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Canadian Rail Workers Begin Returning to Work as Stoppage Partially Ends

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Canadian Rail Workers Begin Returning to Work as Stoppage Partially Ends

Employees at one of Canada’s two largest railways are set to return to work on Friday, marking the partial end of an unprecedented work stoppage following intervention by the federal government. The brief halt in operations, which affected Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), saw 9,300 workers locked out after negotiations with the Teamsters union failed to reach an agreement.

On Thursday, Canada’s Labour Minister, Seamus O’Regan, intervened by asking the federal industrial relations board to impose binding arbitration on the parties involved. As a result, CN announced that its operations would resume on Friday, while CPKC indicated that it was preparing to restart, with the exact timing still pending.

In addition to the back-to-work order, Minister O’Regan requested that the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), an independent third party, begin the process of binding arbitration between the Teamsters union and both rail companies. O’Regan expressed his expectation that railway operations would fully resume “within days.”

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Early Friday morning, the Teamsters union issued a statement on X, confirming the removal of picket lines at CN. However, the statement also mentioned that the work stoppage at CPKC was still ongoing, awaiting an official order from the CIRB.

The government’s swift action aims to prevent further disruptions to Canada’s crucial supply chains, which were at risk due to the labor dispute. The partial resumption of operations is a step towards resolving the conflict, though the situation at CPKC remains to be fully resolved.

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Police Conduct Under Review After Murder of Southampton Student Henry Nowak

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An 18-year-old student from Southampton, Henry Nowak, was handcuffed by police after being fatally stabbed by 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, who falsely claimed at the scene that he had been the victim of a racist attack.

Digwa was later convicted of Henry’s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 21 years before he can be considered for parole.

Henry’s parents have said they hold Digwa solely responsible for their son’s death. However, they have also expressed deep concern over the way Henry was treated by police officers after the attack, describing his treatment as inhumane and degrading.

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The case has prompted further scrutiny following the release of bodycam footage showing Henry being handcuffed despite suffering serious injuries and repeatedly telling officers that he could not breathe.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has since apologised to Henry’s family for the distress caused by the incident.

The force confirmed that the matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which will examine the actions of officers at the scene and determine whether any misconduct occurred.

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The investigation will focus on police decision-making during the incident and whether appropriate procedures were followed while responding to the stabbing.

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Trump in ‘excellent health’ but should lose weight and exercise more, his doctor says

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Donald Trump remains in “excellent health” and is fully capable of performing the duties of president, according to the results of his latest annual medical examination released by the White House.

The report, prepared by White House physician Sean Barbabella, stated that Trump, who will turn 80 next month, continues to demonstrate strong cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological and overall physical health.

Barbabella concluded that the president is “fully fit to carry out all duties of the Commander-in-Chief and Head of State.”

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Trump underwent the examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday. Afterwards, he wrote on his social media platform that “everything checked out perfectly.”

The assessment was his third publicly known medical check-up since returning to the White House.

Cognitive and Physical Health

According to the report, Trump achieved a perfect score of 30 out of 30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a widely used screening tool designed to evaluate memory, attention and other cognitive functions.

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The examination found no significant concerns regarding his cognitive health.

Trump currently weighs 238 pounds (108kg), an increase of 14 pounds (6.3kg) compared with his April 2025 medical assessment. While noting his overall strong health, Barbabella recommended continued attention to diet, exercise and weight management.

The report also stated that Trump is taking medication to control cholesterol levels.

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Heart Health and Activity Levels

The president’s resting heart rate was recorded at 73 beats per minute. According to the physician’s assessment, Trump’s cardiovascular condition compares favourably with his age group, with his estimated cardiac age being approximately 14 years younger than his actual age.

Barbabella noted that Trump’s demanding schedule, which includes frequent meetings, public appearances and regular physical activity, continues to support his overall wellbeing.

Update on Previous Health Concerns

Last year, visible bruising on Trump’s hands and swelling in his lower legs generated public discussion about his health.

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In July, it was disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency, a condition in which veins in the legs struggle to return blood efficiently to the heart, potentially causing swelling in the lower limbs.

The latest report stated that some mild swelling remains but has improved since last year.

Barbabella also addressed the bruising on Trump’s hand, explaining that it is consistent with minor soft-tissue irritation caused by frequent handshaking while taking aspirin as part of a cardiovascular prevention regimen.

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According to the physician, such bruising is a common and generally harmless side effect of aspirin therapy.

Ongoing Medical Care

The report indicated that Trump remains current on recommended preventive screenings and immunisations. In addition to aspirin, he continues to take two medications designed to manage cholesterol levels.

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Israeli Strike Hits Beirut as Tensions Escalate Despite Ceasefire

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Israel has carried out a strike on the Lebanese capital, Beirut, marking only the second attack on the city since a ceasefire came into effect last month.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the operation, launched at about 14:00 local time (11:00 GMT), was conducted in a “targeted manner”, though officials did not immediately release further details about the intended target.

Israeli media, citing unnamed security sources, reported that the strike was aimed at Ali al-Husni, described as the head of the missile force in the Imam Hossein Division, an Iranian-backed militia aligned with Hezbollah.

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The strike hit Dahieh, the densely populated southern suburb of Beirut regarded as Hezbollah’s main stronghold in the capital. Thick smoke rose above residential buildings following the explosion, while residents were heard calling out for relatives and neighbours as emergency crews rushed into the area.

The latest escalation comes despite efforts to maintain a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the agreement through cross-border attacks and military operations.

According to reports, Israel had previously avoided striking Beirut after a request from Donald Trump. However, the latest attack followed waves of Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

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The renewed military activity also comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expansion of ground operations following Hezbollah drone attacks on Israeli troops stationed in southern Lebanon and civilians in northern Israel.

On Wednesday, the IDF warned Lebanese residents to move north of the Zahrani River, approximately 40km from the Israeli border, saying Israeli forces would operate “with extreme force” in affected areas.

Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 11 people were killed in two separate Israeli strikes that targeted the city of Tyre and nearby eastern areas early on Thursday.

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Videos shared on social media from Tyre showed streets illuminated by flames, smoke covering roads, and several vehicles damaged or burning. In daylight footage, a large fireball could be seen erupting near high-rise residential buildings, sending a mushroom-shaped plume of smoke into the sky as debris scattered through nearby streets.

The latest developments underline the continuing instability along the Israel-Lebanon border, with growing concerns that repeated exchanges of fire could trigger a wider regional confrontation involving Iran-backed armed groups and Israeli forces.

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