aboriginal students: In Winnipeg, one out of every four kids starting school this fall will be aboriginal, and that number is expected to grow. At the same time, fewer than half of aboriginal students are expected to graduate. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. By the numbers Community School Investigators students surround program founder Strini Reddy centre . CSI offers students five weeks of summer learning so they don't fall behind when school starts in September. Photo Store Manitoba's aboriginal population is booming, and unless there is major change, so will the number of school dropouts who are more likely to be jobless, poor, have kids in care and abuse substances, experts say. To counter this, some are calling for an aboriginal school division. Others say only a long, intensive dose of caring will cure a wound that's festered for generations. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Caribbean culture: After years of dwindling support for North Americas largest celebration of Caribbean culture, the federal level is contributing nothing to this years annual event. Not one penny, according to The Star. Yet Ottawa is set to cash in. An independent 2010 economic impact study concluded that Torontos annual celebration of Caribbean food, music and dance generates almost $200 million in total tax revenue for all three levels of government. And about 55 per cent of that windfall goes to Ottawa. Only about $1 million ends up at city hall, which gets most of its money through property tax and As thousands of sequin-clad revelers march in Torontos jubilant Caribbean festival parade on Saturday they ll be carrying an invisible freeloader Prime Minister Stephen Harpers Conservative government. The Harper government had offered to provide a measly $13,000, but there were so many strings attached to this funding that festival organizers say they had to turn it down. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rugby sevens: Hoping to put on a good show when rugby sevens debuts in the 2016 Games, the Brazilian federation has announced that it will go hunting for players abroad, looking for anyone with at least some experience in the game and a Brazilian link that would allow them to represent the country, according to Times Colonist. Brazil has very little tradition in the sport and has never achieved significant results in top international competitions, but both the men's and women's national teams automatically qualify for the 2016 Games as hosts and SAO PAULO - Brazil is sending a message to everyone who plays rugby out there: You want to participate in the Rio Olympics? Come talk to us! The federation this weekend is launching a worldwide campaign entitled "Brazilian Rugby Players Wanted" to spread the word, hoping to find at least a handful of players who can help turn the national team into a more competitive squad by the time the Olympics arrive. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Islamophobia: Re: Islamophobia still guides the West, Letter July 30, according to The Star. Re: Little optimism as Israelis and Palestinian resume talks, July 30 Re: Jewish voices are able to criticize Israel without demonizing it, Opinion July 28 Re: , Toronto (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Jared Hasselhoff: The incident took place when the band, famous for its sexually explicit songs and on-stage antics, played a concert in Ukraine. On a video, posted on YouTube, bassist Jared Hasselhoff is seen pushing the Russian white-blue-red tricolour into the front of his pants and then pulling it out of the back, according to Reuters. Moscow reacted angrily, barring the band from performing at a festival in the Krasnodar Black Sea region, also known as Kuban. The event, held on August 1-7, is expected to feature bands including The Prodigy, Guano Apes and Scooter and MOSCOW - American rock group Bloodhound Gang has been barred from a music festival in Russia, the Russian Culture Minister said, after a band member shoved the country's flag into his underpants during a gig. "Don't tell Putin!" he said to the applause of the audience in the city of Odessa on Wednesday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Bankruptcy trustee Jillian Taylor-Mancusi: He's 28 years old, up to his eyeballs in debt, and seriously thinking about doing the previously unthinkable -- filing for personal bankruptcy. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Here are some examples of recent studies/reports dealing with Canada's long-standing issue of rising consumer debt loads and consumer bankruptcy rates: Bankruptcy trustee Jillian Taylor-Mancusi warns rising interest rates will bring a rude awakening. Photo Store Matt not his real name says he got into his financial predicament by racking up nearly $70,000 in debts, most of it outstanding student loans, over the past 10 years. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper: Such a policy definitely separates the Liberals from the Conservatives and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who has stated a Conservative government will never decriminalize marijuana, let alone legalize it. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Trudeau, too, has won favour with a majority of Canadians -- 65 per cent according to a November 2012 Forum Research poll -- who believe marijuana should be decriminalized or legalized. As an astute political strategy, Liberal party Leader Justin Trudeau's recent declaration that he supports the legalization of marijuana makes sense -- sort of. In the past six years, more than 400,000 arrests related to marijuana have been made by the police, an increase of 41 per cent. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Kevin Rudd: Rudd was reinstated in his job just over a month ago and has improved his Labor Party's previously dismal standing in opinion polls ahead of an election now due within weeks. His get-tough policy on asylum seekers is seen as a vote winner in poorer districts where immigrant numbers are high. , according to Reuters. Australia signed a similar deal two weeks ago with the impoverished South Pacific country of Papua New Guinea. PERTH - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, facing an imminent election, enlisted the help of the Pacific Island nation of Nauru in his hardline policy of denying asylum seekers arriving by boat the right to settle in Australia. Rudd and the President of Nauru, Baron Waqa, signed a memorandum of understanding providing for asylum seekers arriving by boat to be sent to Nauru where they can opt for resettlement after their claims for refugee status are processed. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Leonie Timothee: Health clinics, hotels and a clothing factory are pairing up with immigrant advocates to offer on-site citizenship assistance as one of the perks of the job in greater Los Angeles, Miami, Washington and Silicon Valley as they aim to make naturalization more convenient for the 8.5 million legal immigrants eligible to become U.S. citizens, according to Times Colonist. "You create some sense of loyalty," said Leonie Timothee, human resources manager at InterContinental Miami, a luxury hotel that has helped six employees apply to naturalize since last year. "It is going to be a part of you for the rest of your life, and to know your place of employment helped you, assisted you in becoming a citizen I think that's a great deal." SANTA ANA, Calif. - For immigrants working toward the American Dream, some employers are now helping them reach their dream of becoming Americans. The effort is billed as a win-win for both employee and employers: Workers avoid legal fees and having to shuttle to and from law offices to complete applications; companies create a deeper bond with immigrant workers and there's little cost as nonprofits pick up the tab. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Russian President Vladimir Putin: Videos posted online of Wednesday's concert in the Ukrainian city of Odesa show bass player Jared Hasselhoff pushing the Russian white, blue and red flag down the front of his pants and pulling it out the back. He then shouted to the audience: "Don't tell Putin," a reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. The American band is known for its sexually explicit songs, including "The Bad Touch," with its unforgettable lyrics: "You and me, baby, ain't nothin' but mammals, so let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel." MOSCOW - The American rock group Bloodhound Gang was kicked out of a Russian music festival and pelted with eggs after videos emerged of its bass player shoving a Russian flag down his pants at a recent concert in Ukraine. Russian prosecutors are even considering whether to open a criminal case in the matter, which comes amid a rise in U.S.-Russian tensions. The incident outraged the Russian government. Maria Minina, a spokeswoman for the weeklong Kubana festival in southern Russia, said Saturday that the band's headlining performance the previous evening had been cancelled because of its treatment of the flag. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.