President Barack Obama: The verbal crossfire, including a rejection of the Western allegations by longtime Syrian ally Russia, was part of frenzied efforts on both sides to court international public opinion after President Barack Obama said he would seek authorization from Congress before launching any military action against Assad's regime, according to Times Colonist. "If the Americans, the French or the British had a shred of proof, they would have shown it beginning on the first day," he said, deriding Obama as "weak" and having buckled to U.S. domestic political pressure and PARIS - France released an intelligence report on Monday alleging chemical weapons use by Syria's regime that dovetailed with similar U.S. claims, as President Bashar Assad warned that any military strike against his country would spark an uncontrollable regional war and spread "chaos and extremism." In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Assad was quoted as saying that Syria has challenged the U.S. and France to provide proof to support their allegations, but that their leaders "have been incapable of doing that, including before their own peoples." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Winifred Winnie Paktong: Family and friends are mourning the woman who was the first person of Chinese heritage to be born in Winnipeg the city she was named after and loved. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Winnies death comes just over a year after her 100th birthday celebration saw many family, friends and dignitaries travel to Winnipeg to pay tribute to her and her fascinating life journey. Winifred "Winnie" Paktong holds photos of her when she was 12 and 24 at her retirement home. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS ARCHIVES Winifred "Winnie" Paktong died in hospital Aug. 18 of respiratory complications, her son, Alec Chan, told the Free Press on Monday. She was 101. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Thailand: And their employers get away with it, because Thailand the world's No. 3 seafood exporter after China and Norway either lacks comprehensive laws to protect poor migrants from exploitation or fails to enforce existing laws, such as those prohibiting the employment of children younger than 15 in fishing, according to Times Colonist. More than 90 per cent of the workers interviewed came from Myanmar or Cambodia, where poverty is widespread and jobs scarce. Many workers were smuggled into Thailand, arriving without valid work papers that might grant them legal protection. A small number of workers were younger than 15, separated from their parents and BANGKOK - Some workers are forced onto Thai fishing boats by their families, others by unscrupulous employment brokers. Nearly half the workers make less than $160 a month in exchange for back-breaking labour. Some might not see any money at all. Researchers from the International Labor Organization and the Asian Research Center on Migration at Chulalongkorn University questioned nearly 600 workers in four provinces along Thailand's coasts for a study, released Monday, on the state of the country's fishing industry. They found conditions on trawlers so bad that Thais, who have better opportunities elsewhere, are rarely found working on one. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

President Barack Obama: The latest UN figures on the civil war that has left hospitals and burial sites overflowing were released after U.S. President Barack Obama, in an emotional and hard-nosed speech, said the U.S. should take military action against Syria, but that he will seek approval from Congress when it returns to business Sept. 9. , according to Huffington Post. The United Nations has yet to release findings from its mission in Syria to determine if chemical weapons were used in an Aug. 21 attack in the war-torn country, but its refugee agency has determined nearly one-third of the population about seven million Syrians has been displaced since the uprising began in March 2011. - Watch as Canadian family mulls Lebanon departure over Syria fears (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

labour movement: The Calgary and District Labour Councils gathering was billed as a celebration of the achievements of the labour movement, including safety standards and weekends off, according to CBC. There's a big push this year for Alberta Farm Workers to be included in health and safety and employment standards so they can enjoy the basics that most Albertans have enjoyed for 50 years," he said. "So hopefully next Labour Day we won't have to have this conversation. And we can say farm workers are one of the gains that the labour movement has achieved and Supporters of the labour movement gathered Monday for a barbecue in Olympic Plaza. Council president Alex Shevalier says the provincial labour movement is currently focusing on farm workers . (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canadian Auto Workers: The Canadian Auto Workers union and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada have merged to form a new group called Unifor, which is Canada's largest private sector union, according to Huffington Post. "Unifor is here because it's time to stop playing defence and it's time we started to play offence,'' said Dias in his fiery inaugural address at Unifor's founding convention in Toronto. "It's time to stop reacting and it's time to start setting the agenda.'' TORONTO Jerry Dias, a veteran of the Canadian Auto Workers, is the first president of the new Unifor union. Dias says he plans to use Unifor's size to influence change labour relations in Canada. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Bashar Assad: PARIS - France released an intelligence report on Monday alleging chemical weapons use by Syria's regime that dovetailed with similar U.S. claims, as President Bashar Assad warned that any military strike against his country would spark an uncontrollable regional war and spread "chaos and extremism." , according to Winnipeg Free Press. In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Assad was quoted as saying that Syria has challenged the U.S. and France to provide proof to support their allegations, but that their leaders "have been incapable of doing that, including before their own peoples." Syrian refugees arrive at the Turkish Cilvegozu gate border, Monday, Sept. 2, 2013. Routine prevailed at a US-Turkish airbase in southern Turkey on Monday, a day after the US alleged that sarin gas was used in an August chemical weapons attack in Syria. AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia The verbal crossfire, including a rejection of the Western allegations by longtime Syrian ally Russia, was part of frenzied efforts on both sides to court international public opinion after President Barack Obama said he would seek authorization from Congress before launching any military action against Assad's regime. Related Items Articles UN: The number of refugees from Syria tops 2 million; nearly 5,000 a day flee across borders French intelligence: 'Massive use of chemical agents' by Syrian regime in Aug. 21 attack (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Jean Tremblay: Representatives of the areas small Muslim community say they believe it to be an isolated incident, and Saguenay Mayor Jean Tremblay agrees, according to The Star. The mayor insisted that most local residents would also be appalled by the attack and CHICOUTIMI, QUE. Police in Quebecs Saguenay region have been called in after a local mosque was vandalized over the weekend splattered with what could possibly be pig blood. Contacted by The Canadian Press on Sunday, Tremblay said he was shocked by what he termed an isolated and stupid act of intolerance against a place of worship. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Service Employees International Union: Business may not welcome it, but organized labour is a well-established force for social good one that has raised the standard of living of a great many of us. Statistics Canada rightly counts union membership as a key indicator of well-being and it rose last year. About 31.5 per cent of employees were represented by a union , up from 31.2 per cent in 2011, according to The Star. Theres an opportunity here for organized labour and unions are responding. The United Food and Commercial Workers announced a breakthrough earlier this summer having organized, for the first time in Canada, an outlet in the Sirens clothing chain. A group of Halifax baristas recently voted to join the Service Employees International Union. And Unifor, now the largest private-sector union in this country, is poised for a bold drive targeting workers in precarious employment and Canadas unions are on the march this Labour Day in more ways than one. Two of our biggest workers organizations merged over the weekend to create a super-union called Unifor. After a long decline, the rate of unionization in this country has stabilized, even ticking upward last year. And several unions are engaged in an aggressive push to recruit people who are stuck in precarious employment. That still leaves a large majority without coverage, including some of this countrys most vulnerable workers. Many Canadians, especially the young, find themselves trapped in low-paying retail and other part-time employment often with few benefits, no job security and little hope for advancement. Discontent runs deep. Even in the United States, hardly fertile soil for labour organizers, there was an eruption of nation-wide protests last week as fast-food workers walked off the job demanding better pay. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

President Barack Obama: "Those who make accusations must show evidence," Assad said in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro, according to CBC. Assad said U.S. President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande "have been incapable" of proving Syria was behind a chemical attack on Aug. 21, allegations the Syrian president has repeatedly denied and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has challenged the U.S. and France to provide evidence his regime used chemical weapons on civilians in August, warning that any strikes on his country would result in dire repercussions, and "chaos and extremism" would spread. "We have challenged the United States and France to come up with a single piece of proof," he said in excerpts published Monday in the daily. Watch as Canadian family mulls Lebanon departure over Syria fears Read Nahlah Ayed on how Syria is ready for U.S. attack, having expected one for years See the limited options the U.S. has for a strike (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.