The Asian Star December 19 2015 by The Asian Star Newspaper

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Vol 14

Issue 47 Saturday, December 19, 2015

Tel: 604-591-5423

Western Canada Multicultural Idol 2016- A platform bringing varied cultures at one stage

Toyota tops in auto safety test

Page

Wanted South Asian youth arrested as suspect in Surrey school shooting

South Asian youth wanted in connection with a shooting at a Surrey elementary school in the fall has been captured in Chilliwack. Shakiel Basra, wanted for attempted murder and intentionally discharging a firearm, was arrested by the Surrey RCMP’s High Risk Target Team without incident in Chilliwack Thursday afternoon. Basra, believed to be connected with Shakiel Basra two groups responsible for a spate of shootings in Surrey this year, is in custody awaiting his first court appearance. Continued on page 7

India’s connection to ‘God particle’

n undated handout graphic distributed by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva shows a representation of a proton-proton collision event measured in the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experience in the search for the Higgs boson. The release Wednesday of dramatic new data pointing to the existence of the Higgs boson “God particle” sent a special flutter of pride, mixed with frustration, through India’s scientific community. The “Higgs” of Higgs boson is well known to refer to Peter Higgs, the British researcher who in 1964 laid much of the conceptual groundwork for the presence of the elusive particle. Continued on page 6

South Asian woman charged with seconddegree murder after random stabbing

he South Asian woman charged over the apparently random and unprovoked fatal stabbing in Toronto’s financial district last week apparently snapped as her mental stability deteriorated as she could not find stable employment. Despite graduating with an MBSA from a prestigious business school at York University in 2007, Rohinie Bisesar only managed Continued on page 6

Rohinie Bisesar

Gas should be much cheaper with fall in oil prices, BMO says

t’s not your imagination — gasoline prices in Canada should be a lot lower than they are right now. That’s according to Benjamin Reitzes, an economist at Bank of Montreal, who said the price Canadians pay at the pump should be a lot lower than it currently is based on the plunging price of a barrel of crude. “With last week’s plunge in oil fresh in my mind as I headed into the weekend, I couldn’t help but notice how gasoline prices had ticked higher from the previous week,” he wrote in a research note on Monday evening. Despite Canada having one of the world’s largest reserves of crude oil in the world, much of the gasoline that Canadians put into their cars — especially in Central Canada and on the East Coast — is based on crude oil that’s been imported, most likely Brent crude from Europe. Many factors go into the price of gasoline, but crude prices are a significant factor. And with crude prices plunging to under $35 US a barrel yesterday — a new six-year low — that should be

Gasoline should be about 80 cents a litre if historical correlations between crude and gas held true affecting pump prices. Except, it’s not. At least, not as much as it should be. “Simply, consumers don’t appear to be reaping the full benefit of lower oil prices,” Reitzes said, noting that Canadians are still paying more than $1 per litre in many markets, Continued on page 6

2 i Saturday, December 19, 2015

LOCAL

Homeless man wins lotto, but can’t claim prize because he has no ID

Steve Borik, 57, won homeless man in Vancouver who won the lottery says he can’t claim $25,000 in July on a $8 his prize because he doesn’t have Keno ticket he had deany identification. It’s almost like a plot from cided to play on a whim TEL20150805_Q3_Asian Star_JrPg:Layout 1 15-11-02 4:23 PM 1 — a game he Page said he a Hollywood movie.

for a couple of years, since he lost it during a time of upheaval in his life. He said he hasn’t needed it — until now. But he can’t get photo identification without a birth certificate from his birth town of Montreal, Que., and he can’t get a birth certificate without TELUS STORES photo identification. The dilemAbbotsford ma has left him, literally, out in Highstreet Shopping Centre the cold. Sevenoaks Shopping Centre “I would love to be inside for 2140 Sumas Way 32915 South Fraser Way Christmas. That was my plan in Aldergrove July, when I won the money,” he 26310 Fraser Hwy. said. “If I’d got my ticket cashed Burnaby today, I’d give a thousand dollars Brentwood Town Centre Crystal Mall to the Gospel Mission to help Lougheed Town Centre other homeless people.” After Metropolis at Metrotown five months of Borik trying to get 3855 Henning Dr. identification, CBC got involved. 4501 North Rd. ™ . Coquitlam A provincial government staffCoquitlam Centre er said a woman in NDP MLA Westwood Mall Carole James’ office knew how 1071 Austin Ave. to get a Quebec birth certificate. Delta Scottsdale Centre She had done it before for other 1517 56th St. homeless people. The appro4841 Delta St. priate papers were emailed to Langley Willowbrook Mall Vancouver within hours. Borik 8700 200th St. filled out the information only 19638 Fraser Hwy. he could provide and signed 20159 88th Ave. the papers, which were on their 20202 66th Ave. Maple Ridge way to Quebec by the end of the Haney Place Mall day. The birth certificate should 22661 Lougheed Hwy. arrive in approximately three Mission weeks. Borik will be able to use it Mission Smartcentre 32670 Lougheed Hwy. to get photo identification. Then, New Westminster he will return to the B.C. Lottery Royal City Centre Corporation office to collect his North Vancouver winnings. Capilano Mall Lynn Valley Centre The windfall, he said, will give 1295 Marine Dr. him a new beginning, a real roof 1801 Lonsdale Ave. over his head, and the courage to Pitt Meadows 19800 Lougheed Hwy. reach out to his family. Port Coquitlam Hard times have dogged Borik 2020 Oxford Connector for several years — since his marRichmond riage fell apart and he fell into Lansdowne Centre Richmond Centre medical issues and depression. 11686 Steveston Hwy. Despite that, “I’ve never been on Surrey welfare. I will not go on welfare. Central City Shopping Centre Only Optik TV™ lets you enjoy the most South Asian channels. I just take care of myself,” said Cloverdale Crossing Guildford Town Centre Borik. He said he survives on Semiahmoo Shopping Centre day-to-day work that he picks up 3189 King George Blvd. going to temporary labour agen7380 King George Blvd. 13734 104th Ave. cies. Last May, Borik was was Plus, get a FREE 40" Samsung Smart TV Vancouver discovered living in a makeshift Oakridge Centre home under a tree in a clearing Pacific Centre when you sign up for Optik TV & Internet for 3 years†. on the edge of the Fraser River 220 East 1st Ave. 991 Denman St. in south Vancouver. He had built 1095 West Pender St. the shelter himself with salvaged 1143 Robson St. building supplies and tarps. 1855 Burrard St. It was on private property, 2338 Cambie St. 2372 West 4th Ave. however, and Borik was forced 2706 Granville St. to leave what he called a bit of 2748 Rupert St. Call 310-MYTV (6988), go to telus.com/freetv paradise. Offers of subsidized 3121 West Broadway or visit your TELUS Store. housing never materialized. West Vancouver Park Royal South Now, he’s found another location to pitch his tent, but he won’t Offer available until December 31, 2015, to residential customers who have not subscribed to TELUS TV or Internet in the past 90 days. Minimum system requirements apply. Final eligibility for the services will be determined by a TELUS representative. TELUS reserves the right to modify channel lineups and packaging, and regular pricing without notice. Cannot be combined with other offers. The Essentials is required for all Optik TV subscriptions. Offer not available with TELUS Internet 6. HDTV-input-equipped television required to watch HD. †A retail value of $689, based on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, plus a 2 year say exactly where, for fear of beextended warranty, provincial government eco fees and shipping. TELUS reserves the right to substitute an equivalent or better product without notice. A cancellation fee applies for early termination of the service agreement and will be the value of the promotional gift received in return for your term commitment, multiplied by the number of months remaining in the term (with a partial month counting as a full month), divided by the total number of months in the term, plus applicable taxes. TELUS, the TELUS logo, Optik, Optik TV, the future is friendly and telus.com are trademarks of TELUS Corporation, used under licence. ing ousted again. Samsung and the Samsung logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Samsung Canada. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2015 TELUS. ---------------------------------had never played before. “Lotto BC won’t cash my ticket because I don’t have photo ID,” said Borik. Borik (pictured) said he hasn’t had proper identification

Miyan hovey ya biwi sub da favourite Optik TV. Optik TV lagwao te sub da man parchao

LOCAL

B.C Liberals propose to replace Messey Tunnel with toll bridge

from unnecessary idling, and save rushhour commuters up to 30 minutes a day,” said Stone. It is also expected to reduce crashes by 35 per cent, predict ministry officials. Currently cyclists using the tunnel have to load their bikes on a free shuttle that does not even run on weekends in the winter. The new bridge will have a multiuse pathway for cyclists and pedestrians on the west side of the bridge, connecting to Steveston Highway and River Road South. Unlike the tunnel, the new bridge will have full-time HOV lanes in both directions for buses and carpools. And while it won’t have a SkyTrain line, it will be built to potentially accommodate one some time in the future. Construction is expected to begin in 2017 and take about five years to complete, meaning it will open in 2022 — if it is on time. The two main piers that will support the bridge will be build on land on both sides of the Fraser River, minimizing disturbance to the river. First though, it needs to pass environmental and agricultural land reviews, and then go out for tender to find a construction partner. The bridge will be built directly above the existing tunnel, which will remain open during construction, but then decommissioned after the bridge is opened, said Stone. The tunnel, which was opened in 1959, no longer meets current seismic guidelines and would need major maintenance in the next ten years if it were to remain open.

iStock

ransportation Minister announced plans on Wednesday to replace the Massey Tunnel with a new 10-lane toll bridge. The new $3.5-billion-bridge will connect Richmond with Delta across the Fraser River. The new bridge will have tolls. The prices have not been set but the tolls will be in the same range as those on the Port Mann Bridge, Minister Todd Stone confirmed on Wednesday morning. The final price of the tolls will depend on a number of factors, including funding from the federal government and Port Metro Vancouver, and the final construction contracts, all of which have yet to be negotiated. Unlike TransLink projects, there will be no referendum on any future tolls. Nevertheless the ministry expects drivers will willingly pay the toll for the free-flowing traffic on the bridge during rush hour, rather than deal with the congestion on the un-tolled Alex Fraser Bridge nearby. While some drivers may head to the Alex Fraser during weekend and evening, “most people will adjust back and forth,” said a project spokesman at the briefing on Wednesday morning. “This will be the largest bridge ever built in B.C. When completed, it will address what is now the worst traffic bottleneck in the province,” said Minister Stone. At three kilometres long, the cable-stay bridge will be 65 per cent longer than the recently completed Port Mann Bridge. “The new bridge will improve highway safety, reduce greenhouse gas emissions

We wish everyone in our communities a safe and enjoyable holiday season A message from the Surrey Teachers’ Association

Saturday, December 19, 2015 i 3

4 i Saturday, December 19, 2015

OPINION

Surviving the short, dark days of winter

Soon it will be the shortest day of the year, and the cycle towards sunlight will begin once again (RSL). The Raven then croaked and anchovies. Lately, they’ve started to sing, “Cold, dark and wet.” That’s three times. So did I. The Raven behaviour associated with their mating rituhow my neighbour describes his then croaked two times. So did al. My shout-outs from shore have gone unmany dark days of winters here at I. The Raven then croaked once. returned. Perhaps unrequited. Skelhp before our family moved In sharp contrast with the Raven and the So did I. There was a silence for next-door. “You have to get used a few seconds, and then the Ra- Humpbacks, our Koi are very quiet in their to it, and you will - but it takes a ven glided down from its perch pond during the dark days of winter. They still bit of time.” Well, this year I am. in the tall Douglas fir, circled swim lazily about during the short daylight The sun doesn’t fill the living room hours, but they are unresponsive to handfuls me, and flew out to sea. with light until after 9 a.m. each Out front, beyond the gran- of fish-food pellets, and they no longer pop December morning. That is, if the ite low bank cliffs that form their snouts above the water’s surface when rain clouds, fog and mist aren’t too our edge with the ocean, are a they see me approach. We think they are low. Sometimes you can look out few more friends I am learning essentially hibernating for three quarters of over the water and not even see the nearby islands. And then there’s dusk. The to communicate with - Humpback whales. the day, but their colourful orange and gold sun sets at 4:12 p.m. today, and dark follows There are two matures, each about 15 metres presence is always welcome, especially as an by 5 p.m. When the thundering rains fall, as in length, and a smaller calf, perhaps five me- offset to the pervasive grey and green that they do almost every night this time of the tres long. They arrived in early May this year, surrounds us now. The Blacktail deer fawn year, the inside of our house echoes like a and have been patrolling the length of Jervis twins, now in their second year, are regular visitors at Skelhp, but they are lurking in the hollow drum. It takes some getting used to. Inlet for seven months. We’ve seen them breach many times, al- roadside cover more than usual this month. Luckily, I have many helpers in my process of acclimatization. Just last week I was split- most clearing the water, and then thunder- Ever since the hunting season began, they ting fir rounds for the fireplace out in the ing down on their massive flanks in shrouds have become more reclusive, even though we meadow when I heard a Raven croak. Four of spray. When they breathe, each breath is aren’t hunting them. You can hear the occatimes. For some reason I croaked back four audible as they pass, and associated with the sional gun shots up on the mountain behind times, in my best Raven as a second language expelled air is the smell of freshly eaten krill us, and deer ears seem to be especially sensitive to even the distant presence of hunters. Down the bay at the salmon creek, the waters are running fast but fishless. The last of the Dog Salmon had spawned in late November, and only a few of their worn carcasses still linger on the banks. The Black bears which were a nuisance presence since September have gone off to hibernate. The noisy agglomeration of gulls, sea ducks, Blue herons and Bald eagles have also moved on, back to their familiar winter beaches and bays. Even the out of range Golden eagle has flapped off. Inside our house the piles of books beckon from their stacks on tables. Wade Davis’ 655 page brick, Into the Silence: the Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest, has finally been conquered after waiting an entire summer to be read. Perhaps most delightful are the dinner invitations from good friends nearby in weather-tight houses that burn wood for heat, and shine light through windows gazing at the dark. Soon it will be the shortest day of the year, and the cycle towards

sunlight will begin once again. Mike Robinson has been CEO of three Canadian NGOs: the Arctic Institute of North America, the Glenbow Museum, and the Bill Reid Gallery. Troy Media.

Saturday, December 19, 2015 i 5

Local

6 i Saturday, December 19, 2015

India’s connection to ‘God particle’

From page 1 What is largely unknown, at least to non-specialists, is that the term “boson” owes its name to

the pioneering work of the late Indian physicist, Satyendra Nath Bose. Born during British colonial rule in 1894 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Bose was a lecturer at both the universities of Calcutta and Dhaka. In 1924, he sent a paper to Albert Einstein describing a statistical model that eventually led to the discovery of what became known as the Bose-Einstein condensate phenomenon. The paper laid the basis for describing the two fundamental classes of sub-atomic particles -- bosons, named after Bose, and fermions, after the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi. While several Nobel prizes have been award-

ed research related to the concepts of the boson, Bose himself was never honoured by the Nobel academy. Archan Majumdar, an astrophysicist at the eponymous Satyendra Nath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences in Kolkata, said Bose’s name would be better known if his discoveries hadn’t been made during the colonial era.“If India had been an independent nation he could have got more recognition than he has,” Majumdar said. “Also, if he had the Nobel prize which he de-

served more than many others he would have been more known, but unfortunately it didn’t happen.” In 1954 Bose awarded the Padma Vibhushan -- India’s second highest civilian honour. He died in 1974.

From page 1

Gas should be much

despite Brent crude prices falling to levels they haven’t been at since 2008, when gasoline bottomed out at 76.5 cents per litre in Canada. Throughout 2015, and especially recently, Canadian gasoline prices have diverged from crude. They are still correlated, but not as closely as they once were. If historical trends were still true, gasoline should cost about 80 cents a litre with crude being where it currently is. Yet across the country, the national average gas price was 97.70 cents a litre last week, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy. com “Talk of a Christmas bonus by way of cheaper gas prices may be disappointing due to weakness in the Canadian dollar and profit

taking by speculators and refiners,” GasBuddy’s senior petroleum analyst Dan McTeague said. “As most saw crude tumble last week, drivers expected further relief at the pumps, but got a surprising increase instead.” Canadians often complain that their gasoline prices seem to go up a lot quicker than oil does, and seem to fall much slower too, but McTeague says there’s at least one valid reason this time why Canadians are paying more than they otherwise might be. On Wednesday, the U.S. central bank is widely expected to raise its benchmark interest rate for the first time in nine years. That’s going to increase demand for the U.S dollar.

South Asian woman charged with From page 1 second-degree murder

Local politicians at the SAVE Youth Forum held in Surrey on Monday, December 14. Photo by Chandra Bodalia.

aman@ewfinancial.ca

aged to find temporary or short term employment. She relied on friends for financial support as she was alienated from her family. Lonely and without financial resources, her mental state quickly deteriorated, a friend told the media. She is petite and soft-spoken and those who knew her were shocked when it was revealed that she bought a knife and then randomly stabbed another woman in a Shoppers Drug Mart in Toronto’s financial district. Bisesar appeared in court for the first time yesterday .. She is “like a deer in the headlights,” her lawyer said after she made a brief court appearance Friday morning. The charge against Bisesar was upgraded to second-degree murder after her alleged victim died five days after the attack in a Shopper’s Drug Mart in the city’s underground PATH system. A close friend of Bisesar said “It’s tragic all around,” her lawyer, Calvin Barry said outside court. He expressed sympathy for the family of the 28-year-old victim, Rosemarie Junor. If found guilty, Bisesar faces a mini-

mum sentence of life in prison with no parole for between 10 and 25 years. “We’ve kind of gone from a one to a 10 in terms of severity,” Barry said of the murder charge. Bisesar smiled slightly as she walked into the courtroom and was led into the prisoner’s box. She was dressed in a dark green sweatsuit that hung off her petite frame. She is about 4-foot-11 and weighs about 85 pounds. Bisesar did not address the court, but whispered something to her lawyer before she was led out. She will be held at a prison in Milton, Ont., until her next court appearance on Jan. 8. Her lawyer said it has been hard to confer with his “meek and quiet” client while she has been in custody, surrounded by other prisoners. “Everybody’s yelling and screaming,” he said. “It’s similar to American TV.” Barry said he’s been unable to assess his client’s mental state or whether she understands what’s going on. But she is “very upset — she’s like a deer in the headlights,” he said. A friend said that Bisesar had struggled with mental illness in recent years, and was hospitalized in 2014.

LOCAL

Saturday, December 19, 2015 i 7

Montreal teen who robbed convenience store to fund Syria trip found guilty of attempting to help ISIL

boy who robbed a convenience store at age 15 to fund a trip to Syria and told police the stolen money was â&#x20AC;&#x153;spoils of warâ&#x20AC;? has been found guilty of two terrorism charges. The youth, who is now 16 and cannot be identified because of his age, becomes the first person convicted under a new section of the Criminal Code that in 2013 made it illegal to leave or attempt to leave Canada to participate in terrorist activity. He was also convicted of committing a crime â&#x20AC;&#x153;for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a terrorist group.â&#x20AC;? Youth Court Judge Dominique Wilhelmy said evidence showed the teenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s radicalization began when he was 13. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This sad story is that of a young boy submerged by the messages of violence, of vengeance and of war issued by the Islamic State,â&#x20AC;? Wilhelmy said. Federal prosecutor Lyne DĂŠcarie had argued that the teenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intentions were clear. When his father confronted him after discovering a knife and From page 1

more than $2,000 cash from the Oct. 11, 2014 robbery in his backpack, the boy told him he was determined to fight in Syria. After police arrested him at the prestigious Montreal private high school he attended, he shared with investigators his radical Islamist views. The court heard that he called the Muslim RCMP officer interrogating him a â&#x20AC;&#x153;traitorâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;apostateâ&#x20AC;? for working for the Canadian state. Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s participation in the air campaign against ISIL amounted to a massacre of Muslims, he said, and Canada had become â&#x20AC;&#x153;a land of war.â&#x20AC;? The goods of unbelievers, he added, can be seized as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;spoils of war.â&#x20AC;? The court also heard that he had befriended Martin Couture-Rouleau, who killed Canadian soldier Patrice Vincent in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu on Oct. 20, 2014. The boy admitted he had exchanged dozens of Twitter messages and had at least one phone call with Couture-Rouleau, who was killed On page 8

Wanted South Asian youth arrested as suspect in Surrey school shooting

Basra is believed to have been involved in a shooting on Sept. 15 in the 7600-block of 124 Street that put one man in hospital and resulted in bullets striking Strawberry Hill Elementary School and a nearby home. Charges were laid against Basra, 21, from Delta, and Amapreet Samra, 21, from Richmond in September. Samra was subsequently caught, but Basra remained at large for another three months. His arrest is being described as a significant development in the ongoing drug turf war between a group of South Asians and a group of Somalians. Basra was one of several men identified by Surrey RCMP about five

months ago as being either victims or intended victims of a string of shootings linked to the drug turf dispute in Surrey and Delta that has been simmering since March. The shooting of the 22-year-old man near Strawberry Hill Elementary on Sept. 15, however, is believed to be the result of a personal dispute. The victimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s injuries in that incident were not life-threatening.â&#x20AC;&#x153;This arrest and capture is a continuation of our relentless efforts to remove these individuals from our streets and bring them before the courts,â&#x20AC;? said RCMP Supt. Manny Mann.

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8 i Saturday, December 19, 2015

LOCAL

Obituary (7410 Hopcott Rd) Delta 10am and for the peace of soul the last prayer will be held at Guru Nanak Gurdwara Surrey Delta Scott Road at 12 noon. For condolence & any information : Balwinder Wahla 604-839-4151

This is to inform with deep sorrow that Gurlal Singh (LaliI) Virk who was native of Village Tallan Distt; Patiala Punjab, suddenly passed away last Monday on December 14. He left behind his wife Jagrup Virk, daughter Millap & son Uttam Singh . Cremation will be held on Dec. 19 at River Side Funeral Home From page 7

Montreal teen

police after his attack. The teen pleaded guilty to the robbery before being charged with terrorism last December. His defence lawyers argued there was no evidence he intended to join a terrorist group in Syria, that the youth just wanted to fight Syrian dictator Bashar Assad. They also said that he had been brainwashed with “nauseating” jihadi propaganda and deserved to be treated with the same compassion shown child soldiers

in Africa. The judge concluded it was clear the teen intended to aid ISIL and that he did not benefit from international protections offered to child soldiers. She concluded with a message to the boy’s parents. “By alerting authorities, his parents probably saved his life,” she said. The Crown has requested a pre-sentencing report and a psychological assessment before deciding if it will seek to have the teen sentenced as an adult.

Prime Minister Trudeau meets Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson

ustin Trudeau met Gregor Robertson at city hall this morning — the first time a sitting Prime Minister has met there with a Vancouver mayor since his father, Pierre Trudeau, met Art Phillips in 1973. Vancouverites lined up in the rain to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister, while inside, a packed city hall included the chiefs of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, several Vancouver city councillors, as well as Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and local MP Joyce Murray. In a news conference that provided very little actual news, the federal and municipal leaders expressed their mutual respect and intention to co-operate on issues from housing to transit, marijuana distribution to the proposed En-

bridge Northern Gateway pipeline. Trudeau said that Canada needed different levels of government working together in respect and that Robertson stood out among municipal leaders, “as strong an advocate for Vancouver as I have seen in the country.” Presenting the Prime Minister with a framed photograph of Pierre Trudeau’s visit — when he signed over the Jericho Lands from federal to municipal ownership — Robertson said that it was “refreshing to have a partner in Ottawa that treats cities with respect.” Though there were no specific initiatives announced, Trudeau reiterated a commitment to help Canadian cities with transit and affordable housing. Both he and Robertson offered the Vancouver Art Gallery plans as an example of positive municipal growth.

Vancouver council rejects proposal to sell wine in grocery stores A proposal to sell B.C. wine in five Vancouver grocery stores for a one-year pilot project went down the drain on Wednesday. Vancouver council voted against the staff recommendation to test out grocery store wine sales – a policy the provincial government approved in April – citing concerns about exposing minors to alcohol and the need for a more comprehensive approach to liquor policy reform. Instead, it referred the idea back to staff so they can deal with it as part of a larger review on how Vancouver should adapt to B.C.’s new, looser liquor laws. Vision Vancouver councillors spearheaded the re-

ferral after Vancouver Coastal Health medical health officer Dr. Patricia Daly spoke about the adverse effects of alcohol and reminded them of the 2011 Stanley Cup Riots. Daly said that 93 per cent of Vancouverites live within walking distance of a liquor store so there is no urgency to expanding sales to grocery stores. Her colleague expressed concerns that mothers on a budget might choose a bottle of wine over veggies at the cash register in order to bring down the bill. “It’s going to take a lot to convince me that alcohol in grocery stores is a good idea,” Coun. Kerry Jang said in response. Coun. Tim Stevenson echoed Jang, expressing concerns

about a 12-year-old child seeing alcohol at a grocery store. But Mike Olson, vice president at B.C.-based grocer Overwaitea Food Group (it owns Save on Foods and Urban Fare), noted that kids are allowed in liquor stores as well. He said his business, which pays its unionized employees a living wage, wants to feature 100 per cent B.C. wines to give smaller vineyards a chance. WIND_Q4_GVA_AsianStar_8x10_ENG.indd 1

15-12-16 11:51 AM

PERSON OF THE WEEK

Saturday, December 19, 2015 i 9

Western Canada Multicultural Idol 2016- A platform bringing varied cultures at one stage “Dance is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.”

Chhavi Disawar

on board with us,” said Sadat. For any kind hey say dance, music and arts Multicultural Idol’2016 will also of event details, are the best way outs to bring showcase a fashion show, where in losupport, sponpeople together and maintain cal designers will bring their best of the sorship or regharmony. Based on this belief, Sadat creations on stage. Our objective is to istration. Choudhary (pictured) from Calgary offer audience a unique and culturally Contact: created an idea. An idea that can pro- diverse experience unlike any other fes604-401-3356, mote the arts at a level where passion tival or event in the country. 403-852-4768 gets its wings to fly and touch the heights it deserves. An idea through which diverse cultures will share a stage and drop the mental barriers between communities. This initiative is today known as Western Canada’s Multicultural Idol. “I have a vision. A vision to give back to society, a vision to help talented people come forward and explore their arena,” smiled Sadat in an interview with The Asian Star. In this fast paced life we hardly have time to take our passions towards next level and sooner or later we regret for not pursuing them. The whole idea of this event is to help people from various communities come up with their varied talents and perform. From past six years a similar event has been happening in Alberta. It’s for the first time that something with this wide a vision is happening in Vancouver and Available Free Alberta area. “This year we The Skills Connect for Immigrants Program delivered by thought to proceed a step ahead Services Include: Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) is a FREE program and create an impact in our sofunded by the Provincial and Federal Government. ciety and then came the idea to • Employment launch Multicultural Idol”, told Many BC immigrants possess skills in occupations where there are & Skills Assessment Sadat. “We want to involve all shortages, but face numerous barriers to attaining work aligned with their ages, all traditions, in short all pre-arrival skills, qualifications, and experience. Key barriers are a lack people who are deprived of a of Canadian work experience, insufficient language proficiency, non• Personalized Career Planning & Counselling proper platform”, told Sadat. recognition of qualifications and difficulty navigating an unfamiliar labour The selection criteria of this market. The Skills Connect for Immigrants Program helps immigrants event is through audition proovercome these barriers. • Skills Upgrading cess. Whether you ever dreamt to sing or dance to the tunes of Who is Eligible? You may be eligible if you: • Training Subsidy your favorite song in front of a • Are a new Immigrant with Permanent Resident status in the last 5 years crowd, you can definitely con• Have related foreign work experience in your profession tact Western Canada Multicul• Have intermediate to advanced level of English language proficiency • Career Seminars tural Idol’s Page on Facebook. & Workshops • Are under-employed or unemployed “We are not going to leave the • Are not receiving Employment Insurance (EI) winner with a trophy only. In• Workplace Orientation stead, we have greater plans If you are eligible, we will: to get them involved with our • Provide financial support for skills upgrading, including: courses, future projects as we have hun• Job Mentoring certification fees and licensing dreds of ideas lined up”, told & Matching • Provide skills, qualifications and experience assessment Sadat. Multicultural Idol’2016 • Personalized career planning & counselling is happening in February at the • Job mentoring and matching most renowned Bell performing arts center, Surrey. Employment counsellors will provide you with free services and “Part proceeds from this For additional information support to start your career in BC! event will be donated for Auor to register, contact: tism Awareness, as we believe in involving a cause to whatevPriya Pandit, Program Manager Get Connected With Great Employers! er event we do”, told Sadat. CME Skills Connect “At present we are building (604) 713-7806 up a stronger team in Vanpriya.pandit@cme-mec.ca couver and around areas. We bc.cme-mec.ca would love to welcome people This project is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia who support arts in any form,

Are You An Immigrant Looking For Work? Let us help you connect with great employers

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10 i Saturday, December 19, 2015

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Education saving difficult for newcomers By Dilnawaz Qamar in Brampton, Ontario instead relied on student loans for their children’s or newcomers to Canada from countries education. Ramanjeet says education savings are like India, who may be struggling to be- essential for newcomers because jobs are especome financially secure, the government cially uncertain when you first arrive in Canada. has a number of plans that may be of assistance. For some new immigrants, though, even if The catch — people have to be aware of the pro- their children are younger, they don’t pursue a grams in order to consider participating in them. RESP due to a lack of awareness. According to The Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is Anachal Chawla, who works as a financial serone such plan, which provides a tax-free option vices representative, when many newcomers hear for parents and families to save for their children’s of the RESP their response is, “Wow! We never post-secondary education. For knew it existed.” “Savings Mississauga, Ontario resident for education is specifically Pareet Jagdeep, a single mother important.” Language barof three who emigrated from riers add to this ignorance, India two years ago, the RESP says Chawla. What’s more, represents a relief from some although banks typically of the numerous challenges she have a welcoming environfaces as a recent immigrant. ment and often hire bilinOpportunities for education gual staff to serve a diverse Like many newcomers, Jagdeep clientele, immigrants are Financial advisors suggest that Indian came here for a better future parents begin saving early for their children’s still reluctant to open up for her children. As Jagdeep education in Canada and share their concerns explains, many people are very with bank officers. happy after landing in Canada because education To contrast, according to banker Nabeel for children is free. They often forget they need Khan, some immigrants may receive too much to think about post-secondary education, which information when trying to figure out their can be expensive. Not wanting to fall into that trap, Jagdeep says that soon after arriving and best option moving forward. “Everyone has getting her children admitted in school, she ap- individual experiences and individual chalplied for the RESP. She came to know about the lenges and people guide others according to savings plan from a housewife she met in neigh- their unique experiences,” explains Khan. “As a bourhood. The RESP represents a relief from result, the new immigrants become at a loss of some of the numerous challenges Jagdeep faces whom to listen to. It is good to guide a new imas a recent immigrant. migrant, but one should realize that one’s exJagdeep shares with New Canadian Media that perience [is] not necessarily true for the other she is satisfied and relieved with this decision, as immigrant.” Saving despite little money she can see her dream of her children’s education Brampton resident Neelam Chauhan, who becoming fulfilled through the savings plan. In- arrived in Canada two years ago from India, dian immigrant Bhavan made the same decision. says she recently applied for the RESP for her He landed in Canada five years ago from Gujarat, younger son. “Saving is important, but [someIndia with his wife and son. times] there is no savings at all,” says Chauhan. Both Bhavan and his wife work for banking “Because we are offered menial jobs after we institutions, so they were well informed about land we cannot even think of saving, even the the RESP. The couple applied for their first son Child Tax Benefit that we receive from govsoon after arriving in Canada, and again for their second son later on. “Savings for education is ernment is used for running the house.” All specifically important,” explains Bhavan’s wife, of the interviewees reported that opening up “because in the years to come you are relieved an RESP is quite simple. The only document that your needs for children’s education are tak- required is a social security number. Accorden care of.” Barriers to access While many agree ing to Chawla, despite a family’s financial conthat RESPs are beneficial, for Ramanjeet, his two straints, saving money is very important for children were too old to benefit from the savings parents who have arrived in Canada. “Money plan when he arrived in Brampton, Ontario four does not grow on trees. The RESP is therefore years ago from India with his wife. For this rea- very beneficial so that parents are relieved of son, he and his wife didn’t apply for an RESP and the burden of children’s education.”

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Triple-delete email report calls for penalties for FOI evaders

Saturday, December 19, 2015 i

Surrey RCMP warn parents to watch for fentanyl use over Christmas holidays

n unusual pre-Christmas warning be returning home for the holidays. report prompted by a damning port, Cadario claimed “very few” of has been issued to the families of “The types and quantities of recreationinvestigation into the culture of the emails she sends are non-tranrecreational drug users by Mountal drugs that some people may have con“triple-deleting” emails in B.C. sitory because she doesn’t create ies in Surrey, B.C., afsidered ‘safe’ are now government offices calls for tougher government policy or give advice. ter several suspected laced with dangerous But Denham found that explanation flew penalties for staff who deliberately try to fentanyl overdoses. cutting and mixing evade freedom of information requests. in the face of Cadario’s job description. Police say the respiagents, including Loukidelis says political and non-poIn a 70-page report, former privacy ratory depressant is fentanyl, that have commissioner David Loukidelis calls on litical staff in both ministry offic50 to 100 times more the ability to serithe Liberal government to “issue a rule es and the premier’s office should be toxic than morphine ously harm or even prohibiting anyone from triple deleting trained in the requirements of in- and is being cut into kill,” Fordy said in a emails.” He says public service employees formation and privacy legislation. other illegal drugs. written statement. He says employees should also face conwho destroy records or help others deThe death of a Dr. Marcus Lem stroy records in order to evade requests sequences, which could include the es- Surrey woman of the Fraser Health for access to information should be disci- tablishment of an offence relating to the on Tuesday morning was just the lat- authority says people who use illegal plined or fired. Loukidelis says they also wilful destruction of records, similar to est in a series of overdoses that Mount- drugs should not mix them with alcohol should face charges under FOI legislation. legislation which already exists in Alberta. ies suspect are linked to the drug. and should be accompanied by a sober The Criminal Justice Branch of The former commissioner was called Chief Supt. Bill Fordy of the Sur- buddy who can call for help in needed. in after current B.C. Information and B.C. has appointed a Vancouver law- rey RCMP is asking parents to keep Early symptoms of a fentanyl overdose Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Den- yer as a special prosecutor to assist an eye on young adult children who include severe sleepiness, a slow heartham found a staffer in the transporta- the RCMP in their investigation into may consume illicit drugs and will beat, difficult breathing, cold and clamtion ministry had intentionally deleted Denham’s allegations about Gretes. my skin and trouble walking or talking. emails and records connected to the so-called Highway of Tears. An RCMP investigation has identified 18 women and girls who went missing along the northern stretch of highway since 1969. Denham’s report claimed staffer George Gretes deleted records and then lied to her office under oath. Denham’s report, Access Denied, revealed the practice of “triple deleting”, in which an email is moved to the computer system’s “deleted” folder, expunged from the folder itself and then manually erased from a 14-day backup system. She also expressed concern about Premier Christy Clark’s deputy chief of staff, Michele Cadario, who was found to be bulk deleting her emails on a daily basis. Denham’s report exposed confusion around the concept of “transitory” emails as opposed to communication that should be kept under legislation requiring the retention of “decision records, instruction and advice, as well as documentation of a policy matter or how a case was managed.” Loukidelis says all records can’t be kept forever. 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12 i Saturday, December 19, 2015

LOCAL

More South Asians arrested in connection with Surrey gang conflict

ix more men believed to be involved in the Surrey gang conflict are facing charges after a violent attack earlier this month. Surrey RCMP said they were notified Dec. 5 that a man was being assaulted, threatened and held against his will near 86th Avenue and 130th Street. “When police arrived several people were arrested in relation to this event,” Cpl. Scotty Schumann said. Surrey residents Davjit Randhawa, 31, Sukhdeep Dhaliwal, 19, Chaten Dhindsa, 20 and Gurpreet Dhudwal, 18, have been charged with forcible confinement, robbery, assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm. A fifth suspect, Ravinder Samra, 28, was arrested Dec. 11 and is facing charges of forcible confinement, robbery, assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon for

a dangerous purpose. All five have been released on bail on strict conditions, including house arrest, no contact with each other, no cellphone and they must be in the company of their parents while outside their homes for any purpose. Police continue to hunt for a sixth suspect, Karnjit Randhawa, 27, who is also charged with forcible confinement, assault and robbery. Schumann said the victim is well known to police and continues to recover from his injuries. Surrey RCMP Chief Supt. Bill Fordy said police are continuing to target those behind a series of shootings over the last year. All are believed to be involved in the low-level drug trade. “We believe that arresting these individuals and advancing prosecutions against them will create a safer community,” Fordy said.

Swami Dr Satya Prakash (;eft) congratulates Arun and Shurti Suri on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary celebrated on December 8 at the Hindu Temple Burnaby. Also present were their children and their children, Kapish, Rishu and Diya Suri. Photo by Chandra Bodalia.

B.C. Liberal party exececutive director Laura Miller resigns after criminal charges laid in Ontario

C Liberal party executive director Laura Miller has resigned, after being charged with three criminal counts in Ontario in relation to an investigation into the destruction of documents pertaining to cancelled gas plants in Ontario. Miller has been charged with breach of trust, mischief, and misuse of a computer system to commit mischief. Miller was a senior aid under Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty until Miller took to twitter to defend herself saying, “I’ve stepped down from @BCLiberals as I prepare to vigorously defend myself back in Ontario.” Miller, 36, and former McGuinty chief of staff David Livingston are accused of deleting thousands of government emails pertaining to the decision to cancel two Greater Toronto Area gas-fired power plants in the lead-up to the 2011 Ontario provincial election. The controversial decision cost Ontario taxpayers $1.1 billion, according to the auditor general.

The OPP said in a release that the charges come after a “complex” investigation into the scandal led by its anti-rackets branch. None of the allegations has been proven in court. Ontario Provincial Police allege that Miller’s boyfriend, Peter Faist, had access to computers in McGuinty’s office and possibly deleted files just before the premier relinquished power in 2013. At the time, Faist was under contract to provide IT services for the Ontario government caucus and the Ontario Liberal Party. The accused are scheduled to make a first appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on Jan. 27, 2016. The B.C. Liberal government is currently embroiled in a”triple-delete” scandal regarding the keeping of government records. On Wednesday, a report prompted by a damning investigation in the culture of “triple deleting” emails in B.C. government offices called for tougher penalties for staff and politicians who try to evade freedom of information requests.

Saturday, December 19, 2015 i

Ontario lawyer disbarred for ripping off Roma refugees

ississauga, Ont. lawyer Elizabeth Jaszi had her license rescinded by the Law Society of Upper Canada for failing her Hungarian Roma clients in making their refugee claims. She was also found to have charged legal aid for services she did not provide, and has been ordered to pay $50,000 in costs. Jaszi committed a number of wrongs against her clients, amongst them failing to attend Immigration and Refugee hearings and leaving her clients unrepresented. How-

ever, the most egregious wrong was failing to prepare full and accurate Personal Information Forms or PIF’s. Jaszi told her clients to sign blank PIF forms, that she would fill out later, which is a failure of process. Refugee lawyers fill out the PIF with assistance from their clients and go over the information before the clients sign. This is done to ensure accuracy, which is something Jaszi’s PIF’s lacked for obvious reasons. According to the Disciplinary Panel of the Law Society of Upper Canada this was a big problem,

Vancouver to raise property taxes, utility fees amidst debate on affordability

ancouver councillors voted to boost property taxes and utility fees again on Tuesday in a heated debate over whether the persistent cost increases are making the city even more unaffordable. Vision Vancouver councillors passed the combined 3.2 per cent utility fee and property tax increase amounting to about $100 for a median single-family home in a 7-4 vote on Tuesday. Three Non-Partisan Association councillors and the lone Green Party councillor opposed the increase. NPA Coun. George Affleck tried to defeat the 2016 budget, asking staff to trim it by $7 million in order to keep it in line with the inflation rate that is around one or two per cent. He recommended cutting spending to the mayor’s office ($200,000), city manager’s office ($500,000), communications office ($500,000) and the contingency fund (“a couple million”). “If we want to make Vancouver affordable, the first place to start is right here in this chamber,” Affleck said. “We’re driving people out of the city.” But Vision councillors were quick to point out his math didn’t add up to $7 million, calling his attempt to send the budget back “pure politics without any substance” (Geoff Meggs),

“a random exercise in cuts” (Andrea Reimer) and “an easy cop out” (Tim Stevenson). Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr, who wishes the budget were higher to provide additional services, called it “fear mongering about taxes.” “The problem with affordability in this town is not the tax bill, the problem is the fact that the price of land has been driven up by a whole bunch of market forces which we’re struggling to help low and average income families come to grips with,” Meggs said. Plus, Meggs doubted Affleck would keep his logic of tying the budget to inflation if inflation were to rise. Stevenson argued the increase is important to ensure livability and that the budget strikes a balance between services and the needs of those who prioritize low taxes. “In order to have a liveable city, we have to have amenities. To have amenities, we have to pay taxes,” he said. “I think people are more than happy to pay the taxes they pay to get the services they get.” The only spending that received unanimous support was the $115-million operating budget for the Vancouver Park Board, on which the NPA holds a majority.

Vancouver wants cash deposits for tree replacement

he City of Vancouver doesn’t trust residents to replace trees when they uproot old ones, so it wants to demand a cash deposit until residents can prove they’re proper tree parents. The city wants owners to pay a security deposit of $500 or $750 (depending on the size of the tree) when they remove a tree, money the government will keep until owners prove they have planted a new tree and taken good care of it for at least a year, according to a report council will vote on this week. There is a one-for-one replacement rule for tree removal, but between 25 and 35 per cent of replacement trees die or are removed within their first year, according to the city.

The security deposit is meant to deter people from not planting the replacement tree, planting it in the wrong location, choosing a poor quality tree that won’t survive or not taking care of it properly. It’s part of the city’s larger strategy to maintain its urban forest. Since approximately 60 per cent of trees live on private property, the city changed its bylaws last year to require owners to get an inspector’s approval before they can remove a tree. (More than 1,700 inspections have been conducted since October 2014; hundreds were denied.) Should council approve the stricter new rules, the city will need to hire two more inspectors to monitor how well people are caring for their new trees.

Canada ‘dismayed’ at sentence for pastor in North Korea

anada expressed dismay Wednesday at what it called an “unduly harsh” life sentence handed to a Canadian pastor in North Korea. Hyeon Soo Lim, who pastors the Light Korean Presbyterian Church west of Toronto, was sentenced to life in prison with hard labour by North Korea’s Supreme Court for what it called crimes against the state. “Canada is dismayed at the unduly harsh sentence given to Mr. Lim by a North Korean court, particularly given his age and fragile health,” said Diana Khaddaj, a spokeswoman for the federal department of Global Affairs. “Like Mr. Lim’s family and friends, the government of Canada remains concerned for his rights and well-being and wishes to see him return to Canada.” Lim had been in detention since February and was sentenced after a 90-minute trial. The trial was the first opportunity for Canadian officials to see Lim, despite repeated requests to do so,

said Khaddaj. “This is a serious violation of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and the right of states to have consular access to their citizens,” she said. “We continue to request consular access and work towards a resolution of his case.” The crimes Lim was charged with included harming the dignity of the supreme leadership, trying to use religion to destroy the North Korean system, disseminating negative propaganda about the North to the overseas Koreans, and helping U.S. and the South Korean authorities lure and abduct North Korean citizens, along with aiding their programs to assist defectors from the North. State prosecutors sought the death penalty. Lim’s lawyer asked the court to take into account the fact that Lim is a fellow Korean and that he had frankly confessed to everything the prosecution had brought up.

14 i Saturday, December 19, 2015

LOCAL

Kids and cannabis don’t mix

here’s been a lot of pot talk in Canada in recent years, and a lot of debate over the therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana. But the Canadian Paediatric Society wants to make one thing perfectly clear: Doctors should not be prescribing cannabis to children. “While there is growing evidence that cannabis can be used effectively for some medical purposes there is no evidence to support the use of medical marijuana on children,” said Dr. Michael Rieder in a phone interview with CBC Vancouver. Rieder is the lead author of a position statement Monday by the Canadian Paediatric Society. He says the organization felt compelled to issue it because doctors are increasingly being asked about marijuana prescriptions for children. “Overall, there is insufficient data to support either the efficacy or safety of cannabis use ... in children, and an increasing body of data suggests possible harm,” states the report. Rieder says there’s no way to know how many children are being given medical marijuana in Canada because the prescriptions are not tracked.

He says general practitioners are faced with fighting a war of perceptions because pot proponents like to claim all sorts of benefits around medical marijuana when there is no hard research or solid evidence one way or the other when it comes to prescribing cannabis to children. “The problem with marijuana is there’s a mystique attached to it which gives people the impression that it must work and it must be safe,” he said. “Neither of those two statements is true.” Because the potency of medical marijuana products varies widely, Reider says a second problem in prescribing it for children is knowing and controlling the dosage. He says although dosage is something that is understood and controlled in every other prescription drug, when it comes to prescribing cannabis doctors have been left to try and figure it out themselves. People would think you’ve lost your mind “If you shifted and looked at another drug and said, ‘look at medical grade oregano’ — nobody in their right mind would ever license it the way the federal government licensed marijuana, which is really

Mysterious $50M Lotto Max winners finally revealed - after failing to stay anonymous

he intrigue-filled mystery surrounding the winner of a $50-million Lotto Max prize drawn over a year-and-ahalf ago was finally solved when the winning ticket holders publicly accepted their prize Tuesday in Vancouver. Husband and wife Friedrich and Annand Mayrhofer, and son Eric, all from Langley, B.C., posed for pictures with the oversized novelty cheque, the very thing they had hoped to avoid. “This is an enormous prize,” said Friedrich Mayrhofer. “We didn’t know what to do. But we’re public now.” “We’re shy, private people” he added. “So this is a big step for us.” The Mayrhofers had attempted to keep their identities private by signing the winning ticket over to a trust before it was presented to the B.C. Lottery Commission in March of 2015, a full year after the winning numbers had been drawn and just days before the deadline to claim the prize. BCLC CEO Jim Lightbody called the circumstances “unique” leading to a lengthy

Annand, Eric and Friedrich Mayrhofer of Langley, B.C. have finally come forward to claim the $50M Lotto Max prize that was drawn in March of 2014.

prize claim review. In June of 2015 it was concluded only an individual or group of individuals can claim lottery winnings. The Mayrhofers resubmitted a prize claim as a group last month. The Mayrhofers say they have no plans to move out of the house they’ve lived in for 36 years, but will use some of the money to remodel and buy new furniture.

South Asian senior struck at Surrey bus stop awarded $405,000

n 85-year-old man who suffered devastating injuries – including brain damage – when he was struck by a truck at a Surrey bus stop two years ago has been awarded more than $405,000 by a B.C. Supreme Court judge. Harry Sangra was standing at a bus shelter near Scott Road and 75A Avenue after visiting his younger brother when he was struck. According to a Dec. 14 court judgment, Scott Lima, now 25, was driving his sister Christine Sine’s truck northbound on Scott Road on Feb. 23, 2014 when he collided with a Volvo, causing it to spin 180 degrees into oncoming traffic. Lima fled the scene without checking on the father and son in the Volvo. As he sped away, his truck spun, its rear end crashing into the bus shelter where Sangra was standing. Lima then accelerated away from that scene as well. He as arrested later after pulling over and walking to his sister’s place. Sangra was left unconscious on the sidewalk, a sheet of glass from the bus shelter on top of him. Investigators estimated he had flown 10 to 20 feet from where he was struck. Sangra was rushed to Royal Columbian Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He had massive internal bleeding, and underwent multiple urgent surgeries. He also suffered a brain injury, spine, skull, facial and pelvic fractures and numerous cuts. He was in an induced coma for 10 days. Prior to the collision, Sangra, a retired heavy duty mechanic, led an active life, going to the gym and swimming regularly. He did most of the grocery shopping and housekeeping. “To say that Mr. Sangra embraced life is an understatement,” said Justice Paul Walker. That all changed after the crash. “The collision has had a significant and most adverse effect on his life,” said Walker. “I was able to see glimpses of his humour and the person that he used to be.

LOCAL

Unemployed dental assistant loses $14K child support claim

B.C. Supreme Court justice has rejected a mother’s claim for $14,000 in monthly child support from her ex-husband, because she hadn’t looked for work in the nearly five years since the couple separated. The case was brought forward by the ex-husband who claimed he had overpaid child-support and should no longer have to pay any support for a step-son with whom he has little to no contact. The ex-husband is an oral surgeon who until recently earned more than $2 million a year. Court documents show he was able to earn the extraordinary amount by working up to 12 hours a day, while volunteering to be on call 365 days a year. The couple’s identities are not revealed in the documents, but their history is laid bare. They met at work, where the woman was a dental assistant and the man was an oral surgeon — and were married for less than 10 years.

The woman described the couple’s lifestyle as “lavish”, with many vacations, luxury vehicles and no budget. The woman had a child before the couple met — she shares custody with that child’s father — and the couple had one child during their marriage. And that’s where it gets a bit complicated. The couple’s child lives with the father full-time, and the mother was seeking support for the step-child. But the court heard evidence that the mother didn’t want the child to see the step-father. The court also rejected the mother’s claim that she couldn’t afford to provide the same lifestyle her children enjoyed during the marriage. Justice Linda Loo noted the couple did not spend “lavishly” on the children during their marriage, and rejected the mother’s concerns about the son’s wish for a mountain bike costing $8,000 to $12,000, noting not all children’s wants are reasonable.

Saturday, December 19, 2015 i

BC Gov’t rejects Metro Vancouver’s mayors request for ‘sole responsibility for transportation policy in the region’

he mayors of Metro Vancouver say it’s time to put an elected official in charge of TransLink in order to regain public trust in the organization, but the province is responding with a solid no. The Mayors’ Council first called for change in TransLink governance after a ‘No’ vote in this summer’s transit referendum on a 0.5 per cent increase in the provincial sales tax. “We hope that making governance changes will [mean] people will feel more comfortable with giving more money to TransLink because they can talk to their local mayors, they can address the issues, and we can be accountable for collecting those funds and delivering those services,” said Greg Moore, mayor of Port Coquitlam and the chair of the Metro Vancouver board of directors. Talking to reporters Tuesday afternoon, Peter Fassbender, the minister responsible for TransLink, said there would be no change in TransLink governance.

“I’m not prepared to change any legislation at this time.” Multiple TransLink CEOs have come and gone in recent months, with Ian Jarvis, Doug Allen, and now Cathy McLay all taking a turn this year. Calling for legislative change In order to implement this governance change at TransLink, Metro Vancouver is calling on the province for legislative change. It is asking the government to change the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Act to give the Mayors’ Council “sole responsibility for transportation policy in the region,” according to the announcement. Ultimately this recommendation is about accountability, said Moore. “People want to hold someone accountable when decisions are made poorly,” he said. “That was the key issue. There’s no elected folks in charge at TransLink.”

More than 350 Burnaby cars vandalized

string of more than 350 car break-ins on a Burnaby residential streets has caused thousands of dollars in damage and prompted police to ask for help identifying a suspect. Police say the smash-and-grab thefts began in October, but are only just now warning the public. More than 19 cars were vandalized on one street alone, RCMP Cpl. Daniela Panesar told reporters. Police have examined surveillance videos and say they believe one man is behind the vandalism. They say the suspect appears to cruise residential streets in the early morning hours, and targets vehicles randomly. Most of the incidents have occurred between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. PT. “What we are seeing is the suspect often driving a vehicle to the area, stop in the middle of the street, get out of his car and then proceed to smash the driver side window,” Panesar said. Often the thief takes only change or sunglasses. Sometimes, he takes nothing. But the damage to the cars is extensive.The average insurance claim is about $1,000, she said. The suspect then gets back in his car and drives to the next vehicle and does “the exact same thing over and over again all along the street.” The suspect is a tall man with a slim build, Panesar said. He drives a late 1990s, light-coloured, fourdoor sedan with a large dent on the passenger side front door. The break-ins began in October, said Panesar. When asked why police didn’t warn Burnaby residents earlier, the officer said police were still investigating the crime spree and didn’t want to reveal information prematurely. Meanwhile, police are asking residents to ensure they don’t leave valuables in cars.

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16 i Saturday, December 19, 2015

Law Society of BC disbars Vancouver lawyer for misappropriating $50,000

Uber not licensed in BC, province says

he B.C. Ministry of Transporta- out the province and we continue to work tion and Infrastructure says Uber with our stakeholders with a view to moving to cover an overdraft in another client’s has not applied to operate in BC forward,” she said, in an emailed statement. Vancouver lawyer has been ordered She said the Passenger Transportation trust account in December 2012. The soas several Metro Vancouver municipalidisbarred after a Law Society of Act requires any vehicle ciety says Briner gained a clear advantage. ties call for the province B.C. investigation found profesIt also says he offered no evidence to to allow the ride-sharsional misconduct. The society says John Coquitlam, Port operated by the person who charges or collects support his position that the misappropriaing company to operate. Briner misappropriated trust funds of more Coquitlam and tion was a simple mistake. The society sets Coquitlam, Port Cothan $50,000, breached trust accounting Langley Township compensation for transporting passengers to standards of professional responsibility for quitlam and Langley rules and failed to co-operate with its invesvote have a licence. She said at lawyers in B.C. and upholds the regulations Township councils vot- in favour of ridetigation. It says a discipline hearing panel this point, the Passenger through a complaints and discipline process. ed last week to ask the found Briner used one client’s trust funds share service Transportation Branch provincial government has not received any apto reconsider the rules Grade 5 student struck by employee of North plications from Uber that stop cities from alVancouver elementary school to operate in B.C. She lowing ride-sharing. letter has been sent to parents did not say whether the Sonia Lowe, a pubschools, and Mark Pearmain, assistant and guardians of children attendgovernment would conlic affairs officer for the superintendent, confirms the incident ing Norgate Elementary school sider amending this law. ministry, said the govtook place Dec.9 between an employee of in North Vancouver after an employee Kathleen Vincent, a ernment has not yet reNorgate school and a grade 5 student. allegedly struck a student last week. The spokeswoman for the city ceived any letters from Calling it, “unfortunate”, the district North Vancouver School district says it of Coquitlam, said she anthe Tri-Cities municimaintains complaints like this are treatis taking the “unfortunate incident” very ticipates Coquitlam will palities, but welcomes ed very seriously and that the employee, seriously, and the RCMP has been called send its letter to the government next week. their feedback on this issue. “will not be at work as the matter is being in to investigate. The letter, signed by John In Vancouver, city staff have been “We understand there is a strong desire for addressed.” Lewis, superintendent of North Vancouver in consultation with the San Francischoices in transportation options throughco-based Uber as demand for the service grows in the city. But Vancouver still has a moratorium on the service. In October, council voted to leave an existing moratorium on new licences in place for another year, despite a shortage of cabs during peak hours. In Toronto, meanwhile, Mayor John Tory said Monday it would be impractical for the city to try to shut down Uber, which is preparing to launch another ride-sharing service called uberHOP on Tuesday. UberHop will be a rush-hour, carpool option that links some of Toronto’s busiest neighbourhoods to the downtown business district for a flat $5 fee. Tory said there’s no point trying to judge if Uber’s expansion is good or bad for Toronto, and called it another convenient and affordable option for consumers and a marketplace response to a reality. He said Uber has over 300,000 users and 15,000 drivers in Toronto, and it would not be practical to try to force the company to cease operations until new regulations are enacted. Tory said lawyers are gathering more evidence about Uber, but so far are not info@eyelevelrichmond.com recommending the city make a second www.eyelevelrichmond.com attempt for an injunction to shut it down.

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Report blames critics for ‘instability’ at BC Children’s Ministry

he B.C. Ministry of Children and Family Development should get more money, another thorough restructuring and less oversight from the independent representative for children and youth, says Bob Plecas in the first part of his review of the ministry. Theretired civil servant blamed the independent representative, the media and the Opposition for causing an “avalanche of criticism and calls for change, that ironically, leads to even greater instability and loss of confidence in the work of the ministry.” “Despite our desire for improved services and repeated calls for less partisanship on the issues, there seems to be a great appetite for piling on and blaming both individual workers and the system at large for perceived and real failings,” he said in the 50-page report, titled Decision Time: Part One. In place of the hard-hitting Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Plecas envisioned “a ministry spokesperson that can, over time, gain the trust of the public.” He branded the representative’s scrutiny of the ministry as “unhealthy.” “External oversight should end when the ministry is capable of carrying out these functions and the representative’s role should become one focused on advocacy,” he said, estimating that will happen within two years. He said the next representative appointed should be restricted to a single six-year term. “Sadly, the relationship between the representative and the ministry has become strained,” Plecas asserted.

Riverview Lands revisioning to include new mental health buildings

he B.C. government says it plans to turn the former site of the Riverview psychiatric hospital in Coquitlam into a mixed-use development that will include new mental health facilities, as well as social and market housing. The province announced the plans for the Riverview Lands on Thursday morning. They include two new buildings and relocating three mental health programs to the site. “We have made significant progress over the past year advancing the continuum of services for people in British Columbia suffering from severe substance use and mental illness,” said B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake. “The relocation and expansion of the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction to the Riverview Campus will allow us to better meet the needs of these patients, and support them in their recovery and transition back into the community.” The Coquitlam psychiatric hospital has been sitting mostly empty since it closed in 2012 — except for three small mental health facilities operated by Fraser Health. Break-even model for development Entitled A Vision for Renewing Riverview Lands, the report is the first step in developing a master development plan that will include a healthcare district as well as market and supportive housing.

He says “MCFD is not in shambles” but is a victim of a “culture of relentless accusation.” The government isn’t to blame for child-welfare tragedies, Plecas maintained — “it does takes a village to raise a child” and no matter what “children will still be abused and die.” It is impossible to prevent “all children from either suffering abuse or dying as a result of abuse and neglect,” he wrote. “I think we must recognize that, in spite of best intentions, this is a myth.” “Persistent tension permeates everything that involves the two organizations that, at times, compromises their respective capacities to elevate the quality of service to which they are both committed,” he claimed. Plecas blamed the messengers — the representative for the past nine years, the media and the Opposition — for dramatizing what he says are only one-off mistakes, a relatively small number of high profile and tragic cases.

Saturday, December 19, 2015 i

2 dead after violent armed robberies in South Edmonton

wo men are dead and three suspects have been arrested after a pair of armed robberies in south Edmonton. The first man was killed in a shooting at a Mac’s convenience store at 108th Street and 61st Avenue. Police were called to the scene just before 3:45 a.m. MT on Friday. Fifteen minutes earlier, police had been called to an armed robbery at another Mac’s convenience store at 32nd Avenue and 82nd Street. A man was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries, but later died. Three suspects were arrested after police tracked down a vehicle on Whitemud Drive. That vehicle remained at the scene this morning, just under the Terwillegar Drive overpass on Whitemud eastbound. Outside the Millwoods Mac’s, two police officers searched the alley behind the store, then placed orange cones on the ground before stringing yellow crime scene tape at either end of the alley.

Bernie Abrams said he has lived in the Millwoods neighbourhood for five years and often stopped in at the Mac’s. He said the people who worked at the store were “very nice” to customers. “It’s sad,” Abrams said. “I mean take the money, but why kill somebody? It doesn’t make sense.” Gursharan Buttar, who hosts a Sikh radio program, said the store is owned by someone from the South Asian community. “The community is shocked to learn what happened last night. It’s senseless.” Traffic was being diverted Friday morning off Whitemud onto Terwillegar, and the eastbound lanes were expected to be shut down for some time for the investigation. Motorists were advised to avoid the area and use other routes. Police haven’t released any information about the men who were killed. A spokesperson said they’re waiting for confirmation that family members have been notified.

18 i Saturday, December 19, 2015

I faced casting couch: - Ranveer Singh

Saturday - December 19, 2015

TYLE

Mandana Karimi plays the leading lady

Amitabh Bachchan (left) and Farhan Akhtar recoreding a song titled “Atrangi Yaari’ for their upcoming film ‘Wazir’ is an Indian action thriller directed by Bejoy Nambiar, written by Abhijat Joshi and Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

and she is all set to scorch the scene in a bikini clad avatar in the film. Here’s a glimpse of it Well it’s not just the return of the sleaze! This time around, the makers have decided to raise the sex comedy content a few notches higher and have decided to release the trailer of the film in a never-heardbefore manner. Alt Entertainment will be tying up with a few porn websites for ‘Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3’. Claiming it to be a ‘porn-com’, the trailer of the film will be hosted by over 40 popular adult websites on the day of its digital launch.

Mandana Karimi

anveer Singh believes in saying it as it is and when he discussed the contentious issue of casting couch recently, it was no different. The Bajirao Mastani actor not only revealed that he has faced casting couch, but also added it is a commonplace situation for strugglers. he was invited by a casting director to his home in Andheri. He described the man as “a highly sleazy gentleman” and said the man did not even look at his portfolio. “I had worked as an assistant director and I knew that there are no takers for 500-page portfolio. Mine was very impressive and people were intrigued enough to at least take a look at it,” Ranveer said.

he era of sex comedy takes a new turn in 2016 with two popular franchises releasing their films in the upcoming year and among them is the Tusshar Kapoor, Aftab Shivdasani starrer Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3. Sexy lady Mandana Karimi plays the leading lady

SRK’s ‘Dilwale’ , Deepika’s ‘Bajirao Mastani’

clash will create ‘huge hits’

wo of the hottest Bollywood films are reportedly set to release at the same time. Many fans are excited to see their favorite jodi, Shahrukh Khan and Kajol reunite on the big screen in “Dilwale” after a long time. However, at the same time they are also eager to see the steamy chemistry between rumored couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh in “Bajirao Mastani.” This is apparently a major clash waiting to happen in the film industry, but some people think that both films will be huge hits.

Salman has spent over Rs 25 crore in the hit-and-run case: Salim Khan

alman Khan ’s father Salim Khan has said that the Bollywood actor has spent more than Rs 25 crore in the 2002 hit-andrun case. The writer added that he was happy and relieved after his son’s acquittal . Salim Khan along with his son Salman Khan and wife Helen participating in Lord Ganesh pooja in a file photo, September 18, 2015.

Yesterday, the Bombay High Court acquitted the 49-year-old actor of all charges in the case, seven months after a sessions court convicted and sentenced him to five-year imprisonment in May. “Everybody is happy... every person who is close to Salman emotionally, is happy. I am happy and relieved,” Salim Khan said. The veteran Bollywood scriptwriter feels people are oblivious to the ordeal

that Salman faced in the case. “People are saying he has just walked away... he has been in the jail for few days. He has spent over Rs 20-25 crores (on the case). Besides this, what about the tension that he and everyone went through all this time?” Salim said. On September 28, 2002, Salman’s car had rammed into a bakery shop in suburban Bandra killing one and injuring four others.

Star & Style

2 i Saturday, December 19, 2015

Horoscope Aries

March 21 - April 20 If you look ahead you can begin to see how your visions in life, your aims and goals can be lived out in the future. There’s an almost predictive quality to the influences so trust your hunches and be ready to move. You may not be terribly practical, but you can be very effective in planning. You have very powerful energies working now in your love life.

Taurus

April 21 - May 20 This is a time to be around friends. You want to be sociable and outgoing, one of the gang. Team relationships will work tremendously well. Why fly solo when there is so much support on offer around you. There could be some indiscretions in the air if you are bored in your love life. Venus in aspect with Pluto encourage you to do

Gemini

May 20 - June 21 This week you can certainly look for a good break or a light at the end of one tunnel. This is definitely your lucky week in however small a way. There will be a lilt in your step and a twinkle in your eye. It will feel to you as if there is a sort of magical power drawing you closer to the right person. You have a deep sense that certain relationships are meant to be, so you’ll make the effort to turn on your charm at super speed.

Cancer

June 22 - July 23

Maybe you are being just a touch unrealistic so watch you don’t sail into something thinking you can’t lose. If you do keep your feet on the ground then there are definitely fair winds blowing you along. It’s a question of finding the right balance between confidence and common sense. You definitely want to be close to that special someone. You’ll flutter your eyelashes, even be slightly manipulative, but it should work very well.

Leo

June 24 - August 23 If you think you’re absolutely right about everything, then you’re almost certainly wrong. There are wonderfully uplifting influences around this week, but there is a danger of becoming so filled with confidence that you get self righteous. Watch that you don’t get too smothering with loved ones Both of you need to realise that for relationships to grow, they have to stay open. If you clutch too much, clearly that won’t happen.

Virgo

August 24 - Sept 24 You should be feeling very confident and optimistic, bright and breezy this week. If you can try to act as frivolously as you’ll feel, you will find that you can flirt outrageously and have fun and be happygo-lucky. There’s a really delightful upbeat side to the Venus Pluto aspect, which means you’ll flutter your eyelashes and twist people round your little finger. It will draw you closer to people you really want to be close to.

Do you know how much Deepika’s jewellery in Bajirao Mastani costs?

Libra

Sept. 24 - Oct 22 You may be overspending because you feel like indulging yourself. Just watch you aren’t assuming that if you let money float out of one hand, it’ll float back in the other. You may feel a little separated from loved ones, because Pluto close to Venus tends to magnify everything. You may get melodramatic about small things, all wound up about something that really isn’t that important. So try to keep a good sense of humour handy.

Scorpio

Oct 23 - Nov 22 Maybe you are feeling very laid-back, can’t be bothered to do anything very much. You are relying on a wing and a prayer to sort out all your problems. If you can exert yourself to be slightly more realistic, then you’ll find that everything just slots into place very nicely indeed. This week you could become infatuated with someone new. Take care because you can become stuck in a relationship which may not be entirely good for you.

Sagitarius Nov 23 - Dec 22

Maybe you are feeling very laid-back, can’t be bothered to do anything very much. You are relying on a wing and a prayer to sort out all your problems. If you can exert yourself to be slightly more realistic, then you’ll find that everything just slots into place very nicely indeed. This week you could become infatuated with someone new. Take care because you can become stuck in a relationship which may not be entirely good for you.

Capricorn Dec 23 - Jan 20

Aquarius

Jan 21 - Feb 19 This could be a lazy week with a nice, warm glow to it. But if you can put a bit of self-discipline and structure into your work. the good luck of Jupiter will last a bit longer. You have a yearning for something more intense, so you could become infatuated with someone new. This may be the trigger for a relationship that will last. But it can also bring up jealousy in relationships you already have, so watch your step.

Pisces

Feb 20 - March 20 This week the Sun is in aspect to Jupiter, so you should be feeling pretty good, both physically and psychologically. There’s lots of optimism in the air and you have a really positive outlook. You’ll also tend to be quite obsessed about your love life. You definitely want to have more depth and passion in the relationships you’ve got. Or you’ll be looking for a new relationship in which you can really consume yourself.

Deepika Padukone’s jewellery in Bajirao Mastani is WOW!

eepika Paduk o n e’s jewellery in Bajirao Mastani costs Rs 5 crore! In fact, in one scene alone -- where she is addressing Ranveer Singh’s Peshwa in the courtyard -- she is wearing jewellery worth Rs 48 lakh! Her exquisite jewellery has been designed by Delhi-based jewellers called Shri Hari Diagems, a-226 year old establishment. “The team of Bajirao Mastani happened to visit our shop in Delhi and liked the stuff we create,” says store co-owner Vinay Gupta. “They took some of our jewellery pieces to Mumbai to show it to Sanjayji (Sanjay Leela Bhansali, director). He loved it, and we were on board immediately.” Shri Hari Diagems has been dealing with antique jewellery for six generations and use the techniques of the Mughal era to create the pieces. Gupta says the Bajirao Mastani team briefed him about ideas and references for every piece. “For example, Mastani was half Muslim and half Hindu. So we had to create something on the Hindu-Muslim texture. If you look at her jewellery in the film, it’s very normal, not overwhelming or over-the-top. Mastani’s jewellery was very unique, the type never made until today. We have created lots of jummar ear pieces, haath phool (jewellery worn on the hand), nath (nose ring) and neck pieces,” Gupta says. Also, the jewellery had to be comfortable and

light. The toughest piece was a two-tier ear piece, pictured above. “We had to make two pieces, one for the ear and the other goes behind it,” says Gupta. It took a year to research the jewellery for the film and make it. Otherwise, Gupta says, a piece takes about three-four months. All the pieces have been set in 24-carat gold. Kundan work, and precious stones like Burmese rubies and diamond polkies have also been used. The nath has real rubies and pearls, set on 23/24 carat gold. Out of the 300 pieces created, 200 were shortlisted for the film. The first piece of jewellery that was designed was used for Mastani’s introduction, where she is seen as a courtesan. “I wanted to create jewellery that people will remember for 100 years,” Gupta says with a smile. “Deepika loved the jewellery, that’s why we could use a year to make it. She especially likes the nath (in the poster) and is planning on buying it,” he adds. Gupta claims that the nose ring has become a rage, and a lot of people want to buy it. “(Shahid Kapoor’s wife) Mira Rajput has picked up jewellery from us. She bought a Navratan necklace with polkies and a Colombian emerald and diamond necklace. She has also picked up an old jummar ear piece. She was the trendsetter ofjummars! When I sold her the jhummar, I knew it would look good on her but I never realised it would become a rage,” Gupta says.

Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan relive their Karan Arjun days Rakhee’s prediction from 1995 came true, after two decades, the Khan bromance hit its peak as Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan spent a gala time together during the shoot of a special promo for Bigg Boss 9. “Both the Khans were in high spirits, they hugged and reminisced about the good old Karan Arjun days for 40 minutes over coffee, before going to their re-

spective vanity vans to prep up for the shoot,” says a source from the sets. The superstar duo laughed off their feuds, adding that such things were common among fast friends. The source also mentioned that they would burst into laughter every time Rakhee’s dialogue from the film, ‘Mere bete aayenge, mere Karan Arjun aayenge!’ played up in the background. In between shots, Salman would even hum the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai title track.

Bollywood personalities’ birthdays this week Mahie Gill 19th December

Sohail Khan December 20

Krishma Tanna December 21

Tamannah December 21

Anil Kapoor 24th December

Star & Style

Mallika’s date with President Obama

MOVIES RELEASED THIS WEEK - December 18, 2015

Mallika Sherawat

allika Sherawat is over the moon. Reason she met American President Barack Obama at a tea party in Los Angeles on Thursday. The actress apparently was invited for tea with Obama during his campaign visit in Hollywood. According to a source, the Indian star who likes to make her presence felt is said

Saturday, December 19, 2015 i 3

Dilwale

ilwale is an upcoming 2015 romantic musical action comedy film directed by Rohit Shetty, produced by Gauri Khan and Shetty under the banner of Red Chillies Entertainment Rohit Shetty Productions. Kajol, Shah Rukh Khan, Varun Dhawan, and Kriti Sanon in lead roles

Bajirao Mastani

ajirao Mastani is an upcoming Indian historical romance film produced and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film narrates the story of the Maratha warrior Peshwa (Prime Minister) Bajirao I of the Maratha Empire and his second wife Mastani. Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone portray the titular protagonists, and Priyanka Chopra plays Bajirao’s first wife Kashibai. The film is scheduled to be released on 18 December 2015

Akshay Kumar and Rajinikanth in Robot2

to have discussed her stay in LA and spoken about her upcoming film `Politics of Love, Barack’ with the President Believe it or not, Obama told Mallika make sure you invite me to the premiere of the film.

hile expectations were already high from Rajinikanth’s ‘2.0’ (the sequel to Robot/Enthiran, 2010), this big news that has come in today has already made it India’s most awaited film ever! Already! After getting maestro, A. R. Rahman on board for the music domain, the makers of this magnum opus have roped in Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar for

a pivotal role in the film. Khiladi Kumar has already joined Rajinikanth and leading lady Amy Jackson in Chennai to resume the filming process.

Neha Dhupia’s noble gesture

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pening this year, as strong sales are continuing. Recent government changes to mortgage rules that will force homeowners of properties valued at more than $500,000 to have larger down payments are likely to keep sales strong as some buyers may rush to get in under the wire, CREA’s president said.

Average house price rose 10% to $456,186 in November

he average price of a Canadian home was $456,186 in November, a 10.2 per cent increase compared to the same month a year earlier. The Canadian Real Estate Association also noted Tuesday that stripping out the expensive and large markets of Toronto and Vancouver, the average price

Bill Morneau tightens mortgage rules on homes over $500K “Recently announced changes to mortgage regulations will likely boost sales activity in the short term, as buyers jump off the fence to beat the changes before they take effect next year,” Pauline Aunger said. “Even so, some housing markets stand to be affected by the changes more than others.” Reading between the lines, TD Bank said that’s CREA’s way of saying new rules aimed at cooling hot markets in

Toronto and Vancouver “may also have unintended consequences in markets that are already cooling (Calgary and Edmonton),” economist Diana Petramala said. “Our view is similar to that of CREA,” she said. “The new changes may create some volatility in the market over the near term. But, past changes to insured mortgage qualifying rules have proven to be temporary in nature, with the market adjusting within a four to six quarter period. And, even then, the impact is expected to be modest.” BMO economist Doug Porter noted that while the numbers were solid across the country, the “big two” markets of Toronto and Vancouver are skewing sales and prices skyward, masking some weakness in oil-dependent parts of the country.

would have been $338,969 — a 3.4 per cent gain compared to November 2014. The number of homes sold also increased, by 1.8 per cent from October’s level, to reach its highest monthly level in six years. On an annualized sales were almost 11 4 i Saturday, basis, July 25, 2015

per cent higher last month than they were in the same month a year ago. Home sales normally start the year slow before peaking in the spring and summer when everyone is in a buying mood, and then cool down again to end the year. But that’s not hap-

6 i Saturday, December 19, 2015

OSFI moves to raise bank’s capital requirements for residential mortgages

anada’s top financial regulator wants to update the rules that govern how much capital lenders must hold to offset the risk that the residential mortgages on their books go bad. In a release Friday, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions said it is going to consult with players in the industry on new rules that could be in place by 2017 governing the capital requirements put upon Canadian financial institutions when they loan money to consumers for mortgage and home-equity lines of credit. “Risks in the Canadian mortgage market continue to evolve,” deputy superintendent Mark Zelmer said. Essentially, the regulator is saying they’re going to force banks to have more money set aside in case the mortgage loans on their books go bad. Having to keep more money in reserve could reduce their appetite to loan out more money to would-be borrowers, which could work to cool the housing market. “The purpose of OSFI’s regulatory capital framework is to ensure, as much

as possible, that federally regulated financial institutions can absorb severe but plausible losses,” Zelmer said. Among the proposals on the table is to implement a “risk-sensitive floor” to the financial models that banks internally use to assess how much they are able to loan out to any given borrower looking to buy property. Changing those models would potentially cause banks to reassess the risks, which would change how much money they’re willing to loan and who may be eligible to borrow. “It will require more capital

small segment of the market that will be impacted,” CIBC’s Benjamin Tal said of the new down payment rules. “Today’s moves will represent another step in protecting home buyers from taking on too much mortgage debt relative to the value of their home in a low interest rate environment,” TD Bank added.

when house prices are high relative to borrower incomes,” Zelmer said. New down payment rules, too The move came on the same day that Ottawa announced it was hiking the down payment requirement for federally-insured mortgages to 10 per cent for the portion of a purchase price of any home that’s over $500,000. Both moves are aimed squarely at achieving the same goal: making sure Canada’s housing market isn’t overinflated, and adjusting the risk to more reasonable levels without setting off a panic. Economists on Bay Street said the down payment rules are unlikely to have a dramatic impact on the market, but may achieve their aim of ratcheting down risk on the margins. “While it sounds dramatic, our analysis suggests that the overall impact will be felt only at the margin given the relatively

Bill Morneau tightens mortgage rules on homes over From page 5 $500K

“Of the 25 reporting cities, 11 recorded double-digit gains, with fully eight of those in B.C. and Ontario alone,” he said. “However, there were also nine cities that saw outright sales declines, seven of which were in Alberta, Saskatchewan or Quebec.”

Saturday, December 19, 2015 i 7

The housing bubble has already popped in some parts of Canada

f you recently bought a home in Toronto or Vancouver solely to make a quick financial gain, you probably just made a mistake. We humans are averse to loss, and real estate in Canada’s two biggest cities has looked like easy money for several years now. But as behavioural economist Richard Thaler reminded me recently in the pages of his of his latest book, asset prices inevitably revert to their historical mean. “Recent momentum in prices in Toronto and Vancouver may increase the likelihood of a correction in house prices, which could affect vulnerable households,” Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz said at a press conference in Ottawa on Dec. 15. City slickers, you’ve been warned. What about the roughly 26 million people who live in the rest of Canada? Many of them already have been reminded that the real-estate market is subject to gravitational forces. The Teranet-National Bank index of house prices in the country’s 11 largest metropolitan regions rose 6.1% in November, yet only four cities—Toronto, Hamilton, Vancouver and Victoria—actually posted gains. Values in the other seven contracted. “The Canadian real-estate market already is in correction mode,” said Krishen Rangasamy, an economist at National Bank Financial in Montreal. But is there really a Canadian real-estate market? It’s a question that tends not to receive the attention it should. Before the U.S. housing meltdown, authorities there dismissed the idea of a national market.

One of the reasons officials in the George W. Bush administration were blasé about the housing bubble was because they believed surging prices in Arizona, Florida and California were the result of local factors, negating the perceived utility of a one-size-fits-all response by Washington. The Bank of Canada seems to see things roughly the same way. Poloz’s press conference followed the release of the central bank’s December Financial System Review, which concluded that a record household debt burden makes Canada vulnerable to a housing crash, although policy makers see little reason to think that will happen. The

governor was asked whether someone in a place such as Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan should worry about the value of his or her home being pulled down by a correction in Toronto and/or Vancouver. “I think not,” Poloz said. There are fundamental reasons prices are elevated in those cities, he said; employment is strong and populations are growing faster than the housing stock. “I think of it as a local phenomenon,” he said of real-estate prices, effectively ruling out the possibility that his interest-rate policy has stoked a national mania.

Naan, Turkey Pizza Recipe Ingredients 1/4 cup (50 mL) PC Madras Cooking Sauce 1 PC Naan Pizza Crust, 1 cup (250 mL) sliced leftover cooked turkey, about 4 oz/125 g, 1 tbsp (15 mL) PC Madras Cooking Sauce, 2 Campari or other small tomatoes, thinly sliced, 1/4 cup (50 mL) thinly sliced red onion, 1/4 cup (50 mL) full fat plain Greek yogurt 1 tsp (5 mL) finely grated lime rind1 tsp (5 mL) fresh lime juice 1/4 cup (50 mL) loosely packed fresh coriander leaves Instructions 1.Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). 2.Spread ¼ cup (50 mL) madras sauce on naan crust,

leaving ½-inch (1 cm) border bare all around. In small bowl, toss turkey with 1 tbsp (15 mL) madras sauce to coat; arrange on top of naan. Top with tomatoes and red onions. 3. Bake directly on middle oven rack for 8 to 10 minutes or until crust is lightly browned and crispy. Meanwhile, stir together yogurt, lime rind and juice. 4. Top pizza with coriander leaves and drizzle

with yogurt mixture. Serve immediately.

Carolyn Wilkins, the senior deputy governor, was slightly more circumspect. Toronto, Vancouver and their surroundings represent about a third of the country’s mortgages. “It’s not insignificant,” she said. Her comment was a nod to the fact that Canada’s banks are highly exposed to real estate in Toronto and Vancouver. If things go bad in either city, lenders could retreat, triggering a tightening of credit across the country that would crimp demand for houses. But that remains mostly a theoretical concern at the Bank of Canada. “The probability of a problem is low,” she said. The central bank has done some hard thinking about this issue. Along with the FSR, the institution released a study by three Bank of Canada economists that shows extreme indebtedness has doubled over the past decade: about 8% of households are carrying debt that is 350% or more of their gross income. (The authors

chose 350% because that’s the level of debt at which borrowers tend to start missing payments.) Most of those households are in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. Alberta’s prospects are grim, but things are looking up in B.C. and Ontario. The Bank of Canada isn’t going to alter its stimulus

plans for one province. The central bank’s debt study does suggest, however, that thousands of Canadians could be in store for some financial pain. The individuals in this group mostly are under 45 years of age, and their houses represent 90% of the value of their assets. They are also relatively poor and uneducated. The increase from a decade ago was led by debtors whose highest education was high school, suggesting they could struggle to find decent jobs in a weaker economy. Their newly purchased homes could become a tether that prevents them moving for work, if the value of the real estate drops below the cost of the mortgage. The Bank of Canada already is doing all it can to address such concerns by keeping borrowing costs low, making it easier for Canadians to stay ahead their debt payments. But dissuading households from taking on more debt will be up to others.

8 i Saturday, December 19, 2015

AUTO while U.S. makers lag

he Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has picked 48 vehicles that meet its criteria as top of the line for safety, but only two are by U.S. automakers. The U.S. insurance group gives its Top Safety Pick+ award to vehicles that have a good rating in five crash-worthiness tests and a high rating for front crash protection. The only domestic sedan to meet the criteria is the Chrysler 200, a mid-sized, moderately priced car that has forward collision warning and will brake automatically if the driver does not respond to an alert. The IIHS has toughened its criteria to get a Top Pick rating, adding automatic braking and enhanced front crash protection, which are becoming increasingly common on new model cars.

RAV4 is among the safest Toyota has nine models that win the top award. Among the top Toyota vehicles are the RAV4, which is being made in Cambridge, Ont., and the Avalon, a large family car, which both

had automatic braking added this year. Other automakers to have several models win the top award are Honda with eight Top Safety Pick+ awards and Subaru with six. Volkswagen/ Audi had seven winners, including the Golf, Jetta and Passat, which are now falling under suspicion by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration because of diesel engines that don’t pass emissions tests. For the first time a low-priced minicar has also won the top award. The Scion iA has been rated advanced for front crash prevention. This year, the IIHS demands that winning vehicles pass the small overlap front crash test, a challenging test that mimics the front corner of a vehicle colliding with another vehicle or an object like a tree or utility pole. Ford has just one winning model this year, the F-150, its redesigned aluminum-body pickup, which passes the small overlap front crash test, unlike its other pickups. Among the other vehicles that got the top award: IIHS president Adrian Lund said vehicles are much safer now than when the IIHS first started giving a safety ranking in 2006.

FCA expansion creates new jobs for auto parts suppliers

Toyota tops in auto safety test, To earn top safety ranking, vehicles must have automated braking and front crash protection

Saturday, December 19, 2015 i

early 300 new jobs have been created in the last six months at several manufacturing sites, such as Integram and Oakley, according to estimates from Unifor Local 444. That number could climb to more than 400 next year as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles unveils its new 2016 Town and Country minivan and once again bumps up production levels. “They’re all basically doing some work with reference to hiring individuals to make sure they have enough persons in their facility to build the products for the demand at the Windsor Assembly Plant,” Unifor Local 444 President Dino Chiodo said. Few details have been released by

FCA about the exact number of new jobs at the Windsor Assembly Plant, but the company said it will be much more than the 600 positions already projected. Combine those figures with the new jobs at feeder plants and there’s significant potential to finally reduce unemployment figures in Windsor, according to Chiodo. “I think the numbers will start to reduce,” he said. “I think the numbers will come down in 2016. There’s nobody hiring like we’re hiring at the Windsor Assembly Plant or any of the feeder plants, so it’s an exciting time for us.”

Ford pledges $4.5B over 5 years to electric vehicle program

ord Motor Co. has announced it will invest $4.5 billion US in electrified vehicles in the next five years with plans to add 13 new electric vehicles by 2020. It has pledged that 40 per cent of its nameplates will come in electrified versions by then, in response to “global trends calling for cleaner, more efficient vehicles.” Next year it will release the new Focus Electric which it projects will have a 160-kilometre range. It will have a fastcharge function that will deliver an 80 per cent charge in 30 minutes, answering one of the limitations of electric cars, which is the long time needed to recharge them. CEO Mark Fields said the company sees

plug-in hybrid systems — which allow drivers to operate part of the time on batteries recharged from the grid, and part of the time on gasoline — as the solution many customers will prefer. Toyota has already made a long-term commitment to greener cars, saying it wants to eliminate gas engines by 2050 using hybrids and fuel cells. The automakers are anticipating tightened emissions rules in the wake of the Paris Climate Summit. But electric cars are bucking the current trend in auto sales, which is increased demand for cross-over vehicles and pickup trucks.

20 i Saturday, December 19, 2015

NATIONAL

Hotel bill for Syrian refugees to be $80 million by March

he federal government wants to book a swath of hotel rooms in Toronto and Montreal to accommodate the influx of Syrian refugees expected over the next several weeks. Between now and March, Ottawa needs 300 rooms daily in each of the two cities to house about 600 refugees per night, according to a notice posted Friday on a government procurement website. Suppliers will also be expected to provide meals. The length of stays will vary: some will leave the next morning, others will need “two or more nights.” “As we gear up for more arrivals, we want to ensure that we have the necessary hotel rooms to accommodate,” said Nancy Chan, a spokeswoman for Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Chan said the government expects to spend $61 million to $77 million on overnight

hotel accommodations and other activi- arrived so far were privately sponties to welcome refugees when they arrive. sored by family members or community The government has said it plans groups, more government-assisted refto invest $678 million over six years to- ugees are expected in the coming days. Privately sponsored ward the resettlement and Immigration Minrefugees will typically support of Syrian refugees. ister John McCalcontinue travelling to On Monday, Immigration lum said Ottawa their destination comMinister John McCallum said was “working very Ottawa was “working very munity either as soon hard” to meet its pledge to hard” to meet its pledge to reas they land or the next resettle 25,000 refugees by settle 25,000 refugees by the day, Chan said. Govthe end of Febend of February, including ernment-assisted refuruary, including 10,000 by the end of the year. gees could face delays A Royal Jordanian Air- 10,000 by the end getting to their destiof the year. lines flight with more nation communities. than 200 people is ex“If their destination pected to land in Toronto on Tuesday. community is not yet ready to receive them, While most of the refugees who have their onward travel could be delayed up to a few weeks. Until communities are ready to receive them, most will be accommodated in interim lodging sites,” Chan said. Six sites have been identified at Canadian Forces Bases Kingston, Valcartier, Meaford, Petawawa, Trenton and Borden. If activated, the sites would be

run jointly by the Red Cross and the federal government According to the government solicitation notice, the hotels that would provide immediate accommodation must be within 10 kilometres of the airports in Toronto and Montreal. Bidders must be willing to set aside at least 50 rooms per night from Dec. 21 to Feb. 29. Each room will be expected to house up to four people, including children. Hotels will also be expected to provide up to three meals a day. “Note that it would be beneficial to Canada, for the contractor to have halal meal options available for refugees,” according to the document. It states the government will reimburse up to $15 per person for breakfast, $16 for lunch and $30 for dinner. Hotels must ensure that access to minibars, movie rentals, long-distance calls and other pay services are disabled. The government is also asking suppliers set aside rooms for two government representatives who will be onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the duration of the bookings.

No room for Trump in Tory party: Ambrose

onald Trump may be running to lead America’s right-wing political party, but his views aren’t welcome by Canada’s right-wing party, the interim leader of the Conservatives says. Trump’s position should not even be considered right-wing, but something far beyond that, said Rona Ambrose in a wide-ranging year-end interview with The Canadian Press. “I think he’s off the spectrum, frankly,” Ambrose said. “That’s not a voice that we welcome in our party.” Earlier this month, Trump, who is hoping to lead the Republican party in the 2016

U.S. presidential election, called for a temporary ban on Muslim immigration to the United States. He has also advocated for Syrian refugees to be registered in a national database and has suggested Muslims should carry ID cards. Backlash against Muslims in the U.S. has been growing in recent months and Trump’s comments have been blamed for fanning those flames. While the comments have drawn widespread condemnation, polls suggest around half of Republicans support those positions.

Liberals reinstate funds frozen under First Nations Financial Transparency Act

he Canadian government is reinstating funds frozen under the controversial First Nations Financial Transparency Act, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Carolyn Bennett says. The government is also halting compliance measures that required bands to post detailed financial information online. In a news release issued Friday, the minister also said the government will suspend court actions against First Nations that have not complied with the act. “We will work in full partnership with First Nations leadership and organizations on the way forward to improve accountability and transparency,” she said in the statement. “This can not be achieved without the engagement of First Nations and its members.” Forty-three First Nations were waiting on the Liberal government to release more than $12 million in funding, which was held back by the previous Conservative government. The First Nations Financial Transparency Act brought in by the Conservatives, required 581 bands across Canada to release their financial information or have their government funding cease.

POLITICS

Crown wraps up cross-examination of Mike Duffy

ike Duffy turned out to be the only defence witness to testify at his criminal trial as his legal team rested its case today following the Crown’s two-day cross-examination of the senator in an Ottawa courtroom. However, the Crown and defence still need to make closing arguments, meaning the trial will continue in 2016. Duffy spent eight days in the witness box, six of those being questioned by his lawyer, Donald Bayne, who went through the 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery related to expenses Duffy claimed as a senator. But over the course of the cross-examination, Crown prosecutor Mark Holmes grilled Duffy on only some of the senator’s controversial

travel claims and expenses. Holmes posed no questions to Duffy about the bribery charges or the $90,000 cheque written by then prime minister Stephen Harper’s chief of staff Nigel Wright to pay off Duffy’s expenses. Pre-signed blank travel claims Holmes did question Duffy about his practise of pre-signing blank travel claims. Duffy had previously testified that other senators did this and that it was to expedite the process of getting his expenses in to Senate administration on time. He said one claim for around $5,000 was almost rejected because Senate finance officials said they had received it a few days late. “It was all done so you could get your money,” Holmes said. “Nothing about money, it has to do with doing things on time to meet deadlines,” Duffy said.

Trump defends his policy of banning Muslims from USA

President Barack Obama’s campaign to defeat n a presidential race reshaped by naISIS in the Middle East and the nation’s secutional security concerns, Republican rity posture in preventing front-runner Donattacks in the U.S. The ald Trump defended his debate comes at a time provocative call for banwhen Texas Sen. Ted Cruz ning Muslims from the is on the rise, challenging United States on Tuesday Trump’s months-long as the candidates debated lead in Iowa, whose Feb. their plans for fighting 1 caucuses lead off the Islamic State of Iraq and state-by-state nominating Syria (ISIS) militants and Donald Trump contests. Cruz is trying to keeping Americans sepitch himself as a more electable alternative cure. Struggling former Florida Gov. Jeb to Trump, but some Republican leaders beBush found his footing in trying to discredit Trump’s qualifications for the White lieve his hard-line conservative positions and House, chiding the brash billionaire for prickly demeanour would put him at a disadvantage in a general election contest against trying to “insult your way to the presidenDemocratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. cy.” Tuesday night’s debate was the first for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has also entered Republicans since the attacks in Paris and the top tier in the crowded field by seeking to San Bernardino, Calif., which heightened straddle the divide between his party’s estabfears of terrorism in the United States. The lishment and more conservative wings. attacks have ignited a political debate about

Finance Minister won’t scale back Liberal promises despite concerns of bigger deficit

he federal government remains committed to delivering on its costliest campaign promises despite concerns that another promise — that of keeping the deficit under $10 billion — might become harder to uphold. “We’re not going to scale back on our promises — we’re going to make those investments, we’re going to help the Canadians we know need help, and those things are actually going to be stimulative for our economy,” said Finance Minister Bill Morneau in an interview on The House. The government admitted this week that its “middle-class tax cut” and corresponding tax-hike for the “one per cent” won’t offset each other, as the Liberals promised during the campaign. Instead, the “middle class tax-cut” is going to cost the government $600 million more than promised, and the tax hike on Canada’s richest “one per cent” is going to bring in $800 million less. How does Morneau explain the $1.4 billion discrepancy? “Economists will debate what happens in the future, but we’re in the mode of making sure we give Canadians a transparent understanding of what could happen,” Morneau told host Chris Hall. “We don’t want to over-promise and under-deliver. Our goal is to grow the economy, and our big plans, which is to give the Canada Child Benefit to Canadians who need help with raising kids and to make significant investments in infrastructure, will have a growth impact in concert with this [tax] initiative.”

Saturday, December 19, 2015

i 21

Duffy blames former PM Harper (and everyone else) for his problems

nything I did in this political manoeuvre was for the prime minister’s benefit, not for mine,” Duffy testified. Duffy’s lawyer Donald Bayne asked the senator if he received numerous emails, verbal instructions and scripted statements to execute the plan as the “right thing to do.” “Yes, including from the prime minister of Canada Stephen Harper. He said ‘Nigel will make the arrangements.’ “I was ordered to do this by the prime minister of Canada.” Bayne asked if Duffy received an advantage or benefit from Wright’s payment. “It was a political advantage for Stephen Harper,” Duffy said. Duffy said he was “coerced into going along with this” under the threat of losing his job. “I did what they insisted I do and read the script that they wrote and then found out in the fall of that year I was suspended without pay or benefits for two years.” Coerced into scheme, Duffy insists Court has heard that members of the Prime Minister’s Office, including Wright, had formulated the plan under which Duffy would admit he had made an unintentional mistake and pledge to repay the expenses, at the time thought to be around $32,000. On Feb. 22, the P.E.I. senator went public about the expense controversy, telling CBC News he “may have made a mistake” by claiming the housing allowance for his Ottawa home and saying he would be paying the expenses back. But Duffy said he was forced to make this concession by the Prime Minister’s Office. Duffy said he had insisted he had done nothing wrong by claiming these expenses — and that members of the Prime Minister’s Office, along with Harp“

er, had agreed with him, but they wanted this political controversy quashed. He said he was begging Harper’s top aide Ray Novak that he not be forced to admit a mistake and repay the expenses, just five minutes before he eventually went public. “I’m not a cheat, I’m not a thief. I don’t break the rules and I was not going to embrace this kind of process,” he said. “I was pleading with all these born-again Christians.” Duffy said he eventually capitulated to the scheme after intense pressure

from the PMO, Conservative senators and threats by Wright that he would be kicked out of caucus and possibly the Senate if he defied the prime minister. “I fought and I fought and I fought. And I tried every kind of resistance. “When they pulled that knife out and held it over my head, I felt I had no other choice.” Although initially Duffy’s expenses would be paid out of the party’s fund, the deal went sour when it was learned Duffy’s expenses actually totalled $90,000. Conservative Senator Irving Gerstein, who was chair of the Conservative Party fund, would no longer allow money from the fund to be used to cover the expenses, Wright testified. He said that’s when he personally intervened with his own money Duffy testified that he thought the money was coming from the party fund and never knew that Wright had personally paid.

22 i

CLASSIFIEDS

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Matrimonial

JOBS

Parents looking match for their Canadian 27 year old very handsome, jat sikh boy, 5’9”, graduate , well establisehd businessman. Girl must be well cultured, educated, Canadian citizen or permanent resident . Contact after 6pm 604-598-1987 - 778-387-1672

using woodworking machines, power tools and hand tools; Build exterior doors, interior doors, custom doors with jams; Install hardware such as hinges, handles, catches using hand tools and power tools; Repair doors & replace panels of doors. Job requirement: High school with 2-3 years of experience. Trade certificate will be considered as an asset. If interested send resumes by email at westerndoormanufacturing@gmail. com ------------- September 5, 2015

JOBS Vacancy for In-home Caregiver Balwinder Singh Singhmaar, resident of 15095 92Ave, Surrey, BC V3R 5V8 has a vacancy for Inhome Child caregiver for infant child and 9 years old son. Full Time, $11 / hour, 40 hrs/week. Applicant must have high school with minimum of one year of related experience within last three years or six months of full time training in caregiving. Job Duties includes Supervise and care for children, prepare formulas and change diaper of infant, feeding, bathing, dressing, prepare children for rest period, escort child to school, prepare and serve nutritious meal and snacks, accompany to and from activities & appointments, light housekeeping, laundry, maintain safe environment at home, keep record of day-to-day activities, health and progress of children. Send resumes by email at balwinderssinghmaar@gmail.com -------------- Oct 31 2015

Western door manufacturing Ltd. located at #109-8250 124Street, Surrey BC V3W 3X9, has an immediate vacancy of Carpenter. We design and manufacture high end solid wood exterior doors, solid wood interior doors and custom doors. Full time permanent job position with wages of $25per hour. 35 to 40 hours per week. Job Duties includes Read & interpret drawings & sketches to determine specifications; Estimate height, width, length, & other proportions; Measure, cut, shape, & assemble materials

Jun13_155 Long Haul Truck Drivers Reqd. Sal:$23.00/hr, 40hr/wk, +1yr exp. & Class A 0r 1 license reqd., FT/PT Duties: Operate, drive straight or articulated trucks to transport goods & materials on local routes or over long distances.Plan trip logistics & obtain required documentation to transport goods. Perform pre-trip & post-trip inspection of vehicle systems. Record cargo information, hours of service, distance travelled & fuel consumption.May perform emergency roadside repairs. Lang: English. Work at various location in Canada & USA. Contact: Balwinder from Metro Transport ltd.12772 82nd Ave, Surrey, V3W 3G1 E-mail your resume at metro_transport@yahoo.ca. ------------------------------Jun13_15

1 Optical Frame Fitter Reqd. Sal: $22.00/hr, 40hr/wk, +1yrs exp. or certification reqd., FT/ PT Duties: Obtain specifications for eyeglasses or contact lenses from a prescription. Assist clients in selecting eyeglasses. Grinding & polishing of lenses. Cut & edge lenses & fit lenses into frames. May supervise or manage activities of other opticians. Lang: English. Location: 12841 96 Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3V 6V9 Contact: Imran from Eye See 2020 Optical at opt_eyesee@yahoo.ca. ------------------------------Jun 06_15 Dosa Corner Restaurant

JOBS

Ltd in Vancouver Looking to hire an authentic south indian chef . This is a full time permanent position. $18.50/hr. 40hrs/week. Must have at least 3-5yrs experience in south indian cuisine & specialized knowledge in Dosas. Duties include Prepare & cook meals.kitchen management. Plan menus & quality. Orders food supplies. Mail your resume to selvamm164@ gmail.com or apply by person at DosaCorner Vancouver. 110-8248 Fraser Street. Vancouver. B.C.. V5X 3X6 Ph: 604-324-3672. -----------------------------------Seamstress required Seamstress (Tailor) needed Foam & Décor is looking for Full Time or Part Time Seamstress ( tailor) for drapery in Surrey. Salary will be provided @ 12 per hour. Please call 604-594-1882 Mayuri Indian foods inc is looking to hire an Ethnic Food Cook in Surrey BC. F/T & Perm.$17/hr. Must have at least 2-3 yrs experience in South Indian cuisine & specialized knowledge in Indian spicing. Duties: Prepare & Cook meals; Supervise Kitchen helpers; Plan menus; Ensure quality & determine food proportions; Monitor & order food supplies; Set up & oversee buffets; Manage kitchen operation. Mail resume or apply by person Mayuri indian cuisine , Unit 102A,12677 80th Ave., Surrey BC V3W 3A6 Fax: 604-572-3281 ------------------------------------English Classes for Adults Register for classes September 2-8 For more information,Visit: www. victoryesl.com Call: 604.755.7976 E-mail: victoryesl1@gmail.com ---------------------------Cook Require Curry junction Restaurant in White Rock need cook immediately, This is a full time permanent position for a experienced person, Depending on experience salary will be upto $21 per hr. with other benefits. Call:604-729-6741 or

E JOBS

604-385-1558 ---------------------------Transworld Security located at 2nd Floor, 5050, Kingsway, Burnaby BC V5H 4H2 is looking for a Static Guard, Static Guard Supervisor, Mobile Supervisor and Field Manager. These are permanent full-time positions. Static Guard pay rate is $13.00 per hour plus vacation pay. You would be required to patrol industrial and commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows and gates. Answer alarms and investigate disturbances. Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors and guests. Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency. Circulate among visitors, patrons and employees to preserve order and protect property. Static Guard Supervisor pay rate is $14.00 per hour plus vacation pay. You would be required to oversee and supervise Static Guards. You will need to ensure the duties of the Static Guards you supervise are being completed and the client’s needs are being met. Field Manager pay rate is $18.00 per hour plus vacation pay. You would be required to report to the Director of Operations and you are responsible for supporting, mentoring and supervising the security officers in the field. You will be required to manage the company’s field operations and resources after business hours. Mobile Supervisor pay rate is $18.00 per hour. You would be required to provide ongoing leadership, direction and training. You need to ensure all standing orders and scheduled daily activities are carried out for each shift. You will be required to discipline staff when necessary and ensure proper documentation is passed onto head office. You will have to investigate alarm responses and respond in a timely manner. You will need to communicate any concerns/ issues with Site Supervisor/ Coordinator. The above opportunities suit candidates willing to

S Basement for Rent

One bed room basement suite is available for rent from 1st of January 2016. Rent $ 600 including utility & internet . Walking distance to Bell Centre, Elementary & High School and Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib. Call 778-628-4473 travel all over the lower mainland and from Squamish to Hope. We also have opportunities in Edmonton, Alberta. Minimum qualification for these positions are completion of secondary school and BST Justice Training of BC. Past experience is preferred but we are willing to train candidates who show eagerness to learn. For more information please visit our website at www.transworldsecurity.ca. Please email you resume to hr@ transworldsecurity.ca. ------------------------------------Retail Sales Supervisor (6211); Saim’s Communication Inc.,Surrey, British Columbia, (6211); Salary: $17:50/Hourly; Positions Available: 2; Type: FullTime; Minimum Education: High School; ,Description : Assign sales workers to duties and prepare work schedules, Authorize payments by cheque and the return ofmerchandise , Sell merchandise to customers, Resolve problems that arise, such as customercomplaints and supply shortages, • Maintain specified inventory and ordermerchandise, Prepare reports regarding sales volumes, merchandising and personnel matters, Hire and train or arrange for the training of new sales staff,

For more info. Apply by email: saimscomm@yahoo.ca -----------------------------

To PLACE YOUR AD IN THE ASIAN STAR CLASSIFIEDS Section Please

Call: 604-591-5423

COMMUNITY Public Service Announcement Registrations start now for MOSAIC Seniors Club Winter Term. MOSAIC Seniors Club provides free activities for immigrant seniors age 55 and above. We also provide workshops and individual support on topics relevant to seniors including. We run activities such as English Conversation Circles and Taichi class. Come make new friends, practice English, get information and have fun! Burnaby South: 5902 Kingsway 604 438 8214 ----------------------------------------------English Conversation Circle (Beginners): Starting January 18, Mondays, 9:30–11:30am English Conversation Circle (Upper Beginners): Starting January 18, Mondays, 9:30–11:30am Knitting Circle: Starting January 19, Tuesdays, 2–3:30pm ----------------------------------------------Burnaby North: 2055 Rosser Avenue || 604 292 3907 English Conversation Circle (Beginners): Starting January 20, Wednesdays, 9:30–11:30am Wai Dan Gong Exercise: Starting January 22, Fridays, 9–10am Taichi: Starting January 22, Fridays, 10:30am–12pm English Conversation Circle (Upper Beginners): Starting January 22, Fridays, 12:30–2:30pm ----------------------------------------------Vancouver: 1720 Grant St || 604 254 9626 ext 273 Priority for Permanent Residents. English Conversation Circle (Lower Beginners): Starting January 14, Thursdays, 10am– 12pm English Conversation Circle (Beginners): Starting January 14, Thursdays, 12–2pm English Conversation Circle (Upper Beginners): Starting January 14, Thursdays, 2–4pm ‘Wai Dan Gong’ exercise: Starting January 22, Fridays, 11am–12pm ------------------------------------------------------Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and non members also to come and play Bingo for the sake of fun and make some new friends, on November 22nd 2015( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall 8321 - 140th street Surrey B.C. Please bring only two dollars with you to play 2 games, do not worry if you do not know how to play, members will explain you the game just for the sake of fun. Tea & light snacks will be served after the game is over. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator at 604 - 507 - 9945 for further details. -----------------------------------LCA of BC Celebrates Jalaram Jayanti in Burnaby and Surrey

1. Keshyapbhai Ruparel & Family (Bharat Jewellers) cordially invites all to 216th Jalaram Jayanti celebrations with bhajans and kirtans on Saturday November 21, 2015 at VHP Temple, 3885 Albert Street, Burnaby. Priti Bhojan 5.30pm Bhajan\Satang program 7.00pm For Further Information Please Contact: Kaushikaben Pabari: 604 945 5640 VHP Temple: 604 299 5922 -----------------------------------------------------------Hetsi and Keshvi Vithlani & FAMILY cordially invites all to 216th Jalaram Jayanti Celebrations with Bhajans and Kirtan on Sunday November 22, 2015 at 10.30 am at Laxminarayan Temple, 8321 140th Street, Surrey. Bhajan Program will be Presented by Highly Talented Local Group. Priti Bhojan After Arti. For Further Information Please Contact: Mansukhbhai Thanki (604) 518-1557. ----------------------------------------------------------Secret Asian Super Singer to Support S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Seniors Service S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multi-Level Care Society Goodwill Ambassador Charity Night will be held at 6:00 pm , Monday, November 2, 2015 at the River Rock Show Theatre, Richmond. The event aims to raise $ 110,000 to support the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Seniors Care Home expansion and maintenance project. The festivities include a VIP reception, an exclusive dinner, entertainment and fundraising karaoke. The night will feature an acclaimed popular artist from Hong Kong as a secret guest performer. A group of artists from AM1320 will present a mini concert and a Beijing Opera from Sunshine Troupe Association will perform as well. The Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and other elected officials will join the event. The Goodwill Ambassador Council is a group of passionate volunteers of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multi-Level Care Society. Established in 2006, the Council hosts fundraising events every 2 years to support the Society to improve the quality of life for the seniors. Incorporated in 1995, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multi-Level Care Society was established to provide linguistically and culturally appropriate care for seniors in our community. ------------------------------------------------------South Asian Seniors - Iron Deficiency & Dipression Dr. Pargat Bhurji - Nov. 15th 2015 - 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm. Vedic Senior Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members and also non members to attend a presentation on - Iron Deficiency & Dipression - by Dr. Pargat Bhurji a Pediatrician and a well known Person in the South Asian Community, on November 15th 2015 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 140th Street Surrey BC. Dr. Pargat Bhurji will answer your health related questions, tea and light snacks will be served after the presentation. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further details. -----------------------------------The Global Hindu Foundation with support of SMH will celebrate Diwali -the Festival of Lightson November 9,2015 at Main Cafeteria from 1.00-2.30 PM. The guests will be served with sweets and snacks. This celebration is in the true spirit of multiculturalism and interfaith of Canada. ALL ARE WELCOME. For further information call to Acharya Dwivedi-604 507 3099 or

Saturday, December 19, 2015

i 23

Calendar dedicated to Banda Singh Bahadur launched

calendar dedicated to 300 years of the martyrdom of Banda Singh Bahadur- a revolutionary Sikh warrior was released at Surrey Strawberry Hill Library on Sunday afternoon. Issued by Radical Desi Publications Ltd. in partnership with Mehak Punjab Dee TV, People’s Voice newspaper and Rimjhim and Spice Radio, the calendar was unveiled by prominent social justice activists in the local South Asian community. Banda Singh Bahadur was executed in June, 1716 for resistance against repression. He had introduced land reforms in Punjab and redistributed wealth among the poor and landless tillers. He had also allowed Muslims to practice their faith fearlessly within his Sikh state. The speakers were unanimous in their views to keep his legacy of social justice alive in the contemporary world, where exploitation of the downtrodden continues and religious intolerance has grown. MLA Raj Chouhan said that his legacy is also relevant in Canada, where racism and discrimination continues to prevail. He pointed out that the indigenous peoples and Muslims are being discriminated against by the right wing forces both in Canada and US. Others who spoke on the occasion included Barjinder Singh and Sunil Kumar of Sikh Nation, a group that organizes blood donation camps every year in commemoration of the victims of anti Sikh pogrom of 1984. Thousands of Sikhs were slaughtered across India following the assassination of the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards in the first week of November 1984. The annual blood drive was launched in 1999. The date of the commencement of the drive is also marked on the calendar. Likewise, other important dates related

Deepa Sharma 778 388 9024 ------------------------------South Asian Seniors - Clinical Prevention Workshop, 8th Nov. 2015, 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm. Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults/ Senior members as well as non members to attend Clinical Prevention Workshop presented by Dr. Virendra Sharma MD, MPH, Project Coordinator with Fraser Health Authority on November 8th 2015 ( Sunday ) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. There will be questions & Answers session after the workshop and you can ask questions about Clinical Prevention. Tea and light snacks will be served after the workshop is over. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further information.

to the history of Indigenous struggles and radical movements within the South Asian community have been recognized on the calendar. Both Singh and Kumar insisted that the current right wing Hindu nationalist government in India is attacking the rights of the religious minorities and the oppressed groups. Such challenges, according to them, makes Banda Singh Bahadur even more relevant today. Parminder Kaur Swaich of the Ghadar centenary committee, Jai Birdi of Chetna Association, an independent activist Parshotam Dosanjh and Jarnail Singh Artist, whose father late Kirpal Singh made the painting of Banda Singh Bahadur also shared their thoughts on the occasion. Swaich noted that while Banda Singh Bahadur was a true secularist who never attacked the rights of the Muslims, the religious minorities feel intimidated under the current leadership in India. Birdi challenged the Sikh leadership that is promoting caste-based bigotry against so called untouchables in violation of the tenets of Sikhism that preaches egalitarianism. Dosanjh categorically said that Banda Singh Bahadur was a defender of human rights, whose legacy will remain a guiding light for those fighting against tyranny and state violence. A progressive Punjabi poet Amrit Diwana read out a poem that was critical of the right wing Indian leadership. Dr. Gurvinder Singh Dhaliwal, a well known radio broadcaster was the masters of ceremony. -------------------------------

Public Notice

All foreign governments may deny visa or entry into country on Non-machine readable passports’ with effect from 24.11.2015 because of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s(ICAO) decision to entirely phase out all ‘Non-machine readable passports’ by 24.11.2015. Accordingly, Indian citizens residing in India and abroad with handwritten passports as well as 20 year validity passports, valid beyond 24.11.2015 are advised to apply for re-issue of passports in order to obtain ‘Machine readable passports (MRPs) before 24.11.2015 to avoid any inconveniences in obtaining foreign visa or immigration problem. Schedule of Consular Camps ------------------------------Surrey - 1st November 2015 Col. Darshan Singh Sidhu, Indian Ex-Servicemen Society, Surrey,

24 i

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Swiss banks fined for helping US citizens evade taxes

hree Swiss banks, including a unit of France’s Crédit Agricole SA, will pay a total of more than $130 million US to the U.S. Justice Department to avoid possible prosecution for helping Americans evade taxes, the department said on Tuesday. The Zurich-based unit of Crédit Agricole will pay $99.2 million, the largest share of the total penalty. The $130 million sum also includes a $24.2 million from Dreyfus Sons & Co Ltd, and $7.7 million from Baumann & Cie, Banquiers, both in Basel, Switzerland. Spokespeople for the three banks could not be immediately reached for comment outside of Swiss business hours on Tuesday. The banks settled under a voluntary program the Justice Department launched in 2013 to allow Swiss banks to resolve potential criminal charges by disclosing cross-border

activities that helped U.S. account holders conceal assets. Under the program, banks also must provide detailed information on the accounts of U.S. taxpayers under investigation. Accounts for U.S. citizens Banks that were already under criminal investigation were excluded from the program. Crédit Agricole managed about 954 U.S.-related accounts worth more than $1.8 billion since August 2008, the Justice Department said. Its conduct included transferring the assets of some U.S.-related accounts “in ways that concealed the U.S. connection to those accounts,” the Justice Department said. For example, some U.S. taxpayers were able to fully deplete assets from accounts that they concealed from the IRS by making multiple cash withdrawals or reloading pre-paid cash cards.

Business / Finance

Bank of Canada says housing, debt threaten financial system

ousehold indebtedness and imbalance in the housing sector are key vulnerabilities to Canada’s financial sector, the Bank of Canada says in a financial system review. Specifically, the central bank is worried about young people who have taken on high levels of debt so they can buy homes in expensive markets. The number of households with debt-to-income ratios of 350 per cent and above — considered highly indebted households — has doubled in the past 10 years to eight per cent of the population, the bank said. About 80 to 87 per cent of the debt is from mortgages, it said. Many of these overburdened homeowners are in markets in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta where house prices have escalated. “Income growth hasn’t kept pace with the growth of borrowing, as house prices have continued to rise in these markets,” Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz said in a news conference in Ottawa. A handful in trouble “There is a not only more of these households, but they also carry a larger portion of household debt.”

He estimated there are about 720,000 such highly indebted households in Canada, and they are a concern because they are concentrated in pockets. Debt and housing are the same problems flagged in last financial system review six months ago, but the vulnerabilities are “edging higher,” Poloz said. The risk to these households is an economic downturn that could result in widespread job loss, the bank said. “Household vulnerabilities could be exacerbated by a severe recession that is accompanied by a widespread and prolonged rise in unemployment,” the central bank said in a news release. “This could reduce the ability of households to service their debt and cause serious and broad-based declines in house prices.” Poloz said in his news conference that he is not predicting such a downturn, nor does he believe the banks are at great risk, because of strong underwriting practices in Canada. Last week, the federal government tightened mortgage rules, with CMHC requiring a 10 per cent down payment on the portion of any mortgage it insures over $500,000, up from a five per cent down payment.

Inflation rate jumps to 1.4% in November on higher food costs

he country’s annual inflation rate picked up the pace last month to hit 1.4 per cent — moving it a little closer to the Bank of Canada’s ideal target of two per cent. Statistics Canada’s November inflation reading was up from October when the overall inflation rate was just 1.0 per cent. The agency’s latest consumer price index says last month’s increase was led by higher year-over-year prices for food and shelter — as prices rose in seven of the survey’s eight major categories.

The index found that food prices were up 3.4 per cent compared to a year earlier, thanks in large part to the higher costs of meat and fresh vegetables. The agency says consumer prices climbed in every province last month compared to the year before. The core inflation rate, which excludes some volatile items such as gasoline, was 2.0 per cent last month — down from 2.1 per cent in October.

Business / Finance

Shaw Communications buying Wind Mobile for $1.6 billion

haw Communications (TSX:SJR.B) is making its long-anticipated foray into the wireless business by picking up Wind Mobile for $1.6 billion. The Calgary-based telecommunications company says it will acquire the country’s fourth-largest mobile operator by subscribers pending a number of regulatory approvals, including the Competition Bureau and the Ministry of Innovation, Science & Economic Development. Shaw expects the transaction to close in the third quarter of 2016. The purchase puts Shaw in line competitors BCE (TSX:BCE), Rogers and Telus in offering the entire slate of popular bundled services — wireless, television, home phone, and Internet bundles. “We believe that our customers want us to be their network and experience company, and in order to do that we needed to make a wireless play,” said Shaw chief operating officer Jay Mehr. Shaw scrapped its previous plans to introduce a mobile network in 2011, and two years later signed a deal to sell the spectrum — which would’ve been the foundation of that network — to Rogers (TSX:RCI.B). “The aspirations were always there in 2011 — the economics certainly weren’t,” Mehr said. The Toronto-based company has 940,000 subscribers across Ontario, British

The company ran into financial problems and was said to be seeking a buyer for years. Telecom giant Telus (TSX:T) attempted to buy the struggling carrier multiple times, but was rebuffed by the government over

Vancouverites wary of holiday overspending: Vancity report

ancouverites are feeling the Christmas crunch, according to a new holiday poll conducted by Vancity. The credit union found that 41 per cent of survey respondents spent “way too much” (19.98 per cent) or “slightly too much” (21.03) on holiday gifts last year, averaging $809.56 on presents. Despite so many people over-spending in 2014, people are bracing for a similar hit to the wallet now that the holiday season is once again upon us. According to the poll, people expect to shelloutanaverageof$803.96ongiftsin2015. “It’s definitely a reality we see. I’ve been there as well,” said Darwin Sauer, vice president of communications at Vancity. To avoid another year of sticker shock, Sauer recommends a few steps to help gift buyers take control of their holiday spending. The first thing to do is review last

Columbia and Alberta. Since 2011, the federal government and the CRTC have made several changes to the rules for wireless competition which lowered roaming fees for carriers and customers. Mehr said Shaw re-examined its wireless strategy at the beginning of this year and found that it made sense to buy an established player. He said Shaw has no plans to shift from Wind Mobile’s low-cost strategy or hike prices. “This is a winning strategy that’s been created, and our plan is to continue on that winning strategy,” he said. The company plans to compete hard against the larger carriers, Mehr said, and Shaw’s resources will give Wind Mobile the ability to build out its network. Wind Mobile CEO Alek Krstajic and his executive team plan to stay with the company. Wind Mobile was formed exactly six years ago on Wednesday as part of group of new entrants in Canada’s wireless industry, a move encouraged by the federal Conservative government to stoke competition.

year’s expenses, identify where you overspent and develop a plan to avoid making the same mistake. Secondly, people should make an itemized list of gifts and tally up the cost to make sure it fits within their budgets. Then, Sauer says people should think about non-traditional gifts, a trend that was borne out in the poll. The majority of survey respondents (69.06 per cent) indicated they’de prefer to receive something other than a purchased item as a gift. That can include anything from handmade gifts, donations in kind and providing someone with a unique “experience” – rather than a physical gift – to simply giving out cash or gift cards, which Sauer said can be easier to budget for. Despite people trending away from wanting purchased items, 55.66 per cent of people said it’s still their preferred type of gift to give others.

Spending money on others lowers blood pressure: UBC study

pending money on others can lower blood pressure, according to new research coming out of UBC. A team of graduate students have conducted an experiment where 73 older adults diagnosed with high blood pressure – ages 65 to 85 – were given $40 each and were randomly assigned to spend the cash on themselves or on others for a period of three weeks. (The experiment was six weeks in total.) What the group found was a “significant reduction” in blood pressure, similar to someone starting a new exercise regime or being put on new blood pressure medication. “These findings provide some of the strongest evidence to date that financial generosity can have significant implications for our physical health,” said lead author Ashley Whillans. Whillans added the drop in blood pressure was most notable around week four. Similar results were discovered in a correlation

study that involved an additional 186 seniors. The evidence shows that those who spend money on others who they feel closest to had the greatest benefit. The first participant was a war veteran, who donated his payments to a school built in honour of a friend he served with in the Vietnam War. Another donated her money to a charity that had helped her granddaughter survive anorexia. The UBC researchers conducted the experiment, Whillans noted, after realizing there was little evidence to suggest donating money has an effect on physical health. “Of course, there is still a lot to learn about when and for whom the health benefits of financial generosity emerge,” Whillans wrote in a blog post. “We don’t know a lot about how or how much people should spend on others to enjoy long-lasting health benefits.”

Saturday, December 19, 2015

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PUNJAB

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Punjab Govt in a fix as RBI unlikely to enhance cash credit limit

he state government is in a difficult situation as the Reserve Bank of India is not keen on increasing the cash credit limit it sanctioned for clearing the dues of farmers in lieu of paddy procured for the central pool. On the other hand, commission agents have decided to protest at Khanna to press the government for early clearance of their payments. Following approval by the RBI and the Union Government, a consortium of banks has already released Rs20,000 crore to the state government to make payment to farmers through commission agents. But the government requires Rs5,000 crore more to clear the dues. The government had approached the RBI seeking a hike in cash credit limit to Rs25,000 crore from the existing Rs20,000 crore. Sources say the RBI has expressed reservations and is unlikely to concede to the demand. “We were expecting the paddy procure-

ment to be in the range of 115 lakh tonnes for which the credit limit of Rs20,000 crore was enough. But the actual procurement was 136 lakh tonnes. We thus need additional Rs5,000 crore to clear the farmers’ dues,” said an official associated with the procurement process. The RBI, sources said, had told the state to release the payment to farmers from the money it got from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in lieu of the rice supplied to the central pool. The FCI releases money to the state procurement agencies for rice supplied to the central pool after shelling paddy. But government officials said they were not authorised to release the money it received from the FCI, for which the permission of the banks concerned was required. The commission agents, meanwhile, have given a call to launch an agitation. “Farmers have been asking for the payment for paddy which they sold to the procurement agencies through us.

New train to Chandigarh chugs off

he much-awaited Patliputra railway station of the state capital today became functional as Chandigarh-bound 13255 Patliputra-Chandigarh Express started plying this evening. The train will run twice a week, while Yashwantpur-bound 22351 Patliputra-Yashwantpur Express will start its services once a week from Friday. The passengers can begin their journey for Chandigarh either on Wednesday or Sunday at 8.30 pm and they will reach

Chandigarh the next day at 5.55 pm. They, however, can board at 9.30 pm either on Thursday or Monday from Chandigarh for the Patliputra station where they would arrive at 8.45 pm. The Patliputra-Yashwantpur Express will depart each Friday from the Patliputra railway station at 8.15 pm. It will reach Yashwantpur on Sunday at 8.55 pm. It, however, will return from Yashwantpur beginning its journey on Monday at 9.55 am to the Patliputra station on Wednesday at 10 am.

American teen pleads guilty to brutally beating up an elderly Sikh man

n American teenager accused of brutally beating up an elderly Sikh man in the US and calling him a “terrorist” and “Bin Laden” has pleaded guilty to one count of hate crime. The 17-year-old pleaded guilty on December 7 to hitting Inderjit Mukker, 53, of Darien and will be sentenced in February in juvenile court. Muk-

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ker was assaulted on September 8 when the Willowbrook teen pulled up to his car yelling racial slurs, including, “Terrorist, go back to your country, Bin Laden!” A US citizen and a father of two, Mukker was on his way to a grocery store and was repeatedly cut off by a driver. He pulled over to the side of the road to let the driver pass, but the driver instead pulled in front of his car and aggressively approached Mukker’s vehicle. The assailant then repeatedly punched Mukker in the face, causing him to lose consciousness, bleed profusely and suffer a fractured cheekbone and a laceration to his cheek. Initially, the authorities had said they would not bring hate crime charges against the teenager, sparking outrage among members of the community.

13 yrs after retirement, Brigadier gets hope of promotion

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fter wrangling a long legal battle right up to the apex court for 13 years after retirement, a Brigadier’s hope for promotion, albeit notional, has been revived with the Armed Forces Tribunal directing the Army to hold a special promotion board to consider his elevation to the rank of Major General. The Bench, comprising Justice SS Thakur and Lt General DS Sidhu (retd), has also taken strong exception to the Military Secretary’s Branch furnishing incorrect information in the matter and has imposed costs of Rs 25,000 on the Army. Observing that at the highest level instead of placing the truth, ways and means were devised to conceal the truth and every attempt was made to mislead the court, the Bench, in its order today, stated, “It rocks and shocks the judicial conscience as to how carelessly and casually the Union of India has taken a stand which could encourage their instrumentalities to follow the illegal pursuit.”

2 more arrested in Abohar killing

wo more accused were arrested on Friday in the murder case of Dalit youth Bhim Sain Tank reportedly at SAD leader Shiv Lal Doda’s farmhouse in Abohar. The police claimed to have recovered some weapons that were used to chop the limbs of Tank and Gurjant Singh, alias Janta, last week. Inder Mohan Bhatti, SSP, said those arrested were Vivek Vij of Patel Nagar and Amarjit Singh Gakhu of Kundal village. Bhatti said the four arrested earlier revealed during interrogation that they had handed over the weapons to Vivek Vij at a liquor shop in Rajpura village on the Abohar-Hanumangarh road. Thereafter, Vivek was nabbed. The police claimed he had confessed to dumping the weapons in a water tank, which were recovered.

fOOD INDIA

6 i Saturday - April 4, 2015

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French President to to be chief guest at Republic Day parade

rench President Francois Hollande will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations next year. “We are happy that French President Francois Hollande has accepted our invitation to be the chief guest at India’s 67th Republic Day celebra-

Saturday, December 19, 2015

tions. We look forward to welcome him warmly in India. We are confident that his visit will further strengthen the robust strategic partnership between India and France,” said Vikas Swarup, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry.

EU’s India summit in early 2016

ensing a change of mood in India to improve bilateral relations, the European Union (EU) is laying accent on providing impetus to its multi-faceted engagement with New Delhi and working to hold an India Summit meeting during early 2016. “The process of opening a new page in bilateral relations has begun and we will be

able to achieve much more... have noticed a change of mood in bilateral relations,” said Tomasz Kozlowski, head of an EU delegation to India, told a select group of media sharing his sense of optimism. India and EU are on the verge of arriving at a new agreement on Migration and Mobility to facilitate legal migration and protect against illegal migrants and human trafficking.

Delhi gang rape victim named by mother

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he mother of a student who died day of the attack. “There is no need for us after being gang-raped on a bus to feel any shame. It is the perpetrators of in Delhi has publicly revealed her heinous crimes who must feel ashamed of daughter’s name. Asha Singh told a crowd themselves.” Ms Singh was attacked on board a bus on Wednesday that she felt “no shame” in announcing her daughter’s name: “Her after watching a film in south Delhi with a name was Jyoti Singh.” The 23-year-old male friend. Police said she was raped for physiotherapy student died after being bru- almost an hour and beaten with iron bars. tally raped by six men on a moving bus in The attack sparked violent public protests Procedure: 2012,Marinate causing global outrage. Rape thatpaste left one officer dead. the chicken with thevictims ginger garlic andpolice the yoghurt for 20Four min.men soak the cashew in warm water for 15 minutes.chop the onions and tomatoes. Heat 1 tbsp cannot Indian law.pieces in the were of theon crime oilbe tonamed a pan. under sear the chicken hot convicted oil for 1 minute each and side handto a golden colour. remove the chicken pieces. in the same pan, add 1tbsp oil and the chopped Their identities hidden inpink. a bid Addedthe thetomatoes, death penalty in 2014. One diedmasala powder and cook on medium flame till the tomatoes are tender (approx. 4-5 onions. sauteare tilloften a translucent red chili powder, garam to protect themremove from being shunned in soin March another, aged 17 minutes). from flame and run inina jail blender withwhile the soaked cashews to at make a smooth paste. return to the pan and add the tomato puree. Bring to a boil and add ciety.the “I say this in front of you all that her the time, is set to be released after serving chicken pieces. simmer for 4-5 minutes till the chicken is cooked. Add the low fat cream and simmer for 2 minutes. Broil the fenugreek leaves on a pan. crush the namefenugreek was Jyoti Singh, Ashathe Singh saidand at aremove three yearsfire. in aserve reform facility - the maxileaves” over curry from hot. public gathering in Delhi, three years to the mum term possible for a juvenile in India.

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Saturday, December 19, 2015

INDIA

Kejriwal calls PM Narendra Modi a ‘psychopath’ The chief minister of India’s capital, Delhi, has alleged that his office has been raided by the country’s federal investigation agency. Arvind Kejriwal blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the “raid”, calling him a “coward and a psychopath”. “When Modi couldn’t handle me politically, he resorts to this cowardice,” he added. Officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have denied the allegations. “It is not a raid on Arvind Kejriwal’s office, it was a raid on Rajender Kumar, principal secretary to the CM [chief minister],” CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh told BBC Hindi. However, Mr Kejriwal has accused the CBI of “lying”. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told the upper house of parliament that the “raid has nothing to do with Mr Kejriwal”. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu added that it had become a “fashion” for Mr Kejriwal to blame the prime minister.

Kejriwal’s local government has been locked in a tussle for power with the federal government since he was elected to power in February. Unlike in much of India, Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-run local government does not have absolute administrative powers over the state. Control of the state’s police force, land, and law and order rests with the BJP-controlled federal government. bThe AAP has consistently campaigned for greater autonomy for the state, and its tenure has been peppered with confrontations. Party members have tweeted, calling it the “darkest day in democracy”. Amid his confrontation with the Centre, Kejriwal made fresh allegations against the CBI, accusing it of seizing documents “unrelated” to the agency’s probe against his Principal Secretary and claimed that a file relating to Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) was scrutinised by it.

Gaitonde painting breaks world record for Indian art An oil painting by an Indian artist has sold for 293m rupees ($4.4m) at a Christie’s auction in Mumbai, setting a new world record for Indian art. Vasudeo S Gaitonde’s untitled painting from 1995 was bought by an anonymous buyer, the auction house said. The previous record was $4.01m for a work by Goan artist Francis

Newton Souza. Gaitonde, who died in 2001, is considered one of India’s greatest abstract painters. “It achieved a world record for any Indian work of art sold at auction,” Christie’s International Head of World Art William Robinson said. The auction on Tuesday was the third for Christie’s in India.

Supreme Court cracks down on Delhi pollution

ndia’s Supreme Court has announced a slew of measures to curb record air pollution levels in the capital, Delhi. It has ordered a temporary ban on the sale of large diesel vehicles and stopped trucks more than 10 years old from entering the city. Delhi is experiencing hazardous levels of pollution due to diesel emissions, construction dirt and the burning of crop stubble in farms around the city. Air pollution causes more than 600,000 premature deaths in India each year. India has 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported last year. On Wednesday, the top court said that new diesel luxury cars and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) with engine capacity of more than 2000cc cannot be registered in Delhi between 1 January and 31 March 2016. It is not clear whether the sale of these vehicles will resume after March. “Rich people can’t go round in sports utility vehicles polluting

the environment,” the judges said. The court also doubled an environment tax on all commercial trucks entering Delhi, and said it would consider an environment congestion charge on all diesel vehicles when it meets again in the new year. Also, the court said all taxis operating in Delhi as well as in districts in the neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan would have to convert to natural gas by 31 March. Critics have questioned how this will be enforced, and wonder how the police will be able to spot taxis violating the order. Car sales are soaring in India, with 1,400 new vehicles taking to Delhi’s streets every day. Commercial trucks account for more than half of India’s vehicle emissions. As pollution levels in Delhi have reached alarming levels in the past few weeks, the Delhi high court said the city resembled a “gas chamber”. The Delhi government then announced that from 1 January 2016, private vehicles with odd and even registration numbers would only be allowed to operate on alternate days.

Air India worker sucked into aircraft engine

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n Air India technician has died after he was sucked into an aircraft engine at Mumbai airport, the airline says. The accident happened as the jet of flight AI 619 from Mumbai to Hyderabad was being pushed back for departure. Air India chairman Ashwani Lohani described the accident as a “mishap”, but it is not yet clear what happened. “We are deeply saddened and regret

the tragic incident,” Lohani said. He added that the incident is being investigated. The accident occurred when the co-pilot started the engine at the Chhatrapati Shivaji airport. The victim was standing nearby. “At the moment, we are absolutely clueless on how this person was near the aircraft. Only an inquiry can establish whose negligence it was and whether the engine should have been switched on at that time,” an airline official said.

FIJI

Saturday, December 19, 2015 i 31

Ex-mayor of Suva D.L. Bhika faces corruption charges

Corrections chief also removed after facing corruption charges

rime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has advised the President, Jioje Konrote, for the immediate revocation of the acting appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Ifereimi Vasu (pictured) as Commissioner for Fiji Corrections Service. This was after Lt-Col Vasu and two others appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday on abuse charges. Bainimarama, as chair of the Constitutional Offices Commission, has recommended Kameli Ratuvakalevulevu to be Acting Commissioner for Fiji Corrections Service.Lt-Col Vasu is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption for abuse of office with Peniasi Kunatuba and former Suva Lord Mayor Dhansukh Lal Bhika. Bhika is charged with aiding and abetting abuse of office and obtaining financial advantage. The three appeared before Magistrate Margret Mua. Lt-Col Vasu, as a director of Naboro Mart Ltd, is alleged to have done an arbitrary act for the purpose of gain namely facilitating and approving the purchase of goods to the amount of $131,683.33 from the Naboro Mart Ltd between July 2013 and December 2014.

Kunatuba, the director Corporate Services of Corrections, is also alleged to have committed a similar offence by facilitating and approving the purchase of goods to the amount of $54,734.65 from the Naboro Mart Ltd between January 2013 and March 2014 for the purpose of gain. Bhika between January 2013 and December 2014, while being the manager of Naboro Mart Ltd, is alleged to have engaged in a conduct namely supplying goods to Fiji Corrections Service despite not being an approved supplier and as a result obtained a financial advantage amounting to $186,417.98 for Naboro Mart Ltd from Fiji Corrections Service. He is also alleged to have aided and abetted Lt-Col Vasu of the offence of abuse of office. Kunatuba, a former permanent secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests, was convicted of abuse of office in 2006 while Bhika was convicted of official corruption in 2011. All the accused persons were released on a $3000 bail bond. The matter has been adjourned to February 10, 2016 for plea.

Chinese nationals charged with ATM theft

ix Chinese nationals alleged to have conducted several ATM withdrawals in Lautoka in the weekend have been charged. Police Chief of Investigations and Intelligence, ACP Henry Brown said the six have been charged with theft and dishonestly obtaining or dealing in personal financial information and will be produced at the Magistrates Court in Lautoka later today. He said a tip was received from a taxi driver on Sunday 6th December, 2015 at the Lautoka Police Station that a group of Chi-

nese nationals were seen conducting several suspicious withdrawals in the area. They were also found in possession with a number of ATM cards. “Again we continue to urge members of the public to be mindful of any suspicious financial activities during the busy festive season that is upon us. Releasing personal financial information especially when buying online should be done with care as this can be used against you,” said ACP Brown.

FRCA officers intercept illicit drug

iji Revenue and Customs Authority (FRCA) officers intercepted a parcel containing Methamphetamine from the Suva Post Office yesterday.The illicit drug which was concealed inside a shampoo bottle was sent from UnitedStatesandwasaddressedtoalocalwoman. FRCA Intelligence Team was informed of the drugs early this month. The suspect went to Post Office to collect the parcel. However, she fled when questioned by Customs Officers.

She was later identified through her Tax Identification Number (TIN). Acting FCA chief executive Mr Visvanath Dass has commended his officers for carrying out their duties diligently. “The seizure is also a warning to all those unscrupulous traders wanting to bring in illegal drugs that FRCA officers and police are vigilant in their work to ensure borders are safe”. The seizure has been handed to Police for further investigations.

Free medication, extended opening hours next year under new health plan

ey health initiatives next year will include free medicine and extended opening hours for health care facilities. Minister for Health and Medical Services Jone Usamate made the announcement in his address at the official launch of the National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2016-2020 for Health at the Holiday Inn in Suva yesterday. “Some of the initiatives of Government are to provide free medicine to Fijians who earn less than $20,000 a year and to extend opening hours at health centres,” MUsamate said. He said the initiatives would ensure a qualitative, curative health system. “Firstly, for the free medicine initiative this also includes medicines for non-communicable diseases. Government has committed to subsidise by allocating special funding through budgetary allocations to the Minis-

try of Health and Medical Services to provide this assistance to the low income individuals. “Secondly, to extend the opening hours at health centres, hospitals and government pharmacies will provide Fijians with better and more convenient medical services..” He said the other two main initiatives, included in the NSP were increasing the recruitment of doctors and ensuring essential drugs remained under price control. “Thirdly to train, recruit and retain more doctors and progress towards achieving an internationally accepted standard of doctor to patient ratio by the end of 2020. “Lastly to ensure that all essential drugs remain under price control and that there is a regular supply of all essential medicines through the public health system.”

India to assist Fiji’s infrastructure sector

he Indian Government has expressed its desire to assist Fiji in the infrastructure sector. Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Parveen Bala held talks with his Indian counterpart and Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri. Nitin Gadkari at the Transport Bhawan in India this week where Minister Gadkari expressed his Government’s desire to assist in the development of Fiji’s road infrastructure including the constructions of roads and flyovers, ports and shipping. Minister Gadkari also informed Minister Bala that he was working on energisation in conjunction with AAA rating organisations in the world whereby his ideas go abroad for construction of roads using models such PPP or BOT. He advised that the cost of construction is inexpensive compared to

other countries while assuring good quality of construction and use of material. India is also willing to assist by providing top engineers and professionals. Fiji’s High Commissioner to India, Mr Yogesh Karan was present at the talks and requested for technical expertise to be provided to Fiji. Minister Gadkari assured him of India’s assistance in this area by deploying qualified and experienced engineers and city planners to Fiji. High Commissioner Karan also requested the Indian Minister to send a team of experts to Fiji to conduct feasibility studies for the construction of flyovers to ease traffic congestions. The parties agreed that Fiji submit a proposal detailing areas that requires assistance for Minister Gadkari and his team to consider while High Commissioner Karan proposed for a Memorandum of Understanding in areas of Cooperation between the two countries.

NZ to hire more seasonal workers

iji and Pacific Island workers are set to benefit from an increase in New Zealand’s cap on its seasonal workers scheme. According to a Radio New Zealand report, immigration authorities have announced that 500 more seasonal workers will be allowed in for the 2015 to 2016 season. Most workers allowed in to work under the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme in New Zealand are from the Pacific Islands and the intake has been boosted to 9,500 workers. Under the programme workers are recruited from several Pacific island countries to work in horticulture and viticulture.

The scheme started in 2007 with workers arriving from Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea and Nauru. The New Zealand Government allowed workers from Fiji last year after the lifting of sanctions. Horticulture and viticulture industry are New Zealand’s fourth largest export industry and Government aims to increase exports to $10 billion by 2020. And seasonal workers from the Pacific are an integral part of the sector that employs around 50,000 people across New Zealand.

PAKISTAN

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India can’t prove my role in 26/11 Mumbai attacks: Hafiz Saeed

ays after external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj visited Pakistan, Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed has dared India to prove his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. According to a video posted on his Twitter account, Saeed is seen saying, “Our government remained silent, but let me respond to Sushma. It’s been seven years but they could not prove who was behind the Mumbai attacks and Insha Allah (if Allah wills it) they will nev-

PM Sharif grieves over actor Kamal Rizvi’s death

er be able to prove it until eternity.” “India has failed to provide any evidence of Mumbai attacks, while on the other hand Modi has confessed for worst terrorism of #1971,” Saeed’s statement comes after India was assured of steps being taken to expedite the early conclusion of 26/11 Mumbai trial, after Swaraj visited Pakistan last week. He also slammed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for holding a meeting with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Paris.

15 killed, 55 injured in bomb blast At least 15 people were killed and 55 others injured on Sunday when a powerful bomb ripped through a crowded used clothes market in Pakistan’s restive northwest tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The explosion occurred at the Eidgah market in Kurram Agency’s Parachinar area which was bustling with people who were out shopping for clothes. 15 people were killed and 55 others injured, including 15 who were in a critical condition, officials said. It was unclear whether the blast was a suicide attack or a remote-controlled blast. Security forces cordoned off the area and were investigating the nature of the blast. However, media reports said the explosion was carried out through a planted device and two suspects have been taken into custody from the blast site. No individual or group claimed responsibility for the attack. Earlier, rescue and emergency teams rushed to the blast site and shifted the dead and wounded to a hospital in Parachinar. Kurram is one of the most sensitive tribal areas as it borders three Afghan provinces and at one point was one of the key routes for militant movement across the border. It has witnessed scores of sectarian attacks and kidnappings in the past several years. The agency is adjacent to North

Waziristan where Operation Zarb-i-Azb is in progress against the Tehrik-i- Taliban and other insurgent groups. Parachinar is the administrative headquarters of the agency near the Afghan border. It is a small garrison town with a total population of about 40,000 comprising people of different tribes, races and faiths.

enowned actor, writer, and director Kamal Ahmed Rizvi(pictured) passed away after protracted illness at his residence in Karachi on Thursday. Kamal Rizvi, 85, became famous after playing his role in one of the Pakistan TV’s most celebrated sitcoms ‘Alif Noon’ alongside Rafi Khawar Nanha in 1970s. He palyed many roles popular amongst public. Rizvi had excelled in highlighting social evils through comedy and satire as the two mentioned TV shows are testament of the fact. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep grief over his demise.Paying glowing tribute to the famous actor and writer, the premier said the space that has been created by his death in the literary circles would be difficult to replace.

Pakistan vows revenge one year after childrens’ school massacre

akistan’s leader, speaking beneath portraits of children killed by Taliban bullets, called Wednesday for vengeance as the country marked the first anniversary of a school massacre that killed 151 people in its worst-ever extremist attack. Families of the victims along with military and political leaders attended an emotional ceremony at the army-run school in the northwestern city of Peshawar to mark the assault, which mostly claimed the lives of schoolchildren and has been termed a “mini-9/11” for the country. Relatives were accompanied by students bearing images of their loved ones

as they spoke one by one of children with bright smiles who worried about their hair and handwriting but had dreams of being artists and engineers. Many of the parents broke down on seeing students in the Army Public School uniforms, an AFP reporter said. “My children, today I make this promise to you, that I will take revenge for every drop of your blood,” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said, addressing the victims directly. But angry and distraught parents told AFP nothing could bring back their children, with many reiterating calls for a judicial inquiry into the security failings that led to the attack.

Pakistan envoy says terrorism has no religion

EW DELHI: Asserting that terrorism has no religion and faith, Pakistan high commissioner to India Abdul Basit said that it was a global phenomenon which could not be defeated through half-baked strategies and countries should transcend individual and collective biases to fight it. Speaking at an event to mark the first anniversary of the Army Public School attack in Peshawar, he said the international community must understand his country’s pain as it hurts when Pakistan is painted by some with closed eyes. No other country has suffered so much from violent extremism than Pakistan, he added. Seven gunmen affiliated to the Tehrik-i-Taliban attacked the Army Public School in Peshawar killing at least 148 on this day, last year. “Terrorism is a global, regional, national and local phenomenon; it could not be defeated through half-baked and incoherent strategies.

13 militants killed

t least 13 suspected militants have been killed during a raid by security forces in southwestern Balochistan. The incident occurred when security forces launched a search operation was launched in the Awaran district on Sunday night. “13 suspected militants were killed after exchange of fire with security forces, a huge cache of weapons was recovered from their custody. Their bodies have been moved to a local hospital,” a local administration official said. The militants had opened fire on the security forces who retaliated and several militants were also injured but escaped with the help of their fleeing accomplices, the official said. The search operation was carried out after militants attacked a convoy of security forces in the Tankour area of Awaran on Sun-

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2 Indians win Queen’s Young Leaders award in UK

wo Indians have won the Queen’s Young Leaders award in the UK for their exceptional work in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in their communities. Kartik Sawhney, 21, and Neha Swain, 28 from India are among 60 others who won the Queen’s Young Leaders award 2016 which will be presented by the British monarch at a gala ceremony in Buckingham Palace in June next year. Kartik, who was born blind, has been acknowledged for his exceptional work highlighting universal access to education for all. “I am so honoured to be part of the Queen’s Young Leaders programme. I am passionate about universal access to education,” said Sawhney, who was born blind. “After discovering that blind students were unable to pursue science after Grade 10, I appealed and enrolled as India’s first Grade 11 blind science student. I faced similar challenges when trying to enter engineering colleges. “I founded Project STEMAccess, which offers hands-on science workshops in India, as well as virtual

training sessions,” he said. Neha, a youth facilitator and co-founder of NGO Rubaroo provides an inclusive space for young people, irrespective of their socio-economic background, to develop their leadership skills through interactive workshops. Her team provides workshops to schools in India free of charge and has so far worked with nearly 2,000 young people in the city of Hyderabad. “Once again 60 incredible young people from around the Commonwealth have shown strength, leadership, empathy and drive. “Some of our winners are just embarking on their leadership journey and others are more established. Either way, we recognise not only what these amazing young people have achieved, but also their potential in changing people’s lives for the better in the countries and communities in which they live,” said Astrid Bonfield, chief executive of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust. Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust present the award to recognise young people from across the 53 countries of the Commonwealth who are “taking the lead in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in their communities”.

Republican candidate refers to Indian Muslims as a good example of peaceful co-existence

he moderation of India’s nearly 200 million Muslims in a plural, democratic country got a famous thumbs-up in a raucous Republican presidential debate on Wednesday where rivals piled on to front-runner Donald Trump’s perceived hostility to the Islamic faith. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, second only to Trump in some polls, invoked India to contest the maverick billionaire’s demonisation of all Muslims, saying the focus on fighting extremism should not be based on faith, but on the “political and theological ideology that seeks to murder us”. “I’m reminded of what FDR’s grandfather said, all horse thieves are democrats but not all democrats are horse thieves,” Cruz joked in a folksy swipe at Democrats while making the point that not all Muslims are terrorists or extremists. “In this instance there are millions of peaceful Muslims across the world, like in India, where there is not the problems we are seeing in nations that are controlled by al-Qaida or IS.” While many American leaders — notably George W Bush when he was President — have expressed admiration for India’s plural and secular nature that has its nearly 15% Muslim population living in relative harmony amid aberrations, the reference to it in the current GOP line-up was unexpected, given their insu-

lar outlook, their hyper-nationalism, and their modest grasp of foreign history. In fact, the debate saw candidates trying to outdo each other in projecting a muscular foreign policy with one aspirant (John Kasich) wanting to “punch the Russians in the nose,” another (Chris Christie) ready to shoot down Russian planes if they violated a US enforced no-fly zone in Syria. But Trump trumped them all, going as far as to suggest he would approve killing family members of IS terrorists to defeat them. “You look at the attack in California the other day — numerous people, including the mother that knew what was going on,” Trump said in a reference to the San Bernardino terrorist strike initiated by two Pakistani-origin jihadis. “They saw a pipe bomb sitting all over the floor. They saw ammunition all over the place. They knew exactly what was going on.” “I would be very, very firm with families,” he added. “Frankly, that will make people think, because they may not care much about their lives, but they do care, believe it or not, about their families’ lives.” Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson also appeared to support such a policy, comparing it to his experience of taking out children’s brain tumors: “They don’t like me very much (when I say I have to perform surgery), but later on they love me.”

Indian-origin politician becomes South Africa’s finance minister Pravin Gordhan, a widely respected Indian-origin politician, has been appointed South Africa’s new finance minister by President Jacob Zuma, becoming the third finance chief of the country in a week amid a raging economic turmoil. Zuma sacked Nhlanhla Nene from the ministry on Wednesday and replaced him with the relatively unknown lawmaker David Rooyen, sparking a wave of criticism and financial turmoil. The removal of Nene sent the Rand currency to record lows, sparked a sell-off in bank stocks and sent yields in local and dollar-denominated debt soaring. Credit agency Fitch downgraded South Africa on December 4 December, leaving the continent’s most sophisticated economy just one notch above junk status. The president came under intense criticism

for the manner in which he replaced Nene. The announcement was initially made with no reasons given and it was seen as ill-timed given the intense pressure on the economy. The choice of Rooyen, an ANC whip in Parliament’s standing committee of finance, was also questioned given his relative lack of experience in government. 66-year-old Gordhan’s appointment sent the Rand up almost 5 per cent on Sunday night, but failed to quell a tide of criticism of the president. Gordhan was widely respected when he served as South Africa’s finance minister from 2009 until 2014. In a statement on Sunday, the president said that after replacing Nene he had “received many representations to reconsider my decision”. “As a democratic government, we emphasise the importance of listening to the people and to respond to their views,” Zuma said.

Saturday, December 19, 2015 i 33

Scholarship to honour health worker killed in ambulance crash

University, hoping to n honour of become a doctor. The the memory scholarship will keep of Hinal PaPatel’s memory alive tel, the young Inand it will be awarded dian-origin health annually to a deservworker, who died ing senior at Spotsin the line of duty wood High School when a car slammed every spring, tapinto. into an ambulance, a net news website said. scholarship fund is A local family is being set up in her Hinal Patel also pitching in for native town in New Jersey. 22-year-old Hinal Patel, a Spotswood collecting donations for the scholarship. The Emergency Medical Technician, died in July Kloos family has an yearly tradition of decoratthis year when a car hit her ambulance while ing their home with lights and holiday decorashe was hurrying to an accident site. The Pisca- tions. Area residents visiting their home dotaway native was working her final shift for the nate to various causes and this year, the Kloos Spotswood EMS at the time of her death and Family Lights will be accepting donations for wanted to continue her education at the Grad- Patel’s scholarship fund. uate School of Biomedical Science at Rutgers

NRI doctor gets 30 yrs jail for child sex exploitation in USA

57-year-old Indian-origin pediatrician in the US has been jailed for 30 years for sexual exploitation of a child and producing child pornography. Rakesh Punn, of New York had pleaded guilty in April last year to producing child pornography, Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said . Punn admitted that in September 2007, he sexually exploited a minor paediatric patient during a medical appointment at his home-office. Punn falsely diagnosed the child with an illness so that he could obtain unfettered access to her without her par-

ents being present and then drugged and secretly photographed the girl. At sentencing, the court found that Punn engaged in a pattern of similar conduct with other patients and enhanced his sentence accordingly. Punn awaits sentencing on state charges also related to this conduct. He was arrested in July 2010 on preliminary charges of videotaping patients. He was initially charged with abusing three children under the guise of giving them medical treatment. He admitted in April 2014 to sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl who was a patient in his office in Bethpage.

34 i Saturday, December 19, 2015

SOUTH ASIA

Afghan intellegence chief quits after President Ghani’s outreach to Pakistan

he head of Afghanistan’s main intelli- (Pakistan) Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif once gence agency resigned on Thursday, again called Afghanistan as Pakistan’s enemy,” laying bare disagreements with Pres- he wrote. Ghani’s willingness to visit Afghanident Ashraf Ghani over his diplomatic istan’s longtime nemesis sigoutreach to Pakistan aimed at reviving nalled a renewed push to mend peace talks with the resurgent Taliban. badly frayed cross-border ties, which could help jumpstart The resignation of Rahmatullah Nabil comes as Afghanistan grapples with long-stalled peace talks with string of major Taliban attacks, includthe insurgents. Pakistan, which wields considerable influence ing a 27-hour siege of Kandahar airport over the Taliban, hosted a milethis week which killed at least 50 people. In his resignation letter, Nabil citied “a stone first round of peace nelack of agreement on policy matters” gotiations in July. But the talks and restrictions imposed by the presistalled when the Taliban bedent which he alleged had hindered his Rahmatullah Nabil latedly confirmed the death of ability to do his job. The development longtime leader Mullah Omar. comes a day after Nabil posted a scathing Face“Nabil’s resignation highlights the challengbook post criticizing Ghani’s high-profile visit es Ghani faces over his diplomatic outreach to to Pakistan, the Taliban’s historic backer, for Pakistan, long blamed for the turmoil Afghana regional conference. “Our innocent coun- istan faces,” said Kabul-based military analyst trymen were being martyred and beheaded Mirza Mohammad Yarmand. in Kandahar airfield ... at the moment when

Nepal passes long-delayed bill on quake rebuilding

epal’s parliament on Wednesday passed a long-delayed law to pave the way for rebuilding after April’s massive earthquake, ending months of bickering that paralysed reconstruction despite donor pledges of billions in aid. The 7.8-magnitude quake killed almost 8,900 people and destroyed more than half a million homes. Thousands of victims still live in tents eight months later due to the government’s failure to spend a $4.1 billion reconstruction fund. “I announce that the bill related to reconstruction of earthquake-affected infrastructure... has been passed unanimously,” Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar said in parliament. The government vowed in June to set up a National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) to oversee rebuilding and ensure that all aid went to victims, as part of its bid

to attract funding from sceptical foreign donors. But political wrangling between the ruling CPN-UML party and the opposition Nepali Congress over the leadership of the new body prevented the bill conferring legal status on the NRA from being passed. The final vote paving the way for the NRA, which will process all aid funds, followed weeks of closed-door negotiations. A spokesman for the ruling party told AFP the government would work fast to set up the new state body to avoid further delays in rebuilding. “The bill has been passed through a political consensus... There were some disagreements among the parties, but things will now move forward quickly,” said CPN-UML spokesman Pradeep Gyawali. Quake victims have so far received just $150 in compensation per household, while the government has promised an additional $2,000 once the NRA is set up and able to disburse funds.

Six Indians dead in Nepal brick kiln blast At least six Indians and two locals were killed and 24 others injured after a brick kiln chimney collapsed in Nepal after an explosion, police said. The incident took place on Monday night at New Jaya Nepal Brick Factory in Itahari in eastern Nepal, police said, adding that the dead Indians were from West Bengal and Bihar. Around one million raw bricks were being baked when the explosion took place, after smoke could not pass out of the 105-foot chimney, resulting in its collapse. Tikaram Chaudhary, a local resident, said that the upper part of the chimney was destroyed by the April 25 earthquake and it was repaired recently.

A pile-up of anxiety and ‘betrayal’ at India-Nepal border Nepal: It’s called the Maitri Bridge. But “maitri (friendship)” is the last thing on everyone’s mind here. Linking Nepal’s Birgunj with India’s Raxaul is a dusty connector overrun with motorcycles, tongas, rickshaws and cycles. Since September, a bamboo-and-plastic shelter has partially covered it, protestors camping inside imposing a blockade on themselves, refusing food, fuel and essentials supplies from India to get in. There are no police lines here or agitators visible, just people hurrying to Raxaul to pick up supplies. Any police force should have broken the protest. But for three months, the stir has continued. How? “Thousands converge here within minutes to take on the police,” Aslam, an agitator, says. Policemen have beaten up protestors. But only one day they managed to clear the bridge for stranded Indian trucks to return. Birgunj is the nerve centre of the Madhesi protests against Kathmandu and its elite. Although the border has about 20 transit points, over 60% of trade is through Birgunj. That’s been closed for three months. Factories in and around Birgunj are shut. Last week, schools opened for a few hours every day. No cars ply here, motorbikes are the only way to get around quickly. Petrol and diesel sell in plastic bottles, dirt cheap. “We have strong roti-beti ties with Indians. My wife is Indian, now I don’t know if my daughter will be a Nepalese citizen by birth or naturalization,” says Om Prakash Sikariya a businessman. The new Nepal constitution says children born to a Nepalese women marrying foreigners would be naturalized citizens, not by descent. They’ll be denied employment in certain government positions.

Saturday, December 19, 2015 i 35

36 i Saturday, December 19, 2015