Christina Aguilera: The 32-year-old singer visited Rwanda in June for a hunger relief effort. She said the experience helped her ground herself, according to Times Colonist. Aguilera has been a spokesperson for Yum! Brands' World Hunger Relief effort since 2009, and has also travelled to Haiti and Guatemala. She said being a mother she has a 5-year-old son Max made her feel more empathetic for those suffering from hunger around the world and NEW YORK, N.Y. - Christina Aguilera says that although she went to Rwanda to help others, she ended up helping herself. "It came at a time in my life when I really needed to be far removed from anything to do with work or being on camera," the Grammy winner said in a recent interview. "It came at a time in my life when I needed to sort of experience what's going on with the world beyond entertainment." (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Orleans Chamber of Commerce: Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Councillor Bob Monette announced plans for Petrie's Landing III on Thursday at a business breakfast with the Orleans Chamber of Commerce, according to CBC. Brigil has already built one condominium tower in the same area called Petrie's Landing I, as well as a group of low-rise condominiums, called Petrie's Landing II and A new development project with a residential condo tower, offices and a large reception space could soon be built in Orleans, in what city officials say would be a major boost for the community. The proposed project, conceived by the development company Brigil Homes, would be located on North Service Road alongside the Ottawa River at Petrie's Landing. It would include close to 370,000 square feet of office space, a 64,000-square-foot conference hall and 22,000 square feet of retail space, as well as a condominium tower. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Sean Michael Kelly: Sean Michael Kelly, 37, did not stop talking during his video appearance in Victoria provincial court on Wednesday, prompting sheriffs to turn the volume down. , according to Times Colonist. During his bail hearing, Kelly flexed his biceps, undid his orange jumpsuit and showed off his chest and his bare shoulder. He picked up a phone, pretended to empty his nostrils and shook his head as Crown prosecutor David Sissons outlined the allegations against him. A homeless, mentally ill Victoria man who was Tasered twice by police at a busy downtown intersection in August has been denied bail. Kelly is facing a number of charges stemming from incidents that allegedly took place between June 24 and his tasering and arrest Aug. 17 in the intersection of Douglas and Yates streets. The incident was captured on a cellphone camera and the video posted to YouTube. Scroll down to see video. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Santa Claus: Well, perhaps not Santa Claus. Or kids and teachers in nurseries either, according to CBC. Just before Christmas last year Santa Claus got his walking papers from a kindergarten in Montargis, 113 kilometres south of Paris. This year, in order to respect different beliefs and the values of the secular state, le P re No l wont be visiting the school, the principal wrote to parents. RELIGION IN QUEBEC How citizens of the two major cities identify themselves Christians and non-religious people make up largest groups: Statistics Canada Ah, secularism. The division of church and state, a rock of republican France, a motor of its revolution, enacted into law in 1905, a principle as unifying as motherhood, love of toddlers and Santa Claus. Despite what the Quebec premier may think as the province toys with a Charter of Values, secularism and its laws have led France into thickets of controversy. Charter of Quebec values on collision course with Constitution? Quebec's charter of values would be challenged, Kenney vows (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Dilma Rousseff: SAO PAULO - Angered by reports that the U.S. government spied on her and other Brazilians, President Dilma Rousseff is pushing new legislation that would seek to force Google, Facebook and other internet companies to store locally gathered data inside Brazil, according to Reuters. The legislation, which is being written by a lawmaker in Rousseff's left-wing Workers' Party and is scheduled to be completed next week, would force foreign-based internet companies to maintain data centers inside Brazil that would then be governed by Brazilian privacy laws, officials said and By Brian Winter The requirement would be difficult to execute, technology experts say, given high costs and the global nature of the Internet. Still, Rousseff's initiative is one of the most tangible signs of a backlash following revelations that the U.S. National Security Agency monitored emails, phone calls and other communications abroad. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Sotir Tsatsarov: Sotir Tsatsarov told reporters today that an indictment should be ready in the first three months of next year. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Tsatsarov says the two suspects are in a country "from which extradition would be possible," adding that the trial would go ahead regardless of whether they are handed over to Bulgaria or not. SOFIA, Bulgaria - Bulgaria's chief prosecutor says a Canadian and Australian wanted in a July 2012 bomb attack that killed five Israeli tourists and a local bus driver will be tried early next year. Bulgaria has identified the suspects as 25-year-old Hassan El Hajj Hassan, a Canadian citizen and 32-year-old Meliad Farah, also known as Hussein Hussein, an Australian citizen, both of Lebanese origin. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Janet Dench: The current measures arent responding at all to the needs of those in the region, said Janet Dench, executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, according to The Star. Canada needs to do its part now, said Dench. So far, only nine government-assisted refugees from Syria have arrived in Canada in 2013, the executive director of CCR said and The Canadian Council for Refugees and the Syrian Canadian Council are asking Ottawa to introduce new measures to help Syrians escape the conflict in their homeland. United Nations data shows more than 4.25 million Syrians are internally displaced. Two million refugees from Syria have fled to neighboring countries, which are hard-pressed to care for them. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

median family income: The rest of us are up to our eyeballs in mortgage debt, according to CBC. It shows that the median family income in Canada is $76,000 generally higher in the west than the east while the median individual income is just $27,600. That means just as many individuals earn less than $27,600 as earn more and For all the growing diversity the 2011 census and related surveys have portrayed in Canada, Wednesday's final release of data from the National Household Survey reveals a contrasting constant: the richest of the rich in Canada are married, middle-aged, white men. Statistics Canada has published the final batch of data from its new and controversial National Household Survey the survey meant to stand in for the long-form census scrapped by the Conservatives in 2010. The release was delayed for a month because of a glitch in the agency's formulas. CENSUS TRENDS Housing and income across Canada Home ownership on the rise, as is mortgage debt (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Hassan El Hajj Hassan: SOFIA, Bulgaria Bulgarias chief prosecutor says a Canadian and Australian wanted in a July 2012 bomb attack that killed five Israeli tourists and a local bus driver will be tried early next year, according to The Chronicle Herald. Bulgaria has identified the suspects as 25-year-old Hassan El Hajj Hassan, a Canadian citizen and 32-year-old Meliad Farah, also known as Hussein Hussein, an Australian citizen, both of Lebanese origin and Sotir Tsatsarov told reporters today that an indictment should be ready in the first three months of next year. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

Montreal Board of Trade: The Montreal Board of Trade is warning that the city has more to lose with the charter than with the status quo, according to Times Colonist. "It could harm the city's reputation and its economic performance." MONTREAL - Montreal's business community has urged the Quebec government to modify its proposed charter of values because it fears the legislation would harm the city's reputation and economic performance. "The government's proposal is generating a great deal of concern in the Montreal business community," Michel Leblanc, president of the organization, said in a statement Thursday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.