Iran Dept: Authorities in Israel ratcheted up security at home and abroad following Tuesday's explosions in the Thai capital, escalating a confrontation over Iran's suspect nuclear program and raising fears of war, according to CBC. Israel has threatened military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, and Iran has blamed the Jewish state for the recent killings of Iranian atomic scientists and israel accused Iran of waging a covert campaign of state terror that stretched this week from the Middle East to the heart of Asia after a bungled series of explosions led to the capture of two Iranian nationals in Bangkok. On Monday , an Israeli diplomat's wife and driver were wounded in New Delhi when a bomb stuck to their minivan exploded, and another device was defused on an Israeli Embassy car in Tbilisi, Georgia. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Judge Janice Dillon Dept: Judge Janice Dillon decided Thursday in favour of admitting statements made to a Delta, B.C. police officer by Cpl. Monty Robinson that he downed two shots of vodka to "calm his nerves" after leaving the crash scene, according to Winnipeg Free Press. Robinson's lawyer had argued his client wasn't notified of his right to a lawyer before he spoke to the officer and nEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. - A crucial piece of testimony in the Crown's case against an off-duty RCMP officer involved in a fatal motorcycle accident will be included as evidence in his obstruction of justice trial, in part because it's in the public interest, a B.C. Supreme Court judge has ruled. Const. Sarah Swallow arrested the man after the October 2008 crash that killed a 21-year-old motorcyclist. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Protecting Children Dept: "Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act", according to Winnipeg Free Press and oTTAWA - A list of some Conservative government bills, with short titles and descriptive working titles: Otherwise known as: An Act to enact the Investigating and Preventing Criminal Electronic Communications Act and to amend the Criminal Code and other Acts. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Transport Minister Denis Lebel Dept: Transport Minister Denis Lebel announced Tuesday that starting Wednesday, Nexus members can use their cards for faster screening at airports in eight Canadian cities, according to CBC. The minister says this will cut waiting times and travellers under Canada's Nexus program will be able to use their cards in new, faster security lines when flying to the United States. Those airports are in: Halifax. Montreal. Ottawa. Toronto. Winnipeg. Calgary. Edmonton. Vancouver. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Law Enforcement Official Dept: The Long Beach police official tells The Associated Press the shooter killed one person, wounded another with a shot to the stomach, and then was killed, according to Winnipeg Free Press. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the case and lONG BEACH, Calif. - A law enforcement official says two people were fatally shot and another person was wounded at offices housing Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Long Beach, California. It was not immediately clear if the shooter died from a self-inflicted wound. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

United Nations Conference Dept: The formal, internationally recognized, definition of a refugee is set out in the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees , which established the rights of people seeking asylum in a country other than their own and the responsibilities of countries that grant asylum, according to CBC. The definition of a refugee, as laid out in Section 1 A of the convention, is: The notion of who does and doesn't qualify for refugee status is one many countries grapple with. Approved at a United Nations conference in 1951 and brought into force in 1954, the convention initially sought to codify the rights of refugees in post-war Europe. In 1967, the convention was amended to include a protocol that broadened its geographical purview. There are currently 147 countries, including Canada, that have ratified the convention, the protocol or both. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Megan Leslie Dept: But when Megan Leslie made the tongue-in-cheek suggestion Thursday in the House of Commons, the New Democrat MP was taking more than just an environmental swipe at Stephen Harper's Conservative government, according to Winnipeg Free Press. Feel-good titles for government legislation have become standard Conservative salesmanship, a development highlighted this week with the introduction of a complex and controversial electronic surveillance bill and oTTAWA - It's safe to say the "Protecting Bitumen from Internet Predators Pipeline" is not in the cards for Canada. She was talking about the perversion of language. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canada Dept: Newlywed newcomers better be in love or be prepared to tough it out in the relationship for two years if they don't want to get kicked out of Canada, according to Winnipeg Free Press. "For two years you have to stay married," said MP Kevin Lamoureux, who heard the news on Valentine's Day as a member of the standing committee on citizenship and immigration. The government is bringing into force regulatory changes to deter marriage fraud, he said and barbara Judt, holding a resident's baby, worries about those who are abused by their spouses. PHIL HOSSACK / Citizenship and Immigration Canada is changing Immigration and Refugee Protection regulations to make a sponsored spouse stay in the relationship for at least two years once they get permanent residence status, or they have to get out of Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Fort Kent, Maine Dept: Caldwell and Ross will build a new bridge across the St. John River between Clair, N.B. and Fort Kent, Maine, the New Brunswick Department of Transportation announced Thursday, according to CBC. The provincial government committed last year to replace the existing bridge, which is about 80 years old and a Fredericton company has been awarded a $13.9-million contract to build a replacement bridge linking New Brunswick and Maine. The project is expected to begin April 30 and be completed in 2014, said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claude Williams. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Judge Janice Dillon Dept: Judge Janice Dillon decided Thursday in favour of admitting statements made to a Delta, B.C. police officer by Cpl. Monty Robinson that he downed two shots of vodka to "calm his nerves" after leaving the crash scene, according to CTV. Robinson's lawyer had argued his client wasn't notified of his right to a lawyer before he spoke to the officer and a crucial piece of evidence in the Crown's case against an off-duty RCMP officer involved in a fatal motorcycle accident will be included as evidence in his obstruction of justice trial, in part because it's in the public interest, a B.C. Supreme Court judge has ruled. Const. Sarah Swallow arrested the man after the October 2008 crash that killed a 21-year-old motorcyclist. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.