OVER THE EDGE NEWSPAPER. OCTOBER 27 , 2006 NEWS BRIEFS En Somme news from around the world in an easy-to-use package UNBC The UNBC Northern Timberwolves exhibition soccer season came to an end on Thanksgiving weekend, with the men winning and the women losing. It is hoped that the teams will gain full membership into the BCCAA league next year. LOCAL Toronto filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy has finished making a documen- tary about the “Highway of Tears,’ the area along Highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert known for the disappearance of a number of women-- mostly aboriginals. The 22-minute film is scheduled for television broadcasts internationally and will be screened: in theatres throughout Canada. The Fraser River is at the lowest point in recorded history, causing major con- cerns for fisheries. NATIONAL ‘The federal Conservative government released its long-awaited Clean Air Act last week, and was quickly slammed by all three opposition parties and environ- mental groups.- The Canada-US softwood lumber deal went into effect on October 12 and is meant to be in place for seven years. Longtime Sierra Club president Eliza- beth May is the new leader of the federal Green Party. Concerns have been raised over the fact that the US Navy has been running war games, including the use of live am- munition, in the Great Lakes. along the Canada-US border. ‘The federal government has promised to complete Canada’s national park sys- tem, with Environment Minister Rosa Ambrose saying, “conservation is a pri- ority of this government.’ ' Liberal leadership hopeful Bob Rae's campaign manager has resigned after it was discovered that he had violated party rules regarding candidacy forms. Meanwhile, the leader in the Liberal leadership race, Michael Ignatieff, has suffered his own setback. When apolo- gizing for a comment he made earlier in the year about “not losing sleep” over Israel's bombing of Lebanon, Ignatieff called Israel's action a “war crime.’ Vari- ous Jewish-advocacy groups condemned the statement, and it didn't take long for the Tories to capitalize, with Stephen Harper saying that most Liberal leader- ship hopefuls were anti-Israel. For his part, Ignatieff shot back saying “It is dis- graceful that the prime minister is play- ing crass politics with the issue of the "Middle East.” Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said that symbolic redress payments to Chinese-Canadians who suffered under head-tax laws will be beginning in the coming months. Maher Arar, the Syrian-born Canad- ian who was wrongly jailed and tortured in Syria after being deported froma New York airport, was given the Letelier- Moffitt Human Rights Award. Arar ac- ceptéd the US-based group's award via videotape because despite having been found innocent, he is still “effectively banned” from the United Staes. INTERNATIONAL “NATO has never been tested like this, ever. They've got an extraordinarily difh- cult task ahead of them.” -Seth Jones, RAND Corp ex ag j pert on Afghanistan British General Richard Dannat, the newly-appointed army chief, has called for Britain to withdraw from Iraq, say- ing“our presence exacerbates the secur- ity problems.’ The World Health Organization has issued a report saying that two million people a year are killed as a result of poor air quality. Cory Lidle, a member of the New York Yankees, was killed alongside one other person when their plane crashed into the side of a 40-storey apartment in New York. South Korean Ban Ki-Moon has been appointed as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, and will replace Kofi Annaan on January Ist of next year. Having spent the majority of his recent career as South Korea's Foreign Minister, Moon is already experienced at dealing with North Korea, which has pushed its way to the fore in UN talks after conducting an underground test of an atomic bomb, After the UN Security Council con- demned North Korea's actions and is working towards placing ‘sanctions on’ the country, something which the Com- munist state calls “an act of war.’ Mean- while, there has been some evidence that North Kotea is planning a second test. Bolivian president Evo Morales has announced plans to nationalize the countries mines in a n effort to reform the tumultuous industry. The United Nations Security Council has agreed to sanction Iran, but is still having differences over how harsh they should be, 24-year-old Michael Phillips was re- leased a day after he was kidnapped by an unknown Palestinian group. Phillips was volunteering with Project Hope, a Canada-based group. 29 US Senators have sent US Secre- tary of State Condoleeza Rice a letter in favour of denying the extradition of Duane Chapman, better-known as the star of the reality show “Dog the Bounty Hunter.’ Chapman is facing trial in Mexico, where bounty hunting is illegal. John Lennon’ killer has been denied parole for a fourth time. George W. Bush has passed legislation for the interrogation and prosecution of prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Critics say the new rules continue to vio- late several fundamental legal rights. The United States had a clean sweep of the Nobel Peace prize science cat- egories, winning in chemistry, physics, medicine, and economics. They were stopped when Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk won the prize for literature. Google has bought YouTube for $1.65 billion US. See story, page 9, UN goodwill ambassador and actress Angelina Jolie has criticized western countries for not making a greater effort to help refugees. ENTERTAINMENT Fabien Barthez, France's goalie in the last World Cup, has retired from profes- sional soccer. He was well-known for his unconventional playing style, which included leaving the keeper's area and dribbling past opponents. Ed Benedict, the animator who was lead designer of Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, and the Flinstones, has died at the age of 94, R. Kelly is being sued by a man who says he was a “mentor and guide” to the singer. One of Kelly's representatives called the man “a disgruntled former employee and hanger-on.’ Trailer Park Boys: The Movie was Canada’s top-earning movie in its open- ing week, outperforming even the hit Jackass Number Two. According to Britain's The Sun, Brad Pitt has hired David Beckham to pro- 3 vide personal coaching to five-year-old Maddox Pitt. After a year of feuding in tabloids and media, Nicole Ritchie and Paris Hilton have reunited to film a fifth season of their hit TV show “The Simple Life.’ This time, the two wil] be camp counsel- lors. The show is scheduled to air on E! next spring, Film critic Roger Ebert, currently re- covering from cancer surgery and emer- gency surgety for a burst blood vessel, has said that he plans to be back in ac- tion in time for the Cannes Film Festival next yeat, After weeks of speculation, Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie have taken custody of a one-year-old. Malawi boy. The boy's father, Yohame Bande, has said he is pleased with the adoption. Two of Americas top rappers have signed new endorsement deals. Sean Combs has decided to make Burger King the number-one fast food restau- rant in America, while Jay-Z has been made co-brand director for Budweiser Select. Famed Tex-Mex country singer Fred- dy Fender passed away at the age of 69 on the 14, F After various papers and tabloids began announcing that Jennifer Aniston .and and Vince Vaughn had broken up, the two denied it, with Aniston declar- ing them a couple on Oprah Winfrey and Vaughn suing a number of papers that reported he had been spotted with an unknown blonde. Ironically, this is the first time the two ever admitted to be dating. Japanese mental health counsellor Akira Harguchi may have set a new world record when he allegedly recited pi to 100, 000 decimal places from memoty. In order to. qualify for an offi- cial Guinness Record, he must provide some proof or repeat the 16 hour feat in front of a Guinness official.