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Hello YNH Members, We have just launched our latest Unsolved Mystery: the Disappearance of the Roanoke Colony! Check out the new article here! Look out for more new, intriguing articles in the coming weeks!

Contents: Israel Strikes Back at Iran Despite Urges to Back Off Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Numerous countries that support Israel are balking at their latest move: retaliation. After Iran attacked Israel earlier this week, the US and other countries were urging Israel not to strike back, as it may cause another Middle Eastern conflict to escalate into a war. However, Israel refused to listen to this and launched a strike on a major air defense base near the key city of Isfahan as a retaliation to the first attack by Iran. At first, local officials were worried that the missiles were targeting a nuclear power research facility in the region, but Israel confirmed that they were just carrying out a small attack to show that they can strike anywhere at any time. Now, we await Iran's decision: do they stop this conflict and back off or retaliate again to Israel? The second option would most likely cause some form of a war in between the two, which would be a disaster for peace relations and the entire Middle East in general. Thankfully, Iran does not seem to be looking for a larger war, meaning that they will most likely back off to keep the peace and de-escalate the conflict. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railroad in the world. When traveling from end to end, passengers cross through 8 different time zones and ride across a whopping 3,901 bridges during the 7-day journey. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): When you find an idea that you just can’t stop thinking about, that’s probably a good one to pursue. (Josh James) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Underwhelm (verb)- To underwhelm someone is to fail to impress or excite them. In a Sentence: Despite the hype, the movie underwhelmed most reviewers, who criticized its slow pace and poor special effects.

Contents: 800 Evacuated After Indonesia Stratovolcano Eruption Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Over 800 people have been evacuated from the Indonesian region of North Sulawesi after a large volcano eruption. 2,400-foot tall Mount Ruang exploded at around 7:19 pm local time on Wednesday, sending plumes of ash and smoke thousands of feet into the sky. Lava was also seen blasting out of the caldera of the cone-shaped volcano, but thankfully, no fatalities have been reported. It has erupted five times so far, one after the other. Around 800 people are residents of the island, but they have all been safely evacuated to a neighboring island. Unfortunately, as Mount Ruang continues to spew ash and lava, the eruptions are getting bigger each time. Due to these disruptions in the air, the nearby provincial airport in Manado has been temporarily shut down. Mount Ruang is a stratovolcano, which are typically cone-shaped due to the lava flow and buildup of rock to form the towering landform. Stratovolcanoes are also known for their explosive eruptions, which are generally quite dangerous. Examples of large stratovolcano eruptions include the devastating 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in the United States, and the massive 1883 eruption of Indonesia's Krakatoa. Volcanologists and geologists in the area fear a partial collapse of the volcano into the sea, which could spark a dangerous tsunami. Indonesian authorities are still waiting for the eruptions to subside to move the residents back to the island and reopen the airport, but Mount Ruang seems to be continuing on its explosive run for now. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The Philippines is made up of 7,641 islands. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. (Ralph Nader) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Qua (prep)- Qua is a preposition used in formal speech or writing that means “in the capacity or character of (someone or something).” It is used synonymously with as to indicate that someone or something is being referred to or thought about in a particular way. In a Semtence The artist qua artist is less interesting to me than the artist as a human being.

Contents: 400-Year-Old Danish Stock Exchange Destroyed in Tragic Fire Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The entire Danish population is grieving after Copenhagen's 400-year-old historic stock exchange went up in flames earlier this week. The fire broke out around 8:30 am local time on Tuesday, and in just a few hours, it had engulfed over half of the building. The old stock exchange was one of Copenhagen's oldest buildings, built in 1625, and bordered the well-known Christiansborg Castle. It was also known for its massive, 184-foot spire, and the numerous famous paintings located inside. As firefighters helped to put out the raging fire, surrounding citizens helped the remaining firefighters remove as many of the important paintings as they could. A few valuable pieces of furniture were also saved, such as mirrors and chandeliers. The stock exchange fire was only declared under control by firefighters by the afternoon, but it kept burning late into the evening. Scaffolding in place for the building's renovation was an issue in the efforts, as it blocked the entrance to the upper floors. It was formally extinguished after hours of work on Wednesday. Officials have compared the tragedy to the fire at the Notre Dame in Paris, France, which had its grim five-year anniversary on April 15. A thorough investigation is in process to find the cause of the blaze-- so far, they are guessing that it may have been a short circuit in the electrical system or a cigarette butt that may have still had some glowing embers on it when thrown away. They know that it began near the copper roof of the building and worked its way down to the main, brick-walled section through the elevator shaft soon after, which will aid in the investigation. However, that was another issue in the firefighting efforts, as a removal of a section of the copper roof was required to extinguish the fire. The government will now look to rebuild the popular landmark and historical center as fast as possible. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The only letters that are not on the periodic table are J and Q. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake- you can’t learn anything from being perfect. (Adam Osborne) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Circumlocution (noun)- Circumlocution refers to the use of many words to say something that could be said more clearly and directly with fewer words. Usually encountered in formal speech and writing, circumlocution can also refer to speech that is intentionally evasive. In a Sentence: The judge coughed and pointed to her watch, clearly impatient with the attorney's tiresome circumlocutions in defense of his client.

Contents: 18 Dead, Chaos Across Cities as Heavy Rains Strike Middle East Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day At least 18 people are dead in Oman after heavy flooding has plagued the Middle East lately. Schools were closed and citizens worked from home across the United Arab Emirates as almost half a foot of rain fell in the area. As the Middle East is mostly a desert, drainage systems in the area are quite poor. Due to this, highways were inundated and flights were canceled after tarmacs at the airport were flooded, disrupting the flow of daily traffic. Vehicles were half-submerged and even swept away by the severe floods, turning entire cities into inundated swamps. In just 24 hours, Dubai's International Airport received almost half a foot of rain, while the average yearly precipitation is just a third of a foot. Heavy rains also fell across Bahrain, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, but the UAE and Oman were the worst-hit. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): There are only two parts of the human body that do not contain blood vessels: cartilage and the cornea. Due to this, they never heal, which is why knee replacements are needed after cartilage in a joint wears down or eye surgery is needed to prevent permanent blindness after your cornea is damaged. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): When you cease to dream you cease to live. (Malcolm Forbes) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Inalienable (adj)- Something considered inalienable is impossible to take away or give up. In a Sentence: The American ethos is built on the belief that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are inalienable rights.

Contents: Scottie Scheffler Takes Home Masters Win in Georgia With 11 Under Par Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The Masters in Augusta, Georgia, has come to an end, with Scottie Scheffler taking home his second green jacket in three years. Many viewers were hoping for a comeback of golfing legend Tiger Woods, who has been out of golf for the past few years due to a severe car accident in Los Angeles after speeding. After a great Round 1, he ruined his entire weekend with a 10-over par on a hole on Saturday, leading to him finishing in dead last of the golfers that made the cut. LIV golfer Bryson DeChambeau led the way after Round 1, with 7 under par, and Max Homa and Scottie Scheffler right behind with 6 under par. By the end of Round 2, all three golfers were tied for the top spot, but Bryson DeChambeau fell behind on Round 3, dropping to fifth with -3. Collin Morikawa had an amazing Round 3, boosting himself to second place with -6, while Scottie Scheffler kept the lead with -7 and Max Homa stayed in the race with -5. Then, Round 4 came to an end on Sunday, with Scottie Scheffler putting his prowess on display and delivering an 11 under par for the entire tournament. Ludvig Åberg moved up to take second with -7, and Collin Morikawa, Max Homa, and Tommy Fleetwood all tied for third with 4 under par. Congratulations to fans of Scottie Scheffler, who has earned his second green jacket in three years and will be taking home $3.6 million as a reward for his big win. As for fans of Tiger Woods, he hopes to bounce back at the next major in May: the PGA Championship. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): In Nevada, it is illegal to use an x-ray to find someone's shoe size. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company. (Booker T. Washington) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Purloin (verb)- To purloin is to take something that belongs to someone else—that is, to steal it. Purloin is much more formal-sounding than steal, but is often—though not always—encountered in humorous contexts, suggesting that the theft is not serious. In a Sentence: The puppy managed to purloin a few cookies from the plate when no one was looking.

Contents: US Urges Israel Not to Retaliate After Massive Iran Attack Upcoming Events Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The United States is urging Israel not to retaliate after a massive attack from Iran recently. Iran launched hundreds of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and ballistic missiles in response to Israel's airstrike earlier this month on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria. Iran also backs Palestine, which is currently in the middle of an intense war with Israel. The attacks by Iran lasted over five hours and consisted of over 170 drones and 120 ballistic missiles, but according to officials, Israel was able to take down 99% of the incoming projectiles with their Iron Dome defense system and the assistance of their allies of the United States, the United Kingdom, Jordan, and France. The only things that got through were a couple of ballistic missiles, which did minimal damage. No one was killed in the attacks, but a few Israeli citizens were injured by falling metal after explosions in the air. The United States and other countries are advising for Israel not to retaliate, as they are worried that it could break out into a full-fledged Middle Eastern war. Iran has a presence in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen through multiple militias, meaning that a war against Iran could also include a war against all of these other countries-- wreaking havoc in the entire area. They have also confirmed that if Israel does take action, they will not have the US's support, and they will not participate in any conflict sparked by this attack. Israel's war cabinet has still not decided on the response to Iran's attack, and their decision will be anxiously awaited by their allies. Upcoming Events: Rama Navami (Wednesday, April 17) Chinese Language Day (Saturday, April 20) Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix (Sunday, April 21) Ridvan Begins (Sunday, April 21) World Creativity and Innovation Day (Sunday, April 21) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Only four letters are doubled at the beginning of a word in the English language-- A, E, O, and L (ex. aardvark, eel, ooze, llama). Out of those four letters, the most words begin with a double O. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction. (George Lorimer) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Furlong (noun)- A furlong is a unit of distance equal to 220 yards (about 201 meters), and is used chiefly in horse racing. In a Sentence: To win the Kentucky Derby, a Thoroughbred must run 10 furlongs, or one and 1/4 miles.

Contents: 6 Dead, Multiple Injured After Deadly Stabbing Attack in Sydney Mall Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Six people are dead after a stabbing attack at a large mall in Sydney, Australia, but the attacker has been shot dead. Chaos ensued after 40-year-old Joel Cauchi came into the Westfield Bondi Junction mall wielding a long, dangerous blade and immediately started to fatally stab the surrounding crowd. He seems to have been targeting women, as five of the six victims were women. Multiple people were also injured, including a baby whose mother was killed, and the nine-month-old infant is still in the hospital. However, before he could stab anyone else, a single officer, Inspector Amy Scott, rushed into the area and quickly killed the attacker using her gun as he raised his knife towards her. She is being hailed across the country for her brave actions that may have helped saved the lives of many other people within the mall. Officials stated that the tragedy was most likely related to the attacker's poor mental health, and an investigation is now underway. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): If you laid out the circulatory system of an adult in a continuous line, it would stretch over 100,000 miles. That's equivalent to going around the Earth over 4 times! Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Your reputation is more important than your paycheck, and your integrity is worth more than your career. (Ryan Freitas) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Brusque (adj)- A person may be described as brusque when they are talking or behaving in a very direct, brief, and unfriendly way. Brusque can also describe speech that is noticeably short and abrupt. In a Sentence: We knew something was wrong when our normally easygoing professor was brusque and impatient with our class.

Contents: Kyiv's Largest Power Plant Destroyed After Latest Russian Attacks Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Ukraine's power system has been crippled by the latest round of Russian attacks, as Russia has been targeting their electricity grid. Ukrainian defense forces were only able to shoot down 57 out of the 82 Russian missiles and drones that were launched, with the remaining 25 wiping out multiple power plants, including the largest supplier of energy to Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. No power cuts have taken place, but it is a terrible day for the company of Centrenergo. All three of their primary power plants have now been destroyed during this war, with the latest attack hitting their last remaining one: the Trypilska Thermal Power Plant. Thankfully, no one was injured or killed. In July 2022, their Vuhlehirska Thermal Power Plant was destroyed, and their Zmiivska plant near Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv was taken out on March 22 of this year. Meanwhile, Ukraine's largest power company, DTEK, also stated that over 80% of their plants have been destroyed in Russian attacks. Due to this, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky has urged his western allies to provide more air support, as six of the 25 incoming missiles or drones that slipped through their defenses were hypersonic missiles. He emphasized their need for more air defense systems and fighter jets to shoot down incoming missiles, which he claims the west has been ignoring. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): It is illegal to swear on any road in Rockville, Maryland. Road raging is banned! Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. (Steve Jobs) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Surfeit (noun)- Surfeit is a formal word that refers to an amount or supply that is too much or more than you need. It is synonymous with the word excess. In a Sentence: The organization ended up with a surfeit of volunteers who simply got in each other's way.

Contents: Billions of Cicadas Expected to Emerge in Rare Double-Brood Event Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day If you live in the United States, get ready for billions of cicadas to emerge in what some researchers are calling a 'cicadapocalypse.' Cicadas come in multiple broods, with one brood emerging every 13 years and another brood emerging every 17 years. This year will be the first time the broods have emerged at the same time since 1803, and the rare event won't happen again until 2245. However, these are periodical cicadas, which are different from annual cicadas. Annual ones stay underground for shorter periods of time and emerge in the later phases of summer, while periodicals stay underground for either 13 or 17 years (based on the brood) and emerge in the spring. Annual ones also come around a lot more often, as there are numerous broods that emerge at various time periods. This year, both periodical broods will be emerging together, which is extremely rare. Periodical newborn cicadas burrow underground during the previous emergence, and they count the number of years based on the growing cycles of the trees that they munch on. Then, in the year that they are scheduled to emerge, when the temperature about 8 inches into the ground reaches 64 degrees Fahrenheit, it signals them that it is time to emerge. This year, around mid-May, expect to hear continuous loud noises and find numerous cicada exoskeletons scattered around your lawn and your porch, as cicadas' lifespans after coming aboveground are only 2 to 6 weeks. However, don't be frightened-- despite cicadas' scary red eyes, they are absolutely harmless. When they emerge and you hear annoying, droning loud noises from outside for over a month and a half, make sure to remember that this rare, double-brood event won't happen again for another 221 years, so try your best to enjoy it (in some way or the other)! Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): When spelling out numbers, the letter B doesn't appear until one billion. Also, the letter A doesn't appear until one thousand despite being the second most common letter in the English language. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The difference between a boss and a leader: a boss says ‘Go!’ – a leader says, ‘Let’s go!’ (E.M. Kelly) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Discomfit (verb)- To discomfit someone is to make them confused or upset. Discomfit is a formal synonym of the also formal (but slightly less so) disconcert. In a Sentence: Jacob was discomfited by the new employee’s forward, probing questions.