NATO focuses on the Arctic as geopolitical tensions rise: former EU Arctic ambassador
Marie-Anne Coninsx, former EU Ambassador for the Arctic, discusses an increased interest in the Arctic region, even from non-Arctic nations.
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an hour ago
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We don't have to tear down nature to 'Build Canada'
TORONTO, June 16, 2025 /CNW/ - The federal government's proposed Build Canada Act, a plan to fast-track "nation-building" development projects, from critical minerals mines and oil and gas pipelines to habitat-fragmenting highways and Arctic deep-water ports, risks damaging the nature that is at the core of Canada's economy and identity — threatening the wealth of the nation it is supposed to defend. World Wildlife Fund Canada is deeply concerned about the bill, which would allow Cabinet to override key environmental protections, such as the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the Fisheries Act, the Species at Risk Act, and the Migratory Birds Convention Act, for projects deemed in the national interest. We are also concerned that this legislation could undermine the federal government's obligations under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), including the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent. Development decisions that bypass Indigenous consultation risk perpetuating the very harms that reconciliation is meant to address. Canada is already falling behind on its biodiversity commitments. It has yet to meet the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, adopted in 2010, and recently agreed to new targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). Meanwhile, the data tell a troubling story: populations of species listed as at risk nationally by COSEWIC have declined by 59 per cent on average from 1970 to 2016. Species of global conservation concern — those assessed as "threatened" on the IUCN Red List — have declined by 42 per cent on average in Canada over the same time period. We understand the need to build infrastructure and support economic growth, particularly considering uncertain geopolitical times. But nature must be part of that future, not a casualty of it. Our wetlands, forests and grasslands are not obstacles — they are assets. They store carbon, filter water, and act as natural firebreaks. Undermining the laws that protect them risks repeating the mistakes of the past, when unchecked development led to widespread habitat loss, degraded water systems, and long-term costs to both people and wildlife. If we've learned anything from recent years of wildfire smoke-filled skies, mega storms and floods, it's that a healthy environment isn't a luxury, it's a line of defence. Now is the time to invest in nature-based solutions, creating conservation economies that strengthen communities, create jobs and help safeguard us from the impacts of climate change. We urge Parliament to take a more balanced path, one that ensures development does not come at the expense of the nature that defines and protects us. About World Wildlife Fund Canada WWF-Canada is committed to equitable and effective conservation actions that restore nature, reverse wildlife loss and fight climate change. We draw on scientific analysis and Indigenous guidance to ensure all our efforts connect to a single goal: a future where wildlife, nature and people thrive. For more information visit SOURCE World Wildlife Fund Canada View original content to download multimedia: Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
3 hours ago
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Key takeaways from grooming gangs report
A review into abuse carried out by grooming gangs in England and Wales has been published. The government asked Baroness Casey to carry out the audit, examining existing data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse, in January. Here are some of its key findings and recommendations. The report highlights flaws in data collection, which it says means it is not possible to assess the scale of the issue. It cites the Complex and Organised Child Abuse Dataset which identified around 700 recorded offences of group-based child sexual exploitation in 2023, saying this is the only figure on group-based child sexual exploitation. The report says this is highly unlikely to reflect the true scale of the issue, given this crime is under-reported and suffers from confusing and inconsistently applied definitions. One key data gap highlighted by the report is on ethnicity, which is described as "appalling" and a "major failing". It says the ethnicity of perpetrators is "shied away from" and still not recorded in two-thirds of cases, meaning it is not possible to draw conclusions at a national level. However, the report says there is enough evidence from police data in three areas - Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire - to show disproportionate numbers of men from Asian ethnic background amongst suspects for group-based child sexual exploitation. It adds that the significant number of perpetrators of Asian ethnicity identified in local reviews and high-profile prosecutions across the country also warrants further examination. The report says more effort is needed to explore why it appears perpetrators of Asian and Pakistani ethnicity are disproportionately represented in some areas. In response, the government has said it will make it a formal requirement to collect both ethnicity and nationality data for all cases of child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as commission new research into the cultural and social drivers of the issue. The review also notes a significant proportion of live cases appear to involve suspects who are non-UK nationals or claiming asylum in the UK. The government said it was bringing forward changes so anyone convicted of sexual offences would have their asylum claim rejected and be denied refugee status. Follow live updates and reaction to the report 'The abuse was almost daily' - grooming survivors share their stories Over the weekend, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer accepted the report's recommendation that there should be a full national inquiry into child sexual exploitation in England and Wales. The PM had previously dismissed calls for a national inquiry, arguing the issues had already been examined in a seven-year investigation by Prof Alexis Jay, which concluded in 2022. Instead the government commissioned Baroness Casey's review and unveiled plans for five local inquiries - to be held in Oldham and four other areas yet to be named. However, Baroness Casey said she changed her mind on the need for a national inquiry, after being "duly unimpressed" that more local councils did not volunteer to set up their own inquiries and some organisations were reluctant to talk to her own investigators. Her report recommends both a national police operation to review cases of child exploitation not acted on, as well as a national inquiry. It says this would be overseen by an Independent Commission, with full powers to compel witnesses to provide evidence, and should be time-limited and targeted. The inquiry would review cases of failures by local services to identify areas where investigations should be instigated and coordinate a series of targeted local investigations. The report also recommends tightening the law in England and Wales so adults who have sex with a child under 16 are always charged with rape, calling on society to "see children as children". Despite the age of consent being 16, it says there are too many examples of child sexual exploitation cases being dropped or downgraded from rape to lesser charges where a teenager has been "in love with" or "consented to" sex with the perpetrator. In response, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has pledged to change the law as the report recommends, as well as work with the Crown Prosecution Service and police to ensure there are safeguards for consensual teenage relationships. She also accepted a recommendation to review criminal convictions of victims of child sexual exploitation, "so that those convicted for child prostitution offences while their rapists got of scot-free will have their convictions disregarded and their criminal records expunged". Taxis have previously been identified as a way children can be at risk of sexual exploitation, both as a potential way for perpetrators to meet their victims, as well as traffic them to different locations. Taxi licenses are issued by local authorities but the report points out that some areas are much more stringent in their processes to protect children. For example, in Rotherham the council has introduced taxi cameras and a 100% pass mark requirement for safeguarding tests for drivers. However, the report says these efforts have been hindered by more lax approaches in other areas and legal loopholes which mean drivers can apply for a license anywhere in the country but then operate in another area. It calls for this loophole to be closed immediately and for more rigorous licensing standards to be introduced. Fears children at risk due to taxi driver licensing Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
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Trump tariffs live updates: US trade talks with EU, Canada in focus as G7 kicks off
US trade and tariff talks with the European Union and Canada are in focus to start the week as President Trump attends the G7 summit in Canada. A report in the German newspaper Handelsblatt on Monday hinted the EU could agree to a baseline 10% US tariff on all European Union exports, in exchange for avoiding higher tariffs on cars, medicines, and electronics. The European Commission denied that report. Meanwhile, Trump said on the first day of the G7 gathering that a trade deal with Canada was possible. "We have different concepts. I have a tariff concept. Mark has a different concept," Trump said, standing alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. "We're going to see if we can get to the bottom of it today." Canada's exports have been hit hard in Trump's trade salvos so far, as Trump has doubled duties on steel and aluminum imports to 50%. Meanwhile, Canada's auto exports to the US face 25% duties. Some products not included in the countries' existing trade agreement also face 25% levies. Trump told reporters last week that he would soon send letters to trading partners setting unilateral tariff rates, raising questions about the status of negotiations — as well as fears of a possible escalation back to his "Liberation Day" tariffs that roiled markets. Trump instituted a pause on his most punishing duties that expires July 9. The diverging signals came as the US made key progress with China, as the nations agreed to a framework and implementation plan to ease tariff and trade tensions. Trump and other US officials indicated the deal should resolve issues between the two countries on rare earth mineral exports. Trump said the US would impose a total of 55% tariffs on Chinese goods. Yahoo Finance's Ben Werschkul reports, citing a White House official, that Trump arrived at that figure by adding together an array of preexisting duties and not any new tariffs. Meanwhile last week, a federal appeals court held a decision saying his tariffs can temporarily stay in effect. The US Court of International Trade had blocked their implementation last month, deeming the method used to enact them "unlawful." Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world. With US trade talks with the European Union in focus, there's a lot at stake for the two sides as they look to complete a preliminary deal by President Trump's July 9 deadline. If no agreement is reached by July 9, the US is set to increase broad tariffs on EU imports to 50% from 10%. The EU is hoping to have that deadline extended while negotiations continue. The European trading bloc is the US's largest trading partner; in 2024, it exported $600 billion worth of goods and imported $370 billion of US products. Despite the Trump administration's tariffs, the EU's trade surplus with the US has expanded each month since January. Both imports and exports increased in April, netting a total US trade deficit of around $115 billion. President Trump originally pegged his "Liberation Day" tariff rates to trade deficits, suggesting that this metric would be important to any final proposal, though the talks have also highlighted specific sectors and other areas of cooperation. President Trump on Monday suggested he was optimistic about trade negotiations with Canada during the opening day of the G7 meeting. "I think our primary focus will be trade, and trade with Canada, and I'm sure we can work something out," he said, per Yahoo Finance Canada. "We have different concepts. I have a tariff concept. Mark has a different concept," Trump added, standing alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. "We're going to see if we can get to the bottom of it today." Trade is one of several items taking focus at the G7 gathering, with Trump's latest self-imposed tariff deadline is looming in July. Canada already faces a bevy of duties that affect its imports: 50% on steel and aluminum and 25% on foreign autos. Read more here. At Home filed for bankruptcy on Monday and said tariffs played a central role in its financial struggles. The chain of 260 stores sells home goods and has been struggling to manage its debt load for several years as the housing market slowed down and inflation-wary customers pulled back on spending. This year, tariffs proved to be a final blow, the company's CFO wrote in court documents. "The volatility of the current tariff environment came at a time when the management team was working to address the company's existing issues," CFO Jeremy Aguilar wrote. "These newly imposed tariffs and the uncertainty of ongoing U.S. trade negotiations intensified the financial pressure on the company, accelerating the need for a comprehensive solution." At Home sources a large percentage of its goods from China, and the tariff uncertainty made it hard for it to plan its key Halloween and Christmas orders ahead of time. Earlier this year, it was in talks to raise money and amend an agreement with lenders to shore up its finances but realized it needed a more "comprehensive strategy" after the new tariffs were announced. The chain is entering bankruptcy with a plan to continue operating, close some stores, and hand ownership to its lenders. Trump's Tariffs are affecting consumers beyond retail — they are also impacting aspects of everyday life. Families who would typically avoid the big amusement parks like Disney World in favor of more regional parks, which allow them to travel locally and avoid expensive flights are now saying they may stay home due to the economic uncertainty brought on by tariffs. AP reports: Read more here. CNN reports: Read more here. As President Trump's tariff deadline looms, what will happen when the countdown ends on Liberation Day 2.0? Yahoo Finance's Washington Correspondent Ben Werschkul looks into Trump's plan of action: Read more here. Despite a trade truce between the US and China last week in London, a key area remains unresolved. Export restrictions tied to national security are still being discussed, and Beijing has not committed to grant export clearance for some specialized rare earth magnets, according to two sources. Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. According to reports in the German newspaper Handlesblatt, senior Brussels negotiators are considering whether to accept US tariffs of 10% on all EU exports into the US, in hopes it will prevent higher duties on cars, drugs, and electronics. Per Reuters, EU officials said the offer would come under certain conditions and would not be permanent. Handelsblatt reported that the EU is ready to cut tariffs on US-made vehicles and may ease technical and legal hurdles to make it easier for US manufacturers to sell their cars in Europe. Reuters reports: Read more here. China reported mixed economic performance for May on Monday, as retail sales jumped while factory output slowed due to higher US tariffs. AP reports: Read more here. Thailand's commerce minister has expressed confidence that he will be able to negotiate tariffs as low as 10% with the US. Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. As part of tariff negotiations, the US has requested that Vietnam reduce the use of Chinese tech devices that are assembled in the country before exporting to America, according to several people familiar with the matter. Reuters reports: Read more here. South Korea has launched a task force to help handle tariff and non-tariff negotiations with the US. The group will manage discussions across industry and the energy sector, a statement from the Industry Ministry for South Korea revealed on Monday. Reuters reports: Read more here. Canada will host world leaders from across the globe at the G7 summit this week in Kananaskis. Among the many goals for Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney: Demonstrate he can handle US President Donald Trump, the Financial Times reports, with one Canadian official characterizing the gathering as "preparing the red carpet for Godzilla." Read more here (premium) As leaders gather this week in Canada for the G7 summit, Israel's strike on Iran is sure to be a topic of discussion among the gathering. But as CNN reports, world trade and President Donald Trump's tariffs will also be top of mind: Read more here The Trump administration's 50% steel tariffs will soon apply to consumer appliances like refrigerators and dishwasher, CNN reports: Read more here A delegation of US lawmakers and other state officials will attend the Paris Airshow this week to shore up economic partnerships with the US's allies in aerospace and aviation, Reuters reports. The group, which includes about a dozen governors — Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders among them — is expected to make the case for greater investments in US aerospace companies amid concerns the Trump administration will raise tariffs on aircraft, jet engines, and parts. Aerospace companies and airlines face 10% tariffs on imported planes and parts as part of President Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs, and the Commerce Department is looking into additional Section 232 imported goods, which could lead to higher tariffs for the industry. Read more here. In case you missed it, bank executives gathered at a Morgan Stanley conference this past week, where they shared their views on the path forward for tariffs. And as Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith noted, JPMorgan Chase (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon sounded a little more optimistic about the effect tariffs may have on the US economy over the next several months. "Maybe in July, August, September, October, you'll start to see 'did it have an effect?'" Dimon said of tariffs. "My guess is it did, hopefully not dramatic. May just make the soft landing a little bit softer as opposed to the ship go down." Dimon also guessed that tariffs will cause inflation to rise and employment to "come down a little bit." Meanwhile, clients at Citigroup's (C) global investment bank are evaluating a baseline level of tariffs of between 10% and 20%, according to Viswas Raghavan, Citigroup's head of banking. Read more here. The summer travel season is underway, and many foreign visitors are steering clear of the US amid ongoing trade tensions. Yahoo Finance's Ines Ferré reports: Read more here. With US trade talks with the European Union in focus, there's a lot at stake for the two sides as they look to complete a preliminary deal by President Trump's July 9 deadline. If no agreement is reached by July 9, the US is set to increase broad tariffs on EU imports to 50% from 10%. The EU is hoping to have that deadline extended while negotiations continue. The European trading bloc is the US's largest trading partner; in 2024, it exported $600 billion worth of goods and imported $370 billion of US products. Despite the Trump administration's tariffs, the EU's trade surplus with the US has expanded each month since January. Both imports and exports increased in April, netting a total US trade deficit of around $115 billion. President Trump originally pegged his "Liberation Day" tariff rates to trade deficits, suggesting that this metric would be important to any final proposal, though the talks have also highlighted specific sectors and other areas of cooperation. President Trump on Monday suggested he was optimistic about trade negotiations with Canada during the opening day of the G7 meeting. "I think our primary focus will be trade, and trade with Canada, and I'm sure we can work something out," he said, per Yahoo Finance Canada. "We have different concepts. I have a tariff concept. Mark has a different concept," Trump added, standing alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. "We're going to see if we can get to the bottom of it today." Trade is one of several items taking focus at the G7 gathering, with Trump's latest self-imposed tariff deadline is looming in July. Canada already faces a bevy of duties that affect its imports: 50% on steel and aluminum and 25% on foreign autos. Read more here. At Home filed for bankruptcy on Monday and said tariffs played a central role in its financial struggles. The chain of 260 stores sells home goods and has been struggling to manage its debt load for several years as the housing market slowed down and inflation-wary customers pulled back on spending. This year, tariffs proved to be a final blow, the company's CFO wrote in court documents. "The volatility of the current tariff environment came at a time when the management team was working to address the company's existing issues," CFO Jeremy Aguilar wrote. "These newly imposed tariffs and the uncertainty of ongoing U.S. trade negotiations intensified the financial pressure on the company, accelerating the need for a comprehensive solution." At Home sources a large percentage of its goods from China, and the tariff uncertainty made it hard for it to plan its key Halloween and Christmas orders ahead of time. Earlier this year, it was in talks to raise money and amend an agreement with lenders to shore up its finances but realized it needed a more "comprehensive strategy" after the new tariffs were announced. The chain is entering bankruptcy with a plan to continue operating, close some stores, and hand ownership to its lenders. Trump's Tariffs are affecting consumers beyond retail — they are also impacting aspects of everyday life. Families who would typically avoid the big amusement parks like Disney World in favor of more regional parks, which allow them to travel locally and avoid expensive flights are now saying they may stay home due to the economic uncertainty brought on by tariffs. AP reports: Read more here. CNN reports: Read more here. As President Trump's tariff deadline looms, what will happen when the countdown ends on Liberation Day 2.0? Yahoo Finance's Washington Correspondent Ben Werschkul looks into Trump's plan of action: Read more here. Despite a trade truce between the US and China last week in London, a key area remains unresolved. Export restrictions tied to national security are still being discussed, and Beijing has not committed to grant export clearance for some specialized rare earth magnets, according to two sources. Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. According to reports in the German newspaper Handlesblatt, senior Brussels negotiators are considering whether to accept US tariffs of 10% on all EU exports into the US, in hopes it will prevent higher duties on cars, drugs, and electronics. Per Reuters, EU officials said the offer would come under certain conditions and would not be permanent. Handelsblatt reported that the EU is ready to cut tariffs on US-made vehicles and may ease technical and legal hurdles to make it easier for US manufacturers to sell their cars in Europe. Reuters reports: Read more here. China reported mixed economic performance for May on Monday, as retail sales jumped while factory output slowed due to higher US tariffs. AP reports: Read more here. Thailand's commerce minister has expressed confidence that he will be able to negotiate tariffs as low as 10% with the US. Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here. As part of tariff negotiations, the US has requested that Vietnam reduce the use of Chinese tech devices that are assembled in the country before exporting to America, according to several people familiar with the matter. Reuters reports: Read more here. South Korea has launched a task force to help handle tariff and non-tariff negotiations with the US. The group will manage discussions across industry and the energy sector, a statement from the Industry Ministry for South Korea revealed on Monday. Reuters reports: Read more here. Canada will host world leaders from across the globe at the G7 summit this week in Kananaskis. Among the many goals for Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney: Demonstrate he can handle US President Donald Trump, the Financial Times reports, with one Canadian official characterizing the gathering as "preparing the red carpet for Godzilla." Read more here (premium) As leaders gather this week in Canada for the G7 summit, Israel's strike on Iran is sure to be a topic of discussion among the gathering. But as CNN reports, world trade and President Donald Trump's tariffs will also be top of mind: Read more here The Trump administration's 50% steel tariffs will soon apply to consumer appliances like refrigerators and dishwasher, CNN reports: Read more here A delegation of US lawmakers and other state officials will attend the Paris Airshow this week to shore up economic partnerships with the US's allies in aerospace and aviation, Reuters reports. The group, which includes about a dozen governors — Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders among them — is expected to make the case for greater investments in US aerospace companies amid concerns the Trump administration will raise tariffs on aircraft, jet engines, and parts. Aerospace companies and airlines face 10% tariffs on imported planes and parts as part of President Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs, and the Commerce Department is looking into additional Section 232 imported goods, which could lead to higher tariffs for the industry. Read more here. In case you missed it, bank executives gathered at a Morgan Stanley conference this past week, where they shared their views on the path forward for tariffs. And as Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith noted, JPMorgan Chase (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon sounded a little more optimistic about the effect tariffs may have on the US economy over the next several months. "Maybe in July, August, September, October, you'll start to see 'did it have an effect?'" Dimon said of tariffs. "My guess is it did, hopefully not dramatic. May just make the soft landing a little bit softer as opposed to the ship go down." Dimon also guessed that tariffs will cause inflation to rise and employment to "come down a little bit." Meanwhile, clients at Citigroup's (C) global investment bank are evaluating a baseline level of tariffs of between 10% and 20%, according to Viswas Raghavan, Citigroup's head of banking. Read more here. The summer travel season is underway, and many foreign visitors are steering clear of the US amid ongoing trade tensions. Yahoo Finance's Ines Ferré reports: Read more here. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
