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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Around Canada

By: Staff Writer

9/11/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Sask. students dethroned

SASKATOON -- After years of besting its competitors in NASA's prestigious and lucrative space elevator competition, a team of University of Saskatchewan engineering students couldn't rise above the competition.

The U of S Space Design Team didn't win this year's $900,000 prize -- a Kent, Wash., team did for running its robotic climber up a kilometre-long cable in the required time -- but already its members are focusing on next year's top prize, $1.1 million.

Royals thrill B.C. senior

VICTORIA -- Bunny Campbell says she was excited, but also a bit frightened to be part of the front-row crowd waiting to greet Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, before Sunday church.

Campbell, 87, said she's seen Queen Elizabeth twice in Victoria, but never Charles or Camilla, who is making her first visit to Canada.

The experience left Campbell beaming and cheering as the royals mingled with the more than 200 people who waited outside of Victoria's historic Christ Church Cathedral.

Asbestos cancer deadlier

MONTREAL -- An aggressive cancer linked to asbestos is killing more Canadians than ever before, even decades after the end of a boom that saw buildings stuffed with the toxic substance.

The number of reported new cases annually of mesothelioma shot up 67 per cent over a decade-and-a-half -- from 276 across the country to 461 -- according to the most recent federal figures.

Experts warn that the upward trend will continue for years as Canada feels the residual impact of its asbestos boom, and will likely be far worse in developing countries that still heavily use Canadian exports.

Regina police shoot man

REGINA -- A 27-year-old man is recovering in hospital after he was shot by a Regina police officer.

Investigators said officers were called early Sunday morning to a home where a man inside was reportedly waving around a long-barrelled gun and threatening people. When they arrived, they found a male with a firearm in the backyard.

"He was given instructions to drop the weapon but did not follow police commands," police Chief Troy Hagen told reporters several hours after the shooting.

Obama papers top-secret

OTTAWA -- Canadian government officials say a biography of U.S. President Barack Obama provided to Prime Minister Stephen Harper shortly after Obama's inauguration last January qualifies as a state secret.

Under the Access to Information Act, Canwest News Service requested materials given to the prime minister ahead of Obama's February visit to Canada.

The 77 pages of censored documents released to Canwest include memos to Harper from his foreign-policy adviser and a letter from Canada's former ambassador to the United States.

-- From the wire services

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 9, 2009 A10

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