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Aircraft

Search underway for missing plane

HALIFAX - A search was underway Sunday for a twin-engine Cessna Skymaster that went down in open water about 160 kilometres south of Iqualuit with two Swedish nationals on board. Mike Bonin, a spokesman for the Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax, said the pilot radioed in that he was having engine trouble after taking off from Baffin Island on Sunday. "They'd lost one engine and then, quickly after, lost the second engine and unfortunately ended up crashing into the water." An RCMP search plane was in the area along with a fishing boat and some private aircraft. They were expected to be joined by military aircraft, including a Hercules and two Cormorant helicopters, out of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Bonin said there was a lot of sea ice in the search area and the weather is clear but very cold.

Space shuttle

Endeavour's trip delayed till Tuesday

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - The space shuttle Endeavour has to wait another day to make its cross-country return trip to Florida. NASA officials say Endeavour's piggyback ride atop a modified jumbo jet was postponed until Tuesday because of bad weather at its first scheduled stop in Texas. The shuttle was diverted last week on its return from orbit to Edwards Air Force Base in California after stormy weather hit its main Florida landing site.It was scheduled to leave Sunday but technicians had trouble installing the aerodynamic cone that fits over the back of the shuttle. Then NASA managers decided to delay it another day after reviewing the weather forecast. It will cost about $1.8 million to transport the shuttle from California to Florida.

Economy

Senator wants GM exec to resign

CHICAGO - A senator who will help determine whether the auto industry gets a $15-billion bailout says the head of GM should step down. In doing so, Senator Christopher Dodd is telegraphing what could be a congressional demand for a top-level shakeup in Detroit in exchange for financial life support. Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, says Rick Wagoner has to quit as the chief executive of GM. In response, GM spokesman Steve Harris said the company appreciates Dodd's support for the loans. However, he added that GM employees, dealers, suppliers and the GM board of directors feel strongly that Wagoner is the right man to lead GM through a difficult and challenging time. Analysts say GM and Chrysler LLC, in particular, are at risk for running out of money in the next few weeks, and that Ford may need help if the economy deteriorates further.

Politics

MPs, senators continue to travel

OTTAWA - MPs and senators quietly tabled reports for $354,509 worth of junkets abroad before the stormy fall session of Parliament ended abruptly for an extended Christmas break. The reports show all sides amicably shared excursions to some of the most exotic destinations in the world despite the angry exchanges during only 14 days of sittings after the election. Combined with 19 excursions by groups of MPs and the Speakers of the Senate and House of Commons reported earlier, the trips bring the taxpayer bill for international parliamentary travel to $1,077,184 so far for 2008. Critics note this form of discretionary spending by Parliament was not mentioned in the government restraint plan that sparked a bitter political standoff, though Conservatives had earlier hinted it would be. The government instead proposed to reduce pay increases for MPs and senators and attempted to eliminate public subsidies for political parties. A $123,604 voyage to the resort enclave of Nusa Dua, in Bali, Indonesia, stands out among the nine parliamentary association trips reported over the last two weeks.

Tragedy

Authorities probe suicide, frozen body

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Authorities responding to a suicide in Florida have made a chilling discovery - a body stored in a carport freezer. It's a tragedy that touches three generations of a Palm Beach County family. Sheriff's deputies say they received a call Saturday morning after a man found that his father had stuck a suicide note in his door. The man found his father dead in a van in front of the home. When authorities arrived, they found the grandfather's body in a freezer. In the suicide note, the father said his elderly father had died and, since he could not bear to let go, he froze the body. An autopsy will be conducted.