Author: Danuta Wojciechowska

By CAITLIN POWELL – NEWS REPORTER

Printed: 02:54, October 17, 2025 | Up to date: 02:58, October 17, 2025

SEATTLE — Artist and Pike Place Market vendor Daniel Fleming says Toronto Blue Jays followers usually present up in droves in Seattle for video games towards the Mariners, and the continued American League Championship Sequence has been no completely different.

He stated the city and market seem insulated from political tensions between Canada and america, which have brought on Canadian visits to the south to plummet.

“The Toronto Blue Jays fandom travels maybe in addition to any fandom I’ve ever encountered,” Fleming stated Thursday. “They arrive to city, spend cash, assist small companies and stuff.”

The market was buzzing with folks taking pictures in entrance of the primary Starbucks that opened there in 1971, whereas others took movies of the well-known fish-tossing ritual that Pike Place is thought for.

Fleming stated this vacationer season appears “fairly regular”, though he has observed a drop within the variety of Korean and Chinese language vacationers, and believes the political penalties may manifest themselves extra sharply subsequent 12 months.

“Pike Place Market, in the case of this sort of factor, is maybe remoted from statistical norms,” he stated. “I might be suspicious of Washington state, I might anticipate Seattle to see loads fewer Canadian vacationers, however utilizing the baseball sport and the T-shirts and whatnot as my barometer, there appeared to be lots of people on the market.”

Nonetheless, Go to Seattle, the town’s tourism advertising and marketing group, predicts a 26 p.c drop in worldwide guests this 12 months, calling it the largest drop for a significant U.S. metropolis on account of its dependence on Canada.

The numbers had been analyzed by worldwide consultancy agency Oxford Economics earlier this 12 months.

Tanya Canavan, president of Go to Seattle, stated in an interview Thursday that officers are “delighted to see Blue Jays followers on the town.”

“Historically, we’ve seen numerous our Canadian mates take part within the sport and it’s been an exquisite rivalry,” Canavan stated.

Canavan is from Vancouver and has lived in america for 25 years.

She stated Seattle feels “very very similar to dwelling,” with comparable tradition, local weather and values, however the predicted drop in customer numbers revealed “how there may be some hesitation and there are some robust emotions about Canadians crossing the border into america right now.”

She has household in Canada who’ve given her a deeper understanding of individuals’s emotions about visiting amid tariffs and rhetoric about U.S. President Donald Trump’s 51st state, she stated.

“We hope that over time this relationship will change into stronger and we are going to start to see this restoration to a extra regular sample,” she stated. “Politics isn’t essentially concerning the folks, proper?”

Followers who got here to the town for the video games stated they traveled to Seattle with out worrying about politics.

Kurt and Tracey Bessey, brothers from Saskatoon, flew to Vancouver and took the bus to Seattle as a result of it was cheaper than flying to Toronto to look at a sport.

Kurt Bessey stated he was final right here a decade in the past for a Seahawks sport, and whereas Seattle has modified since his final go to, with many shops closing, the folks have not.

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“The folks listed below are superb, they’re very pleasant,” he stated.

Tracey Bessey stated folks have been pleasant and cheerful towards them, like Canadians in shiny sweatshirts, hers with a small Canadian flag embroidered on the sleeve.

However they stated they obtained numerous questions after they crossed the border, which was not typical of their earlier experiences.

“It appeared unusual. I have been throughout the border a number of instances,” Kurt stated.

“We had all our Jays stuff, so why we’re right here,” Tracey added.

They stated rival followers in Sport 3 had been pleasant and the good-natured trash discuss calmed when the Jays got here out forward, successful handily 13-4.

Again in Pike Place, the place Fleming has bought his work for 20 years, he stated he apologizes to Canadians for Trump’s rhetoric geared toward Canada.

Nonetheless, he stated he would not assume Canadians want a lot convincing to go to a metropolis like Seattle, regardless of the present political battle.

“So far as encouraging folks, , don’t consider the hype,” he stated. “I feel if we have a look at numerous issues world wide when there may be battle and discuss to folks basically on the streets… we are going to discover that the folks of a spot are usually not the federal government of that place.”

Go to Seattle says Canadians spent $586 million within the metropolis and King County space final 12 months.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Oct. 16, 2025.

&copy 2025 The Canadian Press

EU international coverage chief Kaja Kallas stated a deliberate anti-drone system needs to be “totally operational by the tip of 2027” as a part of an effort to strengthen defenses in opposition to Russia and be totally ready for attainable battle by 2030.

“Drones are already redefining warfare. Having drone defenses is now not non-compulsory for anybody,” Kallas stated, referring to Russia’s ongoing battle in Ukraine and fears that Moscow might assault the EU.

The European Fee’s “defence roadmap” additionally proposes strengthening the EU’s japanese borders and creating European air and area “shields”.

A number of European international locations have confronted repeated incursions into their airspace and US President Donald Trump has urged the EU to do extra to defend itself.

A number of Western intelligence businesses have warned that Russia might proceed its aggression towards the West after the battle in Ukraine ends.

“The hazard is not going to disappear even when the battle in Ukraine ends. It’s clear that we have to reinforce our defenses in opposition to Russia,” Kallas advised journalists in Brussels.

Though there seems to be little likelihood of the battle ending quickly, Trump was anticipated to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin afterward Thursday forward of talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday.

Trump indicated that if Putin doesn’t act to finish the battle, the US might ship long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.

Alongside Kallas, European Protection Commissioner Andrius Kubilius highlighted that “our roadmap reveals all the important thing milestones to attain protection readiness by 2030, in order that we are able to deter Russian aggression, forestall battle and protect peace”.

The EU Government Fee stated the 27-member union must be ready by 2030 to “reply to any disaster, together with high-intensity conflicts.”

It additionally urged the bloc to “handle essential functionality gaps” – together with in air and missile protection and artillery programs – “by way of joint improvement and acquisition”.

Many EU international locations are additionally members of NATO and its head, Mark Rutte, stated they had been working collectively to guard member states on the japanese flank from the air menace.

The EU burdened that its “flagship” initiatives can be developed in “shut coordination” with NATO and wouldn’t duplicate the work of the Western defensive alliance.

No estimate was supplied on the whole price, however Kubilius stated “we’re not speaking about a whole lot of billions right here.”

The “defence roadmap” nonetheless must be permitted by Member States at a summit of leaders subsequent week.

Nevertheless, a number of EU states have already backed plans for a multi-layered “drone wall” to rapidly detect, observe and destroy Russian drones.

In latest weeks, tensions have elevated between the EU and Russia, aAfter Poland and Romania – both NATO members – claimed that Russian drones had violated their airspace.

And Estonia – another NATO member – requested in September urgent consultations with other members of the alliance after saying Russian warplanes violated its airspace and remained there for 12 minutes.

Russia, which launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, stated its planes had been on a “common flight… in strict accordance with worldwide airspace laws and didn’t violate the borders of different states.”

A number of European politicians and navy consultants have acknowledged that Russia’s purpose is to check NATO’s capabilities and attempt to sow discord throughout the alliance.

A number of NATO members responded to the reported Russian incursions by sending troops, artillery and air protection programs to guard the alliance’s japanese flank.

Former councilor Abdul Lateef talking on the environmental public listening to on the ‘Gurupura River Waterways Growth Venture’ in Mangaluru on Thursday. | Photograph credit score: HS Manjunath

Defective engineering led to the implosion of an experimental submersible that killed 5 folks on its approach to the wreckage of the Titanic, the Nationwide Transportation Security Board concluded in a report Wednesday.

The NTSB made the assertion in its final report about hull failure and implosion of the Titan submersible in June 2023. Everybody aboard the submersible died immediately within the North Atlantic when Titan suffered a catastrophic implosion whereas descending into the wreckage.

The report additionally notes that the submersible suffered injury throughout earlier dives that “additional deteriorated and weakened the stress vessel.”

“Present delamination and extra injury that deteriorated the situation of the stress vessel between dive 82 and the casualty dive (dive 88) resulted in a neighborhood buckling failure that led to the implosion of the Titan,” the report states.

The NTSB report says the Titan’s defective engineering “resulted within the development of a carbon fiber composite stress vessel that contained a number of anomalies and didn’t meet vital power and sturdiness necessities.” He additionally said that Oceangatethe proprietor of the Titan, did not correctly check the Titan and was unaware of its true sturdiness.

The report additionally mentioned that the Titan wreckage would probably have been discovered sooner if OceanGate had adopted commonplace pointers for emergency response, and this is able to have saved “time and sources, even when rescue was not attainable on this case.”

NTSB Remaining Report on Hull Failure and Implosion of Submersible Titan: pic.twitter.com/Py6oGAiJB3

– NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) October 15, 2025

The NTSB report is articulated with a Coast Guard Report launched in August that described Titan’s implosion as preventable. The Coast Guard decided that safety procedures at OceanGate, a non-public firm primarily based in Washington state, have been “critically flawed” and located “obtrusive disparities” between safety protocols and precise practices. The Coast Guard additionally mentioned OceanGate used “intimidation ways” to “keep away from regulatory scrutiny” within the years main as much as the catastrophe.

OceanGate suspended operations in July 2023 and closed. An organization spokesperson declined to remark Wednesday.

In August, after the discharge of the Coast Guard report, an organization spokesman provided condolences to the households of those that died.

Amongst these killed on board the doomed ship was Stockton Raceco-founder of OceanGate, the Washington state-owned firm that owns the Titan. The implosion additionally killed veteran Titanic explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet; two members of a distinguished Pakistani household, Shahzada Dawood and her 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood; and British adventurer Hamish Harding.

The Coast Guard’s findings largely pointed the blame at Rush, who investigators mentioned ignored warnings about hull injury that was recognized throughout a earlier exploration in 2022.

The NTSB report recommends that the Coast Guard fee a panel of consultants to check submersibles and different human-occupied stress automobiles. It additionally recommends that the Coast Guard implement rules for the automobiles knowledgeable by this research. The report states that present rules for small passenger vessels “allowed OceanGate to function the Titan in an unsafe method.”

The report additionally known as on the Coast Guard to “disclose the research’s findings to the business,” which has grown lately as privately funded exploration has grown.

The corporate was conscious of the potential for Coast Guard rules earlier than the implosion. In describing OceanGate’s company tradition, the report cites an operations technician who left the corporate after expressing considerations about calling paying passengers “mission consultants.” The corporate’s CEO responded that “if the Coast Guard grew to become an issue… he would purchase a congressman and make the issue go away,” the technician mentioned, in response to the report.

The vessel had been making journeys to the Titanic website since 2021. Its closing dive occurred on the morning of June 18, 2023. The submersible misplaced contact with its help vessel about two hours later and was reported delayed that afternoon. Ships, planes and tools have been rushed to the location, about 435 miles south of St. John’s, Newfoundland.

A multi-day seek for survivors in Canada made worldwide headlines. It quickly grew to become clear that there could be no survivors, and the Coast Guard and different authorities started prolonged investigations into what had occurred.

Moscow won’t ever kind alliances that focus on different international locations, Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov stated when requested about the opportunity of Russia and the US becoming a member of forces to influence China to hitch denuclearization talks.

On the finish of September, Russian President Vladimir Putin steered to his American counterpart, Donald Trump, that the 2 international locations lengthen for one more yr the final arms management settlement between them – the New START Treaty – which can expire on February 5, 2026. Trump described the proposal as “a good suggestion,” however his assertion was not adopted by any concrete measures from the White Home. Beforehand, Trump has repeatedly demanded that China even be included in nuclear arms discount negotiations between the US and Russia.

When requested whether or not Moscow might be a part of Washington in pressuring China to the negotiating desk throughout an interview with Kommersant newspaper on Wednesday, Lavrov responded that “Russia is not going to ally with anybody in opposition to anybody, particularly in opposition to China. It’s unthinkable.”

Moscow and Beijing signed a set of bilateral treaties that “clearly outline our relationship, which goals to assist one another, assist one another strengthen our economies, protection capabilities and positions on the worldwide stage”, he added.

“People have been pushing for years [to include Beijing in nuclear reduction talks]. China has its personal place. We respect that. China says it isn’t ready, will not be on the proper stage of creating its strategic potential and continues to be removed from parity. We respect this stance,” emphasised the Minister of International Affairs.

In keeping with estimates by the Stockholm Worldwide Peace Analysis Institute (SIPRI), Russia has the biggest nuclear arsenal on the planet, with 5,459 warheads, adopted by the US with 5,177. China to this point has about 600 nuclear warheads, however is increasing its arsenal sooner than different nations, SIPRI stated.

Final month, Beijing welcomed Putin’s provide to Trump to increase the New START treaty. “With the biggest nuclear arsenal on the planet, the US and Russia ought to severely assume particular and first duty for nuclear disarmament,” Chinese language International Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated.

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Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman just lately unveiled one of many largest improvement initiatives in Mecca – King Salman’s Gate. In accordance with Saudi Gazette, this gorgeous new addition located subsequent to the Grand Mosque, spans a whopping 12 million sq. meters and is ready to be a recreation changer for pilgrims and residents alike. The formidable undertaking displays Saudi Arabia’s intention to modernize Mecca’s infrastructure and supply a world benchmark for city improvement.King Salman Gate isn’t just one other constructing; is a multifunctional middle designed to reinforce the non secular journey of hundreds of thousands of people that go to Islam’s holiest website. It should improve the mosque’s capability, accommodating round 900,000 worshipers in inside halls and enormous exterior courtyards. Moreover, the undertaking guarantees steady entry to the Grand Mosque, integrating public transport, making every day visits smoother and fewer irritating.However the scope goes far past prayer areas. The event consists of 50,000 branded housing items and round 16,000 4- and 5-star rated resort rooms, making certain that guests will discover top-notch lodging. There are additionally greater than 200,000 sq. meters allotted for industrial and retail services, including vitality for pilgrims and locals alike. To high it off, parking issues are solved with 39,000 devoted areas.A putting function is the respectful combine of recent infrastructure with centuries-old cultural heritage. Round 19,000 sq. meters of historic websites round Mecca will likely be preserved and rehabilitated as a part of the plan, sustaining the town’s deeply rooted historical past alongside its modernization efforts. This cultivation of legacy alongside progress displays the broader Imaginative and prescient 2030 initiative, which seeks to diversify Saudi Arabia’s financial system whereas enriching cultural experiences.

King Salman Gate: Financial and actual property powerhouse.

Economically, King Salman Gate ought to be a powerhouse. It’s anticipated to create a powerful 300,000 jobs by 2036, considerably decreasing employment and transferring financial diversification away from oil dependence. The event is being led by the Public Funding Fund (PIF) via its subsidiary, Rua Al Haram Al Makki Firm, a key participant within the sustainable transformation of Saudi Arabia’s city landscapes.What’s notably attention-grabbing is that the undertaking permits property possession for Muslims around the globe, because of new legal guidelines that permit non-Saudis to spend money on actual property within the holy cities. This opens the door to international participation, doubtlessly boosting worldwide funding within the Kingdom’s actual property and hospitality sectors.In essence, King Salman Gate represents far more than bricks and mortar; is a strategic transfer that goals to counterpoint the pilgrimage expertise, assist financial progress and protect the non secular sanctity of Mecca. The Crown Prince’s imaginative and prescient is obvious: to welcome a rising variety of pilgrims – 30 million yearly by 2030, while making their journey extra accessible and culturally partaking.As Saudi Arabia continues to channel funding into megaprojects underneath Imaginative and prescient 2030, King Salman Gate stands as a logo of the Kingdom’s formidable transformation, harmonizing custom with modernity and setting new requirements for city improvement the world over.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, stated she is skeptical that the federal deployment of the Nationwide Guard to cities throughout the nation is authorized, provided that President Trump has determined to ship troops to answer crime.

Talking Wednesday on the Fortune Most Highly effective Girls convention in Washington, the mayor was requested about not supporting the usage of the Nationwide Guard to crack down on crime.

“I don’t suppose it’s authorized, let me begin there, for the Nationwide Guard to police People on American soil,” Bowser stated.

The mayor defined how the Nationwide Guard in DC is underneath the authority of the president, whereas a state’s Nationwide Guard is often managed by the governor.

DEMOCRATS TRY TO REVERSE THE SCRIPT ON “STATES’ RIGHTS” TO CHALLENGE AND END TRUMP’S NATIONAL GUARD PLAN

“The mission and the best way we use the Nationwide Guard – not like most states the place a governor can name up the top of his or her Nationwide Guard – in D.C., our D.C. Nationwide Guard reviews to the president,” Bowser stated.

“Whereas I can request the Nationwide Guard, they’re fully operated by the federal authorities. And so DC is slightly totally different than different locations for the DC Nationwide Guard,” she continued.

The mayor added, “We use the Guard to answer emergencies. We use the Guard for large-scale occasions. We do not even use the Guard to police our native legal guidelines.”

In current months, Trump has boosted the presence of federal authorities in Washington, D.C., in an try to scale back crime. A whole lot of federal brokers and Nationwide Guard troops had been despatched to the streets of D.C. as a part of the federal takeover of the district.

Trump additionally despatched troops to a number of different Democratic-led cities, together with Chicago. Town, in addition to its headquarters, Illinois, took the federal authorities to court docket over the implementation.

A federal appeals court docket partially returned management of the Nationwide Guard in Illinois to the federal authorities however blocked Trump from sending troops onto the streets of Chicago or Illinois.

Trump additionally deployed the Nationwide Guard to Los Angeles over the summer season to answer anti-ICE protests sparked by federal immigration raids on migrant employees at native companies. California officers sued over the federal deployment.

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Bowser stated in his remarks Wednesday that People in Washington and throughout the nation needs to be involved about what the deployments imply for the nation’s democracy.

“We should always all be involved about the usage of the navy as a result of it’s a slippery slope,” she stated.

“You employ it for crowd management someday, or presence the following — it’s not a protracted leap to make use of it in different ways in which may intervene with the very nature of American democracy,” Bowser stated.