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United States President Donald Trump threatened to slam Brazil with a 50% tariff if they refuse to clear all charges on former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been accused of attempting to start a coup. Bolsonaro, a far-right candidate who assumed the presidency from 2019 to 2023, was known for his anti-Amazon policies that increased deforestation and decreased protections for the rainforest, boosting Brazil's economy but causing irreversible damage to the Amazonian ecosystem. He subsequently lost the 2022 Brazilian election to incumbent President Lula Inacio de Silva, a left-wing candidate working to save the Amazon once again. In February, Bolsonaro was charged with attempting a coup to take down Lula's government , and the case went to the Supreme Court. Brazil's prosecutor general, Paulo Gonet, charged Bolsonaro of planning major actions to take down Lula's government and restore his power. Gonet claimed that an organization consisting of 33 members, in addition to Bolsonaro, created a dangerous plan by the name of the "Green and Yellow Dagger," referencing the green and yellow colors on the Brazilian flag. Allegedly, the plan involved attacking government offices, poisoning Lula, and killing Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Justice de Moraes was known for his left-leaning decisions, which often included ordering probes into Bolsonaro's actions. However, Bolsonaro and his team strongly denied the allegations, and he has maintained close ties with Trump, who is also a prominent right-wing politician. Now, Trump has threatened to place a staggering 50% tariff on Brazil if they do not clear Bolsonaro of all charges. Brazil currently faces a minimal 10% tariff on all exports to the United States, which is Trump's baseline tariff, and that was not expected to change anytime soon. Brazil is one of the few countries that the US runs a trade surplus with, meaning that the US exports more goods to Brazil than Brazil does to the US. However, he has confirmed that companies which shift manufacturing to the United States will not face this tariff, as he has done with other countries across the world. This comes just after Trump announced that he would delay all reciprocal tariffs once again, this time until August 1, and he has adjusted tariff rates for dozens of countries, many of which have been lowered due to actions taken by countries after the threats of tariffs. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The scientific name for the giant anteater is myrmecophaga tridactyla . This literally means "ant eating with three fingers." Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): The most important investment you can make is in yourself. (Raoul Pal) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Simulacrum (noun, sim-yuh-LAK-rum) - A simulacrum is a superficial likeness of something, usually as an imitation, copy, or representation. The plural of simulacrum is either simulacrums or simulacra . In a Sentence: The surprise still succeeded, thanks to the simulacrum of confusion expressed by two guests when they were spotted before the big moment.

The death toll in the devastating Texas floods from earlier this week has risen again, and over 160 people are still missing after several camps were inundated. The flooding was a result of extremely heavy rains across central Texas, with the worst of the effects occurring near the Guadalupe River. Around 4-8 inches of rain was predicted to fall in the area, but over 10 inches fell in most areas, with precipitation totals exceeding 18 inches in some spots. The river quickly rose and burst its banks, inundating the surrounding region, which is a popular place for summer camps. Dozens of camps are located in Kerr County, where the worst of the flooding hit, requiring thousands of people to be rescued. Now, after days of search-and-rescue operations, many have been rescued, but bodies are still being uncovered as the military and Coast Guard join police in their efforts. Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed that over 1,750 people are working with around 975 vehicles to assist in the search, and it is continuing in full force. The death toll has now risen past 110, and at least 160 others are still missing, many of which are children. However, citizens are now looking to place the blame on a certain party, and several groups have come under scrutiny. Meteorologists are being criticized for their incorrect predictions of the incoming rain, preventing locals from accurately preparing for the devastation that was to come, while many locals did not receive timely alerts that flooding was taking place. Due to the severity and the speed of the floods, many people barely had enough time to get onto their roofs or climb trees to escape the water, but many of the people who did make it through the initial stages survived the disaster. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The stickers on fruits are actually edible-- they are made of a food-based paper that has no nutritional value but is still safe for consumption. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Every job looks easy when you’re not the one doing it. (Jeffrey R. Immelt) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Exemplary (adj, ig-ZEM-pluh-ree) - Something described as exemplary is extremely good and deserves to be admired and copied. In a Sentence: Our research team was awarded for our exemplary work on the project.

United States President Donald Trump has made some significant changes to the country's tariffs on other nations, further extending a pause on tariff arrivals for many countries. Trump originally placed reciprocal tariffs on various countries around the world on April 2, which he labeled "Liberation Day." However, those tariffs were paused soon after, on April 9, with Trump confirming that they would resume on July 9. This was in order to give countries time to move their manufacturing to the United States, which was his primary goal-- companies which manufactured parts inside the US would not face the tariffs, reducing the costs required to sell goods to American consumers. Then, yesterday, just two days before the end of that 90-day pause on tariffs, Trump extended the deadline yet again, and he has also changed up the tariff rates that will hit countries on August 1. The countries that will see tariff increases are: Japan: 24% on April 2 to 25% on August 1 Malaysia: 24% on April 2 to 25% on August 1 The countries that will see tariff decreases are: Laos: 48% on April 2 to 40% on August 1 Myanmar: 44% on April 2 to 40% on August 1 Kazakhstan: 27% on April 2 to 25% on August 1 Bangladesh: 37% on April 2 to 35% on August 1 Bosnia and Herzegovina: 35% on April 2 to 30% on August 1 Cambodia: 49% on April 2 to 36% on August 1 Serbia: 37% on April 2 to 35% on August 1 Tunisia: 28% on April 2 to 25% on August 1 Additionally, Trump also sent letters to South Korea (25%), Indonesia (32%), and Thailand (36%), which will not see their tariff rates change, but he aims to convince countries to move manufacturing to the US by building pressure using these letters. He has confirmed that if countries are willing to change their trade policies toward the United States, he will lower the tariffs, but there are only three and a half weeks before the new tariffs take effect. All of these tariffs are part of Trump's attempt at lowering the US trade deficit and moving manufacturing back to the United States, but they have caused a stir in the global economy as both American and foreign companies suffer from falling stocks and changing economic conditions due to Trump's actions. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): If you point your car keys to your head, it increases the remote’s signal range. This is because all the fluids in your head act as fantastic conductors, allowing you to extend the remote’s range by a few car lengths. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Failure is a tool to get to the promised land. We all enjoy light today. Thomas Edison failed a thousand times for us. (Folorunsho Alakija) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Procrastinate (verb, pruh-KRASS-tuh-nayt) - To procrastinate is to be slow or late about doing something that should be done, or about doing or attending to things in general. In a Sentence: Tickets to the event are selling swiftly, so don't procrastinate —buy yours today.

The Seine River in Paris has finally opened to swimmers for the first time in over 100 years, a huge milestone after a costly cleanup effort by French authorities. The Seine has long been an example of pollution in European cities, ever since the river was first closed down for recreational activities back in 1923 when it was deemed unfit for swimming due to the high pollution levels. As the city of Paris grew, more and more homes and other buildings were built along the river, and much of the city's waste ended up in the river, similar to the conditions of London's Thames and New York City's Hudson at the time. As sewer systems were built, the pollution went down slightly, but it came back up as the population continued to grow. The wastewater plants managed to, for the most part, keep the river clean, but on days with heavy rains, they would become overwhelmed and release the extra waste into the river. This problem continued to grow until the 1970s, when around 60% of the city's waste ended up in the river and the biodiversity of the Seine plummeted. Over the next few decades, the pollution persisted, but discussions over cleaning the Seine began in the late 1980s. A plan was developed, which involved connecting thousands of buildings to the sewer system and building a backup container for rainwater in case of storms. However, the action proved to be extremely slow-- until 2016, when France began preparing for Paris to host the Summer Olympics in 2024. Just before the Olympics, it was found that the Seine was clean enough for swimming around 70% of the time, but heavy rains could still force sewage into the river. When the Olympics finally came around, the swimming part of the triathlon was delayed after rains dropped the water quality of the river, but it eventually went through. Now after a $1.65 billion cleanup effort, certain parts of the river have been approved for swimming once again, making it the first time in over 100 years that the public can take part in recreational activities inside the Seine. Three locations have been opened up in different areas on the river that will allow around 1,000 visitors into the Seine each day, and each location also has lifeguards, changing rooms, and showers. Dozens of other locations have also been planned for the future, which should help to increase tourism along the river. Unfortunately, river pollution is still a massive problem in lesser-developed countries, specifically in Africa and South Asia. Waste and trash from entire cities is dumped into rivers, killing wildlife and ruining the ecosystem. While cleanup efforts have improved conditions in bigger cities like Paris and London, many third-world countries still use rivers as dumping sites, leading to the destruction of the environment and the spread of disease. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The first movie ever to put out a motion-picture soundtrack was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs . Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): If you don't risk anything, you risk even more. (Erica Jong) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Antic (noun, AN-tik) - Antic refers to an attention-drawing, often wildly playful or funny act or action. It is usually used in its plural form, and is often used disapprovingly. In a Sentence: It wasn't clear which students were ultimately responsible for the antics that unfolded in the cafeteria that day.

At least 51 people are dead and 27 girls are missing after devastating floods struck central Texas, inundating much of Kerr County as the Guadalupe River reached record levels. The flooding was a result of extremely heavy rains across the region, but Kerr County, an area approximately two hours northwest of San Antonio, received the worst of the rainfall. While meteorologists predicted rain totals of between 4 and 8 inches, the entire county received around 10 inches of rain, with localized precipitation levels reaching as high as 18 inches. 43 deaths were reported in the county, 15 of which were children. The Guadalupe River, which runs through the county and down towards the Gulf of Mexico, burst its banks, covering its banks with water levels 20-26 feet higher than usual. The river is surrounded by popular summer camps that house thousands of children at this time of year, many of which were flooded during the storms. A Christian all-girls camp, Camp Mystic, was almost completely destroyed in the middle of the night, killing several children, and at least 27 girls are still missing. However, authorities quickly responded to calls for help, and at least 850 people were rescued from the floods. Search-and-rescue operations are currently ongoing for the missing children, utilizing everything from helicopters to boats, and the death toll could still rise in the coming days as more bodies are uncovered. Sadly, incidents like this will only become more severe and more frequent as climate change intensifies, warming the world and creating more extreme weather events in places unprepared for such conditions. Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): In Colorado, USA, there is still an active volcano, but it is considered dormant. The volcano, named Dotsero last erupted about the same time as the pyramids were being built in Egypt. Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): We thought, because we had power, we had wisdom . ( Stephen Vincent Benet) Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Cantankerous (adj, kan-TANK-uh-rus) - A cantankerous person is often angry and annoyed, and a cantankerous animal or thing is difficult or irritating to deal with. In a Sentence: Although the former postman was regarded by some townspeople as a scowling, cantankerous old coot, he was beloved by neighborhood children, to whom he would regularly hand out butterscotch candies from his front stoop with a twinkle in his eye.

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

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

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

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

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