Six stories in the news today, Oct. 19

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BANK OF CANADA RATE ANNOUNCEMENT COMING TODAY

The Bank of Canada will make its latest interest rate announcement today along with its updated forecast for the economy. The central bank is widely expected to keep its key interest rate target on hold at 0.5 per cent. The economy pulled back in the second quarter due in large part to the wildfires in Alberta that shut down production in the oilsands.

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HPV-LINKED ORAL CANCERS ON THE RISE: CANCER SOCIETY

Malignant tumours in the mouth and throat caused by the human papillomavirus have risen dramatically among men and could surpass the rate of HPV-induced cervical cancer in women, new statistics from the Canadian Cancer Society suggest. The organization says the incidence of HPV-related mouth and throat cancers jumped 56 per cent in males and 17 per cent in females between 1992 and 2012, the latest year for which statistics are available.

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PROGRESS REMOVING FUEL FROM SUNKEN B.C. TUG

Salvage crews have now removed more than 88,000 litres of diesel from a sunken tug on British Columbia’s central coast in the latest effort to avert an environmental disaster near the Great Bear Rainforest. A second attempt to empty more than 200,000 litres of fuel from the Nathan E. Stewart began Monday afternoon and continued through the night in Seaforth Channel, about 20 kilometres west of Bella Bella.

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GORD DOWNIE RETURNS TO STAGE WITH ‘SECRET PATH’

Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie received a standing ovation even before the first note of his show last night at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. He staged a multimedia performance of his new album, “Secret Path,” which tells the story of 12-year-old Chanie Wenjack, who died in 1966 after running away from a residential school. Downie, who suffers from an incurable form of brain cancer, will also perform in Toronto on Friday.

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BLUE JAYS FANS CLING TO HOPE AFTER HUGE WIN

Toronto Blue Jays fans remain cautiously optimistic after the team kept its playoff run alive yesterday. The Jays beat Cleveland 5-1 to trim the Indians’ lead in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series to 3-1. Only Boston in 2004 has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win an ALCS. “Say what you will about history,” said fan Melissa Rodriguez. “We’ve got a chance.” Game 5 goes this afternoon at Rogers Centre. (4 p.m. ET).

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Mayors of Canada’s big cities meet in Ottawa with Finance Minister Bill Morneau and other cabinet ministers.

— Canadian Pacific will release its third-quarter results.

— Alberta Premier Rachel Notley will deliver a State-of-the-Province speech.

— Pleas expected in Bridgewater, N.S., from six teens accused of sharing intimate images of up to 20 minors without consent.

— Statistics Canada will release travel figures between Canada and other countries for August.

— Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques will make an announcement related to research on board the International Space Station.

— Gov. Gen. David Johnston will receive the symbolic first poppy of the 2016 National Poppy Campaign.

— Bobby Hull will be named to the Winnipeg Jets Hall of Fame during tonight’s game against Toronto.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Six stories in the news today, Oct. 19

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