National News

WASHINGTON — The glad-handing, confetti-and-skimmer-hat spirit of North American retail politics is on a collision course with the realities of life in a pandemic.

MONTREAL — Doris Hamelin and her husband Rejean Vallee said the restaurants in Rome shut down at 6 p.m. Tuesday and the only place they could find food was the grocery store.

OTTAWA — The flight recorders from the Ukrainian jetliner shot down by the Iranian military in January will be arriving in Ukraine in 10 to 14 days, the country's envoy to Canada said Wednesday.

CALGARY — Amnesty International says it's not enough for political leaders to condemn a sexually suggestive decal appearing to show teenage climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and they should do more to protect human rights activists.

OTTAWA — The federal Liberals will deliver the first budget of their minority mandate at the end of the month. Finance Minister Bill Morneau told the House of Commons on Wednesday that the federal Liberals will deliver the 2020 budget on March 30.

Progress is being made in talks about the proposed national park reserve in the South Okanagan, but most discussions are taking place behind closed doors.

OTTAWA — The Canadian military is searching for its sixth second-in-command in less than four years after Lt.-Gen. Jean-Marc Lanthier's surprise decision to retire this summer.

Two Edmonton residents arrested by Maidstone RCMP last month remain in custody on weapons and drug charges. Manal Ali Fawaz, 25, and Garnett O’Connor, 23, made second court appearances in Lloydminster Provincial Court March 10.

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced changes to Canada's sick-leave benefits under employment insurance Wednesday, to respond to concerns about COVID-19.

This year’s Richmond Street Banner Contest winners have been announced. At the city council meeting earlier this week, 10 local artists unveiled their winning banner designs.