Search The Website!

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

Over one million people are out of power and cities are decked out in snow and ice after Winter Storm Fern swept across the Eastern United States. The winter storm slammed 34 states with inclement weather, ranging from rain to snow and everything in between. In response, 24 states were forced to declare states of emergency, and major preparations were made ahead of the storm. Roads were salted, trucks were arranged into prime position for quick responses, and people initiated the felling of dead or risky trees ahead of the ice threat. Fern proved to be a relatively unique storm compared to others– in addition to bringing 1-2 feet of snow to much of the Midwest and Northeast US, the storm brought significant ice totals to the Deep South. Arctic air from Canada dipped into the south this week, allowing the rain to freeze into snow, but a strong warm front from the Gulf of Mexico pushed warmer air into the Deep South, specifically into Alabama and up through the Appalachian Mountains. This led to thunderstorms and a significant tornado threat across much of the Deep South, especially along mountainous areas that typically see snowfall instead of rain, but the surrounding areas were also affected by this front of warm air. Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Georgia all experienced major ice totals due to freezing rain and sleet, with the frozen precipitation spreading as far as Texas and Oklahoma. Meanwhile, Fern also dropped several inches of snow across much of the Midwest, with totals going much higher towards the north. Single-day records across the Ohio Valley were smashed by Fern, with multi-day totals in some areas reaching as high as 13 inches, with more on the way. Multi-vehicle pileups have been reported in several states, including Louisiana and Missouri, and at least two people died in Louisiana due to hypothermia. Schools across the country are also closed on Monday due to the weather, and frigid temperatures across the next few days could prolong the life of the existing snow and ice on surfaces like roads and sidewalks. In total, over 245 million people were affected by Winter Storm Fern, with around 11,600 flight cancellations and over one million power outages across the nation. Tennessee has been one of the hardest-hit, with over 250,000 outages, while Louisiana and Mississippi continue to suffer from serious ice accumulations and plummeting temperatures. Crews are working their hardest to clear roads and restore power as soon as possible, but it could take days, if not weeks, to bring the situation back to normal. In the meantime, locals are being urged to stay indoors and avoid driving at all costs, particularly in icy areas where roadways are still extremely slippery. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Though most think it’s Italian, pepperoni is an American invention. The first use of the word dates back to 1919. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): People need to be cautious, because anything built by man can be destroyed by Mother Nature. (Russel Ho nore ) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Resplendent (adj, rih-SPLEN-dunt) - Resplendent is a literary word used to describe someone or something as very bright and attractive. In a Sentence: She looked resplendent in her green evening gown. Image credit to the Columbus Dispatch

American rock climber Alex Honnold made history yesterday when he climbed the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan without any ropes, completing an incredible free solo climb of over 1,667 feet. Honnold is known for his free solo climb of Yosemite National Park's El Capitan, meaning that he completed the entire climb without ropes or safety gear. By climbing the mountain's primary rock face, he ascended over 3,000 feet on camera, culminating in the famed 2018 film Free Solo . This year, he announced that he would be attempting his next major free solo climb– not out in nature, but in the middle of a busy urban landscape. Honnold confirmed that he would be scaling Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan's capital of Taipei at 1,667 feet tall. Netflix was quick to begin advertising the event, dubbing it Skyscraper Live , where they would film Honnold climbing the skyscraper on live television. By using the ledges along the corners of the building, he was able to pull himself up, floor by floor, taking him just one hour and 31 minutes to reach the top of the spire atop the skyscraper. The climb is now the world's tallest urban free solo climb and the first free solo climb on Taipei 101– though there were concerns that the climb might not even take place. Heavy rain on Saturday contributed to a 24 hour delay, but weather permitted the climb to go ahead on Sunday afternoon local time. Netflix also paid Honnold for the event, though he admitted that it was just six-figures. For the risk he takes – one slip means instant death in Honnold's situation – he and his agent felt like he should have been paid more, but he admitted that he enjoys climbing so much that he would have climbed Taipei 101 either way, even if he had not been part of a documentary. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In the Philippines, you can buy spaghetti at McDonald’s, called McSpaghetti, where they also sell a “McDo” piece of chicken. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Fruitful trees bend down; Likewise, the truly great are humble. (Sanskrit Proverb) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Garner (verb, GAHR-ner) - Garner means "to acquire by effort; earn" or "to accumulate or collect." In a Sentence: The new research findings have garnered the attention of medical experts. Image credit to Netflix

US President Donald Trump has announced a new plan to rebuild Gaza into a glittering metropolis with a strong coastal tourism industry along the Mediterreanean. Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, was one of the primary officials advocating for their new proposal, labeling it as a "masterplan." He also stated that the only possible way the plan could fail is if Hamas refuses to demilitarize the strip, which would be the next phase in Trump's 20-point ceasefire plan between Israel and Palestine. However, various countries – along with some experts – expressed other concerns that the US may attempt to relocate existing Palestinian citizens of Gaza to complete the redevelopment. The proposal, presented after the inauguration of Trump's Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum, includes over 180 mixed-use towers on Gaza's coast along the Mediterranean Sea, providing the enclave with a new economic engine. Behind this mixed-use area would be blocks of residential areas, separated by parks, sports facilities, and farms. Meanwhile, the infrastructure and road network would also be developed through these centers, and the industrial areas required to run a city would be placed on the outside of the strip, on the border with Israel. An airport was also included in this border area, placed next to a large logistics area and a major port. The design was rather crude and did not include very many specificities, making it appear relatively rushed, but they did mention that the area will be split up into New Gaza and New Rafah. New Gaza is set to be the economic hub of the enclave, encompassing most of the major mixed-use skyscrapers, while New Rafah will be a massive residential region containing over 100,000 homes and 200 schools. During the proposal speech, Kushner also avoided defining any existing investors but urged the private sector to take advantage of this opportunity despite its potential risks. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Scotland wanted to replicate the Parthenon bigger and cheaper in 1826. It was never completed and is now nicknamed “Scotland’s Disgrace.” Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.(Buddha) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Astrolabe (noun, A-struh-layb) - An astrolabe is a compact instrument used to observe and calculate the position of celestial bodies before the invention of the sextant. In a Sentence: The new astronomy exhibit featured various gadgets and instruments, including an extensive collection of astrolabes . Image credit to Getty Images

Social media app TikTok has officially completed its transition from Chinese-company ByteDance to a US-based joint venture, allowing it to stay legal in the country. Back in 2024, the Biden administration suspected ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, of spying on American citizens and the US government using the application. Because of this, a ban on TikTok was imposed in January 2025, but the deadline for ByteDance to agree to a deal with American investors was later extended by US President Donald Trump. After weeks of negotiations, the United States and China reached a framework deal in September, but that framework has now been officially implemented. Now, TikTok is primarily owned by four companies, with the rest of the ownership going to other corporations and shareholders. Oracle, owned by tech billionaire Larry Ellison, is one of the two American firms involved, with a 15% stake in the deal. Ellison is also very close with Trump, and his son, David Ellison, has been making waves with the recent Paramount Skydance merger and their unsuccessful attempt to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery. Under the deal, Oracle will oversee the security of Americans' data on TikTok, and all TikTok data will continue to be stored on Oracle servers to fully convince the US government that their data is not being sent to China. Silver Lake, a major technology investment firm, will also hold a 15% stake in TikTok. They have experience with the field and have also worked with Oracle on past projects, making them a solid second owner. Meanwhile, the third non-Chinese owner of TikTok will be MGX, an Emirati investment company focused specifically on new technology and artificial intelligence. MGX will also maintain a 15% stake in TikTok alongside Oracle and Silver Lake. Additionally, G42, a co-partner in the founding of MGX, has been the recipient of Silver Lake investments for over five years, giving the group a strong connection between partners. Finally, the fourth major owner will be ByteDance themselves, who will maintain a 19.9% stake in TikTok, which was their original application to begin with. Today, the social media platform has 1.9 to 2 billion monthly active users across the globe, but that's not all. ByteDance also owns a host of other apps, including Douyin, the original Chinese version of TikTok; Toutiao, a major personalized news platform; CapCut, a world-leading short video editor; and Lemon8, a lifestyle-focused social media platform. The rest of the shares will be distributed among shareholders and other corporations interested in getting involved, fully completing TikTok's transition from full ByteDance ownership to primarily a joint venture between Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX. Leadership structure at the company will also change– Adam Presser, the company's previous head of operations, will be promoted to CEO, while Shou Zi Chew, TikTok's CEO, will become a director. In addition to him, there will be six other directors; one from each of the partners in the joint venture and three others from additional companies investing in TikTok. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Octopuses only touch in situations of mating or aggression. Female octopuses sometimes do both, strangling and eating the male during or after the mating process. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to do’ list. (Michelle Obama) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Disheveled (adj, dih-SHEV-uld) - A disheveled person or thing is not neat or tidy. In a Sentence: His wrinkled suit gave him a disheveled appearance. Image credit to Getty Images

US President Donald Trump made some major statements at the World Economic Forum– here's exactly what he said in Davos and what implications they have for the US and the world. Trump's speech was viewed in various different ways, but he addressed numerous topics over the course of an hour and 20 minutes, adding in elements of humor and even antagonism as he called out several nations and politicians in the audience. He began the speech with assertions to Europe about their unwillingness to comply with his requests for Greenland and proclaimed that Europe has been taking advantage of the United States. Trump also claimed that Europe is "not even recognizable" due to poor immigration policies and economic decisions like investing in renewable energy, labeling their Green New Deal as the "Green New Scam." However, debatably the most crucial part of Trump's speech came just after– his address over Greenland. Trump labeled Greenland as "our territory" and called it a "big, beautiful piece of ice" before referencing back to World War II. Trump stated that Denmark was unable to defend Greenland from the Germans and credited the Allies' win to the US: " Without us, right now you would all be speaking German and a little Japanese, perhaps." Nevertheless, he later confirmed that he would not use military force to take the island. Instead, he called for "immediate negotiations" and threatened Europe to agree to discuss– " You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember." The announcement has major implications for what is one of the world's most powerful and influential alliances– one that, before the WEF, was on the brink of collapse. Trump had announced tariffs on several European allies alongside his military threats on Greenland, and the EU was considering the use of their "trade bazooka," an amalgamation of sweeping sanctions to prevent coercion. Trump's speech sent US markets soaring after a plunge the day before, but Europeans remained irritated by his attempt to pressure them into giving up Greenland. Trump also claimed that Europe and the US had reached a framework deal for future negotiations on the long-term ownership of Greenland, permitting him to revoke the tariffs announced several days ago. These tariffs were set to impact some of the United States' strongest allies, but their removal will allow markets to remain unburdened. Europe, on the other hand, has halted the passage of a US-EU trade deal negotiated in July, maintaining support for Greenland. Lawmakers have declined to continue considering the deal until all threats on Greenland come to a stop. As usual, throughout the speech, Trump mixed in dozens of his "accomplishments" and domestic policy changes since arriving at the head of the US government – some true statements, some false claims – and called out his predecessor, "Sleepy Joe Biden," numerous times. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Canada eats more macaroni and cheese per capita than any other nation in the world. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Don’t confuse having a career with having a life. (Hillary Clinton) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Schmooze (verb, SHMOOZ) - To schmooze is to warmly chat with someone often in order to gain favor, business, or connections. In a Sentence: The event provides an opportunity for local business owners to network and schmooze . Image credit to AP

US President Donald Trump is on his way to the World Economic Forum, where he plans to assert new threats over Greenland and negotiate with European leaders. The World Economic Forum takes place in Davos, a town in eastern Switzerland, each year, which major leaders from various walks of life attend. Examples include presidents and prime ministers, CEOs of large corporations, innovators, journalists, and representatives of other groups like NGOs. In total, over 3,000 high-level individuals are invited to the event each year. According to the White House, Air Force One – the president's plane – departed from the East Coast on Tuesday but was forced to turn around due to a "minor electrical issue," but Trump has boarded another government plane and will land in Davos three hours later than his scheduled arrival time. Once there, Trump plans to push his Greenland plans to the numerous European leaders attending, and will reassert his calls for a business deal to purchase Greenland from Denmark. Trump's administration has also refused to rule out the idea of a military takeover. These statements ignited a strong sense of fear among many American people– if the US were to attack Greenland, every NATO country would be compelled by their treaty to fight back against the US to defend Denmark. Trump also implemented significant tariffs on eight different European countries over the weekend, sparking further concerns of a possible trade war. The Supreme Court is still deciding whether Trump has legally utilized the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 as a basis for these tariffs, and their decision is sure to impact the outcome of any possible trade war. Due to these rising geopolitical tensions, stock markets were sent plummeting yesterday after opening for the first time since Friday, with the Dow tumbling 871 points, or 1.76%. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ indexes completely erased their gains on the year so far, dropping by 2.06 and 2.39%, respectively. The VIX, colloquially known as the fear index, spiked by over 5%, sending it near 20 points– a level that signals a strong increase in market volatility. Experts confirmed that investors had begun to sell US stocks and bonds due to fears of a more volatile market, sending the dollar index plunging by around 0.8%. The euro, on the other hand, was up 0.65% against the dollar, showing a growing wider sentiment towards Europe and away from US markets. Republicans on Trump's side of the geopolitical battle have assured US citizens that the tariffs will not spark a trade war, and they insist that Trump will not go to war with Denmark over Greenland and that he will be able to work out a different solution. However, the Trump administration has proved to be very unpredictable, and fears of a war in the making continue to rise. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The Vatican had music that was forbidden to be copied and was only played twice per year. It was kept secret for almost 150 years until 14-year-old prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart heard it and transcribed everything from memory. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Emotional pain cannot kill you, but running from it can. Allow. Embrace. Let yourself feel. Let yourself heal. (Vironika Tugaleva) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Quiddity (noun, KWID-uh-tee) - Quiddity refers to the essence of a thing—that is, whatever makes something the type of thing that it is. Quiddity can also refer to a small and usually trivial complaint or criticism, or to a quirk or eccentricity in someone's behavior. In a Sentence: The novelist’s genius was her unparalleled ability to capture the quiddity of the Maine seacoast in simple prose. Image credit to Getty Images

Indiana University's Hoosiers defeated the University of Miami's Hurricanes in an exciting finale to the college football season last night. Indiana was set for a historic season when they won the Big Ten conference championship against Ohio State, 13-10, in December, having never won the CFP. In American college football, colleges are split up between divisions, with smaller universities typically ending up in lower divisions like Division II and Division III. Meanwhile, Division I has the highest-tier teams, and is split into the FBS, which has around 130 higher-ranking, stronger teams, and the FCS, which has 120 smaller teams. Within FBS, teams are split into conferences– the Power Four (P4) consist of the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC, while the Group of Five (G5) includes AAC, Mountain West, Sun Belt, C-USA, and MAC. Usually, teams that qualify for the CFP are in the P4 conferences, as teams are selected by a committee that decides which are the strongest by considering their record and the difficulty of their opponents. Because G5 teams often face easier teams in their respective conferences, they are rarely picked for the CFP. By winning the Big Ten, Indiana secured their conference championship and was selected as the #1 seed in the CFP, having gone undefeated (13-0) the entire season. Meanwhile, despite losing out in the ACC conference championship due to tiebreaker rules, Miami made the CFP seeded #10 with a 10-2 record for the season. Then, the CFP begun, with many fans supporting major teams like Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech– teams historically known for being strong CFP contenders. However, Indiana made its way through the playoff with ease, crushing Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl and following it up with a 56-22 victory over Oregon in the semifinal. Meanwhile, Miami had a longer journey due to its seeding as #10– the team beat Texas A&M in the playoff, secured a strong victory over #2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, and then squeezed out a 31-27 win over Ole Miss in the semifinal to reach the championship game. Tickets for the final, held at Miami's Hard Rock stadium, quickly sold out, with prices soaring higher than any championship game ever– the average ticket price for the game was around $4,300. Nevertheless, many parents could be seen enjoying the game with their kids, and various celebrities also showed up, including US President Donald Trump, actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and former Shark Tank investor and businessman Mark Cuban. The game begun with an Indiana field goal in the first quarter, while Miami was left without points on the board after a 50-yard doink off the upright on a field goal attempt. Indiana later extended their lead to 10-0 at halftime after a long drive that culminated in a short rush, with tight end Riley Nowakowski carrying the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. The third quarter kicked off with an Indiana punt, which Miami capitalized on. Around midfield, running back Mark Fletcher Jr. broke free for a 57-yard rushing touchdown, speeding into the end zone after evading the Indiana defense. However, Indiana followed it up with a defensive touchdown after blocking a punt by the Miami team, ending the third quarter at 17-7. Miami begun the fourth quarter with another rushing touchdown from Fletcher Jr., bringing the score to 17-14, but Indiana later drove down the field and into the red zone. On a possibly game-deciding 4th & 4 at Miami's 12-yard line, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza scrambled past several defenders, picking up the first down. However, before stopping, he launched himself into the air. A defender attempted to take him down, resulting in a considerable hit, but Mendoza was able to complete the 12-yard distance into the end zone before going down. Miami responded with a quick passing touchdown soon after, and Indiana was only able to manage a field goal on the next drive. Nevertheless, they wound the clock down, giving Miami just 1:42 to score a touchdown and win the game. Miami attempted to drive down the field, getting under 1:00, but an Indiana interception from defensive back Jamari Sharpe sealed the game, winning them their first College Football Playoff in the university's history and completing their undefeated season at 16-0. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): There is a geocache on the International Space Station placed in 2008. It has since been visited four times by other astronauts. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Love doesn’t make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile. (Franklin P. Jones) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Ephemeral (adj, ih-FEM-uh-rul) - Something described as ephemeral lasts only for a very short time. In a Sentence: The performance was not recorded, a fact that made its ephemeral nature all the more poignant. Image credit to AP

At least 39 people are dead after a devastating train crash in southern Spain yesterday, with the death toll expected to rise further. The incident occurred at 7:45 pm local time between two trains traveling through southern Spain. The first train, run by private high-speed rail operator Iryo, was on a route from Málaga to Madrid and had stopped at the city of Córdoba en route. After leaving Córdoba, several rear carriages of the train derailed on a straight track near the town of Adamuz– an occurrence that officials later described as "extremely strange." An oncoming train on a route from Madrid to Huelva, traveling at 124 miles per hour, then slammed into these rear carriages, sending the second train careening off the side of the railway embankment. The Iryo-operated train had 371 people onboard, while the second train, operated by state-owned railway company Renfe, was carrying approximately 100 passengers. Local police quickly arrived at the scene, attempting to save as many passengers as possible, but many bodies were too badly damaged by the time they were recovered. Five mobile intensive care units, four emergency critical care units, and multiple ambulances were among the vehicles deployed to the scene In particular, the two frontmost carriages of the Renfe train were mangled after being hit, trapping victims inside the mess of twisted metal. In total, at least 39 people were killed, and dozens were hospitalized with injuries– several of which are still in critical condition. Search-and-rescue operations are underway, helping victims escape from the remnants of the two trains through smashed doors or broken windows. Others had to be carried out on stretchers, further complicating the situation. Authorities have also confirmed that heavy machinery will be needed to move the remains of the trains off the tracks, and railway operator Adif has halted all operations on the track to allow for a proper cleanup and investigation. Other railways across Spain – which has the world's second-longest high-speed rail network after China – have also been shut down The exact cause of the incident is still unknown, but officials will conduct a thorough investigation to find out how and why the rear end of a train would have derailed on a straight section of track. Authorities also noted that the train was relatively new and the tracks had recently been renovated, ruling out age as a factor. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Blockbuster was a video rental giant that went bankrupt due to streaming companies. Of the 9,000 Blockbuster stores that existed in the early 1990s, only one remains. The last Blockbuster on Earth can be found in Bend, Oregon. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The greatest mistake you can make is to be continually fearing that you’ll make one. (Elbert Hubbard) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Elicit (verb, ih-LISS-it) - Elicit is a formal word meaning “to get (a response, information, etc.) from someone.” In a Sentence: The announcement of the final amount raised by the charity walk elicited cheers from the crowd. Image credit to AFP

US President Donald Trump has announced a 10% tariff on eight European countries in retaliation for their support of Denmark against the United States in the political battle for control of Greenland. Trump has long expressed his desire to take over Greenland, but action by the administration has seriously ramped up within the last few weeks. Due to environmental concerns, Denmark has never taken advantage of Greenland's treasure trove of materials, which includes rare earth elements, zinc, gold, iron ore, copper, uranium, and titanium, along with billions of barrels of oil and at least 148 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Extremely cold conditions also make investing in local infrastructure very expensive and tough to execute. Greenland agrees with this approach, and citizens have asserted that they have no intention to allow the US to take over their territory, which is essentially a self-governing, autonomous region of Denmark. In fact, several demonstrations have taken place across Greenland's capital city of Nuuk, with local residents stating that they "have no interest in being Americans" and holding up signs with slogans like "Greenland is for Greenlanders." Additionally, enshrined in Greenland's constitution is the right to independence, as long as a referendum is conducted among existing citizens. Nevertheless, Greenland still relies on Denmark for economic support and infrastructure, preventing them from becoming independent, but various political parties have expressed their desire to achieve independence from Denmark at some point in the future. Either way, those parties have clearly stated that they would much rather be a part of Denmark than the US, echoing the wider sentiment of Greenlanders. Earlier this month, the US confirmed that they were contemplating the purchase of Greenland , but Denmark rejected the idea and responded that Greenland was not for sale. Trump also mentioned that military action was not out of the question, sparking concerns over the future of NATO and whether the political battle over Greenland could lead to a major conflict. Now, Trump has announced the arrival of another wave of tariffs, retaliating against European countries who supported Denmark and Greenland, opposing the US. This list of countries consists of Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, who will receive an additional 10% tariff on top of the existing 15% tariff on all member countries of the European Union and a 10% on the UK. Trump also confirmed that the levy would increase to 25% by June 1 if the aforementioned European nations refused to back a US purchase of Greenland and shift away from their position of solidarity with Denmark. The tariffs also endanger a US-EU trade deal struck in July , which lowered tariffs on the EU to 15% and prevented a trade war between the two. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Because snow is composed of ice, it can be classified as a mineral, along with ice itself. Water, however, does not fall under the same classification due to its state as a liquid and is not a mineral. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance . (Alan Watts) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Notorious (adj, noh-TOR-ee-us) - Notorious describes people and things that are well-known or famous, especially for something bad or unfavorable. In a Sentence: Their city is notorious for its extremely hot and humid summers. Image credit to the New York Times