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Jeet Singh Vol 22 - Issue 40

Saturday, November 4, 2023

announced a framework on Friday that will push universities and colleges to set a higher standard for services, support and outcomes for international students, starting in time for the fall 2024 semester. Schools that meet the higher benchmark will get priority for the processing of student visas, Miller Continued on page 7

Immigration Minister

Immigration support backslides in Canada on housing crisis Canada’s longest-running poll on immigration showed a sharp drop in public support for high numbers of newcomers as housing affordability and availability worsened. Some 44% of respondents now agree with the statement “there’s too much immigration to Canada,” compared with just 27% last year, according to a survey by Environics Institute in partnership with Century Initiative.

Former BC premier Horgan is Canada’s next ambassador to Germany: Trudeau Former BC premier John Horgan is Canada’s next ambassador to Germany, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Wednesday (Nov. 1). In a post on X, (formerly Twitter), PM Trudeau said Horgan has a proven track record of dedicated public service. “I’m confident he’ll continue to serve Canadians well and help advance our countries’ common interests and shared priorities.” Trudeau said in a statement that Horgan navigated the provincial government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and advanced clean economic growth to create good jobs.

Canada at risk of ‘tipping into a mild recession’ after flat GDP reading As indications grow that Canada could be headed for a recession, pm Trudeau has a warning for Canadians: next year will be “tough.” In an International Monetary Fund

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Canadian govt cracks down on foreign student admissions Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is introducing new measures to tighten standards on colleges, responding to criticism that Canada’s education sector is bringing in so many foreign students that it’s boosting pressure on housing and the labor market. Immigration Minister Marc Miller

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(IMF) assessment released earlier this month,the global financial agency warned Canada is at risk of tipping into a “mild recession,” despite outperforming its G7 counterparts.

Are carbon taxes a threat to our food supply chain? Political desperation can be a powerful thing, as we witnessed last week in Ottawa. The Trudeau government not only put a hold on the carbon tax applied to heating oil for three years, but it also announced a doubling of the rural supplement in the carbon tax rebate program. In mere minutes, Ottawa not only transformed the carbon tax into a negotiable political lightning rod but also lent credence to those who have voiced doubts about the narratives surrounding carbon pricing. Continued on page 5

Record number of Indians entering into USA Illegally

A record number of Indians are entering the US illegally from the US-Mexico border to seek asylum with a combination of factors contributing to a significant jump in their numbers, according to a media report. The Wall Street Journal cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Hindu nationalist policies” and success stories from those who have made the trip among factors driving the surge. There has also been an influx of smugglers masquerading as travel agents across

villages, especially in the northern states of Punjab and Haryana, according to the Journal. By the numbers: every eighth person of Indian origin in US is an illegal immigrant (November 25, 2014) Roughly 42,000 migrants from India have crossed the southern border illegally during the fiscal year starting last October through September, according to data compiled by US Customs and Border Protection. That is more than double the number from the same period the prior year.

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Tories hold lead over federal Liberals: poll The Conservative Party is maintaining a steady lead over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, a new poll suggests, at a time when Canadians are reporting limited trust in their institutions. Pierre Poilievre’s Tories are 14 percentage points ahead of the governing party, with 40 per cent of respondents in the survey saying they would vote Conservative,

26 per cent Liberal and 17 per cent NDP if an election were held that day. The poll conducted from Friday to Sunday also suggested that people in Canada are generally more trusting of institutions than their neighbours to the south — especially when it comes to federal election administrators, the countries’ top courts and the police.

New GDP data indicates Canada heading for recession Canada appears to be heading for a technical recession, according to new GDP figures released, with more financial pain coming for weary Canadians already struggling with inflation, high interest rates and the threat of more job losses. Real gross domestic product remained “essentially” unchanged for a second

The City of Surrey is accepting applications for the 2023 Good Citizen of the Year Award Volunteers have a positive impact on our community and make Surrey a better place for all of us. This honour is awarded to a person who has given outstanding service for the betterment of our community over the years. You can nominate an outstanding local volunteer for the 2023 Surrey Good Citizen of the Year award today: Information and Application: To learn more about the selection criteria, please: x Visit www.surrey.ca; or x Contact the Office of the City Clerk at 604-591-4132. An application form is available online and must be submitted by Friday, November 24, to the Office of the City Clerk: x Mail: City of Surrey, Legislative Services, 13450 - 104 Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3T 1V8 x Email: clerks@surrey.ca x Fax: 604-501-7578 Applications will be made available to City of Surrey Council and staff. Personal information is collected for the purposes of administering the Surrey Good Citizen of the Year Award and is collected under s.26 (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. For questions regarding the collection of personal information please contact the office of the City Clerk at 604-591-4132.

consecutive month, according to Statistics Canada data, and analysts say that if you look at GDP on a per-capita basis, stripping out the effect of the country’s rapidly growing population, the recession is already here.

Federal govt to level out number of new permanent residents in Canada in 2026 The federal government plans to level out the number of new permanent residents to Canada in 2026 in reaction to crunch on housing and other services, the immigration minister announced Wednesday. Immigration Minister Marc Miller tabled new targets for the next three years in Parliament, which call for the number of new permanent residents to hold steady at 500,000 in 2026. The plans show that the targets for 2024 and 2025 will increase as planned to 485,000 and 500,000, respectively. The Liberals have aggressively increased their targets over the past several years, and surpassed records for the number of permanent residents admitted in a year in both 2021 and 2022. Those increases have come under increasing scrutiny, as the government has faced greater pressure to address a national lack of available and affordable housing. Those concerns are balanced against the contributions immigrants make to Canada’s economic growth and labour market, Miller said at a Parliament Hill press conference on Wednesday. “These immigration levels will help set the pace of Canada’s economic and population growth while moderating its impact on critical systems such as infrastructure and housing,” he said.

Local / National

Saturday, November 4, 2023 Brothers Keepers gangster pleads guilty to drug trafficking, conspiracy A member of the Brothers Keepers gang pleaded guilty in B.C. Supreme Court on Monday to drug trafficking on behalf of a criminal organization, as well as conspiracy to traffic across the province. Amandeep Kang, 31, admitted his role in the drug-trafficking operation to Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes in a brief afternoon appearance. The charges, which were laid two years ago, stemmed from a three-year investigation by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit targeting the Brothers Keepers gang. While Kang was a member of the notorious gang, his admission in court this week about working with a criminal organization did not specify the Brothers Keepers. Instead, federal prosecutor Travis

‘Prolific’ van thief arrested in Abbotsford: police Police in Abbotsford say they have arrested a “prolific” work van thief after a nearly yearlong investigation. The Abbotsford Police Department says Charlene Williams has been arrested and charged with two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, seven counts of possession of property obtained by crime, and one count of possessing a break-in instrument. Police say the investigation began back in January 2023, when work vans filled with tools and equipment began to be stolen. Police say they looked into a series of 22 vehicle thefts and scanned surveillance footage until Williams came up as a suspect. Crime Reduction Unit Sgt. Cory Johansen says police recognize how these crimes impact those who had their vehicles stolen and, in some cases, were unable to do their own jobs without their work gear.

Johnson named a number of co-accused, as well as the late Jaskeert Kalkat, as members of the alleged criminal organization. Kalkat, a high-profile BK member, was shot to death in May 2021 in the parking lot of Burnaby’s Market Crossing mall on Marine Way. His murder remains unsolved.

BC job postings now must include pay amounts All B.C. employers must include pay information on public job postings starting Wednesday. It’s one of the requirements of the province’s Pay Transparency Act, which was passed into law this year in an effort to address the pay gap between men and women.

“People deserve equal pay for equal work,” Kelli Paddon, parliamentary secretary for gender equity, said in a statement Monday. “Making sure transparent wage or salary information is included in all job postings helps make sure people are being offered the same pay for the same work.”

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Are you a City of Surrey resident looking to make a difference in your city and have a positive impact on your community? The City of Surrey is currently seeking volunteer applications for the following Committees and Commissions: x Surrey Heritage Advisory Commission x Parks, Recreation and Sport Tourism Committee x Public Safety Committee Information and Application: To learn more about these volunteer opportunities, including the time commitment required, please: x Visit www.surrey.ca; or x Contact the Office of the City Clerk at 604-591-4132. An application form is available online. Applications comprised of a brief cover letter and resume must be submitted by Friday, November 24, to the Office of the City Clerk: x Mail: City of Surrey, Legislative Services, 13450 - 104 Avenue, Surrey, BC, V3T 1V8 x Email: clerks@surrey.ca x Fax: 604-501-7578 Applications will be made available to City of Surrey Council and staff. Personal information is collected for the purposes of administering the volunteer appointment process and is collected under s.26 (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. For questions regarding the collection of personal information please contact the office of the City Clerk at 604-591-4132.

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OPINION

Saturday, November 4, 2023 By Sylvain Charlebois

From page 1

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Are carbon taxes a threat to our food supply chain? We need to pause carbon taxes affecting our food supply chain until we get a clearer picture of their impact on food prices.

In mere minutes, Ottawa not only transformed the carbon tax into a negotiable political lightning rod but also lent credence to those who have voiced doubts about the narratives surrounding carbon pricing. For starters, the government’s decision to increase rural supplements in the carbon tax rebate program implicitly acknowledges the argument that suggested the rebate might not have been sufficient to cover the associated costs. It is clear that carbon tax proponents in academic circles are now receiving less attention from Ottawa. As the cost of living becomes a matter of survival for many Canadians, Ottawa is beginning to heed the concerns of the broader population, not just environmental activists. A small fix with big implications for food prices stalled in Senate Carbon pricing undeniably carries significant weight in Canada, serving as a critical policy to address climate change concerns. In particular, the agri-food sector faces an arguably substantial threat from climate change, leaving inaction as an undesirable option. Decarbonizing the economy is rapidly becoming a global priority, and Canada must play its part. Despite the unpopularity of carbon pricing in some quarters, it stands out as a relatively lesser evil for the economy. However, when it comes to food, the stakes are notably higher. Since the Trudeau government has paused the carbon tax for heating oil, a compelling case can be made for examining the impact on our entire food supply. It is imperative that we conduct a rigorous evaluation of how carbon pricing affects food affordability for Canadians and the long-term competitiveness of our industries. Unfortunately, comprehensive

analyses in this regard have been conspicuously lacking, with much of what we’ve encountered appearing to be influenced by biased narratives,

particularly from organizations like the one-sided Smart Prosperity Institute and Climate Change Centre, which often rely on a limited pool of intellectual activists.

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Lengthy CFSEU probe results in money laundering charges against Richmond woman A Richmond woman has been charged with money laundering and possessing the proceeds of crime after a four-year investigation by B.C.’s anti-gang agency. The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit said Thursday that the B.C. Prosecution Service approved the charges against Alexandra Joie Chow, 35, on Wednesday. In addition to the money laundering and proceeds of crime counts, Chow is facing three charges of entering into an agreement to receive interest at a criminal rate. CFSEU’s illegal-gambling unit began its investigation in August 2019 into allegations of loan-sharking and money laundering by two people. And they investigated the apparent illegal operation of a money service business contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act. Two years ago, CFSEU released some details of the

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investigation, saying that both a man, 49, and woman, 33, had been arrested and several searches were done that month in Richmond and Burnaby. The agency’s Sgt. Brenda Winpenny said at the time that “suspects allegedly laundered over $828,000 in Canadian cash.” She said that during the searches, police seized “score sheets with client names and payment due dates … two bank drafts totalling $50,000, $10,680 in Canadian cash, and three high end vehicles.” Last year, B.C.’s director of civil forfeiture filed a lawsuit to get a 2008 Porsche Cayman owned by Chow handed over to the government. The lawsuit, filed Feb. 11, 2022, contained more details of the CFSEU investigation. It said Chow was “operating an unlicensed money services business” and “charging interest rates equivalent to approximately 120 per cent per annum, or alternatively interest rates in excess of 60 per cent per annum, on credit advanced to clients of the business.”

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Saturday, November 4, 2023 From page 1

Canadian govt cracks down on foreign student admissions

adequate housing will be one of the criteria. Institutions also will be required to confirm every applicant’s acceptance letter directly with the Canadian government starting Dec. 1, he said. The process aims to combat fraud, following revelations that hundreds of Indian newcomers unknowingly arrived in Canada with fake college admissions letters. In the coming months, Miller’s department will also review the post-graduate work permit program and introduce reforms to ensure it meets the needs of the labor market. The plan comes amid growing concern that Canadian educational institutions rely too much on international students as a source of funding. Foreign students are charged an average of five times as

much as Canadian students, and colleges catering to foreigners have popped up in strip malls and temporary buildings, most notably in the Toronto suburb of Brampton, Ontario, where Miller made his announcement on Friday. “We know that there has been consistent underfunding of postsecondary education, particularly by provinces, depending on the province, over the years — and institutions are smart and have adapted to that,” Miller said at a news conference. “That has gone through at times opportunistic fees that have been charged to international students to close a gap that is really an unnatural one and shouldn’t be the case in a country like Canada.”

Saturday, November 4, 2023

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Criminal probe of ‘disgusting’ BC police training course wraps An investigation into disturbing allegations about an undercover police training program in Metro Vancouver has wrapped up, but it’s unclear when the public will learn the results. InMay2022,abouttwodozenpoliceofficers from various B.C. police agencies took part

in the B.C. Municipal Undercover Training Course at a downtown Vancouver hotel. Some of the content of the event was so disturbing that officers reported it to their supervisors. Now a criminal investigation into the matter has wrapped up, although details aren’t yet being released.

Fewer 911 calls to Surrey supportive housing building after launch of on-site clinic British Columbia’s first urban community paramedicine clinic is making a tangible difference for residents in a supportive housing building in Surrey, B.C., according to its operators. Paramedics began making weekly trips to Ted Kuhn Towers nearly two

years ago to discuss residents’ health-care needs, treat them or refer them to other resources. Options Community Services said that between Dec. 2021 and Dec. 2022, the towers also had about 10 fewer 911 calls per month, compared to before the clinic’s opening — a reduction of 38 per cent.

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Drug User Liberation Front loses BC health authority funding over illegal drug purchase A Vancouver-based compassion club has lost its provincial funding after B.C. United MLAs slammed the govt for giving taxpayer dollars to an organization that sells illicit drugs purchased on the dark web.The Drug User Liberation Front has been

buying cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine on the dark web, sending it to labs at the University of Victoria or UBC for safety testing, and then selling it to 43 compassion club members

Mark Carney says he hasn’t ruled out Liberal leadership run Mark Carney says he won’t be on the Liberal ticket if there’s an election this fall. The former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England told The Canadian Press he’s made commitments to help in the global fight against climate change and he can’t walk Press release

away from them just a few months before a crucial United Nations conference. “I thought long and hard on this because I believe strongly in public service and in the government’s agenda, which I fully support,” Carney said in an interview Tuesday.

Conservatives, NDP Liberal Mock minister’s suggestion to elect more Liberals to get carbon tax exemptions The best way to get rid of the carbon tax is not to elect more Liberal MPs outside of Atlantic Canada, as it was suggested by a Liberal Minister this past weekend, but to elect a strong Conservative government, Pierre Poilievre said Monday. The Conservative leader was reacting to

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two years, offering little relief or tangible change for those affected. It does not facilitate quicker recovery for those displaced from their homes, leaves the existing gaps in disaster financial assistance and compensation, and neglects a much-needed overhaul of the BC Wildfire Service.

Rural Economic Development Minister Gudie Hutchings’ comments made on CTV’s Question Period on Sunday, where she said that Western and Prairie provinces should vote Liberal if they want to secure some extra carve-outs in the federal carbon pricing policy.

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Sangam Senior Citizen Association of BC anniversay dinner

Sangam Senior Citizens Association of BC celebrated its 12th anniversary last Saturday at Bollywood Banquet Hall in Surrey. The chief guest was Honorary Consul of Fiji in Canada, Bobby Naicker (seated left), and at right is Association Secretrary and event organizer Gurmit Singh.

Sangam Senior Citizen Association (SSCA) is proud to announce a decade of empowering and celebrating the lives of seniors in our community. Over the 12 years, SSCA has transformed the lives of countless senior citizens, and today, we share the remarkable success story of this vibrant

organization. Founded by Krishna Nathan Swamy 12 years ago, SSCA embarked on a journey with a vision to create a supportive and thriving community for our senior citizens. This vision has become a reality, and we take immense pride in the achievements we have collectively reached.

Govt spending is putting upward pressure on inflation - Governor Bank of Canada Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says fiscal and monetary policy are rowing in opposite directions, making it harder to bring inflation down. Macklem appeared before MPs on the House of Commons finance committee on Monday after the Bank of Canada’s recent rate decision and quarterly economic projections. In response to questioning from Conservative MP Jasraj Singh Hallan, Macklem said government spending is

working at cross purposes with the central bank’s efforts to bring inflation down. The governor said that according to federal and provincial budgets, government spending aggregate will grow faster than supply in the economy over the next year, adding upward pressure to inflation. “It would be helpful if monetary and fiscal policy was rowing in the same direction,” Macklem said. At the same time, the governor said it’s important to compare Canada’s fiscal stance to other countries.

Saturday, November 4, 2023

INDIA Thailand scraps visa requirement for Indian travellers

Thailand will waive visa requirements for arrivals from India and Taiwan from next month to May 2024, a government official said on Tuesday, in a bid to draw in more tourists as high season approaches. Thailand in September scrapped visa requirements for Chinese tourists,

the country’s top pre-pandemic tourism market with 11 million of the record 39 million arrivals in 2019. From January to October 29, there were 22 million visitors to Thailand, generating 927.5 billion baht ($25.67 billion), according to the latest government data.

GST revenue for Oct 2023 hits record second-highest amidst global recession concerns India’s gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue for October 2023 soared to its second-highest-ever figure of ₹1.72 lakh crore ($22.9 billion), marking a 13% year-over-year increase. This robust growth comes despite looming global recession fears and geopolitical conflicts.

The Central government’s GST revenue collection included ₹30,062 crore ($4 billion) as Central GST (CGST), ₹38,171 crore ($5.1 billion) as State GST (SGST), and ₹91,315 crore ($12.2 billion) as Integrated GST (IGST). The IGST amount includes ₹42,127 crore ($5.6 billion) collected

SFJ offers $100,000 reward for arrest of Indian High Commissioner, releases

new map with Delhi part of ‘Khalistan’ At the conclusion of the second phase of Khalistan referendum on October 29, the radical Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) group announced $100,000 for the arrest of High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma

and released a new map with Delhi as part of Khalistan. The outlawed extremist group holds Verma esponsible for the “assassination” of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India remains unbeaten after victory over England India continued to excell the pace of victory at World Cup, as they beat England by 100 runs in a low-scoring match. On a sluggish pitch, Indian batsmen struggled against disciplined English bowlers, stumbling their way to 229-9 as captain Rohit Sharma top-scored with 87.

That turned out to be more than enough, despite the heavy evening dew. Fast bowler Mohammad Shami was at his best once again, picking up 4-22 while pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah (3-32) was equally effective as England were bowled out for just 129.

Global private equity firm enters into Indian healthcare sector Blackstone, global private equity firm entered into the Indian healthcare market with acquisition of majority stake in Hyderabad-based CARE Hospitals. CARE Hospitals has also agreed to

acquire Kerala-based KIMShealth from private equity player True North. The deal, valued at over $1 billion, will create one of India’s largest hospital chains with 23 hospitals and 4,000 beds across 11 cities.

Trinmool Congress MP appears before Ethics Committee Trinmool Congress MP Mahua Moitra appeared before the Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha to record oral evidence over the cash-for-query charge levelled against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai. In the hearing, a JDU member reminded the

Trinamool leader that she was appearing before the panel as a witness, not as a member of Parliament, sources said. Moitra reportedly told the panel she had not violated any parliamentary rules while sharing her Lok Sabha website’s login credentials with businessman Darshan Hiranandani.

No nation is buying more planes than India No nation in the world is buying as many airplanes as India. Its largest airlines have ordered nearly 1,000 jets this year, committing tens of billions of dollars to a spending spree that is unparalleled in aviation. In New Delhi,

Indira Gandhi International Airport will be ready for 109 million passengers next year, as it prepares to become the world’s second busiest, behind Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States.

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FIJI

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PM Rabuka gives five-word response to query “Who stirred the hornets’ nest?” was Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s response when asked about why Fiji voted against the United Nations resolution calling for a cease-fire in the Isarel-Hamas war so that humanitarian supplies can be delivered to residents in Gaza. Mr Rabuka

didn’t comment further on this issue. The Prime Minister’s response seemed to question who had started the fight between Israel and Hamas. A series of co-ordinated attacks, conducted by the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas, from Gaza onto bordering areas

Father seeks justice for daughter’s death Grieving father Bali Ram seeks justice for his only daughter, Shayal Wati. Wati, 23, died on Thursday afternoon when she was allegedly hit by a bus at a pedestrian crossing along Suva’s Stinson Parade. Yesterday, Mr Ram said he had called

his daughter around 6pm after being told of the incident by his son-in-law. “I called her phone, and it was ringing, but there was no answer,” Mr Ram said. “I went to the hospital on Thursday evening and the doctor told me my daughter had died.

Fijian British female soldier pleads guilty to assault A 25-year-old Fijian soldier serving in the British Army has been sentenced for assaulting police officers and a security guard in Wood St, Swindon. According to a report on wiltshire999s. co.uk, Elizabeth Vesikula pleaded guilty to five counts of assault on October 19 at the Salisbury Magistrate’s Court in England. It is understood Vesikula had beaten four emergency workers and was arrested on the

suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. Prosecutor Kerry Richardson said Vesikula was screaming and shouting on Wood Street after being refused entry to a pub. “Police officers were beckoned over to the incident as Vesikula fell over and was lying on the road,” the report said. Vesikula was also reported to have forcibly grabbed the genitals of a police officer which left him fearing the worst.

BC’s construction industry in ‘dire need of relief,’ says industry group Construction on the West Coast has never been busier, according to Chris Atchison. But with this high demand comes equally high pressures. “Interest rates, rising wages and

Tens of thousands of Afghan migrants left Pakistan More than 10,000 Afghan migrants and refugees rushed to the border on Tuesday, the last day of a deadline for 1.7 million Afghans to leave Pakistan voluntarily or face arrest and deportation.The government has said it would

Pakistan compares Kashmir to Palestine at UN At a news briefing at UN headquarters in New York, the foreign minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s traditional position that it would not recognise Israel until Palestinian issue was resolved. Mr Jilani said that during

the last four days, he attended dozens of meetings at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly and he never got the impression that the Kashmir or Palestinian issues were abandoned.

Muslim Cleric ‘disowns’ Pakistani players after world cup woes Pakistan’s ongoing World Cup 2023 campaign has taken another toll not only on captain and his team but also on their passionate fans. The consecutive losses

have left the fans struggling to maintain their enthusiasm, with each disappointing performance adding to their woes and subjecting them to online ridicule.

Cricketer Rizwan should offer prayers in dressing room: former player Former cricketer Daanish Kaneria recently questioned wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan’s motive behind offering Namaz in front of Indian crowd during ongoing 2023 World Cup.

Kaneria suggested that Rizwan should offer Namaz in the dressing room instead of doing it on the ground. He also pointed out that Indian players also pray, but they don’t do it in public just to show people how devoted they are.

General elections will be held with new date from Feb 11 to Feb 8 Pakistan’s general elections will be held on February 8, it was announced on Thursday after the election commission officials met President

Real Estate

the high cost of materials all factor into the equation. It is clear that these pressures are causing layoffs,” Atchison, the president of the B.C. Construction Association (BCCA), said in a statement.

begin arresting undocumented Afghans and taking them to new holding centres from Wednesday, from where they will be processed and forcibly returned to Afghanistan.

Arif Alvi at the directives of the Supreme Court, ending uncertainty over the muchawaited polls in the cash-strapped country.

Toronto-area buyers are walking away from deposits on new homes

Troubling headwinds continue to persist in the preconstruction real estate industry as homebuyers unable to close their transactions are walking away from sizable deposits, some worth as much as $320,000. It’s a new phenomenon, industry experts

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say, particularly in lowrise homes in the GTA suburbs where prices ran up quickly during the pandemic and have fallen drastically. As closing dates near, buyers are unable to close as appraisals fall short or they’re unable to qualify for a mortgage.

Saturday, November 4, 2023 Punjabi rapper Shubhneet Singh has asked people to stop spreading “hate and negativity” after a controversy broke out over a hoodie he held up at a concert in London. Some Indian social media users claimed the hoodie had imagery supporting the Sikh separatist movement. The Canada-based singer said a fan threw it at him and he did not see what was on it before displaying it. The issue of Sikh separatism is a sensitive topic in India. The rapper - known to fans as Shubh - has previously been in controversies over the issue. In September, his India tour was cancelled after a row over an old social media post where he had shared an incorrect map of India. He was accused of supporting the demand for Khalistan, or a separate Sikh homeland - which had led to a violent insurgency in India in the 1980s. At the time, he had asked his critics to “refrain from naming every Punjabi as a separatist or anti-national”.

Lawyer arrested after beating his mother A lawyer in Rupnagar area was arrested after he tortured and mercilessly thrashed allegedly his old mother, said police, adding that a case has been registered against him along with his wife and son. “Ankur Varma was arrested yesterday and was presented before the court. The court sent him on a one-day police remand,” said Station House Officer Pawan Kumar. In a video that has been widely shared on social media Asha Rani’s grandson could be seen pouring water on her mattress and then complaining about his grandmother wetting the bed to his parents.

Punjab Police AIG & two others arrested for extortion An assistant inspector general of the Punjab Police was booked along with two other people on the charge of blackmailing government employees and extorting money, a Vigilance Bureau spokesperson said on Thursday. He said AIG Malwinder Singh Sidhu, posted in the Punjab Police’s Human Rights Cell, used to initiate complaints against government employees and then demanded money in return for getting those dropped. AIG Sidhu and his two accomplices Kuldeep Singh and Balbir Singh were booked under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the spokesperson added.

Punjabi rapper faces heat over concert hoodie

PUNJAB

Saturday, November 4, 2023