18 October 2022_

Ontario's Municipal council and school board elections will take place on Monday, October 24, 2022. Ontario voters will choose their mayors, city and regional councillors and school board, trustees. Y Media has led from the front in presenting exclusive election debates coverage of candidates from Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville. In addition to this, Y Media will present election results LIVE on Monday, October 24 at 7 p.m. on Channel Y and Y Media Plus.

Candidates from different Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto and Oakville ridings have participated in a lively debate moderated by Yudhvir Jaswal, Y Media Group Editor and CEO. The debates are airing at 7.30 p.m. on Channel Y and Y Media Plus. The response from the viewers is overwhelming. If you want to stay updated with what issues candidates are hearing and addressing and what promises they are making, watch Y Media Plus, Channel Y Bell 828, Telus 2418, Rogers 857, and Ignite 707 listen to Radio Y 91.9 FM.

Y Media plus, a 24x7 all-english television network, is leading the content out front. As an infotainment channel, Y Media Plus offers your daily dose of news, current affairs, politics, and business to the best in entertainment, lifestyle, sports, beauty, fashion, health and much more. You can watch the Y Media plus channel on our websites: ymediaplus.com and southsiandaily.com, Y Media TV app. You can also search Y Media Plus on your IPTV box.

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Y MEDIA EXCLUSIVE WHAT DOES HAPPINESS MEAN FOR KAPIL SHARMA?

POOJA LUTHRA

In an exclusive interview with Y Media Group Editor, Yudhvir Jaswal, the king of comedy, actor and producer Kapil Sharma talks openly about his 'Zwigato' movie that premiered at the 47th Toronto International Film Festival. The film stars Kapil Sharma as Manas (protagonist) in a never-seen-before avatar. "Sharma is someone who could relate to the common man, something you get to see very much in 'Zwigato,' director Nandita Das tells Y Media. Kapil Sharma tells Y Media he always wanted to work with Nandita Das as she is a visionary director. Hailing from Amristar, Punjab, India, Sharma says the character in the movie is somewhat connected to his real life as it highlights the struggles one undergoes every day. He plays a grittier, dramatic character that is a significant step away from his comedy. According to Sharma, 'Zwigato' beautifully humanizes the ignored lower class. It is layered with s ocietal elements that many of us take for granted.

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GURYODH SINGH KHATTRA MURDER UPDATE: JEROME DOWNEY-APPLE, 20, FROM BRAMPTON

CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

Officers from the Homicide and Missing Persons Bureau have laid charges in relation to a shooting in Brampton, which led to the death of a man and caused nonlife threatening injuries to a woman.

On Wednesday, September 22, 2021, at 4:45 p.m., police responded to a homicide that occurred at a residence on Rushbrook Drive in Brampton. Upon arrival, police located a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.

KAMALJIT ARORA, 45, CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER IN DEATHS OF HIS 2 CHILDREN IN LAVAL, QUE

Kamaljit Arora, 45, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his daughter Anzel, 13, and son Aaron, 11, in the Montreal suburb of Laval. In addition, he faces a charge of strangling his wife. Laval Mayor Stéphane Boyer paid tribute to Anzel and Aaron in a Facebook post and placed flowers on a growing memorial outside their home. "I struggle to find the words to describe the infinite sadness of this tragedy, of which we still have so few details and which is already so revolting," Boyer wrote. "That innocent lives are taken in such a horrible way is beyond comprehension and deeply shakes all Laval residents." He offered his condolences to the mother and older sister of the two young victims. None of the allegations have been proven in court of law.

SPECIAL COUNTERS AT BLS CENTRES IN TORONTO AND BRAMPTON SET UP FOR ENTRY VISA APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS ON EMERGENCY GROUNDS

In order to facilitate faster processing of applications for Entry Visa on Emergency Grounds, it has been decided to set up special counters at BLS Centres in Toronto and Brampton w.e.f. Monday, 17 October, 2022 for acceptance of such applications. The applicants are therefore advised not to approach the Consulate directly for submission of such applications. I CONTD. ON PAGE 7

ROBERT SOLIS, 50, CONVICTED OF CAPITAL MURDER IN KILLING OF HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY SANDEEP DHALIWAL IN TEXAS

The killer of an Indian-American Sikh sheriff’s deputy in Texas has been found guilty of murder with the possibility of the death penalty, according to media reports. A jury on Monday found former convict Robert Solis guilty of capital murder in the killing of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal in September 2019 near Houston.

INDIAN ECONOMY SHOWS GREAT RESILIENCE POST COVID; MARCHES STRONGLY TOWARDS 2047 GOAL

India has one of the most promising economies globally. India has surpassed Britain to become the world's fifth largest economy. The manufacturing MSMEstart-up ecosystem has boosted the economy and created new job opportunities. As a result of these efforts, the Indian economy has recovered from the negative effects of Covid, and the country is on its way to becoming the world's third and $5 trillion economy. The good news is that the eight key industries that drive the country's economy -- coal, crude oil, natural gas, petroleum refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity -- have grown by 4.5 per cent. This simply means that the Indian economy has returned to normalcy and is progressing.

CANADA AIMS TO GRANT CITIZENSHIP TO 300K PEOPLE BY MARCH 2023, INDIANS TO BENEFIT THE MOST

Canada aims to grant citizenship to 300,000 people in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, a move likely to benefit many Indians.

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) memo recommends that it process a total of 285,000 decisions and 300,000 new citizens by March 31, 2023. A decision means a review of an application which is then approved, denied, or marked as incomplete.

The citizenship target means that 300,000 approved applicants must take the oath of citizenship, which would be either in person or virtually.

CIRCULATED

MARKHAM, SCARBOROUGH, RICHMOND HILL, VAUGHAN, WOODBRIDGE, ETOBICOKE, NORTH YORK, MALTON, REXDALE, BRAMPTON, MISSISSAUGA, OAKVILLE, HAMILTON, MILTON, STONEY CREEK, BURLINGTON

BRAMPTON

FROM L TO R: ANSHUL RUHIL, CHAIRMAN RUHIL HOLDINGS, RITESH MALIK, NATIONAL CONVENER CIF, HON. HELENA JACZEK, FEDERAL

MINISTER OF GOVT SERVICES & PROCUREMENT, ANIL AGARWAL, CHAIRMAN VEDANTA GROUP, HON. DOUG FORD, PREMIER OF ONTARIO, HON. MARY NG, FEDERAL MINISTER OF SMB, EXPORT PROMOTION & INT TRADE, NORTON KOTHARI, CHAIRMAN, KOTHARI GROUP, SATISH THAKKAR, CHAIR, CIF, APOORVA SRIVASTAVA, CONSUL GENERAL OF INDIA, TORONTO AND AMANDA STROHAN, DHC OF CANADA, NEW DELHI.

I DETAILS ON PAGE 38

Y MEDIA EXCLUSIVE: VEDANTA FOUNDER ANIL AGARWAL HONOURED WITH GLOBAL INDIAN AWARD BY CIF IN CANADA

FLEETEX TRANSPORT LTD. DONATES $100,000 IN SUPPORT OF WILLIAM OSLER HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION

Fleetex Transport Ltd., led by President, Amarjit Singh Garcha, makes the gift on behalf of the Garcha family and in loving memory of Mr. Garcha’s late mother, Harbans Kaur Garcha, who received exceptional care at Osler.

“We were inspired by the extraordinary care given to my mother during her time at Osler,” said Amarjit Singh Garcha, President, Fleetex Transport Ltd. “We want to ensure everyone in our community has the same access to quality, compassionate care, and that is why making this donation in my mother’s honour is so important to us.”

The communities served by Osler are growing three times faster than the provincial average, and the population has a three-times-greater-thanaverage risk of serious illness, including heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes.

Within the next 20 years, one in two members of our community will be diagnosed with cancer. As the need for exceptional care continues to grow, Osler continues to evolve to help increase health care capacity for years to come. In Ontario, all equipment in a hospital must be funded by the community, along with a portion of construction costs. Community support is helping to transform Peel Memorial into Brampton’s new

hospital; it will help bring expanded cancer care services to Brampton Civic; and help ensure that Etobicoke General has the space and equipment required to continue providing the specialized care the community needs.

“This incredible gift from Fleetex Transport Ltd. is such a meaningful way to honour Mrs. Garcha’s legacy while ensuring family, friends and neighbours have access to the excellent patient care she received at Osler,” said Ken Mayhew, President and CEO, Osler Foundation. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Fleetex Transport Ltd. and the entire Garcha family for their commitment to care and generous support of our hospitals.”

ABOUT WILLIAM OSLER HEALTH SYSTEM and FOUNDATION: William Osler Health System (Osler) is a hospital system which includes Brampton Civic Hospital, Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness and Etobicoke General Hospital, and serves 1.3 million residents of Brampton, Etobicoke and surrounding communities within the Central West region. Nationally recognized for its commitment to patient safety, Osler is also Accredited with Exemplary Standing, the highest rating a Canadian hospital can receive from Accreditation Canada. Osler’s emergency departments are among the busiest in Canada and its Mental Health Program is one of the largest in the province. William Osler Health System Foundation seeks to create a healthier community through giving by inspiring its communities to invest in exceptional health care close to home.

Fleetex Transport Ltd. announced a $100,000 gift to William Osler Health System Foundation (Osler Foundation), to support equipment needs and ongoing redevelopment projects at William Osler Health System (Osler).

FLEETEX TRANSPORT LTD., LED BY PRESIDENT, AMARJIT SINGH GARCHA, ANNOUNCES A $100,000 GIFT TO WILLIAM OSLER HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION ON BEHALF OF THE GARCHA FAMILY AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF MR. GARCHA’S LATE MOTHER, HARBANS KAUR GARCHA, WHO RECEIVED EXCEPTIONAL CARE AT OSLER. THE GARCHA FAMILY, PICTURED L-R: RAJVIR GARCHA, AMRIT GARCHA, AMARJIT SINGH GARCHA, SURINDER KAUR GARCHA, GURVIR GARCHA.

Y MEDIA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ACTOR HUGH JACKMAN AT TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, 2022.

Y MEDIA GROUP EDITOR AND CEO, YUDHVIR JASWAL, WITH DEEPAK ANAND, MPP MISSISSAUGA MALTON & FORMER LIBERAL MP RUBY DHALLA IN TORONTO.

KIRAN RAI : LABOUR PARTY, ETHNICITY, MENTAL HEALTH

British political and sports journalist Kiran Rai who is currently celebrating reporting at 50 international sports events and being invited to 10 Downing street to meet former prime minister Boris Johnson, joined The Labour Party in the United Kingdom last week and wants to compete against the conservatives who are currently leading the country as we speak.

Rai has decided to go into politics and join as a party member as he believes that people from ethnic background has not been given a chance, and hopes people from all walks of life including young people who have mental health issues also get a chance to one day to join politics, and not be judged on the basis of their appearance or skin tone.

He has worked on numerous major breaking news stories that involve working with influential families such as Nelson Mandela, Mohammed Ali, Martin Luther King and Sir Winston Churchill family.

In lockdown 2020 Rai and his news editor, Ralph Periera created a power list called The 500 most influential people in Asia ' and interviewed the 500 most senior people in all genres of fields which took exactly 1 year to finish over zoom and generated 879 million views from reshares and shout outs and held the keys in 8 countries across India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Nepal, Bangladesh, Philippines.

He was awarded by the Indian Government radio station for his contributions to Journalism, and Arts and Entertainment.

He has mentioned he has been door canvasing for the past few weeks and is already working with local MPs and shadowing other members of the party in order to gain some experience.

Politics is a really tough game but he is determined to make and breakthrough and has stated ' I don't care what others say, I will do better than what Rishi Sunak did as I know in order to get there, you have to be a very aggressive person but they have no idea what I'm capable of '.

Lizz Truss is currently the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom but rai believes she should resign immediately as he believes she is a ' weak prime minister ' I think Liz is a weak Prime Minister and I think she should resign immediately

Rai has had an exclusive interview with Midweek from Canada as he also has family in Canada.

what will you bring to Britain? - I will bring lots of stability into the United Kingdom but also make sure the working-class and middle-class people are taken care of and become a priority.

2. The gas prices have gone up, what would you do? -'' I don't agree with what Putin is doing to Ukraine but we as a country have to be strong and stand our ground and not allow people with dictatorship to cause havoc for our own people, my main job, if i was in power, would be to make sure Britain isn't controlled by manipulative people who know how to play

mind games''.

3. do you think there will ever be an ethnic Prime Minister in Britain? - ''let me learn what politics is all about, I am learning everyday and reading books but once I have an understanding of what I must do to get there, I will race through''.

4. do you miss journalism? - '' I will always do journalism, whatever happens. I had dinner and drinks last week with Jeffery Archer and had a one-to-one interview with former MP Keith Vaz and Labour Party doorknocking with MP Seema Malhotra, I will never stop journalism ''.

5. do you mix friendship with business? -'' I would never mix my friendship with business, I have many friends who ask me for help and contacts but I never help friends as I respect their friendship too much in order for a 500 pounds project '' 6. you were bullied as a school child, I read that?. - Yes I was, but then I decided to be the bully when I went into secondary school and I have no shame in that, I know there are lots of people from my local town in Nottinghamshire who weren't very nice to me but I always remember, I don't keep grudges but I always remember.

7. any messages to your family? - I wanted to say I love my father, I love my grandma and I'm so glad that I'm able to do what I love and meet interesting characters.

8. you meet many celebrities and powerful people, who are your favourite? - I don't like celebrities, I don't like famous people at all but they are money to me and I see them only as a business, I've had many famous people who want to be friends but I have no interest in being friends with them, I love being around normal people.

‘HIGH TIME THE WORLD COMES TOGETHER TO DEFEAT ALL THREATS’, PM MODI AT INTERPOL MEET India is one of the top contributors in sending brave men and women for United Nations’ Peacekeeping operations and the country has been combating trans-national terrorism for several decades, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday while addressing the 90th Interpol General Assembly. The Prime Minister noted that terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking, poaching and organised crime are some of the most harmful globalised threats that the world faces today. “The pace of change of these dangers is faster than earlier. When the threats are global, the response cannot be just local. It is high time that the world comes together to defeat these threats,” Modi said. He added that “long before the world woke up to it, we knew the price of safety and security. Thousands of our people made the ultimate sacrifice in this fight. But it is no longer enough that terrorism is fought only in the physical space. It is now spreading its presence through online radicalisation and cyber threats”. “At the click of a button, an attack can be executed or systems can be brought to their knees. Each nation is working on strategies against them. But what we do within our borders is no longer enough. There is a need for further developing international strategies, establishing early detection and warning systems, protecting transportation services, security for communication infrastructure, security for critical infrastructure, technical and technological assistance, intelligence exchange… Many of these things need to be taken to a new level,” he underlined. “A safe and secure world is our shared responsibility. When the forces of good cooperate, the forces of crime cannot operate,” the Prime Minister added. Home Minister Amit Shah, CBI chief S.K. Jaiswal, Interpol

BRITISH INDIAN WRITER PRETI TANEJA WINS GORDON BURN PRIZE

Indian-origin British author and academic Preti Taneja has won the 2022 Gordon Burn Prize for “Aftermath”, her “unflinching work of narrative non-fiction”.

The Gordon Burn Prize celebrates the year’s most dazzlingly bold and forward-thinking fiction and non-fiction written in English.

“Aftermath” was selected by a panel of judges, made up of sportswriter and columnist Jonathan Liew, author Denise Mina (chair), broadcaster Stuart Maconie, artist and poet Heather Phillipson, and writer Chitra Ramaswamy.

The book strives to make sense of the London Bridge stabbing in 2019, when Usman Khan, 28, was a convicted terrorist who spent eight years in prison and went on to kill two people, Saskia Jones and Jack Merritt.

Taneja realised she had taught Khan creative writing when he was in prison, and Jack Merritt, one of the victims, was her colleague.

“Aftermath” is a profound attempt to regain trust after violence and rebuild faith in human compassion: a powerful recommitment to activism and radical hope.

Taneja is a professor of World Literature and Creative Writing at Newcastle University. Her first novel, “We That Are Young”, a

BOLO PROGRAM ANNOUNCES NEW REWARD OF UP TO $250,000 IN UPDATE OF CANADA’S ‘TOP 25’ MOST WANTED FUGITIVES, SEVEN SUSPECTS WANTED BY TORONTO POLICE, TWO IN THE TOP 5

A reward of up to $250,000 was announced Tuesday by the BOLO Program as it updated its Top 25 list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives. The reward was announced for information leading to the arrest of Rabih Alkhalil, who is wanted for being unlawfully at large since last July, when he escaped from the North Fraser Pretrial Centre. At the time of his escape, he was standing trial for a 2012 murder at a downtown Vancouver restaurant. He has since been convicted of firstdegree murder in that case. Alkhalil was already serving sentences for orchestrating the murder of Johnnie Raposo in a Little Italy cafe in 2012 in Toronto, and for his part in a major drug trafficking operation in Quebec. Several other suspects on the updated Top 25 list are connected to rewards of up to $100,000 and $50,000, including three of the seven wanted by Toronto Police.

Bolo Program Director Max Langlois was joined by BC RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald in revealing the first update to the Top 25 list — a unique initiative that brings together information about Most Wanted suspects from across the country. Toronto Police Homicide Inspector Hank Idsinga was also at the conference to discuss the seven suspects wanted by Toronto Police.

Here are the TPS cases included in the BOLO ‘Top 25’ Update. Cases with asterisks are currently active with rewards:

*3. Jabreel Elmi, Wanted for Murder (up to $50,000)

4. Kiarash Parzham, Wanted for Murder

7. Darriel Thompson, Wanted for Murder

8. Abdelmuniem Abdalla, Wanted for Murder

*12. Tommy Ngo, Wanted for Murder (up to $50,000)

16. Harry Rajkumar, Wanted for Attempted Murder

*20. Usman Kassim, Wanted for Attempted Murder (up to $50,000)

“This is the first update of the Top 25 list since its launch in Toronto in April 2022. Six suspects from the original Top 25 were located between April and October, including the #1 suspect — Abilaziz Mohamed, wanted for murder by the Toronto Police Service — who was apprehended within 12 hours of the Top 25 launch,” said BOLO Program Directo Max Langlois. “This first update of our Top 25 is part of our commitment to encourage Canadians to be on the lookout for Canada’s most wanted, and to make our communities safer.”

The BOLO Program is a breakthrough initiative leveraging social media, technology, and innovative engagement to encourage citizens to be on the lookout for Canada’s most wanted, so they can help keep their communities safe. The term ‘BOLO’, which stands for “be on the lookout,” is commonly used to designate actively wanted suspects. Through its Top 25 of Canada’s most wanted, the BOLO Program reaches citizens at the right time, at the right place, and by using the right means to encourage citizens to be on the lookout. For more information visit the BOLO website here.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2222, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

SPECIAL COUNTERS AT BLS CENTRES IN TORONTO AND BRAMPTON SET UP FOR ENTRY VISA APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS ON EMERGENCY GROUNDS

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In the cases of death of immediate family members (Parents, Grandparents and Siblings only), visa application should be submitted from 8.00 AM to 11.00 AM during weekdays and from 10.00 AM to 11.00 AM on Saturdays at BLS Centres at 1448 Lawrence Avenue E, Unit 6 A, Toronto ON M4A 2V6 and 60 Gillingham Drive, Unit 403, Brampton, ON, L6X 4X7. Such applicants should approach the security personnel at BLS with all the required documents for further directions.

Please note that in addition to the requisite documents, applicants are required to submit the following documents :

i. Copy of death certificate/medical document, which confirms that the death has happened within the last 72 hrs

ii. Copy of Photo ID of the deceased

iii. Copy of Proof of relation of applicant with the deceased.

Once application is accepted and fee is paid at BLS, the applicant can bring the application with proof of payment (alongwith air ticket if travelling on the same day) to the Consulate latest by 2.00 PM during the weekdays and by 12.00 (Noon) on Saturdays for issuance of visa on the same day. The applicant can choose to leave the application at BLS Centre, in which case the visa will be issued on the next working day.

In the case of serious medical emergency cases involving hospitalization of immediate family members, the applicant must submit a request for emergency appointment to the Consulate at SAMPARK portal on the website of the Consulate : https:// www.cgitoronto.gov.in/sampark/enquiry.php?id=9 and wait for approval of the request from the Consulate. The applicant can thereafter submit the application along with copy of SAMPARK approval at special counters of BLS as per details mentioned above. Entry Visa in all such cases will be granted for a maximum period of 90 days with Single Entry.

President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi and Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock were also present on the occasion, among others.

translation of “King Lear” set in contemporary India, won the Desmond Elliott Prize 2018.

Taneja receives 5,000 pounds as cash prize, and is offered the opportunity to undertake a writing retreat of up to three months at Gordon Burn’s cottage in Berwickshire in the Scottish Borders.

She has been shortlisted for se veral awards, including the Republic of Consciousness Prize, the Prix Jan Michalski, and the Shakti Bhatt Prize.

OPINION

PRIME MINISTER MODI HAS WORKED FOR INDIA'S STRATEGIC AUTONOMY

D.C. PATHAK

The call for strategic autonomy of a democratic nation like India goes beyond safeguarding of national security and demands high resilience built on multi-prong capabilities in areas of defence, independent foreign policy, economic strength and internal cohesion as well as a capacity to influence world opinion.

All this would not be possible to achieve unless the country is governed by a leadership that has complete dedication to the nation, total personal integrity and a strong political will. Unlike his predecessors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi combines these distinct traits of a national leader and it is not a surprise therefore that the rise of India as a world power, as a fast developing economy and as a global counsel has attracted attention at home and abroad only in his time.

The speed with which the Modi regime carried out Army build up in Ladakh in response to Chinese aggressiveness there, the alacrity with which India embraced Quad and the impartial but positive stand PM Modi stuck to on Ukraine-Russia military confrontation show a successful tackling of external threats and a constructive approach to international relations that kept India's national interests on top.

The safeguarding of internal security and national cohesion has become a new challenge because of concerted attempts of our adversaries to destabilise India by various means. While the world is in the midst of new conflicts geopolitically and is still to recover from the devastation caused to economy everywhere by the Covid pandemic, it is also witnessing the rise of 'covert' offensives in the form of terrorism, spread of radicalisation and a spurt in narcotics trade - affecting the democratic world in particular.

India as the world's largest democracy has under Modi's leadership taken bold initiatives to deal with these dangers and has justifiably earned recognition at various international fora as a major voice in favour of world peace and international cooperation against global threats.

The key components of the national strategy put in motion by Prime Minister Modi are not difficult to mark out. Their pursuit has been active and steady and that is why India has made distinct progress in playing its role as a major world power.

The framework of the strategy can be gleaned from the policies of the Modi regime that include development of bilateral relations promoting mutual security and economic interests, stepping up of military, diplomatic and financial measures to counter the moves of the identified enemy, constant effort to make India economically strong by placing new emphasis on self-dependence in the sphere of defence, close monitoring of attempts made by forces - internal and external - to destabilise the nation and a firm commitment to world peace.

It cannot be said that India does not have a national strategy since the policies of Modi government do not leave any strategic domain uncovered. What certainly has to be kept from becoming public knowledge is the

specificity of steps that the nation would take to deal with a particular threat or a hostile country.

Warnings to the adversary through diplomatic and other means are in order for conveying an intent and creating a possible deterrent but what the actual response for countering a hostile neighbour would be, can not be detailed in public. 'Experts' outside the domain of governance who pressed for disclosure of national strategy and all aspects of security policy were in a way barking up the wrong tree.

More than the external threats to national security, the problem of lack of internal cohesion that is exploited by hostile forces to destabilise India is a particular cause for concern. Unfortunately this was aggravated by domestic politics. We are still debating the idea of India, 75 years after Independence, primarily because of the use of advocacy of secularism as a vote-catching instrument - the first ruling party of India chose to demonstrate its secularism by disowning any cultural Hindu legacy.

The framers of the Constitution had built secularism into the Indian democracy by prescribing 'one man one vote', discarding any distinctions of caste, creed and gender, providing for equal opportunities and protection of law to all and prohibiting the political executive from ruling with a denominational stamp.

The Constitution, however, was still amended to inject the adjective 'secular' for the state - apparently to attract the support of Muslim minority.

Now in opposition, the Congress has questioned India being a nation on the plea that it was described by the Constitution as a Union of States and ignored the fact that the Preamble - carrying the very ethos of the Constitution - describes maintenance of unity and integrity of the 'nation' as a prime objective of the people of India.

The opposition, clearly driven by realpolitik, is stepping up on minority politics to counter the BJP's special appeal to Hindus and in the process even projecting 'nationalism' as an unwanted concept.

There is also a new trend of civil society groups demanding that even on 'strategic' matters decision-making of the government - which is an exercise of the sovereign function of the state - must be 'institutionalised' by way of participation of non- governmental and private sectors.

In matters strategic, their inputs can be taken but decisions have to be in the exclusive domain of the state. The general approach on national security will be spelt out without announcing the sensitive details and there can be a critique of the stated policies.

But in an age of lobbying and outside influences working through social media and motivated NGOs, the sovereign right of the state to take strategic decisions totally on its own can not be questioned. Also, the question of law and order, particularly in the context of communal issues, demands that the focus should be on performance of the states and not on making it an issue between the Centre and the opposition.

What is emerging as a serious threat to internal security is the Pakistan ISI's hand in pushing communal militancy in the direction of Islamic extremism in order to foster faith-based terrorism in India.

Communal discords have been a familiar facet of law & order in this country but Pakistan is trying to fish in the troubled waters of India by building a narrative that the 'pro-Hindu' Modi government is jeopardising the security of Muslim minority.

Pakistan is exploiting both Deobandi and Barelvi extremists for stepping up radicalisation. The recent cases of terror in the name of Islam at Amravati and Udaipur revealed links with ISI-backed radical organisations functioning under the cover of Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates in various states.

The PFI significantly was found to be having a connection with the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), the militant front of the pro-Pak JamaateIslami that was banned in 2006 as well as links with Karachibased DawateIslami, known to be enjoying the patronage of ISI.

What is disquieting - even if it is not surprising - is the fact that social media is being surreptitiously used by Pakistan as an instrument for spreading radicalisation and as a new weapon of 'proxy war' against India. Some of the accused in the above mentioned cases of terror violence perpetrated in the name of avenging the 'insult' to Prophet Mohammad allegedly caused by a BJP spokesperson during a TV debate, were in touch with a Pak-based WhatsApp group. Pakistan tried to use the platform of OIC for opposing the action of India with regard to Article 370 on Kashmir and also demanding 'national apology' from India for what the

representative of a 'political party' might have said with regard to Prophet Mohammad - all this was done to project Muslims of India primarily as part of Ummah and uphold the right of Pakistan to interfere in the domestic affairs of India. A major threat to our internal security thus emanates from Pakistan at present.

It is in the Modi regime that a close watch is kept on the forces inside and outside of India spreading radicalisation in this country including the antinational outfits like PFI with adverse foreign links.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out massive searches and raids in 15 states across the country in September after registering cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and arrested 45 people linked to PFI in the first sweep - the total arrests exceeding a hundred. The organisation was swiftly banned while it was at its height in subverting internal security by recruiting agents for radical bodies like ISIS to carry out acts of terrorist violence in the name of Islam.

NIA was helped by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in unearthing the foreign funding of the PFI through the Gulf and other countries.

Although the PFI was established in Kerala in Dec 2006 - soon after SIMI had been banned - to resume the task of preparing Muslim youth for a militant role on the lines of what SIMI had done through Indian Mujahideen, the state and the Central governments ignored it for political reasons.

It goes to the credit of Modi regime that all threats to internal security were probed and sternly dealt with regardless of the political cover the forces behind them might have used to hoodwink the government.

This is what guided the Modi government to look into the affairs of many NGOs which worked on illicit funds and encouraged anti-national activities.

Think-tanks indulging in 'politics by proxy' have cropped up in recent years and some among them have been in active collaboration with antiIndia lobbies created by the adversaries abroad.

It is largely with the aid from an extremely competent NSA that Prime Minister Modi has been able to counter all these invisible threats to national security. Finally, it needs to be mentioned that the singular threat to India from the Sino-Pak axis has tested Modi government's capabilities for combining requisites of defence, diplomacy and development to safeguard strategic autonomy.

And India has responded well on all fronts. Events in Afghanistan leading to the return of the Taliban Emirate in Kabul and the operation of ChinaPakistan military alliance in Afghanistan, Kashmir and in fact at the global level, have added a new dimension to India's national security.

The Sino-Pak axis is being countered externally as also on our borders and on our own territory as well since these adversaries had a certain capacity to indulge in subversive activities on our soil.

At present, the added challenge is to deal with the Chinese military and demographic build-up across the LAC, making it necessary to strengthen Indian presence all along the Chinese border with the objective of improving information flow and making joint civil-military response to any Chinese aggressiveness, more effective.

Pakistan is being kept in check by using the retaliatory threat of surgical strike as a deterrent. Internationally, India is actively supporting the multilateral forum Quad to maintain rule-based order in Indo-Pacific and also shield the Indian Ocean from Chinese designs.

Disclaimer:

writer is a former Director of Intelligence Bureau.The opinions expressed within this article are the personal ideas of

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facts and conclusions appearing in

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VOTE ON OCTOBER 24 TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF TOWN IN OAKVILLE

Vote anywhere in your ward 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Town of Oakville is encouraging Oakville voters to participate in the municipal elections on Monday, October 24, 2022 to choose their Town and Regional Council, Regional Chair and School Board representatives.

Where to vote

Eligible voters can vote anywhere in their ward by showing ID with their name and address. Those who received a voter notice are encouraged to bring it along. Find out your ward and voting location options by using the “where do I vote” feature on elections.oakville.ca.

Accessibility supports

Individuals with accessibility needs can call 905-815-6015 or email elections@oakville.ca if they require curbside voting at any of the locations in their ward. Accessibility devices such as sip and puff, and audio ballots are available at the voting location in Town Hall.

New drive-thru voting pilot in Ward 3

The town is piloting a new drive-thru voting location to gain input for future elections. In addition to an indoor voting location at Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre (OTCC), there will also be a drive-thru voting option at this site on October 24 during voting hours, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Signage will be on site to guide drive-thru voters to the multi-level parking garage. This initiative is open only to Ward 3 residents. The location was chosen based on its size and the covered parking area, which helps during inclement weather events. The results of the pilot will provide information

to the town on the feasibility of drive through locations being used in the next municipal election.

Should there be a longer wait time at OTCC to use the drive-thru voting, residents may choose to vote in the indoor polling location. Town staff will be on site to assess and redirect voters to the indoor voting if the drive-thru option is busy.

Election results

Unofficial results will be posted live on elections.oakville.ca after all voting locations have closed at 8 p.m. on October 24. The results will also be shown live in the South Atrium of Town Hall, open to the public.

Official results are expected to be released no later than Thursday, October 27, 2022 after the Town Clerk validates and certifies the details. Official results will be posted on elections.oakville.ca. The new term of Council begins on November 15, 2022.

Other reminders

Proxy voting continues to be available, and the assigned voter must submit the form in person at Town Hall or at the voting location on October 24. Photography and videography are not permitted inside the voting locations.

“Every vote counts in shaping the town’s future and the services that residents count on. With multiple voting locations in each ward and many ways to vote, we ask residents to take a meaningful step for their future by exercising their right to vote,” said Vicki Tytaneck, Town Clerk and Returning Officer for the 2022 Municipal Election.

OUR FOOD FUTURE INVITES GUELPH-WELLINGTON RESIDENTS TO REIMAGINE FOOD

Over the next year, Guelph-Wellington community members are invited to explore how we’re connected through the food system, why it’s ripe for reimagination and how we can adopt new habits to contribute to a more sustainable food future. Community conversations, outreach and opportunities to learn more and get involved are all part of Our Food Future’s 12-month “Reimagine Food” campaign, which launched today. Reimagine Food aims to simplify the story of the circular food economy. It’s also an opportunity to show how Guelph-Wellington is developing a local circular food economy and why circular food economies are being implemented all over the world, transforming our relationship with goods, our natural resources and each other. The community can get involved and champion the Our Food Future movement through the Reimagine Food campaign by: Learning about circular food production and local farmers who are improving soil management, biodiversity and water quality Understanding the importance of reducing household food waste Learning more about local circular food innovators and sampling new upcycled food products being developed in Guelph-Wellington Joining events, arts experiences and celebrations of local food culture “In Guelph-Wellington, there is a groundswell of activity that is focused on food and sustainability,” says Ashlee Cooper, program advisor, Smart Cities Office, City of Guelph. “There’s also a lot of incredible things happening in the community: innovative approaches to enable food access, amazing new food products, new social enterprises and a large portion of residents committed to reducing food waste. We’re looking forward to working with local producers and innovators to showcase this work over the next year.” “Right now, there is risk of people being disconnected from food,” notes Julia Grady, co-founder and executive director, 10C. “For example, we are not always aware of the impact our food choices may have on the environment, or of inequity in our community when it comes to accessing healthy food. Through Reimagine Food, we’re looking to re-establish our connection to food, and to make food more accessible through projects like the SEED’s pay-what-you-choose market.”

Circular Opportunity Innovation Launchpad (COIL) is a sister initiative to Our Food Future that supports food businesses in their reduction and transformation of waste. Over sixty companies have already partnered with COIL, leading to new and innovative processes, products and services all aimed at embedding circularity into the food system. Through the Reimagine Food campaign, residents will be invited to learn more about and even sample some of the products and services that are contributing to the circular food economy. “The advantages of a circular food economy are proven and multiple,” says Andrew Telfer, collaboration and development lead, COIL. “Circularity reduces the natural resources used in production like energy, nutrients and materials. It reduces emissions generated by production, processing, transport, and waste. And it reduces costs for local producers, manufacturers, and residents.” To find local events or to join the conversation, visit reimaginefood.ca or follow the Our Food Future social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

WASTE REDUCTION WEEK STARTS

OCTOBER 17-23 IN GUELPH

City Hall will be illuminated with green and blue lights to celebrate The City is celebrating Waste Reduction Week in Canada from October 17–23. There are many ways the community can reduce its waste, and Waste Reduction Week has outlined seven daily themes to help people get started.

The City has also joined forces with Guelph Tool Library to promote Guelph’s largest clothing sale and swap on October 22, and a Clothing Repair Café on October 23 as part of the Circular Fashion Festival. The Circular Fashion Festival includes seven days of in-person and virtual events to promote reusing, repairing, and recycling textiles to reduce waste and support a circular economy.

“Our community plays a critical role in reducing the amount of waste in Guelph,” says Madeleine Myhill, Waste Program Coordinator, Compliance and Performance, Environmental Services. “We have many great resources for the community to learn how they can make more sustainable choices conveniently and affordably. We also have practical programs to help people reuse everything from paint and car wax to bikes and furniture.”

Residents can make a big difference by making sustainable choices, sorting waste properly, and taking advantage of Waste Reduction Week activities and City programs including:

Guelph Waste App: Download the Guelph Waste app to learn how to sort your waste properly and sign up for collection day reminders.

Goods Exchange: Goods Exchange weekends take place over the long weekends in May and September and are a great opportunity for Guelph residents to exchange reusable household materials like furniture, appliances, toys, and more for free.

ReCycle bike reuse: Guelph residents can drop off their unwanted bikes and bike parts and can also pick up a bike for free.

This program helps ensure usable products like paint, stains, cleaning products, and more, don’t go to waste. Products can be dropped off yearround or picked up for free from April to mid-October. Hazardous Waste Depot: Guelph residents can drop off hazardous waste year-round for recycling and safe disposal such as paint, batteries, and fluorescent tubes and bulbs.

Curbside battery collection: The City offers curbside battery collection every fall. Recycling Zone: Guelph residents can drop off items year-round for recycling and reuse, including electronic waste (cell phones, computers, etc.), scrap metal, clothing and textiles, and much more.

GURYODH SINGH KHATTRA MURDER UPDATE: JEROME DOWNEY-APPLE, 20, FROM BRAMPTON CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER

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Despite life-saving efforts by emergency services, GuryodhKhattra, a 26-year-old man from Brampton, succumbed to his injuries. A second victim was also injured however received non-life threatening injuries.

On Tuesday, October 12, 2022, Jerome Downey-Apple, a 20-year-old man from Brampton was charged with First Degree Murder in the shooting death of GuryodhKhattra and charged with Aggravated Assault on the second victim. He appeared before the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton. Downey-Apple is currently in custody serving time on unrelated charges.

Anyone with information on this incident, surveillance or dashcam footage,that may have captured the moments leading up to, during, or after the incident is asked to contact investigators at 905-453-2121 extension 3205. Anonymous information may also be submitted by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.

None of the allegations have been proven in court of law.

General Accounting & Bookkeeping

8 IN 10 HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WORRIED ABOUT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IN CANADA: HEART & STROKE SURVEY

Increasing rates of high blood pressure (hypertension) and associated risks are a significant concern according to a new national Heart & Stroke survey* of almost 1,000 health experts across the country. Lack of awareness, prevention, detection and treatment – often made worse by the pandemic – were identified by the health community as essential areas for improvement to address hypertension. Almost eight million adults in Canada are affected by high blood pressure – about one in four. This number will only rise as the population ages; risk of hypertension increases with age. At the same time, more people are being diagnosed at an earlier age. It also comes with a hefty price tag as the annual cost associated with high blood pressure is $13.9 billion.

High risk and low awareness

According to our survey, eight in 10 health professionals are worried about high blood pressure in Canada as it is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease. More than seven in 10 health professionals worry that people do not understand what the condition is, or the risks associated with it. Additionally, more than seven in 10 health professionals expressed concern that people do not realize when they develop high blood pressure because there are usually no warning signs – in fact it is often referred to as the “silent killer.” “Hypertension is like an on-ramp to stroke and heart disease, so we have a tremendous opportunity here to catch people before they are too far down that road by raising awareness, supporting prevention, and improving access to screening and management,” says Dr. Patrice Lindsay, Director, Health Systems, Heart & Stroke. “If we can prevent high blood pressure or manage it through changes to lifestyle

and medication, we can dramatically reduce stroke and heart disease.”

Declining treatment and control

Canada has been a leader in hypertension awareness, treatment and control but unfortunately this has declined over 10 years, especially for women. The respondents to our survey acknowledged this trend: seven in 10 identified a lack of high blood pressure screening practices and six in 10 noted inadequate treatment and control as areas of concern. Further, seven in 10 health professionals are worried that the people at highest risk for high blood pressure are often those who face inequities, including barriers to treatment and support.

Heather Evans had her first two heart attacks at age 39 and has spent the last 19 years learning how to manage her heart disease. This includes controlling her high blood pressure. She now measures her blood pressure regularly and takes medication to control it, tries to keep stress under control and avoid salt and caffeine, eats lots of vegetables and fruit, and works out several times a week. “I changed all those things for blood pressure. It’s a big part of heart disease — a huge part,” says Heather.

Increased challenges due to the pandemic

Our survey also revealed that disruptions to people’s lives, including their ability to access health care during the pandemic, has impacted blood pressure, putting them at risk.

More than eight in 10 h ealth professionals believe lifestyle risk factors (e.g., lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet, not managing stress) that negatively affect blood pressure increased due to the pandemic and more than six in 10 believe equity deserving groups are facing an even greater increase.

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Dhaliwal had made headlines when the obtained a religious exemption in 2015 to wear a turban as part of his uniform.

Because Solis is convicted of capital murder, he can be sentenced to death. A defiant Solis told the jury: “Since you believe I’m guilty of capital murder, I believe you should give me the death penalty,” ABC13 TV in Houston reported.

After its verdict, the jury began consideration of the penalty to impose on him. A jury is made up of ordinary citizens gives the verdict while a judge presides over the trial in the US.

Dhaliwal was shot in the back of the head by Solis as he was returning to his vehicle after a traffic stop, according to the prosecution.

The verdict came quickly from the jurors who deliberated their verdict for less than 30 minutes after a week-long trial filled with theatrics by Solis, who disrupted court proceedings several times. He dismissed his lawyers and acted as his own lawyer cross-examining witnesses and presenting his own case, while at one point demanding to remove the judge from the case. He changed his mind in the final phase of the trial and asked Judge Chris Morton for a lawyer, but his request was denied, according to KHOU11 TV. Solis had admitted that he shot Dhaliwal but claimed: “I accidentally pulled the trigger and it discharged.” But, according to the station, prosecutor Lauren Bard dismissed his assertion and told the court, “This is (by) intent, and he comes running up to that man with a gun and he shoves him up against the car” and shoots him. Dhaliwal’s relatives, who had watched the trial except when photographs of the crime were shown, told the station that they were relieved by the verdict and would testify before the jury decides on the punishment for Solis, it said.Dhaliwal, who was 42 and had been in service for 10 years when he was killed, is survived by his wife and three children, according to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation which honours the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center by helping families of first responders killed in action. It said that he became a law enforcement officer “to help build the relationship between the Sikh c ommunity and the Sheriff’s Department”.

“He organised volunteers to help his fellow Texans after hurricane Harvey devastated much of the state in 2017, and he travelled to Puerto Rico to help with relief af ter hurricane Maria” in the same year, it added.

According to ABC13, Solis is a 50-year-old history-sheeter with arrest records going back at least 25 years.

He was convicted in a kidnapping and assault case in 2002 and sentenced to 20 years, but was paroled in 2014.

Two years ago, his girlfriend accused him of assaulting her and a warrant was issued for his arrest, sending him underground, according to the station. When Dhaliwal stopped him for a possible traffic offence, Solis may have feared he would be arrested on the warrant.

KHOU11 reported that Solis admitted in court that he gave a false name to Dhaliwal when he was pulled over and a passenger in his car testified that he had s aid before he killed Dhaliwal: “I am not going back to jail.”

ROBERT SOLIS, 50, CONVICTED OF CAPITAL MURDER IN KILLING OF HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY SANDEEP DHALIWAL IN TEXAS

MALLIKARJUN KHARGE: A NON-GANDHI IS CONGRESS PRESIDENT

AFTER 24YRS - WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR GRAND OLD PARTY

As it was speculated days before his nomination that Mallikarjun Kharge will win the party president election owing to his decade-long loyalty to the Gandhi family, the results of party polls showed his landslide victory against his rival Shashi Tharoor, who is also a member of alleged party rebel group (G-23). Kharge is set to be the new Congress president as he received over 7897 votes against Tharoor’s 1072 votes. Knowing Kharge’s proximity with Gandhis, Tharoor had raised the concern for a free and fair election and Congress had to ask its top leaders not to take a side. Meanwhile, the million-dollar question is, can Kharge revive Congress which is going through one of the toughest phases post Independence courtesy the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) under the leadership of Narendra Modi-Amit Shah? The duo caused serious damage to the grand old party post-2014.

Powered by the formidable ‘Modi-wave’, the ‘Congress-Mukt Bharat’ campaign being run by BJP achieved several targets in almost all big states and at the Centre by wresting power from Congress. There is strong apprehension that Kharge will not bring any radical change in the party which is badly required to revive the lost electoral fortune as he is a member old-brigade that by and large believe in conservative politics. Political observers know how old brigades opposed Rahul Gandhi when he tried to bring about crucial changes when he was party president.

PAKISTAN PM SHEHBAZ, SON HAMZA ACQUITTED IN RS16 BILLION MONEY LAUNDERING CASE

A special court in Lahore on Wednesday acquitted Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Hamza Shehbaz, in a Rs 16 billion money laundering case, the media reported.

The decision was announced by Judge Ijaz Hassan Awan after the court had reserved the verdict in the case earlier on Wednesday, Dawn reported. To celebrate the ruling, a number of PML-N supporters took to the streets with ‘dhols’ and distributed sweets.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had booked Shehbaz and his two sons, Hamza and Suleman, in November 2020.

Suleman had been declared a proclaimed offender by the court for his constant absence in the trial proceedings, Dawn reported.

The FIA had on Tuesday told the court that no direct transaction had been made in the bank accounts of PM Shehbaz and his son from benami

accounts. At the outset of the hearing on Wednesday, Advocate Amjad Pervez — who represents PM Shehbaz and former Punjab chief minister Hamza — requested the court to grant the premier another exemption from hearing due to his unavoidable official engagements.

The court had on Tuesday approved a similar request.

Pervez told Judge Awan that none of the witnesses recorded a testimony against the PM or his son. He accused the investigation officer of trying to present “twisted statements” of witnesses.

He castigated the FIA, saying the agency made the cases “on the basis of malice”.

According to the law, the prosecution has to prove its case, he argued, adding that the prosecution could not present any evidence on the charge of bribery so far, Dawn reported.

US VOTERS EXPECT NOVEMBER 8 MID-TERM POLLS TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS: POLL

A majority of American voters are convinced the November 8 mid-term elections will significantly impact the US, according to a new poll.

More than eight in 10 registered voters consider voting in the upcoming elections to be extremely or very important, said the latest Associated Press-NORC poll released on Monday. While majorities of both Democrats and Republicans expect the outcome to impact the country overall and the economy, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to believe the same about abortion policy, reports Xinhua news agency citing the poll.

Voters gave Democrats an edge over Republicans on their ability to handle health care and abortion policy but are more likely to trust the Republicans when it comes to the economy and crime. On issues including gun policy, foreign policy and immigration, trust in both parties is about equal. About one in five registered voters don’t trust either party to handle each issue. Seventy per cent of American voters are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the US, the survey revealed, adding that Republicans were more likely to be dissatisfied than Democrats. Most voters also have a negative view of the state of politics in the country. Voters are more likely to feel pessimistic than optimistic about

the future of both political parties. The nationwide poll was conducted October 6-10. In the upcoming election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate will be contested.

Thirty-nine state and territorial gubernatorial elections, as well as numerous other state and local elections, will be contested.

The results will determine the 118th US Congress.

READY TO BUY FUEL FROM RUSSIA ON INDIA RATE: PAKISTAN FINANCE MINISTER

Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, who is on an official visit to the US, has said that Islamabad is ready to buy fuel from Russia on the rate it was providing to India. While replying to a question by the media, the Minister on Monday said he hoped that the West would also have no objection to importing the discounted fuel in the wake of Pakistan’s financial hardship due to unprecedented recent floods, which devastated large parts of the country, The News reported. Dar said the coalition government in Centre had enough time to return to the political front. “Ten 10 months are enough for the government to restore its political prestige and win popularity. We were to select one thing among the two: either to save our politics or the state. We opted for the second,” he said while commenting on the by-poll results. To a question about US President Joe Biden’s statement on Pakistan’s nuclear programme, he said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had already said that a robust command and control system was in place in the country. The US authorities also acknowledge it often, he added.

RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: PUTIN DECLARES MARTIAL LAW IN ANNEXED REGIONS

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law Wednesday in the four regions of Ukraine that Moscow annexed and given additional emergency powers to the heads of all regions of Russia.

Putin didn't immediately spell out the steps that would be taken under martial law, but said his order was effective starting Thursday. His decree gives law enforcement agencies three days to submit specific proposals.

“We are working to solve very difficult large-scale tasks to ensure Russia's security and safe future, to protect our people,” Putin said in televised remarks at the start of a Security Council meeting. “Those who are on the frontlines or undergoing training at firing ranges and training centers should feel our support and know that they have our big, great country and unified people behind their back.”

Bangladesh Disallows Nora Fatehi's Performance At Dhaka Event To Save Dollars

Actress Nora Fatehi was recently denied permission by the government of Bangladesh to perform at a show in the capital city of Dhaka. It was an event organised by the Women Leadership Corporation and apart from performing some dance numbers, Nora was also supposed to give out awards. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh issued a notice on Monday, citing the reason for their denial. According to the notice, Nora Fatehi, known for her work in the Indian film industry, was not allowed “in view of the global situation and for the purpose of maintaining foreign exchange reserves"." The cancellation of Nora Fatehi’s performance at the event would save the country a lot of dollars. The central bank’s limits on dollar payments in light of declining foreign exchange reserves, which dropped to $36.33 billion as of October 12, were mentioned by the ministry of culture.

According to Anne-Marie Gulde-Wolf, the deputy director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, the IMF is getting ready to deploy its first negotiation delegation to Bangladesh later this month to begin discussions with the government about loans the country has requested. IMF officials are considering a financial plan that will “include steps to stabilise the economy and to prevent a further deterioration in the economy. Nora Fatehi, who is of Moroccan-Canadian descent, recently had her brush with controversy as well as her name was associated with serial conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. ED is probing into the matter. Nora was also recently subjected to a wave of trolling when she said in an interview that Hollywood star Brad Pitt had slid into her DMs. Fans found it too difficult to believe and trolled her for her statement.

DOCTOR G BOX OFFICE COLLECTION DAY 4:

AYUSHMANN KHURRANA FILM SEES DRASTIC 60

PER CENT DROP ON FIRST MONDAY, PERFORMS WORSE THAN CHANDIGARH KARE AASHIQUI

After a decent performance at the box office on its first weekend, Ayushmann Khurrana’s latest release Doctor G has failed the first Monday test. The film witnessed a drop of about 60 per cent in its collection on Monday, which brings down its chances of doing well at the ticket counters as the audience will have two new releases this week, Ram Setu and Thank God. Also, being the follow-up week to Diwali, the audience might be busy with the pre parations, hence lesser footfalls in the theaters. As per a Box Office India report, Doctor G earned Rs 1.5 crore on Monday, which is almost 60 per cent less than its Sunday collection. The four-day total of the film is expected to be Rs 15.25 crore. This would be another passable film to come from the brand Ayushmann. His previous release Anek too was unable to make much of an impact at the box office. But his last flop, Chandigarh Kare Ashiqui, performed better than Doctor G on its first Monday (Rs 2.15 cr). The actor delivered his last hit in 2019 with Bala (Rs 116.81 cr). However, the producers of Doctor G will benefit from the sale of its digital rights. Box Office India has reported that the makers have sealed the digital rights deal for over Rs 40 crore. Meanwhile, the Hindi version of the Kannada film Kantara is working well in the theaters and has caught up with Doctor G in four days. Released on Friday, it has earned around Rs 9 crore until now. Doctor G is about budding doctor Uday Gupta (Ayushmann) who ends up doing post-graduation in gynaecology as he couldn’t get a seat in orthopaedics. The film also stars Rakul Preet Singh and Shefali Shah as doctors.

ALIA BHATT AND RANBIR KAPOOR TO WELCOME THEIR BABY IN NOVEMBER END? HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW

Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor are set to embrace parenthood! Soon-to-be parents Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, who is currently basking in the success of their latest release ‘Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva’, are expected to deliver a baby anytime in the November end or December first week, according a report in Pinkvilla. Sources close to the Kapoor family informed the entertainment portral that they have enrolled Alia Bhatt’s name at the H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital in Girgaon. The ‘Darlings’ star announced her pregnancy in June this year. The actress tied the knot with Ranbir Kapoor this year in April. Along with the picture, Alia Bhatt wrote, “Our baby… coming soon…" She shared a picture from the hospital where she is undergoing her sonography test, while Ranbir Kapoor was seen sitting by her bedside as a supportive husband.

Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor fell in love after meeting on the sets of Brahmastra in 2018. While the couple is excited to take on their new roles in life, a report claimed that Alia is likely to take a year’s break from work to focus on the baby.

BHEDIYA: KRITI SANON INTRODUCES HERSELF AS DR. ANIKA; LOOKS MESMERISING IN FIRST LOOK POSTER

Piquing the excitement of fans, ahead of the trailer release of her much-anticipated film Bhediya, Kriti Sanon took to social media on Tuesday and unveiled her first look poster. Kriti introduced herself as Dr Anika in her new avatar for the movie. The actress looked mesmerizing and netizens are already loving her new look for the movie. In the first look poster, Kriti is seen holding a huge injection. The actress who portrays a doctor in the film is seen staring right into the soul of her fans with her infectious gaze. Kriti’s fringes and her ear length wavy locks add another dimension her all new avatar. Wearing subtle make up, Kriti Sanon looks stunning as she experimented with light freckles on her face. The actress put on a nude lip shade, to round off her look. Fans are loving Kriti’s intriguing first look and they aren’t stopping from showering love on the actress. Several fans took to the comments section to post their reactions. “Wow what a look..Excited to watch ur new Avtar Wish u very best @kritisanon," wrote one fan.

KANGANA RANAUT POSES IN BOLD LACE BRALETTE TOP AND TELLS HATERS IT'S 'NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS'

Actress Kangana Ranaut is reminding you that what a woman wears should be ‘none of your business’! The Queen actress shared the message after she shared a few pictures in a bold outfit. It all began with Kangana digging out an old picture with her Thalaivii co-star Arvind Swamy to wish him a happy birthday.

While Kangana was dressed in a sexy white lacy bralette which she matched with a pair of white pants, Arvind was seen wearing a casual fit. After she wished him, Kangana decided to share a couple of pictures offering a closer look at her outfit and share a message for those offering to comment on a woman’s outfit. “Just emphasising the fact that what a woman wears or forgets to wear is entirely her business…. None of your business," she said, sharing a picture of her look. “I think I made the point… I can go to the office now… Bye," she added, sharing yet another, closer look at the outfit. Kangana has been busy with her upcoming project Emergency. The film features Kangana as the late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Her first look was revealed a few weeks ago and since then, Kangana has been sharing the first looks of her co-stars featuring in the flick. She had previously revealed th at Anupam Kher will be seen as Jayaprakash Narayan, Shreyas Talpade as former Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mahima Chaudhry will don the role of Pupul Jayakar, Milind Soman will be seen as Sam Manekshaw and just last month, she dropped Satish Kaushik’s first look from the film as Jagjivan Ram. Kangana is not just playing the lead in the movie but is also directing it. This is for the second time that the actress is donning the director’s hat. Earlier, she also helmed Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi which was released in 2019.

Stories about Bollywood diva Katrina Kaif and her significant other Vicky Kaushal are loved by the fans. Of late, Katrina is swamped with the promotions of her upcoming film, Phone Bhoot, with Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi. In a recent interaction that the film’s star cast had with Film Companion’s Anupama Chopra, Katrina shared anecdotes of her love life that have now caused a flurry of awe. Katrina revealed that she and Vicky are completely opposite to one another. While Vicky is more composed, Katrina often gets worked up. Based on how panicky the actress gets, Vicky calls her his “panic button." Adding on, she disclosed that the duo loves to goof around with one another. The best part is that none of them takes anything to their hearts. Katrina shared another instance in which Vicky helped her out in enacting a sequence from Merry Christmas. She said that Vicky learnt a two-page script in a few minutes and that made her jealous. Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal had a dream wedding in December, last year. The destination wedding was attended by their close friends and family members. It took place in Rajasthan. Talking about Phone Bhoot, the plot of this Gurmmeet Sing directorial revolves around a

DEEPIKA PADUKONE TO PAIR OPPOSITE MAHESH BABU IN SS RAJAMOULI'S NEXT?

S Rajamouli’s yet-to-be-titled film with Mahesh Babu has been making headlines for a long time now. If recent reports are to be believed, Bollywood diva Deepika Padukone is now being considered to pair opposite the Telugu superstar. As reported by Pinkvilla, the makers are considering Deepika as the leading lady of the film. The entertainment portal also claimed that the actress has not been approached so far. However, if things work out as planned Deepika will romance Mahesh Babu for the first time. While there is no official confirmation so far, if Deepika gets roped in for the project, this will mark her first movie with Mahesh Babu. Very less has been revealed so far about SS Rajamouli’s film with Mahesh Babu. However, reports claim that it will be an action adventure and its production is likely to begin in spring 2023.

WHAT DOES HAPPINESS MEAN FOR KAPIL SHARMA?

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It also touches upon the lives of people who have been ignored, to the extent that we have entirely taken the humanity out of the equation. Kapil Sharma thanked the audience for their support and love always and urged them to watch this movie. The film 'Zwigato' is about an exfloor manager of a factory who loses his job during the pandemic. He then works as a food delivery rider, grappling with the world of ratings and incentives. To support the income, his homemaker wife explores different work opportunities with fear and excitement of newfound independence. The film is about the relentlessness of life, but not without their shared moments of joy.

ISHAAN KHATTER, TARA SUTARIA TEAM UP FOR 'NATURE 4 NATURE'; OFFICIAL TEASER UNVEILED

Ishaan Khatter and Tara Sutaria will be sharing the screen space for the first time with their upcoming project Nature 4 Nature. Tara Sutaria on Instagram released the official teaser of the upcoming film. The project is supported by Yash Birla Ventures and producer Anand Pandit. The couple looks great together, and fans love their pairing. The official teaser provides a glimpse of Ishaan and Tara’s characters. The video begins with two contrasting scenes. Beginning with a sombre expression on their faces, Ishaan and Tara are shown walking into an office environment. They both quickly come across a door that leads out into the open and teleports them into the wild.

KATRINA KAIF MAKES CUTEST REVELATION ABOUT HUBBY VICKY KAUSHAL, SAYS‘ HE CALLS ME HIS PANIC BUTTON’

ghost-busting service of which Siddhant and Ishaan are part of. The film is co-penned by Jasvinder Bath and Ravi Shankaran. Sheeba Chaddha and Jackie Shroff also feature in crucial roles in the film. Phone Bhoot is slated to hit the theatres on November 4.

Terrific last two overs from Mohammed Shami and Harshal Patel, and two outstanding pieces of fielding acrobatics from Virat Kohli, helped India overcome Australia by six runs in what had appeared a lost cause after 38 overs in their T20 World Cup warm-up game in Brisbane. With one more practice game left against New Zealand, at The Gabba again, on Wednesday before India meet Pakistan in their T20 World Cup opener on Sunday in Melbourne, we take a look at some of the takeaways from the Australia match. The choice of Mohammed Shami, first as a reserve and then as Jasprit Bumrah’s replacement, has certainly divided opinion. The last over of Monday’s game was Shami’s first over in a match in three months, and he is still to play a T20I since last year’s World Cup. With some help from Virat Kohli in the deep, he grabbed three wickets in four balls to steal

the game for India. “Honestly, he is coming back after a long time. So we just wanted to give him an over. This was always the plan from the beginning – he comes and bowls at the death,” captain Rohit Sharma said after the game. “We know how lethal he can be with the new ball. We just wanted to give him a little bit of a challenge, coming and bowling that death over and we saw what it was.” Rohit would also talk about the importance of bowling the hard lengths in Australia, but five of Shami’s six deliveries were pitched right up, including the yorkers that bowled Josh Inglis and Kane Richardson. It is a ploy fraught with risk – Pat Cummins’ strike would have sailed over long-on but for Kohli’s leap – but when Shami gets it right in the blockhole, it is a treat to watch. Even the change-up hard-length delivery to Ashton Agar was sharp and climbed steeply. Shami is vastly experienced in Australian conditions, and there could have been no better way to kickstart his comeback.

SRI LANKA STAY ALIVE IN TOURNAMENT; HAMMER UAE BY 79 RUNS

T20 World Cup 2022: Former winner Sri Lanka are alive in the T20 World Cup 2022 after registering a thumping win in their second match against UAE on Tuesday. The Lankan side hammered UAE by 79 runs in the Simonds Stadium, Geelong in the second match of the day. Starring with the bat, Pathum Nissanka has won the Player of the match for his 74-run knock, which helped the Dasun Shanaka men post 152 runs on board. In the second innings, Chundangapoyil Rizwan UAE were reduced to just 73.

Sri Lanka Playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Maheesh Theekshana

UAE Playing XI: Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, Aryan Lakra, Chundangapoyil Rizwan (c), Basil Hameed, Vriitya Aravind (wk), Kashif Daud, Aayan Afzal Khan, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Zahoor Khan

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) general secretary, Jay Shah on Tuesday, said that India won’t be travelling to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup and the tournament will be held at a neutral venue. “For Pakistan, we have stated policy that we need government clearance. As far as Asia Cup is concerned, which is supposed to be held in Pakistan next year, it will take place at a neutral venue,” Shah told reporters on the sidelines of the 91st BCCI Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mumbai. India last travelled to Pakistan for the bilateral series in 2005-06 under the captaincy of current Team India coach Rahul Dravid. However, India did travel to Pakistan in 2008 to compete in the Asia Cup. The 2022 Asia Cup was held in the UAE last month after hosts Sri Lanka expressed their inability to host the event amid the economic crisis back home.

PAT CUMMINS TO REPLACE AARON FINCH AS AUSTRALIA’S ODI CAPTAIN

A year after being appointed as Test skipper, Pat Cummins is Australia’s new men’s ODI captain. Cummins will be Australia’s 27th ODI captain and first pacer to lead a men’s team in white-ball cricket. He also becomes the first bowler since late Shane Warne, who captained in 11 ODIs. Cricket Australia on Tuesday announced pace bowler Cummins would take on the extra leadership role, starting with an ODI series against England next month. “I have thoroughly enjoyed playing under Finchy and have learnt an enormous amount from his leadership,” Cummins said. “They are significant shoes to fill”, although we are extremely fortunate to have a one-day squad with a huge amount of experience.” David Warner was not able to be considered given his lifetime leadership ban remains in place while CA’s Board considers a change to its code of conduct, with Cummins winning out over other candidates like Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell and Mitch Marsh.

“We are very fortunate to have a number of high-quality leaders and senior players across all formats,” Cricket Australia’s high performance manager boss Oliver said.

FIRST HAT-TRICK OF TOURNAMENT

UAE bowler Karthik Meiyappan has registered his name into the history books as the spinner scalped the first hat-trick of the T20 World Cup in a round 1 game against Sri Lanka. Meiyappan sent back Lankan batters- Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka back to the hut the 15th over.

AUSTRALIA

NOVAK DJOKOVIC WELCOME TO PLAY SAYS CRAIG TILEY; RUSSIANS CAN COMPETE

Novak Djokovic is welcome to play the 2023 edition of the Australia Open but only if the government allows him says tournament director Craig Tiley. Moreover, the Russian and Belarusian players can participate in the first Grand Slam of the year.

What happened during the 2022 Australia Open?

The 21-time Grand Slam champion was deported because he was not vaccinated for COVID-19. He wasn't allowed to defend his Australian Open title last January after a tumultuous 10-day legal saga that culminated with his visa being revoked on the eve of the tournament eventually won by Rafael Nadal.

Exemption rejected by the Australian Border Force

Djokovic originally was granted an exemption to strict vaccination rules by two medical panels and Tennis Australia in order to play in the Australian Open but, after traveling to Melbourne believing he had all his paperwork in order, the exemption was rejected by the Australian Border Force. Being deported made Djokovic subject to a possible three-year exclusion period that prevents the granting of a further temporary visa, although the Australian Border Force in January said any exclusion period “will be considered as part of any new visa application and can be waived in certain circumstances.”

The ABF said each case is assessed on its merits.

INDIA WILL NOT TRAVEL TO PAKISTAN FOR 2023 ASIA CUP, WILL PLAY AT NEUTRAL VENUE: JAY SHAH

WHAT EVERY WORLD T20 TEAM CAN LEARN FROM THE DISMISSALS OF ROHIT SHARMA, VIRAT KOHLI, DINESH KARTHIK IN WARM-UP GAME AGAINST AUSTRALIA

UAE SPINNER KARTHIK MEIYAPPAN TAKES

'Not Sure I've Seen a Better White-ball Cricketer Ever': Ricky Ponting Hails Virat Kohli

Tendulkar

SANON EXUDES GRACE IN WHITE AND GOLDEN SAREE,

Celebrating its 50th anniversary with an eye on the future of personal transportation, the Canadian International AutoShow is set to return to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in February 2023. Following a forced two-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the AutoShow is once again poised to be Canada’s ultimate showcase of new vehicles, with a spotlight on exciting innovations that will shape mobility choices in years to come.

“Our last event in 2020 was a great success,” says Jason Campbell, General Manager of the AutoShow. “It will be great to be back in front of our consumers in person – especially with so many new innovative products coming to market and the rapid growth of automotive electrification. At a time when product availability is challenged, there will be no better place to see what’s available and worth considering as you shop for your next new car or truck.”The AutoShow is slated to take place February 17th to 26th, 2023, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre’s North and South buildings. Tickets are planned to go on sale November 15th, 2022.“A half-century of the AutoShow is a perfect time to look back on how far we have come, and to contemplate Mobility Reimagined,” says David McClean, Director of Marketing for the AutoShow.

NUTS AND LEGUMES

AVERAGE HOME PRICE IN CANADA DOWN BY 6.6%% TO $640K IN SEPT. FROM LAST YEAR, SALES DOWN BY 3.9% FROM AUGUST

Home sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems fell by 3.9% between August and September 2022. From May through August, month-overmonth declines have been progressively smaller. The September result marked a slight increase in the current sales slowdown that began with the Bank of Canada’s first rate hike back in March. While about 60% of all local markets saw sales fall from August to September, the national number was pulled lower by the fact markets with declines included Greater Vancouver, Calgary, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Montreal. The actual (not seasonally adjusted) number of transactions in September 2022 came in 32.2% below that same month last year and stood about 12% below the pre-pandemic 10-year average for that month.

“September was another month of lower sales activity, although, with many sellers also opting to play the waiting game, the market remains on the tighter side of balanced market territory,” said Jill Oudil, Chair of CREA. “It makes for an interesting dynamic, one that doesn’t really have many historical precedents. The market has changed so much in the last year, and the adjustment to higher borrowing costs is still underway. As always, for information and guidance about how to navigate the current marketplace, your best bet is to contact your local REALTOR®,” continued Oudil. “Up until recently, higher borrowing costs had disproportionally affected the fixed-rate

space, with buyers able to qualify more easily if they went with a variable rate mortgage,” said Shaun Cathcart, CREA’s Senior Economist. “The Bank of Canada’s most recent rate hike in early September finally closed that door, so it was not a big surprise to see additional softness on the sales side. The important thing to remember is we’re still in the middle of a period of rapid adjustment, with buyers and sellers trying to feel each other out while a lot of people have had to take their home search plans back to the drawing board. As such, resale markets may remain on the quiet side for some time yet, with the flipside of that coin being even more pressure on rental markets.”

The number of newly listed homes edged back a further 0.8% on a monthover-month basis in September. This built on the 6.1% and 4.9% declines recorded in July and August, respectively, as some sellers appear content to stay on the sidelines until more buyers are ready to get back into the market. It was an even split between markets where new supply was down in September and those where it increased, with the biggest declines in the GTA offsetting the largest gains in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland.

With sales down and new listings seeing minor change in September, the sales-tonew listings ratio eased to 52% compared to 53.6% in August. The September 2022 reading for the national sales-to-new listings ratio was back on par with those in June and July, and only a little below its long-term average of 55.1%.

Add walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, peanuts, and lentils to your diet. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E, these are the best protection for the eye from age-related damage. The best thing about nuts and legumes is that they are easily available. This is a wonderful option if you are not into non-vegetarian options.

LEAFY GREEN VEGGIES

They are filled with key vitamins that help improve eyesight. Packed with antioxidants, Vitamin C, zeaxanthin, and lutein, an important carotenoid for the eyes. Consider adding spinach, kale, and collards to your meals. Antioxidants are necessary to protect the cells in your eyes from free radicals.

RAW RED PEPPER

Bell peppers are filled with Vitamin C. It is an important vitamin to keep the blood vessels in your eyes healthy. It also lowers your risk of getting cataracts.

Unfortunately, heating your red pepper will break down Vitamin C. Opt for consuming it raw when possible. These are also rich in vitamins A and E. SWEET POTATOES

It’s not just the colour green that should be on your plate, but orange too.

Sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, mangos, and apricots are good sources of beta-carotene, an essential vitamin that helps with night vision.

Just one sweet potato can fulfil the requirement of more than half the Vitamin C you need in a day.

CITRUS FRUITS

Vitamin C-rich fruits like lemons, lime, oranges, and grapefruits are recommended for healthy eyes. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is helpful in fighting age-related eye damage. These can be consumed raw or as freshly squeezed juice.

OUT THE DIVA'S MOST GORGEOUS

KRITI SANON MADE HEADS TURN IN A WHITE AND GOLDEN SAREE, JUST PERFECT FOR THE DIWALI FESTIVITIES. EVEN MANY TIMES THE ACTRESS STUNNED IN GORGEOUS SAREES.

NIKITA DUTTA

TINA DATTA

HINA KHAN

SHRADDHA DAS

RAKUL PREET SINGH

ABOVE CONDOS OFFER AN EXCLUSIVE, CONNECTED LIFESTYLE

AN IDYLLIC COMMUNITY STEPS FROM THE NEW BRISTOL LRT STATION

Conveniently

located just steps from the upcoming new Bristol LRT station, Above Condos is a stunning new community by RioCan Living and Marlin Spring. Above Condos surrounds you with modern refinement, in two captivating towers of 23 and 17 storeys each. Living in one of the 577 exceptionally appointed suites, you’ll enjoy access to the community’s many elevated amenities. Since Above Condos is just minutes from Mississauga’s downtown core, it offers an extraordinarily connected lifestyle, effortlessly close to the city’s renowned shopping and dining experiences. At Mississauga City Centre, you can explore a fantastic array of the latest fashions and diverse cuisines in Square One Shopping Centre, as well as a top entertainment and cultural events.

Above Condos’ location at Bristol Rd. and Hurontario St. also puts you close to some of Mississauga’s premier green spaces and vast parks. Acres of serene natural beauty await, offering picture-perfect spots for picnicking, hiking, biking and more. This community is also a commuter’s paradise, being just minutes from the City Centre Transit Terminal and GO Transit. From there it’s an easy ride into downtown Toronto or west along the Lakeshore Go train route. If you drive, you can easily reach Highways 401, 403, 407 and 410.

The Hurontario LRT Line is what brings easy commuting to Above Condos. Offering 25 new stations spread over 19 kilometres, the LRT promises to provide 60% faster travel times than currently available.

With the new Bristol Station located next to Above Condos, you're conveniently connected with the Eglinton LRT line, 54 bus routes, three TTC subway stations and multiple GO lines.

Above Condos is an ideal community for a diverse range of residents – if you have children you’ll find it amenable to ensuring they get an excellent education. Connecting with the region’s wide selection of top-tier schools is easier than ever at Above Condos. These lauded centres of learning offer many different disciplines to ensure students can get ahead.

Even though Above Condos is superbly connected to the entire GTA and all its excitement, coming home is equally enticing. It’s like a breath of fresh air. From the moment you walk into the expansive lobby, you’re immersed in interior design that thrills. Soaring ceilings, bright natural materials and quiet, welcoming gathering spots encourage you to slow down and admire the ambiance.

Whether meeting with a friend before an evening out or simply taking a break to scroll through your social media feed, Above Condos’ lobby lounge welcomes you with the perfect balance of calming natural energy and dynamic modern flair. For those looking for a great place to get into the flow of personal or work projects, the green plants and open, airy design of Above Condos’ co-working space make an ideal environment for creative thinking. At Above Condos, there’s no need for a gym membership, as the fitness centre is fully outfitted with the latest cardio and weights equipment. And, as part of your recovery routine after your workout, you can retreat to the amazing café lounge.

Inside your suite, you’ll appreciate the curated selection of features and finishes, including 9foot smooth ceilings, contemporary built-in appliances, designer-curated quartz countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms, designer-selected light fixtures, and individual smart locks that enable keyless, secure suite entry.

RioCan Living and Marlin Spring are thrilled to be participating in the incredible growth of Mississauga.

By enhancing its world-class infrastructure, Mississauga is working towards achieving its Strategic Plan (2009) goal to be a “global city for creativity and innovation” by cultivating creative and innovative businesses. Collaborating to bring the vision of Above Condos to Mississauga, RioCan Living and Marlin Spring are two of the GTA’s most prestigious builders.

RioCan Living helps shape the places Canadians want to live. RioCan believes in building a community from the ground up takes more than bricks and mortar – it takes people, and they keep people at the centre of everything they do.

Marlin Spring is a fully integrated, award-winning real estate company. Its mission is to deliver exceptional real estate value to all its stakeholders, and it brings fresh, innovative and vibrant energy to residential real estate. For more information on Above Condos, please visit abovecondos.com

A good night's sleep is a vital component of holistic wellbeing, providing a strong foundation for our physical, mental, and emotional health. And yet, roughly 62 percent of adults globally feel that they don't sleep well at night. This epidemic of sleep deprivation is fueling a growing global industry of sleep technology and aids. A recent report pegged the global sleep tech devices market at USD 15 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow to USD 67 billion in 2030.

But don't lose sleep over this, help is hidden in your playlist. Science says, to tune in to tune out

A growing body of research is demonstrating how listening to calming music improves sleep by inducing favourable responses such as reduced anxiety, lowered blood pressure, slower breathing, and lower heart rate.

In fact, research shows that music stimulates the entire brain including the parasympathetic nervous system which signals the body to rest, relax and sleep.

A meta-analysis of ten different research studies involving a total of 557 participants came to the same conclusion, stating that music is effective at helping sufferers of both acute and chronic sleep disorders get better sleep. But what kind of music helps us sleep?

Slow tempo, fast asleep

Sleep experts list two things that matter a lot when it comes to understanding what kind of music helps a person in falling asleepindividual preference and tempo.

A person's individual choice in music is a vital factor in determining how the music will affect him/her. So, create a customized playlist that includes songs that have helped you fall asleep in the past or have helped you relax.

Tempo refers to the speed at which the music is played and is often measured in beats per minute (BPM). Some scientists hypothesize that since the human heart normally beats between 60 to 100 BPM, listening to music with a tempo in the range of 60-80 BPM may help in sync with

the body's own rhythms, thus, helping us unwind, relax and fall asleep.

But of course, this doesn't apply to everyone.

Sleep is highly personal and so are music preferences. Some people may experience relaxation - slower breathing and heartbeats - by listening to heavy metal or hard rock. "So, whether it's hard rock or heavy metal or Bach, find what makes you feel relaxed in your body and what helps you get out of your head," says Vago.

Tapping into the brain's rhythm for sound sleep

As it happens, there's plenty of music in the human body. Just like the heart, the brain too has its own rhythms and certain rhythms are best suited for sleep. Cognitive neuroscientist and RoundGlass Research Lead, David Vago, PhD, says that alpha waves, which are around eight to 12 hertz, are what you would see in the brain of someone quietly relaxed, perhaps lying in the bed with their eyes closed. (Also, coincidentally, during meditation.) If you're searching for music to help you fall asleep, Vago suggests looking for songs that can activate that alpha frequency. How do you find such a piece of music without actually measuring brain waves? The answer lies in listening to your body. Be mindful of what your body is telling you by drawing your attention to your heartbeat, breath and emotional response and how they change on listening to music.

Using technology to sleep better

When it comes to sleep, technology is a double-edged sword. It can inhibit rest as well as enable it. If you have to use your hand-held device at bedtime, use it to sleep more soundly. There are plenty of well-being apps that offer curated sleep playlists and bedtime stories that will help you drift into a restful slumber. Make them a part of your sleep hygiene to sleep better, optimize your well-being and lead a healthier and happier life.

(Prakriti Poddar is Global Head, Mental Health and Wellbeing, RoundGlass, a global Wholistic Wellbeing organization where she is actively involved in creating an integrated platform for Wholistic Wellbeing.)

ACUPUNCTURE TO MANAGE CHRONIC ASTHMA

In India, nearly 93 million people suffer from chronic respiratory conditions, out of which 37 million people are asthmatics. Asthma is characterised by bronchial hyper-responsiveness along with chronic airway inflammation, accompanied by chest tightness, episodic wheezing, breathlessness, and cough. Asthma is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, ranking among the top 20 conditions leading to disability globally. Apart from affecting the quality of life, asthma can lead to severe disability and even bring a heavy financial burden to patients, their families, and society.

While pharmacotherapies like long-acting beta-agonists and daily inhaled corticosteroids are widely recommended to prevent any serious exacerbation and keep the symptoms under control, long-term pharmacological treatment can inevitably cause potential side effects, like adrenal suppression, liver toxicity, reduced bone mineral density, and increased risk of death. In such a scenario, effective and safe alternative therapies like acupuncture can make a real difference. Recent studies have shown that acupuncture therapy can provide relief from asthma-related symptoms and make a difference in the inflammatory cell counts of the affected patients.

How Acupuncture Works

In acupuncture, thin needles are inserted at different points (acupoints) in the body to stimulate those areas. A review published by the journal ‘Pain Medicine’ in 2015, looking at present evidence and research on the definition and function of acupoints, revealed that these acupoints might sustain certain changes or release certain substances in ways that adjust the functioning of certain organs, affect symptoms of various diseases or maintain homeostasis in the body. When the pressure points (acupoints) are activated in acupuncture with the needles, it stimulates the central nervous system to release certain chemicals into the brain, spinal cord and muscles, which regenerates the body’s self-healing capacity.

LISTENING TO MUSIC AT BEDTIME CAN HELP IN SLOWING DOWN OUR HEART RATE AND BREATHING, AND IN BRINGING DOWN LEVELS OF STRESS HORMONES, EASING US INTO THE SLEEP MODE

MEDIA EXCLUSIVE: VEDANTA FOUNDER ANIL AGARWAL HONOURED WITH GLOBAL INDIAN AWARD BY CIF IN CANADA

TORONTO: Canada India Foundation held its annual CIF Global Indian Gala at a glittering ceremony that attracted who's who of Indo Canadian community, federal, provincialand municipal leaders, decision makers, academia,businesses, and India watchers. A highlight of the evening was also the presence of the Anishnawbe Health Foundation, representing the Indigenous People of Canada, as the day coincided with the National Truth & Reconciliation Day. The Award winner, Anil Agarwal, donated the entire award money of $50,000 to the Anishnawbe Heath Foundation, while adding another $21,000 on his own.

SATISH THAKKAR, Chair, CIF, acknowledged the unprecedented level of support from the community and sponsors this year and said that it was a clear sign of the dedication and commitment of Indian Diaspora to work towards an ideal partnership between Canada and India. He lauded the award winner, a world-renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist, Anil Agarwal, as afine example of a success story that inspire every youngster growing up, to dream big and persevere to fulfill the dream.

ANIL AGARWAL, the Chairman of Vedanta Resources, based in London, England, in his acceptance speech, spoke from the heart on his struggles, challenges and the life lessons that he learned along the way. He said that in his first time in Canada, he was totally overwhelmed with the hospitality extended to him and the high levels of success that the Indo Canadian community hasachieved in Canada. He said that he had never experienced anywhere else in the world the simplicity, affection and love of people as much as in Canada. He was also especially gratified to notice that Indo Canadian families retained the cultural traditions of India.

Talking about India, he urged everyone to understand the tremendous potential in a country headedto a $30 trillion economy in the near future. India and Canada are both democracies and there are many ways they can collaborate and engage to advance economic conditions for both, he noted.

Anil Agarwal struck up an easy relationship during an interaction facilitated by CIF with Ontario Premier, Doug Ford, Federal Minister Mary Ng and invited him to visit India. The world also knows Anil Agarwal as a great philanthropist who has committed 75% of this wealth to charity. His charitable arm oversees a huge country-wide movement called NandGhars that impart training skills, virtual classroom and other amenities to 80 million needy women and children in India. Typical of his generous nature, while donating the CIF Award money of $50,000 to a local charity of Indigenous people, Anishnawbe Health Foundation, he announced that he would add $21,000 on his own to the donation.

Anil Agarwal concluded his speech by making a promise that will help uplift India's poor in the long run. "As you know, I dream big! If I can make my company into a $100 billion institution, I want to make 75% of it, i.e., $75 billion, made available to change the lives of the poorest of the poor in India. Rest of my life is dedicated to that project."

Many other dignitaries spoke at the event which was attended by nearly 1,000 people. Consul General APOORVA

SRIVASTAVA applauded CIF for its great contributions through advocacy and many initiatives during the past 15 years towards strengthening Canada India relations. She said that the Indian diaspora of 1.8 million in Canada was a great source of strength for both Canada and India.

Premier DOUG FORD acknowledged the importance of accelerating and expanding the credentials accreditation process for new imm igrants, as Ontario and Canada had a lot of potential jobs but not enough skilled resources to fill them. Premier Ford also thanked Mr. Agarwal for his invitation to him to visit I ndia and said he hoped to visit India soon.

Hon. HELENA JACZEK, Federal Minister of Public Services and Procurement recalled the many previous CIF Galas that she had attended and said that relations between countries may be strengthened by governments and businesses, but it is the people who make the bond work. She said that her priority was to make a more modern and less cumbersome procurement process, which would benefit businesses.

AMANDA STROHAN, Deputy High Commissioner for Canada in India, said that at present 400 Canadian companies had a base in India, and recently 10 companies from Canada had participated in India Renewable Energy expo.

September 30 was the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and Canada India Foundation was honoured by the presence of ANISHNAWBE HEALTH FOUNDATION. Accepting the Cheque for $71,000 on behalf of the Foundation, MR. TIM LARONDE, Board Member at the Foundation, thanked CIF and Mr. Agarwal for the donation while acknowledging the common values regarding the union of mind, body, spirit and emotion shared by the cultures of India and that of the Indigenous people of Canada. He presented Mr. Agarwal with a special print of the painting titled "The Great Reunion) by Ojibway artist, Brandon Jocko, as well as a certificate of appreciation to CIF.

Concluding the event, RITESH MALIK, National Convener, CIF thanked Mr. Agarwal, all the dignitaries and attendees while reiterating the theme of the Gala, "Engage, Evolve, Elevate". "Canada-India's true potential cannot be left to the mercy of small irritants and issues which crop on and off. It's high time we engage, evolve and elevate this important partnership for long term good of people on both sides" he said.

All the speakers acknowledged the great contributions of Mr. Agarwal towards the betterment of the Indian community and praised his pledge of giving 75% of his wealth to charity, while congratulating CIF on completing 15 years working tirelessly towards stronger Canada India relations.

FROM L TO R: ANSHUL RUHIL, CHAIRMAN RUHIL HOLDINGS, RITESH MALIK, NATIONAL CONVENER CIF, HON. HELENA JACZEK, FEDERAL MINISTER O F GOVT SERVICES & PROCUREMENT, ANIL AGARWAL, CHAIRMAN VEDANTA GROUP, HON. DOUG FORD, PREMIER OF ONTARIO, HON. MARY NG, FEDERAL MINISTER OF SMB, EXPORT PROMOTION &INT TRADE, NORTON KOTHARI, CHAIRMAN, KOTHARI GROUP, SATISH THAKKAR, CHAIR, CIF, APOORVA SRIVASTAVA, CONSUL GENERAL OF INDIA, TORONTO AND AMANDA STROHAN, DHC OF CANADA, NEW DELHI.

Federal minister, Hon. MARY NG, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade of Canada, mentioned her meeting with Hon. Piyush Goyal during May 2022, as well as her more recent conversation with him and said that Canada and India were on their way to a pragmatic Free trade agreement by the end of the year, which will protect both Canada and India's interests.