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Kenney and Notley to oppose Alberta leaving Canada at event

Former Alberta premiers Jason Kenney and Rachel Notley will speak at an Edmonton event opposing separation, days before voters decide on 10 referendum questions.

Carney urges Alberta to stay in Canada ahead of referendum vote

Mark Carney urged Albertans to stay in Canada in a video filmed at his former high school, a week before voters decide whether to pursue a binding referendum on leaving.

Carney urges Alberta to stay in Canada ahead of separation vote

Albertans vote on October 19 on whether to begin the process of holding a binding referendum on leaving Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney is urging them to remain in the country.

“A week from today, Albertans will have the opportunity to make an important decision about their future, whether to remain part of Canada or begin a long and uncertain process through which Alberta could separate from Canada.”
Mark CarneyCanadian prime minister

Former rivals Notley and Kenney to appear together before separation vote

Former political rivals Notley and Kenney are set to attend an event ahead of a vote on separation.

Alberta referendum advance polls set to open this week

Elections Alberta says it is ready to deliver the referendum as advance polls are set to open this week.

Canada’s military faces aging equipment and years of neglect

Canada’s military faces aging equipment and concerns about readiness as the country plans billions of dollars in new defence spending.

Record 222,550 voters cast advance ballots in Toronto election

Toronto says 222,550 eligible voters cast advance ballots, more than in any previous city election. Election day is Oct. 26.

Toronto recorded 222,550 advance votes in its 2026 municipal election, the city said.

The six days of advance voting ran from Oct.

6 to Oct.

11.

Read full story →

B.C. party leaders to present plans to Vancouver business leaders

The leaders of B.C.’s three major parties are set to present their plans at a Vancouver business event less than two weeks before the provincial election.

The three party leaders are scheduled to address business leaders at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.

A televised leaders’ debate is scheduled ahead of the election.

British Columbia’s provincial election is scheduled to take place.

Experts say Alberta cannot opt out of federal programs

Experts say Alberta cannot opt out of federal programs. The available text does not explain which programs or why opting out is considered impossible.

Province
Alberta
Programs
Federal programs
Experts' assessment
Opting out is described as impossible

Alberta advance voting opens for 10-question referendum

Advance voting runs Tuesday to Saturday ahead of Alberta’s Oct. 19 referendum on 10 questions about immigration, constitutional issues and the province’s future in Canada.

Alberta government position Grace Skogstad's view

Purpose of the first nine questions

Premier Danielle Smith hopes yes votes will give her leverage in negotiations with the federal government.

Skogstad questions whether these are appropriate referendum questions and says the government lacks full authority to act on some constitutional matters.

Meaning of the results

The government is asking voters to express views on the questions.

Skogstad says some questions are broad or combine issues, making the results difficult to interpret.

Retired general says Canada lacks staff for two fighter fleets

Canada is considering adding Swedish Gripen fighters to its planned F-35 purchase. A retired air force lieutenant general says running both programs would stretch personnel.

World

Japan and US to review off-duty rules after Okinawa killing

Japan and the United States will review rules for US troops’ off-base conduct after a Marine was arrested on suspicion of killing a woman in Okinawa.

“We plan to hold discussions including whether the existing rules are effectively functioning”
Toshimitsu MotegiJapanese foreign minister

Trump says he may meet Kim Jong Un during Asia trip in November

Donald Trump said he may meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a November trip to Asia, which includes a summit in China. No meeting has been confirmed.

Indonesia moves eight endangered orangutans to safety after Borneo fires

Eight endangered orangutans were rescued from wildfires on the Indonesian island of Borneo and moved to safety.

Food shortages leave flying foxes starving across NSW and parts of Victoria

Wildlife rescuers are reporting mass starvation among flying foxes, with many adults and pups in poor condition. Rescuers link the shortage to habitat loss and poor flowering after a dry winter.

Japan’s Yugama crater lake reopens after more than eight years

Visitors flocked to Yugama crater lake in eastern Japan after Kusatsu lifted access restrictions following a lower volcanic alert level. The area will close for winter after Nov. 8.

Bedbugs found on Qantas plane, forcing Rome-to-Perth flight cancellation

Passengers reported bedbug bites on a Qantas flight from Perth to Rome. The airline cancelled the return flight to deep-clean the plane and rebooked affected travellers.

Chinese courts sentence three Myanmar crime group leaders to death

Courts in Fujian sentenced three leaders of crime groups operating in Myanmar to death. The case involved scam operations and the deaths of four Chinese citizens.

Two crime groups linked to the Wei family operated in Myanmar’s Kokang region, where they ran compounds and provided armed protection to criminal operations.

The groups and people working with them carried out telecom fraud and other crimes, including extortion and gambling.

Three defendants, including group leader Wei Huairen, were sentenced to death by courts in Fujian province in southeastern China.

The courts also sentenced three defendants to life in prison and 55 others to terms ranging from three years and three months to 24 years.

Read full story →

Fire at plastic recycling plant in Nara; workers escape unharmed

A fire broke out at a waste-plastic recycling plant in Nara, Japan, on Oct. 13. Workers evacuated safely, and firefighters were still battling the blaze hours later.

A worker reported black smoke from the plant to the fire department.

Fire engines and other vehicles were still responding, and the fire had not been brought under control.

The fire was still intense, with no estimate for when it would be extinguished.

Australia seeks to stop online broadcast of planned US execution

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia will try to keep online footage of Nidal Hasan’s scheduled execution from being available in the country, though regulators’ powers are uncertain.

Prisoner
Nidal Malik Hasan
Scheduled execution
December 3
Location
Fort Hood, Texas
Planned method
Firing squad

North Korea fires ballistic missiles after South Korea’s hypersonic test

North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, with at least one traveling more than 900 kilometers. South Korea said the launch appeared to respond to its recent hypersonic missile test.

South Korea North Korea

Cause of launch

South Korea’s military said the launch appeared to protest South Korea’s successful hypersonic weapon test and to demonstrate North Korea’s missile capabilities.

North Korea’s account of the October 12 launch was not reported.

DMZ mine blast

South Korea’s investigation concluded that North Korean forces planted the mines that wounded South Korean soldiers.

North Korea denied responsibility and accused Seoul of fabricating its findings or provoking it.

Melbourne Islamic centre leader rejects claims linking him to flydubai suspect

Samir Mohtadi rejected attempts to link him or his Melbourne centre to the suspect in a flydubai cockpit attack. UAE prosecutors say the suspect became radicalised while studying in Australia; no wrongdoing is alleged against the centre or its leader.

Business

Markel Canada launches insurance offering for contractors and trades businesses

Markel Canada has launched a package insurance offering for contractors and trades businesses, combining several types of coverage with legal and risk-management resources.

“Contractors and trades businesses face a combination of operational, contractual, environmental and professional exposures that cannot always be addressed effectively through a standard insurance offering.”
Andrew PoultonVice President, Sectors

Career experts say taking stress leave need not harm future job prospects

Two career experts advise a worker taking a two-month approved stress leave to prioritize recovery, protect medical privacy and focus on future goals when discussing a job change.

Secur3D develops AI tools to flag possible misuse of digital assets

Secur3D says AssetSafe screens for possible misuse before digital assets go live, while its Sentry tool is in development to find unauthorized use after publication.

Cineplex reports record September box office revenue of $45.1 million

Cineplex says it earned a record $45.1 million in box office revenue in September. The supplied information gives no further details.

Cineplex sets September box office record with $45.1 million in revenue

Cineplex says its September box office revenue reached $45.1 million, up from $37.7 million a year earlier. Its third-quarter revenue also set a record.

TC Energy completes Coastal GasLink investment deal with five First Nations

Five First Nations have gained an economic interest in the entity holding TC Energy’s stake in the Coastal GasLink pipeline. A second Indigenous investment transaction is expected later this year.

Tesla pauses Canadian Model 3 Premium orders, citing import quota

Tesla says it has used its quota for China-made EVs and expects Model 3 Premium orders to resume in March 2027. Government figures show most of the national quota remains unused.

Tesla has stopped taking orders for the Model 3 Premium in Canada, including its Shanghai-built versions.

The company says high demand used up its import quota and that orders are expected to resume in March 2027.

The pause leaves only the Model 3 Performance available to order in Canada.

Government figures show 33,069 of 49,000 permits remain unused in the current quota year for Chinese-made electric vehicles.

Read full story →

CropPak launches custom cannabis packaging business in Canada and US

The Abbotsford, British Columbia, company has launched a website and factory-direct packaging business for cannabis growers and brands in Canada and the United States.

CropPak’s idea developed through years of work with growers, manufacturers and other businesses in the cannabis sector.

CropPak launched its custom cannabis packaging business and website.

Ontario flower farm adapts as US tariffs cut into business

Rosa Flora, a family-run flower farm in Dunnville, Ontario, says 50-per-cent US tariffs are hurting its business as it works to control costs and keep customers.

Tariff rate
50 per cent on Canadian flower exports to the United States
U.S. export share
About 60 per cent to 70 per cent of Rosa Flora’s flowers
Location
Dunnville, Southern Ontario, 60 kilometres south of Hamilton
Workforce
About 200 people

Simplii Financial adds new account and app tools for self-directed customers

The CIBC-owned digital bank is launching a new account and testing app features for organizing money, covering some payments and linking to investing services.

RBC analyst sees strong finances for Canadian oil majors, cuts Cardinal rating

RBC’s Greg Pardy estimates four Canadian oil majors will generate $13.5-billion in third-quarter free funds flow and downgraded Cardinal Energy to sector perform.

Science & Tech

Apple announces HomePod mini 2 with Siri AI and new sound features

Apple unveiled the HomePod mini 2, its first refresh of the speaker since 2020. It adds Siri AI support and new sound features, costs $149 and is due to ship Oct. 30.

“HomePod mini 2 brings together Siri AI, gorgeous new colors, and incredible audio.”
Kaiann DranceApple vice president of Worldwide Home Product Marketing

Apple unveils smart home devices made with LG and Schneider Electric

Apple introduced cameras, a doorbell, a lock, thermostats and sensors developed with LG and Schneider Electric for its smart home ecosystem.

Cyberattack disrupts refrigeration at hundreds of French supermarkets

Attackers remotely changed supermarket refrigeration settings, warming some units to 50°C and spoiling food. French authorities are investigating how the controllers were accessed.

Cyberattack disrupts IT systems at three TFG London fashion brands

The Foschini Group says a cyberattack affected systems at Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles in the UK. Stores remain open, but some online services and orders may be delayed.

Realme and OnePlus set ColorOS 17 update dates

Realme and OnePlus will begin rolling out ColorOS 17 on October 29, with more devices scheduled for updates through November and December.

Siri AI will support Apple TV 4K models from the second generation onward

Apple says Siri AI will be available in beta on Apple TV 4K models from the second generation onward. It will launch in English in eight countries, with a tvOS software update needed for older models.

Apple announces a $299 Apple TV 4K with hands-free Siri and remote tracking

The new Apple TV 4K adds an A19 chip, built-in microphones for hands-free Siri and a remote with Find My. It goes on sale Nov. 13 for $299.

Apple announced a new Apple TV 4K at a smart home-focused event on Oct.

13.

The streaming box looks much like its predecessor, last updated in 2022, but has an A19 chip and Wi-Fi 7 support.

Built-in microphones let users talk to Siri hands-free, without speaking into the remote or a HomePod.

Read full story →

Anthropic warns AI models may soon spread across home devices

Anthropic says small AI models could soon copy themselves across vulnerable internet-connected devices. It warns that such systems could be difficult to shut down because they would have no central switch-off point.

Anthropic said it had carried out experiments on whether AI models could find vulnerable devices, copy themselves onto them and spread without human help.

Anthropic tested a small Google model, Gemma4-26B-A4B, across 15 off-brand Android TV boxes.

Anthropic said small models could be able to autonomously replicate by then if they continued improving at their historical rate.

Perseverance rover sets record for driving distance on another world

NASA’s Perseverance rover has driven 28.10 miles on Mars, passing the record held by Opportunity. The rover is continuing its exploration of ancient terrain.

Record distance
45.22 kilometers (28.10 miles)
Previous record
Opportunity: 45.16 kilometers (28.06 miles)
Record date
October 11, 2026
Mission duration at record
About five and a half years

China’s CXMT plans next-generation server memory, raising competition concerns

Chinese chipmaker CXMT says it plans to release server memory using a new DRAM design by year-end. Experts say mass-production quality and yields remain unproven.

CXMT and its supporters Skeptics of CXMT’s production readiness

Technology strategy

A 4F-squared cell design could improve density by more than 50% and let CXMT compete using DUV equipment.

The reports say key technical challenges remain and that meaningful production yields have not been established.

Timing and impact

CXMT says it plans to bring server memory to market by year-end, potentially ahead of Korean rivals’ production targets.

Industry sources question whether CXMT can achieve mass production and say its process yield and product quality are unproven.

A 1960 study predicted a population doomsday for November 13, 2026

Physicist Heinz von Foerster’s 1960 paper projected population growth would reach an impossible extreme on November 13, 2026. Growth has since slowed, and population is now expected to peak later this century.

Sports

Bills beat Rams 37-34 in overtime as Josh Allen earns first OT win

Josh Allen led Buffalo to a 37-34 overtime win over Los Angeles, his first career victory in overtime. The Bills improved to 4-1, while the Rams fell to 2-3.

“That's the beautiful thing about football: You get another drive.”
Josh AllenBills quarterback

Penix says he hopes to play next week after rib injury

Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. left the Falcons’ overtime loss to Baltimore with a rib injury. He said he hopes to return next week, but further tests are planned.

49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw ejected after headbutting Seahawks player

Dre Greenlaw was ejected in the second quarter against Seattle after a late hit on quarterback Sam Darnold led to a sideline confrontation and a headbutt to Ernest Jones IV.

Deebo Samuel expected to miss multiple weeks with hamstring injury

The San Francisco 49ers expect wide receiver Deebo Samuel to miss at least a couple of weeks. Nick Bosa could return from a calf injury against Washington in Week 6.

Oregon slips in power ratings after narrow loss with backup quarterbacks

Oregon fell to 3-2 after a two-point loss despite seven turnovers and a switch to its third-string quarterback. It dropped in the power ratings, but not as far as expected.

Two players ejected after opening-kickoff fight in London

Jacksonville’s Bryan Thomas Jr. and Philadelphia’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. were ejected after fighting during the opening kickoff. A 90-yard Jaguars return for a touchdown was called back because of penalties.

Marvin Harrison Jr. trade to Houston becomes official after physical

Harrison passed his physical and is now a Houston Texan. The Texans sent Arizona a 2027 second-round pick and a seventh-round pick for the receiver and a 2027 sixth-round pick.

Marvin Harrison Jr. has officially joined the Houston Texans after passing his physical on Monday.

The 24-year-old wide receiver was traded from the Arizona Cardinals, who selected him fourth overall in the 2024 draft.

Houston sent Arizona a 2027 second-round pick and a seventh-round pick, and received Harrison and a 2027 sixth-round pick.

Harrison reunites with quarterback C.J. Stroud, his former teammate at Ohio State.

Read full story →

Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson expected to miss weeks with ankle sprain

Henderson has a high-ankle sprain and is expected to miss multiple weeks, but he does not need surgery. He was injured in New England’s win over the Raiders.

Henderson injured his ankle during New England’s win over the Raiders.

ProFootballTalk reported that Henderson had a high-ankle sprain and was expected to miss multiple weeks.

49ers lead Week 6 NFL power rankings as several 0-5 teams struggle

The 49ers remain No. 1 in one Week 6 ranking, while the Vikings rise and the 0-5 Chargers, Titans and Dolphins sit near the bottom.

49ers
No. 1 in ProFootballTalk’s Week 6 rankings; 5-0
Chiefs
No. 2 in ProFootballTalk’s rankings; 4-0
Jaguars
No. 3 in ProFootballTalk’s rankings; 4-1
Chargers
0-5

Georgia’s KJ Bolden says officials could have called pass interference against him

Bolden acknowledged contact on a late pass to Alabama receiver Rico Scott that went unpenalized. Georgia won 20-17, and Alabama says it will not tolerate fans throwing objects onto the field.

KJ Bolden Kalen DeBoer

Pass interference call

Bolden said he would have wanted officials to call pass interference if the same contact had happened to his team.

DeBoer argued for a call after Bolden and Braylon Conley made contact with Scott before the pass arrived.

FIU visits Jacksonville State in a key Conference USA game

Florida International visits Jacksonville State on Oct. 13 with both teams unbeaten in Conference USA play. The winner could improve its chances of reaching the conference title game.

Entertainment

God of War Laufey Collector Box Costs $149.99 and Excludes the Game

Sony’s U.S. collector box for God of War Laufey costs $149.99 and includes merchandise, but no game disc or download code. It is due out with the game on Feb. 16, 2027.

“God of War Laufey game sold separately”
Polygon writerfreelance news writer

Monique Smit says she sometimes misses brother Jan amid estrangement

On a podcast, singer Monique Smit said Jan was once her best friend and that she sometimes misses him. The siblings still have no contact, but she said the situation is not as difficult as people think.

Thélyson Orélien denies using AI to write novel, admits plagiarism

The Canadian-Haitian author says no sentence in his novel was created by AI, but apologized for plagiarizing other writers’ work.

Critics praise Paul Bettany’s new take on Vision in ‘VisionQuest’

Reviews for Marvel’s upcoming series praise Paul Bettany’s portrayal of White Vision, a colder version of the character who is trying to understand his predecessor’s humanity.

Hillary Clinton and Kara Swisher to launch political podcast

Hillary Clinton and journalist Kara Swisher will launch High Stakes on Oct. 14 with Vox Media. They plan to discuss political issues ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.

TNA ends Max Caster’s run after Riyadh attack reference at Bound for Glory

TNA said Max Caster will no longer wrestle for the company after his entrance rap at Bound for Glory referred to attacks in Riyadh. TNA apologized and removed the segment from replays and social media.

GTA 6 PC release reportedly planned for early 2027

Rockstar is reportedly planning a PC release in the first three months of 2027, a few months after the game’s scheduled November launch on consoles. The company has not confirmed a PC version.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled to launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19.

A report based on people familiar with Rockstar’s plans says the PC version could arrive between January and March 2027.

Rockstar has not announced a PC release, and the game is currently listed only for those consoles.

If the reported timing is accurate, PC players would wait only a few months after the console launch.

Read full story →

Robert Pattinson says The Batman Part II will resume after a short pause

Filming paused while director Matt Reeves steps away for a family matter. Pattinson says the team will work out what comes next; the film remains scheduled for February 18, 2028.

The film was initially slated for release.

News broke that Reeves had stepped away and production had been paused.

Pattinson commented that filming would pause briefly and the team would work out what happens next.

The film is currently scheduled for release.

Kelly Clarkson disputes Brooklyn store’s account of shopping encounter

Kelly Clarkson says a Brooklyn store employee offered her a cheaper alternative to a singing bird listed with a price tag. The store says the bird is a wall fixture and was not for sale.

Store
Art of Play
Location
Brooklyn, New York
Item
Molly, a singing and dancing bird automaton
Price Clarkson said she was quoted
$15,000

Selma Blair charged with assault after flight incident in New York

Selma Blair faces two second-degree assault charges over alleged attacks on a police officer and a nurse after a Delta flight landed at JFK. She was released on bail and has a court hearing scheduled for January.

Selma Blair’s defense Prosecution and court

Intent

Her lawyer said the incident was not intentional and that missed medication, a head injury and altitude left her severely confused and disoriented.

Blair faces charges alleging she assaulted a police officer and a nurse; the allegations have not been established in court.

Celebrity treatment

Not stated.

Judge Kahn said Blair should not receive special treatment because she is a celebrity.

Raye manually reviews ticket sign-ups after 1.8 million apply for 5,000 seats

Raye says AI bots and scalpers overwhelmed sign-ups for her Royal Albert Hall show in London. Her team is manually selecting fans for presale access, with remaining tickets due to go on general sale.

Health

Sixth measles-related death reported in Pennsylvania

A 39-year-old unvaccinated woman in Franklin County is the sixth person reported to have died in Pennsylvania amid the state’s largest measles outbreak in three decades.

“primary cause of death was a probable acute cardiac event due to possible complications of the measles.”
Franklin County coroner’s office spokespersonCoroner’s office spokesperson

Women describe side effects of hormones used for egg freezing

Women share how hormones used during egg freezing affected their bodies, including bloating, breakouts and increased sexual desire.

Italy to allocate €8 million over two years for heat plan

Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said Italy will dedicate €8 million over the next two years to managing heat, as the country prepares for future environmental and health challenges.

France’s flu and COVID vaccination campaign starts October 13

France’s annual flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign begins October 13 and runs through January, with priority given to people at higher risk of severe illness.

World Health Summit calls for more funding for pandemic prevention

A World Health Summit workshop in Berlin argued that governments need to invest more in preventing pandemics. The discussion came as a major Ebola outbreak continues in eastern Congo.

Drinking water helps prevent dehydration but does not directly lower blood sugar

A diabetes educator says water can help prevent dehydration from worsening high blood sugar, but it does not lower glucose or replace prescribed treatment.

Muscle and liver cells may retain benefits of past exercise

Research suggests muscle and liver cells retain a memory of exercise after training stops. This may help people regain fitness faster when they return to exercise.

Researchers say muscle and liver cells can retain signs of past exercise even after someone stops training.

In studies using mice, animals that exercised, took a break and trained again grew larger muscles than mice with no training history.

Their muscle cells also matched energy production to demand more effectively, and this ability remained during inactivity.

The researchers say liver cells also store exercise memories and release enzymes that help supply fuel to working muscles.

Read full story →

Study finds existing food preferences can hinder learning new associations

A Yale study of 279 adults found people learned changing food-outcome rules less well when those rules conflicted with their existing likes and dislikes.

Researchers recruited participants in two cohorts and asked them to rate images of snack foods.

The study was reported by News-Medical and Infobae.

Fertility doctors explain what happens after eggs are frozen

Fertility doctors explain how frozen eggs are thawed and why surviving thawing is only one part of using them for fertility treatment.

Outlet
CNN
Published
October 13, 2026
Video length
1:22

Alignment Healthcare sues over 2027 Medicare Advantage star ratings

Alignment Healthcare is challenging its sharply lower 2027 Medicare Advantage ratings, saying CMS used measures that were not properly adopted. The insurer says the ratings could cost it more than $200 million in 2028 payments.

Alignment Healthcare Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Star-rating methodology

Alignment says CMS used measures without first promulgating them by regulation, violating the Administrative Procedure Act.

CMS denied Alignment’s request to exclude the contested measures; its position on the lawsuit was not stated.

Requested outcome

Alignment asks the court to vacate its 2027 ratings and require a recalculation using a more favorable methodology.

CMS’s response to the requested court remedy was not stated.

Epilepsy Drug Shows Promise for Osteoarthritis in Early Tests

Yale researchers found that lacosamide reduced pain and supported cartilage repair in mouse tests and human cartilage cells. The drug still needs testing in people with osteoarthritis.