The Peak Daily

Blowin’ in the wind 🍃— Cohere makes a big European purchase, Nova Scotia has wind power goals.

Cohere is continuing its European expansion by acquiring Czech cybersecurity firm Aisle to bolster its sovereign AI platform. Plus, Ottawa is committing $100 million to spur offshore wind power development in Nova Scotia. And in the big picture, CoreWeave’s credit default risk reaches record highs, Ottawa threatens legal action over Stelco layoffs, and Anthropic partners with non-profit METR to evaluate model safety. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Scammers and spies 🥸— Big banks and telecoms roll out anti-fraud platform, OpenAI roots out a spy.

Big banks and telecom giants are joining forces on a new anti-fraud platform to tackle rising scam losses across Canada. Plus, an OpenAI engineer was arrested by the FBI for allegedly placing bugging devices in executive boardrooms. And in the big picture, US regulators accuse banks of debanking political figures, Netflix plans workforce cuts, and SpaceX restricts Starlink access for Ukrainian military drones. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Bring it on home 🏠— Apple unveils its smart home hub, Dominion Dynamics inks Ukraine defence deal.

Apple is betting big on the smart home market with its new US$299 HomeView hub, featuring a revamped Siri assistant and facial recognition technology. Plus, Canadian defence startup Dominion Dynamics signed a deal with Ukraine’s Tencore to assemble TerMIT ground drones in Canada starting next year. And in the big picture, theme parks shut down roller-coasters following a fatal incident, Toronto cyclists take bike lane removals to the Supreme Court, and Stelco defends recent layoffs. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Electric dreams 🚗 — Geely coming to Canada, European supermarket cyberattack

China’s second-largest automaker, Geely, is gearing up to start selling EVs in Canada next year, marking the first major push by a Chinese car manufacturer into the Canadian market. Plus, hundreds of supermarkets across France were hit by a bizarre cyberattack that remotely manipulated refrigerator temperatures, spoiling food and causing fires. And in the big picture, suspension of flights in Saudi Arabia following recent attacks, this year's Economics Nobel Prize winners, and more top stories in business, finance, and tech. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Can’t get you outta my head 🎃- Starbucks is eying a Chipotle takeover, The market is getting AI heavy.

Private matters 🪧 - Tech companies protest lawful access bill, Ottawa tightens MAID requirements.

Signal and DuckDuckGo are threatening to leave Canada over Ottawa’s proposed lawful access bill, warning that giving police easier access to users’ digital information could undermine privacy and security — while law enforcement says it needs new tools to keep up with criminals. Plus, Ottawa plans to prohibit medical assistance in dying for people whose sole underlying condition is mental illness, cancelling a planned expansion in 2027 while opening the door to advance requests for patients expected to lose the capacity to consent. The changes reignite a debate over patient autonomy and safeguards for vulnerable Canadians. And in The Big Picture: the Weston family’s holding company takes control of British pharmacy chain Boots in a $12.7 billion deal, First Nations groups challenge Bell’s planned Saskatchewan data centre, a Trump-endorsed Michigan Senate candidate calls for an end to tariffs on Canada, France’s wine output heads toward a nearly 70-year low, Apple reportedly readies smart home gadgets, thousands remain missing after Nepal’s floods, and more. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Toothaches 🦷 - Dentalcare needs a checkup, AI’s uneven benefits in the workplace.

Canada’s dental care plan is leaving some patients with a bill they weren’t expecting: millions have enrolled, but financial barriers and denied claims are complicating Ottawa’s promise of “free dental care” — even as the program expands access to coverage. Plus, workers who use AI say it’s helping them get things done faster, but the benefits aren’t evenly shared, and faster doesn’t always mean better. A new Gallup survey raises questions about work quality, “workslop,” and whether the technology can justify the vast sums being invested in it. And in The Big Picture: Ottawa gives Stelco’s owner an ultimatum over jobs, Paramount closes its US$111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery takeover, Emera strikes a deal to create a Canadian utility giant, a U.S. suspect is charged in connection with the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, Russian media report a second plague death in Siberia, Canada’s trade surplus hits a more than four-year high, and more. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

Buying Canadian-ish 🇨🇦 - Ottawa struggles to Buy Canadian, lab Lleak in Russia

Ottawa’s push to buy Canadian is running into some hard limits: nearly a third of federal procurement dollars have gone to American-controlled companies since Mark Carney took office, as a shortage of homegrown alternatives and international trade rules complicate efforts to keep government spending at home. Plus, a lab worker’s death at a Siberian plague research institute has prompted quarantines and international scrutiny, with reports pointing to pneumonic plague — though Russian authorities say the situation is under control and no new cases have been discovered. And in The Big Picture: the University of Toronto launches a $100 million bid to attract top PhD talent, Canadian troops struggle with Arctic warfare conditions, McDonald’s faces a class action over AI-driven menu prices, Norway moves to ban smart glasses, Suncor sells stakes in Newfoundland oil projects, Spain calls a snap election, and more. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

📈 Stirring the pot

On today’s podcast, U.S. political operatives are building ties with Alberta separatists — what could that mean for Canada? Plus, Florida’s proposed property-tax changes could leave Canadian snowbirds with a bigger bill. Plus, we cover Quebec’s election, the missing air ambulance carrying four Canadians, Yemen’s offensive against the Houthis, Brazil’s presidential race, and more — all in under 10 minutes. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com

This time, it’s personal 🍔 - Another Canadian prediction market, McDonald’s gets personal with pricing.

Canada could soon get another regulated prediction market as Verdx seeks approval to offer event contracts to retail and institutional investors — though strict rules barring bets on politics and sports could make it difficult to lure users away from offshore platforms. Plus, McDonald’s is using AI to recommend different prices for the same menu items based on each location’s customer base, fuelling concerns that algorithmic pricing is shifting from charging more when demand spikes to calculating exactly how much individual customers will tolerate. And in The Big Picture: Canada Rocket Company unveils plans for a homegrown rival to SpaceX’s Falcon 9, rogue AI agents target Library and Archives Canada, the Paramount–Warner Bros. merger gets the green light, Ottawa designates a West Coast oil pipeline as a project of national interest, OpenAI cuts ties with researchers accused of leaking confidential information, Broadcom offers Anthropic up to US$42 billion in financing, and more. The Peak Daily is produced in partnership with reframevid.com