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At least 69 people are dead and hundreds of others are injured after the latest round of deadly monsoon conditions in India's Himachal Pradesh, a mountainous state in the northern part of the country. The destruction is mainly due to cloudbursts, which are small pockets of extremely heavy rainfall that can quickly lead to flash flooding. In Himachal Pradesh, a state situated primarily in the Himalayan Mountains, these floods often lead to devastating landslides that destroy everything from roads to entire towns. Officials confirmed that cloudbursts had been reported in at least 14 different locations, trapping people in buildings and washing away hundreds of homes and businesses and 14 different bridges. The worst of the flooding was reported in Mandi District, specifically the areas of Thunag, Bagsayed, Karsog, and Dharampur, where over 40 people remain missing. Hundreds of animals have also been killed in the rainfall, and electrical and water supplies across the state have been heavily disrupted. Members of the army, local police, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed to help with the situation, but it could take days to restore crucial supplies to remote areas. A rainfall alert is still in place across Himachal Pradesh until July 7, and search-and-rescue operations are going in full force. Unfortunately, these types of heavy rainfall events are common during Himachal's monsoon season, which runs from June to September. Hundreds of people are killed each year due to the consistent heavy rains and poorly built infrastructure of the region, much of which is not meant to withstand landslides or flooding of this scale. Sadly, these extreme weather events will only get more severe as climate change worsens. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The Buddha commonly depicted in statues and pictures is a different person entirely. The real Buddha was actually incredibly skinny because of self-deprivation. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Discussion is impossible with someone who claims not to seek the truth , but already to possess it. ( Romain Rolland) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Yankee (noun, YANG-kee) - Yankee can refer broadly to anyone born or living in the U.S., more narrowly to only those in the northern U.S., or even more narrowly to only those in the states of New England. The broadest use is especially common outside the U.S. In a Sentence: It took the children some time to adjust to being the only Southerners in a classroom full of Yankees .

The United States Congress has officially approved President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill," which includes a slew of massive new changes that will be coming to the country over the next few days. The bill barely passed through the Senate on Tuesday, with the 100-member group tying on a 50-50 vote after some minor changes were made to the initial proposition, raising the projected spending deficit. Vice President J.D. Vance was forced to act as the tiebreaker and approved the bill, allowing it to advance. It then went to the House of Representatives, where it also squeaked through with a final vote of 218-214. Now, Trump will officially sign the bill later today at 5:00 pm EDT, bringing it into effect on the nation's independence day. The bill includes various different sections that will bring about major changes in the everyday lives of Americans, and many of these issues have been heavily disputed. The largest part of the bill is the extension of Trump's 2017 tax cuts, which will be made permanent now that the bill is going into effect. These tax cuts are projected to help stimulate the economy and grow the country, but they also increase the federal deficit by trillions of dollars, making it a highly debated issue between Republicans and Democrats. Trump also originally claimed that he would completely eliminate all Social Security taxes, but that idea was not approved by Congress. Instead, seniors that are 65 or older will receive a temporary tax deduction of up to $6,000 between 2025 and 2029. Nevertheless, seniors that received an adjusted gross income of under $75,000 will have their Social Security tax completely removed. The bill also increases the cap limit on tax deductions for state and local taxes, or SALT. Currently, the limit is $10,000 for deductions, but the bill will temporarily increase that limit to $40,000 before bringing it back down to $10,000 in five years. Workers will also receive deductions in taxes on overtime and tips, with limits of $12,500 for overtime and $25,000 for tips. However, these deductions do not apply for workers with an adjusted gross income of under $150,000. The nation's child tax credit will also be increased to $2,200. Additionally, the bill authorizes billions of dollars in funding for military enhancements, defense spending, and border controls, raising the estimated deficit growth. However, in order to reduce the massive deficit growth that would already be coming from the bill, Republicans also included Medicaid cuts, which are projected to save up to $1 trillion alone. These cuts involve more frequent re-verification of someone's eligibility for Medicaid, and restrictions will increase significantly. This is expected to lead to the loss of Medicaid for millions of people across the country, who will lose eligibility due to the stricter rules and requirements. It also tightens restrictions for eligible recipients of SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and increases the requirements for state funding to the program. This is expected to save almost $300 billion. Lastly, clean energy tax breaks will be phased out as the Trump administration scales back the United States' renewable energy initiatives. New wind and solar projects beginning in 2025 will receive the current tax break, but that deduction will go down to 60% if construction begins in 2026 and all the way down to 20% in 2027 before all clean energy tax breaks disappear in 2028. This is projected to save another $500 billion. Despite these savings, the bill is still expected to raise the federal budget deficit by a net $3.3 trillion over the next 10 years, as it spends $4.5 trillion and saves $1.2 trillion. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): If you cut down a saguaro cactus in Arizona, you can be charged with a class-4 felony and penalized with jail time.  Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): A wise man will be master of his mind, a fool will be its slave. ( Publilius Syrus) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Desultory (adj, DEH-sul-tor-ee) - Desultory is a formal word used to describe something that lacks a plan or purpose, or that occurs without regularity. It can also describe something unconnected to a main subject, or something that is disappointing in progress, performance, or quality. In a Sentence: After graduation, I moved from job to job in a more or less desultory manner before finding work I liked.

At least 4 people are dead and over 30 others were killed after a ferry sank off the coast of the Indonesian island of Bali, a major tourism hotspot that sees over 6.3 million tourists per year. The boat, named the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya, had 53 passengers and 12 crewmembers onboard, along with 22 vehicles that were being transported to Bali. The ferry left the Ketapang port in the East Javan town of Banyuwangi around 11 pm at night, heading into choppy seas. It was destined for Bali's Gilimanuk port, which was just a 30-mile journey that usually takes around an hour. Nevertheless, just 20 minutes into the journey, a mayday call came from the ship, and it sank around 15 minutes later. Officials reported that the ship was not able to communicate through radio at first, but by the time it finally established contact, it was already bound to sink. Four bodies have been recovered from the water so far, and dozens of others are still missing. Indonesian authorities have deployed several boats and a helicopter to assist with the search, and local fishermen have also volunteered to help. Initial weather conditions, which kicked up large waves of over six feet, led to poor searching conditions during the night, but improving conditions are aiding in the rescue mission, and at least 31 people have been rescued so far. Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the sinking, but many have attributed it to the stormy weather conditions at the time. Unfortunately, incidents like this are common in Indonesia, a massive archipelago of over 17,500 islands. These islands vary in size, but due to their separation by water, ferries are a common way to get from place to place. However, a lack of rules and regulations allows many companies to get away with inadequate life-saving equipment and skipping over certain precautions, which often leads to accidents. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In English, leaving a party without telling anyone is called a "French Exit." In French, it’s called a "partir à l’anglaise," which means "to leave like the English." Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It’s not about being perfect. It’s about finding the beauty in your imperfections. ( Bella Hadid) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Galumph (verb, guh-LUMF) - To galumph is to move in a loud and clumsy way. In a Sentence: I could hear them galumphing around in the attic in search of old family photo albums.

39 people were killed and at least 34 others were injured after a massive explosion at a factory in the south Indian city of Hyderabad on Monday. The explosion occurred at a factory belonging to Sigachi Industries, a pharmaceutical company, located in Hyderabad, the capital of the south Indian state of Telangana. The massive blast resulted in a fire that burned most of the remaining debris, although the entire building collapsed almost instantly due to the force of the explosion. Witnesses reported that it was almost like a bomb going off, and the explosion trapped many workers inside the building despite the fact that many of them were also able to escape. Around 140 people were inside the building when it exploded, and many of the bodies are yet to be identified. Sigachi Industries is one of the world's largest producers of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a processed chemical sourced from plant fibers like wood pulp. This chemical is used in a variety of different industries, including the pharmaceutical and food industries where it is used as a binding, bulking, and anti-caking agent. It is also used in some cosmetic and industrial products, giving the material a high demand in the world market. Now, the company has stopped all operations at the factory for the next 90 days as they attempt to recover and rebuild; the plant was fully insured, meaning that they will not suffer terribly from a financial perspective, but the prospect of a large loss of production has tanked Sigachi's stock by over 24% over the last few days. Sigachi, along with the government of Telangana, is now working to investigate the incident, but a definite cause has not been determined yet. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Princess Peach didn’t move until 1988 because it was too complicated for the designers to make her a moveable character. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I see knowledge of self. I know who I am. When I look in the mirror, I see me. (Tracy Morgan) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Verbose (adj, ver-BOHSS) - Someone described as verbose tends to use many words to convey their point. Verbose can also describe something, such as a speech, that contains more words than necessary. In a Sentence: The article documenting their meeting presented an odd exchange between a verbose questioner and a laconic interviewee.

The Mediterranean is suffering from a major heatwave, and heat warnings have been issued for almost all of western Europe as a heat dome scorches the region. Lately, the Mediterranean Sea has been almost 10°F warmer than usual, sparking a massive heat dome that has brought searing temperatures to the entirety of western Europe. First of all, climate change has sparked warmer temperatures in the area, heating the air. That same hot air then rises, but it becomes trapped due to the high pressure system sitting over the area. Then, as the air sinks, it warms, keeping all of the hot air in a dome-shaped region that delivers extreme heat for long periods of time. Now, various countries in western Europe, including Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, are experiencing record-breaking temperatures in the peak of summer. Almost all of France is under some sort of heat warning, with temperatures well into the 90s across the country-- Paris has an expected high temperature of 100°F today. Meanwhile, the UK has also been hit with high temperatures during one of the busiest times for the country as a whole; Glastonbury, a major music festival in western England, just finished up, Wimbledon has just begun, and the Formula 1 British Grand Prix is also taking place this coming weekend. Also, forest fires are beginning to become a problem for much of Europe, which has not received much rain either. Germany is already preparing for fire season, and France's first fire was reported this past weekend. Greece and Turkey, on the other hand, have been struggling with fires for weeks, as drought conditions and strong winds have fueled major blazes. However, the worst of the heat has hit Spain and Portugal, where many cities are experiencing scorching temperatures in the 100s. Sunday was Spain's hottest June 29 on record, and the country's all-time temperature record for the month of June (previously 113°F in Seville) was broken on Saturday after temperatures in the town of El Granado reached a staggering 115°F. Officials are urging citizens and tourists to stay inside during peak heat hours, helping to avoid dangerous illnesses like heatstroke, and stay hydrated throughout the day. Thankfully, the heat is expected to clear up in most places by Thursday, but the danger of extreme heat continues to rise as climate change worsens. Hotter global temperatures continue to spark more fires and cause more heatwaves, and it has all been linked to the human production of greenhouse gases, which trap heat and warm the world at a rapid pace. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Hershey’s Kisses are named after the kissing sound the deposited chocolate makes as it falls from the machine on the conveyor belt. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I don’t think we should ever stop learning and growing as human beings. There’s always more to discover about ourselves and the world around us. (Charlize Theron) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Expunge (verb, ik-SPUNJ) - To expunge something is to remove it completely, whether by obliterating it, striking it out, or marking it for deletion. Expunge is most commonly applied in cases in which documentation of something is removed from an official record. In a Sentence: Due to an error, the charges were expunged from their record.

Russia launched another massive round of drone attacks and missile strikes yesterday, destroying various buildings and taking down an F-16 fighter jet along with its pilot. The widespread attack saw Russia launch 477 drones and 60 missiles into several different regions of Ukraine early on Sunday morning, although many were taken down by defense systems. According to Ukraine, they managed to take down 211 drones and 38 missiles, and many of the other drones crashed due to Ukrainian interference with their systems. However, the total number of incoming drones and missiles was reported to be 537, making it the single largest attack of the war so far in terms of number of projectiles. Multiple fighter jets were also deployed to help stop the attacks, but one F-16 was struck by a missile while destroying targets. The pilot, who attempted to move the aircraft away from a nearby town, did not have enough time to eject before the plane went down-- he was identified as 31-year-old First Class Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko. He managed to take down seven incoming missiles before his F-16 was shot down, which is a multimillion dollar jet that contains some of Ukraine's most advanced weaponry. Unfortunately for Ukraine, Russia has increased the frequency and strength of their most recent attacks, launching hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles almost every night. Most of the impacted buildings have been apartments and homes, although some strikes have also hit hospitals and schools. Now, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging US President Donald Trump to allow his country to purchase more of their American-made Patriot air defense systems. These extremely advanced ground-based systems help to defend from incoming missiles, eliminating the need for risking their fighter jets to take down ballistic missiles launched by Russia. Upcoming Events: International Asteroid Day (Monday, June 30) International Day of Parliamentarianism (Monday, June 30) Wimbledon Begins (Monday, June 30) United States Independence Day (Friday, July 4) International Day of Cooperatives (Saturday, July 5) Ashura (Saturday, July 5) World Rural Development Day (Sunday, July 6) CONCACAF Gold Cup Final (Sunday, July 6) Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The ten highest mountain summits in the United States are all located in Alaska. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It’s hard to soar with the eagles when you’re surrounded by turkeys. (Adam Sandler) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Impetus (noun, IM-puh-tus) - Impetus refers to a force or impulse that causes something (such as a process or activity) to be done or to become more active. It is often used with for and sometimes with to. In a Sentence: Her work provided the major impetus behind the movement.

Protests have erupted across the Serbian capital of Belgrade once again, sparking chaos across the city as counter-protesters take on anti-government citizens. Major demonstrations have been taking place in the city for months, with occasional outbursts of protests involving thousands of people. The protests have targeted current Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who has allegedly been participating in various types of crime, including harming his political opponents. They also claim that he has ramped up media restrictions and prevented freedom of speech; Vučić and his administration have strongly denied the allegations, though. Their primary allegations claim that the Serbian government has been infiltrated by corrupt politicians, including Vučić, which was the belief that began the first round of protests back in December after a train station roof collapse. The train station had recently undergone a renovation, leading locals to believe that the work was made sloppy while officials pocketed the extra cash. Universities were also shut down and traffic was halted as students stopped classes and blocked highways and roads. However, the government did not take any action, denying all claims of corruption. Unfortunately, the situation has escalated once again, with the usual demonstrations spiraling into dramatic street fights as anti-government protesters take on Vučić's supporters. Thousands of counter-protesters have spread across the historic avenues of Belgrade, with scenes turning violent when the two crowds come together. Police have attempted to step in and prevent further conflict, but civilians have attacked authorities as well. People have thrown numerous objects at local police, including rocks and bottles, and at least six police officers have been injured as they try to forcefully contain the mobs. Additionally, dozens of protesters and activists have been arrested, sparking more anger. The anti-government demonstrators have repeatedly called on Vučić to step down, which would force a snap election that would decide a new president and create a new government. Vučić has refused to do this, though, and he has accused his opponents of trying to topple the government by forcing a snap election. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In 2006, a Coca-Cola employee offered to sell Coca-Cola secrets to Pepsi. However, Pepsi responded by notifying Coca-Cola and authorities. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Don’t confuse luck with skill when judging others, and especially when judging yourself. (Carl Icahn) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Restive (adj, RES-tiv) - Restive can describe a person or group feeling impatience or uneasiness, or it can describe someone who is stubbornly resistant to control. In a Sentence: The audience grew increasingly restive as the speaker droned on and on.

A new report from a local Israeli newspaper has confirmed that Israeli forces were ordered to fire into unarmed crowds of Palestinians waiting for aid, but Israel has strongly denied these allegations. Haaretz, a local Israeli newspaper, recently published a report confirming that Israeli forces had been ordered to fire into crowds of Palestinians waiting for aid, which matched countless recent reports from locals. The report cited statements from several Israeli soldiers, who acknowledged that they had thrown grenades and fired machine guns at unarmed civilians in Gaza. Almost 550 Palestinians have been killed over the past month while waiting for aid near trucks across Israel, primarily due to gunfire, and thousands of others have been injured. Locals have reported standing in crowds for hours before Israeli forces launched shells and opened fire on the crowds. Most of the episodes occurred at aid sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is primarily funded by the United States. Israel admitted that they had fired several warning shots to keep the crowds in check, but they have strongly denied various reports, including the latest one, that their forces purposely killed Palestinians waiting for aid. Several countries have expressed horror at the incidents, labeling them as major war crimes, and Israel has launched investigations into the deaths. Israel claims that they order soldiers to fire around crowds during specific situations, helping to control the masses and prevent them from swarming a particular aid site. However, Palestinians have contradicted these statements, arguing that the forces had instead shot straight into the crowds. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): If a polar bear and a grizzly bear mate, their offspring is known as a "pizzly bear" or a "groler bear." If the father is a polar bear, then it is known as a pizzly bear, but if the father is a grizzly bear, then it is known as a grolar bear. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Do not be embarrassed by your failures ; learn from them and start again. (Thomas Rowe Price Jr.) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Oblige (verb, uh-BLYJE) - To oblige a person or entity to do something is to require or force them to do it, either because of a law or rule, or because it is necessary. To simply oblige someone is to do them a favor. In a Sentence: The law obliges the government to release certain documents to the public.

The Greek isle of Chios is currently experiencing severe wildfires, and they have already burned almost 100,000 acres as firefighters struggle to contain the blazes. Chios is a Greek isle in the eastern Aegean Sea, separated from Turkey by the thin Chios Strait. It is the fifth-largest Greek isle, and is known for its exports of mastic gum, which comes from the mastic tree that is only found in extremely specific areas. Chios is home to around 50,000 people, making it the sixth-most populous Greek island. Unfortunately, the summer heat has already begun in Greece, which brings long periods of hot, dry conditions with no rain. This often leads to large wildfires, which have become even more prevalent in recent years as climate change exacerbates drought conditions during the summer in Greece. Currently, various fires are raging across the island, and they have already burned a combined total of over 100,000 acres in under one week. Over 400 firefighters are currently battling the flames, equipped with several water bombers and helicopters. Also, a Georgian woman living in the area who works as a housekeeper has been arrested for starting one of the five blazes currently destroying the island. She admitted that she had been smoking when she threw a cigarette into the wilderness, which ignited a blaze that quickly grew into a massive wildfire. The woman is now being charged with unintentional arson, and officials suspect that there could be others who accidentally or purposely started the other fires across the island. Persistent strong winds and a lack of rain have not helped the situation, and thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes. However, firefighters are slowly getting them under control, and crucially, the fires have barely impacted the southern portion of Chios, where the majority of the mastic trees grow-- these mastic trees are one of the main drivers behind the island's economy. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Canadians say 'sorry' so much that a law was passed in 2009 declaring that an apology can’t be used as evidence of admission to guilt. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced. (James Baldwin) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Sumptuous (adj, SUMP-shuh-wus) - Sumptuous is used to describe things that are very expensive, rich, luxurious, or magnificent. In a Sentence: The celebratory meal was a sumptuous feast of dishes from our host’s homeland.

At least 16 people have been killed as massive anti-government protests take place all over Kenya, specifically in the capital city of Nairobi. The protests took place on the one-year anniversary of last year's demonstrations, which were against a proposed finance bill that faced major backlash from the Kenyan population. Kenyan President William Ruto proposed a finance bill that included tax increases on various goods, which would place more stress on the Kenyan people, who have already been struggling with cost of living prices over the past few years. Read more on the initial protests against the tax hike here . Ruto then authorized police to use lethal force, which ended in the deaths of multiple people as authorities released tear gas and fired bullets into crowds of people. Ruto quickly withdrew the bill after the incidents, but calls for him to step down have persisted over the past year. Now, the demonstrations have expanded to include cost of living prices, police brutality, and general protests against Ruto and his government, but the violence has continued. This year's protests have killed a total of 16 people already, most of which were due to actions by local police. According to reports, several of them were shot dead, angering citizens further. Hundreds of others have been injured, as protestors have been hit by waves of tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons, and even real bullets. Dozens of people have also been arrested for excessive violence, as some protestors have attacked police with their own weapons. Fact of the Day (BBC): Your brain burns 400-500 calories a day. That’s about a fifth of your total energy requirements. Most of this is concerned with the largely automatic process of controlling your muscles and processing sensory input, although some studies show solving tricky problems increases your brain's metabolic requirements too. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): One must pass through the circumference of time before arriving at the center of opportunity . (Baltasar Gracián) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Flotsam (noun, FLAHT-sam) - Flotsam refers to the floating pieces that remain after a shipwreck, or more broadly to any floating debris or wreckage. It is also used figuratively to refer to miscellaneous or unimportant material, often in the phrase "flotsam and jetsam." In a Sentence: Driftwood and other flotsam washed onto the beach.