Fruit recalled over salmonella risk. Canada’s Food Inspection Agency recalled several brands of fresh-cut fruit due to possible salmonella contamination. According to the agency, the fruit was sold in Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, and possibly other provinces and territories. And for anyone wondering, no excuse to avoid vegetables has materialized yet. (Global)  

Major advertisers bail on X. Some of the world’s biggest brands, including Apple, Disney, Paramount, NBCUniversal, and Comcast, have pulled advertising on X, a big hit to the company's already dwindling ad business. The departures follow heightened criticism towards X owner Elon Musk for endorsing extremist tweets on the platform. (CNN) 

Stellantis hired foreign workers. Temporary workers from South Korea will reportedly work at a new EV battery plant in Windsor, sparking criticism about whether subsidies are going towards foreign workers over Canadians. Stellantis, which received $15B in government incentives, promised the plant would bring about 2,500 jobs to the region. (Global)—LA

Like us, you may have thought your school days were behind you… but since this AI thing seems to be sticking around, we might all be hitting the books again soon. 

What happened: Amazon is launching an AI skills program that will offer free training for up to two million people by 2025, including non-employees. The goal is to address the shortage of AI-trained talent that many companies are struggling with, per The Wall Street Journal. 

• The program is centred around eight online courses at various experience levels, offering many types of workers training on leveraging AI in their current day jobs.
  
  
• According to an Amazon survey, 73% of employers say hiring AI-skilled talent is a priority, but three-quarters of them say they’re unable to find enough AI-trained talent.
  
  
• The program reflects a growing push by employers to not only hire more AI-savvy workers but to upskill their current employees with AI training (phew, what a relief).

Why it matters: Most businesses are plotting how they will use AI across their organizations over the next few years. More training can ensure teams are ready to embrace the transition — and can also help with individual job security and securing future pay bumps.—LA

Are you self-conscious about your spending? Luckily, you don’t have to broadcast it to the entire nation like the federal government will later today in its fall economic update. 

Driving the news: The update — which we must note is merely a statement on the budget and not a new budget — will focus on two top-of-mind matters: Housing and affordability. 

• The feds are set to unveil $15 billion in loans for rental housing construction, a $1 billion fund to build affordable housing, and new rules to protect mortgage holders.
  
  
• The feds also plan to make short-term rental properties less lucrative, with a new tax rule that eliminates owner expense claims in areas that restrict short-term rentals.

Yes, but: The feds also promised to prioritize fiscal restraint in the update, which might be difficult after accounting for the above measures and costly surprises that cropped up this year, like hefty subsidies for EV factories and wage increases for public sector workers.  

• Experts, including the Parliamentary Budget Office, believe that the feds will have to recalculate the planned deficit of the budget, up from $40.1 billion to ~$46.5 billion.  

Why it matters: The government’s ability to pay for everything in the current economic climate is being called into question. Interest costs on federal debt were up 35% in the first eight months of the year compared to last, while federal revenue growth has begun to slow.

Big picture: Fears remain that overspending could reignite inflation. Most analysts believe federal spending is complicating the inflation fight, while Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said last month the pace of government spending has been “not helpful.”—QH

🇨🇦 $458 million. Covid-era wage subsidy claims the CRA has denied or adjusted as part of an ongoing audit. The program subsidized 75% of businesses’ wages during the pandemic.

🏒 $7 million. The top range of what the Québec government will spend to bring two preseason NHL hockey games to Québec City — a move that has been heavily criticized.  

🌴 680. Personal days that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken since 2015, which does sound like a lot but is below the average of 34% of days in a year that Canadians take off.

• Hips (and tax returns) don't lie… Shakira has cut a deal to avoid jail time in her Spanish tax debacle. 
  
  
• In an effort to win back users, Tinder has given its app a makeover.
  
  
• Where the magic’s made: An inside look at Disney’s animation studio. 
  

• Read: AI surveillance could be infiltrating your workplace.
  

• Why cocktail garnishes are the center of a controversial environmental debate.
  
  
• A 100-year-old productivity hack that will help you get more done.
  
  
• Watch: NASA’s infrastructure crisis, explained.

Wakey-wakey, it’s time to take on the day, starting with today’s mini-crossword!