Alberta, Canada, has been free of rats since 1950 thanks to strong measures like a special rat control zone and public efforts. Recently, the town of Bowden found a dead rat, raising concerns about rats spreading in the province despite ongoing surveillance by Alberta’s “rat patrol.”
Key Facts
Alberta has been officially rat-free since 1950.
The town of Bowden reported finding a dead rat and asked people to report any sightings.
Alberta created a 600km by 30km "rat control zone" to stop rats from entering, especially from neighboring Saskatchewan.
In the early 1950s, the province used arsenic powder to treat thousands of buildings and farms to kill rats.
The Agricultural Pests Act requires everyone to destroy any rats they find.
Rats struggle to survive in Alberta’s natural environment, which has mountains, forests, and few human structures.
Rat populations are rising in many cities worldwide due to warming temperatures, but Alberta has kept rats mostly out.
Alberta continues to get many reports each year, but most are not rats, but other animals like muskrats and mice.
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The White House video pool, which records and shares footage of events at the White House for news outlets, resumed work on Friday. This happened after President Donald Trump had temporarily banned three news organizations from the White House grounds during a dispute over media access.
Key Facts
The White House video pool records video for multiple news outlets.
It was stopped for several days due to a ban by President Donald Trump.
Three news outlets were banned from the White House grounds.
The ban happened during a disagreement about media access.
The pool started working again on Friday.
The situation was described as fluid, meaning it was still changing.
A source close to the issue confirmed the resumption but asked to stay anonymous.
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A government inquiry is looking into serious problems at the Manston migrant centre in Kent, where thousands of migrants were kept in overcrowded and poor conditions in 2022. The inquiry heard that officials and ministers, including two former Home Secretaries and former prime ministers, faced difficult decisions as conditions worsened, leading to health risks and the death of a detainee.
Key Facts
The Manston centre was designed to hold about 1,000 people for less than 24 hours but held around 4,000 migrants in November 2022.
Officials knew conditions were illegal and dangerous, especially for children, but had no alternative housing plan.
Hussein Haseeb Ahmed, a 31-year-old Iraqi man suspected of having diphtheria, died after delayed hospital care.
Families were packed together in unsafe conditions, with poor hygiene and medical care, including one person using a plastic wrapper as a bandage.
There were reports of racism and threats from some staff toward detainees.
Two former Home Secretaries, Dame Priti Patel and Suella Braverman, shared evidence that Number 10 Downing Street was involved in decisions.
The overcrowding was partly caused by a pause in placing migrants in hotels and hopes to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
The inquiry is examining the role of senior officials and ministers in allowing poor treatment of children and others in the centre.
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Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, has a voting record that mostly supports President Donald Trump, but she has also voted against him on key issues. Her independence is a major topic in her 2024 reelection race, where Democrats argue she only opposes Trump when her vote does not influence the outcome.
Key Facts
Susan Collins has voted with President Trump about 95-96% of the time in 2025.
She is seen as one of the least pro-Trump senators compared to others like Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul.
Collins voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, which reduced her popularity among moderate Democrats.
She voted to confirm judges viewed as opposing abortion rights.
Collins has opposed some Trump policies, including tariffs and a proposal to send $5,000 to Americans if Republicans win the midterms.
She voted to convict Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial after the January 6 Capitol riot.
Collins declined to support Trump in the 2024 election and voted against repealing the Affordable Care Act in 2017.
Her stance on key votes, such as during the Iran war and Medicaid cuts related to tax breaks, show moments where she broke with Trump.
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Pope Leo XIV greeted crowds in Paris by riding through the city in the "popemobile." During his visit, he spoke about the need for peace and warned about the risks of losing human values in a world dominated by advanced technology like artificial intelligence.
Key Facts
Pope Leo XIV visited Paris and rode in the "popemobile" to greet people.
He spoke publicly about peace and human dignity.
The pope warned about the potential dangers of relying too much on artificial intelligence and machines.
This visit included speeches at important places in Paris, such as Notre-Dame Cathedral and UNESCO.
The pope’s message focused on faith and human values rather than politics.
The visit received positive reactions from the people who came out to see him.
The pope also addressed issues like war, secularism, and technology during his trip.
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Ed Miliband, the UK Foreign Secretary, appeared in a viral TikTok video where he answered light questions from a content creator in New York. The video, viewed by about 1.5 million people, shows Miliband embracing his “awkward dad” image, which has become part of his online personality.
Key Facts
The video was filmed on the streets of New York during the UN General Assembly.
Miliband answered questions about his job and gave advice, showing an honest and slightly awkward style.
He mentioned running for Prime Minister of Britain but not succeeding, then continuing his political work.
The video is part of a social media trend where politicians show real, unpolished moments.
Some viewers believe the video was staged rather than a spontaneous encounter.
Miliband’s awkward image dates back to a 2014 photo of him eating a bacon roll awkwardly.
The video has helped Miliband connect with a younger audience who appreciate this authentic style.
A government source said that working with content creators often means giving up control over how videos look.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked U.S. military members and their families to register and vote in the 2026 midterm elections. He warned that 300,000 troops did not register to vote in the last election.
Key Facts
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the call on a Friday.
He urged troops and their families to register to vote.
The upcoming election is the 2026 midterm election.
About 300,000 troops failed to register to vote two years ago.
Service members can use a federal postcard to register, no matter where they live or work.
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Inflation remains a major concern in the U.S. as prices for everyday goods have generally increased under both President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump. Data shows that while some prices like eggs fell significantly after President Trump took office in 2024, most goods were cheaper on average during Biden’s term when adjusted for overall inflation.
Key Facts
Inflation in the U.S. was 3.4% recently, higher than the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.
Rising energy prices and the Iran war have contributed to higher inflation.
An NBC poll found 55% of voters think President Trump’s policies hurt the economy.
The White House says tax cuts and deregulation under President Trump support consumer resilience.
Prices for items like beef and coffee increased sharply under President Trump’s current term.
Egg prices dropped by more than 50% since President Trump became president again in January 2024.
During Biden’s presidency, inflation rose to over 9% in June 2022, partly due to the war in Ukraine.
When accounting for overall inflation, all nine everyday goods studied were cheaper on average under Biden than under Trump.
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A Canadian-Haitian author’s novel was removed from the French Goncourt prize longlist after claims it was mostly written by artificial intelligence (AI). The academy cited plagiarism and AI use concerns, while the author denies the allegations, saying they are racially motivated.
Key Facts
The novel "C’était ça ou mourir" by Thélyson Orélien was taken off the Goncourt prize list.
An anonymous online post accused the book of being largely created by AI.
AI detection software gave mixed results about the book’s authorship.
Orélien says he writes using traditional Haitian and Caribbean styles, rejecting the AI claim.
The anonymous accuser was revealed as journalist Samuel Fitoussi, who worries AI may harm reading and writing.
The Goncourt Academy cited new plagiarism accusations against Orélien.
The academy wants to protect the value of human-written literature and oppose AI-generated texts.
The book’s Canadian publisher says they cannot yet confirm or deny the allegations.
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Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said the Supreme Court misused its power by favoring the Trump administration over voters. The court allowed the use of Social Security information in a system to check voter eligibility before the upcoming midterm elections, despite concerns about outdated data.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court lifted a ban on using Social Security data in the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system.
This ruling supports the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to verify voter eligibility.
A lower court had blocked this system due to worries that Social Security citizenship data is often outdated.
The decision comes less than 90 days before the midterm elections, too late to remove registered voters from rolls.
Justice Jackson disagreed with the ruling and wrote a dissenting opinion, joined by two other justices.
Jackson warned the court acted without a full hearing and described the majority’s reasoning as careless.
She argued that risking wrongful harm to lawful voters is worse than the government's claimed harm.
The ruling was made without naming the justices in the majority.
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Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico challenged his Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton, to a televised debate on Fox News hosted by Bret Baier. The two candidates are competing for a Senate seat in Texas, and topics like the economy, ethics, immigration, and health care are expected to be central in their debate.
Key Facts
James Talarico is a Texas state representative and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.
Ken Paxton is the Texas Attorney General and the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate.
Talarico said Paxton has avoided debates and declined invitations from local Texas TV stations.
Inflation and political corruption are top concerns for Texas voters, according to recent surveys.
Paxton has faced scandals, including impeachment by the Texas House, but was acquitted by the state Senate.
Immigration is a key issue where Paxton is seen as having an advantage due to high approval of President Trump's border policies.
Most Texas voters, including many Republicans, support Medicaid expansion, a topic Talarico emphasizes.
No official debate has been scheduled yet despite Paxton's campaign saying they plan to debate.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that President Donald Trump approved Ukraine’s use of Patriot missile systems. Zelensky said there are clear agreements between Ukraine and the U.S. about licensing these weapons, following their recent meeting at the United Nations.
Key Facts
President Zelensky announced that President Trump gave final approval for Ukraine to build and use Patriot missiles.
The agreements about Patriot missile licenses are described as “concrete” by Zelensky.
The announcement came shortly after their meeting during the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Patriot missiles are advanced air defense systems used to protect against missile attacks.
The deal reflects continued military cooperation between the U.S. and Ukraine amid ongoing security challenges.
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The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the government to use a federal database called SAVE that checks citizenship status to verify voters. The court’s six conservative justices supported the decision, while three liberal justices disagreed. Previously, a judge had said the system was illegal because it could violate privacy and cause errors.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court lifted restrictions on using the SAVE database for voter checks.
SAVE stands for Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements.
This database helps officials verify if voters are citizens.
Six conservative justices voted to allow the system; three liberal justices disagreed.
A federal judge had ruled the system illegal due to privacy and accuracy concerns.
The system was restricted during President Trump's administration.
The decision affects how voter rolls are verified for citizenship.
The ruling is recent and the story is still developing.
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A new rebel alliance, called the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, has formed to try to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. This group includes fighters from several ethnic regions and aims to set up a new transitional government. Fighting has increased in northern Ethiopia, where some allied forces recently advanced into key areas.
Key Facts
The new rebel alliance includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Amhara Fano National Movement, Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), and groups from Somali, Afar, and Benishangul-Gumuz regions.
The alliance wants to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and create a more inclusive government transition.
Fighting has increased, especially in northern Ethiopia near the Eritrea border, where some rebel groups have support from Eritrea.
The alliance formed after months of talks, involving Eritrean and Sudanese military representatives.
The Afar rebel group leader, Ibrahim Osman Aliyu, is related to Ethiopia’s defense minister and says their fight targets the ruling Prosperity Party, not the Afar people.
Rebel forces have advanced into districts along a highway important for trade between Ethiopia and Djibouti.
Previous rebel alliances have also tried to remove Prime Minister Abiy but have faced divisions and partial peace deals.
The Ethiopian government continues to hold elections and focus on development projects despite ongoing conflicts.
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A federal appeals court refused to stop the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) from putting Anthropic, an AI company, on a blacklist. Anthropic sued to challenge being labeled a supply chain risk by the Pentagon.
Key Facts
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled against Anthropic’s request to block the blacklist.
Anthropic is an artificial intelligence (AI) company.
The Pentagon labeled Anthropic as a supply chain risk, meaning the company may pose a security threat in supplying technology or services.
Anthropic filed a lawsuit to challenge this designation.
The court’s decision allows the Pentagon to keep Anthropic on the blacklist.
This case affects how the government controls which companies can provide technology to the military.
The situation is ongoing and may have further developments.
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Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson expressed concern about the court’s frequent use of the “emergency docket,” a fast-track process to handle urgent cases without full review. She warned this practice could harm public trust and bypass normal legal procedures. The Trump administration has used this emergency process often since January 2025 to advance its policies quickly.
Key Facts
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson spoke at the University of the District of Columbia law school about the court’s emergency docket.
The emergency docket allows the Supreme Court to decide urgent cases quickly, often without full legal review or detailed explanations.
President Donald Trump’s administration has filed over 30 emergency requests since January 2025. Many have been approved.
These requests have been used to pause protections for migrants, reduce transgender rights, cut environmental rules, and remove officials from federal agencies.
Justice Jackson said the emergency docket threatens to bypass the usual thorough legal process.
Justice Elena Kagan recently told Congress the court is providing more explanations but still not as much as in regular cases.
While Jackson criticized the emergency docket, Chief Justice John Roberts and two other justices attended a state dinner with President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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More than 55,000 people have fled violence in Sudan and crossed into Chad this year, creating a serious humanitarian crisis. The United Nations warns that without more funding, the situation will worsen, and more refugees may try to go to Europe.
Key Facts
Over 55,000 Sudanese refugees have come to Chad in 2024 due to conflict in Sudan.
The number arriving daily at Chad’s border has jumped to about 400 people, much higher than before.
Sudan has been in civil war since April 2023, caused by a fight between military leaders General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti).
More than 11 million Sudanese people are displaced; 6.4 million inside Sudan and over 3.5 million have fled to other countries.
A transit center in Chad is hosting over 4,300 refugees and is overwhelmed, lacking enough shelter, water, and sanitation.
Around 31,000 families living in Chad lack enough proper shelter; most refugees get less than half the daily water they need.
The UN has received only 20% of the $1.6 billion it needs to help, leaving a $1.28 billion funding gap.
Without more help, the UN warns more refugees may risk dangerous travel to Europe, where arrivals from Sudan increased by 245% last year.
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The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to use a new version of a federal database that checks if people are eligible to vote. This decision removes previous limits on using the database just before the November elections. Three liberal-leaning justices disagreed with allowing this change.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court lifted rules limiting a federal voter eligibility database.
This database is used to check if voters are citizens or eligible to vote.
The decision supports President Donald Trump's efforts to prevent noncitizens from voting.
The timing is just before the elections in November.
Three Supreme Court justices who lean liberal disagreed with the decision.
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Five major TV networks returned to the White House TV pool after a dispute about CNN’s access. The networks broadcasted President Trump welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping for a visit at the White House.
Key Facts
Five big TV networks are now part of the White House TV pool again.
The networks had a disagreement with the White House over access for CNN.
The White House TV pool provides live video feeds from the President’s events.
President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for a three-day visit.
CBS showed the live feed that other networks used to broadcast the event.
The return to the pool ended the standoff between networks and the White House.
The event demonstrated cooperation between the networks and White House media staff.
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