Daily News Brief

Amid Lebanon's recent war, Ali Chahrour created the performance "When I Saw the Sea," spotlighting migrant workers affected by the conflict, which premiered in Beirut and aims for European stages. The play features Ethiopian domestic workers recounting their experiences of mistreatment and displacement during the violence, while Fatima Bazzi's revised work "Suffocated" reflects her own displacement and trauma from the war. Local theater, still recovering from economic challenges and war disruptions, continues to find resilience...

Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who did not seek re-election in the 2025 federal election, is eligible for over $8 million in pensions and severance, including $104,900 in severance pay and approximately $8.4 million in pension payments due to his lengthy service. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation emphasized the importance of transparency regarding politicians' compensation, highlighting that 29 MPs who lost their positions will not receive pensions, while several others, including Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and...

Donald Trump is nearing the passage of his significant tax and spending legislation, aimed at extending 2017 tax cuts and increasing federal debt, amidst Republican divisions in the House. The bill, which includes extensive tax breaks and funding for border security, could add $3.3 trillion to the US debt over the next decade, raising concerns among economists about its long-term effects on public finances. Its success is crucial for Trump’s second-term agenda and could impact...

During the University of Buffalo's commencement ceremony, graduate Jean-Paul Al-Arab caused a stir by bringing his infant son, dressed in a matching cap and gown, onto the stage, leading to a police chase. Al-Arab claimed he had received prior approval to walk with his baby, but university officials stated he violated commencement rules, which only allow graduates on stage. Despite the incident, Al-Arab will not face penalties and apologized, while the university humorously noted the...

A second "run it straight" contest, Up the Guts, has been cancelled a day after a similar event was pulled. Organiser Kimami Ngaluafe announced on social media that the scheduled event in Glen Innes on May 25 was halted after Auckland Council intervened with Barfoot & Thompson Stadium. Ngaluafe stated that while the council claimed they were not doing anything wrong, they simply disapproved of the event. Full Article

Watch: 'Turn the lights down' - how the Trump-Ramaphosa meeting took an unexpected turnDonald Trump confronted South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, supported by right-wing Afrikaner groups, who praised Trump's focus on issues like farm murders. While Trump highlighted the opposition EFF party's controversial song, Ramaphosa defended South Africa's democracy and the EFF's constitutional rights, emphasizing the need for unity in addressing national challenges. Critics argue that the Afrikaner lobby's actions reflect a lack of patriotism,...