Ukraine digs in as the West stumbles to keep up with Russian war production

“War,” said British philosopher, mathematician and pacifist Bertrand Russell, “does not determine who is right — only who is left.” Those words might be the perfect lens through which to view what probably lies ahead for Ukraine in the coming year as its troops dig in — and dig deep — along a front roughly 960 kilometres wide. … Read more

Meet Oscar, the Canadian-built, AI-driven recycling system helping governments go green

Standing in the middle of a cafeteria at Global Affairs, Soren Antosz was testing Oscar, a new, high-tech tool popping up in federal government buildings. Antosz holds up a paper napkin. That’s compostable, flashes the message on Oscar’s screen. Next is a plastic bottle. Oscar tells him to empty the liquid then drop it into … Read more

Freeland approves RBC’s $13.5B takeover of HSBC Canada with conditions

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has approved RBC’s $13.5-billion takeover of HSBC Canada, despite calls from opposition politicians and other groups to block it over concerns of reduced competition. Freeland’s approval was the last hurdle for the deal after the Competition Bureau approved it in September. The minister’s approval comes with conditions on RBC, including that … Read more

Canadian trapped in Gaza pleads for help as Ottawa announces new immigration measures

A Canadian citizen trapped in Gaza is begging for help as Ottawa announces new measures to help family members of Canadians flee the war zone. Mahmoud Kouta of London, Ont. told CBC News he’s been trapped in Gaza since the current Israel-Hamas war broke out. The air and ground war was launched in response to Hamas’s brutal … Read more

Montreal-based Pornhub owner reaches deal with U.S. prosecutors over ties to alleged sex trafficking

The Montreal-based company that owns and operates adult entertainment websites including Pornhub.com has reached a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Justice Department over its ties to an alleged sex trafficking operation, court records showed. Lawyers for Aylo Holdings, formerly known as MindGeek, are set to appear in Brooklyn federal court later on Thursday for … Read more

As U.S., U.K. and EU sanction violent Israeli settlers, Canada hangs back

The Trudeau government still won’t say if it’s considering imposing sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in the wake of travel bans announced by both the U.S. and the United Kingdom in recent days. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said last week that he will recommend EU sanctions as well.  Canada, like its American, British … Read more

Outlook good for Canadian oil and gas sector, says industry report, but risks remain

Canada’s upstream oil and gas industry and drilling services sector has a “very favourable” outlook for 2024, according to Enserva’s State of the Industry report released on Thursday. Key highlights of the report show that oil prices are expected to remain strong, demand will be robust, export capacity will increase, and investment and drilling activity are set … Read more

MPs call for new measures to rein in Canadian pension investments in China

The House of Commons special committee studying Canada-China relations is urging the federal government to introduce new measures to prevent Canadian pension funds from investing in Chinese companies implicated in human rights abuses, corruption or threats to national security. The committee’s report, tabled in the House of Commons this week, calls on Ottawa to, in partnership with … Read more