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Contents: IQAir's Top 100 Most Polluted Cities List is Released, and 83 Are in One Country Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day IQAir's annual pollution report is out for 2023, and it is not looking good for Asia. Their list of the top 100 most polluted cities contained just one city outside Asia (Benoni, South Africa), and 83 of the 99 cities in Asia were located within one country: India. The city of Begusarai, in the eastern state of Bihar, was ranked number 1 on the list, followed by Guwahati, Assam, Delhi, and Mullanpur, Punjab. 29 out of the top 30 most polluted cities were located in either India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh. Pakistan's Lahore came in at 5th, India's New Delhi at 6th, and Bangladesh's capital of Dhaka at 24th. According to the research, over 96% (1.3 billion people) of India's population live in an area with pollution levels over 7 times above the World Health Organization (WHO)'s recommended amount of extremely tiny, dangerous particulate matter (PM2.5), which is 5 micrograms per cubic meter. Also, in total, over 92.5% of the 7,812 cities included in the report had pollution levels over the WHO's PM2.5 guidelines, which is the main reason why so many people die each year due to pollution. Millions of people are killed by high pollution levels in unhealthy air every year, and millions of others have their lifespan shortened and suffer from diseases due to the effects of high PM2.5 levels-- and pollution continues to increase every year due to the burning of fossil fuels. After the coronavirus struck, pollution levels all over the world began to decline, but they rebounded in 2023. However, awareness for pollution levels has been rising, and new research is done each year to discover the real impacts of pollution on the Earth. For example, almost all of Africa is normally underrepresented on these statistics, but a good amount of the continent was included on the 2023 report after an expansion of their research area. Fact of the Day: Silly string, confetti, and stink bombs are all illegal in Alabama. Quote of the Day: It takes determination to see a dream come to pass. The question is not will you start, but will you finish. (Joel Osteen) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Allege (verb)- To allege something is to assert it without proof or before proving it. In a Sentence: Consumer advocates allege that the company knew about the faulty switches but sold the product anyway.

Today is the first day of spring! Also, NCAA Men's March Madness is beginning soon, so we have published an article with our predictions where you can stay updated with the latest March Madness news! Check the new article out here. In addition, we have a new article this morning by Mihir Gupta on the holiday of Nowruz! Check that article out at this link. Contents: Lava Rushes Towards Grindavík Once Again Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Multiple new fissures have opened up again near Grindavík, on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, and the lava is speeding toward the town. Both Grindavík and the area's famed Blue Lagoon were evacuated over the weekend when two new fissures opened up and lava started rushing towards the area, but anti-lava barriers constructed recently have been able to stop the lava from getting closer to any infrastructure.However, the lava is getting dangerously close to Grindavík's main road, the Grindavíkurvegur road, and scientists expect the lava to reach it. Thankfully, the impact on surrounding areas has not been as great, as all airports remain functional and the volcanic ash and gas have not gone very far. Unfortunately, some scientists believe that this is opening up a whole system of magma chambers under the area, and more fissures could continue to form in the coming months. This comes after continuous seismic activity and an eruption on February 8 following an evacuation of the area over eruption concerns back in November, and the worries for the small town are still increasing by the day. Fact of the Day: Out of the original eight, there is only one Shell gas station left that is actually shaped like a shell-- it is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Quote of the Day: Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude. (Zig Ziglar) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Tawdry (adj)- Something described as tawdry is cheap and gaudy in appearance or quality. Tawdry is also often used to describe something considered morally bad or distasteful, as in "a tawdry tale of political skulduggery." In a Sentence: Tawdry decorations cluttered the tiny house.

We have a boatload of upcoming events this week, so make sure to get to that after reading today's news highlights! Contents: Vladimir Putin Wins His Fifth Term as Russian President Upcoming Events Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Russian incumbent President Vladimir Putin won the country's election again by a massive margin, as there was no other serious opponents, leading to his fifth term as Russia's president. He was first elected in 1999 for his first six-year term, and just won the right to his fifth by an overwhelming 87.8%. This term will make him Russia's longest-ever serving president (beating Joseph Stalin), but everyone knew that there was no chance of anyone else winning the election. Many countries, including Ukraine, the US, and the UK, have accused the election of being rigged and not democratic. They believe that many strong candidates were imprisoned for going against him, but Putin strongly denied this and shot back by criticizing the US political system. This election comes as Ukraine ramps up their war efforts to get Russia to back off, striking multiple bases and oil refineries. Putin is sure to lead Russia's war effort once again, and he has stated that a strong retaliation is on the way. However, there is no end in sight to the war. Upcoming Events: NCAA March Madness Kicks Off (Tuesday, March 19) International Day of Happiness (Wednesday, March 20) French Language Day (Wednesday, March 20) International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination World Poetry Day (Thursday, March 21) Nowruz (Thursday, March 21) World Down Syndrome Day (Thursday, March 21) International Day of Forests (Thursday, March 21) World Water Day (Friday, March 22) World Meteorological Day (Saturday, March 23) Purim (Sunday, March 24) World Tuberculosis Day (Sunday, March 24) Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix (Sunday, March 24) International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims (Sunday, March 24) Palm Sunday (Sunday, March 24) Fact of the Day: "Albert Einstein" is an anagram for "ten elite brains." Quote of the Day: To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. (Ralph Waldo Emerson) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Blarney (noun)- Blarney refers to false but charming talk that often flatters the listener. In a Sentence: The bartender laughingly asked her gregarious patron if anyone ever believed his blarney.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! This holiday celebrates Irish culture and is known for its shamrocks and prominent green color. Contents: First Shipment of Aid by Sea Delivered to Gaza Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The first round of aid by sea has been successfully delivered into Gaza, and groups are getting ready to dispatch more after this huge step forward in the aid delivery process. Aid has been stuck at the Rafah border crossing for months, which is not getting Palestinians the help they need. However, the World Central Kitchen Charity prepared over 200 tons of food like rice, lentils, flour, tuna, beef, and chicken, and it was all packed onto a ship in Cyprus. While the food was being prepared, workers constructed a makeshift pier on the coast of Gaza out of rubble from damage done by Israeli attacks, and the ship successfully unloaded its cargo recently. Following a crush in front of aid trucks in which 20 people were killed, the WCF charity made sure that their distribution strategies would help prevent another situation like that. Sadly, this is not even a fraction of the aid that will be needed. Palestinians in Gaza continue to suffer from extreme starvation, and the situation is only getting worse. About 150 trucks of aid enter Gaza each day, while the 200 tons delivered on this ship is a mere 10 truckloads. On the other hand, those 150 trucks are entering southern Gaza, where most of the population is sheltering, but the WCF shipment was delivered to northern Gaza, which is in even deeper food deprivation. They are currently preparing a second shipment in Cyprus, but it won't be enough to solve the problem. The United States is working to create a larger pier on the coast that will allow more efficient unloading of shipments by sea, and they hope to deliver about 2 million meals per day by the end of it. There is still a long way to go, though. Israel continues to face more pressure to open up the border crossing even more to allow more truckloads to enter Gaza, as truckloads are much more efficient than other strategies like sea or air, and Israel and Hamas are coming closer and closer to a temporary ceasefire agreement. This comes amid announcements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that they are planning to advance their attacks into the southern city of Rafah, where over half of Gaza's population of 2.3 million is currently sheltering. Fact of the Day: Despite the celebrations in his name, St. Patrick wasn't even Irish! He was actually born in Roman Britain and brought to Ireland at 16 years old after being captured by pirates. Quote of the Day: A way there always is. (Yoda) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Querulous (adj)- Someone described as querulous is constantly or habitually complaining. Querulous can also be used synonymously with fretful or whining when describing something, such as a person's tone of voice. In a Sentence: She shows an impressive amount of patience when dealing with querulous customers.

Contents: CDC Finds Morel Mushroom Illness Outbreak Linked to Undercooking Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day You might want to stay away from morel mushrooms, and here's why: poisoning. Morels are mushrooms specifically served in high-end restaurants as a delicacy, as they are extremely tasty, and are known as one of the best mushrooms for a mushroom hunter to find. They only appear for a few weeks at the beginning of spring and are known for their look similar to a honeycomb. About a year ago, there was an illness outbreak in the city of Bozeman in Montana, killing two people. 51 people reporting getting sick with symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea after eating at Dave's Sushi, which had morels on their menu. 45 of those people confirmed that they had eaten morels as part of their meal there. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted an investigation and found that the morels had been imported from China to Montana and California. In California, they were served fully cooked, while they were served lightly cooked/raw in Montana. They believe that fully cooking the mushrooms could decrease their chance of causing illness, but the poison in the mushroom has not been identified. Poisoning from morel mushrooms is extremely rare, but almost all of past cases have occurred when the person has eaten the mushrooms raw. Experts recommend always eating mushrooms cooked, as many mushrooms contain some toxins that have different impacts on different people-- but they can be neutralized by adequate cooking. However, some cases have even occurred when the morels are cooked, meaning that the effects are still unknown and it could still be unsafe. For now, it may be safe to just stay away from morels while research is conducted on their effects. Fact of the Day: Gustav Eiffel originally designed the Eiffel Tower to be built in Barcelona, but the city rejected the idea. He then pitched it to Paris, who reluctantly agreed. Quote of the Day: There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul. (Ella Wheeler Wilcox) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Hegemony (noun)- Hegemony refers to influence or control over another country, group of people, etc. In a Sentence: The two nations have for centuries struggled for regional hegemony.

Contents: SpaceX Starship Launch is a Big Success Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day SpaceX's latest launch was a big success, and is a big step forward despite the setback it faced. SpaceX went through with the third launch of their Starship rocket yesterday, making it farther than ever before with the rocket. Earlier launches resulted in the rockets exploding just minutes after liftoff, but this Starship made it all the way out of the atmosphere before unfortunately suffering an issue upon re-entry, causing the rocket to disintegrate. This is still a huge step forward, they say, and a big win for SpaceX. They have stated that they plan to go through with six more test flights this year, and hopefully, at least one can make it back to Earth in one piece for a successful ocean splashdown. SpaceX hopes to be sending astronauts to the moon in the coming years using Starship, which is the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built. Fact of the Day: The term 'OK' came from the 1830s when people misspelled 'all correct' as 'oll korrect,' leading to the abbreviation 'OK.' Quote of the Day: Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare. (Angela Duckworth) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Emulate (verb)- If you emulate someone or something, you try to be like that person or thing. The word is used especially when one is trying to equal or surpass someone in accomplishment or achievement. In a Sentence: She grew up emulating her sports heroes.

Contents: Japan Privately-Owned Space Rocket Explodes Just Seconds After Liftoff Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Unfortunately, Japan's latest space rocket didn't make it very far after its launch yesterday, exploding just seconds after liftoff. Private company Space One has been racing to become Japan's first private company to successfully launch a satellite into orbit, hoping to become Japan's version of Elon Musk's SpaceX. Sadly, their rocket, named Kairos, burst into flames just five seconds after liftoff in western Japan's Kii Peninsula, sending flaming debris flying all over the area and smoke erupting from the launch site. After the engine for the rocket's first stage suffered issues, it terminated the mission immediately and self-destructed, and the company is now investigating what went wrong with the launch. The fire on the launchpad has been extinguished, and no one was injured in the explosion. Japan is aiming to keep up with the rising global demand for commercial satellites, in which the United States, China, and Russia are far ahead of them. However, they are moving ahead in the space industry despite some setbacks, and aim to be launching multiple rockets per year by the late 2020s. Fact of the Day: There is a type of wasp called the Megaphragma mymaripenne, which is smaller than some single-celled organisms! However, the wasp still contains all of the parts of a regular bug: eyes, wings, legs, abdomen, antennae, etc. It also has one of the smallest nervous systems of any insect-- just 7,400 neurons (in comparison, a housefly has 340,000). Quote of the Day: A wise man said, don't be afraid to start over again. This time, you're not starting from scratch. You're starting from experience. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cacophony (noun)- A cacophony is a mixture of loud and usually harsh unpleasant sounds. Cacophony can also refer to an incongruous or chaotic mixture. In a Sentence: The sounds of shouting added to the cacophony on the streets.

After a wait of multiple months, the finale of Season 3 of American History Stories is finally out! Check out the final episode here. Contents: 50 Injured After Boeing Flight Suffers Dramatic Drop Mid-Flight Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Boeing might be in some serious trouble once again, following their recent 737 Max issues and the crashes in 2018 and 2019. Yesterday, an incident occurred onboard LATAM Airlines Flight 800, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, from Sydney to Auckland where the pilot lost control of the plane for a brief period of time, sending the aircraft plummeting for a few seconds. The Chile-based airline is investigating what happened, but officials have some good eyewitness accounts on the accident. The pilot reported that all gauges went blank for a moment, sending the plane into a freefall for about 10 seconds until everything re-engaged and the plane set back onto its regular flight path. A passenger backed those facts up soon after, stating that he immediately woke up to a plane plummeting about 500 feet, and he saw multiple people fly up across the cabin and stick to the ceiling as the aircraft nosedived for a few brief moments. Those people collapsed back to the ground after just a few seconds, but everyone was extremely shaken from what they thought was a near-death experience. He reported that it was 'mass chaos' during the fall, which ended up injuring about 50 people. Neither Boeing nor investigators have found out the cause of the technical issue, but the black boxes have been recovered and are being analyzed. This comes at a time where Boeing is being questioned by their customers and aviation authorities for their quality control, which has turned up to be unsafe in some aircraft. The aircraft have not been grounded, though, as Boeing has promised to beef up safety and quality controls in the next few months. This could be another setback in regaining their customers' trust, though, which has slowly been returning since the 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. Fact of the Day: 'Fancy riding' on bikes is illegal in Illinois. This is considered as any fancy, unusual biking like riding without hands or taking your feet off the pedals. Quote of the Day: Tomorrow is the only day in the year that appeals to a lazy man. (Jimmy Lyon) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Ulterior (adj)- Ulterior describes things (usually motives, objectives, reasons, agendas, etc.) that are kept hidden in order to achieve a particular result. In a Sentence: Rory found it hard to not be suspicious of the accountant for offering these services for free; her eagerness to help suggested she has an ulterior motive.

Contents: Biggest Wins and Losses From the 2024 Oscars Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day There were some big wins and losses for movies at the Oscars on Sunday night, with Oppenheimer taking home most of the big prizes. Oppenheimer dominated the night, bringing home seven Oscars: Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Picture, Best Director (Christopher Nolan), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing. Another big winner was Poor Things, bringing home Best Actress (Emma Stone), Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Production Design. Before the Oscars, Oppenheimer and Poor Things were looking good, with 13 and 11 nominations, respectively. However, Killers of the Flower Moon was shut out, going in with 10 nominations and emerging with nothing to show for it. Also, the producers of Barbie were slightly disappointed as well, as the box office hit came in with 9 nominations and only came out with one Oscar for Best Original Song, which was What Was I Made For? by FINNEAS and Billie Eilish. Overall, it was a riveting 96th Academy Awards hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, and you can watch the replay with either FuboTV, Sling TV, or Hulu in the United States. It can be watched on ITV in the United Kingdom or 7PLUS in Australia. Fact of the Day: For less than a month, between December 18, 1934 and January 9, 1935, the United States Treasury printed $100,000 bills. They had Woodrow Wilson's face on them, but they never went into public circulation-- they were only exchanged within the government. Quote of the Day: Fall seven times, stand up eight. (Japanese Proverb) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Refurbish (verb)- To refurbish something is to brighten or freshen it up, or to repair and make improvements to it. In a Sentence: They are refurbishing the old house with the hopes of selling it for a profit.

Check out today's YNH Exclusive that starts out with some important news and also dives into dangerous food additives! Contents: United States FDA Expected to Ban BVO Soon After Proposal in November Other Harmful Additives to Stay Away From Upcoming Events Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The United States Food and Drug Administration is expected to officially ban brominated vegetable oil (BVO) soon after proposing the ban in November 2023. BVO is a chemical primarily used in sodas, as the added bromine creates a denser oil that stops citrus flavoring agents from floating to the surface of fizzy drinks. Countries all over the world, such as Japan, India, and all of the European Union, have already outlawed the chemical after recent studies brought its possibly harmful effects to light, which is why Mountain Dew and Fresca are not sold in the EU. BVO has been used in drinks since the 1920s, and the FDA originally placed the chemical on its generally recognized as safe (GRAS) list. However, scientists knew that bromine is a huge factor in iodine deficiency, as it can prevent iodine from helping the thyroid create hormones that help with metabolism, which is why they urged the FDA to look further into the safety of BVO. Since the FDA didn't have enough data to justify the restriction of BVO, they limited the level of the chemical in drinks to 15 parts per million while they conducted long-term studies. After years of studies on animals, they concluded that the amount of bromine in BVO can be harmful to the thyroid, liver, and heart, and it can also cause neurological and developmental issues in the brain. Following these studies, the FDA considered banning it, but California got there first. In October 2022, California banned the usage of BVO in any food or drink, along with three other food additives, but it would only take effect by 2027. On the other hand, Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Co have been phasing BVO out for a while, and the chemical is not included in any of their drinks anymore. Many companies still use it, though, and it can have serious effects on the body. The FDA is expected to make the official announcement after their review process, but in the meantime, make sure to stay away from any drinks containing brominated vegetable oil! On a separate but related note, make sure to also stay away from the other three food additives that California has banned. As previously mentioned, in October 2022, California introduced the California Food Safety Act, which will fine the maker of any consumable item containing brominated vegetable oil, Red 3, potassium bromate, and propylparaben starting January 1, 2027. Red 3, also known as erythrosine, is present in over 2,900 food products and is primarily made of petroleum. Some notable foods that contain Red 3 are pink Peeps, various red candies, and maraschino cherries. The chemical is known to cause numerous detrimental health effects, most notably increased chances of cancer, hyperactivity, and neurological issues in children. The latter is also very concerning considering that according to various studies, young children consume over twice as much Red 3 as the general population. Along with Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, Red 3 has been confirmed as a dangerous carcinogen, and is banned in the EU, Japan, China, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, but not by the FDA. Potassium bromate is also known to be a carcinogen, leading to kidney, thyroid, and gastrointestinal cancer in animals who have been studied. It is primarily used in baked goods like breads, bagels, and pastries, and the additive is banned in the EU, China, and India. Lastly, propylparaben is generally used in cosmetics, but is also a food additive in various foods, including desserts like muffins and cookies. In animal testing, it was found to cause reproductive issues and disruption of the endocrine system, but the effects of propylparaben are much less harmful than the effects of other additives like Red 3. If you find any of these chemicals in any of your foods, make sure to stay away from them, as these additives can lead to long-lasting effects that could plague your body for life. Upcoming Events: Ramadan Begins (Monday, March 11) International Day to Combat Islamophobia (Friday, March 15) St. Patrick's Day (Sunday, March 17) Fact of the Day: Strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries aren't actual berries. By the botanical description, a true berry grows from one single-ovary flower and has multiple seeds, while all of the three aforementioned 'berries' are considered aggregate fruits because they are made of multiple parts. However, eggplants, avocados, tomatoes, bananas, kiwis, and watermelons all fit this description. Quote of the Day: Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way. (Abraham Lincoln) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Obeisance (noun)- Obeisance is a synonym of homage that refers to an acknowledgement of another’s importance or superiority. Obeisance can also mean “a movement of the body (such as a bow) showing respect for someone or something.” In a Sentence: The young singer paid obeisance to Otis Redding while on tour in Memphis by singing “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay.”