The Catch-All: ICYMI February 3-9

Good morning. I missed a couple big stories from before Feb. 3 so you'll have to forgive me for the false advertising. Other than that, I've fallen behind on updates following Israel's genocide on Palestine. So please make sure that you follow accounts and news networks that provide up-to-date news on the situation. I know its been months but also look for demonstrations in your area. We can't let up.

On a different note, and as you'll see in the tech section, Bluesky has opened up its gates. Anyone can make an account and join. While I (regretfully) returned to Twitter briefly, I'm only using the web version on my laptop and won't be there regularly. In any event, you can make an account and follow me (and other very cool posters) on Bluesky, where we're trying to build a community.

News Round-up

Ontario

Documents show Ontario may move to allow expropriation of land before environmental review, Emma McIntosh and Fatima Syed, The Narwhal, (Feb. 2)

Despite the city’s regulation, Toronto tenants continue to be pushed out for Airbnb, Stephen Spencer Davis, Ricochet (Feb. 5)

Police Chief Blames Music Videos for Sexual Violence at Hockey Gang Rape Presser, Manisha Krishnan, Vice News (Feb. 5)

Ford's PC Party has eight-point lead over Liberals but Crombie gaining ground in some areas: poll, Codi Wilson, CP24 (Feb. 6)

'Buddy, you gotta get a new story': Ford faces ServiceOntario questions, CityNews (Feb. 6)

Doug Ford new planning rule actually slowing housing construction, say builders, Noor Javed, Toronto Star (Feb. 6)

Ford, Trudeau sign $3.1B health-care funding deal that will see Ontario hire more health workers, Lucas Powers, CBC News (Feb. 9)

Canada

The RCMP Sent Its Pipeline Protest Unit to Pro-Palestinian Rallies, Amanda Follett Hosgood, The Tyee (Feb, 2)

Prime Minister invited Waffen-SS veteran Hunka to his official reception for Zelensky, Marie Woolf, The Globe and Mail (Feb. 5)

Becoming a Black communist in rural Saskatchewan, Nigel Hakeem, SaskDispatch (Feb. 5)

More U of A Sexual Assault Centre staff let go, majority of services still suspended, Katie Teeling, The Gateway (Feb. 6)

After 1 Million March, LGBTQ2S+ youth face rise in bullying and fear of outing, Gabe Oatley, Xtra Magazine (Feb. 6)

Forced-birth activists make absolute fools of CTV Calgary in polling debacle, Duncan Kinney, The Progress Report (Feb. 6)

Pierre Poilievre says he's against puberty blockers for kids and accuses Justin Trudeau of putting children in harm's way, Stephanie Levitz, Toronto Star (Feb. 7)

Five climate protesters arrested after pink paint splashed on PM's office building, The Canadian Press via CP24 (Feb. 7)

Canadian officials still haven't seen intelligence linking UN's Gaza aid agency with Hamas: sources, Evan Dyer, CBC News (Feb. 7)

Local news cuts at Bell come after it was granted $40M in regulatory relief: St-Onge, Mickey Djuric, The Canadian Press (Feb. 8)

US

CNN staff say network’s pro-Israel slant amounts to ‘journalistic malpractice’, Chris McGreal, The Guardian (Feb. 4)

Kinnan Abdalhamid, Palestinian Student Shot in Vermont, Calls for US, Schools to Demand Israel Ceasefire, Kinnan Abdalhamid, Teen Vogue (Feb. 5)

Biden Executive Order on West Bank violence more likely to be used against Palestinians than Israeli settlers, Maryam Jamshidi, Mondoweiss (Feb. 5)

Mojo Nixon, Unabashed Outlaw Cult Hero, Dead at 66, Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone (Feb. 7)

Biggest ever survey of trans Americans finds 94% happier after transition, Jessica Glenza, The Guardian (Feb. 7)

Biden won’t be charged in classified docs case; special counsel cites instances of ‘poor memory’, Ryan J. Reilly, Ken Dilanian and Megan Lebowitz, NBC News (Feb. 8)

World

Iraq condemns U.S. airstrikes against Iran-linked groups, Jane Arraf, NPR (Feb. 3)

Taiwan's defense boost: US advisers stationed for training, TVBS (Feb. 5)

Journalists say Ukrainian security service spied on them, Reuters (Feb. 5)

Kazakhstan’s president dismisses his Cabinet, The Associated Press (Feb. 5)

Rio de Janeiro: Dengue spike prompts health emergency ahead of Carnival, Vanessa Buschschlüter, BBC News (Feb. 6)

Scientists just set a nuclear fusion record in a step toward unleashing the limitless, clean energy source, Angela Dewan, CNN (Feb. 8)

Israel-Palestine

Nicaragua taking Germany, Canada, UK, Netherlands to ICJ for genocide, Al Mayadeen English (Feb. 5)

Israeli activists set up tents to block humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza, Middle East Eye (Feb. 7)

‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ Day 123: New testimonies emerge of Israel torturing detained Palestinians in Gaza, Mustafa Abu Sneineh, Mondoweiss (Feb. 6)

Israel seeks to evacuate Palestinians jammed into a southern Gaza city ahead of an expected invasion, (Evacuate to where?) Najib Jobain and Josef Federman, Associated Press (Feb. 9)

COVID

Safety Dance: Covid Harm Reduction for the Rave Scene, Hilary Agro, (Feb. 5)

COVID-19 “Zombie” Viral Fragments Could Help Explain Why Some Infections Are More Severe Than Others, Ashmita Gupta The Weather Channel India (Feb. 5)

Not wearing a mask during COVID-19 health emergency isn’t a free speech right, appeals court says, Mike Catalini, Associated Press (Feb. 6)

Why So Quiet about Long COVID?, Andrew Nikiforuk, The Tyee (Feb. 6)

About 5.8 million children had symptoms of long COVID, study shows, Robert Brodsky, Newsday (Feb. 7)

Tech

Finance worker pays out $25 million after video call with deepfake ‘chief financial officer’, Heather Chen and Kathleen Magramo, CNN (Feb. 4)

Snap to lay off 10% of global workforce, around 500 employees, Rohan Goswami, CNBC (Feb. 5)

Bluesky is now open for anyone to join, Amanda Silberling, Tech Crunch (Feb. 6)

Australian journalists abandon X in wake of Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover, survey shows, Amanda Meade, The Guardian (Feb. 6)

AV Corner

Podcast: Is Canada prepared for an impending dementia epidemic?- This Matters

Video: The Era Of War Crime Influencers- YUGOPNIK

Music: What A Fucking Nightmare- The Chisel