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Markets Slip as Investors Bet on Extended U.S.–Iran Ceasefire

  Stocks Edge Lower as Investors Hope U.S.–Iran Ceasefire Will Hold Stocks drifted lower today as markets balanced cautious optimism over a potential extension of the U.S.–Iran ceasefire with persistent geopolitical and inflation concerns. Recent trading sessions have shown that even modest signs of diplomatic progress can meaningfully shift investor sentiment. Asian and U.S. markets rallied earlier this week on hopes that Washington and Tehran would continue negotiations, helping unwind some of the war-driven risk premiums that had pushed oil and volatility higher. Despite the pullback, investors remain hopeful that the ceasefire—currently set to expire soon—will be extended, giving negotiators more time to work toward a longer-term agreement. Reports indicate both sides are considering adding another two weeks to the pause, a move that has already helped push Brent crude below the recent peak of nearly US$120 per barrel. Lower oil prices have eased pressure on inflation expecta...
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Court Blocks Ontario’s Bike Lane Removal Plan, Citing Charter Violations

 

In a landmark decision, the Ontario Superior Court has ruled that the provincial government’s plan to remove protected bike lanes from three major Toronto streets—Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue—is unconstitutional.

Justice Paul Schabas found that the removal would “put people at increased risk of harm and death,” violating Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which protects life, liberty, and security of the person. The court rejected the province’s argument that removing bike lanes would ease traffic congestion, calling the evidence “weak” and “unpersuasive”.

The legal challenge was brought by Cycle Toronto and individual cyclists who rely on the lanes for daily transportation. The court sided with them, stating that government actions that knowingly increase danger without justification breach fundamental Charter protections.

Premier Doug Ford’s government, which fast-tracked Bill 212 in late 2024 to override municipal cycling infrastructure decisions, has vowed to appeal the ruling. The revised version of the law, passed in 2025, shifted language from “removal” to “reconfiguration,” but the court found this change still unconstitutional.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow reaffirmed that decisions about city infrastructure should rest with municipal council, not the province.

This ruling is being hailed as a major victory for cycling advocates and urban safety proponents, reinforcing that public safety must be a paramount consideration in policymaking.


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