Past issues Subscribe

Sep 3 2023

Russian disinformation. Tamara talk. Asia week.

Sep 3, 2023
David Akin's Roundup
Clippings of #cdnpoli, #media, and #tech content aimed at those with an interest in Canadian politics and policy. And sometimes Canadian postage stamps.
Canada
CSIS disinformation campaign leans on Soviet imagery, as Ottawa tracks 'grey media'
Canada's spy agency is leaning on Soviet imagery to help prime the public against disinformation but experts say Moscow is more likely to use images that make readers think the messaging is coming from North American sources. [CP]
To her fans, Lich is a proud Canadian, a lioness of the movement behind the "Freedom Convoy" protests and the target of a justice system that won't abide her anti-government beliefs.  To the Crown, Lich is a nefarious actor who deliberately helped lead blockades that tormented residents, defied police orders, shuttered businesses and pushed the country to a state of national emergency. [CP]
Canada's opposition leader is going viral once again, this time, aligning Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his father Pierre with anti-capitalistic beliefs. [CHCH]
From the provinces
Heather sees red, Wab's somewhat blue: Why 2 Manitoba party leaders shed their skins in August
Bartley Kives: In August, Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives and New Democrats coloured a little outside their usual ideological lines. These shifts could constitute campaign tinkering - or the start of a more substantive shift in strategy. [CBC]
Murray Mandryk: Rather than attempt to address their real  problems, the mandate of cabinet ministers is now to give voters something else to think about. [Regina Leader Post]
"Based on who the alleged complainant is in this matter, we are seeking to have the matter moved to Judge Orr's court," said Crown attorney Jeff MacDonald in provincial court in Charlottetown to Chief Judge Jeff Lantz in the matter of Mark Anthony Brown. Judge is the minister's brother. This is such a PEI thing.... [Saltwire]
Click to donate $3 a month to support this newsletter!
Elsewhere

Canada has its eyes on Asia and the lucrative trade markets in the Indo-Pacific region as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau heads to the region for a week of international summits and bilateral meetings. [CP]
India is set to host the conference for the first time ever as more than 25 world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, convene in New Delhi from September 9 to 10. [Globe and Mail]

Across 12 countries, a median of 40% of adults say they have no confidence in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do the right thing regarding world affairs, while a median of 37% say they have at least some confidence. About eight-in-ten Indians (79%) have a favorable view of Modi, including a 55% majority with a very favorable view. This Pew research includes Canadian attitudes. [Pew]
Mr Trudeau is seeking to position Canada as “a destination of choice for investment opportunities”. [Straits Times]
Ruling party sees its former senior minister win over 70% of votes. [Nikkei Asia]

The damage done by disinformation may have longer-lasting and more pernicious effects than ephemeral military mischief. “Credit” where it is due: Building on centuries of practice, Russia has worked the disinformation system well enough to outflank Western governments’ efforts to counter them. Russia has long been a world leader in active measures stretching from the Cold War to antecedents as far back as Tsarist times. Western responses have been feeble at best. [Foreign Policy Research Institute]
Sci/Tech

Tired of toggling between a video call and Google Docs? Now you won't have to. [ZDNet]
Click and donate $5 a month to support this newsletter!
The Calendar
  • 2315 ET: Ottawa, ON - PM Trudeau departs for Jakarta, Indonesia.
Issued this day ...
... in 1953: Scott # 33: Queen Elizabeth II - Karsh Portrait - Coil Stamps: 4¢ violet. Design: Herman Herbert Schwarz. Photograph: Yousuf Karsh.

Previous Issues

Load More