Transaction valued at approximately $44.6 billion in cash and stock;

Provides 62 percent premium to current trading price for Yahoo! shareholders;

Combined entity to create a more competitive company while providing superior value to shareholders and better choice and innovation for customers and partners

REDMOND, Wash. - Microsoft Corp. today announced that it has made a proposal to the Yahoo! Inc. Board of Directors to acquire all the outstanding shares of Yahoo! common stock for per share consideration of $31 representing a total equity value of approximately $44.6 billion.

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Resource Management

University of Guelph, Kinross Establish Canada-Brazil Network to Promote Natural Resource Management

Guelph - The University of Guelph and Kinross Gold Corporation announced the creation of a new education and research network between Canada and Brazil to develop environmental initiatives focused on the use and remediation of land and water.

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Carbon Neutrality

Majority of Canadians Skeptical of Corporate Claims of Carbon Neutrality

"We're seeing more companies jumping on the carbon neutral marketing bandwagon but barely changing their practices."

VANCOUVER - Only one per cent of Canadians say they strongly trust companies' claims that their products or practices are carbon neutral, while 57 per cent of Canadians say they do not trust companies' claims of carbon neutrality according to a new Pollara poll released next week as part of Market Initiative's new report on market trends and environmental integrity in the paper and publishing industries.

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Education and Fun

Breakthroughs In Distance Theater Beam International Actors, Audiences Together
By Christine Dellert

When Alice falls down the rabbit hole in the University of Central Florida’s latest high-tech theater production, she’ll end up hundreds of miles away -- in Illinois or Waterloo, Canada.

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Finance-Banking-Religion

UM Financial supports CMHC study on Islamic Mortgages

Toronto - UM Financial has supported Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) $65,000 study on Islamic Mortgages and other faith mortgages. Islamically acceptable financing/mortgage is a product/commodity does not come at the expense of others products nor does it compel any Canadian to purchase.

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Recognize Business

Waterloo Region Children’s Safety Village to acknowledge support of local businesses

Waterloo Region – The Waterloo Region Children’s Safety Village will celebrate the Grand Opening of its recently renovated Sparky’s Apartment on Thursday, February 07, 2008 from 10:15 – 11:00 a.m. at the Waterloo Region Children’s Safety Village, Fire Education Classroom, located at 200 Maple Grove Rd, Cambridge.

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Price Index

Industrial product and raw materials - December 2007

Statscan - Prices for manufactured products increased for a second consecutive month in December, led by motor vehicles and refined petroleum products. On the other hand, the rise in prices for raw materials was dampened by the stabilization of crude oil prices and a decrease in non-ferrous metal prices.

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2008 Sled Dog Race

2008 Yukon Quest Celebrates 25th Running With New Website

WHITEHORSE, YUKON- - The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race is pleased to announce the launch of its new website. The dynamic new site will replace the previous one and retain the same address, www.yukonquest.com.

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Growth Sector

Public Sector Driving Vibrant Canadian Consulting Market

New research projects 5.5% annual growth rate in Canadian consulting market through 2010

Toronto – The market for consulting services across Canada represents a vibrant opportunity for consultancies located both inside and outside its borders according to industry analysts Kennedy Information in a new study commissioned by CMC-Canada.

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Financial Posting

DALSA Reports Fourth Quarter 2007 Financial Results

WATERLOO - DALSA Corporation, an international leader in high performance digital imaging and semiconductors, today reported revenues of $47.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, and net income of $2.3 million or $0.12 per share, diluted.

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Research Appointments

Two New Members Appointed to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

OTTAWA - The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), announced yesterday the appointment of Ms. J. Diane Hébert and Dr. Suzana Kovacic to the Council.

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Global Philanthropy

MEDA And Helpful Partners Use Commercial Supply Chain Acceleration - Using Vouchers to Reach Scale on Distribution of Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITNs)

Waterloo - Over 2 million ITNs distributed using vouchers - and still counting! Malaria continues to be one of the most dreaded diseases in Tanzania but sleeping under a net treated with insecticide greatly reduces the risk of contracting the disease. In some places, organizations distribute mosquito nets free of charge every few years.

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Incentive to Sleep

Earn triple rewards at Choice Hotels this spring

TORONTO - Choice Hotels is kick-starting the new year with an easy-to-earn rewards offer. Guests have the opportunity - from February 1 to April 17, 2008 - to earn up to triple points for every dollar spent with the hotel group's free rewards program, Choice Privileges.

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Change Up

Enerkem announces its executive team

MONTREAL - Enerkem Inc. announced today its executive management team composed of new and existing members.

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Fight Against Litter

The Aud Challenges Rangers Fans and launch's anti-litter campaign this Friday

KITCHENER - The Aud is challenging Kitchener Rangers hockey fans to score a win in the fight against litter.

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Services

Faster Integration Of Services Markets Could Lead To Huge Benefits, Says World Bank

GENEVA — Liberalization of services trade could produce large benefits for developed and developing countries alike, says the Handbook of International Trade in Services[1], produced by the World Bank.

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Ottawa Housing

Ottawa urged to encourage reinvestment in urban cores and rental housing

OTTAWA - Three national associations whose members are central to the investment, management, purchase and sale of real property are calling on the federal government to change capital gains tax policy in the 2008 federal budget to encourage reinvestment.

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Education - UW

$9 million for campus energy, safety

Waterloo - The Ontario government yesterday announced grants of $200 million to the province’s colleges and universities — including $9.1 million for Waterloo — to be spent on energy efficiency, “campus safety and security”, and “renewal of existing academic infrastructure”.

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Brand Enhancement

Strong 2007 Propels Best Western International Toward Brand Enhancement in 2008

PHOENIX - The Best Western brand delivered a record-setting $1.1 billion in reservations revenue to its hotels in 2007, while successfully streamlining its property portfolio. The World's Largest Hotel Chain ended the fiscal year with 4,021 hotels in 80 countries -- down from nearly 4,164 in 2006 -- including 2,287 in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, and 1,734 internationally.

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Labour Trends and Plans

WWTAB's 2008 Trends Opportunities and Priorities (TOP) report

Waterloo-Wellington - WWTAB's released it's latest TOP report that includes an update on significant labour market changes over the past 2007 year. It also identifies action plans to addresss local workforce development issues over 2008 and on.

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Education Job Fair 2008

Popular University/College Job Fair Marks 15th Year

It*s a great idea that has become even better with time.

Waterloo-Wellington - Students and alumni of Conestoga College and the three local universities - Guelph, Wilfrid Laurier and Waterloo - will have an exclusive opportunity to present themselves as outstanding candidates for employment to representatives of firms who now have or soon will have job openings, at the Job Fair on Wednesday,

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New Chamber President

Letter from Guelph Chamber of Commerce New President

Guelph - Thank-you for the welcome and encouragement as I assume a new role as President and CAO of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce. To highlight initial goals for the next six months;
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Morning Column

How to Help Any Employee Go From Chump to Champ!

Four Steps to Coaching A Personal Quantum Leap

By David Benzel

Alex knew Chase had tremendous potential. As his manager, Alex was frustrated watching someone like Chase wallow in mediocrity when he should be excelling in the workplace. It wasn't laziness; Chase always did what was required. It wasn't a poor attitude either.

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Merger

PropertyGuys.com Franchisees Prove Good Things Come in Threes

Partnership Trio Merge to Encompass Waterloo-Wellington

Kitchener - Threes are traditionally rich in symbolism, denoting power, strength, and unity. But when three southern Ontario PropertyGuys.com franchise owners – Dave Waters in Guelph, Ryan Good in Waterloo, and Mike Shanks in Cambridge – joined forces to purchase a franchise for nearby Kitchener in March of 2007, they weren’t thinking symbolism, but simply responding to another trinity: instinctive business sense, unique opportunity, and confidence in each other and the product they offer.

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Biofuel Government Investment

U.S. DOE invests $114 million in four small-scale biorefineries for next generation biofuels

USA - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces that it will invest up to $114 million, over four years, (Fiscal Years 2007-2010) for four small-scale biorefinery projects to be located in Commerce City, Colorado; St. Joseph, Missouri; Boardman, Oregon; and Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.

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Biofuels - Revolution

Nobel Laureate Steven Chu sees a biofuels revolution

Late last year, Professor Steven Chu held a talk at the World Affairs Council of Northern California in which he explains his work on advanced generations of biofuels and how science and technology could make the green fuels part of an entirely new, sustainable energy paradigm.

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Education UW

Policy sets role of department chair

Waterloo - UW’s senate gave approval last week to a new version of UW Policy 40, the document that sets out what department chairs are supposed to do, how they’re appointed, and how they can be removed if necessary. The policy will go to the university’s board of governors for final approval on February 5.

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Manulife supports Physical Heritage

Manulife Financial renews support for Les Amis de la montagne

MONTREAL - Manulife Financial is proud to renew its affiliation for a second consecutive year with Les Amis de la montagne and the 11th annual Tuques Bleues Celebration.

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Morning Column

How to Overcome the 10 Biggest Mistakes in Decision Making
By LeAnn Thieman

Sam, a corporate lawyer with a stressful job, recently admitted, "I really wanted to be a lawyer growing up, but I didn't realize how much time I would be spending away from my family and friends." Because he spent so many years in school and so much time honing his legal skills at a top-notch firm, Sam felt "stuck" with his job.

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Morning Column

How to get older and younger people to work better together
By Garrison Wynn

Face it: The generation gap these days is more like a canyon. People under 30 and people over 40 do not see eye to eye! The over-40 crowd wonders why the 25-year-old wants to be promoted to manager during his first week of employment (and leave at 4:55 p.m. daily).

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Revenue Assurance

Digicel Selects ECtel's Revenue Assurance Solution across all its 24 Different Operations in the Caribbean and Central America

During a proof of concept and evaluation process, ECtel’s revenue assurance solution identified substantial revenue losses

ROSH HA'AYIN, Israel - ECtel Ltd., a leading provider of Integrated Revenue Management™ (IRM™) solutions, announced that the mobile Caribbean operator, Digicel, has placed an order for ECtel's revenue assurance solution.

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Wind Energy

Wind Energy Sets Global Growth Record in 2007 - Canada Expects a Record Year for New Installations in 2008

OTTAWA - As another global record was set in 2007 with the installation of 20,000 MW of new, emission-free wind power, Canada's total installed capacity grew to 1,846 MW with the addition of 386 MW of new wind energy projects, its 2nd best year ever.

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Yeah Baby

MacBook Air Now Shipping

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2008 Award Season - Request for Nominations

Italian Chamber Begins Search for Outstanding Business Leaders Nomination Drive for 6th Annual Business Excellence Awards begins

Any businessperson residing in Ontario is eligible to nominate or be nominated for an award.

TORONTO – The Italian Chamber of Commerce of Toronto (ICCT) has begun the search for Ontario’s most successful and innovative business leaders. Awards will be given out for 5 categories this year, including the Scotiabank ICCT Environmental Leadership Award, which will be bestowed on a deserving recipient for the first time at this year awards gala, to be held at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex on May 21, 2008.

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Central Ontario Housing Sales

Second best-year ever for new home sales Condo sales spike 34 per cent

TORONTO - With another 1,785 new homes and condos sold in December, 2007, total new home sales last year reached 44,784 units, second only to 2002, when an astounding 53,669 units were sold.

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Canadas Financials March 31 2007

Federal government finance: Assets and liabilities

Statscan - As of March 31, 2007, the federal government's net financial debt (defined as the excess of liabilities over financial assets) decreased to $508.1 billion, a 1.2% or $6.0 billion decline from March 31, 2006.

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Biofuel to Grid

New biofuel used for the first time
By James Cooper

Ireland - Companies in Ireland have used a fast growing, perennial woody-type grass as a biofuel for energy generation for the first time.

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Education Infrastructure

Ontario Government Recognizes Infrastructure Shortfall at Ontario's Colleges and Universities

TORONTO - Yesterday morning the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Hon. John Milloy, and Minister of Health and Long-term Care, Hon. George Smitherman, announced that the Ontario government is investing an additional $200 million in campus renewal projects across the all colleges and universities.

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Education Funding

U of G Receives Provincial Funds for Building Renewal

Guelph - The University of Guelph is receiving more than $8.1 million from the province to improve and upgrade campus buildings and facilities.

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Global Recognition

RBC named one of world's top 100 sustainable companies

TORONTO - RBC has been named one of the world's top 100 sustainable companies, according to the fourth annual "Global 100" ranking unveiled at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week. This is the fourth consecutive year that RBC has been named to the Global 100 list.

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Morning Column

Mick Jagger killed the Mass Market!
by Voss Graham

Yes, it's true. Mick Jagger killed the mass market using the power of subconscious persuasion. In 1965, he wrote a song that became a huge hit with the baby boom generation and it changed our views of mass marketing.

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University Exclusivity

Concordia University enters exclusive partnership agreement with Wellington West

First Quebec University to give alumni access to professional investment advice

TORONTO - Wellington West Holdings Inc., a privately held, employee-owned financial services firm, announced the signing of an exclusive partnership agreement with Concordia University in Montreal. The five-year agreement will provide alumni with access to the exclusive Clearsight Investment Program from Wellington West.

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2008 Award Season - Request for Nominations

Looking for ‘distinguished’ teachers

Waterloo - It’s the season to pay tribute to University of Waterloo teachers who are way out of the ordinary, as the annual deadline approaches for nominations for the Distinguished Teacher Award and then the Exceptional Teaching by a Student Award. DTA nominations are always due on the first Friday in February, and ETSA nominations a week later.

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Education - Architecture

Network 2008 Architecture-Construction Event

Projects and displays bring students and industry representatives together

Kitchener - Students from Conestoga*s three-year Architecture - Construction Engineering Technology program will have the opportunity to present their final-year project to an audience of industry representatives and then have the chance to view industry-related displays staffed by practitioners at Network 2008.

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Vision and Ability to Execute

MKS Positioned in Leaders Quadrant in the Software Change and Configuration Management for Distributed Platforms Magic Quadrant

Waterloo - MKS Inc. announced that it has been positioned in the "Leaders" quadrant in Gartner's first ever "Magic Quadrant for Software Change and Configuration Management (SCCM) for Distributed Platforms” report.* The Gartner report evaluates vendors based on completeness of vision and ability to execute.

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Leap Frogging old Technology

MTN and RIM Launch the BlackBerry Curve 8300 Smartphone in Uganda

Kampala, Uganda and Waterloo, ON - MTN, the leading telecommunications company in Uganda and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) a global leader in wireless technology today announced the launch of the stylish and easy to use BlackBerry® Curve™ 8300 smartphone in Uganda.

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Pending Trade War

EU climate package provokes threats of trade war

Europe - The EU finds itself on a collision course with its major trading partners after the Commission announced it was considering forcing importers to pay pollution charges on carbon-heavy imports.

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Biofuels - The Future

The future of biofuels

Washington, DC - The DC-based research and consulting firm Social Technologies recently released a series of 12 briefs that shed light on the top areas for technology innovation through 2025. “Biofuels,” by futurist Mark Justman, is the sixth trend in the series.

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Health Care Home Care

Ontario government halts bidding process for home care contracts across the province

Minister acts out of concern for loss of continuity of patient care

TORONTO - The Ontario government is halting the competitive bidding process for home care contracts across the province in order to ensure that Ontarians receiving home services continue to receive the highest quality of care.

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Retirement

Would you retire today if you could? Most Canadians say no, according to poll

TORONTO - Even with enough money to retire today, most Canadians (82 per cent) would continue to work, according to the latest RBC RRSP poll. Just over half (53 per cent) would work part-time or occasionally.

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Mobile Standards

Canadian Standards Association to offer industry's first PDA-friendly standards to go

TORONTO - Canadian Standards Association (CSA), a leading developer of standards and codes, today showcased its new Mobile Device Format (MDF) for standards to go at the Standard

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Cancer Research

Research May Lead to Improved Treatments for Cancer

Guelph - Researchers at the University of Guelph have moved a step closer to explaining why cancer drug therapies work differently in patients with the same type of tumour.

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North American Trade

Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services to Host Open House Celebrating Launch of Mexico City Office

Mexico City, Mexico - Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services, a leading provider of customs and international trade consulting services to the public and private sectors, will host an open house Feb. 7 to celebrate the opening of its new office in Mexico City.

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Real Estate Sell Off

The Co-operators to sell its office building portfolio

GUELPH - The Co-operators announced that BMO Capital Markets Real Estate Group will begin marketing its office building portfolio.

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State of The Union - Advice for Bush

State of the Union: Last Chance for Bush

Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) Offers Free Market Agenda for Congress; Experts Available for Comment

Washington, D.C. —As President Bush prepares to deliver his last State of the Union address before Congress, both the White House and leaders on Capitol Hill are facing the prospects of having to work more closely in order to pass any meaningful legislation before the election.

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Tax Tip

Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit

Did you know...

Ottawa - That businesses with an eligible apprentice may be able to claim the apprenticeship job creation tax credit? This is a non-refundable tax credit equal to 10% of the eligible salaries and wages payable to eligible apprentices for employment after May 1, 2006. The maximum credit is $2,000 per year for each eligible apprentice.

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Retail - Security

Eighty-seven per cent of Canada's small and medium-sized retailers victimized by crime in past year

Twelve security tips could reduce retail loss due to theft, according to Retail Council of Canada and RBC

TORONTO - Post-holiday sales are helping store owners to clear out remaining 2007 inventory before spring, but unfortunately not all of the empty shelves are due to paying customers.

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Philanthropy

TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators Ltd. Raises $20,000 for Charity

Vancouver, B.C. - TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators Ltd. raised over $20,000 for charity this past holiday season, the result of the company’s decision to donate to charity on behalf of its travel agents and insurance broker customers.

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Fusion Media Venture Forum

Digital Media Pioneer Adeo Ressi to Give Keynote Address at New Media BC's 2nd Annual Fusion Digital Media Venture Forum February 20th & 21st, 2008

Technology Investors and Western Canada's Top Digital Media Entrepreneurs to Come Together

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - New Media BC announced that digital media pioneer Adeo Ressi will give the keynote address at the upcoming second annual Fusion Digital Media Venture Forum, an investment and financing event dedicated to digital media ventures, showcasing the hottest Canadian digital media firms and rising stars.

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Hollowing Out of Corporate Canada

Corporate Canada Losing Ground in the Global M&A Market

Local companies are easy victims of foreign takeovers and too shackled to compete in the Global M&A game, according to new research by SECOR Consulting

TORONTO - Concerns about the sale of large Canadian companies are not unfounded, according to research presented today ( January 28, 2008) by SECOR Consulting, and The Conference Board of Canada.

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Union Leaves Occupied Territory

CAW ends Ledco occupation, continues to press for severance

KITCHENER - The CAW has ended the occupation of Kitchener tool-and-die company Ledco Limited after a second court injunction Sunday afternoon.

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Overseas Outsourcing Survey

Overseas IT Outsourcing Rates Low Among CIOs Surveyed

Eight of 10 Polled Executives Don't Expect to Increase Levels by 2009

TORONTO - Despite the attention focused on the outsourcing of technology jobs overseas, a recent survey by Robert Half Technology shows that the majority of Canadian companies are not engaged in the practice. Eighty-five per cent of chief information officers (CIOs) surveyed said their company does not outsource information technology (IT) jobs outside of Canada.

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Nations Climate Plan

JAPAN UNVEILS US$ 10 BILLION CLIMATE FUND

Davos, Switzerland – Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda unveiled a five-year, US$ 10 billion fund to support efforts in developing countries to combat global warming - a move that ensures top priority be given to climate change at this year’s G8 Summit.

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SlimCity - Achieve Full Potential

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM LAUNCHES SLIMCITY INITIATIVE

Davos, Switzerland – Mayors, regional governors and the private sector have come together in Davos to launch the World Economic Forum’s SlimCity Initiative. SlimCity is an exchange between cities and the private sector to support action on resource efficiency in cities – actions in areas that include energy, water, waste, mobility, planning, health and climate change.

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Emergency Planning Workshop

City of Guelph, The Co-operators and Downtown Guelph Business Association invite local business owners to free emergency planning presentation

Workshop to aid small-business owners plan and prepare for emergencies

Guelph - Guelph small-business owners are invited to attend an emergency planning workshop presented by the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR). This free event, sponsored by The Co-operators and hosted by the City of Guelph and the Downtown Guelph Business Association, encourages local businesses to plan and prepare for emergency situations.

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Employee Earning November 2007

Average weekly earnings of payroll employees increased $7.65 (+1.0%) from October to $784.83.

This is compared with a year earlier, average weekly earnings were up 4.0%.

Statscan - In Canada's largest industrial sectors in November, earnings were up 6.2% in health and social assistance, 4.5% in manufacturing, 3.0% in retail trade, and 2.8% in educational services compared with a year earlier.

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2008 Tax Guide

Canada Revenue Agency: Keep Your Records to Support Your Tax Return

OTTAWA - Canadians who plan to file their tax returns electronically, or who do not submit information slips and receipts with their paper-filed return, should keep their tax records on hand in case they are contacted by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

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Private Equity

THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTIGATED IN MOST COMPREHENSIVE REPORT

World Economic Forum publishes Volume 1 of Working Papers on “The Global Economic Impact of Private Equity”

Davos, Switzerland – The World Economic Forum released the Globalization of Alternative Investments Working Papers Volume 1: The Global Economic Impact of Private Equity Report 2008 – one of the most comprehensive investigations into private equity. The report focuses on the demography of global private equity deals, the willingness of private equity-backed firms to make long-term investments globally, and the impact of private equity investments on the employment levels of firms in the US and corporate governance in the UK.

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Barcoding Marine Life

World's Marine Museum Collections to Be 'Barcoded'

Guelph - A University of Guelph project that aims to identify and catalogue the estimated 230,000 species of things living in and around the world's oceans has received a $1-million grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

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Biofuel - Orange Energy

Citrus peel in fuel tank? Ethanol's juicy new twist
By Kumari Kelly

Central Florida's citrus groves could play a key role in filling up your car's fuel tank in a futuristic Florida. A $5.9 million plant planned in Auburndale will produce ethanol from citrus peels with the help of a $500,000 grant as part of the state's "Farm to Fuel" initiative, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced Tuesday.

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Environment - Cleaning it up

New consumer website encourages Canadians to 'concentrate on the future'

Concentrateonthefuture.ca provides information on more sustainable laundry choices

TORONTO - Research has revealed that the environment is a priority for the majority of Canadians. But for busy consumers, it's sometimes difficult to find simple ways to make a difference.