The Asian Star January 27 2018

www.theasianstar.com Vol 16 - Issue 52

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Tel:604-591-5423

Trudeau, Modi bhai bhai

Indian PM Modi, in Davos, decries protectionism

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raise for India’s ‘commitment to democracy and diversity’ draws attention to treatment of minorities by his government. Delivering the opening speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Indian leader Narendra Modi warned that globalisation is under threat. Modi told delegates at the Swiss resort on Tuesday that “forces of protectionism are raising their heads” against international trade and commerce.

“Bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations have come to a kind of standstill,” he said. Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit a WEF summit in more than two decades, called for reform of international institutions, continued commitment to a rules-based

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, January 23, 2018

world order and greater focus on inclusivity in the global economy during his address. The focus of this year’s edition of the annual Davos meeting is on Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World, according to the Genevabased foundation’s website. Modi praised India, home to some 1.2 billion people, for its commitment to democracy and diversity. “For a society with diverse religions, cultures, languages, attires and cuisines, democracy is not just a political system but a way of living,” he said, adding that inclusion is the “main principle” Continued on page 7

South Asian man jailed 11½ years for killing his mother and beating wife seriousness of domestic abuse, Wolf in front of his children

A Surrey man who whipped his wife with a USB cable then beat his mother to death when she tried to intervene has been sentenced to 11½ years in prison. Provincial court judge Alexander Wolf noted that Sukhvir Singh Badhesa’s two young children witnessed the whole thing. Badhesa, 39, pleaded guilty

to manslaughter, but the Crown argued the “act of killing his mother is close to the ‘near murder’ side of culpability.” Alcohol, mental illness and tragedy Wolf gave Badhesa 10 years for the death of his mother — two less than the Crown wanted. But to reflect the

Dianne Watts leading the BC Liberal leadership race Umendra Singh Dianne Watts is the leading charge to become the next leader of the BC Liberal Party.

The former Mayor of Surrey and former South Surrey Conservative MP sees herself as the perfect candidate to lead BC’s free enterprise coalition into the next election against the BC NDP. As the lengthy BC Liberal leadership campaign starts up this week, Watts has forged ahead of other 10 or so candidates in a crowded field. “ We have to come through the leadership race united and ready to go,” Continued on page 9

also handed down an 18-month sentence for Badhesa’s assault on his wife; Crown had asked for a year. The sentences are to be served consecutively.

Continued on page 7

Elderly husband shot his wife then himself in Toronto area home Neighbours are expressing shock after a husband and wife were found dead in their Oakville, Ont. home early Wednesday morning.

The couple has been identified as Prem Singh, 69, and Jan Singh, 70, originally from Fiji. A neighbour described the Singhs as “great people” who lived in the area for years and had recently celebrated

their daughter’s wedding.

A Halton Regional Police cruiser parked outside a home in Oakville where police say they were called to for a ‘weaponsrelated’ incident on Jan. 17, 2018.

Officers arrived at the house near Bayshire Drive and Summerhill Crescent just before 5 a.m. for a

Continued on page 7

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Saturday, January 27, 2018

2 found dead in ‘suspicious’ Surrey house fire Homicide investigators have been called to the scene of a house fire in South Surrey after two people were found dead on Thursday afternoon.

RCMP discovered the bodies inside the home in the 17400 block 28B Avenue just after 2:45 p.m. PT, according to a statement.

The fire was deemed suspicious and the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) was called in to take over the investigation. frank jang south surrey fire IHIT Cpl. Frank Jang said investigators would be working through the night to investigate the fire. Police said the area would be cordoned off for a “significant” amount of time. IHIT Cpl. Frank Jang said investigators would be working at the

property overnight and into Friday.

Anyone who has information about the

Immigration & Family Law Services incident or who saw anything suspicious is asked to call IHIT investigators at 1-877-551IHIT (4448) or email ihitinfo@rcmp-grc. gc.ca.

Family of young bystander killed in Vancouver still in shock The older brother of Alfred Wong, the 15-yearold bystander who was killed in an exchange of gunfire in Vancouver on Jan. 13, says his family is still in shock. “Everything is still really raw right now,” said Wilfred Wong, who was joined by the family’s pastor Caleb Choi, at a Vancouver Police Department news conference on Monday afternoon. “It’s difficult to look back,” he said.

“The 15 years we had with Alfred were far too short but we know that Alfred is now in heaven with God. My parents and I will always love him dearly and his death will leave a void in our hearts… but the years he had with us will impact our family forever. The family’s pastor, Caleb Choi, said Alfred was very close to his family and was loved dearly by them. Choi described Alfred as a bright, young man who excelled at his studies. “He was enrolled in many of the honours classes at Pinetree Secondary School and was passionate about every course he took. Outside of

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school, he participated in martial arts, basketball and swimming. He was hoping to become a lifeguard and had already completed many of the requirements,” he said. “He intended to pursue a career in electronic engineering… He was very close to his parents and brother and was loved dearly by them.” The Wong family provided this photo of Alfred to the media. The 15-year-old bystander was killed in a Vancouver downtown shooting on January13, 2018.

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Surrey Board of Trade members support LRT for Surrey Dear Mayor Corrigan, I am writing in support of Surrey’s Light Rail Transit Project. In fact, the Surrey Board of Trade would like to see all 27km of the proposed light rail to be built as soon as is feasible. In our most recent Surrey Road Survey over 80% support to strongly support the building of the “City Centre-GuildfordNewton” and over 85% support LRT along Fraser Highway through to Langley City.

Surrey is growing rapidly, and as it grows, the opportunity exists to shape it into a world-class destination in its own right. With nearly 1000 new residents coming monthly, the need for a vision has never been more necessary. The LRT provides an opportunity to consider how to manage the growth, where to densify, how to move people, and how to create commercial space while achieving an attractive streetscape. Businesses are on board with creating an economically viable city that is attractive to clients, customers, and employees alike. LRT sparks development along its corridors, a mid-rise, medium

density, mixed use type of development that will attract both families and business to the area while also maintaining affordability.

We have done our due diligence and read through all available reports. We have had roundtables and panel dialogues. We have had all of our advocacy team members review material and provide feedback (12 teams with over 400 volunteers). We’ve reviewed the number of technology and route alternatives that were examined using multiple metrics to evaluate their effectiveness.

The Surrey Board of Trade has taken the position that the project should be completed in one phase to capitalize on lower construction costs and LRT fleet vehicles, and the simple fact that waiting for phase 2 will unnecessarily delay needed transit through Surrey. We are concerned that those who oppose LRT in favour of increased buses and a skytrain down Fraser Highway are not fully considering what they are saying no to, or conversely what they would be saying yes to, if they in fact succeed to influence decision-

makers. Three things we know will occur if there is no support for LRT: · Increasing B-line buses will very quickly increase congestion on those routes as the more and more would be required to move commuters, but they would still not be sufficient to meet anticipated future population growth as quickly as the LRT on its dedicated lanes — and within 10-15 years would need to be replaced with LRT to meet the demand · The cost of a skytrain system along the Fraser Highway will be up to 4 times more than the combined 27km of LRT, something our grandchildren will still be paying for and it would inhibit any further transit infrastructure ·The ability to quickly adapt to growing town centres and expand the system through the large Surrey geography will be severely compromised by putting all available and future funding into one option We have observed that where the skytrain has gone, it encourages development only around the station, not along the line.

The stations are relatively far apart and the ability for riders to view commercial options is minimized. The purpose would be to move people from one far distant point into the City of Vancouver Hub. As it turns out, this is not necessary. Over 70% of our survey respondents like to work and live South of the Fraser; and LRT encourages that livability by also promoting affordable housing strategies along existing corridors. v Although the Pattullo Bridge and other crossings need to be improved to accommodate commuters, more are staying South of the river. Over 50% live and work in Surrey, unchanged from 2016, and an additional 24% commute into Surrey for employment. Our businesses and our residents deserve a system that encourages growth along the corridors, the creation of livable streetscapes, and the flexibility to add stops as required with the minimum of cost and disruption in the future — as well as Continued on page 8

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Saturday, January 27, 2018

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Saturday, January 27, 2018

‘Padmaavat’ protest shakes India The Bollywood epic Padmaavat has opened in cinemas across India under blanket security after months of fierce protests.

Padmaavat review – Indian drama that sparked riots is a fabulous tale of love and plunder The film crew has been attacked, sets have been vandalised, hardliners have threatened to mutilate the lead actor and Indian states have pleaded with the supreme court and prime minister to ban the film.

Violent mobs rampaged through several Indian cities this week in a last-ditch effort to stop the film, which is based on a fivecentury-old poem about a Hindu queen, Padmini, who immolates herself rather than be captured by a conquering Muslim ruler.

In Mumbai, mobs have set fire to cars. In Gurgaon, a satellite city south of Delhi, people set fire to a bus and pelted stones. A school bus in Haryana state was attacked on Wednesday, while riot police clashed with hundreds of protesters in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat states.

There was a heavy security presence outside north Indian cinemas screening the film on Thursday. Indian media reported that several venues had been attacked in Bihar and that a man had attempt to self-immolate outside a cinema in Varanasi.

Indian Security personnel stand guard during the screening of Bollywood movie ‘Padmavat’ at a cinema hall in New Delhi, India

Violent mobs rampaged through several Indian cities this week in a last-ditch effort to stop the film, which is based on a five-century-old poem about a Hindu queen, Padmini, who immolates herself rather than be captured by a conquering Muslim ruler. In Mumbai, mobs have set fire to cars. In Gurgaon, a satellite city south of Delhi, people set fire to a bus and pelted stones. A school bus in Haryana state was attacked on Wednesday, while riot police clashed with hundreds of protesters in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat states. There was a heavy security presence outside north Indian cinemas screening the film on Thursday. Indian media reported that several venues had been attacked in Bihar

and that a man had attempt to self-immolate outside a cinema in Varanasi. Indian Security personnel stand guard during the screening of Bollywood movie ‘Padmavat’ at a cinema hall in New Delhi, India Police have arrested 18 men in connection with the attack on the Haryana school bus, video footage from which showed children crying in the aisles as sticks and stones were hurled at the vehicle. The controversy erupted a year ago when rumours spread that the film, starring Deepika Padukone and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, would depict a love scene between the queen and a Muslim conqueror, Alauddin Khilji. No such scene exists, but the repeated denials by Bhansali have failed to douse the protests and violence, which swelled again after the release of the film’s first trailer, depicting Padmini dancing and baring her midriff. The purported romance and the trailer have been interpreted as deeply dishonourable to Padmini, who is especially revered by Rajputs, one of India’s largest caste groups and one fiercely proud of its claimed origins from north Indian warrior stock. “She sacrificed her life because of atrocities against women,” said Giraraj Singh Lotwada, the president of the Jaipur-based Rajput Sabha. “She is very respected. We pray to her, take her as our goddess.

He said he did not endorse violence in the name of stopping the film, but added: “This is retaliation, it is counter-violence, in response to the actions of the police.”

How influential are India’s extremist Hindu organisations?

Though historians generally argue there is no evidence Padmini existed, her myth has gained enormous symbolic power among Rajputs in a country where religion and caste still shape how most people work, where they live and whom they marry. Dozens of Rajput women have threatened to burn themselves alive if Thursday’s debut goes ahead. “We are not afraid of death,” their leader told Indian media this week.

Fanatics have threatened to torch UK cinemas that screen the film and offered bounties of up to 50m rupees (£550,000) to anyone who beheads Padukone.

Anna MM Vetticad, an Indian film critic and author, said the outrage was partly opportunistic on the part of the Karni Sena, the hardline Rajput group leading the protests. “Karni Sena was unknown outside Rajasthan so far,” she said. “In 2010 when they vandalised theatres in Rajasthan over a less high-profile film, they barely received attention. By now strategically going after a highly anticipated film like Padmaavat.

LOCAL

Saturday, January 27, 2018

South Asian man jailed 11½ years for killing his mother and beating wife From page 1 The killing occurred in March 2016, after Badhesa, who has a history of depression, had been drinking and smoking opium for up to four days. Wolf said the tragedy highlights the issues of mental illness and substance abuse that are plaguing the justice system. Premier pledges to cut wait times for domestic violence victims seeking support North Vancouver to get totem pole recognizing violence against women “It is my experience that many, if not most, crimes of violence in our court system have been committed while a person was under the influence of alcohol,” he said. “We must actively take steps to do anything we can to support professional, medical and mental-health interventions. Failing to provide for those that suffer from mental illness will certainly lead to more unimaginable tragedies.” ‘Putting the wire all over my mom’s body’ Badhesa lived with his 35-year-old wife and their two daughters, who were aged seven and one at the time of the attacks. His 61-year-old mother had come to Canada to live with them a little more than a year earlier. Badhesa’s anger flared on the night of the incident. When his wife tried to calm him, he punched a hole in the wall. She fled upstairs with the children. “It was then that the accused went upstairs and began whipping and hitting his wife all over her body with a USB cable,” Wolf wrote in his decision. “At some point in time his daughters woke up and witnessed the whipping. One daughter described the whipping to the police as ‘putting the wire all over my mom’s body’. “Photographs of the injuries suffered are gruesome, disturbing and show what no doubt will be lifelong physical scars.”

Badhesa’s mother tried to stand between the couple and told her son to go to bed. But he pushed her aside.

Elderly husband shot his wife then himself From page 1 “weapons-related call.”

The call appeared to come from inside the house and the nature of the call prompted police to respond with a tactical unit, which surrounded the house. Halton Regional Police Sgt. Alistair Watt said police entered the residence and found a deceased man and woman inside. They later also located a gun in the home. Police are investigating the deaths, but have said they are not looking for any suspects nor is there any risk to public safety. Neighbour Ralph Geronimo said he’s stunned by the Singhs’ deaths. He said the couple moved into the neighbourhood more than 25 years ago and were among the first people to live on the street. He said his family received a phone call early Wednesday morning from police telling them to go to their basement and stay there until further notice. Geronimo says he and the Singhs were friends and the news of their deaths comes as a shock.

“They’re great people. They had one daughter who just got married this summer. They had a beautiful Indian wedding,” he said. “It makes no sense at all.”

www.theasianstar.com

From page 1

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Indian PM Modi, in Davos, decries protectionism

of his government. Modi’s record has come under scrutiny for his ruling Hindunationalist BJP’s treatment of India’s religious minorities.

India’s Muslim and the Christian communities accuse BJP supporters of targeting them since Modi led the party to victory in the 2014 parliamentary elections and formed the central government.

Kenneth Roth, executive director of international rights group Human Rights Watch, has accused Modi of failing to address the “growing populist intolerance and exclusion” occurring in a number of countries worldwide, including India. “PM Modi says India believes in ‘linking people’, ‘not dividing them’, treating them as ‘one family’. That’s the opposite of the Hindu

nationalists who support him and whom he tolerates,” Roth said in a post on Twitter during Modi’s speech.

Other attendees suggested that Modi was serving up “Davos speak”, shorthand for words that do not necessarily translate into any action.

Critics of the Davos summits suggest the annual WEF meeting serves as little more

than a “talking shop” for the global elite.

Max Lawson, Oxfam International’s head of inequality policy, told Al Jazeera the meetings represent a “manifest failure of imagination”.

WEF attendees “have had many years now of handwringing about the growing gap between rich and poor, and very little to show for it …

This is clearly because business as usual is good business for those at the top”, Lawson said on Monday. A report by Oxfam, published in advance of the Davos summit, has revealed that half of the world’s population received no share of all wealth created globally in 2017.

Instead, billionaires increased their wealth by $762bn last year, enough to end “global extreme poverty seven times over”, the UKbased charity’s annual inequality report said.

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Saturday, January 27, 2018

B.C Premier John Horgan and his trade delegation promoting natural resources, wood products and winter tourism in Beijing this past week.

Promoting opportunities for British Columbia-China collaboration in wood construction, tourism and energy was the focus of Premier John Horgan’s visit to Beijing, which also included a wood and green-building policy forum. “China is increasingly focused on

environmentally sustainable construction, and B.C. is taking every opportunity to promote the environmental benefits of wood building products and systems,” said Premier Horgan.

“We are not only marketing wood products and technologies, but also engaging with key government policy and decision makers, so we

can expand markets for B.C. forestry products.”

The forum — led by Canada Wood China, experts from B.C. and China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development — shared best practices on wood construction, with a focus on opportunities for B.C. to collaborate with Chinese companies in advancing low-

carbon development. To build on opportunities resulting from the 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism and an increased interest in winter sport in China, the delegation also hosted a reception for key tourism operators and influencers.

Surrey Board of Trade members support LRT for Surrey

soon

extending the lines to loop through the city as it ought to be. We need a system that moves people around Surrey and South Fraser, with links to cross the river where appropriate to minimize congestion on river crossings.

With over 400 LRT systems worldwide, we know that this is a system that has proved itself many times over. We anticipate TransLink to release its business case very soon, so that all can likewise be assured of the value of the LRT and not rely on out-dated documents to put forward erroneous positions in the media.

We have determined that Surrey is the destination, not a thoroughfare to somewhere else. The demand for more transit increases annually, as reflected on our own surveys.

Surrey is becoming the hub of the south Fraser Region. Businesses are moving here.

People are moving here. It makes no sense to build a system that by-passes the opportunity to develop and grow a city of our choosing to meet our own vision. Without doubt, the LRT is the best system, dollar for dollar, for Surrey and South of Fraser. The Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce has also indicated their support of the Light Rail Transit transportation system, which includes the Fraser Highway line.

If you have any questions or require further comment, please do not hesitate to contact me at anita@businessinsurrey.com or 604-581-7130.

Anita Huberman, The Surrey Board of Trade

Saturday, January 27, 2018

From page 1

Dianne Watts leading the BC Liberal leadership race

ready to go,” she said in an interview with The Asian Star on Friday morning.

“We lost 10 seats in Lower Mainland and the government was brought down largely as a result of that. We have to change that and win those seats back,” Watts said while explaining why she is the best person from a crowded field of MLAs to replace Christie Clark as the new leader of BC Liberals.

“As a former Mayor of Surrey, as a former MP, as the former leader of a (civic) government, as a former member of the Opposition, I bring a different set of skills that I think is invaluable,” she said.

Watts prides herself as being the Mayor of Surrey when this city was the fastest growing urban area in BC, and perhaps in Canada. Her campaign feels she can bring the same kind of dynamic leadership to help BC grow in the same way that Surrey’s growth exploded under her leadership.

“We have to be more diversified and more inclusive,” she said while explaining how she has managed to grab such a large percentage of South Asian support. Her campaign is also constant pushing the fact that she is an “outsider” so that BC Liberal supporters can take comfort in the fact that she was not part of the group that made past mistakes, leading to the defeat in the last election.

“We went into the last election with the best economy in the country, incredible job creation,

balanced budgets, surpluses and a triple A credit rating. But too many British Columbians felt their government had stopped listening to the important things they had to say,” says Watts, promising to be always listening to the taxpayers.

“I believe balanced budgets and a strong economy should have a purpose that purpose should be you and your family and the things that make life better for British Columbians, “ she said.

Watts also has answer son how to deal with the current problem being faced by many young British Columbians who can’t afford to buy homes.

“I really believe we need more supply and diversify our housing stock,” she said.

Building permits should be given out faster and the process to approve building permits should be streamlined.

If these processes are streamlined, then more houses will be built at a faster rate.

Watts also believes that homes should be. Hilt more and more along public transit corridors and our transportation system should be upgraded and improved to allow people to movie further out of urban centres but be able to travel to and from their work by public transit.

BC Liberal members go to vote next week on February 1, 2 and 3 and Watts is asking all memes to c9me out and vote for her to support a renewed BC Liberal Party.

Attorney General David Eby slams predecessor for hiding ICBC finance recommendations The former Liberal government wrecked the finances of public auto insurer ICBC by choosing to ignore recommendations delivered as early as 2014 on how to avoid a financial crisis, says Attorney General David Eby. “It’s really, thoroughly disturbing information,” Eby said after learning of the 2014 draft report’s existence.

When he assumed responsibility for the ICBC file, Eby said it looked like the dire shape of ICBC’s finances were due to “gross negligence and a ham-handed attempt to cover up a deficit before the (2017 provincial) election.”

“Now, it’s starting to look a lot more like malice,” Eby said. “The government knew in 2014 it could have avoided a crisis if it had taken action. Now we’re living a crisis because they didn’t.” He wants former transportation minister Todd Stone and finance minister Mike de Jong to explain why the recommendations were removed from the final report. In a written response, Stone replied: “(Any) suggestion that our government did not take serious action to combat increasing cost pressures and the need for further ICBC rate hikes for good drivers is absolutely false.”

The statement, emailed to Postmedia News, did not address specific questions about the 2014 draft report and the deleted recommendations, but highlighted measures the government did take, such as reducing executive salaries, increasing fines for distracted driving and introducing new tools to fight fraud. The 2014 draft report, prepared by accounting and consulting firm EY (formerly Ernst & Young) included recommendations on capping minor injury claims, hiking premiums for high-risk drivers, and changes in how

ICBC’s capital reserves were set. According to the report, the changes outlined in the seven-page document collectively could have saved the Crown corporation hundreds of millions of dollars. However, Stone said in his statement that the measures government did take saved “hundreds of millions of dollars” on their own. “There were also a variety of other measures to reduce costs at ICBC going forward outlined in a detailed independent report that I ordered in 2016,” Stone wrote.

“The NDP government chose to ignore those recommendations and that report at the same time as they implemented one of the largest single rate hikes in the past 16 years shortly after forming government.” Eby said ICBC has “hemorrhaged hundreds of millions of dollars,” and now the new government is talking about implementing some of the exact same changes that were recommended — limiting minor claims and raising premiums for high-risk drivers. “It’s really disappointing to me to know that our options have been dramatically limited” because the previous government avoided difficult discussions with its suppliers, such as auto body repair shops and lawyers, about significant changes, Eby said.

“I don’t know why Todd Stone would remove that section from the report. I can’t explain it. I think he should.”

Eby also hopes Stone and de Jong will agree to make the 2014 draft report public, which government can’t do on its own due to cabinet confidentiality rules.

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Vancouver police announce ‘significant arrests’ in gang-related murders Vancouver police have arrested two men in connection with the 2012 gang-related murders of Sandip Duhre and Sukhveer Dhak. In 2012, sources told CBC Duhre and Dhak were the leaders of a gang believed responsible for the fatal shooting of Red Scorpion Jonathan Bacon in an attack in front of a Kelowna hotel on a summer afternoon nearly seven years ago.

Charges laid in Vancouver gangster slaying B.C. gang killings latest round of retaliation Larry Ronald Amero, 40, has been arrested for conspiracy to commit Duhre’s murder and one count of conspiracy in connection with Dhak’s murder, police said in a statement.

Police said he was arrested in Ontario and brought to B.C. to face charges.

Easy money will be around for ‘some time yet,’ says Bank of Canada chief Stephen Poloz Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz said central banks aren’t going to aggressively tighten policy because there are still underlying vulnerabilities in many economies.

Calling this the “‘end of easy money’ is a little too simple,” he said in a Bloomberg Television interview in Davos, Switzerland. “It’s likely that money is going to remain easy for some

time yet” because “economies are still working their way through a lot of underlying stresses.”

Central banks are slowly moving away from the emergency stimulus put in place after the financial crisis, and leaders gathered for the World Economic Forum have combined optimism with caution in their assessment of the outlook. The IMF sees global growth accelerating to the fastest pace in seven years, but exuberance in markets, surging debt in China and elsewhere, and political flash points — from Brexit to North Korea — are all risks. In Canada, officials have raised interest rates three times since mid-2017, including a hike just last week, which took the benchmark to 1.25 per cent. Poloz has been trying to gradually bring rates back to more normal levels amid strong growth and a surge in employment, without triggering an unwanted slowdown. He said there’s still “considerable” slack in the labour market.

In the euro area, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said Thursday that while the economy is improving, policy will remain accommodative for some time to come. Policy makers are considering when they need to end their bond-buying program and how to start signalling that a change is coming. Poloz said companies are in an expansion phase and policy makers don’t want higher borrowing costs to crimp confidence or hiring plans. He added that concerns about the future of the Nafta trade agreement are weighing on investment decisions. “What happens in this late stage in the cycle is that investment becomes the principle driver of growth, and that builds more capacity, pulling that capacity out of the labour market and raising potential output,” he said. “We’re watching those ingredients as they unfold,

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Saturday, January 27, 2018

IHIT identifies as Lovepreet Dhaliwal as victim in fatal Abbotsford shooting On Saturday, police identified him as 24-year-old Lovepreet “Jason” Dhaliwal.

Police said the shooting appears to be targeted, and have identified a black, four-door Acura TL as being potentially connected to the shooting.

Investigators are expected to provide more information at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The Townline Hill neighbourhood has experienced deadly violence in the past.

One of the worst incidents came in 2015 when a 74-year-old man was killed by a stray bullet.

Last year, Abbotsford Police issued a warning about gang violence.

A man in his 20s was shot and killed on January 19 Months before that, Abbotsford’s in this neighbourhood in Abbotsford. police chief sent letters to the parents of suspected gang members, reporting shots fired in the 3500-block of Promontory Court in the Townline Hill warning them their child’s life is in danger.

Anyone with information about Friday’s area at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Friday, January 19. Officers found a van with a man shooting is asked to call the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551-4448, or Crime Stoppers inside suffering from a gunshot wound. The at 1-800-222-8477. victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

BC Liberal leadership hopefuls square off in final debate

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is looking into a fatal shooting in an Abbotsford neighbourhood that is no stranger to gun violence.

Police responded to multiple calls

Surrey man charged after allegedly firing gun inside home while intoxicated A Surrey man has been charged after he allegedly fired a gun inside his home while intoxicated last month and was found in possession of a number of stolen firearms. Around 4 a.m. on Dec. 18, 2017, Surrey RCMP were called to a home in the 8900-block of 156A Street after a neighbour heard a gunshot. Officers who responded found two homes that appeared to have been damaged by bullet holes. A 56-year-old Surrey resident was found intoxicated inside one of the two damaged homes. He was also found in possession of seven firearms and a small quantity of drugs. Among the firearms was a gun stolen in a 2013 breakand-enter in Coquitlam. John Newman has

been charged with three counts of possession of a firearm, two counts of careless use of a firearm, one count of owning a firearm without a licence, one count of owning a firearm knowing there is no licence, one count of improper storage of a firearm and one count of possessing a controlled substance.

He has been released on bail. “Thankfully, no one was injured in this incident,” said Cpl. Scotty Schumann. “In addition, the seizure of seven firearms improves safety in the community. Most firearms used in crime are domestically sourced.

When they are not stored properly it makes it easier for them to be stolen for criminal use.”

Metro Vancouver mayors asked to recommit to regional transit plan Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore is asking TransLink’s Mayors’ Council to reaffirm its support for Metro Vancouver’s 10-year transportation plan following a change in the council’s leadership. Moore, who is also chairman of Metro Vancouver’s board of directors, has made the request in a notice of motion that is on the agenda for Thursday’s Mayors’ Council meeting.

It will be the first meeting chaired by Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, who was elected by his peers in December. North Vancouver District Mayor Richard Walton is vice-chair.

“I think since the election of our chair and vice-chair there’s been some mixed messages out

there, and some different stakeholders that have been concerned about the potential change of direction of the Mayors’ Council,” Moore said.

“So, I felt it was important that we basically reiterated our current position as we go forward.”

The council adopted the mayors’ 10-year vision for Metro Vancouver Transit and Transportation in 2014, and in late 2016 — a year after a failed plebiscite on a transit sales tax — they approved the first phase. Approval for the second phase of the project is pending. TransLink is trying to shore up funding from the federal government and the province, which have each committed to funding 40 per cent of the cost of capital projects,

Richmond woman, 81, struck by SUV dies in hospital An 81-year-old woman is dead after she was struck by a vehicle in Richmond Wednesday evening.

Richmond RCMP say the accident happened in the area of No. 1 Road and Tucker Road just after 6:30 p.m. The woman suffered critical injuries when she was hit by a late-model Mercedes SUV. She later died in hospital.

Police say the driver, a 78-year old Richmond man, remained at the scene and was cooperative.

Neither speed nor alcohol is considered a factor in the collision, Richmond RCMP said in

a release.

“We remind all road users to be especially cautious and alert.

For those travelling by foot or bicycle, please consider wearing clothing with reflective materials and use a flashing safety light.

For motorists, plan your travels with time to spare, properly maintain the safety features of your vehicle, and always drive attentively,” says RCMP Cpl. Dennis Hwang. It wass Richmond’s first road fatality of 2018.

Todd Stone, Michael Lee, Andrew Wilkinson, Dianne Watts, Sam Sullivan, and Michael de Jong, candidates running for the leadership of the BC Liberal party debate last week.

Knives were out Tuesday night at the final BC Liberal leadership debate as candidates made last-ditch bids for the chance to defeat Premier John Horgan. With less than two weeks until 60,000 Liberal party members cast ballots to select a new leader, hundreds packed into the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver to cheer and jeer for the six candidates as they traded barbs over their platforms, experience and commitment to the party. Vying for the leadership are Dianne Watts, the popular former Conservative MP and Surrey mayor, and current Liberal MLAs Michael Lee, Todd Stone, Andrew Wilkinson, Mike de Jong and Sam Sullivan. About 20 minutes into their fifth and final night of debate — following opening questions from moderator Keith Baldrey of Global B.C. and when candidates were first given the chance to question each other — the dog pile on Watts began.

Wilkinson went first, accusing her of a “lack of specificity” in her platform and calling on her to list five things that the party needed to get done in February. Watts offered no such list, instead saying that any work would have to be

a “team effort.” L-R. Todd Stone and Andrew Wilkinson shake hands as Dianne Watts walks past after the BC Liberal leadership debate .

Watts later fumbled when de Jong asked her a pointed question about softwood lumber, accusing de Jong of playing “gotcha politics” by asking about a file on which he is an expert and she is not. Todd Stone challenged Watts on her commitment to the party, asking her to pledge to seek a seat in the legislature, fight proportional representation and support the Liberals in the next election. “I’m committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure that the NDP and Greens do not continue,” Watts said.

Wilkinson then piled on Watts about crime in Surrey, accusing her of having nothing of substance on the issue in her platform, while Watts said she knew through her work as mayor about the importance of addressing root causes through supportive housing and addiction treatment. “This is an affront to British Columbians, what you just said, and it’s absolutely wrong,” Watts shot back.

Michael Lee makes a point at the BC Liberal party debate.

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River Rock VIP host deregistered after gov’t probe B.C.’s gaming regulator has revoked the registration of River Rock Casino’s director of VIP gambler relations after an investigation into allegations of “third-party cash buy-ins” that violated anti-money-laundering regulations, Postmedia News has learned. Lisa Gao, the employee deregistered by B.C.’s gaming policy and enforcement branch, has worked with VIP gamblers at Richmond’s River Rock Casino since 2012, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Postmedia confirmed Gao’s case with the B.C. government and asked B.C. Lottery Corp. to comment on the allegations. BCLC would not comment, and referred the questions to the Ministry of Attorney-General.

In response to questions about Gao’s case, the Ministry of Attorney-General confirmed that in early November the enforcement branch began investigating an employee at River Rock Casino, “after it was alleged the employee acted in direct violation of B.C. Lottery Corp. and Fintrac directives about third-party cash buy-ins.”

The Ministry of Attorney-General confirmed that following a probe into third-party cash buy-ins involving a River Rock employee, the enforcement branch reviewed the employee’s registration in late November and “rendered a decision.” The decision is considered preliminary and could be varied, according to the ministry.

The branch has received a request to review the decision, and that final review is now underway.

However, without registration from the branch a VIP host cannot work at River Rock Casino, a government official said. Gao’s LinkedIn profile continues to advertise that she is River Rock’s director of VIP relations. Postmedia’s repeated attempts to reach Gao through her LinkedIn account, and ask her about her employment status, were not successful.

In Canada’s anti-money-laundering regime, Fintrac — Canada’s anti-money laundering agency — must receive reports from BCLC on all suspicious and large cash transactions at B.C. casinos. Fintrac’s guidance explains that a third party is a person who instructs another person

to make a financial transaction on their behalf, and that global authorities are aware of moneylaundering and terrorist-financing cases involving third parties. “It is not uncommon for criminals to use third parties as a method to evade detection by distancing themselves from the proceeds of crime,” Fintrac’s guidance on third-party cashtransaction compliance states. Postmedia asked River Rock’s operator, Great Canadian Gaming, to comment on Gao’s case and employment status, but executives were not made available.

“As a matter of policy and confidentiality, we do not comment on individual employee matters,” Terrance Doyle, chief operating officer of Great Canadian Gaming, said Monday in a statement.

“What I can say is that we would never condone or allow any conduct that is inconsistent with our company policies or with the rules put in place by our regulators.” Peter German, a former RCMP deputy commissioner (pictured above in 2007), has been hired by the Ministry of Attorney General to investigate the circumstances that allowed VIP gamblers from China to flood B.C. casinos with suspicious cash. Peter German, a former RCMP deputy commissioner (pictured in 2007), has been hired by the Ministry of AttorneyGeneral to investigate the circumstances that allowed VIP gamblers from China to flood B.C. casinos with suspicious cash. Gao’s professional profile says she has worked at River Rock since 2010, and before that she worked in Shenzhen, a city in China’s Guangdong province. Her profile says “under the direction of the executive director” as director for VIP guest relations she worked “closely with all key department heads.” Gao also provided “strategic directions and oversight of guest acquisition, development and retention … (and oversaw) daily operations of all high-limit areas on property.” In addition to directing other VIP hosts, Gao was responsible for overseeing table play in River Rock’s exclusive “VIP Prive Program.” According to the Richmond casino’s website, in this high-limit baccarat betting area “highly qualified” hosts ensure VIPs “are treated to dedicated service around the clock.”

Woman says Liberal party hasn’t contacted her about allegations she was groped by MP Darshan Kang A woman who came forward last year with allegations of misconduct against Calgary Skyview MP Darshan Kang stemming from his time as an MLA says the provincial Liberal party never contacted her, despite its promises of an internal investigation.

Kirstin Morrell said she’s also never spoken to investigators from the ongoing House of Commons inquiry into Kang’s conduct.

Morrell spoke publicly about Kang last fall as the MP faced accusations of sexual harassment from a staffer in his federal constituency office.

That person has not been identified publicly.

Morrell, who worked as a constituency assistant in Kang’s office from 2011 to 2012 when he was the Liberal MLA for Calgary-McCall, said Kang had harassed her by groping and kissing her repeatedly, despite her continual rejection of his advances. The allegations prompted provincial Liberal Leader David Khan to pledge last September the party would conduct its own investigation that would involve speaking with past and present staff, and party officials. But in a recent interview, Morrell said no one has called her in relation to an investigation by the provincial party.

“As far as I can tell, there was no investigation and I don’t see any reason to believe there would be an investigation at this point,” she told Postmedia. Morrell said Khan appears to have promised a review simply out of political considerations, without following through.

In a brief conversation, Khan said he would not discuss the investigation, including whether it had taken place. “I’m not going to comment on that issue right now,” he said. Calgary Skyview MP Darshan Kang has resigned from the Liberal caucus. On Thursday, fresh

allegations of improper behaviour were made against another Liberal MLA turned MP, Calgary Centre MP Kent Hehr. An Alberta civil servant said Hehr would make inappropriate comments to women at the legislative assembly when he was an MLA. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accepted Hehr’s resignation from the federal cabinet. Responding to questions about allegations of sexual misconduct by women that forced Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown to resign early Thursday, Trudeau saluted the women who came forward. “We take these allegations extremely seriously whenever they come up,” Trudeau said Thursday. Hehr and Kang both moved into federal politics in 2015, becoming the first Liberal MPs elected in Calgary in four decades.

Kang left the federal Liberal caucus last August to sit as an Independent. He declared his innocence at the time, but in a recent interview would not address the allegations because of the ongoing House of Commons investigation.

Morrell, who was the Liberal candidate in Calgary-Northern Hills in the 2012 provincial election, said she did not make a complaint about Kang to the legislative assembly’s human resources office at the time because she did not have confidence in the process. But she said she came forward when new accusations were made against Kang in order to provide support to the woman in his federal constituency office who had alleged misconduct. That woman has not spoken publicly and she did not respond to request for comment. The woman’s allegations against Kang were referred to the House of Commons’ chief human resources officer, but the Speaker’s office says the investigation process is “completely confidential.”

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Police say missing Vancouver woman likely will not be found alive The Vancouver police are calling on the public, and especially members of the local Chinese community, to come forward with any information they might have on Su Yi Liang, a 37-year-old Vancouver woman who disappeared under suspicious circumstances two weeks ago.

VPD Const. Jason Doucette said Wednesday that, although the case is still being treated as a missing-persons investigation, authorities have information indicating she’ll probably not be found alive.

Doucette said the public isn’t at risk.

Su Yi Liang was last seen Jan. 8, but was reported missing to cops by her father Jan. 10, after she failed to pick-up her children at school. The VPD is asking people to come forward to help create a timeline, said Doucette.

Su Yi Liang also goes by the name Zita, and she

speaks Cantonese and Mandarin, but primarily Cantonese. Her car, a grey, electric, 2014 BMW i3, was found abandoned near the Rupert Park Pitch and Putt at 3402 Charles St. on Jan. 11. The VPD is searching surveillance video in the area.

A car belonging to 37-year-old Su Yi Liang, a grey, electric, 2014 BMW i3, was found at Cassiar and Charles streets near the Rupert Park Pitch and Putt on Jan. 11. VPD handout Police are seeking any information the public might have on Liang’s whereabouts between Jan. 8 and when she was reported missing on the 10th.

The probe was turned over to the Vancouver police’s Major Crime Section after officers failed to locate her. Police say a search warrant was executed at Liang’s East Vancouver home and a man was taken into custody for questioning.

Pair fined $50k in mortgage broker ‘fronting’ case BC’s Registrar of Mortgage brokers says he hopes hefty fines issued against a pair of B.C. men will send a message to the public about the dangers of licensed brokers “fronting” business for unlicensed partners.

In a decision issued last week, Dennis Percival Rego and Arvind Shankar were each fined $50,000 — the maximum penalty allowed under the Mortgage Brokers Act. Rego, who was a licensed submortgage broker, was accused of filing misleading and false information in a series of mortgage-related documents for a client. He was also accused of taking direction from Shankar — who was not licensed as a mortgage broker — in relation to the submitting of mortgage applications.

“Penalties of $50,000 for the parties involved reflect the seriousness of misconduct,” registrar Chris Carter said in an interview with the CBC. “It also sends a compelling signal to the industry that fronting unregistered activity is treated seriously and won’t be tolerated.”

Carter says the issue of fronting is of particular concern to his office, especially given B.C.’s overheated real estate market and the implications for borrowers seeking money to finance multimillion-dollar homes.

One of the registrar’s designates, Cheryl Vickers, wrote the ruling.

Vancouver housing real estate sold sign Registrar Chris Carter says ‘fronting’ is of particular concern in Vancouver’s

hot real estate market, where financing can be tough to come by.

She said Rego knew Shankar wasn’t registered but “fronted for him in mortgage brokering activities and took direction from him in submitting mortgage applications.”

“Mr. Rego engaged in conduct that was dishonest and fraudulent. He submitted contracts of sale to prospective lenders that he knew were fraudulent. He submitted numerous mortgage applications to lenders that he knew or ought to have known were misleading and that contained varying and unverified information.”

Rego could not be reached for comment and didn’t represent himself at the disciplinary proceedings.

Shankar disputed the allegations.

He says he plans to appeal.

From cook to real estate investor The investigation began in September 2014 when Rego filed a mortgage application for financing of $1.7 million on behalf of a client named JV in relation to the purchase of a home on 41st Avenue In Vancouver.

The purported sale price was $2.6 million.

The next month, the credit union employee who handled the file got a call from a solicitor “advising that he was in possession of an assignment contract with respect to the (same) property for a much lower price.”

The sale price on that document was allegedly $1.71 million.

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Bell Let’s Talk Day is January 31

You’re invited to get engaged in the world’s biggest conversation about mental health

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ell Let’s Talk Day 2018 is set for Wednesday, January 31 and everyone is invited to join the Canadian conversation that’s leading the world in confronting the stigma around mental illness and sharing ideas to move mental health forward.

The 2018 Bell Let’s Talk Day awareness campaign spotlights personal stories from Canadians of all ages from all walks of life living with mental illness or providing support for those who do. The TV campaign begins today on sports networks TSN and RDS and continues with the support of multiple Canadian media and other organizations, including television networks; social media and other online platforms, radio and print; billboards and other out-of-home advertising; and in movie theatres with Cineplex, Cinémas Guzzo and the Hot Docs documentary film festival. “A diverse and dedicated group of Canadians has come together to share their personal stories of struggle, recovery and support with everyone in the country. I thank them for offering their lived experience, encouraging all of us to talk openly about mental illness and how we can all support better mental health for everyone,” said Mary Deacon, Chair of the Bell Let’s Talk initiative.

“I would also like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the many media and other organizations across the country supporting the awareness campaign as we look forward to Bell Let’s Talk Day on January 31.”

“As Bell Let’s Talk continues to grow each year, more inspiring voices join the conversation, and I’m incredibly excited to welcome all our new friends to the Bell Let’s Talk campaign,” said Clara Hughes, Canada’s 6-time Olympic medalist and Bell Let’s Talk Founding Spokesperson. “This amazing group of Canadians has a passion for sharing their experiences to encourage everyone to join in the conversation in communities all around the country. So let’s all keep talking and make

January 31 a new record for Bell Let’s Talk Day here in Canada and everywhere around the world!” Join the conversation on Bell Let’s Talk Day On Bell Let’s Talk Day, millions of people in Canada and around the world send messages of support and encouragement for those struggling with mental illness, share their own stories and offer ideas about how we can improve everyone’s mental health.

Bell will donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for each of these interactions on January 31, at no extra cost to participants: Text and talk: Every text message, mobile and long distance call made by Bell Canada, Bell Aliant and, new this year, Bell MTS customers in Manitoba Twitter: Every tweet using #BellLetsTalk and Bell Let’s Talk Day video view Facebook: Every view of the Bell Let’s Talk Day video at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk and use of the Bell Let’s Talk frame Instagram: Every Bell Let’s Talk Day video view Snapchat: Every use of the Bell Let’s Talk geofilter and video view Since launching in 2010, Bell Let’s Talk has supported organizations providing mental health care and services in every region of Canada. Focused on 4 key action pillars – antistigma, care and access, research and workplace leadership – Bell Let’s Talk programs include major donations to hospitals, universities and other care and research organizations across Canada and these dedicated programs: the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund for local community mental health organizations; the Bell True Patriot Love Fund for military members, veterans and their families; a fund supporting mental health care in Canada’s Territories; and most recently a new fund dedicated to Indigenous mental health in Manitoba, launched alongside the creation of Bell MTS with a donation to Winnipeg’s Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre.

To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/ LetsTalk

Security footage captures Domino’s Pizza delivery driver eating pizza toppings A Surrey concierge was monitoring a residential building’s security cameras when he spotted a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver in an elevator. The driver selects a floor and as the door closes, he crouches on the ground and appears to put the pizza delivery bag on the floor.

disturbing, and it’s sad,” said Harry Sethi, owner of Eureka Security and Concierge Services, the company that captured the footage. He said the concierge went up to the unit to inform the tenant about the incident. “She was furious, she said she would take it up to management,” Sethi said. He said his security company has seen some things, but this was a first. “It shocks me,” said Sethi. “They should definitely let him go.”Domino’s Pizza confirmed that the driver, a college student, has now been fired from the company.

“When we first saw the video we’re just totally embarrassed and frustrated with the situation,” Jeff Kacmarek, vice-president of marketing for Domino’s Pizza said. “We apologize profusely Security camera footage from a Surrey elevator appears to to the customer, to all of our show a Domino’s Pizza delivery man holds a customer’s pizza customers, it’s a very unfortunate incident.” box, open it up, pick the toppings off and consume it.

Kacmarek says they have He takes out the box and appears to begin also contacted the local authorities and have to eat the toppings just before arriving at offered to hand over the video to them. “We’re his selected floor. “It’s very unhygienic, it’s absolutely going to make this right.”

Tsunami scare exposed communication breakdown in vulnerable Vancouver People in Port Alberni, B.C., were first alerted to a threat of a tsunami when warning sirens started sounding in the early morning hours Tuesday.

But anyone looking to the city for more information about the unfolding emergency was out of luck. Why BC and Alaska avoided a massive tsunami “There are some communications that could have happened a little bit better, particularly getting some information on the city’s Facebook page and the city’s Twitter account,” said Port Alberni Mayor Mike Ruttan. In 1964, Port Alberni was devastated by a tsunami generated by an earthquake off the coast of Alaska, not far from where today’s 7.9-magnitude quake

struck. The waves generated 54 years ago funnelled through the narrow Alberni Inlet, growing ever larger as they moved toward town. By the time they hit, some were as high as three metres and packed enough power to overturn cars and push houses off foundations.

Police identify body found in burned car in Trail RCMP say a body found in the trunk of a burnt out car in British Columbia is believed to be the victim of a targeted homicide.

Mounties say the grey 1999 Honda Civic was found abandoned on Highway 22 about 11 kilometres north of Trail on Sunday.

Thirty-eight year old Jordan Workman

of Castlegar, BC has been identified as the victim.

The coroners service has confirmed that his death was a homicide.

Cpl. Dan Moskoluk says police believe he was targeted and the public is not at risk.

The investigation is ongoing and police are asking anyone with information to contact RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

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10 Safeway stores to be shuttered in BC as labour negotiations begin A union representing Safeway employees in British Columbia says 10 stores in the province will be permanently closed as labour negotiations are set to begin. United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1518 said Sobeys Inc. informed members of the decision Tuesday morning on the eve of bargaining between its union and Sobeys for all of its Safeway stores in B.C.

Union Local 1518 also said Sobeys indicated that if it gets favourable terms and conditions for its FreshCo discount banner, it may open FreshCo stores at five of the closed Safeway locations. Ivan Limpright, president of Union Local 1518, said in a statement that the timing of the store closure announcement to B.C. Safeway employees is suspicious.

New Mayors’ Council chair raises concerns over funding for transport projects Derek Corrigan says his fellow Metro Vancouver mayors shouldn’t worry about the future of transportation projects in the area under his tenure as Mayors’ Council chair.

But the mayor of Burnaby remains concerned about how huge infrastructure projects like the SkyTrain Broadway extension and the Surrey-Newton-Guildford LRT line will be funded. Some Lower Mainland politicians expressed concern when Corrigan was elected chair of the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation chair in December, with New Westminster Coun. Patrick Johnstone calling him “transit regressive.”

Corrigan has been critical of many of the Mayors’ Council’s plans, saying they were “very ambitious” and predicting a “slow down”.

“I think the mayors will see their projects go ahead and I think they’ll be done in a timely manner,” he said. But Corrigan said there still exists a problem of funding the projects.

While the federal government has committed $2.2 billion for local transportation projects and the province has committed to fund 40 per cent of the capital projects, the municipalities have yet to fund the remaining

portion, he said. “We’ve got to find a way out of what is a very difficult situation before we can move wholeheartedly into the plan. And I’m being realistic about that,” said Corrigan.

He says the mayors have said over and over they do not want to seek money from property taxes, so they are discussing alternative funding sources from the province. “I believe there are solutions that we may be able to find, but at this stage we’re not able to discuss any of the alternatives that are being proposed,” Corrigan said. Last week, the independent commission on mobility pricing released its report on the first phase of its mission to research how to change the way transportation is priced in Metro Vancouver. It suggested possibilities including a fee to enter downtown Vancouver and charging drivers for distances travelled, with increased fees for some locations.

TransLink says mobility pricing — which refers to charging people for the use of roads, bridges and transit — would be used to reduce congestion, promote fairness and support investment in the transportation system.

Corrigan says since the public rejected the 2015 referendum on a $7.5-billion

Kerry Jang the latest Vision Vancouver councillor to announce he won’t seek re-election Veteran Vision Vancouver Coun.

Kerry Jang confirmed Tuesday his plan to retire from civic politics, becoming the latest in a series of local politicians to remove themselves from contention for October’s municipal election.

On Tuesday, Jang said he decided before the last civic election, in 2014, that this term, his third on city council, would be his last.

“I always knew this would be my last term, in fact I told Gregor that when I ran last time,” Jang said.

“There were a few things I wanted to work on, so that’s why I went again, and I think I’ve fulfilled that.”

Jang, also a professor of psychiatry at the University of B.C., has been Vision’s point person on high-profile files, including cannabis dispensaries and opioid-crisis response. He said those two issues will be among his top priorities during his last term on council, particularly with the federal legalization of cannabis expected for July. “It’s a good time for me to retire from civic politics, because there’s a bunch of talented new people out there who want that opportunity to run,” Jang said. “So this is their chance, and I hope they take up on it.” Jang’s decision follows a series of similar announcements from most of his Vision colleagues on council over the past six months.

Vision Coun. Tim Stevenson announced last week he wouldn’t run for a sixth term this year. The week

before that, Vision’s three-term mayor, Gregor Robertson, announced he wouldn’t seek re-election, his 10 years in power marking the longest consecutive tenure by a Vancouver mayor. In October, four-term Vision Coun.

He said that last week on the first day of bargaining with a United Food and Commercial Workers union in Manitoba, Sobeys demanded poverty concessions and then walked away from the table.

“Now as negotiations are set to begin in British Columbia, they announce 10 store closures? It’s a classic scare tactic,” Limpright said. Sobeys spokeswoman Jacquelin

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Corrado said in an email that the company had invited Union Local 1518 to review stores that are under financial pressure last June and then again in October to discuss ways to help the unprofitable stores turn the corner to protect jobs and continue to serve customers. “Unfortunately they declined to engage in the conversation both times,” she said, noting that it’s “no secret” that many of its Safeway stores in B.C. have struggled in recent years.

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Less than half the people deported from Canada in 2017 paid their own way home

Punjabi Language Education Association’s (PLEA) International Mother Language Day function was held on Jan. 20, 2018. Pictured above are participants with organizers.

Man sanctioned by BC Securities Commission launches $480-million countersuit A Port Coquitlam businessman who was fined nearly a decade ago by the B.C. Securities Commission has launched a $480-million civil claim for damages against the commission and others, including the Canada Revenue Agency. Michael James Savage’s suit is a counter-claim responding to a BCSC action filed in B.C. Supreme Court in late November 2017 to enforce payment of a $100,000 fine.

That fine was issued to Savage by the BCSC in February 2008 for misrepresenting a telecom investment and committing fraud. The BCSC filed the latest court action following a Postmedia News investigation that found more than 80 fraudsters who have harmed thousands of investors — in B.C., other parts

of Canada, the United States, and as far away as Switzerland — had not paid the largest penalties issued by the securities commission.

From fiscal 2007-08 to 2016-17, the B.C. Securities Commission had collected less than two per cent of $510 million in fines and orders to pay back the proceeds of fraudulent activities, the investigation found.

Savage is among those who have not paid his fine. He filed the countersuit on Jan. 19 on his own, a procedure usually carried out by a hired lawyer. Savage’s expansive 43page counter-claim alleges a “miscarriage of justice” as a result of wrongful conviction and defamatory statements that includes malicious prosecution, abuse of process,

Less than half the foreign nationals forced to leave Canada last year did so voluntarily and paid their own way home, according to data from the border services agency. In 2017, there were 8,200 removals of failed refugee claimants, people who had outstayed their travel, work or student visa or were considered a risk to public safety.

While 3,639 of them voluntarily complied with their removal order, the others were forced to leave with escorts or had transportation costs paid by the government.

Sharry Aiken, an immigration law expert at Queen’s University, said people subject to removal orders who don’t leave voluntarily don’t necessarily go underground or intentionally evade immigration authorities.

Many of them just don’t have the money to leave. She said Canada could follow the lead of other countries, including several in Europe, that offer generous repatriation allowances.

“I think a program that supports individuals to leave and resettle with dignity in their home countries is appropriate, particularly when it comes to failed refugee claims,” she said.

CBSA tried a small pilot incentive program

in 2012 to encourage alternatives to forced removals, but a subsequent audit found it did not lead to more timely, cost-effective removals. Aiken said along with possible financial assistance to help people resettle back home, she said there should be more flexibility to allow people to stay in Canada on humanitarian grounds. “If the [immigration] minister is concerned with, and really shares the objective of wanting to be able to say that Canada’s immigration system has integrity, then attention to this back-end problem is equally important as the front end,” she said.

The federal government, facing an influx of illegal border crossers, has been working to allay concerns by stressing that only a fraction of asylum seekers are ultimately successful in their refugee claims. In the first three-quarters of 2017, nearly half the 14,467 asylum-seekers entering Canada from the United States outside official border points were from Haiti, and of the claims processed by November, only 10 per cent were successful in gaining refugee status Asylum seeker smuggled by boat into Canada

Opioid crisis remains ‘hidden epidemic,’ Fraser Health report finds Eighty per cent of people who died from an illicit substance overdose in the Fraser Health area had received care in the emergency department at least once in the 12 months before their death, says a health authority report released on Monday. Previous visits were not just for illicit drug overdose — most sought care for injury, trauma, back pain, alcohol overdose or mental health.

Close to 2,000 British Columbians have died of illicit drug overdoses since a public health emergency was declared two years ago.

The Fraser Health region has one of the highest number of illicit drug overdose deaths in the province. Tackling B.C’s overdose crisis in 2018: plans and strategies for the coming year Number of deadly overdoses in B.C passes 1,100 for 2017 Dr. Victoria Lee, chief medical health officer for Fraser Health and author of the new report, said the research highlights

a critical issue of self-medication. “People that are using substances are self-medicating whether it’s because of pain that’s physical or emotional or underlying trauma,” she said.

“They feel isolated, they don’t feel like they are part of our broader society or community.”

One of the goals of the report is to have a better understanding of the factors leading to illicit substance abuse and to help identify those at risk of an overdose,

Scotia PC leader Jamie Baillie resigns after harassment investigation Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative leader was asked to resign his post Wednesday morning after an investigator hired by the provincial PC Party to probe “allegations of inappropriate behaviour” found Jamie Baillie had breached workplace harassment rules.

But before the harassment allegation was made public, Mr. Baillie took to Twitter, where he told followers that he was immediately resigning his leadership and his seat in the provincial legislature “for personal reasons.”

“My priority is my family and I ask that our privacy be respected,” he wrote. To many, the resignation was not a total surprise: Mr. Baillie first announced his intentions to leave politics last fall. Then, he said that he would stay on until a new leader was chosen. Hours after his resignation tweet, the allegations against Mr. Baillie were revealed by Tara Miller, president of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia, and caucus chair Karla MacFarlane in a carefully worded statement. “The PC Party does not, and will not, tolerate sexual harassment in the workplace,” the statement read. “The PC Party is committed to a healthy, safe and supportive working environment where all Nova Scotians are treated with respect and dignity.”

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DREAM CARPET

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NATIONAL

UBC student stabber sent back to Saudi Arabia after discharge A UBC student found not criminally responsible for stabbing a fellow student in the neck has been sent back to Saudi Arabia after being discharged from custody.

In a majority decision last month, a B.C. Review Board panel found that Thamer Hameed Almestadi did not present a significant threat to public safety despite a considerable risk of psychotic relapse. That’s in part because his parents presented a plan for Almestadi’s care by a psychiatrist once he’s back with his family in the Middle East. The 17-page decision illustrates the difficulties of trying to determine the future of a young man whose lone lapse into mental illness resulted in the near death of a stranger. “Mr. Almestadi is likely to suffer another psychotic break.

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Judge orders sale of Vancouver home fraudulently transferred to family of owner A judge has ordered the sale of a Vancouver home after finding that title to the property was fraudulently transferred by the owners, who had been implicated in a multimilliondollar business fraud in Washington state. Mary Yang and her husband, Samuel Zhu, bought the property at 4885 Narvaez Drive near Prince of Wales Secondary in April 2003.

In November 2008, they transferred title to the two-storey, six-bedroom home, which has a current assessed value of $6 million, to Yang’s then-14-year-old daughter as well as Yang’s sister and the sister’s husband. The property transfer came as a substantial claim was being made against Yang and her husband arising from their business dealings in the United States. In November 2015, a jury in Washington state found that Yang was liable for $7.2 million US for fraudulent conduct related to a company called Prima Technology. That

judgment was later increased to more than $11 million US. A default judgment against Zhu, a former general manager at Prima Technology, was later determined to be more than $10 million US. Improper bank transfers amounting to millions of dollars had been made from a company called Alux Inc., of which Mary Yang was the sole shareholder. The Superior Court of Snohomish County found that Zhu used Prima employees without authorization to assist Alux and allowed Alux to invoice Prima’s customers for products belonging to Prima. In 2016, the B.C. Supreme Court ordered that the Washington state judgments be registered against Yang and Zhu, with Prima able to recover about $500,000 from Yang in B.C. Prima, which became aware of the transfer of the Vancouver home, then sought a court order in B.C. that the conveyance of the Narvaez home was void. Prima also sought an order for the property to be sold. In a ruling posted at the court’s website Tuesday, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Affleck said that the evidence was “overwhelming” that Yang was aware before she transferred the property that large claims had been made against her in the United States. Yang argued that Prima’s claim was barred by the passage of time, but the judge rejected those arguments. The defendant also claimed that the transfer of property was not fraudulent because it was consistent with a Chinese tradition of giving property to children who then permit their parents to remain living at the home. n But the judge said there was no evidence before him of such a custom apart from Yang’s bare assertion. “Moreover, she was only 42 years old at the time of the conveyance when she transferred title in her home to her 14-year-old daughter and other close relatives,” said the judge.

“It is plausible that there is a ‘Chinese custom’ of parents leaving property to their children, but to do so at a relatively young age of 42 years is not plausible.”

4-year-old girl among random strangers shot at by Brampton man in ‘outrageous’ shooting spree Toronto police have arrested a man who allegedly shot at random strangers, including a four-yearold girl, in five separate incidents this month.

Between Jan. 9 and 21, police say 20-year-old Brampton man Adam Abdi approached people in a variety of circumstances. They allege he opened fire before running away.

In the first case, he is believe to have shot at two people standing inside the hallway of an Etobicoke apartment building, wounding a 19-year-old man, police say.

Former private investigator Juelann Vander Mark was home at the time of the shooting and says she and a few other people came out into the hallway after hearing the commotion.

“Right away I went into my old routine and thought, ‘Make sure you secure the scene,’” said Vander Mark.

Bullet holes are seen in the window of the West Mall apartment building where the first shooting took place on Jan. 9. (Juelann Vander Mark) She asked a neighbour for a few plastic cups to ensure the bullets and casings remained untouched until police arrived.

“I’m glad that they have someone in custody. It’s taken my nervousness down a notch,” said Vander Mark. “This is a family building. You expect to be able to wander around. It’s not a war zone.”

In the two shootings that followed, Abdi allegedly targeted two different people on separate days as they walked down the street.

NATIONAL

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Liberal Minister Kent Hehr resigns from Trudeau cabinet amid sexual harassment allegations Federal Sport and Disabilities yummy.”

The tweets said women felt fearful about getting Minister Kent Hehr has resigned from cabinet pending an investigation into in the same elevator with Hehr allegations of sexual harassment. at the Alberta Legislature, where he was a member from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement from Davos, 2008 to 2015, and that Hehr Switzerland, saying he had accepted had made unwanted sexually Hehr’s resignation, calling it a “leave suggestive comments. of absence.” “Harassment of any Hehr issued his own kind is unacceptable and Canadians statement, stating that the Sport Minister Kent Heh have a right to live and work in conversation society is having environments free from harassment,” is a “very important one” and he said. “As a government, we take any encouraged all women who have experienced allegations of misconduct extremely seriously, harassment to come forward. “Throughout and we believe that it is important to support my career I have always tried to conduct women who come forward with allegations and myself with respect towards others, and I that is exactly what our government will do.” understand the most important thing is how Brown denies allegations of sexual misconduct each individual feels,” he said in a statement.

The resignation comes after posts to Twitter “I have been informed that an investigation alleging inappropriate behaviour. A woman into these allegations has begun and I welcome said Hehr made women feel “unsafe” and made and respect this process. While this is ongoing, verbally suggestive remarks, including “you’re I have resigned from cabinet pending the

Newfoundland-born man finally found his long lost birth mother — 1 day after she died wondered about her.

After 25 years of searching for his birth mother, Bruce Hauck Recently, Hauck joined the Facebook group finally found her — one day Newfoundland and after she died. “That’s the way it Labrador Adoptees and played out,” the 47-year-old from posted what he knew Bradford, Ont., told As It Happens about his mother in the host Carol Off. “Not the fairy tale ending that hopes that someone would be able to help everyone that is adopted would Bruce Hauck holds up a him track her down. prefer or certainly want. It was a picture of his birth mother, On Jan. 15, Hauck got brutal reality.”

Melina Foote Hauck was born Bruce Pollard a message from one of on Jan. 5, 1971, in St. Anthony, N.L., to those cousins. Melvin Pollard said he had 19-year-old Melina Pollard. The pregnancy information about Hauck’s mother and that, was unexpected and Melina’s mother “time is of the essence.” Melvin put Hauck didn’t approve, reports the Northern Pen in touch with another cousin, Murdock newspaper. Bruce was put up for adoption. Pollard, and the pair met up that day at a Bruce Hauck, pictured here on the left with Tim Hortons in Windsor, Ont. That’s when Hauck finally learned that his wife Tracy, and on the right with his daughter Madeline. He was adopted and his mother, now Melina Foote, had suffered raised by loving parents, Mina and David a heart attack and died the day before.

“In doing this 25-year journey, through Hauck, in central Ontario, but always wondered about his biological mother. the two-plus decades, I always had a vision As a young man, he set out to find her. He — I had a dream of how this would end, how learned that she was from St. Anthony and it would play out and how I wanted it to play that she had a disfigured left arm from polio out,” Hauck said. Hauck learned from his — but nothing else. Eventually, he married cousins that his mother eventually married and had children of his own. Still, he always and had two children, Andre and Natasha,

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Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown resigns over sexual allegations Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown resigned early Thursday morning after denying allegations of sexual impropriety dating back years. He’d called a sudden press conference at Queen’s Park Wednesday night, just ahead of a report on CTV’s national news, which reported allegations from two unnamed women. One said he’d asked her for oral sex when she was still in high school and he was a Barrie city councillor, by dropping his pants.

The other said he’d assaulted her when she worked for him when he was a federal MP, at a time when she was extremely drunk. None filed a complaint at the time, reported.

“These allegations are false,” a tearful Brown

said. “Every one of them. I will defend myself as hard as I can, with all the means at my disposal. I can’t speculate on the motive of my accusers, I can only say they what they are saying is categorically untrue.” He spoke for about a minute and walked out without taking questions. Rapidly, six of his top aides — chief of staff Alykhan Velshi, campaign manager Andrew Boddington, deputy campaign manager Joshua Workman, strategist Dan Robertson, press secretary Nick Bergamini, and policy adviser Ken Boessenkool, many of them veterans of Stephen Harper’s federal government — resigned. They said they’d urged Brown to quit as party leader but he’d refused.

NDP blasts reproductive-rights rules for summer jobs program The federal NDP is denouncing the Trudeau government’s decision to deny summer-job funding to groups that refuse to affirm a woman’s right to have an abortion, calling it unnecessary and offensive.

The Liberals recently introduced the new policy to the Canada Summer Jobs program, which has provided grants to employers for years to help subsidize the cost of hiring students for summer work.

But the move has sparked outrage from churches and other faith-based organizations, who say they are being forced to choose between their spiritual

values and funding that helps run programs that have nothing to do with abortion.

NDP ethics critic Nathan Cullen says the new policy is comparable to the Harper government’s move several years ago to strip funding from aid organizations that supported abortion — just on the other side of the debate.

Cullen says the only test should be whether the summer-job funding will be used for a good purpose and, if the Liberals are trying to protect the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, that job is better left to the courts and the police.

The Canada Summer Jobs program created nearly 69,000 temporary jobs last year.

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NATIONAL

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Get out of debt, expert warns as interest rates climb It’s not new to anyone who has been keeping an eye on the Bank of Canada over the last few months: interest rates are up again. Interest rates have slowly been creeping up from record lows, and experts say the hikes won’t end anytime soon.

Wednesday’s quarter point increase to 1.25 per cent marked the third time since the summer the bank has moved its benchmark rate. “This is a bit of a tough hit,” Laurie Campbell, CEO of Credit Canada, told The House. The average Canadian, complete with consumer debt and a hefty mortgage, will slowly start to feel the financial squeeze, she said. It’s getting so bad, in fact, that one third of Canadians can’t make their monthly debt payments, according to MNP’s consumer debt index.

But Campbell warned it’s not just the interest rate threatening to catch unwary consumers off guard. “It’s not the creep in the interest rates that’s going to put people over the edge. It’s that on top of the fact that they’re carrying record debt levels,” she explained. To avoid a personal financial crisis, Campbell advises paying off your debt as soon as possible and educating yourself about the economy. What Canada needs now, she said, is a national campaign on how to get rid of your debt. If the problem isn’t addressed, she continued, young Canadians will grow up into a vicious cycle of debt.

“There’s a lack of financial literacy in Canada, we’ve got a whole group of young people growing up who really don’t understand the basics of financial management.”

Most wealth gained last year went to richest 1% - Oxfam A CEO from one of the world’s top five global fashion brands has to work for just four days to earn what a garment worker in Bangladesh will earn in an entire lifetime, campaigning group Oxfam International said Monday. Leading up to the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, Oxfam has sought to put inequality at the heart of this week’s deliberations of the rich and powerful.

“The billionaire boom is not a sign of a thriving economy but a symptom of a failing economic system,” said Winnie Byanyima, Oxfam International’s executive director.

“The people who make our clothes, assemble our phones and grow our food are being exploited to ensure a steady supply of cheap goods, and swell the profits of corporations and billionaire investors.” In its report “Reward Work, Not Wealth,” Oxfam says 82 per cent of the wealth generated last year went to the richest one per cent of the global population,

while the poorest half — 3.7 billion people — saw no increase in their wealth.

Billionaire wealth, it added, has risen by an annual average of 13 per cent since 2010, over six times more than the wages of average workers, and the number of billionaires rose at an astonishing rate of one every two days in the year to March 2017. Oxfam listed a series of actions that government should take, including: It also urged a clampdown on tax avoidance and other associated practices, which have been highlighted by the recent publication of the “Panama Papers” and the “Paradise Papers.”

The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, starts Tuesday and goes through Friday. Participants will talks about the effects of class privilege on the opening day. Oxfam says too many workers in dangerous and poorly paid jobs are supporting the ‘extreme wealth of the few.’

Ontario’s Metrolinx says it was targeted by cyberattack that originated in North Korea Ontario transit agency Metrolinx says it was the target of a cyberattack that originated in North Korea, but no personal information was compromised and systems that operate its trains and buses were not affected.

Spokeswoman Anne Marie Aikins said Tuesday that the cyberattack happened recently, but would not give a date or what specifically was targeted because of security concerns. “The incident is over, but the investigation of it and the action that we take continues to ensure we continue to protect all of our systems,” she said. Metrolinx is a Crown corporation that manages transportation services for the Toronto and Hamilton area. North Korea has been implicated in recent hacks, including the

WannaCry ransomware attack that infected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide and crippled parts of Britain’s National Health Service in May. U.S. Homeland security adviser Tom Bossert wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed last month that North Korea was “directly responsible” for the WannaCry ransomware attack and that Pyongyang would be held accountable for it. Bossert said the U.S. administration’s finding of responsibility is based on evidence and confirmed by other governments and private companies, including the U.K. and Microsoft. American officials have also said that North Korea is responsible for the Sony cyberattack in 2014 that dumped personal information of tens of thousands

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Trudeau tells global super rich that Canada won’t follow US on tax cuts Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent a strong message to the global super rich on Tuesday that Canada won’t be slashing taxes and regulatory red tape to compete with Donald Trump’s America. In an keynote speech to the World Economic Forum, Mr. Trudeau called on corporate chief executives to put workers before profits and take major steps to boost the role of women in the work force and tackle sexual harassment.

“Too many corporations have put the pursuit of profit before the well-being of their workers … but that approach won’t cut it any more,” Mr. Trudeau told the elite gathering at the chic ski resort of Davos. “We are in a new age of doing business – you need to give back.” Mr. Trudeau has been under pressure from Canada’s business community to cut taxes and regulations to match the competitive reforms undertaken by U.S. President Donald Trump and the Republican Congress. The Prime Minister, who also met with CEOs of several major multinationals on Tuesday to pitch for investment dollars in Canada, said too many people are being left behind by automation and globalization.

Trudeau advocates for fairness and equality in Davos speech “People have been taken advantage of, losing their jobs and their

livelihoods,” he said. “All the while, companies avoid taxes and boost record profits with one hand, while slashing benefits with the other.”

Mr. Trudeau’s comments were the strongest signal yet that his government has no desire to follow the U.S. example of massive tax cuts for the wealthy to spur economic growth.

“We should ask ourselves – do we want to live in a world where the wealthy hide in their gated enclaves, while those around them struggle?” he said. Mr. Trudeau credited the Liberal government’s decision to tax wealthier Canadians and boost spending on social programs, such as the child-care benefit and expanded Canada Pension Plan, for Canada having the best growth rate in the G7 and the lowest unemployment in 40 years. “Asking the wealthy to pay a little more and giving more benefits to those who really need it has resulted in growth that has benefited everyone, that is truly lifting all boats,” he said. Mr. Trudeau’s approach to managing the economy was praised by Ulrich Spiesshofer, president and CEO of ABB Group, the massive Swiss robotics and industrial automation firm that recently set up a new $90-million office in Montreal.

Canada reaches deal on revised Trans-Pacific Partnership Canada has agreed to a resurrected version of the TransPacific Partnership and will sign on to the deal. The deal, renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, comes after talks in Japan this week with the 11 countries still committed to the deal.

“We are happy to confirm the achievement of a significant outcome on culture as well as an improved arrangement on autos with Japan, along with the suspension of many intellectual property provisions of concern to Canadian stakeholders,” said International Trade Minister FrancoisPhilippe Champagne in a statement.

“Canada has always said that we would only agree to a deal that is in Canada’s best interests.” Canada was seen as the main holdout during talks in Vietnam last November. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sparked an international controversy when he didn’t sign an agreement in principle,

arguing Canada had concerns about the pact’s culture and the automotive sectors. A Canadian official with close ties to the deal said Champagne spent the weekend, and into Monday night, speaking to his TPP counterparts on the phone. Last week, Trudeau also appointed Ian McKay, chief executive of the Vancouver Economic Commission, as his special envoy to Japan.

Praised for his “deep knowledge” of how business works in that country as well as his fluent Japanese, officials say he played an important role in securing a deal.

Sources say Canada made “real gains” on the pact’s labour and environment chapters, and suspended what the government saw as a problematic dispute settlement provisions and an intellectual property section.

In November, Canada pushed to change provisions relating to culture and Frenchlanguage rights.

Conservative MP Kellie Leitch won’t run in 2019 “My time in politics has been a genuine privilege, and I will always be thankful to the constituents of SimcoeGrey for their tremendous support,” Leitch said in a statement late Tuesday.

“I have concluded, however, that the time has come for me to serve in other ways, including as a surgeon and volunteer.” She gave no specific reason for her departure beyond saying is it time “to return to the public service that is the core of my being.” She said she will serve out the rest of her term, but then “I’m looking forward to getting kids back on the playground to play.”

“She has been a valued member of the caucus for a long period of time,” said Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer. Leitch, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, was first elected in her Ontario riding in 2011 and made a failed bid for the party’s leadership last year. She was the first official candidate

in the race, but her bid sparked controversy after she proposed a questionnaire that would screen potential immigrants for Canadian values. She finished sixth. Scheer won the leadership race and subsequently left Leitch out of his shadow cabinet. “Our leadership race had, at the end of the day, 13 individuals who were all putting forward different versions of what they believe the Conservative Party should be about, the presentation that it should focus on and the issues that we should be presenting to Canadians. At the end of the day, members had their say and I can tell you, our entire caucus is united,” he told CBC News Tuesday in Victoria, where Conservatives are holding a winter caucus retreat. “We weren’t talking about race, we were talking about kids … but that message was completely overtaken and I regret that, and I regret that it occurred

FINANCE

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INDIA

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Former Bhiar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav gets 5-year jail in third case of Fodder scam A special CBI court today awarded five-year rigorous imprisonment to former Bihar Chief Ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Jagannath Mishra in a fodder scam case. The court also imposed Rs 10 lakh fine on Lalu and Mishra on two counts (Rs 5 lakh each).

The special CBI court of SS Prasad held 48 others, including former Jharkhand Chief Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav arrives at a Secretary Sajjal Chakraborty, Special CBI Court in Ranchi on Thursday, Jan 25. guilty in the case involving was, however, acquitted in the case. fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 83.13 crore from Reacting on the verdict, RJD leader and the Chaibasa treasury (now in Jharkhand) former Union Minister Raghuvansh Prasad during 1992-93, acquitting six others.

Singh said: “Lalu’s conviction is a jolt for In 1996, the CBI had registered a case linked us. But we will appeal in the higher court.” to the multi-crore fodder scam and named 76 Leader of the Opposition Tejaswi as accused. Only 56 were charge-sheeted as 15 Prasad Yadav said: “It is well known that of them died and five others turned approvers. the BJP and RSS implicated my father This is the third fodder scam case in Lalu ji. The most pivotal role was played which the RJD supremo has been convicted.

by Nitish Kumar. We will approach On December 23 last year, the special higher courts against all these verdicts.”

CBI court of Shivpal Singh had held Lalu Lalu is facing trial in two more guilty in a case of fraudulent withdrawal cases linked to the fodder scam. of Rs 89.27 lakh from Deoghar treasury One of these is being heard in Bihar. (now in Jharkhand) and awarded three and a half years of imprisonment. Mishra

Supreme Court notice to CBI on Rajiv killer’s plea The Supreme Court today asked the CBI to respond to a plea filed by a convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, seeking recall of the apex court’s May 1999 order upholding his conviction on the ground that he was not aware of the conspiracy.

Terming the questions raised by convict AG Perarivalan as “serious” and “debatable”, a Bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked the CBI to respond to his plea in three weeks and fixed February 21 for further hearing.

Rajiv was assassinated on the night of May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu during an election rally by a woman suicide bomber, Dhanu, at an election rally. Fourteen others, including Dhanu, were also killed.

Perarivalan was initially awarded death sentence which was later commuted to life imprisonment. He has sought recall of the top court’s verdict upholding his conviction contending he was not aware of the conspiracy.

He has been in jail for the last 26 years.

Delhi High Court won’t stay AAP MLAs’ disqualification The Delhi High Court today issued a of profit’ was rejected by the President. notice to the Election Commission and The petitioners’ counsel submitted that the the Centre on a petition challenging the office of Parliamentary Secretary was not an Presidential notification disqualifying office of profit as traditionally understood.

20 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs in Accusing the Election Commission of Delhi for allegedly holding office of profit. acting in a “whimsical, arbitrary, capricious Justice Vibhu Bakhru, who refused to stay manner”, the disqualified AAP MLAs the MLAs’ disqualification, asked the Election termed the impugned notification as Commission not to “precipitate” the situation “unconstitutional, null and void, and against by announcing byelections to the 20 vacant principles of natural justice.” They contended seats in the Delhi Legislative Assembly till the that the Election Commission had decided the next date of hearing. The court summoned issue in undue haste and without affording any the record of the proceedings before the Election Commission and posted the matter for further hearing on January 29.

Besides the Election Commission and the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, the High Court also issued a notice to advocate Prashant Patel, who had AAP MLAs outside the Delhi High Court in 2015 filed a petition for disqualifying the MLAs for holding opportunity of fair hearing to the legislators. office of profit. The disqualified MLAs were “The findings are, therefore, contrary to appointed Parliamentary Secretaries in 2015. the provisions of Article 14 of Constitution The post was later quashed by the Delhi High of India, ultra vires, void ab initio and an Court. A Bill passed by the Delhi Assembly attack on democracy,” they submitted. to remove the post out of the ambit of ‘office

Congress upset at sitting arrangement for Rahul at Republic Day Parade

He was held guilty of supplying two nine-volt batteries, which were allegedly used in the improvised explosive device (IED) that killed Rajiv.

In his application, Perarivalan referred to an affidavit filed by V Thiagarajan, then CBI SP who had recorded his confessional statement under Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.

The Congress is extremely upset that its president Rahul Gandhi has been assigned a seat in the fourth row at Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath in the heart of New Delhi on Friday. His predecessor and mother Sonia Gandhi was always seated in the front row.

MrGandhihimself,hisofficesaid,hasinsisted that where he is seated is not important and that he must attend the function. But leaders of his party have described it as “deliberate humiliation” of the new Congress president.

The Congress alleges that the BJP-led government has also ensured that no visiting foreign dignitary meets Opposition parties.

Congress leaders said that only leaders from countries where the party has maintained independent ties have met the party chief in recent years and that the government

has not facilitated meetings of opposition leaders with world leaders visiting the country, a convention followed for years.

Ten leaders of members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN are the chief guests at tomorrow’s Republic Day parade, which will be presided over by President Ram Nath Kovind. PM Modi and his ministers, top leaders from political parties and senior officials will attend the event.

The ASEAN leaders arrived in Delhi yesterday and since then eight of them have held bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Two, Nazib Razak of Malaysia and Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos will hold one on one meetings tomorrow with the PM, who also welcomed the guests at the plenary session of an India-

PUNJAB

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Sidhu attends a cabinet meeting under protest A few hours after making public his bitterness over “not being involved” in the process to select the Amritsar Mayor, Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu today registered a silent, but formal protest by handing out signed copies of a statement explaining his resentment to his Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in a meeting with Cabinet colleagues.

Cabinet colleagues Putting to rest discussed at the meeting, but only matters speculation on whether he would skip the Cabinet meeting as a mark related to restructuring of the party and of protest, Sidhu rather arrived a few minutes the Ludhiana MC polls were taken up. ahead of time, and made it a point not to raise the issue during the meeting. He even touched Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s feet and the two exchanged warm pleasantries at the start of the meeting. In fact, Sidhu maintained his temperament by his witty comments on the financial challenges raised by a minister.

“It looked as if nothing had happened. Since the Local Bodies Minister did not talk about it, no one else raised it,” said a Cabinet Minister.

People close to Sidhu said once he had already made clear his resentment in public, there was no point in raising it in the meeting.

Earlier in the day, efforts by party leaders to “placate” Sidhu remained futile. Even as Sidhu lives in the CM’s neighbourhood, no party leader approached him till the evening, the sources said.

Punjab Congress affairs incharge Asha Kumari and Harish Chaudhary and a political adviser to the CM held a long meeting with Capt Amarinder Singh on the issue.

The sources said they discussed the strategy to resolve the matter. However, PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar said Sidhu was not

Batala resident caught ‘spying’ for Pakistani handlers The Batala police have arrested a local resident who was passing on vital information to his Pakistani handlers. He has been identified as Gian Singh of Shikaar Massian village, falling under the jurisdiction of Kotli Surat Malhi police station. Surinder Pal Singh Parmar, IG (Border), confirmed the arrest.

Batala SSP Opinderjit Singh Ghuman grilled the spy at the CIA centre last night.

The police had earlier cordoned off Shikaar Massian village after a phone call to Pakistan was intercepted. The BSF, which has a border outpost in the area, was alerted by the cops.

A senior officer stated that once the location from where Gian was making calls was confirmed, the cops called off their search operation but continued their vigil.

Yesterday, when Gian called up his handlers, an SP-rank officer raided his residence and took him into custody.

“He has given vital clues, but at this stage we can’t disclose anything. We will be taking him to the Joint Interrogation Centre, Amritsar, where the Intelligence Bureau, RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) and the Army will jointly interrogate him,” said Parmar.

Last week, following an alert sounded in the Dera Baba Nanak area, senior officers, including ADGP (Border) Harpreet Singh Sidhu, had reached the spot.

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Congress MLAs oppose move to induct retired cop into PPSC A section of Congress MLAs from Majha and some serving police officers have opposed the state government’s proposal to induct retired IG Lok Nath Angra into the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), citing his proximity to then ruling Akalis.

Leader of the Opposition Sukhpal Khaira and Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa have already disapproved of the move to accommodate the former IPS officer.

The MLAs, including Fatehjang Bajwa, Balwinder Singh Laddi and Santokh Singh, met Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana KP Singh, PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar and AICC secretary Harish Chaudhary on the issue today.

The legislators and police officers alleged that Angra had taken favours from the Akalis to hold on to his post.

Former Congress MLA Jasbir Dimpa, who accompanied the MLAs, said Angra had got registered a false case against 49 party workers during the 2007 Assembly elections at the behest of the Akalis. “We apprised the CM of the atrocities suffered by our workers at that time,” he said.

“The Akalis, through a Cabinet decision, gave Angra a supernumerary post as DSP with effect from June 21, 1989.

Otherwise, he would have been reverted to the rank of SP from DIG,” he added.

Congress MLA Sukhjinder Randhawa said, “Instead of Angra, a non-controversial person should be appointed to the PPSC. We know that he helped former Akali minister Sucha Singh Langah and shielded the latter’s men in a criminal case at Dhariwal.”

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INDIA

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Asean leaders want India to play more assertive role in Indo-Pacific All 10 Asean leaders want India to play a more assertive role in the strategically important Indo-Pacific while recognising New Delhi’s growing stature in ensuring regional peace and stability.

“All the leaders conveyed their desire for a greater participation of India (in the Indo-Pacific region),” said Preeti Saran, secretary, East, in the ministry of external affairs at a media briefing.

She was asked if the leaders of the powerful ASEAN grouping favoured a more assertive role for India in the Indo-Pacific where China has been ramping up its military presence.

“India-Asean relationship stands on its own,” she said responding to the queries.

The desire by the Asean for a greater role

by India in the Indo-Pacific region assumes

significance in the wake of rising tensions between China and a number of countries of the grouping over the South China Sea dispute.

Leaders of all the 10 Asean member countries were here to participate at a summit meeting to mark 25 years of India- Asean ties and to attend India’s Republic Day celebrations.+ Indo-Pacific broadly refers to the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean regions, which also include the disputed South China Sea where Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei question China’s claims over almost the entire waterway.

The US has also been pitching for greater Indo-US cooperation in the strategically key Indo-Pacific.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) comprises Thailand,

Violence erupts in many cities in India over controversial film ‘Padmaavati’ Violent protests spread to towns and cities in many states, including Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, a day ahead of the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Padmaavat”, as fringe groups opposing the film remained defiant.

A bus was torched and a highway blocked in Haryana’s Gurgaon where protesters violated prohibitory orders while the police had to People burn effigies during a protest against film maker Sanjay Bhansali’s upcoming movie Padmavati in Rajasthan’s use force to disperse an agitating mob in Lucknow. crossing in Kishanganj area in Indore district and Karni Sena members allegedly damaged two broke glass bottles on the road, the police said. state roadways buses in Jaipur and blocked a road As protests raged, Karni Sena’s chief patron in the city’s Kalwar area scores of activists were Lokendra Singh Kalvi also insisted that a held in Mumbai and Nashik. In Ahmedabad, ‘Janta curfew’ will be imposed on theatres the police arrested 50 persons in connection that screen the movie. He also alleged that a with the violence and vandalism outside malls dream sequence between the characters of last night. As many as 30 motorcycles and Alauddin Khilji and Rani Padmavati existed scooters, parked outside three multiplexes in the film, which, he said, was “intolerable”. — in the city were set ablaze by protesters.

The Rapid Action Force and other In a yet another worrying sign for the paramilitary forces on Wednesday staged a controversy-mired flick, the Multiplex flag march in parts of Ahmedabad city after Association of India, which represents about at least five multiplexes were torched and 75 per cent of multiplex owners, said the over 200 vehicles set on fire in two hours film would not be screened in Rajasthan, of uncontrolled violence Tuesday night Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Goa. Forty-eight persons were arrested and “We have decided not to play the film in four 450 booked for arson, rioting and hooliganism states — Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP and Goa — as Karni Sena, Gujarat Kshatriya Samaj the local management has told us that the law and most other Rajput organisations denied and order situation is not conducive,” Deepak involvement of their volunteers in the violence Asher, president of the association, said.

Maharashtra BJP leaders, who were In Gujarat, theatre owners said that the film earlier vocal about preventing the screening would not be screened in any of the multiplexes of “Padmaavat”, have gone silent after the or single screens till the row was resolved. SC threw out a ban on the film by few states Madhya Pradesh was another state where With ‘paid previews’ kicking off fringe outfits staged demonstrations. Nearly 200 on Wednesday, the Mumbai police said protesters blocked National Highway-3, which they had tightened security at major links Agra with Mumbai, near Pigdambar theatres where the film was to be screened

Bravehearts feted Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the National Bravery Awards to 18 children, seven of them girls. Three of the awards were presented posthumously Modi said most awardees were from a humble background and their deeds of bravery inspired and often infused a sense of self-confidence among other children The awards are divided into five categories PM Narendra Modi with recipients of the — Bharat Award, Geeta Chopra Award, Sanjay Chopra Award, Bapu Gaidhani National Bravery Awards 2017 in New Delhi.

Award, and General National Bravery Awards

Impeachment motion against CJI will ‘backfire’ A day after CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said his party was trying to build a consensus on moving an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra in the Budget session of Parliament, former law minister and Congress leader Ashwani Kumar today feared the move “could be counterproductive and may be politicised as an assault on the independence of judiciary”.

Speaking to The Tribune, Kumar said, “It is my personal view that impeachment of a sitting judge of the Supreme Court is an extreme remedy warranted only on the basis of an established fact constituting moral turpitude.”

He further argued that while serious misgivings regarding the court’s functioning, as expressed by senior-most Judges of the Supreme

Court, are a matter of great concern, “this does not seem to be a case of impeachment of the judge concerned”.

Noting that such a step could prove to be “counterproductive”, the former law minister said, “It may be politicised as an assault on the independence of judiciary, as part of political agenda of parties”. He stressed that it was imperative that such an impression was avoided at all costs.

“It is also necessary to factor in the views of entire legal fraternity throughout the country before deciding upon the possible impeachment process,” he insisted.

On Tuesday, Yechury said, “It looks like the crisis is not resolved yet, so we need to intervene and it’s time to play the role of the legislature. We are discussing with Opposition parties the possibility of an impeachment motion against the CJI in the Budget session.”

INDIA

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Need for balance between state action, citizen rights: SC There is a need to strike a balance between individual’s privacy rights and the state’s responsibilities at a time when the nation faces threats of terrorism and money laundering and to keep tabs on welfare expenditure, the Supreme Court said today.

Its observation came after a senior lawyer, challenging the validity of the government’s flagship Aadhaar programme and its enabling Act of 2016, said the Constitution does not allow a surveillance state as it is technically possible now to track every transaction, profile individuals or even “compromise constitutional functionaries”.

A five-judge Constitution Bench headed

by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, hearing a petitions challenging Aadhaar, said no system in the world was secure and the issue was not as to how data was collected, but how the information so collected was used or misused.

“We live in times of terrorism and money laundering and welfare expenditure (of the state), and this has to be balanced (with individual rights),” the Bench, also comprising

‘Padmaavat’ release:

No show in 4 states; smooth sailing in South, Maharashtra, West Bengal Padmaavat faces a total blackout on the day of its scheduled release on Thursday in at least four big states — Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Bihar — with cinema and multiplex owners firm against screening the movie. In Uttar Pradesh, another big territory for Hindi films, cinema owners are in a dilemma. However, cinema and multiplex owners in the five southern states and other big states like Maharashtra and West Bengal are going ahead with the screening as per schedule.

In Gujarat, a day after mindless vandalism and arson by mobs of Rajput groups in Ahmedabad, Gujarat Multiplex Owners Association, Cinematograph Exhibitors’ Association of Gujarat and Multiplex Association of India declared that the film will not be screened in the state. “The association has decided not to screen Padmaavat in 120 cinemas across Gujarat, including 32 in Ahmedabad, till a compromise is reached between Karni Sena and film producers,” said GMOA chief Manubhai Patel. Almost all cinema halls across the state had put up notice boards outside their premises informing audiences about the no-show.

A virtual repeat of the Gujarat was played out in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh where Central Cine Circuit Association announced it couldn’t release the film in the wake of threats of violence by MP Rajput Samaj, which is spearheading the campaign against the film.

Justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan, said.

Senior lawyer Shyam Divan, representing petitioners like former Karnataka HC judge Justice KS Puttaswamy, several activists Aruna Roy, Shantha Sinha and veteran CPM leader VS Achuthanandan, referred to the affidavits of former security personnel, Samir Keleker and J D’Souza, to highlight the fact that Aadhaar and its enabling law would lead to “real time surveillance” of citizens.

25

PM pressuring CBI in Loya case: Congress The Congress today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of pressuring the CBI in the case of Judge BH Loya’s death and hampering the probe into the matter.

Citing CBI’s stand on the PIL filed in the SC demanding a thorough probe into Loya’s death, Congress spokesman RPN Singh said: “We want to know why the PM is hindering the probe in this matter? Why is he pressuring

the CBI, which works under the Ministry of Personnel and hence directly under the PMO. What is the PMO’s problem if facts of the case of Loya’s death get revealed?”

He said: “The Sohrabuddin encounter case has had a difficult history. We all know how the courts intervened to keep hearing in the case fair. The country wants to know the truth.”

Moving to Canada and finding the right fit

W

hen my family and I first immigrated to Canada, one of the biggest challenges we faced was navigating the dizzying amount of choices. We had to ask ourselves, is this serving our family’s specific needs? Is this the best use of our resources?

And ultimately, is this helping us build a better life here?

Before arriving, our first task was to find a place to live. We looked at different communities and weighed out the pros and cons. Our home needed to be within walking distance from a school and near transit for easy access to work. Many of the communities we looked at had access to banks, hospitals and stores. We needed to keep an eye on our budget and while downtown would put us near work, it was beyond what we could afford. So, we looked outside the city, where there was more choice and the rent was more affordable.

Ask any immigrant and they will tell you that one of the first things they look for is comfort food. To be able to enjoy that familiar taste will cure any

amount of home sickness. While we had grocery stores readily available, it took us a while to find the specialty supermarkets that carried the flavors of home, even longer to find holein-t he-wa l l restaurants that served dishes that

immediately filled us with childhood memories.

But once we did, we found a diverse culture here with more than enough choices.

Another thing we needed to do was to stay connected. This meant finding the right mobile service provider that suited each family member’s needs while staying on a tight monthly budget. We quickly discovered that Canada

is not lacking in the number of telecoms out there to choose from. In fact, having so many choices actually made it easier to find the services that suited our individual needs. Finding the right fit didn’t take long. I found great savings in creating my own plan and choosing only the services I needed with Public Mobile without needing a contract. But the best part was being able to bring my own phone, giving me even more savings. My wife on the other hand wanted a new phone so she went with Koodo. Their face-toface interaction and customer service was a great bonus. She also uses her device to keep in touch with friends and family back home on social so we love that the shock free data helped us manage our monthly bill.

Plus, having both Public Mobile and Koodo work on Canada’s largest network really sealed the deal.

If you identify your needs and stick to your budget, navigating a sea of choices out there will not only be easier for you but better for your family as you build a new life together in Canada.

26

SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Bangladesh jails two Rohingya for protesting repatriation Two Rohingya men have been jailed for a week for protesting against a controversial plan to repatriate the persecuted minority back to Myanmar, Bangladesh police said Wednesday.

Rohingya have erected banners, chanted slogans and staged angry rallies in crowded camps near the border in Cox’s Bazar as tension mounts over the looming relocation of hundreds of thousands of refugees who have fled a crackdown by the Myanmar military.

Bangladesh insists the repatriation process will be voluntary but police have ramped up security in the camps.

Abdul Jabbar and Ali Hossain, both in their 60s, were sentenced Tuesday after being charged with creating a public nuisance.

Another man held for questioning at the protest was released Wednesday afternoon without charge on condition he will not “engage in any anti-government activities” or incite further protests, a police officer said.

Bangladesh had been due to start repatriating hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees this week after agreeing to a two-year timeline with Myanmar.

At least 120,000 members of China’s Muslim Uighur minority have been confined to political “re-education camps” redolent of the Mao era that are springing up across the country’s western borderlands, a report has claimed.

Radio Free Asia (RFA), a US-backed news group whose journalists have produced some of the most detailed reporting on the heavily securitised region of Xinjiang, said

it obtained the figure from a security official in Kashgar, a city in China’s far west that has been the focus of a major crackdown.

Last year, as Xi Jinping was crowned China’s most powerful leader since Chairman Mao at a politically sensitive congress in Beijing, Xinjiang’s re-education centres were “inundated” by detainees, who were forced to endure cramped and squalid conditions.

Belt Road Initiative much more than infra partnership with China: Pakistan PM Shahid Abbasi Rohingya refugees

Diversify your portfolio Recommended By Colombia But it was delayed when Bangladesh said neither side was ready. Myanmar later blamed its neighbour for a lack of preparation, a charge Bangladesh has rejected.

Save the Children suspends programmes in Afghanistan after attack Save the Children closed its offices in Afghanistan and temporarily suspended operations on Wednesday following an attack on its office in the eastern city of Jalalabad, the international aid organisation said.

“In response to this, all of our programmes across Afghanistan have been temporarily suspended and our offices are closed,” a spokesman said in an emailed

China ‘holding at least 120,000 Uighurs in re-education camps’

statement. “We remain committed to resuming our operations and lifesaving work as quickly as possible, as soon as we can be assured that it is safe to do so.”

Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device. Read more World news in English and other languages.

Expressing strong support to China on its Belt and Road Initiative, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday said it is much more than just an infrastructure partnership and will go a long way in creating a shared future in a fractured world.

Speaking at a panel discussion here at the World Economic Forum (WEF), Abbasi said, “We strongly recognise the vision of China and President Xi Jinping”.

China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative

(BRI) seeks to build rail, maritime and road links from Asia to Europe and Africa in a revival of ancient Silk Road trading routes.

The issues related to BRI, earlier known as One Belt One Road (OBOR), have been a major bone of contention between India and China as one portion of the corridor passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

“We believe the Belt and Road Initiative is perfectly in sync with the WEF theme of creating shared future in a fractured world.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis watches Indonesian commandos cut heads off snakes and drink their blood U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has become accustomed to military demonstrations, but what he saw Wednesday was something out of the ordinary.

According to Reuters, Mattis was treated to a demonstration of counter-terrorism skills by an Indonesian commando group in Jakarta.

The commandos showed off their hand-tohand combat skills and performed a range

of exotic moves including lopping off the heads of live snakes and drinking their blood.

Reuters also reported that the demonstration ended with Indonesian forces going through a hostage situation drill while the Mission Impossible theme song played.

He said during his visit to Jakarta that he hoped the U.S. could develop closer ties to the Indonesian military.

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28

FIJI

Saturday, January 27, 2018

$300,000 facelift for ginger factory AN Australian-owned company operating in Fiji for the past few decades has plans to look at other unique products that would be made and marketed as Fijian ginger. Frespac Ginger (Fiji) Ltd, which is owned by Buderim Group Ltd, opened its refurbished factory in Wailada, Lami yesterday. Company chief executive officer Andrew Bond said they invested more than $300,000 in getting brand new production floors and since they value their staff members highly, they also upgraded staff amenities. The factory employs 142 staff members, whereby

more than 80 are women who cut ginger at the factory which is then made into ginger lolly. Mr Bond said over the past four years the company had attracted new capital from their investors.

He said through their new investors the company managed to get access to new markets and increased number of distributors for their products. In terms of sourcing their raw material — ginger — Mr Bond said they bought it from ginger farmers in the vicinity of the Capital City and farmers were paid between 95 cents and $1 for a kilogram of ginger.

Assessors find grandfather guilty of rape The three assessors in the trial of a 65-year-old man charged with one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault have returned with a majority guilty opinion.

High Court Judge Justice Vinsent Perera summed up the case earlier this afternoon.

The man is alleged to have raped and sexually assaulted his 7-year-old granddaughter between 2012 and 2014 in Nasinu.

He has been remanded in custody.

Justice Vincent Perera will deliver judgement tomorrow.

Biman asks employment minister to resign “Do the honourable thing and resign.”

This was the message from the National Federation Party to Employment Minister Jone Usamate, Air Terminal Services Fiji Ltd chairperson Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and the board and ATS management. NFP leader Professor Biman Prasad said the order issued by the Employment Relations Tribunal yesterday to ATS to allow all workers to resume duties within 48 hours confirms the “highhandedness adopted by the Employment Minister and the chairperson, board members and management of ATS”. He said the ATS chairperson, board members and management should “take their cue from the order and resign”.

“The order confirms the stand of all others except Government and ATS that the workers

were prevented from entering the ATS premises,” Prof Biman said. “Simply, 49 per cent shareholders of ATS were refused entry into their company premises by those who are their employees (management). “This was deliberately ignored by the Employment Minister, the board chairman and management. “This resulted in the workers, their families and children spending Christmas and New Year in tents. “Ignorance and defiance of the law is inexcusable and they must do the right thing and resign.”

Questions sent to Mr Usamate, Mr SayedKhaiyum and ATS acting CEO Hare Mani yesterday regarding the comments made by the NFP leader remained unanswered when this story went to press.

New dams to control flooding Four retention dams have already been constructed in Nadi to help reduce the impacts of flooding, says Minister for Waterways Dr Mahendra Reddy. He said there was a need to ensure the development of retention dams in the upstream level. “In Nadi, the two rivers that cause flooding in the Nadi Town area are the Nawaka and Nadi rivers,” he said. “Based on the extensive and detailed survey by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), there are three things that need to be

done. “In Rakiraki, we also have two rivers contributing to the flooding in Rakiraki Town, the Nakauvadra and Penang rivers.

“In Nadi, we are required to build 12 retention dams. The purpose of retention dams is to retain water in dams when there is heavy rain and then release water slowly so we don’t have flooding.” Dr Reddy said an additional challenge associated with solving the issue of flooding was to do so without disrupting the urban centre.

Back to work order for ATS workers The Employment Relations Tribunal has ordered Air Terminal Services to allow back all workers stood down or suspended from December 16, 2017 by 1pm tomorrow.

While delivering his ruling in a packed special court sitting in Nadi, Magistrate Andrew See said the orders of the tribunal were not a victory for either ATS management or its workers, but “a victory for Fiji employment law, and the need to ensure it is embraced at all times by all stakeholders”. Mr See also ordered that the 225 workers be returned to work in accordance with the terms of their employment contract, and on a case by case basis, ATS ensure that the pay and entitlements of each employee were reviewed and where necessary reinstituted, in accordance with the law.

He directed ATS to give effect to the order by issuing all affected employees, new work rosters, security access ID cards, and any other pre-start work requirements within 48 hours of his ruling.

Mr See also called on the workers’ representative, the Federated Airlines Staff Association, to comply with the terms of the grievance procedures contained in Article 25B of the Master Agreement, “in order to secure and preserve amity and good relations between the company, the association and employees and to resolve any difference of opinion or dispute

between the parties”.

The ATS management had initiated the sitting of the tribunal on Tuesday, January 16 when it sought a ruling on whether the actions of the ATS workers was a lockout or a strike.

After perusing the ATS-FASA Master Agreement during that first sitting, Mr See directed both parties to begin urgent discussion that would facilitate the return to work of employees by yesterday.

He also said the management could not lawfully suspend workers without pay because of the disciplinary procedures in place in an agreement between the two parties.

The ATS management sought to withdraw their application a few days later but Mr See said it would be “premature” for him to agree to their request. He said there was no statutory formula directing the tribunal on withdrawal of applications and the granting of leave was left to the discretion of the Tribunal on “grounds that were reasonable”. He said the minister’s strike directive involved the conduct of 70 employees, and the tribunal took into account the fact the employer was not certain whether the other 190 had participated in an unlawful act. In addition, Mr See said the tribunal also considered that it was in the public interest to resolve the ATS dispute as quickly as possible.

New Govind Park in Ba will be ready in 7 months’ time The new Govind Park in Ba will be ready in seven months’ time. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in the last hour, Minister for Local government Parveen Bala says the new grandstand will have bucket seats with 8,000 seating capacity. The seating capacity in the old grandstand was 5,000.

Bala says the project will include a medical room, referees room, canteen and a conference room with 200 seating capacity.

Ba’s Govind Park sustained major damages during Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016.

The cost of the Govind Park construction project is $4.12 million.

Skyrocketing vegetable prices hit customers, vendors MARKET vendors and customers have been taken aback by the sudden increase in vegetable prices at the Labasa Municipal Market.

Market vendor Parma Nand, of Siberia settlement outside Labasa Town, said the prices of vegetables had risen and it was hard to get customers. “The vegetable prices have increased because of the continuous heavy rain that spoilt the budding of a lot of vegetables,” he said.

Mr Nand said the wholesalers were selling vegetables at a higher price when delivering supplies to vendors. “Last week I ordered eggplants packed in a 50 kilogram bag and I was charged with a massive amount,” he said.

“I used to pay $7 for that same bag, but now it cost me $25 which is too much and we have to sell a small heap for $2 so we can make a profit.”

Another vendor, Lite Buiviro of Nailawa, says she buys eggplant for $20 a bag from farmers.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Karachi Police Superintendent disappears after model killed A top police officer began looking as much like an indiscriminate in Karachi known for harsh tactics has been crackdown on ethnic forced out after what Pashtun communities as a targeted campaign he called a shootout against the militants with the Taliban who sheltered among ended in the death Rao Anwar (Superintendent Police) Naqeeb them. The commander’s of an aspiring model popular on social media, triggering days of methods, in particular, began coming under intense criticism.

An episode this month protests.

The commander, former Senior may end up being the final straw. On Jan. Superintendent Rao Anwaar, had long been 13, Superintendent Rao Anwaar released a prominent in the fight against militancy in the statement claiming that he and his officers had northern neighborhoods of Karachi he oversaw. thwarted a deadly attack on Karachi’s airport, Those areas were once notorious for being killing four unidentified militants who he said practically run by the Pakistani Taliban and had a history of killing “police, Rangers and other militant groups, who inflicted heavy tolls army personnel.” Three days later, the family of Naqeebullah Mehsud, a 27-year-old shopkeeper on the security forces until 2015.

Campaigns by the superintendent’s forces, with dreams of becoming a model, received his along with paramilitary groups like the bullet-riddled body from the authorities, along Sindh Rangers, began turning the balance with the news that he had been among the of power around. But the effort was haunted supposed militants shot by the police. by accusations of extrajudicial killings, as it

Pakistan condemns ‘unilateral’ US drone strike on its territory Pakistan on Wednesday condemned a “unilateral” US military drone strike inside its territory that security officials said killed two members of the Afghan Taliban-allied Haqqani network, adding to already tense relations between the uneasy allies.

The unmanned aircraft’s missiles “targeted an Afghan refugee” camp in Pakistan’s northwestern Kurram region, a statement from the Pakistani foreign office said.

“Such unilateral actions, as that of today, are detrimental to the spirit of cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terrorism,” the Pakistani statement said.

The US-led military mission in Afghanistan, which trains and assists Afghan government forces fighting the Taliban, said it “regularly conducts offensive operations within the borders of Afghanistan with the intent of bringing security and stability not only to Afghanistan, but also the entire region”, but said it had no information on the drone strike reports. Two missiles hit a house and killed Haqqani network militants Ahsan Khorai and Nasir Mehmood in the village of Dapa Mamozai in Kurram, according to a police officer and an intelligence official.

High court restrains Pakistan govt from taking action against Hafiz Saeed Lahore High Court restrained the government from taking any adverse action government from arresting Hafiz Saeed, against him. mastermind of Mumbai terror attack and JuD “The LHC today accepted JuD chief chief, till further order. Saeed had moved Hafiz Saeed’s application and issued order restraining the federal government the court seeking protection from arrest or action against Jamaat-udfrom arresting him till futher order,” a court official confirmed to PTI. Dawah (JuD) and Falah-i-Insaniat He said the court also issued notice Foundation (FIF) ahead of the to the government to file its reply visit of the monitoring team of the on March 17. Appearing for the United Nations Security Council Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder, his 1267 Sanctions Committee. The counsel Advocate A K Dogar told team will be visiting Islamabad the court that the UNSC delegation for an assessment of Islamabad’s Hafiz Saeed was due in the country this week and compliance with the world body’s sanctions regime. In his plea, he had said the government intends to take an “adverse that the government wants to arrest him action” against him during the team’s stay at the behest of US and India, whose lobby in the country. He said the government may for the last many years has been trying to arrest his client at the behest of the US and prove that he was “somehow involved in India. Punjab government, Dogar said, had Mumbai attacks”. Justice Amin Aminuddin detained Saeed for 10 months under the Khan heard Saeed’s plea and refrained the Maintenance of Public Order ordinance

Police arrests serial killer over rape & murder of girl, 7 Lahore: Punjab Police said they had arrested a man suspected to be a serial killer responsible for the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl, a case that ignited nationwide protests over allegations of government inaction. Police found Zainab Ansari’s body in a garbage dumpster in Kasur district near the eastern city of Lahore last week, four days after she was reported missing. Residents of the area have said the murder was the 12th such incident in a year, setting off fears of a serial rapist killer on the loose. Shahbaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab province, where Kasur is located, said the arrested man had confessed to Zainab’s murder and his DNA matched

samples found on her body. Regional police officer Zulfiqar Hameed told Reuters the suspect was one of Zainab’s neighbours.

CCTV footage of the day she was abducted showed her walking off calmly with a man identified as her kidnapper. A police official who asked not to be named said the accused had confessed to multiple murders and that he was suspected of raping and killing at least seven girls. He added that Ali was arrested on Wednesday but police waited to match DNA evidence before making an announcement. Sharif said in his statement that 1,150 DNA samples were collected and matched with samples taken from Zainab’s body.

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NRI

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Indian-American educator to run for US Congress WASHINGTON: Deep Saran, a democrat and an Indian-American educator will run for the US House of Representatives from a district in Virginia.

Saran, 45, is one of almost a dozen Democrats in the fray for the primary to earn the right to challenge the two- term Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock from the 10th Congressional District of Virginia. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a teacher, school founder, technology entrepreneur, lawyer, and child of immigrants from India,â&#x20AC;? Saran said on his campaign website.

Saran said he would champion a national commitment for improved quality of public education -- both in terms of accessibility and

affordability. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As the child of immigrants, I would push back against intolerance and hatred,â&#x20AC;? Saran said.Saranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s parents emigrated from India over 50 years ago. His father was a refugee during Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partition.

He founded and runs a school, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Loudoun School for the Giftedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Saran holds a degree in political science from University of Maryland and attended law school at Georgetown University.

He was previously a corporate attorney for large firms in Baltimore and Chicago but left private legal practise to study how children learn and to work on a PhD in Human Development at University of Maryland.

In a relief for thousands of Indian workers forced to illegally extend their stay in Kuwait due to non-payment of salaries, the Kuwaiti government on Tuesday announced that it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t impose any penalty on them. The amnesty has been granted from January 29 to February 22. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This comes as a great relief for the Indian workers,â&#x20AC;? said social worker Shaheen Sayyed who had taken up their cause.

A worker, Naresh Naidu, who was employed with Kharifi Nationa .. The amnesty granted by the Kuwaiti government comes in the wake of Union minister of state for external affairs VK Singhâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent visit to the country. Singh had taken up the issue of the workers who had not been paid by Kharafi National Company.

He also spoke to a Kuwaiti minister to waive penalty for those who wanted to return to India.

The amnesty also means that the workers can once again go back to Kuwait legally to take up jobs. In another development, Indian workers employed with Kharafi National and those who had quit when salaries were being denied, have reportedly received an offer from the company. An Indian worker, Irfan, said that a company representative had offered 25 per cent to 33 per cent of their salary dues.

However, workers did not respond to the offer as they want all their dues to be cleared.

Some are making use of the amnesty to return without salaries as they are desperate to go back to their families ..

US Identifies an Indian-origin British man as Islamic Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executioner in Syria

NRI arrested with 2 kg heroin Ludhiana (Rural) police arrested an NRI from New Jersey (USA) after it recovered 2kg of heroin â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the estimated cost of which is around Rs10 crore â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from him at Malak Chowk in Jagraon on Saturday evening. The accused was identified as Amarjit Singh (58) of Mukandpur village in Dehlon, who lives with his wife and two daughters in New Jersey.

Giving details, senior superintendent of police Ludhiana (Rural) Surjeet Singh said in the drive against drug peddlers, the Crime Investigating Agency (CIA) team had set up a police checkpost at Bridge Drain near Malak Chowk in Jagraon. The police officer said during checking, cops saw a white color Brezza car (registration No: PB10 GL-7401) coming from the direction of Malak village,

Kuwait announces amnesty, big relief for thousands of Indian workers

but immediately on seeing the police party, the car driver tried to turn back his vehicle.

Police said that on suspicion, they chased the car, and three persons in the car came out and started running towards the fields, but the police party nabbed the car driver and seized the car. The SSP said that on questioning, the accused disclosed his name as Amarjit Singh of Mukandpur. He added that on searching the car, police recovered 2kg heroin from under the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat. Cops said that during the initial investigation, Amarjit disclosed that he belonged to Mukandpur, and in 1988, he went to USA and settled in New Jersey along with his family. He told cops that he usually came to India, and after staying for a long period here, he would start smuggling heroin.

A man who has been seen in strike while in the Syrian city of videos carrying out beheadings Raqqa, then under the IS control.

Dhar posed a terrorist threat to has been identified by the U.S. citizens and interests and U.S. as Indian-origin British any property he may have in the Siddhartha Dhar, the Islamic U.S. is frozen and Americans are Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s executioner in Syria. banned from dealing with him or Announcing his designation his assets, the department said. as a global terrorist Jan. 23, Siddhartha Dhar the State Department said that Indian-origin British man Before leaving for Syria to join Dhar â&#x20AC;&#x153;is believed to be the masked leader who the IS in 2014, Dhar had been a member of a appeared in a January 2016 the IS video of British terrorist organization, Al-Muhajiroun, the execution of several prisonersâ&#x20AC;? who were according to the department. The U.S. was the targeted of another Indian-origin man from accused by IS of spying for Britain.

He replaced the feared IS executioner Britain, Dhiren Barot, who was linked to Al known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jihadi John,â&#x20AC;? who appeared in Qaeda. He was convicted in 2006 by a British several videos beheading his victims, the court of plotting to bomb the New York Stock department said. His name was Mohammad Exchange. Known also as Abu Musa al-Hindi Emwazi and he had also lived in Britain. He and Abu Eissa al-Hindi, Barot was born in was killed in 2015 in a U.S.-British drone Gujarat and his family emigrated to Britain,

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FRUITICANA

Saturday, January 27, 2018

C

Deepika seeks blessings forâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Padmaavatiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

ontroveercial film â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Padmaavatiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lead actoress Deepika Padukone arrives at Siddhivinayak temple As the release of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Padmaavatiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; comes near, Deepika seeks blessing from the lord. Padmaavat is facing trouble till date with the ongoing riots and protest which has delyaed the release of the film over a month now.

The film could surely use some blessing for the smooth release.

The latest is that the actress also visited the Padmavathi temple there.

Sources present in the temple revealed that Deepika did not just seek the blessings of Lord Ve n k ate s w ar a , but also of G o d d e s s Padmavathi.

G o d d e s s Padmavathi happens to be the

wife of Lord Venkateswara and also known to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.

Deepika on several earlier occasions as well has visited Tirumala but only this time she was spotted at the Padmavathi temple too. A source close to the actress shares that she really wanted to visit the temple of the Goddess before the release of her film

Anil and Sonam Kapoorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first film to be released on October 12

B

o l l y w o o dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dynamic fatherdaughter duo Anil Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor are all set to share screen space for the first time in â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Lagaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Directed by Shelly Chopra Dhar, the movie will hit the screens on October 12. The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Fanne Khanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; star took to social media to make the announcement and wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a moment of nostalgia & of firsts!

Thrilled to work with @ iam_juhi again & with @ sonamakapoor for the very 1st time in #ShellyChopraDharâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga! Out on October 12!!!â&#x20AC;? The actor is all set to share screen space with her real-life father Anil Kapoor for the first time in Vidhu Vinod Chopraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production and to the fansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; delight, the duo is all set to play father-daughter on screen too.

Sonam Kapoor took to Twitter and wrote, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Looking forward to being your on-screen daughter. brings together long time co-stars Anil and Juhi Chawla.

after a gap of 11 years. Co-produced

by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and directed by Shelly Chopra Dhar, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Lagaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; also featured Rajkummar Rao and Juhi Chawla in key roles. The movie will hit the screens on October 12.

Meanwhile, Sonam is also gearing for the release of her upcoming film â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PadManâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in which she has been paired opposite Akshay Kumar. The actress has been making all the right noise ahead of her filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s release.

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Bollywood

Saturday, January 27, 2018

HOROSCOPE Aries March 21 - April 20 With the sun now in your social sector with lovely Venus, you may feel more inclined to get out and about and make new connections. These could be especially valuable over the coming weeks as you push ahead with new ideas and opportunities.

There is also a romantic focus here, which could make the coming week or so excellent for dating and meeting that special person.

With feisty Mars moving into your sector of adventure, though, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best not to commit to

Taurus April 21 - May 20 With lovely Venus and the sun putting the focus on your sector of responsibility, you can make use of your charm and diplomacy to help further your aims. You

this could provide an opportunity to showcase

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also possible that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to make a decision that could be legally binding. As chatty Mercury aligns with dynamic Pluto, it might pay to think before you decide.

Gemini

May 20 - June 21 You might want to keep your thoughts yourself, particularly early in the week while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re mulling over a decision. However, once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made it, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no problem letting others know what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve decided. In fact, as lively Mercury aligns with Jupiter, doing so could hasten a positive conclusion. On another note, with the sun and lovely Venus in your travel sector, thoughts of a vacation or short break could be very appealing. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certainly something to consider.

Cancer June 22 - July 23 If you need to make any promises this week, give them careful thought. Be guided by your instincts as to what your next move should be. However, with inquisitive Mercury making a positive aspect to expansive Jupiter, it would be no bad thing to put your needs

your lifestyle sector on January 26 for a sixweek stay, which could encourage you to think about your health and how you might improve it.

Leo June 24 - August 23 With both the sun and delectable Venus in your sector of relating, friendships and close bonds can be upbeat and empowering. The coming weeks can provide an opportunity to

a compromise. However, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re involved in a new romance, this blend of energies can be a positive force in the development of your relationship. At work, though, listen to your instincts when trying to decide on a course of action. Logic may not be enough.

Virgo August 24 - Sept 24 Although you might want something early in

! it by weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end. As important as it might seem, lively Mercuryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s link with potent Pluto could push you to act too quickly to satisfy a desire. If you

" ! another note, feisty Mars enters your home zone on January 26, which brings a great opportunity to clear out any clutter.

Libra Sept. 24 - Oct 22 After a busy time with family, a focus on your leisure sector could see you taking time out for yourself. And while you might have one pending issue to deal with on the domestic front, it can probably be quickly resolved if you trust your instincts.

This could be a purchasing decision or

in this instance, logic may not be all that

Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 22 #

encourage you to study a matter in depth before you take it any further. Nevertheless, if you intuitively sense that all will be well, this may be enough. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also entering a natural phase when the cosmos encourages you to step back from life and indulge in some self-care.

The focus on your domestic sector can be an opportunity to spend time with close ones, as well as nurture and pamper yourself.

Sagitarius Nov 23 - Dec 22 You may be guided by a soulful and very

! !

$ feel a great sense of satisfaction, which can be a clue that you have done the right thing.

However, the big news for you is that stirring Mars moves into your sign on January 26 for a six-week stay. This can boost your vitality and encourage you to exercise more or kick-start a bold idea.

Working with SRK always a pleasure, says Kajol Kajol and Shah Rukh shot for a special sequence for Aanand L Raiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Zeroâ&#x20AC;?.

Having featured in over half a dozen films and being considered one of the most sought on-screen pair, Kajol says working alongside Shah Rukh Khan is always a pleasure as the superstar makes the experience easier. Kajol and Shah Rukh shot for a special sequence for Aanand L Raiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next, Zero.

While Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma will be seen in lead roles alongside Shah Rukh, Kajol and Rani Mukerji shot for a special sequence. Rani had called the experience as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai part two. Kajol, who last worked with Shah Rukh on Dilwale, praised the actor for his dedication to cinema. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We actually shot for half-an-hour but it was great. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always fabulous to work with him. He is a really amazing man to work with because he is 300 per cent involved in whatever he is

doing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great fun because he is such a fine actor that it comes very naturally to work with him and alongside him,â&#x20AC;? says Kajol in an interview to PTI. The actor may have been around for close to three decades in the industry but says her dedication to give it all for work hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t reduced. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come from a time when we used to work from 7 in the morning till 9 in the night on a daily basis without the comforts of sitting in an AC room. Somewhere down the line, you realise that work is God. You have to take it seriously everyday, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the most important thing,â&#x20AC;? she says. Much of the discipline, Kajol says, comes from her mother who taught her early in childhood that no work is lesser or bigger.

Capricorn Dec 23 - Jan 20 If you need to decide something, asking your friends for their advice could be helpful. If you attempt to make the decision on your own, you could overthink it, which might not be very % &'

a secluded sector of your chart for a six-week stay, which could stir up your psyche. It might make your dreams more vivid, and it could bring buried issues to the surface. This might be your opportunity to resolve them and let them go.

Aquarius Jan 21 - Feb 19 With the sun and lovely Venus now in your sign, you could feel a surge of energy and well-being. The coming four weeks can be excellent for getting ahead with plans and projects that have been sitting on the back burner, as well as for initiating social events and making new connections. You might also feel moved to change your image. Your social life also picks up the pace. Dynamic Mars in this zone could bring more opportunities for good times your way.

Pisces Feb 20 - March 20 You are now in a natural phase when the cosmos is encouraging you to take life a little more easily. The focus on thoughts, feelings, and inner issues could also encourage you to do some emotional housecleaning and release any baggage that may be holding you back.

However, with dynamic Mars hiking into the topmost sector of your chart, activity on the goals and career front might increase. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be eager to act on your biggest plans, and your determination could help you succeed.

Bobby Deol feels great to be part of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Race 3â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bobby Deol has been roped in to star alongside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in upcoming action-thriller Race 3. He says he feels great to be a part of the team.

Producer Ramesh Taurani, who is backing the project through his Tips Industries Limited banner, took to Twitter on Thursday to welcome Bobby on board. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Welcome to the family Bobby Deol.

Salman Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Race 3â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Eid 2018,â&#x20AC;? Taurani tweeted.

Welcome to the family #BobbyDeol @BeingSalmanKhan @Asli_ Jacqueline #Race3 #Eid2018 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Ramesh Taurani (@ RameshTaurani) October 11, 2017

Bobby replied: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s race along Ramesh Taurani... It feels great to be a part of the team! â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Race 3â&#x20AC;&#x2122;.â&#x20AC;?

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s race along @RameshTaurani ... it feels great to be a part of the team!!

Bollywood Personalitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Birthdays

BOBBY DEOL JANUARY 27

VIKRAM BHAT JANUARY 27

RAMESH SIPPY JANUARY 23

SUBHASH GHAI JANUARY 24

Bollywood

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Film review: ‘Padmaavati’

P

ADMAAVAT WINS ITS TRIAL

BY FIRE

Story: Rani Padmavati (Deepika Padukone) - the wife of Maharawal Ratan Singh (Shahid Kapoor), is known for her beauty and valour in 13th century India.

She captures the fancy of the reigning Sultan of Delhi, the tyrant Alauddin Khilji (Ranveer Singh), who becomes obsessed with her and goes to great lengths to fulfill his greed. PADMAAVAT REVIEW: Based on a Sufi poem of the same name written in 1540 by Malik Muhammad Jayasi, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has added his own

flair and interpretation to ‘Padmaavat’, giving it a fairy-tale sheen. This makes all the controversy pointless, and pale in comparison to the spectacle that unfolds. Bhansali reunites with two of his favourite leads in recent times - Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, but adds Shahid Kapoor to complete this trio of commendable acting talent.

Shahid is steadfast and unflappable as Maharawal Ratan Singh - the ruler of Mewar, brimming with Rajput pride. He brings a regal aura to the character that warrants him winning the confidence and loyalty of the Mewar kingdom and more importantly, Rani Padmavati’s heart.

Deepika is radiant as the Rajput Queen whose beauty, brains and valour moves the entire plot along once Alauddin Khilji becomes obsessed with her. Padmavati’s allure beyond the superficial is prominent post-interval, when her character comes to life and she gets to showcase her acting range. Ranveer as Alauddin Khilji is seen as an unhinged, barbaric Sultan, who is consumed with a ravenous libido for power and flesh. He unleashes an animal magnetism on screen with a scarred face, kohl-lined eyes and a greased torso.

The scenes between him and Shahid are some of the most engrossing, as both flex their acting muscles at opposite ends of the moral spectrum. Besides them, Aditi Continued on page 5

Jan

25

PADMAAVATI *ing: Deepika Ranvir Singh

Jan

19

Wo India Ka Shakespeare

*ing: Raza Murad, Raj Aryan

New Released Bollywood Films Jan

19

Nirdosh

*ing: Arbaaz Khan, Manjari Fadnis

Jan

19

Union Leader

*ing: Rahul Bhat, Tillotama Shome

Jan

19

KAALAKAANDI *ing: Saif Ali Khan and Sobhita Dhulipala

3

4

Saturday, January 27, 2018

23 ‘Padmaavati’ protesters held for pelting stones on school buses After first full day of controversial film “Padmaavat” near India’s capital Delhi, Gurgaon police took 23 people into custody for Wednesday’s stone-pelting on buses and arson during which transport and school buses were targeted in Bhondsi. They were charged with rioting and attempt to murder.

Gurgaon police also took into ‘preventive detention’ Suraj Pal Amu, till recently BJP’s media coordinator in Haryana and now a general secretary of Karni Sena. Police sources said Amu was making statements “detrimental” to law and order.

FIR against film director Ram Gopal Varma over women’s portrayal in his new film An FIR has been registered against film director Ram Gopal Varma in Hyderabad allegedly for the indecent portrayal of women in his upcoming movie ‘God, Sex and Truth (GST)’, police said. The FIR was registered on the complaint lodged by a social activist. The activist also claimed that Varma had made some personal comments against her, police said. “We registered an FIR. We are inquiring,” a police official said.

The charges against Varma include making an indecent movie and making “abusive” comments, he added.

Salman and Katrina - exclusive

S

alman Khan and Katrina exclusive Salman’s friend Iulia Vantur and Maniesh Paul‘s latest music video – Harjai is making a lot of noise on social media. Twitterati has been praising the duo for this romantic track, which will surely steal your hearts. The jodi’s chemistry has totally set the screens on fire, so when we met Iulia and Maniesh, we has to ask them about their song and their chemistry. But that’s not it! We even made them play a few games.

During the exclusive interaction with us, the duo played a word association game. Basically, they had to tell us what is the first word that comes to their mind when they hear the following names or terms.

From love to marriage to Harjai and Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Shah Rukh Khan, we threw a lot of words at them and you will be surprised by what they had to say! In fact, you will be intrigued after hearing what is the first thing that came to Iulia Vantur’s mind when we said Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif?

Want to know all the details? Well, check out our fun game in the exclusive video above and share with us your thoughts about their

reactions in the comments section below!

Meanwhile, Iulia even revealed to us exclusively that Salman Khan is the one who inspires her to sing. As she mentioned to us during the chat, “Salman discovered my singing voice. He encouraged me to sing. In fact, I never thought I would be singing. Yes, it was a passion, but I didn’t know I would pursue it as a profession. So I sing because of him.” With the Romanian beauty set to give out a few more music videos, stay tuned to BollywoodLife as we get you all the dope and updates about Iulia Vantur right here.

Punjabi singer Sabar Koti dead Punjabi singer Sabar Koti, known for his soulful voice and sad songs, passed away after a prolonged illness in Jalandhar on Thursday.

Sabar Koti was born into a family of musicians. He is survived by his wife Rita and four children.

Initiated to the richness of the Patiala Gharana of classical music by his father and guru Amar Nath, Koti started performing on stage at the age of 9.

Later, his talent was honed under the tutelage of Pooran Shah Koti. His close aides said his demise has left void in the music world.

Koti belonged to Nangal Karar Khan Village.

Deepak Bali of Punjab Jagriti Manch said he had learnt music from Ustad Pooran Shah Koti. “He was not keeping well for last some years, his condition was bad,” Bali added

saying that Koti was a great singer and a well learned person in music.

He had released a song around two years, but then due to bad condition, he became inactive, added Bali.

Among his popular hits are “Kargai ai sauda sada”, “Oh mausam wangu badal gaye”, “Asin dhur andar tak leera hoi baithe aan”, “Aaye haaye gulabo”, “Saun da mahina hove” and “Peengh hulare laindi”.

“All the craze about rock and pop music will come and go, but the richness of folk will always be there. People who appreciate good music will always remain faithful to their folk heritage,” Koti had said some years ago during a performance in Chandigarh.

5

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Film review: ‘Padmaavati’

PICS Diversity Village project passes third reading SURREY - PICS Diversity Village project for a culturally sensitive long-term care home passed third reading at Surrey council on January 22nd following a public hearing. The land purchased for the project has been rezoned, subdivided and redesignated as Multiple Residential.

The project has been supported by many generous donors, community members, PICS board members, The Concosts Group and the media. The Level 4 - Enhanced Assisted Living or Congregate Care home will cover two lots on 17505 & 17515 and 64th Avenue in Cloverdale.

Added components to the care home will include a Child Daycare, Adult Day Program, Cafe, Community Gathering Space and a Gift Shop. Residents will be provided with a home-like environment where they can thrive. This revolutionary community will change the face of senior care in BC. “PICS thanks everyone in helping the society reach this crucial stage. With continued support, we are very hopeful the provincial government will soon give us funding to begin construction as we have met the conditions thus far for this much needed project in the community,” said Mr. Satbir Singh Cheema, CEO of PICS. For further information and interviews please contact Satbir Cheema @ 604-596-7722 ext. 104 or email himatsatbir.cheema@pics.bc.ca

Rao Hydari stands her ground as the naive Mehrunissa who gets a rude awakening when she discovers her husband Alauddin’s true nature. Jim Sarbh is somewhat misplaced as the Sultan’s slave-general, unable to generate enough menace to overshadow his master’s own. Nonetheless, the ensemble moves well in tune with Bhansali’s vision of this largerthan-life retelling. The director’s expertise in heightening opulence and grandeur is well-known, further distinguishable in 3D. Cinematographer Sudeep Chatterjee

compliments him by beautifully capturing some jaw-dropping scenery. However, the effects in the action/ war scenes don’t meet the expectations raised by a film of this scale. Also, the songs don’t do much to further the narrative other than providing visual delight. Granted, it could do with a tauter screenplay and shorter run-time but ‘Padmaavat’ is an entertaining, large canvas experience, brought to life with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s stroke of visual brilliance.

Aditi to play ‘Priya in Sanjay Dutt’s latest project Rajkumar Hirani’s biopic on actor Sanjay Dutt has been hitting headlines ever since the time of its announcement.

While reports of actors essaying some of the key characters are already out, it wasn’t clear as to who will play the role of Dutt’s sister Priya Dutt.

According to latest reports, southern star Aditi Seiya has been roped in to play the role of Priya by Hirani.

Versatile actors Paresh Rawal and Manisha Koirala will be seen essaying the role of Sanjay’s parents Sunil Dutt and Nargis respectively. Starring Ranbir Kapoor in titular role, the film will also see

actors like Anushka Sharma and Sonam Kapoor making special appearances in the film.

6

Bollywood

Saturday, January 27, 2018

ME TOO Is Kartik Aaryan giving his own spin to Shah Rukh Khan’s signature pose of outstretched arms?

Ranveer Singh Deepika Padukone

Sonam Kapoor

DITTO? Isn’t Deepika’s outfit (sans the dupatta) from a recent screening strikingly similar to a creation she wore in 2013?

Guess she believes in recycling, just like us

mmy reak from mo b a s ke ta an Soha Ali Kh good ol’ retail ulges in some g you like? d in d an es ti du anythin therapy. See

JUST IN

IN SHAPE

Kareena Kapoor Khan swears by Pilates. And she has got her tee to prove it

Perfect launchpad for Bollywood debutants Ticket2Audition.com, an initiative of The ITA School of Performing Arts, was launched in Mumbai yesterday. The venture aims to act as the bridge between talent and talentseekers in the world of entertainment.

The digital platform was launched by Mahesh Bhatt and Raj Nayak in the presence of several celebrities from film and TV industry. Also present at the event were Richa Chadha, Varun Sharma, Rohitashv Gaur, Shubhangi Atre, Benaifer Kohli, Manmohan

Shetty, Ramesh Taurani, Helly Shah, Kanchi Singh, Aishwarya Sakuja, Preeti Jhangiani, Asit Modi, Alok Narula, Anand Goradia and many others.

The platform will help in facilitating ‘Audition Bookings’ for talents who aspire to build a career in acting, music, writing and modelling. While most find it difficult to find a toehold in the industry, the aspirants, through the platform, will be given the opportunity to interact with casting directors, producers and directors directly.

(From left) Shashi Ranjan, Ashutosh Jha, Anu Ranjan, Anant Ganediwal and Alankar Urankar; (left) Helly Shah and Kanchi Singh

Richa Chadha, Varun Sharma

Raj Nayak

Ramesh Taurani

Mahesh Bhatt

7

Bollywood

Saturday, January 27, 2018

20

KAREENA’S GYM TIP »P22

mid-day Thursday 25.01.2018

Ajay bears brunt of Karni Sena UP theatre, owned by Devgn, vandalised after advance booking window for Bhansali’s Padmaavat is opened

Akki launches pad banks in villages In collaboration with state govt, Kumar to set up sanitary napkin dispensers in Maharashtra (top) Damaged facade of ticket window; (top right) still from Padmaavat SHAHEEN PARKAR shaheen@mid-day.com IT’s not just Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the team of Padmaavat that has drawn the ire of fringe groups protesting against the film’s release. Ajay Devgn, who collaborated with Bhansali in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), found himself at the receiving end of the Padmaavat outrage. One of the theatres, owned by Devgn, in Uttar Pradesh was vandalised by members of the Rajput Karni Sena.

Members of the fringe group stormed the multiplex in Pilkhuwa in Hapur district on Tuesday and created a ruckus, after the cinema opened the window for advance booking of the Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor starrer.

MOHAR BASU mohar.basu@mid-day.com

Confirming the development, the theatre manager told midday, “As soon as they got to know that advance booking was to begin, the protesters gathered around and started chanting slogans. They smashed the glass façade of the ticket windows.

They also demanded to meet the owner to ensure that the film would not be exhibited.”

Though Devgn refused to comment, it is learnt that he is taking stock of the extent of the damage and the loss incurred.

Last October, the actor had taken over four single screens in Uttar Pradesh. His aim was to take over ailing theatres and convert them into multiplexes. Considering the state’s population, he felt there were not enough theatres in Uttar Pradesh.

IT’s rare that the promotion of a Bollywood film does more than speak about its own relevance. But Akshay Kumar is trying to trigger a social change in the run-up to the release of Pad Man, his upcoming film that is based on Arunachalam Muruganantham who devised a low-cost sanitary pad-making machine. mid-day has learnt that Kumar is launching an initiative, Pad Bank for Daughters of Maharashtra, which will provide sanitary napkins to women in villages of Maharashtra, free of cost.

In collaboration with Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the state government, the initiative will be launched in several villages including Latur, Solapur and Jalgaon, tomorrow.

The state government has sponsored about 20 sanitary

‘The protestors smashed the glass façade of the ticket window and wanted to meet the owner’ Theatre manager

napkin dispensers, which will be installed in dispensaries in these villages. An insider informs that given its plan to penetrate the grassroot level, the initiative will also rely on donation. “The campaign can be sustained by donation — be it monetary or of packets of pads. The team has reached out to schools and colleges of cities in Maharashtra, urging the students to donate. The funds will then be used to build more sanitary napkin dispensers in different villages,” says the source.

Kumar said, “CM Sir and I have been discussing this initiative for quite some time.

We want Maharashtra to be the first state where every woman has access to sanitary pad. Menstrual hygiene is a necessity, not a luxury.”

If the model succeeds in the state, the actor intends to pitch it to central government for other states to adopt.

‘Film showed Indian culture of opulent costumes’ After Victoria & Abdul bags Oscar nominations for makeup, hairstyle, costumes, lead actor Ali says spotlight now on Indian aesthetics MOHAR BASU mohar.basu@mid-day.com

Judi Dench and Ali Fazal in Victoria & Abdul

THE honour is well-deserved,” beams Ali Fazal with pride, after his film, Victoria & Abdul, bagged Oscar nominations in two categories — Best Costume Design, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. “Consolata Boyle [designer] has worked so hard on the costumes. Her work is intricate and detailed.”

The actor, who played Abdul in the film that traced Queen Victoria’s unlikely friendship with her servant, says that Boyle was adept at creating ensembles for Judi Dench’s character.

However, it was Fazal’s outfits that posed a challenge. “Most of the work went on my clothes — from the gold-plated buttons on the kurta to the fabric of the attires. With this film, we put our culture of opulent costumes out

there for the world to see.” Fazal is optimistic that with the West appreciating the exquisite designs associated with Indian clothes, there will be increased interest in Indian designers.

“They need to pull up their socks because the world is taking notice of Indian designs.”

Ask him if he’ll head to the Oscars and he says, “I will be in Los Angeles. If all goes well, I might get to go for it.”

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Saturday, January 27, 2018

Border musical trio reunite

JP Dutta brings together Akhtar, Anu and Sonu for song dedicated to Army MOHAR BASU mohar.basu@mid-day.com WHILE India celebrates Republic Day today, filmmaker JP Dutta has decided to use the auspicious occasion to shoot a special song, dedicated to the Indian Army, for his upcoming film Paltan.

The film’s cast, including actors Arjun Rampal and Sonu Sood, will kickstart the shoot of Sabko Yahaan in Chandigarh today. What makes the song all the more special is that it marks the reunion of Sonu Nigam, lyricist Javed Akhtar and composer Anu Malik.

The trio had collaborated on the famous Sandese Aate Hai for Dutta’s Border (1997). So inspired was the filmmaker by the magic they weaved together that he worked with them again in LOC Kargil.

A source from the production house informs that the song was recorded over the past few days at a suburban recording studio in Mumbai.

Ahead of the filming, the cast — Harshvardhan Rane, Luv Sinha, Siddhant Kapoor, Gurmeet Choudhary, Jackie Shroff along with Rampal and Sood — reached Chandigarh yesterday.

“The unit was shooting in Ladakh for the past few weeks.

Having wrapped up that schedule, they headed to Chandigarh for the last leg of shooting,” says the source.

Ranbir’s designs for AB Jr Riddhima gifts evil eye bracelet to Abhishek, similar to one she had created for her brother UPALA KBR hitlist@mid-day.com

From left: Nidhi Dutta, Javed Akhtar, Sonu Nigam, JP Dutta and Anu Malik An ode to the men in uniform, the song will also feature real-life soldiers from the Indian Army.

“The team is quite excited to shoot the song with the jawans. It’s an inspirational song that will remind people of Sandese Aate Hai.” Without divulging too many details about the track, producer Nidhi Dutta says, “The song is about our brave soldiers and their families. Behind every soldier guarding the border, there is a family that lets him go so that he can protect his country.”

CANDID images papped from the football field of celebrity charity football events are testimony of Ranbir Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan’s brewing friendship. But few would know that Kapoor’s jewellery-designer-sister Riddhima Kapoor Sahni also shares a rapport with Junior B. Having learnt of his admiration for a bracelet that Ranbir sports, she created one for him.

A source close to the family tells mid-day, “Ranbir and Abhishek are buddies. They look out for each other on the football field. In the past, Abhishek had revealed that he liked an evil-eye bracelet that

Ranbir wears. Since Riddhima specialises in designing signature jewellery for men and women, she crafted one for him.” Bachchan’s latest collection has been created in thread enamel and gold.

Confirming the news, Riddhima says, “Abhishek is the kindest, and most humble person I have met. I hope he enjoys wearing the bracelet.” In the past, the designer had also designed a bracelet for Justin Bieber and a pair of earrings for Goldie Hawn. Ranbir’s evil eye bracelet also bears his lucky number — eight.

‘Abhishek is the most humble person I have met.

I hope he enjoys wearing it Riddhima Kapoor Sahni

Don’t forget to breathe WEB SERIES PREVIEW

LETTY MARIAM ABRAHAM letty.abraham@mid-day.com

BREATHE U/A: Drama/ thriller DIR: Mayank Sharma CAST: R Madhavan, Amit Sadh, Sapna Pabbi

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HERE’S something we all know — death is inevitable.

Yet, watching someone struggle to pull in their last few breaths can leave anyone scarred. Five seconds into Amazon Prime’s original series’, Breathe, starring R Madhavan and Amit Sadh, and it is evident that viewers are in for a morbid ride. Here’s a tip — don’t forget to keep breathing while watching the series.

Danny Mascarenhas’s (Madhavan) six-year-old son Josh (Atharva Vishwakarma) suffers from cystic fibrosis and is fourth on the waiting list of organ transplant recipients. However, with only five to six months to live, it is only

luck that can favour the child.

But Danny isn’t willing to leave things to destiny. He resorts to killing donors to get his son a fighting chance of survival.

Meanwhile, the alcoholic cop, Kabir Sawant (Amit Sadh), is guilt-ridden over losing his daughter in an accident, a loss that eventually hampers his relationship with wife Ria Ganguly (Sapna Pabbi).

Of the first four episodes that we caught, it’s evident that Madhavan has successfully rid himself of the chocolate boy image that stuck with him since his debut in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein. Even in his wrongdoings, Madhavan makes his desperation justifiable. Watching his struggle to take a life and transform into a pro is eerie. Sadh, yet again, puts on display his superlative talent, which has been ignored

★YUCK ★★WHATEVER ★★★GOOD ★★★★SUPER ★★★★★AWESOME

by the industry for a while. ability to showcase his lo struggle with alcohol, fai romance, and the desire hold his daughter one m time, without any dialogues commendable. Sapna Pab Neena Kulkarni, Vishwakar and Hrishikesh Josh put th best foot forward.

Director Mayank Sharm ability to craft Danny’s m terplan with such nitty-gri makes him among tho whose future works we w watch out for. While super tive performances back great content that Breathe fers, something appears to amiss on the editing tab Episodes kick-off and culm nate on gripping notes, but tempo drastically drops in tween. The edge-of-the-s thriller also makes you yaw which is probably its only fl

Saturday, January 27, 2018

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Classifieds / Jobs

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Name change I, Amanpreet Singh, son of Baldev Singh, holder of Indian Passport No. N4907383, issued at Amritsar, on 04/01/2016, permanent resident of Village - Mughal Wala, P.O. Kacha Pacca, Tehsil - Patti, Tarn Taran, Punjab, India 143401, and presently residing at Unit 90, 18983-72 Avenue Surrey BC Canada V4N 1A5, do hereby change my name from Amanpreet singh to Amanpreet singh Boparai with immediate effect.

Matrimonial Match for Jat Sikh, male, 50 years old, never married, city job in NY (USA), excellent health, looking for

compatible, homely, life partner 35 to 40 years of age. Pls contact: e-mail: harminder1229@gmail.com

Community news South Asian Seniors - Workshop on Dementia by Dr. Leena Jain, On 27th January 2018 from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm at Shanti Niketan Hall.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Center of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults, Senior members and nonmembers also to attend a powerful workshop on Dementia to promote better health in the Community by Dr. Leena Jain on behalf of the UBC iCON (Intercultural online Health Network) on 27th January 2018 (Saturday) from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. Dr. Gulzar Cheema will be promoting the UBC iCON Project and introduce the iCON Team. Hilary Low a research

team will be on hand to help. You can ask questions concerning Dementia and Dr. Leena Jain will answer your questions. Tea and pure vegetarian light refreshment will be served to all the participants. Project funded by Government of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Horizons for Seniors Program for Hindi speaking Seniors.Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further information.

South Asian Seniors - Manage your Anger through Yoga & Meditation, Swami Ashwini Prajnaa on 28th January 2018 from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm.

Vedic Seniors Parivar Center of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults, Senior members and also nonmembers to attend a very important presentation on Manage your Anger through Yoga & Meditation by Swami Ashwini Prajnaa a Yoga Expert from 1st Humanity Fellowship New Brunswick Canada on 28th January 2018 (Sunday) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. You must attend to learn the Yoga techniques of melting the anxiety before it reaches the boiling point. You can ask the questions about Yoga & Meditation, Swami Ashwini Prajnaa will answer your questions. Tea and light snacks will be served after the presentation. Project funded by Government of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Horizons for Seniors Program for Hindi speaking seniors. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 507 - 9945 for further information.

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Saturday, January 27, 2018

‘No reason for controversy’ As Padmaavat opens in theatres, those catching the movie say Bhansali’s drama not offensive to Rajputs Continued from page 1 HAVING witnessed Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s spectacle at paid previews held on Wednesday and regular shows through yesterday, cinephiles have one message for protesting outfits — watch it before you speak!

Mumbaikars attending the 8 am show yesterday at Ghatkopar’s R City Mall appeared baffled by the controversy. Parveen Ali Khan tells mid-day, “Films should be treated like films. I did not see anything in the movie that should offend anyone. The Rajputs are shown in good light.”

The controversial self-immolation scene (jauhar), too, did not seem to have been portrayed offensively, said another cine-goer, Sachin Benbanshi.

“The jauhar scene only showed the sacrifice made by Rani Padmini. I don’t see a reason for controversy.”

Reiterating what Bhansali’s supporters have said ever since the outcry erupted in December 2017, college student Noor Khan said, “People who caused controversy should watch the movie first. They will realise there is nothing in it that’s worth protesting over.” The notion was backed by other moviegoers, including Khairun Shaikh and Vipin Tiwari.

“There is nothing offensive

Uncertainty looms over BO DEEPIKA Padukone expected “earthshattering” box-office numbers from Padmaavat. But in the trying circumstances that the film has released — with several screens across Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh refusing to show the film in fear of protests — trade pundits opine that one would be able to judge its box-office performance only over the next few days.

Trade analyst Komal Nahta said, “The earnings from paid previews [on Wednesday] scored somewhere between 4.5 to 5 crore. As far as Day One collections go, I would assume it’s over 20 crore.” The film that released in 4,000 screens across India, Earnings from registered about 50paid previews 60 per cent occupancy on Day One. However, it wasn’t without episodes of violent protests in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

The numbers may rise over the weekend. As distributor Akshaye Rathi points out, the film’s performance “depends on the law enforcement agencies and how they handle the situation. There is a good chance that things will settle after January 26. For now, the occupancy is sporadic, depending on the situation of each centre.”

– Mohar Basu

5CR

about any scene in the film,” says Shaikh. Another city resident, Deepak Mishra, however, opines that had Bhansali merely portrayed historical facts instead of “showcasing a love angle at the beginning”, he could have avoided controversy.

While citizens suggested that the furor had little merit, Padmaavat attracted a fair share of criticism too. At 164-minutes, engineer Pratishtha Ram found the film “awfully slow”. “It’s

‘Uncle Aamir’ storms China Khan’s Secret Superstar crosses double century as superstar tries out popular Chinese cuisine in Shanghai

overrated. It is visually gorgeous, but awfully slow. I found myself fidgeting with my phone throughout the first half.” Researcher Reshma Kadam says, “Padmaavat will be a victim of its hype.” Having already grabbed eyeballs owing to the controversy, the film may find itself grappling to live up to expectations, she says.

“The drama outside the theatre is more than that on screen.”

With inputs from Mohar Basu

VOICES SACHIN BENBANSHI

KHAIRUN SHAIKH

‘The jauhar scene only showed the sacrifice made

by Rani Padmini. I don’t see a reason for controversy’

‘I don’t want to comment on the controversy, but the movie was good.

There’s nothing offensive in it’

UPALA KBR hitlist@mid-day.com THE past five days may have been frenetic for Aamir Khan, but he is not complaining. The superstar is on a whirlwind tour across China, promoting Secret Superstar. When he is not reaching out to his fans or attending press conferences, Khan has been taking in all that China has to offer — from trying out their delicacy to playing a round of table tennis.

Turns out, during his Shanghai visit on Monday, the superstar set out to taste authentic Chinese cuisine with his good friend, Chinese actor-director Deng Chao. A source in the know reveals that Chao made him try a special Chinese dish called Century Egg. “As Aamir was about to pop one into his mouth, Deng warned him that a recent CNN poll rated it as one of the world’s most horrible foods. However, Aamir enjoyed the dish,” says the source.

Box-office superstar Khan having Century Egg with Deng Chao; (right) with Liu Guoliang Another event in Shanghai saw the actor match his table tennis skills with Liu Guoliang.

The Olympic gold medallist gifted an autographed racquet to Khan, who reciprocated by gifting him a guitar.

With the Zaira Wasim-starrer marking Khan’s fourth film to release in China, he has built a steady audience in the neighbouring country — fans have

given him the moniker ‘Uncle Aamir’. The source adds, “There was a special event organised for Aamir. Since Jackie Chan couldn’t attend it, he sent across a video message, welcoming Aamir back to the country.”

Talking about Secret Superstar’s success in China, Khan said, “I’m happy to see the way the film resonated with the youth of China.”

CHINA got a taste of Aamir Khan’s box-office pull as Secret Superstar earned 265 crore in less than a week of its release. With this, the Chinese collections have surpassed the lifetime earnings in India of 64 crore. The film that hit screens in China on January 19 raked in 174 crore over the first weekend, besting Dangal’s opening weekend collection of 80 crore.

Vol. 8 No. 52 Saturday - January 27, 2018

Vancouver vigilantes take housing matters into their own hands Alec Smecher had put a deposit down on the rental apartment near Commercial Drive, but the landlady called the next day to say she’d rented to someone else. She said she’d tear up his cheque. They had an agreement, and what she did might be actionable, he thought. Later, when he saw the woman was renting another suite in her five-bedroom house on Airbnb, it pushed him over the edge.

Now, Mr. Smecher has become something of a housing vigilante, joining a growing number of Vancouverites, frustrated by an unaffordable city and a lack of solutions.

Mr. Smecher has narrowed his focus to Vancouver landlords renting out laneway

houses because, being self-contained, they are easy to spot. If it is a regular Airbnb rental and it has hundreds of reviews, it would be obvious that the owner is renting it illegally.

Because Mr. Smecher is a software developer, he’s able to do some programming to search for words on the Airbnb site, such as “cottage,” “laneway” or “coach house.” He found a total of 75 laneway houses he is certain are being used as Airbnb rentals instead of housing for locals. (Renting laneway homes for shortterm rental is prohibited and homeowners can face fines, according to new rules announced by the City of Vancouver last year). “I view laneway-type housing fairly ideal for raising a family,” he explains. “I have found enough that it makes a compelling story – 75 full-time Vancouver rentals are available now on a single site and these are homes intended as housing stock. Some are three-bedroom – they are beautiful places,” he says, showing me pictures of newly finished kitchens with granite counters and living rooms with fireplaces. “There are plenty of people here who are part of the problem.” Mr. Smecher is on a mission to return the homes to the housing stock, to help turn around a near-zero vacancy rate. He has reported his findings to the city and he intends to do a

Continued on next pages

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Real Estate

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Vancouver vigilantes take housing matters into their own hands From page 13 Freedom of Information request to determine what enforcement is being taken. Mr. Smecher’s is only one type of activism. Others vigilantes seek to spread information about fraudulent behaviour, map out empty houses or petition government. They share a common sense that things have gone wrong in Vancouver and government inaction means they’ve got to act. Mr. Smecher wonders whether politicians fully comprehend the situation.

Unless you’ve searched for housing in the past couple of years, he says, you wouldn’t really see how dire it is. “I’ve been living in a one-bedroom with my five-yearold daughter, looking for years now for suitable long-term housing. I want to play in my band, show my art, I want to set down long-term roots and I’m constantly bounced around units, with a feeling of uncertainty about where I’m going to live next year,” he says. “Everyone is in the same boat, unless you happened to hit the lottery two decades ago. My kind of activism is what people have to do, but in their own way. “People are feeling a frustration, an inability to act, and really, a bottled up anger that they aren’t finding an outlet for.

And that’s got to go somewhere. I really fear for the election coming up, if people aren’t given a sense that things are changing.”

Mr. Smecher, who’s in his 30s, lives in his one-bedroom apartment near Commercial Drive, an area he’s lived in his entire adult life – although it’s becoming increasingly difficult. His daughter’s bed is a nook in the living room, partitioned off with a curtain. As she grows older, he knows he’ll

need a bigger space and he worries he won’t be able to find one. His previous rental was a nice $2,250-a-month basement unit that was sold after he’d lived in it for 10 months. He’s been on a co-op waiting list for several years.

He’s got his challenges, he says but he sees others who are worse off, such as people living in cars and vans around a nearby industrial area. They’re the ones getting bumped out entirely.

Raymond Wong, a 42-year-old technologist who lives in Burnaby, launched a petition demanding the provincial government set up a 2-per-cent speculation tax, create a special task force on corruption, work with Canada Revenue Agency to tackle tax evasion and money laundering and ban developers from marketing overseas, among several other measures. Mr. Wong is a member of citizen group Housing Action for Local Taxpayers.

He has about 900 signatures on his change. org petition so far, which he plans to present prior to the February provincial budget. A lot of people have high expectations for the budget, he says. “It’s not right, it’s almost like the whole system is rigged against local taxpayers … I don’t know how it even came to this,” says Mr. Wong, who’d just come from a radio interview.

“It motivated me even more … You hear one story and think, ‘This is bad.’ But then there are more. “I believe because they hear these stories, there are more people taking action.

That being said, a lot of people have given up on government because government policies have failed us. They have turned a blind eye.

They’ve accepted the money laundering, the speculation. They wanted to collect more taxes and didn’t care.”

Real Estate

Saturday, January 27, 2018

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Vancouver in middle of the pack when it comes to density The City of Vancouver is the densest city in Canada, but is far behind the global municipalities it’s often compared to, according to a new study published Tuesday.

The city has 5,493 people per square kilometre as of the 2016 Census — 13th out of 30 global cities measured by the Fraser Institute.

“We find Canadian cities are much less dense than comparable American cities,” said Josef Filipowicz, a policy analyst with the Fraser Institute, who wrote the study.

“Canadian cities, including Vancouver

and Toronto, which are experiencing an affordability crunch, can accommodate much more housing supply. There’s lots of room to grow, especially upwards, if that’s what those cities want to do.” The population density of London and New York City is approximately double that of Vancouver. The densest city the Fraser Institute measured was Hong Kong, with 25,719 people per square kilometre — 468 per cent higher than Vancouver. ‘We’re comparing very old cities with young ones’ Filipowicz says the report shows the City of Vancouver could increase density, because

there’s no correlation between higher density and a decrease in liveability standards.

“There’s a road map. These cities have already done this type of density, and it means Vancouver has a lot of room to catch up if they want to boost the housing supply ... which, in the short-term, is incredibly important for stemming home prices,” said Filipowicz.

But Brent Toderian, the city’s former chief planner, says it’s a simplistic way of looking at the data. “At best, it’s a mathematical exercise. And you could debate it, because not all municipal boundaries are created equal.

Latest property assessment data shows big increases for many condo and townhouse Condominium and townhouse owners throughout Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley will likely get a shock when they open their property assessment notices this week, thanks to a region-wide increase in strata property values. On Tuesday, B.C. Assessment released its 2018 property assessment data, that showed across Greater Vancouver there were assessment increases in the five- to 35-per-cent range between July 1, 2016 and July 1, 2017. In the Fraser Valley, the increases ranged from 10 to 40 per cent. “The strata market is quite different. It’s been very robust — it’s really outstripped the single-family market,” said B.C. Assessment spokesperson Tina Ireland.

Last month, the authority sent warning letters to 67,000 homeowners, telling them to expect above average increases on their 2018 property assessment notices.

According to B.C. Assessment data, Vancouver strata homes went up on average 15.2 per cent over the previous year’s assessment, while in Surrey they went up 23.8 per cent. The City of Langley saw an even bigger jump — 26.2 per cent. A typical strata townhouse in Whistler Village went up 30 per cent, while a townhouse in Squamish’s Garibaldi Estates saw a 20-per-cent increase. “I think the extent to which things really cooled down in single family but not in condos was very, very striking because we tend to think of condos as something where you can add more supply, and single family it’s harder to add more supply,” said Tsur Somerville, professor and director of the University of B.C.’s Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate.

Since the assessments took place on July 1, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver president Jill Oudil said the trend has continued. “Detached has calmed a bit, although it’s still what we consider a balanced market,” she said. “Condos and townhomes

haven’t changed as far as both being in high demand.” Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore, who also chairs the Metro Vancouver board of directors, said it’s not a surprise to see condo and townhouse assessments going up. It happened in Vancouver a number of years ago, and now the suburbs are catching up. Strata residential values went up about 20 per cent in PoCo, and a typical low-rise condo in the city’s downtown saw a 28 per cent increase. “What I hear most about is not necessarily the assessment percentage going up, it’s how unaffordable it is for people to now even afford a condo in the suburbs,” Moore said. Somerville agreed that the affordability of condos and townhomes is “worrisome.” “When you see a lot of price appreciation in the thing that’s really the entry level product, then you’re really more concerned about people being shut out, particularly when you see these kind of increases out in the Fraser Valley,” he said.\ The single-family home market was “really quite stable, especially in the core areas of Vancouver — Vancouver, Richmond, North Shore, Burnaby,” said Ireland.

Urban areas of Greater Vancouver saw changes that ranged from a decrease of five per cent to an increase of 15 per cent. Rural areas of Greater Vancouver saw a similar range, with the upper end hitting 25 per cent.

For example, in Vancouver single-family home assessments went up on average 1.6 per cent, Richmond went up 2.5 per cent and Burnaby went up 2.6 per cent.

“We start moving out to the Fraser Valley — so even out Coquitlam way, into Surrey and Abbotsford — seeing more in the 10- to 20-per-cent range for the 2018 assessment,” Ireland said. Detached homes in the Fraser Valley saw anything from a decrease of five per cent to an increase of 25 per cent.

#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005

Some include suburbs, some don’t, and we’re comparing very old cities with younger ones like Vancouver,” he said. He argues there are important reasons for cities to consider higher density — from sustainability to liveability and affordability — but targets shouldn’t be created arbitrarily based on other cities. “It’s a bit of a subjective thing. What people perceive as dense, it varies by cities, by cultures. So factually and mathematically, we could accommodate much more density.

I’m much more interested in the “so what?” of that,” he said.

16

Garry Grewal

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