MORNING NEWS DESK
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Pickering/Durham
1. (CTV News Durham) Pedestrian Killed After Being Struck by Truck in Ajax
A pedestrian has died after being struck by a truck in Ajax on Saturday afternoon. Durham Regional Police responded to the scene and closed the area while investigators worked to determine the circumstances of the collision. No charges have been announced as the investigation continues.
2. (CTV News Durham) Pickering Man Charged After 3D-Printed Firearms Found in Home Search
A 30-year-old Pickering man has been charged after police found multiple 3D-printed firearms and knives during a search of his home. Durham Regional Police carried out the search as part of an ongoing weapons investigation. The man now faces a number of firearms-related charges.
3. (DRPS) New Ajax Division Location Unveiled by Durham Police
[Crime must be a growing industry in Ajax ?]
Durham Regional Police Service, alongside the Durham Regional Police Service Board and community partners, unveiled the future location of the new Ajax Division. Officials say the expansion marks an important milestone in growing policing services to meet the needs of Durham Region’s growing communities. Further details on the timeline for the new division are expected in the coming months.
4. (DRPS) Motorcyclist Seriously Injured in Three-Vehicle Oshawa Crash
A motorcyclist suffered serious, life-altering injuries following a three-vehicle collision in Oshawa. Durham Regional Police are continuing to investigate the crash and are asking any witnesses to come forward. The cause of the collision has not yet been determined.
5. (Durham Radio News) Pickering Woman Charged in Fake Cash Scheme at Ajax HomeSense
A Pickering woman is facing charges after allegedly using counterfeit cash to buy items at a HomeSense on Harwood Avenue in Ajax. The incident happened in April, and police say the woman later attempted a similar scheme at another HomeSense location. She now faces fraud-related charges.
Canada
1. (CBC News) WestJet Flight Attendants Vote 99% in Favour of Strike
[Thank you unions…another win for workers, loss for travellers.]
Thousands of WestJet flight attendants have voted 99.4 per cent in favour of a strike mandate, raising the possibility of travel disruptions over the August long weekend. The roughly 4,400 unionised attendants, represented by CUPE Local 8125, could legally walk off the job as early as August 2 following a mandatory cooling-off period. WestJet could also choose to lock out employees once that period ends, with both sides required to give 72 hours’ notice before any job action.
2. (CBC News) RCMP Searching for Protesters Who Smashed Nova Scotia Premier’s Windshield [Norm for our society today.]
RCMP are trying to identify a group of protesters who surrounded the vehicle of Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and smashed its windshield outside an event in Wolfville. Houston was escorted away by police after the vehicle was swarmed following a speech to the Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce. Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the incident, saying there is no excuse for violence or intimidation during a protest.
3. (CBC News) Nearly 900 Wildfires Burning Across Canada as Season Intensifies
Canada’s wildfire season continues to worsen, with close to 900 fires burning nationally and roughly 200 classified as out of control. Ontario, Quebec and the Northwest Territories are among the hardest-hit regions, with fire danger expected to keep climbing through the summer heat. Smoke from the fires has drifted well beyond Canada’s borders, affecting air quality in the northeastern United States.
4. (Globe and Mail) Ford Defends Ontario’s Wildfire Response as Smoke Blankets Central Canada
[yeah but he had cut the fire fighting budget by 50% to $150 mill from $350 mill…so what do you expect?]
Ontario Premier Doug Ford defended the province’s wildfire response as smoke from northern fires continued to blanket central Canada and the eastern United States. The drifting smoke has pushed air quality readings to unhealthy levels in several major cities. Ford said the province is working with federal partners to bring in additional firefighting resources.
5. (CTV News) Toronto Air Quality Reaches Maximum Risk Amid Wildfire Smoke
Toronto and the wider Greater Toronto Area saw the air quality health index reach maximum risk levels this week as wildfire smoke from northern Ontario settled over the region. The smoke gave the skyline a sepia-toned haze and prompted health officials to urge residents to limit time outdoors. Environment Canada says conditions could persist as long as the fires remain active.
International
1. (Washington Post) US Strikes Iran for Sixth Straight Day, Iran Hits Kuwait Plant
[And we thought of Iran as a poor, weak 3rd world country…doesn’t seem so.]
The United States carried out strikes on Iranian infrastructure for a sixth consecutive day, as the conflict between the two countries continues to escalate. Iran responded with a retaliatory attack that damaged a power and desalination plant in Kuwait. Regional tensions remain high as both sides trade blame over strikes across the Persian Gulf.
2. (AP News) Trump Accuses China of 2020 Election Interference, Beijing Denies
President Trump accused Chinese intelligence agencies of targeting the 2020 U.S. election, saying newly released documents show reports on the matter were withheld from his briefings. His claims go further than conclusions reached by U.S. intelligence agencies, which found China sought influence but did not interfere with election infrastructure. China denied the allegations and urged Washington to stop making what it called groundless accusations.
3. (AP News) Israeli Strike on Gaza Funeral Kills at Least Seven
An Israeli strike on a funeral in the Gaza Strip killed at least seven people and wounded another 22, according to local officials. The strike is the latest in a series of attacks in the territory amid ongoing hostilities. International mediators continue to push for a renewed ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
4. (Al Jazeera) World Cup Final Set: Spain to Face Argentina Sunday
The FIFA World Cup final is set, with Europe’s top-ranked side Spain taking on defending champions Argentina on Sunday. The match will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with kickoff at 3 p.m. local time. Spain is chasing a second world title, while Argentina is looking to defend the crown it won in 2022.
5. (AP News) Xi Jinping Positions China as Global AI Leader at Shanghai Summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping used the opening of the World AI Conference in Shanghai to position China as a leader of a new global artificial intelligence order, promoting open-source development and support for developing nations. The speech came a day after Chinese startup Moonshot AI unveiled its Kimi K3 model, which early benchmarks suggest rivals leading U.S. systems in coding and language tasks. The announcements underscore intensifying competition between the U.S. and China over AI development.
The Lighter Side
1. (ESPN) ESPYs Honour Courage, Perseverance and Service
The 2026 ESPY Awards celebrated more than just on-field achievement this year, honouring former NBA player Jason Collins with the posthumous Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, former MLB pitcher Jim Abbott with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, and U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan with the Pat Tillman Award for Service. The ceremony, hosted by comedian Marcello Hernandez, returned to New York City’s Lincoln Center this year.
2. (Global News) 95-Year-Old Lethbridge Man Has Walked the Length of Canada Twice Over
A 95-year-old man from Lethbridge has walked the equivalent distance of crossing Canada twice since he took up the habit in 2022. His daily walks have become a source of inspiration in his community, with neighbours often joining him along the way. He says he has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
3. (INsauga) Mississauga Symphony to Celebrate World Cup with Concert
The Mississauga Symphony Orchestra and Music of the World are presenting “A Tribute to the Beautiful Game,” a concert celebrating the passion and global spirit of soccer, at the Living Arts Centre. The affordable, first-come seating event coincides with the World Cup’s final weekend. General admission tickets are $35, taxes and fees included.
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