Pakistan’s president Asif Ali Zardari arrives in Baghdad for official visit
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Baghdad on Saturday evening for an official visit, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry confirmed....
Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney has called a snap election for April 28, saying he needs a strong public mandate to confront growing threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he accused of trying to “break” Canada.
Carney, sworn in just over a week ago, made the announcement on Sunday after receiving approval from the Governor General, King Charles’ representative in Canada.
“We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes,” Carney told reporters, citing Trump’s trade tariffs and his provocative comments suggesting Canada could be annexed as the 51st U.S. state.
“President Trump claims that Canada isn't a real country. He wants to break us so America can own us. We will not let that happen,” Carney declared.
A former central banker with no prior campaign experience, Carney took over the Liberal Party leadership two weeks ago, replacing Justin Trudeau, who stepped down earlier this year. Since then, Liberal support has rebounded in national polls.
An Angus Reid poll published Monday put the Liberals at 42%, ahead of the opposition Conservatives at 37%. A separate Leger poll showed similar momentum, with Liberals at 42% and Conservatives at 39%.
Analysts say the focus of the election has shifted from internal politics to leadership under external pressure.
“This election is now much more about leadership,” said Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs. “Trump’s pressure has changed the stakes.”
Despite the momentum, Carney faces several hurdles. Conservatives have accused him of elitism, questioned the transparency of his blind trust, and criticised him for continuing Trudeau-era spending policies.
Carney’s temperament came under scrutiny last week after he snapped at a reporter’s question about his finances, accusing them of “conflict and ill will.”
He also stumbled during a press event in Quebec, struggling to respond in French—a weakness the Conservatives may exploit. Their leader Pierre Poilievre is a fluent French speaker and seasoned political campaigner.
Still, political experts say Trump’s presence in the background may shift voters’ priorities.
“Carney’s inexperience might matter less because of the external pressure from Trump,” said Laura Stephenson, a political science professor. “Voters may give him more grace than usual.”
Carney now has five weeks to convince Canadians he’s the leader to stand up to Trump—and protect Canada’s independence.
Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets on Thursday evening to protest against the outgoing government, demanding fair elections and judicial reforms to address what they describe as widespread corruption.
The United States has suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery programme, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, after a deadly shooting at Brown University.
The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has risen to 161, after forensic analysis confirmed one more victim among the charred remains at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, more than three weeks after the blaze began, authorities said on Saturday.
US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to seek full control of Ukraine and to expand Russia’s influence in parts of Europe formerly under Soviet rule, contradicting repeated claims that Moscow poses no threat to the continent.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on 29 December in Florida, where he is expected to present a package of military options regarding Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Saturday.
Japan and five Central Asian nations have unveiled a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening critical minerals supply chains and fostering broader regional cooperation, following their first summit in Tokyo on Saturday.
The United States has proposed a potential new format for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which could include American and European representatives, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday, December 20.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari arrived in Baghdad on Saturday evening for an official visit, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry confirmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on 29 December in Florida, where he is expected to present a package of military options regarding Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Saturday.
The United States and Venezuela have been jamming GPS signals in parts of the Caribbean, raising safety concerns for civilian air and maritime traffic, as tensions between the two countries escalate, according to The New York Times.
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