President Donald Trump on Friday removed a video from his Truth Social account that included a racist clip depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes, following intense criticism from Democrats, Republicans and civil rights leaders. Trump declined to apologize, insisting he had not viewed the full video before it was posted and blaming a staff member for the error.
The roughly 62-second video, shared late Thursday night, promoted long-debunked claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. At its conclusion, the footage abruptly shifted to a brief animated segment — apparently AI-generated — showing the Obamas’ faces superimposed onto cartoon apes dancing in a jungle setting. The clip played over the 1961 song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens. The segment lasted only a few seconds before the video ended.
The post remained visible for nearly 12 hours before being deleted around midday Friday, as outrage mounted. White House officials initially defended the share, describing it as part of an “internet meme” portraying Trump as the “King of the Jungle” with various Democrats depicted as animals from “The Lion King.” Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an early statement that the content highlighted Trump’s dominance in politics.
Bipartisan condemnation came swiftly. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., the only Black Republican in the Senate, called the depiction “the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House.” He urged Trump to remove the post and issue an apology, emphasizing that such imagery perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
Other Republicans, including Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., labeled the content “unacceptable” and “racist,” calling for its immediate removal. Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Cory Booker, condemned the video as a continuation of dehumanizing rhetoric directed at the nation’s first Black president and first lady.
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Civil rights organizations were among the most vocal critics. The NAACP described the imagery as invoking “centuries-old racist tropes used to dehumanize Black people,” tracing the comparison of Black individuals to apes or monkeys back to the era of slavery and segregation. The Southern Poverty Law Center noted that such depictions have historically served to justify discrimination and violence.
The Obamas did not immediately comment publicly. Representatives for the former president and first lady said they were aware of the incident but declined further statement at this time.
Speaking to reporters Friday afternoon outside the White House, Trump addressed the controversy directly. Asked if he would apologize, he replied, “No, I didn’t make a mistake.” He added that he had only seen the beginning of the video before it was posted by a staffer and was unaware of the offensive ending. “It was fine until that part,” he said, referring to the main election-related content.
Trump condemned the racist clip itself when pressed further, saying, “Of course I do,” but maintained that the error lay with the staff member responsible for the post. A White House official later confirmed the video was “erroneously” shared and had been taken down.
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The incident occurred during the first week of Black History Month, amplifying criticism that the imagery was particularly insensitive. Historians and scholars have long documented how portrayals of Black people as primates were weaponized during the Jim Crow era and earlier to deny humanity and justify oppression.
The video appeared to originate from a longer meme shared on X (formerly Twitter) in October by a conservative account. That original clip depicted several prominent Democrats — including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and others — as various animals, with Trump as a lion receiving bows from the group. Trump shared only the portion featuring the Obamas as apes.
Social media experts noted that Truth Social, Trump’s platform, has fewer content moderation controls than mainstream sites, allowing such material to spread quickly among his followers before wider scrutiny. The post garnered significant engagement before deletion, with thousands of reposts and comments.
The episode marks a rare instance of the Trump White House walking back a social media share. Previous controversies involving Trump’s posts have typically been defended or ignored rather than removed. The deletion followed pressure from within his own party, highlighting the political risk of the content amid efforts to broaden appeal.
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Public reaction was swift on social media and in traditional outlets. Clips of news coverage circulated widely, with commentators from across the spectrum decrying the imagery. Some supporters dismissed the backlash as overreaction to a “meme,” while others expressed disappointment.
The timing coincides with ongoing political tensions between Trump and Obama, who has criticized the current administration on issues ranging from democracy to foreign policy. Obama has remained active in public life through his foundation and occasional speeches.
White House aides said internal reviews would be conducted to prevent similar incidents. No disciplinary action against the staffer was announced.
The controversy overshadowed other developments in the administration’s early days, including policy announcements and international engagements. It also renewed discussions about the role of social media in amplifying divisive content and the responsibilities of public figures in vetting shared material.
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As of Saturday morning, no further statements had come from Trump or the White House on the matter. The deleted post’s link now redirects to a generic Truth Social page.
The incident underscores persistent racial sensitivities in American politics, particularly around depictions of Black leaders. For many observers, it served as a reminder of how historical tropes can resurface in modern digital contexts, even at the highest levels of government.
URL CHangeGroupe Dynamite Inc. (GRGD:CA) Q4 2025 Earnings Call April 1, 2026 10:30 AM EDT
Company Participants
Alex Limosani Andrew Lutfy – Chair of the Board & CEO Stacie Beaver – President & COO Jean-Philippe Lachance – Chief Financial Officer
Conference Call Participants
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Irene Nattel – RBC Capital Markets, Research Division Stephen MacLeod – BMO Capital Markets Equity Research Martin Landry – Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc., Research Division Mauricio Serna Vega – UBS Investment Bank, Research Division Brian Morrison – TD Cowen, Research Division Vishal Shreedhar – National Bank Financial, Inc., Research Division Michael Glen – Raymond James Ltd., Research Division Christopher Li – Desjardins Securities Inc., Research Division Adrienne Yih-Tennant – Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division Mark Petrie – CIBC Capital Markets, Research Division Luke Hannan – Canaccord Genuity Corp., Research Division Jonathan Keypour – Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division John Zamparo – Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets, Research Division
Presentation
Operator
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Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Groupe Dynamite Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2025 Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] The conference is being recorded. [Operator Instructions] And I would like to turn the conference over to Alex Limosani, Manager, Investor Relations and Corporate Finance at Groupe Dynamite. Please go ahead.
Alex Limosani
Thank you, and good morning, everyone. Joining me on the call are Andrew Lutfy, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board; Stacie Beaver, President and Chief Operating Officer; and JP Lachance, Chief Financial Officer.
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This morning, Groupe Dynamite released its financial results for the 13- and 52-week periods ended January 31, 2026. The press release and related disclosure documents are available in the Investors section of our corporate website at groupedynamite.com and on SEDAR+.
We will begin the call with short remarks by management, followed by a question-and-answer period with financial analysts only. A replay of this webcast will be available shortly after the conclusion
Tarporley project includes private sale homes and affordable housing
Mark Smith and Local Democracy Reporter
05:00, 20 Apr 2026
The housing scheme from CB Homes will see 44 properties built on the edge of Tarporley(Image: CB Homes)
Plans for dozens of new homes in Tarporley have been rubber-stamped, with bosses at the firm behind the scheme hailing it a ‘landmark achievement’ for the company.
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Cheshire West and Chester Council planners have signed off on an outline application for a development on land off Eaton Lane in the village.
It is the brainchild of Tarporley-based CB Homes and includes a mix of properties for private sale and affordable housing.
According to the plans there will be 30 homes for the private market with a mix of two to five-bedroom homes, including bungalows, apartments, semi-detached and detached properties.
Affordable housing makes up the rest, comprising 14 homes with a mix of apartments and family properties to meet what the developer called ‘local housing needs’.
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CB Homes owner Nathan Booth said the approval was the largest in the firm’s 45-year-history, calling it a ‘landmark achievement’.
He said: “It reflects the dedication, commitment and motivation of our team.
“This milestone aligns strongly with our long-term business strategy and we are excited about the future.”
The application said green spaces were ‘integral’ to the design masterplan.
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It added: “The layout prioritises sustainable and accessible living, featuring pedestrian routes and cycleways connecting to the village centre, promoting active travel.”
The 5.4-acre site is split across two adjoining parcels of land to the west of Eaton Lane and backs onto existing residential neighbourhoods, including a Taylor Wimpey housing estate.
The application said the scheme was designed to act as a natural completion to that part of the village.
It said: “By preserving landscape features like existing trees, hedgerows, and pond into the design, the development not only respects the site’s natural character but also uses these features to create attractive, green spaces that benefit residents, local wildlife and the wider community.”
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Several objections were made over the plans, with other comments submitted in support.
To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.
Air Canada announced on Friday that the airline is suspending select U.S.-bound flights as jet fuel prices continue to skyrocket in the wake of the Iran war.
The cuts, set to take effect this summer and last at least five months, will impact all service to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City and the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Utah, the airline said.
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“As we regularly do, we monitor and review our network to ensure that routes are meeting profitability targets,” the air carrier said in a statement.
“Jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict, affecting some lower profitability routes and flights which now are no longer economically feasible. Schedule adjustments including some frequency reductions are being made in response.”
An Air Canada plane lands at Pearson Airport in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on July 1, 2024. (Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Affected customers will be contacted with alternative travel options, the Canadian carrier said.
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The airline specified that JFK will not see service from June 1 through Oct. 25, 2026, from its two hubs in Montreal and Toronto.
The move could reflect a consolidation strategy, as routes to nearby Newark (EWR) and LaGuardia (LGA) airports remain unaffected, according to the release.
Air Canada operates more heavily out of those two airports than JFK, its website shows, with local outlet CTV News reporting roughly 34 daily departures from across Canada.
A person watches an Air Canada airplane being towed away from a gate at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Feb. 6, 2024, in Toronto, Canada. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Flights to Salt Lake City, typically served only from Toronto Pearson (YYZ), will be suspended beginning June 30, with service expected to resume in 2027, creating a roughly six-month gap.
The airline also said two domestic routes and one international service were affected.
Routes between Vancouver and Fort McMurray will be suspended on May 28, while service between Toronto and Yellowknife will be halted on Aug. 30.
Both Fort McMurray and Yellowknife, which are considered lower-volume markets, were not given a resumption date.
Travelers at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York, on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. (uki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The airline was also planning to launch service between Montreal and Guadalajara, Mexico, which has now been indefinitely suspended.
Air Canada said the changes represent only a small portion of its global operations, affecting about 1% of its total annual flying capacity for 2026.
Jet fuel prices increased to $3.79 on Friday, more than a 50% increase since the day before the Iran war broke out on Feb 27, according to Airlines for America.
Several U.S. airlines have also adopted new cost-cutting measures to offset rising jet fuel prices, with JetBlue, Southwest, American and United Airlines increasing checked bag fees.
FOX Business reached out to Air Canada for more information.
Apple’s next-generation in-car system, CarPlay Ultra, is poised to expand beyond its initial debut, with new reports indicating wider adoption across major automotive brands.
After initially launching in select Aston Martin vehicles, the platform is now expected to reach more mainstream markets.
Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis Set to Adopt CarPlay Ultra
Apple’s upcoming iOS 26.4 update will let CarPlay drivers talk to ChatGPT and other AI chatbots, enhancing in-car assistance, productivity, and conversation while keeping safety in mind.
According to MacRumors, Apple previously confirmed that Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis are preparing to integrate CarPlay Ultra into upcoming models.
Recent reports suggest that at least one new vehicle from these brands could feature the system in the second half of the year. If confirmed, this would mark a major shift from luxury exclusivity toward broader consumer accessibility.
What Sets CarPlay Ultra Apart
Unlike traditional Apple CarPlay, CarPlay Ultra delivers deeper integration with a vehicle’s internal systems.
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The platform extends beyond the infotainment display into the instrument cluster, enabling drivers to view real-time data, including speed, fuel levels, tire pressure, and engine temperature, within a unified interface. It also supports direct control over features like climate settings, radio, and rear-view camera displays.
Personalized Interface Meets Brand Identity
According to VOI, the key feature of CarPlay Ultra is its adaptability. Apple allows automakers to customize the interface to match their brand identity, ensuring a consistent in-car aesthetic.
Drivers can also select from multiple design layouts, adding a layer of personalization that enhances both usability and visual appeal.
For everyone who’s always interested in any Apple software, what the Cupertino giant did with CarPlay Ultra is one step ahead of others.
Scheme largely funded by £6.5m from the UK Government’s Town Deal
Richard Hunt and Local Democracy Reporter
05:00, 20 Apr 2026
The plans for the Revoe Community Sports Village project in Blackpool(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
A multi-million pound community sports village for Blackpool has taken a major step forward as new details on the project emerge.
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A planning application for the Revoe Community Sports Village project, which is primarily funded by £6.5 million from the UK Government’s Town Deal, was last week submitted to Blackpool Council, which is working with Blackpool FC and Blackpool FC Community Trust.
The scheme includes the provision of two 7- a-side synthetic 3G football pitches, two padel courts and a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) and associated floodlighting.
A 3G (third-generation) football pitch is a modern, high-performance synthetic turf surface designed to replicate natural grass, featuring long fibers (40mm-60mm) infilled with sand and rubber crumb. They offer durable, all-weather play for training and competitive matches.
In addition, the plans also include proposed enclosures and boundary treatments, hard and soft landscaping, car parking and installation of two storage containers and associated works .
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A Planning, Design and Access Statement in support of the project stated: “This project will support sport and community provision by creating new facilities adjacent to Blackpool Football Club’s Bloomfield Road stadium.
“The Council is working alongside Blackpool Football Club and the BFC Community Trust to implement and subsequently operate the development.”
It concludes: “The proposals are considered to represent appropriate development which supports the overall aims of the Local Authority in improving access to sports facilities to support the health and wellbeing of the local community.
“For these reasons, it is considered that full planning permission for the proposed development should be granted. “
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What does the scheme offer?
The statement says: “All of the pitches would have associated floodlighting and two storage containers to be installed on-site would allow for equipment storage.
“The 3G pitch is designed to be configured as either two 7-a-side or four 5-a-side pitches, to FA standards.
“Each pitch will be bound by 4.5m high weld mesh fencing with floodlighting provided.
“It is proposed that the facilities would be open between 9am and 9pm daily. This reflects the opening hours of other 3G pitch facilities in Blackpool. The pitches would not be in use when first team home games are being played to mitigate any potential impact on traffic.”
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School use and possible tournaments
The BFCCT will manage the use of the facilities once operational. This will include facilities for educational provision and other sports programmes.
In respect of the 3G pitches, the Blackpool Football Club Ladies and Girls grassroots teams are expected to utilise the facilities as will the FA Girl’s Emerging Talent Centre, which is the Fylde Coast’s centre of excellence.
Bookable slots will be offered to local schools and junior grassroots football clubs, to utilise the space and hire facilities. The Community Trust will also be exploring options for developing some competitive opportunities, such as matches and tournaments.
What the council says
Cllr Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Built Environment and Economy, said the project was part of the council’s aim to improve the area around Central Drive with quality housing and green space.
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He said: “While our housing projects are about providing better homes for people to live in, this (sports) project is about improving the healthy lifestyles of people who live centrally, by creating community sports facilities for everybody to enjoy.
“The project will also help the football club’s community trust to increase its offer to local people, while also facilitating improvements to the East Stand to make the area around the football stadium a nicer place to visit.”
To find all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your community, visit the Public Notices Portal.
By Indrani De, CFA, PRM, Head of Global Investment Research FTSE Russell, David McNay, CFA, Director – Global Investment Research FTSE Russell, and Zhaoyi Yang, CFA, FRM, Sr Manager – Global Investment Research FTSE Russell
A recall affecting more than 400,000 power banks has been reissued after federal regulators reported additional incidents, including a fatal fire and a separate onboard airplane fire.
About 429,000 Casely Power Banks 5000mAh portable MagSafe compatible wireless chargers are included in the recall announced last week due to fire and burn hazards, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
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The recall was first announced in April 2025. At that time, Casely had received 51 consumer reports of the charger overheating, swelling or catching fire while being used to charge phones, causing six minor burn injuries.
About 429,000 Casely Power Banks 5000mAh portable MagSafe wireless phone chargers are impacted by the reannounced recall. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission / Unknown)
Since that recall was regulators say 28 additional incidents have been reported, including the death of a 75-year-old woman from New Jersey.
In August 2024, the elderly woman was charging her cell phone with the power bank on her lap when it caught on fire and exploded. She suffered second- and third-degree burns and later died from her burn injuries.
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In another incident, a 47-year-old woman in February was charging her cell phone with the power bank on a plane when it caught on fire and exploded, causing first-degree burns to the woman.
The recall was first announced in April 2025. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission / Unknown)
The power banks affected by the recall have the model number “E33A” printed on the back and “Casely” engraved on the front right side.
The chargers were sold on Casely’s website, Amazon and other online retailers from March 2022 through September 2024 for between $30 and $70.
Consumers are urged to stop using the power banks immediately and contact Casely for a free replacement.
The chargers were sold at the Casely website, Amazon and other online retailers from March 2022 through September 2024. (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz / Reuters)
The power banks should not be thrown away in the garbage since they pose a risk of fire, the commission warned. Consumers are instructed to contact local household hazardous waste collection centers for disposal guidance.
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