News for Youse: Greenpeace ends protest, Panama Maru centenary, and U.S. doesn't go into default

Greenpeace ends protest  Last evening, 16 environmental activists decided to end a day-long demonstration at the Kinder Morgan terminal in Burnaby against the shipment of tar-sands bitumen. Kinder Morgan hopes to nearly triple capacity through its pipeline from Alberta, which would sharply increase the number of oil tankers moving through Burrard Inlet.

Oil highlighted in throne speech  The Conservative government’s speech from the throne yesterday declared that a lack of infrastructure threatens to keep oil stranded in Alberta rather than reaching new export markets. The government has also promised balanced-budget legislation during "normal economic times" after running up the biggest deficits in Canadian history.

Washington marijuana rules approved  The Liquor Control Board in Washington state will begin receiving applications on November 18 for licences to operate 334 retail marijuana stores. There will be no smoking allowed on the premises.

Aboriginal homeless shelter often full  Patrick Stewart, chair of the Aboriginal Homelessness Committee for Metro Vancouver, says people are consistently being turned away from the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre’s homeless shelter at 201 Central Street because it’s often full.

Panama Maru centenary  It's the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Panama Maru vessel in Victoria Harbour carrying 56 South Asian passengers; 39 were detained because of racist continuous-migration legislation, but they were later freed by a court order and allowed to stay in Canada. This set the stage for a larger confrontation the next year involving more than 350 passengers onboard the Komagata Maru, which sailed into Vancouver Harbour on May 23, 1914.

U.S. government resumes operations  The House of Representatives and the Senate both passed legislation to end the shutdown of the U.S. government and permit it to continue borrowing to pay debts until early 2014.

Democrat wins New Jersey Senate race  Newark mayor Cory Booker soundly defeated Republican Steve Lonegan in the contest to fill the vacant Senate seat in New Jersey.

Glenn Greenwald leaves Guardian  The U.S. journalist who broke the Edward Snowden–U.S. government Internet-surveillance story, Glenn Greenwald, has quit the Guardian and joined forced with eBay founder Pierre Omidyar on a new news venture.

Beijing nixes meeting with Taiwan president  The government of the People’s Republic of China has declared that President Xi Jingping will not meet Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou at next year’s Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation summit.

Canucks in Buffalo  Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella didn’t reveal to reporters yesterday whether he would keep the Sedin twins on separate lines in this afternoon’s game in Buffalo.

Timbaland's pending divorce  TMZ has reported that music producer Timbaland’s wife Monique Mosley has filed for divorce. She reportedly wants “rehabilitative alimony”, “permanent alimony”, and child support.