admissions status: One commenter called the hypothetical hanging of a Mexican child pi ata time, according to The Crimson, according to CTV. Others made jokes about the Holocaust, sexual assault and child abuse. The Harvard Crimson reported that some students in the incoming freshman class created a private Facebook group in December where they traded images and messages that were often sexually explicit and sometimes mocked racial minorities. Harvard spokeswoman Rachael Dane declined to comment, saying Harvard doesn't discuss the admissions status of individual applicants. The Crimson did not identify any of the students who said their admission offers were withdrawn. The university tells accepted students that their offers can be withdrawn if their behavior brings into question their honesty, maturity or moral character, among a variety of other reasons. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian border: The recent discovery of the body of a Ghanaian woman, who had presumably been trying to walk across the U.S.-Canada border near Emerson, Man., in search of an eventual reunion with relatives in Toronto, marks a sad but inevitable next chapter in the ongoing saga of asylum seekers trekking across the border in a fearful attempt to flee the United States, according to Hamilton Spectator. The woman, identified as 57-year-old Mavis Otuteye, is thought to have died of exposure, just a kilometre from the Canadian border. It's surprising that it hadn't happened before this. Her death is tragic, but the fact we have not seen more fatalities is nothing short of miraculous. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, breaking the silence he has maintained on provincial issues due to a byelection-related information blackout, charged that the federal government and its U.S. counterpart must take long-overdue action to address the issue. With this tragedy, the debate over what Canada must do to either deter or deal with border crossings is re-engaged. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canadian citizens: AUNG HTET / AFP/GETTY IMAGES By Peter Goodspeed Tues., June 6, 2017 It is time Canada spoke some harsh brutal truths to Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto leader of Myanmar also known as Burma and one of only six honorary Canadian citizens, according to Toronto Star. The Nobel Peace Laureate, who has long been regarded as the female Asian equivalent of Nelson Mandela, is in Canada this week to meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to get some tips on federalism and constitutional reform. Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi travels to Canada this week to consult with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on constitutional reforms. But the top agenda item on any and every meeting she has in this country should be her government's persecution and near genocidal treatment of Burma's Rohingya Muslim minority. In fact, since last October, Burma's NLD-led government has waged a brutal security clearance operation in Burma's Rakhine State that has led to the killing of hundreds of Rohingya people and the forced the displacement of more than 30,000 others. Since her National League for Democracy won a crushing majority in national elections in Burma in November 2015, Aung San Suu Kyi has done virtually nothing to help the Rohingya people, who, for decades, have been widely described as the most persecuted people on Earth. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

cent decline: The country's economy was already struggling with official unemployment of 27.7 per cent, as well as financial fallout from scandals surrounding President Jacob Zuma, according to CTV. This year, Fitch and Standard & Poor's lowered South Africa's credit rating to below investment grade after Zuma fired Pravin Gordhan, a finance minister seen by many South Africans as a bulwark against alleged corruption at top levels of government. A 0.7 per cent decline in GDP in the first quarter of this year followed a 0.3 per cent contraction in the last quarter of 2016, meeting the definition of a recession as two or more quarters of negative growth, the South African government said Tuesday. Calls for Zuma to resign have increased within the ruling African National Congress party, fueling uncertainty about the country's leadership. It is a toxic combination of policy uncertainty and grand corruption which has led us to this point, Mmusi Maimane, leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance party, said after the recession was announced. Citing leaked emails, South African media have reported on the alleged influence of the Gupta family, Indian immigrant businessmen with close ties to Zuma who have been accused of trying to manipulate the government for financial gain. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

choir: The choir, comprised of 31 boys and 20 men, will present its much-anticipated concert in Lunenburg at 3 p.m. on Sun., June 18, according to The Chronicle Herald. Concerts are also scheduled in Halifax on June 17 and Yarmouth on June 20. John's Anglican Church in Lunenburg. There is no admission fee, but a free-will offering will be taken in support of the choir's scholarship fund. Barbara Butler, the organization's artistic and administrative director, said choir members had a wonderful experience when they performed in Lunenburg in 2014 and expressed a desire to return. The leadership of Musique Royale, the not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting traditional and early music in historic venues throughout the province, is delighted to host the concert. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

cook meat: When cooked at high temperatures or over open flames, according to accumulating evidence, compounds in red and processed meats undergo biochemical reactions that produce carcinogenic compounds capable of altering the eater's DNA. Most of the research has been conducted in lab dishes and in animals, according to Hamilton Spectator. But some emerging evidence is starting to connect the dots to human risks of cancer, too. But this all-American ritual may also raise health risks particularly if the grill is loaded up with hamburgers and hotdogs. Lest you feel that science threatens everything you enjoy in life, experts say it's not necessary to give up meat or grilling altogether. There are also ways to cook meat that produce fewer carcinogens. Grilled vegetables don't harbour the same risks. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

himalayan nation: He is likely to be in power for only a few months because new parliamentary elections are to be held by January 2018, according to Metro News. Parliament speaker Onsari Gharti Magar announced that Deuba, head of the country's largest political party, Nepali Congress, received 388 votes, more than the required majority. It is the fourth time that Sher Bahadur Deuba has been prime minister of the Himalayan nation. A total of 170 lawmakers voted against him. Dahal resigned last month, honouring an earlier deal to swap the post with Deuba. He will head a coalition government with the Communist Party of Nepal Maoist Center whose leader, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, was previously prime minister. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

janelle monae: The last designer to do that Calvin Klein himself back in 1993, according to Huffington Post Canada. Fashion crowds marvelled over Bella Hadid's new chopped 'do with its wispy bangs, and not only was it a total pleasure to see The Row designers, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, on the red carpet, but 55-year-old Meg Ryan. It was a big night for Raf Simons, who joined Calvin Klein as Chief Creative Officer in August 2016, winning Designer of the Year in both the womenswear and menswear categories. Long time no see, Meg! With Seth Meyers cracking the jokes as host, and Janelle Monae delivering a powerful political speech after taking home an honour for her contributions to January's Women's March, the fashionable night was a one for the books. LGBTQ rights are human rights. Women's rights are human rights. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

month: Ramadan is a month of mercy, blessing and purity, according to Hamilton Spectator. During this lunar month of 29 or 30 days, Muslims partake in no food or drink from about an hour before dawn to sunset. It's not all a bleak picture. Here in Hamilton, this is a 17-hour daily fast in summertime heat. Mothers and fathers who have witnessed the images of skeletal children in Yemen, Sudan and Somalia, shed tears of gratitude to Allah when they sit in their homes at iftaar the meal eaten at sunset to break the Ramadan fast with their children at the table set with a wondrous abundance of dates, milk, fruit and snacks. For the remaining 7 hours of the day, Muslims eat, drink non-alcoholic of course! socialize and pray to Allah God for themselves, their families, their communities, their cities, their country, and give thanks and prayers for peace and security in the world where others who are not as fortunate experience indescribable suffering. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

murder trial: She was testifying at the trial of three men charged in the death of Jonathan Bacon, a leader of the Red Scorpions, outside a hotel in Kelowna in August 2011, according to The Chronicle Herald. The driver's window was down when the SUV sped past a shop where Merkus had just emerged onto a patio carrying two coffees, court heard. Ingrid Merkus told a murder trial that the driver was definitely muscular and darker skinned. I witnessed a vehicle racing up the street and I just stayed put until the vehicle had passed, she said. She estimated he was between 20 and 27 years old. Merkus told court the driver was wearing a light-coloured shirt and described him as having short, closely cropped black hair and an olive complexion. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

rent: Manitobans affected by the cuts include minimum wage workers, students, newcomers, families and seniors, the organizations said in a news release, according to CTV. An increase in Rent Assist is mandated by July 1 each year to make up for rising rents. Make Poverty History and Right to Housing Coalition said cuts to Rent Assist will hit 7,000 homes starting on July 1. However, the organizations said this year families will see a cut in benefits or reduction in the planned increase. Rising housing costs in Manitoba mean families have to put more of their money towards rent, leaving less available for food and other necessities, the news release said. These cuts will put affordable housing further out of reach for low-income renters in Manitoba. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

portland: Anti-Muslim slurs lead to triple stabbing on Portland train Ricky John Best, 53, of Happy Valley, Ore., died at the scene and 23-year old Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche of Portland died at a hospital, according to CBC. Micah David-Cole Fletcher, 21, of Portland was also stabbed in the attack. The suspect, Jeremy Christian, 35, was previously charged in a criminal complaint with nine felony counts stemming from the May 26 incident, in which he is accused of yelling racial and ethnic slurs at two African-American teenage girls, one wearing a Muslim head scarf, then attacking three fellow passengers who intervened. Portland's Oregonian newspaper reported the indictment charges Christian with 15 counts in all, including two counts of murder. '962018883597', 'playlist Selector' 'container Selector' ' container43902178', 'ciid' 'caffeine14149560' ; Oregon train stabbing suspect makes defiant court appearance0 28 Reuters was unable to immediately obtain a copy of the indictment itself, and the prosecutor's office declined to give any further details. Christian approached the girls while screaming at them, Hudson told the newspaper, relaying an account her daughter had given her. Dyjuana Hudson, the mother of one of the girls harassed, told The Oregonian her 16-year-old daughter, who is black, boarded the train with a Muslim friend, also a teenager, who was wearing a hijab. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

refugee camp: It's a great honour to be able to call myself a Canadian citizen, Davies said in a statement, according to The Chronicle Herald. Not many people can say they're a Canadian citizen. The 16-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps phenom received his citizenship on Tuesday, paving the way for a first national team call-up. I'm very proud that I'm one of those people. I'm also extremely thankful to my parents for everything they've done throughout the years, carrying the family to this safe environment, said Davies. The electrifying midfielder was born in a refugee camp to Liberian parents during that country's civil war in 2000 before the family relocated to Canada when he was five, eventually settling in Edmonton. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

statement tuesday: The three-day roundup follows others that have occurred this year in Texas and elsewhere.ICE agents in April arrested more than 150 immigrants in South Texas, according to Metro News. The apprehensions in Texas occurred in the greater Dallas area.ICE said in its statement Tuesday that agents with its enforcement and removal operations division focus on those who pose a threat to national security or public safety. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

stories immigrants: The editor of the 167-page book, Miriam Matejova, is a political science PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia, according to Metro News. Leaving one's country and settling in a new one is a frightening, emotionally difficult experience, she told Metro in an email. Published in April, Wherever I Find Myself includes a range of experiences all of them aimed at creating space for immigrant women in Canada to share their diverse and personal stories, according to a Facebook posting for an authors' reading in Vancouver on Tuesday evening. Immigrants seldom share theirs. One of the writers featured in the book, Roundhouse Radio producer Abeer Yusuf, told Metro that the anthology couldn't have come at a better time given world events. My vision was to have a collection of stories that exposes the immigrant experience as it truly is filled not only with hope and gratitude but also with the sense of loneliness, alienation and disconnection from one's old home. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

trade program: Wynne said Ontario is absolutely committed to working in partnership with Quebec on joint ventures, such as the two provinces' electricity trade agreement and cap and trade program, and I think that is what is preoccupying us at the moment and certainly the people of Ontario, according to Huffington Post Canada. In any event, Wynne said Couillard is not asking that the Constitution be reopened. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne adopted a more conciliatory tone Monday but nevertheless appeared to indicate that reopening the Constitution is not among Ontarians' priorities. I understand that he's put forward a statement about Quebec's place in the country and I think that the most important thing we can do is to build those strong relationships to continue to foster a strong federation. That's what I'm interested in. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

trial division: Wilson-Raybould has yet to appoint a new judicial advisory committee a seven-member screening panel for New Brunswick, according to CBC. Across the country, new judicial advisory committees, known as JACs, have been set up to recommend the appointments of judges to superior courts, based on training and criteria that are supposed to improve overall diversity on the bench. The Saint John dockets are clogged and there is little meaningful or timely access to justice for family litigants, law society president George Filliter wrote in a letter to federal Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould. Without a committee in place, New Brunswick can't fill two judicial vacancies, including the one in Saint John and another in the trial division in Bathurst. Divorce lawyers, whose cases also involve sensitive issues related to child custody, say they're having to wait a year or longer to get before a judge. Vacancy hard on families For almost a year, Saint John's family court has been operating with two judges when it should have three. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

billy thorvald: This ninth novel featuring Hanne maintains high suspense while emphasizing the myriad characters' personalities, according to The Chronicle Herald. Wheelchair-bound since she was shot in the spine by a deranged cop, Hanne lives a quiet, if unfulfilling life, with her wife, Nefis, a Turkish Muslim, and their inquisitive 10-year-old daughter, Ida. In Odd Numbers, Holt skillfully melds terrorism and parental issues in an absorbing compact plot. Despite her mobility issues and depression, Hanne has decided to return to the Oslo police force on the same day she is visited by Billy Thorvald, her friend and former police partner. During the conversation, a bomb explodes in the nearby National Council for Islam in Norway, killing 23 people. Billy T. as he is known is worried that his son, Linus Bakken, has gotten involved with a fundamentalist group. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

canada: It says the changes are aimed to help support the integration of skilled workers and increase growth, vitality and prosperity of in Francophone minority communities across the country, according to Metro News. Studies show that newcomers with siblings in Canada integrate more quickly, the department says. The department says the new rules go into effect on Tuesday. Programs managed through the express entry system seek to attract high-skilled foreign workers and former international students who want to live in Canada permanently and whose skills are in high demand by employers. As the improvements are implemented, I'm pleased that Canada will welcome more skilled immigrants with siblings in Canada who can help them quickly integrate into their new life here and that we'll continue to see francophone minority communities flourish, Hussen said in a statement. Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen announced the changes today during an event at an immigrant centre in Markham, Ont. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

chapman square: That rally was met across the street by hundreds of counter-protesters organized by immigrant rights, religious and labour groups, according to CTV. They said they wanted to make a stand against hate and racism. A pro-U.S. President Donald Trump free speech rally drew several hundred to a plaza near City Hall on Sunday. By late afternoon, police closed nearby Chapman Square where a separate group of protesters -- many wearing masks and black clothing and identified as anti-fascists -- also demonstrated. The people gathered at the free speech rally organized by the conservative group Patriot Prayer and counter-protesters at City Hall were not involved in those clashes, police said. Police used flash-bang grenades and pepper balls to disperse that crowd after saying protesters were hurling bricks and other objects at officers. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

citizenship: By 14 she was working outside the home full-time in a shoe factory, according to Huffington Post Canada. At 21 she was married, on a ship on her way to Halifax, Nova Scotia. She had left school at 12 years of age to take care of her invalid mother. She didn't know one word of English, but she didn't consider that a hardship. I recall her telling me how diligently she studied for her Canadian Citizenship hearing. She worked hard to learn to read and write. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

coup plotters: Cavusoglu said Turkey would allow German legislators to visit a NATO base in the central province of Konya, but not Incirlik Air Base, where about 270 German troops are stationed with Tornado reconnaissance jets and a refuelling plane, according to CTV. The German troops at Incirlik are part of the international coalition against the Islamic State group. Speaking after a meeting with his German counterpart that was widely viewed as the last chance to resolve an impasse over the visits, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called for positive steps on Turkey's requests for Germany to crack down on Kurdish rebels and alleged coup plotters. German deployments abroad require parliamentary approval, and German leaders say it's essential that lawmakers be able to visit troops as they want. She said that we are well-prepared for a relocation. Germany's defence minister said her country's Cabinet will decide Wednesday where we relocate the troops and whether we relocate. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

downtown portland: A pro-President Donald Trump free speech rally drew several hundred to a plaza near City Hall more than a week after two Portland men were fatally stabbed trying to stop a man from shouting anti-Muslim insults at two teenage girls on a light-rail train, according to Hamilton Spectator. That rally was met across the street by hundreds of counterprotesters organized by immigrant rights, religious and labour groups. Police arrest 14 people and seize more than a dozen weapons as thousands of demonstrators and counter protesters converged in downtown Portland, Oregon, on Sunday. They said they wanted to make a stand against hate and racism. By late afternoon, police closed nearby Chapman Square where a separate group of protesters many wearing masks and black clothing and identified as anti-fascists also demonstrated. Portland police said Sunday evening that 14 people were arrested, and several dozen knives, bricks, sticks and other weapons were seized. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

entry system: Under the express entry program, applicants can score a total of 1,200 points depending on their education, training, work experience and language skills, according to CTV. The program was launched by the previous Conservative government as a way of fast-tracking permanent residency for highly skilled foreigners. Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen announced the changes Monday morning at a centre for immigrants in Markham, Ont., just north of Toronto. Starting on Tuesday, the express entry system will begin awarding 15 points to candidates who have siblings in Canada. Studies have shown that as newcomers build a new life in Canada, those with siblings benefit by having improved integration into Canadian society, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said in an update on its website. The sibling must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 or older. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

fund catholic: Why do we only fund Catholic separate schools in 2017 in Ontario, which is a very diverse province says Reva Landau of Toronto, who founded OPEN about a year ago and is crowd-funding to help cover legal costs, according to Hamilton Spectator. We believe there should be one non-denominational two-language public school system. Adrienne Havercroft is one of two plaintiffs in the action, which is being launched by grassroots organization One Public Education Now OPEN . The group wants to bring the issue to the forefront at a time when school closures are causing havoc in many regions, arguing that taxpayer-funded Catholic schools are no longer fair or affordable in a society of many religions and cultures. The move comes while the province faces shrinking school enrolment, planned closures of at least 121 schools, and up to 15 billion for essentials such as repair backlogs to keep school buildings running. Landau, a retired business systems analyst with a law degree, launched a similar challenge five years ago. Landau hopes to launch the case before the 2018 election campaign. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.

harvard university: The Harvard Crimson says the students posted images and comments in a private Facebook group mocking sexual assault, the Holocaust and racial minorities, according to Toronto Star. The newspaper reported that several group members said at least 10 people were told by Harvard in April that their acceptances had been withdrawn. CHARLIE MAHONEY / The New York Times By The Associated Press Mon., June 5, 2017 CAMBRIDGE, MASS. Harvard University's student newspaper says the school has revoked admission offers to at least 10 prospective freshmen over offensive online messages. The Crimson did not identify the students. Article Continued Below Harvard tells admitted students that offers can be withdrawn for behaviour that brings into question their honesty, maturity or moral character. Students in the group could not immediately be reached by The Associated Press.A Harvard spokeswoman told the AP that the school doesn't comment on the admission status of individual students. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.