Jan 08

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=60 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="5c8746483.png"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="747" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FFCC80" BORDERCOLORDARK="#CC9900" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#000000 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 52 WIDTH="37"><div> <A HREF="id1044.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Feb 08"><U><IMG SRC="31ce11160.png" border=0 width="17" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> PREV</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="37"><div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Giant Dwarf"><U><IMG SRC="31ce11160.png" border=0 width="17" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> HOME</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="37"><div> <A HREF="id1038.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dec 07"><U><IMG SRC="31ce11160.png" border=0 width="17" 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HEIGHT= 35476 ><NOBR><div>  <A NAME="top"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><IMG SRC="5e4a5c200.png" border=0 width="92" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <B>Past Articles:</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="626" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FFCC80" BORDERCOLORDARK="#CC9900" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="50"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="50" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1142.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mar 10"><U><B>Mar/10</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1137.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Feb 10"><U><B>Feb/10</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jan 10"><U><B>Jan/10</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1134.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B>Dec/09</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nov 09"><U><B>Nov/09</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oct 09"><U><B>Oct/09</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sep 09"><U><B>Sep/09</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aug 09"><U><B>Aug/09</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jul 09"><U><B>Jul/09</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP 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BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1091.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nov 08"><U><B>Nov/08</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1086.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oct 08"><U><B>Oct/08</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1084.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sep 08"><U><B>Sep/08</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1083.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aug 08"><U><B>Aug/08</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1078.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jul 08"><U><B>Jul/08</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1077.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jun 08"><U><B>Jun/08</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1072.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May 08"><U><B>May/08</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1071.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apr 08"><U><B>Apr/08</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1060.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mar 08"><U><B>Mar/08</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1044.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Feb 08"><U><B>Feb/08</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFCC><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1043.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B>Jan/08</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1038.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dec 07"><U><B>Dec/07</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1037.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nov 07"><U><B>Nov/07</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1032.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oct 07"><U><B>Oct/07</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1026.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sep 07"><U><B>Sep/07</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1025.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aug 07"><U><B>Aug/07</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1020.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jul 07"><U><B>Jul/07</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1015.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jun 07"><U><B>Jun/07</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1009.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May 07"><U><B>May/07</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apr 07"><U><B>Apr/07</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id986.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mar 07"><U><B>Mar/07</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id979.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Feb 07"><U><B>Feb/07</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id978.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jan 07"><U><B>Jan/07</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id973.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dec 06"><U><B>Dec/06</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id968.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nov 06"><U><B>Nov/06</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id963.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oct 06"><U><B>Oct/06</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id957.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sep 06"><U><B>Sep/06</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id951.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aug 06"><U><B>Aug/06</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id945.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jul 06"><U><B>Jul/06</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id940.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jun 06"><U><B>Jun/06</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id934.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May 06"><U><B>May/06</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id929.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apr 06"><U><B>Apr/06</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id924.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mar 06"><U><B>Mar/06</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id910.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Feb 06"><U><B>Feb/06</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id908.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jan 06"><U><B>Jan/06</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id898.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dec 05"><U><B>Dec/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id892.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nov 05"><U><B>Nov/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id885.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oct 05"><U><B>Oct/05</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id880.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sep 05"><U><B>Sep/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id875.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aug 05"><U><B>Aug/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id808.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jul 05"><U><B>Jul/05</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id803.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jun 05"><U><B>Jun/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id798.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May 05"><U><B>May/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id793.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apr 05"><U><B>Apr/05</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id771.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mar 05"><U><B>Mar/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id766.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Feb 05"><U><B>Feb/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id760.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jan 05"><U><B>Jan/05</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>These "Articles" are dated from January 1st, 2008 - January 31st, 2008.</B></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="368" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#31" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Thousands of P.E.I. residents still without power</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 31/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#30" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Young girl found frozen to death, sister missing</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 30/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#29" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  MP's killing sparks more violence in Kenya</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 29/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#28" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Ontario pathologist Smith to answer for 'mistakes'</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 28/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#27" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Bush unlikely to 'make nice' in State of the Union</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 27/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#26" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Minister defends 'misspoken' PMO official</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 26/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#25" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Australia issues travel warning against Canada</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 25/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#24" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Masseuse who found Ledger called Olsen</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 24/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#23" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Tens of thousands of Palestinians flood into Egypt</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 23/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#22" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Caffeine lowers ovarian cancer risk: study</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 22/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#21" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Asian, European markets plunge on U.S. fears</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 21/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#20" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  'Newhart' co-star Suzanne Pleshette dies at 70</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 20/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#19" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><B>How would a U.S. recession impact Canadians?</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 19/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#18" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Former chess champion Bobby Fischer dead at 64</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 18/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#17" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Canada puts U.S. on torture watch list: CTV</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 17/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#16" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  RCMP promises more arrests in child porn case</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 16/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#15" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Aboriginal population skyrockets: census</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 15/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#14" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Students return to class in wake of N.B. tragedy</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 14/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#13" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Former suspect in Aruba mystery tosses wine on TV</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 13/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#12" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  N.B. community in shock after eight die in crash</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 12/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#11" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  PM to call limited Mulroney-Schreiber probe</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 11/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#10" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Report criticizes oilsands companies on environment</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 10/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#09" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Ex-crystal meth addict successfully sues dealer</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 09/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#08" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Teen stops assassination attempt on Maldives leader</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 08/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#07" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Military names soldiers killed in Afghan accident</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 07/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#06" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  B.C. snowboarders have to pay tab for rescue</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 06/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#05" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Clinton: Barack Obama has changed positions</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 05/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#04" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Spears taken in ambulance after custody dispute</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 04/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#03" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  U.S. cash no longer welcome at India tourist sites</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 03/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#02" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Thousands of Quebecers win free vacation contest</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 02/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#01" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Winter wallop has many Canadians digging out</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 01/01/08</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> =======================</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="711" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="707"><div>  <A NAME="31"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 420 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Thousands of P.E.I. residents still without power</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Jan. 31  2008  08:48  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 31st, 2008</div> <div> <B>Crews are working to restore power to about 21,000 Prince Edward Island residents following an ice storm earlier this week.</B></div> <bR> <div> Maritime Electric spokeswoman Kim Griffin said Thursday that power is still down in central and western parts of the Island.</div> <bR> <div> The worst hit areas are the communities of Hunter River, New Annan and St. Eleanors, Griffin told The Canadian Press.</div> <bR> <div> Officials are hoping to take advantage of Thursday's clear weather conditions by finally getting a helicopter in the air to assess overall damages.</div> <bR> <div> "They've had over 100 utility poles down and some 450 kilometres of lines down," CTV's Denelle Balfour reported Thursday from Charlottetown.</div> <bR> <div> "They simply haven't been able to get to some of those locations to even start repairs or to even know where some of the major problems are."</div> <bR> <div> Initially, the ice storm left about 40,000 residents without electricity.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c77aa0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Maritime Electric crews repair lines that were brought down during an ice storm in Central Queens County, P.E.I. on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008. (Heather Taweel, Charlottetown Guardian / THE CANADIAN PRESS)</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c77ba0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A major storm coated P.E.I. in ice, leaving fallen power lines and widespread outages on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 210 WIDTH="540"><div> "They don't have heat or hot water and in many cases they don't even have communications because the phone lines are also down," said Balfour.</div> <bR> <div> On Wednesday, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said troops at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown were on standby.</div> <bR> <div> MacKay said he told P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz that assistance was just a phone call away.</div> <bR> <div> Power isn't expected to be fully restored until the weekend, said Griffin.</div> <bR> <div> She said crews had restored power to about 3,000 customers this morning.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c77ca0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The ice storm has downed trees and power lines, with Hunter River, New Annan and St. Eleanors, P.E.I. among the worst hit areas on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 182 WIDTH="707"><div> Emergency centres have been set up in some communities to aid residents.</div> <bR> <div> Meanwhile, crews in New Brunswick have restored power for more than 600 customers in areas near Woodstock.</div> <bR> <div> N.B. Power says about 177 customers are still without power in the Moncton area.</div> <bR> <div> In Ontario, about 90,000 residents were without power for part of Wednesday. By late Wednesday night, power had been restored to a majority of residences.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff  <I>with files from The Canadian Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="30"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 350 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Young girl found frozen to death, sister missing</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Jan. 30  2008  07:43  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 30th, 2008</div> <div> <B>Police are searching for a one-year-old girl after her sister was found frozen to death Tuesday on the Yellow Quill First Nation east of Saskatoon.</B></div> <bR> <div> A man from the community, suffering from frostbite and hypothermia, was picked up by police early Tuesday morning.</div> <bR> <div> It wasn't until about eight hours later that the man, recovering in hospital, told police his two daughters were missing.</div> <bR> <div> "When the man was able to speak to investigators at approximately 1:30 in the afternoon, he enquired at that point as to the welfare of his children,'' RCMP Sgt. Brad Kaeding told The Canadian Press.</div> <bR> <div> "One child, believed to be a three-year-old girl, has since been found outdoors between his own residence and the residence approximately 400 metres away from where he was picked up by ambulance and the RCMP."</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c772a0690.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="105" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> One girl was found dead and another is missing on the Yellow Quill First Nation east of Saskatoon.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c771a0780.gif" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Yellowquill, Saskatchewan where one girl was found frozen to death and another is missing on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 236 WIDTH="707"><div> CTV's Mike Ciona, reporting from near the Yellow Quill Reserve, said Tuesday that police are presuming the one-year-old girl is dead because of the extreme weather conditions.</div> <bR> <div> The wind chill in Saskatchewan reached -50 C Tuesday -- prompting Humane Society officials to warn locals to keep their pets inside.</div> <bR> <div> Ciona said it remains unclear why the man was separated from his children and why he didn't alert police sooner.</div> <bR> <div> "That's what makes this case so mysterious and bizarre, the fact that it took him eight hours," he said.</div> <bR> <div> Kaeding said an autopsy on the three-year-old girl will be conducted.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff  <I>with files from The Canadian Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="29"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 420 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>MP's killing sparks more violence in Kenya</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Jan. 29  2008  08:51  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 29th, 2008</div> <div> <B>A doctor in Kenya was beheaded in the street Tuesday, an apparent retaliation to the shooting death of an opposition MP.</B></div> <bR> <div> The incidents mark the latest in ongoing ethnic violence following President Mwai Kibaki's election victory last December -- a vote that observers say had been rigged.</div> <bR> <div> Opposition leader Raila Odinga claims he is the rightful election winner.</div> <bR> <div> Former Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Tuesday that the rival leaders had agreed to a "dialogue process" starting this afternoon.</div> <bR> <div> "We're into almost a month of violence," Rob Crilly, a reporter for <I>The Times of London</I>, told CTV's Canada AM on Tuesday. "The peace talks are moving forward but no one really expects a breakthrough for some weeks or even months."</div> <bR> <div> Crilly, in Nairobi, said it will be difficult for both parties to find a common ground.</div> <bR> <div> Early Tuesday, two gunmen shot opposition legislator Mugabe Were as he drove to his house in suburban Nairobi, police confirmed.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c766a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Women cry outside the house of opposition lawmaker Mugabe Were where he was gunned down in Nairobi, early Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008. (AP / Karel Prinsloo)</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c767a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Kenyan men from the Luo tribe armed with machetes and rocks enforce a makeshift roadblock, near the airport in Kisumu, Kenya, Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. (AP / Ben Curtis)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 232 WIDTH="540"><div> "We are treating it as a murder but we are not ruling out anything, including political motives,'' Kenyan police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said. "We are urging everyone to remain calm.''</div> <bR> <div> But shortly thereafter, a gang of youths belonging to Odinga's Luo tribe pulled a Kikuyu doctor out of his office and beheaded him using machetes.</div> <bR> <div> "They pulled the doctor out and then cut and cut until his head was off," Sabat Abdullah, a resident of Kibera (a Nairobi slum) told The Associated Press.</div> <bR> <div> Another resident of Kibera said houses were being torched near a railway that splits members of Kibaki's Kikuyu tribe from Luo inhabitants.</div> <bR> <div> "They have decided to revenge this MP," said Teddy Njoroge.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c768a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Kenyan men from the Luo tribe enforce a makeshift roadblock, searching passing vehicles for Kikuyus trying to flee the town in order to kill them, near the airport in Kisumu, Kenya on Monday, Jan. 28, 2008. (AP / Ben Curtis)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 385 WIDTH="707"><div> Were was one of numerous opposition members who won a seat in December's legislative vote, which took place at the same time as the presidential elections.</div> <bR> <div> Kibaki denounced the killing Tuesday and promised that the gunmen would be held responsible.</div> <bR> <div> Odinga said his party suspected "the foul hands of our adversaries."</div> <bR> <div> In Naivasha, Kenya's flower-exporting capital, looters smashed shop windows and set homes ablaze.</div> <bR> <div> A local reporter said he saw a mob of Kikuyus stone two Luos to death. Earlier, Kikuyus stoned to death another Luo man.</div> <bR> <div> In Kisumu town, a Kikuyu man was stoned, slashed with machetes and then thrown into a stack of burning tires.</div> <bR> <div> "We didn't waste time, we had to kill him," said Stanley Ochieng, 25.</div> <bR> <div> Much of the violence has occurred in western Kenya's Rift Valley -- where both Kikuyu and Luo tribes are located.</div> <bR> <div> More than 800 people have been killed in violence since the Dec. 27 election. Half of the 255,000 people displaced from their homes have been Kikuyus who live in the valley.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff  <I>with files from The Associated Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="28"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 337 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Ontario pathologist Smith to answer for 'mistakes'</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Jan. 28  2008  08:29  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 28th, 2008</div> <div> <B>Disgraced pathologist Dr. Charles Smith will take the stand in an inquiry today, finally telling his version of how his mistakes in child death investigations led to the wrongful conviction and incarceration of a number of parents.</B></div> <bR> <div> The inquiry, which is probing the systemic errors in pediatric forensics that occurred while Smith was practising, has heard months of testimony from experts and former colleagues.</div> <bR> <div> Smith has said he will take full responsibility for his work on Monday.</div> <bR> <div> One father spent more than a decade in prison for the death of his niece before being exonerated, and several mothers spent years in prison before the cases against them fell apart.</div> <bR> <div> Smith is expected to say he is sorry, but to attribute the mistakes to honest errors in judgement, according to a statement read by his lawyer at the beginning of the inquiry.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c3e7a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Dr. Charles Smith</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c760a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Sherry Sherrett, who was convicted in the death of her son based on Smith's findings, speaks with Canada AM on Monday, Jan. 28, 2008.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 517 WIDTH="707"><div> At the beginning of the inquiry, Smith's lawyer read a statement from his client in which he said he was "truly sorry" for the "mistakes" he's made.</div> <bR> <div> Sherry Sherrett, who was convicted of killing her son based on an autopsy by Smith, travelled to Toronto to attend the hearing in hopes of getting some answers.</div> <bR> <div> "I guess (I hope to receive) the answers," she told CTV's Canada AM.</div> <bR> <div> "Why? If you needed help, why didn't you ask, why did you choose to do this? Why did you not ask for the help, say, 'could someone else go over this just to make sure it's right,'? It's just confusing as to why, honestly."</div> <bR> <div> The inquiry was ordered after serious doubts were raised about opinions given by Smith in roughly 20 cases of suspicious child deaths. In more than 12 of those cases, Smith's decisions led to criminal investigations or convictions.</div> <bR> <div> Sherrett's own conviction in the death of her young son, who was sleeping in a playpen when he died, turned her life upside down, she told Canada AM.</div> <bR> <div> She lost custody of her older son, who she hasn't seen since 1999 and is now being raised by his adoptive family. Sherrett also spent several years in jail, and at times felt her life was over.</div> <bR> <div> "It's been a long journey," she said, noting that she has since remarried and has a young daughter, but still looks forward to her son's 18th birthday, when she can see him again.</div> <bR> <div> William Mullins-Johnson was also convicted based on Smith's findings. He spent 12 years in jail for the death of his niece before his conviction was quashed after six experts found no evidence to support Smith's finding that the girl had been sodomized and asphyxiated.</div> <bR> <div> The mandate of the inquiry is broader than just Smith's work, however. Its objective is to take a look at systemic errors that exist in Ontario's pediatric pathology system.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 323 WIDTH="707"><div> Canada AM legal analyst Steven Skurka said his own personal opinion is that Smith's mistakes can be attributed to a lack of training, impartiality and objectivity.</div> <bR> <div> "He's apologized, he's attributed it all to honest mistakes, but can it all be attributed to honest mistakes? That has to be the fundamental question? How did this tragedy occur that wreaked havoc on 20 people's lives."</div> <bR> <div> Lawyer Peter Wardle told The Canadian Press the parents and families affected by Smith's mistakes will be expecting more than just an apology.</div> <bR> <div> "Many of them have waited 10 -- in one case 20 -- years to hear him give his side of the story," said Wardle, who represents several of the families.</div> <bR> <div> "They all have questions they want answered."</div> <bR> <div> Although his clients felt the apology delivered in November was "too little, too late," they're anxious to hear what Smith has to say, Wardle added.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="27"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 109 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Bush unlikely to 'make nice' in State of the Union</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Jan. 27  2008  07:24  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 27th, 2008</div> <div> <B>On Monday night, if U.S. President George Bush really wants to make nice with his critics there's one group he needs to specifically address in his State of the Union speech -- the Dixie Chicks.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="c75ea0540.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="84" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 741 WIDTH="707"><div> "If he wants to heal the country's divisions there doesn't seem to be any better thing to do than reach out to the Dixie Chicks," Renan Levine, a professor of U.S. politics at the University of Toronto, told CTV.ca.</div> <bR> <div> "They are walking, talking, singing personifications of the divisions in the country and, yes, they are all from Texas.</div> <bR> <div> "There needs to be a Bush-Dixie Chicks lovefest."</div> <bR> <div> In 2003, country stations in the U.S. quit playing the Chicks after singer Natalie Maines criticized Bush in the lead up to the Iraq War.</div> <bR> <div> Nearly five years later, Iraq continues to evoke strong opinions, the economy is in decline and Bush has about a 34 per cent approval rating.</div> <bR> <div> Adding to his troubles, Bush will have to deliver his final State of the Union address before a hostile Democratic Congress and a country concerned more about the candidates running to replace him in 2009.</div> <bR> <div> So, the big question is, what is he going to talk about?</div> <bR> <div> If the list of topics on the website for the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#A6CAF0" FACE="Arial" ><U>State of the Union Address Drinking Game 2008</U></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><B><<</B><A HREF="http://www.drinkinggame.us/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.drinkinggame.us/"><U><B><IMG SRC="41c60b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>>></B> is any indication, Bush is not likely to say anything new.</div> <bR> <div> Players of the game are encouraged to take a shot of alcohol every time Bush says a 'trigger' word like 'Iraq', 'nukular' or 'Ahmadinejad' (two shots if he pronounces Ahmadinejad correctly.)</div> <bR> <div> Three shots required, since it's an unlikely scenario, if Bush "takes off his shirt and reveals that he is actually a human-animal hybrid."</div> <bR> <div> Even more improbable, since it didn't even make the list, is Bush mentioning the Dixie Chicks.</div> <bR> <div> That means no apologies for Iraq and most likely a reaffirmation of how the situation is improving.</div> <bR> <div> "This is a president who staked his presidency on the success of the war in Iraq," said Renan. "From his perspective it's very important to stress the fact that, by many indicators, the surge appears to be working.</div> <bR> <div> "He wants to be able to persuade many Americans that the decision that was made was the right one and that they are fighting a war that the U.S. feels... they can win."</div> <bR> <div> Bush does not want the upcoming presidential campaign to be about "Get our boys home. Get our boys out," said Renan.</div> <bR> <div> The U.S. president also wants to, while admitting that errors were made, claim that the war overall was not a mistake, said Renan.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 629 WIDTH="707"><div> <B>The Economy</B></div> <bR> <div> Despite his lame duck status, LeeAundra Temescu, a communications coach who studies political rhetoric, said Bush can use the State of the Union address to make himself relevant again.</div> <bR> <div> "This isn't about burnishing his legacy, this isn't about introducing bold, new proposals," Temescu told CTV.ca. "This is about making the American people and Congress know that he is still the president and he is still relevant to the political process in the United States."</div> <bR> <div> To do that, Temescu said Bush needs to focus his speech on the economy -- which she says is the number one issue on the minds of Americans.</div> <bR> <div> Last Thursday, Congressional leaders announced a deal with the White House on an economic stimulus package that will see cash refunds for most U.S. tax filers.</div> <bR> <div> "He will have to go beyond that and he will have to introduce long-term proposals for how he will continue to stimulate the economy and perhaps even announce some reforms to make sure that things like the sub-prime lending crisis don't happen again," said Temescu.</div> <bR> <div> On Iraq, Temescu said if she was advising Bush she'd tell him to keep his comments on the subject short.</div> <bR> <div> If Bush's speech proves successful, Temescu said he could gain more political leverage.</div> <bR> <div> "It wouldn't be that difficult for him to get enough leverage out of this speech in order to influence Congress to do what he wants them to do -- right now they're at a stalemate."</div> <bR> <div> While unlikely, Temescu said Bush should use the speech to reach out to the Democrats. With even Republicans not wanting to be associated with Bush, Temescu said the president has nothing to lose.</div> <bR> <div> "He can use this opportunity to truly, truly reach across the aisle, to really make a bi-partisan effort," she said. "But I don't think he's going to do that."</div> <bR> <div> Four shots if he does.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with files from Philip Stavrou</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="26"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 439 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Minister defends 'misspoken' PMO official</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Jan. 26  2008  15:09  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 26th, 2008</div> <div> <B>Conservative House Leader Peter Van Loan says the government has confidence in Sandra Buckler, director of communications in the Prime Minister's Office.</B></div> <bR> <div> Noting the calls for her resignation, he told reporters in Ottawa on Saturday: "If everybody up on the Hill who misspoke themselves once in their life had to resign, none of us would be here."</div> <div> The statement came after Buckler had to retract a statement she made Thursday.</div> <bR> <div> She told CTV News that the military had not told the government that it had stopped turning suspected Taliban detainees over to the Afghan government in early November.</div> <bR> <div> On Friday, Buckler said she had "misspoke."</div> <bR> <div> "... I shouldn't have said it, I broke my own rule in speaking about operational matters in the military," Buckler told CTV News in a phone interview.</div> <bR> <div> She then refused to confirm the policy change, saying, "I will not speak about operational matters."</div> <bR> <div> Van Loan also stuck to that line.</div> <bR> <div> "While there may be an interest in clarity and transparency and we support that, that doesn't</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c75aa0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Government House Leader Peter van Loan responds to questions from the media in Ottawa on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c75ba0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Sandra Buckler looks over towards media that are focused on her instead of the Prime Minister during a photo-op prior to the start of the federal Conservative Caucus meeting, in Ottawa Saturday Jan 26, 2008. (Tom Hanson / THE CANADIAN PRESS)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 538 WIDTH="707"><div> extend to a kind of transparency that would result in disclosure of details that would put our troops at risk," he told reporters in Ottawa on Saturday.</div> <bR> <div> The opposition has accused the government of covering up news that Canadian troops stopped transferring suspected Taliban prisoners to Afghan authorities after diplomats found clear evidence of torture.</div> <bR> <div> Military leaders had also reportedly been furious, saying they kept the government in the loop.</div> <bR> <div> Liberal Leader Stephane Dion told reporters on Friday that he had been briefed on the change when he visited Afghanistan a few weeks ago -- and if he knew, there's no way that Defence Minister Peter MacKay couldn't have known.</div> <bR> <div> Dion didn't say anything until the Buckler gaffe, which Van Loan said was the right thing to do.</div> <bR> <div> The policy change came to light Wednesday as a result of government documents filed in a lawsuit by human rights groups opposed to Canada's policy of handing detainees over to Afghan authorities. A general also testified about the change on Thursday.</div> <bR> <div> The opposition has accused the government of not revealing the change mainly to protect itself from embarrassment. Government leaders, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, ridiculed the notion of torture when they first surfaced in the spring of 2007.</div> <bR> <div> The Tories are busy in Ottawa this weekend planning strategy for the resumption of Parliament on Monday.</div> <bR> <div> Van Loan said there would be a debate and vote sometime this spring on extending the Afghanistan mission, but added the timing hasn't been set yet.</div> <bR> <div> Any opposition attempt to defeat the Conservative minority government would likely happen over the budget, which is likely to be tabled in February or March, he said.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="25"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 125 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Australia issues travel warning against Canada</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Fri. Jan. 25  2008  08:23  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 25th, 2008</div> <div> <B>A website run by the Australian government lists Canada as a country where travellers need to be cautious about terrorism, dangerous winter driving and cold weather conditions.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="c74fa0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 615 WIDTH="707"><div> The <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#A6CAF0" FACE="Arial" >'<U>Smart Traveller' website</U></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><B><<</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Canada" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/v"><U><B><IMG SRC="41c60b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></FONT><B>>></B>, run by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, lists Chile, South Korea and Latvia as countries safer than Canada.</div> <bR> <div> Overall, Canada is listed in the second safest category (out of five categories) on the website -- the 'Exercise caution' section. Out of the G8 nations, the U.S., U.K, France, Germany and Italy also are listed in the 'Exercise caution' category.</div> <bR> <div> "We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Canada because of the risk of terrorist attack," says the travel advisory.</div> <bR> <div> "Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks."</div> <bR> <div> The website says "heavy snowfalls and ice in the winter" can also make driving dangerous.</div> <bR> <div> "The wind-chill factor can also create dangerously cold outdoor conditions," says the warning.</div> <bR> <div> B.C. and Alberta are both listed as being subject to avalanches. B.C. is also listed as "an active earthquake zone."</div> <bR> <div> Meanwhile, travellers heading to Canada between May and September are also told to look out for tornadoes in some areas. </div> <div> The website further warns about bush and forest fires which "can occur any time in Canada."</div> <bR> <div> The advisory says crime in Canada is comparable to that in Australia, with petty crime such as pick pocketing and street theft occurring at tourist destinations and hotels.</div> <bR> <div> Japan has the safest ranking of the G8 nations, falling into the first category, 'Be alert to own security.' Russia is listed as the most dangerous of the G8 countries, ranking in the third category -- 'High degree of caution.'</div> <bR> <div> On the website for <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#A6CAF0" FACE="Arial" ><U>Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada</U></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><B><<</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/report-en.asp?country=17000" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/report-en.a"><U><B><IMG SRC="41c60b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></FONT><B>>></B>, there is no official warning for Australia. However, travellers are advised to watch out for pickpockets and to avoid demonstrations because they could "turn violent."</div> <bR> <div> There are also warnings for backpackers about attacks and travellers are advised not to accept food and drinks from strangers at bars.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="24"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 518 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Masseuse who found Ledger called Olsen</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Jan. 24  2008  08:46  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 24th, 2008</div> <div> <B>NEW YORK -- A massage therapist who discovered a lifeless Heath Ledger in his Manhattan apartment made her first call to Mary-Kate Olsen, according to an in-depth timeline police released Wednesday of the moments surrounding the Australian-born actor's death.</B></div> <bR> <div> Police said Ledger probably died sometime between 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday of what authorities say may be an accidental drug overdose.</div> <bR> <div> Authorities found six types of prescription drugs in Ledger's apartment, including pills to treat insomnia and anxiety, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. Three of the drugs were prescribed in Europe, where Ledger had been filming recently.</div> <bR> <div> Ledger's housekeeper, Teresa Solomon, arrived at his apartment with her own key and let herself in. At 1 p.m., she went to his bedroom to change a light bulb, and saw Ledger sleeping and heard him snoring. She left the room without thinking anything was wrong.</div> <bR> <div> At 2:45 p.m., massage therapist Diana Wolozin showed up for her appointment with Ledger, who didn't answer when she knocked on his door. She then tried to call him on his cell phone, but again got no response. She went into the bedroom, set up her massage table and again tried to wake Ledger.</div> <bR> <div> Wolozin told police that Ledger was cold to the touch, but that she assumed he was just unconscious. She grabbed his cell phone and called Mary Kate Olsen, whose number was programmed into the phone. Wolozin knew that the "Full House" star and Ledger were friends, and she asked Olsen for advice on what she should do next.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c747a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A makeshift memorial for Heath Ledger is seen outside his apartment in the SoHo neighbourhood of New York on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008. (AP / Gary He)</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c748a0da0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="218" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Actress Mary Kate Olsen arrives at the 7th on Sale dinner gala to benefit the fight against HIV and AIDS at the 69th Regiment Armory in New York on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007. (AP / Peter Kramer)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 199 WIDTH="707"><div> Olsen, who also lives in Manhattan but was in California at the time, responded by saying she would send over her private security guards to help deal with the situation. In the ensuing moments, Wolozin realized that Ledger might be dead. She called Olsen again, then called 911.</div> <bR> <div> The emergency operator provided Wolozin directions on how to do CPR, but it was too late.</div> <bR> <div> Paramedics arrived minutes later -- at about the same time as Olsen's security guards.</div> <bR> <div> Messages left at telephone numbers listed for Wolozin and Solomon were not returned Wednesday.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with files from The Associated Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="23"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 453 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Tens of thousands of Palestinians flood into Egypt</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Jan. 23  2008  07:49  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 23rd, 2008</div> <div> <B>Tens of thousands of Palestinians streamed into Egypt Wednesday after masked gunmen destroyed a large section of a metal wall separating the Gaza Strip from the neighbouring country.</B></div> <bR> <div> Gunmen knocked down about two-thirds of an 11-kilometre metal wall using heavy gunfire and bulldozers in the town of Rafah before dawn Wednesday.</div> <bR> <div> Some Palestinians are using the opportunity to buy rice, flour and cigarettes -- items that are hard to come by because of an ongoing Israeli blockade of the territory.</div> <bR> <div> CTV's Mideast Bureau Chief Janis Mackey Frayer said Egyptian officials are so far allowing the Palestinians to temporarily come into the country.</div> <bR> <div> "There are still lots of people heading towards the border knowing that they have the opportunity to get across -- even for just a few hours," said Frayer.</div> <bR> <div> She said Palestinians will cross back over because the majority won't want to find themselves trapped on the Egyptian side of the border.</div> <bR> <div> Meanwhile, Frayer said Israel is worried about the border breach.</div> <bR> <div> "There has long been a system of tunnels in place under the Gaza-Egypt border through</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c73ba0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Palestinians cross the border into Egypt after militants blew holes in the wall between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008. (AP Photo / Hatem Moussa)</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c73ca0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Palestinians cross the border into Egypt after militants exploded the separated wall between Gaza Strip and Egypt, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008. (AP / Hatem Moussa)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 442 WIDTH="707"><div> which Israeli officials maintain weapons have been smuggled into the Gaza Strip," she said.</div> <bR> <div> "There is the fear amongst security officials in Israel that they are able to now bring weapons back across because there is free flowing traffic across the border."</div> <bR> <div> On Wednesday, Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza, expressed support for the situation.</div> <bR> <div> "Blowing up the border wall with Egypt is a reflection of the ... catastrophic situation which the Palestinian people in Gaza are living through due to the blockade,'' Hamas said in a statement.</div> <bR> <div> The incident comes on the sixth day of a full closure of Gaza's borders, which was imposed by Israel and supported by Egypt.</div> <bR> <div> The complete closure was imposed following a surge in Gaza rocket attacks on Israeli border towns.</div> <bR> <div> On Tuesday, Israel did allow a one-time delivery of fuel, medicine and other supplies.</div> <bR> <div> "What Israeli officials are saying, though, is that this by no means signals a change in their policy," said Frayer.</div> <bR> <div> "There is still a full closure on the Gaza Strip and they say that it will still remain as long as rockets are being fired into Israeli towns."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with files from The Associated Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="22"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 125 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Caffeine lowers ovarian cancer risk: study</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Jan. 22  2008  06:23  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 22nd, 2008</div> <div> <B>One day after women were advised that caffeine could endanger their pregnancy comes a new study that suggests that the substance may actually lower their ovarian cancer risk.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="c734a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 517 WIDTH="707"><div> The study, to be published in the American Cancer Society journal Cancer, finds that caffeine seems to lower a woman's ovarian cancer risk, while smoking and drinking do not seem to affect it.</div> <bR> <div> The link between caffeine and lower ovarian cancer risk was even stronger in women who had never used oral contraceptives or postmenopausal hormone therapy.</div> <bR> <div> Dr. Shelley S. Tworoger, of Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health, made the discovery after examining data from the ongoing Nurses' Health Study -- which began in 1976 and includes 121,701 U.S. female registered nurses. The nurses in the study completed questionnaires every two years to update researchers on their lifestyles and to report any newly diagnosed diseases.</div> <bR> <div> Tworoger and her co-investigators looked at the link between smoking and ovarian cancer risk, and between alcohol or caffeine and ovarian cancer risk among the women between June 1976 and June 2004.</div> <bR> <div> They could find no link between alcohol consumption and ovarian cancer risk.</div> <bR> <div> Nor could they find any link between current or past smoking and ovarian cancer risk. However, the more and the longer the smokers kept up the habit, the higher their risk for mucinous tumors, a rare form of ovarian cancer.</div> <bR> <div> The researchers did find a lowered risk of ovarian cancer in the women who said they drank caffeinated coffee; the link disappeared among women who said they regularly drank decaf.</div> <bR> <div> The reduction in risk with higher caffeine intake appeared to be strongest for women who had never used oral contraceptives or postmenopausal hormones.</div> <bR> <div> The authors say they don't know why caffeine would lower ovarian cancer risk but they say the possibility that it could "is intriguing and warrants further study."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="21"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 196 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Asian, European markets plunge on U.S. fears</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Jan. 21  2008  08:19  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 21st, 2008</div> <div> <B>TOKYO -- Asian and European stock markets plunged Monday after declines on Wall Street last week amid investor pessimism over the U.S. government's stimulus plan to prevent a recession.</B></div> <bR> <div> India's benchmark stock index tumbled 7.4 per cent, while Hong Kong's blue-chip Hang Seng index plummeted 5.5 per cent to 23,818.86, its biggest percentage drop since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c72aa0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> An investor walks past a screen at a stock exchange in Changchun in northeast China's Jilin province on Monday Jan. 21, 2008. (AP Photo)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 480 WIDTH="707"><div> Investors dumped shares because they were skeptical that an economic stimulus plan President George W. Bush announced Friday would shore up the economy, which has been battered by housing and credit problems. The plan, which requires approval by Congress, calls for about $145 billion worth of tax relief to encourage consumer spending.</div> <bR> <div> Concerns about the outlook for the U.S. economy, a major export market for Asian companies, has sent the region's markets sliding in 2008. Just last Wednesday, the Hang Seng index sank 5.4 per cent.</div> <bR> <div> "It's another horrible day,'' said Francis Lun, a general manager at Fulbright Securities in Hong Kong. "Today it's because of disappointment that the U.S. stimulus (package) is too little, too late and investors feel it won't help the economy recover.''</div> <bR> <div> Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index slid 3.9 per cent to 13,325.94 points, its lowest close in more than two years. China's Shanghai composite index plunged 5.1 per cent.</div> <bR> <div> The selloff continued in Europe. Germany's DAX was down 4.2 per cent in morning trading, France's CAC 40 slid 4.7 per cent, while Britain's FTSE 100 dropped 3.6 per cent.</div> <bR> <div> "People are certainly nervous about a potential recession in the U.S. spilling over to the rest of the world,'' said David Cohen, Director of Asian Economic Forecasting at Action Economics in Singapore.</div> <bR> <div> "Maybe there's still some wariness about politicians are able to come up with a compromise and act sufficiently quickly'' on a stimulus package, Cohen said. "I think the impact would be marginal anyway.''</div> <bR> <div> Investors took cues from the negative reaction to the president's plan on Wall Street on Friday, when the Dow Jones industrial average slid 0.5 per cent to 12,099.30, bringing its loss for the year so far to nearly 9 per cent.</div> <bR> <div> Traders also have shrugged assurances from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke that the U.S. central bank is ready to act aggressively -- which means a likely big interest rate cut later this month -- to help the sagging economy.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 521 WIDTH="707"><div> Some analysts predict that Asia won't suffer dramatically from a possible U.S. recession because increased trade and investment within Asia has made the region less reliant on the United States than in the past. Excluding Japan, 43 per cent of Asia's exports go to other nations in the region, Lehman Brothers calculates, up from 37 per cent in 1995.</div> <bR> <div> But on Monday, uncertainty and pessimism reigned.</div> <bR> <div> In Tokyo trading, exporters got hit hard, partly because of the yen's recent strength against the dollar. Toyota Motor Corp. lost 3.3 per cent and Honda Motor Co. sank 3.4 per cent.</div> <bR> <div> In Hong Kong, Bank of China dropped 6.39 per cent and China Construction Bank slid 7.83 per cent.</div> <bR> <div> In Mumbai, India, the benchmark Sensex index fell 1,353 points, or 7.4 per cent -- its second-biggest percentage drop ever -- to 17,605.35. At one point, it was down nearly 11 per cent.</div> <bR> <div> The decline hit companies across the board, with power utility Reliance Energy Ltd. falling 16.4 per cent. Major software company Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. slid 7.6 per cent.</div> <bR> <div> "A gloomy U.S. climate has affected the global markets. Even if those markets recover, it will take sometime for the recovery to reach India because today's fall has been so drastic,'' said Jayant Pai, of the Mumbai investment company IL&FS Ltd.</div> <bR> <div> Still, Pai and others suggested that the declines could lead to a buying opportunity.</div> <bR> <div> "The selloff today takes us close to the bottom,'' she said.</div> <bR> <div> Since the start of the year, Japan's Nikkei index has declined 13 per cent, while Hong Kong's blue-chip index is down more than 14 per cent. Even China's Shanghai index -- which nearly doubled last year -- has fallen 6.6 per cent since the beginning of the year and nearly 20 per cent from its all-time closing high on Oct. 16.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with files from The Associated Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 252 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>'Newhart' co-star Suzanne Pleshette dies at 70</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Jan. 20  2008  09:46  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 20th, 2008</div> <div> <B>Veteran actor Suzanne Pleshette, who will probably be best remembered for the role of Bob Newhart's wife, died Saturday at age 70.</B></div> <bR> <div> Attorney and family friend Robert Finkelstein said she died of respiratory failure at home in Los Angeles.</div> <bR> <div> Pleshette had been treated for lung cancer in 2006, undergoing chemotherapy.</div> <bR> <div> Born Jan. 31, 1937 in New York, Pleshette attended the High School of the Performing Arts and the Neighbourhood Playhouse.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c727a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> In a photo provided by TV Land, actress Suzanne Pleshette speaks during a panel discussion as actor Bob Newhart looks on at the TV Land 35th anniversary celebration of the Bob Newhart Show in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg, TV Land)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 967 WIDTH="707"><div> A beautiful woman, she also had a unique, throaty voice.</div> <bR> <div> "When I was 4," she told an interviewer in 1994, "I was answering the phone, and (the callers) thought I was my father. So I often got quirky roles because I was never the conventional ingenue."</div> <bR> <div> She first met Tom Poston, a future husband, in 1959 when they worked together in "The Golden Fleecing," a Broadway comedy.</div> <bR> <div> After a brief fling, they married others then found each other again in 2000 after each had been widowed. They married a year later.</div> <bR> <div> "He was such a wonderful man. He had fun every day of his life," Pleshette said after Poston died in April 2007.</div> <bR> <div> Poston also worked with Bob Newhart, but not at the same time as Pleshette.</div> <bR> <div> She was the "voice of reason" character on "The Bob Newhart Show," which featured comedian Bob Newhart as a psychologist surrounded by eccentrics.</div> <bR> <div> That show lasted six years, ending in 1974.</div> <bR> <div> In 1978, Newhart moved on to the eponymous "Newhart" series.</div> <bR> <div> There, he played a New England innkeeper -- surrounded by eccentrics. Poston was one of those eccentrics.</div> <bR> <div> That show ended in 1990.</div> <bR> <div> In a sly nod to an infamous episode of the 1980s primetime soap opera "Dallas," the series ended with Pleshette reprising her wife role from the first series.</div> <bR> <div> Newhart, back to his psychologist character, woke up with Pleshette at his side. He told her about the crazy dream he just had in which he ran an inn surrounded by eccentrics.</div> <bR> <div> "If I'm in Timbuktu, I'll fly home to do that," Pleshette recalled telling him when Newhart proposed the idea.</div> <bR> <div> Some other notable roles:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Replacing Anne Bancroft as Helen in "The Miracle Worker";</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Playing with Jerry Lewis in the 1958 film "The Geisha Boy;"</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Roles in shows including "Have Gun, Will Travel," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Playhouse 90" and "Naked City."</div> <bR> <div> In the 1960s, she became a teen favourite with roles in films such as "Rome Adventure," "Fate Is the Hunter," "Youngblood Hawke" and "A Distant Trumpet."</div> <bR> <div> In the 1990, she had the title role in "Leona Helmsley, the Queen of Mean."</div> <bR> <div> More recently, she appeared in several episodes of the TV sitcoms "Will & Grace" and "8 Simple Rules ... For Dating My Teenage Daughter."</div> <bR> <div> She gave this advice for career longevity.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm an actress, and that's why I'm still here," she said in a 1999 interview. "Anybody who has the illusion that you can have a career as long as I have and be a star is kidding themselves."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with files from The Associated Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="19"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 201 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>How would a U.S. recession impact Canadians?</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Jan. 19  2008  07:14  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 19th, 2008</div> <div> <B>The saying goes that when the United States sneezes Canada gets a cold.</B></div> <bR> <div> Amid concerns our southern neighbour's economy is headed for disaster, Canadians are becoming increasingly worried about their own financial health.</div> <bR> <div> A recent Strategic Counsel poll conducted for CTV and <I>The Globe and Mail</I> found that 12 per cent of Canadians feel the economy is the most important issue facing the country, up 3 points from a July 12-15 survey.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c721a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A pedestrian looks at an electric market board in Tokyo on Friday, Jan. 18, 2008. (AP / Katsumi Kasahara)</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 393 WIDTH="707"><div> The question is: If the United States sneezes -- will Canada will take to bed with bronchitis? Forecasts are mixed.</div> <bR> <div> Indeed, economic forecasting group Global Insight Canada has issued a stark warning in its new report.</div> <bR> <div> Global Insight cautions that Canada and the U.S. are heading for the worst economic performance in five years and may already be in the mired in a mild recession.</div> <bR> <div> The U.S. economy is unquestionably in a downturn and may actually end up in a recession. But Mike Gregory, a senior economist with BMO Capital Markets told CTV.ca his firm's current prediction is still that the U.S. won't slip into a recession, which requires two consecutive quarters, or six months, of economic contraction.</div> <bR> <div> Meanwhile, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said the pessimism is for naught and that Canada is in relatively good shape as it prepares to ride out a slowing economy.</div> <bR> <div> The Conference Board has also contended that the Canadian economy will weather the storm of uncertainty in the United States.</div> <bR> <div> "As long as the United States averts a recession, Canada's domestic economy will remain largely impervious to woes afflicting our largest trading partner," Pedro Antunes, director, National and Provincial Forecast, said in a statement.</div> <bR> <div> But what if the United States can't avert a recession? How would that really impact Canadians' pockets? Are gas prices going to soar? And are real estate values going to plummet? CTV.ca has asked economic experts to weigh in.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 BGCOLOR=#BBBBBB HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="707"><div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">THE LOONIE AND INTEREST RATES</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 140 WIDTH="540"><div> If you're a shopaholic looking to binge in the United States, should you do it now or wait six months?</div> <bR> <div> Sooner is better than later when it comes to the loonie's value, Mike Gregory, a senior economist with BMO Capital Markets in Toronto told CTV.ca.</div> <bR> <div> Despite the recent bad news on jobs and retail sales, the U.S. Federal Reserve said recently that the U.S. economy still grew, albeit slowly, in November and December.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="c722a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 456 WIDTH="707"><div> In the short term, the Canadian dollar - which has maintained rough parity with the U.S. greenback - should continue hold its value, he said.</div> <bR> <div> But the U.S. Federal Reserve, which sets interest rates, has indicated it's prepared to act quickly in cutting rates if the news worsens. "So rates could fall very quickly," Gregory said.</div> <bR> <div> Canada's rate probably won't fall as fast, which should prop the dollar up, Gregory said.</div> <bR> <div> Yet if things continue to worsen in the U.S., those troubles could push the loonie down, he said.</div> <bR> <div> A U.S. downturn or recession could slow the global economy. That will cut demand and prices for Canadian commodities - which could result in a weakening Canadian dollar, he said.</div> <bR> <div> When investors get antsy, they look for "safe haven" currencies like the Swiss franc and perversely, the U.S. dollar, he said.</div> <bR> <div> "Despite the fact it's the U.S. at the centre of the problem, (the greenback) tends to move up a bit," Gregory said.</div> <bR> <div> That would also push the loonie down.</div> <bR> <div> If you're working in manufacturing in Canada and selling into the U.S., you might see the loonie's weakening as a good thing.</div> <div> Gregory said while that might be true, U.S. demand will also fall and that might cancel out any benefit.</div> <bR> <div> What Canadians should hope for is that the U.S. shakes off this downturn quickly - and that it doesn't deepen into an actual recession, he said.</div> <div> <B>-Bill Doskoch</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 BGCOLOR=#BBBBBB HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="707"><div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">GAS AND OIL PRICES</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 227 WIDTH="540"><div> Even the threat of a recession in the Unites States can prompt oil prices to plummet, but how would a sustained economic slump south of the border affect Canadian prices at the pumps?</div> <bR> <div> Michael Ervin, president of petroleum consulting firm M.J. Ervin & Associates, speculates a recession in the U.S. -- the world's single largest energy consumer -- would sink demand for oil thereby causing Canadian gas prices to recede.</div> <bR> <div> As of Jan. 18, the price of light crude for future delivery hovered around US$90 per barrel, down from the historic high of $100 per barrel reached on Jan.2.</div> <bR> <div> While crude prices are unlikely to drop to $15 per barrel, as experienced in the mid-1990s, Ervin speculates prices could fall as low as $40 or $50 if a U.S. recession was sustained over a long period of time.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="c72482c80.jpg" border=0 width="130" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 407 WIDTH="707"><div> Based upon historical data, a sustained recession could send average national gas prices for unleaded fuel to around 80 or 90 cents per litre in Canada.</div> <bR> <div> Experts believe Americans would think twice about boarding a plane to the Caribbean and would likely curtail daily driving habits, easing pressure on North American refineries producing oil-based products.</div> <bR> <div> "With reduced gasoline demand, refiners would all of a sudden have some spare capacity and with that, they would really not be able to have such high prices over and above the crude oil price," Ervin told CTV.ca from Calgary.</div> <bR> <div> Emerging economies dependent on exporting goods to the U.S., such as India and China, would also feel the pinch, likely reducing crude demands and the amount of transport trucks on American highways.</div> <bR> <div> However, economists say any reprieve in gasoline prices would be short-lived as emerging economic powerhouses in the East are becoming increasingly dependant on crude products.</div> <bR> <div> "The Chinese and the Indians are moving from bicycles to cars and as well, oil consumption is rising very quickly in places like Russia where oil wealth has generated new spending power," Avery Shenfeld, managing director and senior economist with CIBC World Markets, told CTV.ca from Toronto.</div> <bR> <div> Shenfeld speculates a price drop in oil-based products would occur quickly as hyper-sensitive global markets respond to a major U.S. downturn. But, he cautions that prices would adjust and a crude surplus due to declining demand would be quickly soaked up.</div> <div> <B>- Ashleigh Patterson</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 BGCOLOR=#BBBBBB HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="707"><div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">EMPLOYMENT</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 140 WIDTH="540"><div> Canadian jobs could be threatened if U.S. companies cut back on business investment in 2008, says the chief of current economic analysis at Statistics Canada.</div> <bR> <div> "If firms are less optimistic about the future and start investing less then we might see a spillover (in Canada)," said Philip Cross.</div> <bR> <div> "If they stop buying Blackberrys, if they stop buying corporate jets from Bombardier, that would be the additional type of spillover that we would be likely to see."</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="c725a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 320 WIDTH="707"><div> That would be worrisome because it's those sectors that are keeping the overall manufacturing sector in Canada's economy from sinking, said Cross.</div> <bR> <div> However, he said the wider labour market likely won't be impacted if such a tipping point is reached.</div> <bR> <div> "The sectors that are vulnerable to U.S. demand aren't big employers in this country, they use a lot of imported parts so there aren't a lot of jobs and they tend to be very capital intensive," he said.</div> <bR> <div> In December, Canada's jobless rate held steady at 5.9 per cent but the nation's economy lost 19,000 jobs -- breaking a seven-month consecutive growth streak.</div> <bR> <div> However, Cross said Canadians shouldn't view the losses as a result of the problems in the U.S. In fact, it may have simply been bad weather in December since a big storm struck Eastern provinces the week Statistic Canada conducted its polling - preventing many from going to work.</div> <bR> <div> "There's a lot of reason to think that... the weakness we're seeing, particularly in work outdoors like construction and transportation, was weather-related," said Cross. "This wasn't a symptom of a weak U.S. economy."</div> <div> <B>- Philip Stavrou</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 BGCOLOR=#BBBBBB HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="707"><div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">POVERTY</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 140 WIDTH="540"><div> Even in times of economic prosperity, it is a dire situation for low-income Canadians. Already, one in 10 Canadians live in poverty.</div> <bR> <div> Skyrocketing house prices have resulted in a record number of people facing eviction notices in 2005 and 2006, said Michael Shapcott, Canadian social activist and director at the Wellesley Institute.</div> <bR> <div> The situation will only get worse once a recession kicks in, he added.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="c726a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 528 WIDTH="707"><div> "It's a clear sign people can't afford the high costs," Shapcott said.</div> <bR> <div> Indeed, a new report by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities warns affordable housing is beyond the reach of many living in the major cities.</div> <bR> <div> And the report's authors warn the situation is only deteriorating as house prices continue to surpass income growth and fewer rental units are constructed.</div> <bR> <div> A recession in Canada will be particularly scary for low-income residents because of the drastic changes to both the welfare system and unemployment insurance.</div> <bR> <div> During the last recession in the early 1990s, more people were eligible for that type of safety net than they would be today.</div> <bR> <div> The theory behind all the cuts is that people will be pushed back into the workforce instead of draining social services.</div> <bR> <div> But it's the type of jobs that are available during a recession that poses a problem.</div> <bR> <div> When the U.S. economy takes a hit, Canadian jobs in the manufacturing sector are the first to go.</div> <bR> <div> "Jobs in the manufacturing sector make good money - more money than jobs in the service sector which is typically what is available," Shapcott said. "That will drive the Canadian market down and that will escalate the problem even more."</div> <bR> <div> The results will be longer lineups at food banks, less room in shelters and less money in the labour force to kick start it back to health.</div> <bR> <div> "The combined effect of labour issues and market issues, many Canadians who are already suffering will suffer even more."</div> <div> <B>- Sandie Benitah</B></div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="18"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 365 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Former chess champion Bobby Fischer dead at 64</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Fri. Jan. 18  2008  07:54  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 18th, 2008</div> <div> <B>Reclusive chess legend Bobby Fischer has died at the age of 64 of an undisclosed illness, his spokesman has confirmed.</B></div> <bR> <div> U.S.-born Fischer, who renounced his American citizenship and moved to Iceland in 2005, died Thursday at a hospital in Reykjavik, said spokesman Gardar Sverrisson.</div> <bR> <div> At the age of 14, Fischer had already become a U.S. Open chess champion and by 15 he was the youngest international grandmaster.</div> <bR> <div> In 1972, Fischer was propelled to international fame after his thrilling world championship win over the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky in Reykjavik.</div> <bR> <div> The victory in the classic Cold War showdown made Fischer America's first world chess champion in more than a century.</div> <bR> <div> However, Fischer quickly became known more for his idiosyncrasies than for his talent.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c718a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Bobby Fischer is seen in New York on April 28, 1962. (AP Photo / John Lent)</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c719a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Bobby Fischer, right, and Boris Spassky play their last game together in Reykjavik, Iceland on Aug. 31, 1972. (AP / J. Walter Green)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 435 WIDTH="707"><div> In 1975, Fischer forfeited his title to another Soviet, Anatoly Karpov, when he refused to play against him in Manila.</div> <bR> <div> In 1992, after years in recluse, Fischer agreed to play Spassky again in an exhibition rematch on the Yugoslav resort island of Sveti Stefan.</div> <bR> <div> Because of the location of the match, Fischer became a wanted man in the U.S. for violating sanctions imposed on the former Yugoslavia.</div> <bR> <div> He then disappeared until after the 9/11 attacks. In an interview with a Phillippine radio station, Fischer applauded the strikes and said he wanted to see the U.S. "wiped out," reports Reuters.</div> <bR> <div> In July 2004, Fischer was held in a Japanese detention centre after having been caught trying to leave the country using an invalid U.S. passport.</div> <bR> <div> Following his release in March 2005, Fischer unzipped his pants near the airport entrance and gestured as if he was going to urinate on the wall.</div> <bR> <div> The outspoken Fischer accused Japan and the U.S. of "kidnapping" him.</div> <bR> <div> Known for his anti-Semitic views, Fischer also said he was being hounded by the U.S because it was "Jew-controlled."</div> <bR> <div> Reached in France, Spassky told The Associated Press he was "very sorry" to hear of Fischer's death.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with files from The Associated Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="17"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 601 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Canada puts U.S. on torture watch list: CTV</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Jan. 17  2008  08:05  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 17th, 2008</div> <div> <B>Omar Khadr's lawyers say they can't understand why Canada is not doing more to help their client in light of new evidence that Ottawa has put the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on a watch list for torture.</B></div> <bR> <div> Khadr -- a Canadian citizen who was just 15-years-old when he was captured in Afghanistan more than five years ago and taken to Guantanamo -- has claimed that he has been tortured at the prison. Now, CTV News has obtained documents that put Guantanamo Bay on a torture watch list.</div> <bR> <div> Khadr, who was born in Toronto and captured in 2002 after a battle with U.S. forces in which an American soldier died, is accused of war crimes. But his U.S. military lawyer alleges the military court that is trying him violates U.S. and international law.</div> <bR> <div> Lawyer William Kuebler also believes the new documents obtained by CTV contradict Prime Minister Stephen Harper's assurances that Khadr is receiving fair treatment.</div> <bR> <div> "Omar has been there for five-and-a-half years, and at some point in the course of Omar Khadr's detention the Canadian government developed the suspicion he was being tortured and abused," William Kuebler told Canada AM.</div> <bR> <div> "And yet it has not acted to obtain his release from Guantanamo Bay and protect his rights, unlike every other Western country that has had its nationals detained in Guantanamo Bay."</div> <bR> <div> Kuebler maintains that the suspicions of torture undermine claims that he can get a fair trial from the military commission in Guantanamo Bay. They want him sent back to Canada to face justice here. But the government has said he's charged with serious crimes and they are waiting for the U.S. judicial process to play itself out.</div> <bR> <div> "Omar has certainly been abused, his rights have been violated under international law, and apparently the Canadian government has reason to believe that's true, and yet, they've acted not at all to assist him," Kuebler told CTV News.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c710a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A detainee is escorted by military police at Camp 4 of the maximum-security prison Camp Delta at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. (AP / Mark Wilson)</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c711a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Lt.-Cmdr. Bill Kuebler, Omar Khadr's U.S. lawyer, speaks with Canada AM from CTV studios in Washington on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c712a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Amir Attaran, law professor at the University of Ottawa, speaks with Canada AM from CTV studios in Ottawa on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 856 WIDTH="707"><div> Amir Attaran, a University of Ottawa law professor, said the new developments cast doubt on the government's position that Khadr -- the last Westerner remaining under detention in Guantanamo -- is being treated fairly.</div> <bR> <div> "Canada has just admitted we believe torture is possible in Guantanamo Bay," Attaran told Canada AM.</div> <bR> <div> "That clashes terribly with what Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said, that Mr. Khadr, who is in Guantanamo Bay and was a child at the time he was put there, is being given a (quote, unquote) appropriate judicial process. Torture is not an appropriate judicial process."</div> <bR> <div> He said torture is strictly prohibited by international law, and suggested that the Canadian government's refusal to demand Khadr's release from Guantanamo is purely political.</div> <bR> <div> "Out of a desire to appear tough on the war on terror, Mr. Harper has put this set of considerations out the window, and that's not appropriate, we have to obey the law," Attaran said.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Torture focus</B></div> <bR> <div> Canada's new focus on torture was ordered by the inquiry into Maher Arar's nightmare in Syria. U.S. authorities sent Arar -- a Canadian of Syrian ancestry -- to Syria after he made a brief stopover in New York in 2002. They wrongly accused him of having links to terrorism in large part because of information provided by the RCMP.</div> <bR> <div> Arar was sent to a Syrian prison where he was tortured for nearly a year. An inquiry into the Arar affair ordered a new focus on torture, and CTV News has learned that, as part of a "torture awareness workshop," diplomats are now being told where to watch for abuse.</div> <bR> <div> The goal of the workshop was to teach diplomats who visit Canadians in foreign jails how to tell if they've been tortured. It also listed countries and places with greater risks of torture. The list includes Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, and China. But surprisingly, it also included the United States, Guantanamo Bay, and Israel.</div> <bR> <div> It notes specific "U.S. interrogation techniques," which include "forced nudity, isolation, and sleep deprivation." The U.S. has repeatedly denied allegations by international groups that it tortures prisoners captured in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. However, U.S. officials have refused to comment on the Canadian list.</div> <bR> <div> But international observers say they are heartened by the specificity of the Canadian list. Alex Neve of Amnesty International says he is surprised that Canada would risk offending allies by naming countries that potentially torture prisoners.</div> <bR> <div> "These are countries where, sadly, the record is clear -- torture and ill treatment happens," said Neve.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Second thoughts</B></div> <bR> <div> But it appears that Ottawa may have had second thoughts about being so explicit. After the documents were released as evidence in a court case relating to Afghan detainees, the government tried to get them back. Sources say that Ottawa apparently wanted to black out sensitive parts that may anger allies.</div> <bR> <div> A war crimes trial has never been held against anyone under the age of 18. International observers have questioned Ottawa's decision not to help Khadr, who many believe is no different than child soldiers victimized in Africa.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with a report from CTV's Roger Smith in Ottawa </I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="16"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 183 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>RCMP promises more arrests in child porn case</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Jan. 16  2008  08:40  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 16th, 2008</div> <div> <B>Expect more arrests in Canada as part of a sweeping international investigation into child pornography, says an RCMP officer.</B></div> <bR> <div> "We have 98 unique email addresses, which we believe are 98 unique individuals, and we are investigating those," Supt. Earla-Kim McColl, who heads Canada's National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre, told Canada AM on Wednesday.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c708a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> RCMP Supt. Earla-Kim McColl speaks with Canada AM from CTV studios in Ottawa on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 666 WIDTH="707"><div> Nine Canadians have been arrested so far. In November, European officials announced 92 arrests in connection with Operation Koala, which began in Australia.</div> <bR> <div> Investigators there came across a child abuse video. "We were very fortunate. Within two weeks, we had identified the victims, and that led us to the videographer, who was providing professional-quality services," McColl said.</div> <bR> <div> That man is an Italian citizen. In February 2007, Canadian law enforcement became involved after 600 email messages out of 50,000 between the Italian and potential customers were identified as originating in this country. At least 2,500 suspects from 19 countries have been identified.</div> <bR> <div> Customers of the website, which was hosted in Ukraine, could buy lingerie for the children to model. For a fee, they could participate in making the videos.</div> <bR> <div> Some of the victims have been identified. Two sisters from Belgium, aged 9 and 11, were abused by their father for a fee. Twenty-one Ukrainian girls, aged nine to 16, have been identified by police.</div> <bR> <div> McColl said no Canadian victims have been identified.</div> <bR> <div> Those arrested in this country to date are located in B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, she said.</div> <bR> <div> A man who worked with youth in the Toronto area is also among those arrested. A 40-year-old Edmontonian was found to have a vast cache of other child pornography.</div> <bR> <div> McColl said Tuesday that the RCMP are investigating about a dozen other cases similar to Operation Koala.</div> <bR> <div> There have been much bigger rings. In, 2,000 Canadian customers were linked to a child pornography ring in Texas.</div> <bR> <div> Rosalind Prober of Beyond Borders, a child advocacy group, told Canada AM that pedophiles like to link up with one another, "and that the Internet has provided that linking tool."</div> <bR> <div> McColl said the images seen in Operation Koala aren't among the worst. But Prober said in general, child pornography is getting more explicit and depraved.</div> <bR> <div> "In this case, it was made to order," Prober said. "You had children on the telephone talking to people, ordering up what those children should do," she said.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with files from The Canadian Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="15"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 217 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Aboriginal population skyrockets: census</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Jan. 15  2008  08:56  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 15th, 2008</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>The aboriginal population in Canada has surpassed the one-million mark, growing nearly six times faster than the rest of Canada, according to</B> </FONT><U>2006 census data</U> << <A HREF="http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080115/d080115a.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/0801"><U><U><IMG SRC="f100b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></U></A> >><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > <B>released today.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> In total, 1,172,790 people reported aboriginal identity -- North American Indian (First Nations people), Métis or Inuit.</div> <bR> <div> Between 1996 and 2006, the aboriginal population increased by 45 per cent, nearly six times faster than the 8 per cent rate of growth for the non-aboriginal population.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c701a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> CTV graphic shows Canada's aboriginal population, according to numbers released by Statistics Canada on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 329 WIDTH="707"><div> In 1996 there were 799,010 aboriginal people registered by the census and in 2001 there were 976,305.</div> <bR> <div> Of the three aboriginal groups, the fastest population growth occurred among the Métis in the 2006 census.</div> <bR> <div> The Métis population almost doubled between 1996 and 2006, reaching an estimated 389,785 people.</div> <bR> <div> There was a 29 per cent increase in the First Nations population, which grew to 698,025 people. The Inuit population grew 26 per cent to 50,485.</div> <bR> <div> The report says several factors may account for the growth in the Aboriginal population including:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Demographic factors, such as high birth rates;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">More individuals are identifying themselves as aboriginal;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A reduction in the number of incompletely enumerated Indian reserves since 1996.</div> <bR> <div> Statistics Canada released the findings Tuesday in a report entitled, "Aboriginal Peoples in Canada in 2006: Inuit, Métis and First Nations, 2006 Census."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="14"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 569 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Students return to class in wake of N.B. tragedy</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Jan. 14  2008  08:04  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 14th, 2008</div> <div> <B>Students are returning to class Monday morning in the wake of a horrific crash that claimed the lives of seven members of a Bathurst, N.B. high school basketball team.</B></div> <bR> <div> Grief counsellors will be on hand at Bathurst high school to help students deal with the loss. Along with the seven members of the team, the coach's wife Elizabeth Lord, a 51-year-old music teacher, was also killed.</div> <bR> <div> "We're not really sure how today is going to unfold," Don McKay, the school's vice-principal, told Canada AM on Monday. "We will try to be as normal as we can."</div> <bR> <div> Mayor Stephen Brunet predicted it would "be a tough day all around."</div> <bR> <div> The crash occurred early Saturday when the van the team was travelling in smashed into a tractor trailer on an icy highway just south of Bathurst, N.B.</div> <bR> <div> While the coach has now been released from hospital, two other team members and the coach's daughter, who was travelling with the team, are still being treated in hospital for non life-threatening injuries.</div> <bR> <div> Codey Branch, Javier Acevedo, Nathan Cleland, Justin Cormier and Daniel Hains were all 17 years old. The other two students, Nickolas Quinn and Nicholas Kelly were 16 and 15 respectively.</div> <bR> <div> The accident has been blamed on a storm that created icy roads and dangerous driving conditions.</div> <bR> <div> "It's not just my loss today. It's the community's loss of a good young being," Dale Branch, Codey's father, told Canada AM on Monday.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c6f5a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The Bathurst, N.B. crash victims are seen in these undated handout photos. Left to right, top to bottom, Nicholas Kelly, Cody Branch, Nickolas Quinn, Javier Aceveolo, Daniel Haines, Justin Cormier, Nathan Cleland. (Elhatton Funeral Home / THE CANADIAN PRESS)</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c6f6a0c80.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Students from Bathurst High School place flowers at a makeshift basketball court on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2008 at the crash site where seven members of the basketball team died along with a teacher. (Andrew Vaughan / THE CANADIAN PRESS)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 211 WIDTH="540"><div> "He's with friends -- he's still with friends," Dale said of his son, "and that's what keeps a lot of people strong."</div> <bR> <div> <B>Support appreciated</B></div> <bR> <div> Dale Branch said community support -- and from across Canada -- has been a great help to him and other members of this family. He was also touched by the Toronto Raptors holding a moment of silence before Sunday's NBA basketball game to honour the dead players.</div> <bR> <div> The group was only minutes from the end of its 220-kilometre journey following a game Friday evening in Moncton. The players' parents were waiting for them in the parking lot of a McDonald's restaurant.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c6f7a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A sign outside a youth centre in Bathurst, N.B. reflects the sorrow that embraces the community on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008. (Andrew Vaughan / THE CANADIAN PRESS)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 600 WIDTH="707"><div> Two other members of the team were sick, and weren't travelling with their teammates when the crash took place.</div> <bR> <div> "They were the greatest group of guys anybody could ever hope to play with," said team captain Jordan Frenette, one of those who didn't make the trip.</div> <bR> <div> "A lot of people nailed it on the head when they said we played really well together because we were more of a family than a basketball team."</div> <bR> <div> With only about 13,000 residents, almost everyone in Bathurst has some connection to those who were killed.</div> <bR> <div> Brunet said the first day "just went by in a blur. You're just in shock all day."</div> <bR> <div> While everyone in the community has come together, support has come from those who have left Bathurst, he said.</div> <bR> <div> "The other day, when grief counselling was set up, boxes and boxes of pizza showed up. A Bathurst High schooler from Calgary sent them. He just called up and ordered what was needed."</div> <bR> <div> In Bathurst, memorials sprung up around town, including one at the crash scene which had a steady queue of vehicles lined up to pay respects and observe the tribute, CTV's Jed Kahane said.</div> <bR> <div> "Some of the friends decided that these athletes died doing one of the things they love most, playing basketball, so one of the fathers arranged to have two portable basketball nets brought out to the crash sites."</div> <bR> <div> The nets were set up and the baskets filled with flowers and farewell notes from well-wishers.</div> <bR> <div> An arena in Bathurst has been reserved for the players' funeral, scheduled for Wednesday. The ice will be covered over to allow more seating to accommodate the large crowd expected to come out.</div> <bR> <div> "We're concerned about whether we can hold everybody who wants to be there," Brunet said.</div> <bR> <div> Some private wakes will be held on Tuesday.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="13"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 196 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Former suspect in Aruba mystery tosses wine on TV</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Jan. 13  2008  07:45  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 13th, 2008</div> <div> <B>AMSTERDAM -- A former suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway threw wine in the face of a crime reporter after they appeared together on a Dutch television program.</B></div> <bR> <div> Joran van der Sloot appeared on the late-night talk show Friday in what was billed as his last television interview about the case. Prosecutors in Aruba, where Holloway disappeared, have said they don't have enough evidence to charge him with a crime, although he remains a "person of interest" in what is now a cold case.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c6f4a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Joran van der Sloot poses in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in this April 24, 2007, photo, made available Thursday, Nov. 22, 2007. (AP / GPD /Phil Nijhuis)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 704 WIDTH="707"><div> Van der Sloot, who denies any wrongdoing, appeared relaxed throughout the TV appearance, despite remarks from crime reporter Peter R. De Vries challenging his honesty.</div> <bR> <div> At the end of the Pauw & Witteman program Van der Sloot and De Vries had a testy exchange about whether De Vries would apologize if evidence exonerating Van der Sloot came to light.</div> <bR> <div> The live show ended, but NOS radio news reported Saturday that moments later, Van der Sloot threw a glass of wine in De Vries' face.</div> <bR> <div> Photos taken by members of the studio audience and circulating on Dutch Web sites show Van Der Sloot throwing the wine.</div> <bR> <div> Footage of the wine being tossed has not been broadcast on Dutch television. De Vries, Van der Sloot's Dutch lawyer and the show's producers could not immediately be reached for comment.</div> <bR> <div> "This says something about Joran, of course," De Vries said in an interview with NOS radio broadcast Saturday.</div> <bR> <div> "He doesn't have complete control over his behavior."</div> <bR> <div> Show host Paul Witteman said Joran's action was "incomprehensible and incredibly stupid" because it undermines his credibility.</div> <bR> <div> Holloway went missing on May 30, 2005, hours before she was to return home to Mountain Brook, Ala. She was on the final night of her school graduation trip to the island.</div> <bR> <div> Van der Sloot and two other former suspects, brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe, were seen leaving a bar with Holloway on the night of her disappearance.</div> <bR> <div> They were questioned early in the investigation and again late last year before being released. All three deny involvement in Holloway's disappearance.</div> <bR> <div> Prosecutors now say they cannot prove a crime was committed without a body, but that they believe Holloway is dead.</div> <bR> <div> Extensive searches of the island turned up no trace of Holloway, who was 18 at the time of her disappearance.</div> <bR> <div> Authorities in Aruba say the case against the three could be reopened if additional evidence surfaces. But if they were to go to trial now with virtually no hope of guilty verdicts, they would lose the opportunity to try them later if strong evidence emerges.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with files from The Associated Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="12"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 200 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>N.B. community in shock after eight die in crash</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Jan. 12  2008  13:53  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 12th, 2008</div> <div> <B>The tight-knit community of Bathurst, N.B., is reeling in the wake of a tragic overnight accident that killed seven teenage boys and a local teacher.</B></div> <bR> <div> Seven boys from the Bathurst High School basketball team and one adult woman were killed around midnight when their passenger van collided with a transport truck near Bathurst.</div> <bR> <div> RCMP says the teammates were between the ages of 15 and 18 years old and were returning from a game in Moncton whent he crash occured.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c6f1a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Seven teammates from a high school basketball team and one adult were killed overnight after colliding with a transport truck near Bathurst, N.B.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 666 WIDTH="707"><div> Emily Cleland, the sister of one of the young victims, told CTV Newsnet on Saturday that she not only lost her brother, but her best friend.</div> <bR> <div> "He was an amazing person. He was my best friend my whole life. He's my younger brother but he always acted like my older brother. He was very protective," she said.</div> <bR> <div> "He was one of those strong, silent types. Whenever he said something, it was something meaningful and every time he spoke, people wanted to listen. He was so charismatic."</div> <bR> <div> The picturesque Acadian community, located in northern New Brunswick, is home to about 12,000 people.</div> <bR> <div> Cleland said Bathurst is the type of town where everyone knows everyone else, leaving no resident untouched by Saturday's tragedy.</div> <bR> <div> "I've known all those boys for most of my life. It's a small town. If you're friends with someone then you've know them since you were four, so we all know each other really well. It's really devastating to this community," she said.</div> <bR> <div> Three students and the team's coach, who is also a teacher at the local high school, survived the crash and were brought to the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst with non-life threatening injuries. Police say the driver of the transport truck was not injured in the crash.</div> <bR> <div> One survivor has been released, another remains in intensive care and two other victims are in stable condition.</div> <bR> <div> The names of the victims and the truck driver have not been released.</div> <bR> <div> The RCMP says road conditions in the area were hazardous overnight as snow, rain and freezing rain fell in the area on Friday.</div> <bR> <div> Sophie Boudreau, a classmate and friend of the boys, told CTV Newsnet that "Bathurst has lost the most amazing people in the world."</div> <bR> <div> "These guys, there aren't even words to describe how nice and big-hearted they were," she said.</div> <bR> <div> Education officials have set up a temporary support centre in the Bathurst High School gymnasium with grief counsellors on hand for students and parents.</div> <bR> <div> Yvon Godin, MP for the Acadie-Bathurst region, said that the school will be open all weekend for people needing support.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 592 WIDTH="707"><div> "I have talked to some of the teacher who had three or four kids in their class and it's not going to be easy, but I think time will help," he told CTV Newsnet on Saturday.</div> <bR> <div> Godin, who spoke twice a year at the school, said the students there are "very good" kids.</div> <bR> <div> "Sometimes they raised questions for me that were harder than the ones you get in Parliament. They're so intelligent and they're good people," he said.</div> <bR> <div> No formal funeral arrangements have been made; however, Cleland said her family hopes to hold a mass memorial service at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre.</div> <bR> <div> "That way everyone can come out and grieve and show their support. It'll be a lot easier that way I think with that many more people," she said.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Boys remembered online</B></div> <bR> <div> A Facebook group "For the Boys in Red" was created early Saturday morning. The group had more than 280 members within hours of creation, with fellow students posting condolence messages.</div> <bR> <div> "This should have never happened. I kept thinking that this is all just a really bad dream and that I'm going to wake up from it any minute! But I'm not waking up," one student posted on the social networking website.</div> <bR> <div> "Our school has lost some of the most amazing guys in the world no one will ever be able to replace them. We shall never forget about them."</div> <bR> <div> Other classmates wished those in hospital a quick recovery, while fellow basketball players tried to make sense of the incident.</div> <bR> <div> "I didn't go to bhs but I knew a bunch of these guys playing balll against them through the years.. I was told about the accident this morning. I still can't believe this... it just doesn't make sense.. how could it happen.. I'm prettty much in shock and i can't imagine how the families and everyone involved feels.. aw man.. this is a sad day...," one friend wrote.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="11"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 204 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>PM to call limited Mulroney-Schreiber probe</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Jan. 10  2008  22:12  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 11th, 2008</div> <div> <B>OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to establish a limited public inquiry into the Mulroney-Schreiber saga after receiving a report from an independent third party, CTV News has learned.</B></div> <bR> <div> Sources say independent adviser David Johnston recommended to the prime minister that the government set up a narrow inquiry into Brian Mulroney's business dealings with former arms dealer Karlheinz Schreiber.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c6e3a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Former prime minister Brian Mulroney, left, and Karlheinz Schreiber are seen in this combined image.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 501 WIDTH="707"><div> He proposed the inquiry focus on whether Mulroney acted improperly in 1993 when he accepted cash payments from Schreiber to lobby on his behalf to promote a German-built military vehicle.</div> <bR> <div> Johnson rejected a full-scale inquiry that would re-examine allegations of possible kickbacks in the 1988 sale of Airbus jets to Air Canada, arguing the matter has already been thoroughly investigated by the RCMP.</div> <bR> <div> However sources, with the knowledge of the independent adviser's report, said the University of Waterloo president was not as clear cut as he could have been in his recommendations for a public inquiry.</div> <bR> <div> For example, Johnston proposed the public inquiry need not be established until after the Commons Ethics committee completes its investigation into the Mulroney-Schreiber affair.</div> <bR> <div> Johnston also left open the door for the prime minister to avoid setting up a public inquiry if he is satisfied with the work of the Commons committee, according to sources.</div> <bR> <div> But a senior insider said Harper has no choice but to immediately set up a public inquiry, otherwise the "opposition will scratch out our eyes."</div> <bR> <div> Johnston handed in his report to Harper on Wednesday and the prime minister indicated it would be released within days.</div> <bR> <div> "I have not had an opportunity to read it. I anticipate doing that very quickly and as I indicated all along we will respond along the lines Prof. Johnston has recommended," Harper told reporters in New Brunswick.</div> <bR> <div> "That was the purpose of establishing the independent adviser and I would anticipate we will release and give our response no later than Monday."</div> <bR> <div> Insiders say Johnston proposed the mandate of the public inquiry should focus on what transpired after a June 23, 1993 meeting between Schreiber and Mulroney at the prime minister's official summer residence at Harrington Lake, Que.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 376 WIDTH="707"><div> The meeting was held two days before Mulroney stepped down as prime minister.</div> <bR> <div> Schreiber claims Mulroney agreed at the Harrington Lake meeting to help lobby the Kim Campbell government to support Schreiber's plan to set up a light-armored vehicle plant in Cape Breton.</div> <bR> <div> Schreiber claims he later gave Mulroney $300,000 in cash payments for his lobbying activities, including $100,000 in August, 1993 when Mulroney was still a Member of Parliament. He alleges Mulroney did not do any work for the money.</div> <bR> <div> Mulroney has testified he was only paid $225,000 in cash and maintains he did legitimate work for Schreiber, including lobbying world leaders to buy the armored vehicles for UN peacekeeping missions.</div> <bR> <div> Mulroney has admitted he did not pay tax on the $225,000 until 1999 when he learned Schreiber had been charged in Germany for bribery, fraud, forgery and tax evasion. The former prime minister has apologized for accepting cash payments, saying it was a "serious error in judgment."</div> <bR> <div> Based on previous public inquiries, the Mulroney-Schreiber probe could cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.</div> <bR> <div> The opposition parties have said Johnston's mandate as a special advisor did not give him the option of rejecting a public inquiry.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with files from Robert Fife, CTV Ottawa Bureau Chief</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="10"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 217 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Report criticizes oilsands companies on environment</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Jan. 10  2008  09:16  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 10th, 2008</div> <div> <B>Nine out of 10 oilsands producers in Alberta got a failing grade in a new study that compared the environmental records of the different companies.</B></div> <bR> <div> The <U>study by the Pembina Institute</U> and World Wildlife Fund looked at the 10 largest producers and compared them against the best performer in each of 20 categories, making it a true "apples to apples" report, said Dan Woynillowicz, of the Pembina Institute.</div> <bR> <div> The 20 questions the companies were asked touched on issues such as environmental management, land, air emissions, water and climate change.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c6d9a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A heavy hauler pulls away from a hydraulic shovel at the Muskeg River mine site approximately 75km north of Fort McMurray. (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 816 WIDTH="707"><div> The results suggested that no one company excelled in all areas, and even the top performers had little to brag about -- suggesting there is great room for improvement.</div> <bR> <div> "Albion Sands was the best performer overall but there was no one company that was at the top of the class on each of those indicators," Woynillowicz told CTV's Canada AM.</div> <bR> <div> "For example, Albian Sands performed very well on greenhouse gas pollution but dismally on water use so we've got some companies that are doing well on some things but poorly on others."</div> <bR> <div> The collected data was adjusted to be comparable and only mining operations were considered in the study. The companies examined in the study were given the chance to comment on the data last June and again in September.</div> <bR> <div> Their answers were scored and the results were measured as a percentage of a possible maximum.</div> <bR> <div> Albian's Muskeg mine scored the highest overall with just 56 per cent, while Syncrude and Syneco ranked last, with only 18 per cent.</div> <bR> <div> Here are the 10 companies probed in the report, listed in the order they were ranked:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Albian Sands Muskeg</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Total E&P</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Petro-Canada Oil Sands</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Shell Canada</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Imperial Oil</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Suncor</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Albian Sands Muskeg expansion</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Syncrude</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Syneco</div> <bR> <div> <B>Environmental toll</B></div> <bR> <div> Woynillowicz said the results show that Alberta's oilsands are growing so rapidly, and taking such a toll on the environment, that there must be better compulsory standards and regulation on the industry.</div> <bR> <div> For example, he said, the amount of water used in the oilsands on a daily basis is twice the amount used by the Municipality of Calgary each day. Further, unlike the water used by Calgary, it becomes so badly polluted during use that it cannot be released back into the environment.</div> <bR> <div> The amount of energy used on a daily basis is also staggering, Woynillowicz said.</div> <bR> <div> "The natural gas consumption on a daily basis is equivalent to heating three million homes a day, so a huge amount of energy, and that translates into a lot of greenhouse gas pollution."</div> <bR> <div> The 10 operating and proposed companies were asked if they had third-party verification of their environmental management strategies or if they had plans to reduce their water use and air emissions.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 379 WIDTH="707"><div> Albian Sands and Imperial did use a third party, but none of the companies had water or air emissions reduction targets. </div> <div> The worst results were in the areas of water use and climate.</div> <bR> <div> On the five water-related questions, no company scored better than 50 per cent. On questions about plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, only three of the companies scored any marks at all. Of the three, Albian's existing Meskeg mine got the highest ranking with a score of 66 per cent.</div> <bR> <div> The discrepancy in the scores in different areas suggests the government must step in and take a greater regulatory role in what is the "world's largest industrial project" and one that comes "at a very high environmental cost," Woynillowicz said.</div> <bR> <div> Rob Powell, one of the report's authors, agreed. He told The Canadian Press the companies are getting away with too much.</div> <bR> <div> "We're not getting the kind of regulatory oversight that's required to achieve a reasonable standard of environmental performance," Powell said.</div> <bR> <div> "Why are they not insisting that these companies perform to the best available current standard?''</div> <bR> <div> Powell also pointed out that Albian's proposed expansion to its Muskeg mine ranks far lower than its existing project, scoring only 26 per cent.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="09"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 365 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Ex-crystal meth addict successfully sues dealer</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Jan. 09  2008  09:12  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 9th, 2008</div> <div> <B>A Saskatchewan woman who overdosed on crystal methamphetamine has successfully won a precedent-setting civil lawsuit against the drug dealer who sold her the highly addictive drug.</B></div> <bR> <div> Sandra Bergen, 23, and her family launched a lawsuit against Clinton Davey in 2005 after she suffered a heart attack in Biggar, Sask. that left her in a coma for 11 days.</div> <bR> <div> She has since developed a heart condition that leaves her constantly fatigued and limits her chances of ever having children.</div> <bR> <div> In her statement of claim, Bergen said Davey knew the drug was highly addictive and the sale of the drug was "for the purpose of making money but was also for the purpose of intentionally inflicting physical and mental suffering on Sandra."</div> <bR> <div> Bergen, who says she has been drug-free since the incident, told Canada AM on Wednesday that a lack of action within the criminal justice system left her and her family frustrated.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c6cea0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Sandy Bergen is seen hospitalized after she claims a former dealer offered her the drug crystal meth.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c6cfa0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Sandy Bergen speaks with CTV's Canada AM regarding her former battle with drugs and their dealers on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 741 WIDTH="707"><div> "We found a different way to hold him responsible through the civil justice system," she said from Saskatoon.</div> <bR> <div> Bergen is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 for medical costs and legal fees. A hearing to determine how much she will be awarded in damages is scheduled for a later date.</div> <bR> <div> Bergen said she doesn't expect to gain much financially from winning the suit, but hopes the case will inspire others to sue drug dealers who profit from addicts.</div> <bR> <div> "It's bigger than me and it's bigger than this guy," she said. "I think it's a different way to hit drug dealers financially and that's where it will really hurt them."</div> <bR> <div> Bergen, who now uses her story to educate others about the dangers of drug use, said she is often judged unfairly by people who "don't know the circumstances."</div> <bR> <div> In Davy's statement of defence, he claims Bergen "did assume the risk to her person when she voluntarily ingested the illegal drugs."</div> <bR> <div> Bergen maintains she has taken responsibility for her poor choices by getting sober.</div> <bR> <div> "I think that's taking responsibility for my actions, I don't think I need to take responsibility for both of our actions. He should have to meet me half way and that's what this lawsuit was about," Bergen said.</div> <bR> <div> An unknown drug supplier, referred to as John Doe, was also named in the suit. Davey refused to name his alleged supplier during court proceedings, prompting a judge to strike his claim of defence.</div> <bR> <div> Without a claim of defence, Davey effectively admitted his liability in the case leaving Bergen's suit unopposed.</div> <bR> <div> A drug addict since the age of 18, Bergen's overdose occurred in 2004.</div> <bR> <div> Feelings anxious about her testimony in an upcoming sexual assault trial, one in which she was the victim, Bergen smoked crystal meth with Davey at his grandmother's house. She began to experience symptoms of a heart attack shortly after.</div> <bR> <div> Statistics Canada estimates crystal meth offences increased by eight per cent last year. The drug already has a firm grip on the Prairies, where pharmacies have limited the sale of cold remedies that contain its key ingredient -- pseudoephedrine.</div> <bR> <div> Crystal meth is a relatively cheap drug to make, which has prompted hundreds of illegal, and potentially volatile, drug labs to pop up across the country.</div> <bR> <div> Police estimate an investment of $150 can produce up to $10,000 of the highly-addictive drug.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="08"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 210 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Teen stops assassination attempt on Maldives leader</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Jan. 08  2008  07:32  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 8th, 2008</div> <div> <B>COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- The Maldives president, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, survived an assassination attempt Tuesday when a boy scout grabbed the knife of an attacker who jumped out of a crowd of people greeting the president, a government spokesman said.</B></div> <bR> <div> "This fellow in the crowd with a knife in his hand attempted to stab the president in his stomach," Mohammad Shareef told The Associated Press by telephone. "But a 15-year-old boy came in the way and grabbed the knife. One brave boy saved the president's life."</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c6c7a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Maldives' President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom arrives to attend the UN climate conference in Nusa Dua on Bali island, Indonesia on Dec. 12, 2007.  (AP / Dita Alangkara)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 629 WIDTH="707"><div> He said Gayoom was unhurt but that there was a small cut on his shirt as the attacker, during a struggle with the boy, tried to take a second attempt. The attacker was overpowered by security men as well.</div> <bR> <div> "There was blood on the president's shirt but it was not his but the boy's. Still we got a physician to examine him," Shareef said.</div> <bR> <div> Gayoom, 70, has ruled this Indian Ocean atoll of 1,190 coral islands since 1978 and helped turn it into a major destination for tourists seeking a quiet vacation on virgin beaches surrounded by crystal blue waters. But he has also faced opposition protests to his previously unchallenged rule in recent years.</div> <bR> <div> Shareef said the attacker is a resident of Hoarafushi islet where Gayoom was visiting.</div> <bR> <div> "We believe that there could be a political motive," Shareef said, but stopped short of naming suspects.</div> <bR> <div> The teen boy scout, whose name was given only as Jaisham, who had lined up to welcome Gayoom, was flown in to capital, Male, for treatment, Shareef said.</div> <bR> <div> "His wound was stitched but later he complained that he could not move some of his fingers so he was flown by a sea plane to Male," he said.</div> <bR> <div> After the attack, Gayoom addressed the nation in a radio broadcast, thanking the teenager and calling for calm, according to the website of the Minivan newspaper.</div> <bR> <div> "We should not resort to violence even if we have differences between the parties," Gayoom was quoted as saying.</div> <bR> <div> The country has had its share of turmoil in recent months.</div> <bR> <div> On Sept. 29, a homemade bomb blamed on Islamic militants exploded in a park in the capital, Male, wounding 12 tourists. A week later, police and soldiers raided an island that was a reputed insurgent stronghold, sparking a battle with masked men armed with clubs and fishing spears that wounded more than 30 security officers.</div> <bR> <div> Under pressure, Gayoom has legalized opposition parties and agreed to hold the nation's first truly democratic election later this year.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with files from The Associated Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="07"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 208 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Military names soldiers killed in Afghan accident</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Jan. 07  2008  09:00  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 7th, 2008</div> <div> <B>Two Canadian soldiers died Sunday after their armoured vehicle rolled over in rough terrain near Kandahar City.</B></div> <bR> <div> Military officials said the incident was "unrelated to enemy fire."</div> <bR> <div> The two dead soldiers are Cpl. Eric Labbe, 31, of the Royal 22nd Regiment, born in Rimouski, Que.; and 41-year-old Warrant Officer Hani Massouh, also of the Royal 22nd Regiment, born in Alexandria, Egypt.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c6bea0760.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="118" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Cpl. Eric Labbe, left, and Warrant Officer Hani Massoun, of the Royal 22nd Regiment are seen in this combination of images made available by the Department of National Defence.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 554 WIDTH="707"><div> "We're saddened by this tragic loss. They will be missed and we will honour their sacrifice to the service of Canada and their contribution to bring peace to the people of Afghanistan," Brig.-Gen Guy Laroche told reporters in Afghanistan.</div> <bR> <div> "On behalf of all the members of Joint Task Force Afghanistan, I would like to convey my most sincere sympathies to the families of our lost comrades."</div> <bR> <div> Prime Minister Stephen Harper also extended his condolences and thanks.</div> <bR> <div> "The loss of these two dedicated Canadians, whose hard work contributed to bring peace and stability to this war-torn country, will not be forgotten. They deserve the gratitude of all Canadians for their commitment and the work they performed on our behalf," he said in a statement.</div> <bR> <div> CTV's Murray Oliver, reporting from Kandahar Airfield Monday morning, said the accident happened at about 6:30 p.m. local time, about 40 kilometres southwest of the city in the Zhari district.</div> <bR> <div> Both soldiers were travelling inside the turret of a LAV III as it journeyed along a dirt track made slippery by rain. They died on the scene.</div> <bR> <div> Two other soldiers inside the vehicle were unhurt in the accident. They were driving to an area where they hoped to set up camp for the night.</div> <bR> <div> Oliver told CTV's Canada AM that the eight-wheeled, 20-ton vehicles have a "checkered history" and are known to become unstable when road conditions are rough or when encountering steep surfaces.</div> <bR> <div> "It's had around a dozen rollovers in the time that the Canadian Forces have been using it. Here in Afghanistan, there have been three previous deaths from rollovers that have been attributed to the LAV III," he said from Kandahar Airfield.</div> <bR> <div> Oliver said reporters questioned Laroche about whether troops should still be using the LAV III.</div> <bR> <div> "We put this question to Guy Laroche, he's the commander of Canadian forces here, and he said he has complete confidence in the vehicle, that it is solid and reliable and has a lot of armour and firepower for the work it has to do."</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 451 WIDTH="707"><div> Laroche said Monday that an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.</div> <bR> <div> The soldiers were part of operation Teng Azem, or "Steadfast Decision," an operation aimed at flushing out insurgents around the nearby community of Nalgham.</div> <bR> <div> The operation has been underway since Friday and will likely continue, Oliver reported.</div> <bR> <div> The deaths come one week after a roadside bomb blast claimed the life of Gunner Jonathan Dion, 27, as he travelled to Kandahar Airfield for New Year's Eve.</div> <bR> <div> He was a member of the 5th Regiment d'Artillerie legere du Canada, which is based in Valcartier, Que.</div> <bR> <div> Canada has 2,500 soldiers operating in southern Afghanistan as part of the NATO mission. Since 2002, 76 military personnel and one diplomat have died in the country.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Other violence</B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A suicide bomber attacked a group of Afghan border police officers near Spin Boldak in Kandahar province, killing one and seriously wounding four others;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Two police officers and two civilians died in Helmand province died when the police attempted to disarm a remote-controlled roadside bomb;</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Three Taliban militants were reported killed Sunday in clashes with Afghan and NATO troops in Kandahar province's Zhari district; and</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Two civilians died and five others were wounded Friday during fighting between NATO troops and the Taliban.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with files from The Associated Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="06"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 147 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>B.C. snowboarders have to pay tab for rescue</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Jan. 06  2008  05:51  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 6th, 2008</div> <div> <B>A father and son who had to be rescued after snowboarding out of bounds at a North Vancouver resort last month have been told to cover the expenses.</B></div> <bR> <div> North Shore Search and Rescue sent a six-person team into a "high risk situation" on Dec. 29 to retrieve the two.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="c6b9a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 439 WIDTH="707"><div> The two got stuck in a gully where the avalanche risk was high, making things dangerous for their rescuers, who had to get the two up a collapsing vertical slope.</div> <bR> <div> Chris Dagenais, a Grouse Mountain resort spokesman, said every year people have to be rescued while skiing in an out-of-bounds area and that hopefully sending a bill would add another deterrent.</div> <bR> <div> The exact amount of the invoice wasn't disclosed, but Dagenais said it would be enough cover the cost of the rescue.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Skier may be buried in avalanche</B></div> <bR> <div> On Sunday, rescue workers in B.C. were searching for a skier believed to have been buried in an avalanche.</div> <bR> <div> Two skiers escaped the avalanche at the Big White ski resort in Kelowna earlier this morning.</div> <bR> <div> Unconfirmed reports say a third skier may have been buried in the snow.</div> <bR> <div> Michael Ballingall, the resort's senior vice president, said that 37 people were involved in the search and rescue operation, as well as two avalanche rescue dogs and two helicopters.</div> <bR> <div> He told CTV Newsnet that the resort had a lot of snowfall in the last two weeks but little sun.</div> <bR> <div> Warn weather on Sunday loosened the snow and may have led to the avalanche, he said.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="05"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 126 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Clinton: Barack Obama has changed positions</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Jan. 05  2008  23:24  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 5th, 2008</div> <div> <B>MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democratic presidential front-runner no longer, accused campaign rival Barack Obama of changing his positions on health care and "a number of issues" Saturday night in a debate three days before the New Hampshire primary.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="c6baa0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 542 WIDTH="707"><div> "I have been entirely consistent in my position," countered Obama, adding that he and Clinton have a philosophical disagreement over her proposal to require Americans to purchase health insurance or face a penalty from the government.</div> <bR> <div> Obama won the kickoff Iowa caucuses last Thursday, and his remaining rivals -- Clinton, former Sen. John Edwards and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson -- can ill afford for him to gain a victory in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary as well.</div> <bR> <div> "You said you would vote against the Patriot Act. You came to Senate, you voted for it. You said you would vote against the Iraq war, you came to the Senate and voted for" funding, she said.</div> <bR> <div> "I think we should get into examining everybody's record," she said.</div> <bR> <div> Obama's candidacy has soared on his pledge to bring change to Washington, and Clinton sought to blunt his advantage while sticking to her own campaign-long theme. "I have 35 years of experience making change," she said.</div> <bR> <div> Edwards, second-place finisher in Iowa, worked throughout the debate to align himself with Obama as an advocate for change in Washington, and described Clinton as a defender of the status quo. "Every time he speaks out for change, every time I fight for change, the forces of status quo are going to attack," Edwards said.</div> <bR> <div> "I didn't hear these kind of attacks from Sen. Clinton when she was ahead," he said. "Now that she's not we hear them."</div> <bR> <div> There were a few moments of humor.</div> <bR> <div> "I've been in hostage negotiations that are a lot more civil than this," Richardson, a one-time diplomat, said at one point.</div> <bR> <div> Asked what she could say to voters who don't find her likable enough, and seem to like Obama more, Clinton drew laughter. "Well, that hurts my feelings. ... But I'll try to go on."</div> <bR> <div> She said she agreed that Obama was likable, then added, "I don't think I'm that bad."</div> <bR> <div> That drew a wry response from Obama, who said, "You're likable enough, Hillary."</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 513 WIDTH="707"><div> The debate unfolded as a new poll showed a close race between Clinton, the one-time national front-runner, and Obama. Her aides debated privately how forcefully to attack her rival, and the campaign distributed a mass mailing that criticizes him for voting present on legislation while he served in the Illinois Legislature, rather than in favor of measures backed by abortion rights groups.</div> <bR> <div> With the first primary only three days away, the former first lady had little time to made the case she hoped would knock Obama off stride.</div> <bR> <div> Challenged on health care, Obama acknowledged that he has said if he were designing a system from scratch, he would set up a single-payer system that would give coverage to all. He said that is impractical, given the current system in which so many people receive their insurance from employers.</div> <bR> <div> Obama's health care plan relies on government financial incentives and cost-cutting to help the uninsured afford coverage. But unlike Clinton and Edwards, he does not require adults to buy coverage or pay a penalty if they fail.</div> <bR> <div> "I disagree with that because as I go around, I don't meet people who avoid getting health care. The problem is they can't afford it," he said.</div> <bR> <div> The opening moments of the debate produced agreement on Obama's summertime statement, controversial at the time, that he would take action against terrorist leader Osama bin Laden if he had actionable intelligence that he was hiding in Pakistan and the government there did not act.</div> <bR> <div> "As much as possible," the United States should seek agreement from Pakistanis, Obama added.</div> <bR> <div> Edwards agreed. "If I as president of the United States know where Osama bin Laden is I would go get him," the 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee said.</div> <bR> <div> Likewise, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said that if diplomacy failed and the Pakistani government was incapable of moving against the terrorist leader, "then you do take that action."</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 335 WIDTH="707"><div> Clinton agreed, saying, "At some point, probably when the missiles have been launched, the Pakistani government has to know they are on the way." She said that was important to make sure Pakistan didn't jump to the conclusion that it was under attack from India, its longtime rival in southwest Asia.</div> <bR> <div> During campaigning Saturday, a noticeably more freewheeling Clinton subtly likened Obama to Democratic nemesis President Bush while Edwards mocked the idea of a nice candidate bringing change.</div> <bR> <div> Edwards hinted he would welcome a second-place finish to Obama, which advisers said they hoped would turn the contest into a two-man race and take Clinton out of the game. Edwards narrowly edged Clinton for second place in Iowa, which he couched as an upset that he would be happy to replicate here.</div> <bR> <div> What happened Thursday in the Iowa caucus "is going to happen here in New Hampshire," Edwards told an overflow crowd at Lebanon High School auditorium. Even though he effectively acknowledged he wouldn't win the state, he was relaxed and playful, shucking his suit jacket after the speech and shooting hoops with his shirt tail hanging out while the crowd applauded.</div> <bR> <div> The debate was sponsored by ABC News and Facebook.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with files from The Associated Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="04"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 196 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Spears taken in ambulance after custody dispute</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Fri. Jan. 04  2008  08:33  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 4th, 2008</div> <div> <B>An intoxicated Britney Spears was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital by ambulance after police spent nearly three hours trying to mediate a custody dispute involving her two young sons.</B></div> <bR> <div> Footage of the incident shows a conscious and smiling pop princess being taken out of her Beverly Hills home on a gurney late Thursday evening. Hordes of photographers and celebrity reporters lined the street leading into her gated community throughout the ordeal.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c6aea0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Britney Spears is carried on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance from her home in Beverly Hills, Calif., late Thursday night Jan. 3, 2008. (AP / KCBS-TV)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 447 WIDTH="707"><div> Police were called to the pop star's home at 8 p.m. on Thursday following a custody dispute over Spears' two young children Sean Preston, 2, and one-year-old Jayden James.</div> <bR> <div> By about 10:30 p.m., there were six police cars, two ambulances and a fire truck in the gated-community where Spears' house is located.</div> <bR> <div> The 26-year-old turned over her two boys to ex-husband Kevin Federline at 10:50 p.m., confirmed officer Jason Lee, reports The Associated Press.</div> <bR> <div> Lee said Spears was under the influence of an unknown substance at the time, but declined to provide further details. No injuries were reported.</div> <bR> <div> Following the dispute, Spears was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center by police escort for tests to determine if she was under the influence of drugs and alcohol and for a psychological evaluation, CNN reports.</div> <bR> <div> Doctors at the hospital will decide whether to invoke a state medical law that allows a patient to be held for a total of 72 hours in order to conduct a psychological evaluation, a police spokesperson told CNN.</div> <bR> <div> Celebrity website TMZ.com reports Spears' youngest son was also hospitalized. Her father Jaime and Federline were seen entering Cedars-Sinai, the website reports.</div> <bR> <div> Federline, who married Spears in October 2004, was awarded temporary custody of their children after Spears defied court orders. The pop princess has limited visitation rights.</div> <bR> <div> Spears, a tabloid favourite for her increasingly bizarre antics, has been involved in a drawn out and very public custody battle.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 269 WIDTH="707"><div> On Thursday, Spears appeared in court for a 14-minute deposition in her custody dispute, attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told reporters.</div> <bR> <div> "The deposition proceeding did go forward today. It was scheduled for 9:45 to 11:45,'' Kaplan said Thursday. "However, it wasn't able to commence until 11:32.''</div> <bR> <div> "You can imagine in 14 minutes there's not a lot of time to develop questions,'' he said.</div> <bR> <div> Kaplan said another deposition will be scheduled for a later date.</div> <bR> <div> Spears was photographed in a number of bizarre incidents last year including an umbrella attack on a car. After shaving her head, Spears spent a month in a rehab facility and was involved in a number of minor traffic accidents including an incident where she ran over a photographer's foot.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with files from The Associated Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="03"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 200 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>U.S. cash no longer welcome at India tourist sites</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Jan. 03  2008  08:05  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 3rd, 2008</div> <div> <B>NEW DELHI -- No U.S. dollars, just rupees please.</B></div> <bR> <div> In a sign of how the once mighty U.S. dollar has fallen, India's tourism minister said Thursday that U.S. dollars will no longer be accepted at the country's heritage tourist sites, including the Taj Mahal.</div> <bR> <div> For years the dollar was worth about 50 rupees and tourists visiting most sites in India were charged either $5 or 250 rupees.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c6a2a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Tourists sit on the lawn of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, in this Sept. 26, 2004 file photo. (AP / Manish Swarup)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 559 WIDTH="707"><div> But with the dollar at a nine-year low against the rupee -- falling 11 per cent in 2007 alone and now hovering at around 39 rupees -- that deal has become a losing proposition for the tourism industry.</div> <bR> <div> The country's tourism minister said, though, that the decision was only in part a reaction to the currency's plunging value.</div> <bR> <div> "Before the dollar lost its value, there was a demand to have (admission tickets) just in rupees,'' Tourism Minister Ambika Soni told the CNN-IBN news channel.</div> <bR> <div> Soni said that charging only rupees would not only be more practical, but would save money because "the dollar was weaker against the rupee.''</div> <bR> <div> The Taj Mahal, India's famed white marble monument to love, which had charged tourists $15 or 750 rupees, has been refusing to accept dollars since November.</div> <bR> <div> The move makes visits pricier for American tourists, who now have to shell out nearly $20.</div> <bR> <div> And it's likely to get worse.</div> <bR> <div> "We expect a slight appreciation of the rupee to continue, although it won't be as dramatic as last year,'' said Agam Gupta, head of foreign exchange trading at Standard Chartered Bank in India.</div> <bR> <div> The U.S. dollar has fallen against most major currencies, now trading below parity with the Canadian dollar, and it has lost ground against the rupee due to an influx of foreign capital into India, said Gupta.</div> <bR> <div> Soni said she was not worried about the decision affecting tourism numbers as India provided more than just budget attractions.</div> <bR> <div> "I always say it's not numbers I am looking for or working for. I am working for tourists to have a complete experience,'' she said.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff <I>with files from The Associated Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="02"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 575 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Thousands of Quebecers win free vacation contest</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Jan. 02  2008  17:03  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 2nd, 2008</div> <div> <B>Thousands of travellers from Quebec will get a late holiday gift because of a New Year's Day blast of snow.</B></div> <bR> <div> The online retailer itravel2000.com has announced that it will pick up qualifying customers' flight or hotel tabs (minus taxes) for participating in its "Let it Snow" promotion. Some winning customers may even have their pre-tax accomodations and flights paid for, depending on the package they bought.</div> <bR> <div> The promotion gave tens of thousands of its customers the chance to win a qualifying vacation package if it snowed 12.7 centimetres or more on New Year's Day at four Canadian airports.</div> <bR> <div> "Environment Canada has reported and EarthSat has officially confirmed that 14.8 centimetres fell at Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport in Montreal during the measurable timeframe on January 1st, 2008, qualifying all passengers who booked their vacation with itravel2000 under the terms and conditions of the 'Let It Snow promotion,'" itravel2000.com said in a press release.</div> <bR> <div> Jonathan Carroll, the president of itravel2000 said in a statement that "This is the perfect way to start 2008 by giving away thousands of trips."</div> <bR> <div> Contestants in Alberta, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada appear to be out of luck, however. Only a little more than nine centimetres of snow was recorded at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. Customers in Halifax and Calgary will not qualify because a lack of snow in those regions.</div> <bR> <div> In Quebec, the refund applies to itravel2000 customers who booked their flight, hotel, or vacation between June 12 and Nov. 18, 2007, for trips departing between Nov. 1, 2007, and April 30, 2008.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c69ca0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Snow accumulation is measured after a massive snowfall in Montreal on Tuesday, Jan. 1. 2007.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c69da0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> itravel2000.com's president, Jonathan Carroll, appears on Canada AM on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c69ea0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> With Quebec getting its third major snowfall in four weeks highway travel between Montreal and Ottawa slows to a crawl, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008. (Peter McCabe / THE CANADIAN PRESS)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 538 WIDTH="707"><div> Brad Miron, vice president of marketing with itravel2000.com, told CTV.ca that the promotion has given the company worldwide publicity. He's been inundated with calls from international media outlets.</div> <bR> <div> "We wanted it to snow," Miron said. "We wanted the customers to do business with us. This is the best thing that could have happened -- having snow at one of the points."</div> <bR> <div> Even those who've already taken their vacation but who booked their trips between specified dates will qualify for a refund.</div> <bR> <div> "When you look at Canadians, how much they invest in their vacation, and how much they save, for a family of four, they could be getting anything back from $4,000 to $10,000, depending on what they paid for their vacation," Carroll told CTV's Canada AM on Wednesday.</div> <bR> <div> Carroll calls it "the largest single weather guarantee in history" and says his company took out an insurance policy of about $100 million to cover the costs of the refunds. Snowfall history dating back 50 years was used to determine the price of the insurance policy, Carroll said.</div> <bR> <div> "It took us three years to find somebody to underwrite it," he says. "It was a very difficult promotion, but the response has been fantastic."</div> <bR> <div> David Friedberg, the CEO of WeatherBill, the company that underwrote the contest, said the outcome came as a surprise.</div> <bR> <div> "I would like to say that it's just another day of business," Friedberg told CTV Newsnet. "But it was quite extraordinary. In fact, the amount of snowfall that occurred (Tuesday) was truly one of those 'one-in-a-couple-of-centuries' type of events."</div> <bR> <div> Friedberg said his company is excited that thousands of travellers are potential winners, although the final tally of the total payouts still has to be determined.</div> <bR> <div> The official results will be posted on <U>www.itravel2000.com</U> at 9 a.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 3.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="707"><div> =======================</div> <div>  <A NAME="01"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 580 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Winter wallop has many Canadians digging out</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Jan. 01  2008  12:53  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: January 1st, 2008</div> <div> <B>New Year's Eve festivities were cancelled in Newfoundland and P.E.I. as 2008 was ushered in with a powerful winter wallop that dumped up to 30 centimetres of snow.</B></div> <bR> <div> The heavy dose of the white stuff had Atlantic Canadians and others marking the first day of the year with shovels, chipping away at the fresh white blanket as Environment Canada issued a string of severe weather bulletins.</div> <bR> <div> And more was expected to hit Atlantic Canada later Tuesday and into Wednesday with another storm threatening to further bury the region.</div> <bR> <div> About 25 centimetres of snow is expected to fall on northern Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and up to 20 centimetres in western Newfoundland through Tuesday.</div> <bR> <div> Southern New Brunswick is also predicted to get up to 30 centimetres, along with high winds.</div> <bR> <div> The systems taking effect in the Atlantic provinces on Tuesday followed heavy snow and freezing rain that doused the region on Monday, making roads slick and treacherous and causing a number of airline cancellations. Some carried over to Tuesday, with airlines recommending that travellers check for cancelled flights before heading to the airport.</div> <bR> <div> The increment conditions prompted officials to postpone New Year's Eve festivities in Charlottetown and St. John's.</div> <bR> <div> In Ontario, many woke up to a blanket of heavy, wet snow, and weather watches/warnings were put in effect for much of southern Ontario, from Kingston to Toronto to Sarnia.</div> <bR> <div> The snowfall was expected to taper off by Tuesday afternoon over most of southern Ontario, though the improvement was not expected to hit eastern Ontario until Tuesday night.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="c5a2a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A New Year's Eve fireworks show called 'The Grand Finale' is set off on the edge of the Ottawa River bellow Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, Dec. 31, 2007, to mark the end of the 150th anniversary of Queen Victoria announcing Ottawa as Canada's capital. (Sean Kilpatric / THE CANADIAN PRESS)</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c5a4a0460.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="70" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The winter storm created near whiteout conditions in Toronto, wreaking havoc on the roads on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="c5a5a0780.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A truck sits under several inches of snow in Halifax, N.S. after a storm passed through the province on Dec. 31, 2007.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 555 WIDTH="707"><div> "While total snowfall amounts for most areas will be near 15 centimetres places near eastern Lake Ontario could see amounts up to 20 centimetres," stated Environment Canada.</div> <bR> <div> "Areas near western Lake Ontario which received some rain earlier this morning will see much lower totals."</div> <bR> <div> Cold Arctic air was predicted to move into all regions of Ontario Tuesday night and Wednesday.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Toronto</B></div> <bR> <div> Forecasters predicted about five to 10 centimetres of snow for Toronto and about 15 centimetres in the GTA on Tuesday.</div> <bR> <div> The snow caused traffic chaos through the morning as the Ontario Provincial Police reported more than 120 accidents since the snow began falling around midnight. More than half of those accidents were single-vehicle collisions.</div> <bR> <div> Toronto's road crews were well prepared Monday night for the storm. As soon as the snow began to fall, crews dispatched 200 salters, 600 road plows and 300 sidewalk plows.</div> <bR> <div> Nonetheless, OPP advised motorists to stay off the roads and enjoy the statutory holiday at home instead.</div> <bR> <div> Forecasters predict the temperatures will dip well below the freezing mark Tuesday prompting the city to issue its first extreme cold weather alert of the year.</div> <bR> <div> Temperatures are expected to dip to -15C without factoring in wind chill.</div> <bR> <div> The snow could come as a New Year's gift to some travellers. Those who have booked winter vacations with itravel2000.com will get their trips for free if the amount of snow to fall Tuesday hits 12.7 centimetres, under the conditions of a promotion the company currently has underway.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staff </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <A HREF="#top" TITLE="Jan 08"><U><IMG SRC="16243f0d0.png" border=0 width="63" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>