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  1. Strait of Hormuz tensions Hegseth says Iran ceasefire still holds after Strait exchange The defense secretary said U.S. escorts for commercial ships are separate from the broader conflict, even after Iranian fire and a U.S. strike on small boats May 6, 2026
  2. Retail restructuring Up to 150 former WHSmith high street stores face closure Owner Modella Capital says the TGJones restructuring is needed after difficult trading, with hundreds of jobs at risk but no final decision on roles May 6, 2026
  3. Vaccine safety research HHS confirms FDA withdrew studies on Covid and shingles vaccine safety An HHS spokesperson said the studies drew conclusions not supported by the data; reporting cited FDA work with firms to analyze millions of patient records May 6, 2026

Title IX investigation

Education Department opens Title IX probe of Smith College over trans admissions

Federal civil rights officials are examining whether the Massachusetts women’s college can admit transgender women while retaining Title IX’s single-sex exemption

May 5, 2026

Iran crisis

Hegseth Says Iran Ceasefire Holds as U.S. Escorts Hormuz Ships

The Pentagon said Project Freedom is separate from the ceasefire, but attacks around the waterway and on the UAE underscored how quickly the truce could fray

May 5, 2026

UK fuel prices

Why UK petrol and diesel prices are rising again

Pump prices have been pushed up by volatile oil markets and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, with the RAC warning further increases are likely if the conflict continues

May 5, 2026

Clean energy

China’s Wind Power Push Is Paying Off, Report Says

Subsidies and import restrictions helped build a domestic turbine industry that is approaching China’s dominance in solar panels, according to a New York Times summary

May 5, 2026

Retail

Doris Fisher, Gap Co-Founder Who Helped Define Casual Retail, Dies at 94

Fisher opened the first Gap store with her husband, Don, in San Francisco in 1969 and helped shape the chain’s merchandising and image for decades

May 5, 2026

Government debt

UK 30-year borrowing costs hit highest level since 1998

Yields rose as markets absorbed the impact of the Iran war, higher energy prices and political uncertainty before Thursday’s elections

May 5, 2026

Voting rights and redistricting

Supreme Court ruling sets off new redistricting fight before midterms

Republican-led Southern states are moving quickly after the court limited a key Voting Rights Act tool, while Democrats look for countermeasures in states such as New York

May 5, 2026

Employment discrimination

EEOC sues New York Times, alleging bias against White male editor

The federal agency says the paper passed over a longtime editor for a real estate role because of race and sex; the Times calls the case politically motivated

May 5, 2026

Strait of Hormuz tensions

Hegseth dismisses Iran ‘kamikaze dolphins’ claim as Hormuz tensions rise

The defense secretary rejected the idea that Iran has weaponized marine mammals, while the U.S. Navy’s own dolphin and sea lion program shows their long military role in detecting mines and underwater threats

May 5, 2026

Artificial intelligence

N.L. premier says six-finger PSA photo shows AI rules need enforcement

Tony Wakeham said the province must “tighten up” how government uses artificial intelligence after an altered vaccination image was posted and then removed from Facebook

May 5, 2026

Cruise outbreak

MV Hondius to sail to Canary Islands after deadly hantavirus outbreak

Spain says the cruise ship is expected within days as officials arrange urgent evacuations and assess where the remaining passengers can disembark

May 5, 2026

Nova Scotia health records rollout

N.S. family seeks answers before hospital records system expands

Cassidy Horne’s family says ultrasound referrals were lost after the IWK switched to One Person One Record; hospital leadership says no deaths have been connected to the system

May 5, 2026

Campaign spending

Sanders campaign paid for Netflix after senator criticized company’s taxes

Federal Election Commission records cited by Fox News show monthly subscription payments from January through March; the campaign did not respond to a request for comment

May 5, 2026

Health insurers

Health insurers show recovery signs, but claims test is ahead

UnitedHealth, Elevance, Cigna and Humana beat first-quarter estimates, yet analysts say delayed medical claims make the second quarter the clearer gauge of cost trends

May 5, 2026

Rideau Hall

Louise Arbour named Canada’s next governor general

Prime Minister Mark Carney chose the former Supreme Court justice and international human rights figure to replace Mary Simon as the King’s representative in Canada

May 5, 2026

FDA scrutiny

FDA’s Makary defends drug rejections amid backlash

The FDA commissioner told CNBC he stands with agency scientists after criticism over recent decisions, including the rejection of Replimune’s melanoma drug candidate

May 5, 2026

MLB betting preview

Rays favored over Blue Jays as Rasmussen-Gausman matchup sets betting case

Tampa Bay enters the preview at -130, with the argument centered on its strong home start, Toronto’s early struggles and Drew Rasmussen’s form

May 5, 2026

Media dealmaking

James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems Reported in Talks for Most of Vox Media

A potential deal would push Lupa Systems deeper into the U.S. media business, though key terms and timing have not been established in the available report

May 5, 2026

Global right

Milei’s Chain-Saw Politics Faces Its Home Test

A new profile frames Javier Milei’s appeal to MAGA-aligned conservatives against the uncertain fate of his state-slashing agenda at home

May 5, 2026

AI oversight

US to test Google, Microsoft and xAI models before release

Voluntary Commerce Department agreements give CAISI early access to frontier systems as Washington weighs security risks from more powerful AI

May 5, 2026

Consumer fraud

Scammers dupe Rogers customers into mailing away ‘free’ iPads

Victims say callers posing as Rogers employees led them into two-year iPad financing plans, then sent return labels routing the devices to private addresses

May 5, 2026

Hormuz standoff

U.S.-Iran ceasefire holds for now as Hormuz mission draws fire

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the truce remains in place despite Iranian attacks near the Strait of Hormuz and on the UAE, while only two U.S.-flagged merchant ships are known to have passed the new route

May 5, 2026

Toronto housing market

GTA home sales rose 7% in April as prices fell again

The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board reported a second straight year-over-year sales increase, while average and benchmark prices remained below last year’s levels

May 5, 2026

Public health

Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak Leaves 3 Dead on MV Hondius

WHO says one case has been confirmed and five more are suspected as the cruise ship remains under precautions near Cape Verde

May 5, 2026

Music and courts

Lizzo says new album is coming as legal fight continues

In a CBS Mornings interview, the singer said her album Bitch is due June 5 and reiterated that she will not settle the lawsuit filed by former dancers

May 5, 2026

Independent wrestling

Richard Holliday’s indie rise leads to ACW Reckoning match with Andrade

The Connecticut wrestler, who brands himself the “most marketable” man in pro wrestling, is scheduled to face Andrade El Idolo at the MJN Center on May 16

May 5, 2026

NBA playoffs

Wembanyama sets playoff blocks record, but Spurs drop Game 1

The San Antonio star had 11 points, 15 rebounds and 12 blocks in a 104-102 loss to Minnesota, which got Anthony Edwards back sooner than expected

May 5, 2026

Medical assistance in dying

Toronto woman asks court for MAID exemption over mental illness exclusion

Claire Elyse Brosseau is seeking an urgent order while Canada’s planned expansion of MAID eligibility for mental disorders remains delayed until 2027

May 5, 2026

Tony Awards Nominations 2026: The Complete List

Nominations for the 79th Tony Awards were announced on Tuesday. Here’s who made the list.

May 5, 2026

Governor general appointment

Carney names Louise Arbour as Canada’s next governor general

The former Supreme Court justice and international human rights figure will replace Mary Simon as the King’s representative in Canada

May 5, 2026

Crypto workforce

Coinbase to cut 700 jobs as it expands use of AI

CEO Brian Armstrong said the crypto exchange is restructuring during a down market and plans to shift some work toward managing AI agents

May 5, 2026

Electric vehicles

Ford’s Long Beach EV team steps out with a lower-cost pickup bet

The automaker is counting on its Universal Electric Vehicle platform to cut costs and help its money-losing Model e unit reach breakeven by 2029

May 5, 2026

Appeal court

Peter Nygard’s sexual assault appeal set for Toronto hearing

The former fashion mogul is challenging four convictions and an 11-year sentence, with his lawyers focusing partly on expert trauma testimony heard at trial

May 5, 2026

Wind power

More Than 150 Wind Projects Stall as Pentagon Reviews Slow

Companies say the delays have worsened sharply in recent weeks, according to a saved summary of a New York Times report

May 5, 2026

Strait of Hormuz

Maersk ship exits Persian Gulf under U.S. military protection

The Alliance Fairfax transit under Project Freedom marks a confirmed commercial passage through the Strait of Hormuz as Washington says its ceasefire with Iran still holds

May 5, 2026

Strait of Hormuz

U.S. and Iran Trade Claims Over Control of Strait of Hormuz

Washington says two U.S.-flagged merchant ships crossed under its new escort effort, while Iranian officials and state-linked media warned against the operation as the ceasefire held under strain

May 5, 2026