International News
Canada Declares Economic War On U.S. Tariffs, Cancels Musk’s Internet Deal
Ontario has escalated trade tensions with the United States, announcing a sweeping ban on U.S. companies bidding for government contracts worth tens of billions of dollars.
The move comes in direct response to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford has condemned as an attack on Canada’s economy.
“Ontario won’t do business with people hellbent on destroying our economy,” Ford declared on X, adding that American businesses will lose lucrative revenue opportunities and have “only President Trump to blame.”
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As part of the measures, Ontario has scrapped a Can$100 million (US$68 million) contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink, which was set to provide internet services to 15,000 homes and businesses in remote northern Ontario starting in June.
Musk, the world’s richest man and a close Trump ally, had secured the deal in November.
Ford’s government is also removing U.S. alcohol from store shelves, a move mirrored by several other Canadian provinces, including Quebec, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia.
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), one of the world’s largest alcohol purchasers, is pulling nearly Can$1 billion worth of U.S. beer, wine, and spirits from circulation, impacting around 3,600 products.
The retaliatory measures come as Trump prepares to enforce 25 percent tariffs on Canadian imports starting Tuesday, a decision that has rattled economic relations between the two neighbors.
Meanwhile, Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed the tariffs in a Monday phone call, with Trump confirming they would speak again later in the day.
International News
DOJ Confirms Federal Criminal Investigation After Agents Raid Ilhan Omar’s Home
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
International News
Bangkok Underwater: Nearly 4,900 Evacuated as Floods Hit Thailand Capital
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
International News
‘They Are Dying’ — Trump Explains Why He Rejected Iran’s Hormuz Proposal
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
SEE ALSO: How the Strait of Hormuz Attack Could Trigger a Fresh Global Oil Shock
According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.





