The Asian Star September 24 2022

CBSA reviewing scores of refugee cases handled by disgraced former BC immigration lawyer

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is investigating scores of cases handled by a disgraced former B.C. immigration lawyer, in a probe that could lead to deportations.

Balraj “Roger” Bhatti was sentenced to 22 months in jail earlier this year after pleading guilty to 17 offences including forgery, misrepresentation and uttering forged documents.

The offences took place between 2005 and 2014, and involved collaboration with a Hungarian

Continued on page 6

India angry with Canada over Khalistan referendum

In one of its sharpest comments on separatist activity in Canada directed against India, the Foreign Office said it found it “deeply objectionable” that a politically- motivated exercise by extremist elements are allowed to take place in a friendly country.

“You are all aware of the history of violence in this regard,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi here on Thursday while describing the so-called Khalistan referendum as a “farcical exercise

held by extremists and radical elements”.

The MEA’s response came after three diplomatic messages from the South Block saw little action by Ontario to stop the so-called “referendum” in Canada’s Brampton on September 19 asking whether Indian Punjab should not be a separate country.

Canada had reportedly said its citizens had the right to assemble and to express

their views peacefully and lawfully.

The Canada Government has also said it respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India and that they will not recognise the so-called referendum.

But the MEA remained unsatisfied with the response. “Nevertheless the Government of India will continue to press the Government of Canada for action in this matter,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi here on Thursday.

Biden wants India, Germany & Japan as permanent members of reformed UNSC

His wealth has increased by 850 per cent from Rs 151,200 crore to Rs 169,000 crore in the last five years as he climbed two ranks to claim the sixth position in India’s top 10 rich list. Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani’s elder brother Vinod Shantilal Adani is now the richest NRI (non-resident Indian), according to IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2022 released on Wednesday. His wealth, the report says, has increased by 850 per cent from Rs 151,200 crore to Rs 169,000

Continued on page 6

The number of patients with COVID-19 in B.C. hospitals has fallen again, but the number of weekly admissions with the virus ticked upward for the first time mid-August,since according to data released on Thursday.

According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), as of Sept. 22 there were 305 COVID-positive patients in hospital, down nine from last Thursday, with 22 in critical care.

Thursday’s update reported the fewest COVID patients in hospital since June 30.

hospitalizationB.C.’smodelcountsallcasesin

hospital, regardless of their reason for admission.The province-wide test positivity rate as of Sept 17 was 6.7 per cent — the lowest it has been since late March. However, weekly tracking for the week ending Sept. 17 showed the number of COVID-positive

Continued on page 7

U. S. President Joe Biden supports Germany, Japan and India as permanent members of a reformed United Nations Security Council, a senior official of his administration has said. At the same time, a lot of work needs to be done in this matter, the official told reports on Wednesday on condition of anonymity.

“We have historically and continue to stand behind the idea that Germany,

Japan and India should be permanent members of the Security Council,” the official said in response to a question.

Earlier on Wednesday, President Joe Biden in his address at the U. N. General

Continued on page 7

Adani’s elder brother becomes the richest NRI

Covid-19 cases in BC hospitals at 11-week low but admissions rise

Gas again soar in

Metro Vancouver drivers are once again experiencing pain at the pumps with gas prices soaring past $2 per litre Wednesday.

Many stations across the region are now sitting at 203.9 cents per litre.

High gas prices have become an unfortunate reality of being a driver in the Lower Mainland. In fact, the region appeared to have the highest prices in the country Wednesday morning, according

to a heat map from GasBuddy. com. Dwayne, a Surrey resident, decided to switch from a car to a motorcycle to try and save money.

“Gas prices are so high these days that I figured that having a bike is probably the most economical way to get around and it’s a lot of fun at the same time,” he told CTV News Vancouver as he filled up

his bike at a Chevron in Guildford.

He says he can now drive to work all week for about $25.

Others filling up at the station have adjusted their spending habits too.

“We’re tightening things up a bit,” said Margaret from Surrey. Prices have stayed below the $2 mark since about mid-July That was after B.C.’s prices broke a

record on June 6, reaching 236.9 a litre.

“I think it’s a total gouge and I’m thinking of going completely electric,” said Kirk, who is also from Surrey.

He’s getting fed up with the price at the pumps.

“Gas prices are outrageous. Inflation is created by fuel prices, and we’re all going to suffer. Except for the big oil companies. Of course, they’re going to be loving it,” he said.

Decline in specialty care is ‘soul-destroying,’ say B.C. medical specialists in open letter

A group of more than two dozen medical specialists has penned an open letter to B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, describing what they call a dire situation in the province for patients in need of specialist care.

“Our entire health care system is crumbling, but not enough is being done to improve specialist patient outcomes or shorten our overcrowded waitlists,” the letter reads.

The group — which includes cardiologists, respirologists and radiologists, among others — estimates that one million patients in B.C. are waiting to see a specialist.

“We see the decline in specialist care first hand every day and we are exhausted and demoralized; it is soul-destroying to be unable to provide the specialty care that B.C.

patients need and deserve,” the letter reads. Dr. Chris Hoag, a urologic surgeon in North Vancouver and president of the Consultant Specialists of B.C., said the strongly-worded letter reflects the emotions felt by colleagues as patients in need of care languish on waitlists.

The letter says more than 16,000 people in Vancouver Coastal Health are waiting for an echocardiogram, a procedure assessing the heart’s structures and functions. In the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, patients recently diagnosed with cancer face waits of two to three months before a first visit to an oncologist.

“We talk about moral distress. This is what moral distress is,” Hoag said. Hoag says the group would like to meet

Victoria police bust rental fraud suspects accused of bilking victims of thousands

Victoria police are seeking more potential victims after they say they busted two rental fraudsters who bilked at least 10 victims out of thousands of dollars.

Police say they were recently alerted to a series of “sophisticated” frauds, with victims reporting similarities in the suspects’ descriptions and methods.

Investigators say the suspects posted online ads, then communicated with victims by email and text over a period of weeks to month — after which they “brazenly” met with victims, called their references and handed over fake key fobs.

The victims, believing they were entering valid tenancy agreements, transferred their first month’s rent and damage deposit before realizing they had been defrauded.

Police got a break in the case in early September, when one of the suspects met with a victim to show them a suite in a building he claimed to be renting out.

The victim transferred money to the suspect, but became suspicious and contacted the building manager who told him the unit wasn’t actually for rent.

Indian student dies in Milton, Ontario shooting

An Indian student succumbed to his injuries sustained during a shooting rampage in Ontario that also claimed two other lives, including that of a police constable, police said.

Satwinder Singh, who was injured in the shooting last Monday in Milton, died at the Hamilton General Hospital with his family and friends by his side.

Last week’s shooting took place in Toronto Area killed two people including a police officer, while at least three others were injured. Among those injured was a 28-year-old

Indian student who has recently succumbed to the injuries sustained during last Monday’s shooting, said the police department.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) said Satwinder Singh, who was injured in the shooting last Monday in Milton, died at the Hamilton General Hospital surrounded by his family and friends. “Singh was an international student from India who was working part-time at MK Auto Repairs at the time of the shooting,” read the statement.

with Dix to discuss possible solutions. Last month, Dix announced $118 million in interim funding Wednesday to support family doctors in the province. Hoag says specialist care in the province is also in need of attention. “We need to start investing in

specialty care in the same way the government has found the will to invest in primary care,” he said, adding that more needs to be done to train new specialists and retain the ones already working in the province.

Biggest UnbeatableSelection,Prices.

CanadaOPINIONnotfollowing suit with other nations’ inflation-busting relief measures: taxpayers group

Canada is falling behind its peers when giving their residents a break from rising cost of living, according to a new report by a government watchdog group. Released Wednesday, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation report accuses Canada of hiking taxes and making life unaffordable, while 51 other countries have taken

steps to provide relief for its taxpayers.

CTF federal Director Franco Terrazzano urged the Trudeau Liberals to do more to give Canadians relief from inflation-driven price hikes.

“While Ottawa sticks Canadians with higher tax bills, other countries are doing the right thing and providing their citizens with much

needed relief,” said Terrazzano.

“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should follow the lead of other nations and make life a little more affordable by cutting taxes for Canadians.”

Of the 51 nations analyzed by the CTF, 25 cut gas taxes, 15 cut energy taxes, 18 reduced consumption levies, eight approved income tax cuts, while 11 slashed business taxes either during the pandemic or as a response to upwards-creeping inflation. While Canada did not provide any federal relief at the pumps, several provinces cut gasoline taxes by various degrees.

Governments providing tax relief, reports the CTF, including over half of G7 and G20 nations, and two-thirds of member nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Australia, for example, provided pandemic relief for residents by increasing tax brackets, and also mandated a 50 per cent cut in gas taxes beginning this past spring.

Belgium cut value-added tax (VAT) rates on restaurant and catering meals in half. while cutting levies paid for gas and electricity by 15 per cent. Germany likewise cut restaurant VAT by 12 per cent into this past summer, one month before enacting gas tax cuts that reduced

Trudeau denouncing Russian plebiscite but allowing Khalistan referendum at home shows hypocrisy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s passionate denunciation of Russia’s referendum in occupied Ukraine would be more persuasive if he’d also condemned the faux-plebiscite Khalistanis are conducting in Canada. Both plebiscites are efforts to destabilise sovereign States. Trudeau’s polemic about international-law principles has only highlighted his unprincipled appeasement of his pro-Khalistan supporters.

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BC NDP focuses on cheap political gain, not solutions to street violence, say advocate

British Columbians hoping for an end to street violence and prolific criminals are going to have to wait a long time, pony up a lot of taxpayer money, and sit through a frustrating amount of political gamesmanship before the situation gets any better. That’s the takeaway following the BC government’s release of an independent report on the issue Wednesday. Two expert authors tabled 28 recommendations to tackle the severe addictions, mental health issues, and shortcomings in the justice system that underpin the worsening problem of random violence and crimes being perpetrated by a small group of repeat offenders.

Mayors were right

The report validated BC’s urban mayors, who have for the past year been begging the BC NDP government to do something about the issue. At times, under attack,

the government fell back on insisting the situation wasn’t quite as bad as the critics were making it out to be because the overall crime rate was dropping.

Still, there has been no escaping the stories of people in full-blown crisis on the streets; screaming, vandalizing stores, stealing and assaulting citizens while in the grips of drug-induced psychosis, or due to a mental health injury.

“It’s great news that crime overall is generally down in Canada,” said report co-author Doug LePard, a former Metro Vancouver Transit Police chief. “But that doesn’t change the fact that we have some very significant issues with some types of crime and disorder that are creating incredible distress in many communities. The mayors and others aren’t imagining what they’re seeing.”

Toxic drug deaths double since 2016 in BC

Grim statistics from British Columbia’s coroner show the rate of toxic drug deaths has doubled since the province declared a public health emergency in 2016.

The BC Coroners Service recorded 192 drug-related deaths in July, a 31 per cent increase from June and equating to about 6.2 deaths per day.

HealthandTerrace,B.C.ofpublic-healthtwicetheThenewfiguresshowthedeathrateacrossprovincethisyearis42per100,000,whatitwasinApril2016whentheemergencywasdeclared.TheservicesaysthehighestratesdeathwerereportedinthesmallercommunitiesofLillooet,Mission,PowellRiverandtheCaribooChilcotinregions.B.C.MentalandAddictionsMinisterSheila

Malcolmson says the street drug supply has grown increasingly toxic, with the concentration of fentanyl growing from about four to eight per cent in early 2020 to 23 per cent as of July this year. She says the province is pushing to expand harm reduction services, including safe supply and overdose prevention sites, across the province and is leading the country on decriminalization of people who use drugs.

“There is more to do. I am committed to continuing to expand and evolve our government’s response to this publichealth emergency to turn the tide and save lives,” Malcolmson said in a statement. Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said families and communities across the province are suffering

Indians lining up for US Golden Visa

Wealthy applicants from India and China are applying for United States of America’s EB-5 visa – or the ‘Golden Visa’ – programme which allows foreign investors to earn a fast track to permanent US residency.’

According to the visa programme, the US offers a green card to those applicants making huge investments and create at least 10 permanent jobs in the country.

Started in 1990, the investor programme was revised in March 2022 after a legislation passed by the US Congress.

Estimates say around 10,000 highnet-worth Chinese residents and

8,000 Indians are mulling to enter through the EB-5 visa programme, reported the quint quoting investment migration consultant Henley & Partners.

What is Golden Visa?

A visa programme by the United States offering US residency – a green card – to investors, their spouses, and unmarried children under 21 if they invest large sums in a US business and create at least 10 permanent jobs.

According to a Bloomberg report, the there was a backlog that extended almost a decade for the EB-5 visa as the Congress failed to reauthorise it in 2021.

Former Vancouver chiropractor charged with stabbing of kids in Florida

A former Vancouver chiropractor who recently moved to Florida with his family has been charged with attempted murder after police say he stabbed two children in his care while they were asleep in bed.

Trevor Hooper Kilian, 47, was arrested in Naples, Fla., on Sept. 15 after a woman called police to report the attack, according to an arrest report from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

She told officers that Kilian had got out of bed a little after 10 p.m. and minutes later she heard the children screaming, according to the arrest report.

It adds that she allegedly found Kilian standing in the hall with a knife

in his hand, saying, “I stabbed them, I stabbed them. What have I done?”

At least 17 years behind bars for man convicted in 2021 killing of Burnaby, B.C., teen One of the children had stab wounds in his back and the other was stabbed in the chest, the report said. Both had collapsed lungs and had to be airlifted to hospital, but were in stable condition at the time of the arrest report.

Police say Kilian was found with “severe self-inflicted lacerations” on both arms and was taken to hospital. He is facing two charges of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated child abuse. The arrest report does not identify the relationship between Kilian and the woman who called police and the victims.

Vancouver International Airport looking to sell naming and sponsorship rights

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) as a whole will not see a renaming, but amenities, features, and spaces found inside the terminal building could be named and branded after corporations and other organizations in exchange for sponsorship.

Vancouver Airport Authority announced today it has partnered with sponsorship sales firm TTG Canada to explore strategic sponsorship and naming rights opportunities.

Revenue raised from such partnerships is intended to go back into improving the passenger experience at YVR, with specific listed examples including building kid-friendly play areas, creating wellness seating pods, or furthering the airport’s sustainability efforts.

“We are exploring new and innovative ways to connect with our passengers and community. Partnering with TTG Canada and opening YVR for strategic sponsorships is a game changer,” said Robyn McVicker, vice president of passenger journey at Vancouver Airport Authority, in a statement.

“This is a unique opportunity for the best organizations in BC to showcase their brand and values throughout the airport to a global audience. For passengers, they can expect an improved airport journey as we leverage these innovative partnerships to offer new and exciting

experiences throughout YVR.” VR’s terminal building is the largest building in BC in terms of total floor area, and when combined with its high passenger volumes, “the airport boasts numerous touch points for marketing and sponsorship opportunities.”

Earlier this year, YVR completed a “digital twin” of its terminal building and airfield with a video game platform, allowing the airport authority to optimize operations, training, future planning, simulation, and testing. The digital twin integrates historical and real-time data and can be presented through 2D or 3D visualization for data-driven decision making and collaboration. This also potentially allows for a convenient way to map out naming and sponsorship opportunities in the space.

“Rarely in the strategic marketing and sponsorship game do you get such a wealth of opportunity to truly enhance and improve a consumer’s journey, and have access to incredibly meaningful brand touch points,” said Bill Cooper, chief operating partner at TTG Canada.

TTG Canada is best known for its work in securing sponsorships for major sports events and sports organizations in Canada. Its team is led by former VANOC executives directly responsible for securing sponsorship for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

From page 1

Adani’s elder brother becomes the richest NRI, followed by the Hinduja Brothers

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani’s elder brother Vinod Shantilal Adani is now the richest NRI (non-resident Indian), according to IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2022 released on Wednesday. His wealth, the report says, has increased by 850 per cent from Rs 151,200 crore to Rs 169,000 crore in the last five years as he climbed two ranks to claim the sixth position in India’s top 10 rich list. This comes at a time when Gautam Adani—with a net worth of $155.7 billion—briefly overtook Amazon’s Jeff Bezos to become the world’s second richest person, only behind Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has a net worth of $273.5 billion, according to the Forbes real-time billionaires list. French business magnate

and investor Bernard Arnault now stands at no. 2 with $153.8 billion followed by Adani.

His elder brother is based in Dubai and has reported an increase in his wealth by 28 per cent in the last year. The Hinduja brothers are the second in the list, with a wealth of around Rs 1.65 lakh crore. According to the list, there are 94 NRIs in the IIFL Wealth Hurun Indian Rich List 2022, out of which 88 per cent are self-made. With 48 individuals, the USA is the most preferred country for NRIs, followed by the UAE, the UK and Singapore.

The list named also named Jay Chaudhry as the wealthiest NRI living in the USA with a fortune of Rs 70,000 crore. The Indian-American billionaire is the CEO and founder of cloud security company

CBSA reviewing scores of refugee cases handled by disgraced former BC immigration lawyer

From page 1

and involved collaboration with a Hungarian translator to create forged documents.

A B.C. Provincial Court heard the deceptions included forged doctor’s notes asserting Bhatti or his clients were unwell in order to delay hearings, as well as a forged death certificate, and medical and police reports used to support would-be Hungarian refugee claimants’ applications for asylum in Canada. In 2014, the CBSA raided Bhatti’s Surrey offices, but he did not face charges until 2020, at which point he was suspended by the Law Society of BC. “It’s very simple to go for the low-hanging fruit, the clients,” immigration lawyer Richard Kurland said of

the pace of the investigation. Kurland is not connected to the case or the investigation.

“It’s best to get the queen bee, the bad apple that has hundreds of clients. That’s not practical because CBSA enforcement is low.”

In Bhatti’s case, however, a deeper investigation of his work appears to be well underway.

In a statement, the CBSA confirmed that it was probing “over 75” files linked to Bhatti’s practice “in various stages of review.” “The CBSA investigates anyone suspected of having gained status in Canada as a result of misrepresentation, to determine if there is sufficient evidence to report them as inadmissible under the Immigration and

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Assembly reiterated his commitment to reforming the U. N. Security Council.

Mr. Biden said he believes the time has come for the institution to become more inclusive so that it can better respond to the needs of today’s world.

Members of the U. N. Security Council, including the United States, should consistently uphold and defend the United Nations Charter and refrain from the use

of veto, except in rare and extraordinary situations, to ensure that the Council remains credible and effective, he said.

“That is also why the United States supports increasing the number of both permanent and non-permanent representatives of the Council. This includes permanent seats for those nations we’ve long supported,” Mr. Biden said.

From page 1

COVID-positive patients being admitted to hospital climbing for the first time in weeks.

That week saw 155 patients admitted across the province, up from 142 the week prior.

The weekly admission data is preliminary, and is typically revised upward the following week. The uptick follows for consecutive weeks of declining or flat admissions.

For the period ending Sept. 17, the BCCDC also reported 22 deaths — a figure that is also typically revised upward the following week.

However, the province acknowledges that its model of reporting COVID-19 deaths, which includes anyone who died within 30 days of testing

Wanted man arrested at Surrey home by IHIT investigators on homicide case in Richmond

Homicide investigators say they’ve arrested Arjun Purewal at a home in Surrey.

He was wanted on Canada-wide warrant since late-August, when Purewal had illegally removed an ankle monitor, according to Coquitlam RCMP.

Police say Purewal, 25, was arrested Tuesday (Sept. 20) by investigators with the InvestigationHomicideIntegratedTeam(IHIT),

following a search of Surrey residence in relation to a Richmond homicide investigation. No location of the Surrey arrest is noted in a RCMP news release. In August, Purewal was awaiting sentencing in connection to a Vancouver Police Department investigation into a kidnapping in Richmond a year ago, in September 2021.

“During the course of its investigation, IHIT located Purewal at the Surrey residence as part of an ongoing investigation into a 2021 Richmond homicide,” says Corporal Alexa Hodgins of Coquitlam RCMP. IHIT says Purewal is in custody pending a court appearance.

For Visit

positive, overestimates fatalities.

Subsequent reviews of the underlying cause of death in recently reported COVID-19 fatalities found that about four in 10 of those cases were actually caused by the virus.

Biden wants India, Germany & Japan as permanent members of reformed UNSC

Covid-19 cases in BC hospitals at 11-week low but admissions rise

Experts have advised the B.C. government to increase mental health crisis response teams, divert accused people with serious mental disorders from the criminal system, and create secure housing units for clients with complex mental health in order to address chronic criminal offenders.

Former deputy Vancouver police chief Doug LePard and health researcher and criminologist Amanda Butler studied the issue of repeat offenders and provided 28 recommendations to the province.

The bulk of the guidance released Wednesday is centered on mental health treatments and mental health supports rather than overhauling the criminal justice system.

“This report confirms the complexity of the challenge,” said Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth. “The recommendations so how much more work we have to do.”

LePard and Butler, who were asked to study the issue of repeat offenders in May, are also recommending additional resources to support those released from custody.

“Unfortunately, there is a shortage of resources available to meet the needs of people who have been incarcerated when they are released. This is a crisis that must be ameliorated,” the report reads.

“Many people return to precarious housing, shelters or homelessness, and back to communities where they are at high risk of returning to crime because their needs remain unmet by the systems that should be supporting them.”

Farnworth has committed to acting on three of the recommendations immediately. He was joined in Wednesday’s announcement by Attorney General Murray Rankin,

Experts big boosts to mental health supports to deal with repeat in

Teen identified as victim of fatal crash in Langley

A Surrey teen has been identified as the victim of a two-vehicle crash in Langley on Thursday, Sept 15.

Langley RCMP said the 17-year-old was one of three occupants in a Chevy Cruze that collided with a Pontiac Sunfire at the intersection of 200th Street and Grade Crescent at 10:53 p.m.

The Chevy was heading north on 200th Street when it hit the rear of the Sunfire, which was making a left-hand turn.

The force of the impact flipped the Cruze on its side against a power pole, while the Sunfire was split in two.

Two male occupants of the Sunfire escaped serious injury, while the driver and other passenger in the Cruze, both 17, were transported to hospital.

Cause of the crash remains under investigation and Langley RCMP have appealed for any witnesses to contact the investigators at the non-emergency number, 604-532-3200

Homeless man threatened with loaded gun at Hastings tent camp

A suspect is facing charges after a homeless man was threatened with a loaded gun at the Hastings Street encampment over the weekend. Vancouver police say the incident highlights the heightened risk of being victims of violence for those living on the street. “People without homes are already far more likely to become victims of violent crime than those who have stable housing, and those risks increase for people living in-and-around encampments,” said VPD Sgt. Steve Addison in a news release. “This incident underscores the dangers facing vulnerable people — especially those living on the streets in the Downtown Eastside.”

Police were called early Saturday when a witness saw a confrontation between two

men in the laneway behind the Carnegie Centre at Main and Hastings streets.

A suspect was arrested later near Main and Keefer streets. The man who had a gun pointed at him wasn’t hurt. Luis Alfredo Gaitan-Tijerino, 33, has been charged with assault, possession of a loaded firearm, uttering threats and using a gun while committing an indictable offence.

Addison notes there was a 45 per cent increase in serious assaults and assaults involving weapons in the area of the DTES encampment from July 1 to Aug. 31, compared with a year earlier. Weapons offences jumped by over 60 per cent compared with the two months before the camp was set up.

Shooting death near 88 Avenue in Surrey has IHIT searching for witnesses

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has identified the victim of Tuesday’s (September 20) homicide in Surrey as Richard Ofosuhene, found passed out in a running vehicle that morning, in the 8800-block of 127 Street.

Ofosuhene, 27, was from Edmonton, and known to police.

Police suspected him of having ties to drug trafficking in Alberta, and say the injuries he suffered were a result of being shot.

IHIT is asking for any witnesses or dash-cam footage.

“We’re urging anyone who was in the area of 88 Avenue and 127 Street (between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.), who has yet to speak with police to contact IHIT,” said Sgt. Timothy Pierotti of IHIT.

Police believe this is an isolated incident, and it does not appear to be connected to the gang conflict in the Lower Mainland. Anyone with further information who has not already spoken to police is asked to contact the IHIT info line at 1-877551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@ rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Feds aim to table First Nations policing bill this fall after Saskatchewan stabbings

The federal government is aiming to introduce a bill as soon as this fall that will establish community policing as an essential service for Indigenous communities in the wake of the mass killings in Saskatchewan earlier this month.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino told reporters Monday he is “eager” to table the legislation, but added conversations with First Nations are ongoing to ensure they have a voice and that the bill addresses their needs.

“The truth of the matter is it can’t come fast enough,” he said outside the House of Commons.

“We have to make sure we get this work right. It’s important work, and it has to be anchored in a relationship with Indigenous communities that is rooted in trust.” Mendicino said conversations with those communities have been held throughout the summer as the government works to create a funding model that is “more long-term and sustainable,” while also ensuring Indigenous laws are respected.

He added his ministry and others are working “around the clock” to table to bill this fall, noting the urgency of the demand for

more public safety supports for First Nations.

“Coming out of Saskatchewan … collectively all Canadians have to be motivated to do this work as quickly as we can, but to do it in a way that is respectful to the principles of reconciliation,” he said.

Community leaders have called for their own police forces after 10 people were killed and 18 others were injured in a series of stabbings on James Smith Cree Nation and in the nearby village of Weldon, Sask., early on Sept. 4. The stabbings led to a days-long manhunt for the two suspects, brothers Myles and Damien Sanderson, that spanned the entire province.

Damien was found dead on the reserve where many of the stabbings took place a day later.

On Sept. 6, RCMP arrested Myles Sanderson but later confirmed he had died after going into “medical distress” during the takedown.

Members of the RCMP, which currently serves most Indigenous communities across the country, did not arrive at James Smith Cree Nation until over half an hour after the first calls to police about the stabbings were made.

Inflation slowed on lower gas prices in August, but cost of food still surging

The annual rate of inflation slowed to 7.0 per cent in August as prices continued to fall at the gas pumps, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday.

While gas prices were 22 per cent higher year-over-year in August they were down 9.6 per cent on a monthly basis, according to the latest ConsumerPriceIndex(CPI)release. Thismarks the largest monthly decline since April 2020.

The country’s year-over-year inflation rate had previously slowed in July to 7.6 per cent, also largely due to lower gas prices. But August’s figures saw relief beyond the pumps: annual inflation excluding gas prices was 6.3 per cent for the month, down from 6.6 per cent in July. That’s the first slowdown in CPI excluding gas since June 2021. Statistics Canada reported that shelter prices were up

6.6 per cent in August, representing a slowdown in price growth.

The August inflation print was lower than most economists expected; a Reuters poll of analysts last week called for annual CPI to rise 7.3 per cent year-over-year. Average hourly wages, meanwhile, were up 5.4 per cent yearover-year in August, still lagging inflation.

Rampant food inflation changing how Canadians are shopping Tuesday’s report wasn’t all good news — grocery prices were up 10.8 per cent over August 2021, the fastest pace recorded since 1981. Last month saw big year-over-year jumps in prices for baked goods (up 15.4 per cent); condiments, spice and vinegars (up 17.2 per cent); non-alcoholic beverages (up 14.1 per cent); and fresh fruit (up 13.2 per cent).

Putin’s behavior sign of failing Ukraine invasion, says PM Trudeau

Russia’s partial military mobilization is a sign it is “failing and flailing” in its invasion of Ukraine, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau charged Wednesday, condemning what he called an escalation of the war.

Trudeau said the activation of some reservists, combined with President Vladimir Putin’s veiled nuclear threats and plans for referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine showed the Russian leader is desperate.

“Putin has fundamentally miscalculated in a whole bunch of different ways,” the prime minister told reporters gathered at U.N. headquarters, where the General Assembly is meeting. “Putin was wrong

and he is, right now, failing and flailing in his response to the situation.”

In calling for the mobilization, Putin cited the length of the front line and said Russia is effectively fighting the combined military might of Western countries.

Trudeau vowed Canada would continue to strengthen sanctions on Russia and provide military aid to Ukraine, but offered no details. Putin, he said, was inching closer to “admitting what he has not wanted to admit” that his country is, in fact, at war.

The Canadian leader accused Putin of “war crimes” and said Russia, a founding member of the United Nations, was violating the institution’s basic tenets.

Surrey Forward accuses Surrey Connect of ‘election finance misconduct’

The Surrey Forward slate said it will lodge a complaint with Elections BC today (Sept. 21) accusing rival slate Surrey Connect of receiving “illegal” support from the Keep the RCMP in Surrey campaign.

“This is simply unacceptable,” said Stephen Carter, campaign manager for Surrey Forward.

“The Local Election Campaign Financing Act is very clear, a third party advertiser such as Keep the RCMP in Surrey must operate independently from the candidates or elector association.

“You’re not allowed to spend money together and you’re not allowed to co-ordinate,” he said.

“In British Columbia it’s very clear that each entity, whether it’s a third party advertiser or a electoral organization or a candidate, each one has to behave individually and they can’t work together on any project.”

A Surrey Forward press release states that each offence under the Act is subject

to a fine of up to $10,000 and that it’s Surrey Forward’s expectation that an Elections BC “investigation and consequences” will be applied prior to election day.

“Both of them get hit with the fine,” Carter said. “Each one of them pays a $10,000 fine.” Locke, in response, said she has “no idea what Mr. Carter is talking about. Certainly I know that Stephen Carter should be very concerned about making allegations when he has no proof of those.”

Keep the RCMP in Surrey (KTRIS) announced on Aug. 7 that it is endorsing Surrey Connect and its mayoral candidate, Brenda Locke, in the Oct. 15 civic election.

Ivan Scott, of KTRIS, called Surrey Forward’s complaint “ridiculous.”

“This is absolutely nonsense,” Scott said. “We endorsed them, we ran our campaign as two separate campaigns. We’re out there seen as on our own.

Former child actor gets life with no parole for 14 years for murdering his mom

A former B.C. child star has been sentenced to life in prison for the killing of his mother.

Ryan Grantham pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in March for the death of Barbara Waite.

She was found dead in her Squamish home on April 1, 2020.

Second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 10 years.

Grantham will not be eligible to apply for parole until he has served 14 years. He was also handed a lifetime firearm prohibition. In his sentencing hearing in June, it was revealed Grantham had plans to drive to Ottawa and kill Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after he

killed his mother. In court, the Crown read out the agreed statement of facts that said Grantham shot his mother in the back of her head while she was playing the piano.

The next day he then loaded his car with guns, ammunition, Molotov cocktails, camping supplies and a map to Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, where Trudeau lives.

The documents said Grantham talked about killing Trudeau to police when he was arrested and he wrote about it in his journal.

In the days leading up to his mother’s death, Grantham recorded himself on camera appearing to walk through the killing. In another video he described what happened. The video was shown in court.

Bank of Canada deputy governor Paul Beaudry said in hindsight, governments and central banks should have withdrawn stimulus measures earlier as economies recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, which likely would have kept a lid on inflation.

In a speech at the University of Waterloo on Tuesday, Beaudry said a faster global withdrawal of fiscal and monetary stimulus during the recovery from the pandemic would have likely resulted in lower inflation. Beaudry said fiscal and monetary policy in one country has spillover effects in other nations that are not always accounted for.

One of the lessons from the global financial crisis in 2008-2009, he said, was that countries would have benefited from a more gradual withdrawal of stimulus because of spillover effects. This lesson, he said, influenced policy decisions during the pandemic. However, Beaudry

noted that the COVID-19 economic crisis was different and public health measures meant supply in many sectors couldn’t keep up as demand began rebounding.

“Bottlenecks occurred in these sectors because of demand surges driven by a combination of stimulus policies, shutdowns and re-opening, as well as by consumers shifting away from services.”

The deputy governor said the stimulus delivered simultaneously by countries through government support programs and lower interest rates had spillover effects globally and contributed to supply chain bottlenecks.

“It’s likely a somewhat faster global (stimulus) withdrawal process could have made all countries better off,” he said. At the same time, Beaudry said the stimulus measures contributed to a faster-than-expected bounceback for the economy, with labour markets recovering

How will Trudeau’s proposed affordability plan work?

Some Canadians’ wallets could end up slightly fuller, the federal government says, if the House of Commons passes new legislation aimed at helping people across the country who are struggling with the rising cost of living.

Bill C-30 and Bill C-31, two new pieces of

of rent, Bill C-31 lays out the legislative pathway for a one-time, tax-free top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit program — one the government says would put $500 in the pockets of low-income renters.

To residents of the Downtown Eastside, the Blue Door offered cheap cannabis to poor people dealing with chronic health problems. To police and the B.C. government, the people behind the storefront at 151 Hastings St. profited off illegal pot sales for more than a decade and used the proceeds to buy millions of dollars in real estate. A lawsuit filed Sept. 14 by the director of civil forfeiture says that Shannon and David Bauman, as well as the Real Compassion Society, “have operated or facilitated the operation of an illegal cannabis retail store at the 151 East Hastings St. property

and/or sold cannabis, cannabis products and/ or illicit cannabis unlawfully since 2010.”

The government agency wants 11 properties owned by the Baumans, worth almost $15 million, handed over as “instruments of unlawful activity.”

The suit says the spouses have each served as directors of the society, which ran the store on East Hastings in a building owned by Shannon Bauman. “At all material times, S. Bauman and D. Bauman received, directly or indirectly, material and or financial benefit from the Real Compassion

Canadian frigate passes through Taiwan Strait with US warship despite Chinese complaints

A Canadian frigate has begun a twomonth operation to monitor sanctions against North Korea and passed through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday.

In a statement, a Department of National Defence spokesperson said HMCS Vancouver is beginning its support of Operation NEON, the mission to help pressure North Korea to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs.

“Following port visits in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Manila, Philippines, HMCS Vancouver sailed through the Taiwan Strait along with the USS Higgins, as this was the most direct navigational route,” the spokesperson said. “This sail was done in full

accordance with international law.”

“As a Pacific nation, Canada is deeply committed to upholding global stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” Defence Minister Anita Anand said in a statement. “Today’s routine Taiwan Strait transit demonstrates our commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.”

The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa said in a statement that the country closely monitored the passing and was “on alert.”

“We urge Canada not to make provocations and observe basic norms in international relations including respecting other countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in their internal affairs,” the statement read.

—freshwanttogether,RandyCanadians,”legislationfrommonths.—wouldCommonsneedearmarkedisCredit.boostforrenters,MinisterofonlegislationintroducedintheHouseofCommonsTuesday,makeupthelegislativebackbonethe$4.6-billionaffordabilityplanPrimeJustinTrudeauannouncedlastweek.Theproposalincludesmoneyforstrugglingatemporarydentalcarebenefitsomekidsunder12,andaone-timetotheGoodsandServicesTax(GST)Ofthe$4.6-billionplan,$3.1billionnewmoney—ontopofwhatwasalreadyinBudget2022.ThebillsstilltoworktheirwaythroughtheHouseofandtheSenatebeforeCanadiansbeabletostartcashingtheirchequesaprocessthatcouldtakeweeks,oreven“I’mcallingonallparliamentariansallpartiestoworkwithustogetthispassedandgetthissupporttoAssociateFinanceMinisterBoissonnaulttoldreportersonTuesday.“Ourconstituentswanttoseeusworkingnotplayinggames.Theydonottoseeproceduraltacticsanddelays.”Withthetextofthesebillsnowpublished,detailsarenowavailableaboutwhowillandwon’t—beabletoaccessthismoney.

Help with the cost of rent Renting is getting more and more expensive across Canada, according to the latest figures. Rental.ca’s September 2022 Rent Report found the average August rent price across the country was $1,959 per month, which it said was an annual increase of 11.1 per cent. In a bid to help tackle the skyrocketing cost

“If you’re a family that rents and has a net income of $35,000 or less, this support is for you,” said Diversity, Inclusion and Youth Minister Ahmed Hussen.

“And if you’re an individual who is renting with an income of $20,000 or less, you can get this top-up.” For Canadians who rent and fall under the income amounts Hussen described, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will deliver the money using an “attestationbased application process,” according to the finance department’s website. That attestation would require Canadians to: Spend at least 30 per cent of their adjusted net income on shelter Pay rent for their own primary residence in Canada Consent to the CRA verifying this information

The CRA will also verify the applicant’s income, age and residency — and in order to get the cheque, you’ll have to file your 2021 tax return. According to the government, 1.8 million renters should qualify for this support, including students. However, the proposal has faced some criticism.

Last week, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre argued that this spending will not help average Canadians and could risk making inflation worse. He said the $500 Canada Housing Benefit top-up would “go up in smoke” for someone paying $2,000 per month in rent.

The number of people identifying as Indigenous in Canada grew almost twice as fast as the non-Indigenous population and now stands at 1.8 million — about five per cent of the population — according to newly released census data.

From 2016 to 2021, the number of people in Canada identifying as Indigenous grew by 9.4 per cent. The non-Indigenous population grew by just 5.3 per cent over the same period.

While that growth rate is high, it’s almost half the growth rate for the population that identified as Indigenous between 2011 and 2016, which was 18.9 per cent.

The 2021 census attributed that faster growth rate to a higher birth rate and changes over

time in how census questions are answered.

“In general, respondents have become more likely to identify as Indigenous over time,” the census said.

“The reasons people are more likely to identify as Indigenous may be related to social factors and external factors, such as changes to legislation or court rulings.”

Statistics Canada said that because of difficulties in collecting census data on First Nations and other Indigenous communities, some caution should be exercised in comparing census years.

Renting is growing twice as fast as home ownership, census reveals Despite pandemic, Canada’s population grows at fastest rate in G7: census

Inflation may have been limited if COVID-19 stimulus was lifted earlier: Bank of Canada

BC govt going after millions in assets linked to Downtown Eastside pot shop

Indigenous population hits 1.8 Million, Growing at twice the rate of non-Indigenous Canadians: 2021 census

Deepika’s fans also excited about ‘Pathaan’

Deepika Padukone, who recently had a blink-andmiss appearance in Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra Part

One: Shiva, is now busy with the dubbing sessions for Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan

The actor, shared a picture of script on her Instagram and without revealing much, she used the hashtags WIP (short for Work In Progress) and Pathaan as her caption.

Many of Deepika’s fans flooded her post with many comments. One of them wrote, “Gonna end dry spell of Bollywood” with a star-eyed emoji, while the other one wrote, “Super duper excited for Pathaan” with stareyed emojis. Another fan wrote, “Wohoo

can’t wait!” Many others dropped fire, heart and star-eyed emojis in the post’s comment section.

Pathaan, directed by Siddharth Anand, will also star John Abraham in the lead role.

In August, the makers of the film shared the first look poster of the actor, which was also shared by his co-star Deepika Padukone on her Instagram.

Shah Rukh Khan shared his motion poster from Pathaan on social media, also revealing the film’s release date. His caption read, “30 years and not counting cos your love and smiles have been infinite.

Community news

All members of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society of British Columbia are requested to attend the General Meeting to be held on 25th September 2022 (Sunday) at the Main hall of the Temple, 8321 - 140th street Surrey BC V3W 5K9, Meeting Registration at 1.30 pm & AGM at 2.00 pm.

Please join us for the Group Birthday Celebration of Senior members born between January 1st to October 1st at Shanti Niketan hall of Lakshmi Narayan Temple, to be held on 1st

October 2022 (Saturday) from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm

Yoga Classes will continued at Shanti Niketan hall every Monday and every Thursday by expert Yoga Instructor Mr. Ashwini Bansal from 10.00 am to 11.15 am both the days. Mr. Mahender Kumar Juneja, Yoga Expert will also be there to help

Lakshmi Narayan Temple, 8321140th St., Surrey, BC, V3W 5K9 Tel: 604 - 507 - 9945

Raju Srivastava

Popular Indian comedian Raju Srivastava died at the age of 58, his family confirmed.

Srivastava was being treated at hospital in Delhi, following heart attack in August.

The comedian had been taken to hospital and put on life support after experiencing chest pain and collapsing while working out at the gym.

Last week, his family said that Srivastava was recovering slowly but remained on a ventilator.

Srivastava joined the entertainment industry in the 1980s as an actor in Hindi films. He shot to fame in 2005 after participating in The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, a reality show for stand-up comedy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes at the news of Srivastava’s death. Satya Prakash Srivastav was born on 25 December 1963 , He was known professionally as Raju Srivastav and often credited as Gajodhar, was an Indian comedian, actor and politician. He had been a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party since 2014.

He was born in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and moved to Mumbai in the 1980s to work in the Hindi film industry. He acted in Baazigar, Bombay to Goa, Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya among others. He contested in the comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge and became the runner-up. He won the title of “The King of Comedy” in its spin-off show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge –Champions. He did many stand-up comedy

live shows. He was born in 1963 in Kanpur city in the state of Uttar Pradesh. His father Ramesh Srivastav was a poet. In his childhood Srivastav liked to mimic film stars including Amitabh Bachchan. In 1980s he moved to Mumbai, and started his career by doing small roles in Bollywood films.He had a part in the Rajshri Productions movie Maine Pyar Kiya[3] and other small roles in various movies such as Baazigar and Bombay to Goa. He worked as an actor and comedian in the Bollywood movie Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya.

In 2005, ventured into stand-up comedy with the talent show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge and finished as second runner-up. Then he took part in its spin-off, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge – Champions, and won the title of “The King of Comedy”. He became famous with this show.

By 2009, he had done more than 2,800 live shows.

In 2009, in an interview, he said the vulgarity in comedy shows was a concern for him. He believed that comedians should practice self-regulation.

Srivastav participated in Bigg Boss (Hindi season 3), the Indian counterpart of the Big Brother (franchise). After staying in the house for more than two months he was voted out on 4 December 2009.

Yami Gautam throws light on her upcoming releases

She started her year with a bang with A Thursday and Dasvi. Yami’s career graph is soaring high.

Lost, Amit Rai’s OMG 2, Aditya Dhar Dhoom Dhaam, and another one which will soon be announced.

Yami mentioned that Lost will probably be her next release. “It’s an verythriller.anundertonedramainvestigative-withanofemotional-Ithasarealistictone,a

lot of human-drama, nothing pretentious - it is what it is in today’s time. I play a crime beat journalist in it, and in its own subtle way it touches about media integrity in today’s time. So

you can take it literally or metaphorically, there is something which is lost, there is someone who is lost. I’m so excited for a film like that. I am very proud of it,” disclosed the actress.

Yami mentioned that she had a great time while shooting for Oh My God 2 with her co-stars. For Akshay she shared “He is a very good producer also, and someone who is very passionate about this film. When I was given the narration I could feel that he really wants to make it with the right team. Of course, whatever chance I got to work with Pankaj Tripathi also, such a fantastic actor.

With the new writing, there is another perspective which is very relevant, talked about, yet not talked about. So that will be interesting to see,” Yami concluded. www.theasianstar.com

Chowdhury’sAniruddhakittyfilmsinterestingtheMeanwhile,actresshasinherincluding,Roy

One of the best comedian dies at 58

Raju Srivastava, comedy sensation, who died at the age of 58 on Wednesday, will be

showThefromwithpictureSharmaComedianremembered.KapilpostedthrowbackofhimselfRajuSrivastavathesetsofKapilSharmaandhewrote:

“Aaj pehli baar aapne rulaya hai Raju bhai. Kash ek mulakat aur ho jati. Ishwar aapko apne charanon mein sthaan de. Aap bahut yaad ayenge. Om Shanti (You made me cry for the first time Raju bhai today. I wish I could meet you for one last time. May God bless you. You will be remembered a lot. Goodbye, Om shanti).”

Fellow comic Sunil Grover also paid tribute to Raju Srivastav and he wrote: “RIP Raju Srivastava Ji. He made the whole country laugh. It’s sad

today that he has gone, too soon.

Champion,LaughterfrommemoryrecalledPuranArchanaandtocondolencesMyfamilyfriends.”SinghaIndia’s

which she judged and where Raju Srivastava was a contestant. She wrote: “Raju, a powerhouse of talent, a trend setter, a warm and empathetic colleague. You made me laugh with your delightful ‘Gajodhar’ and heartland humour. Today as I mourn the loss of the lovely human being Raju was, I also remember and celebrate his amazing achievements and laurels and recall working with him just a week before he fell ill. His words to me, as we stood on the stage of India’s Laughter Champion, still ring.

Priyanka sends b’day greetings to Kareena

Priyanka Chopra, currently in New York for work, managed to scoop some time out of her busy schedule to wish Kareena Kapoor on her 42nd birthday.

On

show in the previous seasons. In 2010, Kareena appeared on the show with Saif Ali Khan and while talking about Priyanka, she said, “Where does she get that accent from?” A few episodes later, Priyanka appeared on the show and when the show’s host Karan Johar told her about Kareena’s comment, she replied, “The same place where her boyfriend gets it from.” Many years later, they appeared together on Karan Johar’s chat show Koffee With Karan 6 in 2018. Both the willfrequentlyactressescommentoneachother’sInstagramposts.PriyankaChopra,whowaslastseeninMatrix4,nextbeseen

in Russo Brothers’ Citadel, which will be the actress’ second project with Amazon Prime Video after announcing the Sangeet

Gauri Khan in Koffee With Karan

Shah Rukh Khan’s wife Gauri Khan remains protective of her personal life. Though their lives are quite glamorous, they continue to keep family life as private as possible. With Aryan Khan’s arrest last year in the cruise ship drugs bust case, Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan’s lives became the talk of the nation with Aryan spending almost a month in jail before he received bail. Though no evidence was found against him, it was a turbulent time in their lives, as Gauri Khan stated on the latest episode of Koffee With Karan 7. After 17 years, she returned to the Karan Johar-hosted show along with her good friends Maheep Kapoor and Bhavana Pandey. During the episode, she opened up about Aryan Khan’s arrest. “It has been such a tough ride for him (Shah Rukh Khan) not just professionally but everything that the family has been through personally, and you all have emerged so strongly as a family. I know you as a mother and him as a father, we are members of the same family and I feel like I am your children’s godparent as well. It hasn’t been easy, and Gauri, you have

emerged stronger than ever. What do you have to say about your own handling tough times when families go through something like this?” Karan Johar asked. “As a family, we have been through — nothing can be worse than what we have just been through, as a mother, as a parent. But today, where we all stand as a family, I can say that we are in a great space where we feel loved by everyone. All our friends, and so many people who we didn’t know, so many messages and so much love. We feel blessed. I am grateful to everyone who helped us through this,” Gauri replied.

On the work front, Gauri Khan is currently hosting a new show called Dream Homes. In this six-episode series, Gauri will give extravagant transformation to the houses of Manish Malhotra, Farah Khan, Katrina Kaif, Kabir Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Malaika Arora. Dream Homes will not only bring the latest home décor trends and hacks but will also reveal the behind the scene madness of revamping the spaces for some of Bollywood’s

Gujarati film Chello Show is India’s official entry for Oscars

Gujarati film ‘Chhello Show’ (Last Film Show) has been nominated by the Film Federation of India (FFI) for the Oscars next year. The film is a coming-ofage drama about a young boy’s love affair with cinema in a village in Saurashtra.

A section of fans is, however, heartbroken as they were expecting SS Rajamouli’s popular film RRR to be named as India’s official entry for the 95th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature category.

The hashtag ‘#RRRforOscars’ has been trending since the announcement. Some fans took to social media to express their disappointment and anger after RRR was not named India’s entry for the Oscars saying a deserving film has been snubbed.

One fan said that RRR was the best chance for India to get a nomination in the Oscars after a long dry spell of two decades.

Fans argued that RRR was a cinematic masterpiece and one of the most popular Indian films currently in the West.

While others pointed out that the ‘Chhello Show’ was relatively unknown and has a slim chance to bag an Oscar.

Netizens also pointed out the history of the FFI of not choosing the right movies for nominations. Earlier the movie ‘The Lunchbox’ was also snubbed in a similar fashion, the fans argued.

Fans lashed out and called the move disrespectful to South Indian cinema.

“You made me cry for the first time today”says Kapil Sharma over Raju’s death

Johar’s

67-storey condo and office tower proposed for Surrey City Centre

The City of Surrey is in the early stages of considering a significant mixed-use tower building application for the prominent northwest corner of the intersection of King George Boulevard and 102nd Avenue, right in the core of the emerging city centre.

Currently, the 1.6-acre lot at 10227 King George Boulevard — just north of Central City mall‘s east parking lot, and near SkyTrain Surrey Central Station — is occupied by a 1977-built strip mall with businesses such as RBC and Bubble 88.

According to the municipal government, local developer Westland Living’s rezoning application calls for a 67-storey tower.

The uses entail 785 homes in the upper levels and a significant base podium with 200,000 sq ft of office and ground-level retail/restaurant spaces.

Site of 10227 King George Boulevard, Surrey. .

Accounting for the mix of uses, including the higher ceiling heights typically associated with office floors (higher than residential uses), and the significant crown structure on the tower rooftop (appearing to be equivalent to about four storeys in height),

the tower’s height is likely at least, very conservatively, about 700 ft (213 metres). The design is by Chris Dikeakos Architects.

If approved, this project will add to the growing list of future towers in Metro Vancouver that will be taller than the region’s current tallest building of Living Shangri-La in downtown Vancouver, which has a height of 659 ft (201 metres).

Sometime over the coming year, Living Shangri-La’s height will be exceeded by the tallest tower at Gilmore Place in Burnaby, currently under construction.

Artistic rendering of 10227 King George Boulevard, Surrey. (Chris Dikeakos Architects/Westland Living)

Westland Living’s proposed Surrey tower is also expected to be comparable to the City of Surrey’s plan to build a 738-ft-tall (225 metre), 47-storey office tower on the City-owned site of the closed recreation centre next to Surrey Central Station.

The proposed tower will also include 785 vehicle parking stalls. The total floor is about 727,000 sq ft, providing a floor area ratio density of a floor area that is 10.7 times larger than the size of the lot.

Housing supply in crisis

Housing supply in Canadian cities have seen continuous declines in the last decade and could reach a “crisis point,” a new report says.

The report, released on Monday by Re/ Max Canada, looked at the active listings in the month of July between 2012 and 2022 in eight major metropolitan areas across Canada. It found that seven out of these eight urban centres saw fewer active listings in July 2022 compared to the 10year average for the month.

“Population growth and household formation have played a significant role in depleting inventory levels from coast to coast over the most recent decade, triggering chronic housing shortages in large urban centres that resulted in mini ‘boom’ and ‘bust’ cycles,” said Re/ Max president Christopher Alexander in a news release.

“If we don’t move now to build more housing in the current lull, it’s expected that this same scenario will continue to resurface over and over again.” The HalifaxDartmouth area had the greatest drop in listings. Compared to the 10-year average, the region had 65.5 per cent fewer listings in July 2022, although the report notes that home-buying activity has levelled off thanks to higher interest rates and slowed

migration from other parts of Canada.

The Ottawa-Gatineau region saw a 41.9 per cent decline in listings from the 10-year average, while listings in the Montreal area were down 40.16 per cent. Re/Max warns that thanks to increasing migration from Ontario to Quebec, as well as interest from American buyers, “current levels of inventory will not support future growth” in Montreal.

The number of listings in Calgary were 26.1 per cent lower than the 10-year average, while in Winnipeg, it was 23 per cent lower.

Re/Max notes that because of migration from Ontarians and British Columbians seeking cheaper housing, Calgary’s housing inventory “fell to its lowest level in a decade.”

Greater Vancouver saw the number of listings drop by 16.1 per cent compared to the 10-year average.

The region saw an average of 12,792 listings in July between 2013 and 2022, which is still far lower than the 10-year July average of 14,352 between 2003 and 2012.

It’s a similar story in the Greater Toronto Area. The July 2022 listings were 6.8 per cent lower than the 10-year average of 16,458 units. That’s also far lower than the 10-year average between 2003 and 2021,

BC posts highest rate of unaffordable housing as ownership declines across Canada

British Columbia is leading the country as the province with the highest rate of unaffordable homes. Statistics Canada data published Wednesday from the 2021 census said B.C. is the most unaffordable province for housing in Canada, due largely to the number of people paying high rents to live in atwithatunaffordabilitydataVancouver.downtownThepeggedB.C.’srate25.5percent,Ontarionext24.2percent.Canada’shomeownership rate fell overall to 66.5 per cent in 2021 from its peak at 69 per cent in 2011.

StatCan said B.C. posted the thirdlargest homeownership decline from 2011 to 2021, to 66.8 per cent from 70 per cent, while Prince Edward Island saw the sharpest drop.

B.C. is also leading Canada in the number of renter households, with Kelowna showing an increase in renters of more than 54 per cent.

First-time buyers in B.C. are largely choosing condominiums as a “gateway to homeownership,” said the report. “B.C. had the largest share of condo dwellers among the provinces in 2021, with 23.6 per cent of households calling a condo home,” the report said. “Almost one-third, 32.5 per cent of households in Vancouver, lived in a condo.”

It said ownedcondominiumstenant-occupiedmostarebyindividuals

likely as investment properties.

“According to the Canadian Housing Statistics Program, over three-quarters, more than 77 per cent, of the condos in B.C. and more than two-thirds, almost 70 per cent, of those in Ontario that were not being lived in by the homeowner were owned by individual Canadian investors,” said the report.

It also showed that improvements in household incomes across

A once-powerful civic party is attempting a comeback with a recently announced five-point housing agenda.

Vision Vancouver, which controlled city council from 2008 to 2018, says it wants to open up all neighbourhoods to low- and mid-rise “missing middle” housing options.

“We need a city council that has the courage to act on the public’s priorities,” Vision Vancouver council candidate Lesli Boldt said in a party news release. “Vision’s housing plan will take swift, bold action to remove the barriers to new housing— particularly rental housing—and to work with other councillors who share our commitment to getting things done.”

The five-point plan includes a promise to introduce a motion instructing staff to bring forth a citywide zoning-reform policy opening up neighbourhoods to low- and mid-rise housing options for a vote within 90 days of taking office.

The second plank in Vision Vancouver’s policy is supporting the elimination of publichearing requirements for all below-market housing, including nonprofits and co-ops.

“Why is it that a mansion can be built without any challenge but the most urgent form of housing is subject to enormous hurdles,” asked Vision Vancouver council candidate Stuart Mackinnon. “We need a more equitable approach. This policy will prioritize housing for those who need it most, getting our city working again.”

The third component of the party’s housing plan is a pledge to kickstart the Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency by giving it a mandate and resources to build more affordable housing on city-owned land.

In addition, Vision Vancouver wants to expand protection and advocacy for renters by appointing a Renters’ Advocate.

“Vancouverites deserve elected representatives who are committed to acting on their priorities, share their optimism,

Vision Vancouver candidates support removing publichearing requirements for all below-market housing

Surrey recorded four times more new registered homes than Vancouver in August 2022

Metro Vancouver’s largest municipal governments often cite their own data on how many new homes they approve on an annual basis, as means of showing their action on improving housing affordability through introducing new supply. But initial approvals, of course, such as for projects that require rezoning do not translate to housing affordability — at least not right away.

After approval, builders still need to seek various permits, secure any remaining required financing, and overcome

construction labour shortages and cost escalations. Market ownership housing also depends on economic conditions to determine when exactly a project launches. This is why the step leading to housing starts is a more accurate indicator, which is why BC Housing is starting a new monthly homes registry report — complementing the housing start reports by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. BC Housing’s data is based on the registration of new homes in the public registry,

which must occur before the issuance of building permits and housing starts.

For the month of August 2022, Surrey led Metro Vancouver in the number of registered new homes, with 1,603 units including 1,552 multi-family units (condos, townhouses) and 51 single-family detached units.

Surrey’s figure accounts for 46% of all of Metro Vancouver’s registered new homes for the month, and it is also more than four times Vancouver’s 376 units (319 multifamily units, 57 single-family detached units), and two and a half times more than

North Vancouver’s 598 units (593 multifamily units, 5 single-family detached units).

In fact, Surrey’s total number of registered new homes is equal to the combined total of the next six highest cities in BC — North Vancouver, Vancouver, Coquitlam, Langley, Delta, and Langford. But for 2022 to date, as of the first eight months of the year, Surrey and Vancouver are neck-and-neck in the totals for new registered single-family detached homes, with Vancouver leading slightly at 652 units over Surrey’s 641 units.

We asked an expert about the benefits of buying presale real estate

Buying a property can be a minefield, especially when the global economic picture remains uncertain. But with good advice from experienced real estate professionals, there’s a better chance of making an informed decision about whether or not to invest. Considering a property that hasn’t yet been built can seem overwhelming if you’re new to the world of real estate, but, according to a Surreybased realtor with 25 years of experience in buying and selling presale condos in the Lower Mainland (and 18 years as a realtor), there are big benefits to be had from locking in a price a few years ahead of completion.

Ravi Bhindi is the founder of ipresalecondos.com, a new presale directory that lists opportunities for presale real estate across the Lower Mainland. He has been guiding and advising buyers since he purchased his own presale condo in New Westminster 16 years ago.

Impressed by the deal he was getting on his ofencouragegenerated,of-mouthBasedfriendsdevelopmentrecommendedcondo,two-bedroomBhindithetohisandfamily.ontheword-buzzhehehelpedthesaleeightcondosinhis

first year as a realtor.

That was the point at which he saw a niche in the market for a presale condos directory, and the idea for ipresalecondos.com was born. Now, Bhindi’s team has three real estate experts who believe in educating and guiding their clients — setting them up for a financially independent lifestyle.

“We provide factual information and proper comparative analysis to ensure you make the right decision when buying

a presale condo,” Bhindi said.

The business has partnered with reputable and shareprofessionalsadvisors,mortgageaccountants,lawyers,experiencedandotherwhoBhindi’s

vision of guiding and educating clients.

“Recently, I hired a property manager to the ipresalecondos.com team to enhance customer experience and make presale condo buying experience a ‘one-stop real estate shop,’” Bhindi explains. “When you buy from us, we will rent your condo at completion.”

Prospective buyers who use ipresalecondos.com will learn how to build long-term real estate wealth.

They’re guided through how they can use to those funds to retire, pay for their kids’ education, or pay for their down payment for their first home.

During a free comprehensive strategy session, clients will learn about issues like structuring your multiple purchases under a holding company, tax strategies, and how to pick a unit based on price.

Bhindi and his team use their good reputation with developers to gain early access to presale construction projects. This means they can negotiate a better deal and terms on the ground floor, so their buyers get better units at a good price, rather than buying towards the end of the sale period.

“We guide and educate new immigrants, investors, and first-time buyers who are very new in pre-construction property investment through webinars — which are also available for free on our YouTube channel — and through our free presale success strategy sessions,” Bhindi says.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was right when he said that the time is not for war, France President Emmanuel Macron said at the ongoing 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

“Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India was right when he said the time is not for war. It is not for revenge against the West, or for opposing the West against the east. It is the time for a collective time for our sovereign equal states. To cope together with challenges we face,” he said. This statement came in reference to

PM Modi was right, time is not for war: France President

PM Modi and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin’s conversation where the former said, “Today’s era is not of war and I have spoken to you about it on the call. Today we will get the opportunity to talk about how we can progress on the path of peace. India and Russia have stayed together with each other for several decades.”

Prime Minister spoke this during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s summit in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand.

Indian rupee at record low

Chakradhar Chemicals, a medium-sized company that manufactures micronutrient and soluble fertilisers and farm equipment, has braved a lot so far this year. A surge in the cost of imported raw materials –metals and plastic – and a plummeting rupee slashed its profit margins drastically.

But when asked if there is a panic now that the rupee stands at the threshold of 80 to a dollar, and may soon fall further, Managing

Director Neeraj Kedia says he isn’t losing sleep over it. The calm is not unfounded. Raw material prices have normalised, and a similar depreciation in the currencies of his trade partner China have helped offset the hit to his business from the rupee’s fall.

Kedia says if the rupee falls further in the coming days, he may have to compromise on profit margins for a few months, but the longterm impact on his business will be negligible.

“We spoke several times on the phone about India-Russia bilateral relations and various issues. We should find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilisers. I want to thank Russia and

Ukraine for helping us to evacuate our students from Ukraine,” PM Modi added.

Responding to PM Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he knows about India’s position on the Ukraine conflict and “we want all of this to end as soon as possible”.

Political war in Punjab as Governor takes back special assembly

Governor Banwarilal Purohit cancelled the one-day session slated for Thursday by withdrawing an order he issued on Tuesday to summon the 16th Vidhan Sabha for its third (special) session. Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit on Wednesday withdrew his order summoning a special assembly session on Thursday for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to move a confidence motion, triggering a sharp reaction from chief minister Bhagwant Mann who claimed the decision “raised a big question on the country’s democracy”. AAP national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also sought to know how the governor could deny permission for the session sought by the state cabinet, and alleged the move was triggered by “higher-ups”. Late on Wednesday, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann called a

meeting of all the party MLAs on Thursday.

Governor Purohit cancelled the one-day session slated for Thursday by withdrawing an order he issued on Tuesday to summon the 16th Vidhan Sabha for its third (special) session.

“I, Banwarilal Purohit, Governor of Punjab hereby withdraw my orders, regarding summoning of the sixteenth Vidhan Sabha of the state of Punjab to meet for its third (Special) session on Thursday in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha hall,” the order, a copy of which HT has seen, said. In his order, the governor cited the absence of specific rules regarding convening the assembly for considering the “confidence motion”.

The Punjab cabinet on Tuesday approved summoning of the session to move a confidence motion in the favour of the state government.

47 arrested in Leicester, UK for anti-Hindu violence

The Leicester police have made 47 arrests for a series of violent incidents involving men from the South Asian community since the Asia Cup T-20 match between India and Pakistan on August 28.

Some of those arrested were from out of the city, including some people from Birmingham.

The action is reflective of the fact that this was a serious offence and the accused has ended up with time in prison. Rob Nixon, temporary chief constable at leicestershire police

Meanwhile, in the first sentencing, 20-year-old Amos Noronha was sentenced to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession of an offensive weapon during the clashes. Social media videos had shown a temple flag being ripped out and glass bottles being hurled. While the Leicester police had warned that a “significant police operation will remain in the area in the coming days”, Hindu and Muslim communities presented a united front.

Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed new areas of cooperation such as clean energy and fintech during a meeting in Indian capital city New Delhi on Monday.

Mr Modi was also briefed about the outcomes of the inaugural session of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR), which was held last Saturday.

He conveyed his good wishes for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and the people of Singapore, and expressed his hope that initiatives such as the ISMR “would help

further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries”. Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister, is on a five-day visit to India aimed at expanding cooperation between the two countries.

“We had excellent discussions on new areas of cooperation such as green hydrogen, solar energy, fintech, as well as data links,” said Mr Wong on Facebook following Monday’s meeting, which was also attended by Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs of India Nirmala Sitharaman.

A student’s death by suicide at a university in Punjab triggered massive protests on the campus as students demanded an investigation. Now, a Kerala professor has been named in the case for “abetment of suicide”.

Agni S Dileep, 21, from Kerala was pursuing a degree in design at the Lovely Professional University or LPU.

Before joining the university, he was a student at National Institute of Technology, Calicut, from where he was rusticated, the police said, quoting his father. The student’s father also confirmed

Kerala Professor named in student’s suicide case that it was his son’s handwriting on three suicide notes recovered by the police. statementthem,”asstudentDSPhasPhagwaraat“personalThepolicehadearliersaidhewasdealingwithissues”,referringtoasuicidenote.ThisistheseconddeathbysuicidetheLovelyProfessionalUniversityinin10days,theprotestersallege.“Afirst-yearstudentofB.DesignatLPUdiedbysuicideonTuesdayafternoon.Phagwarastatedthatprimafaciethewashavingsomepersonalissues,hasbeensuggestedbythenoteleftbythepoliceinKapurthalatweeted.Theuniversityissuedagivingsimilarreason.

DPM Wong, India’s PM Modi discuss clean energy and fintech cooperation

India to offer more incentives for local chip, display manufacturing

India is expecting to court a total investment of at least $25 billion as a result of its incentive scheme meant to boost local manufacturing of chip and display panels, junior IT minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said. His comments came hours after the Indian government raised fiscal support for new semiconductor facilities to cover 50% of project costs, and said it will remove a ceiling for maximum permitted investment to enable incentives for display manufacturing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is seeking to attract more big-ticket investments under a $10 billion incentive plan for chip and display production, aiming to make India a key player in the global supply chain.

The government had previously agreed to cover between 30% and 50% of the cost

of setting up new display and chip plants. It said on Wednesday that it will also cover 50% of the capital expenditure required to set up semiconductor packaging facilities.

Chandrasekhar said the government is in conversations with many of the global players to invest in India’s chip sector, without naming any.

“These conversations are happening in the context of multiple incentive packages and programs that have been announced by various countries,” Chandrasekhar said.

“Our proposition is ... we have a proven track record of growing the electronics industry. And we also come along with the basic infrastructure requirement to set up manufacturing,” he added.

Last week, oil-to-metals conglomerate Vedanta and Taiwan’s Foxconn signed a pact

Billionaire Gautam Adani met former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in Matoshree on Wednesday, creating buzz amid a changed political scenario in the state. Thackeray has lost his party colleague to Eknath Shinde’s rebel camp that formed the government in the state with the BJP’s support.

The Gautam Adani-Uddhav Thackeray meeting lasted for one hour, raising eyebrows.

Recently, Adani Group’s chairperson, Gautam Adani surpassed Amazon’s Jeff Bezos to become the world’s second richest man. Adani’s net worth is estimated to be around $155.7 billion up by $5.5 billion, according to Forbes real-time Billionaires list.

US-based First Solar has signed an agreement to supply 600 MW (DC) of its thin-film PV modules to Indian developer Azure Power Global.

The deal is the first for modules produced at First Solar’s new manufacturing facility in India. Under the terms of the agreement, First Solar should deliver its Series 7 modules between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the end of 2025.

“Having a long-term agreement with global solar modules technology leaders like First Solar is key to de-risking our supply side with the latest technology available in the

market,” said Rupesh Agarwal, acting chief executive officer, Azure Power. First Solar expects its Indian vertically integrated facility, located near Chennai in Tamil Nadu, to start production in the second half of 2023. The factory is planned to have an annual capacity of 3.3 GW and to produce an India-optimized version of the company’s Series 7 modules.

“Our relationship with Azure Power goes back over a decade and we are pleased that it is the launch customer for a product that has not only been designed for India, but made in India, for India,” said Georges Antoun, chief commercial officer, First Solar.

Chennai-based Muslim couple donates Rs10 Million for Tirupati temple

Chennai-based Muslim couple has donated ₹1 crore to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) - the independent trust that manages several Hindu temples, including the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh. Media reports said the couple presented the draft to TTD executive officer Dharma Reddy on Tuesday. The donations were made by Subeena Banu and Abdul Ghani and include ₹87 lakh in furniture and utensils for the newly built Sri Padmavathi Rest House and a draft for ₹15 lakh for the Sri Venkateswara Anna

Prasadam Trust, news agency ANI said.

Under the Sri Venkateswara Anna Prasadam Trust, free food‘Annaprasadam’ - is served to all devotees in Tirumala and Tiruchanoor; the trust claims nearly two lakh are fed daily.

Other reports - that Hindustan Times could not independently verify - said Ghani has donated to the TTD in the past too.

In 2020 he reportedly donated a tractor-mounted device to spray disinfectant over temple premises during the pandemic. He also donated a ₹35 lakh truck to transport vegetables.

Bombay HC orders demolition of illegal construction at Union Minister Narayan Rane’s bungalow

The Bombay High Court Tuesday dismissed a plea of a company owned by Union Minister and BJP leader Narayan Rane seeking direction to the BMC to consider and decide its second application for regularisation of alleged unauthorised

directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to demolish unauthorised portions within two weeks and submit a compliance report of the same within a week thereafter. The bench observed it is clear the BMC has accepted consideration of the second regularisation by ignoring principles laid down by the Supreme Court and high court and inconsistent with earlier stand.

First Solar signs deal to supply 600 MW of PV modules to India’s Azure Power

Gautam Adani’s meeting with Uddhav Thackeray creates buzz

Former Punjab Minister Sunder Sham Arora under scanner for allotment of industrial plots

Former Industry Minister Sunder Sham Arora, who left the Congress to join the BJP after AAP came to power, is now under the scanner for his alleged role in the “irregularities” in the allotment of industrial plots of the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC), including the auction of industrial land, which was earlier allotted to the JCT.

Though the former minister appeared before the Vigilance Bureau in a separate case of disproportionate assets, sources in the government said his role in the Rs 1,500-crore land allotment scam of the PSIEC would also be probed. Though the VB had earlier probed this case and submitted its report in 2018, an officers’ committee constituted later had absolved all those found guilty in the land allotment scam.

500 from border belt who had embraced Christianity reconvert to Sikhism

With the efforts of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), as many as 500 members of 56 Sikh families from the border belt have made ‘ghar wapsi’ and reconverted to Sikhism during a special programme held at Gurdwara Chheharta Sahib Patshahi Chhevin here today.

The families belonged to Guru Ki Wadali, Khaparkheri, Ramuwal, Dhatal,

Cheecha, Bhakna, Burj, Sohal, Jhabbal and other villages of the border area. They had embraced Christianity in the past.

The families were honoured by SGPC members Mangwinder Singh Khaparkheri, Bawa Singh Gumanpura, Dharam Parchar Committee member Sukhwarsh Singh Pannu, and assistant secretary Balwinder Singh Kahlwan with ‘siropas’ (robes of honour) and Sikh religious literature.

Punjab Congress delegates vote for Rahul as party president

All 290 Punjab Congress delegates passed a unanimous resolution, urging Rahul Gandhi to take over the reins of the party as its national president.

The meeting was attended by Congress general secretary in-charge Harish Chaudhary, PCC chief Amrinder Singh

PakistanPunjab

Raja Warring, CLP leader Partap Singh Bajwa and Returning Officer Manik Rao Thakre among others.

The delegates also passed another resolution, authorising Sonia Gandhi to appoint the party’s state unit presidents and member

Prime Minister Shehbaz faces treason charges for consulting ‘fugitive’ brother Nawaz Sharif on Army Chief

Lahore: Punjab Assembly passed a resolution with majority vote against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, seeking his trial under treason charges for consulting his ‘fugitive’ brother Nawaz Sharif in London on the appointment of new army chief.

Punjab Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mr Basharat Raja presented the resolution in the House seeking action

against Prime Minister Shehbaz under Article 6 (treason) of the Constitution.

The resolution says the premier consulted a fugitive man Nawaz Sharif, in London a couple of days ago on the appointment of the new Army chief, which not only amounts to the PM’s oath preventing him from sharing sensitive matters with unrelated persons, but also an insult to the institution of Pak Army.

Pakistan gets another debt relief of $160 million from Japan

Japan agreed on debt deferral amounting to approximately $160 million to Pakistan, as the last phase of “the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI)”.

According to an official statement, prior to this, both the governments agreed on the first debt deferral amounting to nearly $370 million on April 27, 2021 and the second debt deferral amounting to $200 million on October 22, 2021, under the same initiative.

The total amount of deferred debt has reached $730 million, which will widen the fiscal space for Pakistan to restore its economy affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the flood disaster.

The concessional loans, subject to debt deferral, have been utilised for infrastructure development such as roads, tunnels, power plants and grids, irrigation, water supply, and drainage facilities in Pakistan from the early 1990s to the mid-2010s.

PM Shehbaz to highlight flood havoc during UN summit

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on September 20 said that he would apprise the world about his country’s “massive human tragedy” in the wake of the devastating floods, as he arrived in New York for the high-level U.N. General Assembly session.

Since the start of the unprecedented monsoon rains and flooding in Pakistan, 1,545 people have died and thousands more have been injured. The floods have affected 33 million people, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. Swelling waters have swept away villages, roads and bridges, and at one point inundated a third of Pakistan’s territory.

Mr. Sharif took to social media after reaching New York to participate in the high-level 77th session of the U.N. General Assembly and address it on September 23 as the leader of Pakistan. He is set to meet several world leaders on the sidelines of the UNGA session.

“Reached NY a few hours ago to tell Pakistan’s story to the world, a story of deep anguish & pain arising out of a massive human tragedy caused by floods. In my address at UNGA & bilateral meetings, I will present Pakistan’s case on issues that call for the world’s immediate attention,” he tweeted.

Man charged for his involvement in murder of Sigatoka couple

A 24 year old farmer will be produced in the Sigatoka Magistrates Court tomorrow for his alleged involvement in the murder of an elderly couple in Lawai, Sigatoka last year.

Police Commissioner, Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho says Sesha Reddy and Mirdu Lata were found dead in their home on the 2nd of February last year. He says the first responding team

were also able to establish that some items were missing from their residence.

Qiliho says investigators were able to trace the digital footprints of the stolen mobile phone which resulted in questioning of approximately 30 people after the phone had been transferred to a couple of people along the way.

PA Narayan referred to FICAC

The Fijian Elections Office has referred Sajal Narayan, The People’s Alliance and Rock the Vote to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem says the step has been taken following the receipt of a Letter from the FijiFirst highlighting various breaches of the Electoral Act 2014 by different candidates to FICAC.

Saneem says the FijiFirst filed a 19 Page complaint with the FEO in which it

highlighted practices of some individuals during the campaign period directly from their own Facebook pages and such practices are prima- facie breach of the Electoral Act. He adds while the FEO is obtaining further information from other persons and political parties named in the complaint, the instances where they found that the law has been breached, they’ve referred such persons to FICAC without delay.

Fiji 7s team memeber gifted residential lots

Fiji beat New Zealand in the championship final 29-12 to bring home for the third time the coveted Melrose Cup.

A Suva-based company is offering to gift members of the Fiji 7s team residential lots to build their homes after their win in the Rugby World Cup Sevens in South Africa a fortnight ago.

The first win was in 1997, then 2005 and in Cape Town which resulted in a victory celebration in Suva last Friday.

Government gifted players $10,000 each for the victory last week.

Yesterday, China Village Estate Development general manager Jim Raiwalui said they would present residential lots with 99 years native lease agreements at their sub-division at Lokia, Rewa, as their token of appreciation.

“It is the gift of the Fijian people to the players and the coaches for winning the Melrose Cup,” he said.

Surrey Connect Recipient of Illegal Support from Keep the RCMP in Surrey

Surrey Forward launches complaint with Elections BC

Surrey, BC The election laws in British Columbia are clear: third party advertisers cannot collude nor sponsor elector associations. Surrey Connect is receiving direct contributions from the Keep The RCMP in Surrey Third Party Advertiser.

“This is simply unacceptable,” says Stephen Carter, Campaign Manager for Surrey Forward.

“The Local Election Campaign Financing Act is very clear, a third party advertiser such as Keep the RCMP in Surrey, must operate INDEPENDENTLY from the candidates or elector association.”

“In a campaign where the current Mayor is facing significant criminal charges, a second candidate has been convicted of criminal activity in the past, it is amazing that a third candidate is willing to take these unlawful liberties with a third party advertiser.”

What is worse, it appears that all the signatures collected by Keep The RCMP in Surrey have been shared, either formally or informally, with Surrey Connect.

“There are no circumstances where this type of collusion is appropriate,” continued Carter. “If Surrey Connect cannot be trusted to run a campaign, what can they be trusted with?”

Complaints will be filed with Elections BC. These complaints will name Keep The RCMP in Surrey, Surrey Connect, Brenda Locke and Ramona Kaptyn. It is our expectation that the investigation and consequences will be applied prior to October 15.

Legislation Dictating Independence Part 3, Division 1, Paragraph 31

While the Liberals have to be forced to do anything, and the Conservatives want to do nothing, New Democrats are delivering dental care and sending money back to Canadians dealing with inflation

For months, Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has been pushing the Liberal government to work for people dealing with the rising cost of living.

While the price of groceries, gas and rent has soared and Canadians’ wages have stayed the same, the Liberal government

(1) Subject to this section, an individual or organization must not sponsor third party advertising on behalf of or together with a candidate or elector organization in relation to the election campaign of the candidate or elector organization. (emphasis added)

It is more even more clearly articulated in the Guide for Local Elections Third Party Sponsors in BC (page 3):

Third Party Sponsor: An individual or organization who sponsors or intends to sponsor election advertising independently from the election campaign of any candidate or elector organization. (emphasis added) Again on page 12:

Registered third party sponsors must be independent from the election campaigns of candidates and elector organization. This means a third party sponsor must not conduct third party advertising on behalf of, or together with, a candidate or elector organization. A third party sponsor and a candidate or elector organization cannot coordinate their advertising campaigns. (emphasis added)

Finally, the penalties for failing to comply with independence requirements are significant. Each offence is subject to a monetary penalty of up to $10,000. (page 38 of the guide)

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Pavan Sodhan at 778.242.8677

has stayed silent on ways to help people make ends meet and the Conservatives think we should do nothing. Today, as the House of Commons resumes for the fall session, New Democrats are focused on putting money back in people’s pockets and helping kids get their teeth checked.

“Families are struggling to make ends meet while billionaires and corporations are making record profits. While we’re paying more on our grocery and gas bills, rich CEOs have never made more money.

Corporate profits are rising twice as fast as inflation, while wages are only rising half as fast,” said Singh. “After seven years in power, Justin Trudeau is out of touch with the reality of working families trying to get by. And Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives don’t think your family deserves help. New Democrats are the only ones in Ottawa fighting to put money back in your pocket.”

The NDP is delivering dental care to families with children under 12 with $650

a year, per child, to get their teeth fixed, delivering $500 to two million Canadians to help them pay their rent and giving twelve million Canadians back the increase they’ve paid for GST on their bills. But this isn’t enough. New Democrats will continue to fight to give workers and their families respect and better wages.

“Families are playing by the rules, doing everything right, but still can’t get ahead,” said Singh.

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