Trump’s ‘unprecedented’ diplomat recall sparks concerns over politicization of foreign service
U.S. State Department officials have said that the recall of nearly 30 ambassadors is part of reshaping the U.S. diplomatic posture abroad with personnel deemed fully supportive of U.S. President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ priorities. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press) Since the founding of the modern American Foreign Service in 1924, there has never been anything like the recent move by the United States to recall 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial and other senior embassy posts, says the president of the American Foreign Service Association. “This is entirely unprecedented,” said JohnRead more
Here’s what New Year’s celebrations looked like as the world rang in 2026
From Sydney to Paris to New York City and Toronto, crowds rang in the new year with exuberant celebrations filled with thunderous fireworks or light shows, while others took a more subdued approach. As the clock struck midnight in Japan, temple bells rang and some climbed mountains to see the year’s first sunrise, while a light show with somersaulting jet skis twinkled in Dubai. In New York City’s Times Square, revellers braved frigid temperatures to celebrate with the famed New Year’s Eve ball drop. Confetti drops and fireworks explode atRead more
Trump says he’s pausing efforts to send National Guard to Chicago, L.A. and Portland
Members of the California National Guard are seen near a federal building in Los Angeles on June 10. (Eric Thayer/The Associated Press) U.S. President Donald Trump said he’s dropping — for now — his push to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Ore., a move that comes after legal roadblocks hung up the effort. Trump said in a social media post Wednesday that he’s removing the Guard troops for now. “We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins toRead more
Trump trips, a fake video and 10 possible co-conspirators – Takeaways from new Epstein files
The US Department of Justice released its latest – and largest – tranche of Jeffrey Epstein files on Tuesday. The 11,000-plus documents continue a stream of released information that began on Friday, the deadline mandated in a new law that required the department to publicly release all of its investigative files into the deceased paedophile and financier. Many of the documents released on Tuesday are redacted with names and information blacked out, including names of people who the FBI appears to cite as possible co-conspirators in the Epstein case. TheRead more
Military considers permanent bases in Latvia as part of Canada’s NATO commitment
Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Latvia’s Adazi military base in August and announced an extension of the Canadian Armed Forces mission in the country to 2029. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) Canada’s military operations command has embarked on a study about how the country’s NATO deployment in Latvia can be realistically sustained into the future, and one of options could involve more permanent basing, says a senior commander. Lt.-Gen. Steve Boivin, the commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC), said they are just beginning the analysis and recommendations have notRead more
Parts shortages, snarled supply chains are sidelining Canadian vehicles and troops in Latvia: documents
Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the Adazi military base in Latvia last week, where Canadian hardware was on display. But briefing documents obtained by CBC News show that many vehicles in Canada’s battlegroup are not ready for combat. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) Prime Minister Mark Carney recently walked a gauntlet of parked military gear while visiting Canadian and allied troops in Latvia. All of it was spit and polish, some draped in camouflage and looking showroom ready, if not somewhat menacing. It was an impressive, seemingly substantive, display of combatRead more
U.K. police drop probe into Bob Vylan comments about Israeli military
Bobby Vylan of British duo Bob Vylan crowd surfing while performing on the West Holts Stage on the fourth day of the Glastonbury festival in south-west England, on June 28, 2025. (Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images) British police said on Tuesday they would take no further action over comments made about the Israeli military during a performance by punk duo Bob Vylan at the Glastonbury music festival in June. “We have concluded, after reviewing all the evidence, that it does not meet the criminal threshold outlined by the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service]Read more
U.S. defence secretary says Pentagon will not publicly release Sept. 2 boat strike video
U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth arrives for a classified briefing for all members of the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday on the situation in Venezuela. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the Pentagon will not publicly release unedited video of a strike that killed two survivors of an initial attack on a boat allegedly carrying cocaine in the Caribbean. Hegseth said that members of the U.S. House and Senate armed services committees would have an opportunity this week to review the video, but did notRead more
FIFA slashes price of some World Cup tickets after global fan backlash
MetLife Stadium, the location of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, in East Rutherford, N.J., is seen in July prior to the FIFA Club World Cup Final. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images) FIFA slashed the price of some World Cup tickets for teams’ most loyal fans following a global backlash and some will get $60 US seats for the final instead of being asked to pay $4,185. It was a rare climbdown by the soccer body and its president Gianni Infantino after soaking up waves of criticism for World Cup strategies, includingRead more