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Israel has become the first country to ever recognize Somaliland, a region of northern Somalia, as a state, which could trigger a shift in how the world views the region. Somalia is one of four countries, along with Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti, that make up the Horn of Africa, located on Africa's eastern coast near Yemen. Unfortunately, Somalia has long struggled with conflict and instability– the government has democratic ambitions, but the continued strength of local clans, foreign influences on politics, and armed Islamic terrorist groups like al-Shabaab have heavily limited their ability to hold elections and create a functional democracy. Meanwhile, the people's trust in the government is extremely low, primarily due to their ineffectiveness. Local authorities are still unable to prevent regional conflicts and wars, which has allowed various different groups to take control of different parts– the only remaining area under the control of the government is the capital of Mogadishu. Islamic groups like al-Shabaab control large swaths of the southern part of the country, while other semi-autonomous regions like Galmudug, Puntland, and Jubaland also exist due to the country's decentralized governance. Meanwhile, other nations like Kenya and Ethiopia maintain strong influences in some parts near the border. However, one primary area to the country's north, known as Somaliland, established a strong government and stability during this time. In 1991, Somaliland declared independence from Somalia, creating their own unrecognized state with independent elections and system of government. Over the years, Somaliland has proven that, in some ways, they are even more successful than Somalia. Economically, the GDP per capita of Somalia – excluding Somaliland – stands at around $450, while the economic output per person in Somaliland is significantly higher, at around $775. Politically, Somaliland holds elections every year and contains several different parties while also integrating clan leadership into politics to keep peace. However, their lack of international recognition prevented them from gaining access to international markets and building their economy– but that may soon change. Now, more than 34 years after their declaration of independence from Somalia, a country has recognized Somaliland as a state. Israel confirmed that both countries would soon establish diplomatic relations and open embassies, and the move could set Somaliland up as a springboard for future Israeli military campaigns into Yemen. Israel, which maintains a strong anti-terrorism stance against organizations like Hamas in Gaza and the Houthis in Yemen, could use Somaliland territory to bring their military closer the Arabian Peninsula. Some reports show that Israel could also be planning to relocate Palestinians from Gaza into Somaliland, but those claims have been rejected by both countries. Several Arab countries in support of Somalia, like Egypt and Turkey, denounced Israel's decision to recognize Somaliland, alleging that it would further undermine the security and stability of already-fragile Somalia. Somaliland has also been accused of attacking innocent civilians in regions to their east, which are still disputed with Puntland, creating more backlash. Nevertheless, the Somaliland government has confirmed that they have seen the arrival of several delegates from the United States this year, and several politicians in the US government have begun to push President Donald Trump to recognize Somaliland as a state. According to the New York Times, Somaliland has also put forward the idea of allowing the US to lease a port along the Gulf of Aden. However, opponents have rejected the idea, claiming that it would negatively impact their relations with Somalia, where they currently maintain troops to defend against al-Shabaab. Recognizing Somaliland could also unravel American relations with Arab nations like Egypt and Turkey. Others have claimed that allowing Somaliland to secede could spark massive revolutions across Africa, where other peoples or autonomous regions could rebel under the motivation that they could receive international recognition as well. In total, if the United States were to follow Israel in their recognition of Somaliland as a state, it could provide them with significant economic benefit and rally massive international support behind their cause, resulting in the possible addition of Somaliland as a new UN member country. On the other hand, it could also create even more conflict across Africa and complicate their relations with other Arab nations, leading to major backlash and possibly even result in one or more wars. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The manager of Guinness started the Guinness Book of World Records when he got annoyed on a hunting trip because he couldn’t find out what was the fastest game bird. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Submission is the art of compensating for your weakness by playing to each other’s strengths. (Mark Batterson ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Grandiose (adj, gran-dee-OHSS) - Grandiose is usually used disapprovingly to describe something that seems impressive or is intended to be impressive, but that is either not possible or practical. In a Sentence: The long-vacant historic building has finally been purchased, and the developer has announced grandiose plans to make it the center of a new theater district. Image credit to Shutterstock

The United States has confirmed that they struck down scores of ISIS-affiliated terrorists in Nigeria due to their persistent attacks on Christians. US President Donald Trump announced yesterday that he had ordered strikes on the northwestern Nigerian state of Sokoto, which borders Niger, after communicating with the Nigerian government. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with around 237 million people– approximately 43% of which are Christian. Slightly more than half of Nigeria's population follows Islam, primarily in northern states like Sokoto, while southern Nigeria has a larger Christian dominance. Nevertheless, clashes between the two religions have been a major source of violence in the country for decades, particularly due to small land disputes and resource arguments between Nigerian Christians and Muslims. Furthermore, the faiths have been heavily politicized, heightening tensions, and several extremist Islamic terrorist groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State – also known as ISIS – have attempted to eliminate Christianity completely. Now, the United States – a predominantly Christian nation – has taken action. Yesterday, on Christmas Day, the country launched over a dozen Tomahawk missiles from a US Navy ship off the coast of Nigeria, killing several terrorists in Sokoto. Trump declared that the targets, who he described as "ISIS terrorist scum," had been persecuting and killing Christians in the region, and praised the strikes as "perfect." He also warned that the blasts would continue if ISIS operations in Sokoto failed to come to a halt. According to CNN, the Nigerian Foreign Ministry backed Trump's statements and confirmed their commitment to protecting all citizens, regardless of faith, race, or ethnicity. Meanwhile, Turkey has arrested over 115 suspected ISIS terrorists across the country, potentially preventing the deaths of dozens of people during the holiday season. According to the Turkish government, at least 137 people were suspected of having participated in the planning of several attacks during the holidays, specifically during Christmas and New Year's. So far, 115 of them have been arrested, and authorities have confirmed that the Islamic State, or ISIS, was behind the plans. Police found various objects of interest, like firearms, ammunition, and possibly-important documents at the places of arrest, which could give Turkey a closer look into ISIS' operations and what plans were set to be executed. They were likely targeting celebrations for other religions during this time of year, like Christmas, which is common for the widely-hated terrorist group. Followers of their ideology believe that Islam is the only permissible religion, and they observe a very strict interpretation of Sharia Law while working to eliminate other peoples, religions, and governments other than their own. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Cats which have blue eyes for the duration of their lives are likely to be deaf– the dominant gene that creates white coats and blue eyes is also associated with a lack of development of the inner ear, leading to deafness. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If you don’t have what you like, like what you have. (Polish Proverb ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Hark back (verb, HAHRK-BAK) - Harking back can be about turning back to an earlier topic or circumstance, as in "a storyteller harking back to his youth," or it can be about going back to something as an origin or source, as in "a style that harks back to the turn of the previous century." In a Sentence: The dinner conversation harked back to the lunch debate over what counts as a traditional holiday meal. Image credit to PBS

North Korea has released pictures of their first nuclear-powered submarine– a technology that only a handful of countries have been able to develop. The images showed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un taking a close look at the submarine, suggesting that it is not operational just yet, but it comes amid development threats from their US-backed neighbor, South Korea. Nuclear-powered submarines carry several advantages that help them appeal to countries, but the technology used to build them is rare and extremely complex. Regular submarines, which run on diesel, need to take in air to keep their engines running, requiring them to surface every once in a while. However, nuclear submarines have a near-limitless energy source onboard, allowing them to stay submerged for as long as needed, given that the vessel is carrying enough provisions for the crew to survive. Currently, the United States carries a fleet of around 70 nuclear submarines – the world's largest – many of which are carrying nuclear missiles that can launch at any given time. Even one nuclear submarine is an incredible weapon for any country that possesses it. However, only six countries actually have one in their military arsenal: the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, India, China, and France. Despite this, the United States has worked to assist South Korea in their development of their first nuclear submarine as North Korea has shored up their military capabilities over the past few years. South Korea had previously been banned from building one due to an agreement with the US, but President Donald Trump reversed that rule in October, allowing South Korea to move forward with their plans. Meanwhile, North Korea confirmed that a nuclear submarine of their own was in the works, which they unveiled the early stages of back in March. Now, the country's latest release has revealed that they are closer to the completion of the submarine than previously thought, and South Korea will not be able to build one before North Korea brings their submarine to operational status. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): High heels are nothing new to the world– in the 18 th Century, they were even fashionable for children. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): When you shut down vulnerability, you shut down opportunity. (Brene Brown ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Noel (noun, noh-EL) - When capitalized, Noel refers to Christmas or the Christmas season. Uncapitalized, noel refers to a Christmas carol. In a Sentence: We were greeted at the door by a group of carolers singing noels . Image credit to KCNA

The United States Supreme Court voted yesterday to block President Donald Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Chicago– a major move against his agenda. Trump has already deployed the National Guard to several cities across the United States, including Memphis, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C, under the name of national security or the safety of citizens in the region, but the deployments sparked outrage across the country. Usually, the National Guard must be requested by governors, but certain laws allow the president to circumvent those rules in times of emergency– which, according to Trump, are occurring right now. Chicago and Portland were also large cities that he intended to send troops to, but both ideas have now been shut down by the judicial branch. In November, a federal judge blocked Trump's deployment of the Guard to Portland , marking a major move against his political agenda. The Trump administration has appealed the decision, though, which is likely to take the issue to the Supreme Court. However, yesterday's decision by the Court is likely to significantly change the outlook of his agenda, turning the entire issue on its head. Among all of the cities he wanted to deploy the Guard to, Trump placed significant emphasis on Chicago, calling the city "a disaster" of protests and violence. Locals have disputed this fact, though, accusing Trump of attempting to exert his influence as a Republican president onto what remains an extremely Democratic city. Others suspected that he could have been trying to do the same thing with Portland, which is also heavily democratic. Nevertheless, Trump's move to send troops to Chicago was blocked by the Supreme Court in yesterday's ruling, sending Democrats and Republicans alike into a frenzy. Left-wing politicians instantly smothered social media with claims that the judicial branch has finally begun to push back against Trump's extremist agenda and alleged presidential abuse, while conservatives argued that Trump's deployments were solely for the protection of the people. Either way, the move is a massive loss for Trump, who asserted confidence that Chicago is going through a catastrophic wave of crime and violence despite insistence from citizens that the situation is completely fine. The Supreme Court seemed to take the side of the people in the ruling, proclaiming that Chicago's crime is not bad enough to necessitate the deployment of the military. Additionally, the decision could set up further developments involving the National Guard, as a multitude of cases and appeals are currently in progress from all sides of the political spectrum. However, the future of Trump's deployment-related agenda remains unknown. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Madagascar got its name when Marco Polo misspelled it, thinking it was the Somali port of Mogadishu. The name stuck, and the island was christened to the name 'Madagascar' in 1500. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Cities are never random. No matter how chaotic they might seem, everything about them grows out of a need to solve a problem. (Neal Shusterman ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Bespoke (adj, bih-SPOHK) - Bespoke describes something that is custom-made—that is, made to fit the needs or requirements of a particular person. In a Sentence: As a tailor, Lana specialized in crafting bespoke clothing for her clients, each piece unique and suited to their tastes. Image credit to AP

India and New Zealand have finally confirmed a game-changing free trade agreement, bolstering both sides' economies and diversifying exports. The free trade agreement will see New Zealand remove all import tariffs on Indian exports, while New Zealand will gradually receive tariff reductions on 70% of Indian imports. However, that 70% of products represents around 95% of New Zealand exports to India, making the agreement a major benefit to both economies. Furthermore, New Zealand will invest over $20 billion in the Indian economy over the next 15 years– a huge advancement from their current trade situation, which is around $2.4 billion when including both sides of exports and imports. According to a post on X by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, the deal is projected to increase New Zealand's exports to India by $1.1 to $1.3 billion per year, giving them access to the Indian market in ways that other countries have not been able to. The deal is expected to be signed in early 2026 and will undergo further review after one year. Meanwhile, the agreement is yet another deal to assist India in moving away from their dependence on exports to the United States, a country which has been heavily impacted by incumbent President Donald Trump's tariffs. India now faces a staggering 50% tariff from the US, consisting of a 25% reciprocal tariff and an additional 25% tax due to India's continued purchases of Russian oil amid Russia's war with Ukraine. Now, India is ramping up trade with other nations to avoid exporting to the United States– they have already improved relations with China and established free trade agreements with the United Kingdom in May and Oman last week. They are also hashing out agreements with the European Union and Chile and looking to begin negotiations with Canada, helping diversify their economy. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): MIT, often cited as one of the world’s most prestigious universities, puts almost all of its course materials online for anyone to access for free. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It takes the same energy to think small as it does to think big. So dream big and think bigger. (Daymond John ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Temporize (verb, TEM-puh-ryze) - To temporize is to avoid making a decision or giving a definite answer in order to have more time. In a Sentence: Pressured by voters on both sides of the issue, the congressman temporized . Image credit to ANI

Japan is preparing to restart the world's largest nuclear power plant, 15 years after the devastating Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. The western prefecture of Niigata is home to the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, which still stands as the largest in the world. Completed in 1997, the plant has a capacity of a staggering 8,212 MW and boosted its parent company, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), to the spotlight in Japanese nuclear technology. However, the plant has been shut down since the deadly Fukushima Daiichi disaster almost 15 years ago. On March 11, 2011, a massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake, known as the Tōhoku earthquake, struck off the coast of eastern Japan, blasting the coast with shaking and an enormous tsunami of over 130 feet in some areas. The resulting damage to the electrical grid wiped out the Fukushima plant's backup energy sources, leading to major overheating and eventually, leakage of radioactive contamination into the surrounding area. After the incident, Japan shut down all 54 nuclear power plants in the country, and contaminated wastewater remains an issue at Fukushima until today. Nevertheless, Japan has been slowly reopening their nuclear power plants, with 14 of the 33 still-available plants now functional once again. Now, the Niigata government has finally agreed to begin reopening the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, beginning with the initialization of one of the plant's seven reactors. However, the plant will be the first nuclear power plant belonging to TEPCO – who owned the original Fukushima plant – to reopen, sparking concerns among locals who still have reservations over nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster. According to Japanese public news broadcaster NHK, the activation of the No. 6 reactor will take place somewhere around January 20, and is a major step forward for a country that is working towards moving away from fossil fuels, unlike other nations like the United States. Despite being the world's fifth-largest emitter of fossil fuels, Japan has established a goal to reach net zero by 2050, and new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi heavily supports nuclear energy. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The longest Cricket Test match lasted over 12 days between England and South Africa. It only ended because the English team would have missed their boat home. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. (Norman Vincent Peale ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Hibernaculum (noun, hye-ber-NAK-yuh-lum) - Hibernaculum (plural hibernacula ) refers to a shelter occupied during the winter by a dormant animal, such as an insect, snake, bat, or marmot. In a Sentence: Local scientists are studying the longevity of bats who use bridges and other aboveground hibernacula versus that of bats who roost all winter in subterranean caves. Image credit to Reuters

At least three people are dead, in addition to the attacker, and 11 others have been left injured after a deadly stabbing in Taipei, but the culprit's motive is still unclear. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon when a man – dressed in all-black clothes and a gas mask – entered a crowded subway in Taipei, Taiwan's capital city, carrying smoke grenades and a large knife. According to local reports, the man detonated the smoke bombs near the exit of the subway station and then began randomly stabbing bystanders, sparking chaos. Then, the perpetrator headed towards a nearby shopping district, where he entered the Eslite Spectrum Nanxi department store and threw more smoke grenades. The culprit stabbed several people on the first and fourth floors before leaping off the sixth floor of the building, leading to his death. During the attack, three people were killed, one of which was a 57-year-old man who heroically attempted to stop the perpetrator. 11 others were injured, six of which are still in the hospital, and two remain in the ICU. Investigations have revealed the identity of the attacker to be 27-year-old Chang Wen, but authorities also found that he planned extensively for the stabbing. According to reports, he checked into a hotel near the department store several days before the incident and spent time scouting the area, both on foot and on a bike. Additionally, police stated that he changed his clothes a staggering five times throughout the series of stabbings, which took place hours apart. They have not discovered any sort of motive, but authorities have hinted that the suspect likely suffered from mental health issues due to a rather lonely, stressful life. His relatives also suggested that his childhood interest in weapons could have played a role in the incident as well, and police reported that Chang had been discharged from the military multiple years prior for driving while drunk. Attacks on the public – and crime in general – is relatively rare in Taiwan, which has a stellar safety record, making the stabbing a major incident for such a country. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Facebook will track and record nearly everything you do if you browse the web while logged in to your Facebook account. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): You see, in life, lots of people know what to do, but few people actually do what they know. Knowing is not enough! You must take action . (Tony Robbins ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Decorous (adj, DECK-er-us) - Decorous is a formal adjective used to describe an attitude or behavior characterized by propriety and good taste. In a Sentence: The ceremony was conducted with a decorous solemnity. Image credit to NBC

The shooter in the deadly shooting at Brown University last week has been identified, but a motive is still unclear. The incident occurred exactly one week ago after a suspect had been roaming the area around the campus for several hours. The perpetrator entered through the main doors of the Barus & Holley auditorium, which were unlocked due to the final exams taking place at the time, before walking in with two 9mm pistols. He killed two students and injured nine others before running out of the building, escaping from the scene before he could be caught by police. First, authorities arrested a man at a hotel in Rhode Island, but they later discovered that he was not the culprit. Two days after the shooting, Neves Valente's MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro was killed, with the same man as the prime suspect. Later, a tip found on Reddit claimed to have identified the suspect's car, describing it as a gray Nissan with Florida license plates, and the user asserted that they were "dead serious." The tip also matched the description of a suspicious car by a Brown University faculty member, prompting officials to go after the vehicle. After chasing down the car, the man was later arrested and identified as the shooter– a 48-year-old man, Claudio Neves Valente, who had studied at the university in his younger hears after moving to the US from Portugal. Then, several days later, his body was found lying in a storage compartment in Salem, New Hampshire. According to an autopsy, he died on Tuesday – three days after the initial shooting on Saturday and just one day after the murder of Loureiro – to suicide before his body was found on Thursday. Neves Valente's motive is still unclear, but investigations are still ongoing to discover everything about his history and possible biases towards or against certain groups of people. They have uncovered, though, that Neves Valente was a strong student in physics at Portugal's Instituto Superior Técnico before he came to Brown in 2000. However, he never finished his degree, leaving the university in 2003. Meanwhile, Loureiro was a classmate of his who had also immigrated from Portugal, suggesting some sort of connection. According to MIT, Loureiro had been thriving at the university, and was quickly rising into a leadership position. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Roughly 30-40% of cats are actually not affected by catnip. The euphoric reaction commonly associated with catnip is hereditary. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Happiness is your nature . It is not wrong to desire it. What is wrong is seeking it outside when it is inside. (Ramana Maharshi ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Veracity (noun, vuh-RASS-uh-tee) - Veracity is a formal word that can refer to truth or accuracy, or to the quality of being truthful or honest. In a Sentence: The jury seemed not to doubt the veracity of the witness. Image credit to The Providence Journal

The European Union has agreed on a $105 billion agreement to fund Ukraine in their war against Russia without using frozen Russian assets in Belgium. The agreement will see the EU take a massive loan off of their budget, helping to fund Ukraine for the next two years– Ukraine was originally expected to run out of funding by early 2026, but they can now last against Russia through 2027 if needed. The deal comes after several EU leaders, like German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed a plan to utilize frozen Russian assets in Belgium to fund Ukraine. Due to the war, over €210 billion ($244 billion) in Russian assets remain frozen in Belgium, and their plan attempted to take a loan from these assets. However, Belgium and several others strongly opposed the plan, as it depended on Russia to pay reparations to Ukraine, which would pay back the EU. Due to the unlikeliness of Ukraine receiving reparations from Russia, the EU decided to draft an alternative plan to loan off of their budget. While the plan will cost more for the EU in the long run, members believe it to be a major win for both Ukraine and the EU as a whole. Ukraine had been struggling for funding, allowing Russia to ramp up operations and increase leverage during ceasefire negotiations. Meanwhile, the United States had shut the European Union out of Putin-Zelenskyy talks. Nevertheless, the new deal solves both problems, re-strengthening Ukraine, providing them with additional funding for future efforts, and discouraging Russia from continuing the war while re-establishing the EU as a major power in negotiations between the two countries. Additionally, Belgium has frozen Russia's assets until further notice, allowing them to keep the initial loan plan in their back pocket. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Scrappy-Doo, Scooby-Doo's nephew and widely considered as one of the most hated characters in fiction, has not appeared in an animated Scooby-Doo production since 1988 due to audience backlash. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Don’t tell people your plans. Show them your results. (Unknown ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Jaunty (adj, JAWN-tee) - Something described as jaunty is lively in manner or appearance. Jaunty can also describe something, such as an article of clothing, that suggests a lively and confident quality. In a Sentence: The server whistled a jaunty tune as she wiped the tables and set out fresh flowers in preparation for the day’s diners. Image credit to Reuters

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