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The Canadian Press Budget for Thursday, Dec 3, 2009(Canadian Press DataFile Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The following is a complete list of coverage plans for top news from The Canadian Press. If you have any questions, contact CP's National Desk at 416-507-2150. Copy moves by 18:00 ET unless otherwise noted; all times ET. BEIJING _ In a surprisingly undiplomatic rebuke, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was publicly chided at a traditional Chinese welcoming ceremony Thursday for taking too long to visit the country. The subtle but pointed rebuke came as the prime minister and his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, sat at a large oval table for talks following a military welcome at the cavernous Great Hall of the People. Harper, however, did not let the comments slip by without a response, pointing out that it had also been five years since the Chinese leadership had set foot in Canada. 831 words. By Julian Beltrame. See Photos. Moved General, Business and International. BC-Harper-China. OTTAWA _ Diplomats, trade experts and political opponents are all abuzz about the significance of the diplomatic rebuke Prime Minister Stephen Harper received from his Chinese counterpart Thursday. 700 words. By Mike Blanchfield. See Photos. BC-Harper-China-Rebuke. Moved. OTTAWA _ Environment Minister Jim Prentice is raising the spectre that international researchers at the heart of a controversy over fudged climate-change data may have been targeting Canada as a climate laggard. 550 words. By Steve Rennie. BC-Cda-Climate-Hacked. Moved. OTTAWA _ An expert panel is recommending that the federal government build a new nuclear reactor to produce medical isotopes and guarantee an adequate supply for the country. It makes the recommendation in a report to Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt, which the government received Monday and released Thursday. 500 words. By Steve Rennie. BC-Isotope-Shortage. Moved. OTTAWA _ The Harper government is facing tough new questions after the revelation that the Red Cross met twice with senior Canadian officials in Kandahar to warn about abuse in Afghan jails a year before Canada acted to protect detainees. 600 words. By Jennifer Ditchburn. See Photos. BC-Afghan-Cda-Abuse. Moved. WASHINGTON _ How much does the U.S. government really trust Canada? Maybe less than you think. Espionage warnings from the Defence Department caused an international sensation a few years ago over reports of mysterious coins with radio frequency transmitters, until they were debunked. The culprit turned out to be a commemorative quarter in Canada. 600 words. By Ted Bridis. See Photos. US-Spy-Coins. Moved General and International. OTTAWA _ The Supreme Court of Canada says an Alberta man who admitted to sexual chats with a 12-year-old girl, but was acquitted of Internet luring because they never actually met, must face a new trial. Children's rights groups are applauding Thursday's ruling, but warn more must be done to educate parents about the danger of children chatting online with strangers. 500 words. SCOC-Legare. Moved. TORONTO _ It's too soon to think about consigning the H1N1 pandemic to the history books, the World Health Organization's top flu expert said Thursday. Dr. Keiji Fukuda said though flu activity caused by the pandemic virus appears to have peaked in the United States and Canada, that isn't true for other parts of the Northern Hemisphere. And he said it remains to be seen whether some countries will experience a third wave of infections. 588 words. By Helen Branswell, Medical Reporter. Flu-WHO-Not-Over. Moved. OTTAWA _ Federal and provincial housing ministers are in the unusual position of having so much money they don't know what to do with it. Ottawa is in the midst of handing out an unprecedented $5-billion pot of money for social housing needs and construction. For the first time in four years, the federal housing minister will meet face to face with her provincial counterparts on Friday, in the hopes of finding the most effective way to spend it all. 600 words. By Heather Scoffield. BC-Housing-Riches. Moved. UNDATED _ A group of elders pulls seal skins taut over the wooden frame, carefully binding the pelts together as they construct a traditional kayak. The group in Cambridge Bay sing and eat as they talk about the changes they've witnessed in their climate over the last several decades that have warmed their distant community and altered their native food sources. The conversation is the subject of one of many video documentaries being presented by a Canadian delegation in Copenhagen in the runup to the historic climate change talks. 500 words. By Alison Auld. BC-Climate-Change-Videos. Moved. UNDATED -- At least one species seems to love climate change. American researchers have found that aspens -- the main trees in 17 million hectares of Canadian forest --- are growing up to 50 per cent faster with higher levels of carbon dioxide. The results raise new questions about how much carbon the boreal forest will be able to absorb from the atmosphere. 550 words. By Bob Weber. BC-Climate-Change-Aspens. Moved. VANCOUVER _ Vancouver's city hall was expected to examine a set of controversial bylaws that critics say will suppress free speech during the 2010 Winter Olympics. The bylaws, which will give the city new powers to clamp down on illegal signs and eject noisy protesters from official Olympic celebrations, have been watered down to pacify those critics. But anti-Olympic activists say the revised bylaws still go too far. 600 words. By James Keller. BC-Sign-Law. Moved. VANCOUVER -The Transportation Safety Board releases its report on the helicopter crash that killed four people, including a foreign exchange student who was walking down the street listening to his iPod. 600 words. By Steve Mertl. BC-Helicopter-Crash-Report. Moved. REGINA - Convicted killer Colin Thatcher says the Saskatchewan government doesn't have the right to money from a book he wrote about his ex-wife's murder. He told a court in Regina on Thursday that a law the province rushed in earlier this year doesn't apply to him. That law says criminals can't profit from the recounting of their crimes, but Thatcher says his book isn't about the murder of JoAnn Wilson _ which he has always denied _ but instead focuses on his dealings with the justice system. 600 words. By Jennifer Graham. BC-CRIME-Thatcher-Book. Moved. TORONTO _ Ex-Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray is dropping his bid for Toronto's top job and will seek to replace former Ontario cabinet minister George Smitherman in his downtown Toronto riding instead, sources confirmed Thursday. That removes a potential mayoral rival for Smitherman, who is expected to vacate the seat ahead of his bid to become the city's next mayor. 600 words. By Maria Babbage. Ont-Toronto-Byelection. Moved. TORONTO _ Seniors will be amongst the hardest hit by the creation of a 13 per cent single sales tax in Ontario, opponents of the harmonized sales tax told a legislative committee Thursday in the first of two days of public hearings. Opponents point out that merging Ontario's eight per cent provincial sales tax with the five per cent goods and services tax will add eight per cent to items currently exempt from the PST. 650 words. By Keith Leslie. Ont-HST-Hearings. Moved Regional (C). TORONTO _ Ontario should take action to provide a point-of-sale exemption for First Nations and stop shifting the blame to the federal government, critics and aboriginal leaders said Thursday. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Brad Duguid said the government supports an exemption, but adds the federal support is key. 450 words. By Romina Maurino. BC-HST-Protest. Moved Regional (C). CP is also following... CALGARY -- Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams speaks to Calgary Chamber of Commerce about opportunities for trade and investment in his province. Media availability to follow. Copy develops from 11:30 a.m. MT (1:30 p.m ET) speech. REGINA --Court hears arguments as the Saskatchewan government tries to collect the profits from convicted murderer Colin Thatcher's book. Copy develops from 10 a.m. CT (11 a.m. ET) court proceedings. MOVING TODAY, BUT INTENDED MAINLY FOR WEEKEND USE MONTREAL _ The survivors of Monteal's Ecole polytechnique massacre still vividly recall Marc Lepine's murderous rampage 20 years ago _ how students thought he was initially playing a bad joke, the sound of gunshots and screams and how, by chance, they brushed past the killer in a corridor. But while some people have never returned to the Universite de Montreal's engineering school, others have moved forward and are strong advocates for gun control and more women in engineering _ one of the things Lepine sought to snuff out. 1,000 words. By Nelson Wyatt. See photos. With Mtl-Massacre-Registry. With QuickSketch and QuickFacts. For use any time but intended mainly for weekend use. BC-Mtl-Massacre-20-Years. Moved Thursday. MONTREAL _ A survivor of the massacre at Montreal's Ecole polytechnique 20 years ago has launched an emotional broadside against the Conservative government over gun control, saying it will have blood on its hands if it lets the controversial gun registry die. Heidi Rathjen, who was among those who fought to create the registry, says it saves lives and killing it would be a slap in the face to the 14 women shot to death at the engineering school on Dec. 6, 1989. 500 words. By Nelson Wyatt. With QuickSketch and QuickFacts. With BC-Mtl-Massacre-20-Years. See Photos. For use any time but intended mainly for weekend use. BC-Mtl-Massacre-Registry. Moved. WINNIPEG - Sometime in late February 1950, a Canadian photographer pulled a camera out of his parka into the stabbing Arctic cold, focused as best he could in the flickering lamplight of an igloo, and pressed the shutter. The resulting image _ an Inuit mother, haggard with hunger and dressed in shabby caribou skins, fiercely pressing her nose and lips to those of her youngest child _ has since become iconic. But the story behind Richard Harrington's memorable print, and the many others he made around the same time, is less well known. And that's what a show at the Winnipeg Art Gallery hopes to remedy. 750 words. See Photos, See Video. For use any time but intended mainly for weekend use. BC-Arctic-Famine-Photos. Moved National and Entertainment. WORLD INTERNATIONAL KABUL _ Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Thursday he's willing to talk with the Taliban chief in a bid to bring peace to the country if the move would have the backing of the United States and other international partners. Karzai said in an interview with The Associated Press that ``sections of the international community'' had undermined previous peace overtures to the Taliban by harassing people ``even though they had quit the insurgency.'' 550 words. By Kathy Gannon. See Photos. AS-Afghan-Karzai. Moved. LONDON _ Britain's climate change secretary urged countries Thursday to be wary of ``climate saboteurs'' seeking to wreck a global agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Ed Miliband, who will attend the Copenhagen talks that begin Monday on a new international climate change pact, said those challenging the mainstream scientific view on climate change are irresponsible and dangerous. 500 words. By David Stringer. Climate-Skeptics. Moved. See also: _ EU-Climate-Hacked-Emails. Moved. _ EU-Climate-McCartney. Moved. _ Climate-Germany-Protest. Moved. NEW DELHI _ India will significantly slow the growth of its climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions over the next decade as its economy keeps expanding, an official said Thursday ahead of world climate change talks. However, the country will not accept a binding emissions reduction target, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said. 650 words. By Muneeza Naqvi. See Photos. Climate-India. Moved. UNDATED _ With the world losing the battle against global warming so far, experts say humans need to do what nature does: Adapt or die. That means building bigger dams and higher walls, elevating some buildings and moving people, plants and animals out of harm's way. Adapting to global warming will be a big topic at the U.N. climate change talks in Copenhagen next week. By Science Writer Seth Borenstein. Climate-Adapting. Moved. BHOPAL, India _ Hundreds of people march through Bhopal to mark the 25th anniversary of the world's worst industrial disaster and demand the cleanup of toxic chemicals they say still contaminate the Indian city's soil and water. By Altaf Qadri. AP Photos. India Bhopal-Anniversary. Moved. MOGADISHU, Somalia _ A male suicide bomber dressed as a woman attacked a university graduation ceremony Thursday in a small part of the capital still under government control, killing up to 19 people, including three cabinet ministers and three journalists. The attack was a severe blow to a country long battered by war and underscored the government's tenuous hold on even a small area of the capital. 900 words. By Mohamed Olad Hassan. See Photos. AF-Somalia. Moved. MOSCOW _ In an electric four-hour solo performance on live television, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he will think about whether to reclaim the presidency _ one of the strongest signals yet that he may run again for Russia's top office in 2012. 950 words. By Vladimir Isachenkov. See Photos. EU-Russia-Putin. Moved. WASHINGTON _ The head of the U.S. Secret Service asserted Thursday that the security breach at last week's White House state dinner was an aberration and President Barack Obama was never at risk. Mark Sullivan said three uniformed officers have been put on administrative leave. The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson, said the country is fortunate the affair did not end in a ``night of horror.'' 600 words. By Eileen Sullivan. See Photos. US-Uninvited-Guests. Moved. WASHINGTON _ Think your kid is not ``sexting''? Think again. Sexting _ sharing sexually explicit photos, videos and chat by cellphone or online _ is fairly commonplace among young people, despite sometimes grim consequences for those who do it. More than a quarter of young Americans have been involved in sexting in some form, an Associated Press-MTV poll found. 1,000 words. By Libby Quaid. See Photos. US-Sexting-Poll. Moved International and Lifestyles. HIGHLIGHTED ON THE GENERAL BUDGET The following stories, which carry foreign placelines but are of specific interest to Canadian readers, move on both the International and General wires and are highlighted on the General budget: _ Harper-China. _ US-Spy-Coins. BUSINESS MONTREAL _ Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) is seeing signs of stability in its aerospace business but financially weary airlines may prevent the manufacturer from meeting its goal of signing at least one new order for its CSeries aircraft by the end of January. 750 words. By Ross Marowits. BC-Bombardier-Earns, 6th Writethru. Moved. MONTREAL _ National Bank Financial Group (TSX:NA) reported Thursday that its profits more than tripled in the fourth quarter, despite the weak economy as the bank's bottom line benefited from far fewer charges. 700 words. By LuAnn LaSalle. BC-National-Bank, 4th Writethru Budget. Moved. TORONTO _ TD Bank (TSX:TD) executives are optimistic the bank's business plan will withstand the slow economic recovery, but they're also warning that the pickup could challenge its divisions throughout much of next year. By David Friend. BC-TD-Bank, 5th Writethru Budget. Moved. TORONTO _ CIBC (TSX:CM) reported Thursday that profits were up 48 per cent in the fourth quarter, but its chief executive has warned that higher loan losses are likely to continue into the new year as the Canadian jobs market remains weak. 800 words. BC-CIBC, 6th Writethru Budget. Moved. TORONTO -Tis the year end tax season, and though it may be merrier to focus on tree-trimming than taxes, financial experts say planning ahead is the best gift you can give yourself. A number of financial items require action before year end in order to be claimed on a 2009 tax return, otherwise filers will have to wait 12 to 14 months to see those benefits. By Sunny Freeman. 650 words. Money-Monitor. Moved. TORONTO _ When the world's biggest gold miner decided to undertake one of the largest equity issues in Canadian history to eliminate its decades-old hedging program, it was a sign that the Canadian mining industry's fortunes had truly turned around.In perhaps the most blatant expression of optimism from the industry this year, Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corp. (TSX:ABX) raised nearly US$4 billion to eliminate a hedging program, set up to protect it against low gold prices, in the confidence that gold is only going to go higher in the foreseeable future. 1,000 words. With Photos. BC-YEAR-Mining-Rebound. Moved. CALGARY _ Future phases of Statoil's oilsands operations will be designed with carbon capture and storage in mind. But the new head of the Norweigan energy firm's Canadian division says the greenhouse gas-snatching technology has a long way to go before it's economically viable. 500 words. By Lauren Krugel. Statoil-Canada, 1st Writethru. Moved. VANCOUVER _ C.A. Bancorp Inc. (TSX:BKP) was put in play Thursday as Maxam Opportunities Fund LP and an affiliated fund company announced they're making an all-cash offer that values the Toronto-based merchant bank at $32.6 million.Maxam said its offer of $1.22 per share cash provide's C.A. shareholders with ``compelling value'' considering the lack of trading volume for the stock and ``the lack of growth prospects for C.A. Bancorp's business.'' 400 words. BC-CA-Bankcorp-Takeover, 2nd Writethru. Moved. WASHINGTON _ The tally of newly laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits in the United States fell unexpectedly for the fifth straight week, a hopeful sign that the job market is slowly improving.Still, claims remain above the levels that most analysts say would be consistent with an economy that is adding jobs. The unemployment rate is at 10.2 per cent and expected to keep climbing into next year. 541 words. By Christopher S. Rugaber. BC-US-Jobless-Claims. PHILADELPHIA _ Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ:CMCSA) announced Thursday it plans to buy a majority stake in NBC Universal for US$13.75 billion, giving America's largest cable TV operator control of the Peacock network, an array of cable channels and a major movie studio.Although the deal could mean that movies could reach cable more quickly after showing in theatres, and that TV shows could appear faster on cellphones and other devices, it was already raising concerns that Comcast would wield too much power over entertainment. 867 words. By Deborah Yao. See Photo. BC-US-Comcast-NBC. NEW YORK _ Natural gas prices have slumped well below what they were last year, and that trend will likely continue into 2010. The New York Mercantile Exchange contract for January delivery at one point dropped to a new 52-week low of US$4.432 per 1,000 cubic feet on Thursday. By Chris Kahn BC-Oil-Prices, 3rd Writethru Budget. Moved HARRISBURG, Pa. _ Harley-Davidson Inc. said Thursday that it is dropping any plans to move some operations to Kentucky after workers at the motorcycle maker's central Pennsylvania plant agreed to a new seven-year contract. 600 words. By Marc Levy. BC-US-Harley-Davidson-Plant. Moved. WASHINGTON _ Making a case for a second term as head of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke said Thursday that he has the tools and the political backbone necessary to reel in massive economic support once the recovery is firmly rooted. 900 words. By Jeannine Aversa. BC-US-Bernanke. Moved. The Canadian Press is also following: TORONTO _ The Toronto stock market fell sharply Thursday in a broad-based decline despite solid earnings reports from two of the big Canadian banks as investors opted for caution ahead of Friday's U.S. non-farm jobless report. By Malcolm Morrison. BC-Dollar-Markets, 7th Writethru. Moved. HALIFAX _ Jazz Air LP (TSX:JAZ.UN) reaches tentative labour contract with its customer service and aircraft services employees, after previous deal voted down by union. BC-Jazz-CAW, 1st Writethru. QUEBEC _ Cossette Inc. (TSX:KOS), which is battling a hostile takeover offer, said Thursday it lost $16.5 million in its most recent quarter due to a writedown of goodwill.The advertising agency said the loss amounted to $1.05 per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with a profit of $3.6 million or 15 cents per diluted share a year ago. 317 words. Cossette. LAVAL, Que. _ Hart Stores Inc. (HIS:TSX) reported Thursday its third-quarter earnings were cut in half compared with a year ago.The department store chain reported net earnings of $400,000, or three cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Oct. 31, compared with earnings of $800,000 or six cents per diluted share a year ago. 150 words. Hart-Stores. LONGUEUIL, Que. _ Agropur, Quebec's dairy co-operative giant, announced Thursday it has acquired Green Meadows Foods, a cheese factory in Iowa, for an undisclosed price. BC-Agropur, 1st Writethru. Moved. MONTREAL _ Richelieu Hardware Ltd. (TSX:RCH), a Montreal-based distributor of specialty hardware and building products, says it has acquired companies in Calgary and New York state to expand its North American distribution network. BC-Richelieu. Moved. MONTREAL _ Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE:CLF) has increased its bid for Freewest Resources Canada Inc. (TSXV:FWR) as part of a strategic plan to build a major new chromite mining operation in the James Bay region of northern Ontario. BC-Cliffs-Freewest, 1st Writethru. MONTREAL _ Canadian National Railway Co. (TSX:CNR) resumed talks Thursday with the union representing locomotive engineers as it works to restore full service following a five-day strike. BC-CN-Rail-Negotiations. SAINT-EUSTACHE, Que. _ Quebec-based Nova Bus has been awarded a two-year contract to provide a fleet of new buses to Calgary Transit for an undisclosed price. BC-Nova-Bus, 1st Writethru. Moved. TORONTO _ CI Financial Corp. said Thursday it has signed a deal to sell the capital markets operation of its former Blackmont Capital Inc. unit to a group of its employees as part of a larger plan to spin off its capital markets business. Under the deal, CI said it will transfer Blackmont's capital markets operations to CI's newly created subsidiary CI Capital Markets Inc., which is to be acquired by a group of employees, led by senior management, in January. 264 words. BC-CI-Financial, 1st Writethru. TORONTO _ Thomas d'Aquino, who is leaving his post as head of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, will join the law firm Gowlings in the new year. BC-Aquino-Gowlings, 1st Writethru. Moved. TORONTO _ Fraser Papers Inc., which is operating under court protection from creditors, filed a restructuring plan Thursday that would see the company focus its business on its specialty papers business and sell off its other assets.``The new paper company will be significantly smaller but will be viable and more competitive in fewer market segments,'' chief executive Peter Gordon said in a statement. 298 words. Fraser-Papers. TORONTO _ Burntsand Inc. (TSX:BRT), a Tornto-based consulting and technology services company, says it has signed a contract for managed services valued at $530,000 with a major health care client in North America. BC-Burntsand. Moved. HOLLAND LANDING, Ont. _ Inscape Corp. (TSX:INQ) reported Thursday a second-quarter loss of $475,000 compared with a small profit a year ago.The furniture company said the loss amounted to three cents per share compared with a profit of $69,000 or less than a penny per share a year ago. 125 words. Inscape. CALGARY _ Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams says he still hopes a deal can be reached with New Brunswick over the proposed sale of NB Power to Hydro-Quebec. BC-NB-Power-Sale, 1st Writethru. Moved. CALGARY _ Maple Leaf Reforestation Inc. (TSXV:MPE), a Canadian-listed company which operates tree, fertilizer and other businesses in China, says its wholly owned Hunan Organic fertilizer plant has signed a distribution agreement to sell 2,000 tons of fish meal over the next year. BC-Maple-Leaf-Reforestation. Moved. TORONTO _ Toro Gold Ltd. said Thursday it expects to miss a Friday financing deadline for its planned takeover of Toronto-based mineral exploration company Axmin Inc. (TSXV:AXM). BC-Axmin, 1st Writethru, Moved. TORONTO _ Federal Industry Minister Tony Clement says he doesn't expect the resignation of General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson to affect the company's Canadian operations. BC-Clement-GM. TORONTO _ Federal Industry Minister Tony Clement says cabinet could overturn a decision by the CRTC that prevents cellphone company Globalive from launching its service in Canada. Ottawa is reviewing the decision by the federal regulator, which says Globalive wasn't Canadian-owned and controlled and therefore can't serve the Canadian wireless market. By Kristine Owram. BC-Clement-Globalive, 1st Writethru. Moved. TORONTO _ Research in Motion (TSX:RIM) shares down more than two per cent following reports that Nebraska-based Prism Technologies LLC has filed a patent infringement complaint to U.S. International Trade Commission over the BlackBerry maker. BC-Research-In-Motion. MISSISSAUGA, Ont. _ Residential real estate sales should recover in almost all major Canadian cities by the end of 2009, while average prices should post new records in an improved economic climate, according to a new housing report. The Re/Max Housing Market Outlook survey for 2010 predicts the uptick in sales will be lead by an anticipated 45 per cent increase in Greater Vancouver, while Ottawa and Quebec City are expected to hit historic highs in the number of homes sold. 166 words. BC-Housing-Outlook. KITCHENER, Ont. _ Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ) says it will establish a manufacturing facility in Ontario to build solar panels.The company, based in Kitchener, Ont., says the $24-million project will create 500 direct jobs and supply electricity to the equivalent of 60,000 homes per year. 128 words. BC-Canadian-Solar. WATERLOO, Ont. _ RDM Corp. (TSX:RC) reports net income of $286,000 or a penny per share for the fourth quarter, improving from a year-ago loss of $476,000 or two cents per share. Revenues totalled $5.7 million, down from $7.5 million last year. Earnings benefited from a $952,000 foreign exchange gain. BC-RDM, 1st Writethru. Moved. GUELPH, Ont. _ Linamar Corporation (TSX:LNR), Canada's second-largest auto parts maker, says it is closing its Invar Manufacturing plant in Batawa Ont., and cutting 134 jobs. BC-Linamar-Cuts, 3rd Writethru. Moved Business and Ontario Regional (C). Will be Updated. WINDSOR, Ont. _ Reko International Group Inc. (TSX:REK) says the weakness in the auto sector brought on by the bankruptcy filings of two big auto giants slashed its revenues by a third and pushed its first-quarter earnings into the red. BC-Reko-International, 1st Writethru. Moved. SASKATOON _ Uranium giant Cameco Corp. (TSX:CCO) says its board has approved a 17 per cent increase in the annual cash dividend to 28 cents a share from 24 cents, beginning in 2010. The Saskatoon company said Thursday the increase is the sixth in the last eight years for Cameco, which has consistently paid dividends since it became publicly traded in 1991. BC-Cameco-Dividend. Moved CALGARY _ WestJet Airlines Ltd. (TSX:WJA) expects the ongoing transition to a new reservation system will have a negative impact on its fourth-quarter passenger revenue, which is expected to be at least 11 per cent below last year. The Calgary-based airline made the statement Thursday morning while releasing November traffic results, which showed a load factor down slightly from record highs last year as growth in capacity outpaced growth in traffic. 303 words. BC-Airline-Traffic. CALGARY _ Maple Leaf Reforestation Inc. (TSXV:MPE), a Canadian-listed company which operates tree, fertilizer and other businesses in China, says its wholly owned Hunan Organic fertilizer plant has signed a distribution agreement to sell 2,000 tons of fish meal over the next year. BC-Maple-Leaf-Reforestation. VANCOUVER _ Jinshan Gold Mines Inc. (TSX:JIN) announced Thursday it had agreed to a US$40 million loan facility from China National Gold Group Corp., its largest shareholder. BC-Jinshan-Gold-Mines, 1st Writethru. Moved. VANCOUVER _ Absolute Software Corp. (TSX: ABT) buys LANrev computer systems management software assets from Germany-based Pole Position Software GmbH for US$12.1 million plus shares; will rebrand as Absolute Asset Management. BC-Absolute-LANrev, 1st Writethru. Moved. VANCOUVER _ CIBT Education Group Inc. (TSXV:MBA) reports net income of $16,007 or less than a penny a share on revenues of $44.6 million for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2009. For the 14 months ended Aug. 31, 2008, the education management and investment company lost $5.7 million or 10 cents a share on revenues of $32.3 million. BC-CIBT-Education, 1st Writethru. Moved. VANCOUVER _ Copper Mesa Mining Corp. (TSX:CUX) enters letter of intent to acquire all outstanding shares in Atlas Base Metals Inc. for 95.2 million Copper Mesa shares worth about $1.9 million. Deal will see Atlas shareholders hold a 48 per cent stake in Copper Mesa. BC-Copper-Mesa. Moved. YELLOWKNIFE _ De Beers Canada, a subsidiary of the South African diamond mining giant, says it has begun to ramp up production at its Snap Lake mine and expects to add 175 operational positions by the end of 2010. The mine now employs 440 people. BC-De-Beers-Canada. PERTH, Australia _ Paladin Energy Ltd. (TSX:PDN), a uranium producer in Australia, resolves legal dispute between its subsidiary Summit Resources Ltd. and Areva NC Pty Ltd. BC-Paladin. SPORTS TIGER WOODS NEW YORK _ Tiger Woods was different, or so he seemed, with his unmatchable talent and carefully burnished image of near-perfection. Unlike some pro athletes, he had embraced being a role model _ so his fall from grace, more so than others, calls into question the very idea of sports hero worship. 700 words. By David Crary. See AP Photos. GLF-Tiger-Woods-Role-Models. Moved. THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. _ A nightclub hostess who denied having an affair with Tiger Woods cancels a news conference hours before it was to begin. In Florida, a police interview tape suggests Woods' mother and mother-in-law were on the scene when the golfer crashed his car. On the course, Woods' tournament begins without him. 600 words. By Doug Ferguson. GLF-Tiger-Woods. Moves Sports and International. See also: _ GLF-Chevron-Challenge. Short item Moved. Wille be updated. HOCKEY MONTREAL _ A subjective look at 10 key moments in the Montreal Canadiens' 100-year history. 775 words. By Bill Beacon. See Photo, Graphic. HKN-NHL-Habs-100th-Top-Moments. Moved Datafile only. See also: _ HKN-Shanahan-Hired. Moved. Will be writethru. _ HKN-Winter-Classic. Moved. _ HKN-Ferguson-Auction. Moved. _ HKN-Leafs-Gustavson. Moved. _ HKN-Hurricanes-Leafs-Trade. Moved. CHICAGO _ Looking to the future, the surging Chicago Blackhawks signed three of their top players _ Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith _ to lucrative contract extensions Thursday.Kane and Toews, both 21, signed five-year deals reported to be worth US$31.5 million each. Keith, a defenceman, got a 13-year contract worth a reported $72 million, making it the richest in team history and surpassing the 12-year, $62.8 million given to Marian Hossa in the off-season. 749 words. By Rick Gano. HKN-Blackhawks-Contracts, 1st Writethru. Moved. OLYMPICS LAKE LOUISE, Alta. _ American Lindsey Vonn has won a downhill race at Lake Louise the last five years. Canadian Britt Janyk of Whistler, B.C., says it's time for a change. The first downhill of the Bombardier Lake Louise World Cup is Friday, followed by a second downhill Saturday. 600 words. By Donna Spencer. See Photos. SKI-WCup-Lake-Louise. Moved. UNDATED _ Downhill skier John Kucera says he's made peace with the injury that will prevent him from racing at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Kucera, who was considered one of Canada's best medal chances in skiing at the Games, said Thursday he already is planning for next season and thinks the long rehabilitation ahead of him will build character. 650 words. By Jim Morris. See Photo CPT109. OLY-SKI-Kucera-Injury, 1st Writethru. Moved. CALGARY _ Stephen Colbert's Canadian-bashing isn't sitting well with at least one American speedskating star.``He's a jerk,'' Shani Davis said Thursday when asked for his take on the popular mock-pundit's criticism of Canucks. ``You can put that in the paper.'' 680 words. By Shi Davidi. OLY-SPD-Davis-Colbert. Moved Sports and Entertaiment. MONTREAL _ Jean-Philippe Le Guellec was just six years old when he put on cross-country skis for the first time. He swore to himself that day he would never wear them again. But that was before he discovered biathlon. 600 words. By Marc Delbes. OLY-BIA-Profile-Le-Guellec. Moved. One in a series of Olympic athlete profiles. UNDATED _ After four years of waiting, hundreds of curling games around the world and a Brier and world championship along the way, the beginning of the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials can't begin soon enough for Glenn Howard. 1,000 words. See Photo CPT107. By Bill Graveland. OLY-CUR-Trials. Moved. FOOTBALL PHILADELPHIA _ Michael Vick was one of the NFL's most electrifying players with the Falcons, but he's still waiting to do something special for the Eagles. With Philadelphia playing at Atlanta on Sunday, his future is uncertain. It's unlikely the Eagles will pick up a $5.2 million option to keep him next year. 600 words. By Rob Maaddi. See AP Photos. FBN-Eagles-Vick's-Future. Moved. See also: _ FBN-Giants-Injuries. Moved. _ FBN-Colts-Injuries. Moved. _ FBN-Browns-No-Jamal. Moved. _ FBN-Seahawks-Ruskell-Out. Moved. _ FBN-Jaguars-Blackout. Moved. HOUSTON _ Texans rookie Connor Barwin made it to the NFL despite being born almost completely deaf. His achievement has proved an inspiration. Says one high school senior: ``I always thought that being deaf I can't do this and this and this, but I see that he plays football.'' 700 words. By Kristie Rieken. FBN-Texans-Barwin's-Hearing. Moved Datafile only. BASKETBALL PHILADELPHIA _ Allen Iverson is back where he always hoped he'd end his career _ in the No. 3 jersey and playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. Iverson is set to start his second stint with the Sixers next week. He meets the media on Thursday. 700 words. By Dan Gelston. See AP Photos. BKN-76ers-Iverson, 1st Writethru. Moved. UNDATED _ Chris Douglas-Roberts hasn't learned the drill yet. ``We kind of give up and just lay down,'' the rookie guard said after the Nets touched a historic bottom. Playing for the Nets means never having to say you're sorry for a poor effort, a motto that began with owner Bruce Ratner. 700 words. BKN-Jim-Litke. Moves Datafile only. SOCCER CAPE TOWN _ South Africa will likely need a little bit of luck in Friday's World Cup draw (CBC TV, noon ET) to have a chance of advancing from the group stage at next year's tournament _ the first to be played on African soil.The hosts are one of the eight seeded teams but could still be faced with a group possibly including France, the United States and Chile in Group A. It could also get an easier schedule of facing New Zealand, Uruguay and Slovenia. 500 words. By Raf Casert. SOC-WCup-Draw. Moved. LONDON _ Manchester City may be happy to extend its record run of seven straight Premier League draws when it comes up against Chelsea on Saturday.City's expensively assembled squad finally clicked back into gear to beat Arsenal 3-0 in the Carling Cup this week, but Chelsea has scored 17 goals and conceded none in winning its last five Premier League matches and is five points clear at the top with by far the best goal difference. 670 words. By Stuart Condie. See Photo. SOC-English-Preview. Moved. See also: _ SOC-FIFA-Robben-Island. Moved. _ SOC-German-Preview, 1st Writethru. Moved Datafile only. _ SOC-Spanish-Preview. Moved Datafile only. _ SOC-Liverpool-Torres. Moved Datafile only. _ SOC-Man-United-Ljajic. Moved Datafile only. _ SOC-AC-Milan-Gattuso. Moved Datafile only. PARIS _ Talk about shooting the messenger. Soccer's guardians took the cowardly route with their double decision this week to a) set their police on Thierry Henry for his notorious handball and b) do absolutely nothing to prevent such cheating from spoiling the next World Cup. 685 words. Column. By John Leicester. See Photo. SOC-John-Leicester. Moved Datafile only. FIGHTING UNDATED _ Jason (The Athlete) MacDonald isn't much for looking back. Which is probably wise when you have lost four of your last five fights. But the veteran middleweight from Red Deer, Alta., firmly believes he is a better mixed martial arts fighter than his recent record suggests. And he plans to prove it Friday night against Solomon Hutcherson at MFC 23 in Enoch, Alta. 950 words. By Neil Davidson. See Photo CPT 106. MMA-MFC-MacDonald. Moved. See also: _ MMA-UFC-TUF-10. Moved. UNDATED _ Having failed to make an impression in the cage during ``The Ultimate Fighter'' reality TV show, Kimbo Slice gets another chance Saturday night when he takes on Houston (The Assassin) Alexander on the live Season 10 finale card in Las Vegas.The matchup, to be contested at catchweight of 215 pounds, pits two strapping standup fighters who have been exposed by opponents on the ground. 925 words. By Neil Davidson. See Photo. MMA-UFC-Kimbo-Alexander. Moved. OTHER SPORTS ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX, France _ Two-time Grand Slam champion Amelie Mauresmo retired from tennis Thursday, saying she no longer had a burning desire for competition.The 30-year-old French star, a former top-ranked player who finished the season at No. 21, said she doesn't have the will to keep playing at the highest level. 650 words. By Samuel Petrequin. See Photo. TEN-Mauresmo-Retires, 1st Writethru. Moved. See also: _ TEN-Davis-Cup-Final. Moved Datafile only. LAS VEGAS _ Move NASCAR's season-ending awards show to Las Vegas and things sure do change. From a raunchy roast of champion Jimmie Johnson to a chance for auto racing's stars to play high-rollers all over the city, this certainly feels like a party. 600 words. By Jenna Fryer. CAR-NASCAR-Viva-Las-Vegas. Moved. ENTERTAINMENT TORONTO _ Sotheby's Canada is holding its first sale Thursday night since severing ties with the now-bankrupt Ritchies Auctioneers. The Sotheby's fall auction at the Royal Ontario Museum will feature 127 lots, including a Lawren Harris sketch of Lake Superior that's expected to fetch between $300,000 and $500,000. 400 words. By Victoria Ahearn. ART-Sotheby's-Auction. TORONTO _ She's not blond. That's the first thing you notice about the new Alice in Nick Wilding's audacious re-imagining of the classic Lewis Carroll fable ``Alice in Wonderland.'' 700 words. By Bill Brioux. BC-Brioux-On-The-Box. Moved. WINNIPEG _ Sometime in late February 1950, a Canadian photographer pulled a camera out of his parka and into the stabbing Arctic cold, focused as best he could in the flickering lamplight of an igloo, and pressed the shutter. The resulting image _ an Inuit mother, haggard with hunger and dressed in shabby caribou skins, fiercely pressing her nose and lips to those of her youngest child _ has since become iconic. But the story behind Richard Harrington's memorable print, and the many others he made around the same time, is less well known. And that's what a show at the Winnipeg Art Gallery hopes to remedy. 750 words. BC-Arctic-Famine-Photos. Moved National and Entertainment. LOS ANGELES _ Taylor Swift has won just about every top music award there is this year, but the possibility of winning not just one, but eight Grammys, had the 19-year-old screaming for joy as the nominations were announced.``I started freaking out and jumping up and down,'' Swift said in a telephone interview Wednesday night after learning of her nominations, which included album of the year for her sophomore CD ``Fearless'' and mentions for song and record of the year. 900 words. By Nekesa Mumbi Moody. US-Music-Grammy-Nominations. Moved. LONDON _ Aging rocker Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones was released on bail Thursday after being arrested for possible domestic assault. Wood, known for his stinging guitar riffs and raucous private life, was picked up by police Wednesday evening near his home in Esher in southern England. 450 words. By Gregory Katz. EU-People-Ronnie-Wood. Moved. WASHINGTON _ Hollywood filmmaker Oliver Stone is again taking on the financial world in a sequel to 1987's successful ``Wall Street,'' but this time he said greed is not only good _ it's legal. Stone just finished filming ``Wall Street 2'' and dropped a few hints while talking to a class at American University late Wednesday that focuses on his work. 566 words. By Brett Zongker. See Photo. US-Oliver-Stone-Recession. Moved. LIFESTYLES VANCOUVER _ Janni Aragon says fans of the ``Twilight'' series should enjoy it while consuming the message critically. ``It's deemed as being so romantic, so then people start expecting that their real relationships should be like something out of 'Twilight,''' said the University of Victoria professor. Aragon, who loved the books and films herself, has been nonetheless using them as a teaching tool in several of her politics and women's studies classes. 770 words. By Tamsyn Burgmann. See CP Photo CPT300. GenY-Twilight. Moved. TORONTO _ A variety of routine clinical tests should be the norm for Canadians who are living with diabetes, but a new study indicates not everyone is getting all these tests from their health-care provider. 650 words. By Anne-Marie Tobin. BC-Diabetes-Tests. Also moved National. TORONTO _ Since Ellen DeGeneres announced she was gay on the cover of Time Magazine more than a decade ago, coming out in Hollywood has become an increasingly common phenomenon. However, the recent revelation by ``Family Ties'' star Meredith Baxter, 62, that she's a lesbian has put a well-known face to another emerging demographic in the gay community: individuals who come out later in life. 650 words. By Lauren La Rose. See CP Photo CPT103. BC-Out-Late-In-Life. Toronto;Ontario;Canada _ Toronto's Baycrest centre is staking a claim to a piece of the booming brain fitness market with a new company, Cogniciti, and a new generation of brain games aimed at helping baby boomers keep their minds sharp and boost their productivity in the workplace well into old age. Think of this as a precursor of what may soon be the hottest new craze in the aging workplace _ brain fitness centres where you can get your cognitive skills tested and tweaked in a way that will help you think faster, focus better, remember more and maybe even fight off the symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer's until well into the golden years. 559 words. By Susan Pigg, Toronto Star. See CP Photo CPT108. Brain-Fitness. Also moved Business. UNDATED _ In the 1980s, I was a fan of the handwritten letter. By the '90s, I often used email because it was easier and more immediate. This decade, despite my best intentions, my communications have become increasingly short, often circulated on Facebook, Twitter or by text message. Like I said, efficient, effective _ but not without a price. 836 words. By Martha Irvine. See AP Photos. With Glance (datafile only). Decade's-End-Social-Networking. Moved. CAIRO _ When Egypt's government moved to curb the wearing of veils in the dorms of public universities, it cited reports of men donning the garb to sneak into the women's quarters. But there was a deeper reason behind the ban: an intensifying struggle between the state and a populace that is turning to a stricter version of Islam whose most visible marker is women in veils and robes. 1,100 words. By Sarah El Deeb. See AP Photos. Egypt-Banning-the-Veil, Advance. Also moved International, datafile only. BIMYAR, India _ Ali Mohammad Mir left home on a rainy Wednesday morning in 1996 to fetch medicine for his elderly father and was never seen again. In all likelihood, he is among thousands of unidentified men murdered in Kashmir's long separatist war and buried anonymously in mass graves. The recent identification of these graves by human-rights workers has deeply shaken Kashmir, threatening to reignite unrest at a time when the violence has finally waned. 1,400 words. By Tim Sullivan. See AP Photos. India-Nameless-Dead, Advance. Also moved International, datafile only. (c) 2009 The Canadian Press |