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Avi Lewis Wins Federal NDP Leadership in First-Ballot Victory

Avi Lewis, who was proclaimed as the new leader of the NDP, speaks at the party convention in Winnipeg Sunday, March 29, 2026. Filmmaker and longtime activist Avi Lewis has been elected the new leader of the federal New Democratic Party , securing a decisive first‑ballot win with nearly 40,000 votes out of roughly 71,000 cast . His victory marks a significant shift for the party as grassroots members push for a more unapologetically left‑wing direction.  Lewis’s win signals renewed momentum for the NDP after a difficult federal election year. His campaign championed bold proposals—including expanding public ownership in key sectors—and emphasized rebuilding the party from the ground up. He inherits a party reduced to six seats in the House of Commons and facing internal tensions over energy policy, particularly from Alberta and Saskatchewan NDP leaders who warn his positions could harm workers in their provinces.  In his victory speech at the Winnipeg convention, Lewis call...

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Red Sea Shipping Crisis Worsens After US and UK Strike Yemen

 

The Red Sea, a vital waterway for global trade, has become a hotspot of conflict and insecurity after the US and UK launched airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been attacking commercial vessels with missiles and drones.

The airstrikes, which began on Thursday, were a response to the 27th Houthi attack on shipping since November, according to the US military. The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have been targeting ships in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow passage that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

The escalation of violence has disrupted the flow of oil, gas, grains, and manufactured goods through the region, which accounts for about 12% of global seaborne trade. Many shipping companies have suspended or diverted their operations, opting for the longer and more costly route around Africa. Some insurers have also raised their premiums or restricted their coverage for vessels passing through the area.

The shipping crisis has added to the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, where a civil war has been raging since 2015. The UN estimates that more than 20 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and that millions are on the brink of famine. The airstrikes have also raised fears of a wider regional conflict, as Iran and its allies clash with the US and its allies over various issues, including the nuclear deal and Israel’s war in Gaza.

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