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Ontario Halts U.S. Electricity Surcharge Amid Trade Tensions

  Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced the suspension of a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to three U.S. states—Michigan, New York, and Minnesota—following a diplomatic overture from the White House. The surcharge, introduced just a day earlier, was Ontario's response to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%. The decision to pause the surcharge came after U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick extended an "olive branch" by inviting Ford and Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc to Washington for discussions on trade. The meeting, scheduled for Thursday, aims to address the escalating trade tensions and explore a renewal of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Ford emphasized the importance of diplomacy, stating, "When someone's putting out an olive branch, we sit back, we accept it—graciously, by the way—and let's start moving." While the U.S. has yet to retract its ta...
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Gaza Ceasefire Commences After Delay, Hopes Rise for Peace and Hostage Release

 

After a tense delay, a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has finally come into effect in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire, which was initially set to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time, was delayed by three hours due to disagreements over the release of hostages. The truce, which started at 11:15 a.m., aims to halt the ongoing violence and facilitate the gradual release of hostages held by Hamas.

The ceasefire deal, brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, is seen as a significant step towards ending the 15-month conflict that has resulted in the deaths of over 46,800 Palestinians and extensive destruction in Gaza. The agreement includes the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Despite the delay, celebrations erupted across Gaza as some Palestinians began returning to their homes. The ceasefire is expected to bring much-needed humanitarian aid to the war-torn region, with 600 trucks of aid set to enter Gaza daily.

The first phase of the ceasefire will see the release of three female hostages later on Sunday, with additional hostages expected to be freed in the coming days. The hope is that this ceasefire will pave the way for lasting peace and reconciliation in the region.



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