Trump administration cancels $766 million Moderna contract to fight pandemic flu
The Trump administration has canceled $766 million awarded to drugmaker Moderna Inc. to develop a vaccine against potential pandemic influenza viruses, including the H5N1 bird flu.
The company said it was notified Wednesday that the Health and Human Services Department had withdrawn funds awarded in July 2024 and in January to pay for development and purchase of its investigational vaccine.
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Toronto Star
28 minutes ago
- Toronto Star
A shocking homicide investigation + Inside Prime Minister Mark Carney's rise to leadership
Good morning. This is the Friday, May 30 edition of First Up, the Star's daily morning digest. Sign up to get it earlier each day, in your inbox. Here's the latest on the arrest of a 13-year-old boy following a homicide in Durham and part two of a Star exclusive series reviewing Mark Carney's unexpected rise to leadership. Also, raging wildfires in Manitoba have made their way to Saskatchewan. Here's what we know. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW DON'T MISS Police arrested a 13-year-old boy after investigating a Durham homicide The arrest followed a manhunt and request to shelter in place. Here's what we know. 'We pray for all involved,' family of Mario Bilich says as judge finds accused triple murderer mentally unfit to stand trial A secret confession, chartered flights and strip searches: Behind the scenes of the girls-swarming saga after the killing of Kenneth Lee Mark Carney was already 'Mr. Business' when Trump upended the race With Carney as the front-runner, the Conservatives shifted their message. Here's what happened next. Inside the 2025 election: How Mark Carney resurrected the Liberal party with Pierre Poilievre's help The Star named Toronto's top influencers of 2025 These GTA creators are a representation of Toronto's culture. Find out who made the list. The making of a list: Behind the scenes of the Toronto Star's top 24 influencers of 2024 Toronto's Top 24 of 2024 WHAT ELSE Darrell Brown announces the five inductees into the CNE's inaugural food hall of fame in August 2024. Richard Lautens/ Toronto Star File Photo CNE fired its CEO and his wife. They call the harassment allegations against them 'unjust.' One of the girls in the swarming case will learn whether she is guilty of murder this afternoon. Here's what we know. Small businesses have been scrambling for alternatives during the Canada Post chaos. Here's what they've found. Experts predict big challenges for this Chinese billionaire to execute her plan for 28 Hudson's Bay leases. Here's why. A 'secret' memo revealed how Canada's refusal to join this missile system in 2005 hurt its reputation. Andrew Phillips: Trump's attacks on Canada won't stop. Here's how to avoid his traps. The Star's Ottawa bureau broke down the start of Carney's first term as an elected prime minister. Listen here. This Toronto Grammy-nominated musician opened a sandwich shop. Take a look at what they're serving. Gregor Chisholm: How the Blue Jays rotation plays with fire but rarely gets burned. Doug Smith: Here's why Collin Murray-Boyles gets compared to Draymond Green but is a risk for Toronto. POV Toronto's old-fashioned — but effective — way to ease traffic jams has one serious flaw. CLOSE UP Edmonton Oilers pose for photos after winning Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Stars in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Dallas. Julio Cortez/AP DALLAS: The Edmonton Oilers will advance to the NHL Stanley Cup finals after a 6-3 win in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Stars. Here's how it all went down. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@ I will see you back here tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.
Canada Standard
41 minutes ago
- Canada Standard
The Future of Global Priorities: Technology Over Humanity
by Irshad Ahmad Mughal When I was a young trainee as a community development worker, I was told:"Never lose sight of the forest by counting individual trees."This lesson taught me to adopt a holistic perspectivea mindset that now helps me analyze the evolving world order. In the post-Trump era, we witness a new global structure taking shape, defined by emerging alliances, shifting power dynamics, and transformed economic strategies. While Latin America remains relatively stable (with exceptions like Mexico and Panama), turbulence grips the Middle East, Europe, and South Asia. Three major powers are maneuvering to assert dominance in this geopolitical arena, much like players in a high-stakes contest. President Trump shook the world with his tariff policies, attempting to strongarm even traditional allies like Canada and Europe through threats and restrictions. Though he faced resistanceforcing tactical retreats and strategic pivotshe secured significant economic gains from wealthy Gulf states. However, he failed to deliver on his campaign promise of halting the Russia-Ukraine war. His sole diplomatic "win" was brokering a fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan, a face-saving gesture amid broader setbacks. The Indo-Pakistan conflict unveiled a new era of aerial warfare, reshaping perceptions of military superiority. Pakistans Air Force claimed to have downed Indias "undefeated" Rafale jets using Chinese-made J-10 fighters, sparking debates about Eastern vs. Western technological hegemony. This incident bolstered Chinese and Pakistani confidence while denting Indias global standing. Today, clashes between global powers are intensifying. A new world order is emerging, and with it, a new kind of warfare. Ground forces are becoming obsolete; future conflicts will be decided in the skiesa paradigm shift with far-reaching implications. The emerging world order suggests an unpredictable future where traditional humanitarian concernsliberty, democracy, and equalityare sidelined on the global stage. Instead, international forums now prioritize tariffs, trade wars, drone warfare, artificial intelligence, data dominance, and technological supremacy. Current conflicts and ceasefires foreshadow a grim reality: the battles of tomorrow will not be fought by soldiers on the ground but waged through aerial combat, cyber warfare, and autonomous systems. Human lives may no longer be the primary casualty, but humanity itself risks becoming collateral damage in this new era. As technology races to the forefront of geopolitical strategy, foundational human values are being deprioritized. The question we must confront is this: In a world where algorithms dictate power and machines decide outcomes, what happens to the human condition? About the Author: Irshad Ahmad Mughal is the chairman of the Iraj Education & Development Foundation, based in 82B, New Chaburji Park, Lahore. Pressenza IPA
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
U.S. proposes 60-day ceasefire for Gaza and hostage-prisoner swap, plan shows
A U.S. plan for Gaza seen by Reuters on Friday proposes a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 28 Israeli hostages alive and dead in the first week, in exchange for the release of 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and the remains of 180 dead Palestinians. The document, which says the plan is guaranteed by U.S. President Donald Trump and mediators Egypt and Qatar, includes sending humanitarian aid to Gaza as soon as Hamas signs off on the ceasefire agreement. The aid will be delivered by the United Nations, the Red Crescent and other agreed channels. On Thursday, the White House said Israel had agreed to the U.S. ceasefire proposal. Israeli media said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the families of hostages held in Gaza that Israel had accepted the deal presented by Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Hamas has received Israel's response to a U.S. proposal for a Gaza ceasefire deal and is thoroughly reviewing it, even though the response fails to meet any of the Palestinian "just and legitimate demands," the group's official Basem Naim told Reuters on Friday. The U.S. plan provides for Hamas to release the last 30 of the 58 remaining Israeli hostages once a permanent ceasefire is in place. Israel will also cease all military operations in Gaza as soon as the truce takes effect, it shows. The Israeli army will also redeploy its troops in stages. Deep differences between Hamas and Israel have stymied previous attempts to restore a ceasefire that broke down in March. Israel has insisted that Hamas disarm completely, be dismantled as a military and governing force and return all 58 hostages still held in Gaza before it will agree to end the war. Hamas has rejected the demand to give up its weapons and says Israel must pull its troops out of Gaza and commit to ending the war. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas attack in its south on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 Israelis taken hostage into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. The subsequent Israeli military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, Gaza health officials say, and left the enclave in ruins. Israel has come under increasing international pressure, with many European countries usually reluctant to criticize it openly demanding an end to the war and a major relief effort. Witkoff told reporters on Wednesday that Washington was close to "sending out a new term sheet" about a ceasefire by the two sides in the conflict. "I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution, temporary ceasefire and a long-term resolution, a peaceful resolution, of that conflict," Witkoff said at the time. The 60-day ceasefire, according to the plan, may be extended if negotiations for a permanent ceasefire are not concluded within the set period. WATCH | UN calls for increase in food aid to Gaza as crowds storm warehouse: UN calls for immediate increase in Gaza food aid after thousands storm warehouse 22 hours ago Duration 3:11 The UN World Food Program is calling for an immediate scale-up in food deliveries and distribution in Gaza to 'reassure people they will not starve.' The statement came as the agency reported 'hordes of hungry people' broke into one of its warehouses, and at least two people died and several more were injured. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said on Thursday the terms of the proposal echoed Israel's position and did not contain commitments to end the war, withdraw Israeli troops or admit aid as Hamas has demanded. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private group backed by the United States and endorsed by Israel, expanded its aid distribution to a third site in Gaza on Thursday. Heavily criticized by the United Nations and other aid groups as inadequate and flawed, the group began its operation this week in Gaza, where the UN has said two million people are at risk of famine after Israel's 11-week blockade on aid entering the enclave. The launch was marred by tumultuous scenes on Tuesday as thousands of Palestinians rushed to distribution points and forced private security contractors to retreat. The chaotic start to the operation has raised international pressure on Israel to get more food in and halt the fighting in Gaza. GHF has so far supplied about 1.8 million meals and plans to open more sites in coming weeks.
