It was a chaotic first day of direct negotiations between Iran and the United States as at one point the Iranians left the meeting in Switzerland in protest at a series of threats President Donald Trump levelled against the country on social media. The US president threatened to bomb Iran and even to kidnap the Iranian negotiating team unless the strait of Hormuz was reopened, forcing mediators Qatar and Pakistan to continue negotiations in the background. Trump’s threats contrasted with the tone adopted by his vice-president, JD Vance, who said he had been asked by the president to use the talks to turn over a new leaf with Iran. Despite the threats, it is understood that talks between the parties did resume, and that they continued well into the evening. It is understood that the Strait of Hormuz remains mostly shut and experts suggest we’re some way off from the resumption of 160-170 daily oil tankers that traversed the waterway before the war.
Closer to home, Canada has officially signed an agreement with Australia for a $2.5-billion over-the-horizon radar system to provide early warning radar coverage and track potential threats entering Canadian airspace in the North. Canada’s Secretary of State for Defence Procurement Stephen Fuhr signed a government-to-government agreement with Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles earlier today in Canberra. It is estimated that the Arctic Over-The-Horizon Radar project will contribute nearly $290-million annually to our gross domestic product between 2026 and 2033. It’s also expected to create roughly 2,270 Canadian jobs annually during that same period.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is slamming a plan by the federal and B.C. governments to buy vacant condo units in the province and turn them into affordable housing — a move he describes as a “bailout” that should be immediately cancelled. On Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney and B.C. Premier David Eby announced that over the next 10 years, the federal government would invest more than $5 billion in British Columbia’s local infrastructure through the Build Communities Strong Fund. Recent data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation shows that as of last month, there were 4,376 completed condos sitting empty in Metro Vancouver, a 76 per cent increase from the same period a year ago. Carney said on Thursday that the Liberal government will use the “right financial mechanisms” and take condos that would otherwise sit empty “potentially for another couple of years” and convert them into affordable housing. There is no word if the program could expand to Ontario.
Sports
Sportsnet confirmed yesterday that Ottawa Senators star Brady Tkachuk was being dealt to the Florida Panthers to play with brother Matthew. In return, the Sens will receive four draft picks, including two first round picks for this year. Brady Tkachuk has spent the entirety of his eight-year NHL career in Ottawa, and now he joins his brother, Olympic teammate and podcast co-host in Florida — the place where Matthew Tkachuk has spent the last four seasons, winning two Stanley Cups and getting to the final three times.
Turning quickly to baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays missed the opportunity to return to a .500 record after their series finale against the Chicago Cubs was rained out. Looks like the teams will play a make-up in August.
And, in the World Cup yesterday, Canadian mid-fielder Stephen Eustaquio missed training ahead of the team’s Wednesday match against Switzerland, though no reason was provided. Spain moved to the top of group H with a 4-nil win over Saudi Arabia, and Japan moved into second in group F after beating Tunisia by the same score. Norway and France are both in action today as we look for one of those teams to take control of group I.
