Duelling protests target Toronto's mayor and council at city hall
Natalie Johnson reports on duelling protests outside Toronto City Hall, with demonstrators demanding changes to city management.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
40 minutes ago
- CBC
Trump denies writing birthday message to Epstein described in Wall Street Journal report
The controversy over U.S. President Donald Trump's handling of records from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation entered a new dimension on Thursday, as his administration struggles to make good on its promises to release details on the sex-trafficking case involving a one-time friend of the now-president. Trump promised a lawsuit after the Wall Street Journal described a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper says bore Trump's name and was included in a 2003 album for Epstein's 50th birthday. Trump denied writing the letter, calling it "false, malicious and defamatory." CBC News has not verified the Wall Street Journal report independently. It came after Trump in recent days has berated as "weaklings" supporters vying for more records from the Epstein probe, after years of courting political support from those who have stoked claims of a coverup in the case to protect wealthy friends of Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 awaiting trial on federal charges of trafficking of underage girls. Trump has also shielded his attorney general from being questioned about the case after she walked back claims of the existence of a "client list" of elites who participated in Epstein's crimes, and he has even taken to claiming without evidence that files were doctored by Democrats. Transcripts to be released In an administration that prides itself on changing the narrative on negative storylines, the Epstein saga has had remarkable staying power, thanks in part to infighting at high levels of government, Trump's blistering criticism of his own base and the head-scratching mystery of why documents his own administration promised to unlock will remain buried — seemingly for good. Thursday's disclosure — coupled with frustration from Trump-allied lawmakers on Capitol Hill — pushed the Republican president to abruptly reverse course and direct U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to try to make some of the documents in the case public. Bondi said she would seek court permission on Friday to release grand jury information, but it would require a judge's approval, and she and Trump were silent on the additional evidence collected by federal law enforcement in the sprawling investigation that Bondi last week announced she would not release. The letter revealed by the Wall Street Journal was reportedly collected by disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell as part of a birthday album for Epstein, three years before the wealthy financier was first arrested in 2006 and subsequently had a falling-out with Trump. Maxwell was arrested in 2020 and convicted a year later on charges that she helped Epstein lure girls to be sexually abused. The letter bearing Trump's name includes text framed by the outline of what appears to be a hand-drawn naked woman and ends with, "Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret," according to the newspaper. The outlet described the contents of the letter but did not publish a photo showing it entirely. 'I don't draw pictures': Trump Trump slammed the story in a lengthy social media post on Thursday night, saying he spoke to both the paper's owner, Rupert Murdoch, and its top editor, Emma Tucker, and told them the letter was "fake." Trump promised to sue the paper over the story, saying: "These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures." U.S. Vice-President JD Vance said the newspaper "should be ashamed" for publishing it. "Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?" he wrote on social media platform X. The Trump administration has been struggling for nearly two weeks to contain the fallout of the U.S. Justice Department's announcement that no more Epstein evidence in the government's possession would be released to the public despite promises of transparency from Bondi. The Justice Department's reversal on the Epstein files not only angered Trump supporters but touched off a testy exchange at the White House last week between Bondi and FBI deputy director Dan Bongino that neither official has publicly addressed. The department has yet to provide a full accounting of its reversal months after Bondi handed out binders to conservative influencers at the White House that read "Epstein Files: Phase 1" and "the most transparent administration." Bondi earlier this week refused to answer questions from reporters about the Epstein files and her relationship with Bongino.
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Trump's name on 50th-birthday letter to Epstein, Wall Street Journal reports
Donald Trump's name appeared on a risque 2003 personal note to Jeffrey Epstein, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. The U.S. president responded that the letter was fake. The Journal reported that the letter was one of several included in a leather-bound album meant to celebrate Epstein's 50th birthday, about three years before sex-abuse allegations emerged against the financier. Reuters could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the letter. Trump quickly responded to the story on his Truth Social platform, saying he would sue the newspaper and Rupert Murdoch, who controls its publisher, News Corp. 'The Wall Street Journal, and Rupert Murdoch, personally, were warned directly by President Donald J. Trump that the supposed letter they printed by President Trump to Epstein was a FAKE and, if they print it, they will be sued,' Trump wrote. 'President Trump will be suing The Wall Street Journal, NewsCorp, and Mr. Murdoch, shortly.' A spokesperson for the Wall Street Journal and its parent company, Dow Jones & Co, declined to comment on its story or Trump's threat to sue. Representatives for News Corp and Murdoch could not immediately be reached for comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. Trump orders release of grand jury testimony in Epstein case The White House has been roiled by questions about disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Epstein, after the Justice Department this month concluded that there was no evidence to support a number of long-held conspiracy theories about his clients and 2019 death in prison. Attorney-General Pam Bondi had pledged months earlier to reveal major revelations about Epstein, including 'a lot of names' and 'a lot of flight logs.' Some Trump supporters have demanded the release of more information on Epstein, causing a rare fracture within his base of support. Trump has pushed back. 'It's all been a big hoax,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, as calls increased for the release of more information on Epstein's clients. The Journal said the letter, bearing Trump's name, contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appeared to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker. The newspaper said the letter concludes 'Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret,' and featured the signature 'Donald.' Vice President JD Vance responded to the story on X, saying, 'Forgive my language but this story is complete and utter bullshit. The WSJ should be ashamed for publishing it.' Allegations that Epstein had been sexually abusing girls became public in 2006 - after the birthday book was compiled - and he was arrested that year before accepting a plea deal. Epstein died in 2019 in jail after he was arrested a second time and charged with sex-trafficking conspiracy.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Edmonton police investigating new reports of extortion targeting South Asian community
Social Sharing Edmonton police are looking into a new round of threats and extortion attempts against members of the city's South Asian community. Six incidents, including at least one arson, have been reported since early June, according to interim Edmonton police Chief Devin Laforce. It comes nearly a year after arrests in the "Project Gaslight" investigation put an end to months of fear over threats, followed by arsons and shootings, targeting South Asian home builders in the Edmonton area. Laforce said Thursday that the latest incidents seem to be separate from the Project Gaslight crimes, but there's "some association and some linkages." He added that the pattern of extortions is similar, with calls or messages — sometimes over the platform WhatsApp — demanding money. While the investigation is still underway, police believe the recent extortions are linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The criminal organization based in India has been in the news recently, with B.C. Premier David Eby and Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown calling on the federal government to designate the group a terrorist organization. Alberta's premier and public safety minister issued their own statement in support of the move on Monday. Laforce said it's something Edmonton Police Service would also like to see. "These crimes go across the country," he said. "And certainly in Alberta, as we're impacted as well, looking at the potential different powers and authorities or investigative techniques that could afford … is certainly something that we're in support of." Kash Heed, a former West Vancouver police chief and B.C. solicitor-general, said he sees the idea as a "political move" that's unlikely to help. He said police agencies like EPS, which have made arrests in extortion investigations, are getting results from investigations on the ground. He puts more importance on establishing trust and communication with the local community. "When I look at that, I see no value at this point of announcing Lawrence Bishnoi, giving him an automatic rise in notoriety by labelling him a terrorist organization." The Bishnoi gang's founder and namesake has been in jail in India for the last decade. Heed said it's also possible that extortion suspects in Canada are using the infamy of the Bishnoi name without a meaningful link to the organization. "That's kind of the added part of instilling that fear when you're going after, extorting, South Asian people that have been successful in businesses." The Bishnoi gang hasn't been publicly mentioned in relation to the Project Gaslight investigation. When one of the young men arrested in that case pleaded guilty this year, court documents indicated some of the alleged players in the extortion scheme were linked to B.C.-based gang Brothers Keepers. Laforce said EPS is bringing in resources from Calgary police and the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) for the new extortion investigation. Community liaison constables are also working to connect with people and encourage them to report any concerns. "Obviously, when you're dealing with an extortion, they're preying on that fear of violence," he said. "When you have somebody that's scared, and they're seeing violence that's actually occurring, how can you blame them for being scared? So what we just have to say is ... help give us some of that information so that we can follow up investigatively to build in that public safety that's needed by actually holding these people accountable." EPS is holding a town hall at the Southwood Community Hall on July 28 to give an update on the investigation and address community concerns.
