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On September 21, 2023, India announced that it would be suspending visa services for Canadian citizens. Why did this happen? Why are two close allies fighting with each other? Let’s find out. It all started in 1948, when Sikh rebels fought the Indian government for the creation of a Sikh state called Khalistan. The government put down the rebellion, but some rebels moved to Canada. There the movement was kept up, and it continues till today. One of the leaders of these present-day rebels, Hardeep Singh Najjar, received Canadian citizenship. He ran a plumbing business while organizing rallies for the independence of Khalistan. The Indian government asserted that Nijjar was a terrorist for even the idea of the Sikh state. Then on June 18, 2023, Nijjar was shot and killed in the parking lot of a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was outraged, and told public media in September 2023 that the Indian government was responsible for the killing. India responded by creating a tit-for-tat involving travel advisories and callbacks on diplomats between the two countries. Indian foreign ministry spokesperon Arindam Bagchi on September 21 called Canada a “safe haven for terrorists.” What will happen next? Will Canada admit they need to do better? Will India admit that they killed Nijjar? Check back later to find out. By Mihir Gupta This is a developing story, and updates will come soon.

Contents: Tropical Storm Ophelia Weakens to Tropical Depression Over Virginia Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Ophelia has now become a tropical depression, and is now hovering over Maryland and Virginia as it fizzles out. It became a tropical storm in the Atlantic a few days ago before making landfall in North Carolina, but it hasn't done too much damage. Ophelia brought strong winds of 70 mph and heavy rain, causing about 30,000 power outages on the East Coast, but it hasn't done much more than that. However, it drenched North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, and it expected to deliver some more heavy rain to New England later this week. Fact of the Day: Australia is actually wider than the moon. The moon's width sits at 3,400 km (2113 mi), while Australia's width is about 4,000 km (2485 mi). Quote of the Day: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. (Lao Tzu) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Tenebrous (adj)- Tenebrous is a formal word that is often used as a synonym of gloomy. It also can be used to describe dark, unlit places (as in “the tenebrous abyss”) or things that are difficult to understand (as in “a tenebrous tangle of lies”). In a Sentence: The neighborhood children made sure never to approach the abandoned mansion, which sat tenebrous and foreboding at the top of the hill.

Contents: Tropical Storm Ophelia Makes Landfall in North Carolina Volcanic Smog Causes Health Warning In Manila Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Tropical Storm Ophelia has made landfall in North Carolina, delivering intense rain and winds of over 70 mph. Tropical Storm Warnings are in place all the way up to Maryland, and various marine warnings stretch from Florida to Massachusetts. Ophelia is currently passing through North Carolina and will soon move into Virginia before hitting Washington DC and Baltimore as a Post-Tropical Cyclone. It will then fizzle out near Philadelphia, but will remain a strong storm as it moves through New York and the rest of New England. However, somehow, the rest of the southeast (apart from the Carolinas) will remain mostly dry, with states like Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee receiving no impact. The Philippine capital of Manila is now under a health warning after a nearby volcano caused large amounts of smog and volcanic gases to cover the city. The active Taal volcano spewed out sulfur dioxide and other volcanic gases on Friday morning, provoking schools to close and outdoor transportation to come to a halt. The smog was caused by an upwelling of lava and other fluids inside the volcano, and it can cause harmful irritation in the eyes, nose, and throat. Fact of the Day: There is a McDonald's on every continent except Antarctica. Quote of the Day: It's easier to go down a hill than up it, but the view is much better at the top. (Henry Ward Beecher) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Mesmerize (verb)- Mesmerize means "to hold the attention of someone entirely; to interest or amaze someone so much that nothing else is seen or noticed." The word is often used in the phrase "be mesmerized." In a Sentence: The crowd was mesmerized by the flawlessly synchronous movements of the acrobats.

Contents: Potential Tropical Cyclone 16 Forms In Atlantic, Could Cause Problems For US East Coast Torrential Rain Strikes London, Another Round on the Way Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Potential Tropical Cyclone 16 has just formed in the Atlantic Ocean with winds of about 35 mph, and it could cause some problems on the East Coast of the US. The storm has provoked Tropical Storm Warnings on the North Carolina coast, and Tropical Weather Statements all the way up through Maryland. It is expected to make landfall on Saturday morning as a tropical storm and winds of 60 mph, and later fizzle out near New Jersey and New York as a post-tropical cyclone. Marine warnings are also in place from Chesapeake Bay up to Cape Cod to tell people to watch out for dangerous rip currents and large waves that could be caused by the storm. On another note, torrential rain has been striking London this week, with roads turning into rivers as the downpours continue. Gusts of over 50-60 mph were reported in some areas and over 1.5 inches of rain fell in just 2-3 hours. Rescue crews are being dispatched all over the city, helping people whose homes have been flooded or people trapped in cars. Trains have been canceled and cars have been stranded in the high waters, and there is more rain on the way. However, thankfully, this next round of rain shouldn't be as bad as the last. Fact of the Day: It is physically impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. However, the popular myth that your eyes would pop out of your head if you did this is actually not true. Sneezing with your eyes closed is just a reflex, but keeping your eyes open when sneezing has caused intense pain for some people in the past- so you might not want to try it! Quote of the Day: To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone. (Reba McIntire) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Regimen (noun)- Regimen refers to a plan or set of rules about food, exercise, etc., designed to make someone become or stay healthy. In a Sentence: Sherry’s personal trainer at the gym started her on a workout regimen of 30 minutes on the treadmill followed by 30 minutes of weight training.

Contents: UN General Assembly Gets Underway, Important Topics At Hand Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Today's only news is all about the UN General Assembly in New York City, which is addressing many important issues this year, such as the war in Ukraine, political issues in West Africa, and climate change. This year's 78th annual main assembly will last 6 days, as usual, but end one day later (September 26) due to an absence of a meeting on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which takes place on Monday. Now, let's dive into what topics they will be addressing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged countries to help stop the war between Ukraine and Russia, but allowing Ukraine into NATO at this moment would spark a potential World War III. Also, recent coups and uprisings in countries like Sudan and Niger have caused a lot of conflict, which will also be an important topic to address in this meeting. Meanwhile, there has been a lot of focus on climate change, and meeting the UN Sustainability Goals by 2030 (as well as other goals) is their main topic. The sustainability goals consist of 17 goals to make the world a better place- read more about them here. Numerous developing countries are urging wealthier countries to contribute more to helping stop climate change and phase out fossil fuels faster- we are stopping their use at a very slow pace right now. More discussion is set to go on through Monday, which could give way to some big decisions. Fact of the Day: A shrimp's heart is in its head - along with other important organs like the stomach and brain - for extra protection compared to the lower half or its body. Quote of the Day: If you want to achieve greatness, stop asking for permission. (Eddie Colla) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Churlish (adj)- Churlish is a formal word that means “irritable and rude.” In a Sentence: It would be churlish not to congratulate the winning team because we lost the match.

Contents: New "Electric Tarantula" Discovered In Southern Thailand Nipah Virus On The Rise In Kerala, India Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day A new tarantula has just been discovered in southern Thailand, and it is extremely unique. The newly discovered Chilobrachys natanicharum, or as most people call it, the electric tarantula, is only found in the southern mangrove forests of Thailand, and it has been given that nickname because it literally looks electric. The spiders glow a bright iridescent blue, but the colors slightly vary based on the gender. Female and young males have more purple hairs than the bright metallic blue in adult males. The blue color on them is a very rare phenomenon in nature, but this spider is in danger due to logging and loss of habitat. On another note, officials claim that the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, India is under control, despite the number of people on the contact list spiraling to about 1,200. 6 cases have been confirmed so far, and all are under control, thankfully. The Nipah virus has a fatality rate of about 40% to 75%, depending on the outbreak, and is transferred from animals to humans. The main carrier of the virus are fruit bats, and it is transmitted through direct contact with any infected animal or their waste. Masks and social distancing rules are kicking in, giving many people déjà vu of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, but this is much less severe and much less contagious. Fact of the Day: Rubber bands last longer when they are refrigerated. The cold temperatures cause the polymers in the material to relax, making it stretchier and last longer. Quote of the Day: Whatever you do, always give 100%. Unless you're donating blood. (Bill Murray) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Pontificate (verb)- To pontificate is to speak or express an opinion about something in a pompous or dogmatic way. In a Sentence: Stan loves to hear himself talk and will often pontificate on even the most trivial issues.

Germany's Oktoberfest has commenced, with the popular festival officially starting last Saturday and it goes through October 3. It is the world's largest festival of Bavarian culture, which is a culture specifically in the state of Bavaria in the southeast corner of Germany. It is famous mainly for beer, music, and theater, and millions of people travel to Munich every Oktoberfest for the folk festival. Now, let's dive into today's news. Contents: Libya Floods Death Toll Drops By Over 7,000 Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Today's only news is that the death toll in Libya has been reconfirmed, and it is much lower than previously expected. UN estimates from last week said that about 11,300 people died in the floods, but it has actually been lowered to 4,000. However, over 9,000 people are still missing. The terrible infrastructure was the main contributor to the storm, as two crumbling dams collapsed when the storm arrived, sending a massive flood down the river. A lack of a good warning system failed to alert the residents of Derna, the town most affected by the floods, to the massive wave of water rushing down the river, leading to thousands of people dying because they were sleeping- it was about 11 pm. Also, most buildings near the river were quickly washed away due to the aging structures. Climate change also made the disaster worse, with stronger storms affecting more areas and bringing more catastrophic weather events. Fact of the Day: Oktoberfest is named after the month of October, but it actually starts on September 16 and only runs through 3 days of October this year. Quote of the Day: We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. (Albert Einstein) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Zenith (noun)- Zenith refers to the strongest or most successful period of time for a person or thing. In a Sentence: At the zenith of her music career in the early 2000s, she released her best-selling album to date.

Contents: India Crushes Sri Lanka In Crazy Asia Cup Final NFL Week 2 Finishing Off Apple Launches Numerous New Features In iOS 17 Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day India's national cricket team crushed Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup yesterday, with Sri Lanka electing to bat first. However, India's bowlers demolished the Sri Lankan batsmen, limiting them to only 50 runs in 15.4 overs in a 50 over match where the average score is 275. India's Mohammed Siraj took 6 wickets in 7 overs (6-21), with 4 of those wickets in one over; he was designated Man of the Match because of his spectacular bowling. All-rounder Hardik Pandya took 3 wickets (3-3) in 2.2 overs as well, and Jasprit Bumrah took a wicket in the first over. Because of all of this, Sri Lanka's highest scorer was Kusal Mendis, and he only scored 17 runs! After that, India breezed by to win by 10 wickets in 6.1 overs after Ishan Kishan scored 23 (not out) and Shubman Gill scored 27 (not out). In the end, the officials also designated Indian bowler Kuldeep Yadav as Player of the Series due to his spectacular wrist spin bowling that took 9 crucial wickets across 5 matches. Also, most of this week's NFL games took place yesterday, with many action-packed games taking place. Check out the recaps here. The last two games will take place tonight- the New Orleans Saints vs the Carolina Panthers and the Cleveland Browns vs the Pittsburgh Steelers. On another note, Apple's iOS 17 software launched in iPhones with a host of cool new features, right after their big iPhone 15 launch last week. Let's dive into what new features will be arriving. StandBy: This huge new feature shows widgets, photos, and customizable clocks when your phone is turned on its side while charging. You can also enable Live Activities while your phone is on StandBy, so you can stay on top of anything you need to keep up with, like a sports game. Lastly, talking to Siri while on StandBy will show new visual results, like images and extra info. Contact Poster: You will be able to customize what your friends or family see when you call them, so they will be able to see any kind of image you put and your name in a customized font. You can also choose what colors to add to the poster- and this will be easily accessible, as it is in your contact card. Live Voicemail: With this new feature, you can see the voicemail someone is sending in real-time, but in text. This way, you can see the context of the call and decide whether to pick it up or leave it. 'Plus' in iMessage: Many new apps have been added to the iMessages plus button, so you can add everything from your location to your movie plans into the conversation. Check In: This feature sends notifications to family to alert them when you get to your destination. If you stop making progress, it will give the specific contact helpful information like your location and battery level. Transcribed Audio Messages: Audio messages in iMessages are now written out, so you can read them instead of listening if you need to. Stickers: You can now access all of your Live Stickers, emojis, and memojis in one place. They are all located in your sticker drawer, which is in your emoji keyboard- making it accessible almost everywhere on your iPhone. You can also now add stickers from your photos by holding on the subject and clicking "Add Sticker." New Widgets: Connecting your widgets to your home's system will now enable you to do things like turn off the lights and play music on your home sound system, right from your phone. NameDrop: This new feature allows users to share their contact information just by holding their phones close together, and you just press accept. Safari Profiles: Make multiple tab groups and profiles in Safari for work and home, allowing you to stay organized with all of your tabs and quickly browse what you need to. Visual Look-Up: This amazing feature enables you to look up all the info about anything you see based on an image of it- just press and hold on the subject and click "Look Up." Journal: This feature hasn't arrived yet, but Apple says it will come later this year. Journal will be a new app where you can reflect and relive special moments, allowing you to add photos, videos, and more into your entries. It can also be a place to mark important memories or set new goals based on your logged achievements, and Apple can even give you suggestions on what to make as your next entry. Also, your journal is completely yours- with the ability to lock your journal, no one else can access it, not even Apple. And this isn't it! Believe it or not, these are only the main features arriving in iOS 17, but there are numerous others! To read about them all, click here. Upcoming Events: International Equal Pay Day (Monday, September 18) Apple's iOS 17 Arrives (Monday, September 18) International Day of Peace (Thursday, September 21) The Apple iPhone 15 and 15 Pro Go On Sale (Friday, September 22) International Day of Sign Languages (Saturday, September 23) Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix (Sunday, September 24) Fact of the Day: Chewing gum is banned in Singapore. Quote of the Day: There is no point in competing if you don't want to be the best. (Virat Kohli) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Shofar (noun)- A shofar is the horn of an animal (usually a ram) blown as a trumpet by the ancient Hebrews in battle and during religious observances. It is used in modern Judaism especially during Rosh Hashanah and at the end of Yom Kippur. In a Sentence: As a child, Eli's favorite part of the High Holidays was the sounding of the shofar.

Contents: Hurricane Lee Makes Landfall, Kills 1 14 Dead After Small Plane Crashes In Brazilian Amazon Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Hurricane Lee made landfall in Nova Scotia, Canada yesterday with hurricane-force winds and heavy rain. Over 64,000 people are still out of power in Maine, and one person has been confirmed dead after a tree fell on his car. It is now pounding New Brunswick, Canada and it is sure to deliver some more damage on its journey ahead. The storm is expected to smash through eastern Canada today and into tomorrow before fizzling out in the north Atlantic, which will finally end our worries- this storm formed on September 5! On another note, 14 people are dead after a small plane crashed in the Amazon Rainforest in the Amazonas state of Brazil. The plane was heading to the area to do recreational fishing, and a large rainstorm caused bad weather that led to the crash when landing. 12 passengers were killed along with the pilot and co-pilot, but no information about any of them was given by officials. Fact of the Day: Cabbage is 92% water. Quote of the Day: A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there. (John Assaraf) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Demure (adj)- When describing something observed, such as clothing or an attitude, demure means "not attracting or demanding a lot of attention," making it a synonym of reserved and modest. When used to describe a person—it's usually applied to a girl or woman—it typically means "quiet and polite," but it can also describe someone who puts on a show of false modesty, making it a synonym of coy. In a Sentence: It's an elegant gown with a demure neckline.

The Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah is kicking into high gear, as it lasts from Friday, September 15 to Sunday, September 17. Many schools and universities across the world were closed on Friday, and many others made rules like no homework or no tests. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, and it is celebrated by eating sweets to make it a sweet year ahead, along with the regular trip to the local synagogue. Contents: Hurricane Lee Takes Aim At Northeastern US, Southeastern Canada Death Toll From Maui Wildfires Drops To 97 Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Today's main news is all about Hurricane Lee. After becoming a major hurricane in the mid-Atlantic and passing by the Lesser Antilles, it took a turn north, putting it on track to hit Bermuda. However, it brushed by after turning northwest, and is now taking aim at the northeastern US and eastern Canada as a Category 1 hurricane. Tropical Storm Warnings are in place for parts of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine. Cape Cod (Massachusetts) will be one of the hardest hit areas, as it juts out of the mainland and into the direct path of Lee. It is expected to make landfall in Nova Scotia tonight with winds of 65 mph and heavy rain, but its impacts are already being felt along the eastern US coast. Huge waves and strong rip currents are moving in, and strong bands of rain are lashing New England already. Lee is expected to move past the area by tomorrow night, and will finally fizzle out in the north Atlantic. On another note, the death toll from the deadly Maui wildfires has actually decreased after a double-check, bringing the total down from 115 to 97. DNA reviews have shown that some of the people confirmed dead are actually alive and were misidentified, which brings the total down by 18. Fact of the Day: In Switzerland, you are not allowed to have just one guinea pig or parrot. Since they are social animals, you are required to have at least two - by law - so that they can interact with each other. Quote of the Day: Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain. (Vivian Greene) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Mellifluous (adj)- Mellifluous is an adjective used in formal speech and writing to describe things with a smooth, flowing sound. It can also be used to mean “filled with something (such as honey) that sweetens,” as in “mellifluous confections.” In a Sentence: Though not so enchanting as the dawn chorus of early spring, Sasha looks forward to the fall, when the woods ring again with mellifluous birdsong.