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Surge in newcomers putting pressure on inflation via housing demand: Bank of Canada The recent surge in newcomers is adding to inflation through housing demand, a senior Bank of Canada official said Thursday, warning rental and home prices could continue to rise without a boost to housing supply. In a speech in Windsor, Ont., deputy governor Toni Gravelle acknowledged many of the benefits
Surrey, Abbotsford extortion schemes set BC’s South Asian community on edge Surrey Centre MP Randeep Sarai said he is confident the ‘recklessness’ of those behind the threats will lead to them being caught. At a recent town hall meeting, South Asian business owners from Surrey and Abbotsford said they want police to do more to stop an extortion
scheme that some fear may lead to violence, if it hasn’t already. B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad said he attended a meeting with about 50 business owners Monday, where they voiced concern about gangs asking for money in exchange for protection from violence.
South Asian man gets four years jail for shooting sex trade worker at his home B.C. Supreme Court Justice Heather Holmes said Varinder Singh Deo’s shooting of an escort he invited to his Boundary Road home when he was drunk and high on cocaine was “senseless, extremely reckless, selfish.” A 45-year-old man who shot an escort in the back outside his Burnaby home in May 2021 has been sentenced to four years in prison. Drunk, high on cocaine, and armed with a loaded handgun, Varinder Singh Deo was celebrating his birthday with a friend in the detached garage of his Boundary Road home in the early morning hours of May 2, 2021, when he decided to go online and order an escort. Two escorts arrived, and an argument ensued. The women walked away after Deo lifted his shirt to reveal the pistol tucked in his waistband. But when they were about 20 feet away with their backs turned, he pointed the gun at them and fired two shots,
coming from this rise in immigration, noting it has helped grow the economy, expand the workforce and counteract an aging population. But he warned it’s also adding pressure to a housing market riddled with structural challenges, including zoning restrictions and a shortage of construction workers.
India seeks US help for extradition of Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Pannun The government has sought assistance from the US regarding violation of Indian laws by Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the MEA said here on Thursday. The government has also flagged to the US and Canada concerns about threats by Pannun to attack Parliament as well as dissuade people abroad from boarding Air India flights. “Pannun is wanted by our agencies for violation of a law. There is a process by which we seek assistance. Requests have gone Continued on page 7 OPINON
America has a Ramaswamy problem Vivek Ramaswamy distinguished himself by fatshaming Chris Christie and questioning Nikki Haley’s intelligence. Everybody can see what he’s doing, but how many like him lie ahead? As with many women of her generation, my
grandmother’s vice was daytime TV — game shows, soap operas and so-called “talk” shows. The last of the sort seemed less about talking and more about yelling. Already in the late 1980s and early 90s, the shows were each trying to oneContinued on page 4
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Saturday, December 9, 2023
Rainy, warm weather sets records across BC
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It’s been a warm and rainy start to December, and on Tuesday those conditions toppled temperature records across the province. From B.C.’s southern coast to the north, there were nine records broken. The oldest record broken was in the Quesnel area, where the mercury rose to 10.2 C Tuesday, breaking a record of 8.9 C set on that day in 1915. Victoria also had a century-long record broken Tuesday when the daytime
high temperature came in at 13.5 C, breaking a record of 13.3 C set in 1925. In the Interior, several records were broken. In the Puntzi Mountain area, a new record of 4.3 C was set, breaking the old record of 4 C set in 2015. The Williams Lake area saw the mercury rise to 7.8 C, breaking an old record of 6.1 C set in 1965, while Clinton saw temperatures of 6.5 C, breaking the old record of 4.1 C set in 2003. On the Lower Mainland, White Rock saw a new record of 13.6 C set, breaking the record of 13.5 C set in 1987.
Transport Canada launches in-depth review of Chevrolet Volt hybrid Transport Canada is launching an indepth review of the Chevrolet Volt after receiving several complaints about the performance of the plug-in hybrid vehicles. The move follows the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) opening of a preliminary investigation into 73,000 Chevy Volts over reports of abrupt loss of power, failures to restart and other issues. The NHTSA is evaluating 2016 to 2019
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As snow is hitting the North Shore mountains hard till Thursday morning, skiers, snowboarders, and snow-goers alike are rejoicing at the prospect the mountains might be fully open by Christmas. But what about the holidays? Is Metro Vancouver set for snow before Christmas? Will there be enough snow for an early morning ski on Christmas before settling in for a meal?
Meteorologist Michael Kuss says it might be too early to say, “but the current pattern and the overarching El Nino makes snow unlikely on December 25th.” Cypress Mountain Resort opened for riders Thursday, with limited terrain in use due to minimal snow. Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour are awaiting the snow gods to answer their prayers for a base before firing up their lifts.
Local / National
Saturday, December 9, 2023
Man seriously injured in parking lot shooting in Mission A man was sent to hospital with serious injuries after being shot in a parking lot in Mission, B.C., Wednesday evening. Mounties in Mission responded to calls of gunshots fired at a vehicle around 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot. Officers found the 41-yearold man with multiple gunshot wounds inside a parked vehicle. A man was shot outside the Superstore in Mission, B.C., Wednesday.
Footage from the scene shows a red Dodge Ram truck riddled with bullet-holes in its windshield and front passenger window. “Initial indications are that this was a targeted shooting,” Mission RCMP Cpl. Harrison Mohr said. “Our serious crime unit is handling this case, and we will likely have more information available in the coming days. “Witnesses describe a vehicle fleeing from the scene, however, we are still
Surrey charity offering Christmas cooking kits as families struggle with inflation As families grapple with food inflation, a Surrey, B.C., charity is rolling out a plan to help ensure families can share holiday meals. The Surrey Christmas Bureau has partnered with SuperChefs to offer hundreds of cooking kits to families in need. The kits include vouchers or Hello Fresh for ingredients for three meals for a family of four, along with a
gingerbread house kit and directions. “So hopefully the kids will wake up to a joy around the tree,” along with memories in the kitchen, SuperChefs founder Dr. Greg Chang said. The kits build on the work the Surrey Christmas Bureau already does to help families with toys, stocking stuffers and grocery cards to ensure a happy holiday experience.
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Indian-American Amit Patel steals $22 million from US football team In a startling revelation, a former executive of the Jacksonville Jaguars, an American football team, is facing allegations of embezzling over $22 million from the team’s budget to finance a lavish lifestyle that included the purchase of a Tesla, luxury watches, and chartered flights. American origin, held the position of Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis
for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2018 to 2023. The accused’s name is mentioned in court documents filed in the US District Court in Jacksonville, Florida. While the court documents refer to the team as “Business A,” the Athletic confirmed that the victim of Patel’s purported embezzlement was indeed the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Eviction notice issued for 400 boats from Mosquito Creek Marina The Mosquito Creek Marina in North Vancouver has handed eviction notices to the owners of more than 400 boats, telling them to get out within the next six months. In its eviction notice, the marina claims it’s permanently closing a number of docks due to safety issues. “The state of these docks has deteriorated such that critical repairs,
which will begin immediately, are needed to stabilize them for the winter,” the notice to the marina’s tenants said. “We regret to inform you that while we will implement actions to mitigate any imminent safety hazards, we will also need to permanently close the Marina docks (as described above) in the future and to develop extensive rehabilitation or redevelopment
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‘Shrinkflation’ in BC groceries impacts families The “shinkflation” phenomenon, where you get less for the same amount, continues to impact popular grocery products. The latest example is Kraft Dinner where a box used to be 225 grams and it has now shrunk to 200 grams while maintaining the same cost. BC Premier David Eby says he understands the outrage at companies like Kraft when so many families are struggling. “They are playing with fire because people are struggling while they are making those record profits. It doesn’t matter whether it’s
rising interest rates and the Bank of Canada and the impact that has on housing here in British Columbia or companies that are engaged in this kind of conduct,” he said. He adds that a difference of 25 grams of macaroni and cheese may not seem like a “game changer” but this is unnecessary as “the company has more than $3 billion in net profits so far this year.” Over the past year, people have also noticed all types of products from chips to cereal have decreased in volume while the price has remained the same.
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OPINION
Saturday, December 9, 2023 From page 1
other’s shock value, crossing boundaries even late-night had been reluctant to test. “Trashy,” she’d mutter while shaking her head. But she couldn’t stop watching. Then, one day, one show’s guest uttered a word for Black people that I hadn’t heard on TV before. “We don’t talk like that,” she said. I didn’t say anything. I did pay
America has a Ramaswamy problem attention to what she did next. Something she never ever did mid-show. She changed the channel. There were boundaries we weren’t to cross. There was such a place as too far, even for idle amusement on long boring days with little else to do. No one on the GOP debate stage
Wednesday night uttered such an epithet, but one thing was clear: We have lost our boundaries. We’ve crossed so deep into toofar that some folks will be stuck there forever. Worse, others are being raised in this political environment. They think this is how grownups are supposed to act. There are few examples better than Vivek Ramaswamy. It’s still unclear to me what Ramaswamy did to get into a presidential debate. He likes to mention the books he’s written, and for some folks, I suppose that counts as enough experience to share a stage with three governors. But let’s be clear. He wasn’t in Tuscaloosa Wednesday night because of legislation he’s passed or policies he has implemented. He was there because he’s a jerk. And a certain portion of the American electorate has decided they like jerks and want more jerks to run things. Ramaswamy will say whatever it takes to get attention, and there’s no dark side he won’t indulge, no fear too unfounded for him to stoke, if that’s what it takes. In Tuscaloosa, he opened the night by fat-shaming Chris Christie, inviting him to “walk yourself off that stage, enjoy a nice meal, and get the hell out of this race.” He insulted Nikki Haley’s intelligence, challenging her to name three provinces in eastern Ukraine and then rudely talking over her answer when she did. He left Ron Desantis alone because he could. His crescendo of vile smugness came late in the debate. Ramaswamy turned into a Gatling gun of paranoid grievances. That January 6 was an inside job. (One led by the FBI, not the man we all saw do it on live TV.) That the government lied about 9/11. That the “Great” Replacement Theory is not a conspiracy theory. That the 2020 election was stolen by Big Tech. And people in that room — not everybody, but enough to matter — applauded him for it.
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LOCAL / NATIONAL
Saturday, December 9, 2023 From page 1
India seeks US help for extradition of Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Pannun
crimes he is responsible for in India and hence what kind of assistance we would require from foreign countries,’’ said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi when asked if India has demanded that the US arrest and prosecute Pannun. Pannun has been booked in two dozen cases in Punjab for sedition, rioting and terror. However, the Interpol has twice rejected India’s request for issuing
a red corner notice against Pannun. On Pannun’s latest threat to attack Parliament, the spokesperson said, “Yes, we do take threats seriously depending on the context. In the specific case about Parliament…. we are caught in a bind here. I don’t want to amplify or give too much credence to such extremists who make threats and get lots of coverage. We have taken up the matter with US and Canadian authorities’’ he observed.
Bagchi said FBI Director Christopher Wray’s India visit next week was prearranged. It comes against the backdrop of the US alleging Indian government’s link in a foiled plot to kill Pannun in New York. US media has reported that CIA Director William Burns and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines had visited India in August and October,
respectively, to demand a probe and hold those responsible for the “lethal plotting’’ to account. Wray will visit soon after US Principal Deputy NSA Jonathan Finer’s New Delhi trip where he brought up the Pannun issue, according to a US readout. Finer had met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and Deputy NSA Vikran Misri.
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LOCAL / NATIONAL
Saturday, December 9, 2023
One injured in shopping mall parkade shooting in Edmonton Edmonton police say one person was taken to hospital after a shooting Tuesday evening in the Kingsway Mall parking lot. Edmonton Police Service (EPS) says that at approximately 7:16 pm, police received a weapons complaint from the parking lot outside Kingsway Mall. The suspect reportedly shot one
person and then carjacked a vehicle. The suspect then fled in the stolen vehicle to the area of 118th Avenue and 101st Street, where he entered the traffic circle at high speed and collided with a building. Officers arrested the man, and a firearm was located inside the stolen vehicle. Police say the victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Van driver killed in logging truck head-on crash on Highway 97A The driver of a van died when a logging truck crossed into oncoming traffic Sunday afternoon on Highway 97A south of Sicamous. The B.C. RCMP highway patrol continues its investigation into the crash, which happened in “very poor” driving
conditions just south of Sicamous in southeastern B.C., said Insp. Chad Badry in a news release Wednesday. The northbound logging truck crossed the centre line and hit a Dodge Grand Caravan at about 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, killing the driver of the van.
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South Asian MLA defends his motel charging higher rates for welfare clients A Saskatchewan Party legislature member is defending his motel after it raised rates for a person on social assistance. Gary Grewal told reporters Monday it makes sense for Social Services to pay higher nightly rates than a single $200 damage deposit, arguing it saves the ministry money. “It’s better to pay $50 or $60 extra, than paying $200 extra,” Grewal
Financial intelligence agency levied $7.4M penalty to RBC for non-compliance with anti-money laundering measures
said. “By this policy, Social Services are paying less money at the end.” The Opposition NDP has accused Grewal’s motel of raising rates for a Social Services recipient when the ministry started to pay her tab. Motel receipts provided by the NDP show the client paid $132 a night, plus a $200 damage deposit, when she initially checked in.
suspicious transaction reports where there were reasonable grounds to suspect ties to a money laundering offence. The agency, known as Fintrac, tries to pinpoint money linked to illicit activities by electronically sifting millions of pieces of information each year from banks, insurance companies,
Child care cost less in 2023, but more parents say spots are hard to find: StatCan
NDP govt hiding cost of taxpayer-funded defence of Horgan’s 2020 snap election call In a case that spanned three years and went to B.C.’s highest court, government lawyers successfully defended Premier John Horgan’s September 2020 decision to break B.C.’s fixed election date law during the pandemic emergency. But the NDP government is refusing to
Canada’s financial intelligence agency has levied a $7.4-million penalty against the Royal Bank of Canada for noncompliance with anti-money laundering and terrorist financing measures. The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada said Tuesday the violations include failing to submit
release the lump sum cost after a freedom of information request in the wake of the B.C. Court of Appeal’s Nov. 7 verdict. Democracy Watch and Integrity BC founder Wayne Crookes filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court two days before election day. B.C. had held four consecutive
A new report from Statistics Canada says child care was more affordable across the country in 2023, but parents are having a harder time finding it. A new report from Statistics Canada says child care was more affordable across the country in 2023, but
parents are having a harder time finding it. The average amount parents paid for their main full-time child-care arrangement was $544 per month in 2023, down from $649 in 2022, said the report released Tuesday.
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Federal govt hikes income requirement for foreign students Ottawa will require foreigners applying to study in Canada to have double the amount of funds currently required, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Thursday. He also threatened to cap visas in provinces that don’t help house students or who won’t shut down educational institutions that he argues shouldn’t be operating. “There are, in provinces, the diploma equivalent of puppy mills that are just churning out diplomas, and this is not a legitimate student experience,” Miller said at a news conference. “There is fraud and abuse and it needs to end.” Miller said the measures are meant to ensure international students aren’t vulnerable to sketchy employers and “unscrupulous” schools that leave them unable to afford life in Canada. “Clearly, we have become a country that has
been targeted for abuse and exploitation by some unsavoury actors,” he said. Starting next year, prospective students will need to show they have access to $20,635 instead of the $10,000 requirement that has been in place for two decades, in addition to paying travel and tuition. The amount will be adjusted yearly based on a Statistics Canada benchmark for living costs. For years, critics have argued that some colleges are providing foreigners with inadequate educations while giving them a chance to get visas to work in Canada and to eventually immigrate. The issue has attracted close scrutiny as an uptick in international students has coincided with a housing shortage. Media outlets have reported on students scraping by in exploitative jobs.
Community news Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society of BC, is going to celebrate Christmas & Group birthday on 27th December 2023 (Wednesday) at Ultimate Banquet hall 8072 - 120th street Surrey BC, starting at 6.00 pm to 9.30 pm. Group Birthday of all members born between 14th November to 27th December will also be celebrated. Dr. Sunil Bhatt a Family Physician by profession & well known Musician also, has kindly accepted to entertain the seniors community along with other Musicians of his group with old Bollywood Melodies free of cost. All are welcome to attend and everyone will be contributing the cost $45.00
dollars per person, please register by paying your share to Coordinator. -------------------------Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society of BC invites South Asian Adults and Senior members only to join and play Bingo on the House on December 10 2023 (Sunday) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall. -------------------------In Person Yoga classes for members only, on Every Monday & Every Thursday will continue by Mr. Ashwani Bansal expert Yoga Instructor -------------------------Lakshmi Narayan Temple, 8321 - 140th St., Surrey, BC, V3W 5K9 Tel: 604 - 507 - 9945
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INDIA India can get rich and go green at the same time
Over half a century ago, India’s then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi talked about the staggering challenge for developing nations: to industrialize without harming the environment. “On the one hand the rich look askance at our continuing poverty — on the other, they warn
us against their own methods,” she told a United Nations event in Stockholm in 1972, the first global conference to make the environment a major issue. “We do not wish to impoverish the environment any further and yet we cannot for a moment forget the grim poverty
Tamil Nadu CM accused of not helping Chennai floods victims Actor Aditi Balan has alleged that she was asked to make way for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s convoy when she was rescuing her family that was stranded in the Chennai floods. Taking to her official
X account, the Tamil actor also accused the government of helping an “influential” woman and not rescuing common people. “I was asked to move my car while waiting to pick up family that was walking through
Court asks Centre to provide data on grant of Indian citizenship to Bangladeshi immigrants in Assam Supreme Court directed the Centre to provide data on the number of Bangladeshi immigrants granted Indian citizenship in Assam between January 1, 1966 and March 25, 1971. A five-judge constitution bench
headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, which is hearing as many as 17 petitions to examine the constitutional validity of section 6A of the Citizenship Act relating to illegal immigrants in Assam, asked the state
FBI Director to visit India amid Gurpatwant Pannun row FBI Director Christopher Wray will visit India next week against the backdrop of Washington’s allegations about an Indian link to a foiled plot to
kill a Sikh separatist on American soil. US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti referred to Wray’s upcoming visit at an event on Wednesday while talking about
India nears $4 Trillion market capitalization, set to join USA, China & Japan India has been moving from being a consumption-oriented economy to an economy led by consumption as well as investment, and “markets have reacted positively and rightly to
this potential strength of the country,” Ashish Gupta, chief investment officer at Axis Mutual Fund, wrote in a note. The nation’s economic growth stands out against a slowing global macro backdrop,
How India’s new vriminal codes affect businesses Co-reported with Sarvesh Mathi India’s Ministry of Home Affairs introduced three new bills in the Lok Sabha (lower house of the parliament) to overhaul the criminal laws of the country: Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) of 1973 to be replaced
by Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860 to be replaced by Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 Indian Evidence Act of 1872 to be replaced by Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 The three bills have been sent
India’s aim to surpass China as Global South leader unaffected by its support for Israel Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong support for Israel and his country’s abstention from a United Nations resolution for a Gaza ceasefire will “clearly not score diplomatic points” for New Delhi as it aims
to outmanoeuvre Beijing to become the leader of the Global South, analysts have said. However, India’s Global South leadership will not be determined by its position on one issue, as analysts argued that “pragmatic” developing
4 ministers given additional portfolios after President accepts resignations of MPs elected to assemblies President Dropuadi Murmu on Thursday accepted the resignations of Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Patel and Renuka Singh and handed additional
charge of Agriculture Ministry and Farmer’s Welfare to Arjun Munda, the cabinet minister handling Tribal Affairs. President Murmu on the advice of Prime
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Saturday, December 9, 2023
India
Cyclone hits Andhra Pradesh, 9 dead in Chennai Nine people, including a child, have died in Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Tamil Nadu state in rain-related incidents. Authorities have evacuated thousands of people from low-lying areas in both states. Many residential areas are flooded, and videos show cars floating in water. Cyclone Michaung has made landfall between Nellore and Kavali in Andhra Pradesh, the state chief minister’s office said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said that the storm will have
wind speeds up to 110km/h (68mph), which will reduce as the cyclone dissipates after landfall. A n d h r a Pradesh govt issued an alert for eight districts Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema and Kakinada. Cyclone Michaung landfall has started near Bapatla on Andhra Pradesh coast after causing rain mayhem in Tamil Nadu.
Revanth Reddy set to be next Telangana Chief Minister The Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge nominated Revanth Reddy as the Congress Legislative Party leader for Telangana. Revanth Reddy will be the next Chief Minister of the state. The oath taking ceremony will take place on December 7. Disclosing this here today, AICC general secretary in charge of organization, KC Venugopal said, going by the feedback provided by the Congress observers including Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, party in charge for Telangana Manikrao Thakare and other leaders, the Congress president decided to nominate Reddy as the CLP leader. Venugopal pointed out, a meeting of
the CLP Telangana was held yesterday in Hyderabad, which authorised the Congress president to nominate the CLP leader. The decision was based on the feedback provided by the observers who attended the CLP meeting yesterday. Venugopal said, Reddy is a dynamic leader who is currently working as the PCC president. He said, Reddy campaigned extensively during the elections along with all senior leaders. The Congress general secretary said, the top most priority of the new government will be to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Telangana and the guarantees that the party has given to the people of the state.
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FIJI
Memorandum of understanding signed between Fiji & UAE for exemption of visa requirements off on this landmark agreement as the A Memorandum of understanding (MOU) COP28 meeting is in progress in Dubai. has been signed between Fiji and the United A statement on the Fiji Government Arab Emirates (UAE), allowing for mutual Facebook page stated the MOU would exemption of entry visa requirements. grant mutual exemptions for entry visa Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and requirements for passport holders of UAE’s Minister of State to the UAE both countries, spanning diplomatic, Cabinet, Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, signed special, ordinary, and service passports.
Deputy PM pushes for visa-free travel across Pacific One of Fiji’s most senior political leaders has delivered a fiery speech in Canberra, stepping up his call for Australia to lift visa restrictions on Pacific Islanders, and warning that the region could become
increasingly unstable unless it tackles climate and development woes. Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Biman Prasad, who is a key coalition partner for Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, has been one of the
Competition heats up in Fiji skies Competition is heating up in Fiji’s satellite broadband internet space with two of the world’s major Low Earth Orbit (LEO) service providers soon to hit the Fiji market. It is understood Starlink peer One Web
will be partnering with the Fiji International Telecommunications (FINTEL) to provide services in the Fiji market. Eutelsat-owned OneWeb is backed by Indian multinational company Bharti
PAKISTAN Court resumes hearing on Sharif’s appeal against conviction he Islamabad High Court on Thursday resumed hearing on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif ’s appeal against his conviction in the Al-Azizia Steel mill corruption case.
Nine killed, 26 injured after militants open fire at bus Militants opened fire at a bus in northern Pakistan, killing nine people including two soldiers, and injuring over 20 others, local police said.
B.C. is ushering in new building and fires codes early in the new year. While the codes are meant to bolster safety, some industry stakeholders are raising concerns about the potential impact those regulations could have on housing costs. Most of the new codes will come into effect March 8, 2024, replacing the current codes, which have been around since December 2018.
case. Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified him for five years in the wake of his conviction in the case for concealing details of the gifts he received as premier during his tenure (2018 - 2022).
Cash-strapped Pakistan secures USD 655 million package
five minutes from the Kings Highway. Divisional Police Commander West SSP Iakobo Vaisewa confirmed receiving a report on the alleged discovery.
Why new building codes are raising concerns over housing costs
The attack happened Saturday night on the Karakoram Highway in the northern Gilgit Baltistan region, police officer said.
Imran Khan challengs his disqualification before next election Ahead of federal elections in the country, former prime minister Imran Khan challenged his disqualification in the court. Former Prime Minister, Imran Khan is in jail since August after a conviction in National gifts depository (‘toshakhana’)
Cab driver found murdered Family members said Mr Prasad was found with visible wounds on his body. His distraught brother, Deepak Lal, said Mr Prasad’s hands and legs were allegedly bound and dumped in a field
Sharif, 73, was sentenced to seven years in jail and imposed a heavy fine by an anti-corruption court in December 2018 after he failed to convince the court that he had nothing to do with the steel mill set
Pakistan secured a USD 655 million financing package, including an expensive USD 300 million loan at market rates, from the Asian Development Bank, days after Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar
Real Estate
While some stakeholders say the new codes contain necessary improvements, the new rules will add to uncertainty over permit delays, increased costs and labour shortages. “A lot of these changes are coming with good intent, mostly for safety reasons and a level of risk. But we are also having to address affordability in so many areas of society,” said Chris Quigley, director of development
declared the country’s public debt as “unsustainable”. The ADB approved a financing package for Pakistan under three different loans. Among other components,
BC’s transit-oriented development plan needs more definition, stakeholders say
A plan to boost transit-oriented development (TOD) across the province is among the slew of bills passed by the B.C. government this fall. While those who spoke to BIV said the TOD bill has good intentions behind it, they expressed concerns regarding
implementation of the legislation. These concerns centre on affordable housing, the potential displacement of renters, community amenity contributions and parking. “We want to make sure that we don’t have any unintended consequences, but the
Saturday, December 9, 2023
Governor Banwarilal Purohit reserves three Bills for President’s consideration Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit has reserved three Bills passed by the Punjab AssemblyfortheconsiderationofthePresident. A statement from the Governor House on Wednesday said “The Hon’ble Governor, Punjab, has reserved the following three bills for the consideration of the Hon’ble President of India as per Article 200 of the Constitution of India”.
310 districts in Punjab & Haryana ‘most vulnerable’ to climate change A comprehensive assessment has identified a total of 310 districts nationwide as ‘most vulnerable’ to the challenges posed by climate change. Of these, 109 fell in the ‘very high’ vulnerability category while 201 were designated ‘highly’ vulnerable. The categorisation has been meticulously carried out under the National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture, an initiative aimed at fortifying the agricultural sector against the impact of climate change. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha that Uttar Pradesh topped the chart with the highest 48 vulnerable districts. Of these, 22 districts were ‘very high’ and 26 ‘highly’ vulnerable. Following UP is Rajasthan with 27 districts —17 ‘very high’ and 10 ‘highly’ vulnerable. Next is Bihar with 10 ‘very
High density of tubewells leads to fall in water table Though 13.94 lakh tubewells are pumping out gallons of water to irrigate fields, a majority of these borewells are located in the districts with overexploited water table. According to data prepared by Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), majority of the districts with critical water table continue to have maximum tubewells. Ludhiana has maximum tubewells (1.17 lakh) followed by Gurdaspur (99,581), Amritsar (93,946) and Sangrur (93,669). Interestingly, these districts have shown a steepest decline in water table. Farmers in Barnala and Sangrur have been extracting water from the maximum depth by using 17 BHP motors followed closely by Patiala, 16 BHP motors, to irrigate their fields.
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Saturday, December 9, 2023