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The Subway That Took a Generation: Why the Eglinton Crosstown’s Delays Were Even Worse Than You Think

  Toronto has a long history of transit projects that drag on, but the Eglinton Crosstown LRT has become the city’s defining example of how complicated, political, and painfully slow building transit can be. Most people think of the project as something that started in the early 2010s and simply ran over schedule. The truth is far messier—and stretches back decades. A Project With Roots in the 1990s Long before shovels hit the ground in 2011, the idea of rapid transit along Eglinton was already alive. In the mid‑1990s, the TTC began digging tunnels for what was then called the Eglinton West Subway . Construction actually started—tunnels were being carved out under the street—until the project was abruptly cancelled in 1995. The partially built tunnels were filled in, and the corridor sat untouched for years. That early false start meant that by the time the Crosstown was revived as part of the Transit City plan in 2007, planners weren’t starting fresh. They were restarting a dr...

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Gaza Ceasefire Crucial to Preventing Iranian Retaliation, Say Officials

 

In a high-stakes geopolitical scenario, Iranian officials have emphasized that only a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, resulting from anticipated talks this week, could prevent Iran from directly retaliating against Israel. The backdrop for this tension is the alleged assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Iranian soil, an incident attributed to Israel. While Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement, Iran has vowed a severe response.

The U.S. Navy has deployed warships and a submarine to the Middle East to bolster Israeli defenses, and diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent further escalation. A senior Iranian security official stated that Iran, along with its allies such as Hezbollah, would launch a direct attack if the Gaza talks fail or if Israel prolongs negotiations. However, the exact timeline for Iran’s response remains undisclosed.

With the risk of a broader Middle East conflict heightened by recent events, Iran has engaged in intense dialogue with Western countries and the United States to calibrate its retaliation strategy. The sensitivity of the matter has led all sources to speak on condition of anonymity.

As the world watches, the outcome of the Gaza ceasefire talks—scheduled to begin in either Egypt or Qatar—could significantly impact regional stability. The hope is that any Iranian response will be timed in a way that does not harm the prospects of achieving a ceasefire. However, the situation remains fluid, and observers are closely monitoring developments.

In the words of White House spokesperson John Kirby, “Something could happen as soon as this week by Iran and its proxies… If something does happen, the timing of it could certainly well have an impact on these talks we want to do on Thursday.”

While the path forward remains uncertain, the international community awaits the outcome of negotiations, hoping for a resolution that averts further conflict in the region


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