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Surrey police officer arrested by RCMP on breach of trust charge
An officer from Surrey’s new police force has been arrested by the RCMP over a potential breach of trust charge.The officer was arrested on Tuesday and suspended with pay.The Surrey Police Service (SPS) says the officer was hired in May of 2022, and they had over a year of police experience.
Continued on page 11 English, French, Mandarin and Punjabi, are four most commonly spoken languages in Canada - Census 2021 English, French, Mandarin and Punjabi are the four most commonly spoken languages spoken in Canada says Statistics Canada. As per the 2021 Census, English and French are the most commonly spoken languages with more than 9 in 10 Canadians speaking one of the two official languages at home at least on a regular basis. 4 in 10 people could conduct a conversation in more than one language and 1 in 11 could
South Asian Business Association of BC had a round-table conference meeting with Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development on August 16. Hnourable Minister discussed present situation with regards to the issues or concerns of small businesses and possible solutions. The meeting was attended by members of South Asian Business Association (SABA), local businessess owners and general public. Members of Parliament, from Surrey Centre, Randeep Sarai and MP John Aldag, were also present at the meeting.
Canada & Australia reject visas for Indian after 3,000 cases of forged documents
A substantial percentage of applications from Punjab students who wish to study abroad are being rejected. According to a report in Dainik Bhaskar, the significant grounds for this include fraudulent bank statements and birth certificates, fake paperwork regarding the schooling gap, and the mistrust of foreign officials. In 2020–21, the Australian Department of Home Affairs uncovered over 600 cases involving Punjab and Haryana in which forged documents were used to obtain education visas to Australia.
Continued on page 7 Service. Since the charges are not officially laid, the officer’s identity has not been released. The officer has been released as the investigation continues.In 2018, Surrey decided to transition away from the RCMP to its own police service. Currently, over 100 SPS officers are deployed into policing operations, while the RCMP remain in charge of policing, the SPS website says. An armed man who planned to ‘assassinate the Queen’ at Windsor Castle revealed his motive for the crime was ‘revenge’, a UK court has heard. Jaswant Singh Chail was arrested on Christmas Day 2021, after trespassing onto Her Majesty’s Berkshire estate with a Supersonic crossbow. The 20-year-old told an officer on duty that he was “here to kill the Queen”, before being ordered to drop to his knees and release his weapon. He was charged with treason for
The charges against the SPS officer have not been yet approved by the BC Prosecution Vol 21 - Issue 29 Saturday, August 20, 2022 Tel:604-591-5423
British Sikh Windsor Castle intruder told guards he wanted to kill Queen as revenge for Jallianwala Bagh massacre
Minister of International Trade meets with South Asian Businesses in Surrey South Asian immigration lawyer gets 22 months jail for forging documents A B.C. immigration lawyer with deep ties to the province’s South Asian and political communities has been sentenced to 22 months in jail after pleading guilty to 17 charges including forgery and the misrepresentation of facts. Balraj Singh “Roger” Bhatti, 63, was charged in 2020 and accused of colluding with foreign nationals to make fraudulent claims for refugee protection in Canada. He was suspended by the Law Society of British Columbia at that time.
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Now a Surrey mayoral candidate says she will “end” the city’s ban on cannabis shops if she is elected on October 15.
cannabis stores
“The current ban is based on outdated evidence,” Jinny Sims, Surrey Forward’s mayoral candidate, said in a press release on Tuesday (16 August). “The assumption was that banned sales would reduce consumption, protect our youth and keep the community safe. None of that happened.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Doug McCallum said, “First of all, there is no ban.” McCallum, who is again running for mayor under the Safe Surrey Coalition banner, said when his list was chosen they “agreed to place two in Surrey and we have since considered one site”. He added the city is looking at two sites and is “very, very close to doing a rezoning and having it up and running in months.” Safeway.
2 Saturday, August 20, 2022 *See website for Price Match terms and conditions. Prices in effect until September 2, 2022, while quantities last. Visit us online for more great deals! paragondirect.ca(604)255-9991 760 East Hastings Street, Vancouver Biggest UnbeatableSelection,Prices. Shop Paragon for all your Restaurant Equipment and Supplies at the Lowest Prices — Guaranteed!* ONMONTH!THISSALE
With the October 15th general election coming up, it will be almost four years since the federal government legalized cannabis – two days to be exact. And Surrey still has no cannabis shops. But people can cross 120 Street (Scott Road) into Delta to visit a pharmacy, drive to White Rock or Semiahmoo First Nation, or have their order delivered to their home in Surrey.
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Pedestrian hit by vehicle in Newton, Surrey RCMP say The driver of the vehicle, RCMP say, remained on scene and is “cooperating with the investigation.” Police add “speed and alcohol are not deemed to be factors in the collision.” Surrey RCMP say the investigation is ongoing and investigators are gathering traffic camera footage and witness accounts. Anyone with more information, including dash-cam footage around the area, is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.
Surrey mayoral candidates’ stand on
Sims said there were “three reasons” for allowing cannabis sales in Surrey: to curb the impact of gangs and illegal cannabis sellers; to ensure the safe supply of cannabis products in Surrey; and prevent dealers from enticing recreational cannabis users into more dangerous drugs. “Secure supply makes a big difference, but we also need to make sure our children aren’t exposed to dealers who mix cannabis with more dangerous drugs. This is only done to turn consumers from a legal product to one that is illegal and more profitable for gangs.”
Police say the driver remained on scene, speed and alcohol are not considered factors in the crash Surrey RCMP say a pedestrian has “non-life-threatening injuries” after being hit by a vehicle Wednesday evening (Aug. 17). A pedestrian, “who stepped off the curb, outside of a marked crosswalk to cross the street,” was hit by a vehicle heading westbound on 72 Avenue near 128 Street, according to a release from Surrey RCMP. Police say the pedestrian was taken to hospital.
NOW OPEN! FIRST VISIT EXAM FREE UNTIL AUG 30, 2022 2850 Shaughnessy St., Port Coquitlam, BC 778-369-1518 info@lionsparkanimalhospital.com Surgeries (spay, neuter, dental procedure) Vaccinations Digital X-RAYS Pet Food House Calls Orthopedic Surgery Newly open animal hospital in Port Coquitlam by the
3Saturday, August 20, 2022 LOCAL / NATIONAL 604 930 2122 8820 168 St., Surrey, BC V4N 6G7 Registration Started for Gurmat School GOBIND SARVAR SCHOOL offers best Basketball, Hockey, Soccer, Vollyball & more Sports Activities 2022/2023OPENREGISTRATION GURMAT SCHOOL | GOBIND SARVAR SCHOOL Programs: KG - Grade 11 SCHOOL BUS SERVICE AVAILABLE www.gobindsarvar.cainfo@gobindsarvar.caContact the School Office for AdmissionsIt’s going to be another day of hot, hot heat across the province. Environment Canada has now issued 13 heat warnings across the province, through to Friday morning. “Temperatures will soar this afternoon, even confusionandhaveBCpreviousofrecorded,2008B.C.useaofficialsSekhon,vulnerablepeople,butThatcheckthesaidthat’sourconditioning,coolinghavebetweenandsawheat-domehighshighsSunshineThompson,Lake,Canyon,inlandheatheatpartswiththeadditionalcloudcoveracrossthesouthwestofB.C.,”saidmeteorologistMarkMadryga.“Itwon’tbeashotonFriday,andthewarningswilllikelybeendedbythen.”Therearecurrently13regionsinB.C.underawarning:MetroVancouver,CentralCoastsections,EastVancouverIsland,FraserFraserValley,HoweSound,KootenayNorthCoastinlandsections,NorthOkanaganValley,SouthThompson,CoastandtheWestKootenay.Temperaturesareexpectedtoreachdaytimebetween29and35CinMetroVancouver.IntheOkanaganValley,daytimebetween35and40Careexpected.Thesetemperaturescanbedeadly.Aeventinthesummeroflastyearmorethan600deathsintheprovinceintheheatwaveearlierthissummer,July26andAug.3,16peopledied.Forthistwo-dayheatwave,manymunicipalitiesopenedupcoolingcentresormistingstations.TheCityofBurnabyhasfourcentresavailablewithairWi-Fiandwaterinside.“Wehavehadmorethan2,800visitstocoolingcentressofarthissummer,andnotevencountingtheoutdoorones,”ColeWagnerwiththeCityofBurnaby.Withextremeheatexpectedthroughoutday,peoplearebeingremindedtoonvulnerablecommunitymembers.“Let’stakecareofourvulnerablepopulations.includesnotonlyourelderlyresidentsalsoouryoungerchildren,pregnantandoutdoorworkerswhocanoftenbetoheat-relatedillness,”saidBobbyanEnvironmentCanadaspokesperson.Ifyou’refeelinghot,gotoacoolingcentre,said.Stayingintheshadeortakingcoldshowercanalsohelpyoustaycool.”We’rewelcomingeveryone.Comein,cooloff,ourbathroomifyouhaveto,”saidWagner.Withscorchinghighheat,manylongstandingheatrecordswerebrokenonWednesday:IntheMalahatarea,therecordwastiedat31.4C.InthePembertonarea,anewrecordof37Cwasbreakingtheoldrecordof36.1setin1977.IntheSecheltarea,anewrecord31.1Cwasrecorded,breakingtherecordof30.9setin2012.OnWednesday,Dr.BirinderNarang,aGlobalmedicalcontributor,saidheat-relatedillnessesmanyindicatorsthatpeoplecanspot.“Thingsyouwanttolookforareseverenauseavomiting,faintingorlossofconsciousness,ordisorientation,difficultyspeaking, 13 heat warnings now in effect for BC as more records fall
4 Saturday, August 20, 2022 # 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2 Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615 E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com Editor: Umendra Singh Associate Editor: Chhavi Disawar Marketing and Sales: Ravi ShamirCheema......................604-715-3847Doshi....................604-649-7827HarminderKaur...............778-708-0481ParminderDhillon..........604-902-2858 Pre-Press: Iftikhar Ahmed Design: Avee J Waseer Contributing writers: Jag Dhatt, Akash Sablok, Kamila Singh, Jay Bains, Hardam S. Mann www.theasianstar.com Publication Mail Agreement No 428336012 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept. New address: # 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2 All advertising in The Asian Star is subject to the publishers’ approval and the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publishers against claims arising from publication of any advertisement submitted by the advertiser. OPINION
Does Canada have a two-tiered system of justice?
By Brian Giesbrecht
The FBI raid on the home of former U.S. President Donald Trump has emphasized existing concerns that the United States now has a two-tiered justice system – one for those in power and another for those who aren’t. But here in Canada, we have a quieter version of that same debate, revealed during the convoy protests. A long-standing political discussion within Canada has concerned a so-called “two-tiered health care system” replacing the current socialist model. One side argues that allowing private enterprise to participate in the system would improve it, while supporters of the status quo argue that it would create a “two-tier” system that would hurt the less advantaged. That discussion is playing out in the courts today, particularly with the case brought by Dr. Brian Day. However, until very recently, there has not been a concern about a two-tiered justice system, where one’s political view determines what kind of justice one will receive. In fact, up until recently, there has been a universal agreement on the principle that the system should treat everyone equally. While it has always been recognized that those with money have better access to lawyers, it has always been taken for granted that a person’s political views would be irrelevant when meting out justice. Simply put, that Justice would be blind to the politics of the day. That has changed, and the case of Tamara Lich brings worries that we now have a justice system that favours those with “acceptable political views” while persecuting those with “unacceptable views.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau explained his “acceptable views” philosophy to Canadians when he was asked why he supported (and even participated in) protests, such as the Black Live Matter (BLM) and the Wet’suwet’en protests, but condemned, and was willing to make illegal, the convoy protest. He said he supported those with “acceptable views” and condemned those with “unacceptable views.” In his view, he gets to decide which views are “acceptable” and which views are “unacceptable.” In the case of those who supported the convoy protests, those with “unacceptable views,” Trudeau labelled those citizens as “racists” and “misogynists.” His government then treated those protestors in a draconian way never before seen in this country. People had their bank accounts frozen, some were jailed, and some had their trucks and personal property seized. No other protestors in Canadian history had ever been treated as harshly. For
British Columbia has more residents than any other province whose predominant language at home is not English or French, according to Statistics Canada. The 2021 census found that 17.1 per cent of B.C. individuals fall under that category, compared to 15.7 per cent in Ontario — the second-highest — and 1.4 per cent in Newfoundland, the lowest. Nunavut, however, Canada’s youngest territory, has 42.2 per cent of residents reporting that English or French is not their primary language at home. A Statistics Canada graphic shows the proportion of residents by province and territory whose predominant language at home is not French or English, as per the results of the 2021 census. The B.C. findings are an increase of 1.5 per cent from the 2016 census results, while the number of homes where English is most used dipped by half a per cent over the five-year span. The results published Wednesday also found one in four Canadians have a mother tongue other than English or French, and about 12 per cent predominantly speak a non-official language at home. Mandarin and Punjabi are the most common non-official languages, with more than a million people predominantly speaking one of the two. Apart from English and French, Mandarin is spoken by the largest number of people in Vancouver. In both Kamloops and the Abbotsford and Mission areas, it’s Punjabi. More than one in four Vancouverites — 27.6 per cent — speaks a non-official language at home, along with just under 21 per cent in Abbotsford and Mission. Click to play video: ‘Number of people who speak languages other than English and French growing at fast rate: StatCan’ 0:35 Number of people who speak languages other than English and French growing at fast rate: StatCan Number of people who speak languages other sincesuchpredominantlythethanEnglishandFrenchgrowingatfastrate:StatCanStatisticsCanadanotedalargeincreaseingrowthofthenumberofCanadianswhospeakSouthAsianlanguagesasPunjabi,Gujarati,HindiorMalayalamthelastcensus,arisefueledbyimmigration.
A woman is dead and a man clinging to life Thursday after they were shot in the city’s southwest, the latest incident in surge of gun violence in Calgary. At about 8:20 am local time, police were called to the 100 block of Everwoods Crt. S.W. Calgary, where they found two gunshot victims in dark brown Bentley parked in driveway. “The woman was declared deceased on scene, while the man was transported to hospital in life-threatening condition,” city police said in a press release. Police were urging the public to avoid the area but were asking anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them at 403-266-1234. It’s the latest shooting in a city increasingly rocked by gunplay this year. On Wednesday, police said that so far this year, there have been 91 shootings in Calgary – just five short of the city’s total of 96 in all of 2021. By this time last year, there had been 52 shootings in the city.
Jack Hundial announced Tuesday he is withdrawing from the race for council, due to a transfer to the Okanagan with his other job as an investigator for FortisBC. His wife was also facing a similar move with her job, he said.
Critics say the demolitions are part of a retaliatory response to Muslims protesting or being vocal critics of the government.
Jack Hundial will not l be running in forthcoming Surrey civic election 2022 One of Surrey’s sitting city councillors is pulling out of the upcoming municipal election race.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, NJ (CAIR-NJ) and the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) have condemned the presence of a bulldozer during the India Independence Day Parade in Edison. The 18th Annual India Day Parade was held on Aug. 14, beginning at the intersection of Cinder Rd & Oak Tree Rd in Edison and ending at Middlesex Ave & Oak Tree Rd in Woodbridge. A bulldozer, with a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, was part of the parade. The bulldozer is a symbol of the demolition of Muslim homes in India, the groups said, especially in the state of Uttar Pradesh ruled by Adityanath. “While we support Indian Americans’ right to celebrate their heritage and independence from British colonial rule, we condemn the use of a bulldozer and the glorification of Hindu nationalist figures who have a deeply antiMuslim track record,” CAIR-NJ Executive Director Salaedin Maksut said in a statement. The bulldozer became a divisive symbol in India after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) used them to demolish the homes and livelihoods of the Muslim community.
Woman shot dead, man injured amid rising gun violence in Calgary
Muslim groups condemn presence of bulldozer at India’s independence day parade in US
RCMPinSurreypartHundial“Thiswasareallyreallyharddecision,”hesaid.waselectedin2018asaofMayorDougMcCallum’sSafecoalition,butsplitfromtheparty2019overthecity’smovefromthetoitsownSurreyPoliceService.
In his four years on council, the former RCMP officer he said he’s most proud of spearheading the creation of a Surrey ethics commissioner’s office. “I’m going to continue to advocate for this at the UBCM at the provincial level,” he said. Hundial and Surrey mayoral candidate Brenda Locke, another former Safe Surrey Coalition member, formed the new Surrey Connect party, which is challenging McCallum in the Oct. 15 vote. Despite his move to the Okanagan, Hundial said he will stay on as a director with the new party, and will continue to support it through the election campaign.
5Saturday, August 20, 2022 LOCAL / NATIONAL BC leads all provinces for residents whose primary language at home isn’t English or French
The return of Zellers comes as soaring inflation drives consumers to discount retailers in search of lower prices. It follows Tuesday’s announcement from Hudson’s Bay that outdoor gear retailer MEC will open shops in three Bay department store locations this fall. It also comes amid an ongoing lawsuit over a Quebec family’s use of the Zellers brand. The Moniz family is behind various recent trademark applications and corporate registries, including Zellers Inc., Zellers Convenience Store Inc. and Zellers Restaurant Inc. In a statement of claim filed last fall, HBC accused the Moniz family of trademark infringement, depreciation of goodwill and so-called passing off — the deceptive marketing or misrepresentation of goods.
Mason made the comments after Chance Nichol, a 28-year-old homeless man with a long-standing heroin addiction, was escorted out of the courtroom to begin serving his sentence. Nichol had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and assaulting a police officer with a weapon on Sept. 27, 2021. He had also pleaded guilty to mischief for smashing the windows of two downtown businesses.
In an email to CBC News, a spokesperson for Hudson’s Bay did not confirm where the new Zellers stores will be located. Initial inventory will include housewares, furniture and toys, with apparel to be introduced later in the year. The company also plans to launch a private brand, according to the release.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to social media to celebrate President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act, boasting that the American legislation will be a win for Canadians. “It’s official: @POTUS signed legislation that will include Canada in a new tax incentive for electric vehicles purchased in the US,” Trudeau said Tuesday on Twitter. “This is good news for Canadians, for our green economy, and for our growing EV manufacturing sector.” “With this law, the American people won, and the special interests lost,” Biden said. “This administration began amid a dark time in America… a once-in-a-century pandemic, devastating joblessness, clear and present threats to democracy and the rule of law, doubts about America’s future itself — and yet we’ve not wavered, we’ve not flinched, and we’ve not
Hudson’s Bay to resurrect Canadian discount retail chain Zellers next year
Discount department store Zellers hopes to make a comeback next year, a decade after the Canadian chain shuttered most of its locations.
Bruce Winder, a Toronto-based retail analyst, said he believes the Zellers revival is partly a reaction to the lawsuit.
A three-year prison sentence for a man who drove a stolen car into a defenceless police officer outside Our Place last year serves notice that assaults on officers will not be tolerated, the injured officer said Wednesday. “This incident happened at a time when there was a big trend of assaults and violence on police,” said Victoria police Const. Todd Mason, a 12-year veteran. “That needs to end. We need to protect the police because if we’re not around, who is going to protect the public. So I hope the sentence sends Three-year prison sentence for man who ‘mowed down’ Victoria police officer with car a message that police are not targets.”
PM Trudeau celebrates Canadian windfall from Biden signing Inflation Reduction Act given in.” Canadian officials celebrated the new law as a windfall for Canada and its green energy manufacturing sector, which will benefit from Americans receiving tax credits for purchasing electric vehicles made in North America, a fact not lost on critics of the legislation. “Using your taxes to boost the Canadian automobile manufacturing sector is not going to reduce inflation in the United States, but it is quite a gift to Canada, the same country that sued the U.S. in the WTO to get us to remove country of origin labels from our beef and pork,” Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said Wednesday in response to Trudeau. Biden signed the legislation after it passed both chambers of Congress on party lines, and Vice President Kamala Harris had to cast the tie-breaking vote in 51-50 Senate vote.
6 Saturday, August 20, 2022 Designed for kids' immune systems, pediatric vaccines deliver a smaller dose than the adult dose and help protect children. Canada's pediatric vaccines have been rigorously tested and are safe. Getting vaccinated helps prevent children from getting seriously ill and hospitalized. Pediatric vaccines are now approved for children aged 6 months to 4 years. Learn more at gov.bc.ca/vaccineforkids
Hudson’s Bay Co. says Zellers will debut a new e-commerce website and expand its brick-and-mortar footprint within select Hudson’s Bay department stores across the country in early 2023. The company says the relaunched Zellers will offer “a digital-first shopping journey that taps into the nostalgia of the brand.”
Prosecutors also told the court that the discharged bolt from Chail’s crossbow had the potential to cause serious or fatal injuries. Investigators found that Chail had previously applied to work for the Ministry of Defence and the Grenadier Guards South Asian Windsor Castle intruder told guards he wanted to kill
7Saturday, August 20, 2022 205 - 7134 - King George Boulevard, Surrey, BC V3W 5A3 T 604 449 7500 F 604 449 7501 TF 1 888 449 7573 E info@rmlawyers.ca From page 1 For more Updates, Visit our www.theasianstar.comWebsite
A truck driver has been sentenced to four years in prison for smuggling 33 kilograms of methamphetamine into Canada from the U.S. back in 2018. Surrey RCMP said officers with the Canada Border Services Agency conducted a screening of the tractor-trailer at the Pacific Highway border crossing on Nov. 18, 2018. Officers found the methamphetamine hidden inside the driver’s cabin and later fromduresscommittedatforpossessionexportarrestedthedriver,SarbjitChahal,ofSurrey,B.C.Chahalwaschargedwiththeimport/ofacontrolledsubstance,andofacontrolledsubstancethepurposeoftrafficking.Helatertookthestandinhisowndefencetrialat2021,andclaimedheknowinglytheallegedoffenceswhileunderafterhavingreceiveddeaththreatssomeonewhohadaskedhimtoactas
a courier, police said in a news release on Monday. Chahal was sentenced to four years on the import/export charge and two and a half years for possession for the purpose of trafficking. The sentences will be served concurrently. Chahal was charged with the import/export of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. He later took the stand in his own defence at trial at 2021, and claimed he knowingly committed the alleged offences while under duress after having received death threats from someone who had asked him to act as a courier, police said in a news release on Monday. Chahal was sentenced to four years on the import/ export charge and two and a half years for possession for the purpose of trafficking. The sentences will be served concurrently.
threatening to kill the Queen earlier this month after a Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command investigation into the incident found that he had been planning the attack for months in retaliation to the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Chail filmed a video before entering the grounds of Windsor Castle, the nowpermanent residence of the 96-year-old monarch. In the clip, which was seen by the court, he says that he is “sorry for what I have done and what I will do. I am going to attempt to assassinate Elizabeth, Queen of the Royal Family.”
South Asian trucker gets 4 years jail for smuggling meth across border more languages.The 2021 census found that the proportion of Canadians with English as their first official language spoken increased, while those with French decreased. 75.5% and 21.4% of Canadians speak English and French as their first language, but only 63.8% speak English and 19.2% speak French predominantly at home. But, nearly 7 in 10 Canadians whose mother tongue is neither English nor French speak one of the two at home. 12.7% speak a language other than Canada’s official languages predominantly at home and one in four Canadians had a mother tongue other than English or French.18.0% are bilingual English-French Canadians.The census found English, French, Mandarin and Punjabi, are four most commonly spoken languages
8 Saturday, August 20, 2022LOCAL / NATIONAL
Subsequent analysis by the BCCDC estimates that just 43 per cent of fatalities between April 9 and June 16 had COVID-19 as the underlying cause of death.
BC hospital cases fall again, report argues latest wave has peaked
B.C. hospital cases fall again, report argues latest wave has peaked The number of COVID-19 cases in B.C. hospitals fell to its lowest since June on Thursday, as independent experts say the latest Omicron-driven wave has peaked. As of Aug. 18, there were 366 cases in hospital, down 32 from last week. Twenty-two cases are in critical care, unchanged since last Thursday. B.C. reports all positive cases in its hospitals, regardless of the reason why the person was admitted. The update follows the independent B.C. COVID-19 Modelling Group’s Wednesday report, which said the Omicron BA.5 variant wave had peaked. The report said that while the variant did have some more transmissible sub-lineages, none appeared to be strong enough to drive another wave in the near future. The report also suggested that current COVID-19 infection rates may be as much as 100-fold underreported, citing serology (blood test) data. Molecular testing for COVID-19 has been severely restricted in the province since late December 2021, and just 15,332 tests were conducted in the week ending Aug. 13, confirming 877 new cases. Despite the apparent improvements, the number of people admitted to hospital with COVID actually increased to 181 in the week ending Aug. 13. Those figures are preliminary, however, and weekly admission data has been consistently revised upward significantly. How many people are actually dying of COVID? Thursday’s BCCDC report also documented 24 new deaths, a figure that is even less reliable than hospital admissions. Like admissions, deaths are typically revised upward the following week. However, because B.C. counts all fatalities among people who have had COVID in the previous 30 days, the province says the metric significantly overestimates deaths.
9Saturday, August 20, 2022
Abbotsford police have released a composite sketch in a possible child abduction attempt on Monday evening. The incident is alleged to have happened around 8:30 p.m. in the 2700-block of Maple Street. Police say the child reported that a stranger reached through an open bedroom window and pulled them outside, down the side of the house and to the roadway. According to police, the child broke free and the suspect fled. The child was uninjured. The suspect is described as about 40 years old and five feet 10 inches tall with a dark complexion, a medium build, short brown hair and a full beard.
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3211 - 152 st., Unit 205, Surrey, BC, V3S 3M1 Sketch released of suspect in possible Abbotsford child abduction attempt
The commission has named 13 individuals and five corporate entities as defendants. They’re alleged of purchasing large quantities of shares of the companies, conducting public promotions of those companies and orchestrating the hacking of brokerage accounts to purchase company stock while simultaneously selling their own. The commission further alleged that some defendants failed to file beneficial ownership reports to conceal their considerable control of the companies’ stock. Zoltan Nagy, 55, a resident of Port Coquitlam with stated ties to Point Roberts, founded Lotus in 2011 and has been its controlling shareholder and sole director for much of the past decade, according to the commission. Nagy partnered with Richmond resident and penny stock promoter Richard C. S. Tang, 44 and his wife Anna Tang, 43, to have Nagy’s Lotus shares deposited into brokerage accounts. However, the claim does not explain how. Website
B.C.’s Professional Employees Association (PEA), which represents 1,200 public sector workers across the province, says its members could start walking off the job as early as Saturday, Aug. 20. At noon Wednesday, a group of government-licensed professionals under the PEA umbrella, including agrologists, engineers, foresters, pharmacists, psychologists, geo-scientists and veterinarians issued a 72-hour strike notice. Melissa Moroz, the PEA’s acting director, says the union is seeking a wage increase that reflects soaring inflation and the increasing cost of everything from rent to groceries. “They started bargaining back in April and B.C. Professional Employees Association threatens strike, warns of ‘costly delays’ negotiations broke off in May,” she told CBC, adding that a strike vote was taken in June. “Ninety-two per cent of them support strike action if that’s necessary, in order to get a fair collective agreement with wage increases that, at a minimum, align with cost of living increases.” B.C. cannabis stores brace for emptier shelves as strike stops provincial shipments Moroz says the union does have an essential service agreement in place for some employees: engineers and foresters will remain on call in the event of emergencies like floods or fires, as will psychologists who work with vulnerable youth and certain pharmacists who provide essential services. Three people were arrested in New Westminster, B.C. last week after a girl said she was accosted when someone pointed a can of bear spray in a local park. The incident took place around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 12 at Moody Park. The girl called 911 and provided suspect descriptions, police said in a Wednesday news release. They seized a replica handgun and two cans of bear spray from the suspects. “Thanks to this youth calling 9-1-1, we were able to locate and arrest these suspects,” said Sgt. Justine Thom in the release. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the New West Minster Police Department at 604-525-5411.
British Columbians allegedly hacked U.S. brokers in offshore shell scheme: U.S. SEC Two B.C. families are accused of fraud against U.S. retail investors in an arrangement that spanned from Metro Vancouver to the Bahamas and Switzerland. The U.S. Securities Commission filed a civil action on Aug. 15 in the Northern District of Georgia federal district court alleging a group of British Columbians were involved in a “fraudulent hacking scheme” against retail brokerage firms that generated $1.3 million in profits. The civil claim alleges two microcap (penny stock) companies — Lotus BioTechnology Development Corp. and Good Gaming Inc. — were used as vehicles to defraud American investors.
Police said he had a silver septum piercing in his nose and a flower tattoo on his left arm from his bicep to his forearm. He was wearing a ripped blue short-sleeved t-shirt, ripped blue jeans, and blue and white slip-on shoes, according to the child’s description. Abbotsford police are urging people to lock doors and windows, and report any suspicious activity. Anyone who recognizes the suspect is asked to call police immediately. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has video from the area around the time of the incident is also asked to contact Abbotsford police at 604-859-5225.
Bear spray, replica gun seized after girl reports she was accosted in park in New West
Since Masse was charged, RCMP confirm that more victims have come forward, and say they are looking into every report they receive.
Seniors First
Investigators describe White as a 40-year-old man, standing six feet one-inch, 181 pounds, with brown hair, blue eyes, sporting a tribal tattoo on the right side of his chest and a handgun tattoo on his right front shoulder. Anyone with information about White’s location can contact Houston RCMP at 250-845-2204.
The notice says the landlord has terminated the lease, effective Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, as a result of “arrears of payment of rent in the amount of $10,000” and “failure to provide Freedom Convoy-affiliated group alleges attempted eviction from Ottawa church proof of liability insurance in the minimum of $5 million.” Another notice on the door says the tenants are in violation of the Ontario Heritage Act. The United People of Canada have said they are in the process of purchasing St. Brigid’s Church on St. Patrick Street, with plans to turn it into an “Embassy.” The historic church has been for sale for over a year, with an asking price of $5.9 million. The bailiff returned to the church on Thursday morning after initially visiting the church the day before to issue the notice of termination. Several Ottawa police cruisers were spotted outside St. Brigid’s Church early Wednesday evening to assist with a dispute between the landlord and tenant.
wanted on multiple arrest warrants Police are searching for a B.C. man in connection with numerous crimes reported in the Houston, B.C., area. Matthew Roy White is wanted for robbery, break and enter, possession of stolen property and several firearmrelated offences. Police consider White armed and dangerous. White,”confront“Undernocircumstancesshould(someone)ortrytoapprehendMatthewCpl.MadonnaSaundersonsaid.
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Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have discovered what they describe as a “weak spot” in all of the major variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 — a revelation they believe could open the door for treatments to fight current and future mutations. In a peer-reviewed study published Thursday, the research team said they found a largely consistent soft spot — like a chink in the virus’s spike protein armour — that has survived the coronavirus’s mutations to date. Scientists determined a certain antibody fragment was able to “effectively neutralize” all the variants, to some degree, because it exploited the vulnerability.
Retired priest, 92, pleads not guilty to indecent assault in historical residential school case A 92-year-old retired priest charged with indecent assault in connection with a historical residential school case has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Arthur Masse’s lawyer, George Green, confirmed to Global News on Wednesday night that Masse pleaded not guilty. Masse did not appear in person in a courtroom in Powerview, Man., on Wednesday.
RCMP arrested Father Arthur Masse at his Winnipeg home in June and charged him with indecent assault in connection with an investigation into the former Fort Alexander Residential School, northeast of Winnipeg on Sagkeeng First Nation. Officers allege the offence took place when the victim was 10 years old and a student at the school, between 1968 and 1970. Police say the investigation started in 2010 and involved more than 700 interactions across North America, as well as 75 witness and victim statements.
The owner of a historic church in Ottawa’s Lowertown neighbourhood is evicting a group with ties to the ‘Freedom Convoy’ occupation planning to purchase the property this fall, in an apparent dispute over unpaid rent for the facility. A “Notice of Termination of Tenant” notice on the front door of St. Brigid’s Church on St. Patrick Street says the landlord has terminated the occupancy of the United People of Canada under the Commercial Tenancies Act, and the locks have been changed.
A Surrey senior who waited 10 hours for an ambulance with a broken hip is speaking out in the hopes of making emergency care an issue in her local byelection. Jaqui Joys fell and broke her hip at home on Aug. 7, and logged her first 911 call around 9 p.m. Her son came to tend to her as she waited, but when no ambulance had arrived by midnight, they called again. At 3:30 a.m., still immobilized, she phoned a third time. “Twice they said the ambulance was on the way, however it obviously wasn’t … They kept saying yes, they were on their way,” Joys said. “It’s frustrating with them, because they say they’re on their way, and I don’t know where they were coming from — Grand Prairie? Where? And no timeline.” ‘Critically injured B.C. man dies after almost 30 minute wait for ambulance’ 1:46 Critically injured B.C. man dies after almost 30 minute wait for ambulance Critically injured B.C. man dies after almost 30 minute wait for ambulance – Aug 4, 2022 Finally, around 7 a.m. an ambulance arrived and took Joys to hospital, where she was admitted for hip surgery within hours.
AAA BC senior with broken hip waits 10 hours for ambulance
UBC researchers find ‘weak spot’ in all variants of COVID-19 virus that could lead to better treatment
LOCAL / DangerousNATIONALBCman
BC Ferries reports busiest-ever spring for vehicle traffic
The situation in the Downtown Eastside continues to heat up, and a picture of a flyer that was shared to social media has many in the city concerned. Twitter user Trey Helten (@ ashtrey5) shared the picture on Monday morning. Helten is a notable graffiti artist in the Downtown Eastside. Helten states that someone was driving around and “throwing these out of a car window” two nights ago. “I’m actually speechless for once,” Helten wrote in his tweet. The flyer states in all caps that “tents & belongings on the sidewalks will be burned with gasoline and propane canisters.” Whoever wrote the flyer didn’t proofread it, as there are some grammatical errors. “Residents that live in the area will not you to destroy our community any longer with your selfish.” The Flyer goes on to state that residents have “7 days to comply.” “This is a serious warning to the homeless in the area. Leave now or suffer the consequences of your selfish addiction.” The letter also threatens the Insite safe injection site directly, saying that it will be “the first building to be burned down if the homeless and addicted human do not leave the area in the 7 day period.” our Website www.theasianstar.com
Man accused of killing Nanaimo teen pleads guilty to 2nd-degree murder
The man charged in the death of a Nanaimo teenager pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder. Steven Michael Bacon, born in 1964, pleaded guilty yesterday, Aug. 15, in B.C. Supreme Court in Nanaimo, in relation to the disappearance of Makayla Chang, 16, who was reported missing in March 2017. Nanaimo RCMP announced Bacon had been charged with first-degree murder in September 2020. A sentencing date is expected to be established on Aug. 29. A preliminary hearing, to determine whether there was sufficient evidence for trial, took place last November. Bacon had been incarcerated in a maximum-security prison in Ontario and was transferred to Nanaimo for the hearing. Chang was last seen March 19, 2017, with Nanaimo RCMP subsequently issuing a missing person’s press release. Her body was found in May of that year. The plea was entered before Justice Robin Baird, with Nick Barber representing Crown counsel and Gilbert Labine serving as Bacon’s legal counsel. B.C. has lost more than 10,000 lives to illicit and toxic drug deaths since the province declared a public health emergency in 2016, said the chief coroner. In the first half of 2022, 1,095 British Columbians died from accidental overdose deaths, the highest recorded in the first six months of a calendar year. Last year, 1,071 people died over the same period, contributing to a record-setting 2,264 deaths for 2021. This year’s 1,095 deaths bring the death toll from the opioid overdose crisis to 10,168 since 2016 — a grim milestone in an epidemic that continues to worsen despite steps taken by government and repeated calls for action from advocates.
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In announcing the charges, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said Bhatti, based in Delta, B.C., worked with an interpreter, Sofiane Dahak, in offences that involved people coming from Central Europe and took place between 2002 and 2014. The CBSA began investigating Bhatti in 2012. Bhatti started practising law in 1983 and branched out to immigration law in 1990. The Canada Border Services Agency began investigating the immigration law practice of Roger Bhatti in 2012. In his reasons for sentencing, recently posted online, B.C. Provincial Court Judge Mark Jetté wrote that at the time of the offences Bhatti was one of the busiest lawyers in the Lower Mainland representing clients seeking convention refugee status. The court found that Bhatti forged notes in the name of his family physician and others saying clients were unwell in a bid to adjourn or postpone hearings with the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). The notes often said that a client suffered a heart attack, loss of hearing or had kidney stones. The physicians whose letterhead was used for the documents testified in court that they had not prepared them. The court said that Bhatti “submitted Hungarian police reports and/or medical records which he knew to be false, with the intention of inducing the IRB to make a finding in favour of his clients.” Bhatti’s lawyers, including former B.C. attorney general Wally Oppal, asked for a conditional sentence for their client, who had no prior criminal convictions. A conditional sentence was denied by Jetté due to the “seriousness of these offences,” he wrote. “The fact that Mr. Bhatti was acting in his capacity as a lawyer throughout, the impact Mr. Bhatti’s conduct has had on the integrity of the convention refugee system in this country, and Mr. Bhatti’s high degree of moral blameworthiness call for a sentence of institutional jail.”
A record number of vehicles were ferried around coastal B.C. this past spring. BC Ferries released first-quarter results today, Aug. 18, and reported that vehicle traffic this spring was up 42 per cent from the previous year to reach its highest-ever levels for that time of year. Passenger traffic overall was up 74 per cent from the first quarter last year but was 6.3 per cent lower than pre-COVID-19 levels; however, vehicle traffic in the first quarter this year was up 3.8 per cent from before the pandemic. Revenues and earnings were also up, the ferry company noted in a press release. Revenues for the first quarter of 2022 increased $35.7 million from the previous year, which BC Ferries attributed to higher traffic volumes as well as retail sales. Removing ‘safe restart’ pandemic recovery funding from the calculations, BC Ferries’ revenues were up $93.2 million from the previous year. The company’s net earnings for the quarter were $7.9 million, up from $4.7 million, and operating expenses were $242.1 million, up from approximately $211 million. BC Ferries reported that the higher expenses were mainly due to more sailings – which came with higher labour costs.
Deb Bailey holds a photo of her daughter Ola (‘Izzy’) on International Overdose South Asian immigration lawyer gets 22 months jail for forging documents
The rate of death from illicit drug toxicity in B.C. has risen from 20.4 for every 100,000 people in 2016 to 43.6 in 2021, more than double the 20.5 rate across Canada. “B.C. is leading fatalities due to drug toxicity in this country,” said Lapointe.
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“The public health emergency was declared (in 2016) due to the increase in the number of deaths,” Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe said at a news conference on Tuesday. “We’ve now seen it grow from an average of 2.7 deaths per day to six deaths per day in 2022.”
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According to post mortem toxicology reports, deaths with “extreme fentanyl concentrations,” defined as more than 50 ug/L, made up 17 per cent of all deaths from November 2021 to June, compared to 13 per cent from April to October 2021 and eight per cent from January 2019 to March 2020.
Flyer says “tents will be burned” in threat to the Downtown Eastside
BC’s overdose crisis has claimed more than 10,000 livesaccording to Coroner report In June, there were 146 suspected overdose deaths in B.C., according to the coroners service’s latest report on illicit drug toxicity deaths. That’s the lowest figure of any month this year, and a 17 per cent decrease from June last year when 175 people died. However, the relatively lower figure — the equivalent of 4.9 deaths per day — is not enough to offset the high number of deaths earlier in the year. The numbers for July have not been finalized, but Lapointe said they are “significant” and expects them to be high. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, has been detected in 83 per cent of all overdose deaths in 2022. The data also suggests that more people are dying with high concentrations of fentanyl in their bloodstream.
Disha Patani puts up a cryptic post Disha Patani‘s Instagram story has left everyone speculating about what is bothering her. The cryptic story, which she updated on Tuesday night has increased the buzz around trouble in her rumoured relationship with actor Tiger Shroff. While Disha and Tiger have never confirmed their relationship, her closeness to his family has been noticed by their fans, who have often rooted for their relationship. However, lately, there has been several reports about trouble in paradise for the rumoured couple. Disha uploaded a story, in which with the lyrics of Brent Morgan’s song Gonna Be Okay. She chose the lyrics had written, “If no one ever told you, its all gonna be okay. When you lose faith in everything you ever knew, Don’t give up on you. When life gets overwhelming…”. She added a blue butterfly to her stories and left it for everyone to speculate the reason behind the mysterious Instagram story. Disha and Tiger’s sister Krishna are best friends and often upload posts together. According to a report in Bombay Times earlier, Tiger was reportedly too obsessed with his career and fitness and didn’t have much time to invest in a relationship. However, Disha was hopeful that things will take a turn for the better. The one-sided relationship had led to problems between the two of them. Both Disha and Tiger has made several public appearances together and have also worked in films such as Baaghi 2 and Baaghi 3. However, neither of them have ever spoken about their personal life on a public platform.
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Shah Rukh Khan poses with family Shah Rukh Khan has joined thousands of Indian citizens for the government’s Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. The actor hoisted the national flag at his famous home Mannat in Mumbai. His wife, producer Gauri Khan took to Instagram to share a photo of the family, posing with the flag. In the picture, the entire family was seen dressed in white shirts and blue pants. Shah Rukh held Abram’s hand while Aryan struck a stylish pose. Behind them, the flag flew high. Sharing the photo, Gauri wrote, “Happy Independence Day. “ The couple’s daughter Suhana Khan was not part of the picture. She is currently working on her acting debut, The Archies, a film by Zoya Akhtar. Recently, Shah Rukh was spotted having a get-together with his old friends in Delhi. Gauri had shared a photo from the party on social media. Taking to Instagram, Gauri shared the post which she captioned, “Going back to Delhi always refreshes my most cherished memories... Fun evening with friends and family celebrating at @ shalini.passi’s .” In the group picture, the actor could be seen posing with his friends Anand Bakshi, an Indian poet and lyricist. He was nominated for Filmfare Award for best lyricist for 40 times, resulting in 4 times win. Anand Bakshi was born Bakshi Anand Prakash Vaid, was born in Rawalpindi on 21 July 1930 into a Mohyal Brahmin family of the Vaid clan. The family arrived in Delhi, via Dakota aircraft after Partition and then migrated to Pune, then Meerut and settled in Delhi. Anand Bakshi was fond of writing Urdu poetry since his young age, but he did this mostly as a private hobby. In a 1983 interview with Doordarshan, Bakshi recounted that after his initial studies, he joined Indian Navy, where due to a paucity of time, he could only write occasionally. He continued to write poetry whenever time permitted, and used his songs and lyrics in local programmes related to his troop. He worked in the Navy for many years and simultaneously tried to market his songs in the Mumbai’s film world, Bollywood. Bakshi came to Hindi films to make a name for himself in writing and singing, but ended up becoming more successful in writing lyrics. He got his break writing songs in a Brij Mohan film titled Bhalaa Aadmi (1958), acted by Bhagwan Dada. He wrote four songs in this film. His first song in this film was “Dharti Ke Laal Na Kar Itna Malaal” which was recorded on 9 Nov 1956. (In his own voice on All India Radio interview)[4] After writing for a few movies from 1956 onwards, he first found success in 1962 with Mehendi Lagi Mere Haath, which was produced by (LimeLight), Music Kalyanji & Anandji, Music Pub-HMV/Saregama. Bakshi later made another mark for himself writing a quawwali for the 1962 film Kala Samundar, the song was “Meri Tasveer Lekar Kya Karoge Tm”. He got his real big breakthroughs in 1965 with Himalay Ki God Mein, and a huge breakthrough again in 1965 with the superhit film Jab Jab Phool Khile, starring Shashi Kapoor; and yet again in 1967 with the superhit movie Milan (starring Sunil Dutt). These six hit films within a decade of his entry into films cemented his status as a lyrics writer of immense calibre. Bakshi was preferred lyricist by Rajesh Khanna for films with Rajesh Khanna in lead. He went on to work as a lyricist of over 4000 songs and 638 films in his career. [5](See Filmography below for films reference, names of the films and their year of censorship.) He got his first break as singer in a film directed by Mohan Kumar Mom Ki Gudiya in 1972. The first song he sang was a duet – “Baaghon mein bahaar aayi hothon pe pukaar aayi”, along with Lata Mangeshkar, with music composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal. He also sang the solo “Main dhoondh raha tha sapnon mein” from the same film. He also sang songs in four other films: Sholay (1975), where he sang the qawwali “Chand Sa Koi Chehera” along with Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey and Bhupinder, (the song was released on vinyl, but not in the film. He also sung the song in film Maha Chor in 1976, in film Charas in 1976 He sung the song Aaja Teri Yaad Aayi along with Lata Ji and Rafi, and Balika Badhu in 1976. Anand Bakshi was widely associated with music composers such as Laxmikant–Pyarelal, R D Burman, Kalyanji Anandji, SD Burman, Anu Malik, Rajesh Roshan and Anand–Milind, and his songs have been sung by all the top singers as well as other singers such as Shamshad Begum, Ila haveKhursheedArun,Bawra,AmirbaiKarnataki,SudhaMalhotraandmore.Heisknowntoworked with more than one generation of music composers. He wrote the first recorded songs of many first time male and female leads who went on to become stars, and also of singers such as Shailendra Singh, Kumar Sanu, Kavita Krishnamurthy etc., and he established himself as a versatile lyricist with the song “Dum Maro Dum” in movie Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1972). He wrote memorable lyrics for many films such as Bobby, Amar Prem (1971), Aradhana (1969), Jeene Ki Raah, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Aaye Din Bahar Ke, Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke, Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay (1975), Dharam Veer, Nagina, Lamhe, Hum (1991), Mohra (1994), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Pardes (1997), Heer Raanjha, Dushman (1998), Taal (1998), Mohabbatein (2000), Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001), and Yaadein (2001).
Anand Bakshi One of the greatest lyricist of Indian cinema 21 July 1930 – 30 March 2002
South Asian Adults & SeniorsCelebration of 76th Independence Day of India on August 21st 2022 Please join us to celebrate 76th Independence Day of India being celebrated as India Day on Sunday the 21st August 2022. This is going to be a memorable event, starting with Wrestling competitions at 9.00 am and other functions like live entertainment & Cultural performances on stage, Flag Hoisting and the parade by members from different provinces of India at 1.00 pm. There will be free Food stalls on the Temple grounds to serve all the devotees of Lakshmi Narayan Temple 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC. Delicious pure vegetarian lunch & Desserts will be served in the dining hall of Temple after the program is over. Yoga classes by expert Yoga Instructor Mr. Ashwini Bansal on 22nd August 2022 (Monday) & 25th August 2022 (Thursday) both days from 10.00 am to 11.15 am. Please contact Surendra Handa Coordinator , Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre, Lakshmi Narayan Temple, 8321 - 140th street Surrey V3W5K9, BC Tel. 604 - 507 - 9945 for registration & for further information.
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SingerMuhammedRafi(left)discussesUrdulyricsbyAnandBakshi
Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra have been rumoured of dating each other for over a year now. On India’s 76th Independence Day, Kiara shared a video of her with the national flag. As soon as Kiara shared the clip, Sidharth reacted saying that she cropped him from the video. Sharing the video on Monday, Kiara wrote, “Happy Independence Day.” In the clip, Kiara is smiling in front of Delhi’s India Gate. Sidharth Malhotra commented, “Thanks for cutting me out,” to this Kiara replied, “Your hand is still there.”
Kiara crops out boyfriend Sidharth from her video Kiara Advani was born on July 31, 1991 into a Sindhi Hindu family. Born as Alia Advani, she changed to Kiara Advani, prior to the release of her first film, Fugly, in 2014. Her choice of the name was inspired from Priyanka Chopra’s character Kiara in the film Anjaana Anjaani (2010). She has stated that it was Salman Khan’s suggestion to change her name, as Alia Bhatt was already an established actress.
waiting for a perfect body to enjoy their life. “I can’t keep waiting for a body to Sunny Leone reveals some famous production houses & people are still hesitant to work with her It’s been a decade since actor Sunny Leone embarked on a journey in Bollywood, opening a new chapter in her life, but there are days when her past life comes back to haunt her. However, she says has learnt not to get bothered by these hiccups. Leaving her career in the adult film industry of the West, Leone started her Bollywood journey with Pooja Bhatt’s Jism 2, going on to create a name in the industry, and an empire for herself. “As (compared to the) person who entered the industry in 2012, I am a completely different person from then. And I think for the better. I love being here, I love this industry. I’m happy for all the work that I’ve gotten to do and lots of good choices and lots of bad choices,” Leone says. The 41-year-old continues, “But within those bad choices, good things did come out of it. And there has been a huge learning curve and being able to meet some of the most amazing people and knowing that this is my home. I love every second of it. I had no idea that I would love it as much as I did when I first moved here. I am ever grateful to all the fans who supported me because without them I really would not be here”. Coming from Canada, Leone, whose real name is Karenjit Kaur Vohra, took the reality TV route with a stint in one of the previous seasons of Bigg Boss to come into the spotlight in India. Since then, she has featured in projects such as Ek Paheli Leela, Kuch Kuch Locha Hai, Raees, Karenjit KaurThe Untold Story of Sunny Leone and Ragini MMS Returns. Now, she has also signed a project with filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. She is thankful for all the people who took a chance at a time when so many people from the industry where reluctant to work with her. “When I entered the industry, yes, a lot of people were reluctant to work with me. But there were lots of people who wanted to work with me… In that way, some of the more famous production houses and people are still probably reluctant to work with me,” reveals the mother of three, but that doesn’t bother her. She explains, “But that’s okay. I’m completely fine with it. I believe that at some point, maybe I might get a chance to work with some of these people. And I’m excited about it. I thank Anurag and his team for picking up the phone and giving me a chance and letting me audition for this part. It is really just about someone giving you the chance. And this is the perfect moment of how life changes and how the whole dynamic of my career, I believe, would change after working with somebody like him”. Recently, she was in Canada recently for an event celebrating south Asian arts — the same country where she was ridiculed for her life choices at one point.
13Saturday, August 20, 2022 Star & Style Visit our Website www.theasianstar.com
Sanya Malhotra has never failed to enthral people with her impeccable acting abilities and her social media presence. The talented diva, who is not of afraid of sharing her mind, recently spoke to Tweak India about her fitness routine, accepting herself, and the importance of self-love. Sharing her excitement about turning 30, Sanya said that she believes it is an age when one gets clarity about themselves, their likes, dislikes and how they want their relationships to be. Furthermore, Sanya talked about the importance of self-acceptance and how she Sanya shares her views on self-love has started prioritizing her mental as well as physical health. “There are times when you self-sabotage yourself for others. But now, I completely put my needs first. Be as kind to yourself as to others. You have to cultivate that compassion, that self-love,” she told Tweak India. Talking furtherwithfeelsshebodycomfortabletookactressself-acceptance,aboutthesaidthatithertimetogetwithherandbefinewithhowlooked.However,sheabsolutelycomfortableherbodynow.Shesaidthatonecan’tkeep
The Canadian housing market is currently undergoing correction. Sales and prices have fallen, but a collapse is not widely anticipated. On August 17, RBC Economics identified two factors that will prevent doomsday. These are immigration and the rising number of new households due to shrinking household sizes. “Together, immigration and shrinking households are among the forces that will bolster Canadian housing demand and protect against a full blown housing crash,” RBC economists Robert Hogue and Carrie Freestone wrote. The two economists noted that the current market correction has “yet to fully play out”. However, “it’s unlikely to morph into the type of prolonged spiral observed in the U.S. during the 2008 financial crisis”.
And so together, immigration and rising household numbers will “strengthen demand for housing (whether owned or rented) and act as a powerful counter to sliding sales and prices—eventually putting a floor under the correction”.
Two things that will protect Canada from ‘full-blown housing crash’
RE/MAX Canada released its 2022 Hot Pocket Communities Report on Thursday morning, comparing market activity from 60 districts in the GTA across the first two quarters of 2022, looking at factors such as unit sales and prices to determine the trajectory of each market. To put it mildly, the report is very good news for new home buyers looking for a cheaper entry to the market, and possible cause for new homeowners to start feeling a touch of buyer’s remorse over their recent purchases. “Buyer sentiment changed virtually overnight as growing geopolitical concerns and spiralling inflation destabilized global markets, leaving the Bank of Canada little option but to raise interest rates,” says ithand,affordabilityprices,ondownwardincreasesfuriousofAlexander,ChristopherpresidentRE/MAXCanada.“Thosefastandincrementalplacedpressurehousingsalesandimprovingononebuterodingontheother.”
“One of the main reasons: demographic demand for housing in Canada is strong—and it’s getting even stronger,” Hogue and Freestone explained. The RBC economists anticipate that the number of Canadian households will rise by 730,000 by 2024 compared to 2021. This means an addition of 240,000 new households annually. “Immigration is key to this surge: Ottawa’s targets are set to bring in a record 1.3 million new permanent residents, adding 555,000 new households by 2024,” Hogue and Freestone wrote. Another factor is the rise in the number of households because of shrinking household sizes. Households have become smaller as more people are choosing to live alone and parents are having fewer children. “Even a relatively small decline in average household size has a big impact on the number of new housing units required to shelter Canadians,” the RBC economists noted. Hogue and Freestone stated that over the five years leading up to 2021, the average household size declined by 0.02 people. “That was enough to raise the total number of households by 140,000 (or close to 30,000 a year),” they wrote. The economists continued, “This trend will be responsible for just under 90,000 of the 730,000 new households created by 2024—and will provide a significant boost in housing demand.”
Home is where you unfold it? For one Sunshine Coast tenant, that statement recently became true when a start-up company based in Vancouver finished its first installation of a foldable pre-fabricated home in Sechelt. The Lotus Mini, as its creators call it, is a 430 square-foot home (and can be increased up to 530 sq. feet) with one bedroom and one bathroom being sold by Rohe Homes. The Lotus Rancher being installed next door in a West Porpoise Bay neighbourhood will offer a three-bedroom, two bathroom option. Eventually, the company hopes to offer 10 by 10 rooms to expand units.
It hasn’t translated to the dramatic correction some analysts have predicted but RE/MAX’s report finds that Q2 values dipped from 10 to 15 per cent below Q1 levels in Durham, York, Halton, Dufferin, and Peel, with only nine markets registering an increase in average price in the second quarter of 2022.
Foldable pre-fabricated housing pops up on the Sunshine Coast
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Canada home resales will fall 23% in 2022, another 15% in 2023: RBC House prices are falling the fastest in these parts of Toronto and the GTA Owning a house in or around Toronto is no cheap prospect, as home prices in the region soared to all-time highs in 2022. But it looks like homebuyers are getting a break from the intense and sustained price appreciation in the GTA as markets cool in the wake of the Bank of Canada hiking interest rates.
Rohan Kulkarni, the CEO and originator of Rohe Homes’s design, and Salik Khan, the head of customer experience, gave Coast Reporter a tour in late July as the tenant settled in, and as the property owners awaited the installation of a second model. “It’s a rapidly deployable home,” Khan says, and can be set up within a week of delivery. “What we’re trying to focus on is accessory dwelling units and increasing the amount of housing stock in smaller communities. So places like the District of Sechelt, Gibsons, the Sunshine Coast [Regional District], they’re looking at housing options, and we’re seeing with the new bylaw change, that there’s an opportunity for people to put down a home. What we’re trying to do is create accessible dwellings that are put down in people’s backyards.” That bylaw is Sechelt’s Bylaw 580, currently under review by the District. A recent staff report said the bylaw opens up the potential for more than 1,300 new “infill” dwellings, some of which comes from new allowances for auxiliary dwelling units (also known as laneway homes) in most residential zones. Those auxiliary dwellings would need to meet a maximum size requirement of 120 square metres, with height and setback requirements according to each zone, Michaela Sugars, administrative assistant of Sechelt’s planning and development department told Coast Reporter in an email statement. Rising interest rates have led to the end of Canada’s pandemic-era housing market boom, and both prices and sales will continue to tumble into 2023. In a recent housing market update, Robert Hogue, assistant chief economist at RBC, said the “bottom is still a ways away” for Canada’s housing market. Since the Bank of Canada began raising interest rates in March, national home resales have fallen 31%, and benchmark prices have dropped nearly 6%. Most of Ontario and British Columbia have seen even greater declines. With further rate hikes still to come — another 100 basis-point increase is expected by the fall — the bottom is likely many months away. “The pandemic may not be over but the pandemic-era housing market boom certainly is,” Hogue said. “With the balance of power having dramatically shifted in their favour, buyers will be in a position to continue extracting price concessions from sellers for some time to come.” What were once overheating markets in Ontario and British Columbia’s Lower Mainland have turned into the “epicentre of the downturn to date.” Since the February peak, the biggest declines in the composite MLS Home Price Index (HPI) have been seen in Cambridge (-17%), KitchenerWaterloo (-16%), Brantford (-14%), London (-14%), and Guelph (-10%). On a monetary level, the loss in value is “striking,” Hogue said, varying from $95,000 in Guelph to $166,000 in Cambridge. In the Greater Toronto Area, the HPI has fallen 7%, or $89,000, in the last five months. The Fraser Valley is leading BC’s correction, with the composite benchmark price falling 5.6%, or $65,000, since March.
Many neighbourhoods in the Greater Toronto and Vancouver areas saw a jump in detached home sales in the second quarter of 2022 as buyers locked in lower rates and took advantage of discounts, according to a new report from Re/Max.
Cooling detached home prices lured buyers in these markets despite rising rates Calgary is seeing a decline in detached and semi-detached home sales as interest rates stay high and inventory remains low for lower-priced homes of those types. According to a report released Monday by the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB), there have been “significant slowdowns” in the detached and semi-detached house market, while condominiums and row-style properties rose in sales. Ann-Marie Lurie, chief economist with CREB, says high interest rates have started to impact detached and semidetached home sales, shifting buyers toward more affordable options like condos. “We do see some of the slower demand levels because the supply is so low. It’s going to take some time to move into that balanced territory but it is going to take some of that pressure off prices,” Lurie said. “The condo market had really struggled for quite some time. So, it’s now started to really turn around, really at the end of last year into this year.”
Re/Max also flagged a reversal of a pandemic trend affecting suburban markets: while many buyers sought to escape the city at the outset of the lockdowns in spring 2020, they’re now looking to return to the core as some remote work plans come to an end and downtowns reopen. The softening of prices in these areas, meanwhile, gave prospective buyers an affordable way
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The average cost of a detached home in Calgary was $643,600 in July — nearly 15 per cent higher than the same time last year. However, that’s a decrease from the $647,500 average detached home price in June. The average price for all homes was 12 per cent higher last July. Lurie said inventory levels are still “far lower” than what Calgary had between 2018 and 2019, and demand is still relatively strong.
MaxpresidentChristheerodingoneaffordabilityprices,housingpressuredownwardplacedonsalesandimprovingonhand,butitonother,”saidAlexander,ofRe/Canada,in a statement. Re/Max found that home values dropped 10 to 15 per cent in the second quarter of the year compared with the first in parts of the Greater Toronto area, with Durham, Peel, Dufferin, York and Halton all experiencing double-digit drops. Only 15 core’spointedtheofto-quarter,pricesawneighbourhoodsTorontoanuptickinquarter-fivewhichwereincity’score.Alexandertothestrong demand and finite supply, along with higher average incomes for residents, as keeping the area “resilient” through the downturn. In Vancouver, 75 per cent of neighbourhoods saw home price declines in Q2, most of which dropped around 10 per cent in value, Re/Max said. Core regions of Vancouver West and West Vancouver/Howe Sound saw home prices rise quarter-to-quarter, however, up 2.4 per cent and 8.2 per cent, respectively.
The real estate brokerage compared home prices and sales activity across dozens of communities in the two metropolises between the first and second quarters of the year. The report provides a glimpse into how segments of the Toronto and Vancouver housing markets reacted as the Bank of Canada rapidly hiked interest rates, starting in March of this year. “Those fast and furious incremental increases
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While apartment condominium sales continued to slow from record levels reported earlier in the year, new listings in July were still 24 per cent higher than the same time last year.
Detached and semi-detached home sales decline in Calgary with low inventory, high interest ratesSaving up for a home takes 30 months in Edmonton but 400+ in Vancouver Rent prices are widely more affordable in Edmonton than in Vancouver, so it’s no surprise it takes way less time to save up for a home in YEG, too The National Bank of Canada’s newest Housing Affordability Monitor has been released, revealing that quarter two of 2022 saw the worst deterioration of housing affordability in 41 years. It’s not all doom and gloom though — Edmonton stacks up extremely well when compared to other major cities across the country, especially Vancouver, Toronto, and Victoria. In Edmonton, it takes 30 months of saving required for the down payment on a home (with a saving rate of 10%), compared to a staggering 472 months in Vancouver, 382 months in Toronto, and 399 months in Victoria. dmonton is now the least expensive Canadian city to buy a house, surpassing Quebec city for the first time, according to the report. The condo market in YEG is even more affordable, with prospective buyers needing to save up for just 15 months to acquire the minimum down payment. Edmonton’s sister city, Calgary, is faring well, too. Home prices increased just 1.9% in the quarter, the second least important home price growth behind Edmonton. In YYC it takes 39 months of saving required for the down payment on a home (with a saving rate of 10%)..
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Russia’s Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) head Dmitry Shugaev said: “Work is underway to organise the production of the AK-203 assault rifles in India, the serial production of which is expected to begin in late 2022-early 2023. The implementation of contracts for the construction of Project 11356 frigates in Russia and India is also proceeding as planned. The current geopolitical situation has not significantly affected the fulfillment of our obligations.
Foreign Affairs Minister visits temple in Thailand
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Russia wants to build next generation tanks & submarines with India’s help As the second regiment of the S-400 Triumf air defence system starts getting delivered, Russia said it expects the serial production of AK 203 rifles in Amethi to begin in late 2022-early 2023. Underlining it is the only country in the world which can actually do a complete Transfer of Technology (TOT) in hi-tech defence equipment, Russia has said it wants to build the next generation armoured vehicles and submarines in joint collaboration with India. Russia also said despite the ongoing war with Ukraine that has prompted international sanctions, it has stood by its contractual obligations and delivery of all systems, including the S-400 air defence system, as per schedule. The delivery of the second regiment of the S-400 system is already underway.
Independence Day of India celebrated in Vancouver
The Flag Hoisting ceremony was held at Consulate General of India, Vancouver to celebrate the 76th Independence Day of India in the presence of Consulate officials and staff members and a group of ex-servicemen from the Indian Ex-Servicemen Society of B.C. Canada. Consul General Shri Manish read the President of India’s address to the Nation on the occasion. The event was streamed live on Facebook page.
Mr S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister highlighted the shared religious and cultural traditions between India and Thailand as he visited a Hindu temple here which is the official centre of Hinduism in the country. Jaishankar arrived here on Tuesday to attend the 9th IndiaThailand Joint Commission Meeting. “Offered prayers this (Thursday) morning at the Devasthana of Bangkok.
Saturday, August 20, 2022 India monitors any development in its neighbourhood which has a bearing on its security, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday, as a Chinese spy vessel docked at a strategic port in Sri Lanka despite strenuous objections from India. “I think a (MEA) spokesman had said some time ago, we obviously monitor any development, which has a bearing on our interests very, very carefully. So, I think I will leave at that,” he told the media in Bangkok.
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Jaishankar attended the ninth IndiaThailand Joint Commission meeting as the two countries celebrated 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations. The ship was originally scheduled to arrive at the Chinese-run port of Hambantota on August 11, but the Sri Lankan authorities asked Beijing to defer the port call. As the ship idled in the international waters, Colombo relented and permitted the ship to dock provided it kept the Automatic Identification System (AIS) switched on within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and did not conduct any scientific research. The minister said the US and some others may not appreciate India buying Russian oil, but they have accepted it.
We’re keeping watch, says EAM as Chinese spy ship docks in Sri Lanka INDIA
Jail official engraved word ‘gangster’ with hot iron on their son’s back - parents allege
In a shocking incident, a Dhilwan (Kapurthala)-based jail inmate has alleged in the District and Sessions Court here that a jail security personnel had tortured him and written the word ‘gangster’ in Punjabi on his back with hot iron rods. Inmate Tarsem Singh has been lodged in Ferozepur jail since 2017 in an attempt of loot case and had appeared in Kapurthala court on Wednesday where he removed his shirt and levelled allegations of torture against the jail staff while also claiming that his life is under threat.
The District and Sessions Judge Rakesh Kumar ordered that he be taken for medical examination in Kapurthala Civil Hospital and a report be submitted on August 20. Kapurthala SMO Dr Sandeep Dhawan has said that the needful will be done. The next date of hearing is on August 24. The jail officials have refuted the allegations and said that the matter was of a few days back and Tarsem had himself got this written on his back from another inmate to target the jail officials. “He had apologised for this but yesterday again he went to the court and levelled false allegations,” they said. Tarsem Singh’s parents had moved the application on the matter and had also attended the hearing on Wednesday. They said that their son had been wrongly booked by the police in several other criminal
Nepal to Bangladesh, nations mounting small acts of big rebellion against China, USA
US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi’s historic visit to Taiwan on 3 August brought out the angry Chinese nationalist. Multiple Chinese political bodies and the military issued statements condemning Pelosi’s visit, accusing her of ‘eroding the consensus of One-China Policy’. In South Asia, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka reiterated their commitment to the OneChina Policy. Pakistan’s foreign office said that the developments between US and China in the past week have had serious consequences on regional security at a time when it is dealing with severe energy and food crises. Across the Himalayas, Nepalese Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand specified, “Nepal will never allow any forces to use its territory for anti-China separatist activities.” Interestingly, the Maldives reaffirmed its support for the One-China Policy, but clarified that the government would not issue an official statement on the matter. Among other small acts of big rebellion, the Bangladesh government compelled Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi to change the dates of his visit to Dhaka in August. Sri Lanka requested China to indefinitely delay the planned visit by a ship to the Hambantota port. The intense big power competition has not only motivated India to align with the US and Pakistan with China but also put the other, smaller South Asia under a bright spotlight. Every geopolitical move is studied through the prism of the US-China rivalry. It is argued that the 2015 blockade and the subsequent fuel crisis nudged Kathmandu to consider Beijing a feasible alternative to Nepal’s economic dependence on India. Nepal officially joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2017, making the easy case that Nepal was in China’s corner. This panoramic view ignores the reality that relationships between nations are transactional and that Nepal is a player and not a game piece. The BRI would bring prosperity to Nepal while giving China an advantage to utilise the Himalayan nation’s strategic location. Additionally, China found support from Nepal on its position on Xinjiang at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and the status of Hong Kong.
19Saturday, August 20, 2022 INDIA It is rather simplistic to infer that nations pick sides in a big power rivalry basis their engagement and are, therefore, at the benevolence of the country they choose to support. There is a complex push-pull interplay between the United States, China, and smaller nations. There are limits. Most States, from the South Pacific to Southeast Asia, are angling to maximise their gains from the intensifying competition between Washington and Beijing, but remain cognisant that their behaviour must avoid spiralling into armed conflict or economic isolation. At the other end of the spectrum of limits, most States do not compromise their national interests to please big powers. South Asia, the heart of the Indo-Pacific, presents perfect examples of where small States draw the line.
3 CISF commandos dismissed for lapse in security at NSA’s residence
India has not earned US military’s increasing support
Nitin Gadkari, Shivraj Singh Chouhan dropped from BJP’s parliamentary board In a major reshuffle ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP on Wednesday reconstituted its top decision making bodies — the 11-member Parliamentary Board and the 15-member Central Election Committee — including new faces and dropping senior minister Nitin Gadkari and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan, indicating their diminishing stock in the party.
“But what I can do is point out what we have heard from India. We have seen countries around the world speak clearly, including with their votes in the UN General Assembly against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine,” Price told reporters. “But we also recognise, as I was saying just a moment ago, that this is not flipping a light switch, he said on Wednesday. Also Read: Massive explosion at Kabul mosque kills at least 20, including prominent cleric This is something that, especially for countries that have historical relationships with Russia. Relationships that, as is the case with India, extend back decades, it is going to be a long-term proposition to reorient foreign policy away from Russia, he said in response to a question. The US and European nations have imposed heavy sanctions on Russia since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine on February 24. It’s going to be long-term proposition for India to reorient foreign policy away from Russia, says US
The Centre spent approximately Rs 38 lakh on the 36-hour State visit by former US President Donald Trump in 2020 in accommodation, meals, logistics etc, the External Affairs Ministry has told the Central Information Commission.
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Three CISF (The Central Industrial Security Force) commandos were dismissed from the service for the lapse in the security of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval in February. According to sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), on February 16, a man attempted to drive his SUV into the Doval’s residence in Delhi. The man was intercepted outside the NSA’s house and was arrested at that time. The matter was considered as a lapse in the NSA’s security of Ajit Doval and three CISF commandos have now been dismissed. These three commandos were posted in security at Ajit Doval’s residence at the time of the incident. According to sources, the CISF had submitted a report to the MHA, in which it was said that the commandos deployed in security should have understood that it could be a “Fidayeen” attack, but the response was not shown in that way. “This is the reason why action against the three commandos was recommended.”
On his maiden visit to India, Trump accompanied by his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and several top officials had visited Ahmedabad, Agra, and New Delhi on February 24-25, 2020. He had spent three hours in Ahmedabad on February 24 during which he attended a 22-km-long roadshow, paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Sabarmati Ashram, and addressed a mega gathering “Namaste Trump” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the newly built Motera Cricket Stadium. Trump later flew to Agra on the same day to visit Taj Mahal. He visited the national capital on February 25 where he held bilateral talks with Modi. Indian military attachés will no longer need a U.S. escort to move about the Pentagon. This is a courtesy traditionally extended only to allies and very close security partners. Also, in October, the U.S. Army will join Indian forces in joint exercises less than 100 kilometers from India’s contested border with China. Does New Delhi deserve this very significant American support? On paper, the answer is yes. India is the world’s most populous democracy with 1.42 billion people. It is likely to overtake China as the world’s most populous nation in 2023 or 2024 because China faces a demographic crisis. As India’s economy grows, its young population will be a major destination for high-value U.S. exports. That means more American jobs
Ban PFI, Condemn Insult to Gods: Resolution Taken at Interfaith Dialogue in NSA Ajit Doval’s Presence Doval, who has got Z+ category security, have more than 50 personnel deployed for his security.
The omission of Gadkari from the powerful board signals a major generational and political shift in the highest echelons of the BJP in the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah era. A senior minister, Gadkari is also a former BJP chief. Normally, the party keeps former presidents in the decisionmaking process. Besides, Gadkari who represents Nagpur in the Lok Sabha. It is going to be a long-term proposition for India — which has a decades-old relationship with Moscow — to reorient its foreign policy away from Russia, the US has said, insisting that re-aligning one’s approach is not like flipping a light switch. When asked about India increasing its imports of Russian oil and fertilisers and potentially buying the Russian air defence systems, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said, “It is not for me to speak about another country’s foreign policy.”
Centre spent Rs 38 lakh on Trump’s 36-hour state visit in 2020: RTI
Covid positivity rate now at 5.83% in Punjab
With around 14 deaths and 3,000 cases reported in the last three days, Covid once again seems to be making a comeback in Punjab. As per the state Covid bulletin, in four months between April and July, the state had reported 76 deaths and 13,706 cases. However with the beginning of August, the cases started increasing. Between August 1 and 16, the state reported 51 deaths and 6,000 Covid cases. Dr Rajesh Bhaskar, state’s nodal officer for Covid, said, “There is a sudden spurt in cases. This is why certain restrictions have been imposed in the state. However, the situation is completely under control.”
Bradley Robert Dawson, a Memphis man police say fatally beat his wife last month at an exclusive resort in Fiji, told ABC News the couple “never had any physical arguments in [their] relationship.”
Economic Corridor gives many dividends, benefits to Pakistan: official
There was a rising wave of excitement in the air earlier this week at one of our major seaports. A long-lost part of the industry was making her way back to our shores and boy, were we stoked to welcome her home.
Faisalabad girl refuses to marry friend’s father who tried sexual assault on her, she was forced to lick shoes, her hair chopped A girl in Faisalabad has been tortured and sexually harassed for refusing to marry her friend’s father, who along with other inmates shaved girl’s head as well as eyebrows and threatened to upload the video on social media if she do not pay him Rs 10 lakh (Rs 1 million). Theshockingincidenttookplace onAugust8. A video of the incident surfaced on Tuesday in which the girl was seen thrashed by the suspects, her head and eyebrows shaved off and she was made to lick the shoes of the suspects.
shuts down Doctors at the Civil Hospital and those of two local private hospitals refused to treat pregnant woman, Kajal Rani needs blood. Kajal was shifted to Abohar where she delivered a child,” said Sunny Kumar, a resident of local College Road Colony. He said they suffered a lot for want of blood. “I had to travel to blood bank at Abohar for a unit of blood. I reached there at 9 am and could return only at 8 pm. My pregnant sister Kirna Rani’s life was at risk. Thereafter, her caesarean delivery was conducted in the midnight three days ago,” rued one Gurjeet Singh, a resident of Kabulshah village. Was Pakistan govt kept in dark about Army & TTP’s ‘Peace Deal’?
Having made significant investments in the conflict-prone Pakistan-Afghanistan region as part of its hugely ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, China is planning to protect its interests in the two countries by stationing its own forces in specially created outposts, according to top diplomatic sources. China has been keen to expand its influence to central Asia through the Pakistan-Afghanistan route and has made strategic investments in the two countries.
PremierPakistanPunjabbloodbank
Warid had posted a racist statement online where she described Indo-Fijians as “visitors” who “were not going back anytime soon” and she also claimed in the same statement that indigenous Fijians were being marginalized.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has given many dividends and benefits to Pakistan, especially the much-needed foreign direct investment to overcome its energy crisis, Pakistani Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said. “From energy-deficient to energy selfreliant country, the transition would not have been possible without the CPEC investment,” the minister said while addressing a seminar titled “CPEC: A Catalyst for the Economic Development of Pakistan” organized by the China Pakistan Study Centre at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad here on Wednesday. Prior to CPEC, Iqbal said the two bottlenecks that Pakistan faced were the energy-power crisis and infrastructure fragility.
Warid referred to FICAC The People’s Alliance provisional candidate Liliana Warid has been referred to the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC) for a probable breach of the Electoral Act. Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem revealed this today during a press briefing.
Dawson, 38, is facing a murder charge in connection to the death of Christe Chen Dawson, 36, while the couple vacationed on their honeymoon. The couple was married in February.
P&O Cruises Australia’s flagship Pacific Explorer brought her 830 crew and 1147 passengers safely to Lautoka port and it closed out two and a half years out of the Pacific. Not only is the Pacific Explorer the first cruise liner to visit Fiji since the pandemic, but she was also making headlines as the first to return to the entire Pacific region.
The rumour mill went into overdrive when the Lautoka-based lawyer failed to Mystery surrounds lawyer’s location appear in court on Monday where he was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment by the High Court in Suva for contempt of court when he failed to comply with orders issued in the case brought against him by Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
First cruise liner visits since the pandemic began
21Saturday, August 20, 2022 FIJI
Punjab National Bank warns clients to update ‘Know Your Customers’ details
The bank warned customers that “non updation may lead to restriction of operations in your account.” “Important announcement regarding #KYC, please note!,” the public sector lender tweeted. “As per RBI guidelines, KYC updation for all customers is mandatory. If your account has become due for KYC updation as of 31.03.2022, you are requested to contact your base branch to get your KYC updated before 31.08.2022,” read the notification posted by PNB on Twitter. How PNB customers can get their KYC done
China planning to send troops to Pakistan to provide security to CPEC projects: Report
The infamous “peace agreement” the Pakistan Army undertook with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) earlier in May this year has finally been leaked by the TTP. Ever since October last year, and soon after the fall of Kabul, several secret delegations from Pakistan have visited Kabul in order to try to stem the intensifying attacks of the TTP inside Pakistan, via peace negotiations. However, these negotiations keep breaking apart after short periods of ceasefire. After helping install the Taliban regime in Kabul, Rawalpindi had hoped that the Taliban would return the favour by reining in the TTP and somehow forcing it to recognise and accept the Pakistani state and surrender to it. Instead, not only safe havens were not disrupted, but thousands of TTP prisoners were released.
In an exclusive interview Tuesday with ABC News from a jail visiting room, Dawson said he fled on a kayak to a neighboring island on July 8, the day police said Chen died of multiple blunt trauma wounds to her head.
The Punjab National Bank (PNB) reminded its customers to update their Know Your Customer (KYC) details by August 31 in order to keep their account active. Only those PNB customers need to update their KYC whose accounts have become due for the process as of 31 March 2022.
Memphis man accused of fatally beating his wife at Fiji resort says the couple ‘never had any physical arguments’
“I could be on Kadavu for all anybody knows.” Convicted lawyer Aman Ravindra-Singh said this when contacted by The Fiji Times yesterday.
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South Asian Business Association of BC had a round-table conference meeting with Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development on August 16. Hnourable Minister discussed present situation with regards to the issues or concerns of small businesses and possible solutions. The meeting was attended by members of South Asian Business Association (SABA), local businessess owners and general public.
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All renderings reflect the artists’ interpretation of the project only and do not take into account the neighbourhood buildings, physical structures, streets, and landscapes. The developer reserves the right to make modifications, substitutions, changes brands, sizes, colours, layouts, materials, ceiling heights, features, finishes, and other specifications without prior notification. This is not an offering for sale. Any such offer may only be made with the applicable disclosure statement and agreement of purchase and sale.
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