In defence of Canada and its war efforts
Canada supplied quality and technical skills for the frontline, from the tunnellers of Vimy Ridge, portrayed in the Canadian parliament chamber, to the strategic bomber crews (40% Commonwealth) and the corvettes that protected American ships in the Battle of the Atlantic.
In Britain, we benefited from Canadian generosity. The US charged interest for decades on its postwar loan to the UK, while Canada donated $1bn. Prof Nick BosanquetYork
Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Trump signs executive order to rein in ‘chaotic' influence of money on college sports
Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order prohibiting 'third-party, pay-for-play' payments to college athletes, a move the White House says is intended to curb the booster-funded bidding wars that have upended the landscape of college sports in recent years. The order asserts that recent court rulings and a patchwork of conflicting state laws have dismantled long-standing NCAA rules, creating what it describes as a 'chaotic environment' that threatens the financial stability and competitive balance of collegiate athletics. It marks the most aggressive federal intervention yet in response to the rapid commercialization of college sports, particularly in football and men's basketball, where top programs now spend tens of millions of dollars to attract and retain athletes through name, image and likeness (NIL) deals. Under the new directive, schools would be expected to eliminate any third-party NIL payments used as recruiting inducements, while still allowing fair-market compensation for legitimate services such as brand endorsements. The order also seeks to protect women's and non-revenue sports, directing athletic departments to preserve – and in some cases expand – scholarship opportunities and roster spots in programs that don't generate significant revenue. Starting with the 2025–26 academic year, schools with more than $125m in athletic revenue are urged to increase their investment in non-revenue sports, while schools with $50m or more are required to maintain existing levels. The president's order points to growing disparities fueled by state-level legislation, including the more than 30 states that have passed NIL laws, and warns that the resulting imbalance has created an 'oligarchy' of wealthier programs that can simply outbid rivals for the best players. It also cites rising concerns that runaway NIL spending is draining resources from Olympic and educational sports that form the foundation of America's athletic system. 'Absent guardrails to stop the madness,' the order reads, 'many college sports will soon cease to exist.' In addition to targeting NIL abuses, the executive order: Calls on the Department of Education, the FTC, and the Department of Justice to develop enforcement and regulatory plans within 30 days Directs the Department of Labor and National Labor Relations Board to clarify the employment status of student-athletes in ways that prioritize educational benefits Instructs federal agencies to use Title IX enforcement, funding decisions, and litigation strategy to protect the long-term viability of college athletics Encourages collaboration with Congress and state governments to advance a national framework The order highlights the outsized role that college athletics play in US Olympic success, noting that 75% of athletes on the 2024 Olympic team were current or former collegiate athletes, and argues that preserving a broad base of non-revenue sports is essential to maintaining America's international dominance. While the order outlines sweeping federal priorities, it remains unclear how many of its provisions will be implemented in practice, particularly in the absence of new legislation. Still, the White House insists the move is necessary to restore fairness and stability to a system that it describes as 'drifting toward professionalization'. 'College sports are not, and should not be, professional sports,' the order declares. 'A national solution is urgently needed before it's too late.'
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Trump says Australia has agreed to accept American beef
WASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters) - Australia has agreed to open its market to U.S. beef, President Donald Trump said on Thursday, after the U.S. ally eased restrictions on imports that had angered the American leader. The Trump administration hailed the deal, announced by Australia earlier on Thursday, as a win even as analysts said the step was unlikely to significantly boost U.S. shipments because beef prices are much lower in Australia. "The other Countries that refuse our magnificent Beef are ON NOTICE," Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has attempted to renegotiate trade deals with multiple countries who he asserts have taken advantage of the United States over the years. Many economists have disputed Trump's characterization. Australia Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said earlier on Thursday that a "rigorous science and risk-based assessment" had concluded that U.S. measures to monitor and control the movement of cattle meant biosecurity risks that Australia was previously concerned about were being effectively managed. Meat from animals born, raised and slaughtered in the U.S. has been allowed into Australia since 2019. But few suppliers were able to prove their animals had been only in the U.S., because cattle frequently moved between the U.S., Canada and Mexico without being adequately tracked. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement welcoming the move that Australia had imposed "unjustified barriers" on U.S. beef that were now being lifted. "American farmers and ranchers produce the safest, healthiest beef in the world. It's absurd that non-scientific trade barriers prevented our beef from being sold to consumers in Australia for the last 20 years," Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in the same statement. The U.S. has been improving its ability to monitor animals' movements to limit the spread of avian influenza and the New World screwworm, a parasite that eats cattle alive. Recognizing those improvements, Australia will now also accept beef sourced from cattle born in Canada or Mexico and legally imported and slaughtered in the U.S., the Australian agriculture ministry said. Australian firms will be able to apply for import permits from July 28, it added.
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Snipers, Secret Service sweeps and a personal chef on standby: Scotland awaits Trump's arrival
Donald Trump likes a wall. And now he has his very own 15ft-high metal barrier creating a fortress as he tees off for a weekend of politics, play and precision in Scotland. An almost surreal contrast now exists in the tiny Ayrshire village of Turnberry. On one side, the stunning coastline and luxury hotel that bears the president's name. And on the other, an armed buffer zone with sniper teams and road checkpoints. This visit is unlike those that have gone before. The threat level and associated security on display is unprecedented following the attempted assassination of Trump at a campaign rally in the US. "It would be inappropriate for me to plan an operation and not bear in mind what has happened," the senior officer in charge of this weekend's policing efforts told me. Turnberry, and its population of about 200 people, have this week witnessed a never-ending stream of Army trucks, terrorist sweeps, road checkpoints, airspace restrictions, sniper positions being erected and Secret Service agents roaming around. It is the most extensive security deployment in Scotland since the death of the late Queen in 2022. It is estimated around 5,000 officers will be on the streets, with teams coming from across the UK to assist. The spectacle primarily centres on Donald Trump coming to play golf before the arrival of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for talks, likely on Monday. The president, whose mother was born on the Scottish island of Lewis, is then scheduled to travel to his Aberdeenshire resort where a new golf course is set to open. 'Trump is a decent boss' Stephanie Campbell and Leanne Maxwell live in Turnberry and used to work at the Trump-owned resort, like many other locals. The pair told Sky News the very first lesson staff at the resort are given is not in fine service or guest etiquette, but in how to respond to a bomb threat. It is claimed there are posters above the landline phones in the hotel with instructions on the worst-case scenario. Stephanie told Sky News: "I had no issues working for him, he is a really decent boss. "The last time he came there was an element of excitement, I think this time there comes with an added element of concern. "It brings a lot higher threats and security and it's much more difficult for everybody in the area." Echoing her concerns, Leanne told Sky News: "Security is obviously being bumped up. It's quite worrying. He's quite a man, ain't he?" Sweeps of the rooms are carried out by US Secret Service agents after housekeeping staff complete their duties and Trump's meals, they say, are prepared by a personal chef to avoid the risk of poisoning. To the outside world, these measures seem standard for a US president. But to those who live in Turnberry, it's far from normal when they have a date with the commander-in-chief. Awkward encounters Prestwick Airport has become something of an American airbase in recent days. The infamous armoured limousine, known as "The Beast", has been spotted being wheeled out of a US military plane as the presidential motorcade prepares for his arrival tonight. Greeting the president at the doors of Air Force One will be the secretary of state for Scotland, Ian Murray, who previously supported a motion alleging Trump was guilty of "misogynism, racism and xenophobia". Another awkward encounter could come in the form of Scottish First Minister John Swinney's showdown with Mr Trump next week. The SNP leader, who publicly backed Kamala Harris in the presidential race, called for September's state visit to be scrapped after the Ukrainian president's visit to the White House descended into a shouting match live on TV earlier this year. Demonstrations are planned throughout the weekend, with marches and protests announced in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Kirsty Haigh, from Scotland Against Trump, claims the president uses Scotland to "cleanse his image" and he should not be able to use the country as an "escape" from his views. She told Sky News: "He should not be welcomed by us, by our leaders. "We want to see a Scotland that is very different than [the] America that's being created."
