A peer-reviewed study by New York University Langone Health analyzing over 6,600 pregnancies found that exposure to DINCH, a plasticizer marketed as a safe alternative to phthalates, is associated with lower birth weights and an increased risk of babies being small for gestational age.
President Donald Trump announced that the US military carried out limited strikes targeting an Iranian air defense system on November 7, 2026. The action follows Republican midterm election losses linked to the ongoing conflict and rising fuel prices, while Qatar continues mediating between Washington and Tehran.
Days after Republicans lost control of Congress in the midterm elections, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Stephen Miller will replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff. Miller, the architect of the administration's hardline immigration policies, begins Monday, while Wiles moves to a political operation role.
At least 32 bomb threats targeting 12 airlines over four days were confirmed as hoaxes, triggering military escorts, mid-air inspections, and flight diversions. Experts suggest the coordinated incidents may be linked to hybrid warfare.
Democrats secured majority control of both chambers of Congress in the U.S. midterm elections by flipping traditionally Republican seats in Texas, South Carolina, and Kansas. A November 4, 2026, correction clarified that Donald Trump is the fourth president to lose both the House and Senate during his midterms.
Florida voters passed a constitutional amendment by a 62-per-cent majority that increases homestead exemptions for residents while capping tax increases on non-homestead properties at 5 per cent. The measure shifts the property-tax burden to non-residents, particularly Canadian snowbirds who are the top group of foreign property owners in the state.
Following a significant election victory, Democrats will take control of both chambers of Congress in January. While the new majority grants oversight powers and the ability to confirm or block nominations, President Donald Trump's veto power and the lack of a supermajority present substantial hurdles to passing legislation or removing a president from office.
In the 2026 US midterm elections, Democrats secured control of the Senate and the House of Representatives, flipping seats in traditionally Republican states and electing several historic candidates. President Trump acknowledged the results while citing the Iran conflict as a factor in Republican losses.
The White House announced that U.S. First Lady Melania Trump will host talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives on November 5, 2026, and deliver a speech that morning.
Democrats secured control of both chambers of Congress in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, flipping traditionally Republican Senate seats across multiple states and achieving historic representation milestones while significantly diminishing President Donald Trump's legislative power for his final two years.
The United States conducted limited strikes on Iranian surface-to-air missile sites in the Strait of Hormuz hours before Tuesday's midterm elections, heightening regional tensions as back-channel negotiations continue.
Russian aerial bombs struck a humanitarian aid distribution center in Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhia region, killing at least 31 people and trapping dozens under rubble. The attack was part of a broader wave of strikes across nine Ukrainian regions that also hit a hospice in Dnipro and a hospital in Kharkiv.
On November 2, 2026, the US military carried out limited defensive strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump said he was not in a rush to resume major hostilities, while indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar and Pakistan continue. Iran offered to reopen the strait within two days if seven conditions are met.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy reported that two tankers struck mines and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz on November 1. The IRGC alleged the vessels were using an unauthorized route with their navigation systems turned off under U.S. military support.
Surging demand for High Bandwidth Memory from AI data centers is consuming advanced storage capacity and driving up component costs. Major manufacturers are prioritizing HBM production, leading to supply shortages that have forced companies like Apple, Lenovo, and Dell to raise consumer electronics prices.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on October 30, 2026, that four oil tankers exploded and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after allegedly attempting to use unauthorized routes. A supertanker carrying over 2 million barrels of crude oil reportedly struck a mine during the incidents.
DoorDash announced a roughly US$17 billion agreement to buy grocery delivery rival Instacart, offering shareholders $65 per share. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2027 or the first half of 2028 amid a wave of industry consolidation.
A report published in The Lancet reveals that deaths associated with wildfire smoke in Canada have risen by approximately 275% since the early 2000s, reaching an annual average of 4,000 between 2021 and 2025. Public health experts attribute the increase to climate change and are calling for sustained funding as current Health Canada adaptation support is set to expire in 2027-28.
Nearly 50 commercial vessels were struck in the Black Sea in October 2026, killing or leaving missing at least 31 seafarers. Maritime analysts attribute most attacks to Russia, prompting NATO security enhancements and widespread shipping suspensions.
A study of over 1,100 patients showed that Moderna's personalized mRNA vaccine intismeran, combined with Merck's Keytruda, reduced melanoma recurrence risk by 42%. Results were released early after a data leak, triggering an 18% drop in Moderna shares.
Brent crude reached approximately US$114 a barrel, its highest level since May, driven by Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the ongoing U.S.-Iran war. West Texas Intermediate traded above US$100 as refined-product prices surged amid constrained shipments.
Seven oil tankers were damaged or caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, according to Iranian state media. The incident comes amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, U.S. military reinforcements, and fears that U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran could resume ahead of upcoming elections.
The UN Environment Programme's Emissions Gap Report states that avoiding 1.5°C of global warming is no longer possible and proposes a new pathway to limit peak warming to 1.7-1.8°C before returning to 1.5°C by the end of the century. Current policies project warming of 2.8°C, while the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement could add 0.1°C on its own.
Ukraine struck St. Petersburg with a large-scale drone attack, killing one person and injuring at least five while setting fires at oil facilities. The strikes occurred amid deepening tensions between Kyiv and Washington over sanctions and an alleged energy ceasefire.
The International Energy Agency announced that member states, including Canada, will accelerate the release of more than 20 million barrels of diesel to ease fuel cost pressures following record wholesale prices and supply disruptions linked to the U.S.-Iran conflict.
The International Energy Agency agreed to release more than 20 million barrels of diesel to ease global shortages caused by the expanding war in the Middle East, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, and Russia's export ban. Canadian retail diesel prices have hit a record $2.67 per litre, while Brent crude stands at US$105.81.
Yemen's Houthi movement launched missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia, hitting a Saudi Aramco building in Dhahran and targeting Riyadh's airport. The strikes, described as retaliation for a coalition attack near Sanaa, have disrupted thousands of flights, pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel, and caused stock market declines.
Sea-surface temperatures in the central Pacific have broken records set during the 2015 El Niño, with warmth spreading beyond traditional monitoring regions. The event is expected to contribute to 2026 being one of the warmest years on record.
U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 economies after a Supreme Court ruling blocked his use of a 1977 emergency law. Recent polls show over 64% of U.S. adults believe the trade policies have gone too far, while studies indicate American consumers and businesses are absorbing most of the costs.
Interest rates are climbing across the Western world despite stable long-term inflation expectations, driven by excess bond supply, climate-related cost increases, and a shift in bond ownership to hedge funds. The surge is pressuring governments, hurting the U.S. property market, and raising fears of financial instability.
