Thursday, April 30

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Trump places high-risk, high-reward bet on tariffs to stem fentanyl
World News

Trump places high-risk, high-reward bet on tariffs to stem fentanyl

By Joseph Ax, Helen Coster and James Oliphant, Reuters Nearly 75,000 Americans died from synthetic drug overdoses in 2023, according to government figures. Photo: 123RF US President-elect Donald Trump's vow to impose tariffs on China and Mexico unless they stem the flow of fentanyl and migrants across the US border could impel deeper cooperation from those governments on drug policing, experts said. But the threat also carries risk, particularly concerning US-Chinese collaboration on fighting fentanyl, which had improved this year after bilateral negotiations between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In social media posts on Monday, Trump promised to impose additional 10 percent tariffs on Chinese imports and 25 percent tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods - t...
Three Americans imprisoned in China for years released | US News
Business

Three Americans imprisoned in China for years released | US News

Three American citizens who had been detained in China for years have been released, Sky's US partner network NBC News reports.They are Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung, a State Department spokesperson said. It comes after Politico earlier cited an unnamed US administration official as saying years-long attempts to free the trio had finally been successful, in exchange for unidentified Chinese citizens in US custody.The agreement reportedly came as part of sensitive negotiations which are yet to be announced. "We are pleased to announce the release of Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung from detention in the People's Republic of China," a State Department spokesperson said. "Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years."Th...
Methanol and inaccessible medical care – a lethal combination
World News

Methanol and inaccessible medical care – a lethal combination

Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones died after suspected Laos methanol poisoning. Photo: Facebook Six tourists have died of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, and more are still in hospital. An expert explains why methanol kills, and how to survive. Surviving methanol poisoning requires getting medical help fast - but getting that care is far from straightforward when you are miles away from a hospital. Six foreign tourists have died in the past week after consuming drinks containing methanol in Vang Vieng, Laos. Many more were caught up in the incident, including a Kiwi who has since returned home. Freelance journalist Erin Hale is based in Taiwan, but has spent time in Laos. She says that while there is a clinic in Vang Vieng, she does not think it is equipped to handle a case as ser...
N.S. election: The broken promise and a ‘call to action’ against Ottawa
Politics

N.S. election: The broken promise and a ‘call to action’ against Ottawa

A gamble by incumbent Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston to discard the first law his government passed and swap a July election for a snap poll at the end of November has paid off. After months of telegraphing his early election plan, Houston made the call on Oct. 27, triggering a short one-month campaign period he said was necessary to get more from the federal government.Advance polling showed a drop in the number of people turning out to vote in the election — something Liberal Party Leader Zach Churchill said was likely due to “election fatigue” after the U.S. presidential election.The Progressive Conservatives’ gamble, however, has rewarded him with a sizeable win across the province.By late Tuesday night, the Progressive Conservatives remained in the 40-seat range, with 10 going to the...
Canada Post says union talks ‘grind to a halt’ as strike drags on – National
Politics

Canada Post says union talks ‘grind to a halt’ as strike drags on – National

Canada Post says negotiations with its workers’ union have come to a grinding halt on important issues as a nationwide strike drags into Day 13. A special mediator, appointed by the federal government, has been guiding the talks between the two sides since Nov. 18, but the Crown corporation says  “progress has been limited to minor items.”“Canada Post is considering its options to move negotiations forward as talks with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) have ground to a halt on key issues critical to the Corporation’s future,” Lisa Liu, a company spokesperson, said in a statement on Tuesday evening.Liu said  the union has not been responding to the proposals that Canada Post has put forward over the past several days and the mailing service was informed by the special mediator th...
Alberta government takes aim at GHG emissions cap, proposes rules on trespass and data gathering
Politics

Alberta government takes aim at GHG emissions cap, proposes rules on trespass and data gathering

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is eyeing a number of steps to challenge the proposed federal greenhouse gas emissions cap. Announcing an upcoming motion under her Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act on Tuesday, Smith said the government plans to challenge the cap in court when or if it becomes law, and that it will take the steps necessary to give the province exclusive authority and ownership of emissions data, ban federal employees from designated oil and gas facilities, and more.“We’ve been very clear that we will use all means at our disposal to fight back against federal policies that hurt Alberta, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” she said.Under the sovereignty act, the government must first put a motion forward in the legislative assembly identifyi...
Marilyn Manson drops lawsuit against former fiancee Evan Rachel Wood | Ents & Arts News
Business

Marilyn Manson drops lawsuit against former fiancee Evan Rachel Wood | Ents & Arts News

Marilyn Manson has agreed to drop a defamation lawsuit against his former fiancée Evan Rachel Wood, lawyers for both have said.The musician has also agreed to pay Wood's legal fees of almost $327,000 (about £260,000). In 2020, the Westworld actress publicly claimed the rocker, whose real name is Brian Warner, sexually and physically abused her during their relationship. Image: The former couple confirmed their relationship in 2007, and split a few months after announcing their engagement in 2010. Pic: Henry McGee/MediaPunch /IPX/AP Manson, 55, filed a lawsuit in 2022, saying the claims were fabricated and had "derailed" his career. A Los Angeles County judge threw out several key sections of the suit the following year.Now,...
After Trump’s tariff threat, Trudeau set to meet with premiers – National
Politics

After Trump’s tariff threat, Trudeau set to meet with premiers – National

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to meet with the country’s premiers Wednesday afternoon, after they asked for an urgent meeting on U.S.-Canada relations ahead of the incoming Donald Trump administration. That request came Monday, before the U.S. president-elect threatened to impose a 25-per-cent import tariff on goods coming from Canada and Mexico.Trudeau and the premiers will hold a virtual meeting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.Trump said in a social media post Monday night that he would keep the tariffs in place until Canada and Mexico stop illegal border crossings and prevent drugs such as fentanyl from entering the U.S. 2:49 ‘We need to be strong’: Calls for Canadian unity over Trump’s tariff...
Ex-Manchester City player set to become Georgia’s next president | World News
Business

Ex-Manchester City player set to become Georgia’s next president | World News

A former Manchester City football player is set to be Georgia's next president after the ruling party selected him as its candidate. Mikheil Kavelashvili, 53, who also played for Georgia's national team, is almost certain to be elected to the largely ceremonial position. The new president will be chosen by the 300-seat electoral college, which is largely controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party.Their success in last month's parliamentary election has been disputed by European election observers, who have described instances of bribery, double voting and physical violence.The victory sparked protests and led to the opposition boycotting parliament. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted towards Moscow.Mr Kavelashvili told reporters "radica...
NDP won’t back Liberals’ $250 rebate plan unless expanded: Singh – National
Politics

NDP won’t back Liberals’ $250 rebate plan unless expanded: Singh – National

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says while he supports the Liberal plan to give Canadians a GST break during the holidays, he won’t back the $250 rebate proposal unless the government expands eligibility to the most vulnerable. The Liberals announced a plan last week to cut the federal sales tax on a raft of items such as toys and restaurant meals for two months, and to give $250 to more than 18.7 million Canadians in the spring.Speaking after a Canadian Labour Congress event in Ottawa, Singh said he’s open to passing the GST legislation, but the rebate needs to include seniors, students, people who are on disability benefits and those who were not able to work last year.Singh said he initially supported the idea because he thought the rebate cheques would go to anyone who earned under $150,000 l...