Good evening. I'm Will Dove and this is the nightly news for Wednesday, May 28th.
The Toronto District School Board has announced mandatory "anti-Palestinian racism" re-education sessions for teachers, sparking criticism from parents and free-speech advocates. The program, set to launch this fall, will require all staff to complete training focused on addressing alleged systemic bias against Palestinian students. Critics argue the initiative leans on politically charged rhetoric rather than measurable data, with no statistics provided to substantiate claims of widespread discrimination.
Parent coalition groups have raised concerns about the board’s prioritization of ideological training over academic benchmarks, citing declining math and literacy scores. A 2024 TDSB report showed only 59% of Grade 6 students met provincial math standards, down from 65% in 2022.
Over 12.3 million Americans aged 120 or older were abruptly removed from the Social Security Administration’s database this week, raising questions about data integrity. The agency attributed the purge to a "system glitch," but skeptics note the number aligns precisely with illegal immigrant entries flagged in a 2023 inspector general audit.
Social Security Trustees warned last year that the program’s trust fund could be depleted by 2035, accelerating fears of mismanagement. The removals represent 3.1% of total beneficiaries, though officials insist no legitimate claimants were affected. Congressional Republicans have demanded transparency, with House Oversight Committee hearings scheduled for June 5th.
The U.S. moved closer to war with China today after the Pentagon deployed 500 combat-trained troops to Taiwan, marking the largest permanent U.S. military presence on the island since 1979. The personnel, stationed at a covert training facility near Taipei, are advising Taiwanese forces on asymmetric warfare tactics against potential Chinese amphibious invasions.
China’s Foreign Ministry condemned the deployment as a "reckless provocation," threatening "resolute countermeasures." The move follows a 40% increase in Chinese military incursions into Taiwan’s air defense zone this year, totaling 1,142 incidents through May. U.S. officials confirmed the troops will remain until at least 2026.
Ukrainian forces have deployed fiber-optic-guided drones capable of evading electronic warfare systems, according to military analysts. These $15,000 drones transmit real-time video through cables thinner than human hair, enabling precision strikes on Russian positions. A recent operation near Kharkiv reportedly destroyed 11 artillery units in 72 hours.
The technology allows operators to maintain control up to 12 kilometers behind front lines, with 92% mission success rates in field tests. However, production remains limited to 150 units monthly. Russian forces have offered a $50,000 bounty for intact models, underscoring the systems' strategic impact.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today that Mohammed Sinwar, Hamas's Gaza military chief, was killed in an airstrike. The operation targeted a tunnel network near Rafah, involving six guided bombs and drone support.
Sinwar allegedly orchestrated 14 rocket attacks this year, killing 23 Israelis. Intelligence suggests Hamas has lost 75% of its senior leadership since January. Palestinian sources report 17 casualties in the strike, though Israel claims all were combatants.
Florida Representative Randy Fine sparked international condemnation after advocating "nuclear solutions" to eliminate Hamas. Speaking at a pro-Israel rally yesterday, Fine claimed "one warhead could save countless lives."
Twelve UN Security Council members issued formal protests, while 85% of surveyed Palestinians called the comments genocidal. Fine defended his stance, citing Hamas's 643 rocket launches this month. The White House called the remarks "reckless."
Bitcoin has reached a milestone with 19.53 million coins mined—93% of its 21 million cap. Remaining Bitcoin will enter circulation gradually through 2140 due to halving protocols.
Mining difficulty hit record highs this week, requiring 86 quintillion computations per block. Analysts predict prices could surpass $120,000 by December as scarcity increases. Approximately 30% of mined Bitcoin remains inactive in cold storage.
doctor David Berger, former World health-organization consultant, testified at a Malaysian tribunal yesterday that COVID vaccines showed "negative efficacy" in some demographics. Citing UK data, he quoted data showing vaccinated individuals aged 18-39 had 27% higher hospitalization rates than unvaccinated peers.
Berger accused pharmaceutical companies of hiding 74% of adverse events reported during trials. health-canada maintains its stance on vaccine safety, despite acknowledging 12,000 domestic injury claims.
Media outlets and public health officials have sharply criticized Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after he contested proposed changes to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. Critics allege Kennedy’s statements amplify vaccine hesitancy, despite the CDC reportedly considering similar revisions. Internal CDC documents obtained by journalists suggest the agency planned to reduce booster frequency for low-risk demographics, aligning with Kennedy’s call for individualized risk assessments.
Kennedy emphasized that 80% of Americans now have hybrid immunity from prior infection or vaccination, reducing the need for universal mandates. Vaccine proponents dismissed his claims, insisting boosters remain critical for vulnerable populations.
A new report classifies plant-based milks as ultra-processed foods unsuitable for young children, citing nutritional deficiencies and additives. Research reveals 70% of almond, oat, and soy beverages lack adequate protein, vitamin D, and calcium compared to cow’s milk, with some containing up to 20g of added sugar per serving.
Pediatric experts warn that toddlers fed primarily plant-based alternatives face higher risks of stunted growth and developmental delays. Health-canada guidelines currently recommend cow’s milk as the default for children under two, but 40% of Canadian parents now use plant-based options. Critics urge stricter labeling rules to prevent misleading claims about nutritional equivalence.
I’m Will Dove and that’s the news for today, Wednesday, May 28th.
