BADEK NEWS 49

One. Russia said Wednesday it had pierced through Antarctica’s frozen crust to a vast, subglacial lake that has lain untouched for at least 14 million years hiding what scientists believe may be unknown organisms and clues to life on other planets.

Sealed deep under the ice sheet, Lake Vostok is one of the world’s last unexplored frontiers. Scientists suspect its depths may reveal new life forms and a glimpse of the planet before the ice age.

Two. The signs Canada’s population was shifting west were evident long before Statistics canada released its 2011 census, and most of them read: Help Wanted.

Almost one-third of Canada’s 33,5 million citizens now live west of Ontario as a result of the shift in population that has largely been driven by job opportunities in the natural resource sector, particularly the oil and gas industry. With 10 million people, Western Canada has a bigger population than Quebec, the Maritimes, and Newfoundland and Labrador combined.

Three. There was a lot of public policy thinking taking place Wednesday at the University of Calgary’s downtown campus. There was conducted the research to support the development of policy demanded by the growing role of information and communications technology (ICT) in the Canadian economy. One avenue to foster innovation -and boost productivity-is through the use of ICT.

Four.The reported increase in passenger traffic at the Calgary International Airport, which saw more than 12,8 million people travelling through YYC last year, is great news for the economy of this city. But just as impressive is the huge effect that its cargo and logistics development is having with the world’s freight handling companies.

The stunning growth of that business, which is the envy of other Canadian airports, is best illustrated by the landings at least twice each week of a new Cargolux Boeing 747-8 aircraft to ferry feright non-stop to the company’s world hub in Luxembourg.

Five. Earnings fell by close to a third at Indigo Books & Music Inc. as the retailer marked down print versions of its books and sold more e-readers in the third quarter, the chain reported Wednesday. The Toronto-based retailer is also on the hunt for a new president after Ted Marlow returned to Urban Outfitters Inc. to become its chief executive.

Source of Info: “Calgary Herald”, Thursday, February 9, 2012.