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Top News Advisory as of 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 20, 2011(Canadian Press DataFile Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Wednesday, July 20, 2011 9 a.m. TOP NEWS ADVISORY Here are the latest Top News stories from The Canadian Press. All times are Eastern unless otherwise stated. Coverage plans are included when available. Entries are subject to change as news develops. Contact the National Desk at 416-507-2150. ___ TOP NEWS AT THIS HOUR Cameron defends arrested aide in U.K. phone hacking scandal Britain-Phone-Hacking LONDON _ British Prime Minister David Cameron defended his former communications chief Andy Coulson before an emergency session of Parliament today, saying he believes people are innocent until proven guilty. Coulson is one of 10 people arrested in the phone hacking and police bribery scandal that has ensnared some of Britain's top police, politicians and journalists. The prime minister spoke a day after media mogul Rupert Murdoch accepted no responsibility for wrongdoing in the scandal. Buckingham Palace says it never raised concerns with Cameron's office over his decision to hire Coulson as his communications chief. AUDIO. PHOTO. Debate resumes at 9:30 a.m. ET. ___ Heat, humidity prompt advisories across much of Canada Heat-Wave WINNIPEG _ Wide areas of the country are cooking in a heat wave. Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba saw new power consumption records set due to air conditioner use. In the Toronto area, the thermometer is rising and is expected to reach 38 C by Thursday. AUDIO. PHOTOS. VIDEO. ___ Heat 'dome' traps much of U.S. in pressure cooker US-Heat-Wave-The-Dome CHICAGO _ For millions of people suffering through the breathtaking heat and humidity gripping the nation's midsection, it may feel like they're living in a pressure cooker. And in a sense, they are. The heat "dome" sitting over much of the U.S. is caused by a huge area of high pressure that's trapping and compressing hot, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico. While heat domes aren't uncommon, this one is unusually large and long-lasting, the National Weather Service said. PHOTOS. ___ Fires threaten Ontario First Nations Ont-Forest-Fires OTTAWA _ A northwestern Ontario chief is asking the province and Ottawa to help First Nations threatened by forest fires. More than 115 forest fires are raging across northern Ontario and one chief says thousands of residents are in immediate danger from the flames and dense smoke. AUDIO. ___ Premiers meet in Vancouver on health care, trade, economy Council-Federation VANCOUVER _ The country's premiers are in Vancouver today to discuss everything from health care to the economy. The three-day meeting of the Council of the Federation will also include First Nations' leaders. Meeting starts at 3:30 p.m. ET. ___ Chinese oil company CNOOC to buy Opti Canada Inc. for $2.1 billion OPTI-Canada-China CALGARY _ Calgary-based oilsands producer Opti Canada Inc. says the company will be sold to Chinese oil company CNOOC Ltd. for $2.1 billion. The Opti board of directors has voted unanimously in favour of the sale, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter, pending regulatory approvals. ___ Minister says relationship with China getting warmer Baird-China-Trip OTTAWA _ Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says Canada-China relations are warming and can be further improved by face-to-face dialogue. Baird is wrapping up a visit to China, where he met senior government officials and business leaders. ___ Canada's last fully operational asbestos mine may close this fall Asbestos-Mine-Closure MONTREAL _ Canada's last fully operational asbestos mine says it could be on the verge of shutting down, a closure that would deliver a major blow to the country's controversial industry. Quebec's LAB Chrysotile says in a joint statement with its union that the operation could be forced to shut down in November for an undetermined period of time. ___ Taliban deny report that leader Mullah Omar is dead Afghanistan KABUL _ The Taliban in Afghanistan insist that their leader Mullah Mohammed Omar is alive, saying a text message and Internet posting announcing his death are fake. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid says the early morning announcement about Mullah Omar was the result of a hack. PHOTO. ___ Serbia's last war crimes fugitive nabbed Serbia-War-Crimes-Hadzic BELGRADE _ Goran Hadzic, Serbia's last war crimes fugitive from the Balkan wars, has been arrested. His arrest was the final demand of the Hague war crimes tribunal and could pave the way for Serbia's entry into the European Union. PHOTOS. ___ UN: Parts of south Somalia suffering from famine East-Africa-Drought NAIROBI _ Parts of southern Somalia are suffering from famine, a UN official said today, and tens of thousands of Somalis have already died in the worst hunger emergency in a generation. The Horn of Africa is suffering a devastating drought compounded by war, neglect and spiralling prices. Some areas in the region have not had such a low rainfall in 60 years, the aid group Oxfam said. PHOTO. ___ Syrian warns ambassadors not to leave capital Syria BEIRUT _ Syria's foreign minister has warned the U.S. and French ambassadors not to travel outside Damascus without permission. The warning from Walid al-Moallem comes after the U.S. and French ambassadors travelled to the restive city of Hama earlier this month, a stronghold of opposition to President Bashar Assad. ___ American Airlines orders 460 new planes from Airbus, Boeing US-American-Airlines-Planes FORT WORTH _ American Airlines is buying at least 460 new planes over the next five years in what it calls the biggest airline order in history. And in a victory for Airbus, it's splitting the work between the European plane maker and Boeing. American said today it will buy 260 planes from Airbus and 200 from Boeing Co. PHOTO. ___ Last space shuttle checked for landing US-Space-Shuttle CAPE CANAVERAL _ On the eve of NASA's historic, wheel-stopping end to the shuttle program, the four astronauts making the final journey said today they're starting to feel a rush of emotions. "You know what? I really do feel like it's coming near the end," said the commander of the homeward-bound space shuttle Atlantis, Christopher Ferguson. PHOTO. ___ BUZZ French plan to build wind farm off D-day site upsets Canadian veterans Juno-Beach-Turbines TORONTO _ A French plan to install wind turbines off Normandy, where Allied troops launched the D-Day assault in the Second World War, is raising the ire of some Canadian veterans. One veteran who stormed Juno Beach with the Queen's Own Rifles calls the plan "a disgusting affair." ___ Hugh Grant win legal victory in phone hacking case Britain-Phone-Hacking-Hugh-Grant LONDON _ A British judge has awarded "Notting Hill" actor Hugh Grant the right to see evidence that could reveal whether his voicemails were intercepted by journalists at the now-defunct News of the World. A judge at Britain's High Court said police should disclose information to him that was allegedly gathered by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire and used by the Sunday tabloid and other newspapers. ___ Chinese great Yao Ming retires from basketball BKN-Yao Retires SHANGHAI _ Yao Ming has made it official, telling a packed news conference in his hometown that a series of foot and leg injuries have forced him to retire from basketball. The 7-foot-6 centre was a household name in China before starting his NBA career with the Houston Rockets. He played eight seasons in the NBA. PHOTOS. ___ COMING LATER TODAY OTTAWA _ Bank of Canada releases its Monetary Policy Report. 10:30 a.m. Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney holds a news conference to discuss the report at 11:15 a.m. TORONTO _ NDP Leader Andrea Horwath holds a media briefing to talk about Metrolinx decision to buy new rail cars from Quebec instead of Ontario. 11:30 a.m. TORONTO _ Finance Minister Dwight Duncan delivers a progress report on Ontario's finances. 1 p.m. VANCOUVER _ Premiers and National Aboriginal Organization leaders meet to discuss ways to improve life for aboriginal people. 3:30 p.m. ET. Media availability at 6:45 p.m. ET. (c) 2011 The Canadian Press |