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Hamdi Issawi

@hamdiissawi.bsky.social
2.3K followers 264 following 216 posts

Former reporter. Back in Edmonton. Don’t follow. Fact-check instead. #yeg

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Reposted by Hamdi Issawi
Matthew Black @matthewblack.ca · 08/10/2026
Multiple Edmonton city councillors told Postmedia Muni Affairs Minister Dan Williams called them ahead of today's infill announcement "(He didn’t understand) what engagement and processes we have used and how we made changes,” said Coun. Erin Rutherford" via @ericbowling.bsky.social #ableg #abpoli
edmontonjournal.com
Edmonton mayor slams 'uninformed directive' after province intervenes on city infill rules
Edmonton city staff scramble to meet a last-minute directive from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith overhauling the city's growth plans.
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Reposted by Hamdi Issawi
Sam Hester @calgaryhester.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
I worked with CBC News to make a comics explainer about Alberta's upcoming referendum! I wrote about that today in my comics newsletter, The Drawing Book. Take a look, and print a copy to share in your community! samhester.substack.com/p/alberta-re...
samhester.substack.com
Alberta Referendum comics!
Albertans are voting on October 19th. Here’s what you need to know.
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Reposted by Hamdi Issawi
Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
My latest books cartoon for @theguardian.com
Hercule Poirot dressed all in black speaks to Captain Hastings in a grand hallway “Please ask the suspects to gather in the library, Hastings: I wish to reveal that our births are random, our lives meaningless, and our deaths absurd.”

Caption “Having investigated so many awful murders over the years, it was perhaps unsurprising that Hercule Poirot turned to Existentialism”


p.s. Poirot had presumably been reading a lot of Sartre recently…

 "It is meaningless that we live and it is meaningless that we die," Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness (L'Être et le Néant)

“Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance.” Jean-Paul Sartre, Nausea (La Nausée)
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Dr Lindsay Tedds @lindsaytedds.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
If you don't ask....

June 12, 2026: The Government of Alberta announced it had selected the University of Calgary's The School of Public Policy to produce an independent analysis of the potential economic impacts of Alberta leaving Canada. Up to $1.5 million was budgeted for the report and an advisory panel to review it. The stated purpose was to give Albertans evidence to consider before the October 19 referendum.

As of late June, the School's project page carried a specific commitment: the report would be delivered to the Ministry of Treasury Board and Finance in August 2026. Public release was expected in late summer.

Today, September 1: that delivery commitment no longer appears on the page. The surrounding sentence is intact. Only the month was removed. No replacement date was added, and no update was posted. The page still says public release is expected "late summer." 

So, three questions Tim Sargent Martha Hall Findlay.

What is the commitment now? If the August date no longer holds, what replaces it and why is that not public?

When will voters see the report? The referendum is October 19. That is 48 days.

And the one I think matters most: when will anyone outside the process have time to examine it? A report of this kind cannot be absorbed on sight. Its assumptions, methodology, and modelling choices need to be read carefully by people who work on this material, and that work has to happen in public, in time to be useful. The advisory panel's independent assessment is a further step that follows completion of the report. Every week of delay compresses the window in which economists, journalists, and Albertans themselves can actually interrogate the numbers rather than simply receive them.

A report released days before a vote informs no one. It is announced at people.

Deadlines slip, and saying so costs nothing. Removing a public commitment instead of updating it is what turns an ordinary delay into a question about transparency.
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Hamdi Issawi @hamdiissawi.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
And they're shameless about it. "The logo of the Amazon team that works at this warehouse, called VGT3, is a dinosaur, brandishing its teeth and with a book in its hands."
static.klipy.com
Jurassic Park: Clever Girl!
Alt: A class scene from the film Jurassic Park. A game warden (?) pointing a rifle (the wrong way) says "clever girl" just before he's ambushed by a snarling velociraptor.
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Hamdi Issawi @hamdiissawi.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
This is SICK: Amazon orders books so employees can cut the bindings to scan the pages and destroy the material. "Amazon purchases books through commercial channels to help develop and improve the products and services our customers use," an Amazon spokesperson said.
404media.co
We Tracked a Shipment of Rare Books. It Ended at an Amazon AI Training Facility
We placed a tracking device in a shipment of rare books to see which AI company was buying it, and found an Amazon facility where Amazon scans and destroys books.
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Reposted by Hamdi Issawi
Cecil Rosner @rosnerc.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
From mayor to paid lobbyist.
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Jack Farrell @jack-farrell.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Alberta’s NDP is calling for a moratorium on new approvals for AI data centres, saying current regulatory scheme doesn’t provide certainty for residents or businesses. The virtual town hall with the Premier tonight starts at 6. This will be updated after: ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/alberta...
ca.finance.yahoo.com
Alberta's Smith to take part in AI data centre town hall as NDP calls for moratorium
EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith was set Thursday night to take part in a virtual town hall about developing artificial intelligence data centres in the province, hours after the Opposition c...
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Reposted by Hamdi Issawi
Robson Fletcher @robsonfletcher.com · 27/08/2026
Dug out some old pics. 🥲
The glacier above Berg Lake in the 1990s, when a large vertical face directly above the lake would frequently calve off into the water and create floating icebergs.Me and and an exchange student who was staying with our family at the time swimming out to one of the icebergs in Berg Lake.Me and and an exchange student who was staying with our family at the time celebrating the iceberg in Berg Lake.
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Hamdi Issawi @hamdiissawi.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
"The aid group, which distributes food in Gaza, said at the time it had co-ordinated with the military over the convoy's movement. The vehicles, which had the group’s logo on their roofs visible from the air, were left incinerated and mangled." Israel's decision announced on World Humanitarian Day.
thecanadianpressnews.ca
Ottawa: 'unacceptable' for Israel to clear self in killing Canadian aid worker, peers
OTTAWA - Israel's conclusion that its military didn't commit a criminal act when it killed a Canadian and six other aid workers in Gaza two years ago is unacceptable, Foreign
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Hamdi Issawi @hamdiissawi.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
I’ve killed a lot of plants—not on purpose obvs—but getting this Calathea to bloom kinda feels like the road to redemption.
A hand holds a sprig blooming with two white flowers (maybe more to come?) from a Calathea plant. 
A Calathea plant prepare to bloom with a sprig shooting out amid the leaves.
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Hamdi Issawi @hamdiissawi.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
“As I awaited the CT scan, somewhere around 7 p.m., I would guess, I mentioned to a nurse that I’d been in the ER since 5 a.m. “‘I wish I could say that was unusual,’ he replied. ‘We’re working in a broken health-care system.’” #abhealth #abpoli
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Reposted by Hamdi Issawi
Jen St. Denis @jenstden.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
The racist Canadian group Dominion Society has a merch story which is powered by Canadian e-commerce company Shopify. @rachelgilmore.bsky.social explains the company's long history of failing to respond to hatespeech merchants thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026...
thetyee.ca
Shopify Powers a Racist Group’s Online Store. It’s Not the First Time | The Tyee
The company has repeatedly found itself in controversy over its support of ‘free speech.’
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Hamdi Issawi @hamdiissawi.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
"Many Canadians cannot afford to rent even the cheapest units in their community, and the affordability gap is growing, locking more Canadians out of the market and pushing more people into homelessness,” concluded the (Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness).
theglobeandmail.com
Rising cost of low-end rental units driving increase in homelessness, report shows
Findings challenge assumption that other factors, such as mental health or substance use, are the reason rates have surged in Canada
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Reposted by Hamdi Issawi
Charles Rusnell @charlesrusnell.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
You can't make up what goes on in Alberta politics. A third party advertiser offers citizenship and land in a sovereign Alberta for a $1,000 donation plus a chance to win a van. Separatist Site Offers Donors a Piece of the 'Republic of Alberta' via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/News/2026/07...
thetyee.ca
Separatist Site Offers Donors a Piece of the ‘Republic of Alberta’ | The Tyee
For a $1,000 contribution, a consortium seems to promise land and citizenship opportunities. ‘Unethical,’ says an expert.
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Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 21/07/2026
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun says his goal is to end 'state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel forever' aje.news/rexljr
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun says his goal is to end 'state of hostility between Lebanon and Israel forever'
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Laurie Adkin, Ph.D. @laurieadkin.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
thetyee.ca/News/2026/07...
thetyee.ca
‘What Are We Breathing?’ Kitimat Residents Ask | The Tyee
A Tyee investigation has uncovered major gaps in the monitoring of dangerous, potentially carcinogenic pollutants.
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Reposted by Hamdi Issawi
Carl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
It is 2006. The government wants to cut emissions with carbon capture. It is 2016. The government wants to cut emissions with carbon capture. It is 2026. The government wants to cut emissions with carbon capture. thenarwhal.ca/canada-carbo...
thenarwhal.ca
Carbon capture promises by politicians span almost 20 years | The Narwhal
It’s expensive and unproven at scale. From Stephen Harper to Mark Carney, Canadian politicians have made promises on carbon capture — yet to be delivered
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Jeremy Appel 🍉 @readtheorchard.org · 17/07/2026
NEW: The body ostensibly tasked with providing civilian oversight to the Edmonton police isn’t interested in hearing civilians’ criticism of Chief Warren Driechel’s February trip to Israel. open.substack.com/pub/theorcha...
open.substack.com
Edmonton Police Commission doesn't want to talk about Israel
The police oversight body's chair unilaterally approved Edmonton police chief Warren Driechel's controversial February 2026 trip to the Holy Land, which included visits to illegal settlements.
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Jeremy Appel 🍉 @readtheorchard.org · 24/06/2026
SCOOP: I obtained the itinerary and other documents relating to Edmonton police Chief Warren Driechel’s February 2026 Israel trip. @mbueckert.bsky.social of @cjpme.org says it’s “much worse than any of us expected.” open.substack.com/pub/theorcha...
open.substack.com
SCOOP: Edmonton police chief visited illegal West Bank settlements during Israel trip
Warren Driechel also met with members from an undercover unit that less than three months earlier executed two unarmed men in Jenin after they had surrendered.
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Alex Boyd @alexboyd.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Reupping this in case anyone knows Ontarians in Alberta who might want to talk!
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Reposted by Hamdi Issawi
Robson Fletcher @robsonfletcher.com · 22/06/2026
New inflation data out today and wow what can you say about these Alberta car insurance rates other than ... wow. 😳
Car insurance prices in Alberta have far outpaced every other province

Alberta is now at an index value of more than 400. No other province is above 250.

An index value of 100 is equal to the average price for insurance in Canada over all 12 months of 2002.

Source: Statistics Canada Table 18-10-0004-01
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Alex Boyd @alexboyd.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
🚨Journalist request 🚨: is anyone on here an Ontarian who has moved to Alberta relatively recently who wants to talk about how the separatism chatter is landing as a newcomer? Would love to chat if so! Send me an email! aboyd@thestar.ca
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Reposted by Hamdi Issawi
Robson Fletcher @robsonfletcher.com · 09/06/2026
This happens next week! It's free! You can register here: forms.gle/iBMrC5Arhaj2...
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Janet French @jantafrench.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
More change in Alberta health leadership, with little explanation from officials - by @jenleecbc.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #AbLeg #AbHealth
cbc.ca
Alberta health system 'rudderless,' doctor says, as latest AHS leader departs | CBC News
Another key health leader in Alberta is out, more than two years after the provincial government launched its health system overhaul, sparking fresh frustrations and worries among frontline staff.
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Charles Rusnell @charlesrusnell.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
The disconnect illustrated here is Trumpian. Premier Danielle Smith posts about "hearing different perspectives" about "the future we're building together" at the home of a multi-millionaire Calgary developer. Meanwhile, a 94-year-old Lethbridge senior is waiting four days for emergency hip surgery.
Danielle Smith speaks to a crowd of well-dressed people in a mansion. Post by a man about how his 94-year-old mother has been waiting four days for emergency hip surgery in Lethbridge. He says the UCP have created a system that puts politics before people.
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Reposted by Hamdi Issawi
Alex Boyd @alexboyd.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
In which I try to map out how Alberta got here and realize partway through this could be a book. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...
thestar.com
How did Alberta get here? A referendum timeline
The province of Alberta is now within spitting distance of a vote on independence.
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Reposted by Hamdi Issawi
Jack Farrell @jack-farrell.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
This is being overshadowed with the petition news, but Elections Alberta confirmed today it actually thinks ‘thousands’ accessed the leaked voter list, not just the 566 it sent cease-and-desist letters too last week. From me & @reportrix.bsky.social: www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
thecanadianpressnews.ca
Scope of access to leaked Alberta voter list may be incomplete: Elections Alberta
EDMONTON - Elections Alberta says the separatist group at the centre of a massive voter information breach may not have shared the full list of individuals who accessed its public
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Jeremy Appel 🍉 @readtheorchard.org · 14/05/2026
My latest for Alberta Native News: www.albertanativenews.com/22705-2/
albertanativenews.com
Court of King's Bench quashes separatist petition referendum; premier pledges to appeal - Alberta Native News
By Jeremy Appel (ANNews) – A Court of King’s Bench justice has ruled in favour of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) and the Blackfoot Confederacy’s...
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Hamdi Issawi @hamdiissawi.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
🤨 “Premier Danielle Smith immediately condemned the ruling. While she said her government favours Alberta staying in Confederation, the province will nonetheless appeal the ruling.” #ableg #abpoli
theglobeandmail.com
Alberta judge throws out petition for separation referendum
Justice Shaina Leonard ruled that the government had a duty to consult with First Nations before allowing the petition to proceed
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Ainslie Cruickshank @ainsliecruickshank.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
“The federal government is proposing reversing the order of pipeline approvals, allowing cabinet to green-light a new project prior to the completion of technical assessments and approvals” www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
theglobeandmail.com
Ottawa suggests letting cabinet green-light pipelines before technical assessments happen
Proposed change comes ahead of Alberta’s expected pitch for a new pipeline to the west coast
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Charles Rusnell @charlesrusnell.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
As I was saying. Sheesh.
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Jen St. Denis @jenstden.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
I interviewed one of the researchers of this report and he advised to just... stay off social media as much as possible. And buy a subscription to a newspaper. thetyee.ca/News/2026/05...
thetyee.ca
Report Warns of Russian and US Disinformation Campaigns on Alberta Separatism | The Tyee
Researchers say MAGA influencers and Russian state media are trying to sway opinions.
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Jared Wesley @jaredwesley.ca · 08/05/2026
Anyone who's been in a faculty meeting knows how hard it is for academics to forge consensus. That 40 of us across 7 universitirs agreed on the need for a public inquiry tells you how dire the voters list scandal has become. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/05/07/o...
nationalobserver.com
A call for an independent public inquiry into the management and use of Alberta’s voters list
An inquiry would establish a clear and authoritative account of what occurred, assess whether ongoing protections are adequate, and offer recommendations to restore confidence in Alberta’s electoral s...
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Jack Farrell @jack-farrell.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Elections Alberta says over 550 people accessed the database with the leaked personal info of nearly 3 million people under investigation. And Alberta’s privacy watchdog now says she’ll be doing her own probe too. From me and @reportrix.bsky.social: www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
thecanadianpressnews.ca
More than 550 people accessed renegade voter database: Elections Alberta
EDMONTON - Alberta's elections agency said Thursday it believes 568 people accessed a voter list at the heart of a massive privacy breach involving a separatist group.
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Laurie Adkin, Ph.D. @laurieadkin.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
May 4th media release from @pembina.org provides a very good outline of greenwashing by the Oil Sands Alliance. Thankfully, Pembina has a long memory for actual facts. 1/ #abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli @environmentaldefence.ca @cssn.org
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Christina Frangou @cfrangou.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Israel Said It’s Applying the Gaza Model in Lebanon. This Is What the Devastation Looks Like. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
How Israel Is Using the Same Tactics in Lebanon That It Did in Gaza
Satellite images, photos and videos show the scope of widespread demolitions in southern Lebanon.
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Reposted by Hamdi Issawi
Charles Rusnell @charlesrusnell.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
The Alberta NDP issued a press release demanding that the Chief Electoral Officer appear before an emergency committee meeting to explain why his office took so long to conduct an investigation into the voter database issue. 1
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Jack Farrell @jack-farrell.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Alberta's privacy commissioner calls for law changes after alleged voter list breach by separatists Updates to come: www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/prairies_bc/...
thecanadianpressnews.ca
Alberta's privacy commissioner calls for law changes after alleged voter list breach
EDMONTON - Alberta's privacy watchdog is calling for law changes in light of claims that a separatist group obtained and illegally used the province's official voter list.
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Hamdi Issawi @hamdiissawi.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Alberta, at least you’re not boring.
media.tenor.com
a man with a mullet and a mustache is wearing a wig and making a funny face .
Alt: A blond man with a mullet and a mustache is mouths “what the fuck.”
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Hamdi Issawi @hamdiissawi.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Fucked up. “Alberta Election Commissioner, Paula Hale, said that while the evidence I provided was ‘compelling,’ she couldn’t conduct further investigation because there was no proof that the information Parker compiled wasn’t gathered through legal means.” And yet, here we are. #ableg #abpoli
readtheline.ca
SCOOP: Jen Gerson: Elections Alberta's massive failure could have put people in danger. I tried to warn them.
The most unhinged people in the province may now have access to the personal information of everybody who lives here, and there's nothing we can do about it
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Charles Rusnell @charlesrusnell.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Shame on all the no-class, no integrity major media outlets, especially the CBC, for failing to credit @readtheorchard for breaking this story.
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Jeremy Appel 🍉 @readtheorchard.org · 30/04/2026
SCOOP: I attended the launch of David Parker’s Centurion Project last night. I happened to step outside when an Elections Alberta investigator and the cops arrived. open.substack.com/pub/theorcha...
open.substack.com
SCOOP: Elections Alberta investigating separatists for accessing electors list
An elections watchdog investigator showed up with police to the April 29 launch of David Parker's Centurion Project to follow up on a cease-and-desist letter.
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Alex Boyd @alexboyd.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Always love an invite to CBC's West of Centre podcast. It was @markusoff.bsky.social hosting today and @faliceemo.bsky.social @mattscace.bsky.social and I talk riding changes, separatist slopaganda and, importantly, how much it costs to rent a billboard on Highway 2. open.spotify.com/episode/2vSG...
open.spotify.com
Where to draw the line?
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Robson Fletcher @robsonfletcher.com · 24/04/2026
"This photograph was taken inside one of the few U.S. federal buildings where photographers were granted access — a single hallway where photographer Carol Guzy and others showed up, day after day, to document what was happening. It captures a harrowing moment: a family separated by the state."
npr.org
World Press Photo announces Photo of the Year 2026
The executive director of World Press Photo said the image shows the inconsolable grief of children losing their father in a place built for justice. It is a stark and necessary record of family separ...
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Hamdi Issawi @hamdiissawi.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
“‘I debunk the enemy’s narrative of targeting only military sites by showing evidence of them bombing homes, farms, and killing children,’ Khalil said (in a 2026 interview).” Lebanon accuses Israel of targeting two journalists in “double-tap” strike, and of crimes against humanity.
aljazeera.com
What we know about Israel killing Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil
Khalil was killed and her colleague injured in what Lebanese officials are calling a 'double-tap' strike by Israel.
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Jack Farrell @jack-farrell.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
'Get a gauge': Alberta's Smith says first year without time changes will be telling Not mentioned in article, but TIL that when US went permanent daylight in the 70s, a wack of kids were killed going to school cause of dark morning commute. From me: www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/get...
thecanadianpressnews.ca
'Get a gauge': Alberta's Smith says first year without time changes will be telling
EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says only time will tell whether ditching twice-a-year clock changes is the right call.
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Liam Newbigging @liamnewbigging.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Read my latest from today.
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Alex Boyd @alexboyd.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
If you have questions about the reporting on this, I'm answering some in the comments at 1ET/11MT. (You have to sign in and/or subscribe to join, which I get annoys some , but a lot of people put in time (editors, video editors, layout, me etc.) to get stories like this out the door!
A screenshot of my comment saying to come ask questions in the comment section today at 1ET.
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Hamdi Issawi @hamdiissawi.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
Edmonton reporters are CRUSHING it. Don’t forget to tip (off) your local journalist.
media.tenor.com
a man and a woman are sitting at a table in a conference room talking to each other .
Alt: A scene from the 2015 film Spotlight in which actors Michael Keaton and Rachel McAdams sit at a conference table while listening to someone off screen. Keaton holds a pen and notepad at the ready.
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