World News

Defending Rights Record

Ray Turner - Jan 22, 2005 / 12:27 pm | Story: 6634

It may not go down as the first Canadian writ dropped in Beijing but Prime Minister Paul Martin appeared to throw down the electoral gauntlet Friday night with an impassioned defence of his rights record.

Martin used a question about the forcefulness of his human rights advocacy here in the Chinese capital to launch into a scathing attack on Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, who Martin alleges won't defend Canada's Charter of Rights.Full story
Travel restrictions and a curfew were among security measures announced Saturday as Iraq prepared for more violence ahead of national elections. A U.S. military official based north of Baghdad reiterated that U.S.-led troops will stay clear of polling stations on Jan. 30.Full story
Iraqi militants have freed eight Chinese construction workers, the Chinese Embassy said Saturday. Arabic television station Al-Arabiya broadcast a statement from the kidnappers, who said the eight were being released because China agreed to discourage its citizens from travelling to Iraq.Full story
A local group of Palestinian militants announced Saturday it is ready to stop violence, a sign that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas appears to be making some progress in persuading armed factions to halt attacks on Israel. The announcement by gunmen from the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a group with ties to Abbas' ruling Fatah movement, came a day after some 3,000 Palestinian policemen were deployed in the northern Gaza Strip to halt rocket fire on Israeli communities. A top Israeli security official on Saturday praised the Palestinian effort to rein in militants.Full story
Taser International Inc. has changed how one of its stun-gun models delivers its electric charge after some police officers said some suspects had been able to regain partial mobility while they were being stunned, the company said Friday. The change will make the X26 stun gun about 14 per cent more powerful, the New York Times newspaper reported.Full story