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Kazemi was tortured: Iranian doctor	31/03/05
Mixed reviews for Ottawa farm aid	30/03/05
Indonesians staying on higher ground	29/03/05
Schiavo's family urges calm as protests grow unruly	28/03/05
Pope silent for Easter blessing	27/03/05
Judge rejects feeding request for Schiavo	26/03/05
Ottawa moves to quash file swapping	25/03/05
Texas refinery officials believe all victims located	24/03/05
Court rejects Schiavo parents' appeal	23/03/05
U.S. teen kills 9, including grandparents	22/03/05
Calgary police warn of kidnapping attempts	21/03/05
Annan to release UN reform package on Monday: report	20/03/05
'I am not a devil:' Malik tells paper	19/03/05
Groupaction exec used marketing firm to pay Liberals	18/03/05
Nfld. storm surge damage in millions	17/03/05
Family, friends await Air India verdict	16/03/05
"Black Widow" killer gets 5 years for theft	15/03/05
China passes anti-secession law	14/03/05
Canada strikes gold at junior curling worlds	13/03/05
Arrest made in Atlanta court shooting	12/03/05
Jetsgo shuts down, strands travellers	11/03/05
Thousands to mourn slain officers	10/03/05
Noranda to take over Falconbridge	09/03/05
RCMP operation called 'failure' of supervision	08/03/05
Toronto girl survives fall onto highway	07/03/05
Liberals renew support for Martin	06/03/05
B.C. father guilty of killing daughter in fit of rage	05/03/05
4 RCMP officers murdered on Alberta farm	04/03/05
Fossett set to make aviation history	03/03/05
California man charged after Edmonton woman attacked in Mexico	02/03/05
Rice postpones Canada visit after missile decision	01/03/05

Kazemi was tortured: Iranian doctor Web Posted | Last Updated Thu, 31 Mar 2005 07:33:22 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 31st, 2005
MONTREAL - Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi showed signs of being savagely beaten when she was brought to a Tehran hospital in 2003, said an emergency room doctor on duty at the time.
Shahram Azam, a former staff physician in Iran's defence ministry, said he examined Kazemi, the 54-year-old Iranian-born Montrealer, early on June 27, 2003, according to reports published in the Globe and Mail and Montreal's La Presse. Kazemi had been arrested four days earlier while photographing a demonstration outside Tehran's Evin prison. She died in Iranian custody in July 2003. Iran's government admitted she'd been beaten but maintains her death was accidental. An Iranian security agent was charged and acquitted of killing her.	Zahra Kazemi
According to Azam, who now lives in Canada, Kazemi's entire body had strange markings all over it. Azam described massive bruising around her head and ears. Her skull had been fractured and her nose broken. Two fingers were also broken and were missing fingernails. Kazemi also had severe abdominal bruising and showed evidence of being flogged on the legs. There were also signs of a "very brutal rape," according to the doctor. Azam, who recently received political asylum in Canada, intends to tell his story at a news conference in Ottawa on Thursday. He fled Iran last August, going first to Finland, then Sweden, before contacting Kazemi's son, Stephan Hachemi. With the help of Canadian lawyers, Hachemi helped Azam and his family get to Canada. This month Azam received landed immigrant status as a refugee sponsored by the Canadian government. Azam told the Globe he wants to renew worldwide attention on Kazemi's case. He hopes it will ultimately lead to the "indictment" of Iran's Islamic Republic. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Mixed reviews for Ottawa farm aid Web Posted | Last Updated Wed, 30 Mar 2005 07:47:01 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 30th, 2005
EDMONTON - Ottawa's billion dollar aid package has drawn mixed reviews from western cattle ranchers who were hoping for much more money. Cattle ranchers will get $300 million of the $1 billion aid package announced Tuesday by Federal Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell. The money will start flowing in April. Ranchers in Alberta welcome any new funding but they say it won't come close to covering all their debts. Two ranchers who were contacted by CBC News said they've only received between $1,000 and $1,400 for their troubles so far. "Some of the cheques have certainly filled some voids, but are nowhere close to compensating for 50 per cent losses in areas," Doug Horte, a rancher in Camrose, Alta., told CBC News. Horte said he has qualified for relief totalling slightly more than $1,000 so far. But instead of compensation, Horte would like to see the federal government deal with the root cause of the problem. Canada should be building new packing plants, said Horte, adding that it's crucial that the country stops depending on the U.S. beef market rather than waiting for it to open again. Fellow Alberta rancher Lyle Lueders said he's claimed about $1,400 in compensation and insisted it was just not enough to help him through this crisis. "That pays gas and utilities on the farm for one month," said Lueders. "Their intentions were good but I think their plans were flawed." Written by CBC News Online staff
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Indonesians staying on higher ground Web Posted | Last Updated Tue, 29 Mar 2005 07:37:56 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 29th, 2005
JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Thousands of people in southern Indonesia remained on higher ground after Monday's powerful earthquake flattened homes and revived fears of a massive tsunami. Death estimates vary widely. About 400 bodies have been recovered on or near Nias island, a popular surfing spot off Sumatra. But officials say the death toll could hit 2,000, as hundreds of people are believed buried under collapsed buildings. Some of the worst hit areas are so remote, the extent of damage is still unclear. "What may have happened in Nias, where there are reports of deaths, is that buildings that nearly collapsed in the first earthquake may have collapsed when this not as big earthquake hit," said Jan Egeland, the UN's emergency relief co-ordinator. Emergency crews continued to search for survivors of the 8.7-magnitude earthquake but rescue efforts were hampered as many people trapped in the rubble remained panic-stricken by several aftershocks, police officers told reporters on Tuesday. Officials said thousands of people fled the island's main city, Gunungsitoli, and took shelter in the hills, fearing a repetition of the devastating earthquake and tsunami three months ago. Fire rages through city Adding to the chaos, a huge fire raged in Gunungsitoli Tuesday morning, witnesses told international media agencies. About 70 per cent of the buildings had collapsed in the city, killing and trapping scores of people. On Tuesday, helicopters surveyed islands within 50 kilometres of the epicentre about 1,400 kilometres north of Jakarta in the Andaman Sea. Tsunami danger passed Monday's earthquake, although very powerful, was a fraction of the size of the Dec. 26 quake that caused the Indian Ocean tsunami. Technically, it was considered an aftershock of the December quake, according the scientists. They say pressure created by the first quake caused the earth's plates to shift again. It's the first time in history two huge earthquakes have happened so close together. "I would certainly say it's a fraternal twin," said Kerry Sieh of the U.S. Geological Survey in an interview with CBC News. "It's not a duplicate. It occurred a couple of hundred kilometres further south, but it's the same type of earthquake." Officials issued tsunami warnings in Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and other countries, but lifted them within a few hours. The Dec. 26 quake, which measured 9.0 in magnitude, caused a tsunami that killed an estimated 200,000 people and left at least 1.5 million homeless. Written by CBC News Online staff & with files from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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Schiavo's family urges calm as protests grow unruly Web Posted | Last Updated Mon, 28 Mar 2005 01:00:48 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 28th, 2005
PINELLAS PARK, FLA. - Terri Schiavo's family urged agitated protesters outside a Florida hospice to calm down and appeared resigned as their brain-damaged daughter edged closer to death. On Easter Sunday, a Roman Catholic priest gave Schiavo a drop of communion wine on her tongue – her only sustenance since a feeding tube was removed on March 18 – but said her mouth was too dry to take a morsel of bread. Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, spent the day with Schiavo, after saying they were ending their seven-year legal battle to keep their daughter alive. Protesters ignore family's request to stay away The Schindlers had urged supporters to spend Easter at home with their own families. But about 100 protesters ignored the request, instead gathering outside the hospice in Pinellas Park, Fla. Abut half a dozen people in wheelchairs left them to lie on the driveway, shouting "We're not dead yet!" while others shouted at police and tried to storm past them into the hospice. Five demonstrators were arrested. The demonstrators made so much noise that they forced Schiavo's brother, Bobby Schindler, to go outside and appeal for calm. "We are not going to solve the problem today by getting arrested," he said. "We can change laws, but we are not going to change them today. ...You are not speaking for our family." 'We're asking the governor for a stay of execution' The demonstrators, who are largely conservative Christians who oppose euthanasia and abortion, continued to call on Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to intervene.
"Terri is in effect on death row," said Larry Klayman, chairman of Judicial Watch, a legal activist group known for suing politicians such as Bill Clinton and Dick Cheney. "We're asking the governor for a stay of execution on Easter Sunday." Bush told CNN on Sunday that he had done everything within his power, including a failed effort to make her a ward of the state. "I cannot violate a court order." David Gibbs, the lead lawyer for the Schindlers, told CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday that Schiavo has "passed where physically she would be able to recover." A spokesman for the parents later denied that her condition was so dire. When Schiavo's feeding tube was removed by court order, doctors said she had two weeks to live, at most. No more legal options, lawyer says Her parents have reached the end of their legal efforts to keep her alive, Gibbs said earlier. "It appears that time has finally run out," he told the St. Petersburg Times in an interview published Sunday. He made the comment after her parents lost two more appeals in Florida courts on Saturday. First, a circuit court judge who has been involved with the case for many years rejected the idea that she had tried to say she wanted to stay alive. Then the Florida Supreme Court rejected an appeal of that decision. That was probably the last legal chance to keep her alive, Gibbs said. The Schindlers believe she wants to live and can recover after 15 years of being in a persistent vegetative state. Schiavo's husband, Michael Schiavo, has argued that she would not want to live in the state she's in. He won a case in a Florida court on that basis, starting the legal and political efforts over the past nine days. Both President George W. Bush and Gov. Bush waded into the case. The president signed legislation that allowed the parents to appeal to federal courts, beyond the Florida state courts where they had already lost. Those appeals were unsuccessful. The governor tried legal and political manoeuvres, including an effort to make her a ward of the state, which also failed legally. Schiavo has been taken off her feeding tube twice before and later reattached. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Pope silent for Easter blessing Web Posted | Last Updated Sun, 27 Mar 2005 10:02:53 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 27th, 2005
VATICAN CITY - An ailing Pope John Paul II blessed tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists who packed into St. Peter's Square for Easter Sunday services. The Pope made the sign of the cross with his hand, but was unable to speak. He remained at the window of his apartment for 12 minutes as his Easter message was read by Cardinal Angelo Sodano. Many in the crowd cried as aides brought a microphone to the Pope's mouth. He made a few sounds, but could not pronounce any words. John Paul, 84, is still recovering after back-to-back hospitalizations. His public appearance for Sunday's blessing was the only event the Vatican had scheduled for the Pope during Holy Week, one of the busiest religious holidays in the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope was released from Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic hospital March 13, where he underwent a tracheotomy to ease breathing difficulties. His first hospital stay, which began Feb.1, was also for breathing problems said to be flu-related. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Judge rejects feeding request for Schiavo Web Posted | Last Updated Sat, 26 Mar 2005 12:40:54 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 26th, 2005
SEMINOLE, FLA. - A Florida judge has rejected the latest attempt by Terri Schiavo's parents to reconnect their brain-damaged daughter's feeding tube. The decision was handed down Saturday shortly after her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, said they would not ask a federal appeals court to reconsider its decision not to order the reconnection of the tube. When the tube was removed on March 18, doctors said they expected the 41-year-old woman would die within two weeks. Schiavo has been in what the legal system refers to as a "persistent vegetative state" for 15 years. Michael Schiavo, her legal guardian, has argued she wouldn't want to be kept alive artificially. However, the Schindlers told Pinellas Circuit Judge George Greer in a motion filed Friday that their daughter tried to talk. The motion said she tried to articulate the first two words of the sentence, "I want to live." Schiavo's father said Friday his daughter is weakening and facing her "last hours." "People who are anxious to see her die are getting their wish," he told reporters. Schiavo has been hospitalized, bedridden and unable to speak or feed herself since 1990, when she suffered heart failure and resulting in brain damage. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Ottawa moves to quash file swapping Web Posted | Last Updated Thu, 24 Mar 2005 16:29:28 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 25th, 2005
OTTAWA - The federal government announced several proposed changes to Canada's Copyright Act on Thursday, aimed at stopping file sharing using programs like Kazaa. If the amendments become law, internet service providers would be forced to make records of users who swap large numbers of songs or other material – like movies and television programs – online. According to the announcement, the changes would "clarify that the unauthorized posting or the peer-to-peer file-sharing of material on the Internet will constitute an infringement of copyright. "It will also be made clear that private copies of sound recordings cannot be uploaded or further distributed." The proposed amendments are expected to be introduced in the House of Commons later in the spring. The music industry is pushing to have the Copyright Act amended so it will be easier to sue file sharers in court. "Clearly, once we get implementation there'll be no doubt ... it'll be illegal to engage in unauthorized file-sharing," Graham Henderson, the head of the Canadian Recording Industry Association, told the Canadian Press. Under the reformed law, companies like Bell, Rogers and Shaw would be compelled to "play a role in curbing the misuse of their facilities for copyright infringement." They and other service providers would have to alert subscribers when their connections are used for illegal file sharing, and would have to document the warnings that are sent out. A court order would still be needed from prosecutors to have a look at the logs and identify the users in question. The legislation also requires Canada to sign two international treaties sponsored by the World Intellectual Property Organization. By joining the treaties, the government would make it illegal for Canadians to swap music online. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Texas refinery officials believe all victims located Web Posted | Last Updated Thu, 24 Mar 2005 07:44:23 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 24th, 2005
TEXAS CITY, TEXAS - Emergency crews remain on the scene of Houston area oil refinery explosion Thursday that killed at least 14 people.
Standing in front of a white banner reading "Safety first!", British Petroleum officials told an early morning news conference they don't believe there are any more bodies in the plant. One person remains unaccounted for, but company records show he clocked out following his shift, said refinery manager Don Parus. The employee hasn't yet contacted his family. As many as 70 others were taken to hospital, with about five in "tough shape," said Parus. All of the people killed worked for an Los Angeles-based engineering company, he said. The refinery continues to operate, but all non-essential employees will be sent home until Monday, said Parus, who dismissed questions about the plant's output.	A truck passes as smoke billows from the BP oil refinery plant after an explosion.
"Our primary focus is really on the family and the people that were injured," said Parus. Gas prices could rise because the plant produces 3 per cent of the U.S. supply, pumping out about 433,000 barrels per day. Ross Pillari, the president of BP America, said the company will put all of its resources into "finding out what happened." The explosion happened in the refinery's isomerization unit, where the contract employees were working. As many as 1,800 people work at the plant. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Court rejects Schiavo parents' appeal Web Posted | Last Updated Wed, 23 Mar 2005 07:24:35 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 23rd, 2005
ATLANTA - The parents of a severely brain-damaged Florida woman suffered another setback Wednesday after a federal appeals court refused to order the reinsertion of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. In a 2-1 ruling released at about 2:30 a.m. EST Wednesday morning, a panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals said the parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, "failed to demonstrate a substantial case on the merits of any of their claims."
"There is no denying the absolute tragedy that has befallen Mrs. Schiavo," the 35-page ruling said. "We all have our own family, our own loved ones, and our own children. However, we are called upon to make a collective, objective decision concerning a question of law." However, Judge Charles R. Wilson, in his dissenting opinion, wrote that the 41-year-old's "imminent" death could end the case before all aspects had been considered, and that he saw "no harm in reinserting the feeding tube." A lawyer for the Schindlers said the couple has vowed to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has declined on several occasions to hear the case. Another appeal was still pending in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on whether Schiavo's right to due process was violated.	Protesters want to keep Terri Schiavo alive.
Schiavo has become the centre of a complicated legal and political fight between her husband and her parents. Her husband believes his wife wants to and should be allowed to die, while her parents and right-to-life supporters believe she wants and deserves to live. Schiavo, who suffered brain damage in 1990, can breathe on her own but needs the feeding tube. Court-appointed doctors say she is in a persistent vegetative state and will not improve. After years of litigation, Michael Schiavo won a Florida state court ruling last week allowing the removal of the feeding tube that keeps her alive. The lawyer for the parents said Tuesday that she was "fading quickly" and could die before the case was heard unless the feeding tube is reattached. The lawyer for her husband, Michael Schiavo, said her parents' request is "a horrific intrusion" on her liberty.
The U.S. Congress became involved in the issue over the weekend, passing a bill early Monday allowing her parents to appeal to a federal court to have the tube reattached. It was quickly signed by President George W. Bush. The parents requested the emergency order on Monday, but early Tuesday, U.S. District Judge James Whittemore rejected their plea. He found that her parents had not established a "substantial likelihood of success" at trial on the merits of their arguments, and said Terri Schiavo's "life and liberty interests" had been protected by the Florida courts.	Terri Schiavo
Federal judges have twice rejected efforts by the parents to move the case out of Florida courts, citing a lack of jurisdiction. Schiavo's feeding tube has been removed twice before, but later reinserted. Written by CBC News Online staff
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U.S. teen kills 9, including grandparents Web Posted | Last Updated Tue, 22 Mar 2005 08:24:19 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 22nd, 2005
RED LAKE, MINN. - A Minnesota teenager shot and killed his grandparents before killing seven more people during a rampage at a school on Monday, say police.
The body of the gunman was also discovered in a classroom at the school on the Red Lake reserve, about 120 kilometres south of the Canadian border. At least 14 others were also injured in the shooting spree, according to police. In addition to the shooter, five students, a teacher and a security guard at the school were killed. All of the students and the teacher died in the same room. Local media reports say the shooter was between 15 and 17 years old, but it's not clear whether he was a student at the school. FBI spokesperson Paul McCabe said the shooter's grandfather was a police officer with the Red Lake Police Department and that his guns may have been used. The shooter, who police haven't identified, was armed with two handguns and a shotgun, said McCabe. The high school has about 300 students. It is on the Red Lake Indian Reservation about 400 kilometres north of Minneapolis. Monday's incident is the worst school shooting in the United States since two teens went on a killing rampage at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., killing 12 students and a teacher and wounding 23 before killing themselves, on April 20, 1999. Written by CBC News Online staff	FBI agent, far left, coordinates an investigation after a shooting spree at Red Lake High School, Monday.
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Calgary police warn of kidnapping attempts Web Posted | Last Updated Mon, 21 Mar 2005 21:35:08 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 21st, 2005
CALGARY - The Calgary Police Service is warning parents to be vigilant because of potential abductors who seem determined to kidnap a child. The force is actively investigating four attempted abductions over 11 days, all in the northeast section of the city. None succeeded.
"Two guys were in a van. A guy got out and asked her if she wanted a ride home," said Dean Laverick describing what happened to his 13-year-old daughter. "He went to grab her around the waist, she had her key out, swung at him, hit him across the chest and she just ran." Laverick's daughter helped the police come up with a composite drawing of one of the suspects. The police will send a composite drawing of a suspect to all Calgary elementary schools on Monday morning. Officers hope school administrators will post the drawings in every classroom and possibly sending them home to parents. "These guys are pretty unpredictable and who knows what is drawing them to a certain area," said Det. Tom Hanson of the Calgary police. Police are searching for two men and a woman who approached two young girls last week in the Abbeydale neighbourhood. They are also seeking two men in their twenties who have been targeting female school-aged children in Pineridge.	Composite drawing of abduction suspect (Calgary police handout)
A third incident occurred when a man on foot approached a young child last week. In another incident, a lone woman tried to convince a Grade 4 student to get into her car. Parents in the area say they are on edge. "We're pretty scared for our children. We don't want them walking home alone," said Kelly Simms. Similar vehicles have been used in at least two of the incidents, and three of the attempts in Pineridge and Abbeydale are similar. On Friday, police said they were looking for a green minivan in poor condition with tinted rear and side windows, and an older, teal (bluish-green) pickup truck with an extended cab. Police hope the composite picture will produce some tips, and convince parents to take extra care. "We're concerned because we have gone away from someone verbally making contact young person to physically making contact with a young person," acting Staff Sgt. Mike Watterston said. "This is why we're getting the word out there, we want everybody to at least know the possibility that this person could be around their school, to at least be vigilant." Written by CBC News Online staff
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Annan to release UN reform package on Monday: report Web Posted | Last Updated Sun, 20 Mar 2005 11:29:20 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 20th, 2005
UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will table a wide-ranging report to reform the international body on Monday, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Among the proposals; - Expanding the Security Council; - A new anti-terrorism convention; - New efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons; - New measures to prevent scandals in the UN; - A special body to help countries recovering from war; - Demands for rich countries to contribute more aid. The UN has been under pressure from internal scandals, such as the Iraq oil-for-food program, and is trying to reassert itself after the U.S. attacked Iraq without approval from the United Nations.	UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
It has also been criticized after countries with poor human-rights records became key players on UN human rights panel. The new report suggests barring countries that violate rights from the U.N. panel. Diplomats told the Times that the proposals will start months of tough negotiations necessary to turn them into a form that a majority of members of the General Assembly can support. Written by CBC News Online staff
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'I am not a devil:' Malik tells paper Web Posted | Last Updated Sat, 19 Mar 2005 09:32:31 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 19th, 2005
VANCOUVER - One of the men acquitted of Wednesday of involvement in Canada's worst terrorist attack says he had nothing to do with the bomb that destroyed Air India Flight 182 in 1985, killing 329 people.
Ripudaman Singh Malik told the Globe and Mail that he knew nothing about the conspiracy that brought down the flight, which was en route from Vancouver to India via Europe. "I am not a saint and I am not a devil," he told the paper. "I'm a human being and I make mistakes, and I try and make good judgments." He and co-accused Ajaib Singh Bagri were found not guilty of conspiracy and murder in the attack after Justice Ian Bruce Josephson of the British Columbia Supreme Court said he simply did not believe the testimony of witnesses who linked the men to two bombs, one of which destroyed the airplane over the North Atlantic. Malik told the Globe that the RCMP brought changes against him and his co-accused because the police had to charge someone after investigating the attack so intensely.	Ripudaman Singh Malik
He said the RCMP encouraged a key witness against him, known only as Ms. D, to confirm their version of events. He said the police told her she could get back at him by testifying against him. She talked to the RCMP after Malik fired her from a job at a daycare centre he ran. "I'm sympathetic to the RCMP. They're bending over backwards to do their job. They should not bend over backwards, they should just do their job," he said. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Groupaction exec used marketing firm to pay Liberals Web Posted | Last Updated Fri, 18 Mar 2005 08:21:30 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 18th, 2005
MONTREAL - A former Groupaction executive funneled five cheques to Liberal party organizers through an employee's consulting company, the Gomery inquiry heard Thursday. Bernard Thiboutot worked for former Groupaction advertising executive Jean Brault, who made millions from the sponsorship program.
Thiboutot, who had his own consulting company, told the inquiry that Brault asked him to send five cheques worth $57,000 to five people. The inquiry hasn't yet heard what type of work the five did, but Radio-Canada says Michel Monette, Jacques Roy, Guy Bisson, Franco Iacono and Louis Pichette were all Liberal party organizers. Bisson worked on the Liberal campaign in 2000, Roy worked as an organizer for the Liberals in Montreal, Monette worked on the Liberal campaign in Laval, Iacono was a lobbyist who used to work for former Public Works minister Alfonso Gagliano and Pichette was a Quebec campaign worker. Brault didn't want to appear connected to the five people, said Thiboutot. The payments instead went through Thiboutot's company, Commando Marketing in Oct. 2000, the same week former prime minister Jean Chretien called a federal election.	Bernard Thiboutot reacts after being asked a question during his testimony before the Gomery Commission, Thursday.
Brault faces criminal charges related to the sponsorship scandal and has been named in a $41-million government lawsuit. Thiboutot also testified that Brault pressed him to make two contributions of $10,000 to the federal Liberals. Earlier in the inquiry, another communications executive, Gilles-Andre Gosselin, said Brault asked him to make a $10,000 donation to the Liberals. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Nfld. storm surge damage in millions Web Posted | Last Updated Thu, 17 Mar 2005 09:02:38 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 17th, 2005
ST. JOHN'S, NFLD. - Damage has been estimated in the millions of dollars after a heavy storm surge pounded Newfoundland's east coast, washing out roads, wharves and breakwaters.
Environment Canada says the potential for further damage on Thursday is lower than it was on Wednesday, when the storm started. Tonnes of ice were pushed into communities from Bonavista Bay to the Avalon Peninsula. Flatrock, Hants Harbour and Cavendish were among some of the hardest hit areas. A $2-million breakwater in Flatrock was destroyed by the ice and waves. Flatrock resident Tony Grace said the surge was the worst he has seen in more than 25 years. In Duntara on Bonavista Bay, ice crushed a wooden wall that had been recently constructed to hold back high waters, and tore off a canopy that covered the wharf. Waves lifted massive chunks of ice over the breakwater, filling the harbour in Sibley's Cove on Trinity Bay. In Cavendish, where surge conditions have persisted through much of the week, Christie Brown watched the ocean take out the road near her home. "It's pretty much destroyed the beach road here," she said.	Ice damage in Duntara, Bonavista Bay Ice damage in Duntara, Bonavista Bay
Environment Canada predicts the low-pressure system will drift offshore sometime Thursday. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Family, friends await Air India verdict Web Posted | Last Updated Wed, 16 Mar 2005 07:29:44 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 16th, 2005
VANCOUVER - Within hours, family members and friends of 329 people killed in the bombing of an Air India flight off the coast of Ireland will hear whether Ajaib Singh Bagri and Ripudaman Singh Malik are guilty of conspiracy and murder. Wednesday's verdict could mark the end of the investigation and trial of Bagri and Malik, the most expensive legal process in Canadian history. The two men have been on trial since April 28, 2003, in a proceeding that has cost more than $100 million. They are accused of causing Canada's biggest-ever mass murder by planting a bomb that exploded on board Air India Flight 182 off the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985. They are also accused of causing a separate bombing at an airport in Tokyo. Two baggage handlers died when the bomb exploded an hour before the Air India flight exploded. Crown prosecutors allege the bombings were an act of vengeance against the government of India following a 1984 raid on the Golden Temple at Amritsar, the holiest shrine for Sikhs. Mr. Justice Ian Bruce Josephson of the B.C. Supreme Court is expected to begin reading the verdict at around 1 p.m. EST. The process could take up to four hours. Public seating in the courtroom will be limited, with room for about 150 people. A section has been set aside for reporters, and for the family members of the accused. Perviz Madon, whose husband Sam Madon was killed in the bombing, says she's been waiting for this day for 20 years. She's hoping for a guilty verdict. "Whichever way it goes, that's the way it's going to be and we have to brace ourselves. I'm pretty optimistic," said Madon. She's hoping the verdict will bring some closure for herself and her children. "There is always going to be a void in my life, even if I live to be 100," said Madon. "I will always miss Sam and always be angry that he was taken away from me." Wednesday's verdict may not be the end of the legal process. Bagri and Malik may appeal the decisions and some family members are renewing their calls for a public inquiry. Written by CBC News Online staff
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"Black Widow" killer gets 5 years for theft Web Posted | Last Updated Tue, 15 Mar 2005 07:17:19 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 15th, 2005 CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - A Canadian woman known as the Black Widow because of the mysterious deaths of her husbands has been sentenced in a Florida court. Judge Douglas Baird sentenced 69-year-old Melissa Ann Friedrich to five years in a Florida jail for stealing from one of her elderly boyfriends.	Melissa Ann Friedrich
Investigators say the former Nova Scotia woman stole $20,000 US from Alexander Strategos, 73. Police believe Melissa Friedrich lured the man over the Internet and quickly started a relationship. Then, they say, she drugged him and drained his bank account. He survived and the drugging was not proven. Murder charge This is just the latest conviction against Friedrich. She was charged with second-degree murder in the death of her husband, Gordon Russell Stewart in April 1991. She was convicted on the lesser charge of manslaughter and served two years. Another husband, Robert Friedrich, died in December 2002 under what his family believes are suspicious circumstances, but she was never charged for his death. Robert Friedrich's sons accused her of emptying their father's accounts and the matter was settled out of court. Written by CBC News Online staff
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China passes anti-secession law Web Posted | Last Updated Mon, 14 Mar 2005 08:07:06 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 14th, 2005
BEIJING - China's parliament enacted a law Monday authorizing the use of force against Taiwan if the island formally declares independence, a move Taiwan has called a "serious provocation." The National People's Congress approved the law a day after Chinese President Hu Jintao increased the country's defence budget by 12.6 per cent and called on the military to be ready for war. Broadcast on national television, the vote was unanimous – 2,896 to zero. "There is only one China in the world. Both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China," reads Article 2 of the law. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said China remains hopeful a peaceful reunification can occur, but that reunification is the "sacred duty" of all Chinese, in Taiwan and on the mainland. "It is not targeted at the people of Taiwan, nor is it a war bill," said Wen at a news conference, where he also warned against "foreign interference." Both Japan and the United States have appealed for restraint and a peaceful resolution of the issue. An outbreak of hostilities between China and Taiwan could prompt a response from the U.S. to defend Taiwan.	Military delegates applaud the passing of an anti-secession law during the closing session of China's National People's Congress in Beijing.
If a conflict did break out, American allies such as Australia and Japan could be caught between fulfilling traditional treaty obligations to the U.S. on the one hand, and their reluctance to alienate China, a country with a growing economic and political influence in the region. Taiwanese government spokesperson Joseph Wu on Monday called the law a "serious provocation" and Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian has called for a million people to demonstrate against the law. Article 5 promotes efforts to achieve a peaceful reunification. But by Article 8, there's talk of using force if necessary to prevent Taiwan from openly pursuing independence from the mainland: "In the event that the 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces should act under any name or by any means to cause the fact of Taiwan's secession from China, or that major incidents entailing Taiwan's secession from China should occur, or that possibilities for a peaceful reunification should be completely exhausted, the state shall employ non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity." Taiwan split from China during a civil war in 1949 and has maintained de facto independence ever since. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Canada strikes gold at junior curling worlds Web Posted | Last Updated Sun, 13 Mar 2005 10:11:55 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 13th, 2005 Kyle George skipped Canada to a 6-5 extra-end victory over Sweden's Nils Carlsen Sunday in the men's final at the world junior curling championships Pinerolo, Italy. Down 4-3 after eight ends, George and his Regina teammates – Justin Mihalicz, David Kidby and Chris Hebert – took the lead with a deuce in the ninth. Sweden tied things up in the 10th to force an extra end, but Canada used its last-rock advantage in the 11th to score one and take the gold. George advanced to the gold-medal contest after thrashing the previously-unbeaten Scottish	D.J. Kidby (left) and Kyle George in action for Canada on Sunday during the men's final at the world junior curling championships in Italy.
rink 10-2 in Saturday's semifinal. The Scots entered the semifinal with a perfect 9-0 round-robin record. George was 6-3 in the preliminary stage. Also on Saturday, Andrea Kelly's Fredericton rink rebounded from a disappointing semifinal defeat to win a bronze medal in the women's competition with a 6-4 victory over Denmark. Switzerland pounded Sweden 10-2 to capture the women's championship. The 2005 world junior championships served as a test event for next year's Torino Winter Olympics. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Arrest made in Atlanta court shooting Web Posted | Last Updated Sat, 12 Mar 2005 13:13:36 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 12th, 2005 ATLANTA - A man wanted for three shooting deaths at a courthouse in Atlanta was arrested Saturday after a 26-hour search involving dozens of police officers and federal agents.
Brian Nichols, 33, was apprehended after police surrounded an apartment complex in Gwinnett County, northeast of Atlanta. He gave up without a struggle, police said, and was taken to an FBI field office for questioning. After about two hours, a convoy of police vehicles transported Nichols to a undisclosed detention facility, while people lined the road to watch. Officers at the apartment complex also found a pickup truck stolen from a customs agent who was found shot to death early Saturday morning about 25 kilometres away from the arrest scene, reports say. Atlanta police said the suspect, who was on trial for rape, grabbed a gun from a sheriff's deputy and opened fire in the chambers of Judge Rowland Barnes on Friday. The judge and a court stenographer were killed immediately and a sheriff's deputy was fatally shot outside the courthouse. Police say the suspect escaped by pistol-whipping a reporter and driving away with his car. Written by CBC News Online staff	An undated file photo of Brian Nichols, 33, who is suspected by police to have shot and killed Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes at the Fulton County courthouse in Atlanta on Friday, March 11, 2005.
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Jetsgo shuts down, strands travellers Web Posted | Last Updated Fri, 11 Mar 2005 08:19:29 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 11th, 2005
MONTREAL - Discount airline Jetsgo grounded its fleet early Friday morning, advising travellers to find another way to get to their destination while it seeks bankruptcy court protection. The company issued the announcement just after midnight, blaming the decision on "difficult market conditions and competitive pressures."
Passengers are being advised to make alternate travel arrangements as no Jetsgo staff or aircraft will be available at airports. Travellers looking to return from a trip must book with other airlines. Competitor WestJet is offering stranded Jetsgo passengers and crew special fares.
The shutdown comes at the start of March break, one of the busiest travel times of the year. At least 18 flights had been scheduled to leave Toronto's Pearson Airport Friday morning, including flights to Canadian, American and Mexican destinations. Donna Hume travelled an hour from her home in Chester, N.S., to the Halifax airport to catch an early morning flight for her daughter's surprise birthday party. She says she was shocked when she got to the airport and learned the news. "I've calmed down some, but I'm still shaken," said Hume, who has booked with another airline. Travellers in the airport said Jetsgo computers and planes were removed in the middle of the night. "We deeply regret that this had to happen. The decision to cease operations was only taken after difficult deliberation. We are very concerned about our customers and the significant hardship that this action causes," said Michel Leblanc, president of Jetsgo, in a statement. Leblanc founded the company in June 2002 from the ashes of Canada 3000 Inc., which collapsed after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks caused a downturn in air travel. In its news release, Jetsgo said it will be asking the Quebec Superior Court to grant it bankruptcy protection. Although the Montreal-based airline flew primarily between Canadian cities, Jetsgo also provided flights to New York, Las Vegas and destinations in Mexico and Florida. Jetsgo had recently filed a $50-million lawsuit against WestJet Airlines and two of its executives, alleging that its competitor had managed to get information to "gain an unfair competitive advantage over Jetsgo and prey upon Jetsgo's business and operations by targeting both profitable and vulnerable routes, flight times and fares." The company said clients who have paid for Jetsgo tickets should contact the Canadian Transportation Agency: 1-888-222-2592. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Thousands to mourn slain officers Web Posted | Last Updated Thu, 10 Mar 2005 07:54:33 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 10th, 2005
EDMONTON - Thousands of police officers, mourners and dignitaries will pay tribute to four slain Mounties during a ceremony in Edmonton Thursday, the largest memorial in the RCMP's history. As many as 10,000 police officers from across the country and the United States are expected to attend the memorial, which will be broadcast nationally. Constables Peter Schiemann, Leo Johnston, Anthony Gordon and Brock Myrol were shot and killed while investigating stolen property and a marijuana grow operation last Thursday near Mayerthorpe, Alta. Their killer, James Roszko, also shot himself. Ceremonies for the constables will begin at 1 p.m. local time. Alberta Premier Ralph Klein will be joined by Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson, Prime Minister Paul Martin, singers Susan Aglukark, Tom Jackson, the RCMP cadet choir and Ian Tyson, who will sing Four Strong Winds. A parade of about 5,000 scarlet-clad Mounties on horseback will travel about one kilometre from a city park to the University of Alberta Butterdome. Inside the facility, four Stetson hats worn by the slain officers will be placed on black pillows on the stage. A representative for each of the families will speak. People in Edmonton offered up their homes as police arrived into the city Wednesday. So many residents have opened their homes for visiting officers, the RCMP has had to ask them to stop calling. John George, a police officer from California, says he came to Edmonton to offer his support. "Everybody mourns when something like this happens, especially in the law enforcement field," said George. RCMP bugler Const. Owen Restikus says he'll be thinking about the men as he performs the Last Post. "I'm just very honoured that this is the way I can contribute to the ceremony and I hope it all goes very well," said Restikus. People in the small community closest to the tragedy remembered the officers in a candlelight vigil Wednesday night. Three of the four Mounties worked out of the Mayerthorpe detachment, while the fourth was based in a nearby community. About 120 people attended the ecumenical service at a local Pentecostal church. Bernie Jogola says the anger and despair in his hometown drew him to the vigil. "I felt I had to be here to remember them. It really hits close to home," said Jogola. The CBC will provide live coverage of the Edmonton memorial on Thursday, beginning at 3 p.m. EST. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Noranda to take over Falconbridge Web Posted | Last Updated Wed, 09 Mar 2005 08:23:34 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 9th, 2005
TORONTO - Noranda Inc. is buying the rest of fellow miner Falconbridge Ltd. that it doesn't already own, the companies announced Wednesday – a move that will create one of the largest base-metals mining companies in the world with a market value of almost $14 billion. In a joint release, the firms said the boards of Noranda and Falconbridge would combine the two companies by way of a share exchange takeover.
Noranda already owns 58.8 per cent of Falconbridge. Each Falconbridge shareholder will receive 1.77 Noranda shares for every Falconbridge share they own. The companies say that represents a premium of 15 per cent to the 20-day average share price for the period ending March 7.	Combined company to be known as NorandaFalconbridge.
The offer values Falconbridge stock at $41.24 a share. Trading in the stock was halted Tuesday afternoon when it was at $39.15, up $2.30 on the day. Each Noranda common shareholder would continue to own one common share of the combined company for each common share of Noranda held prior to the merger. Noranda will also repurchase 63.4 million of its common shares in exchange for three series of junior preferred shares of the company. That will cost $1.25 billion US. Brascan, which owns 41 per cent of Noranda, has agreed to tender its shares to the repurchase offer. That will reduce Brascan's stake in the new combined company to between 16 per cent and 26 per cent. Brascan had said previously that it wanted to eventually sell all of its stake in Noranda to focus on other investments in real estate and power generation. But for now, Brascan CEO Bruce Flatt said the company will hang on to its shares in the combined company. "After reviewing a number of alternatives for our shares of Noranda in the context of an extremely positive outlook for base metals, we have decided to reduce our investment by up to 50 per cent and ride the expected future upside of the base metals business," he said. The merger comes at a time when base metals prices like copper and nickel are near record highs. Noranda is one of the world's biggest miners of copper, zinc, and nickel. Falconbridge is a major producer of copper and nickel. New firm to be known as NorandaFalconbridge The new company will be known as NorandaFalconbridge. The takeover bid is conditional on a majority of the minority Falconbridge shareholders agreeing to tender to the Noranda offer. "We are very pleased that this lengthy process is concluding with such a positive outcome for our shareholders," said Noranda CEO Derek Pannell in a statement. "The management team is enthusiastic about building on the initiatives that have recently generated both higher metal production and outstanding financial results," he said.
Falconbridge management said a merger would boost its value for its shareholders. "The proposed merger is an excellent opportunity for Falconbridge and its shareholders to improve the value of the company and how it is reflected in the capital markets," said Falconbridge CEO Aaron Regent.	Takeover of Falconbridge will be done through a share exchange.
"This transaction addresses and eliminates a number of structural issues that have affected our share price performance," he said. Both companies said the merged company would benefit from its bigger size, which would improve cash flow, make it easier to get financing, and improve trading liquidity. Noranda and China Minmetals in 'strategic alliance' The proposed acquisition of Noranda by state-owned China Minmetals also appears to be off the table. Noranda said it has begun talks with the Chinese company about a "strategic alliance which may involve commercial arrangements," such as development projects, assistance with procurement and supply of equipment, and joint exploration initiatives in China. Last September, China Minmetals announced it had begun talks regarding a possible purchase of Noranda. Written by CBC News Online staff
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RCMP operation called 'failure' of supervision Web Posted | Last Updated Tue, 08 Mar 2005 08:02:12 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 8th, 2005
MAYERTHORPE, ALTA. - The RCMP are defending how they handled the events that led to four constables being murdered last week, in the face of sharp criticism from a former senior Mountie. Former RCMP superintendent Clyde Kitteringham spoke out Monday about what he considers a crucial lack of protection for the officers killed by a gunman in Alberta, saying people inside the force are being told to keep quiet or risk losing their jobs. "Based on my many, many years of experience in both rural Alberta and elsewhere as an operational police officer, this was a failure," said Kitteringham, who spent 21 years in Alberta during his 39-year career with Canada's national police force. "It was negligent supervision, quite frankly, and I haven't heard anyone tell me it wasn't." Kitteringham said supervisors clearly erred by leaving junior members overnight to keep watch on the Rochfort Bridge property of Jim Roszko, a man with a history of violence and a well-known hatred of the RCMP. He said the officers were exposed to an ambush because no one kept tabs on where Roszko was throughout the night, allowing him to sneak back onto the farm without the officers' knowledge. A better-armed, more experienced tactical team should have been called in to handle the stolen property investigation, he added. Cpl. Wayne Oakes, the RCMP 's spokesperson in Alberta, had only a few terse words when asked about Kitteringham's views. "That superintendent does not have all the facts or the points about this investigation," he said. Funerals for the officers were scheduled to begin Tuesday with an afternoon service for 25-year-old Const. Peter Schiemann in Stony Plain, Alta. The other slain officers were Const. Anthony Gordon, 28; Const. Leo Johnston, 32; and Const. Brock Myrol, 29. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Toronto girl survives fall onto highway Web Posted | Last Updated Mon, 07 Mar 2005 08:10:42 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 7th, 2005
TORONTO - A five-year-old Toronto girl survived a fall onto the country's busiest highway Sunday night after her father jumped off an overpass. Police say it's a miracle the little girl wasn't killed. "It does not appear that she has any broken bones. She was talkative at the hospital," said Insp. Brian O'Connor at a news conference. She had some internal bleeding, and remains in guarded condition in hospital. Horrified drivers on Highway 401 watched as the man dangled his daughter over the bridge. Police arrived at the scene after a phone call from a driver, but it was too late to stop him. "He leaped over the bridge, either taking or throwing the daughter with him," said O'Connor. Police had been trying to track the man down after he left a suicide note and made a number of cellphone calls to his wife on Sunday afternoon. "This guy was a loaded missile. He was going to kill himself and he was going to take his daughter to punish his wife for whatever he thought she had done wrong in the relationship," said O'Connor. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Liberals renew support for Martin Web Posted | Last Updated Sun, 06 Mar 2005 12:34:37 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 6th, 2005
OTTAWA - Federal Liberals endorsed Prime Minister Paul Martin's leadership at their national policy convention on Sunday. Asked whether the party should organize a vote for a new leader, 88 per cent of delegates said "no."
Liberal Party National Director Steve MacKinnon called the results "overwhelming" and "a great tribute" to Martin's leadership. Martin called the four-day convention an "enormous success." "There was no vetting of opinion. There was no stifling of dissent like the Conservatives. Liberals from across the country came with one purpose – to build the Canada of tomorrow."	Paul Martin listens to results of the leadership review.
After thanking delegates and predicting a "resounding" victory in the next election, Martin took aim at the opposition parties, starting with the Conservatives, who will hold their convention later this month. "They will have to figure out who they are and what they stand for, then figure out how to conceal it from the Canadian people." He said under a Conservative government, fundamental Charter rights would be subject to political whims. An NDP government would run up the debt, Martin said. He said the Bloc Québécois is "always negative" and predicted Quebecers in the next election will look at the party's record and see it hasn't done anything to promote their interests. Written by CBC News Online staff
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B.C. father guilty of killing daughter in fit of rage Web Posted | Last Updated Fri, 04 Mar 2005 22:15:59 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 5th, 2005 VANCOUVER - A British Columbia man has been convicted of second-degree murder in the July 2003 stabbing death of his teenage daughter. A jury deliberated for five hours before coming up with the guilty verdict Friday for Rajinder Singh Atwal, 48. The verdict comes with an automatic life sentence. A hearing in June will determine when he will be eligible for parole.	Amandeep Atwal
During the trial, the Crown claimed the Kitimat man murdered his daughter, 17-year-old Amandeep Atwal, because he disapproved of her relationship with her high-school sweetheart, Todd McIsaac. She had just told him that she wanted to move in with McIsaac, after hiding their relationship from him for three years because of their different ethnic backgrounds. Amandeep's parents found out about McIsaac when the two were involved in a car accident. The Crown said Atwal stabbed his daughter in a fit of rage as the pair drove back from a family vacation in the Lower Mainland. He then drove her to Langley Memorial Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. She had been stabbed 11 times. Atwal told hospital officials that the girl had stabbed herself, intending to commit suicide. But a pathologist testified some of the stab wounds were inflicted after death. On the witness stand, McIsaac, 20, wept as he recalled his last conversation with Amandeep, when they talked about getting married. That telephone call took place the day before she died. Written by CBC News Online staff
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4 RCMP officers murdered on Alberta farm Web Posted | Last Updated Fri, 04 Mar 2005 08:15:32 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 4th, 2005
ROCHFORT BRIDGE, ALTA. - A raid on a suspected marijuana grow operation in rural Alberta has left five people dead – four of them RCMP officers. It is the single worst multiple killing of RCMP officers in modern Canadian history.
"It's my sad duty to inform you that four RCMP officers, four brave young members have been killed in the line of duty," said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Bill Sweeney. All of those killed were described as junior officers. According to police the incident unfolded early Thursday morning when four RCMP officers – three from the Mayerthorpe detachment and another from nearby Whitecourt, took part in a raid on farm near Rochfort Bridge. The officers were investigating allegations of stolen property and a marijuana grow operation. Rochfort Bridge is located near Mayerthorpe, about 130 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. Looking ashen and shaken, RCMP spokesman Cpl. Wayne Oakes told a news conference that the officers were killed inside a Quonset hut - a rounded, steel storage facility - on the farm. They had been shot.	The Quonset hut that police suspect held the marijuana growing operation in Rochfort Bridge, Alberta.
Their bodies were discovered by emergency response team officers at about 2:20 p.m. Asked if the victims had been ambushed, Oakes said "I don't know." The suspect is also dead, though police can't say yet if he was killed by other officers, or if he turned his high-power rifle on himself. Oakes did say the suspect "was known to police." The names of the murdered officers have not been released, pending notification of next of kin.
The name of the suspect is also being withheld, however, his father told reporters Thursday that his son was on a dangerous path and they hadn't spoken in nine years. "He's not my son, he's a wicked devil," said the father. The killing of the four officers appears to be unprecedented in modern Canadian history. "You'd have to go back to 1885, to the Northwest Rebellion, to have a loss of this magnitude. It's devastating," said Sweeney. Police went to property Wednesday	News vehicles were kept away from the scene through the day while police investigated.
The incident started on Wednesday afternoon when police went to the property to investigate a suspected grow op. While there, they saw stolen car parts and stolen property. Two officers remained overnight. Around 10 a.m. local time Thursday, the other officers returned and were shot at. They returned fire. Police requested help from the military around noon. The first word of a problem came from Alberta Solicitor General Harvey Cenaiko who said the RCMP lost contact with the four at about 10 a.m. "As far as we know, there's four officers not responding to their radios, so there is an indication that something is serious here," Cenaiko said earlier in the day.
After the shooting the RCMP rushed at least two emergency response teams from Edmonton and Red Deer to the area, along with reinforcements from the Edmonton police. The Canadian military was put on alert, but later told it wasn't needed. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Fossett set to make aviation history Web Posted | Last Updated Thu, 03 Mar 2005 07:30:00 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 3rd, 2005 SALINA, KAN. - American adventurer Steve Fossett could complete his around-the-world solo flight by Thursday afternoon, despite suspected fuel problems. Fossett and his crew decided Wednesday to keep his custom-made GlobalFlyer in the air rather than abandon the attempt to break the record.	GlobalFlyer aircraft
Fossett, 60, is expected to land in Salina, Kan., on Thursday afternoon, according to his project manager, Paul Moore. Early Thursday, he was about 1,200 kilometres southwest of Los Angeles. "Confident isn't the right word to use now. I'm hopeful that this is all going to work out," the millionaire pilot said from his aircraft on Wednesday afternoon. Fuel gauges were showing that his sophisticated aircraft, funded by Virgin Atlantic founder Richard Branson, had somehow lost about one-seventh of its total load of jet fuel, after accounting for the fuel burned during the voyage. Though he may have lost the fuel because of a leak, there's also a chance that the low fuel readings are being caused by faulty gauges. It's a risk Fossett and his team are apparently prepared to take. If the gauges are registering accurately, though, Fossett won't have enough fuel to complete the 37,000-kilometre journey unless a strong tailwind continues pushing him all the way back to the American mainland. Current wind speeds between Hawaii and the western coast of the U.S. are about 40 knots, Moore said, and that's the minimum speed Fossett will need if fuel has indeed leaked out of his jet. Fossett is nearly three days into his 80-hour trip and had travelled more than 25,300 kilometres, taking very short catnaps to stave off sleep deprivation. Fossett already holds another airborne honour. He was the first person to pilot a balloon around the world on a solo trip, accomplishing that feat in 2002 after a number of failed attempts. On this trip, he was hoping to break a number of aviation records, including the record for a non-stop flight by a jet. He had already surpassed that record by about 6,000 kilometres, as of early Wednesday afternoon. The old record was set in 1962 by a B-52 bomber that went about 19,300 kilometres. Written by CBC News Online staff
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California man charged after Edmonton woman attacked in Mexico Web Posted | Last Updated Wed, 02 Mar 2005 07:07:07 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 2nd, 2005
EDMONTON - The RCMP says DNA evidence has led to charges in the case of an Edmonton woman who was kidnapped and sexually assaulted at a Mexican resort. Mexican police have laid charges against a 37-year-old California man who was already being held in a Mexican prison for another sexual assault. The 45-year-old Edmonton woman was at the Hotel Las Hadas Resort near Manzanillo last April when she met the man, a dive instructor at the resort, said the Edmonton Sun. The pair had drinks and headed down to a beach shack where she was attacked, sexually assaulted and held against her will for eight hours. She grabbed an article of his clothing before escaping the next morning. The woman reported the crime when she returned to Canada, saying she was too traumatized to report it to Mexican authorities. The RCMP used Interpol's DNA databank and samples to identify the man, who was believed to be living in Mexico under an assumed name. When the RCMP and California police tracked him down, he was being held in a Mexican prison for another sexual assault. Written by CBC News Online staff
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Rice postpones Canada visit after missile decision Web Posted | Last Updated Tue, 01 Mar 2005 08:09:47 EST Giant Dwarf Posted: March 1st, 2005
LONDON - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice postponed plans to visit Canada next month because Washington is upset over the country's decision to opt out of the missile shield program, a report says. The trip had been planned for mid-April but has been delayed with no new date set. Canadian officials have arranged to meet briefly Tuesday afternoon with Rice, who is attending a conference on Palestinian reform in London. "We look forward to seeing the Canadians soon, and are looking for a date when we can make that happen," State Department spokesperson Richard Boucher told the Canadian Press through an aide. "We were in fact looking at a date, but the schedules didn't work out." Boucher didn't directly connect the postponed visit with Prime Minister Paul Martin's decision, announced Feb. 24, that Canada wouldn't take part in the U.S. missile defence plan. However, an official from President George W. Bush's administration who was travelling with Rice told the news agency on Monday that the delay was a result of Canada's decision. The United States had long pushed for Canada to join the missile defence program and Bush had publicly urged Martin to join the program during a visit to Canada in December. Written by CBC News Online staff