National: Former PM Campbell among Order of Canada recipients

Former prime minister Kim Campbell and retired hockey star Mario Lemieux were among 53 people to receive the Order of Canada at a special ceremony in Ottawa. Campbell was invested as a companion of the order, its highest grade, and Lemieux as an officer, the second-highest. Others who were honoured on Friday include Ivan Reitman, who directed the movie Ghostbusters, rocker Burton Cummings and former federal NDP leader Alexa McDonough.

International: Manila hostage-taking probe begins

Protocol lapses are being revealed as a probe begins into the Philippine hostage-taking that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead. The man in charge of police during the Aug. 23 crisis said the goal was to exhaust the gunman through negotiations. But the hostage taker began firing on the hostages when he saw police handcuff his brother. The government has promised a thorough and quick inquiry to calm the outrage in Hong Kong and China.

Health: No link found between diaper rash and Pampers Dry Max

Canadian and U.S. officials say no link has been found between diaper rash and Pampers diapers with Dry Max liners. Health Canada and U.S. government safety officials reviewed thousands of complaints, but have so far found no link between the diapers and severe skin reactions. Dry Max is the thinner liner added to the new versions of Procter & Gamble’s Swaddlers and Cruisers diapers.

Sports: Waterloo football player tests positive for human growth hormone

A member of the suspended University of Waterloo football team has tested positive for human growth hormone. The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport says it is the first such finding in North America. The school suspended its football program from competition for a full season in June after urine tests revealed nine anti-doping violations.

Oddity: Oops…teen sends pot text to sheriff

Authorities say a Montana teenager landed himself in hot water after texting his marijuana request to a county sheriff instead of his supplier. The sheriff turned the message over to a detective, who arranged a meet. Authorities say two teen boys turned pale when the detective showed his badge. In the end, no charges were laid.

Business: US economy shed 54,000 jobs in August

New figures show the U.S. economy shed 54,000 jobs in August, as a decline in government employment offset an increase in private-sector hiring. The U.S. jobless rate edged up 0.1 per cent to 9.6 per cent, marking the first increase in four months. Canadian jobs data for August comes out next Friday.