The Asian Star January 30 2016 by The Asian Star Newspaper

www.theasianstar.com

Vol 14

Issue 52 Saturday, January 30, 2016

Tel: 604-591-5423

GuruLucky: Globalizing Indian food Treasures

Smart cars that share revealing info about drivers

Page

Growth, growth, growth for Khalsa Credit Union promises new CEO

Dalbir S. Mehta (left) with KCU Board Chairman Harinder S. Sohi By Umendra Singh

Dalbir Singh Mehta was named the new CEO of Khalsa Credit Union yesterday (Friday) morning. And he immediately promises one thing to the KCU members and the community at large “growth, growth, growth.” He said growth is the key of the game and he promised to boost membership growth from the current 14,000, increase the size of its portfolio and

Continued on page 4

Page

Trump mocks Sikh protester at campaign rally

rump’s tetchy relationship with protesters took another controversial turn on Sunday when he appeared to mock a turban-clad man ejected from a campaign rally in Iowa. The incident began as Sikh protestor being removed Trump was inveighing from Trump’s rally against “radical Islamic terror,” a common theme in his stump speeches. “Somebody has to say what’s going on,” he said roughly 15 minutes into an hour-long speech at Muscatine High School, before referencing the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the San Bernardino, Calif., shooting in December. “When planes fly into the World Trade Center, and into the Pentagon, and wherever the third plane was going, when people are shooting their friends in Continued on page 7

Yoga guru fined $6.5 million for sexual harassment

fter ordering celebrity yoga guru Bikram Choudhury to pay $924,500 in compensatory damages in a lawsuit for sexually harassing and firing a female employee, a US court has told Choudhury to pay $6.47 million in punitive damages. Plaintiff Minakshi JafaBodden, Choudhury’s former legal adviser, said in the lawsuit that he inappropriately touched her and wrongfully fired her in 2013 after she began probing sexual abuse claims from other women. “I feel elated and vindicated,” Jafa-Bodden told New York Daily News after the Tuesday verdict that was

handed down by a Los Angeles jury consisting of six women and three men. Meanwhile, 69-year-old Choudhury, Kolkata-born founder of Bikram Yoga — a form of hot yoga — testified that he is “almost bankrupt”. Continued on page 6

Edmonton first city to legalize Uber

dmonton city councillors voted Wednesday to legalize the ridehailing company Uber, making it the first Canadian municipality to do so. Uber will be allowed to legally operate in the city starting March 1, provided the company’s drivers are able to get legal commercial insurance approved by the province. That process is still underway. Edmonton council chambers cleared as Uber debate overheats, againCity passes first reading of bylaw to legalize Uber Approval of the bylaw allows the city to crack down on drivers who do not comply with the law. City administration said Uber has made the commitment that it will cease operating when the bylaw comes into effect March 1, Continued on page 6

2 i Saturday, January 30, 2016

LOCAL

Opposition NDP Leader, John Horgan, beating the drum at Lunar New Year poster launch and lion dance at Chinatown Plaza on January 25. The poster is designed by Professor Johnson Su-Singh Chow. Photo: Chandra Bodalia

NDP says B.C. Liberals are failing Surrey students on overcrowding issue

DP has blasted the Liberal gov’t for not doing enough for education sector in Suurey, said Rob Fleming, Education critic. “Surrey has been one of the fastest growing school districts in the province, adding thousands of students every year,” said Fleming, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake. Surrey’s school enrolment jumped by 900 more students than were anticipated last fall, a number that doesn’t include the 500 refugee students who are expected to settle in Surrey this year, he added. Fleming was flanked by MLAs Sue Hammell (Surrey-Green Timbers) and Harry Bains (Surrey-Newton) outside the school, located in the fast-growing enclave of Clayton, where two new elementary schools are planned, even though the provincial government hasn’t announced capital funding for the projects. Additionally, the Clayton North Secondary School project – originally supposed to be completed by fall 2017 – is now expected to be com-

plete by the end of 2018. Boundary adjustments to school catchment areas because of overcrowding mean some families won’t be able to take their children to the nearest schools in their neighbourhoods, adding to the frustration, he said. “We need to see real action from Christy Clark and her government, not more unrealistic promises and photo ops,” he said. Hammell said Hazelgrove symbolizes the overcrowding problem in Surrey schools. Built in 2009, it has six portables and. “When you overcrowd schools, you reduce the teachers’ effectiveness and the overall school community’s effectiveness to deliver the extras or the variety or the diversity of programs,” Hammell said. “They get reduced to just managing under stress and under crowded circumstances.” She said the Liberals have had 12 years to deal with the issue. Meanwhile, “The Surrey School board has put budget after capital budget in front of them. What they get in return is paltry compared to their needs.” Bains said the Surrey School District is one of the most efficient in the province.

Spy agency broke law by passing citizens' metadata to foreign partners

anada’s ultra-secret eavesdropping agency has stopped sharing intelligence with international partners after revealing it had illegally collected Canadians’ metadata in sweeps of foreign communications. In a report to parliament, the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) said on Thursday the breach was unintentional and had been discovered internally in 2013. A CSE official blamed a software flaw that resulted in sharing of metadata, used to identify, manage or route communications over networks that could identify Canadians. The agency said the likelihood of this leading to any abuses was “low”. But as a precaution, the CSE suspended its sharing of metadata with its Five Eyes intelligence partners – Australia, Britain, New Zealand and the United States – until

it finds a fix to the problem. Canadian defense minister Harjit Sajjan said he was satisfied that any data that had already been shared with the intelligence alliance before the software glitch was discovered “did not contain names or enough information on its own to identify individuals”. He also said he accepted an investigation’s conclusion that the breach of Canadian privacy and national security laws was “unintentional”. It was unclear what, if any, impact the metadata sharing stoppage has had on Five Eyes intelligence gathering. Public safety minister Ralph Goodale said Canada’s allies have been “very supportive” while the CSE told AFP it continues to have “strong and collaborative relationships” with its allies in other areas.

LOCAL

Saturday, January 30, 2016

i 3

Firefighters in Vancouver and Surrey to carry overdose-reversing naloxone

Indian Consul General, Rajiv K. Chander, s\peaking at the India’s 66th Republic Day celebration in Vancouver last Tuesday. Photo: Chandra Bodalia

New Skilled Immigration System helps meet B.C.’s economic needs

C has launched a new intake system for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) so it aligns with British Columbia’s labour market and economic development priorities. British Columbia is expected to lead the country in economic growth in 2016. Although British Columbians are front of the line for those job opportunities, we know that economic immigration will play a role in meeting the labour demands of our diverse, strong and growing economy. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is the Province’s only direct economic immigration tool for bringing in new British Columbians to assist in filling the nearly one million job openings

Shots fired, 3 arrested

hree people have been arrested after shots were fired into home in North Surrey. On Tuesday at just after 3 a.m., police responded to reports of shots fired in the 13600-block of 111 Avenue. No one in the home was injured. In fact, the residents of the home didn’t know their dwelling had been fired upon.

Police received a description of the white pickup truck involved and arrested three people a few hours later. As of Tuesday afternoon, police were waiting for a search warrant to search the vehicle. Anyone with further information is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.

A woman has died after being hit by a car in North Surrey

t about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, a woman was crossing 152 Street near 104 Avenue when she was hit by a southbound car. The woman, in her 40s, died at the scene.

She was not in a pedestrian crosswalk when she was hit. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with police. Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.

rug overdoses in Surrey are up — way up — from an average of three per day last year, to an average of almost eight per day so far in 2016. That meant 67 overdoses in the city last year, compared to 42 in 2014. “So far this year, we’ve attended over 200 calls ... associated to an overdose,” Surrey fire chief Len Garis told Surrey Fire Chief Len Garis says training firefighters to administer naloxone will save lives. No surprise then Garis is a big fan of a program launched today that will see both Surrey and Vancouver firefighters trained to carry and administer the overdose-reversing drug naloxone. Garis says it’s especially important in Surrey because the ara is so geographically vast and firefighters are often first on-scene in a drug emergency. “Sometimes theres is a gap between when firefighters and paramedics arrive,” he said. “Our firefighters express frustration because they don’t have the tools to

reverse the effects, and often they’re waiting for a few moments to many, many minutes.” “This means we’ll be able to have crews start giving naloxone as soon as possible, which will save lives.” Garis says training for all 350 Surrey firefighters begins today. He said the cost of naxolone is only $3 per treatment and estimates the Surrey Fire Department will spend between $500 and $600 on the drug annually. Naxolone is often administered with an EpiPen-like device into the thigh or shoulder muscle. Naloxone is a synthetic drug used to treat people who suffer from an overdose of opioids. The new program will also expand the number of paramedics trained to administer naloxone by an additional 525. Most of those are in rural B.C. Bronwyn Barter, president of the ambulance paramedics of B.C. says although her organization doesn’t oppose firefighters carrying naloxone, she thinks it’s putting the cart before the horse.

4 i Saturday, January 30, 2016

OPINION

Aboriginal rights and private property rights By Ravina Bains and Kayla Ishkanian 2015 survey shows that the number one clash in B.C. the impediment for mining investment in B.C. The muddy waters of aboriginal land

claims and private property rights in British Columbia may have just cleared a little. On Jan. 15, the B.C. government stated its opposition to the Tk’emlups and Skeetchestn bands’ aboriginal title claim on land currently owned by private citizens and mining company KGHM- Ajax, saying it will “vigorously oppose a declaration that has the potential to create uncertainty over the land base and for private property owners across this territory,” which is near the city of Kamloops. Last fall, the two First Nations bands filed a claim with the B.C. Supreme Court saying that the province and KGHM- Ajax never consulted with the communities about a proposed copper and gold mine near the Jacko Lake area. Chief Ron Ignace, of the Skeetchestn First Nation, has been vocal in opposing the project, saying that the community wants the right to dictate how the lands are used while also raising concerns about the potential environmental impact of the project. This brewing legal battle has the potential to define the boundaries in which aboriginal title and private property rights can operate, something two previous Supreme

Court cases failed to do. The 2014 Supreme Court of Canada Tsilhqot’injudgment states that in order for development to occur on aboriginal title lands, consent (not consultation) from First Nations is required. The judgment also states that a government can infringe on aboriginal title rights if a project is in the “greater public interest.” However, since the Tsilhqot’in Nation withdrew its claim to privately held fee simple land, the court did not have to balance private property rights with aboriginal title rights in its judgment. More recently, the 2015 Saik’uz First Nation and Stellat’en First Nation v. Rio Tinto Supreme Court of Canada decision makes private parties susceptible to litigation by First Nations communities who have simply claimed (not proven) aboriginal title on land in B.C; an area of litigation previously only brought against provincial and federal governments, creating additional land uncertainty in B.C. The Fraser Institute’s annual mining survey demonstrates that land uncertainty is having a real impact on investment opportunities for the province. In fact,

is uncertainty stemming from disputed land claims. Following these two important judgments the B.C. government did not address the private property dilemma and how the government would respond if there was a situation where aboriginal rights impacted private property rights of British Columbians. Given that more than 100 per cent of the province is currently claimed by First Nations, it was only a matter of time before private property versus aboriginal title cases come forward. The B.C. government’s strong reaction regarding Tk’emlups and Skeetchestn First Nations claim to private property may provide assurances to companies and private property owners in B.C. concerned about aboriginal title litigation in their backyards. And time will tell how the courts will balance aboriginal rights against property rights in the province. Ravina Bains is the associate director and Kayla Ishkanian is a researcher for the Centre for Aboriginal Policy Studies at the Fraser Institute.

Growth, growth, growth for Khalsa Credit Union promises new CEO From page 1 assets (currently about $300 million) as well. Mehta, who has been acting in the CEO role for a while now, was introduced as the new permanent CEO by board chairman, Harinder S. Sohi. Sohi said the appointment was made after an exhaustive search and recruitment process, which included input from an outside consultant, Stacy Huberman. Sohi said that during his acting CEO stint, Mehta spearheaded a number of significant initiatives for the organization, launching both a centralized Commercial Lending function and signing a contract with Credential Wealth Management to offer wealth management services to KCU’s members. In addition, Mehta led the credit union’s efforts to build a new branch in Surrey, the credit union’s sixth branch, and the first expansion for KCU in more than 15 years. He has also begun work on a brand new state-ofthe-art location for the credit union’s Vancouver branch .These two branches will act as prototypes for a completely new branch model. Mehta began his career with a chartered bank in India where he held progressively more senior positions after graduating with a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA). Mehta has over 35 years of financial service experience with extensive experience in lending, management, operations and sales. His background within the Canadian credit union system spans more than a decade, the majority of which has been spent at Khalsa Credit Union. Mehta began working at KCU shortly after immigrating to Canada in 2004. He, his wife and his daughter have made Surrey their home for the past 12 years. Over that time, Mehta has become well respected by his peers and colleagues.

Continued on page 6

Saturday, January 30, 2016

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Local

6 i Saturday, January 30, 2016 From page 1

Yoga guru fined $6.5 million for sexual harassment

oga — testified that he is “almost bankrupt”. Choudhury told jurors he had no income at all last year and his collection of more than 30 luxury cars has been promised to California Governor Jerry Brown for a children’s school dedicated to automotive engineering. Jafa-Bodden filed her lawsuit in 2013 claiming Choudhury sexually harassed her with a barrage of misogynistic comments and threatened her and her daughter’s lives when she raised questions about sexual abuse claims brought by numerous women. Jafa-Bodden testified earlier in the trial that Choudhury made her life a living hell after she moved to the US from India to act as his personal lawyer. In one dramatic account, she said Choudhury ran his finger across his throat when she asked about accusations he

sexually assaulted a teacher during a training programme in Acapulco. In his closing argument on Tuesday, one of Jafa-Bodden’s lawyers, Mark Quigley, called Choudhury’s treatment of women “shocking”. He highlighted trial testimony from the former White House lawyer who worked for Choudhury after Jafa-Bodden and filed her own wrongful termination lawsuit in August.

Growth, growth, growth for Khalsa Credit Union promises new CEO From page 4 In a press conference, Mehta said that he is looking at growing the insurance and mortgage portfolios for KCU as well as attracting more members, including non Sikh members as well. “We are here to offer the best in banking and insurance and mortgages to the community and we are looking for support form the community,” he said. “I am very excited to become Khalsa Credit Union’s CEO and I look forward to our continued success. I have had the honor and pleasure of

serving our membership for the past 12 years and will continue to work with the Board and staff to make Khalsa Credit Union the best possible place to work and to bank. I am proud to formally take the helm of an organization that clearly lives both the Sikh and cooperative values. I look forward to working directly with the Board of Directors, management, staff and our union to ensure we are bringing value to our membership and to the broader Sikh communities in and around Surrey, Abbotsford, Vancouver, and Victoria.”

Trump mocks Sikh protester at campaign rally From page 1

alifornia. . .,” Trump said before abruptly pausing as his attention was drawn to the gym’s upper level, where a security guard and a police officer were confronting two protesters. The protesters were trying to unveil a white sheet with the words “STOP HATE” written on it. One of the protesters wore a beard and bright red turban similar to those worn by Sikhs. “Bye, bye,” Trump said sarcastically as the guard pushed the turbaned protester towards the exit and the crowd began whistling. “Goodbye, goodbye.” The capacity crowd then broke into chants of “U.S.A., U.S.A.,” before Trump appeared to make a quip about the protester’s turban, which was roughly the same colour as Trump’s popular red “Make America Great Again” hats. “He wasn’t wearing one of those hats was he?” Trump said, gesturing to a supporter’s hat and eliciting a laugh from the crowd. “And he never will,” Trump continued, segueing back into his speech, “and that’s okay because we got to do something folks because it’s

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not working.” The barbed quip was just the latest in a string of heated interactions between Trump, his supporters and protesters. The incidents began back in October, when Trump was repeatedly interrupted by protesters during a raucous Miami rally. Donald Trump thinks supporters would stick with him even if he stood in the street and shot someone Palin no-show at Trump event an echo of McCain campaign consumed by family drama Excerpts from Sarah Palin’s folksy, sometimes rhyming pro-Trump improv in Iowa . “See the first group, I was nice. Oh, take your time,” he said at the time. “The second group, I was pretty nice. The third group, I’ll be a little more violent. And the fourth group, I’ll say get the hell out of here!” A month later, Trump did, in fact, appear to take a harsher stance towards his hecklers. When a Black Lives Matter protester interrupted his speech in Birmingham, Ala., on Nov. 21, Trump told security: “Get him the

LOCAL

Saturday, January 30, 2016

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From page 1

Edmonton first city to legalize Uber

will not resume operations until drivers can get the proper insurance. â&#x20AC;&#x2039;After much debate, council agreed to set a minimum price of $3.25 per trip for rides offered by Uber and other private transportation providers (PTPs) that may wish to start operations in Edmonton. With the exception of the $3.25 minimum, the bylaw deregulates fares for private transportation providers like Uber and rides with taxi companies arranged through an app. Taxi rides that are hailed on the street, at a cab stand or ordered over the phone still face regulated rates set by the city. Uber cars are not allowed to be hailed on the street and the nature of the app doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow that. The company will pay a rate of $70,000 a year to operate in Edmonton. Coun. Michael Oshry wanted to limit surge pricing to four times the regulated rate to avoid gouging during snowstorms, for example, when demand outstrips supply. But councillors decided to wait and see what happens before setting a top limit. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll monitor this very closely and in six monthsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; time, if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s predatory behaviour or gouging occurring, then council certainly reserves the right to strengthen the minimums and maximums,â&#x20AC;? Mayor Don Iveson said. Ramit Kar, Uberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s general manager for Alberta, said Edmontonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s approach is a model for other Canadian cities. (CBC) Ramit Kar, Uberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s general manager for Alberta, said Edmontonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bylaw is a model for other Canadian municipalities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a great day for Edmonton,â&#x20AC;? Kar told reporters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a win for both riders and drivers in Edmonton. Although we have made some concessions in the bylaw, this is a workable framework.â&#x20AC;? Uber was opposed to minimum fares and individual city licences for drivers, Kar said. Still, he thanked city councillors, the mayor and city staff for their work on the is-

sue. Albertaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s superintendent of insurance has to approve any policy Uber provides its drivers. The bylaw makes it clear that all drivers must have proper insurance, either the commercial policy that covers taxis or new product that meets the provinceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s approval. Kar was â&#x20AC;&#x153;optimisticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the insurance issue would be settled by March 1. He declined to speculate what the company would do if it was not. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to be doing everything we can to make sure that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in compliance by March 1st,â&#x20AC;? he said. Phil Strong, president of Yellow Cab, seemed resigned to the changes. He said the taxi industry can work with the bylaw as long as Uber doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t engage in predatory pricing aimed at pushing his company out of business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not scared of people coming to town as long as theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re playing right,â&#x20AC;? Strong said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One still has to ask the question, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Why is it that an illegal company has been allowed to operate all this time?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Coun. Oshry admits the bylaw isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t perfect but said it needed to be passed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think this bylaw is flawed but we really had no choice,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need a bylaw in place where we can enforce illegal activity and this one does that.â&#x20AC;? The bylaw has both good points and challenges, said Oshry, but he said itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;the best of a situation thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s virtually impossible to get right.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Shame, shameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Taxi protest â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to be let in,â&#x20AC;? cry cab drivers who were ejected from council chambers after a protest at city hall Tuesday.The decision, which makes Edmonton the first city in Canada to legalize Uber, is certain to transform the taxi industry. The council chamber was packed with drivers again Wednesday. However, unlike the day before, they were quiet and allowed councillors to go about their business without interruption. Most of the drivers left before council voted on second and final reading of the bylaw.

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8 i Saturday, January 30, 2016

Rats a true health risk on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, homeless advocate says

At least 20 years in prison for B.C. man who trafficked teens for sex, Crown says A British Columbia man convicted of trafficking underage girls for sex has been handed a 23-year prison sentence in a case described by a judge as violent, extremely disturbing and “bordering on psychopathic.” Reza Moazami’s sentence, delivered by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Bruce on Tuesday, is nearly three years longer than the prison time sought by the Crown. Moazami, 30, was convicted in September 2014 on 30 charges involving 11 teenage girls as young as 14, including living off the avails of prostitution, sexual assault and sexual interference. He is the first person in the province found guilty of human trafficking. Reza Moazami has been charged with breach of a court order and obstruction of justice after allegedly having contact with one of the possible victims. Crown counsel had asked that Bruce impose a 20-year sentence, which Moazami’s lawyer protested as “unduly harsh and crushing,” arguing instead that 10 to 12 years minus time served would be more

appropriate. Bruce awarded Moazami about five years credit for time he had already spent behind bars awaiting trial, reducing his overall sentence to just under 18 years. Dressed in dark jeans and a sharply-pressed, oversized blue dress shirt, Moazami stared mostly straight ahead as his sentence was read, while about 40 people watched from the public gallery, including several members of the Vancouver Police Department. Bruce told the court that Moazami repeatedly took advantage of young, vulnerable, often drug-addicted girls to make money and in turn had a “devastating” impact on many of their lives. “His conduct warrants the highest condemnation by the justice system,” she said. She went through each of the 11 complainants, listing off numerous “egregious” instances in which he used physical and verbal abuse to coerce “his girls” into following orders. He also repeatedly drugged and raped many of them, she said.

ats a true health risk on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, homeless advocate says Co-ordinator of city-sponsored market backs findings in report by UBC researcher despite doubts of medical health officer By Kent Spencer, The Province January 27, 2016 Rats a true health risk on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, homeless advocate says Pedestrian activity outside the Downtown Eastside Market in Vancouver, BC., January 26, 2016. The co-ordinator of the Vancouver Street Market agrees with a UBC researcher that rats are a threat to human health on the Downtown Eastside. Roland Clarke, who works among the homeless on Hastings Street, said hundreds of rats “run around like crazy” once the sun goes down. “Rat feces get spread around. It’s impossible to keep surfaces clean. You can’t touch the ground. It’s a very serious health issue,” said Clarke, who supports the findings of a report released recently by Chelsea

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Himsworth, an assistant professor at UBC. The report, on research done for the Vancouver Rat Project, said the furry rodents carry more disease-causing bacteria than was previously known. She said these bacteria include E coli, the superbug MRSA and a potentially fatal fever called leptospirosis. “People should be worried,” said Himsworth, adding said the risk is especially acute on the Downtown Eastside, where 725 rats were captured for the study. “The homeless are individuals with reduced health status, which makes them more vulnerable.” Himsworth’s warning was dismissed by Dr. Reka Gustafson, medical officer for Vancouver Coastal Health, who said there are no known cases of rat-transmitted sickness in Metro Vancouver. “There are multiple issues with being under-housed on the streets. Exposure to rats is not the most important one,” Gustafson said. “With limited resources, we must focus on things that we know matter.”

Government revenues from legal pot could reach $5B a year: bank economist

all it Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s secret stash. A new report from CIBC World Markets says Canada’s federal and provincial governments could reap as much as $5 billion annually in tax revenues from the sale of legal marijuana. CIBC economist Avery Shenfeld crunched the numbers using current estimates of Canadian recreational pot consumption, the revenue experience in U.S. states that have legalized, and other factors — such as prevailing “sin tax” rates on alcohol and tobacco. “The bottom line is that federal (and) provincial governments might reap as much as $5 billion from legalization, but only if all the underground sales are effectively curtailed,” writes Shenfeld. “That’s on the order of 0.25 per cent of GDP, no barnburner.” The Liberal government has promised to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana and has made MP Bill Blair, the former Toronto police chief, the lead on investigating a new regulatory model.

B.C. seniors’ advocate to probe deadly violence among residents at care homes

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he deaths of 16 elderly people in three years along with hundreds of aggressive incidents at residential care facilities has prompted British Columbia’s seniors’ advocate to launch a review of resident-on-resident violence. Isobel Mackenzie said Wednesday that data available for the first time shows there were as many as 550 incidents of violence between residents that caused injuries at B.C. care facilities in 2014-2015. She said the violence numbers could be viewed as small when considering there are more than 27,000 seniors at care facilities, but the human toll is substantial. “We were able to gather data for the first time that tells us how many incidents of resident-on-resident aggression resulting in harm occurred in our licensed facilities in B.C.,” said Mackenzie. “We know that it is between 425 and 550.”

PERSONS OF THE WEEK

Saturday, January 30, 2016

GuruLucky: GuruLucky: Globalizing Globalizing Indian Indian food food Treasures Treasures

Chhavi Disawar

o matter where w e South Asians reside, our love and craving for spicy snacks especially ‘namkeen’ will never vanish. Walking through the aisles of the grocery stores, we sometimes miss stuff that we would think as the most important part of the list but we will certainly carry our favorite ‘namkeen’ to home. The ubiquity of this crunchy, tangy- mouth mouth pleaser today belies the fact that not only South Asians, but other communities too are aware of it. There are so many brands of ‘namkeen’ that one can find in different stores today, but after reading this article one can never ignore the name ‘GuruLucky’. GuruLucky Sweets and Snacks is a Canadian brand for ‘namkeen’ that started in Canada around 28 years ago. It is the part of a company named HB Kaysons Ltd. Apart from being unique in their products, the company has a very interesting background. They say strongest are the trees with deepest roots, and GuruLucky justifies this statement very well. This business roots back to 1942 when a Gujrati family moved to Fiji and started making snacks and sweets to support the family. The idea generator of

this concept was Mr. Chhagan lal Patel; who, by that time sold these snacks on cart. After the death of Mr. Chagganlal Patel, his wife Diwari Ben Patel continued selling and promoting their snacks as a street vendor in Fiji. In 1971, Chhagan lal Patel’s middle son Kantilal stepped into the business and expanded it to local retail stores. 1988 was the year when Kantilal and his wife moved to Canada and started the brand GuruLucky under their newly formed company H.B. Kaysons Ltd. The name has an enthralling meaning to it. “H is the initial of the Kantilal’s elder daughter’s name, B is the initial of founder’s younger daughter’s name and Kaysons stands for Kantilal and sons. From East Indian delights to West Indian flavors; from North Indian savories to South Indian delicacies; GuruLucky has touched all aspects and is catering to the taste-needs of various people. Not only this, some of their snack flavors serve Fiji taste-buds as well. Being a big fan of spicy snacks, I can’t hide the heaven-like experience I had while tasting their Chewra Mix and Cornflakes Mix. The aroma and freshness of ingredients used in the product are highly authentic. Recently, The Asian Star got a chance to have words with Mr. Jeetu Patel, Kantilal’s elder son and know more about GuruLucky snacks. For us it was highly impressive to see a Science Graduate turning towards and ex-

panding his family business. “I never thought of joining into this business. However, circumstances led me here and I am enjoying every bit of it because of the new ideas that we develop for business every day and also it’s inherited from my family’, told Jeetu. The secret behind the fresh taste of the product is that the raw materials are grown locally, and are mixed up with spices from India. “Our product is Canadian. If you see our competitors, undoubtedly they have established names in the market but being based in India their product lacks the freshness that a local produce will carry. Our product is 90% Canadian and 8% from India”, smiled Jeetu. Jeetu also explained their transition into an automated production for better results. “We used to produce out of a Karahi (a huge vessel used for frying) before and now we have automated fryers. We are also expanding to another 2500 sq. ft. automated production unit in order to meet market demands and expectations”, smiled him. “Our main concern in food safety and HACCP, as it is very important to be clean and safe for long term business”, told Jeetu. The range of GuruLucky snacks came into the picture after critical analysis of what the masses want. Different favors of the snacks target varied groups, for example Madras mixtures, Papdi ghatia, Punjabi mixture, Mix Bhuja, Fijian mix etc. HB Kaysons are plan-

i 9

ning to expand their range to Smart Snacks in coming days. “Our state of art technology will produce snacks at 50% less oil usage as that of now. This will create healthier range of snacks that will attract mainstream segment. Currently, we are also working on various Canadian flavors so that mainstream audience also gets served”, said Jeetu. At present GuruLucky has a team of 15 people that create best of the snacks for satisfying mass taste-buds. Apart from business point of view, GuruLucky believes in a strong Corporate Social Responsibility. They have already been associated with many causes and fundraising events that marks a positive impact in society. “Apart from sponsoring and contributing in community events, we also make sure that the oil used by us gets recycled properly. We give our used oil to Waste Reduction Company so that it is properly utilized”, smiled Jeetu. GuruLucky also delivers gluten-free snacks, which marks it different from other snack houses. Also they do custom orders as per the need and demand of the clients. For further details, contact: (Jeetu): 778-855-1905 Or visit: www. gurulucky.com

10 i Saturday, January 30, 2016

LOCAL

Air India perjurer Inderjit Singh Reyat granted release to halfway house

he only person convicted in the 1985 Air India bombings has been granted statutory release from prison to a halfway house, prompting shock and disappointment from the families of the victims. Inderjit Singh Reyat was charged with perjury in 2006 for repeatedly lying during his testimony at the trial into the bombing deaths of 331 people, mostly Canadians. Reyat was found guilty in 2010 and sentenced to a record nine years in prison, or seven years and seven months after accounting for time served. Under the law, offenders must be granted statutory release after they have served two-thirds of their sentence. Parole Board of Canada spokesman Patrick Storey said Reyat must abide by several conditions as part of his release, including not possessing any extremist propaganda or possessing any components used to build an explosive device. He is also not allowed to contact victims’ families or anyone who is believed to hold extremist views. He will be monitored by a parole officer and must complete counselling. Reyat is set to serve the rest of his sentence, which ends in August 2018, at a halfway house. Storey said he could not disclose the location of the residence due to privacy legislation. If Reyat breaches any of the conditions, he can be sent back to prison, Storey said. A parole officer could also recommend that Reyat be released early from the halfway house. ‘Unending, hurtful wound’ for families Families of the victims said they were shocked to hear the news about his release. “It’s upsetting. It’s always been upset-

ting.… It’s a saga that never ends,” said Renee Saklikar, a Vancouver-based poet whose aunt and uncle were killed in the bombing, leaving behind an orphaned boy. Saklikar said she was disappointed to have heard the news about Reyat through the media, instead of directly from the parole board. “It’s an unending, hurtful wound. You don’t want to live your life through that kind of pain,” she said. “This really challenges your belief in a just society. Days like today are hard.” She added her thoughts go out to people like her nephew who will never see his parents again. “My thoughts are always primarily with the families, and my heart goes out to all of them. This person gets to be with his family, and we’ll never get to be with our lost ones.” ‘Relatively high risk’ for violence In the reasons for its decision to impose a residency requirement on Reyat’s parole, the board said it took into consideration his involvement in the Air India bombing, including the fact that his perjury led the co-accused to not be convicted of a criminal offence. The parole board documents also note Reyat was associated with a terrorist organization. “Your affiliation is currently identified as ‘inactive while incarcerated although not disaffiliated and this affiliation has not been terminated,’” wrote the board. The board goes on to explain that a psychologist’s assessment in 2013 showed Reyat presented a “’relatively high’ risk for future group based violence” and “a lack of ‘true empathy and remorse’ for the victims of the bombings.”

Vancouver ranks third most unaffordable housing market in world, worse than New York and London

ancouver may have just add another notch to its reputation for being pricey. Uncanny tales of Buys, Booms and Busts: A history of Canada’s housing market The Financial Post spoke to Canadians across the country about what it was like to live in housing markets that were in some ways very different, and some ways strikingly similar, to what we face now. Read more According to U.S. group Demographia, Vancouver is the third-least affordable city in a study of 367 markets and nine countries around the world, and construction constraints are to blame for rising home prices there and in other Canadian cities. Wendell Cox, the principal owner at Demographia says that’s a trend that can be seen in Toronto too as limits to ground-level detached housing in favour of condominium living are creating a shortage of housing as people refuse to move into high-rises. Cox goes one step further and suggests the fertility rate will be impacted in the future in some Canadian cities. “A lot of people don’t want to raise children on the tenth floor of a condominium,” he said.

The study looked at the median cost of a home in each of the markets studied and then divided by the median income to produce a multiple. In Vancouver that $756,200 median-priced house produced a multiple of 10.8 when divided by the median household income of $69,700. First-time buyers driving Toronto’s hot housing market Tax absentee landlords in Vancouver’s housing market, economists say Canada’s housing boom could soon come to an end Topping the list was Hong Kong, where residents need 19 times the median income to buy the median-priced house; Syndey, Australia, was second, at 12.2 times. The second-least affordable city in Canada was Victoria, with a multiple of 6.9, followed by Toronto, at 6.7. “It’s urban containment policy. Vancouver started very limiting development on its fringe in the early 1970s. We’ve seen this all over the world, it leads to incredible loss of affordability,” Cox said. “In Toronto, what you have is the Places to Grow program which has drawn a tough urban growth boundary, using a greenbelt around the city.” Cox says there was no loss in housing af-

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Syrians feel ‘hopeless’ as government-sponsored refugees in Toronto, mother says

ome government-sponsored Syrian refugees staying at a budget hotel in Toronto say they feel like they’re “trapped in a prison” without hope due to a lack of communication, supplies and assistance. Virginia Johnson, one of two volunteers working at the hotel, joined CBC Radio’s Metro Morning on Monday to speak to host Matt Galloway. Johnson said the refugees have been at the hotel for weeks and have no idea when they will be able to leave. Some of the 85 government-sponsored refugees say they’re not getting much help, and would rather go back to their refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon. “The settlement agencies are overwhelmed,” said Johnson. “There’s a huge opportunity for individuals to step up and help.” ‘I don’t expect them to feel grat-

itude immediately when they’ve come here — they’re really so isolated.’- Virginia Johnson, volunteer Zaneb Adri Abu-Rukti, a Syri an mother, spoke through a translator at the Toronto hotel, and said she did not expect to be there for so long. “We were told that when we arrived to the hotel that we would only be staying for three to four days maximum. However, things have been changed and we’ve been here for 10 to 11 days, and we’ve been told it could be even longer. The problem is that we have kids and we would rather be outside in a settled house than sitting at a hotel,” Abu-Rukti said. “We feel like our kids are just stuck here. We go into one room, we eat, and then we return to other room and just go to bed. Our kids don’t have anywhere to play, nowhere to go out.

12 i Saturday, January 30, 2016

Experts applaud ruling against man who posted ex’s explicit video online

egal experts are celebrating a recent Ontario court decision that forces a man to compensate his ex-girlfriend after posting an explicit video of her online without her consent. Both the presiding judge and legal observers say they believe the decision to be the first of its kind in Canada. Ontario Superior Court Justice David Stinson said that the defendant, known only by his initials N.D., must pay his former girlfriend more than $140,000 in damages and interest. Nude photo ban by Reddit, Google won’t delete damage Man charged with posting intimate images without consent Posting nude photos from ex-girlfriend’s laptop not a crime — yet, judge says Stinson’s decision ruled the act of posting an intimate image online without permission can be compared to a sexual assault in terms of its impact and lasting

harm. Privacy law experts say the decision sets a precedent that will be felt throughout the country. They say the ruling closes a gap in the legal system that left victims without the means of compensation if their privacy rights were violated in such a way. While posting sexual images of another person without consent has been a criminal offence since 2014, both Stinson and privacy lawyers said they were not familiar with any comparable measures in civil law until now. ‘Decision felt like a victory’ Donna Wilson, a Toronto-based lawyer who represented the victim, said the decision felt like a victory. “(The client and her family) were so happy that there was finally some official recognition of the harm that she suffered, and a condemnation from the court that this is wrong and that she was the victim in this case,” Wilson said in a telephone interview.

LOCAL

B.C. search and rescue organizations get $10M boost from province

C government has announced $10 million in new funding for search and rescue organizations across the province, many of which are volunteer-run. The one-time boost of funds will go toward bolstering training, improving administration and renewing equipment. “It’s a small army of 2,500 volunteers that comb the province’s backcountry, rappel into steep ravines and weather the worst of the elements, while leaving behind the comforts of home to go seek and find those who are lost or injured,” said Naomi Yamamoto, the minister of state for emergency preparedness, in a written statement. The president of the B.C. Search and Rescue Association, Chris Kelly, said the money would “help relieve some of the funding

pressures,” but his organization will continue to work with the province on a proposed alternate model for search and rescue.

long-term support needed North Shore Rescue team leader Mike Danks said he got a call from the province Tuesday night about the announcement, albeit with few details. Mike Danks, with North Shore Rescue, says he wants to know how the new funding announced by the province will be distributed.

Two Vancouver men charged in brazen thefts from boats and waterfront cabins

or months, residents of the West Hotel in Vancouver’s crime-plagued Downtown Eastside knew something was suspicious. Bags full of items were taken into the rundown hotel every day and stored in a second-floor suite. On Wednesday, residents were able to connect the dots as Vancouver police announced two men have been charged in a massive waterfront crime spree in which dinghies allegedly were taken to gain access to luxury boats and waterfront cabins all along Howe Sound. According to Vancouver Police Department marine patrol Const. Janet Stringer, they began to notice dinghies and even canoes and kayaks were being used for break-ins starting in

early July. “The suspects had been stealing dinghies from local docks, marinas and associated vessels and using them to target other vessels moored or anchored in False Creek and English Bay. The stolen boats were also used to target cabins in Howe Sound,” Stringer said. The vacation properties that were hit in the crime spree were on Bowyer, Passage and Bowen Island. Stringer said the value of all the stolen property is about $200,000 and police are asking anyone who had a marine-based break-in to contact them. “The investigation identified two men and led to the VPD marine unit and VPD emergency response team executing a search warrant at the West Hotel, at 488 Carrall, on Dec. 1,” she said.

LOCAL

UBC’s mistaken release reveals friction between board and former president

Unredacted documents detail “low level of trust” in Arvind Gupta ahead of sudden departure

n eagle-eyed subreddit user has spotted a cache of unredacted documents revealing serious conflict between former UBC president Arvind Gupta and John Montalbano, former chair of the university’s board of governors. ‘Fully yours to own’ Sent in the months before Gupta’s sudden resignation, Montalbano’s brutally frank notes were apparently written to Gupta in the wake of conversations concerning his leadership. A review of a May 18, 2015 meeting with the board’s executive committee alleges a “low level of trust” among those working closest to the former president. “To be completely transparent with you, we are still not certain that you fully appreciate the scope of your accountability,” Montalbano wrote. UBC president Dr. Arvind Gupta Arvind Gupta resigned his position as UBC president for unknown reasons last August. He continues to collect his $446,750 salary. (UBC) “As president and leader, issues such as low employee morale on campus, the relationship challenges with your key stakeholders and the simmering external reputational risks developing as a result of these challenges, are fully yours to own.” The documents hang some meat on the bones of an otherwise largely unrevealing dump of documents released by UBC earlier this week in response to requests under freedom of information. The unredacted correspondence was included as part of a PDF download. The sanitized version only hinted at the issues which led to the announcement of Gupta’s mysterious departure, days after

Montalbano emailed him to request a “confidential discussion, not captured on email.” In the review of the May meeting, Montalbano told Gupta the board’s executive committee believed key aspects of his leadership style and management skills required a “course correction.” He said communication of Gupta’s vision for change had been poor and said the board “must not be treated as a distraction or a nuisance.” ‘This may seem like overkill’ The conflict between president and board arose in another unredacted note Montalbano wrote the next month as a follow-up to a conversation. “This may seem like overkill, but the Board is very concerned that you may not fully appreciate the importance of formal governance, in every aspect of your role,” Montalbano wrote. “There is general consensus that your actions and reactions to the Board’s concerns, advice and inquiries suggest you possess an indifference or intolerance of the Board at best — or worse, an intended disregard of its authority.” At the end of that note, Montalbano assures Gupta of the board’s genuine support. But less than two months later, the president would be gone, only one year after his appointment. The earlier document release revealed that Gupta will continue to collect his $446,750 salary until the end of January 2017, even as he begins a one-year leave of absence next month. The campus has been rife with speculation since Gupta’s resignation, largely because a nondisclosure agreement prevents the university or Gupta from revealing the real reasons for what happened.

Surrey Mounties seek public help after two men charged with having sex with young teen girls

urrey Mounties have released photos of two men charged in a sexual interference investigation in an effort to locate any victims who have not come forward. In a press release Wednesday, police said Shahin Bouziane, 20 of Burnaby and Brodie Clements, 23, of Surrey are each charged with one count of sexual interference after an investigation that began in August last year. Police received allegations “of two adult males having sexual intercourse with two young

teenage girls.” The charges were laid after an investigation by Surrey RCMP’s special victims unit. In a press release, Cpl. Scotty Schumann said: “Although charges have been laid against both men, Surrey RCMP SVU continues to investigate this file. Police believe there are more witnesses and or victims who have not come forward to date and are releasing photos of the suspects in order to advance the investigation.”

Saturday, January 30, 2016

UBC documents a ‘one-sided representation’: Gupta

r. Arvind Gupta responded Wednesday to what he deemed a “one-sided representation of what transpired in the months prior to my resignation.” Following the University of British Columbia’s release of an 861-page freedom of information package about the school’s former president, which contained full copies of documents redacted for privacy reasons, Gupta explained in a statement, “I am compelled to comment on the documents, their content, tone and the accuracy of what they portray.” “As President, I made a commitment to the people of British Columbia, the Board, the students and the faculty that we would move UBC to become one of the top universities in the world. That goal meant substantial change including a rethinking of priorities and refocusing on the academic mission. And change can

make some people uneasy. If it didn’t, it would be called the status quo. So, it is no surprise that not everyone at the university embraced this vision and the required actions.” “That said, the assertions in the released documents, were not based on facts or evidence given to me at any time,” said Gupta. “Still, I attempted to work in a collegial manner which is the hallmark of every well-governed university. Unfortunately there was never any formal review of my performance, or outreach by the Board to the broader university community. This would have allowed both the UBC Board and myself to assess my first year accomplishments and the scope of the work ahead.” Gupta explained that it became clear in the summer he did not have the Board’s full support, “and as such felt I had no other option but to resign in the best interest of the university.”

14 i Saturday, January 30, 2016

Vancouver lawyer suspended for professional misconduct

prominent Vancouver lawyer and QC has been suspended for four months and ordered to pay costs by the Law Society of British Columbia after being found guilty of professional misconduct. Catherine Sas will be suspended from practising law from March 1 for four months and must pay $32,038.49 in costs following the judgment. Sas, a noted immigration lawyer in the city, represented American actor Randy Quaid in his attempt to be granted refugee status in Canada. The misconduct relates to the handling of funds following the wrap-

ping up of her private practice, when she joined a law firm in 2010. “Sas billed clients for disbursements that had not been incurred and paid to her law corporation money held in trust for those clients,” The Law Society said in a statement Thursday. “She also withdrew funds held in trust to pay her law corporation for charges assessed to clients, without immediately delivering bills to those clients.” Her motive for misappropriating “approximately $1,947 from 23 clients”, the Society concluded, “was to clean up the accounting records relating to her sole practice and to wind up that practice.”

LOCAL

Surrey schools overflowing with students as empty Vancouver schools face closures

hile some Vancouver schools face declining enrolment and potential closures, schools in Surrey, B.C., are struggling to keep up with demand. On Monday, the Vancouver School Board voted to potentially close up to 13 schools so it can get much-needed seismic upgrades across the district. Potential Vancouver school closures accepted in exchange for seismic upgrades 128 B.C. schools still awaiting seismic upgrades But students keep on flowing into Surrey. Adams Road Elementary is among the district’s newest schools; even though it’s only four years old, it’s already overflowing. “The challenge is keeping up with the growth that’s coming into the district,” said Surrey school district spokesman Doug Stachan. Classrooms overflowing Surrey is one of

the fastest-growing cities in Canada. Housing construction is expected to give Surrey 33,000 new residential units over the next decade — and more than 6,500 new students. Ten new classrooms are under construction for Adams Road Elementary in the

next year. Classroom additions are also in the works at other schools in Surrey. Across the district, approximately 300 portables are in use. When school started last September, there were over 900 additional students enrolled — enough to fill two new elementary schools. Boundaries or catchment areas have been changed to manage the growth in elementary schools, but Strachan said the situation is tricky in secondary schools. “We’ve stretched the school day to distribute the students over a greater period of the day in order to keep the hallways and the common areas a little less congested,” he said. Doug Strachan Doug Strachan with the Surrey School Board says the district is struggling to keep up with demand. New schools coming Shovels were finally in the ground for a new high school in the Clayton North neighbourhood earlier this month. It should be ready by spring 2018. It’s expected to reduce pressure at Clayton Heights Secondary and Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary. But the school district still has three new schools and three expansions on its wishlist —

Teacher reprimanded for calling Muslim student ‘Taliban’

Vancouver Island high school teacher has been reprimanded for repeatedly referring to a Muslim student as ‘Taliban” in front of other students. According to a consent resolution agreement posted by B.C.’s Commissioner for Teacher Regulation, Matthew Shaun Pell also made “comments such as ‘don’t make her angry otherwise she’ll bomb you’ or ‘she’s going to blow everything up.’” The incidents happened in 2014 in Pell’s Grade 11 math class in the Sooke school district. The student’s family background was Middle Eastern and Muslim. “Pell’s comments made Student A and her classmates, feel very uncomfortable,” the consent resolution reads. The Sooke district issued Pell a warning letter in May 2015. The teacher regulation branch released their decision this month. According to the agreement, Pell admitted that his actions constituted professional misconduct. He has also agreed to complete a course called Building Cultural Intelligence in Your Workplace by the end of June 2016.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Change in MSP premiums for single-parent families

C government plans to reduce monthly health premiums for single-parent families in its next budget. The province has repeatedly come under fire for how its medical services plan fees are structured. MLA Andrew Weaver calls for new MSP premium payment structure B.C. rates up in 2016, but ‘vast majority’ will pay less tax MSP hike triggers new calls for reforms Currently, families of three or more who earn over $30,000 a year all pay $150 a month in fees. Those who earn less than $30,000 can apply for premium assistance to pay less. CBC legislative reporter

Richard Zussman has learned the province will officially announce in its Feb. 16 budget that it will change the MSP fee structure, allowing single-parent families to save $75 a month. The changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2017. MSP premium rates have gone up 39 per cent since 2009 and have been criticized by many. B.C. Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver’s first election promise was to replace the fees with a system based on income levels. Weaver said B.C. should adopt the Ontario model, which has a sliding scale for incomes between zero and $200,000. With files from Richard Zussman

n increasing number of British Columbians are using payday loans to make ends meet, according to a new report from Vancity — but the payday loan industry says the bank’s numbers don’t add up. Between 2012 and 2014, there was a 58 per cent jump in the number of people in the province using payday loans, according to the report, ShortTerm Gain, Long-Term Pain: Examining the Growing Payday Loan Industry in B.C. The short-term loans provide consumers with quick access to small amounts of money, usually accompanied by high fees and interest rates. In Canada, payday loans are capped at $1,500, with a maximum term of 62 days, according to the report. As U.S. moves to regulate payday loan industry, why not Canada? Maple Ridge bans new payday loan products, and hopefully continue to im- centres Cash Store ordered to pay $1M prove transportation in Canadian cities.” for illegal payday loans Linda Morris, se-

nior vice president of business development for Vancity, said more than half of payday loan users in B.C. need access to emergency cash to pay for necessities. “It could be to pay the rent, or they have a sudden expense — maybe they have a car and it breaks down and they just don’t have the spare money,” she said. “So it could be a variety of things, but it’s urgent things that come up and they can’t stretch their dollars any further.” Morris said problems arise when borrowers can’t repay the loans in such a short period of time. “As they get deeper and deeper into this loan cycle ... they have trouble paying and they end up borrowing from another place,” said Morris. She said the number of people with 15 payday loans or more increased by nearly 604 per cent in the same timeframe. I

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Vancity report suggests a 58% increase in payday loan use in BC

Uber Canada head says current rules hurt consumers, protect taxi monopoly

hen it comes to extolling the virtues of his controversial company, Uber Canada general manager Ian Black isn’t shy. “Uber has solved transportation,” Black said in an interview with CBC News Network’s The Exchange. Black attributes Uber’s explosive growth in Canada and around the world to a release of pent-up frustration by transportation users. “People were frustrated with long wait times, people were frustrated with low reliability, and generally didn’t trust the system,” said Black. “I think by making an easy-to-use app that anyone can access, we’ve solved that problem and opened up transportation to whole new audiences that weren’t using it before.” In just a few years, ride-hailing app Uber has spread to hundreds of cities around the world. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg ) Black suggested that there’s plenty of room for the traditional taxi industry to co-exist alongside ride-hailing services like Uber and rival Lyft. “We can have car-sharing, we can have ride-sharing, we can have taxis, public transportation,” said Black. “All of those things work together to make the transportation fabric even richer in cities.” ‘Open to regulation’ Uber looks different across Canada’s three largest cities. In Toronto, Uber was recently granted a license to dispatch traditional taxis, but the controversial UberX service (which connects passengers with drivers using their own personal vehicles) operates illegally, according to the city. Montreal has taken a particularly hard stance on UberX, seizing vehicles from drivers. UberX doesn’t operate in Vancouver, but B.C. Transportation Minister Todd stone recently said the arrival of Uber in B.C. is inevitable. Black said UberX is ready for regulation by Canadian municipalities. “We’re really open to regulation on ride-sharing,” said Black. “Ride-sharing can exist very well within a regulated framework, and we’re actually excited about that because then we can get on to the business of continuing to innovate, introduce new

Mandeep Randhawa, Partner

LOCAL

16 i Saturday, January 30, 2016

British Columbia sees spike in fatal illicit drug overdoses

ixty-two British Columbians died of illicit drug overdoses last month – the largest number of such deaths in a single month in a decade of record-keeping. In all of 2015, 465 people in British Columbia died of illicit drug overdoses, a 27-per-cent increase from 2014, according to new numbers from the BC Coroners Service. That is 9.9 per 100,000 population – a rate that has not been seen since 1998. Fentanyl, the powerful opioid implicated in rashes of overdose deaths in recent years, was detected in about one-third of these deaths, up from 25 per cent in 2014, 15 per cent in 2013 and 5 per cent in 2012. Health officials note that while the majority of illicit drug-overdose deaths do not in-

volve fentanyl, there is no doubt that the synthetic opioid is becoming a growing factor in deaths. The street variation of the drug, illegally imported from overseas in powder form, is commonly cut into a range of street drugs and ingested unknowingly. It can be 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Dr. Perry Kendall, British Columbia’s provincial health officer, said the growing prevalence of fentanyl has resulted in a shift in who is dying from illicit drug overdoses. “A number of the deaths seem to be not in long-term drug users, but people who might be more recreational or

Vancouver pot shops not far enough away from kids, school trustee says

ancouver’s pot-shop bylaw doesn’t keep storefront cannabis sales far enough away from students, a school board trustee says, and he’s urging the city once again to toughen the licensing provisions. The board asked city council last June to force licensed dispensaries to keep 500 metres away from any school, but the new bylaw created a buffer zone of 300 metres. Now trustee Fraser Ballantyne said he has drafted a new motion asking for an increase to this limit after hearing again from a local resident and business owner. “He said, ‘C’mon, help me out. These are your kids, they’re walking by these stores every single day,’ and there doesn’t seem to be any congruence here,” Mr. Ballantyne said of the letter

he received from the owner of a martial arts studio. But Councillor Kerry Jang, the lead on the marijuana file for ruling party Vision Vancouver, called Mr. Ballantyne’s motion “a bit of political grandstanding,” and said the city will stick to its existing limit, which was approved by experts at Vancouver Coastal Health and the provincial health officer. “We have a number of applications in process now and we’ll see how 300 metres works out. If it doesn’t, then we’re willing to reopen [the discussion],” he said Monday. He said the 300-metre rule exists for liquor stores and methadone-dispensing pharmacies, and could be used by the city to regulate whatever form of recreational marijuana sales the federal Liberal government eventually legalizes.

Victoria homeless camp looks like a refugee

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Welcome to my home,” smiled the middle-aged man. He calls himself Mud. “Home” is a shack he built from wood scraps and other found stuff. It’s in a small park, next to Victoria’s downtown courthouse. Repairs are required this wet and cold January morning. A hard rain fell the previous night; water leaked inside Mud’s place. “My work is never done,” he says cheerfully, pulling a plastic sheet over his dwelling’s peaked roof. Living in a soggy, makeshift hut is uncomfortable and unhealthy. But Mud isn’t going anywhere. He likes it, and besides, he says, he’s got no better place to live than this sodden park. Tents began appearing here in June; there are now about 100 homeless people living on the courthouse grounds, with more arriving all the time. A 16-year-old girl recently showed up and planted roots.

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LOCAL

2 Workers found dead under lumber pile

wo workers killed at a lumber yard in New Westminster on Saturday were apparently crushed by lumber that fell on them, according to WorkSafeBC. The deaths of two employees of the Pacific Reload lumber yard is being investigated by police, the B.C. Coroners Service and WorkSafeBC., the province’s chief workplace safety agency. The names of the workers have not been released. The pair were found dead at the lumber yard, located in the Queensborough area of New Westminster adjacent to the Fraser River, on Saturday just before 1 p.m. “We do know that two workers were killed. We also know at this point this was an unwitnessed incident. Others found these two workers under lumber that apparently fell on top of them,” WorkSafeBC spokesman Scott McCloy said Sunday. “It’s just tragic. It’s just the kind of stuff you dread.” There have been major efforts by the province, industry, unions and WorkSafeBC to reduce fatalities in the forest sector, which had spiked to more than 40 in 2005. The numbers of fatalities — which have included fallers, logging truck drivers and mill workers — have come down since then. There were seven deaths in 2014 and 10 in 2013. According to the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce website, the Pacific Reload site loaded lumber into containers for export overseas. McCloy said a forklift driver phoned New Westminster Police just before 1 p.m. who then notified WorkSafeBC about the industrial fatality.

Toronto police officer guilty in shooting death of teen in rare court decision

Toronto police officer has been found guilty of attempted murder in the shooting death of a teen in 2013. The killing, caught on video, sparked protests in Canada’s largest city after it was posted online. Constable James Forcillo, however, was cleared of second-degree murder Monday in the death of 18-yearold Sammy Yatim. A murder charge against a police officer in Canada is rare. The video shows Yatim holding a knife inside a streetcar, with police outside. Yatim goads police while officers yell, “Drop your knife!” Shortly after, three shots are fired. After a pause, six more shots are fired. The second-degree murder charge against the officer relates to the first three shots he fired, while the attempted murder charge pertains to the second volley. Some lawyers who followed the case said it appeared jurors tried to reach a compromise. “This has been reflective of a sea change of where we’re going in terms of police accountability,” said Julian Falconer, the lawyer for the Yatim family. “Video has made police accountable.” Forcillo told the court he believed the knife-toting teen was about to come off the streetcar to attack him, which was why he fired.

Police had control of the scene until 7 p.m. on Saturday, at which time WorkSafeBC took control, said McCloy. WorkSafeBC’s fatal and serious incident team is investigating. “From our point of view, our investigation has commenced. We will be doing all the usual investigative protocols: interviewing people, talking to the employer, sealing the scene off, seizing whatever equipment we think is necessary to complete our investigation,” said McCloy. New Westminster Police spokesman Sgt. Jeff Scott said detectives are investigating what he described as a very sad and tragic situation. Both the police and coroner’s office said names of the deceased workers were not being released yet. WorkSafeBC said the site was owned by United Gateway Logistics, whose directors listed with the province’s corporate registry are the same as those for Pacific Reload.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

New defence policies must factor in ‘ripple effect’ : Harjit Sajjan

t is incumbent on the federal government to factor in the “ripple effect” future defence policies will have on the security situation around the world given that it has only “gotten worse,” says Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, who is in the process of conducting a full review of the policies. “When we look at the decisions we make, the policies we create, we have to figure out what ripple we’re creating,” Sajjan said at a foreign policy event in Ottawa on Friday. “We may not be able to control all the ripples that are out there, but we can control the ripples that we create,” Sajjan, who served as a lieutenant-colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and as a gang crime unit detective in Vancouver before entering politics, has been under increasing pressure to provide details of Canada’s next steps in the effort to counter the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has committed to withdrawing Canada’s fighter jets from the U.S.-led bombing mission against ISIS, but has yet to say when the airstrikes will wind down. On Friday, Sajjan said that some of the decisions made by the U.S., Canada and other coalition partners involved in the mission in Afghanistan are partly to blame for fuelling the insurgency, “Some of our development strategies of the coalition partners early on in Afghanistan helped create the corruption that fuelled the insurgency,” Sajjan said at a foreign policy event in Ottawa on Friday. Sajjan said “a hard assessment” of the past 10 years was needed given that “things have gotten worse.” The minister of defence was tasked with conducting a thorough review of Canada’s defence policy, which he hopes to have completed by the end of 2016.

18 i Saturday, January 30, 2016

AUTO Smart cars that share revealing info about drivers catch privacy watchdog’s eye

he family car is learning more about who’s behind the wheel — everything from where a driver likes to shop to how hard they brake — as automakers roll out new tech-savvy features. With cars collecting and even sharing more personal data, Canada’s privacy watchdog is quietly trying to ensure manufacturers, retailers and insurance companies avoid bumps on the virtual highway. On-board navigation systems can tell where a vehicle is and where it has been. Electronic components stream data to computers that gauge driver behaviour and the car’s roadworthiness. Vehicles recognize drivers and adjust settings for them. Infotainment systems allow voice and data communications. “With connectivity, cars are becoming highly efficient data harvesting machines,” says a 2015 study by the

British Columbia Freedom of Information and Privacy Association. Customer data generated by the connected car is now seen as a major new source of revenue for marketers and advertisers, the study found. Some insurance companies are offering coverage that sets premiums based on driving patterns. When tracked, combined or linked with other available data, the infor mat ion can reveal intensely private details of a person’s life, making it vulnerable to abuse by thieves, stalkers and others with malicious intent, the study says. It argues automakers have failed to comply with their obligations under Canadian privacy law when it comes to giving customers adequate information and choice about how their data is collected and used.

Ford Recalls About 391K Ranger Pickups Due to Air Bag Death

ord is recalling about 391,000 Ranger pickups because the driver’s air bag inflators can explode with too much force and cause injuries. The recall covers trucks from the 2004 through 2006 model years in the U.S. and Canada. It comes just days after the government announced that

a South Carolina man was killed when an inflator exploded in December. Joel Knight, 52, of Kershaw died when he was struck in the neck by metal shrapnel after his 2006 Ranger hit a cow in the road and struck a fence.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Inconsistent radar testing casts doubt on validity of millions of speeding tickets

anadian speeders might be getting measured differently, depending on where they’re caught, CBC News has found. Police forces using the same radar equipment have different testing routines. The finding throws into question the validity of millions of fines, demerit points and higher insurance premiums that result from speeding tickets. Radar equipment is commonly tested for accuracy using tuning forks — twopronged metal devices which vibrate when tapped, creating a frequency that mimics a set speed. That speed should be reflected in the radar unit’s reading to make sure it’s working properly. If not, it’s recommended the radar unit be taken out of service and not used for speed enforcement. While the majority of jurisdictions insist police use tuning forks to ensure radar devices are properly calibrated, CBC News has learned that the Ontario Provincial Police dropped the test more than a decade ago, in part over doubts about its necessity. In Saskatchewan, the Regina Police Service stopped using tuning forks in 2009, while RCMP operating in other parts of the province

still require the test at the start of each officer’s shift. RCMP throughout the rest of Canada also require tuning-fork use, as do the Sûreté du Quebec. Canadians speeders might be getting measured differently, depending on where they’re caught, CBC News has found, as police routinely test radar equipment differently. An inconsistent mix of court rulings, manufacturer instructions and police standards appears to dictate whether the test is required. In Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, some speeding tickets have been challenged in court and dismissed based on problems with tuning-fork evidence. “I honestly believe that this is a huge fraud,” said Toronto lawyer Dannial Baker, referring to police-issued traffic tickets based on devices not tested with a tuning fork. “I think a lot of people got convicted when they shouldn’t have been convicted.” Baker wants the tuning-fork test reinstated in Ontario and is calling for an investigation into why it was dropped by the OPP.

Why Canadians are wary of self-driving cars

ou had to be excited this month about autonomous cars and the promise of a driverless future—at least, if you were a politician. In Washington, the Obama administration announced plans to shower US$4 billion on the technology over the next decade. On New Year’s Day, Ontario officially fulfilled Kathleen Wynne’s promise to open its roads

for autonomous car testing, while the mayor of Saskatoon last week called for infrastructure tailored for self-driving vehicles. If you go by the timelines provided by believers, the pols are playing it smart. Most major carmakers have self-driving technology in development. Tesla’s latest models already boast a limited autopilot feature, and Google hopes

Saturday - January 30, 2016

TYLE

Usha Mangeshkar gets birthday wishes from Canadian PM

elody queen Lata Mangeshkar’s sister Usha Mangeshkar has received birthday wishes from Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The 86-year-old Lata took to Twitter, where she mentioned that she is proud of her sister. “Namaskar. Meri behen Usha ko uske janamdin pe Prime Minister of Canada ne bad-

haai bheji hai. Usha hume tumpe garv hai.

Never said India is intolerant, was born here and will die here: Aamir

ollywood actor Aamir Khan, who kicked a huge controversy over the intolerance issue last year, said on Monday he had no plans to leave India and he can’t live more than two weeks out of the country. “I love my country, I was

born here and I will die here. I have never thought of leaving India and will never take such a step,” Aamir told reporters while celebrating the 10th anniversary event of Rang de Basanti in Mumbai.

Another shocking celeb divorce: Malaika Arora-Arbaaz Khan to split? Following the shocking news of actor Farhan Akhtar and Adhuna Akhtar separating, rumour mils have been abuzz with reports of yet another Bollywood couple parting ways. According to reports, producer-actor Arbaaz Khan and actor Malaika Arora Khan are headed for a divorce, after a marriage of 17 years. Entertainment portal spotboye.com reported that Malaika moved out of their Bandra home recently and is said

to have shifted to an apartment in Khar, along with her 14-year-old son Arhaan. This apartment is in the same building in which her sister actor Amrita Arora Ladak’s in-laws stay. Buzz is that Malaika is in a relationship with a British businessman.

Saeed Jaffrey to get posthumous Padma Shri honour New Delhi: Multifaceted India-born British actor Saeed Jaffrey, who passed away last year, was on Monday posthumously named for the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth highest civilian award.

Priyanka: Padma Shri honour result of my hard work rom bagging her first award for her American TV show to being one of the Padma Award winners, actress Priyanka Chopra says she is living a dream and the national honour is a result of her hard work. “From ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ to ‘Bajirao Mastani’ to getting People’s Choice award for ‘Quantico’ and now Padma Shri...I can’t explain in words what emotions I am going through. I think I am living my dream,” Priyanka, who is currently in Montreal, told PTI over phone. “I think it’s all the benefit of working hard. I don’t take my job for granted,” she said. Priyanka will be conferred with Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour. She became the first South Asian actor to win People’s Choice Awards (Favourite actress) for her American TV show “Q u ant i c o” earlier this month -

Star & Style

2 i Saturday, January 30, 2016

Horoscope

Woah! Sonam Kapoor, Beyonce share screen in new Coldplay song

Libra

Aries

Sept. 24 - Oct 22

March 21 - April 20 Relationships, it seems, are not what they used to be. People, these days, expect more from each other. We have to work hard if we are to develop a deep connection and strengthen a close emotional bond. Others are not easy to understand, nor are we as simple and straightforward as we may care to imagine. The story of your personal life now is all about the need to make a realistic allowance for a challenging

Taurus

How much do you know about a certain someone? What do they know about you? I ask, not to encourage a raised eyebrow but simply to remind you that people can sometimes be full of surprises. Some of those surprises can be truly delightful. As Venus moves on into a new sector of the sky this week, she brings the chance to make several inspiring discoveries about others - and about yourself.

Scorpio

April 21 - May 20 There is really no such thing as an ordinary person. If, though, there ever was, you wouldn’t be one! Now, I trust you won’t take it the wrong way if I suggest you are not normal. That’s a compliment, something to be proud of. It is also a reason why discerning wouldbe partners or lovers find you so particularly, uniquely attractive. They are drawn, not to your looks but to your views!

Gemini

May 20 - June 21 ‘Love,’ so the dating agencies seem to think, ‘is all about what people have in common and how many shared interests they have.’ Maybe that’s true for some of us but it hardly provides a definition of what sparks your inner fire. A passionate attraction, for you, is surely going to involve a degree of dispute. Romance is almost as much about negotiation and conflict resolution, as it is about a celebration of mutually shared values.

Cancer

June 22 - July 23

Partnerships are supposed to make us feel more secure. Why do we get emotionally involved with each other, if not to share comfort and reassurance? Might that, perhaps, be why we feel so upset and affronted when our entanglements lead to tension, doubt and mutual mistrust? Those are the last things that any of us ever want to feel. You need not worry now about a situation that seems uncertain. There may be a problem but it is minor and easily resolved.

Leo

June 24 - August 23 Are you the best? Really? The best ever? The best of the best? The most desirable, delightful and attractive individual ever to walk upon the Earth? Now, come along, don’t be modest, there is nobody here but you and me. Statements of praise and exaltation like this, are not, in your case, expressions of hyperbole. They are acknowledgements of simple, basic facts! Or, at least, that’s the way that certain other people see the situation. You are held now, in the highest regard. Enjoy! It is no less than you deserve.

Virgo

Oct 23 - Nov 22 There may, or may not, be such a thing as ‘love at first sight’, but there is definitely a kind of instant recognition that strangers sometimes feel when they first encounter each other. Esotericists may see it as a sign that the two have known one anther in a previous life. Psychologists may interpret this as an instant acknowledgement of some subtle shared dream or vision which may, or may not, be healthy. Your strong sense of connection to someone is now too powerful to ignore. Trust that it is positive.

Sagitarius

‘Here I go again, I hear those trumpets blow again, All aglow again, Taking a chance on love’. So goes the old show tune. It expresses a sentiment to which we can relate. We are all attracted to a slight element of risk. But even the most reckless of gamblers, willing to squander the silliest stakes, knows there is no thrill as great (or potential reward as high) as the kind we find when we do what the song says. If you have taken a chance on love lately, here’s where you get to be glad of it. If not, here’s your chance!

a new song called ‘Hymn for The Weekend’ by British rock band Coldplay. This is not enough, for the video will also feature American singer Beyonce. So, it’s a double treat for Sonam undoubtedly!

Hrithik Roshan: More chances of me having an affair with the Pope

Nov 23 - Dec 22

Do you deserve to be worshiped from afar? Before we attempt to answer that, let us ask another, more practical question. Who on earth ever would find any satisfaction in that? Adulation and appreciation are not medals to wear and compare. They are sincere expressions of affection between individuals. Surely we want them to translate into tangible gestures and actions. With that in mind, I gently draw your attention to an interest someone else is taking in you. If you don’t have a reason to reject it, accept it.

Capricorn Dec 23 - Jan 20

I must be careful, lest I get too carried away in describing your outlook. Your prospects are undoubtedly encouraging, especially with regard to all matters emotional, personal and heartfelt. You can get closer to the people who matter most to you. There is even a chance to heal old wounds or resolve past conflicts. New connections can easily be established; friendships can be formed and important involvements deepened.

Aquarius

Jan 21 - Feb 19 Some people exude a special air, manifest an attractive attitude and inspire a degree of devotion in the hearts of almost all who encounter them. As you read these words and wonder, ‘Who in my life is he referring to here?’ please consider the possibility that actually, I’m talking about you! It may have been some while since you last felt entitled to have confidence in yourself and what you have to offer. Tensions and troubles have undermined you somewhat.

Pisces

August 24 - Sept 24

: Woah! The year seems to be full of Bollywood stars making Hollywood appearances. Whether it is movies, TV shows or music – Bollywood is starting to feel its presence in Hollywood. Sonam Kapoor will be featuring in

Feb 20 - March 20 Some people are easy, mostly, to get along with. Others are hard work. Their companions must be loving, patient, faithful and dedicated or they will soon begin to wonder why they are even bothering to make an effort at all. But the rare souls who can be so persistent with such awkward characters are saintly magicians. They can transform the hearts and minds of those in whom they place such faith. Even if others are inclined to suspect this is misplaced. Coming soon in your emotional life? Vindication!

In a recent interview, Kangana has addressed gossip that it was on Hrithik’s insistence that she was dropped from “Aashiqui 3”, which now features Sonam Kapoor with the “Dhoom 2” star. In response to a question on this, the “Queen” actress

said: “I don’t know why exes do silly things to get your attention. For me that chapter is over and I don’t dig graves.” This, by many, is being seen as a confirmation that Hrithik and Kangana were indeed dating.

Salman to wrestle Anushka

ources have also revealed that Salman and Anushka will be travelling to the remotest corners of North India to shoot for the film. Sultan stars Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma are playing wrestlers for the first time in their careers and from what we hear, the film is likely to show the two fight it out in the ring as well. A source in the know says, “A massive showdown between Salman and Anushka’s characters in the wrestling ring is being planned. How it will be shot and what kind of special training Anushka will have to take to look convinc-

ing, are being worked upon. Authenticity is the key to Sultan. All the locations and wrestling bouts shown in the film will be real, and not doctored on the editing table.”

Bollywood personalities’ birthdays this week PRIYDARSHAN 30 January

CHANDAN ROY 30 January

PRIETY ZINTA 31 January

AMY JACKSON 31 January

JACKIE SHROFF 1 FEBRUARY

ABHISHEK BACHCHAN 5 FEB

Star & Style Richa Chadda is learning rustic Punjabi dialect for the upcoming biopic, ‘Sarbjit’.

he actress plays the role of Sarbjit’s wife. Richa is taking private lessons to train herself in the specific dialect of Punjabi that Sarabjit Singh’s family speaks. The actress is also watching Punjabi films backto-back to perfect the nuances of the dialect

Saturday, January 30, 2016 i 3

New released Bollywood films January 29 - February 5 5 February

BHK Bhalla@Halla. Kom

Comedy Rakesh Chaturvedi ‘Om’ Ujjwal Rana, Inshika Bedi, Manoj Pahwa, Seema Pahwa, Yashpal Sharma, Brijendra Kala, Benjamin Gilani

Ghayal Once Again

Action Sunny Deol Sunny Deol, Soha Ali Khan, Tisca Chopra, Shivam Patil, Aanchal Munjal, Daina Khan, Rishab Arora, Neha Khan

Anupam Kher gives ‘gurudakshina’ to Mahesh Bhatt

LoveShhuda

Romance Vaibhav Mishra Girish Kumar, Navneet Kaur Dhillon

5 February

Sanam Teri Kasam

Mumbai: Anupam Kher, who has been named for the Padma Bhushan, has expressed gratitude to Mahesh Bhatt, the director of his debut film ‘Saaransh’. The veteran actor has given the filmmaker a Rs.1,000 note, and thanked him for giving him a “career”. The two Hindi film celebrities, it seems, are following the age-old guru-shishya tradition. Bhattcanbeseenkissingtheactor’sheadashebowsdowntohis‘guru’andgiftshimaRs.1,000note.

Romance Radhika Rao, Vinay Sapru Mawra Hocane, Harshvardhan Rane

Ranbir suffers Rs 21 cr loss post split with Kat

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apoor lad. According to Bollywood Life.com, Ranbir and Katrina were sharing an apartment, for which they reportedly paid Rs 15 lakh rent, and the former had given Rs 21 crore as security deposit of the house. Now, with the split, Ranbir might have to lose out on that Rs 21 crore security money. Hmm...isn’t that a tad too much. A pricey

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Isha Talwar replaces Zarine Khan in Ishq My Religion Movie

After the success of Jatt James Bond Gurdeep Dhillon Presents Upcoming Punjabi movie Ishq My religion and everyone is excited to know the star cast of the movie. Earlier the news was little different that

Zarine Khan may play the lead role in a movie but movie producer Gurdeep Dhillon officially announced and signed Isha Talwar as a lead actress in Ishq My religion

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Canadian millennials buying houses at a younger age anadian millennials aged 25 to 34 “There is still a gap, but they’ve closed are better off than their American than their parents: report it the fastest among most generations.” counterparts — and are entering

the housing market at a younger age than their parents did, suggests a new report from TD Economics. “In Canada, millennials … have found good jobs, higher incomes — particularly females,” said Diana Petramala, an economist for TD Economics and co-author of the report. “That’s allowed them to enter home ownership sooner than their U.S. counterparts, and even at a younger age than their parents did over 30 years ago.” The report said that as of the first half of 2015, over 50 per cent of millennials in Canada owned a home, compared to 36 per cent in the U.S. Less debt The study also found that Canadian millennials have less student debt than their U.S. counterparts — and the debt they do hold is mostly due to mortgages. “The fact that they aren’t as leveraged coming out of school as their U.S. counterparts may be one of the other reasons why they’ve been able to enter the housing market a bit quicker,” Petramala told On the Coast host Stephen Quinn. She said Canadian millennials have likely also received help from their parents, who may have made payments on or bore the brunt of their child’s student debt. “Parents of millennials in Canada have benefited from a neardoubling in the average home price over the last decade. No doubt, some of this wealth and resulting financial wiggle room has been passed down to children,” the report said.

CMHC flags housing market risks in Toronto, Saskatoon, Regina

he federal housing agency says there is a risk of correction in Canadian housing markets in several cities, especially Toronto, Saskatoon and Regina, because of overvaluation and overbuilding of real estate. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation looks at housing markets in 15 Canadian cities every quarter, in an effort to detect housing bubbles. Average Canadian house price up another 12% to $454,342 ‘Frenetic’ price growth to slow in 2016: Royal LePage Cities such as Calgary, Saskatoon, and Regina suffer from both overvaluation and overbuilding, as prices remain high and building continues in face of low oil prices. The level of housing prices in these cities is not supported by the economic conditions, CMHC says. Prices remain high despite rising vacancies and falling demand for housing.

Women driving growth The report said that the better performance in Canadian employment rates and income among millennials has been in large part due to “a 4 i Saturday, July 25, 2015 higher female labour force participation.”

“A female millennial is more likely to go to school or receive a bachelor’s degree or higher than their male counterparts, and we’ve seen millennial women really close that male-female wage gap,” she said.

To hear the full interview listen to the audio labelled: New TD Economics report finds Canadian millennials are doing better than their U.S. counterparts

6 i Saturday, January 30, 2016

Calgary real estate market now has ‘strong’ evidence first quarter of 2016. nother red flag has emerged of problems: CMHC The CMHC report said low oil prices in Calgary’s real estate mar-

ket, with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation now saying there’s “strong overall evidence” of “problematic conditions” in the city. Regina, Saskatoon and Toronto also shared the “strong” rating in the CMHC’s latest Housing Market Assessment report, released Wednesday. The previous report, issued three months earlier, found weak overall evidence of problems in Calgary’s housing market. CMHC economist Bob Dugan said eviFrom page 5

dence of overbuilding has increased since the previous assessment in Calgary and this could lead to lower prices.“In some cases, a correction in housing prices may be required in order to ensure excess supply is absorbed so balance in the market can be restored,” he said. Edmonton, Winnipeg,

Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City had “m o d e r at e” overall ratings, while every other major city was rated as “weak” in the report, which looks at the

are affecting Alberta and Saskatchewan, in particular, by “weakening demographic and economic fundamentals such as migration, employment and income, which are in turn affecting housing markets.” CMHC developed the quarterly assessments in an attempt to to detect “problematic housing market conditions” before they potentially lead to major market events “such as the house price bubble Toronto experienced in the late 1980s and early 1990s,” according to the report.

CMHC flags housing market risks in Toronto, Saskatoon, Regina

Alberta and Saskatchewan are facing weakening migration, employment, and income, which are in turn affecting housing markets, CMHC said in its report released Wednesday.

Overbuilding has worsened in Saskatoon and Regina, despite downward pressure on prices from weakened demand for housing, CMHC says.

Toronto in bubble territory In Toronto, rapid price acceleration in the past year has led to prices that are just too high for detached homes, but CMHC is also monitoring the city for the potential emergence of overbuilding, especially in the condo market. In a report released Wednesday, the Toronto Real Estate Board estimated the number of resale condo listings in the city rose 3.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2015, but sales were 5,596, an increase of 12.6 per cent. That tightening of the market has pushed up condo prices, which rose 4.1 per cent to $382,070. But CMHC is concerned about the acceleration in building of Toronto condos in the final quarter of the year, saying developers need to monitor inventories to prevent further overbuilding.

The rise in housing prices in Toronto has not been matched by a rise in disposable incomes, CMHC said. Vancouver at moderate risk It flagged Toronto as having a strong risk of nearing bubble territory. Regina and Saskatoon were also shown as having high levels of risk, while conditions in Winnipeg and Calgary had worsened in the quarter. Despite having the highest home prices in Canada, Vancouver was only at moderate risk of overvaluation of real estate prices, CMHC said. It pointed to the city’s low vacancy rates and the predominance of high net worth buyers, saying demand will remain strong. Instead it saw more risk of overvaluation in Montreal and Quebec, where slower growth in first-time home buyer demand has combined with only modest increases in income.

Saturday, January 30, 2016 i 7

Prairie housing markets under stress amid oil slump, CMHC warns

ousing markets across the Prairies are showing major signs of stress as job losses mount in the energy sector and rental vacancy rates soar, Canada’s federal housing agency has warned. Over all, Canada’s housing market faces little risk of a steep correction, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said in a new quarterly assessment, although it raised concerns with nine of the country’s 15 major housing markets. Sliding oil prices are beginning to translate into what CMHC described as “problematic conditions” in housing markets in Calgary, Regina and Saskatoon, potentially leaving those cities at high risk of a home-price correction if conditions don’t improve. The federal agency said it found “moderate evidence” of problems in Edmonton’s housing market. CMHC had previously considered Alberta’s two major cities at a low risk of a downturn when it last published an assessment about the housing market in October. But it said soaring job losses, a slowdown in migration and surging vacancy rates have raised significant concerns. Resale home prices fell roughly 2.4 per cent in Calgary last year, but CMHC warned the city’s housing market was still overvalued. “Alberta in general and Saskatchewan to some extent is reacting to a fairly significant shock right now,” CMHC’s chief economist Bob Dugan said of the sharp drop in oil prices since last fall. Vacancy rates in Calgary have jumped since CMHC last surveyed the city’s rental market, rising from 1.4 per cent in De-

cember of 2014 to 5.3 per cent last month. Multiple red flags in a region’s housing market – in Calgary’s case, high levels of rental vacancies coupled with home prices that remain above levels supported by job and income growth – have historically translated into higher claims on CMHC’s

The federal agency also reiterated its warnings about Toronto, thanks to soaring home prices for detached homes that have outstripped incomes. Levels of condo construction are also running ahead of population growth. Despite being home to Canada’s most expensive real estate,

mortgage insurance, the agency said. CMHC renewed its warnings about Regina and Saskatoon, where housing markets have been weakening amid falling commodity prices and a high level of new home construction. Resale home prices had dropped nearly 4 per cent in Regina in December compared with a year earlier.

Vancouver’s housing market remains at low risk of a correction, CMHC said. Mr. Dugan said CMHC’s assessment should serve as an “early warning system,” alerting buyers, lenders and builders to problems brewing in the housing market in hopes they can avert a serious outcome, such as a major home-price correction.

Spinach and Feta Pasta Ingredients :

Recipe

riginal recipe makes 4 servings, 1 (8 ounce) packagepenne pasta, 2 tablespoonsolive oil, 1/2 cupchopped onion, 1 clovegarlic, minced, 3 cupschopped tomatoes, 1 cupsliced fresh mushrooms, 2 cupsspinach leaves, packed, salt and pepper to taste, 1 pinchred pepper flakes, 8 ouncesfeta cheese, crumbled

Method:

1.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in

boiling water until al dente; drain. 2.Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and cook until golden brown. Mix in tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook 2 minutes more, until tomatoes are heated through and spinach is wilted. Reduce heat to medium, stir in pasta and feta cheese, and cook until heated through.

Tomato, Basil, Pasta This is a simple recipe, flavorful dish served at room temperature. This dish will refrigerate well and is just as good the next day for lunch as a cold pasta salad

Ingredients :

riginal recipe makes 6 servingsChange Servings, 2 cupsdiced tomatoes, 1 smallonion, finely chopped, 6 tablespoonsolive oil 2 clovescrushed garlic, 6 leavesfresh basil, torn, 10 ouncesfusilli pasta, 3 tablespoonsgrated Parmesan cheese, or to taste, 1 1/2 cupscrumbled feta cheese, salt and ground black pepper to taste

Method:

1.Stir tomatoes, onion, olive oil, garlic, and basil together in a bowl. 2.Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook fusilli in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but firm to the bite, 12 minutes. Drain. 3.Toss warm pasta with feta cheese and Parmesan cheese in a large bowl. Stir tomato mixture into pasta and season with salt and pepper.

Toronto The housing market continues to raise serious red flags, including a surge in prices for detached homes that “has not been matched by growth in personal disposable income and population,” CMHC said. Condo construction also continued to run above the long-term average. Vancouver CMHC has raised some eyebrows with its assertion that Vancouver’s housing market poses little risk of a correction. Average home prices in the region soared nearly 20 per cent last year. Much of the sharp rise in prices came because of the red-hot market for detached houses, which CMHC said were being snapped up by “high net worth” buyers. Roughly 60 per cent of home sales in the region are more affordable multifamily properties, such as condos and townhouses. Calgary and Edmonton Calgary’s home prices have dropped since CMHC last studied the market, but not by enough to reflect the region’s deteriorating economy and the sharp rise in its vacancy rate. Edmonton has fared better, but is coming off a record year for new housing starts that is leaving the city at risk of having a glut of unsold condos and vacant apartments amid an oil slump. Winnipeg Winnipeg is the only housing market where conditions have improved since October, .” The region’s job market has rebounded since then and a growing pool of first-time buyers is helping to support prices. However, the level of unsold homes under construction is still too high, CMHC said.

8 i Saturday, January 30, 2016

20 i Saturday, January 30, 2016

NATIONAL

Clark battles BCs‘ forces of No,’ on LNG, trade deal; says she’s no quitter

remier Christy Clark had sharp words Monday for what she calls the “forces of No” in British Columbia who mount resistance efforts to government initiatives purely out of a fear of change. First Nations leaders quickly shot back at the premier, labelling her comments “paternalistic” and “mindless.” Clark made the statements during a news conference where she fielded questions about opposition to the Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership, environmental concerns over liquefied natural gas development and tax breaks for the mining industry. She said negotiating trade pacts and resource developments involves tough,

but potentially rewarding benefits and she would rather be known as an achiever than a quitter. “There are people who just say no to everything, and heaven knows there are plenty of those in British Columbia,” said Clark. “But just because it’s hard doesn’t mean you give up. It doesn’t mean you should be a quitter.” She criticized a coalition of First Nations, environmentalists and Opposition New Democrats who signed a declaration demanding a protection zone near a proposed multibillion-dollar LNG project at Lelu Island near Prince Rupert.

Judge hearing case where terrorism victims seek Iran’s assets says it might be made ‘academic’ by Liberals

judge hearing a groundbreaking case in which victims of terrorism are seeking Iran’s assets in Canada paused Wednesday to ask whether the forthcoming resumption of diplomatic ties with the Islamic republic might make the proceedings “academic.” Justice Glenn Hainey said he had seen news reports indicating that Foreign Minister Stéphane Dion intended to lift Canada’s sanctions against Iran and re-establish diplomatic relations that were severed in 2012 by the previous Conservative government. At the time, the Conservatives designated Iran a state sponsor of terrorism, which had the effect of lifting Tehran’s state immunity, opening the door for victims of Iranian-backed terror

groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas to seek damages in Canadian courts. But on Tuesday, Dion called the decision to cut ties with Iran “ideological and irresponsible” and said it was “not good” for Iranians or for Canada’s strategic interests in the region. “It is good for nobody. We will change this policy,” he said. Justice Hainey raised Dion’s statement in a Toronto courtroom before hearing the last of three days of testimony, and asked about its significance. “Does that mean they [the Iranians] come off the list?” he asked. “I’m just wondering if this all becomes academic.” John Adair, the lawyer for several of the victims, said it would not affect the case if the Liberals removed Iran from the state sponsors of terrorism list.

Minister Goodale says Mounties need more cash to catch fentanyl traffickers

ublic Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told CBC News the RCMP needs more money to combat Canada’s deadly trade in fentanyl. Hundreds of Canadians died after overdosing on the synthetic opioid last year — 213 in Alberta in the first nine months of 2015 alone, according to the province’s health service. In the wake of the October 2014 attack on Parliament Hill, the RCMP reassigned 600 Mounties from criminal investigations and organized crime files to national security duties. In the meantime, an RCMP

report prepared for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and obtained by CBC News describes how organized crime groups started importing powdered fentanyl from China, established high volume, pill-making labs and expanded trafficking across the country. Fentanyl deaths are a Canada-wide ‘disaster’ Fentanyl abuse prompts Manitoba to create task force Edmonton police dismantle fentanyl lab, seize drugs “That obviously was dealing with an immediate crisis and it was a classic example, sadly, of having to rob Peter to pay Paul,”

Judges affirm that Canada Revenue Agency has ‘duty of care’ to taxpayers

wo appellate court rulings confirm that the Canada Revenue Agency is not at liberty to intimidate and threaten taxpayers and must take appropriate care in how it treats them. The CRA is adding auto-fill just in time to speed up your 2015 tax filing While tax season may still be a few weeks away, in preparation for the annual ritual, the Canada Revenue Agency recently unveiled its new “Auto-fill my return” service to make filing your 2015 taxes online easier and faster than ever before. In separate decisions released earlier this month, both the Federal Court of Appeal and the British Columbia Court of Appeal confirmed that the CRA has a general le-

gal “duty of care” with respect to taxpayers. “A few decisions have accepted this principle over time, but these are the most senior courts to affirm,” says tax lawyer David Rotfleisch of Rotfleisch & Samulovitch PC in Toronto. “This should, over time, result in a difference in the way the CRA treats taxpayers and their rights.” Yet the results are not a complete win for taxpayers. According to the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA), the duty is general but not specific. In particular, the FCA found that the CRA did not have a specific duty to warn investors about the potential dangers of tax shelters — even when the CRA has cause for concern about particular ones.

POLITICS

Ambrose supports dropping same-sex marriage ban from Conservative policy

nterim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose says she backs a call for removal of the long-standing same-sex marriage ban from official Tory policy, her latest move to reshape the party in the post-Stephen Harper era. “I’ve been clear for a long time that the Conservative Party welcomes all conservatives, regardless of sexual orientation. If you believe in smaller government, lower taxes, balanced budgets and individual freedom, we want you in our party,” Ambrose said in a statement. A group of Alberta Tories adopted a resolution over the weekend calling for the two lines that deal with samesex marriage to be deleted from the Conservative Party’s social policy at its upcoming national convention in Vancouver. Existing Conservative policy — which was reaffirmed at the party’s last convention in 2013 — says Parliament, not the courts, should determine the definition of marriage and that the party supports legislation defining marriage as the

union of one man and one woman. LGBT Tories want Rona Ambrose to end party’s opposition to same-sex marriageConservatives cool their heels, eye 2017 leadership vote “I was happy to see our Alberta policy congress vote in huge numbers in that spirit this past weekend. If it’s something that makes it to our policy convention floor, I’ll be happy to vote the same way,” Ambrose said. Would-be Tory voters turned off by ban A group of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Conservatives wrote to the Edmonton-area MP earlier this month, asking her to support their efforts to strike down the ban at the Vancouver convention.

Ottawa confirms plan to lift sanctions against Iran

anada will act “in a speedy fashion” to remove economic sanctions against Iran and normalize relations, Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion has announced. Mr. Dion told Parliament Tuesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran has met United Nations-imposed conditions to curb its nuclear program under a landmark treaty worked out between major world powers and Tehran. Stephane Dion says Canada will lift some sanctions on Iran (CP Video) “The United Nations has asked the countries in question to lift the sanctions related to the treaty that is designed to prevent Iran from using nuclear weapons,”

Saturday, January 30, 2016 i 21

he said. “Canada will lift those sanctions.” Mr. Dion said Ottawa will also reopen the Canadian embassy in Tehran, closed by the Harper government in 2012. The Tories, he said, were wrong to cut off diplomatic ties to such an important player in the Middle East. “With the misleading approach of the former government, Canada is not in Iran,” Mr. Dion said in the House of Commons in response to a question on normalizing relations. “It is not good for the people of Iran, it is not good for the promotion of human rights, it is not good for our strategic interests in the region, it is not good for Israel. It is good for nobody. We will change this policy.”

Husband of Burkina Faso victim says he hung up on Justin Trudeau

he husband of one of the Canadian victims of last week’s terror attack in Burkina Faso said he hung up on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when he called to offer his condolences. Yves Richard’s wife Maude Carrier, 37, was one of six Quebecers and 30 victims in total killed when al-Qaida gunmen attacked a restaurant and hotel in the capital of Ouagadougou. He told the Montreal radio station 98.5 FM that he took offense when Trudeau called him Monday afternoon to express his sympathy. He said Trudeau’s message sounded like a “cassette” and he did not appreciate Trudeau calling the victims a source of Canadian pride. “I asked him to stop his political Maude Carrier was blather … I told among the six Quebecers him they didn’t do who were killed in the (their charitable terrorist attack in Burki- works) to make Cana Faso. nadians proud but because they were fundamentally good people,” Richard said. John Ivison: How can the Liberals leave others to defend our national security? Condemn Burkina Faso terror attack ‘with airplanes’ not just words, victim’s mother tells Trudeau He said he ended the conversation by telling Trudeau to hug his wife and children. “I hung up on him, and it felt good,” he said. Richard said he was unhappy that it was not until 48 hours after the attack that he was able to get any answers from the federal Department of Foreign Affairs. News broke

of a terrorist incident in Burkina Faso on Friday, the eve of his wife’s scheduled return to Canada.

“This policy is a significant obstacle to the acceptance of the Conservative message by voters who would otherwise be attracted

to the party’s stance on economic, security, and foreign policy issues,” signatories from the group LGBTory Rainbow Conservatives wrote to Ambrose.

22 i

CLASSIFIEDS

Saturday, January 30, 2016

C JOBS Baker / Sweet Maker wanted

Nirala Sweets and Restaurant in Surrey BC needs fully qualified Pakistani style Baker/Sweet maker (Mithai). Responsibilities will include Sweet making for retail and banquets, training of employees, labour & food cost control and supervision. Must have at least three years experience as a Pakistani Baker. Knowledge of Urdu an asset. ourly salary $15.50/hr. Contact Pasha 604 593 7323 or send resume at anwarpasha786@hotmail.com ---------------- Jan 23 2016

Cook for Pakistani cuisine wanted Nirala Sweets and Restaurant in Surrey BC needs experienced chef for Halal Northern Pakistani style dishes. Must be expert in making kababs and tandoori dishes. Must be able to handle halal meats. Responsibilities will include menu design and planning, cooking for individual customers and banquets, training of employees, labour & food cost control and supervision of kitchen staff. Must have at least 3 years experience as a Pakistani cook. Knowledge of Urdu and asset. Hourly wage $17.00 per hour. 40 hours per week. Contact Pasha at 604 593 7323 or send resume at anwarpasha786@hotmail.com ---------------- Jan 23 2016

JOBS

JOBS tioninc@gmail.com”

“Mobile Zone Communication Inc., located at 123-9855 Austin Road, Burnaby, BC V3J1N4, has immediate 2 vacancies for Cell phone Technician for two different locations. One vacancy for 123-9855 Austin Road, Burnaby BC V3J 1N4 and one vacancy for Brentwood Town Centre 4567 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby, BC V5C 3Z6. Full time, permanent positions with 35-40 hours per week, $31/hour. Job Duties include: Perform Inspection,Testing, Diagnose and Troubleshoot smart phone and other mobile devices; Disassemble the device to install, remove, repair or replace defective parts; Perform high quality repairs and refurbishment of phones/cell phones/tablets; Ensure all repair meets quality standards; Monitor parts inventory and inform management of status; Accurately document repairs and parts information on repair tracking document; Maintaining and using tools and equipment properly; Interact with customer as needed, providing exceptional customer service. Employment Requirements: Completion of Secondary School with 2-3 years of experience or Completion of 3-4 years apprenticeship training program or Trade certification with several months of on-job training. If interested please send resume at mobilezonecommunica-

------------------------------Jun 02_16

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 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 consid-

JOBS ered as an asset. If interested send resumes by email at westerndoormanufacturing@gmail. com ------------- September 5, 2015 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 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 sel-

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 vamm164@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 ----------------------------

To PLACE YOUR AD IN THE ASIAN STAR CLASSIFIEDS Section Please

Call: 604-591-5423

COMMUNITY Mosaic Networking Are you new to the country/ looking to meet new friends or seeking networking opportunities? You are invited! Refreshments will be served! Mosaic Church meets on Saturday evening 6:30 pm in Surrey/Abbotsford. Surrey: 12150-92 Avenue; Abbotsford: 2940 Clearbrook Road For more info call Dave at 604 897-4224 or email dmclauren@gmail.com ---------------------------------------------------PICS Entrepreneurship Program – New Session Begins January 27th, 2016 PICS is currently accepting applications for it’s PICS Entrepreneurship Program, a nine week training course which will teach you all the ropes of how to start a successful business. Classes include helping you develop a business plan and ways in which you can secure finance for your plan. The training is followed by sixteen weeks of mentorship and consultation as well. New session begins on January 27, 2016 in Vancouver. Participants will be recruited from the following groups: Youth (15 to 29 years), or Aboriginals, or Persons with Disabilities (self-identified disability that restricts regular employment). Potential participants may contact Deshpal Grewal at PICS at 604-596-7722 ext. 126 and register for the next information session scheduled for: •January 13, 2016 at 2:30 PM – PICS Head Office in Surrey (#205 – 12725 80th Ave, Surrey, BC) January 20, 2016 at 2:30 PM – PICS Vancouver Office (#200 – 8153 Main Street, Vancouver, BC) ------------------------------------------Local Church Announces Saturday Service to Accommodate Young Families David McLauren and Mosaic Community Church announced a new Saturday service today to accommodate the demanding schedules of the local community. Did you know that the Lower Mainland is one of the most diverse regions of the North America, with over 100 different spoken languages? Our communities are being joined by thousands of people from nearly every nation, culture, and ethnic group of the world. The Lower Mainland is increasingly becoming a multicultural mosaic; however, over 90% of churches in the area have church services only on Sunday morning. Mosaic Community Church is a new missional church in the Lower Mainland. This new Saturday service will benefit several people in the community who: * are newcomers to the community * are looking for networking opportunities * want to add some color to their church experience * can’t wait till Sunday * are looking for something to do on a Saturday night * prefer to sleep on Sundays Mosaic Community Church meets Saturday evenings at 6:30 PM in Surrey. Mosaic Community Church Surrey: 12150 - 90 Avenue, Surrey ------------------------------------------------------Emotional Health & Stress Management Workshop Christmas and holiday season is a time for family and friends’ gathering. For new immigrants, it is exciting to celebrate the festivals in Canada, but it may be stressful as they are

away from their home country. This workshop will provide information about how to manage your mood with limited winter daylight hours, maintain good health and make friends so that we can move forward in 2016 ---------------------------------------------January 6, 10am–12pm New Westminster Public Library Main Branch, 716–6th Ave Angel 604 438 8214 ext 104 ---------------------------------------------Legal Information Workshops: WorkSafe Standards Learn about workplace safety and protecting yourself. Topics include certification and training; bullying and harassment; first aid; WHMIS; personal protective equipment (PPE); road safety; mental health in the workplace; violence prevention. For adults: January 10, 1:30–3:30pm For youth: January 23, 1:30–3:30pm ---------------------------------------------MOSAIC Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway 604 438 8214 ext 211

English Conversation Circle for Newcomers Tuesdays, 1–2:30pm, January 19–February 23 MOSAIC Vancouver Language Centre, 304–2730 Commercial Dr Paeony 604 254 9626 ext 288 ---------------------------------------------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

World Religions Peace Conference in Abbotsford on February 2

t is quite a befitting effort by the Ahmaddiya Muslin Jamaat of BC to organize a World Religions Conference seeking much needed peace in the world. The event will take place on February 2, 2016 from 6 to 9.30 PM at Chapel Auditorium, 2940 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford. Prominent Religious Scholars from Baha’i (Harold Rosen), Buddhism ( Kate McCandless), Christianity (Tim Keupfer), Hinduism (Srinath Dwevedi), Judaism (Suan Sarmash), Sikhism (Gian Singh Kotli) and Islam (Bilal Khokar) will speak on the topic of “Pathway to Peace” in accordance with their respective faith beliefs and thereby put forward their efforts to create an atmosphere where prevails love,

Canadian Citizenship Preparation January 18 & 19, 5:30–8:30pm Tommy Douglas Burnaby Public Library, 7311 Kingsway Angel 604 438 8214 ext 104 ----------------------------------------------

Saturday, January 30, 2016 i 23

Nothing sweet about it, diabetes rates soaring in BC The diabetes rate in our province is skyrocketing.

ince 2000, the rate of type two diabetes has doubled and that rate is also expected to go up by 40 per cent by 2025. “In Canada because of the aging population and the baby boomers, it’s a huge group in our population who are at risk,” says Julie Knisley, the Regional Director of the Canadian Diabetes Association. She says there are certain groups at risk of a spike in the disease. including people of Aboriginal,

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

Burnaby North: 2055 Rosser Avenue || 604 292 3907

English Conversation Circle (Upper Beginners): Starting January 14, Thursdays, 2–4pm

English Conversation Circle (Beginners): Starting January 20, Wednesdays, 9:30–11:30am Wai Dan Gong Exercise: Starting January 22, Fridays, 9–10am Taichi:

peace and no violence. As the current situation of the world, with its increasing uncertainty and instability seem to be taking us towards a graver conflict, the dire need of the times is to make more concerted efforts to find out ways and means to maintain peace in the world. It is heartening that several religious organizations and media have offered their support for the success of this timely effort. This unique event will be moderated by Councillor Sandy Blue, Abbotsford. Media is invited to attend the event. For any information please contact: Rizwan Peerzada, Spokes person, Regional Coordinator of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.1-604 767 1965.

‘Wai Dan Gong’ exercise: Starting January 22, Fridays, 11am–12pm ------------------------------------------------------Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian

African and Asian descent. “A lot of it has to do with the diet and even their lifestyle but it’s also the ethnic background and other areas of concern too,” says Knisley. “It’s also the socio-economic status of those individuals.” The best way to combat the disease, a healthy diet and regular exercise. High seniors’ diabetes rates highlight need for a national plan: doctorHigh seniors’ diabetes rates call for Canada to implement national plan

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

24 i

Saturday, January 30, 2016

CIBC cuts Canada’s economic growth outlook to 1.3% for 2016

ess than a month into the year, CIBC is downgrading its outlook for the Canadian economy, forecasting growth of just 1.3 per cent, down from an earlier estimate of 1.7 per cent. A “winter of discontent in investor sentiment globally” has knocked stocks and commodities lower and is reverberating through the Canadian economy in other ways, says CIBC economist Avery Shenfeld. He pointed to slower than anticipated growth in the fourth quarter of 2015, forecasting growth for the final quarter will be zero. The 1.3 per cent growth after inflation is stripped out forecast by CIBC is more pessimistic than the 1.4 per cent predicted by the Bank of Canada in a report last week. “Even to achieve that pace, we’re allowing for an additional $10 billion in stimulus relative to the election platform and $30 billion

in federal deficit and a slightly weaker track for the Canadian dollar,” Shenfeld said in a report to clients. Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz opted not to cut rates further last week, which some analysts interpreted as evidence that Poloz is waiting to gauge the impact of a federal stimulus budget. The Liberal government has proposed billions in infrastructure spending in an effort to push up economic growth. The low dollar is expected to boost jobs in export-oriented sectors. Shenfeld says Canada is only just beginning to discover the negative spillover effects of low oil prices in other sectors. The Scotiabank Commodity Price Index showed downturns across base metals and other commodities as well as oil, coming in 4.9 per cent lower than the previous year. In the year to December, oil prices were down

Business / Finance

BRICS create fund to finance innovation

razil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - have created a fund to finance joint innovation projects. The R$24m ($5.8m) fund will go towards scientific research projects and the first multilateral tender should be launch in April 2016. Brazil will contribute with R$1.2m ($292,000) of the total pool of resources. Representatives of the science and technology industry and ministries from all the five countries gathered at an event in Beijing last week, where the announcements were made. According to Brazilian Science and Technology minister Celso Pansera, the expectation is that the tenders will further develop the cooperation between countries within research and also in the certain of innovative processes and products. It is becoming more and more clear that China is a clear and present threat to American security. The minister added that the announce-

ments were in line with the “daring” and “pretentious” agenda of the Brazilian government’s Science and Technology department. “We want to pursue a vigorous external policy for the ministry in 2016, seeking resources overseas with a variety of partners,” Pansera told delegates at the event. Celso Pansera took over the Brazilian Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry as part of a ministerial reform announced last October. An opposition congressman with barely no experience in the technology sector, the president’s choice to give the job to Pansera raised concerns within the local tech industry. At the time of Pansera’s appointment, eight Brazilian technology associations released a statement saying that the sector “can no longer cope with frequent changes in the ministry’s administration, which impact strategic programs and policies.”

Liberal negotiations with civil service could cost $900-million in savings

he Liberals appear poised to abandon the Conservative hardline approach to contract talks with public labour unions, a move that could cost federal coffers nearly $1-billion this fiscal year. Major unions say the Liberal government has indicated it will repeal legislation introduced by their Tory predecessors that imposes changes on the civil service’s disability and sick leave system.The Conservatives booked $900-million in savings to the government’s bottom line in last year’s budget, even though negotiations were still ongoing

with the unions.The Harper government’s accounting decision helped its election-year budget predict a $2.4-billion surplus, including the contingency reserve. The new Liberal government updated the 2015-16 budget projection in November to a $3-billion shortfall – and Ottawa admits another $900-million could be shaved from the public books without the disability and sick leave regime. Treasury Board President Scott Brison refused to discuss the potential fiscal impact, but insisted the Liberals would negotiate in good faith with the unions.

CRA apologizes, fixes mix-up after wrongly declaring woman dead

he Canada Revenue Agency has brought a Winnipeg woman back from the dead, so to speak, after the taxman accidentally declared her deceased in December. “I was just like, ‘What is this?’” Lapuz said. She called CRA and spoke to an agent: “She said I was deceased.” Lapuz believes premature reports of her death may have occurred when she called the agency in December to switch her GST cheques to direct deposit. “From direct deposit I became deceased,” Lapuz said. “I didn’t know you could just click a button and make somebody dead.” Lapuz called the agency back repeatedly over the next few weeks, only to learn she was still considered dead.

What was initially an amusing mix-up became a stressful problem requiring multiple calls and visits to the agency to fix the mistake. “I broke into tears because I was just so frustrated,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do any more. No one was helping.” It didn’t take long for her newly deceased status to interfere with her life. Lapuz is slated to start a dental hygienist program in Toronto in April, but her student loan application was put on hold because her social insurance number was invalid. The reason? Lapuz was also flagged in that system as deceased. “If I don’t have my student loan, I don’t know how I’m paying for school,” Lapuz said. Lapuz is angry the agency had not been able to tell her how it happened or why it was

Business / Finance

Fed opts to stay course, keeps benchmark interest rate unchanged

he U.S. Federal Reserve has decided verse course and put its rate back to effecto keep its benchmark interest rate tively zero. The Fed didn’t do that, however, unchanged in a saying in a statement, “The range between 0.25 and 0.5 committee expects that per cent. The bank opted to economic conditions will hike its benchmark rate in evolve in a manner that will late 2015, the first time it had warrant only gradual inmoved its rate in almost a creases in the federal funds decade from record lows set rate. during the Great Recession. “However, the actual That was a sign that Ameripath of the federal funds ca’s central bank thought the rate will depend on the ecoeconomy was getting ready nomic outlook as informed to stand on its own without by incoming data.” additional monetary stimuThat’s the central bank’s Federal Reserve Chair lus. way of saying it still thinks Janet Yellen Since then, stock markets the world’s largest econohave been extremely volatile, and the global my is getting fundamentally stronger, and economy is showing signs of a slowdown, over time is ready to withstand interest rates which caused a minority of economists who that are closer to historical averages, in the watch the Fed to predict the bank might remid-single digits.

RRSP 2016: 2 good reasons to withdraw money from your retirement fund

he federal government has created two programs that allow you to withdraw money from an RRSP without a penalty before you retire — the Home Buyers’ Plan and the Lifelong Learning Plan. Whenever you take money from a registered retirement savings plan, you are taxed on it at your marginal tax rate, so you lose 12 to 49 per cent of your savings off the top to the tax man, depending on your income and where you live. Special report: RRSP season 2016 RRSP basics: Why and how to save RRSP deadline and FAQ 2016 There are plenty of bad reasons to withdraw money from your RRSP – among them needing cash for a vacation, wanting to buy a car or giving money to the kids. The best reason to take out money is because you are retired and want to convert it into a registered retirement income fund that will pay your bills. At that point, you are likely to be in a much lower tax bracket than when you were working. Financial advisers point out that if you do withdraw money, you miss out on several years of the compound growth you would have on the RRSP investment. But both buying a house and getting an education are investments in themselves that can pay off in the longer term. Here’s how those two programs work. Home Buyers’ Plan Each individual can withdraw up to $25,000 to buy or build their first home or to buy a home for a related person with a disability by applying under the Home Buyers’ Plan. For couples who are first-time buyers, that’s up to $50,000 toward a first home. The down payment is often a stretch for young buyers and putting more than 20 per cent down means escaping the additional cost of CMHC insurance. Buyers have to enter into a written agreement to build or buy the home, and it must take effect before Oct. 1 that year or after the year of withdrawal. 1st-time homebuyers at risk because of heavy mortgage debt, says C.D. Howe study Waiting to see if new mortgage rules will pop a bubble or prevent one: Don Pittis For those who are buying for a relative with

a disability, it is the relative who must have entered into such an agreement. The buyer, i.e. the person with the disability, has to live in the home. It can’t be a rental property. The catch is that anyone taking advantage of the program must pay back what they took out of their RRSP within 15 years, starting in the second year after purchase of the home. A bank can help you set up regular withdrawals so you meet the repayment schedule. Many people are house-poor in the first few years of home ownership, so it can take a lot to structure their finances to both pay the mortgage and refund their RRSPs. There’s a financial penalty from the government if you don’t – they’ll start taxing you on the money you withdrew. And when you repay the money to your RRSP, there won’t be a tax deduction from your income, because you got that deduction the first time around. It’s a popular program. According to research from the Canada Revenue Agency, 1.8 million Canadians have used the Home Buyers’ Plan since 1992, borrowing more than $18 billion from their own savings. But for the 2011 tax year, 47 per cent had paid less than the full required repayment and were being taxed for using it. Lifelong Learning Plan The Lifelong Learning Plan allows you to borrow up to $10,000 a year to finance full-time education at a qualifying school. You can withdraw a maximum of $20,000 over a period of four years from an RRSP owned by yourself or your spouse. If you both go back to school, you can withdraw up to $40,000. It is essentially an interest-free loan from the RRSP to finance retraining, but only for you and your spouse. It can’t be used for your children. To take the money out of the RRSP, you must be enrolled in a school that qualifies for the education tax credit or have received a written offer to enrol by March of the following year. By the fifth year after the first LLP withdrawal — or the second year after you stop going to school full-time — you must start repaying into your RRSP.

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Saturday, January 30, 2016

Suicide victim’s kin seek SAD leader’s arrest

suicide victim’s cousin, Kulwant Singh, is unwilling to climb down a tower until two persons, including an Akali leader, are arrested. Kulwant has alleged that the two are responsible for Gurbans Singh’s death. Kulwant climbed a makeshift tower at the grain market in Jagjitpura village on January 25. While Kulwant is atop the tower, his relatives and other villagers have been staging a dharna near the tower in support of Kulwant’s demand. They have threatened to intensify their stir if both

the accused were not arrested by January 29. They have alleged that the police didn’t arrest the accused under political pressure. Gurbans (35) of Jagjitpura village (near Tapa) committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance on December 19. In his suicide note, Gurbans Singh held Akali leader Dogar Singh, member of Senha Block Panchayat Samiti, Raj Singh, former sarpanch of Jagjitpura village, and Mahinder Ram, a scrap dealer of Ugoke village, responsible for his death. He alleged Dogar didn’t return Rs 4 lakh to him and Mahinder Rs 3 lakh.

After 500 days, 2 terror attacks, state govt permits action against ‘spy’

n a reflection on the sorry state of affairs on national security, it took over 500 days and two terror attacks — at Dinanagar police station and the Pathankot Air Force Station — for the state government to act on prosecuting a defence personnel. He was allegedly supplying photos of the Air Force Station to the enemy country and spying for them

at the behest of three foreign women. The alleged spy, Sunil Bhaati, a former Airman posted at the Pathankot Air Force Station was booked and arrested on August 30, 2014 for sending photos and secret information about the air base and probably other defence areas to three foreign women — an American, a Brazilian and a Pakistani.

PUNJAB

Panj Pyaras’ get car, wages from Sikh bodie

khand Kirtani Jatha and Sikh Re- other incentives. They have been given the lief (UK) — have decided to pay car to preach Sikhism,” said RP Singh. The monthly wages to the Panj Pyaras who were dismissed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on January 1. RP Singh, a senior member of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Sikh Relief (UK), made the announcement at a function held at the local Sacha Dhan Sahib gurdwara at Phase 3B1, here on Tuesday. The ‘Panj Pyaras’ in quesThe Panj Pyaras with the car, given for religious promotion — Satnam Khanda, tion, at a gurdwara in Mohali on Wednesday Satnam Singh, Major Singh, Mangal Singh and Tarlok Singh — were ‘Panj Pyaras’ were honoured for their stand given cheques of Rs 22,000 each and a new in favour of Sikh principles and tenets, said Innova car. “Now onwards, we will pay them the organisers. their monthly wages of Rs 22,000, along with

Missing youths’ kin want travel agents arrested

ith the recent arrest of four illegal travel agents by the Kapurthala police in the Panama boat tragedy case, 11 families, who had lost their kin near the US-Mexico border in 2011, now see a ray of hope. The families, in a press conference held today at Jalandhar, disclosed the name of the agents, their state-level handlers along with their contact numbers and addresses. They urged the state government to intervene and arrest the agents who duped them of lakhs on the pretext of sending their sons to the US. Satnam Singh, executive director, North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), has urged the state government to intervene and to bring to book the agents whose names were provided by these families today.

Swine flu scare, 11 die in three weeks

ith 11 deaths in just three weeks, H1N1 influenza (swine flu) is spreading its tentacles in the state. The more worrying factor is that there is almost a 50 per cent mortality rate when it comes to H1N1 in the state. According to the state’s Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), 25 cases of H1N1 have been reported so far since the first case was reported on January 3. Out of 25, 11 people have succumbed to viral fever. The cases are spread all across the state and deaths have been reported in all three regions.

SIT to probe adoption row

eputy Commissioner KK Yadav has constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe allegations pertaining to “procedural lapses”, highlighted by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), by the Nari Niketan Trust while giving children up for adoption. Yadav said the three-member team consists of SDM-1 Rajat Oberoi, District Child Protection Officer Gurpreet Sodhi and ACP (West) Ravinder Pal Sandhu. “The Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development has asked us to probe the matter and to report irregularity if any made by the Trust authorities. I have asked the SIT to submit its report within a week,” said Yadav. The alleged violations came to light through the documents received from the Jalandhar DLSA under an RTI query. The Childline India Foundation too has begun scrutinising its records of children handed over to the Jalandhar Child Welfare Committee in the last three years.

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Saturday, January 628 ii Saturday - April 4, 201530, 2016

INDIA fOOD

Indian Govt wakes up to Zika threat The government held its first high-level meeting today in the wake of the spread of Zika virus, amid fears of the infection’s potential to assume pandemic proportions. A day after WHO warned that Zika virus was spreading “explosively”, a committee of Health Ministry officials and experts has been set up to monitor the situation arising from the spread of the virus. At the end of the meeting, chaired by Health Minister JP Nadda, the message was: use every means possible to prevent and control the spread of Aedes mosquito, which breeds in clean water. Aedes aegypti is associated with the spread of dengue, chikungunya and now Zika. “We are closely monitoring the situation and all steps have been initiated to ensure that India is well prepared in case of any eventuality,” Nadda said, with the Indian Council for Medical Research working with its labs to track any potential virus spread. A technical group has been set up to

monitor the situation and advise the government on the steps needed. The government may also write to states to build community awareness around Zika spread and implement prevention steps. The ministry’s meeting comes ahead of WHO Director-General Margaret Chan deciding to convene an International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Zika virus and an increase in neurological disorders and neonatal malformations among babies born to infected mothers. The committee will meet on February 1 in Geneva to ascertain if the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Earlier, such an alert was issued for H1N1. Meanwhile, the Centre for Diseases Control, US, has issued an advisory for pregnant women, asking them to avoid travelling to affected countries. In May, Brazil reported the first case of Zika. Since then, the disease has spread to 22 countries and territories in the region.

Freedom fighter’s wife refuses honour

freedom to immolate f i g h t e r ’s herself outwife reside the Depfused to take the uty Commishonours during the sioner’s door. Republic Day celeChannan brations at the local Kaur alleged police lines here yesthat many a terday. Health Mintime the poister Surjit Kumar lice moved Women hold Tricolour during the Republic Day cel- her out of the Jyani was the chief guest on the occa- ebrations in Patiala on Tuesday police station sion. Channan Kaur or offices. of Naru Nangal village, whose husband Jai She said the freedom fighters were not getSingh was the driver of Netaji Subhas Chan- ting pension from the state government and dra Bose, alleged that they face several prob- they were only getting pension issued by the lems throughout the year, but neither the Union Government. police nor the district administration gave She said whenever they raised their proban ear to them. lems before the chief guests at Independence She said if they have to be ignored and in- Day or Republic Day, they ask the DC to look Ingredients sulted like this, then why should they accept into the matter, but thechicken DCs never pay heed • 250g boneless this two-metre cloth in the name of honour to them. Jyani said he had • 2tbsp rapeseed oil no idea why she which was given to them on August 15 and was saying so. He added that all officers listen • 1 medium red onion January 26. She said if such attitude con- to her• and they had even 3 large tomatoes gone to her village. tinued then she would have no option but • ½ cup cashew nuts • 100g tomato puree • 1 tbsp dried fenugreek leaves • 100ml low fat cream • 1tsp garam masala • 1tsp red chilli powder greater monetary liability rings hollow completion of 15 years from the date • 1tbsp gingergarlic paste if seen from the perspective that lump of their superannuation. The payments • 2tbsp thick low fat yoghurt • salt to taste sum payment meant a larger one-time should be made within four months.

High (no Courtbutter) restoresMasala pension parity of Army, Frontier Force chicken

Holding that the cut-off was an imperYour butter chicken without theruled that The Delhifavourite High Court today restored missiblebut classification, the HC the parity between the Special Frontier there was no justification why this difbutter and added calories! Force (SFF) and Army personnel by re- ferentia was introduced as SFF retirees payout, whereas monthly payment The Bench noted that the government moving the January 2009 cut-off for the had performed the same duties while in spreads liability rather than aggregates had acknowledged that the SFF personProcedure: payment of retirement benefits and ser- service and in fact they were being treat- it,” the HC said. hadand made “outstanding contribuMarinate the chicken with the ginger garlic paste and the yoghurt for 20 min. soak the cashew in warm water for 15 minutes.chop thenel onions tomatoes. Heat 1 tbsp vice oil pension. Theremove high court directed the in governto the nation’s and securipar with Army personnel to a pan. sear the chicken pieces in theed hoton oilafor 1 minute on each side to a since golden colour. the chicken pieces. the same tion” pan, add 1tbsp oil anddefence the chopped A onions. Bench comprising Justices S pink. Ravinment toand issue a circular to the effect saute till a translucent Add 1985. the tomatoes, chili powder, garam cook on medium flame tillthat the tomatoes areservice tender (approx. 4-5 was of the ty. Their and sacrifice The SFFred consists of Nepali andmasala Ti- powder dra minutes). Bhat andremove Deepa from Sharma delivered flame and run in betan a blender with the soaked cashews to make a smooth paste. return to the pan and add the tomato puree. Bring to a boil and addserving 45 per cent of the commuted equivasame order as Indian nationals nationals. the verdict on apieces. PIL by the Ex-Servicethe chicken 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 personnel lent of pension would be restored to all in the Army. About 5,730 SFF “The mere ipse dixit that the Union leaves over the curry and remove from fire. serve hot. menfenugreek Welfare Union. government would be burdened with pre-January 1, 2009 retirees, upon the were discharged after 15 years of service since 2008.

INDIA

Three Indians among world’s 50 wealthiest

ukesh Ambani, Azim Premji and Dilip Shanghvi — have made it to a global list of 50 wealthiest people that is topped by Bill Gates. According to a new list by Wealth-X in collaboration with Business Insider, Mukesh Ambani was ranked at the 27th place on the list with a net worth of $24.8 billion, while Azim Premji and Dilip Shanghvi were ranked at the 43rd and 44th place with assets worth $16.5 billion and $16.4 billion, respectively. The top 50 wealthiest people in the world have a combined fortune of $1.45 trillion, nearly equal to the GDP of Australia, the report noted. The list was topped by Bill Gates who has a staggering wealth of $87.4 billion,

followed by Spanish businessman Amancio Ortega Gaona and Warren Buffett in the second and third place with wealth of $66.8 billion and $60.7 billion, respectively. Amazon’s Jeffrey Bezos with a net worth of $56.6 billion and US business tycoon David Koch with $47.4 billion made the top five richest people in the world. As per the list, the United States is home to 29 billionaires on the list, more than any other country. While, only four billionaires from China and three from India made the top 50. The youngest billionaire on the list is 31-yearold Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, ranked 8th with a net worth of $42.8 billion.

Shoe thrown at Nitish Kumar to protest liquor ban A man hurled a shoe at chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday, but it missed the intended target. The incident took place during a function at which Nitish Kumar reiterated the ban on sale of liquor in Bihar from April 1, police said. The shoe landed away from Nitish Kumar and the man was detained by police. “A man attempted to throw a shoe at the chief minister at a function in Bakhtiyarpur in Patna,” a district police official said.

CBI to probe two serving major generals for ‘disproportionate assets’

he defence ministry has asked CBI to probe complaints against two serving major generals for allegedly having assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. The ministry had in September red-flagged the promotion of certain officers following allegations of impropriety. “The defence ministry has forwarded to CBI complaints against these two officers and has sought a reply,” defence sources said on Thursday, adding that the government will not tolerate corruption at any level. The CBI will now look into the complaints and report back to the ministry. Giving a background to the case, sources said that a meeting of the Special Promotion Board of the Army was held last year to fill up the vacancy of three lieutenant generals for which about 33 officers were considered. A set of names cleared by the board was sent to the defence ministry. However, following the meeting of the board, a series of complaints against some officers surfaced, many of which were being circulated on the social media too. Taking cognizance of the matter, defence minister Manohar Parrikar himself looked into the issue. It was found that one of the two officers, against whom the ministry has roped in the agency, had faced a CBI inquiry few years back over allegations of corruption in a project undertaken by Border Roads Organisation, sources said. It is good to have defence staff investigated for disproportionate assets. But would they have amassed those assets with... Read MoreAam Aadmi The CBI did not find enough evidence for criminal prosecution. “They suggested that this does not fall in the ambit of criminality, it falls in the ambit of disciplinary procedure guidelines”, they added. “BRO is a mixed cadre organization.

Its clear that Bihar is going back to Goondaraj the ban is required for black racketeering....manoj “This incident took place when Nitish Kumar reiterated that he was

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CBI to probe two serving major generals for ‘disproportionate assets’

lowing the meeting of the board, a series of complaints against some officers surfaced, many of which were being circulated on the social media too. Taking cognizance of the matter, defence minister Manohar Parrikar himself looked into the issue. It was found that one of the two officers, against whom the ministry has roped in the agency, had faced a CBI inquiry few years back over allegations of corruption in a project undertaken by Border Roads Organisation, sources said. It is good to have defence staff investigated for disproportionate assets. But would they have amassed those assets with... Read MoreAam Aadmi The CBI did not find enough evidence for criminal prosecution. “They suggested that this does not fall in the ambit of criminality, it falls in the ambit of disciplinary procedure guidelines”, they added. CBI inquiry against Major Gens Ashok

committed to implementing a total ban on liquor in the state from April 1. A man protested against it by throwing a shoe at him,” the police official said. Earlier, Nitish Kumar had made it clear that a total ban on liquor would be imposed in the state in phases. Bi-

har would first ban country-made liquor and then Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), he said. Ban on sale and consumption of alcohol was one of the promises Nitish Kumar made during campaigning for the 2015 Bihar assembly elections.

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Saturday, January 30, 2016

INDIA

Fake job dreams, at a new address now

month after the Punjab Agriculture Department blew the lid off a “fake recruitment scam” in the state and neighbouring Haryana, the company has shifted its operations from the state capital here to the hinterland, even as police investigations are on. Allegedly being run under a name similar to that of a state government undertaking, Sahyog Agriculture Marketing Corporation Limited has begun operations in Muktsar and Bathinda. Sources say company officials continue to lure people with assurances of employment, claiming that more than 4,300 vacancies are to be filled soon. The youth in these areas are being lured with “on-job training” for the posts of Zonal Agriculture Marketing Development Officer, District Agriculture Marketing Development Officer, Sub-Divisional Agriculture Marketing Development Officer, Block Agricultural Marketing Development Officer, supervisor, data entry operator/clerk, technical assistant, legal officer, field officer and peon/junior assistants. Gurlal Singh of Malout says that he and his friends are being “coerced” by the company officials to apply for a job. The application form can be downloaded from the company’s website and applicants are being asked to pay a fee, varying from Rs 250 to Rs 1,000.

10 times Narendra Modi’s hugs took the internet by storm

ndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugging world leaders has come into discussion on the internet once again after the photos of hugs with the French president Francois Hollande went viral. The Indian premier can be seen awkwardly hugging Hollande, an embrace termed by the Washington Post as ‘unusual even by Modi’s standards’. In the photos, the French president is apparently getting away while Modi touched him on waist moments after the previous hug. Check out some of the reactions from the folks on the internet and see if you can figure out what’s going on. This isn’t the first time Modi has awkwardly hugged world leaders and foreign dignitaries. Modi’s few famous hugs 1) When he welcomed US president Obama with this ‘warm’ hug 2) The hug with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg 3) And this hug with Pakistan’s PM Nawaz Sharif… let’s not talk much about this because we all know PM Nawaz is being more awkward here than Modi.

117 Street and 80th Ave., (near Scott Road).

The company is collecting applications online, the last date for which is January 31. “As no selection procedure is mentioned on the website, we suspect that the company could be collecting the application fee and not recruiting people at all,” says Gurlal. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Mohali, GS Bhullar, said that the police investigation against the company was now complete and an FIR would be registered against the company officials and directors right away. The cellphone pf company owner SVS Virk was switched off. The company had come under the scanner of the Punjab government. Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Suresh Kumar had ordered a preliminary inquiry and found that the recruitment drive was fake. The company was initially recruiting people through Mohali-based C-DAC, which undertakes recruitment for the state government. This was probably meant to give the impression that the company was a government-run enterprise. A few youths recruited by the firm have been sent for training to Punjab Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute in PAU, Ludhiana. Officials of the institute had said they had agreed to train the youth on the basis of an application filed by Virk, but the company had not submitted any identity proof or financial statement.

Modi’s hug with the French president Francois Hollande

5 former-MLAs booked in fraud cases

he Haryana State Vigilance Bureau (SVB) today registered cases against five former MLAs, including former Health Minister Rao Narender Singh, in the alleged cash-for-change of land use (CLU) scam. While a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against Rao Narender in Gurgaon, Vinod Bhayana, former Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Naresh Selwal, Jarnail Singh and Ram Niwas Ghorela were booked in Hisar. ADGP (SVB) BK Sinha said the cases were registered following the Punjab and Haryana High Court not providing any relief to Bhayana. Opposition Indian National Lok Dal had released some CDs three years ago purportedly showing the former Congress MLAs

seeking illegal gratification in lieu of getting CLU permissions. The matter was brought before the Lokayukta, who recommended registration of cases even as the accused maintained that the allegations were “false”. The previous Bhupinder Singh Hooda government had asked the Lokayukta to reconsider the case, following which he directed ADGP K Kamaraja to hold an inquiry. Besides recommending an FIR against Bhayana, Kamaraja recommended registration of criminal cases against four other former MLAs. While four ex-MLAs were accused of seeking money in lieu of CLUs, Ghorela allegedly sought money in lieu of getting funds cleared for an NGO to open schools under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

FIJI

Woman bites man’s tongue

drinking party in Ba turned unpleasant after a woman allegedly bit off part of a man’s tongue following an argument. Police spokesman Inspector Atunaisa Sokomuri confirmed the woman was in police custody. The alleged incident took place during a drinking party on Wednesday afternoon where the woman was drinking with a group of men. “It is alleged a fight broke out during this drinking party and the woman bit off part of a man’s tongue,” said Insp Sokomuri.

Police probe threatening email

olice are communicating with Google in the United States to track down certain internet protocol (IP) addresses ? to identify the source and location of emails ? linked to an alleged plot to overthrow the Government. Acting Police Commissioner Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho said this was one of the reasons investigations into claims of an alleged plot made by Lautoka businessman, Rajneel Singh, was taking some time. “I have also received threatening emails from an anonymous person or persons in relation to this case and tracking down the IP address has been very difficult because of new laws governing this type of information in the US,” he said. “The whole issue has been exacerbated even further with sensitive documents and in-depth details of ongoing investigations into the issue being posted on social media platforms.” Brig-Gen Qiliho said Mr Singh’s claims and the evidence

he had handed to police was being taken very seriously. “Because of the complexity of the case, public assistance was being sought to help in the investigations,” he added. “This case involves seditious elements and it also involves break-ins and assault on Mr Singh. We are asking people who have any information to come forward and assist us.” Mr Singh said he and his family feared for their lives. “Ever since the day I came forward with the information I found at my internet café, I have been warned against assisting in investigations, my house was broken into and my family’s life has been threatened,” he said. Mr Singh said he was finding it difficult to make ends meet and to provide food for his wife and five-month-old child. “I opened my internet shop about four weeks ago and it was broken into and all the hard drives were stolen and the motherboards smashed.

Rapist dad jailed for 16 years

42 years old father was sentenced to 16 years in jail for raping and assaulting his 16-year-old son last year. The father-of-six was sentenced by High Court judge Justice Salesi Temo at the High Court in Labasa this week. He told the convict that he committed a serious breach of trust. “The complainant was your juvenile son. As his father, you are supposed to look after him and mentor him to become a good citizen,” Justice Temo said. “If he was facing life’s troubles, you are supposed to counsel him and assist him resolve life’s problems. You are supposed to be a good

This is the latest alcohol-related incident and the police is urging members of the public to be vigilant and drink responsibly to avoid such incidents. “The public is advised to be careful during such drinking parties. We urge people not to resort to conflicts when in such situations.” He said investigations into the matter were continuing. Meanwhile, the victim remains admitted at the Lautoka Hospital and continues to receive treatment.

role model for your son. You are supposed to be his pillar of support in life. “Instead, you did the unthinkable. You raped him and abused the trust he had in you. You turned his world into a living hell. You will have to be punished as a deterrence to others, and you should not complain when sentenced.” The court heard that on October 10 last year, between 8pm and 11pm, the accused was at home with his son and two daughters. Justice Temo said the daughters were asleep and the accused called the complainant to his room to massage him using coconut oil, after which he asked him for sex.

Dad’s sleepless nights

or Tomasi Batiratu, 31, the past few nights have been sleepless ones for him as he worries about sending his three daughters to school. With this month marking the first school term, his children are yet to attend school. This situation, he shares, is what has been keeping him awake the past few

nights. “The term has started but three of my children are still at home,” Mr Batiratu said. He admits his earnings as a farm labourer is not enough to send all his children to school this year. Alena Virimaidaku is to continue Year 11 at Suva Sangam High School while Sereana Tinai and Mere Vituku are to continue Year 11 at Baulevu High School.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

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Five schools close

T least five schools have closed and many more could be forced to close because of the drop in school rolls. The Ministry of Education has confirmed that students from these schools have been transferred to schools closer to them. According to the ministry, in some schools the combined school roll from Year One to Year Eight is only 15. Permanent Secretary for Education Iowane Tiko said there were two main reasons why they had closed these schools — precisely in rural and maritime areas. He said some students were children of farmers whose lease had expired and had not been renewed, thus forcing the farmers to vacate the land, leaving behind the schools which their forefathers and Government had helped establish for them.He added the other reason there were not enough children to

make up a school was because couples were either not reproducing or their children had been sent to urban schools. He said Government had brought the schools closer to these remote areas and it was their duty to ensure that the schools were filled to capacity. “Sa keitou vunau kina ena vei korokoro mesa vakalailaitaki na gunu yaqona mera vakabulabulataki na turaga na marama me rawa ni vakatawani tiko na koronivuli.” (We have advised parents, especially fathers not to spend too much time drinking grog and it is their duty to ensure that the school is filled.) “Me levu na gauna nei tama ni gone me tiko kina e vale, ka me kakua ni vakalusi gauna tu ga na gunu yaqona ka lesu tu ga mai sa 2am se 3am, sa gogo tu sa mai buli so na gone ca.” (Fathers, do not waste time just drinking grog and returning 2am or 3am, spend quality time with your family.)

PAKISTAN

32 i Saturday, January 30, 2016

Army chief General Reheel Sharif won’t seek extension

Armed teachers in classrooms

eadmaster Naveed Gul walked past the armed guard at the gate into his office. As primary school pupils studied outside, he reached beneath his warm woolly sweater, and pulled out a gun. “This is an M20 pistol,” he said. “It’s made in China and it works perfectly.” A debate over arming teachers has surged in Pakistan once more, days after assistant chemistry professor Syed Hamid Husain opened fire on the Taliban gunmen who stormed the university campus where he worked. Students told how the 33-year-old father of two died shielding them with a handgun during the attack that claimed 21 lives at the Bacha Khan

University in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Teachers there had been given permission to carry firearms after the Pakistani Taliban massacred more than 150 people, the majority of them children, at a school in the provincial capital Peshawar in 2014. At the Government Primary School Akhunabad in the city, Gul slid his own gun -- a Chinese knockoff of a Soviet WWII-era pistol -- quickly into the desk drawer, saying weapons in school give him confidence. “You have guns with you. You can fight it out,” he said. The headmaster, his waxed moustaches straight out of the Wild West, already has the scenario played out in his

Terrorist havens in Pakistan pose serious problem: US general

errorist safe havens inside Pakistan, providing shelter to terrorist outfits like the Taliban and the Haqqani network, is a serious problem, a top US general nominated to be the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan said on Thursday. “I view it (terrorist safe havens inside Pakistan) as a serious problem,” General John “Mick” Nicholson told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing. If confirmed by the Senate, he would replace General John Campbell as commander of the US and NATO forces in Afghanistan at a time when serious concerns have been raised about the security situation in Afghanistan, where Taliban militants have caused large numbers of casualties and Islamic State affiliates have made some inroads. “One of the biggest problems has been the sanctuary, particularly for the Haqqani Network, particularly the involvement of the ISI in Pakistan, which in many cases have been supporting the Haqqani Network. Have you seen any progress in this whole problem?” Senator John McCain,

chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, asked General Nicholson. In response, Gen Nicholson said continued presence of the terrorist safe haven has been a major problem. “This has been one of the principal challenges. It’s a sanctuary that our enemies, in particular the Haqqani Network, have enjoyed inside Pakistan,” he said. “I note that the Pakistanis have also suffered significant casualties in the tens of thousands in terms of their security forces and their civilians,” he noted. However, the US is not satisfied that there’s adequate pressure put on the Haqqanis, he told the Senators. The recent operations in northern Waziristan have helped, as well as stationing of additional soldiers in tribal areas. “Some of this has pushed some fighters into Afghanistan, which has contributed to some of the issues there,” he said. “So, it’s a mixed story, and it’s one that requires continuous engagement by the Pakistan military. And then, increasingly, we want to encourage the Afghans and the Pakistan military forces to work more closely together against their common enemies,” Nicholson said.

rmy chief General Raheel Sharif ruled out rumours regarding his extension in service and on Monday said that he would retire after completing his term in office in November this year. For quite some time, there were rumours and speculation about General Sharif ’s extension in service, with mediapersons suggesting him to continue as army chief as long as possible. His approval rating in popular perception was also high, considering his policies against militancy in the country and accountability of corrupt officials within the military. However, still very few, while praising his role as army chief, advised him to step down on the due date of his retirement. “Speculation about extension in service of COAS is baseless,” said Asim Salim Bajwa, the army spokesperson. Unlike his predecessors, who continued as military chiefs after their retirement, Raheel Sharif was quoted by Bajwa as saying: “Pakistan Army is a great institution. I don’t believe in extension and will retire on the due date.” “Efforts to root out terrorism will continue with full vigour and resolve.

UN chief condemns terrorist attack at Charsadda university

ondemning the terrorist attack on a university in Pakistan’s restive northwest, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for the perpetrators to be swiftly brought to justice. Ban said the right to education for all must be firmly protected and reaffirmed that attacks against students, teachers or schools can never be justified. Schools and educational facilities must be respected as safe and secure spaces, he said. The UN chief is appalled by such acts of violence and calls for the perpetrators to be swiftly brought to justice,

his spokesman said in a statement. The Secretary-General recalled, just over a year ago, Pakistan experienced one of the deadliest school attacks in its history near the city of Peshawar, where more than 150 people died, mostly children. Calling for proportionate and necessary measures to be taken to ensure that schools in areas of insecurity and conflict are adequately protected, Ban extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Pakistan.

Pakistan court refuses to order voice samples of suspects of 26/11 Mumbai attacks

n a fresh setback to the Mumbai attack trial, a Pakistani court has dismissed the government’s petition seeking voice samples of 26/11 mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six other suspects in the case. The prosecution had filed an application in the Islamabad high court seeking voice samples of the suspects to compare it with the communication intercepted by Indian intelligence and then present it before the anti-terrorism court (ATC) as evidence against the seven suspects in the Mumbai

attack case. In 2011 and 2015, the issue of obtaining voice samples of Lakhvi had been dismissed by the trial court on the grounds that “no such law exists that allows obtaining of voice sample of an accused”. The prosecution’s petition said the Indian intelligence agencies had intercepted communication between the suspects and the terrorists in connection with the Mumbai attack in 2008. In the recorded intercepts, the suspects are alleged to be instructing the terrorists.

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Earthquake of 4.4 magnitude hits Nepal

mild tremor measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale struck Nepal’s eastern Terai region bordering India on Wednesday. However, no damage of life or property was reported. According to the National Seismological Centre, the tremor recorded at 12:32 (local time) is the first felt in the region after last year’s devastating earthquake. On January 22, a 4.6-magnitude tremor with epicentre located in Nuwakot

district hit central Nepal. The earthquake that jolted Nepal on April 25 killed around 9,000 people and was followed by 427 aftershocks measuring 4 or more on Richeter scale, according to the Centre. Nepal is divided into three regions: Himalayan region, Hilly region and Terai region. The Terai region is usually known as the grain house of Nepal for cultivating most of the crops in the country.

Afghan president vows to ‘bury’ ISIS jihadist franchise

fghan President Ashraf Ghani has vowed to “bury” the Islamic State group’s affiliate in his country, a report said, after Washington granted the US military legal authority to strike the jihadists in the country. The group, which controls territory across Syria and Iraq, has made alarming inroads in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province, as the country grapples with a resurgent Taliban insurgency. ISIS jihadists claimed responsibility for a deadly gun and bomb siege targeting the Pakistani consulate in eastern Jalalabad city on January 13, the group’s first major attack in an Afghan city. In recent months Afghan forces backed by US drones launched a scorched earth offensive to beat back ISIS in Nangarhar, where the group’s rein of terror has displaced thousands of people. “This could be a point of no return for Daesh — we will bury Daesh,” Ghani told BBC in an interview released Monday, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS. “Afghans are now motivated by revenge. They (ISIS) have confronted the wrong people,” Ghani said on the sidelines of World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos. The US State Department earlier this month formally designated the group’s affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan — which calls itself “ Khorasan Province” — as a terrorist organization. The name Khorasan refers to a historic region which includes parts of modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and neighbouring countries. The White House this month also gave the US military legal authority to target the group’s fighters in Afghanistan, the first

such authorisation for military action against the group outside Iraq and Syria, the Wall Street Journal reported. The jihadists have managed to attract disaffected Taliban fighters increasingly lured by the group’s signature brutality. In a sign of their growing reach in Afghanistan, the group has taken to the airwaves with a 90-minute Pashto-language radio show called “Voice of the Caliphate”.

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Former Bangladesh PM to appear in court on sedition charges

HAKA: Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, head of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, was ordered on Monday to appear in court to answer the charge of sedition, a move her supporters said was driven by politics. The case comes amid rising concerns over the growth of Islamist militancy in the Muslim-majority South Asian nation, which saw a string of deadly attacks on secular writers, minorities and foreigners last year. It was filed by Momtaz Uddin Ahmad Mehdi, a lawyer with the Bangladesh supreme court and a supporter of the ruling Awami League. He said that remarks Khaleda made last month about the 1971 war of independence were seditious. She had said there were “controversies” over the numbers who were killed. He said the comment hurt him “as a patriot” and that as a citizen, he had a right to file the case.

Politics in poverty-stricken Bangladesh has for decades been marred by violent protests, nationwide strikes and bickering between supporters of Khaleda and current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who have taken it in turns to lead the country. An affiliate BNP group called for a countrywide protest for Tuesday. It was not immediately clear what chance the prosecution had of success in the case. Khaleda was ordered to appear in court on March 3. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the BNP, dismissed the case as politically motivated. “This is nothing but a mockery and its aim is to deter Khaleda from politics,” he told reporters. “The intent of the government is to continue its repression of the opposition by police, making confrontational politics,” he said. He said 17,000 opposition activists had been arrested since 2014 and 3,000 were still in jail.

Nepal amends constitution, India applauds

ndia welcomed two amendments made to the Nepal constitution on Saturday, describing them as “positive developments” as the K.P. Oli government bowed to the Madhesi agitation and Indian diplomatic pressure to pave the way for a little more inclusive system in nepal. In a midnight statement, the Indian government said “We hope that other outstanding issues are similarly addressed in a constructive spirit.” This would pave the way for the new Nepal prime minister KP Oli to make his first visit to India in the coming weeks. Madhesis shouted slogans during the passage of the amendments on Saturday night, but did not oppose their passage. The amendments include commitments on participation in government institutions on the basis of proportionate inclusiveness and a new process delineation of electoral constituencies on the basis of population (with geography as a secondary consideration.). On December 21, MEA said Nepal foreign minister Kamal Thapa had outlined some decisions the Oli cabinet had taken -- “these decisions include amendments to the Constitution on participation in the state organs on the basis of proportionate inclusiveness and delineation of electoral constituencies on the basis of population. The demarcation of provinces is also to be addressed through an appropriate arrangement in the Constitution on the basis of political consensus. Similarly, others demands including citizenship are to be resolved through negotiations and consensus.” The last two demands by the Madhesis, particularly on demarcation of provinces (“seemankan”) are still to be done.

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Pilot throws out one Sikh, three Muslims from flight

Sikh man along with his three Muslim friends, who were kicked out from Republic Airways, an American airlines flight, because their appearance made the captain uneasy, are seeking $9 million in compensation from the airline in a lawsuit. Shan Anand, a Sikh, and his friends — Faimul Alam besides a Ban-

gladeshi Muslim and an Arab Muslim — all young US citizens, were ordered off the flight 44718 from Toronto to New York last month based upon their perceived race, colour and ethnicity, CNN reported on Tuesday. The Bangladeshi Muslim and Arab Muslim were identified

Indian-origin scientist discovers 10 new lupus genes

NRI

n international team led by an Indian-American scientist has identified 10 new genes associated with the autoimmune disease lupus — a debilitating condition where the body’s immune system becomes unbalanced and attacks its own tissues. Swapan Nath, a scientist with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), and colleagues analyzed more than 17,000 human DNA samples collected from blood gathered from volunteers in four countries - South Ko-

rea, China, Malaysia and Japan. Of those samples, nearly 4,500 had confirmed cases of lupus, while the rest served as healthy controls for the research. “We know lupus has a strong genetic basis but in order to better treat the disease, we have to identify those genes,” said Nath. From that analysis, the researchers identified 10 distinct DNA sequence variants linked to lupus. The disease affects nearly five million people worldwide, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.

only by their initials WH and MK. Anand and Alam switched seats with strangers after boarding, so they could sit next to WH and MK. Several minutes later, a white woman flight attendant asked WH to get off the plane, according to the lawsuit, which was filed on Monday in Brooklyn

federal court. When they asked the flight crew why they were being removed, the flight attendant told them to exit “peacefully” and “demanded” they return to the gate, the lawsuit said. “It basically made me feel like a criminal,” WH said, adding: “It was like I was put on a pedestal where everyone is pointing at you. I was frightened that they were frightened.”

Indian-Americans form committee to support Donald Trump

ailing Donald Trump as US’ “best hope”, a group of Indian-Americans has formed a political action committee to campaign for the Republican presidential front-runner and asserted that the community would benefit the most from his policies. ‘Indian-Americans for Trump 2016’, which was registered as a political action committee (PAC) on January 21 with the federal election commission, is aimed at garnering support of Indian-Americans to have

Trump become the next US President. “On realising that the agenda of Donald J Trump for President 2016 is focused on reviving the American economy, rightly bringing America on the world stage, defeating terrorism and establishing peace through strength; many Indian-Americans believe that he is the best hope for America and the right candidate to be the next president of the United States,” the PAC said in a statement. “The officers of the Indian-Americans for Trump 2016 urge all Americans to join in the effort and support Donald Trump in his endeavour to make America great again by electing him the next President of the USA,” it said. The PAC said A D Amar, a business professor with Seton Hall University in New Jersey has been elected as its president while New York-based attorney Anand Ahuja will be its vice president. The Trump Campaign, which so far has been vocal against PAC culture in the country and has said that he is self-funding the election, did not comment immediately on the formation of the ‘Indian-Americans for Donald Trump 2016’. “This is only the first step. We are on the side of Trump for this election,” Amar said after the announcement. “We believe that Trump would be the nominee of the Republican party and he would be the president on the United States,” he said. Amar said at this moment Trump is the best for the United States and Indian-Americans.

Indian-origin ‘swami’ pleads not guilty to sexual assault in US An Indian-origin businessman claiming to be a Hindu monk has pleaded not guilty after standing trial on charges that he sexually assaulted three women in the US, the Los Angeles county district attorney’s office announced. According to deputy district attorney Maren Dermody, 62-year-old Gokula Nanda of West Hills was ordered to stand trial for six counts of sexual battery by fraud, three counts of sexual penetration by foreign object and two counts of sexual battery. Nanda is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on February 29 in the Los Angeles county superior court, Torrance Branch.

14k Indians overstayed in US last year: Report

ver 14,000 of the 8.8 lakh Indians on business or tourism visas overstayed in the US last year, according to official figures. And in 2014, of the 7.6 lakh Indians who were supposed to leave the country before the expiry of their B1B2 visas, 11,653 of them overstayed in the Unites States, the department of homeland security (DHS) said. Overstaying means a non-immigrant who was lawfully admitted to the US for an authorised period but stayed or remains in the country beyond his or her lawful admission period. incidents like this tarnishes the Indian image globally; truly sad indeed; couple of rotten apples in the basket!!!SPatel According to the `Entry Exit Overstay Report’ released by the DHS, in fiscal 2015, of the nearly 45 million nonimmigrant visitor admissions through air or sea ports of entry that were expected to de part in FY 2015, 527,127 individuals overstayed their admission, for a total overstay rate of 1.17%.

South Asia

Sweden to deport up to 80,000 asylum seekers

wedish interior minister Anders Ygeman says his country could deport between 60,000 and 80,000 asylum seekers in coming years. Ygeman told the newspaper Dagens Industri that since about 45 per cent of asylum applications are currently rejected, the country must get ready to send back tens of thousands of the 163,000 who sought shelter in Sweden last year. “I think that it could be about 60,000 people, but it could also be up to 80,000,” Ygeman was quoted as saying. His spokesman, Victor Harju, confirmed the quotes on Thursday, adding that the minister was simply applying the current approval rate to the record number of asylum seekers that arrived in 2015. Harju adds: “That rate could of course change.” Germany and Sweden were the top destinations for asylum seekers in Europe last year. In the sea near a Greek island, the coast guard at least 24 people, many of them children, died Thursday in the latest migrant boat sinking. Ten people were rescued, while the bodies of four boys, three girls, three men and one woman were recovered. Romanian border police said on Thursday that they had rescued 119 asylum seekers from Africa — including

Pressure on Pakistan to crack down on terror has to be kept up: US envoy

he pressure on Pakistan to crack down on terrorism has to be kept up and the US remains strongly engaged with India to tackle the menace which is affecting regional peace, US ambassador Richard Verma (pictured) said. Appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lahore outreach, Verma said there was a need to work with the moderates in Pakistan and that the US was working with Islamabad on the issue of terror. “We have to keep the pressure up, keep the leverage up work with moderate forces, work with Prime Minister Sharif and that’s exactly the US President has done, secretary (John) Kerry has done and we will continue to do it,” he told NDTV. The envoy said India’s engagement with Pakistan was important and that US President Barack Obama was appreciative of Modi’s outreach in Lahore last month. He said Obama has appreciated decisions by Modi and Sharif to stick to talks despite the Pathankot terror attack. On reports about the US negotiating a civil nuclear deal with Pakistan similar to the one it had with India, Verma categorically said no such proposal was on the table. Asked why US was not putting enough pressure on Pakistan to come down hard on terror infrastructure, the envoy said Washington has different relationship with both the countries and that its counter-terrorism cooperation with India was expanding rapidly. He said there was a need to strengthen democracy in Pakistan while putting pressure on the country to tackle terrorism and bring to book perpetrators of terror attacks. On Afghanistan, he said there was a need for political solution to the Afghan problem and that elements within Taliban have to be engaged for reconciliation. Verma said year 2015 saw a significant progress in Indo-US ties in diverse areas including nuclear energy, defence and trade and commerce. Asked whether there has been ease of doing business in India as claimed by the government, he said, “we were in a much better position then we were before.”

34 children — who were on an inflatable dingy in the Mediterranean, trying to reach Europe. The migrants were dehydrated and had signs of hypothermia when they were picked up on Tuesday. They came from Gambia, Senegal, Liberia, Mali, Sierre Leona and Guinea Bissau and were planning to travel to the Schengen area. A Dutch politician says his country, which currently holds the EU presidency, is working on a plan to ease the migrant crisis by which a core group of member states would accept up to 250,000 refugees coming from Turkey in return for sending back the migrants that now arrive by the hundreds of thousands in Greece. Diederik Samson — leader of the Socialist PvdA party, a key partner in the government — told De Volkskrant newspaper that a core group of nations should be willing to accept a set number of refugees coming from Turkey, if the other migrants can be sent back.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

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India’s best and brightest face terrible toll: Why a growing number of students are killing themselves

hivdutt Singh left his tiny village of wheat and barley farmers last summer with a dream of becoming the first doctor in his family. Singh, 20, travelled more than 500 kilometres from the village of Kolari to Kota, a buzzing city in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan where students from all over the country come to cram for entrance exams to India’s highly competitive engineering and medical colleges.More than 160,000 students from across India flocked to Kota’s schools last year, feeding the town’s reputation as the nation’s capital for test preparation. But grueling study schedules, frequent testing and roundthe-clock stress are taking a deadly toll. More than 70 students have committed suicide in the past five years in Kota, including 29 just last year — a rate much higher than the national average of 10.6 suicides per 100,000 people in 2014, reported by the National Crime Records Bureau. Students in Kota have hanged

themselves, set themselves ablaze and jumped from buildings. He was studying all the time, slept very little Two weeks ago, Singh became one of them. He had studied nonstop for six hours in his dorm room. He even called a cousin with a biology question. But then he locked the room and hanged himself from the ceiling fan. He left a note: “I am responsible for my suicide. I cannot fulfill papa’s dream.” “He was very excited. We used to tease him by addressing him as ‘Doctor,’ ” said his father, Mangal Singh, 52. “But after a few months, he began panicking. He was studying all the time, slept very little.” Educators at the private test academies say they can’t explain the rise in suicides, but they concede that the intense psychological pressure is real. These are the world’s best countries, according to ranking in which Germany tops Canada The ‘Sleep Mafia’: How hard-nosed street vendors sell safe slumber to thousands of homeless in Delhi Over two doz-

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36 i Saturday, January 30, 2016