Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney faces a critical test on Monday when Parliament votes on his first budget, with a defeat potentially triggering a second federal election in less than a year.
Carney’s Liberals are a few seats short of a majority in the 343-seat House of Commons, meaning they will need some opposition MPs to support the budget or abstain from voting. The vote is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Eastern Time (23:45 GMT).
On paper, Carney appears safe as the left-leaning New Democrats, who lost nearly three-quarters of their seats in the April election that brought Carney to power, have indicated they will not bring him down. The party is low on funds and lacks a permanent leader.
The Globe and Mail reported on Monday that a senior Liberal source expected the government to narrowly win the vote. If it loses, Carney could either call an election or negotiate a deal with the New Democrats, whereby they would support him in exchange for increased social spending.
Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, struck a similar deal with the New Democrats that lasted two-and-a-half years.
Recent polls suggest the Liberals would retain power if an election were held now. The right-of-centre Conservative Party, which lost the April election, is facing internal divisions, with leader Pierre Poilievre due for a performance review in January.
Carney’s budget, an economic plan for the coming fiscal year, proposes doubling the fiscal deficit to counter U.S. tariffs and fund defence and housing programmes. While it includes cuts to the federal workforce, the budget does not feature the level of austerity some had feared.
Iran’s atomic energy chief says Tehran could dilute uranium enriched to 60 per cent if all international sanctions are lifted, stressing that techni...
The UK has pledged to step up engagement with Beijing after Hong Kong media tycoon and British citizen Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison, ...
Japan’s snap election has delivered a landslide victory for Sanae Takaichi, giving her a strong mandate to advance fiscal expansion and defence refo...
Japan’s ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has secured a sweeping victory in Sunday’s lower house election, cementing her autho...
Australia’s move to ban social media access for children under 16 has intensified a global debate, as governments across Europe and beyond weigh tou...
Iran’s atomic energy chief says Tehran could dilute uranium enriched to 60 per cent if all international sanctions are lifted, stressing that technical nuclear issues are being discussed alongside political matters in ongoing negotiations.
Kazakhstan says it's significantly expanded its international air connectivity last year, reopening and launching flights to 30 countries according to data released by the country’s transport authorities. By the end of 2025, Kazakhstan was operating 135 international routes.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance will travel to Italy, Armenia and Azerbaijan from 9–11 February, accompanied by Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, underscoring Washington’s push to promote peace and economic connectivity in the South Caucasus.
Double world champion Max Langenhan delivered a dominant performance to win men’s luge singles gold on Sunday (8 February), breaking the track record four consecutive times as Germany extended its grip on the sport, now winning four of the past five Olympic titles.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete said he felt conflicted about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy, sparking a public clash that highlights growing political tensions surrounding the Games.
Iran would retaliate by striking U.S. military bases across the Middle East if it comes under attack by American forces, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday (7 January), stressing that such action should not be seen as targeting the countries hosting those bases.
U.S. skiing great Lindsey Vonn underwent surgery in an Italian hospital on Sunday after her attempt to win Olympic downhill gold ended in a violent crash just seconds into the race at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
A Japanese city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival, saying growing numbers of badly behaved tourists are disrupting daily life for residents.
Several avalanches struck northern Italy on Saturday, killing at least three people, as rescue officials warned the death toll could rise with unstable conditions persisting across the Alps.
Japan’s snap election has delivered a landslide victory for Sanae Takaichi, giving her a strong mandate to advance fiscal expansion and defence reforms. But, analysts warn that inflation risks and funding challenges could complicate her agenda.
Australia’s move to ban social media access for children under 16 has intensified a global debate, as governments across Europe and beyond weigh tougher rules amid growing concerns over mental health, safety and screen addiction.
The UK has pledged to step up engagement with Beijing after Hong Kong media tycoon and British citizen Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the case resurfacing as a key issue following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent trip to Beijing.
Venezuelan authorities said they were seeking court approval to put prominent opposition politician Juan Pablo Guanipa under house arrest on Sunday, shortly after he was seized by armed men in Caracas in what his son called a kidnapping.
Hong Kong’s most prominent media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced on Monday (9 February) to a total of 20 years in prison on national security charges. The verdict covers two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count related to publishing seditious materials.
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