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Today is the grim anniversary of the Israel-Hamas War, which began exactly one year ago on October 7, 2023 when Hamas militants invaded southern Israel, killing almost 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 others. Since then, over 42,000 Palestinians and 2,000 Lebanese citizens have been killed in Israeli attacks on Hamas and Hezbollah. Over 1.9 million others have been displaced in Gaza, and another 1.2 million have been forced from their homes in Lebanon. Hurricane Milton is strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico, and it is heading straight for Florida-- a US state that was just battered by Hurricane Helene. Milton recently formed on Saturday as a tropical depression, and it spun around in the western Gulf, near the eastern coast of Mexico, before slowly moving east across the area. It quickly strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane within one day, and it is now charging through the Gulf, setting its sights on Florida. Milton is now a Category 2 hurricane, heading east with winds of over 110 mph. It will soon strengthen to a Category 3, a major hurricane, before brushing Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, possibly hitting the city of Merida and maybe even the well-known beach town of Cancún, which was hit hard by Hurricane Helene. From there, it is expected to maintain major hurricane status and slam into western Florida, heading directly for Tampa. Tampa was hit extremely hard by Hurricane Helene just last week, suffering from winds of over 130 mph, heavy rain, and storm surge of 6-8 feet, which inundated almost the entire city. This hurricane could soon impact the same area with similar conditions, which could devastate the area even more. Thankfully, the hurricane won't stay for long-- it is moving quickly, and should only impact the area for about a day. However, it is expected to so some serious damage in that time period, and is blasting across the Gulf-- Florida residents should start preparing now. Upcoming Events: World Habitat Week (Monday, October 7) World Cotton Day (Monday, October 7) World Post Day (Wednesday, October 9) World Mental Health Day (Thursday, October 10) International Day of the Girl Child (Friday, October 11) Yom Kippur (Friday, October 11 to Saturday, October 12) World Migratory Bird Day (Saturday, October 12) America's Cup (Sailing) Begins (Saturday, October 12) International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (Sunday, October 13) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): A lion's age can be told by its nose. The nose begins as a bright pink as a child, and as the lion grows older, it develops freckles over that pink. Soon, when the lion has become an older, more mature adult, the nose turns completely gray or black. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If one out of 15 ideas succeed, that’s better than 99% of your friends who never start a single idea. (Gary Vaynerchuk) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Berate (verb)- To berate someone is to angrily scold or criticize them, often loudly and at length. In a Sentence: “Don’t berate yourself over canceling plans,” his friend told him. “Sometimes you just need to take care of yourself.”

At least 21 people are dead after Israeli strikes on a mosque in Gaza, and numerous strikes from Israel also slammed into southern Lebanon yesterday. The strike hit a mosque across the street from the al-Aqsa martyrs hospital, with Israel claiming for it to be a Hamas "command and control center." The original death toll was thought to be 18, but it was later found to be 21 after people dug through the rubble of the building for hours to find lost relatives or friends. This strike comes as the death toll of the war in Gaza is approaching 42,000, and tomorrow is the grim one-year anniversary of when the conflict began on October 7, 2023. Meanwhile, Lebanon is still suffering from intense strikes as Israel attempts to take down the Iran-backed Hezbollah. At least 1,400 people are dead and millions of people have been forced out of their homes, and more is on the way. After Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nazrallah recently and executed a round of pager explosions throughout the country, the conflict escalated into an all-out war. Israel has bombarded Lebanon's populated southern region with airstrikes and missiles, launched a ground invasion into the country, and attacked Iran as well. In the latest strikes, Israel fired dozens of missiles into Lebanon, but a few were intercepted by the country's defense system. The attack was described as the worst to hit Lebanon so far, with projectiles constantly smashing into the suburbs of Beirut every few minutes. The projectiles hit Hezbollah bases, warehouses, and weapons facilities, but also did serious damage to the surrounding area. As the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war approaches, protests have also been ramping up around the world. Dozens of people have been arrested, and one man in Washington D.C. even set himself on fire-- he miraculously survived. Police have been forced to use tear gas and water cannons in some areas, as protests in Rome and other cities turned into violent clashes with law enforcement officers. Some people even threw objects like bottles and stones at police, sparking the conflicts. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): A group of cats is called a clowder. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. (Beverly Sills) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Adversary (noun)- An adversary is an enemy or opponent. In a Sentence: Upon learning that its adversaries were ahead in sales, the company quickly formed a new advertising campaign.

The thousands of members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) have officially ended their massive strike after they completed negotiations of a deal with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). Starting at 12:00 am ET on Tuesday, over 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) went on strike across the US's eastern and Gulf ports, stretching across an area from Maine to Texas. They demanded higher wages because of inflation-- while their wages have increased 11% to $39 an hour, inflation has increased 24% in that time period, leading to financial problems for the port workers. Soon after the strike began, serious worries arose, as multiple industries were going to be heavily affected. The trucking and warehouse industry would have taken a massive hit, as they depend on cargo and shipping to supply them with the materials that they need to distribute amongst the people. If the strike persisted for multiple weeks, supply chain problems could have led to shortages of clothing, car parts, furniture, alcoholic beverages, wood, coffee, sugar, and perishable items. Thankfully, the USMX is coming close to sorting out the entire issue, and consumers can stop worrying about impending doom for their home food supply. USMX is an alliance that represents container carriers, employers, and port associations across the East and Gulf coasts of the United States, and they were the primary negotiator in this ordeal. While the organization made an initial offer to gradually raise wages by $3 per hour per year (50% increase from current wages) over the next 6 years, the ILA declined, and they were sent back to the drawing board. The ILA demanded an annual increase of $5 per hour, which would have been a staggering 77% increase from the current wages of $39 per hour. However, after facing pressure to solve the problem quickly, the USMX came back with another offer, stating that they would increase wages for all union members by $4 per year for the next 6 years, which spans the duration of the contract. This would increase their wages from $39 per hour currently to $63 per hour by 2030, which is a 62% increase in pay. The ILA later accepted the offer, and it is now a tentative deal. However, the official documents are still being finalized by lawyers and other negotiators. Due to the fact that the ILA's current contract expires on Monday, they agreed to extend it to January 15, 2025, to give them time to close out the final deal. In addition, because a deadline so late would cause major disruptions to shipping, trucking, and other industries, the union has agreed to send all members back to work, which began on Friday. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Jimmy Carter, the 39th US President, was the first-ever president born in a hospital. The 38 presidents before Carter were all born outside hospitals, and seven of those 38 were born in log cabins. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story. (Orson Welles) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Gossamer (adj)- Something described as gossamer—such as a butterfly wing or a thin fabric—is very light or delicate. In a Sentence: Except for a few gossamer clouds, the sky was clear and blue.

In case you missed it, the United States Vice Presidential Debate took place on Tuesday night, with Democratic nominee Tim Walz facing off against Republican nominee JD Vance in an intense debate. Look out for a deep dive article by Mihir Gupta coming later this week on the political event. The death toll from Hurricane Helene continues to rise after the storm devastated the southeastern US, and hundreds of thousands of people are still out of power. Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region last week as a major Category 4 hurricane, and hit the area hard with severe winds and massive storm surge of over 20 feet. However, the worst-hit areas were actually farther north into the Appalachian Mountains. North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia experienced heavy rains for days before the storm arrived, sparking landslides and causing rivers to burst their banks by several feet. Homes were completely washed away by the raging waters, and millions of people were out of power for days. Now, over a week later, over 750,000 people are still out of power, and the true effects of the damage are just starting to surface in some areas. At least 72 people have died in Buncombe County -- where the city of Asheville is located -- alone, while over 200 others are still missing. North Carolina was the state with the largest loss of life -- 106 people were killed in North Carolina alone -- but Florida was hit extremely hard by the winds and storm surge. However, evacuations saved many residents of towns in the path of Helene, but no evacuations were issued for any area beyond the Florida coast. A total of 213 people have been killed by the storm, making it the deadliest storm to make landfall in the mainland United States since the notorious Hurricane Katrina in 2005. As for the electricity problem, Helene did so much damage in some mountainous regions that the infrastructure to supply power to those areas was completely "wiped out," according to local electricity supplier Duke Energy, and will need to be totally rebuilt. However, due to the fact that many major roads in the region have been damaged or washed away, aid is being transported in by helicopter or plane, and companies are struggling to get the necessary equipment into areas that need it. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's Starlink is offering a month of free satellite service in place of internet, as most of the cellular towers in North Carolina's affected regions are down. Military personnel and thousands of people from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been deployed to bring in crucial supplies, help search for survivors, clean up the debris, and rebuild from this terrible disaster, but it will take time. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): The first-ever US city to host the Olympics was St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904, which came just eight years after the first modern Olympic games in 1896 in Athens, Greece. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): You cannot change how someone thinks, but you can give them a tool to use which will lead them to think differently. (Buckminster Fuller) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Posterity (noun)- Posterity is a formal word that refers to all future generations of people. It is often, though not always, used with for or to . In a Sentence: A record of the events was preserved for posterity .

In case you missed it, the United States Vice Presidential Debate took place on Tuesday night, with Democratic nominee Tim Walz facing off against Republican nominee JD Vance in an intense debate. Look out for a deep dive article by Mihir Gupta coming later this week on the political event. Thousands of port workers across the United States are beginning a strike, which could have a serious effect on the country's economy. Shipping is a crucial industry across the world, as it allows large amounts of goods to be easily transported across oceans, and is much more efficient than air freight. However, it is particularly important for the United States, which is distanced from many of the countries it imports goods from, such as China, Japan, and numerous European countries. Unfortunately for the industry, a massive strike is taking place, and it could greatly unsettle the import/export business of the US. Starting at 12:00 am ET on Tuesday, over 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) went on strike across the US's eastern and Gulf ports, stretching across an area from Maine to Texas, which also includes major port cities like New York and Newark. Those two ports alone handle over half of all container-shipped goods in the US. East Coast ports primarily handle clothing and other worn items, car parts, and various foods. According to Oxford Economics, this strike could end up costing the US economy $4.5 billion to $7.5 billion each week, as industries related to shipping will also be affected. The United States Maritime Alliance, or USMX, is working on negotiating with the ILA, but they will need to come to a quick resolution. USMX has offered a 50% increase in pay for all of the union members, but they have not begun official negotiations yet. The entire reason the ILA is on strike is due to inflation-- while their wages have increased 11% to $39 an hour, inflation has increased 24% in that time period, leading to financial problems for port workers. The reason why the issue needs to be sorted out quickly is because this strike will not just affect the lives of port workers, but almost all Americans. The trucking and warehouse industry is also taking a hit, as they depend on cargo and shipping to supply them with the materials that they need to distribute amongst the people. Meanwhile, the strike could last days, weeks, or even months. If the strike does last for a considerably long period of time, consumers could be facing price hikes, which would bring back memories of inflation at its peak. Thankfully, a drastic increase in inflation is not expected, but consumers can expect temporary price increases if the strike lasts multiple weeks. Supply chain problems could lead to shortages of clothing, car parts, furniture, alcoholic beverages, wood, coffee, sugar, and perishable items-- according to the Census Bureau, 80% of US coffee and 75% of bananas arrive through East Coast ports. The food industry will not be terribly affected because of the fact that much of US food is produced within the country, but prices of perishable items could begin rising as soon as next week-- fruits and vegetables only last a little while on shelves before going bad, some even sooner. There is a bright side, though: due to the incoming holiday season, many warehouses and stores have already stocked up on fall and winter's most popular goods. In addition, other stores have also been stocking up due to the fact that this strike had been predicted months ago. While goods are being diverted to the West Coast for the time being, those ports could soon overflow, leading to extra goods being shipped to other ports in Canada and Mexico. Unfortunately, it could take some time to reach a resolution, and that could cost the US economy, American consumers, and workers in industries supported by shipping. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Due to the thousands of offshore islands it occupies, Canada has the largest coastline in the world. In fact, it is a staggering 151,019 miles, which is over double the second-longest coastline-- Norway at a mere 62,765 miles. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I never ask a man what his business is, for it never interests me. What I ask him about are his thoughts and dreams . (H.P. Lovecraft) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Fret (verb)- To fret is to worry or be concerned. In a Sentence: I was sure we wouldn’t get there in time, but they told me not to fret .

The United States Vice Presidential Debate took place last night, with Democratic nominee Tim Walz facing off against Republican nominee JD Vance in an intense debate. Look out for a deep dive article by Mihir Gupta coming later this week on the political event. Iran fired over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel yesterday as the tension between the two Middle Eastern powers finally snapped, and it could break out into an all-out war across the region. Earlier on Tuesday, the United States had warned Israel of a possible incoming attack from Iran, and that attack finally came on Tuesday evening. Hundreds of missiles were fired from Iran towards Israel, sparking air raid sirens across the country. Thousands of people were forced into underground shelters, and meetings were initially restricted for a short period of time until the attack had come to an end. Israel's intricate defense system, along with the help of the US Navy, took down most of the missiles, avoiding major damage. Nonetheless, several missiles were not intercepted, leading to large explosions on the ground. One person, a Palestinian, was killed in the West Bank after being hit by falling debris from a missile explosion, but there were no other fatalities from the strikes. However, just before the strikes on Israel, a shooting took place in Tel Aviv, Israel's second-most populous city. Six people were killed and at least 17 others were injured after two gunmen fired into a crowd at a train station in the city. The gunmen have been considered as terrorists and were killed on the spot by local police. Later, soon after the missiles struck Israel, they quickly responded with multiple strikes on Hezbollah operations centers in Beirut, adding onto the damage they had done earlier in the day; on Tuesday afternoon, several strikes hit southern Lebanon before the Iranian missiles were launched, killing 55 people and injuring over 150 others. This comes just after Israel began a ground invasion of Lebanon on Tuesday morning following extreme tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed organization centered in Lebanon. Hezbollah supports Hamas in their war against Israel in Gaza, which is what began the initial conflict between the two. After Israel and Hezbollah traded fire, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nazrallah was killed in a recent airstrike on the organization's primary headquarters in Beirut, sparking yesterday's attacks. In addition, tensions between Israel and Iran have been rising recently, ever since the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in a strike on Tehran, the capital of Iran. Israel has promised these attacks will not go unnoticed, and they have confirmed that a strong response is on the way. While the United States has said that they are working to find a peaceful solution before the conflict breaks out into an all-out Middle Eastern war, they have also stated that they strongly support Israel in this fight against Iran, and will take necessary action to defend the country from incoming attacks if needed. Over 40,000 US troops are currently stationed in the area, and the Pentagon has stated that they plan to send thousands more in the coming days. The entire world is now waiting and watching until Israel executes their response to Iran's strikes, which is sure to be a massive retaliation. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): While the Nile River is well-known as the world's longest river, at 4,132 miles long, do you know the world's shortest river? The Roe River, located next to the Missouri River near Great Falls, Montana, is a mere 201 feet-- it has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the shortest river in the world. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Patience and silence are two powerful energies. Patience makes you mentally strong. Silence makes you emotionally strong. (Unknown) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Chthonic (adj)- Chthonic means "of or relating to the underworld." It is used as a synonym of infernal . In a Sentence: Cleo compared entering her brother's basement bedroom to a descent into chthonic regions: it was dark and odd-smelling, and she was a little frightened of what she might find there.

Locals have been allowed to return to their homes after a serious fire broke out at the BioLab in Conyers, a town in eastern Georgia, sending hazardous chemical smoke into the area around it. Officials stated that a sprinkler had malfunctioned around 5 am on Sunday morning, sparking a fire on the roof after it sprayed onto a "water-reactive chemical." The fire soon spread, sending a thick, dark plume of chemical smoke into the air. The plume could be seen for miles, and residents in the area soon reported a strange, toxic smell outside along with hazy visibility. Within a few hours, the smell had spread to the city of Atlanta, which is located around 25 miles west of Conyers. BioLab, which is owned by KIK Consumer Products, produces swimming pool and spa care products, including water testing kits and chemicals for pool and spa care. Some of their brands include BioGuard and SpaGuard, and some of their biggest products include SeaKlear and AquaPill. Due to the fact that these products are for pool and spa care, many of them contain chlorine, a chemical that can be extremely dangerous to health if breathed in. Extremely poor air quality because of the smoke and chlorine gas forced much of northern Rockdale County, east of downtown Atlanta, to evacuate from their homes, and schools throughout the area halted all extracurricular activities and outside play on Monday. Over 90,000 people were given the order to shelter in place, turn off air conditioning, and stay inside, as breathing in chlorine can lead to severe bouts of coughing, irritation in the nose and eyes, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, and a painful burning feeling in the chest. Around 4 pm on Sunday, the fire came under control after firefighters battled the flames for hours, but officials say the plume and the haze could linger for days. While the fire was initially put out, it reignited in the middle of the day and caused the roof of the facility to collapse completely. However, the evacuation and shelter-in-place orders have been lifted after readings from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) devices showed regular chlorine levels. The water supply was also tested for chemicals and is being considered safe. Unfortunately, this is not the first time an incident like this has occurred at BioLab. The facility was constructed in 1973 and previous incidents involving water-reactive chemicals also occurred in 2004 and 2020, and additional fires also occurred at the plant in 2015 and 2016. In 2004, a sprinkler malfunction similar to Sunday's incident caused a massive fire at the plant, with the plume of chlorine gas and smoke covering over 10 miles. Nine people were sent to the hospital after experiencing severe symptoms of chlorine inhalation. In 2020, winds from a hurricane damaged the roof, allowing rainwater to fall into the complex and come into contact with the water-reactive chemicals. The fire caused complete closures of Interstate 20, the primary highway running through the area, and nine firefighters were sent to the hospital after inhaling chlorine gas. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): A desert is technically any large, dry area that receives minimal precipitation. Due to this, while the Sahara Desert is well-known for being hot and arid, the world's largest desert is actually Antarctica. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): When you decide to master something, you start with the things that are broken in it. (Grant Cardone) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Tribulation (noun)- Tribulation , which is often used in the phrase "trials and tribulations," refers to an experience that causes suffering. It can also mean "unhappiness, pain, or suffering." In a Sentence: The new graduate knew that the journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur would come with some trials and tribulations .

151 people are dead and at least 56 others are missing after days of heavy rain across Nepal, and that number is expected to rise in the coming days. Over a foot of rain fell in some areas around the country, and Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal was particularly hard-hit. The heavy rain sparked dangerous landslides in multiple towns, including one that killed over 35 people after it wiped out numerous vehicles and another at a sports training center that killed six soccer players. A large portion of Kathmandu, along with many other populated regions of Nepal, is haphazardly constructed between the steep mountains of the Himalayas. This causes stormwater to drain into the valleys between the mountains, which is where towns are located. Due to Kathmandu's poor water management system, large amounts of water quickly pile up in low-lying areas around the city. One house in the town of Bhaktapur, located east of Kathmandu, collapsed completely, killing five people. The Bagmati River, which also flows straight through the center of Kathmandu, reached levels several feet above normal, flooding homes and businesses around it. Many citizens have lost their homes, personal belongings, cars, and even family members. Thankfully, the heavy rain is coming to an end, but it will take some time for water levels to completely recede. Crews are still working to save citizens who have been trapped in their homes or carried away by the raging currents-- over 3,600 people have been rescued over the past few days. At least 10,000 police officers have joined the rescue efforts, along with locals and soldiers in the army. Sadly, a large number of people are still missing, and officials expect death tolls to rise in the coming days. Hundreds of people are killed each year by torrential rains in the region, but rapid urbanization and haphazard construction are leading to more poorly built homes and drainage systems that exacerbate the effects of heavy rain. Unfortunately, climate change will only make those rains more frequent and more intense, as weather patterns are substantially affected by changing temperatures. Upcoming Events this week: International Translation Day (Monday, September 30) International Day of Older Persons (Tuesday, October 1) International Day of Non-Violence (Wednesday, October 2) Rosh Hashanah Begins (Wednesday, October 2) ICC Women's T20 World Cup Begins (Thursday, October 3) World Space Week Begins (Friday, October 4) Rosh Hashanah Ends (Friday, October 4) World Teachers' Day (Saturday, October 5) Rugby League Finals (Sunday, October 6) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): While the Mississippi River is well-known, the Missouri River is actually longer than the Mississippi. In fact, since the Missouri River was discovered later, it is considered a tributary of the Mississippi even though it is longer. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Anger, resentment and jealousy doesn’t change the heart of others-- it only changes yours . (Shannon L. Alder) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Feckless (adj)- Feckless describes people or things that are weak or ineffective. In a Sentence: The agency’s response to the dramatic increase in air pollution was well-intentioned but ultimately feckless .

Hassan Nazrallah, Hezbollah's primary leader, was killed on Friday in a round of Israeli airstrikes that has heavily affected to Lebanon and its people. Israel has been striking Lebanon for the entire week, aiming to obliterate Hezbollah just as they are trying to bring down Hamas in Gaza. It began with Israel's pager attacks around two weeks ago, which killed scores of people and injured thousands of others. This week, Israel has repeatedly struck Hezbollah bases across Lebanon, primarily in the country's densely-populated capital of Beirutwhich is home to around 2.5 million people. Hundreds of people are dead, and many citizens are sleeping on the streets in fear that their homes will be bombed. Many others have already lost their homes to Israel's attacks, and now have nowhere to go. Some residents reported that they were contemplating a temporary move to Syria until the fighting comes to a stop, but they were scared of being hit by airstrikes. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the airstrikes, which have primarily impacted the southern portion of Beirut where Hezbollah is headquartered. Hezbollah attempted to respond with multiple strikes on Israel this past week, but they did minimal damage, and many were intercepted. Then, on Friday, Israel conducted a massive bombing of Hezbollah's primary operations center in Beirut, located under several residential buildings. The dangerous blast killed many innocent locals as well as numerous Hezbollah operatives, one of which was the Iran-backed group's chief, Hassan Nazrallah. While Israel warned residents ahead of the attack, they did not give locals enough time to evacuate before Israel's strikes hit the buildings. Hezbollah aimed missile launchers towards Israel's northern region after the attack, prompting air raid sirens to go off across the area, but Israeli fighter jets were able to take out most of the launchers before they fired. Nazrallah's death is sure to stir things up in Hezbollah, and they will now begin the search within the organization to find a new leader. However, Israel has identified that this is the prime time to strike again and take out Hezbollah once and for all-- it seems that Israel may be planning a brief ground invasion into Lebanon to destroy Hezbollah, as they have moved a large number of troops to the Israel-Lebanon border in recent days. Iran may interfere with those plans, though, as they strongly support Hezbollah and other groups like Hamas-- Iran could supply Hezbollah with the necessary weapons to fiercely respond to Israel's attacks, which could turn the conflict into an all out-war. Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): Hawaii is made up of 137 islands, including atolls and islets, but there are eight main islands: Ni'ihau, Kauai, O'ahu, Lanai, Moloka'i, Kaho'olawe, Maui, and the Big Island. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. (Laura Ingalls Wilder) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Avatar (noun)- An avatar is an electronic image (as in a video game) that represents, and can be manipulated by, a computer user. Avatar can also refer to the embodiment of something (such as a concept or philosophy) often in a person, or to an incarnation of a deity—especially a Hindu deity, such as Vishnu. In a Sentence: Before they started playing the game, Maeve and Sanaa customized their avatars .

New Travel article: Swiss Airlines are being forced to rebalance all of their Airbus A330 planes for a very strange reason. You can check out the full article here . The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is threatening to turn into an all-out war across the region as tensions escalate after Israel's pager attacks. The tensions first spiked when the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) executed a master plan in Lebanon, with almost every pager belonging to a Hezbollah operative instantly detonating. The first round of explosions began on Tuesday after pagers all over Lebanon blew up as part of Israel's complex plan. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nazrallah planned for the organization to go very low-tech, as it would allow them to avoid being tracked by Israel. Then, Israel hatched a plan and inserted small explosives into each pager, and the pagers spontaneously combusted after they sent the trigger message. You can read more into their elaborate scheme here . The attack killed at least 12 people, including two young children, and injured over 2,800 others. Later in the week, on Wednesday, another round of explosions rocked Lebanon, coming from other low-tech devices like radios, walkie-talkies and solar panels. The second wave of attacks killed at least 20 people and injured 450 others, making the latest round even more dangerous than the first. The explosion of regular household devices has created a large amount of paranoia amongst locals, and devices are now being kept far away from people out of fear that an explosion could take place at any second-- the devices have become literal ticking time bombs. The second round of attacks only caused tensions to increase even more. On Friday, Israel launched numerous strikes towards Lebanon's capital of Beirut, killing at least 45 people, several of which were Hezbollah members. Unfortunately, 30 of the victims were civilians living in the city, and any survivors had their homes turned into rubble and dirt in seconds. Then, both sides snapped, bombarding each other with missiles over the weekend. Israel claimed that Hezbollah had launched over 150 rockets toward its territory on Saturday night, damaging structures across the northern portion of the country. Citizens were forced into bomb shelters, schools closed down, and medical operations are being moved underground to protect from incoming attacks. According to the BBC, Israel responded by striking thousands of Hezbollah's rocket launchers, doing loads of damage to the Iran-backed organization. Locals, experts, the United Nations, the European Union, and other governments all fear that this conflict could rapidly escalate into a full-blown war, as Hezbollah strongly supports Hamas in Gaza and Israel is not afraid to back down from a fight. However, a situation like that would certainly have a major impact on the civilian population of Lebanon, as it has done to Gaza-- over 41,400 people have been killed in the Israel-Hamas War, and a total of 1.7 million people have been displaced. Foreign governments like the United States are now urging their citizens to get out of Lebanon as fast as possible, as the conflict could become a war at any time. Upcoming Events this week: International Day of Sign Languages (Monday, September 23) World Maritime Day (Thursday, September 26) International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (Thursday, September 26) World Tourism Day (Friday, September 27) International Day for Universal Access to Information (Saturday, September 28) Australian Football Grand Final (Saturday, September 28) International Day for Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (Sunday, September 29) UCI Road World Championships End (Sunday, September 29) Presidents Cup Ends (Sunday, September 29) Fact of the Day (Reader's Digest): February is the rarest birth month, while September is the most common. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Don't waste your time chasing butterflies. Fix your garden, and the butterflies will come. (Mario Quintana) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Heinous (adj)- Heinous describes things—such as acts, deeds, or crimes—that are hatefully or shockingly evil, or in other words, deserving of hate or contempt. In a Sentence: The former dictator will stand trial for the role he played in his government’s heinous treatment of political dissidents.