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2love Fair chance for special needs childrenWASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. FILE - The American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Zhangjiakou, China, on Feb. 2, 2022. A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) Kiichiro Sato Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” US officials recommend encrypted messaging apps amid "Salt Typhoon" cyberattack, attributed to China, targeting AT&T, Verizon, and others. Straight Arrow News The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Trump's pick to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel was allegedly the target of cyberattack attempt by Iranian-backed hackers. Straight Arrow News Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online. Picture this: You're on vacation in a city abroad, exploring museums, tasting the local cuisine, and people-watching at cafés. Everything is going perfectly until you get a series of alerts on your phone. Someone is making fraudulent charges using your credit card, sending you into a panic. How could this have happened? Cyberattacks targeting travelers are nothing new. But as travel has increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so has the volume of hackers and cybercriminals preying upon tourists. Financial fraud is the most common form of cybercrime experienced by travelers, but surveillance via public Wi-Fi networks, social media hacking, and phishing scams are also common, according to a survey by ExpressVPN . Spokeo consulted cybersecurity sources and travel guides to determine some of the best ways to protect your phone while traveling, from using a VPN to managing secure passwords. Online attacks are not the only type of crime impacting travelers—physical theft of phones is also a threat. Phones have become such invaluable travel aids, housing our navigation tools, digital wallets, itineraries, and contacts, that having your phone stolen, lost, or compromised while abroad can be devastating. Meanwhile, traveling can make people uniquely vulnerable to both cyber and physical attacks due to common pitfalls like oversharing on social media and letting your guard down when it comes to taking risks online. Luckily, there are numerous precautions travelers can take to safeguard against cyberattacks and phone theft. TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP // Getty Images Hackers can—and do—target public Wi-Fi networks at cafés and hotels to gain access to your personal information or install malware onto your device, particularly on unsecured networks. Travelers are especially vulnerable to these types of cybersecurity breaches because they are often more reliant on public Wi-Fi than they would be in their home countries where they have more robust phone plans. This reliance on public, unsecured networks means travelers are more likely to use those networks to perform sensitive tasks like financial transfers, meaning hackers can easily gain access to banking information or other passwords. One easy way to safeguard yourself against these breaches is to use a virtual private network, or VPN, while traveling. VPNs are apps that encrypt your data and hide your location, preventing hackers from accessing personal information. An added bonus is that VPNs allow you to access websites that may be blocked or unavailable in the country you are visiting. To use a VPN, simply download a VPN app on your phone or computer, create an account, choose a server, and connect. Robert Nickelsberg // Getty Images Pickpockets, scammers, and flagrant, snatch-your-phone-right-out-of-your-hand thieves can be found pretty much everywhere. In London, for instance, a staggering 91,000 phones were reported stolen to police in 2022 , breaking down to an average of 248 per day, according to the BBC. Whether you're visiting a crowded tourist attraction or just want peace of mind, travel experts advise taking precautions to make sure your phone isn't physically stolen or compromised while traveling. There are several antitheft options to choose from. If you want a bag that will protect your phone from theft, experts recommend looking for features like slash-resistant fabric, reinforced shoulder straps, hidden zippers that can be locked, and secure attachment points, like a cross-body strap or a sturdy clip. For tethers, look for those made of tear-resistant material with a reinforced clip or ring. Lauren DeCicca // Getty Images In order for the previous tip on this list to work, "Find My Phone" must be turned on in advance, but remotely wiping your device isn't the only thing this feature allows you to do. The "Find My Phone" feature enables you to track your device, as long as it's turned on and not in airplane mode. This is particularly helpful if you misplaced your phone or left it somewhere since it can help you retrace your steps. While this feature won't show you the live location of a phone that has been turned off, it will show the phone's last known location. With "Find My Phone," you can also remotely lock your phone or enable "Lost Mode," which locks down the phone, suspends any in-phone payment methods, and displays contact information for returning the phone to you. If your phone was stolen, experts caution against taking matters into your own hands by chasing down the thief, since this could land you in a potentially dangerous situation and is unlikely to result in getting your phone back. Canva Strong passwords for important accounts help protect your information while you travel, but it's just a first step. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends creating long, unique, and complex passwords for every account and combining them with multifactor authentication to create maximum barriers to entry. If you're worried about remembering these passwords, password managers can be a vital tool for both creating and storing strong passwords. Password managers are apps that act as secure vaults for all your passwords. Some even come with a feature that allows you to temporarily delete sensitive passwords before you travel and then easily restore them once you return. Story editing by Mia Nakaji Monnier. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. KT Stock photos // ShutterstockLife Risk News Publishes December 2024 Issue

NoneThe Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has reiterated its call to the government to seriously consider its proposal of setting up a public-private committee on energy to better manage national energy, following changes in America's energy policy under the incoming Donald Trump administration. The demand and supply of energy have become increasingly important as fossil-derived fuels are blamed for causing global warming. However, Trump has announced that he will support additional fossil fuel exploration and production in order to serve industry. "We need to keep an eye on what will come after this announcement," Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the FTI, told participants on Thursday at the 2024 Petroleum Outlook Forum, jointly held by national oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc and the FTI's Petroleum Refining Industry Club. Amid this uncertainty, the Thai government needs to carefully plan the country's energy management. Authorities cannot work on this task alone, said Mr Kriengkrai. They need opinions from businesses on the government's controversial plan to pursue Thai-Cambodian talks on joint petroleum production in the overlapping claims area (OCA) that lies between the countries as well as a push for the development of a small modular reactor, a form of nuclear power technology. The FTI has been voicing concerns over high energy costs in Thailand, which will affect manufacturers' competitiveness. This is not good for the export sector, which is one of the country's key economic drivers. "The manufacturing sector would tend to employ fewer workers but consume more energy in the future," said Mr Kriengkrai. As businesses adopt more modern technologies, notably those utilised in the digital segment, they require more electricity to run their operations. The world is promoting a greater use of renewable energy, which has led to growing demand for clean electricity across various industries, including data centres and cloud services. Thailand earlier invited foreign firms specialising in data centre development to invest in the country, but these firms want the government to first clarify how it will be able to facilitate their purchases of clean power in Thailand. It is expected that the change in America's energy policy under a Trump presidency will affect Washington, DC's plan to achieve a net-zero target, a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and absorption, by 2050. But Trump's support of the oil industry should be among the factors behind a decrease in global oil price fluctuations, preventing a surge in the price of goods in the US.The case of Thanakorn Kanthee, a social media influencer who died after downing a 350-millilitre bottle of whisky for 30,000 baht on a dare at a party in Chanthaburi on Wednesday, has sparked outrage over rights violations against people living with intellectual disabilities. While justice has yet to prevail for Thanakorn, his case is one of many where people with intellectual disabilities are bullied, abused or even sexually harassed, highlighting the urgent need to protect their rights. Advocate for rights Pranee Nopphakao, 56, chairwoman of the Parents of Persons with Intelligence Disability Club in Nong Khai, is a single mother of three sons. The youngest is now 21 years old but his learning ability is on the same level as that of a 10-year-old child, she said. When he was younger, Ms Pranee's son went to school with children his age, she said. However, he was abused by his classmates and teachers for being different. Some of his classmates forced him to drink water from a toilet, she said. One teacher even wanted to force him to jump off the top of the highest staircase but a caretaker intervened before it happened, she said. She decided to homeschool the youngster to prevent the possibility of him being bullied further, she said. With love and understanding from family members, her youngest son has found his calling in digital intelligence and can live a normal life, she added. Ms Pranee said she became an advocate for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities. Based on her experiences, she found this group of people is often sexually harassed and they do not know how to fight for justice because they have limited communication ability or are forced into silence. Ms Pranee raised the case of a 22-year-old rape victim as an example. The perpetrator threatened the intellectually disabled victim not to tell anyone about the rape, otherwise she would be killed. She obeyed the order and kept to herself until her parents noticed the abnormal silence. When her parents found out what happened to their daughter, they filed a case with the police but the victim could not describe the perpetrator. In the end, a community leader told her parents to have their daughter lure the rapist to catch him red-handed, leading to his arrest, she said. "Although the rapist was finally caught, it was unacceptable the parents treated their daughter as an object and allowed that man to 'finish his businesses' with her just to arrest the criminal," she said. "It was dehumanising." Barriers and solutions Suchart Owatwannasakul, president of the Association of Parents of Persons with Intelligence Disability of Thailand, said discrimination against this group is often done by those close to them. Their families often do not pursue a legal case because of threats and coercion, he said. The problem is much more intense in the rural areas where people still have limited awareness of people with intellectual disabilities, he added. "They often view people with disabilities as 'the toys of society' and often mistreat them for fun," he said, adding it is necessary to strengthen the legal mechanism to protect people with intellectual disabilities from discrimination. At the same time, parents are advised not to hurt their children emotionally by calling them "retards" or "downies. They are also advised not to shun the children from society or overprotect them from harm. So, it is necessary to empower the parents of people with disabilities so that they can raise their children to live normally. "As a father of a child with a disability, I can say that our lives are not a failure and it is not a result of bad karma [to have a child with an intellectual disability]. "We can raise our children to have bright futures like other children," he said. Beware of friends The Empowerment of People with Disabilities Department says that as of Oct 31, there were 2,175,815 people with disabilities in Thailand, accounting for 3.29% of the total population. Among them, there were 162,747 people with mental or behavioural disability, 144,247 with intellectual disability, 16,890 with learning disability and 25,643 with autism. Nataorn Indeesri, deputy general-director of the Empowerment of People with Disabilities Department, said the department received reports on discrimination against people with disabilities but some reports often did not classify the disability types. Discrimination can range from verbal and physical abuse to bullying and sexual harassment. Ms Nataorn said people with disabilities do not know when they are sexually harassed because they have limited cognition. "The harassment may escalate if the victims are teenagers as their body starts to have sexual feelings due to their reproductive hormones. "Teenagers are full of curiosity," she added. To prevent sexual harassment, she said it is necessary to educate parents and guardians about what level of physical contact is considered harassment and how people with disabilities can protect themselves. Parents and guardians need to provide a safe space so sexual harassment victims can freely tell about what happened to them. They need to be aware and watch out for any abnormal behaviour, especially when the children are unusually quiet. Ms Nataorn said schools are one of the places where bullying happens and it is often carried out by friends, teachers and even parents. As such, schools must educate people about how to approach situations involving people with disabilities during meetings. "Teachers need to be educated on how to manage bullying and how to protect these special needs students so that other children can study with students with intellectual disabilities," Ms Nataorn added. Schools should be inclusive spaces that harness socialisation skills so schools should enrol these children to study among other children because it will help to harness socialisation skills on knowing how to interact with other people, she said. "By segregating them from learning with other children will cut them off from learning life skills that they need to be independent. It also cuts them off from knowing what they are capable of," she added. Empower parents Ms Nataorn also said parents of children with mental and intellectual disabilities have the hardest time accepting the reality of their children because they believe their children are considered "inferior" when compared to others. So, it is necessary to empower parents so they can believe in their children's potential as their potential can be unlocked through learning, she said. Once they accept their children as what they are, parents should register the children with the authorities so that the children can receive the necessary support from the government, such as medical welfare, employment, education and socialisation. Ms Nataorn added the Department of People with Disabilities Empowerment is always there to support people with disabilities. "Children or people with this kind of disability have low registration with us because it requires a lengthy medical process to determine their disability so many parents give up along the process," she said. "We need to empower parents to let their children register, which will help them gain access to welfare and protection, leading them to be stronger in the future."

Missouri Republican lawmaker wants to require schools to display the Ten Commandments

Israeli troops forcibly remove staff and patients from Gaza hospital, officials sayIn just a few days, Ukraine and Russia appear to have significantly upped their weapons capabilities. First, Washington gave Kyiv long-awaited approval to use Western-made longer-range missiles on targets inside Russian territory. Then US President Joe Biden agreed to give Ukraine anti-personnel land mines, a step that could help slow Russian advances in its east. This decision has drawn condemnation from human rights groups over the risks posed to civilians. The flurry of last-minute policy changes comes two months before Donald Trump, who has vowed to swiftly end the war, is set to take over the White House. Late on Thursday, Kyiv claimed Russia used an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time. Russian President Vladimir Putin denied this, saying his country had fired a new mid-range ballistic missile. Experts say Russia and Ukraine will be using the coming months to secure the strongest position they can before any Trump-negotiated talks. What is the significance of using ICBMs? On Thursday, the Ukrainian government accused Russian forces of firing an ICBM into its territory. "All the characteristics – speed, altitude – are [of an] intercontinental ballistic [missile]. An expert [investigation] is currently underway," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video statement. But Mr Putin later rejected this, instead saying Russia's military had fired a new hypersonic, mid-range ballistic missile at a Ukrainian military facility. These weapons are capable of carrying a nuclear warhead thousands of kilometres but a Ukrainian air force source told AFP it was "obvious" this weapon did not carry an atomic charge. Oslo University missile technology and nuclear strategy researcher Fabian Hoffmann said the range of the missile was of little importance. But he said the technology inside the so-called Oreshnik missile was far more menacing. "The fact that it carried a MIRVed [Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle] payload is much more significant for signalling purposes and is the reason Russia opted for it," he said. "This payload is exclusively associated with nuclear-capable missiles." What are anti-personnel mines? Anti-personnel mines are exactly what the name says. These are designed to target people, not machines. Michael Shoebridge, director and founder of Strategic Analysis Australia, said they often look like tin cans or small discs. "Land mines target things like armoured vehicles and they're much bigger," he told the ABC. "But these mines that the Americans are supplying will be triggered by someone stepping on them or by proximity of a person." The US has been providing Ukraine with anti-tank mines throughout the war. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the anti-personnel mines were now needed to help Ukraine stall Russian progress on the battlefield. Moscow's forces are moving in smaller ground units on the front lines rather than in more heavily protected armoured vehicles. Ukraine has "a need for things that can help slow down that effort," Mr Austin said during a trip to Laos. The decision to provide the mines has been criticised by humanitarian organisations. An international treaty agreed to by 164 state parties, 133 countries prohibits the use of anti-personnel mines. The US and Russia are not signatories, but Ukraine is. Amnesty International called the US decision "reckless" and a "deeply disappointing setback". Human Rights Watch director Mary Wareham said the vast majority of people killed and maimed by anti-personnel mines were civilians. "About a third of casualises are children," she told ABC News Channel. "Due to their indiscriminate nature, they cannot distinguish a civilian from a soldier." She said the types of mine the US intended to send were "old obsolete stocks", which raised questions about whether they would function as intended. The US said it would provide non-persistent mines, different to what Russia had been using. They are said to be electrically fused and powered by batteries. Once the battery runs out, the landmines will not detonate, and they can become inert within four hours to two weeks. How is Ukraine using ATACMS? It didn't take long for Ukraine to unleash its first strikes on Russia using longer range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS). Within 24 hours of the US lifting its restriction on attacking Russia , Ukraine fired six ATACMS into the Bryansk region, hitting an ammunition depot. The Bryansk region of western Russia is about 112 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. ATACMS have a range of up to 300km, and can carry 225 kilogram fragmentation warheads designed to engage high-value targets such as air fields and missile sites. "ATACMS are powerful ballistic missiles, so they fly extremely high, very fast, and then come down extraordinarily fast making them hard to intercept," Mr Shoebridge said. Kyiv has wanted the long-range capabilities to counter glide-bomb attacks from Russian airfields, and to strike military command and control hubs, and target fuel and weapons depots. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington think-tank, has estimated about 250 Russian military "objects" were in reach of ATACMS. ATACMS can be fitted with two types of warheads. There is a single 225kg high explosive variant, which would be used to hit one large target and cause a lot of damage. The other is a cluster munition, which drops hundreds of bomblets and could be used against concentrations of troops. "They disperse a bit like dandelion seeds and can strike a broader area," Mr Shoebridge said. ATACMS are the longest-range missiles that Washington has provided Ukraine, but Kyiv also has access to long-range Storm Shadows missiles, developed by France and the UK. According to several British media outlets, citing sources familiar with the matter, they were also used in Russia for the first time this week. Storm Shadows are low-flying missiles, which can carry a payload up to 400kg. Mr Shoebridge said depending on the payload, it could reach a range of 500km. Will any of it make a difference? The war reached its 1,000-day milestone on Tuesday. And recently, it has largely been going Russia's way with its bigger army slowly pushing Ukraine's forces backward in the eastern Donetsk region. Ukrainian civilians have also been facing increasing large-scale Russian drone and missile barrages. Mr Shoebridge said given the state of the war, Ukraine needed the weapons approvals from the US more than a year ago. "I think President Biden is acting a bit like a primary school student who had a year to do a whole bunch of homework, and is now trying to get it all done in the last couple of weeks," he said. Jennifer Kavanagh, director of military analysis at Defense Priorities, said ATACMS were not the answer to change the course of the war. "To really impose costs on Russia, Ukraine would need large stockpiles of ATACMS, which it doesn't have and won't receive because the United States' own supplies are limited," she told AP. "The biggest obstacle Ukraine faces is a lack of trained and ready personnel, a challenge that neither the United States nor its European allies can solve and that all the weapons in the world won't overcome." With the missiles being in short supply, Ukraine would need to be strategic in how they are used. Russia's Kursk region would likely be a priority, Mr Shoebridge said. About 10,000 North Korean troops recently arrived in Kursk to help Moscow retake territory Ukraine has held since August. Russia had been suffering from some of its highest rates of casualties in months, and there were signs their Soviet weapons stockpiles were "massively depleted," Mr Shoebridge said. "Russia's ability to sustain the tempo of the war is really in doubt, but Ukraine is the smaller military, and it's got similar manpower problems," he said. "Both sides will actually be wanting to establish their greatest position of strength right now. "They both realise that if there's going to be some kind of negotiation to end the war, they want to do so from the strongest position they can end."Young men swung to the right for Trump after a campaign dominated by masculine appeals

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday he had an “excellent conversation” with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club after the president-elect's threat to impose significant tariffs on two of America’s leading trade partners raised alarms in Ottawa and Mexico City . It was unclear, as Trudeau headed back to Canada from Florida, whether the conversation had alleviated Trump’s concerns. A person familiar with the details of the leaders' hastily arranged meeting Friday night said it was a “positive wide-ranging dinner that lasted three hours.” The official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said topics included trade, border security, fentanyl, defense, Ukraine, NATO, China, the Mideast and pipelines, as well as the the Group of Seven meeting in Canada next year. The Republican president-elect has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders when he takes office in January. As he was leaving his West Palm Beach hotel, Trudeau stopped briefly to answer a reporter’s question about the dinner meeting, saying it was "an excellent conversation." Trump’s transition team did not respond to questions about what the leaders had discussed. Trump, during his first term as president, once called Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest,” but it was the prime minister who was the first G7 leader to visit Trump since the Nov. 5 election. "Tariffs are a crucial issue for Canada and a bold move was in order. Perhaps it was a risk, but a risk worth taking,” Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Among those at the dinner were Howard Lutnick, Trump's pick for commerce secretary; North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, in line to lead the Interior Department; and Mike Waltz, Trump's choice to be his national security adviser. Accompanying Trudeau were Canada's public safety minister, Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security, and Katie Telford, Trudeau's chief of staff. Trudeau had said earlier Friday that he would resolve the tariffs issue by talking to Trump. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said a day earlier after speaking with Trump that she is confident a tariff war with the United States will be averted. Trudeau said Trump got elected because he promised to bring down the cost of groceries but now he's talking about adding 25% to the cost of all kinds of products including potatoes from Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. “It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about it,” Trudeau said before his leaving for Florida. “Our responsibility is to point out that he would not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, but he would actually be raising prices for Americans citizens as well and hurting American industry and business,” he added. To Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, Trump "doesn’t need convincing that new tariffs on Canadian products would not be in U.S. interests. He knows that, but cannot say it because it would detract from what he has said publicly. His goal is to project the image that he gets action when he talks.” Those tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his first term. Trudeau noted they were able to successfully renegotiate the deal, which he calls a “win win” for both countries. Trump made the tariff threat Monday while citing an influx of migrants entering the country illegally, even though the numbers at the Canadian border pale in comparison to those at the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump also spoke about fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, even though seizures from the Canadian border are few in comparison to the Mexican border. Canadian officials say lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair but say they are ready to make new investments in border security. When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US $2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. ___ Gillies reported from Toronto.

Adjacant to the River Churn, Cowley Manor is surrounded by 55 acres of parkland (look out for llamas grazing) in . Woods, meadows, natural springs and a lake create a magical setting. In fact, Lewis Carroll was inspired by the hotel’s grounds when writing . The of Cheltenham is a 15-minute drive north, while the quintessentially English villages of Burton-on-the-Water, Upper Slaughter and Bibury, as well as the bustling market town Stow-on-the-World, are a mere 20 minutes away. Cowley Manor offers a base for exploring the , while being able to escape the crowds when you bed down at night. Drive 50 minutes drive east and you’ll land at the Cotswolds hotspots of Soho Farmhouse, Chipping Norton, the Daylesford empire and Jeremy Clarkson’s (be prepared for a two-hour queue). Built in the 17th century, Cowley Manor was once owned by the kings of England. A refuge during wartime, it became a hotel two decades ago before the slick French Experimental group took over in 2022 and overhauled the interiors. There are on-the-nose nods to – think Queen of Hearts print dining chairs, miniature doors and checkerboard carpets and wallpapers. Maximalists will love the rattan textures, coloured glossy lacquer and lava stone set against original features. The hotel has a relaxed but exclusive atmosphere, reflected in the stylish and sophisticated interiors. Bold details are balanced with comfort – rugs are soft under feet while the bar and lounge have plush armchairs and sofas to sink into in the evening. There’s even a games room with a pool table, chess sets and draughts tables that creates a communal vibe. Check in is smooth (your bags are in the room before you are) and check out is equally effortless. Polite but not intrusive, staff are always close by to assist, whether it’s serving drinks to guests in the deckchairs across the lawn or assisting with spa treatments. While breakfast service is attentive, dinner was not plain sailing (the starters came out before the long-forgotton bottle of wine) and room service was a tad too long. The hotel’s 36 rooms are in the main house and the converted stable block. Entry level rooms are spacious (some come with an outdoor terrace), while families are well catered for with space-saving sofa bunk beds. The treehouse rooms are spread across three floors and a mezzanine, which makes them ideal for a longer stay. All rooms have a well-stocked mini bar, La Bruket toiletries and Nespresso coffee machines. The bathrooms are the real standout, with large tubs for soaking, rainforest showers and colourful glossy surfaces are as inviting as the expansive four-poster beds. Patterned headboards and checkerboard motifs are repeated in the rooms, with houseplants and natural rattan pieces creating an airy feel. The suites are vast and look out onto a romantic view of the manor’s gardens, complete with terrace balconies, sun loungers and bathrooms bigger than your average London living room. Brunswick House chef Jackson Boxer heads up the kitchen at the award-winning restaurant, where the dining hall’s interiors are as much of a draw as the food. Original dark wood panelling has been restored, with 70s-style shiny rounded tables, geometric cushioning and gentle lighting thanks to low-hanging tasseled lamps. Inspired by the local area along with salutes to French cuisine, caviar and crisps are served with old spot croquettes and moorish honey brioches. Mains span classics like lobster and chili taglioni, fresh trout from nearby Bibury and indulgent Hereford sirloin steak. Breakfast on the manor’s terrace combines superb food with views across the lake. Granola bowls and local jams sit alongside smoked fish, meats and pastries on the continental buffet – or opt for Boxer’s elevated spin on a full English breakfast. Experimental is famous for its cocktails, so the Cowley Manor bar has a lot to live up to. The mood-lit space is striking, with a huge enamelled lava-stone bright blue bar, matching low tables and patterned armchairs and stools. There’s a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights, but the hotel is yet to match the lively atmosphere of the group’s European outposts. The cocktails try to bring the party spirit, with the Saint Germain des Pres and Brandy Sherbert packing a punch. Cowley Manor’s outdoor pool is heated all day, year-round (meaning even a January swim is possible). Tucked away behind concrete walls that shield against wind, the 15m pool is flanked by attractive white scallop umbrellas, sunbeds and a bar. There’s also a 17m indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling glass that gives the sense that you’re swimming in the middle of a forest. There are both adults-only and kids hours at the pool. The serene spa has four treatment rooms offering facials, body wraps, massages, hydra-lifts and more, as well as a gym, relaxation area, steam room, rainfall showers and a sauna. The hotel makes the most of its grounds – in summer you can swim in the lake or watch open air cinema screenings on the lawn, while audio tours are available year-round to enjoy as you wander the gardens. There are accessible ground floor rooms and wheelchair access to most public areas on the ground floor. Unfortunately, the spa and pools are not wheelchair accessible. Dogs and cats are allowed in rooms with a £25 per pet/night fee, but are not accepted in the restaurants and bars. Check in from 3pm; check out by 11am. Yes. There are family rooms and suites, plus baby cots, bunk beds, open air cinema evenings and children’s hours in the pool. The outdoor activities – be it the heated pool or the idyllic 55 acres to explore. Couples and families looking for a quiet yet stylish countryside break. : Party people – you won’t find the same clientele here as you would at Soho Farmhouse. The literary-inspired dining hall. Cowley, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 9NL United Kingdom +44 (0) 1242 870900Stock market today: Tech stocks and AI pull Wall Street to more records