标签： North America

The ongoing US government shutdown has triggered widespread disruptions in air travel, with over 5,000 flights canceled or delayed on Friday as new mandates forced airlines to reduce operations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented emergency measures, cutting flights by 4% initially, with plans to increase reductions to 10% by next week. These measures aim to alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers and other federal employees who have been working without pay since the shutdown began last month. The staffing crisis has led to fatigue among controllers, raising safety concerns and prompting unions to voice their frustrations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that flight cuts could escalate to 20% if the shutdown persists. Meanwhile, travelers faced significant inconveniences, with many rebooking flights or seeking alternative transportation. The shutdown has also impacted federal workers, including air traffic controllers, who are struggling to make ends meet. On Capitol Hill, negotiations between Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked, with no clear resolution in sight. President Donald Trump has suggested ending the Senate filibuster to pass a funding bill, but this proposal lacks bipartisan support. The shutdown, now the longest in US history, continues to strain essential services and workers across the nation.

In a landmark decision, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut has permanently barred President Donald Trump from deploying National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon. This ruling marks the first instance where the Trump administration has been definitively prevented from sending military personnel to U.S. cities. The decision follows a protracted legal battle over whether Trump violated federal law by dispatching troops despite objections from local officials.

Judge Immergut, a Trump appointee, emphasized that the president lacked a lawful basis to federalize the National Guard in Portland. She clarified that her ruling does not preclude the president from ever using National Guard forces but stressed that in this specific case, there was neither a rebellion nor an imminent threat justifying such action. She also noted that Trump had overstepped his authority under the 10th Amendment, which reserves powers not explicitly granted to the federal government for the states.

The ruling comes amid a broader effort by Trump to quell protests against federal immigration policies in Democrat-led cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Earlier this month, Judge Immergut issued temporary restraining orders to halt the deployment of troops from Oregon, California, and Texas. In her 106-page decision, she stated that the administration failed to meet the legal threshold for deploying military forces in American cities.

The Trump administration is expected to appeal the decision, potentially escalating the issue to the Supreme Court. The case has highlighted the ongoing tension between federal and local authorities, with Portland officials and residents disputing the administration’s characterization of the city as ‘war-ravaged.’ Local leaders argue that the violence is limited and effectively managed by Portland police.

Portland’s attorney, Caroline Turco, framed the case as a pivotal test of constitutional governance, stating, ‘This case is about whether we are a nation of constitutional law or martial law.’ The ruling underscores the broader debate over federal overreach and the balance of power between state and federal governments.

The Canadian political landscape has been thrown into disarray as allegations of undemocratic practices and internal instability plague the Conservative opposition. Matt Jeneroux, a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) from Alberta, announced his resignation on Thursday, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. However, rumors had previously circulated suggesting he might defect to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party. Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer accused Carney of employing ‘Liberal pressure tactics’ to sway MPs, following Jeneroux’s departure and the earlier defection of another Conservative MP, Chris d’Entremont, to the Liberals. Scheer condemned Carney’s alleged attempts to secure a parliamentary majority through ‘backroom deals and pressure tactics,’ dismissing media reports of meetings between Jeneroux and Carney’s office prior to the resignation. Jeneroux later clarified that his decision was voluntary and not influenced by coercion, emphasizing his commitment to family. Meanwhile, d’Entremont expressed frustration with the Conservative Party’s leadership under Pierre Poilievre, describing it as ‘negative’ and claiming others in the party share his sentiments. Poilievre, who faces a leadership review in January, has been criticized for his combative style, which some blame for the Conservatives’ recent electoral losses. Amid this partisan drama, the Carney government is navigating the passage of its first budget, which requires support from other parties due to the Liberals’ lack of a majority. Failure to pass the budget could trigger a federal election, with lawmakers set to vote in mid-November.