Canada's wildfires could continue into fall, says government
Canada is facing its second-worst wildfire season on record, with 7.8 million hectares already burned, and the fires could persist for weeks, accordin...
The U.S. Senate is locked in a marathon voting session over President Donald Trump’s wide-reaching budget proposal, dubbed the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' as it hangs in the balance amid internal Republican divisions and fierce Democratic opposition.
Senators are deep into a "vote-a-rama" — a legislative marathon that could stretch more than 20 hours — debating nearly 1,000 pages of proposed policy that would dramatically extend Trump-era tax breaks while slashing key welfare programs. The bill is being fast-tracked to meet Trump’s preferred 4 July deadline.
Sharp Divisions Within GOP
Despite Republicans holding a Senate majority, the party remains split over deep proposed cuts to Medicaid and other social programs. An amendment from Florida Senator Rick Scott, which would delay Medicaid cuts until 2031, has drawn sharp criticism amid estimates that it could eventually remove health coverage from up to 20 million Americans.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune attempted to downplay the criticism, arguing the timeline means changes won’t take immediate effect. However, skepticism persists, including from Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who announced his retirement after voting against opening debate on the bill. Tillis accused colleagues of betraying campaign promises and putting “raw politics” ahead of the public interest.
Musk vs. Trump
Adding fuel to the political fire, former Trump advisor and business magnate Elon Musk denounced the legislation as “insane,” threatening to form a new political party and warning Republicans not to support what he called the largest debt increase in U.S. history.
Trump responded on his Truth Social platform by calling for a review of government subsidies received by Musk’s companies, suggesting the Tesla CEO would “probably have to close up shop” without federal support.
Debt and Tax Impact
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would add $3.3 trillion to the national debt, which already stands at $36 trillion. The legislation includes $3.8 trillion in extended tax breaks, predominantly benefiting corporations and high-income earners, according to critics.
Fiscal conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus have also raised alarms. In a Monday post, the group slammed the Senate version for adding over $650 billion to the federal deficit, calling it a betrayal of GOP fiscal promises.
Legislative Hurdles Ahead
The bill narrowly advanced in the Senate over the weekend with a 51–49 procedural vote. Two Republicans joined Democrats in opposition. Democrats, who uniformly oppose the spending cuts, used a procedural maneuver to delay progress by demanding the full bill be read aloud — a process that took 16 hours.
During the full Senate vote, expected early Tuesday, Republicans can afford only three defections before Vice-President JD Vance would be called to break a tie.
If the Senate passes the bill, it returns to the House of Representatives, where leadership has tentatively scheduled a vote for Wednesday. However, hardline Republicans have signaled they may attempt to block the final version over spending disagreements.
What’s at Stake
'The One Big Beautiful Bill Act' represents a cornerstone of Trump’s second-term legislative agenda, aimed at solidifying conservative fiscal policy before the 2026 midterm elections. Yet, with intra-party fractures and external backlash mounting, the bill’s fate remains far from certain.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed confidence in the bill’s passage, stating Trump fully expects it to be on his desk by 4 July.
As debate stretches into Tuesday morning, all eyes remain on the Senate floor — and whether the president’s "beautiful bill" will survive its toughest political test yet.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck 56 kilometres east of Gorgan in northern Iran early Sunday morning, according to preliminary seismic data.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
Honduras has brought back mask mandates as COVID-19 cases and a new variant surge nationwide.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he expected Russian President Vladimir Putin to release more than 1,000 Ukrainian prisoners soon, after a trilateral meeting was set up with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Canada is facing its second-worst wildfire season on record, with 7.8 million hectares already burned, and the fires could persist for weeks, according to federal officials.
A research team led by Tsinghua University has unveiled a groundbreaking method for making organs transparent, offering the most detailed view yet of the brain’s inner workings.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in New Delhi today for a closely watched round of bilateral discussions with senior Indian leaders, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
In Bolivia's first-round presidential election, voters decisively rejected the leftist party that has ruled the country for most of the past two decades, signaling a shift toward more market-friendly policies to address the nation's economic struggles.
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