Philippines to probe ferry disaster

Philippine investigators are set to open an inquiry into a ferry disaster that may have claimed 800 lives.

The probe comes as hopes of finding more survivors all but disappeared on Wednesday.

Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo, a spokesman for the coastguard, said a fact-finding investigation into the cause of the accident was to begin in Manila on Wednesday.

He said ferry operator Sulpicio Lines as well as maritime experts had been summoned to the inquiry which aims to determine whether the ship was seaworthy and why it was allowed to leave port during Typhoon Fengshen.

He added that details gathered in the inquiry could be used for a criminal prosecution.

Al Jazeera’s Marga Ortigas said the inquiry was expected to conclude its findings within 20 days.

Alberta has another multibillion-dollar surplus, but is the province saving enough?

EDMONTON — Alberta’s latest fiscal report shows the province is awash in energy revenues, its population is booming, just about everyone has a job and disposable incomes are the highest in Canada.

Record high oil prices pushed Alberta’s budget surplus to $4.6 billion in 2007-08 – despite record spending.

The government’s financial report for the year ended March 31 shows that resource revenues shot well past early predictions and reached $11 billion – the third-highest in Alberta history.

Government officials concede that with oil now trading at more than US$130 a barrel, another windfall of resource revenues is in the offing for the current fiscal year.

An analyst for CIBC recently predicted that Alberta’s surplus could more than double this year to $10 billion as oil prices continue to soar. But Finance Minister Iris Evans is very cautious about such predictions.

Privacy watchdog didn’t endorse ‘virtual strip search’

Canada’s privacy watchdog says it did not approve or endorse a controversial test project underway this week in a B.C. airport – despite a government news release that states the pilot project “meets all the conditions” of the Privacy Commissioner’s Office.

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, a federal Crown corporation responsible for air security services, began using full-body scanning technology in Kelowna airport Monday. Passengers aren’t scanned unless they volunteer to undergo the security check, which allows an official to “see” underneath clothing to search for weapons or explosives.

Privacy advocates have denounced the technology as a “virtual strip search,” saying the images leave nothing up to the imagination. However, supporters say the scan is less invasive than a pat-down and could speed up airport security lineups.

Kanye Feels the T-Pain at BET Awards

T-Pain has a knack for showing up in the right place at the right time.

“I’d like to thank T-Pain for gettin’ on the record with me,” said Kanye West, a two-time winner Tuesday at the 2008 BET Awards, upon accepting their award for Best Collaboration on the Graduation tune “Good Life.” “This man’s a genius. What he does, what he writes…we’re blessed to be in this man’s presence.”

The 22-year-old rapper-producer, a featured artist on no less than 18 singles (so far) in 2007 and 2008, entered the evening with a leading five nominations, although his shared win with West was it for now.

West was also named Best Male Hip-Hop Artist for the second time, his first win in that category coming in 2005, when Late Registration was still a new album.

Alicia Keys, the only female winner who was in the house tonight, was named Best Female R&B Artist, and took the opportunity to let the moment sink in.