Thousands under evacuation order as wildfire spreads north of L.A.
A brush fire in a mountainous area north of Los Angeles ignited and spread quickly Thursday, forcing thousands of evacuations. The Canyon Fire ignited around 1:30 p.m. local time, growing to over six square kilometres in five hours, according to Ventura County emergency response. It remained not contained late Thursday afternoon and was spreading east, the county said. The fire is burning just south of Lake Piru, a reservoir located in the Los Padres National Forest. It’s close by Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area burned by the Hughes Fire in January. ThatRead more
Israeli security cabinet approves plan for Israel to take over Gaza City
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said early Friday that Israel’s security cabinet has approved a plan to take over Gaza City. The news followed a meeting Thursday night of the security cabinet, which went on into the early morning hours. Ahead of the meeting, Netanyahu had said that Israel intends to take military control of all of Gaza, despite intensifying criticism at home and abroad over the devastating almost two-year-old war in the Palestinian enclave. “We intend to,” Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News when asked if IsraelRead more
After walkbacks and confusion, U.S. tariffs kick in for dozens of countries
President Donald Trump began levying higher import taxes on dozens of countries Thursday, as the economic fallout of his months-long tariff threats has begun to create headwinds for the U.S. economy. Just after midnight, goods from more than 60 countries and the European Union became subject to tariff rates of 10 per cent or higher. Products from the European Union, Japan and South Korea are taxed at 15 per cent, while imports from Taiwan, Vietnam and Bangladesh are taxed at 20 per cent. Trump also expects the European Union, Japan andRead more
U.S. air force to deny retirement benefits to transgender service members being forced out
The U.S. air force said Thursday it would deny all transgender service members who have served between 15 and 18 years the option to retire early, and would instead force them out without retirement benefits. One air force sergeant said he was “betrayed and devastated” by the move. The move means that transgender service members — who are already facing expulsion under Trump administration policy — will now be faced with the choice of either taking a lump-sum separation payment offered to junior troops or be removed from the service.Read more
Trump orders movement of 2 nuclear subs after Russian official’s ‘inflammatory’ remarks
U.S. President Donald Trump points a finger as he delivers remarks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on Thursday. (Kent Nishimura/Reuters) U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he had ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in “the appropriate regions” in response to remarks from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev about the risk of war between the nuclear-armed adversaries. Security analysts called Trump’s move a rhetorical escalation with Moscow but not necessarily a military one, given that the United States already has nuclear-powered submarines that are deployed and capable of striking Russia. Medvedev onRead more
Trump administration to burn $13M worth of female contraceptives, despite NGO’s offer to take them
A view of a warehouse of Kuehne+Nagel in Geel, Belgium, which houses U.S.-funded contraceptives worth nearly $10 million US, after the U.S. State Department confirmed that the stocks would be sent to France to be destroyed. (Marta Fiorin/Reuters) As It HappensThis NGO tried to save $13M worth of USAID contraceptives from being burned The U.S. State Department plans to incinerate roughly $13.2 million worth of women’s contraceptives despite offers from multiple aid agencies to distribute the supplies at no cost. The supplies, which include various forms of birth control, wereRead more
U.S. extends trade deal with Mexico, sets tariffs for dozens of countries
U.S. President Donald Trump, seen in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, signed an executive order on Thursday imposing ‘reciprocal’ tariffs ranging from 10 per cent to 41 per cent on U.S. imports from dozens of countries and foreign locations. (Jacquelyn Martin/The Associated Press) U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday imposing “reciprocal” tariffs ranging from 10 per cent to 41 per cent on U.S. imports from dozens of countries and foreign locations. The order was issued shortly after 7 p.m. ET on Thursday evening. It came after aRead more
Elections Canada adds security ahead of Alberta byelection amid reported threats
Lawn signs are displayed in advance of next month’s byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot. (Monty Kruger/CBC) Elections Canada has hired security guards in advance of this month’s byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot, candidates were told Friday. More than 200 candidates are contesting the riding alongside Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is running in the riding to regain a seat in the House of Commons. Last week, RCMP said several candidates contesting the byelection had reported receiving negative and sometimes “potentially threatening commentary” on social media platforms in recent days. Independent candidate Sarah Spanier said she heard at the meeting that Elections Canada hadRead more
Trump says Putin must end killing in Ukraine within days
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he is giving Russian President Vladimir Putin 10 to 12 days to stop the killing in Ukraine, shortening a 50-day deadline he had given the Russian leader two weeks ago. Russia fired an overnight barrage of more than 300 drones, four cruise missiles and three ballistic missiles, the Ukrainian air force said, as the Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities continued despite Trump’s pressure for it to end. U.S.-led peace efforts have also failed to gain momentum. Trump had said on July 14 that heRead more
The U.S. economy is thriving in spite of tariffs. Will it last?
By just about every indicator, the U.S. economy is holding up remarkably well. When Donald Trump launched his global trade war, economists and markets said his tariff policy would slow the economy, drive up prices and dramatically reduce global trade. And yet, stocks are at all-time highs, the country’s employment is strong, its economy is expanding and the expected surge in inflation hasn’t materialized. Canada’s economy has shown surprising resilience, as well, with consumer spending starting to pick up last month and unemployment declining. Economists told CBC News it’s unclear whether theRead more