Advance polls open today
Voting for the June 2nd provincial election begins today in Ontario’s 124 ridings.
Elections Ontario says there will be ten days of advance polling, double the number from the last election to try to ease the strain on polling stations on election day itself.
You can find the voting location closest to you by checking out their website, election.on.ca
Mail-in ballots are still available and the deadline to apply is May 27th.
Kenney resigns
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is resigning.
His decision, announced last night, comes after he won 51.4 percent of the vote among party members in an extraordinary referendum on his leadership of the United Conservative Party, which he helped form in 2017.
Kenney says, while it’s a victory, it’s clearly not enough of a margin to continue leading the party.
Kenney has come under harsh criticism from the right-wing for imposing COVID-19 health restrictions, and for not standing up to the federal government.
The party’s caucus will meet later today to choose an interim leader since details on a leadership contest are still under discussion.
Prisoners of war
The International Red Cross says it’s registered “hundreds” of Ukrainian prisoners of war, in the wake of the fall of the southern port city of Mariupol.
The organization says many of them were wounded during the 82-day battle for the city.
Russian officials say more than 17-hundred have surrendered.
Russia has promised to treat all prisoners of war according to the Geneva Conventions.
But some officials in the Russian-backed separatist areas in eastern Ukraine say the soldiers will be put on trial.
The virus in North Korea
North Korea is now reporting almost two million cases of COVID-19, just a week after the country reported its first infections.
The country adds that 69 deaths are being attributed to the virus.
Western analysts say both numbers are likely hugely under-reported.
They note North Korea’s health care system is weak and the population is completely unvaccinated.
Meantime, American and South Korean officials say the North has finished preparations to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017.
They say it will likely be timed to coincide with U-S President Joe Biden’s visit to South Korea and Japan, which starts tomorrow.
