Headline

Trump Calls Canada ‘Tariff Abuser’ After Electricity Surcharge

Published

1 year ago

March 11, 2025

President Donald Trump called Canada a “tariff abuser” Monday and claimed the United States did not need Canadian energy, after the province of Ontario imposed an electricity surcharge on three US states.

The leader of Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, said earlier Monday that it was adding a 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports to Michigan, Minnesota and New York — where it powers 1.5 million homes and businesses.

“Ontario just announced a 25% surcharge on ‘electricity,’ of all things,” Trump said, claiming the province was “not even allowed to do that.”

“Canada is a Tariff abuser, and always has been, but the United States is not going to be subsidizing Canada any longer,” he added on his Truth Social platform.

“We don’t need your Cars, we don’t need your Lumber, we don’t your Energy, and very soon, you will find that out.”

Seeking to correct alleged trade imbalances, Trump has pledged to launch “reciprocal” tariffs on all countries beginning on April 2.

He seemed to confirm he would do so in the Truth Social post, writing: “Because our Tariffs are reciprocal, we’ll just get it all back on April 2.”

Trump has repeatedly spoken about annexing Canada and thrown bilateral trade, the lifeblood of the Canadian economy, into chaos with tariff actions that have veered in various directions since he took office.

He allowed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports to take effect last Tuesday before announcing some exemptions on Thursday.

But around 62 percent of Canadian imports were still hit by the new levies, even though much of them are on energy resources facing a lower tariff of 10 percent.

On Wednesday, Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are due to take effect — which will also affect Canada.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday that “until the threat of tariffs is gone for good, Ontario will not relent.”

“Pausing some tariffs, making last-minute exemptions — it won’t cut it. We need to end the chaos once and for all. We need to sit down, work together and land a fair deal,” he told a news conference.

“Until then, Ontario will keep up the fight… That’s why today we’re moving forward with a 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports” to Minnesota, Michigan and New York, he said.

On average, the surcharge would add around $100 per month to residents’ bills in the three states, Ford added.

“Let me be clear: I will not hesitate to increase this charge. If necessary, if the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely,” he said.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz — the running mate of Democrat Kamala Harris who lost the November election to Trump — said on X that “Minnesotans struggling to pay their skyrocketing electric bill” were the “first victims of Trump’s trade war.”

“Minnesota cannot afford Trump’s billionaire-run economy. We have to put a stop to this madness,” Walz said.

Headline

Oil Prices Drop After Iran Reopens Strait Of Hormuz

Published

5 days ago

April 17, 2026

Editor

Global oil prices dropped sharply on Friday after Iran signalled that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open to commercial shipping during a temporary ceasefire in the Middle East.

Benchmark crude prices fell by more than 10 per cent, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) slipping below $85 per barrel, while Brent crude declined to about $89 per barrel.

The decline follows comments by Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, who said commercial vessels would be allowed to transit the strait for the duration of a 10-day ceasefire involving Israel and Lebanon.

The truce, which began on Thursday, is reported to include the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

Oil prices had surged above $100 per barrel in recent weeks amid heightened tensions in the region, with WTI reaching nearly $113 per barrel earlier this month and Brent climbing above $119 in late March.

Analysts say the reopening of the key shipping route has eased supply concerns in global energy markets.

Brian Therien, a senior investment strategist at Edward Jones, noted that oil futures are now trending lower, with projections suggesting prices could fall to the low $70 range by the end of the year. He added that a sustained drop in prices could help reduce inflationary pressures globally.

The Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, is one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, accounting for roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Shipping through the passage had been disrupted during the conflict due to security concerns, including threats of attacks and the presence of naval mines.

An Iranian official told Reuters that vessels moving through the strait during the ceasefire would be required to use designated safe lanes approved by Iranian authorities, while military ships would not be permitted to pass.

Despite the announcement, some shipping firms remain cautious. German carrier Hapag-Lloyd said it is still reviewing the situation before resuming operations in the area.

Meanwhile, Knut Arild Hareide of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association welcomed the development but warned that uncertainties remain, particularly regarding maritime safety, operational guidelines, and the potential risks posed by unexploded sea mines.

Headline

You Can’t Go To US With Good Feelings Since Trump Returned To Power – Sports Legend

Published

5 days ago

April 17, 2026

Editor

Germany legend, Oliver Kahn, has insisted that one cannot go to the United States with ‘good feelings’ since President Donald Trump returned to the Presidency.

Kahn stated this while speaking to Sky Sport Germany about the upcoming World Cup, which is to be held in the US, Mexico and Canada.

According to the former Bayern Munich goalkeeper, there are so many things happening in the US at the moment that are no longer compatible with ‘values’.

“There are simply so many things happening in the USA right now that are no longer compatible with our understanding of values,” Kahn said.

“One example was the war, but I don’t want to list everything Donald Trump has been doing there since he returned to the presidency.

“You can’t go there with a good feeling at the moment.”

Headline

Trump Bows To Pressure, Deletes Post Depicting Self As Jesus

Published

1 week ago

April 13, 2026

Editor

United States President, Donald Trump, has deleted a social media post that appeared to portray him as Jesus, following backlash and rising tensions with Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war.

The image, shared on Truth Social late Sunday, showed Trump as a Christ-like figure healing the sick, surrounded by American flags and eagles.

The post came shortly after the president criticised the pope for opposing the war with Iran.

By Monday morning, the image had been removed from his account. A previous link to the post now leads to a notice stating the “content is no longer available.”

Speaking later at the White House, Trump denied the interpretation of the image and said he believed it depicted him differently.

“I did post it, and I thought it was me as a doctor, and had to do with the Red Cross,” he told reporters at the White House.

He dismissed claims that the image portrayed him as Jesus, blaming the media for the narrative.

“Only the fake news” could come up with the idea that it depicted him as Jesus.

“I just heard about it, and I said, ‘How did they come up with that?’ It’s supposed to be me as a doctor making people better. And I do make people better,” he said.

The development comes amid an ongoing public disagreement between Trump and Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war.

The pope said Monday he has “no fear of the Trump administration” and would continue to speak out, despite criticism from the president, who described his stance as “terrible for foreign policy.”

Leo, the first American pope, has intensified his criticism of the war in recent days, condemning Trump’s remarks about the Iranian people as “truly unacceptable.”

(CNN)