Canada Trending News Today: Sam Neill, SpaceX, Bison Attack, Heat Warning & More — July 13, 2026

Sam Neill, Jurassic Park Star, Dies at 78

The legendary actor Sam Neill, best known for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in Jurassic Park, has died at age 78 in Sydney, Australia. His family announced his "sudden and unexpected" passing on July 13, 2026.

Neill was diagnosed with stage-three non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2023 and underwent chemotherapy and an Australian clinical trial. In April 2026, he announced he was cancer-free. His death comes less than three months later, shocking fans worldwide. His family noted he "remained cancer free" at the time of death.

Career Highlights

Born in Northern Ireland and raised in New Zealand, Neill's career spanned five decades:

• Jurassic Park (1993) — Dr. Alan Grant
• The Piano (1993) — Alisdair Stewart, nominated for Palme d'Or
• Event Horizon (1997) — Dr. William Weir
• Peaky Blinders — Chief Inspector Campbell
• The Hunt for Red October (1990) — Captain Vasily Borodin
• Dead Calm (1989) — Opposite Nicole Kidman

SpaceX Targets July 16 for Starship Flight 13

SpaceX is preparing for the 13th integrated flight test of Starship, targeting as early as July 16, 2026 from Starbase, Texas. This marks a major milestone: the first time Starship will carry operational payloads.

What's New on Flight 13

The mission will deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites — SpaceX's next-generation constellation hardware designed to expand network capacity and user speeds. Six of these satellites carry cameras to image Starship's heat shield during reentry.

Lessons from Flight 12

On Flight 12 (May 22, 2026), the Super Heavy booster experienced a 90-degree deviation in its flip maneuver due to engine startup timing differences. Five of 33 Raptor engines failed to reignite for the boostback burn. SpaceX has implemented hardware and software fixes, completing a full 33-engine static fire on July 10.

Flight Profile

• Super Heavy booster — Offshore splashdown in the Gulf
• Starship upper stage — Deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites
• Raptor engine relight — Single engine test in vacuum
• Splashdown — Indian Ocean

SpaceX will stream the launch on X and its website, beginning 30 minutes before liftoff.

Bison Attack at Yellowstone: Tourist Tossed 8 Feet into Air

A dramatic viral video shows a 65-year-old grandfather being tossed 8 feet into the air by a bull bison at Yellowstone National Park's Bridge Bay Campground on July 10, 2026.

What Happened

Carl Isom-McDaniel, a community leader from Washington state, was visiting the park with his grandson when an agitated bull bison charged. The 2,000-pound animal hooked him with its horn, flipping him mid-air before he landed with multiple broken bones.

Witness and professional photographer Mike MacLeod captured the incident on video. Despite his injuries, McDaniel remained conscious and was reportedly "cracking jokes" while waiting for emergency responders.

Bison Safety Warning

This is Yellowstone's second bison incident of 2026 — a 12-year-old was injured near Mud Volcano on June 26. The attacks occur during bison rut (mating season), when bulls become highly aggressive. Bison can run 35 mph and weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Park officials remind visitors to stay at least 25 yards away.

Canada Heat Warning: Yellow Alert Issued for Southern Ontario

Environment Canada has issued a widespread yellow-level heat warning for southern Ontario and beyond, effective Monday July 13 through Thursday July 16.

Key Details

• Peak temperatures — Up to 36°C on Tuesday July 14
• Humidex values — 38 to 45, making it feel significantly hotter
• Affected areas — Toronto, Windsor, London, Waterloo Region, Kawarthas, and areas from Sault Ste. Marie to Cornwall
• Overnight lows — 20 to 23°C, offering limited relief

The warning covers a vast area and warns of deteriorating air quality, with the Air Quality Health Index potentially reaching high-risk levels. Residents are advised to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during peak heat, and check on vulnerable neighbours.

Lindsey Graham Cause of Death: Aortic Dissection

US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) died on July 11 at age 71 after a "brief and sudden illness." The DC Medical Examiner's preliminary findings cite aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease as the cause.

An aortic dissection is a tear in the inner wall of the aorta — the body's main artery. Blood flows between the arterial wall layers, restricting flow to vital organs. The condition is rapidly fatal without emergency surgery.

Graham served in the Senate since 2003, was a close Trump ally, and had recently returned from a visit to Ukraine. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster will appoint his temporary replacement.

Josh Grisetti: Broadway Actor Dies at 44

Broadway performer and educator Josh Grisetti died by suicide on July 10, 2026, at age 44. His death was confirmed by close friend and Something Rotten! co-star Rob McClure.

Grisetti appeared on Broadway in It Shoulda Been You and Something Rotten!, earning a Clarence Derwent Award and Drama Desk nomination. He had a recurring role on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and served as Associate Professor of Musical Theatre at California State University, Fullerton.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (Canada: 1-833-456-4566).

Jeff Bezos: Prometheus AI Hits $41B Valuation

Jeff Bezos' AI startup Prometheus is trending after raising $12 billion at a $41 billion valuation. Co-founded with Vik Bajaj (formerly of Verily/Google), Prometheus builds what Bezos calls an "artificial general engineer" — AI for designing physical products like jet engines and drug compounds.

Backed by JPMorgan, BlackRock, and Goldman Sachs, the company has 150 employees across San Francisco, London, and Zurich. Bezos serves as co-CEO, his first executive role since stepping down as Amazon CEO in 2021.

Pont Jacques-Cartier: Montreal Bridge Trending

Montreal's Pont Jacques-Cartier is trending as L'International des Feux Loto-Québec fireworks festival continues. The bridge is completely closed to vehicle traffic from 8 p.m. to midnight on fireworks nights, with the next show scheduled for July 16.

The bridge, which connects Montreal to Parc Jean-Drapeau and the South Shore, has been a city landmark since 1930. Pedestrians can access the bridge during closures to watch the fireworks display — a beloved Montreal summer tradition.

Jimmy Kimmel Trolls Mitch McConnell

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel interrupted his summer vacation to troll Senator Mitch McConnell after the 84-year-old Kentucky senator shared a "proof of life" photo following weeks of hospitalization.

Kimmel posted an edited version of McConnell's hospital photo with his own face replacing the senator's, captioned: "For those who've been asking, I'm feeling great." McConnell was hospitalized after being found unconscious at his home and has since moved to a rehabilitation center. Kimmel returns to his show after Labour Day.

Mark Carney & the Gordie Howe Bridge: Deal Reached

Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed Canada has reached an agreement with the US to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario to Detroit, Michigan. The bridge will open July 27, 2026 after weeks of delays.

Key Terms

Under the agreement, Canada will split net toll profits 50/50 with the US for 15 years through an economic development fund. Carney called it a "good deal for Canada," noting the bridge debt must be serviced first. The $6.4 billion, 2.5-km cable-stayed bridge will be among the longest in North America with six lanes.

The bridge had been ready since June but was delayed after President Trump demanded the US receive half the revenue. Its opening was a key irritant in broader Canada-US trade talks.

Canada-US Tariff and Trade Update

Canada-US trade relations remain tense after the US declined to renew CUSMA on July 1, 2026. While the agreement doesn't expire until 2036, the non-renewal triggers annual reviews for the next decade.

Current Trade Picture

• Sectoral tariffs — 50% duties on Canadian steel, aluminum, and copper under Section 232
• Auto tariffs — Duties on non-US content in automobiles
• Section 301 — US proposes 10% tariffs on Canada over forced labour concerns
• CUSMA exemptions — Most Canadian goods still cross duty-free, but uncertainty persists

US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said "there's fault to go around" on the strained relationship. Canada's premiers have maintained retaliatory measures including provincial boycotts of US alcohol.

Canada-Germany Submarine Deal: TKMS Wins

Germany is trending in Canada after Ottawa selected German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) to build up to 12 Type 212CD submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy. The deal, announced July 6 ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, is valued at approximately €20 billion — the largest defence procurement in Canadian history.

The submarines are diesel-electric with hydrogen fuel cell propulsion, designed for Arctic and under-ice operations. They will be built in Kiel and Wismar, Germany, creating up to 1,500 jobs. The first four are expected by 2034.

Canada will join Germany and Norway in a three-nation submarine fleet — 24 boats total — strengthening NATO's North Atlantic and Arctic presence.

NASCAR: Ryan Blaney Wins Quaker State 400

Ryan Blaney won the rain-delayed Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, holding off Christopher Bell and Carson Hocevar in a three-wide overtime finish that ended past 1:45 a.m. local time.

Race Results

• Winner: Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford (led 171 of 260 laps)
• Runner-up: Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
• Third: Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
• Pole: Ryan Blaney (179.912 mph)

It was Blaney's second win of 2026 and 19th career Cup Series victory. The race was delayed over three hours by lightning and rain.

Le Figaro Trending in Canada

"Figaro" is trending in Canada driven by interest in Le Figaro, France's oldest and most widely-read newspaper. Recent articles covering Canada include British Columbia's planned lawsuit against OpenAI and scenic railway routes through the Canadian wilderness.

Le Figaro, founded in 1826, is marking its 200th anniversary this year. Its name derives from the Figaro character in Beaumarchais' plays and Mozart's opera.

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