PRESS DIGEST - Canada - July 14

July 14 (Reuters) - The following are top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

THE GLOBE AND MAIL: - Canada's decision to impose visa requirements on Mexican and Czech citizens as a way of curbing dubious refugee claimants was roundly criticized Monday by their governments and business and civilrights groups as unnecessary, shameful and an unwelcome irritant.

- Former Liberian president Charles Taylor took the stand in his own defence at his war crimes trial Tuesday and told judges the case against him was built on lies and misinformation.

- The worldwide supply of a pandemic influenza vaccine will take twice as long to manufacture and countries could have barely half of what they need for the fall's flu season if current production problems persist, the World Health Organization revealed Monday.

Report on Business Section:

- Bank of Canada report says a majority expect demand from customers to rise at a faster rate over the next 12 months.

- Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) is widely expected to report Tuesday that it made a profit of more than $2 billion in the March to June period -possibly its best quarter in two years.

NATIONAL POST

- Violent acts or blockades against Canada's oil and gas industry will likely continue in the years ahead, but the disruptions are unlikely to be organized or widespread unless disparate groups come together, a new report says.

- No human passengers will be allowed onboard the inaugural Pet Airways flight as it departs from New York on Tuesday morning.

Financial Post section:

- MatlinPatterson Global Advisers, which is preparing to bid on Nortel Networks Corp's (NRTLQ.PK) major wireless unit stepped up its efforts Monday by enlisting Dion Joannou to help spearhead its offer. - CIT Group Inc CIT.N, a major lender to entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout the United States and Canada, is scrambling to stay afloat as it battles to secure another bailout from the U.S. government -- a sign the two-year old financial crisis is continuing to have ripple effects throughout the economy.