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Hundreds of people have been hospitalized amid a major heatwave currently impacting the eastern United States. While flooding and storms are some of the most prominent causes of deaths in the United States, heat is actually the single largest weather-related killer. According to data from the Weather Channel, a 30 year average from 1992 to 2021 showed that flooding, tornadoes, and hurricanes killed an average of 88, 71, and 45 people each year, respectively. However, heat was consistently the cause of the greatest number of fatalities, with an average of 158 deaths per year-- almost double the next largest killer. Now, a massive heatwave has struck the eastern United States, with temperatures soaring into the high 90s and even 100s. The blistering temperatures have potential to break records in many cities, and it is not limited to one particular area; the heatwave extends across the entire East Coast. Temperatures over the last few days exceeded 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) across most of the eastern United States, and areas farther from the Appalachian Mountains saw temperatures reach into the triple-digits. Yesterday, Memphis, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia had highs of 92 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (33 and 35 degrees Celsius), while Midwestern cities like Chicago and Cincinnati saw highs of 95 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit (35 and 36 degrees Celsius). New York City saw a high of 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius), and Charlotte, North Carolina; Boston, Massachusetts; and the country's capital of Washington D.C. saw highs reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the afternoon-- extremely high for this time of year, when summer is just beginning to kick into high gear. Heat warnings are still in place across the East Coast, and people have been strongly recommended to stay indoors throughout the day-- even early morning and late evening temperatures are well into the 80s. Hundreds of people have been hospitalized across several different states, including North Carolina and New Jersey. Individuals who spend too much time in the sun without proper hydration could suffer from heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and even heat stroke, the latter of which is a life-threatening condition that can damage organs if not treated quickly. Unfortunately, extreme weather events like heatwaves will continue to become more prevalent across the United States and the entire world as the dramatic effects of climate change become more and more clear, with weather patterns shifting and the global climate slowly warming. Fact of the Day (BBC): Laughing came before language. How do we know? Some researchers tickled baby apes, which, beyond being adorable, showed that they share the same structure as ours and likely arose in our common ancestors millions of years ago. Language came about much later.  Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): You don’t know your value until you test it. (Paige VanZant) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Noisome (adj, NOY-sum) - Noisome is a formal and literary word used to describe things that are very unpleasant or disgusting; it is used especially to describe offensive smells. Noisome can also mean “highly obnoxious or objectionable” as in “we were put off by their noisome habits.” In a Sentence: The noisome odor of a trash can in the alley was so strong that even diners seated inside the adjacent restaurant complained to staff.

After Iran retaliated with strikes on an American military base in Qatar, US President Donald Trump has confirmed a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Following the United States' recent bombings on three major Iranian nuclear sites this week, Iran decided to retaliate with airstrikes on the largest American military base in the Middle East. Iran launched dozens of missiles at the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which houses over 10,000 troops, responding to Trump's strikes on the Iranian nuclear development sites of Isfahan, Fordow, and Natanz. The exact number of missiles launched is unclear; Trump claims that it was a barrage of 14 missiles, with 13 taken down and one let go due to its harmless trajectory, but officials at the Qatar air base have stated that the attack involved 19 missiles, with one hitting the base. Nevertheless, no casualties were reported, meaning that the entire operation went without losing lives on the American side. Trump has also confirmed that Iran gave the US a warning before launching the strikes, meaning that the retaliation was mostly symbolic. This means that it is unlikely that Iran continues a war with the United States, though the airspace of Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates still closed down due to the conflict, affecting thousands of flights across some of the busiest airports in the world. Despite the probable ending of the US-Iran portion of the conflict, Israel and Iran continued to trade airstrikes all throughout Monday. Trump claimed that a ceasefire had been achieved around midday Monday, with the war -- labeled the 12 Day War in his social media post -- expected to end within 24 hours of his announcement. The question over whether a ceasefire was actually achieved remains unanswered, though, as strikes have continued even after his announcement. Iran confirmed that their latest attacks on Israel were the final bombardments of the war, and a ceasefire had been put into place. However, Israel has not commented on the ceasefire at all, and many officials within the American government did not even know of any negotiations going on. Fact of the Day (BBC): Pine trees can tell if it's about to rain. Next time you see a pine cone, take a close look. If it’s closed, that’s because the air is humid, which can indicate that rain is on its way.  Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The only person who can stop you from reaching your goals is you. (Jackie Joyner-Kersee) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Wherewithal (noun, WAIR-wih-thawl) - Wherewithal refers to the means, skills, resources, or money that is needed to get or do something. In a Sentence: The company does not have the financial wherewithal to expand into other markets at this time.

At least 22 people were killed and dozens of others were injured after a suicide bombing in the Syrian capital city of Damascus yesterday. The attack took place at the Church of the Prophet Elias, a Greek Orthodox church located in the city's Dweila neighborhood. A gunman stormed into the church and opened fire, hitting several people and destroying various objects. Then, the man detonated a vest that he had been wearing, which was loaded with explosives. The explosion sent glass flying across the area, and pieces of wooden benches and metal were also thrown into nearby buildings by the blast. At least 22 people were killed, and around 60 others were injured, some inside the building and some in the streets. No organization took responsibility for the attack, but local authorities believe that the bomber was associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a terrorist organization notorious around the world for spreading their Sunni Islamic beliefs through violence. Dozens of countries around the world, as well as the United Nations, have strongly condemned the attack, but unfortunately, the threat posed by ISIS is still high as thousands of terrorists remain unharmed in Arab countries across the Middle East. Upcoming Events: United Nations Public Service Day (Monday, June 23) International Widows' Day (Monday, June 23) International Day of Women in Diplomacy (Tuesday, June 24) Day of the Seafarer (Wednesday, June 25) NBA Draft (Wednesday, June 25 to Thursday, June 26) World Sailing Championships (Wednesday, June 25 to Sunday, June 29) International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (Thursday, June 26) United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (Thursday, June 26) Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day (Friday, June 27) International Day of Deafblindness (Friday, June 27) International Day of the Tropics (Sunday, June 29) Fact of the Day: Smells can pass through liquid. Please don’t try smelling underwater (your nose will not appreciate it), but smell does protrude through liquid.  Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The beginning is always today. (Mary Wollstonecraft) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Bemuse (verb, bih-MYOOZ) - If you are bemused by something, you are confused or bewildered by it, and often also somewhat amused. In a Sentence: The contestant seemed somewhat bemused by the question, but gave the correct answer.

The United States struck Iran last night, hitting three nuclear sites with bombs in a major escalation of the war. Israel had been exchanging strikes with Iran for over a week until US President Donald Trump began considering the possibility of joining the war, as he had been involved in negotiations with Iran over stopping their nuclear program even before the conflict with Israel began. Several days ago, Trump confirmed that he would give Iran a two-week deadline until he decided to join the war or not, but that day came much sooner than two weeks later. Yesterday, B-2 stealth bombers from the United States entered Iran, covertly carrying out a major mission. The bombers successfully hit three of Iran's most important nuclear enrichment facilities, which are crucial in the process of creating nuclear weapons. They also used a massive bunker buster bomb, which includes a rocket that blasts the bomb into the ground, to obliterate some of Iran's deepest nuclear facilities, which were located far underground. Trump maintained that the strikes completely destroyed the core of Iran's nuclear program, and confirmed that it would be much easier to take down the rest of their program now that the three sites, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, have been taken out. However, he told Iran that if they do not agree to a peace agreement, the attacks will continue, although Israel continues to hit Iran with their own strikes. Now that the US has joined the war, Iran's possible retaliation is unknown, but Trump's attacks have escalated the situation to an entire new level that could have dangerous consequences. Fact of the Day: Plants came before seeds. According to the fossil record, early plants resembled moss and reproduced with single-celled spores. Multicellular seeds didn’t evolve for another 150 million years. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If I have given my all and still do not win, I haven’t lost. Others might remember winning or losing; I remember the journey. (Apolo Ohno) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Litmus test (noun, LIT-mus-TEST) - A litmus test is something (such as an opinion about a political or moral issue) that is used to make a judgment about whether someone or something is acceptable. In a Sentence: At our family’s Thanksgiving dinner, the litmus test for good mac and cheese is whether or not it is baked.

As the conflict between Iran and Israel continues to escalate, political tensions are also flaring, with the possibility of the United States joining the war now coming into play. Israel was the first to strike Iran over a week ago, and the conflict quickly escalated into an all-out war, with both sides hitting each other with continuous attacks. Israel has primarily targeted military structures and nuclear development sites, aiming to take down Iran's nuclear program, while Iran has struck various populated areas within Israel. Before the war began, the United States had been in the middle of negotiations with Iran on stopping their nuclear program, as the US has expressed concern over the possibility of Iran having nuclear weapons in the past as well. However, Israel quickly took matters into their own hands, trying to take down Iran's nuclear program using force. After several days of staying out of the conflict, US President Donald Trump demanded for Iran's "unconditional surrender," which the Middle Eastern country has not adhered to. Now, Trump has given Iran a two-week deadline until he formally decides whether to strike their nuclear sites or not. If the US were to join the war, it could seriously complicate global politics, but it is also possible that Trump does not make a decision and continues talks with Israel and Iran. European politicians gathered in the Swiss city of Geneva yesterday to discuss the issue with Iran, but those negotiations also proved unsuccessful. Europe agrees with the US on the front that they do not want Iran to have nuclear weapons, but they are still attempting to peacefully figure out how to prevent Iranian nuclear development without the use of force-- the opposite of Israel, who are bombarding Iran with drone attacks and missile strikes to hinder their nuclear program. Fact of the Day: You can see stars as they were 4,000 years ago with the naked eye. Without a telescope, all the stars we can see lie within about 4,000 light-years of us. That means at most you’re seeing stars as they were 4,000 years ago, around when the pyramids were being built in Egypt.  Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): There’s always a lot of talk about motivation to race, but nobody really knows what I do or what I think apart from myself, so I don’t really care what people think. (Kimi Räikkönen) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Convivial (adj, kun-VIV-ee-ul) - Convivial means "relating to, occupied with, or fond of feasting, drinking, and good company." In a Sentence: A convivial atmosphere filled the gallery, with good food in abundance, and wine and conversation both flowing freely.

The conflict between Israel and Iran has entered its second week, and the escalation has continued into an all-out war. Just one week after Israel struck Iran for the first time, the conflict between the two countries has truly escalated into a serious war, with both countries bombarding each other with missiles and drones. Yesterday, Israel struck the Arak heavy water reactor in northwestern Iran, along with various buildings across Iran's capital city of Tehran, specifically targeting military and nuclear development sites. Over 60 Israeli fighter jets conducted the attacks, which aimed to further destroy Iran's ongoing nuclear program. In response, Iran hit the Soroka Medical Center in the Israeli town of Beer Sheva, along with multiple other locations, injuring dozens of people. However, Israel was able to take down several Iranian drones and missiles that were headed towards them, but the ones that slipped through were able to do serious damage. Airlines across the Middle East, including major American carriers like American and United and European carriers like KLM and Lufthansa have cancelled flights in and out of cities like Doha and Dubai, creating massive headaches for travelers amid a busy summer travel season. The United States is currently trying to handle the situation, with US President Donald Trump attempting to decide between using force or negotiations to put an end to the conflict. Either way, it has done serious damage to both sides, and the war could have devastating consequences if it continues. Fact of the Day: You inhale 50 potentially harmful bacteria every time you breathe. Thankfully, your immune system is working hard all the time, so virtually all of these are promptly destroyed without you feeling a thing. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): A small fire that warms you, is better than a large one that burns you. (Danish Proverb) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Emancipation (noun, ih-man-suh-PAY-shun) - Emancipation refers to the act of freeing someone from the restraint, control, or power of another. It is used especially for the act of freeing someone from slavery. In a Sentence: Jomo Kenyatta played a key role in the emancipation of Kenya from European rule in the 1960s and became the first president of the newly independent nation.

Dozens of Palestinians were injured this week after Israeli forces fired into a crowd of people trying to get aid, sparking an investigation from Israel and outrage from humanitarian activitists around the world. Massive crowds of people had congregated on major roads in the city of Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza, attempting to get aid from some of the trucks passing through the area. Aid trucks have been lined up at the Rafah border crossing for weeks, waiting for Israel to allow them in, and now that Israel has finally approved their entry, Gazans are flooding to Rafah and Khan Younis to try and get crucial supplies like food and water. However, Israeli forces fired straight into the massive crowd of Palestinians, launching shells into the congregation. At least 59 people were killed, and over 221 others were injured, 20 of which are still in critical condition. Locals said that they had no clue what was going on, and Israel is still conducting an investigation to discover the cause of the shelling. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time Israel has killed Palestinians looking for aid. Reports show that many of the almost 400 Gazans that have been killed by Israeli forces in the past few weeks were looking for aid at the time, and Gaza authorities have confirmed that hundreds of Palestinians have been killed over the past few weeks while trying to get to aid distribution centers. Fact of the Day: ‘Sea level’ isn’t actually level. As the strength of the force generated by the Earth’s spin is strongest at the equator, the average sea level bulges outward there, putting it further from the centre of the Earth than at the poles. Differences in the strength of the Earth’s gravity at different points also cause variation. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe. (Marcus Aurelius) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Jeopardize (verb, JEP-er-dyze) - To jeopardize something or someone is to put them at risk or in danger. In a Sentence: The wrong decision could seriously jeopardize the success of the project.

15 people were killed and at least 156 others were injured after Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine yesterday, specifically targeting the capital city of Kyiv. The strikes hit buildings across the city and lasted for over nine hours, obliterating various apartments and homes. Over 440 drones and 32 missiles were included in the attack, which killed 14 people and injured another 139 in Kyiv and . It is the deadliest attack on the city -- which has a population of around 3 million people -- this year, and one of the most destructive as well. Ukraine responded on Tuesday, launching hundreds of drones into at least 10 different regions of Russia. Most of them were taken down by Russian forces, though. The attack comes just after the G7 summit where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy planned to ask for additional support from the United States, but was not able to. The G7 is a bloc of advanced democracies that aim to prevent global conflict-- it is made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the European Union. At a recent G7 summit in Canada, Zelenskyy planned to meet with United States President Donald Trump to discuss getting more aid, but Trump ended up leaving the summit early to handle the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. However, both Canada and the UK placed major new trade sanctions on Russia in recent days, further pressuring them to back off on their war, and Canada has even offered Ukraine an additional $1.4 billion for military equipment. Fact of the Day: 'New car smell' is a mix of over 200 chemicals. These include the sickly-sweet, toxic hydrocarbons benzene and toluene, along with other harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Let him who would move the world first move himself. (Socrates) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Apologia (noun, ap-uh-LOH-jee-uh) - An apologia is a defense especially of one's opinions, position, or actions. In a Sentence: The opinion piece reads like an apologia for the industry's reckless behavior.

Warning: This article contains sensitive information that may be inappropriate for young children. Vance Boelter, the man who shot two Minnesota lawmakers on Saturday, has been caught after a massive manhunt, and he could face the federal death penalty for his actions. Boelter arrived at the home of Minnesota Senator John Hoffman early on Saturday morning before shooting him nine times, firing another eight bullets at his wife. Miraculously, authorities quickly arrived and took them to the hospital, where they underwent surgery and are making a recovery. However, Boelter continued to the house of Representative Melissa Hortman, fatally shooting her and her husband just as police arrived for a routine check. Read more into the initial incident here . The resulting manhunt was the largest in Minnesota state history, spanning various rural areas around Minneapolis. His car and hat were found in Sibley County, southwest of Minneapolis, on Sunday, where police discovered that he had posed as a police officer during the attacks-- he had been driving a car with police lights and also had a Taser, flashlight, handgun, tactical vest, and other items that any real officer might have had. Several drones found him crawling through some underbrush in the area soon after, and he was eventually arrested near the town of Green Isle, where he maintained a home with his wife and children. He later admitted to the FBI that he had assassinated Hortman and attempted to assassinate Hoffman. Local authorities also found a hit list of over 70 people inside his car, which included at least 45 politicians who were all Democrats. They believe that it is likely he would have continued with the attacks if police had not gone for that routine check on Hortman's house on Saturday morning. In fact, it was later uncovered that Boelter arrived at the homes of two other Minnesota lawmakers that night, but they had both lucked out. After shooting Hoffman, he came to the house of a representative living in the suburb of Maple Grove, and he was captured on camera by the doorbell. However, she was on vacation. Then, he headed to the home of Senator Ann Rest in the town of New Hope, but he encountered another police officer who had already come to her house to check on her after the shooting of Hoffman. The officer assumed Boelter was just another policeman who had come to check on Senator Rest, and he was able to get away quickly. After that, he arrived at the home of the Hortmans, where police found him standing on the porch. He fired at them before making his way into the house, fatally shooting both the representative and her husband, and then escaping on foot. His exact motive is still unclear, but the attacks came as a shock to the entire country-- political assassinations are extremely rare in the United States. US President Donald Trump, among others, also condemned the attacks, establishing that political violence "has no place in the United States of America." Prosecutors have charged Boelter with two counts of second-degree murder and two additional counts of attempted second-degree murder, and they are looking to bring the charges up to first-degree murder. He appeared in court for the first time on Monday, and his initial hearing has been set for June 27. He has also been indicted separately by other officials, which could result in Boelter receiving the federal death penalty. Fact of the Day: Murder rates rise in summer. Ever feel angry or in a bad mood when the weather is hot? Well, you’re not alone. Violent crime goes up in hotter weather, and in the US, murder rates reportedly rise by 2.7 per cent over the summer. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): You have to believe in the long term plan you have but you need the short term goals to motivate and inspire you. (Roger Federer) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Garrulous (adj, GAIR-uh-lus) - Someone described as garrulous is very talkative. When garrulous is used to describe a piece of language (such as a speech), it means “containing many and often too many words; wordy.” In a Sentence: One of the dinner party guests was a garrulous poet whose stories kept most of us in stitches.

The conflict between Israel and Iran has reached its fourth day, and the strikes show no signs of slowing down. Israel was the first to strike on Friday , hitting at least 100 nuclear sites and military bases across Iran with over 200 fighter jets. The attacks also killed several important Iranian generals, as well as various scientists that have been working towards nuclear advancements in Iran. Iran struck back hard, though, bombarding Israel with drone attacks and missile strikes. Most of them were taken down by the United States and Israel's Iron Dome defense system, but some strikes managed to make it through into more populated areas. Then, early on Sunday morning, both countries sent strikes at each other again, beginning in the hours before dawn and continuing into the afternoon. Israel hit over 80 nuclear sites and fuel depots across Iran, including the country's defense ministry headquarters in the capital of Tehran, while Iran struck dozens of different areas across Israel with over 200 missiles. No deaths were reported in Iran from the attacks, but at least 78 people were killed by Israeli strikes on the first day of fighting. Meanwhile, at least 13 people were killed in Israel, and hundreds of others have been injured. While Israel began the attacks with confidence, Iran has showed to be stronger than Israel expected, and while they took out several Iranian higher-ups, they have struck back hard. Iranian missiles, unlike many others, have been able to get by Israel's defenses, and they have done significant damage to Israel in their retaliations. This comes just as the United States has been getting close to achieving a nuclear deal with Iran, hoping to eliminate the threat of Iran gaining nuclear weapons. Now, Israel is striking specific nuclear sites across Iran, achieving the same goal as the United States but using force. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that they will not stop until Iran's nuclear program is completely destroyed, but he has established that it could be weeks before that goal is achieved. Upcoming Events: International Day of Family Remittances (Monday, June 16) World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (Tuesday, June 17) Sustainable Gastronomy Day (Wednesday, June 18) International Day for Countering Hate Speech (Wednesday, June 18) World Refugee Day (Friday, June 20) International Day of Yoga (Saturday, June 21) Summer Solstice (Saturday, June 21) Fact of the Day: Glass sponges can live for 15,000 years. This makes them one of the longest-living organisms on Earth. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Life is too short, time is too precious, and the stakes are too high to dwell on what might have been. (Hillary Clinton) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Progeny (noun, PRAH-juh-nee) - Progeny refers to the child or descendant of a particular parent or family. Progeny can also refer to the offspring of an animal or plant, or broadly to something that is the product of something else. The plural of progeny is progeny . In a Sentence: Many Americans are the progeny of immigrants.