future conflict. This will also allow Lebanon to rebuild the border region that has been severely damaged by attacks on both sides while stopping Hezbollah from rebuilding. Now, all that's left to see is if the sides actually hold up the agreement, as it is a tough task. Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza continues, meaning that Hezbollah still has motive to attack Israel again, but Israel has promised to respond with full-fledged military action if the truce is broken. Unfortunately, while this truce has a huge effect on the lives of people across Lebanon, it has almost no impact on the area suffering the most: Gaza. Over 44,250 people have been killed and another 1.9 million have been displaced, while aid trickles in and ceasefire talks have been completely shut down. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Many grazing animals, including goats, sheep, and horses, all have rectangular pupils to give them a wider field of vision. Quote of the Day: Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Eddy (noun)- An eddy is a current of water or air running contrary to the main current, especially as a whirlpool. In figurative use, eddy may also refer to a contrary or circular current of thought or policy. In a Sentence: The strong gusts whipped up eddies of fallen leaves.

We apologize for not including this week's Upcoming Events in yesterday's daily update. It has been added to the article, and you can view the updated post here . At least five people are dead after Storm Bert pounded the United Kingdom over the past few days, bringing down trees, flooding streets, and knocking out power to tens of thousands of people. The storm had been brewing in the Atlantic for days before moving onshore, primarily impacting England and Wales. Along with heavy rain, Bert also carried strong winds, leading to downed power lines and fallen trees lining streets. In total, several people were killed, including one man in his 60s who was killed in his car by a falling tree and multiple others who were killed in car accidents. Dozens of people are still missing. Transportation was heavily affected throughout the storm-- highways were covered in water, sparking dangerous accidents, hundreds of flights were canceled, and rail services across the western UK were shut down. Roadways were covered with water across the weekend, causing severe aquaplaning and dozens of crashes, while numerous bridges were also taken out by overflowing rivers, debris, and strong winds. 22% of British Airways flights were canceled and another 38% were delayed, and 14% of flights coming into London Heathrow were canceled and another 41% of inbound flights were canceled. Meanwhile, 15% of all outbound flights were canceled, while 44% were delayed-- a total of 213 flights were canceled at London Heathrow on Sunday alone. In addition, Southern Railway, which operates in southeast England, canceled scores of scheduled trains across the region, which includes the London metropolitan area. Great Western Railway also shut down their rail services between major cities in the western UK, including routes from London's Paddington Station to Cardiff and Bristol. Landslides and flooding in more mountainous regions also caused major damage to train tracks, which could take days or even weeks to repair. Lastly, trains in Scotland are still operational, but speed limits have been imposed for their safety. While Storm Bert has moved on, the United Kingdom is still reeling from its effects, and it could take a while for the country to heal from this disaster. Water is still piled up on streets and inside buildings, and while rail travel has resumed normal operations, roadways are still slick and air travel schedules are struggling to normalize after the cancellations. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): E is the most-used letter in the English alphabet, occurring in around 11% of the language's 240,000 words. Quote of the Day: I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times. (Bruce Lee) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Chastise (verb)- To chastise someone is to criticize them harshly for doing something wrong. In a Sentence: The waiter was chastised for forgetting the customer’s order.

Several foreign tourists have been killed in Laos after drinking poisoned alcohol, sparking concerns over future contamination in other drinks. Two Danish citizens, two Australian citizens, one British citizen, and an American citizen -- a total of six people -- were killed after consuming alcohol beverages that were poisoned with methanol. The tourists were visiting the small town of Vang Vieng, located in Laos, throughout this month, where they drank the contaminated alcohol. An additional 11 people were hospitalized after drinking small amounts of methanol from the same batch of alcohol, and several are currently in critical condition. Methanol, a toxic type of alcohol, is primarily used in the production of acrylic plastics, synthetic fabrics, adhesives, and paints. Ethanol is a less toxic type, and it is used in the making of alcoholic drinks in addition to being an ingredient in many personal care products and the E85 derivative of gasoline found at gas stations. However, ethanol can be quite expensive in certain countries, leading cheap alcohol producers to illegally use methanol as a substitute for it-- but it can be extremely dangerous. Depending on someone's body weight, drinking between 25 and 90 milliliters of methanol can cause death, while as little as 10 mL can cause irreversible blindness or visual impairment. Unfortunately, incidents like this are common in developing countries all over the world, where criminals often sell tainted or counterfeit alcohol under the disguise of a real, well-known brand. South and Southeast Asia is the largest hotspot for methanol poisoning, including countries like India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. One website, Doctors Without Borders, has reported 943 instances of methanol poisoning across South Asia, East Africa, North Africa, and Central America that affected over 39,000 people, 12,000 of which were killed. One of the most recent instances of this was in mid-June, when 56 people were killed and another 117 were hospitalized in India after the consumption of tainted "arrack," a locally-produced, distilled drink that is similar to moonshine. Another incident in April 2020 killed over 800 people and poisoned over 5,000 others in Iran after citizens were under the false impression that drinking the contaminated alcohol would prevent them from getting the coronavirus. Multiple governments around the world, including Australia and Britain, are all urging tourists to avoid drinking spirits or other alcoholic beverages in high-risk areas, especially Southern Asia. In addition, they have warned that if they do purchase a beverage, they should double-check the label on the bottle or buy from a certified distributor to avoid buying a counterfeit knockoff that may contain methanol. Upcoming Events: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Monday, November 25) Chess World Championships Begin (Monday, November 25) World Sustainable Transport Day (Tuesday, November 26) Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 28) International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (Friday, November 29) Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare (Saturday, November 30) World AIDS Day (Sunday, December 1) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Leeches have a very strange body composition. Their body is divided into 32 internal segments, along with two additional head segments. Due to this, they have 32 brains (one per segment), 2 hearts, 5 pairs of eyes, 10 stomachs, 42 reproductive organs, 3 jaws, and hundreds of teeth. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Like crying wolf, if you keep looking for sympathy as a justification for your actions , you will someday be left standing alone when you really need help. (Criss Jami) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Lenient (adj)- Someone or something described as lenient is not harsh, severe, or strict. In other words, they allow a lot of freedom and leeway, and do not punish or correct in a strong way. In a Sentence: The teacher was lenient in her grading after the holiday break.

Today, we present a YNH Exclusive on the latest UN summit on climate change. Enjoy! World leaders agreed on a landmark new climate deal at COP29 yesterday, with wealthy countries pledging to provide developing countries with $300 billion a year by 2035 to deal with the effects of climate change. The United Nations' 29th Conference of the Parties (COP) on climate change was recently held in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 to November 22, and a verdict on the intense debates and chaotic arguments throughout the conference was delivered yesterday. While the conference actually ended on Friday, the decision on a new climate deal was postponed, as it was still being finalized. Then, it was confirmed that wealthy countries would pledge at least $300 billion per year by 2035 to developing countries. This money would assist in recovery from major climate events like hurricanes, droughts, and storms, as well as move them towards a more sustainable future with cleaner energy. However, that $300 billion per year is nowhere close to the amount required-- economists estimate that around $1.3 trillion per year is needed to help developing countries endure the constant extreme weather events they are facing, which is primarily due to emissions that are coming from other, less-affected countries. It is a step forward, though, as a previous deal made at COP15 in 2009 pledged $100 billion per year by 2020 to work towards the same goal. Still, that goal was achieved two years late, in 2022. This year, the two sides had to reach a medium, as developing countries asked for $500 billion, while richer nations decided that their current financial position was not in the right state to provide such large amounts of money. In addition, countries finally approved the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which was the last item in the agreement that was still unsettled. The Paris Agreement, negotiated at COP21 in 2015 and signed in 2016, is a major international climate change treaty. It works to limit the global average temperature increase since the Industrial Revolution to below 2 degrees Celsius, but recent research has shown that the planet's "point of no return" could actually be 1.5 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, due to global inaction on the major issue of climate change facing our planet, 2024 is expected to be the first year to cross that 1.5-degree threshold. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement unlocks financial aid for developing countries in their fight against climate change, and it also allows countries to cooperate and combat climate change by trading carbon credits. This system, known as the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM), would create a system where countries earn carbon credits by successfully reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. One carbon credit is equal to the reduction of one metric ton of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Countries can then sell these credits to other countries, benefitting both sides-- the country selling the credit makes money while helping the environment, and the country buying the credit can use it to meet their own climate goals. This motivates the sustainable country to keep up their climate work, as they are making money, while the country buying the credits is sending their money to a cause that will eventually lead to another reduction in carbon emissions. The execution of this new carbon crediting system is expected to be able to reduce the cost of implementing countries' nationally determined contributions (NDCs), by over $250 billion per year. NDCs are climate action plans that countries create to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and they are a key part of the Paris Agreement. The agreement legally requires countries to have an NDC, which is submitted every five years, and mandates that countries make some effort to achieve the NDC, but actually reaching the goal is not required. The next round of NDCs is due in early 2025, and they will have target dates in 2035. Another positive to the conference was the full operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, which will provide financial assistance to smaller countries that are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The Loss and Damage Fund was established at COP27 in 2022, which was held in Egypt. At COP28, held in Dubai in 2023, the fund was launched, but full operationalization was not achieved until some final terms were agreed upon at the latest COP29 in Baku. As of right now, countries have pledged over $730 million for the fund. According to the official COP29 website, the Loss and Damage Fund should be able to begin financing projects by 2025. However, those are a few of the only plus sides in a relatively tumultuous conference. Due to Baku's location in a relatively oil-rich area, pro-fossil fuel protests and speeches were abundant throughout the conference. Over 1,700 fossil fuel lobbyists and supporters were present at COP29, while Saudi Arabia's heavy influence in the Middle East was extremely apparent as they seriously opposed references to the dangers of fossil fuel emitters, specifically coal, gas, and oil. Advocates and climate change activists at the conference were extremely unhappy with the result of the debate, stating that the verdict offered "false hope" to countries facing severe climate disasters and the money detailed in the deal was completely insufficient. Over $1.3 trillion dollars are needed annually to stop climate change right now, and this new deal does not even guarantee that wealthy countries will reach that $300 billion goal by 2035. By comparison, the world spent around $2.44 trillion in military expenditures in 2023 alone. You can make a difference, though! Consider reducing your water and electricity consumption. Electric or hybrid vehicles also heavily reduce carbon emissions, as well as reducing food waste, which releases methane. Eating less beef can also decrease your carbon footprint, as cows are the single-largest source of greenhouse gases in the agriculture industry-- beef herd releases more greenhouse gases than the next four meat sources combined (lamb, prawns, pig, poultry). Consider buying food that has been sustainably farmed, as well as purchasing products that do not contain harmful chemicals, or are 1% for the Planet. 1% for the Planet is a nonprofit organization that lists companies that donate at least 1% of their profits to saving the environment, with examples including Patagonia, OXO, Klean Kanteen, Honest Tea, 4ocean, and Stasher Bags. Lastly, you can donate to some of the numerous organizations that help certain parts of the world facing the severe impacts of climate change. Let's save our planet, one step at a time. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Minnesota, the "Land of 10,000 Lakes," technically has more than 11,000 lakes. However, the state actually does not have the most lakes-- its neighbor, Wisconsin, has more than 15,000. Both of those pale in comparison to Alaska, though, which has over 3 million lakes. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known. (Carl Sagan) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Negotiate (verb)- To negotiate is to discuss something formally in order to make an agreement. Negotiate can also mean, when applied to people or things in motion, "to get through, around, or over successfully." In a Sentence: The parties negotiated an agreement.

On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant, which could have serious effects on Israel's relations with the rest of the world. The International Criminal Court, or ICC, its a global organization crated in 2002 with its headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands. The ICC takes on major issues or crimes against humanity, such as wars, genocides, and aggression towards other countries. The Rome Statute, the document that serves as the basis for the ICC, also establishes that the organization's 124 member countries are obligated to capture any criminal that has been discovered on their soil. However, there are some major issues in this design. The court has no actual power to enforce the rulings they make, as they are simply an organization-- it is up to member nations to make the decisions. In addition, some of the most populous countries in the world, like the United States, Russia, and China, are not member nations. This is due to the fact that they would not approve of sending their country's citizens to the ICC for a case-- the mindset for the aforementioned countries is that their citizens need to be tried and sentenced in the US itself, not in another country. This prevents the court from taking action in many of the world's biggest countries, limiting their impact. The ICC announced on Thursday that they were officially releasing arrest warrants for both Netanyahu and Gallant, as well as a man known as Muhammad Deif. Deif was one of the biggest parts of Hamas' October 7 invasion, and he has also been found to be roped up in other harmful activities like murder, torture, and hostage taking. Nevertheless, it is still unknown whether he is even alive, as Israel claims to have killed Deif in an airstrike. The court has also struck down Israel's idea to appeal the decision, leaving the ruling as it stands. This isn't the first time something like this happened, though. Back in 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Russia is not a member state. This prevents them from being forced to send Putin to the ICC for a trial. Similarly, Israel is not a member state, but neither Netanyahu nor Gallant can visit a member country of the ICC without being arrested on the spot. Still, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stated that he will ignore the ICC ruling and allow Netanyahu into his country for a visit, which is technically not permitted-- Hungary is a signatory of the Rome Statute, obliging them to arrest Netanyahu when he arrives. Unfortunately, this new ruling does not seem to be helping Gazans who have been suffering through war for months. Gaza is in desperate need of food, water, and other supplies, and much of that is not getting to the places that need it. Peace talks are currently stalled, with neither side making any progress, and the tension only seems to be escalating further and further. Due to the ICC's lack of power to enforce their rulings, this latest statement will most likely have very minimal effect on the actual situation in Gaza. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Horses can make 17 different facial expressions, while human faces contain 43 facial muscles and can create upwards of 10,000 unique expressions. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success . (Henry Ford) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Paroxysm (noun)- Paroxysm is a formal word that refers to a sudden strong feeling or uncontrollable expression of emotion. In medical use, paroxysm refers to a sudden attack or increase of symptoms of a disease that often occurs repeatedly. In a Sentence: The comedy special sent us into paroxysms of laughter.

Two fiber-optic cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea earlier this week, sparking suspicion from affiliated European governments. On 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. Fiber-optic cables are wires that consist of long, thin strands of glass or plastic within a protective tube. The material inside the casing is used to transmit encoded light pulses at the speed of light, allowing for quick, easy transportation of signals. While it is widely believed that signals are transmitted through satellites, that is actually a common misconception. There are over 930,000 miles of fiber-optic cables across the seafloor that carry over 95% of the world's i nternational data and voice transfers, including emails, texts, and financial transactions. Due to this, fiber-optics are the true backbone of world communication, and any damage to a major cable can have major repercussions. 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. 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. Fiber-optic cables are covered in a protective layer of steel wire and have no components that may serve as food sources to animals, making the probability of an animal damaging a wire extremely unlikely. 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. Russia has been a primary country of worry to western powers lately due to NATO's support of Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian War, making them a prime suspect. Russia could easily take action against other countries by taking down external items without directly striking the country itself, causing chaos due to internet disruptions. China has also been involved in past incidents involving fiber-optics and are another country who hold a grudge against NATO, making them a primary suspect as well. However, there is no evidence to show that Russia, China, or any other country is liable for the severing of these cables-- in fact, there is no evidence to prove that the incident was sabotage, either. This is known as hybrid warfare, and concerns over the vulnerability of fiber-optic cables, which have almost no defenses, have been rising in recent years. The United States in particular has been extremely worried about this, as the country's isolated location means that damage to a fiber-optic cable thousands of miles away could heavily impact them. In addition, the remote areas which those cables are in means that it could take days, even weeks, to repair a damaged cable. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): When dragonflies mate, their tails coincidentally make a heart shape. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): A lie can only make a temporary sense. The truth is permanent and lasts forever. (Michael Bassey Johnson) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Tenacious (adj)- Something described as tenacious cannot easily be stopped or pulled part; in other words, it is firm or strong. Tenacious can also describe something—such as a myth—that continues or persists for a long time, or someone who is determined to do something. In a Sentence: Caleb was surprised by the crab’s tenacious grip.

At least two people are dead and hundreds of thousands of people are out of power as a dangerous bomb cyclone pummels the northwestern United States and western Canada, bringing substantial rain, strong winds, and heavy snow. A bomb cyclone is a large storm that occurs when a system of low-pressure undergoes bombogenesis. Explosive cyclogenesis, also known as bombogenesis, is a term used to describe when an extratropical system -- a tropical storm outside the tropics -- rapidly intensifies, with a pressure drop of 24 millibars or more in 24 hours. Bomb cyclones usually occur in mid-latitude regions as winter approaches, and they can be quite dangerous. Bomb cyclones carry different weather conditions, ranging from severe blizzard conditions to heavy rain to booming thunderstorms. However, bomb cyclones require upper-level winds to form and also benefit from wind shear, while hurricanes need lower-level winds and can be destroyed by wind shear-- due to this, bomb cyclones and hurricanes usually do not form at the same time. Nevertheless, bomb cyclones can coincide with atmospheric rivers. These rivers are long, thin regions in the atmosphere carrying a large amount of condensed water vapor, and there are around four to five atmospheric rivers moving around Earth at any given time. When these rivers in the sky arrive on land, they deliver significant rainfall and snowfall to the areas that they pass over, making them a crucial part of the water cycle. Due to this, some bomb cyclones can form alongside atmospheric rivers, strengthening the system with stronger winds and more precipitation. The bomb cyclone arrived on Wednesday with a vengeance, slamming the state of Washington and the Canadian province of British Columbia with destructive, hurricane-force winds, pouring rain, and heavy snow in other regions. Gusts in Vancouver were recorded at over 100 mph, with power outages in British Columbia hitting 140,000 in just a few hours after the storm arrived. Trees are down all over cities and suburbs, blocking roads, hitting homes, and sparking the closures of schools and offices. One person was killed when a tree fell onto a homeless shelter north of Seattle, and and another woman was killed east of Seattle when a tree fell onto her home. Officials in the state of Washington advised locals to move to the lowest floor of their homes and shelter in place, as the winds and falling trees were more of a threat than flash flooding. Over 750,000 homes and businesses lost power early in the day, but electricity was restored to many areas throughout the day. By the end of Wednesday, the number of reported power outages had gone down to around 400,000, but power company Puget Sound Energy, which has around 500,000 customers, has announced that their clients may experience an outage lasting several days. Meanwhile, California is experiencing the opposite of the Pacific Northwest-- while the center of the bomb cyclone is impacting Washington and British Columbia, the outer bands of the storm, which are carrying heavy rain, are moving over California. Precipitation totals in San Francisco are expected to reach as high as 8 inches, with some areas in northern California possibly receiving up to 16 inches of rain, leading to flash flooding, mudslides, and rockslides. Power outages in California are also topping 23,000 Parts of the Sierra Nevada Mountains are also expected to see as high as 15 inches of snow over the next few days along with winds of over 75 mph, creating blizzard conditions. The dangerous weather, dropping primarily heavy, wet snow, is also expected across the Cascades in Washington and Oregon and into Canada. This bomb cyclone is a dangerous storm that will most likely last over multiple days, posing a serious threat to the Pacific Northwest and the states around it. Anyone in the path of this storm should shelter immediately, as falling trees pose a large hazard and the impending rain and snow is sure to disrupt traffic, spark other natural disasters, and do more damage to local buildings. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Some cat species are primarily only one gender. For example, calico and tortoiseshell cats are almost always female, while around 80% of orange tabby cats are male. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end. (Seneca) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Snivel (verb)- To snivel is to speak or act in a whining, sniffling, tearful, or weakly emotional manner. The word snivel may also be used to mean "to run at the nose," "to snuffle," or "to cry or whine with snuffling." In a Sentence: She was unmoved by the millionaires sniveling about their financial problems.

World-famous tennis champion Rafael Nadal officially retired last night, putting an end to the athlete's glorious career that spanned over 23 years. Rafael Nadal began his pro tennis career at the age of just 15 years old, quickly becoming one of the world's best players. By the time he reached the age of 20, Nadal was already No. 2 in the world and had already won 16 ATP Tour titles. Over the course of his career, he won 22 Grand Slam men's titles, including a record 14 wins on the French Open's clay courts. He is also one of only three men in the tennis world to achieve a Career Golden Slam, a rare feat accomplished when a player wins all four Grand Slams (Australian Open, US Open, French Open, Wimbledon) and takes home an Olympic gold medal in singles at some point in their career. It has only been achieved by four other people in the history of tennis: Steffi Graf in 1988, Andre Agassi in 1999, Serena Williams in 2012, and Novak Djokovic in 2024. Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic were known as the Big Three across tennis, as they ruled the world No. 1 spot for almost two decades. Federer arrived on the scene in 2003 and stayed as the world No. 1 for several years until 2008, when Nadal took his place. The two battled for a while before Djokovic took the top spot 2011, with the three champions alternating places until a brief cameo from Andy Murray as No. 1 in 2016 and 2017. From there, Federer's career began winding down, leading up to his retirement in 2022, while Djokovic continued as the world No. 1 in singles. Then, Nadal's career came to an end at the Davis Cup yesterday, finishing off his exceptional career. The great had confirmed that he would be retiring at the end of the tournament, but his career ended earlier than expected after Spain faced a surprising loss to the Netherlands on Tuesday. Nadal lost 6-4, 6-4 to the country's Botic van de Zandschulp while Carlos Alcaraz won his match 7-6, 6-3, tying the series at 1-1. However, Alcaraz and his doubles partner Marcel Granollers lost to Van de Zandschulp and Wesly Koolhof in a tight final match, losing 7-6 (4), 7-6 (3). The loss was an emotional moment for tennis fans and players alike, with the departure of one of the sport's greatest champions. Nadal made a moving speech on the court after the loss, while many of his fans and fellow players posted farewells online. After being asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, "The way I would like to be remembered is as a good person from a small village in Mallorca. That I had the life that I had. I had my uncle who was a tennis coach in my village when I was a small kid. Just a kid that followed their dreams, worked as hard as possible to be where I am today." Countless heartfelt messages and video montages flooded social media platforms soon after his loss, including organizations like Roland-Garros , the ATP Tour , and the Olympics , as well as other champions like Roger Federer , Novak Djokovic , Boris Becker , and Serena Williams , among many others. Rafael Nadal will surely be remembered by tennis fans, and his retirement is another signal that a new era of men's singles tennis is beginning. Andy Murray, Nadal, and Roger Federer have all retired from tennis-- only Djokovic remains, and his retirement is approaching soon; he turned 37 years old this year, just one year younger than Nadal. However, a new group of tennis greats are emerging, including Italy's Jannik Sinner, Germany's Alexander Zverev, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, the US' Taylor Fritz, and Russia's Daniil Medvedev. Fact of the Day (Reader's Diges t): Sharks have eyelids, but they do not blink because the surrounding water cleans their eyes. However, to protect their eyes, some species have nictitating membranes, also known as inner eyelids. This membrane covers the eyes while hunting and when the shark is being attacked. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Every great story happened when someone decided not to give up. (Spryte Loriano) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Moot (adj)- Moot typically describes something that is no longer important or worth discussing. It can also describe something that is argued about but not possible for people to prove. In a Sentence: I think they were wrong, but the point is moot . Their decision has been made and it can't be changed now.

Major United States budget carrier Spirit Airlines has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after months of recent financial struggles, which could impact the aviation industry in a big way. Chapter 11 bankruptcy, also known as reorganization bankruptcy, allows a company to get their finances in order and pay their debts while staying in business. There are several different types of bankruptcy: Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows individuals to liquidate, or sell assets, to pay their debts. Chapter 12 bankruptcy is for family farmers and fishermen, allowing them to keep their property while paying off their debts, and Chapter 13 allows individuals to reorganize and repay their debts over a period of three to five years without liquidation. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is the most common among large businesses, as it allows them to handle their debts without affecting their operations. Spirit is known for its bare-bones business model, which is designed to get passengers from point A to point B. Anything extra, including carry-on bags, checked baggage, in-flight refreshments, selecting your seat, carrying pets, priority boarding, and even printing your boarding pass at the airport costs extra money. In addition, Spirit is one of the most disliked airlines in the United States-- the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) consistently ranks Spirit as one of the most dissatisfactory airlines for numerous reasons, including baggage mishandling and high additional fees. The aviation industry suffered after the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, and many airlines never recovered. One of those airlines was Spirit, who have lost over $2.5 billion since then while amassing massive amounts of debt.  While demand is still relatively high, soaring labor costs have hurt the airline, and many travelers have switched over to other low-cost carriers like Southwest, Frontier, Allegiant, and JetBlue, among others. Spirit has not made a full-year profit since 2019, and they lost over $360 million in the first half of 2024 alone. Due to these factors, Spirit fell into deep debt, and the company decided to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy yesterday morning. They have confirmed that their tickets, memberships, credit cards, and frequent flyer miles will remain intact for their members, and operations should continue smoothly throughout the travel season while they attempt to pay off their outstanding debts. Over the next few months, they will reorganize their finances to complete this-- Spirit has also cut 20% of all flights from October to December to cut costs. Spirit has stated that they have secured $300 million in financing to help them with their troubles, and they aim to end their bankruptcy in early 2025. Unfortunately, while Spirit is counting on record Thanksgiving travel to aid in their recovery, this announcement of bankruptcy could end up driving customers away. Many consumers avoid relying on companies in a fragile state like bankruptcy, as it poses a risk to their future benefits. If Spirit were to shut down right now, thousands of the airline's members would lose the 34.3 billion unredeemed frequent flyer miles sitting in customer accounts, which are worth around $105 million. Because of their struggles in the aviation industry, Spirit has tried to merge with several other low-cost carriers to relieve them of their problems. However, these attempts failed both times. Back in 2022, an ailing Spirit announced that they were ready to merge with another carrier, leading Frontier to immediately make a proposal. JetBlue soon entered the conversation, though, and quickly outbid Frontier. Then, as the merger was passing through its final stages, a court ruling by the US Department of Justice blocked the $3.8 billion acquisition, claiming that it would drive up prices for Spirit customers who rely on the airline's low prices. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Hippopotamus sweat is pink. It is secreted as a clear liquid, but after being exposed to air, it turns pink. After a few minutes, the sweat then becomes a dark brown color. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Everyone that you fight is not your enemy and everyone who helps you is not your friend . (Mike Tyson) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Denigrate (verb)- To denigrate someone is to criticize them heavily and often unfairly. Denigrate can also mean "to make something seem less important or valuable." In a Sentence: Her essay denigrates her mentor as a person and as a teacher.