LOCAL
A man charged with murder after his estranged girlfriend’s body parts were found in various Toronto-area parks and waterways is committed to stand trial. Chun Qi Jiang, 41, is going to trial for first-degree murder after a preliminary hearing determines whether there’s enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial. [Globe and Mail]
Rob Ford is set to arm wrestle the legendary shirt-ripping, 14-time world champion wrestler Hulk Hogan at Fan Expo 10 a.m. Friday. He made the announcement at the unveiling of the Jack Layton statue, but didn’t have time to comment on lesser things like beer, jail or crack. [National Post]
Posters marked with the letters “WTF?” are cropping up around Toronto in an effort to get young people thinking and talking about the city’s historical sites. Officials say the acronym stands for “What the fact,” rather than the other crude meaning. [CBC]
NATIONAL
Justin Trudeau, who has endorsed legalizing marijuana, admitted to smoking it once since becoming an MP. It was at a dinner party while his kids where with their grandparents and a friend lit a joint on which he had a “puff,” to which Prime Minister Harper was unimpressed, saying, “those actions speak for themselves and I don’t have anything to add.” [National Post]
The military’s dream of buying a new fleet of F-35 stealth fighters is in danger as increased costs puts it up against a spending cap imposed by the Conservative government. They have stated that they will not spend more than $9-billion to purchase them, though the total cost of the jets has been pegged at $45-billion. [National Post]
Rehtaeh Parsons’ father, Glen Canning, said he received death threats on his YouTube channel and police are investigating. “I know where you live, I know your face…and you better shut up, bud, or you’ll be joining your daughter,” said the poster, referring to his daughter Rehtaeh who was allegedly sexually assaulted at a party by four boys, mocked and bullied when a digital photo of the incident was circulated at school and on social media, and took her own life. [CBC]
INTERNATIONAL
Deposted dictator Hosni Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for 29 years, was released from prison as the country braces for a fresh round of protests against the military’s ouster last month of his successor. Supporters of Mohammed Morsi called for a “Friday of martyrs,” risking more bloodshed days after hundreds were gunned down and arrested in the worst political violence in the country’s modern history. [Globe and Mail]
The US is holding a spate of Syria talks as concern grows over chemical weapons claim. Though it has stressed that there’s no definitive proof of the use of chemical weapons, US secretary of state John Kerry has held a series of meetings, and Washington is divided on how to respond to the attacks, thought to have killed between 1,000 and 1,800 people. [The Guardian]
San Diego mayor Bob Filner will resign as part of a proposed settlement in a sexual harassment charge brought against him by a former aide. All parties to the accord agreed to keep it secret after it had been presented in closed session to the city council on Friday. [Globe and Mail]
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