Is this the next escalation in the war in Iran?

This episode of As It Happens explores multiple global stories, beginning with a dramatic escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions after a U.S. fighter jet went down in Iran, prompting a high-stakes search and rescue mission. Retired U.S. Marine Colonel Mark Kansian provides expert insight, emphasizing the dangers of combat search and rescue, the likelihood that the jet was shot down by Iranian forces, and the political fallout from the incident despite U.S. air superiority. The episode then shifts to a domestic investigative report by Radio Canada’s Gaetan Pouliot, uncovering a Quebec-based producer, Steve Bordeaux, who sold adulterated maple syrup—containing up to 50% cane sugar—mislabeling it as 100% pure and falsely claiming it was from Quebec. The investigation reveals systemic gaps in food safety oversight, sparking recalls and regulatory complaints. In space news, Anna Calais of Lockheed Martin discusses the successful launch of NASA’s Orion spacecraft on the Artemis II mission, highlighting the advanced life support systems and the challenges of space hygiene, particularly the sophisticated toilet system. The episode concludes with a maritime archaeology segment on the excavation of the Danish warship Denebro, which sank in 1801 during a British attack, with divers uncovering human remains, artifacts, and insights into the lives of those aboard. The episode closes with a poignant reading of Oscar Wilde’s 'The Selfish Giant,' reinforcing themes of community and redemption.