Chinese worried about takeover of Canadian fertilizer firm
Ottawa eases requirement for migrant farm workers
HALIFAX: WINDS BIGGEST THREAT FROM EARL
The Canadian Hurricane Centre warns that high winds are the greatest danger presented by Hurricane Earl when it arrives in eastern Canada on Saturday morning. The centre warns that 130-kilometres-an-hour winds can topple trees and power lines. The storm is expected to strike western Nova Scotia at about 9 am. A hurricane watch is in effect in southern Nova Scotia all the way up to Halifax. A tropical storm alert is in place in New Brunswick, with heavy rains expected in the south of the province.
OTTAWA: MAN PICKED UP IN TERROR INVESTIGATION MAKES BAIL
A 20-year-old man arrested in connection with an alleged homegrown Canadian terror plot has been released on bail on unrelated charges in Canada's capital of Ottawa. The man was picked up last week in connection with the terror probe but never charged. Instead he was detained on domestic assault charges which police say resulted from audio surveillance of the family's home. Three other men remain in custody on terrorism charges. The other two men will return to court later this month.
WASHINGTON: U.S. LEGISLATOR INTERESTED IN OILSANDS
The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, is expected to visit the Canadian capital of Ottawa next week for a series of meetings to learn more about oilsands development in the Prairie province of Alberta. She is expected next Wednesday and Thursday for a summit of G8 Speakers. The Toronto Star newspaper reports that Mrs. Pelosi will also hold several high-level meetings focusing on Alberta's energy-intensive oilsands.
OTTAWA: HIGHEST ORDER GRANTED
Fifty-three Canadians received the Order of Canada on Friday. They included former hockey star Mario Lemieux and Kim Campbell, the first women to become prime minister of Canada. Miss Campbell will become a companion of the order, its highest grade. Mr. Lemieux is being invested as an officer, the second-highest
grade. Other recipients were Alexa McDonough, the leader of the New Democratic Party from 1995 to 2003, and the president of the Montreal Canadiens hockey team, Pierre Boivin. The honour is bestowed on those considered to have made an outstanding contribution to society.
MONTREAL: FOREIGN FARM WORKERS WON'T NEED PHYSICAL
The Canadian immigration department says it will no longer require farm workers from Mexico and some 40 other countries to undergo physical examinations before coming to work in Canada. The measure affects long-term migrant workers. The department explained its trying to balance to wish to welcome the migrants with the need to protect Canadians health and security.
PAKISTAN
A suicide bomber detonated explosives during a Shiite rally in Pakistan today, killing at least 43 people. Another 70 people were injured. The attack occurred as almost 500 people gathered in the southwest city of Quetta to demonstrate their solidarity with Palestinian Muslims. Police had urged the demonstrators to change their route because of the risk of terrorist attacks. It was the latest in a series of attacks as Muslims mark the final days of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Meanwhile, Pakistani security officials say two U.S. drone strikes on Friday killed at least ten militants, including some foreign fighters, in Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt near the Afghan border. Both strikes hit North Waziristan district, a stronghold for Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants. The first struck a militant compound on the outskirts of North Waziristan's main town of Miranshah.
ISRAEL
Israeli and Palestinian leaders say they will try to settle core differences within a year and meet every two weeks.
The two sides represented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas held four hours Thursday in Washington.
The next round of talks was set for Sept. 14-15 in Egypt, possibly in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
The last direct peace talks ended in December 2008, when Israeli forces invaded Gaza to halt Hamas rocket fire on Israel.
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa's labour unions will meet with government officials on Monday in another attempt to negotiate an end to a three-week labour strike. The strike by more than one million state workers has severely disrupted many services. The workers are demanding higher wages. They've rejected a government offer of an increase that's almost double the level of inflation. The government insists that it cannot afford more. Salaries and benefits are the biggest expenditure in South Africa's state budget.
HONG KONG, MELBOURNE: CHINA WORRIED ABOUT POTASH TAKEOVER
The Reuters news agency reports that China is worried about a bid to take over Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan. The Anglo-Australian firm BHP Billiton has offered US$39 billion in a takeover bid rejected by PotashCorp as too low. According to Reuters, Chinese officials have ordered state-owned companies to meet with investment bankers to discuss options to block the takeover. China is a major buyer of the crop nutrient.
VANCOUVER: GOLDCORP BEATS OUT RIVAL IN TAKEOVER FIGHT
Vancouver-based Goldcorp Inc. has achieved a friendly takeover worth $3.6 billion for possession of the U.S. firm Andean Resources. On Thursday, Goldcorp's Canadian rival Eldorado Gold Corp. offere $3.4 million for the same company. Eldorado says it won't give up the fight but rather will carry it directly to Andean's shareholders. utah-based Andean operates the Cerro Negro gold project in southern Argentina.
MARKETS
TSX on : 12,137, up 27. Canadian dollar: US96. Euro: $1.34. Oil: US$74.36 -.66.
HOCKEY
In the Canadian Football League, B.C. Lions cornerback Davis Sanchez donated his paycheque from Friday's game against Montreal to charity. He is sending the money to a fund former Alouettes star Tony Proudfoot has established to help people suffering from ALS.
Weather
British Columbia on Saturday: rain north, mix sun cloud south, high C19 Vancouver. Yukon: mix sun cloud. Northwest Territories: rain. Nunavut: sun. Whitehorse 16, Yellowknife 14, Iqaluit 12. Alberta: rain south, mix sun cloud north. Saskatchewan: rain. Manitoba: sun. Edmonton 18, Regina 22, Winnipeg 17. Ontario, Quebec: rain. Toronto 21, Ottawa 19, Montreal 23. Maritimes: rain. Newfoundland and Labrador: mix sun cloud. Fredericton 23, Halifax 24, Charlottetown 22, St. John's 21.
