National News

OTTAWA — COVID-19 isn't over even after the World Health Organization declared Friday that the illness no longer qualifies as a global emergency, Canada's Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said.

MONTREAL — A Canadian senator is defending two Montreal-area Chinese community organizations that have been accused by the RCMP of hosting secret Chinese government police stations.

OTTAWA — The federal government says it is changing prison regulations to limit the use of dry cells and improve the process for the search and seizure of contraband in correctional institutions.

QUEBEC — Former Quebec premier Jean Charest is seeking about $700,000 more from the provincial government for media leaks related to a corruption investigation targeting him and his party.

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday morning that no decision had been made yet on whether to expel a Chinese diplomat who allegedly targeted a member of Parliament and his family.

REGINA — Molly Herman says all she could do was cry as she and her three young children fled from La Loche, Sask., early Friday morning as a nearby wildfire threatens the northern community.

OTTAWA — Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier's office says it welcomes a federal watchdog's decision to monitor the way the Canada Revenue Agency collects on overpayments of COVID-19 benefits.

OTTAWA — The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor says he has every confidence that South Africa will arrest Vladimir Putin when the Russian president is expected to attend an international summit there in August.

Darren Muljo was in elementary school when his teacher asked the students in his class to pick a song they wanted to learn to play.

LONDON — When Marion Portelance plays in King Charles's coronation concert on Sunday, she'll be playing a cello with a special connection to the monarch.