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Why do Canadians call the last letter of the alphabet zed?

Few things distinguish us from our neighbours to the south more quickly than calling the last letter of the alphabet zed instead of zee, but why do we do it?

'Super' El Niño didn't cause this year's fires and heat waves, but it's about to take us on a 'wild ride'

Whether you call it a "super" El Niño or a "Godzilla" El Niño, the naturally occurring Pacific Ocean warming phenomenon that disrupts global weather patterns is back and packing a punch, at a time when many parts of the planet are already overheated.

What is postpartum psychosis, the illness at the centre of Lindsay Clancy's murder trial?

Lindsay Clancy's defence doesn't dispute that she strangled and killed her three children in 2023 while her then-husband was running an errand. But they argue she isn't criminally responsible because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a rare and little-understood mental health condition that can affect a new mom's sense of reality.

Why are there suddenly so many data centres planned in Canada? Your questions answered

The sudden spike in AI data centres that are planned or under construction in Canada is sparking controversy among those hesitant to have the massive buildings that power this technology humming away in their backyards. We answered some of your questions here.

Canada's an agricultural superpower. Could it feed the whole world?

Experts say that red tape, infrastructure bottlenecks and labour shortages are among the factors undermining Canada's ability to send more food around the world, while competing countries continue to scale up their exports.

B.C. family feels 'violated' after burglary during wildfire evacuation

Mira Boucher says her home was ransacked by looters while her community of Summerland was empty and vulnerable — with every single house vacant under an evacuation order.

Alberta premier urges return to trade talks, calls U.S. terms 'untenable'

Premier Danielle Smith hopes federal negotiators will return to the table after the collapse of trade talks in Washington triggered a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian exports. But she also said that the last minute demands from American negotiators were “untenable” and “too painful” for Canada to accept.

Get fully, completely immersed in the Tragically Hip's final concert 10th anniversary

Pear Lake wildfire sparks new evacuations, crews battle new fire near Kamloops

Officials have expanded evacuation orders related to British Columbia's largest wildfire.

How will the British press cover Harry and Meghan this time around?

Many questions have already been asked about the couple's return — but after being away for years following a tumultuous relationship with the British press that appeared to have been a factor in their decamping to California, could the tabloids' fascination about the couple peter out this time?

Infantino defies FIFA vice president by going to youth event in Caribbean amid global soccer rift

Gianni Infantino defied a request by one of his FIFA vice presidents to stay away from an Under-14 soccer event in the Caribbean and instead made a rare public appearance during the global furor over his failed plan to sell future World Cup profits to private investors.

Why a B.C. wildfire evacuee wants to see an overhaul of emergency support services

Dawne Young, a retired 911 dispatcher, said her evacuation experience was unsettling. Her neighbour's home was lost in the Bald Range wildfire. She said her family did not all receive the emergency alert, and she was met with lengthy delays trying to register as an evacuee.

National 2SLGBTQ+ monument holds special meaning for those purged from civil service for being gay

Thousands of Canadians were purged from the military, RCMP and civil service between the Cold War-era and the 1990s for their sexuality, including Vancouver's Wayne Davis and the great uncle of Elenore Sturko, an MLA and former Mountie.

Shelter in place lifted, 2 people arrested after shooting that injured 3 in Fort Smith, N.W.T.

A lockdown order in Fort Smith, N.W.T., has lifted after more than 13 hours, and police say it's now safe for residents to resume normal activities.

Churchill, Man., residents say year-round shipping would benefit town but tourism, environment must be considered

Churchill, Man., residents are welcoming findings suggesting a longer shipping season is possible but say any expansion must weigh the impacts on tourism and the environment.

Visitors outfoxed by footwear thieves at provincial park in Sask.

Foxes have swiped dozens of shoes from campers and cottagers this summer, creating a footwear scavenger hunt.

Lunenburg to La-La Land: Logan Taylor chases lifelong NFL dream

Lunenburg, N.S., native Logan Taylor moved away from home at 14 to pursue his NFL dream because his high school didn't have a football program. His journey has included stops in Timberlea, N.S., Virginia and Massachusetts. Now he's in Los Angeles after being drafted by the Chargers.

Israeli settler blockades part of escalating violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank

A Palestinian-American has returned to his home in the occupied West Bank village of Qusra to protect it from Israeli settlers, amid a surge in attacks and settlement expansion.

You can't buy anything on these food delivery and shopping sites. Here's why that's the point

Mock shopping sites are giving people the thrill of browsing, filling a cart and checking out, without spending a cent. As the trend spreads worldwide, some are using it to rethink compulsive spending and the environmental cost of buying more.

How streaming and social media have helped build the modern F1

Formula One has seen a recent surge in popularity, especially on social media, with fan-made online content engaging a whole new F1 audience. Experts say it's similar to the synergies shared by different forms of broadcast media and sports in the past.

Tragically Hip band members reflect on Gord Downie and farewell tour 10 years after final show

The Tragically Hip band members Paul Langois and Rob Baker are remembering their bandmate Gord Downie and the band's final show a decade on. CBC will rebroadcast the band’s final concert on Saturday to commemorate its 10th anniversary.

People are trading mummified human remains online. Some scientists say that may be bad for their health

In new research, scientists shine a light on a global, online trade in preserved human remains and raise the alarm about its potential health hazards.

Accused in Tupac Shakur murder trial says nephew fired the fatal shots in 1996 drive-by shooting

Jurors on Thursday heard Duane (Keffe D) Davis tell detectives in an audio recording of a 2008 police interview that his nephew Orlando (Baby Lane) Anderson fired the shots that killed rapper Tupac Shakur. Davis is accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of the 25-year-old hip-hop superstar.

Kawacatoose First Nation members head south to retrieve stolen teepee cover from U.S.

Family members from Saskatchewan are travelling to Washington, D.C. for the return of a precious item made by an ancestor who was promised payment but never received any.

Zelenskyy vows response to deadly Russian multi-drone attack on shopping centre in central Ukraine

At least 15 people were killed and more than 130 wounded on Friday when several Russian drones struck a ‌shopping centre in central Ukraine, authorities said, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promising a response to what he called an "act of barbarism."

IN PHOTOS | New wave of U.S. tariffs threatens these Canadian companies

Canadian businesses are under threat from U.S. tariffs under Section 338 of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act if no Canada-U.S. deal is reached. CBC photographer Evan Mitsui visited some of the industries to hear their concerns as the deadline to finalize a deal ticks down.

Survivor describes moments after plane ripped through his vehicle in Prince George, B.C.

One person is dead and the Transportation Safety Board is investigating after a plane made an emergency landing on a Prince George, B.C., road on Thursday.

Ariana Grande blasts Trump team — again — over music used for social post

For the second time this summer, Ariana Grande is blasting U.S. President Donald Trump's administration for using her music in a TikTok post, which featured her hit track We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) and even tagged the Grammy-winning performer.

Mounties reviewing First Nations' call for treason probe into Alberta premier, UCP

Canada's top Mountie has written to First Nations leaders in Alberta, confirming the RCMP will review the chiefs' call for a criminal treason investigation into the province's premier and governing party. The response has some chiefs feeling optimistic.

RCMP arrest Montreal minor in connection with alleged terror plot targeting school

The RCMP announced they have arrested a minor in Montreal in connection with an alleged attack he had planned targeting a school in the city.

Stabbing at Edmonton Sikh temple leaves 2 injured, man in custody

The World Sikh Organization of Canada said a “violent incident” at the Nanaksar Gurdwara temple in northeast Edmonton Friday morning left two people injured.

Alberta minister faces more fury at second town hall on AI data centres

Alberta's technology minister faced yet another firing line of fury at the government's second town hall hearing from residents over its plan for artificial intelligence data centres.

What will unite tennis and pickleball players? A whole lot more courts

Across the country, tennis and pickleball players compete for time on too few courts. Here's what planners and sports policy experts say it would take to address the root of the problem — not enough recreational facilities for any sport.

The dinosaur sex in The End of Oak Street is odd. The reality is far more confusing

The End of Oak Street gives dinosaurs a scientific makeover, from feathers to mating behaviour. CBC News asks paleontologists what the movie gets right — and what remains a prehistoric mystery.

Shrinking sea ice makes year-round shipping possible on Hudson Bay: Manitoba premier's office

Year-round shipping is possible on Hudson Bay without the use of the most expensive icebreakers, a spokesperson for Premier Wab Kinew says.

Tiananmen Square vigil organizers convicted of 'inciting subversion' in Hong Kong

Two former organizers of Hong Kong's decades-old vigil in remembrance of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown were convicted Friday in a national security case brought under a China-imposed law that has effectively crushed the city's previously thriving pro-democracy movement.

Childhood friends discover they're sisters after DNA test | The Moment

Meena Geltink tells The National about the moment a DNA test revealed her lifelong friend Minal Tijssen is actually her biological sister, decades after they were adopted from India by different families in the Netherlands.

Former Alberta First Nation chief sexually harassed employee over 9-year period: human rights tribunal

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has found a former Alexander First Nation chief sexually harassed an employee over a nine-year period.

Vance tells audience at private event that Carney tried to 'out-tough' Trump on trade

U.S. Vice-President JD Vance weighed in on the latest trade deal with Canada at a fundraising event Wednesday, saying Prime Minister Mark Carney tried to "out-tough" U.S. President Donald Trump while crediting his longtime friend Conservative MP Jamil Jivani as a helpful advocate for Canada.

1 dead after plane makes emergency landing on road in Prince George, B.C.

Prince George RCMP have confirmed that a person has died after a plane made an emergency landing Thursday on Foothills Boulevard, about 1.5 kilometres north of North Nechako Road.

PHOTOS | These award-winning Canadian images show how scientists see nature

The BMC Ecology and Evolution and BMC Zoology joint image competition awards scientific research photos each year. University of New Brunswick graduate student Liam Brennan and Queen's University researcher Allen Tian each won best in category awards for their photos in this year's edition.

Music and memories fill Little Burgundy church for Oliver Jones’s final farewell

Family, friends, musicians and admirers gathered at Montreal’s Union United Church Thursday for a memorial service honouring Canadian music icon Oliver Jones. The Little Burgundy church, where Jones played his first concert at age five, was filled with music and memories as the community said its final goodbye.

Invasive plants are available across Canada. Is federal regulation possible?

Several Canadian cities are pursuing bylaws to restrict the sale of invasive plants by garden centres and nurseries. Advocates with the Canadian Coalition for Invasive Plant Regulation say a federal horticulture body and invasive plant database would help a biodiversity crisis in the making.

Proposed changes to endangered species law would 'stab it to death,' says scientist

The former chairs of a panel that advises the federal government on endangered wildlife have published an open letter highlighting concerns over proposed changes to the Species At Risk Act, which they say could lead to the "wilful extinction" of endangered species in Canada.

Ex-defence minister's call for a wartime election puts pressure on Ukraine's Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is under renewed pressure to hold wartime elections, which are not allowed under the country's constitution while marital law is in effect.

Deadly Russian missile attack in Kyiv leaves parts of capital without power

Russian ballistic missile strikes killed at least three and injured 20 more ​in Kyiv early on Thursday, according to Mayor Vitali ​Klitschko, damaging apartments, non-residential buildings, warehouses and a children's hospital and leaving parts of the Ukrainian capital without ​power.

Teen saves a shark that washed up on the beach | The Moment

Finn Holland tells The National about the moment he saved a shark that washed up on shore in Maces Bay, N.B.

Trump says he'll launch 'most crushing economic operation ever' on Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned ‌of economic consequences against any country that supported ​Tehran or provided "any ​type of lifeline to Iran."

Once a leader in $10-a-day child care, B.C. now lags behind: report

British Columbia is lagging behind other provinces when it comes to universal affordable child care, according to a new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Of the 35 cities studied in the report, the five B.C. cities are the most expensive.

$30K US dead or alive: Iran's new bounty on U.S. soldiers | About That

Iran is offering a $30,000 US bounty to any Iranian who can capture or kill American soldiers. Andrew Chang breaks down why the timing of the announcement matters, its propaganda value, and how realistic it actually is. (Photo credits: The Canadian Press, Reuters, Adobe Stock and Getty Images)