Now the sea lovers can cruise their way to their favorite destinations as the recession makes the cruise industry to come up with all kinds of cruise deals to attract the consumer. This includes attractive offers like discounted airfare, free tickets for kids, onboard credits, lower deposits and deals on cancellation insurance.

Hong Kong  - The fur industry Monday attacked a planned trip to Canada by Hong Kong singer-actress Karen Mok to campaign against seal culls, saying she was being "manipulated" by animal rights groups.

Mok, 38, who has appeared in hit movies Shaolin Soccer and Around the World in 80 Days, is to fly to Canada Friday to shoot a mini-documentary about seal culls.

Her visit comes just weeks ahead of an annual hunt when more than 300,000 seals will be killed for their skins and is part of a global campaign to stop the trade in seal fur.

Amman - Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon on Saturday discussed with his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh the latest efforts to re-launch peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, according to a foreign ministry statement.

"Judeh underscored the importance of a serious international move to resolve the conflict peacefully on the basis of the two-state formula, a solution that is winning universal consensus," the statement said.

New York - Telephone equipment giant Nortel Networks Corp on Wednesday announced plans to cut 3,200 jobs worldwide as it struggles to emerge from bankruptcy protection.

The 114-year-old Canadian company filed for bankruptcy protection in January, and received an extension of that until May 1.

Nortel said the job cuts would take place over several months and are in addition to 1,800 workforce reductions already announced. The company also won't pay any bonuses under its incentive plan for last year.

Washington, Feb 24 : Former President George W. Bush will embark next month on a series of speeches that will take him to Canada, Europe and Asia, his advisers have said.

The former president already has plans for about 10 speeches over the next year, and will do more, Politico reported.

Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability and autoimmune diseases.