Canada
A Toronto byelection reveals what really matters to voters
For Liberals and Conservatives, it’s a head-to-head race where an outright loss or a steep drop in the Liberal vote share would mean essentially the same thing: embarrassment for Trudeau in fortress Toronto, and a taste of possible victory to come for Poilievre.
Canada to host G7 leaders’ summit in Kananaskis, Alta., in 2025
Canada says it will host the G7 summit next year in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. As the G7 is generally held in June or July and the next federal election is scheduled for October, 2025, PM Trudeau can expect to be the host; the second time he will have done so. Canada hosted the 2018 summit in La Malbaie, QC. As the host, Canada will get to some some significant agenda priorities. Trudeau, for what it's worth, is the dean of the G7, having attended eight such gatherings. (The 2020 summit was cancelled due to COVID). Stephen Harper attended 10 during his time in office.
The Provinces
Quebec restaurant halts free-meal program after warning over English-only text
A Montreal restauranteur said he's halted a "pay it forward" free meal program after a complaint from Quebec's language law enforcement office.
Elsewhere
How the world is voting in 2024
The first half of the biggest election year in human history has yielded mixed results for global democracy. Some countries shifted toward one-party autocracy as incumbents consolidated their power. Others staged a semblance of elections with predetermined outcomes. And still others demonstrated...
UK polls point to 'electoral extinction' for Prime Minister Sunak's Conservatives
The polls come just over halfway through the election campaign, after a week in which both the Conservatives and Labour set out their manifestos, and shortly before voters begin to receive postal ballots.
Hundreds of thousands in France protest far right ahead of snap elections
Crowds have gathered daily in France to protest since President Macron called parliamentary elections earlier this week.
Trump challenges Biden to cognitive test but confuses doctor's name who tested him
At the Turning Point Action convention in Detroit, Donald Trump suggested Joe Biden should take a cognitive test, only to confuse who administered the test to him.
Media
Press release: Matina Stevis-Gridneff Is Our New Canada Bureau Chief
"During her time in Brussels, she regularly demonstrated her deep understanding of what it means to be a bureau chief, showing great skill and perseverance in developing sources within often opaque and difficult-to-penetrate E.U. bureaucracies, talents that will serve her well in Canada."
How algorithms, influencers, and users work together to spread misinformation
The book examines and contextualizes how bad information and “bespoke realities” became so powerful and prominent online. She charts how the “collision of the rumor mill and the propaganda machine” on social media helped to form a trinity of influencer, algorithm, and crowd that work symbiotically to catapult pseudo-events, Twitter Main Characters, and conspiracy theories that have captured attention and shattered consensus and trust.
Massive cross-cultural study finds participation with news is declining
A massive cross-cultural study reported a 12% decline in overall news participation—including liking, sharing, and commenting on social media, and discussing news offline—a trend spanning 46 countries between 2015 to 2022.
Science and tech
How to Quit Google, According to a Privacy Expert
Quitting Google isn't just a technical process—it's a massive project. Here's some advice on how to tackle it.
