Trump claims he won’t extend global tariff pause past July 9 – National

President Donald Trump says he is not planning to extend a 90-day pause on tariffs on most nations beyond July 9, when the negotiating period he set would expire, and his administration will notify countries that the trade penalties will take effect unless there are deals with the United States. Letters will start going out … Read more

Trump calls for a deal on the war in Gaza as signs of progress emerge – National

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday pleaded for progress in ceasefire talks in the war in Gaza, calling for a deal that would halt the fighting in the 20-month-long conflict as Israel and Hamas appeared to be inching closer to an agreement. A top adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Cabinet Minister Ron Dermer, was … Read more

Russia launches biggest aerial attack since the start of war, Ukraine says – National

Russia launched its biggest aerial attack against Ukraine overnight, a Ukrainian official said Sunday, part of an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the 3-year-old war. Russia fired a total of 537 aerial weapons at Ukraine, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, Ukraine’s air … Read more

What is NATO’s new 5% defence spending pledge, and how will Canada meet it? – National

Canada joined its NATO allies on Wednesday in agreeing to a new defence spending target of five per cent of GDP — but the details are more complicated. Members of the alliance will have until 2035 to reach the new spending goal, for one thing. And the five per cent is being split into two … Read more

NATO leaders to debate proposed hike to defence spending – National

NATO leaders are meeting to debate whether to more than double the alliance’s defence spending target. Prime Minister Mark Carney is among the leaders around the table at the annual leaders’ summit in The Hague, where a proposal is being discussed to increase the target to five per cent of annual GDP, up from the … Read more

Iran ceasefire an ‘opportunity’ for Gaza peace, Palestinian state: Carney – National

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he’s hopeful the unsteady ceasefire between Iran and Israel will provide an “opportunity” for an end to hostilities in Gaza and ultimately broader Middle East peace, including a “Zionist” Palestinian state committed to Israel’s security. In an interview with CNN International that aired Tuesday ahead of the NATO summit at … Read more

NATO chief praises Trump on Iran, defence spending push in text message – National

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Tuesday praised U.S. President Donald Trump for his “decisive action” against Iran and pushing allies to boost defence spending in a text message that Trump made public and NATO confirmed was legitimate. Trump posted screenshots of the lengthy text message to his Truth Social website as he headed to Brussels … Read more

Carney to talk NATO defence spending hike as summit kicks off – National

Prime Minister Mark Carney begins a two-day stop Tuesday in the Netherlands, where NATO alliance members are prepared to decide whether to more than double the defense spending target. The main talks in The Hague won’t happen until Wednesday, with Carney first set to take part in several bilateral meetings. Carney will meet with the … Read more

Canada signs new partnership with Europe to deepen security, trade ties – National

Canada and the European Union opened a new era of transatlantic co-operation Monday with the official signing of a security and defence partnership at a joint summit in Brussels. The agreement commits Canada and Europe to collaboration on defence and is a step toward Canada participating in the continent’s massive new defence procurement program, known … Read more

Carney calls for de-escalation, ‘diplomatic solution’ after U.S. strikes on Iran – National

In the aftermath of the U.S. airstrikes on Iran Saturday, Prime Minister Mark Carney has called for a de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East and for parties to “return immediately to the negotiating table.” “Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security, and Canada has been consistently clear that Iran can never … Read more