David Harmes

Canada pledges $8 million in food aid for Cuba as U.S. fuel blockade continues — The Canadian Press Canada is sending $8 million in food aid to Cuba, where a U.S. oil blockade h

"This is going through our trusted partners in the World Food Program as well as UNICEF. We're hoping that it gets to those most in need.”

The Orality Theory of Everything — The Atlantic The decline of reading and the rise of social media are again transforming what it feels like to be a thinking person.

“Literacy literally restructured our consciousness, and the demise of literate culture—the decline of reading and the rise of social media—is again transforming what it feels like to be a thinking person.”

The private sector elite enjoying steak through Cuba's crisis — Financial Post In two-track economy, those who can afford it access everything from basic foodstuffs to luxury treats, while others scavenge for scraps

“In the 1990s, Cubans were all in the same boat, so to speak, and there was a sense of… community and solidarity. Now, the inequality is very visible, and that’s a political grievance for people.”

Globe editorial: Aid the Cuban people, not their oppressors Groups are pressing Canada to supply aid, but many of these proposals are misguided and would serve to prop up a repressive dictatorship

“While nobody should wish for the continuance of Cuba’s Communist government, a quick look at the history of American-led regime change reminds us that the chances of a stable democratic government taking root are extremely slim. A military intervention in Cuba would likely repeat the pattern.”

New defence industrial strategy will jump-start investment, sector leaders and analysts say Autonomous-vehicle makers, space-based companies and munitions manufacturers among those who stand to gain

“The strategy is a major reversal for the defence sector in Canada, which has long suffered from a lack of private-sector enthusiasm.”

No fuel, no tourists, no cash – this was the week the Cuban crisis got real — Guardian US Diplomats in Havana are preparing for an alternative Trump tactic: the country being starved until people take to the streets and the US can step in

“The view is that people in rural villages like Viñales may be OK, but those in the cities would be at terrible risk.”

Doug Ford has learned a hard lesson after starving Ontario's colleges and universities — Toronto Star Doug Ford’s Tories have finally figured out that Ontario’s public colleges and universities can help provide the skilled workforce we need in uncertain times, Martin Regg Cohn writes.

“If we want a strong Ontario tomorrow, we need to strengthen our postsecondary institutions today.”

Opinion | Defending Canadian cultural protection laws must be near top of CUSMA talks agenda. Here's why — Toronto Star Culture, writes David Olive, is local news that no Big Tech firm provides, and world news seen through Canadian eyes. U.S. media giants have balked at paying a tax which would go to protecting that cu...

“Culture is more than a night at the opera. It’s local Canadian news that no Big Tech firm provides, and world news seen through Canadian eyes.”

Is AI Coming for Your Favorite Local DJ? — Rolling Stone With her nose ring, blue hair streaks, and tattoos that extend from her shoulders to her fingertips, DJ Tori is, in the words of her boss, “every guy’s fantasy of what a rock chick would look like.” I...

“The once-mighty radio world has increasingly had to deal with declining revenue, layoffs, and voice tracking, in which DJs in one city pretape segments for others to cut costs. The advent of AI has rattled the radio community even further.”

The Melania Trump Documentary Is a Disgrace — The Atlantic The exorbitant film captures the rotten state of the entertainment industry.

“The publicity emails sent from Amazon regarding the movie have no individual names or email addresses attached, as though no one wanted their career or personal brand sullied by association.”

Twenty years later, rapper Shad still just wants to contribute to the conversation Embarking on a winter tour, the rapper wants to have ‘a real moment with fans’

“Toronto is one of the first cities, outside of New York City, to have a real hip-hop scene and a lot of people forget that.”

South Korean sub maker Hanwha signs agreement with Algoma Steel — The Canadian Press South Korean submarine maker Hanwha announced Monday it had signed a flurry o

“The pact declares Hanwha's intention to purchase steel products for both the construction of Canada's new submarine fleet and the maintenance infrastructure on both coasts to support it.”

Police and ICE Agents Are on a Collision Course — The Atlantic After another fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis, the rift between local police and federal agents is becoming a rupture.

“It is rare for law-enforcement officers to turn on each other so publicly, and Minneapolis may represent the beginning of a broader rupture between local police—many of whom have years of experience dealing with the public—and federal officers bolstered by a corps of hastily trained recruits.”

Opinion: Why does Canada need to make cars anyway? Let’s repurpose the industry By focusing on defence and dropping tariffs, the country could solve several problems

“During the Second World War, the auto industry was converted into the defence industry. It produced a wide range of military material, particularly for the British when they were facing the fascist powers alone early on, and making a critical contribution to the overall Allied war effort.”

Vancouver social media company Hootsuite looking to work with ICE to ‘build trust’ Company has secured a project with ICE that involves ‘social listening’ after cancelling a contract in 2020 over employee backlash

“I’m having a hard time seeing how ICE using Social Listening helps Hootsuite give back to our communities and be an ally.”

Qatar and Canada are both ambitious builders and forces for peace and stability on the world stage. 

We’re going to collaborate more on AI, tech, and defence and make it easier for Canadians and Qataris to do business together — to create more opportunities for both our peoples.

Quite the achievement for Mr. Carney in Beijing. Now what? The Prime Minister has seized an opportunity as China begins to ease its trade stance

“Of note, is Chinese President Xi Jinping’s commitment to provide visa-free travel to Canadians, which widens the door to cross-border knowledge-exchange.”

Trudeau's former defence minister launches tech startup that could bolster Arctic sovereignty — Financial Post Juno Industries wants to scale up in both Canada and worldwide and will focus on recruiting Canadian technical and defence experts

“Juno Industries wants to scale up in both Canada and worldwide and will focus on recruiting Canadian technical and defence experts.”

What Happened to Happy Hour? — The Wall Street Journal As people dial back their drinking and companies reel in fun budgets, the age-old ritual of getting a beer with colleagues is taking a hit

“Companies would come out with the boss, who would throw their credit card down and everybody would be drinking throughout the evening.”

YouTube video by TVO Docs CFNY: The Spirit of Radio | TVO Docs

Take an hour out for this great doc from TVO on the history of Toronto alternative radio station CFNY

youtu.be/lmm50PHkU8c?...

Opinion: Canada cancelled its plans for a National Portrait Gallery – so I built my own Nearly twenty years after the Harper government killed the gallery, portrait enthusiasts are angling for more face time

“Canada is an outlier in not having an institution dedicated to portraiture. There are half a dozen national portrait museums around the world.”

A High-Seas Gambit Humiliates Putin — The Atlantic Trump has pushed Russia out of Latin America and seized tankers while conceding nothing in Europe.

“It remains to be seen how Russia might answer this latest round of American insults, but Putin’s options are severely limited by the demands of the war he started in Ukraine.”

Maduro’s capture reflects growing role of cyberattacks and satellites in warfare Trump alluded to use of cyberwarfare to shut off power in Caracas during operation

“Modern conflict is now technologically enabled in a way that even 20 years ago would have been unimaginable.”

Three stories of fresh starts: Deeper relationships, renewed purpose and community building Ruminations on starting over, with Gabor Maté, Aquakultre and Zehra Allibhai

“For the Fresh Start Effect to last, be intentional with your actions: foster community, give yourself small, obtainable, consistent goals and, most importantly, define your purpose.”

Opinion | Trump’s security promise to Ukraine may be more dangerous than it looks — The Washington Post An Article 5-style guarantee could risk drawing the U.S. into war.

“Any commitment made to Ukraine that obligates the U.S. to act differently in the future than it has in the past would be a promise of questionable value for deterring future Russian aggression.”

Why we need to party more We’ve grown accustomed to online social interaction, but having in-person fun is good for you, and infectious

“Friendships have shifted to include the passivity of witnessing people’s lives online, as opposed to making the effort to spend quality time with them.”

Opinion: 2025 will rank as one of Canada’s great nation-building years The country’s move toward more independence from the U.S. will be a defining moment in its history

“Nation-building requires consensus. And though national unity in Canada is still imperilled, 2025 was encouraging.”

U.S. sees Canadian-controlled nuclear giant Westinghouse as its own strategic asset, documents reveal — The Logic OTTAWA — The U.S. government sees the Canadian-owned Westinghouse nuclear company as a tool of American influence, federal officials have warned Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson.

“Westinghouse has been signing up Canadian suppliers and opened an engineering hub in Kitchener, Ont., last year.”

Copaganda fills the news desert.

The bloodletting continues.