Drake pulls historic hat trick, claiming top 3 spots on Billboard chart

Working together in a trade war

In the Second World War, a grand coalition, held together politically by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, succeeded in defeating Nazi Germany, after many bumps in the road. The rich history of this period reinforces the truism that coalitions — bringing together parties of divergent strength and interests to face together a common challenge — are fraught with many points of potential fracture.

Canada was not only a partner in the great international war effort but also fashioned a national coalition — presided over by Prime Minister Mackenzie King — necessitated by the federalist nature of our government. It worked after a fashion — conscription notwithstanding — and we emerged as a trusted friend and ally of our southern neighbour.

Oh, how times have changed. We are again faced with an existential threat; not to be compared to a world war, but serious enough given it’s posed not by a distant foe on another continent, but by the most powerful country in the world, with whom we share 8,800 kilometres of heretofore undefended border.

The unprovoked attack on Canada has been economic; tariffs, threats of tariffs, scrapped trade agreements and so forth — measures that have already had significant impact and promise to escalate. How does a country of 10 quasi-independent provinces with a national government constitutionally pre-eminent in international relations respond?

Pair of banks abandoning Brandon’s downtown

Two of Canada’s major banks are set to relocate from their longstanding downtown Brandon locations in October.

Letters, Aug. 19

Nellie McClung was a trailblazer as both a suffragette and an elected official. As an advocate of eugenics, she supported the forced sterilization of women.

IIU report concludes WPS officer’s actions reasonable in non-lethal 2024 shooting

An armed and barricaded suspect told a Facebook live video stream he “would like to be shot to death” before a Winnipeg police officer shot him with three non-lethal beanbag rounds.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba, a civilian police watchdog, on Wednesday released its final report into the Feb. 26, 2024 incident on Worthington Avenue in St. Vital.

The IIU concluded in September 2024 the officer’s actions were reasonable, but the 11-page report was on hold until the suspect’s charges were dealt with in court.

“Given the totality of the circumstances, the outcome of this incident could have ended in a much more serious manner,” then-IIU civilian director Roxanne Gagné wrote. She did not recommend criminal charges against the officer.

Carney touts ‘substantial progress’ after Trump delays tariffs for three days

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump announced late Tuesday a last-minute deal to delay new tariffs from slamming an array of Canadian products for three days.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said in response there’s still important work to do.

"Over the last number of weeks, Canada has engaged in intensive discussions with the United States to address outstanding trade issues and deliver greater certainty and real benefits for Canadian businesses, workers, farmers and families," Carney said in a statement.

He said "substantial progress" has been made and Canada is focused on "building a stronger, more independent and more competitive economy at home."

Drake pulls historic hat trick, claiming top 3 spots on Billboard chart

TORONTO - Drake once said he "started from the bottom," but this week he's occupying the entire top floor of the Billboard charts.

The Toronto rapper has rewritten music history by becoming the first artist to claim the top three spots on Billboard's top 200 album chart, the company announced Sunday.

His trilogy of albums — "Iceman," "Habibti" and "Maid of Honour" — debuted at Nos. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, on the chart dated May 30.

With "Iceman," Drake also notched his 15th No. 1 album, moving past Jay-Z for the most No. 1s among solo male and R&B/hip-hop artists, and tying him with Taylor Swift for the most No. 1s among solo artists. Only The Beatles sit ahead overall, with a record 19 No. 1 albums.