The Asian Star January 30 2021 by The Asian Star Newspaper

www.theasianstar.com Vol 19 - Issue 52

South Asian teen scientist finds a Low-Tech way to recycle water Shreya Ramachandran, 17, remembers witnessing California’s water crisis firsthand on a visit to Tulare County in 2014, when she was still a preteen. Tulare spans a large swath of farmland in California’s Central Valley, and at that time, locals were facing dire water shortages amid an ongoing drought made worse by climate change. “I was talking to some of the people in the area whose wells completely ran dry, and they were left without water because they weren’t connected to the central water grid. They were trucking water in for even basic needs,” she said. “I was really affected by their stories, and I wanted to do something to help.” The experience spurred Ramachandran, who lives in Fremont, California, to find ways to reuse water from sinks, showers and laundry machines — what’s known as gray water — to help people better cope with intense drought. She has won numerous awards for her research, was named a global finalist in the 2019 Google Science Fair, and is featured in the forthcoming PBS Peril & Promise climate change documentary, The Power of Us. Ramachandran said that after she returned home from Tulare, she made every effort to conserve water in her life. She took shorter showers and turned off the tap when brushing her teeth, but it had little effect on how much her house consumed.

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Ontario MP turfed from Liberal caucus after accusing ex-minister Navdeep Bains of extremism An MP from Ontario has been thrown out of the Liberal caucus after suggesting that former Industry Minister Navdeep Bains was an “extremist” supporter of Sikh separatism and should never have gotten into cabinet. Chief government whip Mark Holland announced Monday afternoon that Ramesh Sangha had been expelled in the wake of his latest barrage against the party and government he represents.

The Brampton Centre MP’s remarks came days after Bains unexpectedly announced he was stepping down from cabinet, citing personal reasons that included a desire to spend more time with his family. In a somewhat rambling interview with Y Media, a Punjabi-language news outlet, Sangha said he was “shocked” to hear that the minister was quitting at a relatively young age, and that the reason Bains offered for his decision Continued on page 7

Another South Asian man dead in targeted shooting in Langley The fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man in Langley on late Tuesday is likely linked to an ongoing gang conflict in the Lower Mainland, sources have confirmed to Postmedia. Arshdeep Singh was gunned down as he sat inside a blue Honda Civic in the 5300-block of 207 Street at around 11:38 p.m. His friend, also in his 20s, was wounded in the shooting, but is

expected to survive. Sgt. Frank Jang of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said officers suspect a burnt-out truck found 15 minutes later in South Surrey may have been used by the suspect or suspects. “This has all the hallmarks of a targeted hit. The victim was known to police and his murder may have ties to the drug trade,” Jang said. Continued on page 6

Actor and ex-gangster at centre of farmers’ protest at Red Fort Punjabi actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu (pictured) and gangster-turnedactivist Lakha Sidhana were the primary targets of farmers’ anger on Wednesday as large sections of protesters blamed the duo for provoking violence during the Republic Day tractor rally and instigating their supporters to break through barricades, clash with police, and storm the Red Fort. The farmers accused the two of taking control of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha stage on Monday evening, and pushing farmers to march onto the Outer Ring Road rather than the route

decided with the police. HT takes a look at the two people at the centre of the storm. Around six months ago, he started commenting on political and social issues of Sikhs and Punjab on Facebook, and at times criticised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the central government. A trained lawyer and an amateur basketball player, Sidhu first completed his graduation from Punjabi University, Patiala, and later a degree in Law. After winning the Kingfisher Model Hunt award, he decided to work in films and Continued on page 8

South Asian family denies helping father who stole $11M in Ontario COVID relief A former senior civil servant accused of embezzling $11 million in Ontario COVID-19 relief money betrayed his own family, according to his wife and two sons. In sworn affidavits, the wife of Sanjay Madan and their two adult sons disavow any knowledge of his alleged scheme, which is now the subject of an unproven civil action against them all. Continued on page 6

12 more people die of Covid-19 in BC, as 546 new cases confirmed B.C. health officials announced 546 new cases of COVID-19 and 12 more deaths on Thursday. In a written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said there are 291 people in hospital, 75 of whom are in intensive care — the first time hospitalizations have been below 300 since November. A total of 1,184 people in B.C. have lost their lives due to the disease since the pandemic began. There are currently 4,455 active cases of coronavirus in the province, with public health Continued on page 7

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BC’s top court allows Surrey Six killers to apply for stay of proceedings British Columbia.’s top court says two men who were found guilty in the province’s most notorious gangland slaying should have a chance to argue that the case against them should be tossed out because of an abuse of process. In a decision released Thursday, B.C.’s Court of Appeal denied a bid for a new trial from Matthew Johnston and co-accused Cody Haevischer and upheld their guilty verdicts for murder in relation to the so-called 2007 Surrey Six killings. But the judges quashed the entering of a conviction for the six counts of first-degree murder and sent the case back to a trial court to consider applications for a stay of proceedings because of abuse of process. Johnston and Haevischer claim their rights were violated by a closed-door, pretrial hearing that saw a crucial eyewitness excluded from testifying at the trial

itself. The pair also claim the trial judge was wrong in assessing the reliability and credibility of witnesses who included an admitted murderer and gangster who described himself as a “monster.” ‘The public will be in the dark’ A considerable portion of the appeal hearing occurred out of public sight, because of the legal issues involved — which centred around a witness known as Person X, who was himself convicted of three counts of second-degree murder in the case. In the opening days of the appeal hearing, Johnston’s lawyer lamented the secrecy which has enveloped the proceedings. Jamie Bacon is serving an 18-year sentence for conspiring to commit the murder of Corey Lal in a plot that spiralled out of control into B.C.’s deadliest gangland slaying. Continued on page 5

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OPINION

By Steven Globerman, Resident scholar The Fraser Institute

As Canadians watched this week’s presidential inauguration and the immediate aftereffects (which include a scuttled Keystone XL pipeline), many wonder what a Biden administration will mean for Canada. And for good reason. A dramatic change in governance in the United States will likely have significant implications for Canada so

Saturday, January 30, 2021 What the Biden administration means for Canada Canadian policymakers in both the private and public sectors should be prepared to respond to the new opportunities – and new challenges. One area where change is likely is the bilateral trade regime. The Biden administration will almost certainly be more inclined to restore a rules-based regime for trade between the U.S. and its trade partners including Canada. This implies fewer unilateral actions taken by Washington

against exports from trade partners on dubious grounds of “national security,” a common theme of the Trump administration. In a related manner, the Biden administration will likely be more willing to return to trade resolution mechanisms to deal with trade disputes including restoring the capacity of the WTO to staff trade-dispute tribunals. A return to a rules-based trade regime is good news for Canadian businesses. Among other things, it will reduce business uncertainty faced by Canadian exporters, which should lower their costs of capital and thereby improve the climate for domestic investment. However, this optimistic perspective must be tempered by current realities in the U.S., which include a relatively high level of unemployment. President Biden has signalled that his economic recovery program will emphasize government purchases from domestic companies and this “buy local” focus may be a major bilateral trade irritant going forward. A second area of change will be a substantial increase in government spending, especially in alternative energy and, possibly, physical infrastructure programs. Canadian construction and alternative energy companies with affiliates in the U.S. might benefit from what will likely be a major spending effort, as those companies would ostensibly be treated as domestic companies under any buy local conditions attached to the government programs. However, a possible and less favourable indirect effect is that increased U.S. government spending might lead to higher U.S. interest rates. Given integrated financial markets, higher interest rates in the U.S. will put upward pressure on interest rates in Canada. The Bank of Canada might therefore raise interest rates sooner than it would otherwise choose to do so or accept significant downward pressure on the Canadian dollar. Changes in the U.S. tax and regulatory regimes can also be expected. In particular, the corporate tax rate will rise as will personal and capital gains tax rates on upper-income individuals. By themselves, these changes will make the Canadian tax environment more competitive in a bilateral context. It will also make Canada a more attractive location for “star” immigrants such as scientists and engineers. At the same time, higher corporate and personal taxes, combined with a reimposition of a much stronger regulatory regime, might slow the U.S. economic recovery and indirectly dampen Canada’s post-COVID recovery.

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Saturday, January 30, 2021 ‘We’ll come down on you like a ton of bricks,’ BC premier warns visitors who disobey guidelines The premier of British Columbia gave a stern warning Wednesday to travellers entering the province from other parts of Canada, but said he’s still not convinced stronger quarantine rules are necessary. Manitoba announced this week that non-essential visitors will soon have to self-isolate for 14 days upon their arrival, a measure intended to slow the spread of the concerning new COVID-19 variants that have been detected in the country. But B.C. Premier John Horgan said his government isn’t planning to follow suit – at least not yet. “Until such time as the public health officer advises me that there’s a benefit to going down that road, we’re going to leave it untravelled,” he said. “The public health evidence is not there at this time.” The premier said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has promised to keep him informed of the evidence as it emerges. In the meantime, Horgan stressed that he expects non-essential visitors in the province to abide by local rules and restrictions. “You better follow our public health guidelines or we’ll come down on you like a ton of bricks,” he said. Given the threat of the faster-spreading U.K. variant, which has

already been detected half a dozen times in B.C., professor Fiona Brinkman from Simon Fraser University argued it could be time for a phased approach to quarantines. Brinkman, who is part of a national project tracking the variants, called the mutations “a significant concern” on the horizon. “I would argue it is the time to prepare for this,” she said. “We can combat these viral variants by simply following public health guidelines – however, the problem is people are tired.” Manitoba has set a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Thursday for people to return to the province and avoid the new quarantine requirement. When announcing the measure, Premier Brian Pallister cited speculation that “restrictions will have to remain for significant periods beyond this year as well because of the variant dangers.” The province’s self-isolation rule won’t apply to people entering Manitoba for essential reasons, including medical treatment. Earlier this month, the B.C. government sought legal advice regarding a potential ban on travellers coming into the province for non-essential reasons, and determined the extreme measure was not viable.

More action needed to saveBC businesses Running a business isn’t easy at the best of times. It’s a monumental undertaking, and it may take many months or even years before your business feels stable. Once you’ve surpassed the numerous challenges that threaten your initial viability and have found some measure of success, there’s always the ‘unknown’ to worry about. As a former business owner, I would often find myself lying awake at night wondering what tomorrow’s obstacles might look like. Today, that challenge for B.C.’s business community is COVID-19. The latest data from Statistics Canada showed nearly 8,000 businesses are temporarily or permanently closed, and a fall survey by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade noted only 40 per cent of all businesses expect to return to normal operations, relative to pre-pandemic levels. John Horgan and his NDP government promised 10 months ago that relief was coming but the support has been slow, cumbersome and unhelpful. Many business owners feel like the government isn’t listening to their concerns or acting quickly enough to address them. This is why our B.C. Liberal caucus held a virtual community townhall, bringing together

a diverse group of business people. They aired their concerns and shared practical solutions that we, as B.C.’s Official Opposition, can help advocate for and hopefully bring to fruition. We heard from people across the province including Anita Huberman, CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade, who spoke about the need for a comprehensive provincial tax review to lessen the impact businesses are seeing on their bottom line. This includes the Provincial Sales Tax and Employer Health Tax. The latter, for example, essentially penalizes employers for creating jobs and raising employee wages. Employers have been forced to reduce hiring plans, pause plans to give raises, and increase prices for customers because of this damaging tax. Meanwhile, some tourism operators shared concerns with the government’s Small and Medium Sized Business Recovery Grant program and the requirement for monthly financial reports – which simply aren’t produced by many seasonal tourism businesses. They question the ‘wisdom’ of hiring extra accountants to do that work in the middle of an already costly pandemic, when these businesses likely have no revenue to prove that they qualify for Continued on page 13

Court allows Surrey Six killers to apply for stay of proceedings He is expected to be out in five years. “We will be entirely in the dark,” Brock Martland told the three judges overseeing the hearing. “The public will be in the dark.” To that end, the appeal court only issued a short statement containing the decision. The written reasons for judgment will remain sealed until the Crown and a lawyer appointed as “friend of the court” have advised the court on which revisions are needed to protect confidential information. The defence will not get to see the reasons for judgment until they are made public. Haevischer and Johnston received mandatory life sentences in December 2014 for the Surrey Six slayings, which began as a hit on drug dealer Corey Lal and spiralled into the killings of three of Lal’s associates — including his brother —

and two bystanders, Christopher Mohan and Ed Schellenberg. The Red Scorpions gangsters were carrying out a plan initiated by gang leader Jamie Bacon, who was sentenced to 18 years last fall after pleading guilty to conspiring to commit Lal’s murder. After consideration for time served, Bacon is expected to spend another five-and-ahalf years behind bars. ‘Neither knows what occurred’ Person X pleaded guilty in April 2009 to three counts of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in relation to the slayings. He was supposed to be a Crown witness, but in a decision that remains sealed to this day, the trial judge decided at a pretrial hearing that Person X could not testify — leaving the Crown to rely instead on largely circumstantial evidence.

Saturday, January 30, 2021 From page 1

Anothe South Asian dead in targeted shooting in Langley

“It is not yet clear if this incident is linked to any of the other recent acts of violence.” There have been six gang-related murders across the region since Christmas, including the Surrey slaying of high-profile gangster Gary Kang, 24, on Jan. 6, and the execution of a 14-year-old Burnaby boy, Tequel Willis, on Dec. 28.

The violence has largely involved three warring groups — Kang and his Red Scorpion associates, the Brothers Keepers and their allies, and the United Nations gang with some spin-off groups. Postmedia has confirmed that Singh’s companion in the vehicle has connections to the UN side of the conflict.

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In most of the recent shootings, which have occurred across the Lower Mainland, a burnt suspect vehicle is found shortly afterward, just as in this case. Jang said investigators are confident they are making progress in the slew of slayings and that charges will eventually be laid. He said the violence is unacceptable and those involved must be held to account. “The message really is to those people who are doing these types of crimes. You’ve got to lay down your arms, lay down your guns, and you know, pick a different route in life,” Jang said. “It’s not fair to the rest of us. It’s not fair to the residents in this community to have this done in their backyard.” Dozens of evidence markers beside shell casings could be seen around the car, which was under an IHIT tent. The surviving victim has not yet been interviewed by police, Jang said. “We are giving him some time to recover from his injuries,” Jang said. “Exactly what they were doing — why they were here in this area — is obviously an important question that we have to answer.” Liberal MLA Mike Morris said he doesn’t think the B.C. government is

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doing enough to head off the violence. Morris, his party’s critic for the public safety ministry, cited a Postmedia exclusive last week about a funding cut to Safer Schools Together, an agency contracted by the province for anti-gang programming. “That’s negligence on behalf of the province to even consider doing things like this when we look at the age of some of these victims recently,” Morris said of the cuts. He also said that Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth “has the authority to direct police resources into any kind of an investigation here in the province that he feels is inadequately addressed.” Gang murders are complex crimes that require a lot of investigative resources, said Morris, a former RCMP officer who once held Farnworth’s portfolio. Jang said investigators are looking for witnesses, as well as any video from cars, homes or passersby, in the vicinity of the murder or near where the burnt truck was found in the area of 180 Street and 19A Avenue. Anyone who can help is asked to contact IHIT at: 1-877-551-4448, orihitinfo@rcmpgrc.gc.ca.

South Asian family denies helping father who stole $11M in Ontario COVID relief

‘I felt betrayed’: Family denies helping father who allegedly stole $11M in Ontario COVID relief According to his affidavit, Chinmaya Madan said he became suspicious of his father around June last year after discovering unexplained money in his bank accounts, some of which he didn’t know existed. Only after repeated questioning did his father admit to having “diverted” money and promise to return it, the affidavit states. “I felt betrayed by my father,” Chinmaya Madan said in the document filed in Superior

Court. “I was and remain absolutely shocked by the allegations.” The Ontario government’s unproven civil claim names Sanjay Madan, who had a senior IT role and helped develop a computer application for the COVID-19 benefit for families with children. Also named are his sons Chinmaya Madan and Ujjal Madan, and his wife of 28 years, Shalini Madan. The claim alleges the Madan family, who all worked for the government in information technology, defrauded the province of at least $11 million. No criminal charges have been filed.

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NDP red tape hinders B.C.’s economic recovery Press release

With a C- score in regulatory burden, British Columbia is no longer leading the nation in red tape reduction, according to the Provincial Red Tape Report Card released by the Canadian

Federation of Independent Business. Under John Horgan’s NDP, B.C. has gone from being the only province with an “A” grade in 2016 to being in the middle of the pack — falling behind Manitoba, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan in its overall red tape score. “It’s a slap in the face for B.C., as the NDP squanders the province’s reputation as a jurisdiction committed to eliminating red tape,” said Todd Stone, B.C. Liberal Critic for Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. “As we turn our attention to economic recovery, it’s essential to have crossgovernment efforts to reduce unnecessary regulatory costs and red tape which makes it harder for businesses to access the programs and resources they need. The Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant program is a classic example of an NDP program that is so restrictive and cumbersome, many eligible businesses have given up trying to apply for it.” The BC Liberals have been calling on the NDP government to take action to ease the eligibility criteria of the program, which has doled out only $10 million of the $300 million in grant money since October. Adding insult to injury, the program is set to expire on March 31, 2021. “No wonder business owners only gave this NDP government a score of 3 out of 10 when it comes to their confidence in the provincial commitment to red tape reduction,” added Stone. “As the net-zero regulation commitment expires in 2022, I urge John Horgan and the NDP to renew the commitment and ensure simplified processes and a more competitive investment climate for B.C. to fuel economic recovery.”

Saturday, January 30, 2021 From page 1

12 more people die of Covid-19 in BC, as 546 new cases confirmed

monitoring 7,176 people across B.C. who are in self-isolation due to COVID-19 exposure. At least 59,141 people who tested positive have recovered. There are two new outbreaks in healthcare facilities. Outbreaks at Chilliwack General Hospital, KinVillage, KinVillage West Court and Rideau Retirement Residence are now declared over. So far, 127,255 people have received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 4,185 of those being second doses. Health officials are asking people to avoid any gatherings with members outside their own household for the upcoming Lunar New Year and Family Day holidays. Any non-essential travel remains “strongly discouraged.” “We know that COVID-19 can travel with us, and we can just as easily bring it back on our return. If it is a day trip or a weekend getaway, the risk is the same,” Henry and Dix said in Thursday’s statement. “The more people you see and more places you go increase the risk for you, your family and those in the community you may be visiting. Health officials say there has also been an increase in community clusters and exposures in businesses. WorkSafeBC and environmental health teams have “stepped up” inspections, Henry and Dix said, and will take all necessary measures to ensure community safety, including closing businesses if required. A total of 288 cases have been identified in Whistler between Jan. 1 and Jan. 26, according to Vancouver Coastal Health. Most of the cases are connected to young people in their 20s and 30s who work, live and socialize together and none of the cases have resulted in hospitalization or death. 12 cases confirmed at Whistler hotel, as nearly 300 in community test positive in January for COVID-19 The news comes on the heels of the Fairmont Chateau Whistler confirming to CBC News that 12 of its employees had tested positive for coronavirus. According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, in the past two weeks, the number of COVID-19 cases per capita in the Howe Sound region has been two to 13 times higher than anywhere else in southwest B.C., with nearly one per cent of the region’s population becoming infected in that time. Whistler Mayor Jack Crompton reiterated that out-of-towners should stay home as the community grapples with the

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spread of the virus. “The virus is insidious,” he said Thursday. “In my view, we don’t have an economy without getting to the other side of this pandemic,” he said about balancing business needs with public safety. Henry has asked that people stick to their local ski hills. When it comes to Whistler, she says this does not mean people living elsewhere in the Lower Mainland should head for the North Shore mountains instead. “It’s not the ski hill that’s the problem, It’s the parties that are happening in and around that ... we need to step back from that,” she said. Wednesday marked one year since the first COVID-19 case was identified in B.C.

Saturday, January 30, 2021 From page 1

films and started his career with ‘Ramta Jogi’ in 2015, produced by actor Dharmendra. He shot to fame with the 2018 Punjabi movie ‘Jora Das Numbria’, in which he played the lead role of a young gangster. He first made news during the 2019 general elections by campaigning for Bollywood actor Sunny Deol from the Gurdaspur constituency on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket. Deol won the election but later distanced himself from Sidhu. Around six months ago, he started commenting on political and social issues of Sikhs and Punjab on Facebook, and at times criticised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the central government. He, along with Punjabi singers, joined the farmers’ stir at Shambu barrier on the border with Haryana on September 25. However, singers and other activists disassociated themselves from him after he launched a separate outfit, saying his decision was a conspiracy to torpedo the stir. Sikh intellectual Ajaypal Singh Brar, who was his associate during the Shambu movement, said they distanced themselves from him. “The way he was acting in the stir, we could not go with

Actor and ex-gangster at centre of farmers’ protest at Red Fort him, so we parted ways with him,” he added. Two weeks ago, he was summoned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with a sedition case against US-based banned pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs For Justice. He was among several people participating in the two-month-long farmer protests to receive the NIA notice. On Tuesday, he posted a Facebook video around 2pm in which Sidhu could be seen along with his supporters at the Red Fort. Many of them held the Nishan Sahib, the flag of the Sikhs, and a young man could be seen climbing a flagstaff in the background, with the ‘kesari’ flag in hand. Sidhu posted another video on Facebook at 5.40pm, where he admitted to hoisting the “Nishan Sahib” but said he did nothing wrong. “When a struggle like this begins, where people’s genuine concerns and rights are ignored, then it makes them very angry and things flare up. In such a case, you cannot blame one person for that display of anger,” he said in the post.

Lakha Sidhana, 42 Sidhana hit the headlines in Punjab when he met jail minister Sukhjinder Randhawa to give suggestions on how to improve prison functioning.Sidhana hit the headlines in Punjab when he met jail minister Sukhjinder Randhawa to give suggestions on how to improve prison functioning. Gangster-turned-politician and activist, Lakhbir Singh or Lakha Sidhana, has been mired in controversy for years. A kabaddi player when he was young, Sidhana hails from Rampura-Phull of Bathinda district and first made news as an associate of a prominent local politician. He has gone to jail many times, and currently faces at least 10 criminal cases, including that of land grabbing and murder. He dabbled into politics during the 2012 Punjab assembly elections, contesting on the symbol of the now-defunct People’s Party of Punjab, which was formed by the state’s current Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal after quitting the Shiromani Akali Dal. He was

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recently accused by SAD leader Parmbans Bunty Romana of assisting the murder of a villager. In 2019, Sidhana hit the headlines in Punjab when he met jail minister Sukhjinder Randhawa to give suggestions on how to improve prison functioning. The development embarrassed the Captain Amarinder Singh government. Sidhana been camping at the Singhu border since November 26 and has claimed in the past that he had quit crime and joined social activism. But he was never a favourite of farm leaders and was seldom allowed to speak from the dais at Singhu border. Sidhana has distanced himself from the violence on Republic Day and said he only marched up to the Outer Ring Road in Delhi. “I am pained at the incidents that took place on Tuesday but I am not involved in these. There is no video, photo or other evidence that shows that I instigated people. We had marched towards the Outer Ring Road under our farmer leaders in a peaceful manner. We never had any agenda of going towards the Red Fort,” said Sidhana.

South Asian Teen scientist

Around that time, Ramachandran’s grandmother was visiting from India, and had brought with her a handful of soap nuts. A soap nut, also known as a soap berry, is a small yellow or brown fruit encased in a hard, brown shell. Soap nuts are native to India, where they are used for bathing. Massage one in a bowl of water, and it will begin to lather and smell of apples, Ramachandran said. “I was using them as a shampoo, and I was thinking, ‘Okay, if they can be used for this purpose, maybe soap nuts can be used as an alternative laundry detergent as well. And then we can reuse the water because soap nuts are all natural,’” she said. “The best ideas come to you when you’re in the shower.” Ramachandran said that soap nuts, which are often sold as a detergent, make for an effective cleaning agent. One only needs to put four or

five nuts in a cloth bag and toss it in with their laundry, and they can reuse that bag of nuts as many as 10 times, making soap nuts significantly cheaper than organic detergent. Ramachandran wanted to see if the leftover water could be used to nourish plants. “I read a ton of papers. I developed a project plan. And I contacted universities up and down in California. I sent so many cold emails, did so many cold calls until, finally, a really wonderful professor at the University of California, Berkeley, agreed to look over my project plan and greenlight it,” she says. That professor was environmental scientist Céline Pallud, who studies soil. She says that Ramachandran’s experiments were comparable to the work of a college student, which she said was “extremely impressive,” given that she was only 12 when she undertook the research.

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Saturday, January 30, 2021 $1 million unclaimed lotto ticket set to expire in March 2021 You could be a million dollars richer, just winning numbers: 19117903-02,” says the check those lottery tickets. Time is running corporation in a news release. “Players can find the Guaranteed Prize Draw number displayed underneath the main set of six numbers.” The winners have until Mar. 18 at midnight to claim the money. The North Island region includes Alert Bay, Telegraph Cove, Port Hardy, Coal Harbour and Port McNeill, among other out for the holder(s) of a winning $1 million municipalities. Guaranteed Prize Lotto 6/49 ticket purchased The specific retail location where the in the northern Vancouver Island region. winning lottery ticket was purchased “BCLC is encouraging players who and the lottery winner’s name will be purchased a ticket for the March 18, 2020 draw announced after the winner has come in this region to check their tickets for the forward.

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Court date set for B.C. couple accused of jumping vaccine queue in Yukon

BC marks one-year anniversary of first confirmed case of COVID-19

The Vancouver couple accused of flying to the Yukon to jump the COVID-19 vaccine queue have been given a court date. Rod Baker, the now-former CEO of Great Canadian Gaming, and his wife, Ekaterina, allegedly flew to the First Nation community of Beaver Creek to get the vaccine before their turn in B.C. It’s alleged they posed as essential workers to receive the Moderna vaccine. They had reportedly ignored the territory’s 14-day mandatory quarantine rules upon arrival and were eventually ticketed and charged under Yukon’s Civil Emergency Measures Act. They are due to appear in a Whitehorse courtroom on May 4. Nothing has yet been proven in court, but they could serve up to six months in jail if convicted. Vancouver couple who lied to get vaccinated sparks anger in remote Yukon community The B.C. government has also confirmed the Bakers will not be eligible for the second dose of the vaccine until August. Without naming the couple, the B.C. Ministry of Health clarified the rules to prevent queue-jumping earlier this week. “There is no room in B.C.’s COVID-19 immunization plan for people who deliberately put vulnerable populations at risk in order to receive their vaccine before the start of their eligibility group,” the statement reads. “As we move towards immunizing the general public in Phases 3 and 4, there will be clear processes in place to ensure people can verify their age and that they are currently living in B.C.”

Thursday marks one year since B.C.’s first confirmed case of COVID-19. A man in his 40s tested positive on Jan. 28, 2020, after returning from Wuhan, China — the original epicentre of the virus that led to more than 100 million cases around the world and more than 2.1 million deaths. More than 65,000 people in B.C. have been infected in that year, with 1,172 people dying from complications related to the disease. This week, Premier John Horgan called on British Columbians to give a little bit more to stop the spread. While he acknowledged most residents have done everything they can to fight COVID-19, he said Wednesday that people who are still breaking the rules need to stop. “We have a long, long way to go, and I want British Columbians to reflect on how much they’ve sacrificed over the past over the past 12 months and ask you to dig down a little bit deeper — find that extra gear to get through the next number of weeks and months as we get our vaccine program up and running,” Horgan said.

12 cases confirmed at Whistler hotel, as nearly 300 in community test positive in January for COVID-19 A COVID-19 outbreak in Whistler has now registered a total of 288 cases between Jan. 1 and Jan. 26, according to Vancouver Coastal Health. In a public bulletin, VCH said the majority of cases are connected to young people in their 20s and 30s who live, work and socialize together. None of the cases have resulted in hospitalization or death. The news comes on the heels of the Fairmont Chateau Whistler confirming to CBC News that 12 of its employees had tested positive for coronavirus. In a statement, the hotel said it is “working closely with Vancouver Coastal Health to follow the appropriate protocols to mitigate risk and ensure that our hotel remains a healthy and safe place for all who visit.” There is a 48hour hold on guest rooms between occupancy wherever possible, it said. Earlier this week public exposure notices were issued for three more restaurants in the municipality, bringing the current number of Whistler businesses on the listed to six — more than half of the exposure notices listed in the Vancouver Coastal Health region. According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, in the past two weeks, the number of COVID-19 cases per capita in the Howe Sound region has been two to 13 times higher than anywhere else in southwest B.C., with nearly one per cent of the region’s population becoming infected in that time.

Human remains identified as man missing since 1967: RCMP RCMP say they’ve identified the remains of a man who went missing more than 50 years ago thanks to DNA profiling technology. Mounties say in a news release the 41-year-old man from Kamloops was reported missing by his family in 1967 after last being spotted in Metro Vancouver. President Biden plans to move U.S. government vehicles to electric power In 1972, human remains were discovered on a Saturna Island beach, but the body couldn’t be identified until the remains were exhumed from a Salt Spring Island grave last September. RCMP say that after a lengthy process performed at a lab, a DNA profile

of the deceased was finally obtained. The missing-person file was solved after a family link matched a DNA sample from the man’s daughter that was collected in 2014 during a file review of his case. RCMP are not identifying the man and say the family wishes to remain anonymous. “Through scientific advancements in identification processes, we are now able to solve such historic cases. In this instance, we were able to piece together the puzzle that had been challenging us on Salt Spring Island since 1972,” Eric Petit, director of the B.C. Coroners Service Special Investigations Unit, says in a news release.

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Trudeau family’s 2019 Xmas vacay cost taxpayers nearly $200Gs Minister Justin Trudeau’s family vacation to Costa Rica in 2019 cost taxpayers nearly $200,000, according to records obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. According to one of the federation’s blog posts, the PM billed $196,137 for the trip that began on Dec. 20, 2019 and lasted 16 days. The majority of costs are attributed to multiple Canadian Forces business jet flights. “Prime ministers are entitled to take vacations like anyone else, but they’re not entitled to stick taxpayers with a sixfigure flight bill so they can sip Mai Tais on the beach,” said Canadian Taxpayers Association federal director Aaron Wudrick. “It’s time to review our policy of prohibiting our prime ministers from flying commercial. If it’s safe enough for other world leaders, it should be safe enough for our own.” Records show six Challenger 604 jet flights were in the air during the trip for about 34 hours. According to a National Defence Cost Factors Manual: Air Chapter from 2018-2019, it costs $5,543 an hour to operate such an aircraft. The normal flight time for a round trip between Ottawa and San Jose, Costa Rica, is about 11 hours. The total flight cost, according to the federation, was $187,353. The total cost climbed to $196,137, according to the CTF, after accounting for the costs of the flight crews staying at the San Jose Marriott and $1,235 in flight food bills. Alex Wellstead, press

secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister, said Wednesday “as per longstanding government policy and because of security reasons, the prime minister must use one of the Royal Canadian Air Force planes for all his travel, whether on official or personal business.” The Department of National Defence claims the flight hours in this case were 5.5 hours for the flight to Costa Rica, and 4.9 hours for the return to Ottawa, for a total of 10.4 hours. “Following the $5,543 per hour from the Cost Factors Manual, this would be a total cost of $57,647,” said a department spokesperson We d n e s d a y. “There were additional transits that resulted from the squadron’s decision to accommodate holiday leave plans for the crew. These additional hours were flown out of the squadron’s training budget.” As for food and beverages costs, the department claims they can vary and are dependent on several different factors, such as catering costs may be higher in locations where food costs or the exchange rate are higher. Publicly-available data showed that on top of the Trudeau’s outbound and flight back to Canada, there were four subsequent flights by two separate RCAF Challengers between Ottawa and Costa Rica during their vacation.

Couple accused of flying to Yukon for vaccine ‘despicable’: B.C. minister Public condemnation grew Tuesday of a Vancouver couple accused of flying to a remote Yukon community to get a COVID-19 vaccine, with British Columbia’s solicitor general calling their alleged actions “despicable.” Mike Farnworth criticized former Great Canadian Gaming Corp. CEO Rodney Baker and his wife Ekaterina Baker, who have been issued tickets under the territory’s Emergency Measures Act and face fines of up to $1,000, plus fees. “Frankly, I think what we saw yesterday of individuals flying to Yukon was probably one of the most despicable things that I’ve seen in a long time. It shows a complete lack of any sort of ethical or moral compass,” Farnworth said at a news conference on a separate matter. “As we’ve also seen, they have paid a pretty high price, losing a $10-million-a-year job, as they should.” Tickets filed in a Whitehorse court show the 55-year-old man and his 32-year-old wife were each charged with one count of failing to self-isolate for 14 days and one count of failing to act in a manner consistent with their declarations upon arriving in Yukon. The allegations against them have not been proven in court and the tickets indicate the couple can challenge them. Ekaterina Baker did not immediately respond to calls and emails requesting

comment. An attempt was made to speak to Rodney Baker through a request to Great Canadian Gaming, which accepted his resignation Sunday, after he couldn’t be reached. An information circular published by Great Canadian Gaming in March 2020 says Baker earned a total of about $6.7 million in compensation from the company in 2019. The company owns and operates more than 20 casinos in B.C., Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Baker became president in 2010 and CEO the following year. Spokesman Chuck Keeling said in a statement on Monday that the company does not comment on personnel matters, but it complies with guidelines from public health authorities in all jurisdictions. “Our overriding focus as a company is doing everything we can to contribute to the containment of COVID-19,” he said. Ekaterina Baker is an actress who had small roles this year in “Chick Fight,” starring Malin Akerman and Bella Thorne, and “Fatman,” which starred Mel Gibson as a rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus, according to her IMDB Pro page. The biography on the page describes her as a European-born actress who is now based in Canada.

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LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, January 30, 2021 British Columbians fed up with their govt, ‘COVID exhaustion’ as variants loom As the threat of a more transmissible variant of COVID-19 looms, some British Columbians say they feel “betrayed” by a provincial government that isn’t pulling out all the stops to prevent it from spreading. Since the pandemic began, Jennifer Angeli and her family have followed health guidelines to the letter. They don’t gather with others or travel outside Vancouver, and when they must go to a store, they wear a mask. Up until this month, Angeli homeschooled her son. ‘What more can we do?’ British Columbians fed up with their government, ‘COVID exhaustion’ as variants loom “What more can we do?” she said Wednesday. Angeli wants the government to increase restrictions, including smaller classes and mandatory masks in schools and a 14-day quarantine for anyone entering B.C., instead of asking people to follow the rules “more than you have ever done before,” as Provincial

Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry did Monday. At a news conference Wednesday, B.C. Premier John Horgan said Henry was “talking to those that are not listening” and thanked the vast majority of people who are making sacrifices to reduce the spread of the virus. While he recognized people are struggling with “COVID exhaustion,” Horgan stopped short of announcing any new restrictions to address concerns about variants that have begun to appear in B.C. So far there have been six reported cases of the United Kingdom variant in B.C. and three from South Africa. Only a small percentage of COVID-19 tests are checked for those two variants, so the numbers could be higher. If the variants take hold, B.C. could start to see cases jump tenfold by April, according to research released this week by Simon Fraser University and the South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis.

More action needed to saveBC businesses From page 5 Columbians were working in December compared to pre-pandemic levels in February. After rebounding a bit in the summer, employment growth started to slow down in October when John Horgan called his unnecessary election. When the premier stopped working, so did many British Columbians. I urge this government to listen to the business owners who are pleading for more support— and take more decisive action now so the situation doesn’t worsen.

grants. It’s just more bureaucracy and red tape. This pandemic recovery effort is about people. It’s about supporting the livelihoods of our successful entrepreneurs and protecting the numerous jobs they create, as well as the wages their workers bring home to their families and spend in our communities— helping to rebuild our struggling economy. The latest jobs numbers from Statistics Canada showed 33,600 fewer British

COVID-19 cases down in Ontario but variant ‘a significant threat’ to curbing spread, new modelling shows A COVID-19 variant spreading in Ontario is a “significant threat” to controlling the pandemic, but maintaining existing public health interventions will likely help encourage a downward trend in cases, even with a return to school factored in. That’s the takeaway of updated modelling data by the province’s COVID-19 advisory table, released Thursday. By March, the B117 variant, first identified in the U.K., could be the dominant strain in the province, according to the data. The modelling also indicates that cases and positivity are down in much of the province, and that testing volumes are slightly down too.

“Sustained high testing volumes will be important to control of the pandemic,” the report says. At the moment, COVID-19 cases are expected to drop between 1,000-2,000 by the end of February, but that could change as the new variant takes hold, Dr. Adalsteinn Brown, co-chairman of the advisory table, said at a news conference. A more grim finding: While cases are declining across long-term care homes, deaths continue to rise, with 215 in the last seven days. ICU capacity also continues to be strained in most regions with only one or two beds free at about half of all hospitals in the province.

LOCAL / NATIONAL Richmond named 2nd ‘most cost-burdened’ city in Canada

Richmond is the second “most costburdened” city in Canada, according to a new mortgage affordability report, with nearly half of homeowners’ incomes going to mortgage payments. The report by Point2, which studies real estate trends, examined the 50 most populous cities in Canada and compiled a list of 16 cities across the country considered to have the most unafforable markets, with large percentages of homeowners’ incomes going to mortgages. In Richmond, owners spent 44 per cent of their income on monthly mortgage payments last year – meaning they would need to earn $55,317, or 52 per cent, more than they currently do to cover their mortgage stress-free, according to the report. It’s a similar scenario for Burnaby and Oakville, Ont., which place first and third on the list, respectively, with homeowners

needing to earn upwards of $50,000 more. In Burnaby, homeowners spent 44.7 per cent of their income on mortgages in 2020, while homeowners in Oakville spent 43.8 per cent. Other cities in Metro Vancouver included on the list, and where mortgages take up more than 30 per cent of owners’ income, are Vancouver (41.6 per cent), Langley (40.5 per cent), Coquitlam (38.5 per cent) and Surrey (32.2 per cent). “As our latest affordability study shows, the increase in income is no match for the surging home prices in the 50 most populous Canadian cities,” the report reads. In 2010, mortgages in Richmond took up 28 per cent of homeowners’ income, which increased to 34 per cent by 2015 – and the city isn’t alone in seeing that percentage spike over the past decade.

Guaranteed basic income in B.C. not the best way to a more just society, expert panel finds An expert panel charged with studying the effectiveness of a guaranteed basic income in British Columbia says there are better ways to use government policy to improve people’s lives. The 500 page final report from the panel Covering All the Basics: Reforms for a More Just Society, makes 65 recommendations, many around improving and overhauling existing social programs. “We have concluded that moving to a system around a basic income for all as its main pillar is not the most just policy option. The needs of people in this society are too diverse to be effectively answered simply with a cheque from the government,” reads the report.

The authors say that claims touting the advantage of a basic income are hard to prove. They also say that providing a basic income is an ineffective and costly way to try and address issues like poverty reduction. For example, the report said a universal basic income of $20,000 for B.C. residents aged 18 to 64 would cost $51 billion, the same amount as the current provincial budget. However, the panel did recommend targeted basic income for three specific groups: youth aging out of government care, those with disabilities and women fleeing violence.

Saturday, January 30, 2021 Press release

A Message from Harry Bains

Dear Community Member, I want to wish you a happy new year. While 2020 was difficult for all of us in B.C., we have reasons to be optimistic about the coming year. So far, over 110,566 people in the province have received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and more doses will be administered each week as delivery ramps up. The vaccine will help keep people safe and slow the spread of the virus in our communities. More information on B.C.’s vaccine plan can be found here. This month, Minister of Health Adrian Dix announced that 90% of people who had their surgery postponed during the first wave of COVID-19 have now had their surgery completed. This significant achievement is the result of the hard work of surgeons, nurses and other health care workers, who have adapted to new practices to keep hospitals and patients safe and allow surgeries to resume during COVID-19. Since April 1, hundreds of

new health care workers have been hired in the province to support our surgical renewal plan. Over one million British Columbians have been approved to receive the BC Recovery Benefit, and staff are working through hundreds of thousands more applications as quickly as possible. The benefit will help make life easier for people and families through the pandemic, with up to $1,000 available for families and up to $500 for single people. For more information about applying for the benefit, you can visit gov.bc.ca/recoverybenefit. As always, if you have questions or need any assistance with provincial COVID-19 supports, or other provincial issues, please reach out. My office can be reached at 604-597-8248 or Harry. Bains.MLA@leg.bc.ca . Due to COVID-19, the Surrey-Newton office will remain closed for in-person meetings and walk-ins but we are available via phone, email and mail. Sincerely, Harry Bains, MLA Surrey-Newton

TransLink adding 15 more battery-powered buses to its electric fleet TransLink will soon be adding 15 more battery-power buses to its fleet of electric vehicles. The Metro Vancouver transit authority has awarded a contract to Quebec-based Nova Bus to supply the vehicles, which will increase TransLink’s electric bus fleet to 19 from four. The federal government is providing $16 million, funded through the gas tax, towards the purchase of the buses, which are expected to roll into service on Route 100, along Marine Drive through Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster, in 2022. Each bus, TransLink says, will Press release

save $40,000 a year in fuel cost and reduce carbon emissions by 100 tonnes. It takes about five minutes to charge the buses, which will be done while picking up passengers at the Marpole Bus Loop and the 22nd Street SkyTrain station in New Westminster, the route’s end points, which are both equipped with high-powered charging stations. “Zero-emission battery-electric buses are the future of the transit industry, and this order more than quadruples our existing battery-electric bus fleet, bringing us one step closer to achieving our aggressive climate targets,” TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond said.

No rebate from ICBC despite fewer accidents

B.C. drivers, who pay the most expensive auto insurance rates in Canada — are not fooled by the NDP’s new online estimator tool that will supposedly illustrate ICBC rate reductions, while the insurance corporation continues to reap hundreds of millions of dollars in savings as a direct result of the pandemic. “We are seeing ICBC save millions of dollars from a much lower accident rate on the road because of the pandemic, and yet drivers haven’t seen a penny in discounts,” said MLA Mike Morris, Opposition Critic for Public Safety and Solicitor General. “Year after year, drivers have seen their rates skyrocket under the NDP, and any claim that drivers will see future savings is just plain nonsense.” In the spring, ICBC released a report declaring 46 per cent fewer accident claims compared to the same time last year. This translates into savings of

approximately $158 million in just the first few months of 2020. Meanwhile, the NDP has continued to jack rates up from $1,364 in 2017 to a shocking $1,900 in 2020. “What the government should be doing is issuing drivers a one-time rebate cheque as a direct result of fewer accidents on the road because of the pandemic,” Morris added. “This is just another example of the John Horgan NDP failing to get people the relief they need. So until drivers actually see a cheque in the mail, it’s just the NDP once again kicking empty promises down the road.” The Insurance Bureau of Canada announced in June that insurers in the rest of Canada have provided an average return of $280 per driver due to savings of $778 million nationwide. The story is different in British Columbia, where ICBC has not provided meaningful relief to its customers whose driving habits have changed or who are facing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic.

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, January 30, 2021 Canadian politicians struggle to come to grips with the global vaccine race The global scramble to vaccinate the human race against COVID-19 is bigger than Canadian politics. But every Canadian politician no doubt understands the political and human importance of this country seeming to do well in this multinational competition. The result this week is anxiety and a rush to assign blame that has failed to produce easy answers to the central question of what, if anything, Canadian officials could be doing to procure more of what’s arguably the most precious commodity on Earth. But this consternation among Canadian politicians might be obscuring a bigger question for the world: Is this really the best way to go about vaccinating 7.6 billion people against a common threat?

The latest spasm of concern about Canada’s vaccine supply can be traced to a production facility in Puurs, Belgium, where Pfizer has been manufacturing one of the two approved vaccines for use in Canada. Pfizer has decided to retool that facility so that it can increase production. In the shortterm, that means fewer doses will be available. In response to Pfizer’s change of plans, Ontario Premier Doug Ford quickly declared that, if he were prime minister, he’d be on the phone to Pfizer’s top executive demanding the previously scheduled shipments. “I’d be up that guy’s ying-yang so far with a firecracker he wouldn’t know what hit him,” Ford said.

Crime down in first 8 months of pandemic, but mental health calls rise, says StatsCan Newly released figures point to a major drop in police-recorded crime during the first eight months of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Statistics Canada says police services across Canada reported that select criminal incidents fell by 18 per cent between March and October 2020, compared with the same period a year earlier. In contrast, the total number of service calls rose eight per cent, particularly for wellness checks and calls for domestic disturbances and mental health. The agency says violent crimes such as assault dropped significantly, while property crime including shoplifting and residential break-and-enter plunged amid shutdowns that closed stores and kept people home.

The lone outlier to the trend was uttering threats by a family member, which saw a two per cent bump in reported incidents year over year. As businesses and public spaces began to reopen in May, crime numbers started to climb month over month through to July, but still trailed figures from 2019. Between March and October, the number of reported sexual assaults decreased by 20 per cent and reported assaults declined by nine per cent, according to StatsCan. Break-and-enters drop by 27% The figures fell less steeply for cases involving family members. Fraud incidents also dropped off, with police reporting a decrease of nine per cent year over year.

More than $636M in CERB benefits paid to 300,000 teens aged 15 to 17, documents show The federal government paid more than 300,000 teenagers, many of them high schoolers, nearly $636 million in benefits over the course of the CERB program, according to documents from the Canada Revenue Agency. While many Canadian teenagers and youths work before the age of 15 — delivering newspapers or babysitting, for example — the CERB program was available only to those over the age of 15. The documents show that 40,630 15-yearolds were approved for the benefit. The government paid out $81.2 million for that group. There were 92,784 16-year-olds approved, receiving nearly $186 million, and 184,576 17-year-olds received $369 million. The documents, obtained by Blacklock’s

Reporter, an Ottawa online news outlet, show that thousands of teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17 were approved for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit program, which was brought into place to help Canadians weather job losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. The program kicked off in late March and gave each recipient $500 per week for 26 weeks. Applications for the program wrapped up in early December 2020 and recipients have been transitioned to the employment insurance regime. The criteria were relatively open, with benefits available to those who had earned more than $5,000 in the year prior to applying, along with a handful of other eligibility requirements.

As Ottawa mulls more travel restrictions, CBSA has turned away more than 30,000 at border The Canada Border Services Agency says it has so far turned away more than 30,000 foreign nationals trying to enter the country during the coronavirus pandemic. It comes as the federal government faces growing pressure to crack down further on cross-border travel. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has warned in recent days that Canadians should cancel any plans to travel internationally and that the government plans to bring in measures related to travel imminently. But premiers in provinces that have recently experienced severe spikes in cases have repeatedly urged for a blanket ban on nonessential travel to stop Canadians from leaving the country for sunny vacations or family

visits abroad as global cases continue to rise. As the question of whether to implement tighter border controls continues, the CBSA is sharing updated numbers on how many foreign nationals have tried to enter the country for non-essential reasons. According to a spokesperson for the border agency, officers have turned away a total of 30,475 foreign nationals arriving from the U.S. via air and land between March 22, 2020, and Jan. 6, 2021. In addition, 756 foreign nationals attempting to enter after arriving by air from countries other than the U.S. were also turned away at the border. In total, that’s 31,231 foreign nationals denied entry to Canada over the last nine-and-a-half months.

7832 120 132 ST St. #106 - 7565 SURREY BC Surrey, BC BUS: 604-572-3005 604.572.3005

14103 110 AVE., N.SURREY

26964 28 AVE., LANGLEY

Truly delightful huge basement entry app. 7200 sqft. home sits on rectangular 9965 sqft. lot. House features 11 bedrooms & 10 washrooms build by good reputation builders. Main floor has 5 bedrooms & 4 bath with huge family room,living room,kitchen,& spice kitchen.Ground level basement has 27'x15' media room with bar & washroom for upstairs use.House has 3 spacious ground level basement suites (3 bed.+3 bed & bachelor suite).Total rent of the suites is $3500/month.Very nice tenants.Easy access to Pattulo bridge, Port Mann bridge & shopping center.Motivated sellers.Easy to show.

Truly delightful fully renovated 6 bedroom basement entry home sits on rectangular 7920 sf flat lot in most demanding area Aldergrove Langley.Main floor features 3 bed ,2 bath with new kitchen /island ,new flooring,new tiles , new woodwork,new fixtures,splash back,granite counters,new tiles,new cabinet, new windows,new zebra drapes,4 new washrooms & much more .Newly built 3 bedroom unauthorized basement suite with rear separate entry.Excellent renovated covered 333 sf Patio & deck.Landscape front & fully fenced back yard. Storage shed.Walking distance to both schools,shopping,community center with pools,water Park,ice arena,playing fields& to all major routes.

$1,779,000

$920,000

#125 32850 GEORGE FERGUSON WAY, ABBOTSFORD

14030 GROSVENOR RD., NORTH SURREY

Hot deal! First Time Buyers or Investors, great investment property with reliable tenants, centrally located in a great neighbourhood. 2 bedroom and 1 bath spacious ground level apartment. Well maintained complex, with many updates on the complex over the last couple of years including, roof, windows, balconies, boilers, security cameras, fob access systems and landscaping. There is shared laundry on every floor. Wheelchair access, elevators secure underground parking. Close to Bus stop, walking distance to shopping, restaurants, banks and

This well-maintained family home w/3-beds up, suite-potential down and a detached workshop/garage has everything you and your family needs, all located centrally. It's a 5 -10min drive to Guildford Town Centre & Hwy 1; only a 3min drive to Gateway Skytrain Station. The 2-level home has a brand-new furnace, dishwasher & washing machine +plenty of other extras including a mobile accessible alarm system and a cozy living room gas fireplace for winter nights. The back deck located off the dining room is perfect for summer barbecues! In addition to the carport and the driveway that fits up to 4-5 vehicles, the 10,200sf lot (60x170) has a massive 1100sf detached workshop that will

$210,000

$955,000

5843 180 STREET, CLOVERDALE 6559 CLAYTONHILL PLACE, CLOVERDALE

$912,500

Solid family home on almost 10,000 square foot rectangular lot in Cloverdale with loads of potential. Large open lot offers plenty of space for a pool, playground & trampoline; or use the extra space to build your dream home. Great central location close to shopping, transit & schools. Same owners since 1987. Three bedrooms up, one down in partially finished basement (just needs a closet). Walkout basement with its own entrance offers potential for two bedroom suite. Large covered patio off the living area overlooks the private, sunny backyard. Transform it into a modern, functional family home

$1,695,238

Welcome to CLOVERDALE'S NEW MASTERPIECE with beautiful VIEWS which is built in the prestigious and quiet Claytonhill neighbourhood. With almost 6000 sq. ft. of spacious living, this family home features 9 BEDROOMS & 9 BATHROOMS and is situated on a 6875 sq. ft. lot. Open concept main floor with decks offering views of BC's mountains, A/C, HRV, security system & more! Beautiful tile floors and engineered wood is carefully placed throughout the home. 9ft ceilings showcased throughout the home with an exquisite chef's kitchen, wok kitchen and bedroom that can be used for all your different needs. This AMAZING home has left no expenses spared with EVERY bedroom on main and upper floor offering a WALK-IN CLOSET and EN-SUITE. 2 BASEMENTS each having 2 beds (2+2),

Saturday, January 30, 2021

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INDIA

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Why India’s farmers are revolting against PM Modi? A sea of tens of thousands of farmers riding tractors and horses stormed India’s historic Red Fort this week — a dramatic escalation of their protests, which are posing a major challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The AP explains what is at the heart of two months of demonstrations and what it means for Modi’s government. WHO IS PROTESTING? Most of the protesters are farmers from northern Punjab and Haryana states, the two biggest agricultural producers. They are demanding the repeal of laws passed by Parliament in September that they say will favor large corporate farms, devastate the earnings of many farmers and leave those who hold small plots behind as big corporations win out. Modi has billed the laws as necessary to modernize Indian farming. Because of the demographics of Punjab and Haryana, many of the protesters in New Delhi happen to be from India’s minority Sikh religion, though their grievances are rooted in economic issues, not religious ones. Protests are also happening in other parts of the country among Indians of other backgrounds. In recent weeks, people who are not farmers have also joined in, and the protests gained momentum in November when the farmers tried to march into New Delhi but were stopped by police. Since then, they have promised to hunker down at the edge of the city until the laws are repealed. WHAT ARE THEIR CONCERNS?

At the heart of these protests are Indian farmers’ fears that the government’s moves to introduce market reforms to the farming sector will leave them poorer — at a time when they are already frustrated over their declining clout as the government aims to turn India into a hub for global corporations. The new legislation is not clear on whether

Farmers demonstrate their protest near Delhi - Haryana border.

the government will continue to guarantee prices for certain essential crops — a system that was introduced in the 1960s to help India shore up its food reserves and prevent shortages. While the government has said it is willing to pledge the guaranteed prices will continue, the farmers are skeptical and want new legislation that says such prices are their legal right. Farmers also fear that the legislation signals the government is moving away from a system in which an overwhelming majority

of farmers sell only to governments a n c t i on e d marketplaces. They worry this will leave them at the mercy of corporations that will have no legal obligation to pay them the guaranteed price anymore. The government argues that this is designed to give farmers more Protesting farmers huddle together at their choice in who to sell tractor trailers, near Delhi - Haryana border. their produce to. satisfied farmers who want a full repeal. Clauses in the legislation also Modi’s government also initially tried to prevent farmers from taking contract discredit the Sikh farmers by dismissing their disputes to courts, leaving them with concerns as motivated by religious nationalism. no independent means of redress apart Some leaders in Modi’s party called them from government-appointed bureaucrats. “Khalistanis,” a reference to a movement WHY ARE THESE PROTESTS for an independent Sikh homeland called SIGNIFICANT? Farmers form the most “Khalistan” in the late 1980s and early 1990s. influential voting bloc in India — and are WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR MODI? often romanticized as the heart and soul While this is a major challenge to his of the nation. government, Politicians have Modi’s popularity long considered it is still soaring unwise to alienate and his approval them, and farmers ratings remain are also particularly high because important to Modi’s of his Hindubase. Northern nationalist Haryana and few policies. Many other states with agriculture substantial farmer experts agree populations are that the Indian ruled by his party. farming sector Since the legislation needs reforms, was passed, Modi’s but they question government has Farmers prepare daily meals and rotis the way the Modi lost two political at make-shift kitchen. government alliance partners introduced and some of his own leaders are cautioning the laws and the corporate him to tread carefully. involvement in agriculture. The protests against the Modi government “Leaving farmers to the mercy of the are the biggest since he first came to power markets would be like a death sentence to in 2014. They come at a time when the them,” said Devinder Sharma, an agriculture country’s economy has tanked, social strife expert who has spent the last two decades has widened, protests have erupted against campaigning for income equality for Indian laws some deem discriminatory and the farmers. “We are talking about people who government has been questioned over its feed us.” Critics also highlight what they response to the coronavirus pandemic. see as the Modi government’s tendency to WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT push through reforms without building SAYING? The Modi government says the consensus. When the laws were passed legislation will benefit farmers by boosting in Parliament, Modi’s party refused to production through private investment. extend the debate over it despite repeated The government has offered to amend requests from the opposition. It also denied the laws and suspend their implementation referring the laws to a special committee, for 18 months — but that has not where members could further discuss them.

Saturday, January 30, 2021 Advertorial

Vijay Garg

One of the most oft-used terms after the pandemic is the term â&#x20AC;&#x153;new normal.â&#x20AC;? The new normal in education is the increased use of online learning tools. The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered new ways of learning. All around the world, educational institutions are looking toward online learning platforms to continue with the process of educating students. The new normal now is a transformed concept of education with online learning at the core of this transformation. Today, digital learning has emerged as a necessary resource for students and schools all over the world. For many educational institutes, this is an entirely new way of education that they have had to adopt. Online learning is now applicable not just to learn academics but it also extends to learning extracurricular activities for students as well. In recent months, the demand for online learning has risen significantly, and it will continue doing so in the future. As with most teaching methods, online learning also has its own set of positives and negatives. Decoding and understanding these positives and negatives will help institutes in creating strategies for more efficiently delivering the lessons, ensuring an uninterrupted learning journey for students. What Are The Advantages Of Online Learning? 1. Efficiency Online learning offers teachers an efficient way to deliver lessons to students. Online learning has a number of tools such as videos, PDFs, podcasts, and teachers can use all these tools as part of their lesson plans. By extending the lesson plan beyond traditional textbooks to include online resources, teachers are able to become more efficient educators. 2. Accessibility Of Time And Place Another advantage of online education is that it allows students to attend classes from any location of their choice. It also allows schools to reach out to a more extensive network of students, instead of being restricted by geographical boundaries. Additionally, online lectures can be recorded, archived, and shared for future reference. This allows students to access the learning material at a time of their comfort. Thus, online learning offers students the accessibility of time and place in education. 3. Affordability Another advantage of online learning is reduced financial costs. Online education is far more affordable as compared to physical learning. This is because online learning eliminates the cost points of student transportation, student meals, and most importantly, real estate. Additionally, all the course or study materials are available online, thus creating a paperless learning environment which is more affordable, while also being beneficial to the environment. 4. Improved Student Attendance Since online classes can be taken from home or location of choice, there are fewer chances of students missing out on lessons. 5. Suits A Variety Of Learning Styles Every student has a different learning journey and a different learning style. Some students are visual learners, while some students prefer to learn through audio. Similarly, some students thrive in the classroom, and other students are solo learners who get distracted by large groups. What Are The Disadvantages Of Online Learning? 1. Inability To Focus On Screens For many students, one of the biggest challenges of online learning is the struggle with focusing on the screen for long periods of time. With online learning, there is also a greater chance for students to be easily distracted by social media or other sites. Therefore, it is imperative for the teachers to keep their online classes crisp, engaging, and interactive

Advantages and disadvantages of online learning Discover Everything You Need To Know (Good And Bad) About Online Education to help students stay focused on the lesson. 2. Technology Issues Another key challenge of online classes is internet connectivity. While internet penetration has grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years, in smaller cities and towns, a consistent connection with decent speed is a problem. Without a consistent internet connection for students or teachers, there can be a lack of continuity in learning for the child. This is detrimental to the education process. 3. Sense Of Isolation Students can learn a lot from being in the company of their peers. However, in an online class, there are minimal physical interactions between students and teachers. This often results in a sense of isolation for the students. In this situation, it is imperative that the school allow for other

forms of communication between the students, peers, and teachers. This can include online messages, emails and video conferencing that will allow for face-to-face interaction and reduce the sense of isolation. 4. Teacher Training Online learning requires teachers to have a basic understanding of using digital forms of learning. However, this is not the case always. Very often, teachers have a very basic understanding of technology. Sometimes, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even have the necessary resources and tools to conducts online classes. To combat this, it is important for schools to invest in training teachers with the latest technology updates so that they can conduct their online classes seamlessly.

5. Manage Screen Time Many parents are concerned about the health hazards of having their children spend so many hours staring at a screen. This increase in screen time is one of the biggest concerns and disadvantages of online learning. Sometimes students also develop bad posture and other physical problems due to staying hunched in front of a screen. A good solution to this would be to give the students plenty of breaks from the screen to refresh their mind and their body Vijay Garg Ex.PES-1 Malout Punjab

INDIA

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Govt likely to unveil Rs 3 trillion reform to revive ailing state power firms India plans to spend 3 trillion rupees ($41 billion) on a new plan to revive regional electricity retailers, people with knowledge of the matter said, after a previous attempt failed to stem losses at the utilities. The spending would be spread over a few years and is likely to be unveiled on Feb. 1 as part of the government’s budget for the year starting April 1, the people said, asking not to be identified as the proposal isn’t public. The plan for carrying out reforms for reducing losses

of state distribution utilities was sought by the nation’s power ministry and is under discussion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is focusing on turning around electricity distributors to ensure reliable power supplies, improving the financial health of generators and making the sector more attractive to foreign investors. The combined loss at the nation’s power distribution companies, mostly

Court rules that groping without removing clothes is not sexual assault A court in India has ruled that groping a child through their clothing does not constitute sexual assault, drawing outrage across the country and frustrating campaigners battling to address widespread sexual abuse against women and children. In a judgment last week, Bombay High Court judge Pushpa Ganediwala found that a 39-year-old man was not guilty of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl as he had not removed her clothes, meaning there was no skin-on-skin contact. According to court documents, the man brought the child to his house on the pretext of giving her guava in December 2016. While there, he touched her chest and tried to remove her underwear, according to the judgment. He was found guilty of sexual assault and sentenced to three years in prison in a lower court, but then appealed to the High Court. In her judgment on January 19, Justice Ganediwala found that his act “would not fall in the definition of ‘sexual assault,’” which carries a minimum three year prison term which can be extended to five years.

“Considering the stringent nature of punishment provided for the offense, in the opinion of this court, stricter proof and serious allegations are required,” she wrote. India’s Protection of Children From Sexual Offenses Act 2012 does not explicitly state that skin-on-skin contact is needed to constitute the crime of sexual assault. Justice Ganediwala acquitted the accused of sexual assault but convicted him on the lesser charge of molestation and sentenced him to one year in prison. “It is the basic principle of criminal jurisprudence that the punishment for an offense shall be proportionate to the seriousness of the crime,” she said. India’s sexual assault problem Indians took to social media after the Bombay High Court decision was released to question the logic of the court decision, which sets a new precedent. Other high courts and lower courts around the country will now need to follow the Bombay High Court’s decision. The National Commission for Women said it planned to mount a legal challenge

Boeing gets US approval to offer lethal F-15EX to India Boeing has received a licence from the U.S. government to offer its F-15EX fighter jet to the Indian air force, a senior executive said on Thursday. Boeing will compete with Sweden’s Gripen and France’s Rafale among others for the Indian air force’s plan to buy 114 multi-role aircraft to replace its Sovietera fleet. Ankur Kanaglekar, director, India Fighters Lead, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, told reporters discussions on the F-15EX had taken place earlier between the two governments. “Now that we have the marketing licence it allows us to talk to the

Indian Air Force directly about the capability of the fighter. We have started doing that in a small way,” he said, adding conversations were expected to gather pace during the Aero India show next week. India and the United States have built close defence ties, with the Indian military buying over $20 billion worth of weapons in the last 15 years. Lockheed Martin is also pitching its F-21 fighter to the Indian air force, offering to build the plane in the country to win the deal estimated to be worth more than $18 billion.

Delhi man petitions HC to remove people ‘squatting under garb’ of farmers agitation, sack police commissioner A day after large-scale violence was witnessed in the national capital on the Republic Day, a petition was moved in the Delhi High Court on Wednesday seeking to remove people squatting under the garb of farmers agitation and clear all the roads and public places. The plea also sought direction to remove the Delhi Police Commissioner from his position with immediate effect and punish all the police officers who allegedly failed in discharging their duties relating to the Red Fort incident on the Republic Day. The tractor parade on Tuesday that was to highlight the demands of farmer unions to repeal three new agri laws dissolved into anarchy on the streets of the national

capital as thousands of protesters broke through barriers, fought with the police, overturned vehicles and hoisted a religious flag from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort. Petitioner Dhananjai Jain, a Delhi resident, also sought direction to the Centre to put adequate paramilitary forces to protect important monuments and to ensure safety of life and property of citizens of Delhi and restore feeling of confidence and security amongst them. The petition, filed through advocate Bhoop Singh, said the grave and emergent situation arose in the capital of Delhi when on the Republic Day, that is, 26 January, the celebrations were underway. The farmer agitation, which was going on for last so many days, took a very aggravated and violent turn and the farmers

BJP planted “stooge” Deep Sidhu to create chaos in tractor rally: AAP Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that BJP planted its “stooge” actor Deep Sidhu to create “chaos” in farmers’ tractor parade in Delhi on Republic Day. The tractor parade on Tuesday that was to highlight the demands of the farmer unions to repeal the three new agriculture laws descended into anarchy as tens of thousands of protesters broke through barriers, fought with police, overturned vehicles and hoisted a religious flag from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort. Clashes broke out in multiple places, leading to violence in well-known landmarks of Delhi

and its suburbs, amid waves of violence that ebbed and flowed through the Republic Day. Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu has been blamed by the farmer union leaders and politicians for inciting violence during the tractor rally. At a press conference, AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha, while questioning the connection between Sidhu and BJP, showed several photos purportedly of the actor with various BJP leaders.

India, Japan in talks with Russia to create trilateral & push Modi’s ‘Act Far East’ policy India, along with Japan, is now looking to provide a major boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Act Far East’ policy by kick-starting a trilateral arrangement with Russia this year under the larger IndoPacific framework, ThePrint has learnt. \This India-Russia-Japan trilateral is being explored to give fruition to New Delhi’s vision of making the Indo-Pacific strategic initiative “inclusive and not just against one country”, sources told ThePrint. According to sources, this trilateral cooperation will also be seen as an expansion plan of the Quad grouping, which consists of India, Japan, Australia and the US while furthering Prime Minister Modi’s plan to develop the Russian Far East for which New Delhi had even announced

a credit line of $1 billion in September 2019 during his visit to Vladivostok. A Track-II dialogue on the trilateral took place last week between the thinktanks of the three countries for the first time. It was hosted by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), which was partnered by the Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia (ERINA) from Japan and the Far East Investment and Export Agency (FEIEA) of Russia. According to an outcome document of the dialogue, this trilateral grouping is exploring cooperation in the areas of economic, social and regional issues while also harnessing economic opportunities in the Russian Far East for mutual benefit.

Heroin worth Rs 1,000 cr, mid-sea ops — how NCB unearthed Pakistan, Sri Lanka-based syndicate The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested two Sri Lankan nationals for their alleged role in drug trafficking syndicate based out of Pakistan and Sri Lanka and has seized 100 kg heroin worth Rs 1,000 crore in the international market — the highest ever. The two men — M.M.M. Nawas and Mohamed Afnas, who were arrested from

Chennai Thursday — allegedly played a key role in the drug syndicate that also has “tentacles in Afghanistan, Iran, Maldives and Australia”, K.P.S. Malhotra, Deputy Director (Operations), NCB, told ThePrint. The men even had Interpol Red Corner Notice issued against them by the Sri Lankan government.

FIJI

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Punjab Police register case against SFJ The Delhi Polices registered case against the banned organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)Act(UAPA)andseditionforadvocating ‘Referendum-2020, a movement demanding a separate Sikh state. The case was registered on January 8, 2021 and no arrest has been made so far. According to the police, the case was registered after the Special Cell received information from intelligence agencies that SFJ was trying to infiltrate the farmers’ protests and had

announced a reward of Rs 2.5 lakh to anyone who hoisted the Khalistan flag in New Delhi. The Delhi Police claimed 1,100 Pakistanbased Twitter handles were trying to disrupt the farmer’s Republic Day tractor march. “We received inputs between January 1 and January 25 about these handles. They are being made to create disturbance during the rally. These accounts were created by Pakistan-based terror outfits,” a senior police officer said. Police said these handles have

Actor-Activist Deep Sidhu named in case on tractor rally violence Actor-activist Deep Sidhu, whom farmers have accused of being responsible for the unprecedented violence during the Republic Day tractor rally, has been named in a case filed by the Delhi Police, sources told NDTV. The police said he will be summoned for questioning soon. A handful of farmer leaders have also been named in the 25-plus cases filed by the police since Tuesday evening. While

the police is holding farmers responsible for violating the agreed rules of the tractor rally, which they say led to clashes in parts of the city, the farmers have said there was a conspiracy to sabotage and malign their peaceful protest. The farmers have suspended their plans to march to parliament on Budget Day. The Red Fort, which was over-run by protesting farmers on Tuesday afternoon, has been temporarily shut.

List of farmer leaders, unions named in Delhi Police FIRs after Republic Day violence The Delhi Police has registered as many as 25 FIRs so far in connection with the violence that broke out during the farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day. The FIRs have been registered against members of several farmers’ unions and their leaders under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including unlawful assembly, assault on public servant, attempt to murder, dacoity, robbery, criminal conspiracy, rioting, vandalising public property, and stopping public servants

from doing their duty, among others. Six spokespersons of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, actor Deep Sidhu, gangsterturned-activist Lakha Sidhana (Malwa Youth Federation), and social activist Medha Patkar have also been named in the FIRs. A tractor rally by farmers on 26 January, against the three contentious farm laws passed by the Narendra Modi government, turned violent after protesters deviated from the route approved by the Delhi Police.

Pakistan Pakistan to start Covid-19 vaccination drive next week Pakistan has decided to kick off its Covid-19 vaccination drive next week. The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) formulated guidelines for the eight-step vaccination process, Dawn reported. “The purpose of the strategy is to vaccinate people in a healthy

environment and in accordance with health guidelines through a concrete plan,” officials said, as cited in the Dawn report. The strategy was developed after consultation with all provinces and relevant stakeholders and was according to established international health guidelines, the NCOC said in a statement.

Suprem Court release man accused in Daniel Pearl’s death Supreme Court ordered the release Thursday of a Pakistani-British man convicted and later acquitted in the beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002. The court also dismissed an appeal of Ahmad Saeed Omar Sheikh’s acquittal filed by Pearl’s family and the Pakistani government. A minister in the Sindh province where

Sheikh is being held said the government had exhausted all options to keep him locked up — an indication that Sheikh could be free within days. The “Supreme Court is the court of last resort,” Murtaza Wahab, Sindh’s law minister, told The Associated Press. “The Pearl family is in complete shock by the majority decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan

Pakistani General as Riyadh envoy brings Middle East policy under army. Eyes on Israel It was in August 2018 that Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, banged his fist on the table to announce that, henceforth, the country’s foreign policy will be made at the Foreign Office. He intended to post career diplomats in foreign missions not just as an expression of control but also to encourage them. In early 2018, even the Inter-Services Intelligence, or the ISI, had discovered through

a study of the Foreign Office that diplomats were demotivated because of political appointments in the department, especially at higher ranks. However, within two years, the foreign minister had to reverse his policy experiment — there are now quite a few retired military officers serving as Pakistani ambassadors in the capitals of the world. A career diplomat in Riyadh was recently shown the door even before the end of his term and replaced with a retired three-star General.

After years of power shortages, Pakistan now has too much electricity After spending decades tackling electricity shortages,Pakistannowfacesanewandunfamiliar problem: too much generation capacity. The South Asian nation’s power supply flipped to a surplus last year after a flurry of coal- and natural gas-fired plants were built,

mostly financed by the Belt and Road Initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013. Pakistan is slated to have as much as 50% too much electricity by 2023, according to Tabish Gauhar, special assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan for the power sector.

Tuitoga appointed Honorary Consul of Canada to Fiji Fijian lawyer Tomasi Tuitoga has been appointed Honorary Consul of Canada to Fiji. Mr Tuitoga is a partner in the law firm Haniff Tuitoga. “With family residing in Canada, Tomasi maintains a strong connection with Canada,” states a

media post from Haniff Tuitoga. “He looks forward to strengthening and building international relations and promote Canada’s interests in the Republic of Fiji.” Mr Tuitoga is also a board member of the Fiji Society for the Blind and board member of the Mining Appeals Board.

Ria’s 391/400 score sets Benchmark Ria Dipashna Devi has set a benchmark for her school by scoring 391/400 in her Fiji Year 12 Certificate Examination last year. The exemplary student of Sadhu Kuppuswamy Memorial College in Nadi is also the head girl. She scored: English – 94 Maths – 100 Chemistry – 99 Physics – 98 School counsellor, Shelvin

Reddy said since the establishment of the school in 1954 no student had attained such marks. “She has set the benchmark for the college,” Mr Reddy said. Her father, Vinesh Mistry, who is also a teacher at the school said, his daughter had always been focused. From the beginning of the year, she set her goals to score above 390 and she achieved it.

Fiji warned on failings at home after winning UN human rights council role Fiji has won an intense and secretive geopolitical battle to become the first Pacific island nation to win presidency of the United Nations Human Rights Council, but its ascension has come with demands from critics for it to address systemic rights abuses at home.

Overcoming last-minute challenges from Bahrain and Uzbekistan, both backed by China, Russia and Saudi Arabia, Fiji decisively won 29 out of 47 votes to take control of the powerful and influential global body.

Heavy rains cause flooding in Rakiraki town Rakiraki Town is closed due to flooding. FRA says Police are at the scene to monitor the movement of people. Korotale Road from Vatukacevaceva Road junction to Rakiraki Town are also flooded. The impact of flooding in Rakiraki is expected to worsen with heavy rain alert still in force for the Eastern-half of Viti Levu. Rakiraki resident Jai Ram says they’ve been

experiencing heavy rainfall and strong winds with the damage already visible in farms. Ram says areas from Naqoro flats and Rakiraki town were flooded at midday – with floodwaters exceeding the warning level and continuing to rise. Schools will be closed tomorrow as a precautionary measures as Tropical Cyclone alert is in effect.

Saturday, January 30, 2021

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Saturday, January 30, 2021