UNHCR: GENEVA - Many Syrians who have escaped their country are now desperate to escape from U.N.-run refugee camps, where women are not safe and teenage boys are recruited as soldiers to fight in the conflict, according to an internal U.N. report, according to Reuters. The report, an self-evaluation of UNHCR's work in Syria entitled "From slow boil to breaking point", admits the United Nations could have done much better and "a far more substantial and coherent strategy is needed" and By Tom Miles The U.N. refugee agency UNHCR is trying to cope with a massive humanitarian crisis, as 1.9 million Syrians have sought refuge abroad, mainly in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canadian Olympic Committee: It may have been part of an ongoing outreach program by the Canadian Olympic Committee, but the symbolism cant be lost in what promises to be a highly charged run-up to the Sochi Winter Games, to be played out against the backdrop of Russias anti-gay legislation , according to The Star. When one looks at something as repugnant as a law that outlaws same sex propaganda and threatens jail time for anyone espousing equal rights for homosexuals and lesbians, it is hard to suppress the sensory nerve that screams boycott in response and Sunday in Vancouver, Canadian Olympians Mercedes Nicoll and Mike Janyk marched in that citys Pride Parade. The Canadians would be arrested, possibly beaten and jailed, if they did the same thing in Moscow Sunday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Obama: The United States has said it is reviewing whether Mr. Obama will meet President Vladimir Putin in Moscow after Russia last week gave asylum to Edward Snowden, who is wanted by Washington for leaking details of U.S. surveillance programs. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. U.S. angered by Snowdens asylum, but unlikely to ruin already tense Russian relations The White House said Monday it would decide in coming days whether President Barack Obama will go ahead with a summit in Moscow in early September. Russia Doctor reveals Putins health and exercise routines (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Burger King: Wise was among a few thousand fast-food workers in seven cities, including New York, Chicago and Detroit, who took to the streets last week, carrying Strike and Supersize Our Wages signs in front of McDonalds, Wendys, Burger King and other restaurants. They demanded better pay, the right to unionize and a more than doubling of the federal minimum hourly wage from $7.25 to $15, according to The Chronicle Herald. These one-day protests, which also took place in St. Louis, Milwaukee and Flint, Mich., come amid calls from the White House, some members of Congress and economists to raise the federal minimum wage, which was last increased in 2009. Most of the proposals, though, seek a more modest rise than those urged by fast-food workers. President Barack Obama wants to boost the hourly wage to $9. And in July, more than 100 economists signed a petition supporting a bill sponsored by a Florida congressman that would hike it to $10.50 an hour and Terrance Wise has two jobs in Kansas City one at a burger joint, a second at a pizza restaurant but he says his paycheques arent enough to buy shoes for his three daughters and insure his 15-year-old car. So he decided to draw attention to his plight: He walked off work in protest. We work hard for companies that are making millions, the 34-year-old Wise says, adding that he lost his home last year, unable to make mortgage payments despite working about 50-hour weeks at Pizza Hut and Burger King. We re not asking for the world. We want to make enough to make a decent living. We deserve better. If they respect us and pay us and treat us right, it ll lift up the whole economy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Phoenix Media Group: Phoenix Satellite Television US, the American subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Phoenix Media Group, is facing two lawsuits with similar allegations. One was filed in federal court in New York in January and a second was filed in Washington in July, according to Times Colonist. The company is named as a defendant because the lawsuits claim officials knew about Liu's alleged behaviour and failed to take action and WASHINGTON - Several current or former employees working for the U.S. arm of a major Chinese media company have filed lawsuits that accuse a former Washington bureau chief of sexually harassing interns and employees and retaliating against others who supported their claims. Both lawsuits allege sexual harassment by Phoenix's former Washington bureau chief, Zhengzhu Liu. Liu is not himself being sued, though he could be added to the lawsuit later. The lawsuits say Liu's "sexually aggressive behaviour included unwanted touching, inappropriate sexual comments, and sexual assault" both inside and outside the office. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Edward J. Snowden: We believe the administration is right to try to bring Snowden to justice, even as we acknowledge that the service he performed in exposing the breathtaking scope of U.S. electronic surveillance may entitle him to leniency. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. If the effects of Snowdens leaks are so salutary, his defenders ask, why should he be prosecuted? Russias decision Thursday to grant political asylum to Edward J. Snowden for a year frustrates at least for the foreseeable future the Obama administrations attempt to return the former National Security Agency contractor to the U.S. to stand trial. Those who regard Snowden as a heroic whistle-blower hope that the administration will now abandon its attempt to prosecute him, but that is neither likely nor desirable. Snowdens disclosures have inspired an overdue debate that was previously impossible because of the cloak of government secrecy that shrouded the surveillance programs. Without his revelation to the Guardian that the U.S. government was scooping up reams of information about the phone calls of virtually every American, there wouldnt have been a close vote in the House of Representatives about defunding that program, nor would the programs defenders be announcing their willingness to accept modifications, as Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., did last week. Its also likely that, as the result of Snowdens disclosure about the NSAs omnivorous monitoring of Internet activity by foreigners, there will be additional protection for information about Americans "incidentally" collected in that dragnet. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Bryan Charlebois: The gays now join the sad club of aristocrats, kulaks, intellectuals, Ukrainians and on the list goes to be flogged and liquidated by the self-perpetuating group of criminals the Bolsheviks brought to power, according to The Star. Bryan Charlebois , Toronto Queen Victoria called Russia the dangerous country. Serfdom, legal until 1861, led Russia head-bowed and head-long into Bolshevism, which depended on murderers and horse thieves to do their dirty work under the faded working class white tablecloth of Lenins soothing theories. Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird must access temporary refugee status for those gays who can cross the border out of Russia just like millions of their ancestors once did. Shouldnt we help? Boycott Sochi! (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Chris King: The Toronto market ended the week with a modest loss of 45 points or 0.35 per cent following the release of a slew of earnings from corporate Canada, particularly from the resource sector. The materials sector was the biggest drag after fertilizer producers PotashCorp of Saskatchewan TSX:POT and Agrium TSX:AGU racked up huge losses after Russian producer Uralkali opted to break up a powerful cartel. The move raised concerns that potash prices could fall by around 25 per cent, according to CTV. " You couldn't give them away last year," said Chris King, portfolio manager at Morgan, Meighen and Associates and TORONTO -- The focus on earnings moves to the financial sector this week as traders wait for reports from insurance giants Manulife Financial Corp. TSX:MFC and Sun Life Financial Inc. TSX:SLF . The reports, Sun Life on Wednesday and Manulife on Thursday, come at a time when both stocks are trading close to their 52-week highs. Sun Life has risen 62 per cent from its 52-week low to $33.95 while Manulife has surged 81 per cent from its low for the year to $18.74. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

intervention in Afghanistan: The stage is now set for the final act of the NATO-led military intervention in Afghanistan, according to The Chronicle Herald. Most NATO allies, including Canada, have already ceased their contribution of combat forces and The U.S. has made it clear that by the end of 2014 they will withdraw the last of their remaining combat troops. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Karen Moxley: From horror movies to blues music, there's no shortage of entertainment picks in Calgary, according to CBC. The Halo High Water flood relief benefit concert takes place at the Jubilee Auditorium on Sunday night and It's shaping up to be some uncertain weather this weekend but the 's Karen Moxley has some suggestions for fun activities both indoors and out. If you have an idea not mentioned here post it in the comment section below. Halo High Water (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.