The Asian Star November 16 2019 by The Asian Star Newspaper

www.theasianstar.com Vol 19 - Issue 42

Saturday, November 16, 2019

New real estate regulator will help crack down on ‘dirty money’ in Vancouver British Columbia plans to create a single real estate regulator to better combat money-laundering in markets like Vancouver, where the government says dirty money has helped drive up housing prices. The provincial government intends to introduce legislation late next year that would establish a joint financial-services and real estate watchdog by the spring of 2021, the Ministry of Finance said Tuesday. The plan would bring real estate regulation — including licensing — under the purview of the B.C. Financial Services Authority, which currently regulates mortgage brokers, private pension plans and financial institutions. Having a single regulator for those areas will streamline investigations and enforcement, according to the government. Another misstep as B.C. fails to prove this tycoon’s idyllic estate was bought with embezzled money Vancouver’s dirty money figures: The smoking gun that wasn’t When it comes to money laundering in real estate, there are more unknowns than knowns Continued on page 7

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Modi won’t let China turn India into another Pakistan Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration won’t let China flood India with its manufacturing products, the way it did with Pakistan. This week, Modi declined to sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Bangkok. China is the biggest member of RCEP, and its manufacturing products could flood India’s markets, once the agreement takes effect; and widen further widening the trade deficit between India and China. That’s what happened in Pakistan following the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) with China back in 2006. According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) statistics, Pakistan’s imports from China soared from $3.52billion in 2006-7 to $15.74 billion in 2017-18. Meanwhile, China’s share in Pakistan’s total world imports rose from 11.52% in the beginning of the Continued on page 7

Don Cherry fired as host of ‘Coach’s Corner’ following anti immigrant rant Longtime hockey commentator Don Cherry is out as co-host of Coach’s Corner following televised remarks in which he claimed new immigrants don’t wear poppies and implied they don’t support veterans. “Following further discussions with Don Cherry after Saturday night’s broadcast, it has been decided it is the right time for him to immediately step down,” Sportsnet president Bart Yabsley said in a statement. “During the broadcast, he made divisive remarks that do not represent our values or what we stand for.” Cherry, 85, made the comments during

his weekly Coach’s Corner segment on Hockey Night in Canada that sparked fierce condemnation from the public, politicians and the National Hockey League. “You people … you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that,” Cherry said. “These guys paid for your way of life that you enjoy in Canada, these guys paid the biggest price.” Cherry has not responded publicly since the comments were made.

New Hindu temple to be built at disputed Ayodhya site, Mosque to be built on separate land, orders Supreme Court India’s Supreme Court paved the way for construction of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya as a five-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi unanimously decreed the decades-old title dispute in favour of Ram Lalla. In a 1045-page historic verdict, the top court reversed the Allahabad High Court’s September 30, 2010 verdict equally dividing the disputed 2.77 acre land between Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and Muslims, terming it “legally unsustainable”. “Even as a matter of maintaining public peace and tranquility, the solution which commended itself to the High Court is not feasible.

The forces of British India played a major role in both World Wars. Nearly 1,700,000 men and women of the Commonwealth including some 169,700 from the forces of undivided British India died in the 1914-18 and 1939-45 Wars. In the first World War, the strength of the British Indian Army rose to one million and it increased to two and a half million in the World War II.

Hindus made a better case, Waqf Board couldn’t prove exclusive possession of Ayodhya site: Supreme Court Supreme Court on Saturday ruled in favor of Hindu temple on a disputed religious ground in the country’s north and ordered that alternative land be given to Muslims to build a mosque – a verdict in a highly contentious case that was immediately deplored by a key Muslim body. The dispute over land ownership has been one of India’s most heated issues, with Hindu nationalists demanding a temple on the site in the town of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state for more than a century. The 16th century Babri Masjid mosque Continued on page 7

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www.theasianstar.com Vol 18 - Issue 42

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Surrey RCMP doesn’t expect big hit in light of projected $10M cut in BC budget

Surrey RCMP’s operating budgets “will not be touched” despite a projected $10-million cut for RCMP’s policing costs in B.C. The RCMP must cut more than $10 million from its policing costs in B.C., as first reported by the Vancouver Sun after obtaining a copy of an email from the province’s top Mountie, Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan. Surrey RCMP Constable Richard Wright said the detachment doesn’t know which portion of the budget is being cut. “We don’t know if it’s going to affect anything that affects Surrey, whether it’s going to be the investigational or the training or something like that,” Wright told the NowLeader, adding that he can’t speak to how the budget has been “trimmed.” Under the City of Surrey’s current contract, the city pays 90 per cent of the RCMP’s costs and the federal government pays the remaining 10 per cent. Late Thursday, director of B.C. RCMP communications Dawn Roberts emphasized that the cuts are still just a projection, and the first things on the chopping block are travel expenses, overtime, non-mandatory training, and new equipment. That won’t be enough, however, she added, so senior officers will need to discuss options with the province. “We’re trying to be as transparent as

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OPINION

Saturday, November 16, 2019

How Alberta pays Quebec’s bills: Four charts that show Alberta picks up the tab In just 11 years, Albertans have paid out almost $240 billion to the rest of Canada. That number is more than one-and-ahalf times as much as B.C. and Ontario combined, whose taxpayers pitched in $54.6 billion and $97.9 billion respectively, the other two largest net contributors to the federal balance sheet. The money is sent to Ottawa as part of net federal fiscal transfers — basically the residents of Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario pay more in federal taxes than they get back in federal programs and transfers — they are net positive contributors to the federal finances. And in Alberta’s case it has been doing that for a lot of years. Other provinces are net negative contributors — they get more back in federal programs and transfers than they give in taxes. In Quebec’s case its net negative contributor was minus $171.3 billion from 2007-2018. The numbers from Statistics Canada show that Alberta’s $240 billion comes to about

$5,000 a year — for 11 years — for Alberta’s taxpayers. Ben Eisen, a senior fellow with the Fraser Institute’s Provincial Prosperity Initiative, said the results, per capita, were hard to ignore. “Despite economic challenges which could reduce net contribution to federal finances, it still remains true that Alberta is a major net contributor to public finances,” he said in a phone interview. “Far more tax revenue comes to Ottawa from Albertans than what comes back to Alberta in terms of federal services and transfers.” Trevor Tombe, an associate professor from the department of economics at the University of Calgary, said the results were not surprising. “The high amount of revenue raised per person is due to high income levels that exists in Alberta,” he said in a phone interview and pointed to the province’s “above average level of economic strength.” “If you were to ask people ‘Should taxes depend on their income,’ most people

would say yes.” Tombe added that Alberta has the youngest population in Canada, which means it receives less income from federal benefits like the Old Age Security program and the Canada Pension Plan. The Statistics Canada numbers also show Quebec benefitted most from the equalization program, raking in $107.5 billion. The program shuffles federal tax dollars to provinces with less money so all Canadians have comparable public services at comparable taxation levels. How the statistics were gathered changed 11 years ago and so Statistics Canada does not have comparable numbers before that. However, a study by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy showed that from 1961 to 2017, Alberta’s net federal fiscal transfers amounted to more than $600 billion. How much money Alberta contributes to the rest of Canada is one of the things that will be examined by a panel set up by Premier Jason Kenney as he seeks a “fair deal” from Ottawa. “Albertans have been working for Ottawa for too long, it’s time for Ottawa to start working for us,” Kenney declared in a speech to the Alberta Manning Networking Conference. “We Albertans will not lose our heads, we are practical people, we are not unreasonable people. Nothing we are asking for is unreasonable.” The feeling of alienation in the west was highlighted by the Liberals being shut out of Alberta and Saskatchewan in the federal election. Eisen said he hoped the data would “promote a sense of cooperation and help Canadians from coast to coast understand how big Alberta’s contribution to everyone’s wellbeing is.” “A strong Alberta benefits the entire country, when there’s an economically strong Alberta it spreads across the country,” he said. “Ottawa would be far worse off without Alberta’s contribution. It would harm taxpayers all across the province because of the debt-service payments. Canada can’t reach it’s full economic potential if Alberta doesn’t reach it’s full economic potential.”

Continued on page 8

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Saturday, November 16, 2019 Modi won’t let China turn India into another Pakistan From page 1 period to 25.89% at the end of the period. We all know what these soaring imports did to Pakistan’s economy. They pushed it to the doorstep of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for another bailout. Obviously, India is trying to avoid Pakistan’s mistake. That’s why it’s reversing its 2012 decision to join RCEP. “When India decided to be a part of the negotiations to become a member of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2012, the government in power in New Delhi was led by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from the Congress Party,” says Dr. Namrata Goswami, Senior Analyst and author.

But the political situation is different now, with India being led by the BJP dominated National Democratic Alliance (NDA), says Goswami. “While entrenched bureaucrats in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) may have wanted a trade pact this November, the BJP led Indian government has always been wary of the RCEP since its inception,” she noted. One of these worries is that China imports could help destroy India’s manufacturing. “The Modi government views economic pacts like the RCEP, as offering China an ability to slowly integrate itself into the Indian economy, and replace Indian manufacturing with Chinese manufacturing, by extension, strategic influence,” she says.

Hindus made a better case, Waqf Board couldn’t prove exclusive possession of Ayodhya site: Supreme Court From page 1 was destroyed by Hindu hard-liners in December 1992, sparking massive HinduMuslim violence that left some 2,000 people dead. Saturday’s verdict paves the way for building the temple in place of the demolished mosque It is expected to give a boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party which has been promising the majority Hindus a temple of their most revered god Ram in Ayodhya town as part of its election strategy for decades. The minority Muslims fear that the court verdict will embolden Hindu hardliners in the country. As the news broke, groups of jubilant Hindus poured into Ayodhya’s streets and distributed sweets to celebrate the verdict, but police soon persuaded them to return to their homes. As night fell, a large number

of Hindus in the town lit candles, lamps and firecrackers to celebrate, and police faced a tougher time in curbing their enthusiasm. The five Supreme Court justices who heard the case said in a unanimous judgment that 5 acres (2 hectares) of land will be allotted to the Muslim community to build a mosque, though it did not specify where. The court said the 5 acres is “restitution for the unlawful destruction of the mosque.” The disputed land, meanwhile, will be given to a board of trustees for the construction of a temple to the Hindu god Ram. Hindu hard-liners have said they want to build a new temple to Ram on the site, which they revere as his birthplace. They say the mosque was built after a temple dedicated to the Hindu god was destroyed by Muslim invaders.

New real estate regulator will help crack down on ‘dirty money’ in Vancouver From page 1 British Columbia has led Canada’s charge against spiralling home costs, introducing new taxes and policies to restrict foreign investment and speculation. In 2016, it ended self-regulation of the real estate industry after a scandal involving “shadow flipping,” where brokers earn multiple commissions by helping properties trade hands repeatedly before a deal closes, inflating prices. The province also is set to become the world’s first jurisdiction to expose hidden property owners next year when it creates a searchable, public registry of who controls the trusts and anonymous corporations that own land. Vancouver, in particular, has come under scrutiny after the government revealed

that casinos had been accepting millions of dollars in questionable cash from gamblers for years. The Pacific Coast city is one the continent’s most unaffordable housing markets after prices more than doubled in a decade. Premier John Horgan’s government has partly blamed dirty money, issuing a governmentfunded report earlier this year that claimed more than $7 billion (US$5.3 billion) was washed through the province in a year. Questions remain about those figures, which were derived from economic modelling, not hard evidence. Horgan has launched a public inquiry to investigate the extent to which money laundering has driven up real estate in the province, and an interim report is due in November 2020.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

India, Russia bilateral trade can grow if govts spread awareness on business opportunities - Deputy Governor of Moscow

he Moscow region has potential in pharma, auto parts, farm sectors, says Deputy Governor Khromov Bilateral trade and investments between India and Russia could get a boost if the governments play a more pro-active role in spreading awareness about the opportunities by passing on relevant information to the business community, Vadim Khromov, Deputy Governor of Moscow region, said. Khromov, who is visiting India with a business delegation to attract investments into the Moscow Region in various manufacturing sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, automotive components and aviation, said he would take up the matter of proper dissemination of information in his meeting with government officials in India.

“Often business people work on very tight schedules and have no time to gather new information by reading news or through other channels. Since governments have a close relationship with the business community, it could directly spread information on the possibilities and opportunities in different parts of the world,” Khromov said in an interview with BusinessLine. On the opportunities in the Moscow region, Khromov said if the Indian government helped pass on the information that he and his team had prepared for the

Indian businesses, it would be very helpful. He said the Russian government should do the same. On the proposed free trade agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union which includes Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, Khromov said while a free trade pact was generally beneficial, there were other instruments too that work. “We do not want to wait for the free trade agreement to happen. We want to go forward now. Sometimes business is very successful, if the time

and place is right. The relation between the Russian Federation and India is now at such a point and we should not wait to widen our cooperation,” he said. The Deputy Governor pointed out that Indian drugs already had a big market in Russia and it was time to expand the partnership in the sector. “We have successful stories about some Indian companies in pharmaceuticals. We gave a special contract for one Indian company under which we will be buying a part of their products for seven years after they finish their facilities,” Khromov said, adding that his region was scouting for investments both in pharmaceuticals as well as chemicals. Large Indian companies such as Dr Reddy’s, Glenmark and Ranbaxy export to Russia. Other key industries identified by the Moscow region for collaboration with India include agriculture and food, automotive parts, electronics, building materials, logistics, aviation, furniture, light industry, trade and tourism. “The Moscow region holds potential in all areas except oil. Oil is the only thing we don’t have,” Khromov said. During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia in September, both the countries decided to intensify cooperation in trade and investments, especially in advanced high-tech areas, to increase bilateral trade to $30 billion by 2025. India-Russia bilateral trade in goods was at about $8.2 billion in 2018-19.

How Alberta pays Quebec’s bills Continued from pg 4 Andrew Scheer blasts Bloc leader Blanchet for ‘hypocrisy’ in comments about western Canada Western alienation goes to Ottawa as Andrew Scheer and Scott Moe meet with Trudeau. Below is the full set of Statistics Canada data. CONTRIBUTORS Alberta Net federal fiscal transfer $22.2 billion – 2007 - $22.5 billion – 2008 $17.7 billion – 2009 - $16.6 billion – 2010 $17.9 billion – 2011- $19.2 billion – 2012 $23.5 billion – 2013 - $27.1 billion – 2014 $24.8 billion – 2015 - $16.0 billion – 2016 $15.3 billion – 2017- $17.2 billion – 2018 Total: $239.847 billion British Columbia Net federal fiscal transfer $6.6 billion – 2007- $4.4 billion – 2008 $935 million – 2009 -$1.8 billion – 2010 $1.4 billion – 2011 - $3.2 billion – 2012 $3.2 billion – 2013 - $4.7 billion – 2014 $6.1 billion – 2015- $7.2 billion – 2016 $8.5 billion – 2017- $10.2 billion – 2018 Total: $54.7 billion Equalization received $116 million – 2007- $187 million – 2009 $62 million – 2010- Total: $365 million Quebec Net federal fiscal transfer -$7.0 billion – 2007 -$13.0 billion – 2008 -$16.3 billion – 2009 -$18.5 billion – 2010 -$15.8 billion – 2011 -$14.8 billion – 2012 -$14.7 billion – 2013 -$15.0 billion – 2014 -$14.0 billion – 2015 -$14.3 billion – 2016 -$15.1 billion – 2017 -$12.9 billion – 2018 Total: -$171.3 billion

Saturday, November 16, 2019

RCMP investigating parking lot mob attack in Surrey Surrey RCMP is investigating an incident involving a large mob of young men ganging up on individuals in a parking lot and assaulting them and vandalizing their vehicles with golf clubs and other makeshift weapons. Cpl. Elenore Sturko with Surrey RCMP confirmed with Daily Hive that there has been an open investigation into the incident, which took place during the early hours of November

11 in a business plaza located in the 7000 block of 128 St. The attack was reported to police by two different people. Cpl. Elenore Sturko said officers attended to the incident, but the crowd had since dispersed. She added that one of the victims has since come forward. A new development has been a video of the attack, which has been circulating on social media and was sent to Surrey RCMP.

Metro Vancouver bus service hit by driver overtime ban Escalating job action was expected across Metro Vancouver on Friday as Unifor bus drivers planned to stage a one-day overtime ban. They joined mechanics working for Coast Mountain Bus Co. who have been refusing overtime since Nov. 1. Two days of talks collapsed on Thursday between Unifor — which represents bus drivers, mechanics and SeaBus operators — and Coast Mountain, which handles Lower Mainland transit on behalf of TransLink. The union said Coast Mountain remained unwilling to discuss wages, a key issue in the dispute, while Coast Mountain countered that its proposal is well above increases offered to other public-sector workers in British Columbia. The breakdown in talks means Unifor has ramped up the overtime ban that has forced cancellation of dozens of SeaBus sailings and delayed or cancelled numerous bus routes since

job action began the beginning of the month. Ten SeaBus sailings between Vancouver and the North Shore were cancelled Friday, and a note on the TransLink website estimated about 10 per cent of bus routes across Greater Vancouver would be affected as drivers refused overtime. The ban was felt in downtown Vancouver late Thursday when a bus brought down trolley wires at a busy intersection. The crossing was closed until early Friday when maintenance crews were available to begin repairs. Union officials said Thursday that bus drivers will also refuse overtime on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of next week if the dispute is not settled. “Further overtime bans could be repeated each week going forward,” the union said in a post on its website.

BC First Nations chief Ed John charged with sex assault A top B.C. Indigenous leader, Edward John, has been charged with sexual assaults alleged to have happened more than 40 years ago in Prince George. John, 70, a hereditary chief of the Tl’azt’en Nation and a former B.C. minister for children and families, faces four counts of having sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent, according to the B.C. Prosecution Service. Lawyer Michael Klein has been appointed as a special prosecutor in the case. Prosecution spokesman Dan McLaughlin said he would not comment on the woman’s age or identity, and said no further details would be released. The incidents are alleged to have occurred between March 1 and Sept. 15, 1974.

McLaughlin said the reason the charge is “sexual intercourse with a female person without her consent” is because they are using Criminal Code provisions from 1974 when the term sexual assault was not used. John is to appear in provincial court in Prince George on Dec. 10. John could not be reached. His wife Wendy Grant-John declined to comment, saying she was in Ottawa and wasn’t aware of what was going on. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs said he was still processing the news Thursday. “Needless to say, it’s shocking. Without question these are very serious allegations with enormous ramifications,” he said, adding that he wasn’t prepared to comment further.

LOCAL

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, November 16, 2019 be permanently closing its lumber mill in Kelowna in the new year. Nearly 175 people lost their jobs. High log prices and dwindling timber supply are driving a crisis in B.C.’s forestry industry. Companies have announced shutdowns or curtailments at more than two dozen mills in the province, putting hundreds out of work and slashing economic growth predictions.

Lumber company Tolko shutting down all BC locations for 2 weeks over Christmas

A lumber company is shutting down all of its B.C. locations over Christmas, blaming low prices and high log costs in the province for its decision. Tolko Industries’ last day of production in 2019 will be Dec. 20. A company statement released Thursday said operations will only be on essential service in B.C. between Dec. 21 and Jan. 6, 2020. “Following a thorough

examination of all contributing factors including log costs, market conditions and cumulative policy burden, Tolko announced today that its B.C. operations will be taking two weeks’ downtime,” the statement read. Tolko has operations in the Okanagan, near Kamloops and Williams Lake, and a terminal in Richmond.

Supply, demand and stumpage: What you need to know about B.C.’s lumber industry The cutback will reduce output by about 21 million board feet at its lumber operations and cut 10 million square feet of panel production at its plywood and veneer plants. The privately owned company said its office in Vernon will also be closed from Dec. 23 to 27. Last week, Tolko announced it would

BC municipalities pass bylaws against aggressive panhandlers The City of Maple Ridge has joined a growing number of B.C. municipalities taking tougher action against aggressive panhandlers. Council gave final approval to the “Safer Streets Bylaw” on Tuesday, creating the following rules: Nobody can ask for money while blocking the passage of pedestrians. Nobody can ask for money “or otherwise harass” someone after a request for money has been denied. Nobody is allowed

to ask for money within 10 metres of a bank, ATM, bus stop, daycare centre, liquor store or cannabis outlet. Asking for money is banned after sunset. Breaking the bylaw would carry a fine of up to $100. An initial series of votes on the bylaw passed by a 6-1 margin in October. A new modular housing complex in Maple Ridge on Burnett Street recently opened over the objections of the local government. The last election in Maple Ridge was fought

largely on the question of the best way to respond to a growing homeless population, with those advocating a more traditional lawand-order approach winning all but one seat around the council table. “This was not about punishment, this was about ensuring that we use this as an opportunity to get people the help that they need,” Mayor Mike Morden said during the October council meeting. He said that outreach officers and nonprofit social groups would be working with homeless people in a proactive approach, but

that bylaw and police officers may be involved as well. Maple Ridge mayor ramps up rhetoric, says homeless addicts ‘raping and pillaging’ The only councillor to vote against the bylaw last month was Kiersten Duncan, who said it further stigmatizes an already marginalized population. She was also the only councillor to vote against it on Tuesday. “Regulating it and making it more challenging for people to panhandle isn’t going to change the situation,” she said.

Baldwin brothers killed weeks apart A pair of brothers have been killed in apparently targeted attacks just weeks apart. Keith Baldwin, 27, was found by the side of Yale Road in Chilliwack on Oct. 22 with a serious gunshot wound to the head and died later in hospital. Then on Monday, Nov. 11, his brother, Andrew Baldwin, 30, was killed inside a home in Surrey. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is probing both deaths but without progress to date. Neither attack is considered random and it isn’t clear if either or both are gang-related.

“I can confirm they were brothers,” said IHIT Sgt. Frank Jang. “We’re still trying to establish if the two incidents are linked.” Friends and relatives are reluctant to talk about the cases or to have their names used, especially after the second shooting. “There is a dark underworld we have allowed to take hold,” said pastor Jim Toohey, who was acting as a mentor to Keith in his recovery from substance abuse. “These crimes have snuffed out a lot of potential.” Keith had entered a recovery program at Adult & Teen Challenge of B.C. earlier this year.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

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Saturday, November 16, 2019

BC mother takes school district to court over Indigenous smudging ritual in class A mother in Port Alberni, B.C., is taking the school district to court, alleging her children were forced to participate in an Aboriginal spirituality ceremony that she considers religious in nature. The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) has filed a petition on her behalf in B.C. Supreme Court in Nanaimo, B.C. It seeks a declaration that the actions of School District 70 violated the right to religious freedom for Candice Servatius’s children. Servatius’s two children attend John Howitt Elementary School in Port Alberni. In September of 2015, the principal wrote to parents to tell them that the school would be hosting a traditional Aboriginal smudging ceremony.

Parents were informed in the letter that students would participate by holding a cedar branch while smoke from sage was fanned over them to experience “cleansing energy.” Trinity Western University Law School wins legal battle in B.C. court The school board also noted the ceremony would be an opportunity for students to learn more about the Nuu-chah-nulth traditions. Servatius went to the school to learn more, but discovered that the ceremony had already taken place, and that all students were required to participate, said John Carpay, president of the JCCF.

BC teachers reject mediator’s recommendation to settle contract with employer Teachers in BC have rejected a mediator’s report that suggested they accept their employer’s latest offer of a three-year contract with an annual two per cent wage increase. The BC Teachers’ Federation and the BC Public School Employers’ Association, which negotiates on behalf of the provincial government, have been in mediation since July. The teachers’ federation says the employers’ association declined to receive any more proposals in September and asked the mediator to write a report, which was released to the parties Nov. 1. The federation says in a news release Saturday that its representative assembly, made up of representatives from every local teacher association in B.C., rejected the report’s recommendations. Alan Chell, board chair of the

employers association, says in a statement he is “surprised and disappointed” and the decision represents a “missed opportunity” to create a pathway forward. He says the employers’ association is concerned that the teachers federation continues to take an approach that will not lead to a freely negotiated collective agreement. However, federation President Teri Mooring says the union remains committed to reaching a negotiated settlement and is seeking more dates for talks with the employer. “The main barriers to getting a deal are longheld demands from the employer to roll back the class-size and class-composition language recently restored by the Supreme Court of Canada and a lack of funding from government to make meaningful improvements to teachers’ salaries,” Mooring says in a news release.

Whalley-area South Asian developer named Surrey’s Business Person of the Year Charan Sethi, a developer who has built Flamingo Block towers in the area, along with a up Whalley over the past two decades, six-storey building that will add 1,119 homes is Surrey’s Business Person of the Year. to Whalley, “transforming the intersection Sethi, president and “Chief Visionary of 108 Avenue and King George Boulevard,” Officer” of Richmond-based Tien Sher Group where the Flamingo Hotel once stood. of Companies, was among award winners In the Business Excellence category for at the 2019 Surrey Business Excellence companies with 41-plus employees, the winner Awards, held Wednesday evening (Nov. 13) was Cloverdale Paint Inc., founded in 1933 in at Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel. Surrey and now an employer to more than 1,000 The 21st annual gala was hosted by people. “Cloverdale Paint differentiates itself Surrey Board of Trade, with winners from the competition by building consumer announced in seven award categories awareness and levering the company’s with the help of event emcee Keri Adams. position as the largest ‘Canadian-owned’ Sethi’s company manufacturer of coatings has become a “onein the country,” a bio stop shop for real notes. “Cloverdale Paint estate developer recently launched a new clients, streamlining and innovative exterior services such as house paint called assembling, rezoning, Guardian, which is less designing, selling and sensitive to humid and servicing new home wet weather conditions. projects,” according to Cloverdale Paint donates an awards biography. to the Surrey Memorial “In 2001, Charan Business Person of the Year award winner Charan Hospital which helped took the first step Sethi with his wife Raj (second from right) and Surrey create the Cloverdale into the development Board of Trade CEO Anita Huberman (left) and Indra Paint Child and Bhan, COO, Membership & Corporate Relations, at a industry creating previous Business Excellence Awards event. Adolescent Psychiatric housing affordability Stabilization Unit.” solutions through innovative mid sized, The Business Excellence winner in the 11-40 vertically integrated developments. Charan employees category was Zenterra Developments purchased 12 acres in Whalley. Through Ltd., a multi-family developer and builder his efforts, Whalley has been recognized as focused on housing affordability for families. the Historic Whalley District, promoting “Their community amenity contributions from Surrey as a centre for arts and culture, and (projects) have resulted in several new parks in working hard to preserve Whalley’s history.” Surrey,” says a bio. “Their two key community Among other achievements, he is said initiatives include a collaboration with the Surrey to have given birth to the “micro-suite” in School Meal program that helps 20 different Surrey, “which allowed for a down payment schools and the ‘Zenterra Green’ program as low as $6,000. The BALANCE building was that focuses on growing Surrey’s tree canopy.” B.C.’s first-ever for-sale micro-suite building.” Beta Collective won the Business Excellence Sethi is now building the 46-, 37- and 35-storey award among companies with 1 to 10 employees,

LOCAL

Saturday, November 16, 2019 Former Cloverdale youth pastor guilty of one count of sexual assault Former Cloverdale youth pastor Samuel Emerson has been found guilty of one charge of sexual assault, but not guilty on a majority of other charges that were laid two years ago, after young members of his congregation approached police. His wife Madelaine, also charged two years ago, was found not guilty. The verdict was rendered Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 13) in Surrey Provincial Court. In finding Samuel Emerson guilty of one count of sexual assault, Judge Mark Jetté

concluded that the complainant’s apparent consent to have sex with him was induced. RCMP announced charges against the couple in October 2017. The following March, both accused entered pleas of not guilty. A trial, set for 12 days, got underway this past April in Surrey Provincial Court. It concluded Sept. 4. Samuel Emerson was tried on five counts of sexual assault, two counts of touching a young person for a sexual purpose and one count of sexual interference of a person under 16.

More bad news for transit riders as talks involving SkyTrain workers collapse Metro Vancouver’s transit troubles appear to be escalating with the news that talks between the union representing SkyTrain workers and their employer, the B.C. Rapid Transit Company, broke off on Tuesday. According to a CUPE 7000 news release, the two sides have met 40 times since March. The union represents 900 SkyTrain attendants, control operators, administrators, maintenance and technical staff. CUPE 7000 President Tony Rebelo says service on SkyTrain will not be impacted in the immediate future. Union representing Metro Vancouver’s striking transit workers back at the bargaining table “My message to our passengers and customers out there is SkyTrain is still

running,” he said. “Our talks are broken down and now we’re going to our members and let them know about the latest package that was given to us by the company, and we’re going to seek direction from our members.” Rebelo said the company had failed to offer fair wages, address the sick plan, inadequate staffing levels and forced overtime. Michel Ladrak, the president of the BC Rapid Transit Company, said in a written statement that “we remain committed to the bargaining process and have suggested the parties take part in mediation to help resolve the current issues.” “The offer we have put forward aligns with public sector settlements in British Columbia today. We are open to further discussing what has been offered and urge the union to continue negotiating with us.”

Teacher suspended after relentlessly pursuing friendship with student A B.C. teacher has had her teacher’s licence suspended for two months and has been ordered to complete a course on professional boundaries after engaging in inappropriate conduct with a high school student. According to a B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation ruling released Tuesday, Chelsea Dawn Cromarty, a teacher in the Fraser-Cascade school district, sought to continue a relationship with a graduating student after the student communicated they weren’t interested in a relationship with her. Cromarty, who has been a teacher since 2011, began to communicate with the student last May in a series of Facebook and Instagram messages that weren’t schoolrelated and grew increasingly personal. In one incident during school hours Cromarty disclosed personal information about herself, including details about her marriage, during a one-hour talk with the student in a separate room outside of class. On June 19, Cromarty drove to the student’s home and took the student for a ride. During the drive, she expressed a desire to be friends with the student after graduation. According to the agreed statement of facts,

the student felt uncomfortable with Cromarty’s attention and stopped responding to her texts. A few weeks later Cromarty called the student on the phone and said she felt sad and upset that the student didn’t want to be her friend. During the call, Cromarty was told again that the student didn’t want to be friends. Cromarty later wrote the student a threepage letter that again expressed her desire for friendship and how she was going through a challenging time in her life. A month later she sent the student a message stating she was “incredibly drunk” and “sad about the way things ended.” She sent a photo of herself with her tongue sticking out with mouse ears and whiskers drawn on her face and a heart on her nose. Cromarty, who continued to look at the student’s Facebook page despite telling the student she would “delete/block” them, reached out to the student again in November with a personal message. “I just wanted to check if things have changed,” she wrote. “I get the sense that there is no way for me to rectify my past actions.”

13-cent gasoline gap still a mystery, Premier Horgan says B.C. gasoline prices are still higher than other parts of the country, Premier John Horgan says, and he intends to ask Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to help find out why. Horgan was asked about gasoline prices Tuesday, after the B.C. Utilities Commission released a follow-up report on its investigation into the province’s motor fuel market. That report, by independent experts who regulate electrical and natural gas utilities and ICBC, continues to describe an “unexplained difference of 10 to 13 cents per litre” for gasoline. The commission said the extension to allow more submissions from fuel companies after last summer’s hearings didn’t resolve the reason for pump prices running higher than neighbouring Alberta and Washington state, and there still hadn’t been time to drill down into the dynamics of wholesale sources.Gasoline prices in B.C.’s Lower Mainland dropped sharply last week, and by Tuesday pump prices in Surrey were hovering around $1.40 per litre according to monitoring service GasBuddy.com. Metro Vancouver gasoline prices drop by up to 15 cents Inquiry finds B.C. prices higher, but reasons are unclear Horgan said the utilities commission was the appropriate first step in seeking answers. It was prevented from examining taxes, environmental regulations or other B.C. government actions that may contribute to higher prices. If the B.C. commission has done all it can, Horgan said Ottawa’s watchdog, Competition Bureau Canada, has the legal tools to protect consumers. “[The BCUC] did that in the summer, and it highlighted about a 13 cent-a-litre increase, or a gouge, on local drivers, which

translates into hundreds of millions of dollars and more, out of the pockets of the travelling public of the Lower Mainland and British Columbia versus other locations,” Horgan said at an event in Richmond Tuesday. “I’m going to reinforce this [gasoline price gap] with the prime minister when I meet with him,” Horgan said. “The federal government has an ability to look at competition in markets. Clearly there’s something wrong with the gas market in British Columbia, and we want to get to the bottom of that.” Trudeau is meeting premiers as he prepares to announce the cabinet for his minority government. He met Tuesday with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, one of four premiers who are challenging the Liberal government’s national carbon tax as an intrusion into provincial jurisdiction over natural resource production. Horgan said his government will be presenting its own proposed solution in the B.C. legislature, which resumes sitting next week until the end of November. And he hinted that his meeting with Trudeau will continue to press the B.C. NDP’s opposition to expanding the Trans Mountain oil pipeline as it resumes construction. “It’s not just about supply, although we need more gasoline,” Horgan said. “We need less diluted bitumen. That won’t move your automobile, but gasoline will, and we only have the one refinery in Burnaby.” B.C. also has a second refinery in Prince George that processes natural gas liquids into motor fuels. The B.C. Liberal opposition resumed its political battle over gasoline prices, which has included “Blame John Horgan” billboards placed for viewing by Metro Vancouver commuters.

LOCAL

Saturday, November 16, 2019

12 years jail for killer who fled to Taiwan after Burnaby shooting in 2006

IHIT identifies victim of latest shooting in Surrey The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has identified the victim of Monday’s shooting in Surrey as 30-year-old Andrew Baldwin. Baldwin was killed on Remembrance Day at a house in the 10700 block of 124 Street in Surrey. Police were called to the scene just before 5 p.m. PT. Frank Jang of IHIT confirmed by email that Baldwin was the brother of 27-year-old Keith Baldwin, who was shot and killed in Chilliwack in late October. Jang said the brothers were known to police. It’s unknown whether the incidents are linked. Police said on Monday that the attack did not appear random or connected to gang conflicts. On Wednesday IHIT said in a written statement that the investigation is in its early stages and that a motive has not yet been determined. IHIT is working with Surrey RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Services and the B.C. Coroners Service

gather further evidence. Victim of Chilliwack shooting dies in hospital Asking for public’s help IHIT is asking witnesses and drivers with dashcam video who were near Old Yale and Scott Road on Monday to contact them immediately. Investigators are also asking anyone with information about Baldwin’s activities before his death to come forward. A suspect who fled the scene on Monday was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark pants with reflective material around the bottom of the pant leg. He was last seen heading northbound on 124 Street. Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT information line at 1-877551- IHIT (4448), or by email at ihitinfo@ rcmp-grc.gc.ca. Should you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-TIPS (8477).

The killer of a man who was shot in Burnaby over an $80 debt will finally go to jail. The sentence comes 13 years after Shaoxin Zhang, 19, was killed in a Burnaby parking lot on January 22, 2006. Lee Chia Weng was convicted of his murder, and the attempted murder of Te “Ralph” Wu in August, and sentenced on Oct. 4. The shooting, according to court documents, was over $80 Zhang owed for tickets to Au Bar, a nightclub in Vancouver. B.C. Supreme Court Justice T. M. McEwan sentenced Weng to life in prison with no chance of parole for 12 years the murder, and nine years for the attempted murder, to be served concurrently. According to court documents, Weng lived in Taiwan before coming to Canada in 1993 as an investor, before going back to Taiwan in 1997. He returned to Canada in 2003 and stayed there till 2006 as a permanent resident. Weng left Canada for Taiwan the day after the shooting, court documents state, and

set up a new life there: he had a wife, a nineyear-old daughter and a four-year-old-son. “He lived openly in Taiwan and he apparently worked at a profession that he was relatively successful in,” the file reads. As there is no extradition agreement with Taiwan, Weng was not sent back to Canada to face his charges until he went to South Korea. McEwan reference two victim impact statements in his oral reasons for sentencing. Zhang’s mother wrote a “heartfelt letter” about how devastated she was by her son’s death. “It is quite obvious that she was seriously hurt by this and she has waited 12 years or more for this outcome and is hoping that Mr. Weng is brought to justice,” McEwan said. Wu, the other man injured in the shooting, had been Zhang’s best friend. He wrote he felt guilty over Zhang’s mother losing her only child, and that he cannot face her even now. Wu also had “some worry that the killer would find him,” McEwan said.

Money-laundering inquiry hears diverse array of wild accusations

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From farmland supplanted by mansions to human trafficking in casinos, welcome to Richmond. Listening to speakers at the penultimate public hearing of B.C.’s one-man commission into money-laundering, the bedroom community might as well be Sodom on the Sea. The hospital seemingly accepts thousands in cash for birthing foreign babies; the city council is wilfully blind to corruption; the “smart” people use money-changers instead of banks to import capital; and the construction industry is greased with suitcases stuffed with cash. “The four red flags for money laundering — Richmond screams them all: cars, jets, casinos, mansions,” Sonya Niter said. “We are the gateway.” As for those to blame, well, the former Liberal administration, especially Rich Coleman, were front and centre in a lot of minds. “I don’t know if you know this, but Gordon Campbell lives in Ontario,” Peter Hannsens told the audience as if the former premier had taken up residence in the lowest circle of Hades. “All of this is really outrageous. I’m from a family of distinguished lawyers … a lot of people who were in positions of power need to be brought to account.” Perley Holmes thought so, too: “It would be very satisfying to see another mugshot of Gordon Campbell with some of his cronies.”

Man killed in East Vancouver blaze was staying late to finish work, firefighters believe The man killed in a fire that broke out in an industrial building in East Vancouver on Tuesday night was staying late to finish work, Vancouver Fire Rescue believes. The blaze broke out in an industrial building at Pandora Street and Woodland Drive just before 10 p.m. PT. Public information officer Jonathan Gormick described it as a tragic accident. “This person was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Gormick said. He said the exact cause of the fire is unknown, but it appears to have started in a mechanical compressor room. Although the building was older and didn’t have a sprinkler system, it was in compliance with fire bylaws and the fire code, Gormick said. House fires, fireworks mischief keep Metro Vancouver crews busy on Halloween Firefighters found the man inside the building and brought him outside, where first responders tried to resuscitate him. “It’s a very, very, very difficult night,” said Assistant Chief Trevor Connelly with Vancouver Fire Rescue. “We want to save people, that’s our job, and when that doesn’t go well, it hits the crews hard.” Firefighters pulled the man from the building and tried to resuscitate him, but he did not survive. He said his fire crews had to deal with low visibility and high heat as they made their way inside.

Police arrest woman after nurse assaulted in 100 Mile Police made an arrest after a nurse was assaulted at hospital in 100 Mile. Mounties were called to the 100 Mile District General Hospital late at night on November 6. A female nurse in the emergency room had been assaulted by a woman who was there to visit a patient, after the nurse told her she had to wait to speak with a doctor, police said. No one was hurt. The suspect was later arrested at home and is set to appear in court next year.

LOCAL

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Port Moody mayor will not be prosecuted for alleged sexual assault after Crown stays charge The sexual assault charge against Port Moody Mayor Rob Vagramov has been stayed, meaning he will not be prosecuted further over an incident that took place when he was on a date. Special prosecutor Michael Klein stayed the charge because Vagramov, 28, has “successfully completed” an alternative measures program, Crown said Wednesday. The specifics of the alternative measures were not disclosed publicly. Vagramov was first charged in March. The allegations arose after a date between Vagramov and a woman he’d been seeing

in 2015, according to the mayor’s lawyer. “[This involved] two adults, fully clothed, in daylight, on a third date, in circumstances where many people might have thought there was consent but [the complaint] said there wasn’t,” Ian Donaldson told reporters outside the courthouse in Port Coquitlam, B.C., on Wednesday morning. Port Moody mayor taking another leave of absence over sexual assault charge Alternative measures are a process that allows for a resolution outside of the courts. Programs can be used in cases involving less serious offences, according to the province.

The programs usually involve offenders who don’t have a criminal history. The accused is given an opportunity to accept responsibility for the crime and make amends to the community, without going to court. “If the most affected parties are able to make peace outside of the court system, that happens. And that’s what’s happened here, essentially,” Donaldson said.

“The system recognizes the difference between an awkward date and predatory behaviour,” the lawyer added. Donaldson said the terms of Vagramov’s alternative measures “are a private matter” between Vagramov, the complainant and probation officials. Asked whether Vagramov accepted any responsibility or apologized to the complainant, Donaldson said he could not say.

2 found dead in interior BC town RCMP have identified the two people found dead last week in a home in town of Anglemont, in interior BC, as a man and woman in their 60s. Police say the two people were known to each other and they won’t be releasing their names. Mounties are continuing their investigation into the sudden deaths on Nov. 5.

Originally, RCMP believed the deaths were suspicious and moved additional resources into the rural community, which is located on Shuswap Lake. They now say they believe this is a tragic, isolated event with no suspects being sought and no danger to the public.

AUTOBODY & PAINT

BC to announce new rules to curb youth vaping as public health concerns increase The provincial government is set to announce wide-ranging regulations on vaping products in B.C. on Thursday to help deal with skyrocketing youth vaping. It is expected to be the most substantive plan in Canada thus far. The announcement will be made by not one, but three cabinet ministers: Health Minister Adrian Dix, Education Minister Rob Fleming and Finance Minister Carole James in Victoria. In previous correspondence with the CBC weeks ago, Health Ministry spokesman Jean-Marc Prevost said “B.C. will be taking action — the first of its kind in Canada.” “In response to vaping, and the emerging public health issue, we have been preparing our action plan, and will be announcing it shortly. The plan will be two-fold, addressing vaping through engagement and education, as well as through regulatory changes and

by tightening access to vaping products.” The science behind why vaping is becoming so popular in Canada The health effects of vaping on young developing brains is still largely unknown, according to medical experts. (Ben Nelms/CBC ) Though current law in Canada restricts the sale of vaping products to those 19 or older, thousands of youngsters are acquiring them, using them and selling them in schools. What was designed as a smoking cessation tool is instead getting people hooked on nicotine and is being used as a vehicle for cannabis. The liquid that is vapourized is sold in a variety of flavours ranging from bubble gum to mint and may not always contain nicotine, but has high appeal for youngsters.

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Heavy rain & wind to hit Metro Vancouver for the weekend It’s going to be a soggy few days in Metro Vancouver, as a special weather statement warns the entire south coast can expect heavy rain and severe wind. Environment Canada’s weather statement says it’s going to be a “wet and windy weekend for coastal B.C.” with significant amounts of rain expected over the weekend. Environment Canada says to plan for the rain to start Friday morning, but that the chance of showers should decrease to 60 per cent in the afternoon. Highs are forecast to reach 13 C, but it’s expected to be fairly windy. Overnight, lows could dip to 9. The rain is expected to pick up significantly Saturday morning. “Given the tropical origin of the atmospheric river, freezing levels will be on the rise upwards of 3,000 metres for the South Coast and close to 2,500 metres for the North Coast,” the weather statement says. “The mild air will result in rain at almost all elevations. High runoff and rising river levels are likely through the weekend.” The weather statement warns the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound and the North Shore mountains could also see significant rain, potentially exceeding the rainfall warning criteria of 50 millimetres in a 24-hour period. “In addition to the heavy rain, strong winds will also accompany the moisture-laden system,” the statement says. “Exposed coastal communities along west Vancouver Island, the central and north coasts will likely experience wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h on Saturday morning.” Metro Vancouver’s not alone with the wet weather. Victoria, Whistler, Kelowna, Prince George and Prince Rupert are just some of the B.C. spots with rain in their weekend forecast.

In Vancouver, Saturday is expected to be a little cooler with highs of 11, while Sunday could reach highs of 15.

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Saturday, November 16, 2019

for the invitation, conveyed his greetings and India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Celebration of Guru Nanak Dev ji’s 550th Parkash Purb best wishes to the audience and briefly talked Nanak Niwas, 8600 #5 Road, Richmond, School in Surrey and also actively involved about Guru Nanak Dev ji’s contribution to the BC, Canada celebrated Guru Nanak Dev Members of the congregation were very excited with the Sikh Research Institute. She gave an entire humanity. Harjit Singh Sajjan paid a very ji’s Parkash Purb (Birth Anniversary) on to see and meet with the dignitaries. A lot of impressive insight into Guru Nanak Dev ji’s fitting tribute to Guru ji and related his own Tuesday, November 12 with a great deal of group picture , selfies and photos with VIPs kept philosophy, mission and message. Devotees in experience as a military officer in Afghanistan e nt hu s i a s m . where Guru The Sangat Nanak Dev is s t a r t e d revered. Jas pouring into Johal and Sgt the Gurdwara Jet Sunner also from early conveyed their morning and greetings and kept the pace best wishes to throughout the congregation the day. As on this special the evening occasion. arrived the Langar Hall The Gurdwara and the Diwan Management Hall were Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan at Premier John Horgan at Gurdwara Nanak Niwas ,#5 Road, Committee, ov e r f l ow i n g Gurdwara Nanak Niwas ,#5 Road, Richmond to Richmond to attend the celebration of Guru Nanak Dev ji’s 550th with help from with devotees. attend the celebration of Guru Nanak Dev ji’s 550th Birth Anniversary (Parkash Purb) on Tuesday, November 12. some scholars, After the Bhog Birth Anniversary (Parkash Purb) on Tuesday, the overflowing Diwan Hall has prepared a of the Akhand November 12. Pictured above Harjit Sajjan with the Sangat very busy in the special edition Paath the Balbir Singh Jawanda and Balwant Singh Sanghera. lobby and the Langar Hall . were very impressed with Anupreet’s talk about Guru ji. book for this congregation Back on Balwant Sanghera welcoming Sgt Jet Sunner occasion. Titled enjoyed melodius kirtan by Giani Tarlochan Premier John Horgan and some of the MLAs met the stage in the Diwan Hall, (Richmond RCMP) and Richmond East “Guru Nanak Singh and his Jatha. As part of this celebration, with members of the Gurdwara Management Secretary Balwant Singh Queeensborough MLA Jas Johal to the celebration : Revealer of a number of dignitaries including BC Premier briefly downstairs to discuss issues of mutual Sanghera read a message of of Guru Nanak Dev ji’s 550th Birth Anniversatry Truth” is a Honourable John Horgan ,Canada’s Minister concern. In the meantime ,upstairs, in the Diwan greetings from Richmond (Parkash Purb) at Gurdwara Nanak Niwas, compilation of of National Defence, Harjit Singh Sajjan,BC’s Hall, Dr. Gurnam Singh Sanghera introduced Mayor Malcolm Brodie Richmond on Tuesday, November 12. article/essays Minister of Labour Harry Bains and the soon to be released book by several scholars who was unable to attend by prominent Sikh scholars about Guru Deputy Speaker Raj Chouhan arrived at the and edited by him. Dr. Sanghera gave a brief due to a prior commitment. He also recognized ji’s philosophy, mission and message. The Guedwara in early evening. They were joined talk about Guru Nanak ji and the book and then special guests and invitees to this celebration. Gurdwara Management is very thankful to by MLAs Jinny Sims, Rachna Singh, Jagrup introduced keynote speaker Anupreet Kaur Bal. Sanghera then introduced premier John Horgan Richmond based Dr. Satnam Singh Gandham Brar, Anne Kang, Linda Reid and Jas Johal . Anupreet is a teacher at Tamanawis Secondary . Horgan thanked the Gurdwara management and his family for sponsoring the book.

MLA Harry Bains welcomes new child care spaces coming to Surrey

Finding quality child care will soon be a little easier for parents in Surrey. New Democrat MLA Harry Bains welcomed 314 new licensed child care spaces at 13 different facilities across the city. “Families in Surrey have struggled for far too long to find affordable, quality child care,” said MLA Bains. “Through the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund we’re delivering much needed relief to families by saving them money, and opening up opportunities to return to work.” Funding for the new spaces is being provided by the Province through the Childcare BC New Spaces Fund. Child care providers can apply to the fund to create new child care spaces at any time throughout the

year under a continuous application process. MLA Bains toured Kidzville Learning Center, and met with parents and staff. Kidzville Learning Center hosts monthly parent education nights and have a large resource library for families to borrow child development books from.

Lumber mill cites rising costs for shutting down

A lumber mill in southern British Columbia that employs 174 people is to shut its doors in the new year. Tolko Industries says it will permanently close its Kelowna division on Jan. 8. CEO Brad Thorlakson says wherever possible, employees will be offered positions at other Tolko locations that have vacancies. The company cited log costs, market conditions and other factors for its decision. The mill has been operating for nearly 80 years. The company says it wants to assure customers that Tolko’s marketing and sales team will continue to support them. “At this time, our thoughts are with impacted employees in Kelowna,” Thorlakson said in a release Friday. “This is a difficult decision. The Kelowna mill has been in operation since the 1930s and has contributed to the community through job creation and many other economic spinoffs.”

Saturday, November 16, 2019

he housemates will get the shock of their lives when they will see Sidharth Shukla and Devoleena Bhattacharjee flirting with each other. In the last episode, Sidharth Shukla and Devoleena Bhattacharjee were seen having an eye lock during the captaincy task. Their little fun game continues in tonight’s episode. After the luxury budget task, Devoleena and Sidharth Shukla again share an eye lock through the door. Soon Shukla, comes near the glass and then begins their flirting session. Devoleena says, “Rang mein rang gayi

Deepika’s ‘chhapaak’ Deepika might be away from the celluloid after her stunning performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s periodic drama ‘Padmaavat’ but the diva is all set to return as an acid attack survivor in Meghna Gulzar’s film ‘Chhapaak’. Well, that’s not all as the ‘Piku’ star recently revealed about her next dark

project. Talking about the project at an event in Mumbai, Deepika said, “I have found a film which I am likely to do early next year but it’s not light, it’ll be quite dark but it’s still in the romance zone.” Deepika & Ranveer, one of the most loved couples. They have been giving us major relationship goals for a long time now. Their Instagram feed is proof that they are in love, truly madly deeply! The duo will be celebrating their first marriage anniversary in November this year. And during a recent interview, the actress opened up about her future kids. Talking about the same, Deepika said that she and her sister had working parents and they gave their angels every aspect of their lives, time and dignity.

‘Bigg Boss’ - The things turn intersting hoon.” To which Shukla replies, “Mere rang mein rang gayi na. Hothon pe bhi laga hai. When Shukla asks her her hand looks cleans, she tells him that she washed it. Shukla asks her to get his hands washed too. She readily agrees and takes him to the kitchen sink. Jo bhi mere se baat kar raha hai, nahi kar raha hai, dekh lo epic moment ho raha hai yahaan par. Housemates went OMG! While Devoleena said that she has a bigger heart and tells Shukla, “Aap dekhte rahiye

na mujhe, achha lagta hai.” Shefali Jariwala comments on the new development and says, “Yahaan pe kisi ki toh love story shuru ho jaye.” Sidharth Shukla continued the act and said that Devoleena realized her love for him when she was out of the house for a few days. Devoleena replied, “Sabse zyada toh miss Sidharth he kar raha tha. Uske liye toh ayi main andar. Pair pakad li Bigg Boss ke ki Bigg Boss please mujhe andar bhej do.

Main Sidharth ko akele chhor ke aayin hoon. Next morning, Sidharth Shukla leaves everyone stunned when he joins Shehnaaz Gill in washing utensils. Paras tells Devoleena, “Tumhara pyaar dekho bande ko badal diya.” While, Shefali asks Devoleena to keep washing Shukla’s hands. Apart from the regular fights, it will be great to see housemates having some lighthearted fun in the house.

Bollywood

Saturday, November 16, 2019 Rakul Preet Singh explains about herself

he basks in the encomiums all scribes shower on her for the success of and the excellence of her performance in “De De Pyaar De,” her last Hindi release. “You all made my day!” says Rakul Preet Singh and actually records some of our compliments! Tell her that the climax was so different from love triangles made in the past, and she nods and says, “Today, such things are bound to happen. After all, my character was not breaking any marriage! So when I was narrated the story, the director (Akiv Ali) told me, ‘Hero tere paas hi aayega (The hero will come to you in the end)’!” Her film, “Marjaavaan,” releasing Nov. 15, sees her in a role that her writer-

director Milap Zaveri stated was “like Rekha in “Muqaddar Ka Sikander” and Tabu in “Jeet” with a bit of the Chandramukhi touch of “Devdas!”” It is not a very long role, she says, but who would miss out of the finer points of such a character whose kind were last seen decades ago? “The nazaakat, adaa (delicate nuances and gestures) and sher-o-shaayari (poetry) were unique for these times. I play a headstrong and fearless prostitute who understands love.” Rakul notes that while she got the film during “De De Pyaar De,” a special attraction was its total difference from that role, and she knew it would help show her versatility. “I went and observed bargirls for it, especially their body language and the way they sat and so on. But in a mass, almost OTT film like this, it was getting the conviction in that mattered the most. The main challenge for all of us was to look real and not end up hamming!” But for Rakul, a total outsider, who “came in with nothing connected to this industry, had not grown up on a dose of films and without any training in acting,” it was constantly about finding her own path. She recounts her journey thus: “I did “Yaariyaan” here because I auditioned for it. Then I got a Telugu film that released four months before it and became a hit. So I signed more and more films there, as there was no one to tell me how to approach work here after “Yaariyan” released and did well.” “I then got bigger films with bigger stars down South. They put me on a pedestal and gave me so much love. I soon started understanding what I liked in work, and improved as a person and in my craft!” She notes that she was supposed to do Disha Patani’s role in Neeraj Pandey’s “MS. Dhoni: An Untold Story,” but when the schedules were changed due to Sushant Singh Rajput’s hair-length, she was committed to two films down South. After “Yaariyan” she even completed “Shimla Mirchi,” directed by Ramesh (“Sholay”) Sippy no less, but the film, signed within two months of that film, has been stuck due to legal issues. It was then that she was approached by Neeraj again and asked if she had dates for “Aiyaary,” and she did! “So I never had a break from Hindi films really, it was all organic, and I ended up doing about 30 films down South in a little more than six years!” she says. A healthy trait Rakul has is of forgetting her roles after she has got a film and given “my 100 percent honesty” to it. “I have nothing to prove to myself,” she says serenely. “So I do not get butterflies when my films are on release. I am spiritually aligned and crying over a failure or preening over a success are both a waste of time!” How was her equation with Hema Malini (who played her mother in “Shimla Mirchi”) and Tabu in “De De Pyaar De?” “Hema ma’am was very sweet and supportive,” she replies. “With Tabu too, I got along very well, as we hail from the same area in Hyderabad, have so many common friends and speak Telugu very fluently. She takes time to open up, but once she does, she will always be there for you. I am still in touch with her.”

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Horoscope

Salman Khan’s ‘Hud Hud’ Salman Khan has shared the video for the first song from his upcoming film, Dabangg 3. Titled Hud Hud, this may just be his most overthe-top, weirdest song yet. The song opens with Salman, once again, asking his fans to welcome him. The welcome was followed by a dance routine in the middle on a sunny street in Lucknow, where Bhai dances with a hundred men. They follow his every dance step even as the moves get progressively weirder. Salman makes a crack in the ground with a single punch, shoots fire from his mouth, rolls up his sleeves and... flexes his butt. His admirers gaze at his strong behind but make sure to look hard and long, the flexing is easy to miss.

Watch the Dabangg 3 song Hud Hud here: The third instalment in the Dabangg franchise will see Salman opposite Sonakshi and with veteran actor Mahesh Manjarekar’s daughter, Saiee Manjarekar. The film is directed by Prabhudeva and will release on December 20. Salman has already shared the audio for six songs from the film. One particular song is sung by Salman himself. Titled Yu Karke, it is a dance number filmed on the lead pair, Salman and Sonakshi. The poster of the song features the two hugging. Salman is seen in his usual Chulbul Pandey avatar, while Sonakshi is seen draped in a bright pink sari paired with a shimmery blouse. Payal Dev has sung the track with the Dabangg actor. The music has been given by Sajid-Wajid and lyrics have been penned by Danish Sabri.

Bollywood

Aries

March 21 - April 20 This week has a mixed focus that could keep you busy in different key areas. With dynamic Mars in the last degrees of your sector of relating, this can be a time to resolve any partnership or relationship issues before your focus shifts next week. The emphasis is still very much on shared assets and business matters, as well as deep soul bonds. And with talkative Mercury rewinding in this zone, it’s necessary that you exercise

Taurus

April 21 - May 20 You may have a few questions about key business or romance relationships this week. However, the answers may not give you as much clarity as you’d like. Much as you try to pinpoint the source of the issue, it could shift and change, leaving you none the wiser. The full moon in your sign on Tuesday could amp up the feelings in a key relationship. If you’re newly in love, this essential aspect could encourage you to take things to the next level. Feelings might override logic, though, so be sure this is the right way forward for you.

Gemini

May 20 - June 21 As warrior Mars continues to power through the last degrees of your leisure sector, there is still time to have fun. However, with the planets spread across other sectors, you’ll also be busy with your everyday routines, key relationships, and financial and business affairs. On Tuesday, there is a full moon in a more spiritual sector, so it might be wise to lighten your schedule if you can. A full moon can bring on some drama and heightened feelings, which could make for an edgy day.

Cancer

June 22 - July 23

With the sun continuing its journey through your romance zone, along with chatty Mercury in its rewind phase, this could be an interesting week. You may have plans, but current influences suggest that things might not work out as expected. Be prepared for a detour. Tuesday’s full moon across your social axis can be perfect for a fun gettogether or perhaps a bigger occasion. And with this full moon taking place in sensual Taurus, it can be an opportunity to indulge. Are you eager to take romance to next level?

Leo

June 24 - August 23 Monday’s merger of the sun and retrograde Mercury in your domestic sector could see you reminiscing about aspects of the past. You could find a recipe book that belonged to a family member from long ago and be eager to try some of their ideas. Or perhaps an object or old letter brings up sentimental feelings. While the focus on your domestic sector looks set to continue over the coming weeks, Tuesday’s full moon could highlight your personal goals and aspirations.

Virgo

August 24 - Sept 24 With both the sun and dealmaker Mercury in your communication zone, you may be busy with ideas and eager to involve others in exciting discussions. But whatever is decided could change over the coming weeks as the planet of talk and thought continues in reverse mode and angles toward ethereal Neptune. Such influences can be perfect for brainstorming, but with the likelihood of misunderstandings and confusion, it might be unwise to arrange anything that involves a lot of money or is crucial in some other way.

Libra

Sept. 24 - Oct 22 As feisty Mars navigates the last degrees of your sign, this is the time to deal with issues that need to be sorted out. Don’t delay, because you may not be so eager to do it next week when Mars moves into Scorpio.Even so, money matters need a lot more care than usual as logical Mercury continues retrograde in this sector. And with a full moon on Tuesday across your financial axis, the urge to splurge could be stronger, too. Try to steer clear of big-ticket items like computers, cars, or entertainment systems, because the deal could go wrong. If

Scorpio

Oct 23 - Nov 22 There is still time to find closure on issues that may be having an emotional impact. This is your chance to clean the slate and let go of whatever no longer serves you, even if it does mean having some in-depth discussions. With thoughtful Mercury continuing to rewind in your sign, this can be a good time to resolve such matters. However, with dreamy Neptune in the mix, clarity is essential. It would be easy for confusion and misunderstandings to complicate matters.

Sagitarius Nov 23 - Dec 22

With the radiant sun in a more secluded sector along with logical Mercury, this is very much a time to step back from life and consider your priorities. What are your goals for the future, and what seems to be holding you back? These are some of the things to consider over the coming weeks. With lively Mercury, your relationship planet, rewinding in your spiritual zone, it wouldn’t be surprising if you met someone from the past. In fact, it could seem positively karmic.

Capricorn Dec 23 - Jan 20

While you may still be busy with goals, ambitions, and career matters, this can be a good time to tie up loose ends in this regard. If there are steps to take to secure new business or move an idea along, focus on these this week. Next week, you could be more distracted and not so inclined to get organized. The focus on your social sector could inspire you to reach out and connect with those who share your ideas and passions.

Aquarius

Jan 21 - Feb 19

You may think you know where you’re going in terms of your goals and plans, but nebulous energies could muddy the waters. And with thoughtful Mercury continuing in reverse mode and linking to nebulous Neptune, there is the potential for misunderstandings and mistakes. You might need to commit to plans or sign agreements, but if you do, keep copies of the relevant paperwork in case the terms and conditions change.With a full moon in your home zone on Tuesday, feelings around your work/life balance could come to the fore. However, as they could be amplified at this time, it isn’t good idea to make any key

Pisces

Feb 20 - March 20 While this is very much a time to explore new opportunities, it helps to understand your motives for doing so. With hazy Neptune in your sign this week, clarity is essential to progress. As chatty Mercury in its retrograde phase angles toward spiritual Neptune, you could be caught up in dreams or fantasies that might not materialize. At the same time, if someone offers you a sound proposition with some substance, you might not take it. Before making any key decisions, consider talking to a practical and trusted friend who may be able to give you some

Bollywood

Saturday, November 16, 2019 Sidharth Malhotra braves fire for ‘Marjaavaan’ Director Milap Milan Zaveri’s is going to spotlight Sidharth Malhotra’s alternate avatar with his movie “Marjaavaan.” The actor, who plays the lead character Raghu, will be seen performing some tough hand combat sequences along with romancing his leading lady. The makers say that the action-thriller will also show him delivering whistle-worthy dialogues — something he has not done before. Apart from Malhotra, the film stars Riteish Deshmukh, Tara Sutaria and Rakul Preet Singh in key roles. Interestingly, Malhotra has performed

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his own stunts in the film. Be it breaking a few chains, dislodging a water-hose or fighting with gangsters, he has done it all. He says, “The action in “Marjaavaan” is larger-than-life just like the film. Amin bhai (action director Amin Khatib), Milap and I incorporated different elements in every action sequence, whether it’s breaking a tanker pipe in the first sequence, the rain action sequence or breaking a few helmets.” “I also performed some fire stunts apart from standing atop a 30-feet Raavan statue in the climax. It’s been quite tiring, so we’re hoping that the audience, especially the masses, will appreciate it.”

Saturday, November 16, 2019 Kajol’s mood swings if anyone asks

Many moods of Kajol

• A qestion that annoys Kajol most - “Will your cousin Rani Mukerji tie the knot with Aditya Chopra?” • “Are you still friend with SRK? It leaves lovely lady thinking for a unique reply this time around! • Sometime in tears, Kajol tries to get happy about “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’’ alright, but certainly not before singing ‘‘Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha.” • The stunner shows us how she gained her current fab figure through those Baba Ramdev’s expert pranayam tips. • Kajol takes a trip down memory lane and remembers how her initial cine-avatars used to wipe the smile off.

Jacqueline Fernandez is happy to tell amazing story “It’s an amazing story and I am happy to be part of the sequel of a film that catapulted my career,” says Jacqueline Fernandez on being part of “Kick 2.” Fernandez recently shared some information about her film says, “The film is taking time for the film to go on the floors. That’s because the director (Sajid Nadiadwala) really wanted it to be perfect. It is good to be working again with the team.” Salman Khan stars in the film as in the 2014 movie that marked the debut of producer Sajid Nadiadwala as director. It made over Rs 200

crore at the box-office. The actress is now venturing into the digital space with “Mrs. Serial Killer” and her film “Drive” starts streaming on Netflix from today. Fernandez featured in UK magazine Eastern Eye’s “World’s attractiv Asian Women” list, ranking twelfth. She was ranked third on The Times of India’s listing of the “Most Desirable Woman” in 2013 and 2014, after being ranked eighth, seventh and fourteenth, respectively,

in the preceding three years. In 2013, Rediff.com placed her on their list of “Bollywood’s Best Dressed Actresses”. The following year, she held the sixty second position in the Indian edition of the Forbes’ Celebrity 100, a list based on the income and popularity of India’s celebrities. In early 2013, Fernandez became the ambassador for HTC One, which she endorses in India. She was the face of Indian Bridal Fashion Week—IBFW of 2013.[93] Later that

year, she became the spokesperson for Gareth Pugh’s designed Forevermark Diamonds in Mumbai,[94] and was at the inaugural opening of the Forever 21 store in Mumbai.[95] That year, she also launched Gillette Shaving System with Arbaaz Khan and Aditya Roy Kapur. [96] While analysing Fernandez’s career, India TV noted: “Slowly and steadily Jacqueline Fernandez is climbing up the ladder of success [...] Jacqueline is comfortably grasping every aspect of the work, which an actress is required to do and is accordingly giving results.”

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Saturday, November 16, 2019

Meet & Greet with Bollywood star Meet and Greet with Zeenat Aman on November 15, 2019 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the PICS Senior’s Housing is rescheduled to Saturday, November 16, 2018 from 12 PM-1:30 PM. Zeenat Aman will be attending as a Pageant Judge for the PICS Golden GlamMa Pageant 2019. The Golden Glam-Ma Pageant 2019 will be held at Taj Park Convention on November 16, Saturday at 6:00 PM, it is a fundraiser for the PICS Diversity Village. The Golden Glam-ma Pageant will be an entertainment-packed, family-friendly fundraiser to celebrate grandmothers from every walk of life! Attendees will enjoy live entertainment, prizes, a live auction, a photo booth, dinner, dancing and cheering on the contestants competing in this inaugural Golden Glam-ma Pageant. PICS Diversity Village will be a 125-bed long term care home facility in Surrey fully equipped to care for seniors who need personalized attention in a setting designed to meet the social, cultural and dietary needs of members of the multicultural community. What: Meet and Greet with Zeenat Aman When: Saturday, November 16, 2019, 12: 00 PM to 1:30 PM Where: 12075 – 75A Avenue Surrey, BC, V3W 1S8 For further information and interviews please contact Dorothy Poudel @604-5967722 ext. 115 or email Dorothy.poudel@pics.bc.ca

Press release

Statement from Andrew Wilkinson on Remembrance Day Official Opposition Leader Andrew Wilkinson released the following statement today for Remembrance Day: “Today, we remember the sacrifice of the countless men and women who have served our country and ensured that we are able to enjoy the freedoms we do every day as Canadians. “Last year we marked the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War and next year we will mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. As these horrible conflicts fall further from living memory we must make every effort to ensure that the horrors of war are never forgotten. “Every day, and on Remembrance Day especially, it is important for us all to reflect on what it means to be Canadian and how we must ensure those values that were fought for so many years ago, continue to be a part of our lives today. “On behalf of the entire BC Liberal Caucus we send our thanks to those who are serving today, those who fought before, and to their loved ones who remember them, their victories, and their sacrifices. “We thank you and we remember you.”

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Vol. 10 No. 42

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Saturday - November 16, 2019

Home sales in every BC region to recover in 2020 - a forecast. Total home transactions across province expected to rise 11 per cent versus 2019, with average sale prices also predicted to increase in every area.Although every region in B.C. is expected to see lower home sales in

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2019 than in 2018, sales will more than recover in 2020, according to a September 5 forecast by the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA).Overall in 2019, residential transactions across the province are predicted to be five per cent lower, at

about 75,000 units, than the 78,505 sales of 2018. Every one of B.C.’s 12 boards is expected to report a year-over-year decline in total sales across 2019, with drops ranging from one to 14 per cent. However, BCREA forecasted that every board will see considerable sales jumps

E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com in 2020, totalling a province-wide increase of nearly 11 per cent to 82,700 homes — which the association said would be just below

the 10-year annual average. “B.C. markets are showing signs of recovery after nearly a year and a half of policy-induced declines,” said Brendon Ogmundson, BCREA’s deputy chief economist. “We expect that recovery to continue into next year, with home sales normalizing around long-term averages.”

housing market to see modest price growth in 2020 and 2021, predicts CMHC

The Metro Vancouver housing market will remain “balanced” over the next two years with home prices expected to increase in line with population growth, according to the latest housing market outlook report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Housing sales and prices have dipped recently as a result of multiple factors — including rising mortgage rates and new taxes — but the CMHC predicts that starting in 2020 and through 2021, there will be a modest increase both in prices and sales volume. Attached homes, condos and apartments priced under $700,000 are expected to generate the strongest demand because “homes in this price range can be accessible to buyers making a purchase based on their income compared with properties requiring substantial equity for a down payment,” says the report. The report says housing starts are expected to remain high, especially multi-family homes, which currently account for 88 per cent of unit starts.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Reasons why Canada’s apartment building owners are happy

ental apartment building market in Canada is trongest it’s ever been, especially from the perspective of apartment building owners. Buildings are practically full across the country, rental rates are at or near 10-year highs in nearly every market, and average national rents have climbed 4.4 per cent annually over the last two years, according to a new report by commercial property brokerage house CBRE. This rapid rise of rental rates is earning more money for building owners. Total annualized returns for the Canadian multifamily sector were 9.8 per cent as of the first quarter of this year, just behind the industrial sector. Canada’s national average rental apartment vacancy rate ended 2018 at 2.4 per cent, below the 10-year average of 2.6, CBRE said in its national multifamily mid-year update. Investors are lining up to get into the market in most cities. Multifamily investment volume reached record levels for four consecutive years, including an all-time high of $8.3 billion in 2018. Apartments are traditionally viewed as stable and defensive assets to own, said CBRE Canada vicechairman Paul Morassutti. “(The asset class) never displays great amounts of volatility,” he told Postmedia last week. “Very rarely would you have declines in rental rates or net operating income. Typically, things would go up in a

slow and steady fashion and it was always a favoured asset class for all those reasons.” Here are other main drivers that Morassutti and his firm believe will continue to stoke demand for apartment buildings in Canada. Population growth: Canada’s population is expected to grow by nearly one per cent annually over the next four years, surpassing growth in all other G7 countries, the report said. Much of this momentum is being fuelled by immigration, which accounted for 80.5 per cent of the country’s population growth last year. The government has a plan to welcome one million new immigrants between 2019 and 2021. Much of that new population is settling in the Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver regions, with Toronto and Vancouver experiencing the sharpest annual apartment rental price growth of 5.0 per cent

and 7.1 per cent, respectively, over the past four years. Shortage of new supply Canada’s big cities are not building enough new rental apartments to keep up with demand, when compared to global peers, the report said. The largest rental market in Canada is Montreal with just under 600,000 units. Toronto follows well

behind with 313,000 units, and Vancouver trails with just 109,000 units. Units on the secondary market, including privately rented condos, do close the gap, but it’s clear that renters across the country need more options, or else rents will continue to climb. While we are seeing increased construction of rental units more recently, the overall number remains relatively low, Morassutti said. Rising cost of home ownership An expanding proportion of Canada’s big-city dwellers can’t afford to buy a home. This factor, above all others, is probably having the greatest effect on stoking apartment rental prices, while spurring investors to buy buildings, Morassutti said. “In Toronto, if you want to buy a detached house or semi-detached house, you need to have a household income of close to $200,000,” he said. “The average household income in Toronto I believe is something like $100,000.” (According to the last Canadian census, the average household in the Greater Toronto Area earned $87,993 after tax.) That leaves residents with only a couple of choices. They can buy a condo, or they can rent. “As affordability has become more of an issue, and it’s an issue that I don’t believe is going to go away in (Vancouver and Toronto), that will continue to underpin strong rental growth — especially when we really don’t have a lot of supply in purpose-built housing coming on stream,” Morassutti said.

Condos, the ‘future of our communities,’ now cost more per square foot than a detached home Condominiums may be the “future of our communities” but per square foot, they are hardly a bargain. According to a Royal LePage report released today, aside from Vancouver and Calgary, every major city’s condo price per square foot has increased. With the exception of Vancouver, the median price per square foot of a condo is now higher than that of a single family detached home nationwide. Canadian home prices are up — but by the smallest amount in

a decade. Seven reasons Canada’s housing market is stronger than it looks Vancouver’s housing market is dismal — but you still need six-figure income to get your foot in the door “While condo units are smaller, they are the present and future of our communities. With more development opportunities, they can meet both the growing need for housing and lifestyle expectations of homebuyers,” said Phil Soper, the president of Royal LePage in a

press release. The Greater Ottawa condo price per square foot appreciated the fastest among the cities that were measured, rising 17.9 per cent year-over-year to $395, while the Greater Vancouver price actually declined the most by 8.3 per cent to $764. “We are seeing significant interest in Ottawa’s south and west ends from residents working in the nearby military and technology hubs,” said Kent Browne, broker

Over 11% of Vancouver condos have a non-resident owner, says new CMHC report

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Over 11 percent of Vancouver condos have at least one non-resident as an owner, a number that jumps to more than 19 per cent when it comes to newer built condos. The information is contained in a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation housing market insight report which also found that non-residents — defined as someone who

doesn’t have their principal residence in Canada — tend to own more expensive properties than residents, especially in Vancouver. Some of the other findings: 7.2 per cent of all Vancouver properties have at least one non-resident owner. Non-resident ownership is highest in

and owner of Royal LePage TEAM Realty. The city of Vancouver remains the most expensive condo market in the country, with homebuyers paying $1,044 per square foot for a condo and $1,279 per square foot for a single-family detached home. Greater Calgary offers the lowest condo price per square foot, with a fall of 6.7 per cent to $313.“For the fourth consecutive month, condo inventory in the region declined compared to last year.

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Punjabi Bansal family seeking a suitable mach for their 31 year old,” son, Height 5’.11, Handsome,Sober, soft spoken, vegetarian currently in Patiala Punjab India. He has done studies in BTech Computer Science and working in Judicial Department as IT Analyst in Patiala. Girl should be well educated and family oriented freferably Canadian citizen or Canadian Permanent resident. For more details please call 604-617-0615 or email Kushal.20776@gmail.com

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Matrimonial Seeking match for a Canadian Citizen,BSC Nursing, good family value, 31 years old girl from a reputed family, Boy must be well educated & Vegetarian. Call 1-236-332-9415

Matrimonial Parents are seeking suitable match for for their British born son of 31 year age, holding Master degree in Marketing and he is in Canada on work permit. Please contact by Email vazir@talk21.com Minnegill@gmail.com or Phone 604-763-6727

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South Asian Adults & Seniors - Dangers of High Blood Pressure on Human Body, Dr. Jiya Gill Naturopathic Physician on 17th November 2019 from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm. Vedic Seniors Parivar Center of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian Adults, Senior members and nonmembers also to attend an important Presentation on Dangers of High Blood Pressure on Human Body by Dr. Jiya Gill Naturopathic Physician PGDYN from New Delhi India and a Yoga Expert also, on 17th November 2019 (Sunday) from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC V3W 5K9. You know this can lead to Heart Attack & Stroke also, then you must attend, Dr. Jiya Gill will give you all the answers for the dangers and will give you the tips to control high blood pressure through yoga and possible treatment through Naturopathy. Tea and light snacks will be served after the presentation. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for further details.

Child care provider required at a private home Location Surrey, BC - Salary $14.50 to $14.75 / Hour (To be negotiated) Permanent, Full time 40 Hours / Week Start date As soon as possible Job requirements Languages English Education College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma from a program of 1 year to 2 years Experience 1 year to less than 2 years Additional Skills Assume full responsibility for household in absence of parents, Perform light housekeeping and cleaning duties, Shop for food and household supplies, Travel with family on trips and assist with child supervision and housekeeping duties, Wash, iron and press clothing and household linens Children’s Ages School age (6 - 12 years), and 2 - 3 years Specific Skills Bathe,

dress and feed infants and children, Discipline children according to the methods requested by the parents, Prepare infants and children for rest periods, Keep records of daily activities and health information regarding children, Sterilize bottles, prepare formulas and change diapers for infants, Maintain a safe and healthy environment in the home, Take children to and from school and to appointments, Tend to emotional well-being of children, Instruct children in personal hygiene and social development, Organize, activities such as games and outings for children, Prepare and serve nutritious meals, Supervise and care for children, Help children with homework Work Setting Employer’s home How to apply By email: umendrasingh@hotmail.com By phone: 604-537-3551

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Canada’s two biggest real estate markets are sizzling again Canada’s two biggest real estate markets are once again reporting brisk sales activity. Toronto housing prices climbed the most in almost two years amid falling supply. The benchmark price rose 5.8 per cent from a year ago to $810,900, the Toronto Real Estate Board said in a report Tuesday. That’s the biggest jump since December 2017 and takes it to within about $4,300 of the record set in mid-2017, Bloomberg reported. The Toronto data comes on the heels of numbers from Vancouver which show home

sales surged 45.4 per cent in October from a year earlier boosted by lower prices, according to The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. The city saw 2,858 sales for the month, a 9.8 per cent above the 10-year sales average for October. While average home prices slipped 6.4 per cent from a year ago to $992,900, they remain at elevated levels. Vancouver remains the second most expensive major housing market in the world after Hong Kong, according to a Demographia International Housing Affordability Study.

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LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Budget watchdog downgrades Canada’s economic outlook and warns of deeper federal deficits The deficit under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is likely to deepen in coming years due to a slump in economic growth, further weakening the Liberal’s fiscal position as it seeks to juggle an incoming minority government. On Thursday, the Parliamentary Budget Office said it expects budget deficits to be an average of $1.6 billion higher over the next five years, owing to growing fears over international trade disputes and lacklustre Canadian exports that are likely to shrink the Canadian economy. The increase does not include promises Trudeau made during the campaign, which will further nudge spending upward. Higher deficits would put additional fiscal strain on the Trudeau government as it seeks

to secure the support of the NDP, who has called for higher spending on pharmacare and social housing, among other programs. A lowered economic outlook comes amid increasing concerns that a trade war between China and the U.S. could spill over into the Canadian economy, snarling exports and causing business investment to dry up. Lower public spending by the Alberta government was also cited by the PBO as a reason for the downgrade. Trudeau government ran $14B deficit in 2018-19, exceeding $10B for third year in a row

John Ivison: Trudeau believes Canadians no longercareaboutdeficits–andheseemstoberight Liberal platform projects deficits of over $20 billion per year for four years, adds $31.5 billion in debt Many economists called on the Trudeau government to rein in fiscal spending in recent years, saying the effect of additional stimulus would be muted at a time when the economy is running close to capacity. GDP growth is now expected to top out at 1.7 per cent in 2020, 0.3 per cent lower than the PBO’s earlier estimate in June 2019. GDP in 2021 is projected at 1.6 per cent, 0.2 per

cent below its earlier projection. The deficit, meanwhile, is now expected to rise to $21.1 billion in 2020, peaking at $23.3 billion in 2021. Trudeau took a sharp departure from other parties during the 2015 election campaign, promising to run an initial deficit of $10 billion as a way to boost the economy, then return back to balance by 2019. He later abandoned those plans, and ran higher-thanexpected deficits even when the Canadian economy was growing close to three per cent, outpacing all other G7 countries. The deficit was $14 billion in the 2019 fiscal year. Trudeau doubled down on that spending trajectory in the recent election, promising to further boost spending on tax credits for families, infrastructure and a limited pharmacare plan.

RCMP making cuts across BC due to deficit The RCMP in British Columbia is cutting more than $10 million from its provincial policing costs, which include small rural detachments, and some of the funding for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team and the anti-gang Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit. RCMP Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan sent out an email last week stating that due to a deficit, cuts to overtime, travel budgets and other discretionary expenses would have to be made immediately. Strachan said in the email, a copy of which was obtained by Postmedia, that provincial policing costs “exceeded our spending authority” last year and “we are forecasting a similar situation this fiscal year.” “As you are aware we are not permitted to run a deficit budget, simply put, we can’t spend more than we are given. Individual budgets may appear to have available funds, however, cumulatively, we do not have enough funds,” she said. The cut only affects the “provincial business line” — the RCMP budget in B.C. that covers the cost of 2,600 Mounties in small detachments across the province as well as some of the funding for integrated units like IHIT and CFSEU. Municipal policing agreements like those in Surrey and Burnaby are funded 90 per cent by the municipalities and 10 per cent by the federal government and are not impacted.

712,122 reasons Andrew Wilkinson opposes inquiry into gas price gouging - NDP When John Horgan challenged big gas companies for gouging British Columbians last spring, BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson leaped to defend the companies: These companies subsequently refused to disclose their profit margins to the BCUC inquiry into prices. The BCUC found the companies can’t explain a 13 cent difference between prices in BC and those in other parts of the country, meaning that British Columbians pay $490 million more each year than they should. So why did Wilkinson side with big oil companies? He has at least 712,122 reasons, says NDP. That’s the amount of money Wilkinson’s BC Liberals received between 2005 and 2017 from oil companies who intervened in the BCUC inquiry: Suncor $48,189- Chevron $180,443 - Imperial Oil $134,790 - Super Save $348,700 Total: $712,122

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Canada needs to start seeing Russia and China as ‘adversaries,’ says ex-CSIS chief Canada needs to be “clear-eyed” about the threat posed by Russia and China — and the power vacuum at the global level left by the United States’ growing isolationism — a former national security adviser to prime ministers told an audience of military and defence officials Friday. “The risks posed by these two countries are certainly different, but they are generally based on advancing all their interests to the detriment of the West,” Richard Fadden, former national security adviser to both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his predecessor, Stephen Harper, said in a speech to the Conference of Defence Associations Institute (CDAI) Friday. “Their activities span the political, military and economic spheres.” Fadden, who also served as the head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and as deputy defence minister, made the remarks at the CDAI’s annual Vimy Dinner in Ottawa. He said his criticism was not political or aimed

at any particular government, but was meant to prompt public debate about security and defence policies — a subject that was virtually ignored during the recently concluded federal election. Both China and Russia have demonstrated they are prepared to “use virtually any means to attain their goals,” while the U.S. has effectively withdrawn from the world stage, Fadden said. That emerging vacuum means Canada will have to work harder with other allies to address global crises at times when the Americans are unable, or unwilling, to lead. But to do that, Fadden said, Canada will have to be “clear-eyed” about the way the world has changed over the last decade or more. Canada should “recognize our adversaries for what they are, recognize we have to deal with them, but draw clear limits to what we will accept,” he said.

Alberta inquiry commissioner Steve Allan handed $905K sole-source contract to son’s law firm The commissioner heading Alberta’s public inquiry into allegations of foreign-funded reputational attacks on the province’s oil and gas industry personally handed $905,000 in legal business to a Calgary law firm in which his son is a partner. Commissioner Steve Allan granted the solesource contract, for legal advice to the inquiry, to the law firm Dentons, where his son Toby is a partner. The contract was issued 11 days after Allan was named by Premier Jason Kenney to head the $2.5 million Public Inquiry Into Funding of Anti-Alberta Energy Campaigns. “I think it’s a clear conflict of interest,” said Duff Conacher, co-founder of Ottawa-based Democracy Watch. Alberta to spend $2.5M on public inquiry into ‘foreign-funded special interests’ “Whether any code (of conduct) applies to Steve Allan, or even if his son doesn’t financially profit from it, it is his son’s company and it is a clear conflict of interest, and (the

commissioner) should not have taken part in any decision to hand a contract to Dentons,” said Conacher, an adjunct professor of law and political science at the University of Ottawa. As first reported by The Edmonton Journal last week, Alberta’s database of sole-source contracts shows the government will pay Dentons $905,000 during the course of the contract, which began July 15 and is to run until March 31, 2020. Despite requests, Allan did not make himself available for an interview over the past two days. In a text, he said his son will not benefit in any way from the contract, and said it was “vetted with government and Dentons before engagement was finalized.” In an email Wednesday night, Allan said he chose Dentons because he has “a long and successful history of working with counsel at Dentons through my professional career”

LOCAL / NATIONAL

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Alberta premier says proposal to pull out of CPP due to hostility from others Premier Jason Kenney is defending his idea that Alberta could pull out of the federal pension plan by saying times have changed. “We’ve never faced a more hostile situation coming from the central government,” Kenney said Tuesday. “And some of the provinces who have benefited enormously from the wealth generated in Alberta are now saying they are going to do everything they can to stand in the way of us exporting our energy. “This is a new moment in our history.” Kenney said Ottawa and some provinces are unfairly restricting Alberta’s oil and gas industry with regressive laws and policy roadblocks on pipelines. The British Columbia government has resisted the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to its coast and Quebec has said it would resist a new pipeline through its jurisdiction. Kenney said federal policies overhauling energy megaproject approvals, along with a tanker ban off the northern B.C. coast, will further bottleneck the oil and gas industry. On the weekend, Kenney announced a panel to examine whether Alberta should move toward a more independent role within Canada. The panel, which includes former federal Reform party leader Preston Manning, is to conduct research and hold public meetings on topics such as the pension plan, creating a separate police force, establishing a

provincial revenue agency and establishing a provincial constitution. The panel is to report back by the end of March. Kenney stressed Tuesday that any major policy change that might flow from the panel, such as a new pension plan, would require ratification “by the majority of Albertans in a full and free democratic referendum vote.” He compared the idea to Quebec gaining specific rights to better chart its own course within Canada and said, as premier, he must balance competing responsibilities. “My democratic duty is to defend the interests of this province. My patriotic duty is to maintain national unity,” he said. “The best way we can achieve both is by Ottawa giving Alberta at least as much respect as the province of Quebec gets.” Opposition NDP critic Sarah Hoffman said Kenney has strayed too far from his election mandate. “People definitely didn’t vote to have their pensions blown up. They didn’t vote to have the RCMP dismantled in the province,” said Hoffman. “None of this was in what Mr. Kenney campaigned on. He said he was going to focus on jobs, the economy and pipelines. And he spent the weekend talking about anything but.”

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Saturday, November 16, 2019

BC forest industry trade mission seeks to calm foreign investors’ concerns about downturn

A forest industry trade mission to Asia faces fewer political tensions this year than last December after the arrest of a top Chinese executive, but concerns about supply issues are now on the table, says British Columbia’s forests minister. Doug Donaldson, in a teleconference from Tokyo, said Wednesday he and 35 senior executives from B.C. forest companies and associations are on a five-day trade mission to Asia that concludes Friday.

The arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver last year prompted the minister to postpone his planned participation in a forestry trade mission to China. Donaldson said current talks in the country have focused on business.

“Over the past year, time has cooled tensions between the countries on this diplomatic dispute, and so in Shanghai and with our customers and potential clients, the atmosphere was very good,’’ he said. But initial meetings in China and now

in Japan have also involved calming concerns about reduced supplies of B.C. timber for the construction of major residential developments and vacationresort projects in the countries, he said. “They are astute business people,’’ said Donaldson. “They read the headlines and they know about the decline of beetle wood and the decline due to wildfires in volume that’s available.’’

New Statistics Canada study suggests decline in citizenship rate tied to income Fewer newcomers from disadvantaged groups became Canadian citizens during a 10-year period that coincided with the previous Conservative government’s changes to the citizenship program, new Statistics Canada research shows. The decrease was

part an overall trend in declining citizenship rates among those who have been in Canada less than 10 years, despite the fact the actual citizenship rate in Canada is among the highest in the Western world, Statistics Canada said in the study released Wednesday.

The researchers found that between 1991 and 2016, the citizenship rate in Canada — the percentage of immigrants who become citizens — rose about five percentage points, but the increase was largely driven by people who had been in Canada for over a decade. But beginning in 1996 and until 2016, the citizenship rate for those who’d been in the country for less than 10 years began to fall. Using adjusted income measurements,

Statistics Canada found that for those with incomes below $10,000, the drop was 23.5 percentage points, compared to just three percentage points for those with incomes over $100,000. In the same decade, the citizenship rate fell 22.5 percentage points among people with less than a high school education, compared with 13.8 percentage points among those with university degrees.

Liberal senators rebrand themselves as the Progressive Senate Group The last group of former Liberal senators in Parliament’s upper chamber are rebranding themselves. The nine senators say they will now call themselves the Progressive Senate Group to reflect their approach to legislating, with an aim to restore balance in the evolving Senate. The new group’s interim leader, Sen. Joseph Day, says the naming simply reflects that the nine have always been progressive and independent, while his deputy, Terry Mercer, adds the move is about embracing the future while remaining to true to their shared principles.

The nine were part of the Liberal caucus until Justin Trudeau severed direct ties with his party’s senators in 2014. And since he became prime minister in 2015, Trudeau has only appointed senators who don’t sit as party members, as part of what the government says is a push to remove partisanship from the Senate. The rebranded group of senators will be able to be members of any political party, but their numbers will dwindle over the course of 2020 as Day, Lillian Dyck and Serge Joyal will reach the mandatory retirement age of 75.

Canadian allergists’ group wants wants control over Benadryl sale due to side effects Benadryl has for decades been used as a go-to drug to treat everything from bee stings to mysterious toddler hives, but a growing number of doctors now say the antihistamine is less effective and less safe than newer alternatives and call into question its ubiquitous over-the-counter status. A position statement from the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (CSACI) published in early October warns against Benadryl and other first-generation H1 antihistamines as first-line treatments for hay fever and hives in adults and children. Health Canada is reviewing the statement, in which the group of doctors say the medication is over-used because of its easy availability and that it should be restricted to behind-the-counter access in pharmacies. “It dumbfounds us that people still want

to use it,” Dr. David Fischer a clinical allergist in Barrie, Ont., and an author of the CSACI position statement says of the group of antihistamines that include Benadryl. “There are many other safer options that work as well or better.” Fischer says the medicinal ingredient in Benadryl, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, “makes you drowsy and irritable and if you take too high a dose or an overdose, you will end up in hospital.” Other reported side-effects from an overdose of first-generation H1 antihistamines include breathing problems, coma, and seizures,according to the CSACI statement. There is also the potential for fatal heart rhythm disturbances when combined with other medications.

PBO forecasts slower growth and deeper federal deficits Parliament’s budget watchdog warns that rougher economic waters will mean a deeper federal deficit, with no certainty on how much deeper. In a report Thursday, the parliamentary budget office downgraded its outlook for the country’s economy compared to its projections from June, citing weaker exports because of an ongoing trade dispute between the world’s two biggest economies -- the United States and China -- and increasing protectionism around the world. Also factored into the downward economic outlook are spending cuts by Premier Jason Kenney’s government in

Alberta amid lower spending across all governments in Canada, which the PBO expects will hit some of the lowest levels since 2008, in the worst of the global financial crisis. The budget office’s report predicts the economic slowing will deepen the annual deficit by $1.6 billion, on average, through to 2025, creating a deficit of $21.1 billion when the current fiscal year wraps up in March 2020, and $23.3 billion in the ensuing 12-month period. The office expects the deficit will shrink to $11.1 billion in 2024-2025.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Documents stolen from Quebec Immigration Minister’s official vehicle Embattled Quebec Immigration Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette’s bad month just got worse: documents were stolen from the minister’s government vehicle Wednesday night. Jolin-Barrette’s car had been parked in a lot at an office tower in Quebec City where Jolin-Barrette’s office is located. He was reportedly working late Wednesday night. A suspect who Quebec provincial police say has no ties to JolinBarrette was arrested and is to appear in court at a later date. He is alleged to have had the stolen documents in his possession at the time he was arrested. Jolin-Barrette told reporters in Quebec City Thursday that the stolen documents were not important, calling them mainly “handwritten notes” and “daily working documents.” He said his iPad was also stolen, and has been recovered, and that he has changed all his access codes. “When you’re the victim of a theft, it’s not pleasant and I think any Quebecers

who have experienced that know it’s frustrating and worrisome - and that’s how I feel today,” Jolin-Barrette said. Asked about the theft, Quebec Premier

Francois Legault said Thursday he did not believe his minister acted irresponsibly in leaving documents in his work car, noting that he himself has done so. Legault said he was not aware if there are rules against doing that. Earlier this month, Jolin-Barrette received widespread criticism for his efforts to reform a popular government program that fasttracked permanent residency status for foreign students. Barrette subsequently cancelled the proposed reforms and apologized.

Trudeau to seek formal backing for minority government Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reconvened parliament for December 5, when he will reach out to the opposition to back his minority government and its agenda, which includes tax cuts and measures to fight climate change. Liberal Party leader Trudeau held onto power in the Oct. 21 election, but unlike his first term, the prime minister does not hold a majority of seats in the 338-member House of Commons. “Last month Canadians elected a parliament that they expect to work together, and that’s exactly what I’m going to be focusing on doing,” Trudeau said in his office just before a meeting with Andrew Scheer, the Conservative Party leader. Trudeau cited affordability, a tax-cut for the middle class, and the fight against climate change as priorities of his new government, which will be sworn

in on Nov. 20. During the campaign, polls suggested that Scheer had a chance to defeat Trudeau, but in the end the Conservatives won decisively only in Canada’s western oil patch, where the Liberals did not pick up a single seat, but fared poorly in the more populous provinces of Ontario and Quebec. “We found some areas of common ground, such as tax cuts for new parents,” Scheer told reporters after meeting the prime minister. Scheer would not say whether he would back the socalled Throne Speech, which will outline the government’s priorities and will be followed by a confidence vote. The Throne Speech is likely to be delivered on Dec. 5 after the House elects a speaker, a government official said, but the confidence vote could come the following week.

Jagmeet Singh says he’ll vote against throne speech if NDP requests not met NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party could vote against the upcoming throne speech if it doesn’t offer commitments to parts of the party’s platform, including a universal pharmacare plan. “We are absolutely open to voting against the throne speech if it doesn’t include some of the priorities we know Canadians need,” he told reporters this afternoon. “We’re not putting forward any red lines but I am prepared to vote against it if it doesn’t respect the values that we have as a party.” Parliament is set to convene on Dec. 5,

when MPs will elect a House Speaker and the Liberals will present a throne speech outlining the government’s priorities for the session. If the speech goes to a vote, it would be the new House of Commons’ first test of its confidence in the government. A vote is not guaranteed, however. Ahead of the new session, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been meeting with the opposition leaders and will sit down with Singh Thursday.

Canada hesitates to recognize Bolivia’s new president

The sudden assumption of Bolivia’s presidency by a conservative politician previously unknown outside her country has presented Canada with a quandary. Jeanine Añez says she has taken power because of “the need to create a climate of social peace in the country” following the flight of President Evo Morales into exile in Mexico after an election plagued by allegations of fraud. As of Wednesday evening, neither Global Affairs Canada (GAC) nor the Bolivian Embassy appear to have decided whether to publicly recognize Jeanine Añez, who already is performing the functions of president in La Paz with the support of the country’s armed forces and police. The controversial figure claimed constitutional

legitimacy for her inauguration based on her title as vice-president of the Senate, although her nomination occurred in a Congress that lacked a quorum due to a boycott of proceedings by pro-Morales legislators. Her proclamation was immediately rejected by left-leaning governments in the region, including those of Cuba and Venezuela, but recognized by the governments of the two most populous countries in the hemisphere: the Trump administration in the United States and the Bolsonaro government in Brazil.While some Bolivian embassies, such as the one in Berlin, continued to display photographs of Evo Morales as president on their website banners, the Bolivian embassy in Ottawa did not.

NATIONAL

INDIA

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Sunni Central Waqf Board chairman welcomes Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya case

The Sunni Waqf Board has announced it will not challenge the Ayodhya verdict delivered by the Supreme Court today. Chairman of UP Sunni Waqf Board Zufar Faruqi in a written statement said he “welcomes and humbly accepts” the Ayodhya verdict delivered by the Supreme Court. “I, as the chairman of the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board, want to make it clear that the Board will not go in any review of the Supreme Court’s order or file any curative petition,” Zufar Faruqi said. In its verdict, the Supreme Court upheld the land title of the Hindu side and ordered the government to allot a 5-acre plot elsewhere n Ayodhya where the Sunni Waqf Board can construct a new mosque. Sunni Waqf Board was the main litigant

from the Muslim side in the Ayodhya case. Earlier in the day, the Board’s lawyer Zafaryab Jilani had said they are dissatisfied with the court’s verdict and will appeal against it. “The Ayodhya verdict has a lot of contradictions. We will seek a review as we are not satisfied with the verdict,” he had said. On this, the Sunni Waqf Board said, “Any statement in this regard by any individual, lawyer or organisation which mentions that the Sunni Waqf Board will (file a review petition) is not our line.” Meanwhile, in a report Zafaryab Jilani clarified that the press conference was organised by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and he had reacted as its secretary and not as the counsel for the Sunni Waqf Board.

No claimants for dormant Swiss accounts of Indians No claimants have come forward for about a dozen dormant Swiss bank accounts linked to Indians, leaving the funds lying in these accounts at the risk of getting transferred to the Switzerland government. The Swiss government began making details of dormant accounts public in 2015 to allow their claimants submit necessary proof to get access to those funds, which included at least 10 accounts linked to Indians. These included some accounts linked to Indian residents and nationals from the British rule era, but ironically not a single dormant account linked to an Indian has been successfully claimed in the last six years,

as per the records available with the Swiss authorities. The claim period for some of these accounts would expire next month, while a few others can still be claimed till the end of 2020. Incidentally, some of the accounts linked to Pakistan residents have been claimed since then, as is the case with several other accounts linked to residents from other countries including Switzerland itself. The list included close to 2,600 dormant accounts when it was first made public in December 2015, which had around 45 million Swiss francs (over Rs 300 crore) lying unclaimed since at least 1955.

B SE EST RV IC E

PM Modi meets Russian & Chinese presidents in Brazil

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin here on Wednesday. Modi, who is in Brazil for the 11th BRICS Summit that will focus on building mechanisms for counter-terrorism cooperation and strengthen India’s ties with the world’s five major economies, met the three leaders on the sidelines of the meeting. Putin invited Modi for the Victory Day

celebrations in May next year as the two met here and discussed ways to further cement their special strategic partnership. During the bilateral meeting, Modi said “frequent meetings have strengthened our relations”. “Our bilateral relations are growing. You have invited me to visit Russia for the Victory Day celebrations. I am happily waiting that I will get an opportunity to meet you once again,” the PM said.

Former finance minister Chidambaram’s health deteriorates Hours after a Delhi court extended former finance minister P Chidambaram’s judicial custody in the INX media money laundering case till November 27, his family said the treatment being given to him in Tihar jail for Crohn’s disease is not satisfactory and he continues to lose weight due to “aggravation” of the disease. The family sources said that Chidambaram has lost around 8-9 kgs since his detention. “We are not satisfied with the treatment given to him in the prison. He is suffering a

lot. He has to be immediately brought under the treatment of noted gastroenterologist in Hyderabad Dr. Nageshwara Reddy as he knows about his health as he had treated him in 2016,” a source said. After Reddy’s treatment, he was somewhat feeling better, the sources said. “We are waiting for the Delhi High Court’s order on his bail plea which is reserved since November 8,” the source added. Chidambaram was arrested by the CBI on August 21 in the INX Media corruption case.

Indian telcos Vodafone Idea & Airtel post $10.3 billion in combined quarterly losses

It’s not a good day for two of the top three telecom operators in India. Vodafone Idea, India’s second-largest telecom operator by subscriber count, said its consolidated loss

had widened to $7.14 billion in the quarter that ended in September in what is the largestever quarterly

Talks in right direction for BJP - Shiv Sena, says Uddhav Leaders of the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today held discussions with the Shiv Sena for framing the common minimum programme ahead of forming a tripartite alliance in Maharashtra. Senior leaders of the Congress, led by Ahmed Patel, former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, president of the state Congress unit Balasaheb Thorat and his predecessor Manikrao Thakre, had held two meetings with Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray yesterday also. “Talks are progressing in the right direction. Everything will be announced at the appropriate time,” Uddhav told mediapersons after today’s meeting. Sources said a five-member team of

the NCP, led by former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and senior leaders Chhagan Bhujbal, Jayant Patil, Dhananjay Munde and Nawab Malik, had been holding talks with Congress leaders to prepare the common minimum programme. With the Congress preparing to join the government in Maharashtra, the three parties are also making a blueprint for sharing power in the state, say sources. However, initial indications are that the Shiv Sena will be the first to have its Chief Minister in Maharashtra. “The next Chief Minister will be from the Shiv Sena,” Sanjay Raut, party’s Rajya Sabha MP, said today.

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No teacher in 2 Himachal primary schools Himachal Pradesh has 15,328 government schools but two primary schools are without a teacher, 1,457 have one, 6,928 have two and 1,644 have three teachers each. The total strength of teachers stands at 66,912 (41,250 male and 25,662 female). Primary and middle sections have 22,955 and 11,703 teachers. Ironically, 118 middle schools are run by a single teacher, 387 by two, 643 by three and 821 by four to six teachers, as per the report of Unified District Information System for Education for 2018-19. The situation at the secondary and senior secondary level is no better. Two high schools have only one teacher, 10 are being managed

by two teachers, 20 have three and 246 have four-six teachers. At the senior secondary level, one school has only two teachers, four schools have three teachers, 41 schools are managed by four-six teachers and 218 by 10 teachers. The pupil-teacher ratio is ideal at 12.99 at the primary level, 11.83 at the middle level, 13.90 at the secondary and 10.49 at senior secondary level. Further, eight primary and middle schools are without any room, 704 primary and middle schools have just one room and 3,266 primary and middle schools are housed in two rooms. Principal Secretary (Education) KK Pant said the data was a year old and the situation Where the Builders Buy! had improved significantly since last year.

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Saturday, November 16, 2019 CM Amrinder asks SGPC to pay $20 border crossing fee for poor With newly opened Kartarpur corridor reportedly witnessing low footfall, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh asked the ‘cash-rich’ SGPC to at least pay the $20 fee of yellow card-holders, who cannot afford to travel to the Pakistan shrine. The CM urged India and Pakistan to waive the passport condition for travel through the corridor and accept IDs such as Aadhaar, driver’s licence, etc. as there was no requirement of visa, he added. Capt Amarinder said low footfall was not due to lack of interest among people but because of passport and fee. While Pakistan PM Imran Khan had tweeted before the opening of the corridor that

passport would not be required, the decision was not formalised, he pointed out. He urged PM Narendra Modi and Imran to amend the MoU and do away with the condition of passport. Pointing to the lavish spending by the SGPC on holding separate 550th anniversary programmes, the CM said it was evident the religious body was flush with funds. “Given the claims by SAD president Sukhbir Badal and his wife of being the protectors of the Sikh religion, the least they could do was ask the SGPC, which they control, to help out the poor pilgrims,” he said.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh remembered A religious programme was organised to mark the birth anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Gurdwara Saragarhi, near the Golden Temple, here today.Jaswinder Singh Sukarchakiya, a retired employee of the SGPC, claimed that as per the revenue records of the local district administration, his family tree traced back to Rattan Singh, a personal assistant to Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Maharaja Kharak Singh. Accompanied by his nephew Sandeep Singh Sukarchakiya and other family members, he took part in Sukhmani Sahib recitation and offered ardas at the statue of the Maharaja, situated

10 lakh farmers given paddy MSP Government agencies and private millers have procured 149.50 lakh tonnes of paddy in the state till November 11, rendering MSP benefits to 10,32,546 farmers. Disclosing this, an official spokesman of the government said of the total purchase from various procurement centres in the state, the government agencies procured 148.52 lakh tonnes of paddy, while 98,171 tonnes has been procured by millers. Pungrain has procured 6,16,4027 tonnes, Markfed 38,16,248 and Punsup 30,17,919, while Punjab State Warehousing Corporation procured 16,53,974 tonnes paddy. The Central agency, FCI, procured 1,99,854 tonnes of paddy. As per the 72-hour norm, 97.31 per cent lifting of the purchased paddy has been achieved, he informed.

Supreme Court relief fails to extinguish farm fires Farmers in Punjab continued to defy the ban on stubble burning with the state reporting 4,741 farm fire incidents on Wednesday. Though the stubble burning count was lower compared to Tuesday, it was still 59 per cent more than that of the corresponding period in the last year. According to satellite data collected by the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, Sangrur and Bathinda continued to be the worst-affected districts with the highest number of farm fire incidents of 785 and 676 in a single day, respectively. Among other districts, Moga, Mansa and Ferozepur reported farm fire incidents at 493, 460 and 433, respectively, as per the data. On Tuesday, Punjab had reported the season’s highest farm fire count at 6,668. The state had recorded stubble burning incidents of 165 and 2,983 on November 6 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Between September 23 and November 6, Punjab reported 42,676 incidents of farm fire, which was almost 41 per cent higher than stubble burning incidents in the corresponding period last year.

outside the gurdwara. He said the family hailed from Jagatpura Sikhan village near Kathunangal where two forts were situated. Sandeep Singh demanded that the government must expedite the renovation of Summer palace of the Maharaja, situat

Tens of thousands converge on Guru Nanak’s holy town

Tens of thousands of devotees from across the globe are converging every day in this holy town associated with the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, whose 550th birth anniversary falls on Tuesday.It is here that the Sikh first master gained enlightenment at the end of the 15th century. Organisers say the desire of devotees is to pay obeisance at the historic Gurdwara Ber Sahib and to have a ‘ashnaan’ (dip) in Kali Bein. The devotees are feeling fortunate to have ‘choola’ (sip of water) from the holy Bein. It is believed that Guru Nanak disappeared into the waters of the Bein rivulet, reappearing three days later as the enlightened Guru. The ground of Gurdwara Ber Sahib marks the spot, where Guru Nanak entered the rivulet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday morning paid obeisance at the historic Ber Sahib Gurdwara, before heading for Dera Baba Nanak to inaugurate the Kartarpur Corridor and flag off the first lot of pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The three-storey gurdwara was built by the ruler of Kapurthala in the mid 20th century and features slender octagonal pillars, a marble

Sikh from around the world reach at Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, Pakistan to participate Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 550th birth celebrations. sanctum and stucco designs at the entrance. A grand light and sound show that uses ultra modern techniques to narrate the life and philosophy of Guru Nanak Dev is the star attraction for the thousands of devotees attending the commemoration. Medical lounges at Sultanpur Lodhi, some 200 km from the state capital Chandigarh, have been proving a boon for the pilgrims with more than 7,800 patients getting out-patient department treatment, officials said.

INDIA

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Kartarpur pilgrims to declare they won’t harm India interests With intelligence inputs suggesting that terror elements are active in Narowal district of Pakistan, where Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is situated, the Centre is contemplating inserting a column in application form for pilgrims to declare that their visit through the newly built corridor “will not be detrimental to India’s sovereignty”. Sources said the column would be inserted in the form, which the pilgrims have to fill before applying for permission to visit Kartarpur Gurdwara through the corridor. “Concerns have been raised by security and intelligence agencies that elements in Pakistan may try to misuse the corridor by propagating anti-India narrative among visiting pilgrims,” said a senior official. A few days ahead of the inauguration of Kartarpur corridor on November 9, intelligence

agencies had alerted that “jihadi elements” were spotted hiding on the other side of border, which was very close to the Dera Baba Nanak shrine on the Indian side. Talking to The Tribune, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel patrolling the border near Dera Baba Nanak said they had stepped up vigil with additional deployment. In its report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, intelligence agencies had alerted that places like Muridke, Shakurgarh and Narowal, which are very close to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, had become latest hotspots for terror camps. The corridor, which connects Dera Baba Nanak Sahib in Gurdaspur district of Punjab with Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab, became operational for Indian pilgrims after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it on November 9.

Supreme Court paved the way for reconstruction of Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya land dispute verdict The Supreme Court cleared the way for the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya, and directed the Centre to allot a 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque. In one of the most important and most anticipated judgements in India’s history, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi put an end to the more than a century old dispute that has torn the social fabric of the nation. In a 1024-page verdict, the SC said that the mosque should be constructed at a “prominent site” and a trust should be formed within three months for the construction of the temple at the site many Hindus believe Lord Ram was born. Conclusion of title The facts, evidence and oral arguments of the present case have traversed the realms of history, archaeology, religion and the law. The law must stand apart from political contestations over history, ideology and religion. For a case replete with references to archaeological foundations, we must remember that it is the law which provides the edifice upon which our multicultural society rests. The law forms the ground upon which, multiple strands of history, ideology and religion can compete. By determining their limits, this Court as the final arbiter must preserve the sense of balance that the beliefs of one citizen do not interfere with or dominate the freedoms and beliefs of another. On 15 August 1947, India as a nation realised the vision of self-determination. On 26 January 1950 we gave ourselves the Constitution of India, as an unwavering commitment to the values which define our society.

Supreme Court judgment Ayodhya land dispute cas. The Supreme Court on Saturday cleared the way for the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya, and directed the Centre to allot a 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque. In one of the most important and most anticipated judgements in India’s history, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi put an end to the more than a century old dispute that has torn the social fabric of the nation. In a 1024-page verdict, the SC said that the mosque should be constructed at a “prominent site” and a trust should be formed within three months for the construction of the temple at the site many Hindus believe Lord Ram was born. The facts, evidence and oral arguments of the present case have traversed the realms of history, archaeology, religion and the law. The law must stand apart from political contestations over history, ideology and religion. For a case replete with references to archaeological foundations, we must remember that it is the law which provides the edifice upon which our multicultural society rests. The law forms the ground upon which, multiple strands of history, ideology and religion can compete. By determining their limits, this Court as the final arbiter must preserve the sense of balance that the beliefs of one citizen do not interfere with or dominate the freedoms and beliefs of another.

India world’s most open, investment-friendly economy: Modi India is the world’s most “open and investment friendly” economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Thursday as he wooed the BRICS business leaders, urging them to invest in the country and take advantage of its “limitless” possibilities and “countless” opportunities. Addressing the closing ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum, prime minister Modi said the grouping of five countries had led to economic development despite the global economic slowdown. “India is the most open and investment friendly economy in the world due to political stability, predictable policy and business friendly reforms. By 2024, we want to make India a five trillion dollar economy. The infrastructure alone requires USD 1.5 trillion investment,” he said.

Noting that India has “limitless” possibilities and “countless” opportunities, the prime minister urged the BRICS business leaders to take advantage of them. “I invite the business of BRICS countries to build and grow their presence in India,” he said. “BRICS countries account for 50 per cent of the world’s economic growth. Despite the recession in the world, BRICS countries accelerated economic growth, drove millions out of poverty and achieved new breakthroughs in technology and innovation. Now ten years after the founding of BRICS, this forum is a good platform to consider the direction of our efforts in the future,” Modi said. The prime minister said simplifying intraBRICS business will increase mutual trade and investment.

US welcomes opening of Kartarpur corridor

The US has welcomed the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, saying that it sees the initiative as a positive example of neighbours working together for mutual benefit. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday formally inaugurated the historic corridor to facilitate visa-free entry of Indian Sikh pilgrims to one of Sikhism’s holiest shrines in Narowal, Pakistan.He welcomed the first batch of the Indian Sikh pilgrims who entered Pakistan through the corridor which links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab’s Gurdaspur.The US “welcomes the opening of a new border crossing” between India and Pakistan, “the Kartarpur corridor,” US State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a video posted on her official twitter

handle on Saturday. “We see this as a positive example of neighbours working together for mutual benefit. The newly opened corridor is a step towards promoting greater religious freedom,” she said. Ortagus also sent her best wishes to the pilgrims crossing the border for the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev.“It allows Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, an important Sikh house of worship just inside the Pakistan border. This impressive project will transform a remote three-acre site across a sensitive international boundary,” Ortagus said.“Congratulations to India and Pakistan on this initiative, and our best wishes to the pilgrims making the crossing for the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak’s birth,” Ortagus said.

Activists urge India & UK to challenge Pakistan’s atrocities in Balochistan The UK chapter of the Baloch National Movement (BNM) and associated organisations called on the Indian government to challenge the atrocities of the “rogue state of Pakistan” and assist Balochistan’s freedom movement. At a memorial event to mark Baloch Martyrs’ Day in London on Wednesday, members of the BNM as well as groups such as the World Sindhi Congress and Baloch

Students Organisation Azad paid tributes to those killed in their fight for Baloch freedom over the years and branded the UK government “hypocritical” for its silence on the human rights violations in the resourcerich region. “Over 20,000 Baloch people have been kidnapped by Pakistani security forces and many killed in the last two decades. Our

Saturday, November 16, 2019 From page 36

Supreme Court paved the way for reconstruction of Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya land dispute verdict

On 15 August 1947, India as a nation realised the vision of self-determination. On 26 January 1950 we gave ourselves the Constitution of India, as an unwavering commitment to the values which define our society. At the heart of the Constitution is a commitment to equality upheld and enforced by the rule of law. Under our Constitution, citizens of all faiths, beliefs and creeds seeking divine provenance are both subject to the law and equal before the law. Every judge of this Court is not merely tasked with but sworn to uphold the Constitution and its values. The Constitution does not make a distinction between the faith and belief of one religion and another. All forms of belief, worship and prayer are equal. Those whose duty it is to interpret the Constitution, enforce it and engage with it can ignore this only to the peril of our society and nation. The Constitution speaks to the judges who interpret it, to those who govern who must enforce it, but above all, to the citizens who engage with it as an inseparable feature of their lives. In the present case, this Court is tasked with an adjudicatory task of unique dimension. The dispute is over immovable property. The court does not decide title on the basis of faith or belief but on the basis of evidence. The law provides us with parameters as clear but as profound as ownership and possession. In deciding title to the disputed property, the court applies settled principles of evidence to adjudicate upon which party has established a claim to the immovable property. On the balance of probabilities, there is clear evidence to indicate that the worship by the Hindus in the outer courtyard continued unimpeded in spite of the setting up of a grill-brick wall in 1857. Their possession of the outer courtyard stands established together with the incidents attaching

to their control over it. As regards the inner courtyard, there is evidence on a preponderance of probabilities to establish worship by the Hindus prior to the annexation of Oudh by the British in 1857. The Muslims have offered no evidence to indicate that they were in exclusive possession of the inner structure prior to 1857 since the date of the construction in the sixteenth century. After the setting up of the grill-brick wall, the structure of the mosque continued to exist and there is evidence to indicate that namaz was offered within its precincts. The report of the Waqf Inspector of December 1949 indicates that Muslims were being obstructed in free and unimpeded access to mosque for the purposes of offering namaz. However, there is evidence to show that namaz was offered in the structure of the mosque and the last Friday namaz was on 16 December 1949. The exclusion of the Muslims from worship and possession took place on the intervening night between 22/23 December 1949 when the mosque was desecrated by the installation of Hindu idols. The ouster of the Muslims on that occasion was not through any lawful authority but through an act which was calculated to deprive them of their place of worship. After the proceedings under Section 145 of CrPC 1898 were initiated and a receiver was appointed following the attachment of the inner courtyard, worship of the Hindu idols was permitted. During the pendency of the suits, the entire structure of the mosque was brought down in a calculated act of destroying a place of public worship. The Muslims have been wrongly deprived of a mosque which had been constructed well over 450 years ago. We have already concluded that the threeway bifurcation by the High Court was legally unsustainable. Even as a matter of maintaining

public peace and tranquillity, the solution which commended itself to the High Court is not feasible. The disputed site admeasures all of 1500 square yards. Dividing the land will not subserve the interest of either of the parties or secure a lasting sense of peace and tranquillity. Suit 5 has been held to be maintainable at the behest of the first plaintiff (the deity of Lord Ram) who is a juristic person. The third plaintiff (next friend) has been held to be entitled to represent the the first plaintiff. We are of the view that on the one hand a decree must ensue in Suit 5, Suit 4 must also be partly decreed by directing the allotment of alternate land to the Muslims for the construction of a mosque and associated activities. The allotment of land to the Muslims is necessary because though on a balance of probabilities, the evidence in respect of the possessory claim of the Hindus to the composite whole of the disputed property stands on a better footing than the evidence adduced by the Muslims, the Muslims were dispossessed upon the desecration of the mosque on 22/23 December 1949 which was ultimately destroyed on 6 December 1992. There was no abandonment of the mosque by the Muslims. This Court in the exercise of its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution must ensure that a wrong committed must be remedied. Justice would not prevail if the Court were to overlook the entitlement of the Muslims who have been deprived of the structure of the mosque through means which should not have been employed in a secular nation committed to the rule of law. The Constitution postulates the equality of all faiths. Tolerance and mutual co-existence nourish the secular commitment of our nation and its people. The area of the composite site admeasures about

1500 square yards. While determining the area of land to be allotted, it is necessary to provide restitution to the Muslim community for the unlawful destruction of their place of worship. Having weighed the nature of the relief which should be granted to the Muslims, we direct that land admeasuring 5 acres be allotted to the Sunni Central Waqf Board either by the Central Government out of the acquired land or by the Government of Uttar Pradesh within the city of Ayodhya. This exercise, and the consequent handing over of the land to the Sunni Central Waqf Board, shall be conducted simultaneously with the handing over of the disputed site comprising of the inner and outer courtyards as a consequence of the decree in Suit 5. Suit 4 shall stand decreed in the above terms. Section 6 of the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act 1993 empowers the Central Government to direct that the right, title and interest in relation to the area or any part thereof, instead of continuing to vest in the Central Government shall vest in the authority or body or trustees of any trust which is willing to comply with the terms and conditions as government may impose.407 Section 7(1) provides that the property vested in the Central Government under Section 3, shall be maintained by the government or by any person or trustees of any trust, authorities in this behalf. We are of the view that it would be necessary to direct the Central Government to frame a scheme in exercise of the powers conferred upon it by Sections 6 and 7 to set up a trust or any other appropriate mechanism to whom the land would be handed over in terms of the decree in Suit 5. The scheme shall incorporate all provisions necessary to vest power and authority in relation to the management of the trust or the body chosen for the vesting of the land.

SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, November 16, 2019

‘Pad Man’ faces ‘Terminator’ in Sri Lanka presidential poll year that killed 269 people. In contrast to the tough-talking Rajapaksa, his main challenger, Sajith Premadasa, a low-key politician, is hoping to appeal to women voters with promises to improve menstrual hygiene. Menstruation remains a taboo subject in the conservative Buddhist society and “period poverty” is a global issue. Premadasa, 52, was ridiculed by the Rajapaksa campaign for openly discussing the subject and ridiculed him as the “Pad Man”. “I remain committed to women’s rights,” Premadasa shot back on Twitter. “I will wear the #padman label

Sri Lanka’s presidential election on Saturday is turning out to be a showdown between a man offering free sanitary pads and a former soldier dubbed the “Terminator” by his own family. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, 70, a retired army lieutenant colonel, was the de facto military chief who crushed Tamil guerrillas and ended a 37-year separatist war, but Saturday’s vote is his battle of ballots. His family calls him Sri Lanka’s “Terminator” because he promises to fight corruption and Islamic extremism, a key issue since the Easter Sunday suicide bombings this

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proudly. In my view, it is certainly preferable to being the #manwiththevan.” Premadasa was referring to accusations that Gotabhaya led death squads during his brother Mahinda’s decade in power up to 2015. He denies that he was the architect of what is known as “white van abductions”, when dozens of opponents were abducted never to be found again. While Rajapaksa has no experience in politics, he makes up for it by campaigning with his charismatic older brother Mahinda. Facing allegations of corruption and nepotism, Mahinda lost his attempt for a third

Kashmir civilisationally belongs to India - US human rights panel India successfully defeated insurgencies in Punjab and the Northeast and it is now time to strengthen New Delhi’s fight against insurgencies in Kashmir, columnist Sunanda Vashisht told a US Congressional hearing on Human Rights in Washington on Thursday. Terrorists trained by Pakistan had caused “ISIS level of horror and brutality” in the Kashmir Valley long before the West was even introduced to the brutalities of radical Islamic terror, Ms Vashisht said, adding that international cooperation in India’s fight against terror would also solve the human rights problem in the state. “India’s democratic credentials are un-

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term in January 2015. His attempt to become prime minister in legislative elections later that year also failed. A new constitutional amendment barred him from contesting the presidency again, leaving his brother to take up the family mantle. But, Gotabhaya’s attempt to piggyback on his elder brother has faltered. When asked tough questions at his only public press conference during the three-month long campaign, he turned to Mahinda for answers and was ridiculed by opponents.

matched. The country has successfully, in a democratic setup, defeated insurgencies in Punjab and the northeast. It is time to strengthen India against such insurgencies and the human rights problems will be solved forever,” Ms Vashisht told the hearing organised by Tom Lantos HR Commission. This is the second hearing by US Congress in the last three weeks on Kashmir, which has been under massive security restrictions since August 5, when the government announced the end of special status to the state and split it into two union territories. India has “not occupied” Kashmir and Kashmir was always an integral part of India, she said.

15 die in train accident in Bangladesh

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Fifteen people were killed and over 50 others injured in a head-on collision between two trains in Brahmanbaria district in eastcentral Bangladesh on Tuesday, according to media reports. Chittagong-bound Udayan Express from Sylhet and Dhaka-bound Turna Nishita collided near Mondobhag Railway Station in the district around 3.30 am on Tuesday, Hayat-ud-Dowla Khan, Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner, was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune. Khan said the accident occurred because the loco masters did not obey the signals. Three separate probe committees had been formed to investigate the mishap, railways ministry secretary Mofazzal Hossain was quoted as saying in the report. The Daily Star reported that the two trains collided as one of them--Udayan Express-was changing tracks at Akhaura Railway

Junction. Identities of the deceased had not been ascertained yet, the report said. Shayamal Kanti Das, officer-in-charge of Akhaura railway police station, said 12 people died on the spot, while three others succumbed to injuries at different hospitals. “The rescue operation is under way. The death toll may

rise as many people are still trapped under the damaged coaches,” he added. Train services between Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Noakhali and Chattogram-Sylhet have been suspended following the accident.

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Saturday, November 16, 2019

Nepal protesters burn Xi’s effigies over ‘China encroachment’

Protesters in Nepal this week burnt the effigies of Chinese President Xi Jinping after a recent government report indicated Beijing had encroached on 36 hectares of Nepalese land, roughly the size of 26 football fields. Kathmandu’s document showing the

alleged Chinese encroachment was ironically a response to a map released on November 2 by New Delhi, which claimed a 372-squarekilometre (144-square-mile) border region, known as Kalapani in Nepal, as part of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.

According to the document released by Nepal’s Survey Department in early November, four districts sharing a border with China. The government data suggested Nepal stood to lose a further several hundred hectares of land to Beijing. Xi promises to step up Chinese support for Nepal as two-day visit concludes Local media said protesters shouted slogans and held placards reading “Go back to China!” and “Return Nepali land” in multiple districts across the country on November 11. But Anil Sigdel, director of the Washingtonbased think tank Nepal Matters for America, said he did not find the report “important as far as Nepal’s border issues with China are concerned”. “And the anti-Chinese activities unleashed are momentary,” he added.

China accuses US of using UN to ‘meddle’ in Tibet China accused the US on Monday of using the United Nations to “meddle” in Tibet, as Washington intensifies its bid to prevent Beijing from handpicking the Dalai Lama’s successor. Last week, Sam Brownback, the United States’ ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, said the US wanted the UN to take up the succession issue of the Tibetan spiritual leader. The choice of the Dalai Lama’s successor “belongs to the Tibetan Buddhists and not the Chinese government”, Brownback told AFP. But Beijing responded angrily, saying the US is attempting to “meddle in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of religious freedoms”. “It is doomed to fail and will certainly be met with opposition from the international community,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing in Beijing. China, which argues it has brought modernisation and development to the Himalayan region -- has increasingly hinted it could name the next Dalai Lama, who would

presumably be groomed to support Chinese rule. The Chinese government has also indicated it is waiting out the Dalai Lama, believing his campaign for greater Tibetan autonomy will end with him. At age 84, the spiritual leader who once travelled incessantly has slowed down and earlier this year suffered a chest infection, although he is not known to have serious health issues. In 1995, the officially atheist government selected its own Panchen Lama and detained a six-year-old identified for the influential Buddhist position -- whom rights groups called the world’s youngest political prisoner. Mindful of Beijing’s plans, the 14th Dalai Lama has mused about breaking with the centuries-old tradition in which wandering monks look for signs that a young boy is the reincarnation. The Nobel Peace Prize winner has said that he could pick his own successor, possibly a girl, or even declare himself the final Dalai Lama.

Security is the key issue as terror-hit Sri Lanka votes for a new President

ri Lankans head to the polls Saturday to elect a new President months after deadly terrorist attacks shook confidence in the government and security services and left more than 250 people dead. A record 35 candidates are vying to replace outgoing President Maithripala Sirisena, and election officials said the ballot paper will be 26 inches (66 centimeters) long in order to include them all. Sirisena’s term was marred not only by the Easter bombings but also by a failed attempt to remove Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe from office. That sparked a constitutional crisis that even when

resolved by the Supreme Court -- which restored Wickremesinghe to his position -left a government essentially cleaved in two. It also exacerbated communication failures that meant key information which might have stopped the bombings was not acted on. Under the Sri Lankan system, the Prime Minister is appointed by the President from members of Parliament, who nominate the most suitable. Sri Lanka missed warnings about bombers’ leader Amid the dozens of potential candidates, two men are seen as the likeliest to replace Sirisena: former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Minister of Housing Sajith Premadasa.

The 70-year-old Rajapaksa only this year renounced his dual-US citizenship in order to contest the poll. He has been closely flanked at all public and media appearances by his elder brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is blocked from running after serving two terms as President from 2005 to 2015. Few doubt that were Gotabaya Rajapaksa to win, under the maroon banner of the Sri Lanka People’s Front -- his brother would wield massive influence over his administration and could be considered President again in all but name. The elder Rajapaska currently leads the opposition in Parliament and is widely expected to vie for the post of Prime Minister

when parliamentary elections are held in 2020 -- bringing the country back in control of the two brothers. Premadasa is deputy leader of the ruling United National Party (UNP), but is contesting the election as a representative of the New Democratic Front, a coalition of rightwing parties. UNP leader, and incumbent Prime Minister, Wickremesinghe, might have been expected to stand as the party’s presidential candidate, but stood aside for the more popular Premadasa, who is seen as having a better chance to beat Rajapaksa. Premadasa is the son of onetime President Ranasinghe Premadasa, who was assassinated by Tamil Tiger rebels at a May Day rally in Colombo in 1993.

FIJI

Saturday, November 16, 2019

14 people remanded in custody for attacking 3 Police Officers The 14 men who allegedly attacked three Police Officers in Levuka last Saturday night have been further remanded in custody. Samisoni Ralulu, Sekove Naitioko, Penioni Dirikibau, Joeli Rabuka, Livai Siga, Josevata Yaqona, Aporosa Tacaqe, Tome Sikau, Nate Yaca, Pita Gauna, Peniasi Caginiwaqaiabu, Josaia Yalovigau, Joseva Dovutuisau and Abel Williams were produced in the Nausori Magistrates Court today. They are aged between 20 to 45 years and have been charged with various offences such as common nuisance, disobedience of lawful order, serious assault, criminal

intimidation, and obstructing a police officer. The officers had asked the men to clear the area but were threatened and chased. Police say the officers called for backup and more police officers were deployed which also included officers from the National Fire Authority and Fiji Corrections Service. They say the second attempt made to clear the area resulted in three of the officers sustaining injuries. The men were then arrested by a Special Response Team deployed from Suva.

Fiji is far from being alone in dealing with drug and substance abuse problems - Curr New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Fiji Jonathan Curr says Fiji is far from being alone in dealing with drug and substance abuse problems, other neighboring countries such as Samoa, Tonga, and New Zealand are also affected. While speaking at the National Dialogue titled “Substance Abuse – Let’s Talk About It! Finding a Fijian Solution!” organised by Leadership Fiji with the support of the Ministry of Defence at the USP AusAid Lecture Theatre Curr says much like Fiji, New Zealand sees the value in taking a cross nation approach to limiting the harm of drug use. Curr says there are many ways to tackle this issue. He says he acknowledges that there is potentially more work that we need to do together to support harm and demand reduction, to support those whose lives have been harmed by drugs and help build resilience in the community so that the

demand for drugs is reduced. Curr further says that combating drugs and the harm they cause will need everyone’s cooperation. Curr also says in the first six months of

Police have raided 185 drug targets in Suva and more than 200 targets along the Suva/Nausori corridor however they have to continue to raid these places as they continue to get into the trade again. Head of Drug Intelligence Unit ASP Anare Masitabua says Police need the assistance of everyone to catch the drug dealers. He says people should call him directly on 9905472 if they have any information. This follows comments made by a member of public in the Leadership Fiji

National Dialogue on Substance Abuse on why Police cannot locate and raid all places selling drugs as he says that if you sit in any taxi in Suva, the driver would know where to go and buy drugs from. Masitabua also says people are mixing all sorts of substances including fentanyl and rat poison. Fentanyl is estimated to be 10,000 times stronger than morphine. It is used to sedate large animals like elephants. Just a few crystals can cause an overdose in a human.

Justice Temo warns those who want to indulge in methamphetamine High Court Judge, Justice Salesi Temo has given a stern warning to those who want to indulge in methamphetamine. ustice Temo gave this warning while speaking at the National Dialogue titled Substance Abuse – Let’s Talk About It! Finding a Fijian Solution at the AusAid Lecture Theatre at USP. He says when people come to the courtroom there is no mercy.Justice Temo says if you commit the crime, you will serve time if you are found guilty as charged. He says there will be no more

Mickey Mouse games that occur outside. He also highlighted some of the problem areas in Fiji During the panel discussion in the National Dialogue titled Substance Abuse – Let’s Talk About It! Finding a Fijian Solution organised by Leadership Fiji with the support of the Ministry of Defence and National Security, Justice Temo says it is the job of the politicians to think about changing the law to target cultivators and manufacturers of drugs.

2 die while setting up a meth lab - ASP Police

operation, the Dog Detector Unit at the Nadi International Airport was instrumental in intercepting 13 hard cases of drug cases worth more than $6.1 million. Curr says there have been many more seizures since then by the Dog Detector Unit.

2 facing money laundering charges & falsification of accounts to take plea on Dec 10 Two people who are facing charges of money laundering and fraudulent falsification of accounts will take their plea on the 10th of December this year. Rajat Maharaj is charged with one count of money laundering while Biren Lal has been charged with 26 counts of fraudulent falsification of accounts. They allegedly defrauded Goodman Fielder

Over 385 drug targets between Suva to Nausori and drug raids must be continuous - Masitabua

International Fiji Limited of $646,994. It is alleged that a large sum of money was misappropriated through the procurement process of Goodman Fielder between 2014 and 2015 at their Vatuwaqa office. It is also alleged that the two were involved in transferring the money to a company that belonged to Rajat Maharaj.

The Officer In Charge of Drug Intelligence Unit at the Fiji Police Force, Assistant Superintendent Anare Masitabua says two deaths have been recorded in the country from the setting up of methamphetamine labs in 2013 and early this year. In the 2013 case, the person tried smoking meth using a lithium pipe which resulted in his death. Earlier this year, a body was found in Cunningham that had burns that are similar to a person who manufactures methamphetamine. Another person was found in Valelevu, where he sustained injuries manufacturing the same

drug, and he is currently serving time in prison. Masitabua stated this while speaking at the National Dialogue titled Substance Abuse – Let’s Talk About It! Finding a Fijian Solution at the AusAid Lecture Theatre at USP organised by Leadership Fiji with the support of the Ministry of Defence and National Security. Masitabua says in 2009 they arrested 148 people because of methamphetamine while last year the total number of cases rose to 1,440. He says 113 methamphetamine cases were recorded last year and this has been increasing.

CWM Hospital visiting hours now from 2pm to 3pm every day due to measles outbreak The new visiting hours for all wards at the CWM Hospital is now from 2pm to 3pm from Monday to Sunday effective from today due to the current measles outbreak declared in Serua and Namosi subdivision. A statement by the Health Ministry says only one visitor will be allowed to visit each patient during the stated visiting hour.

It says this is being done to ensure the safety of the public, the patients that come to the hospital, those that are admitted and to ensure the staff have very minimal chances for spreading the disease. Restrictions to visiting the intensive care unit for children and adults and the designated Measles Isolation wards will be in place.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, November 16, 2019 The opening of Kartarpur corridor “enormously improve” relations between India and Pakistan, former prime minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday after he arrived in Kartarpur as part of the first batch of the Indian pilgrims through the cross-border pathway. Prime Minister Imran Khan formally inaugurated the historic corridor to facilitate the visa-free entry of Indian Sikh pilgrims. He

Pakistan formally inaugurates Kartarpur corridor welcomed the first batch of the Indian Sikh pilgrims who entered Pakistan through the corridor which links Gurdwara

Cabinet allows former PM Sharif to travel abroad for medical treatment Pakistan Cabinet on Tuesday decided to allow former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to go abroad for medical treatment if he agrees to sign surety bonds making a commitment that he would return after the treatment and face cases against him. The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, approved removal of Sharif ’s name from the no-fly list (Exit Control List-ECL).

Nawaz Sharif

Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad told media that the Cabinet conditionally allowed Sharif to go abroad. The 69-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo agreed on Friday to go to the UK for treatment, heeding doctors’ advice and accepting his family’s request. He was scheduled to leave for London on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight on

Imran Khan’s ex-wife wins defamation case against TV channel Prime Minister Imran Khan’s former wife, Reham Khan a case and received an apology from news channel over defamatory allegations by one government minister during a show on tv last year. At a hearing in High Court in London, Justice Matthew Nicklin was informed about the apology and undisclosed damages agreed between the parties. Reham, a British national, launched the legal proceedings over a broadcast entitled ‘On the Front with Kamran Shahid’ on Dunya TV in June 2018, during which she said

Sheikh Rasheed, Federal Minister, made very serious and entirely false allegations against her. “The most serious allegation that he made was to claim that our client had colluded with her ex-husband’s political rivals, the Pakistan Muslim League, and accepted a substantial payment from or on behalf of its leader, Mr Shehbaz Sharif, in return for writing her autobiography,” said Alex Cochrane from Hamlins LLP, who represented Reham in the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

American woman creates ruckus at Islamabad airport in protest In a dramatic incident, a 70-year-old US woman created a ruckus at the Islamabad airport by lying down on the floor after Pakistani authorities allegedly tried to deport her, according to a media report. The American woman arrived in Pakistan on a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Manchester, UK, Geo News reported.

The woman, seen sitting on a wheelchair, was allegedly blacklisted by authorities in Pakistan. When the airport staff tried to deport her on Sunday, she started screaming and lied down on the floor of the airport in protest, it said. The issue was brought to the notice of the American embassy and the staff was called to the airport to resolve the issue, the report added. According to her passport, the woman was born in Washington.

5, including 2 policemen, killed in firing incident At least five persons, including two policemen, have been killed in Pakistan’s Punjab province after gunmen opened fire on a police vehicle, according to media reports. The attack took place on Sunday in Arbi Tibba area of the Rajanpur district where a police team was conducting a raid after receiving information about the presence of the fugitives

in the locality, the News International reported. The police van was fired upon by the assailants. Five persons, including two policemen were killed and two other police personnel were injured, Geo News reported. The injured have been admitted to a hospital, the report said. However, no one has claimed immediately responsibility for the attack.

Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab’s Gurdaspur. Manmohan Singh reached Kartarpur as part of the first batch which also included Akal Takht Jathedar Harpreet

Singh, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu and BJP MP Sunny Deol. Speaking to reporters, the former prime minister termed the opening of the corridor as a “big moment”.

Sharif rejects govt’s demand to submit bonds worth Rs 700 cr for travel abroad Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif refused to meet govt’s demand to submit indemnity bonds worth Rs 700 crores (7 billion rupees, equal to $97,235,040 dollars US) for travel to the UK for medical treatment, saying it was “illegal” and denounced attempts to politicise his health. The Cabinet decided to allow Sharif to go abroad for his medical treatment if Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership agrees to sign surety bonds making a commitment that he would return after the treatment and face corruption cases against him. The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister ImranKhan, approved removal of Sharif ’s name from no-fly list (ECL, exit control list).

“We have categorically told the gov’t that Sharif would not submit any indemnity bonds worth Rs 7 billion (Rs 700 crores) to the government for removing his name from the no-fly list enabling his departure for London for his treatment,” a PML-N leader quoted Sharif as saying. “Nawaz Sharif said the government demand is illegal and can’t be met in the presence of the court guarantees.” Nawaz also showed his annoyance over the government’s ‘tactics’ to politicise the issue of his health. “The government cannot hold another court of its own on the earlier decision of the Islamabad High Court that granted Sharif eight weeks bail on medical grounds,” the PML-N leader told PTI, adding the Sharif family may move the

NRI

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Inside Tulsi Gabbard’s wild bid to make trouble in 2020 About 50 of her most devoted and bundledup supporters gathered in the cold on the statehouse steps last week to watch Rep. Tulsi Gabbard firebomb the establishment. Over the next half hour, her fire was directed left and right: at Democratic leaders and President Donald Trump, at Saudi Arabian monarchs and plutocratic warmongers, all of whom have become the bogeymen — or bogeywomen, in the case of Hillary Clinton — of her scrappy presidential campaign. She’d brought along Tim Frolich, a 9/11 survivor, to allege a conspiracy at the highest levels to conceal information about the true Saudi Arabian

masterminds of the terror attack. It was an unusual speech to deliver directly after filing the paperwork to run in New Hampshire, especially amid a Democratic primary field almost preternaturally occupied with health care. But Gabbard is an unusual candidate. And that’s exactly what is giving the four-term representative’s improbable presidential run a toehold in this early primary state. Her campaign got a polling bounce here after Clinton implied on a podcast that Gabbard is a Russian stooge and Gabbard replied in a tweet that Clinton is “the queen of warmongers” leading a conspiracy

Vaz retires after 32 years as UK MP Keith Vaz, the longest-serving Indian-origin MP in the House of Commons, has announced his retirement after 32 years in the wake of a drugs scandal. Vaz had been the Labour Party’s

MP for Leicester East since 1987 but announced on Sunday that he would not be seeking reelection in the December 12 General Election.

US court refuses to strike down work permits for spouses of H-1B visa holders In a temporary relief to thousands of Indians living in America, a US court has refused to strike down, for the time being, an Obama-era rule that allowed spouses of H-1B visa holders to work in America. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows the US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. A 2015 rule issued by US President Donald Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama allowed work permits for certain categories of H-4 visa holders, primarily spouses of those having H-1B work visas waiting for their Green Card, to work in the US. Indians, in particular women, were the greatest beneficiary of this rule, which has

been challenged by several US workers with the current Trump administration supporting their cause, saying that it wants to rescind the rule. A three-judge bench of the US Courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday sent the case back to a lower court noting that it is “best to remand” to give the district court an opportunity to thoroughly assess and finally determine the merits in the first instance. “Accordingly, we reverse the district court’s grant of summary judgment and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion,” the federal court said in its order on the lawsuit filed by Saves Jobs USA.

NRI offers help in generating power from stubble in Punjab To address the problem of the stubble burning, an India born NRI businessman has proposed to set up 1,000 MW biomass energy generating plants in his home state Punjab. The US-based Chiranjeev Kathuria told IANS here on Friday that his company New Generation Power International has plans to

invest in 4,000 MW in power projects in Punjab. Out of these projects, 3,000 MW would be generated by the solar power and the remaining by using the biomass made from the stubble of both paddy and wheat crops.

Labour Party does U-turn on Kashmir ahead of polls Britain’s Opposition Labour Party has stepped in to counter its perceived anti-India stance to urge that the Kashmir issue not be allowed to divide communities in the UK in the lead up to the December 12 General Election, in the wake of protests from sections of the Indian diaspora. The Chair of the Labour Party, Ian Lavery, issued a letter to stress that Kashmir is a “bilateral matter” for India and Pakistan and that the party is opposed to external interference over the issue, as had been implied by some of the wording of a controversial emergency motion passed by the party at its conference in September. “Kashmir is a bilateral matter for India and Pakistan to resolve together by means of peaceful solution which protects the human rights of the Kashmiri people and respects their right to have a say in their own future,” reads the letter issued by Lavery dated November 11. “Labour is opposed to external interference in the political affairs of any other country. As an international party, our concern is to ensure respect for the human rights of all people in the world, regardless of where they live,” it notes. “We recognise that the language used in the emergency motion has caused offence in some sections of the Indian diaspora,

NRI MPs, industrialists visit Khanna Paper Mill A 80-member delegation of NRI parliamentarians and industrialists of Punjabi origin from various countries on Friday visited Khanna Paper Mill and participated in a talk. They were here to attend the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev at Sultanpur Lodhi and the Kartarpur Corridor opening programme. The visit was organised and coordinated with the help of Ministry of External Affairs and the state government. Delegates explored business and investment opportunities under the Invest India programme. Suneet Kochhar, director, Khanna Paper Mills Limited, in his address welcomed the delegates and called upon them to be a part of the transformation of the state to industrialisation. Babar Saroya (Bob Saroya), Member of Parliament, Canada; Lord Raminder Singh Ranger, MP, UK; Lord Diljit Singh, MP, UK; Rameshwar Singh, MP, and Neena Gill, Member of European Parliament, asked the delegates not to blame any particular political party or leader for its falling standard in business, education, rising drug addiction among youth, stagnation in agriculture and others.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

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Saturday, November 16, 2019