Past issues Subscribe

Jun 2 2025

The Roundup: Spending blitz. Provinces deal. Ukraine's attack.

MON JUN 2 2024
David Akin's Roundup
Spending blitz. Provinces deal. Ukraine's attack.
Canada
Just before the election, Liberals handed out 411 cheques worth $3.86B
During the last Parliament Global News tracked more than 20,000 spending announcements worth $110 billion combined, some of which appeared to support the Liberals' political goals. [Global]
The federal government is developing what it calls a "national interest" bill to fast-track nation-building projects with a streamlined regulatory approval process. [Global]

A Canadian industry group says Trump's move to increase tariffs on steel “essentially closes the US market to our domestic industry for half of its production.” [Global]
Former justice minister David Lametti will also take over as principal secretary, replacing Tom Pitfield, who helped run the Liberal election campaign and was filling in on an interim basis. [Globe and Mail] (🎁 link)
Can u spare $5 a month for this newsletter? Click now!
The Provinces
The memorandum of understanding between Saskatchewan and Ontario sees both provinces mutually recognize each other's goods, workers and investment, while a statement from the Alberta government says its MOU with Ontario aims to improve the free flow of goods and services between the two provinces. [CP]
“The current price of this project cannot be put on the backs of Yukoners. It's just not feasible,” Pillai said.  “You can't have Yukoners pay for a $2-billion project that's going to be really important for the entire country.”  Pillai wants this initiative to be perceived as a “nation-building” project. He has been in talks with the newly sworn-in federal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney.[Yukon News]
Aurora
Elsewhere
Social media footage shared by Russian media appeared to show the drones rising from inside containers while other panels lay discarded on the road. One clip appeared to show men climbing onto a truck in an attempt to halt the drones. The drones hit 41 planes stationed at military airfields on Sunday afternoon, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M aircraft, the official said. Moscow has previously used Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers to launch missiles at Ukraine, while A-50s are used to coordinate targets and detect air defenses and guided missiles.  [Global]
Conservative Karol Nawrocki has won Poland’s weekend presidential runoff election, according to the final vote count. The outcome suggests that Poland can be expected to take a more populist and nationalist path under its new president, who was backed by U.S. President Donald Trump.  [AP]
Britain is under threat but we will meet it with the biggest response seen in our lifetimes
UK PM Sir Keir Starmer:  We are announcing today we will build at least six new munitions ­factories across the UK, creating more than 1,000 skilled manufacturing jobs. And we will sweep aside the planning blockers who stand in their way. We will also build up to 7,000 long-range weapons for our Armed Forces, supporting around 800 more defence jobs. And that’s just the start. Under this radical blueprint, we will drive forward investments in ship- building, drone technology, cyber defences and more — new measures to defend Britain and to strengthen every part of our forces. [The Sun (UK)]

Robert Fowler says it would take 'a very large and serious effort to eradicate' Islamic terrorism groups in West Africa, which U.S. military officials warn could attack America. [Global]
Science and Technology
Trump orders could end Chinese drone sales in the U.S.
The popularity of Chinese-made drones in the U.S. has been a long-running concern for the national security community, with some politicians trying to ban them outright.The executive order would direct the U.S. intelligence community to accelerate reviews of whether Chinese drone makers DJI and Autel are national security risks, a determination that Congress in late 2024 mandated to be made. My understanding is there are few more popular drones among pros and hobbyists than China-made DJI drones. [WaPo] (🎁 link)

Meta has offered a Facebook app for iPads since 2011, but it had largely avoided offering apps for the device otherwise. That tune finally seems to be changing, as the company released a WhatsApp app for iPads last week, and there are now multiple sources who have claimed that an Instagram app for iPads is in the pipeline too. Ok, Meta -- can I now have a Threads app for the iPad too? [MacRumors]
Issued this day ...
… in 2003: Sc 1987. 50th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Design: Saskia van Kampen.

Previous Issues

Load More