After months of COVID separation, Sharon Agard and her family were thrilled when "hug day" finally arrived and they could be close. Now that her mother has unexpectedly and suddenly died, Agard writes about her bittersweet memories of that day and why hugs matter.

After weeks of declining case numbers, hospitalizations and daily deaths, the pandemic's trajectory in the U.S. is changing — and heading in the wrong direction, public health officials warn. One Maryland woman who lost her husband to COVID-19 is urging people to heed appeals to get vaccinated.

On this week’s show: Two former leadership contenders discuss the fragile situation in the Green party after reports that party officials discussed revoking the membership of leader Annamie Paul. Experts discuss the political situation in Haiti after assassins killed the president. Plus, a look at the legacy of official multiculturalism in Canada as we near the 50th anniversary of the policy.

An ambitious project funded by the B.C. government hopes to collect ocean plastic along 1,200 kilometres of coastline.

Statistics Canada says it will consider a change to its data-collecting practices to better account for Canadians who identify as members of multiple visible minorities.

Even as highly contagious coronavirus variants are circulating, experts say leading vaccines are not only preventing infections but likely curbing transmission as well. But that doesn't mean the vaccinated can fully protect the unvaccinated, particularly in areas with lower vaccination rates.

Rescue workers in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands are working to clear up devastation caused by heavy rains and to prevent further damage.

Rescue workers laboured to deal with damage laid bare by receding water on Saturday as the death toll from disastrous flooding in western Europe rose above 160 and thoughts turned to the lengthy job of rebuilding devastated communities.

As communities start to see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, the mayors of Calgary, Regina and Mississauga, Ont., talk about what that looks like for them.

As the government looks to a possible mid-August reopening of the U.S. border for fully vaccinated travellers, people affected are still looking for details, such as whether the U.S. will reciprocate.