Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Such a policy definitely separates the Liberals from the Conservatives and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who has stated a Conservative government will never decriminalize marijuana, let alone legalize it. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Trudeau, too, has won favour with a majority of Canadians -- 65 per cent according to a November 2012 Forum Research poll -- who believe marijuana should be decriminalized or legalized. As an astute political strategy, Liberal party Leader Justin Trudeau's recent declaration that he supports the legalization of marijuana makes sense -- sort of. In the past six years, more than 400,000 arrests related to marijuana have been made by the police, an increase of 41 per cent. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Kevin Rudd: Rudd was reinstated in his job just over a month ago and has improved his Labor Party's previously dismal standing in opinion polls ahead of an election now due within weeks. His get-tough policy on asylum seekers is seen as a vote winner in poorer districts where immigrant numbers are high. , according to Reuters. Australia signed a similar deal two weeks ago with the impoverished South Pacific country of Papua New Guinea. PERTH - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, facing an imminent election, enlisted the help of the Pacific Island nation of Nauru in his hardline policy of denying asylum seekers arriving by boat the right to settle in Australia. Rudd and the President of Nauru, Baron Waqa, signed a memorandum of understanding providing for asylum seekers arriving by boat to be sent to Nauru where they can opt for resettlement after their claims for refugee status are processed. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Leonie Timothee: Health clinics, hotels and a clothing factory are pairing up with immigrant advocates to offer on-site citizenship assistance as one of the perks of the job in greater Los Angeles, Miami, Washington and Silicon Valley as they aim to make naturalization more convenient for the 8.5 million legal immigrants eligible to become U.S. citizens, according to Times Colonist. "You create some sense of loyalty," said Leonie Timothee, human resources manager at InterContinental Miami, a luxury hotel that has helped six employees apply to naturalize since last year. "It is going to be a part of you for the rest of your life, and to know your place of employment helped you, assisted you in becoming a citizen I think that's a great deal." SANTA ANA, Calif. - For immigrants working toward the American Dream, some employers are now helping them reach their dream of becoming Americans. The effort is billed as a win-win for both employee and employers: Workers avoid legal fees and having to shuttle to and from law offices to complete applications; companies create a deeper bond with immigrant workers and there's little cost as nonprofits pick up the tab. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Russian President Vladimir Putin: Videos posted online of Wednesday's concert in the Ukrainian city of Odesa show bass player Jared Hasselhoff pushing the Russian white, blue and red flag down the front of his pants and pulling it out the back. He then shouted to the audience: "Don't tell Putin," a reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. The American band is known for its sexually explicit songs, including "The Bad Touch," with its unforgettable lyrics: "You and me, baby, ain't nothin' but mammals, so let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel." MOSCOW - The American rock group Bloodhound Gang was kicked out of a Russian music festival and pelted with eggs after videos emerged of its bass player shoving a Russian flag down his pants at a recent concert in Ukraine. Russian prosecutors are even considering whether to open a criminal case in the matter, which comes amid a rise in U.S.-Russian tensions. The incident outraged the Russian government. Maria Minina, a spokeswoman for the weeklong Kubana festival in southern Russia, said Saturday that the band's headlining performance the previous evening had been cancelled because of its treatment of the flag. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

flatbed trucks: Dancers at Torontos 46th annual Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival apply a last sprinkling of glitter to their torsos in the events assembly room at Exhibition Place, as intestine-shaking reggae and soca music blasts from dozens of speakers strapped to flatbed trucks, according to The Star. For me, this is a time that I can forget my everyday cares, and enjoy myself to the fullest, she says smiling, the black and red sequins crinkling on her face and Like finely-tuned athletes limbering up for a race, hundreds of women in bejewelled bras and iridescent headdresses jig and sashay on the spot to a cacophonous wall of sound. For Gemma Nicholson, 64, this is the tenth year shes taken part in the carnival parade. Today shes dressed as an octopus, with eight crimson legs sprouting from the elaborate costume that took four months to make. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Edward Snowden: MOSCOW -- National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden has a place to live in Russia after being granted temporary asylum, but he still hasn't decided what he wants to do next, his lawyer said Friday. The big question may be how much choice he actually has. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Snowden "is in a safe place," but the location will remain secret out of concern for his security, his lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, told Russian news agencies. NSA leaker Edward Snowden attends a news conference at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport with Sarah Harrison of WikiLeaks last month. Russia granted a year of asylum to Snowden on Thursday, allowing him to quietly slip out of the Moscow airport where he had been holed up for almost six weeks as he evades charges of espionage in the United States. Authorities have suggested he will have wide freedom to work, but Kremlin watchers believe his moves are likely being closely controlled by Russian intelligence. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Beverley Maxwell: Justice Ronald Skolrood said in a ruling posted online Friday that Beverley Maxwell's employment with the B.C. College of Teachers ended because the agency that regulated the profession was dissolved under a provincial law, and the 60-year-old is entitled to severance in accordance with her contract, according to Huffington Post. "Absent a clear and express provision to the contrary in the act, that intent, and the college's now the Crown's corresponding obligation, continue in force." VANCOUVER - A former employee of the now defunct teachers' college is entitled to more than $312,000 in severance and benefits from the provincial government, says a B.C. Supreme Court judge. "It is apparent from reading the contract as a whole ... that the intent of the severance provision was to provide Ms. Maxwell, as a senior management employee of the college, with a measure of financial security in the event that her employment was terminated," wrote Skolrood. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

political parties: NEW DELHI - Indian government figures showing that poverty has been cut by a third since 2004 has set off a row between the country's main political parties on whether the data is accurate, and a slanging match between two of the world's best-known economists on the implications for policy. , according to Reuters. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party BJP backs growth-oriented reforms that would include a curb on public spending, while the ruling Congress party believes subsidies and a range of social welfare projects have lifted millions out of penury. By Manoj Kumar and Rajesh Kumar Singh The debate boils down to what path India should take in coming years as slower growth puts further poverty reduction at risk in the world's second-most populous nation. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership: The Winnipeg-based company said Friday that amounted to 22 cents per share for the three months ended June 30, compared to earnings of $1.3 million or 19 cents per share in the same period last year, according to Times Colonist. The partnership's revenue for the quarter was $27.3 million, a 2.3 per cent decrease from the same period a year earlier. Advertising revenues were $18.1 million, a 4.6 per cent drop year-over-year and WINNIPEG - FP Newspapers Inc. TSX:FP saw its net earnings increase to $1.5 million in the second quarter, as year-over-year advertising revenues saw slight improvements. FP Newspapers is entitled to 49 per cent of the distributable cash generated by FP Canadian Newspapers Limited Partnership, which operates a number of publishing, printing and distribution businesses in Manitoba including the Winnipeg Free Press and the Brandon Sun. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Howard Richmond: Howard Richmond, a 50-year-old a warrant officer with the Canadian Forces, made a brief court appearance on Saturday before he was remanded into custody. He will appear again before the court by video link on Tuesday. , according to Huffington Post. Melissa Richmond's funeral will take place Saturday at St. George's Chapel in Petawawa. A Canadian soldier has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his 28-year-old wife, Melissa Richmond, whose funeral also takes place later this morning. The first-degree murder charge comes a day after Richmond was arrested and taken into custody. A friend had dropped him off at Ottawa police headquarters. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.