‘Healthcare is more badly broken than political leaders admit’

Marj Halperin at the Chicago Tribune

While “rising costs are a barrier for too many, even those who can afford comprehensive health insurance are finding money can’t buy you a timely appointment,” says Marj Halperin. Americans in cities are “now in much the same bind as patients in rural areas who have long found limited doctors available for routine care, with specialists often a few hours’ drive away.” It is “time for political leaders to spell out a strategy to speed in the opposite direction.”

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‘A wildly popular movie meets the film world’s most revered label’

Sophia Nguyen at The Atlantic

“‘KPop Demon Hunters’ seems to have completely overtaken culture,” says Sophia Nguyen. But “even the most ardent fans likely did not anticipate the mega-hit’s next big merch drop: a disc release from the Criterion Collection, home to some of cinema’s most distinguished titles.” Some of the “label’s longtime devotees greeted the addition of ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ with an eye roll,” but “Criterion has good reason to widen the net: Netflix, Apple and Amazon make and distribute a significant share of films.”

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‘Trump’s tariffs prove even Canada can’t afford to be nice to the United States anymore’

The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board

It “fell to Canada, a country famous for friendliness, to demonstrate the limits of an age-old friendship with the United States,” says The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board. After a “decade of dealing politely with President Donald Trump’s manic ricocheting between trade agreements and trade warfare, supplies of northern niceness are sorely depleted, and rightly so.” Prime Minister Mark Carney’s “defiance in the face of his neighbor’s unprovoked bullying should inspire other traditional American allies to abandon appeasement.”

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‘Meta’s $18 billion settlement could reshape social media for young people’

Tom Jones at the Poynter Institute

Meta “reached a landmark settlement and agreed to pay up to $18 billion to 47 states” to settle claims it “endangered children through addictive features,” says Tom Jones. Meta’s promised changes are “meant to curb endless scrolling, which can interrupt sleep and have other negative effects on young people’s health and well-being.” The “smart move for Meta was to settle,” as a “major challenge for all social media companies is verifying the ages of their users.”

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What happened

President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America” inside the U.S. government, needling Canada amid an intensifying trade war. Trump’s order directed the Interior Department and the Board on Geographic Names to remove and replace Lake Ontario on all federal maps and documents within 30 days, though he told reporters the name change was “effective immediately.”

Who said what

Trump’s Lake America rebrand “most likely requires only federal entities to recognize the change,” The New York Times said. “It does not have to be recognized by other countries.” New York, the only state that borders the lake, “won’t be calling it that,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), and neither will any Canadian entities. The name, from the “Wendat word Ontari’io, which, appropriately, means ‘the lake is beautiful, the lake is big,’” is “more than 400 years old,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said on social media. “America is changing,” but Canadians “know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario — then, now and always.”

What next?

The hydronym snub is “likely to harden public sentiment against the Trump administration in Canada,” The Wall Street Journal said. But Trump suggested he wasn’t satisfied with Lake America and the Gulf of America. “Now, all we need is an ocean,” he told reporters. “Maybe we’ll have to change the name of the Atlantic and/or the Pacific.”

The trade war between the United States and Canada has turned white-hot, and it is not clear when or if the conflict will abate. America’s northern neighbor is hunkering down for extended economic pain, while President Donald Trump argues that Canada has been “ripping off” the U.S. for years. Tariffs are flying in both directions. Will anybody blink?

‘Undiplomatic’ bargaining

Last weekend’s breakdown of U.S.-Canada trade talks is a sign that Trump’s “bulldozer approach” to trade “may be reaching its limits,” said The Washington Post. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney walked away from negotiations “rather than accept a lengthening list of U.S. demands,” choosing to face new American tariffs on an “array of Canadian products” that includes “hockey sticks and Crown Royal whisky.” (U.S. consumers could also face a surge in toilet paper costs.)

Carney is digging in. Trump’s “undiplomatic style” of bargaining — including frequent references to Canada as a “51st state” — has made once-friendly Canadian public opinion “fiercely anti-American,” said the Post.

Canada is “among the worst Nations in the World to deal with,” Trump posted Monday on Truth Social. “WE DON’T NEED CANADA, THEY NEED US!” That proclamation “depends on the meaning of the word ‘need,’” Paul Krugman said on Substack. Canada “dominates” the type of lumber that U.S. contractors prefer for framing houses, and America “imports millions of barrels a day” of Canadian oil. The United States economy is much larger, but an “all-out trade war would create a lot of pain” at home when American voters are “already dissatisfied with Trump’s economic management.”

Trump’s latest trade conflict “makes no economic or political sense,” The Wall Street Journal said in an editorial. GOP candidates are “already getting pounded” on affordability issues on the campaign trail. The president’s abysmal approval rating is the result of voter perceptions as he wages “blunderbuss wars without a strategy.” Now Trump is providing fresh fuel for those concerns a “mere 10 weeks before midterm elections.”

‘United against Donald Trump’

Carney was “right to call Donald Trump’s bluff,” Tony Keller said at The Globe and Mail in Canada. There was widespread fear among Canadians that “Ottawa was about to sign a bad deal” with the United States that would make major concessions to Trump “in return for nothing much.” The good news for Ottawa: U.S. voters “won’t understand why Mr. Trump is so intent on severing our partnership.” Canadian leaders must now “appeal to Americans and American business” for support.

Canada is now “more united against Donald Trump than ever,” Stephen Maher said at the Toronto Star. The Canadian government is preparing aid to assist the country’s hardest-hit businesses. Trump seems equally determined. It is “time to teach Canada you can’t do this anymore,” he said Wednesday to interviewer Glenn Beck, per Reuters. This may be a long fight: Carney “sees little chance” of resuming trade talks until after the U.S. midterm elections in November, said Bloomberg.

What happened

Canada on Tuesday released a list of more than 700 U.S. products it plans to tax at up to 50% in response to 50% tariffs President Donald Trump imposed on $20 million of Canadian goods over the weekend. The “dollar-for-dollar, rate-for-rate counter-tariffs” will be paired with $5.4 billion in support to protect Canadian workers and businesses, said Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne in a press conference. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said Canada was “targeting products” that will “put political pressure” on the Trump administration in certain states.

Who said what

Trump’s “trade war with Canada is escalating as the midterm elections approach,” voters are angry over rising costs and “control of the U.S. Senate hinges on states along the border,” like Michigan, Ohio, Maine and Alaska, The Associated Press said. Senior Canadian officials maintained that Ottawa “did not design the new measures around the U.S. electoral map.”

But Canada’s retaliatory tariffs “targeted products made in states with hotly contested congressional elections,” The Wall Street Journal said. Ottawa is “trying to show the Republican Party that there’s a systemic cost to doing this sort of thing,” former U.S. trade official Ed Gresser told the Journal.

What next?

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs don’t take effect until Sept. 8, so “there’s still time to pull back from the brink of an even bigger trade war,” the AP said. “Voters hate tariffs,” and Trump must be “hearing from political folks that if he wants any chance of salvaging the midterms he can’t start a trade war with Canada,” Scott Lincicome of the Cato Institute told the AP. “My guess” is “cooler heads do prevail somewhere in the next few weeks.”

What happened

President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian imports took effect Saturday after negotiations collapsed. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said U.S. negotiators “asked too much and offered too little,” and Ottawa would roll out “dollar for dollar” retaliatory tariffs starting Sept. 8. Trump’s latest tariffs cover about 5% of Canadian imports, ranging from wine, dairy and hockey sticks to overcoats and some Christmas ornaments.

Who said what

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canada rejected the “best treatment” of any major U.S. trading partner. The U.S. terms were “uneconomic” and “unfair,” Carney said, and “unacceptable” last-minute demands would have restricted Canada’s ability to strike trade deals with other countries, among other infringements on sovereignty. “Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!!” Trump said Sunday on social media.

The “dumbest trade war in history” just “got dumber,” The Wall Street Journal said in an editorial. Trump is taxing an “array of consumer goods” a “mere 10 weeks before midterm elections,” when his approval rating is already “frigid” in part because voters believe he is “waging blunderbuss wars without a strategy, and on trade they’re right.”

What next?

Unlike some of the other laws Trump has used to impose tariffs, the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act used here “does not appear to impose a time limit on the duties,” CNN said. “We should be prepared to duke it out for two years,” until Trump leaves office, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said, and “then hopefully, sanity will return.”

What happened

President Donald Trump on Tuesday night announced a three-day pause on 50% tariffs he had threatened to impose on $20 billion of Canadian imports. “Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL!” he said on social media, about 90 minutes before the midnight deadline. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the two sides had made “substantial progress,” but there’s “important work still to be done.”

Who said what

Trump’s tariffs “would have risked escalation into a trade war between the North American neighbors,” The Wall Street Journal said. But the “political impact would likely have been bigger than the economic one,” The Associated Press said. Canada had “threatened to retaliate” with “levies of its own,” and Trump would be “taking a risk by imposing a hefty new tariff” on consumer goods ahead of midterm elections, with U.S. voters “already frustrated with the high cost of living.”

What next?

Trump has “previously announced deals with other countries, only to have them fall through,” The New York Times said. But the U.S. and Canada both have “reason to step back from the brink,” the AP said. Long-term government borrowing costs “hit their highest in decades” on Tuesday, Reuters said, as “Trump’s policies — from tariffs to war — upend the global order.”

While Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may be at the center of numerous controversies, one of the most recent has gone international: The agency has agreed to a five-year contract with Canadian tech conglomerate Thomson Reuters to obtain information on alleged “voter fraud” and “immigration fraud.” Many are wary of the two parties working together.

‘Screening and vetting of individuals’

While Thomson Reuters is best known for its eponymous news agency Reuters, its data broker division has deals with several U.S. government organizations. The latest ICE contract, valued at $25 million per year, directs Thomson Reuters to assist with the “screening and vetting of individuals and entities for immigration, criminal and national security risks,” according to the contract document in the Federal Register. Thomson Reuters will also assist with identifying “violations of U.S. immigration and customs laws.”

The contract means ICE will now have access to the company’s “databases of personal data — which includes peoples’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers, ethnicity, social media posts and geolocation information,” said 404 Media. By signing the document, Thomson Reuters will be “able to let ICE continuously monitor millions of people and entities of interest.” Other data sources that feed into Thomson Reuters’ program include “credit header data, which is the personal information someone provides to a financial institution to open a credit card, like their address.”

The document also says ICE has a large need to identify “unaccompanied minors,” which will help “support the presidential mandate of the identification of voter fraud, immigration fraud and national security.” But the contract “does not explain why ICE would need to identify unaccompanied minors, which is typically the remit of the Department of Health and Human Services” or how the data “would be used to combat voter fraud or immigration fraud,” said Wired.

‘My blood ran cold’

There has been significant opposition to Thomson Reuters’ partnering with ICE, including in Canada where the company is based. At least one politician, Canadian New Democratic Party Leader Avi Lewis, has urged Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to block the deal. “My blood ran cold when I read about this development,” Lewis said to The Guardian. “Complicity between Canadian corporations and ICE should absolutely be illegal.”

ICE has been working with Thomson Reuters since at least 2015. But the new contract is the first to state that the “software will be used to support the Trump administration’s objectives of addressing supposed ‘voter fraud,’” said The Guardian. The company itself has denied any wrongdoing; recent media reporting “reflects misunderstandings about how our products are governed and safeguarded,” Thomson Reuters said in a statement. Its products are “provided under strict contractual terms, subject to applicable law and governed by strong safeguards.”

It seems some within the company do not agree with this assessment. Prior to the contract being signed, 200 Thomson Reuters employees wrote a letter asking the company not to renew its agreement with ICE. “We have experienced our neighbors, friends and family members undergoing arrests and detention, intimidation and harassment, and public violence,” said the letter obtained by The New York Times. “We question if our investigative products and services are being used in accordance with our mission and values, as well as in accordance with the law and our nation’s constitution.”

What happened

President Donald Trump on Monday signed proclamations imposing 50% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian imports, claiming that America’s second-largest trading partner has unfairly discriminated against U.S. cars, alcohol and dairy products. The tariffs, set to take effect in 30 days, rely on Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which has never been used to levy import duties and is untested in court. Some products, like energy, would be exempt, but the new tax will apply to goods that comply with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, the White House said in a fact sheet.

Who said what

The new tariffs “could unleash a new wave of economic chaos, with risks of higher inflation and further fraying of relations” with Canada, The Associated Press said. A senior administration official “said that Canada was one of the only nations other than China that retaliated against Trump’s previous tariffs and must be held accountable.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that “Canada, as is its right,” had “merely matched” Trump’s tariffs, but his country “stands ready to engage intensively” to address a “trade dispute” that “has raised costs for families, particularly in the U.S.”

What next?

The new tariffs would apply to nearly $20 billion of Canadian goods, the White House said, or roughly 5.2% of Canadian imports last year. But Trump’s “invocation of 338 is the nuclear option,” threatening all U.S. trading partners and injecting “massive uncertainty” into the global economy, Cato Institute economist Scott Lincicome said to the AP. “We crossed the Rubicon.”

What happened

Canadian wildfires have sent “massive plumes” of smoke “pouring over the border” into the U.S., CNN said. The combination of wildfires in Ontario and a “heat dome in the central U.S. spells smoky trouble,” with dangerous air quality for “more than 120 million people in the Midwest and Northeast.”

Who said what

In cities including Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis and Toronto, air quality readings “surged to levels so dangerous” that one public health expert warned “nobody should spend time outside,” The New York Times said. Sensors across the upper Midwest on Thursday recorded the “worst air quality in North America,” with Chicago reportedly having the worst in the world.

The smoke “arrived in force,” National Weather Service Meteorologist Steven Freitag told The Associated Press. “It’s really pretty extreme levels.” And air in coastal cities like New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., was also at “unhealthy levels,” said the Times.

What next?

The Midwest could “face weeks to months of continued smoke and flare-ups,” depending on wind patterns, said Brent Williams, the head of the University of Minnesota’s Soil, Water and Climate Department, to the AP. Republican lawmakers have meanwhile “threatened punitive action against Canada,” accusing its government of “mismanaging the wildfires,” said the Times. “I will be introducing a bill next week to sanction Canada and the responsible Canadian government officials for this atrocity,” said Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) on X.

What happened

More than 100 wildfires are burning out of control in Canada this week, sending plumes of smoke south across the border to blanket parts of the Northeast and Midwest and turning skies orange. Poor air quality triggered health warnings across multiple states including New York, Michigan and Massachusetts. In Canada, Toronto’s air quality briefly registered as the worst of any city in the world.

Who said what

The “primary health concern” with wildfire smoke is fine particulate matter, which can “bypass the body’s defenses” when inhaled, Canadian physician Dr. Farhan M. Asrar said at The Conversation. The “best thing to do” is to keep a close eye on the air quality in your area, Heatmap News said. This summer’s wildfire activity in Canada is “nowhere near the hyperactivity of 2023,” CNN said, but “planet-heating fossil fuel pollution is increasing the chance of prolonged smoke seasons.”

What next?

Forecasters expect air quality to remain poor across the Midwest and Northeast on Thursday and possibly Friday. It’s “too early to determine the weekend outlook,” The Wall Street Journal said.

Waterfalls are a gift of both sight and sound. They look magnificent, elegantly cascading into canyons and tumbling roughly over cliffs. The steady din of rushing water and booming splashes only adds to their beauty. These awe-inspiring waterfalls are reminders of how, sometimes, Mother Nature loves to show off.

Ban Gioc-Detian Falls, China and Vietnam

These multi-tiered falls straddle the border between China and Vietnam, surrounded by lush greenery and towering karst hills. Visitors can take in the calming sight from land, or hop on a bamboo raft and see it from the river below. On the Vietnam side (Ban Gioc), several smaller waterfalls to the side add to the majesty.

Havasu Falls, Arizona

This legendary waterfall, which “topples off fiery red rock and drops into a turquoise pool,” is so vibrant it almost doesn’t look real, said Travel and Leisure. It is on the Havasupai Reservation near the Grand Canyon, and to get here, you must have a permit, book a stay at the Havasupai Campground or Havasupai Lodge and then hike (or helicopter) in. Havasu Falls is the star of the show, but the nearby Navajo Falls, Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls are “similarly spectacular.”

Helmcken Falls, Canada

You’re going to want to see British Columbia’s Helmcken Falls during the summer and winter, when it shines in two incredibly different ways. During the warmer months, the water freely cascades down, as expected. Once the temperatures drop and days get shorter, the falls become “truly epic,” said the BBC. As the water tumbles over into the canyon, a “huge cone of ice begins to form,” creating an “awe-inspiring structure” that over the winter can grow to “almost half as tall as the waterfall itself.”

Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil

You hear Iguazu Falls before you see it. The “low, thunderous rumble” rises from “deep within the jungle,” signaling that just around the bend the incredible falls await, said Travel and Leisure.

Hundreds of cascades, “some gentle and ribbonlike, others violent and towering,” make up the falls, and the sight is a sheer “spectacle.” If you have time, view Iguazu from both the Argentinian side, where an “incredible” network of walking paths drops you off close to the falls, and the Brazilian side, which provides a “panoramic view from farther back.”

Kalandula Falls, Angola

The roaring Kalandula Falls are considered sacred, a place where locals once performed rituals to ask the gods for health and wealth. Today, visitors come to witness the majesty of one of Africa’s largest waterfalls by volume, tucked far from the beaten path. To get here, you’ll have to hike down a rocky trail that snakes past the mighty Lucala River.

Kuang Si Falls, Laos

Kuang Si Falls starts off easy, with shallow pools that spill into wider pools. From there, the main waterfall brings the drama, with a 200-foot drop. During the dry season, visitors can cool off by swimming in the turquoise waters. If you don’t want to get wet, there are several bridges and viewing platforms to soak in the gorgeous views of the water and surrounding forest.

Langfossen, Norway

Wild and rugged Langfossen drops more than 2,000 feet, crashing down the mountainside and under the E134 highway. This is one of Norway’s tallest waterfalls, and while most others in the country are used for hydroelectric power generation, Langfossen is still in its natural state. Visitors can take a strenuous hike up an old farm path to be close to the waterfall and soak up panoramic views of the surrounding fjords and mountains, or marvel while on a boat ride across the fjord.

Seljalandsfoss, Iceland

Seljalandsfoss offers a rare opportunity to walk behind a waterfall. A path takes visitors around the back of it, into a small cave; tread carefully, as this area can be wet and slippery. Seljalandsfoss’ “beautiful high falls” are a sight to behold from the front, tumbling down over a “rocky scarp into a deep, green pool,” said Lonely Planet. North of Seljalandsfoss is its sister waterfall, Gljúfrabúi, which “gushes into a hidden canyon.”

Sutherland Falls, New Zealand

It takes “some effort” to reach Sutherland Falls, but your reward for making the trek is “jaw-dropping” views of the natural wonder, said Afar. New Zealand’s tallest waterfall is close to Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, and “intrepid” hikers can reach it via the 33-mile Milford Track. Otherwise, book a helicopter tour to get an aerial look at Sutherland, which “escapes through a gap in a glacial cirque” before plunging more than 1,900 feet over three cascades.

Victoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe

The Lozi name for Victoria Falls, Mosi-oa-Tunya, translates to “the smoke that thunders” and aptly describes the loud and misty scene. The falls change “dramatically” over the year, and are at their most “powerful” after the summer rains, when “enormous clouds of spray” carry over the gorge, “drifting across the surrounding rainforest,” said Forbes.

When the water levels are lower, the falls look “clearer,” and it’s easier to “better appreciate the geological scale” of the area. This is also your chance to take a “high-adrenaline” swim in Devil’s Pool, a natural pool right on the edge of the falls on the Zambian side.

Wailua Falls, Kauai

You don’t have to go far to get to Wailua Falls. This double-tiered waterfall can be seen from the road, making it accessible for those who can’t hike or have small children in tow. Set amid lush tropical foliage, Wailua is the quintessential Hawaiian waterfall, and likely looks familiar to fans of 1970s television — it appeared in the opening credits of “Fantasy Island.”

‘Why gambling won’t ruin sports’

David Bockino at The Boston Globe

Even the “most vocal critics of widespread legalization concede that gambling has always been part of American sports,” says David Bockino. Gambling “wasn’t an inconvenient intrusion upon the nascent American sports industry but rather an essential catalyst — perhaps the essential catalyst — for nearly every major American sport.” This “revelation also suggests that our current sports betting mania isn’t the result of a national attitudinal shift.” People “have always wanted to bet on stuff. Especially young people.”

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‘Texas is America Inc’s new center of gravity’

The Economist

Texas is “establishing itself as America Inc’s new center of gravity,” as “no state receives more business investment or is adding more people to its population,” says The Economist. The “state’s appeal to yuppies is also growing,” and it “seems there is no part of America with which Texas is not competing.” Texas’ cultural “ascendancy” is “making it easier for firms to convince workers to move there,” though “cultivating homegrown talent is a big part of Texas’s economic plan.”

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‘It’s time the US got serious about Canada’

Richard M. Sanders at Newsweek

One of the “more bizarre features of Donald Trump’s second term in office has been the enormous effort he and his senior officials have put into damaging relations with Canada,” says Richard M. Sanders. The U.S. “has some genuine trade issues with Canada,” but the “administration seems locked into a policy of taking shots.” What “seems clear is that diplomacy by insult and provocation, which has characterized the administration’s approach, has only led to suspicion and hostility.”

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‘What a week in the hospital showed me about our broken healthcare system’

Gregg Gonsalves at The Nation

A successful surgery happened “thanks to the miracles of modern medicine,” but it “was no thanks to modern American healthcare,” which is “fundamentally broken,” says Gregg Gonsalves. The “system is sclerotic, and trying to get appointments, even for things I have been told are urgent, is a challenge.” This is a “cry for help that goes unheard and unaddressed year after year.” The “rot deepens in the day-to-day foundation of American medicine, at the level of the physician-patient interface.”

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Mother Nature shines at these seven protected areas, thanks to communities and coalitions that monitor and govern each spot so they remain pristine for generations. Travelers are asked to visit with this intent in mind and explore using official guides, treading lightly and leaving not a trace behind.

Banff National Park, Canada

Canada’s first national park is “brimming with natural beauty,” and its Rocky Mountain peaks and glacial lakes are only some of the “treasures” found in this “alpine wonderland,” said Condé Nast Traveler. The varied landscapes offer “geological drama,” filled with “spectacular” wildlife like moose, black bears and elk. There’s “no bad season to visit,” with canoeing popular in the summer, hiking and biking perfect for spring and fall, and skiing and snowshoeing made for winter.

Fiordland, New Zealand

Stretching across 5,000 square miles of southwestern New Zealand is Fiordland, the country’s largest national park. In a “land renowned for rugged beauty and heavenly wilderness,” Fiordland stands out with its “almost otherworldly splendor,” said Thrillist.

There is a lot to take in. The landscape includes forests, lakes, fjords, massive peaks and “craggy” coastlines, all home to “endangered wildlife found nowhere else on Earth,” said Thrillist. There are a few activities that every visitor should try to do, like take a cruise around Milford Sound. The sound is the park’s “most famous” fjord, and getting there involves a four-hour journey one of the “most scenic routes on the planet.”

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

The Andes’ Salar de Uyuni, at 4,000 square miles, is the world’s largest salt flat, formed by dried prehistoric lakes. Your experience depends on the time of year you visit.

It’s dry from May to November, and the flats are hard and can handle the weight of 4x4 vehicles. But when it rains December through March, the flats “transform into a gargantuan reflective mirror,” said Vogue. Stargazers should head to Salar de Uyuni between June and August, when the skies are at their clearest.

Tainui Atea, French Polynesia

On arrival, visitors to the Tahitian islands immediately notice the clear, clean waters of Tainui Atea. It’s the world’s largest marine protected area, spanning nearly 2 million square miles.

Seabed exploitation and fish-aggregating devices are prohibited, and as a result, the area has healthier reefs and lagoons, and stronger marine ecosystems. Travelers are encouraged to respectfully dive right in and go swimming, or hire local guides for outrigger canoeing and surfing lessons, kayaking trips, and diving and snorkeling excursions.

Trang An Landscape Complex, Vietnam

This “sublime” area is dominated by “hulking” limestone karst peaks and sweeping valleys dotted with pagodas and temples, said Afar. It is situated on the Red River Delta, and no visit is complete without climbing into a boat or kayak and meandering past the steep cliffs.

There are also dozens of ancient caves to explore, with many accessible only from the water. Trang An was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 as a mixed cultural and natural property.

Vatnajokull National Park, Iceland

The “stunning” Vatnajokull ice cap may be the main draw of Vatnajokull National Park, but there’s “plenty else for visitors to see and delight in,” said Travel and Leisure. Jokulsarlon, a lagoon with “very photogenic” blue waters, is a popular spot, as is Diamond Beach, where “chunks of ice wash up on its black sand shores.”

Visit during the winter to see the Skaftafellsjokull glacier when it “extends to lower elevations,” said Travel and Leisure. Iceland is known for its dramatic landscapes, and Vatnajokull National Park offers the finest examples of “millennia of interplay between fire and ice.”

Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is on countless bucket lists — for solid reason. The park is “one of the best places” to spot mountain gorillas, with expert rangers leading groups into the forests, said Travel and Leisure.

Once the animals are found, you can watch at “close range” as they “feed, interact with each other and appraise their human visitors,” said Travel and Leisure. There are “luxurious” accommodations inside the park, where you can unwind after the high of seeing gorillas in the wild.

A new skirmish looms in President Donald Trump’s trade wars. The treaty that binds the U.S., Canada and Mexico markets together is up for review, but tensions are rising and could scuttle or undermine the pact.

A “war of words” has pushed review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to the “breaking point,” said Axios. The three countries must decide by July 1 whether to continue the accord for another 16 years, but U.S.-Canada discord stands in the way. Canada has raised U.S. hackles by moving to deepen trade ties with Europe and China in the wake of Trump’s imposition of tariffs last year.

Canada has been “taking advantage of the American economy and people for decades,” an administration spokesperson said to The New York Times. Canadians do not need a “small deal that disadvantages us,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said to CBC News. The treaty’s implosion would have “far-ranging economic effects,” said Axios, affecting the supply and trade of cars, crude oil and natural gas.

What did the commentators say?

The tense negotiations “reveal how serious the fissures” have become between the U.S. and Canada, Michael Froman said at the Council on Foreign Relations. Trump’s tariffs against America’s northern neighbor have “ushered in a new wave of ‘Canada first’ patriotism” that has been hard on trade, tourism and goodwill between the two countries. But Canada is “condemned by geography” to deal with the U.S., and the U.S. is dealing with rising inflation and gas prices. The treaty should be reaffirmed quickly. The “last thing” the United States needs at the moment is a “major trade crisis.”

Canada “should call Trump’s bluff” on trade talks, Peter Jones said at The Walrus. Ottawa “has more leverage than it thinks” because the U.S. economy is weakening under the weight of the country’s increasing national debt. The United States needs “stuff” that Canada makes, and “our market is an attractive one for American businesses.” Trade has “greatly benefited America.” Canada should remember that at the negotiating table. “We have cards too.”

Trump’s hardball trade tactics are “doing reputational damage” to the U.S. and “undermining the American economy,” Mary Anastasia O’Grady said at The Wall Street Journal. The survival of USMCA is “important for American investors, workers, businesses, farmers and ranchers” and scuttling it is “bound to inflict wounds on lots of American companies.” It will also raise prices on American consumers amid an affordability crisis. “That sounds like a bad political strategy.”

What next?

Expect more “drama” as the USMCA review deadline approaches, said NOTUS. There will be “threats to withdraw, threats to break it up” and “maximal demands” by the United States, said former Commerce official William Alan Reinsch to the outlet.

Experts believe ending the pact is the “least likely option,” said NOTUS. U.S. business leaders are “bracing” for a showdown. There is much at stake: Exports to Mexico and Canada “support millions of domestic jobs generating trillions of dollars.”

This week, the separatist group Stay Free Alberta submitted a petition for a referendum on the issue that had amassed 302,000 signatures – well ahead of the 178,000 (10% of eligible voters) required for the authorities to consider such a vote. It marks “a key step” towards a possible independence referendum said The Associated Press.

“This day is historic in Alberta history,” said Mitch Sylvestre, head of the organisation, delivering the signatures to the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton. “It’s the first step to the next step – we’ve gotten by Round 3, and now we’re in the Stanley Cup final.”

‘Western alienation’

The separatist movement is rooted in what is known as “western alienation”, said the BBC. Some believe Alberta is “often overlooked by decision-makers” in Ottawa. Anger with the federal capital has “long been brewing” in Alberta, particularly over its abundant natural resources.

Some Albertans believe the federal government, especially under the ruling Liberal Party, has “stood in the way of the province’s oil and gas industry in favour of pro-climate legislation”. Separatists maintain that independence would “unlock resources”. The overwhelmingly right-wing movement was once “on the political fringes”, but over the past year, a “unity crisis has become increasingly likely".

The “economic, fiscal, and political grievances about the seemingly unfair treatment of Alberta” increased during Justin Trudeau’s premiership, Daniel Beland, political science professor at Montreal’s McGill University, told Sky News, but “they have peaked and even declined since he left office”.

Last year, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith reduced the number of signatures required for citizens to trigger a constitutional referendum, down from more than half a million. And she has blamed previous federal governments for legislation that disabled Alberta’s ability to produce and export oil. The provincial government also changed how citizen-led referendums work, so that now, they can “pose questions that would run afoul of the Canadian constitution”, said The Guardian.

Forever Canadian, not American?

The petition “stumbled immediately” after a separatist-linked group posted the personal data of nearly three million voters online. One of the biggest data breaches in Canada’s history, it has “unleashed political chaos” in Alberta and sparked fears of “a possible political interference crisis”.

The verification of signatures has also been paused while a court considers a legal challenge by a group of indigenous First Nations. It argues that Albertan separation would infringe on its rights as agreed in treaties with Britain, long before the creation of the province. In December, a judge ruled that an independence referendum would be unlawful because it violates the group’s constitutional rights – the latest case is asking if that decision still holds.

The First Nations also warned that a vote to leave Canada would “enable foreign interference” by the US. Last year, separatists “held covert meetings with members of Donald Trump’s administration”, said the paper.

CBC reported that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told a right-wing TV station in January: “We should let them come down into the US” because Alberta is a “natural partner”.

Stay Free Alberta said they doubted anyone in their movement wanted to join the US. “People want sovereignty, and that’s what people in the US have, but we want sovereignty independent of the US,” said Sylvestre.

So far, there has been no response from Prime Minister Mark Carney to the petition. But even if the signatures are verified and the court rules against the challenge by the First Nations, and the federal government allows a referendum to go ahead in October, a vote for “yes” still wouldn’t automatically trigger independence.

Polls suggest the majority of Albertans would vote no, with only 26% supporting independence from Canada, according to a recent survey by Abacus Data. A petition by anti-separatist group Forever Canadian received 450,000 signatures.

Toronto may not be top of your travel list, but there are so many reasons it should be. This vibrant city is a foodie’s sanctuary, a shopper’s delight, and a cultural hub bursting with museums, galleries and cafes.

Located downtown on University Avenue, the beautiful and luxurious hotel Shangri-La Toronto makes the perfect base to explore everything the city has to offer.

Why stay here?

Shangri-La’s central location means you can explore this multicultural metropolis, while enjoying a five-star stay with world-class comfort and service. But you may have to drag yourself outside; the spacious rooms and suites are bright and comfortable with floor-to-ceiling windows, hi-tech controls and marble furnishings.

My suite was an impressive 820 sq ft and featured a walk-in wardrobe, separate living room and stunning marble bathroom with a walk-in shower and a deep-soaking bath, where you can relax and take in the spectacular views – over iconic landmarks like the 1,1815ft CN Tower – day and night. The bathrooms are kitted out with divine John Masters Organic toiletries.

Toronto is easy to reach with direct Air Canada flights from Heathrow, and use of its Maple Leaf lounges when you fly business class. The hotel is a half-hour taxi ride from the airport and has an impeccable concierge service; the staff are happy to offer advice on what to see and how to get there.

Eating and drinking

Breakfast at Shangri-La Toronto is worth waking up for. It’s not your typical buffet, but an experience in itself with dishes that include a wellness frittata, duck congee, and homemade granola. It’s served at the hotel’s signature Bosk Restaurant, where dinner is just as delicious. The evening menu celebrates northern Italian flavours, sourcing produce from Canadian farmers and businesses.

One of the places the hotel sources its ingredients is St Lawrence Market, a short walk away. I took a tour with Bosk Restaurant’s chef de cuisine, Troy Cabarios. The market sells foods from around the world, reflecting Canada’s diverse population, and some of the stalls have been there for generations.

With your appetite woken, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants to try outside the hotel. I visited Takja BBQ House, a Korean restaurant where meat and seafood is grilled in the middle of your table. Lunch at the Peller Estates winery, producer of the best wine in Canada, is a must. It is close to Niagara Falls, so you can combine the two on a day trip. The winery runs a lunch and wine-tasting package, plus a tour of the winery. A five-course tasting menu starts from $200 (£107), and a tour alone costs from $45 (£24).

Don’t miss the 10below Icewine Lounge, made completely of ice, including the furniture. Its temperature remains at -10C all year round, which is the temperature Peller sets for harvesting its ice wine grapes. In the chilled atmosphere, enjoy a glass of the well-known Canadian ice-wine – liquid gold!

Things to do

As you may expect, the hotel’s Miraj Hammam Spa offers the perfect way to unwind and relax after a busy day of shopping and sightseeing. Middle Eastern wellness rituals blend with modern needs – you’ll want to try more than one treatment. I opted for a deep tissue massage, one of the best I have had, but you may be tempted by the Turkish bath or a Sodashi plant-based facial. You can also sample some in-room spa time: book the ‘bath butler experience’ in advance and your bath will be set up with petals, a candle and a bath bomb, alongside optional room service.

No visit to Toronto is complete without a tour of Niagara Falls, 80 miles away on the other side of Lake Ontario. But for something really special, book a trip with Niagara Helicopters, where you’ll have the opportunity to capture the most amazing views of the Falls. It doesn’t come cheap: a 12-minute flight costs $200 (£107) but you’ll leave with some incredible memories. I also tried out the recently opened virtual experience at Niagara Parks, where the immersive ride ($33 [£17] for adults) lets you soar above Lake Ontario and the thundering falls without boarding a helicopter.

While the falls is an unmissable side trip, there is plenty more to see. Don’t miss the CN Tower for amazing views of the city, Little Canada, the Aquarium – and the historic Distillery District is a must-see. See what’s on during your visit at Visit Toronto.

The verdict

Just as you would expect from any Shangri-La hotel, the Toronto outpost made my visit to the city truly enjoyable. It’s a seriously classy hotel and I found it the perfect place to come back to after exploring everything the busy city has to offer. If you want to combine adventure, luxury and relaxation, the Shangri-La is the place to stay.

Kalpana was a guest of the Shangri-La Toronto; shangri-la.com

What happened

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party secured a majority in Parliament on Monday after winning three special elections to fill vacant seats. The party last year fell short of the 172 seats needed for a majority in the House of Commons. But following five defections from opposition parties in the past five months and last night’s victories, the Liberals now hold 174 seats, allowing them to legislate without other parties and keeping Carney in office through at least 2029.

Who said what

Carney’s election win last year was “fueled by public anger over President Donald Trump’s annexation threats” and trade war, The Associated Press said. With his new majority, Carney will have “broader latitude with his legislative agenda, which is focused on reducing Canada’s dependency on the United States,” The New York Times said. “No modern majority government in Ottawa has ever been built” through defections before, Politico said, and while opposition parties keep “hammering Carney over high grocery prices” and a “nationwide housing shortage, ‘Carneymania’ continues to sweep the nation.”

What next?

Now that he has a majority, it’s “important for Carney to actually deliver,” McGill University politics professor Daniel Béland told The Wall Street Journal. The “first move of Carney’s majority government,” Politico said, will “be to announce relief for Canadian consumers facing skyrocketing gas and diesel prices” from Trump’s Iran war.

‘Why Lebanon should join the International Criminal Court’

Mark Kersten at Al Jazeera

What “will international law have to say about the violence and atrocities being waged against the Lebanese people?” says Mark Kersten. The “answer will depend in large part on whether Lebanon finally decides, as Palestine did, to join the International Criminal Court (ICC).” The ICC can “offer a modicum of accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Lebanon.” This “would also provide Lebanese citizens with an independent, impartial and international forum.”

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‘How Giorgia Meloni fell to Earth’

Anna Momigliano at The New York Times

For “three years, Giorgia Meloni’s leadership of Italy has seemed unshakable,” says Anna Momigliano. Since the “beginning of Mr. Trump’s second term, she has positioned herself as someone who can curry his favor and avoid his retaliations.” But as Trump’s “popularity craters to new lows in Europe, and the continent begins to find a backbone in its dealings with him, Ms. Meloni is discovering that being a favorite of the U.S. president can be a liability, too.”

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‘We should stop trying to copy unhappy America’

Linda McQuaig at the Toronto Star

Canada has “declined all the way down to the 25th spot when it comes to something that’s really important — happiness,” says Linda McQuaid. In “many ways, happiness is a more meaningful measure of our overall national success than the always-highlighted economic measure of GDP per capita.” Debate is “dominated by talk of how Canada measures up economically, whether we’re as rich as the United States.” The “focus is rarely on whether” Canada’s “social supports are strong enough.”

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‘Like journalists, prosecutors shaped a distorted view of crime. They can help fix it, too.’

Kelly McBride at the Poynter Institute

Journalists “have misled the public about crime and are now trying to correct the problem,” and “prosecuting attorneys have been guilty of many of the same sins,” says Kelly McBride. Both “talk about crime mostly when a crime has occurred.” These “journalists and prosecutors (and police, too) inadvertently reinforce the public perception that crime is a constant, growing threat — even though we know the opposite is true.” This “shapes how people understand their own safety and the policies they support.”

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‘Andrew Tate doesn’t get the point of books’

Joel Halldorf at The Atlantic

“Digitization” is the “latest innovation in reading,” but while the “gains in information are undeniable, the costs to attention, contemplation and reflection are no less profound,” says Joel Halldorf. Digital pages are “cluttered with distractions” and “embedded links invite readers to move on mid-sentence.” The “erosion of deep reading weakens our capacity to grasp complex ideas,” which “reshapes the public square, allowing brief snippets of emotionally charged content to crowd out nuance, and algorithms to reinforce preferences and prejudices.”

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‘Trump’s bragging about the economy doesn’t match reality — and Americans notice’

Philip Bump at MS Now

Fox News “released new polling last week that showed Americans broadly remain skeptical of Trump’s leadership as president,” says Philip Bump. “That includes his handling of what was once his strongest issue: the economy.” Now, “only 33% of Americans approve of his handling of the cost of living.” This has “been a lingering problem for Trump”: His “administration’s insistence” that “‘affordability’ is an invented issue or that an economic boom is imminent simply doesn’t match Americans’ actual experience.”

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‘Don’t trust this $4 solution for getting a prescription’

Joseph V. Sakran and Rahul Gorijavolu at The Washington Post

In Utah, an “artificial intelligence platform called Doctronic is renewing prescription medications for patients without physician involvement,” say Joseph V. Sakran and Rahul Gorijavolu. If “AI can handle” medication renewals for “stable chronic conditions,” it “could free up doctors.” But the kind of “chronic conditions” in question “evolve silently. Blood pressure medications become insufficient; diabetes medications require adjustment.” Safety concerns “have been broadly expressed,” and the “window to act” is now — “before autonomous AI prescribing expands.”

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‘Carney confirms: When Washington whistles, Ottawa salutes.’

Andrew Mitrovica at Al Jazeera

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney once “spoke about restraint,” says Andrew Mitrovica. “He urged the world’s most powerful governments to resist the easy seduction of reckless escalation.” But “Carney has backed” the war on Iran, which “bears all the blatant trademarks of the impulsive thinking Carney claimed to mistrust.” Perhaps the “calculation in Ottawa is that loyalty today will purchase goodwill tomorrow.” That “reflects a remarkable misreading of United States President Donald Trump’s brass-knuckled political instincts.”

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Nuuk is hardly what most people would consider a geopolitical hot spot or a hot spot of any kind, with average summer temperatures hovering in the low 40s F. Nevertheless, the city of just 20,000 residents has quickly become one of the most closely watched diplomatic hubs on earth. Canada and France have bolstered their ambassadorial presences in Greenland’s capital with newly opened consulates, all under the shadow of President Donald Trump’s outspoken imperial ambitions for the Danish territory.

‘Everyone in the world looking at us’

While efforts to establish a Canadian consulate in Nuuk have “been in the works for over a year,” the “timing” of the opening this month amid Trump’s saber-rattling is “not lost on anyone here,” said Politico. With America reorganizing its global role, “into that vacuum arrives Canada,” working to establish global bona fides by “building alliances and offering security guarantees that they once left to the United States.” It’s a new geopolitical strategy “taking shape in Nuuk.”

Greenlanders, meanwhile, are “curious about the expanding diplomatic presence” in their capital, said CTV News. Canada's and France’s new outposts “double the number of nations that hold consulates on the island,” which previously hosted only Greenland and the United States. “It’s positive [that] Donald Trump is doing this,” said Nuuk resident Gaba Christiansen to CTV. “Then we get everyone in the world looking at us.”

Canada, in particular, has “obvious reasons for wanting a diplomatic toehold” in Nuuk, said The New York Times, including geographic proximity and shared Inuit populations. France’s connection to Greenland is “less clear,” although French officials have “positioned their move as part of Europe’s pushback” to Trump’s expansionist aspirations.

It’s “really important” for residents of Nuuk to “know that we are not alone in this, that we actually have people from other countries who care about us,” Nuuk Mayor Avaaraq Olsen said to UPI. Greenlanders are “scared, and they are more and more concerned” with Trump’s threats toward their home.

Is Canada ‘poking the polar bear’?

Canada will “stand together” with Greenland on “defense and security, on economic resilience and bilateral ties, on issues relating to climate change and also Arctic cooperation,” said Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand at the flag-raising ceremony outside the newly opened consulate last week. But not all of Canada is as enthusiastic about deepening ties with Nuuk while relations with the United States remain frosty.

Pushing ahead with the consular opening is “ill-timed,” said The Winnipeg Sun, serving only to “further distance us from the United States.” Opening the consulate is a “silly, performative action” that’s taken “virtue signaling to a new level.”

Nuuk, with its new geopolitical importance, has emerged as an “unlikely magnet for provocateurs” and self-promotors, Politico said. The “attention economy has come to the Arctic.” So too has a sense of shared priorities and goals. For the French, whose consulate opening follows a “high-profile visit” by President Emmanuel Macron in December, Canada is a “partner and a friend here,” said one French diplomat to Politico. “We have a very constant dialogue with them.”

What happened

The House Wednesday voted 219-211 to rescind President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada, with six Republicans joining all but one Democrat to pass the resolution. The Senate passed similar measures last year, but House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had blocked such votes in his chamber for the past year through a procedural move that expired last month. Three Republicans joined Democrats on Tuesday to defeat Johnson’s effort to renew the blockade on tariff votes until August.

Who said what

Wednesday’s resolution would rescind the “national emergency” of fentanyl smuggling that Trump declared last year to justify slapping import taxes on Canada. As Johnson’s team was leaning on GOP defectors to switch their vote, Trump warned on social media that “any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!”

The rebuke of the president’s signature economic policy was a “rare instance of GOP defections at a time when Trump still maintains a strong grip over the party,” CNN said. But “Trump’s tariffs have proven politically unpopular,” even among many “self-identified MAGA Republicans,” Politico said. A Pew Research Center survey this month found that 60% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s import taxes. The Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday that Americans are paying 95% of the tariff burden.

What next?

The Senate now “must vote on the issue again,” and a “simple majority vote” would send the measure to Trump, The Wall Street Journal said. The resolution “stands a good chance of passage in the Senate,” Reuters said, but there aren’t enough GOP votes to override Trump’s certain veto. Still, “it won’t be the last tough tariffs vote for Trump,” CNN said. “Democrats have successfully unlocked a procedural power to force more votes.”

‘Want to make a difference? Donate your kidney.’

German Lopez at The New York Times

“You should consider donating your kidney,” says German Lopez. In a “time that feels increasingly chaotic and out of control, helping people, directly and materially, remains one of the few actions we can take to immediately make the world better.” The “problem is that living donors are fairly rare and donors to strangers are even rarer.” Most “people don’t want to donate an organ or don’t know they can. Each of us can, and should, work to change that.”

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‘Punishing WHO, blinding ourselves: The high cost of a cheap exit’

Y. Tony Yang at The Hill

The “formal withdrawal of the U.S. from the World Health Organization last month marks the end of a 77-year partnership that fundamentally built the modern global health architecture,” says Y. Tony Yang. As the “dust settles in Geneva, Washington is waking up to a stark reality: We have not just left a treaty; we have voluntarily blinded our own national security apparatus.” The U.S. has “created a dangerous accountability paradox that undermines our soft power far beyond the realm of health.”

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‘Iranian progress cannot be stopped’

Shahrnush Parsipur at Time

Iran “resembles a half-lifeless body collapsed on the ground, yet still possessing powerful arms,” says Shahrnush Parsipur. The government has “attacked the people of Iran and, through widespread killings, has delivered a brutal blow to the popular uprising.” This is “only a temporary success,” as the “republic is already dead morally, economically, and socially.” But the “protesters have not capitulated. This uprising is momentous and will have profound consequences.” It “began in a way that ensures its continuation.”

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‘Albertan separatists don’t understand how Canada really feels about their province’

Janice Kennedy at the Toronto Star

Everyone “still wants to go out to Alberta,” and “that’s why this separatist chatter feels so confounding,” says Janice Kennedy. Most Canadians “cannot conceive of this country without that province.” Pause “for a moment to imagine a Canada without the contributions of the athletes, artists, politicians and visionaries born or raised in Alberta.” Canada’s “heart beats with the spirit of Alberta. Alberta’s heart beats with the spirit of Canada,” and many “suspect the vast majority of Albertans feel the same.”

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‘A better way for your pet to die’

Heather Beasley Doyle at The Boston Globe

More “Americans than ever will eventually have to decide how to manage the end of their pets’ lives,” says Heather Beasley Doyle. As “more people choose to have their companion animals euthanized at home, many veterinarians are finding that becoming a mobile end-of-life care provider is a good transition for them, too — especially given their field’s tenacious mental health issues.” Mobile euthanasia vets “offer palliative and hospice care. They end pets’ lives with comfort in mind.”

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‘The myth of anti-white discrimination in L.A. schools — and the politics behind it’

Anita Chabria at the Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles schools “do not discriminate against white students,” but a “new lawsuit from a conservative group is claiming that they do — and there are enough frustrated parents out there that it’s getting a lot of attention,” says Anita Chabria. This has “as much to do with economics — specifically higher poverty rates in communities of color — than race itself (though racism is real, no doubt).” It is “serving up vitriol disguised as sweet tea.”

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‘The Senate should ratify the High Seas Treaty’

Tatiana Der Avedissian and Dan Perry at The Hill

The High Seas Treaty “took effect Jan. 17, creating the first global framework to protect and manage the vast waters beyond national borders,” as “humanity is finally acknowledging that what happens there matters to climate stability, food security, and the future of biodiversity,” say Tatiana Der Avedissian and Dan Perry. But “without Senate ratification, America will have no say in shaping how it is implemented.” Ratification “would give the High Seas Treaty momentum and reaffirm U.S. leadership in shaping global rules.”

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‘Canada’s misguided China overtures’

National Review editors

It is “impossible not to sympathize with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, leader of a country whose pride has been routinely trampled by the president of the United States,” say the National Review editors. But Carney’s “recent overtures to China are deeply unwise.” Can Carney “honestly look at the last century of U.S.-Canada relations and want to replace them with the model that China is demonstrating in Africa or even with its largest neighbors like India?”

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Panama and Canada have been negotiating on a copper mine that could have profound implications for the global resources market. The Cobre Panama mine, which is operated by Canadian mining company First Quantum, has been closed since 2023 following a ruling by Panama’s Supreme Court. While First Quantum seems open to allowing some operations to resume, the site remains mired in controversy within Panama.

The plan

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said that he will announce his decision about whether to reopen the Cobre Panama mine by June. The country had “halted operations” at the mine because its “government concession was deemed unconstitutional,” said The Independent. The closure also came amid protests by environmental groups.

The original decision to shutter the mine weighed heavily on Panama’s economy, as it “accounted for nearly 5% of Panama's gross domestic product the last year it operated,” said The Independent. Regardless of what happens next, First Quantum has welcomed a plan to “allow the removal and processing of stockpiled ore” at the site, said Reuters.

This plan, announced by Mulino, would help “mitigate the environmental and operational risks” associated with running the mine, said Reuters. But officials have also made it clear that the processing of stockpiles is “not a reopening of the mine,” First Quantum said in a statement. A decision on that end will be made later this year; the possibility has become “one of the biggest uncertainties in the global copper market,” said Bloomberg.

‘Significant lift’

Given the contentious circumstances of the mine’s closure, Panama now “faces a delicate balancing act” in the region, said Bloomberg. But Panama could also be receiving some assistance from a neighbor to the south. Chilean President-elect José Antonio Kast has offered to help with the mine, which “could lend credibility given Chile’s status as the world’s largest copper producer.” Kast has also been working in his own country to consolidate Chile’s mining industry before he takes office.

If Panama were to fully reopen the Cobre Panama mine, it “would provide a significant lift to Panama’s economy and to First Quantum,” said Bloomberg. This could also help give a boost to the copper economy, as the operation is set to “account for nearly 2% of global supply.” Continuing negotiations between Panama and Canada are “pending the outcome of an audit assessing the condition of the facilities and environmental risks.”

In the meantime, First Quantum will be surging ahead with its copper production. Across its other mines, the company expects to harvest 413,000 to 479,000 tons of copper in 2026, 451,000 to 518,000 tons in 2027, and 473,000 to 540,000 tons in 2028, according to First Quantum’s metrics. The company has slightly downgraded these numbers from prior figures, but the copper market “may take some comfort in the likelihood that the miner could begin processing stockpiled ore at Cobre Panama in the coming months,” said Matt Murphy, an analyst at BMO Metals, to industry outlet mining.com.

Built in 1984 by a family of keen anglers from Chicago, Gangler’s is “one of the world’s finest fishing lodges”. But this outpost in the forests of Northern Manitoba offers far more than the chance to catch pike and trout, said Mike MacEacheran in The Telegraph.

Set beside the North Seal River, three hours by floatplane north of the provincial capital, Winnipeg, it is mind-bendingly remote – 230 miles from the nearest dirt road, in the heart of a wilderness that is bigger than Wales but has no other lodges. These days, many guests come simply to spot some of the area’s spectacular wildlife, including bears, wolves, moose and caribou; it is also among the best places in the world to see the northern lights. The lodge’s current owner, Ken Gangler, is an “avuncular” host who was once a touring rock musician, and despite its “modern frills” (such as Wi-Fi), the lodge itself has a homely and “nostalgic” air, with “taxidermy decor” and accommodation in waterfront cabins.

The surrounding landscape shows spectacular traces of the last ice age, including many lakes, huge “erratic” boulders, and North America’s largest concentration of eskers – deposits of sand and grit shaped as narrow ridges, up to 400ft high and 180 miles long. The eskers serve as migration routes for creatures including caribou, command panoramic views and offer good wildlife-spotting opportunities.

During my stay at the lodge earlier this year, I went on a floatplane trip to Blackfish Lake to track timber wolves up an esker, and enjoyed a thrillingly close encounter with a mother wolf and her two cubs. The area’s climatic conditions, including frequent clear skies, make it highly likely you’ll see the northern lights if you stay a few nights. The prime viewing season is in August and September, when I visited. Each evening, the sky exploded in “comet trails of red and green”, rising and dipping slowly, like “great godlike hands” clutching at the stars.

Canada As You Like It has a five-night stay from £5,420pp, including flights.

What happened

Canada Monday became the first non-European Union country to join the EU’s $170 billion Security Action for Europe initiative, giving Canadian defense firms expanded access to the European market.

SAFE is “part of a major drive” to get the EU “ready to defend itself by 2030 amid fears of a Russian attack and doubts about U.S. protection,” Reuters said.

Who said what

“Welcome to SAFE, Canada!” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country’s “participation in SAFE will fill key capability gaps, expand markets for Canadian suppliers and attract European defense investment into Canada.” In a joint statement, the EU and Canada called the agreement the “next step” in their “deepening cooperation” and “symbolic” of their “shared priorities.”

Carney’s pivot to Europe comes as Canada “looks to diversify its military spending away from the United States” after President Donald Trump’s “actions — including launching a trade war and suggesting Canada become the 51st U.S. state — infuriated Canadians,” The Associated Press said. Canada’s government “continues to review the purchase of U.S. F-35 fighter jets to explore other options.”

What next?

Bringing another G7 partner into SAFE strengthens the program’s credibility as the EU “seeks to coordinate long-term weapons demand and ramp up Europe’s defense industrial base,” Politico said. Talks for the U.K. to join “broke down on Friday.” EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius Monday said all 19 participating European nations have submitted their spending plans, financed by low-interest SAFE loans, and 15 of those plans included “billions, not millions” to support Ukraine.

“Please do not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle,” said Fifa president Gianni Infantino before the last men’s World Cup in Qatar. That didn’t stop Qatar being accused of using the tournament to sportswash its poor human rights record.

Next up is Donald Trump, who is showing every intention of exploiting the 2026 World Cup – to be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico – to push his Maga agenda. Ever the showman, “Trump will make sure he is front and centre at this tournament”, said Alexander Abnos in The Guardian – even “in spots where he has no business or where his involvement may be seen as uncouth or inappropriate”.

Host cities threat

Having claimed credit for securing the tournament for North America back in his first term, the US president has repeatedly sought to insert himself into the World Cup narrative since returning to the White House.

He has recently used “safety concerns” to suggest he may ask Fifa to relocate matches away from Democratic-run US host cities, including Boston, Seattle and Los Angeles. “The governors are going to have to behave. The mayors are going to have to behave,” he warned.

Moving World Cup games away from a selected host city would be an “extraordinary decision that has little, if any, precedent”, said CNN. All the host cities were announced in 2022 and they have already lavished “time and money” on “infrastructure improvements, security planning and extensive plans to host an influx of millions of visitors”. Trump’s suggested alternative, against the background of his sending federal law enforcement agencies into Democratic-controlled areas “to crack down on illegal immigration and crime”, is for the host cities to “invite the National Guard” in now.

At a conference with Infantino in the White House, to discuss World Cup plans, Trump also told reporters he would be “OK” about ordering strikes against co-hosts Mexico as part of his ongoing war on drug trafficking. “They know how I stand,” he said.

Peace prize

Trump has struck up a bromance with Infantino – and critics say they share the same megalomaniac traits. This week’s visit to the White House was Infantino’s sixth this year, and he surprised many by accompanying the US president to Egypt for the signing of the Gaza ceasefire deal.

Infantino will use next month’s World Cup draw in Washington D.C. to award the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize, conceived to reward “individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and, by doing so, have united people across the world”. Fifa have disclosed no details about the process for choosing the winner and, if Trump receives the award, as expected, “it’s likely to add to the perception that it’s been created in response to the US president not winning the Nobel Peace Prize”, said The Associated Press.

The timing of the award and Infantino’s “proximity to the president” have “raised questions about whether FIFA is adhering to its own rules on political neutrality”, said The New York Times.

“Indelible, sublime moments will still happen” at next year’s World Cup, said Abnos in The Guardian. “But those moments will be punctuated by Trump – eternally encroaching on even the most elevated of emotional experiences.”

‘The future of US-Canada defense: A new NORAD for the digital age’

Andrew Latham at The Hill

Threats “come through data cables, computer networks and supply chains,” and we must “build a new continental defense architecture that defends that space as effectively” as NORAD “once defended airspace above the continent,” says Andrew Latham. For “Canada and the U.S., that means reimagining continental defense as a single, integrated system.” The “Cold War division of labor, with Canada patrolling the northern skies while the U.S. focused on nuclear deterrence, does not meet today’s threats.”

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‘What if climate policy started with health — and grew the economy?’

Vanessa Kerry at Newsweek

In a “world with shrinking budgets and escalating climate impacts, we are still willfully ignoring the threat posed by climate change on our health,” says Vanessa Kerry. This “disconnect will cost us billions financially and in lives lost.” Health care “must be better integrated into climate policy because health is both the frontline experience of climate impacts and the foundation of economic growth.” Investing in “strong health systems” is the “best response to extreme weather.”

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‘The bipartisan comfort with Islamophobia harms us all’

Erum Ikramullah and Petra Alsoofy at Al Jazeera

Islamophobia “spikes not after a violent act, but rather during election campaigns and political events, when anti-Muslim rhetoric is used as a political tactic to garner support,” say Erum Ikramullah and Petra Alsoofy. These “attacks also reflect a general trend of rising Islamophobia.” This “can lead to devastating outcomes for Muslims: from job loss and inability to freely worship, to religious-based bullying of Muslim children in public schools and discrimination in public settings, to even physical violence.”

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‘As a palliative care specialist, I’ve witnessed the human tragedy of our end-of-life care crisis’

Rachel Clarke at The Guardian

For a “hospital palliative care specialist, abstract funding statistics take on daily, indelible form,” says Rachel Clarke. The “hard truth, in short, about underfunding palliative care is that people who are at their most vulnerable — the dying — suffer more pain, more indignity, less choice and less autonomy than they might have.” It “means that suffering at the end of life takes two forms: an inescapable part and an avoidable part.”

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‘The bad Teamsters bargain with UPS’

The Wall Street Journal editorial board

Teamsters head Sean O’Brien “sold the union’s 2023 contract with United Parcel Service as a big win for workers,” but “two years later it’s looking like the bad bargain of the century,” says The Wall Street Journal editorial board. UPS “doesn’t want to be O’Brien’s next victim.” Workers “do best when their employers do well. That’s an eternal lesson that union bosses ignore when they pit ‘labor’ against managers, and workers suffer the most.”

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‘Quebec’s disastrous forest reform bill was killed, but the threat remains’

Vijay Kolinjivadi and Nicolas Renaud at Al Jazeera

The “right-leaning populist government of Canada’s French-speaking province of Quebec finally scrapped a controversial forestry bill,” as “months of organized, broad-based resistance paid off,” say Vijay Kolinjivadi and Nicolas Renaud. Quebec’s government “believes that it is justifiable to bulldoze over environmental regulations, climate action and Indigenous rights to serve the interests of the logging lobby.” Lessons “can be learned from the fight against Bill 97 to ensure that Indigenous voices are not ignored again.”

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‘A new chance for peace in Cyprus’

Joseph Epstein at Newsweek

The “U.N.-patrolled demilitarized zone separating Cyprus from the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is unlike any other buffer zone in the world,” says Joseph Epstein. But “there are signs that a thaw is possible,” as there is a “deep desire of Turkish Cypriots to end the economic and diplomatic isolation that has kept the north in limbo for decades.” It is “not politicians but ordinary Turkish Cypriots who are leading the call for reunification.”

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‘Graham Platner’s controversial past tests Democrats’ tolerance for imperfection’

Carine Hajjar at The Boston Globe

Democrats are “searching for a fighter, too — but do they really need a guy with a Nazi tattoo in their ranks?” says Carine Hajjar. Senate candidate Graham Platner “quite literally motored onto Maine’s political scene with baritone promises to crush the oligarchy.” But “uncurated candidates come at a cost,” and the “price tag has ticked higher and higher as waves of reports concerning Platner’s controversial past Reddit posts and a Nazi tattoo have surfaced.”

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What happened

President Donald Trump said in a social media post Saturday that a Canadian TV ad criticizing tariffs was a “hostile act,” and in response, “I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now.” The ad, paid for by the province of Ontario, features former President Ronald Reagan explaining how import taxes hurt the economy. Trump first objected to the ad in a post on Thursday, saying it had pushed him to cancel trade talks with Canada. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Friday he would suspend the ad after the weekend.

Who said what

“Ronald Reagan LOVED Tariffs for purposes of National Security and the Economy, but Canada said he didn’t!” Trump said in the post on Saturday, while en route to Malaysia. “Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD.” He claimed in Thursday’s post that Canada’s goal was to “interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court,” which is set to decide whether to overrule two lower courts that determined Trump’s broad tariffs are unlawful.

“It was unclear what legal authority Trump would use to impose the additional import taxes” on Canada or which goods would be affected, The Associated Press said. But Reagan was clearly “wary of tariffs and used much of the 1987 address featured in Ontario’s ad spelling out the case against tariffs.” The ad is a “kind of propaganda against U.S. citizens,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday. “What was the purpose of that other than to sway public opinion?”

What next?

The Supreme Court “isn’t likely to be influenced by anything other than the law,” but the president’s “tantrum against Canada” is a “good argument for the justices to rein in his tariff power,” The Wall Street Journal said in an editorial. Trump “claims he’s not ‘a king,’ but on tariffs he is acting like one.” He and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney “will both attend” this week’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Malaysia, the AP said, but Trump “told reporters traveling with him that he had no intention of meeting Carney there.”

What happened

President Donald Trump Thursday signed a series of executive orders fixing new tariffs of between 15% and 41% on 68 countries and the European Union but he delayed the start of most new import duties until Aug. 7. He diverged from that new deadline with two of America's biggest trading parters, however: a 35% tariff on many Canadian goods took effect today, while Trump gave Mexico another 90 days to negotiate down its 25% rate. The new import duties are on top of other industry-specific tariffs on cars and various metal imports that Trump has enacted.

Who said what

Trump's allocation of tariff rates suggests he "decided to punish countries that he did not believe offered enough concessions" after he unveiled his initial "reciprocal" tariffs on April 2, Politico said. Trump said on social media Thursday that his pending tax hikes on nearly $3 trillion in imported goods would make "America GREAT & RICH Again." But economists "remain deeply skeptical" about his promised trade and labor benefits, The New York Times said.

The Labor Department Thursday suggested "inflation may be accelerating," and Trump's "vast tariffs risk jeopardizing America's global standing as allies feel forced into unfriendly deals," The Associated Press said. His seven-day delay has also "injected a new dose of uncertainty for consumers and businesses," and the "very legality of the tariffs remains an open question."

Trump's broad "assertion of emergency powers to impose worldwide tariffs" faced its "toughest legal test" Thursday, The Wall Street Journal said. The 11 judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit "voiced skepticism of his unilateral move to impose levies" under a 1977 law that doesn't even mention tariffs.

What next?

The special appellate court is weighing Trump's challenge to a decision by a federal trade court to throw out his tariffs because they exceeded his authority, but its "decision could be weeks away," The Washington Post said. The case is ultimately "expected to end up at the Supreme Court."

What happened

President Donald Trump Thursday threatened to increase tariffs on Canadian imports from 25% to 35% from next month. In a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media, Trump accused Canada of failing to stop the cross-border flow of fentanyl, charging "extraordinary" tariffs on U.S. dairy farmers, and imposing retaliatory tariffs "instead of working with the United States."

Who said what

"If Canada works with me to stop the flow of fentanyl, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter," Trump wrote. His latest tariff threat, said The Washington Post, brings "fresh turmoil" to the "already strained" relationship between the U.S. and the neighboring nation, which sent $410 billion in goods across the border last year.

This escalation "stands to derail" Carney's bid to "set a better tone" with his American counterpart, said The Wall Street Journal. A "tariff-free U.S.-Canada trading relationship going forward" appears "unlikely," Julia Webster, a trade lawyer in Toronto, told the paper.

What next?

Carney said he would work toward agreeing a U.S. trade deal by the "revised deadline of August 1." Meanwhile, Trump's trade proposal for the European Union is expected as early as today.

Don't confuse a lack of snow for a lack of things to do — ski towns can be just as exciting in the summer as they are in winter. Instead of hitting the slopes, head to the trails for a hike, the lake for a paddleboarding session or downtown for a concert under the stars. These six destinations offer what you need for an action-packed mountain escape.

Breckenridge, Colorado

A high-altitude adventure awaits in Breckenridge. At 9,600 feet above sea level, it is one of the highest towns in Colorado and enjoys mild temperatures during summer. It stands out for its "world-class" activities, like fly-fishing, rafting, mountain biking, trail running, stargazing, wildflower spotting and panning for gold at the Country Boy Mine, said Outside. Downtown, the "very hands-on" Breckenridge Arts District beckons with its galleries, studios and performance spaces. The Breckenridge Festival of Arts, held each August, offers "everything from workshops to nature walks with local artists" and this year will premiere SPARK by Studio Roosegaarde, a sustainable light installation aiming to replace traditional fireworks.

Laax, Switzerland

Find recreation and relaxation in Laax, "known informally as the California of the Swiss Alps," Glamour UK said. This is a "haven" for sporty types seeking "sweeping mountain views," a "lively atmosphere" and "friendly community." Through September, travelers can book an accommodation at the LAAX and TCS Pop-Up Glamping experience. Guests stay on Alp Nagens in luxe tents equipped with electricity, heating, toilets and have breakfast served outside from a tuk-tuk. This is the perfect way to start a busy day of biking, hiking, climbing and saunas.

Megève, France

This "stunning" alpine village in Southeastern France dates back to the 13th century, and you can see that history around every corner, said Vogue. The cobblestoned medieval square is surrounded by old buildings, filled with shops and restaurants and the heart of Megève's cultural scene, often hosting concerts and festivals. There are ample opportunities to spend time in the great outdoors, with visitors able to "roam around mountain pastures sprinkled with wildflowers" and "swim in cool, clear rivers."

Stowe, Vermont

Summer in Stowe means trading in your skis for canoes and kayaks. During warmer months, adventurers can be found on the water and biking around this "classic" New England town, Lonely Planet said. The paved 5.3-mile Stowe Recreation Path is your riverside route to parks and swimming holes and leads from downtown Stowe to a covered bridge. On Sundays through mid-October, the Stowe Farmers' Market is buzzing with vendors offering fresh produce, cheese and meat, and artisans selling jewelry, purses and artwork.

Sun Valley, Idaho

In this laid-back destination, "every kind of outdoor enthusiast can find their slice of paradise," Travel and Leisure said. In the summer, golfers hit the links at the Trail Creek Golf Course, and fly fishers bring their lures to the Big Wood and Salmon rivers. Hikers flock to trails like Fox Creek, a "challenging" seven-mile loop in the Sawtooth National Forest, and for most of the summer Bald Mountain's gondolas whisk people to the top of the peak for more hiking, lunch at the lodge or to just enjoy the panoramic views.

Whistler, British Columbia

In Whistler, the transition from skiing to mountain biking is such a big deal that it is celebrated each May during a day known as Whismas. The biking here is "almost as legendary as the skiing," Powder said, with "every type of terrain imaginable." Pros should carve out time for Top of the World, a tech trail that starts at the summit of Whistler Mountain and boasts "incredible views." To learn more about the area and its Indigenous history and culture, visit the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Center, where the "exhibitions, short films and drum music bursting forth all foster a sense of exploration," Condé Nast Traveler said.

What happened

A 49-year-old Canadian citizen with permanent U.S. residency died in ICE custody at a federal detention center in Miami on Monday, the agency said Thursday. Johnny Noviello was detained May 15 at a parole hearing and was being held "pending removal proceedings," ICE said in a news release. His cause of death was "under investigation."

Who said what

ICE said it planned to revoke Noviello's 1991 green card and deport him because of a 2023 drug trafficking conviction for selling prescription opioids. He served four months of a 12-month sentence in county jail, his lawyer told the Miami Herald. Noviello's death "came as ICE agents have made sweeping arrests" nationwide to meet steep quotas set by President Donald Trump and his deportation architect, Stephen Miller, The New York Times said. The subsequent "ICE arrests in courts, restaurants, hotels and factories have prompted widespread protests."

Noviello wasn't "the only Canadian to have been arrested in the U.S. since the ICE sweeps began," the CBC said. Noviello was the ninth person to die in ICE custody this year and the fourth in Florida, the Miami Herald said. Two of the Florida deaths were ruled natural causes, "but a Miami Herald investigation found delayed medical treatment and questionable care."

What next?

Polling suggests that Trump's immigration push, once one of his top issues, is increasingly unpopular. In a Quinnipiac University survey released Thursday, 41% of respondents approved of his handling of immigration while 57% disapproved. The only higher disapproval number, 39%-59%, was for deportations, and voters similarly disapproved of ICE's job performance 39%-56%. (The poll of 979 voters had a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points.)

A sunny beach getaway, a quiet lakeside escape and camping off the beaten path are all great ways to spend the summer. Sometimes, though, you crave all the action and want to be surrounded by things to do, places to go and people to see. When that urban urge strikes, head into the hustle and stay at one of these big-city hotels.

Andaz Mexico City Condesa

This colorful hotel in Mexico City's "hip" La Condesa neighborhood retains many of the building's original touches, including mosaic murals and "eye-catching" tile floors, alongside new installations like Andaz's "signature pink escalators," Travel and Leisure said. The rooms are "sleek and modern," and the heated rooftop pool boasts "one of the best views of the city and the mountains." Still, the hotel's "biggest strength" might be its location within walking distance of "countless" restaurants, "trendy" boutiques and art galleries and "bustling" bars.

Gansevoort Meatpacking, New York City

Neighborhoods change. It's an inevitability of any city — but especially the behemoths. The smartest and best hotels know to shift alongside those metamorphoses. The Gansevoort in New York City's Meatpacking District began its life in 2004, when popular culture bestowed the area with "'Sex and the City'-anointed 'it' neighborhood status," said Condé Nast Traveler. In the ensuing decades, the Meatpacking District shifted into a high-end shopping hub, with an Apple flagship and endless boutiques.

Beginning in 2021 and finished for the hotel's twentieth anniversary in 2024, the Gansevoort debuted a complete overhaul "gutted down to the studs" and the 186 rooms given new life with "blue and grey ombré wallpaper" and "subway-tiled bathrooms," plus Lululemon full-length exercise mirror panels. Feast on lively French-inspired dishes at the hotel's anchor restaurant, Le Coin. The patio is the place to be when the weather cooperates.

Hotel Adlon Kempinski, Berlin

A "Berlin institution," Hotel Adlon Kempinski is "arguably" the best five-star property in the city, said Condé Nast Traveler. Its "light-filled" signature suites offer "iconic" views of the Brandenburg Gate, along with "total soundproofing" for a good night's sleep. The Adlon is in the "nerve-center" of Berlin and within walking distance of museums, monuments and parks. Or you can opt for borrowing a bicycle or reserving the hotel's limo service to get around.

L7 Chicago by Lotte

L7 Chicago By Lotte, right by the Magnificent Mile, caters to the "creative class," said Afar. The bold space is filled with curated works from local artists, and guests that book the Artist's Suite receive tickets to the Art Institute of Chicago and a signed limited edition print by artist David Heo, among other perks. Rooms and suites come equipped with luxuries like Frette linens, but there is also a "subtle industrial aesthetic that feels just right in this busy part of town."

Malmaison Edinburgh City

The vibrant Malmaison Edinburgh City is in the heart of St. Andrew Square, where the capital's "shopping, social life and sightseeing intersection," The Telegraph said. It is easy to get to and from the boutique property — the tram and bus stops and Waverley train station are all within a five-minute walk — and once inside you instantly feel welcome, thanks to the "jolly staff" ready to answer questions and point you in the direction you seek. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, featuring "entertaining, eye-slapping examples of graphic art."

The Middle House, Shanghai

In the heart of Shanghai's Jing'an District is The Middle House, a "hushed private space that's upped the city's design game," Condé Nast Traveler said. Windows stretching from the floor to ceiling "make even the smallest rooms feel larger," and guests appreciate the "gorgeous works of photography." For a slice of history, the famed French Concession is a few minutes away, offering a "glimpse at what's left of Shanghai's legendary libertine epoch of the 1920s and 1930s."

1 Hotel Toronto

With its "cutting-edge sustainability measures" and "ultra-stylish interiors," 1 Hotel Toronto is perfect for travelers seeking an elevated eco-friendly stay, said the Michelin Guide. Stepping inside, you feel at one with nature. The furniture is made of local and reclaimed timber and driftwood, and the "surprisingly sunny" rooms are "warmed by plenty of organic textures and living houseplants." 1 Hotel Toronto is in the King West neighborhood, once an industrial part of town that today is home to flourishing bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

'A Canadian defense buildup could restart a beautiful friendship'

Greg Pollock and Imran Bayoumi at The Washington Post

The U.S. and Canada have "enjoyed a close security partnership and a shared perception of how to defend against the primary threats facing North America," but this is "no longer the case," say Greg Pollock and Imran Bayoumi. President Donald Trump "must realize that Canada's defense investment decisions may not always align with his priorities." If Canada's prime minister "can put Canada on a credible path to meeting its defense commitments, the bilateral relationship could be headed toward a much more stable footing."

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'We desegregated schools 71 years ago. We still have more work to do.'

Russ Wigginton at USA Today

It has been "71 years since the Brown v. Board of Education decision," and "our country is reminded of how far we've come, and how much work remains, through the lens of education," says Russ Wigginton. The Department of Justice's "recent removal of 1960s-era safeguards" could "threaten the spirit of that landmark ruling." One of the "greatest challenges is an attack on the very foundation of education via the ongoing threats to free thought and critical inquiry."

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'Trump's tariffs are a lobbyist's dream'

Christian Schneider at the National Review

Donald Trump "seems to view the free market as a game board on which he controls the pieces," says Christian Schneider. His "dizzying tariff announcements throttle innovation and product development, injecting uncertainty into a functioning market." Firms "must petition Washington for exemptions, unleashing a lobbying bonanza that lets the White House dispense carve‑outs to political friends." Business plans "die in limbo because managers don't know whether the next presidential tweet will turn their imported component into contraband."

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'The misinformation campaign trying to bring down abortion pills'

Rachel Jones and Jamila Perritt at The Nation

Medication "abortion is safe, effective, and widely accepted by patients and providers, which makes it a prime target for political attacks founded on misinformation," say Rachel Jones and Jamila Perritt. Promoting "shoddy science is not a new tactic of the antiabortion movement." If "legislators and administrative officials got their way, then hundreds of thousands of people across the country could lose access to mifepristone," denying them "access to a safe, effective and well-studied method."

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Perhaps the most telling moment of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's first meeting with President Donald Trump came after the two world leaders had concluded their awkward, occasionally tense sit-down: "I'm glad that you couldn't tell what was going through my mind," Carney said, after being asked by Toronto Star reporter Tonda MacCharles what he was thinking while listening to Trump extol the virtues of annexing Canada. "Oh, I could," MacCharles laughed.

With relations between the United States and Canada at an all-time low, and the president's agenda of sweeping tariffs wreaking acute damage on global finances, Tuesday's meeting between Carney and Trump offered both leaders an opportunity to feel one another out as they each asserted their shifting national priorities. The leaders emerged with diverging views on what they each achieved and where they go from here.

A 'decidedly different tone'

Carney's "mixture of flattery and firmness" during his first meeting with Trump represented an attempt to "deliver a principled resistance" that resulted in a "respectful repartee" between the two leaders, said The Washington Post. At one point, Trump insisted that annexing Canada as the 51st American state would be a "wonderful marriage." Carney responded: "As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale." It was an attempt to "charm" the president while at the same time signaling to his "base of liberal supporters" that he was "up for the job of standing up to Trump."

For much of their meeting, Trump took on a "decidedly different tone" than before, particularly after framing Canadians as a "bunch of freeloaders who couldn't survive without the United States" in a post on Truth Social shared just as Carney arrived at the White House, said The New York Times. While Carney may have "appeared to be walking into a lion's den," it was a "house cat he found there" instead. With an "uneasy grin pasted on his face," Carney "never quite dropped his guard" even as Trump appeared to be "coming face to face with the consequences of his own actions and not quite wanting to deal with them."

Although Carney is typically "not someone who suffers fools," his sit-down with the president showed there's "one colossal fool the prime minister will find a way to suffer quietly," said Shannon Proudfoot at The Globe and Mail. For Carney, the challenge was "always going to be" how he "juggled two very different audiences," said Andrew Chang at CBC: "one American, and one Canadian."

A 'test for US allies more generally'

Even though Trump "refused to back off" from his threats of sweeping tariffs and the annexation of Canada, he was "largely friendlier toward the new prime minister" than he'd been toward former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with whom he'd had a "frosty relationship" for years, The Hill said. The result, said The Toronto Star, was a "more serious engagement than had been the case under Trudeau." Behind closed doors, Trump "sought Carney’s views" on a "range" of issues, including "China, Russia, Ukraine, Iran and the Middle East," the Star said.

Ultimately, Carney's largely hiccup-free meeting with Trump presented a "test for U.S. allies more generally" as they have "struggled to manage the president's upending of relationships around the world," said the Post. "Being too unyielding," like in the contentious sit-down with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy, "risks getting kicked out of the White House," while "too soft an approach can be ineffective or prompt blowback from constituents."

Two of the largest players in gasoline distribution are looking to form a marriage, and it could create a ripple effect when consumers head to the pump. Sunoco, which is based in the U.S., has announced its intention to purchase the Canadian company Parkland in a multi-billion-dollar deal that would create a dominating force in the North American petroleum industry. But the deal for the U.S. company to acquire its Canadian rival also hinges on regulatory and government approval that could be made harder by the current political rift between the U.S. and Canada.

Why is this deal being made?

The $9.1 billion deal represents a "definitive agreement whereby Sunoco will acquire all outstanding shares of Parkland in a cash and equity transaction," said Sunoco in a press release. It would create "significant financial benefits for shareholders and would position the combined company as the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas," said Michael Jennings, the executive chairman of Parkland, in a statement.

The deal was largely made as a lifeline for Parkland. The company is in the "midst of a leadership upheaval and a fight with its largest shareholder," said Bloomberg. It "marks a dramatic pivot for Parkland, which launched a formal strategic review in March after facing escalating pressure." Parkland's largest shareholder, Simpson, has accused the company of "repeatedly missing financial guidance, pursuing flawed acquisitions and overseeing rising costs," causing it to look for a different path.

What does this mean for consumers?

Together, the combined companies appear poised to dominate the gas station market. Sunoco has 7,400 gas stations across the U.S., including its own branded stations and partner brands like ExxonMobil and Shell. Parkland has 4,000 gas stations in Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean, using partner brands like Chevron. This means the deal "creates a network of more than 11,000 fueling stations," said Fortune.

The combined company will "distribute more than 15 billion gallons of fuel annually," said CNBC, making it difficult to fill up at a pump that isn't owned by them. If it closes, the deal will "deliver over $250 million in annual cost savings by the third year," according to Reuters, which could affect prices inside the convenience stores of gas stations.

It's an open question whether actual gas prices would be affected, as Canada is the "biggest foreign supplier to the U.S., accounting for about 60% of its oil imports," said the Financial Times. These types of deals have become "increasingly important to aging U.S. oil refineries, which were built to handle heavier grades of crude."

There is also the geopolitical aspect of the deal, given the current relationship between the U.S. and Canada. While the transaction is expected to be finalized, it will "require approval from the federal government at a time when relations between the U.S. and Canada are in a deep freeze due to President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs," said The Globe and Mail. Canada's Liberal Party, which recently won reelection largely thanks to Canadians' souring toward Trump, has "pledged to heighten reviews of deals deemed predatory, due to any decline in value of the Canadian target because of U.S. trade practices."

What happened

Canada's Liberal Party won the most seats in Monday's national election, securing Prime Minister Mark Carney a full term in office, according to preliminary results Tuesday morning. The rare fourth consecutive election victory sealed a remarkable comeback for the Liberals, who trailed the Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, by more than 20 percentage points as recently as January.

Who said what

Carney, 60, became prime minister last month after Justin Trudeau stepped down amid sagging poll numbers. The combination of Trudeau's exit and President Donald Trump's "annexation threats and trade war" fueled the Liberals' "stunning turnaround in fortunes," The Associated Press said. "To say it's unprecedented is not only an understatement," Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams told The Washington Post, "it underplays the magnitude of the shift."

Trump "is trying to break us so that America can own us," Carney said in his victory speech. Canada's "old relationship with the United States" is "over," but "we are over the shock of the American betrayal" and "have many, many other options than the United States to build prosperity for all Canadians." A central banker new to politics, Carney easily won his first-ever seat in Parliament Monday.

Poilievre — who lost his own seat to a Liberal rival, the CBC/Radio-Canada projected Tuesday morning — conceded Monday night that the Conservatives "didn't quite get over the finish line yet" but focused on its gain of "well over 20 seats." In a "different election," the Conservatives would have been "successful" with their vote share, the BBC said, but the Liberals benefited as voters ditched smaller parties, "especially the left-wing New Democrats." Jagmeet Singh stepped down as NDP leader after losing his seat.

What next?

As of Tuesday morning, it wasn't clear whether the Liberals won a majority, or at least 172 seats — they were on track for at least 168, versus 144 for the Conservatives. "This is a dramatic comeback, but if the Liberals cannot win a majority," the "political uncertainty" could "complicate things for them," said McGill University political science professor Daniel Béland to the AP.

What happened

Murder charges have been filed against a suspect in a car ramming that killed 11 people and injured dozens at a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver. Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, allegedly drove an SUV into a crowd on a sidewalk at the Lapu Lapu Day festival around 8 p.m. local time Saturday. The British Columbia Prosecution Service charged Vancouver resident Lo, who was arrested at the scene, on Sunday evening with eight counts of second-degree murder.

Who said what

The attack was the "darkest day in Vancouver's history," the city's Interim Police Chief Steve Rai told reporters. Investigators said the motive was unclear but have ruled out terrorism. The suspect has a "significant history of interactions with police and health care professionals," Rai said. Lo had "no prior criminal record," said the Vancouver Sun, but a "family member had contacted a hospital psych ward hours before Saturday's attack because of Lo's deteriorating mental health."

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on X that he was "devastated" to learn about the "horrific" attack and offered his "deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed," whose ages ranged from 5 to 65. The tragedy "overshadowed the final day of Canada's general election campaign," said The Times, as the country goes to the polls Monday.

What next?

Prosecutors said more charges may be filed against Lo. Authorities are reviewing security protocols for public events.

'Amid US-China trade war, Africa must pivot to the Middle East'

Ure Utah at Newsweek

Globalization "isn't dying — it's just moving to the Middle East," says Ure Utah. To "fully capitalize on Africa's geopolitical edge and vast untapped resources," it "must become more attractive to Gulf investors whose enthusiasm has waned." Africa "urgently needs a new financial operating system — one that signals seriousness, stability, and scalability to the Gulf's increasingly strategic investment class." If Africa "creates the right investment landscape to attract the Gulf's capital, we could finally break our cycle of stagnation."

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'The cost of defunding Harvard'

Atul Gawande at The New Yorker

The White House's "assault on American academic health and science has targeted not only Harvard but also at least nine other institutions," says Atul Gawande. For the "sake of political control, the administration is jeopardizing an enterprise that added decades to life expectancy in the United States and made America the world leader in technology and innovation." Flaws "across this infrastructure deserve attention." But "taking a chainsaw to it will only produce more waste, less output, and poorer results."

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'In Canada, genocide is on the ballot'

Andrew Mitrovica at Al Jazeera

The Canadian Liberal Party's "fortunes have made a stunning volte-face," says Andrew Mitrovica. But they "should remember that other old chestnut that, beyond taxes, there are no guarantees in life or politics." For "many concerned Canadians, the state-sponsored genocide devouring Palestine and Palestinians with such ruthless and inhumane efficiency is the defining issue of these awful times." The prime minister "ought to know that Arab and Muslim Canadians will play a decisive role in the election outcome."

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'This genetics firm didn't resurrect the extinct dire wolf, but did achieve a breakthrough in hype'

Michael Hiltzik at the Los Angeles Times

Colossal Biosciences has "promoted its claim to have resurrected the dire wolf with unsparing razzmatazz," says Michael Hiltzik. Its "publicity campaign and website presenting the dire wolf project as the achieved resurrection of a long-extinct species could not help but shoulder any nuanced assessment of its science off the front page." How a "restored species could fit into an ecosystem or habitat that has little or nothing in common with the world it once inhabited is an open question."

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New York is not the only city that never sleeps. In Berlin, Rio, Seoul and Accra, the night never has to end. Clubs, bars and restaurants are open until the wee hours — if they even close at all. For entertainment from sunset to sunrise, these seven destinations are tops.

Accra, Ghana

The parties start outside in this coastal city, with revelers flocking to "rooftop bars, open-air concerts, live DJ sets and art festivals," Accra expert Kofi Dotse said to Time Out. Every night of the week, Accra's "vibrant" streets are "buzzing with food vendors and music," and those wanting to dance under the moonlight know to visit Labadi Beach for its all-night bashes. For "high-energy clubbing," visit "iconic venues" like South Village for its warehouse parties and Alley Bar.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin is where "anything goes," the BBC said, with clubbers bouncing from "techno temples" to "hedonistic hideouts" to "multi-day raves in former Cold War bunkers." There are often rules in place to protect the sanctity of partying, like no phones allowed inside, and brace yourself for bouncers who strictly control who enters. There is no official closing time for venues in Berlin and buses are always running, making a night of revelry easy.

Budapest, Hungary

For an only-in-Budapest experience, head to a "ruin bar" — an old, dilapidated building transformed into an establishment offering "drinking, dancing and socializing in a slightly shabby but always charming setting," Lonely Planet said. In the Jewish Quarter, these bars, each one with its own character, can primarily be found behind the Great Synagogue. The "granddaddy of them all" is Szimpla Kert, the first to open and "arguably the best and bawdiest of the bunch," with multiple rooms offering different vibes.

Guadalajara, Mexico

In Guadalajara, you can do just about anything once the sun goes down. A night out may include "world-class cuisine or bacon-wrapped hot dogs, a symphony concert or a raucous lucha libre (wrestling) match," Lonely Planet said. Find a traditional cantina like Cantina La Fuente, the oldest watering hole in the city, order a beer or tequila and then see where the evening takes you. Guadalajara is also "one of the most accepting and inclusive" spots in Mexico for LGBTQ+ people, with an annual Pride festival and many gay bars.

Montreal, Canada

Montreal is "unapologetically modern," Condé Nast Traveler said, for an "incredibly historic" city. Nightlife can be found most everywhere, from Quartier des Spectacles, the "beating heart of arts and culture," to Gay Village and its famed Cabaret Mado drag bar, both of which are "a little gritty, a little sparkly and utterly fabulous." Sports fans can also get in on the action, attending a Montreal Canadiens hockey game at Bell Center before dinner and a bar crawl. Night owls, take note: Plans are in the works for the city to have an all-night district where venues can stay open and serve alcohol 24/7.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Of course the home of the world's biggest Carnival celebration is going to be a nightlife hotspot. Rio de Janeiro has a well-earned reputation as "one of the most epic party cities on the planet," Travel and Leisure said, with the "beats of samba de rodas, the country's best-known musical form," echoing across neighborhoods.

Lapa's bohemian bars "still enchant locals and visitors alike," and travelers who like to be ahead of the curve should check out the trendy Morro do Pinto. The Botafogo district melds food and entertainment at "up-and-coming gastronomic hotspots like Alba and Vian Cocktail Bar" that turn into "dance floors on the weekend," said Time Out Rio de Janeiro editor Renata Magalhaes, who noted the city's street scenes are "livelier" than ever.

Seoul, South Korea

Seoul "truly comes alive at night," Cosmopolitan UK said, with bars, karaoke spots, restaurants and shops open "well into the early hours." The city has "distinct pockets boasting a different vibe," with Hongdae featuring "themed photo booths on basically every corner" and Seongsu-dong "packed with edgy cocktail bars." Go to any section of Seoul and you will find "throwback dive bars and strobe-lit nightclubs," Lonely Planet said. It is not unusual for partiers to stay out until morning, "rallying outside convenience stores at 7 a.m."

What sparked the war?

American anger at the British, the former colonial overlords who at the time ruled Canada. The already strained relationship between Britain and the fledgling U.S. hit a boiling point in the early 19th century. Britain, embroiled in the Napoleonic Wars with France, put a blockade on American trade ships bound for mainland Europe. And it seized thousands of American seamen and conscripted them into its undermanned Royal Navy. There was another source of tension closer to home: British support of Native American tribes along the Great Lakes, who used British-­supplied weapons in raids on U.S. settlements and inhibited westward expansion. With the rallying cry "Free trade and sailors' rights!" President James Madison made America's first declaration of war. Hopelessly outgunned by Britain's formidable navy, the Americans targeted Canada, figuring its conquest would humble Britain and grant leverage in wresting concessions. For at least some Americans, there was also another purpose in striking north.

What was that motive?

It's one that President Trump might understand: a lust for new territory. "An incipient kind of manifest destiny" drove many in the rural South and what was then the American West, the territory stretching up the Mississippi basin to the Great Lakes, said University of Virginia historian John C.A. Stagg. And Canada seemed an easy target. It had a population of only 500,000, while the U.S. was home to 7.5 million, and Britain was busy battling France. Many Americans thought they'd be welcomed as liberators, because a large share of those living in what is now Ontario "were essentially Americans who had crossed the border because land was plentiful," says Canadian military historian Terry Copp. Acquiring Canada, said former President Thomas Jefferson, "will be a mere matter of marching."

How'd that work out?

Very badly. At the time, the U.S. Army was a ramshackle force of about 7,000 men, which included "too many incompetent officers and too many raw, untrained recruits," said historian Donald R. Hickey, author of several books on the war. And the logistical challenges of fighting on a remote frontier "were daunting if not insuperable." The Americans launched a three-pronged invasion—across the Detroit River and the Niagara River, and at Lake Champlain, N.Y.—but flopped at every juncture. In Detroit, U.S. Gen. William Hull, who had confidently declared that residents of Canada would be "emancipated from tyranny and oppression," surrendered to a much smaller force after falling for a bogus British document that warned of a vast approaching army of Native warriors. Hull was later court-­martialed for cowardice. By January 1813, the American campaign had yielded only "disaster, defeat, disgrace, and ruin and death," said the Green-Mountain Farmer, a Vermont newspaper.

Did U.S. fortunes improve?

Marginally. The Americans racked up a number of victories in 1813, including surprisingly in naval battles on the Great Lakes and in the Atlantic. "It is a cruel mortification," said a cabinet member in London, "to be beat by these secondhand Englishmen upon our own element." The Americans reclaimed Detroit and captured York (now Toronto) and burned several government buildings. But hampered by desertion, a lack of coordination, and deaths from disease, hunger, and exposure, the Americans made little other headway into Canada. Things took a turn for the worse in 1814, when the British sent some 4,500 battle-­hardened reinforcements across the Atlantic. Landing in Maryland, they marched on Washington, D.C., and set fire to the president's house—not yet called the White House—the House and Senate chambers, the Library of Congress, and other buildings. The conflagration could be seen from 50 miles away. With the U.S. demoralized, nearing bankruptcy, and mired in what amounted to a stalemate, many Americans wanted peace. "Most people understood that the USA would now be mainly on the defensive and Canada was now beyond our reach," said Hickey. Meanwhile, the British were exhausted by more than a decade of war and eager to be done with it.

How did the war end?

With a treaty signed in Ghent, now part of Belgium, on Christmas Eve, 1814. It restored the prewar northern borders, with both sides surrendering conquered territory. Given that the British had seized big chunks of Michigan and the Great Lakes, it amounted to "a pretty sweet deal" for the U.S., said University of Virginia historian Alan Taylor. The maritime issues that had ignited the war weren't even mentioned in the treaty—and a major American victory was still to come. Unaware a peace deal had been struck, some 7,500 British troops marched on New Orleans on Jan. 8, 1815. They were repelled by 5,000 defenders led by Gen. Andrew Jackson, who became a national hero and, in 1829, the seventh president.

What was the war's legacy?

It was an unhappy one for Native Americans along the frontier. Battered by the conflict, they lost their British backers and would soon be pushed aside by U.S. westward expansion. As for the primary combatants, both claimed victory. The Americans, buoyed by New Orleans and quick to forget the war's humiliations, celebrated their survival against a powerful foe. "It unified the country with a new sense of national purpose," said American historian Walter Borneman. It also gave a nationalist boost to the Canadians who'd repelled an attempted invasion and would gain nationhood in 1867. The 2012 bicentennial of the war was widely commemorated in Canada through museum exhibits and historical re-enactments. "It's a very defining moment for Canada," said Canadian military historian Mark Zuehlke. "If those invasions had succeeded, we probably wouldn't exist."

Gaming out an 1812 replay

No credible observer believes the U.S. will invade Canada. But President Trump's repeated references to Canada becoming "our cherished 51st state" have generated chatter up north about what would happen should America attack. If Trump did unleash the world's most powerful military, it is universally agreed "we don't stand a chance," said Canadian military historian Marc Milner. But that "would be just the beginning," said Aisha Ahmad, a political science professor at University of Toronto, who believes an invasion would ignite a decades-long Canadian insurgency. Toronto doctor Raghu Venugopal agrees resistance would run deep. "Many of us would rather have our eyes spooned out, be eviscerated, tortured, run over by tanks, than have anything to do with the United States," he said. Be that as it may, U.S. military historian Eliot Cohen emphasizes that nobody should take the "absurd" scenario of a U.S.-Canada war seriously. "My advice to my Canadian friends," said Cohen, "is: Don't give [Trump] the pleasure of getting upset."

The journey by train across Canada from Toronto in the east to Vancouver on the west coast is a wonderful way to see this vast and varied land, and if you can, do it on The Canadian, said Ruaridh Nicoll in the Financial Times.

With its "silvery" 1950s carriages and domed viewing cars, this sleeper train is an "atomic dream" on rails. But despite its splendid appearance, it is an ordinary service, with seats-only carriages in economy class. A "working train" making its way through "wild land", it travels at an average speed of 30mph, and allows stops between stations if requested in advance. Locals hop on and off along the way (sometimes at lakes for kayaking in the summer), and the whole trip takes 97 hours – making it the longest passenger rail journey by duration outside Russia. The construction of the transcontinental railways in Canada from 1871 helped unite the new confederation, and allayed fears that the US might annex its prairies, "on the pretext of bringing order" to a region on which lawless veterans of the American Civil War were increasingly encroaching.

The Canadian Northern Railway, on which The Canadian train runs, was completed in 1915. Among the cities through which it passes is Winnipeg, where I broke my journey for four nights to go ice-skating on the river (I was travelling in January) and admire the superb Inuit art in the city's main public gallery. I also hopped off in Kamloops, further on, to sample the excellent skiing at the huge Sun Peaks resort. With its window-facing chairs and en-suite lavatory, my Sleeper Plus cabin came to feel "like home" (cabins in Prestige class also have their own showers). The dining car – where guests share linen-draped tables for four – was delightfully sociable (the train seems to attract "remarkable" passengers). And the slow speed gives plenty of time to spot wildlife (I even saw a bobcat) and take in the views – which are particularly majestic in the Rockies, with their "Valhalla cliffs" and lakes of "crystal" ice.

Private cabins cost from £925pp (viarail.ca).

There's been a sharp decline in tourists visiting America – as people confront the US administration's draconian new visa requirements and witness a series of travellers being detained and deported.

Official US statistics for overseas visitors show a 2.4% drop in February – the first full month of Donald Trump's second presidential term – compared with the same time last year.

Some experts even "fear a permanent chilling effect" that could upend America's status as a "hub for both business travel and vacations", said The Independent.

Why are travellers avoiding the US?

Since Trump took office, there have been "stories of temporary visitors with innocuous itineraries being imprisoned for days or weeks", said the paper.

Canadian actor Jasmine Mooney, 35, was kept in detention for 12 days after presenting herself at the US border and requesting a new visa. And Welsh backpacker Becky Burke, 28, was detained for 19 days, accused of violating the terms of her visa, and then removed in leg chains and handcuffs to a deportation flight.

German national Lucas Sielaff, who had a valid visa-waiver entry permit, was shackled at the Mexican border, interrogated and detained for 16 days before being flown back to Germany. "I still have nightmares," he told the Financial Times, which said he is just "one of a string" of European and Canadian tourists to have "suffered hostile treatment at the hands of border guards".

These recent cases are "all the more striking" because they involve citizens of "countries long allied to the US", said The Guardian. Visitors from other regions of the world have "long had difficulty entering the US" but immigration officials had, until now, "taken a more lenient stance towards travellers from allied nations".

How have US visa rules changed?

Trump's executive order to focus on "foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats" has put visas for foreign nationals in "jeopardy", said the BBC.

The order requires the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State to implement "enhanced vetting" for visa applicants. This means visas will need "extended processing time", and "visa appointments are likely to be delayed or suspended".

The US administration is also considering a new travel ban that will target "the citizens of as many as 43 countries" and will be "broader" than the restrictions imposed during Trump's first term, said The New York Times.

Top would be a "red" list of 11 countries, including Cuba and Venezuela, whose citizens would be "flatly barred from entry". Then, citizens of 10 countries on an "orange" list, including Pakistan and Russia, would be allowed entry as a business traveller but not as a tourist or immigrant. Countries on a long "yellow" list, including St Lucia and Zimbabwe, would have 60 days to address US concerns about "deficiencies" or risk being moved to the red or orange list.

Some of the countries on the draft red and orange lists "share characteristics with earlier lists" from Trump's first term, said the paper, in that "they are generally Muslim-majority or otherwise non-white, poor and have governments that are considered weak or corrupt".

Who is especially at risk?

The Foreign Office has recently revised its advice for British citizens travelling to the America to include a warning that anyone found breaking US conditions of entry "may be liable to arrest or detention", rather than just a rejection as before.

The situation for foreign citizens who have changed their gender is particularly unclear. The US State Department has suspended the processing of American passports with the X identity marker, "leaving many non-binary Americans potentially cut off from international travel", said the BBC. And, taking their cue from that, nine European countries – Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Netherlands – have advised "caution" for trans people planning to visit the US, warning that they should seek advice from an American embassy before travelling.

Could this backfire on the US?

Pollsters are reporting that 36% of Canadians have already cancelled their plans to holiday south of border, said The Telegraph – figures no doubt swelled by Trump's "continued rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state".

This may all play well to Trump's Maga base but, if tourists from other countries follow Canada's lead, the White House could end up seriously short-changed. According to US consultancy Tourism Economics, a 5% drop in international visitors could deliver a $64 billion (£49 billion) blow to the American economy.

What happened

Canada's new prime minister, Mark Carney of the ruling Liberal Party, announced Sunday that voters will go to the polls on April 28 to pick a new government. Carney was sworn in March 14, replacing Justin Trudeau, who had grown unpopular after a decade in power. His main rival in the upcoming election is Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

Who said what

Carney, a former central banker and "political rookie" who is "not considered to be a stirring speaker," presents a "stark contrast" with Poilievre, a "lifelong politician who rose to prominence as a smarmy attack dog in Parliament," The Washington Post said. The campaign, however, is "likely to come down to one question: Who can best handle President Donald Trump and make Canada more resilient in the face of his threats?"

Carney said he needed a "strong, positive mandate" to tackle Trump's "unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty," which he called "the most significant crisis of our lifetimes." Poilievre also criticized Trump's "unacceptable threats against our country" but argued that Trudeau's economic policies had left Canada weak and vulnerable.

What next?

Polls show that Carney has "eliminated" Poilievre's recent "25-percentage-point lead" and the "two enter the election period neck-and-neck," The New York Times said.

Can Canadian consumers take on Trump? Does Nepal want its king back? And could eating fish make you kinder? Olly Mann and The Week delve behind the headlines and debate what really matters from the past seven days.

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What happened

President Donald Trump Wednesday imposed blanket 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, prompting immediate retaliatory measures from Canada and the European Union. Trump said Wednesday afternoon that he would "of course" respond to the EU countermeasures with more tariffs. "Whatever they charge us with, we're charging them," he said.

Who said what

EU officials said Wednesday they were hitting back with equivalent tariffs only after Trump expressed no interest in negotiating an off-ramp. "Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business, and even worse for consumers," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. "Jobs are at stake, prices up, nobody needs that." Britain, Australia, Mexico and Brazil said they would not immediately retaliate over Trump's import taxes on steel, aluminum and "hundreds of downstream products, from nuts and bolts to bulldozer blades and soda cans," Reuters said.

Trump "risks igniting a global trade war" and juicing U.S. inflation, CNN said. But it has been "hard for Europeans — and other American trading partners — to decide how to respond" to his "unfolding trade conflict," The New York Times said, especially since it isn't clear what Trump's "goals are," which tariffs will "ultimately be retained," who "to talk to in the Trump administration" about trade or "how decisions are being made."

What next?

It's possible Trump is right his "erratic tariff policies" and budget cuts will result in "unexpected gains" and revived U.S. manufacturing "on the other side" of the resulting "period of havoc," but "there isn't much evidence" to support that, The Wall Street Journal said. Instead, his economic theories "edge close to the 'liquidationist'" policies "most infamously associated with former President Herbert Hoover's Treasury secretary who advised him to let the economy fall."

Canada's retaliatory 25% tariffs on $20.6 billion in U.S. aluminum, steel, computer, sporting goods and other imports take effect Thursday. The EU's 50% tariffs on American whisky, motorcycles and other politically sensitive goods start April 1, with more levies following a few weeks later.

What happened

President Trump threw U.S. trade policy into chaos when he slapped steep tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, shaking financial markets and drawing promises of retaliation from America’s biggest trading partners. Defying hopes for an eleventh-hour reprieve, Trump put 25 percent tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports and doubled an existing 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hit back, vowing duties on more than $100 billion in U.S. goods, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford pulled U.S. liquor from stores and threatened to cut off electricity exports to the U.S. “This is a very dumb thing to do,” said a visibly angry Trudeau, accusing the U.S. of pulling its “closest friend” into a fight that will “have no winners.” China imposed 10 to 15 percent tariffs on U.S. farm exports, including wheat and corn, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said countermeasures were forthcoming.

CEOs at Best Buy and Target warned of rising prices, and economists said consumers will quickly feel sticker shock from price spikes on goods from gas to avocados. A day after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Trump would “probably” meet Canada and Mexico “in the middle” on import duties, Trump approved a one-month pause on auto tariffs. But he held firm otherwise. “Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it’s our turn,” Trump said in his speech to Congress. “A little disturbance” lies ahead, he acknowledged, “but we’re OK with that.”

What the columnists said

Trump’s tariff blitz defies “common sense,” said The Wall Street Journal in an editorial. He thinks tariffs will “usher in a new golden age.” But “he’s whacking friends, not adversaries.” Canada and Mexico account for a third of our exports—more than $650 billion of American goods last year—and we rely on theirs: Mexico supplies 30 percent of our produce, and Canada 85 percent of the potash needed to fertilize U.S. farms. The tariffs will equate to a $150 billion annual tax increase on Americans. Is this how Trump “plans on helping working-class voters?”

This is “Trump’s most inexplicable decision yet,” said Rogé Karma in The Atlantic. There’s no strategy at work here, “or even political logic.” Trump says he wants to force Canada and Mexico to address illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking. But just 0.2 percent of the fentanyl seized here last year came from Canada, and illegal southern-border crossings have hit “near-record lows.” Meanwhile, there’s no visible upside — and the prospect of renewed inflation poses a great political risk for Trump.

The chaos hits at a time when the U.S. economy is “already flashing yellow lights,” said Elisabeth Buchwald and Matt Egan in CNN.com. Spending is down and layoffs are up. Consumer confidence is sinking, and the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank just projected a 2.8 percent GDP drop for the first quarter. Many voters picked Trump to steward the economy — but right now, its health “is looking less and less stable by the day.”

Canada has a new leader for the first time in a decade: Mark Carney will become the 24th Canadian prime minister after being elected leader of the country's Liberal Party on March 9. Carney is replacing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has led Canada since 2015.

Carney was elected Liberal Party leader in a landslide despite never having served in elected government before; he was previously a banker who served as governor of the Bank of Canada. It also remains unclear how long Carney will be able to hold power, as federal elections are widely expected to be called soon. But for now, he will lead a nation at odds with one of its closest allies: the United States.

Carney's beginnings

Carney, 59, was born in Canada's Northwest Territories and attended Harvard University and Oxford University. His work has largely been defined by stints in the banking industry. Carney "began his career in the private sector, spending over a decade in the London, Tokyo, New York and Toronto offices of Goldman Sachs," said NPR.

He eventually became directly involved in Canada's fiscal policy, and ran the Bank of Canada, the country's central bank, from 2008 to 2013, a "period which included the global financial crisis," said NPR. He then ran the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020, making him the "first non-Briton appointed to do so." Carney is married to British economist Diana Fox Carney and has four children.

Leading Canada

Carney will enter Canadian politics facing a mountain of challenges. He is the first person to become Canadian prime minister without having ever been a member of Parliament, said The Guardian. As a political outsider, his background "would in normal times have killed his candidacy in Canada but his distance from unpopular incumbent Justin Trudeau and a high-profile banking career played to his advantage."

His most pressing matter will likely be the current trade war between Canada and the United States. President Donald Trump's Canadian tariffs are the "greatest crisis of our lifetimes," Carney said in his victory speech. If the tariffs succeed, they "would destroy our way of life." But Carney has also stood firm against Trump, including the president's threat to make Canada the 51st state. Canada "never, ever will be part of America in any way," he said. The U.S. "should make no mistake: In trade, as in hockey, Canada will win."

Carney's conservative opponents are working to spotlight his lack of government experience. Since he is not a member of Parliament, Carney "cannot cast a ballot in parliamentary votes, nor can he participate in Question Period, when government ministers are challenged by lawmakers," said The Washington Post. But his work as a banking mogul "earned him a reputation as 'fixer' that he has wrapped into his pitch to Canadian voters."

However, the "reconstituted Liberal government is likely to be short-lived," said Reuters. Canada's federal elections must legally be held by Oct. 20, 2025, but Carney can call them earlier. He is likely to do this, as if he "does not call an election, his political opponents have said they would defeat the government at their first opportunity when the Parliament reconvenes in late March." The opposition Conservative Party, alongside the smaller Bloc Quebecois and New Democrats, have all said they will challenge the Liberals.

It was widely expected that the Conservative Party would win the upcoming election, as "opinion polls consistently showed the Conservatives with a strong lead," said the BBC. But Trudeau's resignation and Trump's tariffs have "raised expectations of a closer vote."