LOCAL
A Toronto police officer from the G20 was criminally convicted for assault with a weapon after a judge found he used excessive force in the arrest of Adam Nobody. Const. Babak-Goortani didn’t need to forcefully jab Nobody with his baton several times as officers were trying to cuff the man. [City News]
A court fight by CBC and seven media organizations to unseal search warrants tied to the Project Traveller arrests has bogged down, as lawyers for some of those arrested argue that making the information public could taint the jury pool for a trial. One of the lawyers making this claim represents Monir Kassim, pictured in the now infamous photo with Rob Ford. [CBC]
A Toronto police officer has been cleared of criminal charges in a fatal shooting that occurred in the west end nearly three years ago. An Ontario Superior Court Judge ruled that his gun accidentally discharged in the struggle. [CBC]
NATIONAL
A sovereigntist Bloc Québécois MP who spoke out against the government’s plan to ban personal signs of religious faith in public workplaces has been kicked out of her party caucus. Maria Mourani described the policy as discriminatory, probably illegal, and disastrous for a sovereignty movement struggling to convince minorities of the allure of national independence. [Globe and Mail]
Stephen Harper has hired a new top spokesman as his government returns to the Commons to face tough questions about everything from the Senate expense scandal to the elusive job training program. Jason MacDonald will replace Andrew MacDougall as director of communications in the Prime Minister’s Office. [Globe and Mail]
After facing widespread allegations of sexual misconduct, the RCMP drafted a new code of conduct including specific provisions against such behaviour. “Members treat the public and colleagues with respect and courtesy and do not engage in acts of discrimination or harassment,” it says. [Globe and Mail]
INTERNATIONAL
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry rejects Syria’s pledge to offer a timetable for turning over information rather than weapons, and nothing immediately. “This is not a game,” Kerry said. [National Post]
A 24-year-old woman from Iran will make history, becoming the first female triathlete to participate in a world championship under the green, red, and white colours of the Islamic republic’s flag. To make it happen, Shirin Gerami wrote to Iran’s ministry for sports and youth affairs months ago, and flew to Iran to make her case in person. [Guardian]
The Olympic stadium in Kabul filled with raucous crowds celebrating Afghanistan’s first international championship in soccer. The symbolism couldn’t be missed, as the stadium hadn’t been so full since the Taliban was conducting public executions inside, and attendance was mandatory. [New York Times]
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