Canada
Trudeau's Liberals' disastrous week in Quebec
Over the course of just a few days, the Liberals lost a former stronghold in Montreal, their Quebec lieutenant jumped ship, and the premier of Quebec called on MPs to bring down the federal Liberal government. The Liberal Party of Canada has had bad weeks before. This past week was one of the worst.
Poilievre returns to Parliament with more flop than flex
Althia Raj: “I know the Conservatives’ values and they are not Quebecers’ values,” [BQ Leader Blanchet] said. There was nothing in the non-confidence motion, Blanchet said, but Poilievre’s “personal and disproportionate ambition” and his “impatience” to rule — which he didn’t give “a damn” about.
Canadian government’s satellite deal has Tories calling for Elon Musk involvement
A $2.14-billion federal loan for an Ottawa-based satellite operator has Canadian politicians arguing about whether American billionaire Elon Musk poses a national security risk.
Trudeau to attend United Nations General Assembly amid turbulence around the world
"Canada will have a leading role in making the world fairer and more prosperous," Trudeau said in a news release last week. "I look forward to working with other leaders to accelerate progress on our shared priorities and build a better future for everyone."
The Provinces
B.C. leaders officially start election campaign talking health, addiction, economy
During a stop in Langley as part of a daylong blitz of Lower Mainland communities, New Democrat Leader David Eby took a shot at B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad's campaign kick-off event by saying it was "sparsely attended," with a few crows nearby. Rustad, who opened his campaign at Vancouver's Downtown Eastside CRAB park, called Eby's leadership "weak."
B.C. Election: You can return your vote-by-mail package starting today
Any vote-by-mail packages that were received before today will not be counted. The last BC election was a pandemic election and about one-third of all ballots cast were by mail, The NDP won the overall popular vote by about 12 points but won the mail-in ballot by twice that. No one, though, expects mailed ballots to play such an outsize role in the current campaign. (See below)
Mail Vote, Crucial in 2020, Shunned by British Columbians in 2024
Most of the province’s residents say they will cast their ballots on Election Day in October, up significantly from four years ago.
Race to the Writ: NDP makes more promises, province touts new projects
The Saskatchewan NDP and the governing Sask. Party made a number of announcements this week in advance of the coming provincial election, which is to take place on or before Oct. 28.
Elsewhere
How the Harris and Trump Campaigns Are Spending Their Money
The campaign's records show both Team Trump and Team Harris putting an enormous amount of resources into one strategy.
What's astroturfing? The deceptive campaign strategy, explained
The term was first coined in 1985 by Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen and gets its name from the synthetic substitute designed to mimic grass. Discussing at the time the “mountain of cards and letters” he had received demanding his support for a bill favorable to the insurance industry, Bentsen famously said, “A fellow from Texas can tell the difference between grass roots and AstroTurf . . . this is generated mail.”
Sri Lanka election results: Second count to decide presidential winner
Marxist-leaning politician Dissanayake leads as second round of counting under way to decide the presidential winner.
Sandu launches Moldova re-election bid, referendum campaign on joining EU
Sandu has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and derides Russia and corruption as the two biggest threats facing her ex-Soviet state lying between Ukraine and Romania.
Republic of Moldova 2024 Presidential Election and EU Referendum: Pre-election Risk Assessment
These electoral exercises are crucial for shaping Moldova's future and upholding its democratic values. Factors such as new electoral legislation, the threat of Russian interference in Moldovan politics, and ongoing information warfare further challenge already overstretched Moldovan institutions. The incumbent political class is determined to stay in power and will have to maneuver through the mounting obstacles put in place by Russian-funded proxies who are capitalizing on voters’ dissatisfaction with the slow pace of the reforms.
Pakistan Promised China a New Militarized Naval Base, Leaked Documents Reveal
A 2020 report by the U.S. Naval War College highlighted the risk of China turning Gwadar into a “strategic strongpoint” that would grant it access to the Persian Gulf region in a future war. The report noted that Chinese investment in Gwadar to date “does not depend primarily on commercial returns,” and was strategic in nature. The conclusions mirror U.S. intelligence assessments finding that China has sought to create a network of military and naval bases around the world. An interesting weekend 'long-read' for those with an interest in the geopolitical contest between China and the US
Media
Your newsroom needs an AI ethics policy. Start here.
Until we create standards around artificial intelligence — even though it’s early in the game — we are holding back innovation.
Kremlin Promotes Putin Globally on YouTube It Blocks in Russia
The Kremlin is turning to Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube to get its message out to the world even as it’s throttling access for ordinary Russians to the US social media site.
Science and tech
How to Print Tables in R with Examples Using table()
Tables are an essential part of data analysis, serving as a powerful tool to summarize and interpret data. In R, the table() function is a versatile tool for creating frequency and contingency tables. This guide will walk you through the basics and some advanced applications of the table() function, helping you understand its usage with clear examples.