LOCAL
Doug Ford said nothing during his talk radio show Sunday since he took the unusual step of cancelling the program. The previous day he issued only a simple statement defending his brother Rob against allegations of smoking crack cocaine: “I have never seen my brother involved with anything like coke. [Toronto Star]
Secrecy surrounds the ongoing negotiation between Markham staff and a private group surrounding a $325-million, NHL-size hockey arena. The project pits those concerned that citizens will have to pay for it in taxes against the business argument for revitilizaing a new area of downtown. [Toronto Star]
24 Toronto city councilors have signed a petition that will overturn Mayor Rob Ford’s decision to cancel a special meeting on the downtown casino. The meeting will proceed as originally scheduled Tuesday morning, where councilors can vote to kill the downtown casino outright. [Globe & Mail]
NATIONAL
Longtime aide Ray Novak has been named Prime Minister Harper’s new chief of staff. He replaces Nigel Wright, who resigned after the Mike Duffy scandal. [National Post]
The bodies of two missing lobster fishermen have been found off the coast of New Brunswick Sunday afternoon, a day after their boat capsized with three crew members aboard. The body of a 23-year-old was found the previous day, only hours after a distress call was sent. [CBC]
The driver of a jeep that struck and killed a spectator at a charity event in Edmonton apologized profusely in a written statement published online. The 20-year-old woman was struck after the driver lost control during a stunt. [CBC]
INTERNATIONAL
The EU’s decision to lift the sanctions off of Syrian oil in order to help the opposition has instead created a scramble for control over wells and pipelines in key rebel-held areas. Jabhut al-Nusra, an affilliate of al-Qaida, has seized control of the majority of oil wells in Deir Ezzor provice, and elsewhere. [The Guardian]
Yahoo’s board has agreed to buy Tumblr, the popular blogging service, for about $1.1 billion in cash. The deal is said to be announced as soon as Monday, said one person with knowledge of the agreement, but who was not authorized to speak about it ahead of the announcement. [The New York Times]
North Korea launched a short-range projectile into waters off its east coast sunday after three similar launchings in the same area Saturday. South Korea condemned the provocation and urged them to accept a proposal for dialogue. [The New York Times]
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