Nov 15, 2018

Americans applying for asylum in Canada jumped 600% in 2017

Haley Britzky

Asylum-seekers waiting to cross the U.S.-Canada border. Photo: Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images

The number of U.S. citizens who applied for asylum in Canada last year was six times the number that applied in 2016, CNN reports.

By the numbers: 2,550 Americans sought refuge in Canada in 2017, compared to just 395 in 2016. And the trend is continuing: As of the end of August, 1,215 U.S. citizens had applied for asylum in Canada this year. The Canadian Press reports that the figure includes people who were born in the U.S., but whose parents are citizens of other countries.

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Scott Rosenberg

The rise and rise of ransomware

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Ransomware attacks are becoming smarter, more common, and more dangerous.

What's happening: In ransomware incidents, attackers take systems down and demand payment (usually in bitcoin) to restore access to them.

Go deeperArrow48 mins ago - Technology
Margaret Harding McGill

Trump administration backs Oracle in Google fight

Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo via The Washington Post.

The Trump administration is siding with Oracle in the database giant's dispute with Google before the Supreme Court — a move that comes as Oracle's founder hosts a high-dollar fundraiser for the president.

Why it matters: Billions of dollars — and, Google argues, the future of software innovation — are at stake as a long-running copyright dispute between the two giant companies heads to the Supreme Court next month.

Go deeperArrow1 hour ago - Technology
Kia Kokalitcheva

Established VCs turn to "super angels" to grow their network

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

Thanks to companies like AngelList and Carta that make it easier than ever to set up small VC funds, a new generation of so-called “super angels” is cropping up — and established venture funds are backing them.

Why it matters: Just like the boom in scout programs a number of years ago, it’s all about the deal flow.

Go deeperArrow1 hour ago - Economy & Business