China sanctions former Filipino lawmaker who defended Philippines' South China Sea claims
Francis Tolentino, who has just finished serving his term as majority leader of the Philippine Senate, is prohibited from entering China as well as the territories of Hong Kong and Macao, according to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Toronto Star
30 minutes ago
- Toronto Star
Colombia suspends extradition of rebel leader wanted in the US for drug trafficking
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro has suspended a rebel leader's extradition to the United States, arguing that his presence in Colombia is needed to advance peace talks that seek to disarm hundreds of fighters in a region bordering Venezuela. Willington Henao Gutiérrez, known as 'Mocho Olmedo' is one of the leaders of the 33rd front of FARC EMC, a rebel group with around 400 fighters that operates in the northeastern Catatumbo region. He is wanted in the U.S. for drug trafficking and money laundering and his extradition was approved by Colombia's Supreme Court in May.
Global News
39 minutes ago
- Global News
Trump's ‘big, beautiful bill' passes Senate with Vance breaking tie
Senate Republicans hauled President Donald Trump's big tax breaks and spending cuts bill to passage Tuesday on the narrowest of margins, pushing past opposition from Democrats and their own GOP ranks after a turbulent overnight session. The outcome capped an unusually tense weekend of work at the Capitol, the president's signature legislative priority teetering on the edge of approval or collapse. In the end that tally was 50-50, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. Three Republican senators — Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky — joined all Democrats in voting against it. 'The big not so beautiful bill has passed,' Paul said after the vote. The difficulty it took for Republicans, who have the majority hold in Congress, to wrestle the bill to this point is not expected to let up. The package now goes back to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson had warned senators not to deviate too far from what his chamber had already approved. But the Senate did make changes, particularly to Medicaid, risking more problems as they race to finish by Trump's Fourth of July deadline. Story continues below advertisement The outcome is a pivotal moment for president and his party, which have been consumed by the 940-page 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' as it's formally titled, and invested their political capital in delivering on the GOP's sweep of power in Washington. Trump acknowledged it's 'very complicated stuff,' as he departed the White House for Florida. 'I don't want to go too crazy with cuts,' he said. 'I don't like cuts.' View image in full screen In this image from video from Senate Television, Vice President JD Vance, seated center, breaks a 50-50 tie to push President Donald Trump's big tax breaks and spending cuts bill over the top, on the Senate floor at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Washington. (Senate Television via AP). What started as a routine but laborious day of amendment voting, in a process called vote-a-rama, spiraled into a round-the-clock slog as Republican leaders were buying time to shore up support. The droning roll calls in the chamber belied the frenzied action to steady the bill. Grim-faced scenes played out on and off the Senate floor, amid exhaustion. Story continues below advertisement Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota was desperately reaching for last-minute agreements between those in his party worried the bill's reductions to Medicaid will leave millions without care, and his most conservative flank, which wants even steeper cuts to hold down deficits ballooning with the tax cuts. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The GOP leaders have no room to spare, with narrow majorities. Thune could lose no more than three Republican senators, and two — Tillis, who warned that millions of people will lose access to Medicaid health care, and Paul, who opposes raising the debt limit by US$5 trillion — had already indicated opposition. Attention quickly turned to two other key senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Collins, who also raised concerns about health care cuts, as well as a loose coalition of four conservative GOP senators pushing for even steeper reductions. Murkowski in particular became the subject of the GOP leadership's attention, as they sat beside her for talks. She was huddled intensely for more than an hour in the back of the chamber with others, scribbling notes on papers. Then all eyes were on Paul after he returned from a visit to Thune's office with a stunning offer that could win his vote. He had suggested substantially lowering the bill's increase in the debt ceiling, according to two people familiar with the private meeting and granted anonymity to discuss it. Story continues below advertisement Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said 'Republicans are in shambles because they know the bill is so unpopular.' An analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found 11.8 million more Americans would become uninsured by 2034 if the bill became law. The CBO said the package would increase the deficit by nearly US$3.3 trillion over the decade. And on social media, billionaire Elon Musk was again lashing out at Republicans as 'the PORKY PIG PARTY!!' for including the US$5 trillion debt ceiling in the package, which is needed to allow continued borrowing to pay the bills. Senators insist on changes Few Republicans appeared fully satisfied as the final package emerged, in either the House or the Senate. Collins had proposed bolstering the US$25 billion proposed rural hospital fund to US$50 billion, offset with a higher tax rate on those earning more than US$25 million a year, but her amendment failed. Story continues below advertisement And Murkowski was trying to secure provisions to spare people in her state from some food stamp cuts, which appeared to be accepted, while she was also working to beef up federal reimbursements to hospitals in Alaska and others states, that did not comply with parliamentary rules. What's in the big bill All told, the Senate bill includes US$4.5 trillion in tax cuts, according to the latest CBO analysis, making permanent Trump's 2017 rates, which would expire at the end of the year if Congress fails to act, while adding the new ones he campaigned on, including no taxes on tips. The Senate package would roll back billions of dollars in green energy tax credits, which Democrats warn will wipe out wind and solar investments nationwide. It would impose US$1.2 trillion in cuts, largely to Medicaid and food stamps, by imposing work requirements on able-bodied people, including some parents and older Americans, making sign-up eligibility more stringent and changing federal reimbursements to states. Story continues below advertisement Additionally, the bill would provide a US$350 billion infusion for border and national security, including for deportations, some of it paid for with new fees charged to immigrants. Democrats fighting all day and night Unable to stop the march toward passage, the Democrats tried to drag out the process, including with a weekend reading of the full bill. A few of the Democratic amendments won support from a few Republicans, though almost none passed. More were considered in one of the longer such sessions in modern times. One amendment overwhelmingly approved stripped a provision barring states from regulating artificial intelligence if they receive certain federal funding. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, raised particular concern about the accounting method being used by the Republicans, which says the tax breaks from Trump's first term are now 'current policy' and the cost of extending them should not be counted toward deficits. Story continues below advertisement She said that kind of 'magic math' won't fly with Americans trying to balance their own household books. –Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti, Darelene Superville and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.
Toronto Sun
an hour ago
- Toronto Sun
Mike Tyson pleads with Trump to deliver on cannabis reform: 'IT'S DONE SO MUCH FOR ME'
As U.S. bars Bob Vylan from entry, Canada isn't willing to follow suit Mike Tyson pleads with Trump to deliver on cannabis reform: 'IT'S DONE SO MUCH FOR ME' Photo by Mark J. Terrill / AP Article content Mike Tyson is one of many athletes who are pushing for cannabis reform in the United States, and is hoping President Donald Trump will pick up where his predecessor, Joe Biden, left off. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account or Sign in without password View more offers Article content The Coalition of Athletes and Entertainers Supporting President Trump's Policy Objectives, which also includes NBA star Kevin Durant and former NFL star Dez Bryant, penned a letter to the White House in an effort to 'address marijuana-related injustices.' Article content tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Mike Tyson pleads with Trump to deliver on cannabis reform: 'IT'S DONE SO MUCH FOR ME' Back to video tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Play Video Article content According to Marijuana Moment, the letter mentions three main points in their proposed reform: Clemency for 'nonviolent' marijuana offences, chancing the drug's current classification from a Schedule I substance to a Schedule III substance, and ending 'discriminatory banking practices.' Tyson appeared on Fox & Friends on Monday, where he told the hosts: 'Cannabis is in the same category as heroin. How do you categorize it with heroin? Anybody that would smoke cannabis knows there's no comparison, and that's just ridiculous.' Your Midday Sun Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Article content Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The boxing legend explained that the group wants to 'open up' safe banking for those in the cannabis industry who are currently unable to get loans. 'There's over 500,000 people that can't get loans because they're in the cannabis business alone and that's just so ridiculous,' he said, noting how it's such a great income for the country.' Tyson went on to explain how he has used cannabis as medicine, and how it's made such improvements in his life. RECOMMENDED VIDEO tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Play Video 'I could not live, I was going crazy without cannabis. I was just going absolutely mad, fighting people in the street, giving wild responses back to people who said, 'Can I help you?'' Tyson detailed. 'And then it's done so much for me,' the 59-year-old continued. 'It's given me a new life, so to speak … all the reckless trouble I was getting into [as a kid], that's not happening now as an adult.' Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Share this article in your social network Read Next
