Canada-U.S. Tariff Race: Ottawa and Washington are nearing a deal to avert Trump’s planned 50% tariffs on about $20B of Canadian exports, with talks focused on concessions across dairy, cars and alcohol while energy, defense and critical minerals are reportedly part of the bargain. B.C. Mine Fight: A cross-border coalition is pushing for an independent review of Glencore’s proposed Fording River coal mine expansion in Elk Valley, warning regulators may already be leaning toward approval amid selenium contamination concerns. Wildfire Tech in B.C.: Rogers activated free province-wide satellite-to-mobile service for more than 21,000 evacuees after wildfire damage severed cell towers, testing whether direct-to-device connectivity should be built into emergency plans. Crime Crackdown: RCMP’s Project NoCargo recovered nearly 400 stolen vehicles worth about $28M, targeting fraudulently financed cars before they could be exported. AI for Astronomy: Researchers demonstrated an AI-driven telescope scheduling system that can make observing decisions in real time, a potential boost for Canada’s growing AI and space ambitions. Tax Reform Push: Prime Minister Mark Carney’s team says Ottawa will tackle long-overdue tax code reform “one bite at a time,” with small-business changes high on the list. Agriculture & Food: UBC research points to a seaweed-based coating that could keep strawberries fresher longer without refrigeration, while farmers brace for tariff pressure on inputs and exports.