A B.C. Supreme Court judge is expected to deliver a verdict today in the first-degree murder trial of three men charged in the deaths of an elderly Abbotsford couple during a 2022 home invasion. Court heard during the judge-alone trial that 77-year-old Arnold De Jong died from asphyxiation after his head and face were wrapped in duct tape, while 76-year-old Joanne De Jong was beaten and had her throat slashed. The couple’s bodies were discovered inside their Abbotsford home in May 2022. Abhijeet Singh, Gurkaran Singh and Khushveer Toor, all in their 20s, pleaded not guilty to first-degree mu

Canada’s unemployment rate increased to 6.9 per cent in April, according to new data released Friday by Statistics Canada. The figure marks the country’s highest unemployment rate in the past six months. Statistics Canada reported a net loss of 17,700 jobs during the month. Full-time employment saw the sharpest decline, with 46,700 positions lost, while part-time employment increased by 29,000 jobs. The agency said Canada has lost a total of 112,000 jobs during the first four months of 2026. Youth unemployment continued to outpace the national average, rising to 14.3 per cent in April. Eco

Chilliwack RCMP are asking for the public’s help identifying a suspect connected to an assault on a bus driver earlier this year. According to police, the incident happened March 16 near South Sumas Road and Vedder Road in Chilliwack. Investigators said the suspect was a passenger on the bus and allegedly assaulted the driver, causing injuries. RCMP have not released details about what led to the incident. However, officers said investigators obtained video footage from the area showing a young man leaving the scene after the alleged assault. Police estimate the suspect is between 18 and 19

Daytime temperatures in Edmonton are expected to remain between 18 C and 23 C through the rest of this week and into next week, according to weather forecasts. Forecasters say several periods of strong winds are also expected across the region over the next one to two weeks. Environment and Climate Change Canada forecasts stronger wind conditions on Thursday and Friday. Wind speeds could approach 40 kilometres per hour during the afternoon hours. After easing overnight, winds are expected to increase again Friday morning, reaching about 30 km/h. Forecast models suggest conditions may remain re

The federal government says changes to refugee and asylum claimant health coverage introduced this month are expected to reduce public spending by about $140 million this fiscal year. The changes, which took effect May 1 under the Interim Federal Health Program, require refugee claimants and asylum seekers to pay part of the cost for some supplementary and prescription health services. According to federal data tabled in response to an order paper question from NDP MP Heather McPherson, the largest projected savings – about $93 million – are tied to dental care coverage. Under the revised

The Bharatiya Janata Party has issued a legal notice to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging defamation over remarks linking the party to recent explosions in Jalandhar and Amritsar. BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said the notice accuses the chief minister of making allegations without evidence and seeks action related to criminal defamation, spreading false information, and attempting to incite public unrest. The development follows comments made by Mann a day earlier, in which he alleged that such incidents were being used as political tactics ahead of elections in Punja

India has rejected allegations by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) that linked New Delhi to foreign interference activities in Canada, calling the claims “baseless.” Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and described India as a responsible democracy that respects international law and the sovereignty of other nations. Jaiswal said concerns related to such matters should be addressed through established diplomatic channels rather than through public statements or political d

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is considering new measures aimed at speeding up approvals for federally regulated natural resource and major infrastructure projects, including pipelines. According to reports, an announcement could come later this week. The proposed changes would introduce a “one project – one review” approach for major projects and set a maximum two-year timeline for federal approval decisions. The move would represent a significant shift in the regulatory framework governing large-scale natural resource developments. According to reports, the federal governme

Vancouver police are investigating a fatal stabbing near East Hastings and Columbia streets that has been classified as the city’s fourth homicide of 2026. Police said officers were called to the area at about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday after a witness reported an assault. A 49-year-old man was found injured at the scene and later died in hospital, according to a Vancouver Police Department statement. Investigators said a man and a woman were arrested following the incident, but no charges had been announced as of Wednesday afternoon. Police have not released further details about the circumstances