TORONTO — On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney likened Alberta’s upcoming independence vote to the Brexit situation, describing it as a potentially “perilous gamble.”

Alberta’s Premier, Danielle Smith, recently announced that on October 19, the province, known for its rich oil reserves, will decide whether to remain part of Canada or initiate constitutional measures for a binding referendum on secession.

Drawing from his Brexit experience, Carney, who served as the governor of the Bank of England during the UK’s 2016 decision to exit the European Union, shared insights from guiding the central bank through that turbulent period.

“I witnessed the aftermath in the UK when the sentiment was, ‘Vote for this, it will be straightforward, and then we’ll negotiate,'” Carney explained. “A decade later, they’re still grappling with unintended consequences that voters didn’t anticipate but are now facing.”

Notably, Smith’s party did not include any mention of a referendum in their platform during the last provincial election.

Carney said the vote is not helpful when he’s trying to attract investment to Canada. He suggested it is undemocratic.

“Is it the democratic will of Albertans? Did they vote for this in the last provincial election? No, they didn’t. It wasn’t on the ballot paper,” Carney said.

Smith has said she supports Alberta remaining in Canada. Some have compared her stance to the one of Britain’s then-Prime Minister David Cameron ahead of the Brexit referendum, which he embraced as a way to manage a vocal faction of his ruling party while not wanting the U.K. to leave the European Union.

Carney is working on getting a new oil pipeline built from Alberta to Canada’s Pacific coast. Many Albertans have long complained that Ottawa hasn’t done enough to get Alberta’s vast oil reserves to Asian markets.

“We have to be very careful about this. There’s a very strong positive case for Canada, a strong Alberta in a united Canada,” Carney said. “I look forward to making that case with many, many other Albertans and Canadians over the course of the next 150 days.”

Responding to Carney’s comments Monday, Smith said separation is an issue for Albertans alone to decide.

“Albertans’ frustrations have been fueled by the last 10 years of disastrous policies from Ottawa under … Justin Trudeau,” Smith said in a statement from her office, referencing the previous prime minister.

“I would also remind all Canadians that we should not dismiss the legitimate grievances of Albertans. Instead, we should focus on addressing these issues, restoring hope in Canada, and demonstrating that our country can work and is working.”

Women are at a higher risk of experiencing delays in receiving a heart disease diagnosis, which increases their likelihood of fatal outcomes, according to a comprehensive new report.

Heart disease stands as the leading cause of death among women, contributing to approximately one-third of all female fatalities worldwide.

Despite its prevalence, heart disease in women often goes unnoticed, inadequately treated, and insufficiently researched, experts warn.

In response, a group of international researchers spearheaded by the European Society of Cardiology is advocating for the establishment of specialized women’s heart centers throughout Europe to tackle these disparities.

Dr. Julia Grapsa, the report’s primary author, emphasized, “Heart disease claims the lives of more women than any other illness—impacting three out of every ten women globally—yet it remains alarmingly underrecognized and poorly managed.”

‘Women’s symptoms are missed, they are less likely to receive guideline-recommended treatments and they are underrepresented in clinical trials that shape practice. 

‘Women also face unique heart disease triggers that men do not, including pregnancy complications, early menopause and autoimmune disease, which are routinely overlooked in standard risk assessments,’ she added. 

‘Closing these gaps is not just a matter of equity but a matter of appropriateness of care.’  

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, accounting for around a third of deaths globally 

The report – published in the European Heart Journal – highlights the positive impact existing centres across North America, Switzerland, Germany and the UK are already having. 

A study of more than 1,300 high-risk women in the US found a six-month programme combining heart health advice with clinical guidelines set by the American Heart Association – on blood pressure, diet and exercise – helped reduce their risk of suffering a major heart event. 

Another women’s heart centre in Canada has been able to pinpoint a diagnosis in more than 70 per cent of women with previously unexplained heart symptoms. 

Just a year after assessment, patients being treated at the centre experienced reduced chest pain and improved quality of life, the report details.

Three years on, the same centre confirmed sustained health benefits for patients, including a better understanding of their condition, fewer hospital visits and better self-reported well-being.  

The team said these women-centred hubs should act within existing cardiovascular care facilities, providing advanced diagnostics, expert consultation and education. 

Most women will continue to receive support, treatment and monitoring from their GP and at general cardiology clinics, they said. 

But women should be referred to women’s heart centres if, for example, they suffer with heart attacks, chest pain or reduced blood flow to the heart where traditional scans cannot identify a major cause.     

These centres would also look after pregnant women with cardiovascular complications like preeclampsia – a condition that causes high blood pressure, the biggest single risk factor for stroke – as well as heart conditions linked to menopause. 

Both pregnancy and menopause are unique risk factors for women’s cardiovascular health, research shows. 

A major 2023 study found that women who suffer complications during pregnancy – including pre-eclampsia, premature birth and gestational diabetes – are more likely to develop heart disease up to five decades after giving birth.

And while younger women are less at risk of heart attacks than men, after menopause, women’s risk of heart attacks and heart disease rises five-fold.

Post-menopausal women under stress are also more likely to develop an irregular heartbeat, or atrial fibrillation (AF), increasing their risk of heart attacks and stroke, according to research in the Journal of the American Heart Association last year.

Symptoms include breathlessness and palpitations, but some have no signs at all.

The proposed heart health centres do not negate the need for a better understanding of women’s heart health among cardiologists, the study’s authors warned. 

‘This clinical consensus statement by the European Society of Cardiology is an important step forward in women’s health,’ Dr Martha Gulati, director of the Davis Women’s Heart Center at Houston Methodist and study co-author said. 

‘It provides a comprehensive, practical framework for how women’s heart centres can be created in different European healthcare systems, as well as detailing how patients should be referred for treatment and what training we need to provide for doctors in this area.

‘We still need much more research on the best ways to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease in women, but these centres will ensure that this type of research can flourish.’ 

Previous research has shown that women are more likely to downplay their symptoms and delay seeking treatment when experiencing a heart attack. 

And a 2022 study found that they were also made to wait an average of 11 minutes longer to see a doctor or nurse than men with similar symptoms when attending A&E. 

In the UK, a woman is admitted to hospital due to a heart attack every 16 minutes, according to the British Heart Foundation, highlighting the urgent need for better care.  

On Monday morning, officials from the Orange County Fire Authority announced that the temperature of a chemical tank in Garden Grove has decreased, alleviating the potential for a major explosion.

“We are pleased to announce that the danger of a BLEVE has been averted,” stated the Orange County Fire Authority in a Monday morning post on X. BLEVE refers to a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion.

Previously, the tank’s exact temperature was uncertain because its gauge couldn’t record temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, prompting fears of a significant explosion as teams closely observed the situation.

During Monday’s update, officials revealed that they had successfully measured the tank’s temperature, which had fallen to 93 degrees.

OCFA Chief TJ McGovern discussed with KTLA the ongoing risk of smaller explosions and its implications for the 50,000 residents currently under evacuation orders.

“The subject matter experts made the evacuation zones. That was based off the tank. That was based off of the chemical inside and should there be a BLEVE, what is the radius for a BLEVE? That’s why those evacuation zones were set up there,” McGovern said in the interview. “Now that that’s off the table, we’re going to evaluate the zones for an explosion. So, in theory, the explosion zone is probably going to be reduced. So, that’s what we’re doing right now as we mitigate one step at a time.”

The incident began Thursday afternoon at the GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems facility on Western Avenue, where a 34,000-gallon tank containing methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable industrial chemical used to make acrylic plastics, overheated and began venting vapors.

Officials had been hopeful that a crack found in the side of the tank would reduce the possibility of an explosion, which they confirmed did occur Monday.

Tens of thousands of residents remain under evacuation orders, with many shelters already reaching capacity. Evacuation centers at Golden West College, Los Alamitos High School and the Orange County Fairgrounds, which is offering RV parking, still appeared to have space available Monday morning. Residents have been asked not to park at state beaches.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, and Orange County First District Supervisor Janet Nguyen said a letter she sent to President Trump over the weekend requesting federal assistance has been signed.

Meanwhile, attorneys have filed a lawsuit against GKN Aerospace, alleging the company failed to protect the community from known hazardous conditions.

Russell Crowe delivered a stern message to fans eagerly awaiting his autograph outside a Paris hotel. The 62-year-old “Gladiator” actor laid down some ground rules for the crowd, cautioning that he would leave if anyone misbehaved.

“Are you listening?” Crowe addressed the crowd. “Stay where you are, don’t push in on me. I’ll come to you. Give everyone space.” He further warned, “As soon as somebody acts out, I’m gone. Understood?”

In response, some of the fans assured him with a “Yes,” allowing the casually-dressed actor to proceed with signing posters for the group.

“As soon as somebody is a d–k, I’m gone. You got me?”

Some groveling autograph hunters replied “Yes” before the casually-dressed star went about signing posters.

Crowe’s exchange has gone viral – sparking debate on whether the A-lister was overzealous. But, scores of X users rushed to defend the actor.

“I don’t blame him. Those people are vultures with no regard for anyone but themselves. Good for him. Boundaries.” one X user wrote.

“This honestly seemed pretty fair from Russell? Set some boundaries, stayed and signed autographs. What’s the issue?” another asked, puzzled about the debate.

“He was setting clear boundaries with the crowd. People were pushing in pretty aggressively, and he still took time to sign for fans,” a third said, backing Crowe.

Crowe has been in Paris with his 42-year-old girlfriend, Britney Theriot, and they attended the opening day of the French Open tennis championships on Sunday.

He was dressed for the occasion, donning a navy suit and gray waistcoat, completing his look with a light blue tie and shades.

Meanwhile, Theriot opted for a black blazer and white shirt and kept the jewelry minimal, wearing a chunky watch.

Video has since gone viral showing Crowe trying to catch a tennis ball during match point between Alexander Zverev’s tussle with Benjamin Bonzi.

He grabbed the ball and proudly stood up, while fellow fans applauded.

“Are you not entertained,” Crowe shouted, a nod to the famous scene in “Gladiator” where the actor’s character Maximus yelled the phrase in the Colosseum.

Crowe was seen applauding and taking photos of the stadium on his cell phone.

The Oscar-winning actor has been dating Theriot for around five-and-a-half years. They first sparked romance rumors in November 2020 when they were spotted kissing during a heated round of tennis.

And in February 2021, they seemed to be going strong as they were seen playing tennis together again in Australia.

Chatter about the couple’s age gap swirled online – with some thinking Theriot was 30 years younger than the “Nuremberg” star before he put an end to the speculation.

“It is so ungentlemanly to do this, however,  my lovely Britney is 42 years of age. I am 61,” he wrote in an X post last November.

Crowe was previously married to Danielle Spencer, with whom he shares two sons: Charles, 22, and Tennyson, 19.

He and Spencer, also an actress, married in 2003 but separated in 2012.

Last year, Crowe told Australia’s “60 Minutes” he had no plans to marry for a second time.

“Why would I go through… I’ve been married once,” he said.

“I know how it can go and where it can go. So I don’t need to go to that place.” 

The mother of two young boys from Utah, who have gone missing, has made an urgent appeal for their safe return after their father did not bring them back during a scheduled custody exchange.

Lizzie Tomich is desperately seeking the safe return of her sons, one-year-old Will and baby Wesley Richman. The children’s father, after quitting his job and selling his belongings, disappeared with the boys instead of returning them on Saturday.

In a heartfelt post on social media, Lizzie shared the sequence of events leading to her sons’ alarming disappearance, following the issuance of an Amber Alert by the authorities over the weekend.

The arrangement allowed the boys to alternate weeks between parents, but 46-year-old Dane Stephen Richman, their father, failed to appear, and the children have been missing since May 16.

“We’re reaching out on TikTok today to seek assistance and to share a timeline and update on the situation, as well as details regarding the current custody agreements,” said Brittany Skinner, the family’s attorney, in a video message.

Tomich says she flew in for a deposition on May 22, only to learn ‘minutes’ before it began that Richman had fired his attorney and ‘would not be attending’ the proceedings.

‘I immediately contacted him via calling his phone and texting. He did not respond. At that point, we called the police to do a welfare check on him,’ the grief-stricken mother said. 

‘When the police arrived, we learned that the house was vacant and there were things being moved out. There was no car and Dane and the boys were not home. When we learned this, we knew something was wrong.’

Tomich continued talking to police, at which point Richman finally responded to her through text messages. The boys’ mother asked to call him, but he said he was driving and could call her later on. 

Lizzie Tomich jumped on social media on Memorial Day to anxiously call for the return of her sons, one-year-old Will and infant Wesley Richman, who were not returned to her on Saturday

The boys would spend alternate weeks with each parent, but their father, 46-year-old Dane Stephen Richman, failed to bring show up and the boys haven’t been seen since

In text messages, Richman told Tomich he had taken the boys camping and would return them to her on Saturday – but the father never showed up and the boys haven’t been seen since

‘He did confirm that he was camping, the boys were okay, and that he would be meeting me at our agreed upon time and location to exchange the boys,’ she continued.

Their attorney, Skinner, explained that according to their current temporary court, each party has a week of parenting time. 

Skinner continued to explain that, per the orders, Richman was not allowed to leave the state without the courts permission or the permission of the other parent.

‘On Saturday, I showed up to our designated location. I showed up about 15 minutes early prior to the designated time,’ Tomich said.

‘As the time approached, I began calling and texting him asking for an ETA. He did not respond. At, approximately 12.01 is when I began to panic and when we called police,’ she said tearfully. 

‘After further investigation with the police, we learned that Dane’s quit his job,’ Skinner jumped in. 

‘He’s sold almost all of his possessions. He has left with almost everything he has, with the clear intention of not returning with these children. So we are coming on here today to TikTok to ask for your help to bring these boys home.’

‘Please, like, share, repost everything, share with your family, share with your friends, anybody you know, they could be anywhere. Please,’ Tomich said through a wavering voice. 

‘Just contact authorities and let them know. Keep your eyes out. If you’re at the gas station, if you’re camping, if you are anywhere, be on the lookout. Will and Wesley are two blue, beautiful, blonde-haired little boys that you will recognize,’ Skinner added. 

‘…With infectious smiles, they both have dimples and blue eyes, and they will be giggly, hopefully, and laughing,’ Tomich interjected. 

Police believe Richman and his two young sons may be traveling in a black 2025 Toyota Camry bearing Utah license plate A561HL, although investigators warned the vehicle could also be displaying a temporary tag that may make the plate difficult to identify

Police have a troubling picture of the father’s recent behavior, with concern for the children’s safety because he is believed to be ‘seriously depressed’ and suffering financial problems

Will is described as about 2-foot-6 and 31 pounds with blonde or strawberry-colored hair and blue eyes, while Wesley is described as approximately 2-foot-2 and 23 pounds with blonde or strawberry-colored hair and blue eyes

After the boys disappeared, law enforcement issued an Amber Alert and painted a troubling picture of the missing father’s recent behavior. 

Police said that the boys may face ‘imminent danger’ considering Richman’s mental health, including ‘serious’ depression and financial troubles. 

Will is described as about 2-foot-6 and 31 pounds with blonde or strawberry-colored hair and blue eyes, while Wesley is described as approximately 2-foot-2 and 23 pounds with blonde or strawberry-colored hair and blue eyes.

Their father, Dane, is described as 6-foot-2 and around 195 pounds with brown hair and green eyes.

The boys’ aunt, Katie Walters, had a message for the boys’ father directly: ‘To Dane, just please be safe. We love you, and we love those kids. We just want you guys to come home safe. Please get somewhere safe: A hospital, a police department, fire department, anything. We just want you guys to be safe,’ she said.

‘He loves those boys so much. That’s the only thing I could think of that led to this, I like to call it maybe an adult temper tantrum. You know, he loves those boys, and I’ve got to hold on to hope. There’s no world without them.’

Police believe Richman and his two young sons may be traveling in a black 2025 Toyota Camry bearing Utah license plate A561HL, although investigators warned the vehicle could also be displaying a temporary tag that may make the plate difficult to identify.

Law enforcement agencies across Utah are now searching for the black Camry while urging drivers, business owners and residents to report any sightings immediately. 

‘…With infectious smiles, they both have dimples and blue eyes, and they will be giggly, hopefully, and laughing,’ Tomich said

‘You’ll be able to see them. Those little boys are so stinking cute. They have the brightest blonde hair and the biggest smiles you’ll ever see. Oh my gosh. Wes, the baby, is the giggliest little baby,’ aunt Walters described

‘You’ll be able to see them. Those little boys are so stinking cute. They have the brightest blonde hair and the biggest smiles you’ll ever see. Oh my gosh. Wes, the baby, is the giggliest little baby,’ aunt Walters described. ‘Will and Wes are just adorable. I miss them so much.’ 

It is a sentiment echoed by their mother who posted a heart-wrenching plea online. 

‘I miss my babies !!! Please help me find them. They are my world!!!! I can’t even describe how awful this is. Please please please help me find them!!!!’, Tomich wrote. 

Richman has now been charged with two counts of custodial interference, Fox 13 reported. 

Charging documents obtained by the outlet last place the missing father in San Diego near the border last Tuesday, leading investigators to believe he may have crossed into Mexico.