Alleged maple syrup scam in Quebec uncovered by Canadian broadcaster

A Radio-Canada reporter noticed his maple syrup tasted odd; testing revealed it was adulterated with cane sugar

An investigation by Canada’s national broadcaster has found that a major Quebec producer has been diluting its maple syrup with cane sugar and selling the fraudulent product to grocery chains.

In a sting operation that involved false identities and covert recordings, journalists from Radio-Canada’s Enquête programme found that a low-cost syrup sold in major grocery store chains was heavily diluted.

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When the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens, this will be crucial to global oil markets – MarketWatch

  1. When the Strait of Hormuz fully reopens, this will be crucial to global oil markets  MarketWatch
  2. A Long Gulf War Can Starve the World. A Hormuz Transit Deal Could Save Millions.  Time Magazine
  3. The nightmare scenario for global trade  The Economist
  4. Hormuz disruption deepens global economic strain across trade, prices and finance  UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
  5. After Trump's claim of a "present," data show most ships getting through Strait of Hormuz are linked to Iran  CBS News
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Coalition of countries discuss ‘every possible measure’ to pressure Iran into reopening strait of Hormuz

Yvette Cooper hosts virtual summit of more than 40 countries to consider coordinated action in face of closure of vital shipping lane

More than 40 countries gathered to discuss “every possible diplomatic, economic and coordinated measure” to pressurise Iran into reopening the strait of Hormuz, the UK foreign secretary has said.

After chairing a virtual summit on Thursday, Yvette Cooper said coordinated action was needed as Iran’s “reckless strikes” on international shipping and efforts to “hijack the global economy” were hitting nations from across the globe “who played no part in this conflict”.

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Sadiq Khan warns of ‘zero-tolerance approach’ to any repeat of Clapham disorder

London mayor says more arrests will be made after young people stormed into shops as part of social media trend

Sadiq Khan has warned against any repeat of “utterly unacceptable” scenes of disorder in Clapham earlier this week, saying culprits who assault and intimidate shop workers will face the full force of the law.

The mayor of London said more arrests would be made in the coming days, and urged anyone considering more violence over the Easter weekend to think again.

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Priceless golden helmet from Romania stolen from Dutch museum found – Euronews.com

  1. Priceless golden helmet from Romania stolen from Dutch museum found  Euronews.com
  2. Ancient golden helmet recovered more than a year after Dutch heist  BBC
  3. Priceless ancient golden helmet stolen from Dutch museum is recovered  New York Post
  4. ‘A wow moment’: ancient Romanian gold helmet returned in plea deal with theft suspects  The Guardian
  5. Ancient Artifacts Stolen in Dutch Museum Heist Are Recovered  nytimes.com
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‘You have to be serious’: Macron criticises Trump’s mixed messages about Nato and Iran

Speaking in South Korea, the French president defended the transatlantic alliance and called for return to peace

Emmanuel Macron has sharply criticised Donald Trump’s inconsistent and often contradictory pronouncements on the Iran war and Nato, saying if “you want to be serious” it was better not to come out with something different every day.

“There is too much talk … and it’s all over the place,” the French president said on Thursday during a state visit to South Korea. “We all need stability, calm, a return to peace – this isn’t a show!”

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Pope Leo XIV revives the Holy Thursday foot-washing of priests after Francis’s inclusive tradition – AP News

  1. Pope Leo XIV revives the Holy Thursday foot-washing of priests after Francis's inclusive tradition  AP News
  2. Pope Leo Returns to Tradition, Washing Priests’ Feet  nytimes.com
  3. Jesus shows how to give life and freedom, not dominate and destroy, pope says  usccb
  4. Pope Leo: 'We are called to serve the People of God with our whole lives'  Vatican News
  5. Pope Leo's Holy Thursday marks return to pre-Francis era practice  National Catholic Reporter
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Jewish diaspora leaders urge Israeli president to stop West Bank settler violence

Former UK foreign secretary among 3,000 signatories of open letter to Isaac Herzog after spate of killings

The former British foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind is among leading members of the Jewish diaspora urging the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, to intervene to stop “attacks by Jewish extremists” on Palestinians in the West Bank.

An open letter to Herzog facilitated by the London Initiative – a liberal Zionist network of 360 people, including eminent Jewish, Israeli and Israeli Palestinian figures – has attracted more than 3,000 signatories, including diplomats, philanthropists, rabbis and academics from Australia, Canada, across Europe, South Africa the UK and US. It follows a spate of killings and arson attacks by settlers on Palestinian civilians in March.

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As Iran war rages, Europe gears up for energy crisis – dw.com

  1. As Iran war rages, Europe gears up for energy crisis  dw.com
  2. Oil and gas prices won't immediately return to normal even if the Iran war ends, the EU warns  PBS
  3. ‘Beyond what we could imagine’: Europe’s coming energy crunch  politico.eu
  4. EU may revive 2022 energy crisis measures in response to Iran war  Reuters
  5. Will the Iran war threaten the EU's green transition?  Euronews.com
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Uganda receives first US deportation flight under third-country agreement

Dozen people arrive under new deal but legal challenges expected with scheme criticised as ‘dehumanising process’

A flight carrying people being deported from the US has landed in Uganda, as Donald Trump’s administration pushes on with its strategy of expelling migrants to countries they have no ties to.

The deported people would stay in the east African country as “a transition phase for potential onward transmission to other countries”, an unnamed senior Ugandan government official told Reuters.

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America Lost. Iran Won. Trump Shat the Bed. – thebulwark.com

  1. America Lost. Iran Won. Trump Shat the Bed.  thebulwark.com
  2. America Is Now a Rogue Superpower  The Atlantic
  3. Losing a catastrophic war is no way for America to celebrate its 250th birthday  The Independent
  4. Trump’s Iran Speech: The moment he became America, forever, in the eyes of the world  truthdig.com
  5. Iran war tests U.S. strength and resolve  Foundation for Defense of Democracies
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