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Canada’s Inflation Climbs to 2.4% as Gas Prices Surge to Record High

  Canada’s inflation rate accelerated to 2.4% in March , up from 1.8% in February, as the Iran war triggered the largest monthly gasoline price increase on record . Statistics Canada reported that gas prices surged 21.2% month‑over‑month , a supply‑shock response to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and broader Middle East instability.  Energy costs were the dominant driver of March inflation, with overall energy prices rising 3.9% year‑over‑year after a sharp decline the month before. Excluding gasoline, inflation would have eased to 2.2% , highlighting how concentrated the price shock was.  Food inflation offered mixed relief: grocery prices rose 4.4% , while fresh vegetables jumped 7.8% due to difficult growing conditions. Restaurant inflation cooled sharply as last year’s tax‑holiday distortions fell out of the annual comparison.  Economists note that while headline inflation spiked, core measures remained relatively tame , giving the Bank of Canada ro...
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Trump’s Scottish Sojourn: Golf Diplomacy Amid Epstein Controversy

President Donald Trump has arrived in Scotland for a five-day “working visit” that blends personal business with high-stakes diplomacy, all under the shadow of renewed scrutiny over his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Golf Meets Geopolitics

  • Trump is visiting his golf resorts in Turnberry and Aberdeen, including the inauguration of a new 18-hole course named after his Scottish-born mother, Mary Anne MacLeod.
  • The trip includes a bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to refine a U.S.-UK trade deal, focusing on tariffs and market access.
  • Trump will also meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney, despite Swinney’s past support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

Epstein Files Stir Political Storm

  • The visit comes as Trump faces mounting pressure over his administration’s handling of the Epstein investigation.
  • A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows majorities across party lines suspect the government is withholding key information about Epstein’s death.
  • The controversy has fractured Trump’s MAGA base and prompted bipartisan calls for transparency.

Security and Protests

  • A massive security operation is underway, with airspace restrictions and police reinforcements across Scotland.
  • Protests are planned in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, reflecting Trump’s low favorability in Scotland—only 18% view him positively.

Diplomatic Agenda

  • Key topics for Trump and Starmer include the war in Ukraine, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and further trade negotiations.
  • British officials note a shift in Trump’s rhetoric on Ukraine, suggesting a more supportive stance.

Looking Ahead

  • Trump is scheduled to return to the UK in September for a state visit hosted by King Charles, making him the first modern world leader to undertake two state visits to Britain.

This visit underscores Trump’s unique blend of personal branding and presidential diplomacy, but the Epstein controversy ensures that scrutiny will follow him across the Atlantic.

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