The Decibel

Bed bugs are pretty much everywhere. They’re being spotted in major cities like Paris , London and even Toronto now. They’ve been found in 135 countries in the world, according to a recent study , and they can live in mattresses, couches, walls, lightswitches, even books. For a while, we were doing well at keeping the bed bugs in check, but not anymore. Murray Isman, a professor and dean emeritus...

The Rafah crossing – the sole entry point between Egypt and Gaza – remains a political, diplomatic and humanitarian tinderbox. While Egypt has kept the border firmly closed to Gazan refugees fleeing from the Israel-Hamas war , it has allowed an aid corridor for several dozen trucks delivering food, water and medical supplies. But relief workers say the aid is ‘insufficient’ for people’s needs in G...

French immersion has become a cornerstone in Canadian education. One in 10 Canadian students are now enrolled in the program, as numbers doubled through the 1990s. But it has also inadvertently created a cultural and class divide – with some parents and students feeling like they’re getting left behind. Caroline Alphonso , The Globe’s education reporter, is the parent of two French immersion stude...

As Canada tries to figure out its path forward in combating climate change, the question of which level of government is allowed to do what has become a sticking point in the courts. Most recently, the government of Alberta asked the Supreme Court to rule on whether a piece of federal environmental legislation was offside. The court’s decision was a surprise to both sides. So The Globe’s climate c...

Could your next favourite foods be created by a robot? While artificial intelligence has long been used in the production and assembly lines of food, some companies are now turning to AI to create new kinds of food, recipes and combinations that the human brain hasn’t conceived of before. Ann Hui , the Globe’s demographics reporter and former food reporter, joins the show to talk about this new fr...

Hezbollah , the Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon, is seen as a serious threat to the Israel-Hamas war. There are fears the group, considered the most powerful non-state actor in the world, could dramatically escalate the conflict if it joins the fight against Israel. Nathan Vanderklippe , international correspondent for the Globe, is on the show to explain Hezbollah’s influence, its tie...

With inflation still stubbornly high , it seems like interest rates could remain elevated for quite some time. And the stress of that has some Canadians wondering who gets to make these big economic decisions. Report on Business columnist David Parkinson explains the relationship between the Bank of Canada and the federal government, how interest rates are set and what changes might be worth consi...

In Canada, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. It’s the second leading cause of death from cancer in Canadian women and second most common cancer in the country. Currently, guidelines say that screening should begin at the age of 50, but the task force in charge of these recommendations might lower the age to 40. And that has re-ignited a heated debate .  Carly Wee...

Warning: this episode contains descriptions of violence Hundreds of thousands of people have fled south in Gaza after Israel told 1.1 million people living in the northern part of the Gaza Strip to evacuate. Israel is expected to begin a significant ground offensive soon. As of Sunday evening, 150 Canadians are stuck in Gaza, hoping to flee to neighbouring Egypt. Israel has called up more than 360...

When Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, the U.S. was among the first nations to firmly side with Israel , pledging unequivocal support. The U.S. has historically been a staunch supporter of Israel, but this particular conflict has a different dimension due to the fact that some Americans and Canadians are among the hostages Hamas kidnapped. Adrian Morrow is The Globe’s Washington correspondent and h...

In Her Defence , a new podcast series from The Globe and Mail, tells the story of Helen Nasland , in her words for the first time. Through a series of jailhouse interviews with The Globe’s Jana G. Pruden , Naslund speaks about the domestic violence she suffered and what led to a fateful night – that led to the murder of her husband.  Naslund’s story and harsh sentencing captured the attention and...

The RCMP has begun an investigation into allegations of misconduct made by two tech entrepreneurs. Their warnings to senior officials and experiences have cast a new light on alleged improper contracting practices and close ties between public services and private consultants. Bill Curry, the Globe’s Deputy Ottawa Bureau Chief, joins the show to break down the allegations that throw into question...

Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence On Saturday, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group, launched one of the largest and deadliest attacks on Israel in decades. Militants stormed past borders on the Gaza Strip, killed civilians in nearby towns and took an unknown number of Israeli hostages. In retaliation, Israel formally declared war on Hamas and sent airstrikes into Gaza. In a...

For over a decade now, the rescue pups of PAW Patrol have been an obsession for toddlers around the world. And now, the box office is responding too — last week, its second feature film had the largest opening for a Canadian movie in more than a decade. This kids franchise is a big business . And it’s Canadian. Barry Hertz is the Globe’s deputy Arts editor and Film editor. And he is on the show to...

The trial of Lieutenant-General Steven Whelan began in late September. Only a week later, it was over , with the case before a court martial dropped. Two charges of misconduct were brought against Whelan under the National Defence Act in December 2021. Whelan’s case highlights the long reckoning against some of Canada’s top military officials, who have been accused of improper conduct and sexual a...

In less than a decade, Mohammed Majidpour has racked up more than 30 offences in Vancouver. His crimes include theft, robbery, dangerous driving and numerous violent attacks on strangers. Recently, he pleaded guilty to his 11th assault on a stranger and, after spending almost a year in a pre-trial detention centre, was sentenced to a single day in prison. This is the 14th time he’s received a sing...

Over the past few years, the Buddhist organization Bliss and Wisdom has been buying up several parcels of land in PEI . So much so, residents have begun to question how their acquisitions are legal in a province with strict rules around how much land individuals and organizations can own. Meanwhile, the monks insist they haven’t broken any rules. Investigative reporter Greg Mercer explains how som...

When Russia invaded Ukraine back in February 2022, millions of Ukrainians fled the country. Many went to the neighbouring country of Poland, which welcomed hundreds of thousands of refugees. But now, things are changing , in part because of a contentious election in Poland. Thousands of Ukrainians are now leaving Poland, and setting up their lives somewhere else . Today, The Globe’s European Corre...

A capsule from the NASA spacecraft, Osiris-REx recently landed in a Utah desert after spending seven years in space . Inside the capsule is a sample from a more than 4 billion year-old asteroid named, Bennu. And it could answer some of the biggest questions about our existence. The Globe’s Science Reporter, Ivan Semeniuk is on the show to tell us about why this mission is so important and what thi...

Saint Lucia is known for its natural beauty, but the most iconic part of the island is along its southwest shore. Twin volcanic peaks – called the Pitons – rise up out of the ocean. The UNESCO World Heritage site is featured on postcards, literature, and even the Saint Lucian flag. They are also the site of a controversy involving a Dollarama executive who is trying to expand his luxury home on th...

The federal government has been facing intense pressure to reduce the cost of food, as food inflation remains much higher than overall inflation. Some measures have been brought in, but many experts question whether they’ll actually be effective. Michael Von Massow , a food economist and professor at the University of Guelph, joins us to talk about why food prices are still so high, what role the...

A recent report from Canada’s federal housing agency, CMHC says we need 3.45 million new homes built by 2030 in order to reduce skyrocketing housing costs. Supply has long been an issue especially in the expensive markets of Toronto and Vancouver. But, is it possible for Canada to ramp up construction so drastically and what happens if we don’t? The Globe’s Real Estate Reporter, Rachelle Younglai...

Canada’s judicial system is a bit of a mess right now. Cases are piling up. Staff aren’t showing up to work . And there aren’t enough judges . Even the Supreme Court of Canada has an unfilled vacancy currently. Sean Fine is The Globe’s justice writer and he explains what factors are contributing to the various delays in courts and how if they aren’t dealt with soon, some people may never face just...

Follow In Her Defence wherever you get your podcasts. The first two episodes drop Tuesday, October 10th. Everyone knew bad things were happening on the Naslund farm. Then, in the fall of 2017, Miles Naslund’s body was found welded into a box at the bottom of a pond near his family’s property in Alberta, Canada. His wife and son were charged with first-degree murder. The Globe and Mail’s newest pod...

Canada’s relationship with India has been rocky for years, but it’s at a particular low point right now after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused agents of the Indian government this week of killing Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in B.C. Today, the Globe’s Asia correspondent James Griffiths joins us from New Delhi, India to discuss how this news is playing out there , why the relationship wi...