The Asian Star March 26 2016

www.theasianstar.com Vol 15 Issue 8 Saturday, March 26, 2016

Tel: 604-591-5423

2 i Saturday, March 26, 2016

LOCAL

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BC to raise minimum wage

rovincial gov’t in BC is poised to raise the minimum wage this fall, which could keep the province from becoming the lowest-paying region in the country. Jobs Minister Shirley Bond said she is discussing a rate increase with business groups and other stakeholders, and will announce a new minimum wage this spring in advance of it coming into effect in September. The current minimum wage is $10.45 an hour, which the ministry said Thursday is set to rise 10 cents on Sept. 15 because it is automatically indexed to inflation, as measured by the Consumer Products Index (CPI). “Given our stronger economic growth, we feel there should be room for a modest incremental adjustment beyond B.C.’s CPI so that all work-

ers can benefit from our success,” Bond said in a statement. “The scheduled (10 cent) increase based on this year’s B.C. CPI does not reflect the economic circumstances of the province.” The announcement comes just days before B.C.’s minimum wage rate is set to become the lowest in Canada. The province currently has the second-lowest rate, but next week New Brunswick is increasing its minimum wage to $10.65 an hour. To reach the mid-point of Canadian provinces, B.C. would have to raise its rate to at least $10.75.

Critics have long accused the Liberal government of failing to set a liveable minimum wage for the five per cent of workers in the province (around 93,700 people) who earn minimum wage.

RCMP investigating after gunshots fired in Surrey

Guru Ravidass Ji’s 639th Janam Jayanti was celebrated with a Nagar Kirtan in Burnaby on March 19th, organized by Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha, Burnaby, BC. Photo: Chandra Bodalia

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urrey RCMP are investigating after a number of gunshots were heard in a Panorama Ridge neighbourhood early Friday morning. Officers were called to the intersection of 128 Street and 56 Avenue around 12:49 a.m. after receiving reports of

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several shots fired. When police arrived, they located shell casings at the scene, but no victims. The intersection was closed for nearly two hours Friday morning, as Surrey RCMP’s Major Crimes Unit photographed evidence and canvassed the neighbourhood. Anyone with information is asked to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502

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Gov’t fights to keep human trafficker in jail

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he federal government is trying to keep a convicted sex offender and human trafficker in a B.C. jail pending his deportation to Iraq.

On Tuesday, an Immigration and Refugee Board member ruled that Maitham Aziz Alzehrani could be released from custody while he fights his immigration case.

But the Minister of Public Safety is so concerned about Alzehrani’s risk to the community that the government applied for an emergency stay of that ruling.

The application said “the matter is urgent as the release of the respondent is imminent.

“Canada will suffer irreparable harm if the motion is not granted as the respondent is a danger to the public,” it said.

Federal Court Justice Richard Bell issued a temporary stay of the IRB order, but only for a week. So Alzehrani’s case will be back in Federal Court in Vancouver on March 31.

www.theasianstar.com

Vol 15

Issue 8

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Tel: 604-591-5423

Gov’t charging up electric vehicles

Vancouver Auto Show’s jaw-dropping cars

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Liberals forecast $29.4B deficit — with lots more red ink to come

he Liberal government unveiled its first federal budget on Tuesday, an outline of the new government’s spending projections that’s awash in big plans — and big deficits.

Ottawa plans to spend almost $30 billion more than it takes in this coming fiscal year, a big jump from the $5.6-billion deficit for the current year straddling the previ-

Continued on page 6

India beats Bangladesh in a thrilling finish

India’’s Suresh Raina with team mates celebrate the wicket of Bangladesh Sabbir Rehman during the ICC World T20 match between India and Bangladesh at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on last Wednesday. See story on page 30

Politicians to blame for housing crisis - study

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anadian politicians, keen to stimulate B.C.’s economy, are responsible for creating the conditions that have lead to Metro Vancouver’s housing affordability crisis, according to a new study. Politicians decided to “reboot a troubled regional economy through an infusion of activity from the growth region of the Asia Pacific,” UBC geographer David Ley says in a peer-reviewed paper published in The International Journal of Housing Policy. Largely as a result of governments’ efforts to attract wealthy immigrants and investment from East Asia, “house prices have risen rapidly and the detached housing market is now unaffordable to most Vancouver residents,” writes Ley. Given that federal, provincial and municipal governments have shown a “minimal response” to Metro residents’ housing difficulties, Ley concludes most politicians have accepted that astronomical prices and mortgage debt are just the “collateral damage” from expanding the B.C. economy.

Continued on page 6

This picture of an Indian woman told the world of the horror of Brussels bombing

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n Indian flight attendant’s pictures has gone around the world – portraying the horror of the Brussels bombings by Muslim terrorists. Late on Monday, Nidhi Chapekar put her two young children to bed, said goodbye to her husband Rupesh in the crowded Mumbai flat they share with five other relatives, and flew to Brussels for the last time.

Continued on page 6

Nidhi Chapekar, right, and another woman wounded in Brussels Airport in Brussels after a terror attack Tuesday.

4 i Saturday, March 26, 2016

OPINION

Premier Clark skates around the issues plaguing real estate in Metro Vancouver – and does nothing

Umendra Singh

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remier Christy Clark did a fine job dancing around the major issues when announcing last week that her government is going to crack down on “shadow flipping” of real estate properties – in which realtors make enormous profits but house owners gain nothing.

However, she did not even say when the crackdown will take place nor did she explain how the crackdown will take place since “shadow flipping”, while immoral, is not even illegal in BC. And “shadow flipping”, by most accounts,. make up for less than 3 percent of all real estate transactions and is not responsible for the meteoric rise in price of real estate.

Premier Clark basically announced she will do nothing about making housing affordable for the average people in Metro Vancouver when she said that she will not do anything to harm the profits made by people

who made “wise investments.”

As some one said, it was more dumb luck than wise investments for people who bought houses in Metro Vancouver 20 or more years ago for $60,000 and are selling the same house for $2 million today.

How about those who were not even born then or were too young to think about investments 20 or more years ago?? How will they afford a house in Metro Vancouver, Premier Clark?

The good Premier doesn’t seem to care because her riding and the people she seems to care about are in Kelowna, not in Vancouver or Metro Vancouver.

Premier Clark appears to have made this announcement, which does not change anything, because she was trying to do damage control after NDP MLA David Eby, who defeated her in Vancouver-Point Grey in last election, held a capacity-crowd town all

meeting about real estate prices in Vancouver and the Opposition BC NDP brought in two private members bill to try and deal with issues surrounding real estate.

Perhaps horrified that the usually inept Opposition was doing something the government wasn’t, Premier Clark let lose with her “announcement” which does not really help anyone in BC – except the foreign speculators who are driving up the price of real estate.

Complaining about the immorality and illegality of shadow flipping or tracking foreign buyers is not going to do anything at all to help those locals looking to buy homes here..

Stopping foreign speculation in BC’s real estate market will!

It is not uncommon knowledge that the price of Metro Vancouver real estate has been driven up by money from China, lots of it in cash and some, if not most of it, brought here to be hidden from the Chinese government. The foreign speculators, usually sitting in Hong Kong or Mainland China, are treating BC real estate as a commodity to be traded for profit. They buy houses in cash (with money that Chinese government does not know exists), and then flip the house for a profit and the profit becomes legitimate money parked in BC. Politicians specifically Premier Clark, are too scared to talk about this issue for fear that the real estate market will collapse like her LNG dream, dragging down the provincial economy with it..

But people who live and pay taxes in BC do not treat real estate as a commodity to be traded for profit but as homes in which to raise families. Pretty soon, if politicians like Premier Clark have their way, Vancouver will become a ghost region with plenty for empty houses owned by foreigners but no locals to pay taxes.

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

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Saturday, March 26, 2016

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Local

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Liberals forecast $29.4B deficit — with lots more red ink to come From page 1 previous Tory and current Liberal govern- and the Outlet Channels Project that will help ments. Liberals push deficit to spend big on flood protection near Lake Manitoba and Lake families, cities Liberals keep most of their green St. Martin. There’s money to spend on projects like those and countless others, and it breaks election promises in 1st budget Highlights of Bill Morneau’s first budget Federal budget re- down as follows: $3.4 billion for public transit. $1.4 billion for affordable housing. vamps child and family tax benefits $2.2 billion for water and waste manageThe red ink flows from there, to $29 billion ment systems in First Nations communities. the following year, then $22.8 billion and $17.7 $400 million for early learning and child billion in 2019-20, the next scheduled federal care. $518 million for climate change mitigaelection year. All told, it’s almost $100 billion in tion technologies.

Almost $4 billion in other deficit spending, a figure that Finance Minister miscellaneous spending under the grab bag of Bill Morneau said is more than warranted given “infrastructure.”

There’s even more after that the current economic climate.

— “more than $120 billion in the next decade” “The government is making the investments according to a government press release — but needed,” he said, “to boost the economy over the 269-page budget itself was bereft of details the long term.” A good chunk of that deficit on that spending.

The idea is that projects like spending is targeted at infrastructure projects bridges and airport improvements pay off for — things like highways, bridges and airports governments down the line by making it easier — that help make it easier for the economy to thrive, and make government tax revenues in- for companies to grow, which boosts Ottawa’s crease by enough to offset the cost of dipping bottom line by increasing the tax base. And it into the kitty up front. There’s a surge of al- seems as if that money may have fewer strings most $12 billion in the next five years for so- attached than usual. Previous governments called “shovel ready” projects such as the Lions funded infrastructure projects via a system Gate Wastewater treatment plant in Vancouver where municipalities, provinces and cities each covered a third of the costs of any given project.

This picture of an Indian woman told the world of the horror of Brussels bombing From page 1 As a chief flight attendant on Jet Airways’ long-haul flights, Chapekar, 40, was in charge of a red-eye flight to Brussels, just days before the airline closed its European hub. She would then take an onward leg to Newark, and arrive back home in India in five days’ time. Chapekar was walking through departures when she was caught by the force of the second of two blasts, causing injuries to her eye and ankle. She had slumped backward into the closest seat, as passengers around her made panicked calls.

The airport filled with smoke and dust and all around, there were “dozens of people without legs, lying in blood,” journalist Ketevan Kardava told Time Magazine. Kardava, who was at the Brussels airport headed to Switzerland for an assignment, took a photo of Chapekar, which became a lasting image of ISIL’s latest terror attack in Europe. In the shot, Chapekar is in ripped clothes, missing a shoe, covered in dust, with blood running down her face. “I was in a state of shock,” said Kardava, a special correspondent for the Georgian Public Broadcaster network. “I couldn’t believe I still had my legs.”

People inside the airport tried to dash to safety, Time reported. Kardava told the magazine that she wanted to run, too. “But I also wanted to take pictures,” she said. “As a journalist, it was my duty to take these photos and show the world what was going on. I knew I was the only one at this spot.” Kardava’s photo of Chapekar ran on the front page of The Washington Post, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the Guardian, Der Standard, Folha de S. Paulo, the National Post and scores of other newspapers. “She was in shock, speechless,” Kardava told Time. The Times of India reported that Chaphekar’s family learned she was hurt in the blast, then “stayed glued to the television after that, breaking into tears often.” Chaphekar’s daughter would ask, “Did you find any news about mom?” the newspaper reported. “Rupesh saw the photo yesterday. He told us all and we were very worried,” sister-in-law Madhuri, who lives with Mrs Chapekar told the Telegraph last night. “Obviously I wasn’t happy to see the picture because she’s my sister-in-law and she’s in pain. But at least she is alive.” Nidhi’s husband is flying out to see her in hospital, where she is stable.

Politicians to blame for housing crisis - study From page 1 One of the federal government’s key policy tools for attracting Asia-Pacific money to Metro Vancouver real estate was the business-immigration program, says Ley, a leading expert on how the world’s “gateway” cities are changing because of high in-migration. The program, which gave preferential treatment to wealthy migrants, proved extremely popular in Hong Kong and Taiwan in the 1980s and 1990s and in Mainland China since 2000.

More than four out of five of the affluent people who took advantage of Canada’s business-immigrant program have arrived from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Ley

aman@ewfinancial.ca

found. And roughly 200,000 of them moved to Metro Vancouver, where they account for almost nine per cent of the population, Ley estimates in his study, titled “Global China and the making of Vancouver’s residential property market.” Repeated government trade missions to Asia in recent decades also effectively generated East Asians’ desire to invest in Metro Vancouver real estate, where Ley says deregulation meant local citizens would have virtually no legal protections from runaway housing costs. Vancouver’s Expo 86, which took shape during the 1980s’ recession as a transportation fair, was a key event in Canadian governments’ strategy to market the city to Asians, Ley maintains.

LOCAL

Saturday, March 26, 2016

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Chinese national from B.C. pleads guilty to hacking conspiracy

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former Metro Vancouver resident has pleaded guilty in California to hacking into the computer networks of major U.S. defence contractors and sending stolen military data to China.

Chinese citizen Su Bin, who is also known as Stephen Su and Stephen Subin, was arrested on the U.S. charges in Richmond two years ago and launched an unsuccessful B.C. Supreme Court battle against his extradition.

U.S. officials announced Wednesday that Bin, 50, appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom after a plea agreement had been reached.

When he is sentenced in July, he could face five years in prison and a $250,000 U.S. fine.

In the agreement, Bin admitted to conspiring with two people in China from October 2008 to March 2014 to gain unauthorized access to protected computer networks in the U.S., including computers belonging to the Boeing Company in Orange County, California. Bin was able “to obtain sensitive military information and to export that information illegally from the United States to China,� the agreement states. Some of the stolen information related to military technical data, including data relating to the C-17 strategic transport aircraft and certain fighter jets produced for the U.S. military. “Protecting our national security is the highest priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and cybercrime represents one of the most serious threats to our national security,� U.S. Attorney Eileen Decker said after Bin’s plea. “The innovative and tireless work of the pros-

ecutors and investigators in this case is a testament to our collective commitment to protecting our nation’s security from all threats.�

She said the guilty plea demonstrates “that these criminals can be held accountable no matter where they are located in the world and that we are deeply committed to protecting our sensitive data in order to keep our nation safe.�

Bin admitted that he would email his co-conspirators with targets he wanted them to hack. The China-based hackers then sent him detailed file listings they had accessed during the hacks so Bin could pick which files and folders he wanted stolen.

Once Bin had the stolen files, he translated some of them into Chinese. U.S. authorities said that Bin and his accomplices also wrote reports about “the information and technology they had acquired by their hacking activities, including its value, to the final beneficiaries of their hacking activities.� Bin’s plea agreement says that he and partners “intentionally stole included data listed on the United States Munitions List contained in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.�

And Bin also admitted that he engaged in the crime for money and specifically sought to profit from selling the data the he and his conspirators illegally acquired. Assistant Attorney General John Carlin said Bin “admitted to playing an important role in a conspiracy, originating in China, to illegally access sensitive military data, including data relating to military aircraft that are indispensable in keeping our military personnel safe.�

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8 i Saturday, March 26, 2016

Kids Play Forum

Kids at Kids Play Forum in Surrey last weekend. Photo: Chandra Bodalia

Blankets for refugees

PICS CEO, Charan Gill (right) with PICS staff and members of the Surrey-Newton Rotary Club, with blankets collected by Rotarians for Syrian refugees at PICS Head Office in Surrey. More than 100 blankets will be given out courtesy of Surrey-Newton Rotary Club. Photo: Chandra Bodalia

Tom Mulcair slams Liberal budget ahead of contentious NDP leadership review

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DP Leader Tom Mulcair is trying to stake out new ground to the left of the Liberals ahead of his much anticipated leadership review at the party’s upcoming convention in Edmonton.

The Montreal-area MP has faced criticism from some of the party’s base for his shift to the centre in the last election campaign. But now, in the wake of the Liberal government’s first budget, he’s painting his party as a progressive bulwark. “People know who the NDP are and they also know that the last time the Liberals were there they wound up imposing really strict austerity measures under [former prime minister] Paul Martin,” Mulcair said. Mulcair said Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s budget was costly and yet failed to address some key election promises, including money for indigenous youth, home care and a tax on stock options. He also said employment insurance reforms still leave too many families unable to access the program. “Here we have the Liberals spending a lot — a $30 billion deficit — it’s not a question of deficit or no deficit it’s a question of, ‘OK what are we getting for it?’” But the leader said he understands why some NDP voters have voiced support for the budget.

“Don’t forget the starting point is Stephen Harper’s 10 years of Conservative rule …This is a heck of a lot better than what we were getting.”

While Mulcair might be demanding more spending than what the Liberals promised in Wednesday’s budget, that position is a major shift in how he campaigned in the last election.

He presented the NDP as a party with a history of fiscal prudence and he pledged to balance the budget if elected. NDP members will now vote April 10 on whether to launch a leadership review, and that balanced-budget pledge still hangs over his head. Party president, Rebecca Blaikie, who led a cross-country review of the election results, has said the promise to balance the books hurt the party with its progressive base.

LOCAL

Vancity’s Director of Indo-Canadian Affairs, Jodh Dhaliwal,. With Vancity’s Senior Vice President, Linda Morris at the Indo-Canadian membership appreciation night on Friday, March 18, in Vancouver. Photo: Chandra Bodalia

Chinese buyers responsible for one-third of value of Vancouver home sales: National Bank

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new report set tongues wagging migrant (who has been in the country for less Wednesday for its back-of-the-en- than two years) or a temporary visa holder velope calculation that estimated (who has been living in the country for at of the $38 billion in Vancouver residential least six months). He found the NAR estireal estate sales in 2015, Chinese buyers were mates Chinese buyers invested $US 28.6 bilresponsible for a third. By comparison, the lion in U.S.-domiciled residential real estate report said Chinese investors accounted for properties over the 12 months ending March $9 billion of the $63 billion in deals in Toron- 31, 2015, up from just $4.1 billion in 2009. to or 14 per cent of the purchase volume.

To figure out what an equivalent purchase National Bank of Canada financial ana- volume for buyers from China in Toronto lyst Peter Routledge’s calculation is based and Vancouver might be, Routledge looked on deriving “inferences or hypotheses� for for “useful survey data from which we can Canada from the U.S. National Association draw reasonable hypotheses� and found it of Realtors, which produces an annual pro- in a Financial Times multiple choice survey file of home buying activity by international of 77 high net worth and affluent mainland investors. There is no such data collected in Chinese individuals, “admittedly not a statisCanada. The NAR’s definition of an interna- tically significant sample size,� he acknowlThis buyer is a PROOF of your adforeigners in the forthcoming edition Contract# tional includes non-resident edged. of resident the Indo-Canadian ‘2014 and foreigners — thatBusiness is a recentPages imANY QUESTION, CALL: 604.502.6100 READY FOR PRESS

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Former CBC radio host Ghomeshi found not guilty on all charges

ormer broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi was acquitted Thursday on all charges of sexual assault and choking following a trial that sparked a nationwide debate on how the justice system treats victims.

Ontario court Judge William Horkins said he simply could not rely on the three complainants given their changing and shifting memories and evidence that at times strayed into outright lies.

All he had to go on — as is usual in sexual-assault cases — was the complainants’ credibility, which he said cross-examination showed to be sorely lacking.

“What is troubling is not the lack of clarity, but the shifting facts from one telling to the next,” Horkins said of one of the three complainants.

“In cross-examination, the value of

Dozens of women gathered nearby to denounce the verdict and what they called the unfair treatment of victims of sexual assault by the justice system.

Ghomeshi left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.

The former CBC radio host had pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcoming resistance by choking involving three women. All three women testified they were being romantic with Ghomeshi when he briefly turned violent in incidents dating to 2002 and 2003.

Ghomeshi’s defence argued the witnesses lied during testimony about their interactions with him and so were not credible.

Horkins agreed, at various times describing the women as having lied, been manipulative, and hiding pertinent information about their flirtatious and at times intimate contact with him after the alleged assaults.

“There is no smoking gun,” the judge said. “There is only the sworn evidence of each complainant.”

He said he couldn’t fault their imperfect memories, but stressed their “suppression” of evidence and “deceptions” under oath made it difficult to trust them.

“The act of suppression of the truth will be as damaging Jian Ghomeshi (right) leaves court in Toronto on Thursday, to their credibility as a direct March 24, 2016 with his lawyer Marie Henein lie under oath,” Horkins said.

The case showed the need her evidence suffered irreparable dam- for vigilance about the false assumpage,” he said of another of the witnesses. tion that sex-assault complainants Prosecutor Michael Callaghan said are “always truthful,” Horkins said. the Crown will take a look at the judgHowever, he also stressed the acquitment and consider their position. tal was not the same as asserting the “As you can imagine, we’re still with- events in question never happened. in the 30-day appeal period,” he said beGhomeshi’s sister said the ordeal has fore a topless female protester jumped been extremely painful for the family. in front him yelling “Ghomeshi guilty!”

“Jian is not a symbol to us, but a bePolice tackled her to the ground and loved brother and son,” Jila Ghomeshi said. took her back inside the courthouse “Our hardest burden has been our feeling as she struggled and kicked the door. of helplessness as we have watched him

endure a punishment that was not only prior to a verdict but prior to any semblance of due process for well over a year.”

Ghomeshi, 48, who didn’t testify, showed lit-

tle emotion at his two-week trial last month.

Horkins stressed the presumption of innocence in a criminal case is “not a favour or charity” and conviction requires “proof beyond reasonable doubt.”

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LOCAL

As B.C. homeless shelters report a spike, there are fears a tide of homeless people is headed west

omeless people, it is said in Canada, do not migrate.

If someone is sleeping rough in a doorway, they’re a local who fell through the cracks—not some out-oftown drifter who came in search of warmer weather and better soup kitchens.

“I think it’s an unfortunate myth that people come here because it’s nice outside,” said Victoria mayor Lisa Helps.

Vancouver city councilor Kerry Jang, a psychiatrist who specializes in homeless issues, laughs at the suggestion.

“How do they afford to come?” he said.

“Nobody’s born homeless and travels the country looking for a homeless bed; give me a break,” he said.

But of course homeless people migrate.

They move for weather, for lifestyle and for better shelter. They have easy access to transportation and the online and social networks to know where to go.

No government wants to say that helping the homeless only invites a tide of new home-

less, but in cities across way bus Western Canada, that tickets to appears to be precisely Vancouver the case. A nation of instead homeless is heading — at their west, and until policyrequest. makers start acknowl“Got to edging it, say critics, get out the situation is only into the going to get worse for world and the people with homes see new and the homeless alike. s i g h t s ,” “Victoria is Mecca,” says Curly, Dennis Palubeski, a adding homeless man from that if he K i t c h e n e r - Wa t e r had to be loo, Ont., sleeping h o m e in a Victoria park, less, he Residence of a homeless camp in Victoria told a reporter last might as well be homeless near a beach. summer. “If you are going to be homeStudies have identified clear patterns of less, this is it … you can’t go hungry here.” homeless people migrating into cities rangIn Saskatchewan this month, a North Battleing from Osaka, Japan to Sao Paulo, Brazil ford shelter that could not accommodate Jereto New York City. In Vancouver, a recent my Roy and Charles Curly bought them onestudy out of Simon Fraser University found

that 52 per cent of the homeless in the Downtown Eastside had come from outside the city.

Of those, many had already been homeless.

Rob Kruyt/Special to PNG. Rob Kruyt/Special to PNG. Media talk to two homeless men from Saskatchewan outside the Vancouver railway station and bus depot.

Homeless people know that Vancouver has better services, citizens who give to panhandlers and police officers who are accustomed to the unnerving tics that come with heroin addiction or untreated mental illness, says the study’s lead author.

“The word is out that there are certain places in Canada … where those behaviours will be more likely tolerated,” says the SFU study’s lead author Julian Somers, adding that it’s “not really that remarkable a finding” that homeless people are moving into Vancouver.

Given the sheer density of poverty, drug addiction and homelessness in the Downtown Eastside “it just doesn’t stand to reason that it is an entirely homegrown set of social and health challenges.”

Local student was at Brussels airport when two blasts tore through in a terror attack

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B.C. student who was in of people before a flight attendant Brussels airport when led them out of the airport to the two blasts tore through tarmac. He then phoned his parthe departure area in a terrorist ents in Kamloops, who were still attack Tuesday morning says he asleep in the early morning hours, is safe but still “very shaken up.” to tell them what had happened.

Jacob Adams, who is from Kam“I was just really scared and shaky loops and is spending a semester and quite teary eyed.” After takabroad in Belgium, said was taking refuge at a nearby airport ing a nap at the departure gate Jacob Adams hotel for a few hours, where he before boarding a flight to Lisbon watched episodes of Family Guy for spring break when the first blast hit the floor above him. “I woke up immediately and to help stay calm, Adams eventually made heard screaming and chaos,” the 20-year-old his way on foot to a train station and was able told Metro. “Then the second one went off to return to Antwerp, where he is studying. ... That’s when I saw smoke coming up and Adams said he was relieved to be able to people running.” Frightened for his safety, evacuate Brussels, where he described the Adams said he hid under a chair with a group air as being heavy with “fear and panic.”

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LOCAL Surrey girl invited to qualify for LPGA major ANA Inspiration

fter only four years the junior and evenof playing golf, Sotually college ranks is phie Liu recently impressive given she experienced a surreal mosaid she only startment in her young career. ed golfing at age 13.

The 17-year-old Liu, who Her late start has got her start on the links at motivated her to beMorgan Creek Golf Course come a student of in Surrey, was invited to the game, playing compete alongside her fel- Sophie Liu was invited to play in the catch-up as she called low junior golfers for a spot ANA Junior Inspiration it, especially when it in the LPGA’s ANA Inspicomes to the menration, the first major tournament of the tal approach of golf. She lists putting year, which takes place March 31 to April 3. as her greatest strength on the course.

However, this wasn’t your typical invite.

“Some people start when they’re six or seven Liu was sent a personalized video message (years old). So, I need to find the fastest way from reigning ANA Inspiration champion to get there,” she said. “The more you read and Brittany Lincicome and Canada’s 18-year- the more you learn off the golf course, as well old rising golf sensation Brooke Henderson, as on the golf course, it makes up for that time.” welcoming her as one of 10 North American Referencing young stars on the LPGA players from outside California to be given Tour like Henderson and 18-year-old Lydia the chance to qualify for the tournament. Ko, Liu says the talent both players possess “It’s kind of overwhelming, too,” has “stepped up the entire field of play” for Liu told Metro in a phone interview. others, including the younger generation.

“Because you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, they know Living in a house in Surrey that was walking who I am.’ You … see them on TV every day and distance to Morgan Creek Golf Course providthey mean so much to you and having them ed easy access for Liu to get started in the sport. know who you are – it’s just the best feeling.” Her father, Yujie Liu, also liked golf, and she After practicing in the warmth and sun of would play after school with a friend, KitMelbourne, Fla., Liu will travel west to play ty Metcalfe. The fun Liu had during those in the ANA Junior Inspiration at the Mis- times helped encourage her to keep playsion Hills Country Club in Rancho Mi- ing. She said her starting coach at Morrage, Calif., on Monday. The winner of that gan Creek was Gerry Hadwin, the father tournament will play in the major event at of local PGA Tour player Adam Hadwin. the same course, beginning next Thursday.

“I got really lucky,” said Liu. This is the first year the special invita“I think you have to be a little bit pation to play in the junior event has been tient with it, because when you first start, extended to 10 golfers outside California. you don’t really know what you’re do“I’m doing a lot of practicing and a lot of playing ing and when you don’t know what you’re to get ready for this because this is such an amaz- doing, everything is kind of confusing. ing opportunity. You can’t waste it,” said Liu. “Luckily, I had a friend in school who was Last November, Liu signed a letter of intent to also a golfer. We would hit up the club after attend the University of Iowa, where she’ll play school and it got to be really fun. And anyfor the women’s golf team. Her rise through thing that’s fun, you just want to do more of it.

NDP calls on B.C. to end referendum requirement for transit funding

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ritish Columbia NDP leader John Horgan is once more calling on the government to scrap its requirement for a referendum on Metro Vancouver transit funding.

Any new sources of revenue for public transit proposed by the region are currently subject to a public vote, which ended in the defeat of a 0.5 per cent regional sales tax to pay its share for a 10-year, $7.5 billion transit plan last year.

But now that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government has promised to pay for 50 per cent of infrastructure projects (instead of the traditional third) and earmarked $370 million for the region’s transit in Tuesday’s federal budget, Horgan says its time to rethink the province’s insistence on a referendum.

“We’ve wasted three years of the Christy Clark mandate without any meaningful action on transit improvements in

the Lower Mainland because of their requirement of a referendum,” Horgan said.

“With the federal government coming forward with a 50 per cent contribution, I believe that’s a golden opportunity for immediate action. We should spike [the referendum requirement] today and move as quickly as possible to take advantage of the federal dollars on the table.”

The region’s mayors have called the federal commitment a “great down payment” on its transit plans and Peter Fassbender, Minister Responsible for TransLink, also applauded federal measures.

But when asked about the need for a referendum, he told media in Victoria he wouldn’t “speculate on what the next steps are.”

“I’m committed to working with the region to find the solution to ensure the transit projects come to fruition,” he said on Tuesday.

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LOCAL PCs win Calgary provincial byelection, with Wildrose second; NDP come in fourth behind Liberals

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Republic Day of Pakistan was celebrated at the residence of Consul General of Pakistan in Vancouver last Wednesday.

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he Tories managed to hang onto one of their handful of seats in the provincial legislature in a byelection Tuesday that some observers described as a barometer of whether the party is still a force in Alberta politics. It was a nail-biter of a night, with the race at times too close to call. But a short time before all 67 polls were reported, the Wildrose’s Devinder Toor, a local businessman, conceded defeat to PC candidate Prab Gill, a real-estate appraiser, who won by a 335-vote margin. Gill celebrated his victory with about 10 minutes of Bollywood dancing on stage as his jubilant supporters cheered him on. “The PCs are back, baby!” he told them. “This is an incredible night for us. This is huge.” The bad news for the ruling NDP government was that their candidate,

rogress on the EverConstruction underway for Evergreen Station plazas transit options for green Project continues families, enhance as construction of the station plaza areas tion buildings is almost complete, communities and benefit the local economy. It’s begins this spring, Transportation and In- development of the plazas around important these new public spacfrastructure Minister Todd Stone announced the stations is starting to take es are designed to be welcoming, today. “The Evergreen Line Project is shape,” said Stone.

“We’re proud accessible and reflective of the comnow more than 80% complete and now to invest in infrastructure projects munities in which they’re built.” that construction of the sta- like the Evergreen Line that offer public

Roop Rai, a former radio host and producer, ended the night in fourth place behind the Liberal, property developer Khalil Karbani.

Calgary Greenway became vacant last November when Conservative legislature member Manmeet Bhullar was killed in a highway crash after he stopped to help a stranded motorist.

Lyle Aspinall/ Postmedia Network Lyle Aspinall/ Postmedia Ne t work Roop Rai PC candidate Prab Gill, poses for with his supporters a photo at the Genesis Centre in Calgary, Alta., on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016.

Bhullar was one of only 10 PCs who were left after Rachel Notley and the NDP won a majority in last May’s election and ended more than four straight decades of Conservative governments. He had held the seat since first being elected in 2008.

“I knew we had enough to win this and carry on the work of our dear friend Manmeet,” Gill said Tuesday, adding the support of Bhullar’s family was crucial to his victory.

“What I hope this win does is help us heal.”

Tuesday’s result won’t change the balance of power in the legislature.

Before the vote, the NDP had 54 of the 87 seats, the Wildrose party had 22 and the Tories had eight. The Liberals and the Alberta Party had one each.

Police round up Police seek vehicle and driver involved in pedestrian hit and run

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CMP is appealing for public assistance in locating the vehicle and driver that was involved in a pedestrian hit and run on March 14th that left a 57 year old Surrey female dead The Surrey RCMP’s Criminal Collision Investigation Team (CCIT) is leading the investigation, along with assistance from the Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS), and has surveyed the scene and gathered a significant amount of evidence. Investigators now believe that the suspect vehicle may be a 2010 or 2011 grey Honda CRV. The vehicle would have notable damage to the front end. We are appealing to anyone who may have information about a vehicle that matches this description to contact our Criminal Collision Investigation Team, says Corporal Scotty Schumann. If you are the driver involved, or know who this person is, we ask you to do the right thing and contact our investigators immediately.

Investigators continue to review all available video footage in the area and pursue a number of other investigative avenues to identify the driver responsible.

Anyone with more information about this collision is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca.

Surrey RCMP reminds pedestrians and drivers to pay extra attention on our roadways. This is the second fatal pedestrian collision of the year in Surrey. In addition, six out of the seven serious injury collisions in the city have also involved pedestrians.

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LOCAL

Man charged in death of 61 year old woman

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39 year old South Asian man has been arrested and charged after an elderly woman was found dead in a North Surrey home and a 35 year old woman was found with nonlife threatening injuries.

Police say the dead, the injured and the arrested persons are all related and were living in the same household but did not give details of their relationship.

Sukhvir Singh Badhesa, 39, faces second-degree murder, aggravated assault and uttering threats in the death of the 61-yearold woman in Surrey on previous Sunday,

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March 20.

Surrey RCMP were called to a residence in the 10000-block of 128A Street just before 6 a.m. on Sunday (March 20) after a resident reported hearing an altercation.

Two women were found in the residence in need of medical attention. A 35-year-old woman suffered non-life threatening injuries and was treated in hospital. BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) attempted to revive a 61-year-old woman; however, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

RCMP is investigating a shooting at a residence in Surrey’s Whalley area

t approximately 07:30 PM, on March 22, Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a shooting in the 10800 block of 143 Street. Officers attended and located a male suffering from non life threatening injuries who has been transported to local

area hospital in stable condition.

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

Police round up Stabbing incident at King George Blvd & 88th Ave.

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urrey RCMP is currently on scene the 8700 Block of TULSY Crescent of Surrey for a report of a stabbing. On March 22, 2016 at approximately 09:30 PM, Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a Stabbing in the 8700 block of TULSY Crescent. Upon arrival, officers located a 58 year old male suffering from stab wounds who has been transported to local area hospital in critical condition with life threatening injuries.Officers are conducting neighbourhood canvassing and speaking with witnesses to obtain further information.

A suspect has been taken into custody without incident. Anyone with further information who has not already spoken to police is asked to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-5990502 or, if they wish to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca.

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

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none of the shootings in 2016 is linked, and there doesn’t appear to be a connection to last year’s feud between two rival drug gangs.

For that reason, the RCMP says it won’t comment on the spike in gun violence.

Still, residents are worried. “We can walk across Scott Road and into Delta and they don’t have the problem that we have in Surrey. Why is that?” said Bower.

More police officers coming Mayor Hepner and her party, campaigned on hiring 100 new police officers.

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Shootings in Surrey ignite concern among residents

recent spree of gun violence in Surrey, B.C. is causing concern among residents in the area, but police say recent shootings differ from last year’s gang-related violence.

The latest shooting took place early Sunday morning near 132nd Street and 110th Avenue. There have been about a dozen incidents of gun-related violence so far this year. “It’s really frustrating to the residents of Surrey that this continues to go on and on,” said Darlene Bowyer, a coordinator with the Surrey Association of Sustainable Communities.

Surrey residence targeted in early morning shooting Surrey RCMP investigating possible homicide Surrey shooting sends 2 men to hospital Darlene Bowyer with the Surrey Association of Sustainable Communities says the ongoing violence in her community has been frustrating. Last year, a drug turf war broke out in Surrey, leading to dozens of shootings over the span of a few months. But police say

Police seek vehicle and driver

Surrey RCMP’s Traffic Services has spent considerable resources on pedestrian safety enforcement and education and are involved in the provincial distracted driving campaign this month.

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Mandeep Randhawa, Partner

LOCAL

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There are 258 names on B.C.’s missing children list

hile four-year-old Michael Dunahee’s disappearance from a Victoria school playground 25 years ago gripped the city, province and nation as one of Canada’s most recognized missing child cases, his story is, tragically, one of hundreds.

According to RCMP data, there are 258 cases of missing persons under the age of 17 across B.C. Some have been missing 30 days, while others have been missing for months, years, and even decades. The cases date as far back as 1949 and are as recent as February of this year. All 258 cases remain active. Nine of those missing, including Michael, were likely abducted by strangers. The others fall into different categories, such as “runaway”, “accidental,” or “parental abduction.” “I don’t know that you can imagine anything worse to have than a missing child,” said Christy Dzikowicz, of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, which works closely with

the families of missing children, including the Dunahees. “There isn’t a grieving process ... very often you don’t see families stay together.

“It creates an enormous amount of stress.

How do you tell a parent that it’s time to move on with their life? It’s just a completely different type of trauma.”

But Dzikowicz has yet to meet a parent who has given up hope.

“It’s the rest of us that need to keep that hope alive,” she said. “We all need to have the expectation that we’re going to find these kids — it doesn’t matter how long it takes.”

While social media has made it easier with shareable alerts on Facebook and mobile devices, the public needs to be more proactive, she said. If an alert goes out, Dzikowicz suggests to “check your area,” and search your backyard, or hop in your car to take a look around the neighbourhood.

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RCMP officer who fought for the right to wear turban honoured

altej Singh Dhillon, who made the his- honoured for standing up against discrimitory after being appointed as first tur- nation in any form. The campaign coincides baned Sikh officer in the Royal Canadi- with the festival of Holi and participants are an Mounted Police was honoured at an annual encouraged to dip their hands in colour and event held to eradicate racism on Saturday. leave their handprints on a sheet of white paOrganized by Spice Radio in partnership per along with a statement against racism at with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, it different locations across Greater Vancouver. was second annual Raise Your Hands Against People from different ethnicities Racism campaign that was launched on the occasion of Martin Luther King’s birth anniversary last year.

Dhillon’s appointment in 1990 had stirred lot of controversy as it led to racist backlash. The rightwing groups openly opposed his recruitment. However, he won the fight despite many challenges and hostility. Dhillon is the first individual to be honoured as part of the anti racism initiative that was started by Spice Radio CEO Shushma Datt; a seasoned broadcaster in the Baltej Singh Dhillon made history in 1990 when he local South Asian community. She became the first Mountie to wear a turban. has announced that each year trailblazers like Dhillon will be recognized and thronged to all these locations in Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey and White Rock to participate in the campaign.

The volunteers wore T shirts carrying slogan #HandsAgainstRacism. The campaign location in Surrey with a sizable Punjabi population remained crowd puller where Indo Canadian MLA Harry Bains also showed up.

In the meanwhile, both Vancouver and Surrey municipalities made proclamations recognizing the campaign.

At the opening event held at Roundhouse Community Centre, prominent South Asian scholar Suresh Kurl spoke about the significance of Holi and its relevance in fight against racism. Shiamak Davar dance team and the team of drummers led by popular radio host Gurp Sian did a performance on the occasion.

Prince George hospital kidnapper did time for killing friend

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man charged with kidnapping a patient from a hospital in Prince George, B.C. is also a convicted killer who did prison time for shooting a friend in Alberta. Lash Leroux, age 44, has been charged with kidnapping and theft.

The charges were laid after police said a female patient in a wheelchair was taken from the University Hospital of Northern B.C. against her will on Sunday and forced in to a car. It took RCMP six hours to track Leroux and the 50-year-old woman to a nearby home.

Leroux was arrested and remains in custody in Prince George until a bail hearing next week. Leroux fatally shot friend in Alberta Leroux’s criminal record in B.C. is fairly short, but he has an extensive criminal record in Alberta, where he is a convicted killer. Originally charged with second degree murder, Leroux was convicted of manslaughter for fatally shooting his friend Kerry Goldthorpe in Millet, just south of Edmonton, in 2002. Leroux was sentenced to four years in prison and has a lifetime firearms ban. When he was released in 2009, he allegedly violated the release conditions and was the subject of a Canada-wide arrest warrant. Leroux has also served prison time for obstructing police, intent to avoid arrest, theft, being unlawfully at large, and possession of a controlled substance.

Officials say the alleged kidnapped patient was rushed back to hospital by ambulance.

Northern Health refused to release any details about her condition citing privacy concerns.

LOCAL

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Saturday, March 26, 2016

Three martyrs rally held in Surrey

raving cold weather and heavy rain, close to two dozen people showed up at a rally organized in memory of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru-three revolutionaries who were hung on March 23, 1931 by the British Indian government.

Organized by monthly magazine Radical Desi, the rally was held at Holland Park in Surrey where speakers emphasized on keeping their struggle for just society alive. Bhagat Singh A moment of silence was also observed for late Wolverine, and his comrades not just fought an indigenous activist who passed away a day before at the beginning of the rally that was led by a veteran communist against foreign occupation of India, activist Nazir Rizvi who held the picture of Bhagat Singh. but also wanted to establish an egalitarian and revolutionary society in Mann. Besides, Committee of Progressive post British India where everyone would Pakistani Canadians leader Saif Khalid. be treated equally. They insisted that there A moment of silence was also observed fight will go on till the human exploitation for late Wolverine, an indigenous activcontinues. They always wanted to estab- ist who passed away a day before at the lish a secular and truly democratic society. beginning of the rally that was led by a Almost all the speakers agreed that the cur- veteran communist activist Nazir Rizrent Indian system needs to be radically vi who held the picture of Bhagat Singh. changed to build India of their dreams. They Slogans in support of revolution and against also demanded an end to social and economic imperialism were also raised on the occasion. exploitation, religious intolerance and repressive laws being applied on political activists.

Those who spoke on the occasion included an independent broadcaster and social justice activist Imtiaz Popat, progressive poets Amrit Diwana, Harjit Daudhria, Gurcharan Tallewalia and Parminder Swaich, Taraksheel Sabha leader Avtar Gill, former Student Federation of India leader Hardev Singh and International League of Peoples’ struggle supporters Aiyanas Ormand and Lakhbir Khunkhin.

Among those present were Avtar Singh Dhillon, who fought for the right to wear turban while driving a two wheeler in BC and Aam Aadmi Party leaders Bhagwant Singh Toor and Darshan

Human rights tribunal probing Air Canada’s use of U.S. no-fly list

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he Canadian Human Rights Tribunal is investigating whether the country’s largest airline discriminated against an Arab-Canadian man through overzealous use of U.S. aviation security lists.

The investigation of Air Canada’s refusal to let him board a plane comes amid controversy about dozens of Canadian youngsters facing airport delays over security list mixups and high-level efforts by the federal govern-

ment to resolve the problems in Washington.

The court-like human rights tribunal will determine whether the airline discriminated against the Syrian-Canadian man on grounds of race, national or ethnic origin, or his Muslim religion by denying him service, and whether its reliance on the American lists amounted to a discriminatory practice.

Paul Champ, the man’s lawyer, provided The Canadian Press with evidence compiled in the case to date on condition his client’s identity not be revealed at this time. Having said this, the southwestern Ontario man’s name will become public once tribunal hearings begin.

The man took his case to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the first, confidential step in registering a complaint under Canadian human rights law, which applies to airlines and other federally regulated businesses.

It all began in July 2011 when, after a lengthy wait at the Air Canada check-in counter at the London, Ont., airport, the man was told he would not be permitted to board his flight to Vancouver — with a connection in Toronto — because he was on the ’U.S. Nofly list,’ says a February 2014 rights commission report based on a preliminary inquiry.

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$800 necklace stolen from 74-year-old Regina woman’s neck

74-year-old Regina woman says a piece of her valuable jewelry was stolen right off her neck while she was waiting for a bus outside of Superstore. Ganga Rach says she’s still shaken by it. “I was scared. I’ve lived in Regina 24 years. I’ve never had anything happen to me like that,” said Rach. On Saturday morning just before 12 p.m. CST, Rach was waiting outside the east Superstore to catch a bus home. She said a couple pulled up in a car and a woman got out and offered her a gift: a necklace. “It looked gold” said Rach.

But the woman quickly grabbed the necklace Rach was wearing and the pendant on it. Then the woman jumped into the car and sped off. Rach said it was a frightening experience.. “After they took my necklace, I was so scared I didn’t move. I just

stood in the same spot for five minutes.”

She reported the robbery to Regina police.

Police spokesperson Elizabeth Popowich said Rach may have appeared vulnerable and an easy target.“These are crimes of opportunity. It may have been someone taking advantage of an older person who may not be as mobile as a younger person,” she said. Rach said the necklace is worth around $800 and it was a gift from a family member and has sentimental value. She hopes police can find the necklace and she wants to warn others about what happened to her. “I feel bad about what happened. I don’t want it to happen to anyone else, “ Rach said.

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Government charging up electric vehicles

o encourage more British Columbians to drive electric vehicles (EVs) and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Province is providing funding from the Clean Energy Vehicle (CEV) Program to expand and upgrade residential and public charging infrastructure. Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Emergency Preparedness announced investments in two programs today at the Vancouver International Auto Show: * $688,500 for incentives for Level 2 charging stations in multi-unit residential buildings like apartment blocks and strata complexes. The program is open to individuals anywhere in the province that reside in an eligible multi-unit residential building, or to parties authorized to make decisions regarding the building like building managers or owners, and strata councils.

Approved applicants would be

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he Vancouver Auto Show opened to the public on March 23 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. CBC News was given a sneak peek into some of the jaw-dropping vehicles at the show. Many of the cars were pricey but several cost more than just money. There were true labours of love.

Aston Martin DB5 It’s perhaps the most iconic of all of James Bond’s vehicles: the Aston Martin DB5. The beauty was first seen on the silver screen in 1963 driven by Sean Connery as Bond in Goldfinger. This tribute car was built here in Metro Vancouver, complete with Q’s replica gadgets.

Aston Martin DB5 Look-alike machine guns planted behind the front tail lights, just like Bond’s car.

An extendable tire slicer as seen in the 1964 film Goldfinger.

A flip of that top tail light, and the car just may release an oil slick on an unsuspecting villain.

No word on whether Q installed revolving licence plates on the backside of this DB5.

This custom-made replica was based on the design of the caped-crusader’s car as seen in the 1989 Batman film starring Michael Keaton.

Batmobile replica A Batmobile tribute at the 2016 Vancouver Auto Show.

Rolls-Royce A dreamy, handmade Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is on display at the show.

This one has a “Metropolitan Blue” exterior and “Casden Tan” interior.

Not for the faint of heart, it’s priced at about $658,975 CAD. Rolls Royce Phantom Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead CoupeSolo Electric Vehicle There are more than just pricey rides at the auto show and you might even see a little bit of the future. The Vancouver-made “Solo” is a single-seat, electric car that will take you from zero to 100 km/h in eight seconds.

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Volkswagen gets until April 21 to make plan to fix polluting diesel engines

eligible to receive a rebate of up to 75% of the total, before-tax cost of installing a Level 2 EV charging station to a maximum of $4,500. * In partnership with BMW Canada and BC Hydro, $276,500 to upgrade 10 public, single-standard DC fast charging stations (DCFCs) to dualstandard chargers. The upgrades will enable the chargers to offer both styles of charging standards (SAE Combo and CHAdeMO).

These 10 stations currently use only the CHAdeMO charging standard which was the only standard available at the time they were installed. The upgrade is required so these DCFC stations can serve all models of EVs. Standard industry practice now is to have both charging standards on DCFC units. BMW is contributing $110,000 for the upgrades and BC Hydro will provide $106,500 as contributions-in-kind for technical expertise and labour to perform the upgrades.

Vancouver Auto Show’s jaw-dropping cars

Saturday, March 26, 2016

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federal judge in San Francisco has given Volkswagen one more month to meet a demand from U.S. regulators for a fix to its diesel engines.

The automaker faced a deadline Thursday to create a fix acceptable to the California Clean Air Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency for diesel engines that emit more than acceptable levels of nitrous oxide.

Volkswagen: California regulators reject recall plan Canada’s idle response to VW’s cheating cars U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said VW could face a

trial unless it has a plan by April 21 to get the 600,000 VW diesel cars in the U.S. off the road.

Last September, VW admitted it has installed a cheat device in diesel engines, a software program that ensures the engines meet environmental standards during testing conditions, but spews polluting emissions in real world driving.

The vehicles, with 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre engines, emit up to 40 times the legal limit of NOX. Volkswagen says more gasoline engines had emissions cheat device New Audi, Porsche, VW models found to have cheat device It presented a proposal to fix U.S. cars earlier this year, but that did not meet the standards of either the California or federal clean air regulator.

Threat of trial Judge Breyer said he granted the extension in the case

because he was satisfied that VW had made progress toward a plan to repair the vehicles.

But he warned the German automaker that if it does not meet the next deadline, including explaining which vehicles would be repaired by which dates, he would schedule a trial for this summer.

Breyer is set to adjudicate in more than 500 class action suits for fraud and loss of value in the cars by VW owners.

He also could rules in the trial over environmental violations pressed by the EPA and U.S. department of justice.

In devising a fix, Volkswagen must consider both environmental impact and any adverse effect the repair may have on fuel economy and driveability of VW diesel cars.

Owners have been waiting eight months for a recall proposal and their cars are unsellable in the meantime.

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NATIONAL

Conservative MP Jim Hillyer found dead in his Parliament Hill office

nterim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau led tributes in the House of Commons Wednesday after the sudden death of Conservative MP Jim Hillyer.

Being an MP was the job Hillyer wanted all his life, Ambrose told the Commons, fighting back tears as she spoke of his pride in representing his Alberta riding. “He brought with him to Parliament an understanding and a great sense of faith for the concerns of regular, hard-working Canadians and it really showed,” Ambrose said. “When you talked to Jim it was like talking to a neighbour.”

Hillyer, 41, was found dead in his Parliament Hill office early this morning.

The MP for Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner had complained of feeling ill on Tuesday.

Sources said his family contacted Parliament Hill security when they were unable to reach him.

Jim Hillyer welcomed as new MP in 2011

Here’s a look back at Jim Hillyer when he was welcomed into Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s caucus. Harper was also in the House of Commons for the tribute held for the Alberta MP after he was found dead in his Ottawa office on Wednesday.

Justin Trudeau defends budget plans against Tory attacks Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose is claiming Tuesday’s federal budget will be an “expensive” one for Canadians. On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the planned spending as an investment in the future.

Trudeau says his ‘heart goes out’ to Rob Ford’s family Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is sending his condolences to the family of Rob Ford, after the former Toronto mayor died Tuesday. Trudeau lamented Ford’s passing at what he called the “too young” age of 46.

Federal budget 2016: Liberals push deficit to spend big on families, cities

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he first budget from Justin Trudeau’s government finds the Liberals compromising some of their election promises to keep others, laying out a longer and larger string of deficits to begin the kind of long-term investments they say Canada needs. While the big ticket items match the platform that helped the Liberals win a majority last October, other commitments aren’t ready to roll out. Finance Minister Bill Morneau called the plan “reasonable and affordable,” despite the red ink washing across the otherwise sunny tone of his rookie budget. Highlights of Bill Morneau’s first budget Ottawa forecasts $29.4B deficit – “Canadians told us two things: they said ‘help me and my family’ and ‘make investments for the future,’” he told reporters before delivering his budget speech. “What we’re also going to do is be prudent along the way.” Prudent was not the word Conservatives used while reacting from the Opposition bench.

“This is a bad day for the taxpayers of Canada,” interim leader Rona Ambrose said.

“What we’re seeing now is reckless spending

Bill Morneau on Budget 2016

without a job creation plan and no actual plan in the budget to return to a balance.”

The Tories said that in total taxes were going up by “at least $1.3 billion a year.” The Liberals broke their election promise to contain the deficit to $10 billion annually, they said.

Ambrose says budget has no real plan for job creation 8:00 New Democrats, on the other hand, focused on what they called “missed opportunities” to reduce inequality, slamming how the Liberals “shortchanged” First Nations education and child welfare.

“What we’re looking at here is a failure to deliver not only on their own promises but a failure to deliver on things that the courts have required them to do,” NDP Leader Tom Mulcair told reporters.

The NDP said Liberals “failed to fix” the employment insurance system. The third party wanted to see more stock option loopholes closed and a greater investment in health care. “Given the size of what they’re spending, frankly it’s surprising there are that many broken promises,” Mulcair said.

New family benefit starts in July The budget centres on a suite of moves to help middle-class Canadians, a focus of Liberal attention for months.

A missed opportunity - NDP

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he federal budget released today missed an opportunity to help aging seniors in the Lower Mainland and failed to put forward a concrete plan to tackle inequality in the area. “Residents of the Lower Mainland, particularly seniors, were hoping to find measures to address affordability, and reduce inequality in today’s budget but they are finding missed opportunities instead,” said NDP MP Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby). “For seniors, they’re being told to wait for months in order to get an increase of a maximum of $2.59 a day in the Guaranteed Income Supplement because the Liberals chose to defer their campaign promises into the future. Many seniors are in a critical situation and need support now.”

The budget took no action to eliminate costly stock option loopholes for CEOs or reverse any of Stephen Harper’s tax cuts for the most profitable companies.

OBITUARY Former Sarpanch Jit Singh Ankhi passed away at the age of 85 in Surrey last week.

He belong to Village Rurka Kalan, Distt Jalandhar, Punjab. He left behind his wife Jit Singh Ankhi Mahinder Kaur and two sons. His funeral will take place at Riverside funeral home, Delta on April 2, at 12:30pm. Ardas at 2:30pm at Gurunanak Sikh Temple on Scott Road, Surrey. For condolence or any other information please call: Jasbir Sandhu or Jaspal Sandhu 604-596-6984

POLITICS

Rob Ford, former Toronto mayor, dead at 46

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ob Ford, the former Toronto mayor who polarized voters with his brash, uncompromising political style and became an international celebrity for his drug and alcohol use while in office, has died. He was 46. What will Rob Ford’s legacy be? Reporter Jamie Strashin takes your questions Doug Ford’s heart ‘ripped out’ by brother Rob’s death. Ford died this morning after battling cancer since 2014. His death was confirmed by his chief of staff Dan Jacobs, who issued

the following statement: “With heavy hearts and profound sadness, the Ford family announces the passing of their beloved son, brother, husband, and father, Councillor Rob Ford earlier today at the age of 46. A dedicated man of the people, Councillor Ford spent his life serving the citizens of Toronto. The family asks that you respect their privacy and join them in their grieving and their prayers.

Budget promises big changes for federal bureaucracy

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hile the 2016 federal budget reiterates the government’s commitment to a “strong, respectful and productive relationship with the Public Service of Canada,” that doesn’t mean bureaucrats aren’t in for some big changes over the next four years.

To make the public service both “innovative and agile,” the budget outlines investments in

some areas of the bureaucracy, while delivering cuts to others. The Liberal plan aims to get rid of inefficient systems, wasteful spending obsolete initiatives. To that end, the budget proposes cutting $221 million in professional services, travel and government advertising, starting this year.

Arbitrator slashes expenses to be paid back by 14 senators: ‘I don’t see it as exonerating abuse’

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special arbitrator has slashed the amount of public money to be repaid by 14 senators for questionable expense claims, but still maintains most should have known better than to pocket a total of $178,000 for what remain glaring personal expenses. In a long-awaited report tabled with the Senate Monday, former Supreme Court justice Ian Binnie approved $145,000 in questionable expense claims by senators initially flagged as illegitimate in a

2015 investigation by federal Auditor General Michael Ferguson covering April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2013. “I don’t see my report at all as exonerating abuse,” Binnie said after the release. “I see it as pointing at a different way of controlling of potential abuse … that has to be more seriously looked at by the Senate administration.” Ferguson’s formal audit found more than $322,000 in improper claims for travel and housing expenses by 30 senators, about 45 per cent higher than Binnie’s evaluation.

NDP call on Liberal government to repeal cessation provisions law

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ew Democrat MP for Vancouver-East Jenny Kwan is calling on the federal government to repeal a law brought in by the Conservatives four years ago to crack down on fraudulent refugee cases. Kwan, who is also opposition critic for immigration, refugees and citizenship, argues that the cessation provisions of Bill C-31 can unfairly strip former refugees, now permanent residents, of their status if they travel back to their home country. “Cessation applications are being brought against permanent residents because it is alleged the individuals have re-availed themselves of protection by

temporarily travelling back to their country of origin,” said Kwan. “This law effectively created a two tier system for permanent residents. It has nothing to do with fraud or misrepresentation.” Kwan held a news conference Friday to highlight the case of several permanent residents facing this problem, including 28-year-old Roni Khoshaba, a Christian from Iraq who came to Canada in 2010.

He went back home three years ago to visit his dad in hospital with a broken back and leg. But because of that trip the Canada Border Services Agency has applied to strip him of his permanent Canadian residency.

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France’s Marine Le Pen criticizes Canada’s immigration policy

he head of France’s es could include accelerating right-wing Front nathe demands of religious mitional party says Canada norities, such as providing space is on the wrong path with its imfor prayer or the establishment of religious courts. Ms. Le Pen migration policy. Marine Le Pen suggested the result could be insays the federal Liberal’s decisions on immigration, particularly its creased tensions. “A multiculturMarine Le Pen welcoming of Syrian refugees, are al society is a society in conflict,” “erroneous.” She made the comsaid the French politician, who is ments on Sunday during a news conference spending the next few days in Quebec. Her in Quebec City. trip will include a visit to a Bombardier plant Ms. Le Pen says Canada’s political leaders as part of an economic mission of the Eurohave shown little regard for the consequences pean Parliament. Part of the trip is also perof their decisions. She says the consequenc- sonal in nature.

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CLASSIFIEDS

Saturday, March 26, 2016

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JOBS

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Need Janitorial Helpers

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 mobilezonecommunicationinc@gmail.com” -----------------------------Jan 02_16

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

Surrey Janitorial Services urgently require helpers for Surrey and Abbotsford and Vancouver.

Experience not a requirement but will be preferred. Please call 778-859-9234 ------------------- Feb 06 2016 Cell phone Technician “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.

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

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.

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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

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JOBS 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 selvamm164@gmail.com or apply by person at DosaCorner Vancouver. 110-8248 Fraser Street.

Vancouver. B.C.. V5X 3X6 Ph: 604-324-3672.

-----------------------------------Seamstress required Seamstress (Tailor) needed Foam & Décor is looking for Full Time or Part Time Seamstress ( tailor) for drapery in Surrey.

Salary will be provided @ 12 per hour. Please call 604-594-1882 Mayuri Indian foods inc is looking to hire an Ethnic Food Cook in Surrey BC. F/T & Perm.$17/hr.

Must have at least 2-3 yrs experience in South Indian cuisine & specialized knowledge in Indian spicing. Duties: Prepare & Cook meals; Supervise Kitchen helpers; Plan menus; Ensure quality & determine food proportions; Monitor & order food supplies; Set up & oversee buffets; Manage kitchen operation. Mail resume or apply by person Mayuri indian cuisine , Unit 102A,12677 80th Ave., Surrey BC V3W 3A6 Fax: 604-572-3281 ------------------------------------English Classes for Adults Register for classes September 2-8 For more information,Visit: www. victoryesl.com

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 Call: 604.755.7976 E-mail: victoryesl1@gmail.com ---------------------------Cook Require Curry junction Restaurant in White Rock need cook immediately, This is a full time permanent position for a experienced person, Depending on experience salary will be upto $21 per hr. with other benefits. Call:604-729-6741 or 604-385-1558 ---------------------------Transworld Security located at 2nd Floor, 5050, Kingsway, Burnaby BC V5H 4H2 is looking for a Static Guard, Static Guard Supervisor, Mobile Supervisor and Field Manager.

These are permanent full-time positions. Static Guard pay rate is $13.00 per hour plus vacation pay. You would be required to patrol industrial and commercial premises to prevent and detect signs of intrusion and ensure security of doors, windows and gates. Answer alarms and investigate disturbances. Monitor and authorize entrance and departure of employees, visitors and guests.

Call police or fire departments in cases of emergency. Circulate among visitors, patrons and employees to preserve order and protect property.

Static Guard Supervisor pay rate is $14.00 per hour plus vacation pay. You would be required to

To PLACE YOUR AD IN THE ASIAN STAR CLASSIFIEDS Section Please

Call: 604-591-5423

COMMUNITY NEWS

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he Surrey North Delta Division of Family Practice is inviting the community of Surrey and North Delta to an evening of conversation about healthy living, health care, and family doctors on Wednesday, March 30th at Enver Creek Secondary School. This free event is an opportunity for the general public and physicians in the community to connect with each other outside the family doctor office and to discuss some of the health care questions important to our community. The evening will kick off with guest speaker Dr. Art Hister, a familiar voice on the subject of healthy living for viewers of GlobalTV. Dr. Hister will be speaking about healthy living hints that will keep you laughing and learning. After Dr. Hister speaks, attendees will be invited to the lobby to enjoy refreshments and discuss questions they may have about health & family doctors, including how to find a family doctor in Surrey and North Delta. As Dr. Janice Peace, Family Doctor in Surrey and co-chair of the Surrey-North Delta Division of Family Practice explains “This event builds on the daily work of the division and our family doctor members, with the vision of improving quality of life for the residents of Surrey and North Delta.” To register and to find out more information about the event go to: http://ow.ly/ Y9tnn or contact Jody Schuurman at 778387-6009. Space is limited, so register today!

“Sanskriti Cultural Awareness Society of BC” invites you with your family and friends to a specially designed evening, full of laughter and humor to celebrate Holi a festival of joy, happiness and participation with legendary poets from India and North America coming to make everybody laugh and giggle. Program would be followed by dance and a lavish dinner. This is an family event. For queries contact: Janardan Pandey Prachand at 604-889-2204 , Sanjeev Sharma at 604 767 4366 Sanskriti Cultural Awareness Society of BC 15165 91Ave, Surrey BC V3R 1B6 PH: 604 767 4366 E:mail: humarisanskrit2@gmail.com www.humarisanskriti.ca

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Don’t give fraudsters an extra “tax” this season With March being Fraud Prevention Month and residents making final preparations to their tax returns, the Surrey RCMP is reminding residents to be extra vigilant when it comes to protecting

The Surrey-North Delta Division of Family Practice brings together family doctors to enhance the delivery of health care services in our community. “Laugh, Learn and Live Longer” is part of the division’s health promotion strategy. This event is an opportunity for anyone in Surrey or North Delta to discuss ways we can, together, be leaders for our own health and our community’s health. To find out more, and to join the conversation online, find Surrey-North Delta Division of Family Practice’s Twitter account @snddivision or search for #LaughLearnLiveLonger.

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Surrey Night Market prepares to open for third season

he organizers of Surrey Night Market are not letting last year’s devastating storm that destroyed the market, dampen their spirits and are instead preparing themselves for a yet another exciting season. “The overwhelming support and good wishes offered by the community after last year’s monstrous storm has doubled our resolve to return for a third season starting June 3, 2016 to August 14, 2016,” said Satbir Cheema, Director, Surrey Night Market, “we are humbled by the support that the community showed us last year and as a gesture of goodwill we would like to give a platform to non-profits to help them raise funds for their causes.” Apart from numerous food and merchandise booths; rides and games for children; door prizes for attendees and performances by magicians, local bands, singers and dancers, Surrey Night Market 2016 will have a strong community and social perspective with a few tents set aside for non-profit

About the Surrey-North Delta Division of Family Practice: Established in 2010, the Surrey-North Delta Division of Family Practice is comprised of family physicians from Surrey and North Delta. Member physicians work collaboratively to improve patient access to local primary care and provide continuous professional support. The Surrey-North Delta Division of Family Practice’s mission is to advocate for patient and physician health in the Surrey-North Delta community, to facilitate member engagement in evaluating and shaping the health care system, and to identify challenges and develop innovative Another scam that residents should approaches to providing efficient, quality be aware of that is making the rounds health care. locally is the “black” or “white” money scam. This sophisticated counterfeit scheme comes in multiple forms but their personal and financial information. usually involves currency that on iniAs frauds involving the Canada Rev- tial appearance has no colour but can enue Agency are on the rise not only in apparently be washed with a chemSurrey but across the country, tax sea- ical that makes it a legitimate bank son is prime time for fraudsters to prey note. In most cases, the victims are on unsuspecting victims. Residents usually conned into making an initial need to be vigilant if they receive fraud- investment into this counterfeit monulent communications from these agen- ey with the promise of large returns.

“Surrey is a very diverse community cies and report it to authorities immediately if they suspect they are a victim. that includes many residents who are “This time of year serves as a good new to Canada,” says Cpl. Schumann. reminder for residents to check their “Unfortunately those who are unfamail regularly when sensitive financial miliar with how our institutions and and personal information may be arriv- businesses operate can be more susing daily in your mailbox,” says Surrey ceptible to these frauds. We ask that RCMP Corporal Scotty Schumann. “If residents take this opportunity to discriminals are able to access this in- cuss these recent fraud trends with famformation they can fraudulently use ily members who may not be aware.”

For more information on fraud preit to gain access to bank accounts, apply for loans and credit cards, or vention please visit the Scams & Fraud engage in criminal activity that ulti- page on our website. If your business mately becomes associated to you.” or community group would like to host Surrey RCMP has also noticed a trend an info session on fraud prevention in fraudulent telephone calls claiming please contact the Surrey RCMP’s to be from debt collectors for unpaid Economic Crime Unit at 604-599phone, cable, hydro, or other utility bills. 0502. If you are the victim of a fraud, Most of the reports involve complainants please contact your local police and who have lost their wallets or purses report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud within the last year and have not report- Centre online or at 1-888-495-8501. ed it to authorities. Scams like this are ------------------------------------good reminders to cancel and replace all important cards once lost and to rouTrain-the-Trainer workshop for tinely check your credit report to ensure Hepatitis and other communicable you are not a victim of identity theft.

organizations and charities. These organizations will also be given an opportunity to set up a beer garden to raise funds for their specific causes if they so wish. During the third season, the following patrons will get free entry into the night market. Families of all Canadian Forces personnel and Veterans Children less than 48” in height when accompanied by their families Residents of long-term care and assisted living facilities when coming as a group Wheelchair borne persons and their attendants Seniors over 65 years with proper ID In addition, anyone bringing a non-perishable food item or a new toy will be allowed free access and all collected items will be donated to the local food banks or charities. The family friendly multicultural market will run on Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm to 11pm and on Sundays from 5pm to 10pm at the Cloverdale Exhibition Grounds, 17726 - 62 Avenue, Surrey.

Parking will be free.

diseases at PICS, Surrey Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS) is hosting Train-the-Trainer Workshop for Healthcare Providers to make them aware about Hepatitis C and other related communicable diseases in high risk Immigrant ethnic communities.

PICS is part of the Sexually Transmitted Infections and Tuberculosis Co-infections project undertaken by Canadian Ethnocultural Council, Ottawa and will provide training in the Metro Vancouver region. In Canada, STIs and TB continue to be public health concerns, however; very little information is available on the prevalence of these diseases in the selected ethnic populations and therefore; appropriate training is a must.

What - Train-the-Trainer Workshop for Healthcare Providers Where – PICS Surrey, #20512725-80th Avenue, Surrey When October 7th 2015 at 10 am – 11:30- Who can attend – healthcare providers, settlement workers and community leaders.

For more information & registration, please call 604-5967722 ext. 107.

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.

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EI overhaul will extend benefits, shorten wait times

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long-rumoured overhaul to Canada’s employment insurance regime is included in the budget, one that might even be more expansive than what those who had lobbied for changes were expecting. Ottawa plans to temporarily enhance benefits in some regions, granting up to 70 weeks of coverage to long-tenured employees in 12 regions identified as having particularly acute unemployment challenges, including energy-dependent parts of Western Canada, Northern Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador. And starting in July 2016, the threshold for the amount of hours a claimant has to have

worked in order to be eligible will be lowered from its current level of 910 hours.

The new cut-off will vary across the country, but will bring the eligibility rules for new employees and those re-entering the workforce in line with other claimants in their region. The government says the changes will make 50,000 more people eligible for EI than under the existing framework. Starting next year, the wait time for benefits will be reduced, from two weeks to one. “This means that when a worker loses their job and applies for employment insurance, they will be without income for a shorter period of time,” Ottawa said.

Federal budget 2016: Justin Trudeau defends bigger deficit, First Nations funding

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rime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending his government’s choice to run a much-higher-than-promised $29.4-billion deficit in the coming fiscal year, in addition to the funding plan for First Nations, which one critic says doesn’t allot enough money soon enough. The bigger deficit is the result of an increasingly slumping economy, Trudeau said. “We promised about $10 billion in new investment and we’re bringing forward about $11 billion of new investment,” Trudeau told Robyn Bresnahan, host of CBC Radio’s Ottawa Morning, on Wednesday. “It’s that the economy has gotten significantly worse.” The Liberals have a mandate from Canadians to invest, rather than cut, Trudeau said. “The promise I made was to invest in the future of this country. That’s what Canadians told me we needed and we were going to do it responsibly and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” he said.

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parent with Canadians the way we promised to be, not to try and force ourselves back to budget balance to keep an electoral promise, but to respond to what the economy actually needs.” Asked to respond to concerns the budget doesn’t do enough in the short term to address funding inequities for First Nations, Trudeau said relationships have to be rebuilt to allow First Nations to be leaders on the issue.

About $8.4 billion in spending for First Nations is earmarked for the coming five years. Much of it falls after the next election, according to Cindy Blackstock, president of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, who said that puts the funding at risk and does not address the depths of inequity faced by kids on reserve. “I think people need to look closely at what they’re actually spending and when,” she said. “The biggest investments on the First Nations file are after the next election.” Trudeau said Wednesday it will take more than money to address inequities properly.

Canadians support budget, accept deficit, poll suggests

anadians may not love the $29.4 billion in deficit spending announced in Tuesday’s federal budget, but they can live with it, are broadly supportive of many of the measures included in the budget, and would pass it if they were MPs, a new poll suggests. The survey, conducted

by Abacus Data shortly after the budget was tabled and commissioned by EY, found that Canadians are generally looking on the budget favourably, if not enthusiastically.

Among those who think the budget is different from those budgets tabled during Stephen Harper’s government (which represented 81 per cent of Canadians with some familiarity with the budget), nearly half thought it was better, almost twice the number who thought it was worse. Among those Canadians aware of the budget, 51 per cent would certainly or probably vote to pass it, compared with just 34 per cent who would vote to defeat it. The list of items that Canadians were more likely to say would be positively rather than negatively affected by the budget reads like the Liberals 2015 election campaign platform: infrastructure, the middle class, and opportunities for younger

Canadians. But more Canadians thought their own personal taxes and the level of short-term government debt would be negatively affected — a majority of respondents saying so for the latter. However, on most items roughly half of respondents thought the budget would have no impact one way or another. The Pollcast: What do Canadians think of the budget? The poll suggests that many of the measures introduced in Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s budget are acceptable to the vast majority of Canadians.

The most widely supported measure was the reduction in middle-class tax rates at the expense of the wealthiest Canadians. Fully 72 per cent of Canadians said they supported or strongly supported this measure, and 93 per cent said they either supported or accepted it in the current circumstances. Support and acceptance reached 90 per cent on increased funding to veterans and $120 billion in infrastructure spending over the next 10 years.

Acceptance or support for increasing student grants, extending employment insurance benefits, spending on colleges and universities, and investment in clean technology was over 80 per cent.

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New law proposed to shift bank failure risk from taxpayers

anada will introduce legislation to implement a “bail-in” regime for systemically important banks that would shift some of the responsibility for propping up failing institutions to creditors.

The proposed plan outlined in the federal budget released on Tuesday would allow authorities to convert eligible long-term debt of a failing lender into common shares in order to recapitalize the bank, allowing it to remain operating. The plan is in line with international efforts to address the potential risks to the financial system from institutions that are deemed too big to fail, the budget document

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said. The issue was at the heart of the 2008 global credit crisis, with various governments having to bail out systemically important institutions. Canada, which escaped the crisis relatively unscathed, did not have to rescue any of its banks though they got billions in support during the crisis and the recession that followed. The government said it will introduce framework legislation for the plan, along with enhancements to Canada’s bank resolution toolkit. When the Harper government floated the idea of a bail-in regime in 2014, Moody’s cut its ratings on Canadian banks.

MasterCard unveils more details about ‘selfie pay’ phone authentication

f you could verify your purchase for that food processor on Amazon with a wink and a nod instead of a traditional password, would you? That’s what BMO Financial Group and MasterCard are banking on, as they revealed new details Wednesday about their biometric authentication program, colloquially known as “selfie pay.” The A MasterCard user authenticates an online purchase with a selfie program, called Mastercheck Card Identity Check, requires users to upload einew biometric measures are designed to be ther their fingerprint data or a photo of their both more secure and easier to use than traface when creating a profile. When you make ditional password security. Fingerprint infora purchase online with a card that uses Mas- mation is stored locally on the user’s smartterCard’s SecureCode features, you’ll receive phone. Facial information, however, is stored a notification on your phone to check your on MasterCard’s servers. Both are hashed and ID against your fingerprint or face profile. encrypted before being stored. “The security Checking the fingerprint will use a finger- that passwords are meant to provide is comprint scanner already available on the iPhone promised by the very nature of the fact that and some Android phones. If you choose we have so many of them to remember,” Murto use your face, you look into the phone’s chie said on Wednesday. But with biometrics camera and blink — the last part makes sure like face and fingerprint data, “the person is someone isn’t just holding up a photograph now becoming the password.” Annual lists of of your face. Once verified, the program will the “worst passwords” regularly report that return you to the online merchant’s site to people often use easy-to-remember passcomplete the purchase. Passwords are bad. words like “12345678” and “password,” makAre biometrics better? Catherine Murchie, a ing them easy prey for cybercriminals. senior vice president at MasterCard, says the

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Federal budget 2016: Highlights of Bill Morneau’s first budget

inance Minister Bill Morneau has tabled a budget that forecasts big deficits over the next five years and beyond to finance a new tax-free monthly child benefit, more money for First Nations, infrastructure spending and extended employment insurance benefits to hard-hit regions.

Here are some highlights of Bill Morneau’s first budget: Deficit: $29.4 billion this year, $29 billion the next before falling - but no surplus forecast before the next election.

Debt: Expected to grow by $113 billion by 2020-21, but debt-to-GDP ratio to stay mostly flat at around 32 per cent.

Growth: Deficit based on 0.4% annual growth - much lower than economists predict.

Canada Child Benefit: New monthly tax-free payments starts July 1 to replace UCCB and other tax measures: up to $6,400 a year per child under 6, and $5,400 those aged 6 to 18. But this amount begins to claw back for households with an income over $30,000 and is eliminated entirely for incomes over $190,000.

Tax credits: Children’s arts and fitness tax credits phased out by end of 2017. But teach-

ers get a $150 credit for teaching materials.

EI: Changes make it easier to qualify for benefits, and extends benefits for workers in 12 hard-hit regions. Plus: a bigger-than-expected cut in EI premiums next January.

Infrastructure: $120 billion over 10 years, focusing first on public transit, water, waste management and housing infrastructure.

Indigenous Peoples: $8.4 billion over five years, with $2.6 billion of that to improve primary and secondary education on reserves. Other funding for drinking water and housing, as well as family and child services.

Student grants: Increased 50%, to $3,000 for low-income and $1,200 for middle-income students.

Arts: $1.9 billion over five years for arts and culture organizations, including the Canada Council, Telefilm Canada and the National Arts Centre. $675 million to “modernize and revitalize CBC/Radio-Canada in the digital era.”

Seniors: Guaranteed Income Supplement increased by up to $947 annually.

Veterans: Reopens nine service offices, increases amounts payable to injured veterans and indexes some benefits to inflation.

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Saturday, March 26, 2016

SGPC budget on March 31

he promotion of education and career-oriented coaching would top the agenda of SGPC’s budget for 2016-17, to be presented on March 31. Making the Miri Piri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Haryana functional tops the list.

This was disclosed by SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar who chaired an executive committee meeting here today. The previous budget (2015-16) was of Rs993.23 crore. It was around 10 per cent higher as compared to 2014-15 budget of Rs905 crore.

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budget, Makkar said Rs104 crore would be sanctioned to commence the medical institute at Shahbad. The project was started in 2006 but has been hanging fire as the previous Congress government in Haryana was reluctant to issue the requisite no-objection certificate (NOC) to it.

At present, only the hospital is being run from the premises with a grant of Rs5 crore per annum from the SGPC. “We have got the NOC for the college. The institute will be made operational in two years,” he said.

Lien on former IAS officer’s R s 1-cr property

he Enforcement Directorate has attached properties worth Rs97.16 lakh of retired IAS officer and former Commissioner of Jalandhar Division Swaran Singh in connection with a six-year-old scam related to the birth centenary celebrations of Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

Swaran had been posted as chairman of the Punjab Arts Council. The matter was probed by the Vigilance Bureau, among others. Bogus bills were raised in the name of not only event managers and suppliers but also top Bollywood personalities, the inquiries had revealed.

MP: Revised Bill on desecration undemocratic

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erming the Bill on desecration passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha as stringent and undemocratic, Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi has claimed that the government can misuse it for its own personal interests rather than solving the crucial issue of sacrilege. Gandhi said, “If at all the government wants to save Punjab from any such incidents in future, they should find effective ways to check sacrilege of religious scriptures.” De-

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manding repealing of the new Bill enacted by state lawmakers to award life imprisonment to those involved in desecration of Guru Granth Sahib and 10 years for other religious scriptures, Gandhi says if the government and other mainstream political were so keen to make brownie points out of this sensitive and volatile religious issue, there were dozens of other effective ways to check sacrilege, including manual surveillance and installation of CCTV cameras at all such places.

Khaps threaten to block Punjab’s access to Delhi

ith the Punjab Government not relenting on the SYL canal in spite of the Supreme Court (SC) ordering status quo on the matter, Haryana khaps have threatened to block Punjab’s access to New Delhi. “Khaps do not want to take any illegal action, but the Punjab Government continues to defy law,” said Tek Ram Kandela, Haryana convener of the Sarv Khap Panchayat (SKP). The decision was taken at a meeting of khap leaders at Kan-

dela village in Jind district today.Khaps, he said, would block roads indefinitely, cutting off Punjab’s access to the national capital to teach the state a lesson for its anti-Haryana decision. “We will wait for some more days before blocking roads.” Khaps have influence in Bhiwani, Jind, Sonepat, Rohtak, Panipat, Mahendragarh, Gurgaon, Jhajjar, Karnal, Kaithal, Faridabad and Palwal districts. Nafe Singh Nain, SKP president, said: “Punjab is cheating Haryana.

SAD leader’s bus claims another life

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n yet another mishap, a bus belonging to New Deep Transport Company, which is owned by SAD leader from Gidderbaha Hardeep Singh Dhillon, claimed life of The bus belonging to Satnam Singh New Deep Transport (40) of Chakk Company which was Rode Wala village in Lakho Ke involved in the accident Behram block of the district today. The incident took place when the bus was on the way to Muktsar from Ferozepur. It allegedly hit the victim, who was going back to his village on a motorcycle. He died on the spot.

Name Chandigarh airport after Bhagat Singh, Congress tells BJP

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mid a raging debate on nationalism, the Opposition Congress today asked the ruling BJP why it recently blocked a move to rename an airport terminal at Chandigarh after Bhagat Singh if it was so nationalistic as to constantly swear by the martyr. “If you are such nationalists and you genuinely respect Shaheed Bhagat Singh, why did your government in Haryana stand in the way of rechristening the international civil terminal at Chandigarh after the martyr?

Drug lord Kandola’s son surrenders

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fter the rejection of his anticipatory bail in the Supreme Court, Bally Singh (24), son of drug lord Raja Kandola, today surrendered before the Enforcement Directorate (ED’s) special court of the district and the sessions judge. Bally has been sent to judicial custody in the Kapurthala Modern Jail till the next date of hearing, March 28. The application of Kandola’s wife Rajwant Kaur, against whom too the ED had filed a chargesheet for violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, would also be decided on the same date. Kandolas’ lawyer Mandeep Singh Sachdev said Rajwant was currently unwell and admitted to a private hospital in New Delhi. ‘ICE king’ Kandola, who is already lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail, was arrested by the ED on August 24 last year following a chargesheet against him.

Saturday, March 26, 2016 i 27

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Saturday, March 26, 2016 628 ii Saturday - April 4, 2015

INDIA fOOD

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LeT wanted to kill Bal Thackeray, Headley tells court

he managed to escape from police custody.

I don’t have first-hand knowledge about this though,” Headley added. He also told special judge G.A. Sanap, who is hearing the 26/11 terror case against Jundal in a sessions court here, that he does not know who else was a target of the LeT apart from Thackeray. On Wednesday, Headley spilled the beans on how once the US financed his trip to Pakistan and also claimed that he had “donated” about Rs 70 lakh to the LeT till 2006, two years before the Mumbai attacks. He, however, contradicted reports that he had received money from the LeT. “I never received money from LeT... This is complete nonsense. I gave funds to LeT myself. I had donated more than 60 to 70 lakh Pakistani rupees to LeT throughout the period I was associated with them.

My last donation was in 2006,” Headley told Ingredients the court. also said that after his arrest • 250gHe boneless chicken in 1998, the Drug Enforcement Authority • 2tbsp rapeseed oil (DEA) of the US had financed his trip.

• 1 medium red onion • 3 large tomatoes • ½ cup cashew nuts • 100g tomato puree • 1 tbsp dried fenugreek leaves 100ml low fat cream wo months after India and France dis- visit • of French President Francois Hollande • 1tsp garam masala agreed on the pricing of the 36 Rafale in January, a memorandum of understand• 1tsp red chilli powder fighter jets, the two sides are set to re-start ne- ing (MoU) was signed as the first step to1tbsp ginger- garlic paste gotiations on the issue. India, in January this wards• signing a formal inter-governmental • 2tbsp thick low fat yoghurt year, did not accept the price quoted by Rafale agreement (IGA). Only the pricing had to be • salt to taste manufacturers—Dassault Aviation. The com- decided.

Specific aspects were discussed on pany was asked to come up with a fresh quote reducing the price, a top functionary said. on pricing. Sources said French negotiators Last-minute efforts to ink the IGA for the Procedure: would reach New Delhi on March 29. purchase of jets duringHeat Hollande’s Marinate the chicken with the ginger garlic paste and the yoghurt for 20 min. soak the cashew in warm water for 15 minutes.chop the onions tomatoes.

1 tbsp visit had Within the Ministry of Defence, a bench- come to and a 1tbsp naughtoilasand Newthe Delhi was not hapoil to a pan. sear the chicken pieces in the hot oil for 1 minute on each side to a golden colour. remove the chicken pieces. in the same pan, add chopped mark figure has been decided upon and in py with the pricing. The French President onions. saute till a translucent pink. Add the tomatoes, red chili powder, garam masala powder andcan cook medium flame said till the are tender (approx. 4-5 no way this beon changed.

Sources thetomatoes was quoted asBring having figure of $9 bilminutes). remove from flame and run in a blender with the soaked cashews to make a smooth paste. return to the pan and add the tomato puree. to cited a boilaand add benchmark was close to $7 billion (Rs 46,000 lion for 36 jets, including two types of misthe chicken pieces. simmer for 4-5 minutes till the chicken is cooked. Add the low fat cream for 2dollar minutes.

Broil the fenugreek leaves on a pan. crush the crore,and as simmer on today’s rates).

Anything siles (air-to-ground and air-to-air), training fenugreek leaves over the curry and remove from fire. serve hot. beyond that would be impossible to justify of pilots, bombs and base facilities for planes. within the country. During the three-day ashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) wanted to eliminate Bal Thackeray but the person who was assigned the job to kill the late Shiv Sena chief was arrested.

The 55-year-old, who has turned approver in the terror case, disclosed this fact during a cross-examination on the second day by Abdul Wahab Khan, the lawyer of Abu Jundal, an alleged key plotter of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, via a video link from the US. Headley also told the court that he had visited the Sena Bhavan twice. He, however, did not specify the year for the same. “We wanted to target the chief of Shiv Sena... His name was Bal Thackeray. LeT wanted to kill him wherever a chance arose. I knew that Bal Thackeray was the head of Shiv Sena. I have no first-hand knowledge but I think an attempt was made by LeT to kill Bal Thackeray,” he said. “I don’t know how this attempt was made. I think the person (who was sent to kill Thackeray) was arrested but

Rafale fighter jet talks to restart when French negotiators arrive on March 29

chicken (no butter) Masala T Your favourite butter chicken but without the butter and added calories!

INDIA

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Indian missing in Brussels

n Infosys employee from Ben- injured in the explosions at Zaventem airport galuru has been missing in and Swaraj said they are recovering well. She Brussels since yesterday’s dead- said the government was coordinating with Jet Airways to evacuate Indian ly terror attacks and the Indian citizens. “The airport is still not Embassy in the Belgian capital open. This may take some time.” was making efforts to locate Meanwhile, the Delhi, Punhim. The missing employee jab and Assam police have been has been identified as Raghavalerted about a former Pakistani endran Ganesh. soldier entering India through “We are doing our best to Pathankot to carry out attacks locate Ganesh,” External Afon hotels and hospitals in New fairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Raghavendran Ganesh Delhi during Holi. Security agentweeted. He hails from Bengaluru. “I have spoken to his mother and cies said Mohammad Khurshid Alam alias assured her that we will spare no effort to Jahangir, a former Pakistan armyman who locate her son in Brussels,” Swaraj tweet- worked as a recruiter, coordinator and guide ed. The mother said Ganesh had spoken for jihadi elements in Assam, had crossed to her some time before the explosions. over to India on February 26 along with six Two Jet Airways crew members were also terrorists. —

Woman, outraged at Mallya, prefers jail to paying fine for traveling without a ticket

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44-year-old woman from an affluent family, caught for travelling without a ticket on a local train on Sunday, chose to go to jail for a week instead of paying a Rs 260 fine. The outraged woman said the authorities should first arrest and recover the Rs 9,000-plus crores that liquor baron Vijay Mallya owes the country’s banks.

The woman, a mother of two who lives in a high-rise building in the plush Bhuleshwar neighbourhood in south Mumbai, was caught by a ticket checker on Sunday at Mahalaxmi station. When they told her to cough up the fine, she said they should first arrest Mallya, the Railway Police here said.

“She was produced in the magistrate’s

court today (Tuesday) and asked to pay the fine. But she declined and chose to go to jail for seven days,” said a security officer at the Mumbai division of Western Railway. she shows the real courage, yes we should nail the thief and crook mallaya, who looted to banks and employees also.

If we do not pay single emi banks and their make our life hell how does this ra... Read MoreManish Kanodia “...she spent nearly 12 hours arguing with railway officials, demanding to know why the authorities were going soft on Mallya and harassing the common man,” a police officer said. Fed up, the police summoned the woman’s husband. He, too, failed to convince his wife. She insisted on serving the seven-day jail term.

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Saturday, March 26, 2016 i 29

Resolution introduced in US House to bring India on par with NATO allies

Congressional resolution aiming to bring India on a par with America’s NATO allies in terms of trade and technology transfer, besides elevating its status in export of defence articles from the US, has been introduced ahead of Defense Secretary Ashton Carter’s visit to India. Introduced by Congressman George Holding, Co-Chair of the House India Caucus, the US-India Defense Technology and Partnership Act (HR 4825) proposes to amends the Arms Export Control Action so as to formalise India’s status for the purpose of congressional notifications as a major partner of equal status as America’s treaty allies and closest partners. “This legislation will cement the process that has already been made and will lay a foundation for future cooperation and growth,” Holding told the US House of Representatives.

“This legislation will elevate India’s status by shortening the time required for the no-

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tification of sale or export of defence articles from the United States to India. It will encourage more joint contingency planning and require the US government review and assess India’s ability to execute military operations of mutual interest,” Holding said. Welcoming the resolution, introduced ahead of US Defense Secretary Carter’s visit to India early next month, the US India Business Council (USIBC) said it sent an important signal to the Indian defence establishment that today’s political conditions were different from the past. “This Bill not only puts India on a par with other NATO allies it sends a clear signal that defence cooperation should be a top priority for both governments,” Holding said.

Defence trade between the US and India is one of the strongest areas of the bilateral economic relationship and has risen from $300 million to over $14 billion over the past 10 years, said Mukesh Aghi, USIBC president.

Former Pak soldier planning terror attacks in Delhi: Security agencies

he Delhi, Punjab and Assam police have been alerted about a former Pakistani soldier gaining entry into India through Punjab, with the intention of carrying out terror attacks in hotels and hospitals in the national capital during Holi.

In a communication, the central security agencies said Mohammad Khurshid Alam alias Jahangir, an ex-military personnel of Pakistan Army, who had worked as a recruiter, coordinator and guide of Jehadi elements in Assam, had crossed over to India from Pakistan through the India-Pak border in Pathankot on February 26 along with six hardcore terrorists. “The intention of this group is to kill citizens in Delhi in hotels and hospitals

on or before Holi,” the communication said.

The agencies said Alam had visited a madrasa in Barpeta district in Assam in September 2015. The ex-Pakistan armyman had stayed in the madrasa for five days and thereafter left for Chirang district, bordering Bhutan. Those madrasas should be closed immediately. This is unacceptable and the persons who provided him shelter should be arrested as welljose.varghese14 Alam had used another madrasa in Dhubri district in Assam as his base and used to visit other parts of the state, it said.

In Dhubri, a teacher of the madrasa provided all required logistical support to Alam, the communication added.

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Saturday, March 26, 2016

INDIA

Government to build 2.95 crore houses for rural poor

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ontinuing on its rural policy tilt unveiled recently with the Union budget, the government on Wednesday approved the “House for All” scheme to construct 2.95 crore houses in rural areas, setting a 2022 deadline. The Centre has already rolled out the urban component of the scheme with a target of two crore houses.

The estimated expenditure for implementing the housing project from 2016-19 is Rs 81,975 crore. “It is proposed that one crore households would be provided assistance for construction of pucca house from 2016 to 2019. The scheme would be implemented in rural areas throughout India except Delhi and Chandigarh,” a Cabinet statement said after the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Taken together with the budget proposals, the recast rural housing scheme — earlier known as Indira Awas Yojana — reflects the government’s resolve to woo Bharat and go where the votes are. It seeks to balance the perception about its in-

terest areas and buffer itself from the charges of being a “suit boot sarkar”. The recent finance budget has made higher allocations for rural economy and the poor. Of the total expenditure estimated in housing for all, Rs 68,000 crore would be provided through budgetary provisions, telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters, adding the rest of Rs 21,975 crore will come from borrowing through Nabard.

US financed my Pak trip once: Headley

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akistani-American terrorist David Headley today said the US had once financed his trip to Pakistan and also claimed that he had “donated” about Rs 70 lakh to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) till 2006, two years before the Mumbai attacks. The 55-year-old terrorist, who was cross-examined via a video link from the US, told the court that after his arrest in 1998, “The Drug Enforcement Authority (DEA) of the US financed my trip. I was in contact with DEA then, but it is not true that between 1988 and 1998 I was providing information or assisting

DEA”. Headley, who is serving a 35-year jail term in the US and has turned approver in the 26/11 case, contradicted reports that he had received money from the LeT. “I never received money from LeT... this is complete nonsense. I gave funds to LeT myself. I had donated more than 60 to 70 lakh Pakistani Rupees to LeT,” Headley told the court.

Headley refused to answer questions about his wife Shazia to whom he had disclosed about his links with LeT

Supreme Court has no jurisdiction over Muslim personal law, says AIMPLB

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esisting the Supreme Court’s suo motu decision to test the legal validity of triple talaq in Muslim personal law, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has said that the country’s top court has no jurisdiction to undertake the exercise as the community’s personal law was based on the Quran and not on a law enacted by Parliament.

The board also challenged the utility of

a uniform civil code which, it said, was no guarantee of national integrity and solidarity, arguing that a shared faith did not prevent Christian nations engaging in two World Wars. In a similar vein, the AIMPLB said the Hindu Code Bill had failed to eradicate caste discrimination.

Drawing a line between a law enacted by the legislature and social norms dictated by religion, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board through advocate Ejaz Maqbool told the Supreme Court,

“Mohammedan law is founded on the Holy Quran and Ahadith of the Prophet of Islam and this cannot fall within the purview of the expression ‘laws in force’, as mentioned in Article 13 of the Constitution.” “The personal law of Muslims has not been passed or made by a legislation,” it said. “Muslim personal law is a cultural issue, it is inextricably interwoven with the religion of Islam.

Thus, it is the issue of freedom of conscience guaranteed under Articles 25 and 26 read with Article 29 of the Constitution,” it said in an affidavit filed in court, quoting a series of SC judgments which apparently ruled that provisions of personal law could not be challenged for violation of fundamental rights. The SC had decided on its own to examine the rights of Muslim women, finding that there was no safeguard against arbitrary divorce by Muslim men. The 43-year-old organisation said there were periodic noises by a section of society demanding an uniform civil code. “If the SC lays down special rules for Muslim women it will amount to judicial legislation,” it said. “Is uniform civil code imperative to national unity, integrity and solidarity?” it asked and said if that been so, there would not have been two world wars between armies belonging to the same Christian religion. Countering the idea of uniform civil code, AIMPLB said the Hindu Code Bill, which was passed in 1956 to bring uniformity in personal law among different sects of Hindus, has failed to achieve integration among different sects of Hindus. “Are there not caste divisions which still exist and has caste become extinct? Is untouchability non-existent? Are there no grievances of Dalits about discriminatory treatment?,” the board said.

India beat Bangladesh in a one run thrilling finish

From page 1 ndia edged out Bangladesh ter being asked to bat by Banglaby one run in a thrilling desh captain Mashrafe Mortaza.

World Twenty20 match on Rohit Sharma (18) was the Wednesday to keep alive their first to fall, caught by Sabbir hopes of reaching the semi-finals. Rahman after skying a MusIndia posted a modest 146-7 tafizur Rahman delivery in the after being sent in to bat, but Ban- sixth over. gladesh lost three wickets, includShakib Al Hasan trapped Shiing a last-ball run out, in the final khar Dhawan (23) lbw in the over to fall to a narrow defeat. next over, to leave the hosts at Bangladesh put in a much-im- 45-2. proved performance with the ball Virat Kohli (24) and Suresh to restrict hosts India to 146-7.

Raina (30) steadied the ship for India, under pressure after be- India, adding 50 runs for the ing beaten by New Zealand in third wicket, but a disciplined their opening match, lost both performance by the Bangladesh openers in quick succession with bowlers kept the Indian batsless than 50 runs on the board af- men under constant pressure.

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FIJI

Indian farmers face a double whammy of cyclone and looting

By Munna Prasad

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he residents of Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki have been complaining of their farms being looted – mostly by native Fijians. But their complaints have fallen on deaf ears of the police, as the Police Commissioner says his officers are too busy distributing food to cyclone victims to protect their damaged homes. Professor Biman Prasad, leader of the National Federation Party, has also called on the government to improve the law and order situation in the country. The economy of cattle is very important in farming areas, in ploughing land, weeding and harvesting and transportation of cane. Indian farmers whose oxen have been stolen will not be able to carry out farm work. President Jioji Konrote made a tour of Dawaasamu, Tailevu and Namanai in Ra, and, during a press conference, he said that priority also should be given to repair damaged and police posts to ensure proper law and order. After the 1987,1989and 2000 coups and during every flooding since 1987, Indian farmers suffered a double whammy –

first at the hands of the natural disasters taking place, followed by native Fijians looting their damaged homes and shops. The cane farmers of Rakiraki are now complaining of the same atrocities as suffered by Muanveni farmers after the 200 coups. The government must remedy the situation without any delay; this no doubt will reduce the anxiety and added stress to the farmers and nearby settlements. The Fiji Electric Authority CEO Hashmukh Patel as stated that power lines are still down, heightening the fear in these areas. I would suggest that if that is done by the government, the non Christians will not require the PTSD counselling which is available only to Methodists and training is also only available to them according to Rev. Bhagwan, spokesperson for Fiji’s Methodists. The question asked by Professor Biman Prasad leader of National Federation Party in respect the third cane payment to the farmers has not been answered. The Executive Chair of Fiji Sugar Abdul Khan comes with a new excuse that the account has not been audited; I will leave it at that.

150,000 applications from FNPF members for cyclone relief

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he Fiji National Provident Fund has assured its members who have applied for the Severe TC Winston natural disaster assistance that it will divert all resources to this scheme to ensure all applications are processed as quickly as possible. Chief operating officer, Jaoji Koroi said they were focused on clearing all applications received from members.

Koroi said by end of business last Friday, 150,000 applications were received and of these, 48,714 applications worth $57.6million had been paid out He said applications received in the past three weeks were equivalent to what the fund would normally process over two years. “So we hope that members can understand and put into perspective the quantum of work required to process these applications,” Koroi said.

Dad caught smuggling marijuana into prison

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he public are being warned not to sneak into corrections facilities contrabands when visiting relatives and friends. This was after a parcel containing dried leaves believed to be marijuana was intercepted by corrections officers at the Vaturekuka facility in Labasa. A 49-year-old man was allegedly attempting to smuggle the parcel

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to his son. Assistant Commissioner Corrections operations, Joe Kulinidilo said his officers were doing their utmost best in trying to reform and rehabilitate inmates, but it was unfortunate that relatives and friends were doing the opposite. “I once again plead with the community to assist us in this tremendous task. If you really care for your friends and relatives do not bring contrabands,” said Mr Kulinidilo.

District Officer cleared of allegations of discrepancy in food ration distribution

he Office of the Commissioner Northern has cleared Taveuni district officer Kalivati Rabuka of all allegations made against him regarding the discrepancies of food ration distribution on the island. Commissioner Northern Jovesa Vocea said most allegations were personal issues that were unjustifiable. Vocea said they had sent a team to Taveuni to carry out investigations, adding that these reports had been forwarded

to the National Emergency Operation Centre in Suva. Vocea said most reports were unsubstantiated. “Therefore, I had told the DO Taveuni not to be swayed by the allegations and to continue with the work at hand,” he said.

“The most important work here is to rebuild lives and to use the limited resources we have to rehabilitate the devastation left behind by TC Winston. “Scenes like these happen all the time and there is bound to be reports like the ones made, every time.”

Saturday, March 26, 2016

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Rain brings relief to cane farmers

ain across the Western Division cane belt area over the past few days has been hailed as a godsend by farmers.

Sugar Cane Growers Council CEO Sundresh Chetty said the rain boosted crops damaged

by Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston. “It could not have come at a better time,” he said.

“Farmers in Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki had suffered with two consecutive dry weather spells, TC Winston and for some areas, there was flooding. “Immediately after Winston had passed, Tavua and Rakiraki had no rainfall and

this seriously impeded any attempts by farmers to revitalise their crops. “So this rain has given them the boost they needed.” Mr Chetty said while the rain was a boost to crops, it had impacted farmers whose homes had been damaged. “We really feel for these growers because their homes are not capable of keeping out the rain and we hope that relief supplies like tarpaulins and tents reach them as soon as possible.” Damage to the sugarcane industry was pegged at more than $120million with $87m assigned to crop damage.

Tropical depression heading towards Fiji

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tropical depression has been located to the west of Vanuatu. The Fiji Meteorological Service says TD13F is moving southward and it is expected to lie southwest of the Fiji Group in the coming

days. According to FMS, the probability of the system developing into a cyclone in the next 24-48 hours is low to moderate. FMS says Fiji may experience rain associated with the system once it moves further south.

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Pakistan

Terror in name of faith is act of high treason: Cleric Qadri

se of religion to drive terrorism Islamic State or any Hindu outfit is using reshould be considered an act of ligion to perform terrorism, then very strong “high treason” and India and Pa- action should be taken,” the 65-year-old clerkistan must act tough to check radicalisation ic, who has a strong support base in Pakistan, said while addressing a gathering at Ramlila and spread of extremism, a powerful Maidan. Identifying terrorism Pakistani-Canadian cleric said at the as the biggest threat being faced World Sufi Forum. Muhammad

by India and Pakistan, he said Tahir-ul-Qadri said Pakistan , India the time had come to effectiveshould introduce counter-radicalisaly deal with terrorists as well tion curriculum in schools, colleges, as those who spread mischief universities, madrasas and religious and violence in the name of institutions to shield youths from religion. “Wherever terrorism being brainwashed into taking up exists, wherever are the roots, arms and doing evil things in the Cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri name of religion. “Wherever terror- with AIUMB chief Syed whatever are the groups, evism is promoted in the name of faith Mohd Kachhuchvi (left). erybody knows about it. Both India and Pakistan should take and religion should be considered an act of high treason,” he said. The cleric, whose common action. Unless terrorism is uprooted, massive protest in Islamabad a year and half the region will be deprived of development,” he ago had shaken the Nawaz Sharif dispensation, said. Pitching for a dialogue between India and said terror outfits exploiting religion to spread Pakistan, Qadri said both countries must deterrorism must be dealt with very strongly and cide whether they want to continue nearly sevthat they should not be forgiven at all. “This en decades of hostility or would prefer a path is a criminal act. If Jaish, Lashkar, al-Qaeda, of peace, economic growth and development.

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Pakistan Day celebrated at UN first time in history

EW YORK – For the first time in the history, Pakistan Day celebrations were held at the General Assembly hall of the United Nations. Diplomats from around 140 countries, UN officials, civil society representatives, media and members of the Pakistani diaspora were present during the celebrations. A concert, titled “Sufi Night”:

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Music of Peace was organised by the Pakistan Mission to the UN, and Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan performed in the concert. During the performance, Rahat Fateh Ali sung his popular songs. On the occasion, United Nations Secretary General Ban-ki Moon stunned the audience by wishing in Urdu language.

Diwali celebrations in Pakistan

or the first time, Pakistan declared a public holiday to mark the Hindu festival of Holi. Hindus across Pakistan celebrated the religious festival of colours on last week that is now officially marked in Pakistan as a public holiday. Holi, which is celebrated with the onset of spring and is widely recognised for the throwing and applying of coloured powders on friends and family, kicked off. This month the government accepted a resolution for public holidays on the annual festivals of minority communitites,

which was presented by a ruling party politician in the National Assembly - Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, who is also patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council. “This year it was not just Hindus celebrating Holi. We had people from different backgrounds and religion celebrating with us, throwing coloured powders and distributing sweets,” Aroon Kumar Kundnani, coordinator of the Pakistan-Hindu Council told Al Jazeera.

“The government of Pakistan provided security this year, which never happened before.” In Karachi Hindus gathered in the Swami Narayan Mandir to celebrate Diwali. “Changes are slow but they are happening. Whether it was Muslim or Christian, people from all over were celebrating with us,” Amar Nath Rangwa told Al Jazeera. “At least today it seemed like we were one.” Holi is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and countries with large Hindu populations.

Hindus in Pakistan make up only about three percent of the 190 million population and mostly live in southern Sindh province. Christians represent about 1.6 percent of the population. The Christian community in Pakistan has long been the target of attacks, hate crimes, and blasphemy cases.

20 dead after consuming spurious liquor in Sindh

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t least 17 Hindus were among 20 people died after consuming spurious liquor during Holi celebrations in the city of Tando Muhammed Khan, Sindh, Southern Province in Pakistan two years after a similar tragedy struck the country’s southern province. Police said 34 people were rushed to a hospital in the Tando Mohammad Khan district, where 20 of them, including two women, died. “Three of the patients are in a critical condition while 11 have been discharged,” the medical superintendant of Liaquat University Hospital, Wajid Memon, was quoted as saying in Karachi by GeoNews. A senior police official said they consumed the liquor to celebrate Holi. “They had brought the cheap moonshine from a local dealer,” he said. Residents staged a protest against the police for failing to stop the illegal sale of hooch in their neighbourhood. Following the protest, the area station house officer has been suspended and two persons have been arrested for brewing the illegal drink.

SOUTH ASIA

Bangladesh confirms first Zika virus case, patient never been overseas

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an, with Brazil the hardest hit. It is likely to angladesh confirmed on Tuesday its spread to all countries in the Americas except first case of the Zika virus in an old for Canada and Chile, the World Health Orsample of blood from a 67-year old ganization (WHO) has said. The WHO estiman who had not been overseas, health minmates Zika could eventually affect as many istry officials said. Mahmudur Rahman, direcas 4 million people in the region. Some cases tor of the ministry’s Institute of Epidemiology, have been found in Asia, officials in the reDisease Control and Research, said the man gion have said. Zika is carried by mosquihad never travelled outside Bangladesh. toes that transmit the virus to humans and The man lives in southeastern port city of it has been linked to a spike in microcephChittagong and was well, junior aly, a rare birth defect, health minister Zahid Maleque in Brazil. The WHO detold a news conference. None of clared the Zika outbreak his relatives had tested positive, an international health he said. From around the web. emergency on Feb. 1, citMahmudur Rahman, director ing a “strongly suspected” of the ministry’s Institute of Epirelationship between Zika demiology, Disease Control and infection in pregnancy Research, said the man had never and microcephaly, which travelled outside Bangladesh. The Zika virus patient can result in developman lives in southeastern port city mental problems.

However, much remains of Chittagong and was well, junior health minunknown about Zika, including whether the ister Zahid Maleque told a news conference. virus actually causes microcephaly in babies.

None of his relatives had tested positive, he Brazil said it has confirmed more than 860 said. “The virus was found in the man as we cases of microcephaly, and considers most of tested old blood samples of nearly 1,000 people them to be related to Zika infections in the afflicted with fever in 2014 and 2015,” Rahman mothers. Brazil is investigating more than told Reuters. The Zika outbreak is affecting 4,200 additional suspected cases of microlarge parts of Latin America and the Caribbecephaly.

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Schoolgirls looking for selfies with Prince Harry during his tour of Nepal

For families who will rince Harry brought soon face their second some much-needmonsoon season uned cheer to Nepal’s der canvas, the Prince’s earthquake victims as he visit was a welcome disvisited families still living traction as he posed for in tents almost a year after pictures with them and the disaster. He was shown said the “whole world” around a camp for homeless wanted to help. More families in Kathmandu by Prince Harry (middle) during his visit than 9,000 people died in 14-year-old Purushotam Suto the village of Leorani, Nepal. the earthquake last April, wal, who said the Prince was and the Prince saw how Britain is helping the as famous in Nepal as soccer superstar David survivors with a $40-million aid program.

Beckham.

PM says Nepal gets Chinese help to reduce dependence on India

hina and Nepal have taken joint steps to intensify economic relationship and drastically reduce Nepal’s dependence on India on several issues including supply of petroleum products, railway connectivity and use of Chinese seaports. Nepali prime minister KP Sharma Oli returned Chinese financial generosity with a statement that might cause some alarm in New Delhi. Nepal will not allow any activity on the Nepali terri-

Saturday, March 26, 2016

tory that will impair China’s interests, the official Chinese media quoted Oli as saying. He even tried to match Pakistani leaders in their flattery of China when he said that “Nepal’s relationship with China is higher than the Mount Everest, and superior than the Great Wall.” Pakistani leaders often say the relationship between their country and China is higher than the Himalayas.

Bangladesh top court confirms Islamist’s death sentence

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angladesh supreme court has upheld the death penalty of a top Islamist militant for carrying out a bomb attack in 2005 that had left eight secular activists dead, authorities said on Thursday..

“The appellate division of the supreme

court yesterday (Wednesday) confirmed the death penalty of JMB (Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh) operative Asaduzzaman Chowdhury, upholding the trial court and the subsequent high court judgments,” a spokesman of the attorney general’s office told PTI.

India gives power supply to Bangladesh

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rime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated by remote control 100 MW power supply from Tripura’s Palatana to Bangladesh. At the same time, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina provided 10 GB Internet bandwidth to India and the entire programme was held through video-conferencing. “In this age of interdependence, the two countries would further strengthen their ties and it is a significant day that both are promoting the

ways of development,” Modi said.

Hasina said that “the relation between the countries has further consolidated through the supply of power and Internet bandwidth.” “Bangladesh would observe its National Day on March 26 and I pay my respect to the memory of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh. The era of good relations began during the time of ‘Bangabandhu’ between the two countries, which still continues,” Modi said.

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Indian-origin researcher working to beat ‘superbugs’

esearchers, including one of the Indian-origin, have developed novel peptide-like analogs or peptoids that have the similar antimicrobial properties as peptides but more robust. The discovery paves the way for the creation of new generation antibiotics that can defeat the socalled multi-drug resistant bacteria “superbugs”. Like proteins, peptides are are chains of amino acids that participate in the metabolic system of living organisms and the immune system. They are the first line of defense against a broad range of pathogens and are released by the body in the earliest stage of infection. These peptides are attractive antimicrobials. However, they degrade in the body and have the short half-life. Rinki Kapoor along with her PhD advisor and professor Annelise Barron of Stanford University studied novel

mimics of antimicrobial peptides or peptoids for their antibacterial activity against multidrug resistant bacteria, also known as superbugs. In one of their studies, they showed that peptoids kill resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa — one of the leading bug causing hospital associated infections.

The group synthesised seven different peptoids and compared their activity with three different antibiotics. In a separate study, Kapoor and Barron also revealed that peptoids kill resistant Mycobacteria — bacteria responsible for causing Tuberculosis, a leading cause of death worldwide. In this study, published in the journal of antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy (AAC), they evaluated the efficacy of six different peptoids against Mycobacteria.

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Indian-American publisher drops support to Donald Trump

udhir Parikh, a prominent Indian-American doctor and publisher has dissociated himself from “Indian Americans for Trump 2016”, a group supporting Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.. “I allowed myself to be identified with that group because some members of the group are friends of mine,” he said in an emailed statement.. “I wish to clarify that I no longer belong to the group and I do not support the candidacy of Mr Donald Trump,” Parikh, founder chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media publishing house, said without

“For over three decades I have supported both Democrat and Republican candidates based on their individual merits and their commitment to the interests of the Indian-American community and US-India reassigning any reason.

lations,” he wrote.

“I remain committed to this course,” added Parikh, who had been named chair of fundraising and advisory committee of Indian-Americans for Trump 2016 formed in January.

NRI sets up gay marriage agency for Indians

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n NRI settled in the US has started first-of-its kind portal which will serve as a customised marriage agency for homosexuals to find life partners in India.. Benhur Samson, who has been working in the field of medical tourism and helping gay couples have children through surrogacy, said he decided to start the service arrangegaymarriage.com for homosexuals to get life partners after receiving requests from his clients.. “In June when (US President Barack) Obama declared marriage equality rights. I realised that while so many heterosexuals were visiting India to get married, then why not do the same for homosexuals,” Samson told PTI over phone from Hyderabad.. He said that his customised marriage agency for gay couples is different from numerous dating sites that cater to gays as here they familiarise themselves with the clients for nearly a year before finding their partner, based on their requirements. He claimed that he has already received nearly 250 enquiries from gays, mostly Indians, and his agency has already helped 29 couples tie the knot through the portal. The agency conducts background checks as well as counselling. “We have received enquiries from about 250 clients, mostly from India, of which one-fifth have enrolled, as not everybody can enrol because fee is USD 5,000. We promise them a year’s time to set them up with the partner they are looking Samson said that the idea of the portal came up because several of his gay clients, opting for surrogacy services, were visiting India to get their babies where they’d find partners and would like to stay together. “We have been doing this since last eight years. I have been in international medical tourism and our clients would visit India to take their babies and will fall in love. We’d help them out and were already counselling them on their choice of couples.

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