The Asian Star May 28 2016

www.theasianstar.com Vol 15 Issue 17 Saturday, May 28, 2016

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2 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

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Issue 17 Saturday, May 28, 2016

Former notary Rashida Samji found guilty in $110M Ponzi scheme

former Vancouver notary has been found Her sentencing is set for Sept. 27. Only one guilty on 28 counts of theft and fraud of her victims was in the court to witness the in relation to a $110-million Ponzi scheme. abrupt ending to an ordeal which began in Provincial court Judge Gregory Rideout January 2012, when the Ponzi scheme came delivered the surprise verdict after reject- to light. Rashida Samji declined comment ing Rashida Samji’s bid to claim on the guilty verdict as she that criminal charges against her walked away from Vancouamount to double jeopardy, bever provincial court with cause she has already been disciher lawyers. The court applined by B.C.’s securities regupointed custodian of Samji’s lator.

The 63-year-old watched notary practice, Ron Usher, glumly as Rideout said the $33 was also in the courtroom. million in fines leveled against her “It is remarkable that by the B.C. Securities Commission she moved to guilty, doesn’t begin to address her “moral Rashida Samji but of course, the blameworthiness” for defraudfacts have been overing more than 200 investors. For that, she whelming from day one of this investigastill needs to face criminal consequences. tion,” Usher said outside the courthouse.

‘There’s never a happy ending’ “There’s never a happy ending, but Samji stood as Rideout announced his verContinued on page 7 dict; she now faces up to 14 years in prison.

T

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orth Yorkshire: Food busi- Easingwold, North Yorkshire, was cooked nesses have been warned to with a groundnut mix containing peanuts. take allergies seriously after Yesterday police and prosecutors said the a restaurateur was imprisoned for six case sent a very clear message to years for killing a customer by selling t h e catering industry. him a curry containing peanuts.

Martin Goldman, In a legal first, Mochief crown proshammed Zaecutor for Yorkman, 53, was shire and Humconvicted of berside, said: “If manslaughter you ignore your after 38-yearresponsibilities old Paul Wilson and regulations suffered a fatal and put lives allergic reaction at real risk dish la to the peanuts. then we will a s a m n tikka Wilson, who was not hesitate to prosecute.”

Chicke meticulous about his A jury at Teesside Crown Court condition, had asked for a heard how Zaman, who had run up roughchicken tikka masala with “no nuts” but his ly $560,000 debts in his six restaurants in takeaway curry from the Indian Garden in Continued on page 6

Money laundering in real estate has to be stopped by gov’t, say experts

he Canadian government needs to beef up its efforts to combat money laundering in the real estate industry, say critics and housing observers after documents revealed that dozens of companies haven’t shown how they’re trying to detect questionable transactions.

The Canadian Press reported this week that at least 85 firms have not fully implemented compliance plans intended to flag questionable transactions — including cases where money laundering is suspected — nearly 15 years after they were legally required to do so.

Federal Liberals offering “16 more Mounties” to help Surrey deal its gang problem

F

Six years jail for fatal Chicken Tikka Masala

ederal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says he’s willing to expedite more Mounties to Surrey, as B.C.’s second-largest city grapples with the “serious problem” of gang violence linked to dozens of shootings this year. Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner recently said the city would be getting 16 additional Mounties – on top of 100 officers the city secured over the past year – to help deal with crime in her growing city, southeast

of Vancouver. The RCMP say there have been 40 incidents involving shots fired in the city, largely linked to gang conflict. There were 60 such shootings in Surrey last year. As Surrey’s leaders tell the story of a vibrant, prosperous community growing by about 1,000 residents a month, they are also grappling with unpredictable violence the RCMP have linked to young drug dealers with poor impulse control and a tendency to settle their differ-

Continued on page 7

“We can have the best rules possible around keeping laundered money out of our real estate market, but if no one is enforcing those rules, what good are they?” said David Eby, the NDP housing critic in British Columbia, where some have said the housing market is particu-

larly susceptible to money laundering.

Data obtained from Fintrac through an access-to-information request showed that 38 companies had only partially implemented a compliance regime while another 47 had not at all. The names of the companies

Continued on page 6

Crow flies off with knife from crime scene A wellknown crow is again in the news, as it moved a knife from a crime scene in Vancouver on May 25, 2016

4 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

OPINION

Criminal charges point to culture of deny and delete in premier’s office

By John Horgan, leader, New Democrat Official Opposition Destroying public records. Lying under oath. Breach of trust. These are the charges facing the people who work for Premier Christy Clark. This week, a Special Prosecutor laid a criminal charge of breach of trust against Brian Bonney, a key Christy Clark operative, for actions he allegedly took to promote and protect the premier.

It’s disappointing, it’s infuriating, but it’s not surprising. Because for years we’ve seen people around the premier getting caught lying and covering their tracks.

There’s Laura Miller, executive director of the B.C. Liberal Party, who faces criminal charges relating to the destruction of government documents in Ontario.

There’s George Gretes, a former aide to Transportation Minister Todd Stone, who allegedly deleted emails relating to missing and murdered women on the Highway of Tears to hide them from public scrutiny, and now faces charges for lying under oath.

Now there are the charges laid this week, which relate to Bonney’s role in the Quick

Wins scandal - a cynical plan to score “quick wins” with ethnic voters in the lead-up to the 2013 election, and spend public resources working for the B.C. Liberal Party.

And those are just the ones who got caught.

Hiding information from the public is such an accepted part of the B.C. Liberal culture, even Transportation Minister Todd Stone casually admitted to regularly triple deleting – or destroying – his emails. And when B.C.’s Information and Privacy Commissioner investigated the premier’s deputy chief of staff, she found this top Clark staffer had deleted every one of her emails from two years on the job. This is the kind of work that preoccupies Christy Clark and her staff, and it’s disgraceful. While people across this province struggle to afford a place to live, while schools across this province face closure, while frail seniors and kids in government care are being ignored by this government, the premier and her staff devote their time and energy to figuring out how to keep her out of trouble. It’s an arrogant, secretive style of government – the kind of government that Canadians rejected in the last federal election. But it

lives on here in B.C., where Premier Clark has hired many of Stephen Harper’s former staffers. This was a sad week for politics in this province. And for many British Columbians I talked to, it was the last straw.

They’re sick and tired of this government, and they’re sick and tired of the premier looking out for herself, her party and her friends, and putting British Columbians last. Christy Clark wants British Columbians to think they have to accept the criminal charges, the secrecy, the big money corporate donors pay to have dinner with her.

She’s wrong. British Columbians don’t have to settle for an out-of-touch premier and a government that thinks it’s above the law. We can, and we must, do better. New Democrats are committed to real change.

We’re committed to getting big money out of politics. We’re committed to taking real action on the things that matter to British Columbians, like affordability. And we’re committed to governing with integrity.

Editorial

Federal Liberal strategy to combat crime in Surrey is disappointing Umendra Singh

The federal Liberal government’s strategy to help counter gang crimes in Surrey is an interesting one. Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale promises he will expedite the arrival of 16 more RCMP officers to help Surrey. How will 16 new RCMP officers reduce crime and gang fights in Surrey is anyone’s guess. The 16 will be on top of 100 officers that were promised and arrived before the Liberals formed government so Minister Goodale can’t take credit for them.

The federal Liberals, who received generous support from Surrey residents in the last general election, hoped to get a bit more attention and support from the Liberal government than just 16 RCMP Officers. They must be sorely disappointed.

www.theasianstar.com # 202 - 7028, 120th Street, Surrey, BC V3W 3M8 Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615 E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com Editor: Umendra Singh Associate Editor: Shruti Prakash Joshi Marketing and Sales: Ravinder S. Cheema..604-715-3847 Shamir Doshi..............604-649-7827 Harminder Kaur..........778-708-0481 Parminder Dhillon.......778-859-9234 Pre-Press: Iftikhar Ahmed Contributing writers: Akash Sablok, Kamila Singh, Jay Bains Photographer: Chandra Bodalia

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Saturday, May 28, 2016

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6 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

Local Six years jail for fatal Chicken Tikka Masala

From page 1 North Yorkshire, was cutting costs by us, Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, said Banglaing cheaper ingredients and employing un- desh-born Zaman had “thrown away” all his trained, illegal workers. The prosecution success and “done so in pursuit of profit.” said the owner had “put profit before safety”. The judge said Zaman had told “many lies” The court heard that less than a month to the jury, adding: “You remain in complete before Wilson’s death in January 2014, an- and utter denial for what you have done.” other nut allergy sufferer Ruby Scott, 17, was The cure for child peanut allergies? For many, hospitalized after eating a chicken korma it may just be tiny amounts of … peanuts from another one of Zaman’s restaurants.

Banned — milk, yogurt, chocolate, cheese, Although she had been told the dish did not eggs: Father says school’s list of allergenic contain peanuts, she suffered an allergic reac- foods makes preparing lunch impossible tion and had to be injected with adrenaline.

School faces human rights comThis prompted a visit by a trading stan- plaint over student’s egg, dairy allergy dards officer who visited the Jaipur Spice Zaman, from Huntington, York, denied restaurant a week before Wilson’s death, manslaughter by gross negligence, pervertand found evidence of peanuts in a meal ing the course of justice and six food safety the officer had been told was peanut-free. offences. He was found guilty of all charges If you ignore your responsibilities and except perverting the course of justice. regulations and put lives at real risk Outside court, Wilson’s parents Keith and then we will not hesitate to prosecute Margaret urged more catering staff to be Following this, the officer told staff that cus- trained about allergens. They added: “Justomers in all of Zaman’s restaurants must tice has been served, Paul can rest in peace.” be informed that they were using peanuts.

Every year, around 10 people in On the day after Wilson suffered the fatal the U.K. die from allergic reactions anaphylactic shock, another trading stan- and many more end up in hospital. dards investigator found Zaman’s restaurant was still claiming it served “nut-free” curries.

Second man guilty in murder of Maple Batalia

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ursimar Bedi was found guilty by a B.C. Supreme Court judge on Friday of being an accessory after the fact in the murder of Surrey teen Maple Batalia. Justice Terence Schultes found Bedi rented a vehicle which was driven by the 19-year-old’s killer, and also spied on the aspiring actress and model. Crown prosecutors also charged Bedi with manslaughter but admitted in closing arguments that they could not prove those allegations. He is expected to be back in court on June 9 to fix a date

for sentencing.

Bedi’s friend Gurjinder ‘Gary’ Dhaliwal pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced, March 7, to life in prison. He will not be eligible for parole for 21 years. Gursimar Bedi (left) Gurjinder ‘Gary’ Dhaliwal (right) Dhaliwal gunned down Batalia in September 2011 in the parkade of Surrey’s SFU campus.

According to Crown prosecutor Wendy Stephens, Dhaliwal killed her because she wanted to break up with him because of repeated infidelity.

Local Former notary Rashida Samji found guilty in $110M Ponzi scheme

From page 1

audience, her misconduct has not been redressed to society at large,” Rideout said. people do like to get to an ending.”

“The present proceedings Samji declined to comment as she aim to achieve that purpose.” walked away to a nearby pastry shop Samji is also permanently banned with Rideout’s judgment clutched under from B.C.’s capital markets. her arm. The court heard that publicAbout 90 of Samji’s investors came to her ity around the case through a financial has left her an outplanner at the credit cast and crippled union Coast Capital her self esteem.

Savings, ArvindbRideout said she hai Bakorbhai Patel. has been rejected He still faces 32 by members of her counts of Securiown family and lives ties Act violations in a rental apartin connection with ment after losing her the scheme last year.

Vancouver home.

In 2012, Patel She works as a rereached a settleceptionist at an inn Rashida Samji ment agreement in the Fraser Valley. with the BCSC, reThe scheme ran ceiving a permanent market ban and signfrom 2003 until 2012. Investors were ing away his interest in five properties. told they were providing the money which would back up “letters of comfort” needed by a winery group to convince creditors to finance their expansion.

The cash was supposed to remain in Samji’s notary trust account, and victims were promised returns of up to 12 per cent. Samji became known as the ‘Magic Lady’ because of her uncanny ability to turn a profit. n reality, the investors were paying each other.

“These promises were false,” said Rideout. “Samji’s scheme was a big lie and monumental deceit.”

A ‘true penal consequence’?

In an agreed statement of facts, Samji admitted to running the Ponzi scheme.

But she made a constitutional argument that proceeding with criminal sanctions would be an abuse of process by punishing her twice for the same crime.

Rideout’s decision is a vindication for the securities commission and its ability to punish white collar crime with large fines. The order against Samji is the biggest against an individual to date.

In order to reach a conclusion, he had to consider whether or not the multi-million dollar fine against her amounts to a “true penal consequence”.

Samji argued that the sanctions came as a result of an investigative process that duplicates the criminal system.

She claimed the size of the fine made it equal to the kind of punishment she might receive from the courts.

She also argued that she has been stigmatized by media coverage — and particularly by a series of CBC stories which drew on her interviews with commission investigators to paint a picture of the fraud.

“Although Samji opines that the media has socially embarrassed and upset her, she has not argued that the information published by the media is exaggerated, biased or untruthful,” Rideout said.

“The stigma caused by the media publications is expected and not exceptional.”

Rideout found that the securities commission and the criminal courts serve different functions: the BCSC regulates the market and maintains confidence of investors, while the courts administer justice for the public at large.

The judge found that the size of the commission’s penalty, while large, was not out of whack with the scale of Samji’s scheme. And while she may have been impoverished and humiliated, she has not lost her liberty.

“Although Samji has been held accountable to the commission and its

Saturday, May 28, 2016

i 7

Federal Liberals offering “16 more Mounties” From page 1 to help Surrey deal its gang problem ences with firearms. At least 12 people have been injured and one killed since January.

“It is a serious problem that raises concerns about public safety, and security” Goodale said Wednesday in Vancouver, after receiving a briefing from the RCMP in Surrey and meeting with Mayor Hepner earlier in the day.

Goodale said the 16 officers have not yet “officially arrived” but he expects they will be deployed shortly. “We’ll respond constructively to that as we always have in making sure Surrey has the personnel to deal with the issues on the street.”

The minister said the situation is a burden on the city.

“People should not underestimate the debilitating effect [the conflict] has on the life and the spirit of a community. At the same time, there’s a huge amount of effort being poured [in by] the police and the municipal authorities and provincial government agencies working to change the paradigm,” Mr. Goodale said.

The public-safety minister also noted the

federal government is working on a gunsand-gangs task force, which will require a budgetary allocation of $100-million a year, to help municipalities across Canada take on gangs. The idea was a Liberal platform commitment in the last federal election, and work is under way to enact it.

While Mr. Goodale said every community will be free to use the resources as it sees fit, he thought community policing a prudent course. “That does make a tangible difference,” he said.

Goodale said action is needed for Toronto, and smaller rural Canadian communities including Williams Lake, B.C., which have been dealing with guns and violence, but added, “There’s no perfect cookiecutter answer that will work everywhere.”

Last week, Hepner reflected on the gang conflicts in Surrey in part of her State of the City speech – an annual opportunity to talk about ambitions and issues in the city that was otherwise focused on such matters as managing growth.

8 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

F

ormer B.C. premier and federal cabinet minister Ujjal Dosanjh reveals new and intimate details about his life in his memoir Journey After Midnight.

Born a peasant in rural Punjab, Dosanjh devotes much of his book to his childhood in India because he says it fundamentally shaped him.

“We weren’t the poorest in the village, but we were relatively poor,” he said.

“We used to get one pair of shoes a year....and you didn’t wear them because you didn’t want them to be wearing out,” he said.

Dosanjh’s memoir walks readers through his life in India to his journey through the upper echelons of Canadian politics.

Dosanjh was brought up in a highly political household. His grandfather had spent over eight years in British jails at various times during the Indian independence movement. “A lot of people from the independence movement would visit,” recalls Dosanjh, who left India for Britain as a young man in pursuit of a higher education. The culture shock began from the plane ride from India to Britain for Dosanjh, where for the first time he encountered forks and flush toilets.

“Two professors who were on sabbati-

Ujjal Dosanjh reveals life details in memoir cal coming back from Australia....they actually taught me how to use the fork and knife,” he said.

But Dosanjh was unhappy in Britain because he was unable to get into university there.

“They wanted me to do a British history OFormer B.C. premier Ujjal Dosanjh reveals new life Level and I couldn’t details in memoir tell one King George from another,” he jokes.

Life in Canada One day he serendipitously walked by the Canadian immigration office in London and filled out an application.

“It struck me that I could actually come and join my aunt,” he said, as his mother’s sister had been living in Canada since 1954.

When he first arrived in Canada, Dosanjh worked in a mill and later received his law degree from the University of British Columbia.

Dosanjh was brought up in a highly political household Dosanjh was a vocal opponent of violence and extremism.

“I always thought that freedom was very important and that politics was very noble,” he said.

In 1985, he was attacked in the parking lot of his law office with an iron bar after speaking out against Sikh extremis

Ujjal Dosanjh talks about being attacked in 1985

Ujjal Dosanjh talks about being attacked in 1985 From page 1

Money laundering in real estate

were not included in the documents.

The data was compiled from 337 compliance assessment reports that were submitted to the federal anti-money laundering agency from roughly 1,000 companies in the real estate sector. It represents only a tiny section of the overall industry — there are about 20,000 real estate companies overseen by Fintrac.

“I just wonder how many more audits with dismal results like this have to be returned to Fintrac and the

ing on a table in his constituency office. . Supposed to be on Air India flight But those aren’t the only times that he has cheated death. The family cancelled the trip weeks earlier after friends advised them that India was too hot during the summer months for Dosanjh’s young children. He said the family never went public about their cancelled trip because it wasn’t what mattered at the time.

Dosanjh said he never let the attacks silence him because he believed in speaking the truth.

federal government before they decide to really crack down,” Eby said.

A spokeswoman for Finance Minister Bill Morneau, to whom Fintrac reports, directed questions to the federal agency.

Darren Gibb, a spokesman for Fintrac, said compliance assessment reports are only one tool that the agency uses in its enforcement process.

“They educate our risk-based approach, and that’s essentially all that they’re supposed to do,” Gibb said.

He was targeted again in 1999 when he was a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

Someone left a Molotov cocktail burn-

Fintrac has used the data gathered from the compliance reports to significantly boost the number of on-site examinations it is performing in the real estate sector, he said.

It has also invested “significant time and effort” into working with the real estate industry and the Canadian Real Estate Association to help realtors better understand their obligations under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, Gibb added.

CMHC seeks new ways to track for-

Pages from Ujjal Dosanjh’s memoir, ‘Journey After Midnight’ shows Dosanjh with former Prime Minister Paul Martin.

eign money in Canada’s housing market But Christine Duhaime, a lawyer specializing in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing, said most of the realtors she has met have no compliance plan, no compliance officer and don’t know what a suspicious transaction is or how to report one.

“I literally have never met a realtor across the country who really understands or fully complies with AML (antimoney laundering) law,” Duhaime said.

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4 South Asians among eight arrested for drug trafficking

ight people were arrested in Surrey on Wednesday afternoon as part of an ongoing RCMP investigation into a dial-a-dope operation. Surrey RCMP made the arrests at a number of different locations in the city.

Police also uncovered evidence “consistent with street level drug trafficking,� such as cash, cellphones and drugs. Four suspects from Surrey remain in police custody on outstanding warrants for drug trafficking. Ravinder Samra, 29, was wanted on one count of trafficking, Hazim Hazim, 20, and Tony Tran, 30, are facing two counts each, while Peter Butcher, 52, was wanted on three counts. “Today’s arrests are part of a larger strategy to decrease the violence in our city caused

by the dangerous activities of drug traffickers plying their illegal trade on our streets,� Surrey RCMP Proactive Enforcement Officer, Insp. Shawna Baher, said Wednesday. “The Surrey RCMP continues to advance investigations on a number of individuals that pose the most significant risk to public safety.�

RCMP expect to make further arrests related to the investigation and are seeking additional information on four people wanted on drug trafficking charges: Priya Sandhu, 23, of Richmond, and Surrey residents Abdulhamid Sulta, 20, James Griffiths, 43, and Layla Low, 22. Police are requesting that anyone with information about the four suspects contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or, should they wish to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca

Police looking for missing South Asian man Have you seen Jastinder Athwal?

North Vancouver RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a 34 year-old North Vancouver male who was last seen on Friday, May 20, 2016.

Missing is Jastinder Athwal who was last seen in Lynn Valley in North Vancouver. All inquiries and searches have failed to locate Jastinder. Police and family are concerned about his well-being and need the general

public in helping locate him. Jastinder Athwal is described as: • 5’ 10 (175cm) tall • Medium build • Black hair • Brown eyes If you have seen Jastinder Athwal or know of his whereabouts, you are asked to call the North Vancouver RCMP at 604-985-1311 and quote file #2016-12447.

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Toronto and Vancouver suffering ‘buyer gridlock’ Skyrocketing housing prices in Toronto and Vancouver are now preventing even existing homeowners from being able to upgrade into a new home.

While much has been made of the plight of first-time homebuyers who have to contend with lack of affordability in both markets, TD Economics notes that higher prices are now locking out those who bought entry-level homes years ago and are hoping to upgrade.

This has further worsened the supply of entry-level homes in both markets, exacerbating what TD calls “buyer gridlock.”

“Our definition of buyer gridlock refers to an existing homeowner, who is trying to trade up from an entry level home, but also faces a constrained supply of affordable options,” said Beata Caranci, chief economist at TD Bank Group. “The purchase of an entry-level home was done with the intention of ‘trading up’ as your life- style changed with children, job or income.”

Caranci compared the current situation to a Monopoly board, where players usually begin by buying up the cheaper properties near the start, while also still having money left over to buy the mid-tier properties, be-

fore swooping in later in the game to buy the most expensive spots at the end of the board.

Unfortunately, if Monopoly were like the current Canadian housing market, the cheap properties would fetch mid-tier prices and buyers would be left with no money to buy other properties.

“The widening price gap between an entry-level home and a trade-up home becomes a ‘barrier to entry’,” said Caranci. “In turn, this reduces churn in the market, elevating prices and scaling back the selection of choices.”

She also pours cold water on the argument that both cities are sellers’ markets. While the sales-to-listings ratio shows that homes are readily bought up in Toronto and Vancouver, price appreciation for entrylevel homes have lagged the gains for trade-up homes, worsening the gridlock.

This is readily seen in the condo market, where entry-level buyers have increasingly found themselves. Price gains for condos have consistently lagged appreciation for detached homes by a wide margin in recent years.

Surrey School Board chair wants a system overhaul to address overcrowding

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he chair of the Surrey School Board says a better planning process is needed to deal with the city’s overcrowded classrooms. About 7,000 students in the district learn in portables and schools like Earl Marriott Secondary and Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary are over capacity. “By trying to look at it globally, enrolment at B.C. school districts is declining,” said Shawn Wilson.

“Well, [that] isn’t [Surrey] and that one is growing tremendously and I think we need recognition of that. I think the funding formula needs recognition of that.”

Shawn-Wilson Surrey School Board Chair Shawn Wilson says a new system is needed to deal with overcrowded classrooms in Surrey.

Provincial funding for new schools is doled out based on enrolment numbers but projected growth isn’t considered.

Premier Christy Clark, who recently announced the creation of 2,700 new class-

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room spaces in Surrey, said she is looking at ways to improve the system. That’s welcome news in Surrey, which takes in about 800 new residents a month.

Education activist Maria Myers said part of the problem is developers are building new townhomes and condo towers in neighbourhoods where the schools are already overflowing.

“I can go to my school secretary tomorrow and ask her how many students we have and I can go the next week and it will be a completely bigger number.”

L ord - Twe e d s mu i r- S e c on d ar y - S ch o ol Wilson said it is going to take a collaborative effort from the city, province and education community to come up with a solution.

“I’d like to see a working committee where our planning staff, perhaps an assistant superintendent, maybe a couple of city councillors and also some people from the capital department of the provincial government working together.”

Elderly women kicked, punched in face in ‘bizarre,’ random attacks

ancouver police are gathering surveillance video following two “disturbing and random assaults” on elderly woman on West Broadway on Thursday afternoon. In the first attack an 84-yearold woman sitting on her walker was kicked off her seat by a stranger. Const.

Brian Montague said the assault took place shortly after noon on West Broadway near Ash Street. “The victim suffered a broken elbow and was taken to hospital where she

remains, recovering from her injuries,” Montague said. Two hours later nearby at Granville and West Broadway, a 70-yearold woman in a wheelchair was punched in the face while she was out for a walk with her daughter. She was not injured. In both cases, the man who approached the women walked away after the assault took place. The suspect is described as: White.

In his 20s. Five feet ten inches tall. Medium build. Full beard.

LOCAL Police shooting, car fire, shut down Vancouver streets

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he Vancouver Police Department says a 28-year-old man has been arrested and taken to hospital after being shot by police near Hastings and Cassiar in Vancouver.

In an emailed statement, the VPD says officers were responding to reports of a sedan engulfed in flames in a McDonald’s parking lot. When they arrived, police say they were confronted by a man armed with a knife.

“The man allegedly came at the officers and shots were fired. He was taken into custody and transported to hospital for gunshot and stab wounds,” said Const. Brian Montague.

Montague says the man is in stable condition in hospital suffering from non-lifethreatening gunshot and stab wounds.

I He says the same man is also “associated” with the burning car, which was in flames just metres away from where police took the man down.

A car burns in the parking lot of the McDonald’s near Hastings and Cassiar in Vancouver Tuesday afternoon.

Province reduces number of exams required for graduation

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C is scrapping its existing set of secondary school provincial exams, but what will replace it is still up in the air.

What is certain is that students will have to write two assessments to graduate: one in literacy and one in math. What is unknown is the structure of the still-in-development assessments, how much the math assessment will affect a student’s grade or which grade of math it will be tied to.

Until June 30 of this year, students have to write five provincial exams: Math 10, Science 10, English 10, Social Studies 11 and English 12. After July 1, those exams will be replaced with one math assessment and one English assessment to be done sometime between Grade 10 and Grade 12, education minister Mike Bernier said.

Provincial exams are controversial — some say they cause teachers to spend time “teaching to the test” and that they put students

with learning disabilities at a disadvantage. But others say they are a way to ensure grading is consistent across the province and they are good practice for university.

“The emphasis in these new assessments will be on demonstration and application of learning through different means,” the ministry of education says on its curriculum website.

“There will be a greater focus on classroom assessment that is flexible and personalized, and give educators greater flexibility to decide how and when students are assessed.”

“The ministry is reducing exams in senior grades without giving parents, teachers and students a clear idea about what academic assessments will replace them,” Fleming said.

“Changing the curriculum involves time to work with teachers and to evaluate and reflect progress. These timelines are very tight and provide no help to cash-starved school districts for the implementation.”

Saturday, May 28 2016

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Premier Clark’s approval ratings slide further

t looks like Christy Clark’s problems may be catching up with her.

A new Angus Reid Institute poll has her down to 27 per cent support, her lowest showing since the last election.

University of the Fraser Valley Political Scientist Hamish Telford says the Liberals would do well to keep an eye on a number of trouble spots.

“I think they have treated the financing of political parties lightly, her own salary top up. And there’s some bigger things – the last election was all about LNG. She really promised the world, and three years later she hasn’t really delivered on it. Not tangibly anyway.”

Telford warns with a year to go until we head to the polls, her numbers are headed in the wrong direction.

“You don’t want to be going down at any time,

particularly as you gear up for an election campaign. This summer will mark the unofficial start of the campaign. There will be the barbeques, the fundraisers, meeting the organizers. You want to be on an upswing at this part.”

Telford says Clark has come back from even lower popularity ratings before.

TransLink launches first review of fare system in 30 years, asks for your input

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ransLink is asking for your input on its fare system. The survey is part of a four-phase review of the transit fare policy, which will take up to two years to complete. This is the first comprehensive look at the structure of TransLink’s fare system in over 30 years. The threezone policy was originally brought in back in 1984. The transit authority says the fare review will include technical analysis and feedback will be used to develop different fare system options. Final recommendations will be shared at the end of the two-year process. TransLink was

recently forced to drop fare zones on buses because of issues with the new Compass Card system, but zones are still applied on SkyTrain.

Strong Action For Safer Communities A three-year, $23-million commitment by the Government of B.C. builds on the Guns and Gangs Strategy with the B.C. Anti-Gang Unit, RCMP and Crime Stoppers to support B.C. communities like Surrey to prevent gang and gun violence. Key elements include: $450,000 to support Crime Stoppers’ proven Cash for Tips on Illegal Firearms and to promote awareness of the Gang Tip Line Enhancement of the End Gang Life Program Continued funding for the Gang Prevention Surrey Wraparound (Wrap) Program More outreach to youth Dedicated Crown counsel on priority files in Surrey that involve alleged offenders with ties to guns and gangs

You could receive a cash reward of up to $2000.

More police, with the addition of two 10-person teams New Office of Crime Reduction and Gang Outreach Illegal Firearms Task Force

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2016-05-04 1:02 PM

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LOCAL

Province inspects Victoria homeless camp for fire hazards

eople living in a pect a homeless camp to controversial homemeet fire safety standards. less camp in Vic“Tents aren’t made to live toria are waiting to hear in. They’re made to camp if they will be heading in. So there’s never going back to court after the to be a completely safe way province conducted a fire to live in a tent,” she said. inspection Wednesday.

In recent weeks The province sought an there has been growinjunction in April to reHomeless camp in Victoria ing concern from pomove the camp, but was lice and neighbours unsuccessful. However, it can go back to about an increase in crime at the camp. court if it feels safety and security have deThis week two officers have been patrolling teriorated. Campers and advocates for the the area around the camp each day following homeless gave an official from the Office of safety complaints from neighbours in the area. the Fire Commissioner a tour of the tent city.

Victoria police said one of those offiThe campers and advocates have been work- cers was injured Tuesday during an aring to define pathways and clear out flam- rest. They declined to specify the nature mable materials, but there are still more than of her injuries, citing privacy concerns.

100 structures crowded onto the site. AdvoThe province has not yet said when it will cate Chrissy Brett says it’s unrealistic to ex- make a decision about going back to court.

Commercial vehicle drivers taken to task during annual safety blitz

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olice and inspection personnel were out in full force in Delta for its annual major safety check of commercial vehicles.

The annual three-day blitz — involving 70 personnel at six different checkpoints — complements the monthly checks that take place along the busy transport route.

“Delta has the most amount of traffic that travels through this region,” said Steven Bauer, the regional manager for the Ministry of Transportation’s commercial vehicle safety enforcement unit.

So far, they don’t have any numbers of how many vehicles failed this year’s inspection, but Delta Police Sgt. Mike Scholz says during a “targeted enforcement blitz” such as this one, about 5,000 vehicles pass by of which 150 are inspected.

He says, on average, 35 to 40 per cent fail their inspections.

Delta truck inspection speakers

Trucks in Delta for inspections

Sgt. Mike Scholz (L) of Delta Police and Steven Bauer (R) from the Ministry of Transportation are working together to coordinate the six different locations and 70 personnel involved in this year’s safety campaign. (CBC News) If it’s a simple infraction like a cracked mirror, Scholz says “they can leave to get their vehicle fixed [but] if the vehicle actually fails out of service, the repairs have to be made at the roadside or the vehicle has to be towed to a place of repair.”

Former Mountie charged with selling cocaine while with the police force

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former Kamloops police officer has been charged with three counts of cocaine trafficking — with allegations she was selling the drugs while still employed as a Mountie.

Randi Love, who has since retired from the RCMP, is accused of dealing cocaine on three occasions last June, while still a member of the national police force.

According to court documents, the 40-year-old allegedly trafficked cocaine on June 13, June 22 and June 26.

Love retired from the RCMP in recent months after discovering she was the subject of a drug-trafficking investigation.

Randi Love, seen here at a 2008 press conference, was a member of the Kamloops RCMP in June 2015, when it is alleged she was selling cocaine. Love will appear in Kamloops provincial court ‘on June 16

This is not the first time Love has found herself at the centre of a criminal proceeding.

In 2013, she was a key witness for the Crown in the fraud trial of her ex-boyfriend, disgraced RCMP Const. Trent Wessner.

Wessner was convicted, based largely on Love’s testimony, of bilking Costco out of $400 after ordering hometheatre equipment and claiming it was never delivered.

During the trial, Wessner claimed Love pinned the fraud on him out of revenge following a nasty breakup.

LOCAL White Rock condo fire deliberately set, police say

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large fire that displaced more than 100 residents and prompted a boil water advisory on May 15 in White Rock, B.C., was deliberately set, say police. The fire started in an unoccupied condo under construction but quickly spread and damaged a nearby building that housed dozens of residents and several businesses. Mounties say they and the White Rock Fire Department have been investigating the fire and believe it was deliberate. “This fire and the resulting displacement of the building’s residents has understandably shaken our community,” said Const. Chantal Sears of the White Rock RCMP. “The fact that it is now believed this fire was intentionally set will likely cause further distress to those residents.” The extensive efforts to put out the flames taxed the water supply of the city of 20,000, leading to a boil-water advisory for the next three days. Many of the victims

Fire at an under construction building in White Rock on May 15

of the fire, which started at 5 a.m. PT, left with few possessions and will not be able to return to their homes for another year.

Police are asking anyone with information or who may have seen any suspicious activity to contact the White Rock RCMP at 778-593-3600 or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Not everyone is happy about proposed fencing to stop suicides at Burrard Bridge

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ew suicide barriers proposed for the Burrard Bridge aren’t getting a thumbs-up from everyone. NPA Councillor George Affleck argues the city did a poor job consulting the public. “The heritage community was not consulted in advance at all about the railings. Generally, we as a council should be provided with reports that are robust — that include consultation. In this case, it was not done. I don’t think that’s fair [to] the community.”

He’s calling for another round of public consultation. “The heritage community [believes] that the aesthetics of the bridge will be compromised — the Art Deco look has historical importance. As well, walking and cycling across would be impacted because you won’t have the same views anymore — you’ll be obstructed by a fence.”

His motion to revisit the plan will come

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up at the May 31st council meeting. The City of Vancouver has issued the following statement about the bridge: Following Council’s approval and direction in July 2015 to design and install means prevention fencing as part of the upgrades to Burrard Street Bridge 2016, the City engaged a stakeholder group consisting of representatives from Heritage Commission, Heritage Foundation, Heritage Society, Active Transportation Policy Council, Urban Design Panel, Vancouver Coastal Health,

Opposition Vancouver councillors walk out

reen Councillor Adriane Carr and NPA councillors Elizabeth Ball, George Affleck, and Melissa De Genova have explained the circumstances that saw all four walk out in protest during a public hearing where Vision Vancouver only managed to get out three of their seven caucus members. The May 24 public hearing into floating signs on False Creek and a Cedar Cottage development project was the first in which Vision Vancouver failed to have a majority of its caucus present. Carr charged that Vision Vancouver’s Raymond Louie as Acting Mayor conducted the meeting in a

dismissive and partisan manner unbecoming of chair, including: Prompting fellow Vision Councillor Tim Stevenson to ask questions.

Ruling Councillors Carr and De Genova out of order for requesting an extension of the meeting as it neared the 10 pm deadline beyond which the hearing would terminate.

Ruling Councillor Carr out of order for pointing out correct council protocol with regard to an attempt by Councillor Stevenson to refer the hearing to staff.

Failing to be transparent in revealing staff advice and his reasons for ruling in favour of allowing Councillor Stevenson’s referral motion.

Saturday, May 28 2016

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LOCAL

14 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

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Doctors and gov’t agree to $7.5M class action settlement over unpaid fees

he B.C. government will pay $7.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit launched 18 years ago on behalf of doctors who treated certain patients but were never paid by the government.

The settlement, reached after mediation, is subject to court approval. It is a far cry from the $100 million that doctors initially imagined when the action began.

The $7.5 million will be reduced by about 30 per cent by legal fees and expenses to class action lawyers for the plaintiffs, including Vancouver lawyer Arthur Grant.

Grant said in an interview he expects up to 7,000 doctors could be eligible to share in the proceeds.

The biggest chunk of physicians expected to collect settlement funds are emergency room doctors and plastic surgeons who treated pa-

tients at hospitals but were not compensated because those patients were delinquent in paying their Medical Services Plan premiums.

In the early 1990s, the NDP government cancelled health insurance coverage when patients failed to pay their premiums and denied payment to doctors when they treated patients anyway.

The issue came to a head in 1996 when, during an election campaign, a pair of Prince George surgeons announced they would refuse to treat people with fractured jaws and no medical coverage because they knew they wouldn’t be paid. The problem was particularly acute there because of a higher frequency of jaw injuries in a city that at the time had a reputation for bar brawls and a high rate (20 per cent) of MSP arrears.

Woman convicted of sexual crimes against children arrested for breaching probation Police say they found two laptop computers in Black’s home age 18 using a computer. Moose Police in Abbotsford have arJaw woman gets 4 years for rested a woman with a history child sex offences She is schedof sex offences against children uled to appear in court June 23. for breaching a probation order In the 2007 Saskatchewan case, forbidding her from using the Black pleaded guilty to sexual internet. Audrey Black, 39, faces interference with two young three charges of failing to comply girls and making pornographic with a probation order. In 2007, videotapes and pictures involvshe was sentenced to four years in prison for her role in a series Audrey Black, 39, faces ing three girls. The incidents ocof sex offences involving young three charges of fail- curred in 2005 and 2006 while girls in Moose Jaw, Sask. Black ing to comply with a Black and her husband, Donald William Black, were babysitting was arrested May 18 after police probation order. three girls who at the time were found two laptops in her home.

She was released but handed another court five, four and 18 months old. Settled in B.C. order forbidding her from using the inter- The Blacks had two small boys of their own. net or making contact with a person under Donald Black was sentenced to eight years

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Age of Chinese students studying in Canada drops

he average age of Chinese students arriving in B.C. and Canada is dropping dramatically as growing numbers of international K-12 pupils, not just college students, are enrolling in local schools. According to a monthly report published by Canadian immigration lawyer Richard Kurland, there is a demographic shift occurring in the kind of student visas being processed by Canada’s embassy in Beijing. Kindergarten-to-Grade 12 students made up 37 per cent of all study permits issued in China last year, a sharp rise from 18

per cent just six years ago. In B.C., there were 1,094 Chinese students enrolled in K-12 in 2009; by 2014, that figure had quadrupled to 4,306.

Kurland says the statistics suggest a shift in the thinking of Chinese families about how to get their children — and perhaps themselves — Canadian residency. He pointed to recent changes in Canadian immigration law that make “Express Entry” a lottery system for international college students, causing Chinese families to seek ways to improve their chances.

Saturday, May 28 2016

Regulate pill press machines used to make fentanyl tablets, says Abbotsford Police

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olice are calling for tighter regulations on pill press machines that are being used to turn raw drugs like fentanyl into counterfeit tablets for sale on the streets.

The machines — often seized by police officers when they raid clandestine drug labs — are capable of churning out thousands of fake pills per hour.

“What’s very concerning for us is that these pills are very professional looking,” said Ab-

private members bill in Alberta could lead to the regulation of the machines there.

Alberta’s proposed legislation would also limit the sale of capsule filling machines and pharmaceutical mixers to pharmacists or people holding a licence.

B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake says he’s open to the idea as well, but would rather see the initiative from the federal government.

“I just think it would be far more effect to do it across the country. Otherwise if we do it here, and Alberta, Saskatchewan doesn’t, we’ll just see them move in here,” said Lake.

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Guilty verdict upheld in houseboat death caused by speeding driver: B.C. judge

B.C. Supreme Court judge has upheld the convictions of a man who recklessly drove his speedboat into a houseboat on Shuswap Lake, killing the operator. Leon Reinbrecht argued that delays caused by the Crown and the court meant the case did not get to trial for nearly five years. However, Justice Sheri Donegan dismissed his lawyers’ application on Wednesday. “The societal interest in the completion of this trial is high, so when

I weigh and balance all these factors, I am satisfied Mr. Reinbrecht’s right to a fair trial has not been infringed in this case,” Donegan said. Last October, Donegan found Reinbrecht guilty of criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily harm after the crash that killed Brown and injured at least five people in July 2010.

Donegan ruled Reinbrecht was speeding in his speedboat at night after post-Canada Day fireworks when he smashed into the slowmoving houseboat.

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This pill press, found in the raid of a fentanyl lab.

botsford Police Deputy Chief Mike Serr.

“Someone purchasing a pill on the street may think they are purchasing a diverted prescription drug, when they could easily be getting a counterfeit drug that could contain fentanyl.”

Despite their frequent illicit use, in Canada the machines can legally be bought online for $3,000 to $10,000, along with the extra binding agents needed to create the pills, he noted.

“Right now they are not regulated and the importation of them — there really is very little from an intelligence perspective that police can do,” said Serr.

Pill presses regulated in the U.S. Serr, who chairs the Canadian Association of Police Chiefs’ drug abuse committee, said police have been talking with Health Canada and the Public Safety Ministry for the past six months about how the machines could be regulated nationally.

Abbotsford police deputy chief Mike Seer notes that in the U.S., the Drug Enforcement Agency regulates the machines, and a

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LOCAL

Families face ‘recurring nightmare’ after Calgary man found not criminally responsible for killing 5 youths

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hen Matthew de Grood killed five young Calgarians at a northwest house party, he didn’t know he was doing wrong because of a mental disorder, a judge ruled Wednesday. In determining de Grood, 24 (pictured), was not criminally responsible, Justice Eric Macklin accepted the opinions of three experts that the admitted killer was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of the slayings. “I find on a balance of probabilities that at the time he caused their deaths, Matthew de Grood was suffering from a mental disorder that rendered him incapable of appreciating or knowing that his actions were wrong,” Macklin said.

“I find that Matthew de Grood committed the acts that resulted in the deaths of these five individuals, but he is not criminally responsible for those deaths on account of mental disorder.” Doctors testified de Grood was suffering psychotic delusions that led him to believe an

end-of-the-world war was taking place, and his victims were part of the other side. He had been charged with five counts of first-degree murder in the April 15, 2013, deaths of Jordan Segura, Lawrence Hong, Kaiti Perras, Joshua Hunter and Zackariah Rathwell. After the ruling, defence counsel Allan Fay was permitted to read a statement from his client. “I realize that through my illness I have done something horrible and ultimately wrong,” de Grood wrote. “I take responsibility for these deaths and I acknowledge the immense suffering I have caused. My heart goes out to the families of the victims. “I cannot apologize enough for your losses and I deeply regret that your loved ones aren’t with you anymore. “I am sorry from the bottom of my heart,” he said. De Grood also pledged to “take responsibility for my illness so nothing like this ever occurs again.

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Vancouver cops recommend attempted murder charge against 16 years old boy

ancouver police have recommended that an attempted murder charge be laid against a 16-year-old boy in connection with a May 11 shooting incident that left a 19-year-old man with gunshot wounds.

Police answered a report of shots fired in the mid-afternoon that day near the corner of Nanaimo and Dundas, spokesman Const. Brian Montague said Wednesday.

The 19-year-old was later released from hospital. Investigators believe the shooting was a targeted attack connected to the illegal drug trade, Montague said.

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The 16-year-old was arrested two days after the shooting, and would face charges under the Young Offenders Act. Montague asked that anyone with information on that shooting call police at 604-7172541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Meanwhile, Vancouver’s ninth traffic fatality of 2016 was a 72-year-old man who died after his bicycle and a car collided in Stanley Park, Montague said. The cyclist was taken to hospital with serious injuries after the May 17 collision on Stanley Park Drive near Second Beach. He died of his injuries this past Monday.

Family and friends start Jaylen Sandhu scholarship

he parents of a 17-year-old killed in Surrey two years ago hope a scholarship in their son’s name will keep his memory alive. Dozens of friends and

family members of Jaylen Sandhu gathJaylen Sandhu died after he was stabbed during a fight in Surrey ered in December, 2014 Sunday for the fundraising event. Sandhu died after he was stabbed during a fight on December 18, 2014. The suspect, who was also 17 at the time of the incident, was arrested in another province and was charged last month with second-degree murder. Sandhu’s mother Dawn Armstrong said she hopes her son will always be remembered. Danny Sandhu and Dawn Armstrong Danny Sandhu and Dawn Armstrong hope a $2,000 scholarship will help a young person with the costs of post secondary eduction.

Blinded UBC student to speak about attack that took her sight

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linded UBC student Rumana Monzur made headlines when she spoke out from her hospital bed Blinded UBC law student about being now in her ‘comfort zone’ brutally attacked and blinded by her husband in her home country of Bangladesh five years ago. Today, she is an advocate for women’s rights and this Thursday she will deliver the keynote speech at the 20th annual Big Sisters Spring Lunch.

“I think woman need to know about my experience and what can be the result if they tolerate injustice and violence for a long time,” she said. “Even though I was educated I didn’t know how to face society if I were to divorce,” she said. Monzur was studying at the University of British Columbia and was also an assistant professor at the University of Dhaka at the time of the attack. UBC student blinded in attack earns master’s degree She has now completed her graduate degree in Political Science at UBC and is studying to get her law degree. Monzur has been so busy studying that she says she hasn’t had time to really adjust to being blind. “If I want to go somewhere I don’t travel on my own.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Saturday - May 28, 2016

Actor, model Nimrat takes a hike in Vancouver Kamya & Karan split

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imrat Kaur who has been filming for the second season of M Night Shyamalan’s TV show Wayward Pines in Vancouver since March is looking forward to the season premiere which goes on air. Paired opposite Ameri-

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Daler Mehndi appears in Court on human trafficking charges

unjabi pop singer Daler Mehndi, who landed in trouble following allegations of running an illegal immigration scandal in 2003, appeared before a court on Thursday in connection with the human trafficking case.

The singer and his brother Shamsher have been accused of illegally sending people

abroad disguised as members of his troupe by charging hefty “passage money.”

It was alleged that Mehndi brothers took two troupes in 1998 and 1999 during which 10 people were taken to the US as group members and were “dropped off ” illegally.

Daler, on a trip to the US allegedly “dropped off ” three girls at

Shah Rukh Khan at Karan Johar’s birthday bash Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and host of other Bollywood buddies of Karan Johar were in attendance at Karan Johar’s 44th birthday bash in London.

he news of Karan Patel’s marriage was in the media where his would-be bride was believed to be some Ankita Bhargava. Many thought that it would be some sort of rumour.

A lot of eyebrows were raised when Kamya recently said that she still loves Karan but wouldn’t want him back in her cause of split? life. Going to the other side, Karan says ‘We are not the best of friends’.

What’s the full story?

The parting was not nice, but how did the animosity set in and how did it escalate? Just a small query, and if one talks to the right

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2 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

Bollywood

My mother and my daughter Aradhya are my biggest inspirations

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ishwarya Rai, who has been in the spotlight recently after being spotted in matching outfits with daughter Aradhya and snubbed by husband Abhishek Bachchan at the “Sarbjit” premiere, took to Twitter to speak out about her family at a special Q&A session with her fans. The actress, who received a positive response from the audience for her performance in “Sarbjit,” answered a diverse range of questions sent by her fans on Twitter through special video tweets.

She chose her favorite questions and answered them on @SarbjitMovie. She also answered questions from celebrities, including Jackky Bhagnani, her “Sarbjit” co-star Richa

Chadha and husband Abhishek Bachchan.

When a fan asked her which one is harder — being a mom or an actress — the mother of four-year-old Aaradhya said: “Being a mom tops my priority list. I am committed as an actor and it’s there for you to see.”

In fact, she even considers her “little Aradhya, our angel” an inspiration.

The former beauty queen shared that her mother, Brinda Rai, is her biggest inspiration and today, even her daughter.

Talking about “Sarbjit,” which tells the hard-hitting story of an Indian farmer who was held captive and eventually died in a Pakistan jail, she said that the film found her.

Deepika Padukone is adorable in her new Facebook profile

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acebook is known to tweak its settings around from time to time to stay current and to appeal to its users. The live feature where one can stream or video chat is one of the newer features. Another one that is yet to be adopted by many, including Bollywood stars, is Facebook profile videos.

Instead of putting up a profile picture, now you can upload a profile video. Actress Deepika Padukone updated her Facebook page with a profile video May 24, and, in under 24 hours, it has been viewed over 1.3 million times. The video has dimpled Padukone blowing a kiss for the camera and also making a heart gesture, showing she loves her fans. The five-second-long video is refreshing and captures Padukone’s sunny disposition.

Watch the video below, and tell us what you think in the comments.

Priyanka to play James Bond in her next film?

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riyanka is known for breaking new ground.

With her Hollywood debut in the forthcoming movie “Baywatch” and the success of season one of her TV series “Quantico,” Chopra’s name is now being bandied around as a candidate for the role of a Bond girl. When queried about the rumors, the 33-year-old Indian star says she would rather play James Bond. “I get that all the time. But I wanna be Bond,” Chopra said.

Fans are already starting to throw their support behind a handful of actors, including Tom Hiddleston and Idris Elba to pick up Daniel Craig’s mantle. But recently, the idea of giving the part to a woman has been catching steam on social media, reported Complex magazine.

Salman Khan in top gear as he fights for redemption, love

Saturday, May 28, 2016 i 3 Bollywood New released Bollywood films

May 2016

Phobia

Viki Rajani, Sunil Lulla Director Pawan Kirplani Starring Radhika Apte Genre, Horror Thriller

Cabaret Salman and Anushka in ‘Sultan’ he trailer of one of the year’s most an- and Sharma on Sony Max on Extra Innings ticipated films, Yash Raj Films’ “Sultan,” T20 earlier, necessitating the launch at this was launched recently. Starring Salman far-off venue instead of at Yash Raj Studios Khan in and as Sultan, a rustic Haryanvi wres- where all such events are held at Film City.

A classic underdog tale about a wrestler tler who is tough as nails, the film co-stars who makes a comeback defeating all odds, Anushka Sharma as Sultan’s love interest, Aarfa, also an ambitious and successful wrestler. “Sultan,” at its core, is a love story. Produced To synergize with the prevalent festive spirit by Aditya Chopra and written and directed by of IPL matches, the trailer with wrestling Ali Abbas Zafar, the film has music by Vishalas its core theme, was launched by Khan Shekhar and lyrics by Irshad Kamil. Randeep Hooda and Amit Sadh play key roles.

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Salman and Sanjay fighting because of a woman?

alman had apparently recommended Sanjay to hire Reshma so that she could assist him in getting his professional career back on track. Due to his jail term, Sanjay had been away from Bollywood for a long time and hence, he now has to buck up and set everything going. So, with a good intention, Salman asked Reshma to help his buddy, and on the other hand Sanjay too complied to Salman’s advise. Reshma was brought on board Sanjay’s team, but it was of no help. Reshma and her team apparently hiked Sanjay’s fee and hence, he did not bag any role for quite some time.

A frustrated Sanjay got to know about this and he then confronted Reshma, leading

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to an ugly spat between the two. Eventually, Sanjay and Reshma parted ways, but somewhere, Salman got irked because all of this. It is being said that Sanjay did try and make Salman understand the real reason as to why he stopped working with Reshma, but just to his disappointment, Salman was in no mood to listen and hence, their friendship went

Boman Irani bowes out of a Pakistani film, here’s why

emember a month back, the ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ director Kabir was heckled at the Karachi airport?

So owing to this incident, Boman Irani who is always known to be a

very affable actor, bowed out of a Pakistani film that he had agreed to be a part of. The reason suspected for Boman’s exit from the film is that he was upset about the incident involving Kabir Khan.

Producer Pooja Bhatt, Bhusan Kumar Director Kaustav Narayan Niyogi Star cast Richa Chadha, Gulshan Devaiah, Sreesanth

Sarabjit Director – Omung Kumar, Cast – Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Randeep Hooda, Richa Chaddha

Buddha in a Traffic Jam Comedy, Thriller Arunoday Singh as Vikram Pandit Mahi Gill as Charu Siddhu Anupam Kher as Professor

Bollywood

4 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

Horoscope Libra

Aries

Sept. 24 - Oct 22

March 21 - April 20 It’s tempting to blame other people, but when it comes right down to it there’s no one else responsible for the current state of your love life. Spend a little time at the start of the week trying to figure out if you’re making the right moves or if you can improve. You get along with all types of people at the end of the week, so your dance card fills up fast. Romantic adventure awaits you!

Taurus

It’s tempting to blame other people, but when it comes right down to it there’s no one else responsible for the current state of your love life. Spend a little time at the start of the week trying to figure out if you’re making the right moves or if you can improve. You get along with all types of people at the end of the week, so your dance card fills up fast. Romantic adventure awaits you!

Scorpio

April 21 - May 20

Oct 23 - Nov 22

Are you thinking about asking someone out again who has said no to you before? The beginning of the week isn’t the best time for do-overs.

Wait until you get a more positive vibe to make your move. Fairness is a big part of dating later in the week. If you think you’ve gotten an unfair assessment or judgment, ask for another chance.

You make a very good second impression.

Gemini

May 20 - June 21

You’re blocked creatively in the beginning of the week, so it’s hard for you to see beyond your current situation. You won’t always feel like this, but it’s really hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. You can plan ahead for a date over the weekend, but the truth is you never know what’s going to happen. Turn an awkward or embarrassing moment into an opportunity to show that you can laugh at yourself.

Sagitarius

Slow and steady wins the race in the beginning of the week. You may want to make a showy grand gesture to prove you desire someone, but moves like that will most likely backfire. Choose your words wisely when you’re alone with your secret crush over the weekend, especially if he or she has no idea how you feel. Find a clever way to reveal your true feelings instead of just blurting them out.

Cancer

Nov 23 - Dec 22

You aren’t lonely, per se, but you really want someone to hang out with at the start of the week. When you see your coupled-up friends, you can’t help but wish that someday you’ll have what they have. You love to surprise people later in the week, and who better to shower with an impromptu gift than the guy or girl you’ve been crushing on? Getting a smile in return for your efforts makes it well worth it.

June 22 - July 23

Do your friends support your romantic decisions or are they critical of them? Watch out for jealousy and other negative motivations behind seemingly innocent advice in the beginning of the week. Someone you think is trying to help you really isn’t. You think rationally and soundly over the weekend, but love can’t be put in a neat little box. Your logic might be flawed, but your intentions are good.

Leo

June 24 - August 23

August 24 - Sept 24 Are your loved ones trying to give you unsolicited advice? Your friends and family are probably more concerned about your love life than you are in the beginning of the week, but what will it hurt to let them have their say?

A date over the weekend may call for you to leave your comfort zone, but impressing someone with your flexibility is worth any uneasiness you may feel.

Dec 23 - Jan 20

You’ve been so busy lately that you may not have had a chance to look up from your current responsibilities. Are you aware of what’s going on around you? Someone is trying to catch your eye but having a hard time getting you to even notice! Having someone support you through a difficult time over the weekend could lead to romantic feelings, but this might not be the right time to cross that boundary.

Aquarius

Put that considerable leonine charm to work in the first part of the week. Making someone smile is a great first step toward becoming lovers! As long as you have a good way to break the ice, no one is out of your league. Your confidence may be irritating to your romantic competition, but all is fair in love and war. It’s really not your fault that you’re so irresistible!

Virgo

Capricorn

Jan 21 - Feb 19 Do you have someone you’re trying to impress but nothing you do seems to make a difference? The person may be playing hard to get, which means you’ll have to try a little harder. But if the chemistry obviously isn’t there, don’t try to force it. If you’ve been put in the friend zone, accept your fate and move on. You like to play coy on a date over the weekend and it’s OK to not disclose everything right away.

Pisces

Feb 20 - March 20 The little things count in the first part of the week, so go the extra mile. Your creativity puts you in a different class than most of your romantic competition, so don’t hesitate to use your uniqueness to your advantage.

You’re very in tune with the details when planning a date later in the week, and you’re really good at putting together the perfect setting.

If the chemistry is there, this will be a date to remember.

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Sonam a ‘Rockstar rajkumari’ in Sari at Cannes 2016

ishwarya Rai Bachchan might say sporting purple lipstick at Cannes was a call taken by her cosmetic brand, but Sonam Kapoor believes the “Sarbjit” actress opted for the shade, because she wanted to be “talked about.”

Bachchan, who completed 15 years at Cannes this year, shocked one and all when she attended the screening of a film wearing a purple lip color.

When asked what she felt about Bachchan’s purple lips outing and the flak it received, Kapoor said the actress should be happy with the attention she got.

“The whole idea of fashion and makeup is for people to discuss it, and I guess she wanted to be discussed. She achieved what she

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wanted to achieve with it, which I think is great,” Kapoor told PTI. When told that Bachchan has called it L’Oreal’s prerogative, Kapoor, 30, quipped, “I don’t think she walked for L’Oreal that day. There was an Amul ad on it; people were discussing it. I think it was great to do it on a 15th year; it’s cool.

How much is Amitabh’s scooter in ‘TE3N’ worth?

eople have been taken aback with the visuals of megastar Amitabh Bachchan zipping away on an antique blue scooter in the forthcoming film “TE3N” — and thereby hangs a tale! The scooter’s owner Sujit Narayan Sur, who lent the scooter to the unit for the shoot, has been inundated with offers “for the scooter driven

by Amitabh Bachchan,” but he has refused them all, including a Rs. 1 crore proposal!

He has modified and customized it for the actor and the film. Sur, also known as Bhaida, was quoted in a press release saying: “This second-hand scooter is about 20 years old. I bought it 13 years back and still use it. The unit came with a sketch of what they

Amitabh in ‘TE3N’

needed and my scooter’s color matched their requirements. I was thrilled. I will not be able to lend out the scooter ever again. I want to keep it at my Kolkata home with a lifesize photo of Mr. Bachchan. And also, any scooter that he rides is not less than a crore in worth! So, there’s no question of selling it.”

Well, well, memories and memorabilia are made of these!

Bollywood personalities’ birthdays SONAKSHI SINHA JUNE 02

PARESH RAWAL MAY 30

RAJ KHOSLA MAY 31

KARAN JOHAR MAY 25

Saturday, May 28, 2016

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Bollywood

6 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

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Kangana Ranaut’s next film to be shot in USA

t the “Sarbjit” premiere, everyone was wondering whether Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s marriage was going through a rough patch. Abhishek Bachchan joined his wife briefly before leaving abruptly as they were being photographed, because he wanted to let his wife enjoy her big day.

He asked the paparazzi to focus on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, but the action fueled buzz about discord between them!

Kangana Ranaut’s next will be shot in U.S. starting in June. The actress is already prepping in Mumbai for the role of a bank robber

in this Hansal Mehta film, which is inspired by a reallife criminal, Sandeep Kaur.

Bejoy Nambiar will reunite with Farhan Akhtar after “Wazir” for his next film, a remake of Mani Rathnam’s “Agni Natchathiram,” also starring Harshvardhan Rane and Vicky Kaushal.

He wants Deepika Padukone as the leading lady.

Ranveer Singh is having a double whammy.

He has been signed again not only by Sanjay Leela Bhansali but also by Zoya Akhtar for her next film. The two filmmakers had worked with Singh in his two 2015 releases “Bajirao Mastani” and “Dil Dhadakne Do,” respec-

No man has given me more love than Karan Theirs was a fairy-tale romance — with exotic vacations, spectacular celebrations, lavish dates on faraway islands and dazzling ‘fireworks’. Literally, too. Of course, and selfies that spilled their story bit by bit. In an ultimate romantic style, last New Year’s eve, Karan Singh Grover went down on his knees and proposed to his lady-love Bipasha Basu. It seemed no less than a perfectly scripted romantic movie, though he says it was spontaneous

and it felt like the “right moment.” There were fireworks lighting up the night skies on a stunning beach, elated spirits and sounds of cheer. Amidst all that, he popped the question. In a state of daze, she said, “Okay.” He said, “I will take that as a yes.” Months later, they took their wedding vows, and the grand day was planned by the beautiful bride herself. In their first interview post shaadi, Bipasha (looking lovely

Shraddha Kapoor treats ‘OK Jaanu’ team with home-cooked feast

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urrently shooting for the film “OK Jaanu,” Shraddha Kapoor decided to do something special for the cast and crew. But unlike Salman Khan who gifted his “Sultan” team with customized hoodies, the 27-year-old actress won over her team’s hearts with food.

Shraddha Kapoor treated everyone to a special feast. The actress brought ‘dabbas’ of homecooked food for the team, who was pleasantly surprised when they got the chance to relish all the dishes personally selected

by Shraddha Kapoor May 22.

“Our ‘OK Jaanu’ team is full of serious foodies, so I really wanted to take food from home for everyone. I felt really happy that all the dabbas came back home empty,” Shraddha Kapoor said in a statement.

A source from the sets also shared that the menu had both vegetarian and non-

vegetarian dishes.

“There was homecooked Maharashtrian style mutton, fish curry, bharela bhindi and pakoda kaddi. The entire team gorged on the yummy food, absolutely loved it, and couldn’t thank Shraddha enough for this sweet gesture,” said the source.

“OK Jaanu” is a remake of the Tamil super hit “OK Kanmani.” The original, which was helmed

by Mani Ratnam, featured Dulquer Salmaan and Nithya Menon in the lead. The Hindi version of the film also stars Aditya Roy Kapoor.

“OK Jaanu” revolves around the lives of two young lovers and depicts the issue of live-in relationships. It is slated to release on Jan. 13, 2017.

Akshay, Abhishek not interested in Hollywood films With Bollywood stars like Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone breaking into Hollywood these days, actor Abhishek Bachchan revealed his thoughts on the American film industry during a promotional event here May 25 for his upcoming film “Housefull 3.”

His father made his international film debut with “The Great Gatsby,” and his wife has acted in multiple international films like “The Pink Panther 2” and “The Last Legion.” But Abhishek Bachchan feels Indians give too much hype to Hollywood. Abhishek Bachchan, who was here to promote “Housefull 3” along with his co-stars Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Lisa Haydon and

Jacqueline Fernandez, said there is instead a huge demand for Indian films globally.

Asked if he is interested in starring in a Hollywood film, Abhishek Bachchan told IANS: “There is a lot hype given to Hollywood.

English is just a language and nothing else.

Today there is a huge demand for Hindi films globally. People from Hollywood are coming and doing item numbers and films.” Kumar added that he has no interest in Hollywood and is busy doing a Tamil film titled “2.0,” along with superstar Rajinikanth. Directed

by Shankar, the film is a sequel to the blockbuster “Enthiran.” “I am doing a Tamil film.

I have no interest in Hollywood,” Kumar added.

Bollywood

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Sonam stands up for LGBT rights

onam Kapoor was more than happy to attend the inauguration of the seventh Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival on the evening of May 25.

The “Prem Ratan Dhan Payo” actress, who missed the event last year, said she immediately agreed to come to the event, as she is a “strong supporter” of basic human rights.

“Last year, I was trying to make it, but I was traveling. This year I immediately said yes to coming here. I am a strong supporter of basic human rights; forget LGBT rights. I think that’s what this is,” she said.

Recently, British actor Ian McKellen expressed that India needs to grow up and do away with section 377 of IPC, which criminalizes homosexuality.

When asked about her take on this, Kapoor told reporters, “I absolutely agree with him. It’s a basic human right. It’s not about lesbian, gay, transsexual; it’s about being able to be what you want to be and being somebody who is just themselves.”

Kapoor feels even the censor board is moving in the right direction and says she is an optimist who believes things will change.

“The very fact that they gave ‘Neerja’ a U certificate says that they are moving in the correct direction. Hopefully things are going

Amitabh completes 35th film as singer

to change. I am an optimistic human being... I believe in humanity and the fact that people are good, and conditions and choices make them not so great,” she said.

McKellen, who was also present at the event, said he has come to India to support those who want to “get rid” of IPC section 377.

“I’ve come to Mumbai to celebrate Shakespeare and to celebrate the connection between the United Kingdom and your country. I have also come to support those who want to get rid of section 377.”

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Saturday, May 28, 2016

Shahid Kapoor’s ‘Rangoon’ to be released in 2017

et in the 1940s with a star cast of Saif Ali Khan, Kangana Ranaut and Shahid Kapoor, Vishal Bhardwaj’s period drama “Rangoon” wrapped up a couple of weeks ago. The film is slated to hit theaters Feb. 24, 2017.

Bhardwaj, who calls the movie the closest to his heart, says he wants it to be known as his best work ever.

“I am very happy with what we have achieved during the shooting of ‘Rangoon.’ This film is the closest to my heart, and I want to make sure this is seen as my best work ever,” the National Award-winner said in a statement.

Bhardwaj shared that Ranaut, who will be seen in the role of an actress, was particularly excited about the film’s release date, as she is emotionally attached to February, as her 2011 super-hit film “Tanu Weds Manu” hit theaters the same month.

“When we suggested Feb. 24th as the release

date, Kangana was very excited, as she is sentimentally attached to February, given the exceptional response to ‘Tanu Weds Manu,’ which had released in the same period and was also produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures.

“Given that it’s Shahid’s birthday on Feb. 25, there is no better way to celebrate,” Bhardwaj added.

“Rangoon” will mark the filmmaker’s reunion with Khan, who he last directed in the 2006 crime drama “Omkara.”

“For Saif and me, ‘Rangoon’ has been even more special, as it’s been 10 years since ‘Omkara’ and an interesting experience working together again after a full decade.”

The movie will reportedly witness some epic battle scenes and historic references.

“Rangoon” has been co-produced

by Bhardwaj, Sajid Nadiadwala under the Nadiadwala Grandson ban-

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mitabh Bachchan has been singing in films since 1979’s “Mr. Natwarlal” and reciting in songs since “Adalat” (1977), made four decades ago. He will again lend his voice to a soulful song for his upcoming psychological thriller, “TE3N,” which is scheduled to release Jun. 10.

The song, titled “Kyun Re?” (which means “Why, Man?”) has been penned by another Amitabh, whose surname also begins with the letter ‘B’ — Bhattacharya — and is composed by Clinton Cerejo. It is pivotal to the movie, directed by Ribhu Dasgupta and starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Vidya Balan (in a special appearance crucial to the plot).

This is the 35th film for which Bachchan has lent his voice for a song (sometimes more than one, as in “Silsila,” “Baghban” and “Baabul”), mostly as a singer but sometimes just to speak or recite some passage(s). “Kahaani” remains the only film here in which he did not star yet sang a thematic number on the city of Kolkata.

Bachchan has sung probably in some Bhojpuri films and has also given voice-overs as the narrator in several films beginning with the 1969 “Bhuvan Shome” (his overall debut), “Bawarchi,” “Tere Mere Sapne,” “Hello Brother,” “Lagaan,” “Insaaf - The Justice,” “Jodhaa Akbar,” “Krrish 3,” the anima-

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Toyota investing in ride-hailing company Uber

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Earlier this year, GM invested $500 million US in Uber rival Lyft

oyota said Tuesday it is investing in Uber, making it the latest car company to put money in a ride-hailing app.

The Japanese company did not say how much the investment is worth.

As part of s icle t h e h e v a t deal, Uber o Toy drivers can lease Toyota vehicles with money earned

from their driving.

GM offers potentially free cars to Lyft drivers who pick up enough ride-hailers $500M investment

by GM in Lyft ridehailing company Investing in ridehailing services can be a way for automakers to

sell more cars. Earlier this year, General Motors Co. invested $500 million US in Ub e r rival Lyft.

Uber r e lies on d r i ve r s who use their own

Taxi lobby not satisfied

Uber introduces new plan to keep operating in Quebec

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he head of Uber’s Quebec operations said the ride-hailing company is prepared to temporarily suspend its activities in favour of a new pilot project that it unveiled today.

Jean-Nicolas Guillemette made the suggestion at legislative hearings underway at Quebec’s National Assembly on Bill 100, which would force Uber drivers to conform to the same laws as cabbies with regard

to regulations such as permits and taxes.

Uber says the bill, if enacted as is, would mean the end of the company’s operations in Quebec.

Uber’s proposed solution ride-hailing companies such as Uber buy a $100,000 operating permit each year. pay a set tax of 35 cents per trip. ride-hailing companies would also pay a tax of seven cents

per ride to Quebec’s automobile insurance program

cars to give customers rides. Riders request and pay for their rides through the Uber phone app. The company has entered more than four hundred cities around the world, despite pushback from regulators and the taxi industry about how it vets drivers.

Toyota is investing in San Francisco-based Uber alongside Mirai Creation Investment Limited Partnership, an investment fund backed by Toyota and Japanese bank Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.

begin paying both GST and PST after the first dollar of every ride and provide the government with income summary

for every driver every three months.

Uber estimates the tax would bring Quebec more than $3 million a year.

If Uber can sit down with the government to talk and find common ground,

“we are ready to suspend our operations during that time,” Guillemette said.

“We are showing good faith.”

Transport Minister Jacques Daoust and other members of Quebec’s legislature reacted skeptically to Guillemette’s offer.

“In terms of how much taxi permits represent, it’s very marginal,” Daoust said.

Daoust noted Quebec’s taxi industry was founded on the idea of supply management and that the government enforces a system whereby people have to pay – sometimes as much as $200,000 – for a permit to drive a taxi.

He said that if the government allowed Uber to operate without buying into the permit system, the value of existing permits would erode.

Uber acting like ‘hardened criminal,’ says taxi lobby The head of a taxi lobby in Quebec accused Uber of acting like “a hardened criminal.”

Trudeau makes investment pitch to Japan’s automakers

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally invited Japanese auto executives in Tokyo to invest more in Canada. But it’s unclear whether he will secure concrete commitments from the companies on his first trip to Japan since taking office last fall.

Trudeau met with auto parts manufacturers and the presidents of three auto companies: Honda, Toyota and Subaru.

Canadian auto sector hollowing out, despite record sales The CEO of Fuji Heavy Industries, the firm that makes Subaru, told Trudeau he doesn’t have any plans to expand capacity in the near term, though he might in the future, the prime minister’s press secretary Cameron Ahmad said after the meeting.

Trudeau was asked what his auto sector meetings might yield at a news conference later Tuesday. “I am very much in the relationshipbuilding mode, where we’re talking about the kinds of

challenges and opportunities that companies are facing,” said Trudeau, who met with Fuji Heavy Industries’ Yasuyuki Yoshinaga at the official residence of Canada’s ambassador to Japan.

PM big in Japan

“There

are of course many positive conversations being had, not just by me but by our Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, by

Canadians working around the world to highlight the extraordinary opportunities to invest in our country.”

Unlike Toyota and Honda, Subaru does not have an operation in Canada. As part of his pitch, the prime minister also told Yoshinaga that Canadians are innovative and focused on high quality. Security co-operation Trudeau also sat down Tuesday with his Japanese counterpart to discuss the countries’ business ties as well as security co-operation before the Group of Seven summit later this week.

His meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was expected to address issues like investment, education and trade, such as the huge 12-country treaty

Auto

Saturday, May 28, 2016

i 9

The Buick Verano will stay in production for an abbreviated 2017 model

Buick to drop Verano after short 2017 run The Buick Verano will stay in production for an abbreviated 2017 model year before being phased out this fall.

General Motors, in a statement said Verano output at its Lake Orion plant in suburban

The move spotlights how automakers are rethinking product portfolios amid what many executives and analysts believe is a permanent shift toward crossovers and SUVs. “The decision underscores the

Low gasoline prices and improved fuel economy have encouraged many consumers to give crossovers, SUVs and pickups -- largely abandoned during the 2008-09 financial crisis -- another look.

U.S. demand for cars is off 5.5 percent through April this year while light truck deliveries have climbed 11 percent.

Detroit would wind down in October. Automotive News reported this month that GM had decided to end the compact sedan’s run in the United States, even though the nameplate will live on in China.

changing consumer market dynamics where there is a growing demand for SUVs in North America,” a Buick spokesman said in a statement. GM notified plant workers on Wednesday and dealers were told of the decision during national meetings in Austin, Texas, this week.

Are tighter rules needed on recording devices in cars?

M

ost vehicles built since the early 2000s contain event data recorders that silently log everything, such as braking, speed, steering and whether a seatbelt is buckled.

Initially created to improve safety and car performance, the devices have become a tool for police to reconstruct crash scenes and for insurance companies to assign accident blame.

Connected cars perfect for harvesting personal data, report warns However, that constant data collection is raising questions. Both the Canadian Automobile Association and the Automobile

Protection Association are asking f o r clearer rules on how that data is obtained and used by police, car manufacturers and insurance companies.

‘Significant privacy concens’ “There are significant privacy concerns. First of all, your car is basically monitoring itself and to some degree monitoring your behaviour but you don’t know it, unless you are told,”

“One of the underappreciated risks to the U.S. auto space is the emergence of the sedan recession, in which excess supply and weak demand for sedans is likely to yield added price pressures,” Barclays analyst Brian Johnson said in a report this month.

said George Iny, the director of the Automobile Protection Association.

The association is a non-profit group dedicated to promoting con-

sumer interests in the marketplace. li Beaver Bank fatal crash Police can use the event data recorders to help them unravel what caused fatal car crashes like this one in Beaver Bank, Nova Scotia last year. “I think if a device is surveilling you, or monitoring you, that there have to be restrictions on it,” said Iny. “I think the basic rule should be that you own your data and if someone is collecting it — even if it’s with your consent — that they have to do it within certain parameters.”

Iny says many car manufacturers include a notice telling consumers that the event data recorder is in their car, but the notice is usually buried in the back of the owner’s manual.

Sixteen auto manufacturers producing 50 different brands of cars all contain versions of the event data recorder, says Const. Shawn Flynn of the Halifax Regional Police.

N PE O O N W

S N D E E K WE AND HOLIDAYS FEATURING

SAVE UP TO $5 ON PLAYPASSES AT:

10 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

Classifieds

JOBS

JOBS

Western Door Manufacturing Ltd located at #1098250, 124th St, Surrey, BC V3W 3X9, has an immediate vacancy for Carpenter.

We design and manufacture high end solid wood exteriors doors, solid wood interior doors and custom doors.

Job specification: Full time position with wages of $25/ hour. 35 to 40 hours per week.

Job requirement: High School with 2-3 years of experience. Trade certificate will be considered as an asset.

Job duties includes read & interpret drawings & sketches to determine specifications; estimate height, width, length and other proportions; measure, cut, shape & assemble wood materials using woodworking machines, power tools and hand tools; Build exterior doors, interior doors, customs doors with jams; moulding, make transom arch shape; specially skilled in fancy wood design, traditional murals crafting on doors; Install hardware such as hinges,

handles, catches; Repair doors and replace panels of doors.

If interested send resumes at westerndoors@outlook.com -------------- May 21 2016 Planet Pride Logistics Ltd. of Richmond, BC is urgently seeking an Office Manager on f/time, perm. basis. Must have min. high school education and either min. 2 yrs. exp. in clerical/secretarial/ office admin. or a university degree or college diploma in business admin. Duties incl. manage office staff and assign tasks as needed; analyze internal processes and recommend / implement procedural or policy changes to improve operations; establish work priorities; manage office supply inventory and maintain office equipment repairs. wage btwn $22.25 $24/hr (depending on exp).

Please email resume to planetpridelogist@gmail.com. No phone calls or drop-ins please.

-------------- May 14 2016

“Vacancy for Stock

JOBS Supervisor A1doors and mouldings, located at 12625 – 80th Avenue Surrey, BC, V3W 3A6 has an immediate vacancy of Stock Supervisor Term of employment : Full time, Permanent with 35 to 40 hours per week Salary : $18/hour Job duties : To supervise and coordinate activities of stock staff, plan and organize the display of stock in the showroom, identify outdated & defective stock, ensure orders are executed & delivered in time, maintain inventory and order merchandise, prepare periodic inventory reports, assign duties to stock clerks, providing stock clerk with the training, information, guidance encouragement &recognition needed to meet expectation, investigating, resolving & escalating customer issues as appropriate.

Requires : Completion of secondary school with one year of related experience.

If interested please send resumes by email at resume@a1doors.ca”

Optical Store Manager required at:

Clear Cool Optical - 2450 McCallum Raod, Abbotsford, BC, Canada, V2S 6R9 For details check website: http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/ jobposting.do?id=19833072 - ---------------- Apr 23 2016

Required urgently for beauty salon in Burnaby We have a great opportunity to add a new member to our team. We are looking for someone who is professional and confident in there waxing and threading skills. Our salon has an amazing reputation in these services and would love the right professional for the job.

Please message for more info.

604-723-7553

Vacancy for In-home

JOBS 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

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.

Matrimonial

Parents are looking a suitable match for their Indian 31 year old divorced daughter , fair complexions, 5.5” tall, well educated. All family is well settled in Canada.

Call 778-322-5242 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

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

To PLACE YOUR AD IN THE ASIAN STAR CLASSIFIEDS Section Please

Call: 604-591-5423

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Community News Vancouver Cross Cultural Seniors Network wins prestigious SFU award Metro Vancouver Cross-Cultural Seniors Network Society’s (MVCCSN) Elder Abuse Awareness to Action Program was recently honored with the 2016 – EAAAA- Innovative Program Award by SFU’s Gerontology Research Centre.

The award was presented by Prof. Gloria M. Gutman, of SFU’s Gerontology Dept. and Gerontology Research Centre and received by President Ihsan Malik board members Sonia Chaudhary and Mohinder Grewal on behalf of MVCCSN. Recognizing the exemplary work that the society does for seniors, Gutman said, “It was impressive indeed that to date 837 South Asians from twenty-three different groups have attended the seventeen workshops on elder financial abuse that MVCCSN has organized.”

The 2016 SFU Gerontology Elder Abuse Awareness to Action Awards (EAAAA) were presented at a reception held on May 16 at SFU’s downtown Vancouver Harbour Centre Campus. Thanking Gloria Gutman, SFU award

committee and all the community partners on behalf of the society, President of MVCCSN Ihsan Malik said he was humbled, honored and excited that his society was chosen for this prestigious award. “I would be amiss if I didn’t mention the efforts of Board members Mohinder Grewal and Sonia Chaudhary in achieving this milestone,” added Mr. Malik.

Incorporated in September 1995, MVCCSN is a non-profit organization whose members are seniors from various cultural backgrounds and service providers who are involved with seniors’ issues, including seniors who are newcomers and recent immigrants in Metro Vancouver. The Society is managed by a volunteer board, current members include Ihsan Malik (President), Mohinder Grewal (Vice Prsident), Barbra Mikulec, Arun Mehta (Director), Sonia Chaudhary (Treasurer), Narayan Kulkarni (Secretary), and Hien Phu Nguyen (Director). Our mission: The Society is committed to cultural diversity, and, as such, will show leadership in actively promoting inclusiveness, respect and participation through activities involving inquiry and advocacy.

2016 Board: Ihsan Malik (President), Mohinder Grewal (Vice Prsident), Narayan Kulkarni (Secretary), Barbra Mikulec (Director), Sonia Chaudhary (Treasurer), Arun Mehta and Hien Phu Nguyen

Maha Harinam Picnic Saturday May 14th 12:00 - 3:00 PM @ Grandview Park 1657 Charles Street @ Commercial Drive more info contact: Manu das 604 600 4527 Sunday Feast May 15th 5:30 PM -------------------------------------------------Surrey Night Market offers Honda Civic as Door Prize Surrey Night Market this year is making the market even more exciting and attractive by offering a grand door prize of a Honda Civic car. The market which is geared to open on June 3rd for the third season has a brand new Honda Civic literally for the taking. To win the car attendees need to put their names in for the grand draw that will take place on August14, the last day of the market and they could be the lucky one to drive home this fantastic brand new car. Surrey Night Market will once again be an event full of fun and entertainment for the entire family. Apart from food and merchandise booths there will be rides and games for children; performances by magicians, local bands, singers and dancers and door prizes for attendees.

The family friendly multicultural market will run on Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm to 11pm and on Sundays from 5pm to 10pm at the Cloverdale Exhibition Grounds, 17726 - 62 Avenue, Surrey.

Parking is free. The following patrons will get free entry into the night market.

-----------------------------------------Families of all Canadian Forces personnel and Veterans Children less than 48” in height when accompanied by their families Residents of long-term care and assisted living facilities when coming as a group Wheelchair borne persons and their attendants Seniors over 65 years with proper ID In addition, anyone bringing a non-perishable food item or a new toy will be allowed free access and all collected items will be donated to the local food banks or charities.

For more information, visit www.

i 11

surreynightmarket.com or contact them at info@surreynightmarket. com or 604-805-3440South Asian Seniors - Visiting 6 Scandinavian Countries of Europe From Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple Surrey, 12th May to 28th May 2016.

-------------------------------------------South Asian Seniors have gone to visit Europe though 12 Nights Cruise & 3days tour of Amsterdam Holland on 12th May 2016. The Cruise Itinerary is as follows- Starts from Amsterdam Holland, first stop 1 day visit Berlin Germany, 2nd stop for 1 day visit Tallinn Estonia, 3rd stop 2 days visit St. Petersburg Russia, 4th stop 1 day visit Helsinki Finland, 5th stop 1 day visit Stockholm Sweden, 6th stop 1 day visit Copenhagen Denmark and back to Amsterdam Holland the 13th day morning. All arrangements for Air Travel, Cruise bookings, all Excursions for all ports and Amsterdam City, Hotel stay & food in Amsterdam and also pick up service by Bus from Surrey Temple to Vancouver airport and back to Temple from Vancouver airport on return have been organized

by Surendra Handa Coordinator Vedic Seniors Parivar Center of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey.. The Cruise is

by Ship Celebrity Silhouette from May 14th 2016 to May 26th 2016. All 56 South Asian Seniors will be back in Surrey Temple from Tour/ Cruise of North Europe on 28th May 2016.

----------------------------------------“Sanskriti Cultural Awareness Society of BC” invites you with your family and friends to a specially designed evening, full of laughter and humor to celebrate Holi a festival of joy, happiness and participation with legendary poets from India and North America coming to make everybody laugh and giggle. Program would be followed by dance and a lavish dinner. This is an family event. For queries contact: Janardan Pandey Prachand at 604-889-2204 , Sanjeev Sharma at 604 767 4366 Sanskriti Cultural Awareness Society of BC 15165 91Ave, Surrey BC V3R 1B6 PH: 604 767 4366 E:mail: humarisanskrit2@gmail.com www.humarisanskriti.ca

12 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

C

Condo sales spike in Metro Vancouver as housing affordability tanks

ondo sales and prices have gone from being flat for around a decade to hitting such a stride that buyers are heading from urban to suburban markets to find more affordable units. A few areas, like West Vancouver, are so hot that some condo owners are cashing out to get more space and put some money in their jeans.

Owners of single-family dwellings are taking advantage of the soaring real estate prices by selling up and downsizing into condos.

For Dan Young and his wife, it meant selling their North Delta home for $775,000 so that they could buy a unit closer to the city. “We wanted to downsize a bit, but it was also that houses in New Westminster are well over $1.2 million, so we bought a sub-penthouse (condo) on the river with a beautiful view (for $600,000),” said Young. “We really liked it.” The couple is renovating the condo with

the extra cash in their pockets, plus paying off his car and buying a new one for her.

“With the sudden increase in value in our house in North Delta, we knew we could get a really good price,” Young said. “I believe that a condo will appreciate, not as rapidly as a detached home, but more than before because there is a significant desire for them, especially in New West and Vancouver because of the affordability. Most people don’t have $1.2 million for a house.” In April, the number of condos sold in Greater Vancouver increased more than 33 per cent from the year before and the benchmark price increased just over 20 per cent to $475,000.

Some of the biggest gains were seen in the benchmark price for condos in West Vancouver, which went up 36.5 per cent, in East Vancouver, up 25.6 per cent, and on the west side, up 25.4 per cent. In Burnaby East, they went up by 21 per cent and in Port Moody,

by 21.8 per cent. For townhouses, the benchmark price in Port Coquitlam and Squamish rose 24.8 per cent and 25.7 per cent, respectively. Michael Ferreira, principal with Urban Analytics, which collects real estate data, said condo prices of new units in prime areas are now rapidly increasing, some by $100,000 a year. “There’s not enough product in the urban markets and as prices increase, we are seeing buyers who can’t afford condos there go for (properties) in South Surrey and Langley,” said Ferreira. With more buyers looking into suburbs, some developments are selling within weeks. In one case, potential buyers camped out overnight in tents and even paid students to camp out on their behalf in order to keep their place in line. But it’s a phenom-

enon happening “all over the place with any project that gets launched at any price,” he said. “It’s not just buyers being priced out of single-family homes, but also out of condos in Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby.” While “there is the foreign buyer component” impacting higher prices, Ferreira said local buyers are also looking for new homes. He believes if a steadier stream of new condos could be brought to market, it would take out some of the “massive urgency in the market.

There is a fear of missing out” that is pushing sales and prices. Kyle Watson “luckily” bought his two-bedroom, 800-square-foot East Van condo near Commercial Drive two years ago.

It takes 23 years to save for a down payment in Metro Vancouver: Report

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ndrea Stucchi counts her blessings. She has a good job, a stellar education, a supportive family; she and her husband even have an enviable toehold in Vancouver’s red-hot real estate market — a 690-squarefoot studio in Kitsilano they purchased four-and-a-half years ago.

The couple had put off kids for a few years to pursue their careers and in the hopes of getting a bigger place to raise a child, but with student loans, a hefty mortgage, and skyrocketing property prices that saw the benchmark price for a detached home in Greater Vancouver jump an astounding 30 per cent in the last year, that goal now seems impossible.

“We’ve resigned ourselves to the fact we’re likely going to be raising a child in a studio apartment with no walls and no bedrooms,” said Stucchi, who holds a fulltime administrative job at the University of B.C. while pursuing a master’s degree. “It’s going to be quite cramped for a few years.”

The report, called Code Red: Why We Need to Rethink Canadian Housing Policy for Generations, was authored by Paul Kershaw, (left) Andrea Stucchi (r).

With child care costs often adding the equivalent of a second monthly mortgage payment, children, said Stucchi, have become a luxury for her generation.

“It’s become such an out-of-reach aspiration,” said the 31-year-old.

Many of her friends are in the same boat, unsure whether they can afford to have kids. “A lot of them are debating if it even makes sense,” she said. “If you have an entire generation of people doubting whether they can afford kids, something that is so natural and innate is becoming a luxury item.”

Stucchi’s concerns echo those of most Metro Vancouver residents

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Vol. 6 No. 39

-

Saturday - May28, 2016

- Tel: 604-591-5423 -

i 13

E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com

Here’s what kind of home $508K gets you in the Lower Mainland Half

a

million

dollars

and

change.

OK, $508,097 to be precise. That’s what the Canadian Real Estate Association says the average house will cost you in Canada after crunching their April 2016 numbers.

British Columbia saw the highest increases in house prices over the past year — a whopping 17.5 per cent. So, what can the average house price get you in the Lower Vancouver Condo $508K Collage This 518 square foot 1 bedroom condo recently sold for $525,000 in downtown Vancouver.

In Vancouver — the ground zero of upwardly swinging real estate prices — you won’t be able to find a detached house or even a fixerupper at Canada’s average home price. In fact, if you have your heart set on downtown Vancouver, you’ll have to make do with this junior one bedroom with 518 square feet of living space. It was listed at $469,900, but sold for $525,000. After one day. And multiple offers.

Vancouver realtor Gary Serra says that’s typical, saying “the average price per square foot downtown is about $1,000 per square foot — and that’s not luxury, that’s just average.”

Serra recently sold a one-bedroom condo for $626,000 — original list price: $525,000 — to an overseas buyer, but says that most of his buyers are local, young professional couples or singles.

In a market where there’s so much demand and not a lot of inventory, Serra says fear is a huge factor for buyers.

“They’re afraid if they don’t buy something now, they’re going to get priced out of the market,” he said.

This 2,224 sq foot Port Coquitlam townhouse has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Port Coquitlam used to be a popular suburb for middle-class families looking for affordable housing close to downtown Vancouver.

But with asking prices topping $1 million for detached houses, this is a new PoCo. Port Coquitlam city councillor Brad West has been a passionate advocate for more affordable housing in the suburb.

“It’s a really special community,” he says.

“And what I have seen over the last year and especially, it seems, over the last six months is that we’re losing that ... The prices are out of sight. We’re seeing more and more marketing of Port Coquitlam homes to wealthy, offshore buyers.” I think the trajectory we’re on is just not sustainable.

- Port Coquitlam councillor Brad West Port Coquitlam realtor Rod Hayes agrees, saying the market has “changed 100 per cent. It’s not affordable in our opinion.”

Hayes says much of the demand is centred around location — Port Coquitlam is the furthest east you can go from Vancouver before having to cross a bridge.

“Even [though] the Pitt Meadows bridge isn’t tolled, you still have to cross a bridge. So people kind of draw the line, ‘OK Port Coquitlam — I don’t have to

cross a bridge, so that’s where I’m going.’”

As Coun. West puts it: “I think the trajectory we’re on is just not sustainable. What kind of 4 i Saturday, July 2015 future [are we] going to25, have in Port Coquitlam

and Metro Vancouver if housing is something only the very, very wealthy can afford?”

This 1,375 square foot ranch style house in Surrey has a huge 8,000 square foot backyard.

For those willing to venture over the bridge to south of the Fraser River, Surrey remains popular with families and first-time homebuyers.

14 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

A

Four out of 10 homeowners caught short without enough money to meet four in 10 Canadian their expenses, new survey finds

bout homeowners says they were “caught short” in the past year without enough money to meet their expenses, according to a survey out Tuesday. Manulife Bank paints a dim picture of Canadians with rising debt who could be sitting on a potential land mine if interest rates start rising, a situation the financial institution says is not just confined to regions of the country with expensive housing that has forced Canadians into larger and larger mortgages. “With the ever increasing size of people’s mortgages and their ability to service that mortgage, many people are stretched,” said Rick Lunny, president and chief executive of Manulife Bank of Canada, which polled 2,373 Canadian homeowners in all prov-

inces between the ages of 20 and 59 with household income of $50,000 or more. The survey was conducted online by Environics Research between Feb. 3 and Feb 20.

Canadians with subprime credit ramp up the debt, Alberta delinquencies on the rise: report Inside the risky world of creditcard churning: How people use reward programs to get endless free perks Nearly half of Canadians are within $200 a month of being unable to pay their bills, poll finds

The survey found the average mortgage debt was $181,000 — up from $175,000, reported in the fall — and Lunny worries about what will happen to Canadians if mortgage rates begin to raise.

Five-year fixed rate closed mortgages are now below 2.5 per cent, near an all-time low. “If there is an event of some kind they don’t anticipate, then they are short and that’s not a favourable situation to be in,” he said. The survey found four per cent of respondents didn’t have enough money in their bank

account to cover expenses almost every month. Another 10 per cent were caught short a few times a year and 23 per cent said it happened one or twice in the last year. The remaining 63 per cent said they never fell into that squeeze, almost the exact percentage that said so during the fall. Manulife did look at the numbers regionally, but even in hot real estate markets like Vancouver and Toronto there was no meaningful difference in the percentage of respondents who found themselves outspending their income. Nevertheless, Vancouver homeowners had the highest average mortgage debt, at $259,000, which compares with $217,000 in Calgary and Edmonton, and $194,000 in Toronto.

AYO Smart Home and UBC Partner on the Home of Tomorrow AYO Smart Home Ltd. brings an integrated system approach to designing and building homes that allows the highest efficiency - all while maintaining affordability.

Leading technology and sustainability principals are used to replicate nature inside a home with an emphasis on efficiency, air quality, and renewable energy. This marks a

new era in housing. In partnership with the University of British Columbia, AYO has built a pilot home on the corner of Agronomy Road and Wesbrook Mall, which is being used as a research platform to test, optimize, validate, and integrate technologies and construction materials and processes for the next two years. The smart home’s inno-

-Custom painted wall murals for home, office or commercial establishments.

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For Traditional & Modern Hand Paintings

construction materials and technologies to design a culturally appropriate home that addresses the housing challenges such as moisture, fire hazards, maintenance, and durability of the Indigenous communities. AYO does not just build houses; the company helps grow communities – collaboratively.

Housing starts drop to lowest level since January

Jolly Arts

By Appointment

vative approach to home construction and energy efficiency includes​ built-in measures of energy generation and conservation such as the solar panels, heat-pump, HVAC system, Magnesium Oxide Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), and waste heat recovery. Through these technologies, t​he home reaches net-zero energy​status. AYO’s focus is to select the most appropriate

TSM Gallery 9353 - 120 St. Delta

778.395.5354

T

he pace of new home construction slowed to its lowest level in three months in April as builders took their foot off the gas pedal.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said Monday that the seasonally adjusted rate for housing starts last month was 191,512 units — down from 202,375 units in March and 212,594 units in February.

Most places saw slight upticks in building, but that was offset by big slowdowns in Ontario and Quebec. Ontario’s seasonally adjusted rate for urban starts fell to 62,672 starts in April, down from 85,518

in March while Quebec’s urban starts fell to 27,423 from 29,696.

“Condo construction is slowing down in Montreal as builders are managing inventories by chan-

nelling demand to units that have been completed but remain unsold,” CMHC economist Bob Dugan said.

In terms of types of housing, urban multiple-dwelling starts fell by 4,945 to 177,851

Saturday, May 28, 2016

i 15

Four out of 10 homeowners caught short without enough money to every month. Another 10 per cent were meet their expenses, new survey finds caught short a few times a year and 23 per bout four in 10 Canadian homeown-

A

ers says they were “caught short” in the past year without enough money to meet their expenses, according to a survey out Tuesday. Manulife Bank paints a dim picture of Canadians with rising debt who could be sitting on a potential land mine if interest rates start rising, a situation the financial institution says is not just confined to regions of the country with expensive housing that has forced Canadians into larger and larger mortgages. “With the ever increasing size of people’s mortgages and their ability to service that mortgage, many people are

I

stretched,” said Rick Lunny, president and chief executive of Manulife Bank of Canada, which polled 2,373 Canadian homeowners in all provinces between the ages of 20 and 59 with household income of $50,000 or more.

The survey was conducted online by Environics Research between Feb. 3 and Feb 20.

Canadians with subprime credit ramp up the debt, Alberta delinquencies on the rise: report Inside the risky world of creditcard churning: How people use reward programs to get endless free perks Nearly half of Canadians are within $200 a monthofbeingunabletopaytheirbills,pollfinds

The survey found the average mortgage debt was $181,000 — up from $175,000, reported in the fall — and Lunny worries about what will happen to Canadians if mortgage rates begin to raise. Five-year fixed rate closed mortgages are now below 2.5 per cent, near an all-time low.

“If there is an event of some kind they don’t anticipate, then they are short and that’s not a favourable situation to be in,” he said.

The survey found four per cent of respondents didn’t have enough money in their bank account to cover expenses almost

cent said it happened one or twice in the last year. The remaining 63 per cent said they never fell into that squeeze, almost the exact percentage that said so during the fall.

Manulife did look at the numbers regionally, but even in hot real estate markets like Vancouver and Toronto there was no meaningful difference in the percentage of respondents who found themselves outspending their income. Nevertheless, Vancouver homeowners had the highest average mortgage debt, at $259,000, which compares with $217,000 in Calgary and Edmonton, and $194,000 in Toronto.

Lucky number $888,888 price tag targets Chinese home buyers in Victoria

n Victoria, B.C. it’s all about the ‘eights’ — and it has everything to do with the city’s red hot real estate scene.

A house in the city’s Fairfield neighbourhood has hit the market with a price tag of $888,888, a not-so-subtle attempt to lure potential Chinese buyers.

Burnaby man’s petition asks Canadian government to take action on foreign ownership In Chinese culture the number eight is considered the luckiest number of all, and an indication of prosperity.

“With many of the Vancouver people coming in it seems like the sellers especially are interested in doing whatever they can to attract all types of buyers,” said ReMax realtor Daniel Clover.

“Eight is a happy number for Chinese culture.”

The number eight has been a factor in Vancouver real estate for years, not only in pricing but in property addresses as well.

In a 2012 study titled Superstition in the Housing Market, UBC economics professor Nicole Fortin calculated that addresses

in Vancouver that ended in the number eight sold at a 2.5 per cent premium.

And as Vancouver real estate trends ripple out to places like Victoria, the

technique of using the number eight to market property is bound to gain in popularity.

Clover says the $888,888 price tag on the Bushby Street house in Victoria is evidence of the power of eight in local real estate.

“We had 105 people through on our open house Saturday,” he said. “We had 65 through on Sunday,” Real estate sales in Victoria registered all-time highs in April.

Next month the province will start keeping track of the citizenship of home buyers for the first time since 1998.

16 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

PREC PREC

DIAMOND

DIAMOND AWARD AWARD

WINNER OF FVREB’s TOP ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Sutton Group - West Coast Realty #106 #106 7565 7565 132 132 St., St., Surrey.

Surrey. BC. BC. PH:604-572-3005 PH:604-572-3005 FAX: FAX: 778-574-4174 778-574-4174

COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL MEDALLION MEDALLION CLUB CLUB MEMBER MEMBER

-- Highest Highest Dollar Dollar Volume Volume Award Award

FOR FOR SALE SALE

-- Commercial Commercial Top Top Sales Sales Award Award

FOR FOR LEASE LEASE

PREMIUM OFFICE SPACE PREMIUM OFFICE SPACE FOR SALE

14.827 ACRES HOME FOR SALE

14.827 ACRES HOME FOR SALE

Spectacular! Estate home on 14.827 Acres of high yield blueberry farm. Luxury unfolds with the stunning front Spectacular! Estate foyer, dual staircases, and elevated catwalk. The regal great home on 14.827 Acres of high yield blueberry farm. Luxury room is situated next to a gourmet chef kitchen w/ separate unfolds with the stunning front foyer, dual staircases, and elevated catwalk. The regal wok kitchen & walk in pantry. A media room, yoga/ exercise great room is situated next to a gourmet chef kitchen w/ separate wok kitchen & walk room, 8 bedrooms & multiple entertaining rooms round out in pantry. A media room, yoga/ exercise room, 8 bedrooms & multiple entertaining this spectacular home. Gaze out upon south views of Mt. rooms round out this spectacular home. Gaze out upon south views of Mt. Baker or the Baker or the north views of the North Shore Mountains from north views of the North Shore Mountains from outdoor patios situated both upstairs outdoor patios situated both upstairs and down. This is true and down. This is true luxury at its best! The farm features healthy mature blueberry luxury at its best! The farm features healthy mature varieties Duke, Elliott, and Reca ensuring steady crops throughout the season. Fully blueberry varieties Duke, Elliott, and Reca ensuring steady automated irrigation. Too much to list! Book a showing today! Asking $4,999,900 crops throughout the season. Fully automated irrigation.

Too much to list! Book a showing today! Asking $4,999,900

ONE IN A MILLION BUSINESS FOR SALE

ONE IN A MILLION BUSINESS FOR SALE A very rare opportunity to own a beautiful Parisian feel Salon/Café in

A very rare opportunity to own a beautiful Parisian feel Salon/Café in Historic Abbotsford. Well established, with a loyal client following this Historic Abbotsford. Well established, with a loyal client following this beautiful establishment offers all day brunch, Lunch and Afternoon Tea. beautiful establishment offers all day brunch, Lunch and Afternoon Tea. In addition, this beautiful café offers so much more! Reservations for In addition, this beautiful café offers so much more! Reservations for Showers, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Special occasions and even Private Showers, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Special occasions and even Private Wedding ceremonies. ceremonies. Wait...there's Wait...there's more! more! This This beautiful beautiful treasure treasure of of a a Wedding business offers gorgeous select apparel, furnishings, jewelry, linens, gifts, business offers gorgeous select apparel, furnishings, jewelry, linens, gifts, vintage treasures treasures and and home home décor. décor. A A beautiful, beautiful, breathtaking breathtaking turnkey turnkey vintage operation operation this this is is a a chance chance to to own own a a niche niche business business created created and and established established with with love love and and a a business business owners owners delight delight don't don't miss miss this this opportunity! Please do not approach staff, contact listing realtor for any opportunity! Please do not approach staff, contact listing realtor for any info required. Asking $75,000

FOR SALE

8318 Scott Road is offering medical and other professionals an opportunity to 8318 Scott Road is offering medical and purchase premium office space in Surey, other professionals an opportunity to BC. Set to be completed by fall 2016, this purchase premium office space in Surey, state if the art steel and concrete building will offer a mixture of retail and BC. Set to be completed by fall 2016, this office space to professionals looking for a state if the art steel and concrete long term home for their business. Space building will offer a mixture of retail and is limited. Call today for more details.

CUSTOM STEEL & FABRICATION BUSINESS FOR SALE CUSTOM STEEL & FABRICATION BUSINESS FOR SALE

Established custom steel and aluminum fabrication business. Great opportunity to run your own Established custom steel and aluminum fabrication business. Great opportunity to run your own business with services that include: aluminum welding and repair, custom and stock trailers, mobile welding service, crane fabrication, fabrication of residential gates, security bars and much business with services that include: aluminum welding and repair, custom and stock trailers, more! Mon– Fri operation closed on weekends. Please contact me for more details on this hard to mobile welding service, crane fabrication, fabrication of residential gates, security bars and much come by opportunity! Asking $149,000 more! Mon– Fri operation closed on weekends. Please contact me for more details on this hard to

BUSINESS FOR SALE

come by opportunity! Asking $149,000

BUSINESS FOR SALE

Established Indian Sweets and Restaurant business located in high traffic area of Scott Rd, Surrey.

Wide variety vegetarian menu with sweets. Can be expanded to add non vegetarian dishes to the menu. Catering services provided regular clientele. Seating for 50. Complete turn key restaurant Established Indian Sweets and Restaurant business located in high traffic area of Scott Rd, Surrey. great business opportunity! Asking $129,000 Wide variety vegetarian menu with sweets. Can be expanded to add non vegetarian dishes to the

menu. Catering services provided regular clientele. Seating for 50. Complete turn key restaurant great business opportunity! Asking $129,000

UNIT FOR SALE

PIZZA & INDIAN CUISINE BUSINESS

In Mughal Garden plaza 2 units available, approx 4875 sqft.Already leased to long term tenants, Fantastic opportunity to run your own Pizza & Indian Cuisine to be sold together. Asking $1.25 million business! Excellent food, rated 4.5/5 by customers open 7 days a week, very busy location take out with availability for seating if desired. Tons of tourists year round, central to major sites in Hope UNIT FOR SALE and integral area near grocery stores, city hall, local police station, 82nd Ave & 124 Ave, 2350 sqft. office space is available for sale. Ready to move in. Asking motels and cinema. Well established, great sales and a complete $645,000 turn key operation that will not last long! Asking $199,000

CONVENIENCE STORE & MINI MART RETAIL SPACE AVAILABLE

8321 - 128 St., Surrey. Excellent location in busy plaza. Asking $209,000 Don't miss this chance to run your own buy Convenience store/Mini mart! This well established business is well or-ganized, excellent set 12837 76 AVE up, with all your essential sundries for sale as well as lottery AND the licensing to sell Pizza at this location! Busy area near parks, 2986 sqft. Warehouse including offices and kitchen available in Newton area of Surrey. schools, residences it is the perfect small business! Ample of Asking $360,000 opportunity to add your ideas to an already turn key operation!

Don't miss this great small business prospect! Asking $149,000 OFFICE SPACE FOR SALE

LIGHTHOUSE INDIAN CUISINE

Approx. 3100 SF of office space available for sale in the busiest plaza in Surrey. Close to Banquet Halls, retailshops & offices. Asking $749,000

Don't miss this rare opportunity to own your own busy Lighthouse Indian Cuisine Franchise! Prime location in Brickyard Station Plaza this fantastic business has Take out and dine in, beautiful décor, quality kitchen, Full Liquor license and full Indian Cuisine Menu. Complete turn key operation enables you to be your own boss with this established franchise. Contact me today for further info. Asking $389,000 #303 8675 130th St.

WAREHOUSE WITH LOADING DOORS FOR SALE

UNIT FOR SALE

Approx. 2800 sqft. warehouse for sale. 12’x14’ ceiling. Full washroom. Ready to move in. Adjoining unit is also available.

17358 104A AVE

In Mughal Garden plaza 2 units available, approx 4875 sqft.Already leased to long term tenants,

Fully finished side by side strata units for a total to be sold together. Asking $1.25 million of approx. 5540 sqft. Available for sale. Close to RETAIL SPACE AVAILABLE Port Kells Industrial area. Easy access to both 8321 - 128 St., Surrey. Excellent location in busy plaza. Asking $209,000 Highway 1 and Pacific Highway truck crossing.

OFFICE SPACE FOR SALE

Approx. 3100 SF of office space available for sale in the busiest plaza in Surrey. Close to Banquet Halls, retailshops & offices. Asking $749,000

2590 sqft. Retail and Office 17358 104A AVE space for sale Asking $649,000

GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY!

4 acres, Hotel and development ACREAGE FOR SALE IN REGINA - SASKATCHEWAN site available in the City of Regina, Saskatchewan. Prime location, not GREAT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY!

to be missed! Contact for more 4 acres, Hotel and development details. site available in the City of Regina, Saskatchewan. Prime location, not to be missed! Contact for more PIZZA BUSINESS FOR SALE details.

BUSINESS FOR SALE

Great opportunity. Non Stop Pizza Franchise available in various locations throughout the Lower Mainland. Contact for more information.

BUSINESS FOR SALE

Laundry Business for Sale. Well established coin laundry on Scott Rd. and PIZZA BUSINESS FOR SALE 94 Ave. Very profitable, heavy duty washers and dryers. Good lease terms.

Great opportunity. Non Stop Pizza Franchise available in various locations throughout the Lower Mainland. Contact for more information.

Baby ultrasound franchise, 3D ultrasound private clinic for pregnant moms is available for sale. Easy to run with low overhead. Located across Surrey Memorial Hospital in a medical building. Asking $169,900 Laundry Business for Sale. Well established coin laundry on Scott Rd. and

94 Ave. Very profitable, heavy duty washers and dryers. Good lease terms.

Non Stop Pizza and Curry Business for Sale

Very well running Non-Stop Pizza and Curry Restaurant for sale in Cloverdale - Baby ultrasound franchise, 3D ultrasound private clinic for pregnant moms is 191 and 72 Ave. Don’t miss it. Asking $179,900

available for sale. Easy to run with low overhead. Located across Surrey Memorial Hospital in a medical building. Asking $169,900 Hair Salon Business for sale

Located on Fraser Hwy, Cloverdale area, well established business, easy to Non Stop Pizza and Curry Business for Sale maintain, higher monthly revenue. Asking $69,900

Very well running Non-Stop Pizza and Curry Restaurant for sale in Cloverdale - 191 and 72 Ave. Don’t miss it. Asking $179,900 GREAT FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY

Great Franchise opportunity just listed! Busy Coquitlam Center Mall location for Chop N Toss Franchise! Wont last long!

Hair Salon Business for sale Asking $158,800

Located on Fraser Hwy, Cloverdale area, well established business, easy to maintain, higher monthly revenue. Asking $69,900

BUSINESS FOR SALE

Excellent established ladies Apparel and jewelry GREAT FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY wholesale business for sale. Well established clientele with Great Franchise opportunity just listed! Busy Coquitlam Center showroom and full online business.

Mall location for Chop N Toss Franchise! Wont last long!

Great Opportunity for this turn key Asking $158,800 operation.

Asking $125,000

MASTER

MASTER AWARD AWARD

2006-2007 2004-2005 2011, 2011, 2012 2012 2008-2009 2008-2009 2013-2014 2013-2014

2010

FOR FOR SALE SALE

4020 272 ST, LANGLEY

4020 272 ST, LANGLEY

NEWNG I LISETW

N NG I LIST

office space to professionals looking for a long term home for their business. Space ACREAGE FOR SALE IN REGINA - SASKATCHEWAN is limited. Call today for more details.

info required. Asking $75,000

PLATINUM

PLATINUM AWARD AWARD

BUSINESS FOR SALE DONAIR BUSINESS FOR SALE

Magnificent luxury estate situate don 8.5 acres with over 8100 sq. ft of living space. Home includes 6 bdrms, 8 washrooms, a separate guest house and fruit stand. 5 acres has blueberry plants as well. This stunning home possesses every luxury possible with high ceilings, crown molding, stainless steel appliances,Granite counter tops, open floor plan, large gym room, grand patio, sundecks, built in vacuum, Magnificent luxury estate situate don 8.5 acres with over 8100 sq. ft of living space. Home includes 6 top of the line security system, separate wok kitchen and much more! This gorgeous home is situated in the bdrms, 8 washrooms, a separate guest house and fruit stand. 5 acres has blueberry plants as well. This middle of serene farmland yet only two minutes away from Aldergrove Town centre and with quick access stunning home possesses every luxury possible with high ceilings, crown molding, stainless steel to Hwy #1. The second house is rented as well as fruit stall.Rare opportunity to advantage of this stunning appliances,Granite counter tops, open floor plan, large gym room, grand patio, sundecks, built in vacuum, home! Call today for a personal viewing.

top of the line security system, separate wok kitchen and much more! This gorgeous home is situated in the middle of serene farmland yet only two minutes away from Aldergrove Town centre and with quick access to Hwy #1. The second house is rented as well as fruit stall.Rare opportunity to advantage of this stunning home! Call today for a personal viewing.

PAYAL BUSINESS CENTRE - 82 Ave & 128 St

PAYAL BUSINESS MORE 1000 TO 12,000 S.F. RETAIL & OFFICE SPACE CENTRE - 82 Ave & 128 St AVAILABLE FOR SALE & LEASE UNITS FOR SALE & LEASE MORE 1000 TO 12,000 S.F. RETAIL & OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR SALE & LEASE

13737 96 Ave, City Centre

#705 $465,000, #706 $335,000

UNITS FOR SALE & LEASE

Two adjoining offices in a new building across from SMH. Can be bought or leased together for a total space of 13737 96 Ave, City Centre 1600 sqft. or separate.

#705 $465,000, #706 $335,000

UNITS FOR LEASE

Two adjoining offices in a new building across from SMH. Can be bought or 9453 120 St., leased together for a total space of Approx. 1200 sqft, space available 1600 sqft. or separate. for lease. Located on Delta side of Scott Road. Lots of exposure.

UNITS FOR SALE

OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE Great Investment Opportunity! Total 2168 Sq. Ft of space 1084

Sq. ft on the ground level and 1084 Sq Ft. on the upper level.

8927 152 St.,Approx. 1100 sqft. office space for Main level has reception area and a large room, the upper level

NEW LISTING

can be used as office space. There is an office on the main floor as lease available in Guildford area on 152nsd street well. Yoga studio, dance studio and many, many other idea can

be implemented here! Bring your ideas to this great investment in Surrey. unit. Please contact me for more info. Asking $475,000

93 AVE & 120 ST

Units available on busy Scott Road at 93rd Ave & 120 St. Approx. 750 to OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE 1700 sqft. space available on main floor, second floor and basement.

8927 152 St.,Approx. 1100 sqft. office space for Ready to move in!

lease available in Guildford area on 152nsd street in Surrey.

11925 95 AVE

Approx. 4500 sqft. office space available. Rec. area, small office, lunch 93 AVE & 120 ST room and conference room. Very nicely designed and finished.

Units available on busy Scott Road at 93rd Ave & 120 St. Approx. 750 to 1700 sqft. space available on main floor, second floor and basement.

J.J SAINI PLAZA Ready to move in!

8077 KING GEORGE BLVD. Units available for lease in one of the best

located plazas. East access to highway and close to all amenities.

Excellent established ladies Apparel Amazing opportunity to be your own boss! Established Donair food 11925 95 AVE and jewelry wholesale business for outlet in prime busy area in Langley. Already steady clientele from sale. Well established clientele with UNIT FOR LEASE ON 72 & 132 ST Approx. 4500 sqft. office space available. Rec. area, small office, lunch the numerous businesses surrounding, tons of traffic and lots of showroom and full online business.

Available for lease. Opp JR Furniture. Good mix of warehouse and office room and conference room. Very nicely designed and finished. opportunity to expand the business further. Low lease, and great Great Opportunity for this turn key space. Centrally located in light industrial zoning. area make this the perfect turn key operation to own your own operation. business today! Asking $99,000 Asking $125,000

J.J SAINI PLAZA

8077 KING GEORGE BLVD. Units available for lease in one of the best BUSINESS FOR SALE BEAUTIFUL TURN KEY SPA / SALON FOR SALE DONAIR BUSINESS FOR SALE

Well established Pizza Franchise on Scott Road & 93 Ave.

located plazas. East access to highway and close to all amenities.

Located in a busy commercial plaza in the heart of Surrey.

Lots of traffic and close to public transportation, Amazing opportunity to be your own boss! Established Donair food Located in a busy area with great exposure. Reputable and restaurants, office and retail shops. Established recently complete turn key operation. Recent renovations done only a outlet in prime busy area in Langley. Already steady clientele from D L Fully finished side by side strata units for a total 95 Ave & 152 St., 940 sqft. office space is available for lease on 2nd floor including 3 SO the spa and salon offers modern décor up to date UNIT FOR LEASE ON 72 & 132 ST few months ago. Great business opportunity. Ideal location on the numerous businesses surrounding, tons of traffic and lots of small offices, meeting room and reception. Also available 9400 sqft. space for lease. of approx. 5540 sqft. Available for sale. Close to equipment/furnishings. Excellent turn key operation. busy Scott Road lots of traffic both drive by and walk in. Near Available for lease. Opp JR Furniture. Good mix of warehouse and office LOTS OF EXPOSURE. opportunity to expand the business further. Low lease, and great Port Kells Industrial area. Easy access to both to school, business and residential and commercial area.

Asking $80,000 space. Centrally located in light industrial zoning.

13/05 area make this the perfect turn key operation to own your own Highway 1 and Pacific Highway truck crossing. business today! Asking $99,000

2590 sqft. Retail and Office BUSINESS FOR SALE D SOL space for sale Asking $649,000

95 Ave & 152 St., 940 sqft. office space is available for lease on 2nd floor including 3 small offices, meeting room and reception. Also available 9400 sqft. space for lease.

LOTS OF EXPOSURE.

Well established Pizza Franchise on Scott Road & 93 Ave. Located in a busy area with great exposure. Reputable and complete turn key operation. Recent renovations done only a few months ago. Great business opportunity.

Ideal location on busy Scott Road lots of traffic both drive by and walk in. Near to school, business and residential and commercial area.

WAREHOUSE WITH LOADING DOORS FOR SALE #303 8675 130th St.

D

SOL

Approx. 2800 sqft. warehouse for sale. 12’x14’ ceiling. Full washroom. Ready to move in. Adjoining unit is also available.

BEAUTIFUL TURN KEY SPA / SALON FOR SALE

Located in a busy commercial plaza in the heart of Surrey.

Lots of traffic and close to public transportation, restaurants, office and retail shops. Established recently the spa and salon offers modern décor up to date equipment/furnishings. Excellent turn key operation.

Asking $80,000 20/05

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Saturday, May 28 2016

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LOCAL

18 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

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Abbotsford police search for shooting suspects

olice are searching for the drivers of two vehicles believed to be involved in a shooting in Abbotsford on Monday night.

At around 8:30 pm, police responded to a report of shots fired in the 2500-block of McCallum Road.

Witnesses told investigators shots were exchanged between two vehicles at or near the intersection of Switzer Avenue.

No one was injured and both vehicles fled

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before police arrived. Police found shell casings which will be subject to forensic examination.

The two vehicles involved are described as a newer, dark-coloured Jeep Cherokee and a dark-coloured twodoor pickup truck.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Abbotsford police at 604-859-5225 call Crime Stoppers.

RCMP lays new fraud charges in Fort McMurray evacuee investigation

olice have now charged the girlfriend of a man who told residents of Claresholm, Alta., that they had lost everything in the Fort McMurray fire. Jaime Lynn Cox, 39, is charged with five counts of fraud

under $5,000. She is scheduled to appear in Fort MacLeod provincial court on June 1.

Darryl Rondeau, 45, has already pleaded guilty to the same charge.

Darryl Rondeau Darryl Rondeau, 45, pleaded guilty to fraud under $5,000 on May 22 for pretending to be a Fort McMurray evacuee.

(Darryl Rondeau/Facebook) Earlier this month, Rondeau was accused of telling people in Claresholm that he and his girlfriend were left

destitute by the Fort McMurray fire.

The town welcomed the couple with open arms, and locals pitched in to buy them clothes, give them free meals in restaurants and even put them up in an RV in the town’s campsite.

Story didn’t add up, say RCMP But after a few days, police started to notice some elements of their story didn’t add up, and Rondeau was charged with fraud under $5,000.

RCMP Cpl. Dalyn Orsten said the first red flag was that Rondeau didn’t register with the Red Cross. Police say the investigation is continuing and more charges will likely be laid.

British Columbia court records show Darryl Lincoln Rondeau, born in 1970, was convicted in March of possession of stolen property under $5,000 in the Victoria suburb of Oak Bay. That conviction relates to a charge from January of this year.

A Facebook page for Lincoln Darryl Rondeau lists his home as Fort McMurray and says he is from Duncan, B.C., a community north of Victoria on Vancouver Island.

Mayors and province roll out separate Metro Vancouver transit funding proposals

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early a year after the failure of the transit referendum, the ongoing fight over how to fund Metro Vancouver’s transit and transportation system erupted again today. Both the province and the region’s mayors released separate funding proposals on Thursday, but it remains unclear if and when they will find common ground.

B.C.’s TransLink Minister Peter Fassbender announced a $246 million commitment over the next three years to fund TransLink improvements.

He also announced how much he expects the region’s municipal governments will contribute to the plan —$124 million — which he expects them to raise by taking advantage of rising property values around transit stations.

The commitments are meant to match the federal government promise of $370 million to upgrade transit stations and SkyTrain cars, announced in the March federal budget.

Altogether, according to Fassbender, the three levels of government will be putting up $740 million for the three-year plan.

Fassbender says the cash would be used to purchase more SkyTrain cars, improve bus exchanges and SkyTrain stations, enhance SeaBus service, and start planning new rapid transit lines in Vancouver and Surrey.

Mayors table their own plan But it remains unclear if the region’s mayors will endorse Fassbender’s plan,

which is only a fraction of the $7.5 billion they were looking for to fund their ten-year transit and transportation plan.

Just hours earlier, the mayors released their own much larger funding proposal, which is intended to raise $5 billion over ten years.

They say they presented the plan to Premier Christy Clark last month and are now calling on the province to adopt it.

It includes a two per cent transit fare increase, a property tax increase averaging $3 per household, the sale of surplus TransLink property and so-called mobility pricing, which could mean more tolls on bridges and roads.

It also calls on the province to put the mayors in charge of governing TransLink, which is currently operated by a provincially-appointed board.

If the federal Liberals win the next election, they have promised a second phase of funding would roll out in the 2020/21 budget that would include more money for major projects like the Surrey LRT and Broadway subway line.

Descendants of Komagata Maru and spokesperson for the descendants of Komagata society express gratitude

Raj Toor (left) with Justin Trudeau (right ) in the House of Commons after the announcement of komagata maru apology

Jas Toor and Justin Trudeau (left) in the House of Commons after the announcement of komagata maru apology

NATIONAL

Court finds designation of Egyptian man as security threat unreasonable

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His lawyers argued the government had he Canadian government’s desfailed to produce independent evidence ignation of an Egyptian man as a that Jaballah ever committed, or would threat to national security is unreacommit, terrorist acts. They also said Cansonable, a federal court judge has ruled. ada’s spy agency had made no attempts to The decision in favour of Mahmoud Jainvestigate or verify information about ballah, a father of six, him it was given by forcould see the end of eign intelligence services. an ordeal that first saw A beaming Jaballah, of Canada brand him Toronto, who came to as a terrorist more Canada in 1995 and was than 16 years ago. initially granted refugee “I conclude that the status, was not immedisecurity certificate ately able to comment filed by the minisMahmoud Jaballah on Hansen’s ruling due ter is not reasonable to court-imposed conditions, but his lawand will be set aside,” Federal Court Judge yer, Marlys Edwardh, told The Canadian Dolores Hansen said in her decision.

Press it had been a long and difficult ordeal.

“Classified reasons will also be issued and “He has spent earlier on years in a will include the information that cannot be maximum-security setting, part of it disclosed for reasons of national security.” in solitary confinement...merely beThe public reasons for Hansen’s decision cause of the allegations, ” Edwardh said. were not immediately available Tuesday.

A spokesman for the minister of The government has long insisted that public safety said the ruling was unJaballah, now 54, was a ranking memder review and the government ber of the Vanguards of Conquest, an would have no immediate comment.

Egyptian group linked to al-Qaida.

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Last of ISIL’s beheading ‘Beatles’ has Canadian connection

he last member of the group of Brit- after their governments paid ransoms. It’s not ish jailers who supervised the torture clear whether Elsheikh is the guard known as and killing of Western hostages held Ringo or George, whom the hostages considby the Islamic State of Iraq and ered the group’s leader and the Levant has been identithe most vicious of the four. fied as a 27-year-old Londoner Elsheikh was identified who traveled to Syria in 2012. through a joint Post and El Shafee Elsheikh, a British BuzzFeed News investigacitizen whose family fled Sudan tion. His name was conin the 1990s, was one of four firmed by a former U.S. jailors dubbed ‘The Beatles’ by counterterrorism official their prisoners because of their and other people familBritish accents. The cohort’s iar with British nationmost prominent figure was als in Syria, all of whom Mohammed Emwazi, better spoke on the condition known as “Jihadi John, whose of anonymity to discuss “Jihadi John” videotaped beheadings of an ongoing investigation.

American and British hostages Member of notoribecame a global emblem of ISIL’s brutality. ous ISIL execution squad nicknamed Emwazi, 27, was killed last year in a U.S ‘the Beatles ’ reportedly identified drone strike in Syria. The other Beatles who ‘Jihadi John’ dead? U.S. drone have been identified include Alex Kotey, blows up vehicle believed to be transwhose whereabouts are unknown, and Aine porting infamous ISIL terrorist Davis, who was arrested last year in Turkey.

Londoner identified as ‘Jihadi John’ described Former hostages said the Londoners sub- as ‘extremely gentle,’ hounded by British spies jected them to repeated beatings, waterElsheikh’s family said he is still alive and living boarding and mock executions. A number in Syria. He remains in touch with some friends of Western European hostages were released

Saturday, May 28 2016

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Newfoundland and Labrador premier’s post-election honeymoon shifts to buyer’s remorse

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n February, Dwight Ball was riding high. Two months earlier, his Liberal Party had followed the federal sweep of the province with a red wave of its own, one that washed the Progressive Conservatives from power after 12 years. Ball’s debut approval rating was 60 per cent – the second-highest of any premier in the country.

Today, continued poor economic performance and a deeply unpopular

austerity budget have provincial residents feeling very differently about their leader.

20 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

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National

War survivor awarded $1M after judge rulles traffic accident triggers trauma

he “straw that the incident brought broke the camel’s back to the surface. back” isn’t a legal In the past four determ. But that’s pretty cades, Shongu has much the conclusion B.C. witnessed the killing Supreme Court Justice of his father; he saw Robert Sewell reached his mother die inside a about an otherwise mihouse set on fire by solnor traffic accident which diers; and he also narthrew Olivier Yewa Children of Democratic Republic of rowly avoided his own Shongu into debilitating Congo, the victims of violence and murder. That was betrauma on July 15, 2012. wars in the coutnry. fore he fled the DemoThe judge awarded the cratic Republic of ConCongolese refugee more than a million dol- go for Canada in 2005 Decades of violence lars in compensation — but not so much and war have torn families in the Democratic for the soft tissue injuries he suffered in the Republic of Congo apart. Even in Vancouver, collision itself, as for the lifetime of tragedy Shongu has struggled to provide for a family

Do I have to justify how hard I was hit in the breast?’

MP criticized after being elbowed by Trudeau

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uth Ellen Brosseau says she has faced NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau: “I am a tough personal attacks since she was elbowed woman, I know how to stand up and deal in the House of Commons by Prime with situations. I was just shocked ... I was Minister Justin Trudeau, including that she overwhelmed.” “I get elbowed in the breast should be “ashamed to be a woman” and and it hurts. It was very painful.” Brosseau, that she is “not a feminist.” who used to break up In an exclusive interview fights as a bartender Friday with The Canadian before entering politiPress, the New Democal life as the MP for a crat MP said her office Quebec riding, said she has received a number of never expected to have phone calls from people to deal with a situation NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau across the country, many like this once becomof them suggesting that she is “crying wolf.” ing a member of Parliament.

“My office has received countless phone “I am a tough woman, I know how to calls … saying it is my fault, I should be stand up and deal with situations,” she said. ashamed, I should resign, I should apologize, “I was just shocked … I was overwhelmed.” it is my fault,” a visibly shaken Brosseau said Footage from the Commons television during a conversation at her Ottawa office. feed showed Trudeau trying to pull Conser-

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Harper encourages Tories, keeps mum on future in Vancouver address

n his first public address since he led the Conservative Party to an electoral defeat last October, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper had words of encouragement for the party faithful charged with rebuilding the party but said little about his own future. In a speech to the national convention in Vancouver patterned largely after his troop-rallying tactics, Harper dwelt not at all on the problems that led to his defeat and the ascendancy of a new Liberal government under Justin Trudeau. Nor did he address the flurry of recent sources-said media stories

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that claim he plans to resign his seat of Calgary-Heritage by the fall and is being courted by U.S. companies.

Instead, Harper blew warmly on the coals of a diminished Conservative party, hoping to add his own spark to a revival course delegates are setting over the next three days. He did a little review of his own achievements while in office, thanking the party for supporting his efforts to cut taxes to their lowest in 50 years, rebuild infrastructure, get tough on crime, expand free trade and rebuild the military, all, he said, while balancing the budget.

Canadians shrug off Trudeau’s elbow: polls suggest

he altercation in the House of Commons last week between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of the opposition captured Canadians’ attention, but two polls published this week suggest a majority of those Canadians have shrugged it off like a wayward elbow on a crowded subway.

The latest poll, conducted by Ipsos for Global News, shows that 63 per cent of Canadians feel the tussle was “no big deal,” a “momentary lapse of judgment” on the part of the prime minister, and that “we should all just move on.”

These feelings were particularly strong among Canadians who were following the issue. And many Canadians have been. Ipsos found that 37 per cent of Canadians were following it and

that, overall, 83 per cent were aware of it having occurred. These numbers echoed those of a poll conducted by Abacus Data immediately after the commotion in the House of Commons.

Business / Finance

T

Bank of Canada keeps key rate on hold, but sees economic rebound on horizon

he head of the Bank of Canada is noth- eral government’s stimulus program — are ing if not patient. With the economic hoping the clouded outlook will dissipate in adjustment to the oil-price collapse the second half of this year, an assessment “proving to be uneven” — and that is broadly in line with output further hampered by the forecasts by private-sector Alberta wildfires — governor analysts. “The (domestic) Stephen Poloz is still managing economy’s structural adto hold the line on expectations, justment to the oil-price and interest rates. Poloz and his shock continues, but is policy council chose to keep the proving to be uneven,” central bank’s trendsetting lendPoloz said in a statement ing level at 0.5 per cent — unaccompanying the interchanged since July and unlikely est-rate announcement. to be adjusted at all this year, and He acknowledged the reperhaps not until well into 2017. cent increase in oil prices Stephen Poloz Even as the economy continues is due “in part, because of to struggle with meagre job creation, a recent short-term supply disruptions.” Once tallied, slide in retail sales and disappointing busi- Canada’s output in the second quarter of this ness investment, the governor appears to see year likely declined, but the central bank sees some light ahead. That’s because Poloz and a rebound in the third quarter, “as oil prohis policy team — with help from the fed- duction resumes and reconstruction begins.”

RBC, 15 other global banks face revived lawsuits over LIBOR-rigging allegations

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federal Appeals Court in New York City has reinstated lawsuits against 16 of the world’s largest banks, including the Royal Bank of Canada, alleging they colluded to manipulate a benchmark interest rate. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan on Monday restored the lawsuits, which had previously been dismissed by a lower-court judge.

The lawsuits were brought by people who bought investments sold by the banks that were based on a key lending rate known as LIBOR, an acronym for London Interbank Offered Rate, with evidence the banks were lying about and rigging in their favour.

A previous judge had dismissed the lawsuits because he said the LIBOR setting process was collaborative rather than competitive. That judge also found any manipulation of the rate did not cause investors anticompetitive harm. But a new judge disagreed with that Monday, and reinstated the suits.

“Appellants sustained their burden of showing injury by alleging that they paid artificial-

ly fixed higher prices,” Circuit Judge Dennis Jacobs wrote for a three-judge appeals panel.

LIBOR is a lending rate that is the basis for hundreds of trillions of dollars worth of consumer loans and savings rates around the world. It’s a number, calculated and released daily by banks in London, that is supposed to show the rate at which they are lending money to each other for the short term.

The banks are alleged to have lied about their internal rates to put the LIBOR rate at a more favourable level for them. That would move other interest rates for consumers and businesses higher or lower than otherwise should have been.

“A LIBOR increase of one per cent would have allegedly cost the Banks hundreds of millions of dollars,” the judges said in the ruling.

Rigging the rate cost the bank’s customers — large institutions named in the lawsuit such as the University of California, and cities such as Baltimore, Houston and Philadelphia — billions over the years, money they are now trying to recoup.

At least 85 real estate companies don’t properly track money laundering

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t least 85 real estate companies have not implemented a plan showing how they are trying to detect money laundering and other suspicious transactions, nearly 15 years after they were required to do so, according to data obtained by The Canadian Press. The federal anti-money laundering agency received 337 compliance reports from roughly 1,000 companies in the real estate sector it surveyed — including brokers, sales representatives and developers — between Jan. 1, 2013, and Feb. 8, 2016.

The data, which was obtained through an access-to-information request, represents only a small sampling of the real estate industry. There are about 20,000 companies in the real estate sector that are required to report to Fintrac. Fintrac pushes realtors to get tougher on money laundering Governments terrified of popping the foreign housing bubble An analysis of the data contained in those reports found that roughly a quarter of the 337 respondents admitted they had not yet fully implemented a compliance regime, which has been required by federal anti-money laundering laws since 2001.

Thirty-eight of the companies said they had only partially implemented a compliance re-

gime, while the other 47 said they had not even begun to do so. The names of the companies were not included in the documents. Fintrac spokesman Darren Gibb says some of the reports weren’t sent back because the companies no longer exist, while others simply failed to respond.

Fintrac routinely sends out compliance reports to various sectors to gather information about the companies it regulates, says Gibb. ‘Shadow flipping’ not limited to Vancouver housing Those reports can sometimes lead to further enforcement actions such as on-site examinations, he says.

“If we see an assessment report come back and it’s clear that the entity is not where they should be, then certainly that’s a flag for us that it may be examination-worthy,” says Gibb.

“Or conversely, if we don’t get an assessment report coming back, that’s potentially an even bigger flag.”

If violations are discovered during an examination, that could lead to fines of up to $100,000 per violation for individuals and up to $500,000 per violation for companies, depending on severity.

Gibb was unable to specify how many of the 85 companies that did not have a compliance plan were fined, noting that the reports are only one factor that the agency considers when deciding whether to investigate a particular firm.

Saturday, May 28 2016

i 21

PUNJAB

A

A tight rope walk for Akali Dal

s Punjab’s realpolitik steers towards the ongoing feud between Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale and followers of the ancient Sikh seminary of Damdami Taksal, the state’s “Panthic” government is caught in a dilemma. So far, it has avoided taking action against the person suspected of conspiring the May 17 attack on Dhadrianwale. The government is looking at the attack on Dhadrianwale by followers of the Taksal, and the overt threats issued by Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma as nothing more than a conflict between two religious personalities. It is wary of the repercussions of the feud, if not resolved im-

mediately. With the Opposition parties – the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) -- both holding meetings with Dhadrianwale and accusing the government of creating a religious chasm among the Sikhs, the Akali Dal is walking on the razor’s edge in dealing with the issue. Dhadhrianwale has already issued a deadline for May 26 for the government to expose the main conspirator behind the attack.

After repeated cajoling of the Sikh preacher by many senior Akali leaders, including Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal, has failed to cool down tempers, the intervention by Akal Takhth Jathedar today could help the government.

Govt doctors across Punjab strike for 2 hours

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emanding full pay scale for newly recruited doctors and other demands, government doctors observed a two-hour strike in the morning today in the Out-Patient Department (OPD) services in all districts of the state. Under the banner of Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), the government doctors shut the OPD services for two hours against

the apathetic attitude of the state government towards their long-pending demands.

The strike was observed from 8 am to 10 am when there is a heavy rush at the OPDs. PCMSA state president Dr Gagandeep Singh, in a press note released here today, expressed concern over the suffering of the patients and held the state government responsible for it.

Chief Minister blames Centre for delaying scholarship funds

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laming the Centre for delay in the release of the post-matric scholarships for SC students, CM Parkash Singh Badal today said that while the state had already released its share, the Centre was yet to release its part of the grant for Dalit students.

The CM said this at his Sangat Darshan at Uggi village in Nakodar today. Even as he refused to term it as discrimination by its alliance partner, he said, “We have already sent a request, but they have not yet released the grant”. The SC students have been awaiting a part payment for the session 2014-15 while not even a single penny has been received for 2015-16. The 2016-17 academic session has

already begun in schools and some colleges causing a lot of unrest on the issue.

On the police not exposing the culprits behind the attack on Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, he responded, “The police are doing their job. Let them complete the investigation first.” On allegations by PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh that the government had set off a civil war among Sikh preachers post -Bargari incident, he said: “Such statements are targeted only to vitiate the atmosphere. Leaders like him should refrain from issuing provocative statements on such sensitive issues”.

Residents block traffic to protest axing of 50-year-old trees

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esidents of Dalake village and workers of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee (KSC), Punjab, staged a dharna on the Tarn Taran- Shahbazpur road near Dalake, 10 km from here, in protest against axing of two 50-year-old trees allegedly by a SAD sarpanch of nearby Khahra village. Gurnishanbir Singh, sarpanch of Dalake village who led the protest, alleged that the sarpanch of Khahra village axed 50-year-old peepal and banyan trees planted by the villagers to widen the path leading to his land, ignoring all rules.

Police kill ‘liquor smuggler’

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n alleged liquor smuggler was killed in an encounter with the police near Jeeda village on the BathindaKotkapura road on Wednesday night, police sources said. The deceased identified as 26-year-old Ajmer Singh Jimmy, a resident of Thandewala village in Muktsar district, was earlier booked in a robbery case, the police said. Jimmy was intercepted by a police party near Jeeda village while he was allegedly smuggling liquor. On being challenged, he opened fire at police personnel, the police claimed. The police personnel, however, returned fire, killing him on the spot.

City of Chandigarh on Smart track

H

aving missed the list of the first 20 smart cities in January, Chandigarh entered the Smart City Mission with the Centre announcing the name of the UT among 13 more cities to be developed as smart cities. While Lucknow topped the list of winners of the “Fast Track Competition” conducted for 23 cities from as many states and union territories, Chandigarh was placed at the fourth position. Announcing this in New Delhi, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the cities, that participated in this competition after failing to get a representation in the first round of competition held in January, improved the quality of smart city plans by up to over 25 per cent to become eligible for selection. Upbeat over the announcement, city Mayor Arun Sood and Municipal Commissioner B Purushartha said the smart city tag would give a fresh impetus to the development of the city.

INDIA

US watching India-Iran ties ‘very closely’

T

he pact between India and Iran to develop the strategically located Chabahar port, along with the one with Afghanistan on road and rail network, will counter China and Pakistan’s alliance in South West Asia, BMI Research said today.

“The agreement between India and Iran to develop the latter’s PM Narendra Modi (left) with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. port of Chabahar is a major boost for both countries, as well Chinese assistance as part of the China-Pakas Afghanistan. In particular, growing co- istan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” it added. operation between the three countries will The CPEC in turn is part of a much bigger counterbalance China-Pakistan alliance in Chinese initiative known as “One Belt One the geopolitics of South West Asia,” it said. Road” (OBOR), which envisages new land BMI Research, a Fitch Group company, said and sea routes connecting China to Western the governments of India, Iran and Afghani- Eurasia and East Africa. Iran stands to benefit stan have taken a significant step towards closer from Chabahar as it will get an enhanced port cooperation by signing an agreement on May from which to export more goods to India 23 to develop Iran’s southern port of Chabahar. and the Asia-Pacific region at a time when it “Once the port is developed, it will pro- is seeking to reintegrate itself into the global vide a major boost for Indo-Iranian trade, economy, the BMI Research said. Iran will also and also provide a new route for Af- benefit from increased Indian investment. ghanistan’s exports, bypassing Pakistan.

The pacts include one on setting up “In particular, the new port at Chabahar of an aluminium plant and another on is designed to compete with Pakistan’s port laying a railway line to give India acof Gwadar, which is being developed with cess to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

I

India could lose $49B in GDP by global food price shock: UN

ndia could lose $49 billion in GDP if global food prices double in future, according to a new UN report, which said the world will likely suffer from more volatile food prices due to rising population. The UN Environment Programme-Global Footprint Network report, entitled ‘ERISC Phase II: How food prices link environmental constraints to sovereign credit risk’, features countries according to how badly they will be affected if global food commodity prices double. The report said if global food prices double, then China could lose $161 billion in GDP and India $49 billion. “In the future, the world will likely suffer from higher and more volatile food prices as a result

of a growing imbalance between the supply and demand of food.

Rising populations and incomes will intensify the demand for food while climate change and resource scarcity will disrupt food production,” it said. The report models the impact of a global food price shock on 110 countries to assess which countries face the greatest economic risk from this growing imbalance. In terms of the highest percentage loss to GDP, the five countries that will be worst hit if food commodity prices double are all in Africa - Benin, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Ghana. But China will see the most amount of money wiped from its GDP of any country — $161 billion, equivalent to the total GDP of New Zealand.

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Saturday, May 28 2016

i 23

Iran, India port pact to ‘counter’ Pak-China alliance

he US is “watching very closely” India’s growing ties with Iran after it recently pledged $500 million for developing the Chabahar port and will see if its legal parameters and requirements are being met, the Obama administration has told lawmakers.

As of now, there is no military or counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries that could be a cause for concern for the US, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a Congressional hearing.

She said the US is “watching very closely” India’s relationship with Iran. “We also track very closely what their economic engagement is and make sure they understand what we believe are legal pa-

rameters and requirements,” Biswal said.

“With respect to the announcement in the Chabahar port, we have been very clear with the Indians on what we believe are the continuing restrictions on the activities with respect to Iran and what we have done,” she said. She was responding to a question on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Iran visit from Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Modi’s visit, that saw the signing of a bilateral pact to develop the Chabahar port for which India will invest $500 million, came months after the lifting of international sanctions on Iran following Tehran’s historic nuclear deal with the western powers over its contentious atomic programme.

INDIA

24 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

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Dawood Ibrahim will be caught soon, Rajnath Singh says

e will arrest and bring back India’s most wanted fugitive, Dawood Ibrahim, soon, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh (pictured) said, although he did not specify a deadline for the task.

“Dawood will be nabbed soon. He will be brought back to India at all costs. He is an International terrorist.

However, there is need to take the help of international agencies to nab him,” said Singh in an exclusive interview to a regional news channel.

“All the relevant documents against Dawood have been given to Pakistan,” he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said it would continue to ask Pakistan to hand Ibrahim over after a television channel claimed that it has tracked his location.

Singh also said India faced no threat from the Islamic State only days after the world’s most dangerous militant organisation warned in a video that it would avenge atrocities against Muslims in India.

“There is no threat from the Islamic State. The muslims of the country are against the ISIS. In India, the Muslim community won’t allow them to do so. Besides, security is on high alert,” he said, using an acronym for the group.

Some Indian jihadists of the Islamic State, among them an engineering student from Maharashtra’s Thane, had threatened to avenge demolition of the Babri Mosque and the purported killing of Muslims across the country.

Four youngsters from Mumbai’s outskirts — Aarif Majid, Fahad Tanvir Sheikh, Amaan Tandel and Saheem Tanki — had fled to Syria May 2014 to join the swelling IS ranks.

The video, which features Sheikh, pays “homage” to Shahim Tanki, who is said to have been killed in a bomb attack in Raqqa last year.

Dawood Ibrahim has been accused of having been the mastermind behind 13 serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993. The blasts killed over 250 people and injured over 700

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Pranab Mukherjee seeks Chinese investments, and access to markets

resident Pranab Mukjherjee said it is essential to close the information gap between businessmen in India and China in order to enhance cooperation in trade and investments. He invited Chinese businessmen to participate ‘Make in India’, the flagship investment initiative of the Indian government. At the same time, he sought greater market access for Indian companies in China. He said India “would like to see a greater market for our products in China — particularly in sectors where we have natural complementarities — as in areas of drugs and pharmaceuticals, ITand IT related services and agro products”. “We believe that stepping up our two-way trade and investment flows will be of mutual benefit to both our nations. We welcome Chinese investments and entrepreneurs to participate in ‘Make in India’ and other flagship initiatives of Government of India,” the President, who is on a four-day tour of China, said.

India is committed to providing “conducive atmosphere” for investment from China, he said that the government will “facilitate your efforts to make your investments in India profitable.”

On the business side, the two countries have clear agendas on which they are expected to negotiate. Even as New Delhi seeks greater market access, Chinese government is eyeing

huge investment opportunities in areas like developing railways and industrial parks in India.

The focus was spelt out at another event on Wednesday evening when Chinese vice president and Politburo member, Li Yuanchao said that it was essential for China and India to “strengthen mutual trust and properly handle differences”. He said there was “high complimentary and large potential” for the two countries to cooperate in areas like building railway networks and industrial parks.

“To realize the full potential of our economic partnership, it is important to bridge the information gap between our business communities. India is committed to providing a conducive environment for more investments from China,” Mukherjee said at a meeting with businessmen in Guanzhou, the capital of Guangdong, the most industrialized Chinese province.

The President expressed similar sentiments in another meeting with Indologists and academicians when he said, “The possiblities of closer cooperation are limitless.” India and China should depend on direct exchanges instead of relying on “burrowed prisms and secondary sources” to understand each other, he said.

High Court stops Jat reservation in Haryana

Less than 10 days after the constitutional validity of the Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Admission in Educational Institutions) Act providing reservation to Jats and four other communities in Haryana was brought under the judicial scanner, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday stayed its operation. The interim order was passed by the Bench headed by Justice SS Saron.

A petition challenging the constitutional

A

validity of the Act initially came up for hearing before the Bench headed by Justice Mahesh Grover of the High Court. But taking up the matter, the Bench observed that the issues raised by the petitioner were required to be decided by the PIL Bench. A challenge to the reservation provisions wasthrown by Murari Lal Gupta of Bhiwani. He sought directions for quashing the Block C of the Act providing reservation to Jats under a newly carved BC (C) category.

India is not standing in a corner, Modi tells Wall Street Journal

head of his Washington visit early next month where he is set to meet President Barack Obama and address a joint session of the US Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has in a veiled reference to India’s traditional nonaligned stand in the world stage said ‘India is not standing in a corner’. In an interview to Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Editor-inChief Gerard Baker on the eve of his two years in office, Prime Minister Modi said, “Today, unlike before, India is not standing in a corner.” The leading New York-based daily said the ties between both sides have been growing stronger over the last decade despite India’s traditional stand of being a non-aligned country, which had remained reluctant to play a prominent role in global

affairs. The WSJ said the US wants India to emerge as an ‘economically strong’ and ‘credible counterweight’ against a rising China, adding this has led to deepening of defense cooperation between the two countries.

The international daily further stated that Prime Minister Modi downplayed any friction with China and instead pointed at increasing trade and diplomatic exchanges between the two nations. He asserted that all countries need to cooperate and respect international norms in order to ensure a collective success in an ‘interdependent world’.

“Relationship between China and the US, there are areas where they have substantial differences but there are also areas where they work closely…This is the new way. If we want to ensure the success of this interdependent world, I think countries need to cooperate.

28

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INDIA

26 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

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Mumbai chemical factory blast killed 5, injured 150

ive persons were killed and more than 150 injured in an explosion at a chemical factory at Dombivli on the outskirts of Mumbai on Thursday. The death toll could rise as many people are suspected to be trapped in the factory premises, local residents said. Police and fire brigade officials say the mishap occurred at 11.30 am when one of the boilers exploded leading to a fire at a unit of Acharya Chemicals in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) complex, Dombivli East.

The intensity of the blast was so high that window panes in adjoining buildings were shattered Confirming the deaths, Rajendra

Develekar, Mayor, Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, said houses and offices around a 2-km radius from the area were damaged by the blast.

Those injured in the incident have been taken to various hospitals in the vicinity, the police said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief at the mishap while Industries Minister Subhash Desai and

Explosion site in the outskirts of Mumbai

chicken (no butter) Masala Your favourite butter chicken but without the butter and added calories!

Guardian Minister for the district Eknath Shinde visited the site along with Thane District Collector Mahendra Kalyankar.

Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde said an inquiry would be conducted into the incident. Terming the incident unfortunate, Fadnavis said he had asked the police and local authorities to speed up the operations.

Fire officials from the Kalyan-Dombivli civic body said they had to summon fire engines from nearby areas and from Mumbai to fight the fire. NDRF teams were rushed to the spot to conduct rescue operations as soon as news of the blast was broadcast on television.

India to seek extradition of Ingredients former cricket league chair

• 250g boneless chicken India is all set to request the UK to extradite former IPL • 2tbsp rapeseed oil probe, with chairman Lalit Modi, facing money laundering • 1 medium onion of External the Enforcement Directorate asking thered Ministry • 3 large tomatoes Affairs to act in this regard. “The Enforcement Director• ½ request. cup cashew nuts ate has sent us an extradition It is currently being • 100g tomato puree examined by our legal experts. Once we make sure that it is in dried fenugreek leaves ” good shape, we will send• it 1totbsp the UK side for consideration, • 100ml low fat cream External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

• 1tsp garam masala The ED wants Modi to “join investigation” in a case relat1tsp red chilli powder ing to the Indian Premier• League after an FIR was registered • 1tbsp ginger- garlic paste against him • 2tbsp thick low fat yoghurt • salt to taste

IAF successfully test-fires BrahMos missile system

Procedure: An advanced version of Brahmos land-attack supersonic Marinate the chicken with the ginger garlic paste and the yoghurt for 20 min. soak the cashew in warm water for 15cruise minutes.chop the onions and tomatoes.

Heat tbsp missile system was successfully test fired on1Friday oil to a pan. sear the chicken pieces in the hot oil for 1 minute on each side to a golden colour. remove the chicken at pieces. in the same pan, add 1tbsp oil and the chopped noon in the Western Sector by the Indian Air Force. The onions. saute till a translucent pink. Add the tomatoes, red chili powder, garam masala powder and cook on medium flame till the tomatoes are tender (approx.occasions 4-5 unique BrahMos weapon system on numerous has minutes). remove from flame and run in a blender with the soaked cashews to make a smooth paste. return to theestablished pan and add tomato in puree.

Bringoftosupersonic a boil andcruise add its the supremacy the World the chicken pieces. simmer for 4-5 minutes till the chicken is cooked. Add the low fat cream and simmer for 2 minutes.

Broil the fenugreek leaves a pan. missile.

The flight, conducted onon Friday in crush one of the the firing fenugreek leaves over the curry and remove from fire. serve hot. ranges in western sector has met its mission parameters in a copybook manner.

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Fiji

28 i Saturday, May 28, 2016

Credit and data bureau stopped by gov’t

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ll credit records kept by the Data Bureau ceased to exist last week, and the Government will open up the market to agencies wanting to operate as credit reporters. This as the Free Reporting of Credit Act comes into effect with the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) taking over as regulators and gatekeepers to the credit reporting market. Finance Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said agencies wanting to act as credit reporters would have to apply to the RBF for their licences. “Essentially, everybody will start with a clean slate from tomorrow (today),” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said. “The regulations that will also come into force from tomorrow (today) has the schedule, the form that you will need to apply under.

“The application fee is $3000 and you get a licence for 10 years. And if your ap-

plication is successful, you pay $30,000.

It works out to be $3000 per year licence fees. “Under the new Act, companies or individuals must also pay a combined application and licence fee of $1000 per year to the RBF if they want to receive credit reports for customers.” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum further clarified that companies wanting to report customers for defaulting on payments would also have to pay an application and license fee of $1000 per year to the RBF. He said a major aspect of the new Act was the consumer’s ability to seek recourse if they were unfairly reported to a credit reporting agency. “Now there are checks and balances as to who can go and report.

“But if somehow the error sinks into the system, then you have a right of recourse.

“You don’t have to go to the courts as has been alluded to by some lawyers and advisers to various companies.

A

32 months jail for marijuana production

man found guilty of unlawful cultivation of illicit drugs was jailed for two years and eight months by the Labasa High Court yesterday.

Etuarte Dreduadua, 49, of Natovotovo Village in Cakaudrove was convicted by judge Justice Paul Madigan.

On January 6 this year, police officers raided Dreduadua�s home in the village and they found seeds and four plants believed to be marijuana.

The accused was not there but

his nephew took the police party to a plantation where they found and uprooted 41 plants, also believed to be marijuana.

The plants were tested and found to be cannabis sativa weighing 10 kilograms in total.

Justice Madigan sentenced Dreduadua to two years and eight months in prison and ordered that he serve a term of two years before being eligible for parole.

Remains of missionary receives a proper burial 200 years later

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Remains of a missionary

missionary who died more than 200 years ago in the highlands of Viti Levu was finally “laid to rest” by villagers who claim they were led to his remains by the Holy Spirit.

On May 14 this year while praying at Koro Village in Nadarivatu, as part of a cleansing exercise for villages in the area, a team from the Methodist Church’s Savatu Circuit claimed they were informed by the Holy Spirit of a restless soul present in the vicinity of the village.

Further investigation revealed that villagers often heard the wailing sounds of a woman in distress at night.

The villagers believe the remains belong to Penisoni Dalituicama, one of the very first i-Taukei men who took up the challenge to share the word of God in Fiji.

Originally from Namoli Village in Lautoka, he set out on foot in the 1800s as part of an entourage led by the late Reverend Thomas Baker.

The villagers said the ship that brought Reverend Baker docked at the beach at Namoli Village where he spent a month before setting out towards the highlands of Ra with his newly-converted brothers from the village to preach the Gospel of Christ.

“Since the day they left, no one from Namoli Village heard back from Penisoni, nor did they ever see him again,” said Savatu circuit minister, Reverend Ropoama Nabiri.

10 years in jail for raping 16 years old girl

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21-year-old man who raped a 16-year-old girl on their first date was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. The man appeared before High Court judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe where he was found guilty of one count of rape. The man committed the offence on June 20, 2013 where he had met the victim during a Carnival. He will not be eligible for parole for a period of five years.

NRI

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Indian-American kids dominate National Geographic Bee with seven of 10 finalists

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t’s common knowledge now that Indian-American kids dominated the US National Spelling Bee Championship, the final round of which begins in Washington DC next week. The IndianAmerican dominance now extends to the companion National Geographic Bee contests too. Seven of the 10 finalists who qualified the preliminary rounds were of Indian-origin. The 10 finalists are: · Kapil Nathan — Alabama · Rishi Nair — Flor-

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ida · Rishi Kumar — Maryland · Saketh Jonnalagadda — Massachusetts · Lucas Eggers — Minnesota · Grace Rembert — Montana · Samanyu Dixit — North Carolina · Ashwin Sivakumar — Oregon · Pranay Varada — Texas · Thomas Wright — Wisconsin The winners of the Geographic Bee title in the last four years, starting 2012, have been Indian-American students: Rahul Nagvekar in 2012, Sathwik Karnik in 2013, Akhil Rekulapelli in 2014, and Karan Menon in 2015.

Two Indian-origin sisters killed in car crash in Australia

wo Indian-origin sisters were killed when their car collided with a truck in north-east Australia. Anjumol, 23, and Asha Mathew, 18, were returning home when their car rammed into a truck at Peaks Crossing in Queensland on Monday. A missing complaint was lodged by their family friends Ranjeet Vadassery and Anish Mathew when the sisters did not return home. The police confirmed the death of the duo on late Monday. They

were wonderful young people, and it’s a very big loss for all of us personally,” Vadassery said. “We both hail from Kerala and it’s a small close knit community in Toowoomba. Since then a lot of friends have got together on many occasions while we were students with church and cultural activities,” he said. A student of University of Southern Queensland, Anjumol was a nurse at Lourdes home and her sister was following her sister’s footsteps and studying nursing at the same varsity.

Swiss school board rules that

Muslim boys must shake female teachers’ hands A school board in northern Switzerland said Wednesday that two Muslim boys who have refused to shake hands with their female teachers for religious reasons can be required to do so, ruling that their parents could face fines of up to 5,000 Swiss francs (about $6,500) if they don’t. A public school in the northeastern Therwil municipality had sought the regional school board’s advice after accepting the boys’ belief that they should

only willingly touch the women whom they will eventually marry. The school had temporarily exempted the teens from shaking hands with teachers. The boys’ refusal set off a debate in Switzerland, which has a tradition of handshake greetings. Like elsewhere in Europe, Switzerland has at times struggled to strike the right cultural balance amid a recent influx of Muslims and other newcomers.

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SOUTH ASIA

10 killed in Kabul attack as Taliban bomber hits minibus

suicide bomber targeted a vehicle ployees in their war against the state, claimed carrying court employees in Ka- responsibility for the bombing. The claim bul during morning rush hour on came from Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban Wednesday, kills p o ke s m an , ing 11 people, an in an email Afghan official sent to the said. The Taliban media. The has claimed reattack came sponsibility for as the Taliban the attack.

The named a new bomber, who was leader folon foot, detonated lowing Mulhis explosives vest lah Akhtar as he walked by M a n s o u r ’s the vehicle in the death in a US western part of drone strike Minibus attack killed 11 people in Kabul. the city, said Najib on Saturday.

Danish, the InteriThe last major attack in Kabul was on or Ministry’s deputy spokesman. The casual- April 19, when a massive bomb killed ties include both court workers and civilians 64 people and wounded hundreds. The and the explosion also wounded four people, Taliban also claimed that bombing.

Danish said. Within an hour of the assault, the Taliban, who often target government em-

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Don’t blame the Sherpas for mountaineering mishaps

ecently there has been a lot of stir in pas, the mountain guides as the much the media regarding the latest deaths sought after villains behind the tragedies. of adventurers at Mount Everest exBlaming is easy. And to hold hilly tribpeditions. Though several of them have als, who have successfully lived mostly summitted the out of reach world’s highest of modpeak, there were ern urban quite a few brave connectivhearts who afity is perhaps ter reaching the easier.

Ace peak failed to summiters make it to the Anindyo Camps safely.

Mu k h e r j e e , As grief struck B a s a n t a hard on the Sinha Roy Tourists visiting Nepal. unfortunate and Nilana dve ntu re rs’ jan Patra analyse the true picture behind friends and families, a sudden blamegame the mercuric hype of Mt. Everest expedihas been going around in the social as tions, explaining in details the role and well as mainstream media to hold Sher- due acclaimations of the humble Sherpas.

ISIS “falsely claiming” Bangladesh attacks: says minister Islamic State Is trying to ride a wave of religious radicalisation by falsely claiming a spate of killings in Bangladesh , a government minister said, adding there was enough evidence implicating domestic militant groups.

Analysts say that as Islamic State loses territory in Iraq and Syria and its finances get drained, it may be trying to build affiliates in countries such as Libya, Egypt and Bangladesh for jihadists to launch attacks locally and cheaply. But Shahriar Alam, Bangladesh’s state minister for foreign affairs, told Reuters in an interview that no local or foreign agency had found any presence of Islamic State in the country.

Court to hear IndoAmerican woman’s appeal of feticide conviction

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ttorneys for an Indian-American woman found guilty of killing the premature infant she delivered after ingesting abortion-inducing drugs will ask an appeals court on Tuesday to throw out the convictions that led to her 20year prison sentence. At issue is Indiana’s feticide law, which the defence says was “passed to protect pregnant women from violence” that could harm their developing fetus, not to prosecute women for their own abortions. The state argues that the law “is not limited to third-party actors” and can apply to pregnant women. Attorneys for 35-year-old Purvi Patel will urge the Indiana Court of Appeals to reverse her 2015 convictions on charges of feticide and neglect of a dependent resulting in death. The state’s attorney general’s office will defend the northern Indiana jury’s decision. Patel, of Granger, was arrested in July 2013 after she sought treatment at a local hospital for profuse bleeding after delivering a one-and-a-half-pound infant boy and putting his body in a trash bin behind her family’s restaurant.

PAKISTAN

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Five Navy men get death sentence over terrorism charges

ive navy personnel were given death the Karachi dockyard, Saeed said. sentence by Pakistan Navy court for Saeed claimed that the naval authorities did planning to hijack a warship and at- not provide his son the right to a fair trial.

“I wrote a letter to the judge advocate gentack on US Navy’s refuel ships in 2014. eral (JAG) of the Five officials includnavy on August 15, ing Sub-lieutenant 2015, asking him Hammad Ahmed to provide the opwere convicted of the portunity of a denaval dockyard atfence counsel to tack that took place my son,” Saeed said. on September 6, 2014, “The navy JAG on Dawn online quoted September 21 reretired Major Saeed plied that the opAhmed, father of tion of defence Ahmed, as saying. would They were charged Five dockyard attackers to get death sentence. counsel be available at the time of trial.” with having links with the Islamic State group, mutiny, hatching a con- Saeed was waiting for the commencement of spiracy and carrying weapons to the trial but was recently informed that his son was shifted to the Karachi Central Prison.

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US state department put two more groups on terror list

he US state department put two more Pakistani extremist groups on a Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) list amid continuing criticism from Washington that Pakistan is not doing enough to end the scourge of terrorism. The two outfits designated global terrorist groups are the Tariq Gidar Group (TGG) and Jama’at ul Dawa al-Qu’ran (JDQ). They are determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of US nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or

economy of the United States, the state department said in its designation. The statement accompanying the designation said the TGG is a Pakistani Taliban (TTP) linked group based in Darra Adam Khel that is responsible for the massacre at the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan, that left 132 schoolchildren and nine staffers dead — the deadliest terrorist attack in Pakistan’s history. The group’s leader, Umar Mansoor, is also known as the mastermind of the January 2016 attack on Bacha Khan University in Charsadda, Pakistan, that killed 20 and wounded between 50 and 60 others, it added.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

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Drone attack ‘detrimental’ to bilateral relations: General Raheel US drone attack on Pakistan’s soil to kill Afghan Taliban Mullah Mansour is detrimental to bilateral ties, Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif (pictured) said.

Sharif told to US ambassador David Hale who visited the military’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad the army said, adding that the situation arising after US drone strike in Pakistan’s western province of Balochistan on May 22 came under discussion. “While expressing his serious concerns over the said drone strike, the Chief of the Army Staff said such acts of sovereignty violations are detrimental to relations between both countries and are

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counter-productive for ongoing peace process for regional stability,” army said. It is for the first time that army has spoken on the issue.

Pakistan’s interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had on Tuesday refused to confirm the death of Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour but said a DNA test will be done to establish the identity of a man killed in a US drone strike last week. He had condemned the drone attack as violation of Pakistan’s territory and said it may lead to serious implication for relations between Pakistan and US.

US Senate okays Bill to block $300M aid to Pakistan

Senate panel has approved a legislation that blocks $300 million military aid to Pakistan unless the Defence Secretary certifies to the Congress that Islamabad is taking “demonstrable” steps against the Haqqani terror network.

The Senate Armed Services Committee — which renewed blockage of $300 million coalition support fund to Pakistan subject to action against the Haqqani network like previous year when it passed the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA)-2017 last week — has, however, argued in favour of continuing security assistance to Pakistan.

“In recognition of the critical importance

of the bilateral US-Pakistan relationship and the need for enhanced security and stability in Pakistan, the committee recommends a provision that would provide the Secretary of Defence the authority to reimburse Pakistan up to $800 million in fiscal year 2017 for certain activities that enhance the security situation in the northwest regions of Pakistan and along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border,” it said in a report.

“The provision would also make $300 million of this amount contingent upon a certification from the Secretary of Defence that Pakistan is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network in Pakistan,” the report said.

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