Author: Press Room

The long-running battle over whether to allow Pacific Ocean seabed mining took an unexpected turn Thursday when a company disclosed it had been confidentially negotiating a plan with the Trump administration to circumvent a United Nations treaty and perhaps obtain authorization from the United States to start mining in international waters.The proposal, which drew immediate protests from environmental groups and diplomats from some countries, represents a radical shift in the contentious debate over accessing deposits on the sea floor that contain copper, cobalt, manganese and other metals that are needed for electric-car batteries.The International Seabed Authority, established 30 years ago…

All aircraft flying near Ronald Reagan National Airport will now be required to broadcast their positions to air traffic controllers, the acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration told a Senate subcommittee on Thursday.The policy, which took effect on Thursday, was put in place after it was revealed that technology in an Army helicopter that collided with a passenger jet near the airport in January was turned off at the time of the deadly crash.Known as the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out, the technology broadcasts an aircraft’s position, altitude and speed, and it could have allowed air traffic controllers to better…

The “Buy Canadian” movement continues to gather momentum as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens additional tariffs aimed at devastating the Canadian economy. And companies are taking more steps to make it easier for people trying to find those products, with experts warning of the risks of “maple-washing” at the same time.“You see it on labels where it says ‘designed in Canada,’ but it’s manufactured in the United States,” said Peter Chapman, founder of SKUFood and a former Loblaw executive. “But I think consumers are at the point where they’re saying, ‘We’re looking for products that are produced in Canada.’”Whether it’s…

Andrew and Nicola Forrest-owned Akubra will open its first retail store, with more locations slated throughout the year.Akubra said the new store — at 162 Edward Street in Brisbane — was part of a broader strategy for the 149-year-old brand which was bought by the billionaires’ private investment vehicle Tattarang in November 2023.Manufactured in Kempsey on the NSW North Coast, Akubra hats are sold online and through stockists and the Tattarang-owned boots brand RM Williams.Akubra chief executive Natalie Culina said there was an opportunity to expand the iconic headwear’s retail presence “in a way that brings the true essence of…

BANGKOK: Thailand’s Cabinet on Thursday (Mar 27) approved a draft law for casinos and entertainment complexes, as the government looks to attract more tourists and build a major gaming industry. Gambling is mostly banned in Thailand apart from state-controlled horse racing, the lottery and on some sports but successive governments have pressed the case for allowing casinos to draw in more foreign visitors and create more jobs and state revenue.      But the latest draft approved by the Cabinet will significantly limit how many Thai punters can go to casinos, with an entry fee of 5,000 baht (US$150) and proof of…

New York Yankees fans appeared to have a tough day at the ballpark, and it started before first pitch and continued into the ninth inning when the team tried to close out a win over the Milwaukee Brewers during Thursday’s opening day game.Betsy Wolfe, a Broadway actress and singer, was tapped to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the game began.  Betsy Wolfe attends the Roundabout Theatre Company’s 2025 Gala at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on March 10, 2025, in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)But Wolfe’s rendition appeared to raise eyebrows for the wrong reasons as fans were quick to point…

World leaders have denounced United States President Donald Trump for unveiling a new tariff measure, this time aimed at the automobile industry. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney offered one of the most frank assessments, saying it signalled an end to the tight bonds his country and the US once enjoyed. “The old relationship we had with the United States – based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation – is over,” Carney said. “We will need to dramatically reduce our reliance on the United States. We will need to pivot our trade relationships elsewhere. And…

The Trump administration was warned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Thursday to not act against transgender military members while a federal judge’s order to block a ban on them was being appealed.The Department of Defense (DOD) led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, filed a notice to appeal Washington, D.C.-based U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes’ denial of their motion to dissolve her order that prevents the military from denying transgender people the ability to enlist in the military on Wednesday.The Biden-appointed judge presided over a hearing on March 21, when she requested the…

A conservative student at a Texas university was allegedly assaulted by a trans student wielding a bike lock as a weapon, disturbing video shows.Turning Point USA chapter President Paige Neumann took a video of the incident at the University of Texas, Dallas, Monday. The footage shows the suspect, identified by authorities as 20-year-old Liam Thanh Tam Nguyen, grabbing his bike before swinging a bike lock at the camerawoman. Nguyen, who also identifies by the name Alyssa, was arrested and booked into Collin County Jail the same day.The alleged assailant was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly…

As remediation work continued at Kelowna, B.C.’s, homeless encampment along the Okanagan Rail Trail for the second day, the city announced more sweeping changes for the tent city and the roughly 90 people sheltering there. “It’s at a point where we believe it’s time for a change to try and do better with what we have,” said Kevin Mead, bylaw services manager for the City of Kelowna.The city-designated outdoor sheltering site, north of the downtown core, will soon take up a smaller footprint.Tent sizes will be reduced from the current 12 by 12 feet to eight by eight feet and…