The cost of defamation on China’s social media
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South China Morning Post reporter Ian Young uncovered details of an December 9 court ruling in Toronto that found Chinese community leader Simon Zhong Xinsheng awarded $35,000 in damages and $15,415 in costs after Wu Jian, a retired construction worker, used the WeChat platform to make claims that were proven to be fake news.
Apple falling far from its tree
The exit of Liz Schimel, a magazine veteran hired to helm Apple’s foray into packaging journalism, shines a light on the perceived challenges of the offering. Apple News+ was built upon tech from Texture, the app Rogers partially owned, and Toronto Star stories are in its premium package. (But its most enthusiastic users might be tweens.)
“I am not now, never was, and never will be Métis. I have never claimed to be Métis at any time, in any way, to any one, in my life.” Lynn Beyak issued this statement after her anti-racism trainer claimed the senator pronounced Métis identity during sessions that she was mandated to attend to avoid suspension for anti-Indigenous statements.
The federal election hangover
Maxime Bernier has followed through on his threat to sue Warren Kinsella for defamation. The failed People’s Party leader is demanding $325,000 in damages from Kinsella and his Daisy Group over statements that also seemed to align with presumed campaign work for the federal Conservatives. Kinsella says the comments were based on his personal principles:
Airbnb will no longer let Canadians under 25 rent a home without a present host if they live close enough to it. The company says the idea was informed by their research about house party rentals, although it just happens to land on the heels of a deadly shooting. Despite the policy, Airbnb admits that its new rules can be circumvented.
A new era of celebrity arrests
The tale of the YouTuber from Toronto who admitted to faking his girlfriend’s death to promote their joint channel provided another round of infamy for Jason Ethier. He’s now facing charges of assault and assault with a weapon, although it’s not clear what events the charges relate to. Ethier also hasn’t stopped racking up the YouTube views:
Buddy Cage dead at 73. The pedal steel guitarist from Toronto got his start in folk duo Ian and Sylvia’s band, Great Speckled Bird, then played on early albums by Anne Murray. But bigger things came with his full-time replacement of a moonlighting Jerry Garcia in New Riders of the Purple Sage. Cage had been battling cancer since 2012.
Finally, another salvaged sign
Record Nook was a Jamaican store located at 1400 Bathurst Street in Toronto, owned by reggae star Jackie Mittoo and ska legend Lord Tanamo, along with music manager Karl Mullings. All three have passed away, and its sign landed in an antique store. But it’ll soon be on display in a Shoppers Drug Mart:
