News
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.”
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.
In a devastating incident in eastern India, at least 46 people, including 37 children and seven women, have drowned while celebrating the Hindu Jivitputrika festival. The fatalities, which occurred across 15 districts within the past 24 hours, resulted from victims ritually bathing in rivers and ponds swollen by recent flooding.
The three-day festival, which honors children’s wellbeing, is traditionally marked by mothers fasting and families participating in ritual baths. This year, the swollen water bodies, exacerbated by recent floods, have turned the celebratory ritual into a deadly disaster.
Local disaster management officials have expressed fears that the death toll could rise further. State authorities have promised compensation for the families and relatives of the victims.
Fatal accidents during religious festivals are not uncommon in India, where large gatherings often take place with insufficient safety measures. This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by such gatherings, especially during adverse weather conditions.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted airstrikes in Beirut, reportedly killing Mohammad Hussein Surur, a senior Hezbollah air unit leader. The Lebanese health ministry confirmed two deaths and 15 injuries from the attack. The strikes come amid escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah, with both sides exchanging fire throughout the night and into the morning.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the IDF would continue to fight “with full force” against Hezbollah, aiming to dismantle the Iran-backed militant group. This marks a significant intensification of hostilities between the two sides, which have been exchanging rockets and airstrikes for days. The Lebanese health ministry also reported that 28 people were killed today by Israeli airstrikes.
In retaliation, Hezbollah launched 80 missiles targeting northern Israeli cities, including Safed. Israeli authorities have reported no casualties but noted significant property damage in Safed and Rosh Pina.
Amid the intensifying conflict, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin renewed calls for a diplomatic solution. The U.S., along with 11 other allied nations, has urged both Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a ceasefire to prevent further escalation and civilian casualties.
Ferry travel between the Isle of Man and Lancashire continues to face disruption due to strong winds over the Irish Sea. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has cancelled Thursday’s 08:45 BST sailing of the Manxman to Heysham and its scheduled 14:15 return journey. This follows the cancellation of the vessel’s return trip from the Lancashire port on Wednesday evening.
The disruptions have affected postal services, with the Isle of Man Post Office reporting delays in deliveries from the UK. While local deliveries within the island remain unaffected, items posted on Wednesday for UK delivery may not reach Royal Mail’s network in time for Friday delivery.
Additionally, the ferry cancellations have caused a delay in newspaper deliveries, with no papers available on the island on Thursday, as confirmed by the island’s wholesale distributor.
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