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A senior Canadian official is threatening to cut off electricity to some 1.5 million Americans and ban the import of US-made beer and liquor as part of a potential trade war with the incoming Trump administration.

Doug Ford, the premier of the Canadian province of Ontario, suggested retaliating against possible tariffs that President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose on products from Canada.

During a meeting on Wednesday with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers, Ford predicted that there is a “100%” chance that Trump will make good on his pledge to slap a 25% tariff on all products that are imported from north of the border.

In response, Ford proposed to “cut off” millions of Americans living along the northern frontier from Ontario’s energy exports, according to Global News.

It would turn off the lights to a million-and-a-half Americans, Ford told Global News. If they come at us we have to stand up for Canadians, we have to stand up for Ontarians.

Canada is the nation’s No. 1 exporter of energy to the US, which spends around $3 billion annually for Canadian electricity, which is generated using hydropower.

Last year, Canada exported approximately 33.2 million megawatt hours of electricity to the US — the most of any country though it still accounted for less than 1% of total US energy consumption.

Ontario exports energy to border states including Michigan and New York.

Ontario government officials told Global News that Ford is mulling “escalation maneuvers” that are still being worked out.

Among the measures being discussed are restricting exports of Canadian minerals that are critical for production of electric vehicle batteries.

Ontario could also ban US companies from the province’s procurement process as well as restrict imports of American-made alcohol.

One source told the news site that the province was “deadly serious” about a possible trade war escalation despite the fact that Ontario could stand to lose up to $500 million in revenue.

Other Canadian provinces could also join in to inflict more pain on Americans, according to the report.

Shutting off its electricity is one thing, a source told Global News. Ontario and Quebec shutting off electricity is entirely another thing.

Ford told reporters that Ontario was “sending a message” to the US.

You come in and attack Ontario were going to use every tool in our toolbox to defend Ontarians and Canadians across the border, he said.

Lets hope that never comes to that point.

Trump last month vowed that one of his first acts as commander-in-chief will be to impose a sweeping 25% tariff on all products imported from Canada and Mexico.

Trump, 78, argued that the duty is necessary to get Americas northern and southern neighbors to crack down on illegal immigration and drug smuggling.

As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before, the president-elect wrote on Truth Social.

Right now a Caravan coming from Mexico, composed of thousands of people, seems to be unstoppable in its quest to come through our currently Open Border.

Earlier this week, Trump continued to troll Trudeau amid tariff talks, dubbing him governor of the Great State of Canada after purportedly joking at a private dinner about the American ally to the north becoming the 51st US state.

Trudeau pleaded with Trump not to impose the high tariff because it would kill their economy, Fox News reported.

So your country cant survive unless its ripping off the US to the tune of $100 billion? Trump reportedly responded, referring to the American trade deficit with Canada. 

The Post has sought comment from the Trump transition team.

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Politics

Labour will eliminate unauthorised sewage spillages in a decade, environment secretary says

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Labour will eliminate unauthorised sewage spillages in a decade, environment secretary says

Labour will eliminate unauthorised sewage spillages in 10 years, the environment secretary has told Sky News.

Steve Reed also pledged to halve sewage pollution from water companies by 2030 as he announced £104 billion of private investment to help the government do that.

But he told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips this “isn’t the end of our ambition”.

“Over a decade of national renewal, we’ll be able to eliminate unauthorised sewage spillages,” he said.

“But you have to have staging posts along the way, cutting it in half in five years is a dramatic improvement to the problem getting worse and worse and worse every single year.”

He said the water sector is “absolutely broken” and promised to rebuild it and reform it from “top to bottom”.

His earlier pledge to halve sewage pollution from water companies by 2030 is linked to 2024 levels.

The government said it is the first time ministers have set a clear target to reduce sewage pollution and is part of its efforts to respond to record sewage spills and rising water bills.

Ministers are also aiming to cut phosphorus – which causes harmful algae blooms – in half by 2028.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed. File pic: PA
Image:
Environment Secretary Steve Reed. File pic: PA

Mr Reed said families had watched rivers, coastlines and lakes “suffer from record levels of pollution”.

“My pledge to you: the government will halve sewage pollution from water companies by the end of the decade,” he added.

Addressing suggestions wealthier families would be charged more for their water, Mr Reed said there are already “social tariffs” and he does not think more needs to be done, as he pointed out there is help for those struggling to pay water bills.

Read more:
Why aquatic life is facing a double whammy as sewage overflows spill into rivers
Thames Water hit with largest-ever fine issued by regulator Ofwat

The announcement comes ahead of the publication of the Independent Water Commission’s landmark review into the sector on Monday morning.

The commission was established by the UK and Welsh governments as part of their joint response to failures in the industry, but ministers have already said they’ll stop short of nationalising water companies.

Mr Reed said he is eagerly awaiting the report’s publication and said he would wait to see what author Sir John Cunliffe says about Ofwat, the water regulator, following suggestions the government is considering scrapping it.

On Friday, the Environment Agency published data which showed serious pollution incidents caused by water firms increased by 60% in England last year, compared with 2023.

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Why sewage outflows are discharging into rivers

Meanwhile, the watchdog has received a record £189m to support hundreds of enforcement officers for inspections and prosecutions.

“One of the largest infrastructure projects in England’s history will clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good,” Mr Reed said.

But the Conservatives have accused the Labour government of having so far “simply copied previous Conservative government policy”.

“Labour’s water plans must also include credible proposals to improve the water system’s resilience to droughts, without placing an additional burden on bill payers and taxpayers,” shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins added.

The Rivers Trust says sewage and wastewater discharges have taken place over the weekend, amid thunderstorms in parts of the UK.

Discharges take place to prevent the system from becoming overwhelmed, with storm overflows used to release extra wastewater and rainwater into rivers and seas.

Water company Southern Water said storm releases are part of the way sewage and drainage systems across the world protect homes, schools and hospitals from flooding.

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Science

Indian Scientists Unravel the Mystery Behind Rare Aurora Over Ladakh

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Indian Scientists Unravel the Mystery Behind Rare Aurora Over Ladakh

In a village in Ladakh, there was experienced an eruption in the sky which turned the sky into red and green auroras on May 10, 2024. This has not been seen in the past 10 years. It got triggered by the fiery solar storm, called Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) which are magnetised and thrown from the Sun at a million km per hour distance. Such arruptions in masses, triggered by the filament eruptions and solar flames sped to millions of kilometer towards our planet. This kind of rare aura has been ignited from the fiery solar storm.

Indian Scientists Investigate

According to organiser, The indian scientists’ team, led by Dr. Wageesh Mishra, used the data from NASA, ESA and other ground facilities to find this auroral phenomenon at the Indian Astronomical Observatory, by applying the Flux Rope Internal State (FRIS) model in order to broaden the coronograph images. The evolving temperature, magnetic fields and structure of the Coronal Mass Ejections were mapped at the time of interplanetary journey. This is the first global study to chronicle CME thermal dynamics from the Sun to Earth, which is published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Unexpected Reheating of CMEs

In contrast to the expectations, the CMEs didn’t cool with their expansion. In fact, they heat up at their midway, absorbing heat and maintaining a constant temperature over time they impact Earth. This thermal restructuring is due to the collision of two CMEs, where the electrons release high temperatures and ions release mixed lower and higher temperatures predominantly.

Magnetic Collision Triggers Lights

Data from NASA’s Wind Spacecraft, when a solar storm reached Earth, shows that the plasma covered Earth in double flux ropes. These are twisted magnetic structures which can trigger potential geomagnetic disturbances. Such an entangled magnetic field brought auroras as far south. i.e. Ladakh, and produces a spectacular light show that was seen by the citizens of that place.

Global Impact and Research Breakthrough

This finding held significant implications for global space weather forecasting and India. Through the understanding of the interaction of CMEs’ thermal and magnetic changes, the scientists could better develop the early-warning systems for power grid issues, navigation outages and satellite disruptions.

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Politics

GENIUS Act blocks Big Tech, banks from dominating stablecoins: Circle exec

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GENIUS Act blocks Big Tech, banks from dominating stablecoins: Circle exec

GENIUS Act blocks Big Tech, banks from dominating stablecoins: Circle exec

Circle’s Dante Disparte says the GENIUS Act ensures tech giants and banks can’t dominate the stablecoin market without facing strict structural and regulatory hurdles.

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