The people of Canada will be voting in an election on April 28. The two major players are Mark Carney from the Liberal party and Pierre Poilievre from the Conservative party. This is the first time in ten years that Justin Trudeau will not be on the voting ballot.
Key Facts
The Canadians will vote in an election on April 28.
Mark Carney is the Liberal party's leader and current Prime Minister.
More than 85% of Liberals voted for Carney to take over from Justin Trudeau.
This will be Carney's first time running in an election.
Pierre Poilievre is the Conservative party's leader, and he's been in Canadian politics for almost 20 years.
Poilievre was leading in national polls until March 2023.
Justin Trudeau will not be part of this election, a first in ten years.
Pierre Poilievre has been criticized for having a similar style to Trump, which some Canadians do not like.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) asserts it has saved an average of $10bn per week since President Trump assumed office, amounting to $200bn thus far. However, scrutiny of the agency's stated savings reveals a lack of substantial evidence to support these figures.
Key Facts
Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) was set up to reduce US government spending.
Doge claims to have saved, on average, more than $10bn a week since President Trump entered office.
The agency's main focus includes cancelling contracts, grants and leases from prior administrations, battling fraud, and reducing government staffing.
Doge initially promised to cut "$2 trillion" from the federal government budget, later reducing this target to $150bn by the end of the 2026 financial year.
As of April 20th, the running total of estimated savings on Doge's website was $160bn, with less than 40% of this figure divided into individual savings.
BBC Verify questioned some of Doge's large claimed savings, noting a lack of supporting evidence and some accounting errors.
Doge's largest individual claimed saving of $2.9bn came from cancelling a contract initiated under President Biden in 2023 to create a Texas facility for unaccompanied migrant children.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration stopped the plan to end visas for many foreign students studying in America. This change happened after over 100 lawsuits from students who were suddenly told they weren't allowed to study in American schools.
Key Facts
Some foreign students were suddenly told their visas were ended (A visa lets someone from another country legally stay in the U.S.).
There were more than 100 lawsuits from students who didn’t want their visas to end.
The Trump administration has now stopped ending these visas.
About 1,800 students and 280 universities were affected.
Some of the students had joined in political protests or had minor criminal charges.
The change caused fear and confusion at many U.S. universities.
Some students decided to leave the U.S. before they were forced to.
The government will bring back the visa status in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems (SEVIS). This system keeps track of foreign students following the rules of their visas.
Students' SEVIS records were restored in the past few days according to their lawyers.
When their SEVIS records were lost, students were at risk of being detained and deported.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Federal agents have arrested Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County Circuit Judge, accusing her of obstructing the arrest of an undocumented immigrant by allegedly misdirecting law enforcement officers. She faces a maximum sentence of six years if convicted.
Key Facts
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan has been arrested and charged with obstruction and concealing an individual to avoid arrest.
The FBI accused Dugan of allegedly trying to help an undocumented immigrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, evade arrest.
Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national, was facing three misdemeanour battery counts stemming from a domestic fight.
Dugan's charges originate from events that unfolded in her courtroom when law enforcement officers arrived to arrest Flores-Ruiz.
According to the FBI affidavit, Dugan allegedly ushered Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer to a side door meant for jury members leading out of the courtroom.
Flores-Ruiz managed to exit the courthouse but was caught and arrested shortly after following a short foot chase.
Dugan will face a hearing on 15 May and could face up to six years in prison if convicted on both charges.
This arrest followed only one day after a former judge in New Mexico was taken into custody for allegedly harbouring a Venezuelan gang member.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Pope Francis, who lived till the age of 88, passed away resulting in a loss felt globally among believers and non-believers alike. His body is currently lying in state at the Vatican with tens of thousands of people having queued to pay their final respects.
Key Facts
Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88.
He died quickly and peacefully.
Tens of thousands of people have queued to pay their final respects to Pope Francis's open coffin at the Vatican.
The Pope's body will be moved from the Vatican to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he would be laid to rest.
The journey of the Pope's coffin, which is approximately 4km, will take about two hours as it will move at walking pace.
A large-scale security operation has been put in place by the Vatican and Italian authorities due to the influx of people upon the Pope's death.
On the day of the funeral, thousands of security personnel, river patrol units, bomb-sniffing dogs and rooftop snipers will be deployed.
Pope Francis was deemed influential by both believers and non-believers.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Luigi Mangione has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of murder and stalking in relation to the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York last year. A trial is set to take place not before 2026, with prosecutors aiming for the death penalty if Mangione is found guilty.
Key Facts
Luigi Mangione pleaded not guilty to federal charges for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Mangione was arrested in December on accusations of fatally shooting Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if Mangione is convicted at trial.
In addition to federal charges, Mangione also faces state charges in New York and Pennsylvania.
Mr. Thompson was shot dead in Manhattan on December 4th of last year, and Mangione was arrested five days later in Pennsylvania.
Federal prosecutors are arguing that the murder was carried out "to amplify an ideological message" against the health insurance industry.
A fund for Mangione's legal defense has gathered nearly $1 million in donations.
Luigi Mangione's federal trial will not begin before the year 2026.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, died at the age of 88 after a period of ill health. Archbishop Paul Gallagher, who was a close aide, said that Pope Francis was driven by helping the powerless and often used his position to advocate for those who are marginalized.
Key Facts
Pope Francis, the first ever Latin American Pope, died on Monday at the age of 88.
Archbishop Paul Gallagher described Pope Francis as polite, gentle, and compassionate.
Pope Francis refused to heed advice to slow down in his later years, preferring to continue his work.
Pope Francis was driven to advocate for the powerless, including migrants and women and children in conflict situations.
Pope Francis travelled extensively during his papacy, visiting more than 60 countries.
His first trip outside Rome was to meet migrants on the Italian island of Lampedusa.
Archbishop Gallagher acknowledged that the Pope preferred to be surrounded by regular people, particularly young people.
The Pope's legacy includes breaking down barriers between the public and the institution of the Church, according to Archbishop Gallagher.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Canada is having an election soon and this can change how Canada and the United States get along. There's also been a variety of news happening in the United States, from political updates to space travel events.
Key Facts
There's an election happening in Canada soon, and it may change the way the United States and Canada interact.
People in Washington, D.C. were asked about the Canada elections but it's unclear what they think.
In the U.S., politics are busy. Former President Biden made a speech criticizing President Trump.
A group of six protesters were removed from a town hall event for Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia.
The U.S. president is not happy with how Harvard is fighting against antisemitism. He thinks they should lose a valuable tax break.
A space flight with only female crew members, including Katy Perry, flew about 60 miles above Earth.
The Menendez brothers, who are in prison, had a hearing about their punishment. The judge said it could move forward.
There was a helicopter crash on the Hudson River in New York City. All six people on the flight, who were visiting from Spain, died.
The U.S. might be heading into a time when the economy gets weak. There are three things to watch to know if this is happening.
Four space tourists went on a trip orbiting the south pole of Earth in a SpaceX capsule.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Robert F Kennedy Jr, US Health and Human Services chief, made comments that upset many people. He said people with autism cannot do a lot of things like hold a job or even write a poem. This made stars from a TV show about people with autism called 'Love on the Spectrum' defend the abilities of people with autism.
Key Facts
Robert F Kennedy Jr said that people with autism cannot hold jobs or do many other things.
Many people, including stars of a TV show about autistic adults called 'Love on the Spectrum', disagreed with Kennedy's words.
Autism is a disorder which is different for everyone. Some people might need a lot of help in their daily lives, while others need very little.
More people have been diagnosed with autism since the year 2000. This may be because people know more about autism and what it looks like.
Kennedy promised to find out what causes autism in five months. He plans to look at everything, including food, air, and water.
A lot of people disagree with the idea of "curing" autism. They think that people with autism don't need to be "fixed", but they have to be supported.
Kennedy has said in the past that autism comes from vaccines. This is not true and has been proven wrong by many studies.
Some people, like Emily May who has a child with autism, believe there are tough truths about autism that are often ignored.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
This story tells about how Donald Trump, when he was the President, had disagreements with the leader of the U.S. central bank (the Federal Reserve). Trump was upset with how the bank was dealing with important matters like setting interest rates, and there were concerns that Trump wanted to control the bank more directly.
Key Facts
Donald Trump, as President, often had disagreements with Jerome Powell, the head of the US central bank.
Trump appointed Powell to lead the Federal Reserve in 2018.
Trump was unhappy with how the bank set interest rates, which are important because they shape how much it costs to borrow money for things like homes and credit cards.
Trump wanted lower interest rates, which usually boosts the economy by making it easier to borrow money.
Some people were worried that Trump was trying to control the Federal Reserve more directly, which could cause problems.
The tension between Trump and Powell seemed to lessen a bit, but Trump didn't promise to stop trying to influence the bank.
Past Presidents have also disagreed with the Federal Reserve, especially during difficult times for the economy.
Many economists believe that political leaders should not interfere with central banks because history shows it can lead to bad outcomes.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Pope Francis, born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away, as announced by his nephew, José Ignacio Bergoglio. Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church, originally hailed from a middle-class family in Buenos Aires. He was known for his close relationship with his family, particularly his younger sister, María Elena, whose son, José Ignacio, revered him as a father figure.
Key Facts
Pope Francis was born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
Before being the Pope, he belonged to a middle-class family in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
He was the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis had five siblings and was particularly close to his younger sister, María Elena.
José Ignacio Bergoglio, Pope Francis' nephew, remembers him as a father figure.
Pope Francis's funeral is anticipated to draw hundreds of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square, including world leaders, Catholic officials, and international mourners.
José Ignacio stated that his family does not plan to attend the funeral in Rome, but instead believes that their place is at home.
José Ignacio encourages mourners to honor Pope Francis by donating to charity.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump Organization is selling "Trump 2028" caps, which seems to suggest that Donald Trump could run for president in 2028. However, the US Constitution only allows a person to be elected president two times. Some supporters are discussing ways around this rule.
Key Facts
The Trump Organization has started selling "Trump 2028" caps.
The US Constitution usually allows a person to be elected president only twice.
Donald Trump hinted that he would like to serve a third term as president.
Changing the US Constitution to allow a president to serve more than two terms needs approval from both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and most of the state-level governments.
The Republicans do not control enough of the Senate, House, or state governments to make this change to the Constitution.
Some of Trump's supporters are saying there's a loophole that hasn't been tested in court. They suggest that the rule only prevents someone from being elected president more than two times, not from becoming president in some other way. For example, Trump could be the vice president for another candidate, and then become president if that person resigns.
Even Trump himself mentioned these "loopholes," but he also said he doesn't believe in them.
A Republican representative from Tennessee suggested an amendment allowing a president to serve three terms if they are not consecutive. This means the president's terms are not directly one after the other. In this case, only Trump could be eligible among the living past presidents.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Former Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, who now calls himself an independent, thinks Democrats should work with President Donald Trump instead of opposing him all the time. Manchin says he wants to help Trump and believes Democrats could get more done by cooperating with the president.
Key Facts
Joe Manchin was a Democratic Senator but he now calls himself an independent.
Manchin often disagreed with his own party, even voting against some of its major bills.
Now that Manchin isn't in Congress anymore, he has been sharing his thoughts on what Democrats should do.
Manchin believes Democrats should work with President Trump, not just oppose him.
He suggests Democrats could do better with voters by getting things done, instead of always attacking Trump.
Manchin thinks the biggest problem the U.S. faces is its massive debt.
He believes Democrats could make a big difference by focusing on financial policy and keeping spending under control.
Lastly, Manchin thinks presidents should serve a single six-year term so they can focus on their work and not worry about getting elected again.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
US federal prosecutors have filed to seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson with the intent of criticizing the health insurance industry. Mangione's plea hearing on federal charges was scheduled for later on Friday.
Key Facts
Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, suspected in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Prosecutors argue that Mangione killed Thompson as a part of an ideological message against the health insurance sector.
The death penalty proposal was filed ahead of Mangione's plea hearing for four federal charges.
Mangione has been arrested for the crime in Pennsylvania following a nationwide search.
Mangione has already pleaded not guilty to state charges and is waiting for trial in a New York prison.
In addition to state charges, federal prosecutors have separately charged Mangione with using a firearm to commit murder and interstate stalking resulting in death.
Brian Thompson was shot dead outside a hotel on December 4, where an investors' meeting of his company was being conducted.
Mangione was caught five days after the incident at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A beekeeper from Rwanda, living in America, named Faustin Nsabumukunzi, was recently arrested. He's accused of bad things during a large outbreak of violence in Rwanda in 1994, and also of lying to enter America in 2003.
Key Facts
Faustin Nsabumukunzi, a man from Rwanda, was recently arrested in America.
He's accused of taking part in very bad violence in Rwanda in 1994.
This violence led to the death of about 800,000 people.
He's also charged with lying to get into America in 2003.
He said "not guilty" to these charges and is now free but has to stay at home. He has a device that tracks where he is.
If he is found guilty, he could be put in prison for 30 years.
Nsabumukunzi used to be a beekeeper in Rwanda. He took care of 1,500 bee hives.
In America, he took care of about 100 hives for a company called Hampton's Honey.
Some people who left Rwanda to live in other places have been arrested because they are suspected of doing bad things during the violence in 1994.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
An astrologer in Myanmar has been arrested after his prediction of a new earthquake caused public panic. John Moe The, who shared his prediction on TikTok, was charged for making "false statements with the intention of causing public panic," according to Myanmar's information ministry.
Key Facts
John Moe The, an astrologer, has been arrested by the Myanmar authorities.
His arrest was after his prediction of a new earthquake, shared on TikTok, caused public panic.
The prediction was posted on 9 April, two weeks after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake had occurred in Myanmar.
Experts argue that earthquakes cannot be reliably predicted due to the complex factors involved.
John Moe The's video gained more than three million views.
Residents of Yangon reported that many neighbours believed the prediction, hence vacated their homes.
John Moe The's defunct TikTok account, boasting over 300,000 followers, claimed to make predictions based on astrology and palmistry.
The astrologer was arrested during a raid of his home in Sagaing, central Myanmar.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Canadian general election is coming up and the people are concerned about multiple issues. They care about their relationship with the US, the cost of living, healthcare, Indigenous rights, and the environment.
Key Facts
The Canadian general election is happening soon.
People in Canada are worried about their ties to the United States.
The cost of living is a big concern for Canadians.
Canadians also care a lot about healthcare.
The rights of the Indigenous people are important to Canadians.
Climate change is another issue that matters to them.
These issues are what Canadians are thinking about as they get ready to vote in the election.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Thousands of people are visiting St Peter's Basilica to see Pope Francis, who has passed away. The Pope will have his funeral on Saturday and will be buried in Rome's Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, not the Vatican, which is different from what previous popes did.
Key Facts
Many people are visiting St Peter's Basilica to say goodbye to Pope Francis who has died.
A funeral for Pope Francis will happen on Saturday.
One family from New York said this chance to see Pope Francis was special.
Pope Francis helped lots of people join the Catholic religion.
Unlike the past 100 years of popes, Pope Francis will be buried in a church in Rome called Santa Maria Maggiore, not the Vatican.
People from all over the world have come to see Pope Francis.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced plans to eliminate eight artificial food coloring agents. The change will come in stages, with two being removed in the coming weeks, and the rest by the end of 2026. These changes are due to concerns about how these dyes might affect the brain in some children.
Key Facts
Robert F Kennedy Jr is the Health Secretary of the United States.
He announced the US is planning to remove eight artificial food coloring agents.
Two of these dyes will be removed in the next weeks.
The rest will be removed by the year 2026.
Some children's brains might be affected by these dyes, experts say.
These coloring agents are used in many foods like cereals, candy, snacks, and drinks.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new report from the American Lung Association says nearly half of Americans live in places with unhealthy air pollution levels. The report highlights rising pollution partly due to climate change and warns that recent plans to reduce environmental protections may worsen air quality.
Key Facts
About 156 million Americans live where smog and soot pollution levels got failing grades.
The number of people breathing unhealthy air increased by 25 million compared to last year.
Since 1970, air pollution dropped by 78%, but it has been rising again in recent years.
Climate change is making wildfires and heat worse, which increases ozone pollution.
Bakersfield, California, has the worst particle pollution for the sixth year in a row.
Air pollution is spreading from western states into central and eastern U.S. areas.
Recent extreme heat waves and wildfire smoke, including from Canada, have worsened air quality.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to weaken 31 environmental rules, risking progress on cleaner air.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
