LOCAL
Work on the Scarborough LRT has been officially halted while the city tries to find money for a subway project instead. Metrolinx confirmed that the project could resume if the subway proposal fails. [Globe and Mail]
The man believed to have been shopping a video that allegedly showed mayor Rob Ford smoking crack made a brief court appearance today via video. Mohamed Siad, charged with more than two dozen criminal counts, will make a court appearance October 1. [CBC]
A Toronto pediatrician had his licence suspended for the third time for violating an order not to see female patients alone and for failing to post a warning about this. Dr. Noriega had his license suspended twice for sexual improprieties, but he claims he is innocent and that the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario discriminates against him because he was born in Mexico. [Toronto Star]
NATIONAL
The railway company responsible for the deadly explosion in Lac-Megantic filed for bankruptcy protection in the US and in Canada. Filing for bankruptcy is the “best way to ensure fairness of treatment to all in these tragic circumstances,” said chairman Edward Burkhardt. [Globe and Mail]
The Harper government will charge employers $275 for each temporary foreign worker’s program application they fill out. The use of the temporary foreign workers program has exploded in recent years, while Canadian unemployment level has stubbornly remained above 7%. [National Post]
Actor George Takei, best known for starring in the original Star Trek series, is calling for the Olympics to be held in Vancouver instead of Sochi to protest Russia’s anti-gay laws. “A boycott of the games would punish athletes who have trained for years to participate,” Takei said. [Toronto Star]
INTERNATIONAL
President Obama has cancelled a meeting with Vladimir Putin over the strain caused by Russia’s refusal to send Edward Snowden back to the United States. The move also reflects other tensions, like Putin’s continued support of Assad in Syria. [New York Times]
A new drone strike killed 7 alleged al-Qaeda members in Yemen. The move comes after the US closed their embassy there due to “increased chatter” indicated a “specific and immediate” threat of a new terrorist attack. [Guardian]
Kenya’s biggest international airport in Nairobi has reopened after a devastating morning fire destroyed the arrival hall. The airport is open for domestic and cargo flights and thankfully no serious injuries were reported, though two were taken for smoke inhalation. [CBC]
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