Week ending June 23, 2012

Before too long, you should be able to read The Rundown on the Surface, the new tablet unveiled this week by Microsoft. Whether you are able to do that before the opportunity to bite into a Whopper in Beijing remains to be seen. This scribbler is pretty sure, though, the Surface will, uh, surface, before the return of the Montreal Expos.

Elsewhere this week:

Prince William turned 30 on Thursday, coming into a $15.7 million inheritance.

Canada ranks second when it comes to countries who pay the most for gasoline.

Toronto is the most expensive city in Canada.

The lighthouse at Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia, a Canadian landmark, is falling apart. The Queen's Plate horse race, another Canadian icon, is also in some jeopardy.

Tests show the humpback whale that beached in B.C. last week died of starvation caused when it became entangled in fishing gear.

More people became refugees last year than any other year since 2000, according to a United Nations report.

The wait times for some surgery in Canada are increasing, says a report by a monitoring group.

The next BlackBerry from the Canadian company Research in Motion will include a touch screen, a departure for the technology company.

Rising absenteeism in the public service costs the country about $1 billion.

The consumption of soda pop by Canadian children is on the rise.

There has been a dramatic decrease in the number of Canadians who smoke, according to Statistics Canada.

Travel to Canada increased in April, the push led by American visitors.

Audio surveillance by the Canadian Border Services Agency of people coming into Canada has been suspended until privacy evaluations can be completed.

The trial of Anders Breivik, charged with the bombing and shooting rampage last year in Oslo that killed 77 people, ended on Thursday, with Breivik making a rambling statement demanding his freedom and saying history will exonerate him for his actions.

• More on Bing: Microsoft Surface