Politics

World »

Hurricane Ike upgraded to Category 2 as it edges toward Texas

U.S. forecasters said Hurricane Ike is gaining size and strength over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday after the storm battered parts of Cuba this week.

Canada considers sending disaster team to Haiti

Canada is considering sending its specialized disaster response team to help with hurricane relief efforts in Haiti, CBC News has confirmed.

Japan, Indonesia rattled by powerful earthquakes

Powerful earthquakes rocked parts of Japan and Indonesia Thursday, prompting tsunami alerts in both countries.

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Canada »

Harper dangerous even with another minority government: Williams

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams said Wednesday that even another minority Conservative government would be ruinous for Canadians.

Green leader allowed into debates, networks confirm

Green Leader Elizabeth May will be allowed to take part in the federal leaders' debates, Canada's networks confirmed on Wednesday.

Layton pledges $8B for retraining, 'green-collar' workforce

NDP Leader Jack Layton announced an $8-billion investment plan on Wednesday to address manufacturing, saying a New Democratic government would not "stand by and watch an economic train wreck unfold in the manufacturing sector."

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Health »

Therapy for arthritic knees often as effective as surgery: study

Many people with osteoarthritis gain the same benefits from physiotherapy and mild pain relievers that they would get from arthroscopic surgery, which is often unnecessary, a Canadian-led study suggests.

Air pollution poses heightened risk to heart patients: study

Tiny particles in polluted air hamper the heart's ability to conduct electrical signals in people with heart disease, who should avoid traffic pollution after leaving hospital, researchers say.

Baby formula in China probed for kidney stone link

Health officials in China are investigating a brand of baby formula after 14 infants were treated in hospital for kidney stones.

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Arts & Entertainment»

Theatre director Richard Monette dies at 64

Richard Monette, the longest-serving artistic director of the Stratford Festival, has died at 64.

Shorter Che wins North American distribution deal

A slimmed down version of Steven Soderbergh's lengthy biopic Che has won a North American distribution deal.

Alberta's Emerson Drive up for U.S. country music award

Emerson Drive, the group from Grande Prairie, Alta., who have been struggling to make it in Nashville since 2003, have earned a nomination for vocal group of the year at the 2008 Country Music Association Awards.

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Technology & Science »

Big Bang experiment succeeds in 1st major tests

The giant particle accelerator near Geneva, Switzerland has completed its first major tests, successfully sending beams of protons all the way around a 27-kilometre underground tunnel beneath the Swiss-French border.

Telecommunications market is global, but not in Canada

Outdated ownership rules are keeping prices high and competition low, experts say

Freshwater fish in North America at risk, study says

About four out of 10 freshwater fish species in North America are in peril, according to a major study by U.S., Canadian and Mexican scientists.

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Money »

Ontario's zero-economic growth to drag down Canada: Scotiabank

Ontario's economy will not grow at all in 2008, which will help bring down Canada's overall GDP growth by 75 per cent, according to a new forecast by Scotiabank Economics.

Lehman Brothers sheds assets to stem real-estate problems

Lehman Brothers said Wedneday that it will sell a majority stake in its investment management business and spin off its commercial real estate operations to shareholders to mitigate $7 billion US in losses on commercial and residential real estate.

TSX regains most of Tuesday's losses

Toronto's key stock index regained nearly three-quarters of Tuesday's bone-rattling crash on Wednesday, but U.S. markets made a much weaker recovery.

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Consumer Life »

15th listeria death linked to Maple Leaf Foods

Another person has died from listeriosis linked to tainted meat processed at the Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto.

Alberta bans expiry dates for gift cards

Alberta will eliminate expiry dates and inactivity fees for gift cards starting Nov. 1, making sure they keep their full value whenever they are redeemed.

Britain to retain strict rules on liquids in carry-on luggage

Strict restrictions on carrying liquids in hand baggage will remain in place in Britain for as long as five more years, despite calls from a high-profile international airline to ease the rules.

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Sports »

Scores: NHL NBA

Jeffrey Buttle retires from figure skating

Reigning world champion Jeffrey Buttle retired from figure skating Wednesday, satisfied with all he has accomplished.

Quebec junior hockey league won't ban fighting

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League won't ban fighting outright for the 2008-09 season that commences Thursday but will aim to crack down on brawling, the league president announced Wednesday.

Favourites avoid upsets in World Cup qualifying

Denmark needed two late goals to beat Portugal 3-2 and Germany rallied three times in a 3-3 draw with Finland in World Cup qualifying matches on Wednesday.

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Diversions »

Massachusetts firefighter revives cat using mouth to meow-th

Surprise, it's Penguins star Sidney Crosby with your tickets

US man has eaten 23,000 Big Macs since 1972

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