April 29 (UPI) — Tuesday marks President Donald Trump‘s 100th day in office and his return as commander in chief has been marked with an aggressive approach to deportations, the trade market, foreign affairs and education in the United States.

Trump has signed more executive orders than any other president has in their first 100 days in office by a wide margin. His 142 executive orders signed is 20 shy of the total number of executive orders signed by former President Joe Biden in his entire term in office, according to the University of California-Santa Barbara’s American Presidency Project.

“What is impressive is the speed and robustness of the agenda that has been enacted almost right away,” Taufiq Rahim, geopolitical strategist and author of Trump 2.5: A Primer, told UPI. “You could posit it’s almost one year of activity, if not more, done in 100 days.”

Governing through executive order has resulted in court challenges on nearly all fronts. State officials and businesses have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration over its broad tariff policy.

Advocacy organizations are suing the administration, alleging it has violated the Constitution rights of immigrants that have been detained within and outside of the United States.

Teachers unions and universities are challenging Trump’s attempt to close the Department of Education and withhold federal grants.

“He’s had more executive orders challenged in court in his first 100 days than any other president, other than possibly [Franklin Delano Roosevelt],” Michael Genovese, author of The Modern Presidency and president of the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount University, told UPI.

Genovese said that executive orders may create the appearance of achieving policy goals in the short term but passing legislation through Congress is more effective in the long term. Executive orders are prone to legal challenges. If they survive those challenges, they can be easily undone by a new administration.

“The laws are lasting. Executive orders are not,” Genovese said. “Executive orders are a good short-term elixir. But they’re almost always overturned. Biden overturned Trump’s. Trump overturned Biden’s. They don’t have lasting power but they certainly look good.”

Immigration and deportations

The president has taken broad, in some cases unprecedented measures to detain and remove immigrants from the United States. His plans began to unfurl within hours of being sworn in and have continued through his first 100 days in office.

The due process rights of immigrants have remained a concern as the administration has gone a step further, sending hundreds of detainees to a prison in El Salvador. At least one person, 29-year-old Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, has been determined to be falsely detained and sent to the prison.

The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return to the United States more than two weeks ago, determining that his removal from the United States is illegal. The Trump administration has refused to do so with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying he will not be returned.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, in a meeting with Trump at the White House, said he will not release Abrego Garcia to the United States. Trump did not respond when asked about returning Abrego Garcia and attorney general Pam Bondi said that decision is “up to El Salvador if they want to return him.”

“The courts have already made it pretty clear that people in the country are entitled to due process, whether they’re in the country legally or not,” Stephen Farnsworth, political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, told UPI.

U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg ruled that members of the Trump administration may be held in criminal contempt if they continue to disregard the court’s order to stop deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th century wartime law.

The U.S. Supreme Court later vacated Boasberg’s decision, ruling that deportation flights may continue.

On Monday, Trump signed an executive order targeting so-called “sanctuary cities” that have not cooperated with federal immigration law enforcement for punishment, threatening to withhold federal funding.

Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border, ordering resources, including military personnel, to stem the arrival of immigrants into the United States. The administration undercut the functions of the CBP One app that was used for migrants to make appointments with immigration officials. It also authorized law enforcement officers to detain immigrants in churches and schools.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security revoked the legal status of about 1 million migrants who entered the United States using the CBP One app. It has instructed those affected to leave the country “immediately.”

To increase the capacity for immigrant detentions, Trump turned to the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba. The site has been used to detain Haitian and Cuban refugees, as well as enemy combatants and terrorist suspects post-Sept. 11.

The decision created concern among legal experts over infringing the Constitutional rights of detainees, including the right to legal representation and due process.

Education and universities

Trump has ordered the dismantling of the Department of Education, a top priority of Education Secretary Linda McMahon. He remarked at the signing of the executive order that education will be returned “back to the states where it belongs.”

Shortly after being confirmed as education secretary, McMahon began informing department staff of broad incoming cuts. This followed a Trump administration trend across many federal agencies. The department cut about 50% of its staff in March.

Twenty-one attorneys general joined a lawsuit against the Trump administration for attempting to dismantle the Department of Education. The department’s funding has been established by Congress and ending it is meant to require congressional approval. This is also the argument the lawsuit makes.

Advocates for public education argue that eliminating the department could create gaps in civil rights protections, leaving racial, ethnic and religious minorities, LGBTQ students and students with disabilities vulnerable to mistreatment.

While public K-12 education undergoes changes at the federal level, Trump has also targeted institutions of higher learning.

As part of the administration’s agenda against immigration, it has revoked hundreds of student visas and removed the records of international students across the United States without notice. Universities including, the University of Connecticut, University of Washington, University of Minnesota and University of Michigan told UPI they were not aware of federal immigration activity on campus and were not informed of the government’s actions toward their international students beforehand.

On Monday, the University of Connecticut said in an email that all students who had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System records terminated have had them restored by the federal government.

“We have learned that all of the impacted students at UConn have now had their SEVIS records restored by the federal government, meaning absent some other unexpected change, they should be able to resume their studies and work at UConn uninterrupted,” the university said in an email. “UConn continues to work to provide support for all the impacted students and will share new information as it becomes available.”

The Department of Homeland Security had blocked access to the SEVIS program well, barring international students from being able to monitor their status. On Friday, it restored access to the database.

Some international students have been detained on college campuses for allegedly taking part in protests against the war between Israel and Hamas or for voicing opposition to the Israeli government on social media. Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate, was the first known to be detained for leading a protest on campus in New York.

Khalil, 30, is accused by the government of supporting Hamas. He is married to a U.S. citizen who gave birth to the couple’s first child during his detention.

On April 11, Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Jamee Comans ruled that Khalil can be deported. He remains detained at the Central Louisiana Immigration and Customs Enforcement Center.

In a court filing on Thursday, the Trump administration said it did not have a warrant when Khalil was arrested.

The Trump administration is blocking research grant funding to several universities over alleged anti-Semitism on campus. The administration has blocked more than $1 billion in funding to Cornell University, $790 to Northwestern, $9 billion to Harvard and dozens of research grants to Princeton.

Blocking federal grant funding has caused some research projects to shutter overnight, researchers and advocates for higher education told UPI.

Tariffs

On April 2, a day Trump christened “Liberation Day,” the president announced broad tariffs on 180 global trade partners ranging from 10% up to 25%. Higher tariff rates were imposed on countries that impose tariffs or other trade barriers on products from the United States.

Canada and Mexico, two of the United States’ biggest trade partners, were already subject to 25% tariffs from the Trump administration.

In March, economists told UPI that tariffs imposed by the United States and retaliatory tariffs from trade partners will increase prices for U.S. consumers and create “uncertainty” in the domestic and global marketplace.

In the first day of trading after Trump’s tariff announcement, U.S. markets fell drastically. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1,679 points, or 4% on April 3. The S&P 500 fell 4.8% and the Nasdaq Composite fell 6%.

The markets fluctuated in the following days with indexes remaining lower than they were before the tariffs were enacted. They hit a low point on April 7, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw its greatest decline since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in the United States in March 2020.

On April 9, Trump backed off many of the United States’ reciprocal tariffs, placing them under a 90-day pause as he seeks to negotiate with trade partners. Tariffs on China remained in place.

China responded to the Trump administration’s 125% tariffs by increasing its tariffs on American products to 125%. The White House said the effective tariff on China may be as high as 145% in some instances.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warns that Trump’s tariff plan will harm economic growth and increase inflation. The Fed has spent the last four years attempting to lower the long-run inflation rate to 2%.

Twelve states and several American companies have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration over its use of tariffs. A lawsuit by the nonprofit Liberty Justice Center, filed on behalf of five businesses, claims that tariffs will threaten their finances and may put them out of business.

The twelve states that filed a joint-suit against the administration argue that the president needs congressional approval to enact such tariffs and duties.

On Friday, Trump claimed progress has been made in his trade negotiations. He said in an interview that he has negotiated 200 trade deals. However he declined to share further details about those deals, including who they were made with.

“We’re meeting with China. We’re doing fine with everybody,” Trump said. “But ultimately, I’ve made all the deals.”

NICOLE Kidman really is the gift that keeps on giving and today thrilled her followers when she put her long legs on display in a low-cut black bodysuit.

The star, 57, is known for her incredible body, and today gave fans a treat with a sexy clip from her French oceanside hotel room.

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Nicole looked truly breathtaking as she posed on the balcony with the wind in her trademark long hair.

She could be seen moving and swaying provocatively, while Lorde’s What Was That was playing in the background.

The actress – who is married to Keith Urban – looked incredibly sexy in a black bodysuit and sheer black tights.

The outfit clung to her impeccable figure, and was greeted with a huge appreciation from fans.

“I’m always amazed at how beautiful you are,” this follower commented.

While another said: “Truly breathtaking!! You go girl!”

This one swooned: “My Gosh! Perfect!”

SAUCY CONFESSION

Meanwhile, Nicole recently revealed how the perfect sex scene involved lots of “grunting”.

In her raunchy film Babygirl the actress was heard emitting animalistic noises during wild romps in the erotic drama.

The movie – which was released at the end of last year – sees Nicole play a sexy CEO who has an fling with an intern, played by Harris Dickinson, 28.

Nicole revealed that it is important to have realistic sex scenes in Hollywood movies as “it’s a huge part of who we are as human beings”.

She added: “I think sex is still not explored enough on screen, particularly in American films.

“European cinema is a different matter; it’s just part of what they do.

“But America, England, Australia — we don’t talk about it.”

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Some of the scenes in Babygirl were so intimate that Nicole has said she could not “orgasm any more” during filming and needed a break.

The Oscar-winner added: “There was an enormous amount of sharing and trust and then frustration.

“It’s like, don’t touch me. There were times when we were shooting where I was like, I don’t want to orgasm any more. Don’t come near me. I hate doing this.

“I don’t care if I am never touched again in my life!

“I’m over it. It was so present all the time for me that it was almost like a burnout.”

California will join a coalition of states Tuesday in suing the Trump administration over massive cuts to AmeriCorps, the federal program that each year deploys hundreds of thousands of volunteers to natural disaster sites and other needy communities nationwide, California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said.

Bonta said the Trump administration and its Department of Government Efficiency were acting unlawfully by unilaterally axing a program established and funded by Congress to support devastated parts of the country at their greatest time of need, such as Los Angeles after its recent wildfires.

“By abruptly canceling critical grants and gutting AmeriCorps’ workforce and volunteers, DOGE is dismantling AmeriCorps without any concern for the thousands of people who are ready and eager to serve their country — or for those whose communities are stronger because of this public service,” Bonta said in a statement.

“California has repeatedly taken action to hold the Trump Administration and DOGE accountable to the law,” he said, “and we stand prepared to do it again to protect AmeriCorps and the vital services it provides.”

The lawsuit makes good on a promise from Gov. Gavin Newsom nearly two weeks ago that the state would sue over AmeriCorps’s dismantling, which Newsom called a “middle finger to volunteers serving their fellow Americans.”

Landing on Trump’s 100th day in office, the lawsuit is the 16th filed by Bonta’s office against the current administration — a blistering pace of litigation that puts the state at the forefront of the Democratic Trump resistance. California has been joined by other states in all but one of those lawsuits, and has formally backed litigants against the administration in nearly 20 additional cases, too.

The Trump administration recently denounced California’s barrage of lawsuits in a statement to the Times, calling the litigation a misguided attempt to block the president’s agenda.

“In recent years, California dreams have transformed into California nightmares of skyrocketing crime and dystopian scenes of homelessness and open-air drug use,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said. “The Trump administration is trying to restore American Greatness, and if California Democrats would work with us — or at least not waste taxpayer resources to grandstand in the way — the people of California would be infinitely better off.”

Since he took office in January, Trump — with the help of DOGE and billionaire advisor Elon Musk — has been trying to reduce the size of the federal government, arguing that waste and fraud are rampant, especially in “woke” programs that support liberal ideologies or provide government assistance. In pursuit of that vision, Trump in February issued an executive order calling on federal agencies to radically scale down their operations.

Since then, AmeriCorps has placed about 85% of its workforce on administrative leave and notified employees that they would be terminated as of June, Bonta’s office said. And on Friday, California and more than 1,000 volunteers working on AmeriCorps grants in the state were notified by the administration that those grants had been terminated, Bonta’s office said.

Democrats, including many state attorneys general, have contended the DOGE effort usurps Congress’s power over the federal purse strings, and is an error-riddled assault on government services that will harm average Americans to pay for a tax break for the rich.

In announcing the AmeriCorps lawsuit, Bonta’s office alleged widespread harm to California, where the program invested more than $133 million last year, largely through partnerships with local groups and organizations.

More than 6,150 California members of AmeriCorps were dispatched to more than 1,200 locations last year, Bonta’s office said, including food banks, shelters, youth centers, schools and churches, Bonta’s office said.

“When the Los Angeles fires devastated millions earlier this year, AmeriCorps members showed up to distribute supplies and support families — until the Trump Administration ended the program and sent them home on hours notice,” Bonta’s office said.

AmeriCorps deploys some 200,000 volunteers nationwide, according to its website. The agency’s National Civilian Community Corps employs more than 2,000 young Americans aged 18 to 26, who serve 10-month service terms. AmeriCorps covers basic expenses, including housing, meals and some health benefits, pays what it calls a “modest” living allowance, and covers some future education expenses — about $7,300 worth this service year — for members who complete terms of 1,700 hours of service.

Newsom’s office has said that, during the 2023-24 service year, nearly 6,300 AmeriCorps members in California performed nearly 4.4 million service hours, in which they tutored and mentored nearly 74,000 students, provided education and employment support to 17,000 foster children and youth, and planted nearly 40,000 trees.

AmeriCorps volunteers also have assisted 26,000 households negatively impacted by the Los Angeles fires, Newsom’s office said, including by packing 21,000 food boxes.

Bonta’s office is leading the lawsuit, which the states intend to file Tuesday, along with the attorneys general of Colorado, Delaware and Maryland.

In addition to suing over the AmeriCorps cuts, Newsom has said that California also is accelerating recruitment for its California Service Corps program — though that, too, relies on federal funding.

In the morning session’s other match, China’s Zhao Xintong took control of his quarter-final tie with Chris Wakelin.

The Englishman, who came through two qualifying rounds to get to the Crucible, eliminated 2010 world champion Neil Robertson in the first round of the main tournament and then defeated former world number one Mark Allen in the last 16.

Wakelin, 33, made a break of 93 to take the opening frame, but 28-year-old Zhao then dominated to win six in a row, although Wakelin took the last to trail 6-2 before that match resumes at 19:00 BST.

Zhao, a former UK Championship winner, was one of 10 players from China to receive a ban in a match-fixing scandal.

He did not directly throw a match, but accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself. Zhao – who served a 20-month ban for those offences – is the only of the 10 players sanctioned in the scandal to have returned to action.

As a result of the ban, he lost his place on the World Snooker Tour, although he has already ensured he will be back on the tour full-time next season.

For this tournament, he is officially classed as an amateur and this is his seventh match of the competition, after he had to fight through four qualifying rounds to reach the main draw.

The White House calls the decision ‘hostile’ as the e-commerce company denies any proposal is under consideration.

Amazon may soon show how much tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump will cost consumers who shop on the company’s platform, according to new reporting from the outlet Punchbowl News, citing a person familiar with the plan.

In response to the report on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said she had discussed the Amazon plan with the president, and his message about it was: “This is a hostile and political act by Amazon.”

The White House also attempted to deflect the blame.

“Why didn’t Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level of 40 years?” Leavitt asked reporters at a White House briefing.

Inflation hit a 40-year high of more than 9.1 percent in mid-2022 under then-US President Joe Biden. Peaking during the COVID-19 pandemic, the high inflation rate steadily declined over Biden’s final two years in office, reaching 3 percent in January 2025.

The Seattle, Washington-based e-commerce giant Amazon said that it never considered listing tariffs on its main site, but had considered that for Amazon Haul, its ultra-low-cost platform. “The team that runs our ultra-low-cost Amazon Haul store has considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products,” a company spokesperson told the news agency Reuters.

The spokesperson added that the idea “was never approved and not going to happen”.

Trump has imposed a swath of tariffs on US trading partners – including a 145 percent tariff on China, although there are some exceptions for products including smartphones. There is also a 10 percent blanket tariff on other countries.

On Wall Street, Amazon began the day down 2.2 percent in pre-market trading on the heels of the report. As of 11:30am ET (15:30 GMT), the stock was still 0.7 percent below yesterday’s market close.

Aside from their commercial prowess, “A Minecraft Movie” and “Sinners” don’t seem to have much in common. One is a PG-rated, special effects-heavy comedy based on a video game with a huge fan base, and the other is an original Ryan Coogler-directed, R-rated period thriller with vampires.

However, both went viral online in ways that drove their success at the box office, in a boon to struggling theater owners and the studio that backed both projects, Warner Bros., which was in dire need of a pair of wins after a rough several months.

“Minecraft,” co-produced by Legendary with a reported production budget of $150 million, has grossed $816 million worldwide, while the acclaimed $90-million “Sinners” has collected $162 million. The latter film grossed $45 million domestically during its second weekend, a drop of only 6% from its opening — a clear sign that the movie has become a must-see.

The common thread is that both films created a wave of excitement on social media that the studios were able to capitalize on to create a cultural moment.

With “A Minecraft Movie,” for example, screenings took on a “Rocky Horror Picture Show”-like atmosphere for Gen Z moviegoers, with audiences shouting lines back to the screen and videos of the mayhem taking over TikTok. (If the phrases “Chicken Jockey” and “I am Steve” mean nothing to you, it’s probably easier to Google it than to have me explain.)

The madness in the auditoriums has understandably irked theater operators and unsuspecting patrons, especially when one attendee brought a live chicken into a showing. Nonetheless, it has clearly contributed to the film’s popularity, and Warner Bros. and Legendary are cashing in on the momentum. On Monday, the studios announced a series of “Block Party Edition” screenings, encouraging fans to sing and talk during the movie.

For “Sinners,” the tenor of the reactions have been far different but were no less helpful for the box office. The company was able to lean on the enthusiasm and raw, emotional responses that moviegoers, including social media influencers, were having to the film.

None of this was expected, said Warner Bros. marketing co-lead Christian Davin. But it helped expand the audiences beyond people who were already fans of the “Minecraft” game, Coogler, “Sinners” star Michael B. Jordan and horror movies.

“At the outset of ‘Minecraft,’ did we think that people were gonna be screaming ‘Chicken Jockey’ back to the screen on opening weekend? Absolutely not,” Davin said. “At the outset of ‘Sinners,’ did we think that there was going to be this entire discourse on TikTok about various scenes? … But as we started to see those things, we started to fan the flames.”

The two have key lessons for marketers as they contend with intense competition for audiences’ attention and the unique interests and habits of younger consumers, which few people in Hollywood seem to understand.

At a time when audiences’ attention spans are short and constantly pulled in multiple directions, studios have to work harder than ever, especially in the last days of the campaign, executives said.

The Gen Z audience — so crucial to “A Minecraft Movie’s” performance — is suspicious of anything that feels overly corporate or inauthentic, which can pose challenges for marketing teams.

This was certainly the case for the early “Minecraft” campaign, which got off to a rocky start. The first teaser trailer was pilloried online by fans of the game, who were fiercely protective of the property. “Minecraft,” after all, is a game that rewards creativity, so players tend to feel a sense of ownership. What are you doing to our thing? the message seemed to be.

So the studios had to adjust. The second trailer included a cheeky intro (“Minecraft trailer, take two”), which acknowledged the misstep. From there, fans started to come around, sometimes begrudgingly. A key factor, executives said, was the involvement of Mojang Studios, the Stockholm-based developer behind “Minecraft,” which promoted the movie heavily, including with activations in the game itself.

From the start with both “Minecraft” and “Sinners,” it was all about listening to the audience and being willing to adapt, said Warner Bros. Pictures global marketing co-lead Dana Nussbaum. Another instance was the introduction of a Lava Chicken “menu hack” at McDonald’s through the companies’ co-branding initiative (again, if you know, you know).

“The audience will tell you every single time,” Nussbaum said. “And I think as long as you’re listening and you’re unafraid of being flexible, that’s where you can win.”

Nussbaum and Davin were tapped to lead Warner Bros.’ film marketing efforts following the dismissal of marketing chief Josh Goldstine in January, which was widely seen as a risky move, coming ahead of a high-stakes slate of films including “Superman” from James Gunn and “One Battle After Another” by Paul Thomas Anderson.

The people who made “Minecraft” — including stars Jack Black and Jason Momoa and director Jared Hess (“Napoleon Dynamite”) — understood that the campaign wouldn’t work if players felt that they were being force-fed their own game back to them.

That was part of the rationale behind calling it “A Minecraft Movie,” rather than “The Minecraft Movie,” said Legendary Entertainment marketing chief Blair Rich.

Getting the quirky comedy right was also crucial. The “Minecraft” example is particularly instructive because of what it says about Gen Z, which responded to the chance to go out and celebrate something their parents don’t necessarily understand.

“For these fans, the game is such a strong community … They have pride of ownership, and it’s their game. It’s not some corporation’s game,” Rich said. “And so the marketing had to always draft off of that sensibility.”

For both movies, influencers played an important role. Podcaster and movie influencer Juju Green (a.k.a. Straw Hat Goofy), for example, interviewed Coogler for “Sinners” and promoted the film with video breakdowns on social media. Those moves helped stoke interest among Black audiences and cinephiles more broadly.

“A Minecraft Movie’s” marketing strategy leaned heavily on digital influencers, even bringing some on set. Dozens of Minecraft gaming influencers were brought to the movie’s global premiere in London, where they had access to talent. The companies made sure to get not just the video game influencers but also general entertainment and family creators.

That helped lead to a meme-fueled campaign. One influencer went viral after singing a bombastic parody of “Pure Imagination” with catchphrases from the movie.

It’s the kind of thing that works for young audiences. According to a recent Deloitte survey of U.S. consumers, the majority of Gen Zers say they feel a stronger personal connection to social media creators than to TV personalities and actors.

Studio executives have been picking over both movies for tangible lessons as box-office revenue overall struggles to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hollywood labor strikes and the long-term decline in theatrical attendance. Are video game movies replacing superhero movies? Does “Sinners” show that audiences want more original films?

One key takeaway is that audiences seek experiences in theaters that can’t be replicated at home. “A Minecraft Movie’s” audience participation aspect is an obvious example.

That doesn’t mean every movie needs a “Gentleminions” campaign or “Wicked”-style sing-along. “Sinners” has this advantage too but in a different way, where audiences are having intense emotional responses in the theater, Nussbaum noted.

“It was an incredibly emotional and visceral reaction that people were having and were wanting to have in groups and in communities,” she said. “And I think that was what was so rewarding about it.”

Stuff we wrote

Film shoots

On-location filming was up 2% last week compared to a year ago.

Finally …

Listen: New music from Julien Baker & Torres.

When we were children, my siblings and I regularly spent our pocket money on new books. Our mother had instilled in us a passionate love for books. Reading wasn’t just a hobby; it was a way of living.

I still remember the day our parents surprised us with a home library. It was a tall and wide piece of furniture with lots of shelves that they had placed in the living room. I was just five years old, but I recognised the sacredness of its corner from the very first moment.

My father was determined to fill the shelves with a variety of books—on philosophy, religion, politics, languages, science, literature, etc. He wanted to have a wealth of books that could compete with the local library.

My parents would often take us to the bookshop attached to the Samir Mansour Library, one of Gaza’s most iconic bookshops. We would be allowed to pick up to seven books each.

Our schools nurtured this love for reading as well, organising visits to book fairs, reading clubs, and discussion panels.

Our home library became our friend, our solace in both war and peace, and our lifeline on those dark, haunting nights lit only by bombs. Gathered around fire pits, we would discuss the works of Ghassan Kanafani and recite the poems of Mahmoud Darwish we had memorised from books in our library.

When the genocide started in October 2023, the blockade on Gaza was tightened to an unbearable level. Water, fuel, medicines, and nutritious food were cut off.

When gas ran out, people started burning whatever they could find: wood from the rubble of homes, tree branches, trash … and then books.

Among our relatives, this first happened to my brother’s family. My nephews, heavy-hearted, sacrificed their academic future: they burned their freshly printed schoolbooks—whose ink hadn’t even dried — so their family could prepare a meal. The very books that once fed their minds now fed the flames, all for survival.

I was appalled at the book burning, but my 11-year-old nephew Ahmed confronted me with the reality. “Either we starve to death, or we fall into illiteracy. I choose to live. Education will be resumed later,” he said. His answer shook me to the core.

When we ran out of gas, I insisted that we buy wood, even though its price was skyrocketing. My father tried to convince me: “Once the war is over, I will buy you all the books you want. But let us use these for now.” I still refused.

Those books had borne witness to our ups and downs, our tears and our laughter, our successes and our setbacks. How could we possibly burn them? I started rereading some of our books — once, twice, three times — memorising their covers, their titles, even the exact number of pages, burying in them my fear that our library might be the next sacrifice.

In January, after a temporary truce was concluded, cooking gas was finally allowed into Gaza. I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that my books and I had survived this holocaust.

Then in early March, the genocide resumed. All humanitarian aid was blocked: no food, no medical supplies, and no fuel could enter. We ran out of gas in less than three weeks. The full blockade and the massive bombardment made it impossible to find any other source of fuel for cooking.

I had no choice but to concede. Standing before our library, I reached for the international human rights law volumes. I decided they had to go first. We were taught these legal norms at school, we were made to believe that our rights as Palestinians were guaranteed by them and that one day, they would lead to our liberation.

And yet, these international laws never protected us. We have been abandoned to genocide. Gaza has been teleported to another moral dimension — where there is no international law, no ethics, no value for human life.

I tore those pages into bits, recalling how countless families had been torn to pieces by bombs, just like that. I fed the torn pages to the flames, watching them turn to dust — an anguished offering in memory of those who had been burned alive: Shaban al-Louh, who burned alive when Al-Aqsa Hospital was attacked, journalist Ahmed Mansour, who burned alive when a press tent was attacked, and countless others whose names we will never know.

Next, we burned all the pharmacology books and summaries belonging to my brother, a pharmacology graduate. We cooked our canned food over the ashes of his years of hard work. Still, it was not enough. The siege grew more suffocating and the fires devoured shelf after shelf of books. My brother insisted on burning his favourite books before touching any of mine.

But there was no hiding from the inevitable. We were soon down to my books. I was forced to burn my treasured collections of Mahmoud Darwish’s poetry; the novels of Gibran Khalil Gibran; the poems of Samih al-Qasim, the voice of resistance; the novels of Abdelrahman Munif that I held dear; and the Harry Potter novels that I had spent my teenage reading. Then came my medical books and summaries.

While I stood there watching the flames consume them, my heart burned as well. We tried to make the sacrifice feel worthy — cooking a more scrumptious meal: pasta with bechamel sauce.

I thought that was the peak of my sacrifice, but my father went further. He dismantled the library’s shelves to burn as wood.

I managed to save 15 books. These are history books about the Palestinian cause, the stories of our ancestors, and the books belonging to my grandmother, who was ruthlessly killed during this genocide.

Existence is resistance; these books are my proof that my family has always existed here, in Palestine, that we have always been the owners of this land.

Genocide has pushed us to do things we never imagined in our darkest nightmares. It forced us to mutilate our memories and break the unbreakable, all for survival.

But if we survive — if we survive — we will rebuild. We will have a new home library and fill it again with the books we love.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

A GYPSY has shared some of the unique traditions they have at their weddings, including why their first dances are so different.

Porsche McMillian posted a video on her TikTok, giving a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on during the day as part of a ‘spend the day with me’ vlog.

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She showed off the wedding hall, which was in Durham, with the chairs decorated in purple ribbons and beautiful flower arrangements.

The bride looked stunning in a massive white ball gown covered in what appeared to be encrusted diamonds.

She carried a purple bouquet and finished her look with a tiara and veil.

Porsche, who wasn’t the one getting married, said the whole day was “just so lovely.”

They had photos taken and got the chance to catch up with everyone.

She also filmed the drinks station, where someone dressed up in costume was handing out drinks.

Porsche explained that at a gypsy wedding, there’s usually a “little dance first” before everyone sits down for dinner.

For their meal, they had a classic Sunday roast, followed by the speeches.

After the speeches, Porsche said it’s normal to “go back” to your room to get changed for the evening celebrations.

Later, everyone came back together for the cake cutting and the first dances.

There was one between the bride and groom, and another between the groom and his mother-in-law.

Talking about the evening party, Porsche said: “The nighttime was a really, really good vibe and a good time.”

Within three days of sharing the video on TikTok, Porsche had racked up 419k views.

Her video also got 131 comments, with loads of TikTokers sharing their thoughts.

2

One wrote: “I am LIVING for every single one of these outfits.”

Another said: “Everyone dressed up beautifully.”

And a third added: “Very classy women dressed beautifully.”

NUUK, Greenland — King Frederik X of Denmark arrived in Greenland on Tuesday, kicking off a visit to the semiautonomous territory that U.S. President Trump wants to annex because of its strategic Arctic location.

Frederik’s trip to the island’s capital city of Nuuk follows the new Greenlandic prime minister’s visit to Copenhagen earlier this week. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen accompanied the monarch to Nuuk.

The king wore a jacket with emblems of the Danish and Greenlandic flags as he disembarked from the plane to applause.

Danish broadcaster TV2 asked Frederik about his mission during his trip. He said he wasn’t on a mission, and he was happy to be there.

Nielsen also told reporters that the Danish royal house’s love for Greenland can’t be questioned. He added that the monarch is well-liked on the island.

The flight was originally scheduled for Monday, but was delayed because of poor weather conditions.

Frederik is expected to meet with the new Greenlandic government this week, as well as attend a traditional “kaffemik,” or coffee break, to meet with Greenlanders, the royal house said.

Weather forced him to cancel the anticipated trip on Wednesday to Station Nord, the island’s northernmost military and scientific station, plus forgo a meeting with an elite dogsled unit of the Danish special forces that patrols the remotest parts of northeast Greenland.

The monarch visited Greenland last July, months after he took the Danish throne upon his mother’s abdication.

This week’s Greenland trip comes after U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited a remote U.S. military base on the island and accused Denmark of underinvesting in it. Trump seeks control of mineral-rich Greenland, saying it’s crucial for U.S. security. Trump hasn’t ruled out taking the island by military force, even though Denmark is a NATO ally of the United States.

Someone has tagged over one of downtown Los Angeles’ Kobe and Gianna Bryant murals.

In a Monday Instagram post, the account @Kobemural shared before-and-after photos of the Mambas Forever mural at 14th and Main streets, where Lakers legend Kobe Bryant is memorialized in uniform and lovingly holding and kissing his daughter, “Gigi,” who is holding a basketball. Next to them, written in old English style, “Mambas Forever” is painted in purple and gold.

Now the mural has been vandalized with giant bubble letters outlined in black and filled in with white similar to the street tagging visible throughout the rest of the city.

“Unfortunately one of the first Kobe and Gigi murals has been vandalized in Downtown Los Angeles,” said the image caption. “We’re sharing to bring awareness to the community of fans here in LA, and around the world, who respect and appreciate artists and their mural tributes.”

The caption directs fans to a GoFundMe to help with restoring the mural.

Murals memorializing Bryant are everywhere in L.A., with many springing up after he, his daughter and seven others — John Altobelli, 56; Keri Altobelli, 46; Alyssa Altobelli,13; Christina Mauser, 38, Sarah Chester; Payton Chester; and Ara Zobayan, 50, a helicopter pilot — died Jan. 26, 2020, when the helicopter Zobayan was flying crashed in the hills of Calabasas.

April 29 (UPI) — Electricity was restored to most of Spain and Portugal as of Tuesday, with continued disruptions on the second day after an unknown failure caused a massive blackout across much of western Europe.

Portugal and Spain remained under a state of emergency as power slowly became restored late Monday evening after the outage hit parts of France, Andorra and neighboring Belgium.

It brought life to a standstill, including elevators, traffic lights, business, roads, trains and hospitals. The power outages impacted Monday’s 2025 Madrid Open, forcing the suspension of matches, officials said.

On Tuesday, Spanish power company Red Electric said power had been 99% restored, but Spain’s transport minister warned that some rail trains may experience issues.

“The energy situation in Spain and Portugal is back to normal. This incident is the most severe for almost two decades in Europe,” European Commission Chief for Energy and Housing Dan Jorgensen posted on X, saying the commission stands ready to support Spain and Portugal “in all ways possible” and will “initiate a thorough investigation.”

Authorities mostly ruled out a cyberattack as the cause behind Monday’s chaos which left nearly 60 million without electricity with inquiries underway to pin down a cause.

“We have no information related to a cyberattack or a hostile act at this stage,” stated Portuguese government spokesman Antonio Leitao Amaro on Tuesday.

Amaro indicated that “there would seem to have been an issue in the power transmission network” in neighboring Spain, where the nation’s Interior Ministry deployed 30,000 officers for security concerns and roads where traffic signals were not working.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Monday night the power meltdown took place when 15 gigawatts of power was suddenly lost in five seconds, but experts say it could take weeks to figure out the actual cause.

“To give you an idea, 15 gigawatts is equivalent to approximately 60% of the country’s demand at that time,” said Sanchez.

Also on Tuesday, the Spanish head of state, King Felipe VI, sat down to chair a meeting of the national security council at Moncloa Palace in Madrid at the request of Sanchez.

Earlier on Monday, Portugal’s National Energy Network said it could take a week to return the full grid to normal.

Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro also confirmed there was “no indication” it was caused by a cyberattack, saying “everything indicates” the cause of the outage “did not originate in Portugal.”

That was supported by Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council and a former Portuguese prime minister, who likewise backed up Montenegro’s claim that there were “no indications” of a cyberattack.

Meanwhile, Montenegro said that his government had requested an independent audit into the incident by the European Union’s Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators.

“We want a full investigation of the outage’s causes,” he told reporters. “We need quick, urgent answers.”

Spanish grid operator REE mentioned Monday evening a “strong fluctuation in power flows, accompanied by a very significant loss of production” in the kingdom, where roughly 40% of its electricity arrives via solar or wind power.

Spain and Portugal have regained access to electricity after one of Europe’s worst blackouts paralysed transport systems, disrupted mobile communications and postponed medical procedures.

For almost a day from Monday to early on Tuesday, tens of millions of people were plunged into darkness. In major cities like Barcelona, Madrid and Lisbon, people were trapped in lifts, stuck on trains and unable to access the internet.

Meanwhile, queues snaked outside the few supermarkets running on backup generators as people stocked up on dried goods, water and battery-powered flashlights.

The Spanish and Portuguese governments quickly convened emergency meetings after the outage, which hit Spain and Portugal about 12:30 (10:30 GMT) on Monday and also briefly affected southern France.

Almost no one in the Iberian Peninsula, which has a population of almost 60 million people, escaped the blackout. Madrid was forced to declare a state of emergency.

Although power has been largely restored, transport remains in dire straits, with trains and flights reporting delays. No firm cause for the shutdown has yet emerged.

With the power back on, attention is turning to what caused such a widespread failure of the region’s networks.

What caused the power outage?

Portugal’s electricity provider, Redes Energeticas Nacionais (REN), said a “rare atmospheric phenomenon” had caused a severe imbalance in temperatures that led to the widespread shutdowns.

REN said: “Due to extreme temperature variations in the interior of Spain, there were anomalous oscillations in the very high voltage lines (400 kV), a phenomenon known as ‘induced atmospheric vibration’.”

The Portuguese prime minister, Luis Montenegro, also said the issue originated in Spain.

However, in a statement on Tuesday, Spain’s national meteorological office, Aemet, appeared to rule out the weather as a culprit.

“During the day of 28 April, no unusual meteorological or atmospheric phenomena were detected, and nor were there sudden variations in the temperature in our network of meteorological stations,” Aemet said.

The Spanish government said the cause of the power cut is still unknown and warned against speculation.

“My gut feeling is that multiple factors were behind the blackout,” Kang Li, smart energy systems chairman at the University of Leeds, told Al Jazeera.

“It usually takes several months for forensic grid data to be properly analysed,” he added, “though an interim report could be done in several weeks.”

Bloomberg News reported that Spain has seen a record number of hours with negative power prices in recent months as more wind and solar energy supplies the grid. Until now, however, oversupply hadn’t led to blackouts.

In 2024, renewable energy sources accounted for 56 percent of all electricity used in Spain, a record high. By 2030, that proportion is expected to reach 81 percent.

According to Li, “it’s harder to manage energy output when infrastructure is changing so quickly. A higher penetration of renewables with existing systems creates more fluctuation in the operating system.”

For his part, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, “We have never had a complete collapse of the system,” explaining how Spain’s power grid lost 15 gigawatts, the equivalent of 60 percent of its national demand, in just five seconds.

While there’s no evidence yet of a cyberattack, Sanchez said he isn’t ruling anything out. He warned against speculation but said “no cause can be discredited at this point”.

Could a cyberattack have caused the blackout?

Although investigations into the cause of the outage are ongoing, Portugal’s National Cybersecurity Centre threw cold water on the idea of foul play, saying there was no sign that the outage resulted from a cyberattack.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro also said there was “no indication” of a cyberattack.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Teresa Ribera, an executive vice president of the European Commission, also ruled out sabotage. Nonetheless, the outage “is one of the most serious episodes recorded in Europe in recent times”, she said.

For now, the Spanish government said it is waiting for more information on the cause of the blackout. State officials said they hope in the coming days to know what the cause was.

Which countries were affected?

Spain and Portugal were the worst affected, but outages occurred elsewhere too:

• Spain: Urban centres such as Avila, Madrid, Murcia, Galicia, Alicante, Zaragoza, Barcelona and Seville reported widespread disruptions. The Canary and Balearic islands were not affected.
• Portugal: Lisbon and Porto experienced comparable challenges.
• Southern France: Parts of the French Basque Country saw brief power outages. But officials from the French electricity transmission network said the interruptions lasted only a few minutes.
• Morocco: Some reports suggested internet providers in Morocco struggled briefly to keep their services running because of network connections with France and the outages there.
• Greenland: Remote regions of Greenland lost access to key satellite services, including internet and telephones. Authorities said they own satellite equipment in Spain although a direct cause has not yet been established.

Has power been restored?

By mid-afternoon on Monday, Spain’s electricity operator, Red Electrica (REE), said it had started to recover voltage in the north, south and west of the country.

The recovery process was carried out gradually to avoid overloading the grid as generators linked up. Power also returned to Portugal bit by bit. By Monday night, REN said 85 of its 89 power substations were back online.

By Tuesday morning, power had almost fully returned to Spain and Portugal.

At 6:30am (04:30 GMT) more than 99 percent of energy demand in Spain had been restored, REE said. Elsewhere, power was restored overnight to 6.2 million of Portugal’s 6.5 million households.

At the city level, Madrid’s metro system said service was restored on all but one line by 8am (06:00 GMT), meaning that 80 percent of trains were operating during Tuesday morning’s rush hour.

Has Europe suffered from blackouts of this scale before?

While outages are not unheard of in Europe, the scale of Iberia’s power failure was one of the largest in recent history.

In 2019, England and Wales suffered regional blackouts amid lightning strikes at a gas-fired power plant in Bedfordshire and an offshore wind farm off the east coast of England.

A 2006 German power overload caused outages as far away as Portugal and Morocco. In 2003, a problem with a hydroelectric power line between Italy and Switzerland caused an outage across Italy for about 12 hours.

“Interconnection between countries has positive benefits as it can improve efficiency and reduce costs. … It’s always sunny or raining somewhere in Europe,” Li said.

“But”, he added “interconnected systems mean that local faults in one location can have domino effects elsewhere. Transmission lines can become overloaded.”

Li also pointed out that climate change and rising temperatures pose “increasing risks” for Spain-and-Portugal-style blackouts.

“Heat, excessive rain and wildfires all increase the risk of transmission failures. We can address this by investing more in clean energy generation to increase energy system flexibility.”

Barbados has gained a reputation as a luxury playground for the rich and famous with its white sand beaches, vibrant culture and five star hotels – but there are ways to enjoy it on a budget

Barbados, known for its luxury appeal to the rich and famous, is a stunning island boasting white sandy beaches, vibrant culture and five-star hotels. But don’t fret if it seems beyond your budget. You can still experience this beautiful island without breaking the bank. From world-class beaches to genuine local hospitality, Barbados remains accessible for those seeking quality on a budget.

While some accommodations may cost a small fortune, there are affordable options available with prices starting from just £82.52 per night for two adults. One such option is Ocean Spray Apartments. Situated right on the beach, these eco-friendly apartments offer stunning views of the renowned Surfer’s Point – an ideal choice for ocean lovers.

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Another budget-friendly choice on Barbados’s south coast is the family-owned Carambola Hotel, just a five-minute stroll from the beach. With rates starting at a mere £87 per night for two adults, it’s a real steal, reports the Express.

As for dining, Barbados offers incredible food options that won’t burn a hole in your pocket. The island’s cuisine is a vital part of its identity, and travellers seeking authentic island flavours will discover that some of the best meals come without a hefty price tag.

A trip to Oistins Fish Fry on a Friday night is seen as a must-do, offering a mix of fresh seafood, music, and a buzzing community vibe. It’s a spot where locals and tourists rub shoulders, tucking into grilled marlin, flying fish, and macaroni pie straight off the grill.

Expect to pay between £11 – £13 per head. There are also top-notch fast food options, including Rihanna’s beloved Chefette. A meal here will set you back around £7.

But it’s not your average fast food joint – famous for its legendary rotis, crispy fried chicken and tropical milkshakes, Chefette is a true Bajan gem.

When it comes to activities, Barbados is ideal for those travelling on a shoestring as the island’s breathtaking natural beauty can be enjoyed without spending a penny. Every beach in Barbados is open to the public, meaning holidaymakers can unwind on the same gorgeous sands as the celebs.

Pebbles Beach, in particular, offers a uniquely Bajan experience, as racehorses from the nearby stables are brought down to the shore each morning for a swim, a sight that combines local culture with natural beauty and won’t cost you a thing.

Plus, there are activities like swimming, paddleboarding, and snorkelling readily available.

For those looking to explore the island, there’s no need to splurge on expensive taxis or charters. Barbados boasts a reliable and affordable public transport system that is popular among locals.

For as little as £1.30, the local buses can whisk visitors off to popular sites such as Bathsheba, Harrison’s Cave and Oistins.

BBC Countryfile star Adam Henson has been a regular face on our TV screens for more than 20 years, and also shares tips and animal insights from his Cotswold Farm Park in Gloucestershire

Countryfile’s Adam Henson has shared the delightful news of a new addition to his farm.

The TV presenter, who has been a familiar face on our screens for over two decades due to his role on BBC’s Countryfile, has also offered tips and insights into animal life from his Cotswold Farm Park in Gloucestershire since 2001.

In his most recent update, Adam took to Instagram to reveal that one of his cows had given birth.

In the clip, he started off by saying: “We’ve just had another new arrival on the farm. One of our Gloucester cows has given birth.”

Swinging the camera around, Adam beamed: “There she is. That’s Holly and her beautiful little calf.”

He concluded with: “What a clever girl,” reports the Express.

Adam’s followers were overjoyed with the news, with one remarking: “Just beautiful.” Another described it as “lovely” while a third cooed: “Sweet baby.”

Earlier this month, Adam paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife, Charlie Henson, following her recovery from pancreatic cancer.

After being diagnosed in 2021, Charlie remembered how her doctor had cautioned her about the low survival rate and the seriousness of her condition.

She was declared cancer-free after undergoing surgery, but still undergoes a scan every six months.

In a touching act, Adam and Charlie donated a pair of trainers to a charity installation by Pancreatic Cancer UK, which is displayed near London’s iconic Tower Bridge.

Adam took to Instagram with a heartfelt message, sharing: “My wife had pancreatic cancer and thankfully recovered. We were happy to support this impactful initiative by each supplying a pair of trainers.”

The drive to raise awareness for the plight of those affected by pancreatic cancer saw Pancreatic Cancer UK unveil its deeply touching Shoes of Hope exhibition on 15 April, ahead of the London Marathon.

Set against the scenic backdrop of Potters Fields Park, the display put on view 797 pairs of running shoes, each pair symbolising a life lost to pancreatic cancer every month across the UK, contributed by a diverse group including celebrities, survivors, grieving family members and supportive figures.

Athens – the Greek capital – has seen a 17 per cent increase in travellers in the last year, and the ancient city sees more than 74,000 Google searches by Brits every month

Mykonos, step aside – there’s a new Greek hotspot that Brits are flocking to. As summer holidays approach and relaxation is on the cards, data from Welcome Pickups has revealed that Athens is now the top choice for Brits.

The ancient city has seen a 17 per cent surge in British travellers over the past year, with more than 74,000 Google searches per month. Steeped in history and culture, Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities and is famed as the cradle of democracy. It boasts iconic landmarks such as the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the Ancient Agora, offering a window into classical Greek civilisation.

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Brits are also being lured by Athens’ buzzing neighbourhoods like Plaka and Monastiraki, renowned for their vibrant atmosphere, traditional cuisine, and quaint architecture.

Moreover, the city’s fusion of ancient and contemporary life, coupled with its close proximity to stunning beaches and islands, makes it an irresistible destination for Brits abroad, reports the Express.

While Athens can be incredibly crowded during peak season, the shoulder seasons of April-May and September-October offer milder temperatures and fewer tourists – making it easier to fully enjoy this bustling city.

However, if you’re planning a visit in April or May, be mindful of the biggest holiday of the year – Orthodox Easter.

Orthodox Easter in Greece is a week-long celebration with dates that change annually. As everyone in the country goes on holiday, hotels can quickly fill up – so it’s wise to book your accommodation well in advance.

Athens is a city that’s perfect for exploring on foot. The main attractions are easily accessible, and spending a day meandering through the city’s enchanting alleyways and markets is a fantastic way to spend your holiday.

The city also boasts some breathtaking beaches just a stone’s throw away.

From Athens, you can hop on a tram to Alimos beach and bask on the stretch of white sand before taking a plunge in the crystal clear sea.

The beach offers both paid and free areas, making it ideal for those holidaying on a budget.

TORONTO — As Canada’s Liberals celebrated election victory in a stunning turn of fortune, the country would not know until later Tuesday whether the party of Prime Minister Mark Carney would have an outright majority or need help in Parliament.

Populist Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre — in the lead until President Trump took aim at Canada with a trade war and annexation threats — was voted out of his Parliament seat in Monday’s election.

That capped a swift decline in fortunes for the firebrand Poilievre, who a few months ago appeared to be a shoo-in to become Canada’s next prime minister and shepherd the Conservatives back into power for the first time in a decade.

Poilievre, a career politician, campaigned with Trump-like bravado, taking a page from the “America First” president by adopting the slogan “Canada First.” But his similarities to Trump may have ultimately cost him and his party.

The Liberals were projected to win more of Parliament’s 343 seats than the Conservatives. It wasn’t immediately clear if they would win an outright majority — at least 172 seats — or would need to rely on a smaller party to pass legislation.

Elections Canada said it decided to pause counting of special ballots — cast by voters who are away from their districts during the election — until later Tuesday. The Liberals were leading or elected in 168 seats when counting was paused, four short of a majority. Elections Canada estimated that uncounted votes could affect the result in about a dozen districts.

Canadians won’t know until later in the day whether Carney’s Liberals have won a minority or majority mandate.

In a victory speech, Carney stressed unity in the face of Washington’s threats. He said the mutually beneficial system Canada and the U.S. had shared since World War II had ended.

“We are over the shock of the American betrayal, but we should never forget the lessons,” he said.

“As I’ve been warning for months, America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country,” Carney added. “These are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so America can own us. That will never … ever happen. But we also must recognize the reality that our world has fundamentally changed.”

A defeat for the Conservatives

Poilievre hoped to make the election a referendum on former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose popularity declined toward the end of his decade in power as food and housing prices rose.

But Trump attacked, Trudeau resigned and Carney, a two-time central banker, became the Liberal Party’s leader and prime minister.

In a concession speech before the race call on his own seat, Poilievre vowed to keep fighting for Canadians.

“We are cognizant of the fact that we didn’t get over the finish line yet,” Poilievre said. “We know that change is needed, but change is hard to come by. It takes time. It takes work. And that’s why we have to learn the lessons of tonight.”

McGill University political science professor Daniel Béland said nothing prevents Poilievre from remaining the Conservative leader without a seat but, if he decides to stay, he would need to run in another district — perhaps by asking a Conservative member of Parliament from a safe Conservative district to resign.

“Still, losing your seat when some people within your own party think you’re the main reason why it failed to win is a clear issue for Poilievre,” Béland said.

“Moreover, not having the leader of the official opposition in the House of Commons when Parliament sits again would obviously be a problem for the Conservatives, especially if we do end up with a minority Parliament.”

Even with Canadians grappling with deadly weekend attack at a Vancouver street festival, Trump was trolling them on election day, asserting he was on their ballot and erroneously claiming that the U.S. subsidizes Canada, writing, “It makes no sense unless Canada is a State!”

Trump’s truculence has infuriated Canadians, leading many to cancel U.S. vacations, refuse to buy American goods and possibly even vote early. A record 7.3 million Canadians cast ballots before election day.

Reid Warren, a Toronto resident, said he voted Liberal because Poilievre “sounds like mini-Trump to me.” He said Trump’s tariffs are a worry.

“Canadians coming together from, you know, all the shade being thrown from the States is great, but it’s definitely created some turmoil, that’s for sure,” he said.

Foreign policy hasn’t dominated a Canadian election this much since 1988, when, ironically, free trade with the United States was the prevailing issue.

The Liberal way forward

Carney and the Liberals have daunting challenges ahead.

If they don’t win a majority in Parliament, the Liberals might need rely on a smaller party. The Bloc Québécois, which looked set to finish third, is a separatist party from French-speaking Quebec that seeks independence. Trudeau’s Liberals relied on the New Democrats to remain in power for four years, but the progressive party fared poorly on Monday and its leader, Jagmeet Singh, said he was stepping down after eight years in charge.

“It appears the Liberals will not attain a majority, but the [New Democrats] will prop them up as before. I do not expect any formal deal between the parties,” said Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto.

In addition to the trade war with the U.S. and frosty relationship with Trump, Canada is dealing with a cost-of-living crisis. And more than 75% of its exports go to the U.S., so Trump’s tariffs threat and his desire to get North American automakers to move Canada’s production south could severely damage the economy.

Carney has vowed that every dollar the government collects from counter-tariffs on U.S. goods will go toward Canadian workers who are adversely affected. He also said he plans to offer a middle-class tax cut, return immigration to sustainable levels and increase funding to Canada’s public broadcaster.

Gillies writes for the Associated Press. AP reporter Mike Householder in Mississauga, Ontario, contributed to this report.

“All the games are going to be very, very important for a lot of teams in this fight. We have one more, let’s try to perform well,” Nuno said.

“We are back in the City Ground in front of our fans, it’s a big help.

“We have never stopped believing, no matter what happens. Throughout the competition, we have had good moments and bad moments and we have been able to react and again it is up to us to react again.

“All the games are the biggest games of our career, this is how we approach it.

“We are only thinking about Brentford now, that is the only thing we have to consider now in our minds, is to compete against them.

“It’s in our hands, that’s a big advantage.”

Full-back Neco Williams and captain Ryan Yates are both available to face the Bees after they were suspended at Wembley, while Nuno says he is continuing to monitor defender Ola Aina’s fitness.

“There are a lot of players to assess, it was a very demanding game, a lot of players finished with cramp, so we will see,” the Portuguese said.

On Aina, he added: “We still have one more day, assessing all the players, trying to make the decisions.

“All the players who have been out are important to us. We have spoken many times about that.

“We have been missing Ola, especially because of the stability of the back four we had and the routines.

“I don’t know how many times we had the same players – that’s crucial, especially in defence. We will assess him and see how fast he can return to the team.”