AFP
Canada - AFP

Canadian Foreign Minister David Emerson (L) addresses the media representatives with his Afghan counterpart Rangeen Dadfar Spanta (R) during a press conference at the Foreign Ministry in Kabul on July 26, 2008. Canada is "more comfortable" in volatile southern Afghanistan after pledges from its NATO allies to send more troops into the fight against Taliban extremists, its foreign minister said.(AFP/File/Shah Marai)

Canada 'more comfortable' after NATO troop pledges

Sat Jul 26, 12:26 PM ET

KABUL (AFP) - Canada is "more comfortable" in volatile southern Afghanistan after pledges from its NATO allies to send more troops into the fight against Taliban extremists, its foreign minister said Saturday.

  • Andy Murray of Great Britain returns a shot to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the Toronto Masters at the Rexall Centre at York University in Toronto, July 25. Murray cut short Djokovic's title defense Friday, the eighth-seeded Scot stunning the third-seeded Serbian 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) to reach the semi-finals.(AFP/Getty Images/Kevin C. Cox)
    Nadal books Toronto Masters semi clash with Murray Sat Jul 26, 4:35 AM ET

    TORONTO (AFP) - Rafael Nadal recovered after a marathon tiebreak setback to book a semi-final meeting with Andy Murray in a high-tension triumph over France's Richard Gasquet in the Toronto Masters Friday.

  • Chez Reavie, seen here in action on July 25, 2008, stretched his lead at the Canadian Open to three strokes after two rounds and the 26-year-old American had a long night's sleep as well over his nearest rival.(AFP/Getty Images/Robert Laberge)
    Reavie keeps lead at storm-marred Canadian Open 7 minutes ago

    OAKVILLE, Canada (AFP) - Chez Reavie stretched his lead at the Canadian Open to three strokes after two rounds and the 26-year-old American had a long night's sleep as well over his nearest rival.

  • An Air Canada jet. Canada's labor minister has rejected Air Canada's request to lay off 2,000 workers without first negotiating the conditions of the layoffs with the employees.(AFP/File/Phil Carpenter)
    Air Canada denied exception to labor code in layoffs Fri Jul 25, 8:53 PM ET

    OTTAW (AFP) - Canada's labor minister has rejected Air Canada's request to lay off 2,000 workers without first negotiating the conditions of the layoffs with the employees.

  • Carmelo Anthony of the USA basketball team drives against Levon Kendall of the Canadian team during the 2008 State Farm Basketball Challenge exhibition game at the Thomas & Mack Center July 25 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Michael Redd scored 20 points apiece Friday as the USA dominated Canada 120-65 in a Beijing Olympic basketball tune-up.(AFP/Getty Images/Ethan Miller)
    USA dominate Canada in Olympic basketball warm-up Sat Jul 26, 1:52 AM ET

    LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Michael Redd scored 20 points apiece Friday as the USA dominated Canada 120-65 in a Beijing Olympic basketball tune-up.

  • Australian Ryan Briscoe, drives the #6 Team Penske Dallara Honda, during practice for the IRL IndyCar Series Rexall Edmonton Indy at the Edmonton City Centre Airport in Edmonton. Briscoe captured pole position Friday for the Edmonton IndyCar Series race, edging Penske teammate Helio Castroneves of Brazil.(AFP/Getty Images/Gavin Lawrence)
    Australia's Briscoe captures Edmonton pole Sat Jul 26, 11:56 AM ET

    EDMONTON, Canada (AFP) - Australia's Ryan Briscoe captured pole position Friday for the Edmonton IndyCar Series race, edging Penske teammate Helio Castroneves of Brazil.

  • David Beckham of L.A. Galaxy looks for an opening during the 2008 Pepsi MLS All Star Game between the MLS All Stars and West Ham at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada. Beckham was a winner in his first Major League Soccer All-Star Game, helping the MLS All-Stars defeat England's West Ham 3-2.(AFP/Getty Images/Jonathan Daniel)
    MLS All-Stars beat West Ham 3-2 Fri Jul 25, 1:09 AM ET

    TORONTO (AFP) - David Beckham was a winner in his first Major League Soccer All-Star Game here, the English midfielder helping the MLS All-Stars defeat England's West Ham 3-2.

  • A harp seal pup lies on an ice floe in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in Charlottetown, Canada in March 2008. Canada's fisheries minister on Wednesday warned the European Union that its proposed ban on seal products should not target his country's "humanely conducted hunt."(AFP/Getty Images/File/Joe Raedle)
    Canada warns EU against seal ban Wed Jul 23, 3:45 PM ET

    OTTAWA (AFP) - Canada's fisheries minister on Wednesday warned the European Union that its proposed ban on seal products should not target his country's "humanely conducted hunt."

  • A view of the Canadian WWI memorial in Vimy, France. A French couple were given a four-month suspended sentence and made to pay one euro in damages to the Canadian state for making a porn video at a World War I memorial, officials said Wednesday.(AFP/File/Philippe Huguen)
    French couple rapped for sex video at Canada WWI memorial Wed Jul 23, 12:03 PM ET

    LILLE, France (AFP) - A French couple were given a four-month suspended sentence and made to pay one euro in damages to the Canadian state for making a porn video at a World War I memorial, officials said Wednesday.

  • This picture released in 2004 by newspaper "l'intelligent" shows Canadian-French journalist Guy-Andre Kieffer in Abidjan. A French judge investigating the disappearance of a Kieffer in Ivory Coast went this week to President Nicolas Sarkozy's offices to obtain documents held there on the case, officials said Wednesday.(AFP/L'INTELLIGENT)
    Judge takes Ivory Coast journalist probe to Sarkozy's office Wed Jul 23, 2:08 PM ET

    PARIS (AFP) - A French judge investigating the disappearance of a Canadian journalist in Ivory Coast went this week to President Nicolas Sarkozy's offices to obtain documents held there on the case, officials said Wednesday.

  • Gilles Simon of France returns a backhand to Marin Cilic of Croatia during the Rogers Cup in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Simon won 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.(AFP/Getty Images/Kevin C. Cox)
    Exhausted giantkiller Simon to face Kiefer in ATP semis Fri Jul 25, 5:08 PM ET

    TORONTO (AFP) - French giantkiller Gilles Simon will move deep into the world top 20 next week after reaching the Toronto Masters semi-finals with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Croatian Marin Cilic on Friday.

  • Mike Weir of Canada, seen here after making a putt on the ninth hole at the Glen Abbey Golf Club, and who is trying to become the first home-nation golfer since Pat Fletcher in 1954 to win the Canadian Open, remained in a share of the lead after Friday's finish of the opening round.(AFP/Getty Images/Robert Laberge)
    Weir among logjam of leaders at rain-hit Canadian Open Fri Jul 25, 12:56 PM ET

    OAKVILLE, Canada (AFP) - Mike Weir, trying to become the first home-nation golfer since Pat Fletcher in 1954 to win the Canadian Open, remained in a share of the lead after Friday's finish of the opening round.

  • Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot by Robin Soderling of Sweden during the Rogers Cup in Toronto, Canada. Djokovic won 6-4, 6-4.(AFP/Getty Images/Kevin C. Cox)
    Federer foes circling as Nadal, Djokovic power through Thu Jul 24, 10:34 PM ET

    TORONTO (AFP) - Number two Rafael Nadal and third-ranked Novak Djokovic were smelling blood, less than 24 hours after Roger Federer's untimely second-round ouster at the ATP Toronto Masters Series event.

  • Two-time defending champion Jim Furyk, seen here in action on July 15, who finished in a tie for fifth at the British Open last week, carded a three-under 68 and was nine adrift.(AFP/File/Adrian Dennis)
    Furyk seeks third consecutive Canadian Open crown Thu Jul 24, 12:09 PM ET

    OAKVILLE, Canada (AFP) - Jim Furyk opens his quest for a third consecutive US PGA Tour Canadian Open title on a third different course here on Thursday after grabbing a share of fifth at last week's British Open.

  • Investors launched a multibillion dollar class action lawsuit Wednesday against the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, alleging it downplayed its exposure to the US subprime mortgage meltdown.(CIBC)
    Investors sue CIBC for downplaying exposure to US subprime mortgages Wed Jul 23, 2:03 PM ET

    OTTAWA (AFP) - Investors launched a multibillion dollar class action lawsuit Wednesday against the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, alleging it downplayed its exposure to the US subprime mortgage meltdown.

  • Reigning Olympic and world champion kayaker Adam van Koeverden, seen here in action in June 2008, will carry the Canadian flag at the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing, it was announced Wednesday.(AFP/File)
    Champion kayaker named Canada's flag bearer at Olympics Wed Jul 23, 1:29 PM ET

    OTTAWA (AFP) - Reigning Olympic and world champion kayaker Adam van Koeverden will carry the Canadian flag at the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing, it was announced Wednesday.

  • Federer foes circling as top ranking spot under pressure Thu Jul 24, 6:04 PM ET

    TORONTO (AFP) - Number two Rafael Nadal and third-ranked Novak Djokovic were smelling blood Thursday, less than 24 hours after Roger Federer's untimely second-round ouster at the ATP Toronto Masters Series event.

  • Smoke bellows from the Syncrude facility in the northern Alberta oil sand fields. Consumer prices in Canada have soared 3.1 percent in June, compared with a year earlier, on surging gasoline prices, Statistics Canada has said.(AFP/File/David Boily)
    High fuel costs driving inflation in Canada Wed Jul 23, 10:54 AM ET

    OTTAWA (AFP) - Consumer prices in Canada soared 3.1 percent in June, compared with a year earlier, on surging gasoline prices, Statistics Canada said Wednesday.

  • Midfielder David Beckham is seen during a MLS All Star training session before the MLS All Star Game at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada. British football icon David Beckham provided an unscheduled rainy Wednesday's entertainment for Britain's Jamie Murray as the Scottish tennis player watched a Major League Soccer All-Star Game workout.(AFP/Getty Images/Claus Andersen)
    Murray watches Beckham bend it in rainy Toronto Wed Jul 23, 7:17 PM ET

    TORONTO (AFP) - British football icon David Beckham provided an unscheduled rainy Wednesday's entertainment for Britain's Jamie Murray as the Scottish tennis player watched a Major League Soccer All-Star Game workout.

  • This recent handout photo released in Belgrade shows top war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic, one of the world's most wanted men. Karadzic has been arrested on genocide charges while practising medicine under a fake name in Belgrade, officials said.(AFP/HO)
    Canada congratulates Serbia on Karadzic arrest Tue Jul 22, 7:14 PM ET

    OTTAWA (AFP) - Canada welcomed on Tuesday the arrest of war crimes suspect and former wartime Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, and congratulated the Serbian government for complying with its "international responsibilities."

  • Reavie keeps lead as new delay hits storm-marred Canadian Open 35 minutes ago

    OAKVILLE, Canada (AFP) - Chez Reavie stretched his lead at the Canadian Open to three strokes after two rounds and the 26-year-old American had a long night's sleep as well over his nearest rival.

  • Reavie sleeps in and stretches his lead at Canadian Open Sat Jul 26, 12:29 PM ET

    OAKVILLE, Canada (AFP) - Chez Reavie stretched his lead at the Canadian Open to three strokes after two rounds and the 26-year-old American had a long night's sleep as well over his nearest rival.

  • Nadal earns semi-final clash with Murray at Canadian Open Sat Jul 26, 12:15 AM ET

    TORONTO (AFP) - Rafael Nadal recovered after a marathon tiebreak setback to book a semi-final face-off against Andy Murray with a high-tension triumph over France's Richard Gasquet on Friday.

  • Reavie takes lead at rain-hit Canadian golf Open Sat Jul 26, 12:09 AM ET

    OAKVILLE, Ontario (AFP) - Chez Reavie charged into the clubhouse lead Friday at the weather-disrupted Canadian Open.

  • USA dominate Canada in Olympic warm-up Sat Jul 26, 12:08 AM ET

    LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Michael Redd scored 20 points apiece Friday as the USA dominated Canada 120-65 in a Beijing Olympic basketball tune-up.

  • Murray manages Djokovic to end Serbian's tennis title defense Fri Jul 25, 10:06 PM ET

    TORONTO (AFP) - Andy Murray cut short the title defense of Novak Djokovic Friday, the eighth-seeded Scot stunning the third-seeded Serbian 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) to reach the semi-finals of the Toronto Masters.

  • Exhausted giantkiller Simon in Toronto Masters semi-finals Fri Jul 25, 2:40 PM ET

    TORONTO (AFP) - French giantkiller Gilles Simon will move deep into the world top 20 next week after reaching the Toronto Masters semi-finals with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Croatian Marin Cilic on Friday.

  • Mike Weir of Canada makes a putt on the ninth hole during the first round of the Canadian Open at the Glen Abbey Golf Club July 24 in Oakville, Ontario. Weir shot a bogey-free six-under par 65 to share the lead when darkness halted the first round of the rain-interrupted Open(AFP/Getty Images/Robert Laberge)
    Canada's Weir grabs share of lead at rain-snarled Canadian Open Fri Jul 25, 1:56 AM ET

    OAKVILLE, Canada (AFP) - Canadian Mike Weir shot a bogey-free six-under par 65 here to share the lead when darkness halted the first round of the rain-interrupted five million-dollar US PGA Canadian Open.

  • Djokovic keeps up pressure as Roddick crashes out Thu Jul 24, 4:10 PM ET

    TORONTO, Canada (AFP) - Defending champion Novak Djokovic progressed into the last eight of the Toronto Masters on Thursday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Sweden's Robin Soderling.