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At least 44 people are dead and hundreds of others are missing after a massive fire at an apartment complex in Hong Kong, and three potential perpetrators have been arrested. While the fire broke out over 24 hours ago, firefighters are still battling the remnants of the blaze after it jumped buildings, burning down an entire apartment complex. What began as a small fire quickly erupted into a multi-structure inferno, killing at least 44 people. Additionally, over 270 people remain missing, and officials fear that the death toll will continue to rise in the coming days. Dozens of people have been hospitalized with injuries like burns and smoke inhalation, and hundreds of others are now in temporary housing after evacuating from the buildings. Eight apartment buildings were in the complex, and seven burned down in the ferocious fire, which took place at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district. Over 4,600 people lived in the complex, which contained almost 2,000 apartments. Firefighting teams rushed to the scene, working to rescue as many people as possible, but many residents on upper floors became trapped after stairways and elevators were obstructed by flames. Furthermore, the complex maintains an abundance of senior citizen residents, rendering them even more vulnerable during the disaster. Authorities are not completely sure what initiated the blaze, but they have determined that it spread in an unusually quick manner and was able to bound from high-rise to high-rise. They have begun a thorough investigation into the incident. Officials have found, though, that a renovation was taking place, and bamboo scaffolding surrounded the under-construction facades of various buildings. Bamboo scaffolding remains prevalent across China and Hong Kong, as it is an ancient construction material that has been used for centuries, but recent incidents involving its safety have led to calls for safer scaffolding materials. Other construction materials, like safety netting and plastic covers were also in place, but police discovered that many of these other materials were not in compliance with local safety laws, suggesting that they may have contributed to the incredibly quick spread of the fire. Three people have been arrested under the charges of manslaughter due to gross negligence, as all three serve as higher-ups within a construction company that could allegedly be responsible for the fire. The company's logo was found on several boards that were blocking windows, and they could also be at fault for the aforementioned material violations that could have also contributed to the blaze. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Berries are simple fruits stemming from one flower. This means that pineapples, bananas, watermelons, pumpkins, and avocados are technically berries. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I believe success is preparation, because opportunity is going to knock on your door sooner or later– but are you prepared to answer that? ( Omar Epps) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Unabashed (adj, un-uh-BASHT) - Someone who is unabashed is not embarrassed or ashamed about openly expressing strong feelings or opinions. In a Sentence: Unabashed by their booing and hissing, the artist continued with the musical performance. Image credit to Unsplash

According to a new report from the United Nations , Jakarta is now the world's most populous city, overtaking Japan's Tokyo for the number one spot. Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, has seen incredible population growth within the last few decades, soaring from a city of 10 million people in 1971 to a city of almost 42 million people in 2025. In fact, the city has grown so fast over such a short period of time that Indonesia no longer has the infrastructure to support the city, which was originally built on a low-lying, swampy plain. Illegal pumping of groundwater and the massive weight of thousands of buildings have led to drastic land subsidence– Jakarta is sinking at a rate of around 4-12 inches per year, and some estimates predict that the entirety of North Jakarta could be underwater by 2050. Because of this, Indonesia has confirmed that they will be moving their capital to the city of Nusantara, on the island of Borneo, within the next few years. This is expected to slow the growth of Jakarta, possibly allowing the government to take control of the city's environmental situation. However, a lack of funding and construction issues have delayed the project– Indonesia claims that their new capital will be complete in 2028, but it is yet to be seen whether they can successfully reach that target. Meanwhile, the report's second-place city is also at risk of flooding– Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, came in at number two on the list, with a population of 36.6 million people. Due to its low-lying surroundings and frequent monsoons, Dhaka floods almost annually, yet its population continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. While Dhaka's growth rate is also expected to slow slightly within the next few decades, the UN report predicts that the capital will overtake Jakarta as the most populous city in the world by 2050. Next, Tokyo came in at number three, a surprise for many. The Greater Tokyo area initially became the world's most populous city in 1955 after a post-World War II economic boom, and it had kept the position until this year. Contrasting against the high birth rate of cities like Jakarta and Dhaka, located in lesser-developed countries, Tokyo is experiencing a dramatic drop in births. The Japanese government is currently attempting to offer additional incentives to increase the fertility rate across the city, which stood at 0.99 in 2023– well below the 2.1 needed to sustain a population. As a whole, Japan is suffering from a quickly aging population, with a nationwide birth rate of 1.2 that represents a wider issue across East Asia. China's birth rate stands at 1.2 as well, Taiwan's fertility rate is 1.1, and South Korea's is a mere 0.9. By comparison, the fertility rates of Indonesia and Bangladesh were 2.13 and 2.16 in 2023, respectively, allowing them to maintain consistent population growth throughout the last decade. Six of the other seven cities among the top 10 were located in Asia, consisting of New Delhi (30.2 million), Shanghai (29.6 million), Guangzhou (27.6 million), Cairo (25.6 million), Manila (24.7 million), Kolkata (22.5 million), and Seoul (22.5 million). Of the top 10, Cairo was the only megacity not located in Asia, being the capital of Egypt. As a whole, the report found that 45% of Earth's population now lives in cities, representing a worldwide shift towards urbanization. Furthermore, an additional 36% reside in towns, meaning that cities and towns now contain a staggering 81% of the global population. In 1975, just 8 megacities – urban areas with over 10 million inhabitants – existed in the world. Now, that number stands at 33 in 2025, 19 of which are in Asia. While urbanization often leads to increased habitat loss and pollution, the increased population density can have several benefits for the enviroment, like decreasing per capita energy consumption. Urbanization also preserves more rural land for natural purposes– though major issues like waste management and biodiversity decline must be addressed before such benefits can be reaped. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In Korea, there is a breed of dog called a Sapsali, which was originally thought to banish ghosts and evil spirits. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge. ( Socrates) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Perdition (noun, per-DISH-un) - Perdition refers to hell, or to the state of being in hell forever as punishment after death—in other words, damnation. It is usually used figuratively. In a Sentence: Dante’s Inferno details the main character’s journey through perdition . Image credit to Unsplash

The Hayli Gubbi volcano, located in northern Ethiopia, erupted yesterday after being dormant for almost 12,000 years, blowing ash across western Asia. Hayli Gubbi is a shield volcano in northeastern Ethiopia within the region of Afar, close to the country's border with Eritrea and Djibouti. The volcano's last recorded eruption was over 12,000 years ago, leading many to believe that it was completely extinct. The volcano lies on the Erta Ale range, situated near the triple junction of the African, Arabian, and Somali tectonic plates. The divergent nature of these plates creates a gap in between where magma can seep through and rise to the surface, forming a chain of volcanoes along the border. This rift zone is known as the Danakil Depression– it is one of the hottest, driest, and lowest places on Earth, with average temperatures of over 119°F and 4-8 inches of annual rainfall, along with the fact that it is located around 410 feet below sea level. The depression is known for its otherworldly landscape, involving sulfur springs and massive salt flats. Despite the Danakil Depression's adverse climate, the slopes of the Hayli Gubbi volcano are covered in farms and pastures, and ash from the volcano's eruptions long ago has enabled greater growing capabilities. Then, yesterday, the volcano erupted for the first time in over 12,000 years, blanketing the surrounding region in ash. Locals described the eruption as similar to a bomb blast as thousands of tons of ash and rock blasted into the sky, creating a cloud that could easily be seen from space. Strong winds then carried this ash across the Red Sea into the Middle East, dropping ash over Yemen, Oman, and even over the Persian Gulf into Pakistan and India. Unfortunately, New Delhi and the rest of northern India are already grappling with toxic smog due to the annual burning of the fields, leading to skyrocketing AQIs. In fact, breathing has become so hazardous that local merchants have begun selling masks attached to tanks filled with clean air– and the addition of ash and smoke from the volcano will not help the situation. Thankfully, most of the ash is flying at a high level, preventing it from impacting the ground, but it will have a greater impact on the Himalayas once it reaches that region. However, several international and domestic flights were canceled due to the incoming ash, while others were rerouted to avoid passing through it. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): When we’re born, the only innate fears we have are the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds. All other fears are learned. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Imagination is more important than knowledge . Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. ( Albert Einstein) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Amalgamate (verb, uh-MAL-guh-mayt) - Amalgamate is a formal verb meaning "to unite (two or more things) into one thing." In a Sentence: The school district has proposed amalgamating the two high schools. Image credit to AP

New Delhi's notoriously toxic air pollution has returned once again, leading to increased sickness and breathing problems along with violent protests. The toxic smog is primarily due to agricultural practices and certain emissions, creating a hazardous environment for Delhi locals. October to December serves as the rejuvenation season, where farmers fertilize the soil and plant new seeds for the next harvest. However, in India, many farmers burn their existing plants to try to get rid of them, as they are no longer needed. By burning them, these farmers release thousands of tons of smoke and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, blanketing northern Pakistan and India in a layer of smog so thick it can be seen from outer space. Now, air pollution levels have spiked once again, with some areas recording AQI index levels as high as 400– extremely hazardous to human health. This sparked several protests across the city, with the largest group swarming India Gate, a 94-year-old historical monument in the middle of Delhi. Then, police arrived to handle the situation, attempting to restore order and peace to the area. Nevertheless, protestors burst through the barricades set up by local police, assaulting police officers with chili spray and releasing their anger over the constantly-polluted air of the city. Local authorities were forced to use pepper spray to repel protestors– according to police, the demonstrations were blocking a path needed by emergency services, but the people refused to move out of the way. Several officers were injured by the chili spray and have been sent to the hospital for further checkups. Many protestors were also temporarily detained, allowing authorities to move them to other locations to break up the demonstrations. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): English is not native to the British Isles. It was brought to Britain in the mid-5th to 7th centuries by German, Danish, and Dutch settlers. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It is true that integrity alone won’t make you a leader , but without integrity you will never be one. ( Zig Ziglar) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Desolate (adj, DESS-uh-lut) - Desolate describes places that lack people, plants, animals, etc., that make people feel welcome in a place; desolate places are, in other words, deserted or barren. Desolate can also mean “joyless” or “gloomy.” In a Sentence: We drove for hours along a desolate stretch of road until finally a lone gas station appeared in the middle of nowhere. Image credit to Bloomberg

After weeks of negotiations, delegates managed to agree on a frail, fossil fuel-avoiding deal as COP30 in Belém came to an end. COP30, a major meeting among delegations from various countries, met in Belém, Brazil, over the past few weeks to discuss possible climate action, preferably as soon as possible. However, the summit was incredibly divided between oil-producing countries and oil-opposing nations, and featured action from several perspectives. At first, Indigenous tribes struggled to gain representation at the summit, leading to protests outside the grounds. Eventually, tribes broke through the barriers around the COP30 building and forced their way inside , allowing them to attract attention for their cause– the prevention of Amazon deforestation. Then, several days later, a fire broke out at the venue, leaving at least a dozen people injured due to burns and smoke inhalation. Throughout the conference, lobbyists for fossil fuels remained a permanent fixture, constantly fighting against any sort of climate action that could cost oil-producing nations. In the end, these nations, such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, were able to stop the committee from passing a major bill to limit fossil fuel production, limiting the conference's benefit to the environment. In the end, countries were forced to settle for a frail agreement that provides poorer nations with additional finances to be able to adjust to global warming and work to reduce their emissions, but took almost no action to address the root problem– the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by major emitters. The deal, named the Belém Package, encourages countries to reach their emissions goals and reaffirms the Paris Agreement, signed over 10 years ago, along with calling for wealthy nations to triple their climate investments by 2035. However, the agreement takes almost no legally binding action on any of these issues or the persistent fossil fuel problem, which was prevented by lobbyists and oil-producing countries. Countries impacted by climate change, like Colombia and Sierra Leone, clearly expressed their disappointment and anger over the lack of an agreement to save the planet. Others placed significant blame on the United States as well – the world's single largest emitter of fossil fuels – who did not send a delegation to COP30 at all. However, Arab states and Russia were extremely contented with the outcome of the conference, claiming that offsetting the impacts of climate change would eliminate the need for fossil fuels to be phased out. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The Great Pyramid of Giza actually has eight sides, rather than four. Subtle indentations in the center of each side create an extremely unnoticeable concavity that can only be seen under specific lighting conditions, like during equinoxes, and is virtually invisible from the ground. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Until you treat everyone as an equal, you have no right to complain about the treatment you receive from anyone. ( Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Metonymy (verb, muh-TAH-nuh-mee) - Metonymy refers to a figure of speech in which a word that is associated with something is used to refer to the thing itself, as when crown is used to mean “king” or “queen.” In a Sentence: Wall Street , Silicon Valley , and Hollywood are common examples of metonymy . Image credit to AP

At least eight people are dead and over 450 others are injured after a strong, 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck Bangladesh yesterday. The earthquake's epicenter was located near the city of Narsingdi, around 16 miles away from the capital of Dhaka, at a depth of 6 miles. According to local reports, the shaking lasted for approximately 26 seconds after beginning at 10:38 am local time. While the shaking was not extremely strong, at a magnitude of 5.5, the quake still did significant damage, and shaking was felt as far as the Indian city of Kolkata– over 200 miles away. Eight people have been confirmed dead due to failing infrastructure, with bricks toppling into roadways and roofs collapsing across Dhaka. Some buildings began falling over, endangering the people inside, and officials were also forced to respond to a fire in one neighborhood within Dhaka. Hundreds of people were injured, with stampedes and other incidents leading to various hospitalizations. Unfortunately, infrastructure has long been an issue in Bangladesh. The nation continues to grapple with extremely outdated, poor infrastructure due to lack of funding and constant government instability, leading to decreased emergency response times and more deaths in times of crisis. Additionally, Bangladesh lies on the intersection points of the major Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates along with the Burmese microplate, making it more vulnerable to tremors. While large earthquakes like yesterday's are relatively uncommon due to the constant sliding nature of the plates, tremors and occasional shaking happen often, and they do even more damage due to the country's lack of strong infrastructure. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Will Smith owed $2.8 million to the IRS and almost went bankrupt just before he signed the contract for The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air , launching him into the film industry. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. ( Marcus Garvey) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Bloviate (verb, BLOH-vee-ayt) - To bloviate is to speak or write in an arrogant tone and with more words than are necessary. In a Sentence: The podcaster tends to bloviate endlessly on topics about which he is not particularly knowledgeable. Image credit to Reuters

US President Donald Trump has released his latest plan to end the Russia-Ukraine War, featuring several major points that remain controversial. Trump and other White House officials feel that this plan is the only way to move forward with a ceasefire– while it heavily benefits Russia, satisfying almost all of their demands, Ukraine faces the risk of losing more territory if they continue to fight. The plan entails several key points, ranging from territory-based lines to military protection. Firstly, the war would come to an immediate end, with Ukraine ceding the oblasts of Luhansk, Donetsk, and Crimea, which are already heavily Russian. Meanwhile, Russia will give back all other territory that it has conquered, and the line dividing the two countries will be placed on the cities of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, located along this line, will now be supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and power supplied by the plant will be divided equally between Russia and Ukraine. The Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 people, down from their current 800,000, and NATO members will no longer be allowed to station troops in Ukraine. This will ensure greater safety for Russia to prevent incursions. On the other hand, Ukraine will be provided with a security guarantee from the United States, which they will have to remunerate for, and all sanctions will be reimposed on Russia if they invade Ukraine again. Additionally, the plan creates a Ukraine Development Fund to assist in rebuilding the country, and the United States will help with funding, reconstruction, and modernization of current infrastructure. The plan also uses $100 billion in frozen Russian funds to rebuild Ukraine, and Europe will contribute an additional $100 billion. Ukraine will also be required to hold elections in 100 days, addressing the recent rising concerns over current President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a massive, $100 million embezzlement scandal among members of his inner circle. For Russia, all sanctions will be lifted, and the US will enter negotiations to determine a long-term trade deal that could bolster both economies and bring the latest technology, like artificial intelligence and major data centers, to Russia. Lastly, Russia will enshrine a policy of non-aggression towards the United States and Europe into law, while Ukraine will enshrine a law into its Constitution preventing it from ever joining NATO. However, the plan does make Ukraine eligible to join the European Union, which could heavily benefit them from an economic perspective. Other points within the plan include the creation of a humanitarian committee to facilitate the exchange of all prisoners, detainees, and hostages; the implementation of cultural programs to teach children of the country about the other, preventing future racism and injustice; the protection of the Dnieper River for Ukrainian trade; and the possibility for future negotiations to safeguard free trade throughout the Black Sea. The plan also outlines several steps that will serve as the basis for future NATO-Russia negotiations, helping to de-escalate the situation in Europe. First, Russia will be invited to rejoin the G8, a group that has since been known as the G7 since Russia's suspension in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea. Other member nations include France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Furthermore, NATO and Russia will hold talks to discuss future cooperation. Ukraine is yet to agree to the plan, but they have admitted that they are willing to negotiate and have acknowledged that it has potential. Russia has also expressed optimism over the plan, hinting that an end to the war may be in sight. However, Ukraine have drawn several hard lines that they continue to emphasize as they view this plan, and Russia refuses to agree to them. Due to this, while negotiations have begun, it may be some time before the final draft is confirmed. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The British pound sterling is the world’s oldest currency still in use, dating back over 1,200 years to the Anglo-Saxons. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): When you shut down vulnerability, you shut down opportunity. ( Brene Brown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Gauche (adj, GOHSH) - Gauche describes someone or something having or showing a lack of awareness about the proper way to behave. When describing a person or a behavior, gauche can mean “socially awkward” or “tactless”; when describing an object (such as a product with a vulgar image or slogan on it) it can mean “crudely made or done.” In a Sentence: Some people view giving cash in lieu of a wrapped present to be terribly gauche , but I like knowing that my friends and family will be able to pick out something they truly want. Image credit to Getty Images

The artificial intelligence market seems to have received new life after the latest earnings report from Nvidia, but concerns of a bubble remain prominent. Across the last several days, concerns over a growing AI bubble had slowly continued to grow, bringing tech stocks lower and lower as a sense of impending doom began to set in for some investors. A bubble occurs when a certain stock or market becomes overhyped, leading to investment in the stock beyond its true worth. As more people jump onto this train, the stock balloons before plummeting in value once the bubble "pops" and investors realize the true value of the stock. In the case of Nvidia, the company has risen to the position of most valuable company within a few years– an incredible accomplishment. The company is now valued at around $4.75 trillion, but signs of a bubble lingered. Circular investing has also begun taking place– one of the most crucial signs of a bubble. This occurs when two companies invest in each other, leading to inflation of the companies' real value. For example, Nvidia made a recent deal with another major AI firm– Nvidia announced that they would invest over $100 billion in OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, boosting both corporations' stocks. Meanwhile, OpenAI continues to purchase Nvidia chips, circulating that money back to Nvidia. The purchase made by OpenAI was made using Nvidia's own money, but it counts as revenue for Nvidia. This practice can often be used to defraud investors in major economic schemes, but it is also a sign of a growing bubble. Additionally, Nvidia's P/S ratio is a staggering 28. P/S, or price-to-sales, is a ratio that describes a company's market capitalization divided by its revenue, with a higher number usually indicating overvaluation. The average P/S ratio for average companies is between 1 and 2, with some tech stocks averaging around 3 because of the quickly-growing nature of the market. With a P/S of 28, Nvidia appears to be extremely overvalued. Nevertheless, Jensen Huang, the CEO, and many investors remain bullish on the stock. Nvidia's latest earnings report was set to define the nature of the AI bubble, as the bubble usually "pops" when a company is not able to meet demands after overvaluation, but Nvidia smashed all expectations. Revenue beat estimates by around 3.5%, reaching $57 billion for the quarter, and profit soared over 65% from last year to $31.9 billion. The company also predicted a stellar Q4 ahead, with Huang emphasizing that demand for their latest Blackwell chip is "off the charts." The company's stock rose by over 5% in after-hours trading. This latest earnings report significantly cooled Wall Street fears of an incoming bubble, and the possibility that Nvidia continues to meet demand is completely feasible. Its performance in future earnings reports will likely determine the nature of the entire AI market and possibly even a majority of the tech sector, but Huang and other investors remain confident that AI will continue to boom for the next few years. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In 2017, Adidas sold over 1 million pairs of shoes made from recycled ocean plastic, each pair taking 11 plastic bottles to make. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Solitude is not the absence of company, but the moment when our soul is free to speak to us and help us decide what to do with our life. ( Paulo Coelho) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Serendipity (noun, sair-un-DIP-uh-tee) - Serendipity refers to luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for, or to an instance of such luck. In a Sentence: They found each other by pure serendipity . Image credit to Unsplash

The United Kingdom has warned that China has attempted to recruit several Members of Parliament (MPs) to work for them as spies, putting them on high alert. The notice came from MI5, England's domestic security service, who pointed out two LinkedIn profiles that seemed to be linked to the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS). According to MI5, the LinkedIn profiles attempted to recruit people in British politics, especially MPs who help make decisions for the country in Parliament. The profiles, under the names Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen, particularly focused on outreach, "laying the groundwork for long-term relationships, using professional networking sites, recruitment agents and consultants acting on their behalf." Additionally, MI5 also confirmed that the alleged spies could also potentially offer all-expenses paid trips to China or ask for online money transfers through cash or cryptocurrency, according to the BBC. China has strongly denied the claims, though, calling them "pure fabrication" and encouraging the UK to avoid making another such statement in the future to preserve UK-China ties. Just after the announcement, Security Minister Dan Jarvis declared a slew of changes and investments to UK security to prevent future Chinese spying. His new plan, known as the Counter Political Interference and Espionage Action Plan, will see the government begin educating politicians on how to recognize spying and other suspicious activities, deliver security briefings directly to political parties, and work with networking companies like LinkedIn to make their websites less friendly to possible malicious activity. Furthermore, he confirmed that the country will invest £170 million ($222 million) into updating technology that protects sensitive information in the UK government, and another £130 million ($170 million) will be invested into funding policing for counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, and national security as a whole. He also stated that their government has removed Chinese-manufactured surveillance equipment from all UK-affiliated sites across the world that handle sensitive information, according to the official website of the UK government. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In South Dakota, you can get a driver’s permit at age 14 with parental consent– the youngest driving age limit in the US. Once you turn 16, you can get your license. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. ( Leo Buscaglia) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Eccentric (adj, ik-SEN-trik) - Eccentric usually describes people and things that deviate from conventional or accepted usage or behavior, especially in odd or whimsical ways. It is also used technically to mean "deviating from a circular path" and "located elsewhere than at the geometric center." In a Sentence: He's an endearingly eccentric scientist whose methods are quite inventive. Image credit to Reuters

Yesterday, the United Nations Security Council approved an American plan to ensure peace and stabilize Gaza for the next few years, paving the way to a possible Palestinian statehood. The resolution included US President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan , which approves the creation of an International Stabilization Force that would protect the citizens of Gaza and work to maintain peace with a new police force and demilitarization measures. They would also secure Gaza's borders and facilitate the distribution of humanitarian aid, further solving the crisis. Another key point within the resolution includes the creation of a Board of Peace as a temporary government over Gaza, with Trump as the chair of the organization for the next two years, in addition to the total withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Strip once the situation is under control. These two organizations will work to restore peace in Gaza over the next two years, with the ISF working under the supervision of a Palestinian Authority, the latter of which will answer to the Board of Peace chaired by Trump. Finally, after pressure from Arab countries surrounding Palestine, the resolution also includes t hat if their duties have been “faithfully carried out and Gaza redevelopment has advanced, the conditions may be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood,” according to AP. This addition drew the ire of various right-wing politicians within Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly rejected this statement and refuses to allow Palestine to become a state. Hamas also rejected the resolution, claiming that bringing a foreign power into Gaza violates the rights of the Palestinian people. Nevertheless, while Russia and China, two nations with veto power, had created their own resolution that supported Palestinian statehood, they abstained from voting on the US-led resolution, allowing it to pass unanimously. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): A study from Harvard University finds that having no friends can be just as deadly as smoking. Both affect levels of a blood-clotting protein called fibrinogen. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. ( James Allen) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Crucible (noun, KROO-suh-bul) - A crucible, in the word’s literal use, is a pot in which metals or other substances are heated to a very high temperature or melted. But crucible is more often encountered in figurative use referring to a difficult test or challenge, or to a place or situation that forces people to change or make difficult decisions. In a Sentence: The bronze was heated to 2,100 degrees in the crucible and then poured into molds designed by the artist. Image credit to AFP