Toronto - Between 30 and 40 per cent of Ontario students in Grades 3 and 6 do not read, write or do math at the provincial standard.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Discovery docks with orbiting space station
NASA's space shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station on Sunday evening.More
Opposition wins landslide in Japan election
After 54 years of nearly unbroken rule, Japan's ruling conservative party conceded defeat Sunday to the left-of-centre opposition in parliamentary elections.More
California wildfire surges in size
A wildfire in the mountains above Los Angeles has surged in every direction, going in a single day from a modest threat to a danger to some 12,000 homes.More
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The CRTC fines three telemarketers
Toronto 2009-08-26 22:01
Toronto - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has handed out its first fines against telemarketers for violating the National Do-Not-Call list (DNCL).
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Magnitude 3.8 earthquake in northern Yukon, no reports of damage
Whitehorse, Yukon - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.8 has struck in the northern Yukon, Tuesday. more
Obama reappoints Ben Bernanke for second term
Oak Bluffs, Mass. - U.S. President Barack Obama has announced he wants Ben Bernanke to get a second four-year term as head of the Federal Reserve, praising his "calm and wisdom" in the face of a near financial collapse. more
Number of EI recipients rises in June: Statistics Canada
Ottawa - The number of people receiving regular employment insurance benefits was up again in June, according to Statistics Canada. more
Ottawa to appeal Khadr ruling to Supreme Court
Ottawa - The Harper government will be going to the Supreme Court in an effort to avoid bringing Omar Khadr home from a U.S. military prison.
The government confirmed Tuesday that it will seek leave to appeal a Federal Court of Appeal ruling this month. more
Monday, August 24, 2009
Ancaster, Ont. - Residents in Ancaster, Ont., have been told to keep their windows closed due to a major industrial fire, Tuesday.
There are concerns the smoke could be toxic. more
Teen in critical condition after going for late night swim in closed public pool
A 16-year-old boy is in critical condition after going for a late night swim in a closed pool on Sunday evening.more
Man hospitalized in east end shooting
A man has been rushed to hospital after he was shot twice in the east end Monday morning. more
DriveTest employees remain off the job in job security dispute
Toronto - About 500 driving examiners in Ontario remain on strike after walking off the job late Friday afternoon.
Teen girl struck by car at Jane St. and Wilson Ave.
Toronto - A pedestrian has been hit by a car while crossing the street on Jane Street near Wilson Avenue, Monday.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Murder suspect Ryan Jenkins found dead in B.C. motel
Vancouver, B.C. - Reality star Ryan Jenkins was found dead in a motel in Hope, B.C., 90 minutes east of Vancouver.
An employee at the Thunderbird Motel in Hope said that he and the manager found Jenkins hanging from a closet wrack by a belt.
Blind grandmother to be deported to Poland Sunday night
A blind Toronto grandmother is being deported back to Poland tonight, despite having lived in Canada for 11 years.
Stefania Elzbieta Magdziak, 69, came to Canada as a visitor in 1998 to visit her son and daughter who are legal landed immigrants.
Magdziak never left. She blames an immigration consultant for making her file a failed refugee claim.
She has applied to stay under humanitarian and compassion grounds but was denied her application.
She has a plane ticket booked and is scheduled to from Pearson Airport tonight. more
Tornado-hit communities band together as family of boy killed speaks Watch
As stories of kindness begin to trickle out of the areas hardest hit by the tornado that struck Southern Ontario, one family is speaking about how it will remember the child it lost during the disaster.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Salmond defends Lockerbie decision
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has been forced to defend the release of the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Al Megrahi in the face of a blistering attack from the head of the FBI.
The leader of the Scottish National Party administration in Edinburgh said that they had made the "right decision" in freeing Megrahi on compassionate grounds after serving less than eight years of his life sentence.
However, he came under fire from his Labour predecessor as first minister, Jack McConnell, who accused the SNP government of a "grave error of judgment" which had damaged Scotland's reputation.
In London, UK ministers expressed concern that the deepening row could have damaging repercussions for wider British-US relations. Jim Knight, Employment Minister, told Sky News's Sunday Live programme: "I hope that there is no fall-out from this for Scotland, and I hope that there is no fall-out from this for the UK in terms or our relationship with the US which is a key relationship for us."
The depth of the anger in America, was graphically underlined by the release of the letter from Robert Mueller, the Director of the FBI, to the Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, who ordered Megrahi's release.
Mr Mueller, who was the US assistant attorney general responsible for the Lockerbie investigation, said he was outraged by the decision which made a mockery of the grief of the victims' families and undermined the rule of law.
"Your action in releasing Megrahi is as inexplicable as it is detrimental to the cause of justice. Indeed your action makes a mockery of the rule of law," he wrote. "Your action gives comfort to terrorists around the world who now believe that regardless of the quality of the investigation, the conviction by jury after the defendant is given all due process, and sentence appropriate to the crime, the terrorist will be freed by one man's exercise of 'compassion'."
Mr Salmond acknowledged the "hurt and disappointment" that had been felt in the US - from where most of the 270 victims came - but expressed his disappointment that Mr Mueller had failed to acknowledge that some of the families, particularly in the UK, had supported the release.
"No one I think seriously believes we made any other decision except for the right reasons. I think it was the right decision. I also absolutely know it was for the right reasons," he said.
But with the recalled Scottish Parliament set to return a week early to discuss the situation, Mr McConnell said that they needed to make clear that the decision did not have the support of the people. "I think it's absolutely vital that the Scottish Parliament now takes action to limit that damage and to give a clear indication to the rest of the world that when the Scottish Government made this decision they were not acting with the support of the people of Scotland," he said.
Toronto cab drivers not allowed to pick up fares from airport
The regulation is considered unfair because it does not allow Toronto cab drivers to pick up fairs from the airport unless it has been pre-arranged.
Public safety minister inspecting tornado damage in Vaughan
Federal Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan is in Vaughan this morning for a first-hand look at the damage from Thursday's violent thunderstorms.
Funnel clouds reported, but not as powerful as Thursday storm
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement regarding funnel clouds that have been spotted in some areas north of Toronto, including Markham. The statement says the funnel clouds are caused by a weak disturbance and are not as powerful as the storm that spawned tornadoes on Thursday.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Driving centres close as examiners strike
Toronto - Ontario's driving centres are closed Friday after talks broke down between examiners and their employer.
Woman who was detained in Kenya to sue Ottawa for $2.5-million
Toronto - A Toronto woman who was stranded for months in Kenya over false claims that she was an impostor is suing Ottawa for $2.5-million for her ordeal.
Federal deficit his $5-billion in June: Finance Deparment report
Ottawa - The Finance Department reported a $5-billion deficit for the federal government in June as tax revenues fell and expenditures rose.
11-year-old boy confirmed dead in violent storm and suspected tornado
(Photo by: Carl Hanstke/680News)"> Toronto - Officials said an 11-year-old boy was killed during a vicious storm and suspected tornado touchdown in the the Town of Durham.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Lockerbie Bomber Freed To Return to Libya to Die
Scotland released on Thursday a former Libyan agent jailed for life for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing that killed 270 people, most of them Americans, because he is dying of cancer.
Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, who has less than three months to live, was being returned to Libya on compassionate grounds, a decision strongly criticised by the United States, which had campaigned to keep him in prison.
"He is a dying man, he is terminally ill," Scottish justice minister Kenny MacAskill told a news conference. "My decision is that he returns home to die."
A Libyan government spokesman said Megrahi was being flown home with a son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Man dies after fall from escalator at AMC theatre
(Photo by: Charlene Close/680News)"> The AMC theatre at Yonge-Dundas Square in downtown Toronto
(Photo by: Charlene Close/680News)
(Photo by: Charlene Close/680News)
Toronto - A 27-year-old man has died after falling more than 30 feet from an escalator at the AMC theatre near Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto police said Thursday.
Hurricane-force winds expected to hit Atlantic Canada
Halifax, N.S. - The Canadian Hurricane Centre said parts of Atlantic Canada can expect heavy rain and hurricane-force winds on Sunday as hurricane Bill moves north.
Tornado touches down northwest of Caledon
A tornado has touched down in the Town of Durham, northwest of Caledon, Thursday.
Police with the Municipality of West Grey told 680News a twister made contact in two locations.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Province clears the way for airport limos to poach city passengers
outside Union Station (Photo by: Charlene Close/680News)"> Taxicabs line up on Front Street waiting to pick up passengers
outside Union Station (Photo by: Charlene Close/680News)
outside Union Station (Photo by: Charlene Close/680News)
Toronto - It appears airport limousine drivers have won a big battle.
The province has reportedly amended the City of Toronto Act to allow airport-licensed taxis and limousines the right to pick up fares inside city limits.
U.S. Embassy warns Americans in Kuwait to be vigilant against attacks after terror arrests
Kuwait City - The U.S. Embassy is warning Americans in Kuwait to be vigilant against possible terror attacks after the arrest of people suspected of planning to attack a U.S. military camp there.
Two women may have information on recent Toronto homicide: police
Homicide investigators are trying to track down two women who were in a car minutes before a man was gunned down in Rexdale.
Bishen Golaub, 34, was shot to death just before 2 p.m. on August 16 near Finch and Kipling avenues.
Police said the women were in the same car as the two men who have been charged with first-degree murder in the case.
He said they don't think the women they're looking for were involved in the shooting, but do believe they have information that will help in the case.
Investigators are appealing to those two women to contact police.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com or text TOR and message to CRIMES (274637).
Man from Ireland on work visa drowns in Lake Ontario
Toronto - A 20-year-old man died after slipping under the water of Lake Ontario near Centre Island, Tuesday.
The man, who was in town from Ireland on a work visa, was swimming with two friends, also on work visas, when he drowned.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Police Look For Man Who Forced New Brunswick Woman To Drive To Toronto
Police say a New Brunswick woman in her 40s is unharmed after an armed man climbed into her vehicle and forced her to drive west to Toronto.
Toronto police Staff Sgt. Sandra Richardson says the man approached as the woman, who is from the Woodstock, N.B. area, bent down to pick up an item she dropped beside her Honda.
The man, who the woman didn't know, apparently showed her a handgun and instructed her to drive to Toronto - a road trip of more than 14 hours.
After she was dropped off, she contacted family members, who notified police.
Officers found the woman just before 9 am Sunday morning and then her vehicle.
Police say the suspect is in his early 20s, about 5 foot 8 and at least 160 pounds.
One Year Later: Residents Remember Fatal Sunrise Propane Blast
One year after a fatal explosion rocked a north Toronto neighbourhood, residents remembered the night of August 10, 2008.
That Sunday, a tanker at Sunrise Propane blew just before 4am. The supplier of nitrogen, propane and helium lit up the sky from its location on Murray near Keele and Wilson.
The blasts were so powerful that some homes were rocked off their foundations, and others saw their windows shattered.
The still-present damage is a constant reminder for the 12,000 affected residents, from young to old.
"I still got it in my head what happened a year ago," explained Attore Spadafora.
"The pajamas that I was wearing on the explosion day, um, I always wear them on unlucky days so those are my unlucky pajamas," said Nikki.
Politicians were also on hand at the anniversary gathering.
"People can gather, they can talk about an experience that they have shared in common," noted MP Ken Dryden (York Centre).
"They can start talking about the rest of their lives as well."
Last week, The Ontario Ministry of Labour laid two charges against Sunrise Propane under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and if convicted, the company could face fines of up to $1 million.
The Fire Marshal's Office continues to investigate.
A $300 million class action suit representing 10,000 people is still pending.
Two men lost their lives in the explosion.
Sunrise employee Parmindar Saini, 25, worked at Sunrise in a quality assurance manufacturing and management position.
He was on site at the time of the blast. It took Forensic Services a week to identify his body.
Saini had arrived in Canada in December of 2007 to study at Sheridan College in Brampton after getting an engineering degree in India.
Division Commander Robert Leek, 55, was a veteran fire fighter with 25 years of service under his belt.
It was supposed to be his day off - in fact, he was due to begin his vacation - but he was called in to help battle the flames.
Shortly after arriving on scene, Leek was found without vital signs. He left behind a wife and a son.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Public safety alert issued for possible sex offender
Toronto Police have issued a public safety alert for a possible sex offender after a woman woke up in her home to find a man standing naked in front of her.
It happened around 5:30 Saturday morning on Goodview avenue in the Don Mills and Van Horne area.
The woman's screams scared off the man and he ran out of the townhouse without any clothes on.
Police are investigating whether the residents of the home know the man.
He's being described as 20 to 25 years old, five-foot-seven, slim build with a dark complexion and black hair which was tied in a ponytail at the time.
The woman was not assaulted.Seven Bodies Recovered After Mid-Air Collision In New York
Police divers have now recovered seven bodies after a small plane and a helicopter collided over New York's Hudson River just after noon on Saturday, killing nine people.
The recovery operation wrapped up for the night after crews found the bodies of three victims and most of the wreckage from the Eurocopter AS 350. But they were back to work early Sunday morning, although hampered by strong currents and poor visibility. Sonar is being used to locate the Piper PA-32.
There were three members of a Pennsylvania family on the private plane - the 60-year-old pilot, Steven Altman, 49-year-old Daniel Altman, and his 16-year-old son, Douglas.
On the helicopter, operated by Liberty Tours, were five tourists from Italy - Michele Norelli, 51; his son Filippo Norelli, 16; Fabio Gallazzi, 49; his wife, Tiziana Pedroni, 44; and their son Giacomo Gallazzi, 15. The pilot of that aircraft was Jeremy Clark, 32, of Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey.
There are reports Michele Norelli was in New York celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary and the trip was a gift from one of his sisters.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating, but has long expressed concern that the regulation of helicopter tours is too lax.
Heavy rain hits parts of Toronto Sunday afternoon
Toronto - Toronto was drench with more rain Sunday afternoon, as a heavy thunderstorm moved through during the noon hour.
Torrential downpours and winds moved at 100 km/ hr as they swept through the city over the noon hour.
Severe thunderstorm watches and warnings are still in place for the Niagara Region.
The humidex advisory continues for the GTA with temperatures reaching 30 degrees celcius, feeling closer to 40 degrees celcius with the humidity.
Canada To Assist Mexico In Fight Against Drug Cartels: Harper
The Mounties will play a role in Mexico's fight against violent drug cartels, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Sunday.
He made the announcement as he arrived for a Three Amigos summit in a country sideswiped by war between rival gangs.
The RCMP will offer a variety of training programs to hundreds of Mexican federal police ranging from rookie recruits to senior officers.
The program size is modest - just $400,000 from a $15 million-a-year fund created in the 2009 budget to fight crime in the Americas.
But the Harper government says it's responding to specific demands from Mexico, and is prepared to do more.
"We've received these requests from Mexico," said one government official.
"This is sort of a first phase. We'll continue to work with them to see what other requests we have."
The gesture comes at a low point in Canada-Mexico relations, with Mexicans angered by new travel rules Canada imposed on them.
Harper was to discuss the pledge in a meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon later Sunday. The two leaders then planned to have supper with U.S. President Barack Obama to kick off the two-day summit.
The Mounties will offer tips on interviewing techniques for entry-level police; mid-level officers will learn about money-laundering, undercover tactics, and child exploitation; and senior officers will hear about crisis management, public relations, and dealing with civilian leaders.
An estimated 6,000 people died last year in a conflict that has seen scores of civilians, police and civic leaders murdered by drug cartels.
Typhoon Topples Hotel In Taiwan
Nearly one million people in China have been forced to flee their homes because of a vicious typhoon that made landfall on the country's eastern coast on Sunday. Morakot, which means "emerald" in Thai, has also triggered the worst flooding in Taiwan in 50 years, flattening villages and toppling the six-storey Hotel Chin Shuai.
Nobody was hurt in that incident, but the storm has killed at least three people in its path and, earlier, some 21 in the Philippines. Dozens more Chinese and Taiwanese are missing and feared dead.
The typhoon lashed the country with winds of up to 120 kilometres per hour.
It was expected to weaken as it travelled north but still bring strong winds and heavy rains to Shanghai.
The Hotel Chin Shuai lies collapsed in floodwater during typhoon Morakot in Chihpen, in southeastern Taiwan's Taitung county on August 9, 2009. CityNewsSevere Thunderstorms Batter Southern Ontario
Rain-weary Torontonians couldn't have been happy when they woke up Sunday morning. Earlier promises of a hot, muggy summer day seemed improbable when the black skies opened up drenching pedestrians and cyclists and making rivers of the streets.
But the severe thunderstorm watches and warnings have ended for much of the GTA, including Toronto, Halton, Peel, York and Durham.
Around the noon hour, Environment Canada was warning of potential thunderstorms producing wind gusts of 100 km/h along with large hail and torrential downpours accumulating to 50 millimetres or more in less than an hour.
Officials said the unsettled conditions in southern Ontario may even bring about a tornado.
There was no sign of the storm a couple of hours later when the clouds made way for searing sunshine and temperatures hovered around 26C, which felt more like 36 with the humidity.
Still, the weather will be touch-and-go into Monday, with more rain and thunderstorms possible.
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