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Calgary Herald
5 hours ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Varcoe: Parkland's ‘incredible journey' from single gas station to $12.6B takeover
After welcoming investors and staff to the final annual meeting of Parkland Corp. this week, CEO Bob Espey reflected briefly on the company's Alberta roots, shortly after investors approved a takeover offer from a Texas-based energy giant. Article content On Tuesday, more than 93 per cent of shareholders of the Calgary-based company endorsed the $12.6-billion bid from U.S.-based Sunoco LP, an offer initially unveiled in May. Article content Article content Article content Once final regulatory approvals are in hand, the takeover will mark the end of an 'incredible journey' — in Espey's words — of a five-decade-plus run by the Canadian-operated business. Article content Article content A half-century of growth saw Parkland evolve from a small beef company based in Red Deer to a massive fuel distributor, marketer, and convenience retailer with assets in Canada, the United States and more than 20 countries. Article content Today, Parkland owns a chain of gas stations operating under the banners of Esso, Ultramar, Pioneer, Chevron, and Fas Gas Plus, and its On the Run convenience stores. Article content It has more than 4,000 retail gas and store locations and 5,500 employees, including 2,800 in Canada. More than 700 work in Calgary, where its head office is located in the downtown. Article content 'Our story began over 50 years ago when Jack and Joan Donald purchased a large position in the newly public company, Parkland Beef Industries, a cattle feedlot. Jack's entrepreneurial spirit was evident from the start when he diversified into fuel distribution,' Espey told the audience. Article content Article content 'He saw the potential of capital markets to fund growth through acquisition, a vision that still inspires us today.' Article content That vision spurred remarkable expansion, from a small junior stock listed on the Alberta Stock Exchange to Parkland becoming an income trust in 2002, converting back into a corporation several years later, and scaling up into a multibillion-dollar company on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Article content However, the acquisition strategy also helped sow the seeds of investor discontent in recent years, the prospect of a proxy battle and Parkland's eventual sale. Article content 'In my mind, it's a bit of a shame that this is no longer going to be a Canadian company because I thought it still had tremendous potential growth into the future,' former Parkland chair Jim Pantelidis, who served on the board from 1999 until mid-2023, said in an interview.
India Gazette
9 hours ago
- Science
- India Gazette
Historic ISS mission launches with crew from 4 different nations
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: In a landmark flight for three nations and a veteran U.S. spacefarer, a four-member astronaut crew launched into orbit early this week aboard a SpaceX rocket, bound for the International Space Station (ISS) on a two-week mission organized by private space company Axiom Space. Lifting off at 2:30 a.m. EDT from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the crew includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary, all making their first trip to the ISS. Leading the mission is Peggy Whitson, a retired NASA astronaut and the first woman to command the space station, now flying her fifth space mission. "This is an incredible ride uphill," Whitson said over the radio to SpaceX's mission control in California, as the Crew Dragon capsule separated from the Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage roughly nine minutes after launch. The mission, known as Axiom 4, was arranged by Texas-based Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX. The capsule—nicknamed "Grace" by the crew—marks the fifth addition to SpaceX's fleet of Crew Dragons and was making its debut flight. The launch also comes just weeks after a brief political dust-up, when Elon Musk threatened to pull Crew Dragon out of service following tensions with President Donald Trump over federal contracts. That dispute appears to have had no bearing on the mission itself. Whitson, 65, is joined by Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. All three are flying under agreements between Axiom and their respective governments, with national space agencies viewing the mission as a stepping stone toward future independent crewed spaceflight efforts. For India, the flight is seen as a precursor to its first planned human spaceflight under the Gaganyaan program, expected in 2027. The Crew Dragon spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS about 28 hours after launch, orbiting approximately 250 miles (400 km) above Earth. Once aboard, the Axiom 4 crew will join seven current station residents and conduct microgravity research during their 14-day stay. Axiom Space has now flown four such missions since 2022 as part of its commercial strategy to support international astronauts and private clients. The Houston-based company, co-founded by a former NASA ISS program manager, is also developing its commercial space station to succeed the ISS, which NASA plans to retire by 2030. This launch marked SpaceX's 18th human spaceflight, continuing a five-year run since it became the first private company to carry American astronauts to space after the retirement of NASA's shuttle program in 2011. In addition to operating the launch site, NASA assumes responsibility for the astronauts once they reach and dock with the ISS. For Whitson—who has already logged a record-setting 675 days in space—this mission adds yet another chapter to a trailblazing career that helped redefine human spaceflight for future generations.
The Herald Scotland
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Supreme Court birthright ruling leaves migrant groups shocked, scared
The measure is not retroactive, meaning it would only apply to babies born after it takes effect, if allowed by the courts. Among those suing to stop Trump's plan is "Liza," a Texas-based Russian-born graduate student who gave birth after the president issued his executive order. Liza, who has been granted anonymity by the federal courts in recognition of her immigration status, said she fears going to the Russian embassy to register their child's birth because her husband has applied for asylum in the United States after fleeing their homeland. Liza's baby is currently protected from losing U.S. citizenship due to a preliminary injunction issued by a lower court, which will now consider the merit's of Trump's plan. Liza said she was "sick with worry" that the courts would rule before her baby was born. "Thankfully our baby was born health and happy ... we remain worried even now that one day the government would one day take away our baby's citizenship," she said during a press conference following the June 27 Supreme Court ruling. "I'm sad about what today's decision means for all the parents whose children are not protected by the current preliminary injunction and who are now even more scared about their children's future." SCOTUS ruling on birthright citizenship changes nothing immediately In Denver, the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition was hurriedly trying to reassure pregnant women that the court's decision in the Trump v. CASA Inc. case changes nothing immediately. "It is really scary for people who are having children right now ... that someone would want to take away this fundamental right," said spokeswoman Raquel Lane-Arellano. "I don't see a reality where birthright citizenship gets revoked, (but) for people watching the news, that might not be clear." Birthright citizenship - explicitly granted by the 14th Amendment - says that virtually anyone born on U.S. soil is automatically a citizen. The only current exception is children of foreign diplomats, a position the Supreme Court has previously upheld. But the possibility that Trump could end the right granted by the 14th Amendment has raised alarm among groups that had hoped the Supreme Court would outright block his initiative. The Supreme Court's decision sets the stage for lower courts to consider the president's plan over the next month. "Today is a sad day for all of those who care about the U.S. Constitution and the constitutional rights of children born in the United States each and every day," said Conchita Cruz, the co-executive director of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project. "It is a confusing moment for immigrant families as they see the news and are not necessarily sure what it means or how it could it impact them." What does ending birthright citizenship mean Trump in one of his first actions upon returning to the White House issued an executive order declaring that children born to parents visiting on tourist, student or work visas, or who are illegally present, are not automatically citizens. His order would not affect children born to U.S. citizens or people with legal permanent residency. Migrant-rights groups had hoped the Supreme Court would have reaffirmed its previous ruling in favor of birthright citizenship, and were shocked when the court instead ordered lower courts to consider the legal merits of the president's plan. If ended, the policy could affect about 255,000 babies born in the United States annually, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Experts warn that Trump's order could create "stateless" people who are born in the United States but who have no connection to the birth country of their own parents. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said he was glad that the High Court recognized that nationwide judicial orders can be appropriate to protect plaintiffs from harm and vowed to continue to fight for birthright citizenship on its merits. "We welcome the opportunity to continue making our case before the district court particularly because the Executive Order will not take immediate effect, to show that the President's approach to birthright citizenship is a recipe for chaos on the ground and harm to the States," Platkin said on X. "We are confident that his flagrantly unconstitutional order will remain enjoined by the courts." Trump ran for office on a platform of strict immigration control, and repeatedly said he would attempt to revoke birthright citizenship. Many countries have ended their birthright citizenship, including the United Kingdom and most of Europe. Trump has promised to deport 1 million people annually, and ending birthright citizenship would make it easier for federal officials to remove entire families. Historically, parents of U.S. citizen babies have often been allowed to remain in the country even if they entered illegally themselves.
The Journal
17 hours ago
- The Journal
Gardaí rush to seize 3D-printed guns made for the price of a box of cigarettes
GARDAÍ FEAR DRUG gangs in Ireland have made connections with a gun supplier who's providing criminals with lethal 'throw away' 3D-printed plastic guns, The Journal has learned. It comes after gardaí seized at least five of the guns, known as Harlot 22LR or Derringer break-action pistols, in recent days. It's believed the guns, which have a distinctive green colouring, were printed from a file that's downloadable online. The seizures happened in Dublin, Tipperary and in Shannon. The Shannon incident happened on Friday morning and it was part of a broader intelligence led operation targeting organised crime in the area. We have discovered a large number of websites, apparently hosted in the US, which permit a member of the public in Ireland to get the blueprints to enable a DIY version of the gun to be produced at home. The devices can only be constructed with 3D printers which cost between €300 to €2,000 for basic models. Gardaí are investigating the proliferation of these 3D-printed guns, however sources said that at this stage of their probe it's not year clear whether they're being produced abroad or being manufactured in Ireland. One of the websites advertising the print file for a gun similar to the ones seized in Ireland offers the plans for less than the price of a box of cigarettes in Ireland – less than $20 US. The website describes it as a 'throw away' gun. A stock image of a gun printing device. Shutterstock Shutterstock 3D-printed guns became more widely available in the mid-2010s, with Texas-based 'crypto-anarchist' Cody Wilson playing a central role by offering the digital schematics needed to make a weapon. Advertisement Europol have also issued warnings about Far Right extremists obtaining printed guns. Dissident Republican groups, such as Óglaigh na hÉireann (OnH), have been spotted at events wielding 9mm 3D printed FGC sub-machine (FCG stands for 'Fuck Gun Control'). It is understood Far Right groups in the UK have also been spotted with the same guns. Mark Wolf was jailed for 10 years in 2023 . Gardaí found child sexual abuse imagery on his phones and footage of a massacre of Muslim worshipers by a white supremacist in New Zealand. In 2022 a man, who is originally from the UK, was arrested by gardaí in possession of homemade guns in Dublin – he was a Far Right sympathiser, and was later jailed. Ghost guns The US has been gripped in an epidemic of so-called 'ghost guns' – which is a term that broadly describes firearms that are bought as incomplete frames and receivers. These components are being purchased across the US as they bypass US Law Enforcement. The 'ghost guns' are then turned into functional guns by assembling them with other parts that can be ordered separately. Brian Thompson, CEO of US health insurer UnitedHealthcare , was allegedly shot dead by Luigi Mangione using a ghost gun. Sources have said that ghost guns of this type have have not appeared in Ireland as yet. In the past illegal firearms were either stolen from legitimate owners such as farmers or were shipped into Ireland in drug shipments or attained from stocks of weapons formerly held by the IRA. A statement has been requested from An Garda Síochána. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Indianapolis Star
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
Migrant groups left shocked, scared over Supreme Court ruling on birthright citizenship
DENVER ‒ The Supreme Court's reticence to stop President Donald Trump from revoking automatic birthright citizenship to anyone born in the United States has set off shockwaves among migrant communities. The court's June 27 ruling does not change the status of anyone subject to birthright citizenship, and gives lower courts 30 days to further consider the issue. Advocates immediately filed a class-action lawsuit to block Trump's plan, which would end automatic citizenship for babies born in the United States unless their parents were also citizens or legal, permanent residents. The measure is not retroactive, meaning it would only apply to babies born after it takes effect, if allowed by the courts. Among those suing to stop Trump's plan is "Liza," a Texas-based Russian-born graduate student who gave birth after the president issued his executive order. Liza, who has been granted anonymity by the federal courts in recognition of her immigration status, said she fears going to the Russian embassy to register their child's birth because her husband has applied for asylum in the United States after fleeing their homeland. Liza's baby is currently protected from losing U.S. citizenship due to a preliminary injunction issued by a lower court, which will now consider the merit's of Trump's plan. Liza said she was "sick with worry" that the courts would rule before her baby was born. "Thankfully our baby was born health and happy … we remain worried even now that one day the government would one day take away our baby's citizenship," she said during a press conference following the June 27 Supreme Court ruling. "I'm sad about what today's decision means for all the parents whose children are not protected by the current preliminary injunction and who are now even more scared about their children's future." In Denver, the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition was hurriedly trying to reassure pregnant women that the court's decision in the Trump v. CASA Inc. case changes nothing immediately. "It is really scary for people who are having children right now … that someone would want to take away this fundamental right," said spokeswoman Raquel Lane-Arellano. "I don't see a reality where birthright citizenship gets revoked, (but) for people watching the news, that might not be clear." Birthright citizenship ‒ explicitly granted by the 14th Amendment ‒ says that virtually anyone born on U.S. soil is automatically a citizen. The only current exception is children of foreign diplomats, a position the Supreme Court has previously upheld. But the possibility that Trump could end the right granted by the 14th Amendment has raised alarm among groups that had hoped the Supreme Court would outright block his initiative. The Supreme Court's decision sets the stage for lower courts to consider the president's plan over the next month. "Today is a sad day for all of those who care about the U.S. Constitution and the constitutional rights of children born in the United States each and every day," said Conchita Cruz, the co-executive director of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project. "It is a confusing moment for immigrant families as they see the news and are not necessarily sure what it means or how it could it impact them." Trump in one of his first actions upon returning to the White House issued an executive order declaring that children born to parents visiting on tourist, student or work visas, or who are illegally present, are not automatically citizens. His order would not affect children born to U.S. citizens or people with legal permanent residency. Migrant-rights groups had hoped the Supreme Court would have reaffirmed its previous ruling in favor of birthright citizenship, and were shocked when the court instead ordered lower courts to consider the legal merits of the president's plan. If ended, the policy could affect about 255,000 babies born in the United States annually, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Experts warn that Trump's order could create "stateless" people who are born in the United States but who have no connection to the birth country of their own parents. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said he was glad that the High Court recognized that nationwide judicial orders can be appropriate to protect plaintiffs from harm and vowed to continue to fight for birthright citizenship on its merits. 'We welcome the opportunity to continue making our case before the district court particularly because the Executive Order will not take immediate effect, to show that the President's approach to birthright citizenship is a recipe for chaos on the ground and harm to the States,' Platkin said on X. 'We are confident that his flagrantly unconstitutional order will remain enjoined by the courts." Trump ran for office on a platform of strict immigration control, and repeatedly said he would attempt to revoke birthright citizenship. Many countries have ended their birthright citizenship, including the United Kingdom and most of Europe.
