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Written by Hanna Lee Copy Editor, Digital News
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Good morning. In this issue, we'll look at how an immigration fraud case spiralled — and why a man found guilty is now suing the government. We'll also lay out how an increase in diesel prices is affecting the cost of other goods, and why more young Canadians are resorting to self-harm.
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(Nir Elias/Reuters)
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Iran launches fresh attacks on Israel, Gulf neighbours
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Iran launched fresh attacks on its Persian Gulf neighbours and Israel on Wednesday using some of its latest missiles to evade air defences and killing two people near Tel Aviv as the war in the Middle East showed no signs of slowing.
What's happening: Since the United States and Israel attacked Iran to start the war on Feb. 28, Iran has been targeting the energy infrastructure of its Gulf Arab neighbours, as well as military bases, as part of a strategy to drive up oil prices and put pressure on Washington to back down.
Why it matters: More than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran since the conflict started Feb. 28, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. In Israel, 14 people have been killed by Iranian missile fire. At least 13 U.S. military members have been killed. Israeli strikes in Lebanon have displaced more than one million Lebanese — roughly 20 per cent of the population — according to the Lebanese government, which says 912 people have been killed and 2,221 wounded.
– The Associated Press |
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THE LATEST
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- Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic for the first time Tuesday night, beating the United States 3-2 in the championship game in Miami.
- The Bank of Canada is making an interest rate announcement at 9:45 a.m. ET.
- A U.S. lobbying firm is seeking a presidential pardon for Canadian crypto fugitive Andean Medjedovic.
- As winter highway fatalities mount, politicians in northwestern Ontario are pleading for federal help.
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FEATURED STORIES
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(Germain Wilson)
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Man found guilty of immigration fraud walks free and sues government
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Gurpreet Singh, a 40-year-old Indian national, is suing the federal government and employees of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), alleging they violated his Charter rights. It's part of a long saga centred on a big mistake by the CBSA.
What's happening: In 2022, Judge Naheed Bardai found Singh guilty of running an immigration fraud scheme. But instead of convicting him and sending him to jail, Bardai stayed the case in 2025 due to errors from the CBSA and the Crown. That meant Singh was free, with no jail time or criminal record. A resulting mistrial hearing set off a string of events that ended up undoing the CBSA's two-year investigation.
Why it matters: The CBSA made mistakes including conducting unrecorded interviews and not disclosing them to the defence, as well as intimidating witnesses, say Singh's lawyers. The Crown accused one of those lawyers of engaging in unethical conduct; who said the Crown was trying to intimidate him. As the case continued to spiral, lawyers on both sides had to get their own lawyers. Now, Singh is free, though his permanent residency application has been denied (partially due to a decade of unpaid income taxes), which he is appealing. He is now also suing those involved and the CBSA, and the saga continues.
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How diesel prices are impacting cost of food and other goods
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The ongoing U.S.-Israeli war in Iran is causing diesel prices to spike across Canada, climbing nearly 30 per cent since it began.
What's happening: Diesel prices reached $2.19 a litre this week, the highest since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Diesel already costs more than regular gasoline, and the surge is expected to cause higher shipping costs for all kinds of consumer goods and services. As one transportation sales manager put it, "Every time there's a conflict in the Middle East, oil and fuel prices go up instantly."
Why it matters: Increased costs eventually get passed on to the consumer. And for Canadian companies already battered by U.S. tariffs, these rising prices are another tough blow. One analyst said he doesn't expect the war's impact on diesel to change anytime soon, given the conflict isn't showing signs of ending.
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