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Iran's missile launch towards Diego Garcia, a joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean, has sent ripples through the international community and sparked concerns over Iran's missile capabilities. Until now, Iran had self-imposed a limit of around 1,600 miles on the range of their extensive ballistic missile inventory, which primarily consists of short and medium-range missiles. These projectiles are capable of striking targets across the Middle East, as those that have been seen in the war so far, while their intermediate-range ballistic missiles were projected to be able to strike targets as far as eastern Europe to the west and India to the east. However, the nation's attempted strike on Diego Garcia, a remote joint US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean, has changed those projections. The strike consisted of two missiles– one failed in flight, while the other was intercepted by a US warship en route to the base. The missile launch was also the first attempted strike on Diego Garcia, which has never been targeted due to its incredibly remote location. More importantly, the base is located more than 2,400 miles from the Iranian coast, and over 3,300 miles from the Iranian capital of Tehran. This significant increase in range raised serious concern from experts across the West, as the new range puts several new targets into Iran's reach. With a new range of up to 2,500 miles, Iranian ballistic missiles could strike almost anywhere in Europe, including the southern UK. Iran could also strike US military installments in Europe, northern Africa, and southern Asia– this means that some European bases that have allowed the US to utilize their infrastructure for the ongoing war could end up reconsidering those decisions. Nevertheless, according to CNN, some experts claim that Iran could have utilized space technology as a ballistic missile to bolster the range of the projectile, helping them strike fear into the rest of the world. As another possibility, they could have lightened the payload to avoid doing any real damage– sending an almost-empty missile would certainly increase its range due to the loss of weight. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In 18th-century England, having a pineapple was a symbol of incredible wealth because of extremely high import duties. They would be used as displays for the affluent or rich rather than eaten. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Growth is not the product of effort, but of life. (Augustus Strong) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Eureka (adj, yoo-REE-kuh) - As an interjection, eureka is used to express excitement when a discovery has been made. When used as an adjective, eureka describes something (typically a moment) that is characterized by a usually sudden triumphant discovery.  In a Sentence: After years of trying to piece together a concrete business idea, I had a eureka moment and everything made sense.   Image credit to BBC

The United States confirmed yesterday that they would temporarily lift sanctions on Iranian and Russian oil at sea for the next 30 days, helping settle soaring gas prices across the globe. Despite the ongoing war, the US Department of the Treasury decided yesterday that the rise in prices across the world had crossed a threshold that required immediate action. Earlier in the week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced the release of more than 400 million barrels of oil from international emergency energy stockpiles. However, the move did little to cool soaring prices amid a major blockage in the Strait of Hormuz, which handles more than 20% of the world's oil traffic. Then, after Israeli strikes took place yesterday on Iranian oil and gas fields, Iran retaliated with strikes on energy infrastructure across multiple Gulf countries. Following the attacks, Qatar's Ras Laffan natural gas facility announced that the missiles had done significant damage, wiping out at least 17% of their liquefied natural gas processing capacity (LNG). They also claimed that it would take up to five years to restore the damage– another sign that this war is sure to have lasting impacts on the US, Israel, the Gulf, and the world. The strikes also sent oil prices soaring, with Brent crude reaching as high as $115 a barrel before prices settled just above $100. AAA's gas price index of the US continued to rise alongside the prices of crude, with the average gas prices across the US rising to $3.91 per gallon. By comparison, those same prices were $2.93 just one month ago. Diesel has soared even further, jumping from $3.69 in February to an average of $5.16 per gallon. To attempt to settle the ongoing spike in prices, the Treasury Department confirmed yesterday that they will be lifting sanctions on any Iranian oil that is already at sea. The sanctions will be lifted for one month, extending until April 19, but in the meantime, Iranian oil tankers will be able to deliver oil to nations that need it. The department projects the move to bring more than 140 million extra barrels of crude oil to the world, helping manage the gas crisis. The US does not purchase Iranian oil, meaning that the decision would have minimal impact within the nation, but other countries – particularly those in Eastern Asia – could benefit greatly from the sanctions lift. Nevertheless, the sanctions still prohibit Iranian oil from being sold to certain regions or nations, like North Korea or Cuba. The move also comes just days after the department announced the lifting of sanctions on Russian oil at sea, allowing an additional 130 million barrels to be sold across the world. In both of these situations, some experts project that the moves could have no impact on either gas prices nor the economies of Russia and Iran, while others thought the opposite– the actual effects that will occur due to these decisions are still unknown. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Animal Planet aired two fake documentaries that “proved” mermaids exist. In fact, so many people thought it was real that the US government was forced to issue an official statement telling the public that the information was false. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The quest for excellence is a mark of maturity. The quest for power is childish. (Max Lucado) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Eureka (adj, yoo-REE-kuh) - As an interjection, eureka is used to express excitement when a discovery has been made. When used as an adjective, eureka describes something (typically a moment) that is characterized by a usually sudden triumphant discovery.  In a Sentence: After years of trying to piece together a concrete business idea, I had a eureka moment and everything made sense.   Image credit to AFP

Despite the war going on in Iran, the World Happiness Report was released today, ranking the world's nations in celebration of the International Day of Happiness. The Wellbeing Research Center at the University of Oxford works with Gallup, a polling company, to collect the data and release the report every year. It always releases on March 20, celebrating the United Nations-designated International Day of Happiness. The report takes 147 different countries into account, asking citizens to rank their lives on a visual scale of 0-10 known as the Cantril Ladder. Then, they consider six factors: social support, GDP per capita, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption. So, here are this year's happiest countries: Finland came in at number one for the ninth time in a row, boasting an average score of 7.764. The nation is known for its incredible education system, safety, lack of corruption, and high levels of social support like free healthcare. Iceland ranked number two, with a country score of 7.540. Denmark came in at number three, just losing out to Iceland with an average score of 7.539. Costa Rica ranked number four with a score of 7.439, continuing its upward trajectory– in 2022, the Central American nation was just 23rd on the list, but they placed sixth last year and have improved further. Fourth place is also the highest-ever position for a Latin American nation. Sweden and Norway ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, adding to an already Nordic-dominated list. Out of the five Nordic countries, four made the top five. The Netherlands ranked seventh on the list, with a score of 7.223. Despite the ongoing war, Israel placed eighth, making them the only country in the Middle East to make the top 20. The UAE and Saudi Arabia managed to place 21 and 22 on the report, respectively, but others, like Lebanon and Yemen, were some of the lowest ranking nations on the list. The report placed Luxembourg ninth, with a score of 7.063, and Switzerland rounded out the top ten with a score of 7.018. However, the report doesn't just investigate country happiness– it also finds reasons for unhappiness across nations, and one of the leading factors proved to be social media. In particular, English-speaking nations like Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom saw significant declines in scores, driven by youth unhappiness. Australia placed 15th, the US placed 25th, and the UK came in at 29th. This unhappiness among people aged under 25 was largely attributed to the misuse of social media in these regions– the researchers found that while social media was used extensively in various countries, it did not have a negative impact in all of these nations. View the full interactive map here , and view the full report here. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Thomas Edison invented an electric pen in 1876 that was later adapted to become the first electric tattoo machine in 1891. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Happiness is a state of mind. It's just according to the way you look at things . (Walt Disney) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Nadir (noun, NAY-deer) - Nadir refers to the lowest or worst point of something. When used in astronomy, nadir describes the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the zenith and vertically downward from the observer. In a Sentence: Only once the novel’s protagonist reaches her nadir does she arouse the reader’s empathy, and we root for her to climb back to respectability. Image credit to Shutterstock

Israel struck several major oil facilities across Iran, but the regime retaliated with strikes on natural gas and oil facilities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia The significant escalation of the war came after Israel approved a strike on Iran's South Pars natural gas field– the largest in the world. The gas field is currently split between Qatar and Iran, but Iran's share of the field supports more than 70% of their natural gas infrastructure. Israel also struck multiple fuel depots in Tehran, turning skies a fiery red as thick black smoke covered the city. Some locals reported that noon felt more like 10 pm due to the darkness caused by the smoke. As the oil mixed with the water vapor in the atmosphere, a toxic acid rain fell over the city, leaving residents with headaches, burns, and a constant smell of smoke everywhere. Some reports confirmed this further, finding that the explosions had released massive amounts of hydrocarbons, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides– all of which are highly toxic to both humans and the environment. Oil was also seen running down streets and dropping out of the air. As part of their retaliation, Iran attempted to strike energy facilities in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. In Qatar, Iran hit the nation's Ras Laffan natural gas facility, one of the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. The UAE reported that some infrastructure at the Habshan gas facility and the Bab oil field was damaged due to debris from intercepted strikes, and Saudi Arabia confirmed that they had taken down a drone attack targeting an oil facility in the eastern part of the nation. Saudi Arabia also intercepted at least four ballistic missiles headed towards Riyadh, the nation's capital, but the falling debris from the interceptions did significant damage to certain areas. The escalation marks a massive turning point in the war, which was originally centered on assassinating Iranian leadership and destroying their military capabilities. Now, Israel is targeting Iranian energy exports, and Iran is doing the same to the Gulf states that are bearing the brunt of this war. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are also beginning to lose their patience with Iran, with both nations signaling that future military involvement is possible if attacks continue. However, the leaders of both nations were furious with Israel's decision to attack Iranian fuel sites in the first place, and the US government later stated that they had no prior knowledge of the attack. In an attempt to de-escalate the situation, US President Donald Trump called for both sides to halt all attacks on energy infrastructure, but Israel and Iran may already be past that stage. The attacks on oil depots and gas fields sent crude oil prices skyrocketing past $115 a barrel, and it could have major implications for the entire world. Gas prices are already through the roof, and some nations in eastern Asia are having to resort back to coal-fired plants due to the shortage of LNG. Airfares are also on the rise as jet fuel becomes more expensive– just another sign that consumers all over the world are bearing the brunt of the impact as these three countries clash in the Gulf. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The only window that opens on the presidential car is the driver’s window to pay tolls. It also has no keyholes, and only the Secret Service knows how to open the secret mechanism on the doors. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Get excited and enthusiastic about your own dream. This excitement is like a forest fire – you can smell it, taste it, and see it from a mile away. (Denis Waitley) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Jejune (adj, jih-JOON) - Jejune is a formal word that means "uninteresting" or "boring." It is also used as a synonym of juvenile to describe things (such as behaviors, attitudes, etc.) that are immature, childish, or simplistic. In a Sentence: The movie adaptation employed surreal visual effects to tell the story, making the plot, jejune in the novel, archetypal rather than artless. Image credit to AFP

Israel confirmed that they have killed Iranian security chief Ali Larijani, one of the highest-profile officials they had been targeting. Larijani had taken over a large portion of government actions following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the conflict, and he played a significant role in the pre-war oppression against Iranian protesters in January. Israel claimed that Larijani was killed in an airstrike on Tehran on Monday, and the statement was later verified by Iran. Iranian army chief Amir Hatami vowed to launch retaliation strikes to avenge Larijani's death Soon after, Israel also announced that they had killed Gholamreza Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Basij paramilitary force. The Basij militia is one of the five primary branches of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which collectively serve as Iran's military. However, while these targeted assassinations have dealt serious damage to Iran, a significant portion of their leadership structure remains intact, and the regime is still targeting Gulf nations across the Middle East with their existing supplies. Because of this, it appears that Israel and the US are beginning to take a divided approach to the conflict. On one hand, Israel is pinpointing the locations of prominent Iranian security and launching targeted airstrikes, cutting back their leadership. Meanwhile, the US appears to be targeting Iranian military capabilities, focusing on eliminating their ballistic missile inventory and nuclear facilities. Israel has also launched a major offensive into Lebanon, where they are attempting to eliminate Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terrorist group operating out of the region. Israel's attacks – particularly those on civilian infrastructure – have already killed almost 1,000 people, and over a million others have been displaced as Israel calls for new evacuations every day. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In the popular film, The Godfather , the word “mafia” is never said because the actual mafia asked for the word to be removed, harassing producers and vandalizing equipment before the film crew agreed to their demands. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): You can listen to what people say, sure. But you will be far more effective if you listen to what people do. (Seth Godin) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Erin go bragh (phrase, air-un-guh-BRAW) - Erin go bragh is an Irish phrase that means “Ireland forever.” In a Sentence: They proudly waved the Irish flag during the parade, shouting “ Erin go bragh !” Image credit to AP

Amid a wave of military strikes into Afghan territory, the Afghan Taliban has alleged that Pakistan also hit a hospital, killing hundreds of people. According to the Taliban, the strike made a direct hit on a rehabilitation hospital for drug users at 9 pm local time, leaving behind charred remains of the building, which was known as the Omid hospital. At least 400 people have been confirmed dead, and more than 250 others were injured. Rescue teams arrived quickly to handle the resulting fire, and search crews are still looking for survivors who may be trapped under the rubble. Videos circulating online and on social media showed one building engulfed in flames, while smoke billowed from other sections of the facility. Pakistan denied the allegations of any strike taking place, insisting that they had solely targeted military-related locations and weapons storage spaces belonging to the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban. Pakistan accused the Taliban of fabricating the story to draw international support and sympathy, pointing out that the secondary explosions that followed their strikes signified the existence of ammunition depots. The Taliban quickly launched retaliation attacks, hitting Pakistan with several airstrikes. However, not many details have been available to the public. Unfortunately, if the hospital had been used as some sort of terrorist hub, it wouldn't be the first time something similar had taken place. During Israel's war against Hamas, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were known for specifically striking hospitals. This was because Hamas deliberately hid terrorist infrastructure, weapons and supplies, and even entire operations centers underneath hospitals to protect themselves from strikes. The attack also comes during a time of extreme tension and unsettlement across the Middle East and South Asia– although Pakistan and Afghanistan have been fighting for almost a month, the world has remained focused on the US-Iran war. Pakistan believes that Afghanistan is harboring the Tehrik-e-Taliban – a Pakistani, anti-governmental terrorist group – and providing them with supplies to destabilize and attack their nation. Afghanistan has denied those claims, but Pakistan continues to strike weapons depots and military installations inside Afghanistan to attempt to weaken the Tehrik-e-Taliban's alleged presence there. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The NYPD had a police officer follow Andre the Giant whenever he went out drinking. This was to make sure he didn’t get drunk and fall on anyone. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It is impossible to make your own luck without the ingredient of hard work . (Matshona Dhliwayo) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Putative (adj, PYOO-tuh-tiv) - Putative is a formal word used to describe something that is generally believed, supposed, or assumed to be something specified. It is always used before a noun. In a Sentence: The group's putative leader was conspicuously absent from the meeting. Image credit to AFP

The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, took place last night, with several critically acclaimed films taking home multiple awards at this year's event. The Academy Awards are usually handed out between late February and late March, taking place at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Several awards, like Best Picture, Best Actor/Actress, and Best Screenplay are some of the most coveted awards in the film industry, but any Oscar is a major achievement for any member of the industry. Here are the biggest films and awards of the night: One Battle After Another took home six awards, including Best Picture, after receiving 13 nominations. The movie, centered around American political extremism, was a flop at the box office due to widespread sentiment that it was too confusing and did not have a clear storyline. However, it received incredible acclaim from many critics, who viewed the film as a complex masterpiece of cinema. Paul Thomas Anderson, the director, won two Oscars for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, marking his first-ever wins. Sean Penn, who was noticeably absent from the award ceremony, won Best Supporting Actor for his performance, with One Battle After Another also taking home Best Film Editing and Best Casting. Sinners was another big hit at the Academy Awards, bringing home four awards. The horror film, centered around the trauma and exploitation contained within Black culture and Black history, was a massive hit at the box office, bringing home over $369 million worldwide. Prior to the ceremony, Sinners received 16 nominations, marking a record for the most nominations for one film in Oscars history. Michael B. Jordan took home Best Actor for his performance in the movie, and director Ryan Coogler won Best Original Screenplay. Ludwig Goransson, the composer of Sinners ' soundtrack, won Best Original Score, and the film also took home Best Cinematography. Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein was another film that took home multiple awards, winning Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Production Design. Uniquely, the movie only spent three weeks at the box office before moving onto Netflix, which made the initial investment for the film. Pop culture sensation K-Pop Demon Hunters was nominated for two awards and took home both. The film – a blockbuster Netflix hit from last summer – won Best Animated Feature, and the movie's chart-topping single "Golden" won Best Original Song– the first K-pop song to achieve such a feat. Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her performance in Hamnet , which received eight nominations. The film had a budget of $30 million but put on a strong performance at the global box office, bringing home over $100 million. Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for Weapons , a horror film directed by Zach Cregger. The horror film was a massive hit, grossing at least $269 million worldwide on a $38 million budget. See the full list of winners and nominees here . Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): During the first live iPhone presentation, Steve Jobs had to frequently switch phones behind his desk because they had not completely finished the software yet. His team at Apple instructed him to switch phones and follow a specific order of actions on the device to prevent it from running out of RAM and crashing. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): There’s no such thing as a small act of kindness . Every act creates a ripple with no logical end. (Scott Adams) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Tranche (noun, TRAHNSH) - Tranche refers to a division or portion of a whole. In a Sentence: A tranche of leaked documents was delivered to the newspaper anonymously, with more promised to come. Image credit to ABC

Yesterday, the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, spurring retaliation bombs that hit several US bases in the Middle East. However, the attack succeeded in killing Iran's Supreme Leader, accomplishing their primary mission. The move came after weeks of threats from US President Donald Trump, who announced last week that he would decide whether to strike Iran within the following ten days . The president had allegedly been conducting negotiations over the shutdown of Iran's nuclear program, but those talks appear to have failed. Trump was prepared, though, for a possible failure in negotiations. The US had been building up its arsenal in the Gulf for months, signaling that a war or some sort of conflict was inevitable. To dethrone Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and destroy his authoritarian regime, Trump authorized airstrikes in partnership with Israel. The two nations heavily damaged Khamenei's central compound in the Iranian capital of Tehran, sparking retaliation from Iran. Strikes on US military bases across the Middle East followed suit, with Iran striking Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE. Several missiles were intercepted over Dubai, preventing a full impact, but the falling debris from the collisions led to damage at Dubai International Airport and fires at the famed Fairmont hotel on the Palm Jumeirah and the iconic sail-shaped façade of the Burj al-Arab hotel. A drone strike also hit Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport, killing one person and injuring at least seven others. All flights have been grounded until further notice, disrupting air travel for thousands of people. Kuwait's Ali al-Salem Air Base was also targeted with strikes, all of which were intercepted by defense systems. However, a drone strike hit Kuwait International Airport, leading to minor damage and injuries to several employees. In Bahrain, airstrikes hit the headquarters of the US Navy's 5th fleet, along with several residential buildings in the capital of Manama. Saudi Arabia and Qatar also reported being targeted by airstrikes, but all of the missiles were successfully intercepted. Israel was also hit by a retaliation missile, which struck a residential complex in the country's largest city of Tel Aviv-Yafo. At least 22 people were injured, and one death was reported later on. After the retaliation, the US and Israel launched another round of strikes across Iran, and both nations confirmed Khamenei's death just hours later. Iran, on the other hand, has not confirmed the death of Khamenei, but they have stated that his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild were all killed in the strikes. The US and Israel have also confirmed the deaths of numerous other high-ranking Iranian officials, guaranteeing a collapse of the authoritarian leader's regime after strikes on over 19 cities. As a whole, the conflict sparked outrage from the United Nations, who condemned the US and Israel's decision to strike Iran and called for the " immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation" to protect civilians. Democrats were also quick to criticize Trump's actions, labeling it as a violation of international law and an unnecessary conflict that the US had no business getting involved in. They cited the deaths of over 200 Iranian citizens, including over 170 children killed by Israeli airstrikes at a girls' school in the southern city of Minab– the US military later confirmed that the strike was due to a "miscalculation," sparking outrage. Nevertheless, Trump justified the entire conflict with a claim that Iran was just days away from building a nuclear bomb – a claim that has been highly refuted by experts, though – and asserted that Khamenei's regime has oppressed, tortured, and killed Iranian citizens. Just last month, over 30,000 Iranians were killed during a major crackdown on protests by Khamenei's authorities. Reporters in Iran confirmed that people across the nation have rejoiced at the death of Khamenei, and both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are pushing for the Iranian people to take control of the country. Trump told Iranian citizens to "seize control of your destiny" and "unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach," while Netanyahu urged citizens to "flood the streets" and "unshackle themselves from tyranny." However, both leaders have asserted that strikes on Iran will continue throughout the week if needed to secure a transition of power and prevent Khamenei's supporters from regaining leadership of the country. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The word robot comes from the Czech “robota.” This translates into forced labor or hard work. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace. (Dalai Lama) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Congruous (adj, KAHNG-groo-us) - Something described as congruous is in agreement, harmony, or correspondence with something else. Congruous can also describe something that is appropriate for a particular circumstance or requirement, or a thing that is marked or enhanced by harmonious agreement among its constituent elements. In a Sentence: Their professional achievements were congruous with their academic abilities. Image credit to AP

On Friday, North Korea launched 10 ballistic missiles into the East Sea during US-South Korea military drills in a major show of force amid the war in the Middle East. The missiles, launched from the Pyongyang suburb of Sunan, landed in the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, without hitting any landmasses. The projectiles also landed outside of Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), therefore nullifying any sort of escalatory impact the strikes may have caused. Nevertheless, the strikes – while they may appear random – are a strong show of power from North Korea as the war in the Middle East continues. Launching ten ballistic missiles at once is rare, proving that the nation is prepared to launch not just one or two, but large volleys of missiles if necessary. Furthermore, the missiles were launched during joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, which take place each spring to strengthen ties and bolster cohesion between the two sides. The exercises, known as the Freedom Shield, are viewed by North Korea as "invasion rehearsals," but the US and South Korea have maintained that they are purely defense-centric and are part of annual preparations in case of a North Korean attack. Just a day later, the autocratic nation also tested a nuclear-capable rocket launcher that local officials claim can easily launch across the border into South Korea with 100% accuracy. These tests, coupled with the aforementioned strikes and a slew of recent missile tests involving the North Korean Navy, have renewed fears of a future North Korean attack on South Korea. Tensions have remained relatively stable over the last few months, but North Korea has expressed support for Iran's new leader Mojtaba Khamenei and his continuation of his father's regime. South Korea has also confirmed that the US is beginning to move military firepower away from the East Asian nation to assist efforts against Iran. This could open up the possibility of a hole in South Korean defense systems, making them more vulnerable to a North Korean offensive. However, the world's focus remains on the US and Israel's joint war against Iran in the Middle East, which shows no signs of slowing down. Israel has continued to bombard Lebanon with strikes, and rumors are now circulating that a ground offensive may be on the cards. Meanwhile, the US continues to strike military targets in Iran, and Iran has responded by sending retaliation missiles all over the Gulf. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Ginger beer is brewed and fermented with ginger, while ginger ale is merely carbonated water flavored with ginger. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Whether it’s boxing, basketball, or badminton, one must be ready to succeed before entering the arena… long before the lights come up. (Muhammad Ali) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Rash (adj, RASH) - Rash describes something done or made quickly and without thought about what will happen as a result. It can also describe someone who is doing something rash. In a Sentence: I later regretted having made such a rash promise in a moment of chaos. Image credit to Reuters

A United States KC-135 refueling jet went down in Iraq on Thursday, killing all six crew members onboard the plane. Manufactured between 1955 and 1965, Boeing's KC-135 Stratotankers are some of the oldest-serving aircraft in the US military, having been in service for more than 60 years. After considerable upgrades, the tankers are still flying with strong reliability, and no other plane has been more effective in the field of aerial refueling than the KC-135. However, those capabilities come at a cost– each jet is valued at around $80 million, and reports suggest that the military likely spends between $4 and $5 million per year to maintain each plane. Additionally, operation costs exceed $11,000 per hour, making them extremely expensive to fly due to their age. The jets are now being replaced with the KC-46A Pegasus, Boeing's latest generation of tankers that possess greater efficiency, require less maintenance, and have lower operation costs. Nevertheless, KC-135s are not disappearing anytime soon– some reports suggest that delays in the KC-46A testing process could extend the lifespan of the KC-135 into the 2040s. Thursday's incident, which involved at least two KC-135s, was confirmed by the US military on Thursday, with the Central Command stating that the cause of the crash is now under investigation. However, they released very few details on the nature of the crash, simply asserting that the crash cannot be attributed to fire from the enemy or their own military. Hostile attacks on KC-135s are rare, as refueling typically takes place in no-combat zones or areas out of the enemy's reach to avoid being struck down during the vulnerable refueling period. According to CENTCOM, at least one other aircraft was involved in the situation, but the other KC-135 managed to return to Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport – where US refueling operations are taking place – with no damage. All six crew members aboard were killed, unfortunately, which has raised speculation over the availability of parachutes onboard. Over a decade ago, a KC-135 crashed in Kyrgyzstan during operations involving Afghanistan, killing all three crew members. The US military later confirmed that parachutes were not onboard that plane due to maintenance costs, but the KC-135 is rarely involved in incidents and is designed with other features to ensure the safety of the crew. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Y ou can get a headstone with a QR code for after your death. Called “Living Headstones,” they show pages with photos, video biography, and comments from loved ones. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): In one minute, you can change your attitude, and in that minute you can change your entire day. (Spencer Johnson) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Immure (verb, ih-MYOOR) - To immure something is to enclose it within or as if within walls. Immure is also sometimes used synonymously with imprison. In a Sentence: Scientists at the research station in Antarctica are immured by the frozen wild that surrounds them. Image credit to US Air National Guard