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Israel has confirmed a $37 billion deal that will see them export natural gas to Egypt after heavy pressure from the United States. The deal will see the Leviathan gas field, located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in the Israeli exclusive economic zone (EEZ), giving them the rights to the gas. Of three natural gas fields in the Israeli EEZ, Leviathan is the largest– with over 22 trillion cubic feet of gas, Leviathan is one of the largest gas fields in the entire Mediterranean. The gas field is only partially-owned by Israeli corporation NewMed, though; the other half is owned by American oil and gas giant Chevron. The agreement was actually announced back in August, when Chevron confirmed that they would be helping Israel export natural gas from Leviathan to Egypt, extending a previous deal from 2019. However, Israel had not approved the export permit for the deal at the time, likely due to the ongoing war in Gaza, which would have complicated the export process. Following the confirmation of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in October, the region finally settled down, but Israel still refused to support the export permit without further talks. After months of negotiations regarding prices and other factors like competition to the deal, Israel finally approved the permit yesterday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the agreement as "the largest gas deal in Israel's history," according to CNN. Over the next 15 years, Chevron will work to export gas to Egypt, who will use it for their own purposes before selling the remaining gas to other buyers in Europe. Israel will receive around 50% of the profit made from this gas, while Chevron takes 50% and uses this new position to further their reputation and increase business across Europe and the Middle East. Meanwhile, NewMed will extract natural gas to use in Israel. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The 1831 London Bridge was sold in 1968 to entrepreneur Robert McCulloch when it needed to be replaced due to heavy traffic over the Thames. McCulloch had every granite block numbered and shipped to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, which he had been trying to put on the map for tourism. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Try again. Fail again. Fail better. (Samuel Beckett ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Espouse (verb, ih-SPOWZ) - To espouse an ideology, belief, etc., is to take it up and support it as a cause. Espouse is usually encountered in formal speech and writing. In a Sentence: The article explores some of the lesser-known viewpoints espoused by the charismatic leader. Image credit to Reuters

US President Donald Trump has expanded the country's travel ban once again, adding 20 new countries to the list. In June, Trump announced a full travel ban on 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen– citizens of these countries would not be allowed into the United States. Additionally, people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela would receive some travel restrictions due to certain situations taking place in their home countries. However, now, Trump has expanded that list to contain over 20 additional countries, and he has downgraded partial restrictions to become a full travel ban in some cases. The announcement states that Laos, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria will be added to the full travel ban list, downgrading Laos and Sierra Leone from partial-restriction status. Another key addition to the list was the Palestinian Authority– Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank will no longer be allowed into the US. Meanwhile, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe will now receive partial restrictions, meaning that citizens who attempt to immigrate to the US could be rejected based on their situation. Trump confirmed that the decisions were made based on several factors, ranging from violence or war in the countries to the rate of immigrants overstaying their visas. The move comes after a deadly shooting by an Afghan man in Washington DC, killing two members of the National Guard who had been on patrol. However, Trump's travel ban has drawn criticism from certain groups and opposition parties, who claim that he is discriminating against other races under the cover of national security. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Captive tigers in the US alone outnumber the amount of wild tigers worldwide. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or objects. (Albert Einstein ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Conversant (noun, kun-VER-sunt) - Conversant , usually used in the phrase "conversant with," describes someone who has knowledge of or experience with something. In a Sentence: The ideal candidate for the sommelier position will have expert knowledge of the various wines served in the restaurant and be conversant with the rich world of viniculture. Image credit to AP

Australia has confirmed a plan to establish tighter gun restrictions after the deadly Bondi Beach shooting several days ago. On Sunday, 15 people were killed in a massacre at Sydney's famed Bondi Beach, where Hanukkah celebrations were taking place as the Jewish holiday kicked off. Two gunmen were discovered at the scene, blasting off a bolt-action rifle and two shotgun– one was arrested and the other was shot dead by police. 42 other victims were hospitalized with injuries, including one Syrian man, Ahmed el Ahmed, who managed to attack one of the gunmen and wrestle his gun away from him. Additionally, when he was able to obtain the gun, Ahmed placed it down and let the gunman walk away, where police would later arrest him. Ahmed, who is being praised as an international hero, suffered two gunshots in the fight, but countless world leaders have expressed how he could have saved dozens more lives with his selfless actions. The gunmen have been identified as Sajid Akram, a 50-year-old man, and his 24-year-old son Naveen Akram. In their car, authorities also found flags for Islamic terrorist group ISIS, who are notorious for facilitating attacks on non-Muslim people all over the world. Investigators have also discovered that the pair traveled to the southern Philippine city of Davao, where ISIS maintains a strong presence, and further inquiry is being conducted with the help of the Philippine government. Additionally, police found that the father legally owned at least six firearms, sparking outrage and calls for stronger gun laws across Australia. To follow, the Australian government has already taken action to tighten gun laws even further. Australia has always been known for having some of the strongest gun laws in the world, ever since a devastating mass shooting in 1996 in Tasmania that killed 35 people. They plan to renegotiate the National Firearms agreement, which first restricted gun laws in 1996, along with a host of other new rules like a tougher firearms issuing process, limiting the number of firearms a person can own and limiting ownership to Australian citizens only, and possibly even limiting imports or shipments of materials that could be used to build or 3D print guns. Furthermore, due to the setup of the National Cabinet in 2020 due to COVID-19, which includes Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the leaders of each Australian state and territory, the Australian government is able to quickly prioritize and outline decisions or topics that need to be addressed without a formal meeting of Congress. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): A collective group of lemurs is called a conspiracy. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Ability to find the answers is more important than ability to know the answers. (Amit Kalantri ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Dreidel (noun, DRAY-dul) - A dreidel is a 4-sided toy marked with Hebrew letters and spun like a top in a game of chance. The game, played by children especially at Hanukkah, is also called dreidel . In a Sentence: All the kids in the family look forward to playing dreidel together during Hanukkah. Image credit to AP

José Antonio Kast, a far-right conservative politician, took home the win in Chile's presidential election amid a slew of concerns regarding safety and immigration. Kast won the election with a staggering 58.2% of the vote, while his communist opponent Jeanette Jara received the other 41.8% Kast is expected to take a similar stance on issues to US President Donald Trump, who has initiated major crackdowns on drugs and illegal immigration. He has established ideas to build a wall along Chile's northern border and deport illegal immigrants, and many of his supporters have adopted the slogan 'Make Chile Great Again.' He also plans to construct more maximum-security prisons to hold more criminals and ramp up arrests. He has also promised to revive Chile's economy, which has maintained stability and remains high-income but has seen minimal growth in recent years. Using his connections to Trump, he is expected to re-establish a strong relationship with the US that could allow him to revitalize Chile's economic sector. Nevertheless, Kast does not have a majority in either house of the Chilean Congress, requiring him to make agreements with other parties to pass new laws. This will likely force him to shift his policies closer to those of a centrist, but with the right strategy, he could significantly advance the situation in Chile. His election comes during the term of incumbent President Gabriel Boric, whose left-wing, more liberal administration has caused discontent and anger among the Chilean people. Homicides increased over 50% in 2024 when compared to 2018, and over 63% of Chileans consider violence and crime as their primary concern, according to a report by IPSOS . Meanwhile, the drug trade and illegal immigration are also major issues, with many refugees from other countries like Venezuela arriving in Chile for safety. Kast, though, has instructed all illegal immigrants to leave the country before March– once he assumes office, deportations will begin, and they will not be allowed to bring any belongings. However, this has created a tense situation at the Chilean border with Peru, where an influx of illegal immigrants has triggered a state of emergency. Local police are already reporting drops in numbers of immigrants crossing the border. As a whole, Chile's shift is yet another example of a Latin American country moving towards the right, with many presidents hoping to echo the policies of Donald Trump. Argentina and Bolivia have already elected far-right presidents with close ties and similar stances to Trump, and all three presidents hope to address the same issues: safety, immigration, and bolstering their respective economies. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In Bruges, Belgium, there is an underground pipeline that runs 2 miles to transfer beer from a brewery to the bottling plant. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right. (Peter Marshall ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Multitudinous (adj, mul-tuh-TOO-duh-nus) - Multitudinous is a formal word with meanings that relate to multitudes. It can mean “existing in a great multitude”—that is, “very many”; or “including a multitude of individuals”; or “existing in or consisting of innumerable elements or aspects.” In a Sentence: The two old friends reminisced about the multitudinous ways in which their lives had changed. Image credit to AFP

Belarus has freed 123 prisoners after the United States agreed to lift sanctions on Belarusian potash, one of their most important exports. The agreement was part of wider negotiations between US President Donald Trump and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to attempt to pull Belarus out of their heavy Russian influence, according to American officials. Putin and the Russian government have always maintained a strong grip on Belarusian stances and politics since it broke away from the Soviet Union in 1991, preventing the country from building ties with the Western world. The country also maintains a heavily authoritarian government, as Lukashenko has held power for over 30 years and continues to bear a tight grip over Belarus' political state. Belarus has faced heavy sanctions from both the United States and the European Union ever since a serious crackdown on political opponents and protests during a controversial election in 2020, and those sanctions were increased two years later after Belarus allowed Russia to use its land in their fight against Ukraine. After several days of negotiations, Trump decided to lift the sanctions on Belarusian potash, one of their largest exports, in exchange for the release of 123 American prisoners. Among the prisoners were Ales Bialiatski, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Maria Kalesnikava, one of the leaders of the opposition movement against the Belarus' authoritarian government. Multiple other members of major opposition parties were among those freed in the deal, which could allow for greater movements to transition towards a more democratic state in the future. However, Lukashenko continues to hold over 1,200 political prisoners in jail, and many of the opposition leaders freed in the recent agreement have been deported to Ukraine. Many of them were charged for various crimes that have been accused of being "politically motivated" by citizens, while others were originally arrested for protesting or rallying people. Due to this, opposition leaders have called for the EU to maintain their sanctions on Belarus, keeping some sort of leverage to force a democratic transition in the future. Additionally, while the US does not import very many goods from Belarus, the EU is a much closer, more available market to the eastern European country, and opening up to that market could provide them with immense economic benefits. Nevertheless, they continue to experience significant influence from Russia, which is unlikely to change. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The logo on the Red Bull cans are not cattle, but a type of Southeast Asian bovine called a “gaur.” Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Loyalty is not blind. It sees but doesn’t judge. It knows, but doesn’t question. It understands, but doesn’t criticize. (Unknown ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Alleviate (adj, uh-LEE-vee-ayt) - To alleviate something is to make it less painful, difficult, or severe. Alleviate can also mean "to partially remove or correct." In a Sentence: There's no cure for the common cold, but there are various treatments that may alleviate some of the symptoms. Image credit to AFP

Disney's 'Zootopia 2' continued its impressive run of box office days with yet another successful one on Friday, putting it past the $1 billion mark. Zootopia was first released almost ten years ago back in 2016, quickly becoming a widely-loved animated movie that skyrocketed in popularity, particularly among family-friendly audiences. The movie's fun yet realistic animation made it a worldwide hit, grossing $341.3 million in the United States and Canada and over $682.5 million in other countries, with a total box office revenue of just over $1 billion. Now, the movie's sequel has crossed the same mark. Zootopia 2 follows the same characters as they travel on different adventures, expanding their fantastical world and building their friendship along the way. The long-anticipated sequel was finally released on November 26, with thousands of families waiting to head to the theaters to watch after its release. With the milestone, Zootopia 2 becomes the fastest-ever PG movie to reach the $1 billion mark at the box office, and it is only the third movie of 2025 to do so– Disney's live action remake of "Lilo & Stitch" and China's "Ne Zha 2" were the others. Zootopia 2 has been particularly popular in China, where American movies have often been restricted or are less seen. However, since the creation of a Zootopia Land at Shanghai's Disneyland park, the movie has seen its popularity skyrocket– in fact, Zootopia 2 earned over $430 million from the Chinese box office alone. The milestone comes at a time where Hollywood is struggling at the American box office, with many people simply refusing to go to theaters and watch movies. Crossing the $1 billion mark in the movie industry has become a rarity as the years have gone on, and unfortunately, the situation does not seem to be improving as streaming takes over more and more market share. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Ant queens can live for up to 30 years. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Iron rusts from disuse; water loses its purity from stagnation, even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind. (Leonardo da Vinci ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Waggish (adj, WAG-ish) - Waggish describes someone who is silly and playful, and especially someone who displays a mischievous sense of humor. The word can also describe things that such a person might do or possess. In a Sentence: He had a waggish disposition that could irk adults but typically delighted children. Image credit to Disney

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela continue to rise following the seizure of a suspicious Venezuelan oil tanker by American authorities, in addition to the fact that María Corina Machado was able to receive her award in Norway. On Wednesday, the US government seized an oil tanker carrying Venezuelan oil through the Caribbean. The ship, named the Skipper, has been suspected by the Trump administration for playing a part in oil smuggling, particularly to the Middle Eastern nation of Iran, which faces heavy sanctions from the US. Additionally, the ship had been flying the flag of Guyana despite not being registered to that country, and a New York Times report found that the tanker had most likely been cheating the system by moving its transponder to a different location when it was actually transporting oil between countries. According to the report, the ship has transported "nearly 13 million barrels of Iranian and Venezuelan oil" over the past four years. Furthermore, the ship had actually been restricted by the US Department of the Treasury in 2022 after being proven to play a part in an international oil smuggling network that helped rebel groups in the Middle East, like Lebanon's Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Venezuelan activist María Corina Machado was successfully able to receive her award in Oslo after the help of the United States. Machado, one of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro's most prominent opponents, won the Nobel Peace Prize in October for her incredible efforts, but ceremonies to hand out the award took place just this week. Machado was initially unable to escape her country to receive the award, which would be given out in Oslo, Norway. However, in the end, she was successfully able to make it out, which she credited to US President Donald Trump and his recent actions. While her daughter was forced to accept the award for her, as she did not arrive in time for the ceremony, she was later seen standing above massive crowds as they praised her efforts and sang Venezuela's national anthem. Machado has consistently maintained her stance that international intervention is required to solve the situation in Venezuela, as Maduro refuses to give up his position despite calls for him to step down. Trump has also asserted that Maduro – who he has accused of being a drug kingpin – must be ousted, and he continues to ramp up his war against oil smuggling and the drug trade in Venezuela. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The total weight of all air on Earth is around 11 quintillion pounds. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Regret is a tough but fair teacher. To live without regret is to believe you have nothing to learn , no amends to make, and no opportunity to be braver with your life. (Brené Brown ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Leviathan (noun, luh-VYE-uh-thun) - Leviathan is a word with literary flair that can refer broadly to something very large and powerful, or more narrowly to a large sea animal, or a totalitarian state having a vast bureaucracy. In a Sentence: Towering leviathans of the forest, giant sequoias often reach heights of more than 200 feet. Image credit to Planet Labs

Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated from southeastern Thailand and northwestern Cambodia as border skirmishes and battles continue across the region. Back in July, tensions quickly rose between Thailand and Cambodia after several border skirmishes , which both countries blamed each other for. The two countries continue to battle over much of their border, which includes dozens of ancient Khmer temples that both countries wish to possess control of. The situation escalated into full-blown battles, requiring tanks and fighter jets, and at least 38 people were killed. Soon after, negotiations began in Malaysia, and the peace talks resulted in a shaky but successful ceasefire credited to US President Donald Trump. However, just after the deal was made, both countries claimed that the other had violated the agreement , sparking tensions once again. Thankfully, both countries dropped the argument after several additional border skirmishes, bringing temporary peace to the region and allowing evacuees to return. Now, the conflict has been re-initiated, with explosions and attacks rocking the border. Once again, both countries blame each other for beginning the battles, but the situation has rapidly become even worse than before. At least 15 people have been killed and over 500,000 locals have been evacuated from border provinces, where the majority of these historic Khmer temples are located. Cambodia claims that the Thai army fired directly into areas near the Ta Krabey temple, while Thailand claims Cambodia fired into a region near a hospital, injuring civilians. Many residents were forced to leave with no warning, leaving belongings behind, while others were evacuated by authorities and placed in shelters. US President Donald Trump has vowed to intervene again to try to stop the conflict, and he has confirmed that a call has been scheduled between him and the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia later today. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): A recently discovered deep-sea snail, the Scaly-Foot Gastropod, has an iron shell that is impressively developed– so much, in fact, that the U.S. military is trying to use its design to inspire defensive layers in military armor. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. (Albert Einstein ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Grift (verb, GRIFT) - To grift is to use dishonest tricks to illegally take money or property. In a Sentence: The email scammer shamelessly grifted thousands of dollars from unwitting victims. Image credit to Al Jazeera

The bidding war between Netflix and Paramount to take ownership of Warner Bros. Discovery has intensified, with both companies making major bids and an FTC decision looming in the distance. In June, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) confirmed that the company would split into two independent corporations , Warner Bros. and Discovery Global. Warner Bros. would encompass the studios and streaming portion of the company, including HBO, while Discovery Global would possess most of their live channels like CBS, TNT, and HGTV. However, soon after, Paramount offered a deal of $24 a share, or around $60 billion total, for the entire company. WBD rejected the deal, saying the offer was too low, but it began a bidding war after the company also piqued the interest of Netflix. Then, last Friday, Netflix gave WBD an offer of $82.7 billion for just the studios and streaming portion of the company– what would have become the new "Warner Bros." The boards of both companies agreed to the deal, and it was quickly finalized over the weekend. Nevertheless, Paramount came back with a sky-high, hostile bid on Monday, proposing to give them $30 a share– a staggering $108.4 billion for the entire company. Paramount's offer includes studios, streaming, and the cable channels, making it tempting to WBD, but the board has maintained their word with Netflix. They have confirmed that they will respond within 10 business days, but according to their agreement with Netflix, they have a damages clause that forces them to pay $2.8 billion to Netflix if they accept Paramount's deal. Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has asserted that their offer is not their best and it is already backed by major investment authorities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar along with the wealthy Ellison family, making them the clear choice. On the other hand, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has argued that a full takeover by Paramount would lead to $6 billion in cost-saving, which would result in major firing and job cuts at the company. Despite these negotiations, many people believe that President Trump and his allegiances with both companies could likely come into play when determining which company will buy Warner. Each company will have their own antitrust concerns if they manage to score the deal– Netflix adding more streaming to their already-large portfolio is certain to draw scrutiny, and the merger of two multimedia giants like Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery would also require approval from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Additionally, Larry Ellison, the father of David Ellison and the CEO of cloud computing giant Oracle, happens to be a large donor to the Trump administration. After the smooth merger between Paramount and Skydance, two media giants, the public scrutinized the deal by claiming that the FTC had allowed it to go through because Ellison had convinced Trump to let it go. However, Republicans argued against this, claiming that the deal had never violated any antitrust laws in the first place. Affinity Partners, a private equity firm founded by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has also confirmed that they are backing Paramount in their offer, raising additional suspicions. Meanwhile, Trump has spoken highly of Sarandos, but established that there are antitrust concerns in their deal to buy Warner. Hollywood unions have also spoken out against the Netflix deal, claiming that a Netflix takeover would further decrease the company's already-declining number of theatrical releases. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): So far, two diseases have successfully been eradicated: smallpox and rinderpest. The last case of smallpox was in 1977, and the last of rinderpest was in 2001. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in. (Leonard Cohen ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Paltry (adj, PAWL-tree) - Paltry is a formal word that can describe something that is very small or too small in amount, or something that has little meaning, importance, or worth. In a Sentence: They're offering a paltry salary for the position. Image credit to Britannica

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Japan yesterday, triggering tsunami warnings across the northern part of the country and forcing evacuations. The quake struck late at night, around 11:15 pm local time, at a depth of 33 miles, with an epicenter around 44 miles away from the Japanese coastline. The earthquake's depth and distance from Japan likely mitigated its impacts, but shaking was still felt as far as Tokyo– over 400 miles away. Soon after, a tsunami warning was issued along the northeastern coast of Japan, across the prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate, which were closest to the epicenter. Over 114,000 people were evacuated from the region out of fear of a powerful tsunami, but the resulting tsunamis were relatively mild– the largest recorded wave was around 2.3 feet in Iwate prefecture. Nevertheless, at least 30 people were injured during the quake, which collapsed structures and knocked out electricity for many. Highways and railroads were also damaged, leading to the shutdowns of roads and train services. Nuclear power plants have confirmed that they have experienced minimal damage– a statement that brings sighs of relief to Japanese citizens after each quake. Back in 2011, the massive 9.0 magnitude Tōhoku earthquake, which was Japan's strongest earthquake in history, led to a huge tsunami after the land in a subduction zone was lifted during the shaking. The resulting tsunami, which reached over 133 feet high, devastated the Fukushima nuclear reactor, leading to reactor meltdowns and the spread of radioactive contamination across the city. Cleanup efforts are still going, but authorities are slowly making progress to make the area livable once again. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): By applying even pressure to an egg, it is nearly impossible to break the shell by squeezing it. The egg's unique, three-dimensional arched shape is a marvel of natural engineering, making it incredibly strong under even compression. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Harmony makes small things grow; lack of it makes great things decay. (Sallust ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Bravado (noun, bruh-VAH-doh) - Bravado refers to confident or brave talk or behavior that is intended to impress other people. In a Sentence: She tells the stories of her youthful exploits with enough bravado to invite suspicion that they're embellished a bit. Image credit to Reuters