Search The Website!

Battles on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan erupted several days ago and have continued through this week, with different on-and-off ceasefires and truces taking place. The conflict began on October 9 after several strikes on the Afghani capital of Kabul. The Tehrik-i-Taliban, also known as the Pakistani Taliban or the TTP, are a jihadist terrorist group aiming to overthrow the Pakistani government and replace it with their own extremist, Sharia Law-based form of government. Meanwhile, Afghanistan is controlled by the Taliban, who are allies with the TTP and maintain many of the same ideologies but are not the same organization. The TTP are known for committing acts of terrorism like suicide bombings and strikes on Pakistan to arouse chaos and disorder, but Pakistan has taken measures to prevent this from happening. Because of this, many TTP members have shifted operations to Afghanistan, where the Taliban allow them to maintain bases and continue attacks on Pakistan. The Taliban, though, has argued that these Pakistani allegations are completely baseless and they are providing absolutely no support to the TTP. On October 9, Pakistan conducted several strikes on Kabul, targeting several senior officials of the TTP which the Taliban had been harboring. Both sides continued to trade fire for several days, with Pakistan rejecting a ceasefire proposal from the Afghani Taliban. However, on October 15, the Afghani Taliban and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire– Pakistan claimed the stoppage would only last 48 hours, while the Taliban did not confirm a duration. While it was set to expire in the middle of the day on Friday, the truce was extended after an agreement from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Nevertheless, Pakistan reported that a TTP suicide car bomber had attacked a group of border patrol officers, prompting a fresh round of airstrikes in southern Afghanistan that killed dozens of people. Now, both sides are at an impasse, and the death toll continues to rise. Pakistan strongly believes that the Taliban is harboring members of the TTP, enabling them to conduct terrorist attacks on their country. On the other side, the Taliban has refuted this claim– they allege that Pakistan is attempting to spread misinformation about Afghanistan to undermine the stability of the country. Qatar has proposed that they meet in Doha for negotiations, but neither side has responded, and despite their supposed ceasefire, Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to battle at the border. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Mount Rushmore cost less than one million dollars to construct. It took 14 years to build – from 1927 to 1941 and took 400 workers. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. ( Abraham Lincoln) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Kibosh (noun, KYE-bosh) - Kibosh refers to something that serves as a check or stop. It is usually used in the phrase “put the kibosh on” to mean “to stop or end (something)” or “to prevent (something) from happening or continuing.” In a Sentence: I downloaded an app to help me put the kibosh on my high screen time. Image credit to AFP

The European Commission has announced a slew of new defense projects in the coming years, helping the EU build a massive system to defend from Russia. The commission announced four main projects, all within the Readiness Roadmap 2030 to prepare them for any sort of Russian incursion. The largest of these four projects is a counter-drone system to defend against Russia's constant drone incursions. Over the last few months, Russia has expanded drone attacks on Ukraine, but various drones have been spotted across ten different European countries –  Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Norway, Romania, Poland, Estonia, Germany and France – many of which are quite far from Ukraine. This European Drone Defense Initiative will aim to create a continent-wide network of anti-drone systems that can take down incoming Russian drones in any place, at any time. Several European officials have referred to the system as a "drone wall," suggesting that they may be targeting a design similar to Israel's Iron Dome but with anti-drone weapons. The system is expected to become operational by the end of 2026 and will be complete by the end of 2027. The second project is the Eastern Flank Watch, which will improve infrastructure, defense systems, and surveillance to protect the EU's eastern borders by land, air, and sea. They expect this project to become operational by the end of 2026, but it will only be fully complete by the end of 2028. The third and fourth projects were less urgent, but they still considered them necessary for the protection of the EU. The European Air Shield will defend against incoming missiles and other projectiles, while the European Space Shield will protect their stations and satellites outside of the atmosphere. Now, the member governments of the European Union will come together and decide whether to agree on the proposal or not, but they are likely to approve the projects. The EU has maintained a strong focus on defense since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine War, with various countries ramping up defense spending and motivating others to do so as well. Ukraine also praised the new plan, suggesting that it would increase the collective security of not just the EU, but all of Europe. Other European officials commended the detail within the plan, with each and every deadline and goal outlined for member governments to see and meet. However, the plan did not contain a total cost, as that estimate can only be confirmed after negotiations with other member nations, who may want to add or remove certain parts of the agreement. Nevertheless, the plan represents a larger initiative as Europe prepares to fend for itself, with US President Donald Trump urging them to bolster their own militaries instead of depending so heavily on the United States. This defense plan is just the first step in the EU's plan towards military self-sufficiency, allowing them to reduce their dependence on the NATO alliance. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): 12% of the world’s total languages are found in Papua New Guinea, which has over 820 indigenous languages. There are more languages on this island than in any other country. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words. ( Robert Frost) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Biannual (adj, bye-AN-yuh-wul) - Biannual is an adjective used to describe something that happens twice a year, or something that happens every two years. In a Sentence: The art show is a biannual event that won’t happen again for two more years. Image credit to European Council on Foreign Relations

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to move away from Russian oil, marking a significant shift in global geopolitics. Trump stated yesterday that Modi had agreed to taper off India's usage of Russian oil, helping them to avoid major tariffs from the United States. In August, Trump expressed his discontent with India over Russian oil– prior to the Russia-Ukraine War, India did not purchase much Russian oil, but their demands surged during the war, making them Russia's largest buyer. Trump tried to convince Modi to move away from Russian oil, as he has done with the European Union, but Modi refused. Trump was left bristling at this and placed an additional 25% tariff on India, bringing the levy to a staggering 50%. However, Modi confirmed yesterday that they would slowly decrease their reliance on Russian oil, meeting Trump's demands. While the change will not take place immediately, India will gradually diversify its oil suppliers, putting further pressure on Russia to end their war in Ukraine. The move is a dramatic shift of alliances for India, which has historically remained neutral between the powers of China and Russia and the Western world. Now, India has taken its first step in the direction of the West, strengthening their alliance with the US while weakening ties with Russia. Crucially, Trump is likely to remove a large portion of his tariffs on India, bringing relief to the Indian market after a tough period where Indian exports to the US have dropped significantly. Other countries have managed to score deals to bring down their reciprocal tariff rates, but India has not been able to do so. Because of this, they had faced this 50% tariff since late August and had no means of working around it, with trade negotiations at a stalemate. Nevertheless, this new development should strengthen their ties with the US and bring them some relief from Trump's tariffs while putting pressure on Russia– exactly the move that the United States needed. Trump quickly expressed his approval of the move, and confirmed that he will now focus his efforts on doing the same with China– a much harder goal to achieve. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Apart from being the only non-quadrilateral flag in the world, Nepal also has the most mathematical flag in the world. It even has an article in its constitution that details the steps of drawing the flag. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Obstacles can’t stop you. Problems can’t stop you. Most of all, other people can’t stop you. Only you can stop you. ( Jeffrey Gitomer) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Coalesce (verb, koh-uh-LESS) - To coalesce is to come together to form one group or mass. In a Sentence: The club’s community service projects provide students with a common goal to coalesce around. Image credit to Politico

Following the acceptance of US President Trump's ceasefire deal from both sides, Hamas has returned Israel's remaining hostages that have been held captive for years. Over two years ago, dozens of Israeli citizens were taken from their homes by Hamas militants, who invaded Israel and destroyed everything in their path. A massive war ensued, with Israel vowing to destroy each and every member of Hamas until the organization was truly no more. However, the conflict between the two sides has finally come to an end, and the remaining Israeli hostages being held in Gaza have been returned. Throughout the war, many of the Israeli hostages died in captivity under torturous conditions, but some were returned to Israel through temporary ceasefires. Still, many of the dead hostages' bodies remained with Hamas, and they maintained control over dozens of other hostages. Trump's new deal, which was accepted by Israel and Hamas last week, facilitated the release of this hostages by Hamas, in exchange for a ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israel. The bodies of 28 others are still being collected before their return, but the 20 living Israeli hostages were released, uniting Israel in a time of extreme division– the country was split over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to continue the war. Despite this, Israel seems to have already moved on, with the entire country rejoicing over the arrival of the hostages. Meanwhile, Israel released over 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of which had been in captivity for decades. While Israel views these prisoners as convicted criminals, Palestinians see them as young citizens fighting for the independence of Palestine, whose territory has been constantly encroached upon by Israel over the past few decades. Many were held in Israel without trial or access to a lawyer, as recent Israeli rulings have made it legal to do so if they are labeled as "unlawful combatants." Additionally, various reports have confirmed extreme violence against Palestinians in Israeli prisons, including frequent beatings and starvation of prisoners. Israel denies these claims, though. Nevertheless, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel desires for this to be a time of peace, both inside and outside Israel, implying that he is unlikely to attack Hamas again in the near future. Trump also asserted this idea, confirming that this is not a temporary pause in the war, but a permanent end to the conflict. In the meantime, Trump's deal is also facilitating the arrival of aid into Gaza, which has been struggling with a severe humanitarian crisis for years. Serious shortages of food and water persist and electricity and internet are almost nonexistent, but aid is now flowing freely into the strip. Trump also met with the leaders of Qatar, Türkiye, and Egypt, allowing them to sign a landmark deal that secures peace in the region and outlines the next steps to ensure a safe and lasting end to the conflict. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The line “Born and raised in South Detroit” in Journey’s “ Don’t Stop Believin ” actually makes no sense, as there is no South Detroit. Detroit, Michigan, lies on the northern side of the Detroit River, and Ontario, Canada, lies to its south. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Seeing a miracle will inspire you, but knowing you are a miracle will change you. ( Deborah Brody) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Penultimate (adj, pih-NUL-tuh-mut) - Penultimate means "occurring immediately before the last one," or in other words, "next to last." A formal adjective, it is always used before the noun it modifies. In a Sentence: The penultimate episode of the TV series features some shocking plot twists that set up what will surely be a thrilling series finale. Image credit to Al Jazeera

16 people are dead after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Dhaka, marking yet another incident in the poverty-ridden capital city of Bangladesh. The fire broke out in the middle of the day yesterday, scorching a four-story garment factory and leading to chaotic evacuations across the building. The blaze was quickly extinguished after around three hours, but a nearby chemical warehouse was also on fire and could not be put out until around 9:00 pm local time. Due to the fire's location at a chemical warehouse, several dangerous substances were present, including bleaching powder, hydrogen peroxide, and plastic. Plastic is highly flammable, while bleaching powder and hydrogen peroxide are both oxidizers that can easily strengthen a blaze. The combustion of these materials also releases toxic gases like chlorine gas and carbon monoxide, which could have killed people in mere seconds. Additionally, the fire occurred in Mirpur, a city within the Dhaka metropolitan area, which is known for its historical sites but also contains some of the largest slums in the city. Unsafe drinking water and air pollution have created an extremely unhealthy environment for many Bangladeshis, who work in factories and sweatshops that often do not meet legal standards. Authorities believe that this factory could be yet another example of a warehouse that fails to meet Bangladesh's poorly-enforced regulations, allowing them to operate without a legal license and avoid adhering to standard rules for worker environments. Unfortunately, many companies from other countries like the United States and China continue to exploit Bangladesh's situation by moving their factories and warehouses there, allowing them to bypass regulations that they would have faced in their own countries. Bangladesh, on the other hand, does not have the capacity to maintain and enforce the rules that they have set, with a small police force and tens of thousands of people living in a single square mile– in fact, Dhaka is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with around 75,000 people per square mile. These lax safety standards, poor infrastructure, and constant violations of building codes have made it impossible for Bangladesh to keep the situation from getting out of hand, and fires continue to become more dangerous and more common across the country. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): If you cut a starfish, it won’t bleed – it doesn’t have blood! Rather, they circulate nutrients by using seawater in their vascular system. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. ( Anthony J. D'Angelo) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Utopia (noun, yoo-TOH-pee-uh) - Utopia refers to an imaginary place in which the government, laws, and social conditions are perfect; a utopia is a place of ideal perfection. In a Sentence: It’s a nice place to live, but it’s no utopia . Image credit to BBC

Madagscar's government has confirmed that they are struggling to contain a military coup that could destabilize the leadership of the island country. The coup is being conducted by CAPSAT, an elite group of the Malagasy military, after weeks of severe protests. However, the group has a deeper history in Madagscar's political world. In 2009, the Army Corps of Personnel and Administrative and Technical Services (CAPSAT), an elite group within Madagascar's military, helped Andry Rajoelina overthrow then-President Marc Ravalomanana. Rajoelina, the mayor of the capital of Antananarivo, led anti-government protests for months after the government shut down his TV station, and the use of violence by police officers quickly degraded the public's trust in Ravalomanana. Soon after, CAPSAT troops captured several key government buildings, and Ravalomanana stepped down, making way for Rajoelina to lead the country. He led Madagascar until 2014, when he stepped down due to international pressure, but was re-elected in 2018 and has held power since then. Now, ironically, Rajoelina is facing the same situation, and the very same CAPSAT division that helped him gain power is now working to overthrow him. Last month, Madagascar was hit with massive protests from the country's youth, fighting back against constant disruptions to water and electricity supply across Antananarivo. However, these protests rapidly escalated into major backlash over larger, more significant Malagasy problems. Soon, the protests included topics like corruption, unemployment rates, and high costs of living, all of which have plagued Madagascar for years. Madagascar remains one of the poorest countries in the world– over 70% of the population earns less than $2 per day, and the average GDP per capita is just $545. Over 35% of citizens are illiterate, and the country ranked 140 out of 180 countries on Transparency International's 2024 corruption index. Additionally, the country is extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which is quickly ramping up the strength and frequency of cyclones and droughts in the region. The country also struggles with high crime rates, discouraging tourism despite its incredible natural beauty and staggering biodiversity. Now, yet another government change seems to be on the way. CAPSAT has confirmed that they have taken over Madagascar's entire military, and massive, violent protests have continued in public squares and large gathering areas. The protestors are calling for the resignation of President Rajoelina, and CAPSAT was rallied to action after seeing the violence used by authorities against the common population. Dozens of people have died, and hundreds of others have been injured during the uprisings. Nevertheless, the president asserted that he and his government were in control of the situation– until now. Rajoelina confirmed yesterday that an illegal attempt to forcefully take power is underway, and as previously demonstrated in 2009, CAPSAT is highly capable of succeeding in a coup. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Non-violent attempts to escape Mexican prisons are not punished because they consider the desire for freedom a basic human right. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Life is too deep for words, so don’t try to describe it, just live it. ( C.S. Lewis) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Imprimatur (noun, im-pruh-MAH-toor) - Imprimatur is a formal word that refers to explicit approval or permission. In a Sentence: Though not an official project of the theater, the drama festival has its imprimatur . Image credit to the New York Times

At least 37 people are dead after heavy rains led to dangerous flooding and landslides across several parts of Mexico. The worst of the storms were primarily due to two incoming tropical storms, Priscilla and Raymond, which have each impacted different parts of the country. Raymond made landfall on Mexico's Baja Peninsula last night, while Priscilla made landfall near the city of Puerto Vallarta in the western state of Jalisco several days ago. The rain, though, has been widespread, stretching far and wide across the country. The state of Hidalgo, north of Mexico City, is known for its dramatic, mountainous terrain, with the Sierra Madre Oriental range spanning the north and east sides of the state. However, due to this, the heavy rainfall in the region has led to devastating landslides– in total, 22 people have been confirmed dead and eight others remain missing in Hidalgo. Meanwhile, at least nine people were killed in the state of Puebla, southeast of Mexico City. Eight others are missing because of a landslide in the region, and around 16,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed. Also, five more deaths occurred in the eastern state of Veracruz, where an additional 16,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. The final death came from the state of Querétaro, where a child died after being caught in yet another deadly landslide. In total, over 320,000 are out of power, and the lack of communications – coupled with the landslide-induced destruction done to roads – has seriously hindered rescue efforts. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum admitted that the heavy rainfall had destroyed, damaged, or blocked around 600 miles of roadway across five different states, amplifying the impact of the disaster. Dozens of hospitals have also been shut down due to the damage, affecting locals' access to healthcare during the time of crisis, and schools have also been shut down across the region. Now, authorities are working with thousands of members of the military to clear the way, but they just beginning to clear roads and restore power. Because of this, local officials expect the death toll to rise in the coming days. Unfortunately, weather like this continues to become more and more common as climate change ramps up, creating more unpredictable severe weather events that change too quickly for humans to adapt and respond to. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): During the 1908 Olympics in London, the Russians showed up 12 days late due to the fact that they were using the Julian calendar instead of the Gregorian calendar. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): To attain knowledge, add things everyday. To attain wisdom , remove things every day. ( Lao Tzu) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Languid (adj, LANG-gwid) - Something described as languid shows or has very little energy, force, or activity. In a Sentence: We paddled at a languid pace, in no hurry to arrive at our picnic destination. Image credit to AP

We apologize that this article was published late due to a scheduling issue. Venezuela's María Corina Machado, a major opposition leader against dictator Nicolás Maduro, won the Nobel Peace Prize several days ago. María Corina Machado has been a force of the Venezuelan people in recent years, fighting back against Nicolás Maduro's authoritarian government. Maduro has squashed his opposition since he was elected, bringing them down politically or even staging accidents where they have been killed. However, Machado has fought through and managed to win the election for Maduro's opponents– but Maduro did not concede his position. In 1998, Hugo Chávez took control of the Venezuelan government after winning the country's election. He slowly undermined democratic institutions in a strategy that is known as democratic backsliding, eroding Venezuela's democracy. Soon, Chávez had a strong grip over the Venezuelan military and government, allowing him to assume the position of a dictator. Chávez died in 2013, allowing Nicolás Maduro to take control. He further undermined democracy, cementing his position as a dictator. During this time, Venezuelan hero María Corina Machado slowly edged into the picture, building up connections with both Democrats and Republicans in the United States. Machado is also a former member of the national assembly, giving her some political presence as well. In 2012, prior to Chávez's death, she had already started a voter rights group that campaigned against the dictator– she even went against him in a nationally-televised debate. Still, Maduro continued to hold a tight grip over the country, and massive amounts of Venezuelans had begun to leave the country. Then, Maduro agreed to host an election in 2025 in exchange for the removal of US-placed sanctions on Venezuela's already-struggling economy. This time, Machado attempted another opposition attempt, gathering all of Maduro's opposition parties and bringing them together as one force. This gained significant amounts of voter support and set up the stage for a win. After they gained traction, Machado was banned for running by a Venezuelan court in January 2024, but she continued with her work. Instead, the frontman was a relatively unknown politician named Edmundo González, who she campaigned behind. Machado traveled around the country to different towns and cities, small or big, and rallied the people for their cause. When the election arrived in July, votes were submitted, but what happened afterwards was chaotic. After collecting the ballots, Machado found that her party had won the election in a landslide, garnering around twice as many votes as Maduro. However, Maduro alleged that the election was fraudulent and the opposition had skewed it towards their side– he still refuses to give up his position even today. In honor of her efforts, she was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday. Many of her supporters remain jailed by Maduro, and others cannot show their support for her win without being arrested, but much of the country is in a state of celebration for her achievement. The announcement was to the great disappointment of many White House officials, who had been campaigning for US President Donald Trump to win the prize. Trump had openly expressed his strong aspiration to receive the award in recent months, and the White House communications director Steven Cheung later stated that the Norwegian Nobel Committee clearly “proved they place politics over peace.”   Despite this, Trump later stated that he received a call from Machado just after the awards ceremony, with the Venezuelan leader telling him that he deserved the award and she was accepting it in place of him. Trump also claimed that he'd been "helping her along the way," which the US has done. The United States continues to show support for opposition efforts in Venezuela, primarily because the South American country is a particularly large source of dangerous drugs to enter the country. The US has also begun militarizing the Caribbean to prevent illegal drug transportation on small boats, and they are considering the implementation of a plan that would ramp up pressure on Maduro and allow for a quick transition to a González-led government. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Gaming-related accidents at intersections within 100 meters of a Pokéstop increased by 26.5% during the first 5 months of Pokémon Go being released. This included 2 deaths and $25.5 million in damages. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): In the midst of our daily lives, we must find the juice to nourish our creative souls. ( Sark) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Obviate (verb, AHB-vee-ayt) - To obviate something (usually a need for something, or a necessity) is to anticipate and prevent it. A formal word, obviate can also mean "to make an action unnecessary." In a Sentence: The new medical treatment obviates the need for surgery. Image credit to Reuters

India met with the UK in Mumbai recently, allowing them to strengthen ties, discuss plans for the future, and build on their trade deal from July. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer flew down to Mumbai for a two-day meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hoping to strengthen ties during the process. Starmer also brought his largest-ever trade delegation with him, consisting of over 100 business, university, and cultural leaders from the UK. While the two leaders did discuss other issues, like India's continued investments into Russian oil amid the Russia-Ukraine War, the topic at the forefront of the meeting was discussing how to build on their trade deal from July. During the summer, India and the UK signed a major free trade agreement which had been in negotiations for several years. The deal made many Indian goods cheaper to export to the UK and vice versa, along with establishing a joint solution to illegal migration in both countries. According to the British government, the deal has already led to over $1.3 billion in investments from Indian companies and the creation of around 7,000 jobs in the UK. Now, after this meeting, Britain has agreed to make several significant investments in India across multiple sectors. One of these major investments includes growing Britain's network of renowned international university campuses, bringing several new locations into India and supporting both economies. Additionally, the UK signed a contract worth over $465 million to supply the Indian army with weapons, displaying their willingness to cooperate with India despite their opposing views on Russia and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The next phase of the military deal will allow the two countries to work together on investing in electric-powered engines for naval ships and is worth another $332 million. These investments are just a few of many in various different sectors that will allow the UK and India to strengthen each others' economies and help diversify their relations. Also, both British and Indian leaders hailed the deal from July as crucial to their efforts to strengthen ties, as it has enabled them to increase investments in each others' countries. This strengthening of ties comes as the United States continues to drift farther away from the rest of the world, with Trump's tariffs forcing other countries to diversify their economies. However, this new deal and the investments that have come after it represent an incredible boost to both the economies of Britain, which has already been stagnating for several years, and India, which is the fastest-growing major economy in the world. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Disney sold the streaming right for the original Star Wars films in 2016 to Turner until 2024. Disney has since decided to start a streaming service and has tried asking for the rights back, but Turner refuses every time. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Remind yourself that you cannot fail at being yourself. ( Wayne Dyer) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Duress (noun, dur-RESS) - Duress , which is typically used with under , refers to force or threats meant to make someone do something. It is used especially of unlawful coercion. In a Sentence: The defense asserts that the defendant’s confession was made under duress . Image credit to Reuters

Israel and Hamas have officially accepted the first stage of Trump's Gaza proposal, setting up the end to the Israel-Hamas War after over two years of fighting. Both countries had informally agreed with the proposal earlier this week, but some changes were still required, and negotiations are still taking place. Gaza and the United States had also originally been waiting for Israel to halt their military attacks, but Israel has ceased all conflict after formally accepting the proposal. They also plan to pass the agreement through their cabinet today. The first stage of Trump's plan consists of 20 main points that specify how they will end the war and take care of other issues in the area. Now that both sides have formally agreed to the proposal, the war has come to an immediate end, with military operations coming to a complete stop. Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza to the border line, where hostage exchanges will take place in the coming days. Within the span of a few days, Hamas will return all hostages (alive or dead) to Israel, while Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners and over 1,700 Gazans that were arrested after October 7, 2023. Additionally, for each Israeli hostage whose body is returned, Israel will release the bodies of 15 dead Gazans. Also, to take care of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, all aid restrictions will be immediately lifted as soon as the proposal is accepted. This will allow full aid into Gaza to assist with the humanitarian crisis, rebuilding crucial infrastructure, and energy generation. This aid distribution will be completely controlled by the United Nations, Red Crescent, and other organizations, with Israel and Hamas having no say in the process. Read more about the rest of Trump's plan here . Now, after extensive negotiations involving Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, Israel and Hamas have agreed to put an end to the war. Their changes to Trump's original plan have not been revealed, but both sides are preparing hostage and prisoner releases in the coming days. However, Hamas remains concerned about Israel and a possible future attack. Throughout the negotiations, Hamas continued to express fears over another attack from Israel– in this deal, they are handing back the Israeli hostages, losing their key leverage in the war. Nevertheless, polls have shown that most of the Israeli population wants the war to come to an end, and the Israeli government is being increasingly accused of putting their military goals over the value of the human lives of the hostages. Israel also has their own demands, though, the first and foremost of which is the disarmament of Hamas. Other key details are also still being worked out, including a plan for who will govern Gaza after Israel pulls out. Despite these gaps, hostage releases will commence in the coming days while negotiations continue. Because of these reasons, while the deal has been confirmed, Israel-Palestine relations remain shaky, and a resurgence is possible in the near future. For now, the war seems to have come to an end, making way for peace in the Middle East and the rebuilding of Gaza, but there is no telling how the rest of the plan will go. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The motto on the United Kingdom’s Royal Coat of Arms is in French. The motto is “Dieu et mon droit,” which means “God and my right.” This saying dates back to the Norman Conquest when the French controlled Britain. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us. ( David Richo) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Finicky (adj, FIN-ih-kee) - Finicky describes someone who is very hard to please, or something that requires a lot of care, precision, or attentive effort. In a Sentence: Although she was a finicky eater as a child, she grew up to become a world-renowned chef famous for her encyclopedic knowledge of global ingredients. Image credit to Al Jazeera