Air Canada cabin staff go on strike, grounding hundreds of flights
Air Canada flight attendants began a 72-hour strike Saturday, the first since 1985, affecting over 130,000 passengers daily. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) called the walkout after pay talks stalled. Attendants seek compensation for time spent on the ground, beyond in-flight pay, Reuters reported.
Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights are suspended, though regional carriers continue operating. The airline offered a 38 percent pay increase over four years, which the union rejected. Federal officials have urged a return to talks, while businesses call for binding arbitration to limit economic impact.
Trump says Xi told him China will not invade Taiwan while he is US president
US President Donald Trump said Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping assured him China would not invade Taiwan while he is in office. Trump made the remarks in a Fox News interview ahead of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine conflict. He quoted Xi as saying, “I will never do it as long as you’re president,” and added that China and its leader are “very patient”, Reuters reported.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has pledged to reunify the island by force if necessary, a claim strongly rejected by Taiwan. The Chinese Embassy in Washington called Taiwan the “most important and sensitive issue” in China-US relations and urged US to adhere to the one-China principle.
UK trade envoy resigns over northern Cyprus visit
Labour MP Afzal Khan has resigned as the UK’s trade envoy to Turkey after criticism of his visit to Northern Cyprus, which Britain does not recognise, BBC reported.
Khan met Turkish-Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar during the trip, drawing condemnation from the Cypriot government. He said the visit was personal and unrelated to his role but stepped down to avoid distraction.
Opposition figures welcomed his resignation, and the government confirmed his departure.
Trump says he had "very productive meeting" with Putin, but no deal reached
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met Friday in Anchorage, the largest city in the US state of Alaska, for their first talks since 2021.
The three-hour summit was described as constructive, with both leaders citing progress but acknowledging no agreement on Ukraine. Trump called the discussions “extremely productive” and said he would consult Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders, according to Xinhua.
Putin emphasized Russia’s interest in peace and urged addressing the root causes of the conflict, while also expressing hope for renewed US-Russia cooperation in trade, technology, space, and the Arctic.
Zelensky welcomed the meeting, saying it could pave the way for trilateral talks, Xinhua reported.
