The National

Ten orcas and 87 beluga whales were released by Russia over the last few months. The whales were captured illegally and destined for Chinese aquariums. Today Russian authorities gave an update on their status in the wild, saying the formerly captive animals were thriving.

A 17-year-old from London, Ont., was put on life support because of lung damage linked to vaping. The damage was similar to “popcorn lung,” caused by inhaling flavoured chemicals. Doctors say Health Canada has failed to properly regulate vape products.

Saskatoon rallied to find packages stolen from a local family’s porch. The $5,000 shipment contained badly needed medical supplies for the family’s two-year-old son. With the help of the community and police, the suspects were arrested.

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An epidemic of liquor store robberies in Winnipeg are exploiting security measures taken by management to keep employees safe. Stores recommend security guards and employees not intervene during the thefts, which are growing increasingly common and violent.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been indicted on charges of bribery, breach of trust and fraud. He is the first sitting prime minister to be indicted in that country’s history.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the mayors of Vancouver and Calgary today to discuss the concerns of Western Canada. The Liberals didn’t win any MP seats in Saskatchewan or Alberta in the last election and are trying to bridge the divide.

At the impeachment hearing today, Ambassador Gordon Sondland testified he withheld Ukrainian aid at the “express direction” of U.S. President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the White House claimed his testimony exonerates the president.

Almost a month after the federal election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveils his new cabinet. At Issue looks at the message and strategy behind these appointments.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired their head coach, Mike Babcock. The announcement came amid a six-game losing streak.

Welcome to The National, the flagship nightly newscast of CBC News

Pharmacists in Ontario are looking to expand their roles to include prescribing routine drugs. The move could free up doctors’ time for more complicated ailments, but physicians have concerns.

Lowe’s will be closing 34 stores across Canada as of February. The hardware chain announced a major restructuring today to combat underperformance. Quebec will be hit hardest, with 12 stores shuttering.

Police in Hong Kong are trying to persuade student protesters to surrender — assuring them that any arrests will be non-violent. But as Greg Rasmussen reports from Hong Kong, this assurance comes amid fresh complaints of abuse of force.

Prince Andrew announced he is stepping away from his public duties, saying his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has become a “major disruption” to the charity work of the Royal Family.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2019 cabinet was revealed today. Among the new appointments, Chrystia Freeland will be taking on the role of deputy prime minister. Freeland will focus on mending fences with Western provinces.

After four recent suicides on the University of Toronto campus, student activists are protesting to draw attention to what they call a mental health crisis. The National’s Ioanna Roumeliotis spoke to students who struggled accessing mental health services on campus about the changes they want to see.

Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley was thrown out of the legislative assembly after refusing to apologize for accusing the UCP house leader of lying about a bill to fire the election commissioner. Notley said the firing was a threat to democratic institutions.

Second-hand clothing shopping is becoming cooler among people focused on sustainability. Gone are the days of stigma around thrifting — climate concerns are driving the resale industry.

A woman in Vancouver has been left with potentially permanent lower-body scarring after a laser hair removal procedure. She is suing the spa responsible. The beauty industry in B.C. is unregulated, and no formal training is required to perform the procedure.

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It’s Day One of the CN strike, and farmers in the Prairie provinces are concerned about how their grain will be transported for sale to the rest of the country. It’s a major part of CN’s business, and for now it’s stranded.

Hundreds of protesters surrendered overnight after days of barricading themselves on the Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus. Many used dramatic techniques to flee the scene. About 100 students remain on campus, who could face rioting charges.