Finals week has taken over. Before you dive into the dungeons of Leavey to start cramming for the final in that class you haven't been paying attention toall semester, you may want to catch up on some current events. They may even help you do well on your final, or at least give you a way to procrastinate for another five minutes. 

The split House approved a budget plan on Thursday for the first time since 1986. The compromise will allow the government to avoid another shutdown. Under the plan, deficits will be cut and $45 billion worth of sequester cuts will be eliminated. The budget proposal will now be sent to the Senate for approval. 

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Prosecutors announced Wednesday they would not charge George Zimmerman with domestic violence after he got into a fight with his girlfriend last month. Samantha Scheibe, Zimmerman's girlfriend, said in a court document that she did not want to file charges against him. Zimmerman was arrested after he allegedly broke a table with a gun and then pointed it at his girlfriend while they were fighting. 

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The devastation caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan has left at least 5,200 people dead, making the storm one of the deadliest to ever hit the Philippines. The death toll is expected to grow according to officials. This accurate death toll comes a few weeks after the estimated death toll of 10,000 was announced. 

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A memorial service was held Tuesday to honor Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa. The service was held in Johannesburg, South Africa. President Barack Obama shook hands with Cuban president Raul Castro at the service. The White House says this interaction was not planned, but the encounter is being heavily analyzed since this is only the second time a U.S. and Cuban president have interacted since the Cuban Revolution in 1959. 

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Although I usually stay away from entertainment news in the weekly roundup, this is just too earth shattering to ignore. Beyonce released a surprise album today at midnight. The album is already at number one on iTunes, and features collaborations with Drake, Jay Z and even Blue Ivy. The queen's album features 14 songs and 17 music videos.

 

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Reach Contributing Reporter Madison Mills here.