The Asian Star - April 27, 2024

India launch spices probe after Hong Kong, Singapore pull products from shelves over cancer-causing pesticide

Indian authorities have reportedly launched an investigation after some spice products were found to contain a cancer-causing pesticide and removed from shelves in Hong Kong and Singapore. Continued at Page 10...

Surrey Police will cost $750M more than RCMP over 10 years - Mayor says

The City of Surrey is claiming the B.C. government knows the transition to the Surrey Police Service as the police of jurisdiction will cost $750 million more over 10 years than if the city stays with the RCMP.

The claims come Wednesday, with the city saying B.C. commissioned a report from Deloitte, which “reveals” the details. The City of Surrey has directed to the BC Supreme Court registry for the document. “This report confirms that the Province has been hiding titanic level costs from Surrey taxpayers,” said Mayor Locke in a statement. “The Premier and Solicitor General said they had no idea where the City of Surrey was getting our cost estimates from

when they were sitting on a report that showed the true cost to be hundreds of millions more than we had even imagined.” The city says it received the report as part of information shared in upcoming legal proceedings between the municipality and province. It adds it first requested the report from the province a “year ago, but that request was denied.”

“As recently as November 2023, the Solicitor General told media that the report confirmed the Province’s cost estimates. Submissions from the SPS clearly show plans for an anticipated staffing level of 958 officers shortly after becoming police of jurisdiction, and to move to a two-person vehicle deployment model,” the city claimed. Continued at Page 10...

Belgian acquitted of drunk driving because his body creates alcohol

A Belgian man was acquitted of drunk driving on Monday because he suffers from auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), a rare condition whereby the body produces alcohol, his lawyer said. Anse Ghesquiere told Reuters that in “another unfortunate coincidence” her client works at a brewery, but three doctors who independently examined him confirmed he suffered from ABS.

Belgian media said that in the verdict, the judge emphasized that the defendant, who was not named in line with local judicial custom, did not experience symptoms of intoxication.

The Bruges police court, which acquitted the man, did not immediately reply to an email from Reuters.

Lisa Florin, clinical biologist with Belgian hospital AZ Sint-Lucas, explained that people with the condition produce the same type of alcohol as the one in alcoholic drinks but that they generally feel less of its effects.

She added that people are not born with ABS but can get it when they already suffer from another intestine-related condition.

Hundreds of thousands gather in Surrey for annual Vaisakhi celebration

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood Saturday for the annual Vaisakhi celebration and parade. Vaisakhi is seen as a spring harvest celebration, primarily in Punjab and Northern India, but the tradition has travelled across the world. In addition to being a traditional harvest festival, Vaisakhi is also a religious event, holding immense significance for the Sikh community.

Surrey’s annual Vaisakhi parade is considered the world’s largest outside of India. During Saturday’s parade, the streets were filled with colourful floats, the vibrant colors of traditional attire, and the aroma of traditional langar. Continued at Page 10...

South Asian man stabbed to death in White Rock

White Rock RCMP say they have increased patrols along the city’s waterfront and will be sending more officers to the area following two stabbings and the death of one man near the pier in recent days.

Family and friends have identified the fatal stabbing victim as Kulwinder Sohi.

Sohi’s younger brother Gurleen and close friend Gagan Singh told it was a senseless attack.

“My brother was stabbed in the back and in the heart,” Gurleen said.

According to Singh, Kulwinder was sitting with a friend, enjoying the view at White Rock Beach.

“They were both sitting in one of the view benches and they were talking normal things, suddenly there was the attack from behind,” Singh said. The friend who was there for the attack has reportedly told the Sohi family the killer smiled as the two ran away.

a presence on the waterfront in addition to our members that are currently on duty.” Despite the increased patrols on Monday, homicide investigators were called out to the area near Marine Drive and Cypress Street around 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday after a man was fatally stabbed.

At a Wednesday afternoon press conference, RCMP Staff Sgt. Rob Dixon said Mounties increased patrols in the area on Monday after a man was stabbed in the neck while sitting on a bench with his wife Sunday night. Police normally increase patrol during the warmer months starting in May.

“At the time it was simply increasing those foot patrols that we do routinely, so increasing the frequency of that,” he said. “Now we will be bringing in extra members so that we have

A suspect was seen fleeing towards Marine Drive. Police, including the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Service, launched a search but were unable to locate the suspect.

On Wednesday morning, a single bouquet of flowers had been placed at the scene, which remains behind yellow police tape. IHIT said the area will remain blocked off as police conduct their investigation.

Police say in both stabbings, the suspect descriptions are similar but IHIT Sgt. Timothy Pierotti said it’s unclear if the two incidents are related, if they were targeted or if the victims had anything in common.

“This is very early in our investigation,” he said. “At this point, we have no reason to think that it was a situation that was premeditated.”

The suspect is described as a Black male who is five feet, 11 inches tall and was last seen wearing a hat and a grey hoodie with the hood up over the hat.

Local resident Brad Sakiyama said he arrived as first responders were attempting to revive the victim on Tuesday and police had blocked off the area.

Opposition alleges report on safe supply commissioned by Dr. Bonnie Henry carried out in ‘secret’

B.C. Premier David Eby appears to have been blindsided by the revelation that the provincial health officer commissioned a report on the “economics of safe supply” from an American researcher who has called for the restigmatization of drug use.

B.C. United mental-health and addictions critic Elenore Sturko alleged during question period Monday that the government had commissioned a “secret” report by Jonathan Caulkins on the prescription opioid program. She pressed the government to immediately release it.

It was revealed Tuesday that Dr. Bonnie Henry commissioned the report as part of her continuing review of the safe supply program and concerns over diversion.

B.C.’s program to provide prescription

opioids as an alternative to potentially fatal toxic drugs has been criticized amid concerns that some of the government-provided hydromorphone isn’t being taken by the patient but sold for street drugs or ending up in the hands of youth, becoming a gateway to harder drugs.

However, harm reduction advocates and public health officials say there’s no evidence that the safe supply program is fuelling new addictions.

Caulkins specializes in systems analysis of problems relating to drugs, crime, terror, violence and prevention, and has researched the legalization of cannabis. He is the H. Guyford Stever University professor of operations research and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College in Pittsburgh.

Metro Vancouver gas prices jump overnight

A dramatic overnight shift in gas prices was met by Metro Vancouver drivers this morning. Most prices in the region were around $2.129 a litre Thursday, an overnight increase of around nine cents or more.

Petroleum expert Dan McTeague, with Canadians for Affordable Energy, said the rise is largely due to the switching of fuel to the summer blend, which is typically more costly. Another factor for the increase is that American gas prices have increased as well.

McTeague also suggested gas is expected to go up another six cents Thursday night.

“It doesn’t help, of course, that you have a jurisdiction here in Vancouver which is the highest taxed anywhere in North America,” he said. “Get busy buying EVs, I don’t say that flippantly, but that is apparently what the government wants and the government is getting its wish. If you want high prices and you want boutique gasoline, then you have to be prepared for it.”

Doctors say Trudeau’s capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement

The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals’ proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors’ retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government presented a federal budget last week that proposes making two-thirds rather than one-half of capital gains — or profit made on the sale of assets — taxable.

The increase in the socalled inclusion rate would apply to capital gains above $250,000 for individuals, and all capital gains realized by corporations.

Since doctors typically incorporate their medical practices and invest for retirement inside their corporations, the association points out its members will now face a higher inclusion rate on all capital gains they earn, including on retirement investments. It remains unclear, however, just how much of an impact Canadian physicians are facing.

concerned about increasing corporate taxes because of this change to the budget, a solution that’s been around for years … is to have the corporation set up a registered pension plan,” Laporte said. Physicians would still have to pay income taxes on the money they receive in the form of a pension, as is the case with other Canadians who have a pension.

There are also limits on how much someone can contribute to a pension plan, which means physicians will still end up paying more taxes on personal investments.

“Eventually, they will be impacted by these measures. But nowhere near to the extent that is made out in the news,” Laporte said.

Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland have dismissed the doctors’ plea to reconsider the capital gains tax changes, arguing the revenue the tax change generates is needed to fund things like housing and health care for all.

Jean-Pierre Laporte, CEO of Integris Pension Management Corp., argues physicians can fully shield their retirement savings from capital gains taxation. Laporte says incorporated professionals like doctors can sell off investments and open a registered pension plan. Contributions to the plan would be tax deductible, which means the individual would not pay any tax on the capital gains they earn.

“If a medical professional corporation is

“I think Canada’s health-care professionals recognize, maybe more than anyone else, how important these investments are,” Freeland said Tuesday. They are massive and I think it’s entirely appropriate, it’s really fair to ask those who are doing the best in our society to pay a little bit more to fund them.”

The government estimates only 0.13 per cent of Canadians in any given year will have to pay more in capital gains taxes as a result of the changes.

Man accused of Victoria carjackings arrested a third time in as many days

The man accused in a carjacking rampage in Victoria on Monday has been arrested again, this time for allegedly breaking into a home.

Victoria police say Seth Packer was arrested Tuesday evening, after allegedly entering an occupied home in the North Jubilee area and stealing a wallet.

“After the same individual caused two motor vehicle collisions, attempted to steal several vehicles and was successful on one of the attempts, and is now entering into peoples’ homes without consent, all in a matter of days, it is a miracle that no one has been seriously hurt or injured,” Victoria Police Chief Del Manak.

“Repeat offenders like this put a significant strain on our resources and pose a risk to

community safety. We will continue to work within our means to prevent further harm to the public, which includes advocating for Mr. Packer to remain in custody. Ultimately, that decision is up to the courts.” Police say he tried to get into an occupied and idling vehicle in the 1800 block of Fort Street, but was blocked by the driver. He was arrested shortly afterward in the 1900 block of Fort Street.

It was Packer’s third arrest in as many days.

On Sunday, Packer was arrested for trying to steal an occupied vehicle in the 2900 block of Shelbourne Street. The vehicle’s owner had to physically remove him, according to police. He was charged with attempted theft of a motor vehicle and released with conditions.

BC facing pushback from latest cities added to housing target list

The B.C. government is facing growing pushback from some municipalities over its ambitious new housing targets.

On Tuesday, the province added 20 more cities to its list of municipalities it says need to build more housing.

That expanded list now includes Coquitlam, New Westminster, North Vancouver and Prince George. But the mayors of some of those cities are firing back, saying it’s the province that is not doing enough to help.

“I’m calling BS on this priority list,” New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone said Tuesday. “We are one of the few cities that is meeting and exceeding its regional growth strategy targets. We are doing our job as a city of getting housing built.”

Johnstone said a housing needs assessment found New Westminster was exceeding targets in new market housing, transit-oriented density and new rentals. The only area it was falling

short was subsidized and supportive housing — areas the city needs provincial dollars to make headway, he said. “We have begged the province for more of it. I don’t know what else we can do as a city to get affordable housing built.”

North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan said her city is also beating regional growth targets. “We made it really clear to the minister in conversations that growth can’t be scaled up because we are given a target,” she told.

In Coquitlam, which is facing rapid growth around the Evergreen Line, the concern goes beyond provincial targets. Mayor Richard Stewart told the new provincial government rules around housing types and density are having a negative effect on construction.

“We’re actually going to end up with less housing built than last year,” he said.

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said many B.C. cities are doing good work, but that they still may need to be doing some things differently.

“The city of North Vancouver needs more affordable rentals … the city of New Westminster has been planning on 2011 numbers. The law has changed since 2011, and “We need to make sure whatever they are planning for is meeting the targets of today, not 2011,” he said.

The province is expected to release a report on the progress towards housing targets in the 10 cities initially placed on its so-called “naughty list” later this spring.

Specific targets for the 20 cities on the latest list are slated to be released in June.

B.C. teen’s killer says TV show about Reena Virk’s murder ‘disrespectful’

Reena

“disrespectful”

Parole

Wednesday say Virk’s killer Kelly Ellard — who changed her name to Kerry Sim — demonstrated “remorse and victim empathy” after discussing the TV show about the high-profile 1997 murder with her case managers. The parole board decision says Sim, who was 15 at the time of the murder, admitted to playing a “greater role” in Virk’s death, and believes it was “so horrendous” that the television show, “Under the Bridge,” will “re-victimize the victim’s family.”

Sim is serving a life sentence for the seconddegree murder of Virk, who was 14 at the time, and who had already been badly beaten by a group of teenagers under the Craigflower Bridge before Sim drowned her in a nearby waterway. The documents say Sim is striving to have a “pro-social life,” raising her two children as a single mother after splitting with their father, though she’s frustrated and anxious about being required to live at a “community-based residential facility” in the Lower Mainland. The board’s decision to continue her day parole says Sim has improved her ability to manage stress and maintained her sobriety, finding that her release will “contribute to the protection of society by facilitating (her) reintegration into society as a law-abiding citizen.”

Virk‘s killer told parole officials that a television series about the Victoria, B.C., teen’s murder is

and will “re-victimize” Virk’s family. Documents released by the

Board of Canada

Low- and middle-income Canadians hit hardest by high marginal effective tax rates

Canadian families and individuals with annual incomes between $30,000 and $60,000 face marginal effective tax rates near or above 50 per cent, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“Canadian families with modest incomes face high marginal effective tax rates, often higher rates than Canadians in top income tax brackets,” said Jake Fuss, director of fiscal studies at the Fraser Institute, which published Marginal Effective Tax Rates for Working Families in Canada by Philip Bazel, an associate at the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary.

The marginal effective tax rate (METR) measures the personal income taxes paid (federal and provincial) and the reductions in government benefits, resulting from earning an extra dollar. For example, the Canada Child Benefit, a monthly payment, is reduced as family income increases. In other words, the effective tax rate is the combination of taxes you pay and benefits you lose as you make more money. Crucially, across the provinces, individuals and families with relatively modest incomes face the highest rates. This unfortunately creates a disincentive for earning additional income, as the financial benefits are significantly offset by increased taxes and/or reduced government benefits.

Canadian families with modest incomes, particularly those earning between $30,000 and $60,000, face the highest marginal effective tax rates. For example, families earning a household income of $60,000 are subject to an effective tax rate of 50 per cent or higher in every province. In Quebec, the METR is as high as 67 per cent at this income level. Among provinces, BC has the lowest rate (38 per cent) averaging across the $30,000 to $60,000 bracket. Ontario’s rate for the $30,000 to $60,000 bracket is 6 percentage points higher (50 per cent) than high-income families at $300,000 or higher (44 per cent).

Building Permit issued for Guru Nanak Diversity Village

Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society is thrilled to announce the issuance of the building permit by the City of Surrey for the much-awaited 125 bed Long Term Care Facility - Guru Nanak Diversity Village project.

This significant milestone has been achieved with the support and guidance of esteemed dignitaries including Honourable Mayor Brenda Locke, Honourable Minister of Health Adrian Dix, and Honourable Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to these leaders, as well as the respected officials of Fraser Health Authority, BC Housing, and the City of Surrey for their instrumental role in transforming this project into a tangible reality.

“We are thankful for their contribution and motivation to progress with this prestigious project. The dedication and tireless efforts

of our consultants have also been pivotal in reaching this milestone. Their expertise and commitment at each stage of the project have been invaluable,” stated President & CEO of PICS Society, Satbir S. Cheema.

With the support of all stakeholders, including officials, consultants, and the Construction Manager, PICS is eager to move forward with the next phase. A groundbreaking ceremony is planned to mark the commencement of construction, scheduled to begin in May 2024.

“As we embark on this journey, we invoke the blessings of almighty and seek continued support from the community and all involved parties. We express gratitude to everyone who has generously contributed thus far and look forward to their consistent and valuable involvement as the project progresses”, Mr. Cheema added.

Green Party’s deputy leader sentenced to jail for Fairy Creek old growth protests

The Green Party is decrying a 60-day sentence handed to its deputy leader today for her role in old growth logging protests on Vancouver Island.

Angela Davidson, also known as Rainbow Eyes, was convicted in January of seven counts of criminal contempt for breaching a court injunction and later her bail conditions.

Davidson was first arrested in May 2021 for breaching a court injunction granted to Teal Cedar Products, which had a license to cut timber in the Fairy Creek watershed, including old-growth trees. She was subsequently arrested six more times, including for returning to the area when she had been ordered not to, and for violating house arrest.

of Victoria on Vancouver Island’s south coast.

Davidson will spend 48 days in jail after getting credit for 12 days already served, and must also do 75 hours of community service.

Davidson was named the deputy leader in February after her conviction.

Green Leader Elizabeth May said the party stands “in solidarity with our brave Deputy Leader Rainbow Eyes who is to lose her freedom for the ‘crime’ of trying to protect the old growth forest the provincial government had said it would protect from logging — and then did nothing.”

May said court injunctions are used to protect corporate profits over public interest.

Fairy Creek sits about 120 kilometres west

More than 1,000 people have been arrested at the ongoing protests at Fairy Creek.

Honda’s $15B Ontario EV plant marks ‘historic day,’ Trudeau says

Japanese automaker Honda is putting $15 billion into their Ontario operations with a new electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Alliston, Ont. with a joint $5 billion coming from the federal and Ontario governments.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Honda executives made the announcement at the Alliston plant Thursday morning. “This is a historic day with the largest auto investment in Canada’s history,” Trudeau said at the start of his remarks Thursday morning. “With this investment we will be creating Canada’s first electric vehicle supply chain from start to finish.” The $15 billion project also includes plans to retool the existing Alliston plant to make solely electric vehicles, build a battery plant nearby and

two battery part facilities elsewhere in Ontario. “The world is changing rapidly and we must work toward the allies in carbon neutrality to sustain the global environment. Honda is making steady progress toward our goal to make battery electric and electric vehicles represent 100 per cent of our vehicle sales by 2040,” Honda global CEO Toshihiro Mibe said.

Canada’s target is to have all newly sold consumer vehicles be emission free by 2035.

Mibe added that North America is their largest market and he sees Canada and the United States as central to the company’s future plans. Honda’s goal is to have the electric vehicle facility up and running in 2028, with an annual production target of up to 240,000 vehicles.

Vancouver city council rejects small business leaders’ plea for tax break

A group of small business leaders argued unsuccessfully Wednesday at Vancouver city hall to have council reduce a portion of the property tax load that businesses will pay this year and shift it to homeowners’ bills.

Council was unanimous in rejecting the leaders’ pleas and based it on an independent review of the city’s tax policy by Ernst & Young, which concluded there was “no compelling evidence” to shift a bigger portion of tax to residential property owners.

The leaders were asking for a two per cent shift over four years. Residential property owners currently pay 57.1 per cent of the tax share, and non-residential 42.9 per cent.

“This decision made today is not made lightly by any stretch,” said Coun. Rebecca Bligh, who noted she supported a tax shift in 2019.

“We know now that we are dealing with a very different context, not only for residents, but also for businesses in this post-COVID era and the challenges related to that in terms of affordability.”

Representatives of four business improvement association societies, a property tax expert and a senior policy analyst from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) requested council give businesses a tax break. Emily Boston of the CFIB said recent

data from the organization showed that four in 10 Vancouver small businesses have seen their property tax bill increase by at least 11 per cent in the last year.

“Just yesterday, a small business owner wrote into CFIB saying we simply cannot get ahead with rising rents, property taxes and poor economic conditions,” Boston told council, before quoting from the letter, which read:

“Vancouver businesses are dropping like flies. This is our 20th year in business, which should be something to celebrate, but instead we are worried scared and concerned for the future ahead.”

“The average commercial property in Vancouver would save more than $4,600 over four years,” she said. “But in stark contrast, it would only cost the average residential property an extra $334.”

Metro Vancouver mayors sign letter calling on feds to deny Robert Pickton parole

Eleven Metro Vancouver mayors have signed a letter calling on the federal government to deny serial killer Robert Pickton parole.

In a press release, Delta Mayor George V. Harvie says the mayors are “imploring” the Federal Minister of Justice to guarantee Pickton isn’t granted parole “under any circumstances.”

“Allowing Robert Pickton any opportunity for parole would not only undermine the integrity of our justice system but also jeopardize the safety and well-being of our communities,” the letter states.

“His demonstrated lack of remorse and the depravity of his actions serve as stark reminders of the danger he poses to society.”

Pickton was found guilty of six counts of second-degree murder in December 2007. When the Supreme Court of Canada upheld his sentence, first-degree murder charges involving 20 women were stayed because Pickton was already serving the maximum sentence. Beginning Feb. 22 Pickton became

eligible for day parole, with eligibility for full parole beginning in 2027 – 25 years after his original arrest date on Feb. 22, 2002.

Harvie’s letter has been cosigned by Mayor Jamie Ross of Belcarra, Mayor Ken Berry of Lions Bay, Mayor Brad West of Port Coquitlam, Mayor Ken Sim of Vancouver, Mayor Megan Knight of White Rock, Mayor John McEwen of Anmore, Mayor Mike Hurley of Burnaby, Mayor Nicole MacDonald of Pitt Meadows, Mayor Malcolm Brodie of Richmond and Mayor Meghan Lahti of Port Moody. In addition to their requests pertaining to Pickton’s parole, the mayors’ letter also calls for a “critical reassessment” of parole and sentencing framework for mass murders and prolific offenders. It notes that Bill C-48, which enables life imprisonment without parole for convicted mass murderers, was struck down in a Supreme Court of Canada decision in 2022. The court’s decision in R. v. Bissonnette reportedly deemed parole ineligibility unconstitutional.

B.C. prosecutors refuse to charge RCMP officers in 2021 shooting death of Jared Lowndes

No charges have been approved against three RCMP officers in the shooting death nearly three years ago of Jared Lowndes, a man from the Wet’suwe’ten First Nation in northwest B.C.

The B.C. Prosecution Service made the announcement Tuesday after reviewing an investigation by the province’s Independent Investigations Office into the deadly shooting that took place at a Tim Hortons in Campbell River.

The IIO determined there were reasonable grounds to believe the officers

may have committed offences, but the prosecution service concluded the available evidence does not meet their assessment standard for charges.

During the incident, the RCMP put a police dog into Lowndes’ vehicle after he pepper sprayed several officers. Lowndes stabbed and killed the dog with a large knife, refused commands to give up, and had the knife in his hands when he got out of the vehicle and was shot by police, according to a statement from the prosecution service.

“The (B.C. Prosecution Service) is not able to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officers committed any offence in relation to the incident,” said the statement.

The decision not to lay charges comes just two weeks after the prosecution service stayed manslaughter charges against two RCMP officers in the 2017 killing in Prince George of Dale Culver, an Indigenous man from the Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan Nations in Northern B.C.

Lowndes also had connections to the Xwemalhkwu First Nation on Vancouver Island through his daughters.

Abbotsford man pleads guilty in wife’s 2022 homicide, IHIT says

An Abbotsford man has pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of his wife, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) says.

In July 2022, first responders found Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu suffering from life-threatening injuries in a home on Eastview Street near

Babich Park. She later died from her injuries.

Her husband, Inderjit Sandhu, was found at the scene and taken into custody.

Inderjit appeared in court Friday, where he entered his plea.

No date has been set for a sentencing hearing, IHIT says.

India launch spices probe after Hong Kong, Singapore pull products from shelves over cancer-causing pesticide

Continued from Page 1...

An insider at the Spices Board of India, which oversees quality standards, said the two companies concerned, MDH and Everest, had been asked to explain how the products were tested and if all regulations were met, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

Both companies are established brands in India and their products are exported worldwide.

Everest said its spices were safe to consume and its products were exported only after the board had given the green light. MDH has not commented on the matter.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had also started collecting samples of the spices in powder form from all brands across the country, including the two companies, to check if they met relevant standards, an agency insider told Indian news outlet PTI.

In early April, Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety ordered four pre-packaged spice mix products from India to be recalled after it found the pesticide ethylene oxide in samples during regular surveillance.

The products were Everest’s fish curry masala and MDH’s Madras curry powder, Sambhar

masala mixed masala powder and curry powder mixed masala powder.

The centre asked vendors, distributors and importers to recall the affected products and urged the public not to consume them.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified ethylene oxide as a Group 1 carcinogen, a substance known to cause the disease. In Hong Kong, the sale of food containing pesticide residue is banned, with offenders facing a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and six months’ imprisonment upon conviction.

Following Hong Kong’s move, the Singapore Food Agency on April 18 ordered the importer there to recall the Everest product as well. Under the city state’s regulations, the substance is not authorised for use in food but is allowed for the sterilisation of spices.

“Although there is no immediate risk to consumption of food contaminated with low levels of ethylene oxide, long-term exposure may lead to health issues, therefore, exposure to this substance should be minimised as much as possible,” it said.

The agency advised the public against consuming the product and those who had concerns to seek medical advice.

Hundreds of thousands gather in Surrey for Vaisakhi celebration

Continued from Page 1...

This year’s parade included a special dedication to Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a proseparatist activist and president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara. Nijjar was gunned down last June in Surrey while exiting the parking

area of the Gurdwara. A Vaisakhi parade was also held in Vancouver a week ago, and more Vaisakhi parades are scheduled at various other locations in Canada after this. The Surrey RCMP estimates that over half a million people attended this year’s Vaisakhi parade.

Surrey Police will cost $750M more than RCMP over 10 years

Continued from Page 1...

“This alone would result in an estimated $45 million annual incremental cost over the RCMP, and does not include other transition costs previously estimated by the City.”

Speaking to reporters Wednesday afternoon, Locke suggested the alleged additional $350 million projection would have a massive impact on taxpayers.

“We haven’t gone there. We know that it’s $75 million more a year, I’m guessing it’s probably around 15 per cent higher in our taxes just for this,” she said.

Locke adds the figures do not include other expenses.

“The costs found in the report do not — do not — factor in IT, it does not include the training facility, it doesn’t include the one-time

transition cost,” she added. The mayor says the move to keep the report hidden means “it is clear” that the province didn’t want the information to be made public. “I don’t know how to look at this other than a complete betrayal of trust. They have known that the cost of this transition would be hundreds of millions more than the City’s own estimates, and they hid that information from the public for a year,” Locke said. “If it wasn’t for the fact that they were required to finally disclose the report as part of the City’s legal efforts, taxpayers would have found out when it was already too late.”

The release of the report’s details come after Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth announced earlier this week that the Surrey Police Service would take over from the RCMP this November.

Domestic violence is a human rights violation and offence that is unacceptable - Tabuya

As a young woman lost her life in a tragic incident, the Minister for Women and Children, Lynda Tabuya says domestic violence is a human rights violation and a criminal offence that is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

This is after a 25-year-old woman was found lying motionless with visible stabbing injuries at an apartment complex along Robertson Road in Suva yesterday.

Tabuya says she is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the young woman and has also expressed her condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones, as well as to those who have lost their loved ones in the similar circumstances.

The Minister says the government of Fiji recognises that these incidences of violence are not isolated incidents but deep-rooted gender inequalities and patriarchal structures that perpetuate men’s power and control which

normalise violence.

Tabuya further says that to combat this, we must unite as a country and implement key preventative measures such as fostering respectful relationships, educating about consent and dismantling gender discriminatory stereotypes around us.

She adds that true safety will only be realised when Fijian women and girls of all diversity are seen and treated as equal partners in our communities and therefore the Ministry is dedicated to enforcing the Fiji National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against All Women and Girls (2023–2028), which was rolled out in January 2024 in collaboration with civil society, women’s rights groups and faithbased organizations. If you or someone you know needs help, please contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline - 1560 or the Child Helpline - 1325.

40 new staff to be added to Immigration Department to improve service delivery - Tikoduadua

To improve the service delivery at the Immigration Office, the Minister for Immigration, Pio Tikoduadua says they are trying to add 40 more new staff to the Immigration Department and reviewing the immigration laws.

While many concerns have been raised about the service delivery at the Immigration Office, Tikoduadua says service delivery can be improved, and the Government has tried its utmost best to allocate the resources it can to allow the department to deliver the services that

are expected under the law. He says people have the right to have expectations about how they deliver this service, but most of the services are already online.

The Minister is urging the public to use the online services as this will save them time, rather than waiting at the office.

He adds that nowadays, people are queuing up at the office as early as 5.30am. Tikoduadua says that he has spoken with the Immigration Permanent Secretary and the Director to come up with better ways to serve the public.

FTU challenges Education Ministry’s appointment policies after Ministry regularises acting staff

The Suva High Court will deliver it’s ruling on notice where the Fiji Teachers’ Union has filed a civil case against the Permanent Secretary for Education and the Attorney General for regularizing those who were acting on vacant positions as this infringes the rights of the teachers for promotion under the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and the Open Merit Recruitment Selection Policy issued by the Ministry for Civil Service on 30th May, 2018.

The matter was heard before Judge, Justice Dane Tuiqereqere where Solicitor General Ropate Green, who is representing the Permanent Secretary and the Attorney General, has been given until today to file additional affidavits after he introduced

evidence from the bar last week. According to the submission filed by the Fiji Teachers’ Union, the Permanent Secretary of Education does not have the unfettered right or power to regulate and control and or direct the promotion of teachers under the purported memorandum dated 29th January, 2024.

They say this is a curtailment of the teachers’ constitutional rights under the 2013 Constitution.

According to the submission, the Permanent Secretary had advertised the vacant positions of heads of schools in 2023, however, this process was abandoned and appointment of those employees who were acting on the positions for more than six months were automatically confirmed.

Nurses call on the Govt to declare a nursing crisis, nurses getting sick and even dying due to lack of rest - FNA

With the mass exodus of nurses, the shortage of nurses, nurses getting sick and even dying due to lack of rest which is being blamed on the 12 hour shifts, lack of proper equipment and facilities, and lack of supplies to take proper care of the patients, Fiji Nursing Association President, Doctor Adi Alisi Vudiniabola says it is time that the government admits that Fiji has a nursing crisis.

With Vijay Narayan, Doctor Adi Alisi says they know that CWM Hospital’s operating theatres lost about 95 percent of it’s regular experienced staff.

She says sadly a sister-incharge passed away next to the theatre last year as she was pulling many shifts due to the shortage of experienced nurses. She says nurses are leaving in droves and the departure of nurses from the CWM Hospital is concerning.

Doctor Adi Alisi also says they are concerned about everything at the CWM’s maternity hospital.

She says a part of the ceiling had almost fallen on a mother and her baby, and for emergency cases nurses and security guards were carrying mothers down the stairs as the lift was not working.

US woman who ‘tried to bribe’ CISF personnel with gold held at Delhi airport

A US woman who allegedly tried to “bribe” a CISF security personnel with smuggled gold was apprehended at the Delhi airport, officials said on Thursday.

The incident took place at Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport early on Wednesday, when US citizen Farah Deeko Mohamed arrived from Nairobi (Kenya) on an Air India flight.

The passenger was intercepted by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel while she was being frisked before taking a connecting Air India flight to Hyderabad, a senior officer of the paramilitary force said.

She was found carrying five gold bars (weighing 50 grams each) and some jewellery worth about Rs 35 lakh by concealing it in her undergarments, the officer added.

“The passenger discreetly offered some gold she was carrying to the CISF woman personnel who frisked her, in exchange for allowing her to proceed with the precious metal,” a CISF spokesperson said.

“The personnel rejected the bribe and promptly apprehended the passenger,” the spokesperson said.

The passenger was handed over to Customs officials for further investigation.

US report citing human rights violations in India is deeply biased

India on Thursday described a US State Department report citing alleged incidents of human rights violations including in Manipur as “deeply biased” and said it reflects a poor understanding of India and it attaches no value to it.

The annual report of the State Department highlighted instances of human rights abuses in Manipur following the outbreak of ethnic conflict.

“This report is deeply biased and reflects a poor understanding of India,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

“We attach no value to it and urge you to do the same,” he said at his weekly media briefing.

assistance in Manipur.

According to the report, there were a number of press and civil society reports of representatives of political parties using disinformation tactics against civil society organisations, religious minorities, such as Sikhs and Muslims, and the political opposition, sometimes depicting them as security threats.

The report also mentioned the raids by Indian tax authorities on the office of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

The India section of the report said local human rights organisations, minority political parties and affected communities criticised the country’s government for the delayed action to stop violence and provide humanitarian

Referring to the tax raids on BBC offices, the report said although tax authorities described the searches as motivated by irregularities in the BBC’s tax payments and ownership structure, officials also searched and seized equipment from journalists who were not involved in the organisation’s financial processes.

“The government invoked emergency powers to ban screening of the documentary, forced media companies to remove links to the video, and detained student protesters who organised viewing parties,” the State Department alleged, referring to a BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots, the screening of which was banned in India.

NIA arrests UK resident Inderpal Gaba for attack on Indian High Commission in London

In a major breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested a key accused in a case related to the attack on the Indian High Commission in London in March last year.

Inderpal Singh Gaba, a resident of Hounslow in the UK, has been arrested for carrying out unlawful activities during protests that

took place on March 22, 2023, in London, a statement issued by the agency said.

NIA investigations in the case so far have revealed that the incidents in London on March 19 and 22 last year were part of a larger conspiracy to unleash vicious attacks on the Indian missions and its officials.

The attacks in London in March 2023 were found to be in retaliation

to the action taken by the Punjab Police against Amritpal Singh on March 18, 2023, it added. Further investigations in the case are continuing, the statement said.

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2 Indian restaurants in Colorado dupe investors of USD 3,80,000: Officials

Two Indian restaurants in Colorado have duped investors to the tune of USD 3,80,000, state regulators have alleged and are now seeking to recover the amount from them.

In a lawsuit, the Colorado Division of Securities has alleged that the owners of Indian restaurants Bombay Clay Oven and Saucy Bombay used “halftruths and lies” to sell investors on their grandiose plans for a nationwide expansion before spending the USD 380,000 that shareholders invested on rent, operating costs and Ponzi-like payments, local newspaper “BusinessDen” reported on Wednesday.

The two restaurants were owned by The Bombay Group (TBG), which entered into an agreement with securities broker Michael Bissonnette. Both defendants declined offers to discuss the allegations with “BusinessDen”, the daily reported.

operated for more than two decades, and Saucy Bombay, a new endeavour with a single location in a food court.

TBG’s plan was to franchise Saucy Bombay in order to capitalise on the fastcasual restaurant trend, the lawsuit said.

Like many in the restaurant industry, TBG had grand plans to expand its business into a nationwide conglomerate, with hundreds or even thousands of locations. In 2014, TBG owned and operated two restaurants: Bombay Clay Oven, a restaurant that had

“The investors in this case really believed in The Bombay Group and their restaurant, Saucy Bombay,” Tung Chan, the state’s securities commissioner told the newspaper. “But as we allege, the investors were not told the truth about the investments and they have not been paid back. If you have invested with The Bombay Group, please contact the Securities Division right away,” he said.

Top royal honour for British Indian medic

Britain’s King Charles III on Tuesday unveiled a set of top royal honours, elevating senior British Indian medic Lord Ajay Kumar Kakkar and musician Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber as his new Knight Companions of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

Lord Kakkar, 59, has been chosen for one of the country’s oldest ceremonial orders in the gift of the British monarch to honour outstanding public service, made without prime

ministerial advice as is the case with other royal honours.

“Ajay Kumar Kakkar, Baron Kakkar of Loxbeare, studied medicine at King’s College London before receiving his PhD from Imperial College London, and has focused his medical career on the treatment of venous and arterial thromboembolic disease, and cancer associated thrombosis,” reads a citation issued by Buckingham Palace.

A foreign vlogger couple, known for their viral travel videos, has alleged that they faced sexual harassment at the iconic Thrissur Pooram in Kerala which concluded last week. American-English vlogger couple Mackenzie and Keenan posted on their Instagram page yesterday a video that shows a man trying to forcibly kiss Mackenzie after

The high-octane Thrissur Pooram was held on April 19 in this central Kerala city. The video, titled ‘Questionable Moments at Thrissur Pooram’ also showed Keenan saying a man in his 50s sexually assaulted him and that the vlogger had to push him

away.

Meanwhile, Kerala Police said they had not received any complaint. “We have not received any complaint,” police said, adding that an accused man in the video had been identified.

In the video, the couple said the people there were a bit frisky.

The narration in the video said they had a wonderful time at Thrissur Pooram, but there were also “some questionable moments”. The video showed a man, who was interviewed by Mackenzie for her social media pages, trying to kiss her forcibly and she pushing him away.

A 19-year-old girl from Pakistan, Ayesha Rashan, waited for five years with an heart ailment, before she was recently given the heart of a 69-year-old brain-dead patient, flown from a hospital in Delhi, at Chennaibased M3M Healthcare.

According to a TOI report, Ayesha first came to India in 2019 when she suffered a cardiac arrest and went into heart failure. Senior cardiac surgeon Dr KR Balakrishnan, who was then at Malar Hospital in Adyar, suggested a heart transplant, and she was

waitlisted on the state organ registry.

Considering her condition, the doctors gave her a left ventricular assist device, following which she flew back home. But in 2023, the right side of her heart also failed, and she got an infection, as per the report.

Ultimately, with the help of a fund pool and doctors’ assistance, Ayesha underwent a successful heart transplant surgery. “I can breathe easy now,” she told TOI. “I am planning to complete my schooling in Karachi. I want to become a fashion designer.”

Drugs, unaccounted cash, liquor worth Rs 321 crore seized so far in Punjab

Law enforcement agencies have seized drugs, unaccounted cash, liquor and valuables worth Rs 321.51 crore in Punjab since the model code of conduct came into force last month for the Lok Sabha polls. Amritsar district topped the list with seizures worth Rs 60.3 crore.

crore, precious metals and other items worth Rs 12.46 crore were seized.

The model code of conduct came into force on March 16. Among the 24 enforcement agencies operating in the state, Punjab Police made seizures worth Rs 276.19 crore, followed by the Border Security Force at Rs 22.85 crore.

Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)

Sibin C said drugs worth Rs 287.23 crore, unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 6.89 crore, liquor (22.8 lakh litres) valued at Rs 14.93

The state excise department seized goods worth Rs 7.21 crore, the state goods and services tax department Rs 5 crore, the customs department Rs 4.37 crore, the income tax department Rs 4.08 crore and the Narcotics Control Bureau Rs 1.76 crore.

Among districts, Tarn Taran accounted for Rs 53.74 crore worth of seized goods and cash, followed by Ferozepur at Rs 49.34 crore and Fazilka at Rs 41.71 crore.

First Sikh court opens in UK to deal with family disputes

British Sikh lawyers have come together to set up a new court as a dispute resolution forum for the community caught up in family and civil disputes, a UK media report said on Thursday.

According to ‘The Times’, the Sikh court was launched last weekend at a ceremony at the Old Hall at Lincoln’s Inn in London accompanied by religious chants.

Baldip Singh, a 33-year-old London-based barrister who is one of the court’s founders, told the newspaper that it was not a religious tribunal but aimed at assisting Sikh families in their time of need when dealing with conflict and disputes “in line with Sikh principles”. The new court will operate remotely and in person, and will comprise around “30 magistrates and 15 judges, of whom most will be women”. The magistrates will mediate between parties to negotiate a settlement, as well as direct them to a course

to help them to work on specific issues, the newspaper report says.

Created following discussions with Sikh charities, the courses would cover low-level domestic violence, anger management, gambling and substance misuse, and are available in Punjabi as well as English. If

Mumbai police arrest 2 men in Punjab for shooting outside Salman Khan’s residence

Mumbai police on Thursday arrested two men in Punjab in connection with the recent firing outside actor Salman Khan’s house in Mumbai, an official said.

Subhash Chander (37) and Anuj Thapan (32) had provided weapon and cartridges to the shooters on March 15, the police official said. Both were arrested by a Crime Branch team and are being flown to Mumbai, the official said. Meanwhile, a Mumbai court

till April 29 of the two men arrested in connection with the firing outside the actor’s residence in upscale Bandra.

Vicky Gupta (24) and Sagar Pal (21), both residents of Bihar, were produced before the metropolitan magistrate court here after their previous remand ended on Thursday.

Gupta and Pal allegedly fired outside 58-year-old Khan’s house at the Galaxy Apartment in Bandra in the early hours

motorbike. They were nabbed on April 16 from Mata No Madh village in Gujarat’s Kutch district.

The crime branch team later recovered two pistols, magazines and bullets from the Tapi river in Gujarat during a search operation to recover weapons allegedly used in the firing.

The Mumbai police have declared jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his younger brother Anmol Bishnoi as wanted accused in

mediation is unsuccessful, a case can be brought in front of a Sikh court judge, who can give a legally binding judgment under the Arbitration Act.

Baldip Singh said that under the rules of the new court both parties in a case would have to consent to participate.

“If we think that there are really significant safeguarding issues that we cannot deal with and should not deal with they will be directed to the appropriate place. We’re not here to take over and upset the English courts,” said Sharan Bhachu, a barrister reportedly sworn in as the “lead family judge” for the new Sikh court last week.