US and Canada say final trade agreement to be reached soon
The US and Canada on August 19 signaled that they are close to completing a comprehensive trade agreement, after President Donald Trump temporarily suspended the implementation of a new heavy tariff package, AFP reported.
We have reached an agreement with Canada," Mr. Trump said, noting this "depending on the completion of the documents.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney appeared more cautious, writing on social media that Ottawa and Washington "are currently moving towards an agreement".
The US 50% tariffs were initially expected to take effect on some Canadian commodity groups, but Mr. Trump announced last night that he would postpone it by three days for the two sides to complete negotiations.
Mr. Trump's tax policy targeting cars, steel, aluminum and forestry products has damaged the Canadian economy. Winning concessions to this tax group was Ottawa's priority in weeks of negotiations.
Germany, France and the United Nations condemn Israeli minister's "inhumane" statement about Gaza
Germany, France and the United Nations simultaneously condemned the statement of the Israeli Minister of National Security, who declared that Israel should kill "30 or 40" people each night in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, AFP reported.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz "strongly condemned the inhumane calls of Italian Minister Ben Gvir, which violate international law," German government spokesman Sebastian Hille said. "They are unacceptable.
Mr. Ben Gvir made this call in a podcast with someone who was taken hostage by Hamas in Gaza. "I think it is necessary to carry out targeted killings in Gaza every night. Kill 30 or 40 people," he said. "Not just those who are threatening you right now. These are people who should not be alive.
German Deputy Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said Ben Gvir's statement "must lead to consequences", saying sanctions are being discussed at the European level.
Many European countries have called for bloc-wide sanctions against the minister, but the proposal has not reached the necessary consensus of all 27 members of the European Union.
Ecuadorian intelligence director and 5 Americans killed in helicopter crash in Kenya
The director of Ecuador's intelligence agency and 5 US citizens were killed when a tourist helicopter crashed in central Kenya on August 19 (local time), killing all 7 people on board, local officials said.
According to the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), the accident occurred in the morning in Samburu County, north of Nairobi. The helicopter took off from the Loisaba Wildlife Sanctuary.
There were 7 people on the helicopter, including a pilot and 6 passengers," said Fredrick Kabunge, Director of the Air Accidents Investigation Department (AAID), confirming no survivors. According to Mr. Kabunge, "the helicopter was carrying tourists on a sightseeing flight.
Ecuadorian Minister of Transport Roberto Luque said that the director of the country's intelligence agency, Mr. Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife were among the victims.
A US State Department spokesman confirmed that 5 US citizens were killed in the accident, but did not disclose their identities. Spanish-language television Telemundo announced that a senior station leader in Florida, Mr. Jose Alberto Suarez, was on the flight.
