Dec 09

<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="id1136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jan 10"><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="id1129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nov 09"><U><IMG SRC="31ce11160.png" border=0 width="17" 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HEIGHT= 29032 ><NOBR><div> <B> <A NAME="top"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B><IMG SRC="5e4a5c200.png" border=0 width="92" height="32" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  </B><B>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" BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 > <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 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="id1201.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Feb 12"><U><B>Feb/12</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1194.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jan 12"><U><B>Jan/12</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1193.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dec 11"><U><B>Dec/11</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1192.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nov 11"><U><B>Nov/11</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1191.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oct 11"><U><B>Oct/11</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1190.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sep 11"><U><B>Sep/11</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1185.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aug 11"><U><B>Aug/11</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1184.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jul 11"><U><B>Jul/11</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1182.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jun 11"><U><B>Jun/11</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1181.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May 11"><U><B>May/11</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1180.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apr 11"><U><B>Apr/11</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1179.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mar 11"><U><B>Mar/11</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1178.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Feb 11"><U><B>Feb/11</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1173.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jan 11"><U><B>Jan/11</B></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1172.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dec 10"><U><B>Dec/10</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1170.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nov 10"><U><B>Nov/10</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1167.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oct 10"><U><B>Oct/10</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1161.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sep 10"><U><B>Sep/10</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1160.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Aug 10"><U><B>Aug/10</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1159.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jul 10"><U><B>Jul/10</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jun 10"><U><B>Jun/10</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May 10"><U><B>May/10</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1143.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apr 10"><U><B>Apr/10</B></U></A></div> </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=#FFFFCC 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 BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jun 09"><U><B>Jun/09</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="May 09"><U><B>May/09</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 WIDTH="50"><div> <A HREF="id1114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apr 09"><U><B>Apr/09</B></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1104.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mar 09"><U><B>Mar/09</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1103.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Feb 09"><U><B>Feb/09</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1099.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jan 09"><U><B>Jan/09</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFCC33 HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id1092.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dec 08"><U><B>Dec/08</B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP 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=#FFCC33><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> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>These "Articles" are dated from December 1st, 2009 - December 31st, 2009.</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="405" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#31" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><B>AT&T ends sponsorship agreement with Tiger Woods</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 31/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#30" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><B>Actress Carly Pope injured in B.C. carjacking</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 30/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#29" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><B>Nokia says almost all Apple products violate patents</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 29/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#28" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><B>Suspected bird strike forces flight back to Vancouver</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 28/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#27" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Suspected bird strike forces flight back to Vancouver</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 27/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#26" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Strong earthquake hits eastern Indonesia</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 26/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#25" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  3 people killed in Christmas Eve crashes in Prairies</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 25/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#24" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Canadians unhurt after plane skids off Jamaican runway</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 24/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#23" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Dozens hurt after plane overshoots Jamaican runway</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 23/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#22" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Listeriosis warning issued over brand of salami</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 22/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#21" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  U.S. health reform bill passes key vote in Senate</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 21/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#20" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Grassroots groups driving China's green leap forward</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 20/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#19" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Grassroots groups driving China's green leap forward</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 19/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#18" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  No new commitments from U.S., China at summit</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 18/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#17" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Report: Tiger Woods' wife wants a divorce</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 17/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#16" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Mayon volcano in Philippines spews ash, lava</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 16/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#15" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Hopes dim for new treaty from Copenhagen talks</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 15/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#14" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Cadbury launches defense against Kraft offer</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 14/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#13" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Church bells ring 350 times at Copenhagen meeting</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 13/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#12" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Gillette 'limiting' Tiger Woods' role in ads</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 12/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#11" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Blackwater guards took part in CIA raids: report</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 11/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#10" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  1,700 U.K. scientists back climate science</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 10/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#09" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Storm dumps snow in Ont., moving towards Que.</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 09/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#08" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  N.S. school uplifted by news of boy's survival</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 08/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#07" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Harper: Canada must look to East for economic growth</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 07/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#06" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Canadians mark solemn anniversary of Montreal massacre</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 06/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#05" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Missing T.O. baby ruled abduction; Amber Alert pending</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 05/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#04" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Huge study finds cellphones don't raise tumour risk</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 04/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#03" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Murder trial of U.S. student in Italy nears end</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 03/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#02" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Obama's troop withdrawal, Afghan plan questioned</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 02/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="#01" TITLE="Dec 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="f1f0b0d0.png" border=0 width="11" height="13" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  Suspect in Seattle police killings shot dead</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 01/12/09</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> =======================</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="705" 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="Dec 09"><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= 266 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>AT&T ends sponsorship agreement with Tiger Woods</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Dec. 31  2009  13:52  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 31st, 2009</div> <div> <B>NEW YORK — AT&T Inc. said Thursday it would no longer sponsor Tiger Woods, joining Accenture in dropping support for the world's top golfer, who's taking a break from the sport to focus on his marriage after his admitted infidelity.</B></div> <bR> <div> The phone company hasn't used Woods' image extensively in advertising, but its logo appeared on his golf bag. That deal had been billed as a "multiyear" agreement when it was signed early in 2009, after Buick ended its endorsement one year early because of its financial woes.</div> <bR> <div> Woods has also been the host of the AT&T National PGA Tour event since it started in 2007. Tour spokesman Ty Votaw said that since Woods is on indefinite leave from professional golf, he will not serve as host for the 2010 event. However, his Tiger Woods Foundation will continue to be the beneficiary of the AT&T National, under a contract that runs through 2014, Votaw said.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e9cba09c0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="156" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Tiger Woods removes his hat at the World Golf Championships Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Ariz., Feb. 26, 2009. (AP / Chris Carlson)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 571 WIDTH="707"><div> AT&T said it would continue to sponsor the event.</div> <bR> <div> Woods won the 2009 AT&T National in July at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. The AT&T National is moving to Aronimink Country Club outside Philadelphia the next two years as Congressional prepares to host the 2011 U.S. Open.</div> <bR> <div> AT&T has also been the presenting sponsor of the annual Tiger Jam concert event in Las Vegas, but that contract has expired, according to AT&T spokesman Michael Coe.</div> <bR> <div> AT&T, which is based in Dallas, did not comment on its reasons for dropping Woods, or how much the relationship was worth.</div> <bR> <div> Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, had no comment on AT&T's decision.</div> <bR> <div> Woods' image has taken a beating since a Thanksgiving holiday car accident at the golfer's Florida home was followed by an admission of extramarital "transgressions." Most of Woods' $100 million in annual earnings has come not from tournament winnings but from companies that wanted to be associated with his persona.</div> <bR> <div> Consulting firm Accenture dropped the athlete two weeks ago, saying he was "no longer the right representative" of the company's values.</div> <bR> <div> Gillette, a unit of the Procter & Gamble Co., also has said it won't air ads for its razors that include Woods or include him in public appearances.</div> <bR> <div> Swiss watch maker Tag Heuer, a unit of luxury goods empire LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, also said that it would "downscale" its use of golfer Tiger Woods' image in its advertising campaigns for the foreseeable future.</div> <bR> <div> Electronic Arts Inc., which puts out the "Tiger Woods PGA Tour" series of golf video games, has not said what its plans are for the franchise. The company did not immediately return requests for comment Thursday. Nike Inc. and PepsiCo Inc.'s Gatorade are other big sponsors that haven't severed their ties.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News <I>Staff 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="30"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Dec 09"><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>Actress Carly Pope injured in B.C. carjacking</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Dec. 30  2009  08:18  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 30th, 2009</div> <div> <B>Two Canadian actors -- a brother and sister -- were the ones caught up in a bizarre, straight-out-of-the-movies carjacking in downtown Vancouver Tuesday, a source close to the family told CTV News.</B></div> <bR> <div> According to the source, Kris and Carly Pope were in their BMW when a man who they did not know suddenly jumped on the hood of their car while the car was stopped.</div> <bR> <div> Kris Pope got out of the car, at which point the stranger jumped into the driver's seat and put it in reverse, the source said.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e9c7a07e0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="126" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Actress Carly Pope poses for a portrait at the NBC In Front presentation at Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, Calif. on Tuesday, May 12, 2009. (AP / Dan Steinberg)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 600 WIDTH="707"><div> Kevin Bow told CTV News he watched from the balcony of the nearby Sandman Hotel as the BMW's driver and another person attempted to wrestle the suspect out of the car.</div> <bR> <div> "They tried pulling him out," Bow said. "He hammered it in reverse, the two guys kind of fell out and went flying halfway across the intersection."</div> <bR> <div> "After they hit the ground then they started yelling for help."</div> <bR> <div> Vancouver police Const. Anne Longley said the suspect then backed up quickly into oncoming traffic, hitting three other cars before crashing into the glass window of the CBC building located at the corner of Georgia and Hamilton streets.</div> <bR> <div> Witnesses told CTV News a woman was in the backseat while the car was going in reverse.</div> <bR> <div> The Pope family source said Kris Pope was released from the hospital Tuesday night, but Carly Pope remained in the hospital overnight.</div> <bR> <div> Police also announced that all three victims had been released from hospital after receiving treatment.</div> <bR> <div> "We're recovering, but we're pretty banged up," Kris Pope told The Canadian Press in a brief interview Wednesday.</div> <bR> <div> "Carly's got a couple of broken vertebrae, and I've got a broken wrist, possibly a broken ankle and a smashed up face."</div> <bR> <div> The suspect, who suffered a skull fracture, was also released and taken into police custody.</div> <bR> <div> David Fomradas, 31, is facing eight charges including kidnapping, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and dangerous driving.</div> <bR> <div> No court date has been set.</div> <bR> <div> Carly Pope, 29, has appeared in movies such as Orange County and Toronto Stories and numerous television shows such as 24, Californication and Popular.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f with files from CTV British Columbia's Sarah MacDonald, Penny Daflos and Norma Reid</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="Dec 09"><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= 179 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Nokia says almost all Apple products violate patents</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Dec. 29  2009  12:46  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 29th, 2009</div> <div> <B>NEW YORK — Nokia is broadening its legal fight with Apple, saying almost all of the company's products violate its patents, not just the iPhone.</B></div> <bR> <div> Nokia Corp. said Tuesday that it has filed a complaint against Apple Inc. with the U.S. International Trade Commission. The Finnish phone maker says Apple's iPhone, iPods and computers all violate its intellectual property rights.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e9c9a0670.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="103" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A shopper looks at two new second generation Apple iPod Touches at an Apple store in Palo Alto, Calif on Sept. 11, 2008. (AP / Paul Sakuma)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 145 WIDTH="707"><div> Nokia has already sued Apple over the massively popular iPhone, claiming it infringes on 10 of its patents related to phone calls and Wi-Fi access.</div> <bR> <div> Apple has countered with its own lawsuit, saying Nokia has copied aspects of the iPhone in its phones.</div> <bR> <div> Apple, which is based in Cupertino, Calif., did not immediately return a phone call for comment.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News <I>Staf</I><I>f with files from </I><I>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="Dec 09"><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>Suspected bird strike forces flight back to Vancouver</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Dec. 28  2009  13:16  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 28th, 2009</div> <div> <B>Two American high school students have used unique Canadian DNA technology to identify numerous mislabelled food products in New York City markets, deepening concerns over the widespread problem of fraudulence in the marketplace.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="e9c1a0620.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="98" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 765 WIDTH="707"><div> From mislabelled fish to cow's milk being passed off as pricey sheep's milk, the Grade 12 students said a high percentage of the foods they collected as samples were not what they were said to be.</div> <bR> <div> Brenda Tan and Matt Cost of Trinity School in Manhattan gathered about 150 DNA samples from foods and objects in their homes and neighbourhood as part of a science project with Rockefeller University and the American Museum of Natural History.</div> <bR> <div> Tan said they found that 11 of the 66 fish, prepackaged and other food products bought largely at neighbourhood markets were mislabelled.</div> <bR> <div> That included a specialty sheep's milk cheese that was actually made from cow's milk, venison dog treats made of beef, and sturgeon caviar that was really Mississippi paddlefish.</div> <bR> <div> "You should get what you pay for," Cost said from New York before their findings are published in January's edition of BioScience magazine.</div> <bR> <div> "We don't know where it occurs, but most of the mislabelling involves substitution of something less expensive or desirable, which suggests it's done for profit."</div> <bR> <div> The students gathered the DNA samples in their apartments, supermarkets, their school and at fresh markets, finding that most of the hundreds of samples had detectable DNA even after being frozen, dry-cleaned or shipped thousands of kilometres.</div> <bR> <div> They sent the samples to the natural history museum, which tapped into a databank of DNA bar codes that was pioneered by Canadian scientists at the University of Guelph in Ontario.</div> <bR> <div> <U>The Consortium for the Bar Code of Life</U> project involves identifying a particular DNA sequence in marine and animal life that is unique to the species. That allows scientists to accurately identify the species and create a so-called bar code of its DNA similar to the black and white stripes on store goods.</div> <bR> <div> The students submitted usable DNA from 151 of 217 items, including dried soup mix, dog biscuits, beef jerky, horse manure from Central Park and a feather duster.</div> <bR> <div> "I didn't expect to find very much recognizable DNA, but it was astounding at the end of the project how much there is just lying around us," said Cost, 18.</div> <bR> <div> The teens say they have discovered a possible new species of cockroach, a long-legged centipede that originated in Europe and an oriental latrine fly considered an invasive species in the southern U.S.</div> <bR> <div> "DNA is resilient and it's everywhere and a great way to identify things in the 21st century," said Tan. "I mean, 10 years ago I don't think this would have been possible."</div> <bR> <div> <B>Student project has wider applications</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 645 WIDTH="707"><div> Bob Hanner, a biologist at Guelph who led the work on bar coding, praised the student project and said it shows the value of a technology that can be used to identify illicit goods at borders and track the spread of disease.</div> <bR> <div> "It's another good example of how DNA bar coding can be used to engage students in real science questions, particularly like the market substitution problem," said Hanner, associate director of the Canadian Barcode of Life Network.</div> <bR> <div> "It's continuing evidence along the lines of some of our earlier work showing what a powerful tool bar coding is."</div> <bR> <div> The work follows up on the findings of two other Trinity School students in 2008, who found one-quarter of fish they bought at markets and restaurants in Manhattan was mislabelled.</div> <bR> <div> Hanner said he's working closely with the Food and Drug Administration in the States to develop bar coding into an acceptable regulatory tool.</div> <bR> <div> But he says Canada has been slow to embrace the technology as a way to discover contraband, mislabelled goods and possibly poisonous products.</div> <bR> <div> He said the FDA and other agencies are sending their research scientists to Guelph for training in using the technology, but that "so far we haven't seen that kind of proactive development in Canada."</div> <bR> <div> The FDA has adopted it for fish identification and also used DNA bar coding to distinguish the seed pods of star anise from another identical herb that contains neurotoxins.</div> <bR> <div> The U.S. Agriculture Department is also working on a global database of DNA bar codes for fruit flies to deal with horticultural pests, and lumber products to identify endangered timber products.</div> <bR> <div> Hanner is hoping as the technology gains ground, research continues into its use and the databank of species grows, it could soon be used to check goods at ports of entry.</div> <bR> <div> He said he can soon see a time when people will be able to use tabletop devices at border crossings, schools and government departments to quickly identify a plant or animal.</div> <bR> <div> "What would be the Holy Grail for a number of these agencies is to be able to do onsite bar coding," he said. "The technology exists. It just needs to be miniaturized."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f with reports from The Canadian Press</I></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="Dec 09"><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= 221 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Suspected bird strike forces flight back to Vancouver</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Dec. 27  2009  09:07  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 27th, 2009</div> <div> <B>VANCOUVER — An Air Canada flight bound for Hawaii from Vancouver turned around Saturday shortly after take-off after a suspected bird strike.</B></div> <bR> <div> Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick says the pilot made the decision to return to Vancouver after he felt a vibration in one of the engines.</div> <bR> <div> It's believed a bird flew into one of the jet's engines.</div> <bR> <div> The plane landed without incident and no one was injured.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="e9bca0d60.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="707"><div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f with reports from The Canadian Press</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="Dec 09"><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= 58 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Strong earthquake hits eastern Indonesia</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Dec. 26  2009  07:43  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 26th, 2009</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="58" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="165" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 713 WIDTH="707"><div> <IMG SRC="e9bad6080.jpg" border=0 width="470" height="264" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Indonesia experiences an underwater earthquake on the fifth anniversary of an Asian tsunami that killed 230,000 people.</div> <bR> <div> <B>JAKARTA, Indonesia — A strong earthquake struck deep under the sea in eastern Indonesia on Saturday, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, officials said.</B></div> <bR> <div> The earthquake of a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 struck on the fifth anniversary of another quake that spawned the Asian tsunami that left 230,000 people dead in a dozen countries around the Indian Ocean rim. The Dec. 26, 2004 tsunami was sparked by a 9.2-magnitude underwater quake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra.</div> <bR> <div> Saturday's quake was at a depth of 35 miles (57 kilometres), too far below the earth's surface to cause a tsunami, said Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency seismologist Paulus Prihandoyo.</div> <bR> <div> The quake had its epicenter about 165 miles (270 kilometres) north of Saumlaki and about 1,680 miles (2,700 kilometres) east of the capital Jakarta, the U.S. Geological Survey said.</div> <bR> <div> Residents in Saumlaki said the quake panicked people and caused an electricity blackout, but there were no reports of damage or injuries.</div> <bR> <div> Indonesia sits above a series of fault lines that make the vast island nation one of the most earthquake-prone places in the world.</div> <bR> <div> A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck off West Sumatra on Sept. 30 and killed hundreds of people and toppled hundreds of homes and buildings.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f with reports from The Associated Press</I></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="Dec 09"><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= 221 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>3 people killed in Christmas Eve crashes in Prairies</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Fri. Dec. 25  2009  17:17  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 25th, 2009</div> <div> <B>Three people were killed in car accidents on Christmas Eve on the Prairies, as a winter storm hit the region.</B></div> <bR> <div> Two people were killed on roads in Manitoba, and a third died in Alberta.</div> <bR> <div> A 22-year-old woman died when the SUV she was a passenger in lost control, and rolled on Highway 8, north of Winnipeg, late on Christmas Eve.</div> <bR> <div> Two others were taken to hospital.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e9b9a06c0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A two-vehicle crash sent two people to hospital while five others were treated on scene with minor injuries after a collision on Highway 14 at Range Road 204 outside of Edmonton, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 273 WIDTH="707"><div> Earlier, a 75-year-old man was killed Thursday afternoon when he lost control of his vehicle and collided head-on with a pickup truck on Highway 9, north of Winnipeg.</div> <bR> <div> A 79-year-old man was from Red Deer, Alta. died when his car collided head-on with another vehicle that was trying to pass two other cars near Sylvan Lake, Alta.</div> <bR> <div> Police have not released the names of the victims.</div> <bR> <div> On Friday, a major road link between Manitoba and the United States was shut down because of a severe winter storm.</div> <bR> <div> American border officials said Interstate 29, linking the Dakotas to Emerson, Man. is too dangerous to drive.</div> <bR> <div> A total of 18 deaths have been linked to winter storms in the U.S. Midwest in recent days.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f with reports from The </I><I>Canadian</I><I> Press</I></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="Dec 09"><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= 254 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Canadians unhurt after plane skids off Jamaican runway</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Dec. 23  2009  18:16  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 24th, 2009</div> <div> <B>Three Canadians aboard an American Airlines flight that skidded off a Jamaican runway Tuesday evening are unhurt, the Foreign Affairs Department said Wednesday.</B></div> <bR> <div> Dozens of the 154 people on board the Boeing 737-800 suffered injuries when it landed in heavy rain at Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport, bounced across the tarmac and stopped close to the Caribbean Sea.</div> <bR> <div> The Canadian High Commission in Kingston confirmed that three Canadians were on board the flight but not injured, said Foreign Affairs spokesperson Dana Cryderman.</div> <bR> <div> The identities of the Canadian passengers are not yet known.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <B><IMG SRC="e9aba0620.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="98" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> An aerial view of the cracked fuselage of American Airlines flight AA331, which crashed landed overnight on a flight from Miami to Jamaica, just beyond the runway of Norman Manley international airport in Kingston, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009. (AP / STR)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 664 WIDTH="707"><div> The plane attempted to land at approximately 10:25 p.m., Jamaican Information Minister Daryl Vaz told CTV News Channel.</div> <bR> <div> The impact cracked the plane's fuselage, broke off both engines and crushed the left landing gear of the aircraft, said American Airlines spokesperson Tim Smith.</div> <bR> <div> Airline industry analyst and former U.S. National Transportation Safety Board member Vernon Gross said the fact the plane broke apart likely saved passengers from serious injury.</div> <bR> <div> "The airplane when it breaks apart uses energy, which would otherwise be used on the passengers. So it's wonderful in one sense that the engines came off, the wings came off and the fuselage cracked open," Gross told CTV News Channel Wednesday afternoon in an interview from Washington. "The bad thing was that it was raining so severely that a lot of folks had trouble getting over the fuselage."</div> <bR> <div> According to Gross, the airport in Kingston does not have the usual 305-metre overrun at the end of its runway, which could have helped slow the plane down.</div> <bR> <div> The plane came to rest between three and five metres from the Caribbean Sea and passengers walked across a beach to be evacuated by bus, passenger Robert Mais told The Gleaner, a Jamaican newspaper.</div> <bR> <div> The plane had left Miami International Airport about 90 minutes before.</div> <bR> <div> Early reports said that the plane carried 148 passengers and six crew members. Vaz, however, told CTV News Channel that Flight 331 carried only 145 passengers.</div> <bR> <div> Vaz said 91 people have sought medical treatment since the ill-fated landing yesterday evening. Reports from government officials and airport workers said 44 people were taken to hospital with broken bones and back pains.</div> <bR> <div> Paul Hall, the senior vice-president of airport operations, said four people were seriously injured.</div> <bR> <div> The incident closed the Kingston airport for the rest of the evening. The airport reopened at about 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, said Vaz.</div> <bR> <div> Security Minister Dwight Nelson told Radio Jamaica some 400 passengers waited for their flights to be cleared for takeoff. </div> <div> New Hampshire resident Pilar Abaurrea said panic ensued once the landing went bad.</div> <bR> <div> "All of a sudden, when it hit the ground, the plane was kind of bouncing, someone said the plane was skidding and there was panic," Abaurrea of Keene, New Hampshire, said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 468 WIDTH="707"><div> The 62-year-old Abaurrea said the flight was very turbulent, to the point where the crew had to halt beverage service on three occasions. Shortly before landing, the pilot had warned of additional turbulence, she said.</div> <bR> <div> Natalie Morales Hendricks said the plane began to skid upon landing and "before I knew it, everything was black and we were crashing."</div> <bR> <div> "Everybody's overhead baggage started to fall. Literally, it was like being in a car accident. People were screaming, I was screaming," she told NBC's "Today" show.</div> <bR> <div> "There was smoke and debris everywhere," after the plane halted, she said. "It was a mess. Everybody could smell jet fuel."</div> <bR> <div> Smith, the airline spokesperson, said U.S. investigators will now analyze whether the plane should have been landing in such bad weather.</div> <bR> <div> "That's obviously one of the things they will look at," he said, adding that other planes landed safely amid heavy rain.</div> <bR> <div> Radio Jamaica reporter Kirk Abrahams told CTV's Canada AM that "local and international investigations" were underway as of Wednesday morning.</div> <bR> <div> Six U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigators were headed to Jamaica on Wednesday morning to assist a probe led by the island's government, said spokesperson Keith Holloway.</div> <bR> <div> According to former NTSB member Vernon Gross, investigators will want to answer a number of questions, such as if the airplane landed early enough on the runway, if the rain made the runway slippery, or if the aircraft's braking system failed.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f with reports 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="Dec 09"><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= 174 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Dozens hurt after plane overshoots Jamaican runway</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Dec. 23  2009  08:02  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 23rd, 2009</div> <div> <B>Dozens of people were injured when an American Airlines flight overshot a runway during a heavy rainstorm in Jamaica on Tuesday night.</B></div> <bR> <div> American Airlines Flight 331 skidded down a runway at Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport at approximately 10:22 p.m. The plane had left Miami International Airport about 90 minutes before the ill-fated landing.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <B><IMG SRC="e9a3a0620.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="98" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> The tail of American Airlines flight AA331 sits after the plane overshot the runway and crashed in Kingston, Jamaica, early Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 633 WIDTH="707"><div> The impact cracked the plane's fuselage, broke off the right engine and left the main landing gear collapsed, said American Airlines spokesperson Tim Smith.</div> <bR> <div> Most of the 148 passengers and six crew members on board the plane were Jamaicans who were returning home for Christmas, said Information Minister Daryl Vaz.</div> <bR> <div> He said that 44 people were taken to hospital with broken bones and back pains.</div> <bR> <div> Paul Hall, the senior vice-president of airport operations, said four people were seriously injured.</div> <bR> <div> The incident closed the airport for the rest of the evening and did not reopen until Wednesday morning. Security Minister Dwight Nelson told Radio Jamaica some 400 passengers waited for their flights to be cleared for takeoff.</div> <bR> <div> Kirk Abrahams of Radio Jamaica said that by Wednesday morning, "more than 90 persons actually are being treated for various injuries they sustained when the plane overshot the runway."</div> <bR> <div> "What is happening now is that the airport is open and passengers are making their way there now," Abrahams told CTV's Canada AM during a telephone interview from Kingston on Wednesday morning.</div> <bR> <div> New Hampshire resident Pilar Abaurrea said panic ensued once the landing went bad on Tuesday evening.</div> <bR> <div> "All of a sudden, when it hit the ground, the plane was kind of bouncing, someone said the plane was skidding and there was panic," Abaurrea of Keene, New Hampshire, said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.</div> <bR> <div> The 62-year-old Abaurrea said the flight was very turbulent, to the point where the crew had to halt beverage service on three occasions. Shortly before landing, the pilot had warned of additional turbulence, she said.</div> <bR> <div> Smith, the airline spokesperson, said U.S. investigators will now analyze whether the plane should have been landing in such bad weather.</div> <bR> <div> "That's obviously one of the things they will look at," he said, adding that other planes landed safely amid heavy rain.</div> <bR> <div> Abrahams said that as of Wednesday morning, "local and international investigations are now in progress" at the airport. </div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f with reports 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="Dec 09"><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= 238 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Listeriosis warning issued over brand of salami</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Dec. 22  2009  07:27  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 22nd, 2009</div> <div> <B>TORONTO — The public is being warned to avoid eating a brand of salami because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.</B></div> <bR> <div> The warning from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Siena Foods of Toronto covers Siena brand mild Cacciatore Salami.</div> <bR> <div> The federal agency says the product is known to have been distributed in Ontario and Quebec, but may also have been sold nationally.</div> <bR> <div> The best before date on the packages, of various sizes is March 4, 2010.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <B><IMG SRC="e99ca0880.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="136" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> The CFIA is warning the public to avoid eating this brand of salami because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. (Courtesy the Canadian Food Inspection Agency)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 54 ><NOBR><div> There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f with reports from The Canadian Press</I></div> </NOBR></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="Dec 09"><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= 250 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>U.S. health reform bill passes key vote in Senate</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Dec. 21  2009  08:18  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 21st, 2009</div> <div> <B>U.S. lawmakers have taken a giant step towards passing a historic health care reform bill. The U.S. Senate voted overnight to end debate on the bill, putting the legislation on course for a final vote on Christmas Eve.</B></div> <bR> <div> If the bill is later reconciled with one passed by the House of Representatives, supporters say it will mean as many as 30 million uninsured Americans will finally receive health insurance -- a cornerstone of U.S. President Barack Obama's platform.</div> <bR> <div> The final vote, which held tightly to party lines, was 60 to 40. All 58 Democrats and the Senate's two independents held together for the middle-of-the-night vote Monday against unanimous Republican opposition.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e997a06f0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="111" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> U.S. senators Charles Schumer, left, and John Kerry, centre, talk with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, following a 60-40 cloture vote which is the first step on passing a health care bill on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Dec. 21, 2009. (AP / Harry Hamburg)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 662 WIDTH="707"><div> The outcome had been assured after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid personally negotiated compromises on big issues over the last several months, culminating in last-minute concessions over the weekend to win over the final holdouts: independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and conservative Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska.</div> <bR> <div> The vote came shortly after 1 a.m. even as a blizzard whirled around Washington outside the Senate doors.</div> <bR> <div> Though three more procedural hurdles remain in the days ahead, the outcome of Christmas Eve's final vote now appears assured.</div> <bR> <div> "We'll get this passed before Christmas and it will be one of the best Christmas presents this Congress has ever given the American people," said Dem. Sen. Tom Harkin.</div> <bR> <div> Republicans conceded that they were now likely powerless to stop the bill but vowed to force the debate to continue as long as possible.</div> <bR> <div> "We will fight until the last vote," Arizona Sen. John McCain said on "Fox News Sunday."</div> <bR> <div> "We must do everything. We must look back and say, 'We did everything we can to prevent this terrible mistake from taking place.' "</div> <bR> <div> The legislation would make health insurance mandatory for the first time for nearly everyone. It would also provide subsidies to help lower-income people buy insurance, and induce employers to provide it, with tax breaks for small businesses and penalties for larger ones.</div> <bR> <div> Democrats said early Monday they felt as though they were on the brink of something truly historic.</div> <bR> <div> "Health care in America ought to be a right, not a privilege," said Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut.</div> <bR> <div> "Since the time of Harry Truman, every Congress -- Republican and Democrat -- every president -- Democrat and Republican -- have at least thought about doing this. Some actually tried."</div> <bR> <div> But Republicans accused the Democrats of trying to rush through the complex 2,700-page bill, which will cost the economy US$871 billion over 10 years.</div> <bR> <div> Most contentious among the bill's provisions are the complex array of taxes that will help pay for the new coverage. The bill would impose an increase in the payroll tax for individuals earning more than $200,000 and couples earning more than $250,000 and it also calls for major reductions in government spending, by slowing the growth of Medicare.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 318 WIDTH="707"><div> Adoption of the legislation is not a certainty. Reconciling the Senate bill with the bill adopted by the House last month will be difficult say most observers.</div> <bR> <div> The House bill includes, most notably, a government-run health insurance plan, or public option, but the Senate bill dropped that provision. There is also stricter abortion language in the House bill, and an excise tax on high-value insurance plans, a plan embraced by the Senate but strongly opposed by many House Democrats.</div> <bR> <div> But both bills would ban highly unpopular insurance practices such as denying people coverage based on pre-existing conditions. And young adults could retain coverage longer under their parents' insurance plans -- through age 25 in the Senate bill and through age 26 in the House version.</div> <bR> <div> For many Democrats, the landmark vote summoned the memory of late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a champion of universal health care for his entire career, who died in August.</div> <bR> <div> Kennedy's widow, Victoria, sat in the front row of the spectator gallery to watch the vote. Several senators embraced her after the vote, with Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York telling her: "Without him, it never would have happened."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f with reports 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="Dec 09"><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= 254 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Grassroots groups driving China's green leap forward</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Dec. 20  2009  17:43  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 20th, 2009</div> <div> <B>Actress Brittany Murphy has died at the age of 32, a hospital spokesperson has confirmed.</B></div> <bR> <div> Reports say Murphy suffered cardiac arrest at the home of her husband, Simon Monjack, and was transported to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m.</div> <bR> <div> The exact cause of death has not been released.</div> <bR> <div> Murphy is perhaps best known for her roles in "Sin City," "Girl, Interrupted," "Clueless," "8 Mile," and voicing a character in the animated penguin tale "Happy Feet."</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <B><IMG SRC="e994a07e0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="126" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> Actress Brittany Murphy attends the a fashion show during Fashion Week in New York, on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008, in New York. (AP / Peter Kramer)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 596 WIDTH="707"><div> She told The Associated Press in 2003 that "8 Mile" gave her widespread recognition.</div> <bR> <div> "That changed a lot," she said. "That was the difference between people knowing my first and last name as opposed to not."</div> <bR> <div> Three of her movies, including "The Expendables" starring Sylvester Stallone, are in post-production.</div> <bR> <div> Despite those films, there had been reports Murphy's career had hit some obstacles this year.</div> <bR> <div> Earlier this month, a publicist for Murphy denied she was fired from the set of the film "The Caller." She was replaced by former "Twilight" actress Rachelle Lefevre.</div> <bR> <div> Less than an hour after the story first broke, the search term "RIP Brittany Murphy" was already the second most popular topic on Twitter.</div> <bR> <div> Last month, her husband was hospitalized after he experienced a medical condition on a plane that landed at Los Angeles International Airport.</div> <bR> <div> Murphy was born Nov. 10, 1977 in Atlanta, but grew up in New Jersey. She moved to Los Angeles with her mother, hoping to gain success as an actress.</div> <bR> <div> "When I asked my mom to move to California, she sold everything and moved out here for me," she told AP. "I was really grateful to have grown up in an environment that was conducive to creating and didn't stifle any of that. She always believed in me."</div> <bR> <div> In 2003, she co-starred with Ashton Kutcher in the romantic comedy "Just Married," and the two were involved in a relationship.</div> <bR> <div> On Sunday, Kutcher wrote a message of condolence on his Twitter feed: "2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany's family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon."</div> <bR> <div> He continued: "see you on the other side kid."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f </I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="707"><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="Dec 09"><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= 163 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Grassroots groups driving China's green leap forward</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Dec. 19  2009  05:37  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 19th, 2009</div> <div> <B>With its grey, smog-filled skies and murky rivers, China may appear to hinder rather than further the fight against global warming.</B></div> <bR> <div> "If you ride your bike on a heavily polluted day -- if you clean out your nose, it's black," said Robert Earley, the clean fuels program manager for the Innovation Center for Energy and Transportation, a Beijing-based NGO.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e992a05a0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="90" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A worker looks as he labours in front of office building shrouded in smog in Beijing Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. (AP / Andy Wong)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 753 WIDTH="707"><div> Such anecdotes fuel the country's reputation as an environmental wasteland. And then there are the facts, such as:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">As of 2006, China is the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas cited as the primary cause of global warming.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Twenty of the world's 30 most polluted cities are within its borders, largely due to such emissions produced by cars and factories, according to The World Bank.</div> <bR> <div> But lately, it seems the communist behemoth is working hard to rid itself of these dubious distinctions.</div> <bR> <div> On Nov. 26, the Chinese State Council announced China would cut its carbon emissions between 40 and 45 per cent by 2020 compared with 2005 levels, a commitment that many analysts say is a step in the right direction for a country whose participation in the environmental movement was virtually non-existent in recent times.</div> <bR> <div> So, how did this sudden shift to a greener China begin?</div> <bR> <div> "It started about 15 years ago," says Jing Chen, a foreign advisor to the Chinese government and professor at University of Toronto.</div> <bR> <div> Chen added that local environmental NGOs, a driving force behind China's eco-consciousness, are a relatively new phenomenon in the country. "There were almost (no NGOs) 15 years ago. Now there are 2000, 3000 of these -- many, many of these."</div> <bR> <div> Friends of Nature is an example of this growth. Founded in 1994, it is the oldest environmental NGO in the country.</div> <bR> <div> Attributing this "upsurge" in China's environmental movement to the state, Chen said, "China's government, especially the State Environmental Protection Administration (renamed the Ministry of Environmental Protection in 2008), has taken a different view on the NGOs."</div> <bR> <div> "They have become more open, they are supportive and they view NGOs as local eyes, if you will, on these environmental issues," Chen said. "This is very helpful for their mandate."</div> <bR> <div> "So, they basically welcome this movement. They are not putting cold water on this movement."</div> <bR> <div> <B>Just government spin-offs?</B></div> <bR> <div> But You-Zhi Tang, an environmental expert and chief scientific officer at DaoPower Canada, maintains that ecological awareness in China emerged even before the mid-1990s.</div> <bR> <div> "Probably some smaller organizations started even earlier (than FON)," he said. "Most of these so-called NGOs in China originally came from government."</div> <bR> <div> "Actually, it's kind of a government spinoff. In the very beginning, it was more a spinoff from pseudo-environmental type of organizations."</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 536 WIDTH="707"><div> Recently, grassroots NGOs have been growing in numbers. "In the past 10, 15 years, we've seen more from the grassroots, and now more from the young generation, particularly university students," Tang said.</div> <bR> <div> China's environmental movement is seen by many as an organic process that emerged following Deng Xiaoping's 1978 reforms. The country became more open, and Chinese citizens were exposed to foreign influences that included environmental activism and NGOs.</div> <bR> <div> Tang believes the Chinese government is committed to helping local NGOs tackle pollution, but said there remain challenges.</div> <bR> <div> "In China, as an NGO -- if you're on a course that will support the government mandate, it will be much easier. If you're trying to do something against the government mandate, obviously, very likely, you will hit a brick wall."</div> <bR> <div> Either way, NGOs are an integral part of China's environmental movement, ICET's Earley said via phone from the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen.</div> <bR> <div> "The key activity of NGOs is to do work that government can't do because it's too local, or other for-profit players can't do because they can't make money off it, or on issues that are so advanced that government hasn't noticed them yet," he said.</div> <bR> <div> Most importantly, Earley said he believes NGOs have increased awareness about environmental issues amongst the Chinese public, fostering a dialogue between the government and its citizens.</div> <bR> <div> "I do think that Chinese people, at least people in Beijing, are really interested in environmental problems," he said. "They do want to make a change."</div> <bR> <div> "I think they have some faith in government, but I also think that they need to do things by themselves, and they do want to do things by themselves to make their lives better."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f with files from Anita Li , Special to CTV.ca</I></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="Dec 09"><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= 250 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>No new commitments from U.S., China at summit</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Fri. Dec. 18  2009  08:22  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 18th, 2009</div> <div> <B>The U.S. and China are not offering any additional commitments to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions, in the latest diplomatic black eye suffered by the faltering UN climate conference in Copenhagen.</B></div> <bR> <div> By Friday morning, ongoing talks were in disarray, prompting an emergency meeting that was attended by 20 world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama. But Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao skipped the high-level meeting, sending an envoy in his place.</div> <bR> <div> Prime Minister Stephen Harper was not invited to attend the emergency meeting held Friday, according to a list of attendees provided by the White House. The Prime Minister's Office said he was at the Bella Center conference hall, attending the first plenary session.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <B><IMG SRC="e98ca07e0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="126" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> U.S. President Barack Obama speaks on the podium during the plenary session at the climate summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday, Dec. 18, 2009. (AP / Anja Niedringhaus)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 625 WIDTH="707"><div> On Friday, delegates from around the world blamed the U.S. and China for the lack of a political agreement they were expected to sign within hours. A growing tension between rich and poor countries has also undermined the ongoing negotiations.</div> <bR> <div> World leaders worked to negotiate a three-page draft text that they handed off to their ministers at about 3 a.m. local time. But two hours later, negotiators from Mexico, China and other developing countries said a final agreement was nowhere in sight.</div> <bR> <div> "It looks as if they really are on the cusp of failure here," CTV's Tom Kennedy told CTV's Canada AM from London.</div> <bR> <div> Swedish Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren said the impasse on Friday was caused partially by the Chinese "blocking again and again," and also by the U.S. putting forward an improved offer -- a long-range climate aid program announced by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday -- too late in the game.</div> <bR> <div> "It is now up to world leaders to decide," said Carlgren, who is negotiating on behalf of the 27-nation European Union.</div> <bR> <div> At the plenary session, Obama said the world's will to address climate change "hangs in the balance," and that any deal must include transparency among the 193 nations participating in the Copenhagen talks.</div> <bR> <div> The U.S. president urged countries to adopt the draft text brought forward in Copenhagen, which called for rich countries to spend $30 billion over the next three years to hope poor countries cope with the challenges of global warming. By 2010, that spending would ramp up to $100 billion per year.</div> <bR> <div> But the draft also called for negotiations on targets for emission cuts, to be hammered out by next December, when a climate conference will be held in Mexico City.</div> <bR> <div> Wen said China "will honour our word with real action."</div> <bR> <div> The Chinese premier said China's voluntary targets of reducing its carbon intensity by 40 to 45 per cent will require "tremendous efforts."</div> <bR> <div> But neither Wen, nor Obama, sought to deepen their pledges to cut emissions, despite the urgency of Friday's sessions in Copenhagen and the expectations of other countries.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f with files from The Associated Press and The Canadian 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="Dec 09"><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= 191 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Report: Tiger Woods' wife wants a divorce</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Dec. 16  2009  21:57  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 17th, 2009</div> <div> <B>Tiger Woods' wife is planning to leave him after numerous stories of his infidelity came to light in recent weeks, People magazine is reporting.</B></div> <bR> <div> "She plans to leave Tiger," a source close to Elin Nordegren told the magazine.</div> <bR> <div> "She's made up her mind. There's nothing to think about: he's never going to change," another source says in Friday's issue.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <B><IMG SRC="e977a0650.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="101" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> Tiger Woods, right, is joined by wife, Elin Nordegren, at the closing ceremonies for the Presidents Cup in San Francisco, Calif., on Oct. 11, 2009. (AP / Scot Tucker)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 430 WIDTH="707"><div> Earlier this week, photos showed Nordegren, 29, at a gas station without her wedding ring. The New York Post is reporting that movers were taking out large items from the couple's Florida home and Nordegren was giving them instructions.</div> <bR> <div> Additionally, People says a Florida divorce lawyer said that the Swedish-born former nanny met lawyers to discuss renegotiating her prenuptial agreement with the world-famous golfer.</div> <bR> <div> The Woods have two children, Sam, two, and Charlie, 10 months.</div> <bR> <div> Last week, Woods posted a statement on his website, saying his "infidelity" had caused great disappointment to his wife and children, and that he would take an indefinite break from golf.</div> <bR> <div> "I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try," he said.</div> <bR> <div> "After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person."</div> <bR> <div> The statement followed days of media scrutiny. Woods' troubles began on Nov. 27, when he crashed his Cadillac Escalade into a fire hydrant and tree in front of his suburban mansion in Orlando, Fla., at 2:30 a.m.</div> <bR> <div> Reports then surfaced of alleged infidelities; At least 11 women have come forward claiming they had an affair with the star golfer.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f 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="16"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Dec 09"><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>Mayon volcano in Philippines spews ash, lava</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Dec. 16  2009  06:30  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 16th, 2009</div> <div> <B>MANILA, Philippines — The Mayon volcano, which has blown its top nearly 40 times in 400 years, menaced nearby residents with small eruptions of ash and lava Wednesday as Philippine authorities moved more than 30,000 people to shelters in case of a larger eruption.</B></div> <bR> <div> Trickles of lava rolled down the 2,460-metre mountain towering over the Albay Gulf in the central Philippines, while five new ash explosions, one of them reaching 500 metres in the air, shook Mayon's steep slopes, said chief state volcanologist Renato Solidum.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <B><IMG SRC="e970a0600.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="96" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> Lava cascades down the slopes of Mayon volcano in Legazpi city, Albay province, at dawn Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009 about 500 kilometres south of Manila, Philippines. (AP / Nelson Salting)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 538 WIDTH="707"><div> During the day, the summit is shrouded in white clouds of dust and ash, and dark orange lava becomes clearly visible in the nighttime. Residents of Legazpi city on the foothills of the cone-shaped mountain converge in a downtown park at night to watch the spectacle from a safe distance.</div> <bR> <div> "There is the possibility that it can turn into the explosive phase of the eruption," Solidum told The Associated Press. "Right now, we cannot say for sure, but the initial phases of 2000, 2001 and 2006 eruptions are almost the same."</div> <bR> <div> Scientists raised the alert level on Mayon to two steps below a major eruption after ash explosions late Monday. Albay provincial authorities quickly started moving thousands of families from an eight-kilometre danger zone around the mountain.</div> <bR> <div> More than 30,000 had been transported out of the critical area by Wednesday, or 65 per cent of the targeted population, said Cedric Daep, head of the provincial disaster management office.</div> <bR> <div> "We have no more residents inside the danger zone. We are evacuating only those nearby," he said. Defence Secretary Norberto Gonzales had ordered a tight watch to prevent farmers from entering the zone, Daep said. The evacuation area includes three cities and five municipalities.</div> <bR> <div> "It is such a big area. The objective is zero casualty," he said.</div> <bR> <div> Residents in Albay are used to moving away from Mayon. Nearly 50,000 people live in the farming area.</div> <bR> <div> Mayon last erupted in 2006, when about 30,000 people were moved. Another eruption in 1993 killed 79 people.</div> <bR> <div> The first recorded eruption was in 1616 but the most destructive one came in 1814, killing more than 1,200 people and burying a town in mud. The ruins of the church in Cagsawa are among the Philippines' most iconic attractions.</div> <bR> <div> The Philippines lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where volcanic activity and earthquakes are common. About 22 out of 37 volcanos in the archipelago are active.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f 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="15"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Dec 09"><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>Hopes dim for new treaty from Copenhagen talks</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Dec. 15  2009  09:03  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 15th, 2009</div> <div> <B>With China and the United States sparring over who should cut greenhouse gas emissions, and who should pay, it's appearing more likely this week's climate talks in Copenhagen will end without a substantive treaty.</B></div> <bR> <div> China, considered a developing nation at the talks, says it needs aid from developed nations, such as the U.S., to make cuts to its emissions.</div> <bR> <div> The world's largest polluter is also resisting attempts from the U.S. and other nations to make their cuts binding and open to international scrutiny, rather than voluntary.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e963a07e0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="126" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A man speaks on his cell phone in front of a giant globe in the main venue hall of the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009. (AP / Virginia Mayo)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 753 WIDTH="707"><div> It's a bad omen for a week that started with developing countries temporarily boycotting the Copenhagen negotiations. The countries refused to participate further saying they feared industrial countries were backpedalling in their promises to cut greenhouse gases.</div> <bR> <div> After an hours-long standoff, the negotiations resumed later in the evening when developing nations were assured their objections would be heard. But deep divisions remain.</div> <bR> <div> With time running out on the two-week-long conference, the chances that a legally binding treaty will emerge have dimmed, with the focus now turning to the hope that a substantive political pact can be reached instead.</div> <bR> <div> "The next few days are crunch days," The Globe and Mail's Eric Reguly told CTV's Canada AM from Copenhagen. "But I suspect that with all these world leaders arriving, they've got to pull something out of a hat, and fast."</div> <bR> <div> More than 110 world leaders have begun to arrive for the conference. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was planning to arrive Tuesday -- a day earlier than planned -- to help push the talks forward. U.S. President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao are expected later this week.</div> <bR> <div> Reguly says with more than two years of preparation and talks, leaders are under pressure to make a deal during this high-level stage of the conference.</div> <bR> <div> "But it might be a deal so weak that it's merely a licence to keep these talks going somewhere else sometime next year," he noted.</div> <bR> <div> The largest stumbling block at the talks concerns the future of the Kyoto Protocol, which compels only 40 industrialized nations to limit greenhouse gas emissions.</div> <bR> <div> Developing nations want to extend the 1997 Protocol -- which binds the nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels until 2012 -- and then work out a separate new deal for poor nations.</div> <bR> <div> But most rich nations want to merge Kyoto into a single new accord obliging all nations to fight global warming.</div> <bR> <div> Conference president Connie Hedegaard said environment ministers already in Copenhagen worked late into the night Monday to resolve outstanding issues.</div> <bR> <div> "Ministers have to be very clear and focused over the next 48 hours if we are to make it," she said.</div> <bR> <div> Canada's environment minister Jim Prentice said he is still hopeful leaders can reach an agreement in principle by Friday.</div> <bR> <div> "That will make up the base and schedule from which will move forward in 2010 to arrive at an international treaty," he said. "That is our objective and we hope that our leaders will reach it on Thursday and Friday."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f 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="14"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Dec 09"><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>Cadbury launches defense against Kraft offer</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Dec. 14  2009  07:39  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 14th, 2009</div> <div> <B>LONDON — Cadbury PLC revealed Monday it has received approaches from rival suitors to Kraft Foods Inc. as the British candymaker launched a robust defense against the U.S. company's attempts to buy it "on the cheap" with a 9.8 billion pound (US$16.3 billion) hostile bid.</B></div> <bR> <div> Cadbury Chairman Roger Carr warned shareholders not to let Kraft "steal your company with its derisory offer" as the British chocolate and gum maker raised its long term performance targets to play up its position as a strong independent company.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e95ca0800.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="128" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> A Cadbury chocolate bar is seen for sale in a shop in London, on Feb. 25, 2009. (AP / Kirsty Wigglesworth)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 658 WIDTH="707"><div> The prospect of the 195-year-old company falling into foreign ownership has caused some consternation in Britain were it is a much-loved brand -- a member of Cadbury's founding family has been publicly critical and the country's leading labor union fears large-scale job losses.</div> <bR> <div> But Carr left open the door for some kind of tie-up as executives revealed that Cadbury had been approached by a number of other suitors, which they declined to name.</div> <bR> <div> Shares in Cadbury have shot up in recent weeks on the prospect of a bidding war following Kraft's unsolicited approach. CEO Todd Stitzer confirmed Monday that the company had received "indications of interest from third parties on possible business combinations."</div> <bR> <div> U.S. chocolate maker The Hershey Co. has previously said it was considering an offer alongside Italy's Ferrero International SA. Analysts have also suggested that Nestle SA may be interested, although the Swiss company has made no comment.</div> <bR> <div> "Two companies have publicly stated their interest in this company," Carr told analysts, adding that the board had made clear to both that Cadbury was not for sale, but would consider any offer that recognised the company's full value.</div> <bR> <div> "Nothing that matches that description has yet been received," Carr said. "I think there's an entry ticket price that one needs to pay ... we are a long, long, long way off that with the current position."</div> <bR> <div> Kraft -- the maker of Oreo cookies, Nabisco crackers and its namesake cheese -- took its cash and shares offer straight to shareholders of the British candy company earlier this month after the Cadbury board rejected an almost identical approach.</div> <bR> <div> The proposed deal, which would create a global giant with an estimated $50 billion in combined revenue, includes 300 pence in cash and 0.2589 new Kraft shares for each Cadbury share. That is worth 727 pence a share, based on the close of trading on Dec. 11.</div> <bR> <div> The stock was trading well above Kraft's bid price at 792 pence per share on Monday, up 0.25 percent.</div> <bR> <div> While Kraft CEO and chairman Irene Rosenfeld has argued the U.S. company's offer is a substantial premium to Cadbury's "unaffected" share price, analysts suggest Kraft would need to raise its offer to around 850 pence to even begin talks.</div> <bR> <div> "Kraft is trying to buy Cadbury on the cheap to provide much needed growth to their unattractive low-growth conglomerate business model," Carr told shareholders. "Don't let Kraft steal your company with its derisory offer."</div> <bR> <div> Kraft and others are attracted to Cadbury, the maker of Dairy Milk chocolate and Dentyne gum, for its strong international reach and key presence in emerging markets.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 389 WIDTH="707"><div> Cadbury ramped up its defense of that value on Monday by announcing new long term targets, including organic revenue growth of 5-7 percent per year, up from a previously forecast 4-6 percent, improved margins of 16-18 percent by 2013, up from "mid-teens" and double digit growth in dividends per share from 2010 onwards.</div> <bR> <div> In an accompanying trading update, Cadbury CEO Todd Stitzer said the company was planning for full year revenue growth "around the middle of our 4-6 percent goal range, and for an improvement of at least 135 basis points in constant currency trading margin."</div> <bR> <div> Some analysts have suggested those projections, at the top of the forecasts for the confectionary market, could be tough to achieve alone.</div> <bR> <div> "Whilst we have never regarded potential interest from Ferrero or Hershey as amounting to the likelihood of a competing hostile approach, some form of trading partnership could form part of a so-called "white knight" relationship designed to maintain the status quo in global confectionary manufacturing," said Charles Stanley analyst Jeremy Batstone-Carr.</div> <bR> <div> "Either that or alternatively the possibility of stake building in Cadbury aimed at effectively blocking Kraft from establishing the necessary shares to gain control once the offer period runs out," he added.</div> <bR> <div> Kraft has said it wants to get the majority shareholder votes by Jan. 5, but it can take until February to complete the process under regulations.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f 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="13"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Dec 09"><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= 166 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Church bells ring 350 times at Copenhagen meeting</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Dec. 13  2009  20:21  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 13th, 2009</div> <div> <B>Church bells rang out 350 times across Denmark and several other countries Sunday to encourage negotiators assembled in Copenhagen to reach a climate-change deal.</B></div> <bR> <div> The number 350 signifies the maximum concentration of carbon dioxide, in parts per million, that the atmosphere can support without causing destructive changes in weather patterns, according to scientists.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e95aa05a0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="90" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Demonstrators react as they are being detained by Danish riot police in the center of Copenhagen, Sunday Dec. 13, 2009. (AP / Thibault Camus)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 830 WIDTH="707"><div> "It's the most important number in the world," said Bill McKibben, who founded an environmental group called 350.org. "It's the line between habitability on this planet and a really, really desolate future."</div> <bR> <div> The planet surpassed that concentration of carbon dioxide in 1989, and rose above 390 ppm in 2009. However, some climate scientists say the harshest effects of climate change can be avoided with a target higher than 350.</div> <bR> <div> Although Sunday was a day off for delegates at the historic climate change summit, more than 40 environment ministers met for informal talks at the Danish Foreign Ministry. They discussed issues such as cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and financial aid for developing nations to help them combat climate change.</div> <bR> <div> Meanwhile, local police cracked down on environmental protesters.</div> <bR> <div> More than 200 people were detained on Sunday as riot police halted an unauthorized march that tried to make its way to the Copenhagen harbour, according to police spokesperson Flemming Steen Munch.</div> <bR> <div> Police conducted security checks of some of the protesters, Munch said, and found bolt-cutters and gas masks during the search of a truck that led the demonstration.</div> <bR> <div> The latest arrests came hours after police announced that they released most of the nearly 1,000 protesters detained Saturday during a mass climate-change demonstration.</div> <bR> <div> Police said only 13 of the 968 people detained during Saturday's protest remained in custody on Sunday. Three are scheduled to appear in court to face charges of fighting with police.</div> <bR> <div> Police estimated 40,000 people marched through the city to the suburban conference centre where the talks are taking place.</div> <bR> <div> While the protest was largely peaceful, dozens of riot police were on hand to manage the crowd. They arrested activists who they say were near the back of the crowd of marchers when they began to vandalize buildings.</div> <bR> <div> Police say windows were broken at the former stock exchange and at the Foreign Ministry.</div> <bR> <div> An officer suffered minor injuries when he was hit by a rock, while a protester was injured by fireworks, Munch said. </div> <div> Protest organizers criticized the arrests.</div> <bR> <div> "They have arrested 1,000 people, and they only followed up on 3 of them," protest spokesperson Ida Thuesen said. "There are lots of people who haven't done anything and had no intention of doing anything."</div> <bR> <div> Also on Sunday, Christian leaders from around the world held an ecumenical service devoted to climate change.</div> <bR> <div> The service was led by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams at Copenhagen's Lutheran cathedral.</div> <bR> <div> Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa was also present, alongside religious leaders from Tuvalu, Zambia, Mexico, Greenland and Denmark.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f 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="Dec 09"><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>Gillette 'limiting' Tiger Woods' role in ads</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Dec. 12  2009  17:33  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 12th, 2009</div> <div> <B>Gillette has become the first major corporate sponsor to step away from Tiger Woods as he deals with the aftermath of his infidelities.</B></div> <bR> <div> The company's announcement to limit Woods' role in its advertisements comes a day after Woods announced he would take an "indefinite leave" from professional golf to repair the damage done to his marriage and family life.</div> <bR> <div> The superstar golfer has been embroiled in accusations of cheating on his wife for the past two weeks after a bizarre late-night car accident drew attention to Woods' personal affairs.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e958a07e0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="126" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> In an image provided by Gillette, Golfer Tiger Woods helps launch the Gillette Fusion Power Gamer razor in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 3, 2009. (AP / Gillette, Phelan M. Ebenhack)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 744 WIDTH="707"><div> Woods features in ad campaigns for brands ranging from Nike to Gatorade to AT&T. Gillette, which has featured Woods in razor ads since 2007 alongside fellow international superstars like Derek Jeter and Thierry Henry, will immediately start phasing him out of campaigns.</div> <bR> <div> "As Tiger takes a break from the public eye, we will support his desire for privacy by limiting his role in our marketing programs," Gillette said Saturday.</div> <bR> <div> Nike has stood by Woods, who has served as the cornerstone of its $650 million golf enterprise, while AT&T is still evaluating whether or not it will continue with Woods as a spokesperson.</div> <bR> <div> Woods yesterday released a statement on his personal website asking for forgiveness and expressing his desire to remove himself from the public eye and repair relationships with his family.</div> <bR> <div> Delta Media Communications and Image Consultant Bernie Gauthier told CTV News Channel that Tiger now has the right idea in speaking publically and honestly.</div> <bR> <div> "He finally released the kind of statement that he should have released two weeks ago," he said. "He has to show people that he's sincere when he says he wants to rebuild his family and rebuild his life. He can't do that and be a professional golfer."</div> <bR> <div> Gauthier added that had Woods made the statement earlier, coverage of the incident may have been kinder to Woods' image.</div> <bR> <div> "His first statement was very evasive and so what it did (was) it basically waved a red cape to the bull, and all of a sudden, all the world's media and all the tabloids wanted to prove him wrong. There was this feeding frenzy," he said. "Now he's got it right."</div> <bR> <div> Gillette ads featuring Woods haven't aired in prime-time since a Gillette spot on Nov. 29, according to the research firm Nielsen Co.</div> <bR> <div> As Woods' Gillette ads expire, they will not be renewed. The company said it did not mean they were severing ties with Woods. Company reps declined to comment on when Woods would return to its marketing campaign, and would not say whether that would be linked with the timing of Woods' comeback, if and when he returns to professional golf.</div> <bR> <div> Gauthier believes that Woods should take a slow approach to re-entering the spotlight and should resist the temptation to immediately sit down for high profile interviews on the talk show circuit.</div> <bR> <div> "He needs to do the interview when he feels that he and his family are ready," he said. He advised Woods to "get out of the public eye. Try to heal your family... and then just as you're ready to re-emerge, you must do the interview, ideally with (your) wife at (your) side."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f </I></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="Dec 09"><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= 250 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Blackwater guards took part in CIA raids: report</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Fri. Dec. 11  2009  06:36  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 11th, 2009</div> <div> <B>WASHINGTON — Private security guards working for Blackwater USA participated in clandestine CIA raids against suspected insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, The New York Times reported Thursday.</B></div> <bR> <div> Blackwater's role points to a much deeper connection between the company and the spy agency than has been previously disclosed and raises concerns over the legalities of involving contractors in the most sensitive operations conducted by the U.S. government.</div> <bR> <div> The "snatch and grab" raids took place regularly between 2004 and 2006, the Times reported, when the insurgency in Iraq was escalating and security throughout the country was deteriorating.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e950a05a0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="90" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> n this July 28, 2008 photo, Blackwater Worldwide's headquarters is seen in Moyock, N.C. Private security guards working for Blackwater USA participated in clandestine CIA raids against suspected insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, The New York Times reported Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009 (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 501 WIDTH="707"><div> A U.S. official confirmed to The Associated Press that Blackwater provided security and moved around with CIA teams on missions in war zones, but he denied they performed CIA missions. CIA Director Leon Panetta ordered a review several months ago of the company's contracts to be sure its guards only perform security-related work, the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly.</div> <bR> <div> CIA spokesman George Little said, "This agency, like many others, uses contractors in roles that complement and enhance the skills of our own work force, just as American law permits."</div> <bR> <div> "Agency staff officers have the decision-making authority and bear responsibility for results," Little said.</div> <bR> <div> Blackwater, based in North Carolina, changed its corporate name to Xe Services after a series of use-of-force controversies, including a September 2007 shooting in Baghdad by five company security guards that left 17 civilians dead.</div> <bR> <div> The Times also reported that former Blackwater employees said they helped provide security on CIA flights that transported detainees.</div> <bR> <div> Messages seeking comment left with Xe representatives were not immediately returned late Thursday.</div> <bR> <div> The report comes as the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee is investigating the agency's hiring of Blackwater to be part of a program to kill or capture al-Qaida leaders. The death squad program had several lives over an eight-year period before it was cancelled Panetta in June. The CIA has said the effort yielded no successes.</div> <bR> <div> The CIA has been reducing its reliance on the use of contractors over the past few years.</div> <bR> <div> The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks occurred after a contraction of the CIA in the post-Cold War period and which compelled the agency to hire contractors to rapidly fill its ranks for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f 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="10"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Dec 09"><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>1,700 U.K. scientists back climate science</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Dec. 10  2009  06:41  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 10th, 2009</div> <div> <B>LONDON — Over 1,700 scientists in Britain have signed a statement defending the evidence for human-made climate change in the wake of hacked e-mails that emboldened climate skeptics.</B></div> <bR> <div> E-mails stolen from an English university appeared to show scientists discussing ways to shield data from public scrutiny and suppress others' work. Climate skeptics -- those who deny that human activity is responsible for global warming -- have seized on the correspondence as evidence that scientists have conspired to hide the facts.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <B><IMG SRC="e94aa05a0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="90" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> A worker looks as he labours in front of office building shrouded in smog in Beijing Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. (AP / Andy Wong).</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 107 WIDTH="707"><div> Most scientists say the e-mails do nothing to undermine the evidence for climate change.</div> <bR> <div> More than 1,700 signed a statement released Thursday, saying they had confidence in the evidence for global warming "and the scientific basis for concluding that it is due primarily to human activities."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f 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="09"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Dec 09"><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= 233 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Storm dumps snow in Ont., moving towards Que.</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Dec. 09  2009  08:20  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 9th, 2009</div> <div> <B>A low pressure storm system has dumped snow on parts of southern and eastern Ontario, and is making its way into Quebec and towards Atlantic Canada.</B></div> <bR> <div> The storm, which has already been blamed for five deaths in the United States, left many people in southern Ontario waking up to the first significant snowfall of the season on Wednesday morning.</div> <bR> <div> Accumulations of about 5 centimetres of snow were expected for Toronto and its surrounding areas, with greater amounts of snowfall further north. Strong easterly winds of up to 60 kilometres per hour were predicted by Environment Canada.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e946a07e0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="126" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> It's a snowy morning on Keele Street in Toronto as the first storm of the season hit southern Ontario, early Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 302 WIDTH="707"><div> In Toronto, almost 50 flights were cancelled at Pearson International Airport by the early morning and police across southern Ontario were busy responding to numerous collisions on highways and roads.</div> <bR> <div> Further east in Ontario, the snowfall caused school bus cancellations in several counties, including Hastings, Prince Edward, Peterborough, Northumberland, Lennox and Addington and Frontenac. About 15 centimetres of snow was expected to fall on the Ottawa Valley by Wednesday evening.</div> <bR> <div> Environment Canada reports that the storm will intensify as it makes its way into Quebec.</div> <bR> <div> The government weather agency predicts that the snow will be heavy at times in Southwestern Quebec this morning, and it will spread toward Central Quebec during the day and into Eastern Quebec this evening. Those living in the St. Lawrence Valley could see up to 35 centimetres as a result of the storm. Other parts of the province will likely see between 15 and 25 centimetres.</div> <bR> <div> The storm will likely hit parts of Atlantic Canada by Wednesday evening.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f 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="08"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Dec 09"><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>N.S. school uplifted by news of boy's survival</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Dec. 08  2009  08:29  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 8th, 2009</div> <div> <B>A young Cape Breton boy who spent two days in the woods remains in hospital on Tuesday morning, while his community awaits word of his condition.</B></div> <bR> <div> James Delorey was found early Monday afternoon in a heavily wooded area in South Bar, N.S., just north of Sydney.</div> <bR> <div> The seven-year-old autistic boy had been missing since Saturday, when he followed his dog -- a Dalmation-mix named Chance -- into the woods. Delorey was without a winter jacket, mittens or hat when he left his house and a snowstorm hit the area shortly after he disappeared.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e93fa07e0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="126" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> James Delorey, 7, is shown in this Cape Breton Regional Police handout photo.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 716 WIDTH="707"><div> The boy's dog returned home on Monday without Delorey. Searchers found the boy a short time later, suffering from hypothermia after spending two days outdoors in the cold.</div> <bR> <div> Temperatures dipped as low as -3 C on Monday and parts of the region received as much as 15 centimetres of snow.</div> <bR> <div> Delorey was so weak when he was found that rescue teams and medical workers had to stabilize him before he could be moved from the area. A path also had to be cleared through the thick brush to get him through to a waiting LifeFlight helicopter.</div> <bR> <div> He was in critical condition when flown to the IWK Health Centre in Halifax on Monday.</div> <bR> <div> Health officials have not said how he is faring as of Tuesday, though they promised that an update will be provided later today.</div> <bR> <div> "It's fair to say that at this point, they likely have his core body temperature returned to normal. That should give doctors some indication of how strong his heart is," CTV's Atlantic Bureau Chief, Todd Battis, told CTV's Canada AM on Tuesday morning.</div> <bR> <div> "We know that he is suffering extreme hypothermia ... so he's not out of trouble yet."</div> <bR> <div> Chief Myles Burke of Cape Breton Regional Police said the boy's parents were extremely thankful for the support they received from the community.</div> <bR> <div> At Harbourside Elementary School, principal Paul MacDonald said Delorey's teachers and classmates were thrilled to learn that he had been found alive.</div> <bR> <div> "The staff and students were pretty down over the last couple of days, and when word came yesterday that they had found him and that there was a weak pulse, the mood of the school changed dramatically. Everybody was very happy," MacDonald told Canada AM during an interview from Sydney.</div> <bR> <div> But he said students and staff are guarded in their optimism, as they know that Delorey has a long road ahead of him if he is to survive his ordeal.</div> <bR> <div> "Hopefully, things will get better as the day goes on," MacDonald said.</div> <bR> <div> MacDonald said Delorey began attending the school in September. He is in his first year at the school and is part of a small class with five other boys.</div> <bR> <div> "James is a big part of the school. He's a very friendly boy. Even though he is non-verbal, he can communicate in other ways," MacDonald said.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 178 WIDTH="707"><div> "He likes going down to the cafeteria and he likes walking around the school. And he's very lucky that he has a very supportive teacher and TAs in the classroom, so we make him feel very welcome and he seems to enjoy the school even though he can't express himself all the time."</div> <bR> <div> The fact that Delorey is non-verbal affected the way police searched for him.</div> <bR> <div> Searchers on the ground were instructed by officials to coax the boy by offering his favourite food -- pizza -- and by saying: "Come on, let's go see Mummy."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f 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="07"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Dec 09"><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>Harper: Canada must look to East for economic growth</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Mon. Dec. 07  2009  08:40  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 7th, 2009</div> <div> <B>Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Monday that Canada must expand its economic horizons and look eastward for new opportunities as traditional Western trading partners see their economic clout dwindle.</B></div> <bR> <div> Harper made the comments in Seoul, South Korea on Monday as he wrapped up his tour of Asia.</div> <bR> <div> He also officially announced that Canada will co-host the G20 summit in Toronto next June, along with South Korea.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e93ba0620.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="98" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> South Korean President Lee Myung-bak speaks as Prime Minister Stephen Harper listens during a joint press conference after their meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday, Dec. 7, 2009. (AP / Jung Yeon-je)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 849 WIDTH="707"><div> Harper said that while the U.S. and Europe struggle to recover from the global recession and are expected to face a period of continued slow growth, Asia is becoming the world's new economic engine.</div> <bR> <div> "We have every reason to believe that the markets in the United States and Europe ... will probably experience continued slower growth for some time to come," Harper said.</div> <bR> <div> "So the great opportunity is obviously in the Asia-Pacific region."</div> <bR> <div> Unlike his visit to China earlier in the tour, Harper made no major breakthroughs with the South Koreans during his one-day visit.</div> <bR> <div> He did, however, address the national assembly -- becoming the first Canadian prime minister to do so.</div> <bR> <div> However, only about two-thirds of the members showed up for the speech.</div> <bR> <div> During the talk he focused on historic ties between Canada and North Korea and suggested Canada has a "privileged" relationship with the region. He also said Canada has the natural resources that Asia needs to fuel its economic surge -- something most other Western nations lack.</div> <bR> <div> Both Harper and Korea's President Lee Myung-bak promised to strengthen their efforts to reach a comprehensive trade agreement -- an elusive goal in recent years.</div> <bR> <div> They also promised to work on removing a South Korean ban on Canadian beef that has been in place for six years.</div> <bR> <div> Harper said the two countries could become a model to the world of successful and mutually beneficial East-West economic relations.</div> <bR> <div> Elliot Tepper, a professor at Carleton University, said Canada and South Korea are in a unique position due to the fact they will co-host G20 meeting next year.</div> <bR> <div> "Those two meetings are going to help shape the global economic governance for the foreseeable future so Canada has become a key economic player and Asia is a key part of that," Tepper told CTV's Canada AM.</div> <bR> <div> While in South Korea, Harper visited the 248 kilometre-long piece of land known as the demilitarized zone along the border with North Korea, which was established when the two sides declared a truce at the end of the Korean War.</div> <bR> <div> Harper entered the DMZ flanked by government officials and a number of soldiers, and visited the blue soldier barracks known as Conference Row.</div> <bR> <div> While inside the barracks, the prime minister technically stepped into Communist North Korea, while two North Korean soldiers looked on through a window.</div> <bR> <div> Earlier in the day, Harper paid tribute to the 27,000 Canadians who served in Korea, and the 516 who died there.</div> <bR> <div> He also laid a wreath at the grave of an Ontario veterinarian who went to Korea in 1916 as a Presbyterian missionary.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f </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="Dec 09"><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>Canadians mark solemn anniversary of Montreal massacre</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sun. Dec. 06  2009  18:55  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 6th, 2009</div> <div> <B>Canadians attended ceremonies and services across the country today to remember the 14 women slain by a gunman 20 years ago in Canada's worst mass shooting.</B></div> <bR> <div> About 300 people convened in a Montreal park to honour the victims, who were gunned down by Marc Lepine at the Universite de Montreal's Ecole polytechnique on Dec. 6, 1989.</div> <bR> <div> Women's groups in Montreal formed a human chain, and were joined by some of the survivors of that tragic day.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e939a05a0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="90" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Women and men hold candles and the names of victims at a memorial service in London, Ontario, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. (Dave Chidley / THE CANADIAN PRESS)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 809 WIDTH="707"><div> Nathalie Provost was shot four times when Lepine walked into an engineering class carrying a .223-calibre Sturm-Ruger rifle and opened fire. Over a 20-minute rampage, Lepine wounded 13 other people -- nine women and four men -- before turning his gun on himself.</div> <bR> <div> Provost met the two ambulance paramedics who helped save her life.</div> <bR> <div> "Do you remember holding my hand and screaming in the ambulance?" one of the paramedics asked. "No, I don't," was the reply.</div> <bR> <div> Provost, graduated from the Polytechnique and became a mechanical engineer and is now employed as a director of strategic planning in the Quebec civil service.</div> <bR> <div> She famously confronted Lepine before she was shot, saying, "We are not feminists" and tried to reason with him. </div> <div> Lepine was angry at "feminists" who he blamed for his problems.</div> <bR> <div> The shooting led to tougher gun-control laws, including the federal long gun registry, which MPs voted in principle last month to end.</div> <bR> <div> Provost, like many of the other victims and their families, has spoken out against the move.</div> <bR> <div> "A firearm is a dangerous object. We register cars and need a licence for them. I don't see why it's scandalous to ask people to register and get a licence for firearms," she told the <I>Globe and Mail</I>.</div> <bR> <div> Jim Edward lost his sister, Anne-Marie Edward, to Levine's bullets, and lobbied for the long gun registry.</div> <bR> <div> "Twenty years later, the hurt's still there in a certain way, I still miss Anne-Marie," he told CTV Montreal.</div> <bR> <div> On Sunday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who is travelling in Asia, called the massacre "one of the most tragic acts of violence against women in our country's history."</div> <bR> <div> "Soon after this tragedy, a powerful resolve grew out of a simple statement to 'first mourn, then work for change,'" Harper said. "As we mark the 20th anniversary of this tragic event, Canadians remain committed to preventing and eliminating violence against women while making our communities safer for all of us."</div> <bR> <div> Conservatives have long argued the registry is a waste of taxpayer dollars and unfairly targets honest gun owners. However, the registry has wide support among Canadian law enforcement officials, who argue it has cut down on some gun violence and leads to more responsible gun ownership.</div> <bR> <div> In early November, a private member's bill to kill the registry was passed by a vote of 164 to 137. The bill must next undergo a Commons committee review, which could lead to amendments.</div> <bR> <div> Supporters of the registry, particularly law enforcement officials in Quebec and family members of Lepine's victims, have spoken out in favour of keeping the registry.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f </I><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="05"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Dec 09"><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= 221 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Missing T.O. baby ruled abduction; Amber Alert pending</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Sat. Dec. 05  2009  14:48  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 5th, 2009</div> <div> <B>Toronto police say the case of a missing baby who was allegedly taken from his family apartment by a teenage girl Friday night is now a criminal kidnapping investigation.</B></div> <bR> <div> Kamren Cunningham, who is 10-months-old, was last on Friday night with a 14-year-old girl.</div> <bR> <div> The girl was temporarily staying with the boy and his mother, police say.</div> <bR> <div> The two left the boy's home in the Jane Street and Lawrence Avenue West area between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Friday, police said.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <B><IMG SRC="e937a08e0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="142" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> Kamren Cunningham was last seen in the Jane Street and Lawrence Avenue West area on Dec. 4, 2009. (Toronto Police Services)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 476 WIDTH="707"><div> "We now believe this to be an abduction," said Toronto Police Supt. Brody Smollet Saturday afternoon.</div> <bR> <div> "We believe at this point and time that the child could be at risk."</div> <bR> <div> The teen girl was last seen pushing the infant in a Greco-brand beige and black checkered stroller, carrying a diaper bag.</div> <bR> <div> The boy is described as black with curly black hair. He was last seen wearing a black Rocawear jacket, red and white Jordan shoes, a grey toque and black mittens.</div> <bR> <div> The teenage girl can't be identified because she is a youth.</div> <bR> <div> Police are doing door-to-door searches in the family's apartment building, but have yet to come up with any leads.</div> <bR> <div> "Without getting that child home as soon as we can, we're concerned that some harm could come to that 10-month-old baby," Smollet said.</div> <bR> <div> "We hope that wherever she is, she's safe and warm," he added, referring to the teen.</div> <bR> <div> Anyone who sees either of the two should call Toronto Police at 416-808-1200.</div> <bR> <div> Earlier in the day, the case was described as a missing persons incident. An Amber Alert has yet to be issued, but Smollet said that it was only a matter of time.</div> <bR> <div> "The Amber Alert is going to be a matter of protocol," he said.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f </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="Dec 09"><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= 175 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Huge study finds cellphones don't raise tumour risk</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Dec. 03  2009  22:08  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 4th, 2009</div> <div> <B>A massive long-term study designed to answer the question of whether cellphones cause brain tumours has offered some reassuring answers.</B></div> <bR> <div> The study, which tracked the rate of brain tumors among Scandinavian people between 1974 and 2003, found no evidence that the increased use of cell phones during that time led to higher brain tumour rates.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e92ea07e0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="126" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The study tracked 60 million people in Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 725 WIDTH="707"><div> "We did not observe an effect of mobile phones on the incidence of brain tumours," Prof. Isabelle Deltour told CTV News.</div> <bR> <div> Deltour, of the Institute of Cancer Epidemiology at the Danish Cancer Society in Copenhagen, led a study that tracked 16 million people in Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.</div> <bR> <div> The team observed what happened to rates of glioma and meningioma brain tumours over 30 years, just as cell phones were introduced and their use exploded.</div> <bR> <div> Just 60,000 people developed brain tumours, a rate that is not considered out of the ordinary, the authors report in the prestigious Journal of the National Cancer Institute.</div> <bR> <div> "If there was a connection we would have expected a sudden marked increase in the rates, especially among younger males, which were the first to start using mobile phones. And we don't see that," Deltour said.</div> <bR> <div> The authors say their finding may be due to one of several reasons:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">- the period needed for cell phones to cause brain tumours was longer than the period studied</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">- the increased risk in this population is too small to be observed</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">- the increased risk is restricted to just certain cell phone users</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007700c8ffffff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">- or there is no increased risk at all</div> <bR> <div> Those who speak for the cell phone industry say they will continue to monitor other cell phone and cancer studies underway.</div> <bR> <div> "We consider our products to be safe, we use them ourselves and our families do too and we want to continue to make sure they are safe," says Bernard Lord of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association.</div> <bR> <div> Even the scientists who conducted this study say longer-term studies are still needed and they will continue to monitor brain cancer rates, to see if it perhaps takes longer to detect changes in tumour rates.</div> <bR> <div> Other scientists are waiting for a huge international study coming out next year that they say will be the definitive word on whether cell phones are linked to brain cancer.</div> <bR> <div> "The story is not concluded," says Prof. Daniel Krewski of the McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment at the University of Ottawa.</div> <bR> <div> Krewski added that the scientific community is eagerly awaiting the results of a World Health Organization study, which is expected in the coming months.</div> <bR> <div> Still, for now, it is a bit of reassuring news, about a piece of technology that has become a fixture of modern living.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f </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="Dec 09"><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>Murder trial of U.S. student in Italy nears end</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Thu. Dec. 03  2009  06:13  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 3rd, 2009</div> <div> <B>PERUGIA, Italy — Lawyers for American student Amanda Knox had their last chance Thursday to convince a jury she is innocent of the murder of her British roommate.</B></div> <bR> <div> The session in the courtroom in Perugia was set aside for rebuttals by prosecutors as well as by lawyers for Knox and her Italian former boyfriend, who is also accused of murdering Meredith Kercher.</div> <bR> <div> Knox and co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito insist they are innocent.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <IMG SRC="e928a0630.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="99" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> U.S. murder suspect Amanda Knox, right, is followed by Italian murder suspect Raffaele Sollecito as they arrive for an audience in Perugia, Italy, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009. (AP / Stefano Medici)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 699 WIDTH="707"><div> Kercher was found fatally stabbed in the neck in November 2007 in her bedroom at the rented home she shared with Knox in Perugia. Kercher, Knox and Sollecito were all students in the Umbrian university town.</div> <bR> <div> A verdict by the eight-member jury, which includes two judges, in the nearly yearlong trial could come as soon as Friday.</div> <bR> <div> Escorted by prison guards, Knox looked tense as she came to the courtroom, where one of the prosecutors, Manuela Comodi was opening the day's proceedings with another appeal to the court to convict the two defendants.</div> <bR> <div> Defence lawyers have a chance to counter the prosecutors' arguments when they address the court on Thursday afternoon.</div> <bR> <div> While often smiling during much of the trial, the weight of two years in jail and the possibility of a conviction and a life sentence appeared to have taken their toll on Knox. She recently wept as she proclaimed her innocence before the court.</div> <bR> <div> Prosecutors have requested a life sentence for Knox and Sollecito on charges they sexually assaulted and murdered Kercher, who shared a rented house with the American and other students in Perugia.</div> <bR> <div> Both Knox, a 22-year-old student from Seattle, and Sollecito, an Italian who was her boyfriend at the time, have pleaded innocent.</div> <bR> <div> Knox's eyes swelled with tears and her voice was broken when she stood up in front of the jury last month to say that accusations that she murdered Kercher were "pure fantasy."</div> <bR> <div> She insists Kercher was a friend whose death shocked her.</div> <bR> <div> The prosecutors have told the court a different story, depicting Knox and Kercher as two people who had grown apart. Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini said Knox was harbouring hatred toward Kercher, whom Knox saw as a "smug girl." He said Knox wanted to get back at Kercher for saying she was not clean and calling her promiscuous.</div> <bR> <div> The murder, with its brutality and sordid details of sex and drugs among university students, have made headlines worldwide, bringing TV cameras to this usually quiet town.</div> <bR> <div> The prosecutors contend that on the night of the murder, Nov. 1, 2007, Knox and Sollecito met at the apartment where Kercher and Knox lived. They say a fourth person was there, Ivory Coast citizen Rudy Hermann Guede.</div> <bR> <div> Guede has already been convicted of murder and sexual assault in separate proceedings, receiving a 30-year sentence. He is appealing his conviction, acknowledging he was in the house the night of the murder but insisting he did not kill Kercher.</div> <bR> <div> According to the prosecution, Kercher and Knox started arguing and then the three brutally attacked the Briton and sexually assaulted her. They were acting, Mignini said, under "the fumes of drugs and possibly alcohol."</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 451 WIDTH="707"><div> Kercher's body, her throat slit, was found in a pool of blood the next day at the apartment. Prosecutors say Knox and Sollecito broke a window in a bedroom to fake a burglary and sidetrack the investigation.</div> <bR> <div> Prosecutors have failed to produce conclusive forensic evidence.</div> <bR> <div> They have said that a knife with a 16.5-centimetre blade they found at Sollecito's house could be the weapon. The knife has Kercher's DNA on the blade and Knox's on the handle, they say.</div> <bR> <div> But defence lawyers argue that the knife is too big to match Kercher's wounds and that the amount of what prosecutors say is Kercher's DNA is too low to be attributed with certainty.</div> <bR> <div> Prosecutors also maintain Sollecito's DNA was found on the clasp of Kercher's bra, although his defence team contends that the evidence might have been inadvertently contaminated during the investigation.</div> <bR> <div> A bloody footprint found on a bathroom rug in the house was also attributed to Sollecito by the prosecutors, but forensic experts testifying for his defence have argued it doesn't match the size and shape of Sollecito's foot.</div> <bR> <div> Knox and Sollecito were arrested shortly after the slaying.</div> <bR> <div> The defence has largely focused on the lack of evidence and what they say is the absence of a clear motive.</div> <bR> <div> Knox's lawyer, Carlo Dalla Vedova, said in his closing arguments that "there are still many doubts in this trial." He said that the DNA evidence cannot be attributed "beyond any doubt."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f 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="Dec 09"><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= 477 WIDTH="540"><div> <B>Obama's troop withdrawal, Afghan plan questioned</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Wed. Dec. 02  2009  09:53  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 2nd, 2009</div> <div> <B>U.S. President Barack Obama's plan to beef up troop levels in Afghanistan has won the approval of his top military commander in that country, though critics at home and abroad say it is unclear whether he has unveiled a roadmap to ultimate success.</B></div> <bR> <div> Obama announced Tuesday evening that he will send 30,000 more U.S. troops into Afghanistan next year, to resuscitate a deteriorating state of affairs and to speed up the process of handling over responsibility to Afghan security forces.</div> <bR> <div> The president said the U.S. could start pulling its troops out of the war-torn country as soon as July 2011, but only if the conditions are right. And he reiterated that the United States' core goal is to disable the al Qaeda terror network.</div> <bR> <div> Shortly after the announcement, U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal said he was "absolutely supportive of the timeline" outlined by the president. He said the remaining time would be used to shore up the capabilities and build the confidence of the Afghan troops who will be in charge of security when NATO and U.S. troops leave.</div> <bR> <div> McChrystal said the U.S. and its partners need to break the will of the Taliban to convince them that they cannot win. And they must "convince them that the reasons that they are participating are not valid," by tackling corruption and improving governance.</div> <bR> <div> Scott Taylor, the editor of <I>Esprit de Corps</I> magazine, said Obama's decision to increase troop levels was undoubtedly influenced by an August report from McChrystal that suggested the war was "deteriorating" and could be lost without additional backup.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <B><IMG SRC="e922a0870.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="135" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="e924a07e0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="126" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> A CodePink demonstrator holds up a sign as U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen prepares to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009. (AP / Pablo Martinez Monsivais)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 765 WIDTH="707"><div> That report, which was leaked to the <I>Washington Post</I> in late September, put pressure on the president to listen to the general's concerns, Taylor said.</div> <bR> <div> "Ultimately, Barack Obama didn't have much of a choice if he doesn't want to be the president who lost the war," he told CTV's Canada during an interview from Ottawa on Tuesday morning.</div> <bR> <div> The shift in U.S. troop levels comes immediately after NATO announced new plans to redistribute the existing soldiers working in Afghanistan. Americans will be assuming responsibility for the security of the area surrounding Kandahar city, while Canadians will take over the security just north of that city in the Arghandab district.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Critics question troop withdrawal timeline</B></div> <bR> <div> Alex Their, of the United States Institute for Peace, said the president made a compelling case to the American people for the continued and increased use of the U.S. military in Afghanistan. But it is unclear if they are convinced that the U.S. can be successful.</div> <bR> <div> "I think that the critical piece that probably needs more emphasis is the civilian side -- not only how do we deal with the security challenge of the Taliban, but how do we ultimately build an Afghan government that is strong enough to stand on its own," he told Canada AM during an interview from Washington.</div> <bR> <div> Afghans and U.S. soldiers alike had questions about exactly how the president's plan will play out -- whether increased troop numbers will lead to an upswell of insurgent violence and how soon the Afghan government will be ready to stand on its own.</div> <bR> <div> "I am asking America 'What did you do for the last eight years against your enemies? You have killed Afghans and your enemies have killed Afghans. It seems you are weak and the enemy is strong. Will you defeat the enemy this time?" asked Kandahar resident Haji Anwar Khan.</div> <bR> <div> U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Philip M. Hauser, an explosive demolition expert, said he is "truly happy" to hear that American soldiers will be heading home, eventually.</div> <bR> <div> But Sgt. Andrew Spano with the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, wondered whether to bank on the beginnings of a U.S. pullout in 18 months.</div> <bR> <div> "What does that really mean?" he asked.</div> <bR> <div> In the Afghan government, Interior Minister Hanif Atmar lauded Obama's speech but said the 18-month timeframe was too short.</div> <bR> <div> "That kind of time frame will give us momentum," Atmar said. "We are hoping that there will be clarity in terms of long-term growth needs of the Afghan national security forces and what can be achieved in 18 months."</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f 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="01"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A><A HREF="#top" TITLE="Dec 09"><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>Suspect in Seattle police killings shot dead</B></div> <div> Web Posted | Last Updated Tue. Dec. 01  2009  08:37  ET</div> <div> Giant Dwarf Posted: December 1st, 2009</div> <div> <B>A massive two-day manhunt has ended in Seattle after police shot and killed a man suspected of killing four police officers at a suburban coffee shop.</B></div> <bR> <div> Maurice Clemmons, 37, died in a Seattle neighbourhood early Tuesday, after police tracked him down using leads supplied by Pierce County investigators, said Ed Troyer, a spokesperson for the county sheriff.</div> <bR> <div> Troyer told Fox News that a single officer found Clemmons and shot and killed him.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="165"><div> <B><IMG SRC="e803a05a0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="90" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> In this photo provided by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department shows Maurice Clemmons, person of interest in the killing of four Lakewood Police officers in Parkland, Wash., Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009.</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 786 WIDTH="707"><div> Clemmons is suspected of killing Lakewood police Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39, and Officers Ronald Owens, 37; Tina Griswold, 40; and Greg Richards, 42, during an ambush on Sunday in Lakewood, Wash., a suburb about 55 kilometres south of Seattle.</div> <bR> <div> The officers were slain while they were working on laptops inside a Forza Coffee Company outlet. Authorities said employees and other customers were spared from the violence.</div> <bR> <div> Police later issued first-degree murder warrants for Clemmons, who has a long criminal history. They later revealed that he had been shot in the torso by one of the dying officers.</div> <bR> <div> The motive for the shootings is still unclear, though Troyer told the <I>Tacoma News-Tribune</I> Clemmons indicated the night before the shooting "that he was going to shoot police and watch the news."</div> <bR> <div> On Sunday, police surrounded a house where they believed Clemmons was hiding. But when they entered it in the early hours of Monday morning, he was not inside.</div> <bR> <div> It is believed that Clemmons evaded police through assistance from friends and family members. Officers later detained a sister of Clemmons who they think treated the gunshot wound the suspect sustained in the coffee shop incident.</div> <bR> <div> On Tuesday, police tracked Clemmons down and shot him dead. Police officers were seen shaking hands and patting eachother on the back, after reaching the end of one of the largest manhunts in the region's history.</div> <bR> <div> As the investigation continues into Clemmons' actions, questions are being raised as to why he was paroled from prison earlier this decade.</div> <bR> <div> Clemmons had been serving a 108-year sentence for a teenage crime spree, but was released in 2000 after the Governor of Arkansas -- then Mike Huckabee -- commuted his sentence. Clemmons quickly returned to prison for a parole violation, but he was released again in 2004.</div> <bR> <div> "This guy should have never been on the street," said Brian D. Wurts, president of the police union in Lakewood. "Our elected officials need to find out why these people are out."</div> <bR> <div> In a recent appearance on Fox News, Huckabee said Clemmons was released because prosecutors failed to file paperwork on time.</div> <bR> <div> But Pulaski County Prosecutor Larry Jegley, who opposed Clemmons' release in 2000 and 2004, said Huckabee's comments were "red herrings."</div> <bR> <div> "My word to Mr. Huckabee is man up and own what you did," Jegley said.</div> <bR> <div> At the time of his death, Clemmons was facing charges for allegedly assaulting a police officer and raping a child. But he was released from jail after posting bail through the assistance of Jail Sucks Bail Bonds.</div> <bR> <div> Written by CTV.ca News Staf<I>f with files from The Associated Press</I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <A HREF="#top" TITLE="Dec 09"><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>