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India signed a major trade deal and committed to halt their purchases of Russian oil after talks with the United States, lowering their tariff rate. India, which had previously been facing tariffs of over 50%, initially attempted to circumvent the US from an economic standpoint, striking deals with countries like New Zealand and the UK, in addition to confirming a massive free trade agreement with the European Union. In mid-2025, they held several rounds of talks with the US in attempts to establish a new trade deal, but certain roadblocks – particularly the issue of market access to India's agricultural sector – prevented them from finalizing a deal. Many Indian farmers became worried over the fact that cheaper US imports could dominate their industry, breaking down the deal. Additionally, Trump began imposing a staggering 50% tariff on Indian exports due to their purchases of Russian oil. However, those concerns were brought down slightly after a new trade deal was signed– though the exact details of the deal are unclear. According to Trump, the agreement will see India commit to stop buying Russian oil, shifting to American and possibly Venezuelan oil, in addition to investments of over $500 billion in the American economy. These investments will include various industries, including energy, transportation, and agriculture. India will also reduce their tariff on the United States to zero, allowing all American goods into their country with no tariff. However, all of these facts were omitted by Modi, who simply pointed out that India would receive a tariff reduction from the United States. This has raised concerns over the actual details of the deal, and Russia has created further uncertainty by claiming that they have not received any sort of communication regarding India's purchases of their oil. Experts are also doubtful that India will halt imports of Russian oil, given their previous stances on neutrality, geopolitics, and a consistent need for cheaper oil. Additionally, Trump confirmed that he will remove the 25% levy for buying Russian oil and reduce India's reciprocal tariff by a further 7%, bringing the total down from 50% to 18%. This is the only portion of the deal that has been confirmed by both sides. Both leaders released statements regarding the agreement, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising the deal: " When two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation." Nevertheless, Trump's statement differed greatly from Modi's, creating huge amounts of uncertainty over the true nature of the deal. Many Indian experts feel that the agreement is looking much stronger for Americans and could be a detriment to the Indian economy, while others remain puzzled over the details of the deal. The deal is expected to be signed in the coming days, though, which could see the release of more information. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Animals yawn based on how large their brain is. The bigger the brain, the longer they will yawn. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are. Failure is part of the process of success . People who avoid failure also avoid success. (Robert T. Kiyosaki) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Diaphanous (adj, dye-AF-uh-nus) - Diaphanous is a formal word used to describe fabric of a texture so fine that one can see through it. Diaphanous is also sometimes used figuratively to describe something characterized by extreme delicacy of form. In a Sentence: The bride looked radiant in her floor-length gown and diaphanous veil. Image credit to Reuters

Anthropic announced the release of a new legal AI tool yesterday, sending data services and legal software stocks plummeting. Anthropic, a privately-owned American AI company, is known for their large-language model, Claude, which competes with others like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. With a valuation in the hundreds of billions, Anthropic is one of the world's most successful private AI corporations, having secured major contracts from Big Tech companies like Amazon, Nvidia, Google, and Microsoft. Now, Anthropic is making waves in a different section of the market– legal software. The company's new AI tool can be used as a plugin for Claude Cowork, a program that can automate multi-step tasks, read files, and complete certain jobs, acting as a 24/7 AI employee for those who use it. With this new tool, legal departments can automate time-consuming legal work, particularly tasks like reviewing contracts, non-disclosure agreement (NDA) triage, and compliance workflows. Anthropic did confirm, though, that the AI is still in its beta stage, and it has been released to Claude Cowork users as a research preview. They have also advised that the AI can make mistakes that affect legal decisions and should receive oversight from a qualified professional before being used in official work. Nevertheless, the announcement of Anthropic's new tool sent legal software stocks plummeting– with the future development of Anthropic's AI, it could significantly impact their business and possibly even remove their products from the picture altogether. With an artificial intelligence program that reads documents and provides tailored feedback to the exact needs of the lawyer, they would no longer need complex software programs. Many software companies are already incorporating AI into their existing platforms, but the growth of Anthropic's tool could remove the need for such platforms in the first place. At best, Anthropic is still expected to eat into the profit margins and revenue numbers of these corporations. Canadian software conglomerate Thomson Reuters plummeted 18%, while Dutch software services company Wolters Kluwer fell over 13%. As a whole, the London Stock Exchange Group plunged 13%. In the United States, FactSet Research Systems fell 10.5%, while technology services corporation Accenture saw its stocks slide by 9.5%. Furthermore, the release of Anthropic's tool didn't just send legal software stocks dropping– it sent global software markets falling. The move represented a wider change in sentiment which some described as a "wake-up call," with investors realizing that corporations like Anthropic will only continue to produce more advanced AI models in different fields of the market. Legal may have been one of the first, but other industries like consulting, finance, and data analytics may be next– many investors are beginning to think that certain software companies may just go down from here. However, software corporations that are able to keep up with the change – integrating AI into their programs and popularizing it among their customers – could fight back against all-around AI tools, allowing them to remain relevant. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Soviet Russia needed lighthouses on their uninhabited northern coast, so they built thousands of automated lighthouses powered by nuclear technology, utilizing the radioactive isotope strontium-90. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once. (Lillian Dickson) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Hornswoggle (verb, HORN-swah-gul) - To hornswoggle someone is to trick or deceive them. In a Sentence: I think we were hornswoggled  by that magician. Image credit to The Verge

The 2026 Grammy Awards took place on Sunday night, with some big names bringing home big prizes after a host of eye-catching performances. Here's everything to know. The Grammy Awards are given out every February to some of music's biggest names, with awards like Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year being the most prestigious. However, a Grammy is a major achievement for any artist. Let's dive in. Sprinkled throughout the Grammys were major performances– some booms, some busts. Here are the biggest performances of the night: Justin Bieber walked up onto stage wearing nothing but a pair of silk boxers and socks and continued on to sing "Yukon," one of the hit singles from his latest album, "SWAG." With no backup dancers, other musicians, or attention-seeking objects, it was just Bieber, a microphone, a loop pedal, and a guitar. Sabrina Carpenter performed a strong rendition of her viral song "Manchild," though she was later criticized by animal rights groups for her usage of a live bird during the show. All of the nominees for Best New Artist combined for one mashup performance, with some segments receiving mixed reviews. Many thought some were slightly too chaotic, especially KATSEYE's rendition of "Gnarly," while Alex Warren struggled with his earpiece amid technical difficulties. However, Lola Young received widespread praise for her solemn piano performance of "Messy," which won Best Pop Solo Performance. Here are the biggest artist achievements from the 2026 Grammy Awards: Kendrick Lamar and SZA's duet "luther" took home Record of the Year, beating out major hits like Bruno Mars' "APT." and Sabrina Carpenter's "Manchild." Earning his 27th Grammy, Kendrick became the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history, surpassing Jay-Z. Bad Bunny won Album of the Year for "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS," marking the first time that a singer has ever won the award for an album sung entirely in Spanish. Song of the Year was awarded to Billie Eilish for her 2024 hit single "Wildflower," with the song coming back into eligibility due to her re-release of the song as a single in 2025. Best New Artist proved to be one of the most competitive categories in 2025, consisting of popular artists like Olivia Dean, Alex Warren, sombr, Addison Rae, and KATSEYE. In the end, Olivia Dean took home the achievement, propelled by her hit single "Man I Need." View the full winners and nominees list here . Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Snakes can help predict earthquakes. They can sense a coming earthquake from 75 miles away, up to five days before it happens. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naïve forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget. (Thomas Szasz) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Prescience (noun, PRESH-ee-unss) - Prescience is a formal word used to refer to the ability to see or anticipate what will or might happen in the future. In a Sentence: He predicted the public's response to the proposed legislation with remarkable prescience . Image credit to CBS

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz defeated Serbia's Novak Djokovic in a dominating Australian Open final yesterday, making the Spaniard the world's youngest-ever career Grand Slam winner. Alcaraz cruised to a dominant win in four sets after a couple of thrilling semifinals in the days prior. On Thursday, Alcaraz defeated Germany's Alexander Zverev in a five-and-a-half hour long, five-set match, including three tiebreakers in the second, third, and fourth sets. While Alcaraz won the first and second sets, Zverev won both tiebreakers in the next two sets, forcing a fifth set. However, Alcaraz was able to outplay Zverev in the final set, completing the third-longest match ever held at the Australian Open and earning him a spot in the final. Meanwhile, Djokovic – now 38 years old – beat the 24-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner in the other semifinal. The pair alternated wins in the first four sets, but Djokovic was able to squeeze out a win in the fifth set after saving eight break points. Then, the day of the final arrived, with Alcaraz playing Djokovic on Sunday. Djokovic came out with all guns blazing, dominating the first set 6-2 with highly accurate serves and a strong forehand. However, Djokovic's early precision quickly flagged, allowing Alcaraz to control the next two sets, 6-2 6-3. Then, the fourth set arrived, with Alcaraz taking an early lead. By the end of the set, the score was 6-5, with both players holding strong. Nevertheless, an incredible 24-shot rally yielded crucial points to Alcaraz, 15-0. The stamina needed to complete such a rally was too great for Djokovic, who erred on the next three points to seal the title for Alcaraz. With the win, Alcaraz became the youngest-ever career Grand Slam winner, adding the 2026 Australian Open title to his doubles at the US Open, Wimbledon, and the French Open. The previous titleholder was Don Budge, who completed the feat in 1938 at 22 years and 363 days, while Alcaraz won yesterday's game with an age of 22 years and 272 days. Despite his loss, Djokovic took home a title on the other end of the spectrum– he is now the oldest-ever finalist since the beginning of the Open era. Both players have already made a mark for themselves in history, and Alcaraz seems set to maintain his position as world No. 1 for quite a while longer. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The celebrity hand and footprint tradition in front of Hollywood's Chinese Theater started accidentally when silent film actress Norma Talmadge stepped on wet cement in 1927. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on. (Havelock Ellis) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Gargantuan (adj, gahr-GAN-chuh-wun) - Gargantuan describes something that is very large in size or amount; something gargantuan is, in other words, gigantic. In a Sentence: Bigfoot is said to be a creature of gargantuan proportions. Image credit to Australian Open

At least 33 civilians were killed and 92 militants are dead after major attacks were conducted by Baloch militants in the Pakistani region of Balochistan, sparking conflict. Balochistan, located in southwestern Pakistan, is a province that makes up around 44% of Pakistan's total land area. However, it contains only 6 to 7% of its population, and much of the province's population has been stricken by serious poverty, leading to the formation of groups like the BLA. The BLA, or Baloch Liberation Army, is a group of militants fighting for the independence of Balochistan from Pakistan, who often resort to violent tactics to gain the attention of the Pakistani government. Alongside the Pakistani Taliban, known as the Tehrik-i-Taliban, they are one of the largest opposition forces against the Pakistani government. Yesterday, BLA-affiliated attacks targeted both civilians and government officials, with militants striking a prison, police stations, and military zones while others robbed banks and set vehicles on fire. Several criminals were set free from the jail, and bombing attempts took place in various military and administration offices. Local security forces were able to prevent many of the attacks, though, saving countless lives. Other reports confirmed that militants were found destroying rail tracks, leading to a suspension of train services between other provinces and Balochistan. At least 18 civilians were killed, alongside 15 government employees and security personnel. However, Pakistani forces struck back quickly, eliminating militants who were not killed in the suicide blasts. Over 92 BLA-affiliated insurgents were killed, and dozens more have been killed in the days prior to the blasts. The Pakistani government described it as the deadliest day for the BLA in years, and the military is still working on tracking down additional insurgents. The Pakistani government accuses India of backing the BLA, which India has strongly denied. Pakistan also claims that the Tehrik-i-Taliban and the BLA are utilizing Afghan land to center their operations under the existing Taliban government of Afghanistan– a close ally of both terrorist organizations. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Not all hamsters are small. Although some hamsters are as small as 2-4 inches, the largest ones are approximately 13 inches long. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Chaos was the law of nature; Order was the dream of man. (Henry Adams) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Short shrift (noun, SHORT-SHRIFT) - Short shrift means “little or no attention or thought” or “quick work.” In religious use it refers to barely adequate time for confession before execution. In a Sentence: Certain neighborhoods have received short shrift from the city government. Image credit to Reuters

Over 200 people were killed on Wednesday after the collapse of a massive coltan mine in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The mine, known as the Rubaya coltan mine, is located in North Kivu, an area controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. The rebels are part of a group primarily made up of Tutsis, an ethnic group of the African Great Lakes region who reside in the Rwanda-Burundi area. M23 has controlled the region for over a year now after invading the DRC in February 2025, which they claim is just the first step towards their future goal of overthrowing the Congolese government in Kinshasa. After taking control of the city of Goma, the rebels continued to expand their territory, making Goma the center of their invasion. Rubaya, located just 25 miles away from Goma, was quickly snapped up by M23, who took control of its resources. Coltan, a metallic ore rich in niobium and tantalum, is crucial to global technology advancements due to tantalum's usage in heat-resistant capacitors, which are used in almost every form of electronic device. The DRC, with its mineral-rich eastern region, holds almost 80% of the world's coltan reserves, making it one of the largest producers of the mineral alongside neighboring Rwanda. The Rubaya mine, specifically, is crucial to this industry– accounting for 15% of the world's total coltan, Rubaya is the world's largest coltan mine. However, this week's mine collapse could impede that global supply chain. At least 227 people have been confirmed dead after a section of the mine's floor collapsed after heavy rain, and over 20 others are in critical condition. An official death toll has not been released yet, as rescue teams are still pulling bodies from the rubble, and locals asserted that some miners are still trapped inside. The incident has also raised further concerns from human rights groups, which have long targeted central Africa and the DRC with accusations of rampant child labor exploitation and inhumane treatment and compensation for miners. Many workers toil throughout the day and night to obtain minerals used by the Western world, while they receive a few dollars a day in return. Additionally, without proper resources, the miners are forced to battle tough conditions without equipment and resort to the technique of artisanal mining, which uses pans and shovels instead of modern technology. Without the right gear or techniques, mine collapses become more common as tunnels grow longer without support, and a weak local government further worsens the issue. Meanwhile, the United Nations and the DRC have condemned the M23 rebels of capturing the Rubaya mine and utilizing its profits to fund their incursion of the DRC, further destabilizing the central African nation and strengthening Rwanda– this has been denied by Rwanda, though. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The money for the Statue of Liberty came from fundraising from auctions, a lottery, and boxing matches in Europe and the U.S. The Statue cost the French about $250,000, which today would be over $5.5 million dollars. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): For me, it’s important to build good partnerships rather than score centuries. Once you have those partnerships, you will also get centuries. (MS Dhoni) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Preeminent (adj, pree-EM-uh-nunt) - Preeminent is a formal word used to describe someone or something more important, skillful, or successful than their counterparts or peers. It is used synonymously with outstanding and supreme . In a Sentence: She's the preeminent chef in a city renowned for its cuisine . Image credit to MONUSCO

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists shifted the Doomsday Clock for 2026, adjusting it to just 85 seconds away from midnight– the closest humanity has ever been to the prospect of a catastrophic global event. The Doomsday Clock was created by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists in 1947 as a signal of how close the world is – in that particular year – to a mass extinction event like nuclear war or complete climate collapse. Midnight on the clock would mean that humans' actions have rendered the Earth uninhabitable, and the clock's distance away from midnight tells humanity how close we are to this catastrophic event. For 2026, the scientists set the clock to 85 seconds away from midnight– the closest we have ever been to the so-called end of civilization as we know it. Last year, the clock was set to 89 seconds away from midnight, and the bulletin decided on setting it at 90 seconds in 2023 and 2024. The farthest-ever distance from midnight was back in 1991, when the Bulletin set the clock back to 17 minutes away after the formal end of the Cold War. Last year, the scientists cited growing concerns of nuclear war and heightening geopolitical tensions, alongside failures in battles against climate change and the misuse of biotechnology. They also mentioned the existential threat of artificial intelligence, which only gained more traction throughout the year. For 2026, the scientists explained that the same pressing issues simply continue to grow without action from major powers, bringing the world closer and closer to an apocalyptic future. In terms of nuclear power, the US, Russia, and China continue to grow their military as they compete for control on the global stage, and the crucial New START treaty preventing a repeat of the Cold War between the US and Russia expires in five days. This could give way to a massive nuclear arms race, which could prove catastrophic for the world. However, the bulletin mentioned that international cooperation this year could reverse those sorts of impacts and bring us farther away from a nuclear war. Climate change has continued to strengthen its grip on the world amid a lack of action from nations at UN summits and on their own, and the US has entirely dismissed the idea of climate change under current President Donald Trump. They also highlighted the growing potential for biotechnology in today's world, explaining how artificial intelligence can drastically increase the potential for development of dangerous pathogens, leading to biological warfare. Again, both of these problems can be solved with international cooperation and multilateral negotiations, but it seems unlikely under current administrations. Whether nations will take action in 2026 on the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists' assertions is still unclear, but a lack of action could move the clock even closer to midnight in 2027. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Margherita pizza uses tomato, mozzarella, and basil toppings to represent the Italian national flag. It was originally to honor the Queen of Italy in 1889. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): We all do things we desperately wish we could undo. Those regrets just become part of who we are, along with everything else. (Libba Bray) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Reciprocate (verb, rih-SIP-ruh-kayt) - To reciprocate is to do something for or to someone who has done something similar for or to you. Reciprocate can also mean “to have (a feeling) for someone who has the same feeling for you.” In a Sentence: It was kind of my friend to give me a ride to the airport, and on the flight I was thinking of how to reciprocate the favor. Image credit to AP

US President Donald Trump has initiated the Board of Peace with him at chairman, giving him major powers over conflict resolutions and negotiations across the globe. The Board of Peace was first proposed by Trump in September 2025 as an international body that would focus solely on negotiations and ending long-term conflicts. Trump's idea of the Board featured various world leaders with rotating positions alongside him as indefinite chairman, and it was officially ratified at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week. The idea was initially pushed forward as a solution to solve the Israel-Palestine conflict, but Trump has evolved the Board's approach into one with global implications– in fact, the Board's charter lacks a single mention of Gaza in its entire framework. This has led to significant backlash against the Board, claiming that it fails to address the actual problem in Gaza, while others have accused Trump of attempting to undermine the United Nations. Now, as per the Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiated by Trump, the Board of Peace maintains control over a significant portion of the Gaza Strip's future. Trump, as chairman, will hold the position of utmost importance, delegating responsibilities and assigning tasks to certain officials as he deems fit. The Board will also maintain an international force to manage conflicts between countries, led by a commander chosen by Trump. The Board also includes an Executive Board consisting of Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and several other high-ranking officials and world leaders. In terms of membership, the Board currently has 19 world leaders as members, consisting mostly of prime ministers, presidents, and ministers of foreign affairs. Notably, most of the United States' allies are not on the board– almost all of the nations currently represented on the Board are located in eastern Europe, the Middle East, and central Asia, as well as Morocco from northern Africa, Indonesia from southeast Asia, and Argentina and Paraguay from South America. In particular, no western European nations accepted invitations to the Board, and Canada's invite was revoked after Prime Minister Mark Carney made several controversial comments opposing the idea of a US-led world order at the WEF. However, Trump confirmed that the Board's current member nations only have a tenure of three years, unless they pay $1 billion within the Board's first year to secure permanent membership. Trump maintained that the contribution was "voluntary," though, stating that it is not considered an entry fee and contributions are not mandatory. Many of the US allies invited, including the United Kingdom, cited Russia's invite as a major concern that discouraged them from joining– despite the invitation, Russia was absent at the Board's signing event. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): When dogs are first born, they are completely blind and cannot hear anything. The first sense that they develop is the sense of touch, and smell follows soon after. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears. (Anthony Robbins) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Bombast (noun, BAHM-bast) - Bombast is a formal word that refers to speech or writing that is meant to sound important or impressive but that is not sincere or meaningful. In a Sentence: You need less bombast and more substance in this speech. Image credit to AFP

India and the European Union signed a massive free trade agreement yesterday, allowing them to establish an extremely strong strategic partnership in the global shift away from the United States amid Donald Trump's tariffs. The agreement, coined the "mother of all deals," is the largest deal in India's history– together, the sides' two-way trade totals $215 billion, and the number of Indians living in the EU exceeds 800,000. The EU is currently the world's second-largest economy, while India is the fourth-largest. By establishing deals with China and the EU, India now holds a prime position to avoid American goods amid a 50% tariff from Donald Trump. India is the EU's ninth-largest trading partner, making up just 2.4% of their total trade, but the EU is one of India's top three trading partners among the US and China. Due to this, the deal gives the EU a solid base to grow trade with a rapidly-growing nation, while providing India with the elimination of almost all export tariffs from one of their largest trading partners. The deal will see India remove tariffs on 96.6% of incoming goods from the EU, including vehicles, wine, machinery, and agricultural exports, with around one-third of those reductions taking place immediately. The rest will be spread out over the next five to ten years, allowing the EU to double its exports to India by 2032. On the other side, the EU will do away with levies on a staggering 99% of Indian exports by value– conversely, this means that the goods not included in the deal make up just 1% of Indian exports by value to the EU. The goods included in the agreement include major Indian industries like textiles, leather, gems, jewelry, electronics, tea, and coffee. According to the European Union, the deal will save European manufacturers around $4.7 billion each year. On India's side, the industries impacted by the deal make up around $33 billion in total annual exports, and they were hit by the EU with levies of up to 26%. According to CNBC, Indian officials also confirmed that major job growth would arrive alongside the deal, mentioning that it could generate six to seven million new jobs in the textile sector alone. The deal is expected to be signed in August, with the first tariff removals taking place in early 2027. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Any prime number higher than three, when squared and subtracted by one, will always turn out to be a multiple of 24. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you're anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present. (Lao Tzu) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Fiduciary (adj, fuh-DOO-shee-air-ee) - Fiduciary is a formal word describing something relating to or involving trust, such as the trust between a customer and a professional. In a Sentence: The bank's fiduciary obligations are clearly stated in the contract. Image credit to Reuters

Alex Pretti, a certified nurse, was killed by ICE officers over the weekend after they wrestled him down to the ground and fired multiple shots, sparking outrage. Pretti, 37, had a degree in nursing and served as an ICU nurse at a Minneapolis veterans hospital, where he was known as a non-violent man with solid morals who took care of everyone. Others who knew him well said that he wanted to make a difference in the world, standing up for disadvantaged people and what he knew was right. At the time of the incident, which was around 9 am local time on Saturday, Pretti was filming several ICE officers with his phone as they spoke to two people on the street. Suddenly, the officer shoved the two locals towards a white car, shuffling them across the roadway. In the process, the officer shoves one of the civilians to the ground, and Pretti steps in to prevent further violence. However, the ICE officer then discharges a can of pepper spray as Pretti attempts to help the fallen civilian stand back up. Without warning, a charge of seven ICE officers surround Pretti, pinning him to the ground, while another man fires more pepper spray. Then, an eighth officer pulls Pretti's gun out of his pocket and moves to the side, allowing one of the original seven to pull out a separate firearm. This officer then fires four shots at Pretti before the agent who pepper sprayed him pulls out his respective gun and fires several times. In total, Pretti was hit by ten bullets while on the ground. The Trump administration was quick to defend the ICE officers, accusing Pretti of approaching the officers with a handgun. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) labeled the agents' actions as "defensive shots," just as they did with the shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis on January 8. Similarly, they also claimed Pretti was committing an "act of domestic terrorism" by "attacking" ICE officers and waving his handgun, which has been clearly disproved by video footage of the scene. This characterization of the incident sparked outrage from citizens across the country, asserting that Pretti was clearly exercising his Second Amendment rights by having possession of the handgun, which was legally obtained. Additionally, footage taken by bystanders shows that Pretti never removed the gun from its holster, and another officer had actually removed the gun from the scene before the first shots were fired. Apart from the handgun, many viewed Pretti's actions as completely innocent– he was exercising his First Amendment rights by videoing the ICE officers and attempted to help a civilian before he was fatally shot, posing no real threat to anyone. Thousands of people quickly swarmed the ICE headquarters in Minneapolis, with locals braving frigid temperatures of as low as -10˚F as they held up signs and chanted for ICE to leave the state. The Minnesota government is now suing the Trump administration, calling the deployment of ICE a violation of the 10th Amendment, which consigns any power not given to the federal government to state governments or the people. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The pumpkin is a member of the cucurbit family, which are gourds, such as cucumbers and squashes. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life. (Ralph Waldo Emerson) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Oaf (noun, OHF) - Oaf is used to refer to someone as big, clumsy, and slow-witted. In a Sentence: The main character starts the movie as a tactless, bumbling oaf who is constantly causing offense to everyone around them, but eventually learns a valuable lesson about kindness and courtesy. Image credit to France 24