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Happy Diwali Diwali 2023:

Rare Astrological occurrence after 400 years on this Diwali iwali, the festival of light, will

Dbe celebrated on November 12

this year. This time before Diwali, Ashta Mahayoga will align with the Shani Pushya Yoga and Ravi Pushya Yoga. This alignment is one of the few rarest occurrences that is happening after a period of 400 years. Dr Mrityunjay Tiwari, Head of the Astrology Department of Shri Kallaji Vedic Vishvavidyalaya, shared interesting facts with News18 about this rare occurrence. He said that this year, before Diwali, Pushya Nakshatra will start at 07:57 am on Saturday, November 4, and will continue to remain so till 10:29 am on Sunday, November 5.

Saturday,

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Conservative motion to exempt carbon tax from all home heating rejected in House of Commons Conservatives and New Democrats sided with most of the country’s premiers on Monday in voting for a motion calling on the federal government to extend the carbon tax exemption to all forms of home heating.

The non-binding motion ultimately failed to pass, with Liberals and the Bloc Québécois voting against it. But it sent a clear signal that the NDP are protesting against the Liberals’ single carve-out for home heating oil, which Continued on page 7

South Asian woman complaints lack of help for dying father on Air Canada flight A South Asian woman accused Air Canada of negligence that caused her 83-year-old father’s death during a flight from Delhi to Montreal, according to a media report on Monday. Shanu Pande, a resident of Ontario, along with her father, Harish Pant, left Delhi for Canada in September on an Air Canada flight. Seven hours later, when the long-haul flight was over Europe, Pant

developed severe medical symptoms: chest pain, back pain,

Indian diplomat says high-level Canadian official damaged probe into Sikh’s murder Canada’s police probe into the June murder of a Sikh separatist in British Columbia has been damaged by a high-level Canadian official’s public statements, India’s High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma told The Globe and Mail newspaper in an interview published on Saturday. Canada has alleged that India was involved in the Vancouver murder of Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whom India called a “terrorist”. India denies the allegation. “I would go a step further and say now the investigation has already been tainted,” Continued on page 6

Home prices and sales continue to weaken in Surrey & Fraser Valley FVREB’s latest statistics for the month of October 2023 show there were just 970 homes sold over the course of the month, representing a 12% drop from September

Cricket World Cup:

2023 and the fourth consecutive decrease since the 12-month high of 1,935 recorded in June 2023. BC real estate market “more resilientthanexpected”sofarin2023

Why India looks unstoppable?

On Sunday, India beat South Africa, the second-placed team in the league, by 243 runs, dismissing them for just 83. Is that really the difference between India and the rest? Or is that merely what happens when 11 players perform at their peak, everything coming together on a single day at a single venue with a single purpose? Can they do it two more times?

How Nikki Haley, Kamala Harris & Vivek Ramaswamy’s Indian families shared a common journey to America With a year to go until Election Day and two days before the next Republican primary debate, one group has emerged on the national political stage in a way they never have before in U.S. history: Indian American candidates.

Only a handful of GOP hopefuls are set to qualify for the next debate; two of them are former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and commentator whose White House bid has skyrocketed his profile.

Saturday, November 11, 2023

India-Canada diplomatic thaw remains remote despite visa easing

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Mending frayed diplomatic relations between India and Canada will be a long process after each side adopted maximalist positions, despite New Delhi’s surprise move to ease some visa curbs on Canadians, officials and experts say. India recently decided to partially restore visa services, weeks after suspending them in anger at Ottawa’s claim that Indian agents may have been involved in the murder of a Canadian Sikh

separatist leader from Punjab state. Mutual recriminations since that accusation, which India strongly denies, have strained ties between the two countries - close for almost a century and with extensive links through the Sikh diaspora - to their worst in memory. And while India’s relaxation on visas may have raised some expectations of improved relations, it was not a breakthrough, as neither side has much incentive to hasten a return to normalcy,

Saskatchewan man sentenced in 2010 murder dies in BC jail

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A man serving an indeterminate sentence for second-degree murder in the 2010 murder of a man in Davidson, Saskatchewan. died in custody at Mountain Institution in Agassiz, B.C. Darak Andrew More died on Nov. 1 at the prison, the Correctional Service of Canada said in a media release on Friday. His next of kin have been notified. The CSC will review the circumstances of More’s death, which is required by

its policy. More’s sentence for seconddegree murder began Sept. 28, 2012. He was initially sentenced to life without parole eligibility for 15 years at the age of 23 alongside another man, Devin Riel Joseph Schmit, in the Oct. 10, 2010 murder of Roberto Joseph Vicente, 25. The pair met Vicente, who was from Bladworth, at a party in Davidson, and shot him twice in the head when they went to steal his car stereo, the Leader-Post reported on Sept. 29, 2012.

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A new warning is scrawled on the sign outside of Ste. Louis Outreach Centre of Peel food bank in Brampton: “NO international students!!” The food bank says it has had to deal with an increasing number of international students asking for help, according to board president Catherine Rivera. Ste. Louis implemented its latest policy to combat what Rivera says is a growing number of people who are using their services. Food banks have been struggling to keep

up with soaring demand amidst the cost-ofliving crisis. A new Ipsos poll on Wednesday suggested that one in four Canadians will turn to charitable services, like food banks, over the next six months. Ste. Louis food bank has been operating for more than 40 years and serves 2,600 families, according to Rivera. It began in September, where Rivera said Ste. Louis as well as other local food banks were “floored” and “overwhelmed” by the increased demand.

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Saturday, November 11, 2023

Canada introduces new online tool to help consumers keep track of food prices As Canadians continue to battle high grocery costs prices, three federal agencies have released a new online tool to provide consumers with up-to-date information and data on food prices in Canada. The Food Price Data Hub aims to help Canadians make “informed decisions about their food purchases,” according to a release. The tool is a collaborative effort between Industry, Science and Economic

Development Canada, Statistics Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. It contains several key trends in food inflation as well as the average price of staple food products, such as milk, white bread, rice, chicken breasts, and bananas. It also has the latest release of the Consumer Price Index and features information on year-overyear changes in food supply chain prices.

BC premier disturbed by disappearance of high risk sex offender B.C. Premier David Eby says he is “deeply disturbed” an untreated, highrisk sex offender was able to walk away from his halfway house in Vancouver and effectively disappear over the weekend. Randal Hopley, 58, is now wanted Canadawide after vanishing Saturday, and the premier is criticizing the National Parole Board for not placing him under stricter supervision. “That he was insufficiently supervised and able to walk away from a halfway

house, I don’t understand why there weren’t sufficient safeguards put in place by the parole board on this individual to prevent this from happening,” Eby told media at an unrelated event Sunday. He explained that bail reform legislation, currently stuck in the Senate, needs to be prioritized to target repeat offenders and protect the public. “It’s hard to underline the importance of ensuring the safety of our kids.

BC has the highest average wages in Canada, but families are still struggling The B.C. NDP is touting new Statistics Canada numbers that show B.C. has the highest average wages in Canada for the first time in 19 years. But opposition critics and living wage advocates say the numbers don’t tell the whole story, and that rising costs are eating into those wage gains. Federal job numbers for October 2023

released last week show the province’s average hourly wages are $35.58, edging out Ontario and Alberta which have traditionally led wages in the country. However, new figures from this year’s Living Wage report shows those higher wages aren’t going very far as families struggle with rising grocery and housing costs.

Indian envoy says Canadian govt has not shown any concrete evidance on Nijjar’s killing Indian high commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma said that neither Canada nor its allies have shown concrete evidence related to Hardeep Nijjar’s killing. Amid New Delhi’s stand on the diplomatic standoff with Canada, Indian high commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma has urged Ottawa to release evidence to back up its allegation in connection with the killing of pro-Khalistan militant Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Verma reiterated that neither Canada nor its allies have shown concrete evidence related to Nijjar’s killing. “There is

no specific or relevant information provided in this case for us to assist them in the investigation,” Verma told the Canadian daily. We’re now on WhatsApp. Click to join. On September 18, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons that there were “credible allegations” of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. In the immediate aftermath, both countries expelled each other’s diplomats. India also suspended its visa services to Canada initially, but relaxed them for a select group a month later.

Surrey police investigating reported ‘disgusting’ mob attack on Surrey soccer pitch A mob reportedly stormed a soccer field in Surrey on Saturday night and assaulted players on the opposing team, apparently triggered by a foul during a Vancouver Metro Soccer League game. “It was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen in my whole entire life,” said a spectator, who requested anonymity. “I couldn’t believe what happened. They start throwing punches at this guy; it was like a brawl.” “They stormed the field, basically.” The spectator said six police cars, with officers from the Surrey Police Service and Surrey RCMP attending, were called to the park at 7395 128 Street. Roughly 15 South Asian men ages 20 to 35 who were watching the game ran out onto pitch six, the spectator added, to join in on the “disgusting” and

“disturbing” incident, “throwing punches.” “You had these guys that were not even on the fricking team running on the field, throwing punches.” The spectator, who also claimed to have been hit by a thrown bottle, said the targeted team was “scared s— tless, they weren’t even fighting back.” Women, children and elderly people were also in the park. According to a Vancouver Metro Soccer League schedule, the DLT Blazers were playing Vancouver Patagonia FC A starting at 6:15 p.m. Nov. 4 on turf number six. Surrey RCMP Sgt. Tammy Lobb stated Monday, in an email that “at approximately 8 p.m. on November 4, 2023, Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a disturbance at an Athletic Field in Newton. Once on scene,

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Diwali 2023

Saturday, November 11, 2023 From page 1

Rare Astrological occurrence after 400 years on this Diwali

Dr Mrityunjay Tiwari, Head of the Astrology Department of Shri Kallaji Vedic Vishvavidyalaya, shared

interesting facts with News18 about this rare occurrence. He said that this year, before Diwali, Pushya Nakshatra will

start at 07:57 am on Saturday, November 4, and will continue to remain so till 10:29 am on Sunday, November 5. According to him, due to the Pushya Nakshatra on Saturday, Shani Pushya Yoga has been formed. He added that due to the occurrence of Pushya Nakshatra on Sunday, Ravi Pushya Yoga has been formed. Shani Pushya Yoga and Ravi Pushya Yoga are the best days for shopping and investing in any assets. These days are believed to be auspicious and any work done during this time will reap rich dividends for a long time. The accomplishments that will be achieved by the work done on this day will remain stable.

Group rallies outside BC Legislature against health care vaccine mandate The caucus of the Conservative Party of BC joined about 50 people rallying outside the provincial legislature on Thursday calling on B.C. to end its vaccination mandate for health care workers. The rally took place a day after BC Conservative House Leader Bruce Banman called on the provincial government to fire provincial health officer Bonnie Henry and bring back “thousands of health care workers who were wrongly kicked to the curb” because of the mandate. “This is not about opposing the jab,” Banman said. “It is about ending the medical tyranny of this NDP government and Dr. Bonnie Henry. Enough cajoling, enough coercing and enough deflecting. It’s time to be held accountable.”

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Saturday, November 11, 2023 From page 1

Police investigating reported ‘disgusting’ mob attack on Surrey soccer pitch

Indian diplomat says high-level Canadian official damaged probe into Sikh’s murder

Verma told the newspaper. “A direction has come from someone at a high level to say India or Indian agents are behind it.” He did not name the high-level official. However, on Sept 18, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that “Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India” and Mr Nijjar’s death. The case has sparked a diplomatic row between the two countries. Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India after New Delhi in September asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic

A mob reportedly stormed a soccer field in Surrey on Saturday night and assaulted players on the opposing team, apparently triggered by a foul during a Vancouver Metro Soccer League game. “It was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen in my whole entire life,” said a spectator, who requested anonymity. “I couldn’t believe what happened. They start throwing punches at this guy; it was like a brawl.” “They stormed the field, basically.” The spectator said six police cars, with officers from the Surrey Police Service and Surrey RCMP attending, were called to the park at 7395 128 Street. Roughly 15 South Asian men ages 20 to 35 who were watching the game ran out onto pitch six, the spectator added, to join in on the “disgusting” and “disturbing” incident, “throwing punches.”

presence following Canada’s allegations over Mr Nijjar’s killing. Mr Verma said that India has not been shown concrete evidence by Canada or Canada’s allies that Indian agents were involved in Mr Nijjar’s killing. He said that despite the strained relations between the two countries, India would like to expand business ties and return to the negotiating table on a trade deal. In September, Canada paused talks on a proposed trade treaty with India, just three months after the two nations said they aimed to seal an initial agreement in 2023.

Surrey hospital portable as ER waiting area Using portables for kids in B.C. isn’t just happening at schools — Surrey Memorial Hospital has installed a temporary emergency waiting area at its pediatric wing, preparing for a potential surge in patients. Fraser Health confirms to CityNews that the portable was installed in anticipation of what could be a spike in “pediatric volumes this winter.” The health authority explains the portable is designed to be a space “dedicated to kids and their families to help ensure the best possible experience – especially during times when visit numbers are high.”

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Environment commissioner ‘extremely concerned’ after audit concludes Canada’s climate plan for 2030 can’t be trusted The Liberal government’s vaunted accountability plan to hit Canada’s 2030 climate target is actually an unreliable blueprint that can’t be trusted, the federal environment commissioner has concluded. In his report, the environmental policy watchdog concluded the Liberal climate plan relies on “overly optimistic assumptions” about the success of the government’s policies to cut emissions. Just a small proportion of those policies — five per cent — come with a clear statement of how much they are expected to reduce emissions, making it impossible to track whether they are worth their costs, DeMarco found. And, citing delayed initiatives like the cap on Canada’s ever-increasing oil and gas emissions first promised in 2021,

the commissioner revealed that fewer than half of the measures in the plan have deadlines for implementation, raising concerns about whether they will be in place in time to make a real difference. Taken together, the shortcomings mean the environment commissioner is “extremely concerned about the federal government’s ability to make meaningful progress” in slashing emissions under the plan, the report said. Outlining the stakes of failure to address climate change — including disappearing polar ice, rising sea levels, species losses and more frequent and severe wildfires, droughts, floods and storms — DeMarco said the science shows it will soon to be too late to prevent the worst damage

Conservative motion to exempt carbon tax from all home heating rejected in House of Commons From page 1

Eastern Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and ministers Chrystia Freeland and Jonathan Wilkinson among others, have already said there would be no more exemptions. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault recently told Radio-Canada it would not happen as long as he is in his role. Liberal MP Ken McDonald, who

has sided with the Conservatives twice already in calling to remove the carbon tax, was heckled loudly as he stood with his party in voting against the motion. After the vote, Conservatives rose on a point of order to say that McDonald had been giving them the middle finger during his vote, but the MP alleged that he was scratching the side of his face with two fingers.

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Vol 22 - Issue 40

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Tel: 604-591-5423

What is Diwali and how is it celebrated?

iwali, the festival of lights, marks the time when millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world celebrate the triumph of good over evil with beautiful rituals such as festive lights, fireworks, sweet delicacies and family gatherings. We delve into the Diwali story, history and traditions, to find out how Diwali is celebrated and how you can take part in the magical festivities.

to be respectful and cover yourself is usually on the third day, which is matter which Diwali story you celebrate, inside temples. Avoid taking photos of similar to New Year’s Eve. Brothers and it’s always a day of new beginnings and worshippers. sisters reserve the last day of celebrations light over darkness. Traveling during the Diwali festival to spend time together. How is Diwali celebrated? Diwali is a fun and beautiful time in Although the Diwali festival officially The word Diwali comes from the India, but the widespread celebrations lasts for five days, preparations begin Sanskrit word “deepavali”, which means can affect your travel plans. Many well in advance. Fireworks and festivities “rows of lighted lamps”. Households people return to their home villages often last for days afterwards. across India celebrate by decorating their during the festival, so hotels and public Temples are always busy with religious space with small lamps called diyas and transportation systems fill up quickly. rituals during Diwali, so remember other colourful lights. People cover streets and buildings in festive lighting and there are lively songs and dance. Wishing you and your family a Dazzling fireworks go off, creating a spectacle of noise and light. This helps to scare away evil spirits and celebrate the victory of good over evil. Many consider Diwali to be a fresh start, similar to the Lunar New Year in January. Many people clean, renovate, decorate their homes and buy new clothes in preparation for the upcoming year. MIKE BERNIER SHIRLEY BOND DAN ASHTON DOUG CLOVECHOK PEACE RIVER SOUTH PRINCE GEORGE - VALEMOUNT COLUMBIA RIVER-REVELSTOKE PENTICTON Diwali is also a time to settle debts and make peace. It’s common for people to reach out to loved ones who may have lost KEVIN FALCON touch and organise family LEADER OF THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION LORNE DOERKSON MICHAEL DE JONG DAN DAVIES TREVOR HALFORD CARIBOO-CHILCOTIN ABBOTSFORD WEST PEACE RIVER NORTH SURREY-WHITE ROCK MLA | VANCOUVER-QUILCHENA reunions. In the past, Indian and Pakistani soldiers have exchanged sweets along the disputed border, as a gesture of Diwali goodwill. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, KARIN KIRKPATRICK GREG KYLLO MICHAEL LEE NORM LETNICK RENEE MERRIFIELD PETER MILOBAR Diwali is the festival for you. WEST VANCOUVER-CAPILANO SHUSWAP VANCOUVER-LANGARA KELOWNA-LAKE COUNTRY KELOWNA-MISSION KAMLOOPS-NORTH THOMPSON The most delicious tradition is the gifting of mithai (sweets). Friends and family exchange colourful boxes of Indian delicacies, like pedas, ladoos, jalebis, barfis and ELLIS ROSS MIKE MORRIS CORALEE OAKES IAN PATON TOM SHYPITKA BEN STEWART SKEENA PRINCE GEORGE-MACKENZIE CARIBOO NORTH DELTA SOUTH KOOTENAY EAST KELOWNA WEST dried fruit and chocolates. When is the Diwali festival? The dates for Diwali change each year, as they are based on the Hindu lunisolar calendar. The festival usually TODD STONE TERESA WAT JACKIE TEGART ELENORE STURKO JORDAN STURDY KAMLOOPS-SOUTH THOMPSON SURREY SOUTH RICHMOND NORTH CENTRE WEST VANCOUVER-SEA TO SKY FRASER-NICOLA falls between mid-October and mid-November. A message from BC United Caucus How long does the Diwali Formerly BC Liberal Caucus festival go on for? Diwali lasts for five days. The peak day of celebrations

Happy Diwali & Bandi Chhor Divas

What is the story behind Diwali? Each religion marks a different Diwali story and historical event. In one of the main stories in Hindu mythology, Diwali is the day Lord Rama, his wife Sita Devi and brother Lakshmana return to their homeland after 14 years in exile. The villagers lit a path for Rama, who had defeated the demon king Ravana. Reenactments of this story are part of celebrations in some regions. Another Diwali story in Hindu mythology is that Diwali marks the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura and freed the people of his kingdom. After he slayed the demon, Lord Krishna declared it a day of festivities. In some parts of India, people burn effigies of the demon kings in both stories as part of the celebration. People also celebrate the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi during Diwali. As the goddess of prosperity, wealth and fertility, the romantic Diwali story says that she chose Lord Vishnu, one of Hinduism’s most important deities, to be her husband on the night of Diwali. In other cultures, Diwali coincides with harvest and new year celebrations. No

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Diwali Special

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Diwali Happy

& Bandi ChHor Diwas

Diwali Special

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Diwali Special

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Wishing Everyone

& Bandi Chhor Diwas

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Diwali Special

Saturday, November 11, 2023

What is Bandi Chhor and why is it celebrated? Bandi Chhor Divas literally translates to ‘prisoner release date’

n 4 November Sikhs and Hindus around the world will not only be celebrating Diwali, but also Bandi Chhor Divas, which celebrates the acts of compassion and selflessness from Guru Hargobind – a Guru is a religious teacher of Sikh faith – who remained imprisoned to protest for the rights of wrongly imprisoned Hindu princes. The meaning of Bandi Chhor Divas and its importance in his own words below: Bandi Chhor Divas literally translates to ‘prisoner release date’. It refers to when

the 6th spiritual leader of the Sikhs Guru Hargobind Sahib was released from Gwalior Fort in India in 1619. Guru Hargobind was requested by the Mughal emperor at the time, Jahangir, to stay at his fort to perform prayers. However, one of the advisors of Jahangir wanted to keep Guru Hargobind at the fort as a political prisoner as he was such an influential figure. Guru Hargobind stayed at the fort for many months and during their time there they met many people who were falsely imprisoned and were made to stay in

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extremely poor conditions. The Guru eventually was asked to leave the fort. However, he refused to leave until the 52 innocent Hindu princes were released from imprisonment.

The Guru and the prisoners returned from Gwalior to Amritsar in India and by the time they arrived at Amritsar many weeks later the celebrations for Diwali were underway.

The emperor reluctantly agreed to the freeing of these princes, but only if they could all hold onto the Guru’s cloak. After this request, the Guru ordered for a cloak to be made with 52 tassels attached for all imprisoned princes to hold onto. 52 innocent Hindu princes were later released from Gwalior Fort.

Sikhs and Hindus celebrate Bandi Chhor as a day of reflection on how we can all learn from this story the values of compassion, selflessness and the importance of community cohesion and helping others regardless of background, religion or any other characteristics.

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HAPPY DIWALI & BANDI CHHOR DIWAS

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10 FABULOUS FACTS ABOUT DIWALI! It’s time for vibrant colours, eye-popping fĳireworks, twinkling lights and delicious food

acts about Diwali 1) Diwali is an important religious festival originating in India. People often think of Diwali as a Hindu festival, but it is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains.* 2) Diwali takes place annually and lasts for five days, marking the start of the Hindu New Year. The exact dates change each year and are determined by the position of the moon – but it usually falls between October and November. Facts about Diwali - food 3) The word Diwali (or Deepavali as it’s sometimes called) means “row of lights” in an Ancient language of India, called Sanskrit. During this festival, people decorate their homes with lights and oil lamps, called diyas. 4) For many people, Diwali honours the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. The lights and lamps are said to help Lakshmi find her way into peoples’ homes, bringing prosperity in the year to come! Facts about Diwali - diyas 5) It’s also a celebration of good triumphing over evil, and different legends based on this theme are associated with Diwali. In northern India, Hindus celebrate the return of the deities (gods)

Rama and Sita to the city of Ayodhya, after defeating the evil king Ravana! 6) In the region of Bengal people worship the goddess Kali, the destroyer of evil forces, during Diwali. And in Nepal (a country bordering north-east India), people celebrate Lord Krishna’s victory over the wicked king Narakaasura.

Facts about Diwali - Leicester 9) Today, this fascinating festival is celebrated by thousands of people in countries all around the world. During Diwali, Hindus living outside India gather at places of worship called mandirs to leave offerings to deities, watch firework

displays and eat yummy food together! 10) The city of Leicester, in the United Kingdom, holds the largest Diwali celebrations outside of India. Every year, tens of thousands of people gather in the streets to enjoy vibrant shows of light, music and dancing!

Facts about Diwali rangoli 7) But it’s not just about lights and legends –– Diwali is a time to have fun with friends and family! People exchange gifts and sweets, enjoy delicious feasts, watch firework displays and wear new clothes. It’s a time to clean and decorate your home, too. 8) Rangoli is a popular Diwali tradition –– beautiful patterns made using colourful powders and flowers. People draw rangoli on the floor by the entrance of their homes to welcome the gods and bring good luck!

Premier David Eby and your BC NDP MLAs wish you and your family a Happy Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas Premier David Eby Vancouver-Point Grey

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Teens with fake guns spark two Burnaby police incidents in one day A 17-year-old who pointed a toy gun at his brother as the two were travelling in separate vehicles on Highway 1 in Burnaby Sunday faced police officers with real guns drawn at the end of the ride. Police got a call at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday

from a witness travelling eastbound on the highway who said they had seen a person point a gun at another vehicle near the Kensington exit, according to Burnaby RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Kalanj.

BC government to allow 20-storey high-rise towers near all SkyTrain stations For all SkyTrain stations in Metro Vancouver, municipal governments will be required to allow minimum residential building heights of up to 20 storeys for sites within 200 metres of a station, up to 12 storeys for sites between 201 and 400 metres from a

station, and up to eight storeys for sites 401 metres to 800 metres from a station. Building height is one determinant for the number of new homes that can be built near these transit hubs, but another major factor is the permissible floor area ratio (FAR) density, which is the calculation of

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Premier Eby says meetings with Trudeau & ministers were a success, despite no big steps on housing BC Premier David Eby says while he had hoped to get more support from Ottawa in his push to solve the province’s housing crisis, two days of meetings with federal policymakers on a wide range of issues was an overall success.

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Eby was in Ottawa on Monday and Tuesday along with Housing Minister Ravi Khalon, Economic Development Minister Brenda Bailey, Transportation Minister Rob Fleming, Attorney General Niki Sharma, Tourism Minister Lana

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BC most satisfied province when it comes to premier approval rates: poll A recent poll reveals that among all of Canada’s provinces and territories, BC is the most satisfied with its leader. According to Research Co., a statistics and analytics firm based in BC, only 47% of British Coumbians believe someone else

could do a better job than Premier David Eby. This is the lowest rate of dissent toward a premier across the country. In Ontario, the poll indicates that 64% of voters think someone else could be doing better than their premier.

Canadian poet Rupi Kaur declines White House invitation over Gaza situation Canadian poet Rupi Kaur says she’s turned down an invitation from U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration because she opposes his government’s response to the Israel-Gaza war. Kaur says in an Instagram post that the administration invited her to VicePresident Kamala Harris’s Diwali celebration. She writes that she won’t attend because the U.S. government is funding Israel’s bombardment

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of Gaza. Kaur says she can’t accept an invitation from “an institution that supports the collective punishment of a trapped civilian population.” More than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry there. The war broke out after the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel last month, leaving upwards of 1,400 people dead.

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Canada plans to convert public buildings into 2,800 new units amid shortage of homes The Canadian government on Tuesday announced plans to convert six federal properties into 2,800 new homes by March and said it was accelerating a process to identify more public buildings for home conversion as the country grapples with a housing shortage. The construction would include affordable housing and, combined with previously announced projects for the next five years, Ottawa is now on track to double the number of affordable homes built in the past 30 years, Public Services Minister Jean-Yves Duclos told a news conference. “The housing crisis that we are living now is a product of decades of under-

construction,” Duclos told reporters in Ottawa. “In response to unprecedented housing needs throughout the country, many of these buildings can be transformed into safe, accessible and affordable homes.” The cities of Calgary and Edmonton in the western province of Alberta as well as Ottawa will see new homes built as part of the plans announced on Tuesday. Housing supply has failed to keep up with Canada’s immigration-fueled population growth, and affordability worsened during the coronavirus pandemic when housing prices soared due to high demand amid low borrowing costs.

Community news Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre & APNI South Asian Community Response Networks Surrey is going to celebrate Diwali the Festival of Lights, Get Together on November 13th 2023 at Ultimate Banquet hall # 200 - 8072 - 120th street Surrey BC, from 6.00 pm to 9.30 pm, The well known Musicians of South Asian Community Mrs. Tejaswita Mohan, Mr. Raj Toora, & Mr. Swaran Dhaliwal have kindly accepted our request to entertain Senior’s Community free of cost with Bollywood Old Melodies. We shall also be celebrating Group Birthday of

all Senior members born between July 22nd to Nov. 13th. The Event will have Tea, Pop, Appetizers, delicious Dinner -------------------------Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator , Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre, & Coordinator - APNI South Asian Community Response Networks, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, 8321 140th St., Surrey, BC, V3W 5K9 Tel: 604 - 507 - 9945

Saturday, November 11, 2023

INDIA Indian black money stashed away in Swiss banks

Ever since the Modi government rode to power with the promise of bringing back the billions stashed away by Indians in tax havens abroad, they have been constantly reminded of this promise. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) drafted a new Black Money Act on May 11, 2015, and also announced a voluntary disclosure scheme

till September 30, 2016, for declaring assets and until December 31, 2016, to pay tax at 30 per cent and penalty at 30 per cent. Two examples suggest that governments may not be serious. The response of the government in the Supreme Court (in the Ram Jethmalani case) indicated that tax demands of Rs 71,848 crores had been raised against Hasan Ali

Why cleaner Mumbai is witnessing a Delhi-like air pollution Mumbai, known for its proximity to the sea and relatively cleaner air, is facing a concerning rise in air pollution levels. The city experienced one of its most polluted Octobers, with the air quality index (AQI) reaching over 300 in some western suburbs. Surprisingly, for a few days, Mumbai’s particulate levels surpassed those of Delhi,

a city notorious for its high pollution levels. As per a TOI report, this spike in pollution has led to an increase in respiratory complaints, particularly among individuals with sensitive airways. A pediatric hospital has reported a 30 per cent surge in children seeking medical attention for respiratory issues in just a month. Dr. Dilip

UK PM Rishi Sunak & wife throw a big Diwali party British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosted a special ceremony at 10 Downing Street ahead of the internationally observed Hindu holiday of Diwali, extending good wishes to the Hindu population

in the UK and throughout the world. Hindu community members visited Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, at 10 Downing Street for the happy occasion.

US shares $553 Million in Adani group’s investment in Sri Lanka port to curb China’s influence HE US will provide US$553 million in financing for a port terminal in Sri Lanka’s capital being developed by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, as New Delhi and Washington look to curtail China’s influence in South Asia. The funding from the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) underscores renewed US and Indian efforts to

loosen Beijing’s sway over Sri Lanka after Colombo borrowed heavily to splurge on Chinese port and highway projects before its economic meltdown last year. For Adani, US money may offer a stamp of legitimacy after allegations of fraud by shortseller Hindenburg Research erased billions from the conglomerate’s market value earlier this year.

10 Indian-Americans win state and local elections in US At least 10 Indian-Americans, almost all of them Democrats, have won local and state-level elections held in several parts of the country, reflecting the growing political empowerment of the ethnic community that constitutes a little over one per cent of the US population. In Virginia, Hyderabad-born Ghazala Hashmi was re-elected to the State Senate for a third consecutive term. She was the first-ever

Indian-American woman and a Muslim to be elected to the Virginia State legislation. Suhas Subramanyam was re-elected to the Virginia State Senate. He was elected to the House of Delegates for two terms in 2019 and 2021. A former technology policy advisor in the White House during the Obama Administration, Houston-born Subramanian is the first Hindu to be elected to the Virginia House.

Indian student who stabbed in US gym dies An Indian student died days after being stabbed while working out at a fitness centre near his university in Indiana, USA. Varun Raj Pucha, 29, was stabbed in his head at Planet Fitness just down the road

from Valparaiso University on 29 October. Pucha was put on life support at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne but succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday.

Indian Billionaires turn to AI to become Trillionaires Indian billionaires have a newfound love – artificial intelligence, which would now help them become trillionaires, obviously. According to recent reports, billionaire Binny Bansal is launching an

AI-as-a-service startup that will target global customers, and then enable their AI needs. The head wants to shift to the fastest growing sector in the economy, after making a fortune in Indian e-commerce.

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Gujarati singer, Kinjal Dave performing in Surrey

Smoke 2 Snack in collaboration with 9 Square Media hosted Garba Queen Kinjal Dave at Aria Banquet Hall, Surrey on Sunday 5th November. Snehal Patel, Daksh Patel and Purak Patel put together an exciting and very well managed evening and Garba enthusiasts had an unforgettable experience. Also in the picture is RedFM Gujarati RJ, Vibhooti Vaishnav hosting the show.

Saturday, November 11, 2023

FIJI

PAKISTAN

Fijians prepare to welcome Rabuka on Cook Island As many as 2000 Fijians in the Cook Islands are preparing to welcome Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to the country on Tuesday night local time. Chairman of the Friends of Fiji organisation Bogi Leleivuda said the event was significant because a Fijian Prime Minister was coming to the country after a lapse of 16 years.

“This extraordinary occasion promises a heartfelt celebration of friendship, culture, and mutual respect,” he said. “It will serve as a moment of unity and connection and an opportunity to showcase the vibrant Fijian culture and heritage to the wider community.”

Anti-migrant crackdown leaves Afghans with no shelter Afghans fleeing Pakistan to avoid arrest and deportation are sleeping in the open, without proper shelter, food, drinking water, and toilets once they cross the border to their homeland, aid agencies said on Nov. 5. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans

Extend maximum facilities to Sikh pilgrims -PM Kakar

Police raids result in seizure of drugs & arrests Two men and a woman were arrested in Korovuto, Nadi, following a raid that resulted in the discovery of white substances believed to be methamphetamine. Divisional Police Commander West SSP Iakobo Vaisewa said the trio remained in custody and the seized substances and

smoking apparatus would be taken for analysis. These arrests are among others made throughout the country as operations continued its focus on those involved in the cultivation, manufacturing and distribution of illicit drugs.

Inflation figures not reflective of reality on the ground Consumers are bearing the full brunt of the rising cost of living and the Government should consider introducing a mitigation package to assist families, said ANZ Bank’s International Economist – Pacific Dr Kishti Sen. In a media conference yesterday, Dr Sen

said with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) components used today still based on 2008 prices, the official inflation figures were not reflective of the reality on the ground where inflation may realistically be at around 13 per cent, according to his estimates.

Home prices and sales continue to weaken in Surrey & Fraser Valley Residential real estate activities in the jurisdiction of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB), which includes a substantial area of Metro Vancouver, continue to follow a downward trajectory across key metrics. FVREB’s latest statistics for the month of October 2023 show there were just 970 homes sold over the course of the

have left Pakistan in recent weeks as authorities pursue foreigners they say are in the country illegally, going door-todoor to check migrants’ documentation. Pakistan set Oct. 31 as a deadline to leave the country or else they’d be arrested as part of a new anti-migrant crackdown.

The caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul-Haq on Monday directed the authorities to extend maximum facilities

Pakistan Army faces its worst crisis since 2014 With a spate of high-profile raids and attacks on military installations, the Pakistani Army is facing its worst crisis since 2014, when it had launched its largest crackdown on militant

groups under Operation Zarb-e-Azb. Last week’s two attacks - a strike on an army convoy that killed 14 soldiers in Gwadar and a raid on the Mianwali training air base

Russia asks Pakistan to return helicopter engines Russia approached several countries asking to buy back weapons it sold them, hoping to deploy them in Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reported. Secret talks have taken place with

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month, representing a 12% drop from September 2023 and the fourth consecutive decrease since the 12-month high of 1,935 recorded in June 2023. The number of new listings also fell from 2,860 in September 2023 to 2,535 in October 2023, representing an 11% year-over-year drop.

to the Sikh pilgrims intending to attend their religious festivals in the country.

Egypt, Belarus, Brazil and Pakistan, the outlet reported, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the discussions. Three of those sources told the paper that Egypt agreed to quickly and quietly return 150 helicopter engines.

BC changes municipal development fees

Characterized by a local development institute as “some of the most substantial changes to the development approval process in decades,” the B.C. government introduced new legislation Tuesday morning that hopes to streamline and add transparency to municipal charges for amenities and infrastructure.

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Bill 44, if passed, would require local governments to “shift their planning to an upfront framework,” and pre-zone land to meet housing needs, and reduce the use of current rezoning processes. It would also apply to Vancouver, under that city’s own Charter.

Saturday, November 11, 2023