The Asian Star September 22 2018

www.theasianstar.com Vol 17 - Issue 34

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Deepak Anand is Canada’s top cannabis consultant Deepak Anand is a man on a mission.

Vice president of business development and government relations with Cannabis Compliance Inc., Deepak wants to make sure companies and individuals have access to cannabis the right way—because the truth is, not everyone will post October 17.

For many, there’s limited affordability, for others, there are geographical hurdles, and heavy import and export restrictions. Consumers aren’t the only ones feeling (or rather, not feeling) the burn; with Health Canada’s tight requirements for licensure, the doors don’t open easily for many would-be cultivators either. Having helped more than 100 companies, organizations, and Continued on page 6 even the Federal Government help

BC homeowners hardest hit by Canada’s rising interest rates A new report shows interest rates are rising faster than income for Canadians — providing a wake-up call to consumers who are taking on unsustainable amounts of debt. Soaring home valuations are inflating the average Canadian’s net worth, especially in the hot real estate markets of Toronto and Vancouver, but interest rate cost increases are expected to force spending restraint going forward, warned Environics Analytics in a report Monday. ‘Everything on their balance sheet looks great but, all of a sudden, when you look at these rising interest rates, that’s going to start pinching their cash flow,’ said Peter Miron of Environics Analytics. “The overarching story this year is that Canadians have never been richer but, at the same time, they’ve never felt poorer,’’ said Peter Miron, Environics Continued on page 6

60,000 Canadians have complained about the CRA phone scam originating in India

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Darpan Awards 2018 A towering funnel of smoke and flames photographed by a firefighter with the BC Wildfire Service is giving viewers a peek into the surreal world that crews have faced while battling some of the worst wildfires this summer in British Columbia.

Vancouver’s new duplex rules

The Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker this year was Afroz Shah (second from right), a Mumbai-based environmentalist and lawyer who is leading the environmental movement in the city and tackling plastic pollution and other harmful concerns one step at a time. Afroz Shah receiving International Sensation DARPAN Award.

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Most Canadians have received a scam call with an automated message threatening arrest over unpaid taxes. Call back and you’ll be further threatened by someone claiming to be an agent of Canada Revenue Agency. They may demand as little as $700 — though some have handed over more than $100,000.

At least 60,000 Canadians have complained about being targeted by the phone scam over the past five years. More than $10 million dollars has been stolen in that same time period, making it one of the Continued on page 7 largest cyberscams in Canadian history.

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On Thursday, Vancouver city council voted 7 to 4 in favour of allowing a vast rezoning of the city’s low-density, single-family (RS) neighbourhoods to allow duplexes. Here’s what you need to know about the changes. What’s new? Duplexes are now permitted on 99 per cent of Vancouver’s singlefamily zoned properties. What does it mean?

Essentially, it means it is now legal to build as many as four housing units on an RS lot, Continued on page 2

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instead of the maximum of three previously allowed.

How does that work? Under the old system, a single-family zoned lot was allowed to contain a primary residence, a secondary suite and a laneway house. With the bylaw amendments, each duplex unit can have its own secondary suite. The city says the duplex bylaw amendments affect 99 per cent of the 68,000 single-family properties in the city.

Can you build a duplex with a laneway house? No. This is the current rule, and it hasn’t changed. If you build a duplex, can you sell half of it? Yes. According to Vancouver’s chief planner, Gil Kelly, this is one of the key benefits of the new duplex option.

“One advantage here is that it allows two ownership homes on one parcel,” he said.

“It doesn’t take away from the option to do a laneway instead, but it does allow one more “affordable” — if you want to call it that — option that isn’t there now. The new regulations do not allow for the building

“if patterns continue and half of the homeowners who are planning to replace a house in the coming year chose to rebuild using the new duplex option, we could see about 400 duplexes built over the course of a year.” How many properties are we talking about?

The city says the new duplex zoning affects 99 per cent of all the single-family lots in the city or about 67,300 of a total of 68,000 lots.

Why are some properties exempt from the change? According to the city report, the area roughly between West 37th and West 49th avenues and Granville and Cypress streets is “generally comprised of large, irregular lots with a significant stock of character homes...” The report says the area requires more extensive and complex bylaw amendments which require more time and would have delayed bringing in duplexes on the other 99 per cent of the single-family properties in the city.

Vancouver’s new duplex rules of a laneway house and a duplex on the same property. How will this impact the affordability crisis in Vancouver? It won’t impact it much, and the city acknowledges that. With Vancouver duplexes ranging in price from about $1 million to $2 million, Kelly says the duplex change wasn’t made to address the “hardcore affordability problem.”

“This was really meant to address options for owners, although with the ability to do [secondary] suites which typically are rented out, we could see a bump in the rental supply as well.” How will this impact housing stock in Vancouver?

Not by a significant amount.

According to a planning report by city staff, about 800 houses are demolished and replaced with a new house or house with secondary suite annually. The report states,

New campaign finance rules, long ballot sets up unpredictable Vancouver election

Vancouver voters will be scrolling down a very long ballot when they choose a new city government next month, as a record 158 people are officially running for 27 open positions in a civic election unlike any in decades. New campaign finance rules, a higher-than-usual number of incumbents declining to run again, and Vancouver’s atlarge system means the vote on Oct. 20 will be unpredictable, city watchers say. The tsunami of Vancouver candidates, which includes 21 for mayor and 71 for the 10 council positions, was firmed up when the deadline for filing papers to participate passed on Friday. Candidates are also vying for spots on the school board and parks board. Several other cities are seeing a bump as well, as the sense that these are “change” elections – with a lot of people frustrated about the cost of housing, traffic congestion and crime – has prompted many newcomers to enter. The decision of two-thirds of the 21 mayors in Metro Vancouver not to run again “opened up people’s eyes,” said Simon Fraser University professor Patrick Smith.

“In previous elections, incumbency was the main indicator that someone would be elected again. And the electionfinance rules helped some mayors decide not to run again this year.”

Campaign fundraising rules were changed for the civic elections this year. Corporate and union donations are banned, and individuals cannot give more than $1,200 to a single candidate or party, a disadvantage to those running with parties. The city, which has been roiled by bitter debates on how to control the price of housing, had as many as 119 candidates in 1993 s election.

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Saturday, September 22, 2018

Indian PM Modi betrayed India, dishonoured blood of our soldiers,

Housing slowdown forecast to cool BC economy The B.C. and federal government’s efforts to cool an overheated urban housing market are working, and that’s among the factors leading to a slowdown in B.C. economic growth, the Conference Board of Canada says.

The board’s latest provincial outlook predicts “weaker but still above-trend” growth of 2.1 per cent for 2018 and 2019, after growth above three per cent between 2011 and 2017.

It calculates that one third of that growth was due to residential housing investment.

“The double-digit increases in B.C. housing starts in 2015 and 2016 were linked to several factors, including rock-bottom mortgage rates, rapid population growth and tight supply,” the report says. “The pace of expansion was unsustainable, and new tighter mortgage rules and several housing market taxes implemented in the provincial government’s 2018 budget have resulted in a sharp slowdown in activity.”

The B.C. Liberal opposition has been focusing on the projected decline in housing starts, which was also forecast in Finance Minister Carole James’ latest quarterly report.

“Unemployment rates in B.C. remain low, but that’s because the NDP has added 20,000 public sector jobs,” said Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo, jobs, trade and economy critic for the B.C. Liberals. “From Statistics Canada to this Conference Board report, all signs are showing that we’re on the brink of a real economic downturn here in British Columbia.”

A “speculation tax” on vacant homes in the tightest urban markets is set to take effect in 2019, based on 2018 property values. Local politicians from some of the affected cities, including Metro Vancouver, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Greater Victoria and Nanaimo, called on the province to let cities decide housing taxes, but James said the tax will go ahead as planned.

While home sales in B.C. have slowed considerably, prices were still rising in July, the latest Statistics Canada figures show. The average cost for a new B.C. home rose 1.3 per cent in July.

The increase for Victoria was 1.4 per cent and in Kelowna it was 2.0 per cent, compared to 0.5 per cent n a t i o n a l l y.

Trade tensions with the U.S. are another factor in s l o w i n g economic growth for B.C., the Conference B o a r d concludes.

“The slower growth will be a result of tight labour markets restraining e mp l o y m e nt growth and of the uncertain outlook for trade and investment attributable to an escalating global trade war and difficulties in obtaining approval for pipelines and liquefied natural gas export facilities throughout the province,” the report says.

says Rahul Gandhi after Hollande’s stunning Rafale claims Former French President Francois Hollande’s stunning claims on Rafale deal sparked a major political storm in India

on Friday.

In an interview to a French investigative news site Mediapart, Hollande claimed that it was the Indian government that had proposed the name of Anil Ambani’s

company for the Rafalde deal and that it had no choice in this matter. The statement gave the Congress ultimate fodder in the election year with the party saying that the former French president’s statement exposes Modi government’s lies in the multi-crore fighter jet deal. Slamming the NDA government, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said that the PM had betrayed India and ‘dishonoured the blood of our soldiers.’ Gandhi took to Twitter to blast the government and said that, ‘the PM personally negotiated & changed the #Rafale deal behind closed doors.’ ‘Thanks to François Hollande, we now know he personally delivered a deal worth billions of dollars to a bankrupt Anil Ambani,’ he added.

A French media report quoted former French President as purportedly saying that the Indian government proposed Reliance Defence as the partner for Dassault Aviation in the Rs 58,000 crore Rafale jet fighter deal and France did not have a choice. Reacting to Hollande’s remark that is at variance with the stand taken by the Indian government, the defence ministry spokesman said on Friday,” The report referring to former French president Hollande’s statement that government of India insisted upon a particular firm as offset partner for the Dassault Aviation in Rafale is being verified.”

The spokesperson also said, “It is reiterated that neither the government nor the French government had any say in the commercial decision.” Dassault Aviation, the makers of Rafale, had chosen Reliance Defence as its partner to fulfill offset obligations of the deal.

The government has been maintaining it did not have any role in selection of the offset partner.

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4 By: Jim Carr

OPINION

Saturday, September 22, 2018

One year on and CETA is gaining strength

Global trade impacts the lives of middleclass Canadians every day. From the blueberries you put in your oatmeal in the morning to the mackerel you cook at night for dinnerCanadians are very much a part of important global relationships that impact the lives of millions of people around the world every day.

As we mark the first anniversary of the signing of the Canada European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), I would like to reflect how this agreement is creating more well-paying jobs in Canada and lower living costs for middle class Canadians.

CETA is a trade agreement between Canada and the European Union (EU) that at its core lowers tariffs and opens access. That means for Canadians benefit from greater choice and more buyers for the goods we make every day and services we can provide from ICT to transportation engineering. CETA goes further still by addressing things such as labour standards, the removal of unnecessary regulatory

requirements, automation of border procedures, and many other factors that shape how Canada trades with the EU. Taken together, CETA makes it easier for the first-time or would-be exporter to crack into the lucrative European market and grow.

In just one year after signing CETA, we have seen 98 per cent of all tariffs between Canada and the EU become duty free. That is real change for Canadian families who now don`t have to pay the extra taxes on imported goods. But it isn’t just real change for consumers; it is also real change for Canadian businesses. At the Port of Montreal alone, we have seen 20 per cent more traffic in goods headed across the Atlantic.

This enormous step in growth for Canada and the EU has been the reason why new shipping lanes have been added to accommodate container traffic. When 9000 tariff lines drop to zero, workers and farmers, entrepreneurs and artisans can compete and succeed with any one based in Europe, a market of over 500 million consumers.

Canada`s success depends on our

government`s ability to diversify trade. The EU is the world`s second largest economy and Canada`s second largest trading partner after the United States. As we look to our neighbour to the south and the intensifying trade situation we find ourselves in, it is evident that Canadian jobs and Canadian families depend on the success of CETA. Canada’s success also depends on doing trade differently. The Opposition favours the speed of the status quo approach but we all know that has left far too many on the sidelines, ill-equipped or unable to take advantage of new access to more markets.

Our government will not settle for any deal, we want the right deal and will do the work necessary to get it.

CETA ensures that increased trade workers’ rights and environmental protections are enhanced and protected and that small and medium-sized businesses gain meaningful access to procurement and sales across the EU. We got CETA signed by thinking about what would make that budding entrepreneur, small business owner, farmer or manufacturer better equipped to compete and succeed.

We will continue to keep Canadians and Canadian businesses in mind when we are working to expand trade diversification. It is our job to open more doors and make sure that Canadians have access to global markets. CETA paves the way for new customers, clients and the good middle class jobs that come with it.

Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification -------------------------------------------------------

BC supports innovative community literacy programs British Columbians of all ages will be able to improve their reading, writing and communications skills, thanks to a provincial investment of $500,000 in the Vancouver Sun’s annual Raise-a-Reader campaign. “Raise-aReader plays an important role in supporting literacy by raising funds for innovative community programs throughout B.C.,” said Rob Fleming, Minister of Education. “These programs are truly making a difference in the lives of children and their families, helping

build literacy skills today that will help people succeed in the future.”

www.theasianstar.com # 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2 Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615 E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com Editor: Umendra Singh Associate Editor: Chhavi Disawar Marketing and Sales: Ravinder S. Cheema........604-715-3847 Shamir Doshi....................604-649-7827 Harminder Kaur...............778-708-0481 Parminder Dhillon..........778-859-9234

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Saturday, September 22, 2018

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BC homeowners hardest hit by Canada’s rising interest rates

Analytics’ senior vice-president of research and development.

“Real estate’s way up, liquid assets are up decently, their pensions are up, everything on their balance sheet looks great but, all of a sudden, when you look at these rising interest rates, that’s going to start pinching their cash flow and is going to leave them with less money left over at the end of the year.’’Vancouver’s tough real estate market just got a little tougher The report also suggested homeowners in B.C. have the highest net worth in Canada at more than $1.1 million — but it also found they’re feeling the biggest financial squeeze because of the rising rates.

Last year, households in B.C. paid an extra $1,152 in interest — twice the national average. “The affect of the interest rate increases in 2017 works out to be an extra mortgage payment per household no matter where they live. It just happens that in Vancouver, Vancouver households are already carrying much more significant levels of mortgages,” Miron said. Canadians overall paid about $9 billion more in interest charges in 2017 than they did in 2016, according to Environics Analytics statistics.

That’s about $544 more for the average Canadian household last year compared with 2016.

‘You’re starting to witness the slowdown’: declines expected in Wednesday’s Vancouver real estate figures The average Canadian’s net worth rose by 8.5 per cent to almost $808,000 in 2017, but much of that wealth was tied up in assets that are difficult to cash in, such as real estate.

Meanwhile, average household debt climbed by 4.5 per cent in 2017 while the average interest-expense-to-income ratio rose

Deepak Anand is Canada’s top cannabis consultant From page 1

to 6.4 per cent — the first increase in a decade, the report says.

Household debt has been identified as a key vulnerability for the financial system by the Bank of Canada, which has raised its trend-setting interest rate four times since mid-2017.

Interest rates are far lower now than in the early 1980s, when mortgage rates peaked at more than 20 per cent, but the danger is just as real because houses are worth much more now, said Scott Hannah, president of the Credit Counselling Society.

“If you had a mortgage of $150,000 and the rates went up a quarter per cent, you’d barely blink,’’ he said in an interview.

“But when your mortgage is half a million dollars or higher, it has meaning, especially when [the rates] are projected to go higher over the long term.’’

Key Canadian household debt ratio creeps higher in second quarter to 169.1% Because wages aren’t rising as fast as interest rates, consumers are augmenting their income with more debt, he said, which leaves them vulnerable if interest rates rise or their income falls. The Environics Analytics report found that Vancouver’s 17.2 per cent rise in real estate prices in 2017 led to it posting the highest growth in household net worth in Canada, up 12.7 per cent.

But Vancouver also experienced debt growth of 8.5 per cent, more than double the national average.

Homes in South Vancouver. ‘If you had a mortgage of $150,000 and the rates went up a quarter per cent, you’d barely blink,’ said Scott Hannah, president of the Credit Counselling Society. ‘But when your mortgage is half a million dollars or higher, it has meaning.’

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help normalize legal cannabis, Deepak says, “It’s about understanding what people want, what the government has the capacity to do, and trying to marry those up.” For Deepak and his team, that could mean anything from telling growers what pesticides they can use to helping re-configure national life insurance policies. Anand was recently appointed as VP of business development and government relations with Cannabis Compliance Inc., one of Canada’s full-service cannabis consulting firm. Prior to this, Deepak was the Executive Director for the Canadian National Medical Marijuana Association and adjunct professor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. “I’ve got a dialogue with Health Canada, so we’ve got a number of things going for us,” he says, adding that the company has also become an international go-to consultancy on the matter of legal cannabis. As a stakeholder, Deepak frequently offers feedback on the legality of all cannabis-related matters. His new position is one more notch on the belt for his longstanding relationship with Health Canada—one going back almost 15 years, well before cannabis caught his eye.

“I started in the pharmaceutical industry, where I was working in the e-commerce side. When Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations was developed, Health Canada asked me if I’d be interested in the program.”

The government was concerned there wouldn’t be enough dependable cultivators for patients to choose from, and Deepak was initially tapped to boost the numbers.

Intrigued by its medicinal potential, he began engaging in patient advocacy and policy development with the Canadian National Medical Marijuana Association, from which he stepped away last April to focus on more advisory roles. Since then, he’s been brought onto Canadians for Fair Access to Medical Marijuana’s (CFAMM) board of directors to tackle affordability issues.

The proposed excise tax means that the already pricey product will be taxed up to 15 percent as a “sin tax”; the same tariff applied to alcohol and cigarettes. Deepak has been a major voice in CFAMM’s ‘Don’t Tax Medicine’ initiative for that reason: “We need to eliminate taxation on medical cannabis,” he affirms. “Why should we be taxing this when we aren’t taxing any other medicine?” He says the longstanding stigma against cannabis has been the primary vehicle for its suppression in both recreational and medical capacities. Deepak’s proficiency in dealing with the fine print has also made him a point man internationally. “We’re working in South America, South Africa, and within the European Union,” he says, listing governments who have reached out to help bring the flower to their homelands in a legal manner. “We’ve got international governments coming to us for advice. There are changes to things like life insurance, so they need to know what recourse they have.”

On a personal level, however, he says a few taboos have followed him throughout his career. “One of the biggest things is diversity in this space,” says Deepak, admitting that many boardrooms aren’t exactly a cultural mosaic—

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LOCAL

Saturday, September 22, 2018 From page 1

7

60,000 Canadians have complained about the CRA phone scam originating in India

CBC reports that it carried out an investigation and tracked some of the calls to a nondescript, low-rise apartment building in one of Mumbai’s seedier neighbourhoods.

Gehangir Rashidi, 63, funnelled an astounding $110,000 — his entire life savings, and then some — into bitcoin machines around Toronto after getting one of these threatening calls at home, saying he owed back taxes. “I said ‘I don’t have it,’” Rashidi recalls telling the scammers. “They said, ‘Go and borrow it from the bank. Go to a friend.

Go to your employer. Go wherever you can to make money, but you have to pay.”

Rashidi is deeply embarrassed he fell for the scam now. But at the time, the immigrant believed a government would call and threaten a citizen; it happens in his native Iran.

Most potential victims simply hang up, or never return the call. But the scammers are also employing new tactics in an attempt to convince people to hand over their cash, from posing as a victim’s accountant, to using technology which prevents a victim from hanging up the phone.

The most sought-after prey are often the most vulnerable in Canada: the elderly and new immigrants. Robo-dialers call Canadian cellphones and landlines en masse, leaving a message that tells the recipient to call back.

Those who do begin with a “call opener” who typically outlines a series of threats, including arrest, loss of employment, seizure of assets, and even the removal of their children.

But just as quickly, they offer to help the caller clear his or her name through a quick payment and a reduced fine, often in the thousands of dollars. If a caller agrees, they are transferred to a “call closer,” much like in a sales operation, who continues listing off threats and outlines where the money should come from and how it should be transferred.

These details are often described in such a way as to avoid raising the suspicions of a bank.

After digging up information about a caller online, such as where they live and work, the scammers rely on mapping tools to identify the nearby banks, directing the victim to these locations. In some cases, if you try to hang up — to call your accountant, bank or a family member — the scammers may use something known as call-trapping software, says Bhatia, which prevents your line from hanging up. The technology is more often used in espionage, but less reliable versions of the software can be purchased online, and may only trap a phone line for a couple of minutes.

That’s what happened to a Toronto-area man we’re calling Joe. “Since I come in this country, I start to save money — it’s about 28 years,” he said.

The scammers were firm with Joe, but told him they were there to help. He was facing a tax problem, they said, but they could get him out of it — if he acted fast.

‘Joe’ lost more than $36,000 to the CRA tax scam after receiving a threatening phone call 0:28 Joe was told to withdraw the cash and deposit it into a bitcoin machine. He went from branch to branch, drawing down his savings; he was instructed by the scammers to tell any suspicious bank employees he was buying furniture.

When Joe questioned them, they asked for his accountant’s name, before seemingly dialing the phone. Another voice, pretending to be the accountant’s office, confirmed the amount owing.

Other scammers in the operation were likely using this time to research details about Joe online, using the information to bolster their claims of legitimacy.

At the end of the call, when the money was

sent, Joe said they laughed and hung up.

Those carrying out the scam are young, usually in their 20s, and veterans of Mumbai’s legitimate call centres, where Englishlanguage skills and an understanding of Western countries are a must.

The earning potential is huge: a typical month’s salary can be earned in just one night.

The more you steal from an unsuspecting Canadian, the more you take home.

Jayesh Dubey, a former call centre employee turned whistleblower, once profited from the scheme. “It was big money,” he said. “I cannot make it anywhere [else].”

The scam is especially lucrative for those at the top. One of the few kingpins to be arrested, Sagar (Shaggy) Thakkar, was in the process of buying a private plane when the Indian police

swooped in. Thakkar was swept up after a major raid that led to hundreds of arrests and prosecutions, after U.S. authorities got a tip and asked India to intervene in a similar IRS scam targeting Americans.

Since the high-profile arrests, criminal gangs have made their operations smaller and more agile, operating out of apartments or small commercial spaces that are easier to pack up and move. Fearful of being exposed, the masterminds often only hire those they know or those known to their existing staff.

Sudhir Kotian got the invite and went inside one of the scam centres with a hidden camera. Kotian was discovered and attacked, though he eventually managed to escape.

“I was screaming as they hit me — they hit me, hit me, hit me. They slapped me, hit

me a lot. I was screaming, ‘Save me, save me,’ and walking backward, screaming loudly.”

Kotian’s hair was pulled and his clothing ripped; his phone, wallet and camera were all taken. Indian police say they are ready to crack down on these operations, but need Canadian police to tell them about victims — and share details about the scammers.

That discussion isn’t happening, according to Indian Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh. “Nobody contacted us from Canada.

It doesn’t seem right,” he said. Singh said he only became aware that the scammers were also targeting Canadians after he visited the RCMP website himself and saw a posting about it.

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Saturday, September 22, 2018

The government seems to be in two minds about whether it should go in for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US. While many officials are against a pact as they believe it will hurt domestic industry and agriculture, there is a small but influential group in the government that favours an FTA, according to two sources aware of the developments. “There must be a larger debate and consultations involving other ministries and departments as well as industry and farmer groups in case the Commerce Ministry wants to get into negotiations on a free trade pact with the US. A trade agreement with such a powerful nation will have huge economic as well as political repercussions and is not to be taken lightly,” a Delhi-based trade expert told BusinessLine. Although India, because of

India in a catch-22 situation on free trade pact with USA its indecision on the matter, has not officially spelled out its intention to get into a free trade dialogue with the US, there are indications from the White House hinting at some informal talks on trade deals already happening between the two countries. US President Donald Trump said at a recent event in South Dakota that India had expressed interest in a trade deal with the US for the first time. India-US 2+2 White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at a news conference a few days after the India-US 2+2 dialogue on defence, economic and strategic issues that India and the US had expressed their willingness to negotiate new and better trade deals, and those conversations are at the beginning stages. “The

US has been trying hard over the recent years to persuade India to get into a free trade pact as not only would it result in a wider market for products such as farm and dairy items but also give it a handle to try and make India change its policies on intellectual property, retail and investments. All this needs to be carefully considered,” a government official said. The group within the Indian government, which is pushing for the free trade pact, is looking at the

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increased access that could benefit the Indian industry in areas such as textiles, leather and gems and jewellery and possible geopolitical and diplomatic gains. “What has to be understood is that whatever increased market access the Indian industry may get in a handful of areas would be relatively miniscule compared to the policy space that we stand to lose.

Moreover, on geo-political issues, there is no guarantee that a FTA will make the US tow India’s line. We might end up being at the receiving end with the US trying to dictate terms to us,” the trade expert added. Apart from areas such as dairy and medical equipment, where the US industry is trying to push India to change its domestic laws to gain access, India’s generic drugs industry is a sector that could be hit by an FTA with the US. Over the last few years, the US has been trying its best to make India change its patent laws and adopt less stringent rules on ever-greening of patents. Evergreening refers to superficial changes made by a company on a pharmaceutical product whose patent has ended to help it get a fresh patent. India exported goods worth $48.88 billion to the US in 2017-18, while its imports were to the tune of $26.61 billion. With pressure from the Trump administration on India to reduce the trade deficit, the trade gap has actually reduced in the April-July 2018-19 period by $1.5 billion with India buying more from the US, including oil.

Excessive drinking killed over 3 million people in 2016: Report Drinking too much alcohol killed more than 3 million people in 2016, mostly men, the World Health Organization said Friday. The U.N. health agency also warned that current policy responses are not sufficient to reverse trends predicting an increase in consumption over the next 10 years. In a new report , the WHO said that about 237 million men and 46 million women faced alcohol problems, with the highest prevalence in Europe and the Americas. Europe has the highest global per capita alcohol consumption, even though it has already dropped by 10 per cent since 2010. Around a third of alcohol-related deaths were a result of injuries, including car crashes and self-harm, while about one in five were due to either digestive disorders or cardiovascular diseases. Cancers, infectious diseases, mental disorders and other health conditions were also to blame.

“Far too many people, their families and communities suffer the consequences of the harmful use of alcohol through violence, injuries, mental health problems and diseases like cancer and stroke,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, directorgeneral of WHO. “It’s time to step up action to prevent this serious threat to the development of healthy societies.”The average daily consumption of alcohol by people who consume it is about two glasses of wine, a large bottle of beer or two shots of spirits. Globally, about 2.3 billion people are current drinkers. The report, the third in a series after ones in 2010 and 2014, relies on information from 2016 — the latest data available. WHO said the trends and projections point to an expected increase in global alcohol per capita consumption over the next decade, particularly in southeast Asia and the Americas.

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Saturday, September 22, 2018

RCMP introduce traffic ‘scarecrow’ in bid to prevent speeding in Coquitlam The RCMP is borrowing an idea from the United Kingdom by using a cut-out of a police officer to try and slow down traffic in Coquitlam, B.C. The Mounties have dubbed the life-sized figure “Constable Scarecrow,” which will be used on roads in the community in a pilot project for the next two months.

The metal poster cutout shows a police officer in a bright yellow RCMP jacket holding up a laser speed-reader.

Sgt. Quentin Frewing says in a news release similar cut-outs have been used in the U.K. but

the Mounties “haven’t seen it used here in combination with scientific monitoring.”

Frewing says it’s “a low-cost, goodhumoured way” to improve the police presence that might also make people think twice about speeding.

The Mounties are not revealing the exact locations where the cut-out will be used, saying several problem speeding locations will be a likely priority.

BC defends approach to cannabis as only one government-run shop is ready to open British Columbia’s Public Safety Minister says the province will meet demand for recreational marijuana with only one government-run shop and an online store when the drug is legalized next month.

Mike Farnworth also defended the province’s approach to legalization on Monday after it announced that only one brick-and-mortar BC Cannabis Store in Kamloops will be open when recreational pot becomes legal on Oct. 17.

“This is the largest public policy shift in this country in decades and it’s not something that just happens overnight,” Mr. Farnworth said in an interview.

“The fact that we went out and said we’re going to consult with local government and make sure that communities are involved right from the get-go was the right approach to take. “To say that because you only have one store, this is a failure, quite frankly I just don’t accept that one bit.”

Mr. Farnworth said the Kamloops store is just the start and he expects a number of public and private shops will open in the weeks and months after legalization.

It’s still a possibility that some private stores will be ready to open on the day pot becomes legal, he said, adding that the province has received about 115 paid applications and notified local governments where those applicants are based. Once a

municipal government decides to support an application, the province does a background check and issues a licence, he said.

Some communities have done a lot of work to prepare for legalization, but others have not, and many are waiting until after B.C.’s municipal elections on Oct. 20 to start the approval process, Mr. Farnworth said.

The site in Kamloops did not require a rezoning application and the province paid the city $5,000 for a business licence, plus an application fee of $1,600.

Jag Sandhu, a spokesman for the City of Vancouver, said it has not yet received any applications for approval from the province and is unable to confirm the number of stores that will be legally operating in the city on Oct. 17.

The city established a licensing system for medical marijuana stores in 2015 and recently updated its bylaw to reflect the legalization of recreational cannabis. Some 19 locations currently hold municipal business licences and will need a provincial licence before they can legally sell cannabis.

Vancouver has set its licence fee at $30,000.

Viviana Zanocco, a spokeswoman for the Liquor Distribution Branch, which will operate the government’s cannabis stores, said decisions to pay the fees would be made on a case-by-case basis.

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The mother of a baby who died at a Vancouver daycare describes the details of what she experienced that day in a lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court.

The statement of claim filed Monday alleges baby Macallan “Mac” Saini choked on an electrical cord and died because he was left alone.

His mother Shelley Sheppard is alleging negligence by the daycare operator, the property owners where the daycare was being operated, the local health authority and the provincial government.

Statements of defence have not been filed and none of the allegations made in the lawsuit have been proven in court.

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Mother of baby who died at Vancouver daycare claims negligence in lawsuit Yasmine Saad, identified in the lawsuit as the operator of the daycare, could not be reached for comment.

The Ministry of Children and Family Development said it cannot comment because the matter is before the courts but legal counsel will review the lawsuit and “respond accordingly to the court.”

“The death of a child is a tragedy no parent should ever face, and our heartfelt condolences go out to the parents,” it said in an emailed statement.

The statement of claim accuses the landlords of allowing Saad to operate a daycare without a licence, failing to

supervise operations and failing to ensure the premises were safe and suitable for an infant.

One of the property owners said she was unaware her tenant was operating a daycare on the premises when she rented

it to her and declined further comment.

The second could not be reached.

The statement of claim says Mac was 16 months old when he started attending the Olive Branch Daycare.

Surrey woman with autism has scooter stolen from SkyTrain A few months after purchasing a scooter to help her get to work and run errands, Kayla Polege’s scooter was stolen. Polege, who has autism, said she was on her way to her friend’s place in New Westminster on Sept.

12 when she got a flat tire just before Scott Road Station. She said she called her dad to let him know about the flat, so they could take it to the shop later on. Polege said she left the scooter tied up for a couple hours at the station, but when she came back, it was gone. Immediately, Polege said, she saw transit police at the station and reported the stolen scooter. She said transit police told her they would look at cameras and sent out an officer.“Because with a flat tire, if they were pushing it, they couldn’t have gotten very far.”

The scooter, Polege said, is very important in helping her get around. Polege has autism and she said she has a very hard time taking transit because of overstimulation. “I’ve had a couple of shutdowns on transit and had to get help from transit police to get home,” Polege said. After a “really bad experience” a couple months ago, Polege said she’s had enough.

She said she used money she saved up to buy the scooter and put the rest on her credit card. Since then, Polege said, she’s used the scooter to go to and from work, run errands and go to the autism centre. “I don’t have to get somebody to take me.” But with the scooter gone, Polege said she has had to rely on family members to drive her around.

Excessive drinking killed over 3 million people in 2016

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From page 8 are determined by different factors,” “The policy responses which are said Poznyak, citing countries’ levels currently in place in countries are definitely not sufficient to reverse the trends, which of social development, economic backdrops, we observe in several parts of the world, or policy measures and cultural trends. He said to improve significantly this situation,” Dr. the data showed, for example, that alcohol Vladimir Poznyak, co-ordinator of WHO’s consumption tends to drop in countries management of substance abuse unit, told facing economic crisis.

Poznyak said it was “imperative for the reporters. “When we look at the trends of alcohol consumption in many countries from governments to put in place measures that 2000, you can see ups and downs — which can mitigate the harms associated with this increase.”

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, September 22, 2018

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Ottawa gives pipeline regulator 22 weeks to review Trans Mountain expansion The Liberal government is instructing the federal pipeline regulator to review the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to consider the project’s impact on the marine environment.

Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi said Friday the National Energy Board will have 22 weeks to hear from Canadians and report back to government.

Sohi announced details of the government’s next steps during a news conference in Halifax with Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson. He called the new NEB review a “very important step forward” but said word on new consultations with Indigenous people would come at a later date.

Sohi insisted the expansion project is an investment in Canada’s future, but that it must move ahead in the “right way.”

As more consultation with Indigenous people is critical to advancing the project, he said he could not put a timeline on when construction could actually begin again.

“We are focused on getting this project right. We want to make sure that everything we do enables us to move forward on this project, which is very important project for Canada’s economy,” said Sohi.

The minister said the government will outline plans for further consultation with Indigenous people in due course.

South Asian man wins $500K in Lotto Surrey resident Sukhwinder Sidhu with a giant cheque from BCLC. Surrey resident Sukhwinder Sidhu is all smiles after winning $500,000 in a lottery draw Monday.

He checked his ticket using BCLC’s Lotto! app. “I saw that it said $25,000 a year for life and I was a little surprised,” Sidhu said in a British Columbia Lottery Corporation release Thursday (Sept. 20).

He immediately told the good news to his wife, he said. “She thought I was joking, but after seeing the numbers she was just as surprised as I was.”

Sidhu matched five of five numbers to win one of the Daily Grand Bonus

Draw prizes. He had the option to choose $25,000 a year for life or a lump sum of $500,000, and he chose the latter.

“I will be treating my family to a nice dinner and surprising my kids with some new toys and games,” Sidhu said. Additional plans include building a new house and taking time off to spend with loved ones. “I moved to Canada over 15 years ago and life has been really busy ever since. I’m looking forward to taking it easy for bit,” he added.

Sidhu purchased the winning ticket at Heritage Woods Town Pantry, located at King George Boulevard and 64th Ave. in Surrey.

Last month, the Federal Court of Appeal quashed the approval of the $7.4-billion pipeline project that would nearly triple the flow of oil from Alberta’s oilsands to the West Coast.

The court said Canada’s efforts to meaningfully consult with Indigenous people, as required by law, fell short, and criticized the lack of attention given to how increased tanker traffic off the coast of British Columbia would affect the environment.

Sohi said this review will consider the impact of increased tanker traffic on the resident killer w h a l e p o p u l a t i o n .

Addressing killer whale population The government will present the NEB with

information about recent actions to protect species at risk and to implement the $1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan.

It also will appoint a special marine technical adviser to the NEB to ensure the regulator has the “expertise and capacity” to give the best advice to the government.

The next stage of the project reboot will be to address the court’s concerns about consultation with Indigenous people, and that will be announced shortly, he added.

“Our government is committed to making sure that we engage with Indigenous peoples in a meaningful, two-way dialogue and explore opportunities for us to work together.”

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Saturday, September 22, 2018

Surrey mayoral candidates rejects proposed supportive housing in Cloverdale Mayoral candidates are weighing in on the proposed supportive housing for downtown Cloverdale.

The 60-unit, four-storey project has seen opposition from both the Cloverdale Business Improvement Association and vocal community groups. The BIA has issued a statement officially opposing the project, and as of Thursday morning a petition from community members against the project had received more than 3,100 signatures.

Ahead of the community open house scheduled for Thursday evening, Surrey First mayoral candidate Tom Gill issued a statement opposing the current proposed location.

In a press release, Gill said, “I’ve spoken to BC Housing and let them know that this is the wrong location and the proposal needs to look for a more appropriate site.”

After walking through the neighbourhood

“[i]t’s clear that this proposal has to go back to the drawing board,” he said.

Details released for controversial Cloverdale supportive housing project Gill explained that because no formal application has been brought in front of city council, the project is at a “very preliminary stage.” He believes that “starting over is the right option.”

“There’s no question we need supportive housing, that’s a reality. But, the proposed location in downtown Cloverdale isn’t the right fit, and I’m prepared to work with BC Housing and the community to find a better and more suitable location.”

Gill said that “sending the proposal back to the drawing board at this early stage” made more sense than “going all the way through a formal process that’s going to have the same result.”

Chilliwack Mayoral candidate’s expenses referred to RCMP A Chilliwack city councillor challenging the sitting mayor in the upcoming municipal elections has had his expenses referred to the RCMP and an independent auditor — less than a month before the vote.

Sam Waddington, 24, is in the running for mayor against incumbent Sharon Gaetz and Coun. Ken Popove.

Chilliwack’s Sam Waddington seeks to become the Lower Mainland’s first millennial mayor Gaetz told CBC News she first noticed discrepancies around Waddington’s expenses in June, when she saw he had spent $17,000 for the 2017 fiscal year, compared to the $7,000 she spent as mayor.

“IfoundoutsomethingsthatIthinkthepublic deserves to know. I cannot remember in my 22 years in council anything like this,” she said.

Waddington said the expenses were incurred on multiple workrelated trips, and were justified.

He said his expenses were high because he sits on the board of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and travels more frequently than his counterparts on council.

“My advocacy work has been well founded ... and in every instance that I’ve spent time outside the municipality of Chilliwack I’ve been acting in the best interest of our community,” he said.

Police raid Langley home in search for ‘extremely violent’ murder suspect Police executed a search warrant at a Willoughby home Wednesday evening in the hunt for wanted murder suspect Brandon Nathan Teixeira.

He was charged on Sept. 6 with first-degree murder in the shooting of Nicholas Khabra in Surrey in October 2017.

On Sept. 14, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) announced police were searching for Teixeira.

Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team (ERT) and members of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) along with the RCMP helicopter and Vancouver Police were seen in the 7300-block of 202A Street, late Wednesday afternoon.

“We’re focusing our efforts on the Lower Mainland,” said IHIT Cpl. Frank Jang. “We still believe he’s here.”

But IHIT has also said Teixeira has

connections to Edmonton and Calgary, and has appealed to residents in those communities to be on the lookout for the murder suspect.

The area around the Langley home was cordoned off Sept. 19 and heavily armed law enforcement officers were on scene as ERT members went into a home.

Three people who were in the residence were seen in handcuffs briefly before being released from custody, according to a witness.

But Jang said the residence remains of interest to the police.

“IHIT continues to actively track down Brandon Teixeira as he poses a danger to the safety of the community. It is imperative that we find him and bring him before the court so that he can be held accountable for his first-degree murder charge,” Jang said. “We remind the community to please call 911

BC invests in French teacher education seats, recruitment, retention The British Columbia government wants to double the number of French teachers available for the 2019-20 school year.

Education Minister Rob Fleming says the government will fund another 37 seats for French teachers next year, for a total of 74 seats funded by the province over two years.

Fleming says wait lists are too long for students who want French-language programs.

An additional $265,000 will cover 17 French education seats at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby and 20 more at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan.

Those seats are in addition to 37 that

were announced in April in a funding partnership with the federal government.

Glyn Lewis of Canadian Parents for French in B.C. says the growing popularity of French education programs has been “a wonderful development,” but the province hasn’t been graduating or retaining enough French teachers to keep up with demand.

Lewis says his group estimates there’s a shortage of between 100 to 150 French teachers in the province.

More than 53,000 children are in French immersion programs in B.C., or about 9.5 per cent of the student population.

LOCAL

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Pedestrian hurt, witnesses pepper-sprayed in vehicle incident in downtown Vancouver Muhsin L-maamiry was parking his own van on Hamilton street when he claims he saw another vehicle speeding down the street.

The witness said the vehicle hit other parked cars before the driver got out and ran toward the theatre.

“We yelled at him to stop but he kept going,” L-maamiry said.

Several cars were damaged in an incident at Hamilton and W Georgia at 9 am Friday morning. At least one pedestrian is injured.

A man has been arrested after the incident.

The incident, which caused damage to several cars, happened at the intersection of Hamilton and West Georgia streets just before 9 a.m. PT. A man was arrested outside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre after being tackled by a city

construction worker.

Muhsin L-maamiry says he was parking his van on Hamilton Street when he saw a black SUV speeding down the road.

“We yelled at him to stop but he kept going,” L-maamiry said.

Several cars were damaged in the incident at Hamilton and W Georgia Streets at 9 a.m. At least one pedestrian was injured.

L-maamiry says he and several other witnesses were peppersprayed, as was the city worker.

Ben Smith, who’d been working at the Canada Post site on West Georgia, saw the collision from the worksite.

BC puts a hold on intersection speeding-camera program B.C.’s Solicitor General has delayed the rollout of intersection speeding cameras so that the government can gather more information on the behaviour of motorists.

Mike Farnworth said Wednesday that he’s revised his timeline to activate some of the existing 140 red light intersection cameras to catch speeders from sometime in late fall to “they are not coming online any time soon.”

“Look, you’ve got 140 intersection cameras … and there’s a lot of data and analysis and that takes time, probably (needing) more time than was originally anticipated,” Farnworth said.

“When we were announcing it we said the fall. That was very much the goal. And what I’m saying right now is it’s clearly going to be later than that.”

The goal is still to get start the program “at some point,” he said. “And that some point could easily be in 2019.”

“I’m not anticipating making any

announcements on this any time soon,” Farnworth added.

The delay comes as Farnworth’s ministry wrestles with deciding at which intersections to place speed cameras, at what speeds to ticket drivers and how to share the revenue with local governments.

Government recently switched the existing 140 red light cameras to 24-hour-aday from six-hour-a-day operation and that means they have been gathering reams of additional data on how drivers are behaving, at what speeds they are travelling and where the most dangerous intersections are located.

“There’s still a lot of work being done on the existing program, which was the red light intersection cameras going from six to 24 hours a day,” said Farnworth. “The ministry wants to see the data and what the worst intersections are and what intersections does (a speed camera) make the most sense.”

Police investigates body found in Richmond Homicide investigators have been called to Richmond, where a body was found on early Thursday morning.

According to a news release, Richmond RCMP discovered the deceased male shortly after 8:30 a.m after being called to a residence in the 9000-block of Odlin Road.

The victim hasn’t been identified at this time.

The man’s death has been declared suspicious by police, and the Integrated

Homicide Investigation Team has taken over the investigation.

IHIT will be working in partnership with Richmond RCMP, police said.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation has been asked to contact the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

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Federal gov’t to boost financial support for riskier forms of renewable energy Environmentalists are warning that it will be impossible for British Columbia to reach its climate targets if a Shell-led liquefied natural gas project forges ahead along the northern coast.

The BC NDP government has suggested that other industries would need to sharply reduce their greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions should the LNG Canada project in Kitimat get built.

Hannah Askew, executive director of Sierra Club BC, said in a letter this week to Premier John Horgan that the NDP’s support for LNG Canada means the government believes “every other industry, business, community and individual in

B.C. should be required to drive GHG reductions at a significantly accelerated rate.”

Last week, Mr. Horgan said it will take sacrifices from other sectors to secure LNG projects for B.C. and still decrease the province’s carbon footprint. “If we have an increase in emissions from the advent of LNG, then we are going to have to see concurrent reductions in other sectors,” he said.

Ms. Askew sent her letter as Shell and four co-owners of LNG Canada assess whether to proceed with the project. The consortium is expected to make a final investment decision by the end of 2018.

Alberta bus line seeks to link Metro Vancouver, Kelowna & Kamloops An Edmonton-based bus line has applied to carry passengers between Vancouver and the two largest cities in the Interior — Kelowna and Kamloops — as well as making stops between the cities.

The news was welcomed Thursday by the mayors of both cities.

The application by Ebus, filed with B.C.’s Passenger Transportation Board, comes as Greyhound Canada plans to cancel all inter-city bus service in Western Canada by the end of October.

“Hopefully we can offer a long-term solution for a transportation option for the people,” said Ebus spokesman John Stepovy.

He said depending on demand, Ebus may expand the network, by adding coaches or by partnering with shuttle services that would use smaller vans

to transport people to smaller centres.

“Our plan is to grow if there’s demand,” he said. “Nothing for us is off the table. This is establishing a base, and if there is demand, we’ll certainly look at (expanding). … But not every community requires a 50-seat coach,” said Stepovy.

Greyhound said its pullout, a move that affected two million people, was because of a 40 per cent drop in ridership since 2010.

Red Arrow general manager John Stepovy in October 2011 at Calgary, for a story about Red Arrow announcing a new bus service, called ebus,which will be moving into some routes abandoned by Greyhound. Dean Bicknell / PNG Ebus has proposed running two reservationonly round-trips a day seven days a week on each of three routes and hopes to have them running before Greyhound pulls out so there will be no gap in service, he said.

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Saturday, September 22, 2018

First Pacific storm of the season hits Lower Mainland BC’s south coast is bracing for its first big Pacific storm of the season.

An Environment Canada special weather statement remains in place for parts of Metro Vancouver and much of Vancouver Island, and a rainfall warning has been issued for western Vancouver Island.

“It’s not an incredibly intense system, but we certainly will feel its impact starting [Thursday night],”.

Up to 30 millimetres of rain forecast to fall by Friday morning, with the heaviest rain due between midnight and 7 am.

Mountains and northern sections of Metro Vancouver will get hit the hardest, with areas further south more likely to get 15 to 20 millimetres of rain.

“Then a little break from the heavy rain Friday morning before then next wave hits Friday afternoon,” .

“By Saturday morning another 30 millimeters of rain could fall across northern regions and near the mountains.

Thunderstorms are also possible.”

Winds of up to 60 kilometres are also in the forecast.

Vancouver Island is slated to get hit with strong winds overnight, while the most powerful gusts are expected on the inner coast on Friday.

The Lower Mainland’s strongest winds are expected in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Environment Canada has warned that trees and branches may be particularly susceptible to the gusts due to the particularly dry summer.

“But the winds are expected to reach only 50 kilometres per hour and the ground is not saturated, so the likelihood of entire trees falling is small,” said Gordon.

Power outages are also possible, and BC Ferries customers are advised to check for delays ahead of any sailings.

Vancouver council votes to rezone most single-family areas for duplexes Vancouver city council has voted 7-4 in favour to allow duplexes in 99 per cent of the city’s low-density, single-family areas.

It was a move closely watched because allowing for duplexes is seen as a nod to a “quick-start action” that will pave the way for later allowing triplexes and multi-unit buildings in single-family neighbourhoods and is part of a broader program to increase housing options across the city.

Vision Coun. Kerry Jang cast it as a “polemical debate” between “those who fear change and people saying they need a place to live.”

It was the last major decision for Vision Vancouver, a party that has ruled for a decade, but will have no real power in the next term.

City hall veterans in Vancouver have long described changing single-family neighbourhoods as an issue that is basically to be avoided or untouchable because it can only lead to political ruin.

“There’s no doubt the idea of massive, blanket rezoning of single-family areas is very much a third rail. … There has always been something about keeping the sanctity of single-family zoning,” said former six-term councillor Gordon Price, heading into the evening portion of last night’s public hearing and ahead of knowing the evening’s outcome.

“The parameters of the housing crisis have changed and are changing,” he said. “You have to think about them and what has changed.”

He added, however, that with new supply coming on and a change in sales and prices and other aspects, “you have to sculpt a plan. The demand for consultation is real.”

When the vote came late Wednesday, councillors Melissa De Genova, George Affleck, Elizabeth Ball and Adriane Carr opposed.

Councillors who opposed the mass rezoning said the process has been too rushed, with residents given too

Homeless campers in BC provincial park allowed to stay indefinitely The camping area of a provincial park near Victoria was closed to the public Thursday as a group of homeless people were allowed to stay indefinitely while the British Columbia government tries to find them alternate housing options.

Environment Ministry spokesman David Karn said the government has not imposed a deadline on the group of about 30 people to leave Goldstream Provincial Park even though a provincial eviction notice was set to be imposed Thursday morning.

Earlier reports by park officials of a 24-hour

extension on the eviction notice followed by a possible two week time limit no longer apply to the homeless people who have pitched tents in the park, he said.

“The province has no deadline in place for their stay at present while outreach workers work with them on supports, including shelter and housing,” Karn said.

Housing Minister Selina Robinson said in a statement the campground was closed to ensure public safety, adding the park isn’t an appropriate place to establish a tent city.

Surrey RCMP complaints misinformation been spread The Surrey RCMP has spoken out against “misinformation” that has spread following months of criticism of the detachment from mayoral candidates.

Several mayoral candidates have made the future of the Surrey RCMP an election issue. Safe Surrey Coaltion candidate Doug McCallum has gone as far to say he would dismantle the detachment if elected.

Read more | B.C. municipal election coverage “On day one, in our first council meeting, if we get elected, we will withdraw from the RCMP, and we will form our own Surrey police force,” he told CBC News.

McCallum’s campaign calls the

detachment understaffed, and claims that it under-serves the community.

He asserts that the organization is governed from Ottawa, not from Surrey.

On Thursday, the Surrey RCMP took the unusual step of responding to the criticism.

Surrey RCMP have been criticized for being understaffed. (Shane MacKichan) Impartial to the election Chief among McCallum’s claims is that officers in Surrey have failed the community due to a high turnover rate, and that the detachment as a whole takes its orders and direction from Ottawa — not from the community that it serves.

Oliver man charged with first-degree murder of Belgian tourist Amelie Sakkalis Amelie Sakkalis was a free spirit and independent world traveller who flagged rides to get around, sofa-surfed for places to

sleep, and loved to meet new people.

But the 28-year-old (pictured) Belgian’s adventure came to a brutal end when she was murdered on a hitchhiking trip from Penticton to Vancouver on August 22.

Sean Ryan William McKenzie, bottom, (pictured) has been charged with first degree murder in the death of Sakkalis, whose body was found near Boston Bar four weeks ago.

A court appearance has been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Chilliwack Provincial Court, but a publication ban is imposed on the details.

Sean McKenzie of Oliver, B.C. has been charged with first degree murder and will be appearing before a judge in B.C. Provincial Court on Sept. 19, 2018. IHIT The day before she died, Sakkalis posted to a page on Facebook called Le Guide de Croutard looking for a ride to Vancouver. The next day — her last — she posted again looking for a place to stay in the city because the hostels were full.

Police say Sakkalis met McKenzie that same day.

Members of the group — an online community of francophones travelling in B.C. — exchange information about places to visit, as well as seek and offer rides.

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, September 22, 2018

15

Court asked to rule on Chinese characters on Vancouver election ballots

A school trustee candidate is calling foul after learning only one Vancouver candidate has been permitted to include Chinese characters on the ballot for the municipal election.

When Brandon Yan, a council hopeful for OneCity, submitted his nomination documents, he included a trio of Chinese characters as part of his usual name. Yan was not the only candidate to request his characters appear on the ballot, but he is the only candidate who received the OK from the city and its chief election officer.

Some candidates not of Chinese descent

had requested Chinese characters on the ballot, but their requests were denied because the “are not the candidates’ usual name,” a city official said in a written statement.

The city also received requests from ethnic Chinese candidates, including Woo, to include their characters on the ballot.

But those requests were denied because they came in after the Sept. 14 nomination deadline had passed and the candidates list had been made public, according to the city.

Woo and Ken Denike, both Coalition Vancouver candidates for school board, have

Hit-and-run accident leaves one person dead in Surrey Police said bystanders were performing CPR on the man when they arrived, but he was later pronounced dead at the scene.

As RCMP investigating a hit and run accident that claimed one life in Surrey on Thursday night.

Police received several 911 calls about a pedestrian struck on Highway 10 just east of 152nd Street around 8:15 p.m. PT Thursday.

B y s t a n d e r s were performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the man in the middle of the road when police arrived. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Surrey RCMP Staff Sgt. Murray Hedderson said the man was hit by two vehicles, one of which fled the scene.

The first vehicle was described as a light coloured SUV, which drove off westbound on Highway 10.

The driver of the second vehicle stayed at the scene and is cooperating with police.

RCMP don’t have any other details about the vehicle that fled the crash, but are asking anyone who was driving by with dashcam footage or information about the incident to come forward.

T&t Supermarket chain facing backlash over Chinese map ‘mistake’ A Canadian supermarket chain is facing a backlash within the Chinese community over an advertising campaign featuring a map of China that doesn’t include Taiwan, the latest major company to find itself in hot water over Chinese territorial issues.

T&T Supermarket, Canada’s largest Asian food retailer, launched a twoweek campaign last month in its stores in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta to promote Chinese delicacies. The campaign depicted a map of China that didn’t include Taiwan.

Although the campaign is no longer running in stores, it has sparked heated discussion on several major Chineselanguage websites.

Zhongjun Huang, who saw the campaign in a T&T store in Ontario, posted pictures of the advertisement on China’s Twitter-like microblogging site, Weibo, complaining it was inappropriate for the retailer – which mainly caters to customers in the Chinese community – to use a map that omitted Taiwan.

Mr. Huang said in an interview he tried to contact the staff of the company, hoping to have them admit the map had “a mistake.”

Self-governing Taiwan is regarded by Beijing as a wayward province. The island is where defeated Nationalist forces retreated in 1949 after they lost the Chinese civil war on the mainland to Mao Zedong’s Communists.

In a statement to The Globe and Mail, the Chinese embassy in Canada urged the retailer to correct its campaign.

“There is but one China in the world and Taiwan is part of Chinese territory. This is common sense in the international community, which the T&T should not be unaware of.”

Chinese embassy spokesman Yang Yundong went on to say the embassy hopes the supermarket “corrects the mistake as soon as possible lest it lets down the trust of Canadian Chinese consumers.”

The supermarket chain, which is owned

by Loblaw, declined to comment, saying the company does not take political positions.

“Being one of the retailers in Canada, T&T Supermarket is fully dedicated to serve the Canadian families and the community. We do not have any standpoints that are related to any religious or political matters whatsoever,” Paul Wong, marketing manager for T&T Supermarket’s western region, said in an email.

filed a notice of civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court.

“What we’re asking for is fairness for all,” Woo said . “Nobody knew that we could do it (have Chinese characters).”

Woo and Denike’s claim asks the court to order either that Yan’s Chinese characters be removed from the ballot or all eligible candidates be allowed to include theirs as well.

Woo would prefer the latter. She said that when Chinese media report on her, they use her Chinese name rather than the English name that is to appear on October’s ballot. That will be confusing for some voters, she said.

The city is standing by its decision that it is too late to make changes.

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LOCAL

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Vancouver police officer resigns a day before suspension after a touching incident 40-year career with Vancouver Police Department ends in sudden resignation on eve of suspension John de Haas, who rose to the rank of inspector with the Vancouver Police Department over the course of his 40-year career, abruptly resigned on Tuesday, a day before receiving two concurrent, 30-day suspensions revolving around a physical incident with a subordinate officer in 2017.

Office of Police Complaint Commissioner adjudicator Carol Baird Ellan handed down her decision Wednesday morning.

De Haas had disputed the earlier decision of a disciplinary proceeding, which proposed a five-day suspension without pay and refresher training course on respectful conduct in the workplace.

VPD inspector’s smack on colleague’s buttocks deemed discreditable conduct The issue goes back to an incident in

April, 2017, when, as Baird Ellan found after a public hearing in August, de Haas approached a subordinate female officer from behind after a public event.

“Someone came up from behind her and pulled her hands out of her pockets and said something like, ‘don’t put your hands in your pockets,’” Baird Ellan wrote in August.

“He then ‘smacked’ her right buttocks cheek, which shocked and upset her.”

Baird Ellan, a retired provincial court judge, found that an email about the incident de Haas sent to VPD inspectors compounded his problems. “[De Haas] committed discreditable conduct by disseminating an email within the department in which he identified and contradicted the complainant when he knew there was a Police Act investigation pertaining to her complaint,” wrote Baird Ellan.

BC puts a hold on intersection speeding-camera program B.C.’s Solicitor General has delayed the rollout of intersection speeding cameras so that the government can gather more information on the behaviour of motorists.

Mike Farnworth said Wednesday that he’s revised his timeline to activate some of the existing 140 red light intersection cameras to catch speeders from sometime in late fall to “they are not coming online any time soon.”

“Look, you’ve got 140 intersection cameras … and there’s a lot of data and analysis and that takes time, probably (needing) more time than was originally anticipated,” Farnworth said.

“When we were announcing it we said the fall. That was very much the goal. And what I’m saying right now is it’s clearly going to be later than that.”

The goal is still to get start the program “at some point,” he said. “And that some point could easily be in 2019.”

“I’m not anticipating making any announcements on this any time soon,” Farnworth added.

The delay comes as Farnworth’s ministry wrestles with deciding at which intersections to place speed cameras, at what speeds to ticket drivers and how to share the revenue with local governments.

Government recently switched the existing 140 red light cameras to 24-hour-a-day from six-hour-a-day operation and that means they have been gathering reams of additional data on how drivers are behaving, at what speeds they are travelling and where the most dangerous intersections are located.

“There’s still a lot of work being done on the existing program, which was the red light intersection cameras going from six to 24 hours a day,” said Farnworth. “The ministry wants to see the data and what the worst intersections are and what intersections does (a speed camera) make the most sense.”

Farnworth’s comments on the program’s future came after a statement by his ministry Wednesday that said the formula used to set the threshold speed for issuing a speeding ticket by the speed cameras would not be made

Canada inflation slows in August even as core measures quicken Canada’s inflation rate slowed in August after hitting a seven-year high as gasoline prices moderated, though underlying price pressures continued to inch higher.

The consumer price index recorded an annual pace of 2.8 percent during the month, in line with economist expectations, Statistics Canada said Friday in Ottawa.

It had hit 3 percent in July on the back of higher gasoline prices. Core measures of inflation ticked up to an average of 2.1 percent, the fastest since February 2012.

The slowdown in headline inflation will reassure policy makers that the recent spike in gasoline prices and other products like air transportation is likely transitory. At the same time, accelerating core inflation suggests the narrative of an economy running up against capacity constraints and generating inflationary pressures still holds.

A 2 percent core rate is consistent with an

economy at full capacity -- but not one that is overheating. The Bank of Canada -- which has raised borrowing costs four times since mid-2017 -- has been saying it will need to continue gradually increasing borrowing costs in order to keep inflation at that level. Swaps trading suggests investors have fully priced in another hike at a rate decision next month.

“This simply strengthens the case for the Bank of Canada to hike next month,” Doug Porter, chief economist at Bank of Montreal, said in a note to investors. It “also sets the table for further gradual hikes into 2019.”

Yields on Canadian two-year bonds rose 2 basis points to 2.2 percent from 2.18 percent following the report.

July’s 3 percent pace for overall inflation was at the upper end of the central bank’s 1 percent to 3 percent target range, and above what the Bank of Canada had been estimating.

Huge fire hits dairy farm in Agassiz A fire that broke out at an Agassiz dairy farm late Wednesday destroyed multiple buildings and claimed the lives of two cows, but if not for the quick work of neighbouring dairy farmers, it could have been much worse.

Firefighters were called to the scene shortly after 10 p.m. and found several buildings

engulfed in flames. They began to battle the blaze, and as they did, they watched in awe as a band of farmers swooped in to quickly and efficiently evacuate the barn of nearly 200 cows.Agassiz Fire Chief Wayne Dyer said neighbours from several farms on Cameron Road worked quickly to move the animals, which included 172 cows and nine calves.

“It was some sight to behold, all

those farmers moving all those cows so fast. They had them moved within an hour,” said Dyer. “It was unbelievable.”

Cornelis Hertgers, who owns and operates the neighbouring Cordine Farms, said that between 25 to 30 people — neighbours and other local dairy producers — helped to safely relocate the cattle after the fire broke out.

“Individuals within the dairy industry, we’re a pretty closeknit bunch of people,” he said.

By 1 a.m. the cows were settled in their new home, Hertgers said.

“We chased (the cows) to the end of the barn and opened the doors and they ran into the field,” he said. “Just gave it a few minutes, maybe a half-hour before they actually settled down, and then we used farm equipment and cattle trailers to transfer them to another property just next door.”

Dyer said it’s believed that the fire started when a corn silo heated up and some hay caught fire.

“The was nothing we could do to stop the fire.

It tore through all the structures,” Dyer said.

Dozens of dead birds falling from sky in BC community A British Columbia man who witnessed dozens of birds falling from the sky just south of Vancouver says he was horrified by the sight. “I called it birdageddon. It was really, really creepy,” Kevin Beech said Friday in an interview. The self-described animal lover was driving with a friend just off a busy highway in the community of Tsawwassen on Sept. 14 when the birds started hitting the ground around his vehicle.

“They literally dove face-first into the pavement, it was brutal,” said Beech.

Environment Canada wildlife biologist Laurie Wilson confirmed the remains of 42 European starlings have been collected.

“It’s unusual to have this many birds found dead at the same time in the same place,” she said. The remains of the birds have been sent to the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture’s animal health lab in nearby Abbotsford. Wilson said preliminary results could be available by the middle of next week, if additional tests are not required.

A network of organizations including the Canadian Wildlife Service and officials with the provincial ministries of Environment and Forests are investigating.

Saturday, September 22, 2018

DREAM CARPET

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NATIONAL

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Facebook shuts down accounts attacking candidates in Vancouver election Facebook has shut down two accounts linked to Vancouver’s civic election, declaring the accounts violate its policies and that the company has placed a priority on preventing election interference.

Facebook took down one account that was promoting mayoral candidate Hector Bremner, under the name Vancouverites for Affordable Housing.

Another account disparaging the NonPartisan Association’s (NPA) candidate with the page name Vancouver Deserves Better Than Ken Sim was also taken down.

“This is honestly just the nastiest election cycle ever,” said Mike Witherly, who is a campaign strategist with the NPA. The party

complained about both of the Facebook pages that were ultimately taken down.

“I think people are getting ideas as they see the investigation into Russian interference [in the American elections].

It’s giving people a sense of its effectiveness and prompting people to try it.”

A Facebook spokesman, who declined to be named because only company executives can be quoted in the media, said the account Vancouverites for Affordable Housing was removed for violating the company’s “authenticity policy.” That policy, among other things, requires that users do not misrepresent their identities by creating a fake account under an assumed name.

Toronto Danforth shooter stood over woman and shot her 4 times, unsealed warrants show Nearly two months after the Danforth shooting in Toronto, search warrants unsealed that Faisal Hussain (pictured) stood over a woman and shot her four times during a rampage that ended with the 29-year-old shooting himself in the head.

The documents paint a picture of a troubled loner fascinated with violence and explosions, although they do not offer a clear motive for the killings. The newly released court records do, however, provide a glimpse into the shooter’s past and his run-ins with police.

Hussain had no criminal record, but was arrested for shoplifting two days

before the shooting and then let go unconditionally.

When police found Hussain’s body, they discovered cocaine in his possession. His cell phone was ringing with a call from “Home” appearing on the screen.

After brush with death at Toronto mass shooting, Danielle Kane making the most of a ‘second chance’ Danforth killer had no criminal record, but guns, gangs and drugs weren’t far away An officer answered the call and talked to Hussain’s parents, according to the documents. His family would later describe Hussain to police as a man with no friends who spent most of his time alone in his room. He attended a mosque with his father on Fridays although his parents said he “did not seem that interested in religion.”

Documents show police were called to Hussain’s apartment three times in 2010 to deal with an “emotionally disturbed person.”

From those reports, it appears police determined the person was Hussain, and he was “apprehended because of his level of depression and fascination with death, violence and explosions.”

Experts raise concerns about Sikh motorcycle helmet exemption This winter, Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation says Sikh riders will be exempt from the province’s motorcycle helmet law.

The possibility of an exemption has been a contentious topic for years, with some arguing that it would pose a safety risk, but now Premier Doug Ford says he will make the change in recognition of Sikh motorcycle riders’ civil rights and religious expression.

The change, if it goes forward, will see the province fall in line with Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba, where exemptions are already in place.

A motorcycle safety expert, Raynald Marchand of the Canada Safety Council, told CBC Toronto he is concerned about the risks the decision may bring.

He said that helmets can reduce head injuries by as much as 67 per cent and death by 37 per cent, and says he hopes that if the province goes through with the exemption, that it will restrict it to those who have their full license.

“If it’s an experienced, fully-licensed Sikh that already has an idea of what it is to be on the road, then it’s a choice,” Marchand said. “We would prefer, of course, that everybody wear helmets.”

Marchand said he understands that the turban isn’t something that can be put on or taken off easily, and that it’s important to those practicing the religion.

“They can wear a helmet without the turban, it’s just that they need some privacy to go back and forth, and it definitely takes time,” he said.

Helmets could reduce head injuries and death, Canada Safety Council says.

Marchand says that riders who don’t wear helmets also risk their vision on the road.

“Unprotected eyes tend to be deformed by the air pressure or the tears, which makes it difficult to see,” he added.

He advises that those choosing to forgo helmets with visors wear good protective lenses.

Helmet exemptions in other provinces have also proven to be controversial, with safety being a sticking point for some.

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Driver who skipped border checkpoint arrested following police chase A driver in his 20s faces charges after passing through the U.S.-Canada border Saturday without stopping and then crashing his truck following a police chase through Vancouver.

Around 8:20 a.m., Vancouver police received a report from Surrey RCMP that a man driving a blue pickup with Oregon plates had crossed through the border without stopping, and was speeding toward Vancouver, Const. Jason Doucette said in a news release.

Vancouver police officers tracked the truck down near Oak Street and West 16th Avenue but when they tried to pull the driver over, he refused to stop, Doucette said.

Police followed him toward the West Side.

Just before 8:30 a.m., the driver smashed the pickup into a Mazda sedan

at Alma Street and 10th Avenue before crashing into an empty retail store.

The driver was arrested and taken to jail, and now faces charges related to dangerous driving and causing a police pursuit. More charges are expected to come, Doucette said.

Doucette said investigators were still working with partnering agencies Saturday afternoon to identify the man and determine why he booked it through the border.

“The radio equipment used by first responders across the Lower Mainland allows them to talk to each other during emergencies,” Doucette said.

“Efficient communication between agencies led to the swift arrest of this man who made unauthorized entry into Canada.”

Canada has seen more than 8,000 apparent opioid deaths since 2016 At least 1,036 Canadians died in the first three months of this year of what appeared to be opioid overdoses, raising the opioid epidemic’s national death toll to more than

8,000 people since January 2016, according to newly released government figures.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s latest trend report, 94 per cent of the deaths between January and March of this year were accidental and most of those deaths involved the powerful pain medication fentanyl.

“The latest data suggest that the crisis is not abating,” said Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, in a joint statement.

Alberta considers whether to follow B.C.’s lawsuit against pharma companies over opioid crisis The report shows Western Canada — particularly British Columbia and

Alberta — remains the region of the country hardest hit by the epidemic, but no province has gone unscathed.

Men continue to be among the demographics hardest hit by opioid deaths.

More than three quarters of the apparent victims of fatal opioid overdoses in 2018 were men.

The federal health minister said there was no silver-bullet solution to solving the opioid crisis sweeping across the country.

“The numbers that have been released today are nothing but tragic, actually.

We see that the numbers are continuing,” said Ginette Petitpas-Taylor.

“As the health minister, it’s certainly the number 1 priority that I am dealing with.”

In 2016, slightly more than 3,000 Canadians died of apparent opioid overdoses. That number grew to close to 4,000 deaths last year.

The numbers are expected to change as more data are made available.

The health agency also released the results of a study it did with coroners, medical examiners and toxicologists from across the country.

While the interviewees noted they saw deaths occur in multiple socioeconomic categories, the most frequently observed characteristics of opioid overdose victims included a history of mental health concerns, substance use disorder, decreased drug tolerance, being alone at the time of the overdose and a lack of social support.

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Home sales down 26 % year-over-year in August A sluggish sales market in British Columbia is dragging down Canadian real estate numbers. The Canadian Real Estate Association says home sales rose by 0.9 per cent between July and August, marking the fourth consecutive monthly increase.

The growth came as roughly half of all local markets saw a month-over-month increase, led by the Greater Toronto Area, along with gains in Montreal and Edmonton.

Compared with a year ago, sales were down 3.8 per cent, a move CREA attributed mostly to declines in British Columbia.

The British Columbia Real Estate Association says there were 6,743 residential unit sales across the province in August, a 26.4 per cent decrease from the same month last year. The average B.C. home price was also down 1.2 per cent to $699,776. The downturn in housing demand induced by the mortgage stresstest is now largely behind us,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA chief economist. “The B.C. housing market is evolving along the same path blazed by Ontario and Alberta, where the initial shock of the mortgage stress-test is already dissipating, leading to

increasing home sales.” For the year, B.C. home sales are down 21.3 per cent, but the average Multiple Listing Service sales price is up 1.7 per cent to $719,064. CREA chief economist Gregory Klump says recent monthly sales decreases are diminishing, suggesting the housing market’s recent

rebound might be starting to dissipate.

Between July and August the number of newly-listed home was unchanged as it hovered around 69,000.

CREA says the slight uptick in sales and the lack of new home listings pushed the MLS home price index up 2.5 per cent year-over-year. The disparity between the two numbers also caused the sales-to-new listings ratio to increase to 56.6 per cent in August from 56.2 per cent the month before.

20

NATIONAL

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Canada extends Olive Branch to Saudi Arabia after diplomatic blowout Canada is extending an olive branch to Saudi Arabia after a diplomatic blowout, as the countries weigh whether they can potentially avoid a prolonged standoff affecting Canadian firms and Saudi students.

Tweets about a human rights case erupted last month into an unusually public brawl between two Group of 20 nations -- both a rebuke of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s preachy brand of liberal foreign policy and the latest sign of the Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s rising tendency to throw his weight around. The Saudis expelled the ambassador, curbed investment, recalled medical students and lambasted Canada for interfering in domestic affairs.

While there’s been virtually no progress since then, next week will signal how long-

lasting the damage will be. The Canadians are suggesting talks between the countries’ foreign ministers during meetings of the United Nations General Assembly, according to a Canadian government official who spoke on condition of anonymity. At stake is a Saudi order to freeze any new deals for Canadian firms operating in Saudi Arabia, such as SNCLavalin Group Inc., and to end an arrangement under which the kingdom provides thousands of doctors a year, and funding, that’s become a key part of Canada’s medical system.

“Mohammad bin Salman was trying to send a message that he is not to be disrespected by anyone. Unfortunately, many Saudi students who were in Canada are paying a heavy price,” said Paul Sullivan.

Senator Larry Campbell refuses to answer questions about board role for BC casino company, where he is a director BC.’s River Rock Casino has been called the epicentre of money laundering by international organized crime groups. Throughout the troubles, Sen. Larry Campbell has collected more than $800,000 in cash compensation and about $2.1 million worth of shares as a board director of the company that owns the casino, Great Canadian Gaming. On Tuesday, he declined to answer questions about whether his twin roles could put him in a conflict of interest.

But Global News has learned he is quietly stepping down as chair of a powerful Senate committee.

“We are writing to inform you that Senator Larry Campbell has informed us of his intention to step down … in September 2018,” said an Aug. 29 email obtained by Global News from Campbell’s independent senator colleagues.

It is not known whether Campbell’s decision to step down as chair of the standing committee on internal economy and budgets, one of the most influential positions in Senate, has any relation to the evolving controversy at Great Canadian Gaming. And Campbell has repeatedly refused to answer questions from media. “I have no idea what you are talking about,” Campbell said Tuesday outside Senate chambers, when asked to comment about money-laundering concerns at Great Canadian’s River Rock Casino, in Richmond. Campbell was elected Vancouver mayor after working as an RCMP drug unit officer and coroner in B.C., and he served as mayor from 2002 to 2005. In one of the most divisive issues of his term in Vancouver, in 2004, Campbell broke a deadlocked council and cast the deciding vote to grant Great Canadian Gaming up to 600 slot machines, at a Vancouver horse racetrack.

At the height of his popularity, Campbell

decided not to run again for mayor. He was appointed as a Liberal senator in 2007. But before leaving Vancouver city hall, Campbell created a new political party, Vision, that received $30,750 in campaign funding from Great Canadian in 2005, records show. In 2008, it was disclosed that Campbell had been voted in as a director for Great Canadian Gaming, and Campbell took a position on the company’s committee of corporate security and compliance. In June 2015, corporate records show, Campbell became chair of the committee, which oversees the company’s ethics and compliance programs, and the adequacy of surveillance and security protocols. Last September — when an audit was released that revealed about $14 million in suspicious cash flowed through River Rock Casino in July 2015 — B.C. Attorney General David Eby called for an independent review of money laundering in B.C. casinos.

Reviewer Peter German, a former highranking RCMP officer, filed a scathing report pointing to a “decade of dirty money” in B.C. Lottery casinos. German found that transnational organized crime networks with roots in China, Macau and Hong Kong, laundered at least $100 million through loan sharks and Chinese VIP gamblers, in high-limit private betting rooms. German concluded casinos “unwittingly” allowed organized crime to launder money. And German called River Rock Casino the “epi-centre” of the activity.

Police and B.C. government documents suggest the laundered money was mostly drugdealing cash. Eby has said that B.C.’s fentanyl and real-estate affordability crises are related to the casino money laundering.

MP Erin Weir wants review of investigation that led to expulsion from NDP caucus A Saskatchewan MP who was kicked out of the NDP caucus after allegations of harassment says he wants party Leader Jagmeet Singh to join him in requesting a review of the investigation that led to his expulsion.

Erin Weir, who represents the federal riding of Regina-Lewvan, said he hopes the head of human resources of the House of Commons or the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal can be convinced to take a second look at the investigation led last spring by University of Ottawa professor Michelle Flaherty.

Mr. Weir said the “ideal scenario would be a joint request” for a review to be put forward by him and Mr. Singh. “[The leader’s] office structured the process to use some provisions of the House of Commons policy on preventing and addressing harassment but to exclude the appeal provisions,” he said. “There really wasn’t an opportunity to request an appeal under that process.”

Mr. Singh, however, indicated no interest on Wednesday in asking for such a review. The investigation was fair and just and “was up to the best practices of the day. I stand by the process and the results of that process and my decision,” he told reporters. “As a leader, it’s my responsibility to set a positive example. If I am committed to building a safe workplace, I have got to stand up for that principle.”

Ms. Flaherty’s investigation found that one claim of harassment and three claims of sexual harassment against Mr. Weir were “sustained by the evidence.” He was

accused of standing too close to people at social events and extending conversations longer than was mutually desired.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh rejected Saskatchewan MP Erin Weir’s request for an appeal of an investigation that found credible evidence to support allegations against him of harassment and sexual harassment. The Canadian Press Mr. Singh booted Mr. Weir from caucus in May after the MP spoke publicly about the investigation’s findings and made comments that could have identified the complainant.

The NDP Leader said it was apparent from his comments in the media that Mr. Weir had failed to take “appropriate responsibility” for his behaviour.”

But more than five dozen former Saskatchewan NDP MLAs and MPs recently signed a letter raising concerns about Mr. Singh’s handling of the case, to which Mr. Singh responded by saying he would not change his decision around Mr. Weir’s expulsion.

Mr. Weir, who has apologized to the women who said they felt threatened by him and has completed all of the remedial actions that were requested, says he will still seek the NDP nomination in his riding. He suggests the complaints against him may have been related to the interest he expressed last January in becoming chair of his party’s caucus.

Christine Moore, a fellow New Democrat, reportedly told Mr. Weir and the rest of the

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Ontario Court of Appeal sides with Ford, paving way for 25-ward Toronto election The Court of Appeal for Ontario has granted the province’s request to stay a lower court judge’s decision that set aside a law slashing the size of Toronto city council. By granting a stay, there will be 25 wards instead of 47 in the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 22 as originally set out in Bill 5, the Better Local Government Act. The decision was released Wednesday morning after a three-judge panel heard submissions for and against the request from lawyers representing the provincial government, the city of Toronto and several 2018 election candidates on Tuesday at Osgoode Hall. “It is not in the public interest to permit the impending election to proceed on the basis of a dubious ruling that invalidates legislation duly passed by the legislature,” the three-judge panel wrote. Superior Court Justice Edward Belobaba set aside Bill 5 in a ruling on Sept. 10. He found the government interfered

with the right to freedom of expression for both candidates and voters when the province passed the law last month. Belobaba found the reduction of wards in the middle of the Toronto election substantially interfered with municipal voters’ freedom of expression and the “right to cast a vote that can result in effective representation.” However, the appeals court ruling released on Wednesday stated otherwise, and the bill did “not limit or restrict any message the candidates wish to convey to voters for the remainder of the campaign.”

“The application judge was understandably motivated by the fact that the timing of Bill 5 changed the rules for the election midcampaign, which he perceived as being unfair to candidates and voters. However, unfairness alone does not establish a Charter breach,” the court decision stated.

Toronto-area MP Leona Alleslev quits Liberals for Tories Toronto-area MP Leona Alleslev’s floorcrossing from the Liberals to the Conservatives had been in the works for almost a month, two Conservative sources have told the Star.

Alleslev made the surprise announcement that she would leave the Liberal party to sit as a Conservative on Monday, giving Andrew Scheer’s party a public relations win as Parliament began its fall sitting. Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer appears with MP Leona Alleslev, who crossed the floor from the Liberals to the Conservatives on Monday. The Torontoarea MP will serve as the Tory critic for global security. Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer appears with MP Leona Alleslev, who crossed the floor from the Liberals to the Conservatives

on Monday. The Toronto-area MP will serve as the Tory critic for global security. But the talks between Alleslev and Scheer’s team began three or four weeks earlier, just a few weeks after she hosted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in her Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill riding.

Above a photo of her and Trudeau on July 20, Alleslev tweeted that she was “proud to be part of this (Liberal) team as we head into 2019.”

On Monday, she said she would no longer support Trudeau and his government.

“The citizens of my riding and all Canadians need a government that delivers foundational change for the things that matter,” Alleslev told reporters outside the House of Commons.

Trudeau gov’t drops $43 Billion in summer spending blitz aimed mostly at liberal ridings The federal government spent the summer making $43 billion worth of funding announcements — aimed primarily at Liberal ridings in Eastern Canada.

The size of funding announcements ranged from relatively minor — $4,000 for renovations to a Quebec town’s recreation centre, for example — to major, such as the unveiling of Canada’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, $22 billion in spending already committed to federal programs since 2015 with no new money attached.

HuffPost Canada tabulated funding announcements made by federal departments and regional development agencies from June 20 — after the House of Commons rose for the summer — until Labour Day, on Sept. 3.

Not all the money flowed into infrastructure projects or social programs. Some went to companies to innovate their foodrelated ventures or to support community events, such as $40,000 that went to a festival in Skinners Pond, P.E.I. celebrating Stompin’ Tom Connors; and $50,000 in financial assistance for a Quebec meat processor to infuse a new line of sausages with a native microflora for a “distinctive” taste.

Municipalities were also among the list of recipients for federal funds. The Halifax Regional Municipality received $950,000 for projects commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion — which was marked last year.

Immigration takes centre stage at Quebec English-language leaders debate Immigration policy, once again, featured as a key issue in Quebec’s election campaign as Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard and his chief rival François Legault, the leader of Coalition Avenir Québec, sparred repeatedly at Monday’s historic English-language debate.

It was the first televised debate in English between Quebec’s political leaders, with two weeks left before Quebecers go to the polls Oct. 1. The showdown came at a crucial moment in the 39-day race, after no clear winner emerged from last week’s French-language debate and Legault, the front-runner, fumbled questions about his party’s immigration platform over the weekend. Couillard repeatedly took aim at Legault’s plan to cut the number of immigrants by more than 20 per cent, to 40,000 a year, and to impose French-language and values tests on

new arrivals. “I have never heard a political leader in Quebec, ever, recommend not only diminishing the number of immigrants we take in, but proposing expulsion tests for immigrants, which made them very, very frightened today,” Couillard said.

“Your policy is not acceptable,” he told Legault at another point in the debate.

The CAQ leader countered that the current immigration policy isn’t working because too many new arrivals — 26 per cent, he said — are leaving the province.

“Twenty-six per cent leaving is a failure,” he said, pointing a finger at Couillard.

“What we think at the CAQ is that it’s better to take less but give each of them more services,” Legault said.

NATIONAL

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INDIA

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Ram mandir ‘should’ve been built by now’ in Ayodhya A day after he said there could be no Hindu rashtra without Muslims, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat pushed for the saffron group’s poll agenda — Ram temple at Ayodhya.

Replying to the audience’s queries on the last day of the Sangh conclave ‘Bhavishya Ka Bharat — An RSS Perspective’, Bhagwat touched upon issues such as cow vigilantism, religious conversion, Article 377, Uniform Civil Code and the state of economy.

He said the Ram temple should be constructed as soon as possible. “It should be made where it should be.

This will put an end to the very basis of differences between Hindus and Muslims. It (temple) is the question of faith for crores of Hindus. It should have happened by now,” Bhagwat said. Supporting a dialogue on the issue, he said the final decision rested with the Ram Mandir Samiti, spearheading the campaign for construction.

He said he did not know whether an ordinance could be promulgated since he was not part of the government. Bhagwat, who re-asserted the Sangh’s apolitical nature, said the only time the BJP benefitted from its association was during the Ram temple movement. “We have never supported any party, only its policies.

Whoever managed to take the benefit of our support did and others were left out,” he said.

Bhagat said issues such as “shamshan” and “kabristan” were raised only for the sake of power. During a rally in UP, PM Narendra Modi had once said: “If there is electricity in ‘kabristan’ and during Ramzan, it must also be available in a ‘shamshan’ and during Diwali.”

Though he drew flak, the statement is believed to have been one of the clinchers for the BJP in those polls. Meanwhile, Bhagwat pitched for protection of cows but disapproved of going against law in the name of such vigilantism. “We have

Gov’t appoints Chief Executives for 10 public-sector banks Padmaja Chundru, J Packirisamy, Pallav Mohapatra, Mrutyunjay Mahapatra and Karnam Sekhar of SBI have been appointed at Indian Bank, Andhra Bank, Central Bank of India, Syndicate Bank and Dena Bank, respectively. Additionally, SS Mallikarjuna Rao from Syndicate Bank, AK Goel from Union Bank of India, S Harisankar from Allahabad Bank and AS Rajeev from Indian Bank have been appointed as the chiefs at Allahabad Bank, UCO Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank and Bank of Maharashtra respectively.

AK Pradhan, who currently functions as the executive director at United Bank of India,

has been promoted as managing director and chief executive officer. Banks like Dena Bank and Andhra Bank have not had CEOs for nearly a year. The CEOs of Allahabad Bank and Bank of Maharashtra were recently removed after law enforcement agencies had initiated investigations against them, owing to alleged corruption charges. These appointments at public-sector banks come at a time when the government has announced a merger of Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank. The government cited this as the first step towards consolidation in the publicsector banking space.

Foreign ministers of India and Pakistan may meet in New York to reject the double-speak as there is no talk of violence by cow smugglers… Cow is a matter of devotion and should be protected. There are many Muslims who run cowsheds. They should be appreciated,” he said. Bhagwat said if there was a census on inter-caste marriages, maximum cases would be those from the RSS. India, he said, needed new policies on education and population, which should be implemented equally on everyone considering the demographic balance.

At a time when the debate over Article 35A has divided regional parties in J&K and the Centre, Bhagwat said the RSS did not accept Article 370 and 35A of the Constitution. On the SC decision to decriminalise gay sex, he said the LGBTQ community should not be isolated as they are part of society.

India and Pakistan are in discussions through their respective missions and ministries for a possible meeting between the two foreign ministers in New York.

Official sources on both sides have confirmed that a formal proposal is on the table for Sushma Swaraj and Shah Mehmood Qureshi to meet separately along the sidelines of the SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation) Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New York.

The SAARC meeting, an annual event along the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session, is slated for September 27. “No decision has been taken so far. We are engaged in the matter,” said Dr Mohammad Faisal, spokesperson for the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The possibility of a separate bilateral engagement a day prior to the SAARC meeting between Swaraj and new Pakistan Foreign Minister in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cabinet is being looked into, say sources.

“Both sides are in touch. It is a work in progress. Though nothing has been scheduled yet,” said a senior official. The meeting could help break the deadlock on the SAARC summit which Pakistan is to host, but an India-led boycott continues since the Uri terror strikes of 2016.

Qureshi is currently travelling with Prime Minster Imran Khan on maiden overseas visit to Saudi Arabia. An Indian government source said, “We cannot prejudge what our position will be if and when the two Foreign Ministers meet.

Instant triple talaq is a penal offence now Citing “compelling necessity”, the Union Cabinet today approved an ordinance — signed by the President later in the day — making the practice of instant triple talaq a cognisable offence with a provision of a three-year jail term for the husband. Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Congress’ reluctance to support the Bill in the Rajya Sabha had forced the government to look for an alternative route.

He insisted that the decision was taken under “compelling necessity” as the practice continued “unabated” even after the Supreme Court annulled it last year and directed the government to bring about a legal framework to deal with the issue. Prasad accused the Congress of not cooperating in the passage of the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill because of vote-bank politics. “It is unfortunate that despite being led by a woman, the Congress has not been forthcoming to support the law, which is aimed at giving equality and gender justice to Muslim women,” he said. He also urged BSP leader Mayawati and TMC leader Mamata

Banerjee to help in the passage of the Bill pending in the RS, where the government lacks numbers. The LS has already passed the Bill. Prasad said he had met senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, who said he would get back after talking to the party leadership, but there had been no response. Under the proposed ordinance, instant triple talaq would be illegal and void.

Allaying fears about the possible misuse of the proposed law, the minister said the government had included certain safeguards such as adding a provision of bail for the accused before trial. These amendments were cleared by the Cabinet on August 29.

While the proposed law makes it a “nonbailable” offence, an accused can approach a magistrate even before trial to seek bail.

In a non-bailable offence, bail cannot be granted by the police at the police station itself. Sources later said the magistrate would ensure that bail was granted only after the husband agreed to grant compensation to the wife as provided in the Bill and the same would be decided by the magistrate.

Maoists openly back ‘urban Naxals’

A three-judge Supreme Court bench on Wednesday expressed contrasting views on the sustained assertions of arrested rights activists in the “urban naxal” case + that evidence against them was forged and Pune police’s claims linking them to the banned CPI (Maoist) were unsustainable. The Pune police’s claims about “voluminous cogent evidence” saw a bench of Chief Justice and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud react in a diametrically opposite manner to arguments of the activists and the Pune Police.

When the Pune Police, through additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta, tried to establish links between the arrested activists — Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha — and Maoists by taking the bench through a fat

volume of documents allegedly recovered from seized pen drives, laptops and hard discs, Justice Chandrachud said: “We cannot sacrifice liberty at the altar of conjectures.”

When Mehta cautioned against jumping to conclusions after perusing only a few pages of the docket containing evidence against activists, Justice Chandrachud said: “Of course we will take a holistic view after going through the entire set of documents that would be shown to us. We will look at the evidence, but with the hawk eye.”

Justice Chandrachud also said: “We must differentiate between armed struggle against the government and expression of dissent by a section of people because of generations of suppression. Please keep this distinction in mind while.

PUNJAB

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Akali Dal plays ‘victim card’ to revive party fortunes The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) may be losing its control over majority of the 22 zila parishads and 150 panchayat samitis that went to the polls on Wednesday. But the party leadership, down in the dumps after politics over the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report took precedence and discredited them as a Panthic party, especially in the Malwa region, seems to have used these rural polls to uplift the party. With a 10 per cent drop in poll percentage and an FIRagainst party chief Sukhbir Badal, the Akalis have managed to carry on with their banter of “Congress high handedness and disruption to peace in state”.

By playing victim, claiming that booth capturing was rampant, especially in Ferozepur, Muktsar and Bathinda districts – which were earlier Akali strongholds — the

Akali Dal leaders have made a bid to resurrect their dwindling political fortune. The fact that party patriarch Parkash Singh Badal and president Sukhbir were forced out of their home to tour their constituencies, party’s senior leaders and former ministers too forced to stage dharnas, all appear to be an attempt to lift the party’s sagging political fortunes in the area, post the commission report being used politically against them. If Faridkot rally last week, helped the party in reinvigorating their scattered cadres, the “victimisation” projected by the party leaders in Wednesday’s elections, will only help them rebuild their cadres. Not that the attempt by the Akalis is without basis.

Besides a case against Sukhbir and other party leaders, complaints of booth capturing were rampant.

Punjab gov’t files plea for vacation of stay against ‘erring’ cops Just about a week after further proceedings were stayed against two former SSPs and exSHO in pursuance of recommendations made by the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission, the state government has sought vacation of the interim order. In its reply submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the government claimed that the interim relief sought and granted had “huge” ramifications and amounted to a blanket stay on all further investigation/ inquiry against the petitioners.

The petitioners, former SSPs Charanjit Singh and Raghbir Singh Sandhu, along with then SHO of the Bajakhana police station Amarjit Singh, had earlier argued that the first commission set up under Justice Zora Singh could not have been substituted by a second commission; the Ranjit Singh panel went beyond its mandate by involving itself in presumptive adjudicatory process and the commission did not issue notice under Section 8-B of the Commission of Inquiries Act, which says that the commission is mandated to give a

Bridegroom diverts baraat to polling booth to cast vote

During the polling for the Zila Parishad and Block Samitis, a bridegroom came to the polling booth to cast his vote before his marriage.

It happened at booth no 118 under Garhshankar sub-division.

Pradeep Kumar of Chahalpur was to get married today and the ‘baarat’ (marriage procession) had to leave for Banga for marriage. Pradeep Kumar decided to vote first on booth no. 118 of Chahalpur. He along with his ‘baraat’ reached at the booth and the ‘baraat’ moved ahead only after he cast his vote.

Pardeep said, “Every person should exercise his franchise. By this, we can strengthen the democracy of our country.”

person reasonable opportunity of being heard during the inquiry and to produce evidence in his defense.

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Pakistan Sikh Council urges Gov’t to open Kartarpur border Pakistan Sikh Council (PSC) head Sardar Ramesh Singh called for India to open Kartarpur border to allow its minority Sikh community to visit Pakistan. Addressing a press conference along with PSC members at Karachi press club, Ramesh Singh commended the Pakistani government for its announcement of opening the border for Sikh devotees at the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism “The entire Sikh community is thankful to the Pakistan government for its noble gesture,” he said. The PSC chif also strongly condemned protests held against former Indian cricket star Navjot Singh Sidhu in India. Pakistan’s Sikh community has urged the Indian government to open the Kartarpur

border to help facilitate Sikh pilgrims’ visit to a historic gurdwara in this country, a media report said on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference here, patronin-chief of Pakistan Sikh Council Sardar Ramesh Singh Khalsa said if opened, the border crossing will allow Indian pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Kartar Singh and Pakistanis to visit Dera Baba Nanak on the Indian side. Khalsa said it had been a long pending demand of the Sikhs to open the Kartarpur border for pilgrims, ‘The Express Tribune’ reported.

He also praised the new Imran Khan-led government for its announcement of opening the border for Sikh devotees on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. “The entire Sikh community is thankful to the Pakistan government for its noble gesture,” he said.

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INDIA

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Indian Space Research Organization successfully launches British commercial satellites from Sriharikota After 33-hour countdown, India’s premier space agency ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) launched two commercial satellites from Sri Harikota on Sunday.

The foreign satellites, meant for forest mapping and flood and disaster monitoring, among other uses, would be released into sun synchronous orbit at a height of 583 km, it added. They have been developed by Surrey Satellite Technologies Limited, United Kingdom. The mission is a commercial arrangement between the company and Antrix Corporation Limited, which is the commercial wing of ISRO. This would be the 44th flight of the PSLV and the third launch

by ISRO this year. In January, PSLV-C40 launched India’s weather observation satellite Cartosat 2 Series and PSLV-C41 launched IRNSS - 1I navigation satellite in April. The

IRNSS launch happened even as ISRO was trying to re-establish communication with the launched GSAT-6A communications satellite. While the IRNSS space segment is in place, India still has to wait a few months more before utilising it as the ground segment and receivers are yet to be deployed. Also, it remains to be seen if ISRO will order more spare satellites as the budgeted ones are already used up The IRNSS project had begun with the construction of the space segment in 2013 when the first satellite IRNSS-1A was launched and the seventh and last satellite was placed in orbit in 2016.

With the space segment complete, ISRO had set out to calibrate the system. The CSIRNational Physical Laboratory is helping with synchronising atomic clocks onboard the satellites with Indian Standard Time (IST).

Supreme Court vows to plug gaps in insolvency law The Supreme Court on Wednesday vowed to plug loopholes in the working of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) proceedings, which came to the fore during the ongoing intense fight between ArcelorMittal and Numetal to disqualify each other from bidding to revive debtridden Ruias-led Essar Steel. A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Indu Malhotra, which had earlier said it would rule against National Company Law Tribunal interfering time and again during the process for finalisation of resolution plan for a debtridden company

by Insolvency Resolution Professional (IRP) and Committee of Creditors (CoC), said the working of IRP and CoC too needed streamlining. “All that the IRP does it to examine the bids, finalise it and place it for consideration before the CoC. IRP

decides nothing. He acts as a post office after making preliminary scrutiny of resolution plans submitted by bidders. He may examine whether all dues have been paid by bidders.

But, he cannot deal with complicated questions of law under IBC and take legal opinion. It is absurd. He is not equipped to deal with questions of law,” Justice Nariman said. “As far as the CoC is concerned, there might be big banks in it which have fullfledged legal departments. But still the CoC is to finalise the resolution plan submitted by the IRP. If at that point of time anyone has any objection, the issue can be taken to quasi-judicial body NCLT, then to NCLAT and finally to the Supreme Court,” he said, and insisted that the SC must lay down the law delineating the correct procedure that is to be followed under the IBC.

Former ISRO scientist K Chandrasekhar framed for spying died hours before Supreme Court cleared him Former space scientist K Chandrasekhar slipped into coma hours before the Supreme Court delivered its judgement on Friday, dismissing the espionage case as a frame-up.

It was a verdict he had been longing for after nearly two and half decades of wait in the ISRO espionage case. But it was not to be.

In its verdict, the top court held that former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Nambi Narayanan was “arrested unnecessarily, harassed and subjected to mental cruelty” in a 1994 espionage case.

It also awarded Rs. 50 lakh compensation to 76-year-old Narayanan for being subjected to mental cruelty in the case, in which K Chandrasekhar was also one of the six accused but was exonerated along with others in 1998.

Even as the much waited ruling came at 11 am, K Chandrasekhar’s final journey had begun. “He fell into coma on Friday at 7.15 am and passed away at the Columbia Asia Hospital on Sunday at 8.40 pm. He was anxiously waiting for the verdict from early hours of Friday,” said K Chandrasekhar’s wife KJ Vijayamma as tears welled up in her eyes.

Vijayamma recalled the final hours of the scientist who underwent untold agony and misery in the false case that shattered him and his family. Chandrasekhar had undergone a surgery to remove gall bladder stone. On Friday at 3.15 am, he asked for coffee and spoke about the case too saying that the verdict would be pronounced on Friday, she said.

India beat Pakistan by 8 wickets in Asia Cup DUBAI: When the fixtures for the Asia Cup were drawn, India would be hoping that one of their two back-to-back games would be an easy outing. The Hong Kong game on Tuesday was expected to be a cakewalk. It turned out to anything but that with big favourites India having to eke out an unconvincing 26-run win. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan’s authority at the creas against the charging pace attack meant that the 163-run target didn’t induce any shockwaves. That allowed Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthikn India secured a comfortable victory over

Pakistan. The most anticipated game of the Asia Cup had everyone excited even before the match started, with #IndvPak dominating Twitter trends almost all day. And as the match began, netizens from both side of the border didn’t miss any opportunity to take a jibe at each other. However, with Pakistani side’s shaky performance, the Indians had the last laugh. The match drew more attention as people wanted the Indian side to avenge their defeat at the Champions Trophy. As India thrashed Pakistan by eight wickets, it was raining memes and jokes online.

RBI can sell USD 25 billion more to arrest rupee fall: SBI The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) should intervene in both spot and forward markets to arrest Indian rupee’s depreciation, suggested a State Bank of India (SBI) Ecowrap report on Tuesday. As per the report, during the June 2008 to May 2009 period, when rupee depreciated by 13 per cent, the RBI sold dollars worth $43 billion, though the forex reserves at that time stood at $312 billion.

The report cited that even during 1990s, when the total forex reserve was less than $40 billion, the RBI had intervened in the market by selling 8-9 per cent of total reserve to rein

in a fall in rupee. “So, we believe in the present scenario, RBI could go up to its tolerance limit of 10 per cent (a crude proxy of the average ratio over all periods) by selling at least an additional $25 billion in the forex market,” the report said. The apex bank is known to enter the markets via intermediaries to either sell or buy US dollars to keep the rupee in a stable orbit. In addition, the report said that oil companies may also be asked to purchase all their USD requirements directly from the RBI through a single bank, an arrangement that was used in 2013.

Indian carmakers are trying to sell EVs. It won’t be easy As early as 2010, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) foresaw conventional fuel engines losing out. That year, the Indian conglomerate, with interests ranging from retail to automobiles, bought a controlling stake in Bengaluru-based Reva Electric Car. The acquisition brought to M&M’s stable the startup’s eponymous battery-powered car, marking its foray into electric vehicles (EVs).

Eight years on, as rivals play catch up, M&M is building on its first-mover advantage. The group now reportedly plans

to borrow the expertise of Italian designing major Pininfarina to build a hatchback with an electric power train. The car is part of Mahindra’s attempt to diversify its portfolio in the utility vehicles segment in India and is expected to take on the very popular Maruti Swift. “For shared mobility providers, Ola and Uber, a small hatchback makes good economic sense; it will have more pull in the segment,” Pawan Goenka, managing director of M&M, told The Economic Times newspaper on Sept. 17.

Saturday, September 22, 2018

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SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Nepal’s deal to buy Chinese steel upsets India The timing of a surprise decision by Nepal to withdraw from the first-ever joint military exercise in India – which comes exactly a week before a scheduled joint military exercise with China, and on the heels of a vital transit agreement with the Middle Kingdom – may have been merely coincidental, but is loaded with strategic meaning for the small country sandwiched between two regional giants.

Kathmandu let it be known that the Nepalese Army would not participate in the first-ever joint military exercise of the socalled BIMSTEC nations in India that started on September 10. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, or BIMSTEC, is a regional bloc comprising Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.

Driven by India into China’s arms, is Nepal the new Sri Lanka?

The military drill, which follows a BIMSTEC

summit of leaders in Kathmandu earlier this month, came under criticism in Nepal as it was said to have been sprung on the member countries – apparently there had been no discussion of the India-initiated proposal at the summit itself. In a parliamentary statement squarely aimed at India, Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli said Nepal would not join any military alliance, and would not deviate from its foreign policy based on non-alignment and peaceful coexistence.

India has been looking to develop a robust regional organisation excluding China and Pakistan. It is therefore strategically using BIMSTEC to project its power because the other regional bloc, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), has Pakistan as a member and China as an observer.

An Indian Army soldier in front of a group of People’s Liberation Army soldiers in a 2016 anti-terror drill.

A Chinese company reshaping the world leaves a troubled trail Christopher Fernando knows the price of rapacious development. It has eaten his kitchen.

Only the sink remains along what was once an outer wall of Fernando’s seafront home on the west coast of Sri Lanka, about 20 miles north of Colombo. Part of his thatched-roof house where the 55-year-old fisherman has lived for three decades suddenly washed away last year. The dredger he blames, like a mythological sea monster ceaselessly sucking the sea bed, is visible in the distance as he speaks. Waves used to wash sand in, he says, but now they only wash it out, tearing away the shoreline—a charge government officials deny. “From the taking of sand,” Fernando says, “everything is being destroyed.”

The sand is being dumped along the coast of Colombo’s business district, where it covers an area the size of 500 American football fields and weighs as much as 70 million Toyota Camrys.

It’s the foundation of a development known as Port City Colombo being built by China Communications Construction Co., or CCCC. Plans envision a financial district—pitched as a new hub between Singapore and Dubai—with a marina, a hospital, shopping malls, and 21,000 apartments and homes. The project is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, an ambitious plan announced in 2013 by President Xi Jinping to build an estimated $1 trillion of infrastructure to support increased trade and economic ties and further China’s interests around the globe.

PM Modi, Hasina jointly inaugurate India-Bangladesh pipeline

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PM Modi describes cooperation between India and Bangladesh as an example for the world as he and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated the construction of a friendship pipeline project through video conferencing.

The 130-kilometre IndiaBangladesh Friendship Pipeline Project will connect Siliguri in West Bengal in India and Parbatipur in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh.

The Rs 346 crore project will be completed in 30 months and the capacity of the pipeline will be one million metric tonnes per annum. Both countries had entered into an agreement for the pipeline construction in April this year during

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale’s visit to Dhaka.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister described the cooperation between the two countries as an example for the world, according to an official statement.

He said that the two countries were neighbours, geographically and family, emotionally, it said.

Modi said the proposed pipeline will further energise, not just Bangladesh’s economy, but also the relationship between the two countries.

He said the project will boost the friendship between India and Bangladesh and the pipeline will help fulfil energy needs of Bangladesh at cheaper rates.

Who is at risk from China’s Belt and Road Initiative debt trap?

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which seeks to invest about $8 trillion in infrastructure projects across Asia, Europe and Africa, has come under intense scrutiny, not least due to suspicions over China’s intent behind the ambitious project. A study by the Centre for Global Development, a Washington-based think tank, analyses one important consequence of BRI: debt.

While the study finds that it is unlikely that the BRI will be plagued with wide-scale

debt sustainability problems, it is likely to raise the risk of a sovereign debt default among relatively small and poor countries.

The BRI will potentially span 68 countries and could have implications for each of these countries’ public debt. To understand these effects, the study first uses sovereign credit risk ratings and World Bank debt sustainability analysis to identify 23 of the 68 countries currently at risk of debt distress. For these 23 countries, the study adds the Belt and Road

Former Malaysia PM Najib Razak faces new charges over missing The former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has appeared in court facing 25 charges related to the 1MDB scandal, including abuse of power and money laundering.

Najib, who was already facing multiple money-laundering charges, was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a sum of $681m (£513m) that went into his personal bank account, allegedly from the 1MDB government economic development fund.

It is the most significant charge so far against Najib in the long-running 1MDB investigation.

While it has long been reported that Najib received the money, the former prime minster – who lost power on 9 May – repeatedly claimed it was a donation from a Saudi prince and unrelated to 1MDB corruption.

Appearing before the Kuala Lumpur sessions court on Thursday afternoon after spending the night in jail, Najib pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Saturday, September 22, 2018

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FIJI

Saturday, September 22, 2018

The word BULA has been trademarked by US businessman A United States businessman has trademarked the word “Bula”.

Ross Kashtan, who runs a kava bar in Florida, has trademarked the word which is a commonly-used traditional Fijian greeting.

The trademarking can be used to prevent other businesses using the word “Bula” in bars and cafes selling kava and other drinks.

Kashtan’s move to trademark the Fijian word follows the recent case of an Illinois restaurant chain which trademarked

the traditional Hawaiian greeting “aloha”. After sending ‘cease and desist’ letters to Hawai’i-based restaurants using ‘aloha’, Chicago’s Aloha Poke Company was accused of appropriating Hawaiian culture.

The US Patent and Trademark office lists 43 companies which have trademarked the word “bula”.

16 of the trademarks are listed as “active” and sell products ranging from backpacks and stuffed toys to dietary drinks and healthcare products.

Nausori Airport to become world class - Prime Minister Work on the extension of the runway make for a well planned safer and more and upgrade of Nausori Airport will efficient airport.

The Prime Minister says once the commence soon as Fiji Airports will pump in $60 million for this major upgrade that runway project is completed, the next will change the look of the current airport stage will be to build a brand new state-ofthe-art terminal.

While speaking at the Bainimarama says they groundbreaking ceremony, Prime Minister Voreqe will ensure that Nausori Airport is truly world class.

Bainimarama says the runway He says with this length will be extended from expanded runway and flight 1,670 metres to 2,140 metres, paths, paired with a newly and widened from 30 metres to refurbished terminal filled 45 metres, plane taxiways will with attractive new vendors, be widened and a new parking Nausori Airport will join apron will be created outside in Nadi as a gateway to Fiji preparation for a future phase that we all can be proud of. of planned terminal upgrades.

Bainimarama says works will PM Voreqe Bainimarama The project is expected to be completed in 2 and half also include the construction of a properly drain strip area and a years.

Attorney General and Minister for runway and safety area. The diversion of the existing road infrastructure, a new Public Enterprise Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum perimetre security fence and a paving new says none of what people have seen today perimetre roading will come together to would have been possible without the

2 former Financial officers charged with money laundering found guilty by all three assessors Two former Financial Officers of the Pacific Theological College have been sentenced to 10 and 11 years imprisonment respectively for money laundering by High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo. Rosheen Parveen Raj has been sentenced to 11 years imprisonment with a non parole period of 10 years while Rine Munivai Sorby has been sentenced to 10 years with a non parol of 9 years While delivering his sentence, Justice Temo says Raj was the main instigator and also got more money. Justice Temo says that

both bank statements of the women showed huge deposits and not a single cent was recovered.

He says the women were given great trust but deceived and cheated the Pacific Theological College. Justice Temo says the two will have to pay for their deceive and crime as the offence was well planned.

Raj between the 1st of June 2006 to the 16th of February 2011 falsified documents and obtained $96,576.86 from the Pacific Theological College bank account.

Sorby did the same between the 1st of June

Government destroying i-Taukei and Hindi languages The National Federation Party says an NFP Government will make the teaching of formal itaukei and Hindi languages compulsory in all primary schools.It will reverse the decision of the current Fiji First Government to teach conversational I-taukei and Hindi because it will destroy both languages in the medium to long-term. NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad was reacting to the Attorney General and Minister for Education Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s announcement at last week’s Fiji Head Teachers Association that Government will ensure that the teaching of both conversational languages will be enforced in all schools in accordance with the 2013 Constitution. “The current Government is hell-bent on destroying the formal languages of i-taukei and Hindi”. This is yet

another example of the current Government riding roughshod over the people and blatantly abusing its mandate”. “The AG’s statement that contemporary i-taukei and conversational Hindi are languages is despicable. They are dialects or just derivatives, not used in religion, preaching or other religious functions, let alone any other occasion”. “Legislating contemporary i-taukei and conversational Hindi is derogatory to the wide and formal use of both languages by communities”. “Irrespective of it being legislated through Section 31(3) of the Constitution, we will ensure that our teachers and students are not subjected to teaching and learning contemporary itaukei and conversational Hindi in schools”..

Professor Biman Prasad - NFP

Indian high commissioner signs terms of reference India’s High Commissioner to Fiji Vishwas Sapkal has officially signed the terms of reference this afternoon in Suva to co-lead the Multi National Observer Group alongside Australia and Indonesia. Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said a few weeks ago, the terms of reference for the MOG was signed by Australia and Indonesia but India was not present because of commitments.

“We are privileged to have these three countries as co-leaders for the MOG for the 2018 general elections,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said. Mr Sapkal said they were happy to be

part of the MOG for the upcoming general elections.

He noted that India was also part of the process in the 2014 general elections.

FijiFirst Provisional Candidates announced by Bainimarama Prime Minister and FijiFirst Leader, Voreqe Bainimarama says that FijiFirst is ready for the general elections and the party’s manifesto will be out soon. While announcing the 51 proposed candidates for the party, Bainimarama also stressed that the FijiFirst proposed candidates stand for all the people of Fiji. With a big smile on his face after the announcement, Bainimarama also said that his face says it all that they will win the 2018 general elections.

FijiFirst proposed candidates are : 1. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama 2. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum 3. Alexander David O’Connor 4. Alipate Tuicolo 5. Alvick Avhikrit Maharaj 6. Anne Dunn 7. Arvin Kumar Singh 8.

Ashneel Sudhakar 9. Ateca Laveti Mina Ledua 10. Christopher Takalaiyale Waqa 11.

Dr. Brij Lal 12. Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete 13.

Dr. Joseph Veramo 14. Dr. Mahendra Reddy 15. Dr. Penioni Koliniwai Ravunawa 16. Dr. Salik Ram Govind 17. Faiyaz Siddiq Koya 18.

George Vegnathan 19. Howard Robin Thomas Politini 20. IIiesa Delana 21. IIisoni Galala 22.

Inia Batikoto Seruiratu 23. Ivamere Rokoduna Saunaqali 24. Jale Sigarar 25. Joape Mudre Nalatu 26. Jone Usamate 27. Joseph Nitya Nand 28. Kelepi Funilagi Gadekivuda Gucake 29. Lisi Naziah Tora Ali 30. Mataiasi Akauola Niumataiwalu 31. Mereseini Rakuita Vuniwaqa 32. Orisi Vuira b33. Osea Naiqamu 34. Peceli Baleikorocau 35. Peni Vakabara Ratumaitavuki 36. Praveen Kumar Bala 37.

Premila Kumar 38. Reginald Manor Kant Jokhan 39. Rohit Ritesh Sharma 40. Rosy Sofia Akbar 41. Sachida Nand 42. Selai Adimaitoga 43. Semi Tuleca Koroilavesau 44. Susana Hirst Tuilau 45. Vatimosi Rokotinasau 46.

Veena Kumar Bhatnagar 47. Viam Pillay 48.

Vijay Nath 49. Vijendra Prakash 50. Vinay Vikashni Lata 51. Virendra Lal. Current FijiFirst parliamentarians who will not contest for FijiFirst are Jilila Kumar, Mohammed Dean, Samuela Vunivalu, Alivereti Nabulivou, Balmindar Singh, Netani Rika, Joeli Cawaki, Lorna Eden, Ruveni Nadalo, Laisenia Tuitubou and Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, September 22, 2018

JeM, LeT terror outfits pose regional threat to subcontinent: US The US on Wednesday said the Jaish-eMohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba terror groups continue to pose a regional threat and that Pakistan did not adequately address America’s concerns on terrorism in 2017.

Although al-Qaida in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been seriously degraded, remnants of its global leadership, as well as its regional affiliate al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), continued to operate from remote locations in the region that historically have been exploited as safe havens, the US State Department said in its annual Country Reports on Terrorism for the year 2017.

“Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba continued to pose a regional threat in the subcontinent,” it said.

The report notes that from August to December 2017, the Trump administration placed a pause on spending new Foreign Military Financing for Pakistan, holding these funds until Pakistan addressed key US concerns, including the threat posed by the Haqqani Network and other terrorist groups that enjoyed safe haven with Pakistan.

Although Pakistan’s National Action Plan calls to “ensure that no armed militias are allowed to function in the country,” several terrorist groups focused on attacks outside of the country continued to operate from Pakistani soil in 2017, it said.

These groups included the Haqqani Network, besides the LeT and JeM which are directed against India.

Though Pakistan continued military operations to eradicate terrorist safe havens in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, their impact on all terrorist groups was uneven, said the State Department report.

According to the report, the Pakistani military and security forces undertook operations against groups that conducted attacks within Pakistan, such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Even as the Pakistani government pledged support to political reconciliation between the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban it did not restrict the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network from operating in Pakistan-based safe havens and threatening US and Afghan forces in Afghanistan.

Govt takes unpopular decisions to fix the economy Faced with deepened economic crisis, the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government presented on Tuesday a mini-budget in the National Assembly (NA) by amending the finance bill, nine months ahead of the completion of the fiscal year (FY) 2018-2019. Addressing the lawmakers at NA, finance minister Asad Umar said that the country has been engulfed in severe economic crisis, emphasizing that the budget deficit can reach 7.2% mark if the current conditions prevailed. He announced increased customs duty on more than 5,000 ‘luxury’ items and increase in regulatory duty on import of more than 900 items, besides raising federal excise duty on imports of luxury vehicles and duties on ‘expensive’ cell phones. The move

comes a day after an increase in gas prices by up to 143% was announced by petroleum minister Ghulam Sarwar. The measures being taken by PTI government, according to observers, will indirectly hit the common man most. “The PTI government has been doing exactly the same for what it was criticizing the previous elected governments. The problem with Prime Minister Imran Khan is that he had shown a very rosy picture to its voters before the election, promising that he will fix all problems in first 100 days of his government. Given Pakistan’s serious financial constraints, the benchmark which Khan had set is impossible to be met. He is compelled to take unpopular decisions, which appear to disappoint the masses,” said Asad Khan, an observer.

Prime Minister Imran Khan writes to India’s Prime Minister Modi, calls for resumption of peace process Prime Minister Imran Khan has written to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi a resumption of dialogue between the two countries. More specifically, and significantly, Imran Khan also has sought a meeting between Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and his counterpart the Indian and Pakistan foreign minister respectively, on the sidelines of UNGA in New York later this month. Imran Khan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan meeting with PM Modi - File photo letter was in response to Modi’s own communication to him seeking intense speculation in the past few weeks on a “meaningful and constructive” engagement whether or not Swaraj and Qureshi were going between the 2 countries. This was after Khan to meet at UNGA. Khan’s letter is also the first said in his victory speech that Pakistan would formal proposal by either side for a substantive respond with two steps to any step taken by engagement between India and Pakistan since India for normalisation of ties. There has been government formation in Pakistan last month.

Former PM Sharif & daughter released from jail Former disqualified PM Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law released from jail hours after high court suspended their sentences in one corruption case. In a relief to the still-grieving Sharif family, a two-judge

bench of the Islamabad High Court suspended the jail sentences of Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Safdar Awan in the Avenfield corruption case and ordered their release. His other cases based on corruption are pending.

Pakistan will prefer destabilised Afghanistan to a strong state: Report Pakistan may view a weak and destabilised Afghanistan as preferable to a strong and unified Afghan state, a latest US Congressional report has said. bIt asserted that Islamabad may also anticipate that improved relations with Kabul could limit India’s influence in the region.

“Pakistan sees Afghanistan as potentially providing strategic depth against India.

Pakistan may also view a weak and destabilised Afghanistan as preferable to a strong, unified Afghan state (particularly one led by a Pashtundominated government in Kabul),” the bipartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in its

latest report on Afghanistan has said. According to the report ‘Afghanistan: Background and US Policy In Brief ’, some Pakistani leaders have stated that instability in Afghanistan could rebound to Pakistan’s detriment. Pakistan has struggled with indigenous Islamist militants of its own, it said.

“Pakistan may also anticipate that improved relations with Afghan leadership could limit India’s influence in Afghanistan,” said the report

by CRS, an independent research wing of the US Congress. CRS reports are not an official view of the Congress but are prepared periodically by independent experts on hot topics.

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NRI

Saturday, September 22, 2018

NRI pleads guilty to immigration fraud scheme using Facebook, WhatsApp

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An Indian citizen has pleaded guilty to operating a fraud scheme by falsely representing as an employee of the US immigration service in which he used social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp to scam people seeking to obtain American visas. Kanwar Sarabjit Singh, 51, a lawful permanent resident, used Facebook and WhatsApp to falsely represent himself as an employee of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) who worked in the US Immigration and Naturalisation Service and who could obtain genuine US visas in exchange for a fee of US $ 3,000 to US $ 4,000, US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said in a statement.

Singh pleaded guilty to wire fraud and impersonation of a federal officer and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on December 14. As part of his scheme, Singh created a fake photo identification document pretending to be from the DHS, which he mailed to others in an effort to show that he was capable to

obtain US immigration documents.

Singh instructed individuals seeking immigration documents to e-mail him passport photographs, copies of their passports and other personally identifying information and to send him money through overnight delivery service or by wire transfer.

After receiving these documents and the requested fee up front, Singh created and mailed fake letters purporting to be from the US Embassy in New Delhi which falsely represented that there was an appointment to pick up the requested visa documents. Many of Singh’s victims resided overseas and were impoverished. In addition to this visa fraud scheme, Singh also admitted to engaging in an investment fraud scheme in Tennessee in 2012 in which he defrauded approximately 22 investors of approximately US $ 340,000.

Singh gained the trust of a local pastor and his church, including elderly members, and falsely represented to them that he owned a small company in India that provided labour for services.

Indian-American Patel appointed to key US administration Indian-American Bimal Patel (pictured) has been nominated to a key administrative position in the Treasury Department by US President Donald Trump.

Patel, from Georgia, has been nominated to be an assistant secretary of the Treasury for Financial Institutions.

Currently, he serves as the deputy assistant secretary of the Treasury for the Financial Stability Oversight Council.

Prior to joining the US Department of the Treasury, Patel was a partner and head of the Financial Advisory

and Regulation practice in the Washington, DC, office of O’Melveny & Myers LLP, the White House said. Patel previously served as a senior advisor to director Jeremiah O Norton on the board of directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Additionally, he has served as an adjunct associate professor at Stanford University, teaching an undergraduate course on banking regulation.

Patel earned his BA from Stanford University, MPP from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and JD from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Indian billionaire buys £2 Million Scottish mansion for University bound daughter

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An unnamed Indian billionaire has acquired a 2-million pound mansion in the Scottish countryside as a home for his daughter who is set to begin her course at the University of St Andrews in Scotland next week, according to a media report Saturday.

The Eden Mansion, which was built in 1860 as a peaceful retreat for former First World War field marshal Earl Haig and his family one of Scotland’s oldest whisky distillers is now set to welcome its Indian owners, ‘The Times’ reported. The eightbedroom Victorian country house, which features a private cinema, a wine cellar, stables and five acres of land, was also viewed

by Prince William and then girlfriend Kate Middleton as a potential Scottish home in 2003, during their final year at the University of St Andrews. But they chose a cottage on the nearby Strathtyrum Estate in the end. A sales brochure of the Eden Mansion describes the property as a “beautifully restored eightbedroom grand period country mansion

set in mature grounds overlooking the Eden estuary towards the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews”. A spokesperson for Savills, the estate agency marketing the property, told the newspaper that “all I am at liberty to say is that Eden Mansion is not on the market”, indicating that the deal may have been finalised for the Indian family to move in. Andrew Sinclair, editor of the local ‘The Saint’ student newspaper, warned that it may prove impossible for the new “posh” student to maintain anonymity in a town with fewer than 20,000 residents. “Everyone knows everyone in St Andrews. You can’t fly under the radar like you can in a big city university,” said Sinclair. “If you are tucked away in a house with 12 staff you won’t have the full student experience that makes St Andrews so special,” he said, in reference to reports from earlier this week which revealed that the family had advertised for 12 staff to cater to their daughter’s needs during her university life.

Indian-origin MPs in UK will be happy to assist India to bring back Netaji’s ashes from Tokyo: Vaz Indian-origin parliamentarians in the UK would be happy to assist India to bring back the mortal remains of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose from Tokyo, a British lawmaker of Indian descent said here Wednesday. There are more than 20 Indian-origin lawmakers in the UK parliament. “It is very important that we recognise the significance of having the ashes back in India where they truly belong,” Keith Vaz said here during a discussion at The Nehru Centre on the book ‘Laid to Rest:

The Controversy over Subhas Chandra Bose’s Death’ written by NRI journalist Ashis Ray. Replying to a question from the moderator, Mihir Bose, a biographer of Bose, Vaz said that the Indian-origin MPs would be very happy to assist the process of bringing back Netaji’s ashes from Tokyo. However, a request for such intervention has to come from Delhi, he said, adding, “Then we will be very happy to assist. I will try and get my colleagues to support this and it would be an easy task”.

Saturday, September 22, 2018

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Saturday, September 22, 2018

Rhea Chakraborty posts picture with Mahesh Bhatt, Fans troll & compare him to Anup Jalota

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt celebrated his 70th birthday on Thursday with his family including daughters Alia Bhatt, Pooja Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt. While his girls shared some really adorable pictures with their

dad, actress Rhea Chakraborty also wrote something special for the filmmaker. She shared a series of pictures on her Instagram and wrote, “Happy birthday to my Buddha @maheshfilm. Sir , this is us - you held me with love , you showed me love , and you have unclipped my wings forever , you are the “heart hitting “ fire that ignites every soul

it comes by ! Words fail me I love you” The pictures in which the Jalebi actress can be seen hugging Mahesh Bhatt, caught many eyeballs on the internet. Many believed that the 26-year-old actress is dating the 70-yearold filmmaker. Many trolls asked Rhea Chakraborty if she was having an affair with the director. Assuming that they were dating, many compared them to Anup Jalota and

Jasleen Matharu. For the uninitiated, the Bigg Boss 12 couple are making headlines for their unusual relationship. They are being slammed for their massive age gap. The singer dropped the bombshell at BB premiere revealing that they were dating for the past three and a half years.

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Saturday, September 22, 2018

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Saturday, September 22, 2018

Bollywood

Anushka Sharma wins Smita Patil Award

HOROSCOPE Aries March 21 - April 20

Mars and restless Uranus reaches a peak on Tuesday, it would pay to take extra care. This

continues to play out over the week ahead, which is why thoughtfulness and patience will

tie between the sun and eloquent Mercury in your lifestyle zone can be excellent for initiating

Taurus April 21 - May 20 Cooperation can be better than resistance, especially where your job, a

!

angle to rebellious Uranus in your sign, you could feel very strongly about following " #

" $

Indeed, with eloquent Mercury and the

the key to this situation can be an honest

Gemini

May 20 - June 21 A desire to explore new terrain and uncover

to go within and uncover the secrets of your

to a lack of cohesion and perhaps leave you feeling edgy and uncertain about aspects of the future. This could be due to a stubborn angle between feisty Mars in your zone of far horizons and rebellious Uranus in your spiritual sector.

Cancer June 22 - July 23

%

focus that could lead to actions resulting

organization, or a desire to bring a deeply personal situation to an end. The best way to

&

The sun and expressive Mercury in your

'

logic and thoughtfulness to the days ahead.

Leo June 24 - August 23 Feisty Mars and rebellious Uranus clash at the start of the week, so you could feel

( need this person on your side, this could be )

"

)

!

*

Libra Sept. 24 - Oct 22 1 "

%

! your planet of relating, angling awkwardly

+

(

relaxed course. Getting too close too soon

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 22

! 2

+

3

event or helping you out, and this could throw

4

looking for an ingenious solution. With a little -

Sagitarius Nov 23 - Dec 22

The 34th Priyadarshni Academy Anniversary Global Awards were held at Hotel Trident, Mumbai on Sept.

19. The brainchild of humanitarian Nanik Rupani, Chairman Emeritus, Priyadarshni Academy, the awards event was chaired by real estate tycoon Niranjan Hiranandani, the current chairman.

The awards are committed to honoring real achievers who have left an indelible mark on society through their meritorious efforts and services.

Staying true to its tradition, this year too, the awardees included those from eclectic walks of life who were honored for their distinguished services towards upliftment of mankind in multiple ways.

A total of eight awardees were felicitated by leading political dignitaries Nitin Gadkari (Minister of Shipping; Road Transport & Highways; Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation) and Piyush

Goyal (Minister of Railways and Coal). Also present were Suresh Prabhu (Minister of Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation) Poonam Dhillon and Bharat Dabholkar.

Among the eminent personalities awarded this year included actress-producer Anushka Sharma, who was honored with the Smita Patil Memorial Award, while entrepreneur par excellence Ronnie Screwvala was awarded the Priyadarshni Academy Global Award for his outstanding contribution towards Innovative Entertainment as well as Community Development.

Expressing her gratitude, Sharma said, “I feel humbled to have been honored by Priyadarshni Academy with the Smita Patil Memorial award this year. Smita-ji is a true inspiration for every actor of my generation. Her pioneering effort in the upliftment of parallel cinema movement in India stands out as a beacon of hope for actors like myself and I, in my small way, will always strive to take her dream forward by being part of films that are content-rich.

% (

to do anything to force the pace or bring it to a conclusion. Be careful, though, as hasty action

(

&

of energies suggests that your words could hit

Capricorn Dec 23 - Jan 20 Try not to be too hasty concerning spending

-

&

"

"

% your budget. With a little creative thinking, there

Aquarius Jan 21 - Feb 19 (

&

-

feel you deserve. But a relationship could take a backward step as a result, so whatever you need to say, say it very sensitively and gently. &

that works for both of you.

Pisces Virgo Routines could be disrupted this week as

!

+ (

% -

/

"

0

!

of your sign on Thursday

Feb 20 - March 20 Keeping a secret for fear of what others

to speak out could reach a peak on Monday, and all the things you were so eager to keep

2

could be shocked by what you have to say. In

5

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MAHIMA CHAUDHRY SEPTEMBER 13

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Saturday, September 22, 2018

DARPAN Awards 2018: An Extraordinary night celebrating South Asian Community

D

ARPAN Magazine, hosted its 9th Annual Awards in the company of esteemed social, business and political elites. This spectacular red carpet event took place at Aria Convention Centre in Surrey on September 14. With over 700 guests in attendance, this black-tie affair commenced at 6 p.m. in the backdrop of glamour and grandeur. On the red carpet, a live media station interviewed our esteemed guests asking them their expectations for the evening, photographers were busy capturing beautiful moments; and dancing performances set the stage for the night ahead.Ten amazing individuals from the South Asian community were recognized for their extraordinary achievements and for reflecting their heritage in a remarkable way. These 10 South Asians, identified as leaders, who embody the spirit of community and give back to greater Canadian society, were honoured with the prestigious Darpan Extraordinary Achievement Award. These recipients were: International Sensation , Afroz Sha - Advancing Philanthropy, Stephen Sander- Corporate Engagement, Prem Gill - Spirit of Sport, Sukhpal Panesar - Breaking Barriers, Dr. Hakam Bhullar - Artistic Visionary, Jazzy B (Jaswinder Bains) - Community Crusader , Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen - Heritage Defender,

based environmentalist and lawyer who is leading the environmental movement in the city and tackling plastic pollution and other harmful concerns one step at a time. Shah started the biggest beach cleanup project in Mumbai, Maharashtra, all by himself in 2015.

Heartbroken after seeing the Versova beach near his house filled with garbage and all kinds of trash, Shah decided to take matters into his own hands – literally. He along with a senior neighbour started picking up garbage from the beach everyday. His efforts received tremendous attention and worldwide support, along with an

Editor, Darpan M a g a z i n e e d i t o r @ darpanmagazine. c o m petrina143@ g m a i l . c o m 604-572-0199 Photo Credit: (c) DARPAN Files

2018 DARPAN Award Winners increase in volunteers by thousands comprising of youth, slum-dwellers, entrepreneurs, Bollywood celebrities, professionals, and seniors. A shocking amount of 15 million kilograms of decomposing trash and plastic was collected from the 2.5 kilometre stretch of beach over a period

Gurdip Bhullar - Industry Marvel, Shushma Datt - Young Wonder, Umang Khandelwal.

Canadian actor and television personality Huse Madhavji was the Master of Ceremonies for the event. This multi-talented host, actor and producer is the former face of Star!

Canada and has starred in HBO Canada/ Direct-TV’s hit comedy Call Me Fitz starring Jason Priestly, where he received his first Gemini nomination and NBC/ CTV hospital drama Saving Hope. MC Madhavji kicked off the festivities, which included musical entertainment by wellknown singers Komal Rizvi and Parichay;

and the much-anticipated Awards ceremony.

The Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker this year was Afroz Shah, a Mumbai-

political guests like BC Minister of Citizens’ Services Jinny Sims; MLAs Stephanie Cadieux, Andrew Wilkinson, Harry Bains, and Marvin Hunt; and MPs Sukh Dhaliwal and Randeep Sarai, among many others.

Media contact: Petrina D’Souza

of 21 months. United Nations labelled the campaign the “world’s largest beach clean-up project.” United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) honoured Shah with the Champion of the Earth award for his work in organizing community-led clean-up efforts. Afroz was also CNN-IBN’s Indian of the Year in Public Service in 2017 and has received various accolades for his efforts. The inspiring environmentalist’s good work is creating a ripple effect. Beside Mumbai, cleanup campaigns are taking place in various parts of India as well. He vows to continue his beach clean-up crusade until people and their governments around the world change their approach to producing, using and discarding plastic and other products that wash up onto beaches all over the world.

Also spotted at the event were prominent

volunteers by thousands comprising of youth, slum-dwellers, entrepreneurs, Bollywood celebrities, professionals, and seniors. A shocking amount of 15 million kilograms of decomposing trash and plastic was collected from the 2.5 kilometre stretch of beach over a period of 21 months. United Nations labelled the campaign the “world’s largest beach cleanup project.” United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) honoured Shah with the Champion of the Earth award for his work in organizing community-led clean-up efforts.

Shah and his dedicated volunteers are also cleaning the mangroves and simultaneously working on other environmental concepts

Afroz Shah – International S e n s a t i o n Afroz Shah is an India-based environmentalist and lawyer who is leading the environmental movement in the city and tackling plastic pollution and other harmful concerns one step at a time. Shah started the biggest beach cleanup project in Mumbai, Maharashtra, all by himself in 2015.

Heartbroken after seeing the Versova beach near his house filled with garbage and all kinds of trash, Shah decided to take matters into his own hands – literally.

He along with a senior neighbour started picking up garbage from the beach everyday. His efforts received tremendous attention and worldwide support, along with an increase in

that aim at tackling plastic pollution and

safeguarding the environment. He is working with commercial establishments and teaching restaurants owners to be more plastic-free.

The social activist is also mentoring around 60,000 kids and getting them involved with his projects. Shah was CNN-IBN’s Indian of the Year in Public Service in 2017 and has received various accolades for his efforts.

The inspiring environmentalist’s good work is creating a ripple effect. Beside Mumbai, cleanup campaigns are taking place in various parts of India as well. He vows to continue his beach clean-up crusade until people and their governments around the world change their approach to producing, using and discarding plastic and other products that wash up onto beaches all over the world.

Saturday, September 22, 2018

MP Sukh Dhaliwal’s bill to designate April as Sikh heritage month, moves to second reading Bill C-376, Sukh Dhaliwal’s bill to designate April as Sikh Heritage Month moved to second reading in the House of Commons.

Surrey, BC: MP Sukh Dhaliwal opened second reading of Bill C-376, his bill to designate the Month of April as Sikh Heritage Month to ensure that the contributions and history of Sikh Canadians are recognized annually across Canada.

In opening debate, Sukh Dhaliwal said that “the rich history and contributions of Sikh’s in this country must be remembered so that every generation knows of the hard work, struggles, and ultimately the progress of this nation. Because this is not just the story of Sikhs, this is the story of Canada.”

With the passage of this bill, April will become Sikh Heritage Month across this country and resources will be provided by the Ministry of Canadian Heritage to mark this month. April was chosen for its importance to the Sikh faith this is when Vaisakhi and Khalsa Day are celebrated, which marks the birth of Khalsa and its teachings of equality,

selfless service and social justice, that are values shared by all Canadians.

By designating April as Sikh Heritage Month we will be able to bring more attention to where our country comes from, the contributions of all those who contributed to its development, and why the values of equality, fairness, and justice are so important to our identity. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said when he visited the Sikh Heritage Museum of Canada – “the story of the Sikh community in Canada is, in fact, just the story of Canada.”

Sukh Dhaliwal added that “this is a story of early settlers and pioneers working in the fields, lumber mills, and railroads of Canada, the first Sikh Gurdwara opening in 1908, and racist laws being used to reject fellow British subjects on the Komagata Maru. But It is also a story of becoming Canadians in 1947, entrenching human rights in the laws of this land, and It’s a story of office holders, Ministers, Premier’s, federal opposition leader, and a senator. This is a story that must be shared and told and with this bill we will do that”.

Sky train not LRT - Surrey Police Force - Smart Development We are gravely concerned that the City of Surrey and Translink are about to violate British Columbia’s Local Elections Campaign Financing Act. In an internal memo sent to Surrey City council from their General Manager of Engineering, an “LRT communications plan” is laid out for September and October.

It says the goal is to “earn and maintain support for the project with proactive, early, broad, regular and highvisible communications.”

Bableen Rana and Doug McCallum are calling for that LRT Communications Plan to be released to them immediately. There should be a proper and thorough review BEFORE any tax dollars are wasted.

The SkyTrain versus LRT debate is at the heart of this election.

It is not clear that the author of the communication strategy was even aware of

British Columbia’s Local Elections Campaign Financing Act. It is also not clear that the act was even considered. The City of Surrey and/ or Translink will have to register as Third Party Advertisers.

Imagine this: the City of Surrey as a registered Third Party advertiser to promote the platform of the party currently in power. Their other option is don’t spend a penny – or any staff time.

The preservation of impartiality of staff is in question here and the perceived interference by City and Translink raises serious concerns regarding bias and interference in the election.

Bableen Rana (604) 838-6919 Media Contact: John Cameron Doug McCallum (604) 3415725 Johncameron@shaw.ca

Visit our Website

www.theasianstar.com

Press release

7

Kajol to perform ‘Ruk Ruk Ruk’ “Ruk Ruk Ruk/Arey baba ruk/Oh my darling give me a look” – 24 years ago, the song from “Vijaypath,” originally sung by Alisha Chinoy, written by Shyam Anuragi, composed by Anu Malik and filmed on Tabu in her breakthrough film is set to re-arrive on our playlists with its revamped version in the Ajay Devgn production “Helicopter Eela.”

Pradeep Sarkar’s next directorial starring Kajol and Riddhi Sen has the actress playing a possessive single mother who also happens to be an aspiring singer but had overlooked her aspirations for her growing son. Re-created by Raghav Sachar and crooned by Palomi Ghosh, this revamped peppy number features Kajol.

The song is set to release on Sept. 25 and Sachar, elaborating on his experience

of recreating the song, said, “I’ve retained the melody just like it was in the original. We have updated the song with new rap portions that make it more conversational. Since Eela’s character is very expressive, it adds a personal touch to the song. One morning, Pradeep-da called me up and said, ‘Raghav, I want you to re-create “Ruk Ruk Ruk” for a film I’m working on. Send it to me by afternoon.’ I was stumped, but having worked with him for 22 years. , I understood. I rushed to the studio and worked up with the basic tune with the rap portions by three in the afternoon. By evening, Pradeep Da was also in the studio. When he first heard the song, he just got up and started dancing.”

The film is produced by Ajay Devgn, Dhaval Jayantilal Gada and Aksshay Jayantilal Gada and will release on Oct. 12.

8

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Vol. 9 No. 34

Saturday - September 22, 2018

Tel: 604-591-5423

It’s Canada’s most expensive listed home. The house that beer built is on the market

E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com Maranger explains. The billiards room, with an ornate pubstyle bar at one end, is a popular spot for guests to gather.

The billiards room, with an ornate pub-style bar at one end, is a popular spot for guests to gather. Nothing about it was hurried, according to Vermast, who notes that five years of “careful contemplation, planning and constructionâ€? preceded completion in 2006. The long driveway leads to an imposing and elegant façade, he says. But once inside, you’re enveloped in an atmosphere of calm, happiness and security. At Tuesday’s Court of Appeal hearing, the province is requesting a stay of a lower court ruling that its legislation upending Toronto’s election and cutting the number of wards was unconstitutional. Court to rule Wednesday morning on whether to allow 25-ward Toronto election “I was growling at him and hissing at him, trying to scare him out, but he wasn’t having any of it,â€? Jenny Serwylo said. Raccoons bust into Toronto woman’s home, stare her down while defiantly eating her bread Premier Doug Ford at the Trump International Hotel in Washington on Wednesday. . Ford had lunch at the hotel with President Donald Trump’s U.S. ambassador to Canada, Kelly Craft, and Canadian ambassador to the U.S., David MacNaughton. Doug Ford dines at Trump hotel on his NAFTA visit to Washington While the rooms are “immense,â€?

Maranger adds, the wood, materials and furnishings lend a comfortable, homey feel. From ubiquitous chandeliers and custom cabinetry to European-influenced fireplace mantels, “top-drawer quality abounds,� the broker says.

The opulent abode is all about entertaining, with Powell and his wife Tracy hosting business dinner parties, charity fundraisers and gatherings of family and friends.

It may be the house that beer built but it will take a champagne budget to buy Oakville’s Chelster Hall.

With an asking price of $59 million, the massive country estate of retired beer company executive Hugo Powell is Canada’s most expensive residential property on the Multiple Listings Service (MLS), according to agents Paul Maranger and Christian Vermast. Only a “very finite number� of potential purchasers with a net worth of more than $200 million could afford the “crown jewel� on Lake Ontario, say the representatives of Sotheby’s International Realty Canada.

With a down payment of $11.8 million, monthly carrying costs would be roughly $257,300, they calculated.

But who wants to get mired in such mundane matters when there’s a spectacular English country-style castle to goggle.

Designed by Oakville architect William Hicks, Chelster Hall — named after the Powells’ golden retrievers — was inspired by the Jacobean architecture of 400-year-old Blickling Hall, the ancestral home of Anne Boleyn, ill-fated second wife of Henry VIII. Powell spent many of his early years in Britain before getting into the beer business, becoming president of Labatt Brewing Co. Ltd. in Canada and later CEO of Belgium’s Interbrew SA, one of the world’s largest brewers. “Classic and timeless,� the Powell family home on a rare 10-acre waterfront parcel was designed to look 100 years old and retain that appearance two or three centuries from now,

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9

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Metro Vancouver’s home price-income gap is as high as $85K — that’s for a townhouse Metro Vancouver: it’s a region of nearly 2.5-million people, spread over a land mass of over 2,880 kilometres. It’s a place where politicians are set to go to the polls in just over a month’s time, at a time when “crisis� describes the state of living there. Candidates have hit the hustings with pitches aimed at improving “affordability,� with ideas such as building more homes and reducing red tape at city hall. But data shows just how far most of the region has to go before the housing in many communities can be called “affordable.� For families earning median incomes, the data provides the latest evidence of a region where the dream of owning a single-detached home has gone to die. And while there remain communities where median-earning families have a choice of apartment or townhouse, the

price of living in the latter can carry a cost that goes well beyond a monthly mortgage payment.

These numbers were then twice run through an intelliMortgage calculator with a 20 per cent down payment, a 30-year amortization and a qualifying interest rate of 5.44 per cent.

Then, they were compared against Census 2016 data showing median total incomes for economic families with children.

There isn’t one municipality in Metro Vancouver where a median family income can qualify for a mortgage on a single-detached home, according to these calculations.

In East Vancouver, for example, the income needed to borrow money to buy a single-detached home is over $230,000.

That’s more than double the median family income for the City of Vancouver — $111,636.

Vancouvers housing density plan wont address the missing middle?

Overhauls to the City of Vancouver’s bylaws covering laneway homes are part of the municipality’s overall strategy to tackle housing affordability, and the changes were approved by Vancouver City Council meeting earlier today with only Green Party councillor Adrianne Carr opposed. Policy changes will

significantly cut down the process time for applications, with an outright process for lager two-storey laneway homes. The process is streamlined and no longer requires an extra conditional design review by staff, and this is expected to reduce permit issuing times by 65% – down to 12

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#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005

The lowest income needed to service a mortgage on a single-detached home is in Maple Ridge, where it’s $150,032.

There’s only one community where median family incomes are high enough to support that — the District of North Vancouver, where the median family makes $156,971.

Townhome prices didn’t provide much relief across most of Metro Vancouver, either.

Of 30 areas covered in real-estate board data, median family homes could support townhouse mortgages in fewer than 10 of them. The gap to own a townhouse was highest in Vancouver West, where it was over $85,000. In Richmond, it was over $50,000.

Even in Coquitlam, about 30 kilometres away from Vancouver’s city centre, the gap was nearly $15,000.

10

Classifieds / Jobs / = $

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

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Workers required Meat shop in Surrey requires full time / part time worker immediately.

Punjbi and English speaking must. Good wages.

Please call: 678296:26;<8

11

Saturday, September 22, 2018 BC housing minister defends affordability promises in wake of 4.5% rent increase approval The BC Rental Housing Task Force says it’s reviewing the formula used to determine allowable rent increases, after panic from tenants over the possibility of paying significantly more for housing next year.

The province recently approved an allowable rent increase of 4.5 per cent for 2019, the largest increase since 2004.

It would mean someone living in a one-bedroom apartment paying $1200 a month could, over the course of the year, pay almost $650 extra in rent.

BC’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Selina Robinson talked to Stephen Quinn, host of CBC’s The Early Edition, about how her government plans to keep its promise to make life more affordable for British Columbians.

W h e n we formed g ov e r n m e nt 14 months ago, we made a commitment to address affordability and we put forward a 30-point plan that we’ve been implementing over the last number of months.

We know that this is hard for many in our communities so we’ve put together the Rental Housing Task Force to go out and identify what are some of the priority areas that we need to focus on next.

We’ve asked that the issue of the annual rent increase and rent control is part of that review.

Where is the renters rebate of $400 a year that Premier John Horgan promised in April of last year?

We’ve always said that we are committed to bringing in the renters’ rebate and that hasn’t changed.

Our plan is to bring the renters’ rebate in over the life of our government and, with that goal in mind, we’re going to continue to work on the details of the rebate itself.

Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the Vancouver Census Metropolitan area is $1,223, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Contact Brent or Wayne

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

12

Saturday, September 22, 2018

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