Author: Andrew Rogers

China is signaling a possible change that could make travel easier for Canadians, but the rule is not active yet. Beijing has hinted that Canadian passport holders may soon be allowed to enter China for up to 30 days without a visa. The idea is under discussion, but no formal decision has been announced. The topic came up during talks in Beijing on January 16. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. After the meeting, both sides told reporters that China is actively considering a unilateral visa-free policy for Canadians. The proposal would apply to holders…

Hailee Steinfeld opened up about how she handled her husband Josh Allen’s playoff game while preparing for the Golden Globes. In her Beau Society newsletter on January 16, the actress admitted she was more than a little distracted. “The day of the [Golden] Globes, something exciting was on TV that I’m sure you were all watching,” Steinfeld wrote. “Kickoff just happened to be at the same time as glam, so I was a little (lot) distracted.” Though she could not attend the Buffalo Bills’ playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in person, Steinfeld was fully invested in watching from home.…

Tensions escalated in Minneapolis as protests over ICE enforcement actions continued, prompting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to mobilize the state National Guard to support local law enforcement. Protesters gathered in subfreezing temperatures Saturday in downtown Minneapolis and near the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, chanting and holding signs. Federal officers in riot gear faced demonstrators, with some arrests reported, though the protests largely remained peaceful. A smaller, far-right group supporting ICE also staged a protest near City Hall but was outnumbered and eventually dispersed. Authorities urged demonstrators to remain calm and peaceful. The National Guard is staged and ready to…

President Donald Trump has invited the presidents of Egypt, Turkey, and Argentina to join his newly created “Gaza Board of Peace,” a move aimed at advancing his 20-point peace plan for the region. Argentinian President Javier Milei confirmed that he had accepted the invitation, sharing the offer letter from Trump on the social media platform X. Milei described the invitation as an honour and said Argentina stands with countries confronting terrorism and promoting peace. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has also received an invitation, confirmed by Egypt’s foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty. The Egyptian president is reviewing the offer, which Trump…

The European Union will hold an emergency meeting of its ambassadors in Brussels on Sunday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on eight member countries over Greenland, officials confirmed. Trump’s plan ties the tariffs to his goal of acquiring Greenland, a Danish territory, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from European and American political leaders. Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, said the measures “will not help in ensuring security in the Arctic” and could embolden shared enemies. She added that Greenland and Denmark have made it clear the territory is not for sale. Kaja Kallas, vice…

A massive fire broke out late Saturday at a multistory shopping mall in Karachi, Pakistan, killing at least three people and injuring around a dozen others, authorities said. The blaze engulfed Gul Plaza shortly after 10 p.m. local time. Firefighters and rescue workers rushed to the scene as flames spread quickly through dozens of shops. Most shop owners had already closed their stores or left the mall when the fire began. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and police said an investigation would start once the blaze is fully under control. Many buildings in Karachi lack modern fire prevention…

The Syrian army continued its push into Kurdish-held areas in northern Syria on Saturday, despite calls from the United States to halt its advance. State media reported that troops captured the city of Tabqa, nearby dams, and the Freedom Dam, previously known as the Baath Dam, west of Raqaa. Kurdish authorities have not confirmed losing control of these strategic locations, and it remains unclear if fighting continues in some areas. For days, Syrian forces gathered near villages west of the Euphrates River and demanded that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) redeploy across the river. Skirmishes have occurred over control…

A Taiwanese reporter was detained Saturday over allegations of bribing military officers to leak information to individuals from mainland China. Authorities say the case highlights growing concerns about foreign infiltration amid heightened tensions with Beijing. Taiwan’s Qiaotou District Prosecutors’ Office said a district court ordered the detention of the journalist, surnamed Lin, along with five current and former military officers. Local media identified the reporter as Lin Chen-you of CTi TV. The network said it was unaware of case details but called for a fair judicial process, adding, “God bless Taiwan.” Allegations against journalists are rare in Taiwan, which regularly…

Northeast Ohio cities are facing a rock salt shortage during the peak of winter, forcing crews to focus on main roads and get creative with limited supplies. Cleveland Heights and University Heights are among the communities struggling to keep roads safe amid heavy snowfall. Salt storage facilities that normally hold hundreds of tons are nearly empty. Plow drivers and city officials say high demand, supply chain issues, and production delays are making it difficult to replenish stocks. Dennis Pitts, a plow driver for University Heights for 21 years, explained the approach: “We do sensible salting, which is the main streets,…

Abigail Davis Spanberger made history Saturday as Virginia’s 75th governor and the state’s first female leader. A former Democratic member of Congress and CIA operative, Spanberger took office at the state Capitol in Richmond, where suffragists once rallied for the right to vote. “We will not agree on everything,” Spanberger said during her inauguration. “But we do not have to see eye-to-eye on every issue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder on others.” Spanberger, 46, won last year’s election by 15 points. Her campaign focused on rising consumer costs, job insecurity, and limited access to health care, which she blamed on policies in…