Edward Snowden: WASHINGTON - The father of NSA leaker Edward Snowden acknowledged Friday that his son broke the law but does not think he committed treason. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Snowden said his attorney has informed Attorney General Eric Holder that he believes his son would voluntarily return to the United States if the Justice Department promises not to hold him before trial and not subject him to a gag order, NBC reported. A supporter of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden holds a poster outside Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow Friday, June 28, 2013. Russian and foreign journalists continued to monitor the Sheremetyevo international airport, where Snowden is believed to remain at the transit zone. The poster reads : Edward! Russia is your second Motherland! AP Photo/Sergei Grits Related Items Articles Trapped in Transit: A reporter finds Orwellian conditions in hotel that could be Snowden haven "If folks want to classify him as a traitor, in fact, he has betrayed his government. But I don't believe that he's betrayed the people of the United States," Lonnie Snowden told NBCtelevision's "Today" show. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Lonnie Snowden: Meanwhile, Ecuadorean officials say Russian authorities have stymied the country's efforts to approve a political asylum application from the former National Security Agency systems analyst, according to government officials with direct knowledge of the case. Their accounts further complicate the already murky understanding of his current status, according to CBC. "If folks want to classify him as a traitor, in fact, he has betrayed his government. But I don't believe that he's betrayed the people of the United States," Lonnie Snowden said. The elder Snowden has not spoken to his son since April, but he said he believes he is being manipulated by people at WikiLeaks. The anti-secrecy group has been trying to help Edward Snowden gain asylum. Why the U.S. hasn't nabbed Edward Snowden yet 10 whistleblowers and the scandals they spurred The father of NSA leaker Edward Snowden acknowledged Friday that his son broke the law but said he does not think he committed treason, as the Obama administration renewed its calls to Russia to expel Snowden so he can be tried under the Espionage Act. In conceding his son's guilt, Snowden's father, Lonnie Snowden, told NBC televison's Today show that his lawyer had informed Attorney General Eric Holder that he believes his son would voluntarily return to the United States if the Justice Department promises not to hold him before trial and not subject him to a gag order. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Edward Snowden: WASHINGTON - The father of former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden said in an interview that while he has not had recent contact with him, he is reasonably confident his son would return to the United States if certain conditions were met. , according to Reuters. The NBC report added that Lonnie Snowden plans to make those points in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to be sent through his lawyer later on Friday. Representatives for the Justice Department could not be reached immediately for comment on the letter. By Susan Heavey Those conditions could include not detaining Snowden before trial, not subjecting him to a gag order and letting him choose the location of his trial, NBC News said on Friday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

House Speaker John Boehner: Shortly after the Supreme Court issued what amounted to a judicial declaration of equality for gay Americans wishing to marry, Boehner issued a short, restrained statement, according to CBC. In other words, Boehner understands this nation practises constitutional democracy, not majoritarianism. Legislators here are limited by the constitution, and the constitution is interpreted by the courts and Wisely, House Speaker John Boehner and the rest of the Republican leadership on Wednesday resisted the politicians natural attraction to swarms of television cameras. He expressed disappointment in the decision Republicans want marriage defined as between one man and one woman but noted that it was the result of checks and balances within the American government. Gay rights supporters celebrate two U.S. Supreme Court decisions online Same-sex marriage gains 'momentum' after U.S. top court rulings (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Antonio Minnella: What is certain is that Minnella, 72, is one of four Thunder Bay men accused in Italian arrest warrants last year of being part of an international Mafia organization with roots in a northern Ontario city, according to The Star. Bruzzese is on trial in Italy this week after being arrested by authorities there in 2011 and THUNDER BAY Depending on whom you ask, Antonio Minnella is either a successful businessman running a prominent local company with his two brothers or a wanted Italian Mafia figure nicknamed Ntoni the goat. The others cited in warrants issued by Italian Judge Kate Tassone are Cosimo Cirillo, 55, Rocco Etreni, 66, and Giuseppe Bruzzese, 66. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney: Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, who has complained about failed refugees abusing their rights to appeal, is being criticized by lawyers for asking the federal court to reverse positive decisions granted to some of the MV Ocean Lady and Sun Sea passengers, who arrived here in 2009 and 2010, according to The Star. It gives rise to the impression that they are trying to use the appeal to intimidate people, to send the message out that they are going to do all they can to block the refugee claims of even the legitimate refugees and Refugee lawyers say Ottawa is abusing the court system by launching frivolous appeals of refugee board decisions to grant protection to Tamil asylum seekers who arrived en masse by boat three years ago. The concern is this is an enormous waste of resources. Some of these appeals seem to be frivolous, said Toronto refugee lawyer Angus Grant. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Middle East peace talks: Kerry engages in shuttle diplomacy in attempt to restart Middle East peace talks, according to Globe and Mail. Lebanese army battles cleric as Syrian civil war spills across border Video There is a recurring tendency in the West to believe that invoking liberal internationalist principles can resolve even the most vexing crises abroad. This was the unstated assumption in a recent article criticizing Prime Minister Stephen Harpers disavowal of the Responsibility to Protect R2P doctrine in Syria. While Mr. Harper has repeatedly used undiplomatic language to refer to countries he dislikes, the claim that Canada should invoke an interventionist principle to solve a sectarian and proxy war in the Middle East is both wrongheaded and dangerous. More Related to this Story LEWIS MacKENZIE Why this strategy wont fly in Syria (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Rona Ambrose: Ambrose said the Mississauga, Ont., teen sought help at a shelter, but was returned to the care of her parents. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. It was a situation the shelter had not experienced before, she said. VANCOUVER - The death of 16-year-old Asqa Parvez at the hands of her own family was top of mind for federal Status of Women Minister Rona Ambrose on Friday, as she announced funding for a program that will try to tap the perpetrators of so-called "honour" crimes for information on how to prevent them. "Unfortunately, the violence was being perpetrated by the family, in general, by the father and the brother. She ended up being killed," Ambrose said at a news conference in Vancouver. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

U.S. Federal Reserve: NEW YORK - Panic selling on fears of an early exit of the U.S. Federal Reserve's stimulus efforts may be over, but the stock market may still face wild intraday swings as investors scramble to position themselves for Friday's payrolls report, according to Reuters. "Non-farm payrolls generally cause more volatility in the market, but how many times do you see weekly claims and payrolls coming out the same day on a shortened trading week? That will certainly cause a lot of volatility," said Randy Frederick, managing director of trading and derivatives at Charles Schwab Co Austin, Texas and By Angela Moon Trading volume is likely to be thin, with a half-day session on Wednesday and markets closed for the Independence Day holiday on Thursday. Both the Labor Department's weekly jobless claims and employment report for June will be released at 8:30 a.m. 1230 GMT . (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Leticia Sarmiento: Franco Orr, 50, and Nicole Huen, 36, were accused of bringing live-in nanny Leticia Sarmiento from Hong Kong to Canada illegally in 2008 and forcing her to work in domestic servitude for several years until she called the police in June 2010, according to CBC. Sarmiento, 40, has also launched a civil lawsuit against Orr and Huen. The West Coast Domestic Workers' Association is also seeking cash damages in an employment standards proceeding. Read more about the guilty verdict B.C. moves to prevent exploitation of live-in caregivers The wife of a Vancouver man potentially facing life in prison after being found guilty of human trafficking and enslaving their Filipina nanny says their lives have been ruined by the trial and the "shocking" verdict. In B.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday, Orr was found guilty on all charges, including human trafficking, after 2 days of deliberations by the jury. His wife was found not guilty on all charges. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.