Illegitimate: Deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi appeared briefly in court for the opening of his trial today. It was his first public appearance since he was forced from office in July. Reports from the courtroom were limited, but witnesses in the courtroom are reported to have said that Morsi declared, “This trial is illegitimate,” and that he is still Egypt’s legally elected president. The trial was then postponed until Jan. 8.

Snowden Rejected: The White House and members of congress have rejected a plea for clemency by NSA leaker Edward Snowden. In a letter given to a German politician, Snowden said, “I believe I witnessed systematic violations of law by my government that created a moral duty to act.” He said, “Speaking the truth is not a crime.”

Blackberry: Shares of Blackberry fell to nearly penny-stock levels on news that a buyout deal for the troubled smartphone company has been cancelled. Fairfax Financial said it will invest $250 million rather than buy Blackberry outright for $4.7 billion. Who do you know who still uses a Blackberry?

Art News: A trove of 1,500 artworks looted by the Nazis was found in Munich back in 2011, according to the German magazine Focus. The magazine says the collection valued at about $1.3 billion includes works by Matisse, Picasso and Chagall. The art was discovered in the home of Cornelius Gurlit, whose father was a Munich art dealer.  The younger Gurlit occasionally sold a piece of art when he needed the money, according to Focus. He was being investigated for tax evasion when police obtained a warrant to search his house. Since the seizure, the government has kept the story, and the art, under wraps.

Liar, Liar: Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney came out from under the bed yesterday and called President Obama a liar for his promises on healthcare reform. Speaking on Meet the Press, Romney said, “And when he told the American people that you could keep your health insurance if you wanted to keep that plan, period, he said that time and again, he wasn’t telling the truth.” Romney continued, “And I think that fundamental dishonesty has really put in peril the whole foundation of his second term.” He’s right. Obama is in his second term.

Runners’ World: Kenyan runners won both the men’s and women’s marathons in NY City yesterday. Returning champion Geoffrey Mutai, 32, did it with an average of 4:55 a mile in the 26.2-mile race. Mutai won in 2011, but the race was cancelled last year because of Hurricane Sandy. Priscah Jeptoo, 29, also of Kenya, came from behind in the last few miles to win the women’s race with an average of 5:33 a mile.

Cracked: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford apologized for past behavior Sunday, but didn’t say what he was apologizing for. The police say they have a video of him smoking crack, but it has not been released to the public. Ford has refused to resign and said on his radio show, “I want to move forward, but to move forward I also have to make changes in my life, which I will assure I will do,” he said. Maybe the portly mayor is going on a diet.

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