Why the US is buying icebreakers from Finland

Adrienne MurrayBusiness reporter, HelsinkiAker Arctic TechnologyFinland leads the world when it comes to the design and construction of icebreakersAs President Donald Trump continues to insist that the US needs to own Greenland, his wider focus on the Arctic region has seen Washington order new icebreakers.For these ships, which can sail through seas covered in solid ice, the US has gone to the world expert – Finland.Temperatures are sub-zero inside Aker Arctic Technology's ice laboratory, as the scale model…

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Trump tests boundaries of his power as Minnesota pushes back

Tom BatemanBBC News, Minnesota BBC accompanies ICE observer on the lookout for agents in MinneapolisWith 1,500 troops reportedly on standby to deploy to Minnesota, tensions are rising in the state as protests continue against Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. US officials say they are targeting the "worst of the worst" but critics warn migrants with no criminal record and US citizens are being detained, too."It could be anybody," says Sunshine, as she drives around her neighbourhood, St Paul -…

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‘Europe won’t be blackmailed,’ Danish PM says in wake of Trump Greenland threats

ReutersMette Frederiksen and other European allies are standing in solidarity with Greenland, despite Trump's threat of tariffsDenmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says "Europe won't be blackmailed", as she and other European leaders continue to weigh their response to US President Donald Trump's tariff threats over Greenland.Trump says he will impose new taxes on eight US allies - Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK - in February if they oppose his proposed takeover of…

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Israel pushes back on Trump’s picks for executives on Gaza ‘Board of Peace’

ReutersIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has convened a meeting with his top advisers to discuss Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" for Gaza, after it revealed the US did not include Israel in talks to do with its creation.Netanyahu's office said it was "not coordinated with Israel and runs contrary to its policy", following Saturday's announcement of the committee's Gaza Executive Board, which includes the Turkish foreign minister and a Qatari official, as well as former-UK PM Tony Blair…

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Trump’s Greenland threats to allies are without parallel

  • Post category:World News

Faisal IslamEconomics editorGetty ImagesUS President Donald Trump's apparently coercive threat to force Western allies not to oppose his proposed annexation of Greenland, or face further damage to their trade with the US, is without both parallel and precedent.We've had some unusual and unexpected economic threats from President Trump over the past year, but I think it is safe to say this exceeds all of them, and takes us into both surreal and utterly dangerous territory.If taken at face…

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A surge in patriotism and fewer US trips

Nadine YousifSenior Canada reporterEPAIn the year since US President Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term, he has brought with him significant global shifts.Like many countries, Canada - America's closest neighbour to the north - has felt the impact and seen a change in the long-standing relationship with its close security ally and trading partner. Trump has imposed tariffs on several key Canadian sectors and has warned of more to come. He has also referred to Canada…

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Trump tariff threat over Greenland ‘unacceptable’, European leaders say

  • Post category:World News

Henri AstierandBernd Debusmann Jr,White House correspondentReutersProtesters in Greenland rallied on Saturday against any US move acquire the territoryA threat by President Donald Trump to impose fresh tariffs on eight allies opposed to his proposed takeover of Greenland has drawn condemnation from European leaders.UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the move was "completely wrong" while French President Emmanuel Macron called it "unacceptable". Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson said: "We won't let ourselves be blackmailed."The comments came after Trump announced a…

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Iran’s supreme leader blames US for protests

  • Post category:World News

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has accused the US and Donald Trump of being responsible for "casualties, damage and slander" in his country during recent protests.In a speech on Saturday, Khamenei acknowledged that thousands of people had been killed during recent unrest, "some in an inhuman, savage manner" but blamed the deaths on "seditionists".The US president has urged Iranian anti-government demonstrators to "keep protesting" and threatened military intervention if security forces kill them.Protests in Iran have claimed…

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Paracetamol is safe in pregnancy, says new evidence against Trump autism claims

  • Post category:World News

Philippa Roxby and Jim ReedHealth reportersGetty ImagesTaking paracetamol while pregnant is safe and there's no evidence it raises the risk of autism, ADHD and developmental issues in children, say experts behind a major new review.Pregnant women "should feel reassured" by the findings, they say, which contradict controversial claims from US President Donald Trump last year that paracetamol "is no good" and pregnant women should "fight like hell" not to take it.His views were criticised at the time by…

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US justice department investigates Minnesota Democrats over alleged obstruction of ICE

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ReutersCustoms and Border Patrol agents gather as protests continue outside Minneapolis' Whipple Federal Building, which has become a de-facto ICE headquartersThe US justice department is investigating two prominent Minnesota officials over alleged attempts to impede federal immigration agents, in an escalation of the Trump's administration's clash with Democrats.Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey are facing an inquiry over statements they have made about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), reports the BBC's US partner CBS.It comes as…

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Trump’s proposed credit card cap spotlights Americans’ debt. Would it help?

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Danielle KayeBusiness reporterGetty ImagesCredit card debt is an increasingly heavy burden for millions of Americans.Selena Cooper, 26, is among those dealing with the strain. A former paralegal at the Social Security Administration, she was left without a stable income when the US government shut down a few months ago. She lost her job permanently after Christmas.Cooper first missed her credit card payments in October, when her paycheques ground to a halt. Since then, she said her debt across…

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