NEWS IMAGE COLLAGE / for 01-2008

There's more to the recent dramatic and alarming thawing of the Arctic region than can be explained by man-made global warming alone, a new study found. Nature is pushing the Arctic to the edge, too.

President Pervez Musharraf denied accusations the military or intelligence services were involved in the killing of Benazir Bhutto, but said he was not satisfied with Pakistan's probe into her death.

Thousands of travellers from Quebec will get a late holiday gift because of a New Year's Day blast of snow.

QUEBEC -- The head of Quebec City's 400th birthday celebrations is stepping down, raising questions about the event's organization just as it is getting underway.

A 14-year-old girl who died after being stabbed on New Year's Day is the daughter of two Toronto police officers, CTV News has confirmed.

A mother of two had the surprise of her life when she discovered a book her young sons received for Christmas had graphic descriptions of Santa Claus being murdered.

MILLBROOK, N.S. -- A slain Mi'kmaq activist who is revered for helping win millions in compensation for survivors of Canada's notorious residential schools was remembered Wednesday as a compassionate soul and determined fighter for aboriginal rights.

VANCOUVER -- After complaining the Canadian Embassy hasn't done enough in the search for a Vancouver businessman in the Caribbean, his friends and family have launched their own search effort.

RCMP in Whistler, B.C. say criminal charges could be laid against a 21-year-old snowboarder who survived an avalanche on New Year's Day that killed a 29-year-old skier.

A Defence Department program to install high-tech sensors and avionics on the country's fleet of maritime surveillance aircraft went over budget by $132 million after the project was started without the full requirements of the work being known.

Crude oil traded at US$100 for the first time in history Wednesday, fuelling worries that global demand for oil and petroleum products will outpace supply. A barrel of oil closed at a record $99.62, up $3.64.

A Florida man was about halfway through a plate of steamed clams when he chomped down on something hard: a rare, iridescent purple pearl.

They went from baggy knickers to the ultimate hotpants.

The number of journalists killed in the field has skyrocketed by 244 per cent in the past five years, and more than half of the 86 reporters slain in 2007 fell in Iraq, according to an annual tally compiled by Reporters Without Borders.

New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton is hoping to inspire an orange wave across Canada during a general election in 2008 to change the country's direction on fighting global warming, the war in Afghanistan and reducing the gap between Canadians who ma

A goal by Brad Marchand with under ten minutes to play put Canada ahead, and an empty-netter by Stefan Legein sealed a 4-2 quarterfinal victory over Finland at the world junior hockey championship.

WASHINGTON - The Capitals are gaining more confidence. The Ottawa Senators will attest to that.

EDMONTON - Ed Stelmach has been racking up frequent-flier miles since taking office, jumping on government planes more than 110 times so far this year. The Progressive Conservative premier has flown more than 36,000 kilometres since he was sworn in las

Road conditions are extremely treacherous across New Brunswick Wednesday, with the Department of Transportation reporting that virtually all highways in the province are slippery and snow-covered with poor visibility.

Several Canadian universities' student unions decided to skip student blood drives because of Canadian Blood Services' lifetime ban against blood donations from gay men.

Vandals recently took a chisel to one of the animal memorials in this Georgian Bay town, known to literature for the mistreated, talking puppy in Canada's first million-selling novel, Beautiful Joe

A Canadian Coast Guard vessel was struck in St. John's Harbour on New Year's Day when a transport ship bumped into it.

After finishing second to the Swedes in their opening round group, Canada is playing Finland in the world junior hockey championship quarterfinals right now on TSN and TSN.ca.

Emergency room doctors are prescribing strong narcotics more often to patients who complain of pain, but minorities are less likely to get them than whites, a U.S. study finds.

Pakistan has asked Britain's Scotland Yard to help investigate the killing of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, President Pervez Musharraf said Wednesday, hours after officials announced a six-week election delay due to turmoil caused by her death.

EDMONTON -- Two small right-wing political parties in Alberta are proposing a merger in advance of an expected spring election.

TRENTON, Ont. -- Another sombre ceremony will be held at Canadian Forces Base Trenton today as the body of the latest Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan returns home.

Winter storm and snowfall warnings were issued for the Atlantic provinces on Wednesday as the region braced for its fourth winter blast in less than seven days.

The two brothers who survived a Christmas Day tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo that killed their friend were denied help for at least 30 minutes by zoo security who did not take their claims seriously, the brothers' attorney said Tuesday

Herb Carnegie loves it when visitors to his apartment in a North York seniors' home "ooh and aah" at the statues, trophies, plaques and photos that fill his living room.

Artists and friends to join in a celebration of legendary jazz musician's life and art in a free tribute performance at Roy Thomson Hall

It was billed the Winter Classic and pretty much lived up to its name. The biggest crowd in NHL history, the first regular-season outdoor game on U.S. soil, and the game's brightest star wins it.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Sid The Kid couldn't wait to get outdoors. And like the great ones before him, he made sure to make the moment memorable.

It's that time again, where we celebrate the new year by suffering through a hangover from the old.

An Ottawa soldier based in Afghanistan whose great-grandfather fought in the same part of the world 110 years ago was among about 150 personnel honoured with service medals during a ceremony in Kandahar Tuesday.

The Canadian dollar has ended a tumultuous year and currency traders are looking forward to a period of relative calm. In the parlance of the industry, the loonie could settle into range-bound action in 2008.

OTTAWA -- As Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan enters its third full year, there's increasing pressure on Prime Minister Harper's government to do more talking than fighting.

New Year's Eve festivities were cancelled in Newfoundland and P.E.I. as 2008 was ushered in with a powerful winter wallop that dumped up to 30 centimetres of snow.

DETROIT - Resist the urge to say you will "wordsmith" your list of New Year's resolutions rather than write one

I put this here cause we dont have a "freakin stupid" catagory ;-)

It's been quite a year on YouTube, the video-sharing site that exploded into the pop culture stratosphere in 2006.

Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean spent much of the five-and-a-half minute broadcast promoting support for Canada's soldiers, saying it was the need for solidarity that led Canada to join the multi-national reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.

The body of Gunner Jonathan Dion, the Canadian soldier killed Dec. 30 when the armoured vehicle he was travelling in struck a roadside bomb near Kandahar City, will return to Canada on Wednesday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - It was only a matter of time before Rick Nash broke out of a scoring slump. On Monday night, he made the Edmonton Oilers pay

CALGARY - Solid goaltending and defensive play helped the Calgary Flames earn their first victory over the Vancouver Canucks this season.

When Canada meets Finland on Wednesday in their quarterfinal game, Steve Mason will be in the net.

The NHL will brave the elements this afternoon, as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres meet for an outdoor battle at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

KARACHI -- Benazir Bhutto was poised to reveal proof that Pakistan's election commission and shadowy spy agency were seeking to rig an upcoming general election the night she was assassinated, a top aide said on Tuesday.

Six families will begin the new year homeless, after a fire ravaged their Montreal apartment complex, destroying several units.

A brother and sister are desperately searching for their 72-year-old mother in Edmonton, as temperatures drop well below the freezing point.

A 21-year-old woman accused of killing her father and another man in a horrific car crash over the weekend was released on bail Monday after a court appearance in Toronto.

VANCOUVER -- The Canadian embassy in the Dominican Republic is being blasted by friends of Hady Quan, 32, for not doing enough to find the Vancouver businessman, who disappeared Friday in the waters outside a luxury resort.

A Nova Scotia man arrested in connection with Nora Bernard's murder is the grandson of the celebrated native rights activist, police said Monday.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the new year a little less taxing on Canadians today by announcing a much-campaigned cut to the GST.

TORONTO -- It's not like winning the lottery, but it may be the next best thing if you're a traveller.

Attacks mar celebrations in Thailand

Police are awaiting autopsy results to find out what killed a 65-year-old man who was found dead outside the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre on Sunday.

Health Canada has warned Canadians not to use natural health products manufactured by Manitoba company Wild Vineyard, saying some have been tainted by heavy metal contamination including lead.

Atlantic Canadians rang in 2008 swinging shovels Tuesday after a New Year's Eve storm dumped between 20 and 30 centimetres of snow on them.