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Texas wildfires: At least 1 dead as huge blaze grows to 850,000 acres

Governor Greg Abbott of Texas has declared a state of disaster in 60 counties in response to the Smokehouse Creek Fire, which has escalated to become the state's second-largest wildfire on record. The inferno prompted evacuation orders for thousands and has been linked to at least one fatality.

Igniting on Monday, the Smokehouse Creek Fire is among several blazes ravaging Texas and extending into Oklahoma. To date, it has engulfed an area exceeding 1,300 square miles (over 850,000 acres), surpassing the size of Rhode Island, and posing threats to residences, commercial properties, and agricultural land. Concurrently, wildfires have necessitated a temporary closure at the nation's primary nuclear arms manufacturing site.

Texas typically experiences two critical wildfire intervals annually, during summer and winter, though they do not constitute formal fire seasons. The current wildfires are believed to be exacerbated by a combination of high temperatures, strong winds, and abundant dry vegetation. However, forecasts suggest a potential reduction in fire risks as wind conditions are expected to improve shortly.

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Mitch McConnell, a colossal figure in Congress, will step down from his leadership post in November

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) declared his intention to resign from his leadership role after the 2024 elections, initiating an early departure from a term that would have otherwise concluded two years later. McConnell, who has been in office since 2006, holds the record as the longest-serving leader in the Senate for either party.

This announcement triggers the beginning of a highly anticipated contest for his succession, with potential contenders being three prominent figures within his team: former Majority Whip John Cornyn (TX), present Minority Whip John Thune (SD), and Caucus Chair John Barrasso (WY). Given the Republican Party's advantageous position in the upcoming electoral cycle, especially considering the seats most vulnerable to party switches are predominantly held by Democrats and independent Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), the stakes are high, as the successor could very likely assume the role of majority leader.

McConnell's decision unfolds amid speculation regarding his potential endorsement of ex-President Donald Trump, noting that the two have not been in direct communication since 2021.

Concurrently, it has been reported that a provisional agreement has been reached to prevent a government shutdown, with the deadline looming tonight at midnight. The legislation must be expedited through both legislative chambers today to be enacted in time.

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It's Leap Day 2024! Here's what it is and how to celebrate!

Today marks the unique occurrence of February 29, a quadrennial event in the widely adopted Gregorian calendar, distinguishing it as a leap day. This special date, which appears approximately every four years, has a practical purpose but also incites various global festivities, particularly for the around 5 million people worldwide who celebrate their birthdays on this uncommon day, known as Leaplings.

The necessity for leap years stems from the Earth's orbit duration around the sun, which exceeds 365 days by about five hours and 48 minutes. Historically, societies reliant on solar calendars for agricultural planning noticed seasonal shifts over extended periods and introduced an additional day to rectify this discrepancy. The leap year system was formalized during Julius Caesar's era in ancient Rome and was later refined by Pope Gregory XIII after 1,500 years when it was discovered that the calendar had misaligned with the solar year by about ten days.

Meanwhile, the traditional Chinese calendar incorporates an entire leap month every three years to maintain its alignment with the astronomical year.

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