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Canada has started new tariffs on $20 billion of U.S. goods to respond to U.S. tariffs on Canadian products, worsening the trade dispute. The U.S. tariffs, announced by President Donald Trump, include a 50% tax on cars and raw materials from Canada. Negotiations between the two countries broke down over disputes about trade terms and language rights.
Key Facts
Canada imposed tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on U.S. imports worth $20 billion.
These Canadian tariffs target steel, dairy, appliances, farm equipment, and electronics.
President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on Canadian cars and raw materials last month.
The U.S. tariffs impact goods like hockey sticks and cement and affect about 5.5% of Canadian exports to the U.S.
Trade talks ended in August after disagreements over trade restrictions and language protections for French speakers in Canada.
Canadian officials said U.S. negotiators criticized language protections, causing tensions.
The dispute reflects increasing trade tensions between Canada and the United States under President Trump.
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European Union leaders expressed shock after Serbia held a funeral with military honors for Ratko Mladic, a Bosnian Serb general convicted of genocide and war crimes. The EU questioned Serbia’s readiness to join because the funeral showed official support for a figure linked to severe crimes in Europe’s recent history.
Key Facts
Ratko Mladic died while serving a life sentence for genocide and war crimes from the Bosnia war.
Serbia held a funeral with military honors for Mladic in Belgrade.
The Serbian Orthodox Church’s Patriarch led the funeral service.
Some Serbian government ministers attended the funeral, but President Aleksandar Vucic did not; his son was present.
EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa called the funeral and official support for Mladic "shocking" and "regrettable."
The EU said the funeral shows Serbia has not fully faced its past crimes and doubted its values match those needed to join the EU.
Mladic remains seen as a hero by many in Serbia despite his conviction.
Serbia is trying to balance supporting Mladic’s supporters and maintaining its goal to join the EU, with upcoming elections playing a role.
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Sherri Shepherd will play the Genie in the Broadway musical "Aladdin" from October 16 to January 3. She is excited about the role and is preparing by taking dance and voice lessons.
Key Facts
Sherri Shepherd is a Daytime Emmy and NAACP Image Award winner.
She will perform as the Genie, a character known for the song "Friend Like Me."
Shepherd has done Broadway before, playing the Stepmother in "Cinderella" in 2014.
She is working hard to prepare by practicing singing and dancing.
Shepherd wants children watching the show to feel inspired and see new possibilities.
The musical is based on the 1992 movie "Aladdin," starring Robin Williams as the Genie.
Shepherd plans to perform in "Aladdin" from October 16 through January 3.
She has asked Broadway friends for advice to help with the role.
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Sir Richard Alston, an important British choreographer and teacher, died at age 77. He was known for his creative and thoughtful contemporary dance work and led well-known dance companies like Rambert and the Place.
Key Facts
Sir Richard Alston died on September 7 after a period of illness.
He was a choreographer, teacher, and former artistic director of Rambert and the Place.
Alston created over 50 dance pieces for his own company.
He was praised for his clear, emotional, and musical approach to dance.
The Richard Alston Foundation was created in 2021 to keep promoting his work and contemporary dance.
He studied under important choreographer Merce Cunningham in New York.
Alston became artistic director of Rambert in 1986 and led the company through important changes, including dropping "ballet" from its name.
He was knighted in 2019 for his contributions to dance.
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The Argentine government announced it will press criminal charges against Navitas Petroleum for operating near the Falkland Islands, a territory claimed by both Argentina and the UK. Argentine President Javier Milei strongly reaffirmed Argentina’s claim and condemned the oil drilling, while the UK maintains its current position supporting the Falkland Islands as a British overseas territory.
Key Facts
Argentina plans to take legal action against Navitas Petroleum for offshore drilling near the Falklands.
President Javier Milei called oil drilling there a threat to Argentine sovereignty.
The Falkland Islands are claimed by both Argentina and the UK, with tensions lasting over 40 years since a 1982 conflict.
A 2013 vote showed nearly all residents of the islands want to remain under British control.
Milei said the islanders have no legitimate right to decide their status because he sees the land as taken illegally.
Navitas Petroleum owns 65% of the Sea Lion oil project, expected to begin production in 2028.
The Sea Lion oilfield has an estimated 1.7 billion barrels of oil and is about 130 miles from the Falklands.
Both Navitas and Rockhopper (another stakeholder) say their licenses from the Falklands government are valid.
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The UK government will run a large exercise in 2027 to test how well it can call up retired military veterans if there is a war. The drill aims to improve the readiness of the armed forces by using veterans from the strategic reserve, which includes around 95,000 former soldiers and officers.
Key Facts
Some veterans from the UK’s strategic reserve will be mobilized in a military exercise in 2027.
The strategic reserve has about 95,000 retired regular and reserve officers from the Army, Navy, and Royal Air Force.
The Ministry of Defence wants to use the strategic reserve more actively due to a workforce retention problem.
The age limit for the strategic reserve was recently raised from 55 to 65.
The exercise will test procedures to call up, equip, and use retired troops on a large scale.
The UK government is under pressure to increase defense spending to 3% of the GDP by the end of the decade.
A public awareness campaign will encourage people to prepare for emergencies like extreme weather or cyber attacks.
The government is also expanding programs like a military "gap year" to boost youth involvement in defense.
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The conflict between the U.S. and Iran is ongoing as the midterm elections approach. President Trump has tried to minimize the importance of the war. Retired Vice Admiral Robert B. Murrett shared his analysis on the situation.
Key Facts
The Iran war is still happening.
The midterm general election in the U.S. is coming soon.
President Trump has downplayed or reduced the seriousness of the Iran conflict.
Retired Vice Admiral Robert B. Murrett gave his expert opinion about the situation.
The discussion was featured on CBS News.
The focus is on how the conflict affects politics and public perception.
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Lithuania is training civilians, including students and adults, in survival and weapons skills to prepare for a possible Russian invasion. This move follows the ongoing war in Ukraine and uses lessons from that conflict to improve the country’s defenses with both traditional methods and new technology.
Key Facts
Russia recently bombed Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, killing at least two people.
President Trump's envoys visited the region to try to negotiate peace.
Lithuania, a NATO member with fewer than 3 million people, trains civilians in military skills.
Students at a high school in Vilnius learn survival and weapons training alongside regular classes.
Lithuania is teaching people how to use and defend against drones.
The country uses a mix of high-tech tools like sensors and drones and traditional defenses like tank obstacles.
Lithuania is close to Belarus, an ally of Russia, which has been used in attacks on Ukraine.
Lithuania’s leaders say they are not afraid of Russia and are ready to defend their country because of their history.
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A new study shows that men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer may live longer if they replace animal fats like butter and red meat with plant-based fats such as olive oil and nuts in their diet. The research found that eating more saturated and animal fats after diagnosis was linked to a higher risk of death from all causes.
Key Facts
The study looked at almost 5,000 men diagnosed with nonmetastatic prostate cancer.
Their average age at diagnosis was about 69.5 years.
The typical follow-up time was nearly 13 years during which over 3,000 men died.
400 deaths were from prostate cancer, 500 from other cancers, and 800 from heart disease.
Replacing 5% of calories from carbs with saturated fats increased the risk of death by 15%.
Replacing 5% of calories from saturated fats with plant-based fats or monounsaturated fats lowered the risk of death.
Plant-based fats may reduce inflammation, which can slow cancer growth.
Heart disease is a common cause of death in prostate cancer patients, so healthier fats may help reduce this risk.
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Four paintings by the artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir were stolen from a small museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France. Two of the paintings were later found abandoned nearby, and police are searching for the thieves.
Key Facts
The theft happened early in the morning, triggering the museum's alarm at 5:48 a.m.
Police arrived within five minutes but the thieves had already left.
The stolen paintings include "Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano," "Coco Lisant," and "Young Girl at the Well."
The total value of the stolen paintings is estimated at $10.5 million.
The museum is located in Renoir’s last home, making it an important historical site.
The museum was closed during the police investigation.
The mayor called for better security in museums across France.
This theft follows a recent high-profile theft of crown jewels from the Louvre in Paris.
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The UK government will ban goods made in Israeli settlements in the West Bank to oppose settlement expansion that threatens the creation of a Palestinian state. The ban targets products from settlements considered illegal under international law but does not apply to all Israeli goods.
Key Facts
The UK plans to ban goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank to support a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
Israeli settlements in the West Bank are viewed as illegal under international law by many countries, including the UK.
The British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband is set to explain the detailed measures in Parliament.
The ban specifically targets settlements that are expanding and endangering peace efforts.
The UK recognized Palestinian statehood last year to revive peace talks.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government supports settlement expansion and opposes a Palestinian state.
Israeli officials have condemned the UK’s planned move and warned of retaliatory actions.
The US ambassador to Israel criticized the UK’s decision as discrimination against Jewish people.
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A man accused of killing his wife and two daughters in the UK has admitted to having an illegal gun and ammunition in South Africa. He was arrested in Johannesburg and faces murder charges in England, with an extradition hearing planned soon.
Key Facts
Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and her daughters Natalie, 15, and Nala, 5, were found dead with head injuries in Bedfordshire, UK, on July 7.
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, the accused, was arrested in Johannesburg, South Africa.
He admitted to illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition purchased in South Africa.
He has appeared before magistrates in Johannesburg for a plea hearing related to the gun charge.
The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service has charged him with three counts of murder.
An extradition hearing is set for Thursday in South Africa to potentially send him back to the UK.
The accused holds British citizenship but has Zimbabwean heritage.
He may be sentenced in South Africa for the gun-related offenses before extradition.
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A house fire on Russell Island, Queensland in August 2023 killed a father and five children. The smoke alarms in the home were not working properly despite warnings to the landlord, and emergency services had a delayed response due to the island's location.
Key Facts
The fire occurred on August 6, 2023, in a two-storey wooden house on Russell Island, Queensland.
A father and five children aged between 3 and 11 died in the fire.
The father died after trying to rescue the children from the burning house.
The house smoke alarms were improperly installed and had not been updated to meet 2017 safety laws.
The landlord was fined $774 in 2024 for the faulty smoke alarm installation but was not convicted.
Firefighters take 45-60 minutes to reach Russell Island because there is no local fire station, requiring vehicles to be ferried over.
A paramedic was the first to arrive at the scene and was unable to enter the house due to the intense fire.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, and investigators cannot rule out that it was started deliberately.
An inquest is planned for November to investigate the fire alarms, emergency response, and possible prevention measures.
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Australia plans to invest over $700 million in the Solomon Islands, aiming to strengthen ties and reduce China's influence in the South Pacific. This deal follows similar security agreements Australia made with other Pacific islands and reflects a broader competition between China and Western countries for influence in the region.
Key Facts
Australia will invest at least 980 million Australian dollars (around 700 million U.S. dollars) in the Solomon Islands.
This investment aims to counter China’s growing diplomatic presence in the South Pacific.
Australia recently made similar security deals with Vanuatu and Fiji in the Pacific.
China has given over $1 billion in aid to these Pacific island nations over the past 20 years.
The Solomon Islands signed a security and policing agreement with China in 2022.
The U.S. also supports such efforts with economic aid and security treaties with Pacific nations.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative has funded infrastructure projects in the Pacific worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
The competition for influence in the Pacific involves economic aid, security agreements, and access to strategic resources.
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An inquiry into the June 2023 Nottingham attacks heard that one victim’s death might have been avoided with faster medical treatment. The attacker, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed three people and injured three others. The inquiry reviewed police and medical responses and found multiple failures in care before and after the attacks.
Key Facts
Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates were killed by Valdo Calocane in June 2023.
Valdo Calocane had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020.
Barnaby’s death was described as "potentially preventable" if blood transfusions were given more quickly.
Grace and Ian’s deaths were deemed "not preventable" given the circumstances.
Calocane pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter and three counts of attempted murder.
The attacker is now in a high-security hospital under an indefinite order.
The inquiry examined over 100 witnesses, including police, healthcare workers, family members, and survivors.
The inquiry highlighted many failures in the care and handling of Calocane before and after the attacks.
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French authorities are investigating after female workers at the Eiffel Tower were removed from their posts during a visit by a Hindu religious group called BAPS. This led to a strike and closure of the landmark as staff protested the treatment of women.
Key Facts
Female employees at the Eiffel Tower were taken off duty during a private visit by about 100 members of the BAPS Hindu group.
BAPS monks follow strict rules that forbid contact with women, which led to men replacing female staff during the visit.
Eiffel Tower staff felt humiliated and went on strike, causing the landmark to close on Monday.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said the investigation would start quickly and stressed that gender equality must be respected everywhere.
The tower’s operating company admitted that the request to limit interaction with women should not have been accepted.
BAPS has connections with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling party, BJP.
BAPS apologized for the incident but did not clearly explain the request to remove female staff.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal stated that no culture or belief can dictate women's place in France.
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Hurricane Lowell passed close to western Hawaii, causing strong winds, heavy rain, and big waves. The storm knocked out power for many homes and businesses and created dangerous conditions like flooding and possible tornadoes.
Key Facts
Hurricane Lowell was a Category 2 storm with winds up to 110 mph.
It almost reached Category 3, which starts at 111 mph.
The hurricane warning covered Kauai and Niihau islands, with a tropical storm warning for Oahu.
It threatened parts of the large Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument area.
Rainfall could reach up to 24 inches in some areas, causing flash floods and mudslides.
The storm created life-threatening surf and rip currents.
Some tornadoes were possible during the storm.
Power outages affected tens of thousands of homes and businesses.
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Singapore will raise the salaries of its prime minister and other ministers, with the prime minister’s pay increasing by about S$1.4 million (US$1.1 million). The government says the higher pay will help attract talented leaders, but many people in Singapore have criticized the increase because wages are much lower for most citizens.
Key Facts
Singapore’s prime minister Lawrence Wong will get an annual salary raise from S$2.2 million to S$3.6 million.
Wong plans to donate the salary increase to charity over five years.
The raise applies to other ministers too, with base pay increasing from about S$1.1 million to around S$1.2 million, plus potential bonuses based on performance.
Minister salaries depend partly on meeting targets like unemployment rate, income growth, and GDP growth.
Singapore claims high minister pay helps prevent corruption and attracts top talent from business and civil service.
Singaporeans have mixed reactions: some criticize the raise because the median monthly income is about S$5,775 and many worry about job security and living costs.
The minister pay issue has been politically sensitive for years and contributed to lower votes for the ruling party in 2011.
Other world leaders’ salaries are much lower: Hong Kong’s chief executive earns about US$719,000, US President Donald Trump earns US$400,000, and the UK Prime Minister earns about US$230,000.
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Hungary has told 10 Russian diplomats to leave the country because of activities Hungary considered inappropriate for diplomats under an international treaty. Russia said it will respond but did not give details. Hungary said it still wants to keep good diplomatic relations with Russia.
Key Facts
Hungary ordered 10 Russian diplomats to leave for unacceptable activities.
The decision is based on the Vienna Convention, which sets rules for diplomats’ conduct.
Hungary’s foreign minister, Anita Orbán, did not explain the specific activities.
Hungary wants to maintain proper diplomatic talks with Russia despite the expulsions.
Russia’s foreign ministry promised to respond to Hungary’s action.
Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who started this year, aims to change Hungary’s previous friendly stance toward Russia.
The previous Hungarian leader, Viktor Orbán, was known for close ties with Russia and opposing EU sanctions on it.
Hungary states that the expulsions protect its security and sovereignty.
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