TORONTO – Southern Ontario drivers who scrambled to accommodate a Florida law that’s on the verge of being revised can be compensated for their trouble, the regional chapter of the Canadian Automobile Association said Friday.
Incoming asteroid misses Earth by 17,150 miles, unrelated to exploding meteor over Russia
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A 150-foot asteroid hurtled through Earth’s backyard Friday, coming within an incredible 17,150 miles and making the closest known flyby for a rock of its size. In a chilling coincidence, a meteor exploded above Russia’s Ural Mountains just hours before the asteroid zoomed past the planet.
British PM Cameron eyes jet deal ahead of India trade trip
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron will arrive in India on Monday to tr y to win new trade and investment in the face of fierce global competition, hoping New Delhi may change its mind and choose the Eurofighter over France's rival Rafale jet. Making his second visit to India as prime minister, Cameron's trip comes days after a similar trade promotion mission by French President Francois Hollande, underlining how Europe's debt-stricken states are competing with one another to tap into one of the world's fastest-growing economies. The timing of Cameron's trip is not ideal. … Wal-Mart shares tumble on report of weak February sales
(Reuters) – Shares of Wal-Mart Stores Inc fell 3 percent on Friday after Bloomberg quoted a mid-level executive's email as saying the world's largest retailer had the worst sales start to any month in seven y ears in February. Wal-Mart executives blamed the poor sales performance on increased payroll taxes as well as delayed tax returns, Bloomberg said. Higher payroll taxes this year are seen as a potential problem for Wal-Mart and other discount retailers that try to attract lower-income customers who have less disposable income. … Fiery meteor explodes over Russia; 1,100 injured
MOSCOW (AP) -- With a blinding flash and a booming shock wave, a meteor blazed across the sky over Russia's Ural Mountains region Friday and exploded with the force of an atomic bomb, injuring more than 1,000 people as it blasted out windows and spread panic in a city of 1 million. Is historical claim behind the mystery group of (armed?) Filipinos in Borneo?
It’s around an hour by speedboat from Sulu in the southern Philippines to Sabah in the Malaysian part of Borneo, a route often plied by fishermen, traders, and migrants. The maritime route goes from what is the poorest part of the Philippines to eastern Malaysia, and many make the trek in search of work.
Telus profit rises 23 percent on wireless, TV strength
TORONTO (Reuters) – Telus Corp , one of Canada’s three biggest telecom companies, reported a 23 percent rise in quarterly profit on Friday, helped by strength in its wireless business and a surprising burst of growth from its fixed-line unit. Telus shares rose to their highest-ever level on Friday as the Vancouver company also gave a robust outlook for the current year. The company said fixed-line earnings rose for the first time in two years, thanks to a strong performance at its Optik TV product, which sends content to customers’ television screens and other devices via the Internet. …
Chad ministers fired after entire police force suspended
N'DJAMENA (Reuters) – Chadian President Idriss Deby fired two ministers in charge of security after his suspension last week of the central African nation's entire nearly 6,000-member police force followi ng allegations of graft, favoritism and abuse. In an announcement read over state radio late on Thursday, Deby sacked Public Security Minister Ahmat Mahamat Bachir, and Bachar Ali Souleymane, minister of territorial administration. The dismissals followed the firing of Chad's police chief on February 6, two days after the suspension of the force itself. … Canada Penson Plan returns boosted by equity gains
TORONTO (Reuters) – The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, one of the world’s biggest pension funds, said on Friday investment returns grew in its fiscal third quarter as global equity markets strengthened. Returns for the period, ended December 31, received an added bump from one of the largest energy deals of 2012 – the takeover of Canadian natural gas producer Progress Energy by Malaysian state oil company Petronas for C$5.17 billion ($5.16 billion). CPPIB, which manages Canada’s national pension fund, said it had made C$384 million in equity investments in Progress in 2010 and 2011. …
Labour party proposes mansion tax to help low earners
LONDON (Reuters) – The leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party called on Thursday for a tax on expensive homes to fund a new lower-income tax band to help the country's lowest earners. Setting out some of the first concrete ideas of what his party would offer voters at the next election, which is expected in 2015, Ed Miliband said a Labour government would introduce a tax on houses worth over 2 million pounds ($3.1 million). … Governor of Guinea's capital charged over beatings of protesters
CONAKRY (Reuters) – A court in Guinea has charged the governor of the capital Conakry and two former top military officers over the detention and beatings of protesters during a 2010 presidential election, a human rights group said on Friday. The governor, Sekou Resco Camara, was charged on Thursday, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) said in a statement. Ex-army chief General Nouhou Thiam and Commander Aboubakar Sidiki Camara, the former head of the presidential guard, were also charged, the group said. …
Humphries caps World Cup bobsled season with bronze medal in Sochi
SOCHI, Russia – Canadians Kaillie Humphries and Chelsea Valois slid to the overall World Cup bobsled title Friday after winning a bronze medal in the final race of the season.
Oil prices fall below $96 a barrel on US industrial production
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Oil prices fell below US$96 a barrel Friday after disappointing U.S. industrial production data fed concerns about the nation’s economic recovery.
Passenger from stricken cruise sues over 'horrifying' conditions
(Reuters) – A passenger from the stricken Triumph cruise ship sued Carnival Corp on Friday over "horrifying" conditions, including being forced to wa de through human faeces from overflowing toilets after power was knocked out by a fire. The lawsuit by Cassie Terry of Brazoria County, Texas, alleged Carnival failed to provide a seaworthy vessel and sanitary conditions, according to court documents. Terry suffered physical and emotional harm, including anxiety, nervousness and the loss of the enjoyment of life, according to the complaint filed in federal court in Miami. … Sri Lankan military inquiry says army did not shell civilians
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lankan military investigators said on Friday that the army did not shell civilians as it crushed a Tamil rebellion, refuting international allegations of human rights at rocities. Rights groups say the Sri Lankan military killed thousands of ethnic minority Tamil civilians in the shrinking territory held by rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) just before their defeat in May 2009. An expert panel set up by U.N. … Horse meat found in hospital food in Northern Ireland
BELFAST (Reuters) – Horse meat has been discovered in a batch of beef burgers supplied to hospitals in Northern Ireland, officials said on Friday. The supplier of the hospitals, Irish food firm Rangeland Foods, said the burgers used meat from Poland and some contained between 5 percent and 30 percent horse meat. Horse meat has been found in beef products across Europe in recent weeks, damaging confidence in the continent’s vast and complex food industry. …
Guinea electoral body appoints South African firm
CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) -- Guinea’s National Electoral Commission has approved the hiring of South African software firm Waymark to compile a new list of registered voters for elections on May 12.
KEYreit board rejects Huntingdon Capital's partial bid
TORONTO (Reuters) – KEYreit , a real estate investment trust that owns small retail properties across Canada, on Friday rejected an unsolicited partial takeover bid from Huntingdon Capital Corp , saying the proposal was inadequate and coercive. Richmond, British Columbia-based Huntingdon, which already owns 5.4 percent of KEY’s issued and outstanding trust units, made its offer in January. It wants to acquire a further 6.6 million, or 45 percent, of KEY’s units for C$7 each in cash. …
Industrial Alliance shares rise on profit beat
TORONTO (Reuters) – Shares of Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services rose more than 4 percent to hit an 18-month high on Friday after the Canadian life insurer reported a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit. The result caps off a generally strong quarter for Canadian life insurers, which have rebounded over the past year from steep market-related losses taken in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Like larger rivals Manulife Financial and Sun Life Financial , Industrial Alliance has been working to reduce its exposure to weak markets. …
Kenya says no talks with rebels who claim killed soldier
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Kenyan defense officials said o n Friday they would not negotiate with Somali militants linked to al Qaeda who said they executed a Kenyan army private at midnight on Thursday. The al Shabaab militants, who want to impose a strict version of sharia, or Islamic law, said they killed the soldier after the expiry of an ultimatum for the release of Muslims held by Kenya on terror charges. The rebels also postponed the execution deadline by 72 hours for five other hostages, including two government workers. … 
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