Obama: Obama told NBC News in an interview Monday that he remains skeptical that Syria will follow through and turn over its stockpile, so he's taking a statement from Damascus "with a grain of salt initially." But Obama said he would prefer to have a diplomatic solution to the crisis rather than launch a military attack, and called it "a potentially positive development.", according to CBC. He also acknowledged he may not be able to secure congressional support for a military strike on Syria and U.S. President Barack Obama says a proposal to put Syria's chemical weapons under international control to avoid U.S. military strikes could be a potential breakthrough. Obama made the comments as he gave a series of six television network interviews on the crisis in Syria. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Joseph Boyden: On sale Tuesday, the story is an arresting fictional look at the sometimes brutal conflict between the Jesuits, the Huron-Wendat Nation and the Iroquois in the New World of the mid-1600s, according to Times Colonist. Boyden also spent his childhood summers on Beckwith Island in Ontario's picturesque Georgian Bay area. Beckwith overlooks Christian Island, where Hurons fled with Jesuit missionaries during battle with the Iroquois and TORONTO - Acclaimed author Joseph Boyden says his highly anticipated new novel, "The Orenda," closes a chapter on a goal he's had his entire life. It's a rich period of history Boyden who has Irish, Scottish and Metis roots has been fascinated with since childhood, when he learned about it as a student at Toronto's Jesuit-run Brebeuf College School. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said the company violated anti-discrimination laws when it fired Hani Khan from its Hollister store in San Mateo, Calif., in 2010. Rogers issued the ruling on Tuesday, according to CTV. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit on Khan's behalf in 2011 and SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal judge in San Francisco has ruled trendy clothing retailer Abercrombie Fitch wrongly fired a Muslim worker who insisted on wearing a head scarf. The company claimed the head scarf violated its policy governing the look of its employees, which it said was part of its marketing strategy. The store argued that deviating from its look policy would affect sales. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

economic uncertainty: OTTAWA - Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty canceled plans on Monday to increase a payroll tax in a break for small businesses hurting from lingering economic uncertainty, but the move is not expected to provide a big lift to growth or jobs, according to Reuters. Flaherty noted global economic troubles, particularly in Europe, that he said Canada could not ignore. At the same time, he said the move to roll back what he called a "payroll tax" was possible because more Canadians are working and fewer are claiming EI benefits, so the EI operating account is on track to eliminate its deficit earlier than planned and By David Ljunggren and Louise Egan The employment insurance EI premium paid by both employers and workers will be frozen at 2013 levels for 2014 and will not be allowed to surpass that rate in 2015 and 2016, Flaherty said, instead of rising every year as outlined in the government's March budget. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

provincial legislature: The Parti Quebecois government will roll out its suggestions at a morning news conference in the provincial legislature, 13 months after making an election pledge to introduce such a plan, according to Huffington Post. While polls have suggested the idea could be quite popular in Quebec, it has been denounced by some politicians inside the province and from many outside and After more than a year of speculation and increasingly heated debate, the Quebec government will release its proposals Tuesday for a "values charter" that would restrict religious clothing. The debate has intensified in recent days since purported details were leaked to various media, prompting warnings from critics of potential lawsuits and the departure of some minorities from Quebec. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Cricket Australia: Campese's comments last week about Ahmed, a naturalized Australian who fled Pakistan in 2009 and claimed asylum, were branded "bigoted" by Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland and led the SuperSport TV channel in South Africa, where Campese lives, to temporarily drop the 1991 World Cup winner as a rugby pundit, according to Times Colonist. Campese, who played 101 rugby tests for Australia and once held the world record for international tries, was reacting to Cricket Australia's decision to allow Ahmed not to wear the alcohol logo because of his religious beliefs. In his tweets, Campese said he agreed with former Australia test cricketer Doug Walters, who was quoted as saying of Ahmed: "I think if he doesn't want to wear the team gear, he should not be part of the team." CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Rugby World Cup winner David Campese apologized Monday for writing on Twitter that Pakistan-born Australia cricketer Fawad Ahmed should "go home" if he didn't want to wear a sponsor's beer logo on his team shirt. "Pending an inquiry by SuperSport, Campese will not be a guest panelist on any of its channels," the broadcaster said in a statement. "SuperSport does not accept conduct which is offensive, intolerant or discriminatory." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: Muted-red sands shift along with the ebb and flow of new arrivals, sometimes threatening to cover their prefab trailers and tents completely, according to CBC. But as with most things in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, appearances can be deceiving and The most enduring images of the Syrian refugee crisis here in Jordan are most certainly those from the Zaatari camp, just 12 kilometres from the Syrian border, which is now the second-largest refugee camp in the world. It is, of course, the perfect metaphor for the displaced people trying to cope with an altered universe and the slow realization that this might be their reality for some time to come. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

the Chinese Mental Wellness Association of Canada: However, when Ahlay Chin founded the Chinese Mental Wellness Association of Canada, she didnt need professionals to tell her that, according to CBC. A modest space, the walls of the main room are covered in letters of praise from various politicians in her city. A giant banner bearing the organizations name hangs on the furthest wall. Several volunteers sit at a long table, each of them sorting out a variety of mental health educational materials and Immigrants and minorities are less likely to get treatment for mental health problems in Canada, and in B.C. experts are chalking it up to the inability of healthcare providers to adapt their services to meet different cultures needs. The Richmond, B.C., office that she works in is a testament to that fact. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Great Canadian Theatre Company: Written by Michael Healey and directed by Miles Potter, the play is set after the Conservatives' 2011 federal election win, after which the main character simply named 'prime minister' "takes command and sets a course of unprecedented fiscal conservatism," according to the Great Canadian Theatre Company , according to Huffington Post and "Proud," a controversial, satirical play about Prime Minister Stephen Harper , will make its Ottawa debut on Sept. 10. It also features a novice Quebec MP who "may not have even been in her riding when she was nominated and elected," says the company's artistic director. If that description doesnt ring a bell, read this . (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Tony Abbott: If ever an election was lost not won, it was the weekends vote in Australia. Exhausted by the Labor Partys feuding, the country ditched Kevin Rudds government and elected the Liberal-National coalition led by Tony Abbott. The new prime minister, once seen as gaffe-prone and unelectable, has said he ll grow into the role. He d better, or it wont be long before Australia regrets its choice. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Abbott has promised to scrap Australias carbon-pricing program, rejecting the best approach to dealing with climate change. Hes also said he ll scrap the mining tax, without saying what will replace it. And hes promised six months paid maternity leave at taxpayers expense while calling himself a fiscal conservative. Australian Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott meets with Treasury Secretary Martin Parkinson, in Sydney Sunday. To call the coalitions platform weak would be generous. Mostly, it was empty and its few specific ideas were notable for being bad ones. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.