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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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Moscow Stands Firm on Ukraine Amid Witkoff Leak

 

                                  Witkoff is expected to travel to Moscow next week to discuss the peace plan


Russia has declared it will not make major concessions in ongoing peace negotiations over Ukraine, even as a leaked recording revealed U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff advising Moscow on how to frame proposals to President Donald Trump. The disclosure has sparked controversy, raising questions about the integrity of the diplomatic process and the role of American intermediaries.

The leaked call reportedly showed Witkoff coaching Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov on how to pitch a peace plan that might appeal to Trump. Russia denounced the leak as an act of "hybrid warfare," claiming it was designed to undermine fragile negotiations. Witkoff, meanwhile, is expected to travel to Moscow next week with other senior U.S. officials to continue discussions on a possible framework to end the nearly four-year war—the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signaled readiness to advance the U.S.-backed framework but emphasized that disputed points must be resolved with input from European allies. Kyiv and its partners remain wary that leaked details of the plan could tilt too far toward Russian interests.

The episode underscores the deep mistrust surrounding the peace process. While Washington insists its envoy is working toward a viable settlement, critics argue that Witkoff’s advice to Moscow risks legitimizing Russian positions. For its part, the Kremlin has doubled down, insisting that any agreement must reflect its core demands and rejecting the notion of significant concessions.

As Witkoff prepares for high-stakes talks in Moscow, the leak has added fresh tension to already complex negotiations. Whether the U.S. envoy can rebuild trust and steer both sides toward compromise remains uncertain, but the incident highlights the fragile balance between diplomacy, secrecy, and public accountability in efforts to end the war.

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