Politics

Russian President Vladimir Putin heavily criticized the United States in a speech at the 43rd Munich Conference on Security Policy Saturday for what he called its "almost uncontained" use of force in the world. Putin also criticized US plans for missile defense systems and NATO's expansion. Putin said that nations are witnessing an "almost uncontained hyper use of force" in international relations. The Russian President pointed out that only the UN, and not the EU or NATO, can sanction the legitimate use of force. "One state, the United State

Junior Illinois Senator Barack Obama officially announced his presidential candidacy, today, in Springfield, Illinois. Obama's speech was given from the same spot that Abraham Lincoln gave his "House divided" speech over 125 years ago and from the place where Obama began his elected career 10 years ago. Obama is the second major Democrat to announce his candidacy, after New York Senator Hillary Clinton. If elected, Obama would be the first African American president of the United States. Obama placed topics such as healthcare reform, ending p

The leading political parties in the Netherlands have agreed on a work program, part of an effort to form a coalition government after the splintered verdict of the elections held in November 2006. The parties have yet to agree on who gets the top jobs in government. The main parties of the left, the Labour Party (PvdA) and Socialist Party (SP) won 58 seats in the 150 strong Tweede Kamer, the lower house of parliament, while the more splintered right wing parties led by the Christian Democrats (CDA) and ChristianUnion (CU) won 47 but with prob

The first large-scale trial of a vaccine for HIV has been launched in South Africa. About 3,000 HIV-negative people will be administered the test vaccine MRKAd5 HIV-1 created by the pharmaceutical company Merck. The study will examine if the vaccine prevents infection or lowers HIV levels in those who do get infected. A parallel study will also be conducted in the United States and South America, to compare the vaccine's effectiveness on various strains of HIV. The vaccine's functioning in a heterosexual population and its effectiveness among

The opening date for a memorial to four fallen Alberta Mounties has been pushed back for a second time. The Fallen Four Memorial Park in Mayerthorpe, Alberta was originally slated to open next month on the two year anniversary of four officers were gunned down during a standoff. The organization first said slow donations and a lack of federal funding pushed the opening until June. But Fallen Four Society President Jurgen Preugschas says it won't open until June of 2008. He says there's still no funding from the federal government, and only $1

Garth Turner made his question period debut Wednesday in the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal. Turner, again, asked the prime minister to put byelections in David Emerson's riding of Vancouver Kingsway and Wajid Khan's Mississauga—Streetsville. Emerson accepted an offer to join the Conservative Party of Canada after he was elected as a Liberal last January. Khan in January, who was a special advisor to prime minister Stephen Harper for the Middle East and South Asia, also crossed the floor to the Conservatives. Turner also said he would

A new version of Canada's Food Guide was announced by Canadian Health Minister Tony Clement on Feb. 5, 2007. The guide has helped Canadians with healthy eating habits since 1942 but was last updated in 1992. It is the Canadian government's most-requested publication after income tax forms. Changes to the Food Guide include: a first-time recommendation to include a small amount of unsaturated fat in regular diets; physical activity to complement healthy eating; advice for some people to take vitamin supplements; an advisory to limit foods

Votes were cast out yesterday in the Ontario ridings of Burlington, Markham, and York South-Weston. Progressive Conservative candidate Joyce Savoline won a seat in Burlington. Ontario Liberal Party candidate Michael Chan won a seat in Markham. NDP candidate Paul Ferreira won a seat in York South-Weston. None of the previous Member of Provincial Parliament's (MPPs) ran in the byelection. Former Conservative MPP Cam Jackson resigned to run for mayor of Burlington and won on November 13, 2006. Former Liberal MPP Tony Wong resigned his seat i

Garth Turner Member of Parliament (MP) for Halton, has joined the Liberal Party of Canada after months of being an Independent MP. Turner was elected with the Conservative Party of Canada in the January 2006 election, but was suspended in October from the Party after posting critical blog posts. After, there was some speculation the he would join the Green Party, which has 0 elected MPs in Ottawa, the nations capital. "Garth Turner is an exceptional Member of Parliament, known across Canada for his passion and accomplishments," said Liberal l

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and Damascus-based chief Khaled Meshaal ofHamas arrived in Mecca, Saudi Arabia for negotiations in an attempt to end the fighting between Hamas and Fatah in the Gaza strip. Ever since the Hamas movement, which refuses to recognize Israel and stop attacks on Israel, won elections for the Palestinian parliament last year, there have been repeated clashes between the two groups.The result has been over 80 deaths. Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah called the talks in order to

Former federal Liberal leadership contender Gerard Kennedy will run in the next federal election in Parkdale—High Park, the same riding he represented in the provincial legislature until earlier this year. This will be the former Ontario Education minister's first run for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons. The federal riding was held by fellow Liberal Sarmite Bulte until last year's federal election when she was defeated by New Democrat Peggy Nash. The NDP's Cheri DiNovo also took the provincial riding, formerly held by Kennedy, in a by-

A recent 3 News poll conducted by TNS has shown that the New Zealand Labour party and the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand have both gained support, with the Greens controlling the majority. The party currently holding majority in parliament, Labour, has grown its seat majority in the House to 54, from its current level of 50, according to the poll. Its major political rival, the National party has gained three seats to 51. And the Green party would raise its seats from six to ten. All other political parties do not cross the threshold of s