Author: Gist It

  • Presidential pets can breed controversy. A dog was once suspected of being a spy

    Presidential pets, ranging from cats and dogs to tiger cubs and a pygmy hippo, have often found themselves in the spotlight and occasionally amidst controversy. Presidential menagerie: The White House has hosted a spectrum of pets. * The pets of presidents, from George Washington to President Biden, have included cats, birds, and more exotic creatures […]

  • For these Peruvian kids, surfing isn’t just water play

    Surf therapy is being used in Peru and around the world to help children with mental health issues and other challenges. Understanding the program: Surf therapy seeks to help children navigate their emotions and establish positive social connections through the physical exercise and camaraderie experienced in surfing. * The surf school in Lima where this […]

  • Israel says Palestinian militants are infiltrating from Gaza

    Palestinian militants in Gaza carried out an infiltration into southern Israel, fired several rockets, and raised the likelihood of renewed heavy fighting. Incident details: The Israeli military reported “a number of terrorists have infiltrated into Israeli territory” as militants launched dozens of rockets from Gaza towards Israel. * This infiltration happened on Saturday when amateur […]

  • Ex-U.S. Army sergeant charged with trying to pass secrets to China

    Former U.S. Army sergeant, Joseph Daniel Schmidt, was arrested on charges of attempting to pass sensitive American defense information to China. The suspect: Schmidt, who has a background in military intelligence and a top-secret security clearance, was taken into custody at San Francisco airport. He faces charges of attempting to deliver and retention of national […]

  • How to make sense of the country’s stunningly strong job market

    The U.S. job market has exceeded expectations with the addition of 336,000 jobs in September, approximately double the forecasted amount. Unexpected surge: U.S. employers added significantly more jobs than anticipated. * Hiring increased rather than slowing down as expected, with strong gains in September and revised numbers showing stronger hiring in July and August than […]

  • Roy Wood Jr. says he’s leaving ‘The Daily Show’ but he doesn’t hold a grudge

    Comedian Roy Wood Jr. has announced that he will not return to his role as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. The departure: After not being offered the top job as host, Wood has decided to exit the show to focus on other projects. * After eight years with the show, he stated: […]

  • A record 400K migrants have crossed the treacherous Darién jungle to reach the U.S.

    A record 400,000 migrants have risked crossing the dangerous Darién jungle this year to get to the U.S, triggering a humanitarian crisis and creating additional pressure on border officials. The current situation: The Darién jungle is a treacherous stretch of land between South America and Central America. Despite attempts to curb migrant movement, crossings have […]

  • Earth is on track for its hottest year yet, according to a European climate agency

    Earth is on track for its hottest year yet, according to a report by the European Space Agency’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. By the numbers: September’s average temperature was 0.93 degrees Celsius (1.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1991-2020 average, marking the warmest margin above average in the service’s 83-year records. * The average temperature for […]

  • Adults have a lot to say about book bans — but what about kids?

    Several children have expressed their views on the recent increase in book ban efforts from school libraries and curriculums. Kid’s perspective: A group of children shared their individual views on the book banning issue being discussed mostly by adults. * Sawyer, 12, from Arlington, believes banning books is equivalent to hiding information from children, making […]

  • Biden’s dog Commander has left the White House

    President Biden’s dog, Commander, has left the White House following several incidents of aggression and biting Secret Service officers. Incidents reported: Commander, a German shepherd, had multiple altercations with Secret Service officers, with the most recent incident involving a bite on Monday evening. * The bitten officer received medical treatment on site at the White […]