Issuu

nts

ntal Care Plan) patie

nadian De Accepting CDCP( Ca

HARINDER DAIL

Dental Crow tal Implants

Den

Ceramic Crowns Bridges es Sem-Clear Brac Speed Braces Invisalign ry General Dentist Orthodontics Implants ning Cosmetic White es Treatment ac Br st Fa Providing

titioner

Honesty - Integrity - Trust Professional Services Provided • Estate Planning • Will Preparation • Legal Documents • Power of Attorney • Affidavits • Notarization • Real Estate Purchase or Sale of Property • Travel Documents

TATION FREE CONSUL

, Dr. R. Sidhu General Dental Prac

NOTARY CORPORATION

DDS

#108 – 7511 120 Street Delta BC

604 543 5060

y 0th Street, Surre

www.theasianstar.com

#215 - 7110, 12

VOL 26 - ISSUE 34

Canadian Trade minister leading 300-member mission to India

Police in Palatine, Illinois, working in coordination with the Mount Prospect Police Department, arrested a 19-year-old youth following an investigation into threats involving a potential mass shooting at a Hindu temple. On October 11, the Palatine Police Department was contacted by the Mount Prospect Police Department regarding information it had received about a potential mass shooting. The information originated from an individual who reported receiving concerning electronic communications from Alexandros Paporakis. Continued on Page 2...

International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu is in India this week as the two countries look to reach a free-trade agreement by the end of the year. Sidhu is set to make stops in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru during his visit. He is being joined by almost 300 delegates representing businesses and exporters from across Canada. Continued on Page 10...

India’s growing Cockroach problem Indian police detained several leaders of the so-called Cockroach

movement on Tuesday after they defied a police order prohibiting them from entering a historic protest site. The arrests came the same day that embattled Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed delegates at a Bloomberg summit in the nation’s capital and described India as a “mother of democracy.” Continued on Page 15...

Notary Public, M.A. (ALS) M.B.A. B.Sc

Ph: 604-503-3853 Fx:604-503-3854

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

19-year-old charged in 'mass shooting' plot at Hindu Temple in US

HARINDER DAIL

TEL: 604-591-5423

The suspicious texts on day of Toronto airport gold heist between Air Canada workers accused of pulling it off On the morning of the Toronto airport gold heist, an Air Canada employee working at the cargo depot where the loot was about to be stolen received a text message from his supervisor’s personal phone: “Gooooood morning it is.” Minutes later the employee replied saying he was “soo tired.. no sleep.”

“We looking good anyways for today,” came the manager’s replied. Both men stand accused of being part of the insider conspiracy that pulled off one of the world’s largest gold heists, and their friendly chats prior to the theft — and a sharp falling out afterwards — is revealed in a trove of data extracted from a seized phone. Continued on Page 10...

PM Modi's free trade push could lead to $140 billion GDP gain for India A more protectionist US could prove an unexpected tailwind for India’s economy. As countries redraw supply chains around trusted partners and seek preferential market access, New Delhi has ended years of caution and is rapidly expanding its free-trade network. Using a large-scale model of the global economy developed by the World Trade Organization, we estimate these agreements could add about $140 billion to India’s GDP in

2035, opening new markets, cutting import costs, fostering foreign direct investment and lifting productivity. We also consider two scenarios that could amplify the gains: realizing further productivity benefits from a decade of reforms to strengthen manufacturing competitiveness, and enacting policies that help underemployed agricultural workers transition into manufacturing and services. Continued on Page 15...

Jagrup Brar FOR SURREY-FLEETWOOD

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

Trump says Canada will ‘end up being the 51st state’ U.S. President Donald Trump told a crowd of supporters that Canada will “end up being the 51st state” as he expressed a series of longstanding grievances the United States has with its northern neighbour. “Canada treats us very badly. They always have. Not anymore. It’s a whole different ball game now that Trump is in town,” he said during a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Ariz., on Wednesday. Trump brought up Canadian tariffs on milk, car companies moving their factories to the U.S. and renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America.”

According to the U.S. president, Canada “ripped off ” the U.S. through tariffs on “anything past two bottles (of milk).” “They’ll end up being the 51st state, because that’s the only way it works,” Trump said. “We don’t need them, but they need us.” The U.S. president then asked why the U.S. should be losing billions of dollars “to support a country that isn’t one of us?” “They’ll be doing something just like Greenland,” he said, adding that it “just adds to our beautiful plate,” referring to the U.S.

BC Conservatives move from fractured to front runners, new poll finds A new Ipsos poll shows that while the BC Conservatives appeared in disarray one month ago, they have now gained a five-point lead over the BC NDP. The poll, conducted in partnership with Global BC, shows the BC Conservatives have the support of 43 per cent of decided voters, which puts them five-points ahead of the BC NDP, which have 38 per cent of support. The BC Green Party is up one point, now sitting at 11 per cent, followed by OneBC at four per cent and CentreBC at two per cent. The poll found that 18 per cent of voters are still undecided and seven per cent have no preference for which party is in power. “The BC Conservatives are now up on the NDP by five points,” Kyle Braid, senior vice president of Ipsos, said on Tuesday morning. The race remains very close in Metro Vancouver, however, with the BC Conservatives

leading by three points with 42 per cent, while the BC NDP has 39 per cent, but the NDP does have a substantial lead on Vancouver Island with 47 per cent to the BC Conservatives’ 27 per cent, according to those polled. The BC Conservatives have a 21-point lead in the Southern Interior and in the northern part of the province, with 53 per cent to the BC NDP’s 32 per cent. Nearly one in four voters, 23 per cent, who say they have a current party preference said there is still a “good chance” they will change their mind and vote for some other party’s candidate in the election. The poll also found that half of residents, which is up slightly from the previous poll, believe it is time for another provincial party to take over, with that number now at 50 per cent. Three-in-10, 31 per cent, of residents continue to say the Eby government has done a good job and deserves re-election. Two-in-10 people, 19 per cent, are undecided.

Bail denied to U.S. suspect charged in connection with Tumbler Ridge school shooting

Areas of Practice ICBC/Personal Injury Immigration Law Corporate / Commercial Real Estate / Property Development

The U.S. suspect charged in connection with the deadly shooting in Tumbler Ridge earlier this year will remain behind bars. James Cody Bryant appeared in a Seattle courtroom wearing an olive green button-up shirt, black-rimmed glasses and long waistlength hair parted to the side. Bryant appeared to be sniffling and crying at the beginning of the hearing. Appoximately eight people sat on the defendant’s side of the courtroom, while about a dozen sat on the opposing side. Bryant had begun transitioning to a female before the shootings, according to authorities. Bryant is accused of helping the shooter in Tumbler Ridge, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, start their car after they had already killed their mother and step-brother, so that Van Rootselaar could drive to Tumbler Ridge School and carry

out the mass shooting. Bryant is charged with conspiracy to murder people in a foreign country. In court filings, it states that Bryant gave Van Rootselaar “tactical advice” on how to carry out the shooting, offering suggestions for target locations and what type of guns Van Rootselaar should use. On Feb. 10, Van Rootselaar opened fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, killing five students and an educational assistant before taking their own life. At a nearby residence, Van Rootselaar’s mother and half-brother were found dead. On Tuesday, the prosecution argued that Bryant should remain in custody because of the seriousness of the offence, the strength of the evidence and the potential danger to the community. Greenberg also referenced Discord conversations, arguing that there was little factual dispute about what had occurred.

19-year-old charged in 'mass shooting' plot at Hindu Temple in US Puneet P.K. Sandhar

Barinder S. Sanghera

B.A.,LL.B. (GND)

B.Comm.,LL.B. (UBC)

psandhar@slglawyers.com

bss@slglawyers.com

#201, 12565 88 Ave, Surrey, B.C. V3W 3J7

Phone: 604.543.8484 Fax: 604.543.8584

info@slglawyers.com www.slglawyers.com

Continued from Page 1... According to investigators, Paporakis had shared a document outlining an alleged plan to carry out a mass shooting at the Hindu temple. He also shared images depicting a rifle, rifle magazines, body armour, and other tactical equipment and accessories. Paporakis was located and taken into custody as he was leaving his residence. As part of the subsequent investigation, Palatine Police detectives executed a search warrant at Paporakis' residence. During the search, investigators recovered a rifle, multiple loaded rifle magazines, hundreds of rounds of additional rifle ammunition, tactical equipment, and other items believed to be relevant to the investigation. Among the recovered items

was a tactical vest containing body armour and a patch displaying imagery associated with white supremacist extremism. FBI detectives examined electronic communications and a self-titled document attributed to Paporakis, “Why I Fought: A.K.A.: (Aurora Shooter’s Manifesto),” which contained statements expressing white supremacist and extremist ideologies, including references to violence directed towards individuals of South Asian heritage, particularly those of Indian descent. Paporakis was charged with one count of Making a Terrorist Threat, a Class X felony and one count of Unlawful Possession of Weapons. Paporakis appeared for a detention hearing on Wednesday where a judge ordered him detained.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

Canada 'stronger together' than apart, Carney says in Thanksgiving message ahead of Alberta visit Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are set to travel this week to address some of the weightiest and most consequential issues facing the country. Carney, who appealed directly in his Thanksgiving message Monday to Albertans, will visit the western province this week ahead of the Oct. 19 referendum question on separation.

Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre, meanwhile, is also expected in Alberta this week, after first visiting Detroit on Tuesday to meet with business leaders and media outlets to push for the removal of cross-border tariffs and champion the Conservatives’ proposed tariff-free auto pact. “Canada is facing real threats to our economy, to our security, to our way of life. We have to be strong, and we are stronger together,”Carney said in a short video message released on YouTube on Monday. “A week from today Albertans will have the opportunity to make an important decision about their future, whether to remain part of Canada or begin a long and uncertain process through which Alberta could separate from Canada,” the prime minister said as he sat in a classroom at his old

Edmonton high school, St. Francis Xavier High School. Carney, who was born in Fort Smith, N.W.T., but raised in Alberta, said he’s “back home a lot these days” because his government is building “big things” in Alberta, including a new pipeline to the West Coast. But Canada can’t build big things “on fault lines” while the country is already facing serious threats to its economy, security and way of life, he said. “Generations of Albertans helped build this country. It’s yours, it’s ours and it’s worth fighting for.” On Oct. 19, Albertans will be asked whether they wish to remain in Canada or begin a legal process to hold a binding referendum on leaving. More than 300 advance polls opened across the province on Tuesday. The prime minister is scheduled to attend a rally hosted by the pro-Canada group, Forever Canadian, at the Edmonton Expo Centre on Friday. That same day, Poilievre, who is also appealing to Albertans to vote to stay, is scheduled to speak in Calgary. Poilievre, who seemed poised to lead the government before U.S. President Donald Trump’s belligerent threats to make Canada the 51st state, will visit Detroit Tuesday to pitch a proposed plan unveiled earlier this year that the party says would restore the nation’s auto production to two million cars per year over the next decade. Canada built 2.3 million vehicles in 2016. That fell by nearly half, to 1.2 million, last year. Under the Conservatives’ proposed auto trade deal, “for every car produced in Canada, the same manufacturer would get to sell a car in Canada, duty-free, from a CUSMA partner, on a dollarfor-dollar basis,” similar to the old 1965 trade agreement.

Dual elections a headache for some BC voters

As British Columbians contend with local and provincial elections in October, some candidates say the overlap is confusing and overwhelming voters. The local elections on Oct. 17 will see voters elect mayors, councillors, school board trustees and other local officials, while a provincial vote will be held Oct. 24 to elect 93 members of the legislature, which will determine B.C.’s next premier. NDP Leader David Eby’s decision to call a snap election came as the local election campaign period had

VOTE IN THE CITY OF SURREY MUNICIPAL ELECTION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 8AM TO 8PM

already begun, and earned swift condemnation from the Union of BC Municipalities, which represents local governments in the province. Ramsay, the union’s former president, said she thinks the decision has put an unfair strain on the electorate. “I’m hearing candidates going door-to-door for the municipal election being told that ‘I can’t vote for you because I’m voting for our MLA,'” she said. While the election dates are separate, the local election day overlaps with provincial advance voting.

VOTE EARLY AT THESE LOCATIONS: OCT 7, 10, 14 AND 15 | 8AM TO 8PM Cloverdale Recreation Centre

6188 176 St

Earl Marriott Secondary

15751 16 Ave

Ecole Panorama Ridge Secondary 13220 64 Ave Fleetwood Community Centre

15996 84 Ave

Frank Hurt Secondary

13940 77 Ave

Fraser Heights Recreation Centre 10588 160 St Guildford Recreation Centre

15105 105 Ave

Kwantlen Park Secondary

10441 132 St

Princess Margaret Secondary

12870 72 Ave

Semiahmoo Secondary

1785 148 St

surrey.ca/election

200 – 6245 - 136th St., Surrey, B.C. V3X 1H3

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

Achieving for Delta releases full election platform

George Harvie and the Achieving for Delta team have released their 2026 election platform, presenting a plan to protect essential services, keep Delta affordable and prepare for major economic and population growth.

“Our platform is shaped by listening, informed by experience, and focused on building upon what has worked well for Delta,” said Harvie in a news release. “Things are wonderful in Delta, but of course there is much more work left to do. We are currently in the best financial position in Delta’s history - with no debt and healthy emergency contingency funds - while essential services and infrastructure projects continue to grow and improve.” Highlights of the platform include: Affordability: Freezing City fee increases in 2027, keeping municipal and utility taxes competitive, maintaining free recreation for youth 18 and under and lowering the Super Senior Pass eligibility age from 75 to 70. Public Safety: Protecting Delta Police's No Call Too Small approach, opposing a regional police takeover, supporting school liaison officers, increasing patrols to combat extortion and ensuring firefighters have the crews, trucks and equipment they need. Healthcare: Advocating for an urgent and primary care centre in North Delta, longer emergency department hours in South Delta, restarting the Beedie Long-Term Care Centre and examining a municipal medical clinic to improve family-doctor access and supporting mental-

health services. Housing and Growth: Reviewing the Official Community Plan through public consultation, supporting neighbourhood-specific, lowrise growth, and pressing the Province for infrastructure funding and to repeal Bill 44. Economic Development: Converting the closed Vancouver Landfill into industrial land in stages to drive revenue for the city and keep your personal taxes low, pursuing federal investments in Delta from major projects, putting Delta suppliers first where possible and launching the Delta Future Forum for community and stakeholders to have a seat at the table for upcoming Major Projects. Roads and Transportation: Substantial improvements to sidewalks and bus shelters in North Delta, supporting safer residential streets, a second exit out of Ladner, Improving McAdam Road. Agriculture and Flood Protection: Protecting farmland, strengthening irrigation infrastructure, seeking federal funding for dikes and advocating for secondary-channel dredging. Parks and Recreation: A new North Delta Recreation Centre, expanding pickleball, squash, and cricket facilities while supporting additional community events like Barns to Beaches Transparency and Accountability: Ensuring public question period, strengthening community committees, holding more public hearings, improving conflict-of-interest and code of conduct, and establishing a City Ombudsman. The platform seeks to maintain Delta's strong financial position while giving residents a greater voice as major infrastructure projects and investment shape the community. Harvie said the platform aims to build on Delta's financial strength, protect local services and seeks to give North Delta, Ladner and Tsawwassen a stronger voice in the decisions ahead.

The suspicious texts on day of Toronto airport gold heist between Air Canada workers accused of pulling it off Continued from Page 1... The Air Canada manager was named in court as Simran Preet Panesar, 34, who is considered a wanted fugitive in the heist case and believed to be in India. The employee was Parmpal Sidhu, a 56-year-old former Air Canada cargo warehouse employee who is on trial for the heist in a Brampton, Ont., court. Sidhu has pleaded not guilty to theft and conspiracy. Sidhu’s phone was seized by Peel Regional Police when he was arrested on April 5, 2024, almost a year after the high-profile heist. His home was searched as well. Det.-Const. Edil Aden told court on Thursday that investigators extracted the phone’s contents using Cellebrite, a digitalforensics software tool. “So it has text messages, phone calls, logs, images, videos. Their phone is put onto a screen for us,” Aden said. The printed data report was about two inches thick. Aden said messages found on Sidhu’s phone had been sent and received through various tools, including text, encrypted apps and social media direct messaging. Parmpal Sidhu, who is accused in connection to the 2023 gold heist at Toronto's Pearson airport, outside the courthouse during his trial in Brampton, Ont., on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. 'Curious' Air Canada IT worker tried to think like a crook to trace how airport gold heist was pulled off Parmpal Sidhu, who is accused in connection to the 2023 gold heist at Toronto's Pearson airport, outside the courthouse during his trial in Brampton, Ont. One chat on Sidhu’s phone from a few months before the heist in April 2023 was with a jeweller about how to accurately test for nearly pure gold that had been melted without contamination. Most of the messages that court heard about, however, were linked to Panesar, who might have

been a co-accused at this same trial if he had returned to Canada. Panesar was the manager with Air Canada at the cargo warehouse at Pearson airport to whom Sidhu reported. Sidhu and Panesar were friends outside of work. Their messages refer to going to the gym, having haircuts, getting coffee, sharing rides to work and laser hair removal recommendations. Sidhu had five different means of contacting Panesar saved on his phone, including on encrypted communication apps Signal and WhatsApp. The profile photos of Panesar saved on Sidhu’s phone look different from the widely circulated photo of Panesar in his police mug shot because he sometimes wears a hairpiece, court was told. On the day of the heist, the two exchanged dozens of short messages, some highlighted to Judge Gordon Cudjoe as suspicious, or, in the words of Crown prosecutor Tyler Powell, “potentially relevant to this investigation.” They included Panesar’s enthusiastic greetings for the day and a message from him a few hours after the heist. “I think I’ll be going to India for days off just to get away few days,” the message from Panesar’s phone says. He said it was his wedding anniversary. “Happy Anniversary,” Sidhu replies. A few hours later, a message to Panesar’s number from Sidhu’s phone said: “Hey….gotta a call from my cuz who’s in peel. said he heard about a brings heist at cargo last night… lol. Hear anything?” “No nothing like that happened,” was the reply. Court heard little or no context to the messages. Presumably the reference to “brings heist” is a misspelling of Brink’s, the security transit company that was moving the gold from Switzerland to Toronto on an Air Canada flight for their client, TD Bank. It wasn’t until Brink’s guards arrived to collect the crate hours later that anyone realized it was gone.

OPINION

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

Jio’s Satellite Gambit: Why Musk’s Starlink got outplayed on Indian soil Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615 editor@theasianstar.com Editor: Umendra Singh Marketing and Sales: Ravi Cheema 604-715-3847 Shamir Doshi 604-649-7827 Harminder Kaur 778-708-0481 Parminder Dhillon 604-902-2858 Pre-Press: Avee Waseer Production: Ozmo Media

www.theasianstar.com

Publication Mail Agreement No 428336012 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept.

# 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2 All advertising in The Asian Star is subject to the publishers’ approval and the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publishers against claims arising from publication of any advertisement submitted by the advertiser.

In a Himalayan foothill village, a child waits for a video lesson to load while a shopkeeper hopes an online order will go through. On a far coast, a health worker needs a doctor’s voice in an emergency. For such families, satellite internet decides whether India’s remotest corners get connected, and who holds the keys when they do. In March 2025, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel both signed agreements with SpaceX. Jio was to stock Starlink kits in its retail outlets and help customers install them, becoming the trusted local hand to carry the service into Indian homes and businesses once government permissions arrived. Elon Musk, reassured by a major domestic partner for sales and setup, spoke more freely about technical details and expansion plans. That friendship carried a hidden gain. Standing beside Starlink, Jio could observe how a low Earth orbit service actually runs in India: how equipment moves across the country, which regulatory steps remain, and what infrastructure must exist on the ground. It was a rare classroom, and Jio studied well. Then its thinking turned from distributing someone else’s system to proposing a fully domestic one. In early October 2026, Jio proposed roughly 1,600 low Earth orbit satellites, supported by 23 ground stations across the country. Low Earth orbit means satellites that circle much closer to the planet than older ones. Signals travel a shorter distance, so delay shrinks and browsing feels almost as quick as a call to a neighbour. The ground stations are like railway junctions, where the sky’s traffic joins the roads and rails of India’s existing networks. Every bit of data stays inside the country’s borders, meeting the national security conditions that have kept Starlink waiting for final Home Ministry clearances. All traffic passes through local gateways, satisfying interception and data-localisation rules without a foreign operator’s complications. It would serve the same remote villages, border areas and underserved regions Starlink promised, but under complete Indian control from day one. Jio already has an earlier satellite venture, Jio Space Technology, formed with Luxembourg’s SES

and 51 per cent Jio-owned. It uses higher satellites, some hovering fixed above one spot, others circling at middle heights, such as SES’s O3b mPOWER. The new constellation seems complementary: Akash Ambani says Jio will lease partners’ capacity for a quick start while building long-term sovereign capability. A harder question is who will lift 1,600 satellites into orbit. No launch contract is confirmed, but Jio may turn to SpaceX, whose rockets still carry most of the world’s heavy loads, an irony. ISRO’s biggest rocket, LVM3, lifts about eight tonnes to low orbit. Yet SpaceX lands and reuses its rockets, like an aircraft flying again and again, launching satellites in rapid batches. India has no such rockets in service yet, so lifting so many would be slow. Airwaves bring another quarrel: satellites need radio frequencies, called spectrum, as roads need lanes. Jio wants the government to sell these frequencies by auction, keeping a level field with telecom operators that paid heavily for theirs.

Starlink and Amazon prefer that the government simply assign them for a fee, the global norm, because satellite frequencies are shared among many operators. The government says auctions could strain business economics, and the law allows assignment. Elon Musk took to social media with a sarcastic open letter to “Prime Minister Ambani,” accusing Reliance Industries of blocking Starlink from a $1.9 billion market through monopolistic control. The government rejects any bias, saying all three licensees await the same clearance. Yet he omits that the same company had offered to sell and install Starlink hardware across its network. That pact kept a global competitor close enough to observe while India sharpened its security requirements. When Starlink could not clear them quickly, Jio had the knowledge and momentum to advance. What emerges is not merely a delayed foreign entry, but an Indian operator preparing a parallel system whose data never leaves home soil.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

Eby promises new urgent care centre during North Delta campaign stop A re-elected BC NDP government will add a new urgent and primary care centre in North Delta, the party announced on Monday (Oct. 12). The promise was made in a press release issued early that afternoon, following a campaign event at North Delta’s Sunbury Hall where NDP leader David Eby announced and signed the party’s Public Health Care Guarantee (a “pledge to protect B.C. from American-style, for-profit, pay-yourway health care,” according to a party release from earlier that morning) and outlined new rules to strengthen public health care in B.C.

The commitment to opening a new UPCC in North Delta did not come with any details or a proposed timeline for the much-needed facility, which the City of Delta, City of Surrey, Tsawwassen First Nation and other community partners have been advocating for over the past couple of years. Todd Schierling, BC NDP’s candidate in Delta North, said he’s proud to support a plan that brings care closer to home, in a press release noting UPCCs make it easier for people to get care for

minor illnesses and injuries, reducing pressure on hospital emergency departments. “As a firefighter, I know how much it matters for people to get help when they need it. A new urgent and primary care centre would give North Delta residents another place to turn for urgent care and help emergency departments focus on the most serious cases,” Schierling said. The party’s release notes the proposed new UPCC would build on the 48 already open across the province, which since the first opened in 2018 have collectively received more than five million visits. In December of last year, the Ministry of Health opened a new “after hours” UPCC in Tsawwassen First Nation (1826 – 4949 Canoe Pass Way), serving the TFN and South Delta communities from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends and statutory holidays. A press release issued by the party Tuesday (Oct. 13) promised a re-elected NDP government would work with municipal leaders in Surrey who have offered to make city land available to the province to build a new health-care facility. He also committed to building three more urgent and primary care centres in Surrey, on top of the four already open in the city. The plan also promises to bring more nurse practitioners, pharmacy services and virtual specialist consultations into long-term care homes so residents can avoid trips to hospital, and set up more teams to support patients ready to leave hospital and return to community-based care.

Langley shooting victim was warned by police Vancouver police declined to confirm or deny a report that a man killed in a Langley shooting had been warned about a threat on his life several months earlier. In response to a Langley Advance Times query about a published report to that effect, VPD Media Relations officer Darren Wong pointed to a previous Vancouver Police Department statement that declined to comment whether any duty to warn (DTW) notification had been issued to the person in question. Police agencies issue DTW advisories when an individual is identified as the target of a credible threat to their life or safety. Following a risk assessment, police contact the potential victim directly to provide a safety warning. On Oct. 5, the 23-year-old victim was shot in the parking lot near the Cactus Club restaurant in Langley at 200 St. and the Langley Bypass. Several cars in the lot were hit by stray bullets, as was the building. Some bullets even entered the restaurant itself, police said. Langley RCMP were called to a report of shots fired and located a victim in medical distress,

Langley RCMP Sgt. Zynal Sharoom said. “Despite life-saving efforts, the individual succumbed to their injuries at the scene,” Sharoom added. Shortly afterwards, RCMP also responded to a report of a vehicle fire near 232 St. and 75 Ave. A burned sedan was recovered and is believed to have been used in the shooting. Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) Sgt. Freda Fong said investigators knew the identity of the victim, who had a police history linked to drug and weapon offences, and was known to be gang-affiliated. Fong said the man was facing criminal charges related to drugs in Manitoba. “We’re very fortunate that nobody was injured inside the restaurant,” Fong said, calling it a stark reminder of how gun violence in the community can affect anyone. IHIT is seeking witnesses and dashcam video from anyone who was in the area of either scene between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 5. Anyone with further information, who has not already spoken to police, is asked to contact the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email: ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

NOW ORDER ONLINE:

Monday-Friday - 12:00pm - 9:30pm & Saturday-Sunday - 12:00pm - 10:00pm

9450 120 St #102, Surrey 604.593.3813

7320 King George Blvd #107

Across from Newton Police Station

604.503.3833

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

PLANS FOR SURREY ADVANCE VOTING AND Zero percent property tax increases for 4 years

OCTOBER

8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Zero tolerance and more boots on the ground SkyTrain to Newton via King George Surrey Centre Opportunity Zone SPS helicopter and drone fleet within 90 days New swimming pools for Clayton Heights and City Centre, and a new Newton community centre with a pool Designate Crescent Beach and Ocean Park as protected heritage zones New swimming pools for Clayton Heights and City Centre, and a new Newton community centre with a pool. Delivering long-standing community needs across the city Farm Local: Surrey's food affordability plan An independent forensic audit of city hall's land deals Withdrawing Surrey from the Metro Vancouver Regional District Residential building permits approved in 60 days, guaranteed Business licence fees waived for the first 2 years of every new business

McCallum, Doug

Safe Surrey Coalition

Cloke, Cheney

Guerra, Laurie

Safe Surrey Coalition

Elford, Doug

Nagra, Mandeep

Safe Surrey Coalition

Gill, Meera

Patton, Allison

Safe Surrey Coalition

Gill, Suhana

Simpson, Beau

Safe Surrey Coalition

VOTING DAY OCTOBER

On October 17, vote for

DOUG McCALLUM for Mayor and Safe Surrey Coalition

DOUG

McCALLUM Gets it done For more voting centres, scan here.

Scan for more information.

MORE SECURE. MORE AFFORDABLE. READY TO WORK. VOTE FOR DOUG

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

Chinese surveillance camera giant operated 'illegally' in Canada for almost a decade before being banned In July 2025, a senior federal official delivered a stark warning in a court affidavit. Every day that Chinese surveillance camera giant Hikvision continues to operate in Canada is another day China could spy further on Canadians. “The continued operation of Hikvision Canada leads to an increase of the capabilities of the PRC (People’s Republic of China) to conduct surveillance of Canadians and others in Canada,” swore Robert McCarty, a senior investment officer in the Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) branch responsible for reviewing foreign investments. The potential espionage uses of the thousands upon thousands pieces of Hikvision surveillance equipment in Canada were numerous and unnerving, he warned. The PRC could use it to monitor specific people, collect “pattern of

life” information or use the company’s artificialintelligence powered tools for facial recognition, license place monitoring or even record audio and video of people meeting in public or private spaces, McCarty wrote. At the time McCarty swore his affidavit, Hikvision had operated “illegally” in Canada for nearly one decade. During that time, the Chinese giant catapulted from a relative newcomer to a “leader” in the Canadian security and surveillance gear market. By 2024, over a dozen federal government departments and agencies offices had Hikvision equipment deployed on their properties. Today, there are over 28,700 of the company’s devices connected to public-facing internet connections in Canada (and likely far more on private connections), according to device search engine Shodan.

BEST SERVICE AND MORTGAGE RATES

Call us for Lowest Mortgage Rates on Your Mortgage Renewals and New Mortgages. We have helped thousands of our clients. We have a big pool of Private Mortgages to help you.

Private Mortgage Residential / Re-ﬁnance Self Employed Construction Mortgage

WESTWIDE MORTGAGE CORP. #204 8334 128th Street, Surrey, B.C. V3W 4G2

Ajitabh Gandhi Mortgage Consultant

778 707 1028 Email: westwidemortgage@gmail.com

Crews remove old Pattullo Bridge's iconic arch intact in a feat of engineering The old Pattullo Bridge has lost its most recognizable feature, with its orange steel arch — a product of the Great Depression period — now removed and lowered onto barges on the Fraser River. The Thanksgiving long weekend operation left a large gap between the remaining sections of the crossing, marking one of the most visible milestones in the gradual dismantling of the 1937-built bridge between Surrey and New Westminster. The skyline of this part of the Fraser River changed considerably overnight. Carefully dismantling such a large section of the bridge in a single piece was an engineering feat in its own right. Sparks cascaded from the steel structure as crews separated the central span from the rest of the bridge. The giant arch then rested on supports aboard barges, far below its former position above the river. After significant preparation, the cutting and lowering process began on Saturday evening, Oct. 10, and continued overnight, concluding on Sunday, Oct. 11. The provincial government’s project office had scheduled the removal for Friday, Oct. 9, through Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, with the operation expected to take approximately 48 to 60 hours. The removal plan called for four large strand jacks — specialized hydraulic winching systems — to carefully lower the steel arch onto the barges. Beforehand, crews removed concrete components to reduce the structure’s weight and installed temporary bracing and beams to support it during the lowering process. The operation also required a temporary closure of the river’s main navigation channel, which was scheduled to last from the evening of Oct. 9 to the evening of Oct. 11. Under the project’s removal plan, tugboats would move the barges carrying the arch to a nearby project trestle. The steel is destined for further dismantling and recycling. The arch’s removal comes about eight months after demolition began in February 2026, following the

full transfer of vehicle traffic to the adjacent newlybuilt Riverview Bridge. Early demolition work focused on the old bridge’s land-based sections in Surrey and New Westminster. Their removal was necessary to complete the new crossing’s final connections to the surrounding road network, which opened late this past summer. They include the new offramp from the new bridge’s eastbound direction to Highway 17’s westbound direction in Surrey, and the new replacement ramp connecting Columbia Street’s westbound direction to the new bridge’s

eastbound direction in New Westminster. The new bridge’s shared pedestrian and cycling pathway along its west side also depends on the removal of portions of the old crossing. It is expected to open later this fall. Although the arch is now down, substantial work remains before the old bridge disappears entirely. Crews still need to dismantle the remaining structures, including the piers and foundations in the river, with the overall deconstruction project expected to finish by the end of 2027.

Canadian Trade minister leading 300-member mission to India Continued from Page 1... A Global Affairs Canada news release said the trade mission will include businesses from multiple sectors, including aerospace, clean technologies and energy transition, information and communication tech, life sciences and agri-food. The Liberals have set out to double non-U.S. exports over the next decade and have boasted of signing 20 strategic trade and defence agreements around the world in the last year. They also have set a goal of doubling two-way trade with India to $70 billion annually by 2030. In 2025, two-way goods and services trade between Canada and India amounted to $30.4 billion. Sidhu said in a media statement that he is leading the largest Canadian trade delegation to India in more than 30 years. “They are coming to meet new customers, secure commercial opportunities and build partnerships that create more good-paying jobs here at home,” he said. “India is building at enormous scale and Canadian companies are ready to step up.” Sidu said India will need more than 2,000 aircraft in the coming years and Canada’s aerospace industry can deliver. He also said India’s electricity demand is expected to grow 70 per cent by 2035.

“Canada is advancing major energy projects like LNG Canada Phase 2 and Pacific Link, positioning us to help meet that growing demand,” he said. “At the same time, Indian companies are choosing Canada. They have already created nearly 36,000 jobs across our country.” Sidhu said he plans to advance trade negotiations while in India and during a meeting with India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. In May, Goyal said Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to his country paved the way for a complete overhaul of the Canada-India relationship. Canada and India have been in trade talks since 2010. But those talks were shut down in 2023 after the federal government accused New Delhi of playing a role in the assassination of a Canadian Sikh activist in Surrey, B.C. Carney, who made resetting relations with India a priority after he became prime minister in 2025, visited Mumbai and New Delhi in March. It was the first visit by a Canadian prime minister in eight years. That trip concluded with a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the signing of a series of agreements — including a $2.6-billion deal to supply India with about 22 million pounds of uranium for energy generation and 10 commercial agreements worth more than $5.5 billion. Modi is expected to visit Canada later this year.

FIJI

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

Fair rules for yaqona SMALL yaqona farmers must not be subjected to the same regulatory requirements as large commercial exporters, Opposition MP Premila Kumar has warned. During the debate on the second reading of the Yaqona (Kava) Bill 2026 in Parliament recently, Mrs Kumar said while the Opposition supported protecting and developing the industry, the proposed regulatory framework must not place unnecessary burdens on farmers. “A farmer who sells a small quantity of yaqona to meet household expenses should not face the same regulatory burden as a large commercial exporter handling international consignments.” Mrs Kumar said the Bill had several merits, including establishing a permanent regulator, strengthening quality standards

and linking export licensing with biosecurity, food safety, customs and quarantine requirements. However, she questioned whether farmers would have sufficient clarity about registration requirements, fees and other obligations before the law took effect. “For a farmer, the practical question is: What exactly must I do to comply with the law, and what will it cost me? “The answer should be clear from the beginning. Farmers should not have to wait for regulations to discover their obligations.” She also raised concerns about penalties for operating without registration or breaching regulations, saying the Bill appeared to lack a clear system of warnings or graduated penalties for minor or first-time breaches.

Fijian ICC Deputy Prosecutor condemns US sanctions Fijian Nazhat Shameem Khan, Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has strongly condemned fresh United States sanctions against the tribunal, warning that the measures are intended to undermine the international rule of law. Speaking to Reuters, Khan said the sanctions would not deter the court from carrying out its mandate. “The sanctions are intended to undermine the rule of law internationally and the work that an independent judicial institution is doing,” Khan said. The comments follow the announcement of sanctions by US President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday, placing Washington on a diplomatic collision course with its European allies. The sanctions were announced just hours after a former ICC judge was awarded the Nobel

Peace Prize. The ICC has also denounced the sanctions, describing them as an “assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order.” The court has called on its 125 member states to take action to defend its independence and operations. “The Court cannot stand alone. Its fate now rests also in the hands of the states that created it,” the ICC said in a statement. “This is not just about defending a single institution, but about safeguarding the international order grounded upon the rule of law. History will judge this moment.” Despite the latest US measures, Khan has maintained that the court will continue its investigations and prosecutions.

Rabuka yet to speak to Turaga over sex clip video PM Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is yet to speak to acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga, who is linked to an explicit video circulating on social media, saying he must establish the facts and give Mr Turaga an opportunity to defend himself before deciding on any action. Mr Rabuka said misconduct of this nature could warrant a suspension, but he would not make a judgment without first hearing Mr Turaga’s explanation. He said he had not spoken to Mr Turaga, who had travelled overseas, and was unsure whether Mr Turaga had returned to Fiji. “He must have the opportunity to defend himself,” Mr Rabuka said. “I don’t even have any idea if it was him. I haven’t

seen any pictures or any videos or anything like that.” Mr Rabuka stressed that the allegation remained unsubstantiated from his perspective, saying he had not seen the video or any images that could establish the identity of the person involved. He said he intended to speak to Mr Turaga before reaching any conclusions. Mr Rabuka also confirmed that he had received an email about the matter that morning but had not yet read it.

Immunity alone will not bring reconciliation TUI Nayau Ratu Tevita Mara has warned that resolving the question of immunity under the Constitution Amendment Bill will not bring lasting reconciliation if Fiji fails to confront the inequalities and grievances exploited during the 1987 and 2000 coups. He said the immunity debate must not overshadow the deeper issues that continued to affect the country, stressing that nothing could justify the seizure of power by force. “But lasting reconciliation will not come from the law alone, whatever the law provides. If we settle the question of immunity while leaving untouched the inequality that was exploited in our past upheavals, and the drug crisis now compounding it, we will not have addressed the causes.” He said many iTaukei families remained on the margins of Fiji’s commercial economy, despite the potential of their land and marine resources

to generate prosperity. “Fifty-six years after independence, too many iTaukei families still stand at the edge of the nation’s commercial life, on land and sea that should be bringing them prosperity. “These are among the grievances that were left unaddressed and then exploited in 1987 and in 2000. Nothing can ever justify the taking of power by force. But the conditions exploited then are still with us, and they must be addressed now, not left to another generation. His comments came amid wider debate over immunity and the country’s constitutional future, with the Tui Nayau urging leaders to address the causes of division rather than focus on the legal question alone. He also condemned threats made against critics of chiefs on social media, saying traditional institutions should not be defended through intimidation.

Lal questions security officers’ knowledge of customs laws at airports Standing Committee on Social Affairs member Ketan Lal has questioned why security officers, rather than qualified customs officers, are responsible for screening passengers at Nadi International Airport. During a committee hearing, Mr Lal raised concerns about the qualifications of airport security personnel and their understanding of customs laws and regulations. “Security officers may not have that qualification to understand certain things with regards to customs laws.” He questioned why Fiji relied on security officers at various checkpoints when, according to him, international airports in countries such as Australia and New Zealand had customs officers stationed at different points. Mr Lal said the concerns had also been raised with him by

tourists visiting Fiji. “These are some of the questions I have received from tourists who are visiting our country. I met them along the way in Nadi, and they raised these concerns to me.” He outlined the passenger screening process at Nadi International Airport, beginning with check-in, followed by ticket verification and security screening. “When you go to Nadi Airport, first is the check-in counter, then comes the security officer at the front, who is going to check your tickets. Then you go to the security screenings, which are conducted again by security officers, not customs officers.” Mr Lal questioned whether the current arrangements provided the same level of expertise as those at overseas airports.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

5 killed, 30 injured as Pak passenger train derails

A passenger train derailed in Pakistan’s Punjab province on Tuesday, killing at least five people and injuring 30 others, police said. The accident occurred at around 5:15 am when the train was travelling from Karachi to Peshawar, according to police information. The Rehman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah Bridge in Multan. The injured were shifted to Nishtar Hospital in Multan for treatment, while rescue teams continued operations at the accident site, police and rescue officials were quoted as saying by the Geo News. Five people were killed and nearly 30 have been injured in the accident, police said. Rescue officials said 13 coaches had been cleared, while rescue work was continuing in one coach. A passenger told reporters that workers had repaired the nuts and bolts of coach number nine

near Rohri before the accident. The claim has not been independently verified, and it was not immediately clear whether the reported repair was linked to the derailment, the Geo report added. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed concern over the passengers injured in the accident. He directed the relevant authorities to speed up rescue operations and ensure the injured received the best possible medical treatment without delay. The cause of the derailment has not yet been officially established. Pakistan Railways and relevant authorities are expected to provide further details as rescue operations progress. Accidents on Pakistan’s decaying rail system are common. In August 2023, the derailment of the Hazara Express near Nawabshah in Sindh killed at least 30 people and injured more than 100, raising renewed concerns about railway safety and maintenance.

APPLIANCES REPAIR SERVICE FRIDGES WASHERS DRYERS STOVES DISHWASHERS Fast-Prompt-Reliable CALL US TODAY!

604 833 0068

SOUTH ASIA

Pakistani president imposes emergency in KPK, cites worsening security situation Pakistan on Sunday declared an emergency in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province citing the deteriorating law and order situation, bringing the provincial government led by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party to an end. An emergency allows Pakistan's federal government to assume key executive and legislative powers in a province during a security crisis or breakdown of constitutional governance. President Asif Ali Zardari proclaimed Articles 232(1) and 234(1) of the Constitution, citing rising terrorist attacks and a breakdown of constitutional machinery in the northwestern province, according to the presidential declaration. Under the proclamation, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and the advocate general will immediately vacate their offices. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the only province where Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

was in power. The move comes amid an ongoing protest march led by Afridi, who is pressing for Khan's release and access to medical treatment for him, the release of his sisters and supporters arrested ahead of the protest, and a medical examination of his wife, Bushra Bibi. The march began in Lakki Marwat on October 4 and has passed through several districts of the province. The long march followed the failure of two rounds of talks between the PTI and the federal government. The discussions broke down over the party's demand for access to Khan before calling off the protest, while the government insisted that the demonstration be ended first. Afridi on Saturday vowed to continue peaceful protests and rejected military operations as a solution to the province's problems. The PTI had initially planned to take the march to Islamabad for a sit-in, but the federal government said it would not allow protesters to enter the capital.

Pakistan cricketers ‘humiliated’ in front of Mohsin Naqvi; leads to debate Two Pakistan cricket players were recently told to remove their caps while greeting Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi at a dinner. The dinner was hosted by Naqvi before the three-match Pakistan-Sri Lanka T20I series. As Naqvi was meeting the players, the team manager gestured towards batter Hasan Nawaz and speedster Naseem Shah telling them to remove their caps. This has led to a social media debate on whether the players should be treated in such a manner.

Some users said that the players are not kids who need to be schooled on how to conduct themselves at such times.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

PUNJAB

Opposition leaders back Punjab bandh call, demand justice for anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota The Opposition leaders today rallied behind the family of Parvinder Singh Jhota, who was killed by a chemist in Mansa, demanding justice and supporting a Punjab bandh call for Thursday issued by his father and an action committee. Some protesters also described Jhota as a “shaheed” (martyr), praising his fight against drug abuse. Former CM Charanjit Singh Channi attended the protest and appealed to Punjabis to unite to protect the state’s youth and future. Endorsing the family’s call, he accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to address the crisis. Punjab Congress chief Pargat Singh also joined the protest, expressing solidarity with the family and those seeking justice. He alleged that drug trafficking was flourishing under the alleged patronage of political leaders and sections of the police, accusing the state government of failing to take effective action against traffickers. Former Punjab Congress head Amrinder Singh Raja Warring described Jhota as a warrior who fought to save younger generations from drugs. Expressing condolences to the bereaved family, he said the activist’s death had shaken everyone who wanted a drug-free Punjab. Warring also questioned the government’s failure to protect those campaigning against drugs, vowing that Jhota’s anti-drug mission would continue.

Former minister Vijay Inder Singla termed Jhota’s murder an attack on the soul of Punjab. Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) leader Tarsem Singh, father of incarcerated Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, praised Jhota’s father for continuing his fight against the drug menace despite the family’s loss. He expressed support for the demand for justice. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that Punjab had fallen under the influence of the drug mafia and demanded Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s resignation over the law and order situation. He backed the bandh call and sought a CBI investigation into the alleged conspiracy behind the killing, including claims of delay in facilitating medical assistance. Bathinda SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also expressed condolences to Jhota’s mother through a video call, criticised the government over the suffering of families affected by the drug crisis.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Border Security Force (BSF) have arrested a constable with 15 kg of heroin from Nawshera Dalan village near Tarn Taran. The arrest came on a day when public anger over drug smuggling spilled into violence in Mansa. The accused, identified as Karandeep Singh, was posted with the Punjab Police’s anti-drone unit and is learnt to be a drug addict himself. The unit was created to intercept narcotics consignments dropped by drones from across the border. However, NCB and BSF sources alleged that the accused had instead been helping smugglers. Officials said Karandeep Singh allegedly facilitated cross-border smuggling networks while battling his own addiction. Investigators are examining his assets, bank accounts, property holdings and possible links to previous

consignments. The sources said he owned two cars. The arrest adds to a growing list of state police personnel allegedly found involved in the narcotics trade. In 2024, a head constable was arrested in Ferozepur with 2 kg of heroin while allegedly transporting a consignment. In 2023, the police nabbed a driver attached to a DSP in Amritsar after recovering 1.5 kg of heroin from his vehicle. In 2022, two constables in Batala were booked for possessing commercial quantities of narcotics, while in 2021 a suspended constable was arrested in Jalandhar for alleged links with a cross-border heroin smuggling network. The latest arrest also comes close on the heels of former AIG Raj Jit Singh’s surrender after remaining a proclaimed offender for several years in a case linked to allegations of a nexus between police personnel and drug smugglers.

C.S.T. Consultants Inc.

Start saving for your child’s future education in a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and receive up to $8,400 in government grants.1 Open a CST RESP now and you’ll start receiving the Canada Education Savings grant (CESG). The CESG can add up to $7,200 to your child’s RESP.

government was aware of the presence of two to three such “black sheep” in every city but had failed to take sufficiently stringent action against them. “We have demanded stern action from the government. We have also issued an advisory to chemists across the state, asking them to maintain proper records and ensure that medicines are sold only against valid doctors’ prescriptions,” he said. Former deputy director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Niranjan Singh alleged that several such manufacturers, dealers and health institutions had enjoyed the patronage of successive governments, allowing illegal activities to continue with little accountability. Despite repeated calls and messages, Joint Commissioner, Drugs, Sanjeev Kumar did not share a report on departmental action against such individuals, while Zonal Licensing Authority Aman Verma said he had no details about the cases against Ashwani Kumar.

Supreme Court asks MEA to issue public notice inviting kin of those died in Russia for compensation The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to consider issuing a public notice inviting families of Indians who died fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war to enable them to seek assistance and compensation. In its latest status report, the MEA told a Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that 51 Indians who fought the war died while 77 recruits remained untraced so far. Over 200 people, mostly hailing from Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan went to Russia in 202425 for working in different sectors, including hospitality, but many of them landed on the battlefield, allegedly after being duped by travel agents who seized their passports and other documents on reaching Russia. The petitioners have sought return of mortal remains of those killed, compensation and a coordinated mechanism for the affected families. The Bench asked the MEA to file a fresh status report giving details of exact compensation given by the Russian Government to six families whose

Punjab cop on anti-drug duty held with 15 kg heroin

BC Helps Parents Boost their Education Savings!

Jhota killer’s medical store raided 10 times in 4 years; licence suspended thrice, yet illicit trade thrived The killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, who was shot dead by chemist Ashwani Kumar in Mansa on Tuesday morning, has once again brought the spotlight on the pharmaceutical mafia flourishing in Punjab, with allegations of regulatory lapses, political patronage and unchecked illegal sales of habit-forming drugs. According to Drug Inspector, Mansa, Naresh Kumar, Ashwani, who was facing a case under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, was recently acquitted. He said the chemist’s premises had been raided nearly 10 times in the past four years, and his licence was suspended on three occasions. “But the licence was not cancelled,” said police sources, adding that intoxicants were recovered from his shop on three occasions. General Secretary of Punjab Chemists Association (PCA), GS Chawla, said such individuals were bringing disrepute to the entire pharmaceutical trade. Dr Chawla said the

members died in the war after Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said that so far six compensation claims had been processed by the Russian Government. Five compensation claims have been satisfied fully and one partially, she said. Maintaining that the right to seek compensation accrued to the families of all 51 persons who unfortunately lost their lives there, the Bench asked the District Legal Services Authorities of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh to comply with its earlier direction to provide free legal aid to the aggrieved families for “submission of claims and/ or conducting of DNA test, apart from other necessary legal/ administrative formalities which are required to be completed by them”. Approximately 267 Indians had joined the Russian armed forces, of whom 51 had died and 139 had been discharged from military service, Bhati said, adding the Indian embassy in Russia is pursuing the whereabouts of 77 recruits, including seven whom Russian authorities confirmed as missing.

When your child turns six, they can receive an additional $1,200 from the B.C. Government. SURJIT S. MADHOPURI Sales Representative C.S.T. Consultants Inc., Branch 789 Tel: 604.594.7200 / Cell: 604.377.4171 Email: surjit.madhopuri@cstresp.com http://www.cstresp.com/6117

1 The Canada Education Savings Grant matches 20% of the first $2,500 you contribute to your child’s RESP each year up to a lifetime maximum of $7,200. BC Training and Education Savings Grant (BCTESG) is a one-time $1,200 grant available to BC resident children born on or after January 1st, 2006. Children are eligible for the BCTESG on their sixth birthday. You have until the day before your child’s ninth birthday to apply for the BCTESG. Conditions apply. ™ The Canadian Scholarship Trust Plan is a registered trademark of the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation. The CST Plan is only sold by Prospectus. You can get copies of the prospectus from www.cst.org or by calling 1.877.333.RESP(7377). MH1100(2017-04)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

11.4 lakh rly staffers to get 78-day wages as Diwali bonus In a Diwali bonanza, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a productivity-linked bonus (PLB) equivalent to 78 days’ wages for eligible railway employees. The total payout will be Rs 2,009.61 crore and will benefit 11,40,770 employees, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting. The bonus is meant for non-gazetted railway employees. The maximum amount payable to an eligible employee is Rs 17,951 for 78 days. It coversa wide range of railway employees, including track maintainers, loco pilots, train managers (guards), station masters, supervisors, technicians and technician helpers, pointsmen, ministerial staff and other Group ‘C’ employees. “This year too, a PLB equivalent to 78 days’ wages is being paid to about 11.4 lakh non-

gazetted railway employees. The payment of PLB acts as an incentive to motivate railway employees to work towards improving the performance of the Railways,” the minister said. “The performance of the Railways in 2025-26 was very good. The Railways loaded a record 1,670 million tonnes of cargo and carried nearly 7.41 billion passengers,” Vaishnaw said.

Parliamentary panel to scrutinise satellite Internet amid Elon Musk’s Starlink push Amid the ongoing controversy over Elon Musk-owned Starlink’s proposed operations in India, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology on Wednesday decided to examine the issue of commercial satellite broadband services in the country. BJP MP from Godda and panel chairman ishikant Dubey said the decision was taken at a meeting of committee members, who selected satellite internet as one of the subjects for examination and study. Among companies that have applied for licences to launch satellite internet services in India are USbased Starlink, Sunil Bharti Mittal-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance’s Jio Satcom. At present, broadband and mobile data services in India are delivered primarily through terrestrial telecom networks and infrastructure. Importantly, the BJP’s ideological mentor, the

RSS, only a day earlier took a strong position against Starlink, urging the government to block the company’s entry into India. The decision to bring satellite internet services under parliamentary scrutiny came even as top government sources reiterated that satellite communication companies must comply with Indian laws and regulatory requirements to operate in the country. With Musk stepping up his criticism of India’s regulatory framework through posts on X targeting Indian business interests, sources said companies must adhere to rules requiring the establishment of necessary ground infrastructure, including base stations integrated with the national security apparatus. “From the day they applied, the government’s position has been very clear. If you want to do business in India, you have to follow Indian law. They have to understand this,” a source said in reference to Musk’s stance.

INDIA

3 Indians killed in Germany building fire, Romanian resident held on arson suspicion Three Indian nationals were killed in a fire at a residential building in the German city of Bochum, local media reported on Wednesday. The victims were two women aged 25 and 27, and a 26-year-old man, all Indian nationals, German public broadcaster WDR (Westdeutscher Rundfunk) reported, citing details released by Bochum police. Their names and home states in India were not reported. Five other persons were also injured in the incident that occurred early on Tuesday. Their nationalities and other details were not specified in the media reports. Police have arrested a 41-year-old resident of the building on suspicion of murder. He is a Romanian national, German news channel n-tv reported, citing the German Press Agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). A Bochum police spokesperson told WDR that there were initial grounds for suspicion of murder against the man, who had been questioned by officers from the homicide squad. Police and prosecutors announced the arrest on Wednesday. Investigators have ruled out a technical defect as the cause of the fire and suspect arson, but whether the fire was deliberately set or started accidentally remains under investigation.

The fire broke out early on Tuesday in a multifamily residential building in Bochum's Hofstede district. Emergency services were alerted around 4.15 am local time. Firefighters found the three victims dead in an apartment on the second floor. The five injured people suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to hospitals in Bochum. The firefighting operation was particularly difficult because the flames had spread upwards through the stairwell, preventing firefighters from using it to reach residents on the upper floors, WDR reported. Firefighters rescued two people using a turntable ladder, two using portable ladders and another person with a safety cushion, according to the DPA report carried by n-tv.

Delhi ACP accused of sexual assault by woman journalist files counter-FIR over casteist slurs Delhi Police has registered an FIR against an independent journalist and others on a complaint by one of its officers alleging casteist remarks, public humiliation and defamation during a protest near Jantar Mantar earlier this month, officials said on Wednesday. The FIR was registered at Parliament Street police station under relevant provisions of the SC/ ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and sections 221 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 356(2) (Defamation) and 3(5) (Common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on the complaint by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat, posted in Connaught Place subdivision of New Delhi district. Earlier, the independent journalist had alleged sexual assault charges against the ACP and an enquiry of her complaint is being investigated by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police. According to the FIR, Bhagat was performing law-and-order duty at Jantar Mantar on October 3 when he allegedly overheard the journalist making derogatory remarks about his Megh/Mehgwal caste in public view near Buta Singh roundabout and questioning his appointment as an ACP. Bhagat stated in his complaint that he belongs to

the Scheduled Caste community and alleged that he and his operator, Constable Ravi Dahiya, heard the journalist refer to his nameplate and caste identity before making the remarks. The complainant alleged that he ignored the remarks and continued performing his official duties. However, around 3 pm, the journalist allegedly accused him of sexual assault during the handling and detention of protesters and, along with her colleagues, repeatedly confronted him, thereby obstructing his official work. The FIR further alleges that the independent journalist and others staged a protest outside Parliament Street police station later that evening, raised slogans against the ACP. Bhagat also alleged that posts and reels containing similar accusations were circulated on X and Instagram by her and certain members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), including Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and Ratna Singh. The ACP claimed that the caste-related remarks, public accusations and social media posts caused him mental distress and damaged his reputation. The FIR also mentions that the journalist's separate complaint alleging sexual assault by the ACP had been transferred to the Crime Branch and was under enquiry.

Read more news online or view Digital Copy of Newspaper at:

www.TheAsianStar.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026

INDIA

India sells air defense missiles to Tajikistan, Turkmenistan in Central Asia push India has sold its homegrown, short-range surface-to-air missile system called Akash, to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan gaining a foothold in Central Asia as it seeks to expand its defense exports. Analysts say these countries are turning to India to reduce their reliance on Russia, one of the region’s main arms suppliers, whose defense resources are strained by its war with Ukraine. “They are looking for a way to diversify at a time when Russia is no longer active in defense markets as it increasingly looks inwards towards its domestic needs, reducing its capacity to export air defense systems, especially in large numbers,” Aleksei Zakharov, a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi told Defense News. “As a result, Central Asian countries are looking for possible alternatives.” Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed the sales of the Akash surface-to-air missile system to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan earlier this month in an interview with news agency Asian New International. He did not disclose the contract value. In 2022, Armenia became India’s first foreign customer for the air defense system. The Akash system can simultaneously engage multiple targets at ranges up to 25km according to the Defense Ministry. It also incorporates

protections against electronic jamming. Calling the system one of India’s “success stories,” Singh said: “It shows the maturing of our indigenous missile design and production system. It is effective in dealing with high-velocity aerial targets.” Indian defense officials have said it was used effectively by the armed forces during the country’s four-day conflict with Pakistan in 2025. Confidence in the missile system got a boost after it was “battle-tested” in a real conflict, according to Zakharov and could encourage Central Asian buyers to consider other Indian hardware, such as artillery and radar systems, as growing geopolitical uncertainty prompts countries to broaden their supplier base. In fact, Armenia has emerged as India’s largest buyer of military equipment, signing defense contracts worth nearly $2 billion since 2020, according to reports. Its purchases include multiple-launch rocket systems, counter-drone systems and anti-tank missiles. India, which has been a major arms importer for decades has been gradually developing its own defense industry and boosting exports, which rose about 62 per cent in the last financial year to $4.1 billion. Indian companies export missiles, drones, armored vehicles, ammunition and aircraft components to more than 80 countries.

China and India want much the same things from South Asia Last month’s BRICS summit marked the pinnacle of an ongoing reset in China-India relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping made his first visit to India in almost seven years for the summit. That visit followed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to China last year—also his first in seven years—to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. The partial renormalization of relations comes after the two countries’ border conflagration in 2020, which was the worst flare-up of hostilities between both countries in more than four decades. Steps taken to revive relations have included the resumption of direct flights and a relaxation of visa and investment restrictions. Even the intractable border issue has seen substantive progress, as noted by the meeting between Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in August, which produced an eight-point consensus as part of their Special Representatives framework. The same month, trade along three border passes resumed after a gap of six years.

On a global level, too, China’s and India’s leaders have had something of a meeting of minds on many issues to do with the international order. At the BRICS summit in India, the 140-point New Delhi Declaration made several references to the Trump administration’s disruptive foreign policies. These included the need for strengthening a “predictable and rules-based multilateral trading system,” condemning the “imposition of unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to international law,” and expressing “concern about ongoing conflicts in many parts of the world and the current state of polarization and fragmentation in the international order.” Yet while engagement at the bilateral and global level continues to gain momentum, an overlooked area of engagement is the need for greater cooperation at the regional level. The recent flash floods in Nepal triggered by a glacial collapse near the Chinese border, for example, highlighted the need for a shared Himalayan water diplomacy framework.

PM Modi's free trade push could lead to $140 billion GDP gain for India Continued from Page 1... The surge in US tariffs since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025 is redrawing global trade links. After 19 months of wild swings, we estimate the average US tariff rate stood at 10.7% in August, up from 2.3% in 2024. That reflects sectoral tariffs—mainly on cars and metals, and country-specific levies set at around 10%-12.5% under the Section 301 forced labor action. Tariffs at this rate could lower US goods imports by roughly 15% compared with the previous regime. Threats and investigations point to more hikes to come. Other countries are responding by diversifying trade links and accelerating negotiations with new partners. Since the start of 2025, the European Union has signed new or updated agreements with Mercosur and Mexico and concluded negotiations with Indonesia, India and Australia. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China signed an upgraded free-trade agreement in October 2025.

Canada signed several agreements in 2025-26 and moved to launch, accelerate or revive others. India is no exception. During 2025-26, agreements with the European Free Trade Association, the UK and Oman entered into force, adding to deals with Australia and the United Arab Emirates that took effect in 2022. India also signed an FTA with New Zealand and concluded negotiations with the EU. In addition, New Delhi is pursuing other partners—including the Eurasian Economic Union—and has sought an agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council. At the same time, India has pursued deeper trade links with the US since Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans for a bilateral agreement in February 2025. The relationship has been rocky. In the second half of 2025, India faced some of the highest additional tariffs among major US trading partners after Washington imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff and an additional 25% duty linked to Russian oil purchases.

India’s growing Cockroach problem Continued from Page 1... The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), satirically named after Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), emerged in May after Indian Chief Justice Surya Kant likened the country’s unemployed youth to “cockroaches” and “parasites of society.” Denouncing lackluster job creation and poor education policy, including leaked medical exam results, the youth-led Cockroach movement has transformed into one of Modi’s most significant political challenges in years.

Protests took on a new sense of urgency this month after an investigation by the Indian Express revealed that two members of India’s three-person Election Commission had raised serious questions about a national program to clean up the country’s electoral rolls. Last year, ahead of critical state elections, the commission began removing more than 130 million names from voter lists, which the BJP says includes 30 million people who could not be traced and 28 million people who had died. However, critics of the government maintain that the deletions disproportionately affected minority

communities that might have been less likely to vote for the BJP. The CJP and its supporters have called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Last weekend, Indian authorities cracked down on thousands of anti-government protesters, prompting the United Nations human rights office to demand that New Delhi ensure the right to peaceful assembly. In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the U.N.’s statement as “unwarranted” and an “unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of India.” The government had also declared that protests could no longer be held at Jantar Mantar observatory, an 18th-century monument located less than a mile from India’s Parliament. But on Monday, CJP supporters and opposition-led allies, including Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, found other streets to make their case, showing up in numbers estimated to top several thousand. Tuesday’s arrests of CJP leaders came after some members of the group snuck into Jantar Mantar to “reclaim” it from Modi’s control, suggesting that the protest movement will continue even amid government crackdowns on dissent. “Delhi is once again flooded with people standing up to save democracy,” wrote CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on X. “If Modi thinks taking away Jantar Mantar will put an end to protests, he is mistaken. Jantar Mantar is not just a location but a spirit of resistance that nobody can ever take away.”

Read more news online or view Digital Copy of Newspaper at:

www.TheAsianStar.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2026