President Vladimir Putin: MOSCOW - The father of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden told Russian television that he is grateful to President Vladimir Putin and his government for protecting his son. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Addressing his son, Lon Snowden said that "your family is well and we love you." He added that "I hope to see you soon, but most of all I want you to be safe." In this frame grab taken from Rossiya 24 channel, Lon Snowden, the father of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden speaks during an interview to the state-owned Rossiya 24 channel in Washington, DC late Tuesday, July 30, 2013. He said on Russian television that he is grateful to the Kremlin for protecting his son. Speaking to the state-owned Rossiya 24 channel in footage broadcast Wednesday, Lon Snowden of Allentown, Pennsylvania, thanked President Vladimir Putin and his government for the "courage" they have shown in keeping his son safe. AP Photo/Rossiya 24 via APTN TV OUT Related Items Articles US government argues for continued surveillance power but prepares for changes to NSA work Speaking to the state-owned Rossiya 24 channel in footage broadcast Wednesday, Lon Snowden of Allentown, Pennsylvania, thanked the Kremlin for the "courage" shown in keeping his son safe. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Matthias Galante Ablyazov: LONDON/CANNES, France - Mukhtar Ablyazov, a Kazakh businessman accused of embezzling $6 billion from his former bank, BTA, has been arrested on the French Riviera, two sources said on Wednesday, according to Reuters. Ablyazov, 50, denies allegations he says are designed to rob him and eliminate him as a rival to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and By Kirstin Ridley and Matthias Galante Ablyazov was arrested in the village of Mouans-Sartoux about 8 km 5 miles north of Cannes in southern France, a police source said. A court hearing has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. 0430 EDT Thursday, added a second source, who could not confirm the hearing's location. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canadian foreign service workers: The job action by Canada's foreign service officers is causing a slowdown in visa applications. Some Canadian foreign service workers at 15 embassies expanded their job action earlier this week, according to CBC. "We have a number of cities from several countries that have had delays in their granting of visas. As a result, they're getting quite nervous, as are we, that it may affect their travel plans," Metulynsky said and Job action by federal civil servants might prevent hundreds of kids from around the world from participating in the International Children's Games in Windsor, Ont., next month. The games are to begin Aug. 14 and project coordinator Walt Metulynsky is worried teams and athletes from foreign countries might not be allowed into the country. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

central bank: But investors remained cautious ahead of the potentially game-changing central bank policy decisions. A Federal Reserve statement on Wednesday will be scoured for clues on when the U.S. central bank will curb its bond-buying stimulus program that has supported global markets. , according to Reuters. U.S. economic growth, as measured by gross domestic product, unexpectedly accelerated in the second quarter by 1.7 percent at an annual rate, the government said. Economists had expected a 1.0 percent gain. NEW YORK - Stocks and the dollar rose on Wednesday ahead of three key central bank announcements after data showed the U.S. economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter On Thursday, attention will switch to European Central Bank and Bank of England policy meetings and data on global manufacturing activity, followed by the always keenly awaited U.S. employment report on Friday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Dalton McGuinty: Shortly after arriving in Canada from the Philippines in 2002, she saw then-leader Dalton McGuinty on television promising not to raise taxes, she recalls, and was deeply impressed. But spending scandals at eHealth, ORNGE and the cancellation of two gas-fired power plants have changed her mind. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Ontario Liberals use Scarborough subway in by-election campaign Standing in the late afternoon sun on a street of modest bungalows in the heart of Scarborough-Guildwood, Lalaine Cukjati can trace the arc of her feelings for the Ontario Liberals over the last decade. Giambrone stays as Scarborough NDP candidate after challenger backs off (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Progressive Conservatives Scarborough-Guildwood: The citys controversial mayor made the remarks Tuesday to supporters of Ken Kirupa at the Progressive Conservatives Scarborough-Guildwood campaign headquarters, according to The Star. Liberal party insiders voiced astonishment over the insensitivity of Fords remarks about guns given Scarborough-Guildwood recently recognized the one-year anniversary of the shocking multiple shooting in the Danzig community and Days before five byelections in the province, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford said a vote for a provincial Liberal candidate is like giving a bank robber another gun. Ford said Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is in the wrong government, shes in a corrupt government, later adding you cannot . . . reward a corrupt government. So if you say you want to go and vote Liberal, then you re basically just giving a bank robber another gun and saying Go rob another bank. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Edward Snowden: MOSCOW The father of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden told Russian television that he is grateful to President Vladimir Putin and his government for protecting his son, according to The Chronicle Herald. Addressing his son, Lon Snowden said that your family is well and we love you. He added that I hope to see you soon, but most of all I want you to be safe and Speaking to the state-owned Rossiya 24 channel in footage broadcast Wednesday, Lon Snowden of Allentown, Pennsylvania, thanked the Kremlin for the courage shown in keeping his son safe. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Story Norman Levine: Top picks:, according to Globe and Mail. Wright is in the replacement body parts business, with a specialty in extremities fingers, wrists, ankles and toes. The market is growing nicely and a recovering economy means more operations as insurance coverage grows with employment growth. Wright is selling its hip and knee business to concentrate on extremities. The company has a great chief executive officer who is likely to sell the company at some time in the future to one of the major orthopedic players. No dividend so not for income-seeking accounts. More Related to this Story Norman Levine is managing director at Portfolio Management Corp. His focus is on North American large caps. Wright Medical Group (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

NSA: In training materials cited by the Guardian the NSA calls the XKeyscore program its widest-reaching system that covers nearly everything a typical user does on the Internet. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Andrew Hammond Internet-spying scandal shows that foreign policy is for corporations, too U.S. intelligence analysts can use a secret National Security Agency program to scour wide-spanning databases tracking online traffic, the Guardian newspaper reports, citing documents from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. DARYL COPELAND After the Manning verdict, four big issues remain untouched (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Australia: THE ENGLISH COMPANY'S ISLANDS, Australia - A group of soldiers start to unload from two inflatable boats after a long, bumpy night-time journey off Australia's northern coast, torches scanning the shoreline for the telltale red eye reflections of saltwater crocodiles. , according to Reuters. The soldiers are from Australia's North West Mobile Force, known as NORFORCE, a surveillance unit that employs ancient Aboriginal skills to help in the seemingly impossible task of patrolling the country's vast northwest coast. By David Gray A splash and a cry of "Croc!" sends two men scrambling back into the boats before a large ray reveals itself as the cause of the scare. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.