Canada's inflation rate eases in December

The increase in Canada's cost of living hit its lowest level in two years last month as falling energy prices continued to drive annual inflation closer to zero.

Statistics Canada said annual inflation dipped to 1.2 percent in December, a level not seen since January 2007, and almost a full point below November's 2 percent rate.

On a month-to-month basis, prices were generally 0.7 percent lower last month than they were in November.

"Canadian headline inflation is poised to drop further in the coming months, with an eventual short-term trip into negative inflation terrain ahead," said Douglas Porter, a senior economist with BMO Capital …

What can we do about nocturnal noisemakers?

Our modern, educated society consists of individuals whotake delight in waking up sleeping people. To aid these individuals,we have the freedom to explode fireworks any time of day or night, wehave speedy and noisy motorcycles and we have cats that are able tomake all kinds of nuisance noises. Police are unable to stop thembecause they can't be there instantaneously.

We wonder why the parents of these individuals …

Ex-HP Chair Says Stemming Leaks Her Duty

WASHINGTON - Hewlett-Packard Co.'s ousted chairwoman said it was her duty to stem boardroom leaks of sensitive information and that her decision to initiate an investigation was made in concert with others at HP, according to prepared testimony released by a congressional committee.

Patricia Dunn said she "never doubted" the legality of the methods used in the investigation, and that she discussed the conduct of the probe with the technology company's CEO, Mark Hurd, and board members - getting a clear impression that the directors were satisfied with it.

"I never doubted ... that what they were doing was legal," Dunn said in written testimony prepared for her appearance …

World stocks sag despite data

World stocks slipped Thursday despite upbeat economic data, as investors questioned whether any recovery would prove sustainable.

In Europe, Germany's DAX closed down 51.64 points, or 0.9 percent, at 5,470.33, while Britain's FTSE 100 fell 21.23 points, or 0.4 percent, at 4,869.35. France's CAC-40 was off 19.81 points, or 0.5 percent, to 3,648.53.

Wall Street likewise showed a lack of momentum, with the Dow industrial average sliding 34.99 points, or 0.4 percent, to 9,508.53 and the Standard & Poor's 500 falling 6.0 points, or 0.6 percent, to 1,022.12 despite stronger U.S. growth data.

Official figures on Thursday showed the U.S. economy …

Michelle with Mexico's 'movers and shakers'

"These are the movers and shakers here in Mexico," first lady Michelle Obama said as she sat down Thursday morning with a dozen student leaders from all parts of the nation at a former colonial-era hacienda here.

Most of the group had some extraordinary accomplishment in helping the underserved or the unfortunate, whether in education, health or the environment.

Billed as a roundtable discussion, there was no cross talk as Mrs. Obama worked her way around the rectangular table as the six men and six women each explained their special projects. Mrs. Obama's offering for the group was her recounting of how, when she was coming up, during meetings, she would often find …

Look This Sway

CONSTRUCTION

THE 1 ,667-FOOT-TALL Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan may have lost its title as the world's tallest building this year to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. But, hey, it still has the globe's biggest tuned mass damper, which essentially is a large pendulum that counters building sway caused by earthquakes or strong winds. Many skyscrapers use a form of these dampers. The 101's …

Asia-Pacific telecoms SingTel, Bharti, Globe, Optus to bring iPhone to parts of the region

Four Asia-Pacific mobile providers _ Singapore Telecommunications Ltd., Bharti Airtel Ltd., Globe Telecom Inc. and SingTel subsidiary Optus Monday _ said Monday they have signed an agreement with Apple Inc. to offer the iPhone in their respective markets later this year.

SingTel will sell the multimedia gadget in Singapore, Bharti Airtel Ltd. in India, Globe Telecom Inc. in the Philippines and Optus in Australia, the companies said in a brief joint statement, without giving details.

SingTel owns Optus and holds a 30.5 percent stake in Bharti and 44.5 percent in Globe. As of Dec. 31, 2007, SingTel had about 2.3 million mobile subscribers in Singapore and …