youth employment initiatives: TORONTO CP Canadas largest bank says its committing itself to provide $100 million over five years to fund donations, sponsorships, youth employment initiatives and other investments geared to the well-being of children and youth, according to The Chronicle Herald. That includes $4.6 million in additional charitable grants for Royal Bank s childrens mental health project, which was launched in 2008 and The RBC Believe in Kids Pledge will consolidate the banks current support for childrens causes and provide funding for new programs. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Institute of Supply Management: The Institute of Supply Management said Thursday that its service-sector index fell to 54.4 in September, down from 58.6 in August. Augusts reading was the highest since December 2005. Any reading above 50 indicates expansion, according to 660 News. The services report measures growth in service industries, which cover 90 per cent of the workforce, including retail, construction, health care and financial services and WASHINGTON Growth at U.S. service companies slowed in September from an eight-year high in August, as sales fell sharply, new orders dipped and hiring weakened. The sharp drop in sales suggests consumers and businesses pulled back on spending last month, which should keep growth weak. And the decline comes at a critical time when the government shutdown threatens to weigh on growth in the October-December quarter, if it goes beyond a week. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

federal government: Asked Thursday about provincial leaders strong opposition to the new job training fund and a declaration that they will not participate in the program without substantial changes, Kenney said the federal government is open to discussing their concerns in good faith, according to CTV. We hope we can work out a flexible arrangement with the provinces, Kenney told Power Play Thursday. But if not, we re going to go ahead ourselves and administer directly a federal jobs grant and The federal government will go ahead ourselves with a plan to divert some job-training cash to its proposed Canada Jobs Grant even if the provinces and territories dont sign on, Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney told s Power Play. However, if the two sides cant work out a deal, the federal government will administer the program anyway. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Iraq Special Immigrant Visa Program: In a rare instance of bipartisanship, the Senate passed the measure by voice vote Thursday, just hours after the House had approved the bill the same way, according to Times Colonist. "Extending the Iraq Special Immigrant Visa Program will help those who helped us during a time of war," Sens. John McCain, a Republican, and Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, said in a joint statement. "Brave Iraqis who risked their lives to protect and assist American troops are now living under the threat of retribution from terrorists and militants as a result. The United States has a moral obligation to help those Iraqis who stood with our troops." WASHINGTON - A measure to provide special visas for Iraqis who risked their lives to help the United States is heading to President Barack Obama. The special visa has allowed more than 12,000 Iraqi contractors, interpreters and others who aided U.S. efforts, and their family members, to move to the United States since 2007. It expired earlier this week, with an estimated 2,000 applications still in the bureaucratic process. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Russian President Vladimir Putin: "It would be rather logical to meet Obama in Bali, taking into account the work on the Syrian issue," Putin's top foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters. , according to Reuters. Russia, which is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's main ally, and the United States have long been at odds over the conflict in Syria. MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama may discuss the Syria crisis on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit next week in Bali, a Kremlin aide said on Thursday. He said U.S. and Russian officials were discussing arrangements for a possible meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC summit. Putin is expected to leave Moscow for the Indonesian island of Bali on Sunday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

cruel and unusual punishment: Queen's Bench Justice John Menzies said today the law, as enacted, represents "cruel and unusual punishment" when meshed with the unique facts of the case before him. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. But Menzies told a Brandon courtroom today he was not going along with the legislation. He said that would be a clear Charter breach. A Manitoba judge has struck down federal legislation and ignored a mandatory prison sentence for a bullying victim who reached his breaking point and lashed out against his abusers. Bryce McMillan, 21, pleaded guilty to reckless use of a firearm for the September 2011 incident in Carberry. The charge carries a mandatory minimum four-year prison sentence. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Allan Hawcos Jake Doyle: I dont know, he says, in all seriousness. I ll be honest with you. If you find him, I ve got a serious bone to pick with him. , according to Times Colonist. The prodigal son is back on the Rock, two months after his misadventures in Mexico, but trouble has followed him home. It wouldnt be much of a season if trouble didnt follow Doyle wherever he goes and, based on the early evidence of Doyles season opener, this is going to be a lively, uptempo season indeed. Its a measure of just how smart and witty Republic of Doyle has become that, when gun-toting baddies ask Allan Hawcos Jake Doyle, Wheres Carlos? in Wednesdays fifth-season opener, he resists the temptation to go for a cheap laugh, even though hes in serious danger. Ah, yes. Republic of Doyle is back, with a wry, brisk opener called Bon Cop, Bueno Cop, in which Doyles compadres learn where hes been all this time. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

federal government: A group of ex-soldiers is taking Ottawa to court, alleging that the federal government's new system of compensating veterans violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, according to Huffington Post. The veterans say the new disability payments are paltry compared to awards given to those who fought in previous wars, and don't keep up with workers compensation claims or even civil settlements in personal injury cases and OTTAWA - The Harper government says it intends to appeal a B.C. court ruling that cleared the way for a class-action lawsuit involving veterans of Canada's war in Afghanistan. The government's new veterans charter eliminated the lifetime disability pension for disabled soldiers and replaced it with lump-sum payments. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

global study: The world is aging so fast that most countries are not prepared to support their swelling numbers of elderly people, according to a global study being issued Tuesday by the United Nations and an elder rights group. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Canada is at fifth place. A chart outlining the UNs social and economic well being rankings for those age 60 and over; The report ranks the social and economic well-being of elders in 91 countries, with Sweden coming out on top and Afghanistan at the bottom. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

jobs: Payroll company ADP said Wednesday that private employers added just 159,000 jobs in August and 161,000 in July. Both were lower than the previous estimates, according to 660 News. The ADP data suggest that the economy is growing too slowly to rapidly boost hiring. Economists forecast that it expanded by a 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent annual rate in the July-September quarter, down from a 2.5 per cent annual rate in the April-June quarter and WASHINGTON U.S. businesses added just 166,000 jobs in September, only slightly more than the previous two months. The lack of improvement in hiring, along with the threat of a prolonged government shutdown, could help persuade the Federal Reserve to delay scaling back its stimulus. The figures are taking on greater importance because they may be the only measure of the September job market for some time. The Labor Department will have to delay its September jobs report, scheduled for Friday, now that it appears the government shutdown will go past Wednesday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.