WASHINGTON – With the clock ticking towards a looming midnight deadline, President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney engaged in a flurry of phone conversations on Tuesday, striving to reach a crucial trade agreement. Despite these last-minute efforts, the White House remains cautious about the possibility of finalizing a deal.

On the line are 50% tariffs set to be imposed on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, including popular exports such as hockey sticks, wine, and cheese.

By Tuesday afternoon, administration officials admitted that no resolution was visible on the horizon. This leaves retaliatory tariffs poised to take effect just past midnight, precisely at 12:01 am.

Addressing the press on Monday, Prime Minister Carney characterized the ongoing discussions as “very delicate and intense.” He made it clear that Canada was ready to respond if an agreement could not be achieved.

A breakthrough, if it occurs, would be announced directly by President Trump, according to a U.S. official. Until then, they dismiss all other reports as mere “baseless speculation.”

Trump and Carney spoke at least twice in the past 24 hours: once on Monday and again on Tuesday. Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Chief Trade Negotiator Janice Charette have been in Washington DC for several days for in-person meetings with USTR Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

The White House described the tariffs as payback for Canada’s own taxes on US goods, particularly on American autos, alcohol and dairy. 

These tariffs are separate from the retaliatory action President Trump has threatened against Ottawa for the wildfire smoke that drifted across the border and clogged up American skies. He’s accused America’s neighbor to the north of poisoning US air with it smoke.

The president told The Post earlier this month he’s decided on a punishment for Canada but was not ready to announce it.

Canada is the third largest source of imports for America. The products affected by the new tariffs would include consumer goods, but also building materials such as cement and plywood. 

Energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals are excluded from the tariff list.

The US goods trade deficit with Canada was $46.4 billion in 2025, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative.

Trump has long seen Canada as a bete noir and publicly mused about making it America’s 51st state. He had an antagonistic relationship with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

He and Carney have a cordial but tense relationship. The two leaders last saw each other in July at the World Cup final in New Jersey, where Trump failed to mention the retaliatory tariff threat he would announce the next day.

However, the two nations have been involved in a year-long trade tit-for-tat.

Trump has hit Canada with a variety of tariffs and Ottawa has responded with tariffs of its own in a repeated back-and-forth trade scuffle.

Currently, US tariffs on Canadian goods include a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum, a 35% tariff on softwood lumber, a 10% tariff on certain energy products, a 12.5% tariff related to forced labor prohibitions, and a 25% tariff on cars not built in the US.

In response to those tariffs, Canada imposed a 25% tariff on fully assembled motor vehicles imported from the United States and on alcohol products. On dairy, Canada only imposes a tariff when American imports pass a certain threshold.

A picturesque corner of the Dolomites, famed for its local delicacy, faces an overwhelming influx of tourists as the stunning mountain landscape grapples with soaring visitor numbers.

This Alpine jewel, celebrated for its breathtaking vistas, cable cars, and enticing hiking trails, ranks among Italy’s most alluring destinations, attracting millions of adventurers annually.

The current season is proving to be no exception, with videos capturing throngs of tourists standing in long, serpentine lines at 2,300 meters above sea level, all eager to savor a cabin’s renowned cream-filled doughnuts.

Determined visitors often rise at the break of dawn, eager to claim their share of the popular treat before it sells out at the Rifugio Friedrich August hut, nestled on Langkofel mountain, close to the South Tyrol border.

In fact, some enthusiasts have taken to camping overnight to ensure they can indulge in a doughnut or two.

Furious locals have become fed up with holidaymakers more concerned with social media photos than appreciating the region’s natural beauty, while unimpressed TikTok users called the viral spot a ‘tourist trap’.

One wrote under a video of queues: ‘Pretty much all if the huts/refugios in the Alps have great traditional high quality locally/home-made food. 99% of them without having to wait in lines at all.’

‘This is madness,’ said an Italian influencer who promotes tourism in the region. 

One hiker said: ‘I’ve been coming to the mountains for years and I’ve truly never seen such chaos; there are queues everywhere.’ 

Another wrote: ‘They’re not interested in the Dolomites. They come in flip-flops just to take pictures.’ 

An exasperated social media user also commented: ‘Yeah that’s why I’m choosing countries and cities and places no one in social media knows about.’ 

Meanwhile, last week on the day of the solar eclipse, severe traffic gridlocked roads on the Passo di Giau mountain pass.

Footage showed hundreds of cars completely at a standstill all the way down into the valley. 

Barriers have also been installed near the picturesque Santa Maddalena church to prevent unauthorised drivers from reaching it by car. 

The serene beauty spot has been overrun by hundreds of tourists looking to visit the most popular landmarks.

A woman who claimed she has been visiting the Dolomites for 35 years said: ‘This year it seemed to me as if I were on another planet. There have never been so many people here.’ 

Earlier this year a video showed a line hundreds of meters long at a bus stop for a shuttle as crowds waited to visit the world-famous Three Peaks. 

It is one of the most visited attractions in the Alps and during peak season up to 14,000 visitors flock to the region everyday. 

The councillor for the area, Nicola Bombassei, who oversees the environment and land use planning, reportedly said last month the queues were ‘unacceptable’, adding that the region is already seeing a record number of visitors. 

Efforts will be made to find ways to reduce crowds, she said. 

A ski-lift has been suggested in recent years as a means to better manage overcrowding in these zones, however many argue this contravenes a quota system restricting vehicle access to the area.

The director of operations for Dolomiti Bus, Gabriele Mariani, was reported to have said that their shuttle service has been reinforced in the wake of the masses of crowds.

‘We are constantly monitoring visitor flow and adapting our service according to needs,’ he added.

A routine morning run turned harrowing for a local jogger when they found a woman stabbed to death near her car in an upscale neighborhood just outside Washington, D.C. in Northern Virginia on Monday, police reported.

Fairfax County police shared that officers responded around 7 a.m. to a call regarding an unconscious woman found outside a vehicle in the 8800 block of Georgetown Pike, a well-known area in the Great Falls vicinity, after she was spotted by a community member on their morning exercise route.

Upon arrival, authorities found the woman suffering from severe trauma to her upper body and she was declared deceased on-site, according to Fairfax County Police Capt. Jason Chandler during a public briefing. The incident has been officially classified as a “fatal stabbing” by the police department.

Further details revealed that the car located close to the victim was registered in her name, as confirmed by Chandler.

Police said the parking area leads to several trails used by people to hike, walk and enjoy the Great Falls area in McLean.

McLean, located just outside Washington, D.C., is one of Northern Virginia’s most affluent communities, sitting just outside Washington. The median household income tops $250,000, while the median owner-occupied home is valued at more than $1.4 million, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data.

Detectives were actively following up on leads Monday, but authorities had not publicly identified a suspect or released a description.

“There is no immediate indication that this was a random act,” Chandler said.

Chandler repeated that assessment when asked whether nearby residents should be concerned.

Police have not publicly identified the woman or disclosed her age beyond describing her as an adult. Authorities also have not said whether she lived in the area or why she was at the trailhead.

Investigators were working to determine how long the woman had been there and whether she arrived alone, Chandler said.

Detectives were also canvassing the surrounding area for surveillance cameras and seeking video from nearby community members as they worked to piece together what happened.

Police are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious around the time of the discovery to contact authorities at 1-866-411-TIPS.

Californians have identified the worst traffic headache in the state, and surprisingly, it’s not located in Los Angeles.

The notorious “MacArthur Maze,” nestled near the Bay Bridge, has claimed the title of California’s most dreaded commute. It has surpassed even the infamous freeway congestion that habitually plagues Southern California, grinding traffic to a halt.

In a recent survey conducted by Resume.io, 3,017 employees were asked how much of their annual income they would give up to eliminate their daily travel woes.

According to the Mercury News, respondents expressed a willingness to forgo $3,220 just to avoid the intricate tangle of I-80, I-580, and I-880.

Importantly, this figure does not account for the additional savings commuters would enjoy by reducing fuel consumption and minimizing vehicle maintenance costs.

It was simply based on how much they would hypothetically be willing to give up to get that time back in their lives each day.

The portion of US 101-Hollywood Freeway in Los Angeles, connecting the City of Angeles to the San Fernando Valley, came in as a close second, at $3,112 to avoid the nightmare area.

Taking the third place spot was the part of the I-405 through Sepulveda Pass, connecting the west side of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. Workers said they would give up a little more than $3,000 to skip this part of their commute everyday.

The online survey, which was taken in July 2026, also found 46% of those polled said they were willing to turn down a job if the commute to work was going to be too hard or long. 

The emotional toll a stressful commute can garner was one of the greatest costs for one-third of those who responded. 

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However, the city with the worst traffic in the US, is still held by LA, where Angelenos are spending more than a full workday –– 8 hours and 27 minutes –– in traffic every week.

“It may be the City of Angels, but traffic in Los Angeles can be downright devilish,” reads the latest report by Consumer Affairs that ranked America’s 50 most populous cities on commute times, traffic congestion and fatal crash rates. LA climbed up from last year’s No. 2 rank on the list.

Angelenos are spending 36 minutes more per week than last year stuck in traffic, with an average daily commute time of around 30 minutes –– the sixth highest daily commute in the US.

The same report placed San Francisco as having the fourth-worst traffic in the country. Drivers in the Bay Area spend an average of  5 hours and 56 minutes in congestion each week.

In an unexpected twist, ESPN’s heartfelt homage to its creator, Bill Rasmussen, met an abrupt interruption, replaced by a boisterous welcome to The Pat McAfee Show.

During the closing moments of First Take, the show aimed to honor Rasmussen’s substantial contributions. The man behind the concept of 24/7 sports broadcasting had recently passed at 93, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped sports media.

Reflecting on Rasmussen’s profound influence, personalities Evan Cohen, Jason McCourty, and Chris Canty shared poignant memories, while a tribute graphic adorned the screen. Host Courtney Cronin was in the midst of her closing remarks, beginning with ‘his legacy lives on’.

However, her solemn delivery was unexpectedly halted by the exuberant voice of Pat McAfee, who burst onto the airwaves with: ‘Hello and welcome to the Thunderdome beautiful people!’

Transitioning swiftly to his dynamic setting, the ex-NFL punter continued with flair: ‘And welcome to our humble abode, the DraftKings Thunderdome on this big ball Tuesday.’

The awkward end to the tribute quickly generated attention on social media, particularly given it involved McAfee, who has become a controversial new face of the network as one of its highest-paid employees.

ESPN has invested heavily in McAfee, funding his show with a $30-million-a-year contract while making a host of cuts in other areas. He is also set for a pay rise, according to reports, as talks continue over an extension of his contract.

Cronin broke news of Rasmussen’s passing earlier in the show after his battle with Parkinson’s disease ended in his Florida home. 

‘He was a sports fan turned broadcaster and entrepreneur who’s out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour, cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the landscape of sports media,’ she said. 

‘Bill was a remarkable man – a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports,’ said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro.

‘Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn’t for Bill’s passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s – key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day.’  

Pitaro added: ‘One of my greatest thrills since joining ESPN was getting to know Bill on a personal level. I will always cherish the memory of catching the ceremonial first pitch that he threw at Fenway Park in Boston in celebration of our 40th anniversary. His legacy will always be a part of ESPN.’

Rasmussen is survived by his two sons, Scott and Glenn, daughter Lynn, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He lost Lois, his wife of 56 years, back in 2011.   

The Chicago-born executive conceived the idea of ESPN with his son, Scott, in the 1970s after being fired as communications director of the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association.

While many initially dismissed his idea, he launched ESPN in 1.4 million homes on September 7, 1979. After serving as the company’s first president and CEO, he left after a few years having laid the groundwork for its astronomical success. 

‘Bill was our George Washington and a good friend,’ said veteran anchor Chris Berman, who joined ESPN three weeks after the original network launch in 1979.

‘He was such a grateful person and every sports fan can be grateful for Bill. He wasn’t a glass half-full guy; his glass was always overflowing with optimism. He greeted everyone with a smile and we can all smile knowing Bill’s legacy.’

Rasmussen revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019. He became an ‘ambassador for Parkinson’s patients through both the American Parkinson Disease Association and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research,’ per ESPN. 

In a dramatic courtroom moment on Tuesday, prosecutors sought to leverage religious beliefs in their case against Lindsay Clancy, questioning her Catholic mother-in-law about the sinfulness of murder. Their line of inquiry aimed to establish that Clancy comprehended her actions when she tragically took the lives of her children, countering the defense’s narrative of postpartum psychosis.

Lindsay Clancy, aged 36, faces charges of first-degree murder following the deaths of her young children—Cora, Dawson, and Callan—all under the age of six. They were found strangled in their home in Duxbury in 2023. The prosecution wrapped up their arguments on Monday morning.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Assistant District Attorney Shanan Buckingham posed a pointed question to Susan Clancy, Lindsay’s devout mother-in-law, asking if she believed murder to be a “mortal sin.”

Dramatic Moment in Court as Postpartum Mother Lindsay Clancy’s Trial is Disrupted by Emotional Breakdown

Susan Clancy didn’t answer the question, and Judge William Sullivan immediately called a sidebar and struck the remark from the record.

Susan Clancy told jurors Tuesday that she had concerns about Lindsay’s mental health during the 2022 holiday season, though she described her as a devoted mother.

“Lindsay was struggling. We were all very concerned,” Susan Clancy said. “She was very nurturing, very loving. She was a wonderful mother. Wonderful.”

Susan Clancy said she began seeing a decline in Lindsay’s mental health in November 2022.

“She reached out to me in November and told me that she felt unwell,” Susan Clancy said. “She felt… Mostly she had insomnia. She was losing her appetite. She was very anxious and sad.”

“She was begging for help,” Susan Clancy said.

Paula Musgrove, Lindsay Clancy’s mother, also told jurors about the mental health problems. In an Oct. 20, 2022 text message, Lindsay Clancy asked her mother for help.

“Mom, will you please come up and stay with me for a bit? I’m really sick. Something is wrong. I had horrible insomnia all night, and I just don’t know how I am going to get through the day… It’s just really scary, and I don’t want to be alone,” the text read.

Musgrove said she wasn’t concerned about the children’s safety.

Lindsay Clancy’s defense team will continue presenting its case Wednesday morning as her defense team seeks to convince jurors that she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis when she killed her children.

A history teacher from Beverly Hills, who spent three decades imparting knowledge, found herself experiencing severe distress after losing her job. The turmoil came in the wake of a Facebook post criticizing pro-Trump rhetoric following a Make America Great Again rally held at her school. This firing resulted in panic attacks, feelings of nausea, and physical tremors, as detailed in a recent lawsuit.

Joanie Garratt, an accomplished educator and Harvard alumna, was dismissed just days after the 2024 election. The termination was attributed to her social media post that lambasted Trump supporters celebrating their victory at the high school, according to legal documents.

During the rally, students adorned in MAGA hats and Trump-themed attire proudly waved flags. However, the event was marred by allegations that some individuals directed racial slurs at the Black Student Union, uttering inflammatory statements such as “deport all Mexicans.” These claims are a part of the lawsuit filed and reviewed by the California Post.

In response, Garratt took to social media to denounce what she described as “bullying,” accusing the students of “harassing & intimidating” their peers. She further attributed this behavior to what she termed the influence of “His Majesty, King Trump.”

Joanie Garratt’s dismissal came on November 13, 2024, when Mathew Horvath, the assistant superintendent, informed her that her return to the classroom was unwelcome. The decision, Horvath explained, was directly tied to her controversial Facebook post, as outlined in her lawsuit.

Garratt claims the firing caused severe emotional distress, sleeplessness, nausea, weight loss, tremors, humiliation and “irreparable harm to her reputation.”

The suit cites BHUSD policy stating employees cannot be disciplined for personal beliefs or activities unless they violate the law or district rules.

Garratt, who filed a wrongful termination claim shortly after her firing, is seeking general and special damages and is represented by attorney V. James DeSimone.

“Joanie’s post, which criticized harassment at the rally and attributed student conduct to political rhetoric whipped up as part of Donald Trump’s re-election strategy, is constitutionally protected speech,” DeSimone told The Post.

The Beverly Hills High School Unified School District was contacted by The Post for comment.