The Asian Star July 30 2016

www.theasianstar.com Voll 15 - Issue Isss ssu ssu u uee 26 26

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Dalit couple hacked to death over Rs15 (29¢ )

New UK PM in Saree New UK PM Theresa May looked resplendant in a saree

South Asian killed, another injured in Surrey shooting

IHIT continues to investigate the double shooting at a residence in Surrey on July 23rd. The deceased has been identified as 28 year old Jatinder “Michael” Sandhu.

Mr. Sandhu does not possess a criminal record nor was he believed to be involved in the current conflict.

Continued on Page 6

A Dalit couple was today hacked to death here allegedly by an upper caste man for refusing to part with a paltry Rs 15 so he could buy his daily fix of intoxicant.

Bharat Nat (48) and his wife Mamta (45) were attacked with an axe by Ashok Misra when they refused to give him Rs 15 in Kurra area of Lakhmipur village early this morning. The incident occurred when the couple was going for paddy transplantation.

Superintendent of Police Deo Ranjan Verma and District Magistrate PC Gupta have rushed to the spot with reinforcements in view of the tension in the village.

The police said the accused, who had a grocery store in Mainpuri, has been arrested.

He was demanding the money to buy some

intoxicant and an argument over the matter led to the gruesome killing of the couple.

The bodies of the couple have been sent for postmortem examination.

The Nats are a nomadic community and eke out a living by providing entertainment

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by the roadside. Many of the poor, landless Nats have abandoned their traditional occupation of rope dancing and jugglery and are mainly engaged as unskilled agricultural labourers.

10% of Metro Vancouver real estate buyers in 5 weeks were foreigners Foreign buyers spent more than $885 million on Metro Vancouver real estate in just five weeks, according to new data released by the B.C. government on Tuesday.

The money represents about 10 per cent of the value of all real estate purchased in the region over that span, the government said.

The data — which included all properties registered between June 10 and July 14 — revealed that within Metro Vancouver, the cities of Burnaby and Richmond had the highest number of foreign buyers at 18 per cent. Eleven per cent of the real estate transactions in the City

Tel:604-591-5423

of Vancouver involved foreign buyers.

According to the government’s data, foreign buyers favoured the Metro Vancouver region, which accounted for 73 per cent of all their purchases.

In comparison, the Victoria-Capital region housing market only had 3.5 per cent of its real estate transactions attributed to foreign buyers.

The government did not release data about the buyers’ specific countries of origin.

Foreign buyers responsible for overheated market?

Continued on Page 6

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Saturday, July 30, 2016

New Metro Vancouver property transfer tax could affect outlying areas Municipalities outside of Metro Vancouver will be watching closely to see if the new foreign buyers’ transfer tax announced this week will affect housing markets in their communities.

On Monday, the provincial government introduced legislation that sets the property transfer tax at 15 per cent for purchasers of residential real estate who are foreign nationals or foreign-controlled corporations.

According to the latest statistics collected by the province, foreign nationals invested more than $1 billion in B.C. property between June 10 and July 14, more than 86 per cent of it in the Lower Mainland.

The new tax will take effect Aug. 2 and affect residential property purchases in Metro Vancouver, excluding the Tsawwassen First Nation treaty lands.

“At the margin, this is very likely to lead some foreign buyers who want to invest in B.C. residential real estate to focus on other markets where the higher (property transfer tax) doesn’t apply — the Fraser Valley, and perhaps Kelowna, Victoria and Whistler,” said Jock Finlayson, executive vice-president of the Business Council of B.C. Charles Wiebe, president of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, said many foreign buyers are looking to live or own specifically in the areas in which they are purchasing, and a tax may have little effect on their decision.

Finlayson agreed.

Four police officers hurt in violent arrest at Victoria’s tent city Four Victoria police officers were injured in a violent tent city arrest after they were assaulted by a man at the Burdett Street encampment Thursday evening.

Three officers were sent to hospital for treatment while a fourth was treated at the scene. The attacker, who is known to police, was subdued with a Taser and also taken to hospital. He was cleared medically and will spend the night in a cell at Victoria police headquarters on Quadra Street. He was not injured.

Victoria police spokesman Const.

Matt Rutherford said special duty officers stationed at the encampment heard an altercation in one of the tents and

attempted to intervene in what sounded like a domestic assault. They encountered an “extremely combative” man who began to assault them, Rutherford said.

The two officers called for backup and multiple police units quickly responded.

“Two assisting officers were also assaulted and a Taser was then deployed to gain control of the man who was then taken into custody without further incident,” a police statement said.

Detectives are interviewing witnesses who observed the incident. Police are recommending four charges of assaulting a police officer, possession of a prohibited weapon, assault and resisting arrest.

Pop-up supervised injection site hits Surrey streets Residents of Surrey's Whalley neighbourhood woke up to a popup supervised injection site this morning, courtesy of advocacy groups who want a solution to the city's ongoing opioid overdose problem. The site — set up on 135A Street on Wednesday — was a collaboration between the B.C./Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors and the Portland Hotel Society.

Russ Maynard, research and policy manager at the Portland Hotel Society, said supervised injection sites prevent infection and deaths due to overdose, as well as provide dignity for a vulnerable and often-overlooked population.

"All we're doing is providing supervision while they do what they're going to do anyway in a cleaner, safer environment," Maynard said. "Most importantly, they're being treated like the people that they are."

The site consisted of several tents with chairs and tables, partitions for privacy, sterilized needles and medical supplies.

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4

EDITORIAL

Saturday, July 30, 2016

The 15 percent tax on foreign buyers will not help locals looking to purchase homes in Metro Vancouver By: Umendra Singh The 15 percent tax being applied to foreign home buyers in Metro Vancouver from August

2 is a desperate attempt by the governing BC Liberals to impress upon voters that they are doing something about the inability of locals to purchase homes.

In fact, it is a hollow measure.

What is a 15 percent surcharge for foreign millionaires and billionaires who are using our

real estate as commodity or for criminals to launder ill-gotten cash? NOTHING !!!

They were buying when prices of homes were 25 percent less. And they will continue buying why the prices of homes in Metro Canada is 25 percent higher than current price. What is a mere 15 percent tax she foreigners can hide or launder or invest their money here? There is no other place like this in the world.

BC Liberals, eyeing a general election next year and an angry group of a middle class voters, want to be seem to be doing something. Even if what they are doing is not going to help the middle class.

The 15 percent tax will help the BC government grab more cash than ever in property transfer tax. The government reported last week that it had received $730 million more in property transfer tax than it had estimated. Now that number will jump with the 15 percent tax on foreign buyers.

Premier Christie Clark said her government will use the revenue from the 15 percent tax to build more affordable housing.

How is that going to help those local who can’t buy homes in Metro Vancouver? It won’t. This measure will help the government get more revenue with which it will build housing of those who are dependant on free or government housing. It will not help those in the middle class who are looking to purchase homes.

NEWS

Worker in critical condition after being trapped under lawn mower in Surrey park

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

A worker was injured in Surrey after witnesses said he ended up trapped under a piece of lawn maintenance equipment in a pond on Friday.

RCMP are releasing few details at this time, but call the incident, “a serious accident,” and say that the man was using the piece of equipment when he and it ended up in the water at Glenwood Park in Surrey.

Paramedics say the victim was transported to hospital in critical condition to be treated for, “a traumatic injury.”

A co-worker and a bystander pulled the machine off the man, got him to shore and started CPR until paramedics arrived, witnesses said.

Contributing writers: Jag Dhatt, Akash Sablok, Kamila Singh, Jay Bains Photographer: Chandra Bodalia Publication Mail Agreement No 428336012 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept.

# 202 - 7028, 120th Street, Surrey, BC V3W 3M8 All advertising in The Asian Star is subject to the publishers’ approval and the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publishers against claims arising from publication of any advertisement submitted by the advertiser.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

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6

LOCAL

Saturday, July 30, 2016

10% of Vancouver real estate buyers in 5 weeks were foreigners Continued from Page 1 Many critics have speculated that foreign capital coming into Vancouver is one reason real estate has become increasingly unaffordable, with locals unable to compete with foreign investors.

B.C. Finance Minister Mike de Jong said he felt demand from foreign nationals is contributing to escalating house prices. He said the government is taking steps to reduce the demand and increase the domestic supply.

Yesterday, it announced a new 15 per cent property transfer tax on foreign buyers, but only within the Metro Vancouver region.

The proposed legislation would have anyone who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident pay a 15 per cent tax when they register their property.

The change is scheduled to take effect August 2, with room for the provincial

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government to increase the tax to 20 per cent or decrease it to 10 per cent as it sees fit.

De Jong said if the current rate of foreign nationals purchasing property continues, “it’s going to generate a lot of money,” which the provincial government has promised to invest in creating housing as well as rental and support programs.

He acknowledged that the one-week turnaround is quick but said that purchases already scheduled to take place after the tax comes into effect will not be “grandfathered” and exempted from the tax.

He said the tax will be uniformly applied to any property registered on and after August 2, as is typical of tax legislation.

De Jong said because the tax applies on properties registered on and after August 2, it will, for example, capture anyone that has purchased condos during pre-sales.

South Asian killed, another injured in Surrey shooting Continued from Page 1 The driver of the vehicle, who also does not possess a criminal record, remains in hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

Extensive canvassing in the area has been conducted and information from the public continues to be processed.

A suspect was witnessed fleeing the scene in a grey or silver Infiniti SUV (unknown year) and IHIT is asking for the public’s assistance to locate this vehicle.

IHIT and Surrey RCMP continue to work collectively on this investigation. Investigators believe this shooting to be targeted and as a result of the current conflict between individuals/groups within Surrey. Police believe that this shooting is linked to the

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conflict within Surrey, however, evidence and information obtained thus far suggests the victims may have not been the intended targets.

“Police would like to remind individuals that just because you’re not directly involved in criminal activity or violence as a result of conflict, does not mean that you’re immune to the associated risks.

If you have friends or family members involved in this lifestyle, you could very well become inadvertent collateral damage to these violent disputes,” says Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pound.

Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT tip-line at 1-877-551-4448, or call CrimeStoppers to remain anonymous.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

BC Hydro CEO mounts cost-cutting effort to cover $3.5B in revenue declines Revenues have declined by $3.5 billion over the last 10 years at British Columbia’s public power utility, but consumers won’t be zapped with rate hikes beyond what was originally forecasted.

BC Hydro CEO Jessica McDonald says the Crown corporation has instead embarked on a utility-wide cost-cutting program to stick to its 10-year rate plan announced almost three years ago.

B.C.’s electricity rates increased four per cent in April and are slated to increase at 3.5 per cent and three per cent over the next two years.

McDonald says warm winters and a decrease in commodity prices in B.C.’s resource industries are largely to blame for the revenue declines.

Opposition New Democrat energy critic Adrian Dix says Hydro’s debts are increasing and now amount to $3,000 for every British Columbian.

McDonald says this year’s four per cent rate increase averages at $4.65 extra each month for a family of four living in a single-family detached home.

Nuttall and Korody to be freed after BC judge issues stay of proceeding in terror entrapment case

John Nuttall and Amanda Korody will be set free after a BC Supreme Court judge entered a stay of proceedings in their terror plot entrapment case, overturning their convictions.

The common-law couple was found guilty by a jury of conspiring to murder persons unknown and making or possessing an explosive substance for planting pressure cooker bombs outside the BC Legislature in 2013. Both were facing a sentence of life in prison.

But their defence team argued before the Supreme Court that the couple had been entrapped by the RCMP and were not capable of carrying out a terrorist plot on their own.

In her ruling, Justice Catherine Bruce said police went too far and used trickery and subterfuge to manipulate the pair. She also said the two did not have the mental capacity to have planned and carried out the plot themselves.

Bruce described Nuttall and Korody as “frightened” and “marginalized,” and said the RCMP used that to their advantage, aiding and abetting the pair, and going to “enormous effort” to get them to carry out the plan, including providing inducements like an elaborate escape plan and offers of jobs.

LOCAL

7

Apartment fire forces 10 Syrian refugee families from their Coquitlam homes

Two in hospital after shooting in North Surrey

A fire at a housing complex in Coquitlam, B.C., has forced a dozen families from their homes — 10 of which are Syrian refugees.

The fire began at Building 21 of a housing complex at 550 Cottonwood Ave., which Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart said had the highest concentration of refugee tenants on the complex.

“So many of them had lost everything already prior to coming to Canada,” Stewart said.

“These families have been through hell.”

Rasheed Shirzad lives in the building adjacent to the one that caught fire. He said that when he arrived at the building at 11:30 a.m., he saw flames the height of building itself emerging from the roof.

“I was terrified,” Shirzad said. “It was the first time I saw such a fire.”

Stewart said the building contains 48 units in total, the majority of which are inhabited by Syrian refugees.

Two people are in hospital after a reported shooting in Surrey early Thursday morning.

Surrey RCMP located a man suffering from a gunshot wound near 135A Street and 108 Avenue around 3:10 a.m.

PT. Officers located a second victim nearby. The two were taken to hospital with nonlife threatening injuries.

Staff Sgt. Murray Hedderson said police found a firearm nearby what appeared to be an isolated incident.

Police are knocking on doors in the neighbourhood, trying to find out further information.

8

HARDEEP KHABRA

Saturday, July 30, 2016

HARDEEP KHABRA’S PASSION FOR SCIENCE LED TO A CAREER IN PHARMACEUTICALS By: Mindy G

H

ardeep Khabra is a well-known and respected pharmacist, who serves as the managing pharmacist at Blueridge Pharmacy in Abbotsford.

Hardeep has been with Blueridge Pharmacy since it first opened nearly nine years ago.

Although Hardeep currently works as the head pharmacist,

his beginnings were much more humble.

Hardeep was born in 1958 in a small northern Indian village called Ghumiala. Hardeep lived in Ghumiala for four years before his family started a continuous state of moving throughout India. Moving homes and cities became a constant

in Hardeep’s life. He attended twelve different schools within ten years. Hardeep’s family was in a constant state of moving because his father, Amar Singh Khabra, worked as a consolidation officer. The constant change of space, school, and friendships allowed Hardeep to not only adapt to change but also to develop resilience, which he would later apply during his years in Canada.

While growing up in India, Hardeep was a studious student and had aspirations of becoming a veterinarian.

Khabra followed his dreams of becoming a veterinarian and enrolled in veterinary college in India, which he attended until the age of twenty-one. It was when Hardeep was twenty-one years of age that his brother, Harjit Singh Khabra , sponsored him, his parents, and his two siblings to come to Canada. Hardeep left his schooling, friends, and the life he had lived in India behind to join his brother in a country he had never seen before.

Coming from India to Canada, the cold weather shocked Hardeep. His earliest memories of being in Canada involved cold weather and sore shoulders (the former causing the latter). Hardeep adjusted to the cold Canadian seasons and he no longer has to deal with sore shoulders. Hardeep did not only adapt to Canadian weather, but also the schooling system. When he arrived in Canada he received advice to not finish his Indian education in Canada. Hardeep then decided to start a new degree, and enrolled at the University of British Columbia, where he graduated with an honours degree in microbiology in 1984. After finishing his degree in microbiology, Hardeep considered pursuing research and medicine.

These fields required lengthy schooling and grueling hours and they did not work well with Hardeep’s vision for his future, or his growing family, as Hardeep married in 1981 to his wife, Sandy Khabra, and his first child was born in 1984. Hardeep finally found his calling in pharmaceutical sciences, as it worked with his love for science and medicine and allowed him to be able to spend time with his loved ones. Hardeep went on to graduate from UBC’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1988.

After graduating from UBC, Hardeep went to work at a pharmacy in Vernon for fourteen months. After gaining the experience, he returned to Metro Vancouver and began working as the head pharmacist at Cloverdale Pharmasave in Surrey. After dedicating 18 years to Cloverdale Pharmasave, Hardeep took on the position of head pharmacist of the newly established Blueridge Pharmacy in Abbotsford. Hardeep, someone who is accustomed to change, took on the opportunity to start a new challenge.

He has now worked at Blueridge Pharmacy for almost nine years and the risk to start something new definitely paid off, as he is not only loved by the staff members but also by all of the recurring patients who visit Blueridge Pharmacy on a regular basis. Hardeep has greatly contributed to making Blueridge Pharmacy one of the best pharmacies in Abbotsford.

Outside of work Hardeep enjoys spending his time reading, gardening, and relaxing. Hardeep particularly enjoys gardening; an activity that he believes provides exercise and allows him to relax. Hardeep strongly encourages people to follow their passion and has never pressured his children to follow his career path, as he stated“if you enter the wrong field, you will not live a happy life” Hardeep’s future plans involve more gardening, relaxing, and eventually a road trip across Canada, as he wants to see the entire country, a country that he now calls his home.

9

LOCAL

Saturday, July 30, 2016

26 ‘baby houses’ in Metro vancouver as birth tourism from China booms Health ministry investigators are aware of more than two dozen so-called birth houses in B.C. offering pregnant foreign mothers temporary room and board before and after giving birth in local hospitals, according to Freedom of Information documents obtained

by Postmedia.

The baby houses, as they are called in Asia, are used by women seeking instant Canadian citizenship for their newborns.

The internal briefing document, titled Birth

by Non-B.C. Residents, was created in response to a Vancouver Sun story last year about the three-fold increase since 2009 of nonresident births.

A department in Victoria called the Audit and Investigations Branch, Eligibility, Compliance and Enforcement Unit (ECEU) knows about 26 private residences offering hospitality services to foreign pregnant women. It said the residences are used by two groups.

The first includes those in Canada on a temporary resident document, such as a tourist visa, work or study permit. They come to deliver a baby “who by birth is then granted Canadian citizenship status.” They do not access Medical Services Plan-funded benefits and “they declare themselves as selfpay at hospitals and to doctors.”

The second category includes permanent residents properly enrolled in MSP, but at some point cease to meet the definition

under the Medicare Protection Act. They return to their country of origin but remain enrolled in the MSP. They then return to B.C. to have a baby and since they still have MSP coverage, bills related to the mother and baby are billed to the plan. They stay long enough to obtain a birth certificate, a Canadian passport and enrolment in MSP for the baby before returning to their country of origin.

The ECEU conducts regular reviews of individuals who cease to meet the definition of a resident under the Medicare Protection Act, according to the documents. The next paragraphs were censored by government for fear of harm to law enforcement. The documents say the cost of non-resident births was $693,869.20 in the 2014-2015 fiscal year: “The health authorities recover approximately 50 per cent of their amount outstanding, Pharmacare and MSP costs are recovered by the Ministry of Finance.”

Investigators have found no evidence of “forged or counterfeit” Care Cards or B.C. Services Cards, nor did they find evidence to warrant a referral to law enforcement.

Earlier this month, Postmedia reported 295 of the 1,938 babies born at Richmond Hospital for the year ended March 31 were delivered to foreign Chinese mothers.

According to the documents, the number of non-resident births at Richmond Hospital “increased dramatically” beginning in 2011.

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LOCAL

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Const. James Forcillo, convicted in streetcar shooting death of Sammy Yatim, released on bail Toronto police Const. James Forcillo has been released on bail as he pursues an appeal of his conviction for the attempted murder of Sammy Yatim, the 18-yearold shot dead aboard a streetcar in July 2013.

Forcillo received a six-year sentence Thursday and spent the night in custody.

The appeal judge, Justice Eileen Gillese, said in her decision that Const. James Forcillo poses no risk to the public “as there is no risk that he would commit further offences.”

Gillese noted that until Thursday, the Crown had consented to bail being granted every time the issue arose, including after Forcillo, 33, was convicted in January of attempted murder. A condition of Forcillo’s bail is that he surrender himself on

Nov. 9. Gillese said that before that date, the Crown and defence lawyers should update the presiding judge on the status of the appeal. If the appeal isn’t ready to be heard, Gillese said, the surrender date can be modified.

“By imposing this early surrender date, the public will see that meaningful steps have been taken to ensure that the appeal is heard as expeditiously as possible,” she wrote.

The stipulations of Forcillo’s bail remain unchanged from when he was charged three years ago: A surety of $500,000.

He must remain in Ontario.

He can only leave his house once a week, and only if accompanied by someone else.

Forcillo will return to custody the day before the appeal court hearing and will remain incarcerated for the duration of the hearing, his lawyer told. Yatim was shot on July 27, 2013, after police responded to reports of a passenger carrying a weapon on a streetcar on Dundas Street West in downtown Toronto.

Forcillo fired two separate volleys — three shots and then six shots — at Yatim. Medical evidence showed Yatim was critically injured by the first round of shots and would have died whether or not Forcillo had continued

International student, 23, killed as SUV crashes into Granville Island store A 23-year-old woman, a visiting international student, was struck and killed by an SUV in a popular Vancouver tourist area, police say.

The woman was pinned under the vehicle after it backed up and crashed into a store on Granville Island.

Police wouldn’t identify the victim’s home country. They said only that she was from another country and was studying in Canada.

“I heard a loud screech, a bang, and then screaming,” said Jen Harmenzon, who rushed

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shooting. Forcillo’s trial began in Toronto at the Superior Court of Justice on Oct. 20. He faced two charges: one of second-degree murder for the first round of shots, and one of attempted murder for the second round.

On Jan. 25, the jury found Forcillo was justified in firing the first three shots at Yatim and thus not guilty of second-degree murder.

However, it also determined Forcillo was not justified in firing the second round of shots, once Yatim was on the streetcar floor, and convicted him of attempted murder.

to the crash scene from a store across the street.

Harmenzon said off-duty paramedics ran over to help and ambulances arrived quickly.

“The back end of the SUV, actually half of it, was in the building. And there was somebody underneath. She didn’t make it,” said Harmenzon.

Harmenzon said an off-duty victims services worker was also on scene, comforting a friend of the woman who died.

Two other pedestrians received minor injuries.

The SUV crashed through the wall at Maiwa Handprints, a textile supply store at the corner of Anderson and Johnston streets, around 12:30 p.m.

Officials don’t yet know what caused the collision in the busy area that’s popular with tourists and shoppers.

Police said the driver of the SUV remained at the scene and is co-operating with investigators.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Support groups set up illegal supervised injection site in Surrey A little tent pitched in Surrey on Wednesday symbolized the desperate measures being taken to end the ongoing overdose crisis killing drug users across B.C.

In an act of rebellion, drug-user support groups established an illegal, temporary supervised-injection site (SIS) in the city ahead of income-assistance payments Wednesday.

Two weeks ago, Fraser Health responded to 36 non-fatal overdoses in Surrey within 48 hours. Research has shown overdose deaths in B.C. increase by 40 per cent during incomeassistance weeks.

Wednesday, on the notorious “Strip” at 135A Street near 106th Avenue, drug users visited a tent walled with tarps attached by tourniquets, where they injected themselves two-dozen times over the course of a few hours. Members of Insite, the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users and Pivot Legal Society were present, along with a physician.

The site did not have a federal exemption under Section 56 of the Controlled Drug and Substances Act, so it was operating illegally.

Despite this, Surrey RCMP did not shut the site down when visiting and were “polite and professional” to those present, said Russ Maynard of the Portland Hotel Society, which operates the Insite SIS in Vancouver. The tent was taken down at 2 p.m. as planned.

Maynard said the event was organized by grassroots organization the B.C.-Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors. A team of harm-reductionists provided support with the tent, clean injection supplies and “technical knowhow around supervised injection,” he said.

“We knew that we were only going to scratch the surface of the need. A lot of that is people not feeling comfortable — they’re not used to

Surrey RCMP investigate a shot fired in the Whalley Area Surrey RCMP is currently on scene in the area of 135A St and 108th Ave. area of Surrey for a report of a shooting.

At approximately 3:10 A.M., on 2016-0728, Surrey R.C.M.P. came across a male that was suffering from a gunshot wound in the area of 135A St and 108th Ave. area of Surrey, B.C. Additional Surrey R.C.M.P. members responded to area immediately and located a second victim nearby. The initial investigation located a firearm nearby. Both victims have been transported to Hospital by E.H.S. with non-life threatening injuries.

Officers are conducting neighbourhood canvassing and speaking with witnesses to obtain further information. The investigation is still in its early stages, but initial indications are that this is an isolated incident.

Anyone with further information who has not already spoken to police is asked to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca.

a service.”

Maynard said he wants to invite Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner, who has been apprehensive about bringing an SIS to the city, to visit him and learn more about how Insite helps people connect with health services and transition into recovery.

Hepner was unavailable for comment Wednesday. Surrey Coun. Vera LeFranc told Postmedia News that the city was aware of the actions taken by Vancouver advocates to assist local drug users.

Dr. Victoria Lee, chief medial health officer for Fraser Health, said Friday that the authority would like to embed supervised-consumption services within existing or future facilities that serve vulnerable or high-risk populations.

LOCAL

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Saturday, July 30, 2016

City of Vancouver grapples with development permit overload Some developers are claiming that the city of Vancouver’s backlog of development permits has gotten so bad, they are waiting years for approval.

Keith Roy, a home builder who chronicled his troubles in a blog, said he’s seen line-ups starting at six in the morning in front of city hall of

people waiting for a permit checker.

“That’s what happens every morning at city hall,” he said.

“I get a different person and a different ticket every time I show up and nobody can make a decision,” he added.

“This is the biggest problem with the city of Vancouver.”

Roy started his house redevelopment plans in early 2015, and he expects to move in by midSeptember.

Home designer Brynn Davidson of Lanefab Design says the triggering

event was the introduction of a new building code in the middle of 2014.

“Everybody was trying to get their projects in before the new code came into effect, “ he said.

“So there was this tidal wave of new projects that came in.”

“The problem that we had was the city didn’t plan for this,” he said.

Hence this caused the bottleneck, he says.

On average, Davidson said the process of getting a design approved and permits takes: t Eight months for a laneway home. t One year for a singlefamily home. t More than a year-and-ahalf for redeveloping a heritage house or building in a duplex zone.

“I almost encourage people to sell their duplex house and buy a single family one because the process is so onerous,” said Davidson.

Building a multi-family unit is an especially onerous process, said Anne McMullin, president of the Urban Development Institute.

She said developers are often trying to negotiate with two departments.

“You’re building a building in the Gastown revitalization — for example — and you’ve got all these requirements from the Heritage department but in the environment department,” she said.

Vincent Cheung sentenced to 13 years and 6 months in prison

A man who targeted 15 families with firebombings and shootings because he thought they had links to a training centre for emergency responders in British Columbia has been sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison.

Vincent Cheung, 43, of Langley pleaded guilty last week to 18 of 23 charges stemming from attacks in 2011 and 2012.

The Crown had asked for a 15-year prison sentence, while Cheung’s lawyer recommended a 10-year-term, saying that his client was a drug addict at the time of the attacks.

At the man’s sentencing hearing, the court heard that Cheung either hired associates or may have personally carried out the crimes after tracking down people who parked their vehicle at the Justice Institute of British Columbia in the Vancouver area where police and first responders are trained.

Nine victim impact statements were read out to the court in which people reported emotional trauma, depression and sleep deprivation after their homes or cars were shot at or set on fire.

Cheung will receive credit for time he has already served, so the sentence will be 12 years, according to his lawyer.

BC to create task force to address opioid crisis The B.C. government is creating a task force — and pushing Ottawa for more help — to address the opioid crisis that has killed more than 370 people in the province in the first part of 2016.

“This is an urgent health emergency and we need to deal with it right away,” Clark told reporters at a news conference at St. Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver. The task force will be headed by provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall and Clayton Pecknold, director of police services. It will also include representatives from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control and the ministries of health and public safety. In addition to the task force

the province plans to push for more help from federal enforcement officials to help crack down on fentanyl overdoses.

Clark wants the federal government to restrict access to devices such as pill presses and tableting machines and to pursue stronger penalties against those who import and traffic in fentanyl. Clark also wants Ottawa to ask the Canada Border Services Agency to search small packages for fentanyl to stop the drug coming into the country.

In the past, federal officials have said they don’t have the resources to check every small package entering the country.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Three-storey retail space could replace popular downtown Vancouver atrium A new proposal to replace a popular downtown space in Vancouver with a threestorey retail building is being presented to the city of Vancouver’s urban design panel today.

Cadillac-Fairview, which owns the building, is proposing the Pacific Centre rotunda — the big, glass atrium and terrace on the corner of Georgia and Howe Street — be replaced with a three-storey retail space.

Craig Patterson, a retail analyst and editorin-chief of Retail Insider, said CadillacFairview has been interested in redeveloping the block for a while.

“Having such a valuable set of retailers so close makes this an extremely prominent and valuable site to redevelop,” he said.

Patterson said Pacific Centre is one of the most productive shopping centres in North America. “There are a number of retailers who are looking for larger spaces in downtown

Vancouver and [redevelopment] provides them an exceptional opportunity.”

Critics mourn the loss of the rotunda, a rare public space for downtown shoppers and workers looking for a spot to rest or eat lunch.

Former city planning director Ray Spaxman helped create the rotunda in the 1980s.

“It’s not a very pleasant idea to replace something that has become an important public amenity with just more and more retail space,” he said.

Spaxman said Vancouver needs more spaces like the rotunda to keep the city core vibrant.

“It’s the little places that people can sit and enjoy a quiet moment...to get away from work... enjoy the view,” he said.

“Many of these squares are very important places psychologically in the city, and we don’t have enough of them.”

Larry Takahashi, serial rapist who targeted women in Edmonton, free on day parole in BC A serial rapist who targeted women in Edmonton decades ago is now free on day parole in Vancouver — though he’s subject to several conditions.

Larry Takahashi’s request for six months unescorted day parole was supported by the Correctional Service of Canada, which had actually recommended full parole.

The Parole Board of Canada, which makes these decisions, denied him full parole.

But the parole board did approve day release with a number of conditions. In its July ruling, the board said Takahashi’s “risk to reoffend is manageable on day parole and is not an undue risk.” Now 63, Takahashi hopes to find work in the Lower Mainland and has agreed to electronic monitoring.

Takahashi’s crimes date back to Edmonton in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when women were being attacked by a man in a ski mask, who became known as the “balaclava rapist.”

Arrested in 1983, Takahashi was originally charged with 70 sexual offences against 23 victims, including pregnant women and university students.

As part of a plea bargain, Takahashi pleaded

guilty to 14 charges: three counts of rape, six counts of forcible confinement and disguise with intent, and two counts of sexual assault with a weapon and aggravated sexual assault.

The remaining charges were stayed or withdrawn as part of the plea deal, according to the Parole Board.

“You admitted to having more victims than those in the crimes for which you were convicted,” according to the Parole Board ruling.

According to the ruling, Takahashi admitted to “hands on” attacks of 29 women.

At a later time, stated the Parole Board, “you said it was possible that you had other victims whose charges against you were stayed or that you were not charged with.”

Takahashi began serving three concurrent life sentences in 1984. Now, he’ll be free during the day and return to a secure facility at night.

He’ll also be subject to 11 parole conditions, including being prohibited from using drugs, alcohol, pornography, or computers.

He has to stay away from his victims and his victims’ families and he’s been ordered to avoid all college and university housing areas “to limit potential triggers.”

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Saturday, July 30, 2016

Alberta households emit most greenhouse gas in the country Homeowners in Edmonton and Calgary generate, on average, almost four times the amount of greenhouse gas emissions as their counterparts in Montreal, according to a study released Wednesday by the University of British Columbia. The study from the university’s faculty of land and food systems estimated average household emissions in major cities across Canada between 1997 and 2009, based on factors such as weather, population density and the type of energy used for home heating and electricity.

Montreal homes were ranked the greenest — at 5.4 tonnes per year — largely because of the widespread use of clean hydroelectric

power. The city’s dense population also means motorists spend less time commuting and guzzling gas. “If you live in Montreal, you can walk to your grocery store, you can walk your kids to school.

You don’t have to be driving everywhere, whereas in Edmonton, unfortunately, you do,� professor Sumeet Gulati, one of the report’s two authors, said Wednesday. Edmonton, followed closely by Calgary, was at the bottom of the pile at 20.7 tonnes per year, partly because of the use of coal-fired home energy and a spread-out population. The colder weather in the two biggest Alberta cities also means more energy is needed to heat homes.

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Mother of Vancouver mayor’s girlfriend could face death penalty in China The mother of Vancouver Chinese pop star Wanting Qu could be sentenced to death on charges of embezzlement, bribery and abuse of power according to a report in China’s state-controlled press.

Wanting Qu is the girlfriend of Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson.

Zhang Mingjie, 60, has been under arrest, and in custody, for almost two years. She disappeared from her home in Harbin, China, in September 2014.

It took months for her daughter to realize Zhang had been rounded up by police, and held in custody.

In April of last year, Mayor Robertson confirmed his girlfriend’s mother had been arrested on corruption charges.

Zhang is a former deputy director of the Harbin development and reform commission in northeast China.

Now, according to reports on the Xinhua News Agency and China Daily websites, Zhang’s trial was held July 19 and 20 in

Harbin City. China Daily says Zhang is “charged with three counts of corruption and abuse of power� in an alleged “land swindle� involving up to 350 million yuan — just over $69 million Cdn. The report also says “the prosecution recommended that Zhang Mingjie (be) sentenced to death.�

The South China Morning Post reports the charges arose out of a complex real estate scam, involving the transfer of a statecontrolled farm to a private agricultural firm in 2009.

The Hong Kong based news outlet says Zhang— the city official in charge of the deal— secretly conspired to doctor the terms of the sale.

Land rights were transferred to a real estate company to build a massive housing project.

Hundreds of workers on the farm were allegedly given tiny severance packages and “left to suffer in appalling conditions�.

Mayors outside Metro Vancouver concerned about foreign buyer impacts

West Vancouver lawyer elected to UN Human Rights Committee

Mayors outside Metro Vancouver are concerned about the impact of a new 15 per cent tax on their communities. The tax only applies to purchases made by foreign nationals on properties in Metro Vancouver.

Whistler Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden warns the tax could have “unforeseen consequences� in the communities where it is not applied. The largest worry is that foreign buyers priced out of Vancouver will shift money elsewhere in B.C. “If we receive a significant amount of foreign investment for the mere fact of making an investment that may have a similar impact as it has had in Vancouver, we would like to avoid those types of results,� said Wilhelm-Morden.

Whistler is already a popular place for foreign buyers to purchase property, but Wilhelm-Morden said many of those buyers don’t just use their properties as investments but also enjoy the outdoor activities Whistler offers.

The provincial government has the ability to expand jurisdictions covered by the tax, which is expected to be passed by the legislature. The resolution also includes the 13 housing-related policies the UBCM has passed over the last eight years as an example of how current policies are not working.

A West Vancouverite has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Committee — the first such appointment for a Canadian in a decade.

Marcia Kran, a lawyer from Winnipeg who now calls West Vancouver home, was nominated for the position in March by Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion. She was elected to the 18-member committee last week. Kran said her goal is to ensure the committee’s recommendations are practical and pragmatic, giving them the best chance of being implemented. “The true test of the achievement of human rights is in the lives of people in those countries,� Kran told Early Edition host Rick Cluff. “If they don’t see a difference that is being made by the recommendations of the committee, then it’s not really making a difference.�

Kran has worked in human rights for much of her 35-year law career, including several positions within the UN.

LOCAL

Saturday, July 30, 2016

New BC property tax for foreign buyers hurts province, say insiders

15

British Columbians think they’re different from the rest of Canada: BC Day poll

British Columbia’s plans to dampen the British Columbians believe their views differ of the lives. When it comes to their children, 56 influence of foreign investment in Metro from the rest of Canada’s, according to a new poll. per cent of respondents say they believe their Insights West released a new poll Thursday children will also stay the province, which is Vancouver’s scorching housing market with a new tax on foreign buyers is causing ahead of the B.C. Day long-weekend to find out down 10-points since Insights West asked the widespread panic and confusion, say what residents thought of their province. same question two years ago. Insights West vice industry insiders.

The poll found that 63 per cent of B.C. residents president Mario Canseco believes the province’s Premier Christy Clark’s Liberals are think that their views on issues are different from real estate crisis could have a lot to do with that poised to adopt legislation that includes an the rest of the country, while 87 per cent are “very drop. “British Columbians remain proud of what additional 15 per cent property transfer tax on foreign nationals who buy residential proud� to live here. The vast majority (78 per cent) the province is and represents,� said Canseco in a real estate in Metro Vancouver. The tax, which takes effect next Tuesday, would add believe they’ll stay in British Columbia for the rest statement. $300,000 to the price of a $2-million home.

Bob de Wit, the chief executive of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association, said Wednesday there is much concern among foreign buyers who signed pre-sale properties agreements and are now trying to avoid paying the tax before it becomes law on Aug. 2. “So far, in the first two days it’s sort of mass panic of buyers worried about whether they Start saving for your child’s future can close and wanting to sign [before Aug. education in a Registered Education 2], which may or may not be available in the contract they’ve signed,� he said. “There’s Savings Plan (RESP) and receive up to basically a lot of panic out there and we’re $8,400 in government grants.1 trying to keep people calm.�

Open a CST RESP now and you’ll start receiving the De Wit estimated there are 2,300 pre-sale Canada Education Savings grant (CESG). The CESG properties in Metro Vancouver connected to foreign buyers. can add up to $7,200 to your child’s RESP. Dan Morrison, president of the Greater When your child turns six, they can receive an Vancouver Real Estate Board, said the 15-percent tax is aimed at foreign buyers but it could additional $1,200 from the B.C. Government. impact British Columbians if foreigners walk away from their deals because of the tax.

Open a CST RESP today!

He described situations where B.C. Surjit S. Madhopuri residents are fearing property nightmares Branch Manager because they sold to foreign buyers who may C.S.T. Consultants Inc. Branch 888 now balk at paying the new tax, which in turn (604) 377- 4171 / (604) 594 - 7200 threatens to kill the real estate purchases of surjit.madhopuri@cstresp.com B.C. buyers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, it can get quite messy and http://www.cstresp.com/6117 thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a domino effect that could affect a lot of 1 7KH &DQDGD (GXFDWLRQ 6DYLQJV *UDQW PDWFKHV RI WKH Ä&#x2020;UVW \RX FRQWULEXWH WR \RXU FKLOGèV 5(63 HDFK \HDU XS WR D OLIHWLPH PD[LPXP RI B.C. residents,â&#x20AC;? Morrison said. Morrison and %& 7UDLQLQJ DQG (GXFDWLRQ 6DYLQJV *UDQW %&7(6* LV D RQH WLPH JUDQW DYDLODEOH WR %& UHVLGHQW FKLOGUHQ ERUQ RQ RU DIWHU -DQXDU\ st, de Wit said the government should exempt &KLOGUHQ DUH HOLJLEOH IRU WKH %&7(6* RQ WKHLU VL[WK ELUWKGD\ <RX KDYH XQWLO WKH GD\ EHIRUH \RXU FKLOGèV QLQWK ELUWKGD\ WR DSSO\ IRU WKH %&7(6* property agreements already in the works Conditions apply. before Tuesdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s implementation of the tax.

The CST Plan is only sold by Prospectus. You can get copies of the prospectus from www.cst.org or by calling 1.877.333.RESP(7377).

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LOCAL

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Indian CBI charges former refugee in Canada with cheating The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has charged a pro-Khalistan militant who was accused of hijacking a Srinagar-New Delhi Indian Airlines flight in 1984 and taking it to Lahore with having acquired an Afghanistan passport under an assumed identity to migrate to Canada.

In a recent charge sheet filed recently, the agency accused Parminder Singh Saini alias Harfan Maula for procuring a fake Afghanistan passport in the name of Balbir Singh in Pakistan in 1995, CBI sources said.

The agency has said that Saini used this passport to migrate to Canada, where he got himself a driving and social security licenses on the basis of forged travel documents acquired in Pakistan.

The sources said although the agency had taken over the hijacking case on July 5, 1984, it could not begin criminal proceedings because of a conviction in Pakistan

for the same crime.

He was later released and migrated to Canada using an assumed identity, the sources said.

In its charge sheet filed in Patiala House Court, CBI has cited Letters Rogatory received from Canada, where Saini was detained in 1995 after his fraud was found, the sources said.

Saini was deported to India in 2010 after a long legal battle in Canada, where he had sought permanent residence.

Indian Airlines flight IC 405 from Srinagar to New Delhi carrying 255 passengers and a crew of nine was diverted and forced to land in Lahore, Pakistan, on July 6, 1984.

The terrorists demanded the release of Harmandar Singh Sandho, General Secretary of the All-India Sikh Students Federation, among other prominent members leaders and $25 million ransom.

B.C. slaps 15% additional tax on foreign nationals buying property in Metro Vancouver Foreign buyers will pay an extra 15 per cent in property tax fees on residential real estate in Metro Vancouver, a move British Columbia announced Monday to cool the country’s hottest market.

“The data we started collecting earlier this summer is showing that foreign nationals invested more than $1 billion into B.C. property between June 10 and July 14, more than 86 per cent of it in the Lower Mainland,” said Finance Minister Michael de Jong. “While investment from outside Canada is only one factor driving price increases, it represents an additional source of pressure on a market struggling to build enough new homes to keep up. This additional tax on foreign purchases will help manage foreign demand while new homes are built to meet local needs.”

An average single-detached home in Metro Vancouver now sells for $1.56 million.

Some who follow real estate in the province, where existing home prices in its largest city rose about 36 per cent in June from a year earlier, questioned whether the punitive tax will have any impact on property prices in the single-detached home market it targets.

Others wonder whether off-shore speculators will

find a way around the tax, which would amount to $300,000 on a $2-million sale. B.C. already has a property tax transfer rate of one per cent on the first $200,000, two per cent on the portion greater than $200,000 up to and including $2 million, and three per cent on the portion of the fair market value greater than $2 million.

The new tax will go into effect Aug. 2, but will not impact treaty lands of the Tsawwassen First Nation. Foreign-controlled corporations will be subject to the additional tax, as will trustees if they are a foreign entity, or if at least one beneficiary of the trust is a foreign entity. Corporations are also liable, if controlled by foreign entities.

Up until the announcement, the B.C. government had been resisting calls to tax offshore investors, although earlier this month it agreed to a request from Vancouver to allow the city to impose a special tax on the owners of vacant property.

Bob Rennie, a marketing specialist in Vancouver who has called for a speculation tax, said he didn’t think the tax would be as high as 15 per cent, but acknowledged everybody is trying to find a way to cool demand and increase supply.

Vancouver real estate agent accused of helping clients avoid foreign-buyer tax At least one Realtor is already being accused of helping clients avoid the province’s new foreignbuyer tax in what the B.C. NDP housing critic calls an “entirely predictable reaction,” triggering an investigation from the real estate board.

The Real Estate Council of B.C. confirmed Wednseday it is investigating a Realtor who was allegedly advertising “solutions” to the additional 15 per cent property transfer tax for foreign buyers in the Vancouver area.

In an email to clients, obtained by several media outlets, Michael Stewart with Century 21 allegedly suggests clients can assign presale condos to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

The real estate board said this behaviour is not allowed under anti-avoidance rules in the new legislation and has ordered Stewart to stop the alleged advertising to clients.

“The Council has contacted the licensee and the brokerage to advise them to immediately cease these advertisements.

We have opened an investigation and will be looking into the matter very closely,” said a spokesperson from RECBC in a written statement.

B.C. Premier Christy Clark said her government is ready to catch those who try to skirt the new tax.

“We have an audit team ready to go to make sure that every one of these transactions that was on the table, and that closes before August 2, gets a very close look,” she said.

82-year-old Sechelt woman living in her car An 82-year-old Sechelt, B.C., woman who has been living in her car for six months says all she wants is a clean, safe and affordable place to live.

Doris Anthonysz says she can’t make ends meet on her $1,300 per month pension, especially in a town where the lack of affordable housing in the community 50 kilometres northwest of Vancouver is a growing problem “I ask the health department on a regular basis if they can help me find a house, ask them if they can help me,” she told CBC News from her car.

“Seems to me after 82 you are a write off, you are nobody,” she added.

Anthonysz, who is estranged from her four children, says she first moved to Sechelt in 1974, and used to work in the Sechelt Hospital laundry.

She claims a bad experience with her last landlord left her out on the street, unable to find suitable accommodation in her price range.

“They want $800 dollars [per month]. It’s cheaper to live in my car,” Anthonysz said. “It’s very well looked after my car, it’s my personal object. Everybody knows my car and everyone smiles at Doris and her yellow car.”

“I’m a very healthy person and I’m very strong,” she added.

Sechelt resident Linda Harris learned about Anthonysz from a Facebook post, and has talked to the elderly woman a couple of times.

“She’s obviously lovely, well-spoken and homeless,” said Harris. “The RCMP are keeping an eye on her at night. She’s not medically sick or mentally ill so the hospital wouldn’t be able to do anything. People know about her, but nobody knows what to do.”

Saturday, July 30, 2016

DREAM CARPET

17

18

LOCAL

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Body of Behzad Ahmad, who fell into Yoho River, found The parents of a boy who was swept away by the Yoho River are relieved to have some closure today, after learning their son’s body has been found, family friend Sultan Mahmood said

Behzad Ahmad, 11, has been missing since Friday evening after he slipped into the Yoho and was pulled away by the current.

Recovery operation for Calgary boy, Behzad Ahmad, scaled back Ahmad was on a day trip with his family and was one of two boys who fell into the water. The other boy was rescued, but relatives

could not reach Ahmad.

Mahmood said he was with Ahmad’s parents and extended family in the Banff area on Tuesday morning to meet with Parks Canada staff and get an update on search efforts.

That’s when the RCMP interrupted the meeting to announce they found the body.

Mahmood said Ahmad was found near the Takakkaw Falls area and that the family identified the body. “It’s definitely an emotional time,” said Mahmood. “It’s sad, but there’s also some satisfaction.” He said the family is relieved they can proceed with a funeral service knowing the boy’s body has been found.

“This will give closure to the family, closure to the whole community,” said Mahmood.

Hundreds of employees come forward with new Phoenix pay problems Senior bureaucrats revealed Thursday that hundreds more federal public servants have come forward to report they haven’t been paid at all — the latest in the Phoenix payroll system controversy.

An additional 589 employees say they’ve gone months without a single paycheque, and an additional 1,026 people, with problems relating to long-term leave, sick leave and maternity leave, are still awaiting payment, deputy minister for public services and procurement Marie Lemay told reporters.

More than 80,000 public servants have some form of pay problem after the rollout of the troubled Phoenix system in February of this year. The figure could be even higher, as it is based on public servants self-reporting problems to their departments.

“I can’t guarantee you today that we’re aware of 100 per cent of the issues. While we’re making progress, we’re expecting that these cases will continue to emerge but in diminishing numbers over time,” Lemay said. “I want to remind public servants that they need to keep reporting the pay problems as soon as possible so we can quickly respond.”

Is it time to rebrand Surrey as the city of festivals?

Surrey has hosted so many large events over the last few years that hardly anyone bats an eye when 100,000 people turn up for a festival.

Fusion Festival — a celebration of the city’s diversity headlined by reggae singer Maxi Priest last weekend — once again eclipsed the 100,000 mark.

“It really puts us on the map,” said Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association CEO Elizabeth Model.

“We believe that activating a place — so, place-making activities — actually does a huge amount for the community. It builds pride and self-esteem.”

Pride was on full display at the Canada Day fireworks celebration in Cloverdale, which also drew a crowd of more than 100,000.

Fvded in the Park, a music festival headlined

by Jack Ü, attracted about 40,000 people earlier this month.

And about 25,000 people turned out in April for Party for the Planet, an all-ages event held on the City Hall plaza.

Surrey’s manager of special events, Mary Rukavina, says the events seem to grow every year.

“Fusion Festival is a perfect example,” she said.

“We have a lot of people from not just Surrey, but Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond. Even people from the States come up for this.”

Surrey’s Vaisakhi celebration in April, which is one of the largest in the continent, was by far the biggest event of year, attracting more than 350,000 visitors.

Later, at an emergency meeting of the government operations and estimates committee, Lemay told MPs that the Treasury Board Secretariat is considering some sort of compensation for public servants who have racked up expenses — interest on their credit cards, or overdraft banking fees — as a result of not being paid for a prolonged period.

“Discussions are ongoing between Treasury Board and the unions. We’re very seized with these issues … we’re asking people to keep whatever piece of justification that they can, like keep track of what it is costing them,” she said after a question from Liberal MP Raj Grewal.

In an effort to deal with the mounting caseload, the government is also setting up temporary pay offices in Winnipeg, Montreal and Shawinigan, Que. Those offices will be open by mid-August.

There are now 57 compensation advisers working at a temporary unit in Gatineau, Que., that was created earlier this month to help sort through the backlog. A total of 115 advisers will be working in that office by the time it is fully staffed, although, the deputy minister said more staff could be added.

Appeal filed in Nuttall - Korody ruling The Supreme Court of British Columbia today stayed the proceedings against John Stuart Nuttall, 41, and Amanda Marie Korody, 33.

Last year, a jury found both guilty of conspiring to murder persons unknown, for the benefit of a terrorist group, contrary to s. 83.2 of the Criminal Code. They were also found guilty of making or having an explosive substance for the benefit of a terrorist group, contrary to s. 83.2.

The PPSC has filed a notice of appeal.

Consent has been given by the PPSC on behalf of the Attorney General of Canada to the laying of informations pursuant to s.

810.011(1) terrorism peace bonds.

Earlier today, BC Supreme Court Justice Catherine Bruce said the RCMP entrapped John Nuttall and Amanda Korody through a months-long undercover sting leading up to

the Canada Day bomb plot in 2013.

She went on to say the police manufactured a crime by instigating and skillfully engineering the very terrorist acts committed by the couple.

A jury found the pair guilty of three terrorism-related charges last year, but Bruce delayed registering the convictions at the request of defence lawyers, who wanted to argue that the Mounties entrapped their clients.

The judge has ordered a stay of proceedings and her ruling means the jury’s guilty verdict will not appear on any criminal record and can’t be used against the couple in the future.

This is the first time in Canada the legal defence of entrapment has been successfully argued in a terrorism case — three previous instances all failed.

NATIONAL

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Ottawa posts small $114M surplus to start fiscal year Ottawa posted a small surplus of $114 million in April and May combined, the Department of Finance said Friday.

Ottawa’s fiscal year begins on April 1st and runs until March 31, and over a 12 month period Ottawa’s books will typically seesaw between deficit and surplus from month to month. The government says it tracks its books on “an accrual basis” which means it registers “government revenues and expenses when they are earned or incurred, regardless of when the cash is received or paid.”

The federal government says it took in $706 million more than it spent in April, but spent

$592 million more than it took in the next month. The two months put together adds up to a surplus of $114 million.

For comparison purposes, in fiscal year 2015, Ottawa posted a surplus of almost $4 billion for April and May. But much of that was due to Ottawa selling off its stake in General Motors, something which netted a one-time bonanza.

Revenues from personal and corporate income taxes increased, but overall revenue decreased by $1 billion because of a dropoff in excise taxes, duties and revenue from Crown corporations.

Court File No. E050737 New Westminster Registry IN THE SUPREME COURT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Claimant: KULWINDER SHARMA Respondent: ANU SHARMA

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION To: Anu Sharma TAKE NOTICE THAT on 26 JULY 2016 an Order was made for service on you of a Notice of Family Claim issued from the New Westminster Registry of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in case number E050737 by way of this advertisement.

In the claim, the Claimant claims the following relief against you: 1. An Order allowing the child of the marriage, Krish Sharma, born July 29, 2006, to travel to India between April 2016 to March 2017; 2. An Order that allows the child of the marriage, Krish Sharma, born July 29, 2006 to travel with the Claimant without the consent of the Respondent; 3. An Order that the consent of the Respondent is not required to renew the Canadian passport of Krish Sharma, born July 29, 2006; 4. An Order for costs (only if contested); and 5. Such further relief as this Honourable Court may deem just.

You must file a response to a family claim within 30 days after the date of the publication of this notice failing which further proceedings may be taken against you without notice to you.

You may obtain a copy of the Notice of Family Claim and the order for service by advertisement from the New Westminster Registry, at 651 Carnarvon Street, New Westminster, BC, V3M 1C9 This advertisement is placed by the Claimant whose address for service is c/o 209 – 8556 – 120th Street, Surrey, BC, V3W 3N5.

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Canada’s GDP shrank by 0.6% in May, worst month in more than 7 years Canada’s economy contracted by 0.6 per cent in May, as wildfires in Alberta and a slowdown in manufacturing elsewhere in the country combined to create the worst monthly GDP figure since March 2009.

Canada’s gross domestic product was hit hard by the Fort McMurray fires, as the non-conventional oil and gas extraction sector declined by 22 per cent in

May. Coming on the heels of an 8.1 per cent decrease in April due to maintenance shutdowns at upgrader facilities, the output level for the oilsands is now at its lowest since May 2011.

“The good news is that the fall should prove to be a one-month wonder,” BMO economist Doug Porter said.

20

NATIONAL

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Banking regulator orders banks to test for sharp drops in Vancouver, Toronto housing markets Some of Canada’s banks must stress test their ability to withstand a 50 per cent drop in housing prices in Metro Vancouver area and a 40 per cent drop in the Greater Toronto Area, the country’s banking regulator says.

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions also said Tuesday that the banks must all test for a 30 per cent downturn in valuations for all other areas of the country.

The OSFI said the test doesn’t apply to the Big Six banks and HSBC. An OSFI spokesperson said the regulator and the Bank of Canada work together to conduct “regular macro” stress tests on the Big Six banks, which

also do their own internal testing.

The stress-test guidelines based on housing market shocks are one of two changes that OSFI made in its periodic reporting requirement for Canada’s deposittaking institutions. In past years, the banks’ core capital ratios were taken into account in the stress tests. However, this year OSFI said the test must also take into account a scenario where a bank’s authorized leverage ratio may be breached.

While the banks have to report the results of their tests to OSFI, the regulator does not publicly disclose how they fared.

Amid a big run-up in housing prices in the Vancouver and Toronto areas, the OSFI has sounded several warnings to the country’s financial institutions about the state of the market and their lending practices.

Earlier in July, the regulator told Canada’s big banks to pay more attention to their

mortgage borrowers and warned them that it is stepping up its scrutiny of their loan books.

The sharp increases in Vancouver home prices have prompted several responses at the municipal and provincial levels. Earlier this month, the B.C. government said it will give the City of Vancouver the powers it needs to implement an empty home tax.

On Monday, the province introduced legislation that would add a 15 per cent property transfer tax for foreign nationals buying real estate in Metro Vancouver.

Ontario’s finance minister said Tuesday he will be looking “very closely” at British Columbia’s tax aimed at foreign homebuyers.

CMHC housing report rings more alarm bells about Vancouver real estate market Canada’s national housing agency rang more alarm bells about Vancouver’s real estate sector after it released a report Wednesday saying there is now strong evidence of problematic conditions in the city.

In a quarterly housing market assessment released Wednesday, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. increased its risk rating for Vancouver to its highest level for the first time since it began releasing the reports last year.

The housing agency said it is seeing evidence of an overheated market, which occurs when demand outstrips supply, and

price acceleration in the city. Previously, it had said there was strong indications of overvaluation as prices for single detached homes have soared higher than what economic fundamentals can support.

Robyn Adamache, a principal market analyst for CMHC, said there have been signs of overheating in Vancouver’s real estate market for some time, but the agency didn’t want to prematurely signal that warning. “We had been waiting for a couple of quarters of evidence to be able to make that call,” Adamache said.

Senate to dock Mike Duffy’s pay until he’s paid back $17,000 in disputed expenses Sen. Mike Duffy is going to find his Senate paycheque will soon be a little lighter.

The Senate is going to start clawing back Duffy’s salary after the Prince Edward Island senator refused to repay almost $17,000 in disputed expense claims before Saturday’s deadline.

Duffy also opted against having an outside arbitrator hear arguments in the case.

A spokeswoman for Sen. Leo Housakos, chairman of the upper chamber’s internal economy committee, says the Senate must now garnishee Duffy’s salary under the dispute resolution policy set up in response to the auditor general’s audit.

Jacqui Delaney says the details of how much will be clawed back, and for how long, are still being worked out.

The Senate previously withheld a percentage of Sen. Patrick Brazeau’s salary until the upper chamber recouped about $49,000 in disputed housing expenses.

Duffy was not immediately available for comment Monday.

The Senate decided last month that it wanted the money back after taking a second look at seven claims totalling $16,995. Senate officials said the action came about because of new information that “had surfaced in the public domain” during Duffy’s criminal trial.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Liberals pay $33 million to stay in F-35 development program, despite promise not to buy the fighter jet Canada has so far forked over more than $311 million to develop the F-35 — without any guarantee it will actually buy the multibillion-dollar stealth fighter.

The most recent instalment was made June 24, when the Liberal government quietly paid $32.9 million to the U.S. program office overseeing development

of the warplane, despite having promised during last year’s election campaign not to buy the F-35.

The contribution keeps Canada at the table as one of the nine partners in the project for the next year.

Partners get a discount when purchasing the stealth fighter, and have access to billions of dollars in contracts associated with producing the plane.

Those potential industrial benefits are a big part of the reason why Canada continues to pay into the program, said Jordan Owens, a spokeswoman for Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. The government says Canadian companies have secured US$812 million in contracts since Canada’s first F-35 payment in 1997.

Greens admit to deliberately misleading Victoria voters The Green Party of Canada has admitted it deliberately misled voters in Victoria on the eve of the 2015 election during the party’s frantic bid for a breakthrough.

In a compliance agreement published on the website of the commissioner of Canada elections, Yves Cote, the Green Party admitted that it released flawed and dated polling data in a bid to get voters to side with candidate Jo-Ann Roberts.

“It’s a Two-Way Race — the Choice is Yours Victoria — Latest Polling Results,” stated the flyer, distributed to 1,200 Victoria households to coincide with leader Elizabeth May’s final campaign stop in the city the day before the Oct. 19 vote.

It stated that the NDP was leading the Greens by a single percentage point, 36 per cent to 35 per cent. It was distributed in parts of the city friendly to Conservative voters, in the hopes they would vote strategically to defeat New Democrat incumbent Murray Rankin.

The NDP won the riding by a comfortable margin, 42 per cent of the vote to Roberts’ 33 per cent.

There were two problems with the poll, according to the agreement, and both were well understood by senior Green officials before the flyers were handed out.

First, the polling data purchased by the Greens had a small sample size and therefore a high margin of error, around plus or minus 10 percentage points. In other words, the Green support could have been as low as 25 per cent and the NDP’s as high as 46 per cent.

“According to the polling firm, reliable data intended for public dissemination would have required purchasing a more expensive polling services package,” according to the statement.

A few days before the polling firm began contacting residents, Green executive director Emily McMillan and her deputy director received an Elections Canada advisory via email “reminding opinion poll sponsors and distributors of the mandatory information to be included with published election survey results,” according to the compliance agreement.

That information includes details on sample size, margin of error, and dates for when respondents were surveyed.

“Neither of them read the contents of the Elections Canada advisory, nor did they pass it on to other party workers.”

Youths should apply for PM’s Youth Council Young people between the ages of 16 and 24 can now apply for the Prime Minister’s Youth Council. The Youth Council is a non-partisan body made of up to 30 young Canadians who represent the regional, linguistic, and diverse composition of Canada. Once the council is selected, it will meet multiple times a year and advice the Prime Minister on National issues such as employment, access to education, building stronger communities, climate change and clean growth. The only requirement for applying is the desire to get involved. The Prime Minister wants to hear from you, no matter what your current level of community involvement is.

This is important because the council will include opinions and suggestions from all

young Canadians – representing the current youth composition in Canada.

“I encourage all young Canadians to apply for this opportunity to get involved in the community and contribute towards a Canada that is engaged with the leaders of tomorrow,” said Liberal MP Randeep Sarai.

If you would like to be a part of the Youth Council, you can apply from now up until August 12th, to be selected in the first group of youth to meet with the Prime Minister in October. You can also apply up until October 7th, to be selected in the second wave of members who will meet with the Prime Minister in 2017. For more information, or to submit your application, visit: http://www. canada.ca/youth

NATIONAL

21

PUNJAB

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Badal govt acquired land for SYL to please Devi Lal, says Capt

30,000 students to take class VIII exam again The School Education Department today decided to re-conduct the examination of over 30,000 class VIII students in government schools who had either skipped the test or performed very poorly in the board exam held in March. This exam will be conducted in the next two weeks.

Due to the high number of absenteeism and very poor performance of students in the class VIII examination, Education Minister Daljit Singh Cheema has asked the School Education Department to make all class VIII absentee and low-performing students appear in the exam that will be reconducted.

While as many as 10,214 students of class VIII skipped the exam in all subjects,

over 20,000 students appeared in one or two papers in March. But thanks to the no-detention policy under the Right to Education Act (RTE), the students were promoted to the next class.

During a meeting with the Education Minister yesterday, some teachers and district education department authorities revealed that a large number of students below class VIII were not attending school for months together. In order that these students take the classes and exam seriously in class IX and X, the department today issued directions to re-conduct the exam for all class VIII students who skipped the exam, said Sukhchain Singh Gill, district education officer (elementary), Faridkot.

Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh today released â&#x20AC;&#x153;documentary evidenceâ&#x20AC;? to prove that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had acquired land for the SYL canal in Punjab. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I challenge Badal to deny or dispute a single word of what I am saying about his role in acquiring land for the SYL to please his friend Devi Lal,â&#x20AC;? he said during an interaction with the media on the sidelines of the 14th session of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Halke Vich Captain. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Badal issued orders for land acquisition on February 20, 1978, vide notification no: 113/5/SYL and 121/5/SYL under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act.

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::: 75$9648$5( &20 Â&#x2021; ::: *,//75$9(/6 &20

With this, the process of land acquisition for the SYL canal started,â&#x20AC;? Amarinder claimed.

Badal then wrote to the Haryana Government vide letters no: 7/78IW(i)-78/23617 demanding a payment of Rs3 crore more as he had already taken Rs2 crore for land acquisition. This was in pursuance of an agreement between him and Devi Lal, then Chief Minister of Haryana. The PPCC president claimed this was acknowledged

by Devi Lal in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha on March 1, 1978, where he proudly claimed that it was because of his personal relationship with Badal that he had convinced him for land acquisition for the SYL.

Ex-MP attacks SAD 6,1&(

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Former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu today took on Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal over the latterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s statement that he had cordial relations with him (Sidhu).

Accusing the SAD of ignoring him during his tenure as the Amritsar MP and scuttling his projects for the holy city, Sidhu said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was never invited to the meetings regarding development projects. I was also not invited when Rs 2,000 crore were announced for the city before the Lok Sabha elections. Is this what you call cordial relations?â&#x20AC;?

Sidhu said he was not allowed to contest the 2014 LS elections as the SAD wanted to make Harsimrat Badal a Union Minister.

He said six of his projects were scuttled by the Punjab Government: the Sports Complex, the widening of the Bhandari bridge, a solid waste management system, plying of 150 AC buses, CCTV cameras under the Safe City Project, and the SSSS flyover-underpass project.

Lt Gen Cheema is Western Command chief

Lt Gen Jagbir Singh Cheema, General Officer Commanding of the Vajra Corps, has been nominated as the officiating General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command, Chandimandir, with effect from August 1. This is an interim arrangement till a permanent incumbent is posted here.

Lt Gen Jagbir Singh Cheema has been commanding the Jalandhar-based Vajra Corps since August 21, 2015. He will take over from Lt Gen KJ Singh, who retires on July 31.

NRI

Saturday, July 30, 2016

23

Indian-American to be recognised as emerging Democratic leader Indian-American Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democratic Congressional candidate from Illinois, will be introduced as one of the party’s emerging leaders during the ongoing Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Krishnamoorthi, 42, is among only two Congressional candidates to have been invited on to the DNC stage here as the party’s rising star or emerging leader.

Stephanie Murphy from Florida is the other Congressional candidate to be recognised by the Democratic party in this category.

Having won the Democratic Party’s Congressional primary in Illinois on March 16, Krishnamoorthi faces Peter DiCianni of the Republican party who ran unopposed during the primary.

He has raised a whopping $1.6 million more than his opponents and is considered to be a heavy favourite.

If elected, he would join

‘Telangana to launch exclusive portal for NRIs’ As part of its proposed NRI policy, Telangana government will launch an exclusive portal for non-resident Indians and also open a ‘Centre for NonResident Telanganites’ Affairs’ in all districts, state cabinet Minister K T Rama Rao said on Wednesday.

Rao, state minister for IT, Industries and NRI affairs, held a meeting with stakeholders, seeking suggestions for the proposed ‘NRI Policy’ of the state.

“We will be launching an exclusive portal for NRIs with information and online services.

We are already conducting skill development

initiatives for people who want to migrate in search of livelihood,” he said.

“We will be building a database of migrants from Telangana to various countries. This will help in speedy resolution of issues, if any and district level offices would be opened for CENTA - Centre for Non Resident Telanganites’ Affairs.”

The minister said a special officer would be appointed to assist NRIs who wish to invest in Telangana and a Corpus Fund intended for the welfare of NRIs would also be established.

All the suggestions will be used to formulate the policy and placed before the cabinet for approval, Rao said.

Indian-origin architect unveils bamboo structure design in Australia A renowned Indian-origin architect on Tuesday unveiled design of Australia’s largest bamboo structure which will be used for festival processions here.

The 12-metre-high tower designed by Bijoy Jain in Melbourne city’s Queen Victoria Gardens, will reflect a connection between “earth, sky and the shared gravity”.

“MPavilion 2016 would be similar to tazia (a ceremonial tower structure used in festival processions in Bharuch),” Naomi Milgrom Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that supports various public design and architecture projects said in a statement.

Displaying the design here, Jain said, “MPavilion 2016 structure would use basic elements like bamboo, earth, stone and rope.

The pavilion is in itself a gesture reflecting this internationally recognised architects’ interest in the connection between earth,

sky and the shared gravity that connects all humans.”

“The idea is not to guide observers but to allow discoveries through visual layers of thinking, making and seeing,” he said.

Working in Mumbai over the past six months, Jain and his craftsmen have tested and designed MPavilion 2016 through a series of models and full-scale prototypes.

A team of Australian builders had also travelled to Mumbai to take part in Jain’s collaborative approach for design and construction.

“I wanted to create a space that connects the entire culture of the land,” he said.

MPavilion Founder, Naomi Milgrom AO said, “Bijoy’s practice is unique in that.

It focuses on honouring age-old crafts and building-techniques which resonate strongly in this technologised world.

Ami Bera in the US House of Representatives in the next Congress beginning January 2017.

Bera, meanwhile, is seeking his thirdterm in the November general elections.

Krishnamoorthi has the distinction of being endorsed by US President Barack Obama.

“I know he’ll fight hard in Congress to create

more good jobs, empower more Americans to start businesses, and help working families afford to put their children through college,” Obama said in his endorsement last month.

He has also been endorsed by other top Democratic leaders including Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the US House of Representatives.

Krishnamoorthi previously was the policy director and a senior advisor for Barack Obama’s 2004 US Senate campaign, and also served as an advisor to Obama’s 2008 Presidential campaign.

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INDIA

Saturday, July 30, 2016

India to build $4-billion port in Tamil Nadu Indian conglomerate Adani Group has started building the country’s first transshipment port, conceived 25 years ago, and the government will construct another $4-billion facility nearby to create a shipping hub rivalling Chinese facilities in the region.

The Centre will grant billionaire Gautam Adani 16 billion rupees ($240 million) socalled “viability gap” funding to help the new port at Vizhinjam, on India’s southern tip, win business from established hubs elsewhere in Asia.

India’s 7,500-km coastline juts into one of the world’s main shipping routes and Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to capitalise on that proximity by developing ports that can shift freight on to huge vessels capable of carrying up to 18,000 20-foot containers.

By bringing onshore cargo handling now done at entrepots in Sri Lanka, Dubai and Singapore, the Modi government expects cargo traffic at its ports to jump by two-thirds by 2021 as India ramps up exports of goods, including cars and other machinery.

The lack of a domestic transshipment port forces inbound and outbound containers to

take a detour to one of those regional hubs before heading to their final destination.

The government expects the new ports to save Indian companies hundreds of millions of dollars in transport costs, as well as ease concerns over the growing strategic clout in South Asia of rival China, which has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Sri Lankan ports at Colombo and Hambantota.

Adani wants the Vizhinjam port, which an arm of his Adani Group is building at a cost of around $1 billion, to be operational in 2018. The port lies hard by the Gulf-toMalacca shipping lane that carries almost a third of world sea freight.

“The port can attract a large share of the container transshipment traffic destined for, or originating from, India which is now being diverted primarily through Colombo, Singapore and Dubai,” said an Adani Group executive who declined to be named.

India is worried about China’s expanding reach in the region through port investments in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives.

China is also developing Pakistan’s Gwadar seaport as part of a $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Bihar court orders FIR against Maya A Vaishali district court today ordered registration of an FIR against BSP president Mayawati and three other party leaders for allegedly making inflammatory speeches last week spreading animosity in the society.

The three other BSP leaders are its national general secretary Nasimuddin Siddiqui, Uttar Pradesh unit president Ram Achal Rajbhar and state secretary Mewa Lal. Chief Judicial Magistrate Jairam Prasad took cognisance of a complaint filed by Hajipur resident Ajit Singh and directed that an FIR be lodged against the four in Town police station.

The petitioner, through his advocate, claimed that he felt aggrieved by the inflammatory speeches made by Mayawati and her partymen which have affected unity and integrity of the country.

At a public meeting in Lucknow on July 21, Mayawati instigated her party workers to target

expelled BJP leader Daya Shankar Singh’s mother, wife and daughter during a protest in the wake of Singh’s unsavoury remarks against the BSP chief, the petitioner alleged.

They case was lodged against them under various Sections of the IPC including 153(a)

(promoting enmity between groups) and 295(a) (deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings).

Step up vigil to stop infiltration, BSF tells Pakistan Rangers India asked Pakistan to improve its vigil against cross-border infiltration to prevent terrorist activities and check smuggling of narcotics at the biannual meeting between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers that ended in Lahore today.

The two sides also discussed ways to strengthen measures to coordinate border patrolling on their respective sides of the border and address each other’s concerns in a time-bound manner.

“The Joint Record of Discussion charting a future road map of cooperation between the two border guarding forces was signed earlier in the day. DG BSF invited DG Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) to visit India for the next round of the biannual talks,” the BSF said in a statement.

The talks ended on an “optimistic note with both sides agreeing on constant endeavour to

maintain peaceful and tranquil borders,” said the statement.

The biannual meeting between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers was held from July 25 to 28 in Lahore. The BSF delegation was led by its Director General KK Sharma and the Pakistan delegation was led by Director General, Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), Major General Umar Farooq Burki.

“DG, BSF, stressed on the importance of vigilance against crossborder infiltration to prevent terrorist activities and to check narcotics smuggling,” reads the statement.

“The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and with a spirit of cooperation.

It was agreed that since the last meeting in Delhi in September 2015, there has been greater adherence to the ceasefire along the international border,” it said.

Facing death threat from Kejriwal, his men AAP MLA Asim Ahmed Khan, who was sacked from the Delhi Cabinet last year on charges of corruption, on Thursday alleged that he and his family are facing “death threats” from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and some of his partymen.

The Matia Mahal legislator’s allegation comes a day after the AAP chief in a video message made a sensational claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may “get me killed” in the wake of “unprecedented crackdown” by the BJP government.

“For 9-10 months I have been facing death threats and even my family is at risk... Kejriwal and some of his partymen are hatching a conspiracy to get me killed,” Khan alleged at a press conference here.

The former Food and Civil Supplies and Environment Minister was sacked by Kejriwal last October for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 6 lakh to allow the construction of a building in his constituency.

“I have been issued death threats over phone and also in person. I have already filed complaints with the police. I had even written

a letter on May 2 to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh telling my case and also sent it to the LG,” he claimed. “Through this press conference, I would also like to request to the Home Minister to provide security to me and my family,” he said. He also distributed copies of the ‘letter’ to the media.

The sacked minister also claimed that, “I have in my possession some of the audio and video recordings on the Kejriwal government, and I will soon make those evidences public, and expose the real face of Kejriwal.”

Asked whether the party will take any action against him, AAP spokesperson Deepak Bajpai said, “He was sacked from the cabinet and the case was forwarded to the CBI. Can any action be bigger than that?”

Reacting to the allegations made by Khan, Bajpai mockingly said, “He has chosen a good season to come up with these baseless charges and I am sure the police will not waste a minute in making yet another arrest. But we hope Modiji will act first on the CBI complaint made by us against him.”

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INDIA

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Defence PSUs have failed in their objective The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in a damming report on the functioning of the Defence Ministry owned public sector undertakings, has said none of the specialised weapon-carrying helicopters produced for the Army have been accepted due to deficiencies.

It goes on to say that Defence PSUs failed in their objective of supplying critical weapons and equipment meant for modernisation and capability enhancement of the Army. “Inordinate delays were observed in (18 examined) contracts valuing Rs 30,098 crore, which constituted 63 per cent of the money value of total contracts concluded by ministry with DPSUs,” says the report.

It cites the example of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) which was given a contract in December 2007 for the supply of 60 Advanced Light Helicopter Weapon System Integrated (ALH-WSI) at a cost of Rs 6,295 crore.

The CAG in its report tabled in Parliament on July 26 said the HAL did not supply a single helicopter till 2013. “While 17 ALH-

WSI were supplied between March 2013 and June 2015, the same were not accepted by the Army (till October 2015) citing repeated snags/ deficiencies,” it said.

As per contract, the deliveries should have been completed by now.

The Army planned to raise six Army Aviation Squadrons each equipped with 10 ALH-WSI to carry out combat support and anti-armour role and to provide close air support to armoured and mechanised forces in mobile warfare. “The delay had not only impacted the modernisation of the forces, but also had financial implications towards accrued interest on payments lying unutilised

by DPSUs,” says the report.

In case of the helicopters, the advance payment was made to the tune of Rs 1,916.27 crore. The helicopter production was linked to certification of the ‘Shakti’ engine (under development) by August 2008. In the event of any change in certification of Shakti engine by planned date, delivery schedule would get modified correspondingly.

Ajmer Dargah leader wants cow protection The spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah, Zainul Abedin Ali Khan, said Muslims should present an example by protecting cows which hold religious significance for Hindus.

He suggested that those who create violence over the issue of beef should avoid doing it and called upon both communities

to live with harmony and unity. “Some elements are trying to disturb the harmony between Hindu and Muslim communities on the beef issue.

Cow is the religious symbol for Hindus, but the issue of beef has become a new weapon of religion which is having a negative impact on the image of the country,” he said.

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FIJI

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Farmers submit proposal on Cane payment Cane farmers have proposed a maximum of 12 cane payments annually during the sugar consultation forum that was conducted in the West and North.

During the consultation, Sugar Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said farmers had proposed either four, six or 12 cane payments a year. Mr Bainimarama said the issue was widely discussed during consultations in the West and the North.

“We need to identify how many cane payments we should have in a year before we

make any decisions,” he said.

“I have tasked the Ministry of Sugar’s permanent secretary and the FSC chairman to look into the matter.

“We promise to find a solution that will both be good for farmers and the industry as a whole,” he said.

Mr Bainimarama was responding to concerns raised by Seaqaqa farmer Kitione Lagivala, who said farmers should have two cane payments.

He said it was surprising to hear the proposal since farmers were requesting for more cane payments. Mr Lagivala also told the prime minister that farmers were not even aware of the cane tonnage price as farmers normally relied on the forecasts given to them by FSC. He said farmers felt cheated because they were not informed of the price of their cane instantly after it was dispatched to the mill.

Previous Govt wasted money on sugarmill repair The $85 million loan by the previous government for the refurbishment of mills in the country has been labelled by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama as a complete waste. Speaking to canefarmers in Seaqaqa yesterday, Mr Bainimarama said Indian companies engaged to carry out the refurbishment of mills did not do a good job.

However, when contacted yesterday former PM Laisenia Qarase chose not to comment on the issue, saying he will leave politics to the politicians of the day.

Mr Bainimrama said before his Government took power, the Fiji Sugar Corporation mill was “literally falling apart”, he said.

“I was told by FSC factory workers that out of the mill parts that came only 50 per cent worked while the 50 per cent that were functional worked 50 per cent of the time

only.”

Mr Bainimarama said the average ratio of tonnes of cane to tonnes of sugar from the mills in the country had been reduced from 14 to just over eight.

Meanwhile, National Farmers Union general secretary and former PM Mahendra Chaudhry, opposed Mr Bainimarama’s statement, saying the project was doomed because of changes ushered into the sugar industry by the Bainimarama Government, delaying refurbishment works.

Mr Chaudhry claimed mill parts were lying at Lautoka’s FSC mill for a “good two years” exposed to the natural elements.

He said Mr Bainimarama’s earlier statement of reviving the ailing sugar industry when his administration came into power was not true.

“In 2006, FSC mill crushed 3.3 million tonnes of cane and made 310,000 tones of sugar as per the FSC Annual Report, now 10 years later the industry since 2006 has shrunk 50 per cent,” he said.

Police Cheif assures safety Members of the public providing information to police have been assured of their safety by the Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho. Responding to concerns from members of the public after they were threatened for providing information on farmers cultivating marijuana, Brig-Gen Qiliho said threats made to informants would not be taken lightly.

“It is a weakness on our part where we fail to provide security for witnesses and informants or follow-up on cases and we will look into this,” he said.

“I acknowledge the support of the community during Operation Cavuraka which has been overwhelming,” he said.

“Members of the communities and villages have been supportive and forthcoming with information assisting police during arrests and uprooting of plants.

“We promise that the identities of our informants will be kept anonymous and that they are safe.”

He warned those threatening police informants that they would be taken to task.

“For those threatening our informants, I want to let them know that we will go after them. They will be taken to task and will face the full brunt of the law for supporting or being involved in criminal operations.”

Agents of change in healthcare All new staff recruitments to health will be channeled through a process that will ensure that they are instilled with good working ethos and attitudes.

This was revealed by Health Minister Jone Usamate during a press conference yesterday.

He said this was part of the civil service reforms for the ministry.

“The new open recruitment and selection guideline has taken effect and this will bring about improvement on how we do our business in health,” Mr Usamate said.

“It will guarantee the vision of the Fijian Government whereby we have a caring and compassionate civil service and the best is given to all Fijians. This is in line with the modernisation of our country.”

The new process is expected to ensure that the staff would be the right agents of change.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, July 30, 2016

ISIS attacks in Afghanistan being directed

by Hafiz Saeed: Afghan officials claim The Afghanistan government on Tuesday complained to Pakistani officials that former Lashka-e-Taiba chief Hazif Muhammad Saeed is directing Islamic State attacks in Afghanistan, an American media outlet has reported.

The US government-funded Voice of America has carried a report from Islamabad, that quotes an Afghan government statement that it had told Pakistani officials about Saeed’s involvement with the ISIS in Afghanistan.

Afghan officials also reportedly sought Islamabad’s cooperation in preventing ISIS terrorists from entering Afghanistan from Pakistan.

Afghanistan’s assertion came at high-level meeting in Kabul on Tuesday. The meeting was meant to focus on security along the AfPak border, and was attended by officials

from Afghanistan, Pakistan and NATO. Pakistan is yet to respond to the assertion from Kabul, the Voice of America report said.

The report also states that Kabul’s accusation against Saeed caused a fair bit of confusion among officials and journalists in Pakistan on Wednesday. The confusion was over doubts over whether the Afghan officials were confusing Hafiz Muhammad Saeed with Hafiz Saeed Khan, chief of the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP). ISKP is the Afghanistan arm of ISIS. The Voice of America report also noted that this was the first allegation of links between ISIS and Hafiz Saeed, who is a designated terrorist by India and the US. He is accused

by India of being behind a number of attacks on its soil, including the 26/11 Mumbai attack.

Guns cheaper than smartphones in Pakistani tribal town Gunfire echoes through a dusty northwest tribal town, the soundtrack to Pakistan’s biggest arms black market, where Kalashnikovs welded from scrap metal are cheaper than smartphones and sold on an industrial scale.

Darra Adamkhel, a town surrounded by hills some 35 kilometres (20 miles) south of the city of Peshawar, was a hub of criminal activity for decades. Smugglers and drug runners were common and everything from stolen cars to fake university degrees could be procured.

This generations-old trade in the illicit boomed in the 1980s: The mujahideen began

buying weapons there for Afghanistan’s battle against the Soviets, over the porous border.

Later, the town became a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, who enforced their strict rules and parallel system of justice -- infamously beheading Polish engineer Piotr Stanczak there in 2009.

Now Darra is clean of all but the arms, yet the gunsmiths in the bazaar say the region’s improved security and authorities’ growing intolerance for illegal weaponry are withering an industry that sustained them for decades.

Gunmen attack 2 Hindu men in Pakistan Unidentified gunmen shot a Hindu man and injured another on Wednesday in Ghotki district of Sindh province amid communal tension following the arrest of a man from the minority community for allegedly desecrating pages of the holy Quran the previous day .

Police said two Hindu traders were shot at a tea stall by a mob in Ghotki town of Mirpur Mathelo on Wednesday .”Deewan Satish Kumar, 17, died on the spot while Avinash was taken to hospital in a critical condition,” said Masood Ahmed Bangash, senior superintendent of police (SSP).

A day earlier, police booked Amar Lal on blasphemy charges after he was caught by locals

for desecrating the Islamic holy book outside a mosque in Ghotki. “The accused was shifted to an undisclosed location,” Bangash said.

Local Hindus claimed Lal was suffering from a mental disorder while some said he was a drug addict who had been living in the mosque after converting to Islam. Religious parties Jamiat-iUlema-i-Islam Fazlur Rehman and Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat called for a complete shutdown and demanded severe punishment for the accused. Normal life was hit in the district and both large and small towns, including Daharki, Mirpur Mathelo, Ubauro and Khan Pur Mehar, remained closed for the second day .

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SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, July 30, 2016

64 killed in Nepal as heavy rains trigger floods, landslides At least 64 people have been killed and several others missing as floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rains wreaked havoc in Nepal displacing thousands of people.

Scores of houses and bridges have been swept away in several parts of the country as incessant rains have swelled rivers, posing a threat of massive flooding and causing panic among the local population.

The number of those killed in the flood and landslide across Nepal has climbed to 64 after recovery of 10 more bodies in Pyuthan district of western Nepal, police said.

Pyuthan is among the 14 worst-hit districts where at least 36 people have died in floods and landslides.

The toll increased in the district after 17

people who were earlier reported missing following a landslide were found to be dead.

Thousands of people have been displaced and hundreds of houses have been waterlogged after floodwaters gushed into their settlements.

Many of the deceased were earthquake victims who were living in a quakedamaged house after repair, police said.

Tens of thousands of Nepalese are still living in tents following the last year’s devastating earthquakes that killed nearly 9,000 people.

Water levels were close to dangerous levels in Saptakoshi and Narayani rivers.

Water flow in the Saptakoshi river has crossed this year’s highest mark after continuous rainfall for the past 10 days.

Ties with Pakistan bigger challenge than combating al-Qaida, Taliban, says Afghan President Ghani Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has hit out at Pakistan for providing safe havens to terrorists+ and said having state-to-state ties with the neighbouring country is a “bigger challenge” for his government than combating terror groups such as alQaida and Taliban.

The Afghan President also said that Kabul was proud of its friendship with India+ as New Delhi shares Afghanistan’s democratic aspirations.

In contrast, Ghani said that Pakistan provides sanctuaries to terrorists+ and trains them, making relations with Pakistan, the bigger challenge for his country. “We cannot understand when Pakistan says it will not allow a group of terrorists to amend its constitution, army act and prepares a National Action Plan against them.

“Simultaneously, Pakistan tolerates another group which attempts to undermine the government and bring horror, death and

destruction to Afghanistan,” Ghani told. The 64-year-old Afghan president said he can provide addresses of Taliban leaders in the

Pakistani city+ of Quetta, Dawn quoted the Afghan president as saying on Saturday, a day Kabul witnessed the deadliest terror attack in 15 years which killed 80 people and left hundreds injured.

Ghani claimed that Afghan forces have bombed the chief of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Mullah Fazlullah, 11 times along with attacks on his close aides.

KP Oli resigns as Nepal’s Prime Minister, says ‘I am being punished for doing good work’

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KP Oli resigned+ as Nepal’s Prime Minister on Sunday ahead of a no-confidence vote, plunging the country into a fresh political turmoil after last year’s crippling Madhesi protests+ against the new Constitution.

He accused Nepali Congress and Maoists+ of hatching a conspiracy against his government by tabling a no-trust motion and said he is being punished for the “ good work+ “ he has done to improve relations with both India and China.

Oli, who became prime minister last October heading Nepal’s eighth government+ in the past 10 years, has been facing a no-trust motion after the Maoists withdrew support from the coalition government.

Oli tendered his resignation after two key ruling alliance partners -- Madhesi People’s Rights Forum-Democratic and Rastriya Prajatantra Party -- decided to support the no-confidence motion tabled against him by the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPNMaoist Centre led by Prachanda.

They had accused Oli of not honouring his past commitments.

Addressing the Parliament on the noconfidence motion, Oli said that he came to power nine months ago when the country was in a grave crisis and was “sad” that the government was changing at a time when it is overcoming the hindrances following last year’s deadly earthquakes that killed nearly 9,000 people.

“The game for a change in the government at this time is mysterious,” 64-year-old CPNUML leader said, adding he was punished for doing good work.

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FRUITICANA

Saturday, July 30, 2016

1

Saturday, July 30, 2016 Saturday - July 30, 2016

Nargis Fakhri breaks her silence

Aamir Khan to replace Hrithik Roshan in Thug?

The gorgeous and stunning Nargis Fakhri, who was last seen in the comic caper Housefull 3, has been ‘out of the circuit’ for some time now. Needless to say that, many interpreted that as her departure from Bollywood forever.

Well, the stunning Nargis Fakhri put all of these rumors and gossips to death by ‘announcing’ on Instagram (by posting a poster of her film Banjo) stating “Looking forward to finishing my assignment in the US and being back to start promoting #Banjo in the next few weeks. #noplanstoquit #hatersgonnahate #allthesearebaselessrumours”.

Yash Raj Films’ Thug might soon become Shuddhhi. The cast reshuffle in the film is making our head spin.

The action adventure was first announced with Hrithik Roshan in the lead which promised insane stunts. Later, he apparently walked out of the film because he wasn’t convinced about it and would want to see how Mohenjo Daro performs at the box office to figure whether he is game for Thug or no. Then it was Deepika Padukone who was in and out of the film before anyone could say

Here’s what Katrina Kaif DRANK before the Kala Chashma song!

B-towns hottie Katrina Kaif ’s ABS is become the talk of the town right now.

Kat’s sexy midriff will make you drool over her. But hey! The Baar Baar Dekho actress indeed does a lot of hard work to maintain

those sexy abs. Yes! Bollywoodlife has a new update of what Katrina Kaif

actually eats and drinks before doing any dance numbers, especially for the Kala Chashma song which is becoming a huge rage among fans.

A source close to BollywoodLife reveals, “Katrina is very particular about her diet. She starts her diet three weeks early before shooting especially for a dance number.

While shooting Kala Chashma she was completely on a no carb diet, in fact she was on a liquid diet, her lunch and breakfasts comprised of juices, soups and broccolis. And before shooting for Kala Chashma, she only had buttermilks which actually kept her energized”. That’s insane!

Also, Kat is very much aware that the fans are going gaga over her abs and so she gets even more conscious about not eating anything before shooting for the dance number.

Well! No wonder Katrina is called the most hardworking actress. So if you want that sexy ABS like the firang babe, you know what to do!

Yay! A few days later, Amitabh Bachchan joined the cast along with Hrithik. Now we hear the handsome actor will not be

part of the film anymore and has been replaced by Aamir Khan.

Rajinikanth’s Kabali day 5 box office collections: Aamir & Salman records broke From Salman Khan’s Sultan to Aamir Khan’s Dhoom 3, Rajinikanth and Radhika Apte-starrer Kabali’s box office collections have been destroying records every day. The movie not only got a bumper opening on Friday and a completely booked weekend at BO, it continued with its winning spree on weekdays as well.

According to The Reporter Times, Kabali earned approximately 15 crore on the fourth day of its release, which happens to be a Monday. This brings the first four-day collections of the Rajinikanth film to a whopping Rs 115 crore.

Despite Monday being a working day and mixed reviews, fans of Thalaiva continue to flock to the theatres. Trade tracker Ramesh B wrote that Kabali’s performance is solid overseas as well.

According to him, the film has already surpassed Aamir Khan’s Dhoom 3 record there to become the highest weekend earner ever.

Earlier, Kabali had surpassed Salman Khan’s Sultan first day and first weekend earnings. The only record

this movie failed to break was that of Baahubali which earned Rs 50 crore on the first day of release. The total earnings of Rajinikanth’s film are Rs 415 crore. While Rs 215 crore is from ticket sales, the rest is pre-release money from the sale of various Kabali producer Kalaipuli S Dhanu earlier said that the movie had earned Rs 90 crore abroad in the first weekend, out of which Rs 28 crore came from the US itself where the film is among the top 10 films. The producer put Indian collection for the first weekend at around Rs 100 crore.

2 Sanjay Dutt’s fans are going to love this birthday gift!

Bollywood

Saturday, July 30, 2016

On the 57th birthday of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, producers Sandeep Singh and Omung Kumar have announced their next project starring the superstar in the lead role.

Under the banner of Sandeep Singh and Omung Kumar’s production house ‘Legend Studios’, the film will be the Hindi remake of the super hit Marathi film ‘De Dhakka’ that will be directed by the actor-director Mahesh Manjrekar.

As per its Marathi version, the film promises to be a laughter riot blending with the emotional journey of a family.

The actor-director duo who have previously worked together in the super hit film ‘Vaastav’.

The film is set to roll by the beginning of 2017 while the

rest of the cast is yet to be finalised.

Speaking on this association, director Mahesh Manjrekar added, “I met Sanju after a long while and I realised he has matured a lot. Looked fresh and fit. Initially I was contemplating working with him as I wanted to work on something different, a kind of film which both haven’t done before, something that would surprise the audience. Then “De Dhakka” came and I felt it was the perfect subject.

Sanjay will have the family audience and youth rooting.”

Producers Sandeep Singh and Omung Kumar said, “We are really proud to come into an association with Maheshji as producers and are very confident that De Dhakka’s remake in Hindi will impress the audiences and critics equally as it did in Marathi.”

Mr World Rohit Khandelwal keen to enter Bollywood!

Rohit Khandelwal, the first Indian to win the coveted title of Mr. World, says he wants to head to Bollywood eventually but is not in a hurry. “Bollywood is in my list but I haven’t decided anything like when, how and which… I am just going with the flow,” Khandelwal told IANS over phone from Mumbai. It’s not just Bollywood that Khandelwal is eyeing. He wants to get associated with social causes too. “I want to be associated with Miss World organisation because they do a lot of associations for empowering child education,” he said.

Hailing from Hyderabad, Khandelwal moved to Mumbai a few years back to follow his dream, and started his career as a model.

He was crowned Provogue Personal Care Mr. India World 2015, and clinched the Mr. World tag at the recently held event in Britain.

He said: “The journey has been fantastic.

It started with Hyderabad where I was not sure of what I was doing in my life working in three different companies but I was not happy. I wanted to follow my heart, I wanted to be in front of the camera because that was always what I dreamt of.” Khandelwal moved to Mumbai “all by myself, not knowing anybody and I started off. It took me sometime but I was very positive about everything”. Khandelwal says Indian fashion world is opening its gate for male models.

“I don’t believe that there is any difference between a male model and female model because male pageants have been growing now. I think we are getting a lot of attention right now and I am sure lot of other guys will be interested now.”

Bollywood

Saturday, July 30, 2016

New Released Bollywood Films

July

29

Dishoom

July

29

Ghostbusters

July

29

Mission Tiger Aug

5

Fever

Aug

5

Babuji Ek Ticket Bambai

3

Deepika Padukone beats Alia, Kareena and Katrina to become the highest paid Bollywood actress!

Deepika Padukone beats Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif to become the highest paid Bollywood heroine. The Piku actress’ career has been on an all time high since the last two years.

She has managed to strike a great balance between commercial success and critical acclaim. It is safe to say that she is on top of her game currently and her career graph is a proof of that. This year many felt that Deepika’s decision to follow Priyanka Chopra’s footsteps and try a brand new inning in Hollywood wasn’t a great move.

However, Ms Padukone has struck back with one class decision. The actress has signed her first film for 2016 with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati opposite real life lover Ranveer Singh. Deepika-Ranveer-SLB, trio is reuniting for the third time with this film.

The period drama has been making headlines for a long time now. It was said that Priyanka too was eyeing for this role. However Deepika managed to not just sign the dotted

line, but also hike her fee for Padmavati. Now we all know that there has been debate and discussion about which Bollywood actress is the highest paid. Deepika along with Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kangana Ranaut, Katrina Kaif have been the front runners.

Kangana, in fact courted controversy when claims were made by the actress’ team that she was demanding a whopping Rs 11 crores for Rangoon, which was later denied and reports of the actress getting just Rs 3 crores started doing rounds.

Buzz was that Deepika charged about Rs 15 crores per project while her contemporaries like Kareena, Priyanka demanded Rs 9 crores. Younger actresses like Alia Bhatt are paid anywhere between Rs 3 to 5 crores. With Deepika now raising her fee further, it is only going to increase the difference between her and her competitions pay scales.

Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Tiger Shroff make John Abraham and Varun Dhawan’s Dishoom special screening a star studded affair Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez and John Abraham-starrer Dishoom released today and has garnered some good reviews from the critics as well as the people. A special screening was organised by Johna Abraham, Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez and Sajid Nadiadwala yesterday night which witnessed the attendance of a host of B-town celebs. Close friends of the Dishoom stars attended the screening including Akshay

Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Sonam Kapoor, Sooraj Pancholi.

Parineeti Chopra, who is a part of Dishoom for the song Jaaneman Aah, also attended the screening. She looked pretty amazing in a simple high neck crop top and jeans.

Sonam Kapoor, who is always dressed like a diva, decided to go simple for this event. She topped her black T shirt with a long hanging denim jacket.

4

Bollywood

Saturday, July 30, 2016

HOROSCOPE Aries

Libra

March 21 - April 20

Sept. 24 - Oct 22

You may be caught on the horns of a dilemma as the days pass, wondering whether career or worldly ambitions should EH \RXU SULRULW\ ,Q IDFW WKH FRQĂ&#x20AC;LFW LV RQO\ skin-deep and can be easily resolved if you approach the problem from a fresh perspective. A younger relation can show you the way forward.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a strange time to be sure, and you may be weary of the responsibilities youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re burdened with and the people who pester you. Yet, there is neither change nor progress without hard work. The kind of challenges you will face are from partners and loved ones who only have your best interests at heart.

Taurus

Scorpio

April 21 - May 20

Oct 23 - Nov 22

Colleagues may be irrational and conditions at work could be tense. With Pluto about to complete a complicated series of planetary alignments, a great deal of unspoken potential is in the air, and frustration will result if you fail to make the most of it. That would never do â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so get on and do your best.

Mars, your splendid planetary ruler, is in a helpful position, indicating that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll rise above the generally irritating conditions around you. You know that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s little point in compromise for the sake of it. However you will have to employ your diplomatic skills to convince your partners.

Gemini

Sagitarius

May 20 - June 21

Nov 23 - Dec 22

The Moonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relationship with your sign helps create the bright and balanced conditions that are so important to your general well-being. If travel is on the agenda, the results could be more fortunate than you ever expected. And, in love, line up a partner for a pleasant surprise.

Do listen very carefully to what other people are saying and doing. You must sympathise with their many various and RIWHQ GLIÂżFXOW VLWXDWLRQV RWKHUZLVH \RXÂśOO misunderstand their motives. At work, colleagues will back your ideas, so take the lead and make the most of this good period.

Cancer

Capricorn

June 22 - July 23

Dec 23 - Jan 20

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve struggled through thick and thin all by yourself, but much more assistance is now available from willing helpers, so why not seek advice over the coming days rather than just pressing on alone? Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re about to receive a temporary respite from a perennial problem.

The general celestial situation suits you rather nicely, and many people who never gave you a second thought will VRRQ ÂżQG WKHPVHOYHV KDYLQJ WR EHKDYH in Capricornian ways, or get nowhere.

Obviously, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have a head start, which is certainly a good thing.

Leo

Aquarius

June 24 - August 23

Jan 21 - Feb 19

Your personal relationships are now at a turning point. You are unlikely to notice anything right now but, over the coming few weeks, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have another stab at an HQJDJHPHQW RU DVVRFLDWLRQ ZKLFK Ă&#x20AC;RSSHG VRPH WLPH DJR 3HUVRQDO SODQV ÂżQDOO\ ZRUN out in your favour.

Virgo

There could be one or two hold-ups at home, mainly because of a partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opposition. Professional plans are sailing along very nicely, although right now you probably feel as if you still have a supreme effort to make. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right, but it will be easier than you think, so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be put off by imaginary worries.

Tiger ShroďŹ&#x20AC; reveals the secret behind his name, and hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why we feel he was LUCKY! On the International Tiger Day, Tiger Shroff reveals the big secret behind his name.

When Tiger Shroff made his Bollywood debut, the poor guy was often trolled for sharing his name with our national animal!

Many jokes were doing rounds on twitter and Facebook, and it took some time for them to die down.

Thankfully, Tiger Shroff gained more popularity among the youth, thanks to his mind-boggling stunts and fantastic dance moves. Both his films, Heropanti and Baaghi, have been hits, and his A Flying Jatt teaser has also been liked by his fans.

But his name association with the striped feline will not be forgotten so easily. However, the actor is too cool about the jokes and has decided to play his part in the same as well, albeit in a serious way.

On International Tiger Day, Tiger Shroff

decided to adopt a tiger cub. He also wrote a letter to the government on behalf of PETA, where he pleaded about the urgency to save the protected species.

While we appreciate the young star for his social efforts, the actor also let down a personal secret of his â&#x20AC;&#x201C; why he was named Tiger.

Apparently, when he was a baby, he used to BITE a lot!

So his parents named Tiger!

Naming kids after some traits they display is cool (but thank God, my parents didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the idea, otherwise I would have been stuck with the name, Sleeping Beauty!), there is a little flaw here!

We actually believe Tiger Shroff is lucky because biting is not a trait we usually associate with tiger. We say, tigers attack or tigers chewâ&#x20AC;Ś but rarely we say tigers bite!

So if parents had to actually name him based on this trait, he would have been stuck with these other names from the animal kingdom.

Salman Khanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sultan box oďŹ&#x192;ce collection week 3 The film continues to perform well at the overseas marketâ&#x20AC;Ś Salman Khanâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s Sultan broke every record that stood in front of it when it released on Eid this year. The film broke a staggering 35 plus records in the opening weekend itself and looks like it is on its way to break few more records. Though the film has lost out on a considerable screen space due to the arrival of Rajinikanthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kabali and Varun Dhawanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dishoom, the film still continues to perform well. The film entered the fourth week today and we have to say that it has done well over the three weeks at the domestic as well as

overseas market. The film has now collected a mammoth Rs 565.42 crore (gross) at the worldwide market.

At the domestic box office, the film had a good 3rd week as it collected Rs 15.84 crore to take its total collection after 3 weeks to Rs 293.80 crore nett (Rs 411.32 crore gross). As trade analyst Taran Adarsh revealed in his tweet, â&#x20AC;&#x153;#Sultan collected Rs 15.84 cr in Week 3, taking the 3-week total to Rs 293.80 cr. Will have to remain steady in Week 4 to reach Rs 300 cr mark. #Sultan [Week 3] Fri 2.14 cr, Sat 3.81 cr, Sun 5.14 cr, Mon 1.30 cr, Tue 1.25 cr, Wed 1.15 cr, Thu 1.05 cr. Total: Rs 293.80 cr. India biz.â&#x20AC;?

Pisces

August 24 - Sept 24

Feb 20 - March 20

Your emotional Moon brings a challenging and passionate aspect to your sign this week, placing an undeniable accent on frivolity and friendship, commodities that have often been in short supply in the past. Why not take advantage of a more relaxed mood at work to defer irksome tasks until later?

Something very curious is happening, and you would be well advised to keep a careful check on the legal situation. The last thing you want now is to be ripped off VRPHKRZ RU ÂżQG WKDW RWKHUV KDYH WDNHQ you for granted. A cash bonus provides a small comfort towards the end of the week.

BOLLYWOOD PERSONALITIESâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; BIRTHDAYS

SONU SOOD JULY 30

SONU NIGAM JULY 30

ARBAAZ KHAN AUGUST 4

KAJOL AUGUST 5

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Eshwar Shakti

5

6

Movie Review

‘DISHOOM’ -

Movie Review

Akshaye Khanna makes a comeback to Bollywood with this action thriller and is impressive we have to say!

Everyone has been eagerly waiting for Varun Dhawan, John Abraham and Jacqueline Fernandez’s Dishoom. The buddy cop film is directed by Rohit Dhawan who has earlier entertained us with Desi Boyz which featured John and Akshay Kumar. Does the film live up to the hype? Read on to find out…

Indian team’s best batsman Viraj Sharma (Saqib Saleem) gets kidnapped in Abu Dhabi 36 hours before the India – Pak final. At first, it seems to be a handiwork of a fanatic Paki fan, but later we find out the matter is much more serious than that. The Minister of External Affairs (Mona Ambegounkar channelling Smriti Irani) sends India’s finest cop, Kabir (John Abraham) to find him out.

In Dubai, he teams up with a rookie cop Junaid (Varun Dhawan), and together they follow several leads to get on to the kidnapped cricketer and the man behind the disappearance.

But they have to do all that before the final of the match. In the process, they also taken in a pretty thief Meera (Jacqueline Fernandez) on the ride

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Varun Dhawan – John Abraham’s buddy cop act and Akshay Kumar’s cameo are the highlights of this action spectacle! and face a dangerous adversary in Akshaye Khanna.

The plot of Dishoom is definitely interesting, and the scale in which the film

has been shot also needs to be given a special mention. Rohit Dhawan needs to be lauded

for using the resources in hand to make a good looking film. He also has inherited the gift of gab from his father so some of the best scenes in the film involves humour. He also invokes his geeky self in many junctures of the film, like the use of Abudin, a fictional place from Tintin comics, or the use of the Mauka Mauka guy as the decoy kidnapper.

The dialogues have an impact, especially those uttered by Varun Dhawan and Akshaye Khanna. Pritam has also given a thumping score for the film with Sau Tarah Ke (though the song placement takes the seriousness out of the situation in which it is placed) and Jaaneman Aah. Talking about the performances, John Abraham, Varun Dhawan and Jacqueline Fernandez give a good account of themselves. John used his physique well for his role as the tough cop. Varun continues his Dilwale act, as he shines best in the comic interludes. Their camaraderie is biggest USP of the film.

The first half is entertaining thanks to this. Jacqueline Fernandez is pretty and makes us invested in her character. Saqib Saleem is also good

in his limited role. However, its Akshaye Khanna who makes the biggest impact in his negative role. Among the few cameos in the film, Vijay Raaz and Akshay Kumar are fine. We have to admit Akshay’s courage for doing such an unconventional role, though it needs to be mentioned that his act could offend a certain community.

After an entertaining first half, the second half however fails to keep us engrossed, even though it’s more action packed. In fact it’s the action scenes that are surprisingly the film’s biggest weaknesses. The film also suffers from really choppy editing and irreverent background score in places. While John and Varun‘s camaraderie is good, their bromance seems a bit forced and underdeveloped, and so is Jacqueline and John’s romance. Even the direction seems a bit average here compared to Rohit’s more entertaining debut flick, Desi Boyz. The entire Abudin track, despite being one of the trailer’s highlights, is kinda lifeless. We also don’t understand why Kabir, supposed to be India’s cop, is allowed to break so many rules, even in a foreign country. And he is not even a good cop – he is man who beats up people just because they ask him not to smoke in lifts. Also it’s high time our filmmakers need to stop using jingoism just to make their scenes stronger.

Dishoom may not be the best action spectacle Bollywood has made. However, it is still entertaining thanks to John and Varun’s camaraderie, and a few funny scenes. At two hours in runtime, it can be worth your ticket.

7

Bollywood

Saturday, July 30, 2016

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE For more Updates, Visit our Website

www.theasianstar.com

Jubin Nautiyal

Haters gonna hate

Singer Jubin Nautiyal has the same curly mop of hair, slender and razor-sharp jawline that have become synonymous with filmmaker Imtiaz Ali? So, it doesn’t come as a surprise to the 27-year-old when he is mistaken for the filmmaker in public. “It happens specially when I let my hair down,” he says. Is that why the Kabali singer is perennially wearing the man hairband in every appearance these days?

Imtiaz Ali

Bundle of nerves

With all the rumour mongering going on about Nargis Fakhri quitting Bollywood, the hottie decided to set the record straight. She took to Twitter and posted, “Looking forward to finishing my assignment in the US and being back to start promoting #Banjo in a few weeks!!! #noplanstoquit #hatersgonnahate #allelsearebaselessrumours. ” The gal is known for her no-holds barred comments, we are waiting for some more.

Pakistani actress Mahira Khan gets the heebie-jeebies when Raees co-star Shah Rukh Khan is around her. She then feels the pressure to prove herself causing a great deal of anxiety. SRK’s presence also makes her forget her dialogues on the set. She would fluctuate with all the emotions of joy and fear. King Khan, can be intimidating at times.

Mahira Khan

SHOULD I PLONK MYSELF HERE?

Priyanka Chopra Nargis Fakhri

That Yankee drawl After taking potshots at Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar, Tanmay Bhat is at it again. The funny man has now taken on Priyanka Chopra. On Wednesday, Tanmay tweeted, “When I say @priyankachopra’s name in my head I now automatically pronounce it like “Priyaaaanka Chopruh”, hinting at the star’s American accent. Pat came PeeCee’s reply, “I’m supposed to have the accent Tanmay, what happened to you? lol.” To which, Tanmay replied, “@priyankachopra

Tanmay Bhatt hahahaha, slay! ;)” Later, the actress stated on social media that laughter is the best form of entertainment and asked fans to chill out.

All’s well that ends well.

Photo happy Recently, Vikram Bhatt was surprised to receive an album from Raaz Reboot actor Gaurav Arora. As Gaurav digs photography, he had been click happy during their shooting stint in Romania.

Bhatt’s protege gifted him the album as a token of appreciation. This gesture was to remind his mentor about the good times and to keep the memories intact.

Vikram Bhatt and Gaurav Arora

ASHUTOSH GOWARIKER and MAKARAND DESHPANDE at a book launch at a mall in Goregaon on Wednesday. PIC/SAMEER MARKANDE

For more Updates, Visit our Website

www.theasianstar.com Local News . World . Entertainment . Auto . Sports

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FCA admits 75-month sales gain streak inďŹ&#x201A;ated, actually ended in 2013 Fiat Chryslerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existing streak of 75 straight months of sales gains should have ended in 2013, according to revised sales figures released Tuesday by the automaker.

The revision comes as two federal agencies investigate whether the company inflated sales by pressing dealers to buy more vehicles.

The company is changing the way it records monthly sales. Applying the new method retroactively to the start of 2011 shows the company overstated sales for 30 months, including three in which it would have reported a sales decline. The company also understated sales for 36 months.

That means a much-touted string of monthly year-over-year increases actually ended in September of 2013 at 40 months.

A lawsuit by an Illinois dealership group alleges that competing dealers got incentives to report false sales.

Volkswagenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $15B US emissions deal gets early court approval A nearly $15 billion US settlement over Volkswagenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s emissions cheating scandal cleared a key hurdle Tuesday, with a federal judge giving preliminary approval to the deal that includes an option for owners to have the carmaker buy back their vehicles.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer called the settlement an â&#x20AC;&#x153;enormous effortâ&#x20AC;? by attorneys from both sides and urged Volkswagen owners who may want to opt out and pursue their own lawsuits to consider the dealâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s environmental achievements. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s significant, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re attempting to achieve in this

settlement,â&#x20AC;? said Breyer, who is overseeing consumer lawsuits and government allegations that Volkswagenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diesel engines cheated on U.S. emissions tests.

The German carmaker has agreed to spend up to $10 billion US buying back or repairing about 475,000 Volkswagens and Audi vehicles with two-litre diesel engines and paying their owners an additional $5,100 to $10,000 US each. Details about the vehicle repairs have not been finalized.

The settlement also includes $2.7 billion US for unspecified environmental mitigation and an additional $2 billion US to promote zero-emissions vehicles.

9

Superstore

Saturday, July 30, 2016

â&#x20AC; When you spend $250 or more in store before applicable taxes and after all other coupons, discounts or PCÂŽ Points redemptions are deducted, in a single transaction at any participating store location [excludes purchases of tobacco, alcohol products, prescriptions, gift cards, phone cards, lottery tickets, all third party operations (post office, gas bars, dry cleaners, etc.) and any other products which are provincially regulated], you will earn the points indicated. Product availability may vary by store. We are not obligated to award points based on errors or misprints.

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Quantities and/or selection of items may be limited and may not be available in all stores. No rainchecks. No substitutions on clearance items or where quantities are advertised as limited. Advertised pricing and product selection (flavour, colour, patterns, style) may vary by store location. We reserve the right to limit quantities to reasonable family requirements. We are not obligated to sell items based on errors or misprints in typography or photography. Coupons must be presented and redeemed at time of purchase. Applicable taxes, deposits, or environmental surcharges are extra. No sales to retail outlets. Some items may have â&#x20AC;&#x153;plus deposit and environmental chargeâ&#x20AC;? where applicable. ÂŽ/â&#x201E;˘ The trademarks, service marks and logos displayed in this flyer are trademarks of Loblaws Inc. and others. All rights reserved. Š 2016 Loblaws Inc. * we match prices! Applies only to our major supermarket competitorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; flyer items. Major supermarket competitors are determined solely by us based on a number of factors which can vary by store location. We will match the competitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advertised price only during the effective date of the competitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flyer advertisement. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES (note that our major supermarket competitors may not). Due to the fact that product is ordered prior to the time of our Ad Match checks, quantities may be limited. We match identical items (defined as same brand, size, and attributes) and in the case of fresh produce, meat, seafood and bakery, we match a comparable item (as determined solely by us). We will not match competitorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;multi-buysâ&#x20AC;? (eg. 2 for $4), â&#x20AC;&#x153;spend x get xâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Freeâ&#x20AC;?, â&#x20AC;&#x153;clearanceâ&#x20AC;?, discounts obtained through loyalty programs, or offers related to our third party operations (post office, gas bars, dry cleaners etc.). We reserve the right to cancel or change the terms of this program at any time.

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10

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BLACK CAT SECURITY LTD., 7085-141A Street, Surrey, Bc Requires One Full Time Permanent Office Manager.

Duties: Oversee And CoOrdinate Office Administrative Procedures; Establish Work Priorities, Delegate Work To Office Support Staff And Ensure Deadlines Are Met And Procedures Are Followed; CoOrdinate And Plan For Office Services; Assist In Preparation Of Operating Budget And Maintain Inventory And Budgetary Controls; Assemble Data And Prepare Periodic And Special Reports, Manuals And Correspondence., Education: Completion Of High School.

Experience: 2-3 Years.

Wages 22.00/Hr. Knowledge Of English Required.

Hindi And Punjabi An Asset.

Emailblackcatsecurityltd@hotmail. com Or Fax @ 778 565 7165.

-------------- July 16 2016 One FlatFee Real Estate Inc. 109-12888 80 Ave, Surrey, BC V3W 3A8 requires an indeterminate full-time Database Analyst.

Responsibilities -Collect and document user

JOBS requirements -Design, construct, modify, Integrate, implement and test data models and database management -Operate database management systems to analyze data and perform data mining analysis -Conduct research and provide advice to other professionals regarding data management -Operate database management systems to analyze data and perform data mining - Lead, coordinate or supervise other employees Requirements - Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science - 2 to 3 years of experience in a similar role Language: English Wages: $29/hr Please send your resume @ info@oneflatfee.ca or Fax: 604248-5253 -------------- July 09 2016 All Star Railing & Awning Ltd., #20 12318 84 Avenue, Surrey, BC requires a full-time permanent Welder Helper.

Will be required to read and interpret work orders, operate metal cleaning equipment, assist welders, transport raw material and finished products manually or by using devices, clean work areas and equipment and perform other related duties to assist the welders. Should have

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

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Saturday, July 30, 2016

JOBS

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high school education with some experience. Knowledge of English is required. Punjabi/ Hindi will be an asset. Wage: $20/hr. Apply by mail, email: 4242kamal@gmail.com

Planet Pride Logistics Ltd. of Richmond, BC is urgently seeking an Office Manager on f/time, perm. basis. Must have min. high school education and either min. 2 yrs. exp. in clerical/ secretarial/office admin. or a university degree or college diploma in business admin.

Duties incl. manage office staff and assign tasks as needed; analyze internal processes and recommend / implement procedural or policy changes to improve operations; establish work priorities; manage office supply inventory and maintain office equipment repairs. wage btwn $22.25 - $24/hr (depending on exp). Please email resume to planetpridelogist@ gmail.com.

No phone calls or drop-ins please.

-------------- July 09 2016 Western Door Manufacturing Ltd located at #109-8250, 124th St, Surrey, BC V3W 3X9, has an immediate vacancy for Carpenter. We design and manufacture high end solid wood exteriors doors, solid wood interior doors and custom doors.

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

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

Trade certificate will be considered as an asset.

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

If interested send resumes at westerndoors@outlook.com -------------- May 21 2016

-------------- May 14 2016 “Vacancy for Stock Supervisor A1doors and mouldings, located at 12625 – 80th Avenue Surrey, BC, V3W 3A6 has an immediate vacancy of Stock Supervisor Term of employment : Full time, Permanent with 35 to 40 hours per week Salary : $18/hour Job duties : To supervise and coordinate activities of stock staff, plan and organize the display of stock in the showroom, identify outdated & defective stock, ensure orders are executed & delivered in time, maintain inventory and order merchandise, prepare periodic

JOBS inventory reports, assign duties to stock clerks, providing stock clerk with the training, information, guidance encouragement &recognition needed to meet expectation, investigating, resolving & escalating customer issues as appropriate.

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

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

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

To PLACE YOUR AD IN THE ASIAN STAR

CLASSIFIEDS Section

Please

Call: 604-591-5423

Saturday, July 30, 2016

9th Annual PICS Mega Job Fair & Business Expo 2016 scheduled for August 4th at North Surrey Recreation Centre, 10275 City Parkway, Surrey from 10am to 4pm.

100 Exhibitors are registered for the event and 6,000 to 7,000 job seekers are expected to attend.

-------------------------------------------South Asian Seniors Music Melodies on Violin July 24th 2016 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and non members to attend Musical Melodies played on Violin and Hindi songs sung by Mohan Bhojwani a visiting Musician from London ( U.K ) on July 24th 2016 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. He will play Bollywood Hindi Songs Tunes on Violin and being a good singer will sing Hindi songs also, light snacks and tea will be served after the entertainment program is over. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further details. Project funded by Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program for Hindi Speaking Seniors.

-----------------------------------------South Asian Seniors Meditation for Stress Free Normal Living.

Dr. Jas Bhopal on July. 17th 2016 from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults, Senior members and also non members to come and attend Meditation for Stress Free Normal Living and take better care of your family, by Dr.

Jaswant . S . Bhopal a Psychiatrist, Physician & Spiritual Preceptor on July. 17th 2016 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th Street Surrey BC. Please bring yoga Matt. with you, Dr. Jas Bhopal will answer all your questions about Meditation for Stress Free Normal Living & better care for your family. Tea and light Snacks will be served in the end. Please call Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604- 507- 9945 for further information.

-------------------------------------------South Asian Seniors - Bingo On The House July 10th 2016 from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and non members also to come and play Bingo for the sake of fun during and make some new friends, on July 10th 2016( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall 8321 - 140th street Surrey B.C. It was not held last sunday on July 3rd 2016 because of Shree Gurvanandji Swami Gurudev’s Pravachan being continued in the main temple hall up to 3.30 pm. Please bring only two dollars with you to play 2 games, do not worry if you do not know how to play, members will explain you the game just for the sake of fun.Tea & light snacks will be served after the game is over.

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

-----------------------------------------South Asian Seniors Father’s Day Ashirwad ( Blessings ) Dr. Swami Satya Prakash - 19th June. 2016 from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and non members also, Everybody is welcome to attend the Presentation with Musical Touch on Father’s Day Ashirwad ( Blessings ) by Dr. Swami Satya Prakash a well known Swamiji in the community & Pandit

Round Wrap Industries, #150 1680 Savage Road, Richmond, BC V6V 3A9 A reputed company manufacturing foiled PVC doors, requires one Production Supervisor on full-time indeterminate basis. Duties: supervision, coordination and scheduling of workers; resolving work problems; training of workers; preparing reports and ensuring safe and smooth running of the production.

Education: Minimum secondary school.

Experience: Minimum 5 years as Supervisor in same or similar trade or industry.

Language: English & Knowledge of Punjabi / Hindi will be an asset.

Salary: $32/hr.

Contact by email: info@roundwrap.com or fax 604 278 1463

Community News Mansukhbhai Thandi will play on Tabla , on 19th June 2016 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan Hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. Please do attend it to avoid regrets that you missed it, tea and light snacks will be served after the presentation.

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

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

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

11

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

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

Incorporated in September 1995, MVCCSN is a non-profit organization whose members are seniors from various cultural backgrounds and service providers who are involved with seniors’ issues, including seniors who are newcomers and recent immigrants in Metro Vancouver.

The Society is managed by a volunteer board, current members include Ihsan Malik (President), Mohinder Grewal (Vice Prsident), Barbra Mikulec, Arun Mehta (Director), Sonia Chaudhary (Treasurer), Narayan Kulkarni (Secretary), and Hien Phu Nguyen (Director). Our mission: The Society is committed to cultural diversity, and, as such, will show leadership in actively promoting inclusiveness, respect and participation through activities involving inquiry and advocacy.

-----------------------------------------

FOR LEASE Two retail units 3000sqft #130/140 - 304785 Cardinal Ave Abbotsford

(604) 725-6734 / (604) 595-1445

12

Saba

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Saturday, April 2, 2016 L 5

Vol. 6 No. 46 - Saturday - July 30, 2016

Tel: 604-591-5423

E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com

CMHC warns housing prices overvalued in 9 Canadian markets, Vancouver at high risk

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says prices are overvalued in 60 per cent of the top 15 centres it surveys across the country.

In what the Crown corporation calls its Housing Market Assessment Survey, released Wednesday, it said overall evidence of problematic conditions in the housing market for the country as a whole has been bumped up from weak to moderate — with Vancouver singled out for “high” evidence of problematic conditions in its market.

“With our last assessment, the one we

published in April, we actually said we saw strong evidence of problematic overvaluation,” said Bob Dugan chief economist with CMHC, referring to Vancouver which was said at that time to have moderate evidence of problematic conditions as opposed to the strong evidence today. “We have definitely had our eye on that market.” The agency defines evidence of problematic conditions as imbalances in the housing market. CMHC says those imbalances can occur when overbuilding, overvaluation, overheating and price acceleration, or combinations of those factors, move away from historical averages.

In its report, CMHC says there has been sustained, high levels of sales with minimal increases in supply in Vancouver, now Canada’s most expensive city to purchase a home, with the average detached home selling for $1.56 million in the metro region last month.

The Crown corporation said it has been waiting for a couple of quarters to make any major judgement on the Vancouver market, but what has tipped the scales is the multi-family sector, both town homes and apartments, that have moved into overheated conditions in terms of the ratio of sales to new listings. Price acceleration has also been a factor.

This week the British Columbia government made a move to attempt to slow down its largest market by imposing a 15 per cent additional property tax on foreign investors buying in Metro Vancouver, something it hopes will improve affordability.

Dugan says it’s too early for his organization, which advises the federal government on housing policy, to offer an opinion on what impact the move will have.

“We haven’t had time to update any forecast or anything to take this into account. You can only speculate and we don’t want to do that.

There are a lot of unknowns,” he said. “A lot of foreign investors invest in Canada and do so, anecdotally I have heard, despite what we in

Canada see as an expensive (market). Vancouver looks pretty cheap. Is (the tax) enough to affect demand?”

For Canada overall there is strong evidence of overvaluation, though CMHC emphasizes that real estate markets are inherently local. The Crown corporation does say price

acceleration is spreading in the communities it analyzed that neighbour Toronto and Vancouver. CMHC sees its HMA as an early warning system for Canadians and the real estate industry to address concerns about the market, which it says promotes stability.

14

Real Estate

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Vancouver home prices worry businesses as they seek to hire staff

When Allan Pulga, a communications manager, found out he was going to be a father, he had to make a tough choice â&#x20AC;&#x201D; stay in a tiny downtown condo or leave Vancouver.

The 34-year-old, who works for fastgrowing private Canadian technology firm iQmetrix, packed his bags and moved to Regina, Sask., where the typical family home costs roughly one third of the price in the Greater Vancouver area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a young, single person, you can make Vancouver work financially,â&#x20AC;? said Pulga, who was able to transfer to iQmetrixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Regina

office. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But I feel like if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to settle down and have kids, maybe you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stay.â&#x20AC;?

That has business groups raising the alarm about Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to attract and retain the talent needed to foster local successes like retailer Lululemon Athletica or tech start-ups like video surveillance maker Avigilon Corp and social media manager Hootsuite.

Vancouver has long boasted Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s costliest housing. But low interest rates and strong foreign demand, especially from Chinese buyers, have helped drive the cost of a typical detached home up nearly 30 per cent

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in the last five years.

The average Vancouver-area property â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including houses, town homes and condos â&#x20AC;&#x201D; sold for $828,937 in November, compared with $580,326 in greater Toronto and $306,541 in Regina, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. In Seattle, on the West Coast of the U.S., with massive employers such as Boeing, Microsoft and Amazon in the area, the median sale price was $436,250.

On Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desirable west side, the median selling price for detached homes rose to $2.6 million in November.

Government data shows the migration of 25 to 44-yearolds out of Vancouver to other provinces has outpaced those migrating in from elsewhere in Canada over the past three years, eroding a key workingage demographic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Housing prices are a concern for that exact reason,â&#x20AC;? said Ken Peacock, chief economist at the Business Council of British Columbia. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It makes it more challenging for younger people starting a family.â&#x20AC;?

Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expensive housing also makes it tough for companies to bring in new talent from other regions, in particular senior executives, he noted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is a sticker shock phenomenon,â&#x20AC;? said Peacock. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of these people are coming from 5,000-square-foot estates and here they get a three bedroom bungalow.â&#x20AC;?

To be sure, Vancouver is not alone. New

York, London and Singapore have long been popular with foreign investors, driving up the cost of living for locals. But while those cities are global financial hubs and have many bankers with big compensation, Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

economy relies more on tourism and a cyclical resources industry.

The median family income in Vancouver in 2012, the last data available, was just $71,140 a year, the lowest of any major city in Canada, putting home ownership far out of reach for most. The median income in Regina, by comparison, was $91,200, while Toronto families make just a bit more than Vancouver families.

Vancouver is working to address the affordability gap, but existing initiatives mainly target lower-income families. Renting is a cheaper option in the city of 1.3 million, with small two-bedroom downtown condos listed for about $2,000 a month and suburban basement units available at $1,200.

Ontario looking â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;very closelyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at BC tax aimed at foreign homebuyers

Ontarioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finance minister says he will be looking â&#x20AC;&#x153;very closelyâ&#x20AC;? at British Columbiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tax aimed at foreign homebuyers as he looks for ways to address eroding affordability in Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s housing market.

Charles Sousa says he welcomes the 15 per cent tax that the B.C. government will charge foreign nationals looking to snap up homes in Vancouverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scorching real estate market.

Sousa says he is part of a committee, alongside Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau and B.C. Finance Minister Mike de Jong, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s looking for ways to improve housing affordability in Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hottest markets.

He says itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to consider that any policies introduced to cool down Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hot real estate sector could have effects on other parts of the province that arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seeing the same problem.

BMO chief economist Douglas Porter has urged the Ontario government to follow B.C.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move, given that single detached houses in the Greater Toronto Area have jumped almost 20 per cent yearover-year.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Metro Vancouver home sales fall again, but it’s still a seller’s market Home sales fell in Metro Vancouver for a fourth straight month in June, but aspiring homeowners shouldn’t celebrate yet — it’s still a seller’s market.

A new report from the Conference Board of Canada says sales fell in 15 of 28 markets nationally, including Toronto and Montreal.

The annual rate of sales in Metro Vancouver reached 44,688 homes last month, a 5.3 per cent drop from the previous month but a 5.1 per cent increase from a year before.

Prices remained flat around the $1-million mark, but are still up 12 per cent from June 2015.

Still, the report says sellers’ conditions prevail in Vancouver, as well as in Victoria and all southern Ontario markets.

The Fraser Valley led price growth in the

#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005

country with a year-over-year gain of 24 per cent, while price growth is slowing in the Lower Mainland.

Listings rose in 17 areas, including a second straight monthly gain in Toronto and a year-over-year rise in Metro Vancouver.

The ratio of sales to new listings dropped to 73 per cent after peaking at 90 per cent in February.

Robin Wiebe, the senior economist who wrote the report, says a 73 per cent sales to new listings ratio is still very high and consistent with a seller’s market.

“It does look like the market may be easing just a little bit. There’s hints that supply is starting to move up a littlE bit.”

But while listings were up 3.5 per cent year over year in Metro Vancouver, they fell 1.4 per cent from the previous month.

Wiebe says recSent trends indicate that housing prices may have reached their peak.

“The sales are backing off just a little bit and the listing are coming up just a little bit, so the market is moving ever so slightly,” he says.

“It’s still a seller’s market but it’s not as extreme a seller’s market as it was late last year and early this year.”

Real Estate

15

16

Garry Grewal

Saturday, July 30, 2016

PREC

DIAMOND AWARD

WINNER OF FVREBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s TOP ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Sutton Group - West Coast Realty #106 7565 132 St., Surrey. BC. PH:604-572-3005 FAX: 778-574-4174

COMMERCIAL MEDALLION CLUB MEMBER

- Highest Dollar Volume Award

- Commercial Top Sales Award

PLATINUM AWARD

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

MASTER AWARD

2010

FOR SALE

FOR LEASE

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