poverty rate: "The poverty rate is staggering. A 50 per cent poverty rate is unlike any other poverty rate for any other disadvantaged group in the country, by a long shot the worst," said David Macdonald, a senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and co-author of the report, according to CBC. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, 62 and 64 per cent of status First Nations children were living below the poverty line, compared with 15 and 16 per cent among non-indigenous children in the provinces and Half of status First Nations children in Canada live in poverty, a troubling figure that jumps to nearly two-thirds in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, says a newly released report. The study released late Tuesday by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and Save the Children Canada found that the poverty rate of status First Nations children living on reserves was triple that of non-indigenous children. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

The Taliban: The Taliban opened an office in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on Tuesday to help restart talks. The group said it wanted a political solution that would bring about a just government and an end to foreign occupation of Afghanistan. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Karzai says Afghan forces have now taken lead for security The United States and the Taliban raised hopes on Tuesday for a negotiated peace in Afghanistan with commitments to meet this week after 12 years of bloody and costly war. U.S. to begin peace meetings with Taliban in Doha (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Ross' three-run shot in the eighth inning spoiled an outstanding outing by Miami's young Jose Fernandez, and the Arizona Diamondbacks held off the Marlins 3-1 on Wednesday to take two of three in the series, according to Times Colonist. "I was just trying to create something," Ross said. "It hasn't been too often this year that I've contributed, so it feels nice. " PHOENIX - Cody Ross can see clearly now, so he must have had a nice view as his decisive pinch-hit home run sailed into the left-field seats. Fernandez 4-4 retired 14 in a row before walking two of the three batters he faced in the eighth. He was relieved by left-hander Mike Dunn, who gave up the home run to Ross on a 1-2 pitch. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Rajesh Prasad: The helicopters ferried rescue workers and doctors along with equipment, food and medicine to Kedarnath in the state of Uttrakhand, the nearest town to those trapped in the valley, said Air Commodore Rajesh Prasad, who is overseeing the operations, according to Times Colonist. He said the official death in Uttrakhand is 104 but added, "We don't know yet what happened to hundreds of people living there." An additional 17 people died in collapsed homes in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh state, said R.L. Vishwakarma, a state police officer and LUCKNOW, India - Days after floods killed more than 100 people possibly many more rescuers used helicopters and climbed through mountain paths to reach nearly 4,000 people trapped by landslides in a narrow valley near a Hindu shrine in the northern Himalayas, officials said Thursday. Amit Chandola, a state spokesman, said authorities so far have been unable to reach eight villages feared washed away by the weekend floods in the worst-hit districts of Rudraprayag and Chamoli. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Employment Insurance: SYDNEY A rally and march aimed at federal government changes to Employment Insurance and job cuts will take place this Saturday in Sydney, according to The Chronicle Herald. Back in the day when the steel plant was going to close in 1967 it was more obvious to folks how that closure would impact them, said Suzanne MacNeil, president of the Cape Breton District Labour Council and Organizers say they expect hundreds to turn out for the march. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Angelina Jolie: Brad Pitt says Angelina Jolie is "sexy as ever", according to Winnipeg Free Press. Angelina - who publicly announced in May she had both her breasts removed after testing positive for the BRCA1 mutated gene which causes cancer - could not be at her husband's side due to charity commitments in Los Angeles and Brad Pitt at the World War Z premiere in New York The 49-year-old actor praised his fianc e - who had a double mastectomy earlier this year - for being "brave and bold" at the New York premiere of his latest film 'World War Z' on Monday night 06.17.13 and the woman of his dreams. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

boilerplate: I have a certain amount of difficulties at parties, for a number of reasons. Chief among them is my struggle to answer the boilerplate question, What do you do?, according to Globe and Mail. How I learned about my #039;almost-brother #039; The Essay is a daily personal piece submitted by readers. Have a story to tell? See our guidelines at tgam.ca/essayguide . There is no complete answer I could give, aside from a downright facetious one like: I convert food calories into muscle and fat, and in doing so contribute in my small way to the heat death of the universe. More Related to this Story (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Canada: Many readers cited Toronto for a bunch of reasons, as you'll see below . We'll profile some other top picks in the days ahead, according to Huffington Post. We asked a href "http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/06/13/canadas-new-capital-city n 3378577.html" target " blank" what city, town or village should be the new capital of Canada /a . These are the most popular of your picks. strong VOTE NOW by "Liking" your favourites /strong . We'll put the top 8 choices up for a national vote leading up to Canada Day. VANCOUVER Readers of The Canada responded in the hundreds to our hypothetical question: If you had to choose a new capital city for Canada, what would it be and why ? Agree? Disagree? VOTE NOW on our top reader picks and we'll put your Top 8 choices up for a face-off leading up to Canada Day. Just 'Like' the cities in the gallery below if you want to see them in the finals: Loading Slideshow 'LIKE' your favourites (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Calgary Housing: Belanger, who recently gave birth to a daughter, has to be out of the apartment, which belongs to her mother, by Tuesday night, as the building only allows adults as tenants, according to CTV. Calgary Housing says employment and having a child are factors in deciding who gets housing, but they are not the only factors and I'm very scared because I don't know what's going to happen from this point, says Belanger. I dont feel like I have a lot of options available. Belanger is unemployed and, with a new baby, thought she'd qualify for low-income housing, but she's been listed as low priority and joins thousands of people on the waiting list. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Corporate Research Associates: When asked about the requirement that claimants must accept jobs within an hours commute of their homes, 56 per cent opposed the change. About the same number mostly or completely oppose claimants being required to accept employment in different fields than their previous jobs, according to CBC. The level of opposition to some of the specific EI changes reflects the challenges faced by the region to modernize our economy, said Don Mills, the chief executive officer of CRA and Atlantic Canadians oppose many recent Employment Insurance policy changes, according to the latest survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates. And 67 per cent of Atlantic Canadians mostly or completely oppose the requirement to accept jobs and a lower salary than a previous job. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.