The Asian Star April 30 2016

www.theasianstar.com Vol 15 Issue 13 Saturday, April 30, 2016

Tel: 604-591-5423

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www.theasianstar.com

Vol 15

Tel: 604-591-5423

Issue 13 Saturday, April 30, 2016

Premier’s double pay under review

P

remier Christy Clark is defending her annual stipend of up to $50,000 from BC’s Liberal party, on top of her $195,000 annual Premier and MLA’s salary. “It’s been publicly disclosed since 1993,” Clark told reporters Wednesday about a policy the Liberal party called a long-standing tradition. “I guess I would have happily disclosed it last year if you’d asked me. Clark was fending off attacks from NDP Leader John Horgan, who alleged she benefits from donations at high-priced Liberal fundraisers. “Big money is staying in politics largely because the premier’s benefiting from it,” he said.

Continued on page 10

T

A Christy Clark

South Asian realtor suspended for getting imposter to write his realty

he Real Estate Council of B.C. has suspended the license of a Langley realtor who admitted that an imposter wrote his real estate licensing exam.

According to an order posted on the council’s website, Ryan Rana admitted he didn’t take the test himself after he was confronted with a discrepancy between a passport photo shown at the exam and the photograph on his website.

Ryan has also been put on administrative leave from his second job – as a special constable at BC’s Forensic Psychiatric Hospital. And his friend, who allegedly wrote the real estate exam for him, Indeep (Ted) Singh Aulakh, has been suspended as a mortgage broker by FIUCOM (Financial Institutions Commission).

“During that phone call Ryan Rana admitted that he did not write the licensing examination and that someone else had written it for him,” the order reads.

The council obtained an order “in urgent circumstances” suspending Rana’s

license and that of his personal real estate corporation ahead of a full disciplinary hearing.

According to the RECBC’s website, someone claiming to be Rana first attempted to take the Sauder School of Business Real Estate Trading Services licensing examination on Nov. 26, 2015.

The “person claiming to be Ryan

Continued on page 9

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Air Canada offers direct Vancouver to Delhi flights

ir Canada is launching a nonstop service between Vancouver and New Delhi in October, thus securing for Vancouver International Airport one of the most sought-after routes in the local community.

Airline officials say the thrice-weekly flights will start on Oct. 20 — in time for the Diwali festivities, one of the most important holidays in the South Asian community. Air Canada said Metro Vancouver’s enormous South Asian community has demanded the flight for many years. However, it was only with the addition last summer of the superefficient Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to Air Canada’s fleet that a YVR-Delhi flight made economic sense. Other programs, such as YVR’s ConnectYVR rate program for air carriers, were also significant factors. “The (ConnectYVR) program provides a highly competitive rate structure and includes rates lower than any other major airport in Canada and competing U.S. airports,” Air Canada said. Vancouver Airport Authority president Craig Richmond said the flight — which officials have

worked on for at least three years — was among the most desired routes by the local community.

“After Paris, it was probably the mostrequested direct flight destination,” Richmond said. “The comments from the business community even from the (Indian) consulate about how we can get this up and running, make this a very big development for us.” Projections show the flights will add 94 jobs in B.C. and $5.4 million in GDP annually, as well as $1.9 million in taxes and $3.4 million in wages.

But it’s the intangibles that come with a direct air link that will have the biggest potential, Richmond said. “What’s really exciting is what other business opportunities will occur here that we can’t even imagine right now?” he said. “What can be sold back and forth with a direct flight?

What transfer of knowledge in sectors like the high-tech industry can happen?”

The new flight will offer fastest elapsed flying time from YVR, Calgary, Edmonton, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles to Delhi To promote the new Vancouver-Delhi route, Air Canada is offering special intro-

Continued on page 10

Vancouver among 9 cities with growing signs of real estate overvaluation – CMHC warns

he Crown Corporation which monitors the housing market in the country says there may be overvaluation and overbuilding in some Canadian cities.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said that overvaluation can be “detected” in nine of the 15 cities it monitors with overbuilding recorded in seven.

“While we see weak evidence of problematic conditions for Canada, we do detect moderate evidence of overvaluation. This

means that house prices are higher than levels that can be supported by fundamental factors such as income growth and population growth,” said Bob Dugan, chief economist with CMHC. CMHC’s valuation is part of its quarterly Housing Market Assessment, something the Crown corporation calls an early warning system, alerting Canadians to areas of concern developing in our housing markets so that they may take

action in a way that promotes market stability. Since its last assessment, CMHC added Vancouver, Hamilton, and Saskatoon to cities where housing prices may be overvalued. The averaged detached home in metro Vancouver is about $1.2 million today and prices are rising about 23 per cent year over year in Canada’s most expensive city for home ownership.

Continued on page 6

4 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

A

OPINION

Canada is subsidizing foreign millionaires

nyone who has spent time in Vancouver recently knows there is one topic everyone talks about: real estate.

The frenzied housing market, where tear-down homes sell for millions of dollars, is showing no sign of slowing down. In fact, 2016 is already breaking records for sales.

According to the Economist, Vancouver is the most expensive city in North America and the second-least affordable housing market in the world, after Hong Kong.

The average detached home now sells for over $2.2 million.

While wealthy foreign investors swoop in to buy homes that often sit empty, the city has become unaffordable for everyday people.

What’s going on in Vancouver, and will the phenomenon spread to other cities in Canada?

The problem, in part, can be blamed on Canada’s immigration rules — particularly the Immigration Investor Program.

Under the so-called investor program, wealthy immigrants could hand over $800,000 to the federal government in exchange for permanent residency.

Five years later, the government would return the money with no strings attached.

That’s it. If you had $800,000, or could access it through loans and mortgages, you could get a Canadian passport.

This program was a disaster.

A 2014 government report showed that after 10 years in Canada, the average immigrant who came through this investor program had a taxable salary of only $15,800.

One in three immigrant investors did not file a tax return — claiming zero income in Canada.

After a decade, these millionaire investors paid on average only $1,400 in annual taxes.

By contrast, the average immigrant who came through the skilled worker program earned $46,800 annually and paid $10,900 in income taxes.

Far from being a boon to our economy and

creating jobs, these so-called investors are actually a drain on our social system.

A study by the University of British Columbia points out the high level of welfare dependency among those living in Vancouver’s wealthiest neighbourhoods. Upwards of 30% of adults in these upscale communities report poverty-level incomes.

Neighbourhoods where homes typically sell in the $2 million to $6 million range also have the city’s highest welfare levels.

Under the immigrant investor program, a typical scenario might see a foreign businessman buying a house, then sending his wife and children to live in Canada while he remains overseas.

No one is earning income in Canada, so this family qualifies for welfare.

Our taxes are buying their champagne and caviar.

And don’t forget they use Canada’s free health care and education systems, without paying taxes.

The Harper government shut down this investor scam in 2012, but the impact is still being felt.

Liberal Immigration Minister John McCallum recently suggested the investor program may be coming back.

He told reporters the government is weighing its options and considering next steps.

Reopening this program would be a colossal mistake.

Instead, the government should look to Australia which, dealing with a similar housing problem, implemented a rule that restricted foreign ownership to new construction.

Canadian citizenship should not be for sale.

Courtesy: Candice Malcolm

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, April 30, 2016

i 5

6 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

Local Vancouver among 9 cities with growing signs of real estate overvaluation – CMHC warns

From page 1 The Crown corporation says there “strong “Over that (period), we’ve seen perievidence of problematic conditions� in the ods where prices are up in Vancouver overall market for Toronto, Calgary, Saska- and prices are down as well. That mix toon and Regina. Toronto’s issues are price of conditions means we haven’t gotacceleration and overvaluation. In Calgary, ten acceleration above the threshold yet Saskatoon and Regina, the issue is a combi- but it is something we are monitoring.� nation of overvaluation and overbuilding. Robyn Adamache, principal, market CMHC defines problematic conditions as analysis in Vancouver with CMHC, said imbalances in the housing market that occur while price has been strong along all when overbuilding, overvaluation, over- types of residential housing, it is a segheating and price acceleration, or combina- mented market and in the detached cattions of those issues exceed historical norms. egory it has been particularly strong.

As house prices soar, millenni- CMHC said prices are being affected by als get a foot in the door of their first detached home prices, which are caused by home with help from their friends land constraints in the Lower Mainland of CMHC said it sees some over- British Columbia. “We have different types valuation in Vancouver. of homes being built than a few years ago.

But while CMHC is now witness- Homes are much larger and often include ing strong evidence of overvaluation in a secondary suite and/or a laneway home,�

Canada’s most expensive city — with said Adamache, explaining the price growth.

Overall, the CMHC gave Vancouver a a “moderate� overall risk factor — it “moderate� rating when it comes to evisaid price acceleration isn’t a concern at dence of problematic conditions, due to this point, rating that issue as “weak.� strong economic fundamentals in the “When we think about price acceleracity. “We’ve had a continuation of strong tion, we certainly have seen fairly strong job growth in the Vancouver area with price growth in the Vancouver (cenabout five per cent growth, that means sus metropolitan area) and a lot of price growth has been targeted in certain parts about 65,000 jobs added (in the first quarof the market more than other, � said Bob ter) compared to the same period last Dugan, chief economist with CMHC, year,� the CMHC market analyst said. in a conference call with journalists. Toronto, Calgary, Saskatoon and ReThe real estate board of Greater gina were the only cities on the list of 15 Vancouver reported that prices have that had strong evidence of problematic risen 23.2 per cent from a year ago, ac- conditions. CMHC defines problematic cording to its price index. The aver- conditions as imbalances in the housage cost of a detached home in Metro ing market that occur when overbuildVancouver was $1.7 million in March. ing, overvaluation, overheating and “We have seen faster price growth and price acceleration, or a combination of it is having an impact on our measure of those issues exceed historical norms. price acceleration but it isn’t sufficient “In Toronto this is due to a combination of to get to a threshold where we would price acceleration and overvaluation and get to problematic at this point in time,� while we do not detect overbuilding we do This is a PROOF of your ad in the forthcoming edition have concerns about the high inventory of Contract# Dugan said, noting price acceleration of the Indo-Canadian Business Pagescondominium ‘2014 ANY QUESTION, CALL: 604.502.6100 apartments, � said Dugan. is evaluated window.

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Local

L

Mom, minister weigh in on Surrey school overcrowding

ord Tweedsmuir Secondary in Surrey is so overcrowded students are hard pressed to find space to eat lunch according to the vice chair of the parent advisory committee. Surrey mayor calls on province to address chronic school overcrowding Halt development for sake of education, says Surrey trustee “My son says it’s difficult,” said Linda Stromberg, “They’re sitting on the floor in a hallway or in a stairway or where ever they can find a place.”

150% capacity Lord Tweedsmuir is one of many Surrey public schools stretched to the breaking point, currently operating at 150 per cent capacity, accommodating 2,100 students despite being build for only 1,400. New students hoping to get into Tweedsmuir are out of luck because enrolment for next year has already been closed.

Stromberg has spent years campaigning to bring more resources and better planning to the overcrowding issue. She’s also involved in a petition asking for expedited school infrastructure in Surrey.

Obituary Funeral service for Mrs. Nasib Kaur Sohpaul ( 86 years old) With deep regret and sorrow I would like to inform that Mrs. Nasib Kaur Sohpaul wife of Mr.Malkiat Rai Sohpaul of Village Dhadha , passed away on April 20th, 2016. She was born in the village Gumtala, , Punjab, India and lived in New Delhi until 1982 before moving to Vancouver BC Canada. Funeral services will be held on Saturday April 30th, 2016 at 10:00am at Hamilton Harron Funeral home located at 5390 Fraser St., Vancouver ,BC. Antim Ardaas (Sehaj Path Bhog) will be held at Shri Guru Ravidass Gurughar at 7271 Gilley Ave. Burnaby at 12:30PM. Please contact Harjit Sohpaul for any information at 778 668 2653 or Balvinder Sohpaul 604-7264599.

Karamjit Singh Rana passed away at the age of 81 Karamjit Singh Rana passed away on 24th April at the age of 81. His ancestor village was Bharomazara in Nawasheher District of Punjab and he presently was a resident of Surrey BC. Funeral of his body will take place at Riverside Funeral Home Delta on Sunday May 1st at 3:00. His antim Ardas will be held at 5pm in Gurdwara Brook side ( 8365140 Street) Surrey. For condolence or any other information : Davinder Singh Rana 604-649- 9496 or 604762-6260

“It’s extremely frustrating,” she said.

“The politicians are very political, they’re very careful with their wording,” B.C Education Minister Mike Bernier could not explain why school planning in Surrey has failed to keep up with population growth, but did tell the CBC’s The Early Edition that his ministry is working with the Surrey school district.

“We do recognize, obviously, that Surrey is the largest school district and also the fastest growing,” he told The Early Edition. “There’s no surprise to anybody who lives in that area that more development is taking place and more investment is needed from the provincial government when it comes to schools.”

Saturday, April 30, 2016

i 7

Pattullo Bridge traffic delays for 5 months

T

ravelling between Surrey and New Westminster is about to become a lot tougher with the start of a five-month rehabilitation project on the 79-year-old Pattullo Bridge. Drivers are being warned of “significant traffic delays and congestion” from April 29 to Oct. 3 as crews work on resurfacing the entire span. The mayors of Surrey and New Westminster are calling for a reduction in the tolls on the Port Mann Bridge while the Pattullo is being upgraded. The closures begin tonight with a complete shut down of the bridge beginning at 8 p.m. PT until Monday, May 2 at 5 a.m. PT when only a single lane in each direction will reopen.

Full bridge closures will be required twice a week nightly for the duration

of the project and again for a four-day stretch from Sept. 30 to Oct 3. TransLink recommends redirecting to the Port Mann or Alex Fraser Bridge, or budgeting an extra 40 minutes for commuters who still intend to use the Pattullo. Pattullo Bridge closure summary The entire bridge will be closed April 29 (8:00 p.m. PT) to May 2 (5:00 a.m. PT) to allow crews to set up for construction work. The bridge will also close from the evening of Sept. 30 (8 p.m. ) to the morning of Oct. 3 (5 a.m.) for crews to remove equipment. From May 2 to Sept. 30, the bridge will remain open with one lane in each direction most of the time Truck access will be maintained.

Cyclists and pedestrians will have access to the bridge at all times.

8 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

PERSON OF THE WEEK

South Asian Business Association- The journey recontinues

Chhavi Disawar

S

ABA- South Asian Business Association is one such name that has marked difference in the field of education and business. The organisation is a collaboration of smart minds that focus on upgrading society and helping the ones who care for similar vision.

SABA was designed to generate a link amongst main stream communities and Indo-Canadian communities so that they could bridge up the gap that created differences. The organization even focuses on spreading the knowledge to the masses in regard to different subjects by arranging networking opportunities that also creates a platform for people from diverse cultures to come together and better know each other.

The organisation is the product of some Like-minded people coming together, and out of those names is the name of Mr. MS Dhaliwal, who has just retired from his president-ship after serving the initiative from the time it came into the existence. The tenure of this founder President of SABA was seven years which marked a great success in their wide spectrum vision.

M

The Asian Star once again got a chance to sit with this charismatic and experienced leader to congratulate him on his successful term and we got to know m o r e about the work done and initiatives during Mr. Dhaliwal’s MS Dhaliwal tenure at SABA. While sharing his experiences he told us that the organization has a program to help deserving students with financial assistance and thus have a collaboration with Kwantlen Polytechnic University. During previous years, the organization has provided three scholarships in different fields to the students and the fourth one was approved. For this fourth scholarship, half the amount has been already provided and rest will be given by the end of July in this year during SABA’s Golf Tournament.

“Out of these scholarships, one was given to the International nursing student, another to a Business student, and the rest two were given for Journalism and South Asian Studies”, told Mr. Dhaliwal.

Each scholarship amounted to $20,000 which will be helpful for the students in achieving success in their field. Apart from arranging their own net working events (which are highly appreciated by masses), SABA also participates in organizing other big events around the area that benefit the Victor Lall society in one way or the other. Recently, the organization co-hosted the second Breakfast with the Mayor series with Surrey Board of Trade, where the Minister of Defence Mr. Harjit Singh Sajjan was

called in to share his experiences while working with Police Department and as a Gang Officer. Also he threw some light on the upcoming initiatives of Defence department.

On this occasion, apart from Mr. Sajjan, many renowned personalities from the area were present inclusive of people from Defense forces.

“It was an honorary experience to be on the podium and address the audience on behalf of SABA and I really enjoyed being there at the breakfast”, said Mr. Dhaliwal.

Now that Mr. Dhaliwal is retiring from the chair, the new president will be Mr. Victor Lall who is a passionate individual and had served the organization as Vice President for around last two-years. Mr. Lall is also working as a Branch Manager for CIBC Bank. Mr. Victor Lall will serve SABA as a president for the coming two-years and Ken Dhillon as the Vice President of the organization. We wish Mr. Lall and the whole team of SABA all the very best for their initiatives in the coming time.

Breakfast with mayor-second series in Surrey

ayor’s Breakfast series is back to town. On April 25’2016 the second breakfast series happened at the city hall, Surrey. The event happened in collaboration with Surrey board of trade and South Asian Business Association. The keynote speaker at this event was our National Minister of Defence Mr. Harjit singh Sajjan who addressed the audience and talked about the new additions were present at this occasion inin the defence department. Many cluding Mayor Lynda Hepner, Anita important and named personalities Hubberman and others. Defence

minister congratulated Mayor Hepner for her initiatives taken to improve the condition of Surrey. Also

he shared his views for the current gang violance going around the area.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

i 9

Realtor & mortgage broker suspended From page 1 The “person claiming to be Ryan Rana� at that time presented a B.C. drivers license and an admission ticket to write the exam which had a passport photo attached.

But because the two photographs did not appear to match, the ringer was not allowed to write the exam.

Four days later, an affidavit was provided to the school with yet another picture attached to swear Rana was the person shown in the driver’s licence.

On that basis, someone claiming to be Ryan Rana was allowed to write the exam two weeks later, passing with a score of 90 per cent.

Rana obtained his licence in February.

But according to the council, in early April, officials noticed that “the photos of Ryan Rana on his website advertising real estate services appeared to show a different person than the passport-sized photos that were attached to the affidavit and the examination admission ticket.�

A council investigation led investigators to a person who had “liked� a number of Rana’s Instagram posts. Images shown on that person’s Facebook page allegedly matched the pictures of the ringer who wrote the exam in Rana’s name. “The committee determined that Ryan Rana acted in a deceptive manner,� the order reads. “When he arranged for someone to write the licensing examination for himself, he deceived the council by not complying with its educational requirements, deprived the public of the protections created by those requirements and acted in a manner that was detrimental and contrary to the public interest.�

According to the order, Rana’s man-

aging broker surrendered Rana’s licence earlier this month.

B.C.’s registrar of mortgage brokers suspended the registration of Aulak after being contacted about the situation by the real estate council. Aulak’s professional name is Ted. The council claims Rana admitted to sending someone else to write the Real Estate Trading Services exam in his place last December.

According to an order posted on the Financial Institutions Commission website, investigators matched Aulak to photographs of the person who purported to be Rana for the purposes of writing the test.

The allegations come amidst wider concerns about regulation of the real estate industry in British Columbia. A number of scandals have emerged in recent months involving the actions of unscrupulous realtors driven by greed to cash in on the province’s white hot market.

A panel of experts is currently considering, among other things, whether or not the industry should continue to be self-regulated.

An archived copy of Rana’s website describes the 25-year-old as having a “background in community law enforcement and public health care.�

It turns out that he is a special constable at the Coquitlam Forensic Psychiatric Hospital which houses people who have been declared not criminally responsible for offences because of mental disorders.

Perhaps the facility’s most notorious patient is Allan Schoenborn, a father who killed his three children in 2008. Controversy has surrounded the decision to allow him escorted outings into the community.

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LOCAL

10 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

Air Canada flies to New Delhi From page 1 ductory fares starting as low as $999 round ern US transborder network combined with the seamless connection experience through YVR’s trip, all-in. Tickets are now available for US in-transit pre-clearance facilities, position purchase on aircanada.com and through YVR to be the preferred gateway hub for transtravel agents. “Customer response to our Pacific travel to and from North America.”

Toronto-Delhi service has been extremely “The cultural ties between India and British positive, and with this new seasonal Vancouver route, we are strategically increasing our presence in the important Asia-Pacific market in time for Diwali festival celebrations. Our non-stop Dreamliner flights from our Vancouver hub will also offer the shortest elapsed flying time from Calgary, Edmonton, Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles to Delhi,” said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. “The operating economics of the Dreamliner together with the efforts of the Vancouver Airport Authority who have maintained airport operating costs at levels among the lowest in Canada, have enabled us to grow our Vancouver hub. Together with our extensive western Canada domestic and west-

Columbia reach back 100 years, and with

increasing trade and investment links, those ties are growing stronger every year,” said Premier Christy Clark. “Air Canada’s new Vancouver-Delhi route reflects the increasing importance of our relationship with India.” Flights will operate threetimes-weekly October 20, 2016 to April 8, 2017 with Air Canada’s state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft featuring 30 International Business Class lie-flat pod suites, 21 Premium Economy and 247 Economy Class seats with upgraded inflight entertainment at every seat throughout the aircraft.

Premier’s double pay under review From page 1 “We tabled legislation just two weeks ago and the Liberals voted against it. We want union and corporate donations to be gone,” Horgan said. “Because of her fundraising activities the Liberals have money to top up her salary, and that’s wrong.”

Quebec’s Liberal party had a similar policy but did away with it, he said.

Clark said the NDP also raises money with “exclusive soirees and the B.C. Liberals raise money as well.

“We all do that under the rules in the province. We’ve done it for a long time in British Columbia,” she said.

“The issue for us is to make sure that we always separate our public duties from any sources of funding for our political party.”

The Liberal party and an official in Clark’s office said former premier Gordon Campbell received a $90,000 stipend at one point.

The issue for us is to make sure that we always separate our public duties from any sources of funding for our political party.

Clark declares her premier’s allowance on her annual public disclosure documents, but the amounts are not specified.

She has said she attends exclusive fundraising events organized by the Liberal party, but does not know how much people pay to attend.

B.C.’s conflict-of-interest commissioner is reviewing separate complaints from New Democrat David Eby and Democracy Watch co-founder Duff Conacher claiming the fundraising events that Clark attends violate policies that prohibit the acceptance of gifts.

Paul Fraser later confirmed in a letter to Conacher that he would investigate both complaints and issue one opinion on the matter.

Eby amended his complaint on Wednesday in a letter to Fraser, saying the allowances Clark receives from the Liberal party are a direct financial benefit.

“Simply because the donation money from these private dinners briefly visits the B.C. Liberal Party before ending up in Ms. Clark’s pocket does not, for the purposes of the act, eliminate the direct personal, financial benefit she experiences from these large donations,” the letter said.

Eby wrote in his complaint that the stipend — which amounts to $50,000 on top of Clark’s $195,468.20 salary as premier — violates B.C.’s Conflict of Interest Act because it provides a direct personal financial benefit to Clark from party donors who pay to see her at pricey Liberal fundraisers.

“The premier’s share of these donations may as well be passed directly to the premier by the attendees of her parties in an envelope at the beginning of the evening — this conduct is outrageous, incredibly problematic, and directly contrary to the public interest,” Eby wrote in his complaint to the conflict commissioner, Paul Fraser.

“The laundering of donations through the party before they are passed to the premier cannot conceal the reprehensible activity that is taking place here which has benefited the premier in six figures.”

Eby wrote that the “allowance varies from year to year, dependent on the financial fortunes of the central party” and that the “commission-like payout establishes a personal benefit under the act for the premier.”

The party said that Clark has been paid $301,900 since she became leader in 2011, including $42,000 plus a $25,000 salary before she became an MLA in 2011, $44,900 in 2012, $45,000 in 2013

LOCAL

Punjab Congress leader Capt. Amarinder Singh puts off his Canada visit

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fter three days of drama, Punjab Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh is learnt to have cancelled his scheduled seven-day trip to Canada due to the possibility of facing a case relating to torture in a court in Toronto. The decision came on Saturday after Singh had postponed his arrival in Toronto since he wanted to wait for the court to issue an order before he decided on his course of action. The case was filed by the activist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) on behalf of a Canadian resident who was allegedly tortured during Singh’s tenure as chief minister of Punjab.

An official statement released by Singh slammed SFJ’s lawfare, saying it was “playing into the hands of the anti-India forces like the ISI to embarrass India and project as if rights violations was the norm of the day in the country (India) like some dictatorships in

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different parts of the world”. He added, “The government of India, rising above political considerations, must take up the matter with the Canadian government at the highest level.”

“And will the SFJ raise similar objections when Arvind Kejriwal will visit Canada by invoking the Canadian policy that prevented me from addressing public functions?”

Singh asked, referring to the Aam Aadmi Party leader’s proposed visit later this year.

In a statement, SFJ’s legal advisor Gurpatwant Pannun said, “Since Capt Amarinder’s presence in Canada is a condition precedent to charges going forward, the matter was delayed pending further information about Capt. Amarinder’s plans to visit Toronto. The victim and his counsel intend to return to court upon confirmation of Capt Amarinder’s presence in Toronto.”

Clipper aims to launch VancouverVictoria ferry in spring 2017

time is longer than the tradition BC Ferictoria Clipper will be launching its ries route because the new vessel would high-speed service between Vanrun from downtown to downtown. couver and Victoria in the spring of If it does 2017, says founder and launch as CEO Merideth Tall planned, the The new service, service could which is aimed at be one of two tourists, will start on the route with one round-trip next spring. a day, departing from Earlier this Vancouver in the month V2V morning and returnVa c a t i o n s ing in the afternoon. also anThe travel time nounced would be three hours plans to and 15 minutes Victoria Clipper plans to launch a high-speed service between Victoria and Vancouver l a u n c h each way. The travel

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Man arrested after crime spree in Richmond, Vancouver

36-year-old man has been arrested after a series of crimes committed in Richmond and Vancouver on Wednesday.

Vancouver police said that at about 8 a.m. a grey Acura stolen in Richmond was involved in a road rage incident where the driver allegedly pointed a firearm.

The vehicle was later involved in a series of incidents in Vancouver, the first at 11:30 a.m. at Glen Drive and Terminal Avenue where the driver of the stolen car allegedly tried to steal a purse off the shoulder of a 19-yearold woman. A struggle occurred and the suspect drove away without the purse.

The second incident happened at 12:15 p.m. near 18th Avenue and Laurel Street when a man driving the stolen Acura reportedly pointed a gun at a 34-year-old woman and robbed her of her purse.

A half-hour later, police spotted the stolen car in the parking lot of Kingsgate Mall. The driver rammed the police car and drove away at a high rate of speed. With the help of a police helicopter, emergency response team members eventually cornered the stolen car and took the driver into custody.

Officers located a purse and weapon in the vehicle. The suspect was taken to hospital for a medical assessment before being transported to jail.

North Surrey Secondary School lockdown ends with an arrest

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he incident that led to North Surrey Secondary being locked down Thursday afternoon began with an argument.

Police say two men who knew each other were arguing when one believed he saw the other carrying a gun and called the cops around 3 p.m. This happened in the 9700-block of 160th Street and caused traffic closures while police were on scene.

Surrey RCMP responded and detained everyone inside the house until they could determine who was who, and what involvement they had, if any. All have been released and

the incident ended “peacefully,” according to a release.

“Turns out the suspect had fled prior to police attendance although we did not know that at the time,” said Cpl. Scotty Schumann. “Our investigation has been sent to crown who will consider what charges if any are appropriate.”

Schumann said patrol officers, the Emergency Response Team, Surrey Gang Enforcement, School Resource Officer and Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit BC all surrounded the residence.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

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Surrey RCMP signs up for anti-skin cancer technology us to provide our cutting-edge solutions for

Surrey’s RCMP officers and staff have a new screening and e-triage of skin cancers in weapon in their arsenal — the DermEngine high-risk outdoor workers such as RCMP skin-screening platform created by Simon officers.” Surrey RCMP Supt. Carol Bradley Fraser University alumna Maryam Sadeghi. said the detachment Sadeghi’s company, is excited to be part of MetaOptima Technology piloting the technology Inc., has been awarded given its commitment a contract for DermEnto employee health and gine’s voluntary use by wellness. DermEngine Surrey RCMP employees enables smartphone usfor remote skin screening ers to quickly and easily when working outdoors. check suspicious moles “Studies have shown and lesions, using MoleSimon Fraser University alumna that outdoor workScope, which is made up Maryam Sadeghi ers are at much higher of a mini-microscope, risk of developing skin cancers, and we app and cloud-based platform. It works by know that there is a shortage of access to capturing and sending images of suspicious dermatologists in Canada,” Sadeghi said in moles to medical professionals for further news release. “This opportunity will help screening.

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12 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

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House fire in New Westminster sends one man to hospital

ire crews successfully extinguished the fire in just under an hour, and the extent of the damage is currently under investigation as one man is in hospital with smoke-related injuries, after a fire broke out in a New Westminster house early Wednesday morning.

Fire crews responded just after 2 a.m. to the fire, which had broken out in the second floor of the two-storey home on

Lawrence Avenue. “It seemed to be confined to one room,” said Gill. “It seemed pretty straightforward … and we’re investigating as to the cause of the fire.”

Paramedics arrived on the scene shortly after, to check on the man who appeared to have jumped out of the second-storey window.

Gill says the man was taken to hospital in stable condition, and that two other residents in the house got out safely.

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Living wage for Metro Vancouver families drops for first time in 8 years

he hourly wage two working parents in Metro Vancouver need to earn to support themselves and two young children has dropped for the first time in eight years due to changes in federal policy, say advocates. For a family of four, covering basic costs like rent, childcare, and food now requires two parents working full time at $20.64 an hour, down from $20.68 the previous year.

“Families aren’t going to be a huge amount further ahead, but they’re not going to be falling behind,” said Deanne Ogle, campaign organizer for A Living Wage for Families. Ogle says although costs have generally increased in Metro Vancouver — rent and childcare saw the largest increases — the recently revamped Canada Child Benefit has evened out those expenses. “What it demonstrates is that public policy can have a positive impact on families,” Ogle said. “We think that governments can do more.” A list of all the expenses considered to calculate the living wage to live in Metro Vancouver.

To determine the living wage, Ogle’s organization partners with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition to calculate basic costs like MSP premiums, transportation and clothing.

The wage also puts tax benefits into consideration.

What it doesn’t include are costs like

retirement savings, debt repayment or education savings for children. Ogle says about 38 per cent of families in Metro Vancouver don’t make enough to cover their basic needs. “For many people, when they look at the living wage, it sounds like an impossible dream,” she said. “It sounds like a wage that they may never see, and that’s a reality of low-wage poverty.”

The organization says the living wage has also decreased in: ■Greater Victoria ($20.02).

■Kamloops ($17.21).

■Parksville-Qualicum ($16.76).

■Prince George ($16.52).

■The Fraser Valley ($16.28)

LOCAL

Crown challenges evidence that pair accused signs of alcohol consumption when he checked back in to the home. He said in Vancouver slaying had been drinking there would be consequences for any

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prosecutor on Wednesday chal- two gunmen who burst into the house lenged evidence that two men in search of Naicker were intoxicated. accused of shooting a man to But Jardine told the jury that the forensic death outside a Vancouver halfway house evidence indicated that eight bullets had had been drinking prior to the slaying. entered the body of Soomel as he tried to The assertion from Crown flee the gunmen on Cambie Street. counsel David Jardine “This shooting with two guns was came during his final subnot in a controlled range. This was a missions to the jury in the run from one area of Cambie Street trial of Kevin Jones and to another. Two guys shooting at Colin Stewart, who are a moving target. Every bullet was charged with first-degree in the kill zone, above the waist, murder in the September five in the back, three in the face.”

2009 death of Raj Soomel.

He added: “I’m suggesting that’s The Crown’s theory Raj Soomel not clearly consistent with alcois that Soomel, a resihol consumption and staggering.” dent at the Dick Bell-Irving halfway The Crown’s theory is that Jones, who was house in Vancouver, was shot to death staying at another halfway house in downin a case of mistaken identity and that town Vancouver at the time, had checked another resident of the house named himself out of the home prior to the shooting Randy Naicker was the intended target. and after the slaying checked himself back in.

During the trial, the B.C. Supreme Court Jardine said that staff at the Belkin jury heard evidence from two witnesses halfway house on Homer Street where at the house that just before the shooting Jones was staying did not notice any

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Some Vancouver pot shop owners plan to stay open

n the final days before the City of Vancouver’s deadline for unsuccessful marijuana dispensary applicants to shut down, some rejected shop owners said they plan to stay open and “stick to their guns.”

B.C. Pain Society owner Chuck Varabioff was one of 176 who applied last year for a dispensary licence. Then, he was one of 62 rejected applicants to appeal to Vancouver’s board of variance, and in February, his appeal was one of the first heard.

The appeal was unsuccessful, and Varabioff received a 60-day notice from the city advising him to close his Commercial Drive operation by this Friday, April 29.

But, he said Monday: “I’m operating now, I’m going to be operating Sunday, I’m going to be operating next week, and I’m going to be operating on Christmas Day.” Varabioff said city employees told him he could expect bylaw fines for operating without a business licence.

“They wouldn’t tell me how much (the fines will be), but if they want to come in, I will hand them 30 post-dated cheques for the next month and I’ll pay my fines,” he said.

Cannabis advocate Jodie Emery said: “I’m pretty sure that a lot of (the dispensaries) are going to refuse to close. Even though there is a deadline date of the 29th, a lot of them

will remain open because they feel protected by court orders and decisions in the past.”

Jodie Emery on stage at the annual 4:20 marijuana event.

The board of variance is scheduled to hear dozens of additional appeals from rejected owners between now and November.

Eggs Canna’s hearing is set for July 27, and owner Oana Nicoara said she doesn’t want to battle city hall. But she’s “between a rock and a hard place,” she said, and hopes to stay open for the next three months while she awaits her appeal date.

“If we’re not a danger to the public … I think t h e city should at least allow us to have our day in court,” Nicoara said.

Suspending operations for three months would likely put Eggs Canna out of business, Nicoara said.

“If bylaw officers show up and they’re going to ticket us, we’re prepared to take on the fines,” she said. Based on what Nicoara has heard from the Cannabis Growers of Canada, an organization representing about 20 Vancouver dispensaries, she said: “I think the general consensus is we’re going to kind of all stick together, and we’re going to stick to our guns on this.”

resident of the home caught drinking.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

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The prosecutor told the jury that the evidence, mostly from 911 calls, indicated that the shooting happened at 10:18 p.m. on Sept. 29, 2009 and noted that Jones checked back in to Belkin house at 10:39 p.m.

LOCAL

14 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

Fruticana stall was popular at Surrey Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

At Surrey’s Vaisakhi parade last weekend, the Fruticana stall was one of the most popular with owner Tony Singh and staff serving traditional Punjabi foods such as Fruiticana’s sarsoon da saag, brar makki de roti, nanak foods lassi and gagan foods kadhi chawl.

Vancouver bus drivers vote in favour of strike action Metro Vancouver bus drivers, SeaBus captains and support staff have voted almost unanimously in favour of strike action.

The 4,700 employees of the Coast Mountain Bus Company, a TransLink subsidiary, voted 98 per cent in favour of putting pressure on their employer.

Voting was held on Thursday at the Italian Cultural Center at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7 p.m.

“The turnout has been just incredible,” said Unifor president Nathan Woods.

“Clearly the members that are showing up today are in support of us.”

The union representing the workers says a successful vote is what the Coast Mountain Bus Company needs to be pushed over the edge to come back with what it calls a fair contract.

“I think the results of today’s vote will allow us to go back to the table on May 9 with CMBC and carry a strong mandate,” he said.

The vote affects transit operators, mechanics, SeaBus captains as well as other maintenance and support workers.

No immediate strike notice

Now that the vote has gone in favour of a strike, the bargaining committee can tell the employers that employees will walk off the job unless their demands are met.

A strike would have enormous repercussions on those who take the bus or SeaBus in Metro Vancouver, but would not affect SkyTrain service.

But Woods said employees won’t walk off the job immediately.

“Tomorrow, we’re not going to be applying for 24 hours strike notice. We’re going to see how the employer responds to this decision today,” he said.

Woods has repeatedly said that wages, benefits and working conditions are key issues at the bargaining table.

Translink issued a statement on behalf of Coast Mountain Bus Company after the vote results were announced, saying they “remain committed to reaching an acceptable negotiated settlement.”

Contract talks collapsed April 6. Upcoming meetings at the bargaining table have been scheduled for May 9 and 24.

Goldcorp breached by hackers trying to extort money Canada’s Goldcorp Inc. on Thursday said its computer network had been compromised and the gold mining company was working to determine the scope and impact of the data breach.

Vancouver-based Goldcorp’s internal security team and independent technology security firms are gathering facts and informing affected employees, but CEO David Garofalo said he was not overly worried.

“The extent of the data breach is not of significant concern for us because we’re a public company and anything of a material nature has to be in the public domain by law anyways. So we really don’t have any material undisclosed information,” Garofalo said in an interview.

Day-to-day operations are unaffected by the hack, he added. Security teams are working on an action plan that includes preventative modifications to computer processes and increased network security at the world’s thirdbiggest gold producer by market value.

Garofalo would not say what material had been mined or whether hackers had been in contact with the company.

“I don’t think it’s personal. I think there’s a criminal element out there, unfortunately, that is making a living doing this - where they hack into computer systems globally in order to try to extort money,” he said.

The Daily Dot website reported on Wednesday that hackers had claimed to have “badly hacked” Goldcorp and dumped private company and employee data online.

The data included what appeared to be correspondence with employees on their performance and pay rates, bank account information, budget information for 2016 and international contacts, the Daily Dot reported.

Hackers are preparing more Goldcorp data dumps, the online newspaper said.

“If something gets dumped, the police will look into it and we’ll go from there,” Garofalo said, referring to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Police seek help to resolve Surrey murder Police are seeking information and witnesses in relation to the homicide of a man found dead in a car three years ago .

Vimal Chand, 29, was discovered on Feb. 20, 2013 in the family vehicle near Hyland Elementary School at 66 Avenue and 140 Street.

On Friday, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), with the help of Chand’s sister, released a video to remind the public of this homicide and to locate witnesses who have not been spoken to.

It can be viewed on the IHIT website

at www.homicideteam.ca Chand had a criminal record, including a conviction for assault with a weapon. But his sister told CBC News he was a family man who hadn’t been leading a high-risk lifestyle.

Anyone with information about the homicide of Vimal Chand, or any other investigation can contact IHIT by telephone at 1-877-551-IHIT(4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca If you wish to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-2228477 or on the web at solvecrime.ca

New affordable housing in Revelstoke

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ore than 20 people now have a safe, affordable place to live at Revelstoke Community Housing Society’s new townhouse complex, which celebrated its official opening y. The housing complex provides 12 units of affordable housing for families and individuals with low to moderate incomes. The townhouses are comprised of four two-bedroom units and eight one-bedroom units, two of which are fully wheelchair accessible. Located at 1014 Oscar Street, the complex is managed and operated by the Revelstoke Community Housing Society.

4 in hospital after serious crash in Delta Four people are in hospital with minor injuries after a serious crash in Delta Friday morning.

The accident happened around 1:48 a.m. at the intersection of 72nd Avenue and 112 Street.

The two cars, a midsize SUV and a small sedan, collided with each other and ended up crashing into a nearby fence.

One of the people involved in the accident tried to flee the scene, but was quickly apprehended by police and taken to hospital.

Russian jets destroy Canadiansupported medical clinic in Syria The Canadian branch of a medical non-profit reports that one of its clinics in Aleppo, Syria, has been destroyed, and is pointing the finger at airstrikes by Russian and regime forces.

Photos of rubble where the Al Marjeh Primary Health Care Centre used to stand were posted on the website for the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations, a group founded in 2012 in France similar to Doctors Without Borders.

The clinic has been operating for two

years, and has treated over 46,000 patients, more than 80 per cent of them women and children who continue to live in the blasted-out remains of Aleppo.

UOSSM-Canada says that 1,400 people, mostly women and children, have now lost access to medical care as a result of the clinic’s destruction.

Dr. Anas Al Kassem, head of UOSSM Canada, told CBC News that no one was killed in the bombing, which took place at 12:30 pm Syria time

LOCAL

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Shots fired at a house in East Vancouver

olice are investigating two separate targeted shootings at homes in Metro Vancouver overnight.

Late Wednesday night, Vancouver police scoured an East Vancouver neighbourhood searching for suspects after shots were fired at a house.

VPD spokesman Const. Brian Montague says shortly before 10:30 p.m., witnesses called 911 and reported hearing shots being fired on Tyne Street near Kingsway.

He says police searched the area and

Man charged with terrorism related offence denied bail

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ormer engineering student, arrested over fears he might commit a terrorist act, denied bail in Brampton, Ontario. Kevin Mohamed, 23 charged with a Kevin Mohamed, 23 terrorism related offence denied bail, Kevin Mohamed, 23, will have to remain behind bars but details of the decision are covered by a publication ban. Kevin was detained last month out of fear he might commit a terrorist act.

RCMP then charged him with participating in, or contributing to, the activities of a terrorist group over a two-year period. Police allege Mohamed committed the offences in Ontario — including in Whitby, Mississauga and Waterloo — between April 24, 2014 to March 25, 2016.

RCMP say the arrest followed an investigation dubbed “Project Swap” that began last August.

They say Mohamed travelled to Turkey in April 2014 to join Jabhat Al-Nusra, a listed terrorist entity in Canada.

found bullet casings and other evidence, but no suspects were located.

There were no injuries as a result of the targeted shooting.

Montague notes that this is the eighth shooting in Vancouver this year.

Meantime, in Delta, police were called to a residence for reports of shots fired at around 1 a.m. Thursday. Police say they will provide an update with more information about that incident later this morning. There are no reports of injuries.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

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No relief for chronically overcrowded schools in Surrey without a policy change: Mayor

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urrey Mayor Linda Hepner says overcrowding in Surrey schools won’t ease unless the provincial government changes its policies around building new facilities. “We need to move from the current model of waiting for [student] demand to arrive, and for that demand to show consistency with what is currently required on under the existing model for new school construction,” Hepner said.

“That’s what creates the overcrowding conditions. Before any new school can be built it has to be overcrowded and it has to be consistently overcrowded,” she said. With an influx of up to 1,000 new students per year Surrey continues to experience acute growing pains in its public schools as population growth continues to outstrip available space. Four secondary schools in the district

have resorted to extending the school day and scheduling students in shifts to accommodate numbers well in excess of school capacity.

Laurae McNally, Surrey Board of Education Trustee Surrey Board of Education trustee Laurae McNally wants the City of Surrey to temporarily suspend development in some areas until new funding is provided by the province for new schools. As well, there are over 270 portable classrooms currently in use to deal with student overflow, although Hepner says that’s a reduction from the 370 portable classrooms Surrey had in the 1990s.

“Growth should come as no surprise. We’ve planned growth through neighbourhood concept plans and the regional growth strategy f…

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16 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

LOCAL

Abbotsford man arrested for robbing 89 years old woman suspect has been

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arrested for allegedly snatching the purse of an 89-yearold woman as she left a credit union — throwing her to the ground. Abbotsford police say.

After police released photos of the suspect on Monday, they received dozens of tips identifying the man by name.

Officers then tracked him down Monday night near Maclure Road and Images of the suspect released by Police Trethewey Street. “He was aware of the fact that police were look- taking off on foot. Officers then chased him down and arrested him, said Macing for him and he was probably trying to avoid the places that he normally would be Donald. The 25-year-old is expected appear in court to face one charge of robbery at night,” said Const. Ian MacDonald. later today.

The man hid briefly in the bushes before

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Richmond RCMP looking for 3 suspects after ‘horrific’ attack

ichmond RCMP are hoping that someone saw — or recorded — something that will help them investigate a “horrific attack” last Thursday that put a 20-year-old Vancouver man in hospital.

The victim, who is known to police, was allegedly assaulted by up to three suspects, at about 5 p.m.

PT in the 7000 block of MiThe attack happened in the 7000 block of Minoru Blvd. noru Blvd. in Richmond.

He ended up in hospital with lacerations on horrific attack.” Hwang wouldn’t say what in his head and a broken arm, said Cpl. Dennis particular about the attack made it horrific, Hwang. “We were quite worried for the or whether the suspects had weapons or victim initially because he slipped in and knew the victim. Investigators are hoping out of consciousness when we arrived. He is that someone walking or driving near the quite lucky to be alive,” said Hwang. “We are 7000 block of Minoru Blvd. between 5 and 6 looking for any information that could help p.m. on April 21 may have seen something us find those who are responsible for this — or even filmed the altercation.

“Dashcams are more widely used now and perhaps [someone] may have some footage in their vehicle that could prove helpful to our investigation.” Anyone with information is asked to call the Richmond RCMP’s Serious Crimes Unit at 604-278-1212 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Bringing ride-hailing companies like Uber to BC

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he bill, introduced by Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver, would require ride-hailing drivers to get a background check and vehicle inspection before operating on B.C. roads. “I have put very spe-

cific language in there based on best practices from across various jurisdictions,” said Weaver. “In B.C., it seems we are very good at finding ways we can’t be innovate rather than find ways we can be innovative.” Uber banned Vancouver is the largest jurisdiction in North America that does not allow Uber, the largest ride-hailing company, to operate. The province has launched a consultation process to work with industry leaders on what impacts ride-hailing would have in B.C. Uber cannot operate in the province right now because of a number of issues associated with the Passenger Transportation Board.

Those issues include background checks and access to passengers with disabilities.

The provincial government has also expressed concern about hurting existing taxi drivers who have invested money in their vehicles and licences. “I have been in conversation for literally weeks. I have been meeting with taxi companies, drivers, business groups,” said Peter Fassbender, the minister overseeing ride-hailing regulations.

“The conversation has already started and we are committed to that. We want to respect the existing industry and we are going to have a made-in-B.C. solution.” Tech firms supporting legislation The Green Party legislation would require drivers to be 19 years of age or older, would prohibit vehicles from being hailed curbside and would mandate fares for disabled passengers with mobility devices be the same as any other passenger.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Saturday - April 30, 2016

Finally, Hrithik and Kangana call truce

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Kangna

awyer of the Kangana says both sides have promised to stop the mudslinging and that friends are looking for an amicable solution Kangana Ranaut’s lawyer said common friends of the actress and Hrithik Roshan have intervened in the tussle between the two stars and the two sides are looking to resolve

the matter amicably. The statement comes after several weeks of mudslinging and media leaks from both sides after Roshan sent Ranaut a four-page defamation notice. The issue dates back to January when Ranaut, in an interview, had said “exes do silly things to get your attention,” in reply to a question about whether she was dropped from the cast of Aashiqui 3. Roshan tweeted that the chances of him dating the pope were higher than some of the actresses who speak disparagingly about

Shahid Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar to host IIFA Awards 2016

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arhan Akhtar and Shahid Kapoor are returning as the host of this year’s International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards after successfully anchoring the gala in 2014. Farhan, who was in the

capital to make the announcement sans his co-host, said he shares a great chemistry with Shahid and can’t wait to take to the stage with the ‘Haider’ star at the 17th IIFA awards to be held on June 25 in Madrid, Spain.

Diljit Dosanjh joins Ajay Devgan’s ‘BAADSHAHO’

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2 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol to star in Shreyas Talpade’s Poshter Boyz remake

After receiving mass and critical acclaim for his Marathi directorial Poshter Boyz, now actor Shreyas Talpade is all set to make his debut as a director in Bollywood with the remake of the same film. And the actor turned filmmaker has decided to rope in the Deol brothers - Sunny and Bobby for the remake of the same. After Yamla Pagla Deewana series, the duo, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol are once

again all set to tickle your funny bone with this comedy riot. Shreyas was on a lookout for someone with a tough guy image and revealed that he was thrilled when ‘Sunny paaji’ gave a nod for it. He was even more excited when Bobby Deol too agreed to come on board. Poshter Boyz is about the funny situations three men encounter after they find themselves unknowingly promoting vasectomy on a poster featuring

Kirron Kher’s drastic weight loss will surprise you

K

irron Kher stepped out in one more of her splendid six yards at the launch of a new season of her show, India’s Got Talent But what caught our attention was the amount of weight the actress has managed to knock off. Kirron appeared several sizes smaller, but she explains this drastic reduction is due to her super busy schedule and zipping in and out of Mumbai-Chandigarh-New Delhi to fulfill her political and film commitments.

Keep travelling to lose weight? At 60, Kirron just set a new fitness goal. Hit the road and shed the flab.

Twitterati go crazy after Hema congratulates Deepika’s engagement

Twitterati were in for a shock on Thursday morning when they woke up to Bollywood actress Hema Malini’s tweet congratulating Deepika on her engagement.

What followed, of course, were hysterical reactions from Deepika Padukone fans. Is she engaged to Ranveer Singh?

Saturday, April 30, 2016 i 3 Bollywood New released Bollywood films Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan to be a part of Prime Minister’s event April, 2016

Though a film with the Khan trio is a distant dream, we hear that the three superstars namely, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan are the top names of the guest-list of an upcoming event that will mark the second anni-

versary of the honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Government. Titled Zara Muskara Do, the event will be held at India Gate at the capital on May 26 and a crowd of over 60,000 is expected.

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Lal Rang Tom Cruise’ The Mummy’ Reboot Huma Qureshi to work as a lead in

H

Tom Cruise, Huma Qureshi

uma is all set to star opposite Hollywood hottie, Tom Cruise in Universal’s popular franchise, ‘The Mummy’ Reboot. The actress has apparently only recently audi-

tioned for the part in the film, which also stars Sophia Boutella as the antagonist.

If rumours are to be believed than Huma will be playing the lead opposite Tom

Baaghi

Bollywood

4 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

Horoscope Libra

Aries

Sept. 24 - Oct 22

March 21 - April 20 Do you have any dating rituals or routines?

Have you been forgetting to put then into practice? At this point it wouldn’t hurt to pull out all the stops in your quest for love. You want to share all the juicy details of a fling - past or present - with a friend later in the week, but doing so could damage your reputation. Once something gets posted to social media, it’s out of your control.

Taurus

Don’t keep quiet about seeking your soul mate. Tell anyone and everyone who’ll listen what qualities you’re looking for in a partner, because you never know when a friend of a friend might be “perfect” for you! It’s natural to think about an ex when you hear “your song” or see a photo of him or her at the end of the week, but you know in your heart it wasn’t meant to be. There are other fish in the sea.

Scorpio

April 21 - May 20

Oct 23 - Nov 22

If you feel like you have to go too far outside the box to win someone’s heart at the start of the week, perhaps that person isn’t right for you. You thrive in comfortable, predictable situations, and anything to the contrary puts you in unfamiliar foreign territory. You love to argue over facts and statistics later in the week, but insisting on having the last word could backfire on you. State your opinion without making waves.

Gemini

May 20 - June 21

Why fight the obvious chemistry you’re feeling with someone new? You’ll never know whether or not the hurdles in front of you are too high to get over until you jump. You have a lot to be happy about later in the week but also a lot to strive for. Stop being satisfied with being in a comfortable place and reach for the stars. Your love life could be explosive!

Sagitarius

Surround yourself with people who can help your love life in some way at the beginning of the week. Friends of friends, neighbors, and distant relatives can all play matchmaker once they know what you’re looking for. If your date later in the week exhibits some eccentric behavior, roll with it to see where it leads. Dating can be a roller coaster and learning experience all at the same time!

Nov 23 - Dec 22

You have a lot of love to give at the start of the week, but make sure the person you want to give it to is worthy of it. The thing you can do right now is cheat yourself out of getting the happy moment that you deserve. Powers are in full force later in the week, which means your skills are extremely effective. There’s a lot more power in a whisper than a shout.

Cancer

June 22 - July 23

It’s tempting to tell someone the intimate details of your dating life, but can you really trust anyone not to share your secrets? Your BFF might be the only one you can confide in fully at the beginning of the week. Use common sense to make most of your romantic decisions later in the week, especially if you’re completely captivated by someone. Getting too carried away could have negative consequences.

Leo

June 24 - August 23

August 24 - Sept 24 What’s keeping you from being in a loving relationship? Is a fear of rejection preventing you from engaging fully? The beginning of a new week is the perfect time to make a fresh start. Forget about what happened in the past and focus fully on your romantic future.

Your chances of meeting your next true love increase when you spend time in the great outdoors later in the week. Common interests help, but they aren’t necessary.

Dec 23 - Jan 20

It’s time to get back up on the horse. You’ve had more than your fair share of love-related disappointments, but it’s about time that things started to turn around. Your life might take a Uturn over the weekend, which could put you right back in a place where you met a past love. Are you truly over this person or should you let bygones be bygones and give the relationship another chance?

Aquarius

It’s your turn to show why you rule the jungle! You love to show affection, and if there’s someone on your radar who deserves your attention in the first part of the week, he or she is going to get the full royal treatment!

You love to talk about issues that are close and dear to your heart, but a first encounter might not be the right time for full disclosure.

Hold something back for the second date.

Virgo

Capricorn

Jan 21 - Feb 19 Your social network reaches far and wide, so why not use it as a tool to meet prospective new dates? You have the ability to talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime in the beginning of the week, which makes you virtually fearless in the dating world. You’re one of the most interesting people in the room at a party over the weekend, so don’t be surprised when you get more than your share of the attention.

Pisces

Feb 20 - March 20 Try not to change your personality based on the person you’re interested in. It’s one thing to be accommodating and compassionate (two of your most endearing qualities), but quite another to be a chameleon. It’s natural to get upset when faced with rejection at the end of the week, but you know what they say: Living well is the best revenge. Next time you see the person who told you no, act like it didn’t even faze you.

Bollywood personalities’ birthdays ZOHRA SEHGAL APRIL 27

YANA GUPTA APRIL 23

MAMTA KULKARNI APRIL 20

BABITA KAPOOR APRIL 20

Saturday, April 30, 2016

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6 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

Bollywood

Bollywood

Jacqueline over Katrina?

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here have been reports about Karan Johar and Salman Khan’s joint venture. It will be helmed

by Dostana director Tarun Mansukhani and will feature Sushant Singh Rajput.

Initially, there were rumours that Katrina Kaif was being considered as the leading lady of this movie.

But now, the filmmakers have opted for Jacqueline Fernandez instead. One can’t help but wonder if Salman had a role to play in this replacement, which would be shocking as Salman and Katrina have had cordial relationships even after their break up!

D

Saturday, April 30, 2016

i 7

Deepika Padukone to visit India for brand commitments next month

eepika Padukone has been shooting for ‘XXX: The Return of Xander Cage’ in Canada with Vin Diesel since February.

Although, she has been to India for some work related purposes, she will again come back to India next month. However, this too won’t be for any holiday. She will complete some brand endorsement commitments and leave the country the same month for another

schedule “Deepika is living out of her suitcase. She has not been able to take a holiday for the longest time. After she completes another schedule of ‘XXX’, Deepika will be coming to India for a brand endorsement commitment,” says the source.

Deepika will leave India as soon as she completes work for the brand.

“She has no time to take a leave.

She is coming next month but won’t be able to spend free days,” adds the source. -

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Sangeeta threatens to sue Azhar team

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angeeta is concerned about her portrayal in the film, Azhar, as the second wife and especially since she was called the house breaker. Azhar, starring Emraan Hashmi, Prachi Desai and Nargis Fakhri, is all set to release on May 13, but it seems that the film may run into some trouble even before it is releases.

The film will showcase all the elements in Azhar’s life, from his glorious cricketing career to his love life to the match fixing scandal.

She plans to sue the makers if she is portrayed in a poor light. Sangeeta says she will not be watching the film. However, knowing the actress, we feel she will see the film and only then will she decide what she has to do.

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A

UVic Formula One-style hybrid car ready to race

group of University of Victoria students is set to test its own hybrid car technology against teams from other universities around the world. The students’ race car, which they built themselves, will be judged on various aspects including design, acceleration, and endurance at the annual Formula Hybrid Competition at the New Hampshire Mo-

sidelined the students’ car. “We actually got struck on the way to (the) competition,” said mechanical engineering student Ted Alley. “There was a driver going the wrong way down the Interstate and they collided with our trailer.”

The vehicle built by the

universities competing at this year’s Formula Hybrid Competition, Alley said. “It’s one of the top-level competitions to challenge the newer technology, to design the vehicle of the future with higher energy efficiency and reduced emissions,” said Zuomin Dong, chair of UVic’s mechanical engineering department.

tor

Speedway, in Louden, N.H., next week.

The purpose of the annual competition is to encourage students to develop and refine hybrid vehicle technology.

Hitting the track for the competition will mark the end of a long road for some members of the UVic Formula Hybrid Team. The group has spent the past 12 months building the hybrid race car with the most innovative technology it could muster. Last year, a highway crash on the way to New Hampshire

V

students looks like a Formula One race car, but is about a quarter of the actual size.

“We kind of just regrouped and figured out what we were going to do to make the car better this year, and I think we have a really, really competitive entry,” Alley said.

UVic student Ted Alley will be one of the drivers for the hybrid race car at the upcoming competition in New Hampshire. (Megan Thomas/CBC) UVic is one of just three Canadian

UVic students have spent the past year designing and building the hybrid race care to compete at the Formula Hybrid Competition in early May in New Hampshire.

Many who have taken part in previous competitions have gone on to work in the hybrid car industry, Dong added. “We were able to provide about two dozen graduates to General Motors, Tesla, Ford, and many automotive companies.”

Honda Accord Coupe Touring V6

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ccord Coupe remains the only front-wheel-drive, midsize coupe available on the market. It has outlived, among others, the Toyota Solara, Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger Coupe, and, most recently, the Nissan Altima Coupe.

In what was already a niche market, the Honda Accord Coupe can say it sits in a class all its own – a true living rarity. But the question remains: why? Why has the two-door version of Honda’s best-selling sedan continued to live on while other family sedan-based coupes have dropped like flies? And who, exactly, is buying this vehicle when other, more powerful rear-wheel-drive coupes could be had for similar money?

First introduced in 1990, the Accord Coupe found an audience, and continues to find an audience, as it offers the same comfortable driving experience as the sedan, but with the much sleeker, eye-friendly proportions of a two-door. The 2016 version stays true to the formula, with an emphasis on amped-up styling this year. Make no mistake, this is no bulbous Solara.

Volkswagen sets aside $11B to buy back, fix diesel vehicles in emissions scandal

olkswagen said Thursday it had set aside 7.8 billion euros ($11.12 billion Cdn) to buy back or fix diesel-powered cars that had been rigged to cheat in emissions tests. The sum is part of 16.2 billion euros the company deducted from last year’s earnings to cover the costs of the emissions scandal, in which its cars were fitted with software that enabled them to pass tests but then turned emissions controls off during everyday driving. The German automaker further broke down the set-aside for 2015 by saying it included 7 billion euros for fines and legal costs worldwide.

Analysts say the final bill will likely be much higher, when including the impact of lower sales. Volkswagen says it is reporting costs that it knows about at the present time.

The company said last week that it lost 1.5 billion euros on an after-tax basis after a profit of 11.1 billion euros in 2014.

Volkswagen is currently working out a settlement with U.S.

authorities in federal court in San Francisco, and has said that would include an offer to buy back as many as 500,000 of the just under 600,000 defective vehicles. Volkswagen deal in emissions scandal includes compensation, U.S. judge says

formation of the company that would see it focus more on electric vehicles and services like car-sharing as it seeks to get past its scandal over cheating on diesel emissions tests.

‘Fundamentally sound’ He stressed that the company’s car business rem a i n s “fundamentally sound” but detailed a promised plan to emphaWorkers conduct final inspections size digiCEO Matthias Mueller said tal services and zero-emissions Thursday that recalling and fixing vehicles. The company would the cars that were rigged to cheat soon form a legally independent on the tests “will remain our most company to promote business important task until the very last in mobility services, which can vehicle has been put in order.” include things like ride-sharing He used the company’s anapps and car-sharing, he said. nual news conference to also Mueller said that the company sketch out a wide-ranging transwould “make electric cars one of

Volkswagen’s new hallmarks” with 20 new models by 2020.

Volkswagen had previously emphasized diesel technology, which has suffered a blow since it became clear Volkswagen engines could not meet U.S. emissions standards without cheating. The company has admitted using engine software that disabled emissions controls when vehicles were not being tested.

That improved performance and mileage but meant the vehicles spewed far more than the legal limit of pollutants.

Mueller apologized again for the scandal, telling the company’s annual news conference in Wolfsburg, Germany, that “we disappointed many people who trusted Volkswagen.”

The company said its robust cash reserves of 24.5 billion euros at year end left it in a strong financial position.

Chief Financial Officer Frank Witter said that the company would not propose any capital increase to shareholders at its annual meeting in June.

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Saturday, April 30, 2016

TESLA Model 3

I

ts single instrument is a billboard-like 15-inch touchscreen glowing in the dash, it accelerates with the nearly silent rush that cheetahs use to get their lunch, and it will start at $35,000 when it first reaches customers, which at this moment is

said t o be the end of 2017.

Welcome to the “affordable” Tesla Model 3 that 115,000 people supposedly put deposits on before the highly secretive car was even shown to the public at a launch party at SpaceX, Tesla’s sister company headquartered in Hawthorne, California.

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From the side and back, the sedan Model 3 looks like a Model S with a very tall roof and a bobbed nose and tail. Up front, i t has a blunt upturned snout that evokes the original Tesla Roadster as well as the new, sealedup prow of the Model X. It is genetically linked to all of its ancestors—both in the styling and in the many pounds of lithium-ion batteries packed into the floor (also, all but the Roadster have front and rear trunks). It owes a heavy debt to the other cars in Tesla’s lineup“For all of you who bought an S or an X, thank you for helping pay for the Model 3,” Tesla chief Elon Musk told the crowd, referring to the Model 3 as the culmination of Tesla’s “secret master plan” to hasten the arrival of zero-emissions, self-driving transportation by producing a series of increasingly cheaper and more-practical cars. “With any new technology, it takes multiple iterations and economies of scale before you can

Model 3 will be ready late 2017 Tesla CEO Elon Musk ‘fairly confident’

esla Motors gave a sneak preview Thursday of its Model 3 sedan, saying more than 130,000 people had ordered the car, even though it is more than a year away from production.

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk unveiled a prototype of the Model 3 in Hawthorne, Calif., outside Los Angeles to hundreds of Tesla owners and the media, saying the vehicle will go into production in 2017 at a starting price of $35,000 US. The Model 3 is critical to the Silicon Valley automaker’s growth plans and to sustaining its lofty stock price. Tesla shares have jumped in recent days in anticipation of the Model 3 launch. The shares jumped as much as nine per cent in pre-market trading on Friday.

“It’s very important to accelerate the transition to sustainable transport,” said Musk. “This is really important for the future of the world.”

Musk guided the audience through the journey from the company’s previous models, the Roadster, S and X, to the current one.

“With any new technology, it takes multiple iterations and economies of scale before you can make it affordable,” said Musk, the South-African born CEO who spent two years at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. “Do you want to see the car?” teased Musk, to screams from the audience in the hangarsized facility inside a Tesla design center. “We don’t have it for you tonight — just kidding!”

Three Model 3s were driven onstage, which looked like a shorter ver-

sion of Tesla’s Model S sedan. The Model 3 has a panoramic glass roof and an elongated hood.

Inside, it seats five adults and has the same large touchscreen dashboard as other Teslas. It also has Tesla’s suite of semiautonomous driving features, including automatic lane changing and lane keeping. Musk said it will accelerate from zero to 60 in less than six seconds.

Musk says it will go at least 345 kilometres on an electric charge.

Musk said that 115,000 pre-orders had already been taken on Thursday alone for the car.

Within a half hour, that number reached 137,600 in a rolling scroll projected onto a screen.

This undated photo provided by Tesla Motors shows the new Model 3 car. The Model 3 is less than half the cost of Tesla’s previous models.

i 9

make it affordable,” Musk said. A mass-market car “was only possible to do . . . after going through the prior steps.”

This is the car that will either save Tesla or kill it. To tool up for the expected volumes, which could be in the range of 75,000 a year the first couple of years, Tesla will risk a lot of capital on ramping up production, retail, and service capacity, making the Model 3 Tesla’s do-or-die moment. Everything will be bigger, from the factory parts inventory to the number of robots in the body shop to the size of the fleet of trucks needed to ship the product to the financial risks of a recall.

Beyond what’s written above, we don’t have a whole lot more details about the Model 3. Musk says the base model will have a 215-mile range and will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than six seconds. There also will be a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version. He also promises that it will achieve five-star crash-test ratings and that Autopilot hardware will be standard. The company is otherwise being very stingy with the details. For example, it won’t tell us the sizes of the available batteries (thought to be between 40 and 60 kWh) or what the car is made out of.

Electric vehicle numbers growing

E

lectric vehicle registrations are surging in B.C., fuelled by hefty provincial incentives, improved technology and desirable packaging.

But the overall number of hybrid and fully-electric cars on the road remains low, relative to their gas and diesel-powered counterparts, and that could come down to lingering fear over drained batteries.

Since 2011, the province has committed about $31 million to help build charging stations and make electric vehicles more affordable to buyers. In that year, just 160 electric vehicles and another 22,000 hybrids were registered in the province, according to the Insurance Corp. of B.C. Since then, electric and hybrid vehicles have infiltrated the lineups of major manufacturers, from Ford and Toyota to Mercedes and Porsche. Some electric or hybrid vehicles — including the Chevrolet Volt, one of the grand prizes at the Vancouver International Auto Show this year — are on their second or subsequent generation.

Meanwhile, Tesla’s fully-electric Model S has become one of the most attractive cars on the road.

By the end of 2015, there were 3,200 electric cars registered in the province, a 1,900 per cent increase in just four years.

Hybrids also jumped 63 per cent in that time to 36,000, ac-

cording to ICBC records.

While the growth is impressive, the overall count relative to conventional autos is less so. Electric and hybrid vehicles account for less than two per cent of B.C.’s 2,297,000 registered passenger vehicles on the road in 2015.

Kelly Carmichael was one of the first people to own a fully electric vehicle in the province. He got his Nissan Leaf in 2011 and has since put about 115,000 kilometres on the car in his daily commute from his home in Surrey to the B.C. Institute of Technology in Burnaby.

Carmichael said he thought some people might still be reluctant to try out all-electric vehicles.

“People are just barely becoming familiar with hybrids and starting to trust (that) technology,” Carmichael said in an interview. “It’s closer to what they’re doing, so they don’t have to change their behaviour to use a hybrid.”

The change in behaviour demanded by electric vehicles comes down to charging and range. But both of those factors are getting easier all the time.

When Carmichael got his Leaf, there was no charging network and vehicle users found one another on Facebook to help each other out.

10 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

JOBS Optical Store Manager required at:

Clear Cool Optical - 2450 McCallum Raod, Abbotsford, BC, Canada, V2S 6R9 For details check website: http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/jobposting.do?id=19833072

---------------------------

Baker / Sweet Maker wanted

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

Cook for Pakistani cuisine wanted

Classifieds JOBS

JOBS

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

fice to provide ICBC claims, and/ or solicitor services to the financial area. Whether an exisiting law office looking for a satellitespace, or new lawyers wanting to establish their presence in this busy area.

Please phone 604 581 8400 for Shahin Soheili Managing Director Sutton Group or email: shahin@sutton.com

---------------- Jan 23 2016

Perfect Space corner unit available for office

Descriptions: Perfect Space corner unit with gorgeous view for Law office, as this corner on 72nd and 120th Street, has lots of traffic, with numerous medical doctors and all the top five major banks in the area. There is no law office presence in the vicinity.

Perfect opportunity for a law of-

Required urgently for beauty salon in Burnaby We have a great opportunity to add a new member to our team. We are looking for someone who is professional and confident in there waxing and threading skills. Our salon has an amazing reputation in these services and would love the right professional for the job.

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---------------- April 16 2016

Need Janitorial Helpers

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 defec-

JOBS tive parts; Perform high quality repairs and refurbishment of phones/cell phones/tablets; Ensure all repair meets quality standards; Monitor parts inventory and inform management of status; Accurately document repairs and parts information on repair tracking document; Maintaining and using tools and equipment properly; Interact with customer as needed, providing exceptional customer service.

Employment Requirements: Completion of Secondary School with 2-3 years of experience or Completion of 3-4 years apprenticeship training program or Trade certification with several months of on-job training.

If interested please send resume at mobilezonecommunicationinc@gmail.com�

-----------------------------Jan 02_16 Vacancy for In-home Caregiver Balwinder Singh Singhmaar, resident of 15095 92Ave, Surrey, BC V3R 5V8 has a vacancy for Inhome Child caregiver for infant child and 9 years old son. Full Time, $11 / hour, 40 hrs/week.

Applicant must have high school with minimum of one year of related experience within last three years or six months of full time training in caregiving.

Job Duties includes Supervise and care for children, prepare formulas and change diaper of infant, feeding, bathing, dress-

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 ing, prepare children for rest period, escort child to school, prepare and serve nutritious meal and snacks, accompany to and from activities & appointments, light housekeeping, laundry, maintain safe environment at home, keep record of day-to-day activities, health and progress of children.

Send resumes by email at balwinderssinghmaar@gmail.com -------------- Oct 31 2015 Western door manufacturing Ltd. located at #109-8250 124Street, Surrey BC V3W 3X9, has an immediate vacancy of Carpenter. We design and manufacture high end solid wood exterior doors, solid wood interior doors and custom doors.

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To PLACE YOUR AD IN THE ASIAN STAR CLASSIFIEDS Section Please

Call: 604-591-5423

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Community News

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Honoring South Asian journalist Promod Puri

romod Puri is one of the senior- most South Asian journalists and humanists in Canada. Recently he published a well researched book on Hinduism that was launched by the Global Hindu Foundation of Canada on April 24,2016 at Strawberry Hill Public Library in Surrey among prominent literary and social activists.

Book is a practical manual leading to clear conception of rituals,customs and practices and an easily understood account of Hindu Way of Life- the management of self.

Acharya S . P. D w i v e d i , the President of GHFOC started the program with his welcoming address followed by Kanti Dwivedi’s Saraswati Vandana. The book launch was carried by Acharya, Rita Puri, Kanti,Dwivedi, Ashok Puri and Deepa Sharma amid roaring sound of clapping. Promod Puri read some important pieces from his book and that was incredibly impressive.

Ashok Bhragava a prominent writer and president of WINC reflected his views on book. He found that Puri’s explanations are logical, concise and clear. He exposed adequately the serious problem of caste system in Hindu society and for that he should be congratulated. Simmi Gopal Puri, Manager of Communication, Faculty of Law, UBC presented the touching experiences with gratitude that how nicely she was taught by her father- Puri about Hindu religious symbolism, myths, spirituality and traditions. Jai Birdi, President of ChChetnaociety applauded Promod Puri for his outspokenness about the evils of Hindu customs and

“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

recognizing the splendid contribution of Dr. Ambedkar towards promoting the condition of Dalit, Achhoot and Naari.

Acharya Dwivedi commented , “Puri tried to look the Hindu religion with fresh eyes and applied analytical approach. He found that there is much wood which is diseased and dead in Hinduism that is to be cleared away”. Puri was offered a plaque, honoring him for his life time contribution to journalism

and humanism, by the members of the Executive of GHFOC- Acharya, Kanti and Deepa.

The multi language Kavi Darbar/Mushaira took place after the book -launch ceremony and it was sponsored by the South Asian Literary Society of Canada, Hindi Literary Society of Canada and Writers International Network Canada. Mr M. Rafiq an Urdu scholar conducted it eloquently and it was chaired by the reputed poet Nadeem Parmar.

The following writers of Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu languages participated in the poetry recital session- Shailendra Pathak, Jitendra Kumar, Mohan Gill, Inrderjit Dhami, Amrik Plahi, Herdev Sodhi “Ashak”, A.H.Kadri, Neena Sethi, Dr.B.K.Singh, Ashok Bhargava, Huma Shoaib, Taimoor Khan, Brajinder Dhillon and Krishan Bhanot. Promod Puri donated all the proceeds of book-sale to GHFOC. All the guests, at the end, were profusely entertained with refreshment.

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 their personal and financial information.

As frauds involving the Canada Revenue Agency are on the rise not only in Surrey but across the country, tax season is prime time for fraudsters to prey on unsuspecting victims. Residents need to be vigilant if they receive fraudulent communications from these agencies and report it to authorities immediately if they suspect they are a victim.

“This time of year serves as a good reminder for residents to check their mail regularly when sensitive financial and personal information may be arriving daily in your mailbox,” says Surrey RCMP Corporal Scotty Schumann.

“If criminals are able to access this information they can fraudulently use it to gain access to bank accounts, apply for loans and credit cards, or engage in criminal activity that ultimately becomes associated to you.”

Surrey RCMP has also noticed a trend in fraudulent telephone calls claiming to be from debt collectors for unpaid phone, cable, hydro, or other utility bills.

Most of the reports involve complainants who have lost their wallets or purses within the last year and have not reported it to authorities. Scams like this are good reminders to cancel and replace all important cards once lost and to routinely check your credit report to ensure you are not a victim of identity theft.

Another scam that residents should be aware of that is making the rounds locally is the “black” or “white” money scam. This sophisticated counterfeit

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scheme comes in multiple forms but usually involves currency that on initial appearance has no colour but can apparently be washed with a chemical that makes it a legitimate bank note. In most cases, the victims are usually conned into making an initial investment into this counterfeit money with the promise of large returns.

“Surrey is a very diverse community that includes many residents who are new to Canada,” says Cpl. Schumann.

“Unfortunately those who are unfamiliar with how our institutions and businesses operate can be more susceptible to these frauds. We ask that residents take this opportunity to discuss these recent fraud trends with family members who may not be aware.”

For more information on fraud prevention please visit the Scams & Fraud page on our website. If your business or community group would like to host an info session on fraud prevention please contact the Surrey RCMP’s Economic Crime Unit at 604-5990502. If you are the victim of a fraud, please contact your local police and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or at 1-888-495-8501.

------------------------------------Train-the-Trainer workshop for Hepatitis and other communicable 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-

12 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

Strong Action For Safer Communities A three-year, $23-million commitment by the Government of B.C. builds on the Guns and Gangs Strategy with the B.C. Anti-Gang Unit, RCMP and Crime Stoppers to support B.C. communities like Surrey to prevent gang and gun violence. Key elements include: $450,000 to support Crime Stoppers’ proven Cash for Tips on Illegal Firearms and to promote awareness of the Gang Tip Line Enhancement of the End Gang Life Program Continued funding for the Gang Prevention Surrey Wraparound (Wrap) Program More outreach to youth Dedicated Crown counsel on priority files in Surrey that involve alleged offenders with ties to guns and gangs More police, with the addition of two 10-person teams New Office of Crime Reduction and Gang Outreach Illegal Firearms Task Force

You could receive a cash reward of up to $2000.

2016_Surrey Crime Stopper Print_Asian Star.10X14.5.indd 1

CREATION DATE: April 28 2016

2016-04-28 5:19 PM

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Vol. 6 No. 35

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Saturday - April 30, 2016

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E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com

Kelowna rental vacancies low, but boom of new homes coming

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report from City of Kelow- cent, and the rate for three or hadn’t seen a lot of new supply comna staff shows a boom more bedrooms is at 0 percent. ing in for rental housing,” Bentley certainly seen an increase in told Radio West guest host Josh Page. in residential construc- 4“We’ve i Saturday, July 25, 2015 Still, Bentley says the avertion in the city, but it might be population, and in recent years we years before that boom impacts low vacancy rates for renters.

City planner Laura Bentley says approved building permits in 2015 increased 40 percent over 2014 numbers, and about 75 per cent of those permits were for multi-family buildings like condos, apartments or townhomes.

However, the overall rental vacancy rate sits at 0.7 per-

High house prices prompt some to buy real estate with friends When Jeremy Campbell purchased a house in Ladner, B.C., with his sister and her husband in 2010, it was meant to be a temporary arrangement until he could upgrade to a place of his own. “The initial plan was to do this short term just to get into the market, build some equity ... get my foot in the door,” says Campbell, who covered one third of the down payment on a 2,000 square-foot home that’s split into two suites. But with home prices in the Lower Mainland’s red-hot real estate market soaring, Campbell says they’re thinking of staying put.

Real estate ‘chaos’ has millenials scrambling to buy while they still can CMHC seeking new ways to track foreign money flowing into Canadian housing “We’ll invest in the house to expand it versus selling and going our separate ways,” says Campbell, noting that a renovation is needed to accommodate the growing family, which now includes his fiancee, their new dog and his three-year-old niece.

age cost of rent has remained relatively unchanged in the city at $890, compared to the provincial average rent of $1,042.

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CMHC says many major housing markets showing signs of overvaluation

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CMHC says most Canadian housing markets showing signs of overvaluation

anada’s national housing agency says nine of Canada’s 15 largest housing markets are showing signs of being overvalued. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation said in its quarterly Housing Market Assessment Wednesday that a majority of Canada’s large housing markets are showing either “moderate” or “strong” evidence of being overvalued. The housing agency looks at housing markets to gauge their health based on four factors: The agency rates each market on a colour coded scale where green means there is little evidence of that factor, yellow means there is moderate evidence of it and red means there is strong evidence of it.

On the overvaluation front, the CMHC says there is moderate or strong evidence of that happening in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina, Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City.

Four of those cities — Toronto, Quebec City, Vancouver and Saskatoon — now show “strong” signs

of overvaluation. The first two were singled out in the agency’s last report on housing in January. But the latter two were only recently given their red warning on overvaluation.

In Vancouver’s case, the housing agency said “Single-detached home

prices are now observed to be at levels higher than those consistent with financial, economic and demographic fundamentals.”

But the problem in Saskatoon, meanwhile, is tied to recent downward revisions to the area’s popu-

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— now up to $508,567, on average — and the volume of sales, CREA said. Aside from overvaluation in pockets, the CMHC’s assessment sees little cause for concern nationally. “Overheating and acceleration in house prices are not a concern at this time,” the CMHC said.

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y now, the high price of rent in and around San Francisco has become at once a familiar lament and an easy punchline. In 2014, BuzzFeed highlighted nine private islands that cost less than an apartment in the California tech capital; a year later, a local website found the same of five castles.

Along with the cheeky comparisons came clever workarounds: a backyard tent in Mountain View, a garage in Palo Alto, a refurbished FedEx van at San Francisco University.

In October, The Washington Post even spoke with a Google engineer who has made his home in a truck at company headquarters.

With the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment at $3,670 a month, the city’s housing crisis has pushed frugal renters to the edge of their comfort limits.

From tents to trucks, the next logical step in San Francisco has taken shape — in the form of a literal box.

This makeshift bedroom, which its owner prefers to call a pod, is no larger than a wide bookshelf and inconspicuously stationed at one corner of an apartment living room in the Sunset District neighborhood. Its exterior resembles a large crate, while its inside houses a twin bed, a fold-up desk and some LEDs. At 8 feet long and 4.5 feet tall, the wooden box requires Peter Berkowitz to duck to get inside, but he assured The Post in a phone interview Monday night that his new home is “honestly very comfortable.“I really don’t feel like I’ve taken a hit in terms of my quality of life,” said Berkowitz, 25. “I don’t really notice I live in the pod anymore.”

Berkowitz moved into the box two weeks ago, after an attempt to find affordable housing in the city proved futile. Fortunately, he

Cash bonuses for real estate agents called into question

-Custom painted wall murals for home, office or commercial establishments.

By Appointment

lation, which makes it harder to justify. House prices in the greater Saskatoon area declined 2.7 per cent in March, data from the Canadian Real Estate Association showed. Across the country, Canada’s housing market set a record last month both in terms of prices

Man pays $400 a month to sleep in wooden box in friends’ San Francisco living

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Here’s another oddity about real estate for buyers already facing high home prices.

Tucked in the fine print of some Multiple Listing Service posts that can only be seen by agents are cash bonuses for agents on top of the usual standard commission.

Some are a flat amount. Others seem to reward a buyer’s agent as the sale price increases.

In a so-called sellers’ market — where analysts, politicians and the public battle each other over what exactly is driving skyrocketing home prices — there should be no need for such bonuses.

“Selling bonuses have been used in markets where there are more listings than buyers,” said Maureen Coleman, professional standards adviser with the Real Estate Council of British Columbia.

The bonuses, like the controversial practice of shadow flipping, are legal as long as they are properly disclosed.

With the market so hot, it’s questionable that a seller would need to pay more than the usual commission to get a property sold. But if offering a bonus can land a sale at an even higher price, the cost of the bonus can be deducted from the sale.

For buyers, however, such bonuses could potentially motivate their agent to work against their best interests and seal a deal at a higher price or pass over a

property that doesn’t come with a bonus.

As one agent put it: “What sense does it make for a (buyer’s agent) to get a bonus for making you, the client, pay more?”

It’s not clear how widespread these bonuses are. The Real Estate Council of B.C. said it received one complaint last week.

But in a little over an hour of digging around on the version of the MLS accessible only by agents, this reporter was able to find another eight such bonus offers — four on homes that have sold and four for listings that are still active.

For example, there is a five bedroom, five bathroom home on Nolan Street in Burnaby South that is asking $1,188,000.

It’s listed by Nu Stream Realty Inc. and comes with the offer of a $5,000 bonus (in addition to a typical commission of 3.255 % on the first $100,000 and 1.15 % on the rest of the sale amount.)

On Sardis Street near Central Park in Burnaby, there is a 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom duplex listed by New Coast Realty with this offer for a buyer’s agent: “If sold price between $1,460,000 and $1,509,999, the commission of buyer agent will be added bonus $3,000; If sold price between $1,510,000 and $1,549,999, commission of buyer agent will be added bonus $9,000.

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Nine of the 10 expensive homes for sale are here in BC

ombined, our province’s palaces are listed at a whopping $301,175,000 — that’s more than $300 million. For nine homes. If you add the Toronto property into the mix — buy nine, get the 10th for only $28.8 million! — that brings the total up to more than $330 million.

The most affordable home on the list is 5240 Marine Dr., which is selling for the bargain price of $25 million. Let’s take a tour of the expensive estates: r2001956_20 No. 1: 1 3838 Cypress Street, Vancouver List Price: $44,999,000 Sure, it’s the most expensive property in Canada, but you get four lots for the price — four! That’s like only a little more than $11 million per lot. Who can’t afford that? Heck, if you’re tight for cash, you can just rent out some of the 17 bedrooms — with 23 bathrooms and six kitchens, there’s more than enough room for guests. No. 2: 4351 Erwin Drive, West Vancouver List price: $42,800,000 You can’t put a price on 150 feet of beachfront property in West Vancouver. Actually, you can: $42.8 million.

Sure, you could probably buy your own private island for less, but if you’re dropping $42+ million on a house, you probably already own a private island, so it’s all good. r2033696_15 No. 3: 5365 Seaside Place, West Vancouver List price: $38,000,000

$38 million is a lot of money — but this place comes with its own private peninsula! How can you afford not to buy a place that has its own private peninsula? No. 4: 4726 Belmont Avenue, Vancouver List price: $33,800,000 This Point Grey estate features a 29,070 square foot lot, so you’ve got plenty of room to tear the place down and build an even bigger home. Because that’s what we like to do in Vancouver.

If you can’t afford that, though, this place looks pretty livable, even though it does only have four bedrooms. It does have a gym, which will allow you to cut

down on your private club costs and spend the money on other things, like helicopter commutes.

No. 5: 13256 Coulthard Road, Surrey List price: $30,000,000 OK, this one is a little bit of a fixerupper — but what do you expect for a paltry $30 million? Screen Shot 201604-19 at 10.05.13 AM copy No. 6: 529 Swanwick Road, Victoria List price: $28,888,000 This Vancouver Island property is so exclusive it doesn’t even have a photo on the MLS listing. If you have to see it first, you can’t afford it. Nice gate, though. That’s worth a cool million right there.

No. 7: 10 High Point Road, Toronto

List price: $28,888,000 For less than the price of a fixer-upper in Surrey, you can get a palatial estate in Toronto! It even comes with a ballroom that can hold 100 guests. You really can get more for your money in other parts of the country. The downside, of course, is you have to live in Toronto.

No. 8: 2165 123 Street, Surrey List price: $28,888,000 This listing stresses its “PRIVATE” nature. We sort of assumed anything in the $20+ million range would offer some degree of privacy, but we admittedly do not have any first-hand experience of living in homes like this.

Perhaps if one of these homeowners wanted to take us in for a while so we could write a story detailing their challenges with privacy? Anyway, this home also includes a workshop, which we can only assume is code for a Batcave because why else would a mansion have a “workshop”?

No. 9: 3998 Granville Street, Vancouver List price: $28,888,000 This is the fourth property listed at $28,888,000. We’re starting to notice a trend here. As in we’ll never be able to afford to live in Vancouver. We probably couldn’t even afford the hedge surrounding this property.

No. 10: 5240 Marine Drive, West Vancouver List price: $25,000,000

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18 i Saturday, March 26, 2016

Saturday, April 30, 2016

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18 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

LOCAL

Scenes from Surrey Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan last week

POLITICS

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Ottawa earmarks $10.9M to upgrade 400 railway crossings this year

ederal transport minister says Ottawa will spend more than $10.9 million this year to fund upgrades to fix more than 400 railway crossings across Canada.

Marc Garneau says it is part of the federal Grade Crossing Improvement Program (GCIP), which shares up to 50 percent of the cost to fix dangerous crossings with railways and local municipalities. The money is part of the $143 million already allocated for a range of rail safety programs announced in the 2016 budget.

“This year’s improvements include new flashing lights and bells, gate barriers, linking crossing signals with traffic signals, upgrading light bulbs to brighter LED lights or adding new circuits and timing devices,” Garneau told a news conference Wednesday at the Toronto Railway Museum.

Data on dangerous railway crossings to be shared, minister says Canada’s 25 most accident-prone railway crossings plagued by widespread design flaws Transport Canada list of 500 ‘highest

risk’ railway crossings not widely shared Garneau says of the 400 crossings to be upgraded, 93 are in Ontario.

A CBC News investigation this month discovered the crossings program has been scaled back overall, with federal contributions to each project being reduced in April 2013 by the previous government from 80 per cent to 50 per cent.

The $10.9 million is not a marked increase in funding — in fact, it’s lower than the funding the Harper government committed in previous fiscal years for the same program — but it represents a high-water mark since the shift to the new funding model.

CBC’s investigation also uncovered widespread design flaws across the country through analysis of records from the Transportation Safety Board and examination of the top 25 most accident-prone crossings in Canada.

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New BC legislation could open doors for Uber’s return

he B.C Green Party has introduced legislation to “start a conversation” about bringing ride-hailing companies like Uber to British Columbia.

The bill, introduced by Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver, would require ride-hailing drivers to get a background check and vehicle inspection before operating on B.C. roads.

“I have put very specific language in there based on best practices from across various jurisdictions,” said Weaver. “In B.C., it seems we are very good at finding ways we can’t be innovate rather than find ways we can be innovative.”

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Saturday, April 30, 2016

Vancouver is the largest jurisdiction in North America that does not allow Uber, the largest ride-hailing company, to operate. The province has launched a consultation process to work with industry leaders on what impacts ride-hailing would have in B.C. Uber cannot operate in the province right now because of a number of issues associated with the Passenger Transportation Board.

Those issues include background checks and access to passengers with disabilities.

The provincial government has also expressed concern about hurting existing taxi drivers who have invested money in their vehicles and licences.

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Business / Finance

Harper’s tough-on-crime agenda dealt another blow in Court

he former Conservative government’s tough-on-crime agenda has suffered another blow as British Columbia’s highest court strikes down two more mandatory-minimum sentencing laws, ruling them unconstitutional. On Monday, the B.C. Court of Appeal overturned compulsory two-year minimum sentences for drug trafficking convictions that involve someone under the age of 18 or that occur in a public place frequented by youth.

A unanimous decision from the threeperson panel says a minimum sentence of two years in such instances may be at times

“grossly disproportionate” to the crime committed, and therefore amounts to cruel and unusual punishment. Stephen Harper addresses supporters at an election night gathering in Calgary, Alta., on Monday October 19, 2015. This week’s ruling is the latest in several cases where courts have overturned mandatory-minimum sentences that are the legacy of the former Conservative government. A Supreme Court of Canada decision earlier this month put an end to minimum sentences for specific drug crime convictions and limits on pre-trial credit in certain conditions where bail is denied.

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BC NDP MLA tables gender identity rights bill — again

ancouver-West End NDP MLA ment has said previously the code does not Spencer Chandra Herbert is today need to be amended. Politicians have argued introducing a bill in the provincial the code already protects all persons, and legislature that calls for gender identity that all individuals should be treated equally and expression to be exwith dignity and rights. plicitly protected under the Spencer Chandra B.C. Human Rights Code.

Herbert says the bill “Right now, Stronger transgender rights is important to many unfortunately, transgender needed, says former hupeople. man rights commissioner there is a (The Canadian Press) B.C. Human Rights high degree of ignoSeven provinces have Code insufficient, language that explicitly says LGBTQ2 activist rance and that leads protects against discrimHerbert said Wednesday to hatred and ination based on gender the current code is vague violence,” identity or expression, when it comes to protecting but British Columpeople who are transgenbia is not one of them. der from discrimination.

Alberta targets discrim“Right now, unfortunately, there is a high ination against transgender people in new bill degree of ignorance and that leads to haVancouver Pride Parade tred and violence,” he said. “If you talk to bars B.C. Liberals over pledge transgender people they will tell you it’s Chandra Herbert said the code works extremely important to bring this to law.” well in the courts, but doesn’t carry It’s the fourth time Herbert has tried to in- over well in day-to-day interactions. troduce the bill, but the provincial govern-

Increasing private surgeries won’t solve BC’s waitlist problems: study

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new study lays out detailed recommendations for tackling the province’s growing surgical wait times – now among the longest in Canada – and warns against plans to increase contractingout to private clinics.

The study, released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, assesses the provincial government’s recent policy paper, Future Directions for Surgical Services in British Columbia. Lead author Andrew Longhurst says that while the paper includes some positive recommendations for improving surgical care within the public system, it also proposes major steps towards health care privatization.

“What’s most troubling,” says Longhurst, “is the recommendation to contract out in-patient surgeries to private clinics.”

Currently, private clinics can only per-

form day surgeries. The government’s policy paper recommends increasing the allowable stay in private clinics to three days, which would enable the majority of all surgeries to be contracted out.

“The international evidence shows that increased private delivery of health care is more expensive and less safe, and will destabilize the public health care system,” says Longhurst.

“There are some very fixable problems in the public health care system that are contributing to longer waits,” Longhurst says. “Almost 20 per cent of operating rooms in BC aren’t used to full capacity.

We don’t have adequate home and community care for seniors, so they end up in hospital, which contributes to bed shortages and longer waits for surgery. We have pilot projects that reduce wait times but they aren’t being scaled up province-wide.”

Business / Finance

Bombardier secures Delta order for up to 125 new CSeries jets Montreal-based company hopes firm order of 75 passenger jet will revive its fortunes

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ontreal-based Bombardier Inc. says it has received a big order for its CSeries passenger jets in a deal with U.S. carrier Delta Air Lines Inc. that boosts confidence in the plane maker.

Delta has placed a firm order for 75 CS100 aircraft with options for an additional 50 dier said units, BombarThursday, which makes Delta’s the largest order yet for the CSeries aircraft.

“The addition of Delta to our marquee CSeries customer list gives us tremendous momentum,” Bombardier CEO Alain Bellemare said.

Delta praised the “state-of-the-art interior” of the CS100s and said they are designed to deliver an expected 20 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency over similar sized aircraft. The deal also includes a clause that would give Delta the option to convert a number of the planes into the larger and more expensive CS300 version down the line. The CSeries jets are due to be put into service with Delta in the

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Tim Hortons, Burger King post $50M quarterly profit

estaurant Brands International Inc. reported a profit of $50 million US in its latest quarter compared with a loss a year ago. The company behind Tim Hortons and Burger King says the profit amounted to 21 cents per share for the three months ended March 31. That compared with a loss of US$8.3 million or four cents per share in the same quarter last year. Revenue slipped to $918.5

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million from $933.3 million as the weak Canadian dollar cut into Tim Hortons revenue.

On an adjusted basis, Restaurant Brands said it earned $142.1 million or 30 cents per share in the latest quarter, up from $73.9 million or 16 cents per share a year ago. Comparable store sales at Tim Hortons increased 5.6 per cent after adjustments for currency changes, while Burger King saw a 4.6 per cent increase.

Canadian dollar briefly hits highest level since July as oil tops $45 US

he Canadian dollar hit a new ninemonth high this morning, buoyed by oil prices that touched their highest level since November. The loonie was changing hands at 79.50 cents US at one point Wednesday morning, its highest mark since July 2015. It later traded just above 79 cents as oil shed earlier gains. The price of a barrel of the North American oil benchmark known as West Texas Intermediate was up by $1.06 US on Wednesday, at $45.10, before new data showed U.S. oil inventories increased by two million barrels last week.

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spring of 2018. At list prices, the deal could be worth almost $6 billion to Bombardier, but Desjardins analyst Benoit Poirier suggests Bombardier will likely give the airline a volume discount for such a large order. “We do expect steep discounts, given the size of the order and the quality of the customer,” he said in a note to clients early Thursday.

Poirier also notes the aerospace company expects to take a $500 million “contract provision” hit next quarter related to recent CSeries sales to Delta, Air Canada and Air Baltic. “Nevertheless, we believe this commitment sends a strong signal for the long-term viability of the CSeries program, and will likely create a snowball effect for further orders from marquee customers,” singling out JetBlue and British Airways in particular to be likely future customers. Airline consultant Pierre Jeanniot agrees that Delta is likely getting a discount of as much as 40 to 50 per cent on the planes for the public vote of confidence they are giving to Bombardier.

Some experts caution that the recent oil rally may be short-lived. “The concern is that at $45 [a barrel] a significant amount of oil plays become profitable again and we still have not seen a big enough decline in oil output to bring about the appropriate supply and demand rebalancing,” said Angus Nicholson of IG. Everyone in the market is concerned that we could see a repeat of 2015, where after a dramatic price decline, prices began to rise again and prompted a huge influx of oversupply and an even more severe sell-off.”

Ottawa posts $7.5B surplus for 11 months of previous fiscal year

he federal government ran a budgetary surplus of $7.5 billion over the first 11 months of its fiscal year — putting Ottawa’s books well ahead of its 2015-16 deficit prediction with one month to go. The Finance Department’s latest monthly fiscal monitor, released Friday, suggests the government will have to post about a $13-billion deficit in March to match the Liberals’ 2015-16 projection of a $5.4-billion shortfall. The report said Ottawa had a $3.2-billion surplus in February alone. But Finance Minister Bill Morneau has said the expenses and revenues in the final month of a fiscal year could lead to significant changes in the numbers .

The fresh figures will likely feed into an ongoing debate whether the previous Con-

servative government left the public books in the red when the Liberals took power last fall.

The Tories insist Ottawa was on track for a small surplus in 2015-16, while the Liberals argue it was not the case. With one month of numbers to come, Ottawa is on track to post a large surplus for its last fiscal year — counter to what the budget forecasted. Experts such as Canada’s budget watchdog have released predictions that suggest the Liberals’ have been overly prudent in their projections. PBO numbers are different Earlier this month, the parliamentary budget officer’s analysis challenged the government’s shortfall prediction for 2015-16, saying Ottawa will instead have a $700-million surplus.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

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PUNJAB

Domestic help’s daughter shines in state

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alandhar girl Shivali has topped Punjab in the National Means-Cum Merit Scholarship Exam. Currently in Class IX, the success of Shivali, who appeared for the exam when she was in the Class VIII, is as triumphant as the story behind it. She got 109 out of 180 marks - the highest position in Punjab.

Fifteen years old Shivali, daughter of Paramjeet, a single-mother who works as a domestic help, starts her day cleaning up the house even before she goes to school. With limited resources - and the intelligent one of the three siblings (she has a brother who is also in XI standard and a younger sister - the responsibility of keeping things together - after her mother, falls on Shivali. Their father left them a few years ago. “It is my mother’s efforts which have brought me this far. She has given a lot of sacrifices to bring us up. I want to ne be a lawyer so that I fight a case for my mother when I grow up. I would like to get my mother justice and get put father back,” says Shivali.

Good News!!

Speaking on whether it’s hard to study with so many responsibilities she says, “No it isn’t. I try to finish all my works in time. I get up early and help my mother in cleaning up the house and other chores. After I come back from schools - I have to teach my brother and younger sister. So I usually finish up all my work in school itself.”

Speaking on whether the finances at home affect the studies she said, “Mostly it’s ok. My mother works really hard and comes back late in the evenings.

But sometimes when her pay gets late, then we feel the constraint.” Notably, the school that Shivali studies in has also been charting success for the past few years.

For the past three years, the school has produced 9, 12, 16 and 19 toppers of the NMMS. This year as many as 19 students of the school psssed the exam, the highest in a school in Punjab. Principal Kushdepp Kaur said, we don’t make any special efforts, just be timely and complete the syllabus on time and make the students work hard.

Good News!!

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Sukhbir acquitted of violence during canvassing, after 17 years

eputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal on Saturday got a major relief when a Faridkot court acquitted him in a decade-old case related to poll violence in 1999. The court of judicial magistrate Ist class (JMFC) Satish Kumar declared Badal not guilty in the case of causing hurt and robbery filed against him by Naresh Sehgal, a resident of Kotkapura town of Faridkot district.

It was on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana high court that the police had registered the case against Sukhbir on June 30, 2006, seven years after the alleged incident.

Initially, the case was registered under attempt to murder and various other serious charges. However, the section pertaining to attempt to murder was dropped by Faridkot sessions court on December 7, 2006, while taking up the challan presented by the police.

Sehgal had alleged that on September 5, 1999, Badal beat him up while the latter was in the fray to the contest parliamentary election from Faridkot constituency. Sehgal, who was then working as a photojournalist with a vernacular newspaper, had clicked pictures of Badal allegedly canvassing at a religious place. He had also accused the deputy CM and his accomplices of having damaged his camera besides assaulting him.

In a gruesome incident, a 26-year-old woman was gangraped and killed by three drunk men at her house located near Samrala Chowk here late last night.

The victim’s right arm was chopped off when she tried to resist. The accused after raping the victim attempted to gag her to death.

Later, the accused threw her from the roof top of the house, killing her on the spot.

The victim, a mother of three daughters, was suffering from tuberculosis. She was married in Bihar and was visiting her parents, along with her youngest daughter, for treatment.

According to Station House Officer (SHO) of Division No. 7 police station Harpal Singh Grewal, all accused had been arrested. The trio had been booked for murder and rape.

They were identified as Johar, Pappu, both from Bihar, and Balvir Singh, who is from Gurdaspur.

Woman killed after gangrape

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22 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

Sikh doctor Swaran Singh shot dead in Pakistan

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ember of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) Swaran Singh was shot dead at his native village on Friday evening. Former president of PSGPC Bishan Singh told TOI over phone from Lahore that Swaran Singh who was also Member Provincial Assembly from Kyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan on Imran Khan’s Tehrek-i-Insaf party had gone to his native village Banur near Swat valley .

“I just received news that Swaran Singh was shot dead by unidentified persons while he had gone out of his home for an evening stroll,” said Bishan Singh . While confirming the incident, Evacuee Trust Property Board chairman Farooq ul Saddiq said Swaran Singh was attacked by few persons who were on motorcycle. “I really don’t understand why anyone would attack on Swaran Singh who was helping every community” he said

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Pakistan nuke base near Amritsar Details of a recently established Pakistani military complex, purported to house tactical nuclear missiles, close to the international border in Punjab have emerged on the social media.

Overhead imagery of the site, at Rahwali Cantonment near Gujranwala, reveals two transport-erector-launcher vehicles, assessed to be those of the Nasr short-range missile, along with support vehicles laid out for inspection.

The site is 70 km from the international border and 100 km from both Amritsar and Jammu, lying in the trough of the strategically vital Shakargarh bulge that had witnessed key battles in 1965 and 1971. Along this bulge lies the vital link to Jammu and Kashmir, with the National Highway passing close to the border.

INDIA

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Congress demands CBI probe into govt chopper scam

ith the BJP and Congress trading charges over the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, state Congress president and former Union Minister Sachin Pilot on Friday demanded a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the purchase of an AgustaWestland helicopter by the Rajasthan government in 2005.

He said the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report had alleged that misappropriation of public funds to the tune of Rs 1.14 crore had taken place in the helicopter deal by the then Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in the state.

Holding that the previous Congress-led dispensation at the Centre had debarred the scandal-tainted company, Pilot said, “When irregularities in the deal came to light, the then UPA government cancelled the deal, blacklisted the company and handed over the investigation to CBI. “The agency is investigating the cancelled contract of helicopters, but it should also investigate the actual purchase done by the government of Rajasthan in 2005,” he said.

“It is not an allegation by the Congress, but a report of CAG has pointed out. We have just demanded an inquiry and clarification from the government but there is no reaction

from the government and the BJP state president is defending the government,” he said.

The Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president alleged that the Raje government in 2008 had initiated a process to procure another helicopter at an inflated price of Rs 59 crore.

“The cost of the helicopter was Rs 52 crore and the government had agreed to pay a premium of Rs 7 crore to jump the queue to purchase the helicopter as soon as possible but the deal could not be concluded because of elections,” he said, adding it should also be investigated that why the government agreed to pay the additional premium.

Reacting to the allegations, BJP state president Ashok Parnami claimed that an expenditure of Rs 1.14 crore was made on chartered flights due to non-availability of pilots for the AgustaWestland helicopter from September, 2005 to January, 2006.

He said the expenses were “unavoidable”.

The PCC president also demanded that the state government should make proper arrangement for water supply in summer.

“Water crisis is deepening and situation is going to deteriorate in May and June, therefore, the government should make proper arrangements,” he said.

US lawmakers tell Obama to suspend sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan

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op US lawmakers have expressed concerns over the Obama administration’s decision to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, saying the aircrafts could be used against India and not in combating terrorism. They have also urged the Obama Administration to review its decision in this regard. “Many members of Congress, including me, seriously question the judgment and timing of such a sale. Additionally, Indo-Pak tensions remain elevated and some question whether the F-16s could ultimately be used against India or other regional powers, rather than the terrorists as Pakistan as asserted,” Congressman Matt Salmon said during a Congressional hearing yesterday.

Salmon was joined by several other lawmakers during the Congressional hearing on Afghanistan and Pakistan convened by the Subcommittee on Asia and Pacific of the House Foreign Affairs Committee wherein the Obama Administration was represented by the Special US Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson.

“We’ve got to be concerned what military

assistance and whether the F-16s constitute the least expensive, most efficient way for the Pakistani air force to go after the terrorists and the least disruptive weapon system to the balance of power between India and Pakistan,” Congressman Brad Sherman said.

“We need to offer to Pakistan those weapon systems well- crafted to go after terrorists and not crafted for a war with India,” Sherman said.

The US Senate has currently put a hold on the decision of the Obama Administration to give eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan at an estimated cost of $700 million.

Salmon asked Olson to clarify the underlying purpose and timing of the intended sale and how is it in the best interest of the United States.

“Despite giving Pakistan enormous amounts of counter-terror assistance over the years, over $25 billion since 9/11, terrorist organizations continue to operate with impunity in Pakistan.

“Pakistan has used terror as a tool of statecraft and terrorist proxy groups, for the Pakistani military have carried out fatal attacks inside India,” he alleged.

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Laser walls activated along IndiaPakistan border to plug gaps

aser walls have been made operational along the India-Pakistan international border in Punjab to plug the porous riverine and treacherous terrain and keep an effective vigil against intruders and terrorists exploiting the frontier areas to cross over.

While eight infra-red and laser beam intrusion detection systems are “up and working” along as many vulnerable and sensitive areas of the international border (IB) in Punjab, four more will be operationalised in the next few days, a senior official of the Border Security Force (BSF) said. The “laser walls” or fence are being monitored by the BSF which guards the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The decision to install these laser walls was taken by the BSF two years ago keeping in mind the vulnerability of the border in these

areas as barbed wire fencing could not be installed in many infiltration prone areas due to treacherous terrain or marshy riverine topography. After the Pathankot terror attack, where it was suspected that terrorists crossed over from Pakistan by breaching the border from Bamiyal area in Punjab, Union home ministry and BSF sped up the deployment and activation of these walls along the long and winding border. A total of 45 such laser walls will be installed in these areas along the international border in Punjab and Jammu, a blueprint prepared in this regard and accessed by PTI said. According to the blueprint, the BSF along with a team of technical experts will be conducting a pilot project for deploying “technological solutions” for effective border guarding at two “sensitive” riverine stretches in Jammu sector

INDIA

24 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

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11 inmates, including 8 kids, die of dehydration at Jaipur home

leven inmates of a Rajasthan Government-run ‘Retardation Rehabilitation Home’, including 8 children, have died of suspected food poisoning and contaminated water since April 16.

Twenty-seven inmates of the government facility in Jamdoli near here had been admitted in Jaykay Lone and SMS hospitals here. Eleven of them died between April 16 and 27. Eight patients were discharged, while the others are still undergoing treatment. Four patients are said to be critical.

The exact cause of the deaths was yet to be ascertained, and it would be known only after postmortem reports were available, hospital

authorities said.

The deceased were in the age group of 13 to 30.

Dr Ashok Gupta, Sup er intendent, Jaykay Lone Hospital, said suspected food poisoning and contaminated drinking water could be the reason for the deaths, as most of the patients complained of vomiting, diarrhoea, and uneasiness. Most patients suffered from dehydration

EPF interest rate raised to 8.8% from 8.7%

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n a major climbdown after persistent pressure from the trade unions and political parties, the government on Friday increased interest rate on employees provident fund (EPF) deposits to 8.8 per cent for 2015-16 from 8.70 per cent as it had announced earlier.

“I am happy to tell you that the EPF rate has been increased to 8.8 per cent,” Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya told reporters here.

The provident fund rate was 8.75 per cent in 2014-15 and the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) had recommended to make it 8.8 per cent for this fiscal. However, the

finance ministry had rejected the recommendation and had approved only 8.70 per cent interest, citing lower earnings.

Most trade unions had protested the decision and the issue was also raised by political parties both in Parliament and outside. Trade unionist and Communist Party of India-Marxist MP Tapan Kumar Sen had also raised it in the Rajya Sabha.

Trade unions had threatened to intensify agitation from September if the government did not comply with the de-

with shock and infection in the stomach, he said.

Arun Chaturvedi, Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, said mentally challenged children had low immunity, and were more susceptible to illness. A team of doctors was working in the home since the first

case was reported, Chaturvedi said, adding the employees responsible would be punished if found guilty of any irregularity.

The Vasundhara Raje dispensation has appointed a three-member committee to probe the matter.

The Social Justice and Empowerment Minister said the three-member committee headed by Principal Secretary Sudarshan Sethi would submit its report in 15 days.

Earlier in the day, state Congress president Sachin Pilot, who visited the hospitals, had demanded a high-level inquiry into the death of the young inmates of the institute.

Mukherjee pays respect to ‘unknown’ Indian soldiers of WW-II The mood went sombre as President Pranab Mukherjee, the supreme commander of Indian armed forces, arrived at the historic Bomana cemetery in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to pay his respects to the fallen World War-II soldiers, including from India.

80-year-old Mukherjee walked up to a pillar erected in memory of the troops killed during World War-II while fighting along with the British forces.

This was the second engagement of the Mukherjee, who arrived here yesterday on the first ever state visit from India to this largest island in the Pacific.

Immediately after meeting the Governor-General of PNG, Sir Michael Ogio, President drove to the war

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cemetery to lay a wreath on the pillar.

As he placed a wreath, a Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) band sounded the “Last Post,” signifying the end of the troops’ journey in life. A minutes’ silence was observed in their memory after which Mukherjee went around the cemetery.

The cemetery contains 3,824 Commonwealth burials of the second World War out of which 699 of them unidentified.

Around 250 of the unidentified soldiers are from undivided India who were fighting along with the British and allied forces.

Indian High Commissioner to PNG Nagendra Kumar Saxena has been extensively working on the role of Indians during the World War.

Modi would have arrested me, if named in Agusta deal: Kejriwal

ccusing the government of not taking action against Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in connection with the AgustaWestland chopper deal, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today demanded dissolution of the CBI and ACB. He said Modi “would have arrested” him by now had his “name” figured in the Italian court’s order in connection with the deal, but has not taken action against the Gandhi family as he finds them “honest”.

The AAP leader also hit out at BJP president Amit Shah for asking Gandhi “with folded hands” to name those who took alleged bribe in the deal and questioned whether “this is how probe is conducted”.

“Modiji conducted the CBI raid on me, but not on Soniaji and Vadraji.

Modiji finds Gandhi family as honest.

“Modiji would have arrested me by now had my name figured in the Italian court order. But (they are) not even probing Soniaji. Why?” Kejriwal asked.

“Amit Shahji is asking Soniaji with folded hands - ‘please tell who took bribes’. Is this how probe is conducted? Dissolve CBI and ACB then,” he said in a series of tweets.

Kejriwal had yesterday dared the BJP to arrest Gandhi and other Congress leaders in connection with the controversial chopper deal, alleging that there was a “strong relationship between the Congress and the BJP”.

Mentioning the CBI raid on the office of his Principal Secretary in December last year, he had asked why there was no such action against the Congress leaders.

Attacking Gandhi, Shah had yesterday asked her to name those who received the “kickbacks” in the deal.

“All I want to ask her is that those who gave bribe are in jail in Italy. Then where are those who received the kickbacks? Who were in power at that time? They are responsible (for the scam) and they should bring out the truth. It should be disclosed before the people of the country,” he had said.

India’s cheapest Android phone Rs 888

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ere’s another attempt at offering the cheapest possible smartphone in India. Jaipur-based Docoss has announced an Androidpowered smartphone priced at Rs 888.

Called Docoss X1, the smartphone has made a silent entry, unlike Freedom 251’s launch which was a grand affair. . . The company had just setup a website (first uncovered by Phoneradar) and is taking pre-orders for the smartphone with a promised delivery date of May 2 and cash on delivery facility..

The amateurish-looking Docoss’ website asks buyers to book the smartphone via an SMS. Even a real photograph of

the phone is missing. On its social media platforms, the company has requested buyers not to make calls on the number given for SMS. There is also very little information about the company on the website. .

It appears Docoss is too secretive about its brand and product as it tries to win the confidence of consumers with cash on delivery payment mode.

The Docoss X1 smartphone promises a 4-inch screen, 1.2GHz dual-core Cortex A7 processor with 1GB and 4GB of internal storage which can be expanded up to 32GB. It runs Android KitKat and is powered by a 1,300mAh battery along with a 2MP rear and VGA front camera. It is a dual SIM 3G smartphone.

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INDIA

26 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

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I have no plans to return to India - Mallya

oans defaulter Vijay Mallya said he is in “forced exile” and has no plans to leave Britain. He also wants a “reasonable” settlement with banks he allegedly owes Rs 9,000 crores to, he said in an interview in London published by the Financial Times on Friday. “We have always been in dialogue with banks saying: ‘We wish to settle’. But we wish to settle at a reasonable number that we can afford and banks can justify on the basis of settlements done before,” Mallya told the newspaper in London. Mallya, 60, flew first class from Delhi to London on March 2 at a time when the government and a 17-bank

consortium are trying to recover the money owed by his collapsed Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. “By taking my passport or arresting me, they are not getting any money,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. India wrote to the British government on Thursday seeking the deportation of the liquor tycoon and Formula 1 motor racing boss, who is now also the target of a non-bailable warrant in a money laundering investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. He has denied wrongdoing.

“I am absolutely not guilty of any of these preposterous charges of diverting funds from Kingfisher, buying properties or stuff like that,” Mallya told the Financial Times.

Number of Indian students in US jumps 31%

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he number of Indian students in American universities and colleges is nearing two lakh as latest official data released on Friday said that they now number over 194,000, a jump of more than 31 per cent in one year. “The number of F&M students from India studying in the US grew from 148,360 in March 2015 to 194,438 in March 2016, an increase of 31.1 per cent,” according to the latest ‘SEVIS by the Numbers’, a quarterly report on foreign student trends prepared by Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

There are nearly 1.2 million international students with F (academic) or M (vocational) status studying in the US.

SEVIS is part of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Based on data extracted from SEVIS March 7, international student enrollment at US schools increased 6.2 per cent compared to March 2015.

In March, there were 8,687 US schools with SEVP certification to enroll international students, a three per cent decrease from the previous year, ICE said in a release.

According to the report, 82 per cent of F & M students from India pursue degrees in a STEM field. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Drought-hit migrants Ingredients • 250g boneless chicken buying water in Mumbai?

• 2tbsp rapeseed oil

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• Friday 1 medium red onion ombay high court on directed the state govern• 3 large tomatoes ment and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to • ½“pathetic” cup cashew nuts of migrants file their replies on the conditions • 100g tomato puree from drought hit Nanded in Mumbai. A bench of chief justice • S1 Sonak tbsp dried leaves D H Waghela and justice M took fenugreek suo motu cognizance • 100ml low fat cream of a March 13 news report which informed that migrants have • 1tspand garam masalacharged for “not found the proverbial oasis” are instead red chilli powder water. A letter was written• to1tsp the court drawing attention to the • 1tbsp gingerpaste newsreport by the Maharashtra State Legal garlic Services Authority.

• 2tbsp thick loware fatdeprived yoghurtof basic “It draws attention to the fact that migrants amenities required by a human including drinking water,” • saltbeing to taste said the April 13 letter of a HC registrar to the chief justice. The letter also said the “news also covers other issues related to these Procedure: migrants which require urgent attention. Sad, Dreaming of beMarinate 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 andbillions tomatoes.

Heat 1 tbspyet no coming a super power, Spending on armaments oil to a pan. sear the chicken pieces in the hot oil for 1 minute on each side to a golden colour. remove the chickenadequate pieces. inwater the same pan, add 1tbsp oil and the chopped and toilets for citizens.Khursheed Hussain onions. saute till a translucent pink. Add the tomatoes, red chili powder, garam masala powder and cook on medium thestated tomatoes (approx.

Theflame news till report that are the tender migrants, who are4-5 camping in minutes). remove from flame and run in a blender with the soaked cashews to make a smooth paste. return to thethe pan andatadd the tomato puree.come Bring a boil and add open Ghatkopar, annually to to Mumbai to escape parched conditions.

Further, that on theya pan. are “acrush distressed the chicken pieces. simmer for 4-5 minutes till the chicken is cooked. Add the low fat cream and simmer for 2 minutes.

Broil the fenugreek leaves the lot, having to purchase drinking water on the one hand and face slum fenugreek leaves over the curry and remove from fire. serve hot. lords who demand squatter fees.”

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Pakistan

28 i Saturday, April 30, 2016

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I ‘bow only to Allah, awam’, Nawaz Sharif tells army

mid growing tension between him and the powerful army chief General Raheel Sharif, Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif on Friday struck a defiant note, lashing out at those “plotting to destabilize him”. In a dramatic TV address, Sharif said he was accountable only to Allah and awam (people), even as he said he was ready to face a probe into the Panama Paper disclosures about him and his family having offshore accounts. Sacking six top officers, Raheel had on Thursday said the fight against terrorism couldn’t succeed unless corruption was uprooted - remarks seen aimed at the PM. Nawaz Sharif ’s decision to go public with his defiance came just a day after the army chief sacked six top serving army officers over grave corruption

charges, in a move which was widely seen as designed to put pressure on the Prime Minister. On the day he sacked the army officers, General Sharif had declared: “The ongoing war against terrorism cannot bring enduring peace and stability unless corruption is uprooted. Therefore, across the board accountability is necessary...”. The remarks were seen as primarily aimed at Sharif. The riposte from Sharif on national television was perhaps sharper as he declared that he was not the sort to give in to empty threats.

Sharif, who was ousted in coup by former dictator Pervez Musharraf, also took digs at his political rivals who have asked for his resignation in the wake of Panama Papers leaks.

Opposition parties keeps pressure on Nawaz Sharif over Panama papers

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akistan’s opposition political parties are keeping up pressure on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif despite his announcement to hold probe into Panama Papers leak and a commitment to step down if found guilty of corruption. Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah telephoned Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq and Tehreek-i- Insaf ’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi yesterday to dis-

cuss with them several options to investigate the scandal involving the offshore accounts of the Sharif family and other Pakistanis.

Jamaat chief suggested that while the government was writing a letter to the Supreme Court chief justice to set up an inquiry commission, opposition parties should also send a similar request to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to ask him not to turn down the government’s request, Dawn reported.

Prominent al-Qaeda financier arrested

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uthorities have arrested an al-Qaeda financier who has been on a UN sanctions list since 2012, police said on Monday.

Abdur Rehman Sindhi was detained during a raid by intelligence agencies in the southern port city of Karachi last week, said police officer Muqaddas Haider.

He added that a joint team of police and intelligence agents was questioning the suspect on the role he might have played in militant attacks in Pakistan in recent years.

Sindhi appeared before a court which allowed the police to interrogate him for two weeks.

Haider said he did not have any evidence so far that the suspect was linked to the 2002 killing of American reporter Daniel Pearl.

Much of al-Qaeda’s senior leadership fled to Pakistan following the 2001 USled invasion of neighboring Afghanistan.

Rival, not Taliban, killed Sikh neta in Pakistan, claim Cops

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party rival was behind the recent murder of a Sikh lawmaker in Pakistan’s northwest, the police said, dismissing a Taliban claim of responsibility for the crime. Sardar Suran Singh, 50, a lawmaker from Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party, was gunned down on Friday in his hometown of Buner in Malakand region in the northwest. Singh was a minority affairs adviser to the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The Taliban had earlier claimed responsibility for the murder. But the police arrested five people who killed Singh after his political rival from the minority Sikh community in the region, Baldev Kumar,

India trying to defame Pak over Masood Azhar: Foreign secretary Pakistan foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry on Tuesday accused India of trying to defame Pakistan in international fora by persisting with the listing of Jaish-eMohammed chief Masood Azhar in the UN 1267 Sanctions Committee.

The issue of Masood Azhar, being a big part of India’s current diplomatic engagements, featured prominently in his discussions with foreign secretary S Jaishankar. Pakistan’s response appears to suggest there will be little ‘give’ from Islamabad on the listing of Azhar. China has placed a “technical hold” on Azhar’s designation. After India protested, China asked India to “consult” Pakistan on the issue. This was reiterated to TOI by Chinese officials in Delh i. The Azhar issue has been flagged by foreign minister Sushma Swaraj with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, and NSA Ajit Doval with his counterpart Yang Jiechi.

NRI

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UK’s Indian-origin MPs launch anti-Brexit campaign

ndian-origin members of parliament in the UK have launched a new crossparty group to campaign for Britain to remain a member of the European Union (EU) in the June 23 referendum.

The “British Indians for IN” campaign was launched on Tuesday with the backing of 15 British-Indian lawmakers including Keith Vaz, Shailesh Vara, Lord Karan Bilimoria, Virendra Sharma and Seema Malhotra among others.

Those supporting the campaign have signed an open letter which says: “We are

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British Parliamentarians of Indian-origin and whilst we represent different political views, on a whole range of matters, we believe that membership of the EU is an issue which transcends party politics. ... We are united in our belief that the UK is stronger, safer and better off as a member of the EU. Contrary to the argument made by some that Britain needs to leave the EU in order to strengthen its ties with Commonwealth countries, we believe that our membership of the EU helps to enhance and strengthen the UK’s partnership with countries like India.”

British speaker honors Indian personalities in London

ritish parliament Speaker John Bercow urged the Indian diaspora in Britain to engage more with mainstream politics and get proper representation in the house. “The community makes a huge contribution to British life, and I hope its members will continue to build on its successes, both in terms of representation in parliament and more widely across our national life,” the Asian Lite daily quoted Bercow as saying. He

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Saturday, April 30, 2016

made the speech last week while presenting the Asian Lite Pranam Awards to seven prominent members of the British Indian community. The award recipients were economist Lord Meghnad Desai, British-Indian politician Shreela Flather, BBC’s former sports editor Mihir Bose, refugee-turned-multi-millionaire Rami Ranger, Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan executive director Mattur N Nandakumara, rights activist and writer Zerbanoo Gifford,

Bengaluru to host 2017 Bharatiya Pravasi Divas

he IT-BT capital of the country, Bengaluru, will host the 2017 Bharatiya Pravasi Divas.

Scheduled to take place on February 7, 8 and 9 of 2017, the Ministry of External Affairs held a meeting with Tourism Minister R V Deshpande for a preliminiary round of talks. Speaking to the media, after the meeting, Minister for Tourism R V Deshpande said: “The Bharatiya Pravasi Divas, scheduled to be hosted from February 7 to February 9, will see close to 3000 Non-Res-

idential Indians (NRI) and PIO delegates from across the world,” said the minister.

He said the government is yet to finalise on the venue, dependent on the infrastructure availability in and around the place. “We are looking at two or three locations in the City, but the final call will be taken later,” he said. The minister said the State will constitute a committee for the event, which is scheduled to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the event on February 8.

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Grief and frustration as Nepal marks earthquake anniversary

rieving relatives mourned on Sunday the thousands killed in a huge earthquake in Nepal last year, as aid agencies warned about the health risks for the millions still living in sub-standard temporary shelter following the country’s worst-ever disaster.

The 7.8-magnitude quake struck high in the Himalayas minutes before noon on a sunny Saturday, toppling one million houses, upending roads and turning hundreds of mountain villages into ruins that left about 9,000 people dead and 22,000 injured.

In Kathmandu, the capital, Prime Minister K. P. Oli led a day of mourning, placing a wreath at the remains of the Dharahara tower that collapsed during the quake, killing 132 people.

At the nearby Durbar Square, a UNESCOlisted world heritage site, a dozen crimsonrobed monks chanted from Buddhist scriptures at a memorial as the victims’ relatives sat cross-legged, praying, in front of framed portraits of their loved ones.

Among them was grief-stricken Surya Bahadur Shrestha, praying for his late father who was crushed to death by a building in the city.

“I came to mourn my father who died here last year. I prayed for eternal peace for the soul,” the 49-year-old said.

One year on from the quake, reconstruction has been slow and uneven in the poor Himalayan country.

Top Nepalese journalist held for ‘corruption’

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epal’s Commission for Investigation into Abuse of Authority (CIAA) arrested Himal Southasian founding editor Kanak Mani Dixit on Friday for alleged corruption. The arrest is widely seen as vindictive and follows Dixit’s opposition to Lokman Singh Karki’s appointment as CIAA chief, who is known as “a permanent fixture’’ in Nepal’s power politics. The anti-graft body has been investigating complaints accusing Dixit of amassing illegal property by “abusing” his position as cooperative bus service Sajha Yatayat chairman. Reports said around 20 policemen arrested him from Patan Dhoka, 15km from Kathmandu. The Kathmandu Post quoted Dixit calling the arrest “politically motivated” and “part of vendetta”

for opposing Karki’s appointment. Dixit had appeared before the CIAA on January 8. Nepalese media reported the arrest violated an order of the country’s supreme court, which had directed the CIAA to follow proper procedure while investigating the case. The directive had come after Dixit moved the court in December saying CIAA had breached its jurisdiction and followed a flawed investigation process.

Dixit, who was among 29 people whom CIAA had summoned in December, said his arrest violated Nepalese chief justice Kalyan Shrestha’s order. Some commentators linked Dixit’s arrest to his opposition to India’s alleged blockade of Nepal following Madheshi protests over the passage of the Nepalese Constitution last year.

Bangladesh police arrest student over professor’s murder

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angladesh police arrested an Islamist student on Sunday over the hacking to death of a professor one day earlier, the latest such killing claimed by the Islamic State group.

Attackers wielding machetes almost beheaded English professor Rezaul Karim Siddique on Saturday in the northwestern city of Rajshahi, following a string of similar killings of secular activists by Islamist militants. The 58-year-old was murdered as he walked to the bus station from his home. The student from Rajshahi University where Siddique taught was arrested early Sunday for questioning, although the hunt was still on for other suspects, said the city’s deputy police commissioner Nahidul Islam.

Afghanistan may take Pakistan to UN for supporting Taliban

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fghanistan plans to take Pakistan to the UN security council over its continuing support to the Taliban, which Kabul says is destabilizing their country. Hekmat Khalil Karzai, deputy foreign minister told TOI in an exclusive chat, that after the deadly Taliban attack in Kabul last week, the Ghani government is exploring the UNSC option. “The president raised this issue on Monday. It’s been discussed in our government. It’s one of the issues we are exploring. If the security dynamics don’t improve that is something we are going to explore and bring to our international friends.” In his conversation with foreign secretary S Jaishankar, Karzai asked India to provide some more attack helicopters during this current fighting season. “One of the key things we discussed was our list of priorities. I asked him to help Afghanistan, now is the critical time for India to start delivering.” Russia, he said, had just supplied 10,000 AK47s and ammunition. “We have requested for more support.” The most important consequence of the Kabul attack has been a decision by the Afghan government to engage the Taliban, Daesh and Haqqani network militarily is a significant one.

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