human rights violations: "In Syria today, serious human rights violations, war crimes and crimes against humanity are the rule," said Ivan Simonovic, the assistant secretary-general for human rights, told the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday, according to Times Colonist. U.N. refugee chief Antonio Guterres said two-thirds of the nearly 1.8 million Syrian refugees known to the agency have fled since the beginning of 2013, an average of over 6,000 daily and An estimated 5,000 Syrians are dying every month in the country's civil war and refugees are fleeing at a rate not seen since the 1994 Rwanda genocide, U.N. officials said Tuesday. He added that "the extremely high rate of killings ... demonstrates the drastic deterioration of this conflict." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Justyne Leslie: When Justyne Leslie describes her high school years as busy, it is a bit of an understatement, according to The Chronicle Herald. That is a bit more accurate and She qualifies that description: It was really busy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Social Development Minister Jason Kenney: Heres a short list of new ministers with major homework, according to 660 News. 2. Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney: Kenney comes on board just as the premiers prepare to meet at their annual Council of the Federation, and the Conservative governments proposed Canada Job Grant will be on their agenda. The program would give employers up to $15,000 for skills training per worker, with the feds, provinces and businesses each pitching in cash. Some provinces have rejected the plan, saying it robs existing programs and infringes on provincial jurisdiction and OTTAWA The thing about cabinet shuffles in the summer is they dont lend themselves to relaxing on the deck with a beer and a hot dog. Those taking on new portfolios soon find themselves with little down time. 1. Transport Minister Lisa Raitt: The rail disaster in Lac-Megantic, Que., will continue to be a major developing story as the town mourns its loss and investigators sort out what happened. Raitt will be the point person on questions around federal rail safety rules and any regulatory changes that will need to be made, especially in light of unheeded recommendations by the Transportation Safety Board. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

The Economist Intelligence Unit: The Bank of Communications Sea Turtle Index is created in collaboration with The Economist Intelligence Unit, a data-analysis arm of the magazine, according to The Star. Montreal comes out at the top of the index with 72.4 points and Toronto is fourth with 69.1. Between them are London and Hong Kong and A prestigious private bank in Hong Kong paints Montreal and Toronto as among the two best cities in the world for Chinese students to get a university education in a competitive world. The index is considered a guide for parents, educators and students who want to capitalize on the global economy. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Shelly Glover: 'When people say it's symbolic only, I disagree wholeheartedly. I want to see transgendered individuals feel they can go to a police service or a court, knowing that gender identity is in the Criminal Code and the human rights act.' MP Shelly Glover speaks during question period in the House of Commons. ADRIAN WYLD / THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES Shelly Glover on... Transgender rights (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Grand Chief Derek Nepinak: Grand Chief Derek Nepinak, head of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, said he threw the card in the garbage at a National Treaty Gathering of rival chiefs in Onion Lake, Sask. The Assembly of First Nations is holding its annual meeting this week in Whitehorse, Yukon, highlighting the growing schism within the countrys aboriginal leadership. More Related to this Story, according to Globe and Mail. Isaac Kawapit Nishiyuu #039;s #039;White Wizard #039; walked 1,500 km for First Nations issues One of Canadas most outspoken aboriginal critics says he threw away his Indian Act card as an act of emancipation and is encouraging others to reject the racist policies of the past in their own way. Editorial Schism will not help First Nations (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Abner Doubleday: A new book by London Free Press reporter Chip Martin argues Canadians had a pivotal role in the creation of baseball, the game widely regarded as America's past-time, according to Huffington Post. Martin explains that Abner Graves, the man who helped create the Doubleday/Cooperstown myth may have been inspired by an 1838 baseball game in Beachville, Ontario. That story was later passed on to sporting goods tycoon Albert Spalding who was running a prominent commission to determine the origins of baseball and Was the first baseball game in North America played in Canada? The story that military officer Abner Doubleday invented baseball in Cooperstown, New York, in 1839 is a particularly pernicious bit of American myth-making. Many baseball historians admit the story is patently false since Doubleday was at West Point when he would've been playing that legendary first game. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Terry Bigsby: Wabauskang First Nation will provide a company in BC, called Aspenware, with thin pieces of poplar from the Whiskey Jack Forest. Terry Bigsby says BC-based Aspenware will begin receiving the poplar from Wabauskang First Nation within a month. Supplied, according to CBC. It gives an opportunity for folks in that First Nation to actually have great employment, a great job and not have to drive an hour or be two hours away from home all the time, he said and A small community north of Kenora is getting a slice of the disposable wooden cutlery industry. Aspenware president Terry Bigsby said the partnership between his company and Wabauskang will create jobs in the community. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare: The boat rolled over Tuesday in choppy seas 125 kilometres 78 miles north of Christmas Island, Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare told reporters. The Australian island is 500 kilometres 310 miles south of Jakarta, Indonesia, according to Times Colonist. The navy ships instead began escorting the boat to Christmas Island, where Australia operates a detention camp for asylum seekers. Several hours into the journey, the boat started leaning and some passengers began jumping into the water. Shortly after, the boat rolled and capsized, Clare said. Officials don't know what caused the boat to flip and SYDNEY - A boat carrying around 150 asylum seekers capsized in the Indian Ocean, spilling men, women and infants into rough waters and killing four people, Australian officials said Wednesday. Two navy ships had been sent to assist the vessel earlier in the day, but rescue crews were unable to board as waves reached as high as 4 metres 13 feet , said David Johnston, Commander of Australia's Border Protection Command. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Edward Snowden: Anatoly Kucherena told the news agency Interfax he believes that Moscow could decide within a week whether to grant Snowden asylum, according to The Star. The question of giving him temporary asylum wont take more than a week. I think that in the near future he will have the possibility to leave the Sheremetyevo transit zone, Kucherena was quoted as saying by Interfax and MOSCOW National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden could leave the transit zone of a Moscow airport after Russian authorities review his asylum request, his lawyer said Wednesday. Edward Snowden asks for asylum in Russia (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.