TMCnet News
--Fifteenth NewsWatch--(Canadian Press Broadcast Wire (Canada) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) (Afghan-Cda-Prisoners) Federal documents show Canadian diplomats received reports that two prisoners were abused by Afghan's notorious intelligence service as late as last year. Tomorrow, the Military Police Complaints Commission resumes public hearings into two human rights groups' claims that the army knew, or should have known, about possible torture in Afghan jails. The documents say the incidents were possible violations of a transfer arrangement between Ottawa and Kabul. (15) (Health-Ministers-MS) (Audio: 161) Provincial health ministers meeting in St. John's have agreed to form working groups to explore ways to speed up study of a controversial treatment for multiple sclerosis. Nova Scotia's Maureen MacDonald says the goal is to possibly move toward clinical trials of Italian doctor Paolo Zamboni's therapy to clear blocked neck veins. But she says that'll only happen if and when the evidence supports taking that step. Zamboni's treatment is based on a disputed theory that narrowed neck veins cause iron deposits to build up and damage brain cells. (15) (HKN-Nordiques-Arena) (Audio: 162) Prime Minister Harper may not score points with hockey fans who want an N-H-L team back in Quebec City. During a trip to Quebec today, he dropped several hints that Ottawa might not provide all of the estimated 180 (m) million dollars needed to build the arena. Harper noted pro sports teams are primarily the responsibility of the private sector -- and that any such funding would have to be offered across the country. (15) (CRIME-Fatal-Stabbing) A Regina man with a history of night terrors and sleepwalking has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for fatally stabbing his male lover in the middle of the night. Twenty-four-year-old William Fayant says he doesn't remember that night and doesn't know why he did it. His lawyer told court Fayant had nightmares that people were trying to break into his home so he slept with a knife by his bed. Fayant has been sentenced to 15-years in prison. (15) (U-S-MED-Cleaner-Hands) (audio: 168) The number of Americans who wash their hands after using a public washroom is rising. Researchers who secretly spy on people in major U-S cities found 85 per cent of people washed their hands this year, up from only 77 per cent in 2007. But men are still dirtier -- with about 23 per cent of men failing to wash up compared with seven per cent of women. (15) (Chocolate Milk-App) The Hershey Company wants a U-S federal judge to decide whether its iPhone application to make virtual chocolate milk violates another company's copyright. Hershey says its app is much different, including its use of a red and white straw to ``drain'' milk from the phone screen. A lawyer for Las Vegas-based software developer Hottrix says the company expects to soon file an answer to Hershey's complaint, along with counterclaims. (15) (NewsWatch by Dawn Kelly) (The Canadian Press) (c) 2010 The Canadian Press |