Canada saw exports to the U.S. rise by 3.1 per cent in June, with imports also slightly up, but the data showed it was still down compared to a year prior. [Global]

The Tories raised just over $9.1 million in the quarter that ended in June, reporting donations from 82,681 people. That outpaced the Liberals, who brought in $7.7 million from more than 116,000 donors. The new figures bring the governing party's total in the first half of this year to just over $21.3 million — already more than its 2024 total of $14 million. [CP]

Federation president David Chartrand says Ottawa is also propping up the Métis National Council by including it in the meeting, despite the fact that it has only two provincial members left due to conflicts related to the Métis Nation of Ontario. [Global]

Alberta’s Battle River–Crowfoot riding, one of the most conservative in Canada, is being contested by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in a byelection set for Aug. 18. In that riding, firearms enthusiasts have been growing increasingly frustrated with federal gun policy and delays tied to a buyback program. [CBC]

[Chief] said details of the plan would be announced at a later date, but that the roads being considered include Routes 138 and 132 – both major highways used by people who commute to and from Montreal and its South Shore. He said tolls could be around $4.60, which is the rate charged by nearby Autoroute 30. He said Kahnawake also includes a seaway and rail line, and did not rule out eventually imposing more tolls. [CP]

Nova Scotia is closing all provincial parks as of 4 p.m. on Tuesday amid extreme wildfire risk, meaning hikers and campers in these locations will no longer be allowed. [Global]

A stretch of northern Ontario remains under a special air quality statement amid smoke from wildfires burning in parts of the country. [Global]

Fierté Montréal made the announcement a few days after Ga'ava, a Montreal-based Jewish community group, urged government officials to intervene. [Global]

On Tuesday, the president said that he believes those who fled have “abandoned” the state, adding that the FBI “may have to” get involved. His comments came the same day Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for the arrest of the dozens of “delinquent” Texas senators currently in other states — namely New York and Illinois — and a letter penned by Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn called on the FBI to take action. [Global]

'We have the trade deal with the United States, Canada and Mexico... There is no need,' Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Wednesday. [Global]

Mark Carney suggested he is considering substituting or rescinding the Online News Act to ensure local news spreads wider and faster. [National Post]

Australia’s internet watchdog has said the world’s biggest social media firms are still "turning a blind eye” to online child sex abuse material on their platforms, and said YouTube in particular had been unresponsive to its inquiries. [Japan Times]

A nuclear reactor would assist with long stays on the moon, but the newly unveiled plans do not yet specify when a base could be built. Lunar surface power needs are at least 100kWe for long-term human operations, according to estimates cited by NASA. “Energy is important, and if we’re going to be able to sustain life on the moon, to then go to Mars, this technology is critically important,” Duffy said. [CNN]

People all over TikTok and Instagram are using the word "clanker" as a catch-all for robots and AI. Here's a deep dive into the origins of the pejorative and an explanation of why it's spreading. [NPR]