The Asian Star - June 1, 2024

2 gunmen threaten Surrey businessman in extortion racket

A Surrey business owner said he was threatened inside his own office by two armed suspects. The owner, will not be naming for safety reasons, said he was ending his day on

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Friday, when two masked men armed with guns arrived at his business.

He said both of the men entered the store with one staying at the front of the store and the other headed into the back hallway.

The armed man at the front of the store rounded up the employees and gathered them together. “The guy in the black hoodie and a black mask came to my office, he said, ‘Why are you not picking up my boss’ phone calls?’,” the owner told.

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Doctors sound alarm about Nanaimo hospital

Access to health care continues to be a concern for many living on Vancouver Island. According to the Fair Care Alliance, half of the island’s population currently receives only one-fifth of the health resources.

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In the early hours of an August Monday morning in 2023, U.S. border officers noticed something strange in an X-ray of a rail car meant to be carrying bulk plastic pellets.

What appeared to be a series of anomalies turned out to be 29 human beings.

“Twenty-eight of the subjects were determined to be Mexican nationals,” David Spitzer, the special agent tasked with investigating the case swore in an affidavit filed in a Washington state court last week.

“One was a Colombian national and identified as the individual guiding the group and instructing people where to hide and how to conceal themselves from law enforcement.”

Spitzer’s account of the incident is part of a criminal complaint filed against two U.S. men in relation to what Homeland Security investigators claim is a human smuggling network.

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India sizzles

Human smugglers used freight trains to smuggle people across border from BC Delhi heat ‘unbearable’ at 50 C as North

Parts of northern and central India are sweltering under a severe heatwave, with a provisional record temperature of 52.3C (126.1F) registered in Delhi. If verified, it would be the highest ever recorded in India. More than 37 cities in the country recorded temperatures over 45C this week. Warnings of heat-related illnesses have been issued, with at least three deaths reported so far.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD)’s Soma Sen Roy told the BBC that a team had been sent to the Mungeshpur area in Delhi - where the 52.3C temperature was recorded - to verify it.

The IMD described the recording as an “outlier compared to other stations”, which had recorded temperatures ranging from 45.2C to 49.1C in different parts of Delhi.

The city’s authorities have warned they will issue fines to those caught wasting water as the city deals with shortages and supplies have been cut to some areas.

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Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony charges

Michael Cohen, speaking after Donald Trump’s guilty verdict Thursday, said he was “relieved” and wasn’t surprised by the verdict.

“This has been six years in the making,” he told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow.

When Maddow asked if he was surprised by the verdict, Cohen said: “No. I was not.”

Cohen praised the judge and prosecutors for their work and said he stayed off social media in respect for the judge and the process.

He said he faced difficulty dealing with the anxiety of the trial.

“I was nervous because so much was riding on the result of this, and I wanted to ensure that my testimony was perfect. I knew that there could be no deviation from perfection,” he said.

Cohen called Todd Blanche, Trump’s attorney, a “SLOAT” – stupidest lawyer of all time. During his closing arguments, Blanche had called Cohen a “GLOAT” – the greatest liar of all time.

Metro Vancouver board chairs could see $25K pay bumps under proposed changes

The Metro Vancouver Regional District is facing additional scrutiny over compensation offered to some of its highest positions.

A proposal headed to the regional district’s board on Friday could see its chair and vicechair receive hefty pay bumps. The proposal relates to compensation for attending standing committees. Metro Vancouver board members are paid $525 to attend any meeting under four hours, and double that if the meeting goes longer. Under current rules, however, the board’s chair and vice-chair are limited to attending 18 such meetings per year. A report headed to the board this week argues that the number of meetings requiring the two positions’ attendance has increased “significantly,” and recommends lifting the cap to 67 meetings per year. That move could

result in an increase of up to $51,450 in total annual elected official remuneration — more than $25,000 each — according to the report.

The compensation for attending meetings is over and above the $105,039 board chair and Delta Mayor George Harvie and vice-chair and Anmore Mayor John McEwen are already paid for their roles with the district.

“I think it’s a cash grab. The bottom line is they are more than adequately compensated now,” said former West Vancouver mayor Michael Smith, who served previously on the Metro Vancouver Board. “I’d totally like to see it voted down. They really shouldn’t be paid at all. They should be part of the duty of the mayor to attend the Metro regional meetings. Why do they expect to get paid over and above it?”

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In the exhilarating world of chess, a young Indian talent, R Praggnanandhaa, has captured hearts and headlines with his recent victory over none other than the reigning world champion, Magnus Carlsen, at the Norway Chess tournament. This remarkable win not only secured Praggnanandhaa a prestigious spot but also nudged Carlsen down the leaderboard, a feat that’s no small accomplishment, especially considering the tournament was held in Carlsen’s own backyard. In a candid interview post-victory, Praggnanandhaa shared his unwavering confidence despite facing Carlsen’s tricky strategies. His resilience on the board speaks volumes about his mental strength and strategic acumen. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Praggnanandhaa has outmaneuvered Carlsen; he’s previously showcased his skills in rapid and exhibition games, proving his mettle among the chess elite.

Looking ahead, Praggnanandhaa braces himself for another challenging encounter with

Nakamura in the upcoming round, promising yet another nail-biting spectacle for chess enthusiasts worldwide. The young prodigy’s triumph has sparked a frenzy on social media, with fans clamoring for repeat telecasts of the historic match.

But Praggnanandhaa’s success story isn’t just about him; it’s a family affair. His sister shines brightly in the championship, leading the women’s competition with her impressive performance, highlighting the family’s undeniable talent and contribution to the chess community.

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Authorities arrested Jesus Ortiz-Plata, 45, of Independence, Ore., and Juan Pablo Cuellar Medina, 35, of Everett, Wa., last week as the two men were allegedly meeting to transport two Hondurans and Indian national into the United States.

According to Spitzer’s affidavit, Ortiz-Plata is also known as “Chuy” — a contact who has served as a key fixer in relation to a series of foiled human-smuggling attempts by train

and car across the border between B.C. and Washington.

“These defendants have allegedly been linked to an extremely dangerous smuggling scheme where people are loaded into freight cars on trains traveling from Canada into the U.S.,” U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman said in a statement.

“Being locked in a freight train car is dangerous — there is no control over the heat, cold or ventilation, and people can be injured or killed by shifting freight.”

New anti racism phone line to help BC residents

By Umendra Singh Attorney General Nikki Sharma

announced in Surrey on Thursday afternoon that her government has started a new helpline for people who suffer a racist incident or see a racist incident - with support in 240 languages.

to receive a special needs designation in the K-12 system and that Indigenous people may be disproportionately impacted by diabetes, asthma and mood and anxiety disorders.

Mable Elmore, parliamentary secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives, said in the release that the “existence of systemic racism is not a secret, but without concrete statistics, Indigenous and racialized people have often been ignored when talking about it.”

“Thanks to the research being carried out under the Anti-Racism Data Act, we now have clear facts to use as evidence. This information has been and will continue to be invaluable in strengthening the AntiRacism Act, and our collective efforts to make a fairer B.C. that works better for everyone,” she said.

The helpline has been. Initiated and managed by the Multicultural Department of AG’s Ministry - with help from community partners.

Callers to the line will receive support and guidance, including referrals to local community support services, such as counselling or help with connecting to police.

This program will also help collect more data about racism in the province, that includes a provincewide demographic survey about systemic racism. The helpline and the results of the survey into barriers experienced by Indigenous and racialized people in the public service, schools and health care were separately announced on Thursday. The Ministry of Citizens’ Services said the data from the survey and “other sources” indicate there are barriers for racialized people in the province’s public service, including underrepresentation among employees. It said racialized students tend to be less likely

The Anti-Racism Data Act came into effect in 2022 and requires the province to publish statistics or other information respecting systemic racism and racial equity by June 1 each year. This is the first year research findings were released under the act. B.C. Attorney General Nikki Sharma noted that a main goal of the new helpline is to collect “anonymized aggregated data” that will allow officials to better understand where and how such incidents are happening in B.C., and help them better combat racism.

“It will be a useful government tool,” she said. “It’s designed to be meaningful to people that call in, and we’ll be monitoring that, but also we’ll be watching the data that comes from it so we can understand how our society is doing.”

Callers will be asked to describe where and what happened, and whether they’d like to disclose “basic demographic information,” a news release said. Continued on Page 7...

Attorney General Nikki Sharma (middle) and Parliamentary Secretary for Environment and Aman Singh (left) and Parliamentary Secretary for anti racism, Mable Elmore (right) announcing the new anti- racism help line in Surrey yesterday. (Photo by Umendra Singh )

National Spelling Bee reflects the economic success and cultural impact of immigrants from India

When Balu Natarajan became the first Indian American champion of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 1985, a headline on an Associated Press article read, “Immigrants’ son wins National Spelling Bee,” with the first paragraph noting the champion “speaks his parents’ native Indian language at home.”

Those details would hardly be newsworthy today after a quarter-century of Indian American spelling champs, most of them the offspring of parents who arrived in the United States on student or work visas.

This year’s bee is scheduled to begin Tuesday at a convention center outside Washington and, as usual, many of the expected contenders are Indian American, including Shradha Rachamreddy, Aryan Khedkar, Bruhat Soma and Ishika Varipilli.

As of 2022, there were 3.1 million Indianborn people living in the U.S., and Indian American households had a median income of $147,000, more than twice the median income

of all U.S. households, according to census data. Indian Americans also were more than twice as likely to have college degrees.

South Asian Manny Malhotra to coach Abby Cancuks

Manny Malhotra is back. Again.

The Vancouver Canucks announced Friday that they have hired the former player and assistant coach to be the new head coach of their top minor league team in Abbotsford.

Malhotra takes over from Jeremy Colliton, who drew rave reviews running the AHL Canucks for the past seasons.

It is a sudden switch in a key development role for the Canucks, but one that Abbotsford GM Ryan Johnson said was a sign of how things can go in pro hockey.

So much of hiring in the NHL is about timing. Colliton was well-regarded internally, but he was without a contract for next year and when Johnson saw Malhotra would be available, he just couldn’t wait any longer, he told Postmedia.

to defensive faceoff man in 2010.

Six years later, then both retired, they finally worked together — Malhotra was hired as development coach by the Canucks in 2016-17, when Johnson was the team’s assistant director of player development.

A year later, Malhotra joined Travis Green’s NHL staff as an assistant and Johnson was promoted to full director.

Johnson cited a list of reasons why he was excited to bring Malhotra back into the Canucks’ fold, giving him his first headcoaching gig at any level. “My time around him, his knowledge of the game, his path in the game, being a high pick but battling adversity, his leadership qualities, his work ethic.

Nearly 70% of Indian-born U.S. residents arrived after 2000, according to census data, and that dovetails with the surge in Indian American spelling bee champions. There were two Indian American Scripps winners before 1999. Of the 34 since, 28 have been Indian American, including three straight years of Indian American co-champions and one year (2019) when eight champions were declared, seven of Indian ancestry.

The experiences of first-generation Indian Americans and their spelling bee champion children illustrate the economic success and cultural impact of the nation’s second-largest

Indians received 74% of the H-1B visas for specialized occupations approved in fiscal 2021, and a record total of nearly 269,000 students from India were enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities in 2022-23, according to the Institute of International Education. Even among Indian American spellers, a particular subgroup is overrepresented: families from the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where Telugu is the primary language. Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, is India’s informationtechnology hub and the region supplies many H-1B visa recipients.

“Whenever we go to the spelling bee events, everybody speaks that language,” Dasari said. “We realized there are so many people from the

“It’s not often that you get the guy at the top of your list,” Johnson said Friday, about an hour after the team announced Malhotra as their new AHL coach. Johnson and Malhotra’s careers have long been intertwined. Although they were never teammates, they both had long NHL careers as checking centres. Malhotra replaced Johnson as the Canucks’ go-

DNA match leads to conviction 22 years after B.C. sexual assault

Police in Metro Vancouver say a DNA match led to a man’s arrest and conviction more than 22 years after he broke into a woman’s home and sexually assaulted her. Richmond RCMP say Christopher Sharafi, also known as Mohammed Mendi Sharafi, was found guilty last October, and in April he was sentenced to five years in prison for the two offences dating back to December 2001. The Mounties say the victim reported waking up to find a man standing in her room, and he then climbed into her bed

They say in a statement that police collected and submitted DNA evidence for analysis, but the suspect remained unidentified until 2015, when the sample matched a known offender in the national DNA databank. RCMP say Sharafi had been ordered to provide a DNA sample as part of a previous unrelated conviction and the Mounties’ forensic laboratory confirmed the match. They say Sharafi has now been found guilty of break and enter and sexual assault and sentenced to five years in prison for each

Canada’s Competition Bureau takes a stand. Finally

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The recent move by Canada’s Competition Bureau to investigate the parent companies of grocery giants Loblaws and Sobeys marks a significant step in addressing anticompetitive behaviour in the retail grocery sector. Its investigation, initiated on Mar. 1, focuses on their alleged use of property controls, which purportedly restrict competition through their lease agreements and control over land vacancies. With these two companies holding a combined market share of over 50 percent in the Canadian food retailing market, the potential implications are substantial. According to Federal Court records, the Commissioner of Competition’s inquiry centres on suspicions that Loblaws and Sobeys are using their property controls to limit the activities of potential tenants, thereby reducing competition.

This is of particular concern in rural areas where communities often have limited grocery options, making them especially vulnerable to such practices. The allegations suggest that these companies are not only controlling who can lease space in shopping centres but also holding onto vacant lands to prevent competitors from entering the market. Sobeys’ parent company has responded by calling the inquiry “unlawful,” reflecting the tension and defensiveness within the industry.

However, many observers are not surprised by these developments, as the grocery sector has long been criticized for its market control tactics. The investigation underscores a broader issue: the control of market access and the strategic importance of location in the grocery business. These companies have mastered the art of location optimization, ensuring their dominance by strategically positioning and protecting their stores. The public’s frustration with the grocery industry has been building, partly due to the long-running bread price-fixing scandal that has plagued both the industry and the Competition Bureau. After nine years, the investigation remains unresolved, eroding public trust. The current investigation into Loblaws and Sobeys is a crucial opportunity for the Bureau to demonstrate its commitment to protecting consumers and ensuring fair competition.

Canada’s shutdown of Burnaby anti-drone companies likely linked to illicit technology transfer: experts

The shutdown by the federal government of two Burnaby anti-drone technology companies over national security concerns is likely linked to the illicit transfer of technology, say experts.

Last Friday, François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry, issued a short statement announcing that Canada had ordered the dissolution of Bluvec Technologies Inc. and Pegauni Technology Inc. following a review for national security concerns.

The government has not provided any more details but suggested the firms received foreign investment.

Both companies are owned by Junfeng (Jack) Jia, who came to Canada in 2007 from China and started them in 2018. The two companies produce technology that can detect and block or jam unwanted drones, including with stationary and portable systems. Christian Leuprecht, a professor at the Royal Military College and Queen’s University, said the order to dissolve the companies likely has something to do with the transfer of illicit technology to countries such as China, Russia or Iran, especially since the two companies are involved in drone technology defence.

He noted that Canada is a world leader in drone technology, which has military applications. The anti-drone technology can also used to safeguard air traffic lanes and prevent drones from dropping contraband into prisons.

“For this government to move on these two companies here suggests to me that their activities weren’t just on the margin of debatable or questionable,” said Leuprecht, an expert and author on security and defence who has testified as an expert witness before parliamentary committees.

Drones, and defences against them, have played a major role in the war in Ukraine and the fight between Israel and the Hamas. Many companies produce this type of technology where the global market is expected to grow to US$5.2 billion by 2028.

Leuprecht said the action against the companies is also likely part of a strategy by the federal Liberal government to show they are serious about national security and foreign interference, where shortfalls were highlighted in a recent national inquiry.

He pointed to action last year by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland instructing three founding investors of Wealth One Bank of Canada to divest their stakes in the bank and to put in place security measures to guard against money laundering and unauthorized sharing of information.

“To some extent, it’s heartening that this government is finally paying more attention to national security related issues,” said Leuprecht. And it shows that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and other Canadian agencies can produce “actionable intelligence,” he said.

Phone and email messages left with the companies have gone unanswered.

BC increases minimum wage - again

B.C.’s minimum wage is set to increase again on Saturday, reigniting what has become an annual debate about who gains and who loses when labour costs rise — a subject economists don’t even agree upon.

In keeping with inflation, B.C.’s minimum wage will jump 65 cents, or four per cent, on June 1, from $16.75 an hour to $17.40, the highest of all Canadian provinces. By comparison, Ontario’s minimum wage will go up to $17.20 in October, while Alberta’s hasn’t budged from $15 since it was set in 2018.

According to a press release issued when the B.C. government tied minimum wage increases to inflation earlier this year, “minimum-wage earners will be able to count on increases every year” on June 1.

While some people say that isn’t enough for a province where many people spend half their income on housing, others claim it will harm businesses and consumers. There’s a lack of consensus among experts, too.

Simon Fraser University professor Andrey Pavlov said economists are generally “not thrilled” about cost increases because they weaken demand. When wages rise, businesses might cut jobs, start to rely on technology instead

of workers, or look at relocating to a place where labour is cheaper.

All of that can hurt the province’s lowest earners, making minimum wage increases “very counterproductive,” said the professor at the Beedie School of Business.

Mandated wage increases could eventually make it harder for low-skilled workers to find jobs, particularly as they come on the heels of other government measures like the carbon tax and short-term rental bans that could drive businesses out of the province. After B.C.’s minimum wage increased by seven per cent last year, Chung said he was forced to raise prices at his restaurant, Jade Seafood. But he noticed customers continued to spend the same amount on a meal — about $100 — although they ate less or ordered differently.

Police clear road, arrest one pro-Palestinian protester on UBC campus

Police have arrested one person during the clearance of pro-Palestinian protesters who were blocking a main intersection at the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver.

But there was no obvious move against a protest encampment that has occupied a sports field at the campus for a month.

A statement from the RCMP says the clearance involved officers from the University and Richmond detachments, RCMP critical response officers, Vancouver police and the B.C. Highway Patrol.

members and visitors remains our foremost priority. Any protest actions must be conducted with respect for others and within the boundaries of UBC policy and the law,” it said. Video posted shortly after 11 a.m. by an Instagram account associated with the protests showed dozens of uniformed officers walking down the main route into the university.

The account called “People’s University for Gaza at UBC” had earlier posted an update asking people to gather for a rally at the intersection.

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It says police were called to the intersection of University Boulevard and Wesbrook Mall where protesters were “impeding access” to the main entrance into the university.

The statement says demonstrators were given the opportunity to get off the road but police action was required to clear the intersection.

It says one person “did not comply with police direction” and was arrested.

The intersection was clear by 12:15 p.m., though several unoccupied RCMP vehicles remained nearby.

“The intersection has reopened to the public, however the RCMP will continue to monitor the situation and take necessary action should there be any criminal activities that pose a threat to the safety of individuals and/or property,” the RCMP statement said. UBC said in a statement that the protest at the intersection had “created difficulties and traffic delays.”

“The safety and security of our community

Footage provided by a protester who did not want to be identified showed RCMP officers standing over a woman sitting on the road, her hands behind her back.

A voice over a loudspeaker tells protesters: “This is the RCMP. You need to clear the area immediately or you will be under arrest.”

The protest occurred during spring graduation ceremonies at UBC that have been going on since last week.

After police cleared the road, a few dozen demonstrators marched across campus from the Rose Garden near the ceremonies to McInnes Field, the site of the protest encampment established April 29.

The letter from organizers on Wednesday called on Bacon to condemn the “clearly documented genocide (and) scholasticide” in Gaza in order to start a dialogue.

The camp had about 60 tents on Wednesday, fewer than during its early days.

BC seniors say changes to rent subsidy program fall short

Recently announced changes to a provincial rent subsidy program for low-income seniors don’t go far enough, say seniors and service providers supporting them.

Doreen Marion Gee, 73, who recently received her one-time “top-up” of $430 from B.C. Housing, said there are still “systemic problems” with the program that need to be addressed.

“I’m happy to get the $400. That’s a lot of money to me,” Gee said. “But it’s not making my housing more affordable.”

Gee, a writer, said despite changes to the subsidy program, SAFER, or shelter aid for elderly renters, a number of barriers, including unrealistic rental caps and a difficult application process mean the program is less effective than in should be.

She said she hasn’t yet heard what changes, if any, will be applied to her current monthly subsidy.

In Victoria, where Gee was born and raised, the maximum rent that goes into determining her monthly subsidy is currently capped at $767. The average rent for a onebedroom apartment in Victoria last April was $2,100, according to rentals.ca.

“If I went out now and tried to rent a place, SAFER wouldn’t even help at all,” Gee said.

New

“The only reason I’m not homeless right now is because I’m in the same place I was in 17 years ago, so my rent has not gone up a lot.”

Rent ceilings for subsidies for a single senior currently range from $734 to $803, depending on what part of the province the senior lives in.

Alison Silgardo, CEO of the Seniors Services Society of B.C., said the one-time payment would help “with an extra bill” but didn’t address core problems with the program. “It’s a nice thing to have, but people are critically in need of sustainable income,” Silgardo said.

The changes to the program announced by the province in April included a one-time “top-up” payment of $430, as well as increases in monthly benefits, income eligibility and rent ceilings.

The changes will allow roughly 4,800 more seniors to qualify for the program, and existing recipients will see an increase of approximately $110 per month, Travis Paterson, a spokesperson for the Housing Ministry, wrote in an email.

He said the maximum rent ceiling would be increased to 65 per cent of the provincial average for a one-bedroom unit, increasing the rent ceiling to $931 provincewide.

replacement Pattullo Bridge with four lanes is too small, says Surrey Mayor

“It was a shortsighted decision to replace a four-lane bridge with a four-lane bridge,” says Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke.

In a rather pointed statement issued today solely criticizing the ongoing project to replace the Pattullo Bridge, Locke says the new replacement crossing should have been built with more traffic lanes from the get-go.

The decision to proceed with a four-lane replacement bridge “was done despite Surrey’s rapidly growing population and increased traffic demands. The province should be investing in modern infrastructure that will support [not only] the needs of the present but also of the future. This lack of foresight in infrastructure investment will not only worsen congestion but also threaten to stifle the economic growth and development of Surrey.”

Locke’s statement comes after last week’s revelation by the provincial government that the current construction project to complete and open the new replacement bridge is further delayed from later in 2024 to Fall 2025. When the $1.38 billion project began major construction work in Spring 2021, it was

originally slated for a late 2023 opening.

As of this month, construction has progressed to the completion of the bridge’s main in-river tower and the installation of the first segment of the bridge deck with suspension cables. Work continues to complete the approaches and upgrade road networks on both sides of the Fraser River. “The provincial government has mandated cities to create more housing, yet the province is falling far short on delivering the necessary infrastructure to support that growth,” continues the mayor’s statement.

“On top of the acute shortage of schools and healthcare facilities in Surrey, the continued delay of the Pattullo crossing is yet another example of the lack of foresight in the housing plan the province has imposed on municipalities.”

New anti racism phone line to help BC residents

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The helpline will operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and the province says people who call outside those hours will be asked to leave a voice mail with information and a callback number.

The province says the line, which is toll-free and was established in partnership with United Way BC 211, is not intended to replace emergency services and people who need immediate help should still call 911.

Sharma said the hope is that more people are comfortable reporting racist incidents, which is also why so many languages are offered.

“Unfortunately, the incidence of reporting to the police on hate crimes has gone up, and has been over the past few years,” she said. “What we

heard from people is that sometimes they’re not comfortable going to the police and if they had a resource that was available for them to report and receive services, it would go a long way in terms of the impact to the victim, and the trauma.”

People wanting to report an incident are asked to dial 1-833-457-5463.

The province also notes in the news release that local organizations can also apply to United Way BC for funding if they are interested in being part of the helpline’s referral database.

Sharma said the province has initially allocated $22.7 million toward the helpline.

“We’re obviously going to be monitoring to make sure that it’s valuable and it’s hitting the right mark, and it’ll stay as long as it’s needed and communities are using it,” she said.

Premier’s office accused of interfering in VCH’s Richmond overdose prevention site decision

After protests and days of charged public hearings earlier this year, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) explained it would not move forward with a possible supervised consumption site in Richmond, and a city councillor claims the proposal never really stood a chance.

Former B.C. minister of public safety and now Richmond Coun. Kash Heed says Premier David Eby directed VCH to not move forward with the proposal before the council made its decision.

the decision. Heed provided these documents to CityNews. The documents reveal that Eby’s office drafted a statement on behalf of VCH before the council had reached its decision.

Heed says, and the documents confirm, that the council, given the power they have as a municipal government, had not even passed the motion before a decision was already made.

Heed says he was shocked to learn that Eby’s office directed it the same day, Feb. 13, that council voted in favour of continuing conversations around the potential site.

“I had a lot of respect for him coming from the area he did in the Downtown Eastside, understanding the problems with some of our public policies related to dealing with drug addiction and mental health issues and poverty issues,” he told CityNews Wednesday.

The day after the council voted in favour of the plan, Feb. 14, VCH released a statement saying it was not going to move forward with the possibility of an OPS.

Documents first obtained by Glacier Media through a freedom of information request have led Heed to believe Eby interfered with

“What I subsequently learned is that the premier’s office had directed Vancouver Coastal Health authority on the second day before the hearing had even started to craft up a communication piece indicating that they would not be moving in this direction,” Heed said. The document shows an email from the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions that states: “The Premier’s Office has directed us to direct VCH to issue a statement to quell some of the misinformation surrounding the proposed Richmond SCS [safe consumption site]. Below is a frame for the statement for your team’s input.”

Part of the input that the ministry referred to included explicit directions on what to do “if the motion passes.”

“At this time we don’t believe a stand-alone overdose prevention site is the best option to support people struggling with addictions in Richmond and will not be moving forward with one in this specific case,” the direction from the ministry stated.

More than one hundred people spoke in front of Richmond council during the public hearings. Residents appeared in front of the council, inperson and virtually, and expressed concerns that it would have negative impacts on their neighbourhood.

Shouting, clapping, and booing were involved from the public.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s housing plan defeated in House of Commons

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s housing bill has been defeated in the House of Commons with the Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Québécois voting against the legislation.

Poilievre introduced the bill in September and touted it as the Conservative plan to tackle the country’s housing crisis.

Poilievre’s focus on housing affordability has helped grow his party’s support in public opinion polls, earning the Conservatives a sizeable lead over the Liberals.

The bill’s central proposal was to require cities to increase home building by 15 per cent each year to receive their usual infrastructure spending.

Cities that failed to meet that target would have sees a decrease in the federal dollars they received, while those that exceeded it would have gotten additional money.

The bill was defeated 203 to 117 in a second-reading vote.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2024.

BC Conservatives reject ‘non-compete’ agreement with BC United, says Falcon

The leader of the BC United party says Conservatives leader John Rustad has rejected a non-compete agreement in order to defeat the NDP come October. The proposed agreement would have seen the two parties agree not to run candidates against each other, not to attack each other, and not merge with each other.

Falcon says Rustad rejected the “reasonable” offer, putting at risk another David Eby led NDP government.

“In doing so, John Rustad placed his own ambition above the best interests of British Columbia,” Falcon said Friday. Multiple recent polls have shown United — the ruling party in this province for 16 years before 2017 — trailing far behind the Conservatives, which as of this time last year didn’t have a single seat in the legislature. United currently has 16 seats in the Legislature to the Conservatives two. If the proposal was agreed to, it would have seen the Conservatives run in 46 seats, and United in 47 seats. “As British

Columbians continue to ask John Rustad and myself on the campaign trail why we could not find common ground, I can confidently say that BC United did everything possible to secure a free enterprise, non-competition framework,” Falcon said.

In response Friday afternoon, Rustad shared that “with certainty,” the two parties will not be merging before the coming election.

“Kevin Falcon declined our offers in December 2023 to discuss a possible merger,” he stated. “On May 23, 2024, a mere 4 months before the election and now that the BC United is tied with the Green Party at 12% in recent polls – he finally presented our Conservative Team an ‘offer.’

“Time and time again, and in this ’offer,’ Kevin Falcon has demonstrated that he will always put himself first and will do absolutely anything for power: before the BC United Party, before his own candidates, and ultimately before the province.”

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“There was a call that came in half an hour ago. I didn’t pick it up, it was suspicious.”

The owner said the gunmen, who had an assault-style rifle, said his “boss” would be calling back again shortly, and that it was in the owner’s best interest to answer. “They both had guns in their hands … They were pointing their guns at me.” According to the business owner’s wife, they did get a call asking for thousands of dollars about a month ago. He reported it to the police, who allegedly told him to not worry about it.

A modulated, robotic voice asked for the money. The incident on Friday was captured on the store’s CCTV camera system. The gunmen were in and out of the business in around 50 seconds. Before they left, they stole the owner’s cellphone. The owner said he is concerned for his well-being, his families and his employees.

“We’re fully relying on the RCMP to take

action. We took pictures of the (suspect’s) car, (the police) took all the video surveillance. I hope they are working on it,” he said.

Pictures show the suspect vehicle to be a grey Dodge Charger. The business has been operating in the area for more than 15 years, and nothing like this has ever happened before, the owner said. The owner said his family has no ties to organized crime and is bewildered why his place was targeted. “Frontline officers attended the area and learned that two men had entered a business with what appeared to be firearms,” Surrey RCMP staff said in a release. “The two men then spoke with one of the employees and stole a cell phone as they walked out. The two suspects were wearing masks and fled in a vehicle.”

Surrey investigators are looking to speak with anyone who may have information regarding the incident. Surrey RCMP can be contacted at 604599-0502.

APPLIANCES REPAIR SERVICE

A Vancouver Island candidate for the BC Conservative Party has pulled out of the provincial election race after facing criticism over social media posts.

Damon Scrase, the party’s candidate for Courtenay-Comox, issued a statement Tuesday saying he was stepping aside to avoid becoming a distraction.

The resignation came days before he was slated to attend a town hall with party leader John Rustad. “Like many of us I have made posts on social media years ago that make me wince, which don’t reflect what I think or who I am today,” Scrace posted on social media platform X.

“I do not want my old, unfortunate comments to distract from the important work currently being done to fix our incredible province.”

The resignation came hours after CKNW host Jas Johal posted a thread of online comments Scrase wrote in 2022 and 2023. One post from last year claimed that “the most common gay fetish is seducing straight people,” while another claimed Pride “has become a celebration of fringe sexuality” where “perverts expose themselves to children for kicks.”

Another calls some Pride participants “degenerates,” while another post criticized public support for abortion stating “nothing animates the unwashed masses more than killing unborn children.”

Asked about the latter comment on May 14, BC Conservative Leader John Rustad responded that “people are allowed to have their own opinions.”

Global News is seeking comment from the party on Scrase’s resignation.

In March, the BC Conservatives announced, then dropped, candidate Stephen Malthouse within hours after backlash over his controversial comments and alleged behaviour regarding COVID-19.

Malthouse, a family physician, had his licence to practice medicine in B.C. suspended amid an investigation on allegations he signed vaccine and mask exemptions “that he knew included false statements … and used his status as a registrant of the College to attempt to circumvent public health orders.”

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Dr. David Coupland, president of the medical staff at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, said they have worked with Island Health but many needs remain unmet, including a patient diagnostic centre.

“The last thing I want to be is here, asking for things our patients need,” Coupland said. “But when you have six people willing to speak, that gives you a sense of how critical things are at our hospital.”

The Fair Care Alliance launched its campaign at an event on Wednesday and Coupland, along with other doctors, specialists, healthcare leaders, patients and community leaders, spoke about the dire need for medical care and support on the island — particularly the central and northern areas.

Nanaimo Regional General Hospital is the busiest emergency department on the island and treats more than 400 inpatients in a 345bed facility regularly.

Due to its location, it is the tertiary hospital for the entire central and north island, but staff there say it cannot handle the strain.

There is only one on-call internist for more than 400 patients and two cardiologists versus 22 in Victoria. It does not have a catheterization lab, while there are only two in Victoria and patients with heart disease cannot get access to the care they need. “We see every day … patients who don’t get the care they need when they need it,” Coupland said.

“We don’t see things getting better.”

Critics have been calling for a new patient tower at Nanaimo’s hospital, which would function as both a diagnostic and treatment centre and would increase the total bed capacity to 600.

Dr. David Forrest, head of infectious disease and critical care at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, said on Wednesday that the hospital was originally built in 1963 with a capacity of 200 beds.

2 Million bottles of Fiji Natural Artesian Water recalled in USA

Summer is (unofficially) here, and if there’s one thing you can guarantee everyone will be doing, it’s staying hydrated. While the uptick of tumblers has many shoppers in a frenzy and ditching one-use plastic water bottles for a consistent on-the-go option, if you’re one who still grabs a bottle of water while out or stocks your fridge with them, you’ll want to take note of the newest recall to be announced. And it includes a super-popular water brand that everyone loves. According to a May 23 notice posted by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), 1.9 million bottles of Fiji Natural Artesian Water has been recalled. Citing this as a Class III recall, meaning that exposure to this item “is not likely to cause adverse health consequences,” the voluntary recall serves as an update to a March 4 recall issued by Fiji’s parent company, Natural Waters of Viti Limited.

So, what’s the reason behind the 78,533 cases

being recalled? As the FDA reveals, the recall was issued due to manganese and other bacteria being discovered in some water samples. While the additional three bacteria types were not specified, those who may have the water in their possession were, with Washington being the one state that received the water directly. All other states that could possibly be affected would have received their water through online ordering via Amazon. While a spokesperson for the brand notes that “99% of all those affected bottles were reclaimed,” if you’re still worried that you could possibly have any in your possession, dates that the 24-pack of waters were sold were between February 1, 2024 and March 3, 2024. The case UPC code is identified as 6 32565 00004 3, while the bottle UPC code is listed as 6 32565 00001 2. Dates for these bottles are November 11, 2023, November 12, 2023, November 13, 2023, November 24, 2023 and November 25, 2023.

President and MPs get pay raise

There is a major change tonight as Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka confirms that due processes for changes to salaries, allowances and benefits for the President, Speaker, Leader of Opposition and Members of Cabinet and Parliament as required by the Parliamentary Remunerations Act of 2014 have been gazetted and is now binding on the Executive arm of Government to implement.

Rabuka confirms that he and a few colleagues in Cabinet will not take the salary increase (after removal of the 20 percent payreduction put in place by the COVID-19 mini-budget in March 2020.)

However, he says as the 2024-2025 Budget is being finalised in the month of June, before it is tabled in Parliament on Friday 28th June 2024, and then debated in Parliament from 8th to 19th July 2024, this is a window where Members of Parliament will have the

opportunity to review or reconsider their decision made last week.

Rabuka says as leaders, Members of Parliament must consider the effect on the country of their vote held on 24th May in Parliament. He says unless Parliament resolves otherwise before 1st August 2024, the changes based on the parliamentary vote must come into effect on 1st August 2024.

The changes expire on 31st December 2024, unless renewed by Parliament. Rabuka says the motion resolved by Parliament on 24th May 2024 is in line with sections 3,12 and 13 of the Parliamentary Allowances Act 2014, for amendment of the Schedule of the 2014 Act.

He says the motion amended part 1 on salaries and part 2 on allowances and benefits of the President, the Speaker, Leader of Opposition and Members of Cabinet and Parliament.

Sugarcane farmers to receive 4th cane payment for 2023

Sugarcane farmers will receive $21.75 per ton of cane payment on May 28, the Sugar Industry Tribunal has announced.

This will be the 4th cane payment for 2023 season.

This will bring the total amount to $101.08 per tonne of cane for the 2023 cane payment compared to the $85 per ton set as the minimum price.

UNIVERSITY of the South Pacific vicechancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia will return to Suva and be based at the Laucala Campus.

His return from Samoa is compelled by a decision of the university council which met recently in Vanuatu. Prof Ahluwalia did not respond to queries sent earlier this week.

Responding to questions from The Fiji Times, the university stated preparations were in progress to have the vicechancellor return to Fiji.

“As we have indicated previously, when the university council agreed to renew the vice-chancellor’s contract for a further two

years from August 2024, they also decided that the matter of his location should be discussed and resolved between the governments of Samoa and Fiji,” the USP statement read. “At the recent council meeting in Vanuatu, the council further discussed the matter of the vice-chancellor’s location and agreed that the terms and conditions of the vicechancellor’s new contract should base him in Suva.”

The university stated a date for Prof Ahluwalia’s move was yet to be determined.

Last year, members of the USP Staff Union expressed their disappointment over the professor’s decision to operate out of Samoa. He had been in Apia since 2021.

FijiFirst Party dismisses 17 MPs

The 17 FijiFirst Members of Parliament say they are disputing the legality of the termination letter issued to them earlier today.

The MPs include Inia Seruiratu, Mosese Bulitavu, Sanjay Kirpal, Semi Koroilavesau, Shalen Kumar, Virendra Lal, loane Naivalurua, Sachida Nand, Vijay Nath, Viliame Naupoto, Ratu Josaia Niudamu, Penioni Ravunawa, Taito Rokomatu, Alipate Tuicolo, Naisa Tuinaceva, Jone Usamate and Alvick Maharaj. 16 MPs voted for the change in salaries and benefits in parliament on Friday while Maharaj did not vote although he was in parliament.

FijiFirst MP, Jone Usamate says as far as they are concerned, they are still Members

of Parliament. He says they have received letters from the Acting General Secretary of the party, Faiyaz Koya notifying them that their seat in parliament has been vacated.

Usamate says they will await the full process of the law to take its course.

Koya has not been answering our calls despite many attempts by us to get him to clarify issues to the people of Fiji on what the Fiji First is doing.

The 16 FijiFirst Members of Parliament met with Speaker, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, with the Secretary General of Parliament in attendance, seeking clarification on the processes of Parliament yesterday.

‘Objective view emerging in Pakistan’: India on Nawaz Sharif’s comments that Islamabad ‘violated’ Lahore pact

Days after former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif admitted that Islamabad had violated the Lahore pact, India on Thursday said an objective view is emerging on the issue in the neighbouring country.

Sharif on Tuesday said Islamabad had “violated” an agreement with India signed by him and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999, in an apparent reference to the Kargil misadventure by General Pervez Musharraf.

“You are aware of our position on the issue. I need not have to reiterate that. We note that there is an objective view emerging in Pakistan as well on this matter,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

He was replying to a question on the

matter at his weekly media briefing. After a historic summit in Lahore, then Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee and Sharif signed the Lahore Declaration on February 21, 1999.

The agreement that talked about a vision of peace and stability between the two neighbouring countries signalled a breakthrough. However, a few months later, Pakistani intrusion in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kargil district led to the Kargil conflict.

“On May 28, 1998, Pakistan carried out five nuclear tests. After that Vajpayee saheb came here and made an agreement with us. But we violated that agreement.... It was our fault,” Sharif told a meeting of the PML-N general council that elected him the president of the ruling party in Pakistan.

Imran Khan says his only regret was trusting then-Pakistan Army Chief Gen Bajwa

Jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has said that his only regret from his time in office was trusting Gen (retd.) Qamar Javed Bajwa, accusing the former army chief of singlehandedly spreading “stories” about him to secure a second extension as the military head.

Khan, 71, who was ousted from power in April 2022 via the opposition’s no-confidence motion, had blamed Gen Bajwa for playing a vital role against his government.

Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf party, who is currently lodged at Adiala Jail in connection with several cases, slammed Pakistan’s political and military leaders — with a special focus on his friend-turned-foe Gen

Bajwa, Dawn newspaper reported, citing Khan’s interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan for Zeteo that was published on Wednesday.

The interview was conducted through a letter Mehdi sent with questions for Khan, and the journalist was not allowed to ask follow-up questions, the paper said.

“I am certain that this ordeal was orchestrated by General Bajwa. I hold no one else responsible. He meticulously planned and executed this scheme, presenting himself as a deceitful figure, creating lies and false narratives to cause national and international chaos — all to secure his extension,” Khan said in response to a question on who he blames for his imprisonment.

Remains identified, questions linger in Dawson Creek, where four went missing

When Renee Didier disappeared from Dawson Creek in northern British Columbia nearly six months ago, it was sudden and unexpected, her uncle said.

Nine months before Didier disappeared, her cousin, Darylyn Supernant, had vanished from the community too.

Now, with the discovery of Didier’s body, her family is full of questions about what happened to the 40-yearold mother of two, said the two women’s uncle, Walter Mineault.

outside the city of about 12,000 residents.

Mineault said in an interview Tuesday that the discovery of his niece’s remains provide no closure since her death remains a mystery.

“It’s pretty tough when you’re still hurting,” Mineault said. “The pain is still there and you got all that love and memories of your child and to find out they’re gone just puts more of the reality onto the situation.”

Police announced Monday that the BC Coroners Service had identified remains discovered along the Kiskatinaw River on May 18 as belonging to Didier. They say she is one of four people who have vanished from the area since March 2023, when Supernant went missing.

The Mounties said their North District Major Crime Unit is now investigating Didier’s death along with another case of unidentified remains discovered in April along a rural road

He said he remembers Didier as a loving mother who was very close with her family, including her cousin Supernant.

Mineault, a vice-president with the Métis Nation of B.C., said missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada don’t get the attention they deserve from law enforcement and policymakers.

“There hasn’t been enough emphasis on trying to find out why this is happening,” he said.

Friends and family reported Didier missing a few days after the Mounties say she was last seen on video captured at a gas station in the early morning on Dec. 3.

“She was very vibrant. She was a very strongminded young lady. She had lots of friends. She was very family orientated. Her friends and her family were very important to her. You know, she enjoyed life,” Mineault said.

Mineault said he urges anyone with information about his niece’s death to come forward to police.

New park in West Vancouver will be twice the size of Stanley Park

ecosystems and wildlife, and store carbon to fight climate change,” Sager said. “It will also ensure that old-growth trees will continue to stand in our stunning municipality, which we know is very important to our residents and people across the globe.

The 7.8 square kilometres of land donated by West Vancouver makes the park almost twice the size of Stanley Park. The Parks Foundation has set up a $3 million Cypress Hollyburn legacy fund for maintenance and upkeep of the new park, with a matching gift from the Wilson 5 Foundation.

Mark Sager, mayor of West Vancouver, called it a monumental day during a ceremony at Cypress Pop-Up Village, a public space with a licensed food vendor, bike wash-and-repair facility, and spectacular views.

“This area will help preserve sensitive

“We also recognize that this new park dedication will maintain the beautiful view of the mountains, which is something that everyone in the metro region can enjoy.”

The park goes by a working title of Uplands.

Together the new park, West Vancouver’s existing parks, the surrounding Capilano and Seymour watersheds, the Old Growth Conservancy and Cypress Provincial Park form a protected area for wildlife and mature trees covering more than 320 square kilometres.

Besides designated wildlife-protection areas, separate trail networks will be established for mountain bikers and hikers to make it safe for each group, as well as trails accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

Trustee concludes Victoria broker Greg Martel ran a massive Ponzi scheme

Victoria mortgage broker Greg Martel was running a massive Ponzi scheme and investors who are out more than $317 million will never see a dime of that money.

Those were among the highlights of a scathing report by trustee PricewaterhouseCoopers and filed with the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy to be considered as it contemplates discharging Martel from bankruptcy, a move PwC opposes. According to PwC, a person is often eligible for an automatic discharge from bankruptcy, and released from certain financial

obligations, at the end of nine months from the date of commencement of personal bankruptcy unless there is opposition. That nine-month period ends May 31.

The report explains the causes of the bankruptcy and Martel’s conduct. It pulls no punches and makes clear that investors and creditors are not getting any of their money back. The report, signed by PwC partner Neil Bunker, said Martel failed to comply with many of the duties required in his own bankruptcy and that of his company My Mortgage Auction Corp.

City council approves pilot project for pod hotels in Vancouver

Vancouver city council has voted to move ahead with a pilot project exploring pod hotels in the city.

Couns. Sarah Kirby-Yung and Lisa Dominato brought forward a motion calling on the city to find ways to turn vacant office space into pod hotels, which passed unanimously Wednesday.

On Friday, Kirby-Yung told CityNews that pod hotels don’t offer full rooms, but instead provide sleeping pods for a much lower cost than traditional hotels.

“You get a great bed for the night. You have access to shared amenities, but individual use for showers, water closets, etc. You still have services like the restaurant, but it provides a much

more affordable option than we have in Vancouver today.”

Apart from affordability, she says the city would also benefit from being able to make use of empty space in the downtown core.

“We have a higher commercial office vacancy rate than Vancouver has experienced in a long time. Hitting a high of 14 per cent — where it used to be about two per cent,” said Kirby-Yung.

One tourism and hospitality professional called into the Council meeting to share her support for the motion, saying it will “stimulate entrepreneurship” in Vancouver. The city has not yet set a timeline for the pilot project.

The District of West Vancouver and the B.C. Parks Foundation announced the creation of one of the biggest municipal parks of its kind on Monday.

Police complaint filed against PM Modi over Mahatma Gandhi remarks

National Award-winning filmmaker Luit Kumar Barman has filed a police complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his controversial comments on Mahatma Gandhi. Barman filed the complaint on Wednesday night at Hatigaon police station in Guwahati, alleging that Modi made a “highly derogatory statement” about the Father of the Nation.

curiosity across the world as to who this person was. We have not done so...”

The police said a preliminary investigation is on and no FIR was registered yet in this connection. Prime Minister Modi in a TV interview to a TV channel said, “... Across the world, Mahatma Gandhi was a great person. Was it not our responsibility in these 75 years to ensure that the entire world knows Mahatma Gandhi. I am sorry to say that no one knows about him. The first time when the film ‘Gandhi’ was made, it was then that there was

In his complaint, Barman said, “This is a highly derogatory statement and cannot be acceptable by a citizen of India. As a citizen, we cannot accept insult to Mahatma Gandhi,” No film is required to introduce him to the world, said Barman who produced the 2021 Assamese film ‘Boomba Ride’ which won the Rajat Kamal.

“By comparing Mahatma Gandhi with a film, Narendra Modi has defamed Mahatma Gandhi along with the people of India. Therefore, I request you to take action against Narendra Modi under relevant section of law,” Barman said. When contacted, Hatigaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Bijay Duwara told PTI that no FIR has been registered and a “preliminary investigation” is going on.

Blood of teen arrested for drunk driving were replaced with those of woman, Pune cops tell court

The blood samples of the 17-year-old involved in a crash of Porsche car that claimed two lives in the city were replaced with those of a woman in a bid to show that he was not drunk at the time of the accident, police told a court on Thursday.

The sessions court granted the police’s plea and extended till June 5 the custody of two doctors and an employee of the Sassoon General Hospital here arrested in this connection.

While the police told the court that they wanted to identify the woman whose blood was used as a replacement, a government source told PTI that she was none other than the juvenile’s mother. Dr Ajay Taware, then head of the department of forensic medicine at Sassoon hospital, medical officer Dr Shrihari Halnor and employee Atul Ghatkamble,

arrested after the alleged swapping of samples came to light, were produced before the court as their initial custody ended.

Seeking their further custody, police said that Dr Halnor did not throw away the juvenile’s blood samples—as was believed earlier—but handed it over to someone, and they wanted to recover them. A highly-placed source in the Maharashtra public health department, familiar with the probe, told PTI that the blood samples of the teenager’s mother were used as a replacement in order to shield him. According to police, the minor driver was drunk at the time of the incident which resulted in the death of two IT professionals in the early hours of May 19 in Kalyani Nagar area of Pune city.

A case of attempt to murder and dacoity has been registered against three army lieutenant colonels and 13 others for their alleged involvement in a violent attack on the Kupwara police station, according to the FIR.

The incident on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday is said to have been triggered by the questioning of a Territorial Army jawan by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in connection with an alleged drug case.

A group of armed and uniformed personnel from the 160 Territorial Army, accompanied by senior Indian Army officials, had stormed the police station, as seen in a video.

Former India batter Ambati Rayudu launched another fiery rant against Virat Kohli after the latter’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) failed to end its title drought in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year. In the 17-year history of the IPL, RCB has never lifted the trophy in the prestigious T20 competition despite having Virat Kohli in their ranks since the IPL’s inception in 2008.

In the 2024 IPL, RCB made a dramatic turnaround to win six games in a row to make the playoffs but performed poorly to lose to

The Territorial Army is a military reserve force composed of part-time volunteers who provide support services to the Indian Army.

According to the FIR, the armed group led by lieutenant colonels Ankit Sood, Rajiv Chauhan and Nikhil forcibly entered the premises of the police station. They proceeded to launch a brutal assault on police personnel present there, using rifle butts and sticks and kicking them without any provocation, it stated. The situation escalated further as the army personnel brandished their weapons, seized mobile-phones from the injured police officers and even abducted a police constable before fleeing the scene, the FIR stated.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the knockout fixture earlier this month.

In his latest scathing attack on Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu urged the talismanic RCB star to lower his standards as youngsters were facing difficulties in matching his tenacity on the field. This wasn’t the first time Ambati Rayudu had taken a dig at RCB and Virat Kohli.

Previously, he mocked the Karnataka-based franchise after their fairytale campaign in the 2024 IPL came to an end following their defeat in the eliminator.

‘Remove Modi ghataghat, your engines will move khatakhat’: Rahul Gandhi in Punjab’s SBS Nagar

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that the Constitution is not a book and is a representation of Guru Nanak’s ideology in modern India. It upholds those same values, he said.

The Congress leader was addressing a public meeting at Kahma village in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district on the last day of the campaign ahead of the Phase-7 of the Lok Sabha elections on June 1. He said that RSS and BJP which tend to change the Constitution are attacking that thought.

Gandhi described the Lok sabha election 2024 as a battle between two ideologies.

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government, Rahul said, “Khatakhat engine will start…Before that you need to remove Modi ghataghat”. He said that the public sector has a new trend of contractual employment and we will put an end to it. “The issue of drug menace was raised by me first and everyone made fun of it. We will put an end to it,” said the Congress leader.

Interacting with the locals, Rahul Gandhi said that the Modi government has affected the economy of the country, especially that of artisans.

“This is because Modi is in favour of big industrialists and due to wrong GST policies,” he added.

Rahul further said that the farmers will get support from INDI Alliance. He said if the Congress is voted to power, Rs 1 lakh annually will be given to ‘poor women’.

High-voltage campaigning ends for 13 Lok Sabha

High-voltage campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls to all 13 seats in Punjab came to an end Thursday, in which political prestige of fourtime MP Preneet Kaur, former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and SAD’s Harsimrat Kaur Badal is at stake.

seats in Punjab

BJP. However, this time incumbent MP Kirron Kher was denied re-nomination.

As far as Punjab goes, in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress bagged eight of the 13 seats. The SAD and the BJP, then fighting as allies, won two seats each. The Aam Aadmi Party got just the Sangrur seat then.

Among other prominent candidates in the June 1 election—the last phase of the Lok Sabha polls—are Ravneet Singh Bittu and jailed radical preacher Amritpal Singh. Election campaign in Chandigarh parliamentary constituency also ended at 6 pm. For the seat, the main contest is between BJP’s Sanjay Tandon and Congress’ Manish Tewari. Polling will be held from 7 am to 6 pm on June 1, said officials.

In Punjab, where the ruling AAP and its INDIA bloc partner Congress are fighting separately in a multi-cornered contest, the highdecibel campaign saw the participation of senior BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nirmala Sitharaman, BJP chief J P Nadda and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states. For the Congress, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among top leaders to campaign for their party candidates. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, out on interim bail in the excise policy case, also led an aggressive campaign for his party candidates along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal led his party’s campaign across the state. As many as 328 candidates, including 26 women, are in the fray in Punjab while in Chandigarh, 19 candidates, including two women, are trying their electoral luck.

A total of 2,14,61,739 people, including 1,01,74,240 women and 773 transgender persons, are eligible to cast their votes in Punjab.

In Chandigarh, there are 6,59,805 voters comprising 3,18,226 women and 35 trans persons are eligible to exercise their franchise.

The Chandigarh seat is currently held by the

Farmer leader Kulwinder Machiana put under house arrest ahead of PM Modi’s

BKU Ekta Sidhpur leader Kulwinder Singh Machiana was on Thursday placed under house arrest ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hoshiarpur rally.

Farmers in Hoshiarpur have been provided Dasuya road and one on the highway where they can hold their protests.

Modi would address a public meeting for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections at Hoshiarpur in Punjab at 11 am.

At the culmination of his election campaign, Prime Minister Modi will visit Kanyakumari from May 30 to June 1. In Kanyakumari, he will visit the Rock Memorial and perform meditation at the same place where Swami Vivekananda

Hoshiarpur rally

meditated. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath will address two public meetings Punjab.

He would address public meetings in Anandpur Sahib at 2:30 p.m. and another in Ludhiana at 3:45 pm.

Rahul Gandhi, addressing a poll rally in favour of Congress’ Ludhiana candidate Amrinder Singh Raja Warring in Mullanpur Dakha, said the poll was for saving the Constitution. Before addressing the rally, Rahul along with Sidhu Moosewala’s father Balkaur Singh paid tributes to Moosewala’s photo kept in the backdrop.

“For the first time, any party and their leaders have said they will change and scrap the Constitution, if they win the election,” he said, targeting the BJP. Holding a copy of the Constitution, he said it was not a book but the voice of the poor.

Following the Sangrur and Jalandhar bypolls in 2022 and 2023 respectively, the Congress left with seven seats while the SAD and BJP have two each and AAP and SAD (Amritsar) one each.

In this election, the BJP and SAD are contesting the Lok Sabha polls on their own for the first time since 1996. The Sukhbir Badal-led party walked out of the NDA in 2020 over the nowrepealed farm laws. Punjab will witness a multicornered contest on all 13 seats in the polls.

Besides the Congress, AAP, SAD and BJP, two other parties—SAD (Amritsar) and the Bahujan Samaj Party—have also fielded their candidates.

Among prominent candidates, BJP nominee and four-time MP Preneet Kaur is seeking re-election from the Patiala parliamentary constituency. Earlier, she was with the Congress.

Three-time MP and SAD’s Harsimrat Kaur Badal and BJP’s Parampal Kaur Sidhu, who was a former IAS officer, are trying their luck from Bathinda. Former CM and Congress candidate Channi and BJP nominee Sushil Rinku are in the fray from Jalandhar (reserve) constituency, while former deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and BJP candidate Dinesh Babbu are fighting from Gurdaspur. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring is contesting against BJP’s Ravneet Singh Bittu from Ludhiana. Radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, who is lodged in Assam’s Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act, is fighting from Khadoor Sahib while former diplomat and BJP nominee Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Congress candidate Gurjeet Singh Aujla are contesting from Amritsar. Among its candidates, the AAP has fielded five Cabinet ministers including?

Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal (Amritsar), Laljit Singh Bhullar (Khadoor Sahib), Gurmeet Singh Khuddian (Bathinda), Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer (Sangrur) and Balbir Singh (Patiala).

Congress candidate Sukhpal Khaira is contesting from Sangrur while AAP and BJP candidates Karamjit Singh Anmol and Hans Raj Hans are in the fray from Faridkot seat, respectively.

Explaining the idea behind the direct cash assistance scheme, he said, while Modi gave lakhs of crores of rupees to a few billionaires, who spent this money in the US, the UK, Germany or Dubai, the money that will go into the hands of the poor, the youth and farmers would be spent

locally, which would make economy moving. He said the INDIA bloc would open the doors of the banks for the medium and small industry, which had been destroyed by Modi’s policies of demonetisation and wrong implementation of the GST. He also expressed concern over the problem of drugs, saying it needed to be dealt with sternly.

Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to Sidhu Moosewala