We hear plenty of stories about hackers getting into computer systems and devices—viruses, man-in-the-middle attacks, DDos storms, malware, ransomware and the like. But would you believe the first electronic hack happened in 1903? Guglielmo Marconi, the father of modern radio, had come up with the concept of point-to-point wireless radio transmissions.

“By tuning a transmitter to a specific frequency,” he said, “you can securely reach another party who has tuned to exactly the same frequency.”

This greatly annoyed telegraph companies, who didn’t want to be put out of business. One of these telegraph operators, a guy named Nevil Maskelyne, heard about a demonstration Marconi was giving. Using his own transmitter, he hacked into Marconi’s test broadcast, spelling out the word “rats” over and over in Morse code. Then he keyed in a rude limerick that began “There was a young fellow from Italy, who diddled the public quite prettily.”

I guess this makes Maskelyne the first-ever black hat hacker.

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

For years, the top weekly music magazine in the UK was Melody Maker. Since the only radio came from the BBC, fans of pop and rock relied on The Maker for news on what was hot and new and worth listening to. Anyone who appeared on the cover suddenly sold hundreds of thousands of records.

Melody Maker also covered plenty of artists from North America and had an office and stringers in the US. But in the mid-70s, the pound fell sharply against the US dollar, forcing Melody Maker to close its American operations and to scale back its coverage of music on this side of the Atlantic.

For content, they redirected their music coverage to what was happening at home in the UK. And the mid-70s, that was punk. Melody Maker joined their rival, The New Musical Express, in highlighting and reinforcing the presence of this new music, which went a long way to making it successful with the public.

Weird how things happen sometimes, huh?

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A jury has found Khoa Tran guilty of second-degree murder in the death of his neighbour, Reeyaz Habib, while Tran’s wife, Isabelle Nguyen, was found guilty of being an accessory after the fact and committing an indignity to a dead body.

It took the jury just over a day to reach their verdicts. They were delivered Wednesday evening in a Toronto courtroom following a trial centred on the 2023 death of Habib, whose body was found in a garbage compactor at a Liberty Village condominium building where the 53-year-old filmmaker lived alone.

Two days later, Habib was reported missing. Tran, who lived in the condo unit with his wife, Nguyen, directly under habib’s unit, testified in his own defence.

Tran said Habib was upset with him because barbecue smoke from Tran’s patio would waft into Habib’s condo. He said a week before Habib’s disappearance the two had a fight in which Habib accused him of trafficking his wife’s friend and told him he was going to have him kicked out of the building for using a propane barbecue.

Tran’s barbecue was charcoal. Tran said he was angry and admitted he disposed of Habib’s bicycle, but said that had nothing to do with the death of his neighbour.

Under Canadian law, a conviction for second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence. The period of parole ineligibility, between 10 and 25 years, will be determined by a judge at a later date, taking into account any recommendation from the jury.

Jurors in the case delivered a split set of recommendations on parole ineligibility. Six jurors made no recommendation, while two suggested 10 years. One juror recommended 13 years, another 15 years, and two recommended the maximum 25 years.

A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 9.

Defence lawyer Tyler Smith told the court he intends to seek a pre-sentence report for Nguyen, which is why the sentencing hearing is in 3 months time.

Following the verdicts, Superior Court Justice Ken Campbell ordered that both Tran and Nguyen be taken into custody immediately, revoking their bail.

Smith opposed the move, arguing Nguyen had complied with strict bail conditions since her arrest in 2023, including electronic monitoring, and had no prior criminal record. He said the potential sentencing range for his client could vary widely — from 12 to 18 months up to five or six years — and submitted she was not a threat to public safety.

Smith also suggested her bail conditions could be modified to allow her to remain in Toronto under a curfew as she prepared for sentencing.

Tran’s lawyer, Liam O’Connor, acknowledged his client was in a different position given the murder conviction, but noted Tran also had no prior criminal record and had been on bail during the proceedings.

Justice Campbell rejected the submissions and ordered both accused into custody.

“Poor Mr. Habib was killed and his body put in a dumpster,” the judge said. “Those are serious offences and the circumstances surrounding them are the most serious of nature. Right now I’m revoking the bail of both of the accused.”

Nguyen was seen crying in court as the decision was delivered. She and Tran are expected to be held in separate facilities pending sentencing.

During the trial, Crown prosecutors argued Tran was motivated by an escalating dispute over barbecue smoke and odours, as well as threats allegedly made by Habib. They said Tran killed his neighbour during a late-night confrontation, then undertook an elaborate effort to conceal the crime, eventually enlisting Nguyen to help dispose of the body.

Defence lawyers maintained the Crown’s case was circumstantial, suggesting Habib’s death could have been the result of an accident and arguing there was insufficient evidence to prove Nguyen knowingly assisted in covering up the killing.

The jury’s verdict brings the high-profile case to its sentencing phase, where the court will determine how long Tran must serve before becoming eligible for parole and what penalty Nguyen will face for her role.

A sentencing hearing has been set for September.

–with files from The Canadian Press

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Kelowna, B.C., residents remain highly satisfied with life in the city, but more than half surveyed as part of the 2026 Citizen Survey believe quality of life has declined in recent years.

While 88 per cent of respondents rated their overall quality of life as good or very good, the survey revealed that 56 per cent of respondents felt their quality of life had worsened.

Safety concerns, along with poverty and homelessness, were among the top reasons cited for the decline.

“I love Kelowna, it’s a great city,” said Kelowna resident Sandy McAfee.  “It’s unfortunate that these kinds of things are reflecting because I think they reflect not only on the citizens but the people that come and visit.”

Twenty-nine per cent of respondents said safety was the leading reason for declining quality of life, up from 13 per cent in 2024.

“It is incredible how the city has been impacted,” said Mark Beaulieu, who owns Flashpoint Tattoo Company.

Last fall, the business owner was forced to shut down operations after a destructive fire related to social disorder.

“My location was burned down in September and I spent five and a half months rebuilding it and boy it was a journey,” Beaulieu said.

The survey results were presented to Kelowna city council on Monday.

At Rutland Centennial Park, residents were not surprised by the survey’s findings.

“We have to go and canvas the park before I can even let my kid play in it and it’s meant for children,” said longtime Rutland resident Danni Yeast. “You are not comfortable living your life and you’re always having to look over your shoulder.”

According to Ipsos, while concerns about crime and social disorder commonly appear in citizen survey answers, they were more prominent in Kelowna than in many other communities surveyed this year.

“I don’t see as much emphasis placed on crime and public safety in a lot of the other communities that I work with,” Catherine Knaus, a director with Ipsos, told city council.  “There tends to be other issues…not so much crime and safety concerns that I’m seeing in this year’s survey for Kelowna.”

Mayor Tom Dyas said public safety remains a top priority for council but noted the survey was conducted in March during a period of heightened public attention on crime and social disorder.

“When something is being put through media and being very public, like it was at that point in time, it truly doesn’t surprise me that it draws a little bit more attention,” Dyas said.

“But it’s always good information to us to make certain that we’re continuing to do what we can for the community.”

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have a couple of question marks with just 48 hours until their season opener.

Starting centre Tui Eli and cornerback Major Williams are both listed as questionable to play on Friday. Both players were limited in Wednesday’s closed-door practice according to the official injury report with Eli dealing with an ankle injury and Williams sporting a hip problem.

Six other players have already been ruled out after missing both practices this week. Wide receiver Kevens Clercius (knee), defensive lineman Tanner Schmekel (calf), linebacker Lane Novak (knee), linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox (ankle), and defensive backs Cam Allen (knee), and Ethan Ball (thigh) all won’t play in the season opener.

Santos-Knox and Schmekel will both start the season on the six-game injured list, but Santos-Knox is expected to miss the entire season after getting hurt on the first day of training camp.

American Tyler Elsbury practiced with the first team offence at centre on Tuesday after spending time on their practice roster last season. Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea sounded pretty confident in the six-foot-six, 333-pounder if he’s called into the starting lineup.

“He’s a big, strong guy,” O’Shea told reporters on Wednesday. “I sat beside him the other day in a meeting and his one leg was bigger than me. So, he played a tough brand of football in college (Iowa) too. So, certainly a style that we like.

“We think he can play multiple positions too. We think he can step in at centre. I think he can probably play guard too, so, that kind of versatility helps.”

The Bombers should have five of their free agent acquisitions in the lineup on Friday in Tim White, Jake Ceresna, Jarell Broxton, Tommy Nield, and Jonathan Moxey.

Moxey, who is expected to start at the field-side cornerback position, is entering his seventh CFL season and the 31-year-old believes he brings a lot to the new look Bombers secondary.

“I just want to bring a tenacity,” Moxey said. “I want to bring a veteran presence in the secondary, consistency, versatility, a lot of things, you know what I’m saying?

“But most importantly I just want to be here, be in the moment, be where my feet are, play one play at a time, and help this defence become a better unit and help us win games.”

The Bombers open the season on the road on Friday night against the Calgary Stampeders.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Drivers in Edmonton could soon be paying to park in more locations, if a proposal headed to the city’s urban planning committee moves forward as part of upcoming budget discussions.

A report set to be considered next week outlines potential changes to the city’s parking program (Scroll down to read the report.)

The proposals include eliminating the current 15-minute free grace period in paid parking zones, updating parking rates and introducing paid parking at several city-owned attractions.

The report also proposes a pilot project requiring drivers to pay to park at facilities such as the Muttart Conservatory, the Edmonton Valley Zoo and Fort Edmonton Park.

The plan would see the first hour remain free, with each subsequent half hour costing $1 up to a $5 daily maximum amount. Free parking as part of an amenity membership, packaged and managed through HotSpot, is proposed as an option.

The possible changes are raising concerns among some downtown business owners, who say parking frustrations are already affecting customers.

Audrey’s Books, located on Jasper Avenue, has seen several parking rule changes over the years. Manager Kelly Dyer said other changes the city made in recent years has already had a negative impact.

“They took away the evening free parking and Sunday free parking, which was a definite incentive,” Dyer said.

She said customers regularly complain about parking and worries additional costs could further discourage people from visiting downtown or making quick stops.

“Every city needs a thriving downtown and to encourage people to come downtown,” Dyer said. “I think even just a free 15 minutes parking is definitely something that might help.”

Mayor Andrew Knack said council is aware of those concerns as it weighs potential adjustments.

“Hearing that concern … that’s part of what needs to be considered,” Knack said.

He said the city is reviewing all options as it looks to balance user fees and property taxes in the next budget.

“That’s how we’re approaching this budget, to say what’s the right ratio for user fees versus property taxes,” he said.

According to the report, if all the proposed changes are implemented, annual parking revenue could double to an estimated $10.4 million by 2028.

Knack said efforts to keep property tax increases down are driving the review of programs like parking.

“What we’ve seen for increases on our property taxes the last four years can’t happen going into the next four years,” he said. “That means looking at every single program.”

For some small businesses, however, the prospect of higher parking costs is concerning.

“It does feel like they’re nickel and diming at this point,” Dyer said.

The report will be discussed at city council’s urban planning committee meeting on Tuesday, June 9.

View Link »

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Lethbridge Airport was once home to several airlines, but that eventually dwindled to Air Canada and WestJet.

Now, only WestJet remains, but even it will be exiting the city later this month.

With no commercial airlines, the manager of Lethbridge Airport isn’t too concerned about the future of his site.

“It is quite busy outside of scheduled passenger traffic, so we want to continue to support that and those businesses,” said Cameron Prince, airport manager.

According to him, WestJet only made up about two per cent of air traffic at the regional hub.

“On average in 2025, we were seeing roughly 100 movements a day. That’s flight training, medevacs, charter flights, agriculture – like crop dusting, things like that,” said Prince.

The final day of flights for WestJet in Lethbridge will be June 23. The company cited a drop in demand for why they chose to pull out of the city.

Despite the loss of the commercial carrier, Prince says no City of Lethbridge employees at the airport are set to lose their jobs.

“We’re working through attrition at the moment. We actually had a retiree, so we’re not backfilling positions as they go, necessarily, but we’re not looking at removing at this point, anyways.”

He says the city is looking into leasing land on airport property as a way to recoup the roughly $500,000 generated annually by WestJet.

“The city owns the airport lands. How airports generally work is they hold onto that land and lease that out to businesses. That’s how you can use those revenues to offset the costs of maintaining the airport itself.”

While this method could boost revenue in the wake of WestJet’s final departure, Prince says new airlines could soon choose to arrive in southern Alberta.

“We are in talks with airlines pretty consistently right now and I will say we are optimistic there will be something in the future. We’re just not sure what the timeline will be for that because airline network planning does take a lot of time.”

The City of Lethbridge says it will continue to manage operating costs in line with activity levels over time.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette signalled a warming of relations Wednesday, where they highlighted opportunities for deeper economic cooperation and shared approaches to provincial autonomy.

Meeting at the National Assembly in Quebec City, the two leaders struck a collegial tone despite a history of political differences between their provinces.

“I’m so delighted to be here to have this conversation about renewing our great friendship between Alberta and Quebec,” Smith said.

Fréchette pointed to the provinces’ complementary economies, as both sides explored ways to strengthen business ties and expand interprovincial trade.

Smith said Alberta is closely watching legislative developments in Quebec for ideas on asserting provincial jurisdiction, noting both governments are seeking greater autonomy within Canada.

The meeting comes as sovereignty movements in both provinces look to build momentum. Smith has announced plans for a referendum asking Albertans whether to pursue a future sovereignty vote, while Quebec continues to press Ottawa for increased powers.

Smith said Alberta and Quebec have long-standing trade links and can lean on each other amid uncertainty involving the United States, Canada’s largest trading partner.

She suggested the relationship could even earn a nickname, joking about “Que-Berta” or “Alber-Bec.”

“The best way to create resilience is to support each other and to have more trade with each other,” Smith said, adding she was encouraged to see Alberta goods moving through the Port of Quebec.

Earlier in the day, Smith addressed Quebec business leaders, delivering part of her remarks in French. She later drew parallels between Alberta and Quebec in their dealings with Ottawa.

“Like Quebec, our relationship with the federal government hasn’t always been easy,” she said.

Smith also used the visit to criticize former federal environment minister Steven Guilbeault, who resigned following a new pipeline agreement between Alberta and the Carney government, accusing him of undermining national unity.

“He was the most destructive politician to national unity that we have ever seen,” she said.

Looking ahead, she said Alberta is prepared to increase economic cooperation, including boosting oil and gas production and expanding imports of Quebec-made goods.

Fréchette also met with U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, following controversy over his sharing of a social media post suggesting Canada could become the 51st U.S. state.

Both premiers emphasized the need for their provinces’ interests to be represented in ongoing trade discussions with the United States.

–with files from The Canadian Press

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A heavily-used gravel road in rural south Edmonton is drawing complaints from area residents who say worsening conditions are making it nearly undriveable — especially after recent rain.

The stretch of 153 Street SW, also known as Range Road 253, between 73 Avenue SW and Highway 19 has evolved from a quiet country road into a busy commuter route in recent years.

Locals say the increased traffic has taken a toll.

“It’s teeth-chattering,” said resident Chris Blake, who has lived along the road since 2001. “It shakes every bolt and piece of plastic in your car.”

The area used to be part of Leduc County but was annexed by the City of Edmonton in 2019.

Since then — and even before — Blake has watched the condition of the unpaved road steadily decline into a rutted, muddy mess that requires vehicles to slow to a crawl in some sections or risk suspension damage.

After a heavy rainfall like the Edmonton region experienced over the past three days, the road gets even worse.

The route has become a popular shortcut for drivers travelling between the city and the Edmonton International Airport and Nisku areas  — often used to avoid the nearby adjacent Highway 2.

While Global News was in the area Wednesday morning, there was a steady stream of traffic traversing the bumpy dirt road, including several Amazon delivery trucks.

Blake said the city grades and adds gravel to the road a few times a year, but those fixes only last for days before the surface deteriorates again, particularly in wet weather.

According to Blake, the road was never designed to handle the current volume of traffic, resulting in heavy wear and tear on vehicles and disruptions for nearby residents.

Frustrated by the lack of long-term solutions, Blake has started handing out flyers to commuters, urging them to contact the city and the area councillor.

“There’s not much I can do but voice my frustration, because I live on this road,” he said. “If I was anybody other than the few families that live on this road, I would take any other road … but unfortunately, I am stuck.”

Blake said residents ultimately want the range road paved.

The City of Edmonton said there is currently no active construction project or capital funding earmarked for the stretch.

Mayor Andrew Knack said the city faces competing demands as it sets its budget.

“The message that I want to drive home with Edmontonians is that we have a lot of different priorities coming up in this four-year budget,” he said.

“We will not be able to do everything.”

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

It was a busy scene at the Ramada Hotel off Idylwyld Drive as SUVs, taxis and charters pulled in and out of the pickup and drop -off points.

Evacuees from Red Earth Cree Nation and Shoal Lake Cree Nation are going back home as the wildfire situation near their nations improves.

Residents of these communities were initially evacuated due to the heavy smoke, as well as the only roads in and out coming under threat rather than direct fire danger to the communities.

The last week has brought rain across the province alongside cooler temperatures. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) says that rain was the missing factor in fighting the fires.

“We received a fair amount of rain through the area, and it improved the conditions,” said Bryan Chartrand, the SPSA’s director of land operations.

Along with Red Earth and Shoal Lake residents returning, the provincial fire ban has also been lifted.

“We’re confident that it’s drop our indexes enough that a fire ban is no longer required,” said Chartrand.

The bus back to Red Earth departed the Ramada, as the last of the evacuees who travelled by car trickle out of hotels across Saskatoon, happy that their homes are still intact.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.