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A descendant of the island's original giant tortoise has been reintroduced to the Galápagos island of Floreana after its near-extinction in the 1840s. The Floreana giant tortoise, known scientifically by the name Chelonoidis niger niger , once lived on the Galápagos island of Floreana before European settlers arrived in the 1800s. Upon arrival, the settlers brought various domesticated animals along with them, but their ships also contained feral cats and rats that posed a grave danger to populations of endemic species. On top of this, settlers participating in whaling also posed a threat to the tortoises, which were stacked by the hundreds on whaling ships due to their ability to serve as a long-term food source. Furthermore, the tortoise population was exploited by settlers as Europeans killed the unique species for meat and to make money off of their massive carapaces. Unfortunately, this occurred on many small islands across the world, leading to the extinction of hundreds of unique species in the 1800s during European colonization. A tortoise population that once stood at a strong 20,000 quickly dwindled, and by the time Charles Darwin arrived in 1835, he confirmed in his diaries that their numbers had dropped significantly. The species was officially established as extinct by the year 1850. However, hope for conservationists was restored when they discovered a species of hybrid tortoises living on the Wolf Volcano on the nearby Isabela Island in 2012. The Europeans exploiting the tortoises occasionally threw them overboard to save weight during emergencies, and some Floreana tortoises were also transported to nearby islands to ensure their safety for further exploitation. Over 150 years later, scientists found that their species had bred with the local population of Chelonoidis becki , a separate endemic species, creating a small population of hybrids on Isabela Island. In 2017, a "back breeding" program began on the island to attempt to restore the tortoises to their original purity, with selective breeding taking place in captivity. Now, 158 juvenile hybrids have been released back into the ecosystem on Floreana Island, with their DNA ranging between a 40-80% match with the original tortoise. All of the tortoises are between the ages of 8 and 13, and they were specifically chosen from a group of hundreds more in order to allow the local ecosystem to begin the restoration process. In total, at least 700 tortoises are planned to be reintroduced, helping conservationists restore the island as close as possible to its original state. While some invasive species cannot be removed, scientists and local officials are working to manage their populations, and the remaining endemic species are beginning to adapt to a changed ecosystem– with factors like climate change and sea level rise also playing a role. The tortoises remain a key component in the full environmental restoration of Floreana Island, and the back breeding program that fostered their renewal is sure to serve as an example for conservationists and scientists working to restore extinct or endangered species around the world. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Kosher salt is salt traditionally used for koshering meat, a process that removes the blood from it. However, it's also fantastic for cooking with, containing no iodine or anti-clumping agents. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle. (Khalil Gibran) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Laconic (adj, luh-KAH-nik) - Laconic describes someone or something communicating with few words. Laconic can more narrowly mean "concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious." In a Sentence: The stand-up comedian is known for his laconic wit and mastery of the one-liner. Image credit to AFP

The United States Supreme Court ruled yesterday that President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs cannot be considered legal under an emergency act from 1977. The ruling was 6-3, led by Chief Justice John Roberts alongside the court's three liberal justices and another two conservative justices. The court ruled that Trump's extensive tariffs did not fall under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977, which the president used as a basis for the placement of levies across various countries. The ruling nullifies Trump's reciprocal tariffs against all countries with exports to the US, in addition to the revocation of his 25% tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China under the claim of preventing fentanyl trade into the US. This elimination of tariffs is a massive blow to Trump's agenda, which heavily relied on the utilization of tariffs to strike deals with other nations. It also leaves the US with a gaping hole in the federal budget, as Trump's tariffs were crucial to filling the gap left by his reduction in income taxes. The president himself was outraged by the decision, labeling the six justices who ruled against him as "fools and lap dogs," "unpatriotic," "disloyal to the Constitution," and "a disgrace to the nation." Specifically, he referred to the two conservatives who opposed his tariffs as "an embarrassment to their families." He quickly followed the decision with the announcement of a 10% tariff on all countries, putting his already-finalized deals with several crucial allies into jeopardy. After the ruling, he was no longer able to use the IEEPA of 1977, but he did manage to place the new tariffs under the Trade Act of 1974, with the levies scheduled to go into effect on Tuesday at midnight. However, the act does limit his options– under that specific section, the tariffs announced cannot exceed 15% and can last for a maximum of 150 days. They will exclude Canada and Mexico as well, due to North American trade agreements. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Mr. and Mrs. originated from using the words master and mistress in the 15th and 16th centuries. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Insight without action is worthless. (Marie Forleo) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Encapsulate (verb, in-KAP-suh-layt) - Encapsulate literally means “to enclose in or as if in a capsule,” but the word is more often used figuratively as a synonym of summarize , to talk about showing or expressing a main idea or quality in a brief way. In a Sentence: Can you encapsulate the speech in a single paragraph? Image credit to Reuters

US President Donald Trump has threatened to take military action against Iran in 10-15 days, urging them to complete a nuclear deal. Trump has been pushing Iran towards a deal that would ban the Middle Eastern nation from attempting to create nuclear weapons, but resistance from Iran has complicated the situation. Back in June, the United States conducted several strikes on Iran during the latter's conflict with Israel, wiping out their nuclear program. Most of the bombs hit nuclear sites above ground, but the operation also dropped specific bombs meant to destroy underground bases and tunnels. However, intelligence has shown that Iran still possesses enriched uranium, a key component of nuclear weapons, and Trump intends to guarantee that Iran would never gain this technology. Trump also heavily opposes the authoritarian regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has held a tight grip over Iran's government for decades. Thousands of people were killed last month during a severe crackdown on demonstrations, many of which were advocating against his regime. To execute his goals, Trump has confirmed that he may need to take military action, shown by the United States' recent shifts in assets over the past few weeks. The nation has moved two aircraft carrier strike groups, with a third on the way; over 100 attack planes like F-16s, F-22s, and F-35s; over a dozen ships, including destroyers and aircraft carriers; and ground-to-air defense systems like THAAD and the Patriot missile system to prevent against strikes. Most of these assets are being held at American bases in the Middle East, like Qatar's Al-Udeid Air Base, while their naval carriers are stationed across the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea. The military buildup is the United States' largest since the Iraq War in 2003, suggesting that a major conflict could take place. Nevertheless, Trump claimed yesterday that they are still unsure whether an attack will take place or not: "Now we may have to take it a step further or we may not. Maybe we are going to make a deal. You are going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days." Negotiations are still taking place, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is scheduled to make a visit to Iran to oversee the dilution of their enriched uranium resources. Iran appears to be willing to dilute their 60% enriched uranium down to as low as 3-6%, but wishes to maintain the capability to enrich for possible future purposes. They have requested the lifting of economic sanctions, though, and are looking into fostering a strong economic partnership with the US. Trump could agree to this version of the agreement, but the issue of Khamenei's authoritarian regime remains– the Iranian people have attempted to oust him with no success, and his approval ratings are at their lowest point ever. Military action from the US could crush his regime and open the door for a fairer system of government in the future, but the Trump administration has not hinted towards either option. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The spiked dog collar was invented by the Ancient Greeks to protect their dogs from wolf attacks, allowing them to effectively protect farmers' flocks of sheep. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): As I get older, the more I stay focused on the acceptance of myself and others, and choose compassion over judgment and curiosity over fear . (Tracee Ellis Ross) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Syllogism (noun, SIL-uh-jiz-um) - Syllogism refers to a formal argument in logic that is formed by two statements and a conclusion which must be true if the two statements are true. In a Sentence: An example of a syllogism is “All men are mortal; no gods are mortal; therefore no men are gods.” Image credit to AFP

Eight skiers are dead and another is still missing after a devastating avalanche struck the mountains near Lake Tahoe. Located between California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe stands as one of the most beautiful lakes in the United States due to its incredibly clear, blue waters, and the mountains surrounding the lake are some of the nation's best for skiing. Lake-level towns receive annual snowfall of around 200 inches, but ski resorts in the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains usually receive between 300 and 500 inches per year. However, the large amounts of snow that can fall within days – or even hours – poses a significant avalanche threat to backcountry skiers, with even the slightest movement or loud sound triggering a massive wave of snow. On Tuesday, a blizzard was moving through the region, dropping heavy snow across the Sierra Nevada mountains, but many skiers were out taking advantage of the fresh powder. Around 11:30 am, an avalanche was reported near Castle Peak, around 20 miles away from Lake Tahoe. Search-and-rescue teams were quickly deployed to handle the situation, managing to rescue six skiers. A total of 15 skiers were caught in the avalanche– unfortunately, eight were confirmed dead, and the final skier is still missing but presumed dead. After a further investigation, police found that the skiers had been taken into the backcountry by Blackbird Mountain Guides, a local company, and were returning from a three-day trip at the nearby Frog Lake. Of the 15 skiers, four were certified guides and the remaining 11 were clients of the company– three guides and six clients were killed. In total, the incident clearly highlights the dangers of backcountry skiing, having been the fourth-deadliest avalanche in US history and California's deadliest-ever. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Michael Jackson’s iconic shiny glove was actually just a modified golf glove bought from a regular store. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Ride as much or as little, as long or as short as you feel. But ride. (Eddy Merckx) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Goldilocks (adj, GOHL-dee-lahks) - Goldilocks describes something that has or produces an optimal balance usually between two extremes. In astronomy, it specifically designates an area of planetary orbit neither too hot nor too cold to support life. In a Sentence: The couple, undecided between country and city living, took the Goldilocks option and moved to a bustling college town surrounded by nature. Image credit to AP

Peru has impeached their president once again – just four months before the last impeachment – after allegations that he held discreet meetings with a Chinese businessman. President José Jerí stepped into the role of interim president in October after the impeachment of Dina Boluarte, who was also an interim president after the impeachment of Pedro Castillo in 2022. All in all, Jerí is the seventh Peruvian president to leave office before the end of their term within the last 10 years. In fact, no Peruvian president has completed a five-year term since 2016, when Ollanta Humala completed his term after being elected in 2011. Castillo was originally elected in 2021 for a period of five years, but his attempt to execute a self-coup and illegally dissolve Congress led to his immediate impeachment. Boluarte took over from there, but her leadership led the country into deadly protests and a surge in crime, alongside several major government corruption scandals. Jerí took over after her impeachment in 2025, but he was impeached yesterday after the Peruvian Congress passed seven motions of impeachment with 75 in favor and 24 against, alongside 3 abstentions. The vote comes after Jerí allegedly held discreet meetings with a Chinese businessman who was being scrutinized by the Peruvian government, leading to accusations of influence peddling and illegal sponsorship of interests. Influence peddling takes place when a person in power uses their position or influence to gain money or power through favors, while illegal sponsorship of interests is when a person of power uses their position to improperly favor a certain third party– in this case, the Chinese businessman, Zhihua Yang, and his respective companies. After his impeachment, the Peruvian government plans to elect a new interim leader by the end of the day, but their term will only last a few months as official elections approach in April. From there, the Peruvian people will elect a new president, who will take office on July 28. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Alaska is the only state in America that can be typed on one row of a traditional English QWERTY keyboard. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get. (Ralph Marston) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Abdicate (verb, AB-dih-kayt) - Abdicate usually means “to renounce a position of power, such as a throne, high office, dignity, or function.” It can also mean “to fail to do what is required by (a duty or responsibility).” In a Sentence: I know many challenges lie ahead, but I take this role on willingly, and will not abdicate my responsibility. Image credit to AP

The United Kingdom is pushing a new ban forward that would prevent children of age 16 and below from using social media, alongside new limits on chatbots that utilize artificial intelligence. In January, the UK's House of Lords approved an amendment that would ban social media for children under the age of 16, with the bill passing through the House with a majority of 261-150. The passing of the bill came just over a month after Australia enacted a social media ban of their own , banning its usage for all children under 16. The bill still requires approval from the House of Commons, which is currently conducting a consultation, but it is likely that the ban will be passed as soon as sometime this year. Nevertheless, the UK government is still yet to define numerous key terms, like which platforms will be considered as social media and which of them will be banned for children. Spain, Greece, and Slovenia are also looking to follow in Australia's footsteps, with each nation already having expressed interest in enacting a ban against social media for under-16s. Meanwhile, the UK is taking other actions against AI chatbots, helping to protect the safety of young children. Amid various allegations over inappropriate content on xAI's Grok chatbot, the British government plans to tighten restrictions on chatbots under the Online Safety Act Passed in 2023, the UK's Online Safety Act is one of the most stringent group of comprehensive technology regulations on the planet, helping to protect minors from illegitimate or inappropriate content online. This includes bans on material promoting self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders, alongside highly accurate age-verification programs to ensure these bans are placed on the correct children. However, one of the most significant loopholes within this act remained the fact that conversations with AI chatbots were excluded from the regulations– an issue that the British government has vowed to amend. Officials confirmed that many chatbots were having interactions with children that promoted the aforementioned harmful material, alongside other content like the forming of relationships. The UK's new proposal plans to combat these problems, tightening regulations on chatbots and closing the Online Safety Act's crucial loophole. Nevertheless, the action has stirred backlash from some adults claiming that the censoring of their content has impacted their privacy and ability to access certain topics online. While some European nations are looking to prevent children from accessing social media, other nations – particularly the United States – have gone in the other direction, advocating for a lack of restrictions to emphasize free speech. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Indie-pop band The Postal Service got its name based on the fact that they originally used USPS to send each other music tracks because of conflicting schedules. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The direction of your focus is the direction your life will move. Let yourself move toward what is good, valuable, strong and true. (Ralph Marston) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Prerogative (noun, prih-RAH-guh-tiv) - Prerogative means "right or privilege," and especially refers to a special right or privilege that some people have. In a Sentence: If you'd rather sell the tickets than use them, that's your prerogative . Image credit to Reuters

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed that his nation will be ramping up defense spending, but a core part of the plan includes rerouting defense agreements away from the United States. From the beginning, US President Donald Trump had been urging allies like Canada to ramp up defense spending, helping them protect their interests all over the world. However, the most crucial detail within that encouragement was that those same allies would be using this defense spending to purchase weapons and equipment from the United States, bolstering the American economy. Now, amid rising tensions between Canada and the US, Carney has gone through with his promise to ramp up defense spending, but not in the way that Trump expected. Carney's plan involves initial investments of over $7 billion into defense, bringing their spending to around 2% of GDP, but he aims to raise that number to 5% by 2035, similar to the targets of many European nations. Nevertheless, these weapons will not come from the US– instead of sourcing 70% of their equipment from America, as they have done in the past, 70% of military spending will be used to support domestic suppliers, increasing the revenues of these manufacturers by up to 240%. The move is also expected to create more than 125,000 domestic jobs over the next 10 years, boosting Canada's economy from all sides. Canada will also reconsider the purchase of 88 F-35 jets from American defense corporation Lockheed Martin, having only committed to 16 jets. The newly-announced plan comes after a host of backlash from Carney, who expressed his solidarity with the Canadian people after threats from Trump. Trump often labeled Canada as "the 51st state" and claimed that the US deserves credit for Canada's success, angering Carney and the Canadian population. He also threatened to increase tariffs against Canada to 100%, following the announcement of a new trade agreement between the North American country and China. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): A woman faked her entire tragedy and the loss of her husband during the 9/11 attacks and became President of the Support Network in New York. Her elaborate hoax was later exposed in 2007. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): When walking, walk. When eating, eat. (Zen Proverb) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Vertiginous (adj, ver-TIJ-uh-nus) - Vertiginous is a formal adjective used to describe something that causes or is likely to cause a feeling of dizziness especially because of great height. In a Sentence: As a window washer for some of the city’s tallest skyscrapers, Victor had to quickly master working at vertiginous heights. Image credit to AP

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in protests across the globe yesterday, advocating for a change in the authoritarian Iranian regime tightening their grip over the Middle Eastern nation. Some of the most significant protests took place in Munich, Germany, where over 250,000 people took part in demonstrations against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's ongoing regime. People carried signs with images of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, a prominent opposition figure against Khamenei, alongside an Iranian flag with a lion and a sun at the center– a symbol used to represent the Shah of Iran who was overthrown in 1979. Others carried hats with the labels "Make Iran Great Again," an adaptation of US President Donald Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again." The protests took place outside the Munich Security Conference, where many world leaders are currently meeting to discuss certain topics regarding the prevention of conflict and the strengthening of allyships like the US-EU partnership. Pahlavi called for citizens across the globe to protest on February 14, motivating hundreds of thousands to take to the streets for a "Global Day of Action" in cities like Melbourne, Tokyo, Athens, Los Angeles, Toronto, and London, in addition to the demonstrations in Munich. At least 350,000 protesters joined the demonstrations in Toronto, and thousands more took to the streets of Los Angeles, which maintains the world's largest Iranian population outside of Iran. The backlash comes just one month after a series of brutal killings during a crackdown on Khamenei's opposition in January. Over 7,000 fatalities were confirmed, and over 10,000 others were arrested after massive demonstrations protesting Khamenei's regime. Those taken into custody were set to face the death penalty until international intervention, putting further pressure on Khamenei. Now, the US appears to be preparing for a potential conflict with Iran, as Khamenei is refusing to step down, but US President Donald Trump is attempting to work out a nuclear deal with the Middle Eastern nations before possible escalation of tensions. Nuclear talks will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, but Trump has released statements encouraging protesters to keep going as negotiations continue. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Eminem’s mother filed an $11 million defamation lawsuit against him because of his lyrics about her. She settled for $25,000, and $23,354.25 of that went to her lawyer. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking. (George S. Patton) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Canoodle (verb, kuh-NOO-dul) - To canoodle with someone is to hug and kiss them in a romantic way. In a Sentence: Two lovers were canoodling on a park bench. Image credit to EPA

Tarique Rahman, the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, won the Bangladeshi people's support in this week's election, marking the nation's first election since the Gen Z uprising of 2024. In 2024, following the reinstitution of Bangladesh's job quota system, protests broke out among younger generations, who felt that their opportunities were disproportionately impacted by the new system. The demonstrations began in July and quickly became violent, killing hundreds of people, and many protesters were subjected to police brutality amid the conflict. Eventually, the protesters made their way to the private residence of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's prime minister at the time, and stormed her home, forcing her to flee the country. She remains in New Delhi, India, to protect herself from the Bangladeshi violence, but the nation's lack of a leader left them without a strong institutional structure to build the country back up. Finally, after over a year of indecision, Bangladesh was successfully able to hold an election last week, permitting the selection of a new leader. In the end, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) took victory, securing the 151-seat margin needed for a majority in Bangladesh's 350-seat Parliament. The BNP has held power for significant periods of time in the past, but it remains a core representation of Bangladesh's highly dynastic leadership structure– the BNP's current leader, Tarique Rahman, happens to be the son of former Bangladeshi President and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who also led the BNP during her three terms. Nevertheless, Rahman will aim to restore peace and economic growth to Bangladesh, alongside the implementation of stronger restrictions on executive power and term limits for prime ministers, as requested by the younger generation. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In the 1700s, a mason in Jerusalem left his wooden ladder behind after doing some work on a church. Now, it can’t be moved without the agreement and permission of six different Christian leaders due to the fact that the church is split between six different sects of Christianity, with each sect playing a role in each and every decision made at the church. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Good business leaders create a vision , articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion. (Jack Welch) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Rapscallion (noun, rap-SKAL-yun) - The word rapscallion refers to someone who causes trouble, often in a mischievous way. It appears in the same sorts of contexts as rascal and scamp . In a Sentence: The movie follows the story of a rambunctious young rapscallion who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Image credit to CNN

Switzerland is set to hold a vote to cap their population at 10 million, with supporters of the movement citing issues with strong population growth. Switzerland's current population stands at almost 9.1 million, but the European nation has experienced significant population growth within the last decade. In 2020, the Swiss population was around 8.6 million, and in 2010, it was just 7.8 million. Due to this track, Switzerland's most powerful political party, the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), has released a proposal that would cap Switzerland's population at 10 million until 2050. In particular, the SVP cited concerns over immigration and highlighted rising cost-of-living and stressed infrastructure. They also emphasized the importance of the environment in Switzerland, with higher populations putting more strain on natural resources. The nature of the proposal also forces the government to vote on it before the Swiss population reaches 10 million– following the current growth rate of between 0.5-1%, Switzerland would surpass that number within 10-20 years. To stop the nation from reaching 10 million, the proposal would begin taking restrictive measures, including the refusal of entry to asylum seekers, people looking for family reunification, and others looking for a residency permit. If the population were to hit 10 million, Switzerland would be forced to end their free-movement agreement with the European Union, which facilitates most economic relations between the two. The EU is also Switzerland's largest trading partner – though Switzerland is still not a part of the group – meaning that cutting themselves off from Europe could severely impact the nation's international relations. However, the SVP remains the only party supporting the deal, which is seen by others as extremely conservative. Other parties and opposing experts have highlighted Switzerland's dependency on immigrants for lower-level jobs, and over 30% of new citizens in recent years were immigrants. Furthermore, restrictions on migration could violate international laws that are already in place. Nevertheless, citizen polls suggest that there is widespread support for a population cap, and Switzerland's unique system of direct democracy could work in the SVP's favor. Swiss law allows parties to hold a national referendum for a proposal if the party in question is able to garner at least 100,000 signatures to petition for a public vote. Having already done this, the SVP will hold a referendum on June 14 to decide on the proposal, which could have a massive impact on the future of Switzerland. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The highest recorded fall without a parachute happened in 1972 at 33,333 ft after a plane explosion. The victim, 22-year-old flight attendant Vesna Vulović, was in the hospital for 16 months after the fall. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It isn’t enough to believe in something; you have to have the stamina to meet obstacles and overcome them, to struggle. (Golda Meir) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Endemic (adj, en-DEM-ik) - When used for a plant or animal species, endemic describes something that grows or exists in a certain place or area, and often specifically something restricted to a particular locality or region. Endemic is also used to describe diseases that persist over time in a particular region or population. It can also mean “common in a particular area or field.” In a Sentence: Our children were excited to finally see wild giant pandas— endemic to just three provinces in south-central China—during our family vacation. Image credit to iStock