Read the latest verified world, politics, business, tech, culture, and local news on BetaVoices.
Alberta referendum
Our Alberta Advantage says the province’s referendum site leaves out key context on immigration costs; the government says standalone-referendum ad limits do not apply
Warriors
The Warriors coach described a combustible partnership with Draymond Green, pairing sharp criticism with high praise for the forward’s defensive genius
Northern Alberta flooding
Officials say residents of the small community southeast of Fort McMurray should be ready to leave quickly as water levels rise along the Clearwater River
World Cup tickets
FIFA says its resale marketplace is being reconfigured after Ontario’s new law barred resale prices above face value for events in the province
Federal court
Bryant told a federal magistrate he helped others enter the Queens recording studio where Jason Mizell was ambushed and shot more than two decades ago
Deep-sea resources
The new deep-sea atlas points to Beijing’s interest in ocean mining and comes against a backdrop of military priorities and contested maritime claims
NFL allegations
Bell said on a podcast that he personally saw his former New York Jets coach use cocaine before practice. The allegation has not been independently corroborated in the supplied report
Tech and politics
The Google co-founder has praised President Trump, donated to Republicans and spent $57 million fighting a California billionaire-tax proposal, according to the report
Health research
Researchers in China found oral microbes more often in the guts of gastric cancer patients, but the cross-sectional study cannot prove the bacteria caused cancer
Misinformation after violence
As investigators pursue charges against Cole Tomas Allen, online claims that the attack was staged have latched onto security gaps, media clips and Trump’s ballroom push
Iran oil sanctions
Treasury also targeted companies and vessels tied to Iran’s shadow fleet as Washington seeks to tighten pressure on Tehran’s oil revenue
Middle East diplomacy
Abbas Araghchi’s Russia visit follows canceled U.S. envoy travel to Pakistan and rising pressure over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil shipments
PWHL playoffs
The top-seeded Victoire had the league’s unusual power to pick a first-round opponent and chose the two-time Walter Cup champion Frost
Digital safety
Education Minister Tracy Schmidt says the province is looking at classrooms first, but key questions remain about age limits, enforcement and timing
NBA Awards
The Mavericks’ 19-year-old star won a close 2025-26 vote after a season-long race that tightened around Knueppel’s Play-In Tournament struggles
Economic fallout
Oil and gas prices have jumped since the conflict began, raising costs for drivers, travelers and households even if fighting eases soon
Federal charges after dinner shooting
Cole Tomas Allen made his first federal court appearance after prosecutors said he rushed a Washington Hilton security checkpoint with guns and knives during the annual media dinner
Treasury
The Treasury secretary cast the discussions as routine as the Trump administration weighs financial backstops sought by partners during the Iran war
Artificial intelligence
The federal case asks whether OpenAI strayed from its founding purpose as it became one of the most valuable companies in artificial intelligence
Reiner family killings
Rob and Michele Reiner’s eldest son wrote that his world collapsed after learning they had been stabbed to death; his brother Nick has pleaded not guilty to murder
EPA science
The report says a prestigious EPA science office that operated for decades with insulation from political pressure is now being taken apart
Heart drug pipeline
Novartis, Amgen and Eli Lilly are in late-stage trials to see whether sharply lowering a genetic cholesterol risk can prevent heart attacks
Energy and AI
In Georgia, CBS News found six Georgia Power rate hikes in three years as advocates warn that surging electricity demand from data centers could leave residents exposed
Middle East energy shock
Brent crude climbed above $109 before easing, with no clear breakthrough on reopening the Strait of Hormuz or resolving Washington’s dispute with Tehran over its nuclear program
New York City schools
New York Young Republican President Stefano Forte criticized the mayor’s education agenda, saying a shift away from gifted programs would weaken merit-based opportunity
Artificial intelligence
In an open letter, employees working on AI systems warned that a Defense Department deal could put Google technology into harmful military uses
The longtime linebacker played all 16 of his NFL seasons for Washington and later led Arkansas-Pine Bluff to a SWAC title as head coach
White House
The White House press secretary accused Democrats, commentators and media figures of demonizing Trump, while saying officials will review security procedures for future events
Canada-U.S. trade
The prime minister said Ottawa is ready to negotiate but will not pursue a quick, limited agreement if it leaves Canada worse off
Strait of Hormuz
The IRGC took the MSC Francesca and Epaminondas toward Iran’s coast as Washington reported new interdictions of Iran-linked tankers in the Indian Ocean
Peru Politics
Pressure from Washington helped push the agreement forward, triggering resignations and renewed questions over Peru’s sovereignty
Federal Reserve
The Justice Department’s move shifts scrutiny of Fed renovations to the central bank’s inspector general and may clear Kevin Warsh’s path to confirmation
Lawsuit
The siblings, described as part of Jackson’s “second family,” had stood by him for years while he faced accusations of child molestation
The agreement starts with $10 billion and could add $30 billion more if performance milestones are met, deepening a partnership around Claude and cloud infrastructure
Media consolidation
The vote moves one of Hollywood’s biggest proposed combinations closer to completion, but U.S. and European regulators still have to clear the deal
Iran conflict
A weakly captured live-update summary points to a continuing U.S.-Iran standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, while BBC reporting details widening layoffs across Iran’s economy
Israel
The Israeli prime minister said a small malignant tumor was found during routine monitoring and removed, and that he delayed disclosure because of the war with Iran
