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The Federal Communications Communication (FCC) has finally approved a major merger between Paramount and Skydance, two huge players in the media industry, sparking political backlash from various politicians. The $8 billion deal will see Paramount Global, the media conglomerate that owns Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, and CBS, merge with Skydance, another media production company responsible for various movies, TV shows, video games, and sports. The merger was announced around one year ago as Paramount struggled with its relations with Trump and his administration, with Trump himself suing the corporation for editing a CBS "60 Minutes" interview he had with former Vice President Kamala Harris-- Paramount ended up paying the president $16 million to avoid the lawsuit. Bill Owens, the executive producer of "60 Minutes," and Wendy McMahon, the president of CBS News, resigned several months ago due to their opposition with the idea of settling with Trump. Furthermore, journalists at CBS confirmed that they had noticed unusually intense scrutiny over reports related to Trump or his agenda, but it is crucial to point out that Paramount never stopped any of those reports from going live. Additionally, soon after the settlement, Stephen Colbert, the host of a popular CBS show, proclaimed on air that it had been a bribe to get the Trump administration to approve the deal. Just three days later, his show, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," was canceled, sparking speculations over a possible political motive behind the cancelation. Nevertheless, those theories were dismissed by the company, with Paramount asserting that it was purely for financial reasons. Now, after careful inspection by the FCC, Skydance has promised to implement multiple new initiatives following the merger. According to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Skydance will take action to prevent political bias within the new company, along with preventing any diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs from moving forward. However, the FCC's actions have been scrutinized by other political figures, specifically various Democrats. Paramount and CBS have maintained that it was entirely a financial decision made during times of crisis for the company, but Democrats have claimed that it is all part of Trump's scheme to attack and skew the press. They have also alleged that the agency has misused its power to thrust Trump's agenda forward, further deteriorating press freedom. Nevertheless, the FCC has argued that Americans have already lost trust in the media, and Carr stated that their actions were necessary to bring unbiased, reliable news back into the spotlight. Other changes will also arrive at Paramount Skydance after the merger, including changes to the workforce. At the top, David Ellison, son of billionaire Oracle founder Larry Ellison and current CEO of Skydance, will lead the new company, but the futures of current Paramount executives are still unclear. The longtime owners of Paramount Global, the Redstone family, will leave the board completely, selling their share in the corporation to Skydance. Meanwhile, Skydance has also confirmed that they will be aiming to cut costs, which may also lead to layoffs across the company. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Around 40-50% of all gold ever mined on Earth came from one place: the Witwatersrand Basin in South Africa. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The distance is nothing when one has motive. (Jane Austen) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Panacea (noun, pan-uh-SEE-uh) - A panacea is something that is regarded as a cure-all—that is, something that will make everything about a situation better. In a Sentence: The new program should help with the city’s housing crisis, but it’s no panacea .

Turkey and Cyprus are struggling to contain dozens of raging wildfires amid a blazing heatwave, with the fires destroying homes, businesses, and other infrastructure. The wildfires have been going on for over a month now, burning various areas across Turkey, but conditions have worsened within the last few days. The Turkish government announced yesterday that the western provinces of Izmir and Bilecik will be designated disaster zones due to the high level of damage that has been done, allowing additional support to be sent to the two regions. Meanwhile, further down the coast, new wildfires have popped up near the popular resort town of Antalya, and they are getting closer and closer to engulfing the city's famed resorts. Antalya consistently ranks as one of the most-visited cities in the world, reaching as high as fourth on the list in 2023, only behind Istanbul, London, and Dubai; a year where the city saw a staggering 16.5 million tourists. Many of the fires began in populated areas, leading to widespread evacuations, but nobody was killed in the tourism hub. In total, 13 people have died in the blazes, 311 homes have been destroyed or damaged over the past month, and over 25,000 firefighters and other volunteers are battling the flames. They have also deployed 27 planes, 105 helicopters, and 6,000 vehicles to assist with the efforts, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Further south, a massive wildfire is also raging through southern Cyprus, leading to hundreds of additional evacuations. At least two people were killed after their car caught fire, over 10 others were injured, and around 39 square miles have already been burned due to the blaze. Farms, vineyards, homes, and businesses have all been destroyed, and the heat refuses to let up. Also, to the north, Albania has also struggled with multiple wildfires, taking place in massive forests that contain huge amounts of fuel for the fires. Over 1,000 people have been deployed to handle the flames over there, but the weather conditions are not helping. The fires come as a searing heatwave scorches the region, with temperatures well past 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). Temperatures in Antalya soared to a record-breaking 115 °F (46 °C) this month, with the heat continuing for weeks. In the western Turkish province of Izmir, temperatures have hovered around 105 °F (41 °C), along with the nearby region of Bilecik. Temperatures in Cyprus also hit 111 °F (44 °C), and the weather in Albania has been no better, with temperatures today still scorching the country at 106 °F (41 °C). On top of the blazing temperatures, strong winds have helped the wildfires spread across miles in just a matter of days, and dry conditions have not helped firefighters either-- Cyprus' largest reservoir, the Kouris Reservoir, reached as low as 15.5% capacity on Wednesday, displaying the severity of the drought impacting the southern Mediterranean. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Around 75% of the world’s diet is produced from just 12 plants and five different animal species. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Politeness is the flower of humanity. (Joseph Joubert) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Sui generis (adj, soo-eye-JEN-uh-ris) - Sui generis is a formal adjective used to describe someone or something in a class or group of its own, or in other words, unlike anyone or anything else. In a Sentence: As a scholar, she is sui generis , head and shoulders above everyone else in her field.

French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that France will begin to recognize Palestine as a state in September, joining 147 other UN members that see the region as a country. Currently, a total of 146 United Nations member countries recognize Palestine as a state, including most of South America, Africa, and Asia. However, many others, including Canada, Australia, South Korea, and most of Europe, do not see Palestine as a country due to various factors. One of the most important of these adversaries to Palestine's recognition is the United States. As a close ally of Israel, the US has historically used its veto power in the UN Security Council to prevent Palestine from gaining full membership. China and Russia are the only two permanent members that agree with recognizing Palestine-- the US, UK, and France have rejected the topic whenever it has come up. Due to this, when Macron made the decision to recognize Palestine as a state, it was taken as a major move across the world, as his actions could motivate other countries, including the United Kingdom, to follow suit. After making a visit to the Gaza border in April, Macron became motivated to recognize Palestine, and drafted a plan to get other countries involved in his idea. He talked with the UK and Canada, hoping to get them to recognize Palestine, while also communicating with several Arab countries to simultaneously improve their relations with Israel. However, despite his efforts, the plan failed, and both Canada and the UK backed out to avoid going against the United States. Nevertheless, Macron continued with his plan, and officially announced earlier this week that they would begin recognizing Palestine in September. Israel quickly denounced the statement, along with the US, but President Donald Trump brushed off Macron's actions as insignificant. Currently, most of eastern Europe still recognizes Palestine, and France's plan has increased pressure on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to follow Macron. Spain, Sweden, and Ireland have been the latest countries to recognize Palestine, making it official in 2024 as part of a coordinated effort to increase international pressure for a two-state solution. Germany and Italy, on the other hand, have both confirmed that they will only recognize Palestine once they are closer to a two-state solution with Israel, while Portugal has stated that they are open to the idea, taking a similar stance to other countries. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The original Star Wars premiered on just 32 screens across the U.S. in 1977. This was to produce buzz as the release widened to more theaters. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never be truly fulfilled. (Lao Tzu) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Embellish (verb, im-BELL-ish) - To embellish something is to make it more appealing or attractive with fanciful or decorative details. In a Sentence: The gift shop had cowboy shirts and hats embellished with beads and stitching.

The United States and the European Union have finally agreed to a trade deal, preventing an economically-devastating trade war from taking place. The agreement has been made in one of the toughest times for relations between the two superpowers, as US President Donald Trump had planned to impose a major round of new tariffs beginning on August 1. Previously, those tariffs had been set for 30% on the EU, with Trump threatening to further raise them to 50%, and he had also been considering pulling out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) altogether. However, after months of negotiations, the two have finally settled on a compromise. The EU was aware that Trump would refuse to remove the tariffs completely-- as a result, they aimed to bring them down to a widespread 10% baseline tax. While the US refused to lower them to 10%, a middle ground was reached yesterday, with both sides deciding on 15%. Nevertheless, the United States has placed some conditions on the settlement, which the EU has accepted. According to the EU, they are required to spend at least $750 billion on American energy over the next three years, and Trump has confirmed that they have also agreed to increase their investment in the US by $600 billion. Additionally, several items will have tariff exceptions as well-- aircraft and plane parts, various items in the pharmaceutical industry, semiconductors, some chemicals, and other products will see their tariffs removed completely, while steel and aluminum will still face a 50% tariff. The exact details of the agreement have not been finalized yet, but the general consensus on a fixed tariff rate has shown that the deeply-interwoven relations between the US and the EU seem to be improving, giving hope for a brighter future on the military, economic, and political fronts and diminishing the growing worries of an impending trade war. Upcoming Events: World Hepatitis Day (Monday, July 28) International Day of Friendship (Wednesday, July 30) World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (Wednesday, July 30) Tisha B'Av (Saturday, August 2 to Sunday, August 3) Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): There are only four European capitals without a McDonald's: Reykjavik, Iceland; Tirana, Albania; Vatican City; and Podgorica, Montenegro. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Worrying is like paying on a debt that may never come due. (Will Rogers) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Brouhaha (noun, BROO-hah-hah) - Brouhaha is a synonym of both uproar and hubbub that refers to great excitement or concern about something. In a Sentence: A brouhaha erupted over the bill, even though the opposing party stood to gain just as much from its passage.

Despite Thailand and Cambodia's recent ceasefire deal, conflict between the two neighbors has ramped up over the past few days, with Thailand accusing Cambodia of violating the agreement. Last week, tensions between Thailand and Cambodia reached their highest point in years, with the two fighting each other near the Ta Muen Thom temple in southern Thailand. Both countries accused each other of beginning the conflict, but it quickly escalated from just ground attacks to airstrikes and eventually major evacuations. Read more into the initial story here . After days of fighting, over 300,000 people had already been displaced, with a total of 38 fatalities. Negotiations quickly began in Malaysia, with the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia meeting to discuss the possibility of peace in the region. They quickly agreed on a deal to stop all fighting, ending the conflict by Monday morning, but Thai authorities warned evacuees to avoid returning home until later on. Additionally, US President Donald Trump swiftly claimed the credit for the ceasefire, with multiple members of his Cabinet and administration praising him later on for his global peace-related efforts. However, less than 24 hours after the deal went into effect, Thailand accused Cambodia of violating the agreement, with the Thai military reporting attacks in several locations near the border. Cambodia claims that their forces have retreated since then, but Thailand has confirmed that they did strike back after the latest Cambodian offensive. They have maintained their peaceful stance, though, with the prime ministers of both countries clearly expressing their desire to settle the conflict. Thankfully, since then, no additional fighting has been confirmed, but it is unknown how long this fragile ceasefire will last. In the meantime, residents near both sides of the border have been instructed to avoid returning home until the conflict is completely settled, but authorities are already beginning to assess the damage and evaluate the costs and timeframe of rebuilding the areas affected by the fighting. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Since Sour Patch Kids are from the same manufacturer as Swedish Fish, red Sour Patch Kids are actually the exact same candy as Swedish Fish but with sour sugar. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): We are all bowlers trying to reach our goals, but once we’ve hit the correct pin, the rest will come tumbling down. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Facile (adj, FASS-ul) - Facile is a formal adjective that is used disapprovingly to describe something that is too simple, or that doesn’t show enough thought or effort. Facile can also be used for something done or achieved in a way that is considered too easy or that is easily accomplished or attained. It is sometimes used approvingly, however, for someone or something that works, moves, or performs well and very easily. In a Sentence: This problem requires more than just a facile solution.

Canada, Malta, and the United Kingdom have followed France in their plans to formally recognize Palestine as a state, joining the 147 other UN members who consider Palestine a state. Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that France would recognize Palestine as a state at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September, joining 147 other United Nations member countries that currently recognize the region. This was seen as a major move across the world, with speculation arising over whether other countries would follow suit, and they did. On Tuesday, the United Kingdom announced that they would also recognize Palestine as a state in September unless Israel agreed on a ceasefire before the assembly, increasing pressure on the Middle Eastern country to find a peaceful solution to the war in Gaza. Then, just one day later, Canada confirmed that they would also officially recognize Palestine in September, expressing their concern that the situation in Gaza had simply become too terrible to bear. Over 60,000 people have been killed, with more dying every day due to starvation, thirst, and consistent Israeli bombings and attacks. Malta quickly did the same, making similar statements to ramp up pressure on Israel to agree on a ceasefire and establish a two-state solution. Furthermore, a document titled the "New York Declaration" was passed at a UN meeting in New York earlier this week, detailing a plan to relieve the conflict in the Middle East and bring Palestine and Israel back to a peaceful state. Another document, the "New York Call," was signed by 15 countries on Tuesday, expressing their desires to recognize Palestine and invite others to join them in their efforts. The signatories included Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain, who have already recognized Palestine; Canada, France, and Malta, who have announced their plans to recognize Palestine; and Andorra, Australia, Finland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal, and Sam Marino, who have not yet recognized Palestine as a state. However, the announcements were met with strong criticism from Israel, who claimed that the four countries are promoting terrorism and worsening efforts to rescue the hostages that remain in the hands of Hamas. They also strongly reject any sort of two-state solution, as they have attempted to maintain control over the entire area that is considered to be Palestine. Additionally, United States President Donald Trump also responded to the statement on social media, making comments suggesting that Canada's decision to recognize Palestine may impact trade talks between the two countries. The US has always strongly stood against Palestine due to their strong relationship with Israel, and they could become the only permanent member of the UN Security Council to not recognize Palestine if both France and the UK continue with the move. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In 2009, Stephen Hawking held a reception for time travelers but didn’t send out the invitations until after the party. This way, only those who could time travel would be able to attend by going back in time. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. (Beverly Sills) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Doppelgänger (noun, DAH-pul-gang-er) - A doppelgänger is someone who looks very much like another person. In literary use, doppelgänger refers to a ghost that closely resembles a living person. In a Sentence: I saw your doppelgänger at the movies yesterday and almost waved hello before I realized they weren’t you.

Several countries have struck deals with the United States ahead of the arrival of Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs, which have been adjusted again after his latest executive order. The largest of these deals was struck with the European Union, which had been facing a steep tax of 30% on all goods. However, after pledging to invest at least $600 billion into the US economy and promising to buy over $750 billion worth of American energy, Trump reduced the tariffs to 15%, which seems to have become the new baseline for his reciprocal tariffs. Read more into the deal here . Additionally, he also made deals with several other countries. With South Korea, he will lower their rates to 15% (he previously threatened to raise rates to 25%) as long as they invest $350 billion into the US and buy $100 billion of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Trump will lower Japan's tariffs to 15% if they invest $550 billion into the American economy and increase agricultural, energy, military, and automobile imports. Earlier this week, Trump confirmed that the Philippines would face a revised 19% tariff after they agreed to avoid placing reciprocal tariffs on the US, and he agreed on a similar deal with Indonesia the week before. In the case of Pakistan, the tariffs were significantly lowered, and Trump made an agreement with the Pakistani government to help them develop their oil reserves and increase trade between the two nations. Then, in an executive order yesterday, Trump drastically changed the tariffs that many countries will face and extended the deadline for when they go into effect by another week. Most tariffs were lowered, with notable drops including Cambodia (49% to 19%), the Falkland Islands (41% to 10%), Lesotho (50% to 15%), Madagascar (47% to 15%), and Mauritius (40% to 15%). Nevertheless, several major US trading partners were negatively impacted by the new changes. Switzerland, one of America's largest trading partners, saw its already-severe 31% tariff rise to 39%, which is certain to impact various companies-- in 2024 alone, the US imported $63.4 billion worth of Swiss goods. Meanwhile, Canada, the United States' second-largest trading partner, will face a staggering 35% tariff on all goods. The increase comes just days after Trump warned Canada that they were making the wrong move by announcing their impending recognition of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September. Thankfully, the tariff is unlikely to immediately drive up prices in many sectors due to Canada's existing trade agreement with the US and Mexico, known as the USMCA, but the deal is due to expire next year. Mexico, on the other hand, has been given an additional 90 days to negotiate a trade deal with the US, making it the only country that still has that ability-- today, August 1, was the deadline for all countries to finalize a trade agreement with the Trump administration. Furthermore, various markets in southeast Asia will also be heavily impacted, as Laos and Myanmar still face a 40% tariff. Deals were made with various nations, including Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand, but others remain without agreements. The prospect of the incoming tariffs has sent Asian stock markets plunging over the last few days, In the end, despite all of the reciprocal tariffs, the largest consumer impact will likely come from Trump's sector-specific tariffs, which affect every country that exports those goods to the US. Steel and aluminum continue to face a massive 50% tariff, and all vehicle parts have faced a 25% tariff for months. Additionally, beginning today, the Trump administration is imposing a 50% tariff on copper imports, which is sure to impact the electrical and manufacturing industries. Nevertheless, businesses and consumers alike will need to adapt quickly to the rising costs of foreign items, with tariffs expected to drive up prices within the coming weeks. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The youngest Pope in history was Pope Benedict IX, who was either 11 or 20 years old when he was elected in 1032. He is also the only person to have been the Pope more than once. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The worst thing a kid can say about homework is that it is too hard. The worst thing a kid can say about a game is it’s too easy. (Henry Jenkins) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Petulant (adj, PET-chuh-lunt) - Petulant describes a person who is angry and annoyed, or an attitude or behavior showing the emotions of such a person. In a Sentence: I didn't appreciate being accused of acting like a petulant toddler.

United States President Donald Trump has fired the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics yesterday after claiming that the latest jobs report was rigged, with the president strongly denying the results of the report. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is the government department responsible for publishing various reports each month, including unemployment, wages, prices, and productivity. One of the most important of these surveys is the jobs report, which gives an overview of how many jobs were added or lost over the last month and how that change affected unemployment, wages, and other aspects of the workforce. This month, as Trump continues to impose tariffs on other nations to bring manufacturing back to the US, the jobs report seemed to have taken a hit. Economists expected job growth to slow down in July, with projections estimating an addition of around 115,000 jobs, but the report showed that the numbers were even lower-- just 73,000 jobs were added in the month of July. Additionally, the bureau also revised the statistics for the two months prior, which had displayed a gain of 144,000 jobs for May and 147,000 for June. However, the revision brought those numbers down to 19,000 and 14,000, respectively, bringing the combined total for both months down by a staggering 258,000 jobs. Economists swiftly placed the blame on Trump's tariffs, which they claim are stalling the economy-- June's revised report, at 14,000 new jobs, is the worst since December 2020, when the market was still losing jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. Stock markets were also affected by the report, with the Dow shedding 542 points in a 1.23% drop. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 dropped by 101 points, falling 1.60%, and the NASDAQ Composite fell 472 points in a 2.24% plunge. Nevertheless, Trump took action, firing the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Dr. Erika McEntarfer within hours. The president quickly claimed that the entire statement was rigged and brushed off the report on social media, declaring that the American economy was in perfect shape. McEntarfer was appointed by former President Joe Biden in 2023 and was confirmed to lead the bureau until 2027 after she was approved by the Senate in January 2024, but Deputy Commissioner William Wiatrowski will now take her place for the time being as a new commissioner is selected. Many Democrats and other government officials have heavily criticized Trump's actions, as they believe that it could negatively affect the public's trust in government reports and statistics. However, the Trump administration has defended his decision, arguing that the report was rigged and that he made the right move in firing the woman who allegedly manipulated it. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Costa Coffee employs Gennaro Pelliccia as a coffee taster, who has had his tongue insured for $14 million since 2009. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The internet and online communication is the window into your world – but real life , in person communication / connection is the door. (Rasheed Ogunlaru) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Palimpsest (noun, PAL-imp-sest) - Palimpsest in its original use refers to writing material (such as a parchment manuscript) used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased; the underlying text is said to be “in palimpsest.” Palimpsest in extended use refers to something that has usually diverse layers or aspects apparent beneath the surface. In a Sentence: Scholars believe the motive for making palimpsests was often economic—reusing parchment was cheaper than preparing a new skin..

At least two people were killed in a recent mine collapse in central Chile, and several others are still trapped as rescue operations continue. The incident took place at the El Teniente mine near the city of Rancagua in central Chile, approximately 45 miles southeast of the capital of Santiago. Chile is a huge player in the global mining industry, with the country's major exports including copper, lithium, gold, silver, molybdenum, and iron. In fact, Chile is the world's largest producer of copper, supplying around 24% of global copper in 2023. Additionally, El Teniente is the world's largest underground copper mine, with over 2,800 miles of tunnels stretching beneath the Andes Mountains. The mine is run by the state-owned National Copper Corporation of Chile, also known as Codelco, which is the largest copper mining company in the world. Due to its power in the region, the company has various resources that it has already begun using to search for any survivors of the mine collapse. The collapse occurred after a 4.2 magnitude earthquake struck the region on Thursday, during a period where the miners had been working deep below the surface. Crews quickly found one miner to be dead just one day after the quake, but five others were trapped underground. Unfortunately, rescue crews discovered the body of one of the trapped miners yesterday, but four remain inside the mine without food or water. Over 100 people are assisting with the efforts, but it has proven difficult-- reports have confirmed that there are dozens of feet of rock between the rescuers and the miners. However, Chilean President Gabriel Boric promised to finish the operation and confirmed that Codelco, as a massive corporation, has the resources to execute it. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Johnny Cash took only three voice lessons before his teacher advised him to stop taking lessons and to never deviate from his natural voice. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If we do not maintain justice, justice will not maintain us. (Francis Bacon) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Dissociate (verb, dih-SOH-shee-ayt) - To dissociate is to separate oneself from association or union with someone or something; in contexts relating to psychology, it has to do specifically with mentally detaching from one's physical or emotional experiences. In chemistry, dissociate means "to separate a chemical compound into its constituent parts especially through the application of heat or a solvent." In a Sentence: The director has tried to dissociate herself from her earlier films.

68 migrants were killed after a boat capsized off the coast of Yemen, and dozens of people are still missing as search-and-rescue operations begin. The boat was traveling across the Gulf of Aden towards the Yemeni Governorate of Abyan, located on the country's southern coast. Carrying approximately 157 people searching for jobs in the Middle East, most of which were Ethiopian nationals, the ship capsized after a storm struck the region, sending all passengers and crew into the water. 68 bodies have been found so far, and a rescue operation to recover the remaining victims of the accident has been launched. Yemeni authorities are currently searching for bodies and survivors in the area where the boat sank, and at least 12 people have been rescued from the water. Unfortunately, incidents like this are extremely common in the Gulf of Aden, which is the busiest maritime migration route in the world. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), an average of 11,500 people boarded vessels to Yemen from the Horn of Africa each month in 2019, summing up to a total of 138,000 in one year. Most of the migrants making the journey are Ethiopian nationals searching for better opportunities in Middle Eastern countries, and over 90% of them end up finding jobs in Saudi Arabia after departing from Djibouti and Somalia. Unfortunately, many of these migrants do not make it to the end-- the passage is extremely treacherous. Smugglers often board boats and kidnap dozens of people before taking them away to inhumane living conditions where they are tortured and forced to work for no pay. If they do manage to make it to the coast of Yemen, they have to fight the Gulf's strict laws before getting permission to cross into another country, and they have to cross large swaths of the Arabian Desert without food or water to make it to their final destinations. Despite all of these challenges, migrant numbers have not dropped over the years, and there are no signs that it will decrease in the near future. Update: All five miners have been found dead from the Chile mining accident. Several days ago, a 4.2 magnitude earthquake triggered a collapse in Chile's El Teniente, the world's largest copper mine. Rescuers had to dig through dozens of feet of rock to reach five trapped miners, who were all found dead, bringing the total death toll from two to six. Read more into the initial incident here . Upcoming Events: International Day of Awareness of the Special Development Needs and Challenges of Landlocked Developing Countries (Wednesday, August 6) World Games Begin (Thursday, August 7) International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (Saturday, August 9) Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Just Enough Room Island, also known as Hub Island, is a small rocky island in the middle of Thousand Islands State Park, New York. The island is the smallest inhabited island in the world, with just 3,300 square feet os space-- enough room for just one tree, some shrubs, and a cottage. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): A good friend knows all your best stories. A best friend has been there to live them with you. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Egregious (adj, ih-GREE-juss) - Egregious is a formal word used to describe things that are conspicuously bad. In a Sentence: Leaving one’s phone on during a performance is an egregious breach of theater etiquette.