Osama bin Laden: AYLESBURY, England - She is called the most wanted woman in the world, a suspected terrorist charged with plotting to blow up resort hotels in Kenya packed with Christmas tourists, a Westerner who wrote an ode praising Osama bin Laden, a jihadist who has eluded the law even as she has travelled through Africa with four young children in tow. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Her first husband blew himself up as part of Britain's worst ever terrorist attack in 2005, an act she first condemned and her second partner adhered to the same militant brand of Islam and also apparently met an early death. Her notebooks, seized in 2011, are filled with lavish praise for extremists who slaughter civilians and hopes that her children will do the same. In this Nov. 3, 2013 photo, the exterior of the rented house on Northern Road in Aylesbury, England where Samantha Lewthwaite lived with her late husband Jermaine Lindsey before his death in a suicide bomb attack on the London subway system in July, 2005. She is called the most wanted woman in the world, a suspected terrorist charged with plotting to blow up resort hotels in Kenya packed with Christmas tourists, a westerner who wrote an ode praising Osama bin Laden, a jihadist who has eluded the law even as she has traveled through Africa with four young children in tow. The saga of Samantha Lewthwaite is one of betrayal and revenge in a murky world where, somehow, a white woman born to a British soldier becomes a Muslim convert and then an international fugitive accused of conspiracy. AP Photo/Greg Katz, file Samantha Lewthwaite's saga is one of betrayal and revenge in a murky world where, somehow, a white woman born to a British soldier becomes a Muslim convert and then an international fugitive accused of conspiracy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Western Conference: The Toronto-born midfielder was voted to the MLS All-Star Fan XI team and named to Major League' Soccer Best XI after leading the Timbers to a first-place finish in MLS's Western Conference with a 14-5-15 record, according to Times Colonist. Johnson called it a year "of coming into my own." TORONTO - Portland Timbers captain Will Johnson capped off a career year Thursday by being named Canada's male soccer player of the year. In his first year in the Pacific Northwest after five seasons with Real Salt Lake, the 26-year-old set MLS career marks in goals 9 , assists 5 , points 23 and minutes played 5,250 . He played the full 90 minutes in all 28 regular-season appearances. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Mouvement Quebec Francais: Citing the attempted attack on Pauline Marois the night she was elected premier, bathroom graffiti, Facebook posts and editorial columns, the Societ Saint Jean Baptiste, Imperatif Francais and the Mouvement Quebec Francais say the linguistic debate in Quebec has degraded in recent years, according to CTV. 101 Quebec personalities, including former politicians, entertainers, and social activists have signed the declaration and are calling on others to add their names to the document and More than 100 personalities have signed a document calling for an end to francophobia from anglophones and anglophone media. As a result it's calling on citizens of Quebec and Canada to "rise up and reject intimidating speech and demand a democratic debate based on respect and dignity." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Nokia: The ruling by the Delhi High Court coincided with a deadline after which Nokia had said the factory in the southeastern city of Chennai would be excluded from the Microsoft deal and might have to close. At least 8,000 workers are employed at the factory, which makes basic phone handsets, and some 25,000 subcontractors are dependent on its business, according to court filings, according to Times Colonist. Thursday's ruling did not resolve Nokia's overall tax dispute. The court wrote in its ruling that "there is partial truth in the allegations made by both sides against each other" and noted that the case was likely to be protracted and end up before the country's Supreme Court and MUMBAI, India - An Indian court ruled Thursday that Nokia Corp. may transfer a factory seized by tax authorities to Microsoft as part of the Finnish communications giant's 5.4 billion euro $7.2 billion sale of its devices and services unit. The case has been closely watched because several other international corporations are embroiled in tax disputes with the Indian government, including Vodafone, Shell and IBM. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Patrick Patterson: TORONTO Chuck Hayes was parked on the couch watching some football, with plans for Christmas shopping later that day, when he got the news, according to The Chronicle Herald. Its been a whirlwind couple of days for Torontos newest Raptors, who were acquired in a trade announced Monday that sent Rudy Gay to Sacramento. They say its unfortunate part of the business that virtually every player goes through, but it helps that they arrived in a group and Patrick Patterson was walking into The Hunger Games: Catching Fire with his mom when his phone started ringing. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Mizuho Bank Ltd.: Japan's Nikkei 225 lost 1.6 per cent at 15,265.75 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 0.7 per cent to 23,178.97. China's Shanghai Composite eased 0.1 per cent to 2,201.84. Markets were also down in Australia, India, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, according to Times Colonist. Mizuho Bank Ltd. in Singapore said the budget deal, coupled with a strong run of U.S. economic data, raised the probability of the Fed cutting, or tapering, its $85 billion of monthly bond purchases when it meets Dec. 17-18 and KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Asian stocks extended losses Thursday after an apparent budget deal in the U.S. Congress reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve will cut its monetary stimulus as early as next week. U.S. lawmakers look set to agree on a modest U.S. budget agreement that restores about $63 billion in across-the-board automatic spending cuts and would help prevent another partial shutdown of the U.S. government. The 16-day shutdown in October crimped economic growth and hurt consumer confidence. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Mayor Gaga: Zooming to the tops of the charts on Zoomer TV Monday night was the latest tissue of lies issued by Rob Ford, a man who wouldnt know the truth if it bit him on those elephantine flanks, according to The Star. Who better, really, to interview a shameless politician than a shameless felon and Mayor Gaga just keeps the hits coming. For this particular bundle of tripe from our crack-smoking, gang-slumming, vulgarity-spewing chief magistrate, the enabling arrived courtesy of Conrad Black, the disgraced former global media baron whose pontifications have now nosedived from the pages of The Telegraph in London to up-dial cable channel television in Toronto. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

tourism economy: While the local tourism economy rebounded this year with hotel occupancy showing a three per cent increase through the first 10 months of 2013, the recovery is considered fragile and could take a hit with any kind of new barrier to entry. , according to Times Colonist. The new fee would be part of a proposed electronic security screening plan for which the federal government is seeking public input. A proposed new fee for foreign tourists could take a chunk out of Greater Victorias slowly recovering tourism sector, say industry insiders. Any time there are added fees, it adds to the thickening of the border, said tourism industry expert Frank Bourree, principal of Chemistry Consulting. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

provincial finance ministers: Expansion of the pension plan will be the No. 1 item under consideration at the annual end-of-year meetings of federal and provincial finance ministers, which take place Sunday and Monday in Ottawa, and some see momentum building for an agreement in principle, according to CTV. While no plan is likely to win approval Monday, Sheridan believes that ministers will be able to agree on a statement in principle that the pension plan must be enhanced, with the details to be hammered out later, possibly as soon as next summer and OTTAWA -- Advocates for enhancing the Canada Pension Plan say they are approaching the consensus required to press ahead with reform that would see both premiums and benefits rise in the future. Pressure has been growing since Prince Edward Island's Wes Sheridan released his modest proposal in early October to nearly double contributions over three years, resulting in a near-doubling of maximum annual benefits to $23,400 from the current $12,150. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Camosun College: The college received word last week that it will lose about $2.5 million in federal money for teaching English as a second language to domestic students and new Canadians. , according to Times Colonist. This is clearly a very difficult time please extend patience to your colleagues who are most directly impacted and know that we are all reeling from this announcement, Camosun president Kathryn Laurin wrote in an urgent message to faculty and staff. Camosun College could be forced to lay off faculty next year as it struggles to erase a projected $5-million shortfall and balance its budget. The news stunned college officials already struggling with a potential $2.5-million deficit in 2014-15 due to rising costs and the B.C. governments previously announced cuts to post-secondary education. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.