US Jobs Report: Outside Health Care, Only 15,000 Jobs Added in June
The June jobs report looks sturdy on the surface—headline payrolls advanced by 147,000 and joblessness held at 4.1%—but a closer read exposes soft underpinnings and fresh pressure points for the US labor market. State-school staffing drove the upside surprise. Economists at Pantheon Macroeconomics call the 70,000+ jump in state and local education jobs “suspect,” warning […]
Pipeline in the Dark: Resources Minister Says Megaproject Decisions Will “Happen In Private”
Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson says Canadians will learn about “projects of national interest” only after cabinet has already signed off on them. “I never did a deal with the press,” he told reporters, stressing that negotiations “are going to happen in private.” Under the One Canadian Economy Act (Bill C-5), which received royal assent […]
German Industry Faces Worst Crisis Since WWII, Companies Say
Major German industrial companies and labor unions sent an urgent letter to Chancellor Friedrich Merz on July 3, warning that the country’s energy transition policies are threatening over one million manufacturing jobs and pushing Germany into its worst economic crisis since World War II. The letter, signed by representatives from the works councils of steel […]
Japan Chose Diplomacy Over Retaliation—and May Have Lost Leverage
While China responded to President Donald Trump’s trade offensive with immediate retaliation against US farmers, Japan chose a starkly different path that industry analysts now say may have backfired in deadlocked negotiations. Japanese automakers quietly absorbed most tariff costs rather than passing them to American consumers, a corporate decision that prevented the “sticker shock” political […]
Bolivian Congress Descends Into Violence Over Lithium Mining Contracts
Lawmakers hurled water and trash at Bolivia’s energy minister Thursday as a congressional session devolved into physical confrontations over $2 billion worth of lithium extraction agreements with foreign companies. The chaotic scene unfolded as Energy Minister Alejandro Gallardo defended controversial contracts with Chinese and Russian firms before opposition legislators aligned with former President Evo Morales. […]
CBC Host Says He Was Forced Out Over Editorial Disputes
CBC television host Travis Dhanraj announced Monday he was compelled to leave Canada’s public broadcaster after raising concerns about editorial imbalance and insufficient diversity of viewpoints within the organization. Dhanraj, host of the national news program “Canada Tonight,” announced his departure from CBC in a post on X, saying he had “no real choice but […]
Carney Orders 7.5% Cut as First Step in Multi-Year Federal Spending Trim
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne on Monday told every federal minister to “identify ambitious savings proposals” that will carve 7.5% out of program spending in the next fiscal year. The instruction launches what Ottawa is calling a comprehensive expenditure review aimed at curbing the cost of running government while freeing money for big-ticket economic projects. Champagne’s […]
Tariff Time: Trump Fires Fresh Salvo as 25% Tariff Letters Land on Allies
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the White House mailed tariff notices to “about 100” capitals at noon on Monday—many of which “never even contacted” during the 90-day negotiating pause that expires on July 9. The letters lock a 10% base rate for now but warn of a 25% snap-back on August 1. Twelve countries did […]
Alberta, Ontario Ink New Pipeline Plan Poised to Test Ottawa’s Climate Caps
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have signed twin memoranda of understanding that put a single objective front and centre: driving a new pipeline capable of moving Alberta bitumen straight to southern Ontario—and forcing Ottawa to step aside if it blocks the way.  “The world changed in November,” Smith said, referring […]
West Red Lake’s Rowan PEA Delivers 42% IRR, $125M NPV After-Tax on 5-Year Toll-Milling Plan
West Red Lake Gold Mines (TSXV: WRLG) says its Rowan project can clear a 41.9% after-tax IRR and $125.3 million after-tax NPV at a US$2,500 gold price. However, the slim resource base, short five-year mine life, and toll-milling dependence leave scant room for error if bullion stalls. The firm’s recent preliminary economic assessment models 705 […]