National News

The number of coronavirus deaths fell by 9% in the last week while new cases remained relatively stable, according to the latest weekly pandemic report released by the World Health Organization Wednesday.

The U.N. health agency said there were more than 14,000 COVID-19 deaths in the last week and nearly 7 million new infections. The Western Pacific reported a 30% jump in cases while Africa reported a 46% drop. Cases also fell by more than 20% in the Americas and the Middle East.

The Saskatchewan RCMP has confirmed that the children involved in Monday night's Amber Alert, a seven-year-old girl and eight-year-old boy, and their mother have been recovered and their alleged captor, Benjamin Martin Moore, has been arrested.

The recovery and the arrest were made by the Meade County Sherrif's Office in South Dakota, who reported to the Sask. RCMP early Wednesday Morning.

On Tuesday, Police extended the Amber Alert into South Dakota because evidence pointed them in that direction.

UPDATE Aug. 10, 2022 - 8:20 a.m. - Children at centre of Amber Alert located, suspect in custody: RCMP

EARLIER:

Defence Minister Anita Anand says two miners who were trapped in an underground mine for 10 days in the Dominican Republic have been rescued with the help of Canada. 

In a tweet on Tuesday, Anand said the Royal Canadian Air Force transported mining equipment to Santo Domingo following a request for assistance from the Dominican government. 

Two miners with the Dominican Mining Corporation, known as Cormidom, had been trapped since July 31 in an underground mine. 

Canadian Blood Services is calling on donors to book and keep appointments as it faces a decrease in collections.

The organization said Monday it currently has only four days worth of O+ blood type supply and five days worth of O- and B- blood types, along with six days worth of A- blood type and seven days worth of A+ and B+ blood types.

Spokeswoman Delphine Denis said collections have been steadily decreasing since July 1.

Denis said the blood-collecting agency closely monitors the days of the available blood supply.

The House of Commons transport committee is launching an investigation into airport delays and flight cancellations.

The committee met virtually on Monday and voted unanimously to move forward with a study into the delays.

The committee will invite Transport Minister Omar Alghabra to testify and will hold its first hearing by the end of next week. 

Airlines and airports have been grappling with a surge in travel this summer, compounded by staffing shortages affecting both carriers and federal agencies.

Saskatoon police say a woman who had been reported missing is facing charges in the United States related to unauthorized use of identification and in Canada related to parental abduction and public mischief.  

Dawn Walker had been reported missing along with her seven−year−old son before they were found safe in Oregon last week.

Deputy Chief Randy Huisman with the Saskatoon Police Service says Walker remains in custody in the United States, where she is to appear in court on felony and misdemeanor charges related to false identification.

A parliamentary committee will begin exploring the RCMP’s use of spyware on Monday, diving deeper into an issue that's sounded alarms for privacy and civil liberties groups across the country.

The House of Commons ethics and privacy committee called for a summer study after the RCMP revealed its use of tools that covertly obtain data from devices like phones and computers. 

Matt Berry was driving home after golfing Monday evening when cloudy skies quickly turned into a rare storm that dropped hail the size of softballs, caving in his windshield and leaving about 150 dents in his car.

"I was getting covered in shards of glass," the graphic designer said as he recalled the moment he pulled over on a country road to take cover while driving from Innisfail, Alta., to his home in Red Deer, Alta.

"The noise was quite loud," he said. "It was just crazy. Scary at times, but really it was just shock and awe more than anything."

Jean Charest spent the last official debate of the federal Conservative leadership race on Wednesday stressing that his experience as a political leader is what the party needs to unite.

But with six weeks left in the contest, the former Quebec premier, who once led the erstwhile federal Progressive Conservative party, would not say whether he plans to remain within the Conservative Party of Canada if another candidate is revealed as the winner on Sept. 10.