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Memorial

Friends honour Manitoba ball player

BRANDON, Man. - Friends and former teammates of Ashley Neufeld have held an impromptu memorial service in her hometown of Brandon, Man. Dozens of people marked the life of the star softball player at a local ball diamond, drawing a large heart in the infield dirt and placing flowers at second base. One of the organizers, Jim Nay, coached Neufeld, and says she was a determined player who also had a positive attitude and was well-liked. Neufeld was one of three young women who died after the jeep they were in got submerged in a farm pond in North Dakota. Neufeld and her two friends, Kyrstin Gemar and Afton Williamson of California, played softball for Dickinson State University.

Afghanistan

Policeman kills 5 British soldiers

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan policeman opened fire on British soldiers in the volatile southern province of Helmand, killing five before fleeing, authorities said Wednesday, raising concerns about discipline within the Afghan forces and possible infiltration by insurgents. The attack Tuesday afternoon came a month after an Afghan policeman on patrol with U.S. soldiers fired on the Americans, killing two. Training and operating jointly with Afghan police and soldiers is key to NATO's strategy of dealing with the spreading Taliban-led insurgency and, ultimately, allowing international forces to leave Afghanistan. Attacks such as these will heighten concern about the effectiveness of the Afghan forces.

Diplomacy

New ambassador visits White House

WASHINGTON - Canada's newest ambassador to the United States met Wednesday with President Barack Obama to present his diplomatic credentials, but it wasn't all handshakes, good wishes and a handful of M&Ms - the thorny issue of Buy American was also on the agenda. Gary Doer, accompanied by his wife and daughters, said the controversial U.S. trade policy was at the centre of a brief discussion with the president, despite Obama's apparent weariness of the subject. Obama has downplayed the effects of Buy American on Canadian exporters and manufacturers, referring to it on several occasions - including during Harper's visit to the Oval Office in September - as a minor kerfuffle in the Canada-U.S. trade relationship. On Wednesday, Doer said, the president was more keen to discuss family rather than politics.

Crime

At least 11 victims found in U.S. home

CLEVELAND - Authorities say they have confirmed a total of at least 11 victims whose remains were found in the Cleveland home of a sex offender. The Cuyahoga County coroner's office said Wednesday that a skull found in a bucket in Anthony Sowell's basement belonged to a body they have not yet found. Authorities also say they have identified one of the victims as 52-year-old Tonia Carmichael, who disappeared a year ago. Police Chief Michael McGrath says her remains were buried in the back yard and had marks indicating she was strangled.

Israel

Ship with 60 tons of weapons seized

JERUSALEM - Israeli defence officials say a ship the navy has confiscated in waters off Cyprus was carrying more than 60 tons of weapons. They say the cargo included missiles, antitank weapons and mortars. The officials said the weapons were coming from Iran and were bound for Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. The pre-dawn seizure early Wednesday was a rare interception of a suspected arms shipment by Israel, which has long accused Iran of arming its enemies. Israel offered no evidence to support its claim that the weapons were meant for Hezbollah.

Health

H1N1 flu scams warning issued

OTTAWA - Health Canada and the Competition Bureau have issued a new warning about H1N1 flu scams. They are urging Canadians not to purchase products claiming to fight or prevent swine flu. Health Canada said on its website late Wednesday it is working with the Competition Bureau and the RCMP "to address unauthorized products, including those with fraudulent claims to treat or prevent the H1N1 flu virus."

Health Canada said it has only authorized three products - the H1N1 vaccine Arepanrix, and the antiviral drugs Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir). As well, it said the distribution of 200,000 doses of unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine Panvax from Australia has been authorized for use in pregnant women.