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Following a serious earthquake that hit China's Qinghai province, hundreds of people, mainly of Tibetan nationality, are believed to have died and thousands more are injured. The China Earthquake Administration put the magnitude at 7.1, which is just a little higher than the earthquake that hit Haiti back in January. The US Geological Survey have reported it being a little lower at 6.9. Whatever the exact figure, there are people in danger and, with this being such a remote area, rescue attempts are being seriously hampered. A particular point of concern is that temperatures are around zero and, without shelter,...

Toronto has won a bid to host the 2015 Pan AM Games. Just before 5 p.m. the Pan American Sport Organization in Guadalajara, Mexico, announced that Hogtown had earned the rights to host the games and the Parapan American Games. "We are thrilled,” stated Toronto 2015 Bid Chair, the Hon. David Peterson in a quick press release from Mexico. “We will work hard to stage the best Pan and Parapan Am Games ever.” The Pan Am Games are among the premium amateur athletic competitions in the world and is expected to bring 10,000 participants and 250,000 visitors from the 42...

Howard Stern has just begun an interview with Martha Stewart on Sirius channel 100. Stern, whatever you think of him, is one of the best interviewers on the air, and he and Martha clearly seem to click. It's a fun listen. Sirius 100

Breaking News from CFRB 1010AM News Radio - Toronto Airliner on fire on the ground at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Unclear as to cause. Announcers asking for updates from motorists in the region on HWY 401. Report says great deal of smoke. I have to go into a meeting shortly but I'll listen for updates as long as I can.

Saudi King Fahd has been rushed to hospital, as per just breaking report heard on CFRB1010am News Radio (Toronto). Saudi press saying people should "pray for him." That's all right now. I will update as more info becomes available. Everyone else welcome to do the same.

canada

What you see when you gaze north in my direction, My Friends, is the continual emasculation of a once proud and dynamic nation and its' people. I honestly wonder what the future holds for Canada, but at this point I can think of little more than an economically hobbled backwater completely bereft of any identity and willingness to stand up for itself; a slow decline into regionalism and eventually a national implosion. Years ago, up until the late 1950's, Canada was a nation that believed it could do anything despite its' small population. Our aerospace industry was the envy of...

You save Toppy's VC SUN READERS HELP RAISE $300,000 TO KEEP HIS MEDAL IN CANADA By PETER WORTHINGTON, TORONTO SUN WELL, WE did it. And we did it without Ottawa's help, thank you very much. Or, rather, Toronto Sun readers and other Canadians did it -- raised $300,000 to buy the Victoria Cross won by Paratrooper Fred Topham in World War II, to ensure it remains in perpetuity in the National War Museum. And there's money left over, maybe $30,000, to go into a fund to ensure that when future VCs or medals important to our heritage are put up...

OTTAWA (CP) - The international airport in the capital reopened Wednesday afternoon after a suspicious package emptied the main terminal for about four hours. Departing flights had been delayed and arriving aircraft were kept away from the airport building while a bomb squad inspected the package found in some checked baggage. The airport authority was not immediately available for comment on when the backlog in departing flights would be cleared.

The recovery isn't jobless after all. What should John Kerry do? OVER the past 70 years or so, one thing that has not changed is American politicians' readiness to make comparisons between the present times and the Great Depression. John Kerry, indeed, has built his candidacy for the White House on the technique. He campaigns against George “Herbert Hoover” Bush for presiding over “the greatest jobs loss since the Great Depression”. This week, Mr Kerry and his Democratic big-gun supporters spread out across the country to highlight the candidate's “new direction” for the economy, one that will create 10m jobs...

Two million march against terror Madrid - and many other cities - came to a standstill for the silence Up to two million people are taking part in a demonstration against terror in the Spanish capital Madrid a day after bomb attacks killed at least 198. European leaders, including the prime ministers of France and Italy, have joined the protest in solidarity. Similar rallies and vigils are being held across the country. Officials say Basque militants from Eta remain the main suspects - but Basque media are carrying a statement, said to be from the group, denying involvement. 'Assassins' The...

Ex-Blackhawk Magnuson killed Ex-Leaf captain Ramage hurt in three-car crash VAUGHAN, Ont. (CP) -- Former Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Keith Magnuson was killed in a three-car accident near Toronto on Monday, the NHL team announced. Ex-Toronto Maple Leafs captain Rob Ramage was also injured in the accident. Police had been waiting to notify next of kin before confirming the identity of either player but the Blackhawks put the news of his death on their website. Magnuson and Ramage were reportedly on their way back to Toronto from nearby Bolton, Ont., where they attended the funeral of former NHL player Keith McCreary,...

<p>I searched and didn't find this. Just heard about it on CNN. Man. I wish I could get Fox News on cable in Toronto but I can't.</p> <p>BTW, Thanks everyone for your great contributions on this great day.</p>

OTTAWA - A deal to unite the country's two federal right-wing parties is very close, Alliance Leader Stephen Harper said on Wednesday. INDEPTH: Uniting the Right Stephen Harper "I do think that we are approaching something that's very historic," Harper said. "It's not often that the political landscape is altered in a big way so quickly, but I think we're very close to doing that." The Progressive Conservative caucus held a conference call on Wednesday morning and were told a deal was in the works. Tory Leader Peter MacKay discussed the issue with Harper on Tuesday and they reportedly made...

Friends, buddies, pals...fellow ne'er do wells....I'm sending this out as newsletter instead of doing it several times over... The last couple of days have been quite remarkable here...I have experienced many violent storms here on the coast..but Sunday night was a truly humbling experience. Myself and 20 odd guys from the club decided to spend the night on our boats at the club. The early evening hours were quite festive..beer, pizza...a good time was had by all. Then Juan showed up. With a vengance. By 10 oclock the wind was up to 80 MPH..bringing with it a massive amount of...

Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) no longer attends the annual picnic held here by District of Columbia supporters of school choice. During the picnic there are lottery drawings to award scholarships empowering a few children to escape from the nation's worst -- and, in per-pupil spending, third-most lavishly funded -- school system. Boehner stopped attending because he could not bear the desperate anxiety, and crushing disappointment, of parents whose hopes for their children hung on the lottery. "I'd stand there and cry the whole time," he says. Bill Clinton, who could cry out of one eye, was dry-eyed about the plight...

TORONTO -- It's official. Toronto will get the satisfaction of a Rolling Stones concert this summer. Mick Jagger hinted earlier this month that he and the boys would make a detour from their current European tour to perform in Toronto on July 30, but the announcement was made official at a news conference this morning. The concert is designed to boost Toronto's SARS-ravaged economy. "The greatest band in the world is going to play in the greatest city in the world," shouted Mayor Mel Lastman during the news conference at Dundas Square. "Toronto is a safe city. Toronto is a...

Now that Sen. Hillary Clinton's book has topped out at the 600,000 sales range, Clinton and her supporters seem to have found a way to keep the book sales coming. Clinton's Senate staff and schedulers have made it clear to her Democratic Senate colleagues and groups interested in having her appear at fundraisers that she will only attend if copies of her books are either purchased in bulk for free distribution at the event or her books are made available for purchase while she is in attendance. "They told me Mrs. Clinton will be more than happy to sign all...

They appear in greater numbers as each city is secured. One can listen to the pundits on scene, read the comments of the columnists, but to grasp what this war was really about one only needs to look in their eyes. It’s tempting to opine that they can’t truly grasp the events surrounding them; that they’re simply responding to the mindset of an excited street. Step back and look again. You cannot dismiss the eyes of a child. Untouched yet by adult cynicism, they reveal truth that only the boundless hope of innocence can communicate. A young Iraqi girl, her...

In Toronto today, April 4th, 2003 we gathered to declare our support for America, and our outrage with our government's positions and behaviour. About 2,000 folks by my count made it out in freezing rain that shut down Pearson International, Canad's largest airport. These were people with jobs, folks of all ages. Taxpayers. I hop the Liberal strategists in Ottawa are shuddering right now. They made one of the greatest miscalculations in Canadian history. They believed we could stand away from America and no one owuld care. Wrong, idiots. We do care. Five thousand in Ottawa last weekend, hundreds in...