A senior member of a global Balkan crime ring who’s been sought by the FBI for three years has been arrested in Toronto. His detention follows a police chase through five countries, officers say. Kujtim “Timmy” Lika, 44, originally of Albania, whose crime spree was aired twice on America’s Most Wanted TV show, was arrested on yesterday outside an apartment in the Mt. Pleasant and Eglinton Aves. area, where he had been hiding, said Det. Rick Mooney, of Toronto Police fugitive squad.  Toronto Sun.

Timothy and Charlotte Stanley bid up the price of 140 Dinnick Crescent to $1,875,000, in order to get the property. They had checked and found there would be no impediment to demolishing the 1930 house. It  sat on a large lot which would be perfect for their dream home. But the Stanleys now know that despite one’s best efforts to avoid getting stuck with a heritage building, it can still happen. One day after the City of Toronto issued a demolition permit to them it rescinded the permit. That’s because the North York  Community Preservation Panel sent a letter objecting to the demolition.  This week North York Council endorsed the objection and declared the building, known as Langdon House, to be a heritage building. The Stanleys will make a last ditch stand before the Ontario Municipal Board. We hope they prevail. The property at 140 Dinnick is said to be valued because it has “architectural and contextual” significance. Maybe. But there doesn’t appear to be anything much about it that is very unique. Nothing of any consequence occurred there. The previous owners, members of the Langdon family, raised no concern that it be retained. There are many ways to preserve the character of a neighbourhood by making new buildings conform.  Most of all, there has been a serious injustice done to the Stanleys. It should be reversed.  Read reasons given for saving 140 Dinnick

It seems a challenge to imagine anyone whose views about Canada would be less valid than Olivier De Schutter.  Mr De Schutter is the United Nations writer of reports (rapporteur) on food and human rights. He is part of the European apparatus of the UN and advises the European Parliament on its many saintly concerns. Recently, Mr. De  Schutter (left) concluded that Canada is “smug” about its efforts to address the enduring issue of poverty in the aboriginal population. Beyond that, Mr. De Schutter didn’t have much to say. Just that we should be doing better and that we’re smug. The whole thing  so upset the Health Minister, Leona Aglukkaq, that she told Mr. De Schutter where to get off. Unlike UN  report writers, Ms Aglukkaq (right) is the real thing.  She is an  aboriginal who has practical work and like most Canadian politicians, Liberal and Conservative, has laboured at solving the intractable nature of poverty among some of the native peoples  Mr De Schutter may well be a nice man to meet. Maybe when he has a day off  he volunteers at the Paris Food Bank. But the verdict on his professional activity is that he’s hardly working.

As expected, the Bank of Nova Scotia has sold off its landmark building at King and Bay Streets. The 1988 complex consisting of about two million square feet of space and is almost completely occupied. The price paid was $1.2 billion. The buyers are well known Canadian firms Dundee Real Estate and H&R Real Estate. The partnered deal has yet to close.  Scotia Plaza was built during the halcyon days bank building during the 70s and 80s. It is described as a  postmodern landmark in red granite. The dramatic sculptured sides were as sensation at the time.  Most remarkably, the bank sold its building to raise cash to satisfy requirements of new global banking regulations. The sale of the building was a way for Scotiabank to raise money without having to sell off core banking assets.