U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Washington and Ottawa are close to reaching a trade deal, while asserting that the United States holds all the cards in the negotiations. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said Canada was working very hard to secure an agreement with the U.S., adding that the final decision rests with Washington. Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said at a press conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, that Canada remained in regular contact with the United States and was ready to negotiate in good faith to reach a trade agreement that serves the intere

At least four Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli strikes and shooting incidents in the Gaza Strip on Thursday. According to Gaza health officials, two people were killed in an attack on a car in Gaza City. A Palestinian cyclist was killed in an attack in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, while a woman died in gunfire near the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incidents. Israel has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by rearming and carrying out attacks. Hamas has rejected the allegations, accusing Israel of undermining the

At least 15 people, including 10 Nigerian soldiers, were killed in a landmine explosion and gunfire targeting a military convoy in Borno State, Nigeria. The victims also included five members of the Civilian Joint Task Force. Six soldiers were injured in the attack and were taken to hospital. According to reports, soldiers from a battalion in Gamboru were patrolling a road between Gamboru Ngala and neighbouring Cameroon on Saturday when a pickup truck struck a landmine suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram militants. Eight soldiers travelling in the vehicle were killed on the spot. The

Russian drone attacks in Ukraine early Friday killed around three people and injured several others. Two shopping centres were also targeted, while strikes on the energy grid disrupted electricity supplies to approximately 370,000 people in the country’s northwestern region. Two people were killed and 12 others injured in attacks on three districts of Kharkiv, according to local reports. In the Volyn region, near the Polish border, a drone strike on a food-processing factory killed one person and injured eight others. Authorities began restoration work on the damaged power infrastructure, an

Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson will visit China later this month, her office confirmed Thursday, as a deadline approaches for Chinese tariffs affecting Canada’s lobster and crab industries. China imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Canadian seafood in 2025 in retaliation for Canada’s tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. However, during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to China in January this year, the two countries reached an agreement under which Beijing temporarily suspended the additional tariffs until December 31, 2026. With the deadline a

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will depart on Saturday for a five-day visit to India and Uzbekistan, the U.S. State Department has announced. During his visit to India, Rubio will discuss energy cooperation and meet with government officials to exchange views on regional and global issues. According to the State Department, his itinerary includes Samarkand in Uzbekistan and Mumbai and Jamnagar in India. The visit comes as efforts to finalize a long-pending bilateral trade agreement between India and the United States have once again stalled. Officials from both countries indicated earlier

A train accident occurred in Multan district of Pakistan’s Punjab province on Tuesday, when the Peshawar-bound Rehman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah Railway Station. According to Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Hafeezullah, five people were killed and more than 40 passengers were injured in the incident. The railway’s preliminary investigation report indicated that a technical fault in a passenger coach may have caused the accident. The train was travelling at around 100 km/h when it reportedly experienced a sudden, powerful jolt near Sher Shah Station, causing sev

Elon Musk has made his latest comments on Canadian sovereignty, appearing to encourage separatist movements in three provinces. Musk, who studied at Queen’s University in Ontario and has described himself as half Canadian, wrote on his social media platform X that Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan should separate from Canada. He said he supports people who want to make their provinces independent. Musk’s comments came after the separatist Parti Québécois formed a minority government in Quebec following elections, with a promise to hold a third referendum on independence. In Alberta, resid

A military aircraft carrying 32 people, including 25 passengers and seven crew members, crashed in southwestern Nigeria on Monday. Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo said the aircraft crashed near a naval base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. Air traffic controllers had reported losing contact with military aircraft NGR 931, which departed Benin for Lagos at 9:13 a.m. local time. The crash was confirmed after repeated attempts to establish radio contact failed. Wreckage has since been located, while search and rescue operations are underway. Authorities have not immediately confirmed any fatalities. The