People in Alberta, Canada, are voting on whether to hold a future vote about separating from Canada. The vote comes after a petition for separation, but many in Alberta want to stay part of Canada, while leaders warn about economic risks if the province breaks away.
Key Facts
Alberta is voting on a question about whether to hold a binding referendum on separating from Canada.
The vote was triggered by a petition with about 300,000 signatures supporting separation.
Supporters say Alberta’s economy is hurt by Canada’s federal environmental policies.
Opponents of separation include a larger petition with over 400,000 signatures and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Alberta’s Premier, Danielle Smith, does not support separation but allows the vote so people can express their views.
A court blocked the initial pro-separation petition for not consulting indigenous First Nations, whose lands would be affected.
First Nations groups criticize the vote as undemocratic because of the court ruling.
If agreed to, a binding referendum on separation could happen as early as 2027.
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An Australian Member of Parliament, Helen Haines, was hit by a car and is in critical condition. The police have arrested a suspect, and counter-terrorism teams are involved, but the reason for the attack is not yet known.
Key Facts
Helen Haines is an independent MP in Australia.
She was struck by a car outside her office in Wangaratta, northeast of Melbourne.
The incident happened on a Monday afternoon.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the event an "attack."
A suspect is currently in custody.
Counter-terrorism units have been activated for the investigation.
Authorities do not yet know the motive behind the attack.
The situation is unfolding, and more information is expected.
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Qatar’s deputy prime minister warned that the global energy effects from the US-Israel conflict with Iran have not yet peaked. He highlighted ongoing risks such as attacks on energy infrastructure, disruptions in a key shipping route, and the importance of regional dialogue to prevent further problems.
Key Facts
Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani spoke at the Global Security Forum in Doha about threats from the Iran conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil and gas shipments, remains unstable after recent attacks and retaliations.
Iranian strikes in March damaged Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas facilities, with repairs expected to take years.
Qatar opposes charging tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, saying it would harm global consumers.
Despite tensions, Qatar continues communication with Iran, emphasizing a history of trust and economic cooperation.
Qatar supports mediation efforts including countries like Pakistan, Oman, and regional groups to find a peaceful solution.
Qatar has a strong defense partnership with the US and is improving its military capabilities including air defense and cybersecurity.
Qatar plans to announce a new regional defense partnership soon to enhance security in the Gulf region.
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A grass fire at a Canadian military base in Alberta quickly spread due to strong winds during a live-fire training exercise. The fire killed four soldiers and injured 39 others, and is considered one of the worst peacetime military tragedies on Canadian soil.
Key Facts
The fire began during training at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, Alberta.
Strong winds pushed the fire rapidly, covering about one kilometer in 36 seconds.
Four soldiers died, and 39 were injured, 19 of them seriously.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, and investigators are examining how the wind affected it.
The area had a wind warning with gusts up to 100 km/h (62 mph) on the day of the incident.
The base is one of the largest Canadian Army training centers and important for troop preparation.
The fire disrupted local voting ahead of a referendum on Alberta’s possible independence from Canada.
Military officials confirmed no explosions were caused by nearby gas or oil facilities during the fire.
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Researchers investigating a shiny object seen in satellite images near Nikumaroro Island believe it is made of washed-up trees, not Amelia Earhart’s lost plane. The team visited the site but found that most debris had broken apart or washed away, leaving no clear evidence to solve the mystery of Earhart’s disappearance.
Key Facts
Amelia Earhart disappeared in 1937 while flying over the Pacific Ocean during a world flight attempt.
A shiny object called the Taraia Object was spotted in satellite images near Nikumaroro Island in 2020.
Researchers from Purdue University studied the object and concluded it is likely a group of large trees, not plane wreckage.
The Taraia Object has been visible in photos as far back as 1938.
The research team spent several days on Nikumaroro searching but found little remaining debris.
One theory is that Earhart’s plane crashed near Nikumaroro after missing her intended stop at Howland Island.
The island’s environment makes it difficult to find clear evidence because debris can be easily broken down or moved by tides.
The mystery of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance has lasted over 90 years without conclusive proof.
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A senior official in Saijo, Japan, died after being crushed by a heavy festival float. This happened just days after two other men died in similar float accidents during traditional Danjiri festivals in another region of Japan.
Key Facts
Akihiro Nabae, deputy mayor of Saijo, was crushed under a giant festival float weighing up to 4 tonnes and died after the accident.
Two other men died the same day in Danjiri festival accidents in Osaka prefecture.
The floats are moved quickly around tight corners by many men, using a technique called yarimawashi.
These festivals involve large, heavy floats and are held to pray for good harvests and thank Shinto deities.
Police reported 16 people were injured in the recent Danjiri float accidents.
The Saijo festival has been held every year since the Edo period (1603-1868).
Earlier in February, two people died in a different crowded traditional festival called the “naked man festival” in Okayama.
Local leaders expressed shock and sadness over the recent fatal accidents.
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Ukraine said it did not get a warning from the US before Russia fired missiles at power plants in Kyiv on Sunday night. President Zelenskyy criticized the US for blocking missile supplies and slowing weapons deliveries, while President Trump said he was trying to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Key Facts
Ukraine was not warned by the US before a Russian missile attack on Kyiv’s power plants at around 11 pm.
Ukraine received a warning before a second missile strike at 3 am.
President Zelenskyy accused the US of blocking missile supplies and delaying deliveries.
President Trump lifted some sanctions on Russia and said he wanted to keep Russia at the negotiation table.
The US usually warns Ukraine before Russian missile launches, but there have been recent failures to do so.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned a possible software problem with the early warning system.
Ukraine said weapons deliveries through a system where Europe buys US weapons for Ukraine have been delayed.
The US denied it was limiting Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine, which is used for military operations.
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A new documentary called *Capturing Bigfoot* shows recently found film that might be a practice run for a famous 1967 Bigfoot video, suggesting the original could have been staged. The film includes interviews with people involved in the sighting who say the footage might be a hoax.
Key Facts
The documentary investigates the 1967 Patterson-Gimlin film, a well-known clip showing a large creature in Northern California.
A new 16 mm film reel from 1966 was found in a safe, showing a Bigfoot-like figure walking in the woods.
This new footage might have been a rehearsal before the 1967 film was made.
Clint Patterson, son of Roger Patterson, said his mother revealed the original footage was a hoax.
Bob Heironimus, who claims he wore a Bigfoot costume for the 1967 film, is featured in the documentary.
The new evidence and testimonies add to the idea that the famous Bigfoot sighting was staged but do not fully prove it.
The documentary explores family stories and tensions tied to the original sighting.
*Capturing Bigfoot* premiered at SXSW and will be available on Amazon Prime Video starting October 20, 2026.
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The Vatican confirmed the excommunication of Scott Peyton, a deacon from Louisiana who resigned after his son was sexually abused by a priest. The church said Peyton was excommunicated because he joined another Christian group and refused to obey the pope.
Key Facts
Scott Peyton is a former Catholic deacon from the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana.
Peyton’s son was molested by a Catholic priest named Michael Guidry.
Guidry pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Peyton resigned as a deacon in December 2023 and joined an Anglican church temporarily.
The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith upheld Peyton’s excommunication because joining another church means breaking communion with the Catholic pope.
Peyton plans to appeal the Vatican’s decision.
Peyton and his family received a $350,000 settlement from the Diocese of Lafayette in 2021.
The abusive priest Guidry remains officially a priest despite his imprisonment.
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Chinese and Iranian political influence groups are working together inside the United States to challenge U.S. policies. They have partnered to raise money through banks sanctioned by the U.S. government, which are connected to Iran’s military and defense activities.
Key Facts
An Iranian organization called the House of Latin America (HOLA) collaborates with a U.S.-based nonprofit tied to China called Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.
Tricontinental's advisory board chairman is Neville Roy Singham, a U.S. millionaire living in Shanghai.
In 2025, Tricontinental asked for donations sent to Iranian banks that are sanctioned due to links with Iran’s Ministry of Defense and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Sanctioned Iranian banks involved include Bank Melli Iran and Refah Kargaran Bank, both linked to military and weapons activities.
HOLA’s founding documents show it works with the Iranian government.
A U.S. congressional committee is investigating Tricontinental, suspecting it may misuse its tax-exempt status to help foreign powers.
Republican Congressman Jason Smith warned that foreign adversaries should not use American tax laws to undermine the country.
This revealed cooperation between Chinese and Iranian groups adds to concerns about foreign influence inside the U.S. and globally.
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US Senator Marco Rubio said the United States did not stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine, despite Ukrainian President Zelenskyy saying there was a pause that was later fixed. Rubio also mentioned talks of a possible meeting between Presidents Trump, Putin, and Xi to try to end the war in Ukraine.
Key Facts
Senator Marco Rubio denied any stop in intelligence-sharing between the US and Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said intelligence-sharing was interrupted but has now resumed.
Ukraine uses the Starshield satellite service, linked to Starlink, to detect Russian missile attacks.
Talks are ongoing about a potential meeting between President Trump, Russian President Putin, and Chinese leader Xi to negotiate peace.
President Trump temporarily waived sanctions on Russian diesel to lower fuel prices globally.
Zelenskyy criticized US actions like waiving sanctions and importing Russian diesel, saying they hurt Ukraine.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent supported a negotiated settlement to the war and denied US involvement in slowing SpaceX communications.
A recent Russian missile strike in Kyiv injured several people and damaged public infrastructure.
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Selena Gomez shared that vaping nicotine has changed her voice and that quitting is very hard. She also mentioned living with lupus, a disease that can affect the voice, and recently stopped vaping to improve her health.
Key Facts
Selena Gomez said vaping nicotine affected the way her voice sounds.
She publicly admitted that quitting nicotine is very difficult.
Gomez has lupus, an autoimmune disease that can cause throat swelling and voice changes.
She recently stopped vaping and hopes to keep it up.
Vaping can cause breathing problems, coughing, and other health issues.
Gomez received a kidney transplant in 2017 due to lupus complications.
Some fans questioned her nicotine use after the transplant, but many supported her honesty about addiction.
Vaping is addictive because of nicotine but can help some people quit smoking.
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Students in Paris blocked access to the Louvre Museum on Monday as part of protests happening across France. They showed support for high school students and complained about police actions, holding banners about problems with French public services.
Key Facts
The protest took place at the Louvre Museum in Paris on Monday morning.
Students from art and culture schools organized the blockade.
They supported a high school student movement protesting police repression.
Protesters held signs saying French public services are breaking down.
Tourists waiting to enter became upset because they had already bought tickets.
The demonstration is part of wider protests currently happening in France.
The event was reported by AFP and shared on social media.
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An Australian independent lawmaker, Helen Haines, was hit by a car outside her office and is critically injured. Police believe the incident might have been intentional, and the driver has been arrested.
Key Facts
Helen Haines is a 65-year-old independent federal lawmaker in Australia.
She was struck by a Toyota Landcruiser SUV outside her office in Wangaratta, Victoria.
Police consider the possibility that the car hitting her was deliberate.
The driver who hit her was arrested by the police.
Helen Haines is in critical condition after the accident.
The incident happened on Monday.
Wangaratta is located in the state of Victoria, Australia.
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Hezbollah announced financial aid to Lebanese families who lost their homes in the recent war with Israel. This move adds pressure on Lebanon’s government, which has recently seized explosives linked to Hezbollah.
Key Facts
Hezbollah is giving money to families displaced or damaged by the war with Israel.
The group mostly supports the Lebanese Shia community.
Hezbollah usually receives money from Iran but also has its own funding sources.
Lebanon’s government recently took explosives connected to Hezbollah.
A Hezbollah leader said the group will keep helping people affected by the war.
Reuters reported Iran gave Hezbollah $200 million to help Lebanon’s Shia population.
The US denied Iran was able to send funds to Hezbollah due to sanctions.
About 1.2 million people were displaced and 9,000 Lebanese died in the war starting October 2023.
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A blind college student from Virginia is traveling and studying in Scotland with her guide dog, Beasley. ABC News interviewed her about her experiences and adventures during this time.
Key Facts
The student is blind and uses a guide dog named Beasley for assistance.
She is continuing her college education while in Scotland.
ABC News' Danny New conducted an interview with her.
The story focuses on her travels and day-to-day life in a new country.
The report highlights the bond between the student and her guide dog.
This took place as part of a news segment aired on October 19, 2026.
The article is part of ABC News coverage, which includes various other news topics.
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French President Emmanuel Macron refused the resignation of Interior Minister Laurent Nunez after violent protests and riots across the country. The protests started with students demanding better education conditions and expanded to include people upset about the high cost of living, resulting in arrests, injuries, and significant property damage.
Key Facts
President Macron declined Interior Minister Laurent Nunez’s offer to resign after weekend violence.
Over 2,300 people were arrested during protests, and nearly 1,000 police officers were injured.
One protester lost a hand due to a police crowd-control grenade.
The protests included students demanding better school conditions and residents protesting cost of living and public services.
More than half a million people participated nationwide.
Looting, arson, and attacks on government buildings happened in multiple cities.
Nunez admitted police lost control and security forces were not prepared for the scale of violence.
Around 60,000 law enforcement officers were deployed during the protests.
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A woman named Helen Haines was hit by a vehicle in Wangaratta, Victoria, and taken to the hospital with critical injuries. Police arrested a 43-year-old man at the scene and found a knife inside the vehicle, while they continue to investigate the incident.
Key Facts
Helen Haines was struck by a white Toyota Landcruiser on Murphy Street at about 3:35 pm.
The driver, a 43-year-old man from Tarrawingee, was arrested at the scene by a passerby.
Police found and seized a knife inside the vehicle.
Haines is in hospital with critical injuries.
Police are investigating whether the attack was intentional and if the people involved knew each other.
The Major Collision Investigation Unit is involved in the investigation.
Authorities say there is no known ongoing threat to the community.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called for calmer political discussions and said it is too early to know the motive.
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Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshi nationals in Mecca for committing an "indecent act" in a mosque. Bangladesh said it was not told about the executions until after they happened and is asking Saudi Arabia for more information.
Key Facts
Two Bangladeshi citizens were executed last Wednesday in Mecca for an "indecent act" in a mosque.
The Saudi interior ministry said the case was handled under "tazir," a type of punishment decided by a judge in Islamic law.
Bangladesh only learned about the executions after they had taken place and is requesting more details from Saudi Arabia.
More than three million Bangladeshis live and work in Saudi Arabia, mostly in lower-paid jobs.
The Bangladesh government is looking into next steps, including possibly bringing the bodies back home.
Saudi Arabia has executed about 100 people this year, many foreign nationals convicted of drug offenses, according to Amnesty International.
In 2011, Saudi Arabia executed eight Bangladeshis for murder, and recently it overturned a death sentence for a Sri Lankan man convicted of blasphemy after public pressure.
Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia maintain close ties due to religion and economic connections.
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Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports that Mali’s military and Russian-backed paramilitary forces have killed civilians, breaking international law. Opposition armed groups have also harmed civilians and executed prisoners. The report calls for urgent action to stop these abuses amid ongoing conflict in Mali.
Key Facts
Mali’s military, supported by Russia’s Africa Corps (formerly Wagner Group), has killed and wounded many civilians.
Armed opposition groups, including the separatist Azawad Liberation Front and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), have tortured and executed captured soldiers.
HRW interviewed 30 people, including witnesses and soldiers, to prepare the report.
Two drone attacks by the military damaged a health center and a market, killing and injuring civilians.
The military and allied militias have killed civilians in other operations without facing punishment.
From April to August, 49 air strikes by Malian forces and Africa Corps killed 89 civilians, doubling the civilian deaths compared to the previous year.
HRW asked Mali’s defense minister about these abuses but received no reply.
The report urges the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to act quickly to stop further violence in Mali.
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