🧚‍♀️ TREE HOUSE NEWS 🏡

NEWS AGGREGATOR & COMMENTS

Great Spirit bless 🙏

Hi friends 👋💁‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙅‍♂️🙆‍♂️🙋‍♀️🚶‍♀️🚶🚶‍♂️👫👬 I can only pray 🙏 that today will be a good day ☀️ for both my friends and followers, here online and in person out there. Be happy 😊 be safe, and be blessed 👼

I am doing terribly today with the typing stuff, like a five-year-old on a typewriter. One error after another. The laptop screen is bouncing all over the place, like an old toad 🐸, which doesn't help either. That breaks up my concentration, and then my mind goes blank. I took five outside in my Green Space to chill out. At least it's a splendid, sunny, warm first of September day today.

Dear Prime Minister Ford,

YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK FOR ONCE, PLEASE DON'T MESS IT UP

Well now, we are learning more about our fine premier Doug Ford 🐷🔱 maybe, and I do pray that maybe he's having a change of mind, or should I say he's growing some ethics. And ethics aren't some exotic spice you use on your barbecued steak. Although if you had ethics, it's quite possible it would improve the reaction of your taste buds for the sake 🥩😉

TODAY'S DISCUSSION:

REVIEW: A total ban on all American contractors,

- Google Search -

Question: August 31, 2026 Doug Ford cuts out all American contractors in Ontario

🔹AI Overview

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has not instituted a total ban on all American contractors, but his government has restricted U.S.-based companies from bidding on new provincial public-sector procurement contracts.

On August 31, 2026, Premier Ford issued a strict warning to architects and engineers, demanding they stop specifying American building materials for public infrastructure projects, heavily weaponizing Ontario's "Buy Ontario" laws amid an escalating Canada–U.S. trade war.

Ontario Construction News

• Key Facts of the Procurement Rules:

• Targeted Restriction: The rules specifically target access to new provincial public-sector contracts. It is not a blanket ban on existing operations.

• Exemptions Apply: The province's procurement restriction policy does not apply to U.S. companies that employ more than 250 Canadian workers or those already authorized to do business with Ontario.

• Retaliatory Action: This enforcement is part of Ontario's retaliation against the U.S. administration's 50% tariffs on Canadian goods.

• Other Retaliations: As part of the economic friction, Ontario canceled its $100-million Starlink contract with SpaceX and threatened to restrict electricity exports south

• Impact on Infrastructure Projects:

According to updates from Ontario Construction News, the provincial government is aggressively reviewing supply chains. Designers who mandate imported products when domestic equivalents exist are being flagged. The province expects its $30 billion annual procurement budget and $200 billion infrastructure plan to prioritize Canadian suppliers.

*Read More - Google Search -*

More To Come:

- Google Search -

Question: Doug Ford threatens to cut off power to the US August 31, 2026

🔹AI Overview

Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened to cut off electricity and critical mineral exports to the United States in late August 2026 amid an escalating trade dispute over new American tariffs.

- Mining-com -

• What Happened:

• The Threat: Ford warned that Ontario would place a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S. and completely shut off power if President Donald Trump continued to escalate trade measures.

- PBS News -

- PBS NewsHour -

• The Reason: The warning followed the U.S. implementation of 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, including autos and steel.

- BNN Bloomberg -

• The Target: Ontario shares transmission lines with states like Michigan and supplies power to parts of the U.S. Northeast, making energy a key point of economic leverage - CNN -

Current Status

• Unified Approach: Ford later noted that he cannot act completely on his own and called for a coordinated "Team Canada" approach with other energy-exporting provinces.

• Cooling Rhetoric: After initial harsh comments during press conferences, Ford appeared on several U.S. television networks to tone down the public feud, as detailed by The Associated Press.

- CTV News -

Now that is all I have for you on Mr. Ford today at the moment.

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BREAKING NEWS RECAP:

USPS whistleblower describes new plans for voting by mail hidden from the public

The US Postal Service effort to develop a sweeping new system for verifying mail ballots has invited a host of IT concerns among agency officials, with some describing the process internally as a “sh*t show,” according to a new whistleblower report released Tuesday by a Democratic senator.

The unnamed whistleblower is alleging that some of the procedures USPS is planning – under mandates put forward by President Donald Trump – have been hidden from the public. Those procedures will make an already complicated and risky plan even more vulnerable to potential mass disenfranchisement, the whistleblower says.

The new report – which was assembled by the whistleblowers’ lawyers and released by Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal – comes as multiple courts are considering the legality of the proposal, which would require that states submit to USPS lists of their mail-in voters. The agency will not deliver ballots to states if there are any discrepancies between the voter information in the USPS system and what’s captured by the agency's scanners on the ballot envelopes...

• Haphazard development and testing process:
• Verification procedures with no room for error:

PUBLISHED Sep 1, 2026, 6:01 AM ET - 4 hr ago

- CNN -

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Bond selloff deepens and stocks drop as oil prices stoke inflation fears

• Summary:

Companies

• Japan's 10-year bond yield hits 3% for first time since 1996

• tocks drop, with US futures down 0.6%, as borrowing costs rise

• Shein slides on lacklustre debut in Hong Kong

TOKYO/LONDON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Global bond yields hit major new highs ​on Tuesday as renewed fighting in the Middle East lifted oil prices and traders braced for interest rate hikes, putting pressure ‌on stock markets around the world.

Japan's 10-year benchmark yield hit 3% for the first time since 1996, pushing up government borrowing costs, as investors also fretted about ever higher public debt.

Make sense of global markets with the Trading Day newsletter. Sign up here. Britain's 10-year yield hit its highest since 2008 above 5.25%, while the equivalent German yield rose to a 15-year high at 3.36%...

STOCKS WILT AS BORROWING COSTS RISE

Money markets were also fully pricing in a further rate hike from the ECB this month.

Read More:

August 31, 20269:46 PM EDT - Updated 2 hours ago

- Reuters -

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Lost island in northern B.C. lake located, says B.C. Hydro

Newly formed island found along shore of Williston Reservoir after drifting for 30 kilometres

A newly formed island in B.C.'s largest lake has been located.

B.C. Hydro said Monday that the forested land mass, bigger than a Canadian football field, landed ashore after drifting some 30 kilometres northwest of its last known location in the middle of Williston Reservoir.

The island's curious appearance, and seemingly sudden disappearance in the massive man-made lake in northern B.C., has captured international attention and intrigue since boaters first made the discovery in August...

An island mysteriously appeared — then disappeared — on B.C.'s largest reservoir

WATCH | A floating island in northern B.C.'s Williston Reservoir:

LISTEN | An island mysteriously appeared — then disappeared — in northern B.C.:

• MAPS | Included:

Read More:

Posted: Sep 01, 2026 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago

- CBC -

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As Hegseth’s Pentagon purge intensifies, will anyone save the U.S. Army?

It is far past time for President Trump to recognize the lasting harm that Pete Hegseth is inflicting on the Department of Defense,” one senator said.

VIDEO | Included:

About a week ago, The New York Times reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s personnel moves have been so dramatic that he has left the U.S. Army “essentially rudderless” during an ongoing war in the Middle East. This week, conditions went from bad to worse. MS NOW reported:

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has submitted his resignation amid tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the ongoing U.S. war with Iran, two sources familiar with the matter told MS NOW on Monday. […]

The news comes as the U.S. war with Iran, which military leaders have reportedly cautioned is unsustainable, reaches its sixth month.

And that’s just the Army — the purge list related to the other service branches is significantly longer — and it doesn’t include other officers whose promotions have been needlessly blocked by the hapless Pentagon chief.

• Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submits resignation amid tension with Hegseth:

Read More:

Sept. 1, 2026, 8:57 AM EDT

- MS NOW -

____________________________________

Retired general reacts to Army secy. Driscoll resigning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjgwpiQg_zU

 

🧚‍♀️ TREE HOUSE NEWS 🏡

NEWS AGGREGATOR & COMMENTS

Great Spirit bless 🙏

Good morning, all! ☁︎☼ and ☔︎︎ ⛆ Well, good weather for ducks 🦆 and ouchritis ⚡I got up feeling like a transport truck 🚚 had run over my back 𖠣 Ya know what that's like if you're pushin' 80. Mum used to call it galloping 🐎 arthritis because it never hurt in the same place every day. But otherwise, I kept on steamin' ahead with making the coffee. Ever see how "Sore Ass Arthritis" looks in emoticoneese.*_

🏏💥(‿ˠ‿)🩹🫦

Now! If that ain't a very good mornin', maybe I don't know a good mornin from 💩 and peanut butter 🍯on toast ♨️🍞. But I can at least tell my good days from my bad ones, and on my bad ones, I try my best not to be too judgemental. When I'm not up to snuff, my wires tend to get more easily frayed, and at times I short out, when I fly off the handle 🔨 which, thank Great Spirit 🙏✨ is not very often; the short circuits are mostly caused by my *galloping pains in the butt* shorting me senses out💥(‿ˠ‿)🩹 🐎🫏🐪🐘🐂🦌 🏃‍♀️🐭 well, ya know how that goes if your pushin' 80...

The sun will fix a lot of that when it comes out again, and I can sit outside in my Green Space 🌱🌿 🍃☀️

"Well, there you are. That's about all the action taking place here today: me squawking to you, and you, my dear readers, allowing me to make my unpleasant noise from the Newsroom, eh? Elbows up, man!" 💪ᝰ▬🫩

Thank you for visiting and reading the Tree House News 🏡

STAY COOL! ✨🟰 & 🍁

TODAY'S DISCUSSION:

- Google Search -

Question: staying cool when everyone else is losing theirs

🔹AI Overview

The phrase refers to the famous opening lines of the If— Poem by Rudyard Kipling, which advises staying calm and levelheaded when everyone else is panicking.

- Poets-org -

Understanding the Poem's Advice

• The famous opening lines are:

"If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you..."

• Stay calm: "Keeping your head" means holding onto your composure and clear thinking during a crisis.

• Resist blame: People who panic often look for someone to blame. The poem advises not taking that bait or losing your own temper.

• Trust yourself: Maintain inner confidence even when others doubt your decisions, while still remaining humble enough to listen.

*YouTube VIDEO Included:*

Read More - Google Search -

_____________________________________

🙏If you have a moment to spare today, I would like to request that we turn our attention to caring and all the compassion and empathy we can give to others in need and pray and meditate for those who will be living in tents on the STREETS THIS WINTER with no food and proper clothing, unsanitary conditions, and NO HEALTH CARE!🙏

Thank you again from me, Cindy, the publisher of Tree House News, and my editor, Paula Koval, for your attention, prayers, and meditation, and to all of my followers and members. Your loyal readership means everything to us.

_____________________________________

CNN's Anderson Cooper reports from rescue operation at Nepal hydropower tunnels

VIDEO | Included:

*"I think there are about 45-50 people inside,"* a Nepali army colonel, who is part of a rescue operation at a hydropower plant on the border, told CNN's Anderson Cooper.

Nepal authorities say the search for workers who could be trapped inside hydropower tunnels is now the “highest priority.” More than 900 workers at various projects are missing.

World News

CNN's Anderson Cooper reports from rescue operation at Nepal hydropower tunnels

Read & View Video:

August 31, 2026, 07:19 • Source:

- CNN -

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Trump Administration Live Updates: Europeans Protest Russia’s Presence at Meeting of Finance Ministers in U.S.

What We’re Covering Today

G20 Meeting: The Trump administration’s decision to allow Russia’s finance minister to attend a gathering of top global financial officials in North Carolina drew immediate protests from European nations on Monday. Europe has sought to isolate Moscow since it invaded Ukraine in 2022, and the Russian minister’s surprise appearance comes amid increased tension between President Trump and longtime allies. Read more ›

Middle East: The first exchange of fire in a month between the United States and Iran highlighted how their war, which Mr. Trump had promised would end quickly, has persisted for more than six months despite his attempts to find a resolution.

Read more ›

Aug. 31, 2026, 11:22 a.m. ET1 hour ago

The Russian finance minister has faced a cold shoulder from western counterparts at such meetings for years. In 2022, former Treasury Secretary Janet L.

Ellen walked out of a G20 meeting on the sidelines of the I.M.F. spring meetings when Siluanov, who was attending virtually, started to speak. In 2023, Yellen confronted Russian finance ministry officials at the G20 in India, blaming them for the...

More To Read:

August 31, 2026 - 1 hr ago

- The New York Times -

_____________________________________

The Trump administration’s unholy — and un-American — surveillance of Minnesota churches

I keep asking myself what the federal government hoped to discover by tracking, documenting and investigating people inside houses of worship. But here’s what I hope they saw.

VIDEO | Included:

Every Epiphany, I read to my congregation the story of the magi coming from the East to Jerusalem to find the one born king of the Jews. The story says that when King Herod and all of Jerusalem heard the news of this newly born king they were … troubled. I’ve often wondered what mainline churches could do for today’s officials to be troubled. Those of us in the Twin Cities have just found out: truly love our neighbors.

So many of our churches affirmed our commitment to welcoming the stranger as President Donald Trump’s second administration made deporting them a priority, and we spoke boldly against Operation Metro Surge, the administration’s deadly escalation of its deportation plan here in the Twin Cities. Recent court documents, filed by a defense attorney of one of the 15 members of Direct Action Minnesota charged in June...

• University Baptist Church believed itself to be covered by a February federal injunction against DHS conducting activities on its property without a warrant.:
• Despite the terror, horror and intimidation on the streets, as they loved their neighbors with abandon, people inside our churches began feeling hopeful and courageous.:

Read More\;

Aug. 31, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT

- MS NOW -

______________________________________

CANADIAN NEWS:

The Canadian suspected of spying on NATO was denied bail. Here’s what comes next

Biwei Zhang, 33, could face up to a decade in prison if convicted of espionage

The Canadian suspected of spying on the NATO military headquarters in Belgium is expected to remain in detention until her trial, which could be a year or more away.

Biwei Zhang, 33, will remain in custody after a Belgian judge on Monday denied the former NATO intern’s appeal for release. "Today, the Chamber of Indictments decided to extend the suspect’s pretrial detention by one month," the federal prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

Zhang must appear before a judge at regular intervals — once a month for the first three months and every two months thereafter — to determine whether pretrial detention remains appropriate...

WATCH | CBC identifies suspected spy:

• Espionage 'test case':

WATCH | Avoiding the 'Streisand effect':

WATCH | Canadian officials involved:

• Suspect may have 'crossed the line' later:

CBC Investigates

CBC identifies Canadian woman accused of spying at NATO military HQ_

WATCH | Suspect may have looked fine 'on paper':

Read More:

Posted: Aug 31, 2026 11:58 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

- CBC -

_____________________________________

Russia is rattling NATO’s nerves, but how far will Moscow go?

Incursions may be aimed at testing Western military alliance's resolve

It would be fair to say this summer has been the season of fear and loathing in Eastern Europe, as more signs emerge that Russia could be ready to further test NATO solidarity in the hopes of breaking it.

Poland and Romania have witnessed a series of Russian drone intrusions and at least one missile strike since the spring. The idea that the Kremlin is preparing some kind of incursion drove speculation surrounding the CIA director's surprise visit to Moscow last week.

What is worrying officials in Poland and the Baltic states is not the prospect of Russian armoured divisions suddenly crossing the frontier...

• "Do I think they'll do something that is so clearly aimed at shaking NATO decision-making and political cohesion? Absolutely:"

Posted: Aug 31, 2026 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 9 hours ago

- CBC -

_____________________________________

 

🧚‍♀️ TREE HOUSE NEWS 🏡

 

NEWS AGGREGATOR & COMMENTS

 

Great Spirit bless 🙏

- Google Search -

Question: The newest update on the Gripen and Canada, August 30, 2026

🔹AI Overview

Canada is actively reviewing its military aircraft plans to potentially split its fighter purchase between U.S. F-35s and Swedish Saab Gripen jets, while Saab recently renewed its pitch to build a domestic production line in Canada. - CBC - [1, 2]

The Mixed Fleet Proposal

• Fleet Review: Prime Minister Mark Carney's government continues to evaluate the planned purchase of 88 Lockheed Martin F-35s. - CP24+1 -
• The Split Option: Ottawa is considering a "high-low mix" strategy. This approach keeps a reduced number of F-35s for high-threat tasks while adding up to 72 Saab Gripen jets for regular defense patrols and northern sovereignty. - CBC -
• Industrial Incentives: Saab officially detailed a plan to establish a full final assembly and manufacturing center on Canadian soil, partnering with local firms like GE Aerospace and Magellan as well as CAE for training systems. - FlightGlobal+3 -

Canada’s Shock Gripen Move: Why Sweden’s Fighter Is Back in the Race

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulxpaWNGaAQ

 

🧚‍♀️ TREE HOUSE NEWS 🏡

NEWS AGGREGATOR & COMMENTS

Great Spirit bless 🙏

Well, folks, it's another grey, gloomy, cloudy [☁️] day, and this time I don't think it's gonna go away any time soon. Oh well, I got my LED sun on. When it's grey like this, I turn on every light in the place, and they're all LED lights 💡 nice and bright. I like listening to 60s, 70s, and some 80s rock on the radio 📻 in the background while working on the news 📰 "I'm happy," 😀 at least nothing to complain about except for a few aches here and there 🤕🩹 Mom used to call it Galloping Arthritis!

What is Galloping Arthritis, you ask?

Terrible disease, yeah, wait 'til your hair and teeth begin falling out, but the worst is when you get up in the morning and can't find your head 😵‍💫 I call those aches my war wounds. It's true about some of those old war wounds coming back to haunt you in later years. So aches are normal for me at my age; I had a few war wounds as well from doing dumb, dumb 🗿 things. I wouldn't want to find out whether some of that tomfoolery back then was legal or not. 😉

"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"

Condition of Forgiveness: Matthew 6:14–15 notes that if you forgive others their trespasses, God will forgive you, but if you do not, neither will He forgive yours.

_*My biggest sin was trespassing. Whenever I saw a "No Trespassing" sign, I had to find out what it was they didn't want anyone to trespass to see. Well, for me, it was Curiosity, SEEE! Curiosity also got the cat, they say, but the cat 🐱 came back. Well now, ain't that the real cats 🐈‍⬛(‿ˠ‿) 😝*_

THE CAT CAME BACK - STOMPING TOM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikhRd61fW8g

The mornings 🌅 are my favorite part of the day, especially when it's sunny ☀️ and I can sit out in my Green Space 🌱🌿 🍃 with my coffee ☕

I do pray that you all have a wonderful and blessed day on this Sunday, August 30, 2026

Well, that's about all I have to share with you from the Newsroom this morning, so now it's on the Discussion of the Day.

- Google Search - Recap from yesterday -

Question: Doug Ford hiring American companies to work in Ontario

AI Overview

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is facing criticism from opposition parties over past and current government contracts awarded to U.S. companies amid a trade dispute with the United States.

The Allegations

During ongoing trade tensions and U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles and other opposition figures criticized Doug Ford for utilizing American companies on major provincial projects. Examples highlighted by critics include:

- CBC -

• Building new subway cars for Ontario Transit in Maryland.

• Utilizing American-owned Staples for teacher classroom supplies.

• Paying a Texas-based company for highway maintenance.

The Response

• Calls to Action:

Opposition leaders have demanded that Ford recall the legislature to cancel existing government contracts with U.S. businesses, halt new AI data centre agreements benefiting American firms, and implement a strict *"Buy Ontario First" law*

- CBC -

Ford's Stance:

In response to the broader tariff conflict, Premier Ford has pushed back against U.S. trade policies, urged local boards to shift away from American businesses, expanded the $1 billion Protect Ontario Financing Program to help local companies deal with economic disruptions, and publicly sparred with President Trump.

However, opposition critics call his recent "Ontario First" rhetoric hypocritical given past procurement deals.

- YouTube -

Read More - Google Search -

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BREAKING NEWS RECAP:

NASA launches ‘discovery machine’ to unravel the invisible universe

A massive observatory that scientists have called a “discovery machine” has launched toward the cosmos, beginning a journey that could mark a significant shift in our understanding of the universe.

Designed to seek out otherwise invisible and faint space objects, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope lifted off aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket at 7:26 a.m. ET Sunday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The observatory reached orbit about 10 minutes later.

VIDEO | Included:

• What makes Roman different:

A mission to stop a space observatory from falling to Earth has failed. Read Here’s what happens next

• Probing cosmic mysteries:
• Enabling a search for life:

Read More:

Updated Aug 30, 2026, 10:25 AM ET - 3 min ago

- CNN -

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FORD - PROJECT ONTARIO / PROJECT 2025

 

🧚‍♀️ TREE HOUSE NEWS 🏡

NEWS AGGREGATOR & COMMENTS

Great Spirit bless 🙏

OOOPS! WHAT'S UP? Maybe Ford pee pee 💦 his shorts 🩳 I guess once you're a weezel you're always a weezel, eh? 🦡

BREAKING!

From Ontario NDP

Doug Ford loves to talk about “Buying Ontario” when there’s a camera in front of his face.

He’ll pull American liquor off LCBO shelves, wrap himself in the Canadian flag and talk tough about standing up to Donald Trump.

Well, he’s lying. Straight up.

His government keeps sending Ontario taxpayer dollars to U.S. companies:

Ontario teachers’ $750 classroom supply cards can only be spent through American-owned Staples.

New subway cars for the Ontario Line are being manufactured by Hitachi Rail in Maryland.

The WSIB laid off Ontario workers and contracted work to American firm Iron Mountain.

A $140 million glass and aluminum contract at the new Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital went to American company Benson Global/Permasteelisa.

Ontario pays Texas-based Webber Infrastructure Management $120 million annually to maintain and patrol provincial highways.

These were choices made by Doug Ford’s government, with your tax dollars.

It’s completely unacceptable, and it makes a mockery of every Ontario worker he claims to be standing up for.

Marit Stiles has called on Doug Ford to recall the legislature, review government contracts going to U.S. businesses, cancel the ones going to American companies, and put real Buy Ontario First rules into law.

If you agree — tell Doug Ford to put his money where his mouth is:

ADD YOUR NAME: CANCEL THE U.S. CONTRACTS

If Doug Ford is actually serious about standing up for Ontario, he can start with the contracts his own government controls.

Enough with the Captain Canada façade.

Keep Ontario money in Ontario.

New Democratic Party of Ontario

2069 Lakeshore Blvd West, Suite 201, Toronto, ON M8V 3Z4

August 28, 2026