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Jun 7 2023

Weapons scientist. Joly’s overhaul. Ice-free Arctic.

Jun 7, 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
Scientist accused of developing Syria’s chemical weapons program traced to Edmonton
Ahmed Haytham Alyafi was an 'indispensable' part of Syria's chemical weapons program, according to de-classified documents. He lived in Edmonton, immigration records show. [Global]
Joly wants more diplomatic corps out in the world and a bigger presence at organizations like the U.N. [National Post]
Former governor general says there were “strange practices, unusual practices” at Dong’s 2019 nomination meeting, but did not interview the Don Valley North MP. [Global]
John Ivison: It was a lamentable spectacle, watching the once-admired David Johnston, glassy-eyed and defiant, struggling to see the obvious conflicts. [National Post]

Global News and its parent company Corus Entertainment say in response to a lawsuit filed by Han Dong that their reporting about the Toronto MP was based on a detailed investigation involving multiple sources. [CP]
That would mean that by the end of the melt season in September, the Arctic would have less than one million square kilometres of sea ice, even under low emissions. [Global]
New data 👆 from Statistics Canada shows federal government spending on science and technology as a percentage of all government spending spiked in 2021 -- spending on COVID research? -- and has now declined. Calculations are mine based on data you can find here.
The official portrait of former Speaker Geoff Regan was unveiled Tuesday. Click through at this link to see the latest addition to Parliament's collection. - DA
From the provinces
'A situation that's unprecedented.' Quebec confronted with over 150 wildfires
Northern Quebec's largest city was being evacuated while another that had been threatened by wildfires lifted an evacuation order Tuesday, as authorities turned their attention to communities in the northern and northwestern part of the province. [CP]
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Elsewhere
Ukraine, Russia trade blame as dam blast threatens drinking water supply
The wall of a major dam in a part of southern Ukraine that Moscow controls collapsed Tuesday, triggering floods and endangering Europe's largest nuclear power plant. [Global]

Germany is preparing to host the biggest air deployment exercise in NATO's history, a show of force intended to impress allies and potential adversaries such as Russia , German and American officials said Wednesday. [AP]

Air pollution warnings were in effect across Canada and the United States, including New York City, where conditions were expected to worsen during the day on Wednesday. [NYT]
"This is false, and the immigration programs referenced do not exist." [The Star - Kenya]
Christie suggested that other top Republicans have been afraid to challenge Trump or even mention his name much while campaigning — but made it clear he had no such qualms. [Global]

His campaign starts the competition against his former boss more than two years after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol upended their relationship. [WaPo]
Media
Marie Vastel nommée éditorialiste au « Devoir »
Marie Vastel est forte d’une riche expérience de correspondante parlementaire et d’analyste politique. [Le Devoir]
CNET announces it editorial policy on the use of artificial intelligence: "With proper guardrails, new tools can assist us in producing expert, unique and helpful advice." [CNET]
The storied tech publication is promising to disclose when artificial intelligence generates a portion of a story's text, but that's about it. [Endgadget]
Tech
Apple's newest MacBook Air has a bigger screen, but does it offer anything else that its little linemates don't? [CNET]
Michael Liedtke: After wearing the Vision Pro during a half-hour demonstration meticulously orchestrated by Apple, an Associated Press reporter  was blown away by the goggles-like headset. But that excitement was muted by a disquieting sense of having passed through a gateway that eventually will lead society down another avenue of digital isolation. [AP]
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Issued this day ...
Issued this day in 1956: Sc 362: Industry: Paper Industry. Design: Alfred Joseph Casson.
Yes, you were right: The designer of this stamp was indeed the Group of Seven member A.J. Casson (1898-1992) who designed stamps and other printed material as part of his day job as a commercial artist at Sampson-Matthews in Toronto. 

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