7 julio

7 julio After Iranian arrest tied to U.S. military murders, town advances sanctuary policiesSaquon Barkley becomes ninth running back to rush for 2,000 yards in a seasonCanadian National Railway Co. stock outperforms market despite losses on the day

TORONTO, Dec. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Firan Technology Group Corporation (TSX: FTG) (OTCQX: FTGFF) ("FTG” or the "Corporation”) is pleased to announce the completion of the previously announced plan of arrangement (the "Transaction”) under the Canada Business Corporations Act pursuant to which FTG has acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares ("FLYHT Shares”) of FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. ("FLYHT”). FLYHT is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of FTG. The Transaction was approved at a special meeting held by holders of FLYHT Shares ("FLYHT Shareholders”) on December 16, 2024 by approximately 97.9% of the votes cast by FLYHT Shareholders. Final approval for the Transaction was obtained from the Court of King's Bench of Alberta on December 18, 2024. Under the terms of the Transaction, FLYHT Shareholders were able to elect to receive, in exchange for each FLYHT Share held, (i) CAD$0.1103 in cash and 0.0333 of a common share of FTG (each whole such share, an "FTG Share”), (ii) CAD$0.3379 in cash (the "All-Cash Consideration”) or (iii) 0.0495 FTG Shares (the "All-Share Consideration”), subject to pro-ration (collectively, the "Consideration”). The Consideration is subject to a total maximum cash consideration of CAD$4.3 million and a total maximum share consideration of 1.3 million FTG Shares. As a result of the elections made by FLYHT Shareholders, all FLYHT Shareholders who made an election will receive the following pro-ration: Brad Bourne, President and CEO, FTG stated, "We are thrilled to have successfully completed the acquisition of FLYHT and we are confident that FLYHT will be an important part of FTG's future. As we had previously announced, FLYHT increases our presence in the commercial aerospace aftermarket, and FLYHT's SATCOM product increases our presence on Airbus aircraft, via a licensing arrangement and both of these are strategic priorities for FTG. Going forward we see a path to ramping up sales of FLYHT's product lines and insourcing manufacturing of their product to other FTG sites. We have lots to do, but with the teams at FLYHT and FTG I know we can achieve our goals and create value for our shareholders.” Immediately prior to the effective date of the Transaction, FTG and its subsidiaries did not own any FLYHT Shares. Under the terms of the arrangement, FTG acquired 38,997,650 FLYHT Shares, being all of the issued and outstanding FLYHT Shares. The aggregate consideration to be paid for the FLYHT Shares is approximately CAD$4.3 million and 1.3 million FTG Shares. The closing trading price of an FTG Share on the Toronto Stock Exchange on December 19, 2024, the date immediately prior to the effective date of the Transaction, was CAD$7.28. An early warning report will be filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com under FLYHT's profile. In order to obtain a copy of the early warning report, please contact Jamie Crichton, FTG's Vice President and CFO at: (416) 299-4000, ext. 264. ABOUT FIRAN TECHNOLOGY GROUP CORPORATION FTG is an aerospace and defense electronics product and subsystem supplier to customers around the globe. FTG has two operating units: FTG Circuits is a manufacturer of high technology, high reliability printed circuit boards. Our customers are leaders in the aviation, defense, and high technology industries. FTG Circuits has operations in Toronto, Ontario, Chatsworth, California, Fredericksburg, Virginia, Minnetonka, Minnesota, Haverhill, Massachusetts and a joint venture in Tianjin, China. FTG Aerospace designs, certifies, manufactures and provides in-service support for illuminated cockpit products and electronic assemblies for original equipment manufacturers and operators of aerospace and defense equipment. FTG Aerospace has operations in Toronto, Ontario, Calgary, Alberta, Chatsworth, California and Tianjin, China. The Corporation's shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol FTG, and on the OTCQX Exchange under the symbol FTGFF. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are related to, but not limited to, expectations regarding the potential benefits and synergies of the Transaction for FTG, delisting of the FLYHT Shares from the TSX Venture Exchange and FTG's intention to cause FLYHT to cease to be a reporting issuer. Forward-looking information typically contains words such as "anticipate”, "believe”, "expect”, "plan” or similar words suggesting future outcomes. Such statements are based on the current expectations of management of the Corporation and inherently involve numerous risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, including economic factors and the Corporation's industry, generally. The preceding list is not exhaustive of all possible factors. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by the Corporation. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully when making decisions with respect to the Corporation and not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Other than as may be required by law, FTG disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Eagles QB Tanner McKee gets 1st career TD football back with a little help from fans in the stands

The 4th Annual Convocation of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS-DU) was held here today, recognizing academic excellence and transformative contributions of well-known individuals to the society. The highlight of the day was the conferment of honorary D.Litt degrees upon three luminaries for their outstanding achievements and contributions. They are Padma Shri Dr. Mukesh Batra, Founder of Dr. Batra’s Group of Companies, a pioneer in homeopathy and healthcare and Padma Shri Mr. Savji Dholakia, Founder and Chairman of Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd., known for his leadership in the diamond industry and philanthropic initiatives. The other recipient was Dr. Pradipta Mohanty, Chairman of S.N. Mohanty Group of Companies, a stalwart in Odisha’s industrial and educational landscape. The convocation also saw the award of 8 PhDs and 426 master’s degrees. Also Founder’s Gold Medal, 7 numbers Chancellor’s Gold Medal, and 7 numbers of Vice Chancellor’s Silver medals were given to the students for their outstanding performance. In his convocation address, Former Minister of State for Schools and Former MP, UK Rt. Hon. Nick Gibb lauded KISS as “one of India’s top academic institutions” and emphasized the critical role of education in driving India’s economic growth. “Today, 43 million students are studying in Indian higher educational institutions,” he remarked, urging graduates to cultivate a lifelong love for learning. Shri Dholakia, while receiving the honorary doctorate degree, gave the students 5 mantras for success. Always consider yourself the best, think that everything is possible for you, God is always with you, you can be victorious and today is a new day for you – he advised students to follow these 5 mantras with dedication. He said that this honor has inspired me to serve the society even more in the future. Guest of Eminence, Rt. Hon. Alan Gammel, MP, UK, hailed Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KISS and KIIT, as “a true visionary and social transformer” for his relentless dedication to empowering marginalized communities through education. Dr. Jeffrey B. Liebman, Robert W. Scrivner Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, USA, underscored KISS’s unique mission. “KISS stands out for educating all Indians, especially children from downtrodden sections of society,” he said, commending the institute’s inclusive approach to learning. Apart of the Founder, KIIT & KISS Dr. Achyuta Samanta, the convocation was attended by the Vice President of KIIT & KISS Umapada Bose, Secretary R. N. Dash, Chancellor of KISS DU Satya Tripathi, Pro Chancellor Prof Amreswar Galla, VC Prof Deepak Kumar Behara, and Registrar Dr P K Routray.

As any deep pocket client of Alex Spiro will tell you, the high-profile trial attorney often executes a maximum impact strategy of very targeted attacks on the case against said client, as well as the planting of legal landmines to blow up the other side down the line. That combination is exactly what the Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan partner just did for Jay-Z today in the Jane Doe underage rape case against the ‘Empire State of Mind’ singer and the currently imprisoned Sean “Diddy” Combs. Now, with big blowback from a lawyer representing potential victims of Combs and others, Spiro may have overplayed his hand or gotten precisely the reaction he wanted. A day after Spiro and Jay-Z (real name Shawn Carter) strongly sought to have the refiled rape action against the ’99 Problems’ superstar and Combs either tossed out of court or have the name of the then 13-year-old plaintiff from the alleged 2000 assault by the two rappers and a still unnamed female “Celebrity B” unmasked, a two-page letter and declaration from colleague Mari Henderson has been sent to Judge Analisa Torres casting the other side as far far worse than mere Ambulance chasers. “After detailing her experiences to an attorney at Mr. Buzbee’s firm, he pressed for a connection to Mr. Combs, asking ‘at what point did you meet Diddy,’ even though she made clear that her case was unrelated to Mr. Combs,” Henderson’s declaration states of the law firm of Tony Buzbee, who is currently representing dozens and dozens of anonymous alleged victims of sexual abuse by the ‘Al About the Benjamins’ performer. The unnamed Texas resident here had reached out to Buzbee’s firm after seeing the media savvy lawyer on TV earlier this fall talking about Combs, who had been charged with sex trafficking in his NYC arrest on September 16. The woman in question sent into the firm’s website some information about a sex trafficking incident she said had occurred to her – again, not including Sean Combs . “After not hearing from Mr. Buzbee’s firm for weeks, during which this woman tried to contact the firm multiple times, she spoke again with a member of the firm who pressed her to confirm false details regarding her experiences as a victim, including that she was drugged, held down, pushed, and physically assaulted,” the declaration adds, and the letter from Spiro notes too. “She felt directed and coached by Mr. Buzbee’s firm to say that someone held her down and put drugs in her mouth when that was not her experience. She felt forced to lie.” “When the woman made clear she was unwilling to adapt to the narrative Mr. Buzbee’s firm laid out and wanted only to speak her truth, she was dropped as a client and told that Mr. Buzbee’s firm was unwilling to represent her any longer. Just hours after Jay-Z surprisingly appeared Monday at the LA premiere of Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King with the film’s voiceover stars Beyoncé and daughter Blue Ivy, the dual filing by his defense team has Buzbee preparing to go scorched Earth with some very very serious accusations of his own. Declaring that it is “patently ridiculous” that his Houston-based firm tried to strongarm a woman into anonymously pursuing a civil case against the Bad Boy Records founder even though “her experiences as a victim of trafficking by celebrities” was “entirely unrelated to Mr. Combs (or Mr. Carter),” Buzbee told Deadline the allegations made by Spiro in a letter to a federal judge Monday are pure BS “We don’t pressure people nor do we need to,” the openly aggressive attorney said after Spiro’s correspondence on behalf of Jay-Z (a.k.a. Shawn Carter) appeared in the docket in New York earlier today. (See Tony Buzbee’s full statement below) “I’m growing weary of responding to this kind of trash,” Buzbee went on to say. “Jay Z’s team is desperate and seemingly out of control. Their investigators have recently been caught on tape offering current clients of our firm one thousand dollars to sue our firm. This conduct is reprehensible and illegal. There will be consequences coming soon.” In just the past few minutes, Buzbee took to social media to offer even more information on the supposed payoff attempts he alleges. “These guys are on tape offering to pay clients to sue our law firm,” he writes with apparent transcripts. “That’s a crime.” Longtime Elon Musk attorney Spiro, who has also been very successfully representing Alec Baldwin in his now dismissed Rust fatal shooting case , did not respond to a request from Deadline on Buzbee’s apparent bribery allegations. If they do, this post will be updated. In this case, the brutal attack on the then teen Jane Doe is said to have occurred on September 7, 2000 during one of Diddy’s drug fueled so-called “freak offs” just after that year’s MTV VMAs. A very graphic October 20 filed lawsui t named Combs for the rape, but merely mentioned a male “Celebrity A” and a female “Celebrity B” who also carnally participated. Jay-Z was named as the “Celebrity A” in a December 8 refiling by Buzbee following a separate suit from an Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan-represented anonymous “celebrity and public figure who resides in Los Angeles” went after the Texan lawyer for extortion. “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!” Jay-Z said in a handwritten statement after the refiling, with Spiro seeking the case to be dismissed or the alleged victim revealed in paperwork filed on December 8 in federal court. On social media on Sinday Buzbee called Jay- a “bully” and basically told him to go screw himself. As for Sean Combs: After failing in late November in his third attempt at getting a proposed $50 million bail approved , the one time music mogul is scheduled to stand trial for racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution starting on May 5, 2025. Incarcerated at Brooklyn’s grim Metropolitan Detention Centre since his arrest almost two months ago, the 55-year-old Combs, who has entered a not guilty plea, faces life in prison if found guilty. Read Jane Doe attorney Tony Buzbee’s full statement on Jay-Z’s legal team’s most recently filings here: This allegation is patently ridiculous. If someone calls our intake group and has a viable case that we believe has merit and we can pursue we will pursue it. We are currently pursuing hundreds of cases against individuals and entities other than PDiddy. What we won’t do is pursue a case that we don’t believe has merit. Without telling me the woman’s name I can’t speak specifically to what she told the intake folks to even tell you what this woman claimed if and when she called. I can tell you we haven’t “dropped” any person like this. We don’t pressure people nor do we need to. What we have done is reject potential cases from people we find to not be credible. Understand we get a lot of prank calls. And we get a lot of calls from people who claim they are aggrieved but we just can’t help them. We certainly don’t need to “pressure” anyone to pursue a case. We have plenty of cases. What we can’t and won’t do is pursue a case we perceive to be weak or insupportable. I’m growing weary of responding to this kind of trash. Jay Z’s team is desperate and seemingly out of control. Their investigators have recently been caught on tape offering current clients of our firm one thousand dollars to sue our firm. This conduct is reprehensible and illegal. There will be consequences coming soon.Purpose Investments Inc. Announces 2024 Final Annual Income and Capital Gains Distributions For Purpose Mutual Fund Trusts with December 15, 2024 Tax Year-End

Carolina Hosts Kansas City While NFL Security Warning LoomsUnderperforming stars leave Tottenham with Europa League rescue missionBlues’ Radek Faska out vs. Sharks with lower-body injuryThe mayor’s meeting with Tom Homan, who will oversee the southern and northern borders and be responsible for deportation efforts in the Trump administration, came as Adams has welcomed parts of the president-elect’s hardline immigration platform. Adams told reporters at a brief news conference that he and Homan agreed on pursuing people who commit violent crimes in the city, but did not disclose additional details or future plans. “We’re not going to be a safe haven for those who commit repeated violent crimes against innocent migrants, immigrants and longstanding New Yorkers. That was my conversation today with the border czar, to figure out how to go after those individuals who are repeatedly committing crimes in our city,” Adams told reporters. In the weeks since Trump’s election win, Adams has mused about potentially scaling back the city’s so-called sanctuary policies and coordinating with the incoming Trump administration on immigration. He has also said migrants accused of crimes shouldn’t have due process rights under the Constitution, though he later walked back those comments. The mayor further stunned Democrats in the city when he sidestepped questions in two televised interviews last week on whether he would consider changing parties to become a Republican, telling journalists that he was part of the “American party.” Adams later clarified that he would remain a Democrat. For Adams, a centrist Democrat known for quarreling with the city’s progressive left, the recent comments on immigration follow frustration with the Biden Administration over its immigration policies and a surge of international migrants in the city. He has maintained that his positions have not changed and argues he is trying to protect New Yorkers, pointing to the law-and-order platform he has staked out throughout his political career and during his successful campaign for mayor. At his news conference Thursday, Adams reiterated his commitment to New York’s generous social safety net. “We’re going to tell those who are here, who are law-abiding, to continue to utilize the services that are open to the city, the services that they have a right to utilize, educating their children, health care, public protection,” he said. “But we will not be the safe haven for those who commit violent acts.” While the education of all children present in the U.S. is already guaranteed by a Supreme Court ruling, New York also offers social services like healthcare and emergency shelter to low-income residents, including those in the country illegally. City and state grants also provide significant access to lawyers, which is not guaranteed in the immigration court as they are in the criminal court. Still, Adams’ recent rhetoric has been seen by some critics as an attempt to cozy up to Trump, who could potentially offer a presidential pardon in his federal corruption case. Adams has been charged with accepting luxury travel perks and illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals looking to buy his influence. He has pleaded not guilty. Homan, who was Trump’s former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, also met last week with Republicans in Illinois, where he called on Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats, to start negotiations over how Trump’s mass deportation plans, according to local media. Separately, New York City officials last week announced continued efforts to shrink a huge emergency shelter system for migrants because of a steady decline in new arrivals. Among the planned shelter closures is a massive tent complex built on a federally owned former airport in Brooklyn, which advocates have warned could be a prime target for Trump’s mass deportation plan. Elsewhere, Republican governors and lawmakers in some states are already rolling out proposals that could help him carry out his pledge to deport millions of people living in the U.S. illegally. Izaguirre reported from Albany, N.Y.

US House approves bill to avert midnight shutdown, sends to SenateWESTERLY, R.I. , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: WASH ) (the "Corporation"), parent company of The Washington Trust Company, of Westerly (the "Bank"), today announced Bank balance sheet repositioning transactions to support continued organic growth and capital generation. "Like many banks, we have been carrying low-yielding assets on our balance sheet following rapid increases in interest rates over the past few years. These assets have been earning interest below current market rates, which has impacted our earnings and ability to reinvest and expand our business. We had the opportunity to raise approximately $70 million in capital to support the sale of these low-yielding assets and reinvestment of the proceeds into assets with higher rates," stated Edward "Ned" O. Handy III, Washington Trust Chairman and CEO. "This will allow us to focus on growth and investment which is good for shareholders, employees, customers and the communities we serve. This has also made us even stronger financially and will set us up for improved profitability in 2025 and beyond." Pursuant to the terms of the transactions, the Bank sold approximately $409 million of available for sale debt securities with a weighted average yield of 2.65% and has agreed to sell approximately $345 million in residential mortgage loans with a weighted average rate of 3.03%. The sale of the residential mortgage loans is expected to settle in the first quarter of 2025. The Bank has also reinvested approximately $378 million into available for sale debt securities with a weighted average yield of 5.30%. Additionally, the Bank expects to pay down approximately $352 million of wholesale funding balances with an estimated weighted average rate of 4.50% in the first quarter of 2025. The sale transactions are expected to result in a net after-tax loss of approximately $70 million that will be recognized in the fourth quarter of 2024. While this will cause the Corporation to report a net loss for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2024, it has been entirely funded by the $70 million in capital raised through our previously disclosed equity offering. The Corporation will provide additional details on this balance sheet repositioning in a presentation that will be furnished as an exhibit to a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and will be accessible on the Corporation's website at https://ir.washtrust.com . ABOUT WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP, INC. Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., NASDAQ: WASH , is the publicly-owned holding company of The Washington Trust Company ("Washington Trust", "the Bank"), with $7.1 billion in assets as of September 30, 2024 . Founded in 1800, Washington Trust is recognized as the oldest community bank in the nation, the largest state-chartered bank headquartered in Rhode Island and one of the Northeast's premier financial services companies. Washington Trust values its role as a community bank and is committed to helping the people, businesses, and organizations of New England improve their financial lives. The Bank offers a wide range of commercial banking, mortgage banking, personal banking and wealth management services through its offices in Rhode Island , Connecticut and Massachusetts and a full suite of convenient digital tools. Washington Trust is a member of the FDIC and an equal housing lender. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains statements that are "forward-looking statements." We may also make forward-looking statements in other documents we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in our annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by our officers, directors, or employees. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "assume," "outlook," "will," "should," and other expressions that predict or indicate future events and trends and which do not relate to historical matters. You should not rely on forward-looking statements, because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the anticipated future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that might cause these differences include the following: changes in general business and economic conditions on a national basis and in the local markets in which we operate; changes in customer behavior due to political, business, and economic conditions, including inflation and concerns about liquidity; interest rate changes or volatility, as well as changes in the balance and mix of loans and deposits; changes in loan demand and collectability; the possibility that future credit losses are higher than currently expected due to changes in economic assumptions or adverse economic developments; ongoing volatility in national and international financial markets; reductions in the market value or outflows of wealth management AUA; decreases in the value of securities and other assets; increases in defaults and charge-off rates; changes in the size and nature of our competition; changes in legislation or regulation and accounting principles, policies, and guidelines; operational risks including, but not limited to, changes in information technology, cybersecurity incidents, fraud , natural disasters, war, terrorism, civil unrest, and future pandemics; regulatory, litigation, and reputational risks; and changes in the assumptions used in making such forward-looking statements. In addition, the factors described under "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 , as updated by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings submitted to the SEC, may result in these differences. You should carefully review all of these factors, and you should be aware that there may be other factors that could cause these differences. These forward-looking statements were based on information, plans, and estimates at the date of this report, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, future events or other changes. NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES This press release and related presentation may contain references to measures that are not defined in generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Management believes that the supplemental non-GAAP information, which consists of measurements and ratios based on tangible equity, is utilized by regulators and market analysts to evaluate a company's financial condition and therefore, such information is useful to investors. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures, which may be presented by other companies. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. SOURCE Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc.AI-Powered Leap Financial Raises $3.5 Million Seed Round Led By Fuel Venture Capital

NASA awards $11.5 million to help design the aircraft of tomorrow

Hancock Whitney Renews Share Repurchase AuthorizationUS President-elect Donald Trump took a light jab at his Canadian counterpart on Tuesday, referring to Justin Trudeau as the "governor" of the "Great State of Canada". In an early morning social media post on Tuesday, he references a dinner the pair had in late November at Trump's Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago. Prime Minister Trudeau travelled to meet Trump following a threat by the president-elect to impose a blanket 25% tariff on Canadian goods when he takes office in January. Trump says in the post he hopes the pair can "continue our in depth talks on Tariffs and Trade, the results of which will be truly spectacular for all". Canada, a country of 40 million people, is one of America's largest trading partners and it sends about 75% of its total exports to the US. The two countries also share deeply integrated supply chains. On Monday, Trudeau told the Halifax Chamber of Commerce that Canada will respond to the tariffs if the Trump administration moves ahead with the threat following Trump's 20 January inauguration. Trudeau noted Canada is still considering the "right" way to respond, but referenced retaliatory tariffs Ottawa imposed when the first Trump administration slapped levies on steel and aluminum. "Our responses to the unfair steel and aluminum tariffs were what ended up lifting those tariffs last time," he said. Ottawa placed tariffs on both metals, as well as over 250 US goods including beer kegs, whiskey and orange juice - designed to politically pressure the US and make it take notice of the affect on cross-border trade. Trudeau on Monday called those counter-measures "carefully targeted" and "politically impactful to the president's party and colleagues". It allowed Canada - which is economically much smaller than the US - to "punch back in a way that was actually felt by Americans", he said. The president-elect's threatened the blanket tariff against Mexico as well unless the two nations secured their shared borders with the US. The number of crossings at the US-Canada border is significantly lower than that at the southern border, according to US Border Patrol data on migrant encounters, as is the amount of fentanyl seized. Trudeau said while he takes the potentially economically devastating tariff threat seriously, Canadians should not "freak out". The president-elect's approach is often to "destabilise a negotiating partner", he said. Trudeau is set to meet the leaders of Canada's provinces and territories for a second time on Wednesday to discuss the plan to approach negotiations with the US. Tuesday's "governor" quip is not the first time Trump has needled Canada. At Mar-a-Lago, Trump remarked that Canada should become the 51st US state - something that was "in no way a serious comment", said Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc, who accompanied Trudeau to the dinner. "The president was telling jokes, the president was teasing us," he told reporters early this month.