Author: Lester Holt

Ottawa will remove certain retaliatory duties while retaining tariffs on cars, steel, and aluminium. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Friday that Canada will scale back part of its trade countermeasures against the United States. Levies on vehicles, steel, and aluminium will remain, but other tariffs on American goods will be lifted starting September 1. Move follows missed trade deal deadline The announcement comes after Carney’s first phone call with President Donald Trump since both countries failed to meet their self-imposed deadline for a new trade agreement. Canada had previously imposed a 25% tariff on approximately C$30bn (£16bn; $21.7bn) of US…

Crackdown Moves Beyond Washington President Donald Trump announced plans to extend his federal crime crackdown to Chicago and New York, describing Chicago as “a mess” and saying New York would follow. The move builds on an aggressive federal campaign targeting Democratic-led cities, many with Black mayors, sparking criticism that the effort is politically and racially motivated. National Guard to Carry Weapons in the Capital Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered that National Guard troops patrolling Washington DC will now be armed, reversing earlier assurances that they would remain unarmed. Nearly 2,000 Guard members are currently deployed in the capital, including…

The United States will maintain its 27.5% tariffs on European cars until the European Union enacts laws reducing tariffs on American products. A framework agreement unveiled Thursday outlines the conditions for lowering U.S. tariffs to 15%. Background of the Agreement The trade framework was announced July 27 after a meeting between President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Turnberry, Scotland. Under the agreement, the EU has pledged to remove tariffs on U.S. industrial goods and expand market access for American seafood and farm exports. In return, the U.S. will lower tariffs to 15% on most…

The decline of Arctic sea ice has unexpectedly slowed over the past two decades, according to new research. Since 2005, scientists have found no statistically significant drop in ice extent, despite rising carbon emissions and continued global heating. Why the Slowdown? Researchers believe the pause is due to natural climate variability, particularly long-term shifts in Atlantic and Pacific Ocean currents that temporarily reduce the flow of warmer waters into the Arctic. This has likely offset the effect of rising global temperatures. However, experts stress that this is only a short-lived reprieve. Once the cycle reverses—likely within the next 5–10 years—ice…

Investigation Launched Federal prosecutors have begun a criminal inquiry into claims that Washington DC police systematically altered crime statistics to make the city appear safer than it is. Sources told the Washington Post, NBC News, and Fox News that the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, led by Jeanine Pirro, is handling the investigation. Trump Highlights Allegations The investigation follows comments by former President Donald Trump, who posted on social media that DC had issued “fake crime numbers” to create a “false illusion of safety” and stated that officials were “under serious investigation.” Origins of the Investigation The…

Tourists and Residents Evacuate Hurricane Erin has forced visitors to cut short their trips on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, even though the storm is forecast to stay offshore. The hurricane lashed parts of the Caribbean on Monday with heavy rain and strong winds. Authorities issued evacuation orders for several barrier islands along the Carolina coast, warning of dangerous rip currents and waves reaching up to 15 feet (4.6 meters). On Ocracoke Island, tourists and residents waited for hours in car lines at the ferry dock — the only departure route besides flying. Storm Track and Forecast Forecasters expect Erin to…