Hamas: But Mohammed Assafs homecoming Tuesday highlighted the harsh reality of political divisions between the Islamic militants who rule Gaza and the Palestinian president in the West Bank, according to 660 News. In contrast, Hamas main rival, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, portrayed the singers victory as an achievement for all Palestinians, apparently hoping Assafs popularity would rub off on him and Palestinians have a new voice: a 23-year-old wedding singer from a Gaza refugee camp touted as a rare symbol of national unity after he won the Arab worlds top TV contest. Even as thousands thronged the streets in a frenzied welcome for the newly crowned winner of Arab Idol, Hamas supporters stayed away, unable to reconcile the young crooners triumph in the world of glitzy entertainment with their religious beliefs. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp: TORONTO - New homebuilding in Canada is expected to regain momentum in the later part of 2013 and into 2014 as employment, economic growth and migration boost demand for housing in a market that had slowed, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp said on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Canada's housing market slowed dramatically in mid-2012 after the government tightened mortgage lending rules to head off a housing bubble. It was the fourth such move in five years. But the market has rebounded in recent months and By Andrea Hopkins "So far in 2013, the average monthly growth rates of MLS multiple listing service sales, new listings and prices have all been increasing. This follows a period of average monthly declines that held sway over the second half of 2012," Mathieu Laberge, deputy chief economist for CMHC, said in the federal agency's second-quarter outlook. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

President Vladimir Putin: MOSCOW/NAANTALI, Finland - President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Tuesday a former U.S. spy agency contractor sought by the United States was in the transit area of a Moscow airport but ruled out handing him to Washington, dismissing U.S. criticisms as "ravings and rubbish", according to Reuters. "I myself would prefer not to deal with these issues. It's like shearing a piglet: there's a lot of squealing, but there's little wool," Putin told a news conference in Finland and By Alexei Anishchuk and Thomas Grove In his first public comments since Edward Snowden flew in on Sunday, Putin appeared to make light of the diplomatic uproar over the fugitive, whose flight from U.S. authorities is becoming a growing embarrassment for President Barack Obama. Asked by a journalist about the affair, he smiled fleetingly. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

terrorist attack: At the latest of a string of court appearances for the man co-accused in Canadas first-known Al Quaeda-sponsored terrorist attack, Chiheb Esseghaier elicited only a simple I understand after being called back to court next month, according to The Star. MORE ON THESTAR.COM This time there was no declaration about the Qur an, no interjection that he did not recognize the Criminal Code. Both Esseghaier and his co-accused, Raed Jaser, appeared via video in Old City Hall court Tuesday morning. The Crown had been hoping to schedule a judicial pretrial a meeting between a judge, the Crown and defence to discuss the admissibility of evidence, among other matters. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

John Hammergren: The drug distribution company disclosed in a regulatory filing Friday that Hammergren was entitled to a $159 million U.S. lump-sum payment for his pension, had he voluntarily left the company on March 31. The size of his pension was first reported by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, according to The Star. GMI Ratings, which tracks executive pay, said the 54-year-olds pension is more than double that of the next largest, $74 million for Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO of News Corp and McKessons Chairman and CEO John Hammergren has set a new record in corporate America: Largest pension around. Several compensation consultants say it is by far the largest pension for a current executive of a public company. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

transit-oriented development: A draft version of the amended plan, tabled Tuesday, seeks to set maximum building heights, introduce new rules for urban design and promote transit-oriented development, among other recommendations. City planners brought the changes forward, according to CBC. There will be numerous public consultations with the public, community groups and businesses on these changes, as well as open houses and The City of Ottawa's official plan for future development is ready for public consultation after passing through planning committee. The complete list of proposed changes include: Setting maximum building heights for all parts of the city. Strengthening the authority of community design plans with respect to building height and density within their boundaries. Introducing new policies for urban design city-wide, including new design criteria for highrise buildings. Promoting transit-oriented development. Clarifying where intensification can occur outside of the target areas. Re-classifying portions of Walkley Road, St. Laurent Boulevard, Ogilvie Road, Innes Road and Carling Avenue as main streets. Changing some lands to employment uses to support economic development and growth. Protecting natural corridors throughout the city. Designating additional rural properties as bedrock resource area for future extraction. Focusing rural growth in villages. Making the prohibition on country lot subdivisions permanent, but allowing two severances on rural properties. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Jennifer Stoddart: Privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart's office has compiled a preliminary list of agencies with potentially worrisome patterns when it comes to the loss of Canadians' personal information. 'We know it's a systemic problem. We've seen it for years.' Jennifer Stoddart, Privacy Commissioner, according to CBC. Upon crunching the numbers, the privacy commissioner identified nine departments and agencies that may lack adequate reporting mechanisms, have faulty security procedures or require improved tracking protocols and Canada's privacy czar has singled out several federal departments for their lacklustre approach to data breaches, citing a need for better reporting, security and tracking protocols. The analysis is based on departmental figures tabled in Parliament in April in response to a question from New Democrat MP Charlie Angus. The response indicated there were more than 3,000 data breaches over a 10-year period affecting about 725,000 Canadians. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Mohammed Assaf: GAZA - Tens of thousands of joyous fans turned out on Tuesday to welcome "Arab Idol" Mohammed Assaf on his return to the Gaza Strip and the song contest winner appealed for harmony among divided Palestinians, according to Reuters. Police from the Islamist Hamas movement that controls Gaza could barely hold back the crowds that waited for the grey-suited Assaf outside the gate of the territory's Rafah border crossing with Egypt and By Nidal al-Mughrabi The fresh-faced 22-year-old from humble roots in a Gaza refugee camp has endeared millions of voting television viewers with his Palestinian patriotic anthems and folk songs. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

southern Alberta: The Canadian Forces mobilized 2,300 troops, including a number of helicopters and several light armoured vehicles, when vast swaths of southern Alberta were devastated by heavy flooding last week, according to Huffington Post. Alberta's municipal affairs minister told reporters Monday evening that much of the threat has passed and CALGARY - The number of soldiers helping out in flood-ravaged Alberta is about to be reduced. In hard-hit High River, south of Calgary, soldiers were credited with rescuing 600 people who were stranded on their rooftops when the Highwood River burst over its banks, trapping residents in their vehicles and their homes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Russian President Vladimir Putin: Putin said that Snowden hasn't crossed the Russian border and is free to go anywhere, according to The Star. Commenting on a U.S. request to extradite him, Putin said that Russia doesn't have an extradition agreement with the U.S. and thus wouldn't meet the U.S. request and NAANTALI, FINLAND Russian President Vladimir Putin says that National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden is in the transit zone of a Moscow airport and will not be extradited to the United States. Speaking on a visit to Finland Tuesday, he added that Russian security agencies didn't work and aren't working with Snowden. He gave no more details. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.