National News

OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Canada's new Arctic ambassador will play a key role in preserving sovereignty in the region as the military closely watches the movements of a Chinese icebreaker.

LONDON — An Ontario judge has delivered her ruling in the sexual assault trial for five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team.

MAPLE RIDGE — Bruce Fairweather was in bed Wednesday night when he says his wife heard what sounded like gunshots. He went outside his home in Maple Ridge, B.C., and saw two vehicles on fire.

VANCOUVER — Two forensic psychiatrists have concluded their testimony at a hearing to determine if the man accused of killing 11 people at Vancouver's Lapu Lapu Day festival is fit to stand trial.

INUVIK — An Inuit leader who met Thursday with Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss the federal government's controversial major projects legislation says he has been assured the bill respects treaty rights.

OTTAWA — Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, two leaders of the "Freedom Convoy" protest, are scheduled to be sentenced for mischief on Oct. 7 in an Ottawa courtroom.

OTTAWA — Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel is not committing to sign pharmacare funding deals with all provinces and territories.

WASHINGTON — Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Thursday he's feeling "encouraged" after meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and American lawmakers in Washington ahead of next week's tariff deadline.

OTTAWA — A new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says the federal public service could shed almost 60,000 jobs over the next four years as Ottawa looks to cut costs.

Reaction was swift after five former junior hockey players were acquitted Thursday in a high-profile sexual assault trial that captured national attention.