Good morning. This is Chris Bilton.
World leaders met in Egypt and signed a deal to end the war in Gaza. Now, the focus will turn to next steps. We'll have more on that below.
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World leaders met in Egypt to discuss postwar Gaza plans amid hostage, prisoner swap
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(Suzanne Plunkett/The Associated Press)
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U.S. President Donald Trump embarked on a whirlwind trip to the Middle East yesterday to cement the end of the war between Israel and Hamas, all while Hamas and Israel underwent a long-awaited prisoner and hostage swap as part of the ceasefire. It was a day marked by celebration, relief — and some skepticism.
What happened: Trump visited Israel early in the day to celebrate the U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hamas, where he gave a speech at the Knesset, calling the day "a new dawn for the Middle East." Later, at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt ahead of a world leaders' summit, Trump, alongside mediators, signed a document officially ending the war in Gaza. Nearly three dozen countries, including some from Europe and the Middle East were there for the summit, as was Prime Minister Mark Carney, whom Trump referred to as "president."
What’s next: Trump offered few details about what's to come. Israel and Hamas are still in the early stages of implementing the first phase of the plan. In addition to a hostage and prisoner swap, the first phase calls for a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza and a partial pullback by Israeli forces from Gaza’s main cities. Israel has reportedly agreed to reopen five border crossings, which will help ease the flow of much-needed food and other supplies into Gaza. Many other specifics, such as Gaza's postwar governance, how reconstruction will be handled and Israel's demand that Hamas disarm, have not been worked out.
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Canada and India agree to 'ambitious' road map to strengthen ties
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(@Narendra Modi/X)
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Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi yesterday morning, where the two countries agreed to a new road map for Canada-India relations.
The context: The joint partnership agreement is the latest in a series of steps both governments have taken to thaw an icy relationship that began after former prime minister Justin Trudeau stood in the House of Commons and accused the Indian government of being involved in the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C. India has denied Canada’s accusations, and the allegations led to both parties expelling each other's diplomats.
The reaction: Nijjar was a prominent local leader in the Khalistan movement pushing for the creation of an independent Sikh state in India. In a statement yesterday, the World Sikh Organization of Canada said it is “deeply concerned” that the Canada‑India joint statement offered no assurances about stopping foreign interference or transnational repression.
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Liam Johnston died on the job at 27. His loved ones want to see change and accountability
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(Submitted by Emily Gofton)
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What happened: Liam Johnston, 27, a plumbing apprentice, was buried in a trench collapse while working on a sewer job at a Calgary home in June 2023. Experts say he likely died within minutes under the weight of earth and concrete blocks, and it took nine hours for firefighters to recover his body. There are regulatory charges for safety violations in his death, which could lead to fines if there’s a conviction. But Johnston’s girlfriend, as well as his family, say fines aren’t enough and hope for criminal charges in this case.
The context: Johnston was one of about 350 Canadians who die every year from a traumatic injury suffered at work, based on newest reports from the University of Regina. In Canada, while occupational health and safety regulations can see corporations or employers fined after a workplace death, there is also the possibility of criminal prosecution — due to the “Westray law,” the 2004 amendment to the Criminal Code motivated by a 1992 Nova Scotia mining disaster.
The bigger picture: Since Westray was introduced, charges and convictions remain rare. According to research from the United Steelworkers union (USW), Westray provisions of the Criminal Code have only been used 30 times since coming into effect more than two decades ago, resulting in just 11 convictions and only four people sentenced to prison. Now, some legal experts, labour groups and safety professionals argue that needs to change.
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IN LIGHTER NEWS
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12-year-old Halifax girl competes against world No. 2 chess player at P.E.I. tourney
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(Fred McKim)
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