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Defence says police pressured witnesses

TORONTO - The defence at an unprecedented AIDS-related murder trial suggested Thursday that police pressed witnesses into changing crucial dates to build a case against a man accused of fatally infecting two women with HIV.

The exact year in which an affectionate but allegedly lethal summer of romance took place is crucial in the Crown's bid to link Johnson Aziga to the death of one of the women. The issue became a bone of contention Thursday at his trial on two counts of first-degree murder.

On her death bed in November 2003, a woman who can be identified only as S.B. told police her relationship with Aziga occurred in the summer of 2001. That would have been six months after she was diagnosed with what doctors say was the AIDS-related cancer that killed her.

Man accused of bus stabbing in court

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. - A northwestern Ontario man accused of stabbing a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus was back in a courtroom in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., on Thursday after undergoing a psychiatric evaluation.

Ontario Court Justice Kristine Bignell remanded David Roberts, 28, of Manitouwadge, Ont., in custody until his bail hearing next Tuesday.

Bignell noted a psychiatric report indicated Roberts is fit to stand trial and doesn't suffer from a mental illness that would lead to him being found not criminally responsible.

A man was stabbed Sept. 21 on a bus south of White River, Ont., and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Polar bear rescued after falling into moat

MILWAUKEE - A polar bear that fell into a dry moat at his zoo enclosure more than two weeks ago was rescued Thursday by officials who hoisted him out with a crane.

Zero the bear was playing with a toy on Oct. 13 at the Milwaukee County Zoo when he tumbled off the edge of his exhibit and landed unhurt on netting a metre or two above the moat floor. Zoo officials cut the net so the bear could drop safely.

Officials had hoped the 19-year-old polar bear would use a nearby stairway in the moat to climb back to his exhibit, but he stayed where he was. Zoo officials anesthetized him and pulled the 500-kilogram bear out Thursday morning.

"I think the zoo staff was just concerned that this was going on too long," zoo spokeswoman Jennifer Diliberti said. "He's resting now and is being monitored by the staff."

Sun shines on man who breaks record

VICTORIA - A Canadian man has set a new world distance record in a solar-powered vehicle that looks more like a flying saucer than an automobile.

Marcelo Da Luz arrived at Victoria's mile zero marker Thursday to complete his 15,000 kilometre journey in his single-seat "Power of One" solar car. Da Luz's 140-day journey took him across Canada twice and he stopped in 44 Canadian towns and cities.

The vehicle cost about half-a-million dollars, can travel 200 kilometres on a single charge and has a top speed of about 120 kilometres an hour.

The Canadian record beats a January 2002 Australian team record.

Source: The Canadian Press, The Associated Press