The Asian Star January 5 2019

www.theasianstar.com Vol 17 - Issue 49

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Passenger strips mid-air on Air India flight A male passenger on a Lucknow-bound Air India Express flight stripped naked mid-air and began walking down the aisle, ANI reported on Saturday. The IX-194 flight carrying 150 passengers took off from Dubai. The cabin crew quickly swung into action and wrapped the man in a blanket.

He was held down in a seat by two crew members as the plane made its way back to Lucknow.

After the flight landed at

L u c k n o w ’s C h au d h ar y Charan Singh Airport at 12.05 pm, the nude passenger was handed over to the security. “As per the direction of the Captain of the flight, the passenger was handed over to Airlines Security at Lucknow Airport where investigation is underway,� Air India Express spokesman told ANI. It is unclear what provoked the man to strip naked on an international flight.

Canadian arrested for trying to deliver Crown Royal to Donald Trump A Canadian man trying to bring two bottles of whisky to US President Trump was arrested outside the White House in Washington, D.C., early Wednesday morning for entering a restricted area.

A court filing obtained by Global News shows the man, identified as Yianny Georgopoulos, said he was trying to bring the president two bottles of Crown Royal whisky and wanted Trump’s help finding a wife.

Information on Georgopoulos’ age and hometown weren’t released. The man was arrested for “unlawful entry� when he moved a sign and entered a restricted area at 12:14 a.m. Wednesday.

A Secret Service officer stationed at the White House said he told Georgopoulos to leave the area, which is when Georgopoulos told the officer he had two bottles of whisky to deliver.

Continued on page 7

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8 Indian officials bribed by Boeing for contract In what could be yet another scam, now involving the airline manufacturer Boeing, a New York Times report has claimed that when Boeing was prepping its new 787 Dreamliner rollout in 2006, it might have bribed some eight Indian officials to mine the much-needed lightweight titanium from India.

According to the report, “Boeing asked (consulting firm) McKinsey to evaluate a proposal, potentially worth $500 million annually, to mine

titanium in India through a foreign partnership financed by an influential Ukrainian oligarch.� NYT claims that McKinsey says it advised Boeing of the risks of working with the oligarch, Dmitry V Firtash, and recommended “character due diligence.�

Attached to its evaluation was a single PowerPoint slide: The partner’s plan, McKinsey noted, was to “respect traditional bureaucratic

Continued on page 6

Surrey woman wins $39.5 million Lotto Max Surrey woman Michelle De Roma (pictured) is having a really good day today. But she won’t be in Surrey for long.

De Roma was in Vancouver Friday afternoon to pick up her cheque for a whopping $39.5 million after matching all seven numbers on the Dec. 28, 2018 Lotto Max draw on a ticket bought at Tsawwessen Mills. She said she was doing some Boxing Day shopping that day.

The big hand-over was at 1 p.m. at the

BCLC (B.C. Lottery Corporation) Vancouver office. “We are planning to move out of Surrey, but we don’t know where yet.�

De Roma is married and has three children. She said she waited to claim her prize because she wanted to enjoy the Christmas holidays with Continued on page 7

Lotto BC ignored concerns about money laundering Money laundering in BC casinos with huge amounts of $20 bills in duffel bags and paper bags was “obvious� and a problem the B.C. Lottery Corporation needed to deal with to be a good corporate citizen, public servants warned almost a decade ago in correspondence obtained by CTV news.

The agency’s response at the time: dismiss the concerns, according to records newly uncovered through a

Freedom of Information request. The person who wrote BCLC’s reply is now the director of its anti-money laundering unit. “Red flags were put up and red flags were ignored,� said Dermod Travis, with watchdog organization Integrity BC. Travis said the timeline of these warnings – just a year after 2009, when the previous Liberal government shut down an RCMP illegal gambling task force,

Continued on page 6

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Saturday, January 5, 2019

Storm passes but leaves flooded roads and avalanche danger behind in BC Rainfall, wind, snow and winter storm warnings have been lifted for all of southern B.C. after a powerful system swept across the province leaving flooded or snowclogged roads in its wake.

Torrential downpours forced flood watches or high streamflow advisories for several waterways on Vancouver Island on Thursday. The deluge also prompted a boil water advisory for all users of the Comox Valley water system, including residents of Courtenay and Comox.Severe rainfall caused turbidity levels at a back-up pump station to rise above acceptable thresholds, triggering the need for the

boil water notice, the Comox Valley Regional District said in a news release.

Environment Canada says the two-day storm dropped as much as 100 millimetres of rain on Port Alberni and parts of eastern Vancouver Island — equivalent to an entire month of rainfall — while more than 50 millimetres fell Thursday at Vancouver International Airport.

In the mountains, Avalanche Canada says heavy snow has created a “high’’ possibility of slides in the mountains of the South Coast

and Vancouver Island, as well as through most of east central and southeastern B.C., meaning very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. December storm ‘most damaging’ in BC Hydro’s history, report say An “extreme’’ avalanche ranking, which means natural and human-triggered avalanches are certain, remains posted for some regions.

4 cent / litr gas price hikes due as ‘bumpy’ year looms at pumps: expert Extreme volatility in oil markets has resulted in a price jump for gasoline of four cents a litre in Metro Vancouver and an analyst predicts a further hike could arrive within days.

Dan McTeague, a senior petroleum analyst at GasBuddy.com, says Vancouver residents will be the “poster children” for what he expects will be a wild year for gas prices Canada-wide.

He says the four-cent increase is the culmination of a series of events, including the explosion of the Enbridge natural gas pipeline in October and the unexpected maintenance shutdown of the Olympic pipeline last month in Washington state.

McTeague says traders are still rebounding from those events and must cover gasoline demand in Oregon, Washington and southern British Columbia, prompting the latest hike and another boost of what

he predicts could be a “penny or two,” by Sunday.

Greater Vancouver imports all its fuel, adding to the cost, but McTeague says fuel taxes will also climb in B.C. on April 1.

He says the tax will add 3.3 cents to the price of a litre of fuel and make the

Vancouver area the highest tax jurisdiction for fuel of any major city in North America.

“You knocked out Montreal,” McTeague says. “There are some occasions where being No. 1 isn’t such a great thing.”

The GasBuddy website pegged the average price for gas in Vancouver at about $1.31 a litre on Friday, well above the average price of gas in some other Canadian cities. In Halifax, the average price was 97.8 cents, while it was at about $1.11 a litre in Montreal. A litre of gas was just over $1 in Toronto and was at 90.6 cents in Calgary.

A written analysis provided by McTeague says the turbulent year ahead for prices at Canadian pumps will stem, in part, from concerns over a looming trade war between the U.S. and China, Brexit, the status of global crude supplies and overall demand for oil products.

“Overall, fuel prices in 2019 could well turn out to be more expensive than any year since 2014, helped in no small part by an increase in gas taxes and currency challenges,” the analysis says.

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www.theasianstar.com Vol 17 - Issue 49

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Women in India form 620 km human chain in support of lifting of temple ban Hundreds of thousands of women have formed a 620km-long human chain across a southern Indian state in support of a court order overturning a partial ban on women entering one of Hinduism’s holiest temples.

The “Women’s Wall” rally was backed by the communist government in Kerala where the court order reversing a ban on women of menstruating age – defined as between 10 and 50 – at Sabarimala temple has triggered weeks of protests.

Press Trust of India news agency reported that Government employees took part in the

demonstration, while schools were given a half day and university exams delayed so that students could join the protest.

A government statement issued before the event predicted five million women would participate in the protest.

Vancouver home sales fall to lowest yearly total in 18 years detached home prices drop In 2018, Metro Vancouver home sales were the lowest in 18 years, according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.

The board’s report, released Thursday, says there were 24,619 sales of detached, attached and apartment properties on the Multiple Listing Service, a 31.6 per cent decrease from the 35,993 sales in 2017.

Last year’s sales were the lowest since 2000, and were 25 per cent below the region’s 10-year sales average, according to the report.

Board president Phil Moore called 2018 a transition period away from the sellers’ market of previous years.Moore says high home prices, rising interest rates,

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new mortgage requirements and taxes all contributed to the market conditions. Home listings in Metro hit 53,614 in 2018. That is a 1.9 per cent decrease from the 54,655 homes listed in 2017 and a 6.9 per cent decrease from the 57,596 homes listed in 2016.

Assessment authority shows high-value homes throughout B.C. “The supply of homes for sale will be an important indicator to follow in 2019. We’ve had record building activity in recent years and many projects will complete soon. This will provide additional housing options for homebuyers across the region,” Moore said in a statement Thursday.

Continued on page 6

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Trump comments provoke shock and outrage in India & Israel President Donald Trump managed to elicit outrage in both Israel and India through his wideranging set of foreign policy assertions about Syria and Afghanistan.

At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump addressed his planned withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria, which he abruptly announced a couple weeks back.

He also expressed his displeasure at the U.S.’s continued involvement in Afghanistan.

On Syria, Trump maintained that Iran — a key supporter

of the regime of Bashar al-Assad — was in the process of pulling its forces from Syria anyway.

“They can do what they want there, frankly,” he said.

This horrified the Israelis, who fear Iran’s growing influence in the region.

According to a “senior Israeli source” cited by local news outlet Ynet, Trump’s pronouncement showed “he isn’t paying attention to the evidence provided by the intelligence services.”

“We are in a state of shock,” the source

Continued on page 6

Bollywood actor-writer Kader Khan dies in Toronto hospital Veteran Bollywood actor, director, writer, comedian, Kader Khan died in Toronto hospital at the age of 81, according to media reports. His son Sarfaraz confirmed the actor’s death, saying he passed away on December 31, 2018 in Canada but not specifying what city. “The last rites will be performed here in Canada only. We have our entire family here,” his son Sarfaraz said.

“We are thankful to everyone for blessings and prayers,” he said.

Sarfaraz also confirmed that Kader Khan had been in hospital for almost 16 - 17 weeks prior to shift into coma on Monday afternoon. Kader Khan was suffering from progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare brain disease, US media CNN reported. The veteran actor worked in over 300 movies and

was known for his comedic roles. Prime Minister Modi also honoured Kader Khan on his Twitter on Tuesday.

“Kader Khan Ji brightened the screen with his stupendous acting skills and lightened it thanks to his unique sense of humour,” Modi wrote on Twitter. “Saddened by his demise.

Condolences to his family and admirers.”

He was also a prolific screenwriter, associated with many memorable films.

Star actor Kader Khan was born in Afghanistan and moved to Mumbai in his early age, CNN reported. He was known for Hindi movies like Naseeb and Taqdeerwala from the ’80s and ’90s. The Indian film community paid tribute to Kader Khan on social media.

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OPINION

Tarek Fatah As people around the globe celebrate the New Year, for me 2019 is beginning just the way 2018 did — with a threat against me.

Leading up to 2018, the threats against me were quite blatant, leading last year to the arrest of two would-be assassins in India.

Even in Toronto, a Muslim cab driver pointed his fist at me in pistol fashion saying, “I have a special gun for you,” as he sped away.

Yet towards the end of 2018, a much more subtler death threat was addressed to me, this time by the head of Canada’s newest aspiring political party, the Islamic Party of Ontario.

In case you have not heard of the Islamic Party of Ontario, its name was officially reserved under Elections Ontario rules in October 2018, with more steps required before it becomes a formal party.

It operates with a mandate to introduce

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Coming soon, believe it or not - Islamic Party of Ontario Islamic rule in Ontario and Canada because, according to the fledgling party, “We understand and believe that Islam is the native DEEN (religion) of Ontario and Canada.”

The Islamic Party of Ontario is headed by one Jawed Anwar, who operates out of the Toronto neighborhood of Thorncliffe Park.

In a column posted at the end of October targeting American activist Laura Loomer, Anwar described me as “… Islamophobe Tareek (sic) Fatah in Toronto Sun. Tareek is an open enemy of Islam and a hatepurveyor.”

Non-Muslim readers, even police and politicians, would not know the significance of the allegation, but every Muslim on earth is aware of the implications of accusing a Muslim of being an ‘Islamophobe’ or being “open enemy of Islam.”

An allegation such as the one labelled

against me is the equivalent of declaring me an ‘apostate,’ which makes it a duty of other Muslims to kill me and thus secure a place in Paradise for themselves.

For those who are living in 2019 and the 21st century, this may sound like a joke. But those who are still living as if it is 1019 in the 11th century, the beheading of an alleged Muslim apostate is part of their heritage and faith. After all, the first Muslim vs. Muslim war broke out within a year of Prophet Muhammad’s death when one section of the community was declared ‘apostates’ by the Caliph and the ‘War of Apostasy’ led to thousands being killed over an issue of religious taxes.

Petty cowards inside the Muslim community are prone to hang Islam’s Sword of Damocles over their opponent’s head and swing it to deadly effect. This was best captured in the story of the 10th century Baghdad philosopher Mansour Hallaj, who was beheaded for the sacrilege of merely uttering the words, “I am the Truth.” Islamists universally agree that it is essential to put the Muslim apostate to death. They base their blood lust on a supposed command of Prophet Muhammad who is recorded to have said: “Whoever changes his religion, put him to death.” Death threats do not intimidate me, but here we have in Anwar the leader of an aspiring Ontario political party who is playing coy with Premier Doug Ford by supporting the PC Party’s approach to ‘gender politics.’

I wrote to Jawed Anwar to seek his perspective and clarification, if any, but he didn’t respond to my repeated requests.

Before this Trojan Horse can enter the gates of mainstream Toronto and Ontario politics by the ever-eager diversity-seeking politicians, perhaps you, the voters need to know what the Islamic Party of Ontario claims to desire in Canada, according to their posted principles and policies. Establish Islam as the natural religion of Ontario.

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Saturday, January 5, 2019 From page 3

Trump comments provoke shock and outrage in India & Israel reportedly added. “Trump simply doesn’t understand the extent of the Iranian military’s presence in the region. What is comforting is that at least Trump isn’t opposed to Israel’s operations in Syria.”

Trump’s assertion is particularly surprising given that he has made opposition to Iran one of the pillars of his Middle East policy, which involves providing support to Iran’s regional rivals, such as Saudi Arabia and Israel. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has reportedly begged the White House to slow down its Syrian withdrawal.

Meanwhile, the president also addressed the U.S.’s ongoing presence in Afghanistan, complaining about its cost. He said countries from that region, including India, Russia and Pakistan, should be fighting the Taliban instead.

Trump particularly took aim at India, claiming: “I get along very well with India and Prime Minister Modi. But he is constantly telling me, he built a library in Afghanistan. Library! That’s like five hours of what we spend [in Afghanistan.]”

The Times of India reported pushback from “official sources” in India, who said libraries may be part of that country’s community development outlay in Afghanistan, but only a small part in comparison to the billions being spent on roads, dams and Afghanistan’s new parliament building.

One source told the paper: “India seeks to build capacities and capabilities of Afghan nationals and its institutions for governance and delivery of public service, develop socio-economic infrastructure, secure lives and promote livelihood.”

Vancouver home sales fall to lowest yearly total in 18 years detached home prices drop The composite benchmark price for all residential homes in Metro was down 2.7 per cent to $1,032,400. The price of detached homes was down 7.8 per cent.

Condo prices went up slightly, by 0.6 per cent over the past 12 months, but have declined 6.4 per cent since June.

Townhomes have increased 1.3 per cent since December 2017, but have decreased 5.3

per cent in the last six months.

December sales were down by nearly half compared with December 2017. The report says 1,072 homes sold last month, a 46.8 per cent decrease from the 2,016 sales in December 2017 and a 33.3 per cent decrease from November 2018, when 1,608 homes sold.

ticrawford@postmedia.com

From page 1

8 Indian officials bribed by Boeing for contract process including use of bribes.”

McKinsey also apparently wrote that the partner had identified eight “key Indian officials”, also named in the PowerPoint slide, whose influence was needed for the deal to go through. However, nowhere in the slide did McKinsey advise that such a scheme would be illegal or unwise.

NYT says that McKinsey declined to provide it with its full report or any evidence that it had objected to the paying of bribes, but that Firtash denies paying or recommending bribes.

The mining venture never materialised, but

Firtash was indicted on charges of directing $18.5 million in bribes to Indian officials for mining permits, the report adds, also noting that neither McKinsey nor Boeing was charged in the case, and Boeing has not been accused of paying bribes.

Meanwhile in India, while it has emerged that the state in question was Andhra Pradesh, it is yet unclear who these officials were that had been shortlisted on that slide and whether they were investigated following Firtash’s indictment in 2012.

Lotto BC ignored concerns about money laundering From page 1 shows that criminals were only too happy to take advantage. “What BCLC’s response said, and what this disbandment of the RCMP force said was, ‘Open for business,” Travis said. “The current government needs to get out in front of this and call a public inquiry.”

In 2010, officials noticed a “dramatic increase” of big buy-ins using small denomination bills, including one man who was able to buy in $3.5 million over two months, according to a letter from the public safety ministry’s gambling watchdog.

“We believe BCLC needs to seek solutions to the obvious, and increasing, money laundering that is occurring, particularly involving the flood of small denomination money, within B.C. casinos,” wrote Derek Dickson, the director of casino investigations for the Ministry of Public Safety.

The reply came a month later, from BCLC’s Assistant Manager of Security John Karlovcec, who said that BCLC’s review showed this patron’s buy in patterns “do not meet the criteria that would indicate he is actively laundering money in British Columbia casinos.”

Karlovcec, according to public posts, is now BCLC’s director of anti-money laundering investigations. He is a former Surrey RCMP drug squad officer who left the force in 2006.

BCLC said that Karlovcec is unavailable for an interview. In the past, BCLC president Jim Lightbody has said, “We have zero tolerance for criminals who may attempt to target our business. If there is something more we can do to improve the anti-money laundering efforts in B.C., we’ll do it.”

In the nine years since 2010, the problem only got worse, adding up to more than $100 million cleaned via B.C. casinos in what investigator Peter German deemed a “collective system failure” where casinos “unwittingly served as laundromats” for the proceeds of crime.

The current NDP government under Attorney-General David Eby has introduced a $9,999 maximum cash buyin unless the patron can prove the source of the cash. Canadian rapper Drake was ensnared by that rule and denied a buy-in on a recent visit to Parq Vancouver’s casino.

Karlovcec works with Robert Kroeker - BCLC’s Vice-President of Corporate Security and Compliance - who oversaw the River Rock Casino, at the epicentre of this trend. Kroeker resigned his position as the chair of the Justice Institute’s Board in October, after first agreeing to an interview with CTV News on the issue, then locking a door.

In the Nov. 24, 2010 letter, BCLC’s thendirector of Casino Investigations in the Lower Mainland Derek Dickson wrote

to then-Manager of Casino Security and Surveillance, warning him that Gaming Policy and Enforcement investigators had seen a “dramatic increase” in suspicious transactions.

“This division, the Branch and the RCMP are very concerned about the potential money laundering by patron [censored] in BC casinos,” Dickson wrote.

He detailed a series of buy-ins, as much as $200,000 in cash at a time, nearly all of it in $20 bills, and as much as $325,000 in casino chips.

At one point, he bought in with $280,000 in chips, lost it all, and then “came back minutes later for $60,000 in Canadian currency, all in $100 denominations.”

The two-month total for buy-ins with $20 bills was $3,465,940, the letter says.

“This is not an isolated case and we have seen numerous similar large buy-ins with small denominations at numerous casino venues in the province,” Dickson wrote. “It typically involves well known LCT [large cash transaction] patrons that play baccarat and arrive with cash as a buy-in.”

Dickson says he met with the RCMP’s officer in charge of the Integrated Proceeds of Crime Unit, “and they are well aware of the issue and are seriously concerned that the casinos are being used as a method to launder large sums of money for organized crime groups.”

He says it’s clear that BCLC is meeting its obligations to report transactions to FINTRAC and to the ministry’s watchdog.

“However, although identifying the suspicious nature of these transactions and complying with the legal requirements to report suspicious criminal activity (money laundering) to the police and regulatory agencies you continue to allow the service providers to take these large amounts of $20 denominations in duffel bags, paper bags, etc. to be used for gambling in the casinos.

“BCLC is responsible for the conduct and managing of casino gaming in British Columbia through standard operating procedures and we believe, at a minimum, as a good corporate citizen you should re-assess your corporate responsibility in allowing these large amounts of $20 denominations to enter the casino gaming environment. A restriction of allowing a maximum of $10,000 in $20 denominations could remedy the situation,” he wrote.

After Karlovcec’s letter in response, Senior Director of Investigations Joe Schalk wrote again on Feb. 28, 2011, warning that the problem of money laundering in casinos was not going away.

“There were then, and continue to be, an alarming increase in similar large buy-ins

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Saturday, January 5, 2019

Surrey woman wins $39.5 million Lotto Max her family.

She wants to get a “nice house for the kids,” she said.

“I want to travel — everybody wants to travel.”

First on the list is a trip with her mom to see St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

De Roma said she’s also celebrating her husband’s birthday.

“It’s the perfect gift,” she said of her megawin. “I’ll just give him the cheque — with a kiss.”

Indeed, local lottery ticket buyers have fared well over the years.

In May 2013, Surrey resident Harry Black, 66, won $31.6 million on the 6/49.

He scored a double win by buying two lottery tickets with the same numbers he’d been playing for 35 years. And in 2010, an $11 Lotto Max ticket bought in Fleetwood landed Surrey couple Derek and Francis $25 million, which at that time was a recordsetting lottery prize win in B.C. “We’ve had $50 million before,” said BCLC spokesman Evan Kelly.

Meantime, somebody has got to be wearing a long face today after running out the clock on a $1 million 6/49 prize ticket

Kader Khan passes away From page 3 Saddened to learn about the demise of #KaderKhan Saab, had the good fortune of working with him in quite a few films…a fine actor and an even better comedian.

My thoughts and prayers with his family — Akshay Kumar (@ akshaykumar) January 1, 2019 I deeply mourn the sad demise of noted actor #KaderKhan, who has put his own foot-prints on the acting in the Hindi films. pic.twitter.com/ QoGtFvXwJ2 — Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar (@ DrMungekar) January 1, 2019

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From page 1

that was sold in Vancouver. Whoever bought that ticket didn’t make the 4:30 p.m. Jan. 3 deadline to collect.

Canadian arrested for trying to deliver Crown Royal to President Trump

According to the court filings, Georgopoulos later told police he saw the signs, which said No Trespassing Authorized Personnel Only and Restricted Area Do Not Enter, but ignored them.

On Thursday, U.S. attorney Jolie Zimmerman requested a delay in proceeding so Georgopoulos could undergo a mental health evaluation. Zimmerman said that at an initial court appearance, Georgopoulos “made

several spontaneous statements and did not seem able to follow his attorney’s or the Court’s instructions. “ Georgopoulos is expected to be back in court after the evaluation on Jan. 8.

“Without understanding the defendant’s mental health, it is impossible to determine whether the defendant intends any actual harm to the President of the United States or any other [U.S. Secret Service] protectee,” the delay request reads.

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Saturday, January 5, 2019

By Ujjal Dosanjh

How politicians who pander to Khalistani extremism undermine Canada’s intelligence agencies

The recently released 2018 Public Report on Terrorism Threat to Canada lists the following threats: Sunni Islamist extremism, right-wing extremism, Sikh (Khalistani) extremism, Shia extremism, and Canadian extremist travellers.

In the case of “Sikh (Khalistani) Extremism” it goes on to clearly state the undeniable truth that “Some individuals in Canada continue to support Sikh (Khalistani) extremist ideologies and movements.”

The report engendered an immediate

outcry from the usual quarters regarding its reference to “Sikh (Khalistani) extremism”. It threw some Sikh and other MPs, including some ministers in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, into a tizzy.

Some organizations meeting in Toronto issued hyperultimatums to the government to meet with them by a certain deadline and rescind what they considered to be the offending portions of the innocuous report or else. Else what? No one knows.

Much of the debate on the report, with the exception of a few interventions, has been in Punjabi, in the Punjabi media, allowing

many participants to run with the hare while hunting with the hounds, further exacerbating the ghettoizing effects of the rabid identity politics at play.

Unfortunately, there has been very little investigative or other reporting by the so-called mainstream media in Canada about the debate among Sikhs on this report or on any other recent developments; hence this

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humble attempt to capture the story about the report in this blog.

The report was released on December 11. The manufactured outrage of parliamentarians at the inoffensive report resulted in a meeting being arranged: on December 13 at 11:15 a.m. almost all of the Sikh and some other MPs gathered with Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale in Room 107 A in the Centre Block of Parliament.

Reliable sources have confirmed that at the meeting Goodale reaffirmed the government’s position that the threat of terrorism in the name of Khalistan is real, serious, and persistent. Nonetheless to make the matter clearer he undertook, right at the outset of the meeting, to delete the word “Sikh” from the report.

But that wasn’t enough for some MPs and ministers. They wanted more.

Many insisted upon the complete deletion of any reference to “Sikh (Khalistani) Extremism” in the report. At least one among them threatened to go public with his denunciation of the report unless Goodale agreed, right then and there, to the erasure of the entire reference to “Sikh (Khalistani) extremism”.

Goodale is alleged to have apparently told the still unhappy MPs to go take a hike. Rightly so because it doesn’t behoove any Canadians, let alone our elected representatives—in fact it is quite Trumpian of them—to irresponsibly deny the truth or undermine the nation’s intelligence community.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale (photographed at a Vancouver Vaisakhi parade) has refused to delete the word Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale (photographed at a Vancouver Vaisakhi parade) has refused to delete the word “Khalistani” from a federal report on terrorism.

After Goodale absolutely appropriately refused to remove from the report the reference to Khalistani extremism, some MPs as well as a cabinet minister or two were out in the Punjabi media pandering to Khalistanis and their sympathizers.

According to the National Post, Surrey Centre MP Randeep Sarai fired off a letter to Goodale on December 14—a day after the aforesaid meeting of the 13th— seeking the removal of any reference to Sikh extremism, something Goodale had already promised to do at the meeting.

Since then several MPs and a minister or two have publicly regretted their “mistake” in allowing the reference to “Sikh (Khalistani) extremism” in the report. In extending their regrets they chose not to separate the term “Sikh” from “Khalistani extremism”.

It was abundantly clear they were now publicly lobbying Goodale to do what in private he had told them he won’t do: excise the entire reference to “Sikh (Khalistani) Extremism” from the report.

Not to be left behind, Conservative opposition MP Garnett Genuis took to the radio casting aside all understanding of the process by which security and intelligence reports are compiled or the importance of not politicizing the work of our intelligence professionals and joined the Liberal MPs in their ongoing unseemly pandering.

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Charges laid in Guildford shots fired investigation Seven criminal charges have now been laid against two individuals in connection to the shots fired that occurred in Guildford on January 2, 2018.

At approximately 6:40 pm, Surrey RCMP Frontline officers responded to multiple 911 calls of shots being fired in the 14000 block of 115A Avenue. Three individuals were arrested that evening. One individual was released without charge while two men from Surrey have been formally charged Christopher BOUCHER, 30 years-old, has been charged with one count of Unlawfully discharging a prohibited or restricted firearm, one count of Possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm, one count of Possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm without being the holder of an authorization or license and one count of Occupying a vehicle knowing there was a prohibited or restricted firearm in the vehicle.

Jamie TIMBS, 42 years-old, has been

charged with one count of Possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm, one count of Possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm without being the holder of an authorization or license and one count of Occupying a vehicle knowing there was a prohibited or restricted firearm in the vehicle.

“Thanks to the detailed information provided by witnesses and quick response by our Frontline officers, we were able to apprehend the suspects quickly,” says Superintendent Elija Rain, Investigative Services Officer. “Members of our General Investigation Unit believe that this was a targeted incident related to a personal dispute.

We do not believe it was related to the Lower Mainland gang conflict.”

Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-5990502. If you wish to make an anonymous report please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca.

Another human foot washes up near BC coastline Another human foot appears to have washed up along the West Coast.

Detectives with the Major Crimes Unit in Everett are investigating what they’re calling the discovery of a human foot found on Jetty Island, a small man-made Island owned by the Port of Everett.

Beach goers reported the discovery on New Years Day and called 911.

Officers confirmed the finding of what appeared to be a human foot inside a boot.

Based on its conditions, the boot appears to have been in the water for some time.

Detectives are investigating but cannot establish a definitive timeline or reason for the discovery, according to a release from the City of Everett Police Department.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of the boot to determine if a human foot was inside and will attempt to establish identity.

At least 14 feet have washed up on Canadian shores since 2007 and this latest discovery makes another six feet found in Washington State.

RCMP investigate alleged ‘stranger assault’ in Newton Surrey RCMP say they are investigating an alleged “stranger assault” in Newton on Jan. 3. The female victim, police said in a news release Friday (Jan. 4), was walking along 72nd Avenue “when she was grabbed from behind and bear hugged.” The release states the incident happened near the 12500-block of 72nd Avenue around 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 3.

Help identify suspect in an assault on Jan 3 at 5:30am in 12500 blk of 72 Ave. Victim was grabbed from behind and her mouth covered. Suspect described as a male, 5’0” tall, medium build, with a beard. Have info?

Pls call us or @SolveCrime.

The victim, according to RCMP, “screamed when the suspect covered her mouth with his hand.”

“The victim bit the suspect on the hand and freed herself from the suspect’s grip and ran away,” Surrey RCMP said in the news release. Surrey RCMP said the suspect was described as about five feet tall with a beard and a medium build.

Police said the Surrey RCMP Special Victims Unit is leading the investigation into the alleged assault. Police are also asking the public if they have any information that may lead to the suspect being identified.

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The unemployment rate stayed at its 43-year low of 5.6 per cent last month as the economy closed out 2018 with the addition of 9,300 net new jobs, Statistics Canada said Friday. For the second straight month, the jobless rate was at its lowest level since Statistics Canada started measuring comparable data in January 1976. Economists had expected the addition of 5,500 jobs and an unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent, according to Thomson Reuters Eikon. But even in a tightened job market the latest labour force

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Unemployment still at 43-year low in December, but wages barely budge survey shows wage growth delivered another weak reading in December of 1.49 per cent — which is well below inflation. Year-over-year average hourly wage growth for permanent employees was 1.46 per cent in November – and it has decelerated steadily since its May peak of 3.9 per cent. Economists highlighted other less-than-stellar details from the December report. “There were a few flies in the ointment,” CIBC economist Royce Mendes wrote in a note to clients. “All

Woman grabbed in ‘bear hug’ assault in Newton Surrey RCMP is appealing to the public for tips after a woman was assaulted in the Newton area on Thursday morning. A statement said the woman, who is in her 20s, was grabbed from behind and “bear hugged” as she was walking along the 12500 block of 72 Avenue around 5:30 a.m. PT. Surrey RCMP investigate ‘apparent stabbing’ of 2 teens in strip mall parking lot

RCMP said the suspect also covered the woman’s mouth with his hand. She screamed, bit him, freed herself and ran away.

The suspect is described as a man about five feet tall with a beard and medium build.

The RCMP’s Special Victims Unit is investigating and asking anyone who has information that could lead to the suspect’s identification to come forward.

of the job creation … came from the parttime sector, with full-time job employment declining 19,0000.” Besides, net employment among salaried workers fell by 37,000 during the month, with all the gains coming from self-employment, Mendes noted. The December result follows a gain of 94,100 net jobs in November, the country’s largest monthly increase since March 2012.

In the jobs report Friday, the overall employment gain of 9,300 for December was

deemed too low by Statistics Canada to be statistically significant.

But a closer look revealed some important changes. Alberta, which has been hit hard by a drop in oil prices, saw a net decrease last month of 16,900 jobs or 0.7 per cent, compared with November, as an increase in part-time work was far outweighed by a loss of 36,200 full-time positions. For all of 2018, employment in Alberta rose 0.9 per cent as the province added 21,600 jobs.

2 charged in Surrey’s 1st shooting of the year Police believe a personal dispute and not gang warfare was at the heart of Surrey’s first shooting of 2019. Thirty-year-old Christopher Boucher and 42-year-old Jamie Timbs were both arrested Wednesday evening after shots were fired in the 14000 block of 115A Avenue. They now face a total of seven criminal charges.“Thanks to the detailed

information provided by witnesses and quick response by our frontline officers, we were able to apprehend the suspects quickly,” RCMP Supt. Elija Rain said in a press release.

“Members of our general investigation unit believe that this was a targeted incident related to a personal dispute. We do not believe it was related to the Lower Mainland gang conflict.”

Police chase suspect from Chilliwack to Langley after report of assault in vehicle Surrey RCMP arrested an assault suspect Thursday night after a chase that took them all the way from Chilliwack to Langley.

According to a police press release, the action began at about 8 p.m. PT with reports of a possible assault in progress inside a white BMW sedan. Investigators soon learned the vehicle may have been en route to Chilliwack.

2 men charged in Surrey’s 1st shooting of the year An officer with the police dog service located the car in Chilliwack and pulled up behind the vehicle, but the driver allegedly reversed and crashed into the cruiser before

fleeing the area. Officers from multiple jurisdictions followed the suspect along Highway 1 through Abbotsford and Langley before the car ran over a spike belt that had been placed on the road. The BMW finally stopped near 232 Street in Langley, where the suspect was arrested.

A passenger — the suspected assault victim — was found safe inside the car. The suspect is scheduled to appear in court Friday.

The pursuit began after Surrey RCMP received reports of an assault inside a vehicle.

Ottawa scales back underused immigrant support program after tripling budget in 2015 The federal government has scaled back an immigration program designed to help newcomers adjust to life in Canada that was used by fewer than 10 per cent of immigrants despite having its budget nearly tripled in 2015.

As of Jan. 1, Ottawa is funding just 16 organizations to deliver pre-arrival services, down from a high of 27 in 2015.

The program’s budget for the next five years is $113 million, or $22.6 million per year, down from $32 million in 2016-17.

Pre-arrival services are intended to help economic and family-class immigrants and refugees prepare for life in Canada before

they land, and can include help with skills training and professional qualifications, connections with employers and mentoring.

The changes come after an audit last year revealed problems, including ineffective promotion and low uptake. Service providers were struggling to reach clients, serving as few as 13 in a single year at a cost per client of up to nearly $28,000.

The retooled program is meant to streamline the process, with just four organizations providing orientation and core services to economic and family-class immigrants, and then referring clients to more specialized providers.

Rain and winds hit southern coast of BC A storm meteorologists are calling “particularly intense” has prompted numerous weather warnings and the partial closure of a major highway.

The Pacific frontal system barreled south Wednesday afternoon, striking the South Coast overnight. The heavy rain, and in some cases snow, is expected to continue through Thursday, easing into the night.

Conditions are expected to be so dangerous along Highway 1 that the stretch between Revelstoke and Golden was closed off for hours. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said in a statement Thursday morning that the closure was prompted by avalanche risk, and there would be no detour available until the evening. Avalanche control work was taking place in four areas along the section of highway to ensure drivers’ safety when the road is reopened, it said.

“A severe winter storm across much of the

southern Interior has brought more than 40 centimetres of snowfall to the region, with 20 or 30 more centimetres expected throughout the day and as much as 50 centimetres forecasted for Rogers Pass,” the ministry said.

Highway 1 was also closed in both directions at Kicking Horse Canyon, east of Golden, for avalanche control. It would be reopened when safe, the province said.

Part of Highway 3 was expected to be closed for part of the afternoon for the same reason. The ministry said a section at Kootenay Pass would be blocked off from 1 to 4 p.m., but a detour would be available from Nelson to Creston by Highway 3A and the Kootenay Lake Ferry.

The Coquihalla Highway remained open, but the region fell under a winter storm warning and the portion between Hope and Merritt was expected to see as much as 35 centimetres of snow by Friday morning.

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Radio-Canada parody mocking Trudeau’s India trip blasted as racist, ‘completely disrespectful’ A character playing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes a drag from a joint and is suddenly transported into a fantasy world where he is dressed in traditional Indian clothing as talking cows are knocked over by a gorilla with Donald Trump’s signature hair and red tie.

The scene mocking the prime minister’s illfated trip to India last February was part of Radio-Canada’s annual end-of-year parody show, during which the national broadcaster satirizes the year’s newsmakers. Called “Bye bye,” the show draws millions of viewers New Year’s Eve and is considered the television event of the holiday season in Quebec.

But this year the French arm of the CBC is on the defensive after a barrage of online criticism from people claiming the sketch was racist and made a mockery of Indian culture.

“This video is completely disrespectful to our cultures. Kicking down cows, ‘imitating’ our dances. Not cool,” Ina Bhowmick, the founder and director of the Montreal cultural company Bollywood Blast, commented under the video on Radio-Canada’s Facebook page.

“I’ve experienced a lot of ignorance and racism growing up,” another Facebook user, Maaha Khan, wrote. “However, I’ve never in my life been as offended as I am after watching this video. (Congratulations)

Radio-Canada for creating the most disgusting video of all time.”

The “Bye bye” sketch was taking aim at Trudeau’s trip to India last February during which he came under criticism for his frequent wearing of traditional Indian clothing. The online publication Outlook India referred to his outfits as “too Indian even for an Indian.”

Trudeau was also embarrassed during the visit after Jaspal Atwal — convicted of the 1986 attempted murder of an Indian cabinet minister on Vancouver Island in a plot organized by a Sikh separatist extremist group — was invited to two receptions.

Aside from the talking cows — the animal is considered sacred in Hinduism — critics of the sketch targeted the scene in which the Trudeau character is seated and plays a flute as gasoline-pump hoses rise from baskets on either side of him.

“Snake charming has a very ancient history, and this depiction was a mockery of them — they are traditional healers,” Bhowmick said in an interview Thursday.

She said she was “appalled” that a government-funded public broadcaster would be so careless with its depictions of Indian culture. Bhowmick added the French CBC’s response to the criticism made matters worse, and she is considering filing an official complaint.

21-year-old woman jailed for stabbing a woman to death in Vancouver apartment The young woman who stabbed a mother-of-three to death during a fight in a West End apartment has been sentenced to prison time of less than four years.

Brooklyn Amira Golar, 21, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in BC Supreme Court this summer, admitting to stabbing 34-year-old Marline Mars four times in the chest on October 13, 2017.

In reasons posted online this week, Justice Jeanne Watchuk sentenced Golar to five years and three months in prison.

With credit for 17 months already served,

the term was reduced to 46 months.

“You are a young person who committed a terrible, tragic offence, depriving someone of her life and her children of their mother,” Watchuk told Golar during sentencing.

Golar was originally charged with second-degree murder, but the court heard Mars was the instigator of a fight that began when Golar asked for a smoke.

“Ms. Golar was not the aggressor. Ms. Golar was not looking for a fight. Her simple request for a cigarette led to a tragic sequence of events,” Watchuk wrote.

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over

cigarettes

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Thirteen Canadians have been detained in China since Huawei executive’s arrest Thirteen Canadians have been detained in China since the high-profile arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver on Dec. 1, Ottawa says.

Global Affairs Canada spokesman Guillaume BÊrubÊ said in a statement to The Globe and Mail that the government is aware that 13 Canadians have been detained in China, excluding Hong Kong, since Dec. 1, 2018. Previously, only Michael Kovrig, Michael Spavor and Sarah McIver were publicly known to have been detained in China since Canada arrested Ms. Meng, chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. They were taken into custody after China promised retaliation for Ms. Meng’s arrest.

Mr. BĂŠrubĂŠ said in the statement that at least eight of the 13 have been released.

Global Affairs Canada did not disclose the identities of the other 10 Canadians.

The federal government has not linked any of the detentions with Ms. Meng’s arrest, although it has demanded the “immediate release� of Mr. Spavor and Mr. Kovrig.

Meanwhile, China’s prosecutor-general, Zhang Jun, said at a briefing in Beijing on Thursday that Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor, who are accused of endangering national security, had “without a doubt� violated the law.

Ms. McIver, who was teaching English in China when she was detained in December, is among the eight who have been released. She has returned to Canada.

Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor are still Continued on page 13

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20-year-old Nanaimo man turns himself in after gifts stolen on Christmas Day Heartless thieves have ruined christmas for a family in Nanaimo. As they lay tucked in their beds in the wee hours of Christmas morning, a couple of Grinches were ransacking their home -- taking stockings and wrapped gifts from under the tree. Nadia Stewart reports.

A 20-year-old Nanaimo man wanted in connection with a brazen Christmas Day theft has now turned himself in to police after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Nanaimo RMCP say Justin Redmond Feusse was ‘feeling the heat so much’ he turned himself in Thursday at their detachment.

20 year old Justin Feusse, wanted for Break & Enter was feeling the heat so much, he just turned himself in at our detachment. Thanks to everyone who got the word out so quickly Feusse was wanted in connection with a theft of gifts and even stockings on Christmas Day. Police say the items were stolen while a family slept in their nearby bedrooms. Resident Joseph Lanz, his wife and two sons were asleep when he heard noises from downstairs. He got up and found his fridge door ajar, cupboards ransacked and the front door open.

Their wrapped gifts under the Christmas

tree and stockings were all stolen from the home on Stonewater Drive as well as the keys to their truck. On Thursday, Nanaimo RCMP issued an arrest warrant for Feusse. He was wanted on two counts of break and enter and theft. The first count stems from a January 2017 break and enter to a home located on White Road in Cedar, a small community southeast of Nanaimo. The second count is in connection with the Christmas Day theft on Stonewater Drive. Among the stolen items were two iPhone 10s, Xbox games, clothing and gift cards. The thieves left behind a pair of men’s shoes and took Lanz’s loafers. Investigators said they believe the suspects entered through an unlocked kitchen window and left through the front door. There is no description of the second suspect. “The investigation into this incident is continuing. Investigators are also looking at other unsolved break and enters throughout Nanaimo to see if there is any connection to this individual, “ Const. Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP said in a release.

Woman, 90, dies following altercation in Kelowna care facility Mounties in Kelowna are investigating after a woman died following an altercation at a care home with another resident.

Police say the 90-yearold woman was involved in the altercation at the care facility on December 18.

The Kelowna RCMP Serious Crime Unit is investigating alongside the BC Coroners Service.

The Kelowna RCMP Serious Crime Unit is investigating alongside the BC Coroners Service.

They say she received medical treatment but died shortly after her release from hospital the next day.

The Kelowna RCMP Serious Crime Unit is investigating alongside the BC Coroners Service.

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Charity pulls 146 donation bins from across BC A non-profit organization says it will remove its clothing donation bins after a Vancouver man died in one on New Year’s Eve. Inclusion B.C. says it has 146 bins currently placed in North Vancouver Island, the Fraser Valley, Sunshine Coast, the Interior and Central B.C. and Greater Vancouver — including the one in West Vancouver where a 34-year-old man was found trapped and unresponsive and subsequently died at the scene.

Man dies after getting stuck in clothing donation bin in West Vancouver In a statement, the charity said an emergency meeting was held following the man’s death and all member agencies agreed to pull their bins and put them in secure storage until safety modifications can be made.

Member organizations include: Autism B.C., the North Shore Disabilities Resource Centre, the Sunshine Coast Association for Community Living, the Richmond Society for Community Living and Inclusion Langley.

Most donation bins are found in parking lots and along roadsides. While

the design of these bins varies, most have hatches to protect donations from pests or thieves. But a person can become trapped in the mechanism, which can be fatal.

Four people have died in Metro Vancouver clothing bins since 2015, prompting homeless advocates to call

for safer designs to protect people.

The bins are sometimes used by people who live on the streets and climb into them, trying to find shelter or looking for clothing.

Inclusion B.C. said it is working with mechanical engineering students at the University of British Columbia and the Canadian manufacturer that supplies the bins to design a new model that does not pose a safety risk.

13 Canadians have been detained in China From page 12

being held.

The 13 people include Mr. Kovrig, Mr. Spavor and Ms. McIver, said a government official who was not authorized to discuss individual cases.

At any given time, Canadians all over the world get in trouble with the law and may be arrested.

The government official said a total of about 200 Canadians are in some form of legal proceedings in China for a variety of alleged infractions, and many are out on bail or probation. The source said the number of detained Canadians

has remained relatively stable, without a marked increase or decrease in recent years.

For comparison, the source said almost 900 Canadians are detained in the United States.

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Former city manager Penny Ballem appointed to chair Vancouver Coastal Health A familiar face to Vancouver cityhall watchers will play a significant role in health care in the region.

Adrian Dix announced that former city manager Dr. Penny Ballem is the new chair of the Vancouver Coastal Health board of directors.

In its last fiscal year, the health authority had a budget of nearly $3.5 billion, which is more than double the City of Vancouver’s annual budget.

“A physician, professor, former deputy minister to health ministers under the prior Liberal government, Dr. Ballem ranks among the foremost figures in public policy and health care in B.C. and the country,” Dix said in a news release. “Other provinces and the federal government alike seek out her policy advice on key issues and initiatives.”

Vancouver Coastal Health oversees the delivery of health services not only in Vancouver but also in Richmond, on the North Shore, up the Sea to Sky corridor, along the Sunshine Coast, and in the mid-coast communities of Bella Bella and Bella Coola.

It also partners with Providence Health Care, which operates St. Paul’s Hospital, Mount Sant Joseph’s Hospital, and Holy Family Hospital, as well as other facilities.

A quarter of B.C.’s population is served by Vancouver Coastal Health.

Ballem has replaced Kip Woodward, who was paid $20,750 last year.

It’s a far cry from the $556,000 in severance she received from the City of Vancouver when council terminated

her contract as city manager in 2015.

Ballem chose not to seek severance when she quit as provincial deputy health minister in 2006.

As the city manager, Ballem took a keen interest in public health, which was reflected in the healthy city strategy.

It’s a far-reaching approach to enhance the well-being of the public by paying close attention to the determinants of health, building community connections, and promoting healthy environments.

In this region, the City of Vancouver also pioneered the promotion of cooling centres and other climate-change adaptation measures to promote public health.

Dix has also appointed former three-term Vancouver city councillor Kerry Jang to the boards of the Provincial Health Services Authority and B.C. Emergency Health Services.

Jang is a psychologist and a professor of psychiatry in the UBC medical school.

PHSA chair Tim Manning’s tenure has been extended to 2020.

The following is a list of other new directors to health authority boards: * Allan Louis and Karen Hamling to Interior Health; * Wilfred (Wilf) Adam, Patricia Sterritt, and John Kurjata to Northern Health; * Marilyn Slett to the Vancouver Coastal Health; * Sandra Harris and Donisa Bernardo to the Provincial Health Services Authority and B.C. Emergency Health Services; * Alana Nast and Fred Pattje to Island Health.* Joanne Mills and Manpreet Grewal to Fraser Health;

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ICBC gets green light for interim 6.3 per cent rate hike The Insurance Corporation of B.C. (ICBC), the province’s public auto insurer, has been approved to raise insurance rates by 6.3 per cent. The B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) has approved ICBC’s request for an interim basic insurance rate increase effective April 1, 2019.

The insurance corporation applied for the proposed rate hike in December as the B.C. government attempted to address what Attorney General David Eby described as a “financial dumpster fire� at ICBC. Eby revealed in November that ICBC was set to lose $890 million in 20182019, following a $1.3 billion net loss in 2017-18.

What’s going to cost you more — and less — in B.C. in 2019 According to ICBC, the hike means “an average increase of less than $60 for personal customers’ basic insurance coverage.�

A BCUC panel will make a final decision as to whether or not the rate hikes will become permanent.

As of April 1, all new and renewal policies will be subject to the rate hike.

According to the public insurer, the temporary approval “will lessen the depletion of ICBC’s already low basic insurance capital while the BCUC reviews the full application.�

The province has pointed the finger at the previous government for leaving the insurer in financial ruin. Since the start of the 2017 financial year, ICBC is said to have lost more than $2 billion. In January, Eby warned drastic changes would be necessary.

ICBC asks for 6.3% increase to basic insurance rates According to ICBC, injury claims costs have soared by 43 per cent in just five years, totalling roughly $3.67 billion in 2018 alone. In an attempt to stem the losses, the province has already rolled out a list of reforms including higher fines for repeat bad drivers, an independent dispute resolution system and a $5,500 limit on payouts for minor injuries.

The BCUC panel has opened the door for public consultations. People who are directly affected by the interim approval can request intervener status.

Vancouver police search for federal offender missing since New Year’s Eve Vancouver police are asking for the public’s help locating a federal offender wanted Canadawide after he failed to return to his halfwayhouse on New Year’s Eve. Police say Chad Patrick Poitras, 33, has been serving the remainder of his twoand-a-half year sentence in a Corrections Canada community residential facility in Vancouver.

He has been convicted of a number of

crimes in the past involving weapons, drugs, assaults and driving offences.

Poitras is five feet 10 inches tall and 220 pounds. He has short, reddish-brown hair and is clean shaven. He has a number of tattoos, including a scorpion on the right side of his neck.

Anyone who sees Poitras or has information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Health authority says it’s not responsible for baby Mac’s death at unregister Vancouver daycare In response to a lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court

by Baby Mac’s mother, Vancouver Coastal Health denies it was responsible for his death in any way.

Macallan Wayne Saini died on Jan. 18, 2017 at the unlicensed Olive Branch Daycare in Vancouver.

The coroner is still investigating his death but, in court documents, his mother, Shelley Sheppard, says she “understands that Mac Saini had been left unattended and had choked on an electrical cord causing his death.�

Her lawsuit, filed on Sept. 17, 2018, alleges the daycare operator and the owners of the home where the facility was run were negligent.

It also claims Baby Mac’s charter rights to life and security were violated. It says the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and the Ministry of Children and Family Development failed to protect him.

But in its response, the health authority denies any negligence on its part and says it acted in a reasonable manner.

Parents Shelley Sheppard and Chris Saini have been quoted as saying they’ve been

robbed of the chance to see their son grow. ‘We will never be able to teach Mac to ride a bike, walk him to school, or see him fall in love. All the things parents dream of.’ (Shelley Sheppard) Vancouver Coastal Health (VCHA) responded to the civil claim on Dec 6, 2018, claiming it had no knowledge that the daycare operator, Yasmine Saad, also named in the lawsuit, was operating an unlicensed child care facility at the East Vancouver address.

It also says there were no complaints involving that particular address.

However, the VCHA did receive four complaints over a seven year period about Saad, all of which involved different addresses and all related to caring for too many kids.

In those cases, the health authority claims, each complaint was dealt with appropriately.

Sheppard also claimed that as a result of the negligence on the part of the defendants, she has sustained personal injuries such as fatigue, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder which impact her enjoyment of life and have caused loss of earnings.

Woman facing 115 charges wanted by Calgary police Possession of break-in Calgary police are trying to JOTUSVNFOUT t %SJWJOH BO track down a woman who is VOJOTVSFE NPUPS WFIJDMF t facing 115 separate charges.

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PG t 1PTTFTTJPO PG B DPOUSPMMFE TVCTUBODF t Police ask anyone with information to #SFBDI PG B QSPCBUJPO PSEFS t 1PTTFTTJPO call them at 403-266-1234 or anonymously PG B XFBQPO GPS B EBOHFSPVT QVSQPTF t through Crime Stoppers online or 1-800-222-8477

Prescription drug payments eliminated for low-income BC residents B.C. government’s plan to eliminate prescription drug deductible payments for families making less than $30,000 a year takes effect this week.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said Friday the program will relieve 240,000 low-income B.C. families from paying out of pocket for prescription drugs covered by the province’s Fair Pharmacare program. The move was first announced last February, with $105 million budgeted over the next three years. “These are the first-ever changes to Fair Pharmacare deductibles and copayments since the program was created 15 years ago,� Dix said. Before this year, the program meant a B.C. household earning net income between $15,000 and $30,000 would have to pay between $300 and $600 in deductibles before Fair Pharmacare would start to provide coverage assistance, the health ministry said in a statement.

Under the new program, families with a net annual income between $30,000 and $45,000 also get reduced prescription drug costs. Information on registering for Pharmacare coverage and details of the plan are available here.

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Saturday, January 5, 2019

Nanaimo byelection to fill empty MLA seat scheduled for January 30

Premier John Horgan called a byelection for the Nanaimo MLA seat vacated by former NDP MLA Leonard Krog last year.

Byelection will be held on Wednesday, January 30, Horgan announced.

Candidate nominations will close at 1 pm on January 9 and advance voting will take place over six days from January 22 to 27.

On general election day, constituents

of the riding can cast their ballots at voting stations between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or at the Nanaimo district electoral office.

Voting by mail will also be available for anyone who requests a package from the electoral office or on Elections BC’s website.

Anyone not on the voter’s list had until midnight Wednesday, Jan. 2 to register or update their information,

8-year-old hero who saved his family from fire gets bravery award

8-year-old RJ Pena with his motherAbigail Aquino.

RJ Pena can hardly sit still. He bounces on the couch of the family’s temporary rental home. Then he’s quiet as his eyes rest on a subtitled TV drama on in the background.

He playfully boxes with his grandfather.

Then he shows off his backflips on the bed in the next room and his hip-hop moves in the living room. At one point he stops to tenderly hug his great grandmother.

The typical energy and attention span of an eight-year-old boy.

But something happened this past year, when RJ was just seven, that put the Grade 3 St. Mary’s Elementary student into a class of his own. On a Saturday afternoon last June, he quickly and calmly jumped into action when an emergency happened while he was at home with his great grandparents at the family’s East Vancouver home, shared by four generations. “I was playing with my games and I heard the smoke alarm and I smelled smoke,” said RJ. “I went downstairs to go check out what it was.” He ran back upstairs to tell Felicisima Aquino, 89, and Luis Aquino, 98, that there was a fire in the home the Aquino family have lived in for decades. He told them they’d have to get out of the house fast. Great grandfather Luis Aquino and great grandmother Felicisma Aquino sit beside RJ Pena, who is credited with helping save them from a fire. “But she didn’t believe me and she also had to go downstairs and check,” he said.

RJ helped her out of the house and on the way out grabbed the cordless landline from the charger to call 911. But “He (Luis) was still inside the house and he was yelling,” said RJ. A neighbour, Landon Thatcher, immediately ran into the house that was filled with black smoke and rescued the Second World War vet, who immigrated from the Philippines decades earlier.

Everyone got out safely, but the family’s home was destroyed by the fire (caused by faulty wiring, the fire department later determined). But if not for RJ’s cool head, the day could have ended tragically. “This is the hero,” said his grandfather, Jesus Aquino.

RJ and Thatcher were honoured with citizen commendations for their “courageous” actions from Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services in a ceremony in late October, with his entire class, teacher and school principal in attendance. RJ was the youngest recipient of a commendation from the fire department, which included a certificate, a medal and a face-to-face with outgoing mayor Gregor Robertson. ”It’s incredible he had the concentration and the clarity to do what he did while the house was on fire,” said VFRS Capt. Jonathan Gormick. ”I saw the video of the fire,” he said. “Not a lot of adults would be able to do what he did

according to Elections BC. After midnight, eligible voterscan only register in person at voting stations.

The seat was vacated by Krog after he successfully ran for mayor of Nanaimo in municipal elections last October.

The NDP, Liberals, Greens and Conservatives have all indicated they’ll be vying for the seat.

15

Federal NDP MP Sheila Malcolmson is running for the provincial New Democrats, local businessman Tony Harris has been declared as the BC Liberals’ candidate and retired teacher Michele Ney will run under the BC Green Party banner.

The BC Conservative Party will also run an as-of-yet undisclosed candidate.

16

Saturday, January 5, 2019

BC’s first baby of 2019 born at Royal Columbian Hospital

Members of the Management Committee of India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, No 5 Road in Richmond with Steven Purewal of Indus Media Canada at the inauguration of the Exhibition about the contribution of Punjabi Sikh soldiers to World War 1 . A large number of visitors, including youth, enjoyed a tour of the Exhibition from December 28 to January 2.

British Columbia welcomes its first into labour at 8 a.m. on Dec. 31. But baby of the year 2019 he didn’t wait as time went on doctors decided the best way to deliver the baby was long to ring in the new year. Baby Dominik was born to parents Janet through C-section. Dominik is the Shimizu and Lukasz Soswa at Royal couple’s first child. Shimizu’s due date was set for January 1.

Columbian Hospital at 12:01am Eight-pound, three-ounce weight “When labour started at eight I baby boy arrived after a full day of BC’s new born baby was sure it was going to be the 31st,” she said. The couple was surprised labour and an unplanned caesarean Dominik Soswa section. “He’s amazing. He is actually to find out they welcomed the quite quiet. He is already feeding really well,” first baby of the year. Shimizu’s brother and Shimizu said. “I feel great. From the time we sister-in-law were the first two visitors with got here until now everyone has been so lovely. grandparents planning to visit later on New I would do it again tomorrow.” Shimizu went Year’s Day.

Tuning grief into helping the needy There are very few people in the world who, through their courage and determination, channel their grief to help others. Dina Basi is one such person who is also great role model for others. She is the founder of Hannah and Amelia’s Angels Foundation. This Foundation is a registered charity in Canada that helps fund free education to children living in the slums in an area of West Delhi in India. This Foundation was created by Dina in the memory of her two daughters –Hannah and Amelia. Both of them were born still two years apart. Dina Basi made it her mission to keep Hannah and Amelia’s memory alive by helping other children in need. To this day, this Foundation has raised close to $118,000 to fund projects locally and overseas. Not only that, Dina also accepted another challenge. Every year, on Hannah and Amelia’s birthdays (May 3 and June15 respectively) she makes sandwiches and heads downtown to feed the homeless people living on the streets in on one of Canada’s poorest neighbourhood. This tireless, courageous and compassionate individual keeps on taking more and more. This past June she asked couple of her close friends to help her make 200 sandwiches to donate to Door is Open project operating in Downtown East area. In order to plant a seed for community service in the minds of her nephews and nieces, Dina got them involved in this process. This was the beginning of making meals for the needy at a much larger scale. By that time, Christmas was just around the corner. Dina set her goal of making 1,000 meals for those in need.

Though Christmas is a time to celebrate yet it can be especially hard on people who may have lost their loved ones. Dina’s friend Danny had tragically lost his 17 year old son Jaylen.

When she approached Danny with this idea he was more than pleased to collaborate with

her. They set a goal of making and serving 1,000 meals to the needy. This collaboration set the stage for 400 meals for the needy in ten locations of Lookout Shelter in Surrey and New Westminster. This still left making and serving 600 meals to the needy, homeless and hungry people as Dina’s gift to them for Christmas.

This is where the Carnegie Community Centre stepped in to assist and suggested homeless people of nearby Oppenheimer Park in down town Vancouver. Having lined up the potential recipients for meals and clothing, Dina went to work to collect donations of clothing, food and other items that could be handed out to the needy around Christmas time. India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas in Richmond was pleased to let Dina use its facilities to cook food. Thus, on December 22, she had more than 100 volunteers –children, parents, grandparents, relatives and friendscome out to the Gurdwara and help create magic. Dina states that she was very impressed with the spirit of giving and helping by so many people and organizations. After the prepping, cooking and packing of meals at the #5 Road Gurdwara Dina’s group also collected clothing items and toiletries for the shelters in Surrey and Downtown East They rented a U-Haul van to transport items. The recipients of food, clothing and other items were thrilled at the generosity of donors, volunteers and wonderful organizers like Dina and Danny. Afterwards, Dina stated that God’s work is flawless. She pledged to continue this noble task. In addition to that, Dina stated that her Foundation has a fundraiser every year to help raise money to provide free education to the children living in poverty in India. It is her Foundation’s hope that that it can lead the children from a life of poverty to a life of stability and opportunity.

She remarked “I feel proud to be Hannah and

Volunteers preparing food at Gurdwara Nanak Niwas at No 5 Road in Richmond for needy and homeless

Amelia’s mother. It is because of them and their short presence in my life I have been given this opportunity to do so much for others.”

We need more dedicated and compassionate people like Dina Basi who is a great credit not

only to the South Asian community but also to the community –at-large. Keep up the good work, Dina!

Balwant Sanghera

New laws & rules coming into effect in 2019 The new year will usher in a host of new laws and rules that Canadians should be aware of, including changes to parental leave benefits and the sale of edible cannabis products. On the provincial level, 2019 will see new rules regarding distracted driving penalties, rent increases, and workplace sexual harassment.

The implementation of a federally imposed carbon tax on provinces that have failed to come up with their own plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could become a reality pending legal challenges to the plan

by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs.

Here are the highlights you need to know: Distracted driving penalities: First conviction upto $1,000 fine, 3 demerit points, 3 day drivers licence suspension.

2nd conviction upto $2,000 fine, 6 demerit points, 7 day drivers licence suspension.

3rd conviction upto $3,000 fine, 6 demerit points, 30 day drivers licence suspension.

Cut in rent increases: The provincial government announced fall that it will cut the annual allowable rent increase in BC by 2% and limit it to inflation. That means the annual rent increase will be limited to 2.5%, starting January 1, 2019. The move aims to “strike a balance between giving relief to renters while encouraging people to maintain their rental properties.” Extended parental leave,‘use-it-or-lose-it’ Last fall, the federal government accelerated the timeline on a new parental sharing benefit that seeks to encourage parents to more equally share the responsibility of raising children. The new measure will provide an additional five weeks of Employment Insurance parental benefits when both parents agree to share them to take time off work.

Sale of edible cannabis products: The production & sale of edible cannabis, extracts, and cannabis topicals will be legal in Canada not later than October17, 2019. The draft regulations propose restricting the use of ingredients that would increase their appeal to young people, increase the risk of foodborne illnesses, and increase the likelihood of accidental or over-consumption. It also suggests placing a cap on the amount of THC in a single product.

Food safety regulations: The federal government will begin enacting consolidated food safety regulations, some of which come into force on January 15, 2019.

In a news release, the government said the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations will ensure that “food on grocery shelves is safer to eat, whether it is produced in Canada or abroad.”

Workplace violence & harassment: On April 9, 2019, regulatory changes to address violence and harassment in the workplace will come into effect in New Brunswick. Under the new regulations, harassment and violence, including sexual violence and harassment, will be defined as workplace hazards that affect employees’ health and safety.

Why Katrina is out of a Dance film?

Here’s something more intriguing and interesting now that Katrina Kaif is out of Remo D’Souza’s dance film produced by Bhushan Kumar.

While rumors are about Shraddha Kapoor being signed opposite Varun Dhawan making the rounds for Remo D’Souza’s de film produced by Bhushan Kumar.

The news seems to be that three A-listers are being considered. Kapoor’s rumor comes attached with another one – that the film in question is “ABCD 3” as it has D’Souza, Dhawan and ‘now’ Kapoor!

And while common producer Kumar reveals that her dates were clashing with the modified schedules of “Bharat,” there is an interesting twist; a blind item in a Mumbai tabloid a month ago left no doubt that Kaif and the film were being spoken about and that she was unhappy with her role in that film or / and the script.

This item appeared before the release of “Zero,” Kaif ’s second disaster this year

right. Obviously, her roles in both disasters were abbreviated as well and were not what heroines’ roles are made up of. No harm in taking precautions, is there?

Film ‘Zero’ received mostly mixed reviews from critics, but Kat’s portrayal of an alcoholic superstar Babita Kumari won her nearly unanimous praise.

after “Thugs of Hindostan.” But with her sense of script that held her in good stead in the first 12 years of her career, Kaif must have sensed things were not

Some meida reports stated that Kaif “delivers what could be considered her most authentic performance,” Film companion summed up her performance in film Zero by stating: “Katrina Kaif is the best thing about Zero.”

As of December 2018, Katrina begins filming opposite Salman Khan.

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Saturday, January 5, 2018

Kader Khan - an actor par excellence

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

Kader Khan an actor par excellence, comedian, screenwriter, and director. Kader Khan was born on 22 October 1937 in Afghanistan. As an actor, he appeared in more than 300 films after his debut in 1973’s film ‘Daag’, starring Rajesh Khanna, in which he played as an attorney.

Kader Khan was also a prolific screenwriter for films in the period of 1970s to 1999 and he wrote dialogues for more than 200 films. Kader Khan graduated from Bombay University’s affiliated college. Before entering into film industry in the early 1970s, he started his career as teacher in College of Engineering, Mumbai.

Kader Khan was born in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1937. His father Abdul Rahman Khan from Kandahar while his mother was from Pishin, near Quetta, Pakistan. Kader Khan had three brothers Shams ur Rehman, Fazal Rehman and Habib ur Rehman. He is an ethnic Pashtun of Kakkar tribe. Khan was raised in Kamathipura neighbourhood of Mumbai. He enrolled in a local municipal school and later in the Ismail Yusuf Collegeafter from which he obtained a Master’s Degree in Engineering (MIE) from the Institution of Engineers (India) specializing in Civil engineering.

While performing in play named ‘Taash Ke Patey’, he was noted by comedian Agha who then suggested actor Dilip Kumar to see his play. Dilip Kumar was impressed by his performance and signed him up for his next film ‘Sagina’ and ‘Bairaag’. During an interview ‘, Kader Khan recalled this as the incident that started his film career.’

He used to write plays and dialogues for theatres and was subsequently offered to write the script for a film called ‘Jawani Diwani’ which started his career as script writer.

Khan acted in over 300 films and has written dialogues for over 200 Indian films,

from the 1970s up to the turn of the 21st century. Manmohan Desai hired him for writing dialogues for e film ‘Roti’ in 1974.

His most famous acting career was working with Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra, Feroz Khan, Anil Kapoor, Govinda and so on so forth. He also worked with other comedians like Asrani, Shakti Kapoor, Johnny Lever. He has costarred with Amrish Puri, Prem Chopra, Anupam Kher in many films. Kader Khan played a large variety of parts in different genre of films like comedy, action, romance, family, social and political. Kader Khan made his debut with film Daag, starring Rajesh Khanna, wherein Kader Khan played as supporting actor an advocate. He subsequently played supporting roles in ‘Dil Diwana’, ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’ and ‘Mr. Natwarlal’.

As dialogue writer film Roti and thereafter Kader Khan also wrote dialogues for films like ‘Mahachor’, ‘Chailla’ ‘Babu’, ‘Dharam Kanta’, ‘Fifty Fifty’, ‘Naya Kadam’, ‘Masterji’ and ‘Nasihat’, all were hit films at box office.

Other successful films for which he as screenwritter & dialogues ‘Himmatwala’, ‘Jaani Dost’, ‘Sarfarosh’, ‘Justice Chaudhury’, ‘Farz Aur Kanoon’, ‘Jeo Aur Jeene Do’, ‘Tohfa’, ‘Qaidi’, ‘Haisiyat’ and many more.

As a screenwriter, Kader Khan has worked with Manmohan Desai and Prakash Mehra for their films starring Amitabh Bachchan.

Besides Amitabh, he was the only one to work in camps of Mehra and Desai. His films with Desai include ‘Dharam Veer’, ‘GangaaJamunaa’ ‘Saraswati’, ‘Coolie’, ‘Desh’ ‘Premee’, ‘Suhaag’, ‘Parvarish’ and ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ and films with Prakash Mehra including ‘Jwalamukhi’, ‘Sharaabi’, ‘Lawaaris’, ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’.

At the age of 81, Kader Khan died on December 31, 2018.

Saturday, January 5, 2018

HOROSCOPE

Sara looks ahead of her second film ‘Simmba’ She was called, even before her debut film as a complete star package. After the release of “Kedarnath� early this month, Sara Ali Khan has been termed the “next superstar.�

There were mixed reviews about the film, and candidly speaking, mixed reports of even its success or otherwise. But not one soul doubted that Sara was good, and that she was a super-hit!

The grounded Sara insists on a perception of her own stardom that is different, yet real, honest and relatable, when we meet up again, within three weeks, on the eve of the release of “Simmba.�

Here is honesty, Sara Ali Khan style, in her own words: “My reaction to ‘Kedarnath,’ on a personal level, honestly, is based on the fact that I wanted to see myself on screen, though I know my parents, family, the industry, the media, and audiences are all very important.

And that is because if you are not convinced about yourself, you can try till the cows come home and you will not make others believe in you! “And now, after all the appreciation, besides the confidence it has given me, I think I feel a sense of duty if that’s the word.

I know now what it takes to make you like me, so I have this duty to make you all like me throughout my life!

“I am celebrating the success of the film and my acceptance with these interviews! There is nothing more beautiful than celebrating with the media and the people who have showered so much love on me, is there? For the last three weeks, it’s been interviews all the while on either ‘Kedarnath’ or ‘Simmba,’ I even went incognito to watch my first film, wearing a burqa, with mom (Amrita Singh) both to a multiplex and a single-screen, and I had the pleasure of watching people in the audience cry during the climax, and I was like ‘Yeah!

Rote raho (Keep crying)!’ If you are moved, it means that our film has connected! “Yes, after every shot I feel I could have done something more, so Ranveer and Sushant kept telling me, ‘Yeah, you could have, that’s a normal feeling at pack-up, it is okay, and it will never stop. It’s a new day, just move on!’ The only satisfaction was that I was listening to the director. “The media keeps asking me what my parents thought of me. So I will say (a) they will not tell me I am bad and they are going to like me no matter what, and (b) if they do tell me I am bad, I am NOT going to tell you, am I? But let me tell you that mom cried and that dad, speaking more as a father than an actor, told the media

‘Has he even bothered to call us after my father’s passing away?’ Kader Khan’s son slams Govinda Actor Kader Khan’s death left entire nation in grief. Soon, condolences started pouring in from all corners of Bollywood film industry with many celebs fondly recollecting their association with Kader Khan.

However, Kader Khan’s son Sarfaraz’s complaint spills through when he speaks about how his father was neglected by the film industry after he migrated to Canada. He spoke about the double standards in Bollywood and even reacted sharply to Govinda’s ‘father-figure’ comment-He said, “It is the way the Indian film industry has become now.

There are too many fragmented camps and loyalties. The out-of-sight-out-of-mind mentality can’t be helped.

“My father always told us, not to expect anything from anybody and we grew up with the belief that one must do what is required in life and expect nothing in return.�

On Kader Khan’s demise, comedian Govinda who worked with him on many super-hit films took to Instagram and wrote, “RIP Kader Khan Saab. He was not just my teacher “ustaad� but a father figure to me, his midas touch and his aura made every actor he worked with a superstar. The entire film industry and my family deeply mourns this loss and we cannot express the sorrow in words. I pray to God that may his soul rest in peace�.

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Bollywood

Aries March 21 - April 20 eisty Mars moves into your sign on New Year’s Eve, just in time to welcome 2019. This surge of energy could see you enjoying the celebrations and ready to hit the ground running the following day when the new year begins.

However, you could have a reality check on January 1 as the sun merges with cautious Saturn in your sector of goals and responsibilities.

Your holiday may come to a swift end as more important matters cry out for attention.

Taurus April 21 - May 20 Your psychological and spiritual sector could be stirred up on Monday as dynamic Mars enters this sector for a six-week stay.

Its presence here can bring to the surface any issues that are ready to be resolved and

chance to do some emotional housecleaning.

You’ll be ready to welcome new opportunities when lively Mars moves into your sign in February.

Gemini May 20 - June 21 As 2018 passes into memory and 2019 begins, lively Mars moves into your social sector bringing opportunities for a fun and riotous New Year’s Eve. This dynamic energy could see you being proactive when it comes to mingling and meeting new people.

However, as the new year begins, you could become aware of situations that need attention so you can be free to move ahead and embrace other options. This week can underscore your instincts in this regard.

Cancer June 22 - July 23 Regarding your ambitions, things may have been ticking along much as usual for some while now. However, this will all change this week. With courageous Mars moving into Aries and your sector of career and responsibility on Monday, you’ll feel renewed enthusiasm to accomplish important goals. And at the end of this week, electric Uranus, which has been rewinding for some months, turns direct. This, too, can herald a time of change and fresh opportunities.

Libra Sept. 24 - Oct 22 You could become more proactive concerning your relationships as lively Mars enters this zone on Monday for a six ! " social life and give it extra sparkle. It can also encourage you to be more open and honest with certain people. If you’ve tended to compromise, you may no longer feel like #

the spotlight. You could have a decision to make as early as Tuesday.

Scorpio

Oct 23 - Nov 22 You could start thinking about your wellness goals for the new year as soon as 2019 gets underway. With dynamic Mars, your co-ruler, entering your sector of lifestyle and well-being on Monday, you might be aware that something needs to change. You could be very enthusiastic about ditching old habits and embracing more life-enhancing ones. At the same time, you might be eager to increase your business by marketing your goods and services.

The days ahead could see you planning a strategy

Sagitarius Nov 23 - Dec 22 You’ll be ready for adventure and new opportunities on Monday as energetic Mars powers into Aries and your leisure zone. As it will remain here for six weeks, it can "" excess pounds gained over the holidays. Whether you enjoy competitive sports, hiking, or some other vigorous activity, you’ll feel much better for staying active. The cosmos also encourages you $ % around, the sun in your money zone engages with sobering Saturn. this is chance to reset your budget and get back on track.

Capricorn Dec 23 - Jan 20

If you’ve been thinking about making changes at home for some while, the presence of dynamic Mars in this zone as of Monday could help make them a reality. With upbeat Mars in your domestic sector, the coming weeks can be your opportunity to get rid of clutter and reclaim some space. And if there are pressing family issues that need to be dealt with, you’ll be likelier to get them out of the way, too.

Aquarius Jan 21 - Feb 19

Leo June 24 - August 23 Feisty Mars moves into your sector of travel, exploration, and far horizons on Monday, ending 2018 on a dynamic note. As it will be here for a six-week stay, you might decide to

to a cracking start.

However, Tuesday could be more sobering as the sun in your sector of work and service merges with prudent Saturn.

New Year’s Eve stands out as feisty Mars moves into your sector of communication, making this a lively and sociable way to welcome in 2019. And you could be a lot more proactive in the six weeks that Mars journeys through this zone. It’s a great time to network, study, and market your goods and services.

And if you have a product, blog, or website to launch, this can be a great time to go ahead.

There is also a powerful focus on your spiritual and psychological sector.

Pisces Virgo Your sector of shared assets, business, and transformation gets stirred up on Monday as

six weeks, there will be plenty of opportunities to act on those issues that have needed attention for some time. Dynamic Mars is like a broom that sweeps clean. Anything that no longer serves your best interests might be best swept away and replaced with something more conducive to your plans.

Feb 20 - March 20

& and done nothing about it, this can all change starting this week. With feisty Mars moving into your money zone on Monday, you could experience buyer’s remorse regarding the amount you spent over the holidays.

Don’t feel guilty, but do take responsibility for improving on and taking control of this area of your life.

20

Saturday, January 5, 2018

Akshaye Khanna on Working with ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ He is a shade bored of questions like why we get to see him very rarely on screen. Akshaye Khanna has never been in the rat-race, and his recent appearances (“Dishoom,” “Mom” and “Ittefaq”) have been few and far between. His latest release

“The Accidental Prime Minister” sees him play his first real-life person, Sanjaya Baru, author, political commentator and ex-editor of “The Financial Express.” For the film is a slice-of-life reflection of what happened to exPrime Minister Manmohan Singh in the last

four years of his career as a Prime Minister.

Khanna insists he is a content man and also happy with the fact that so many of his films may not have big hits (or even successful) but are favorites on television even now, like his 2008 flop “Mere Baap

Pahele Aap” apart from hits like “Hungama” and others. He also drops the big truth that he has managed, in the last 22 years, to share screen space with greats like his father Vinod Khanna, Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini, Amitabh Bachchan, Kader Khan, Amrish Puri and Sridevi (“Who can be bigger than her?”).

Saturday, January 5, 2018

For more Updates, Visit our Website

www.theasianstar.com

Bollywood

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Bollywood

Saturday, January 5, 2018

‘I Feel Blessed That the Audience Loves Me!’ Rohit He began his career 15 years ago, but has become a brand since the first “Golmaal: Unlimited” in 2006. With a fantastic success ratio and array of successes, and mostly hits, super-hits and blockbusters, Rohit Shetty, son of the late and iconic actor-fight coordinator Shetty, has become an iconic filmmaker himself.

Even more vitally, Shetty is a brand but unlike any other. He has mastered three genres as a director – comedies, action dramas and action comedies as his forte, and remains one of our most grounded human beings. As his artistes Ranveer

Singh and Sara Ali Khan have pointed out, he has virtually the same team of associates for over a decade, and from the biggest star to the smallest laborer, they would all do anything for him.

“I feel blessed and lucky!” he smiles. “The audience loves me, looks forward to a film from me, actors want to work with me, and they all say that I am a brand – all this happens rarely with a director. So I don’t take all this for granted, and I can only repay

this with honesty and hard work. I always tell my team that if on the release Friday we can look into each other’s eyes and agree that we have given our 100 percent, then it’s great. Hits and flops are not an issue. And I am making cinema for a family audience to enjoy, I am not making great cinema like ‘Mother India,’” he told India-West.

“A filmmaker should know himself. But it is sad that so many people look down on commercial cinema, which is the most difficult to make. Anyone can shoot a great scene inside a room, but try doing a scene on a main street with 2000 people!”

We agree.

Interview: Q: We all know that your film “Simmba” is inspired by the Telugu film “Temper.”

A: Yes, I have maintained the core of NTR Junior’s character as I found it very interesting. We wove a different script around this negative but lovable cop and we bought the rights before I shot “Golmaal Again.”

Q: We heard around late 2016 that you were making a film with Ranveer Singh, then it turned out it was an ad for Ching’s Noodles. So when did this film take off ?

A: We had already decided to work together when we shot that ad. But he was busy with “Padmaavat” and I was busy with “Golmaal Again.”

Q: Why have you used the name “Simmba?”

A: In the film, Simmba belongs to the same world as Singham. Singham means a lion and a lion’s cub is called Simmba.

That is why Ajay Devgn is there in the film. Without Singham, this film would not be possible.

Singham is straight, Simmba is not. Making another cop film of the same kind would have been boring, not only for the audience but also for me.

Q: Why Ranveer and why Sara?

A: I wanted Ranveer for the role. The film is a typical entertainer of my kind for the first 45 minutes and then takes a turn for the serious.

Once it does, it maintains the graph. Ranveer was ideal, and let me tell you that with his high energy, he has exceeded our expectations by miles, by leagues, a thousand times. He is versatile, hardworking, a terrific actor, and most important, a very good human being, who would even hang around having fun with my ADs (assistant directors). If a good actor is not a good human being, problem ho jaata hai!

As for Sara, she sent message after message to take her in “Simmba.” Then Gattu (Abhishek Kapoor, Sara’s first director) called up and told me to take her if I had a suitable role and told me to watch some rushes of “Kedarnath.”

Saturday, January 5, 2018

Bollywood

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‘We Want to Set a New Benchmark in the Masala Genre with ‘Simmba’’ Ranveer Singh He’s set to be a corrupt cop, distinctive from the likes of the “Shahenshah,� “Ram Lakhan� or “Dabangg� protagonists. It is

“Simmba� reminds us of any other cop,

Devgn in a cameo in that role), they will have failed. The onus, he says, is on him,

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24

Vol. 9 No. 49

Saturday, January 5, 2018

Saturday - January 5, 2019

According to a lot of analysis when the Canadian housing boom was at a peak, people were so anxious to get into the market that any fall in prices couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t last long. Buyers and young people especially, were eager to get into the market, but high property value and prices prevented them. The implication was that with not enough homes to go around, every time prices fell, house-hungry buyers would step in, preventing a further slide in value.

Tel: 604-591-5423

E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com

House price slump makes buyers wary for 2019 According to a simple supply-and-demand point of view, the analysis seemed reasonable.

While the latest real estate data showed average house prices down in Canada as a whole, Montreal was one of the places that bucked the trend.

But in the real world, markets are seldom so simple. And while no one ever knows for sure what markets will do next, the last three months of data from the Canadian Real Estate Association have not

borne out that simple analysis.

Canadian home sales will fall to 9-year low next year, CREA forecasts With the notable exception of some places, including Quebec, the prices and sales of resale homes are down.

And the CREA is predicting that for the whole year â&#x20AC;&#x201D; December numbers wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be compiled till the middle of January â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that will continue. â&#x20AC;&#x153;National home sales are projected to post a double-digit decline in 2018, falling

Real estate, housing market expected to remain cool in 2019 Housing market watchers say 2019 could be the year to buy a house or condo for less in BC, thanks to increased supply and regulatory measures that have combined to suppress home sales.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver reported a nearly 43 per cent decrease in sales of condos, townhouse and detached homes in November, compared to the same month a year before.

BC housing market entering â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mild recession,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; forecast says It says the benchmark price â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the average price for a typical home â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is $1.5 million for a detached house, $818,500 for a townhouse and $667,800 for a condo.

Those prices are between four and seven per cent lower than they were six months ago, according to the board. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My guess is 2019 will not be a banner year for sales in Greater Vancouver and I expect further price declines,â&#x20AC;? said Tom Davidoff, an associate professor at UBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sauder School of Business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But I also have a lot of uncertainty around

that because a lot can happen in the market.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Homebuyers have been taking a waitand-see approach for most of 2018,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; said Phil Moore, president of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This has allowed the number of homes available for sale in the region to return to more typical historical levels.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Some economists point to more stringent mortgage qualifying

to the lowest level in five years despite supportive population and job growth,â&#x20AC;? said the associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest release yesterday.

Nationally, sales are expected to be down 11 per cent and the average price of a house down about four per cent from last year.

Of course, in a complicated and diverse market such as real estate, averages donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell the whole story. In more than half of Canadian provinces housing prices are still rising, and the sharp 2.6 per cent decline requirements and higher interest rates as some of the driving forces behind the downward turn.

Canadian home sales will fall to 9-year low next year, CREA forecasts Four regulatory taxes, meant to make housing more affordable, are also having an impact, he said.

First of all the province increased its foreign buyers tax, which was introduced in 2016, from 15 per cent to 20 per cent. It also expanded the tax to include Nanaimo, Victoria, the Fraser Valley and the Central Okanagan.

After its first year in place, an empty homes tax has created $38 million in total revenue for the City of Vancouver. The program is meant to return empty or underutilized properties to the rental market while revenue generated by the tax is required to be used for affordable housing projects.

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25

Saturday, January 5, 2018

Detached home values likely to drop in next property assessment

The real estate market in most parts of Metro Vancouver has softened over the last year and homeowners will see those changes reflected in their property assessments next spring. Outside Metro Vancouver, it’s a different picture. Home owners in the rest of the province can expect increases of five to 15 per cent for assessed values of single-family homes.

And in parts of central and northern Vancouver Island, and Kitimat, home values are at least 20 per cent higher than last year.

B.C. Assessment has released a preview of its figures for 2019, which will be sent to property owners in early January.

Metro Vancouver home sales and prices down to more ‘historical’ levels, says real estate board

“It’s a real mix in property value changes, but the market can best be summed up as showing signs of stability across most areas of the province,” said property assessor Tina Ireland. “Changes in property assessments

really depend on where you live. For example, assessed values for detached single family homes in many areas of Metro Vancouver may see a softening in value, while other

markets and areas of the province will see modest increases over last year’s values.”

Of note this year, B.C. Assessment says it observed a five to 10 per cent drop in prices of single-family detached homes in Vancouver, the North Shore, South Surrey, White Rock, South Delta and Richmond.

Other Metro Vancouver municipalities showed stable values or modest increases, according to the independent assessment authority. In general, the rest of the province could expect increases of five to 15 per cent for assessed values of single-family homes.

The exceptions were in parts of central and northern Vancouver Island, and Kitimat, which were valued at least 20 per cent higher this year. Climbing property assessments trigger warning letters to 90,000 B.C. homeowners

Real estate industry poised for a tech disruption in 2019 Real estate agent Shawn Zigelstein remembers a time, just a few years ago, when a printer, scanner and fax machine were the most important tools of his trade.

“I don’t even know the last time I sent a fax, to be honest with you,” laughs Zigelstein, a sales rep with a Royal LePage brokerage in Richmond Hill, Ont. “Oh the dilemmas we used to have were unbelievable. Now our clients can open their phone up, push a few buttons and the [offer] papers are signed.”

Zigelstein says the adoption of technology

in real estate has grown exponentially over the past few years and it’s a trend he thinks will only grow as more options become available and realtors scramble to lure in the millennial market.

The agents that are not adapting to this change are going to see their business drop considerably because they can’t adapt fast enough.

“The agents that are not adapting to this change are going to see their business drop considerably because they can’t adapt fast enough,” he said.

Real estate market expected to mederate over next 2 years

From smartphone apps like Loom, which allows realtors to remotely share screens and presentation slides with clients, to digital signatures that can be verified with phones and tablets, technology is shaping a new way for realtors to do business.

Historically, the real estate industry has been a “laggard” when it comes to embracing technology, says Frank Magliocco, a partner at PwC Canada who specializes in the housing market.

“But I think what you’re going to see now is a fairly significant ramp up in embracing that technology once it becomes more mainstream,” he said.

“It’ll be increasingly important to remain and be competitive in the marketplace. Once

#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the country’s real estate market is expected to moderate over the next two years as the growth in housing prices is expected to slow to more in line with economic fundamentals.In its 2018 housing market outlook released today, the national housing agency projects housing starts and sales are both expected to decline

in 2019 and 2020.It predicts housing starts for single and multi-unit starts will fall to between 193,700 and 204,500 in 2019, while sales are anticipated to be between 478,400 and 497,400 units. Prices are anticipated to range between $501,400 and $521,600.

CMHC says it expects economic indicators

you see these technologies prove out, you’ll see more and more adoption.”

26

Classifieds / Jobs Change Of Name

I,Nandani Mudaliar presently residing at 9990 124 A Street Surrey BC V3V 4W5 changed my name from Nandani Mudaliar to Nandani Nand &

( +

Saturday, January 5, 2018

Matrimonial Permanent Resident Ramgarhia Sikh Born In 1975 Is Looking For A Suitable Wife. Girl Should Be From A Good And Respectable

Family Presently In Canada. Leave Message At 604 377 2890

27

Saturday, January 5, 2018 South Asian Seniors - Bingo On The House December 30th 2018 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and nonmembers also to come and play Bingo for the sake of entertainment and make some new friends, on December 30th 2018( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall 8321 - 140th street Surrey B.C. Please bring only two dollars with you to play 2 games, do not worry if you do not know how to play, members will explain you the game just for the sake of fun. Tea & light snacks will be served after the game is over.

Project funded by Government of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Horizons for Seniors Program for Hindi speaking seniors. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further information.

South Asian Seniors - Antakshari Hindi Songs Competition Sunday, 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Center of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults, Senior members & nonmembers also to join us for Antakshari Songs Competition with Hindi songs on Sunday from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. The participants will be divided in to two groups, could be male members against female members or combined both.

The game is of ending words of the song sung by the last singer, to be continued by the song by the next singer of the opposite group, if one group fails to sing for the last word of the song then the opponent can sing the song and the group who failed to sing is eliminated, No song is repeated in the game by both groups.

Tea & snacks will be served to all participants after the game is over. Project funded by Government of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Horizons for Seniors Program for Hindi speaking seniors.

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

For more Updates, Visit our Website

Contact Brent or Wayne

604-377-5429 Email: fraservalleygolf@shaw.ca Video link: www.cotala.com/28804

www.theasianstar.com

28

Saturday, January 5, 2018

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Saturday, January 5, 2019

DREAM CARPET

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LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Gas tax to increase 1.5 cents in Metro Vancouver to pay for transit Drivers in Metro Vancouver are facing higher fuel taxes next year in an effort to fund a $7.3-billion transit plan across the region.

Municipal Affairs Minister Selina Robinson says in a statement the province will bring in legislation that allows the regional transit authority to increase the motor fuel tax by up to 1.5 cents per litre next spring.

Metro Vancouver drivers currently pay 33.28 cents per litre for Translink, provincial and carbon taxes.

Robinson says increasing the levy isn’t anyone’s first choice and if mayors in the region can identify other sources of funding for the second phase of the 10-year transit plan, they may choose not to raise the tax.

It’s estimated that the increase would bring in about $30 million annually.

Phase two of the transit plan includes building the Broadway SkyTrain line in Vancouver, a light rail transit line in Surrey and expanding bus service throughout the region.

The province has already agreed to fund 40 per cent of the plan, while the federal government has committed money through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.

Translink is increasing fares two per cent by 2020 to help cover the costs and the transit authority estimates increased ridership will bring in an additional $1.6 billion.

The region’s municipalities have also signed on to hikes in parking taxes, property taxes and development costs in order to fund the plan.

But a gap in funding remained, and Robinson said the province has been speaking with the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation since March about how to fill the shortfall.

What’s going to cost you more & less in 2019 Welcome to the new year 2019 — one that’s going to be more expensive on several fronts.

Here is a run down of some of the things that are going to cost you more,and some that will cost less.

Food prices: The price of food could increase by up to 3.5 per cent according to Canada’s Food Price Report, an independent analysis produced by university researchers. The annual food expenditure for the average Canadian family of four is expected to increase by $411 in 2019 to around $12,157 for the year.

Food prices increases could have ‘devastating effect’ But meat and seafood are expected

to drop in price as demand decreases, with people consuming more plant-based protein.

Researchers look at numerous factors to determine how food prices might change, from the weather, the retail environment and changes among food processors to consumer preferences.

The B.C. Utilities Commission is considering an application from ICBC to increase basic insurance rates by 6.3 per cent.

If approved, the new rate would come into effect April 1 and will mean an average increase of around $60 a year.

Attorney General David Eby revealed last month that ICBC is set to lose $890 million this year, following a $1.3 billion net loss in 2017-18.

MSP: Medical Services Plan premiums will remain the same in 2019 after being cut in half in 2018. In 2020, the monthly premiums will be eliminated.

To replace the revenue lost from the premiums, the government created a new employer health tax, which has resulted in property tax increases in some cities.

Ferry fares: BC Ferries says there will be no fare increases in 2019 or in 2020.

The fares will remain at their current cost for 2019 after some reductions were offered in 2018.

Transit: TransLink fares will increase by five to 10 cents as part of yearly increases that were announced in the mayors council’s 10-year-Vision for Regional Transportation in 2016.

One-zone adult fare will increase from $2.95 to $3.00 on July 1. A one-zone concession fare increases from $1.90 to $2.00.

An adult monthly pass increases from $95 to $98.

Electricity: FortisBC electricity customers will see no increase to rates in 2019.

Meanwhile, BC Hydro rates will continue to stay the same — at least until April — after they were raised three per cent a year ago.

Natural gas: FortisBC will raise natural gas rates by about $68 for the average customer in 2019.

Property taxes: An average increase of $28 to property tax bills to pay for water supply, sewer and solid waste services.

Bills to grow bigger in 2019 for BC residents Household budgets don’t balance themselves, and B.C. residents are looking ahead to tax and fee increases that will have to be accommodated in 2019.

First up for many will be property assessments, as municipalities calculate their property taxes for the year. With a new employer health tax on business and municipal payrolls above $500,000, plus the remaining year of Medical Services Plan premiums for employers who cover their employers, city councils are looking at property tax hikes of up to five per cent for 2019.

For Surrey, the double cost for 2019 is estimated to be $4.7 million, then $3.35 million the year after when MSP is eliminated. Businesses have also noted that the burden of employee MSP premiums is less than the payroll tax the NDP government has imposed to recover the revenue.

Asked about that burden in a year-end interview with Black Press, Premier John Horgan emphasized that self-employed and small business people have been paying their own MSP, and large businesses are getting other benefits from his government’s policies.

“In the interim, those very businesses that are asking for more child care, asking for housing affordability so they can retain employees, are getting those services they need,” Horgan said.

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Canadian man arrested after bomb threat at Amsterdam airport A 51-year-old Canadian man has been arrested after a bomb threat at Amsterdam’ Airport, Dutch military police said Monday evening.

Airport authorities said departure hall 3 and arrivals hall 3 were evacuated at around 8pm local time after a man claimed to have a bomb.

Military police arrived on the scene and overpowered the suspect, after which the departure and arrivals halls resumed operations. No explosives were found.

Military police in the departure hall 3 at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Dec. 31, 2018.

Dutch police did not offer any more details on the Canadian suspect, who has been detained for questioning.

Global Affairs said Canadian consular officials were aware of the situation and were working with Dutch authorities to gather more information.

A spokesperson for Global Affairs declined to disclose further information about the suspect, citing the Privacy Act. The incident comes just over a year after a knife-wielding man was arrested by military police at the same airport.

Drug found on Toronto street linked to overdose deaths worldwide: Health Canada A synthetic opioid linked to overdose deaths around the world has been found for the first time in Ontario, police warn, highlighting the evolving nature of the crisis.

In late December, Toronto police announced that officers had found a white powder during an unrelated search of a westend Toronto home two months earlier. A sample was forwarded to a Health Canada drug analysis lab, where it was identified as a new synthetic opioid called U-48800.

Health Canada has previously identified the drug just six times in Canada, for the first time last February and never further east than Saskatchewan. “[Drug dealers] use it either to stretch the other opioids or they just use it to basically make money,” Toronto police spokeswoman Allyson Douglas-Cook said.

Opioids killed more than 2,000 people in Canada from January to June this year; fentanyl and its analogs contributed to more than 70 per cent of those deaths, according to data from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

The drug seized in Toronto is not fentanyl but it produces similar effects, said Keith Graves, a drug-recognition expert instructor and retired police sergeant, who worked narcotics cases and street-level drug crimes in the San Francisco Bay Area. “They all cause the same signs and symptoms”: constricted

pupils, lethargy and the risk of overdose.

The drug’s full name is U-48800 (2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-N-(2(dimethylamino)cyclohexyl)-Nmethylacetamide). It has been confirmed in three samples sent to Health Canada from law enforcement agencies in Alberta, two from British Columbia and one from Saskatchewan. It does not have any legal uses in Canada, according to Health Canada spokesman Eric Morrissette.

Nor is it controlled in this country. That means police officers in Canada can’t charge people under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act with possessing U-48800, unlike other synthetic opioids such as U-47700.

The drugs are different enough that U-48800 is not considered an analog of U-47700 in Canada, although a U.S. government probe recently uncovered evidence of one being sold as a substitute for the other. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs investigations subcommittee was studying vulnerabilities in the international mail system to learn how Americans could purchase drugs from online sellers based in China.

U-47700 was put on China’s list of controlled substances last summer, the probe’s January, 2018, report said. Just days before, the investigations subcommittee found an online seller advertising a “hot sale” on its remaining U-47700.

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Tech CEOs say federal Liberal innovation agenda does little to help firms scale up The federal government’s big-ticket efforts to support high-growth tech firms are offering little for emerging companies that have already outgrown the fledgling start-up phase, according to a new survey of CEOs in Canada’s sector.

The insights are among the early findings of a three-year research project focused on properly defining mid-sized “scale-up” firms, outlining what prevents them from growing into big companies in Canada and ensuring they’re central to policy discussions.

“Scale-ups do not see their interests reflected in the federal innovation agenda,” said a document summarizing the opinions of executives at 48 of these firms during interviews last summer. The research is a collaboration between industry and the University of Toronto.

The research is partly funded by Torontobased tech company Delvinia. Adam Froman, the firm’s founder and CEO, said he’s made use of many different federal programs over the last 20 years — and has seen the gaps for scale-ups.

The problem, he said, is that without ongoing support, made-in-Canada

firms are being purchased by foreign entities, which also gobble up valuable intellectual property Ottawa helped pay for.

“We’re exiting too early and the government doesn’t recognize it,” Froman said.

Ottawa, he said, remains focused on helping firms with annual revenues under $10 million a year, when it should continue its supports for the “most-at-risk companies” bringing in between $10 million and $100 million per year.

“If we can actually help more companies become $50-million companies, $100-million companies and stay in Canada, this will have a material impact on the future of Canada’s economic prosperity,” he said.

Froman added that scale-ups are looking for continued support beyond financial help and “handouts.” For instance, he said the government could do a better job promoting “Canada House” as a space where Canadian firms can host events in the United Kingdom and ensuring federal agencies are agile enough to provide advice and services for fast-growing companies like Delvinia.

$16-million winning Lotto 6/49 ticket sold in Calgary Someone in Calgary is going to have a great start to 2019, as the winning ticket for Lotto 6/49’s $16-million jackpot was sold in the city.

The single ticket was the only one sold in the country to match all six winning numbers: 13, 18, 19, 36, 37 and 43.

The jackpot comes on the heels of a year that saw 51 $1-million-plus prizes handed out to Albertans — 12 of

which were in Calgary and Edmonton.

Truth be told, there are still two outstanding prizes from 2018 yet to be claimed.

A ticket sold outside of Calgary and Edmonton won $60 million on the Oct. 26 Lotto Max draw, while another ticket sold beyond the aforementioned city limits won $7.9 million on the Dec. 15 Lotto 6/49 draw.

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NATIONAL

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Federal gov’t to spend $113 million on pre-arrival services for new immigrants

The Trudeau government has announced $113 million in new money to improve pre-arrival services for future immigrants to Canada.

Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen made the announcement this morning at the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Immigrant Settlement and Integration Program office in Vancouver. He also announced that, as part of that funding, the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. program would receive $22.4 million.

The Vancouver-based program is one of four operations that provide information, orientation and referrals to prospective economic and family-class immigrants nationwide. The $113 million sum will fund 16 service providers, most of them operating locally. Canada has provided prearrival help to new immigrants for 20 years.

Immigration Canada preparing to launch revamped family reunification system Canada to endorse UN migration pact as Conservatives warn of sovereignty risks The money will go to connecting clients to information and services, offering regional and general employment services, encouraging immigrants to take the necessarily steps to convert job licenses prior to their arrival, and linking them to federal and provincial settlement services once they are in Canada.

The money will come from the immigration settlement portion of the government’s 2018 budget, a spokesperson for Hussen’s office confirmed. The federal

Liberals set aside $875 million over six years to fund their multi-year immigration plan.

Pre-arrival services are meant to educate new immigrants on what living in Canada is like, and to minimize the roadblocks they could encounter after they arrive.

The goal, Hussen said, is to give new Canadians a better chance to “hit the ground running,” adding that successfully integrating new immigrants is a “great source of national strength.”

Trudeau lashes out at Conservatives for whipping up fear over immigration Canada adds 149 new passport service locations in the past year

He spoke of his experiences as a 16-yearold new immigrant to Canada and said he has long wondered if the early challenges immigrants face in accessing services and settling into a community are avoidable.

“I relied on the generosity of Canadians,” Hussen said.

The new federal money will fund the pre-arrival program for the next four years, up to 2023.

The program will cover immigrants in three categories: economic and family class immigrants, Francophone newcomers and refugees.

In-person services will be offered in China, India and the Philippines, and online services spanning other countries will be made available as well.

Canada’s jobless rate remained study in December 2018 In December as the economy added 9,300 jobs, Canada’s jobless rate held steady at 5.6 per cent but about the same number of people were looking for work.

Most of the jobs were part time, Statistics Canada reported Friday. As 28,300 new part-time jobs were added, 18,900 full-time jobs were lost.

The numbers were slightly lower than the gain of about 10,000 jobs that economists had been expecting for the month. The jobless rate, meanwhile, remained at the lowest level on record — 5.6 per cent.

A record-low jobless rate may seem like an encouraging sign, but that figure belies some troubling trends below the surface, one economist says.

“The headline unemployment rate may have defied expectations to remain at a record-low 5.6 per cent, but the way we got there was less encouraging,” Brian DePratto

of TD Bank said. “Not only were the job gains entirely in part-time work, they were also driven by self-employment as both private firms and the public sector shed jobs.”

He also said that despite the economy creating new jobs, wages aren’t increasing much, as pay packets grew on average by just 1.5 per cent last year — less than the current inflation rate. “While many measures would suggest the we have a tight labour market, the signal from wages says otherwise.”

After topping out at 8.7 per cent in 2009, Canada’s jobless rate fell to a 40-year low at the end of 2018.

Across the country, there were job gains in Newfoundland and Labrador, while the job market shrank in Alberta, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Everywhere else, job market held steady.

New property assessments reveal up to 10% drop in value for detached Metro Vancouver homes After years of increases, new assessment numbers show signs of moderation as the real estate market cools in some areas of BC, especially in Metro Vancouver areas, where expensive homes have lost some assessed value. Curious property owners can now find out what their home is worth after the B.C. Assessment Authority released its latest numbers Jan. 1. The list is based on how much the home was worth as of July 1, 2018.

What you need to know about BC’s 2017 assessment values Outside of Metro Vancouver, values continue to trend upwards. “Assessed vales for detached single family homes in many areas of Metro Vancouver may see a softening in value, while other markets and areas of the province will see modest increases,” said assessor Tina Ireland in a statement.

BC’s priciest home in 2017 — a Point Grey mansion owned by Lululemon founder Chip Wilson — has taken a hit in the new figures, losing more than $5 million in value.

Previously assessed at $78,837,000 , the home is now considered to be worth $73,120,000. B.C.’s 5 most expensive residential properties in 2017 Key trends

from B.C. Assessment’s website this year are: 1. Metro Vancouver detached home values are decreasing: Homes in Vancouver, the North Shore, South Surrey, White Rock, South Delta and Richmond are showing decreases in value of five to 10 per cent. 2. Values of single-family homes outside Metro Vancouver are increasing: Homeowners in the Fraser Va l l e y , Va n c o u v e r Island, the Okanagan and the northern areas of the province can expect increases of five to 15 per cent.

3. Vancouver Island and Kitimat are hot spots: In many parts of central and northern Vancouver Island, values show increases of close to 20 per cent. In Kitimat, the terminus of a planned LNG megaproject, increases are above 20 per cent.

4.

Condos are worth more: Condominium values have increased an average of 10 to 20 per cent across the province. 5. Commercial and industrial values are increasing: The values of these properties show continued increases across most of the province. In Metro Vancouver, some show increases of up to 30 per cent.

Property owners whose assessments are increasing significantly were mailed notification letters from B.C. Assessment in December 2018.

Saturday, January 5, 2019 Australia finally denounces detention of two Canadians in China, but only after extensive public pressure Australia denounces Chinese government’s detention of two Canadians in retaliation for Canada’s Dec. 1 arrest of Huawei CEO Meng Wanzhou, after extensive public pressure.

“The Australian Government is concerned about the recent detention of two Canadian citizens in China,” Australian foreign minister Marise Payne said in a Sunday statement published by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Payne added, “the Australian Government has conveyed this position to Chinese counterparts and we have been in regular contact with Canadian officials.”

Here’s the latest: Foreign Minister Marise Payne ‘concerned’ about detention of Canadians in China, but stops short of calling for their immediate release. Statement issued after foreign policy experts question her silence on it. On Dec. 1 Canadian authorities arrested Meng, Huawei’s Chief Financial Officer, as she changed planes at Vancouver International Airport. Meng is now facing extradition to the United States on charges that she allegedly violated U.S. trade sanctions against Iran.

The arrest prompted immediate condemnation from Chinese authorities alleging that Canada was violating Meng’s

“human rights.” On Dec. 10, in what was widely viewed by analysts as a direct retaliation for Meng’s arrest, the Chinese government detained two Canadians living in China, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland has said the Canadians are victims of “arbitrary detention.” The circumstances of Spavor’s detention are as yet unknown, but Kovrig is being held in a small cell that is lit 24 hours, with no access to a lawyer or visitors. This is in sharp contrast to Meng, who is currently living in a luxury Vancouver home after posting bail.

Just before Christmas, Canada received statements of support from the European Union, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the United States, all of them calling for the release of Spavor and Kovrig.

“Canada, a country governed by the rule of law, is conducting a fair, unbiased, and transparent legal proceeding with respect to Ms. Meng Wanzhou,” wrote the U.S. State Department in a Dec. 21 statement. Nevertheless, Australia initially remained silent, prompting an open letter this week from a group Australian scholars specializing in China.

Trudeau’s carbon tax takes effect in industrial heartland Canadians are about to start paying a carbon tax in what is set to be a key political battleground of the 2019 election.

Beginning Jan. 1, Justin Trudeau’s government will start rolling out a “backstop” price on provinces that don’t have their own levies on emissions. That includes Ontario, an industrial heavyweight whose populist premier scrapped an existing plan, setting up a standoff with the Canadian prime minister.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Ontario Premier Doug Ford in Montreal in early December. Ontario is among the provinces challenging Trudeau’s plan, that goes into effect Jan. 1, in court.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Ontario Premier Doug Ford in Montreal in early December. Ontario is among the provinces challenging Trudeau’s plan, that goes into effect Jan. 1, in court. Under Trudeau’s backstop, certain major industries in five

provinces will see emissions tracked beginning Tuesday and subject to a yet-to-be-finalized tax; sectors such as cement and steel face easier targets than others. A wide-ranging tax on nearly all fuels is set to take effect in April in four provinces. The price on carbon will be C$20 ($15) per metric ton — about 4.4 Canadian cents per litre of gas, or 12 U.S. cents per gallon — rising to C$50 per ton by 2022.

Consumers in the holdout provinces will receive federal payments that will exceed their carbon tax bill in a bid to cushion the blow, according to government projections, as businesses essentially subsidize rebates to consumers. A court challenge is already underway, but the bigger fight may be political as voters will decide in October whether Trudeau deserves a second mandate. “Carbon pricing will be an important issue as it connects to the economy — and to Canadians who are increasingly worried about the economy,” pollster Nik Nanos of Nanos Research said.

Here’s how CPP, EI and small business taxes are changing in 2019 Your paycheque might see an adjustment come 2019 as new Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Employment Insurance (EI) rates kick in. For many Canadians, the changes will be slight, considering CPP’s cut is rising while EI is falling. Small business owners will see additional changes: the tax rate is set to fall, but passive investment income will be taxed more heavily.

Here’s a breakdown of some of Canada’s 2019 tax changes. EI premium rate lowers thanks to strong employment numbers Canada’s unemployment rate has dropped to 40-year lows, resulting in reduced demand for EI and allowing Ottawa to shrink the amount it collects to keep the fund afloat.

EI rates that employees pay are dropping by four cents per $100 of insurable earnings from $1.66 to $1.62. In Quebec, the rates are dropping five cents per $100 of insurable earnings from $1.30 to $1.25.

The amount employers contribute, which is 1.4 times what employees pay, will also be reduced. The changes, announced in September, go into effect Jan. 1.

“This will be the lowest EI premium rate since 1980 — and for most Canadian workers, the lowest they have paid since

entering the workforce,” Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said in a joint statement.

The EI rate is set by a commission that has been in place for 75 years. The rate is adjusted according to a seven-year break-even mechanism that aims to provide stable rates as well as to ensure the premium collected goes only to EI purposes.

The CPP is being “gradually enhanced” over the next seven years by way of increased contributions — meaning you gradually pay more now in order to get more later on. The overall aim is to grow the amount you will receive to one-third of average work earnings, up from a quarter.

In 2019, the amount you contribute will increase to 5.1 per cent, up from 4.95 per cent, for earnings between $3,500 and $57,400. These contributions are matched by your employer. Here’s how much that works out to, according to a Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) estimate: Someone earning $27,450 will pay $36 more annually, Someone earning $55,900 will pay $79 more annually, Someone earning $85,000 will pay $83 more annually.

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INDIA Mastermind behind Bulandshahr violence arrested

The main accused in the Bulandshahr innocent. Satish and Vineet, also accused violence, Bajrang Dal district convener Yogesh of violence, and Azhar, accused of alleged Raj was arrested, a month after a mob lynched cow slaughter, had surrendered in a court in a police officer (SHO) Subodh Kumar Singh on Bulandshahr on Wednesday.

One of the main accused of the mob December 3. Another person was also killed.

Raj, believed to be the mastermind behind violence, in which a police officer and a the Bulandshahr violence, had been on the civilian were killed, arrested late on Thursday night at a degree college in run. He released a video on Bulandshahr. the social media, claiming “Some informants had he’s innocent. The police been tracking Yogesh Raj. On had raided his house and confirmation, we laid a trap hideouts, issued a notice at Bulandshahr-Khurja Road that his property would be and arrested him. This is a impounded. big breakthrough,” said SHO Bulandshahr SP (Siyana) Kiranpal Singh.

Prabhakar Chaudhary said While in hiding, Yogesh acting on intelligence inputs, Raj and co-accused Shikhar Raj was arrested from the Yogesh Raj in police custody Agarwal had recorded videos, Khurja T-point on National Highway 91. After a medical examination, he in which they claimed they were innocent.

According to police, Yogesh Raj has not was presented before a local court for judicial denied his role in the stone-pelting outside remand.

Sources said the police arrested Raj late Chingrawati police booth, which was later Wednesday night as pressure from local BJP torched. Yogesh, who is affiliated with the leaders mounted. Earlier this week, the Syana Bajrang Dal, has admitted to calling up police had arrested Prashant Nat, who allegedly acquaintances after he was informed of severed the deceased inspector’s fingers before the alleged cow slaughter in Mahwa on he was shot. The axe used in the crime has been December 3, said the sources. He is accused recovered. The widow of the slain police officer, of being the mastermind of the protest which Rajni Singh, said the arrest would help check turned violent and claimed the lives of then “goonda raj”. Till date, 33 persons have been Siyana Station-in-Charge Subodh Kumar arrested for the mob violence that followed Singh and a youth. “At this point, details of after a cow carcass was found in the fields of his role cannot be divulged since they can be Raj Kumar, a former gram pradhan of Mahav used by the defence lawyer during bail plea.

The idea is to retain him in custody so that village, one of the accused in the FIR. Yogesh Raj had registered the first case, further questioning can be carried out,” said naming seven persons, five of them members police officer SSP (Bulandshahr) Prabhakar of the masjid committee, who were found Choudhary.

Saturday, January 5, 2019

PM Modi renames 3 Andaman and Nicobar islands as tribute to Netaji Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday announced renaming of three islands of Andaman and Nicobar on the occasion of 75th anniversary of Tricolour hoisting by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose here. The Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, the Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep and the Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep, Modi said during a speech amidst thunderous applause from the audience here.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated a slew of development projects and laid foundation stones of several others related to energy, connectivity, education, tourism and health sectors. Donning the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) cap, he addressed a public meeting at Netaji Stadium on the

occasion of the 75th anniversary of the hoisting of the Tricolour by Bose here.

“When it comes to heroes of the freedom struggle, we take the name of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose with pride. The first Prime Minister of the Azad Hind government Subhash Babu had made India’s independence resolution on the soil of Andaman,” he said.

“The country draws inspiration from Andaman.

That is why the government has issued a notification and I am proudly announcing that henceforth, Ross Island will be known as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep. The Neil Island will be known as Shahid Dweep and Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep,” he said.

Court case against actor Anupam Kher & others over controvercial film ‘Accidental Prime Minister’ A court case was filed against actor Anupam Kher and his associates with film “The Accidental Prime Minister” in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district court on Wednesday for “attempt to malign the image of some great personalities.”

The petitioner sought the release of the Kher-starrer on January 11 be stopped, arguing that the image of prominent political figures, including that of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Sushma Swaraj and LK Advani had been ‘altered’.

A subdivisional judicial magistrate heard the case and fixed the next hearing for January 8. Talking to The Tribune, petitioner advocate Sudhir Ojha said: “It is a biopic on former Prime Minister M a n m o h a n Singh who laid the foundation of ‘modern India’ with his economic policies when he was Finance Minister.

But the movie is an attempt to tarnish his image as also of other political figures, hurting the sentiments of crores of people.”

106th Indian Science Congress set to begin 106th edition of the Indian Science Congress, which is beginning tomorrow in Jalandhar city all is set to go and the Science Congress will continue til January 7.

The congress, with the theme of ‘Future India: Science and Technology’, will feature a range of plenary sessions, invited talks as well as special sessions for women scientists and school children. The participants include three Nobel Laureates and a host of top science policy makers, administrators and scientists from a wide range of institutions such as Defence Research and Development Organisation, Indian Space Research Organisation, University Grants Commission, All India Institute of

Medical Sciences and All India Council for Technical Education.

An official statement quoted Union Science and Technology, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, as stating that “the focus of the congress will be to showcase what is being done, what can be done and what would define the future of science and technology in the country”.

“The focus of the congress will be to showcase what is being done, what can be done and what would define the future of science and technology in the country “ The congress is designed to play an important role in stimulating scientific research and raise scientific temperament in the country.

15 miners trapped in flooded coal mine for three weeks It’s been three weeks since 15 miners trapped in a flooded coal-mine in northeast India. Divers have been searching for the survivors, but no luck so far.

Rescuers from India’s National Disaster Response Force and divers from the Navy have been trying to pump out flood water and get deeper into the mine. India’s Supreme Court today ordered the government to list the steps it plans for the rescue, warning that “every second counts.”

“We pray that all people trapped in mines are alive. They should have been rescued by now. We are not satisfied with the action taken by state government,” the court said. “Rathole” mines are illegal but common in the Indian state of Meghalaya, which shares a border with Bangladesh. Miners dig down into a hillside until they hit coal, and then mine horizontally

in narrow tunnels. The rescue effort is complicated because dozens of interconnected rathole mines all have water coming into them from a nearby river system, the Wall Street Journal reports.

At its peak, Meghalaya produced $4 billion of coal annually, about a tenth of India’s total production, Reuters reports. India banned rathole mines in 2014 after many deaths, including child laborers, but the practice remains prevalent.

PUNJAB

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Cabinet approves free smartphones for youth, OTS With Lok Sabha elections in mind, the Punjab Cabinet today gave its approval to onetime settlement (OTS) of non-compoundable building violations up to June 30, 2018, and smartphones for the youth — 40,000 of them in the first phase — as promised by the Congress during the Assembly poll.

To appease teachers, who have been on the warpath, the government did away with mandatory transfer after seven years of service in a zone/school. Also, a transfer request can now be made after a year instead of a minimum three years at one posting.

The online transfer policy comes into effect from the 2019-2020 academic session.

Regarding the OTS, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Local Government Minister, said the government aimed at mopping up Rs 700 crore as revenue. The Cabinet approved the promulgation of ‘The Punjab One-Time Voluntary Disclosure and Settlement of Violations of the Buildings Ordinance, 2018’.

Ministers representing urban constituencies

Council of Engineers opposes policy for illegal housing The Punjab Council of Engineers (PCE) has condemned the Punjab government for bringing in one-time policy to regularise illegal colonies and buildings.

President of the PCE Kapil Arora claimed that any policy to regularise the colonies would be against the prevailing rule of law that was Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, and Punjab Town Improvement Act, 1922, under which all the building bylaws were notified by the state government from time to time.

Cold waves hit Punjab & Haryana The minimum temperatures dropped below normal limits in Punjab and Haryana, with 1.8 degrees Celsius temp recorded in Amritsar.

The temperatures had registered a slight increase on Wednesday, but the night temperatures plummeted again, the meteorological department officials said. Ludhiana recorded a low of 4.2 degrees Celsius, while it was 6 degrees in Patiala. The minimum temperature in other places are: Pathankot (4.1 degrees), Halwara (4.4 degrees), Gurdaspur (4 degrees), Faridkot (6.5 degrees) and Bathinda (6.5 degrees). The minimum temperature in Chandigarh was 5.5 degrees Celsius. Hisar in Haryana recorded a minimum of 4.7 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal.

The minimum temperature in Karnal and Narnaul were 4 degrees Celsius each. Bhiwani and Sirsa recorded 6.3 degrees Celsius and 6.2 degrees Celsius respectively, it was 5.6 degress Celsius in Rohtak.

Four people beaten by cop’s son & his eight friends Son of a Punjab Police inspector, along with his eight friends, created ruckus in Sector 70 after allegedly consuming liquor and also assaulted four men on Tuesday night.

The incident occurred around 8pm in market area of Sector 70, Mohali, when the accused were consuming liquor in an were consuming liquor in an open jeep.

Meanwhile, they allegedly harassed a 53-year-old man for no reason and then assaulted him

had opposed the draft of the scheme prepared by the Local Government last year.

“After deliberations with my Cabinet colleagues and other stake-holders, the fee for regularising the violations has been reduced, the floor area ratio (FAR) increased and the procedure made less tedious. It would be ensured that unauthorised buildings adhere to the parking, fire and safety standards across the state”, Sidhu said.

The Cabinet approved the modalities for the distribution of smartphones with 40,000 students graduating from government colleges and technical institutions to be covered in the first phase, costing the exchequer Rs 10 crore.

The beneficiaries would be required to submit self-certified affidavits, stating that they do not own a smartphone. They would be provided a one-time bundled 12 GB data and 600 local minutes talk time (voice) with a one-year validity.

The vendor to implement the scheme shall be selected through the bidding process for which the tender document been floated by the Punjab Information and Communication Technology

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CM Capt. Amarinder ridicules BJP over ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ridicules Bharatiya Janata Party’s “desperate efforts” to promote ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ ahead of the Lok Sabha elections as a political stunt aimed at demeaning the Congress.

In a statement, the Chief Minister said the BJP was indulging in “cheap politics” against the Congress, which was riding a wave of success as manifest in its recent victories in several state elections.

Amarinder described the BJP’s attempt to use the movie, which seeks to project twotime Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a weak and docile prime minister, as “not only childish but brazenly politically motivated”.

“The use of the movie’s recently released trailer by the BJP, which was tweeted from the party’s official twitter handle and promoted

by many of its leaders on the social media, to criticize Dr Singh at this important political juncture in India’s journey clearly showed their desperation and frustration in the face of their imminent defeat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,” the Chief Minister said.

Lambasting the BJP for resorting to cheap politics to strengthen their electoral chances, Amarinder asked it to “accept the harsh reality that they had lost the support of the people”.

“Even the worst critics of Dr. Singh could not find fault with him and the BJP was merely using the movie, slated to release next month, as a pawn in a futile attempt to undermine the Congress in view of the upcoming parliamentary elections,” he added.

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INDIA

Saturday, January 5, 2019

As part of space diplomacy India to install stations in five neighbouring countries India will set up five large ground stations and more than 500 small terminals in Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, as media reports. Space diplomacy has been touted as a new tool in India’s diplomatic effort. This will be a part of its ‘neighbourhood - first’ policy to counter China’s influence in India’s backyard. The space infrastructure will help put in place applications ranging from television broadcasting to disaster management, telemedicine, telephony and internet. “We have an Indian firm, Alpha Design Technologies, implementing the project, which will also see 100 VSATs (Very Small Aperture Terminals) connected to the ground station, taking for

the first time TV broadcasting to many remote areas in Bhutan,” a source of Times Of India remarked. This is expected to counter China’s satellite tracking infrastructure in Thimpu.The infrastructure that is being created by ISRO wll be an extension of the South Asia satellite that was launched in 2017. The satellite weighs 2,230 kg during lift off and carries 12 Ku-Band transponders.

It has been developed at the cost of about Rs 235 crore.

The total cost of the project including the launch is about Rs 450 crore.

India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives in Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO), GSAT-9, Space Diplomacy, Neighbourhood First Policy,

Two laborers found precious diamond worth Rs 1.5 crore from Madhya Pradesh’s Panna mines The two labourers, Motilal and Raghuveer Prajapati, who found a large diamond in the mines of Panna District two months ago are set to see a sudden increase in their bank balance.

They had their diamond auctioned last Friday for Rs 2.55 crore, and will soon receive the amount, reports Times of India.

The diamond Motilal (centre) holding the precious stone officer of Panna, history of Panna’s diamond mines, with the Santosh Singh, said that a Jhansi-based previous biggest being 44.55 carat diamond in jeweller and a BSP leader from Uttar Pradesh 1961. The labourers who didn’t turn up to the had made the highest bid of Rs 6 lakh per auction celebrated in the evening by offering carat. Since the diamond is 42.9 carat, the prayers and distributing sweets. Motilal says amount is about Rs 2.55 crore. Singh said that Raghuveer needed the money desperately that the bidder deposited a cheque worth to repay his debts. “We can now educate our 20 per cent of the cost , with the remaining children,” they say. The diamond officer said amount to be paid within a month when he that they would receive the remaining sum would take possession of the diamond. With within a month. a deduction of 12 per cent royalty and other In Panna, many people try their luck by taxes, the remaining amount to be transferred leasing the 8m x 8m mine from the district is Rs 2.30 crore. administration for a nominal annual fee. On The two labourers, who will share the finding a diamond, its to be deposited in the amount, had unknowingly carried the office of district diamond officer, where they diamond to deposit the stone to the district are auctioned at regular intervals. diamond office on 9 October 2018. The diamond turned out to be the biggest in the

26 MPs suspended from lower house of the Parliament Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today named 26 MPs of the AIADMK and the TDP for causing grave disorder in the House and suspended them for five consecutive sittings.

The AIADMK members were in the Well for most part of the day, protesting Karnataka’s move to construct a dam over the Cauvery in Megadatu and were demanding

the Centre’s intervention in the matter. The Speaker suspended 24 AIADMK members for constant sloganeering, flinging of papers and constant disruption of proceedings during the debate on the Rafale deal in the House. After the suspension AIADMK MPs walked in a procession through Parliament, saying protesting was their democratic right.

Violence breaks out as two women enter temple Two women sneak into one of India’s holiest 42, and Kanaka Durga, 44, had tried entering Hindu temples yesterday against hardline Sabarimala last month, but were forcibly turned activists blockading the shrine from female back by Hindu activists committed to violently enforcing the ban, despite its revocation by worshipers.

India’s Supreme Court The Sabarimala temple last September. At the in southern Kerela has been time the court had ruled at the centre of a highly that banning women of politically charged standmenstrual age-between off after the Supreme court 10 and 50 years-from lifted ban on women of entering Sabarimala was menstrual age from praying unconstitutional and an inside it. Violence erupted infringement of human as news spread that the rights and of equality of two women in their 40s worship. had defied traditionalists, Immediately after backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu the ruling protesters, with the support of the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), by entering government, disregarded Women outside Hindu temple in Kerala, the court’s ruling and the temple for the first time after supreme court lifted ban on women since the landmark court begun preventing women entering into the temple. devotes from entering ruling.

Police fired tear gas, stun grenades and used water cannon as Sabarimala, even resorting to force.

They maintained that age-old religious clashes between rival groups erupted across the southern state of Kerala, local media reported. sentiments prevailed over judicial rulings and that preventing menstruating women from Several officers were reportedly injured.

The two women entered the temple under entering the shrine was essential to appease police escort around 3.45am local time, and and protect Ayyappan, the temples deity who is left undetected a short while later after offering depicted as celibate, yoga-practising god.

Police protected the temple again in October, prayers inside the shrine. “It is a fact that two women entered the shrine” state chief minister after clashing with devotees and arresting Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed, adding that police 2,000 people Police protected the temple again are bound to offer protection to anyone wanting in October, after clashing with devotees and to worship inside the temple. Bindu Ammini, arresting 2,000 people.

Saturday, January 5, 2019

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SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Pakistan to be hit by Doval’s double squeeze offensive defense policy Pakistan will look to up the ante against India in 2019, which happens to election year.

The Intelligence Bureau says that Pakistan will look to keep the Indian forces busy at the border.

Pakistan has been looking to enhance its military capabilities and this is a clear indication that the trouble at the border would high, official sources said. Going by some of the procurements, it becomes clear that Pakistan would look to hit Indian targets at a range of 4 to 5 kilometres.

The IB official said that Pakistan would look to make a desperate push to inflict India with a thousand cuts. However India would have a counter to this move and in this context would push National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval’s offensive defence and double squeeze policy.

What Pakistan is doing: To up the ante Pakistan is is procuring 245 150mm SP Mike10 guns from Italy. Reports state that at least

Sri Lanka acts against violations of local language laws at Chinese project sites

120 have already been procured. In addition to this Pakistan is also eyeing the T-90 tanks from Russia.

In addition to this Pakistan is also inducting the Chinese VT-4 ranks and the trials for the same have already been conducted. A PTI reported said that at present, Pakistan is learnt to have around 17 units pf Chinese origin T-59 and T69 tanks, which comprise 30 per cent of its total tank strength, the sources said.

It also has 12 regiments of Al-Zarar tanks, which makes 20 per cent of the tank fleet while Ukrain origin T-80-UD and T-85 UD as well as upgraded version of T-59 tanks comprise the rest of the 50 per cent tank fleet, they said.

Pakistan Army is carrying out modernisation of its armored regiments in a calibrated and time-bound manner which is not the case in India,” said an expert, who wished not to be named.

The government of Sri Lanka has initiated action against several Chinese firms in the country that have put up banners in the Mandarin language instead of the local Sri Lankan language. Sri Lankans see this as an onslaught on their culture and languages.

The government of Sri Lanka has removed the banner of a Chinese firm engaged in solid waste management in Colombo after it was found that the firm violated local language rules. The government has said that similar action is being taken against all other Chinese

Trump wants India, Russia, Afghanistan to fight Taliban

US, UK & EU call for probe into Bangladesh election irregularities & violence Western powers condemned Bangladesh elections irregularities and voilence that marred vote in which PM Sheikh’s and her allainces secured 90 percent of the seats in parliament. The strongly-worded assessments from the UK, European Union, and United States could hit the image of Hasina, who won a third straight term to power following Sunday’s election. PM Sheikh’s opponents have rejected the election result, citing what they describe as widespread rigging and voter intimidation. She has denied impropriety, calling it a peaceful vote that saw enthusiastic participation from her supporters. Capital Dhaka was quiet on Tuesday, but the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said its workers were

President Trump said that he wants the regional countries, including India, Russia, and Pakistan to fight against Taliban in Afghanistan.

“Why is not Russia there (in Afghanistan, fighting the Taliban)? Why isn’t India there?

Why are we there? We are 6,000 miles away. But I don’t mind.

We want to help our people.

We want to help other nations,” Trump told reporters in response to a question during the Cabinet meeting.

He also mocked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for funding a library in

being attacked in several areas elsewhere in the country by activists of the Awami League - charges the party denied.

“Violence has marred the election day, and significant obstacles to a level playing field remained in place throughout the process and have tainted the electoral campaign and the vote,” the EU said in a statement, calling for “a proper examination of allegations of irregularities”.

USA, one of the largest foreign investor, expressed concern about “credible reports of harassment, intimidation, and violence in the pre-election period that made it difficult for many opposition candidates and their supporters to meet, hold rallies, and campaign freely.”

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firms that are found violating the sentiments of locals by enforcing the Mandarin language instead of Sinhala and Tamil.

Afghanistan, wondering who would use it in war-torn Afghanistan.

“I could give you an example where I get along very well with India and Prime Minister Modi. But he constantly telling me, he built a library in Afghanistan.

Library! That’s like five hours of what we spend (in Afghanistan),” he added.

The U.S. President further said that the regional countries were not doing enough in Afghanistan and that they were taking advantages of the U.S. presence.

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SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Are the wheels coming off China’s Belt & Road megaproject?

Kenya is the latest country where China is frantically defusing a public relations storm over President Xi Jinping’s signature Belt and Road megaproject.

In a statement Friday, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed as “not true” numerous reports that a key port in Mombasa was at risk of being seized by Beijing over unpaid debts.

Speaking to journalists last week, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta also pushed back, dismissing as “pure propaganda” reports based on a leaked letter from the country’s Auditor General warning that assets belonging to the Kenya Port Authority -- including Mombasa’s massive Kilindini Harbor, the largest port in East Africa -- were listed as collateral for a multi-billion-dollar loan to fund a railway project.

“The Chinese government themselves say this (it) is nonsense,” Kenyatta said, while the AG’s office denied publishing any such letter, copies of which circulated widely online.

Despite Beijing and Nairobi’s vehement denials, concerns over the loans speak to a growing fear in many developing countries that their governments, in rushing to cash in on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), have left themselves overextended, with Chinese state-owned companies ready to snap up ports, railways and other key infrastructure across the globe should debtors default.

Five years into the BRI, the sheen is also coming off the project in Beijing, amid an

ongoing -- though temporarily paused -trade war with the US, and concerns over future funding and returns on an increasingly unwieldy list of overseas investments.

Debt fears For critics of the BRI, Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port is the perfect example of the risks developing countries are taking on with their Chinese loans.

In December 2017, Beijing acquired a 99-year lease to the port -- located in a key strategic position on the Indian Ocean -- in return for forgiving some of the billions of dollars the South Asian country owed China.

The move sparked fears China would use similar defaults in other countries to acquire a host of new infrastructure, with both potential economic and military benefits -- leapfrogging rivals in the region such as India and the US. In mid-2018, the Zambian government had to deny reports it was preparing to hand over control of multiple public assets, including the state broadcaster and Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, to China.

Kenya&#39;s President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the welcome ceremony for the Belt and Road Forum, near Beijing in May 2017. Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the welcome ceremony for the Belt and Road Forum, near Beijing in May 2017.

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FIJI

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Australia cancels citizenship of IS recruiter Neil Prakash despite Fiji challenge Australia’s government is confident it has grounds to strip an alleged Islamic State recruiter of citizenship, a minister said on Wednesday, as questions arose over whether doing so could be illegal and leave the man stateless. The case highlights the problems many governments face as they consider what action to take against people who have travelled abroad, often to the Middle East, to join militant groups. Under Australian law, a person can only be stripped of their citizenship if they are dual citizens, thereby preventing people from being made stateless. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said Melbourne-born Neil Prakash, who is imprisoned in Turkey, was a dual citizen as he also has Fijian citizenship,.

Prakash ceased to be an Australian “by virtue of his actions in fighting for Islamic State from May 2016”, and he had been notified of the decision in December, Dutton said. “The advice to the government based on all the intricate detail and fact of this

particular matter is that Mr Prakash is, by operation of law, a citizen of Fiji,” Dutton told reporters in Brisbane.

“The other point to make is that Mr Prakash is sitting in a Turkish jail at the moment ... Prakash is not coming anywhere near our part of the world any time soon.” Prakash has been in Turkey on trial for charges relating to being a member of the Islamic State militant group since being caught there in October 2016.

Australia believes Prakash is a dual national because his father was Fijian.

However, Fiji’s director of immigration, Nemani Vuniwaqa, told Reuters in a Facebook message that Prakash was not Fijian, which could complicate the Australian government’s bid to strip him of his citizenship. Prakash can challenge the Australian government’s decision, Dutton said, and he could be entitled to retain his citizenship if he does not hold dual-citizenship status.

Tropical cyclone ‘Mona’ hits Rotuma island The District Officer of Rotuma has activated its Emergency Operations and is working with civil servants in Rotuma as they are in preparation mode for Tropical Cyclone Mona. This has been confirmed by the Director of the National Disaster Management Office Anare Leweniqila who is encouraging people in Rotuma to be prepared for strong winds and heavy rain as the system is approaching them.

Leweniqila says that they will be engaging more than 20 of their officers as part of their preparations for Tropical Cyclone Mona.

He says the numbers of officers engaged can be increased based on to how the system affects

us.

Meanwhile, dark clouds are over Rotuma Island at the moment and there has not been any rain or strong winds felt.

Everyone should prepare for cyclone Mona The whole of Fiji should now prepare for Tropical Cyclone Mona based on its erratic movement as there is a possibility that it could it could track towards Vanua Levu or Viti Levu. This is based on the current projections. Nadi Weather Office Senior Forecaster Amit Singh says looking at

the uncertainty of the track of Cyclone Mona, the whole of Fiji should be prepared for a Category Two cyclone.

Singh says based on the projections, the centre of Cyclone Mona could make landfall in Vanua Levu tomorrow night into Sunday morning.

Neil Prakash is not a Fiji citizen - Vuniwaqa Fiji’s Immigration Director Nemani Vuniwaqa is today questioning how Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton can say that Islamic State terrorist Neil Prakash is a Fijian Citizen when the Fijian Immigration Department has confirmed after checking its records that Prakash is not a Fijian citizen.

Dutton said in a press conference on Wednesday that Prakash by operation of law is a citizen of Fiji after the Australian government stripped Prakash of his citizenship.

Neil Prakash who was linked to several Australian-based attack plans and calls for lone-wolf attacks against the US was born in Melbourne in Australia.

He is believed to have left for Syria in 2013, where he changed his name to Abu Khaled al-Cambodi and was put on a US kill list.

Prakash’s father is a Fijian of Indian descent while his mother is from Cambodia.

Immigration Director Nemani Vuniwaqa told Legend FM News that as far as they are concerned Prakash is not a Fijian citizen and he has never entered Fiji.

Vuniwaqa has also questioned Dutton’s comment that the Fijians were advised of the Neil Prakash situation sometime ago.

Prakash was captured in Turkey in 2016, and is now in a maximum security prison facing terrorism charges with potential sentences of up to 15 years in jail.

He is wanted by Australian authorities over his alleged role in two terrorism plots, including one to target Anzac Day services in Melbourne in 2015 and over his travel to Syria to fight with Isis.

5 people arrested in Nausori for drug possession Five people were arrested at Syria Park in Nausori yesterday in relation to drug possession.

Police Chief of Intelligence and Investigations ACP Vakacegu Toduadua says a 29-year-old unemployed man of Lakena Hill no. 2 is in custody for allegedly being in possession of 11 packets of dried leaves believed to be marijuana.

Toduadua says a 29-year-old farmer from Baulevu was arrested for allegedly being in possession of 6 packets of dried leaves believed to be marijuana.

He says a 29-year-old farmer of Lakena Hill n0.2 was arrested for allegedly being in possession of 6 packets of dried leaves believed to be marijuana

A 23-year-old unemployed man of Visama Village is in police custody for allegedly being in possession of 6 packets of dried leaves believed to be marijuana.

It is alleged that a 25-year-old unemployed man of Verata, Wailevu was found in possession of 1 packet of dried leaves believed to be marijuana.

Meanwhile, a 17-year-old student of Rewa was arrested by Police at Nailaga Street, Narere for allegedly being in possession of one white plastic containing 10 packets of dried leaves wrapped in aluminum foil suspected to be marijuana. The leaves have been sent for analysis.

6 people charged for 10 counts of sexual offences last month 6 people were charged for 10 counts of serious sexual offences last month.

According to the statistics released by the Office of the Director Of Public Prosecutions, there were 6 victims of the 10 counts of separate incidents and all the victims were under the age of 18 years.

A 17-year-old boy was charged with the rape and assault of his 3-year-old nephew.

A 71-year-old man was charged with

the rape of his 4-year-old granddaughter.

There were 2 separate incidents where 2 uncles were charged with the rape of their nieces while in a separate incident, an 18-year-old man was charged with the rape of his 17-year-old sister.

There were 5 incidents where the victims and the accused persons were related to one another.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, January 5, 2019 Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, the senior-most judge of Supreme Court, has been appointed new Chief Justice of Pakistan, according to a media report. President Arif Alvi has approved the appointment of Justice Khosa, who will assume the charge of his office on January 18, Incumbent Chief Justice Saqib Nisar will be retiring from service on January 17.

Justice Khosa, 64, has been senior judge of the Supreme Court. He has also served as advocate in Lahore High Court and Supreme

New Chief Justice of Pakistan appointed Court. Asif Saeed Khosa was born on 21 December 1954 in D.G. Khan.

He has served as Justice of Supreme Court since February 2010 and also served as judge of the Lahore High Court. Before becoming judge, he was advocate of Supreme Court Bar Association and Lahore High Court Bar Association. He was called to bar Justice Khosa at Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, London, England on 26 July 1979, one of He did

Former PM Sharif appeals his jail term Metal Establishment Former disqualified and issued perpetual PM Sharif appeals warrants of arrest his corruption case of for his sons, Hassan Al-Azizia Mills and & Hussain living verdict in High Court, in UK, who were for which he is serving declared proclaimed 7-year-jail term. offenders. Sharif ’s On Dec 24, 2018, 61-page appeal National Accountability against the verdict Court handed 7-year jail According to jail administration, Nawaz Sharif claims that the to Mr Sharif along with is provided with “better class” facilities. accountability court’s Rs1.5 billion and $25 million fine in connection with notorious decision was based on misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the law. The Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case.

Accountability court, as part of the Al- available evidence, according to the threeAzizia Steel Mills judgement, had also time former prime minister, were not read barred Sharif from holding the public office correctly and that the judgement was made without considering the objections raised for 10 years after completing his sentence.

It had also ordered confiscation of Hill by the defence counsel.

Coal mine gas explosion kills 4 Four coal miners killed as result of a methane gas blast inside coal mine in Dukki district, Balochistan on Wednesday, less than a week after three miners lost their lives in the same area.

The incident occurred in coal-rich Chamalang area of Dukki district. Police officer Sardar Hashim

Khan said one coal miner sustained serious injuries as a result of the blast.

Khan said all the victims, two of whom were siblings, belonged to the same family from neighboring Afghanistan. The coal miners on their own retrieved bodies of their colleagues from the mine.

the world’s most prestigious body of lawyers and judges .

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa got his early education from Multan Board. Then he joined Government College Lahore. From Government College Lahore Justice Khosa secured first position in degree of Bachelor of Arts, and got National Scholarship Award. his masters in English & Literature

41

from University of Punjab in 1975.

He then joined Queens’ College, Cambridge and did his Master of Laws with specialization in Public International Law. Later Justice Khosa was called to the Bar at Law at Lincoln’s Inn, London.

Khosa was elevated to the Bench and appointed Judge at Lahore High Court in May 1998.

He served as Supreme Court judge since February 18, 2010.

Gov’t sends list of 172 people on ECL to review committee Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry says that a list of 172 people placed on Exit Control List (ECL) to the recommendation of Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing fake accounts case will be sent to a review committee functioning under interior ministry.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad following a meeting of the federal cabinet, Chaudhry said the move was in accordance with orders of the Supreme Court, which had directed the cabinet on Monday to reconsider

its “hasty decision” of placing the names of 172 people, including Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and other PPP stalwarts, on the no-fly list. The ECL review committee of the interior ministry will present a report before the cabinet next week stating the reasons “why the placement of the [172] names on the ECL should be reviewed”.

“After looking at the material [submitted by the review committee], it will be decided how this matter goes forward.”

Four paramilitary soldiers killed in clash with militants of security forces are Four attackers, located. The attackers including a suicide were challenged by bomber, were killed in paramilitary troops clash with paremilitary at entry point of the troops in Balochistan, compound, said a while trying to prevent press release issued militant from entering by the Inter-Services compound inside training Public Relations centre of Frontier Corps (ISPR) in Rawalpindi.

(FC) in cantonment The sources said that area of Loralai district, Four attackers including a suicide bomber were Balochistan four security killed in clash with paremilitary troops, four security after failing to enter the compound the personnel also killed personnel were also killed in the attack. attackers barged into on Tuesday. According to official sources, the target of the attackers another compound adjacent to a checkpost seemed to be FC Training Centre adjacent to and opened fire on security personnels . which many offices and residential compounds

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Indian-American takes oath as county judge

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Indian-American KP George (pictured middle) has been sworn in as the Fort Bend County Judge, becoming the first person from the community to hold the office of one of America’s most diverse counties.

George, 53, a Democrat, defeated Republican Judge Robert Hebert in the November polls. In the US, county judges’ duties vary from state to state. George, who hails from Kerala’s Kakkodu city, said his father, a truck driver, earned only a couple of US dollars a day. He studied using a kerosene lamp. He said that community

engagement will be the top priority for his administration.

8-year-old NRI boy who is among Britain’s smartest

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An 8-year-old NRI named Arav Ajaykumar is being considered among the smartest people in Britain, having entered the Mensa with the IQ of 152, when he was all of four.

For those who are unaware, Mensa is the largest and oldest high IQ society in the world, headquartered in Caythorpe, UK. Leicester-resident Arav also achieved a gold-award and top marks in his school for the Primary Mathematics Challenge, a logicalreasoning test organized by the Mathematical Association. ‘‘The competition is usually for

kids studying in grade 5-6, but he’s so advanced at grade 4 that the school let him appear. “We weren’t expecting him to get the highest score,” Arav’s mom Varsha said.

“I like Math because there’s only one right answer. I was shocked when I got the result and then I was really happy. I was pretty nervous when I sat for the Mensa, but I didn’t find that one difficult.” Arav said.

The young genius now has one-to-one tuition at his school to make sure he remains stretched.

India-born woman student to get ‘Young Scholar’ award in US Rajalakshmi Nandakumar, an India-born woman scholar in the US, has been chosen for a prestigious award for her work to help detect potentially life-threatening health issues using smartphones.

Nandakumar, studying at the University of Washington, has created a technology that turns an ordinary smartphone into an active

sonar system capable of detecting physiological activities, such as movement and respiration, without requiring physical contact with the device. She has been selected for the 2018 Marconi Society Paul Baran Young Scholar award.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai cancels CES appearance For the second year in a row, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has cancelled his appearance at CES, though this time around, it’s under very different circumstances. According to Politico Pro, both he and Commissioner Brendan Carr have had to cancel their CES plans due to the partial government shutdown that’s still ongoing. Pai was supposed to discuss FCC plans with the Consumer Technology Association’s Gary Shapiro while Carr was scheduled to take part in a roundtable discussion. Last year, Pai pulled out of CES due to safety concerns, which reportedly stemmed from death threats he had received following the FCC’s repeal of net neutrality.

Pai issued a statement yesterday that addressed Congress’s failure to overturn the FCC’s net neutrality decision, applauding the House of Representatives for not reinstating “heavyhanded internet regulation.” While the Senate passed a resolution to restore net neutrality earlier this year, the House of Representatives did not. The FCC’s decision is still being challenged in court, however.

The FCC suspended most of its operations today due to the government shutdown. A number of services will be unavailable until the funding lapse ends, including certain licensing and filing systems as well as the Consumer Complaint Center.

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Indiana police have arrested a man in connection with the Oct. 11 fatal shooting of popular businessman Praful Patel.

The 49-year-old Indian American businessman was fatally shot Oct. 11 during a robbery at convenience store he and his wife owned in Jeffersonville.

According to police, detectives arrested 35-year-old Antonio McRae in connection with the robbery and murder of Patel.

A Jeffersonville Police spokesperson said information received from the public Dec. 29 led to the arrest, according to a WDRB.com report. “We were in a tough spot and needed the community’s help,” said Sgt. Isaac Parker in the report.

Detectives say McRae confessed to the murder in an interview with police. They found him at his Beech Grove apartment, less than a half mile away from where Patel was killed, the report said.

Police say they found a gun and similar clothing to the suspect’s in McRae’s apartment.

Jeffersonville Police said they were sent to the station around 10:50 p.m. on Oct. 11 after a female customer called 911 to report that she was inside the store and there was no sign of anyone behind the counter. They found Patel dead in the office area of the store.

Relatives of Patel had previously come out asking for the public’s help, offering a $10,000 reward to information leading to an arrest.

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