Defence Secretary Mark Esper says the United States has made "no decision" about withdrawing troops from Iraq amid heightened tensions with neighbouring Iran.Esper spoke to reporters Monday after a letter from a U.S. Army general circulated that seemed to suggest a withdrawal had been ordered in response to a vote by the Iraqi Parliament over the weekend.Esper says, “There's been no decision whatsover to leave Iraq.”

Environment Canada has posted weather warnings from the east coast of Vancouver Island all the way to the southeastern corner of the province, while winter storm watches are in effect for a large section of the southeast Interior and the Elk Valley.Rainfall warnings are up for parts of Vancouver Island and the inner south coast, including Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Howe Sound.The weather office says up to 90 millimetres of rain could cause localized flooding in low-lying areas before the system passes Tuesday.Elsewhere, winter storm and snowfall warnings call for as much as 30 cen

The federal Conservatives will choose their next leader at a convention on June 27 in Toronto.Former Conservative MP Lisa Raitt, who is co-organizing the race, said the rules for the race remain a work in progress, but the committee setting them continues to meet frequently.The leadership race has been unofficially underway since current leader Andrew Scheer announced last month he would resign upon the election of his replacement.Raitt - who had challenged Scheer for the leadership in 2017 - was named soon after to be co-chair of the committee to set the rules of that contest.She says the com

Vancouver recorded its first homicide of the year following an assault at a troubled homeless camp in the city's Downtown Eastside.Police say officers were called to Oppenheimer Park on New Year's Day where a 62-year-old man had been assaulted.They say Jesus Cristobal-Esteban was taken to hospital where he died on Thursday.The identity of the suspect is not known, although police say they believe the victim and suspect had some sort of an interaction before the assault.