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Commons to hold emergency flu debate

OTTAWA - There will be an emergency swine-flu debate in the House of Commons tonight amid fierce criticism over the government's handling of the health crisis. Speaker Peter Milliken agreed to a request by the federal Liberals and NDP to hold the debate. The opposition accused the Harper government of incompetence and insisted a debate is needed because of a shortage of H1N1 vaccine, long lineups at overcrowded clinics, and widespread confusion. Thousands of Canadians have been vaccinated since Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq approved the H1N1 vaccine last month - after other countries had already begun vaccinations.

Politics

Harper welcomes royal couple in N.L.

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Prime Minister Stephen Harper welcomed Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall in their first trip to Canada together, saying their visit was like a homecoming for many Canadians. Harper said Canadians were eagerly anticipating their arrival and he wished the royal couple well in their travels throughout the country. The couple arrived in St. John's today to kick off an 11-day visit of Canada at an airport in St. John's. Charles was last in Canada in 2001 when he spent six days touring Ontario, Saskatchewan and the Yukon.

Flooding

Searchers find one body in Quebec mine

DESMARAISVILLE, Que. - Rescue workers feared the worst as they searched frantically for three trapped miners Monday, and the apprehension quickly turned into grief as they recovered a body from the flooded gold mine. Workers kept pumping water from the Quebec mine in the hope that one of the other two men might be found alive. The search had resulted in only frustration and heartbreak as of Monday afternoon. "We'd found three helmets and a lamp - and that's it," said Pierre Bernaquez, superintendent of human resources for Metanor Resources Inc. "Now we've just found a body."

Election

Runoff cancelled, Karzai re-elected

KABUL - Afghanistan's election commission proclaimed President Hamid Karzai the victor of the country's tumultuous ballot Monday, cancelling a planned runoff and ending a political crisis two and a half months after a fraud-marred first round. The Obama administration - which has been waiting for a government deemed legitimate to emerge in Kabul before announcing whether to deploy tens of thousands more troops - quickly commended the ruling. The cancellation of Saturday's vote came one day after former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah announced he was pulling out of the Nov. 7 vote. Abdullah said the ballot would not have been fair and accused the Karzai-appointed Independent Election Commission of bias.

Piracy

Rivals fight for custody of couple

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Rival pirates and militia groups have fought for control over a British couple held hostage for more than a week, an Islamic militia commander and a local elder said Monday. The couple were not injured in the fighting. Meanwhile, a U.S.-flagged cargo vessel with 21 Americans aboard came under gunfire from suspected Somali pirates but managed to escape, a U.S. Navy spokesman said. Elders sent local fighters to thwart an attempt by some of the pirates holding the couple to take them to an extremist Islamic group, said a commander of a rival moderate Islamic militia who gave his name only as Ilka'ase.

It was not possible to independently verify the reported fight over the British couple. The couple had been held on a ship at sea, but Kahiye said the couple were now in the coastal areas and travelling in two minibuses and an all-terrain vehicle. A pirate claiming to speak on behalf of the group holding the British couple had said on Saturday that they want a $7 million ransom to release Paul and Rachel Chandler. The British government has said it would not pay a ransom.