News
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Prime Minister Mark Carney is on a whirlwind trip that will see him visit France, the UK and return home Tuesday via Nunavut. Carney is expected to talk about economic and trade ties as well as security with French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer, while also finding time to meet with King Charles. Prior to leaving Canada yesterday, Carney marched in Montreal’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and met with Quebec Premier Francois Legault.
Sticking with Carney, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. says the new Prime Minister is looking to set up a conversation with President Donald Trump “as soon as possible.” In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Ambassador Kirsten Hillman said the Canadian side has reached out to the U.S. since Carney was sworn in as prime minister on Friday and was “looking forward” to connecting with Trump. Hillman sidestepped a question on whether she believes there is anything Canada can do to avoid the reciprocal tariffs Trump is set to impose on other countries, noting a meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick last week made clear that Canada will be affected starting April 2.
In international news, the United States and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are both vowing escalation after the U.S. launched airstrikes to deter the rebels from attacking military and commercial vessels on one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors. The Houthi-run Health Ministry said U.S. strikes killed at least 53 people, including five women and two children, and wounded almost 100. On Saturday President Trump vowed to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Houthis cease their attacks, and warned that Tehran would be held “fully accountable” for their actions. The Houthis have repeatedly targeted international shipping in the Red Sea, sinking two vessels in what they call acts of solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel has been at war with Hamas.
Moving to Ukraine, US envoy Steve Witkoff said yesterday that he expected Donald Trump to speak with Vladimir Putin this week, saying that the Russian president “accepts the philosophy” of Trump’s ceasefire and peace terms. Witkoff told CNN that discussions with Putin over several hours last week were “positive” and “solution-based”. He declined to confirm when asked whether Putin’s demands included the surrender of Ukrainian forces in Kursk; international recognition of Ukrainian territory seized by Russia as Russian; limits on Ukraine’s ability to mobilize; a halt to western military aid; and a ban on foreign peacekeepers. Putin said last Thursday that he supported a truce but outlined numerous details that need to be negotiated before the deal can be completed.
Finally, The Vatican yesterday released the first photograph of the Pope in more than a month, showing Francis celebrating Mass in a hospital chapel. The photograph is taken from behind, and shows Pope Francis wearing a purple stole sitting in a wheelchair in front of an altar. Francis has not been seen publicly since he was admitted to the hospital February 14th after a bout of bronchitis that made it difficult for him to speak. Doctors soon added a diagnosis of double pneumonia and a polymicrobial infection. Doctors last week said the pontiff was no longer in critical, life-threatening condition, but they have continued to emphasize that his condition remained complex due to his age, lack of mobility and the loss of part of his lung as a young man. It’s unknown when the Pope might be released from hospital.
Sports
We’ll start with golf , where thanks to a rain delay yesterday a three hole playoff at The Players Championship tournament in Florida will take place today between Rory McIlroy and JJ Spaun. McIlroy needed two putts from 75 feet on the par-4 18th for a 4-under 68. All he could do was wait in the scoring area on Spaun, who had caught up with a marvellous chip on the par-5 16th and stood over a 30-foot putt for the win. It stopped inches short, giving Spaun a 72 to match McIlroy at 12-under 276. And with that the richest tournament in golf will be decided over three holes beginning at 9am today.
The 24-race Formula One season kicked off yesterday morning with the Australian Grand Prix and as Aussies might say, it was a cracker, mate. Mixed conditions including periods of rain threw a spanner in the works, but in the end pre-season favourite Lando Norris took home the win for MacLaren, ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes star George Russell. Four of the series’ six rookies failed to make it to the end of the race, but Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli came 4th.
It’s mid-March and that means it’s once again time for the NCAA college basketball tournament to determine which team is the best of the best south of the border. For the first time, Auburn is the consensus number one pick for the men’s tournament, while the women’s tournament isn’t so clear cut with paths for South Carolina, UConn, UCLA and Southern Cal to take the win. If you’re offered a pool sheet this week ahead of tip off, remember to pick the favourites, and Gonzaga is a school in Spokane, Washington.
Turning to soccer, legendary English team Newcastle United won their major trophy is 70 years by beating Liverpool 2-1 in the EFL Cup final. The Geordies were facing relegation as recently as November 2021, but thanks to an influx of Saudi Arabian financing and a quality manager in Eddie Howe, the side has become respectable. Liverpool is still a massive favourite to take the Premier League title, which is the real prize in English football.
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