LOCAL
Eleven Ontario residents were arrested after millions of dollars worth of drugs were seized through a years-long joint investigation between several law enforcement agencies. Project INFINITY has seized $78-million worth of heroin, cocaine, crystal meth and opium. [Globe and Mail]
The TTC’s political leaders narrowly vote in favour of the city-sanctioned subway plan in the east end, but not after flaring tempers and accusations of vote buying. Josh Matlow said for him to favour a subway over an LRT, it would need to be based on something more solid than “courting votes,” and he refused to withdraw the remark, choosing instead to leave the meeting, along with Councillor Shelley Carroll. [Globe and Mail]
Half of Toronto voters approve of the job Rob Ford has been doing, a new poll shows. Forty-nine per cent of the 1,083 Toronto residents polled indicated they support Ford, an increase from 44 per cent at the end of August. [Toronto Star]
NATIONAL
An “unassuming researcher” pleaded guilty to theft, fraud, and possession of stolen property and trafficking in stolen property on Wednesday. Among other things, John Mark Tillmann stole letters, sheet music, books, an antique tea kettle, a commission signed by George Washington, and a first edition of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. [National Post]
Canada is holding off on signing a landmark global treaty that will regulate the arms, trade citing concern about how it will affect Canadian gun owners, even though the US has signed it, despite their powerful gun lobby. Harper considers Canadian firearms owners an important part of his base. [Globe and Mail]
A Saskatchewan mother is calling for federal legislation to protect vulnerable teens from cyberbullyies after her 15-year-old son committed suicide after “non-stop” taunting. Kim Loik said kids hounded her son with insulting message on Facebook and cell phone texts. [National Post]
INTERNATIONAL
A new study shows that religious people are more depressed than atheists. The study followed 8,000 people in urban and rural areas in several counties for a year. [CBC]
There are dozens more bodies believed to be buried in the rubble of the Kenyan mall attack. An intelligence source claims there is still an attacker in conflict with security forces. [The Guardian]
Vladimir Putin defended Russia’s seizure of a Greenpeace ship, but appeared to say that the thirty activists should not be charged with piracy. The thirty people on board the ship include two Canadians. [The Star]
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