CBC News reported on several developing stories Wednesday, including a heightened focus on Arctic defense from NATO, escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, increased travel costs, and the Artemis II mission.

Increased NATO Presence in the Arctic

Canada’s military is planning for a “near persistent operational approach” in the Arctic, with operations potentially lasting 10 to 11 months a year, according to the broadcast.

Iran Responds to U.S. Threats

Iran has issued a stark warning in response to recent threats from the United States, stating it will strike outside the region if U.S. forces target civilian facilities. According to the CBC’s Megan Williams reporting from Dubai, Iran also threatened to cut off oil and gas supplies to the U.S. and its allies for years and close the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. has struck targets on Hard Island, Iran’s critical oil export hub, but stated it deliberately spared oil infrastructure. Israel has also been conducting attacks on Iranian infrastructure, specifically rail lines, with Netanyahu stating they are “crushing the terrorist regime in Iran with increasing intensity.”

Qatar’s foreign ministry warned that the region is “on the point of no return,” and Gulf countries are facing significant vulnerability, particularly regarding water desalination and energy facilities, as reported by Dania Thal of the Gulf International Forum.

Rising Travel Costs

Air Canada Vacations is adding a $50 surcharge to all bookings for sunny destination packages, effective immediately. Porter Airlines has added a $40 fuel surcharge to VIP points bookings, and WestJet will implement a $60 surcharge on companion voucher bookings starting Wednesday. These increases are attributed to the skyrocketing price of jet fuel due to the conflict in the Middle East. While competition is keeping prices relatively stable for transcontinental flights within Canada, travel agents advise booking vacations now to avoid further surcharges.

Artemis II Mission Success

The Artemis II crew successfully completed a slingshot maneuver around the moon, surpassing the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. The crew, including Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, observed the far side of the moon and requested a new crater be named after Carol Taylor Wiseman, an astronaut family member who died in 2020.