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Today, we have a YNH Exclusive on the ICC T20 World Cup Final! Read a synopsis of the match, the awards given out, and the next steps for the teams after this world cup. Contents: ICC T20 World Cup Ends in a Nail-Biter of a Finale Awards/Achievements Retirements Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 has ended after almost a month of play, and the finale was quite a nail-biter. The finale took place at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, which is a relatively high-scoring pitch located in one of the host countries of this World Cup. India won the toss and elected to bat, and South Africa's captain Aiden Markram later stated that he would have done the same if they had won the toss. India began their batting with openers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli-- Rohit has been quite consistent this tournament, while Kohli has not performed as well as he usually does. However, it was Rohit who went out early in this match, with a failed sweep shot on a ball by spinner Keshav Maharaj heading straight to a fielder after he had scored just 9 runs. India's other top order batsman, Rishabh Pant, also went out early, going for a duck in the same over as Rohit. Suryakumar Yadav then came in, but his partnership with Kohli didn't last long, either. He went out for just 3 runs after being caught out by Heinrich Klaasen following a quick ball from bowler Kagiso Rabada. India then sent out all-rounder Axar Patel to stabilize the innings, as they were struggling at 45-3. He played very well, scoring 47 runs before being run out by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock after a mistake during what he thought might be a single. One of India's biggest hitters, Shivam Dube, walked in after Axar, and he scored a solid 27 runs before getting caught out on a ball bowled by Anrich Nortje. Kohli also got out around the same time, getting caught out on a ball from Marco Jansen, but he scored a game-changing 76 runs off 59 balls. He was the one who powered India to their final score of 176/7 after their horrible start. Dube and Axar also chipped in at the end after their slow start with multiple boundaries. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja then finished off the innings, scoring 5 and 2 runs, respectively. When South Africa came out to bat, they knew they had a big total on their hands, as India had registered the highest-ever total by any team in a T20 World Cup Final. Opener Reeza Hendricks was clean bowled by fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah on a quick inswinger, and captain Aiden Markram also went out early after a wider delivery from Arshdeep Singh that he nicked to wicketkeeper Pant. South Africa seemed to be struggling by the middle of over 3, just 12/2, which was not helping their required run rate. However, they recovered quickly, with opener Quinton de Kock and middle order batsman Tristan Stubbs scoring a strong 58 run partnership, which took them to 70/2 before Stubbs was bowled by off spinner Axar Patel, finishing with 31 runs. Consistent hitter Heinrich Klaasen came in next, and he did even better. Klaasen and de Kock achieved a small partnership, as de Kock was caught out on a ball by Arshdeep Singh after he tried to go for a six-- he scored 39 runs. Klaasen kept going, though, scoring the fastest 50 in a World Cup Final off just 23 balls. David Miller also chipped in to contribute to the pair's 45-run partnership, but that was ended when Klaasen caught an edge from a ball bowled by Hardik Pandya, and it went straight to Pant. He finished with 52 runs off 27 balls. South Africa then needed 26 runs off 23 balls, which is very doable for such a strong team. Marco Jansen and David Miller attempted to forge a partnership, but those efforts were quickly ended by Jasprit Bumrah when he clean bowled Jansen for just 2 runs. Arshdeep kept the penultimate over to just 4 runs, and South Africa then needed 16 runs off the last over with David Miller and Keshav Maharaj at the crease. On the first ball of the last over, bowled by Hardik Pandya, Miller almost smashed a six. However, Suryakumar, who was at the boundary, made a spectacular catch that changed the game. He caught the ball but had too much momentum and was going to go over the boundary, so he threw the ball up in the air, went over the boundary, ran back onto the field, and caught the ball again. They then needed 16 off 5, and Rabada and Maharaj tried to get there, but it came to 9 off 2 balls. Rabada tried to hit a boundary, but it went straight to a fielder, dashing their hopes of bringing home their first-ever T20 World Cup victory in their first time ever making it to the final. India ended up winning the nail-biting match by just 7 runs. The last time India won the T20 World Cup was during the first-ever tournament, all the way back in 2007. Kohli was given the Man of the Match award for his 76 runs off 59 balls, and Bumrah was given the Player of the Tournament award for his 15 wickets at an economy rate of only 4.17. Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the tournament's highest run-scorer, with 281 runs, while India's Arshdeep Singh and Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi tied for most wickets-- 17. West Indies' Nicholas Pooran achieved the highest score of the World Cup, with 98 runs off 53 balls vs Afghanistan, while Fazalhaq Farooqi had the best figures with 5/9 against Uganda. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and India's Rohit Sharma tied for most fifties, with 3 each. Nicholas Pooran scored the most sixes, with 17, while Australia's Travis Head scored the most fours with 26. Travis Head also had the most overall boundaries, with 41. Unfortunately, this win for India also had a slight melancholy note. This was India's last match being coached by legendary batsman Rahul Dravid, who will be leaving the team after this World Cup. Also, in his post-game interview, Virat Kohli confirmed that this was his last T20 International (T20I) match for India. At just 35 years old, he has scored 4,188 runs with a strike rate of 137 across 125 matches in 14 years, scoring one century and 38 fifties. The only person who has scored more T20I runs that Kohli is fellow teammate Rohit Sharma. To add onto these two retirements, captain Rohit Sharma also announced that he will be ending his T20I career at the end of this World Cup. At 37 years old, he has scored 4,231 runs with a strike rate of 141 across 159 matches in 17 years, scoring five centuries and 32 fifties. Both of these batsmen are the top two best batsmen in the T20I format, and it will be sad for India to see them go. In addition, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja announced his retirement from T20s a day later. At 35 years old, he scored 515 runs with a strike rate of 127 across 74 matches in 15 years. As an off spinner, he took 54 wickets with an economy of 7.13 across 74 matches in 15 years, bowling a total of 226 overs. He was also known for his masterclass fielding, with amazing catching skills and superior aim that allowed him to throw numerous run outs. Kohli, Rohit, and Jadeja will continue to play on India's One-Day International (ODI) and Test match teams, though. These retirements will make way for new batsmen to make their debuts onto the team, such as skillful opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who didn't get to to play this World Cup as he was drafted as a reserve, or massive hitter Rinku Singh, who was not selected for the Indian team. Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Abhishek Sharma are all other possible openers for the team, and the decision must be made quickly-- India plays Zimbabwe in a 5-match T20I series starting July 6. Another question at hand is the change of captaincy-- who will take over for Rohit Sharma? Many people believe it will be vice-captain Hardik Pandya who takes on his role, but other prospects like strategic bowler Jasprit Bumrah, calm batsman Suryakumar Yadav, or wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant are also in the mix for the captaincy in future T20Is. It has also been confirmed that India are looking to former cricketer Gautam Gambhir to become the team's new coach. Congratulations to India fans on their first win in 17 years! Also, bravo to South Africa for escaping their 'semifinal curse' and making it to the T20 World Cup Final for the first time in the history of the tournament! This story has been updated with the latest information on the World Cup match and retirements. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): Bees make colored honey based on what they eat. In France, bees were found making green and blue honey after eating waste from a nearby M&M plant. 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): Fecund (adj) - Fecund is a formal word that typically describes a person, animal, or plant that is producing or able to produce many offspring. It is synonymous with fertile and fruitful. Fecund is also used figuratively to describe something especially intellectually productive or inventive, as in "a fecund source of ideas." In a Sentence: The farm’s fecund fields abounded with produce.

Contents: 8 Injured After Strong 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Peru Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day 8 people were injured after a huge 7.2 magnitude earthquake smashed into southern Peru recently, but fortunately, there is no risk of any tsunami. The quake struck in the middle of Wednesday night at 12:36 am local time, shaking buildings and roads across Peru. The epicenter was located just a couple of miles west of the small town of Atiquipa, in southwestern Peru, and was around 17 miles deep. However, the earthquake was felt all the way in the capital of Lima hundreds of miles away. Multiple reports stated that it was a long earthquake compared to others, lasting around 30 seconds, with consistent shaking that forced people to make a mad dash out of their homes. Most of the injured only sustained minor injuries, and no one was killed. There was an initial warning for a possible small tsunami, but that warning was soon contradicted after they confirmed that there was no chance of any incoming tsunami. As of right now, they have stated that there was minimal damage to infrastructure, but surveys are still taking place to ensure that every building and road in the area is stable. Unfortunately, many of the homes in the area were not built of materials that can withstand such long, powerful earthquakes, and multiple landslides also affected the area. Earthquakes are quite normal in the area, as it is at the border of two major tectonic plates: the South American Plate and the Nazca Plate. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): Nikola Tesla hated pearls. One day, when his secretary showed up wearing them, he sent her home. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If we followed our own advice, we’d be successful. (Fred Astaire) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Deference (noun) - Deference refers to respect and esteem that is appropriate to show to someone, such as a superior or elder. Something done in deference to, or out of deference to, someone or something is done in order to show respect for the opinions or influence of that person or thing. In a Sentence: The children were taught to show proper deference to their elders.

Contents: Kenya Pulls Back Proposed Tax Hike After Violent Protests Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Kenya has pulled back their proposed tax raise following intense protests from the population, which involved violence that killed multiple people. In case you missed it, following the tax proposal, serious protests took place in front of Kenya’s parliament building in the capital of Nairobi, and some protestors even burned down half of the building. Lawmakers were able to escape, but firefighters couldn’t save the building fast enough. Kenya’s President William Ruto authorized soldiers to take military action and use lethal force– and it did not end well. Multiple people were killed after soldiers opened fire on crowds, and more were injured by rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons. After the extreme unrest, Ruto has decided to withdraw the bill, voiding the new tax proposal. He stated that “the people had spoken,” and immediately voided what was set to become a controversial tax raise in Kenya amidst sky-high prices of living. Kenya is still in extreme debt, though, and the only thing other than taxes that can bring them out of that debt is cuts in government spending. However, Kenya’s population is still protesting for Ruto to step down, as they believe that his reversal of the proposed bill came too late– and at the cost of the lives of dozens of people. More protestors gathered across the streets of Nairobi on Thursday, shouting “Ruto must go, Ruto must go!” Roadblocks were constructed across the city, wreaking havoc on traffic. It will be a huge task for Ruto to address the youth and bring peace to Kenya’s streets once again, while a large portion of the population seems to be urging him to step down. We’ll keep you updated on the latest with this topic. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): Neil Armstrong's hair was sold in 2004 for $3,000 to John Reznikoff, who holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of hair from historical celebrities. Armstrong’s lawyers threatened to sue Marx Sizemore, the barber who cut the hair, as they stated that he had violated an Ohio law that protects the rights of famous people. The barber said he wouldn’t pay, and Reznikoff said he wouldn’t give back the hair, but he did donate $3,000 to charity instead. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The older you get, the more it becomes about what you’re doing and less about what you haven’t done. (Michelle Pfeiffer) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cardinal (adj) - Cardinal is an adjective used to describe things—usually abstract things such as rules or principles—that are of basic or main importance. The word is also used, especially in the phrase “cardinal sin,” with the meaning “very serious or grave.” In a Sentence: “Seek out multiple sources” is a cardinal rule of good news reporting.

Contents: Denmark Plans to Impose First-of-its-Kind Carbon Tax For Livestock to Combat Climate Change Ex-General Juan Zuniga Attempts Coup D'Etat in Bolivia Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Denmark has taken another giant step forward in the fight against climate change: they will impose the world’s first carbon tax on livestock. Starting in 2030, Denmark will impose a tax on farmers based on the amount of greenhouse gases their cows, pigs, and sheep release through farts, burps, and dung, specifically methane. Carbon dioxide is commonly thought to be the driver behind climate change, but methane is one of the real instigators of the crisis. According to the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, methane traps over 87 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year scale, making it highly potent– and it is the chemical that is released when animals fart, burp, and excrete waste. In 2030, farmers will be charged 300 Danish kroner ($43) per metric ton of emissions released by their livestock, and that tax will increase to 750 kroner ($108) by 2035. However, to ensure that agriculture-related businesses do not take a hit, the Danish government has offered a compromise in return: farmers will get a 60% income tax deduction. As a reference point, one Danish cow releases around 6 metric tons of greenhouse gases per year. After this deduction, the price per cow will decrease to 120 kroner ($17) per ton and increase to 300 kroner ($43) by 2035. Farmers will pay approximately 720 kroner ($103) per cow annually, rising to 1,800 kroner ($258) in 2035. There are around 1.48 million cows across Denmark. Also, this is just the price for cows– sheep and pigs will also be counted in the tax. This is part of Denmark’s goal to reach a carbon-neutral status by 2045, and this tax will help motivate farmers to find alternatives that can reduce the total emissions of their livestock. They also hope other countries will follow their new movement– Denmark is the first country to impose a carbon tax on livestock, but it probably won’t be the last. On Wednesday, Bolivian former general Juan Jose Zúñiga, recently stripped of his military commander title, attempted a coup d’etat on President Luis Arce. Earlier in the day, Zúñiga gathered military units in the Plaza Murillo square, home to the presidential palace and the Congress building. A witness saw an armored vehicle ram a door of the palace, and soldiers storm it. A few hours later, President Arce swore José Wilson Sanchez in as the new military commander, the troops withdrew from the palace and square, and Zúñiga was arrested. This comes during a tense election season between the former allies, Arce and ex-President Evo Morales. Many people, including Zúñiga, do not want Morales to retake power after a disastrous term when he was ousted. Zúñiga threatened to block Morales if he attempted to. This statement caused Arce to fire him. At least nine people were hurt during the attempted coup, but everything is under control now. This situation highlights the political turmoil Bolivia has been facing for many years now. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): Deep sea divers discovered bottles of champagne from the 1800s at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Apparently, those extremely cold temperatures are great for champagne aging. Wine experts sampled the champagne and reported that it tasted “sometimes cheesy” with “animal notes” and elements of “wet hair.” Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is. (Earnest Hemingway) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Zero-sum (adj) - Zero-sum describes something, such as a game, mentality, or situation, in which any gain corresponds directly with an equivalent loss. In a Sentence: Dividing up the budget is a zero-sum game.

Contents: Multiple Dead After Major Protests Across Kenya After Proposed Tax Raise U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman Defeated By George Latimer in New York Primary Mecca Death Toll Update Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Several people were killed, and many others were injured after intense protests at Kenya’s parliament in Nairobi yesterday following an unpopular proposal to raise taxes. This comes after lots of frustration over high living costs across Kenya, as it is the seventh-most populous country in Africa and one of the most expensive to live in. A tax hike would only increase the struggles that many residents of Nairobi and other cities face against the high prices, which sparked protests in the capital that later spread to other towns as well. The protests began in front of the parliament building and quickly became quite violent. They also burned down about half of the parliament building. The lawyers proposing the tax raise managed to pass the bill before the invasion of protestors, but Kenya’s President William Ruto still has to approve it. Some groups are pressuring him to pass it, while others strongly recommend he veto the bill– the residents of the East African nation will anxiously await his decision. Police responded violently to the situation– multiple officers opened fire on crowds, and others fired tear gas into swaths of protestors. Five people were shot dead as they tried to help the injured, and more were wounded near hospitals and churches as they sought immediate medical attention. The fire at the parliament building was put out with police water cannons, which were also used to ward off incoming protestors. The Kenya Human Rights Commission expressed concern about the killings and told President Ruto to stop them as soon as possible. However, Ruto maintained that he was doing exactly what was needed to ensure peace and stop the unrest. On another note, on Tuesday, a heated battle between U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman and candidate George Latimer took place for the Democratic nomination for New York’s 16th District. Latimer ended up winning the race, and here’s why. Firstly, Bowman and Latimer have different stances on the war in Gaza. Both condemned the Oct. 7 attack, and both support a two-state solution. However, Bowman believes the U.S. should stay out of the war and rejected a symbolic House resolution in support of Israel. At the same time, Latimer backs Israel and said negotiating a cease-fire with Hamas will have no chance of success because it is a terrorist organization. The boundaries of District 16 have changed, and so have the people. In 2022, before the boundaries were reshaped, 30% of the voting-age population was Black, while 34% was White. After the redrawing in 2024, 21% is Black, and 42% is White. This is relevant because Bowman is Black, and Latimer is White. At YNH, we don’t usually cover local news, especially local elections. However, this example shows us how things like war can create two different ideologies and how demographics can easily sway an election. Lastly, a quick update on the heat deaths during this year’s Mecca pilgrimage: the death toll has reached a total of 1,301. In case you missed it, here’s the article explaining the disaster. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): The exact birthday of blue jeans, according to Levi's, is May 20, 1873. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Changes that seem small and unimportant at first will compound into remarkable results if you’re willing to stick with them for years. (James Clear-- Atomic Habits) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Renumeration (noun) - Remuneration is a formal word that refers to an amount of money paid to someone for a service, loss, or expense, or to the act of paying such an amount. It is synonymous with recompense and pay. In a Sentence: The actor was offered a modest speaking fee by the host as remuneration for giving her speech at the awards ceremony.

We apologize that our daily updates have been releasing late this week due to a time zone change. The issue has been fixed and our updates will now resume publishing on their regular schedule. Contents: Sister of Hamas Chief Killed in IDF Air Force Attack 22 Dead After South Korea Lithium Battery Plant Fire Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Early Tuesday morning, Israeli media reported that the sister of Hamas' chief political leader Ismail Haniyeh had been killed during a strike on the al-Shati refugee camp. The Israeli Defense Force said an Air Force plane struck two buildings in al-Shati and the community of Daraj Tuffah. They said the structures were being used by Hamas terrorists, who were reportedly operating from a school. Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya also reported that Israeli forces hit one of Haniyeh's houses, killing 13 people. This comes soon after Israel arrested another one of Haniyeh’s sisters in April when she praised the Oct. 7 attack on the southern region of the country and showed solidarity with a terrorist group. Sabah al-Salem Haniyeh was 57 years old at the time of the arrest and lived in the town of Tel Sheva. On another note, 22 people are dead in South Korea after a devastating fire at a lithium battery plant, but the blaze has been extinguished. Around 10:30 am local time on Monday, a couple of lithium batteries exploded within the plant, which contained over 35,000 batteries. That set off a small chain reaction of explosions, which led to an all-out fire in the plant. It was located in Hwaseong, an industrial area southwest of Seoul, South Korea’s capital, past the city of Incheon. The company, called Aricell, is a relatively small business, employing around 50 people and mainly focusing on the creation of lithium batteries for sensors and other machinery. When burned, lithium batteries release a dangerous, toxic gas. Soon after the fire began, workers were quickly killed by the gas inhalation, as the gas is poisonous enough to kill you after just one or two breaths. In addition, the blaze spread very quickly– within a minute, it had already engulfed most of the floor. To add onto that, the fire later sparked more explosions, which shook the building and may have killed more workers who had managed to survive the gas. Fire crews arrived and were able to put out the fire within 6 hours of the initial explosions, but it wasn’t fast enough to save the workers inside from the toxic gases. Among the dead were 18 Chinese workers, two South Koreans, one Laotian, and one unidentified person. Multiple workers managed to make it out unscathed, while others were unluckier and escaped with moderate to severe burns. However, the dangerous gas from the batteries was the true killer. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the plant on Monday, and the country’s Interior Minister Lee Sang-min ensured that the local authorities were taking steps to prevent the chemicals and toxic gas from spreading to nearby areas. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): An architect named William Kent actually invented the stroller for the third Duke of Devonshire in 1733, but he originally designed it to be pulled by a goat or a similar animal. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Consider the source… Don’t be a fool by listening to a fool. (Sylvester Stallone) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Clandestine (adj) - Clandestine describes something done secretly, or in a private place or way. In a Sentence: The wedding was a clandestine affair in Las Vegas.

Contents: 56 Dead, 117 Hospitalized After Deadly Alcohol Poisoning in South India Russia Blames US for Ukrainian Attack on Crimea Upcoming Events Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day At least 56 people are dead after the spread of toxic illegal alcohol in India, and 117 others have been hospitalized. Arrack is a common distilled alcoholic drink found in South Asia in countries like India and Sri Lanka, and it comes from the fermented sap of coconut flowers or sugarcane. The alcohol by volume is quite high, ranging from 33-50%. Unfortunately, distilleries using unsafe products and ingredients can sometimes sell substandard drinks that can contain dangerous chemicals. Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a poisonous substance that can kill you if ingested in large amounts, and it is a toxic byproduct of fermentation. Moonshine contains up to 10% methanol if not distilled properly, which is why moonshine is illegal in most areas of India– it has killed thousands of people due to lead and arsenic poisoning. Also, many factories add methanol to increase the alcohol content without actually paying for alcohol, allowing them to reap the benefits at the expense of the lives of poor workers. Similarly, this batch of local arrack was laced with methanol, which has serious side effects. Methanol causes many severe effects on the body, such as blindness and kidney failure, and if you drink enough, it will easily kill you. Impoverished workers in the state of Tamil Nadu happened to buy this lethal batch of arrack, immediately killing some and severely injuring hundreds of others. Sadly, this isn’t the first time this has happened. Due to the improper distillation practices and how companies cut corners with liquor in small, poorer areas of India, dozens of people die each year from methanol poisoning from their alcohol. Due to laws prohibiting alcohol, buying illegal liquor is inexpensive and convenient for workers. Families of the affected are now urging the government to take action on this matter to make sure that events like this never happen again. On another note, on Sunday, Russia issued a statement saying that the U.S. was responsible for a Ukrainian attack on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. According to the statement, five U.S.-supplied missiles killed four people and injured 151 others. Russian authorities stated four of the missiles were shot down by air defense systems, and the fifth detonated in midair. Missile fragments fell just after noon next to a beach in northern Sevastopol, which killed/injured the affected people. The incident generated a furious reaction from public figures. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, said there was “no difference to us” between the U.S. government, Ukrainian leaders, and “crazy fanatics.” Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill said there "was no justification whatsoever for a missile strike on civilians" and voiced indignation that it had taken place on the Orthodox holiday of Trinity. Upcoming Events: International Day of Women in Diplomacy (Monday, June 24) Stanley Cup Finals-- NHL (Monday, June 24) Day of the Seafarer (Tuesday, June 25) International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (Wednesday, June 26) United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (Wednesday, June 26) Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day (Thursday, June 27) International Day of the Tropics (Saturday, June 29) Tour de France Begins (Saturday, June 29) International Asteroid Day (Sunday, June 30) International Day of Parliamentarism (Sunday, June 30) Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix (Sunday, June 30) Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): At one point, the British Empire actually controlled 23% of the world's population and 13.7 million acres-- almost 25% of the Earth's land area. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): When people don’t want the best for you, they are not the best for you. (Gayle King) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Polemic (noun) - A polemic is a strong written or spoken attack against someone else’s opinions, beliefs, practices, etc. In a Sentence: Her book is a fierce polemic against societal inequalities.

Contents: Over 1,000 Dead After Extreme Heat Strikes Mecca During Hajj Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Over 1,000 people from various countries have been killed by extreme heat at Mecca, the holiest site in Islam. According to their local countries, at least 14 Malaysians, 165 Indonesians, 75 Jordanians, 35 Pakistanis, 49 Tunisians, 11 Iranians and 98 Indians have died. The United States government also mentioned that some of their citizens also died in the heat, but they didn't specify how many. Egypt confirmed that at least 500 to 600 of their citizens had also been killed by the heat. Dozens of other citizens from these countries have been hospitalized for heatstroke as well. Muslims try to make an annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and the date of this pilgrimage, called hajj, varies from year to year because in depends on the lunar calendar. This year, the five-year pilgrimage was between June 14 and June 19, and temperatures were scorching in the area. Much of Mecca experienced temperatures as high as 120˚F (49˚C), which caused most of the hundreds of deaths. Multiple other assorted health issues, such as heart disease and pneumonia, also killed many pilgrims. Unfortunately, the death toll is expected to rise. Saudi Arabia and Egypt have not released official death tolls yet, and these tolls only include registered pilgrims. Many others came unregistered, meaning that the death toll could be well over 1,500 or even 2,000. However, this isn't the first time hundreds of pilgrims have died during the journey. The pilgrimage is known to be quite dangerous, as 200 people died last year as well. In 2015, at least 700 people were killed after a stampede, and another 100 were killed after a crane collapsed. Around 360 people died in 2006 in a crush, and another 340 were killed in 1997 after a fire. The most deadly disaster at Mecca has been in 1990, where over 1,420 people were killed in a stampede, but this could soon top that. This is an ongoing story and we will keep you updated with the death toll in upcoming daily updates. Fact of the Day (Facts.net): Jeffrey Katzenberg produced some of Disney’s biggest hits, namely: The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. With the success of these classics, he requested a promotion. However, due to internal conflicts, he got fired, instead.  It was then that he founded DreamWorks Studios with other familiar film personalities, Steven Spielberg and David Geffen. Quote of the Day (BrainyQuotes): To find out what one is fitted to do, and to secure an opportunity to do it, is the key to happiness. (John Dewey) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Supersede (verb) - Supersede is a verb meaning "to take the place of (someone or something that is considered old, inferior, or no longer useful)." It is used synonymously with replace and displace. In a Sentence: This edition of the manual supersedes the previous one.

Contents: June 27 Presidential Debate: The Guide Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day The presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is for sure going to be one for the history books, as this will probably cement who will be president and shape the United States for the next 4 years. Let’s dive into some of the reasons voters will elect these two leaders. First, let’s take a look at Trump. His usual policies over the past 8 years include invalidating abortion, keeping firearms legalized, reducing illegal immigration drastically, and quelling LGBTQIA+. As the 45th president, he has made himself quite popular with Republican voters as shown in the Republican primary elections, with the exception of Vermont and D.C. (who voted in favor of Nikki Haley). Biden has similar effectiveness on the Democratic side. Except for American Samoa, all the areas participating in the primary election elected Biden. His policies over the past 4 years have included addressing the COVID-19 situation in 2020, taking a no-hands-on stance on the illegal immigration issue, and helping Ukraine and Israel in their wars with Russia and Hamas, respectively. However, in the wake of the debate, these two major presidential candidates are re-doing a portion of their policy. Biden said on June 5th that there would be an asylum ban for migrants coming from the US-Mexico border, and on Thursday Trump announced he would like to see green cards being given to students just out of university. This debate is sure to clean up some of the chaos in Trump’s and Biden’s policies, while also adding new drama. People are expecting a slight debate on the two's age and "mental fitness." Let’s see what Thursday, June 27 brings us. Fact of the Day (Readers' Digest): People call emergency services for the craziest things. In the United Kingdom, the police released a report of one woman who had called 999 because her ice cream didn't have enough sprinkles. She said "there were bits on one side and none on the other," and became even more upset when the ice cream truck man didn't give her money back. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it. (Vincent van Gogh) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Vulnerable (adj) - A person described as vulnerable in a general way is someone who is easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally. Vulnerable can also describe a person, group, or thing that is open to attack, harm, or damage. Both senses of vulnerable are often followed by the preposition to. In a Sentence: It is common to feel especially vulnerable in the wake of major change.

Contents: Russia May Send Weapons to Allies, Facing Backlash From International Community Fact of the Day Quote of the Day Word of the Day Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia may deliver weapons to their allies in hating the West, such as the reclusive country of North Korea. Putin stated this would not be any different from Europe and North America supplying weapons to Ukraine. This statement comes right after Putin and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un signed a treaty on Wednesday that proclaimed if either country ever got attacked, the other would supply military assistance to the attacked. Ukraine and the U.S., in turn, said North Korea has already given Russia a significant amount of artillery shells and ballistic missiles. Putin also said if South Korea decided to supply military aid to Ukraine, the former would respond in a way that would be "painful for Seoul." Fact of the Day (Facts.net): You may notice that your banana-flavored food products don't taste quite like the real thing. This is because commercially used banana flavoring is based on a type of banana that was wiped out by a plague in the 1950s. Quote of the Day (Brainy Quotes): We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men. (Herman Melville) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Hue and cry (noun) - Hue and cry refers to a clamor of alarm or protest in response to something. It can also be used as a synonym for hubbub to refer to general noise or uproar. In a Sentence: After the popular professor was fired by the college, there was such a hue and cry from students that the administration was forced to reconsider its decision.