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Canada’s Trudeau Called Out for Failing to Meet NATO Commitment

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Trudeau Called Out for Failing to Meet NATO Commitment: Getty Image

A bipartisan group of 23 senators in the United States has written to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pressing his country to meet its promise to spend 2% of GDP on defense, amid fears that major NATO allies are not doing their part.

“As we approach the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., we are concerned and profoundly disappointed that Canada’s most recent projection indicated that it will not reach its two percent commitment this decade,” the senators stated in their letter. “In 2029, Canada’s defense spending is estimated to rise to just 1.7 percent, five years after the agreed upon deadline of 2024 and still below the spending baseline.”

The unusual letter from lawmakers to a head of state comes just two months before NATO’s next annual meeting in Washington, DC, which will commemorate the alliance’s 75th anniversary as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues.

At last year’s leader-level conference, the allies decided that each member countries should devote at least 2% of its GDP to defense. The senators used the agreement to argue that Canada should follow through on its commitment.

Ted Cruz of Texas

US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas calls out Trudeau: Reuters Image

NATO will suffer

And senators, including Republicans Mitt Romney of Utah and Ted Cruz of Texas, as well as Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, cautioned that if Canada fails to meet its commitments, NATO will suffer.

“Canada will fail to meet its obligations to the Alliance, to the detriment of all NATO Allies and the free world, without immediate and meaningful action to increase defense spending,” the senators stated in their letter, CNN reports.

Canada is a founder member of the defense alliance, which currently has 32 members. The senators praised Canada’s efforts to NATO on a variety of fronts, including taking the lead in supporting its military operations and creating standards for democracy, economic resilience and human rights.

However, the senators also noted that many other countries are taking the required efforts to meet and exceed the 2% target.

“By the end of 2024, 18 NATO members will have achieved the Alliance’s goal of ensuring NATO’s ongoing military readiness. This is a historic investment in our collective security, spearheaded by NATO allies such as Poland, which has already spent more than three percent of its GDP on defense,” they said.

Canada has long been painted as a nation not carrying its weight

Canada has long been painted as a NATO nation not carrying its weight under Trudeau: Reuters Image

Trudeau has no plan to meet targets

On Thursday, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair reacted to the letter, saying that “Canada is on a very strong upward trajectory in defense spending,” adding that “we know we’ve got work to do.”

Blair did not provide a particular date for when the UK aims to meet its 2% objective. “Our job has begun, but there is a lot more to do. “It’s critical that we spend hard-earned Canadian taxpayer dollars wisely,” he stated.

Earlier this year, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that he expects Canada to “deliver on the pledge” or clarify preparations to meet the target budget. More than a dozen other NATO countries, including Canada have yet to meet the alliance’s aim.

The senators chose to write to Trudeau because, unlike other countries, Canada does not appear to have a plan in place to meet the target, according to a congressional aide. Under Trudeau’s leadership, Canada has long been portrayed as a country that isn’t doing its fair share to support NATO.

With the 75th anniversary of the 32-member alliance approaching, there appears to be renewed pressure on Canada to step up and join the 18 countries on track to fulfill the spending target by the end of the year.

Geoff Thomas is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills and deep understanding of SEO, he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Thomas' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

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Wild fire North Of Los Angeles Spreads As Authorities Evacuate 1,200 People

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GORMAN, Calif. – Authorities in Los Angeles County evacuated at least 1,200 people on Saturday as a wildfire threatened neighboring buildings and grew across thousands of acres close to a major roadway.

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Fires | AP News Image

Wild fire North Of Los Angeles Spreads As Authorities Evacuate 1,200 People

About 62 miles (100 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles, in Gorman, close to the Interstate 5 freeway, the fire known as the Post Fire raged over a vast area, burning over 3,600 acres (5.6 square miles or 14.5 square kilometers).

The Los Angeles County Fire Department reported in an 8 p.m. update that California State Park Services evacuated 1,200 individuals from the Hungry Valley recreation area near Gorman and that the fire threat had forced the closure of both Hungry Valley and the Pyramid Lake reservoir.

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Fires | AP News Image

Wild fire North Of Los Angeles Spreads As Authorities Evacuate 1,200 People

Authorities estimated that the flames started around 1:45 p.m.

The fire department reported that while aircraft battled poor visibility to halt the fire’s spread, workers were building perimeter fire lines as it moved southeast near Pyramid Lake.

Wild fires in California have been devastating. They burn through homes, forests, and communities, leaving a path of destruction. Dry conditions and high winds fuel the flames, making them unpredictable and hard to control.

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Wild Fires | AP news Image

Wild fire North Of Los Angeles Spreads As Authorities Evacuate 1,200 People

Firefighters work tirelessly, risking their lives to protect people and property. Each year, the fires seem to get worse, putting more lives at risk and costing billions in damages. It’s a grim reminder of the increasing impact of climate change. Everyone needs to take these warnings seriously and push for better fire prevention and climate action.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Abortion Pill Access Is Unchanged After The Supreme Court’s Decision.

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Washington – Millions of women in states where abortion is allowed and supporters of abortion rights won when the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rejected an attempt by anti-abortion groups to restrict access to the abortion medication mifepristone on Thursday.

Women’s access to mifepristone is still mostly dependent on a patchwork of state legislation, with just around half of states permitting complete access under conditions permitted by the federal government, notwithstanding the decision.

“Nothing changes anywhere,” Drexel University law professor David S. Cohen declared. Tomorrow will be the same as today, yesterday, and the day before this case was filed.

What Thursday’s ruling means and does not mean for abortion access is examined here.

abortion

Abortion | AP News Image

Abortion Pill Access Is Unchanged After The Supreme Court’s Decision.

The Supreme Court rendered what decision?
The judges held that the anti-abortion physicians who filed the lawsuit lacked the legal authority to challenge the Food and Drug Administration over the safety of the medication or modifications that increased its accessibility. More than twenty years ago, the FDA approved the medication, which has since confirmed its efficacy and safety.

Under the banner Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, the anti-abortion physicians contended they could have to attend to emergency room patients who take mifepristone and sustain major injuries.

Legal analysts warn that other groups or people who think they can demonstrate a stronger legal link to the medicine may attempt to file a lawsuit along similar lines even as the ruling maintains mifepristone available.

“It’s a win that the status quo is preserved but it doesn’t signal that these are now dead arguments that others aren’t going to try and pursue,” Temple University law professor Rachel Rebouche said.

Definition of mifepristone.
Because it dilates the cervix and inhibits the hormone progesterone, which is necessary to maintain a pregnancy, mifepristone is used to terminate pregnancies. Usually, it is given together with misoprostol, a second medication that makes the uterus contract. Pregnancy can be ended with a two-drug treatment for up to ten weeks.

abortion

Abortion | AP News Image

Abortion Pill Access Is Unchanged After The Supreme Court’s Decision.

For mifepristone, what does the decision mean?
Under the present FDA system permits telehealth prescribing and patient mail delivery, but mifepristone is still completely approved and available. The FDA has also allowed nurses and other medical professionals to prescribe, extending its availability to big pharmacy chains.

Because of those regulations, mifepristone prescriptions have surged and last year accounted for about two-thirds of all abortions in the United States.

Large portions of the nation are unable to access the pills due to state laws that either outlaw abortion (including medication abortion) or place unique limitations on the usage of the substance.

In what ways do state laws affect mifepristone access?
The laws in the state where a patient lives and, in the event that a state outlaws or restricts mifepristone, the actions that the state is prepared to take to circumvent them determine access in major part.

According to the FDA medicine label, about half of the United States permits mail delivery and online prescriptions for mifepristone.

Bans on abortion at all phases of pregnancy, including using mifepristone, are now in effect in 14 states. More than a dozen additional states have rules expressly restricting how it may be given, such as mandating an in-person consultation with a doctor or separate counseling regarding the possible negative effects of the medication.

The American Medical Association and other major medical groups do not endorse their actions.

Mifepristone is how safe and effective?
The Biden administration and the FDA lodged many court challenges, stressing the safety and efficacy of the medication.

According to the FDA label, 97.4% of the time, mifepristone causes a successful abortion. As with any medication, the abortion pill is not always successful; in 2.6% of cases, a surgical procedure was required to finish the abortion. Less than 1% of the time, the pregnancy proceeded.

Rarely, mifepristone can result in major side effects, including infections, severe bleeding, and other emergencies. The FDA label claims that those happen in less than 1% of all patients using the medication.

Abortion

Abortion | CNN Image

Abortion Pill Access Is Unchanged After The Supreme Court’s Decision.

How are drug abortions growing despite laws?
Despite state legislation targeting mifepristone, statistics indicate that women in those places still get the medication via mail because state officials have limited access to information on U.S. Postal Service delivery.

According to a poll released earlier this year, the Society of Family Planning estimates that by 2023, 8,000 women a month in states that prohibit abortion or impose restrictions on prescribing would be receiving the medications via mail.

Regarding mifepristone legal problems, what lies ahead?
Legal experts point out that other parties might file further cases.

The Supreme Court denied Idaho, Kansas, and Missouri’s requests to join the FDA lawsuit, although a conservative Texas judge who had first ruled against the agency let them participate in his district. Legal specialists believe that the three states, all headed by Republican attorneys general, may attempt to resurrect the lawsuit at the lower court.

Rebouche remarked, “It is not the responsibility of these doctors to demonstrate their actual connection to abortion care.” “I believe that’s the vehicle in which you could see a lawsuit come forward because they are claiming a state interest in the regulation of medication.”

SOURCE – (AP)

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Returns Key To New York City In Response To Video Of Him Attacking Singer Cassie

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NEW YORK – Following Mayor Eric Adams’ request following the publication of a video depicting the music mogul assaulting R&B singer Cassie, Sean “Diddy” Combs surrendered his key to New York City on Saturday.

Adams wrote letters to the troubled musician’s offices in New York and California on June 4, rescinding the key and requesting it be returned to City Hall. The mayor’s office says Combs returned the key. On June 10th, I saw the key delivered to the city.

combs

Combs | AP News Image

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Returns Key To New York City In Response To Video Of Him Attacking Singer Cassie

“I strongly condemn these actions and stand in solidarity with all survivors of domestic and gender-based violence,” Adams said in his letter, expressing his “deeply disturbed” by the incident.

Multiple allegations of sexual assault and a federal criminal sex-trafficking investigation that resulted in searches of Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles have destroyed his career.

combs

Combs | AP News Image

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Returns Key To New York City In Response To Video Of Him Attacking Singer Cassie

CNN broadcast surveillance video showed Combs assaulting Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel corridor in May of 2016. Combs has apologized “truly” for attacking Cassie and deemed his behavior “inexcusable.” When Cassie, real name Cassandra Ventura, sued Combs a year ago, Combs became more scrutinized. That case was settled one day after it was filed.

Adams handed Combs the keys at a ceremony last year that coincided with the release of a new record.

combs

Combs

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Returns Key To New York City In Response To Video Of Him Attacking Singer Cassie

Following the revelation of the video featuring Cassie, Howard University canceled an honorary degree given to Combs and terminated a scholarship program in his name.

Hip-hop producers and executives In the past thirty years, Combs, the creator of Bad Boy Records, has transformed musical success into a commercial empire.

Not immediately, an email to a Combs representative mentioned online was answered.

SOURCE – (AP)

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