service industries: On Monday, an index tracking activity in service industries for July outpaced expectations, the latest in a clutch of data that points to a broad acceleration in economic growth. Last week, a matching index of U.S. manufacturers surged to its highest point in two years. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Business orders in China show rare sign of resilience After shuffling forward for the first part of the year, the U.S. economy is starting to pick up speed. TAXATION Corporate tax cutting makes return to U.S. political agenda (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Torontos HanVoice Support Association: The 26-year-old defector is part of a program by Torontos HanVoice Support Association , an advocacy group for North Koreans, to help develop skills in lobbying for change on the international stage, according to The Star. My family and other people are still suffering. I feel it is my responsibility to speak for them and Lee Seong-min came here not just to improve his English, but for a far bigger purpose: learning to be an effective voice for his 24.5 million compatriots living under North Koreas oppressive communist regime. It is so important to learn to communicate with people outside North Korea, said Lee, who fled to South Korea in 2010 after a tumultuous trip through China, Laos and Thailand. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Russian President Vladimir Putin: Obama's plan to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin has been up in the air with Russia granting temporary asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden. The White House was rebuffed in its requests to have Snowden extradited to the U.S. to face charges, according to Times Colonist. But Carney says a stop in Moscow for one-on-one talks with Putin is under evaluation because of the disagreement over Snowden and "other issues where we have failed to see eye-to-eye," including Syria and WASHINGTON - The White House is saying it will announce in the coming days whether President Barack Obama is going to cancel a visit to Moscow. Obama spokesman Jay Carney said Monday that Obama still plans to go to St. Petersburg next month for the Group of 20 summit with other leading economic nations. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Rany Ibrahim: EDITOR S NOTE: The entirety of our 26-part series, Nova Scotia: A to Z will be published in The Novascotian every Saturday until we reach the letter Z. Todays feature is on Rany Ibrahim, who is from Egypt. Click here to see the other stories in our series, according to The Chronicle Herald. Rany Ibrahim voted with his heart on the day he swore allegiance to his chosen country and became a Canadian citizen and (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

The Institute for Supply Management ISM: The Institute for Supply Management ISM said its services index rose to 56 from 52.2 in June, easily topping economists' expectations for 53, according to Reuters. The service sector figure surpassed even the high end of forecasts and matched what had been the high for the year reached in February and NEW YORK - The pace of growth in the U.S. services sector accelerated in July, picking up from a three-year low as new orders surged to their highest level in five months, an industry report showed on Monday. The report likely added to views that economic growth will strengthen in the latter half of the year, as last week's ISM manufacturing report showed the sector's growth hit a two-year high in July. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

John Fraser: It has given them an air of triumph. You could almost feel sorry for the beleaguered ranks of Canadian republications, writes journalist John Fraser, Canadas nicest monarchist. After all, werent the republicans on a winning streak a decade or so ago? Wasnt Queen Elizabeth aging? Wasnt her family dysfunctional? Wasnt Ottawa shunning royal symbols? We were ready to jettison the institution. , according to Times Colonist. The Prince of Wales, whom Fraser calls the most maligned public figure of our time, is now the oracle in a double-breasted suit. Why, gushes Fraser, hes been right all along on ecological degradation, youth alienation and mindless urban expansion! Sure, he may have stepped out on Diana but, hell, thats old news. And now, his wife and former mistress, Camilla Parker Bowles, is no longer frumpy and catty. The monarchists of Canada are on the march. Delirious over the marriage of William and Kate, they are now ecstatic over the birth of their son. The survival of the British monarchy in Canada is assured. Alas, no longer. Now the Queen isnt getting old. Having celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, she is set to become the countrys longest serving monarch. After that, she has agreed to reign forever. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

New York Mercantile Exchange: Benchmark crude for September delivery was down 12 cents to US$106.44 per barrel at midday Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 38 cents to close at $106.56 on the Nymex on Monday, according to Times Colonist. Iran has faced international oil and banking sanctions over its nuclear program and fears it is being used to develop atomic weapons. Having a new leadership in Tehran "has raised some optimism that this new relationship dynamic will augur a much less confrontational relationship between Iran and the US," Hewson said in an email commentary. "The reopening of a Libyan terminal has also helped to weigh on Brent prices as new supply comes on stream." BANGKOK - The price of crude fell Tuesday as the swearing-in of a new leader in Iran raised hopes for less tension between the oil-producing Islamic republic and the West. Michael Hewson, senior market analyst at CMC Markets, said the "softer" oil price could be attributed to an expected easing of tensions between the U.S. and Iran, whose new leader, Hasan Rouhani, took office Sunday. Rouhani is a moderate cleric who has called for a dialogue with the West. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

duty exemptions: The relaxed border policy means CBSA agents are effectively ignoring federal duty exemptions, which are normally set at $0 for trips less than 24 hours long, and up to $200 for overnight stays, according to CTV. "During periods of peak traffic, I ve seen the federal duty exemptions raised anywhere from $150 to $200 and more per person in order to alleviate the traffic strains," McMichael told British Columbia and In a bid to reduce the typical long weekend lineups at the U.S.-Canada border, Canadian Border Service Agency guards have been instructed to bend the rules and wave drivers through in times of heavy traffic, News has learned. Jason McMichael, a spokesperson for the Customs and Immigration Union, said the move is not "uncommon." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Shinzo Abe: The assessment, in a report released Monday, said the near-term outlook of the world's third-largest economy "has improved considerably" thanks to monetary easing and increased government spending under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration, according to CTV. The IMF's report, based on a consultation with the Abe government last month, echoes earlier comments by the World Bank's lending arm on the "Abenomics" strategy of breaking out of a long spell of debilitating deflation by flooding the economy with money. At Abe's behest, Japan's central bank is striving to generate 2 per cent inflation within the next two years and TOKYO -- The International Monetary Fund said Japan's economy is recovering from years of stagnation, but that far-reaching reforms and a "credible plan" are needed to reduce its debt mountain and sustain growth in the long run. It forecasts that Japan's economy will grow 2 per cent in 2013, helped by stronger demand at home and overseas, but will expand only 1.2 per cent in 2014 as consumers tighten their belts following an expected increase in sales tax. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Giovanni Ribisi: The Fox show, coming this fall on City stations in Canada stars Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi as a couple of thirtysomething guys, best friends since childhood, who now operate a start-up video game company. They josh about how weird and gross their respective dads are. Then their dads, played by comedy veterans Peter Riegert and Martin Mull, come to visit and each sticks around, moving in with their boy. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Another British drama arrives to conquer the new world It was an epic session of hate. And all because of a sitcom with the innocuous name of Dads . I #039;m gobsmacked by the brilliantly sassy Bethenny Frankel (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.