Quebecor Inc.: The adjusted earnings equal 85 cents per basic share, up from 72 cents per share or $46.1 million in the second quarter of 2012, according to Huffington Post. The net loss before adjustments compared with a net profit of $65.5 million or $1.02 per share in the second quarter of 2012 and MONTREAL - Quebecor Inc. TSX:QBR.B is reporting a $45.1-million net loss attributable to shareholders and $52.9 million of adjusted income from continuing operations for its second quarter. The most recent quarter included a $130-million non-cash expense related to the reduced valuation of Quebecor's financial instruments. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Manulife Financial Inc.: Executives at Sun Life Financial Inc. and Manulife Financial Inc. said rising rates are having a positive impact on their business after reporting second quarter earnings. On Thursday, Manulife reported $259-million in profit, rebounding from a loss of $281-million in the same period last year. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Sun Life reports profit on favourable conditions Rising interest rates and stronger equity markets have helped to increase earnings at two of Canadas largest life insurers. Manulife selling Taiwan life insurance business for $25-million (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Tim Hudak: While some disgruntled Tories have called for Mr. Hudak to be subjected to a leadership review after a disappointing showing in last weeks by-elections, Mr. Baird said Thursday the provincial opposition party should be focusing on tackling Ontarios problems, not a few naysayers tackling each other. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Wynne blames by-election losses on gas plant scandal Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has come to the defence of Tim Hudak, dismissing critics of the besieged Ontario Progressive Conservative leader as a few nervous nellies. Comment High expectations weigh heavily on Tim Hudak (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Obama: Obama will answer reporters' questions in the midst of a terror alert that led the government to close nearly two dozen embassies and consulates in the Middle East and North Africa, according to Times Colonist. The news conference scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT 1900 GMT also comes a day before Obama leaves Washington for a nine-day vacation on Martha's Vineyard, Mass and WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says he'll hold a news conference Friday afternoon at the White House. And just this week, Obama cancelled a one-on-one summit next month in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in part because of Russia's decision to grant asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Unifor: TORONTO The heads of two of Canadas biggest unions say they re resigning so new leaders can take the helm and expand the membership rolls as the groups join together in a merger that will create the countrys largest private-sector union, according to The Chronicle Herald. Lewenza, a leading voice for organized labour, said hes been torn for months on whether to run for president of Unifor, which came together last October with the sign-on of the CEP and Canadian Auto Workers national president Ken Lewenza and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada president Dave Coles said Thursday that fresh leadership is needed as the combined union named Unifor reaches out to new workplaces as well as students and those left on the economic wayside. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

BlackBerry: Market analysis firm IDC reports that the Waterloo, Ont.-based smartphone maker has fallen to fourth place globally in smartphone operating systems , behind Android phones, Apples iPhone and phones running Microsofts Windows, according to Huffington Post. This marks the first time the companys market share in the IDC rankings fell to fourth place. It had been ahead of Windows in earlier IDC surveys. And its far cry from the days just half a decade ago when BlackBerry commanded some 20 per cent of the global market and BlackBerrys much-publicized new smartphones have done little to stop the companys global decline, at least for the moment, according to new research. BlackBerry had a 2.9 per cent share of the global smartphone market in the second quarter of this year, down from 4.9 per cent in the same period last year, IDC reported, and down from 11.5 per cent in 2011 . (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Burma: Ceremonies and marches commemorating the student-led uprising, which began on Aug. 8,1988, and is often referred to as "8888," were held in the capital, Rangoon, also known as Yangon, and elsewhere in Burma, also known as Myanmar, according to CBC. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate thanked the students who led the protests and sacrificed their lives for the cause of democracy, saying those who rose up in 1988, "wanted to build a democratic nation, and this purpose is still not changed and will never be changed." Burma on Thursday marked the 25th anniversary of the popular uprising against the country's military regime that ushered in the pro-democracy movement, the first time that the protests were officially commemorated. Best-known pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, who rose to prominence during the uprising and later became leader of the opposition party National League for Democracy NLD , spoke at a large ceremony at the Myanmar Convention Centre in Rangoon that was attended by government officials. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird: We have put a great deal of emphasis on promoting Canadian values, Baird told The Canadian Press from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Thursday, according to 660 News. Baird also said that political and religious freedoms and womens rights , including vocal opposition to rape as a weapon of war and early enforced marriage, are similar Canadian values that the government promotes around the world and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is brushing off criticism of Ottawas defence of sexual minorities rights in other countries, saying the vast majority of Canadians support the governments stance despite claims from a conservative womens group to the contrary. With respect to sexual minorities, we ve focused on three things. One, against the criminalization of sexual minorities, two, against violence, and three, against the death penalty and I think 99.9 per cent of Canadians support us on those three issues. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Jason Kenney: Changes that went into effect on July 31 include a $275 processing fee per position, along with new language and advertising requirements, according to CBC. The new fee will ensure that "taxpayers no longer pay the cost of processing employer applications for temporary foreign workers," Kenney said in a news release issued Wednesday and Employers applying to hire temporary foreign workers will now have to pay a processing fee under promised changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, Jason Kenney, the minister of employment and social development announced on Wednesday. The new fee is intended to cover the administrative costs of processing requests for a labour marker opinion, which is usually required to prove the need to hire a temporary foreign worker. There is no refund if the LMO is rejected and employers are not to recover the fee from the workers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird: Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is brushing off criticism of Ottawas defence of sexual minorities rights in foreign countries, saying the vast majority of Canadians support the governments stance, according to The Chronicle Herald. REAL Women of Canada took issue with Bairds recent comments to The Canadian Press, in which he said the Harper government had tried to persuade Russia not to follow through with a controversial anti-gay law and He was responding to an attack by a conservative group that accused him of using tax dollars to promote his own personal agenda. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.