|
BBC News with Fiona MacDonald.
The Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said the trade war with the United States isn't Canada's choice, but his country is ready to retaliate after being attacked. The comments came as he announced new tariffs on U.S. imports would come into force next month in response to Washington's new 50 percent levies on Canadian imports. But he said he does so reluctantly. "Reluctantly because this trade dispute is preventing Canada and America from doing so much good that we could do together. But at the same time, we take this step confident that it is in the best interest of Canada. And that by rejecting a bad deal, by standing up for Canada, by focusing on what we can control, we will build Canada strong for all." President Vladimir Putin says Ukraine's attacks on Russia's economic infrastructure have opened a Pandora's box, a classical reference to an act that has unforeseen negative consequences. He said Russia would respond by escalating its own strikes on Ukraine's most sensitive economic sectors. "In response to this gamble, we've stepped up our attacks. As you just mentioned, we've stepped up our attacks on Ukrainian defense industry enterprises including those in Kyiv and have begun to respond to the enemy's actions against our civilian industrial and logistics facilities. The Kyiv regime has set out to damage our economy. What has it done? It's opened a Pandora's box itself." People in Kazakhstan are to vote in a snap parliamentary election, which is expected to strengthen the position of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. After sweeping constitutional changes approved in March, voters will elect members of a new one-chamber parliament. Seats are being contested by a renamed ruling party and six others, all loyal to the authorities. Ian McWilliam reports. Elections in Central Asia are generally cosmetic affairs designed to give a democratic gloss to the governing political elite. This snap election, called by Kazakhstan's president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, will be no different. Mr. Tokayev has called it a step towards a new Kazakhstan, under a new constitution and with a renamed ruling party. But no genuine opposition parties have been allowed to take part, so the new parliament will still be a rubber stamp. For most voters, the real concerns are economic and political stability. Kazakhstan is a significant oil producer and it's rich in critical minerals. But its main export routes through Russia are threatened by the war in Ukraine. Israel has carried out a drone strike in southern Syria, saying it targeted a terrorist, preparing an attack on Israeli troops in the region. Media in Damascus say several people were injured in the strike. Syria has accused Israel of flagrantly violating its sovereignty. It's the second Israeli strike in Syria this week. World news from the BBC. Officials in Tehran have said any country that joins what they call the U.S. economic war against Iran will be considered as an enemy. Tehran has previously targeted countries in the region that host the U.S. military bases, from where many attacks have been launched. Mohsen Rezaei is the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. "First, we will tell all neighboring countries and countries around the world not to join the United States in its economic war. Of course, we will first negotiate with them. We will hold talks and tell them to step aside and distance themselves from the United States. But if they do not act, we will strike. We will target that country's interests." Reports from the U.S. say representatives from the media giant Paramount will meet Californian state officials to discuss a possible deal to resolve the antitrust litigation, challenging the company's purchase of Warner Bros Discovery. The meeting was reportedly requested by Paramount. Last month, California and 11 other states launched legal action to block the proposed multi-billion-dollar merger, claiming the deal would stifle competition in film distribution and cable television. A large search and rescue operation is underway in the Bay of Bengal after a cargo vessel carrying iron ore from India to Singapore sank on Saturday. Twenty-four crew were on board when the vessel went down, about 240 nautical miles off the coast of the eastern Indian state of Odisha. Reports say so far only two have been rescued. A 5.9 magnitude earthquake has struck eastern Japan and was felt strongly in the capital Tokyo. The epicenter was in the Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of about 70 kilometers. The quake was strong enough to cause swaying in high-rise buildings around Tokyo and several people were briefly trapped in elevators. BBC News. |