National: Prime Minister Stephen Harper attends G8 Summit

Canada’s Prime Minister arrived in Maryland Friday morning at the historic Camp David where U.S. President Barack Obama is hosting world leaders for two international summits. Harper is in the company of the heads of state from the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Japan. Russia’s president Vladimir Putin is the only G8 leader not in attendance. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is there to represent Russia. The summit overlaps with high-level NATO meetings in Chicago over the weekend.

International: Continued violence, demonstrations in Syria

Thousands of protesters rallied in Aleppo Friday, as security forces attacked the students and other anti-government demonstrators in the northern city. Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, has been largely loyal to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime throughout the 15-month uprising, but tides are changing. Demonstrations were staged across the country in support of the town, which suffered an especially devastating crackdown earlier this month that left four students dead. Meanwhile, UN observers remain on the ground in the war-torn country, pushing for serious peace negotiations.

Health: New study finds coffee is linked to long life

Contrary to countless studies released over the years about the negative effects of caffeine, a new report outlines some good news. U.S. Scientists have discovered a direct correlation between coffee consumption and longevity of life. The 13-year study focused on more than 400,000 people between the ages of 50 and 71. Researchers discovered those who drank coffee daily had a 10 per cent lower risk of death.

Sports: Olympic flame touches down in England

Following Thursday’s handover ceremony in Greece, the Olympic flame set out on its journey to the home of the 2012 Summer Games, London, England. British soccer superstar David Beckham was graced with the honour of lighting the cauldron when the flame arrived from Athens Friday. A 70-day torch relay in England begins Saturday, leading up to the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics on July 27.

Oddity: Man jumps down garbage chute to avoid angry girlfriend

A 31-year-old Russian man had to be rescued from a metal garbage chute in his apartment building in Tyumen, Siberia. He got stuck after falling three storeys from the eighth floor, from where he had jumped to avoid his girlfriend. The couple had apparently had an argument prior to the man’s daring move. Luckily, he was not seriously hurt.

Business: Facebook goes public

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange Friday morning, just hours ahead of a highly anticipated IPO. The social media company opened on the stock market at US$38 per share then rose to US$42 at one point, more than 10 per cent above the expected price. Zuckerberg, 28, appeared at the Nasdaq via videolink from a celebration at Facebook headquarters in California. The company’s overall valuation now sits at about $104 billion.