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Air Transat Faces Flight Suspensions Amid Pilot Strike Notice

  Air Transat has announced it will gradually suspend flights starting Monday following a 72-hour strike notice issued by its pilots’ union. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing roughly 700 pilots, delivered the notice after nearly a year of unsuccessful negotiations with the airline’s parent company, Transat A.T. Inc. Background The union filed the strike notice on Sunday, giving pilots the legal right to walk off the job as early as Wednesday. Last week, pilots voted 99% in favor of strike action , underscoring their frustration over stalled contract talks. ALPA leaders emphasized that pilots do not want to strike but feel compelled to act after management failed to meet demands for a modernized agreement. Airline Response Air Transat confirmed it will begin suspending flights gradually between December 8 and 9 to prepare for a possible full shutdown. The company stated it is working “around the clock” to reach a deal and minimize disruption for trave...
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Canada Lifts Terror Designation on Syria’s Transitional Government

Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa speaks at a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron after their meeting at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

Canada has announced a significant policy shift by removing Syria and its interim governing group from its terrorism-related sanctions lists. The decision comes nearly a year after the ouster of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, whose regime had been designated as a state sponsor of terrorism since 2012.

Key Developments

  • Syria delisted: Ottawa has officially taken Syria off its list of foreign state supporters of terrorism.
  • HTS removed: Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist-led faction that assumed control after Assad’s fall, has also been removed from Canada’s list of terrorist entities under the Criminal Code.
  • Government stance: Canadian ministers emphasized that the move was made after extensive consultations with international allies and is intended to encourage Syria’s transitional leadership to build a stable, inclusive government.
  • Humanitarian context: Canada had already suspended some sanctions earlier in 2025 to allow financial services and aid to flow into Syria, a country facing massive reconstruction needs after years of civil war.

International Implications

This policy realignment places Canada in step with other Western nations that are cautiously engaging Syria’s new leadership under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The transitional government has sought to reintegrate Syria into the global community, holding its first parliamentary elections since Assad’s removal in October 2025.

Outlook

While the decision signals optimism about Syria’s political transition, skepticism remains among observers regarding the durability of reforms and the legitimacy of HTS’s role in governance. Canada’s move underscores a broader international gamble: that easing restrictions will help Syria stabilize after more than a decade of devastating conflict.

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