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Cuba is experiencing yet another nationwide power outage after the central electrical grid failed for the fourth time in the last six months. The power outage was due to a short circuit on a transmission line at the Diezmero substation in the country's capital of Havana, which led to a chain reaction of events that completely halted power generation across the island. The incident occurred on Friday night at around 8 pm local time, leaving many citizens without electricity for all of Saturday. Electricity is necessary for a multitude of important household devices like stovetops, ovens, fridges, and air conditioning, leaving Cubans hot and uncomfortable in their homes with food spoiling away. Now, authorities are working to restore power as fast as possible, but it could take days for power to return to some areas. They are working primarily on restoring power to crucial buildings like hospitals, and some small power plants are already back up and running. However, some of the country's largest power plants are still shut down, so many residents have been forced to resort to a personal device that creates electricity-- and most Cubans lack access to a generator. Unfortunately, this is not the first time this sort of problem has happened. Major nationwide blackouts also occurred in October, November, and December, with some leaving residents out of power for upwards of two days. Occasional outages are common across the country, with people losing electricity for four or five hours at a time, but those blackouts can last up to 20 hours in some cases. These blackouts primarily occur due to fuel shortages and aging electrical infrastructure across Cuba. The country has faced major financial problems with oil and gas in recent years, forcing them to depend on supplies of Venezuelan oil, which can be inconsistent. In addition, much of their electrical infrastructure is over 30 years old, and constant battering of the system by hurricanes every year has exacerbated the effect of age on the reliability of the country's power grid. Nevertheless, Cuba is working on moving towards renewable energy to shift away from their dependency on oil from other countries-- the planned construction of at least 55 solar farms across the island by the end of 2025 is expected to generate enough electricity to supply around 12% of the country's total energy consumption. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The FDA actually allows up to one rat hair in every 100 grams of peanut butter before it’s considered “defective.” For reference, 100 grams is equal to a little under a quarter of a pound. Since it’s so hard to spot and remove the hairs during the difficult, unglamorous process of peanut harvesting, they allow small amounts of it. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quote s): Happy is the man who has broken the chains which hurt the mind, and has given up worrying once and for all. (Ovid) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Stratagem (verb, STRAT-uh-jum) - A stratagem is a trick or plan for deceiving an enemy or for achieving a goal. In a Sentence: They devised various stratagems to get the cat into the carrier, but the feisty feline was wise to them all.

The captain of the Portuguese container ship that smashed into a US-flagged oil tanker earlier this week has been arrested and charged for the incident. On Monday, the Stena Immaculate, an oil tanker belonging to the United States military, was anchored off the coast of the United Kingdom in the North Sea when it was hit by the Solong, a Portuguese-flagged cargo ship. Both ships suffered serious damage and a massive fire ensued, sparking rescue operations from the local coast guard. 36 people made it out of the incident, but one man is still missing and has been presumed dead. Now, the captain of the Solong has been identified as Russian native Vladimir Motin, a 59-year-old, and he has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter. Investigations into the incident are still taking place, though, and the exact cause of the crash has not been determined. However, the captain will still face a trial in the United Kingdom, and he remains detained until then. Meanwhile, pollution was initially a major concern for governments and environmentalists alike, but authorities have confirmed that no substances seem to be leaking from either ship. The Stena Immaculate was carrying over 220,000 barrels of jet fuel, which began leaking into the ocean on the day of the incident. The leakage was quickly stopped, though, and the remaining oil in the ocean was taken care of using floating barriers and dispersants. In addition, the Solong was carrying 15 containers of sodium cyanide, a toxic chemical, but thankfully, none of that seems to have spilled into the ocean either. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): You might already be aware that you shed your skin, and that much of the dust you see around your home is composed of dead skin cells. You shed skin nearly constantly, and your entire epidermis completely regenerates approximately every 27 days. While the amount varies greatly per person, you lose an average of 1.5 pounds of skin cells a year, which means that you’ll most likely shed at least half your body weight in skin cells throughout your entire life. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I know how I look like. I know how I sound. I know how I walk. I’m just gonna be me. I do me, and you do you. (Caster Semenya) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Bamboozle (verb, bam-BOO-zul) - To bamboozle someone is to deceive, trick, or confuse them. In a Sentence: The salesperson bamboozled us into getting a more expensive item than we had planned to buy.

People across the Americas were treated to a spectacular total lunar eclipse last night, turning the moon a bright red in what is known as a 'blood moon.' A lunar eclipse is when the Earth passes directly between the Moon and the Sun, and it always occurs on a full moon night because of the Moon's positioning behind Earth. The Moon's orbit around Earth is tilted by approximately 5 degrees, but that tilt slowly rotates. Because of this, every two to three years, a total lunar eclipse occurs. During a total eclipse, the Moon turns completely red, giving it the nickname 'blood moon.' This is because the sunlight that usually bounces off a full moon is being blocked by Earth, so the only light that reaches the Moon are the waves that travel through Earth's atmosphere. However, the atmosphere is full of particles and dust that block the shorter wavelengths, leaving just red -- the longest wavelength -- to travel onward the moon. Lunar eclipses are also very unlike solar eclipses. Solar eclipses occur during the day and require special goggles to see, preventing eye damage. Lunar eclipses can be seen with the naked eye, as it is a reflection of the Sun's light. In addition, solar eclipses only occur in extremely specific areas, making them more rare. Lunar eclipses can be seen by virtually anyone on that side of the planet, making them more visible to the public. Nevertheless, many lunar eclipses go unseen due to the fact that they are at extremely late or extremely early hours-- this year's eclipse peaked at 2:59 am EDT. Last night's eclipse was visible across the Americas-- everywhere from Canada and the United States down to Chile and Argentina. It was partially visible in places like New Zealand, Western Africa, and Europe's Iberian Peninsula, but people who were able to get a view of the full eclipse were treated to a beautiful sight. Totality began at 2:26 am EDT and continued for over an hour, with the eclipse peaking at 2:59 am. It was the first total lunar eclipse since the last one on November 8, 2022, but it is just the first of several others that will come in the following years. Later this year, there will be a lunar eclipse on September 7, which can be seen from Asia and Western Australia, and another one will occur on March 2, 2026 across the Pacific Ocean. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): One study conducted in 2017 by the Innovation Center for US Dairy found that 7% of the American population believes that chocolate milk comes from brown cows. While this statistic may only seem mildly staggering at first, the truth is that 7% of the American population is equivalent to around 23.8 million people. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I love to win. But I love to lose almost as much. I love the thrill of victory, and I also love the challenge of defeat. (Lou Gehrig) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Curfew (noun, KER-fyoo) - Curfew refers to a law or order that requires people to be indoors after a certain time at night, as well as to the period of time when such an order or law is in effect. Chiefly in the United States, curfew is also used to refer to the time set by a parent or caregiver at which a child has to be back home after going out. In a Sentence: No one is allowed on the streets during the curfew .

Dozens of people were killed after a train carrying hundreds of people was hijacked in Pakistan yesterday, leading to an intense rescue operation that saved almost 350 people. The incident occurred in the Pakistani province of Balochistan, a large province covering the southwest corner of the country, and the attack was carried out by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a rebel group looking to achieve independence for Balochistan. The BLA has been around for quite some time now, and they have executed multiple dangerous, deadly plans that have killed dozens of people over the past few years. The BLA opposes many decisions that the Pakistani government has made, specifically several major decisions that have grown their relations with China, and they believe that the Baloch people are being used and deserve an independent state. China has recently made massive investments into what is known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which works to grow Pakistan's economy while providing China with a new trade route and easier access to the Middle East. One of the largest of these projects is the ongoing construction of the port of Gwadar, a city in Balochistan with a strategic location on the coast. However, many of the Baloch people maintain a stance against the Chinese government, leading to conflict in the region. In the latest attack, the BLA attacked the Jaffar Express, a long-distance train route traveling between the Balochi capital of Quetta and the city of Peshawar, which is located in the far north of the country. The group began firing rocket-propelled grenades and sprayed heavy gunfire onto several carriages, and while there were soldiers onboard to defend the train, they were greatly outnumbered by the BLA. Then, the BLA stormed onto the train and began to separate people by their ethnicity, immediately killing anyone from the province of Punjab. Anyone who tried to escape was shot at, and many were killed. However, several people managed to evade BLA forces and run to nearby towns, where Pakistani troops were already stationed. In the end, 26 passengers and the train driver were killed by the BLA, but Pakistani forces managed to kill all 33 BLA militants involved in the hijacking. Nevertheless, Pakistani officials have referred to this attack as a wake-up call for their nation to address the growing threat of the BLA in the southwest. While Balochistan makes up 44% of Pakistan's total land area, it contains only 6 to 7% of its population, and much of the province's population has been stricken by serious poverty. In addition, growing Chinese influence in the region has further displeased the BLA, leading to a sharp increase in attacks over the past few years. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): There is a type of predatory fish known as a snakehead fish, which can get up out of the water and walk over a quarter of a mile. They have both gills and an organ located in their “gill arches” that permits them to breathe oxygen, and they can weigh up to 14 pounds. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled. (Plutarch) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Multifarious (adj, mul-tuh-FAIR-ee-us) - Something described as multifarious has great diversity or variety, or is made up of many and various kinds of things. Multifarious is a formal word and a synonym of diverse. In a Sentence: He participated in multifarious activities throughout college.

The United States and Ukraine have reached a major ceasefire deal, which could bring some temporary peace to a region ravaged by war over the past three years. The United States has been working to broker a deal between Ukraine and Russia for some time now, but Europe was being shut out of negotiations. They believed that the US would create a deal favoring Russia due to President Donald Trump's closeness with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but those suspicions have proved incorrect. Yesterday, the US and Ukraine met for talks in Jeddah, a port city on the west coast of Saudi Arabia. Throughout recent wars, Saudi Arabia has served as a neutral ground for negotiations, as it is neither inclined to support Ukraine nor Russia. The two countries agreed on a 30-day ceasefire deal that could be extended if both parties agree. This agreement would see Ukraine and Russia take one month to engage in formal talks on a permanent ceasefire, and this period would also allow citizens in war zones to recover and escape. The United States has provided the most aid and weapons to Ukraine of any country over the past three years. Due to this, Ukraine needs the United States as an ally to keep going in this war, which is why they have followed Trump and his negotiations despite renewed support from Europe. Since Ukraine has agreed to the proposal, the United States has resumed military aid supplies and the sharing of important information with Ukraine, which was banned several weeks ago by Trump. The United States has also confirmed that Ukraine has now made a commitment to peace, proving that they are not in this just for the war. However, the deal still has to be brought to Russia. Several Russian officials have expressed displeasure towards the proposal, claiming that it just gives Ukraine more time to rest and come back stronger into the war. The Kremlin, though, has maintained that they are willing to speak further with the United States government. Previously, though, Russia has maintained that they are ready to work on a ceasefire on two main conditions. Firstly, they need Ukraine to drop their bid to join NATO, and second, they will be able to keep all of the territory they have gained in the war so far. It is still unknown whether Russia will accept or decline the ceasefire agreement, but official negotiations between them and the United States will begin later this week. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The average American believes that they are smarter than the average American. According to a recent poll, 55% of people polled said they thought they were smarter than the average American. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): You don’t have to be larger than life to be a hero, just larger than yourself. (Mitt Romney) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Quark (noun, KWORK) - Quark is a word used in physics to refer to any one of several types of very small particles that make up matter. In a Sentence: Quarks , which combine together to form protons and neutrons, come in six types, or flavors : up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom.

Oil is now leaking into the North Sea after a Portuguese container ship hit a United States-flagged oil tanker in a major collision yesterday, and both ships suffered serious damage and were set ablaze after the incident. The Stena Immaculate, belonging to the United States military, was anchored in the North Sea yesterday morning carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel when the Portuguese-flagged Solong slammed into it, leading to severe damage on both vessels. A massive fire quickly erupted across the scene, with one of the ships being completely swallowed in flames before the British Coast Guard and other organizations stepped in to help. The crew immediately left the ships and escaped the potentially dangerous area, with the help of local authorities. In total, 36 people made it out of the incident, while one member of the Solong is still missing. However, searches proved unsuccessful, and they recently confirmed that the search for the man has ended. Now, the Stena Immaculate is leaking jet fuel into the ocean, while the Solong happened to be carrying a toxic chemical that could also prove deadly. Experts have confirmed that while jet fuel is not as bad as crude oil, which is thicker and heavier, it still poses a major risk to the environment. Marine life can swim through this jet fuel or worse, swallow it, killing off scores of animals, and the flaming jet fuel on the surface of the water is emitting thick, black smoke into the air. Meanwhile, the Solong was carrying primarily alcohol, but it also had 15 containers of a toxic chemical known as sodium cyanide onboard. Sodium cyanide is a chemical used in many industrial processes like mining, but it is extremely deadly. When it comes into contact with acids, water, or carbon dioxide, sodium cyanide turns into hydrogen cyanide, a dangerous gas that also happens to be highly flammable, and inhalation of hydrogen cyanide can result in death in mere minutes. Nevertheless, authorities still do not know whether the chemical even leaked into the ocean, nor have they have established a number for an estimate of how much jet fuel has entered the sea. Due to the fuel, though, the fires onboard the ships are still burning despite strong efforts from authorities. As of right now, the greatest concern is the environmental damage that could be done by the incident, as the arrival of jet fuel in the ocean could kill off hundreds or even thousands of fish, seals, and other local marine life. Ships with booms, or floating barriers that stop oil from spreading, have been sent to the area, and several planes that are able to spray a dispersant onto the fuel. These dispersants break the oil down into much smaller particles, making the oil easier to dissolve into the water. In addition, authorities have also been looking at the cause of the incident, which is still unknown. The US-flagged ship had been anchored around 10 miles off the coast of the United Kingdom while it waited to be accepted at a nearby port, while the Solong was en route from Grangemouth, Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands when the collision occurred. Some suspect that heavy fog may have played a role, but speculation is being avoided by authorities and experts alike. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The average American uses around three rolls of toilet paper per week-- an excessive amount that is destroying Earth's forests. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I believe that life is a process of continuous change and a constant struggle to make that change one for the better. (Lee Kuan Yew) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Wend (verb, WEND) - Wend is a literary word that means “to move slowly from one place to another usually by a winding or indirect course”; wending is traveling or proceeding on one’s way in such a manner. In a Sentence: Hikers wend along the marked trails to the top of the mountain, which provides a panoramic view of the area towns.

Over 200 people have been killed in a clash between Syria's new government and supporters of Assad, the dictator who ruled the country for the last 25 years whose government was recently overthrown. In 2000, Bashar al-Assad took power from his father, but a civil war began in 2011 after years of uprisings. During the 13-year war, different factions took power over different parts of the country, with Assad maintaining control over the main part of Syria that included the major cities of Aleppo and the capital, Damascus. However, in December, a group known as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham stormed Aleppo before taking over Damascus, kicking out Assad and his government. The group then took control of the country, replacing Assad's dictatorship and beginning their attempt to rebuild the country's democracy. This new government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, has confirmed that they are hoping to unite the country, which has been divided for 14 years. Earlier this week, officials from the new Syrian government were in the small town of Jableh, located on the country's small Mediterranean coast, when they were attacked by supporters of Assad. While Assad has already fled the country for Russia, he still maintains a significant following of supporters within Syria. Many of these supporters are located on the coast, leading the new government to pay more attention to the area. Due to this, forces stormed into several coastal towns over the past few days, killing hundreds of men. One man reported that they had killed every man they saw, but no women were killed in the attacks. However, the government has stated that these forces do not belong to them-- instead, they are independent individuals who have taken action out of support for the new government. Ahmed al-Sharaa has instructed supporters of Assad to hand over all of their weapons, but he has also urged his own armed supporters to avoid clashing with others. He has stated that they must not stoop down to the level of Assad's supporters, but instead stay nonviolent and ignore their provocations, which will just make the situation worse. Other officials have backed this, as they believe that more violence could escalate into another civil war, which would go against their collective goal of uniting the country. Upcoming Events: International Day of Women Judges (Monday, March 10) Holi (Friday, March 14) International Day to Combat Islamophobia (Saturday, March 15) Special Olympics World Winter Games End (Sunday, March 16) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Have you ever wondered why you feel sedated after a large meal? Well, most foods have carbohydrates, and carbs contain an amino acid called tryptophan that can cause sleepiness. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Read not only between the lines, but also what is not written. (Vijay Kedia) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Imperturbable (noun, im-per-TUR-buh-bul) - Imperturbable describes someone or something marked by extreme calm; such a person or thing is very hard to disturb or upset. In a Sentence: The imperturbable captain did not panic when the boat sailed into the path of a violent storm.

Cyclone Alfred has now disintegrated into a group of strong storms, but it has done significant damage to Australia's eastern coast and is continuing to dump rain over the area. Alfred began as a tropical cyclone in the waters northeast of the state of Queensland, and it quickly moved south while slowly strengthening in the warm waters off the coast. Then, the storm took a sharp turn to the west, making landfall near Brisbane yesterday. Brisbane, a major Australian city of around 2.7 million people and the capital of Queensland, rarely experiences storms like this due to its low latitude. However, Alfred brought strong winds when it approached the coast, and the slow-moving storm has flooded the entire region with heavy rain. Large storm surge was also reported, with waves of over 40 feet arriving on some beaches. Thankfully, the winds weakened before landfall, but the damage done by water was still an issue. Alfred was expected to become the first cyclone since 1974 to make landfall in southeastern Queensland, but it weakened to a tropical low before reaching the coast. In addition, while it was initially expected to arrive near Brisbane, its track slightly shifted to bring the worst conditions to Gold Coast, an area farther from the city. At least one person was killed after being swept away by floods, and 13 members of the military were injured after a car crash when they were attempting to reach areas in need of help. In total, over 300,000 homes and businesses are out of power, as winds and floods have wrecked power lines and felled trees. Over 1,000 schools have been shut down, all public transport has been stopped, and air travel in the region has also been halted. Unfortunately, cleanup and recovery operations will not be able to begin for several days-- despite the breaking up of the storm, the remnants of Alfred continue to dump heavy rain over the area. Cyclones in regions this far south are extremely rare-- the area hit by Alfred has not experienced a cyclone warning since 1990 due to its position south of generally warm waters. However, as climate change worsens, natural disasters and extreme weather events like this will continue to become more frequent as waters warm, creating stronger, deadlier storms in areas currently unprepared for them. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Startlingly, around 25% of the American population believes that the Sun revolves around the Earth, according to a 2012 study that surveyed over 2,200 people. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one. (Malcolm Forbes) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Gregarious (adj, grih-GAIR-ee-us) - Gregarious is used to describe someone who enjoys the company of other people. In a Sentence: Justin’s gregarious personality made it easy for him to get to know people at the networking event.

Europe has successfully launched a French spy satellite into space aboard their brand-new Ariane 6 rocket after years of delays. Europe has been planning to build a rocket capable of competing with US-made rockets for years, but their plans never came together until recently. The European Space Agency (ESA) initiated the process, but the ideas were executed by ArianeGroup. ArianeGroup is a joint venture between Airbus and Safran, two European aerospace engineering companies, which is paid by the ESA to build rockets. Ariane 5, the group's previous rocket, was extremely successful, with over 110 launches. The heavy-lift rocket was recently retired, though, as Ariane 6 was in the works. Ariane 6 was first proposed in 2014 after increasing advancements on the American side of space innovation, but years of delays set the initial launch back several times from its original date in 2020. However, due to the setbacks, Europe has been left without a working rocket for missions for two years, as Ariane 5 was retired in 2023. While Ariane 6 began a test flight last July, it ended up leaving the upper stage of the rocket in the atmosphere after a glitch in the system. Nevertheless, this time around, Ariane 6 lifted off from the EU's launchpad in Kourou, French Guiana, yesterday afternoon. The rocket was successfully launched into space, where it released a French spy satellite by the name of CSO-3 into orbit. Europe believes that this could be the first step towards making more advancements in the space industry, which could bring them closer to competing with the likes of SpaceX and other private American companies. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The most used computer password is 123456, and "password" happens to rank relatively high on the list of most common passwords as well. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I have far less than what people think, but far more than I need. (Rakesh Jhunjhunwala) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Emolliant (noun, ih-MAHL-yunt) - An emollient is something, such as a lotion, that softens or soothes. In a Sentence: She keeps a number of oils in the bathroom—argan, almond, and coconut—to use as emollients .

Dozens were injured after a South Korean fighter jet accidentally bombed a village near the border with North Korea yesterday. Several South Korean fighter jets were conducting live-fire training drills with United States troops yesterday during a routine exercise when the mishap occurred. The jets flew over the town of Pocheon as they released their bombs, which were set to hit a firing range away from the city. However, at least one pilot seems to have entered the wrong coordinates into their system. Instead, several bombs were dropped onto an area known as Nogok, located on the outskirts of the city of Pocheon. Multiple buildings were destroyed, and dozens of people were injured-- at least four people needed surgery after the explosions. Windows were shattered, roof tiles were broken, walls were damaged, and some trees fell down as well. The city's mayor described the area as "chaotic" and stated that it "looks like a battlefield," truly giving perspective as to the amount of damage done during the bombing. The South Korean government quickly responded to the situation, promising compensation for the victims of the incident. They also halted all other live-fire drills until an investigation is complete, and investigators have promised transparency with the entire operation. Due to the location of Pocheon near the North Korean border, it is used frequently for training sessions, which many residents have been unhappy about due to other incidents involving stray bullets and other mishaps. However, these specific training drills are part of the lead-up to the Freedom Shield next week, which is a yearly event where the South Korean and American militaries train during 11 days of joint exercises. While many American troops are just beginning to arrive in South Korea for the event, there are already 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea to deter North Korean attacks, meaning that many drills repeat year-round. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): India has the highest percentage of vegetarians in the world, with around 38% of its population identifying as vegetarian. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Be like the lotus: trust in the light, grow through the dirt, believe in new beginnings. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Career (verb, kuh-REER) - To career is to go at top speed especially in a headlong manner. In a Sentence: The tourists gripped their seats and exchanged anxious looks as the bus careered along the narrow roads.