Category World News

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has hailed several new trade agreements, pledging to further diversify Ottawa’s partners while saying he “expects” the United States to respect his country’s sovereignty.

Carney discussed the trade deals during a meeting on Thursday with provincial and territorial leaders.

“Our country is more united, ambitious and determined than it has been in decades, and it’s incumbent on all of us to seize this moment, build big things together,” Carney said, as he hailed 12 new economic and security accords reached over the last six months.

His comments come amid ongoing frictions with the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has previously pushed to make Canada a “51st state”.

Carney highlighted in particular a new agreement with China to lower trade levies. That deal prompted a rebuke last week from Trump, who threatened to impose a 100 percent tariff on Canada.

In the face of Trump’s accusations that Canada would serve as a “drop-off port” for Chinese goods, Carney clarified that Ottawa was not seeking a free-trade agreement with Beijing.

But on Thursday, he nevertheless played up the perks he said the agreement would offer to Canada’s agriculture sector.

“Part of that agreement unlocks more than $7bn in export markets for Canadian farmers, ranchers, fish harvesters and workers across our country,” Carney said.

Carney added that Ottawa would soon seek to advance “trading relationships with global giants” including India, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the South American trade bloc Mercosur.

“And we will work to renew our most important economic and security relationship with the United States through the joint review of the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement later this year,” he said, referring to the regional free trade agreement, which expires in July.

‘Respect Canadian sovereignty’

Carney’s pledge to diversify Canada’s portfolio of trade and security partners comes just eight days after he delivered an attention-grabbing speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

During the address, Carney warned that the “rules-based” international order was a fiction that was fading, replaced by “an era of great power rivalry”, where might makes right.

“We knew the story of the international rules-based order was partially false, that the strongest would exempt themselves when convenient, that trade rules were enforced asymmetrically,” Carney told the audience in Davos.

“We knew that international law applied with varying rigour depending on the identity of the accused or the victim.”

He ultimately called for the so-called “middle powers” of the world to rally together in these unpredictable times.

The speech was widely seen as a rebuke to Trump, who has launched an aggressive tariff campaign on global trading partners, including Canada.

In early January, Trump also abducted the leader of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, in what critics describe as a violation of international law.

His pledge to “run” Venezuela was followed by a series of aggressive statements towards the self-governing Danish territory of Greenland, which he threatened to seize.

Those threats have sent shudders through the NATO alliance, which counts both the US and Denmark as members.

Since before the start of his second term, Trump has also pushed to expand US control into Canada, repeatedly calling the country a “state” and its prime minister a “governor”.

In response to Carney’s speech at Davos, Trump withdrew Carney’s invitation to join his so-called Board of Peace.

Carney, however, has publicly stood by his statements, dismissing US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s claims that he “aggressively” walked back his position during a private call with Trump.

In a separate exchange on Thursday, Carney was asked about reports that US officials had met with separatists seeking independence for the oil-wealthy province of Alberta.

The Financial Times reported that State Department officials have held three meetings ​with the Alberta Prosperity Project, a group that pushes for a referendum on whether the energy-producing western province should break away from Canada.

“We expect the US administration to respect Canadian sovereignty,” Carney replied.

The United States Department of Justice has filed a criminal complaint against the man who sprayed Representative Ilhan Omar with apple cider vinegar during a news conference.

In court records filed on Wednesday and made public on Thursday, the Justice Department accused Anthony Kazmierczak of having “forcibly assaulted, opposed, impeded, intimidated and interfered” with Omar while she was performing her public duties.

The complaint included an affidavit from Derek Fossi, a special agent assigned to the Minnesota field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Fossi witnessed the incident. He described how Kazmierczak abruptly stood up and interrupted Omar while she held a town hall in her hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 27.

“Kazmierczak had a syringe in his hand, and as he continued to rapidly approach Representative Omar, he sprayed her with an initially unidentified liquid from the syringe,” Fossi said in the affidavit.

Omar had been speaking to the town hall about her outrage over the surge in federal immigration agents to the Minneapolis area, which is part of the congressional district she represents.

The administration of President Donald Trump, a Republican, has targeted the Democrat-led area in part because of its large Somali American community, of which Omar is a member.

She blamed the leadership of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and specifically Secretary Kristi Noem, for the violence that had occurred as a result of the immigration raids.

“Renee Good should be alive. Alex Pretti should still be alive,” Omar said, referring to two US citizens who were recently killed in shootings involving federal agents.

Good was shot in her car by an agent from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on January 7, while Pretti was killed when two Customs and Border Patrol Protection agents reportedly opened fire on January 24.

Omar then called for accountability from the Trump administration and reform to its “reckless and lawless” practices.

“ICE cannot be reformed. It cannot be rehabilitated. We must abolish ICE for good. And DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment,” Omar said, seconds before Kazmierczak stood from his front-row seat and sprayed her.

Fossi later explained he heard Kazmierczak say as he turned away, “She’s not resigning. You’re splitting Minnesotans apart.”

The incident caused grave concern, particularly in the immediate aftermath, when it was not clear what substance Omar had been struck with – and whether it was hazardous.

Thursday’s affidavit outlined several incidents where Kazmierczak had been critical of or appeared to threaten violence against the representative.

According to the court document, investigators interviewed a “close associate” of Kazmierczak, who overheard him saying on the phone several years ago, “Someone should kill that b****.” The interviewee allegedly told the investigators that they believed Kazmierczak was referring to Omar.

The affidavit also displayed a cartoon Kazmierczak posted onto his Facebook account criticising Omar for her role in the so-called “defund the police” movement.

Omar had called to “rebuild” the Minneapolis Police Department in the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd, a Black man whose heart stopped while an officer knelt on his neck.

A member of Congress’s progressive flank, nicknamed “The Squad”, Omar has long been a target for right-wing criticism.

President Trump, in particular, has repeatedly mocked Omar and spread false rumours about her, including suggestions of incest.

During a midterm campaign stop this week in Clive, Iowa, he questioned her patriotism and that of other immigrants.

“They have to show that they can love our country. They have to be proud. Not like Ilhan Omar,” he told a booing crowd. “Did you see that wise guy? You know, she’s always talking about, ‘The Constitution provides me with the following.’ The Constitution? She comes from a country that’s a disaster. It’s not even a country.”

It was the latest in a string of derogatory remarks Trump had made against Somalia and Omar personally.

In a December 2 cabinet meeting, for instance,  Trump used Omar as an example of the “garbage” the US immigration system was supposedly letting in.

Omar arrived in the US at age 12 as a child refugee, fleeing Somalia’s civil war. She has served as the representative for Minnesota’s 5th congressional district since 2019.

Critics have long warned of a rise in political violence in the US, and just this week, the US Capitol Police released a report saying it had probed 14,938 “concerning statements” made against Congress members in the last year alone.

That was a significant increase over the rate in 2024, when 9,474 such threats were investigated.

Since the vinegar-spraying incident, Omar held a separate news conference to denounce the “hateful rhetoric” aimed at her since she took public office.

She added that the death threats she receives increase when the president mentions her by name. But she emphasised that she remains unbowed.

Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda, who’s known for sharing the realities of life in Gaza, says she’s regained access to her TikTok. On Wednesday, she shared a video explaining that her account had been deleted, days after the platform was acquired by new investors in the US.

As US President Donald Trump struggles to navigate a series of crises – rising economic concerns, threats of war against Iran, and rising tensions over his aggressive mass deportation raids – First Lady Melania Trump is going to the movies.

The documentary film, Melania, detailing the first lady’s life over 20 days leading up to her husband’s inauguration in January 2025, promises an intimate view of a figure known for keeping a low profile.

“Hello, Mr President, congratulations,” Melania Trump says in a phone call with her husband that appears in the film’s trailer. Asked by Trump if she had watched his speech, she responds, “I did not, I will see it on the news.”

But the film has not been able to escape the controversy surrounding Trump’s presidency. As ultra-wealthy donors and tech executives seek to win favour with the White House, the film’s large budget and sizable fee for Melania Trump herself, who served as executive producer, have raised eyebrows.

Here’s what you need to know about the documentary:

What is the movie about?

The 104-minute documentary follows Melania Trump, the Slovenian-American first lady, for nearly three weeks leading up to her husband’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. Amazon MGM Studios, which is distributing the film, says that it will give viewers “unprecedented access” into Melania’s life.

Marc Beckman, the film’s producer, said in an interview this week that the first lady spearheaded the film’s creative direction.

“This is not a political film at all,” Beckman said.

The movie highlights her fashion choices, diplomatic engagements and the operations surrounding her Secret Service protection. Beckman said viewers also will see moments that capture the president’s sense of humour.

When will the movie be released in theatres?

The film will debut on Thursday at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, which Trump has asserted control over and been appointed chairman of.

Melania held a private screening at the White House on January 24, attended by about 70 people, including several business executives. The first lady said in a social media post that she was “humbled” and called the release “a historic moment”.

The film was set for release in approximately 1,600 screens worldwide on Friday, including about 1,500 in the United States. The premiere will be simulcast in 21 theatres nationwide on Thursday for invited guests to help build excitement for the launch.

What was Melania’s budget?

Amazon MGM Studios bought the rights to the film in a $40m deal, in addition to $35m for a splashy advertising campaign, including a black-and-white projection of the film’s trailer onto The Sphere in Las Vegas.

The New York Times has reported that the figure includes a related docuseries that will be released later this year. Amazon paid about $26m more than the second-highest bid for the film, which came from Disney, and the film’s advertising budget is about 10 times the size of other high-profile documentaries.

Beckman, who produced the film, oversaw the movie deal with Amazon MGM Studios, plus a follow-up documentary series set for release later this year focusing on some of Melania Trump’s priorities, including children in foster care.

How much did the first lady get paid for the movie?

Melania served as executive producer of the film, giving her substantial control over editorial decisions, and will reportedly receive 70 percent of the $40m sum herself, according to the news service AFP.

What are advance ticket sales?

Trump has urged his supporters to see the film, saying that tickets are “selling out, FAST!”

According to media outlet Puck News, the documentary is expected to earn about $5m during its opening weekend in the US and Canada, according to projections from the National Research Group (NRG).

Other figures from the market researcher Boxoffice are lower, predicting opening-weekend ticket sales of between $1 and $2 million.

Neither estimate would put the film on track to break even. No major publication has reviewed the film thus far, but the critical reception is also expected to be underwhelming.

The Guardian has reported that the chief executive of Vue, one of the largest cinema operators in the United Kingdom, said that ticket sales have so far been “soft”, with just one ticket sold for the first screening on Friday at the firm’s flagship Islington branch in London.

Across social media, the film and its PR campaign have drawn ridicule with several internet users posting screenshots showing cinemas that have sold no seats for screenings of “Melania.”

How does the film’s budget compare with other documentaries?

Analysts have compared Melania with other well-known documentaries.

In a CNN segment, polling analyst Harry Enten noted that the 2004 Michael Moore documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, about the buildup to the US invasion of Iraq, had a budget of $6m, or a little more than $10m adjusted for inflation.

Enten said that the documentary brought in about $24m over its opening weekend, about $41m adjusted for inflation.

“Melania, not anywhere close,” Enten added.

“Am I Racist?”, a satirical documentary criticising “woke” culture by right-wing political commentator Matt Walsh, made about $4.5m over the opening weekend in 2024. It went on to become the year’s highest-grossing documentary film, with a budget of just $3m.

“2016: Obama’s America”, another documentary by a right-wing figure, Dinesh D’Souza, grossed a total of $33.5m domestically after being released in 2012. The film had a budget of $2.5m, about $3.5m in inflation-adjusted dollars.

Who directed ‘Melania’?

The filmmaker Brett Ratner, known for the Rush Hour franchise, directed the film.

His involvement marked an unexpected return to filmmaking after a series of sexual assault allegations largely derailed his career in 2017. Ratner has denied those allegations.

Beckman, who is also an adviser and agent for Melania Trump, told the Los Angeles Times that Ratner was “one of the most talented directors of our lifetime” who knows “not just how to create something that’s gorgeous, but also how to reach the passions and emotions of his audience”.

The 56-year-old Ratner is also set to direct a fourth Rush Hour film for Paramount Studios, which merged with Skydance Media with the approval of the Trump administration in July.

“He was very talented,” Melania Trump told Fox. “He was the best one, and he was great to work with.”

Ratner shares producer credits with the first lady, Beckman and Fernando Sulichin of New Element Media. Filming began in December 2024.

The merger placed David Ellison, son of close Trump ally and Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, in charge of operations. Trump had reportedly urged Ellison to reboot the Rush Hour franchise.

Why is the ‘Melania’ controversial?

The documentary’s substantial price tag, compared with relatively modest box office expectations, has led many to speculate that the film was bought at an inflated price to win favour with the Trump administration.

Trump’s second term has already come under scrutiny for its close ties to powerful donors and companies, which have poured money into Trump’s lavish inauguration fund, his push to build a ballroom at the White House, and a series of crypto holdings tied to Trump and his family.

An analysis by Bloomberg found that the family generated about $1.4bn from crypto ventures during Trump’s first year back in office, which has treated the industry with a light touch and tossed out lawsuits and probes into alleged wrongdoing by prominent donors.

In that context, some see the documentary as a high-priced donation to the president known for his personalistic approach to wielding power.

Conversely, in South Africa, the country’s main cinema houses have pulled the documentary with the distributor citing “the current climate”, without elaborating, local media reported.

The South African government has strained ties with Trump’s administration, which has repeated false accusations that Pretoria is behind a “white genocide” of the Afrikaans community.

Nevertheless, Ted Hope, who worked at Amazon from 2015 to 2020 and played a central role in kickstarting the company’s film division, suggested to the New York Times that Amazon’s purchase of the film “equated with currying favour”.

France is moving closer to banning social media for users under the age of 15, citing growing concerns over young people’s mental health. The move comes as other European countries consider similar restrictions. Al Jazeera’s Aly Zein Mohamed explains.