Canada

Three members of an Afghan family living in Canada killed their four female relatives for bringing "dishonor" by dressing "indecently," dating a Christian man, and using the Internet, a Canadian jury said while pronouncing them guilty of "cold-blooded, shameful murders."

The jury convicted an Afghan immigrant couple – identified as 58-year-old Mohammad Shafia and his 42-year-old wife Tooba Yahya – and their 21-year-old son Hamed for drowning the three sisters as well as Shafia's first wife, The Associated Press reported Monday.

The bodies of Zainab, 19, Sahar, 17, Geeti, 13, and Rona Amir Mohammad, 52, were found in a car submerged in a canal in Kingston, Ontario, on June 30, 2009. The family had stopped in Kingston while returning home to Montreal from Niagara Falls. The four women were "strong, vivacious and freedom-loving," the prosecution said. more >>

The largest emerald in the world, nearly the size of a watermelon, will be put up for auction and sold to the highest bidder later this month.

The oval gemstone which weighs just over 25 pounds and is named "Teodora" which means "God's Gift," is said to be 57,500 carats and was appraised by a respected gem dealer at around $1.15 million, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

A rare gem hunter in Calgary, Regan Reaney, described this stone as “once-in-a-lifetime.” "I'm still amazed every time I look at, pick it up, touch it. It is amazing," Reaney told the Calgary Herald. more >>

An interdenominational, citywide church service aimed at enhancing Christian unity and community building drew nearly 15,000 believers at a downtown hockey arena in the Canadian city of Winnipeg Sunday morning.

The city’s MTS Center was packed with members from at least 62 churches who worshipped together at the third annual “One Heart Winnipeg” mega-service Sunday.

“Today we are telling everybody, including the city of Winnipeg, that we are on the same team,” the Canada Broadcasting Corporation quoted co-organizer Pastor Bruce Martin as saying. “We are not in competition. We are not threatened by each other. We work together.” more >>

The Ultimate Fighting Championship's Jon "Bones" Jones is still the fighting league's light heavyweight champion after Saturday night's "UFC 140," but that doesn't mean he's forgotten Jesus is the King of Kings.

The 24-year-old mixed martial artist slayed Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida in single combat at Toronto's Air Canada Centre after two rounds of fierce fighting. The crafty karate veteran threw everything he could at the champion, only for Jones to catch him with a chokehold for the submission win. It's a victory that sees Jones join the UFC's upper echelon, and one the young prodigy said he couldn't have done without Jesus.

"God if it's your will then it's already done and I thank you for giving me the victory," Jones tweeted before the bout. The fighter followed the posting with 2 Timothy 1:7, a Bible verse, which reads "For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." more >>

A 16-year-old’s remake of the classic Christmas carol “Little Drummer Boy” is capturing the hearts of many this season, already nearing 200,000 hits on YouTube since its release last Wednesday.

Shared on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter and other social networking sites, word is quickly spreading about Oak Park High School student Sean Quigley, the brains behind the video as well as everything else, having written, sung, recorded, edited, directed, and played all of the instruments featured in the Yuletide favorite.

Combining rock ‘n’ snow, the short film spotlights the Winnipeg teen as the “little drummer boy” who passionately drums outside in the cold in his black cutoff shorts and beanie, all for Jesus the newborn King. more >>

Former Baywatch TV star and Playboy magazine playmate Pamela Anderson will star as the Virgin Mary in an hour-long comedy sketch titled “A Russell Peters Christmas,” set to air next month on Canada’s CTV network.

The broadcast, which is declared to be “an irreverent twist on the Christmas special making it unlike anything viewers have seen before,” is already causing a buzz on the Internet for its unconventionality. A backlash from the Christian community is expected as well.

Promotional stills of the upcoming special hosted by comedian Russell Peters reveal a fully clad Anderson in a long white robe and headscarf, which is contrary to her usual risqué attire. Anderson is seen looking dotingly on baby Jesus alongside Joseph, played by Peters. more >>