The Asian Star May 25 2019

www.theasianstar.com

Vol 19 - Issue 17

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Indian PM Modi stuns opposition with huge election win

I

ndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi scored a dramatic election victory on Thursday, putting his Hindu nationalist party on course to increase its majority on a mandate of business-friendly policies and a tough stand on national security.

His re-election reinforces a global trend of right-wing populists sweeping to victory, from the United States to Brazil and Italy, often after adopting harsh positions on protectionism, immigration and defense. Official data from the Election Commission showed Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party ahead in 302 of the 542 seats up for grabs, up from the 282 it won in 2014 and more than the 272 seats needed for a majority in the

Narendra Modi: From impoverished tea seller to master of political theatre The boy who once sold tea at a railway station has become the most influential Indian leader in generations, winning a landslide in election results announced on Thursday. Or so goes the story that has become the core of Narendra Modi’s extraordinary appeal.

Modi, 68, was born to a poor family in western India’s Gujarat state, where he developed a strong dislike for the ruling Congress party as a result of hanging around a political office near his father’s tea stall. While still a child, he started attending daily meetings of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, said to be the world’s largest volunteer organisation, whose Hindu nationalist ideology envisions the country’s diverse Hindu population as a single nation with a sacred culture that should be given primacy in India.

Hindu nationalists were sidelined

by India’s founding prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, whose vision of Continued on page 8

lower house of parliament. That would give his party the first back-to-back majority for a single party since 1984.

Votes will be fully counted by Friday morning. Modi was showered with rose petals by some of the thousands of cheering supporters who waited for hours in a thunderstorm for his arrival at party headquarters on Thursday evening. “Whatever happened in these elections is in the past, we have to look ahead. We have to take everyone forward, including our staunchest opponents,” he said in a televised address. He was critical of the many people that doubted the BJP could increase its majority. “The political pundits of India have to leave behind their ideas of the past,” he added.

Modi has slashed red tape in the world’s Continued on page 39 fifth-largest economy, though

Regulator investigating high gas cost in BC has power to examine price gouging British Columbia’s independent energy regulator will have the power to call oil company representatives as witnesses into an investigation of high gasoline prices in the province. Premier John Horgan has tasked the B.C. Utilities Commission to examine the market factors that affect wholesale and retail

gas prices, and he wants a report by Aug. 30. Gas prices hovering around $1.70 per litre in the Metro Vancouver area have been the highest in Canada for several months. Horgan says he’s given the utilities commission broad terms of reference Continued on page 7

Bhavkiran Dhesi’s boyfriend and his mom charged in her murder The mother of a man accused in the 2017 killing of Bhavkiran Dhesi has been charged with being an accessory to her murder.

Last week, police announced second-degree murder charges had been approved against Harjot Singh Deo, 21. Deo and Dhesi were dating at the time of her death, and Deo was considered a “person of interest” early in the

19-year-old’s murder, police said. On Tuesday, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said Deo’s mother Manjit Kaur Deo, 53, has been charged with accessory after the fact in the August 2017 killing. Manjit Kaur Deo was arrested May 17 and is expected to appear in Surrey Continued on page 7

1 in 4 Canadians say it’s becoming ‘more acceptable’ to be prejudiced against Muslims: Ipsos poll An exclusive poll for Global News shows that racism is seen as less of a problem in this country and yet hate crimes have seen a rise in Canada. Robin Gill looks at what is contributing to this. More than a quarter of Canadians believe that over the past five

years, it’s become “more acceptable” to be prejudiced against Muslims, according to an exclusive poll by Ipsos for Global News. The polling seems to correlate with an increase in hate crimes t a r g e t i n g Continued on page 6

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Vol 18 - Issue 17

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Satinder Dhillon says he’ll take People’s Party lawsuit as far as he can Federal judge shut down Satinder Dhillon’s ‘nonsensical’ motion to bar use of PPC name in byelection. An Abbotsford man says he’ll take his lawsuit claiming rights to the “People’s Party of Canada” name to “the highest court in the land” if he has to, but he’s also considering changing the name of his party to participate in the next federal election. Satinder Dhillon was ordered to pay the People’s Party of Canada $20,000 in a scathing ruling from a Federal Court judge that shut down a “nonsensical” motion to bar the party from using its name in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith byelection.

Dhillon took the People’s Party and its

leader, right-wing renegade and former Conservative Party leadership contender Maxime Bernier, to court in February claiming copyright and trademark of the name “People’s Party of Canada.” Dhillon filed trademark and copyright applications in September, shortly following Bernier’s announcement that he

Charges laid against South Asian man accused of fraud & impersonating a police officer Charges have been laid against a Surrey man who is accused of impersonating a police officer in an attempt to obtain money from an elderly couple.

The RCMP say they received a report of a man posing as an undercover police officer and telling a couple he was investigating counterfeit money. Mounties say he defrauded the couple over two days but officers were able to identify a suspect with surveillance video.

Forty-two-year-old Harmit Johal has been charged with one count of personating a peace officer and two counts of fraud.

Surrey RCMP Sgt. Chad Greig says the public needs to know police never contact or solicit anyone to see if their money is counterfeit. Greig says police should be contacted immediately to verify any suspicious requests for cash.

was intending to create a party of the same name.

The hearing was only for an injunction ahead of the byelection, and Dhillon said he expects bring the matter to a full trial. “We hold the copyright and trademark, and we have over 2,000 pages of evidence to support our claim,” Dhillon said, adding that the hearing reflected only a few hours in the courtroom. A full trial

would allow a judge to fully deliberate the evidence, he added. But the ruling from the injunction hearing offered a glimpse into the court’s view of the parties’ arguments – and that view was not favourable to Dhillon. But the Abbotsford man says he’s not going to take the ruling sitting down – he’ll take the matter to the “highest court in the land,” Dhillon said.

“I think the judge’s comments were unfair to say the least,” he said. He added that by getting a copyright and trademark on the “People’s Party of Canada” name, he was doing what Elections Canada suggested to protect his claim to the name.

Sikhs offended by $790 Gucci turban It’s only been three months since Gucci had to apologize for its blackface sweater. But it seems the brand hasn’t learned its lesson.

The Italian fashion house made headlines earlier this week for its “Indy Full Turban,” which was listed for sale on the website of luxury department store Nordstrom for a whopping $790.

The blue turban closely resembled the style of turbans worn by millions of Sikhs around the world, and people in the Sikh community were offended, calling out both

Gucci and Nordstrom for cultural appropriation, insensitivity and the hefty price tag. Nordstrom eventually pulled the turban from its website and apologized. Gucci apologizes after social media users say sweater resembles blackface “We have decided to stop carrying this product and have removed it from the site,” the retailer wrote in response to a complaint on Twitter. “It was never our intent to disrespect this religious and cultural symbol. We sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been offended by this.”

4

OPINION

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Politicians have allowed judges to usurp too much power

By Brian Giesbrecht Senior Fellow Frontier Centre for public Policy Canadians have never been that interested in who sits on our top court. We should be Leaks from the prime minister’s office concerning the potential appointment of Justice Glenn Joyal, Chief Justice of the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench, to the Supreme Court of Canada highlights differences between the treatment of judiciary appointments in Canada and the United States. Why do Canadians not pay more attention to appointments to our highest court and the impact the Charter of Rights has on our democracy?

Who sits on the U.S. Supreme Court is of crucial importance there. Americans’ ‘Supremes’ rule on the constitutionality of virtually everything important. Who is or is not appointed to their highest court can

have a profound influence for decades. The most significant legacy of the administration of President Donald Trump may be a conservative Supreme Court.

Canadians have never been that interested in who sits on our top court. That’s because – until 1982 – the personal views of judges didn’t matter all that much. Their main role was to interpret laws passed by elected representatives. This changed fundamentally when the Charter of Rights of Freedoms came into being. Now, a judge’s personal views became extremely important. Many issues formerly decided by politicians are now decided by our courts.

Judges fall generally into two camps: · Those who could be called conservatives believe that judges should be reluctant to become involved in matters that were formerly dealt with by the people’s elected representatives. · Judges in the other camp are generally more activist, or interventionist – more inclined to make new law.

· An example of an activist decision was the Supreme Court’s Haida Nation case. In 2004, a decidedly activist Supreme Court literally invented a “duty to consult” Indigenous communities when development is being considered on any lands considered to be part of their “traditional territories.” Today’s stalled pipelines and other development opportunities are a result. The Haida example of judicial activism has proved to be a jobeating monster. Another disadvantage of having something become a court-decided constitutional right is that a court-decided right becomes constitutionally enshrined – and almost impossible to reverse. No Canadian politician will try the constitutional change route after the failures of the Meech Lake and Charlottetown accords to amend the Constitution. Elected representatives are answerable to the electorate. Courts are not – and they’re ill-equipped to judge how much money a decision will cost Canadian taxpayers. Money is not even a main consideration for the courts. The courts are too often thrust into a role that should be handled by elected bodies, with elected bodies more inclined to dump intractable issues into the courts. And too many judges are willing to usurp what should be a legislative function.

The Haida case is one example of the many crucially important Charter decisions that have changed many aspects of our lives.

Joyal gave a profoundly important speech on the proper role of judges in interpreting the charter at the 2017 Law and Freedom Conference (he’s in the conservative camp).

He also reflected on the broader questions of how Canadians should view the Charter and how it has changed the Canadian polity.

He even suggested we risk a “consequential intellectual complacency” if we don’t ask those questions. Is the diminished role of our elected representatives a cause for concern?

Brian Giesbrecht, a retired judge, is a senior fellow at the Frontier Centre For Public Policy.

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Saturday, May 25, 2019

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1 in 4 Canadians say it’s becoming ‘more acceptable’ to be prejudiced against Muslims: Ipsos poll From page 1 Muslims living in the country. All of the Ipsos poll data is available online.

Islamophobia in Canada isn’t new. Experts say it’s time we face the problem In 2017, hate crimes targeting Muslims jumped 151 per cent, according to Statistics Canada. The biggest increases were seen in Ontario and Quebec — police-reported hate crimes increased by 207 per cent in Ontario and 185 per cent in Quebec. So what, exactly, is causing a spark in discrimination towards Muslims? One in four Canadians (26%) say that over the past five years it has become more acceptable to be prejudiced against Muslims.

One in four Canadians (26%) say that over the past five years it has become more acceptable to be prejudiced against Muslims.

Barbara Perry, a hate crimes expert at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, said Islamophobia has always been present in Canada, but over the last few years, it’s been “exacerbated.�

She added that there are many factors at play, but one of them is the “Trump effect.�

Canadians less tolerant of Muslims than other religions, survey says A number of experts have linked the rise in hate crimes against Muslims to U.S. President Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric during his 2016 presidential election and after he was elected to the White House in 2017.

Trump’s promises to ban Muslims from the U.S. and build a wall to keep out Mexicans have been championed by many far-right groups in Canada. “Social media borders are poor, and this contributes to a spike of online hate,� Perry

said. “Trump has contributed to this. The last U.S. election affected us, and the next one will also affect us.� 25% of Canadians support Trump-style travel ban — poll For example, in January 2017, Alexandre Bissonnette attacked worshippers at a Quebec City mosque, killing six Muslim men. Before the attack, the shooter obsessively followed the Twitter postings of Trump, with a particular interest in his Muslim travel ban.

Ipsos vice-president Sean Simpson said that Trump’s anti-Muslim views have leaked into Canada and that the polls reflect that. “I think, certainly, having a president like Donald Trump, who seems to say anything on his mind at a whim, gives people ‌ more licence to do the same,â€? Simpson said. “There’s a growing movement in the United States, and some of it has a trickle effect here in Canada ‌. that it’s OK to say things that maybe we were worried about saying before,â€? he said. He said the lack of political correctness can be seen in Canada’s current climate. Take, for example, Maxime Bernier, whose anti-immigrant rhetoric echos that of Trump’s. Why some Muslim Canadian women are taking up self-defence Bernier, the leader of the People’s Party of Canada, came under fire last year for saying that “more diversity will not be our strength, it will destroy what has made us a great country.â€?

Simpson said politicians like Bernier and Trump are “saying things that people, up until now, had maybe been reluctant to say out loud, even if they thought it,� adding to people’s prejudice against minorities.

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Saturday, May 25, 2019

Regulator investigating high gas cost has power to examine price gouging

Bhavkiran Dhesi’s boyfriend and his mom charged in her murder From page 1

From page 1 conduct a fair and transparent investigation that would include concerns about competition and why recent gas refining margins for Vancouver have been more than double the Canadian average.

Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson has been calling on the New Democrats to reduce provincial gas taxes and has applied to participate Surrey provincial court on Wednesday.

IHIT spokesman Cpl. Frank Jang at a news conference on Tuesday that officers were still following up on leads and asked those with “close knowledge of the circumstances” of Bhavkiran death’s to contact police.

in the investigation as an intervener. Horgan says in a statement the terms of reference give the utilities commission the reach to investigate price fixing and gouging and to make recommendations.

High-risk sex offender released The Surrey RCMP has issued a warning about dangerous sex offender Earon Wayne Giles being released from prison and now living in Surrey. Giles, released on Friday, May 24, was sentenced to 22 years after pleading guilty in 1997 of six counts of break-and-enter and sexual assault of women in Surrey. He is one of a pair of socalled “tag-team rapists” who terrorized Surrey, particularly in Newton, by breaking into basement suites in the dead of night, generally through windows or sliding glass doors, in the Bear Creek area of Newton and sexually assaulting single women. One of the victims, aged 21, was raped in 1993 while her two-year-old child was in the same bed. Giles is considered a high risk to reoffend. “I am appalled that this sexual predator is being released into the very community that he committed his heinous crimes,” Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum said in response to the bulletin. “Along with a lengthy list of release conditions, it’s clearly stated in the RCMP notification that he is a dangerous sex offender with a high risk to reoffend. “Our system isn’t working, and what we have here borders on the absurd,” McCallum said. “We need an overhaul in how we deal with these sexual predators.

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Cpl. Frank Jang announces that a charge of accessory after the fact to murder has been laid against Harjot Singh Deo’s 53-year-old mother Manjit Kaur Deo. Boyfriend charged with second-degree murder in Bhavkiran Dhesi killing Surrey woman, 19, found dead in burned car was ready to ‘live a normal life’ Harjot Deo was arrested May 10 at Vancouver International Airport and remains in custody pending a May 27 court appearance. Dhesi was last seen by her family around 9 a.m. on Aug. 1, 2017 leaving home. A few hours later, an SUV she was driving was found on fire in South Surrey.

Emergency crews found Dhesi’s body inside the wreckage of the vehicle. Months later, police spoke publicly to seek help identifying

the owners of two other vehicles — a dark grey Audi Q7 and a dark grey Dodge Ram — that they believed were linked to Dhesi’s murder.

Anyone with information is asked to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-4448.

8

Saturday, May 25, 2019

From page 1

Narendra Modi: From impoverished tea seller to master of political theatre

India was of a secular nation at ease with its bewildering plurality. Their parties, including Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), struggled to win more than 10% of the national vote for decades until the 1990s, when they started to expand on the back of a national campaign to demolish a 16th-century Mughal mosque and replace it with a Hindu temple.

India election results 2019: Modi claims landslide victory. That push culminated in the destruction of the mosque by a mob of 150,000 Hindu activists, which triggered rioting across India that killed an estimated 2,000 people. Still, the BJP’s support was limited to wealthier Hindus in the country’s north and west, with resistance to the party

from poor, marginalised Hindus, Muslims and south Indians thought to be permanent hurdles to Hindu nationalist domination.

Modi’s magnetism, especially his personal branding as a tea boy who climbed to the country’s highest ranks, has changed those calculations, drawing vast support from the country’s emerging middle and lower-middle classes. “He has managed to create this voting bloc – other party’s voters who are voting for the BJP just for Modi,” said Rahul Verma, a fellow at the Delhi-

based Centre for Policy Research. “The shifts are actually happening among the more aspirational voters, who think Modi can fulfil their economic aspirations … This leader, who has risen from the ranks of a poor family, has become a symbol.”

This symbolism was especially potent among young Indians, a vital and growing electorate in a country with a median age younger than 28.

“They have grown up seeing the way of life

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in the west and in places like Singapore and China,” said Vivan Marwaha, a journalist who is writing a book on young Indians.

“And Modi came on to the scene in 2014 and promised them bullet trains, a million new jobs, the world’s largest statue. It’s all very aspirational.” Young Indians had grown up being told their country was on the cusp of becoming a superpower. In Modi, he said, they had a leader who spoke as if it already was. Alongside aspiration, the BJP promotes a vision of Hindu cultural supremacy that sidelines the country’s 300m minority population. As chief minister of Gujarat state, Modi was a firebrand Hindutva campaigner.

In 2002, anti-Muslim riots in his state killed at least 1,000 people, resulted in the future prime minister becoming an international pariah who was banned from entering the US. In response, Modi presented himself as an outsider being attacked by elites: a refrain that would become a central part of his political messaging. “He would say he was constantly being targeted by the English-speaking media out of Delhi,” said Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, author of a biography of the Indian leader.

“He made himself the symbol of the underdog, projected himself as somebody who is against the status quo forces.”

The times came to suit Modi. When popular disgust at corruption scandals plaguing the previous Congress government boiled over into street protests in 2011, it provided the rightwing populist leader a national springboard.

“Modi was at the forefront of projecting this strong, centralising leadership,” said Milan Vaishnav, the director of the south Asia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “He realised what people are looking for is somebody who gets stuff done.” His mastery of political theatre, and finger on the pulse of Indians, has now secured him the strongest mandate of any leader in decades. But it will do little to create jobs, alleviate financial stress in the country’s vast agriculture sector or grow the economy on the backdrop of a US trade war and a global slowdown. “Issues of economy will be the focus of his first 100 days,” said Rajat Sethi, a fellow at the influential BJP-aligned India Foundation thinktank. He said Modi could also look to broaden a programme of targeted payments to farmers and other struggling groups. The scale of Thursday’s victory creates room for Modi to ram through reforms, but also the possibility that he may not have to, said Gilles Verniers, a political scientist who teaches at Haryana state’s Ashoka University.

“It is a peculiar result because there were a multitude of ground realities that were clearly going against the BJP. It won despite jobless growth, rural distress, a tepid economy,” said Verniers. “It’s as if all those adverse factors did not matter at all.

“And so the worry is that it could translate into a belief the the BJP can win despite poor performance, and that may not not necessarily translate into incentives to address the deeper issues with the economy.”

Since you’re here…… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading and supporting our independent, investigative reporting than ever before. And unlike many news organisations, we have chosen an approach that allows us to keep our journalism accessible to all, regardless of where they live or what they can afford. The Guardian is editorially independent, meaning we set our own agenda. Our journalism is free from commercial bias and not influenced by billionaire owners, politicians or shareholders.

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Surrey RCMP say body found after fire at Whalley homeless camp Police say someone has been found dead after a fire at a homeless camp in Whalley.

Surrey RCMP set up police tape this morning, after the discovery of the body around 2:30 a.m., near 97A Avenue and 137A Street.

According to police, the fire took place in a shed at a homeless camp. The blaze was extinguished by firefighters and at that point the body was found inside the shed.

The Surrey RCMP Serious Crime Unit has

taken conduct of the investigation and will be working with Surrey Fire Services to determine the cause of the fire, as well as the BC Coroner Service to identify the deceased person.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or, to make an anonymous report, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222TIPS or solvecrime.ca.

Pedestrian seriously injured in Surrey traffic crash A 54-year-old man is in hospital with “serious life-altering injuries” after he was hit by a car early Thursday evening while crossing Highway 10 at 152nd Street.

This was at about 5:30 p.m. and police are asking witnesses or anyone with dash-cam video footage to call the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.

Corporal Elenore Sturko said a silver Audi

Q5 driven by a 36-year-old woman struck the pedestrian. She remained at the scene and is cooperating with police, Sturko said.

“Early indications are that the pedestrian was crossing from the south side to the north side in the crosswalk against the walking direction signals,” she said. “Speed nor impairment are considered factors in the collision.”

South Asian Fentanyl dealer gets seven years jail After four years out on bail, a Vancouver fentanyl dealer has been hit with a seven-year jail sentence.

According to a court document, Raymond Singh Ranu was arrested in February 2015 after an undercover sting found Ranu was dealing heroin and fentanyl pills out of an East Vancouver home, using a taxi for deliveries. He was found guilty on Dec. 15, 2017, of eight counts of trafficking and three counts of possession of cocaine, heroin and fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking. The May 13 sentencing by B.C. provincial court Judge Raymond Phillips took into account that in the four years while Ranu was out on bail he has had a steady job and lived with his wife and their young son. The case dates to October 2014 when Vancouver police began investigating Ranu and others — as part of Operation Tainted — who they believed were using an East Van home to process and store drugs, that were then distributed via taxi.

Surveillance was set up at the home and an undercover officer pretending to be a dealer from the Northwest Territories made contact with Ranu and made a string of high-volume deals in a taxi. Court heard that Ranu

told the undercover officer about “black fentanyl” that was a new and more potent form of fentanyl. Ranu also told the officer to try to sell fentanyl instead of heroin and suggested they launder drug money through Vancouver’s casinos. Phillips wrote that Ranu was now 32 and while on bail had become a settled family man. Ranu’s parents divorced when he was young and he was often left at home alone while his mother worked.

He went to three elementary schools and multiple high schools and this made it hard for him to meet and keep friends. He had been jailed previously for low-level drug-dealing in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. “Mr. Ranu knew how powerful fentanyl was and he actively encouraged the undercover officer to get his customers to switch from heroin to fentanyl for monetary reasons. He preyed on persons who are dependent on drugs with the social cost and human suffering that conduct entails,” Phillips wrote. “Mr Ranu had a taxi on hand for his use. He had a large quantity of cash in his Richmond residence.

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Saturday, May 25, 2019 for a chance to speak with the mayor and council. She was displeased by both the consultation session and not being able to see the report. “The simple consultation is, Do you want a city police force or not?

That’s the first question,” she said. “And guess what? If the majority of Surrey wants one, I’ve got nothing to say. But ask that simple question, so that we can tell you with a resounding ‘No,’ we don’t want it, we just want more officers.” Retired RCMP Sgt. Roger Morrow, who lives in South Surrey, said that based on information he saw posted at the session, the only thing a municipal force would bring is a municipal police board.

Public remains in the dark on Surrey policing plan as consultation begins

day after Surrey gave the provincial government its plan for ditching the RCMP and setting up a city police force, the political finger pointing began over why the report hasn’t been made public. Surrey politicians said it was up to the province to publicize it, while Premier John Horgan repeated his call for more transparency, saying he’d “made the case” to Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum that the public needs a clear understanding of the plan. Horgan said Thursday that he had not read the report nor been briefed on its comments yet. “I would argue and I’ve made the case to Mayor McCallum that the public needs to have a clear understanding why there would be a requirement to change, and what that cost would be, and would there be a diminishment in service to people,” he saiHorgan said the province “has a significant role to play in the delivery

of public safety services in Surrey” and will need to look closely at the details of Surrey’s proposal before it decides whether to allow the change. In a statement, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said he too had discussions with McCallum, conveying his “expectation that the report, in some form, is made available to the public in the weeks ahead.” McCallum issued a statement on Wednesday saying the report “fully details how we will successfully transition to a city police department.” “With the report now in the hands of the provincial government, we are moving ahead with our public engagement sessions,” he added.

The public remained no closer to seeing the report even as the first in a series of public consultation meetings began Thursday afternoon at Cloverdale Recreation Centre, where a Surrey Police-

branded SUV was parked outside. About 10 members of a Surrey Police Engagement Team spoke with residents who had questions about the report, how much the switch would cost them and whether they could stop the process entirely. They were urged to fill out paper comment cards and surveys on tablets, and share their ideas and rank their priorities for the new force on chart paper. The majority of residents who spoke with Postmedia News were not happy with the level of consultation being offered. Debi Johnstone, a Cloverdale resident for a decade, said she had hoped

Abbotsford police say early morning fire deliberately set in occupied home Abbotsford police are looking for a man in connection with an arson fire at a house in the 22-hundred block of Bedford Place Thursday morning at 3:15 a.m.

Fire investigators say a male suspect backed a mini-van onto the driveway of the home before dousing the vehicle with accelerant and setting it on fire.

The flames spread to the garage attached to the home with five people inside. Sgt. Judy Bird with the Abbotsford police says it’s unclear whether the suspect knew there were people inside sleeping at the time of the attack. “We are in the preliminary stages of the investigation. We are also working with officers from Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service investigators to collect CCTV

from the neighborhood, speak to witnesses, and be able to find out why the family appears to have been targeted and what possibly the motive is.” Five people managed to escape their house unharmed after an early morning arson fire in the 22-hundred block of Bedford. All five victims were able to get out of the house in time but were treated for smoke inhalation. Sgt. Bird says none are known to police.

“This family are truly victims”. Abbotsford police investigating autobody shop fire as arson The suspect is described as wearing a hoodie, dark pants and dark shoes and was seen running from the driveway. Police are asking anyone with information about the attack to contact the Abbotsford Police Department.

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Khalsa Business Centre

128th Street, 84th Ave., Surrey, BC

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TransLink fares to increase July 1 The cost of a trip on public transit in Metro Vancouver will rise once again on Canada Day as part of TransLink’s expansion and improvement plan.

Starting July 1, commuters will pay an extra five to 10 cents for single trips.

S i n g l e - u s e fares will increase by five cents when paying by cash and 10 cents for stored value fares.

That means a regular, one-zone adult fare will increase from $2.95 to $3.00 when paying by cash.

Day passes will increase in price by 25 cents, while monthly pass fares will go up by $2 for concession and $3 for adult fares.

Fares have increased yearly since the Mayors Council’s 10-year Vision for Regional Transportation was announced in 2016, and fares are scheduled to increase until 2026.

The increases will fund TransLink’s Phase 1 expansion plan. The $2 billion plan includes increasing bus service by 10 per cent, rail

service by 18 per cent and will also fund SkyTrain extensions in Surrey and Va n c o u v e r.

The plan also includes implementing more frequent service on 50 different bus routes that carry 650,000 passengers around Metro Vancouver daily.

TransLink gets approval to start moving toward distance-based fares The Phase 1 plan is expected to increase annual transit trips to 272 million by 2026.

In 2017, ridership was almost 248 million.

Through expanded and improved infrastructure, the plan also aims to increase walking, cycling and transit trips in Metro Vancouver.

“It’s all about making an overcrowded system less crowded,” said TransLink spokesperson Jill Drews.

“Wehopetheservicewecanprovidewiththese small increases will make it worth the while.”

Coquitlam crash kills 1 person, injures 2 others One person was killed in a two-vehicle collision near the Maillardville neighbourhood of Coquitlam on Thursday evening, RCMP said.

Police said they were called to a crash between two SUVs on Schoolhouse Street near Lucille Starr Way at 7:20 p.m. PT. “What appears to have happened was a vehicle was driving southbound on Schoolhouse, and another vehicle was pulling out of a parking lot and was struck by the vehicle that was on Schoolhouse,” said RCMP Sgt. Quentin Frewing.

The driver of the vehicle leaving the parking lot died on scene, while a passenger in the vehicle suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the other vehicle also suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Northbound and southbound lanes on Schoolhouse Street between Booth Avenue and Lucille Starr Way were closed overnight while crash investigators processed evidence.

Frewing says it’s too early to tell whether speed or impairment were factors in the collision.

Surrey policing plan sent to provincial government for review The Surrey policing transition report has been completed and sent to the provincial government for review.

“No further comment will be made by Mayor McCallum,” a city press release issued Wednesday afternoon indicates.

At council’s inaugural meeting on Nov. 5th, 2018 it served notice to the provincial and federal governments that Surrey is ending its contract with the RCMP – which has policed these parts since May 1, 1951 – to set up its own force.

“The completion of the policing transition report is a landmark moment for the City of Surrey as it marks an important step in bringing local accountability to the citizens of Surrey,” McCallum’s statement reads.

“I look forward to hearing back from the Solicitor General.

With the report now in the hands of the provincial government we are moving ahead with our public engagement sessions.

I urge our residents to come out and help us shape their Surrey Police Department.”

Baby boom seniors putting pressure on BC long-term care: report The surge of post-war baby boomers into their senior years is opening a wide gap in need for long-term care capacity, says a new report by the B.C. Care Providers Association.

The association released a report Wednesday showing 1,400 people in B.C. waiting for long-term care by March 2018, a seven per cent increase over the previous year. Three quarters of those people were living in the community, with the remainder in hospital awaiting placement.

“Our analysis of data provided by the Conference Board of Canada shows that B.C. is already short by roughly 3,000 long-term care beds,” said Daniel Fontaine, the association

CEO. “Now factor in a requirement for another 1,000 to 2,000 additional spaces per year until 2035, and you can see the scale of the challenge.”

The report calculates that more than 30,000 new long-term beds are needed in B.C. over the next 20 years, staffed by 19,000 new care providers, 13,000 of them care aides to help residents who can no longer do the daily tasks of living on their own.

B.C.’s Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie reported the seven-per-cent increase in those waiting for long-term care in December, in her latest survey Monitoring Senior Services.

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RCMP probe if teen was intentionally hit with ski pole by mystery skier at Grouse mountain North Vancouver RCMP are asking for the public’s help in identifying an adult male skier involved in an incident on Grouse Mountain in March, as investigators work to determine whether a teen’s injuries from a ski pole were intentional.

Skier sought after young person badly hurt on Grouse Mountain Mounties released more information into the mysterious incident in an update Wednesday, including details on how a 13-year-old boy ended up at BC Children’s Hospital on the evening of March 30.

Police said that the boy was with a friend along the bottom third of a run called The Cut, near the Screaming Eagle Chairlift, just before 7 p.m.

As the youth swerved to avoid another skier on the run, a man struck the youth with his ski pole and hit his temporal bone, puncturing his skull roughly three-centimetres deep. “The youth did not fall down and he was

unaware of his injury until the bottom of the run, where an unidentified woman noticed and offered help,� police said.

The boy was picked up by his parents and received stitches for the small laceration.

However, his symptoms continued to worsen and he was later taken to BC Children’s Hospital.

Police are now looking to determine if the unknown man’s actions were intentional or accidental. “We have exhausted all available investigational avenues, and in order to move forward with the investigation, we need more information from witnesses,� police said. “We want to speak with the kind woman who helped the young man. We want to speak with anyone who saw what happened.�

The man involved was described only as wearing a yellow ski jacket. Police have also released a photo of the teen, who was wearing tan-coloured ski pants, a white Adidas hoodie with a black logo on the front, and green and black ski boots.

RCMP release video in search for witness to crash that killed girl in Coquitlam Coquitlam RMCP are looking for a witness to a crash that killed a girl in March.

On Wednesday, police released a description of a man and a car that may have been present when a grey Dodge Charger and a black BMW collided at the

corner of Mariner Way and Riverview Crescent on the afternoon of March 25.

13-year-old killed in B.C. crash that involved five kids Police say the Dodge Charger was headed south along Mariner Way, meaning to turn right onto Riverview Crescent, when it collided with a black BMW heading north on Mariner Way.

The force of the crash spun the BMW onto a traffic island where five youths were standing; a 17-year-old girl, a 13-year old girl, a 10 year-old girl, a 11-year-old boy and a sixyear-old boy. The 13-year-old died just after being taken to hospital. The six-year-old boy was seriously injured.

Police closed the intersection last week to reenact the crash.

Footage from the scene shows the man getting out of his car and running over to pick up something that had rolled on the ground.

Mounties say the witness they’re looking for was driving a white SUV westbound on Riverview Crescent and was stopped at Marine Way just before 3 p.m.

The witness is described as a slim Asian man with short, black hair, no facial hair and wearing glasses. He would have been wearing a dark top, blue jeans and white sock with dark shoes.

He was driving a white Toyota RAV 4 with a model year from 2016 to 2018.

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South Asian Business Association organizing Health & Wellness forum on Cardiac & Stroke care The South Asian Business Association (SABA) of BC Canada in partnership with Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation presenting a Health & Wellness forum in celebration of SABA’s 10th anniversary. The event is to create awareness about prevention, treatment, & rehabilitation regarding heart & stroke care with presentations from medical professionals & specialists.

The event will start on Sunday, May 26, 2019 from 11am – 3pm at Taj Park Convention Centre 8580 132 Street, Surrey BC. All are welcome.

For more info call: Balwinder S. Chahal, Event Chair: 604-807-3084 MS Dhaliwal, Founding President SABA: 604-807-2808 Ken Dhillon, President SABA 604-377-9015 Victor Lall, Past President SABA 604-649-6331 Kuldip Gill, Vice Chair of the Event: 604-551-4441 Jatinder Sandhar, Vice President SABA: 604-308-9913

Two thousand workers set to strike at Vancouver’s key container terminals Longshore workers are set to strike at key Port of Vancouver container terminals on Monday morning, wreaking havoc on Canada’s Asia-Pacific gateway and causing economic harm across Canada.

Roughly two thousand workers “will commence strike action at GCT Deltaport and GCT Vanterm on May 27, 2019 at or about 7 a.m.,� reads the strike notice from Robert Ashton, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada to Eric Waltz, the president of Global Container Terminals Canada.

The letter, sent Thursday, was leaked to Postmedia News.

Deltaport is by far the largest container terminal of the four in Vancouver, Canada’s busiest port. If it and Vanterm on the Vancouver side of Burrard Inlet are shut down, it would cripple most of the port’s container traffic. And, depending on how the union’s picket lines are set up, other terminals could be affected.

The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest, and the third largest in North America by tonnes of cargo. It handles the bulk of Canada’s trade with Asia, including container terminals, grain terminals, coal terminals and a host of other facilities.

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Eight charged with 51 drug offences in Surrey following RCMP investigation Abbotsford police are looking for a man in connection with an arson fire at a house in the 22-hundred block of Bedford Place Thursday morning at 3:15 a.m.

Fire investigators say a male suspect backed a mini-van onto the driveway of the home before dousing the vehicle with accelerant and setting it on fire. The flames spread to the garage attached to the home with five people inside.

Sgt. Judy Bird with the Abbotsford police says

it’s unclear whether the suspect knew there were people inside sleeping at the time of the attack.

“We are in the preliminary stages of the investigation. We are also working with officers from Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service investigators to collect CCTV from the neighborhood, speak to witnesses, and be able to find out why the family appears to have been targeted and what possibly the motive is.”

West Vancouver lawyer deemed unprofessional after beating his client, who was also his girlfriend The Law Society of B.C. has ruled West Vancouver lawyer Michael Murph Ranspot committed professional misconduct when he decided to represent in a family law case his girlfriend, whom he subsequently lent money to and assaulted.

In a ruling released on Tuesday, the society’s disciplinary panel stated Ranspot “decided to act for a client with whom he was in a personal, romantic relationship and to lend her money while still acting for her and without ensuring she had independent legal advice. He continued to represent her following a physical altercation resulting in criminal charges. The panel finds that these circumstances are the result, on so many levels, of a stunning lack of judgment.”

Ranspot was suspended for 18 months in 1997 and fined for professional misconduct in 2007. The panel has not set a date to determine what penalty he should receive for the latest ruling.

This case dates back to April 2012, when Ranspot began a romantic relationship with a woman described in panel documents as CC. Their relationship ended on New Year’s Eve 2015 when he assaulted her, leading to her hospitalization, and a guilty

plea from Ranspot in November 2016 to assault causing bodily harm (he was given a 16-month conditional discharge).

The panel heard that in March 2013 the woman had commenced a family law proceeding against her common-law partner seeking a division of property, spousal maintenance and a protection order.

During the course of the contentious proceedings, Ranspot represented CC between March 2013 and mid-August 2013, and also in April 2014, June 2014 and September and November in 2015. Ranspot filed a Notice of Withdrawal of Lawyer in February 2016, three months after the assault.

Before pleading guilty, Ranspot told the law society that CC had “mental health and emotional problems” and “at times demonstrated extreme anger and violence toward me.” He further wrote that CC had “attacked me. I defended myself and suffered injuries.”

In its ruling the law society stated “although the respondent pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm.

Premier Horgan promises quick action to twin George Massey tunnel The premier’s comments not only appeared to circumvent his own government’s consultation process, but caught mayors off guard.

Outside a TransLink meeting Thursday, where most mayors were only learning about Horgan’s comments, there was confusion.

“For a number of years, our city council has advocated for the twinning of the tunnel,” said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie.

“We have thought the existing tunnel can be upgraded to a seismic standard consistent with all the other water crossings in the region.”

But Brodie also said he’d thought there was to be a review of other options.

“It would be a surprise that he made (this decision) but we would be supportive of it,” he said. “The level of his depth and analysis (of that decision) is up to him. It (a twinned tunnel) has always been our choice.”

Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart said he’d yet to hear Horgan’s comments directly but would be supportive of moving ahead with two tunnels.

Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart, who was not part of the letter from mayors

seeking a twinned tunnel, said he’d been hoping the province would end 20 years of dictating regional transportation projects and was still committed to consultation.

“So we’re encouraged by the level of dialogue that province has indicated it wants to have,” said Stewart. “I would be surprised if the province had made a decision unilaterally. I’m hopeful the spirit of cooperation continues.”

The Horgan government has been under increasing pressure to put forward its own plan to deal with gridlock between Delta and Richmond, after it cancelled the $3.5-billion, 10-lane bridge that the previous B.C. Liberal government had planned to build.

The existing Massey Tunnel is not seismically secure and the current volume of traffic overwhelms the tunnel leading to long backups and daily gridlock.

The Opposition Liberals and the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association – both of whom have been sharply critical of the NDP government’s delays – held a mock birthday party for the Massey, which was officially opened 60 years ago on Thursday.

Federal government stripping Canadian citizenship from Chinese man over alleged marriage fraud The federal government is taking the relatively rare step of revoking Canadian citizenship from a Chinese man because he allegedly got it through a bogus marriage.

The government is asking the Federal Court of Canada for a declaration that Yan Yang He fraudulently secured citizenship nine years ago.

A statement of claim filed by the citizenship minister accuses Mr. He of concealing that he entered into a marriage of convenience with his former spouse, Lisa Marie Mills, in 2004 after coming to Canada as a student.

As a result, the statement says, the man was granted permanent-resident status in 2006 by way of spousal sponsorship, opening the

door to Canadian citizenship four years later.

Ottawa revoked citizenship from 17 people between April 1, 2017, and May 7 of this year, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

The move against Mr. He comes amid severely strained relations between Ottawa and Beijing.

China was angered by the arrest late last year of Chinese technology giant Huawei’s chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver after a request from U.S. authorities. Two Canadians have since been charged in China with trying to steal state secrets, a development widely seen as retaliation the technology executive’s arrest.

The strange BC byelection for a place with no local government Next month, there will be a byelection in Metro Vancouver.

The winner will sit on TransLink’s Mayors’

Council, the Metro Vancouver board, and will be the only directly-elected regional politician representing more than 15,000 people living at, or around, the University of British Columbia.

But people running for Electoral Area A director have a tough time describing the job to voters.

“Most people have no idea what it is. In fact, I didn’t know until recently what it was,” said Simon De Weert, a transit bus operator and one of five candidates in the race.

The byelection is scheduled for June 15, and was called after Justin Leblanc resigned just a couple of months into the position, citing a higher than expected workload.

Whoever wins won’t just have a tough time explaining the position — they will also have difficulty exerting real influence in the most populated place in Canada without a directly elected government.

Most of Electoral Area A’s population is in the area between the Georgia Strait and the City of Vancouver, but is under different local jurisdictions.

What is Electoral Area A? The province has 27 regional governments, and people who don’t live in a municipality elect directors to advocate for their interests and vote on certain infrastructure and land-use decisions.

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$3 Millions found in subsidized home of BC retiree tied to $1.2B Aussie drug bust BC’s director of civil forfeiture wants to keep more than $3 million in cash allegedly found stashed in the subsidized home of a retiree who police claim has links to Australia’s biggest drug bust.

According to a notice of civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court, Rolando Guajardo has no criminal record in Canada and lives in a low-income townhome at the foot of Burnaby Mountain.

Yet RCMP allegedly found $3,227,340 in Canadian currency tightly bundled in boxes and bags spread around the bedrooms of the residence the 69-year-old shares with his daughter when they raided the home in February after a months-long, multi-agency international investigation. ‘An incredibly troubling notion’:

Mr. Guajardo’s ability to travel to Australia and California with some frequency; Mr. Guajardo’s ability to make multiple deposits of over $10,000 cash ... or the over $3 million in cash located throughout the residence.� ‘A block of white powder’ Guajardo is not facing any criminal charges in connection with the seizure of the money or the Australian police Drastic new tool to fight money laundering alarms civil rights advocates “Mr. Guajardo’s [residence] is subsidized housing owned by the Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation, and his current employment is believed to be ‘retired’ and previous employment ‘selfemployed,’� the notice of claim reads. “These facts are not in keeping with:

Woman injured after stranger pushes her off 12-metre cliff into lake: RCMP RCMP are investigating after a woman said strangers shoved her off a 12-metre cliff into a lake near Victoria, B.C., over the May long weekend.

A statement said the woman, 29, was hiking near the first beach cliff face at Thetis Lake when she met three other women she didn’t know around 3:30 p.m. PT on Sunday.

The first woman said she was looking over the cliff when someone pushed her, causing her to fall 12 metres — equal to about three or four storeys — into the water below. “Fortunately, the victim was able to swim to shore and later received medical attention for her injuries,� West Shore RCMP Cpl. Chris Dovell said in the statement

released Tuesday.

Nova Scotia woman ‘played dead’ during knife attack on Virginia trail RCMP said the three women were said to have been wearing bathing suits and sunglasses and were drinking alcohol at the time. Dovell said officers believe there were witnesses to the incident, including a man who offered to help the woman who fell. “Police are seeking witnesses or the person responsible to come forward to speak with investigators,� the officer said.

Anyone with information is asked to call West Shore RCMP at 250 474 2264 or Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous.

Penticton bylaw makes sitting on downtown sidewalks a $100 offence City council in Penticton, B.C., has passed a controversial amendment to its “good neighbour� bylaw that makes it an offence to either sit or lie down on certain sidewalks in the downtown core during spring and summer.

The change, which passed five to two on Tuesday, is a result of growing pressure for council in the South Okanagan city to address the issue of homelessness, said Mayor John Vassilaki.

“We’ve been having so many complaints from not only residents in the area, but also the store owners and the people working in the downtown core,� he said. “They’re being intimidated and they’re very concerned about their customers not wanting to shop in their premises, because of all the people that are either sitting on the ground, or lying down in front of their storefronts, and many other things.�

Penticton man pleads guilty to panhandling in case that cost city more than $25,000 in legal fees “People are just afraid of what’s happening and they just want city council

investigation that led to the arrest of six people in that country earlier this year.

His lawyer made a brief appearance in Vancouver provincial court on Thursday. The Crown and defence reached an agreement with regards to items and vehicles seized from locations tied to Guajardo in February.

to protect them as much as possible.�

People violating the bylaw can be fined $100. ‘The goal of the bylaw is to curb “bad behaviour� by, in many cases, homeless people, Vassilaki told Daybreak South host Chris Walker.

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Saturday, May 25, 2019

Pipeline protester interrupts Trudeau’s speech at fundraiser in North Vancouver An Indigenous protester opposed to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion interrupted a speech by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a Liberal fundraiser on Wednesday.

Will George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in North Vancouver stood up and called Trudeau a liar and a weak leader.

“Climate leaders don’t build pipelines. So many of our elected leaders in B.C. oppose the pipeline. The mayor of Vancouver got arrested opposing this pipeline,” he said, referring to Kennedy Stewart, who was arrested last year while still a New Democrat MP. “I’m from Tsleil-Waututh Nation and we say no,” George added. “Are you going to push this pipeline through?”

Trudeau greeted George by name and thanked him for being a strong voice for his community. As the protester continued to talk over him, Trudeau calmly asked if he could respond before saying his government is protecting the environment, including by bringing in a $1.5-billion plan to protect Canada’s oceans.

“There are strong Indigenous voices like yours, speaking up very strongly against this pipeline and against various projects. There are also, however, very strong Indigenous voices speaking up in favour of this project.

I know you don’t mean to delegitimize their voices as well,” Trudeau said.

Anti-pipeline protester Will George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation interrupts Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a Liberal fundraiser in Vancouver. Dozens

of anti-pipeline protesters gathered outside the event. The Canadian Press He said there are a broad range of perspectives and his government’s approach has always been to listen to diverse views and try to respond the best way it can.

“We’re never going to get to unanimity,” Trudeau said.

George asked Trudeau to meet with his people and accused the prime minister of only sitting down with groups that want to “sign off ” on the project.

“What do you tell your children?”

George asked. “I honour my ancestors, my children, by protecting my lands and waters. You threaten our lands and waters.

How dare you bring that through our waters? Those are our spiritual highways.

You have no right to do that to us.”

Trudeau said George was welcome to stay if he wanted to listen, but he was eventually ushered out of the Opus Hotel in downtown Vancouver by a manager and an RCMP officer.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the event, singing and chanting anti-pipeline slogans. Activists drove around the block in a truck with a billboard that read “Trudeau: No pipelines in a climate emergency.”

As George was leaving the event, Trudeau asked him to give his best to those gathered outside, saying their voices are very important to the next election.

This isn’t the first time George has spoken out during an event with the prime minister.

Chilliwack man on proince-wide warrant arrested A Chilliwack man wanted on a B.C.-wide warrant is back behind bars.

A warrant was issued in January for David Allen Geoghegan, 28, who had been charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, four counts of failing to comply with probation and one count with failing to comply with undertaking.

Wednesday

At the time, the RCMP cautioned the public to not “attempt to apprehend” Geoghegan if sighted — but to call 911 instead.

Geoghegan, who has a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions for drug, weapons and property offences, was arrested

by Chilliwack Mounties.

Petition to introduce free parking at Langley Memorial Hospital A local senior has started an online petition to eliminate parking fees at Langley Memorial Hospital.

Gary Hee says that they are aiming to “remove those fees paid out to a parking management co.”

According to a tweet on Sunday, May 19th, Hee highlights that the Langley Memorial Hospital (LMH) petition opposing parking fees on emergency patients has surpassed 1,257 signatures.

Langley Memorial Hospital Petition opposing parking fees on emergency patients surpasses 1,257 signatures include pending pages. City of Delta BC has a bylaw restricting parking fees on public property.

We aim to remove those fees paid out to a parking management co. No Rally. He also states that vehicle parking fees for emergency

patients are expensive and a stressful cost when they are in need of help.

As it currently stands, the rate for parking one hour starts at $3.25 and goes up to $4.25 an hour.

Hee will ask the Minister of Health to analyze this concern in the September provincial seating of the legislature.

Back in November, the City of Surrey eliminated pay parking at the City Hall parkade and on the streets near Surrey Memorial Hospital.

For Surrey Memorial Hospital, free two hour parking was approved for the 103 onstreet pay parking spots near the facility.

Another 2,041 parking spaces operated

by Fraser Health or private companies remain as paid lots for the near future.

BC LNG touted as cleanest in the world Delegates attending the annual Canada Gas and LNG Exhibition Conference in Vancouver Tuesday May 21 were greeted by about two dozen teens, dressed in black, and holding a Canadian flag drenched in what appeared to be oil outside of the Vancouver Convention Centre.

The group, called Sustainabiliteens, were objecting to anything involving fossil fuels – even one that has the potential to actually lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Had they been invited inside, they might have learned that natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) are not only not the same thing as oil, but that there is a net benefit to it, in terms of greenhouse gas reductions, if it replaces coal power.

And because the LNG projects being built or proposed in B.C. would have among the lowest GHG profiles in the world, they

might have also learned that LNG produced in B.C. would even avoid emissions produced

by LNG plants elsewhere in the world.

Susannah Pierce, director of corporate affairs for LNG Canada - the first large-scale LNG project to be sanctioned in B.C. -- said objecting to LNG on environmental grounds was “cutting off your nose to spite your face.”

“And you’re making the challenge of climate change more challenging,” she said.

“Liquefied natural gas from B.C will have the least CO2 per tonne of any LNG produced in the world,” said Bryan Cox, new CEO for the BC LNG Alliance, during the three-day conference’s opening session.

“Not only will B.C. projects have the potential to reduce global emissions by displacing coal, they will also reduce global emissions if they replace LNG produced in other jurisdictions.”

Lack of transparency for plans of new Surrey police force draws criticism Many Surrey dark about the the RCMP to The first

residents feel they’re in the city’s planned switch from a municipal police force. community consultation

on Surrey’s policing transition took place Thursday afternoon at the Cloverdale Recreation Centre.

Curious people walked past displays with maps and information in the building’s atrium. They were invited to write down questions and submit their ideas. The prospective force’s signature SUV was in the parking lot as people walked in.

Members of the Surrey police engagement team were on hand to gather feedback, but what people really wanted were answers about how much the switch will cost taxpayers.

“It’s just more broad questions,” said Martin Hilmer of Cloverdale. “It would have been nice to see a comparison between the current RCMP budget and what the new budget would cost the city.”

Many residents wanted more information on the costs of the new force. (CBC) “There’s a lot of anger going on here and the secrecy going on behind it,” added Joseph Edwards, a retired 15-year veteran of the Surrey RCMP. “We don’t think they are being truthful... Why is everything a secret?”

Details of Surrey’s transition to its own police force are outlined in a report that has been seen by city council and delivered to the Solicitor General of B.C., Mike Farnworth It’s up to Farnworth to approve the plan and it’s unclear when the report will be made public.

Ayushmann Khurrana says ‘My gut has never let me down’

A

ctor Ayushmann Khurrana says he is known for middle-ofthe-road cinema, where there is a collaboration of critical and commercial success.

intuition,” Khurrana said.

“My gut has never let me down. I look at stories as a layman and an audience member. I make films that I would like to see myself.

“It’s a default setting for me to choose novel content. I’m always known for middle-of-the-road cinema, where there is a collaboration of critical and commercial success. It’s also my

It feels great that my choices have been accepted so far,” he added.

After his stint on the small screen, Khurrana entered the industry in the role of a sperm donor in 2012 with “Vicky Donor.”

He faced failure with “Nautanki Saala!”, “Hawaizaada” and “Bewakoofiyaan.” But

he returned with a bang with “Dum Laga Ke Haisha” as a school dropout, who hesitantly marries an educated but overweight girl. He continued his successful streak with “Bareilly Ki Barfi,” “Shubh Mangal Saavdhan,” “Badhaai Ho” and “AndhaDhun.”

He will next be seen in “Article 15,” “Dream Girl,” “Bala” and gay love story “Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan” – the second part of the 2017 film “Shubh Mangal Saavdhan.” He will also be seen with megastar Amitabh Bachchan in Shoojit Sircar’s upcoming film, “Gulabo Sitabo.”

But what about getting into production or directing a film?

“I would love to produce and direct at some point, but as of now, I’m content with my acting and music,” said the actor, who has been roped in as the brand ambassador of globally renowned watch brand Daniel Wellington.

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Saturday, May 25, 2019

Dimple Kapadia in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Tenet’

604-566-3111 7233 - Fraser St., Vancouver, BC

Veteran Indian actress Dimple Kapadia has been cast in Christopher Nolan’s action epic “Tenet,” which will also feature Robert Pattinson and Michael Caine, and will be shot across seven countries, including India.

The makers announced the espionage thriller on May 22, reported Variety.com.

While Kapadia, 61, is yet to comment on it, celebrities from Bollywood have cheered her on.

Anil Kapoor, who starred in American series “24”, called her casting “phenomenal,” while filmmaker Anurag Kashyap tweeted wrote: “So cool...

Dimple Kapadia in a Chris Nolan Film...Wow.” Producer Guneet Monga sent in congratulations.

Dimple Kapadia, who made her screen debut with 1973’s Bollywood film “Bobby,” is a National Award winner. She has proved her mettle in Indian cinema with an eclectic mix of parallel and commercial films like “Rudaali,” “Krantiveer,” “Dil Chahta Hai,” and “Finding Fanny” among others.

Mumbai-based talent manager Purvi Lavingia Vats, who was instrumental in getting Ali Fazal a role in “Fast and Furious 7,” said she pitched Dimple for the role to

Nolan’s casting team in Los Angeles.

“Dimple is a great and a wonderful person.

She is the only Indian actor to be a part of this project as of now. They will be shooting the film in different countries, and India is one of them,” Vats said. “It took me a few months of convincing. But Dimple was up for it. It is something different for her, and it was an interesting process to make it all a reality,” added Vats, who is focussed about getting more international exposure for Indian talent.

“Tenet” was so far being described as a “massive, innovative, action blockbuster,” but plot specifics are under wraps, reported IndieWire.Pattinson, John David Washington, and Lea Seydoux are previously announced cast members. Apart from Dimple, the new joiners in the film, to be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures in theatres worldwide on July 17, 2020, include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kenneth Branagh, Clemence Poesy and Caine. Pattinson had teased the scale of the film in an earlier interview to USA Today.

He had said: “I’ve been a little wary of doing big movies for years and years, but there’s just something about Chris Nolan’s stuff.

Saturday, May 25, 2019

HOROSCOPE

Court quashes sexual assault complaint against Jeetendra In the midst of #MeToo movement, several industry names surfaced who were accused of sexual harassment, abuse, assault etc. Veteran actor Jeetendra was also named in a complaint when his cousin alleged that she was harassed in 1971 in Shimla. Now, Himachal Pradesh High Court has quashed the complained against the actor. The FIR, which was lodged on February 21 this year, was dismissed by Justice Ajay Mohan Goel on May 20, 2019.

In the 26 page judgement, Justice Goel found credible the actor’s contention and that the complaint was ‘mala fide’ as the complainant’s daughter was rejected during an audition for Balaji Motion Pictures Limited which is run by Jeetendra and his family. “This lends credibility to the contention that the lodging of the FIR was an act of mala fide and a result of the daughter of his cousin having been rejected,� the court said.

Hrithik recently released flick Kaabil might have underperformed but his reputation and star power is intact. A prominent evidence of it is the fact that the superstar has been recently been paid Rs 100 crore to be the brand ambassador of the health and wellness startup Cure.Fit. This is considered as one

Aries March 21 - April 20 There’s a shift of focus to your sector of communication and mind as the sun and cheery Mercury move into Gemini on Tuesday. Mercury is very at home here, so the coming weeks could be lively and sociable. And you might be very curious about what you can accomplish.

If you’re led to the right information, there are many opportunities out there for you.

With dynamic Mars continuing its journey through your home zone, this is a good time to attend to family matters and perhaps arrange a

Taurus April 21 - May 20

Hrithik signs Rs 100 crore deal with health startup cure of the largest endorsement deal signed by an Indian startup. Hrithik Roshan will have a five-year association with the company and the amount paid to him also includes his equity stake in the company in lieu of cash investment, promotions and royalty from his personal brand HRX’s specialized workout

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Bollywood

Money makes the world go ’round, so they say. And this week as the radiant sun and talkative Mercury move into your money

positive deals. This lively pairing could see

an inquisitive and positive outlook. You’ll be eager to gather information and look at the ways other people earn money so you can learn from them. This might be especially applicable to online businesses or marketing.

Gemini May 20 - June 21 You’ll come into your own this week as the illuminating sun and dashing Mercury, your witty ruler, move into your sign. You’ll feel truly in your element as this lively pairing encourages you to run with your naturally curious nature. You might have a lot to talk about on various subjects and a lot to discuss with others as you initiate plans and give and take advice. And you might be involved in business or some wonderful romantic interactions.

Cancer June 22 - July 23 This week you move into a phase in which the cosmos encourages you to take a

!

As the sun and thoughtful Mercury move into Gemini, the coming four weeks or so can be an opportunity to clear out any emotional

are holding you back. It’s also a time for selfcare and giving yourself a simpler schedule so you can master your inner game.

Leo June 24 - August 23 A delightful duo made up of the sun and ! " #

sector this week, bringing further opportunities

$

!

on your team, you might relish attending all kinds of events and be eager to meet new people and make valuable new connections.

The coming weeks can be your opportunity to hold some interesting conversations and perhaps close a few lucrative deals.

Virgo You’re about to be beamed into the spotlight as the sun and dealmaker Mercury, your guide planet, move into Gemini this week. If you’ve avoided being on stage and preferred to work behind the scenes, this phase is now at an end. The cosmos is encouraging you to hog the limelight and promote your work even if you feel too modest to do so.

Post on social media, give presentations, and share your skills and knowledge. Doing so can

Libra Sept. 24 - Oct 22 Perhaps you enjoyed your trip through the underworld over recent weeks. However, the week ahead could see you leaving this zone and moving into brighter regions as the sun and lively Mercury enter your sector of travel and adventure. You might feel strangely cleansed and energized as a result of shedding those old issues, and this could give you a clean slate to work on.

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 22 %

! # " #

more intense zone over coming days. And the coming weeks could be an opportunity to dive deep and perhaps understand yourself better.

Things that have been hidden might come to light as events mirror what is going on within you. This could be a very revealing time when

subconscious mind shapes your reality. Look to your dreams, too, because they could be very revealing.

Sagitarius Nov 23 - Dec 22 Relationships develop more sparkle this week as the illuminating sun and talkative Mercury move into Gemini together. Over the coming weeks, you might have more interactions, and your social life could be busier, too. This is the time to gather information, seek out people

collaborate on ideas and projects. Looking for

' * !

making an impression, and this might result in some lighthearted and enjoyable dates.

Capricorn Dec 23 - Jan 20 While you might be busy with plans and goals that demand a lot of you, a pleasant focus on your leisure sector could encourage you to make enjoyment a top priority. As alluring Venus moves into this zone this week, her presence could encourage you to indulge your romantic side, whether you’re solo or spoken for. If you have creative skills, is a great time to showcase your work to the right people because there’s a good chance they’ll want to see more.

Aquarius Jan 21 - Feb 19 The coming weeks could feel like the holidays have arrived after a term at school.

As the sun and chatty Mercury move into your leisure sector, it could be very freeing to follow your own inclinations. You might #

# #

over the past weeks, and now, in the coming weeks, you might have more opportunities to do things that please you. Are you interested in a new hobby or sport? This is the time to

Pisces Feb 20 - March 20 The focus shifts this week to your home and family sector as the sun and expressive Mercury move into Gemini for the coming weeks. This #

!

your home to others, do more entertaining, and enjoy having people around to feed and nurture.

If you’re in an entrepreneurial mood, you might consider starting a home business from your kitchen table or a small corner of a spare room and see how things go.

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Saturday, May 25, 2019

Bollywood

Kajol’s mood swings if anyone asks

Many moods of Kajol

Kajol most - “Will your cousin Rani Mukerji tie the knot with Aditya Chopra?�

Are you still friend with SRK? It leaves lovely lady thinking

time around!

tries to get happy about “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’’ alright, but certainly not before singing ‘‘Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha.�

how she gained her current

Baba Ramdev’s expert pranayam tips.

"

memory lane and remembers how her initial cine-avatars "

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Great films on India being made only by foreigners: Anupam Kher Anupam Kher wonders why great films on India are being made only by foreigners.

In Toronto for the premiere of Australian director Anthony Maras’ debut feature film “Hotel Mumbai� based on the September 2008 terror attacks, Kher said: “This is fascinating that the film ‘Gandhi’ was also made by a foreigner.

Now this (‘Hotel Mumbai’) film has

also been made by a foreigner. Thank you, Anthony, for making this movie. This film is a tribute to everybody who has lost a dear one anywhere in the world.�

Without naming the person, Kher said: “Somebody had made a film on it (Mumbai terror attacks), but it was atrocious.

That person wanted to cash in on the

tragedy.� But Anthony’s “Hotel Mumbai� “humanises’� the tragedy that Mumbai went through 10 years ago, the actor added. “The Taj Palace Hotel is not just another hotel. It is an icon and its owner — the Tatas — are a respectable name not just in India but also around the world,� he said.

At the press conference, Kher revealed

that“HotelMumbai�isthe501stfilmofhiscareer.

As he was congratulated by the cast, the veteran actor said even his mother asked him for the first time as to how he did so many films. “’Hotel Mumbai’ is my 501st film. My mother, who is 85, asked me ‘How did I do it?’� said Kher.

The movie premiered at the on-going Toronto International Film Festival on September 7

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Saturday, May 25, 2019

Stunning Sunny Leone

S

unny Leone has been doing it all from her films to TV shows, and even promoting her makeup business.

When not neck deep in work commitments, the star makes it a point to jet out on relaxing holidays with her hubby Daniel Weber and their three kids.

This time around, the beauty headed over to Jaipur for a short break and surprised fans with a stunning photo to assure all that she is having a swell time there. Posting a mirror selfie in a floral bikini, the star not only showed off her curves but also gave everyone a good look at her sculpted abs.

“Pulled this bikini after a long time! Time for a swim in my private villa pool here in Jaipur! Gorgeous resort!” she captioned the photo.

While shooting for her TV show, Sunny also ventured South and starred in ‘Madhuraja’ featuring superstar Mammootty in the lead. known by the name Sunny Leone a Canadian-born Indian-American star and actress, model, currently in Indian film industry, Bollywood. She has American citizenship. She has also used the stage name Karen Malhotra.[8][9] She was named Penthouse Pet of the Year in 2003, was a contract performer for Vivid Entertainment, and was named by Maxim

as one of the 12 top porn stars in 2010.

She has played roles in independent mainstream events, films and television series. Her first mainstream appearance was in 2005, when she worked as a red carpet reporter for the MTV Video Music Awards on MTV India. In 2011, she participated in the Indian reality television series Bigg Boss. She also has hosted the Indian reality show Splitsvilla.

In 2012, she made her Bollywood debut in Pooja Bhatt’s erotic thriller Jism 2 (2012) and shifted her focus to mainstream acting which was followed up with Jackpot (2013), Ragini MMS 2 (2014), Ek Paheli Leela (2015) and Tera Intezaar (2017). Apart from her acting career she has been part of activism campaigns including the Rock ‘n’ Roll Los Angeles Half-Marathon to raise money for the American Cancer Society and has also posed for a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) ad campaign with a rescued dog, encouraging pet owners to have their cats and dogs spayed and neutered.Since 2011, Leone has been married to musician Daniel Weber. She currently lives in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Bollywood

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Bollywood

Saturday, May 25, 2019 Press release

Ranbir’s mom gifts Deepika an amulet symbolising protection There was a time (according Neetu gifted Deepika a to media reports) when it was specially-crafted (palmsaid that Deepika Padukoneand shaped) Hamsa amulet Ranbir Kapoor’s mother, Neetu or Hand of Fatima on a Singh, could not see eye-to-eye, gold chain to the actress, because the actress was dating from the Kapoors’ Neetu’s son. Now that appears daughter, Riddhima to be a thing of the past as the Kapoor Sahni range of two have patched up long since fine RKS jewellery as the then. While Ranbir’s parents, delicate craftsmanship Neetu and Rishi Kapoor, could is distinctive to the not attend Deepika’s wedding jewellery brand. The reception in Mumbai in Hamsa Hand is an December last year as both are ancient Middle Eastern in USA for the senior actor’s amulet symbolizing the medical treatment, Ranbir Hand of God and in all and his close friend Alia Bhatt faiths is a protective sign, had given it a miss. Last week, and brings its owner when in New York, Deepika happiness, luck, health, had dropped in to meet Rishi and Neetu and posted and good fortune. pics on social media, but we have come to know that

‘TikTok’ star Mohit Mor shot dead in Delhi After TV actor Aansh AroraGhaziabad Police controversy, here comes another shocking incident from the Capital.

According to a report in India Today, a 27-year-old man, Mohit Mor, a famous gym trainer and TikTok star, was shot dead by three men inside a shop in outer Delhi’s Najafgarh area. The report states that Mohit had gone to meet his friends at the photocopy shop near his home in Najafgarh’s Dharmpura, when he was attacked. “When Mohit Mor was speaking with his friend inside the shop, three armed persons barged inside the shop and indiscriminately fired 13 bullets at him. Mohit

Mor fell on a sofa kept inside the shop. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. Mohit Mor took seven bullets,” a senior police officer told the news portal.

Mohit had started college in April this year. He was a student of Motilal Nehru College of Delhi University. His friends, family, and fans are shocked with his sudden demise. They have flooded his Facebook wall with condolence messages. Mohit Mor had 533k fans and 8.4 million hearts on TikTok and often posted emotional videos with a social message.

Evicting dirty money from BC homes

By John Horgan, Premier of B.C. Many British Columbians were shocked when they heard the findings of the Expert Panel on Money Laundering in Real Estate.

More than $7 billion in dirty money was laundered in B.C. last year alone. About $5 billion of that went through B.C.’s real estate market, driving housing prices up and hurting families, seniors and students.

It is wrong that British Columbians are carrying the costs of crime.

Everywhere I go, people tell me the same thing: the rising cost of housing weighs heavily on their minds and pocketbooks.

Our government refuses to let B.C. remain a hotbed for criminal activity. We are taking action to get dirty money out of our province, and we’re working to make sure British Columbians can find a secure, affordable place to call home. Since the day we formed government just under two years ago, we have worked to tackle the housing crisis and fraud that was ignored for over a decade. We have taken decisive action to stop these problems, but questions remain about how we got here, and people deserve answers.

This is why we announced last week that we are launching a public inquiry into money laundering in B.C. This inquiry will be led by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Austin F. Cullen and will look at the full scope of money laundering in B.C., including real estate, gaming, financial institutions and the corporate and professional sectors. He will have

the ability to interview witnesses and compel people to cooperate.

The fact that dirty money in B.C. real estate could be responsible for raising housing prices by 5% across the boards is unacceptable. That number could be as high as 20% in Metro Vancouver.

This inflation could stand in the way of someone’s ability to secure a down payment or get approved for a mortgage. We also know that money laundering has contributed to drug trafficking, and the overdose crisis, which has taken the lives of so many loved ones. The work we’ve done so far through the Expert Panel on Money Laundering in Real Estate and Peter German’s work has shone a light into the dark well of money laundering in B.C. We have only scratched the surface. This inquiry will deepen our work to uncover answers about who knew what, and when, and who is profiting from money laundering in our province. The inquiry will help us identify better protections to shut out money laundering and keep our economy strong and working for people, not organized crime. While it is underway, we will continue to engage with federal partners, enact legislation, work with the RCMP and implement solutions now.

I am optimistic that tackling money laundering in B.C. real estate will help make housing more affordable, but this inquiry is not a silver bullet.

Saturday, May 25, 2019

The all new Royal Canadian family Circus Spectac!ÂŽ 2019 Tour under the Magnificent Big Top receiving rave reviews at Richmond, Tsawwassen & Surrey till June 9

T

he all new Royal Canadian family Circus Spectac!ÂŽ 2019 launched the Canadian tour at Richmond and then moves on to Tsawwassen and Surrey for a total 34 spectacular shows under the magnificent Big Top till June 9, 2019, is captivating the audiences with a thrill show beyond the extraordinary. The all new internationally renowned Royal Canadian family Circus

Spectac!Ž 2019, is jam packed with explosive live entertainment bringing tradition and thrilling acts featuring the Flying Cortes Trapeze, death-defying Wheel of Destiny, Xtreme Chinese Acrobats including chair balancing, contortion, diablo, and towering feats of balancing strength, Comedy, fearless Motorcycle Globe, Hula Hoops, MotoSwing and Aerialists..* (this is an animal free Spectac! show) “It’s an incredible showcase of elite circus artists from all around the world that has been designed for multi-generational families,� says Ringmaster Joseph Bauer. “It’s the essence of a traditional circus; this year families from across Canada will be fascinated by the amazing new global cast of performers coming to perform for families.� Joseph is not only one of the finest Ringmasters on the continent, but is also a 9th generation daredevil performer.

Royal Canadian family Circus Spectac!Ž 2019 is about giving children and adults alike a glimpse into a traditional world where “10th generation circus families are performing for your families�, and where everyone can enjoy a truly affordable show together regardless of age. Because of the uncompromising quest for excellence, you’ll be amazed by

this year’s all new Royal Canadian family Circus Spectac!Ž 2019. Take the family and run away to the Circus for one day ‌ it’s simply Spectac!Ž 2019 . For 2 For the Price of 1 go to royalcanadiancircus.ca Promo Code: Punjabi Contact: Cathy Sproule (403) 815-7499 cathys@festivalxpress. com www.royalcanadiancircus. cs METRO VANCOUVER Richmond, BC – Lansdowne Centre, May 9 – 20 (16 Shows) Tsawwassen, BC – Tsawwassen Mills, May 24 – 26 (6 Shows) Surrey, BC – Guildford Town Centre, May 31 – June 9 (12 Shows) TICKETS On-Line Tickets www.royalcanadiancircus.ca On-site at the Royal Canadian Circus Big Top Box Office on show days from 10am-8pm For More Information & Interviews Contact: Cathy Sproule (403) 815-7499 cathys@festivalxpress. com For 2 For the Price of 1’ go to www.royalcanadiancircus.

ca Promo Code: Punjabi The Cast t +04&1) %0.*/*$ #"6&3 from Switzerland - Our RINGMASTER and WHEEL OF DESTINY, DAREDEVIL &YUSBPSEJOBJSF t 5)& '-:*/( $035&4 '".*-: GSPN $PMVNCJB t ćF 4530/(."/ t 5)& &953&.& $)*/&4& "$30#"54 53061& t 4MBDL Wire act, Chair Balancing, Contortion, %JBCMP 7BTF #BMBODJOH t *ODSFEJCMF 30-" BOLA ARISTOV balancing act from Russia t ćF NBHOJĕDFOU %PNJOHVF[ 3644*"/ .05048*/( BDU t ćF UISJMMJOH 3VTTJBO +VHHMJOH "DU PG *(03 "/% ,"5*"/" t ćF $6#& .";& GSPN 3VTTJB t ćF TQFDUBDVMBS XTREME DOMINGUEZ MOTOR BIKE (-0#& GSPN $PMVNCJB t )6-" )0014 t ćF 5; "&3*"-*454 BOE NBOZ NPSF www.royalcanadiancircus.ca

Arjun Kapoor the‘most wanted’?

He has been barraged by flops but remains cool and in a factual space. Arjun Kapoor, set to hit the screens with “India’s Most Wanted� this week, is optimistic about the future – both his and that of Indian cinema. We caught up with the star in a short but no-holds-barred chat. Q: Before we talk on your latest release, what is the situation regarding the injury you had on the “Panipat� sets?

A (Smiles): Oh, that’s nothing but a scratch. Since I was shooting for “Panipat,� a little real blood was perhaps needed!

Q: Buzz is that the unit of “India’s Most Wanted� was apprehensive about shooting

in Bihar due to the law and order situation and the theme of the film.

A: We shot first in and around Patna, and then in Kathmandu. We had to shoot in real locations like Golghar in Bihar because a part of the story also happened there. I do not think that the onlookers were very different from anywhere. They, like fans elsewhere, just wanted me to wave to them, talk with them.

The government had also cooperated with us fully. As for Nepal, it is a stunningly underrated place. All I will say is that the people and the governments helped us shoot a difficult film and made it much, much easier.

Press release

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Saturday, May 25, 2019

Vol. 10 No. 17

Saturday - May 25, 2019

Tel: 604-591-5423

E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com

Dirty money driving up BC home prices as more than $40-billion laundered across Canada in 2018 More than $7-billion in dirty money was washed through British Columbia’s economy last year – driving up the cost of buying a home by at least 5 per cent, according to reports released on Thursday by the B.C. government. The distorting effects of illicit proceeds of criminal activities being laundered through real estate, gambling and luxury goods are felt throughout the Canadian economy, and the most serious failures in law, regulations and enforcement that have allowed this to happen will require federal changes to tackle, according to the reports from Peter German, a former RCMP deputy commissioner, and law professor Maureen Maloney, the chair of B.C.’s expert panel on money laundering in real estate.

In fact, Prof. Maloney’s investigation found that Ontario, Alberta and the Prairies had The latest Canadian house price forecast from Moody’s Analytics really has no good news for anyone. If you’re a homeowner hoping to make big equity gains, forget it. And if you’re an aspiring homebuyer hoping for a reprieve from astronomical urban house prices, forget

an even bigger problem.

“Clearly this is a national issue,” B.C. AttorneyGeneral David Eby said. Mr. Eby described the scale of moneylaundering uncovered in the reports as shocking, and noted that, using only publicly accessible data, the two reviews still uncovered thousands of properties and transactions at high risk for money laundering or tax evasion.

Finance Minister Carole James sail that British Columbians have

paid a price, with home prices spiralling out of reach in major markets, especially in Metro Vancouver.

“Money laundering in our housing market is not a victimless crime,” she said.

Buying sprees, obscured ownership: Report reveals red flags of money laundering in B.C.’s property market German Report reveals extensive money-laundering in B.C.’s luxury car market Canada needs to stop being dirty money’s 24hour laundromat The

Maloney report said real estate accounted for, in a cautious estimate, $5-billion of the total amount of money believed to have been laundered through B.C. in 2018. The province estimates based on this that money laundering boosted the benchmark price of a typical home (including detached houses, condos and townhouses) in the Vancouver region by $50,000. However, the authors of the two reports said on Thursday that it may be higher, as the five per cent estimate was averaged out across the province.

According to Prof. Maloney’s report, commissioned by the Finance Minister to examine the role of financial regulations, B.C. ranks fourth among Canada’s regions for the amount of dirty money being laundered, behind Alberta, Ontario and the Prairies. The total amount of money laundered in Canada last year, her task force estimates, exceeds $40-billion.

Canadian House Price Forecast: What The Next 5 Years Will Look Like In 33 Cities that too. The forecast calls for house prices nationwide to grow by an average of 2.2 per cent per year over the next five years. Given that the Bank of Canada is predicting inflation at 2 per cent in the coming years, this means that inflation-adjusted house prices will likely

see no net growth. With Canada’s economy bouncing back from a slowdown at the start of the year, Moody’s expects mortgage rates to rise by a full percentage point over the next two years. That increase in monthly housing costs, combined with high prices and high debt levels,

will keep prices in check, the research firm predicts.

“House price appreciation will slow down in 2020, turn briefly negative in 2021, and only recover in the following years,” wrote Andres Carbacho-Burgos, a director and head housing economist at Moody’s Analytics.

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Saturday, May 25, 2019

Over 11% of Vancouver condos have a non-resident owner, says new CMHC report

#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005

Over 11 percent of Vancouver condos have at least one non-resident as an owner, a number that jumps to more than 19 per cent when it comes to newer built condos.

The information is contained in a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation housing market insight report which also found that non-residents — defined as someone who

doesn’t have their principal residence in Canada — tend to own more expensive properties than residents, especially in Vancouver.

Some of the other findings: 7.2 per cent of all Vancouver properties have at least one non-resident owner.

Non-resident ownership is highest in

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Cleaning company wanted workers for clean up job in Coquitlam For more details please call 604-902-2858

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Matrimonial Punjabi Bansal family seeking a suitable mach for their 31 year old,” son, Height 5’.11, Handsome,Sober, soft spoken, vegetarian currently in Patiala Punjab India. He has done studies in BTech Computer Science and working in Judicial Department as IT Analyst in Patiala. Girl should be well educated and family oriented freferably Canadian citizen or Canadian Permanent resident. For more details please call 604-617-0615 or email Kushal.20776@gmail.com

Child care provider required at a private home Location Surrey, BC - Salary $14.50 to $14.75 / Hour (To be negotiated) Permanent, Full time 40 Hours / Week Start date As soon as possible Job requirements Languages English Education College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma from a program of 1 year to 2 years Experience 1 year to less than 2 years Additional Skills Assume full responsibility for household in absence of parents, Perform light housekeeping and cleaning duties, Shop for food and household supplies, Travel with family on trips and assist with child supervision and housekeeping duties, Wash, iron and press clothing and household linens Children’s Ages School age (6 - 12 years), and 2 - 3 years Specific Skills Bathe,

dress and feed infants and children, Discipline children according to the methods requested by the parents, Prepare infants and children for rest periods, Keep records of daily activities and health information regarding children, Sterilize bottles, prepare formulas and change diapers for infants, Maintain a safe and healthy environment in the home, Take children to and from school and to appointments, Tend to emotional well-being of children, Instruct children in personal hygiene and social development, Organize, activities such as games and outings for children, Prepare and serve nutritious meals, Supervise and care for children, Help children with homework Work Setting Employer’s home How to apply By email: umendrasingh@hotmail.com By phone: 604-537-3551

Saturday, May 25, 2019

SPECIAL INVITATION The South h Asian A i B Business i Association A i in partnership with Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation presents:

Health & Wellness Forum in Celebration of SABA’s 10th Anniversary To create: awareness, prevention, treatment, & rehabilitation regarding heart & stroke care With presentations from medical professionals & specialists STEP and an opportunity to ask questions

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Sunday, May 26, 2019 11am – 3pm Taj Park Convention Centre 8580 132 Street, Surrey BC

To RSVP, contact: Balwinder S. Chahal, Event Chair: balwinderchahal@yahoo.com or 604-807-3084 Ken Dhillon, President SABA: kendhillon@hotmail.com or 604-377-9015 MS Dhaliwal, Founding President SABA: 604-807-2808 Victor Lall, Past President SABA: victorlall@shaw.ca or 604-649-6331 Kuldip Gill, Vice Chair of the Event: 604-551-4441 Jatinder Sandhar, Vice President SABA: 604-308-9913

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DREAM CARPET

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LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Privacy commissioner says he can’t investigate alleged Sims misconduct ‘Because it’s about the behaviour of a cabinet minister, John Horgan needs to be answering some questions.’

BC’s information and privacy commissioner says he does not have the authority to investigate a cabinet minister accused of hiding records from the public because of “serious shortcomings” in B.C. law that undercut the public’s right to know about government decisions.

The commissioner, Michael McEvoy, says he has no jurisdiction to investigate allegations that Jinny Sims, the minister of citizens’ services, used private messaging software to conceal communications and decisions from freedom of information requests.

“I’m not able to comment and make a determination on whether those allegations are true or not.” said McEvoy, whose office operates independently from government.

“And that’s not a situation that I believe is good for transparency or for accountability to the public.”

A former employee is accusing Sims of instructing staff to use personal messaging services so they would not be picked up by requests for government records.

Sims, who has denied the allegations, is in charge of the government’s “duty to document”

legislation that requires provincial ministries to keep detailed records of all government business. Her office expanded that law’s scope to include more ministries earlier this year, but her own messages as an MLA are not subject to it.

“MLA’s communication on constituency business are not subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act because they are not government records,” Sims said in a statement to Postmedia. “Constituency

staff are not government employees, and I told my constituency staff that they should not use my ministerial government email for constituency matters — that’s appropriate.”

Last week, Attorney General David Eby referred complaints about Sims to McEvoy.

But under the law, McEvoy says Sims is in charge of investigating her own misconduct, without any independent oversight. “That’s really the nub of the problem here.” said McEvoy.

Majority of British Columbians say province isn’t doing enough to combat high gas prices: survey As people head out of town for the Victoria Day long weekend, the rising cost of gas is

making for an expensive holiday — and many say the B.C. government isn’t helping.

A new national survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute found a majority of British Columbians say the province isn’t doing enough to combat the pain at the pumps, with even more supporting a cap on prices.

The survey found 59 per cent of people in B.C. overall say the NDP is dropping the ball on the issue. That feeling most prominent in rural areas, with 72 per cent agreeing.

While the NDP has resisted calls from the B.C. Liberals and some economists for a cap on maximum gas prices, seven out of 10 British Columbians polled say they support it.

Despite the resentment, not everyone thinks the province is to blame for the rising prices.

While 37 per cent of people in B.C. blamed government taxes, including the carbon tax, 47 per cent of respondents laid blame on oil companies and their “desire to maximize profit.”

Only Quebec joined B.C. in pointing the finger at oil companies, while every other province saw a majority blame taxes, particularly the prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Premier John Horgan has raised the issue with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and asked the B.C. Utilities Commission last week to investigate the record breaking gas prices.

Prices in the Lower Mainland have been hovering around $1.70 since April, with more price increases predicted as spring turns to summer. The premier has argued the issue comes down to a lack of supply.

The B.C. Liberals have launched an advertising campaign criticizing Horgan for his handling of the issue and have argued for tax cuts to help provide short-term relief for drivers.

Horgan and fellow NDP MLAs have argued tax cuts would only help oil companies “gouge” consumers and have called for both new refineries and increased shipments through the existing Trans Mountain pipeline.

Premier Horgan asking B.C. Utilities Commission to investigate record breaking gas prices Fears of further price increases have been ignited by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s proclamation of Bill 12, which would halt energy exports to B.C., if enacted.

The bill was created in response to the B.C. government’s court challenges that blocked the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline, which Alberta argues has crippled the province’s economy.

B.C. immediately launched a court challenge against the legislation.

The survey found only B.C. and Quebec side with the NDP’s fight over the bill and the pipeline, with every other province siding with Alberta. In B.C., 39 per cent of people also say Alberta should “turn off the taps.”

The survey also found nine in 10 British Columbians said they noticed a “major increase” in prices, with many noting the increases have changed their driving habits.

Forty-five per cent of people in the province said they’ve reduced their daily driving, while 32 per cent said they’re buying less gas.

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Hamilton police Const. Pank Patel laid to rest Hamilton police said a final goodbye to one of their own.

Det. Const. Pank Patel was laid to rest on Monday at Bay Gardens Funeral Home on Rymal Road East.

Man dies after stabbing in central Hamilton, police say He was a member of the Hamilton Police Service for 32 years.

Patel passed away last

Thursday at the age of 53.

6 suspected overdoses at Hamilton’sBartonStreetjailin5days A cause of death has not been released.

Yesterday, we said goodbye to PC Pank Patel. Pank served with us for 32 years and was a valued member of our service. He will be greatly missed. Thank you for your service to the #HamOnt community. Rest in Peace, Pank.

Canada’s newest multimillionaire shocked after claiming $55M lottery Canada’s newest multimillionaire Dwayne Williams claimed a Lotto Max prize of $55 million on Thursday, saying he and his family were dumbfounded when he checked his ticket, thinking someone hacked the lottery corporation’s app.

Williams, 35, claimed his winnings from the April 5 draw at Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s (OLG) prize headquarters Thursday morning. The Whitby, Ont. native said he and his family routinely checks their lottery tickets Saturday morning. But that morning after the draw was far from routine.

“That Saturday we were so focused on getting out the door with the kids to run some errands at the mall that we totally forgot to check our ticket,” Williams explained.

“On our way in the car, we heard on the radio that the winning ticket was sold in the Oshawa area – my wife and I joked ‘It’s us!’”

It wasn’t until after running some errands the father of two checked his tickets, using the OLG app.

“I saw the free play notice first, that’s where my eye went on the screen but in my head I knew something looked different than usual – and that’s when I focused on the $55 and at first I thought I won $55,000 but then I counted all the zeroes – all of this went through my mind in a split second.

“Did someone hack the OLG app?”

Williams quipped.

Williams’ brother was next to the winner when he checked his tickets, before they ran upstairs to tell his wife the news.

“I fell to the floor and we all piled on top of each other, celebrating,” Williams said.

The tech entrepreneur delayed collecting his winnings because the family wanted to do some

B.C. to appeal court ruling that it can’t restrict oil shipments through Trans Mountain pipeline Moments after the B.C. government lost another round in its battle to stop the twinning of the Trans Mountain pipeline and prevent the increased flow of heavy bitumen over the Rockies, Attorney General David Eby demanded another.

The unbowed NDP minister said the province still opposed the megaproject and insisted its main concern was a “catastrophic undiluted bitumen spill.”

He would ask the federal government to help expedite a hearing before the Supreme Court of Canada because the protection of the coast and environment was too important.

“We disagree with the decision and we’re disappointed by it,” Eby said, echoing Premier John Horgan’s response to the 5-0 thrashing the government received from the B.C. Court of Appeal.

“The province has a right to appeal — we do not need leave from the court.”

In a dense 65-page ruling, a unanimous five-justice division of the B.C. Court of Appeal told the province Friday it had no jurisdiction to enact legislation that would restrict the contents of the expanded conduit.

“I’m disappointed,” Horgan said. “I’m confident we do have the jurisdiction, the court of appeal disagreed.“ Formerly owned by Kinder Morgan, the TMX pipeline was not only a “British Columbia project,” the justices concluded: “The project affects the country as a whole, and falls to be regulated taking into account the interests of the country as a whole.”

Still, the proposed “environmental protection” law was not a “smokescreen” to hide the province’s real aim — blocking the pipeline expansion, the court concluded.

LOCAL / NATIONAL

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Man dies trying to enter into US from Quebec A Dominican man attempting to walk over the border into the US from Canada died after becoming disorientated in a marshy area of the Quebec woods. After previously being denied entry into the U.S., Wilson Reynoso Vega was trying another tactic in an attempt to reach his daughter, the Washington Post reported. He was found dead on April 16, near Lacolle, Que. Number of irregular asylum claims in Canada declines as experts warn of populist backlash The Surete du Quebec confirmed the death was accidental but said they didn’t know Vega’s motives for attempting to cross the border.

A request to the Canada Border Services Agency was unanswered by the time of publication.

A friend of Vega’s from Toronto is trying to help return Vega’s body to his hometown.

In a GoFundMe post, Andrew Burzminski writes that Vega “tragically lost his life at the age of 30 when he decided to travel to the U.S across the Quebec border to see his family and daughter.” Vega’s 11-year-old lived in Philadelphia with her mother, the Post reported; Vega communicated with her via video messaging.

Family members and friends told the Post that Vega was well loved in his home town of Guaraguao in the Dominican Republic.

“Here in the town, he was like a mayor,” brother Wilton Reynoso Vega told the Post.

Smuggler’s Inn owner charged with trying to

illegally sneak people into Canada Vega was described as “kind, quiet and a gentle soul who cared deeply about his family and friends,” according to Burzminski.

“He always strived for a better life so he can take care of his loved ones, including his daughter.”

Vega reportedly attempted to get a visitor visa to enter the States but was denied for unknown reasons. That’s when he flew to Toronto to try to enter illegally.

Friends say he paid $3,500 to two smugglers, according to the Post. He travelled with the smugglers, who took him along with some others to an area near the U.S. border on April 15. Democrats may put more focus on Canada-U.S. border security, rather than Mexico: report During the walk through the marshy woods on the northwestern shore of Lake Champlain, Vega turned back.

When the migrants crossed the border, they were arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. A release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection says agents apprehended a group of five people travelling south across the border when one person ran into the woods. It was not clear if this was Vega.

Vega’s body was found on April 16, after a tip from U.S. Customs and Border Protection informed Quebec authorities that someone was missing, the CBC reported at the time.

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LOCAL / NATIONAL IMF urges Canada to stay the course on housing, speed up internal trade revisions

Canada should hold off on changes to make homebuying more affordable but should speed up efforts to reduce trade barriers within its borders, advises the International Monetary Fund.

The organization calls for policies that focus on ensuring a sound financial system, enhanced co-operation between federal and provincial governments and structural reforms that target productivity growth in a wide-ranging report by staff following an official visit to Canada.

“The Canadian Free Trade Agreement signed in 2017 provides a platform for co-operation in reducing internal trade barriers, but several problematic aspects need to be resolved,” the

report released Tuesday notes, calling for clear targets to cut exemptions and reconcile regulatory regimes.

Canadian retaliatory tariffs lifted as U.S. kills steel aluminum penalties New U.S. trade report predicts modest economic gains from new NAFTA “The potential gains are sizable and could increase real GDP by almost four per cent -- a much larger gain than expected from recently signed international trade agreements.”

Real gross domestic product growth is projected to decline to 1.5 per cent in 2019, the IMF says, but is expected to pick up again in 2020 as the economy recovers from last year’s slowdown in oil-related activity.

Saturday, May 25, 2019 Canadian government aims to boost tourism by 25 per cent before 2025 A new Canadian tourism strategy is meant to help boost international visits to Canada during non-peak seasons by more than a million people and get visitors to see the country beyond Canada’s biggest cities.

The plan, unveiled in Montreal, includes $58.5 million over two years to help communities create or improve tourism facilities and experiences.

A Croisieres AML Maritime Excursion boat, sailing on the Saint Lawrence river, was photographed in Montreal.

Quebec to invest $35M to attract cruise ships, tourism Quebec Study will examine role Quebec could play in future of Alberta tourism Quebec City hotel partners with clinic to offer ‘medical tourism package’ The funding is supposed to back experiences that show off Canada’s strengths — and break visitors’ fixation on just a few destinations in the nicest weather.

“Just over three out of four international visitors travel only to Canada’s largest

provinces, Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, and most go to their biggest cities: Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal,” the new strategy states.

“Drawing tourists to venture beyond the big cities remains a challenge for regions that want to expand their visitor economies.”

Tourism Minister Mélanie Joly said Tuesday that the tourism measures are tooled to help tourism revenues grow by 25 per cent — to $128 billion — by 2025 and the government also hopes to create 54,000 new jobs directly related to tourism.

In 2018, the federal government says, Canada welcomed 21.1 million international tourists, surpassing the previous year’s record of 20.9 million.

The federal government knows that tourism helps every part of the country, Joly said, adding it has seen many examples of communities transforming and diversifying their economies by attracting visitors.

Money laundering report a wake-up call for Canada, but some provinces skeptical The authors of a report that found $47 billion was laundered across Canada last year debated whether to include a graph that indicated Alberta, Ontario and the Prairies were hotspots for dirty money, says the lead writer.

Maureen Maloney said her expert panel used the best mathematical model available to reach the estimates, but it’s more reliable at a national level than a provincial one, so they questioned whether to publish the figures.

“But we thought, ‘No, we need to do this, because people need to know it’s not just a B.C. problem,’ “ said Maloney, the province’s former deputy attorney general and a public policy professor at Simon Fraser University.

“It’s a big B.C. problem, but it’s everybody’s problem. And to the extent that B.C. starts fixing our problem or at least makes our province less enticing to money launderers, they’re going to go elsewhere. They’re not going to disappear.”

The report, one of two recently released by the B.C. government, aimed to sound a nationwide alarm about money laundering.

But some provinces have reacted with skepticism, as Alberta questioned the numbers and Ontario said it will monitor the issue.

Maloney said there is no reliable data on money laundering in Canada, so the panel used what’s known as the gravity model, which estimates the flow of dirty money between countries based on characteristics including GDP per capita and crime rates.

The panel divided Canada into six regions and treated each region as a country.

Downturn in Metro Vancouver market means billions in paper losses for homeowners: report The downturn in the Metro Vancouver real estate market has resulted in an estimated paper loss of $89.2 billion for property owners in the past year, according to a new analysis.

The study used assessed values reported in January to estimate the total value of residential properties after the decline in median home prices for all housing types in Metro Vancouver between April 2018 and April 2019.

From this, it estimated the average loss in total equity value and the estimated average equity loss per household in each area. t 7BODPVWFS XIJDI IBT UIF IJHIFTU OVNCFS of dwellings at 283,915 dwellings, had a 13 per cent drop in total equity value, a loss of $43.6 billion or $153,873 per household. t 8FTU 7BODPVWFS IBT GFXFS IPNFT BU 16,930, but it had the highest percentage decrease in median value at 14.7 per cent. This is a drop of $7.6 billion in total equity value, or $451,485 per household.

t *O 1PSU $PRVJUMBN XIFSF UIFSF BSF 21,755 homes, there was a 10.2 per cent decrease, a drop of $1.5 billion in total equity value or $71,634 per household.Paul Sullivan, senior partner at Burgess, Cawley Sullivan & Associates, a Vancouver-based commercial real estate and property tax appraisal firm, presents the findings today.

He mainly pins blame on B.C.’s demandside taxes, including the speculation and vacancy tax, the additional school tax on luxury properties and increase in the foreign-buyers tax, arguing, in an opinion piece published by Postmedia, that “something has to give” as homeowners are faced with rising taxes and falling equity.

The period examined by Sullivan captures the implementing of federal mortgage stress testing rules in January 2018 and the announcing of the provincial housing taxes in February 2018.

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Canada to spend $15.7B on new coast guard ships, Trudeau says Canada plans to build up to 18 new coast guard ships at a cost of $15.7 billion in an effort to renew Canada’s Coast Guard fleet, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday. Up to 16 of the ships will be constructed in a fleet renewal project anchored in Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards. Two others — Arctic patrol ships that will be modified for the Canadian Coast Guard — will be built at Irving Shipyards in Nova Scotia.

“Canadians deserve better than to have this fleet rust out,” Trudeau said during his visit to Vancouver. “This fleet renewal is going to create jobs in everything from ship design and engineering to construction, welding and inspection while strengthening this world class Canadian industry.” Trudeau also announced the government is launching a competitive process for the design of a new class of smaller ships. The mid-shore multi-mission ship will work with the large fleet in shallow areas and perform some science activities.

A plan to refit and extend the life of existing vessels at shipyards across the country will cost

up to $2 billion. Aside from the shipbuilding plan, the federal government is providing an additional $351.3 million to enhance capacity of the coast guard, strengthen management and oversight and promote a greener way of doing business. According to a government statement, the $15.7 billion figure is an “early estimate” of the cost for construction, support, infrastructure, project management and cost overruns, or contingency funding. The costs of each ship will be announced, the government said, after contract negotiations have been completed. The 16 multi-purpose vessels will be used for light icebreaking, environmental response and search and rescue while the two new Arctic and offshore patrol ships will perform duties further offshore.

The federal government is also launching a competitive process to add a third Canadian shipyard as a partner under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Because of the renewal of the coast guard and new navy investments, Trudeau said Canada will need more than two shipyards to get the job done.

PM Trudeau says he will get answers on Kandahar memorial flub while Sajjan looks on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday he will get to the bottom on why families of soldiers who died in Afghanistan weren’t included in last week’s dedication of the Afghanistan Memorial in Ottawa. Trudeau said he has respect for those in the military and especially those who served in Afghanistan. “That’s why we’re working with DND to make sure we understand what that decision they took was around the cenotaph and ensure that it is a monument that will be there for everyone who wants to remember and celebrate those veterans who stood for Canada on faraway lands,” Trudeau explained to journalists during a news conference to announce new ships for the coast guard.

Directly behind Trudeau was Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, who – one would think – would have an idea why the families were

excluded from the ceremony.

Sajjan attended the ceremony last week.

The event was only for the top echelon of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces and included deputy minister Jody Thomas and Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance. It is unclear why Trudeau hasn’t asked Sajjan why the families weren’t invited and why the prime minister will instead seek answers from the DND. The Canadian Forces confirmed May 16 on Facebook that it had held a dedication service at the new Afghanistan Memorial Hall at the National Defence Headquarters (Carling) in the west end of Ottawa. But that happened three days earlier on May 13. “The event was attended by senior Canadian military leadership and Department management,” according to the Facebook posting.

‘No right to do that to us’: Indigenous protester interrupts Trudeau speech in Vancouver Anti-pipeline protesters dogged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he appeared at a fundraiser in Vancouver, interrupting a speech to supporters Wednesday. The interaction happened at the Opus Hotel as the prime minister attended one of two scheduled events with federal Liberals in the city. Inside, the prime minister found himself in a terse several minute long exchange with a Tsleil-Waututh Nation member, Will George, who accused him of being a “liar and a weak leader.” “How dare you bring that through our waters, those are our spiritual highways.

You have no right to do that to us,” George said. Trudeau responded by arguing that not all First Nations are opposed to the project.

“I have heard from some of your fellow Indigenous leaders who are in favour of resource development, who want to be a part of (this),” Trudeau said. George responded: “Why don’t you sit down with my people?

Why don’t you talk to them? You talk to everybody that wants to sign off on this.” “I heard you. I hear you today, I understand your concerns,” said Trudeau as security ushered George out of the room. Demonstrators

with Protect the Inlet also vowed to follow the prime minister as he travelled between fundraising events Wednesday with a jumbotron mounted on the back of a truck.

The vehicle, bearing the message “Trudeau, no pipelines in a climate emergency,” turned up outside Trudeau’s lunchtime appearance at the Opus Hotel, where a group of pipeline opponents staged a protest. A jumbotron truck with an anti-pipeline message passes in front of a protest at the Opus Hotel on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. A jumbotron truck with an anti-pipeline message passes in front of a protest at the Opus Hotel on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. The TsleilWaututh Nation, whose traditional territory encompasses a large portion of the Lower Mainland, has been one of the most vocal opponents of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, warning of potential ecological damage to salmon and orca populations.

It was one of the B.C. nations whose legal challenge saw the pipeline’s approval quashed in the Federal Court of Appeal last summer, forcing the government to conduct a new round of consultation with First Nations.

NATIONAL

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INDIA - Elections 2019

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi concedes election defeat; congratulates Modi Congress president Rahul Gandhi concedes defeat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi nationally and to minister Smriti Irani in his family backyard of Amethi congratulating both and saying he hoped both will “lovingly care” for their respective constituencies— PM for the country and Irani for Amethi. Asked if he would resign taking moral responsibility for his party’s defeat and his personal loss from Amethi, Gandhi said the Congress Working Committee will soon meet and decide that.

“The CWC will decide on that. We will meet shortly,” said Gandhi at a press briefing he addressed at the party headquarters, as his sister, AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, looked on. Gandhi refused to comment on what went wrong, saying

only: “Today is not the day to get into the details of the mandate. Even if I speak it won’t matter because the people have spoken and they have voted to make Modi the PM. Today is a day to congratulate the PM and hope he will look after the interests of the country”.

Gandhi said there’s a lot of time to introspect on what went wrong and reiterated that he will continue to reciprocate any bitterness with love and noting that love is never defeated. He also said the election was a battle between two visions of India and the people had voted for the BJP’s vision. I respect that, he said, making a quick exit from AICC office that wore a deserted look as Congress faced electoral decimation for the second term in a row and Gandhi lost his family’s seat Amethi to Smr

President Trump sees ‘great things’ for US-India ties US President Donald Trump has said that he sees “great things” for India-US relations with the electoral victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha election.

Congratulating Modi and the ruling BJP on their “BIG election victory”, Trump said in a tweet on Thursday that he looked “forward to continuing our important work together”.

“Great things are in store for the USIndia partnership with the return of PM Modi at the helm,” he added.

Modi led the BJP to a historic victory in the Lok Sabha election with the party securing more seats than it did in the 2014 polls.

Modi set to return to power as BJP sweeps most of India The prime minister’s BJP party is on course to score a spectacular victory in India’s general election. If the lead holds, it would be the first time a party has won back-to-back majorities in parliament since 1984.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governing coalition, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), is on course to secure a majority in the lower house of India’s parliament. The NDA, led by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was ahead in 340 seats, with the opposition United Progressive Alliance leading in around 100, by early evening. The forecast prompted the BJP to claim victory before official results.

Official data from India’s Election Commission showed the BJP alone leading in contests for 299 seats, with its main rival, the Indian National Congress, ahead in 50 constituencies. The data didn’t indicate what percentage of the estimated 600 million votes had been counted. But if confirmed, it would give the BJP the first back-to-back majority for a single party since 1984. “Together we grow.

Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India,” Modi tweeted after it became clear that the BJP was on course to score an impressive victory. “India wins yet again!”

Outside BJP headquarters in New Delhi, hundreds of people cheered and shouted party slogans, lifting cardboard cutouts of Modi and BJP President Amit Shah into the air as other people played drums and set off fireworks. At the opposition Congress headquarters, only a few party workers stood outside looking dejected.

Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi conceded his seat in a tight race in his

constituency of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh state, a seat held by his family for generations.

The NDA’s projected margin of victory is larger than surveys indicated in the runup to the vote, when most polls showed it would be the largest alliance but would fall short of an overall majority. India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, a senior BJP leader, congratulated Modi on Twitter for the BJP’s electoral success. “Many congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for delivering such a massive victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party,” Swaraj wrote.

The BJP’s campaign team did a good job at convincing the nation’s voters that Modi needed another term to undo all the wrongdoings of the previous Congress-led administrations, N. Sathiya Moorthy from India’s Observer Research Foundation told DW. “The message seems to have received enough resonance with the people, especially young voters,” he said. “The outcome speaks more about Indians’ expectations for the future than about the government’s performance in the past.”

The election has been seen as a referendum on Modi, whose economic reforms haven’t broadly succeeded but whose popularity as a social underdog in India’s highly-stratified society has endured. In his victory speech, Modi said he would work harder in his new term to raise Indians out of poverty and combat economic inequality.

On the campaign trail, Modi presented himself as a self-made man with the confidence to cut red tape and unleash India’s economic potential. Modi had also slammed opposition leader Gandhi as an out-of-touch elite.

Bhawana Kanth becomes first woman fighter pilot to qualify to undertake combat missions Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth, who was commissioned into the Indian Air Force as one of the first women fighter pilots in 2016, has created history by becoming the first woman to qualify for combat missions on a fighter jet. She has successfully completed the operational syllabus for carrying out combat missions on MiG-21 Bison aircraft, during the day. “She is the first woman fighter pilot to be qualified to undertake missions on a fighter aircraft by day. She has been able to achieve this feat with her hard work and perseverance,” Air Force Spokesperson Group Captain Anupam Banerjee was quoted as saying.

The MiG-21 is the oldest frontline combat jet in service with the Indian Air Force, having first entered service in 1964. The jet has been regularly upgraded since then. The MiG-21 “Bison” is the definitive variant of the legacy fighter. Bhawana Kanth, who is from the first batch of woman fighter pilots of the

IAF, joined the fighter squadron in 2017. She flew solo on MiG-21 Bison last year and is now posted at the Nal base in Rajasthan’s Bikaner.

Bhawana Kanth is qualified to undertake missions on a fighter aircraft during the day. Along with Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi, she was the first woman selected for the Air Force’s fighter stream in 2016. Less than two years later, the three women joined their respective squadrons. Avani Chaturvedi and Bhawana Kanth were posted to 23 Squadron, Suratgarh (Rajasthan) and 3 Squadron, Ambala (Haryana) respectively. Both officers were trained to fly the MiG-21 Bison supersonic jet after having completed several stages of fighter aircraft training. For Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth, becoming a fighter pilot was a childhood dream. “It was something only boys were expected to aspire for. At least that was the stereotype.

Attempted break-in at IAF’s Paris office handling Rafale procurement An attempt was allegedly made to break into an office of the Indian Air Force (IAF) officers handling the Rafale fighter project in France, reports reaching here said on Wednesday.

The IAF team is based there in connection with the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter planes, first of which is expected to be delivered to India in September this year.

The break-in attempt reportedly took place

on Sunday night and an assessment was being made to find out whether anything was amiss, officials said here.

The French police is investigating the matter and the Indian Embassy in France is in touch with them. India signed an intergovernmental agreement with France in 2016 for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter planes in fly-away condition.

PUNJAB

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Amarinder fires salvo at Sidhu; says he is unable to run his own department As the Congress leads on eight of the 13 seats in Punjab, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday fired a fresh salvo on cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu, saying the latter was unable to run his own department. A senior leader said the Chief Minister’s stand clearly showed fresh trouble brewing for Sidhu. The statement comes two days after senior Congress leader Lal Singh had said that Sidhu would be held responsible in case the party lost out any of the 13 seats. With the Congress trailing by a huge margin in Bathinda and Gurdaspur, the places visited by Sidhu in the last few days

of campaigning, the pro-Amarinder camp is ready to launch a fresh attack on Sidhu.

Not denying the fact that he is an asset as a star campaigner for the party, Punjab Congress Election Management Committee Chairman Lal Singh said Sidhu was not adjusting to the Congress culture and had damaged the party’s prospects in winning all 13 Lok Sabha seats by his untimely utterances against the party interests, which amounted to indiscipline.

“The Congress performance at the national level notwithstanding, the outcome of the Bathinda seat would decide the future course of action by Punjab Congress leaders, who are gunning for Sidhu.

TV anchor refers to Sunny Deol as Sunny Leone; Twitterrati reacts Sunny Deol may well be on his way to the Lok Sabha as the BJP’s member from Gurdaspur but it was his Bollywood junior Sunny Leone who was trending as votes for the Lok Sabha election were counted on Thursday. A leading TV anchor slipped up during his election broadcast, mistakenly saying “Sunny Leone” instead of “Sunny Deol”, much to the amusement of those on Twitter.

The joke was not lost on Leone, who joined the meme-fest with her own tongue-in-cheek remark. “Leading by How many votes?” she tweeted with a wink emoji. Leading by How many votes ???? ;) — Sunny Leone (@ SunnyLeone) 23 May 2019. As people sat huddled in front of their TV sets or glued to their phones to get minute-by-minute updates on the Lok Sabha election, many found lots to laugh about in this comedy of errors.“Arnab: ‘Sunny Leone...sorry Sunny Deol is leading from Gurdaspur’. Modi ke ishq mein devdas ban gya hai ye pagla,” wrote another user,

Record wheat yield in state Punjab has broken all records in wheat production and wheat procurement this year. With the procurement season ending on Saturday, the state is all set to procure over 131 lakh metric tonnes of wheat, with the total production being 181 lakh metric tonnes. The highest wheat procurement by government agencies was in 2012-13, when the state had procured 129.34 lakh metric tonnes of wheat. While 129.59 lakh metric tonnes of wheat has already been procured by the different state procurement agencies and Food Corporation of India (FCI), officials of the Food and Supply Department say with three more days to go, the total procurement is expected to go up to 131 LMT. Of the total wheat arrivals in the mandis, 128 LMT has been procured by the state agencies and Food Corporation of India, while 1.5 LMT has been procured by private traders.

Anandita Mitra, Director, Food and Supply, Punjab, told The Tribune that while 96.50 LMT of wheat was procured from the Malwa region, 19.10 LMT was procured from Majha and 13.90 LMT

referencing the lovelorn alcoholic from the Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay classic novel made and remade into films several times over the decades.

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Congress has to pay for Sidhu’s visit to Pakistan: CM Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday said the Congress has to pay for his cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu’s visit to Pakistan. “The loss of Bathinda for the Congress is because of Sidhu’s reckless remarks on the desecration of the religious texts in 2015,” he told reporters here. “Indians will not tolerate anyone hugging the Pakistan Army chief,” the Chief Minister, who once

served in the Indian Army, said.

The Congress in Punjab is set to win at least eight of the 13 seats.

The Chief Minister’s wife Preneet Kaur managed to win the Patiala seat again and that too with a record margin. This is her fourth victory. Amarinder Singh expressed gratitude to the voters and party activists for the win.

Charges framed against former DSP After a span of nearly 27 years, the CBI special court here today framed charges in a case of abduction of Baba Charan Singh’s brother Gurdev Singh, alias Jagdev Singh, against a former Punjab Police official.

The charges of abduction and criminal conspiracy under Sections 364 and 120 B of the IPC were framed against Gurmit Singh, the then DSP posted at Tarn Taran, in the special CBI court here today. According to sources,

the police had picked Baba Charan Singh, his three brothers, a brother-in-law and a son in 1992 for some investigations but after that none of them returned. The CBI, which had been investigating the case for the past around 22 years after registering a case of kidnapping and criminal conspiracy on May 2, 1997, had filed different chargesheets at different times in the court. In the chargesheet of this case, the CBI had stated that a police team.

36

INDIA

Saturday, May 25, 2019

‘Many Indian students unfairly deported over UK English test scam’ The UK’s spending watchdog on Friday issued a damning rebuke of the British government’s handling of a visa row involving compulsory English tests taken by thousands of overseas students, many of them from India. The country’s National Audit Office (NAO), which had launched its investigation last month into widespread claims that many students were wrongly accused of cheating, in its findings said that the UK Home Office had not taken enough care to ensure innocent applicants were not caught up in a crackdown launched following evidence of fraud in the system. “Clearly widespread cheating did take place but some people may have been wrongly accused and in some cases, unfairly removed from the UK,” the NAO report concluded.

In February 2014, BBC’s ‘Panorama’ investigation uncovered evidence of organised cheating in two English language test centres run on behalf of the Educational Testing Service (ETS).This included providing English-speakers to take speaking tests instead of the real candidates and staff reading out multiple choice answers for other tests. The UK Home Office responded vigorously, investigating colleges, test centres and students.“When the Home Office acted vigorously to exclude individuals and shut down colleges involved in the English language test cheating scandal, we think they should have taken an equally vigorous approach to protecting those who did not cheat but who were still caught up in the process.

PM magic steers BJP to more seats than 2014 The BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today swept the 17th Lok Sabha elections for a landmark second consecutive term, making inroads into hitherto uncharted territories of West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana, destroying caste citadels in UP and Bihar, dismantling dynasty strongholds and decimating rivals Congress and ‘mahagathbandhan’ in Hindi heartland.

With 243 seats in the kitty, the BJP was poised to win 303 of the 542 seats that went to the polls in seven phases, according to the partial vote count released by the Election Commission this evening. The BJP vote share soared past 50 per cent in 13 states and Union Territories, a feat which the rival Congress could manage only in Puducherry.

BJP’s master strategist Amit Shah played a pivotal role in ensuring that the party won more seats than it did in 2014 in an almost presidential form of elections. The BJP, which had lately dropped down to 268 seats, surpassed its 2014 performance of 282 in the 543-member House, bringing true the prophecy of the architect of the landslide win.

“I am completely sure that on May 23, we will form a strong NDA government with more than 300 LS seats. I am expecting an increase in the number of NDA seats, but the BJP is winning 300 seats independently,” Shah had told The Tribune last week, on the last day of campaigning. The resounding endorsement of Modi’s popularity and achievements in five years saw celebrations.

Four new judges administered oath of office Four new judges of the Supreme Court were on Friday administered the oath of office

by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.

With the swearing-in of the four judges, the number of judges in the Supreme Court stands at 31, the full sanctioned strength of the top court. Justices BR Gavai, Surya Kant,

Aniruddha Bose and AS Bopanna were administered oath of office by the CJI in Court No 1 in the presence of several other sitting apex court judges. The apex court, which was functioning with 27 judges, including the CJI, has now reached its full strength of judges for

Capt bucks national trend, 5 up in Punjab Withstanding the BJP wave across the country, the Congress in Punjab bagged eight of the 13 Lok Sabha seats. In the 2014 elections, too, the state had gone against the national trend in favour of the BJP and voted for four Aam Aadmi Party MPs and three of the Congress. The Congress has wrested three AAP seats and two of the four held by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). The BJP retained its share of two seats. However, its Amritsar nominee Hardeep Puri, Union Minister of State, Housing and Urban Affairs, was trounced by Congress’ Gurjeet Singh Aujla by nearly one lakh votes.

But for SAD chief Sukhbir Badal and his

wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal, none of the Akali candidates could make it. Sukhbir registered a huge win in Ferozepur. He defeated Congress’ Sher Singh Ghubaya by 1.99 lakh votes. Harsimrat retained the Bathinda seat, defeating Congress’ Amrinder Singh Raja Warring by 21,000 votes. As anticipated, film star Sunny Deol wrested the Gurdaspur seat, defeating Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, by more than 77,000 votes. Chief Minister’s wife Preneet Kaur trounced SAD’s Surjit Singh Rakhra by 1.62 lakh votes, and AAP state chief Bhagwant Mann retained the Sangrur seat.

First for Haryana: 10/10 for BJP For the first time since Haryana was carved out as a separate state in 1966, the BJP made a clean sweep by winning all 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state, while the Congress, the INLD and its offshoot JJP faced humiliating defeats.

Prominent among the losers were former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his son Deepender Hooda. Deepender, in particular, was confident of retaining the Rohtak seat, which his family has won 11 out of 17 times.

The BJP also succeeded in smashing the bastions of the Chautala clan at Sirsa and

Hisar. Besides Hoodas, the other big name who lost was former Union minister Kumari Selja in Ambala. Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh defeated old rival Capt Ajay Yadav, while Union Minister Krishan Pal Gujjar, who won the Faridabad seat in 2014 with a 4.7 lakh margin, defeated former Congress MP Avtar Singh Bhadana.

The Hisar seat was won by bureaucratturned-politician Brijendra Singh. BhiwaniMahendragarh was won by Dharambir Singh, while Sanjay Bhatia and Nayab Singh Saini secured huge victories in Karnal and Kurukshetra.

India may electrify all two- and three-wheelers by 2025 India is looking to make an extremely ambitious move in electrifying vehicles in the country, with new reports suggesting required electrification of two- and three-wheeled vehicles sold in the coming years.

Two separate reports paint a slightly different picture of what government think tank Niti Aayog might be proposing.The committee may mandate the sale of electric three-wheeled vehicles from April 2023 onward, The Times of India reports. Additionally, all two-wheeled vehicles up to 150cc would be have to be electric

by April 2025. These bold moves would make a huge impact on both the electric bike and scooter industry, as well as India’s emissions and pollution. More than three-quarters of vehicles on India’s roads now fall under the two- or three-wheeler category.

The Times of India reports similar deadlines may be set for delivery vehicles and school buses. An increase in the amount of subsidies

for electric three-wheelers is being considered, as are more stringent fuel economy regulations.

A report from Reuters also notes the think tank is making such a proposal, but the language doesn’t go quite as far with specifics, only saying the country looks to electrify “most motorbikes and scooters within the next six to eight years.” Further illustrating the dominance of such vehicles in India, more than 21 million motorbikes and scooters were sold prior to March 31, compared to just 3.3 million cars and utility vehicles.

Electric scooters only accounted for a fraction of those sales, but sales did more than double in the past year. If India goes through with this proposal, sales of electric motorbikes and scooters are going to do much more than that in the following years. As a source told Reuters, “We have lagged in electrifying the car segment … India has decided to take the lead in two-wheelers and three-wheelers.”

Saturday, May 25, 2019

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SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, May 25, 2019

India offers Sri Lanka full support to fight ‘Jihadi terrorism’ Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu offered India’s full support to Sri Lanka in dealing with the common threat of Jihadi terrorism. “On 21st Sri Lanka witnessed brutal poisonous jihadi terror in which many innocent people died including 11 Indians. India stands strongly and firmly with Sri Lankan brothers and sisters during this. Any threat to Sri Lanka is seen as a threat to India,

and we will fight this jihadi ideology and jihad terror together shoulder to shoulder with you.”

The Indian High Commissioner paid respects at The Temple of Sacred Tooth Relic and received the blessings of the Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayake Thero of Malwatte Chapter and Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero of Asgiriya Chapter in Kandy.

China faces new competition as India and Japan eye Sri Lanka port India, Japan and Sri Lanka are weighing the development of a terminal at the bustling port of Colombo in a country that’s seen ongoing political controversies related to investments from China’s Belt and Road initiative. The three countries are set to sign a memorandum of understanding in the coming months to build out the east container terminal at the Port of Colombo, according to an Indian government official who asked not to be identified, citing rules. India and Japan will seek private sector

investment and a terminal operator after the framework agreement is signed, with India likely providing easy credit, the Indian official said. Sri Lanka will control 51% of the project with India and Japan jointly controlling the other 49%, this person said. Unlike the Chinese-owned Hambantota port in southern Sri Lanka -- which has been heavily criticized -- the Colombo port project is a commercially viable venture, though it should not be viewed as a counter to China’s Belt and Road, they said.

Nepali scales Everest record 24 times: with one more to go A Nepali sherpa reached the summit of Mount Everest a record 24th time on Tuesday, an official said, his second ascent in just a week, and he has set his sights on one more climb before he retires.

Kami Rita Sherpa, 49, reached the 8,850 meter (29,035 feet) summit by the traditional southeast ridge route, tourism department official Mira Acharya said.

The route was pioneered by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953 and remains the most popular snow

trail leading to the highest point on Earth. Two other climbers, both sherpas, have scaled Everest 21 times each. They have both retired from mountaineering.

Kami, who goes by his first name, says he wants to climb the mountain one more time. “I am still strong and want to climb Sagarmatha 25 times,” Kami told Reuters before leaving for his 23rd climb, referring to the Nepali name for Everest.

Sri Lanka extends emergency by a month Sri Lanka’s President extended on Wednesday by a further month the state of emergency imposed immediately after the Easter Sunday Islamist bombings that killed 258 people. Maithripala Sirisena issued a proclamation saying that the emergency, which gives sweeping

powers to security forces to arrest and detain suspects for long periods of time, would continue for another 30 days, citing “public security”. Sri Lanka initially imposed the emergency to crack down on local jihadists blamed for the April 21 bombings that targeted three churches and three luxury hotels. Three weeks after the suicide bombings, anti-Muslim riots broke out in a Province north of the capital in a backlash against the attacks.

Six dead after election riots in Indonesia t least six people were killed as Indonesia’s capital erupted in violence when police clashed with protesters opposed to the re-election of President Joko Widodo. Police sirens blared as fresh skirmishes broke out Wednesday evening with thousands of protesters chanting and waving Indonesian flags in the heart of the capital. Some hurled stones and fireworks at riot police who lined up behind a razor wire barricade near the election supervisory agency building. Police pushed back the main group of rioters after firing tear gas and rubber bullets at the demonstrators. At least three officers were injured in the clashes and carried away, an AFP reporter on the scene said. Earlier, dozens were arrested and parts of Jakarta were littered with debris and burnedout cars, as the violence triggered security advisories from the US and Australian embassies. Authorities also restricted access to some social media in a bid to stop rumours and fake news from spreading online.

AFP / GOH Chai Hin Authorities blamed the violence on paid “provocateurs”, citing money-filled envelopes they said were found on some of the 257 demonstrators who had been arrested National police chief Tito Karnavian said six people had died, but denied authorities had fired live rounds at protesters, and called for calm. “Some had gunshot wounds, some had blunt force wounds but we still need to clarify this,” he told reporters. Jakarta’s governor Anies Baswedan said about 200 people had been injured. The violence came after Indonesia’s election commission on Tuesday confirmed Widodo had beaten retired military general Prabowo Subianto for the presidency in a poll held on April 17. Subianto has said he would challenge the results in court -- as he did, unsuccessfully, against Widodo in 2014 -- but also warned his claims of widespread cheating could spark street protests. That was borne out early Wednesday as protesters set market stalls and cars on fire while hurling fireworks and rocks at security personnel clad in riot gear and holding shields, an AFP reporter said. Authorities blamed the violence on paid “provocateurs”, citing money-filled envelopes they said were found on some of the 257 demonstrators arrested.

The early morning clashes started after several thousand Subianto supporters rallied

INDIA - Elections 2019

Saturday, May 25, 2019 From page 1

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Modi stuns opposition with huge election win

is re-election reinforces a global trend of right-wing populists sweeping to victory, from the United States to Brazil and Italy, often after adopting harsh positions on protectionism, immigration and defense.

Official data from the Election Commission showed Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party ahead in 302 of the 542 seats up for grabs, up from the 282 it won in 2014 and more than the 272 seats needed for a majority in the lower house of parliament.

That would give his party the first back-toback majority for a single party since 1984.

Votes will be fully counted by Friday morning.

Modi was showered with rose petals by some of the thousands of cheering supporters who waited for hours in a thunderstorm for his arrival at party headquarters on Thursday evening. “Whatever happened in these elections is in the past, we have to look ahead. We have to take everyone forward, including our staunchest opponents,” he said in a televised address. He was critical of the many people that doubted the BJP could increase its majority. “The political pundits of India have to leave behind their ideas of the past,” he added. Modi has slashed red tape in the world’s fifth-largest economy, though some overseas firms, including Amazon, Walmart and Mastercard, have complained about policies they say are designed to benefit domestic rivals.

He will face demands to provide jobs for the tens of millions of young people coming on to the market in the next few years and to boost depressed farm incomes. “The immediate challenges are to address employment, the issue of agricultural income and revive

the banking sector,” said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at Care Ratings in Mumbai. But making good on his promise of unity will be difficult as the BJP campaign was often divisive, and India’s Muslim minority has expressed fears that policies aimed at pleasing the Hindu majority could imperil their livelihoods.

Modi’s pledge of a strong stand against a separatist movement in Muslim-majority Kashmir has fueled tension with nucleararmed rival Pakistan, although its prime minister, Imran Khan, congratulated Modi on his win. “Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia,” Khan added on Twitter. Besides a harder line on national security, BJP members will look to Modi for progress on a project to building a Hindu temple on the site of a mosque demolished by Hindu zealots in the northern holy town of Ayodhya in 1992.

“I want Modi to finish terrorism from Kashmir (and) make Pakistan bite the dust again and again,” said Shekhar Chahal, a BJP worker from the capital, New Delhi.

“I am confident that Modi will also make the temple in Ayodhya.”

The NDA’s predicted margin of victory, at 351 seats versus 93 for the Congressled United Progressive Alliance, according to broadcaster NDTV, far exceeds survey forecasts in the run-up to the vote. Among the winners for the BJP was a Hindu ascetic accused of plotting a bomb attack on Muslims.

Most polls indicated a victory for Modi’s alliance but expected it to fall short of an overall majority.

Modi was under pressure when he began campaigning, losing three state elections in December amid rising anger over farm prices and unemployment.

However, campaigning shifted toward India’s relationship with Pakistan after a suicide bomber killed 40 Indian police in February in the Himalayan region of Kashmir claimed by both countries.

Modi ordered an air strike on what India said was a militant training camp on the Pakistani side of the border, a tough response that benefited the right-wing BJP, analysts said. While Pakistan has signaled a willingness to open talks with India, it also displayed its military might, with the test of a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of up to 1,500 miles (2,400 km).

The BJP has also capitalized the star power of Modi, a frenetic campaigner, as well as its superior financial resources. It outspent Congress by six times on Facebook and Google advertising, data showed, and by as much as 20 times overall, sources told Reuters this month. The main opposition Congress party was ahead in just 52 seats, but its leader Rahul Gandhi, twice defeated in general elections by Modi, refused to rule out resigning as party chief in a brief televised news conference. Gandhi, whose father, grandmother and great-grandfather all served

as prime minister, lost to the BJP candidate in the northern constituency of Amethi the family has held almost continuously for the last four decades. But he was leading in the southern constituency from which he is also running for parliament. “The Congress party has not been able to improve at all,” said Rahul Verma, a fellow at the center for Policy Research in New Delhi. “One big story is the emerging challenge for the Congress to remain a national alternative to the BJP. That now is under question.” In the populous northern state of Uttar Pradesh, which sends the largest number of lawmakers to parliament, the BJP was leading in 60 of the 80 seats in the fray, out in front of a powerful alliance of caste-based parties campaigning to improve rural conditions. “After the air strike on Pakistan, almost all these important issues started fading and farmers decided to cast their ballot for the BJP,” said Raghubar Das, 55, who grows rice and wheat on the outskirts of Ayodhya, which many devout Hindus believe to be the birthplace of the God-king Rama. “Mind you, they didn’t vote for the BJP, they voted for Modi. Everyone loves a strong a leader.” The party also won seats in several states where it has long struggled, including West Bengal, where it took on the Trinamool Congress, a powerful regional party. Data showed it leading in 19 of 42 seats, surpassing the two it won in 2014, data showed.

Investors welcomed Modi’s victory, hoping his government will push through reforms.

Indian stocks surged more than 5 percent this week to hit record highs on Thursday, but the euphoria fizzled quickly, with stocks and the rupee ending the day weaker, as the focus returned to a faltering economy.

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FIJI

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Australia’s political shock echoes from Ohio to London Australia likes to think that its electoral system is immune to the sort of shock outcomes seen elsewhere in recent years.

Voting is compulsory, so there’s never a surprise driven by turnout. A system that requires voters to nominate multiple candidates means that insurgent third-party campaigns have little purchase, because people can have their protest vote and still choose a mainstream candidate too. While nearly a quarter of the electorate placed a minor party first on their ballot on Saturday, nearly 90 percent put either the governing Coalition of Prime Minister Scott Morrison or the opposition Labor Party first or second. As a result, the Coalition and Labor will account for all but six or seven seats in the 151-member House of Representatives.

The government looks certain to lack a

controlling majority of the House, but the deals it will have to cut will be with a handful of centrist independents and single-seat minor parties, rather than a powerful populist fringe.

At the same time, Saturday’s election result is a political shock scarcely less expected than the victory of Donald Trump in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, or the triumph of the antiEuropean vote in the U.K.’s Brexit referendum earlier that year. It’s been almost 18 months since any opinion poll showed Morrison’s Liberal-National Coalition 1 with a shot at victory. Newspoll – the most closely followed survey, whose poor showings were used as justification for the internal party coups that removed Morrison’s predecessors Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull in recent years – has put the Coalition behind in 56 consecutive polls

Cane farmers don’t have money to prepare for start of the season - Prasad National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says his office has been called by more than 100 cane farmers this week who say they don’t have the money to prepare for the start of the 2019 season. Prasad says this means that unless growers receive a minimum of $15 to $18 per tonne in the 4th payment, it will be difficult for them to prepare for harvesting. He says growers have to meet many expenses including hiring of cane cutters or where mechanical harvesters

are needed – with the growers footing its operational bill and paying for the operator.

The NFP leader says that the forecast price of $53.69 per tonne of cane for this season has further dampened the morale of cane growers, especially at a time when they are supposed to be busily preparing for the start of the season.

Prasad says so far for the 2018 season, growers have been paid a little over $61 per tonne with over $23 outstanding based on government’s announcement last year of a minimum price of $85 per tonne of cane for three years.

Man jailed for over 17 years for raping 8-year-old girl A 23 year old man from Nadi has been sentenced to 17 years, 5 months and 16 days imprisonment after he raped a 8 year old girl in a mini bus in August 2015. The court heard that Rohit Rikash Chand committed the offence after he asked the girl’s grandmother if the victim could sit on his lap as there was no space for her to sit in the mini bus. The victim’s grandmother agreed that the young girl could sit on Chand’s lap. The girl told her

grandmother about what Chand had done to her after she got off the bus. The matter was reported to Police and the victim was medically examined. In mitigation, Chand said that he was married, he resides with his parents and they have health problems, he financially supports his family, and he is an active and helpful member of the community.

Two suspended police officers jailed for aggravated robbery in Kadavu Two suspended police officers, Keperieli Ketewai and Luke Tavaialu have been given custodial sentences for aggravated robbery.

Ketewai has been sentenced to 8 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 5 years while Tavaialu has been sentenced to 7 years with a non-parole period of 4 years. The duo with Josaia Warodo on the 4th of April last year, robbed $1,530 worth of properties from a businessman in Kadavu.

Warodo had pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced earlier. Judge, Justice Aruna Aluthge says the offence the two committed whilst being in the Fiji Police Force should be denounced and adequately punish. Justice Aluthge says the courts have a duty to deter this kind of anti-social behaviour using violence on innocent members of the public and to safeguard their property rights.

New Secretary General to Parliament appointed iniana Namosimalua is the new Secretary General of Parliament while Mary Qiliaso is the Deputy Secretary General.

While announcing the names today, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said that Namosimalua’s position is effective

from today while Qiliaso started yesterday.

Meanwhile, refurbishment work on the new parliament continues and is expected to be completed soon. The estimated cost of the works is almost a million dollars.

UNDP has assisted in the funding of the renovation works.

231 cases of child labour have been dealt with in the last 8 years Over the past eight years the Ministry of Employment has dealt with 231 cases of child labour in the country This was highlighted by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Osea Cawaru while opening the workshop on the 2019 World Day against Child Labour.

Cawaru says the current labour legislation, through the Employment Relations Act 2007 is being enforced by the Ministry to ensure no child is employed during school hours and officials carry out routine inspections, spot checks, awareness and advice on the

importance of children being in school. He says since 2011, all of the children involved in these 231 cases of child labour have returned to school. Cawaru says some of these children are now enrolled into technical and vocational training programs. He says this does not mean that all work done by children is child labour such as, assisting parents or guardian in backyard gardening. Cawaru also stressed that school based activities like having school gardens and agricultural projects are not classified as child labour.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Pakistan appoints Mueen-ul-Haque as new High Commissioner to India Government of Pakistan announced career diplomat Moin-ul-Haque as its new High Commissioner to India. “New Delhi, India, is very important...After consultation, I have decided to appoint Mueenul Haq, the current ambassador in France, who will be sent to (New) Delhi, and I hope that he (Haq) will deliver,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in a video statement. Haq was appointed after Sohail Mehmood left the High Commissioner’s

post to join as Pakistan’s foreign secretary. Qureshi has expressed hope that Haq would perform his “new job with the best of his abilities.”

Pakistan also has announced new ambassadors to several countries including China, Japan and Belgium. In Beijing,

PM Modi thanks Imran Khan Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan today congratulated his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi after the BJP swept the national election in trends released by the Election Commission in India. “I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia,” tweeted Prime Minister Imran Khan, also a former sportsman

who became Pakistan’s Prime Minister in August last year.

PM Modi, responded, by saying he has “always given primacy to peace and development in our region.” Thank you PM @ ImranKhanPTI. I warmly express my gratitude for your good wishes. I have always given primacy to peace and development in our region. https://t. co/b01EjbcEAw — Narendra Modi (@ narendramodi) May 23, 2019.

Court grants bail to former president Zardari Islamabad Hight Court has granted interim bail to former president Asif Ali Zardari in a case related to alleged award of illegal contracts, a media report said on Wednesday.

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) divisional bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiyani granted bail till June 13 to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) CoChairman against Rs 200,000 surety bonds on Tuesday. Zardari’s counsel Farook H Naek told the court the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had summoned Zardari on May 23 in an inquiry related to award of allegedly illegal contracts to a private firm in Sindh, The Express Tribune reported. According to the NAB, the Harish and Company was awarded a contract for water supply by the Sindh

government but failed to complete the projects and the public funds were allegedly misused to meet the expense of Naudero House, residence of the PPP leader.

The NAB officials claim that Harish and Company was the front company to Park Lane Estate which led to a loss of Rs 60 million to the national exchequer. Naek said it was possible that Zardari would be arrested upon his arrival in the NAB’s office and requested the court to grant a pre-arrest bail to him. The bench accepted Zardari’s pre-arrest bail plea and served notices to the NAB. The IHC has already granted pre-arrest bail to Zardari in seven other cases related to alleged money laundering through fake accounts.

Security forces say they busted subversive network in Gilgit Security forces have claimed that they have busted a “subversive network” working to destabilise Gilgit-Baltistan with the arrest of 14 suspects.

According to sources, the operation was carried out on a tip-off and huge amount of arms and ammunition were recovered from the possession of terrorists.

In the operation, 14 active members of the Balawaristan National Front were taken into custody. According to intelligence sources, the BNF student wing Chairman Sher

Nadir Shahi was involved in anti-Pakistan activities. Sources said that Abdul Hameed Khan, the group’s kingpin, had surrendered unconditionally on February 8, 2019 after which Shah surrendered on March 29.

Khan had written letters to international authorities against six dams and their construction in the region, which is pivotal to the success of the multibillion-dollar ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Intelligence sources here alleged Indian involvement in the case.

Naghmana Hashmi will replace Masood Khalid, the incumbent envoy to China, after completion of his tenure.

Additional Secretary Imtiaz Ahmad has been appointed Ambassador to Japan, while Zaheer Janjua, currently serving as additional

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secretary in Europe, will look after the Pakistani mission in Brussels. “After consulting the Prime Minister, I am happy to announce the following appointments. I wish the newly appointed officers good luck and hope they represent Pakistan with utmost dignity and effectiveness,” the Pakistani FM tweeted. Islamabad has appointed over two dozen envoys to 18 countries, stated Qureshi.

China delivers overhauled JF-17 fighter jet to Pakistan China has delivered first overhauled JF17 Thunder fighter jet to Pakistan under a project that experts said would benefit the country’s aviation industry.

Changsha 5712 Aircraft Industry Co Ltd under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) reassembled the overhauled JF-17 and delivered it to its

Pakistani client in March, reported Global Times quoting China Aviation News on Tuesday. This is also the first time AVIC has overhauled a made-for-export third generation fighter, or fourth generation according to another widely used standard, the report said.

NRI

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Saturday, May 25, 2019

Dave Sharma becomes first NRI elected MP in Australia Dave Sharma, the Liberal candidate and former Australian ambassador to Israel, has scripted history by becoming the first NRI lawmaker in Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Parliament after winning a seat in Sydney suburb in the federal election.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is close to securing a majority government as the electionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s final results are being counted. His conservative coalition has defied polls and is leading with 77 seats, the Australian Electoral Commission says. Only 76 seats are needed for a majority. Dave Sharma, 43, defeated independent candidate Kerryn Phelps for the eastern suburb seat of Wentworthin district. Dave Sharma, who had lost to Phelps in a by-election six months ago, claimed the seat of Wentworth with 51.16 per cent of the vote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Very humbled by the trust placed in

me by the people of Wentworth.

Look forward to being a voice for them in Parliament and the party room,â&#x20AC;? Dave Sharma said in a tweet. He said the three main issues he wanted to focus on were national security, female workforce participation and making sure Australia remains at the high end of the value chain. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a long continuous campaign for seven months for me,â&#x20AC;? he told reporters in Sydney. I was helped by the tailwind of a strong national campaign,â&#x20AC;? he told reporters on Monday. Dave Sharma is Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former ambassador to Israel from 2013 to 2017. He also brushed aside questions as to whether he will be given a position in Prime Minister Morrisonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Cabinet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be concentrating my time over the next weeks, months and years to being a good local representative,â&#x20AC;?

NRI indicted for $98 million fraud in US An Indian-origin man in the US has been indicted for committing wire fraud worth $98 million, the Department of Justice said on Friday. The 34-count indictment charges Gopalkrishna Pai from Texas, previously residing in Puerto Rico, of being engaged in a scheme to defraud merchant processors and others by submitting false information and falsified documentation to create merchant accounts in the name of straw companies to process credit card and electronic payments and to receive a substantial financial benefit.

The fraudulent scheme employed by Gopalkrishna Pai disguised his involvement and use of over 100 companies formed to facilitate the processing of approximately $98 million in gross revenue in online retail sales, the Department of Justice alleged.

As a part of the conspiracy, he owned and

operated F9 Advertising LLC (F9), a for profit limited liability company organised in Puerto Rico in May 2014 and registered under the Export Services Act, Puerto Rico Act 20 of 2012. F9 engaged in the sale of personal care products, including skin creams, through the internet utilising a negative option marketing model. Negative option marketing is a category of commercial transactions in which sellers interpret a customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s failure to take an affirmative action, either to reject an offer or cancel an agreement, as assent to be charged for goods or services. The man allegedly created over 100 liability companies (Straw Companies), obtained individual Employer ID Numbers (EINs) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for each Straw Company and opened individual commercial bank accounts

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NRI Judge sides with US Congress over Trump in demands for records A federal judge ruled against President Donald Trump on Monday in a financial records dispute with Congress and said lawmakers should get the documents they have subpoenaed.

Trump called it a â&#x20AC;&#x153;crazyâ&#x20AC;? decision that his lawyers would appeal.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta comes amid a widespread effort by the White House and Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attorneys to refuse to cooperate with congressional requests for information and records. Earlier Monday, Trump directed former White House counsel Don McGahn to defy a congressional subpoena that had compelled McGahn, a pivotal figure in special

counsel Robert Muellerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s investigation, to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. In ruling that Trump cannot block the financial records subpoena, Mehta said the Democraticled House Oversight and Reform Committee had â&#x20AC;&#x153;valid legislative purposesâ&#x20AC;? for its request and that it was not for him â&#x20AC;&#x153;to question whether the Committeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actions are truly motivated by political considerations.â&#x20AC;?

The committee has said the records will help it consider whether to strengthen ethics and disclosure laws, among other things, said Mehta.

Thousands sign petition to let NRI woman with rare disease stay In UK Thousands of people have signed an online petition calling on the UK Home Office to allow an Indian woman suffering from a rare disease stay in Britain.

The petition for Bhavani Espathi, who is seriously ill with Crohnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease, is edging close to its 150,000-signature target on Change.Org. It was launched by the 31-yearold artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fiance Martin Mangler -- a German national based in the UK as a volcanologist -- in order to help with a Home Office review of the case.

The Londonerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s case came to light recently after it emerged that her application to stay in the UK on human rights grounds had been rejected. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The doctors say she needs

to stay here, but the Home Office want to deport her to India. They even threatened her with deportation whilst she was unconscious in coma,â&#x20AC;? noted Manglerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s petition titled â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Let Bhavani Liveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Doctors say her life is at risk if she would be deported. This means the Home Office could be sending her to her death. The Home Office have admitted that she wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get as good care in India, and pointed out that she could get â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;palliative careâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; instead,â&#x20AC;? it said. Crohnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease is a digestive tract disorder for which Bhavani Espathi requires a specific immunosuppressant, which she says is currently unavailable in India.The Home Office has said that her case is being reviewed again after it was made aware of â&#x20AC;&#x153;fresh evidenceâ&#x20AC;? in March.

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Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services

CDMFH DB '(4CVEHFU

Saturday, May 25, 2019

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Saturday, May 25, 2019