The Asian Star January 23 2016

www.theasianstar.com

Vol 14

Issue 52 Saturday, January 23, 2016

Tel: 604-591-5423

B.C. rejects Uber request

Tomatoe RICE

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Star & Style section

Muslim women must improve their English, or be deported, says UK PM

Targeted tax to slow Metro Vancouver housing speculation proposed

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group of B.C. academics is proposing a tax-based housing fund aimed at investors and speculators that they say could make home ownership more affordable by redistributing the taxes to residents. The concept calls for property owners with limited residential or economic ties to B.C. to pay a 1.5 per cent surcharge on residential real estate. The

money, which the group estimates could conservatively reach $90 million a year in Vancouver alone, would then be distributed as lump-sum payments to all Canadian tax filers in the collecting region. That idea for a housing affordability fund is the brainchild of 10 business, economy and finance professors at the University of B.C. and Simon Fraser University.

Continued on page 4

920 illegal Indian immigrants in US jails

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Majority by far are Punjabis

here are 920 illegal Indian immigrants languishing in US jails, most of them Punjabis. The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), received this information from the US Customs Department last year through the Freedom of Information Act. Satnam Singh Chahal, president of NAPA, said, “US Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently revealed that there were 920 Indian detainees who were apprehended at the US bor-

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ders at various places and a majority of them were Punjabis and victims of illegal human trafficking.” As many as 22 Punjabi youths were released from a jail in Miami in August 2015. Similarly, 68 Indians, again Punjabis, were confined at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detention centre at Tacoma (Seattle) in Washington. Information received by NAPA in August 2014, under the Freedom of Information Act also revealed that 93 people with surname Singh and Kaur Continued on page 6

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Ban on veil also coming

ONDON—Britain’s leader says Muslim women must improve their English to integrate into British society, arguing that improved national cohesion is the best antidote to extremism. Prime Minster David Cameron on Monday pledged to fund English language classes for Muslim women immigrants, British Prime Minister David Cameron meeting with Muslim women in London. and warned some could be deported if they fail to reach certain stanalso obligations that we should put on people dards. The 20-million-pound ($28.5-million) who come to our country, and chief amongst fund will help tens of thousands of women them should be obligations to learn English, facing social isolation and discrimination because then you can integrate, you can take and emphasize that Britain has expectations advantage of the opportunities here and you for those who want to live in the country, can help us to build the strong country that Cameron said. “I think it’s quite right to say we want,” Cameron said. Britain already reto people who come to our country that there quires prospective spouses to demonstrate are many rights that you have here — it’s a English language skills to standards of roughfantastic country to live in — but there are Continued on page 6

Fruiticana’s Tony Singh giving away free groceries to Syrian refugees

ruiticana owner Tony Singh is providing Syrian refugees with free groceries, inspired by an elderly lady’s generosity to his family 40 years ago. Fruiticana founder and president Tony Singh has for the past 10 days been delivering free baskets of food to Syrian refugees as they arrive, and will deliver more today (Thursday) in Guildford and onward. Some 500 Syrian refugees are expected to benefit from his generous gesture. “Actions that are positive help build communities and produce positive results,” said Singh, who employs 500 workers at 18 grocery store locations in B.C. and Alberta. “If 600 show up, we will provide.” Eight stores are in Surrey. “I became a successful businessperson and Canadian because of a simple and powerful message,” he said. “I am sure many of these refugees, especially the children, will

Tony Singh of Fruiticana (standing at back with his family memebers giving away free groceries to Syrian refugees

go on to make many positive contributions to Canada in the future.” Singh recalled arriving as a new immigrant to Canada in 1975, when he was 10 years old, and a neighbour’s generosity on his second day here. His family came from Punjab and were living in an apartment in Toronto at the time. They didn’t speak a word of English. “Our neighbour invited us over for dinner,” he recalled. “The simple gesture had such a profound impact on me and my life. It showed me what it means to be Canadian. I wanted to pass on that same special feeling to these Syrian refugees arriving in Canada.” Singh hopes his gifts today of grocery baskets will inspire the refugees “to one day become great Canadians.”

Continued on page 7

2 i Saturday, January 23, 2016

Fruiticana Lohri Celebrations and lucky draw contest 2016

Tony Singh founder & president of Fruiticana giving away prizes to the lucky winners of Fruiticana Lohri Lucky Draw Contest 2016. Fruiticana partnered with Brar Sweet Corn Flour and gave away Stroller to Subhpreet Kaur and gold coin to Jaggit K Grewal.

Fruiticana celebrates all festivities by bringing the items required to celebrate these festivals at extremely reasonable prices.

Four Canadian cities requests a pause in refugee flow The people in charge of resettling refugees in Toronto have requested a temporary pause in the flow of Syrian refugees because of the lack of available temporary and permanent housing. The resettlement programs in a total of three cities – Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa – have now requested the pause.

Officials from a fourth city, Halifax has asked the federal government to slow down the number of refugees headed there.

“We have received requests to slow down arrivals in some communities. We are accommodating those requests to ensure that in the end, the refugees are well taken care of,” said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in an emailed statement. “We are working with the Resettlement Assistance Program Service Provider Organizations (RAP SPOs) in those communities to ease the strain they are currently experiencing, which includes delaying arrivals for a few days.” Meanwhile, officials in Halifax have also requested that

the federal government slow down the arrival of refugees for the time being although the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia has not requested a complete pause.

“Syrian refugees continue to arrive in Halifax, just at a slower rate for the time being,” a Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship spokesperson told Global News through email. The government said that new arrivals destined to the communities can remain in Toronto and Montreal hotels “for a few extra days before they travel on to their final destination.” “The challenges that RAP SPOs are experiencing range from being temporarily under-staffed as they need to hire more people to handle the number of arrivals, to a lack of available and acceptable temporary and permanent housing spaces,” the Ministry of Immigration said. On Monday, refugee settlement organizations in Ottawa and Vancouver asked the federal government to stop sending Syrian refugees to their communities. It’s a temporary pause of five days in Vancouver, Toronto and fiveto-seven days in Ottawa. Although Calgary groups have not asked that the flow of refugees stop completely, Calgary Catholic Immigration Society CEO Fariborz Birjandian told Global News Wednesday that they are no longer taking any groups of seven or larger for now because housing is an issue. On Wednesday, Immigration Minister John McCallum reiterated the request for pause comes from those on the ground. “They are coming from those who are in charge of the settlement in these particular cities, not from the government officials, but from the people running the settlement,” McCallum said.

“There are other places in Canada that are ready and willing to receive the refugees. So there’s a short term diversion.” When questioned whether newly-arrived refugees are jumping the line in terms of access to housing, the immigration minister said it’s “a balancing act.”

Syrian refugees hit by 1st flu season in Canada, clog clinics and ER

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Many Syrian refugees who came to Edmonton as part of Canada’s resettlement plans have been hit hard by the flu during their first winter in their new home country.

Catholic Social Services estimates of half of the adults and most of their children have come down with a cold or the flu. “They’re just not used to the climate here, so they catch the cold, they catch the flu. They’re not used to the strains of [the] virus,” said agency spokesman Michael Di Massa. “They’re in a short-term residence, which is probably not helping the situation,” he said. “It’s like kids in school — if you have one kid in the classroom get sick, the other kids might get sick.”

Edmonton’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Christopher Sikora, said the province provides regular checkups and flu shots for all refugees, but with so many arriving in a short time, it’s hard to keep up. “We have a group of individuals arriving in Canada who have underlying chronic disease.

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Trudeau’s excuse: I want to legalize weed, but they won’t let me

ustin Trudeau, the Liberal prime minister who won last October’s elections in Canada against the Conservative Stephen Harper, who was seeking a third term, ran in part on a promise to legalize marijuana, and said he was going to “ get started on that right away,” signaling a departure from the Harper administration’s anti-pot stance. Now, Trudeau has said his efforts have hit a snag—international treaties. They were, uh, there during the election campaign, even if they were left unmentioned by the candidate himself. The Liberal government will have to do substantial work on the international stage before it can follow through on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s promise to legalize marijuana, new documents suggest. That work will have to include figuring out how Canada would comply with three international treaties to which the country is a party, all of which criminalize the possession and production of marijuana. Trudeau’s plan to legalize, regulate and restrict access to marijuana is already proving a complicated and controversial undertaking on the domestic front, in part because it requires working with the provinces. Internationally, says a briefing note prepared for the prime minister, Canada will also have to find a way to essentially tell the world how it plans to conform to its treaty obligations. The treaties—the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and (because, hey, what’s in a name, two more), the Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances—date back to the 60s, 70s and 80s. Canada made a reservation to the second treaty, about permitting

the use of peyote for magical or religious rites by “small, clearly determined groups,” mimicking a U.S. one. A similar argument came up in the United States a couple of years ago when some critics of marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington insisted these international treaties required the federal government to prevent legalization, a spurious argument Jacob Sullum demolished: Under our federalist system… states have no obligation to punish every activity that Congress chooses to treat as a crime. The Supreme Court has said, based on a dubious reading of the power to regulate interstate commerce, that the federal government may continue to enforce its own ban on marijuana in states that take a different approach. But that does not mean the feds can compel states to help, let alone force them to enact their own bans… Even if treaties could override federalism, the agreements [critics cite] do not purport to do so. The 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs says compliance is subject to “constitutional limitations” and undertaken with “due regard to [signatories’] constitutional, legal and administrative systems.” The 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances contain similar provisions. The federalist approach taken in the United States by advocates of marijuana legalization has brought or is bringing recreational marijuana into the legal market in four states plus Washington, D.C. and allowed a plethora of local jurisdictions to do the same, and allowed states to try more restrictive than legal, but no longer totally prohibitionist, approaches, like legalizing medical marijuana or small amounts of the non-medical stuff.

Exempt your child from the FSA Dear parents, We work hard to give your children the best education possible. We celebrate with them when they master a new concept and help them think creatively when tackling a tricky problem.

But standardized tests like the Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) in Grades 4 and 7 take away from those wonderful moments of learning.

The FSAs do not count for marks, create needless stress for students, are expensive, and the muchdelayed results do not actively support your child’s progress.

The data is also misused to rank schools, which puts pressure on teachers to teach to the test, instead of to students’ interests and needs.

That’s why teachers in Surrey recommend you send a letter to your school principal requesting that your child be exempted from the FSA.

A message from the Surrey Teachers’ Association

4 i Saturday, January 23, 2016 Continued on page 1

OPINION

Targeted tax to slow Metro Vancouver housing speculation proposed

They were set to go public on Monday with a policy proposal in which they lay out why the fund is necessary, how it would work and whom it would target. At the heart of

the proposal is an attempt to identify offshore property owners who pay little or no income taxes in Canada and who keep properties vacant as investment vehicles.

The academics say the fund and its annual redistribution program would make B.C. less attractive for investors looking to park their cash in residential real estate.

“What we are offering is the ability to tax a group that isn’t subject to income tax,” UBC’s Thomas Davidoff said.

“If you have got a vacant house, then you are benefiting from our very low property tax rate and you are not contributing to the income tax base, either now or in the past,” said Davidoff, an associate professor in the strategy and business economics division of the Sauder School of Business. “If you want to leave your place vacant or you want

to park lowincome earning members of your household here while you earn money elsewhere, then you are going to have to contribute to taxes.” The proposal comes as Metro Vancouver municipal governments grapple with a housing affordability crisis. Despite efforts to get more familyfriendly rental units and new forms of housing built, and the rezoning of some corridors such as Cambie to higher-density housing, Vancouver hasn’t made much of a dent in the rising cost of housing. In early January, the B.C. Assessment Authority released figures showing the average value of a detached house had broken through $1 million in more than 50 additional Metro Vancouver neighbourhoods. The Vision Vancouver council of Mayor Gregor Robertson has suggested the province should bring in a speculation tax, and it is working with BC Hydro and others to try to identify how many homes may be left vacant by out-of-country investors and

speculators. The group of academics which includes professors from UBC’s Sauder School of Business and Vancouver School of Economics, and SFU’s Beedie School of Business and economics department - says the fund would include a wide range of exemptions to ensure incometaxpaying homeowners, rental investors and others who participate in the local economy aren’t subject to the fund. They say the program would be stronger than B.C.’s homeowner grant program, which gives property tax breaks to resident owners and seniors. “The tax would target owners of vacant properties and those with limited economic or social ties to Canada. All other owners will be exempt,” the group says in its position paper. “The proposed (fund) contribution structure would provide broader exemptions than those under the homeowner’s grant by allowing non-resident landlords and notyet-landed immigrants with taxable Canadian earnings to claim exclusions.”

Tax foreign real estate spaculators The BC Liberal government should stop its resistance to taxing non Canadians who are speculating in BC and Toronto markets.

Foreign multi-millionaires, who do not pay any taxes here nor contribute to the society, drive up home prices by speculating in real estate here – purely for profit.

Some jurisdictions, like US and Australia protect residential real estate by taxing foreign investors. BC and Canadian governments have refused to doso. leading to house un-affordability.

It is time BC adapted the proposal above to help local tax payers afford homes.

Saturday, January 23, 2016 i 5

Local

6 i Saturday, January 23, 2016

Muslim women must improve their English, or be deported, says UK PM

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From page 1

y that of a child starting primary school.

Meanwhile Muslim women can be banned from wearing veils in schools, courts and other British institutions, Cameron said. The Prime Minister said he will give his backing to public authorities that put in place “proper and sensible” rules to ban women from wearing face veils. The Government is also preparing to announce a series of measures designed to stop British Muslims becoming radicalized and travelling to the Middle East to join terrorist groups like Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. As part of the plans, ministers will pledge to outlaw gender segregation in public buildings amid concerns that some Muslim organizations are forcing women to sit separately.Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary, will also today announce plans to force schools to help stop teenagers travelling abroad to fight alongside jihadist groups such as ISIL. Schools will be required to inform councils when pupils stop attending without any explanation and Muslim parents will be encouraged to carry out checks to en-

sure their children are not being radicalized.

Cameron also announced that tens of thousands of Muslim women would face deportation unless they pass a series of English language tests after coming to Britain on spouse visas. The Prime Minister’s comments about veils will reignite the row over whether British institutions should be able to stop women covering their faces for religious reasons in public places. The Prime Minister refused to endorse a French-style blanket ban but made clear that individual organizations could choose to stop Muslim women wearing the veil.

AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthBritish PM David Cameron: “I think in our country people should be free to wear what they like, within limits.”. In 2013 The Daily Telegraph disclosed that more than a dozen NHS hospitals had instructed staff not to wear the niqab – a full veil which covers the face – while in contact with patients.

The same year, a London judge ordered a Muslim defendant to remove her veil, but asked politicians for clearer instructions on veils in court.

aman@ewfinancial.ca

920 illegal Indian immigrants in US jails Majority by far are Punjabis

From page 1 were lodged in US jails. Out of these, 84 El Paso were duped of $60,000 by the agents. were non-criminal immigrants and nine conThe kingpins included Amrinder Singh Gill victs. Of these 93 persons, 34 detainees were alias Raja from Patiala (with his India and Palodged at the Eloy Federal contract facility, tiala numbers), Sukhvinder Singh Sukhi and 19 at the El Paso Service Processing Centre, Charnjit Singh Charna from Ludhiana.

10 in the Utah County Jail, eight in the FlorInformation on three persons involved in ilence Correctional Centre, Arizona, five at the legal trafficking — Teji (from Stockton, USA) Wackenhut Correction Corporation, four in and Hukam Singh and Malkit Singh (both in the Central Arizona Detention Centre, three the US) — had also been provided to NAPA. in the northwest detention centre, two in the However, since they were operating from the Yuba County Jail and a few more in other US, their names were not divulged in the letdetention centres, according to figures avail- ter sent to NAPA. Chahal said, “While I had able with the NAPA, he added. Pointing out provided the information about the kingpins to the trail of illegal human smuggling from responsible for the crisis that detainees at the Punjab to United States, NAPA also wrote to El Paso found themselves in, I haven’t heard the Punjab State Human Rights Commission of any action against them.” “If the Indian in 2014. Highlighting the problems faced by government doesn’t act on the issue soon, the inmates of El Paso Centre in Texas, it pro- there are all possibilities of the crisis escalating. vided details and numbers of the kingpins re- A repeat of Malta and Panama boat tragedies sponsible for the illegal trafficking to the com- cannot be ruled out,” he warned. mission. Submitting the contact information “The government should also create a speof the kingpins for investigation and nabbing cial fund for exigencies related to illegal immithem, the association demanded the recovery grants and Manpower Export Corporations of amount the agents had charged from such which would help youth secure jobs abroad youths. As per information, the detainees at legally,” he added.

LOCAL

Saturday, January 23, 2016 i 7

Fruiticana’s Tony Singh giving away free groceries to Syrian refugees From page 1 er accolades.

Decades have Each package, he passed and Singh said, contains enough doesn’t remember food to feed five peomuch about the ple for about a week trip from India to and contain groceries Canada but their familiar to the recipinext door neighents - chick peas, pita bour’s generous act bread, olives, cheeses, was indelibly imyoghurt, flour, milk, pressed on him. He juice and cookies. even remembers Tony Singh of Fruiticana (standing at back with his what they ate - a family memebers giving away free groceries to Syrian refugees They will also contain treats for the children, slice of pizza, and in tribute to the popsicle he enjoyed as a boy. a popsicle. “That’s the memory that stuck with “There’s enough food to last a week or even me, after 40 years.� Singh opened his first gromore,�

Singh said. “So there’s something in the cery store in Surrey in 1994. Today, his chain fridge to eat, right away.�

Singh said the Syrian enjoys annual sales surpassing $100 million. He refugees “should receive the same kindness� has received numerous honours, as recipient he was met with, as a boy. “That’s what Canof Surrey Board of Trade’s Businessperson of ada is all about. “Be helpful,� he advises. “Try the Year award, the Premier’s People’s Choice to help any immigrant integrate into Canada.

Award for 2014 Business BC Awards, and othHelp to make them what you are.�

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8 i Saturday, January 23, 2016

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Saturday, January 23, 2016 i 9

Fruiticana: Spreading smiles on thousands faces

ruiticana, the name is not at all new to our community. The one stop shop that spreads the aroma of ethnic products is not just limited to providing the basic necessities of everyday life since 1994; it has also become a brand that stands for the community, helps people and also marks a difference when it comes to giving back to the society. They have started an initiative to support Syrians coming to Canada by providing them with elementary groceries for their kitchen.

“We will be supporting 500 Syrian refugees with this initiative and we are already helping different families everyday”, said Tony Singh in an interview with The Asian Star. The number of Syrians helped till date are 140 and still going.

“We are always up for putting smiles on p e o p l e ’s face and making them happy”, smiled T o n y .

Collecting some h e a r t fe lt experiences from the time of yore Tony shared a story that happened with Fruiticana’s first stall at Vaisakhi 1994 in Surrey,” At Vaisakhi event in 1994, we did put Fruiticana’s sugarcane juice stall (popularly known as Ganne da rass in Punjab), many people liked the concept, however an old man began to shred tears as he was having this assortment after 50 years.

It is not how much you do; it is what you do.”

still they invited us over to dinner.

Even after 40 years I remember that she served us pizza and popsicles. I remember not liking the flavor of the alien food items by then but I remember their warm gesture and kindness that made us comfortable. I want to give the same positive feel to the refugees so that they feel a home away from home”, marked Tony.

Tony appreciated government grants and restaurant coupons provided by the Canadian government to these refugees but he believes that it becomes difficult to adjust with food items that taste entirely different than ones the people are used to.

Fruiticana is also involved with funding for BC Children Hospital, helping community initiatives and other day to day needs of the

Tony Singh of Fruiticana giving away free groceries to Syrian refugees Tony Singh is a well established name in our community and his initiatives are appreciated by people around Vancity. For Tony it’s not just a branding strategy to promote Fruiticana, in fact giving back to community has always been his passion.

“When refugees come into a country, they come empty handed.

As far as Syrians are concerned, so many children were preyed to terrorism. People still had the trauma

of unfortunate events in their eyes.

We want them to feel welcomed”, commented Tony.

Further Tony discussed his story as a child when he first landed in Canada.

“We moved to the apartment and did not know anyone. Our neighbours were White. They were entirely different from us. Different languages, different ways of life but

society. Talking about Corporate Social Responsibility and giving back to community Tony marked the most beautiful and inspiring lines: “If you take fruits from a tree then it is your responsibility to water it, that’s the essence of CSR and business. We were, we are and we will always be available for community whenever required.”

We wish fruiticana a great success with their community work and initiatives.

10 i Saturday, January 23, 2016

Local

Pessimism growing in B.C. over economy: poll

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wo of every five British Columbians plan to slash their household budget for entertainment and meals as pessimism grows about the province’s economy, according to a new poll. The high cost of real estate appears to be one of the main reasons, at least in Metro Vancouver. “This is the second time we asked about economic conditions over the last 13 months,” said Mario Canseco, vice-president of public affairs at Insights West, which conducted the online survey of 811 adults from January 13 to 15. “When we asked about it in November 2014, the numbers were pretty good for the government. People were very optimistic about the way things were going, two thirds of them saying the economic conditions were good. Now it’s almost 50-50. It’s plummeted by more than 20 points.

“Essentially, British Columbians are ready to tighten their belts, saying they’ll spend less on entertainment, less on dining out, less on new clothes. It’s a big contrast from what we found in November 2014.

“I think one of the problems that’s quite clear is the effect the housing market is hav-

ing on Metro Vancouver, where they tend to be more worried about that. What we see is seven out of 10 expect real estate prices to be higher. There’s no expectation that the bubble will burst and it’s making it difficult for those planning to buy a house.” The poll shows 46 per cent of residents describe the economic conditions in B.C. as “very good” or “good” (down from 67 per cent in a similar Insights West poll conducted for BC Business in November 2014), while 48 per cent deem them “poor” or “very poor” (up from 26 per cent). As well, two in five British Columbians expect the provincial economy to decline over the next six months. Two-thirds of British Columbians (65 per cent) say their own household’s finances are “very good” or “good,” while one-third say they are “poor” or “very poor.” Across the province, 43 per cent of British Columbians said they will “buy new clothes” less often (up 11 percentage points from 2014), 42 per cent said they will dine out less (up 12 points), 40 per cent said they will spend less on entertainment (up seven points) and 36 per cent will travel less (up seven points).

Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau (middle) with supporters at an event in Surrey last week, Pictured from left are Daljit Thind, MP Randeep Sarai, Dalminder Virk, Minister Bill Morneau, Ravinder S. Cheema, MP Sukh Dhaliwal and Parminder Chohan.

Photo: Chandra Bodalia

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ICBC data doesn’t support claims that B.C. drunk driving law saves lives: report While B.C. lawyers were telling Canada’s highest court that the province’s strict drunk-driving law has saved many lives, the government had access to research calling that conclusion into question. A draft ICBC report prepared in January 2015 suggests that B.C.’s automatic roadside prohibition scheme may have contributed to a decline in the number of fatal crashes by about 36 per year since September 2010.

But to confirm that finding, the consultant who prepared the report would have needed control data showing the trend in collisions over the same period if the so-called Impaired Driving Initiative wasn’t in place. Since nobody in the province is immune from the law, that would be impossible. “Without such data, it would not be possible to say whether any observed changes in collision frequency over time were due to the IDI or to the many other factors (e.g., weather, other road safety enforcement initiatives, traffic density, road improvements, availability of public transportation, etc.),” the draft reads. Instead, the consultant compared crash data from before and after September 2010 in five communities to produce a “descriptive study” of the law’s impact. The report was released this month in response to a Freedom of Information request from Vancouver law firm Mulligan Tam Pearson — nearly a year after the request was first made. It came with a letter from ICBC’s privacy adviser apologizing for the delay but offering no explanation for the long wait, which far exceeded the legal time limit of 30 days for a response. According to defence lawyer Michael Mulligan, exceeding the time limit isn’t the only issue with the late response.

“It’s a problem because that legislation has been considered in various ways during the intervening period of time when they didn’t provide disclosure of the information,” he said. For one thing, he thinks the report should have been disclosed before government lawyers headed to the Supreme Court of Canada to argue in favour of the law. In October, the high court upheld the latest version of the legislation, which was redrafted in 2012 after a B.C. Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional.

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LOCAL

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Health ministers agree to tackle drug prices, home care and mental health

ederal Health Minister Jane Philpott has wrapped up two days of meetings with provincial and territorial counterparts in Vancouver, with the ministers deciding to tackle drug prices, community care and innovation as top priorities. “Today we discussed a plan to work together,” said Philpott.

“I am committed to helping bring real change to health-care systems.” One specific action from the meetings is the creation of a working group on the high cost of prescription drugs, which today Ottawa agreed to join. “I’m very excited and gratified,” said Dr. Eric Hoskins, Ontario’s health minister, about the federal-provincial-territorial working group. It will look at “how to ensure that all Canadians have access to affordable prescription medications,” he said. Physician-assisted death law needs to set out clear rules, CMA says National pharmacare program tops coalition’s wishlist for health care reforms Health minister talking ‘priorities’ but provinces expected to press on funding Hoskins said as a physician, he dreams of a national pharmacare program in the works by 2017, Canada’s 150th birthday. “Imagine if July 1, while we’re cutting the cake ... we could also cut the ribbon on what might be the next steps in a national pharmacare program,” said Hoskins. “I think it would be a great gift to this country.” Media placeholder Federal and Ontario Health

Ministers work towards a possible national Pharmacare program 2:20 The group will build on the work of the provinces’ bulk-buying program, the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance, which saves money by negotiating large contracts with pharmaceutical companies.

“Even with that work, prescription drugs are still too expensive in this country,” said B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake.

No dollar figure During the talks, the provinces and territories insisted money must be discussed, pressing the federal government to cover 25 per cent of healthcare costs, to offset the financial pressure of helping aging populations.

No dollar figure was set in the Vancouver talks, but in a joint statement the ministers agreed “new resources” are needed, and Ottawa committed to working on a revised long-term funding arrangement.

Media placeholder BC Health Minister asks for a bigger share of Federal funding 1:13 The ministers also agreed to work on home care, mental health and innovation over the next several months.

No decisions were made around physician-assisted dying, while the federal government is working to craft new legislation on the topic. “Recognizing that Quebec has its own law, our governments will continue to work toward a consistent approach to physician-assisted dying in Canada,” said a joint statement from the ministers. Going into the meetings, Philpott talked of the need to reform the system and set common priorities.

Vancouver deputy police chief to take over Metro Vancouver Transit police

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s a young police officer on the gritty streets of East Vancouver, Doug LePard arrested bank robbers, murderers and even a cop killer on America’s most wanted list.

His efforts got him a bullet in his right thigh — his only gunshot wound in 35 years of service — and set him on a career path that included ranks of detective, sergeant and deputy chief.

“What has really been fantastic is I’ve had so many different careers,” LePard, 54, said Wednesday. “I really have loved all of my assignments. I never got tired of anything I was doing because I had so many opportunities to do other things.”

Now LePard has announced it’s time to move on, saying he will retire from the Vancouver Police Department to head the Transit police, which is responsible for Metro Vancouver’s transit system. It’s not known when he starts his new job, which is now been helmed by acting chief Barry Kross.

His decision follows an unsuccessful run for chief of the VPD. LePard withdrew his name in support to colleague Adam Palmer.

“I’ve been a deputy for 12 years — that’s a long time to be at one level,” LePard said.

“I still have a lot of energy and ideas.”

Kash Heed, a former B.C. solicitor general and VPD officer, said LePard will be a good fit for the transit job, saying he’s a creative leader who gets things done, even when others don’t always agree.

“Doug is the type of individual that if he thinks this is what we should be doing, at the end of the day we will be doing it,” Heed said. “He thought outside the traditional police box.

“Doug did ruffle a few feathers within the police environment. A lot of senior members didn’t like his leadership style. But at the end of the day, he accomplished a significant amount.”

As a young officer, for instance, LePard created a home invasion task force after elderly people were targeted across the city. In 1996, he formed the VPD’s first domestic violence and criminal harassment units, and was recognized as an expert in the investigation of stalking offences.

One of the most emotionally intense times of his career, he recalls, was the rescue of kidnapping victim Graham McMynn. The other was in 2005 when he was tasked with analyzing the VPD’s flawed investigation of serial killer Robert Pickton and 64 missing women. LePard issued a scathing review of the Pickton investigation in 2010, followed by a public apology.

The only silver lining of the Pickton inquiry, he said, were the recommendations made to improve policing in B.C. “I did not love my experience regarding the missing women but I’m proud of the work I did,” LePard said. “I’m sorry the missing women tragedy happened — it’s a tragedy that could have been avoided — but I’m glad some good came out of it.”

Wally Oppal, B.C.’s former attorney general who led the Pickton inquiry, said LePard was not afraid to analyze, and highlight, the mistakes the VPD made in the case of the missing women.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

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B.C. rejects Uber request to revise licensing regulations BC is rejecting a request by Uber that the government revise regulations on licensing such operations, saying the current system is ready to process “ride-sharing” services that want to operate in the province. Uber Canada argues that the current licensing system, which is overseen by B.C.’s Passenger Transportation Board, can’t accommodate ride-sharing services and called on the province to update the law.

But Transportation Minister Todd Stone, who earlier this week said he wanted to see services such as Uber “grow and flourish” alongside traditional taxis, ruled out legislative changes. He said if Uber wants, it can apply now.

“The regulatory framework is there,” Mr. Stone said Thursday. “Uber and com-

panies like it need to continue to sit down and talk through their wishes and desires.” The Transportation Ministry said such applications go first to a ministry registrar and then to the Passenger Transportation Board, a five-member independent tribunal that makes decisions on applications for licensing passenger-directed vehicles such as taxis, limousines and shuttle vans.

If licences are approved, they are issued by the Passenger Transportation Branch.

The provincial government has previously taken a strict line against Uber, but that message changed this week when Mr. Stone said Uber and other ride-sharing services will inevitably come to British Columbia.

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Vancouver School Board staff report calls for closure of up to 13 schools

s many as 21 Vancouver schools could be closed or repurposed, but it will take up to 14 years to shut all the doors, a Vancouver School Board staff report states.

The report, which has not yet been approved by trustees, calls for the closure of up to 11 or 12 elementary schools throughout the city and one secondary school, and the repurposing of about another eight schools. Repurposing a school would mean it would be closed to local enrolment, but would be used by students whose home school is being seismically upgraded.

Pressure has been on the VSB to close schools because the provincial govern-

ment has refused to pay for seismic upgrades unless they have a plan to get enrolment to 95 per cent of capacity.

Vancouver schools are currently at 84.6-per-cent utilization.

The government appointed a special adviser last year to help the school board balance its budget, and the adviser called for the closure of up to 19 schools to save money.

VSB chairman Mike Lombardi said the report gives a framework and several strategies for the board to get funding to expedite seismic upgrades and to build new schools where needed.

“We think it ... will get kids in schools that are safe as soon as possible,” Lombardi said. “No decisions have been made

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New passenger ferry set to run between Victoria and downtown Vancouver

German company that has taken control of the Seattle-based Clipper ferry operator plans to start running a high-speed passenger ferry between Victoria and downtown Vancouver this spring.

“This is huge for us,” said Merideth Tall, the founder, CEO and chairwoman of Clipper. She said the deal allows her to retain a large stake in the company.

“This is executing on a strategy that we’ve had for The new Victoria-Vancouver route would augment a long time, to grow the in- the existing Clipper service to Seattle frastructure and tourism inspecific about when the sailings would dustry all across North America, but begin, only that the ferry will be “signifiwe’ll particularly focus on this region.” cantly larger” than the company’s other She said the company is also vessels. The new ship will have a capaclooking at a possible service beity for 400 passengers, and will dock in tween Vancouver and Nanaimo. downtown Vancouver near Canada Place.

Clipper currently operates the Victoria According to a news release, GerClipper ferry on the Seattle-to-Victoria run. man-based global ferry and shipping group Tall said the new three-hour VancouFRS operates 60 vessels in 12 countries, ver-to-Victoria service will include just carrying more than seven million pasone round-trip daily. She could not be sengers and 1.9 million vehicles last year.

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Millionaire immigrant investor program sought 60 candidates

rime Minister Justin Trudeau’s pitch to convince the world’s richest that Canada is a good place to invest came too late for a pilot program intended to lure 60 millionaire immigrants to Canada in an effort to give the economy a boost, CBC News has learned. “There has never been a better time to look to Canada,” Trudeau said this week before a crowd of the world’s business elite at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

about school closure, no schools have been identified for closure and the VSB has a very clear policies for school closure.”

The VSB report doesn’t name specific schools to be closed, but it does give criteria, including low enrolment and low projected growth, proximity to and space in neighbouring schools, seismic risk, high deferred maintenance, and the potential for using the site to generate income.

Schools will be chosen to be repurposed based on similar criteria and whether they can accommodate both primary and intermediate students, if they can be used for more than one seismic project and if the site can accommodate portables.

The district has to prioritize which schools will be seismically upgraded first for earthquake safety. Those decisions will be made based on how full a school is, its seismic

The Immigrant Investor Venture Capital program, a revamped version of a program critics once denounced as “cash for citizenship,” was launched under the former Conservative government. It was meant to attract rich immigrants willing to make a non-guaranteed investment of $2 million up front to be held for 15 years in a fund managed principally by BDC Capital, the investment arm of the Business Development Bank of Canada, in return for perOn page 13

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Millionaire immigrant investor program From page 12 sought 60 candidates manent residency. They also had to prove they had even more money in the bank.

But a year after it was launched, the oneyear pilot program has yielded just seven applications from potential international investors and no permanent resident visas.

“The demand for this pilot program has been low,” said Nancy Caron a spokeswoman with the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

High hopes dashed The previous Conservative government thought it would result in hundreds of applications from rich immigrant investors. “The program will be open for applications from Jan. 28 to Feb. 11, 2015, or until a maximum of 500 applications are received,” the previous government announced around this time last year. ‘We are reviewing options to determine next steps, but no decisions have been made yet. We want to ensure our immigration system grows the economy and also focuses on family reunification.’

- “A total of seven applications are in process,” said the departmental spokeswoman this week, adding that as of Dec.

30, 2015, four applications had passed a first-stage review and three had passed a second-stage review and were “in process.” Only when an application reaches the second-stage is it then given a “pass or fail,” Caron explained. With all seven applications still in process, “No permanent resident visas have yet been issued under this program,” she said. ‘A blank cheque’ The previous Conservative government tightened up the rules under the new pilot after acknowledging that immigrant investors under the old program were not likely to stay in Canada over the long term and contributed “relatively little” to the Canadian economy. While the Conservatives were hoping to have better luck with this program than they did under the former Immigrant Investor Program, Richard Kurland, an immigration lawyer and policy analyst based in Vancouver, said the pilot was “broken” from the get-go. “Canada was asking prospective immigrants to write a blank cheque and hope that 15 years down the road they would see any return on that investment,” Kurland said

Postmedia integrating four major market newsrooms following Sun acquisition

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ostmedia integrating four major market newsrooms following Sun acquisition

multi-media journalists local news and events will be covered, reported on and investigated by one team in Ottawa, one team in Calgary, one team in Postmedia anEdmonton and nounced today it is one team in Vancombining the newscouver,” Godfrey rooms of Sun and said in the memo.

Postmedia newspa“What this means pers in Ottawa, Calis that today we gary, Edmonton and say goodbye to apVancouver, resulting proximately 90 of in about 90 job losses. our talented jourPostmedia Netnalists, colleagues work Canada Corp. and friends.” announced Tuesday Jose Rodriit will integrate the Postmedia integrating four major market guez will become newsrooms of Sun newsrooms following Sun acquisition the editor of the and Postmedia newsCalgary Sun and the Calgary Herpapers in Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and ald; Lorne Motley takes on the role of Vancouver, resulting in about 90 job losses. editor at the Edmonton Sun and the In a memo, Postmedia chief execuEdmonton Journal; and the Vancoutive Paul Godfrey said the Sun brand ver Sun and Vancouver Province will will remain separate from that of the be under the leadership of Rob Mcbroadsheet newspaper in each market Laughlin. The editor position of the and both newspapers will continue to combined Ottawa Citizen and Ottapublish. The content in those newspawa Sun newsroom has yet to be filled. pers, however, will now be produced Postmedia also announced that it is inteby an integrated staff of reporters ungrating national sports coverage, which der the direction of a single editor. will merge reporters from all news“Through a deep pool of talented rooms across the country under a single

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Canada ranked second best country in world

he annual schmooze-fest of the rich, powerful, famous and their courtiers in Davos, Switzerland, has already produced splendid news for Canada: we’re No. 2 in a new ranking of the best countries in the world.

Released at the World Economic Forum, the survey rated 60 countries across 24 categories.

Germany was first, Canada second, the United Kingdom third, the United States fourth and Sweden fifth.

The survey was prepared by U.S. News and World Report, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of business and global brand consultants BAV Consulting Canada, the survey said, welcomes immigrants and celebrates diversity, draws some of its national identity from its expansive wilderness, has produced a long list of accomplished writers and

artists, and is a high-tech industrial society with a high standard of living.

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney will be pleased to see a nod to the trade agreements of the ’80s and ’90s that the survey said dramatically bolstered trade with the United States.

“While the service sector is Canada’s biggest economic driver, the country is a significant exporter of energy, food and minerals,” it said. “Canada ranks third in the world in proven oil reserves and is the world’s fifth largest oil producer.”

Canadian challenges, it said, are “the concerns of indigenous people” and the perennial matter of relations between Quebec and the rest of the country.

“While constitutional guarantees allow the province wide-ranging cultural and linguistic autonomy, movements for complete independence come in waves.”

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TransLink driving away ridership: former CEO

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ransLink does not focus enough fees at park-and-ride lots and other decion boosting public transit ridsions have deterred transit users, he said. ership across Metro VancouEven the Compass card was touted as ver because it is too distracted a way to reduce fare evasion by road and bridge projects. rather than boost ridership.

That’s the crux of a confidential “The attempt to reconcile these report written by former interim conflicting mandates has resultCEO Doug Allen when he left ed in an enterprise with vague the transportation authority afgoals about producing regionter a six-month stint last August. al transportation plans,” Allen The report, released under said. “Because growing riderFreedom of Information, covers ship is not currently identified everything from TransLink’s tar- Doug Allen, former as the organizational priority nished reputation to its “confus- interim CEO of there are no projects, initiaing” governance structure and TransLink tives or strategies designed to the controversial Compass card. increase ridership. Many decisions are “TransLink is not focused on increasing actually counterproductive to this goal.” ridership,” Allen writes. “In recent years, TransLink has acknowledged it has seen ridership has been declining and this is a a rolling decline in ridership over the past critical issue for a transit system that is plantwo years, partly because of a 2013 fare inning expansion for a growing population.” crease. A move last fall to make all bus fares Allen said TransLink’s decision to focus one zone as part of the Compass card rollout on road and bridge improvements has credid result in a 1.1-per-cent boost in bus ridated a “conflicting mandate” for the board, ership, TransLink said, but it is forecasting a noting that as vehicle travel becomes $1.1-million decline in revenue next year as more efficient, transit becomes less apthe Compass card takes full effect and the pealing. The Golden Ears Bridge, parking number of cash fares “dramatically drops.”

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Canada shut out of meeting to discuss ISIL in apparent snub, reports say

anada has not been invited to a meeting of defence ministers in Paris this week to discuss the fight against ISIL militants, media reports say.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s office has confirmed to CBC News and the Globe and Mail that he won’t attend Wednesday’s meeting.

The reports say defence ministers from the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Australia and the Netherlands will take part in the talks.

Sajjan spokesman Renee Filiatrault told the

Globe that Canada’s plan to pull its CF-18s from the fight against ISIL had nothing to do with Canada’s exclusion from the meeting.

Omar Alghabra, the parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion, told the CBC it wasn’t a surprise as those seven countries meet regularly without Canada and the only thing different this time it that defence ministers will be there.

But Conservative defence critic James Bezan said the apparent snub shows Canada is no longer seen as a valuable ally.

Surge in fresh fruit and vegetable prices help push annual inflation up to 1.6%

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uelled by climbing prices for fresh fruits and vegetables, the pace of Canada’s annual inflation rate accelerated last month to 1.6 per cent, Statistics Canada said Friday. Inflation grew at its fastest pace in December since late 2014. Last month’s number also followed a 1.4 per

cent year-over-year increase in November, the agency’s latest consumer price index found. The figure came out as the economy deals with the effects of the steep slide in commodity and oil prices, which have also helped drag down Canada’s exchange rate. The lower loonie is expected to drive up costs for imported goods.

The report said prices for fresh fruit increased 13.2 per cent last month compared to a year earlier, while fresh vegetables rose 13.3 per cent.

The price of lettuce surged 21.8 per cent.

Overall, consumers spent 3.7 per cent more on food last month than the previous year. On top of higher produce prices, Canadians were also paying considerably more for home and mortgage insurance, automobiles and electricity compared to a year earlier, the report said.

The agency said lower prices for gasoline, natural gas and fuel oil applied downward pressure on inflation. Gasoline prices were down 4.8 per cent compared to December 2014, while natural gas decreased 12.9 per cent and fuel oil dropped by 16.8 per cent. But the slipping price of energy slowed somewhat, which allowed overall inflation to creep up, said Dawn Desjardins, deputy chief economist for RBC. “We all knew that there was going to be this huge weight on that headline rate because of the energy and now we’re seeing some relief from that,” Desjardins said.

“It’s kind of following the script, if you will, of what forecasters were looking for.”

To help explain the inflation-cooling effect, some analysts also pointed to the sharp monthly decline in the price of clothing and footwear, which fell 5.2 per cent from November to December.

But moving forward, National Bank senior economist Matthieu Arseneau predicts shoppers will continue to face higher prices for imported goods in many categories. “Despite weak energy prices, we don’t expect Canadian consumers to get some respite because the dive in the currency should be a significant offset,” Arseneau wrote in a note to clients.

By region, Statistics Canada found that consumer prices increased in every province last month compared to the year before, with British Columbia seeing the largest gain.

The core inflation rate, which excludes some volatile items such as gasoline, was up 1.9 per cent last month, slipping below the two per cent mark for the first time since July 2014. The core rate is followed closely by the Bank of Canada.

Statistics Canada also released its yearend review for 2015, which showed the country’s annual average increase in inflation was 1.1 per cent.

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Quebec woman is still being denied a passport even after terror charges dropped

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early two years after a court stayed charges against Mouna Diab (pictured), who had been accused of smuggling arms parts to the terror group Hezbollah, the government is still balking at granting her a passport.

The National Post has learned that Diab, 30, filed a motion with the Federal Court last month, claiming Ottawa is infringing her Charter rights by refusing to act on a passport application she made in June 2014.

The passport application came after the Crown abruptly dropped charges against Diab, who was arrested at Montreal’s Trudeau airport in 2011. A native of Lebanon, Diab immigrated to Canada in 1993 as a seven-year-old and gained Canadian citizenship two years later.

All charges dropped against

Savings at the pump not offsetting soaring produce prices

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anadians may be pocketing a little extra change at the gas pump and on their heating bills thanks to the plummeting price of crude, but experts say soaring food prices are more than offsetting those savings.

“The percentage of our budget that goes to transportation is much smaller than the percentage of our budget that is consumed in food,” said Ian Lee, an economics professor at Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business.

“Yes, we’re saving at the pump, but the savings are more than offset by what we’re paying in the food stores.”

The Bank of Canada’s efforts to stimulate the economy last year by slashing its overnight lending rate has been one factor in the loonie’s slide, in turn nudging the cost of fresh produce — which is predominantly imported — higher.

The price of fruits and vegetables climbed between 9.1 and 10.1 per cent last year and that is expected to continue rising, according to a report by the Food Institute at the University of Guelph.

“So much of what we buy as a consumer is imported,” says Perry Sadorsky, associate professor of economics at the Schulich School of Business at York University. “A lower dollar just makes the cost of importing more expensive.”

Meanwhile, gasoline prices have not fallen as dramatically as the price of crude, which is down roughly 75 per cent from its peak in June 2014.

“When you hear about lower oil prices, it does not necessarily translate into lower gasoline prices,” Sadorsky says.

former Quebec activist accused of smuggling a r m s to Hezbollah When she was charged with committing a crime for the benefit of a terrorist group, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police issued a news release alleging she was “acting under the direction of a contact person in Lebanon who is associated with Hezbollah.” She faced a second charge of violating a United Nations arms embargo of Lebanon.

But on April 17, 2014, a federal prosecutor requested a stay of pro-

ceedings, declaring in a brief statement that “there was no longer a reasonable prospect of conviction.”

Her passport had been revoked following her arrest. When she applied for a new one she was told her request required “a second level of examination” and would not be processed within the standard time.

Her lawyer, Richard Prihoda, said she was interviewed for 90 minutes by two Passport Canada agents in October 2014 and was told a decision was imminent.

Everybody keeps saying a decision is going to come soon, but here we are almost two years later, and nothing has been done “Everybody keeps saying a decision is going to come soon, but here we are almost two years later, and nothing has been done,” he said.

He would not speculate on why her application is being held up but de-

scribed her arrest and the subsequent charges as “a tempest in a teapot.”

Sunmedia files Sunmedia filesDiab’s lawyer said the lack of a passport is causing her hardship.

The federal attorney general has declared its intention to oppose Diab’s request for a court order requiring the Department of Citizenship and Immigration to act on her application.

The department would not comment when asked why Diab’s passport application has been delayed. “As the matter is before the court, it would be inappropriate to comment,” department spokeswoman Jessica Seguin said.

This would not be the first time the government has used its passport powers against people who have come under RCMP scrutiny.

The government has had the power to refuse or revoke passports on security grounds since 2004.

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16 i Saturday, January 23, 2016

B.C. adds computer-coding to curriculum as it emphasizes tech skills

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tudents in British Columbia’s public elementary schools are on track to become the first generation to get basic training in computer coding as the province answers a call from its thriving tech sector. Some children in grades six to nine will begin learning the ABCs of digital technology once the government adds coding to teachers’ lesson plans in its modernized curriculum. Schools will receive the new curriculum in September and the program is slated to be phased in over three years. The goal is to expose all kindergarten to Grade 12 students to coding basics within the next decade.

Premier Christy Clark announced the plan Monday among several initiatives to address a shortage of workers with digital skills that are needed by B.C. tech firms in the government’s bid to bolster the knowledge economy.

“You’ve told us ... you need more talent.

We know that’s crucial for your success,” Clark told about 2,800 delegates at the BCTech Summit. “Tech companies will locate in places where they can find the people that will be capable of doing the work.

We need to start that in our schools.”

Specific details, including costs to implement the curriculum changes, weren’t revealed as the program remains under development. Government officials said teachers will be given the opportunity to learn about coding during professional development days. The officials said they looked to jurisdictions including Ontario and Britain as examples in designing the policy, but noted there’s no place that’s implemented coding long enough to know its results. So far, the province has spent $500,000 running five coding academies over the past year for post-secondary students and has committed to expanding those camps into the next fiscal year.

Prosecuting Vancouver’s Stanley Cup riots cost the system nearly $5 million

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t cost almost $5 by the vast amount million to process of digital photo hundreds of peoand video evidence ple through the justice gathered on the system after the Stannight of the riot. ley Cup riot in VanIt says additional couver five years ago. funding was needThe cost is contained in ed because of the a report released by the extraordinary costs B.C. government that associated with looks at how police and A scene from the riot on June 15, 2011. It cost the prosecution. almost $5 million to process hundreds of people prosecutors tackled the The report esthrough the justice system after Vancouver’s mammoth task of prostimates the toStanley Cup riot. ecuting those involved tal monetary loss in the riots after the Vancouver Canuck’s caused by the riot was $3.78 million, inlost the Stanley Cup final in June 2011. cluding $2.7 million to downtown busiThe government’s criminal jus- nesses, $540,000 to civilians and $525,000 tice branch set up a riot prosecu- to the City of Vancouver, B.C. Ambution team that resulted in 284 guilty lance Service and St. Paul’s Hospital. pleas and nine convictions at trial.

The report says the task was made easier Canada snubbed by US

info@eyelevelrichmond.com www.eyelevelrichmond.com

and allies over ISIL

U.S. Defence Secretary Ash Carter won agreement Wednesday from defence ministers from France and five other nations to intensify the campaign against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militants in Iraq and Syria.

Carter said at a news conference with French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian that there was broad agreement on a co-ordinated plan to battle ISIL over the next year and retake key cities under the militants’ control. “We agreed that we all must do more,” Carter said shortly after a session with Le Drian and defence ministers from France, Australia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Britain. Carter also said the main 26 nations in the anti-ISIL coalition, as well as Iraq, will assemble in Brussels next month, after a NATO defence ministers’ meeting, to continue the talks. Those 26 countries have provided specific military troops, equipment or weapons in the campaign against the extremists. Other nations have provided various types of nonmilitary support, such as humanitarian aid. Carter urged the coalition to seize the opportunity now to hasten the terrorist group’s defeat.

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LOCAL ‘Maybe we will blow up your home’: RCMP warn of threatening phone scammers claiming to work for CRA

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hreatening scammers are impersonating Canada Revenue Agency employees and demanding cash from taxpayers in bold phone scams, the RCMP is warning.

Attempted cons often involve a fake agent claiming someone has made a mistake on their tax return and must immediately pay thousands of dollars “or else an arrest will be made,” according to a statement released by the RCMP. Fraudsters have even threatened to kill an uncooperative target or blow up their house, police said.

The scams can be hard to identify because fraudsters use spoofing software to make it seem like the call is coming from a legitimate CRA phone number, police say. Caller ID spoofing is currently legal in Canada, so citizens need other ways to identify fake calls.

In an attempt to thwart the fraudsters, the RCMP released the following transcript, which it describes as a “realistic portrayal of a CRA scam.” It is just one of many approaches used by fraudsters, police say. The names Eric Foster and Jonathan Knight have been used by actual CRA impostors.

The RCMP stressed that it is important to report any fraudulent calls to your local police service, and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, whether you fell for the scam or not.

If you receive a suspicious phone call from someone purporting to be the CRA, or any other government agency, police say you should follow these steps: 1. If you have caller ID, note the phone number 2. Look up the real phone number for the agency that is purportedly calling you 3. Contact the agency to find out if the call was legitimate 4. If not, report the fraudulent call

Rafay and Burns now have 3 innocence projects on their

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hree innocence projects have now taken up the case of West Vancouver men Atif Rafay and Sebastian Burns, who in 2004 were convicted of the 1994 slayings of Rafay’s parents and sister in their Bellevue, Washington home. Ken Klonsky is a Vancouver lawyer and director of Innocence International, founded by the late Rubin “Hurricane” Carter in 2004. He decided to take on the case after seeing a film about the case made

by Burns’ sister. “It appeared very similar, ... the occurrences around both convictions had glaring similarities,” he said, referring to an earlier exoneration he was part of, the case of David McCallum. He spent 29 years in prison before he was exonerated for a carjacking murder he didn’t commit.

Klonsky believes that there’s not enough evidence to convict Rafay and Burns, and that the confession central to their 2004 conviction should be thrown out because it was a Mr. Big operation. “There was no hard evidence, or forensic evidence, tying the defendants to the actual crime. For any innocence project, that’s number one on the list. Second, there were false confessions, brought about through actual or implied brutality. … So they were ready to say anything to satisfy these ‘gangsters.’” Klonsky says there was also evidence leading to other suspects that was not followed up on and investigators developed tunnel vision on Rafay and Burns. Rafay and Burns not sympathetic characters Klonsky says another problem Rafay and Burns faced was in the court of public opinion. They were simply not very sympathetic characters.

Ken Klonsky Innocence International director Ken Klonsky believes there was not enough evidence to convict Atif Rafay and Sebastian Burns of killing Rafay’s family.

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German police make first arrest in Cologne New Year’s Eve sexual assaults

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wo cities, Vancouver and Ottawa, are taking a break from accepting any more government-assisted Syrian refugees as agencies in both cities try to work through housing bottlenecks. A surge of arrivals in the last month filled temporary housing to capacity and the settlement groups responsible say they need time to move people into permanent homes before they can accept any new cases.

The director of settlement for the Immigrant Services Society of B.C. says the pause in Vancouver will last five days, beginning Tuesday. Even though the group added 700 beds to its housing stock, it is still taking time to find permanent homes, Chris Friesen said.

“Nobody is stuck in an airport for a week or something like that,” he said. “Overseas, what it means is either they will put them on later flights or they may (send) them to new centres that have current capacity just to keep the flow going,” he said. Friesen said it also took more time than expected for the federal

Immigration Department to process the cheques newcomers use to pay for their first homes and other needs. In Ottawa, officials had been gearing up for large numbers of privately sponsored refugees but what came first was the influx of government-assisted ones, filling the available beds. A delay in accepting new government-assisted refugees could last as long as a week. “The timing just needs to be spread out a bit, it’s just been this huge influx over a two-week period,” said Leslie Emory, the executive director of the Ottawa Immigrant Community Services Organization. The pause only applies to government-assisted refugees, those whose costs are covered entirely by the federal government. Upon arrival in Canada, they are sent to one of 36 cities that have resettlement agreements with the government. Of the 25,000 Syrians the Liberals plan to bring in by the end of February, about 15,000 are to be part of that category and 5,932 have arrived so far.

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Farhan Akhtar - Adhuna Bhabhani divorce

‘Sunny Leonne, I will be happy to work with you: Aamir Khan

arhan

Akhtar’s divorce news has come as a shock to everybody. There has been speculation for a long time that the actor and his wife Adhuna Bhabhani have decided to split up, and now, the reports say they are ending their marriage of 16 years. The “Wazir” actor has reportedly moved out of his Bandra house and is looking for an apartment, according to Mid-Day. After his co-actor Hrithik Roshan, Farhan

has decided to get a divorce, though no particular reason behind the split has come to light. However, the reports suggest the couple has issued an official statement on Wednesday. “This is to announce that we, Adhuna and Farhan, have mutually and amicably decided to separate.

Katrina breaks off with Ranbir

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atrina and Ranbir’s break up was a shock for their fans. The Kapoor boy has left the love nest (where he stayed with ex lady love Katrina) and has shifted into a new house (Wilson apartment) which is close from his parents (Rishi and Neetu Kapoor) residence in Bandra.

A source informs, “Ranbir has shifted in the new apartment almost a week back, and he has kept his presence in

Katrina

Court accepts plea against Shah Rukh, Salman for wearing shoes in temple

“Sunny, I will be happy to work with you. I have absolutely no problems with your past.

Stay blessed,” he tweeted, adding that the Mastizaade actress had conducted herself with a lot of dignity,

Meerut: A local court here today accepted a plea by Hindu Mahasabha against Bollywood superstars Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and a private TV channel for purportedly showing the actors inside a temple wearing shoes during a reality show.

Star & Style

2 i Saturday, January 23, 2016

Horoscope

Is Kareena Pregnant?

Libra

Aries

Sept. 24 - Oct 22

March 21 - April 20 Can other people really make us happy? Or sad? Perhaps we sometimes give them too much credit or attribute them with too much blame. Feelings only exist in one place... our own hearts. I cannot feel what you feel, nor can you feel what I feel. We can, of course, experience complementary emotions. We can also ‘feel for’ each other. But nobody can ‘make’ anyone feel anything.

Taurus

‘Peace, love and harmony.’

That’s what we want, isn’t it? What else could we aspire to? Well, there is prosperity too, but here in this forecast, we are focusing on needs of the heart. While it may be easier to rest if we know that we can pay our bills, that is not, in itself, an indication of true fulfilment.

When our personal lives are contented and secure, we hardly care what other troubles we may face. With the right people by our side, we can solve any problem. You’ll

Scorpio

April 21 - May 20 Ancient Asian scriptures speak about the Law of Karma. ‘You get back’ they say, ‘what you give out’. True though this is about our relationship with the cosmos, is it not also an astute observation about the way we all relate to each other? Do you now suspect you are now being punished, in your personal life, for something that happened so long ago, it may almost have been in a previous

Gemini

May 20 - June 21 No matter how attracted we may be to one another, our mutual involvement won’t prove satisfactory, unless there is a clear line of communication. When two people get along, when they find that they are each on the same wavelength, when they have an almost instant, effortless, rapport, a sense of belonging will naturally bubble up and turn it into any number of other encouraging emotions.

Work, this week

Cancer

June 22 - July 23

We think we know what other people need.

Or what they feel. Or what’s happening in their hearts. They look at us and are similarly inclined to make assumptions. Sometimes, the guesswork proves accurate but only briefly is that a blessing. If it increases our confidence to the point where we feel sure we know all there is to know about a loved one, then it soon begins to work against us.

Oct 23 - Nov 22 Why do any of us attract a degree of romantic interest from others? It really isn’t ever only because of the way we look. Even if, by adjusting our appearance, we can create a temporary flurry of appreciation, what people truly sense when they unconsciously evaluate each other, is a much more profound sense of integrity and identity. In your heart of hearts, whether you know it or not, you are special.

Coming events will naturally enable you to communicate this very point to someone else as special as you.

June 24 - August 23 We think we know how things need to be.

We have ideas, ideals, visions and hopes. Inspiring though these are, we often feel frustrated when these fail to match reality. But reality itself, may have little wrong with it other than the fact that it contrasts with an impossible dream. Might it not be worth trying, this week, to feel more relaxed and accepting about the way things are, than to indulge in a less painful comparison with a view of how they should be? That, in itself, could bring real sunshine to your heart.

Virgo

Nov 23 - Dec 22

When we exaggerate with words or gestures, do we seem silly? Not if we do so knowingly. There is something endearing about a person who sees the humour in extremes.

It is, though, difficult to introduce levity into any situation that has become overly serious.

If you fear that somewhere in your personal life there’s misunderstanding, the best way to stop a drama from becoming too overblown may be to highlight a source of potential tension by deliberately overreacting.

The upshot could be an easier situation.

Capricorn Dec 23 - Jan 20 People who are

having happy love lives often come across as more attractive to others. Conversely, those with an inner ache may drive away the very offers of help they might most benefit from. I mention this irony because of a rare opportunity that the sky is now offering. You can alter the signs and sig-

We all want to feel we are loved. We all want to feel that we have someone to love. Which of these things do we want more? Perhaps we feel they are indivisible. We don’t want one without the other and thus we want both equally. But all things must start somewhere.

Does love begin with loving - or with allowing oneself to be loved? There may be no universal answer but for now at least, the cosmos suggests you will soon find the answer that is right for you and the one that works most satisfactorily.

Kabir Bedi marries long-time girlfriend Parveen Dusanjh (who is 4 years younger than his daughter) on his 70th birthday

Kabir Bedi surprised his close friends and the guests by tying the knot with his long-time girlfriend Parveen Dusanj on his 70th birthday. The couple has been together for the last 10 years. It was earlier said that Kabir and Parveen will break the news of their marriage to everyone at his birthday bash.

Asin married

Aquarius

Jan 21 - Feb 19 Aquarians take pride in being idiosyncratic. Or, at least, they ought to do. You may as well revel in the characteristics that make you appear perversely peculiar because it is highly unlikely that you will ever be able to quell them. Do these not make relationships tricky at times? Perhaps. But they also ensure that only those with discrimination and unique, interesting characteristics of their own,

Pisces

August 24 - Sept 24

Kabir Bedi marries long-time girlfriend Parveen (who is 4 years younger than his daughter) on his 70th birthday

Sagitarius

nals that you are sending out and ensure greater interest from those with the most power to assist you by subtly acknowledging the way in which you may be able to do them a similar favour.

Leo

While no one from the actress’ family was willing to confirm the pregnancy rumours a friend on condition of anonymity admitted that there is every likelihood that Kareena is expecting. “She hasn’t told me anything. And even if she did, why would I share it with you? No. But we suspect she may be pregnant and will only make the announcement after she finishes shooting for R Balki’s Ka & Ki.”

Feb 20 - March 20 Are you psychic? Clairvoyant? Tradition tells us that Pisceans fit those descriptions.

Does not your own experience confirm it?

Consider, for example, the insight you are now getting into someone else’s unconscious mind. How can you know what they are thinking and feeling when they themselves are not even so sure? Trust the seemingly supernatural knowledge that is making itself available and be delicate in the way that you communicate your awareness. There’s much to gain from this.

The Bachchans 4 generation

As they say, marriages are made in heaven, Bollywood actress Asin Thottumkal (middle) and businessman Rahul Sharma tied a knot yesterday in a private ceremony.

Akshay (left) was the one who brought the newly-married couple together.

Akshay was the first one to get the invitation card Asin got married to Rahul co-founder of Micromax in a church wedding, followed by traditional Hindu rituals in a resort at a hotel in Delhi

Bollywood personalities’ birthdays this week KIM SHARMA 21 January

NAMARTA SHIRODKAR 22 January

RAMESH SIPPY 23 January

SUBHASH GHAI 24 January

RIA SEN 24 January

BOBBY DEOL 25 January

Star & Style

New released Bollywood films _ Janaury 22 - Janaury 29 29 January

Mastizaade Type: Adult Comedy Sunny Leone, Tusshar Kapoor, Milap Zaveri, Vir Das, Shaad Randhawa, Gizele Thakral, Ritiesh Deshmukh

T

Saturday, January 23, 2016 i 3

Dilapidated Kapoor Haveli Saved From the Brink of Demolition in Pakistan

he Kapoors now have their bastion in Mumbai, spread widely around the vicinity of RK Studios, but not many people know that Raj Kapoor, son of Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsarni Devi Kapoor was born in Dhakki Munawwar Shah near Qissa Khwani in Peshawar in Pakistan. The historical Kapoor haveli is situated in Dakki Munawar Shah, which is surrounded by huge building and narrow streets; the house was well-decorated with pieces of stone architecture of its time.

It will be sad to see such a beautiful building disappear

Aamir Khan in Ludhiana

29 January

Saala Khadoos Type: Sports Sudha Kongara, R Madhavan, Ritika Singh

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, who arrived in Ludhiana to commence the shoot of his upcoming film ‘Dangal’, was mobbed by his fans who were trying to catch a glimpse of the superstar. Aamir Khan was escorted with a tight security on his way to the shooting location as people thronged the area in large numbers at Janta Nagar in Ludhiana.

‘Comedy Night with Krushna’ to take over Kapil

“Comedy Nights With Kapil comes to an end on January 17. But fans of Kapil Sharma, Sunil ‘Gutthi’ Grover, Kiku ‘Palak’ Sharda and Ali ‘Daadi’ Asgar need not despair. The series will move to the Star channel with all the beloved characters Says a source in the know, “As Comedy Nights With Kapil ends on Colors, negotiations are on for the entire team to move to Star. Everyone in the team is with Kapil. Only Navjot Singh Sidhu is undecided.

But he too is likely to join Kapil on the show on Star which would have a completely new name and format.”

Back on Colors Comedy Nights With Kapil will now be called Comedy Nights With Krushna. Comic actor Abhishek Krushna takes over the show from Kapil Sharma

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4 i Saturday, January 23, 2016

Aamir Khan pays Gippy Grewal a Visit

Bollywood veteran Aamir Khan who is in Punjab, shooting for Dangal paid Punjabi Singer/Actor Gippy Grewal a visit. Aamir was accompanied by his team from Dangal.

Gippy posted a thank you note on his Facebook page along with a selfie with Aamir

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Saturday, January 23, 2016 i 5

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I

Why a one-year fixed mortgage is your best bet

t’s a decision that millions of Canadian homeowners struggle with repeatedly during their time as homeowners: Do they choose the security of a fixed-rate mortgage, or opt for the flexibility (and usually lower cost) of a variable rate and hope that rates don’t spike higher? But right now, conditions in the mortgage market mean homeowners can actually get the best of both worlds, according to market-watchers.

For years, we’ve seen evidence that people who opted for variable-rate mortgages ended up saving money over the fixed-rate crowd —anywhere from 77 to 90 per cent of the time, depending on the period selected and the assumptions used.

Despite that, 60 per cent of the 5.8 million mortgages out there are fixedrate mortgages, and the five-year term is especially popular. Another 31 per cent of mortgages are variable- or adjustable-rate. The rest are hybrids that have a bit of both types of mortgages built in.

In the past year, we’ve seen evidence that people have been starting to swing more towards variables (see table). But in the past few months, two things have happened in the Cana-

dian mortgage market that may have the “variable-is-best” crowd changing their minds … or at least re-thinking what used to be an easy decision.

Variable has a catch First of all, the traditional discount that lenders used to apply to variable rate mortgages is fast becoming a thing of the past.

“In the last couple of months, there’s been a big shift back to fixed rates,” says mortgage broker Robert McLister, who edits the popular mortgage news site CanadianMortgageTrends. com. “The average discount went from prime minus 0.80 per cent to prime minus a quarter,” he told CBC News.

Widespread discounts ■Average posted 5-year fixed-rate mortgage:

5.38% ■Average discounted 5-year fixed-rate mortgage: 3.92% ■Average discount: 1.46 percentage points Source: CAAMP/Maritz survey, Fall 2011 That puts a typical five-year variable-rate mortgage around 2.75 per cent.

At the same time, McLister says fixed 4 i Saturday, July 25, 2015 rates have dropped. Mortgage brokers can

arrange a five-year fixed-rate mortgage for as little as 3.25 per cent – or about two full percentage points below the posted rates at the big banks. That rate represents a spread of just half a percentage point over the variable-rate mortgage. McLister says the spread between these two is normally

Professional and Award Winning Service

125 basis points or more (1.25 percentage points). At this point, you may be thinking that people who have variable-rate mortgages still can’t lose, because they can always choose to lock in to a fixed-rate mortgage at any time. Very true. But McLister points out that people who do this typically don’t get

6 i Saturday, January 23, 2016

German billionaire to buy Vancouver’s coveted Royal Centre office tower for more than $400 million

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erman multi-billionaire Klaus-Michael Kuehne is close to a deal to buy one of Vancouver’s largest office towers, which houses Royal Bank of Canada’s British Columbia head office, the Financial Post has learned.

Kuehne, who Forbes estimates is worth about US$10.6 billion, is said to have paid about $725 per square foot for Royal Centre at 1055 West Georgia Street, a building owned by Brookfield Office Properties. Brookfield lists the office component of the 36-storey building at 493,000 square feet.

The purchaser is said to be represented by Forgestone Capital Management LP, which bills itself as a private equity firm that invests in real estate development, income-producing properties and debt placement within major markets across Canada. A spokesman for Forgestone would not comment.

The deal, reportedly worth $425 million, but which has yet to close, is another sign of weakness in the Canadian loonie, making real estate acquisitions an attractive opportunity for foreign buyers.

“It’s a big number for that building,” said a source, indicating there was heavy bidding on the tower from buyers, including interest from China.

The capitalization rate, the ratio of net income to property value, is reported to be 3.7 per cent — a number that probably would have been driven lower except

RBC has extremely favourable lease terms driving the income. The lower the cap rate, the more a property is worth.

Ross Moore, an independent real estate consultant, described the building as “centre ice” and the no. 1 intersection in Vancouver. “Without question the dollar is having some impact on the market,” he said. “The United States is expensive and Canada is a good alternative and people will always pay up for Vancouver.”

Paul Finkbeiner, chief executive of GWL Advisors, which manages $17 billion in real estate assets, said there is still demand from domestic players for real estate here, but they are now competing with foreign capital.

“That foreign capital is now trying to take advantage of the currencies,” Finkbeiner said. “Why do foreign investors like Canada? Because it’s a safe haven.

It’s better than the stock market and it’s a currency play. Canada is cheap.”

He said Canadian institutions and buyers have some concern about growth in the domestic market despite the currency disadvantage.

Finkbeiner said the problem with making a bet on the United States for a Canadian buyer is it is fraught with currency risk.

“If it goes the wrong way and the Canadian dollar comes back you lose any growth, you haven’t made any money,” said Finkbeiner.

Saturday, January 23, 2016 i 7

People who live in high-rise towers are less likely to survive a cardiac arrest

I

t might give you a better view, but living in a high-rise building could prove fatal. Research out today suggests people are more likely to survive cardiac arrest if they live on the first couple of floors of a building.

In particular, those who have a flat on the third floor or higher are less likely to survive. Worryingly, survival was negligible for residents living above the 16th floor.

Ian Drennan, a paramedic with York Region Paramedic Services and a researcher said: ”As the number of high-rise buildings continues to increase and as population density rises in major urban centres, it is important to determine the effect of delays to patient care in high-rise buildings on survival after cardiac arrest.”

Particularly those living on floor three or higher have a reduced risk of survival More than 100 babies a week born at risk of killer heart defects –...

Rugby star’s widow backs heart campaign after husband dies from...

The team looked at 8216 people who suffered cardiac arrest and had been treated by first responders. Of the 5998 living below the third floor, 4.2 per cent survived the arrest. Only 2.6 of the 1884 people living above the third floor survived.

The researchers found a survival rate of a mere 0.9 per cent for those living above the 16th floor and, shockingly, no survi-

Recipe

Rice 1 cup Tomatoes 1/2 can, Green Pepper 1, Onions 1-2 Green Chillies 2-3, Ginger 1/2 inch, Garlic 2-3 cloves Fresh coriander bunch

Random spices Method: · Fry cut onions, green pepper, ginger, garlic, random spices (cloves, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaves) and salt for 5 10 minutes. ·Add tomatoes, sauté for a while. ·Add washed and drained rice, fry for 5 minutes or so.

This is a simple recipe, flavorful dish served at room temperature.

This dish will refrigerate well and is just as good the next day for lunch as a cold pasta salad

Ingredients :

O

vors for those living above the 25th floor.

It seems the best chance of survival lies with those who have private homes, as 3.8 per cent survived to be discharged from hospital.

The researchers highlight the use of automated external defibrillators (AED) was very low in the study.

Those living above the 25th floor had minimal chance of surviving The research team - from Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto - advise there are several solutions to boost survival rates.

They first suggest as giving paramedics and first responders sole access to elevators for emergency service without public interference - similar to the access of firefighters in the event of a fire.

On top of this, they recommend emergency alerts to building staff before arrival of the paramedics and better placement of defibrillators to increase bystander use.

Other health experts recommend solutions such as including CPR/AED training for residents in blocks of flats, a national online registry of public-access

Tomato Rice

Ingredients

Tomato, Basil, Pasta

Add more water and cook until rice is done.

Serve hot.

Extra fancy: Top rice with cheese, tomato and green pepper slices (rings, e.g.) and bake for 20 25 minutes at 250o.

CURD RICE Ingredients Rice 400 gm Fresh curd 600 ml Milk 400 ml Salt to taste Ginger 10 gm Green Chillies 10 gm Mustard seeds 4 gm Asafoetida A pinch Curry leaves 1 sprig Oil 30 ml Method: · Boil rice, add salt and cook slightly · Mix with curd, add boiled and cooked milk chop green chillies and ginger · Heat oil, fry mustered seed and asafoetida. · Add curry leaves and chopped ingredients sauté for 2 minutes. · Switch off the fire and add the rice, curd mixture to the pan

riginal recipe makes 6 servingsChange Servings, 2 cupsdiced tomatoes, 1 smallonion, finely chopped, 6 tablespoonsolive oil 2 clovescrushed garlic, 6 leavesfresh basil, torn, 10 ouncesfusilli pasta, 3 tablespoonsgrated Parmesan cheese, or to taste, 1 1/2 cupscrumbled feta cheese, salt and ground black pepper to taste

Method:

defibrillators linked to first-responder applications and using smartphones to activate volunteer first responders for patients with cardiac arrest.

The researchers made suggestions for possible solutions to this problem Associate Professor Marcus Eng Hock Ong, Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital said: “Singapore has a multi-pronged approach to address high-rise residential out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.”

According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body.

Someone who is having a cardiac arrest will suddenly lose consciousness and will stop breathing

1.Stir tomatoes, onion, olive oil, garlic, and basil together in a bowl.

2.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook fusilli in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but firm to the bite, 12 minutes. Drain.

3.Toss warm pasta with feta cheese and Parmesan cheese in a large bowl. Stir tomato mixture into pasta and season with salt and pepper.

or stop breathing normally - unless immediately treated by CPR this always leads to death within minutes.

Immediate CPR can be used to keep oxygen circulating around the body until a defibrillator can be used and/or until the ambulance arrives.

8 i Saturday, January 23, 2016

AUTO

General Motors targets car-sharing market with ‘Maven’

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he final destination is a mystery, but General Motors is taking another step on its fast-moving journey into new ways of getting around.

The company on Thursday announced that it’s formed a brand called “Maven” that will run its car-sharing ventures, including a new one that will begin competing with ZipCar next month in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and spread to other metro areas later this year.

GM executives said they expect their main business model of selling cars to people will continue to be large, but they also see big changes coming with ride- and car-sharing.

“We see significant opportunity as that change occurs,” GM President Dan Ammann said. “We very much as a company want to make sure we’re at the forefront of that.”

The unveiling of Maven comes on the heels of two new mobility deals announced by GM this year: a $500 million investment in ride-hailing company Lyft and the purchasing of the remnants of defunct ride-hailing company Sidecar. Maven already has 21 parking spaces and new GM vehicles assigned to the area around the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, including spots in dormitory lots. It’s also expanding a residential car-sharing project to more apartment buildings in New York City and to Chicago.

The Ann Arbor project will let people rent cars for as little as $6 per hour through a smart-phone app that connects to the cars’ OnStar system.

Customers will be able to sign up for the cars and remotely unlock them through the app. No immediate boost expected The service is recruiting customers and is in testing now, but should be open to the public in February, said Julia Steyn, GM vice-president of urban mobility.

As recently as last year, GM executives seemed nonplussed by trends toward a transportation-sharing economy, but Ammann said plans were in the works long ago with the 200-mile Chevrolet Bolt electric car and deals in the works.

The company doesn’t expect a huge boost in revenue initially, but with 5 million to 6 million people worldwide already sharing vehicles, “we see it as a real commercial opportunity,” Ammann said.

For now, Lyft will remain outside the Maven brand, but GM sees it as a way to deploy self-driving Bolts in limited geographic areas, Ammann said, declining to estimate just when that will happen.

Automakers have been poking around new mobility for a while. In 2008, Daimler AG started Car2Go, a car-sharing service that now operates in 29 European and North American cities. Last year, Daimler bought RideScout, an Austin, Texas, app that shows the fastest way to get somewhere using buses, bikes and other transportation. BMW AG operates its own car-sharing service, DriveNow, in nine European cities. Toyota Motor Corp. is part of a program in Grenoble, France, that lets people take short trips in tiny electric cars.

Honda Motor Co. partnered with ZipCar, providing a fleet of Honda Fits for oneway rental.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

i

19

B.C. rejects Uber request to revise licensing regulations From page 11 sked about how his thinking on the file has evolved, Mr. Stone repeated Thursday that the government has been listening to residents of the province on this file.

“We’re hearing pretty consistently from a lot of British Columbians who see the benefits of the types of services that ride-sharing services like Uber provide and really want to see these services offered in British Columbia,” he said.

Such companies are welcome to operate if they follow the rules, he added.

The company has already launched its UberX service – which allows passengers to connect with drivers using a smartphone app outside the traditional taxi system – in other Canadian cities, often without permission from regulators. Critics say the service allows drivers to operate without the oversight, training and insurance required by cab drivers.

The opposition NDP accused the minister of inconsistent positions, suggesting in a statement issued Thursday that the government has come “full circle” on Uber. NDP Leader John Horgan said his party supports evolving transportation models, as long as the rules are fair and equally applied, and consumer safety is ensured.

Ride-sharing services have picked up some cautious support from other quarters. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, in a letter to Mr. Stone released this week, wrote that the B.C. government must update its system for regulating taxi service as a prelude to allowing ride-sharing services such

A

as Uber into the province.

Vancouver councillors placed a moratorium in the fall of 2014 on any licensing that would allow Uber to operate in the city, and they have yet to lift those restrictions. Unlike in other Canadian cities, where Uber has launched in defiance of local officials’ warnings, the company has yet to operate in Vancouver – aside from a brief period in 2012, during which it ran its black-car service until it faced resistance from regulators.

On Thursday, an Uber Canada spokeswoman said in an e-mail exchange that “there is currently no process to apply for ride-sharing in B.C.,” and that the company hopes for legislation this spring. But it did not address the disagreement with the B.C. government.

Susie Heath pointed to Edmonton, where debate is under way to set up a fee structure for ride-sharing companies such as Uber. “We are cautiously optimistic that Edmonton could become the first Canadian city to approve a workable regulatory framework for ride-sharing,” she said.

In November, luxury sedan company Ripe Rides, which operates with a smartphone app linking customers to its sedans, won the right to operate in Vancouver with 20 licences.

20 i Saturday, January 23, 2016

Liberal MP returns to work after seeking treatment for an alcohol problem

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Liberal MP who sought treatment for an alcohol problem last month said Monday he is “reporting back for duty” in Ottawa. Seamus O’Regan said in a Facebook post that he has dealt with his “personal challenges” and will continue to do so. “But, ultimately, my personal challenges are secondary to the needs of my constituents,” he said. The rookie politician, who represents St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, said he checked into a Toronto treatment facility last month immediately after wrapping up his work on Parliament Hill. The former journalist and host of CTV’s Canada AM said he made the decision after realizing that simply

NATIONAL

trying to drink less wasn’t working. “Over the last year or two, alcohol was becoming a part of my daily life. I regularly had several drinks at the end of most days. Sometimes more than several drinks,” he wrote.

“I was still working effectively and competently, but I realized, over time, that being competent was not good enough. I was far from my best self. And the simple truth is that I owe my best self to my marriage, to my family, to my friends, and to my constituents.” O’Regan said he remained at the facility until a few days ago and has been sober for 40 days. He said he feels “stronger, healthier, and more engaged” than he has in a long time, and plans to maintain his new lifestyle.

T

Liberals wind down controversial audits of charitable groups

he Liberal government says it is winding down a controversial Conservative program of political-activity audits on charities. Some 24 ongoing audits will continue in an effort to address any “serious deficiencies” that are found, Federal Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier said Wednesday in a news release.

But six other charities previously targeted for examination won’t get audited, and five organizations that previously had their charitable status revoked are being invited to appeal. “The results of the political activities audit program have shown that the charities audited have been substantially compliant with the rules regarding their involvement in political activities,”

Lebouthillier said in the release. “In light of these outcomes, the program will be concluded.” The former Conservative government committed a total of $13.4 million since 2012 to auditing political activity by groups that do charitable work, including a number of environmental and international aid organizations.

The time-consuming audit program prompted critics to accuse the government of launching a politically motivated witch hunt, while the Liberals described the audits as “political harassment.” Registered charities are permitted to devote a maximum of 10 per cent of their resources to “political activities,” while at the same time being forbidden from engaging in any partisan

British PM’s push for Muslim women to learn English criticized online

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.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, centre, meets women attending an English class during a visit to the Shantona Women’s Centre in Leeds on Jan. 18. Cameron told the BBC that Muslim women must improve their English skills to better integrate into British society, or else some could face deportation.

British Prime Minister David British Prime Minister David Cameron meeting with Muslim women in London.

Cameron announced Monday that immigrant women who fail to learn English risk deportation, while grant women, who would have to show singling out Muslim women in particular an improvement in language skills over as a group needing instruction. Whatever five years. The U.K. currently asks for the intended sentiment, many on the inter- foreign-born spouses to have a prinet did not take the announcement well. mary level of English when they enter The announcement comes with a £20-mil- the country on a spousal visa, but this lion fund for English classes for immi- new program would go beyond that.

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Britain announce a £20-million fund to help Muslim women avoid isolation

ONDON—Britain’s leader says Muslim women must improve their English to integrate into British society, arguing that improved national cohesion is the best antidote to extremism. Prime Minster David Cameron on Monday pledged to fund English language classes for Muslim women immigrants, and warned some could be deported if they fail to reach certain standards.

The 20-million-pound ($28.5-million) fund

will help tens of thousands of women facing social isolation and discrimination and emphasize that Britain has expectations for those who want to live in the country, Cameron said. “I think it’s quite right to say to people who come to our country that there are many rights that you have here — it’s a fantastic country to live in — but there are also obligations that we should put on people who come to our country, and chief

POLITICS

Saturday, January 23, 2016 i 21

Ottawa appears ready to lift sanctions against Iran after landmark deal by U.S.

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anadian government appears to be preparing to lift sanctions against Iran – with Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion saying businesses in Canada would be disadvantaged if Ottawa doesn’t join major powers in removing barriers to commerce with Tehran. Dion made it clear that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet must still make a decision on whether to remove sanctions following a landmark

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deal brokered by U.S. President Barack Obama that sought to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions for the foreseeable future. Speaking at a Liberal government cabinet retreat in New Brunswick, Mr. Dion said Ottawa must decide in a “timely fashion” so that Canadian companies hoping to do business with Iran are not disadvantaged.

He said to keep the sanctions in place would create a “situation where Canadian

Peter MacKay says there’s plenty of time to consider Tory leadership

ormer cabinet minister Peter MacKay says he’s keeping his eyes on the issues, but he has plenty of time to consider whether to enter the federal Conservative leadership race. The leadership convention is now set for May 2017, and MacKay says 16 months is a long time to be involved in any contest. Recent polls have named MacKay as an early frontrunner, but he says right now his priority is to spend time with his young family.He did not run in last Oc-

tober’s federal election that saw the Liberals win a majority government and capture all 32 seats in Atlantic Canada, including MacKay’s former Nova Scotia riding of Central Nova.

Speaking in Fredericton, MacKay said a decision on becoming a leadership candidate is more about timing than other factors. MacKay was the final leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada before he and Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper agreed to merge the parties in 2003.

Defence minister calls for ‘better intelligence capabilities’ in wake of deadly African attack

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efence Minister Harjit Sajjan says better intelligence capabilities, as well as co-operation with Canada’s allies, are essential for preventing the types of terror attacks that have struck Burkina Faso and other parts of the world. Six Canadians were killed over the weekend when militants linked to al-Qaida stormed a hotel in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso in West Africa. Days earlier, a Canadian was killed during an attack by Is-

lamic State-inspired terrorists in Indonesia.

Speaking on the sidelines of a three-day retreat between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet ministers, Sajjan said Canada has “to get better at our intelligence capabilities in other parts of the world so that we have a better chance of preventing attacks like this from happening.

“This only happens if we start working in

Justin Trudeau pressed on Liberal vow to end airstrikes against ISIS

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s Canada’s allies agreed to “accelerate and intensify” their fight against Islamic extremists, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was pressed on the global stage Wednesday to explain the “logic” behind his pledge to end the combat mission by Canadian fighter jets. Appearing at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trudeau found himself on the hot seat as talk turned from the economy to the anti-terror fight. The prime minister spoke with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, who asked him to explain “clearly” whether Canada would end the airstrikes by CF-18 fighters. “Canada recognizes that we need a global, concerted response to the war on terror and Canada has an important role to play on a humanitarian side, on a refugee side and yes, on the military side as well,” Trudeau replied. But the prime minister said that Canada has committed to end airstrikes “in exchange for another way of military involvement, probably around training and such things that can help local troops bring the battle directly towards terrorists.”

That prompted Zakaria to ask, “Why? What’s the logic behind this?”

Trudeau said he didn’t want to take away from “excellent” fighter pilots but said that a decade on the frontlines in Afghanistan had given the armed forces a talent in training local fighters and intelligence gathering.

“We definitely have much to contribute . . . helping local militias and local troops be more effective in the direct fight,” the prime minister said.

companies would be alone in not having access” to the Iranian market. “If other countries move before us, it’s not a way to help our industry,” Mr. Dion said.

The Foreign Affairs Minister is referring to a raft of sanctions that Canada imposed in concert with other members of the United Nations.

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CLASSIFIEDS

Saturday, January 23, 2016

C JOBS Baker / Sweet Maker wanted

Nirala Sweets and Restaurant in Surrey BC needs fully qualified Pakistani style Baker/Sweet maker (Mithai). Responsibilities will include Sweet making for retail and banquets, training of employees, labour & food cost control and supervision. Must have at least three years experience as a Pakistani Baker. Knowledge of Urdu an asset. ourly salary $15.50/hr. Contact Pasha 604 593 7323 or send resume at anwarpasha786@hotmail.com ---------------- Jan 23 2016

Cook for Pakistani cuisine wanted Nirala Sweets and Restaurant in Surrey BC needs experienced chef for Halal Northern Pakistani style dishes. Must be expert in making kababs and tandoori dishes. Must be able to handle halal meats. Responsibilities will include menu design and planning, cooking for individual customers and banquets, training of employees, labour & food cost control and supervision of kitchen staff. Must have at least 3 years experience as a Pakistani cook.

Knowledge of Urdu and asset.

Hourly wage $17.00 per hour. 40 hours per week. Contact Pasha at 604 593 7323 or send resume at anwarpasha786@hotmail.com ---------------- Jan 23 2016

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JOBS tioninc@gmail.com”

“Mobile Zone Communication Inc., located at 123-9855 Austin Road, Burnaby, BC V3J1N4, has immediate 2 vacancies for Cell phone Technician for two different locations. One vacancy for 123-9855 Austin Road, Burnaby BC V3J 1N4 and one vacancy for Brentwood Town Centre 4567 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby, BC V5C 3Z6. Full time, permanent positions with 35-40 hours per week, $31/hour.

Job Duties include: Perform Inspection,Testing, Diagnose and Troubleshoot smart phone and other mobile devices; Disassemble the device to install, remove, repair or replace defective parts; Perform high quality repairs and refurbishment of phones/cell phones/tablets; Ensure all repair meets quality standards; Monitor parts inventory and inform management of status; Accurately document repairs and parts information on repair tracking document; Maintaining and using tools and equipment properly; Interact with customer as needed, providing exceptional customer service.

Employment Requirements: Completion of Secondary School with 2-3 years of experience or Completion of 3-4 years apprenticeship training program or Trade certification with several months of on-job training.

If interested please send resume at mobilezonecommunica-

------------------------------Jun 02_16

Vacancy for In-home Caregiver Balwinder Singh Singhmaar, resident of 15095 92Ave, Surrey, BC V3R 5V8 has a vacancy for Inhome Child caregiver for infant child and 9 years old son. Full Time, $11 / hour, 40 hrs/week.

Applicant must have high school with minimum of one year of related experience within last three years or six months of full time training in caregiving.

Job Duties includes Supervise and care for children, prepare formulas and change diaper of infant, feeding, bathing, dressing, prepare children for rest period, escort child to school, prepare and serve nutritious meal and snacks, accompany to and from activities & appointments, light housekeeping, laundry, maintain safe environment at home, keep record of day-to-day activities, health and progress of children.

Send resumes by email at balwinderssinghmaar@gmail.com -------------- Oct 31 2015

Western door manufacturing Ltd. located at #109-8250 124Street, Surrey BC V3W 3X9, has an immediate vacancy of Carpenter. We design and manufacture high end solid wood exterior doors, solid wood interior doors and custom doors.

Full time permanent job position with wages of $25per hour.

35 to 40 hours per week.

Job Duties includes Read & interpret drawings & sketches to determine specifications; Estimate height, width, length, & other proportions; Measure, cut, shape, & assemble materials using woodworking machines, power tools and hand tools; Build exterior doors, interior doors, custom doors with jams; Install hardware such as hinges, handles, catches using hand tools and power tools; Repair doors & replace panels of doors.

Job requirement: High school with 2-3 years of experience.

Trade certificate will be consid-

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JOBS ered as an asset. If interested send resumes by email at westerndoormanufacturing@gmail. com ------------- September 5, 2015 Jun13_155 Long Haul Truck Drivers Reqd. Sal:$23.00/hr, 40hr/wk, +1yr exp. & Class A 0r 1 license reqd., FT/PT Duties: Operate, drive straight or articulated trucks to transport goods & materials on local routes or over long distances.Plan trip logistics & obtain required documentation to transport goods.

Perform pre-trip & post-trip inspection of vehicle systems.

Record cargo information, hours of service, distance travelled & fuel consumption.May perform emergency roadside repairs.

Lang: English. Work at various location in Canada & USA. Contact: Balwinder from Metro Transport ltd.12772 82nd Ave, Surrey, V3W 3G1 E-mail your resume at metro_transport@yahoo.ca.

------------------------------Jun13_15

1 Optical Frame Fitter Reqd.

Sal: $22.00/hr, 40hr/wk, +1yrs exp. or certification reqd., FT/ PT Duties: Obtain specifications for eyeglasses or contact lenses from a prescription. Assist clients in selecting eyeglasses. Grinding & polishing of lenses. Cut & edge lenses & fit lenses into frames.

May supervise or manage activities of other opticians. Lang: English. Location: 12841 96 Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3V 6V9 Contact: Imran from Eye See 2020 Optical at opt_eyesee@yahoo.ca.

------------------------------Jun 06_15 Dosa Corner Restaurant Ltd in Vancouver Looking to hire an authentic south indian chef .

This is a full time permanent position. $18.50/hr. 40hrs/week.

Must have at least 3-5yrs experience in south indian cuisine & specialized knowledge in Dosas.

Duties include Prepare & cook meals.kitchen management. Plan menus & quality. Orders food supplies.

Mail your resume to sel-

S Basement for Rent

One bed room basement suite is available for rent from 1st of January 2016. Rent $ 600 including utility & internet .

Walking distance to Bell Centre, Elementary & High School and Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib. Call 778-628-4473 vamm164@gmail.com or apply by person at DosaCorner Vancouver.

110-8248 Fraser Street.

Vancouver. B.C.. V5X 3X6 Ph: 604-324-3672.

-----------------------------------Seamstress required Seamstress (Tailor) needed Foam & Décor is looking for Full Time or Part Time Seamstress ( tailor) for drapery in Surrey.

Salary will be provided @ 12 per hour. Please call 604-594-1882 Mayuri Indian foods inc is looking to hire an Ethnic Food Cook in Surrey BC. F/T & Perm.$17/hr.

Must have at least 2-3 yrs experience in South Indian cuisine & specialized knowledge in Indian spicing. Duties: Prepare & Cook meals; Supervise Kitchen helpers; Plan menus; Ensure quality & determine food proportions; Monitor & order food supplies; Set up & oversee buffets; Manage kitchen operation. Mail resume or apply by person Mayuri indian cuisine , Unit 102A,12677 80th Ave., Surrey BC V3W 3A6 Fax: 604-572-3281 ------------------------------------English Classes for Adults Register for classes September 2-8 For more information,Visit: www. victoryesl.com Call: 604.755.7976 E-mail: victoryesl1@gmail.com ----------------------------

To PLACE YOUR AD IN THE ASIAN STAR CLASSIFIEDS Section Please

Call: 604-591-5423

COMMUNITY Mosaic Networking Are you new to the country/ looking to meet new friends or seeking networking opportunities? You are invited!

Refreshments will be served!

Mosaic Church meets on Saturday evening 6:30 pm in Surrey/Abbotsford.

Surrey: 12150-92 Avenue; Abbotsford: 2940 Clearbrook Road For more info call Dave at 604 897-4224 or email dmclauren@gmail.com ---------------------------------------------------PICS Entrepreneurship Program – New Session Begins January 27th, 2016 PICS is currently accepting applications for it’s PICS Entrepreneurship Program, a nine week training course which will teach you all the ropes of how to start a successful business. Classes include helping you develop a business plan and ways in which you can secure finance for your plan. The training is followed by sixteen weeks of mentorship and consultation as well.

New session begins on January 27, 2016 in Vancouver. Participants will be recruited from the following groups: Youth (15 to 29 years), or Aboriginals, or Persons with Disabilities (self-identified disability that restricts regular employment).

Potential participants may contact Deshpal Grewal at PICS at 604-596-7722 ext. 126 and register for the next information session scheduled for: •January 13, 2016 at 2:30 PM – PICS Head Office in Surrey (#205 – 12725 80th Ave, Surrey, BC) January 20, 2016 at 2:30 PM – PICS Vancouver Office (#200 – 8153 Main Street, Vancouver, BC) ------------------------------------------Local Church Announces Saturday Service to Accommodate Young Families David McLauren and Mosaic Community Church announced a new Saturday service today to accommodate the demanding schedules of the local community.

Did you know that the Lower Mainland is one of the most diverse regions of the North America, with over 100 different spoken languages? Our communities are being joined by thousands of people from nearly every nation, culture, and ethnic group of the world.

The Lower Mainland is increasingly becoming a multicultural mosaic; however, over 90% of churches in the area have church services only on Sunday morning.

Mosaic Community Church is a new missional church in the Lower Mainland.

This new Saturday service will benefit several people in the community who: * are newcomers to the community * are looking for networking opportunities * want to add some color to their church experience * can’t wait till Sunday * are looking for something to do on a Saturday night * prefer to sleep on Sundays Mosaic Community Church meets Saturday evenings at 6:30 PM in Surrey.

Mosaic Community Church Surrey: 12150 - 90 Avenue, Surrey ------------------------------------------------------Emotional Health & Stress Management Workshop Christmas and holiday season is a time for family and friends’ gathering. For new immigrants, it is exciting to celebrate the festivals in Canada, but it may be stressful as they are

away from their home country. This workshop will provide information about how to manage your mood with limited winter daylight hours, maintain good health and make friends so that we can move forward in 2016 ---------------------------------------------January 6, 10am–12pm New Westminster Public Library Main Branch, 716–6th Ave Angel 604 438 8214 ext 104 ---------------------------------------------Legal Information Workshops: WorkSafe Standards Learn about workplace safety and protecting yourself. Topics include certification and training; bullying and harassment; first aid; WHMIS; personal protective equipment (PPE); road safety; mental health in the workplace; violence prevention.

For adults: January 10, 1:30–3:30pm For youth: January 23, 1:30–3:30pm ---------------------------------------------MOSAIC Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway 604 438 8214 ext 211 Canadian Citizenship Preparation January 18 & 19, 5:30–8:30pm Tommy Douglas Burnaby Public Library, 7311 Kingsway Angel 604 438 8214 ext 104 ---------------------------------------------English Conversation Circle for Newcomers Tuesdays, 1–2:30pm, January 19–February 23 MOSAIC Vancouver Language Centre, 304–2730 Commercial Dr Paeony 604 254 9626 ext 288 ---------------------------------------------Public Service Announcement Registrations start now for MOSAIC Seniors Club Winter Term.

MOSAIC Seniors Club provides free activities for immigrant seniors age 55 and above. We also provide workshops and individual support on topics relevant to seniors including. We run activities such as English Conversation Circles and Taichi class. Come make new friends, practice English, get information and have fun!

Burnaby South: 5902 Kingsway 604 438 8214 ----------------------------------------------English Conversation Circle (Beginners): Starting January 18, Mondays, 9:30–11:30am English Conversation Circle (Upper Beginners): Starting January 18, Mondays, 9:30–11:30am Knitting Circle: Starting January 19, Tuesdays, 2–3:30pm ----------------------------------------------Burnaby North: 2055 Rosser Avenue || 604 292 3907 English Conversation Circle (Beginners): Starting January 20, Wednesdays, 9:30–11:30am Wai Dan Gong Exercise: Starting January 22, Fridays, 9–10am Taichi:

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Starting January 22, Fridays, 10:30am–12pm English Conversation Circle (Upper Beginners): Starting January 22, Fridays, 12:30–2:30pm ----------------------------------------------Vancouver: 1720 Grant St || 604 254 9626 ext 273 Priority for Permanent Residents.

English Conversation Circle (Lower Beginners): Starting January 14, Thursdays, 10am– 12pm English Conversation Circle (Beginners): Starting January 14, Thursdays, 12–2pm English Conversation Circle (Upper Beginners): Starting January 14, Thursdays, 2–4pm ‘Wai Dan Gong’ exercise: Starting January 22, Fridays, 11am–12pm ------------------------------------------------------Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and non members also to come and play Bingo for the sake of fun and make some new friends, on November 22nd 2015( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall 8321 - 140th street Surrey B.C. Please bring only two dollars with you to play 2 games, do not worry if you do not know how to play, members will explain you the game just for the sake of fun. Tea & light snacks will be served after the game is over. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator at 604 - 507 - 9945 for further details.

-----------------------------------LCA of BC Celebrates Jalaram Jayanti in Burnaby and Surrey 1. Keshyapbhai Ruparel & Family (Bharat Jewellers) cordially invites all to 216th Jalaram Jayanti celebrations with bhajans and kirtans on Saturday November 21, 2015 at VHP Temple, 3885 Albert Street, Burnaby.

Priti Bhojan 5.30pm Bhajan\Satang program 7.00pm For Further Information Please Contact: Kaushikaben Pabari: 604 945 5640 VHP Temple: 604 299 5922 -----------------------------------------------------------Hetsi and Keshvi Vithlani & FAMILY cordially invites all to 216th Jalaram Jayanti Celebrations with Bhajans and Kirtan on Sunday November 22, 2015 at 10.30 am at Laxminarayan Temple, 8321 140th Street, Surrey. Bhajan Program will be Presented by Highly Talented Local Group.

Priti Bhojan After Arti.

For Further Information Please Contact: Mansukhbhai Thanki (604) 518-1557.

----------------------------------------------------------Secret Asian Super Singer to Support S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Seniors Service S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multi-Level Care Society Goodwill Ambassador Charity Night will be held at 6:00 pm , Monday, November 2, 2015 at the River Rock Show Theatre, Richmond.

The event aims to raise $ 110,000 to support the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Seniors Care Home expansion and maintenance project. The festivities include a VIP reception, an exclusive dinner, entertainment and fundraising karaoke. The night will feature an acclaimed popular artist from Hong Kong as a secret guest performer.

A group of artists from AM1320 will present a mini concert and a Beijing Opera from Sun-

shine Troupe Association will perform as well. The Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and other elected officials will join the event. The Goodwill Ambassador Council is a group of passionate volunteers of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multi-Level Care Society.

Established in 2006, the Council hosts fundraising events every 2 years to support the Society to improve the quality of life for the seniors. Incorporated in 1995, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multi-Level Care Society was established to provide linguistically and culturally appropriate care for seniors in our community.

------------------------------------------------------South Asian Seniors - Iron Deficiency & Dipression Dr. Pargat Bhurji - Nov. 15th 2015 - 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm.

Vedic Senior Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and also non members to attend a presentation on - Iron Deficiency & Dipression - by Dr. Pargat Bhurji a Pediatrician and a well known Person in the South Asian Community, on November 15th 2015 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 140th Street Surrey BC. Dr. Pargat Bhurji will answer your health related questions, tea and light snacks will be served after the presentation.

Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further details.

-----------------------------------The Global Hindu Foundation with support of SMH will celebrate Diwali -the Festival of Lightson November 9,2015 at Main Cafeteria from 1.00-2.30 PM. The guests will be served with sweets and snacks. This celebration is in the true spirit of multiculturalism and interfaith of Canada. ALL ARE WELCOME. For further information call to Acharya Dwivedi-604 507 3099 or Deepa Sharma 778 388 9024 ------------------------------South Asian Seniors - Clinical Prevention Workshop, 8th Nov. 2015, 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members as well as non members to attend Clinical Prevention Workshop presented by Dr. Virendra Sharma MD, MPH, Project Coordinator with Fraser Health Authority on November 8th 2015 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. There will be questions & Answers session after the workshop and you can ask questions about Clinical Prevention. Tea and light snacks will be served after the workshop is over. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further information.

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Public Notice

All foreign governments may deny visa or entry into country on Non-machine readable passports’ with effect from 24.11.2015 because of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s(ICAO) decision to entirely phase out all ‘Non-machine readable passports’ by 24.11.2015.

Accordingly, Indian citizens residing in India and abroad with handwritten passports as well as 20 year validity passports, valid beyond 24.11.2015 are advised to apply for re-issue of passports in order to obtain ‘Machine readable passports (MRPs) before 24.11.2015 to avoid any inconveniences in obtaining foreign visa or

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Saturday, January 23, 2016

Time for feds to address high real estate prices: Rona Ambrose

nterim federal Conservative leader Rona Ambrose said Wednesday it may be time for government to look at measures to address the high prices in Canadian real estate markets such as Vancouver. Ambrose, speaking at a Vancouver Board of Trade meeting, noted a conversation during her visit to the city that illustrated the seriousness of the situation.

“I was talking to a cab driver here, asking him how does he feel about (the fact) that a $1.5-million home is a cheap home here, apparently,” Ambrose said at the meeting.

“And he said, ‘I will never get to live in Vancouver. I will never be able to live in the city I was born in.’ And I thought, that’s really sad … That’s the time when you have to re-

think that maybe the government should do something, when people who are born here can’t live here anymore.” The Alberta MP added that the Tories were reluctant to intervene under the administration of former prime minister Stephen Harper due to a lack of credible data, but said with a study underway right now, that facet of the problem may soon be addressed.

Ambrose, who became interim leader after Harper’s resignation, also touched on the need to address homelessness. “We are the party that should be the ones talking about the solution to homelessness,” she said. “We are the ones who should be talking about solutions to poverty. Those are the things, when you really think about the very fundamental principles of conser-

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EI claims rose 9.2% in the year to November with Alberta hardest hit

he number of Canadians receiving employment insurance benefits rose 9.2 per cent in the year ending in November 2015, according to new data from Statistics Canada, with most of the newly unemployed in Alberta. There were sharp increases in new applicants from Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba, bringing the total receiving EI to 544,200 people. The unemployment rate in Canada last November was 7.1 per cent. About two-thirds of the increase in the past year has been in Alberta, with 31,030 people applying for benefits in the year to November.

The pain has been spread equally between Edmonton and Calgary, with just over 20,000 new people on the EI rolls in each city. Alberta has suffered several rounds of layoffs related to the low price of oil, with companies cutting back first contract workers, then long-time employees as the world market price fails to cover the cost of crude production. Job losses in Saskatchewan, Manitoba There’s been a 16 per cent increase among workers in trades and transport or equip-

ment operation and a 17 per cent increase in natural and applied sciences, a term Statistics Canada uses to apply to more skilled workers including geologists and mine technicians.

Alberta has also seen job losses in finance, administration and management categories.

Statistics Canada says the number of new claimants has levelled off in the past few months. Despite that, Saskatchewan saw a 4.6 per cent rise in claimants in November, Alberta was up 2.7 per cent and Manitoba was up 1.9 per cent. The number claiming EI has dropped in Ontario and Quebec in the past year, but the population is larger, meaning there are still more workers drawing benefits in those provinces. The total number of claimants in each province: Newfoundland and Labrador: 32,980. Prince Edward Island: 7,460. Nova Scotia: 28,450.

New Brunswick: 31,440. Quebec: 149,520.

Ontario: 144,610. Manitoba: 14,990. Saskatchewan: 14,900. Alberta: 61,300. British Columbia: 54,030. Yukon: 830. Northwest Territories: 750. Nunavut: 380.

B.C construction workforce set to grow

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ajor new projects from LNG plants and pipelines to utilities and transportation work will bolster British Columbia’s construction workforce to new record highs in 2018 and 2019, according to the latest labour market forecast released today by BuildForce Canada. “A recruitment and training drive will be required this year and next,” said Rosemary Sparks, Executive Director of BuildForce Canada. “As many as 17,000 new workers will be needed by 2018 to meet rising labour demands.” BuildForce Canada’s 2016-2025 Construction and Maintenance Looking Forward forecast shows B.C. construction beginning the year in a growth phase with new infrastructure projects and energy development leading investment. Specialized trades will be in demand from 2016 to 2019.

As projects wind down, labour market conditions will ease in 2020 and 2021 leaving a gain in new jobs by the end of the scenario period in 2025. Residential construction is expected to remain largely unchanged between now

and 2018, before new housing activity declines as population growth slows, while demand for home renovation work rises.

BuildForce Canada’s forecast also shows: Home renovation and maintenance work continue to grow, adding 2,000 jobs across the scenario. Non-residential construction will be up by approximately 12,600 jobs at the end of the scenario in 2025. There is a need to replace more than 39,500 baby boomers retiring from construction in the next 10 years. “More than 22 percent of the province’s construction workforce is retiring this decade,” added Sparks. “It’s a huge loss of skills and experience that requires industry planning well in advance.” BuildForce Canada is a national industry-led organization that represents all sectors of Canada’s construction industry. Its mandate is to provide accurate and timely labour market data and analysis, as well as programs and initiatives to help manage workforce requirements and build the capacity and the capability of Canada’s construction and maintenance workforce. Visit: www.constructionforecasts.ca

Business / Finance

BoC holds rates; bets stimulus, global gains will ease economic pain

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he Bank of Canada is leaving its key interest rate unchanged, betting that a burst of federal infrastructure spending and a global recovery will lift the Canadian economy out of its funk.

Governor Stephen Poloz and his central bank colleagues opted Wednesday not to cut the bank’s overnight rate, now set at 0.5 per cent, in what analysts had predicted would be a very close call.

Looking beyond the ongoing stock market correction and a continued slide in the price of oil, the bank insisted 2016 will be a turnaround year for the economy.

“While risks to the world outlook remain and have been reflected in sharp price movements in a range of asset classes, global growth is expected to trend upwards in 2016,” the bank said in a surprisingly upbeat statement.

The bank insisted Canada’s wrenching pivot from a resource-driven economy to one powered by other activities is “under way” and that the job market remains “resilient” outside the resource sector.

But the bank acknowledged that the economic environment remains “highly uncertain.” And it once again slashed its growth forecast for 2016 – to 1.4 per cent from 2 per cent – and warned that more turmoil is in store for the oil patch.

By not cutting rates, Mr. Poloz may also want to avoid triggering an even sharper dive in the Canadian dollar – one

of the world’s weakest currencies in recent months. Lower Canadian interest rates typically depress the currency as investors seek better returns elsewhere, including the U.S., where the Federal Reserve has begun to hike its own rates.

The cheaper dollar has also caused angst among many Canadians who now face sharply higher prices for groceries and other imported goods, as well as winter getaways to the U.S. Even exporters, who stand to benefit most from a low dollar, had warned that a further drop would not be helpful.

The dollar fell below the psychological threshold of 70 cents (U.S.) this week, dragged lower by the dropping price of oil and anticipation of a possible Bank of Canada rate cut.

The bank pointed out that its latest forecast does not factor in the “positive impact of fiscal measures expected in the next federal budget.” The new Liberal government has promised to run deficits and boost infrastructure spending by roughly $5-billion a year, but is under pressure to do even more. The bank said the size and timing of this stimulus won’t be known until the federal budget, expected in March.

Mr. Poloz acknowledged that Canada’s economy suffered a “setback” in the final three months of last year, but he dismissed this as a largely temporary stall.

Some economists say the economy may even have shrunk in the fourth quarter – in what would be a third quarter of negative GDP in 2015.

Canadians’ household debt climbs to highest in G7 in world-beating borrowing spree

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anadian households could soon be carrying the heaviest debt-to-income loads among its country peers, reaching 174 per cent later this year, according to a new report by the country’s budget watchdog. The Parliamentary Budget Officer said Tuesday that Canadian households are now more indebted than those in any other Group of Seven nation, having piled up the biggest increase in debt-to-income since 2000. In fact, since the third quarter of 2015, household debt in this country reached 171 per cent of disposable income. How much more of your paycheque you can expect to pocket — or lose — from new tax rules Why homeowners and buyers can expect more mortgage rate hikes from the big banks When ‘good’ debt goes ‘bad’: Why it can be dangerous to categorize what you owe In other words, for every $100 of disposable income, households had debt obligations of $171. “This is the highest level recorded since 1990,” PBO said in its report,

the first to focus directly on the household debt issue. “Policymakers continue to express concern about the vulnerability of households to economic shocks, such as unexpected job loss or higher, the PBO said.

“What matters more for financial vulnerability is not so much the level of the debt relative to income, but rather the capacity of households to meet their debt service obligations.” Concerns over high levels of household debt have increased with near-record low interest rates, which have come in response to the Bank of Canada’s cuts to its trendsetting lending level coming out of the 2008-09 recession. This has also stoked hot housing markets, along with concerns that many Canadians could be getting in over their heads with cheap mortgages and face a financial crisis if the residential market begins to fall.

The central bank’s rate is now at 0.5 per cent after Governor Stephen Poloz reduced the level twice last year in response to the collapse of oil prices, which threw the country into recession in the first half of 2015.

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Saturday, January 23, 2016

NRI commission seeks info on illegal travel agents

aking suo motu cognizance of the drowning of youths illegally migrating to the US, Punjab NRI Commission has written to all DCs, SSPs seeking action taken against illegal travel agents in the state. bIn its letter sent after the Panama Boat Tragedy, the commission has sought information from the officials on action taken against illegal travel agents under the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling

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Act, 2012 and the Punjab Travel Professional Regulations Act, 2014. The commission, while terming the illegal immigrant situation in Punjab as alarming, has also reiterated the suggestions it made to the government in a 2013 order dated May 31, 2013 regarding constitution of Law Enforcement Units which would create a human trafficking database and creation of a Human Trafficking Victim Relief Fund.

More trouble for Gujral Trust, CWC

migrant’s family from Uttar Pradesh has in a statement to the Hoshiarpur police accused Pushpa Gujral Trust of offering Rs 75 lakh and a ‘bungalow’ registered in their son’s name for sending him, without following procedures, in adoption to a Spanish national. Also, the Jalandhar Child Welfare Committee (CWC) have been found to have declared several ‘missing’ children ‘legally free for inter-coun-

try adoption’ only on the basis of a clearance certificate issued by the area SHO, without filing any FIR. The Trust allegedly made the money offer after Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division) Kewal Krishan at the Jalandhar Districts and Sessions Court dismissed Saurav’s adoption petition in October last year on the ground that the Jalandhar CWC has not made due inquiry and effort to trace Saurav’s biological parents and the police too had not registered an FIR in the case.

PUNJAB

NIA team raids SP Salwinder’s house

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team of the National Investigation Team (NIA), probing the role of SP Salwinder Singh and his two acquaintances in the Pathankot airbase attack, raided the residences of all three here today. A senior officer said the raids were conducted after a lie-detector test was done on Salwinder Singh. He said all three were not being treated as “witnesses” but were being looked at as “accused”.

The 24-member NIA team divided itself into four groups and started conducting searches around 6 am at the Civil Lines residence of Salwinder, Rori Mohalla house of cook Madan Gopal and the Onkar Nagar residence of Rajesh Verma. Around 10.30 am, a separate team raided and sealed Verma’s shop at Kazanchia Mohalla in the busy Sadar Bazaar. The raids were still on at the time of filing of the report. A

search was also conducted at the SP’s Amritsar residence.

Sources claimed the team members were looking for documents regarding assets accumulated by the three in the recent past.

They said the search was necessitated because the statements of all three did not match when they were questioned together.

SSP Gurpreet Singh Toor confirmed that the team had asked the Gurdaspur police to provide security. He said the investigators shared no information with the state police.

Salwinder Singh had on Tuesday undergone a lie detector test in connection with the probe. He is at present posted as Assistant Commandant, 75th Punjab Armed Police, Jalandhar, after being shunted out as SP (Headquarters), Gurdaspur, following a departmental inquiry.

Won’t induct turncoat for now: AAP

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he Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won’t accept leaders from other parties into the fold in the state till it forms policy for inducting people. AAP spokesman and intellectual wing convener RR Bhardwaj, who was here to address party’s intellectual wing of Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha constituency, said many people felt suffocated in other parties. He further said the party was not averse to accepting honest and hardworking people in the fold, but it would be careful in making the selections. On the party’s decision of not contesting Khadoor Sahib Assembly by-election, he said AAP was concentrating on the 2017 Assembly elections.

Bhardwaj claimed that AAP would form government in the state next year. Meanwhile, Akali Dal leader Dr RS Parmar today refused to accept his nomination as party’s working

No relief for 154 suicide victims’ kin

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ver 150 families of debt-ridden farmers and farm labourers, who committed suicide, have not been paid compensation in the district. The delay has occurred as the district administration is busy verifying the cases and sending these to the state government to get the relief. Under the new policy implemented on July 23, 2015, the victims’ families are to be paid a compensation of Rs 3 lakh. The district administration took up cases of 29 families, but they haven’t got the relief yet. Though the district-level committee in November last approved four cases and sent these to the state government, the government sought some clarifications.

Another 15 such cases will be decided on January 22 at a meeting of the district-level committee, constituted for verification and disbursement of aid to the victims’ families.

Saturday, January 23, 2016 i 27

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INDIA fOOD

As Cong guns for Irani, BJP says stop hate politics

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$250 m World Bank loan for J-K areas hit by floods

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financing agreement for a World Bank (IDA) assistance of $250 million for the Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project in Jammu and Kashmir was signed today. The Finance Ministry said the project would focus on restorVehicles pass through a submerged road in a flooded area of ing critical infrastructure Kashmir using best practices on ba, Kathua, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramresilient infrastructure. The primary benefi- ban, Poonch, Rajauri and Udhampur, read a ciaries would be the communities in the dis- World Bank statement. It said the continutricts of Jammu and Kashmir affected by loss ous spell of rains in September 2014 caused of public service infrastructure, which will be Jhelum, Chenab and Tawi rivers and their restored and improved under the project. By tributaries and other streams to flow above strengthening disaster risk management sys- the danger mark. Owing to the unprecedenttems and institutions, the project will bene- ed heavy rainfall, the catchment areas, particfit the entire region affected by floods. The ularlyIngredients low-lying areas, were flooded for more 250g boneless project will focus on the 20 flood-affected than • two weeks.

Thechicken Jhelum breached its • 2tbsp rapeseed districts — Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, banks at several places.oil Over a million fam• 1 medium onion Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam, ilies were affected, red directly or indirectly, and 3 large Pulwama, Shopian, Srinagar, Jammu, Sam- some• 300 lives tomatoes lost.

• ½ cup cashew nuts • 100g tomato puree • 1 tbsp dried fenugreek leaves ndia today said it was following the but New Delhi had not heard after the official • 100ml low fat cream progress being made into investiga- statement from Islamabad. “In principle, • 1tsp garam masala tions by Pakistan in the Pathankot ter- we have welcomed the decision of Pakistan • 1tsp red chilli powder ror attack, emphasising the country expects government to consider sending a SIT team...

• 1tbsp ginger- garlic paste Islamabad will take action to bring perpetra- Rest is a matter of details. What they can see?

• 2tbsp thick low fat yoghurt tors of the January 2 attack to justice. “We Where they can go? What will be terms of • salt to taste are looking for the credible and comprehen- reference? Those need to be worked out by n the wake of the recent attack on an any loopholes. Parrikar, who was speaking sive action to bring all the perpetrators of the agencies on both sides provided the Pakistan IAF base at Pathankot, a committee is to reporters during his visit to the NCC Re- Pathankot terror attack to justice,” External Procedure: public Day Camp here, declined to give de- Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup government firms up its decision to send the being set the up chicken by the government to re-garlic Marinate with the ginger paste and the yoghurt for 20 min. soak the cashew in warm water for 15 minutes.chop the onions and tomatoes. Heat 1 tbsp tails about the likely composition of the com- said at his weekly media meet while rejecting team,” he said. Swarup also said National view oil security at defence bases in thepieces country to a pan. sear the chicken in the hot oil for 1 minute on each side to a golden colour. remove the chicken pieces. in the same pan, add 1tbsp oil and the chopped mittee but said a notification in this regard as “baseless” allegations of India being be- Security Advisors and Foreign Secretaries of basedonions. on the saute “risk factor”.

Defence Minister till a translucent pink. Add the tomatoes, red chili powder, garam masala powder and cook on medium flame till the tomatoes are tender (approx. 4-5 should be out in two to four days. “A specific hind the attack at a University in Charsadda India and Pakistan were in touch with each Manohar Parrikar whilefrom giving thisand informinutes). remove flame run in a blender with the soaked cashews to make a smooth paste. return to the pan and add the tomato puree. Bring to a boil and add team is being made. Maybe in another week’s in Pakistan on Wednesday. Asked about the other and that a formal meeting between mation saidpieces. the government thetoday chicken simmer forhas 4-5also minutes till the chicken is cooked. Add the low fat cream and simmer for 2 minutes. Broil the fenugreek leaves on a pan. crush the it will be active. It will visit (the bases) proposal by Pakistan to send a special inves- Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and his Pakiaskedfenugreek the officers commanding the bases to time leaves over the curry and remove from fire. serve hot. stan counterpart will take place at a date mudo a thorough security assessment and fix and look into priorities like the risk factor tigation team to probe the Pathankot attack, tually convenient to both sides. and assets,” he said.

Swarup said India had welcomed the move etaliating against the Congress attack on the Narendra Modi government over a Dalit research scholar’s death in Hyderabad, the ruling BJP today accused the Opposition party of indulging in “hate politics” by dividing students on caste lines. The Congress meanwhile said the belated decision of Hyderabad Central University to revoke suspension of four Dalit PhD scholars and colleagues of deceased Rohith Vemula proved complicity of BJP, ABVP and university authorities in perpetuating anti-Dalit agenda on the university campus. The BJP quoted a November 2014 letter by Congress MP V Hanumantha Rao to the HRD Ministry about “corruption and irregularities” in the University of Hyderabad. Party leader Shrikant Sharma said Smriti Irani-headed HRD Ministry had sent six reminders to the university on the Congress leader’s letter compared to four on Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya’s letter. While the death of the student was painful, its politicisation was bad, Sharma said. On the demand by several parties, including its ally LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan, that the case should be handed over to the CBI, Sharma said the Telangana Government could recommend it as law and order was a state subject.

The BJP also attacked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who addressed students in Hyderabad earlier today. Sharma said he had reached there to do politics over the tragedy, but never visited the house of any dengue victim or those dying of cold in Delhi—a state ruled by him. Chairman of the Congress media cell Randeep Surjewala said, “Only yesterday, Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao publicly justified the suspension of the scholars and defended the HRD Ministry. HRD Minister Smriti Irani held a press conference justifying the decision of the university on the suspension of scholars. She shamelessly brushed aside the overwhelming evidence against ABVP activists in respect of social boycott of Dalit scholars.” He demanded resignation of Irani for “lying to the nation”. “Irani justified the suspensions stating that the High Court had not granted them a stay and consequently the decision of the university was correct.

The HRD Minister manufactured facts and misstated events to defend the illegal intervention by her ministerial colleague Bandaru Dattatreya,” Surjewala said. Previous in Nation AJL, owner of National Herald, now a non-profit company Next in Nation India to jointly design aircraft carrier with foreign partner

chicken (no butter) Masala Your favourite butter chicken but without the Panel to review security of defence bases butter and added calories!

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India is keeping a watch on Pak probe

INDIA

I

India is top target for online universities

ndia, with its huge education-hungry population, is the prime target of one of the world’s biggest online university providers. Coursera, with 17 million registered students and free online courses from 140 universities, wants to be part of India’s drive to expand access to higher education.

This Californian company is one of the trailblazers of the so-called Moocs (massive open online courses) which run courses for students studying at home, but usually without accredited degrees. At present only about 12% of young people in India get university places - and Rick Levin, Coursera’s chief executive officer, says there are an “awful lot of

talented people” who “don’t make the cut”.

What makes this an even bigger opportunity for online providers is that the Indian government has a target to increase university enrolment by 30% by 2030.

Dr Levin says this is “hugely ambitious” and then qualifies it further as “frankly almost impossible” if such an expansion were to depend on building new bricks and mortar universities. It would mean establishing “literally a couple of thousand universities” as well as expanding the existing institutions, he saysInstead Dr Levin, a former president of Yale University, believes it will be online courses that will fill the gap and widen access to university for India’s ambitious youngsters.

14,000 Indians overstayed in US in 2015

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ver 14,000 of the 8.8 lakh Indians on visitor or business visas reportedly overstayed in the US last year. In 2014, of the 7.6 lakh Indians who were supposed to leave the country before the expiry of their B1-B2 visas, 11,653 overstayed in the US, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.

The “Entry/Exit Overstay Report” released by the Department of Homeland Security, in fiscal 2015 says of nearly 45 million non-immigrant visitor admissions through air or sea ports of entry that were expected to depart in FY 2015, 5,27,127 individuals overstayed there, for a total overstay rate of 1.17 per cent.

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Saturday, January 23, 2016 i 29

Kerala tycoon jailed for life for killing “slow” guard A millionaire in India’s Kerala state has been sent to jail for life for murdering his security guard after deliberately ramming his car into him. Mohammed Nisham drove his Hummer into his guard Chandrabose, pinning him against the wall, before attacking him with a metal rod last year. Nisham, 38, supposedly attacked Chandrabose

because he had been slow to open the gate to his apartment.

Chandrabose, aged 50, died after spending two weeks on life support. On Wednesday, the trial court had found Nisham guilty of murder. The prosecution had sought the death penalty and is expected to appeal against Thursday’s verdict in the high court.

India to design aircraft carrier with foreign partner

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s India embarks on a journey to build another seaborne aircraft carrier, it’s looking at the very best in design and asked for international help in designing the 65,000-tonne warship that will be the frontline seagoing attack platform of the future. The Navy has sought collaboration from the countries that have built warships of this size. Companies in the US, Russia, the UK, France and Italy are being asked

if they would be keen to join hands. All these companies have made warships of this size.

“There are many issues in such warships that we don’t know of. Hence, this international collaboration,” sources said. A seagoing aircraft carrier has fighter jets, helicopters and UAVs on its deck to attack enemy targets and secure own interests. At present, India operates two carriers—one of British parentage and the other of Russia origin.

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Saturday, January 23, 2016

INDIA

Do not work under Centre’s dictate, HC tells Delhi Police

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he Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Delhi Police not to work under the “dictate of the Centre” and also slammed the Central government for not clearing funds to create additional posts in the force. Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva questioned the Union Finance Ministry’s expenditure department for not clearing funds meant for recruitment of additional police personnel in Delhi despite clearance from the Home Ministry. It asked the Delhi Police to “aggressively” tell the Central government that it needed more policemen. The Delhi Police is controlled by the Home Ministry in the Central government.

“Delhi Police should not work under the dictate of Centre. Work independently. It is a very important issue. Delhi Police has to be more aggressive about it,” said the Bench.

“When the ministry of home affairs cleared the proposal, how can the ministry

of expenditure stop it? It should look for the money to make the proposal work. “A big (shopping) mall costs much more than this...

It (money) is not coming from officers sitting in expenditure department. We all are paying for it. Are we getting safety in return? “Can women in Delhi move around here even after 7 p.m.?” asked the court, saying petty crimes lead to big crimes. In its July 2013 order, the court had asked the central government to recruit an additional 14,000 personnel for Delhi Police. This would cost around Rs 450 crore. In December 2015, the Central government told the court that it has sanctioned 4,227 posts in the Delhi Police exclusively for separating criminal investigation from maintaining law and order. In its affidavit filed on Wednesday, the department of expenditure said it had agreed to create 4,227 posts and these posts may be operationalised in two phases, half in 2016-17 and the rest in 201718.

Indians hit hard as Gulf economies slip on free fall in crude prices With most Gulf countries taking austerity measures or planning to impose tax on the income of expatriates, many Indians in those nations are sending their families back to India.

Others have decided not to take their families with them. for a personal loan and when the bank executives arrived in my office, the company fired me.” “Life is getting miserable for most of us who from middle class families,” he said.

“People whose companies don’t provide accommodation have to pay very high rents.

It is tough enough to live alone; very few of us can afford to have our families with us.

A number of my friends including me have sent our families back to India.” Many people are sending back their families because living expenses have increased. Bhaskaran Arunam Singh from Thiruvananthapuram, a foreman in a construction company in Sharjah, said, “A small family needs at least 10,000 dirhams in a month for a decent life.

I have been living here with my family of four for last 20 years. But I had to send my elder son home for Class 12. School fees, rent and travel expenses have gone up.”

“Earlier I could live with 6,000 Dirhams. This has become impossible in Sharjah. Rent for a two bedroom house is 25,000 Dirhams to 35,000 Dirhams in many areas. I live in National Paints area in Sharjah. Rents have touched 45,000 Dirhams in Ajman too,” he said. CP Mathew, chief coordinator of Dubai NGO Valley of Love, confirmed that many Indians are sending their families back home. Indian consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, BS Mubarak said falling oil prices have had a cascading effect in Saudi Arabia and Indians have been hit by retrenchment.

Meanwhile Oman has bought in a new rule that will not allow expatriate workers who leave their jobs and the sultanate to return with a no-objection certificate and take up new employment. They will now have to remain out of Oman for two years.

Apple seeks India’s approval to set up retail stores

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117 Street and 80th Ave., (near Scott Road).

pple Inc has applied to set up its own stores in India, one of the world’s fastest growing smartphone markets, as the iPhone-maker looks to tap new opportunities amid worries of slowing growth in its main markets.

Apple sells its iPhones, iPads and Macs in India through third party resellers, and industry analysts estimate that the Cupertino, California-based company has less than a 2 percent share in India’s smartphone market, dominated by cheaper brands.

The company has filed an application with India’s Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion to open its own stores, Amitabh Kant, secretary at the federal trade ministry unit told Reuters.

Apple also confirmed the application filing, but declined to give details.

Its expansion plans in India come at

a time when concerns about slowing growth in the United States and China, the world’s most important market for smartphones, have weighed on the company’s stock in the last few months.

Shares in Apple, the world’s most valuable company by market value, are down 28 percent from their peak in April last year.

The company operates more than 450 stores in 18 countries. Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri told Reuters in October that Apple had 25 stores in China and was opening a new one roughly every month.

Its plans for India have been held back due to restrictions on foreign investment in the retail industry, which require single brand overseas retailers to buy close to a third of the goods sold at their stores from local producers.

FIJI

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Lomaiviti Princess III goes on maiden voyage to Kadavu

eople of Lau, Kadavu and Lomaiviti will no longer have to worry about their transportation to Viti Levu as Goundar Shipping Limited announced the arrival of their Lomaiviti Princess III. Managing director George Goundar says while this was a huge achievement as the new vessel provided luxury and comfort to passengers while travelling to their destinations.

Goundar says the new boat is 38 years old and was brought in from Canada.

He says the ship has 100 aircraft seats avail-

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Focus on housing assistance, says NDP

overnment must look into increasing the housing assistance for rural areas. This was a recommendation by the Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Environment representative Vula Shaw at the National Development Plan consultation forum at the Suva City Council office in Suva

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on Thursday. Mr Shaw called on authorities to look into the disparity to housing assistance available today. The forum heard that the current allocation for housing assistance is $5 million for the urban and $1 million allocated for the rural areas.

Fijian over-stayers in US threatened

ith the Fijians Helping Fiji Co-operative Ltd (FHFCL) distancing itself from the Adult Adoption Program (AAP), 333 Fijians believed to be now living illegally in the US could have their names released to US Homeland Security. Chief executive officer for Americans Helping America (AHA) Dr Helaman Hansen has threatened to release the names of overstayers to Homeland Security if they do not attend their meeting on January 31. In the affidavit provided by the Federal

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able on board, f i r s t class, the restaur a n t and the economy class and they will put in 52 aircraft seats which they will fix and will make it more of a luxury and comfort experience for the sake of passengers He says the ship also takes 40 trucks compared to the other one which only carries 28 trucks. He adds the ship will head out for her maiden voyage to Kadavu this Friday followed

by Koro, and Savusavu.

Bureau of Investigation 333 Fijians had applied for Hansen’s AAP — six of whom, according to the FBI, are now awaiting sponsorship letters. Dr Hansen made the announcements on his Pacific National Television program on January 13 and demanded all those that have been seeking US citizenship under the AAP to attend this meeting. His announcement was transcribed by New Zealand’s Kaniva Pacific News before the video was uploaded on YouTube.

Work goes ahead on multi-million dollar bridge

onstruction work has started on the support beams for the new multi-million dollar Denarau bridge in Nadi. Pacific Marine and Civil Solutions general manager Noel McManaway said the

Chinese manufactured abutment beams arrived earlier this month. “The beams were manufactured in China under supervision of the Australian company who supplied these,” Mr McManaway said.

Assistant Police Commissioner quits Former chief of intelligence and investigations Assistant Commissioner of Police Henry Brown has resigned after being sent on paid leave pending investigation. This was con-

firmed by Acting Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho, who received Mr Brown’s resignation letter via electronic mail (email) on Wednesday.

Police hunting for producers of pornographic video shot in Labasa Police are now targeting people engaged in the production of pornographic videos in the country. This follows the circulation of a pornographic video on several social networking sites of teenagers shot somewhere in Labasa. Police spokesman Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said they had not ruled out the possibility of porn market in the country as investigations continue.

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Saturday, January 23, 2016

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Six Chinese refuse to go to jail

here was big drama outside the Lautoka Magistrates Court Thursday morning when six Chinese nationals refused to return to the Lautoka Corrections Centre after their case. Chinese nationals Sanlin Xie, Changbao Xie, Liu Jinling, Zhong Chenhua, Weiqiang Liu and Yanyan Yang sat on the floor and resisted police attempts to take them to a waiting vehicle.

Their crying and the efforts of the police officers caused a scene, drawing a huge crowd of onlookers. The police officers had to physically drag the men to the holding centre before they were eventually transported back to Natabua. Aged between 32 and 50 years, the men were allegedly found with 384 ATM cards. Through a translator, the men protested against being locked up, complaining about the conditions of their detention.

One of the men said he did not want to go back to the remand centre. Police spokesman Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri said the officers were executing a court order by Magistrate Raramasi Salakubou. He said the suspects were disobeying the law of the court in refusing to be taken back to the remand centre.

“Our officers were doing their duty to escort the suspects and hand them over to the prison officers,” Insp Sokomuri said. In court, the suspects were refused bail based on submissions made by divisional police prosecutor West SSP Anil Prasad, who said the men were flight risks.

He said there was a strong chance the Chinese nationals would escape if they were released on bail.

The men will reappear in the Lautoka Magistrates Court on February 8 for mention.

PAKISTAN

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25 students killed as militants storm Charsadda university

t least 21 people were massacred by armed “suicide attackers” who stormed a university here in northwestern province of Pakistan and opened indiscriminate fire, in a grim reminder of the Peshawar army school attack in 2014. The gunmen entered the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, some 50km southwest of Peshawar in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa province, and opened fire on students and teachers in classrooms and hostels, police said. Four militants were also killed as security forces retaliated, bringing the death toll to 25 in the grisly attack. The militants used the cover of thick, wintry fog to scaled the walls of the university before entering buildings.

The attack stirred grim echoes of the horrific 2014 Peshawar school attack that killed more than 150 people, mostly children, and shocked the nation. It also prompted the Pakistani prime minister to pledge the country will wipe out the ‘menace of terrorism.’ Police said four attackers were also killed.

The violence nevertheless shows that militants retain the ability to launch attacks, despite a country-wide anti-terrorism crackdown and a military campaign against their strongholds along the lawless border with

Afghanistan. A security official said the death toll could rise to as high as 40 at Bacha Khan University in the city of Charsadda.

Many of the dead were apparently shot in the head execution-style, TV footage showed.

Wednesday’s attack began shortly after the Bacha Khan University opened for classes, deputy commissioner Tahir Zafar said.

As police and soldiers rushed to the campus, the attackers traded gunfire with the troops and several explosions were heard from the area of the university. The attackers were later contained inside two university blocks where the troops killed four attackers, the army said. A professor of chemistry and a student were among those killed, said Zafar, adding that it was not initially clear how many attackers managed to penetrate the campus. Television footage showed heavy military presence at the university, troops rushing in and people fleeing. Ambulances were at the scene and the wounded were taken to hospital. The attackers entered the university compound by climbing over back walls and shooting at a security guard before they made their way to the administration building and the male students’ dorms, police official Saeed Khan Wazir said.

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nly a few months ago, Pakistan’s military leaders openly boasted they had the Taliban on the run.

A punishing, yearlong offensive had ousted the insurgents from their most prized tribal sanctuary. The movement’s various factions were riven by violent rivalries, and attacks on Pakistan’s towns and cities had largely ceased.

Then on Wednesday four Taliban gunmen mounted a deadly assault on a university in the northwestern town of Charsadda, killing 20 people. The attack echoed of a massacre just over a year ago — when the Taliban killed 150 at a school in Peshawar — that prompted the military crackdown in the first place. On Thursday, frustration and concern were well-

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ment, using prominent journalists and anchors as frontmen, alluded to the “Indian hand” behind the attack, as it did following the assault on the Army Public School in Peshawar last year when some 140 children were massacred by the TTP. The charges have invited ridicule in the western media that is now all too familiar with Pakistan’s dalliance with terrorist groups, which only successive US administrations have winked at for tactical exigency such as access to Afghanistan. . “With more imagination than evidence, Pakistani conspiracy theorists saw India behind both acts of vio-

ing up across the country. “We must question how long we can continue to live like this,” said an editorial in The News, an English-language daily newspaper. “We have heard the rhetoric of a ‘fight back’ at all costs. But do we have a guarantee of eventual success?” Part of the answer lies in the Taliban’s continued resilience even when divided and on the run — and, more broadly, in the difficulties posed by guerrilla insurgencies throughout the region.

The Pakistani military enjoys authority that would be unthinkable in many countries. It has upended hundreds of thousands of civilians in the tribal areas as it has hunted militants and created its own court system that allows the quick hanging of terrorism suspects, all to public acclaim over the past year.

Pakistan, Afghanistan need to work together to tackle Taliban: US

akistan and Afghanistan need to work together to effectively overcome the Taliban challenge, the White House said, a day after the militant group massacred 21 people, mostly students, at a popular Pakistani university. “The conclusion that we’ve drawn here is...that the Taliban poses a security threat to both countries, and that the na-

Pakistan trashed over bogus claims of Indian terrorism

concerted chorus in Pakistan orchestrated by its jihadi-military establishment that India is behind its homegrown terrorist attacks is being trashed in the western media, with reputed commentators instead calling out Islamabad for its own record of nurturing terrorist groups. .

The Pakistani allegations reached a crescendo this week following the attack on Bacha Khan University in Charsadda that claimed 21 lives, mostly of students. Although credit for the attack was claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Pakistan’s military establish-

Taliban attack shows limits of military crackdown

tions of Afghanistan and Pakistan are going to be able to more effectively confront that threat if they’re able to more effectively cooperate,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Thursday.

Earnest said the US has long been supportive of the reconciliation process between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

UN chief condemns terrorist attack at university

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ondemning the terrorist attack on a university in Pakistan’s restive northwest, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for the perpetrators to be swiftly brought to justice. Ban said the right to education for all must be firmly protected and reaffirmed that attacks against students, teachers or schools can never be justified. Schools and educational facilities must be respected as safe and secure spaces, he said. The UN chief is appalled by such

acts of violence and calls for the perpetrators to be swiftly brought to justice, his spokesman said in a statement. The Secretary-General recalled, just over a year ago, Pakistan experienced one of the deadliest school attacks in its history near the city of Peshawar, where more than 150 people died, mostly children. Calling for proportionate and necessary measures to be taken to ensure that schools in areas of insecurity and conflict are adequately protected, Ban extended his

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Bangladesh detains Singapore deportees over terror links

angladesh authorities say 14 of its nationals deported from Singapore are being held over links to a group blamed for attacking secular writers. The men were part of a larger group of 26 construction workers who were expelled from Singapore last year for supporting armed jihadist ideology. Singapore announced the news of the deportations earlier this week.

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The city state said they were planning to take part in extremist activities elsewhere and shared jihadist material. Image caption Singapore authorities released images from a document which the Bangladeshis allegedly possessed that appeared to show how to conduct a “silent killing”. A 27th man believed to be part of the same cell remains in detention in Singapore after he was arrested for attempting to flee, following the arrests of the others.

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Saturday, January 23, 2016

Four-nation meeting in Kabul seeks to revive Taliban talks

second round of four-country talks aimed at reviving peace negotiations with the Taliban was held in Kabul Monday, even as the insurgents wage an unprecedented winter campaign of violence across Afghanistan.

Delegates from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States convened in the Afghan capital for a one-day meeting seek-

3 killed in police firing as Madhesis clash with CPN-UML cadres

n fresh violence in Nepal, three persons, including a woman, were killed on Thursday when police opened fire to quell clashes between agitating Madhesis and ruling CPN-UML youth wing cadres in a town bordering India, forcing Prime Minister K P Oli to cancel his visit there. Violence erupted in Rangeli Municipality of southern Morang district after hundreds of activists of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) armed with batons, knives and petrol bombs tried to

disrupt an event hosted by Youth Association of Nepal (YAN) to honour the Prime Minister.

Police tried to stop the clashes with batons, tear gas and blank shots, but as the protest became violent they were forced to fire at the crowd, Home Ministry spokesman Yadav Koirala said. Morang chief district officer Swayam Raya said three persons were killed during the clashes and eight others were also injured.

The deceased have been identified as Draupadi Devi Chaudhary, 60, Shivu Majhi

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and Mahadev Hrishi. DIG Madhav Joshi said the injured have been rushed to a local hospital. Prime Minister Oli cancelled his visit after the tension in the area. CPN-UML general secretary Ishwor Pokharel and other senior leaders had reached the venue to address the gathering. The Madhesi Front had earlier issued warning asking the YAN not to organise the programme, saying that it would foil any attempt to honour the prime minister.

ing a negotiated end to the bloody 14-year insurgency. “The people of Afghanistan will not accept a prolonged peace process with no results,” Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani said at the meeting. “On behalf of the people and government of Afghanistan, I urge all Taliban groups to accept our peace message and come to the negotiating table and resolve our differences politically.” The first round of the “roadmap” talks was held in Islamabad last week as the four nations try to lay the groundwork for direct dialogue between Kabul and the Islamist group.

Taliban representatives were notably absent in both rounds and analysts caution that any substantive talks are still a long way off. The Taliban has stepped up attacks on government and foreign targets in Afghanistan this winter, when fighting usually abates, underscoring a worsening security situation. Late Sunday a rocket launched by the militants landed very close to the Italian embassy compound. The

Suicide bomber kills 4 near Russian embassy in Kabul

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suicide bomber struck a minibus near the Russian embassy in downtown Kabul on Wednesday, killing four people in the latest deadly attack in the Afghan capital despite an international push to jumpstart Taliban peace talks. The powerful bombing heard across Kabul also left 24 people wounded, though it was not immediately clear if the embassy was the intended target. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes just two days after a second round of a four-country meeting in Kabul aimed at reviving talks with the Taliban.

“A suicide attacker rammed into a civilian minibus on Darul Aman road and there have been casualties,” Kabul deputy police chief Sayed Gul Agha Rohani. The interior ministry, which earlier reported that the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber, said the bombing left four people dead and 24 others wounded.

The road links downtown Kabul to the historic war-damaged Darulaman Palace, built by Afghan King Amanullah Khan. The loud explosion sent a plume of smoke rising in the sky, with ambulances and firefighters rushing to the scene which was littered with charred debris.

Bangladesh makes record $10.5 million drug bust

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n a record drug bust, Bangladesh has seized 2.8 million methamphetamine tablets from Myanmar with a street value of around USD 10.5 million and arrested three persons as the country struggles to tackle the problem of drug abuse. Contraband yaba tablets often referred to as ‘horse drug’ were seized in near simultaneous security clampdowns in the capital and northeastern port city of Chittagong. Elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) called it the country’s biggest-ever drug and arrested three suspected drug peddlers. “One of the three is Ali Ahmed, who, we believe he is a top drug smuggler...this is the biggest seizure of yaba tablets in Bangladesh,” RAB spokesman Major Maksudul Alam told newsmen.

Director general of Customs Intelligence Moinul Khan, told PTI that the estimated value of the seized volume of the tablets could be as high as Taka 84 crore or USD 10.5 million.

Yaba, which in Thai language means “crazy medicine” is administered to horses when pulling carts up steep hills and for other strenuous work while experts said it was made of methamphetamine and caffeine.

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34 i Saturday, January 23, 2016

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NRI shop owner stabbed in UK

n Indian-origin takeaway shop owner who was stabbed multiple times in front of his teenage daughter in the West Midlands region of England has finally spoken about the brutal attack, saying “It wasn’t my time to die.”

Narinder Sidhu, known as Sid, who owns a fish-and-chips shop in Oldbury was stabbed five times and left for dead.

“It wasn’t my time to die,” Sidhu told Sunday Mercury’ on Sunday in his first interview since the attack in November 2014.

The 52-year-old said he, his wife Balwinder and daughters, Simran, 18, and Supreet, 16, are all still coming to terms with the attack.

His attacker, Leon McTaggart was jailed in July 2015 and is currently serving 14 years in prison for causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

McTaggart,29,hadwalkedintohisshoptobuy a meal to takeaway but suddenly turned violent.

“He tried to beat me to the floor. He was

about 6ft 1in and a lot fitter than me. At no point did I see he had a weapon. All I felt was punches. I didn’t feel the knife at all. He twice tried to kick me in the head but hit my right arm - I was lucky that didn’t get broken, too,” recalls Sidhu.

“Simran was on the phone to the authorities, then ran out of the shop screaming ‘Help my dad! Help my dad!’ I’m glad she was there in some ways but not in others, because it has changed her.

“I can’t imagine what she went through because we haven’t touched on the subject since,” he added.

He was in surgery for 13 hours with five stab wounds, one in the abdomen, two in the left arm and two in the back.

McTaggart was arrested soon after and interviewed four times about the incident and replied “no comment” every time.

A charge of attempted murder was reduced, and he was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

NRI

Two Indian-origin Singaporeans jailed for rioting, gang fight

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wo 25-year-old Indian-origin Singaporeans were sentenced to up to five years in jail for attacking two compatriots and seriously injured one of them last year. Jai Ganesh Tanapolan pleaded guilty on three charges, including two for rioting, and Dinesh Kumar Ruvy admitted to one count of rioting armed with a deadly weapon. Tanapolan has been sentenced to five years in prison while Ruvy was given 4.5 years in jail. They will also get six strokes of the cane each, Channelnewsasia reported. Tanapolan and Ruvy attacked two male victims as they were leaving

a club in March last year. Tanapolan, Ruvy and their accomplices kicked and punched fellow local Indians, Logesvaren Subramaniam and Sashi Kumar Asogan, before Ruvy used a chopper to slash Logesvaren’s forearm. The six attackers then fled the scene in two taxis.

Logesvaren’s wife and Asogan found him crouched at a nearby taxi stand. They took him to a nearby hospital, where he underwent an 11-hour long operation.

The duo’s four accomplices are currently serving jail terms of between 21 and 24 months for rioting.

Indian-origin family firm eyes Tata Steel Scottish plants

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n Indian-origin family owned steel firm, Liberty House, is said to be a new potential buyer of two of Tata Steel’s Scottish plants, on the verge of closure

due to the crisis in the industry. Liberty House, headed by managing director Sanjeev Gupta, had recently acquired a number of units of another UK-based steel firm, Caparo Industries, owned by noted NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul. While the company has refused to comment at this stage, Scotland’s business minister has indicated that a potential deal may be in the works for acquiring the Dalzell and Clydebridge plants in Scotland’s Lanarkshire region. “I met Liberty management last week to outline the range of potential support that would be available from the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise should it succeed in a buyout,” minister Fergus Ewing.

“I also emphasised that the Scottish steel taskforce continues to work constructively to ensure a viable future for the plants, with action being taken forward on energy costs, business rates, procurement and on environmental issues,” added Ewing, who will be heading a meeting of the steel taskforce today to work out the details of a potential deal.

The two plants were believed to be part of another potential deal being discussed between Indian steel giant Tata Steel and London-based private equity firm Greybull Capital.

UK court orders PIO fraudster to pay back record £38.6m

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n Britain’s biggest private prosecution, a 53-yearold Indian-origin fraudster dubbed “King Con” who posed as a friend of billionaire Hinduja brothers was on Tuesday ordered to pay back a record £38.6 million to his principal victim and British taxpayers by a court here.

London-based and Kenyaborn Ketan Somaia, who had been found guilty of fraud and jailed for eight years last year, was ordered by the Old Bailey court in London to pay up or face a further 16 years in prison. He was found guilty of nine out of 11 charges of obtaining a money transfer by deception by a jury which noted that Somaia “has to be described as a formidable and serial fraudsman on a truly Olympian scale.” Somaia treated wealthy investors to luxury trips, generous gifts and big parties before fleecing three of them for £12 million, his trial had been told. It marked Britain’s biggest-ever private prosecution carried out on behalf of the principal victim, entrepreneur Murli Mirchandani. In another legal first, Mirchandani secured £500,000 of public funds to continue his fight to recoup the money he lost in the swindle.

His lawyer Tamlyn Edmonds told the Evening Standard that £20.4 million of the order would go to the UK courts and Treasury and £18.2 million to Mirchandani.

“Mirchandani wants his money back and this has been a long process through a private prosecution and confiscation proceedings which have taken its toll in emotional stress. He just wants to put an end to all that,” said Edmonds.

South Asia

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NIA arrests14 in terror crackdown

n a major anti-terror The NIA, along swoop across the counwith state police try ahead of Republic Day, forces and central 14 youths were arrested or agencies, swooped detained by the NIA and on targeted areas other security agencies in the in the wee hours. wee hours of today on the Sheikh had dessuspicion of having formed ignated himself a module on the pattern of as ‘Ameer’ (chief) the dreaded ISIS to carry out of the group and strikes at vital installations.

Huda as ‘Ameer-eInvestigators questioned Wyulat’ (finance). the arrested youths for posBushra, wife of suspect Mohd Afzal They were in touch sible links with the ISIS. on the Internet with some persons believed to Some of the youths are stated to be software be from ISIS based in Syria, the sources said. engineers.

They said the suspects had been under surveilThe raids were carried out simultaneously lance and the decision to arrest them was taken in five states of Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra as the group received ‘instructions’ for carryPradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh ing out ‘some sensational’ attacks in the counwhere 14 persons were “arrested or detained”. try. All youths, ageing between 25 and 30, are These youths were part of a group named ‘Jaeducated with some of them having completed nood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind’ (Army of Caliph of studies in software engineering, sources said.

India), a group with an ideology almost similar to that of ISIS. An official spokesman of the Union Home Ministry maintained that five persons had been arrested “so far” and nine detained while sources privy to the developments in Mumbai and Bangalore said eight persons were detained and five arrested. One person had been let off.

The sources said the eight detained persons were likely to be formally arrested tomorrow.

The NIA gave the names of those arrested as Muttabir Mustaq Sheikh from Thane district Unit 130 - 13737 - 72nd near Mumbai, Mohammad Nafees Khan of Hyderabad, Mohammad Shareef Mounuddin Khan of Hyderabad, Najmul Huda of Mangalore and Mohammad Afzal of Bengaluru.

Family members of some of the arrested persons claimed they had nothing to do with any terror plot and that they were innocent.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

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Security alert after Pathankot cabbie found dead; suspects caught on CCTV Even as there is no trace of a Pathankot-bound taxi (HP 01D 2440) hired from Gaggal in Kangra district eight days ago, the body of the driver, Vijay Kumar, has been found in Kangra. The photos of the three suspects, caught on CCTV cameras at Gaggal Chowk, are with the police and security personnel. The Delhi Police sounded an alert on the missing taxi this morning and released the photos of suspects to the media. It may be recalled that taxi driver Ikaagar Singh was found murdered hours before the Pathankot air base attack earlier this month.

Security in Punjab and Chandigarh has been further beefed up in view of French President Francois Hollande’s visit to Chandigarh on Sunday. Murdered taxi driver Vijay Kumar belonged to Gurdaspur but was residing in Gaggal near Kangra with his ma-

ternal uncle, who also runs a taxi. RK Bakshi, Pathankot SSP, said the three suspects spoke in Punjabi. They had hired the taxi in Pathankot, as had been confirmed by the taxi union. No police check post had any record about the stolen car, the officer said. Sapna, wife of the deceased driver, told the police that she called up her husband several times on January 14 but there was no response. The next day, Vijay’s maternal uncle, Vipin Kumar, approached the Gaggal police. A search was launched and Vijay’s body found was near Kotla bridge on the Kangra-Pathankot road on January 20.

A security alert has also been sounded across Jammu and Kashmir. Agencies have sealed the state’s border with Himachal Pradesh at Lakhanpur and more personnel have been deployed to guard the newly constructed cable-stayed bridge on Ranjeet Sagar Lake.

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Badal falls ill Jalandhar: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday complained of congestion while he was holding the fourth Sangat Darshan programme at Behlur village in Nawanshahr. He was taken to a private hospital on the Chandigarh road. “The CM, who was running fever, felt uneasy and was put on a nebuliser. His Sangat Darshan functions scheduled for Saturday have been cancelled,” said his personal staff. The CM was later taken in an ambulance to the PGI in Chandigarh and admitted to the respiratory ICU.

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HC clears decks for FIR against ex-MLA

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cting on an appeal filed by Haryana, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today removed the legal hurdle in implementing the Haryana Lokayukta recommendation for lodging an FIR against former MLA Vinod Bhayana in the cash-forCLU scam.

Less than a month after a Single Judge of the High Court stayed the operation of the Lokayukta recommendation, the Division Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Sneh Prashar today ordered a stay on the single judge order. The order came after counsel for Haryana Palika Monga argued against the single Judge order.

In their petitions before the Single Judge, Vinod Bhayana, Naresh Selwal, Jarnail Singh, Rao Narinder Singh, and Ram Niwas Ghorela had challenged the order dated December 16 last year by the Haryana Lokayukta, whereby a recommendation was made to the competent authority to register criminal cases for offences punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Taking up the facts from Vinod Bhayana’s petition, the single Judge had observed a complaint dated January 28, 2014,

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36 i Saturday, January 23, 2016