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The United States has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz in another complication of the US-Iran War, but they are actively trying to secure safe passage for non-Iranian ships. Iran was the first to shut down the Strait of Hormuz as the war started, preventing all tankers and ships from passing through one of the world's most crucial waterways. Once Iran began to allow more ships through the strait, the US believed it to be a good move, as the shipping of small amounts of exports could bring oil prices down. However, they have changed their approach– the US has retaliated with a blockade of their own, preventing Iran from selling any oil to other nations. The ships currently passing through the strait provide a significant flow of cash into Iran, as they are now able to export oil to other countries, tanker-by-tanker. The US aims to put a stop to that by moving Navy vessels closer to the strait, and their forces are now instructing all Iran-affiliated ships to reverse course. According to the US government, at least six ships have complied with orders to turn around, while at least 20 ships without ties to Iran have been allowed through the strait. Nevertheless, officials from the tankers and their respective companies have maintained that they have very little idea of the precautions that must be taken or what could be coming their way, making them reluctant to send the ships through at such a volatile time. Meanwhile, the US and Israel are beginning to throttle Iran's economy in an attempt to force them to back down. Large-scale airstrikes are not taking place under the US and Iran's two-week ceasefire, but the blockade on Iranian oil tankers continues. On the north side, Israel struck the crucial Iranian port of Bandar Anzali, located along the Caspian Sea. The port is the connection point for supplies from Russia – Iran's largest ally – and was thought to be out of reach for Israel, but it has been significantly damaged following Israeli strikes. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Comets only reflect 3-4% of the light that falls on them, the rest is absorbed. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): We should be rigorous in judging ourselves and gracious in judging others. (John Wesley) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Mayhem (noun, MAY-hem) - Mayhem refers to needless or willful damage or violence, and especially to a scene or situation that involves a lot of violence. In figurative use, it may refer to any instance of excited activity. In a Sentence: The director's newest thriller is brimming with murder and mayhem . Image credit to Reuters

Super Typhoon Sinlaku struck the American territories of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam yesterday, packing intense winds and serious storm surge. Sinlaku began as a tropical depression on April 9, forming near Chuuk, a Micronesian state, before moving north. The storm briefly slowed down and was blown in different directions by colliding winds, but the warm water allowed it to begin strengthening during the process. Then, it accelerated northwest, strengthening further– by Monday, Sinlaku was already approaching the Northern Mariana Islands as a super typhoon with wind speeds of 180 mph. Yesterday, the storm made landfall on the island of Saipan, one of the three most populous islands in the Northern Mariana archipelago. It had weakened slightly, but Sinlaku still brought devastating winds of over 145 mph. The nearby island of Tinian was also hard-hit– between the two islands, they have a combined population of over 50,000. Most homes have tin roofs and general infrastructure across the islands is weak, making them more susceptible to the winds. Many homes had roofs torn off by the winds, and entire walls and balconies were even taken along with them. Power lines across the islands were quickly brought down, and trees were uprooted along streets and near homes. Cars were flipped over, and roads were completely inundated by the typhoon. Similar impacts were seen on Guam, another American territory just 150 miles southwest of Saipan. The island was impacted less severely, but has a much larger population of over 170,000. Many local residents across all three islands felt that Sinlaku was one of the strongest – if not the strongest – storm they have weathered throughout their lifetime. The islands typically see around six typhoons pass near or over the region each year, but super typhoons are more rare, with the last one taking place in 2018. To this day, many residents were still recovering from that typhoon, Super Typhoon Yutu, because of the large amounts of time it takes to bring new supplies to the remote islands. Now, it may take years more to recover from Sinlaku, and these extreme weather events are only becoming more common as climate change ramps up. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Rednex, the band that remixed and popularized Cotton Eye Joe , is not Southern but Swedish. However, they all have Southern-sounding stage names and imitate "American redneck" stereotypes to appear Southern. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Building and repairing relationships are long-term investments. (Stephen Covey) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Enjoin (verb, in-JOIN) - Enjoining is about requiring or prohibiting. To enjoin a person is to direct or order them to do something. To enjoin an act or practice is to prohibit it; in legal contexts, that prohibition is by way of a judicial order. In a Sentence: Our guide enjoined us to take great care as we began our journey. Image credit to the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies

US President Donald Trump is facing intense criticism over his latest Truth Social post, which comes amid a feud with the Pope that has sparked concern in many American Catholics. Trump's latest Truth Social post was a repost of an AI-generated image of Trump with his hand over a man's forehead, who he appeared to be healing. The picture depicted the president in a red and white robe as he was bathed in golden light– a typical way for scriptures to portray Jesus Christ. The illustration of Trump had several military officers and doctors around him, one of which had her hands together as if she was praying. The image also had an American flag in the background and multiple American monuments, along with a bald eagle, several angel-like figures, and two fighter jets. Many viewers perceived the depiction as an "American Jesus," sparking concern and anger among many of President Trump's far-right Christian supporters. The controversy also comes as Trump reaches record-low approval ratings– a mere 40% of Americans support the current president, while 57% disapprove. Trump later deleted the post and claimed that he "thought it was me as a doctor," as he appeared to be healing someone in the image. He also assured that he thought it was made by "a very beautiful, talented artist," leading to the repost, and believed that the presence of doctors and the Red Cross in the image would convince people of his initial message. However, he confirmed that he had rescinded the repost because "people were confused." Usually, Trump refuses to delete posts or go back on his words, meaning that the public's reaction to this post was particularly damaging to his reputation. The post also comes amid an ongoing social media feud with Pope Leo XIV, who has been a major vocal critic of the US and Israel's war in Iran. He has repeatedly called for the conflict to stop, particularly directing his comments towards the Trump administration and their usage of Christian nationalism to promote their goals in Iran: "God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs. Military action will not create space for freedom or times of peace, which comes only from the patient promotion of coexistence and dialogue among peoples." Many Christians against the Trump administration feel that they are wrongly taking advantage of Christian nationalism to push their goals forward in Iran, and many evangelical Christians in the United States support Israel for this reason. They view Israel as the promised land, as the Bible portrays the region, and believe that the nation's existence is crucial in order for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to take place. Because of the strong evangelical presence in the United States government, Israel receives more aid from the US annually than any other country– more than $3.8 billion a year. However, conflicts increase that number; in 2024, when Israel retaliated in Gaza, the US gave them over $16 billion. Members of the US government have also portrayed the ongoing war as a religious conflict– Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described it as "a holy war carried out in the name of Jesus Christ." While evangelical Christians believe this to be right, many other Christians do not support such actions, while many people of other races and religions in the United States believe the aforementioned aid to be a significant waste of taxpayer dollars. Nevertheless, the Pope has made it clear that he refuses to support the war in Iran despite his American background and has "no fear" of the Trump administration. Trump, on the other hand, called out the Pope for being "weak" and "terrible for foreign policy," and claimed, "If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican," referring to last year's papal conclave. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): About 25% of all blood from the heart goes into the kidneys, which is remarkable considering that the kidneys make up a mere 0.5% of body weight. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Maturity is the ability to prioritize values before feelings. (Mark Manson) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Kibitzer (noun, KIB-it-ser) - A kibitzer is someone who watches other people and makes unwanted comments about what they are doing. In a Sentence: It wasn't long after they bought their house that the couple heard from neighborhood kibitzers offering tips on landscaping and remodeling. Image credit to Truth Social

After 16 years of democratic backsliding under Viktor Orbán, the Tisza Party's Peter Magyar has ousted the authoritarian leader– a massive shift that is likely to bring Hungary closer to Europe. Viktor Orbán, Hungary's current prime minister, has held power over the country for the last 16 years. Across the span of his term, he has instituted various authoritarian policies as he slowly but expertly dismantled Hungary's once-strong democratic system. By rewriting Hungary's constitution and throttling media freedom, Orbán emerged as a "soft dictator" who staged elections to portray a fair fight for leadership. However, his support continued to dwindle as he pivoted the country further and further towards a dictatorship. Now, his opposition, Peter Magyar, has won the public's support, with Orbán admitting his defeat in the election. The shift is sure to have a massive impact on both Hungarian politics and their alliances with other nations. Orbán, being an authoritarian leader, was very close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and was one of the most pro-Russia states in the European Union. Orbán also maintained a strong relationship with President Donald Trump of the United States, along with other far-right leaders, and he inspired many more. In this year's election, he was endorsed by many of them, including Trump, France's Marine Le Pen, and Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu. Magyar, on the other hand, plans to strengthen Hungarian ties with the EU, which have fractured since Orbán came to power. He also plans to focus on rampant corruption, which has prevented crucial funds from reaching Hungarian public services. Magyar's Tisza party was also able to win a supermajority in the Hungarian parliament, winning 138 of the 199 available seats. This will allow them to change the nation's constitution and reverse some of the democratic damage inflicted by Orbán, bringing Hungary closer to restoring their original democracy. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Both Motel 6 and Super 8 got their names from the original prices of the rooms. Motel 6 started at $6 in 1962, and Super 8 at $8.88 in 1974. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. (John Quincy Adams) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Recondite (adj, REK-un-dyte) - Recondite is a formal word used to describe something that is difficult to understand or that is not known by many people. In a Sentence: The text addresses a technical subject using recondite vocabulary, which makes it very difficult to read. Image credit to AP

The US and Iran have failed to reach an agreement over a possible ceasefire after lengthy talks in Islamabad, with both sides accusing the other of having excessive demands. The negotiations lasted more than 21 hours and took place in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, following lengthy talks with each side. However, experts always knew that there would be lasting disagreements between the two sides– US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran's 10-point counterproposal was "workable," but it included several extreme demands. One of these core ideas was Iran's demand to continue their nuclear program, which involves enriching uranium to high levels before using them to produce nuclear weapons. The US has consistently denied this demand, claiming that Iranian possession of a nuclear weapon would pose a threat to the rest of the world. Many blame this entire situation on Israel and the previous Trump administration. In 2015, Israel began pushing the United States to leave the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, which limited Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relieving economic sanctions on the country. Israel attempted to convince the US government that Iran was not adhering to the agreement, which they labeled as "one-sided," and successfully lobbied the first Trump administration into withdrawing from the JCPOA in 2018. In 2019, Iran resumed their nuclear program despite the newly-imposed sanctions from the United States, which led to various events that many believe directly led to the ongoing war. Now, the US and Iran are at an impasse over the nation's nuclear program, with neither side willing to give up their position. It may take weeks for the next negotiations to take place, and an already-frail ceasefire is being further threatened by Israel's strikes on Lebanon, which are targeted towards the Iran-backed terrorist group of Hezbollah. Iran has kept the Strait of Hormuz shut through the ceasefire due to Israel's attacks, throttling the world's energy and fertilizer supply. Trump claims that whether Iran confirms a deal or not "makes no difference" to him, and Vice President JD Vance stated that it was "bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the US." Nevertheless, American consumers are already bearing the brunt of sky-high gas prices, and prices of goods and groceries are expected to rise in the coming weeks as the effects of higher diesel prices for trucking ripple down to the public. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The commonly-known phrase “to a T” means something that fits just right. Interestingly enough, this expression derives from a similar phrase “to a tittle,” which is a small mark that is used in spelling norms, like the dots of i’s or j’s, or an accent mark. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The only true source of politeness is consideration . (William Gilmore Simms) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Subterfuge (noun, SUB-ter-fyooj) - Subterfuge is a formal word that refers to the use of tricks to hide, avoid, or get something. In a Sentence: They obtained the documents by subterfuge . Image credit to Getty Images

The astronauts aboard NASA's Artemis II returned to Earth safely in a capsule that splashed down yesterday in the Pacific Ocean. The f our astronauts – Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen – set off on their initial voyage on April 1 . NASA intended to send them to the Moon and back, with the Orion spacecraft conducting a brief flyby of the Moon before heading back to Earth, and the entire mission was executed as planned. Yesterday, at exactly 5:07 pm local time, the spacecraft successfully splashed down off the coast of San Diego, California, in the Pacific Ocean after a red-hot re-entry. Reaching temperatures of over 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit with an entry speed of over 25,000 miles per hour, the module's journey through the atmosphere was not one to miss. The spacecraft's atmospheric re-entry is also the most dangerous part of the process– even a single issue can compound quickly in those situations. To prepare, NASA equipped Orion with a heat shield that protects against extreme temperatures, but this is risky. NASA engineers confirmed that the more important factor in re-entry was the angle, which determined the amount of stress on different parts of the heat shield and, therefore, the spacecraft. After their successful splashdown, the astronauts now return to Earth with countless incredible photographs, which arrive alongside crucial data from complex technological tests across Orion. NASA plans to reuse the spacecraft for future Artemis missions, so this had been a crucial test flight. The mission also makes this group of four astronauts the farthest-traveling in history, having reached a peak distance of 252,756 miles from Earth. They are also the first to venture into deep space in more than 50 years– the last time a nation sent astronauts to the Moon was NASA's launch of Apollo 17 in 1972. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The average US household has 300,000 items, ranging from paper clips to ironing boards. US children make up 3.7% of children on the planet but have 47% of all toys and children’s books. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up. (Dean Karnazes) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Glaucous (adj, GLAW-kus) - Glaucous as a color word can describe things of two rather different shades: a light bluish-gray or bluish-white color, or a pale yellow-green. It can also mean "having a powdery or waxy coating that gives a frosted appearance and tends to rub off." In a Sentence: His glaucous eyes grew wide with curiosity. Image credit to NASA

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has updated their Red List, and several well-known species have been part of a grim addition to the endangered list. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ™ is a comprehensive list compiled by the organization that establishes which animals, fungi, plants, and other living species are in danger of extinction. Species most at risk are labeled critically endangered, species at high risk are labeled endangered, and species with a growing risk are labeled vulnerable. These details are supported by various statistics regarding animal and plant populations and biodiversity in certain areas. As of right now, the Red List encompasses more than 48,600 species, making up over 28% of the world's biodiversity. Unfortunately, the Red List's latest update has added the emperor penguin, Antarctic fur seal, and southern elephant seal. The emperor penguin, the world's most well-known penguin species, reside exclusively in Antarctica, making them extremely vulnerable to climate change. To breed and molt, emperors rely on sea ice that remains attached to the mainland. Emperor penguins' annual molting process takes place every January and lasts until early March, where they must stay on sea ice for long enough to shed their old feathers and grow new, waterproof ones. Unlike other birds, emperor penguins shed all of their feathers at once, meaning that the sea ice is crucial to their ability to stay alive. It is also a time where the penguins cannot swim to hunt for food due to their lack of protection from the cold water, and the process is extremely energy-intensive– a stable platform of sea ice allows the penguins to feed just before and right after their fasting period. A similar problem is happening with the penguins' breeding process. Emperors use stable platforms of sea ice to breed, but sea ice has melted much faster than usual in recent years. Young emperor chicks have downy feathers, as their waterproof ones only grow in around 5-6 months of age. If the sea ice breaks before this point, the chicks can slide into the freezing ocean, leading to mass drowning events that can decimate emperor populations. Some scientists estimate that seven emperor penguin colonies near the Ross Sea have lost around 32% of their populations in the last 4-6 years. Meanwhile, the Antarctic fur seal is back onto the endangered list after making an incredible recovery in the 1900s. Across the 19th and 20th century, Antarctic fur seals were hunted for their pelts, almost driving them to extinction, but conservation efforts and a hunting ban in the 1970s brought them back to a status of least concern from the IUCN. However, their population has plummeted in recent years. Around the areas where the fur seals live, krill populations – their biggest source of food – have shifted farther offshore as waters near the surface warm. This has drastically reduced the availability of food for the seals– they have lost over 50% of their population, more than one million seals, since 2014. Lastly, the southern elephant seal has been shifted to vulnerable due to avian influenza, which has led to population declines of over 30%. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): According to the National Peanut Board, around 94% of American homes possess at least one jar of peanut butter in their home, making it as common as bread or soup. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Three keys to more abundant living: caring about others, daring for others, sharing with others. (William Arthur Ward) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Decry (verb, dih-KRY) - To decry something is to express strong disapproval of it. In a Sentence: The editorial decried the shuttering of the movie theater, which has been a local landmark for many years. Image credit to Nature Picture Library

Lebanon has been bombarded by Israel once again, killing at least 254 people after evacuation warnings were issued just ten minutes before the strikes. Israel hit more than 100 targets across Lebanon, including buildings in the major cities of Beirut and Tyre, just ten minutes after issuing emergency warnings. The warnings sparked chaos across bustling cities and neighborhoods as locals scrambled to escape, but Israel struck before many could clear the area. The United Nations condemned the attacks as "horrific" and described the results as "carnage," and the Red Cross announced that the organization was " outraged by the devastating death and destruction" caused by the strikes– at least 254 people were killed and an additional 1,165 were injured. After the news spread, Iran quickly backtracked on the ceasefire established on Tuesday. The already-fragile ceasefire, established between the Trump administration and the Iranian government with Pakistan as the mediator, stated that the US and Israel would halt all attacks on Iran in exchange for a two-week reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, Israel soon claimed that Lebanon was not included in the deal, and they continued to strike the Middle Eastern nation. Yesterday, seeing the damage, Iran shut down the strait once again, calling Israel's actions a breach of the ceasefire. Members of the Trump administration assured reporters that the entire situation was simply a misunderstanding, and Israel mentioned that they might "check" themselves in Lebanon as negotiations continue. Nevertheless, they confirmed that they will continue to strike as part of their plan to destroy Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia. The strikes are already taking a toll on Lebanon, though. More than 1,530 people have been killed, and over a million others have been displaced from their homes. Israel has effectively taken over all of southern Lebanon as a "buffer" against Hezbollah, where they are obliterating border villages and tunnel infrastructure to ensure the end of the terrorist group. Lebanon is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful countries in the Middle East– it does not contain any desert, but instead varies between Mediterranean beaches and high, mountainous terrain. This unique difference leads to incredible biodiversity– despite only taking up 0.007% of the world's land surface area, Lebanon is home to over 9,000 species of flora and fauna. Additionally, the region's rich history and vibrant culture make it a fascinating, incredibly travel destination for many visitors. However, their consistently unstable government has not improved, and Israel's bombardment of the nation is sure to impact Lebanon's wildlife and landscapes alongside infrastructure and human deaths. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): People who donate blood in Sweden, particularly in Stockholm and Gothenburg, are sent a text message each time their blood saves a life. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I’ve never seen any life transformation that didn’t begin with the person in question finally getting tired of their own nonsense. (Elizabeth Gilbert) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Panache (noun, puh-NAHSH) - In simplest terms, panache refers to lively grace and style; it appears in contexts in which words like verve and flair are also applied. In a Sentence: The cast of the play was excellent—even those playing supporting characters acted with great panache . Image credit to AFP

Negotiations could begin between the US and Iran on Friday, and Donald Trump has confirmed a two-week ceasefire between the two countries. Several days ago, US President Donald Trump announced that he would launch a full-scale, massive attack on Iran by Tuesday evening if the Strait of Hormuz had not been opened. He threatened on Truth Social that a "whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if the strait was not opened– a threat that even many Republicans perceived as apocalyptic and brutal. However, just hours before the deadline, Pakistan proposed a two-week ceasefire during which all American military attacks would halt, and Iran would facilitate passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Both countries agreed, guaranteeing two weeks without military warfare between the US and Iran. Meanwhile, Iran has proposed a 10-point counterproposal in response to the United States' initial plan. The counterproposal includes the lifting of all sanctions on Iran, a complete end to all attacks on Iran and its allies, total military withdrawal of the US from the Middle East, reparations for the damage done to Iran, and establishes Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz. These demands have been seen as incredibly extreme, though, and will serve as the starting point for possible negotiations. Iran stated that the talks are set to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday, but the White House has not confirmed the negotiations yet. If they do take place, it could finally bring an end to a conflict between the US and Iran that has lasted more than 40 days. Nevertheless, Israel later added that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire, meaning that they will continue to bombard the Middle Eastern nation in order to destroy Hezbollah– an Iran-backed militant group. Many supporters believe in Israel's cause, as Lebanon has declared Hezbollah enemies of the state but lacks the firepower to eliminate them. Others claim Israel has gone too far and is using Hezbollah as a guise to justify the destruction of Lebanon, allowing them to push forward a far-right plan for Greater Israel, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly endorsed. The plan would see Israel capture territory all over the Middle East, including Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and parts of Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The odds of being born on February 29 are 1 in 1,461– a percentage of just 0.068%. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own. (H. Jackson Brown Jr.) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Laudable (adj, LAW-duh-bul) - Laudable is a somewhat formal word used to describe something as worthy of praise. It is a synonym of commendable. In a Sentence: Thanks to the laudable efforts of dozens of volunteers, the town's Spring Festival was an enjoyable event for everyone. Image credit to The New York Times

In recent weeks, Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, particularly areas near the Black Sea and Baltic Sea. As the US-Iran War rages on, many have forgotten about the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which began in February 2022 and has seen almost continuous strikes between the two countries for more than four days. Several weeks ago, US President Donald Trump announced that he would be lifting sanctions on Russian oil as part of an attempt to lower fuel prices, which had skyrocketed in the early days of the war in Iran. With the Strait of Hormuz closed, other oil providers ramped up exports, and the Trump administration's move to un-sanction Russian oil permitted them to do the same. However, this came at the expense of Ukraine– Russia had already been running low on funds due to the extreme sanctions placed on them at the beginning of the war. With the removal of sanctions, Russia could now sell oil to any country in the world, turning their oil into an option for dozens of nations, and more importantly– it has allowed them to begin replenishing their depleted money reserves. According to the Financial Times, the Russian government earned somewhere between $1.3 and $1.9 billion in taxes on oil exports within the first two weeks of the war, with estimates placing their extra revenue at approximately $150 million per day. Because of this, Ukraine has chosen a different approach towards limiting Russian exports. Instead of striking ships or blocking off waterways, Ukraine is directly striking Russian oil infrastructure all over the country. On Sunday, Ukraine struck the Sheskharis oil terminal in the city of Novorossiysk, located along the Black Sea. As a whole, the city's port is Russia's largest seaport– it sees more than 6,000 vessels annually and handles around 100 million tons of cargo each year. Videos circulating online showed the oil terminal ablaze, and local reports confirmed that other ports and cities had also been targeted by drones. Meanwhile, Ukraine also sent attacks farther north, towards the Leningrad Oblast. Located along the Baltic Sea, Leningrad is home to St. Petersburg, a prominent tourist destination that has been largely unaffected by the war, until now. Ukraine's attacks on Leningrad hit the ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga, which are the most crucial ports in the country for crude. Together, they make up more than 40% of Russia's total crude export capacity, and considerable damage was reported after the Ukrainian strikes. The number of tankers loading oil at the port fell significantly following the attacks, and local reports confirmed that the damage could take time to restore. However, according to the New York Times, Russia taxes oil extraction, not oil shipping. Because of this, Ukrainian strikes on Russian ports affect the shipping and distribution of the oil, but the Russian government makes the same revenue whether the oil is exported or not. Higher fuel prices across the globe are also enabling Russia to charge a higher tax on oil extraction, meaning that Ukraine must launch massive, coordinated strikes to prevent Russia from simply reducing exports and ramping up prices. Nevertheless, if Ukraine is successfully able to dent Russian exports enough where the government runs out of storage capacity, it could begin to impact their financial state. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Credit card chip technology has been around since the 1980s. It was first implemented in France, with Germany following shortly after. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): People with a strong will power will always have the bigger picture in mind. They will be able to forgo small pleasures in order to help attain bigger goals. (Brian Adams) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cotton (verb, KAH-tun) - The verb cotton is used with on or on to to mean “to begin to understand something; to catch on.” Cotton used with to alone means “to begin to like someone or something.” In a Sentence: It took a while, but they are finally starting to cotton on. Image credit to AP