How mapping tree genomes can help plant forests resilient to climate change

A research team at the University of Alberta is looking into why some trees in Alberta are more resilient when faced with drought, disease and the risk of wildfires by sequencing tree genomes.  A genome is the genetic makeup of an organism, and the thought behind sequencing tree genomes is that it’ll help inform what trees have … Read more

House says it didn’t alert MPs targeted in Chinese hack because there was ‘no cybersecurity impact’

Members of Parliament targeted in a suspected China-backed espionage campaign weren’t informed because the attack was thwarted and didn’t affect them, says a spokesperson for the Speaker’s office. The statement comes a day after parliamentarians called out the government for not informing them that they had been targeted for a pixel reconnaissance cyber attack launched … Read more

Honda to invest $15B to build 4 new EV plants in Ontario

Japanese automaker Honda will make a $15-billion electric vehicle investment in Ontario to build four new manufacturing plants in the province, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Thursday. According to a government statement released to media in advance of the announcement, the deal will result in “Canada’s first comprehensive electric vehicle … Read more

Hundreds of Canadian artists denounce ‘alarming’ anti-trans legislation in open letter

More than 400 Canadian artists from the worlds of music, film and literature are denouncing what they describe as “alarming and destructive” anti-trans legislation in an open letter released Sunday by music superstars Tegan and Sara. The list of stars who signed the letter includes actor Elliot Page, Great Big Sea frontman Alan Doyle, actress … Read more

Liberia: French court upholds guilty verdict for Liberian warlord

An appeal court here has upheld the 2022 conviction of Kunti Kamara, a former commander of the Ulimo rebel group, for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Lofa County during Liberia’s first civil war. The court of three judges and nine jurors, delivered the final verdict Wednesday evening following more than eight hours … Read more

Denis Villeneuve explains how Quebec’s history plays into his sweeping vision for Dune: Part Two

Q23:12Denis Villeneuve: Dune 2, his vision for the sci-fi epic, and how the film reflects issues in the world today Denis Villeneuve grew up in the small village of Gentilly, near Trois-Rivières, Que., where he could see two structures from his home: the church and the nuclear power plant. That image is key to understanding … Read more

In Hamilton or Niagara on April 8? Here are some of the region’s best solar eclipse viewing parties

You may have heard the joke by now: “How do you organize a solar eclipse party? You planet.” But you could also let someone plan it for you. And throughout the Hamilton-Niagara region — home to some of the best areas in Canada to see the total solar eclipse on April 8 — there are plenty of options. That … Read more

Michael J. Fox receives standing ovation for surprise appearance onstage at BAFTAs

Michael J. Fox made a surprise appearance onstage during Sunday night’s BAFTA Film Awards as he presented the prize for best film to Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. The 62-year-old Canadian-American actor, who is living with Parkinson’s disease and uses a wheelchair, stood at the podium and addressed the crowd. Stars like Ryan Gosling, Robert Downey Jr. and … Read more

MuchMusic doc pulled from Crave months after director says he clashed with labels

A MuchMusic documentary that once came under scrutiny for using a deep catalogue of popular music has been pulled from its premiere date on Crave. Representatives for Bell Media said Monday that a “scheduling change” was behind their decision to quietly remove 299 Queen Street West from a planned debut last Friday on the channel and its streaming … Read more

In new film I.S.S., space is the next frontier for U.S.-Russia tensions

Gabriela Cowperthwaite is the first to admit her new film, I.S.S., is out of step with her career to date. The director of Blackfish (a documentary about the cruel treatment of orcas in captivity, Children of the Underground (about a covert network built to smuggle families away from abusive partners) and Our Friend (a true story of … Read more