MORNING NEWS DESK
Thursday, May 14, 2026
PICKERING / DURHAM REGION
- (Durham Radio News) Man Killed in E-Bike Crash in Pickering
A 73-year-old man has died after his e-bike struck a gravel pile in Pickering on Monday afternoon. Durham Regional Police are investigating the collision and asking anyone with information or dashcam footage to come forward. [ I PREDICTED THIS IN A STORY ON MY WEBSITE. What’s a 73 year old doing on one of these, anyway?]
- (CTV News Durham) Three Armed Suspects Break into Ajax Home and Assault Occupants
Durham Regional Police say three suspects armed with firearms forced their way into an Ajax residence and assaulted those inside. Police are searching for the suspects and urging the public to contact investigators with any relevant information.
- (CTV News Durham) 16-Year-Old Charged with Murder After Fatal Fight Outside Oshawa Tim Hortons
A 16-year-old has been charged with second-degree murder after a 23-year-old man died following a violent altercation outside a Tim Hortons in north Oshawa. The incident marks Durham Region’s third homicide of 2026, and police say the accused has been taken into custody.
- (INdurham) Habitat for Humanity Breaks Ground on New Affordable Housing Project in Whitby
Habitat for Humanity GTA has broken ground on a new affordable housing development in downtown Whitby, marking the community’s first-ever affordable housing project in the core area. The build will provide homeownership opportunities for qualifying families in Durham Region.
- (Durham Radio News) Durham College Receives Its Largest-Ever Monetary Gift
Durham College has announced it has received the largest single monetary donation in its history, with the funds set to support student services, scholarships, and campus infrastructure. College officials say the contribution will have a lasting impact on generations of students across the Region.
CANADA
- (CBC News) Whitecourt Wildfire Makes Progress but Remains Out of Control — Evacuation Orders Continue
Firefighters battling the West Ridge wildfire southeast of Whitecourt, Alberta have established a containment line and made good overnight progress, but the blaze remains out of control at 51 hectares with evacuations still in effect for parts of Woodlands County. Authorities say a shift in wind direction is the key remaining risk, and one home has already been confirmed destroyed.
- (CBC News) DEA Chief Tells U.S. Senate that Vancouver Port Is Key Entry Point for Fentanyl Precursors Bound for Canada
The head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration told a Senate hearing that chemical ingredients used to manufacture fentanyl are flowing into the Port of Vancouver and being processed in cartel-run labs on Canadian soil before being exported to the United States. DEA Administrator Terrance Cole said there have been significant seizures in Canada over the past two months and that American officials are closely tracking the activity.
- (Globe and Mail) B.C. Nurses Vote Overwhelmingly for Strike Amid World Cup Hosting Pressure
Members of the B.C. Nurses Union have voted in favour of strike action, with union president Adriane Gear warning of a potential labour dispute at a time when the province is preparing to host the FIFA World Cup. Contract negotiations with the B.C. government are ongoing, and officials on both sides are under pressure to reach a deal before the global spotlight falls on the province.
- (Global News) Ontario Monitoring Seven Additional Low-Risk Hantavirus Contacts
Ontario public health officials say they are monitoring seven additional people considered low-risk contacts in connection with the hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. The province says the overall risk to the public remains extremely low, but officials are maintaining close surveillance of individuals who may have been exposed during travel.
- (National Post) Carney Government’s $66.9B Deficit Spring Economic Update Passes First Parliamentary Test
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Spring Economic Update, projecting a $66.9-billion deficit and anchored by a new sovereign wealth fund and a skilled trades training initiative, has cleared its first vote in the House of Commons. With the Liberals holding a slim majority, all government MPs were required to support the bill, which faces continued opposition criticism over deficit spending.
INTERNATIONAL
- (AP) Trump and Xi Hold High-Stakes Talks in Beijing on Trade, Iran, and Taiwan
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held bilateral meetings in Beijing, with discussions covering the Iran war ceasefire, trade disputes, and Taiwan tensions. A delegation of top American corporate executives travelled with Trump, and China is expected to announce purchases of U.S. agricultural goods and Boeing aircraft as part of a broader effort to stabilize the relationship.
- (Al Jazeera) Iran War Death Toll Reaches Thousands as Ceasefire Remains Fragile
Preliminary figures put the death toll from the U.S.-Iran conflict at more than 3,468 in Iran and 2,702 in Lebanon, with 28 killed in Gulf states, as a shaky ceasefire remains in place. Saudi Aramco has warned of “catastrophic consequences” for global energy markets unless the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened, while President Trump has described the truce as being on life support.
- (Reuters) Pentagon Tells Congress the Iran War Has Cost the U.S. $29 Billion So Far
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee that the war with Iran has cost approximately $29 billion to date. Officials warned that a resumption of full hostilities could dramatically increase costs, while diplomats continue working toward a formal memorandum to end the conflict.
- (BBC) Russia’s Sarmat Nuclear Missile Set for Combat Service by Year’s End After Successful Test
Russia’s new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile — known in the West as “Satan II” — has been successfully test-fired, with President Vladimir Putin confirming it will enter combat service before the end of 2026. The launch comes after the expiry of the last U.S.-Russia nuclear arms control treaty, leaving the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals without any formal constraints for the first time in decades.
- (Guardian) Hantavirus Cruise Ship Outbreak: Final Passengers Leave as WHO Monitors 11 Cases Globally
The final passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship have disembarked as international health authorities continue to track at least 11 confirmed or suspected cases of Andes hantavirus, including three deaths. Authorities in France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States are monitoring affected travellers, while experts say the risk of wider community spread remains very low.
