National News

OTTAWA — Liberals and New Democrats appear to be inching closer to an agreement on proposed pharmacare legislation, but a national drug plan may be farther out of reach than ever after this week's federal fiscal update.

QUEBEC — For the first time since Quebec's public sector unions began strike action earlier this month, Quebec Premier François Legault said clearly on Thursday he is willing to increase his government's offer.

An Edmonton man was killed earlier this month while serving as a medic with the Ukrainian military, say family members who describe him as a caring and humble son, brother and husband.

MONTREAL — With one of his sons in a Gaza hospital, Toronto resident Nahed El-Khalidy said the recently announced ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is good news, though it came too late to save his daughter's life.

OTTAWA — The Public Health Agency of Canada says Malichita brand cantaloupes have likely caused a salmonella outbreak acrossfive provinces. It says as of Wednesday, there have been 26 confirmed cases in B.C., Ontario, Quebec, P.E.I.

OTTAWA — Canadian aid groups say Ottawa hasn't cleared roadblocks that bar them from getting aid into Afghanistan, despite Parliament passing legislation this spring and allies issuing carve-outs to their own terrorism laws nearly two years ago.

OTTAWA — A jury has declared former RCMP intelligence official Cameron Jay Ortis guilty of disclosing secrets to targets of police interest in violation of the Security of Information Act.

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today...

Buffy Sainte-Marie is pushing back on a news report that questions her Indigenous heritage, maintaining she has never lied about her identity. The iconic singer, songwriter and activist says the recent CBC report was full of mistakes and omissions.

TORONTO — The winning numbers in Wednesday's Lotto 649 draw for an estimated $5 million: 07, 12, 13, 17, 20 & 36.