Afternoon front page: Mistrial declared in Stronach sex assault conviction; Nenshi criticized over apology for photo with Israeli diplomat

It’s Friday, July 17. Here are the top stories we’re following today.

It’s Friday, July 17. Here are the top stories we’re following today. Mistrial declared for Frank Stronach’s sex assault conviction after complainant’s lawyer makes ‘bizarre’ request for money The judge voided her guilty finding in the sexual assault case because the complainant’s lawyer attempted to extract money outside of litigation through Stronach’s lawyer, but in doing so shared information that contradicted the woman’s testimony under oath.

‘Unacceptable for hate to creep’ into Calgary Stampede says Israel’s ambassador in rebuke of Naheed Nenshi “Friendship should never be controversial,” Iddo Moed responded, hours after Alberta NDP leader Nenshi expressed regret for posing with Moed, saying that he’s “so sorry for the harm it caused.” Scott Stinson: Doug Ford blasts ‘insulting’ wildfire ‘chirping’ from U.S. politicians complaining about smoke “Maybe what you should do instead of complaining is send help, because we have done the exact same thing for our American friends,” Ford said, referring to the U.S. critics at a news conference.

He also accused U.S. and Ontario opposition politicians of “politicizing” the wildfire crisis. John Ivison: Exhibit A for why Canadians are losing faith in the justice system Omar Abdul Singateh was arrested in connection with a recent Toronto shooting while out on bail after pleading guilty to charges including armed robbery and assault and causing bodily harm. The public is outraged by what it views as “the government’s catch-and-release bail and sentencing provisions that prioritized the rights of criminals,” Ivison says.

Michael Higgins: There’s no justice in jailing people for residential school ‘denialism’ “Could it be that the push to criminalize denialism is an attempt to stop legitimate discussion about the presence of unmarked graves at the Kamloops former residential school?” Higgins asks.

“If so, then a denialism law isn’t so much to protect the truth as it is to stifle debate.”