Washington, April 23  A newly discovered fossilized skeleton of a carnivorous animal, has helped scientists pinpoint the origin of flippers — limb adaptations for swimming in water, in seals, sea lions, and the walrus.

Researchers from the United States and Canada found the fossilized skeleton of a newly discovered carnivorous animal, Puijila darwini.

The animal is described as having a long tail, and fore-limbs comparatively proportionate to modern carnivorous land animals as opposed to pinnipeds. It is the first mammalian carnivore found at the site.

Kingston - An armed man has taken some 150 people aboard a plane on the Caribbean island of Jamaica hostage, media reports said Monday.

The hostage-taking is believed to be taking place on an aircraft that had been scheduled to fly from the Sangster International airport in Montego Bay, to Halifax in Canada, the news channel CNN reported.

According to the online edition of local newspaper The Gleaner, at 11pm on Sunday (0400 GMT Monday) the gunman boarded the plane using false identification documents, proceeded to rob passengers on the aircraft, and is currently holding them hostage.

Mexico City - A man took hostages on a plane late Sunday at the airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica,

Toronto, Apr. 18 : An Iranian-Canadian has been charged with trying to export technology that could have helped Tehran get the nuclear bomb it so desperately seeks.

Mahmoud Yadegari, a 35-year-old Torontonian, appeared bewildered Friday during a bail hearing.

As he listened to proceedings through a Farsi interpreter, he stood accused of buying devices destined to help centrifuges spin out highly enriched uranium, the material needed to make nuclear weapons.

Recent survey by Canadian Institute for Health Information revealed that amount spent on medication is touching skies. Data revealed that amount spent on drugs has reached $29.8 billion, or $897 per person in 2008. Survey report also showed that drug spending last year accounted for 17.4 per cent of total health spending as compared to 9.5 percent since 1985.

Recent survey by the Canadian Cancer Society revealed that number of cancer cases diagnosed is increasing however the survival rates are also climbing.

Data revealed that nearly 900 Prince Edward Islanders will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and 360 will die from cancer. Statistics reveal that 40 per cent of Canadian women and 45 per cent of men will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Researchers said that better screening and better drug are resulting in increasing survival rates of cancer.