Tag Archives: Canada

09Jan/26

The Thin Green Line: Federal Authority, Extremist Infiltration, and the New Rules of ICE Enforcement (2026)

Jan. 9, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Given the complex overlap of federal authority, extremist infiltration concerns, and the evolving legal landscape of 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) finds itself at the center of an unprecedented convergence of federal expansion and civil rights controversy. Following a historic 120% increase in manpower and the diversion of over 28,000 personnel from other federal agencies to enforcement operations, the agency has faced intense scrutiny regarding its vetting processes and the infiltration of far-right extremist ideologies. Continue reading

09Jan/26

The Gated Games: Why the 2026 World Cup is Losing its Soul

Jan. 9, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The World Cup has always been more than a tournament; it is a quadrennial “Global Village” where the world puts aside its borders for ninety minutes at a time. But as we approach the 2026 kickoff, that village is being replaced by a fortress. The United States’ current immigration stance—marked by travel bans for 39 nations and “extreme vetting” for others—is fundamentally altering the spirit of the game. We are moving toward a “Two-Tier World Cup” where your ability to cheer for your national team is determined by the strength of your passport, not the depth of your passion. Continue reading

09Jan/26

A Divided Pitch: The Rise of “Fortress America” and the Death of the Global Fan

Jan. 9, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The intersection of U.S. immigration policy and the 2026 FIFA World Cup has become a major flashpoint. The feasibility of a boycott and the “ruining” of the game are subjects of intense debate among human rights groups, fans, and governing bodies. Football without fans is like a movie without a soundtrack. You can still follow the plot, and the acting (the skill) is still world-class, but you lose the emotional crescendos that make you jump out of your seat. For a World Cup—an event built on the “unity” of humanity—a lack of fans doesn’t just change the score; it changes the soul of the event. Continue reading

18Nov/25

Global Progress on Tobacco Plain Packaging and Warnings

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) released a statement on November 18, 2025, concerning the global advancements in tobacco control measures. Specifically, the report details increasing international adoption of plain packaging for cigarettes and the required use of large, graphic picture health warnings. The CCS report, Cigarette Package Health Warnings: International Status Report, ranks countries based on warning size and notes that more countries are moving forward with these public health measures, including innovative requirements for warnings to be printed directly on individual cigarettes in countries like Canada and Australia.  The core focus is the worldwide progress in mandated cigarette packaging regulations. Continue reading

28Apr/25

Equifax 2024 Global Consumer Credit Trends

April 14, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — Equifax’s 2024 Global Consumer Credit Trends Report offers a broad analysis of consumer credit conditions across ten countries, leveraging the Equifax Cloud™ for enhanced data insights. The report highlights trends in consumer credit demand, debt, delinquencies, and credit card usage, alongside inflation trends. Continue reading

18Mar/24

Half the world will vote in 2024, but how many elections will be fair?

Toby James, University of East Anglia and Holly Ann Garnett, Royal Military College of Canada

This year has been widely proclaimed to be the year of elections, with national elections expected in at least 64 countries. This means that half of the world’s population will have the opportunity to change their government, choose their representatives and indirectly shape policy. It began as a year of hope – and the prospect of democratic empowerment.

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17Jan/24

Newsweek and BrandSpark International announce the 2024, 100% consumer-voted Most Trusted consumer product, retail, and services brands in the UK as voted by UK shoppers

Market research and consulting firm BrandSpark International, in partnership with iconic media brand Newsweek, has released its 2nd edition with the 2024 list of the Most Trusted brands in the UK, as 100% voted on by UK Shoppers. The winning brands were determined in the BrandSpark International UK Trust Study through a consumer survey, aggregating the opinions of 13,823 recent category shoppers who provided 86,736 top-of-mind unaided responses on which brands they trust most. BrandSpark has been measuring trust for 11 years, with robust studies in the United States and Canada. Continue reading

06Oct/23

Study Shows Canadians Invest in Cryptocurrency to Enhance Living Standards and Quality of Life

Bitget, top cryptocurrency exchange and copy trading platform, has released a study that sheds light on the financial aspirations and investment behaviors of crypto enthusiasts across the globe. The research, conducted from May 2023 to August 2023, engaged over 1,500 participants from 20 countries, including Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan, and Turkey. Continue reading

28Aug/23

John Wick: Chapter 4 and All Quiet on the Western Front are Motion Picture Winners at the 10th Annual Location Managers Guild International Awards

The Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) announced the winners of its 10th Annual LMGI Awards tonight. The Motion Picture winners were John Wick: Chapter 4 (filmed throughout Berlin, Paris, New York City, Japan and Jordan) and All Quiet on the Western Front (filmed in Czech Republic and Germany). The Television Series winners were “1923” (filmed in Montana, South Africa, Malta and Kenya), “The White Lotus: Season 2” (filmed in Sicily, Italy) and “The Last of Us” (filmed around Alberta, Canada). Icelandair Stopover “Easy to Stop, Hard to Leave” (filmed in Iceland) won for Commercial and The Alberta Film Commissions and Calgary Economic Development for “The Last of Us” (filmed around Alberta, Canada) was awarded the Outstanding Film Commission Award. The awards ceremony and reception took place at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica before an audience of 400, including LMGI members, industry executives and press. This year also marks the LMGI’s 20th anniversary. Continue reading