Good morning. There are many unknowns about what will come next for Iran, and much of the Middle East. For now, we take a look at the attacks this weekend and the fallout so far. Let’s get to it.
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Smoke plumes rise following missile strikes in Tehran on March 1.ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images
TOP STORY
Israeli strikes rock Tehran after Iran retaliates for the killing of Khamenei
The latest: U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran continued for a third day today after the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a cleric who long seemed to preside not just over Iran but half of the Middle East. Oil and gas leaped and stocks slumped as the war intensified.
Context: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack by Israel and the United States, Iranian state media confirmed, raising the risk of regional instability. Three men have been appointed to an interim leadership council while religious leaders choose who will succeed Khamenei.
What’s next: The U.S. President’s explicit goal of regime change marks another move away from his previous non-interventionism and toward an aggressive foreign policy. Donald Trump is vowing to keep hitting Iran with air strikes, even as he holds out the possibility of returning to the bargaining table with Tehran.
At home: Prime Minister Mark Carney is backing the strikes on Iran but won’t contribute militarily. Across the country, many Canadians with Iranian roots hope that this foreign military intervention will be enough to weaken a violent and oppressive dictatorship.
Abroad: U.S. bases in surrounding regions have become targets of Iran, but in the UAE, most expats say they’re not leaving. Airlines have cancelled some Middle East flights and disrupted air travel in the region and beyond. Meanwhile, China faces the loss of another ally.
Analysis: Which regime? What change? Iran’s complexity means there are no magic bullets, writes Doug Saunders.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney, centre left, arrives in New Delhi on March 1.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
World
PM Mark Carney works to reset relations with India
The latest on the ground: On the weekend while visiting Mumbai and Delhi, Prime Minister Mark Carney secured a $2.6-billion deal to supply Canadian uranium to India and launched talks on a comprehensive trade deal with New Delhi. In an effort to double non-U.S. trade, Canada is trying to mend relations with India after a two-way diplomatic freeze of more than two years. Canadian universities also signed partnerships during the visit.
The latest from The Globe: Canadian national security officials were presented with evidence that Indian consular staff operating in Vancouver supplied information to assist in the 2023 assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, two sources told The Globe and Mail. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand declined to comment today on the Globe report.
What’s next: The Prime Minister said Canada’s capacity to export liquefied natural gas to Asia is expected to increase by more than 50 million tonnes in the coming years. Carney will next travel to visit counterparts in Australia and Japan. He will return March 7.
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Based on an AI analysis by The Globe using the AI detection tool, Hive, the Savory Crab Shrimp Queso recipe on yummdishes.com is likely AI-generated, as it consistently fails AI detection tests.Hive/Supplied
How We Live
AI recipes are flooding social-media feeds
The latest: The internet has become overrun with AI food content. It has created trust issues with users – but more content means more views, which means more ad revenue for the platform. One analysis by The Globe and Mail found rampant use of AI-generated images on many food posts at the top of Pinterest search results.
What’s next: According to Ann Reardon, YouTube and Meta have also helped AI-generated content proliferate. If online platforms don’t change their algorithms, “I think that it will push out creators who have been doing it for years,” said the dietitian, pastry chef and food scientist who has posted food content since 2011.
What’s that? If you want to test your AI detection skills, take this test.
Health policy
Ottawa says provinces should pay for nurse practitioners
The latest: The federal government says provinces should start covering all of the billing for nurse practitioners who provide primary care as of April 1, in one of the most significant updates of the Canada Health Act in years.
What’s next: Ottawa will however delay enforcement for non-compliance for a year. The new policy for public-insurance coverage of what are called medically necessary services will add to costs for provincial health plans.
Mexico
Caught in a war with the cartels
The latest: In Puerto Vallarta, Mexicans and tourists learn to watch their step. Before last Sunday’s drug cartel violence, the tranquil beach town was perceived as one of the safest cities in the country. For locals, who can’t fly off if things take a turn for the worse, uncertainty still sits heavily. Janice Dickson reports from on the ground in Mexico.
What’s next: The Jalisco New Generation Cartel’s reach is such that experts and analysts doubt that the killing of its leader will have much of an impact. Power struggles and shows of force within the cartel may continue in the months ahead.
Bookmarked
- Research: Ontario’s addictions and mental-health helpline saw “substantial increases” in people seeking help with gambling problems after online gambling became legal, a new study has found.
- Regulation: What do AI companies do when users tell chatbots their dark, violent thoughts?
- For your finances: There is only one escape from the affordability crisis. Fixing productivity.
- For your taxes: Are you prepared for tax season? Submit your questions to our experts.
- Conversation starter: Danielle Smith and Pierre Poilievre find someone to blame for their problems: immigrants.
The Quote
We said screw it. We would do what we do, and if we went down in flames, they would be our flames.
— Alex Lifeson, Rush guitarist
Earlier this year, Rush announced its unretirement and a blockbuster summer tour. But 50 years ago, the status the Canadian prog rockers enjoy today would have been unimaginable.
The Shot
Open this photo in gallery:
Chair of the Squamish Nation’s governing council, Wilson Williams, with a model of the full Sen̓áḵw development.Alison Boulier/The Globe and Mail
The Squamish Nation is building a skyline-defining 11-tower development on reclaimed territory in Vancouver, which represents a path to economic independence. Not everyone’s happy about it.
