Mandela: "He had been in jail for 27 years and we weren't sure if someone could be imprisoned for that long and not bear a grudge," Leon Raubenheimer, the CEO of Bay Street investment bank Zed Financial, says. Raubenheimer moved to Canada in 1994, the year Mandela won a landslide election , according to Huffington Post. Here are five key features of the TRC, which was undertaken shortly after Mandela was elected president and Talk to white South Africans, and many will recall how they feared the prospect of Nelson Mandela's presidency. They weren't certain how a man could resist the temptation of vengeance, particularly when it was wedded to power and its ability to corrupt. Like the more than 8,000 other expatriate South Africans living in Toronto, Raubenheimer was won over by Mandela and his capacity for grace and forgiveness. One of the achievements of Mandela's presidency was the Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRC , undertaken to give voice to the victims and the perpetrators of apartheid, a program of segregation and dehumanization that ran from 1960-1994. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Russian President Vladimir Putin: The move, along with an amnesty for the two jailed members of the Pussy Riot punk band and the 30-member crew of a Greenpeace protest ship, appears designed to assuage international criticism of Russia's rights record ahead of February's Winter Olympics in Sochi, Putin's pet project, according to The Star. Khodorkosky found guilty again MOSCOW Jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky will be pardoned, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday in a surprise decision that will let his top foe and Russia's formerly richest man out of prison after more than a decade. More on thestar.com (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Pamela Anderson: Pamela Anderson lends name to million-dollar offer to end seal hunt, according to Globe and Mail. In Fort McMurray, rock radio tunes out Neil Young over Hiroshima remarks Pamela Anderson is among a group of activists offering $1 million to help end the East Coast seal hunt. Tuesday's protest in St. John's turned chaotic, with a comedian from "This Hour Has 22 Minutes" ambushing the event. CP Video Video Its seal hunt time again, and you know what that means: Some ignorant celebrity will show up in Newfoundland to spread lies about the hunt and attack peoples traditional way of life, which is a tremendous source of pride and cultural significance. This way of life allows the hard-working locals to shoot and club helpless animals to their hearts content, or at least until their subsidies and employment insurance run out. More Related to this Story Liberal MP apologizes for Pamela Anderson STD tweets (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

National Security Agency: WASHINGTON - A presidential advisory panel has recommended sweeping changes to U.S. government surveillance programs, including limiting the bulk collection of Americans' phone records by stripping the National Security Agency of its ability to store that data in its own facilities. Court orders would be required before the information could be searched. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. While the panel's 46 recommendations broadly call for more oversight of the government's vast spying network, few programs would be ended. There's also no guarantee that the most stringent recommendations will be adopted by President Barack Obama, who authorized the panel but is not obligated to implement its findings. FILE - This June 6, 2013, file photo shows the sign outside the National Security Agency campus in Fort Meade, Md. A presidential advisory panel has recommended dozens of changes to the government's surveillance programs, including stripping the NSA of its ability to store Americans' telephone records and requiring a court to sign off on the individual searches of phone and Internet data. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File Related Items Articles Snowden documents: best/worst yet to come In a 300-page report released Wednesday, the five-member panel also proposed greater scrutiny of decisions to spy on friendly foreign leaders, a practice that has outraged U.S. allies around the world. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

U.S. Public Interest Research Groups: This plastic shield bears the great dishonour of being deemed the most toxic toy of the year by U.S. Public Interest Research Groups 28th annual Trouble In Toyland report. The play-fighting toy contains 29 times the allowable limit for neurotoxic lead. So if you ve bought one already, return it. For the full lowdown on this years toys of concern, head to uspirgedfund.org . $12. Score: N, according to NOW. Award-winning company OWI Robots offers all kinds of solar and saltwater fuel cell kits for a range of ages. These made-in-Taiwan robots unfortunately dont use recycled plastic and do have a military theme. Still, they teach kids how to harness the power of the sun. This one transforms from a tank to a scorpion to a robot. Great for ages 10 and up. Available at Mastermind Toys and Grassroots. $19.95. Score: NNN CAPTAIN AMERICA SOFT SHIELD 3- IN-1 SOLAR ROBOT (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

embarrassments: Between the Senate expense scandal, the gas plants fiasco in Ontario, the odious saga in our biggest city, and any number of other embarrassments and indignities, few could blame Canadians for feeling disillusioned with the people elected or appointed to serve them, according to Huffington Post. But even amid a steady stream of allegations, obfuscation, petty insults and attacks, three things really stood out as particularly disheartening this year and Let's face it 2013 wasn't exactly a banner year for Canadian politics. It was downright depressing at times. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Habitat for Humanity: Keys to the house will be handed over to the family during a Thursday announcement, according to CTV. Habitat for Humanity said this helped prisoners learn construction skills for future employment upon release and A family is set to move into a Habitat for Humanity home built by prison inmates in Manitoba. The home was built on the grounds of the Rockwood Institution. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

human rights: Canada has a good record as a country where human rights are generally respected. So why is it so touchy about the topic?, according to Globe and Mail and Politics Insider delivers premium analysis and access to Canadas policymakers and politicians. Visit the Politics Insider homepage for insight available only to subscribers. Thats a question left from a reading of a report on Canada released Wednesday by the human-rights watchdog Amnesty International. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

mortgage-backed securities: The central bank said at the end of its two-day interest rate meeting that it would cut its US$85 billion of bond purchases by $10 billion half Treasuries, half mortgage-backed securities starting in January, according to Times Colonist. Toronto's S P/TSX composite index ran ahead 154.57 points to 13,334.73, with gains spread across all sectors save for the gold group and TORONTO - North American stock markets closed sharply higher Wednesday as the U.S. Federal Reserve ended months of speculation and announced it will start cutting back on its monthly asset purchases. It will make further decisions on tapering based on how economic data looks, particularly in regards to employment and inflation. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

New Opportunities Program.: The new provincial funding comes from the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Program. , according to The Telegram. The minister said the funding provided by the province will support the integration of three separate technological innovations new harvesting technology that has been proven to achieve greater catch rates and minimize seabed contact, faster and more energy efficient equipment for thawing seafood during processing, and X-ray technology that would improve the yield of filleted product. In a news release, the province said the opening of the plant fulfills an important requirement in an agreement between the company and the provincial government to create significant processing employment in the region, and generate greater value from provincial groundfish resources. The provincial governments agreement with Ocean Choice International reflects our commitment to maximizing economic benefits from our fish resources, and ensuring the well-being of residents in rural areas, Hutchings said in a news release. Todays opening is an important step toward achieving these goals, and I am pleased to announce $300,000 from the provincial government to assist with integrating innovative harvesting and processing technology to support the long-term success of this facility. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.