Good evening. I’m Will Dove
And I’m Hannah Bern and this is the nightly news for Tuesday, June 10th
Canada’s federal Summer Jobs program is under scrutiny for channeling over $200 million in taxpayer funds to select groups while denying access to pro-life organizations. According to published data, the program—which aims to provide meaningful summer employment to youth aged 15 to 30 and expects to support more than 76,000 young Canadians this year—has directed funding to dozens of Islamic associations, including the Islamic Society of Toronto and Islamic Relief. Also receiving taxpayer money are several left-wing and pro-abortion organizations, such as the Ottawa Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights Center and Hope Fertility and Reproductive Medicine Center, which offers in-vitro fertilization services.
The program also provides support for various pro-LGBT groups like Pride Toronto, Capital Pride, Canadian Aviation Pride, and TransCare+ Queer and Gender Diverse Access. Pride Toronto, notably, is known for hosting the city’s annual Pride parade, a public event that features nudity and explicit displays.
Since December 2017, pro-life organizations have been barred from receiving funding due to a mandate by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau requiring applicants to sign an attestation affirming their agreement with abortion and transgender “rights.” This requirement was later revised, but still demands applicants not use funds “to undermine or restrict the exercise of rights legally protected in Canada,” and to provide a safe, inclusive, and healthy work environment. As a result, groups such as Campaign Life Coalition, along with other non-political organizations—including a summer Bible camp, a rural museum, a family-owned irrigation business, and the Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto—have lost funding for refusing to comply with the attestation.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is pushing European allies toward a dramatic increase in military spending, specifically urging a 400% surge in air and missile defense budgets. Speaking this week at a London think tank, Rutte claimed that “danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends,” and warned that failure to invest more now would leave Europe vulnerable in the future. “If we don’t act now… from three, four or five years from now, we are really under threat,” Rutte said, going so far as to suggest Europeans may have to “learn Russian” or “go to New Zealand” if they do not step up.
Rutte’s remarks align with former U.S. president Donald Trump’s call for NATO nations to boost minimum defense spending from 2% to 5% of GDP. Rutte expects this higher target to be adopted at NATO’s upcoming June summit. He also outlined plans to formalize new spending policies: 3.5% of GDP would go toward core defense, such as heavy weapons and air defense, while 1.5% of GDP would fund areas like infrastructure, surveillance, and cyber warfare.
Canada announced it would hit the 2% NATO spending target this fiscal year, committing $60 billion, five years ahead of schedule. However, Rutte urged even faster movement toward the 5% mark, warning, “The threats facing NATO are growing and our adversaries are certainly not waiting for us to re-arm.” Critics have noted that Moscow has not shown intent to invade NATO states beyond Ukraine, pointing out that the expansionist threat is largely assumed rather than demonstrated.
For the first time ever, China has dispatched two aircraft carriers deeper into the Pacific Ocean, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions. This deployment follows NATO’s recent move to bolster its presence in the Pacific, signaling a direct and calculated response. The presence of two carriers simultaneously in open Pacific waters is unprecedented for China, demonstrating a growing ambition and capability to project power well beyond its traditional coastal waters.
The move clearly underscores China’s effort to assert itself as a major maritime force in the Pacific, as global attention to the region’s security intensifies. This development is being closely watched by Western defense officials, who view it as validation of their concerns over China’s military expansion.
Greta Thunberg departed Tel Aviv for France en route to Sweden after the Israeli government deported her following the interception of the humanitarian aid yacht Madleen. The boat, which included twelve activists from several countries, was carrying baby formula and medicine to Gaza in a “symbolic” challenge to Israel’s maritime blockade. The vessel was boarded by Israeli forces early Monday while reportedly in international waters, about 115 miles west of Gaza, after being tracked and surrounded by drone activity. The activists said their communications were jammed and that they were subjected to a “white irritant substance” before being seized.
Upon her arrival at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport, Thunberg accused Israel of “illegally kidnapping” her and others against their will, transporting them to Israel, and detaining them under conditions she described as unjustified. The Israeli Foreign Ministry dismissed the voyage as a publicity stunt, insisting their actions complied with international law and that humanitarian aid would be rerouted through official channels. Five of six detained French citizens refused to sign deportation orders and will face judicial proceedings.
Other activists, including a Dutch national and MEP Rima Hassan, were among those detained. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has demanded the immediate release of all volunteers and the return of the confiscated aid. Israel has continued to explain the blockade as a security measure against Hamas, while UN agencies have warned of catastrophic hunger in Gaza.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval to Merck’s monoclonal antibody shot, clesrovimab—branded as Enflonsia—targeting newborns and infants for protection against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The drug is set to launch for the upcoming RSV season, directly challenging the blockbuster Beyfortus shot from Sanofi and AstraZeneca, which generated $1.8 billion in sales last year. Merck highlights the convenience of Enflonsia as a single-dose regimen compared to Beyfortus’s two-dose schedule for infants.
Clinical trial results posted on ClinicalTrials.gov show the shot reduced RSV-related hospitalization by 84.3% and medically attended RSV by 60.5% among infants up to five months old, compared to placebo. However, the safety data raises concerns: while injection-site reactions and rash were more common, the most serious adverse events included neurological complications—such as febrile convulsions, seizures, facial paralysis, and brain injury—occurring at nearly three times the rate in the vaccinated group (25 of 2,409) versus placebo (4 of 1,202).
According to Children’s Health Defense Senior Research Scientist Karl Jablonowski, the trials showed a serious adverse event rate of 11.71%. Specific risks included a 50% greater chance of death (three deaths in the vaccine group versus one in placebo), a 350% greater chance of upper respiratory infection, a 63% higher risk of lower respiratory infection, and a 41% increased risk of febrile convulsions. Critics warn that administering a uniform high dose to newborns, especially those under 5 kg, may expose them to excessive risks.
Across the United States, an increasing number of parents are facing felony charges for failing to place their infants on their backs to sleep, following allegations regarding Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). This controversial trend has sparked debate about parental responsibility versus tragic accidents, as some jurisdictions are treating SIDS cases as criminal neglect under certain circumstances. While exact numbers of prosecuted parents are not specified in the source, the report highlights that authorities are now holding caregivers criminally liable when infants die during sleep and were not placed on their backs.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has long recommended that babies be placed on their backs to reduce SIDS risk, but the aggressive enforcement of this guideline in courtrooms has drawn criticism from some family advocacy groups. Critics argue that SIDS can occur even when all recommended precautions are followed and that criminalizing grieving parents adds undue trauma. The source notes the life-changing consequences for such families, as parents may face lengthy incarceration and permanent separation from surviving children.
And of course no mention is made of the fact that 50% of SIDS deaths occur within 48 hours of a vaccination, and 70% within one week.
I’m Will Dove
And I’m Hannah Bern, and that’s news for today, Tuesday, June 10th.
