NEWS IMAGE COLLAGE / for 12-2008

The Harper government has ramped up direct political contacts with Saudi Arabia in an effort to save the life of a Canadian sentenced to death, even as the condemned man's younger brother appears one step closer to a similar fate.

Pakistan began moving thousands of troops away from the Afghan border toward India on Friday amid tensions following the Mumbai attacks last month, intelligence officials said from Islamabad.

Thousands of Canadians waited in lines and crowded into malls and stores on Friday, trying to get end-of-year deals at Boxing Day sales.

A brief holiday break might have been the best way for the Vancouver Canucks to recover from their worst game of the season.

Canada takes on the Czech Republic at Ottawa's Scotiabank Place (7:30 p.m. ET) on Friday, the first day of this year's tournament.

Early season snow conditions appear to have claimed the life of a 47-year-old skier who died at Whistler Mountain on Wednesday, the RCMP said in a release. It's the second death this week on the mountain.

It was a tragedy that could not have come at a worse time. A family in Coquitlam, B.C., is grieving the death of a young girl who died while playing in the snow at Christmas.

Two B.C. skiers are lucky to be alive after straying off track in the Mount Seymour area north of Vancouver. The couple had to dig themselves out from under an avalanche before making it back to safety on Thursday evening, along with another man who had g

BERLIN - The German navy foiled a hijack attempt by Somali pirates on an Egyptian bulk carrier Thursday that left one crewman wounded on the merchant ship, Germany's military said.

A veteran Pacific Coastal Airlines pilot flying his light aircraft triggered a daring helicopter rescue in darkness after he crashed while attempting a touch-and-go manoeuvre on a glacier in Garibaldi Provincial Park.

OTTAWA - Pat Quinn wasn't ready for life after hockey. Quinn was at loose ends when the Toronto Maple Leafs fired him in April, 2006. He dabbled in retirement, but it didn't take. He was coaching Canada's Spengler Cup team within months.

Thousands of Nova Scotia residents were without power on Thursday, the fourth straight day crews have had to deal with outages throughout the province.

It might be the one that everybody watches, but the men's World Junior Hockey Championship won't be the biggest hockey tournament going on in Ottawa over the holiday season.

PANJWAII DISTRICT, Afghanistan - Christmas on Afghanistan's front lines was as festive as a company of tired soldiers could make it.

A family friend says Eartha Kitt, a sultry singer, dancer and actress who rose from South Carolina cotton fields to become an international symbol of elegance and sensuality, has died.

Environment Canada had been predicting the first cross-country white Christmas since 1971 after several storms battered most of Canada in the week leading up to the holiday.

JERUSALEM - Israel moved closer to invading Gaza, saying Thursday it had wrapped up preparations for a broad offensive after Palestinian militants fired about 100 rockets and mortar shells across the border in two days.

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper has warned Canadians that 2009 will be a difficult year, but in his annual Christmas message he also urged them to be optimistic.

A frontal system is expected to hit coastal areas on Friday, bringing strong winds and a mixed bag of precipitation, Environment Canada warned Thursday morning.

Police found the body of the suspect, Bruce Jeffrey Pardo, 45, at the home of his brother in the Sylmar area of Los Angeles. Police said he killed himself but would not say how.

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Two Christmas morning earthquakes have been reported off Vancouver Island.

BEIJING - Authorities in Tibet have detained 59 people accused of disseminating rumours aimed at inciting ethnic tension and have cracked down on illegal downloads of "reactionary music" online

While the holiday season is traditionally a time of celebration and peace for Jews and Christians, a Tory staffer is facing accusations she launched a partisan battle against the Liberals over a Hanukah ceremony at a school for disabled children.

Thousands of Nova Scotia residents were without power on Thursday, the fourth straight day crews have had to deal with outages throughout the province.

MURRAY, Utah - A thief remains at large after pulling off a daring heist - in the pet food aisle

An aboriginal women's group in Portage la Prairie is hosting a feast to bring holiday cheer to those who have nowhere to go on Christmas Day.

The backlog of thousands of passengers stuck in airports on Wednesday may make travelling even more difficult Christmas Day for Canadians still trying to get home for the holidays.

BAZAR-E PANJWAII, Afghanistan - After more than a year of rumbling across the bomb-scarred roads and dusty plains of southern Afghanistan, positive reviews are coming in on the 62-tonne Leopard 2 tanks used by the Canadian Forces.

KIEV, Ukraine -- An explosion tore through an apartment building in southern Ukraine, killing at least 19 people and leaving dozens more trapped under the rubble, emergency officials said Thursday.

COVINA, Calif. -- A man dressed as Santa Claus opened fire at a Christmas Eve party in a suburban Los Angeles home that subsequently caught fire, leaving three people dead, police said.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Christmas dawned hot and dry over Kandahar Airfield on Thursday, where Canadian soldiers stationed in Afghanistan celebrated with a traditional dinner with all the trimmings.

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict celebrated Christmas midnight mass early Thursday by sending out an appeal for children who are abused, forced to live on the street or serve as soldiers.

A small number of pickets with the union representing transit workers will be allowed, and only in specific areas, outside one of the venues for the world junior hockey championship as the tournament opens in Ottawa this Friday.

Treacherous road conditions might have played a part in a fatal crash in Delta, B.C., Wednesday morning, police said.

There are enough emergency shelters to house Metro Vancouver's homeless during the latest winter blast that hit the south coast of B.C. Wednesday, officials said.

The cold temperatures currently gripping much of B.C. won't likely have much effect on the voracious plague of pine beetles eating their way through the province's forests.

British Columbia's south coast could see about 25 centimetres of snow before the white stuff turns to rain beginning as early as Wednesday night, forecasters said.

Blankets and cookies will be small comfort to passengers stranded at Vancouver International Airport with another winter storm blanketing the region Wednesday, causing more flight delays.

While many Canadians are cheering the blanket of fresh snow that may give the nation its first white Christmas in 40 years, the festive weather is also causing havoc at travel hubs from east to west.

Christmas celebrations began in Bethlehem Wednesday, where as many as 30,000 people are expected in Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity.

Despite missing more than a month with a groin injury, Vancouver's Roberto Luongo continues to lead the NHL all-star voting for Western Conference goaltenders as of Wednesday.

A nationwide poll shows pragmatism sometimes takes a back seat to faith for fully two-thirds of adults in this country, with 67% of Canadians believing in angels.

OTTAWA - After a tough year on the economic front for many Canadians, and an uncertain year ahead, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is urging Canadians to look forward to 2009 "with optimism."

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Canadian troops stationed in Afghanistan spent the night before Christmas being entertained under the stars at a concert at Kandahar Airfield.

"Christmas is a time for celebration. But this year it is a more sombre occasion for many," the 82-year-old monarch will say.

BETHLEHEM, West Bank -- Claire Anastas' house is surrounded on three sides by a gray cement wall. Israel's separation barrier has forced the family to close its car repair business because customers can no longer get there.

A seven-year-old autistic boy is trying to make this Christmas a special occasion for the homeless in Western Canada.

Kids in 18 minor hockey programs in North America and Europe will receive 622 full sets of hockey equipment in the new year thanks to the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA).

With Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government focused on building a military presence in the North, agencies such as the European Union are seizing the initiative over developing rules which will eventually govern fisheries, energy exploration and trans

Even the cold and snow that have gripped Canada recently aren't expected to delay Santa Claus's visits to children this holiday season, says Norad, which has locked its satellites on to the bright light of Rudolph's nose.

Bruce Dougan of the Magnetic Hill Zoo, where the incident took place, told CTV Newsnet on Wednesday the animals were mistakenly locked out of their cages by a staff member. The worker had been cleaning the interior of their cage.

The days between Dec. 16 and Dec. 24 are an important part of Christmas celebrations for the hundreds of Filipinos who make up a large portion of the civilian work force living alongside the military forces at Kandahar Airfield.

B.C.'s Safety Authority has now renewed the operating permit for all of Whistler Blackcomb's Excalibur gondola after full repairs and extensive testing were carried out on the lift.

Two starving horses that had been trapped on the side of a B.C. mountain are now safe and recovering at a farm near the province's border with Alberta.

It is the third year running that Snowzilla has appeared in Billy Powers' yard in east Anchorage, to the delight of some and the chagrin of others. Powers is not taking credit. When questioned Tuesday afternoon, he insisted Snowzilla just somehow happened

Soldiers hand out toys, warm clothing outside NATO base in southern Afghanistan

The south coast of British Columbia is getting another blast of winter just in time for Christmas, with as much as 30 centimetres of snow forecast to fall by midnight Wednesday.

Pearson International Airport in Toronto and the Vancouver airport were both reporting delays Wednesday morning as travellers continued to try to reach their holiday destinations

Many of those who have served in Afghanistan know that there is much mountainous terrain in the Canadian area of operations. Flying at these high altitudes will be a challenging factor for Canadian tactical helicopter crews who have been called into servi

Seven months after the theft of a dozen works by Haida artist Bill Reid, the UBC Museum of Anthropology is undergoing a $55.5-million renovation and expansion.

Canada's top soldier in Afghanistan on Tuesday rejected criticism of air strikes and nighttime raids by international forces in the country, saying such actions are taken only "as a last resort" and that he is confident that his soldiers are following int

Police are linking the deaths of at least five people to B.C.'s current cold snap, according to reports from around the province.

About 26,000 homes and businesses in Nova Scotia were still without electricity Tuesday morning after the season's first blizzard nearly brought the region to a standstill.

Many passengers trying to get home to Atlantic Canada for Christmas remained stranded at the Ottawa airport Tuesday morning.

The Vancouver airport was preparing for another snowstorm Tuesday night after clearing most of the backlog of travellers stranded by flight delays or cancellations in the last two days, airport officials said.

Vancouver Canucks gave up three goals in the first period and two in the opening minute of the second on the way to account for a 5-0 loss to the host San Jose Sharks

Less than three weeks after the Canadian government proposed legislation to expand the country's sovereignty over Arctic waters, its citizenship minister is shoring up Canada's claim to the Far North by declaring Santa Claus, a longtime resident of the No

Snow, speed, and alcohol may have all played a role in a tragic crash that killed two children and injured nine others, including their mother and sister, on a deadly stretch of the Vancouver Island Highway on Monday afternoon.

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission has issued a scathing report on the use of air strikes and nighttime raids by international forces in the country.

The Vancouver Canucks have played well in the last week but could be in for their toughest test in some time when they take on the Sharks in San Jose on Tuesday night.

The manager of the Northwest Territories' only reindeer herd hopes to cash in on the caribou decline by giving hunters the right to shoot his animals for $375 a head.

Canadians cleaning up after a series of snowstorms blasted through the country should hold on to their shovels, as forecasters predict some regions will soon be walloped by more winter weather.

Volunteers hope to rescue two starving horses, trapped in two metres of snow, by Christmas

NANAIMO, B.C. - Two children are dead and eight people are in hospital after a weather-related multi-car accident on Vancouver Island.

Daniel Sedin scored twice as the Canucks came back from an early deficit then weathered a late Anaheim charge to earn a 4-3 win in Vancouver on Monday night.

Edward Rogers, son of the late cable-TV and cellphone magnate Ted Rogers, will take over control and direction of Rogers Communications Inc., the company said Monday.

The Vatican has given Roman Catholics its blessing to worship with the help of a new digital prayerbook for iPhones and iPods.

SAQQARA, Egypt -- A pair of 4,300-year-old pharaonic tombs discovered at Saqqara indicate that the sprawling necropolis south of Cairo is even larger than previously thought.

Hurricane-force winds lashed the Maritimes on Monday, snapping trees in half, stripping the siding from homes and cutting power to tens of thousands of homes.

People in a Baffin Island community say the bounty provided by the cull of more than 600 narwhal trapped in the sea ice near Pond Inlet has left them happier and healthier in time for the holidays.

Monday's decision by King Albert opens the way for negotiations to form a new coalition following the botched bailout of Fortis bank.

Russian legislation to extend the country's presidential term from four years to six has received final approval from parliament's upper house.

As a heavy snowstorm continued to pummel the south coast of British Columbia, the Vancouver Police Department and the Nanaimo RCMP warned the public to stay home because of poor road conditions and extreme weather.

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper has officially named Thomas Cromwell of Nova Scotia to the Supreme Court of Canada, forgoing a promised public hearing into his appointment

A missing Ontario woman was found alive Monday afternoon, after spending three days buried under deep snow in an isolated field near the airport in Hamilton.

An Air Canada plane dropped and rocked violently for half an hour as Halifax-bound passengers screamed, cried, vomited and held on for dear life on Sunday night, but that was just the start of their ordeal.

For half a century, the men and women of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) have been working hard to defend Canada and the United States. During that time, however, they've also shouldered another important mission - tracking Santa Clau

As the year draws to a close, it is important for us to reflect back on 2008 before the Army family tackles the new year with resolve and optimism.

OTTAWA - Washington's plan to arm local tribes to take on the Taliban in untamed districts of Afghanistan is possibly "counter-productive" and not something Canada supports, says Defence Minister Peter MacKay

CAMP HERO, Afghanistan - The fate of Afghanistan's fledgling military could be decided on Styrofoam battlefields with plastic soldiers and little toy trucks.

OTTAWA - Canada's mission in Afghanistan was originally due to end in February 2009 but instead will grow in scope and cost in the coming year because of a political compromise arranged last spring by the Harper government.

Consumer confidence has sunk for the third consecutive month, with Canadians fretting about the economy, their personal financial situation and job prospects, the Conference Board of Canada reported Monday.

Former broadcaster Pamela Wallin, Olympic icon Nancy Greene Raine and CTV broadcaster Mike Duffy were among 18 Canadians named to the Senate on Monday by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

MOSCOW - The Russian military will commission 70 strategic nuclear missiles over the next three years, a senior government official told Russian news agencies Monday.

John Tavares says it was a coincidence that he nailed Victor Hedman on his first shift with Canada's national junior hockey team

The thick blanket of snow that covered New Brunswick overnight left thousands of people waking up to power failures

Airline passengers showing up at Alberta's two largest airports are facing flight delays and cancellations because of stormy weather in other parts of the country.

Weary travellers were happy to see blue skies over Vancouver on Monday afternoon after about 3,000 people spent the night at Vancouver International Airport because of a snowstorm.

Three prominent British Columbians received Christmas plums Monday as Prime Minister Stephen Harper named 18 people to the Senate.

Brendan Morrison will be back in Vancouver on Monday night as the Anaheim Ducks pay the Canucks a visit.

Winter weather wreaked havoc in Canada's coastal regions Monday, while other parts of the country were still digging out after weekend snowstorms.

The fireball that lit up prairie skies this fall might have resulted in Canada's largest recorded meteorite fall, a scientist who led a team that collected more than 100 fragments said on Monday.

Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips told CTV Newsnet that "it looks like a very good chance" it will be a white Christmas for all parts of Canada for the first time since 1971.

Hundreds of soldiers in Afghanistan received a drink of rum, warm water and brown sugar Sunday, to mark the 125th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Royal Canadian Dragoons.

Michael Jackson is suffering from a rare lung condition and needs to undergo an emergency transplant operation, according to a writer who is penning a new biography on the singer.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The boxes of letters arrive at Kandahar Airfield by the planeload, filled with candid Christmas cards to Canadian troops serving in a country ravaged by conflict.

LONDON - Ceremonies were held Sunday in the Scottish town of Lockerbie to mark the 20th anniversary of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in which 270 people were killed.

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Consumer confidence may be at its lowest point in 20 years, but that didn't stop scores of smitten shoppers from swiping their credit cards for the newest 2010 Olympic mascot merchandise after it went on sale.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Amsterdam hosted a Christmas celebration for its gay community Sunday featuring a nativity tableau with a male Mary in drag that church organizations denounced as an affront to traditional values.

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI is marking the 400th anniversary of Galileo's use of a telescope.

HALIFAX -- Search and rescue operations during the fatal capsizing of a sealing boat last March were beset by communications problems and equipment failures, says a report into the incident off Nova Scotia.

EDMONTON -- Stroke victim Ian Young says medicare founder Tommy Douglas would be "horrified" to see what's happening to health care in Alberta as the province struggles to control spending.

Thousands of motorists who have attempted to drive through this weekend's string of blizzards are ending up bumper-first in ditches and snow banks, according to the Canadian Automobile Association.

Afghan and coalition troops found and destroyed nearly 2.3 tonnes of marijuana in an abandoned school in southern Afghanistan, while coalition troops killed four militants elsewhere in the south, officials said Sunday.

Pittsburgh captain tops 1,020,736 mark set by former Penguin Jagr in 2000

The $4-billion aid package announced yesterday for the struggling Canadian auto industry won't save jobs, says former Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove.

Evander Kane's Christmas wish to play for Canada at the world junior hockey championship has come true, just days after being cut by the team.

The blast of winter weather in British Columbia continued Sunday with a snowstorm for the southern half of the province and weather warnings throughout B.C