‘Serious incident’ at Southend airport after small plane crashes

Businesses on Stephen Avenue in Calgary are breathing a sigh of relief after the city hit pause on repairs to a 100-year-old water main. The construction, which could have hurt sales during the busy tourist season, is now on hold—though concerns linger about the aging infrastructure.

Editor’s Note: It's a temporary win for local shops worried about losing customers to construction chaos, but the bigger issue—an old water main that still needs fixing—isn't going away. Delaying repairs might help businesses now, but it kicks the can down the road for a problem that could get worse (and more expensive) later.

Independent MP Sophie Scamps is asking for public donations to help fight a legal challenge from the Liberals over her Sydney seat, while the Reserve Bank pushes to scrap sneaky surcharges on card payments. Meanwhile, PM Albanese is gearing up for talks in Beijing—another step in thawing Australia-China relations.

Editor’s Note: This story stitches together a few threads of Aussie life—political drama, everyday costs, and big-picture diplomacy. Scamps’ crowdfunding move shows how messy election battles can get, while the RBA’s surcharge crackdown could save shoppers a few bucks. And Albanese’s China meeting? It’s a slow-motion reset of a rocky relationship that affects everything from trade to regional security. Basically, it’s another day where local gripes and global stakes collide.

President Trump mentioned he spoke with conservative commentator Dan Bongino about the fallout from the Epstein case, specifically referencing the potential departure of a deputy FBI director. Meanwhile, German industry leaders warned that new US tariffs on EU goods could harm economic growth and investment.

President Trump's relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin seems to be cooling off—at least for now. After announcing plans to send weapons to Ukraine through Europe and threatening Russia with new tariffs, Trump's famously chummy dynamic with Putin has hit a rough patch. But don't count the "bromance" out just yet—this might be a temporary setback rather than a full breakup.

Editor’s Note: Trump's shifting stance on Putin matters because their relationship has been a lightning rod for controversy—from election interference allegations to whispers about cozy backroom dealings. If Trump is genuinely distancing himself, it could signal a tougher U.S. approach to Russia. But given their history of ups and downs, this might just be another twist in a complicated saga. Either way, it’s a big deal for global diplomacy.

Paraguay’s president, Santiago Peña, just made a bold statement in support of Taiwan, calling their 68-year diplomatic relationship a strategic and values-driven alliance. At a business forum in Asunción, Peña vowed to defend the partnership "with all its strength," framing it as a matter of sovereignty and democratic principles—not just economics.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about trade—it’s a geopolitical flex. Paraguay is one of the few countries left with formal ties to Taiwan, and Peña’s strong wording signals defiance against China’s pressure to isolate the island. For Taiwan, it’s a diplomatic win; for China, another headache. And for Paraguay? A gamble that could pay off in alliances—or invite backlash.