The Friday news briefing: An at-a-glance survey of some top stories

Highlights from the news file for Friday, June 24:

CANADA CAN WEATHER BREXIT, TRUDEAU SAYS: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sought to ease tumultuous Canadian markets Friday, saying Canada is well-positioned to weather global uncertainty in the wake of the United Kingdom’s dramatic decision to leave the European Union. The British vote to exit the EU had an immediate impact in the financial world, with the British pound plunging to its lowest level in three decades and world stock prices falling. Trudeau said Canada shares deep historical ties and common values with the U.K. and the EU and will continue to build relationships with both.

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CANADA-EU TRADE DEAL AT RISK, EXPERTS SAY: Experts say Britain’s vote to abandon the European Union leaves Canada’s recent free trade deal with Europe in serious jeopardy. Canada and the EU had hoped to ratify the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement by early next year. But Canada’s envoy to Britain said before the referendum that a victory for the “leave” side could scuttle the deal. High Commissioner Gordon Campbell told The Canadian Press that Europe will be overwhelmed with negotiating Britain’s departure.

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TRUMP LINKS BREXIT VOTE TO HIS CAMPAIGN: Donald Trump, in a visit to Scotland on Friday, hailed Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, drawing parallels to the anger driving his own presidential campaign. In a tweet on arrival, Trump said Scotland “is going wild over the vote. They took their country back.” But Scotland had voted firmly to remain in the EU. In fact, Scotland, which voted against independence in 2014, may now hold another referendum on independence in hopes of staying in the EU. Trump said he would support Scottish independence if a vote were held.

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CAMERON’S RESIGNATION TO SET OFF LEADERSHIP SCRAMBLE: British Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to resign after losing the referendum vote on European Union membership will set off an intense Conservative Party leadership battle. Cameron said Friday a new prime minister should be in place by a party conference in October. That means the party must choose a leader, who would become prime minister. Among the possible contenders are former London mayor Boris Johnson and Justice Secretary Michael Gove, who both helped lead the “leave” campaign, and Home Secretary Theresa May.

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MILITANTS REJOICED AS CANADIANS BEHEADED: HOSTAGE: Militants rejoiced as Canadians were beheaded:Freed hostage

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MANILA — Abu Sayyaf extremists rejoiced as they watched two Canadians being beheaded in the jungles of the southern Philippines, said a still-shocked Filipino hostage who was freed Friday. Marites Flor tearfully recalled to reporters the moments when Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall were handcuffed and led away to a nearby jungle clearing to be separately decapitated in April and early this month by the ransom-seeking militants.

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HALIFAX VETERAN ADMITTED TO FEDERAL HOSPITAL: The family of a decorated 94-year-old veteran who has been fighting for a bed at the federally funded Camp Hill Veteran’s Memorial hospital in Halifax says he is getting his wish. His son Peter Blendheim says he met with Halifax MP Andy Fillmore on Friday and was informed that his father would be admitted to the hospital. Ottawa initially rejected entry to Camp Hill for Petter Blindheim last October. The family appealed that decision and in January, Veterans Affairs again refused his entry because it said Norwegian forces fighting from England didn’t qualify as official allies.

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STATUS OF WOMEN RESTORES ADVOCACY FUNDING: The federal government has quietly revealed changes to the eligibility requirements for its women’s program funding. Status of Women Canada says it will soon allow groups advocating for women and girls to receive project money. The decision reverses a controversial Conservative policy, which opponents say silenced advocacy for those who needed it most. The Native Women’s Association, which has struggled under the current rules, is applauding the change.

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B.C. WOMEN WIN BREAST CANCER APPEAL: The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favour of three British Columbia medical workers who argued they developed breast cancer as a result of their jobs.Katrina Hammer, Patricia Schmidt and Anne MacFarlane, who worked in a lab at Mission Memorial Hospital, were among seven women at the lab who developed breast cancer. The Workers’ Compensation Board originally denied their applications for compensation benefits on the grounds their breast cancers were not occupational diseases.

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WILDFIRE-HIT FORT MCMURRAY GETS ROYAL VISIT: The wife of Prince Edward visited the northern Alberta city of Fort McMurray on Friday, which is recovering from a massive wildfire that forced the evacuation of nearly 90,000 people for a month. Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, was accompanied by Gov. Gen. David Johnston, who presented commendations for outstanding service to those involved in emergency relief efforts. Prince Edward was in Regina on Friday for some private meetings, a farm barbecue and tour before flying to Calgary for the rest of the day.

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CIVIL LIBERTARIAN CRIES FOUL AFTER N.S. MAN CHARGED: A civil rights group is criticizing authorities in Nova Scotia for laying charges against a 26-year-old man for swearing during a protest. Joseph Currie was arrested last year, during a rally in Halifax against the federal Conservatives’ anti-terror legislation. He’s alleged to have shouted obscenities into a megaphone, and is charged with “unlawfully causing a disturbance by swearing.” Josh Paterson of the B-C Civil Liberties Association says he worries the case could set a “chilling precedent” on political expression in Canada. Currie is due to appear in court for a pre-trial hearing Wednesday and his trial is set to begin on Oct. 6.

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