READ MY LIPS, NO NEW TAXES…IF I CAN HELP IT: Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff denied saying that he would be forced to raise taxes as prime minister in order to pay off the country’s soaring deficits. Telling reporters that it would be irresponsible to rule out tax hikes in the face of the $80-billion shortfall, Ignatieff insisted that such a move would be a last resort.
HELL HATH NO ANGELS LEFT: Quebec police were declaring a major victory over organized crime after more than 150 people allegedly connected to the Hells Angles were arrested as part of a massive international crackdown. Spokesperson Daniel Guerin said the arrests scooped up all of the province’s full-patch members, if not the outlaw motorcycle gang’s entire membership.
PROFITABLE SECTOR: As the economy reels and corporate profits tumble, business is booming when it comes to Internet crime. The Symantec Internet Security Threat Report said cyber thieves were thriving in 2008, targeting the confidential information of computer users and Web surfers to sell on the online underground economy.
WOMEN STAND UP: The explosive nature of the women’s rights debate in Afghanistan was revealed again when dozens of young women braved crowds of bearded men screaming “dogs!” to protest controversial legislation that would sanction rape within marriage. Separated from the protesters by a line of female police officers, the hundreds of counter-demonstrators pelted the women with stones and denounced them as slaves to the Christians.
HEY BIG SAVER: More Canadians are setting money aside into slush funds meant to cover them in the case of future emergencies. Led by Alberta, 84 per cent of Canadians were squirreling their cash away — a dramatic rise over the 67 per cent who were doing so two years ago.
CARE FOR A SPOT OF TEA?: American protesters miffed by the spike in government spending in recent months held so-called “tea parties,” named after the famous Boston tax revolt of 235 years ago, to vent their anger against the federal government.
BY ANY OTHER NAME: Nadya Suleman, the infamous California mother of octuplets, moved to trademark the nickname “Octomom.” Suleman’s applications stated she wanted to put the Octomom name on television programs, clothing and disposable diapers.
