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Contents: 50 Countries Make Statements as Case Against Israeli Occupation of Palestine Kicks Off Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Israel may be in trouble with their invasion of Gaza, as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is hearing arguments about the conflict and it is not looking good for them. Over 50 countries have made statements in the case against Israel's occupation of Gaza since the issue came to the ICJ, which is the top court of the United Nations. Officials are confident that the court will rule against it, but this has no relation to South Africa's separate case concerning genocide against Palestinians. This was filed a while ago, and the judges ruled last month that Israel should take steps to prevent genocide against Palestinians. However, the judges did not mention if genocide was actually taking place or not. In this case, at least 10 countries have confirmed that they believe that it is completely illegal, with many more expected to make similar arguments. The judges of the World Court are expected to issue an opinion in about 6 months, as the entire case is a long, complicated process. The court has no power to enforce their rulings, but ignoring them can bring massive political backlash upon the country whose interests have been threatened. Fact of the Day: A chicken once lived for a year and a half without its head. Quote of the Day: Knowledge without action is meaningless. (Abu Bakr) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Buttress (noun)- A buttress is a structure built against a wall in order to support or strengthen it. More broadly, buttress may refer to anything that supports or strengthens. Buttress may also refer to something that resembles a buttress, such as a projecting part of a mountain or hill, a horny protuberance on a horse's hoof at the heel, or the broadened base of a tree trunk or a thickened vertical part of it. In a Sentence: After the wall collapsed, the construction company agreed to rebuild it with a buttress.

We sincerely apologize that the daily update for yesterday was not published due to a scheduling issue. It was published last night, so you can now read it here. Contents: Israel Announces Potential Invasion of Rafah If Hostages Are Not Returned Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Israel has announced that they will conduct a ground invasion of Rafah if their hostages are not returned by Ramadan, which is big news for anyone who has been keeping up with the conflict. Following Hamas' original October 7 attacks on Israel, they took hundreds of Israelis hostage, and Israel has been pounding Gaza to obliterate Hamas and get their hostages back. However, to only hostages Hamas has returned was when they struck a ceasefire deal with Israel, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would only consider any type of ceasefire in the future if all hostages were returned. After Israel's constant bombings across Gaza, over 1.5 million people are sheltering at the border city of Rafah, hoping to cross into Egypt. Egypt has begun construction of a wall to stop illegal crossings, so getting out of Gaza is becoming harder and harder. Even a few trucks of aid need weeks, even months, just to get into the strip, let alone distribute their goods. Now, Israel has announced that if all hostages are not returned by the start of Ramadan, which begins on March 10, they will launch a full-scale invasion of Rafah. This could potentially kill thousands of people who are already in terrible conditions, and it would be the destruction of the last safe haven for Palestinians in Gaza. Palestinian representatives have taken the issue of Israel's occupation of Palestine to the International Court of Justice, or World Court, which is expected to make a decision on the matter soon. Fact of the Day: The dots over the letters 'i' and 'j' are called tittles. Quote of the Day: If you don’t have big dreams and goals, you’ll end up working for someone that does. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Prestigious (adj)- Something described as prestigious has the respect and admiration that someone or something gets for being successful or important. In a Sentence: Chelsea’s mom often bragged about her daughter’s job at the prestigious company.

Contents: Israel-Brazil Relations Sink, World Court Hears Arguments Over Occupation of Gaza Upcoming Events Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Relations between Israel and Brazil have been drastically changed recently after a speech by Brazilian President Lula Inacio de Silva. He was attending the meeting of the African Union in Addis Ababa when he compared what Israel is doing in Gaza to Hitler's genocide of the Jews of Europe in World War II, sparking outrage in Israel. They said that his comments were 'shameful' and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had 'crossed a red line.' This comes as Israel continues to pound Gaza with attacks after the terrorist organization of Hamas invaded the country on October 7, and their retaliation attacks have killed at least 28,000 Palestinians. However, Israel claims that over 10,000 of them were terror operatives, and Hamas is also holding dozens of hostages in secret locations as bargaining chips. Countries around the world are all starting to agree that Israel is taking the situation too far, and the International Court of Justice, or World Court, has begun to hear arguments over the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Upcoming Events: World Day of Social Justice (Tuesday, February 20) International Mother Language Day (Wednesday, February 21) Table Tennis World Championships End (Sunday, February 25) Fact of the Day: The first American alarm clock was invented in 1787 and could only ring at 4:00 am. It took 60 years to invent an adjustable one! Quote of the Day: A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. (John A. Shedd) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Fathom (verb)- To fathom something is to understand the reason for its existence or occurrence. In a Sentence: Even those close to him can't always fathom why he repeatedly risks his life to climb the world’s tallest mountains.

Contents: ISRO Successfully Launches Meteorological Satellite Into Orbit Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has managed to launch a meteorological satellite into orbit around Earth, marking another successful milestone in India's space program. They launched their GSLV-F14 rocket yesterday, which released their INSAT-3DS satellite into Earth's orbit 18 minutes after liftoff. It will work together with India's INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR satellites to continue monitoring Earth's surface and oceans while also collecting data on Earth's atmosphere for meteorological purposes. This is a big step forward and gives everyone at ISRO a lot more confidence in their next launch in collaboration with NASA, which will be launching their NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite in the coming months. Fact of the Day: Scientists have decided that the average color of the universe is called cosmic latte. Quote of the Day: No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you’re playing a solo game, you’ll always lose out to a team. (Reid Hoffman) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Rapport (noun)- When you have a rapport with someone, your relationship is characterized by agreement, mutual understanding, or empathy that makes communication possible or easy. In a Sentence: Once our daughter had developed a rapport with her piano teacher, she began to show some real enthusiasm for learning and practicing the piano.

Contents: Israel Bombs and Raids Gaza's Largest Hospital Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day After finding evidence that hostages were being held there, Israel invaded and raided Gaza's largest functioning hospital, Nasser Hospital recently. However, according to Hamas, four people died due to the disruption of crucial supplies like oxygen. Israel reported that they managed to successfully capture multiple suspects, but had no comment on how the Palestinians passed away due to their raid. They initially bombed the hospital after a siege for multiple days before the forces came closer and shot numerous civilians and suspects fleeing the scene. The civilians who escaped fled near Rafah, the border crossing with Egypt, which is the only way to get out of Gaza right now. On the other hand, other patients, who need 24/7 medical care, are required to stay at the hospital in order to stay alive. Surgeons, doctors, and nurses are also staying at the hospital, risking their lives every day to take care of these patients in need. Unfortunately, Rafah, like most other places in Gaza right now, is in tatters after constant shelling by Israel. Many countries are blaming Israel for going too far and killing too many civilians, but Hamas continues to hold dozens of Israelis hostage. Fact of the Day: The world's largest snowflake was 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick. Quote of the Day: Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail. (Confucius) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Turbid (adj)- Turbid is a formal word that has several meanings having to do with literal or figurative muddiness or cloudiness. It's most often used literally to describe water that is thick or opaque with stirred-up sediment, as in "the river's turbid waters"; similarly, turbid air is smoky or misty. In figurative use, turbid describes things that lack clarity, as in "efforts to clear my turbid mind." In a Sentence: The group decided to forgo stopping at the swimming hole on their hike because of its turbid waters.

Contents: Major North American Solar Eclipse Approaches Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Start buying eclipse glasses now if you live in North America, because one is on the way! A total solar eclipse will take place on Monday, April 8, 2024, going through much of the middle part of the United States. Cities in the path of totality include Austin, Dallas, Little Rock, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Rochester. It will actually begin in western Mexico, passing through the cities of Mazatlán, Durango, and Torreón before sweeping through the US and finishing by passing Montreal and southeastern territories like Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Make sure not to miss it, because this sort of event only happens once every few years in each area. The last eclipse in North America was the Great American Eclipse of 2017, which took place on August 21 and swept across the entire nation from coast to coast. The last eclipse to be visible from all 48 contiguous states was in 1979, and the last one to pass from coast to coast was in 1918! However, make sure to wear the right glasses-- staring at the sun (even if it's covered by the moon) can do permanent damage to your eyes. Fact of the Day: It is more likely for you to remember your dreams after a bad sleep than a good one. Quote of the Day: Be so good they can't ignore you. (Steve Martin) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Enervate (verb)- Enervate is a formal word used for situations in which someone or something is being sapped of physical or mental vigor, vitality, or strength. The verb is most common in the participial forms enervated and enervating, as in "children enervated by the summer afternoon heat" and "a tedious discussion we found completely enervating." In a Sentence: The person giving the lengthy toast seemed to be completely unaware of the degree to which he was enervating his audience.

Contents: Tobago Beaches Become Black Due to Oil Spill Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Officials from Trinidad and Tobago claim to have cleaned up the oil spill near the islands, but their beaches are becoming black as oil swamps the area. They are trying to discover where the ship came from, who was on it, how much oil is left in the ship, or if there were any casualties, which makes the entire situation a real mystery. It seems to have been an overturned barge that has been leaking oil since it crashed, with the spill going almost 50 miles out from Tobago. However, all of the other information is unknown. Officials are trying their best to stop the spill from causing an even worse environmental disaster, as it is expanding into the open sea and onto 10 miles of Tobago's famous beaches. Equipment from Trinidad was sent and multiple booms, floating barriers used to control the spread of oil, are in place around the spill area. Fact of the Day: Lego bricks withstand more compression than concrete. Quote of the Day: The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. (Walt Disney) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cupid (noun)- Cupid is the Roman god of erotic love. The word cupid in lowercase refers to a figure that represents Cupid as a naked usually winged boy often holding a bow and arrow. In a Sentence: She purchased a large Valentine's Day card decorated with hearts and cupids.

Happy Valentine's Day! Contents: Israel Accused of Holding Up Resources for Palestinians Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day According to the main UN agency operating in the Middle East, Israel is holding up food and resources for over 1 million people in Gaza. Aid packages have been sent from countries into Israeli ports, who continue to hold the food there. 1,049 containers of various foods have been held up, which is enough to feed over 1 million people for a month, and the port staff claims that they have received direct instructions to not send the package onwards to Gaza. They were able to reroute some of the aid through Egypt, but it is just another delay in the rush to get supplies to Palestinians. Israel also claims that some members of the UN agency were involved in Hamas' initial attacks on Israel, which has led multiple countries to halt funding. Some organizations estimate that Gaza could enter a famine period by May amid this Israeli siege, and it is only getting worse as attacks ramp up on the Rafah border crossing, where over 1.3 million Palestinians are camped out in temporary tents. Fact of the Day: 145 million greeting cards are exchanged each year for Valentine's Day. Quote of the Day: Don’t worry about being successful but work toward being significant and the success will naturally follow. (Oprah Winfrey) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Maladroit (adj)- Maladroit is an adjective that means "incompetent" or "very awkward." It is usually used in formal speech and writing, and often describes people who lack skill in handling situations. In a Sentence: The governor has been criticized for his maladroit handling of the budget crisis.

Contents: Environmental Disaster Strikes Trinidad and Tobago Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day A massive oil spill has taken place in the Caribbean, and Trinidad and Tobago's prime minister has described it as causing a national emergency. The cause is still unknown, but officials do know that a ship somehow flipped over and gallons of oil are pouring out, but the remaining oil still left in the ship is unknown as well. This is quickly becoming an environmental disaster, as high amounts of oil can be extremely deadly to marine life and the leak has not been contained. Divers are now trying to find out what to do next and how to further prevent more oil from spilling, as they need to control the spill before they can assess the environmental impacts and brainstorm further plans for the wreck. Fact of the Day: Los Angeles' full name is El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora, Reina de los Angeles del Rio Porciuncula. It means the city of our Lady, Queen of the Angels on the river Porciuncula. Quote of the Day: You can’t change someone who doesn’t see an issue in their actions. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Inveigh (verb)- Inveigh is a formal word that means "to protest or complain bitterly or vehemently." Like its synonym rail, it's typically used with against. In a Sentence: Students inveighed against the new dress code policy.

Today, we have a YNH Exclusive on the Super Bowl that took place last night. Enjoy! Contents: Kansas City Chiefs Defeat San Francisco 49ers in Crazy Overtime Win Upcoming Events Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The Kansas City Chiefs took their second NFL Championship win in two years in last night in the Super Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada with a stunning win over the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers were originally the favorites to win despite losing the toss, but the Chiefs came back to pull off a comeback, sending it into overtime and eventually winning the game. Following four drives that ended in punts and a scoreless first quarter, the 49ers managed to put the first points on the scoreboard with a 55 yard field goal from kicker Jake Moody, which marked the longest field goal ever kicked in a Super Bowl. They followed that up with a touchdown on their next possession when QB Brock Purdy flipped the ball to WR Jauan Jennings, who ended up cornered by the Chiefs defense. He sent the ball across the field to RB Christian McCaffrey, who leaped up and caught the ball before sprinting 21 yards into the clear air ahead of him and adding 6 points to their lead. After San Francisco's 10-0 lead was established, the Chiefs came down the field over 13 plays but were unable to score a touchdown. Instead, kicker Harrison Butker nailed a 28 yard field goal before halftime. Usher headlined the halftime show along with guest appearances from Alicia Keys, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R, and will.i.am, with rappers Lil Jon and Ludacris also being featured in certain songs. The Chiefs did not start the second half in style, with QB Patrick Mahomes throwing a nasty interception that ended up giving them a total of -2 yards on the drive following a fumble that they managed to recover earlier. The Chiefs followed that up with two back-to-back scoreless drives, but Harrison Butker hit a 57 yard field goal on the third one. That instantly broke Jake Moody's record, but he did earn another one for shortest duration ever for holding a field goal length record! With the score at 10-6, both teams failed to score on their next drive, but the Chiefs then took their first lead of the game after a mistake by the 49ers. As kick returner Ray-Ray McCloud III was telling his players not to touch the ball, it landed and ricocheted off of teammate Darrell Luter's foot. McCloud attempted to grab the ball but lost it, turning the ball over the Chiefs at their 16-yard line. Patrick Mahomes sent the ball directly to WR Marques Valdez-Scantling on the next play for a Chiefs touchdown, making the score 13-10. The 49ers then realized that they needed to pick up the pace and blasted down the field in 12 plays across 75 yards. Jauan Jennings ended up being the one to bring in the 10-yard touchdown from Brock Purdy, but the extra point was blocked by Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal, making the score 16-13. Following a 24-yard field goal from Harrison Butker, a 53-yard field goal from Jake Moody, and a 29 yard field goal from Butker over the next three drives, the score was knotted up at 19-19 when the fourth quarter came to a close, sending the tight game into overtime. After 13 plays over 66 yards, the 49ers only came up with a 27 yard field goal, meaning that it was still anyone's game. On the next drive, the Chiefs sent the ball down the field, with Patrick Mahomes flipping the ball to WR Mecole Hardman Jr. for a 3 yard touchdown that won them the Super Bowl. Congratulations to Chiefs fans! These are the first back-to-back Super Bowl wins by an NFL team since the Patriots in 2004-2005! Upcoming Events: International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism (Monday, February 12) World Radio Day (Tuesday, February 13) Table Tennis World Championships Begin (Friday, February 16) Global Tourism Resilience Day (Saturday, February 17) Fact of the Day: Some bees fly up to 60 miles per day. Quote of the Day: We are made wise not by the recollection of our past but by the responsibility for our future. (George Bernard Shaw) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Quirk (noun)- Quirk refers to an unusual habit or way of behaving. It can also refer to something strange that happens by chance, as in “a quirk of fate.” In a Sentence: For an icebreaker, we were each asked to share a noteworthy quirk about ourselves. Mine was that I have to make sure every square of my waffles is buttered evenly before I eat them.