The Asian Star October 26 2019 by The Asian Star Newspaper

Happy Diwali www.theasianstar.com Vol 19 - Issue 39

Saturday, October 26, 2019

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Election 2019 How Justin Trudeau survived

Conservatives win popular vote but

Justin Trudeau chose his enemies well — and secured a little help don’t get majority from a friend named Barack Obama. He was contrite following a racism scandal, waited out a corruption probe and banked on the appeal of his Despite falling short of their goal to unseat liberal policies and the positive press from his trade tangling with Donald their incumbent Liberal rivals on Monday Trump. The result: Trudeau may be diminished, personally and politically night, Andrew Scheer’s Conservative Party — but he’s still Prime Minister of Canada. actually came out with a win in the popular Continued on page 7 vote. According to CTV’s election results as Canadian election results and its of early Tuesday morning, the Conservatives took 6,154,085 of Canada’s nearly 18 million implications for India ballots cast, claiming 34.4 per cent of the Minority Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has of late popular vote compared to the Liberals’ 33.1 per cent -- a difference drawn flak from Conservative Canadians for his extreme of more than 230,000 votes. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, political correctness and immigration and economic Scheer took to the stage in his Saskatchewan home riding of Reginapolicies. While the Maharashtra and Haryana elections Qu’Appelle to address a crowded room of supporters, touting his have been creating buzz in India, far far away in Canada, party’s lead in popular support. “More Canadians wanted us to win the Federal Election results have been announced and this election than any other party,” he said, suggesting that means the might have interesting consequences for India. Conservatives are now the “government in waiting” and have “put Continued on page 7 Continued on page 20

Scaring voters helped Trudeau get most seats

anadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pulled off a second consecutive election win on Monday with a late change in tactics designed to scare progressive voters who showed signs of abandoning Liberal candidates, four Liberal campaign sources said. As polls indicated he could lose, Trudeau ditched his “sunny ways” persona that had swept him to power in 2015 and started hammering away at Liberal leader & Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with his wife three smaller parties on the left, warning their supporters that if they didn’t vote Sophie Gregoire Trudeau (right) wave on the stage after federal election at the Palais des Congres in Montreal on October 21

Liberal, the progressive vote would splinter and allow the opposition Conservatives to take power. During the last two weeks of the campaign, Trudeau repeatedly told supporters that voting for the rival New Democrats, Bloc Quebecois and Greens would result in a progressive opposition, not a progressive government. “We’re doing this because it works,” one Liberal official said of the strategy as the campaign reached its climax last week. Continued on page 12

Trudeau’s newly elected minority gov’t won’t crumble any time soon Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has won second term in the office after a bruising and scandal-hit campaign that was light on policy and heavy on personality. Trudeau’s Liberal Party was set to fall short of a majority in the 338-seat House of Commons, according to the

latest result projections of Monday’s election. The Liberals were expected to win 157 seats, 13 short of the 170 needed for a majority government. It means Trudeau will be forced to depend on other parties to govern. The

opposition Conservatives, led by Andrew Scheer, appeared to be slightly ahead in the popular vote, but the party has not translated this success into parliamentary seats. Continued on page 7

Two reasons why walmart CEO pleaded PM Modi for stable business environment According to ET, Walmart CEO Doug Mcmillon has urged PM Modi through a letter to make reforms in the Indian FDI structure by infusing certainty and stability in it. After India introduced its new FDI norms

targeting $5 trillion economy, Walmart got disappointed just after the FDI introduction as Walmart paid 16 million dollars to acquire Flipkart. McMillon, who had met Modi in New York on September 25 during the

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PM’s visit to the US, has in his letter featured Walmart’s role in India, including investments to enable small and medium enterprises, worldwide sourcing from Continued on page 20

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Trudeau rules out coalition - dashing rime Minister Trudeau ruled out a with other parties, including governing coalition and said his minority the Bloc Québécois, to advance government’s new cabinet will have gender shared goals. B In the coming balance when it’s sworn in on Nov. 20. Holding weeks, Trudeau said, he plans to his first news conference at the National Press sit down with each of the party Theatre since winning a minority government leaders to discuss their priorities in Monday’s election, Trudeau said he will work and how they can work together.

Canadians send 18 Sikhs to its Parliament while Lok Sabha has 13

DP leader Jagmeet Singh, who belongs to Thikriwala village in Barnala district of Punjab, is a former criminal lawyer, Singh was elected the head of NDP in 2017. He speaks English, French and Punjabi fluently and won from Burnaby South seat. He recently got married to fashion designer Gurkiran Kaur. “Thank you, Canada. What a night – and what an unforgettable journey this campaign has been. With our new NDP caucus in Ottawa, I’m incredibly excited to continue our critical work to achieve the priorities that we’ve heard from people across this country,’’ he tweeted. “It is a great moment for the village since the next PM of Canada will be decided and sworn in only with NDP’s support,’’ said a villager. In the just-concluded Canadian elections, 18 Sikh MPs have been elected to the Canadian House of Commons, while there are only 13 Sikh MPs in Indian Lok Sabha. The province of Ontario alone has sent 12 Indo-Canadians to parliament, while British Columbia (BC) elected four, Alberta three and Quebec one. Among the Punjabi MPs 13 are from Liberal Party, four from Conservative Party and one from NDP. Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has won from his

on page 12

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Jagmeet Singh’s hopes of being relevent “They will be various and varied conversations, but I can tell you it is not in our plans at all to form any sort of formal coalition — formal or informal coalition,” he said. He also said his government will continue

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with plans to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline, which he said is “in Canada’s best interests.” The NDP opposes the pipeline expansion project. The Liberals did not elect any MPs in Alberta or Saskatchewan Monday, presenting Trudeau with a pressing problem of regional representation.

OPINION By Pat Murphy Columnist Troy Media

Some of the chatter around the federal election focused on the potential comparison between Justin Trudeau in 2019 and his father, Pierre Trudeau, in 1972. Given the circumstances – both men running to defend convincing majorities won four years earlier – it was an obvious topic. I wrote a column on it last January, specifically wondering whether the son’s fate would be similar to his father’s. Would comfortable majority turn into precarious minority, just as it surprisingly did in 1972? It wasn’t a column I’d expected to write. When Justin Trudeau was elected prime minister in 2015, I thought his popularity might have greater resilience than that of his father. It wasn’t a question of being a better leader, but rather of having a public personality with far fewer sharp edges. Whereas people were initially dazzled by Pierre Trudeau’s charisma, intellect and strength, it wasn’t long before the accompanying arrogance and sense of moral superiority shone

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Like father, like son? How Justin and Pierre compare through. And this put a significant number of people off. Having someone who doesn’t suffer fools gladly sounds fine until you realize that his definition of a fool tends to include anyone who disagrees with him. In contrast to his father, I thought Justin Trudeau was largely free of these unattractive qualities. Or would at least hide them better. I was wrong. So now that the results are in, how do father and son compare? The things they have in common Both men lost their majorities. In Justin Trudeau’s case, his seat haul went from 54 percent to 46 percent of the total. His father’s seat loss was sharper, falling from 58 percent to 41 percent. Both also experienced significant erosion in popular vote share, dropping between six and seven points. There is, however, a significant difference. While Pierre Trudeau’s popular vote total ran between three and four points ahead of his nearest rival, his son came in almost a

quarter-million votes behind. He was only saved on the seat side by a very efficient geographical vote distribution. Finally, both men benefited from relatively lacklustre opposition. For all his retrospectively ascribed virtues, Robert Stanfield was never going to light any political fires in 1972. And neither is today’s Andrew Scheer. This may not be fair, but fairness has nothing to do with it. The differences One of the things that’s different is the declining Liberal reliance on Quebec. The province saved Pierre Trudeau’s bacon in 1972, giving him 56 of its 74 seats, which was just over half of his national total. Without Quebec, his pencil-slim two seat plurality would have disappeared and he’d have been unceremoniously turfed from office.

www.theasianstar.com # 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2 Ph: 604-591-5423 Fax: 604-591-8615 E-mail: editor@theasianstar.com Editor: Umendra Singh Associate Editor: Chhavi Disawar

Letter to the Editor October 23, 2019 Dear Editor, The just concluded campaign for elections to Canada’s 43rd parliament is being described as a very nasty one. This is rather unfortunate. However, on the positive side, Canadians must be commended for holding peaceful and trouble free elections. As the saying goes, voters are always right. As such, the verdict rendered by Canadians on October21 must be appreciated. It goes to show that democracy in Canada is alive and well. The Liberal minority government led by Justin Trudeau is faced with a number of challenges. The election results reflect a divided and fractured nation. The biggest challenge for Trudeau and his newly elected minority government is going to be the issue of maintaining and keeping Canada a united country. Despite so many of our regional interests and differences we should all be proud of this beautiful, welcoming and compassionate country. Consequently, it is incumbent upon our leaders and political parties to put their differences aside and work towards making Canada even a better place to live.

Sincerely, Balwant Sanghera, Richmond, BC

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Saturday, October 26, 2019 It took 25 years for Nav Bhatia to miss some of the live action of the Toronto Raptors on the court, but it turns out he had a pretty good reason. With about two minutes left in the first half of the NBA champion Raptors’ season opener, a team official tapped Superfan on the shoulder at his court side seat and asked him to come to the media

From page 1

Newly elected Liberal gov’t won’t crumble They are expected to take 121 seats, according to Elections Canada, up from 95. “Thank you, Canada, for putting your trust in our team and for having faith in us to move this country in the right direction,” Trudeau said via Twitter late Monday. “Regardless of how you cast your vote, our team will work hard for all Canadians

Super thank-you for a superfan room to chat with reporters. Turns out this was perhaps the best trick play yet. What they were really doing was making more history. Lo and behold, to Bhatia’s surprise, in walked Raptors president Masai Ujiri

with a box in his hand. “I mean, he’s a part of us,” Ujiri said as he handed one of the massive NBA championship rings to Bhatia. And just like that, Nav Bhatia became the first NBA fan to be presented a championship ring,

Canadian election results and its implications for India The son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Justin’s re-election was not easy. He was riding against a wave of anti-incumbency, particularly for his statements of political correctness, often considered hypocritical, and for his immigration and economic policies. Trudeau has been in the news for claiming to occupy the ‘woke’ liberal space ever since he was elected. He has been attending LGBTQ Pride parades regularly (the first PM to do so), claims to be a feminist and pro choice for

abortion, yet he was accused of bullying his Attorney General in the SNC-Lavalin affair. Under his government, Canada has witnessed the biggest influx of immigrants since World War I, a majority of whom are Indians. He was also criticised when Time published his 2001 photo donning a blackface, an allegedly racial imagery, for which he apologised. The Conservative Party leader, Andrew Scheer, had his own share of criticism. There were questions over his earlier

and one of a very select few non-organization people to be bestowed such an honour. It was like something out of the movie Rudy. Maybe even better. The whole night was like that, from Doug Tranquada leading the packed house through the national anthem to seeing the NBA championship banner being raised, and every fan receiving a replica ring. job in Insurance and on his dual citizenship of Canada and US (which he obtained through his American-born father). In spite of having a high vote share, his party could not win enough seats and would have to be content in the Opposition space. The kingmaker who would support Trudeau’s government though is NDP’s leader Jagmeet Singh, and here is how things get interesting for India. Singh is a Punjabi Sikh whose parents were of Indian origin and is the first turban- wearing Sikh to lead the NDP. There are reports that on various occasions, he has appeared to promote Sikh extremism.

How Trudeau survived From page 1 Monday’s elections saw the once-ascendant heir to Canadian political royalty taken down a peg, with his Liberals losing their majority. He’ll now lead a minority government that will have to cut deals to advance any of its priorities — a fate his late father, Pierre Trudeau, also endured in the 1970s. Such governments normally last about two years. Some deals — like the new U.S.-MexicoCanada Agreement — will be winnable. Some dynamics — like dealing with the conservative Western reaches of Canada — will be difficult. Trudeau became the first Canadian leader in decades to lose the popular vote and win the election. He did it with a far more efficient vote distribution that pulled in scores more seats in Ontario, while Conservatives ran up the score in the less-populous west. It could have been far worse for Trudeau. After winning election on a wave of millennial support in 2015, Trudeau sailed through the first part of his term. He legalized marijuana and euthanasia, introduced a carbon tax and cut middle-class taxes while employment soared to historic highs. His status as a global progressive rock star scared off his domestic rivals, who struggled to find opponents who might unseat him: Several prominent Conservatives and New Democrats either retired from politics or passed on leadership campaigns, as the common wisdom in Canada had Trudeau as a slam-dunk for a second term. But two events sent his numbers sinking. First was a trip to India marred by an embarrassing security gaffe and a passion for traditional outfits that drew mockery and criticism. Second was a scandal in which he and members of his entourage repeatedly pressed the country’s attorney general to drop corruption charges on a Montreal engineering company. Trudeau’s poll numbers never fully recovered from that scandal early this year. Then came September — and a Time Magazine bombshell showing him in brownface two decades ago, followed by more photos and videos of Trudeau in racist makeup. ‘This is unbelievable’ Trudeau wasn’t blindsided; in fact, Liberals knew the story was coming two weeks in advance. They had been hearing from contacts in Vancouver that TIME Magazine was asking around about old photographs of Trudeau. One party official said they knew that when it landed it would break any campaign momentum and smother Trudeau in scandal for several days.

He has refused to blame the 1985 Air India bombing on Sikh extremists. In this video, he

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Court documents lay out case against Vancouver businessman in college admissions scandal A new indictment filed in the United States goes into great detail about the case prosecutors have built against Vancouver businessman David Sidoo, who stands accused of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to have people write entrance exams and essays to help his two sons get into U.S. universities. Thirty-five wealthy families, including some well-known celebrities, have been caught up in the college admissions scandal, with some already pleading guilty and being sentenced to jail time. The new indictment names Sidoo along with 18 other defendants, including Full House star Lori Loughlin, and it includes a dozen counts ranging from money laundering to wire fraud and bribery. Court documents outline Sidoo’s alleged interactions with William ‘Rick’

Singer who prosecutors say masterminded the scheme to help wealthy families guarantee their children’s entrance to prestigious schools. In one case, prosecutors say Singer falsified an application essay describing Sidoo’s younger son’s purported internship with an organization that worked to combat gang violence in Los Angeles. “The essay falsely claimed that SIDOO’s younger son had been held at gun point by gang members in Los Angeles. Singer e-mailed the essay to SIDOO,” reads the indictment. “SIDOO wrote back with minor changes to the essay, and asked, ‘can we lessen the interaction with the gangs. Guns…? That’s scary stuff. Your call you know what they look for.’”

Former BC Liberal MLA Linda Reid won’t run in next election A Liberal member of BC legislature has decided not to seek re-election after 28 years in British Columbia politics. Linda Reid says she is stepping aside because she wants to create opportunities for a new generation to run for office. The Liberal critic for seniors said Thursday in a statement that her priority throughout her career has been to encourage young people, especially women, to get involved in politics. The former speaker of the legislature and advanced education minister was first elected in

1991 in Richmond, making her the longest-serving current member of the legislature. B.C. Votes 2017: Richmond South Centre riding profile Reid recently defended her involvement with an investigation into allegations of wrongdoing by former sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz. Ex-Vancouver police deputy chief Doug LePard led the investigation and said Reid declined to be interviewed for his report because she was away. Lenz has denied the allegations.

ICBC faces $400-million hit after court overturns limits on medical experts in lawsuits B.C.’s New Democrat government is scrambling to deal with the ramifications of a court ruling that struck down a key part of its auto insurance reforms and could blow a hole in the provincial budget. A cap set by Attorney General David Eby on the number of expert reports allowed in auto insurance lawsuits was unconstitutional because it violated the exclusive powers of a court to control its own processes, Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson of the B.C. Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The immediate effect was an approximately $400 million financial hit for ICBC that Finance Minister Carole James has warned could swamp her thin $179-million projected budget surplus.

“It is difficult when we bring a big reform measure like this forward to lose in this way, and I won’t pretend it’s not, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to give up,” Eby told reporters Thursday. “We have a number of potential responses depending on the decision and we’re looking at it carefully to figure out how we’re going to go forward.” The government could appeal the ruling or craft new legislation, said Eby. The decision overturns cabinet orders made in February that limit ICBC and plaintiff lawyers in automobile injury court cases to only one expert each and one report each for fast-track claims valued less than $100,000, and up to three experts and three reports each for all other claims.

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Saturday, October 26, 2019

B.C. to be first to implement UN Indigenous rights declaration The B.C. government is about to become the first in North America to begin formal recognition of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. UNDRIP has become an international rallying cry for Indigenous people to leave behind colonial rule and achieve “free, prior and informed consent” for resource development and other activity in their traditional territories. Overlapping territorial claims dominate B.C., which unlike the rest of Canada is not subject to historic treaties. And the federal

government is responsible for reserves that were established across the country, including B.C. “We’re leading in Canada, in North America and the Western Hemisphere,” B.C. Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser said in an interview with Black Press “It’s one of the key recommendations

in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action dealing with the aftermath of the residential school system, recognizing in law the rights of Indigenous peoples,” Fraser said. “It’s been

described as generational. Reconciliation doesn’t have an end-date. That’s not what it’s about. Human rights are indigenous rights too.” Fraser is emphatic about the suggestion that UNDRIP’s key phrase, “free, prior and informed consent,” establishes a veto.“There is no veto in the UN declaration and there is none contemplated in the legislation,” he said. The province has already moved ahead with key aspects of UNDRIP, including changes to environmental assessment laws to incorporate Indigenous input, public school curriculum and changes to children and families laws that involve state intervention in child care.

Metro Vancouver housing market to see modest price growth in 2020 and 2021, predicts CMHC The Metro Vancouver housing market will remain “balanced” over the next two years with home prices expected to increase in line with population growth, according to the

latest housing market outlook report from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Housing sales and prices have dipped recently

as a result of multiple factors — including rising mortgage rates and new taxes — but the CMHC predicts that starting in 2020 and through 2021, there will be a modest increase both in prices and sales volume. Attached homes, condos and apartments priced under $700,000 are expected to generate the strongest demand because “homes in this price range can be accessible to buyers making a purchase based on their income compared with properties requiring substantial equity for a down payment,” says the report. The report says housing starts are expected to remain high, especially multifamily homes, which currently account for 88 per cent of unit starts. CMHC expects housing market to recover in next 2 years after declines “As densification continues and affordability challenges remain, multifamily units will account for the vast majority of new home construction,” said Eric Bond, CMHC’s Vancouver senior specialist.

Employment in the region is expected to help drive the new home market as unemployment rates remain low and job vacancy rates high. The report suggests employers in the region may need to increase wages in order to attract and retain employees. “Full employment and rising wages will both contribute to household finances and consumer confidence, which in turn support major purchases such as housing,” said the report. Renters are unlikely to see much relief. The report says the tight rental market will continue, driven by the net gain of population into the region, which will push up demand and rents. The CMHC’s chief economist said international trade tensions are considered a downward risk to the Canadian housing market. “Arrears rates are very low on mortgages and that’s a very positive thing,” said Bob Dugan. “But the level of debt in Canada is high and should there be some sort of a shock that causes unemployment to rise or the level of employment to drop, that can really have an impact on the performance of loans.”

Saturday, October 26, 2019

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Saturday, October 26, 2019

BC Liquor Store selling a $78,000 bottle of Scotch Do you like fine single-malt whiskey? Well, belly up to the bar big spender because I have found the Scotch for you. As part of its annual premium spirits release, the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch will be selling a $78,000 decanter of Macallan Genesis 72 Year Old. It’s the oldest whiskey ever released by the Macallan distillery, and it’s one of only 600 decanters of stuff released worldwide. That $78,000 not only gets you nearly 24 ounces of that delicious and not-atall obscenely overpriced Scotch, you also get to keep the gorgeous Lalique crystal decanter and the handsome wooden box that it came in. It’s a very nice box. Macallan Handout The bottle will go sale Oct. 31, 8 p.m., at the B.C. Liquor Store at 39th Avenue and Cambie. Two other Macallan products, the $4,350 Macallan 30-year-old Sherry Oak and $600 Macallan Exceptional Single Cask, will also be on sale. The BCLDB hosts a second ultra

rare sale on Nov. 1 at its Park Royal location where a Bowmore 50-Year-Old Release can be purchased for $45,000. Prospective buyers, or one of their servants, will have to enter a draw for the right to purchase the ultra rare Macallan and Bowmore products. The BCLDB’s wider premium spirits release will take place on Nov. 2 at participating stores across the province and will feature more than 140 selections of whisky, scotch, bourbon, rum and other rare products from around the world.

Canadians send 18 Sikhs to its Parliament while Lok Sabha has 13

A message from the Surrey Teachers’ Association

sitting seat Vancouver South. Sajjan hails from Bambeli village in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab and his extended family still lives in the village. The families of Punjabi origin candidates who won the polls are celebrating in different parts of Punjab. “We are distributing sweets in the whole village as it was the matter of great pride for us that Sajjan who belongs to our village and is a minister in Canada has again won the elections,” sarpanch of the village Paramjit Singh said. Earlier Sajjan had served in the Canadian army and headed the same regiment that was instrumental in forcing the Komagata Maru ship to leave in 1914. Similarly, sitting MP from Brampton Centre

Ramesh Sangha defeated two Indo-Canadians -- Pawanjit Gosal of Conservative Party and Baljit Bawa of the PPC. He had migrated to Canada in 1995 and hails from Lesriwal village in Jalandhar. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party held onto power in a nail-biter of a Canadian general election on Monday, but as a weakened minority government. Stay up to date on all the latest World news with The New Indian Express App. Download now (Get the news that matters from New Indian Express on WhatsApp. Click this link and hit ‘Click to Subscribe’. Follow the instructions after that.)

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Saturday, October 26, 2019

Surrey tops list of most delayed, congested TransLink bus routes The majority of bus routes around Metro Vancouver are slower today than they were five years ago, according to a study released by TransLink. The report attributes the slowdown to “increased roadway congestion and lack of sufficient bus priority,” and says the delays reduce the public’s desire to take buses. “The negative effect on customers is not only longer and less reliable journey times, but also longer waits and increased overcrowding due to bus bunching,” the report notes. The report estimates that if 1,500 passengers are each delayed by just four minutes, it leads to an overall waste of 100 hours for riders. The report outlines the top 20 worst bus corridors for passenger delay. At the top of the list is Surrey’s King George Boulevard and 104 Avenue route, followed by Highway 99 through Richmond and Delta, East and West 41 Avenue in Vancouver, Broadway, Hastings, and Scott Roads and 72 Avenue. TransLink said delays hurt its bottom line. It estimates that more than $75

million a year, or 700,000 service hours, is spent because of roadway delays. The Coast Mountain Bus Company, which operates TransLink’s fleet, spends $2.5 to $5 million adjusting its workers’ schedules for increasing roadway congestions. “This is equivalent to the cost of adding a new RapidBus line every 1-2 years,” the report notes. TransLink said the responsibility for fixing the issue has to be shared with local and provincial governments and it recognizes that “prioritizing transit – like any mode – requires examining trade-offs between users of the roadway.” The report outlines that stop locations, boarding policy and route design are under TransLink’s control but that additional bus lanes, bus-only signals and other infrastructure improvements are tasks for local and provincial governments. The Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation is expected to discuss the report on Thursday.

Pedestrian injuries double this time of year, ICBC says ICBC is urging drivers to be cautious of pedestrians amid slippery road conditions and fewer daylight hours. Pedestrian injury rates nearly double between October and January, according to ICBC. About 1,200 walkers are injured each year during the fall months, compared to about 670 people between May and August. According to ICBC road safety coordinator Joanne Bergman, most crashes — about 75 per cent — occur in the afternoon rush hour. “Most likely, it’s people that are trying to get home. They’re not paying attention. They maybe had a busy day at work — whether they’re in their car or as a pedestrian,” Bergman told CBC News. “It’s a busy time for them. “The weather tends to get a little bit worse as the day goes on,” she added. The Crown corporation has launched an awareness campaign, encouraging both drivers and pedestrians to be mindful of road conditions — and watch out for hazards. On average, more than 50 pedestrians in B.C. are killed in motor vehicle crashes each year. The issue has prompted some advocates to call for slower speed limits in residential areas. Bergman says distracted driving is

among the major factors contributing to the annual spike. Drivers are being urged to put the phone down, particularly in dark, damp weather. Most collisions occur at intersections, when pedestrians are crossing the street — often when they have the right of way. Those crossing the street are advised to refrain from looking at their phone — and take off their headphones. Wearing bright and protective clothing can alsopreventanavoidablecrash,saidBergman. Sandy James, a safe walking advocate and former City of Vancouver planner, says October to November is “the danger time” but notes the numbers are also reflective of poor driving habits in B.C. “Here we get so much rain and a lot of gloom, and people don’t drive for the conditions,” said James. “People don’t change their driving habits to adapt to the conditions.’ James is one of many advocating for reduced speed limits in residential areas across the province. Currently, speed limits are set to 50 km/h within municipalities, according to the province’s Motor Vehicle Act. James says reducing speeds to 30 km/h on non-arterial streets could reduce the number of crashes and improve the overall survivor rates for pedestrians struck. “If you’re hit at 50 km/h, you have a [20] per cent chance of surviving as a pedestrian

SOUTH SURREY-WHITE ROCK: Kerry-Lynne Findlay wins seat for Conservatives - unseating Liberals Godie Hogg Conservative Kerry-Lynne Findlay is the new MP for South Surrey-White Rock. Findlay unseated Liberal incumbent Gordie Hogg Monday night. With 208 of 209 polls reporting, Findlay won the riding with 24,044 votes to Hogg’s 21,319. NDP candidate Stephen Crozier had 6,558 votes and Joel Poulin of the People’s Party of Canada had 838. Voter turnout in the riding was 67.89 per cent, with 57,120 of 84,138 registered voters casting a ballot.

In her victory, Findlay made good on a vow she made after being defeated by Hogg in the 2017 byelection for the riding. “We’re going to go all the way in 2019,” she had told cheering supporters after ceding defeat in that race. At that time, she noted that the snap election called by the Liberals had left her only four weeks to campaign after being confirmed as Conservative candidate. The riding had been called for Findlay Monday night before she arrived at her party at Townhall Public House.

Metro Vancouver moves to hike property taxes by $33 in 2020 Water and sewage services underpin the basic function of regional government — but they don’t come cheap. Metro Vancouver politicians gave their tentative approval on Wednesday to a budget that would increase expenses from $836.4 million in 2019 to $890.1 million next year. Mayors and councillors moved ahead with the 2020 budget at a workshop meeting, though they still must formally pass it at another meeting planned for early November. If approved, it would mean the regional levy on property taxes for the average Metro Vancouver home would increase by $33 next year, from $535 to $568. And, due mostly to projected population growth or planned infrastructure upgrades and sustainability initiatives, the average

cost of the regional levy would go up an additional $200 in four years, to $768 by 2024. “They are fluid in a way, because things do change,” said Metro Vancouver Chair Sav Dhaliwal. “But some projects, obviously if they’re currently underway, won’t.” New fund for parks Around $8 of that $33 increase will come from new funds that Metro Vancouver approved earlier this year: $4 million annually to help add to Metro Vancouver’s stock of purpose-built, low-income rental housing, and $4 million to help Metro Vancouver acquire more land for regional parks. Metro Vancouver moves forward with new taxes for housing and parks

LOCAL

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Surrey’s five ridings by the numbers

CLOVERDALE-LANGLEY: Conservative Tamara Jansen unseats Liberal incumbent MP John Aldag Jansen defeats Liberal MP John Aldag on October 21, 2019 Conservative candidate Tamara Jansen has unseated Liberal incumbent John Aldag in Cloverdale-Langley City. Jansen received 20,772 votes to Aldag’s 19,470. NDP candidate Rae Banwarie finished the night with 10,389 votes. The Green Party’s Caelum Nutbrown received 3,502 votes and Ian Kennedy of the People’s Party of Canada had 925. Voter turnout in the riding was 63.99 per cent, with 55,058 of 86,045

registered voters casting their ballots. “Oh my goodness, it’s amazing. This team that we pulled together is the dream team,” Jansen told Black Press Media Monday night. “We’re excited to get into Ottawa and start working and see what we can do. It’s an incredible blessing.” Jansen’s socially conservative views became an issue in the dying days of the campaign. Aldag criticized Jansen for language comparing hospices that allowed medical assistance in dying to “death camps,” comments she made during a protest at the B.C. Legislature last year.

BC calls for unity as Western alienation sentiments surge It didn’t take long for #wexit, or “western exit,” to start trending as Monday night’s election results trickled in from east to west. Sending Justin Trudeau back to Ottawa as prime minister sent many Albertans trying to run for the exits with renewed separatist sentiments. But it’s a conversation many British Columbians don’t want any part of — including B.C.’s deputy premier. “I certainly don’t think anyone in British Columbia wants to see any kind of separation of Canada,” Carole James said Wednesday. “We’re proud British Columbians and we’re proud Canadians.” Her comments follow a post-election social media debate about where Canada’s westernmost province fits in with the notion of Western alienation. Many were quick to argue B.C. should not be lumped in with the Prairies when it comes to separatist sentiments, sparking a call for unity from the provincial government.

“We’re a vast province that’s very diverse and we’ve managed to come together on a whole number of areas that we agree on, so I think we can do that across our country as well,” James told CBC. More nuanced than ‘west vs. east’ The political divide within B.C. highlights a much more nuanced dynamic than simply “west vs. east.” Coastal urban centres aside, much of B.C. remains Conservative in the wake of this week’s election — and many of those rural voters feel Alberta’s frustrations. “The pipeline is a classic example,” said Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone. “It’s an issue that is very, very important to people in the Interior and the north of British Columbia.” He pointed to an increasing sense of discord between voters in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

The total population of CloverdaleLangley City, Fleetwood-Port Kells, SurreyWhite Rock, Surrey Centre and Surrey Newton in this 2019 election was 573,426, when combining the figures for the five ridings as tallied by Elections Canada. It must be noted this number also embraces White Rock and Langley City. The total number of electors was 394,193, with a voting turnout on election day of 241,855. All told, the Liberals received the most votes of all – a total of 92,532 – in these five ridings combined, compared to 80,087 for the Conservatives, 50,260 for the NDP, 13,988 for the Green Party, 4,213 for the People’s Party of Canada, 376 for the Christian Heritage Party, 272 for an Independent, and 127 for the Communists. Surrey Centre’s voter turnout, incidentally, was the second lowest in the province, at 53.6 per cent. The worst was Richmond Centre, with a turnout of 51.9 per cent. The highest in B.C. was in Saanich-Gulf Islands, at 73.1 per cent. The highest voter turnout in Surrey was in South Surrey-White Rock (67.89 per cent) followed by Cloverdale-Langley City (63.99 per cent), Surrey-Newton (60.46 per cent) and Fleetwood-Port Kells (59.8 per cent). These are the local results, riding by riding: 1) Surrey-Newton Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, 18,328 votes (45.1 per cent) Harjit Singh Gill, NDP, 11,854 votes (29.2 per cent) Harpreet Singh, Conservative, 8,511 votes (20.9 per cent) Rabaab Khehra, Green, 1,296 votes (3.2 per cent) Holly Verchére, People’s Party, 669 votes (1.6 per cent) Population: 114,605. Number of electors: 67,247. Voter turnout on election day: 40,658 (60.46 per cent). Total number of valid votes: 40,658. 2) Surrey Centre Randeep Singh Sarai, Liberal, 15,266 votes (37.4 per cent) Sarjit Singh Saran, NDP, 11,166 votes (27.4 per cent) Tina Bains, Conservative, 10,413 votes (25.5 per cent) John Werring, Green Party, 2,505 votes (6.1 per cent) Jaswinder Singh Dilawari,

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People’s Party, 700 votes (1.7 per cent) Kevin Pielak, Christian Heritage Party, 376 votes (0.9 per cent) Jeffrey Breti, Independent, 272 votes (0.7 per cent) George Gidora, Communist, 127 votes (0.3 per cent) Population: 120,172. Number of electors: 76,170. Voter turnout on election day: 40,825 (53.6 per cent). Total number of valid votes: 40,825. 3) Fleetwood-Port Kells Ken Hardie, Liberal, 18,149 votes (37.7 per cent) Shinder Purewal, Conservative, 16,347 (33.9 per cent) Annie Ohana, NDP, 10,293 votes (21.4 per cent) Tanya Baertl, Green, 2,324 votes (4.8 per cent) Mike Poulin, People’s Party, 1,081 votes (2.2 per cent) Population:

116,958. Number of electors: 80,593. Voter turnout on election day: 48,194 (59.8 per cent). Total number of valid votes: 48,194. 4) South Surrey-White Rock Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, 24,044 votes (42.1 per cent) Gordon Hogg, Liberal, 21,319 votes (37.3 per cent) Stephen Crozier, NDP, 6,558 votes (11.5 per cent) Beverly Pixie Hobby, Green, 4,361 votes (7.6 per cent) Joel Poulin, People’s Party, 838 votes (1.5 per cent) Population: 104,051. Number of electors: 84,138. Voter turnout on election day: 57,120 (67.89 per cent). Total number of valid votes: 57,120. 5) Cloverdale-Langley Tamara Jansen, Conservative, 20,772 votes (37.7 per cent) John Aldag, Liberal, 19,470 votes (35.4 per cent) Rae Banwarie, NDP, 10,389 votes (18.9 per cent) Caelum Nutbrown, Green, 3,502 votes (6.4 per cent) Ian Kennedy, People’s Party, 925 votes (1.7 per cent) Population: 117,640. Number of electors: 86,045. Voter turnout on election day: 55,058 (63.99 per cent). Total number of valid votes: 55,058.

Women’s emains found at Kamloops road work site are 545 years old, experts Human remains discovered during road work in Kamloops are more than five centuries old, archeologists have learned. The remains of the woman, which were found by a crew working on Victoria Street West in June, were examined by archeologists from the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc band along with a group of specialists. She is now set to be reburied and given a proper funeral by the band. The examination — combined with DNA tests conducted at a lab at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont. — discovered that the remains are about 545 years old and belong to a five-foot-tall woman who had at least one child, was right-handed and died between the ages of 50 and 59, said Ted Gottfriedson, manager of the language and culture department for the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc band. ‘Full funeral privileges’ A funeral will be held for the woman on Nov. 1, when her bones will be buried in the graveyard on the reserve. “She’s going to have descendants that are in our graveyard so she’ll be at rest with her descendants,” said Gottfriedson.

LOCAL

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Surrey City Centre plan expands to include new proposed SkyTrain station The city of Surrey council approves review of the City Centre Plan, as well as approved a boundary extension for the plan and endorse a “Central Business District.” According to a corporate report at Monday’s (Oct. 21) regular council meeting, staff recommended council approve staff start a review of the City Centre Plan, including a comprehensive program of community and stakeholder engagement; approve the proposed boundary extensions to the City Centre Plan

area; and endorse the “general location” of an interim Central Business District within City Centre, and include a provisional policy requirement that new developments provide a minimum of 50 per cent of its floor area for office or institutional uses. Council endorsed the report unanimously, with no discussion. The report states the Metro Vancouver Regional Growth Strategy “designates Surrey City Centre as the region’s second metropolitan

centre and centre of activity south of the Fraser River.” Because of that, the City Centre Plan was developed in a multi-year planning process, with it being approved in 2017. But since the completion of the plan, according to the report, market conditions and transportation priorities have also changed in the area “that have rendered

aspects of the original plan out of date,” despite the area experiencing “sustained investment and development, including numerous high density residential, commercial, mixed-use and institutional projects.” The plan area extension, the report states, is because of a proposed SkyTrain station at 140th Street.

SURREY-NEWTON: Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal re-elected with 45% of votes Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal has been re-elected in the riding of Surrey-Newton. “The feeling is great,” Dhaliwal told the Now-Leader from Grand Taj Banquet Hall in Newton, where he gathered with supporters as election results trickled in Monday (Oct. 21). He won with 45.1 per cent of votes in a riding with a population of 114,605. “I started this campaign 10 months ago with one slogan, that Family is Your First Team. “From Day One, we knew it would be a

hard-fought campaign,” he added. “Surrey-Newton will be Liberal once again.” Liberals return with minority government in Election 2019. By around 9:30 p.m., Dhaliwal had spoken to his supporters at the packed banquet hall on 128th Street, and also posted his thoughts to social media. “Words can’t describe my appreciation to my community in Surrey-Newton,” he tweeted. “I look forward to representing you for the next four years as your Member of Parliament.

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SURREY CENTRE: Incumbent Liberal MP Randeep Sarai re-elected Liberal MP Randeep Sarai has been re-elected in Surrey Centre. Sarai had seven opponents in the riding, including Tina Bains (Conservative) and Sarjit Saran (NDP). Will all polls now counted, Sarai won with 37.4 per cent of the vote (15,266). Saran came in second with 11,166 (27.4 per cent) and Bains had 10,413 (25.5 per cent). Voter turnout was 53.6 per cent for Surrey Centre, with 40,825 of the riding’s 76,170 registered voters having cast a ballot. After his re-election, Sarai told the NowLeader he felt “really excited, really humbled, really blessed that residents of Surrey gave me another opportunity for four more years.”

As he celebrated with hundreds of supporters at Crown Palace Banquet Hall Monday night at Scott Road and Nordel Way, he told the NowLeader he was thankful to voters for “turning out in droves” especially on “such a rainy day.” Sarai said his focus will be on “moving Surrey Centre forward.” He reflected on “a lot of great investment” over his first term, pointing to post-secondary education, an RCMP forensic lab in Surrey, $1.6 billion for Surrey SkyTrain and more. “I want it to be the second downtown of the Lower Mainland, one of the safest places in the province and one of the most affordable places to live,” he said, adding that he will continue to strive to make Surrey “not only a place where people can live.

Guns, crossbows, ammo seized in raid on Langley home Handguns, body armour, stolen cars, and three crossbows were found when Surrey RCMP raided a Langley house earlier this

month as part of a fraud investigation. On oct. 10, the Surrey RCMP Community Response Unit executed a search warrant at a home in the 7500 block of 202A Street in the Willoughby area. The officers were working on a fraud case, and information from CRU and other officers led them to the home. Inside, they did find fraud evidence, said Const. Richard Wright, a spokesperson for the Surrey RCMP. They also found: • Two loaded firearms • Two replica handguns • Three crossbows • Three sets of body armour • Ammunition • Six stolen vehicles • Multiple conducted energy weapons, also known as Tasers or stun guns • Swords, brass knuckles, and various other weapons The only real firearms are the two rifles at the bottom of the photo, noted Wright. The handguns and shotgun are replicas.

He noted that crossbows are considering sporting equipment and are not regulated.

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Saturday, October 26, 2019 Anthony Thomas, Founding Partner

Winter driving in BC can be treacherous and lead to motor vehicle accidents that cause significant personal injury. BC drivers must contend with reduced visibility due to darker, overcast days and longer nights, and be ready for all types of weather conditions, such as rain, sleet, ice and snow. Weather conditions can quickly change from one area to the next – roads might be dry and bare in Vancouver but ice-covered in Abbotsford. Abbotsford personal injury lawyers at Simpson Thomas & Associates prepared this list of top 10 winter driving tips for BC drivers. Top 10 winter driving tips from Abbotsford personal injury lawyers 1. Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained in advance. Check that tires, brakes, fluid levels, wipers and headlights are in proper working order so that your vehicle is ready before winter driving conditions set in. 2.Remember that posted speed limits are for ideal conditions. Consider reducing your vehicle’s speed when roads are compromised by weather conditions such as slush, ice, or

Liberal incumbent Ken Hardie has been re-elected in Fleetwood-Port Kells for a second term as MP. Hardie won with 18,149, or 33.7 per cent of the votes. Runner-up was Conservative Shinder Purewal (16,347 votes), followed by the NDP’s Annie Ohana (10,293), Green

Abbotsford Personal Injury Lawyers’

Top 10 Winter Driving Tips snow so that you have more time to react to hazards and avoid collisions. 3.Be alert when visibility is reduced due to weather conditions. Fog, rain and snow reduce visibility, which can increase the risk of collision with other users of the road. Always clear snow and ice off your vehicle before driving. While driving, use your vehicle’s headlights, window defrosters, and windshield wipers to maximize visibility and slow down if visibility is reduced. 4. Remember that conditions can deteriorate quickly. Road and weather conditions can quickly become dangerous, for example, if a storm moves in or temperatures rapidly drop. Check the weather forecast before travelling and stay alert while driving. 5. Leave room between your vehicle and other vehicles. Following too closely is dangerous at any time, but the risk of an

accident is even greater when road conditions such as icy or wet roads impair stopping time. 6. Avoid pooled water, ice, and compact snow. Your vehicle’s handling and braking speed will be reduced when roads are slippery, which can lead to loss of control of the vehicle that causes an accident. 7. Watch carefully for pedestrians and cyclists. Days are shorter and often more overcast in the winter months, which can make it more difficult for drivers to spot pedestrians and cyclists. 8. Exercise caution when driving near maintenance vehicles. Highway maintenance vehicles (g. salt trucks, sand trucks, and snowplows) often travel at reduced speeds and can throw up snow that reduces visibility. Never pass a highway maintenance vehicle on the right. 9. Use winter tires or tire chains where

FLEETWOOD-PORT KELLS: Liberal incumbent Ken Hardie re-elected Party candidate Tanya Baertl (2,324) and Mike Poulin of the People’s Party (1,081). The Fleetwood-Port Kells riding was formed in 2003 and was held by Conservative MP Nina Grewal, who won four consecutive elections until Liberal Ken Hardie defeated her in 2015,

with 22,871 votes to her 14,275. The NDP’s Gary Begg, who later ran sucessfully for the NDP provincially in the new riding of SurreyGuildford in 2017, came in third with 10,463 votes, followed by the Green’s Richard Hosein, who received 1,154 votes. In the 2015 election, in Fleetwood-Port Kells, 49,032 of 75,150 eligible voters turned out to vote. In this 2019 election, there are 116,958 people living in this riding and 80,593 of them are on the voters’ list. Of those, 48,194 turned out to vote. This riding contains Fleetwood, Clayton,

required. If you will be driving outside of the Lower Mainland, ensure that you know whether you require winter tires or tire chains and obey those requirements. 10. Avoid driving in poor weather. If weather conditions are poor or a storm is expected, avoid driving if travel is not essential. The best way to avoid the risk of a major vehicle accident that could leave you with serious personal injury is to stay off the roads altogether. Injured in a winter driving accident? Contact us. Abbotsford, Surrey/Delta, Burnaby and Vancouver office appointments are available for accident victims who need legal advice with respect to obtaining compensation for personal injury caused in a winter driving accident. Winter road conditions can cause major accidents. We have an enviable record of success handling major loss claims and aim to continue building on our reputation of providing quality service to our clients. Call us anytime on (604) 689-8888 to find out how our experienced personal injury lawyers can guide you through the ICBC claims process and maximize your compensation.

Fraser Heights, Port Kells and East Newton, as well as

Before venturing into politics, Hardie was a spokesman for TransLink and ICBC. He also worked as a radio and TV broadcaster and as a freelance print reporter. He and his wife live in the riding. Purewal, who ranked second place, is a former citizenship judge who teaches political science at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. He ran twice as a Liberal in the old Surrey-North riding, losing to the NDP’s Sandhu in 2011 and Canadian Alliance’s Chuck Cadman in 2000.

Barnston Island.

Port Coquitlam man banned from Metro Vancouver: RCMP A Port Coquitlam man has been arrested and charged with multiple offences, prompting Ridge Meadows RCMP to restrict him from the Metro Vancouver area.

On Sept. 9, police received a report of a break and enter into a home in the 18900 block of 118B Avenue in Pitt Meadows. After obtaining video surveillance, officials

say they were able to determine that several home invasions in the neighbourhood were linked to the same suspect. Kalman Hlavacs is known to police, and is allegedly linked to many property-related offences in multiple jurisdictions. He is facing two charges: one count of break and enter with intent to commit offence and two counts of failure to comply with probation. Hlavacs was released from police custody on 11 conditions, with one being that he is banned from the Vancouver area —except to attend pre-scheduled court appearances. He must leave immediately after the proceedings. “This is a great example of how and why we do that and, as a result, we have a prolific offender who cannot be in just our community, but the greater Vancouver area as well,” said Supt. Jennifer Hyland, in a news release.

It was all about conflicts and accusations. The fear for nominations brought the worst out of the housemates and lead to many conflicts. After the ‘Snake and Ladder’ task turned ugly on Wednesday’s episode, the Bigg Boss house was divided into two teams - first one comprised Siddharth Shukla, Shehnaz, Asim, Aarti and the second one included Rashami, Devoleena, Paras, Mahira, Shefali and Siddharth Dey. On day 26, the contestants woke up to the song Malhari. Just when the environment inside the house was getting normal, a new fight broke out in

Vidya Balan with different cuts With her very first film, “Parineeta,” Vidya Balan showed that there was space in the industry for a homely girl whose forte was acting and not glamour. Fourteen years later, after playing roles as varied as a housewife, a ruthless femme fatale, a brothel-owner, sister to a murder victim, lady detective and an RJ, she has shown that she is a star with a difference. Admittedly, she has floundered in many a case, notably in fairly recent

films like “Kahaani 2” and “Begum Jaan,” but the triumphs have outclassed these failures – people still remember her path-breaking turns in movies like “The Dirty Picture” and “Kahaani” among others. We begin our conversation on this note as we meet up on the eve of the release of “Mission Mangal,” in which she essays a scientist. Q: You have been the forerunner of the trend of substance-heavy films, especially the female-oriented ones. In the 2010-2011 phase, you acted in “Ishqiya” and “No One Killed Jessica” for starters. A (Laughs): I just think that I was there at the right place at the right time, and it is kind of people to give me credit! A change was underway, waiting to happen, Ekta Kapoor and Milan Luthria for “The Dirty Picture” and Sujoy Ghosh for “Kahaani”.

‘Bigg Boss’ - The things turn intersting the kitchen, courtesy Devoleena and Shehnaaz. Furious Devoleena announced that she will cook food only for her team members from now on and will not make anything for the opponent team. Restless Asim started making his own breakfast when Shehnaz intervened. She shouted at Devoleena for not letting them make breakfast and placed her pan on the gas stove to make breakfast for her group. She then asked Devoleena to move her pan to give her enough space to cook. However, after a heated

argument, Devoleena refused and dropped her pan filled with mustard seeds and oil over Shehnaz’s pan and the gas stove. It was decided that the two groups will cook their food separately going forward. The arguments in the Bigg Boss house reached the worst level when the housemates started fighting over rotis. It all started when Devoleena entered the kitchen to take a roti but was stopped by Asim, who claimed that it is their share

of food. Aarti, Siddharth and Shehnaz tried to calm down Asim and said that they will make new rotis for him. After a verbal fight, Asim left the casserole on the kitchen slab and left the area, following which Devoleena took the food from it. Around mid-day, Bigg Boss ordered the housemates to resume the ‘Snake and Ladder’ task but warned that they should play with rules and dignity this time.

Bollywood

Saturday, October 26, 2019

HELLO has arrived AT ART KNAPP SURREY!

Now that summer’s over, Fall is in full force at Art Knapp Surrey. There’s tons of fun to be had around the store, and it is all kid-friendly! NEW FALL ARRIVALS Telus will be here on Saturday, Oct 19th between 12-4 • Fall Mums, Winter Pansies, and Spring flowering bulbs! Want tulips in the •

Spring? Plant now! Cozy sweaters and jackets in the ladies clothing section arriving daily!

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Saturday, October 26, 2019 Kriti Sanon & Varun Kriti appeared on Sophie Choudry’s fitness show “Work It Up” where she practiced her favourite exercises and conversed about her “Dilwale” costar Varun. It seems actors Kriti Sanon and Varun Dhawan share a crazy bond of friendship with each other. In a tete-a-tete with Kriti, Sophie told her that she called Varun to get some gup about her and he had said that Kriti did not do any work out while shooting ‘Dilwale’ (Main kya gup doon. Usne ‘Dilwale’ mei workout hi nahi kiya). Reacting to it, Kriti called him a “liar.” “Kitna bada jhoota hai. I used to work out, I remember. Sometimes we used to even coordinate,” she added. Kriti also shared that Varun “is a freak to work out with.” Kriti

starred opposite Kartik Aaryan in Luka Chuppi, a romantic comedy about a couple in a live-in relationship. Devesh Sharma of Filmfare wrote, “Sanon is spontaneous throughout and seems to be finding her feet in comedy, having a gala time of it all in the process.” Commercially, it proved to be a success. Her second release of 2019 was Arjun Patiala, co-starring Diljit Dosanjh, a romantic spoof comedy film directed by Rohit Jugraj. She has four upcoming films, a comedy Housefull 4, featuring an ensemble cast,Ashutosh Gowariker’s period drama Panipat with Arjun Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt, Rahul Dholakia’s as-yet untitled thriller, and Laxman Utekar’s drama about surrogacy, named Mimi.

Bollywood Horoscope Aries

March 21 - April 20 If you’re going to get the best out of a relationship, aspects of it might need to change. There could be an imbalance of power in its current format. Open the way for discussion on this topic and a much better connection can be yours. Relationships continue to be important, but so are the feelings concerning them that often lie just under the surface. With Mercury and Venus in an intense zone,

Taurus

April 21 - May 20 Are your routines helping or hindering you? If it’s the latter, this is very much the time to get things sorted out. If your day-to-day tasks are preventing you from reaching for new and bigger opportunities and challenges, an edgy sun-Pluto tie on Monday could be a call to action. Give yourself room to maneuver and you’ll feel much better. With a focus on your sector of relating, you now have opportunities to improve a current bond, enjoy a sparkling social life, and make empowering business connections, too.

Gemini

May 20 - June 21 Should you take a budding romance further or be patient? With the sun angling toward Pluto at the start of the week, this question may be on your mind. This aspect could see you pushing to move things along, but this might not be wise. You’ll have a much better chance of success if you can be patient and allow things to develop organically.Lively Mercury, your guide planet, continues its journey through Scorpio and your lifestyle zone along with sweet Venus.

Cancer

June 22 - July 23

With the radiant sun illuminating an awkward angle with potent Pluto on Monday, there could be a battle of wills. Issues on the home front might need careful handling, particularly if someone seems eager to override your thoughts or decisions. Be open to discussion and negotiation, but if it gets you nowhere, stand your ground.With a focus on your sector of recreation this week, you might enjoy some leisure activities. This can also be a very exciting time for romance, & possibilities for finding that special person.

Leo

June 24 - August 23 As warrior Mars continues its journey through your sector of talk and thought, you’ll have the energy and dynamism to make a success of your plans. This is a great time to get organized, attend to administrative tasks, and network with others on your wavelength. Still, it helps to tread with care on Monday because someone could challenge your ideas. If you deal with them diplomatically, it will likely blow over in a few days. If you tackle them head-on, there could be a spat, which is best

Virgo

August 24 - Sept 24 You now have an opportunity to consider your resources and how you might use them more fruitfully. With fighter Mars now powering through your personal financial zone, you may be ready to resolve issues that have been going on for some time. Aside from this, it might be wise to look at your skills and abilities and how you can make the most of them. Are there any that are underused? And how much are they worth on the market? The sun angles toward potent Pluto on Monday, so it’s also possible that you’ve underestimated certain talents and that now is the time to realise their true

Libra

Sept. 24 - Oct 22 You could make a decision early in the week that impacts the family or your home. Have you had enough of someone’s attitude? Now is the time to stand your ground and say what you really think. They might be surprised, but perhaps they had it coming. As the sun and dynamic Mars continue to move through your sign, you find the courage to focus on those plans that are personal to you. It’s time to do what you want regardless of what others might think.

Scorpio

Oct 23 - Nov 22 You continue to be in a quieter phase, with the sun and warrior Mars currently journeying through your spiritual zone. On Monday, though, you might realize how a past experience is continuing to affect you now. This can be an opportunity to talk things over with a trusted confidant and find a way to heal and resolve the issue. With articulate Mercury and luscious Venus in your sign, this is very much a time to reach out to others, expand your social circle, and share your ideas and opinions.

Sagitarius Nov 23 - Dec 22

Your social life seems to be on a roll, and you could be very proactive about mixing with people on your wavelength. But you might also need to make decisions about how much time you spend with friends and how much time you spend on important plans and goals. Getting the balance right can be difficult, but because this is a time of opportunity for you, you won’t want to miss out. Tuesday could bring creative and imaginative ideas into the mix, and you may find that channeling them into artwork or beautifying your place can be very positive.

Capricorn Dec 23 - Jan 20

You may feel someone in authority needs to change, but perhaps you are the one who needs to be more flexible. If you can’t agree on a key issue, trying to force things to go your way could make matters worse. As the aspect on Monday is temporary, it might be wise not to rock the boat. See how you feel about things in a few days. You may find your perspective changes quite dramatically.

Aquarius

Jan 21 - Feb 19

What is stopping you from embracing a new opportunity? Could it be past experiences? The sun’s edgy angle with volcanic Pluto on Monday could draw your attention to this matter. This can be a chance to discuss things with a life coach who can help you move beyond your limits and fulfill your potential. Go easy with your money on Tuesday because you could have a tendency to splurge regardless of whether you can afford it or not. And rather than spend it on yourself, your generosity may be directed to others. You might have a very noble desire to make them happy, but it helps to be practical as well.

Pisces

Feb 20 - March 20 With dynamic Mars and the sun moving through your sector of shared assets and business, the coming week could see you making some key decisions. You can go far this time if you avoid overthinking certain matters and just sort things out. A friend may have a very different opinion on what you should do, but only listen to them if you feel they have a valid point. You may yearn to visit a place that holds special memories for you, particularly on Tuesday. If it’s a beautiful place, going there might act as a restorative and help you relax. It could be a very healing experience.

Bollywood

iwali, or Deepawali, is the biggest Hindu festival of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians. The Historical importance being that Lord Rama (a Hindu Indian God) came to his motherland Ayodhya after 14 years of exile in the jungle, fighting the negative powers. Over the centuries, Diwali has become a national festival that’s also enjoyed by non-Hindu communities. For instance, in Jainism, Diwali marks the nirvana, or spiritual awakening, of Lord Mahavira on October 15, 527 B.C.; in Sikhism, it

Saturday, October 26, 2019

DIWALI – THE FESTIVAL CELEBRATING SPIRITUALITY AND MATERIALISM honors the day that Guru Hargobind Ji, the Sixth Sikh Guru, was freed from imprisonment. Buddhists in India celebrate Diwali as well. Diwali is celebrated with two aspects one spiritual and one materialism (in a positive sense). Spiritual is your inner victory of light over the darkness. The festival is meant to be celebrated by overcoming your inner darkness and negative thoughts by inner light and positivity. It is being positive towards your perspective about the world and its living beings. It’s to let go of all the negative energy and thinking that has shackled you in the past. Diwali is all about growing bigger in stature and being. Diwali is about being Big! On the other aspect, Diwali is celebrating

the heartwarming ritual of giving sweets and visiting near and dear ones like relatives, friends, neighborhood, etc. It is about wearing new clothes giving yourself a new look and create a new outlook for yourself and towards society. This teaches us the ‘The Art of Giving’ with as much as you have. It’s about sharing something from what you have even if it means sharing a little bit.

Finally, Diwali is celebrated over five days making it India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year. Whatever the sentiments attached to celebrating Diwali, it sure changes the mental and physical condition of us as a person. Let us enjoy this Diwali by bursting the crackers of sorrow, pain, and distress and spread the sweetness of joy, love, and bonding. Let us make this Diwali more of a human than a digital touch. Manan Buch Blogger, Food & Sports Columnist

Deepika Padukone

eepika is an active celebrity endorser for several brands and products, including Tissot, Maybelline, Coca-Cola, and L’Oreal Paris, among others. In 2014, Business Standard reported that Padukone earned ₹50 million (US$720,000) to ₹60 million (US$870,000) per endorsement deal and TAM AdEX named Padukone the most visible face on television in India that year. In 2016, Duff & Phelps estimated her brand value to be US$86 million, the third highest of Indian celebrities. Padukone is considered a sex symbol and style icon in India – the media cites her figure, height 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in), smile, and eyes as her distinctive physical features. The actress ranks high on various listings of the most attractive Indian celebrities. In 2008, she topped Indian

Maxim’s “Hot 100” list, and in 2012, she was named “India’s Most Beautiful Woman” by the Indian edition of People magazine. Padukone has frequently featured in The Times of India’s listing of the “Most Desirable Woman”, topping the list in 2012 and 2013. In 2010 and 2014, she was named the “World’s Sexiest Woman” by the Indian edition of FHM. and she was selected by the UK magazine Eastern Eye as the “Sexiest Asian Woman” in 2016 and 2018. Taking note of her dress sense, Filmfare credited her as one of the “few actresses who experiments with colours, cuts and silhouettes.” In the fitness book The Four-Week Countdown Diet, the actress was cited by Namita Jain as “the ultimate role model for a healthy, fit and active lifestyle.”

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British Columbians’ personal information at risk as NDP ignores advice of privacy commissioner The NDP is putting British Columbians’ privacy at risk by turning down recommendations from the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Official Opposition regarding Bill 35, the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act. The Information and Privacy Commissioner, Michael McEvoy, expressed clear concerns in a letter to the Attorney General and the Acting Minister of Citizens’ Services regarding the government’s tabled provisions being “too permissive” and “vague”, where stronger limits are needed to better protect the privacy of all British Columbians. “What’s the point of consultation if the Attorney General had no intention to follow through on any of the recommendations provided by the Privacy Commissioner?” said Steve Thomson, BC Liberal Citizens’ Services Co-Critic. “With two weeks to consider the ramifications of changing how people’s information could be accessed and stored, Minister Eby chose to ignore the advice from a wellrespected data protection expert.” Section 22 of the Bill seeks to amend the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, expanding the authority of public bodies to disclose personal information outside of Canada, such as through cloudbased services. “We have grave concern for the 1.6 million British Columbians who have filled out personal information – including social insurance numbers – to declare for the NDP’s Speculation and Vacancy Tax,” said Ben Stewart, BC Liberal Citizens’ Services Co-Critic. “I have been contacted by many homeowners about their concerns but this government is willing to risk international data sharing without proper privacy safeguards.” Michael Lee, Official Opposition Critic for Attorney General, shares those concerns. He says that as British Columbians are faced with increasing demands from government to share personal data, how the government uses and processes that information is of crucial importance. “We want to see greater transparency, accountability, and certainty when it comes to public bodies’ handling of personal data,” said Lee.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Press release

MLA Joan Isaacs stands up for reduction of small business tax burden related to unused airspace BC Liberal MLA for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, Joan Isaacs, is standing behind Todd Stone, MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson and Opposition Critic for Municipal Affairs and Housing who today, introduced a bill in the legislature that, in response to requests made by a broad coalition of stakeholders, will enable local governments to reduce property taxes on unused airspace above small businesses through a new commercial property sub-class. “When neighbourhoods plan for future development small businesses are forced to pay the highest and best use tax rate, which means the unused airspace above their buildings is heavily taxed,” says Isaacs. “It may be years until the development plans actually materialize but, in the meantime, these small businesses are stuck paying excessive taxes on unused air space and their viability is being seriously challenged.” The Assessment (Split Assessment Classification) Amendment Act, 2019, introduced in the legislature today, will create a new commercial property subclass that local governments can use to provide relief for organizations facing massive property tax increases based on the development potential of the airspace above their heads. This solution has been supported by business organizations and local government officials across the province. Coquitlam City Councilor, Dennis Marsden has shown his support for the legislation after hearing input from local businesses. “I’m happy to see these amendments as they will give cities the tools to support businesses in continuing to serve neighborhoods while they undergo change and redevelopment,” said Councilor Dennis Marsden. “Family businesses, arts groups, and small, family-run businesses are the heart and soul of our communities and give them their sense of identity. If they continue to be taxed like high-rise developments we may lose many of these iconic businesses that make places like Coquitlam unique,” added Isaacs. Chris Florian, co-owner of iconic Coquitlam Pizza Parlor Me-n-Ed’s, is concerned that her restaurant, a staple of the community since 1975, will not be able to survive the continuous spikes in property taxes at the restaurant’s current location. “Many of my 45 workers are young students, 25 of whom? work here full time,” says Florian. “Tax rates doubling every three years will mean businesses like mine are going to face tough choices like shutting down, laying off employees, or raising prices. I am relieved that action is finally being taken to address this.” “The survival of many small businesses in BC, including a large number in the Austin Heights neighbourhood of Coquitlam, is being threatened by extreme and unprecedented increases to property tax bills,” commented Michael Hind, CEO of the TriCities Chamber of Commerce. “That is why, together with eleven other regional Chambers and Boards of Trade, we submitted a letter to the government for support and action on this pressing problem. We

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Reasons why Canada’s apartment building owners are happy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Classifieds / Jobs Looking for work? Cleaning company wanted workers for clean up job in Coquitlam For more details please call 604-902-2858

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

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Matrimonial Seeking match for a Canadian Citizen,BSC Nursing, good family value, 31 years old girl from a reputed family, Boy must be well educated & Vegetarian. Call 604-290-5424

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

Help wanted Clean-up company is looking for contractors or sub-contracters, please call:

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

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

Saturday, October 26, 2019

1 in 5 homes bought by newcomers - survey One in every five homes in Canada is bought by newcomers to the country, according to a Royal LePage survey released on Wednesday. The Royal LePage Newcomer 2019 Survey, which was commissioned by the real estate company, found that newcomers spend about three years in Canada before buying a home and that 75 per cent of newcomers arrive with savings or cash to help buy a home. About 1,500 people, all of whom arrived in Canada within the last 10 years, were interviewed by public opinion polling and market research company Leger for the survey and it was conducted online in August.Phil Soper, president and CEO of Royal LePage, said in an interview with CBC’s Radio-Canada that the survey found that newcomers represent about 21 per cent of all homebuyers in Canada. That number suggests people new to the country are contributing “significantly” to real estate demand, he said. “We know that Canada is a country of immigrants and we know that newcomers to Canada are an important part of our economic growth. What surprises us in the data is just how important they are to Canada’s real estate market,” Soper said on Tuesday. If current international migration levels are maintained, Royal LePage estimates that newcomers are expected to buy 680,000 homes in Canada over the next five years.

The projected home sales was calculated using historic migration levels from Statistics Canada, the survey’s home ownership rate of newcomers and Canadian Real Estate Association and Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation unit sales data. Phil Soper, president and CEO of Royal LePage, says: ‘We know that Canada is a country of immigrants and we know that newcomers to Canada are an important part of our economic growth. What surprises us in the data is just how important they are to Canada’s real estate market.’ (CBC)

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Royal LePage defined newcomers as people who have lived in Canada for 10 years or less. They include immigrants, students, refugees and citizens from other countries in Canada to work. According to the company, 31 per cent of newcomers are part of a family, 25 per cent are students, while 20 per cent are on their own. The vast majority of newcomers are immigrants, Soper said. Soper said newcomers to Canada represent between two to three million people, while the total Canadian population is roughly 37 million. He noted about 300,000 people come to Canada as immigrants every year.

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Toronto Raptors’ championship ring breaks several records The Toronto Raptors’ championship ring, which features tokens of the city and the team’s victorious season, is a record breaker, on many accounts. “In the centre of the ring you’ve got the Toronto skyline with the Larry O’Brien Trophy right in the middle, Scotiabank Arena and then the “North” chevron right in the centre there and there are 74 diamonds in the circle to represent the wins in the season and the playoffs,” Peter Kanis, the president of Windsor, Ont.-based Baron Championship Rings, said. The largest championship ring in NBA history sets a record for most diamonds, most diamond total carat weight and the largest single diamond. “They wanted it to stand out,” Kanis, who has helped make many championship rings in his career, said. “To get the diamonds in

the skyline we had to make it a certain size.” “It’s by far the nicest ring.” The rings were handed out to the Raptors players, coaches and front office staff during a pre-game ceremony during the team’s 2019-2020 home opener at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night. During the ceremony, fans watched the championship banner be unveiled from the rafters after the rings were handed out. The design process for the ring included

officials with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and management of the Raptors, as well as Kyle Lowry representing his teammates. “During the whole process you get information and feedback on what we create with our preliminary designs, they give us what they want on the ring and then Kyle wanted three things; he wanted to represent the city, the country and the team,” Kanis said. He added that Lowry wanted the ring “blinged

out” with “as many diamonds as possible.” “This isn’t just a ring for the Raptors – it’s a ring for the city of Toronto and the country of Canada,” the five-time NBA All-Star pointguard said in a news release issued on Wednesday. “The details in the ring reflect things that are important to us and are symbolic of our championship season. I think it’s one of the best rings in the history of the NBA.” Each player’s ring contained a personalized message with a ruby inside a maple leaf and the championship series scores.

Former whistleblower cop wants standing in money laundering inquiry A lawyer says an inquiry into money laundering in British Columbia would not exist without the “courage” of an ex-police officer who spoke out about alleged “interference” with his mandate to investigate organized crime in casinos. Paul Jaffe says the public will not view the inquiry as operating on a “level playing field” if the commission refuses to grant standing to Fred Pinnock, the former RCMP unit commander of the integrated illegal gaming enforcement team in B.C. He made the comments to commissioner Austin Cullen at a public hearing Friday to consider the applications for standing from Pinnock as well as B.C. Lottery Corp. executives James Lightbody and Brad Desmarais. Jaffe described Pinnock as a “whistleblower” who was so concerned about what he observed in his role at the RCMP that he took early retirement in 2008 after 29 years with the force and began speaking out publicly about money laundering. Lightbody is the president and CEO of the lottery corporation and his lawyer, Robin McFee, told Cullen that he has significant privacy, reputational and professional interests that could be affected by the commission’s proceedings. Cullen reserved his decision on the applications from Pinnock and Lightbody while granting a one-month adjournment to Desmarais to allow his lawyer to obtain and review additional documents. Ross Alderson, a former investigator in monitoring and policing B.C.’s gaming industry, withdrew his application for standing.

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Saturday, October 26, 2019

Trudeau’s Liberals win, but fall short of majority in 2019 federal election

series of jarring scandals may have obliterated the honeymoon phase between Justin Trudeau and Canadians, but on Monday night voters once again put their faith in the increasingly-vulnerable Liberal Leader.

Trudeau may have ultimately weathered the SNC Lavalin affair and an ill-timed blackface scandal, but he didn’t come out unscathed — losing his party’s majority status in a tight race with Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives. When he rose to power in the 2015 election, Trudeau was the new golden boy of politics and his victory was resounding. This time around though, Canadians were a bit more hesitant. The Liberals could only manage to secure a minority win in the 43rd general election after a tumultuous six-week campaign. Polling throughout the campaign showed Scheer and Trudeau neck-and-neck, leading to speculation concerning who would form the next government, with the possibility of rare coalitions suddenly emerging.

With results still trickling in, the Liberals were elected or leading in 157 seats — 13 short of the 170 needed for a majority in the House of Commons — and may need the support of one or more opposition parties to govern. “Tonight Canadians rejected division and negativity,” Trudeau said during his victory speech. “They rejected cuts and austerity and they voted in favour of a progressive agenda and strong action on climate change.” “Tonight you are sending us back to work for you. We take this responsibility seriously and we will work hard for you, your families and your future. “To those who did not vote for us, know that we will work every single day for you, we will govern for everyone. “Ours is a team that will fight for all Canadians.” The Conservatives were slightly ahead in the popular vote overall, but with so much of their vote concentrated in the two western provinces, they fell markedly short of the Liberals’ tally, taking just 122 ridings. Addressing his supporters, an optimistic Scheer gave his party credit for preventing a consecutive Liberal majority. “Tonight Conservatives have put Justin Trudeau on notice and Mr. Trudeau when your government falls Conservatives will be ready and we will win,” Scheer said. “Not only have they (Liberals) lost over 20 seats, but Mr. Trudeau has also lost votes and lost support in every region of the country.” “Tonight, we have accomplished what only two parties have ever done before by holding a first-term majority government to a minority.”

No trial for deported Sri Lankan accused of killing wife, Quebec court rules The Quebec Court of Appeal has ruled that a Sri Lankan national who saw a murder charge against him stayed due to trial delays -- and who has since been deported from Canada -- will not stand trial. In 2017, Sivaloganathan Thanabalasingham avoided trial for the killing of his wife Anuja Baskaran when a Quebec Superior Court judge ruled that the nearly 60-month delay between his 2012 arrest and the start of his trial was excessive. The Jordan decision, a 2016 Supreme Court ruling, set a 30-month limit between the laying of charges and a

trial for Superior Court cases. Following his release, Thanabalasingham was deported to his native Sri Lanka, but the Crown contested the stay and asked the Quebec Court of Appeal to order a new trial. The court didn’t hear the case, noting it had become irrelevant and theoretical, but it was ordered to take a second look by the Supreme Court of Canada. On Tuesday, three out of five judges upheld the original decision and rejected the Crown’s appeal once more, ruling the original judges had not erred in refusing to hear the case.

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RCMP spy Cameron Ortis granted bail with conditions Cameron Jay Ortis, a senior RCMP official accused of breaching Canada’s official-secrets law, walked out of an Ottawa courthouse Tuesday after being released on bail with strict conditions. Under the terms, Ortis will have to live with his parents in Abbotsford, B.C., must report to the RCMP once a week and is forbidden from using any device that connects to the internet. Ortis, 47, is charged with violating the Security of Information Act and breach of trust for allegedly disclosing secrets to an unknown recipient and planning to reveal additional classified information to an unspecified foreign entity. He faces a total of seven counts under various provisions, with the alleged offences dating from as early as Jan. 1, 2015 through to Sept. 12 of this year. Unlike the case for many criminal offences, Ortis had the burden of demonstrating why he should be freed on bail while he awaits trial on the secrets-law charges. No trial date has been set but Ortis is due back in court in Ottawa on Nov. 5. Evidence at the bail hearing and reasons for the decision by Justice of the Peace Serge Legault are subject to a publication ban. The bail conditions require that Ortis and his parents, who are acting as sureties, each post a $125,000 bond. One of his parents must be in the

B.C. residence with him at all times and accompany him on outings. All phones, computers and tablets in the home must be password-protected and locked away when not in the possession of Ortis’ parents. In addition, Ortis cannot attend any place that has public internet access, is forbidden from possessing weapons and must surrender his passport. His lawyer, Ian Carter, said little after the hearing but escorted Ortis, wearing a blue dress shirt and blackrimmed glasses, out of the courthouse. Ortis had been in custody since his Sept. 12 arrest. “Suddenly it’s fall,” he said, striding amid trees in full autumn blaze. The Security of Information Act, passed following the 9/11 attacks on the United States, is intended to safeguard sensitive government secrets. Charges have been rare but Jeffrey Paul Delisle, a naval officer who gave classified material to Russia, pleaded guilty to offences under the act in 2012. RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki has said the allegations against Ortis are extremely unsettling, noting that as director general of the force’s National Intelligence Co-ordination Centre, he had access to information from domestic and international allies.

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LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Big losers in Canadian election could be foreign real-estate speculators The biggest losers of Monday’s federal election may not be a political party, but foreign homebuyers and homeowners, who are facing the possibility of new taxes levied on them by a Liberal minority government supported by the New Democrats. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals vowed in their platform to “limit the housing speculation that can drive up home

prices” with a national tax on vacant homes owned by non-Canadians who are not living in Canada. According to a backgrounder, the Liberals are aiming to charge an annual one-per-cent tax, modelling it on a similar measure already in place in British Columbia. “In every decision we make as your government, we will always put this country and its people first,” Trudeau declared in his victory speech.

The Canadian dollar was little changed against its U.S. counterpart on Wednesday, with the currency losing some of its recent positive momentum as oil prices fell and domestic data showed a surprise drop in August wholesale trade.

Canadian wholesale trade decreased by 1.2% in August from July on weaker sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies subsector, as well as personal and household goods, Statistics Canada said. Analysts had forecast a 0.3% increase.

Canadian federal election put all parties on notice; the question now is whether they can work together Brace yourself for bigger deficits and energy unease under a Trudeau minority Oilpatch frustration grows as Liberal minoritywinkeepsenergyissuesonbackburner But the Liberals are heading back to Ottawa 13 members of parliament short of majority status in the 338-seat House of

Canadian dollar steadies as oil prices, The price of oil, one of Canada’s major exports, slipped on data showing a bigger-than-expected rise in U.S. crude stocks. U.S. crude oil futures were down 1.3% at $53.75 a barrel. At 9:23 a.m. (1323 GMT), the Canadian dollar was trading nearly unchanged at 1.3095 to the

Commons. To pass legislation, a Liberal minority government will need to cobble together support from other parties. A possible (and perhaps even likely) partner for the Liberals is the NDP, which secured 24 seats in the election and whose platform also promised to fight realestate speculation. Instead of an annual tax on foreign homeowners, the New Democrats and leader Jagmeet Singh greenback, or 76.37 U.S. cents. The currency, which notched a threemonth high on Tuesday at 1.3071, traded in a narrow range of 1.3088 to 1.3109. The steady profile for the loonie came after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal party won Monday’s federal election but fell short of a majority government.

Two reasons why walmart CEO pleaded PM Modi for stable business environment

From page 1

the nation and employment creation that it would do here later on, even as he required a steady situation. He likewise commended the PM for the improvement in India’s ranking at ease of doing business. Reasons that made Walmart CEO to urge PM Modi in reforming Indian business norms Walmart CEO suffered financial loss just after the Indian government worked on FDI reforms in order to bring stable economy and GDP growth. In India, Foreign Direct Investment rose to 28 per cent in the first quarter FY 2019-10 to $16.3 Billion. Last year, percentage count was $12.7 Billion. Just before the FDI announcement, Walmart invested $16 Billion to bought Flipkart. Post Walmart’s investment, Indian government reformed FDI

policy. This made competing businesses like Amazon to overhaul their business models. On Monday, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) stated that Amazon and Flipkart together created complete business worth Rs 19,000 crore in their four-day mega sales events prior this month. Last week, commerce minister mentioned that the administration was examining Flipkart and Amazon for any savage pricing. This resulted in the form of a setback for the companies that were already stressed about the transformations in the norms. According to ET, Reuters reported that Walmart mentioned to the US government in January that India’s reformed investment norms for e commerce business is regressive in India and it can result in detrimental business bonds between the two traders.

Muslim Canadians who won 2019 federal election 2019 Canadian Federal Election took place on Monday, October 21, 2019. Following is a list of recently elected Members of Parliament who identify as Muslim Canadian. 1) Ahmed Hussen, Liberal Member of Parliament for York South-Weston. 2) Omar Alghabra, Liberal Member of Parliament for Mississauga Centre. 3) Ali Ehsassi, Liberal Member of Parliament for Willowdale. 4) Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative Member of Parliament for Edmonton Manning. 5) Majid Jowhari, Liberal Member of Parliament for Richmond Hill From page 1

6) Iqra Khalid, Liberal Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Erin Mills. 7) Maryam Monsef, Liberal Member of Parliament for Peterbourgh-Kawartha. 8) Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal Member of Parliament for Don Valley East. 9) Marwan Tabbara, Liberal Member of Parliament for Kitchener South-Hespeler. 10) Arif Virani, Liberal Member of Parliament for Parkdale–High Park. 11) Salma Zahid, Liberal Member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre. 12) Sameer Zuberi, Liberal Member of Parliament for Pierrefonds-Dollard.

Conservatives win popular vote but don’t get majority

Trudeau on notice.” While most ridings across Canada were competitive, with votes going to multiple parties, a jump in Conservative votes in Western Canada bumped up their popular vote tally. As expected, the Conservatives dominated in the Prairies, where they picked up all 14 seats in Saskatchewan, including Regina-Wascana, the riding held by highprofile Liberal MP and cabinet minister Ralph Goodale since 1993. In Alberta, the Conservatives were one seat short of a complete sweep, after the NDP won in the Edmonton riding of Edmonton-Strathcona. In Manitoba, the party even gained extra seats in Winnipeg for a total of seven of the province’s 14 seats. This apparent blue wave in the prairies coupled with a Liberal minority win has breathed new life into a western separatist movement that taps into the anger and frustration of voters who feel they’ve been

short-changed and unrepresented by the federal government. “Trudeau’s re-election is going to tear Canada in half. Good job Quebec. You’ll get your separatism desires. The west is leaving,” read one tweet echoing the sentiment of many using the hashtag. Voters in the prairies weren’t the only ones upset with the result. Those in Eastern Canada who voted Conservative also vented their frustrations online, with some asking Albertans if they could move to the province once it separates. Calls for western separation are not new, but some Canadians are calling the prairies’ bluff. “Alberta has chosen to elect no members to Canada’s elected government. Now they will bitch about lack of representation. Randy Boissonnault and Amarjeet Sohi were solid Members of Parliament,” read one tweet.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Jagmeet Singh can’t explain how the NDP failed to win any seats in Toronto & his home town Brampton - total seats reduced by 20 Surveying the defeats his party suffered in Monday’s federal election, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he can’t explain how New Democrats were completely shut out of Toronto and failed to pick up any seats they coveted in the wider GTA. Singh spent much of the campaign in the crucial battleground region, where the party zeroed in on ridings officials believed they could win from the Liberals. That included Jack Layton’s old seat in TorontoDanforth, former MP Andrew Cash’s attempted comeback in Davenport, and in Brampton, where Singh started his political career as a provincial MP in a riding now represented by his brother at Queen’s Park. But despite making promises targeted directly at the region — including a pledge to convince Doug Ford’s conservative government to build a new hospital in Brampton — the NDP failed to achieve any gains. For the second election in a row, the Liberals swept Toronto, and the NDP were kept to the two seats in Hamilton they held before the vote. Singh was at a loss to explain what happened. “We’re going to have to figure out what we can do moving forward and how we can make sure we get our message across. I don’t have an answer for you right now, but I know that’s something that matters to me,”

Singh said Tuesday morning at a hotel in the riding where he was re-elected in B.C.’s Lower Mainland. “I love Toronto. I love Brampton. These are places that are really near and dear to me,” he said. “There’s a lot of people that need us out there, and we’ve just got to work harder.” The NDP entered the election with 39 seats in parliament. While the party was reduced to 24 seats in Monday’s vote, NDP officials welcomed the result in light of the NDP’s limited finances — annual donations have plummeted since 2015, according to returns filed with Elections Canada — and low expectations at the beginning of the campaign that included speculation they would fail to win the 12 seats needed for official party status in the House of Commons. The party also managed to defend enough seats to hold the balance of power in a minority parliament led by the Liberals — a twist that will give the party added heft in the House of Commons even with a smaller number of MPs. But the NDP was decimated in Quebec, the province that propelled the “orange wave” of 2011 under former leader Jack Layton. It now holds just one seat in Quebec, represented by deputy leader Alexandre Boulerice in the Montreal riding of Rosemont—La Petite

Chastened Trudeau to reach out to opponents after Canada election blow but rules out coalition A chastened Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose grip on power was weakened after an election this week, said on Wednesday he would reach out to his opponents but ruled out any kind of coalition government. The ruling Liberals lost their parliamentary majority in Monday’s vote and must now rely on other parties to govern. A top Trudeau ally lost his seat and the Liberals were wiped out in two western provinces, putting more strain on national unity. “Canadians gave me a lot to think about on Monday night. ... I am going to take the time necessary to really reflect on how best to serve Canadians,” Trudeau told a news conference. His tone was notably more muted than it had been on Monday, when he triumphantly told supporters he had been given a new mandate to pursue priorities such as climate change. Liberal officials say Trudeau will seek support

in parliament on a case-by-case basis, most likely from the left-leaning New Democrats, and should easily survive for two years. “I can tell you it is not in our plans at all to form any sort of formal or informal coalition,” said Trudeau, adding he would reach out to all party leaders in the coming weeks. The Liberals, despite losing the popular vote to Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives, ended up with more seats than any other party. The New Democrats, their most likely partners, are likely to demand action on a list of priorities such as increased social spending. Trudeau, speaking to reporters for the first time since the election, said he would present his new Cabinet on Nov. 20 and promised that a middle-class tax cut would be the first order of business.

Company says bots, aggregators boosted Alberta separatist movement on Twitter The Alberta separatist movement that has taken social media by storm after the Liberals won a minority government was partially generated by bots and data aggregators, according to a public relations company. Wexit, a term that combines Western Canada and exit, began trending on Twitter Monday night and has nearly 170,000 members on its Facebook page as of Tuesday afternoon. “It was huge, it was absolutely huge,” said Wexit Founder Peter Downing of the social media bump. H+K Strategies that suggest Twitter activity was started by bots and content aggregators. While not all of the accounts were new, the organization said they have all advanced other conservative messages in the past. “So clearly bots were used to fuel and spur the initial discussion, artificiall inflating the engagement and gaming Twitter’s trending function,” a

company spokesperson said. However, their tweets did generate reaction from real people, H+K Strategies said, with 72 per cent of real users tweeting about Wexit Tuesday. Downing created Wexit Alberta in June and Wexit Alberta about a month ago. He now wants to turn the groups into provincial and federal parties. “We have to do this,” Downing said. “Right now there’s no hope, there’s no future … no reason why we have to have Justin Trudeau governing us. ‘Unfairness’ Lori Williams, a political scientist, says separating from the rest of Canada would not fix Alberta’s economy. “The concerns that Albertans have will not be solved by separation. We’re not going to get our oil to markets any better if we’re not part of Canada.” However, Williams understands why Albertans are frustrated by how Ottawa treats their province.

NATIONAL

INDIA

Saturday, October 26, 2019

NDA gets 8, SP 3, BSP and Congress draw blank in UP by elections The Samajwadi Party (SP) turned out to be a major gainer in Uttar Pradesh Assembly by election, wresting a seat each from the ruling BJP and the BSP, while the NDA got eight, one less than it held, as final results were declared on Thursday for the 11 seats that went to polls this week. The Samajwadi Party wrested Zaidpur seat from the ruling BJP and Jalalpur seat from the BSP, while retaining Rampur. The BJP bagged seven seats and its ally Apna Dal (S) one. The saffron party retained Balha, Gangoh, Manikpur, Ghosi, Iglas, Lucknow Cantt and Govindnagar, while Apna Dal (S) retained Pratapgarh. Political analysts feel that the absence of the “Modi factor” in the bye-elections could have hit BJP’s poll prospects, though Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had campaigned vigorously

and had been insisting that his party would win all the 11 assembly seats where bypolls were held. Terming victory of Samajwadi Party candidates in Uttar Pradesh and also in Maharashtra as people’s mandate to “save democracy”, party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that it was an indication of people’s anger against “the faulty and anti-people” policies of the BJP. “SP has won in Rampur, Jalalpur and Zaidpur despite administrative pressures and misuse of official machinery,” Akhilesh said. He alleged that the BJP was doing the politics of vendetta and harassing his party’s workers by filing fake cases, but the SP will continue to protest against the BJP misrule. In Gangoh, BJP candidate Kirat Singh defeated his nearest-rival Nooman Masud of Congress by over 5,400 votes.

Congress gains one seat while BJP loses one seat in Rajasthan Assembly by elections he ruling Congress party on Thursday raised its tally in the Rajasthan Assembly to 108 by winning the Mandawa seat while NDA’s sole partner Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLTP) won the Kheenvsar seat. Rita Choudhary won the Mandawa assembly bypoll by defeating BJP’s Sushila Sigara by a margin of 32,666 votes. Whereas the NDA’s partner Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLTP) candidate Narayan Beniwal, brother of MP and RLTP convener Hanuman Beniwal, defeated Congress’ former minister Harendra Mirdha on Kheenvsar seat by a margin of 4,630 votes. The BJP did not field its candidate on this seat. Having over two-third majority in the House of 200, the Congress now has 108 MLAs, BJP’s figure reduced from 73 to

72, while RLTP remained at 3, CPM-2, and others 15. In January, the Congress had also won the Ramgarh Assembly election (which was postponed in 2018 following a death of a candidate) by defeating BJP’s Sukhwant Singh. Reacting on the poll outcome, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said Congress candidate Rita Choudhary has won with a big margin of over 32,666 votes on Mandawa seat, while on Kheenvsar seat, the loss margin has sharply decreased to 4630 as against 55,000 votes difference in May’s Lok Sabha polls on this particular segment. The BJP lost Mandawa seat which was won in 2018 elections by Narendra Kumar Kheechar, who later vacated this seat after winning Jhunjhunu Lok Sabha seat. RLTP’s Beniwal had vacated Kheenvsar seat after winning Lok Sabha polls on Nagaur seat

B SE EST RV IC E

BJP-led combine to retain power in Maharashtra poll Maharashtra looks set to have a BJP-led government for another five years, even as the results of the Assembly polls indicated a dip in the party’s tally, while the Shiv Sena and NCP appeared to have improved theirs. As per the results and trends available so far, the BJP’s position in the 288-member Assembly was 99, including 19 seats where results were declared. The Sena’s tally was 57, including 14 results, NCP’s was 55 including 10 results, while the Congress’ was 44, including 13 results. In the 2014 polls, the BJP had won 122 seats, the Sena 63, the Congress 42 and the NCP 41. The BJP and Sena had then contested separately. The Sena had joined the Fadnavis-

led government over a month after it was formed. NCP’s Shriniwas Patil, ex-bureaucrat and former governor of Sikkim, became a ‘giant killer’ after he trounced Udayanraje Bhosale in the Satara Lok Sabha bypoll, which was also held on October 21 along with the state Assembly polls. Bhosale had quit the NCP and joined the BJP ahead of the bypoll. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed a poll campaign rally at Satara. Prominent winners in the Assembly elections include Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray, and Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde who trounced estranged cousin and BJP

Haryana gets hung assembly, BJP needs six more seats to form the gov’t Haryana on Thursday ended up with a hung assembly with the ruling BJP emerging as the largest party bagging 40 seats, but still six short of the halfway mark needed to form the next government. The Congress won 31 seats, the Jannayak Janta Party 10, the Indian National Lok Dal and Haryana Lokhit Party one each. The Aam Aadmi Party, which contested 46 seats, was decimated. The split verdict triggered hectic political activity. At least two independents had boarded a flight to Delhi for a meeting with BJP leadership, party sources said. Total seats 90 | Majority

46 - BJP 40 Congress 31 JJP 10 The BJP’s final tally came as a disappointment for a party that had won all 10 parliamentary seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, and predicted that it will cross 75 seats this time in the assembly. But eight of 10 ministers fielded by the BJP lost. In the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP cornered 58 per cent of the vote share, which has now dropped to about 36.5 per cent. Despite the loss of seats, this is till about three percentage points more than what the party got in the 2014 assembly polls.

Eight Haryana ministers lose assembly seats Eight Haryana ministers lost the assembly elections, which saw just two of the 10 ministers fielded by the ruling BJP returning to the state assembly. Cabinet minister and five-time MLA Anil Vij retained his traditional bastion of Ambala Cantonment, whereas minister of state Dr Banwari Lal emerged victorious from Bawal. Vij drubbed Congress rebel Chitra Sarwara, who fought as independent, by over 20,000 votes. Dr Lal retained Bawal, defeating Dr M L Ranga by over 32,000 votes. The minister who lost the elections are Ram Bilas Sharma (Mahendragarh), Capt Abhimanyu (Narnaund), Om Prakash Dhankar (Badli), Kavita Jain (Sonepat),

Krishan Lal Panwar (Israna), Manish Kumar Grover (Rohtak), Krishan Kumar Bedi (Shahbad), and Karan Dev Kamboj (Radaur). The BJP had earlier denied tickets to two of its ministers-Vipul Goel and Rao Narbir Singh. The saffron party’s idea of shifting minister Karan Dev Kamboj from Indri to Raduar also failed to yield positive results. Khattar retained his Karnal constituency. Grover and Kamboj lost to their rivals by just over 2,000 votes, whereas other ministers faced defeat by over 10,000 votes. Lone woman minister in the Khattar cabinet, Kavita Jain, a three-time MLA, lost her traditional Sonipat seat to Surender Panwar of the Congress by a margin of over 32,000 votes.

Puri spent $1.1m in a single night at US nightclub: ED Ratul Puri, nephew of Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, led a lavish lifestyle and spent over $1.1 million in a single night at a US nightclub, says the chargesheet filed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case. Besides Puri, the chargesheet names his associates and Moser Bear India (Private) limited, where he was the executive director. “The verification of the transactions was done and it was seen that the same was utilised for lavish stays in various hotels in India and abroad and $11,43,980 was spent in a single night at a night club called Provocateur,” says the ED chargesheet. The agency also claimed that between November 2011 and October 2016, Puri’s total personal

expenses were to the tune of $4.5 million. The chargesheet estimates the extent of money allegedly laundered by Puri to be close to Rs 8,000 crore, higher than the amount initially stated. The ED also claimed that MBIL used a “complex structure” of companies to siphon off funds taken on loan from banks. The ED highlighted the creation of “shell companies” for laundering of funds. The chargesheet lists out a dozen subsidiaries where funds were diverted. “Over the years, MBIL has invested an amount of Rs 800,20,96,683 in its subsidiaries and associate companies,” says the 110-page chargesheet filed in a Delhi court on Thursday.

PUNJAB

Saturday, October 26, 2019 In a first, envoys from 85 countries pay obeisance at Golden Temple For the first time, a delegation of Resident Foreign Heads of Missions from nearly 85 countries paid obeisance at the Golden Temple dedicated to 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Originally, 91 envoys, sans the participation of Pakistan and China, were part of this trip. The visit was initiated by Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) head Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and led by Union Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri. ICCR director general Akhilesh Mishra also accompanied them. The high profile delegation reached holy city through a chartered flight and was received by SGPC president Gobind

Singh Longowal, MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Cabinet minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, DC Shiv Dular Singh and Police Commissioner Sukhchain Singh Gill. Puri said this programme with envoys from almost whole world to the Golden Temple together was a befitting mark of respect to Sri Guru Nanak Dev who spread the eternal universal message of peace and oneness of humanity. “A history of the sort was in the making today with ambassadors of so many countries together paid obeisance at the Sanctum Sanctorum of this holiest Sikh Shrine. I am thankful to ICCR head who made it possible at a short notice of three-four days.

Congress wins Phagwara, Mukerian & Jalalabad in Punjab by election The ruling Congress won three Assembly seats, while the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) won one in the Punjab bypolls, the results of which were announced on Thursday. While the Congress won the Jalalabad, Phagwara and Mukerian seats, the SAD came up trumps in Dakha. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh hailed his party’s victory in three of the four Assembly segments, particularly in SAD president Sukhbir Badal’s “self-proclaimed” stronghold of Jalalabad, and described it as a total rejection of the negative agenda of the Akalis. Congress’s Raminder Awla defeated SAD’s Raj Singh Dibipura by a margin of 16,633 votes in Jalalabad, officials said. Jalalabad was considered to be a citadel of the Akalis as they had represented the seat in the Assembly since 2007. The seat fell vacant after the sitting MLA, Sukhbir Singh Badal, was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Ferozepur parliamentary segment in the general election held in April-May. Ludhiana: SAD supporters gather near counting station. Tribune photo/ Himanshu Mahjan. ICongress

2 Independent MLAs from Sirsa taken to Delhi by BJP MP Two of the eight Independent candidates, who registered a victory in the Haryana Assembly polls on Thursday, were taken to Delhi by a BJP MP, sources said. Independents Gopal Kanda and Ranjeet Singh were taken to Delhi by a chartered plane by Sirsa MP Sunita Duggal. Kanda and Singh told the media before boarding the plane that they will support the party which will work for the development of Sirsa. Duggal refused to comment on rushing the two Independent candidates to the national capital. All she said was, “It is an internal matter of the BJP.” While Kanda won from Sirsa, Singh, the brother of former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, won the Rania seat. After being denied ticket by the Congress, Singh had entered the fray as an Independent.

Gangster and his associate arrested with arms & ammunition The counter-intelligence wing of the Punjab Police today arrested gangster Harminder Singh, alias Pehlwan, alias Mannu Mehmapuria, of Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s gang, along with his aide, after an encounter in Bhogpur. Three pistols, a rifle, 161 live cartridges and a wild spray, used by criminals against cops to make them unconscious, was seized from them. Harminder hails from Mehmachak village and his accomplice Honey Kumar of Achli Gate is a resident of Batala, Gurdaspur district. Addressing a press conference, AIG, Counter-Intelligence, Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh said cops had got a tip-off that the gangster was heading towards Bhogpur for committing a crime along with Honey in two cars. A team, led

candidate and former IAS officer Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal defeated Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Rajesh Bagha by a margin of 26,116 votes in Phagwara. The Phagwara seat fell vacant after BJP’s Som Parkash, who had won it in the 2017 Assembly polls, was elected to the Lok Sabha this year.

EcoSikh showcases 58 mini ‘sacred forests’ Ahead of the main events to commemorate the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev at Sultanpur Lodhi, EcoSikh, an NGO working on environment conservation, today showcased 58 mini Guru Nanak sacred forests raised in parts of Punjab and other states. At each of the location, 550 trees of native species have been planted. The developing of the mini forest christened as “Nanak Bagichi” coincides with the worldwide celebrations to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. Dr Rajwant

Singh, global president of EcoSikh, said the technique of growing forest with Japanese Miyawaki technique had done wonders and 98 per cent of them were surviving. Beginning in March this year, the NGO showcased the progress it had made in raising the mini forest in 200 days. Under the ‘Guru Nanak 550 Campaign’, the goal was to plant one million trees all over the world. Dr Rajwant Singh said the goal was to plant 550 trees each at 1,820 locations in the name of

Bronze statues of Sikh warriors to adorn corridor check post The Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), Union Government’s nodal agency entrusted with the task of constructing the Rs 190-crore Integrated Check Post (ICP), will be installing bronze statues of Sikh warriors in the first phase, while Sikh scholars and cultural experts want the life and legacy of Guru Nanak to take precedence over the sculptures. LPAI officials have prepared a blueprint where 10-feet high

statues of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Hari Singh Nalwa, Banda Singh Bahadaur, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and sculptures of renowned freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Udham Singh will be installed during the first phase of construction of the ICP. The first phase building activity is currently underway, while the second phase will commence after the corridor is thrown open to the public next month.

INDIA

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Indian troops kill 3 senior Kashmiri militants Indian forces have killed a top militant commander and his two associates in a counterinsurgency operation in Indiancontrolled Kashmir, police said Wednesday. Hamid Lelhari and his associates were killed Tuesday evening in a gunfight that erupted after Indian security forces launched a counterinsurgency operation in southern Awantipora area, said Dilbagh Singh, chief of police in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Police say Lelhari became the operations chief of Ansar Ghawzat-ul-Hind, an affiliate of the al-Qaida militant group, after Indian troops killed a top militant, Zakir Musa, last year. Singh said the group has been wiped out in Kashmir with Tuesday’s killings. Indian forces suffered no casualties or injuries in the fighting, he said. On Wednesday, thousands of people participated in three separate funerals for the killed militants in their native villages.

Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but claimed by both in entirety. Rebels groups have been fighting in Kashmir since 1989. They have repeatedly rejected the presence of outside groups, including al-Qaida. In mid-2017, an al-Qaida-linked propaganda network said Musa joined its affiliate group after he quit Kashmir’s largest rebel group, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Musa regularly issued audio messages that mainly stressed that Kashmiris’ struggle was for an Islamic cause and had nothing to do with nationalism. This highlighted a shift in ideology among some rebel groups that have mainly fought for Kashmir’s independence from India or its merger with Pakistan. New Delhi-based television channels used him to showcase that Kashmir’s struggle was part of a global militant agenda. Previously, no global insurgent groups had openly operated in Kashmir.

Indian startups have raised a record $11.3B this year With two months of 2019 still to go, Indian tech startups are already having their best year as a record amount of capital flows into the local ecosystem in a major rebound since the darkened funding environment of 2016. The unlisted tech startups in India have raised $11.3 billion this year, a substantial jump from last year’s $10.5 billion fundraise, research firm Tracxn told TechCrunch. This year’s fundraise, the largest sum for the local ecosystem in any year, further moves the nation’s burgeoning startup space on a path of steady growth. Since 2016, when tech startups accumulated just $4.3 billion — down from $7.9 billion the year before — flow of capital has increased significantly in the ecosystem. In 2017, Indian startups

raised $10.4 billion, according to Tracxn. Startups with consumerfacing offerings including financial services have attracted most of the venture capital this year — about $8.2 billion, Tracxn said. Following that is retail startups that have bagged about $2.3 billion and those that offer enterprise services, with $1.5 billion. (There is some overlap of startups whose offerings fall under more than one category.) Investors’ growing appetite for equity in India’s startups shows that the local ecosystem is maturing, said Dev Khare, a partner at VC fund Lightspeed Venture Partners . In an interview with TechCrunch, Khare noted that in 2014 and 2015, startups were largely focused on building e-commerce

In retaliation for Jammu and Kashmir stand, traders boycott palm oil from Malaysia Indian traders have stopped importing palm oil from Malaysia The move comes in retaliation for the latter joining Pakistan’s criticism of the Centre’s decisions on J&K, even as Malaysia has made overtures to resolve the issue Representative image NEW DELHI:

Indian traders have stopped importing palm oil from Malaysia in retaliation for the latter joining Pakistan’s criticism of the Centre’s decisions on Jammu and Kashmir, even as Malaysia has made overtures to resolve the issue.

After Supreme Court relief, P Chidambaram moves high court for bail in ED case Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday moved the Delhi High Court seeking bail in the INX media money laundering case. The 74-year-old Chidambaram, who was on Tuesday granted bail by the Supreme Court in the INX media corruption case, is in the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) custody till October 24. He was arrested by the CBI on August 21 in the INX Media corruption case. The case was registered on May 15, 2017 alleging irregularities in a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007, during Chidambaram’s tenure as finance minister. The CBI on October 18 filed its charge sheet naming Chidambaram and several others as accused in the INX media corruption case. The trial court took cognisance of the charge sheet on October 21 and

subsequently, on October 22, the apex court granted him regular bail in the matter. The senior Congress leader has sought bail in the money laundering case, saying the apex court has held that he is neither a “flight risk” nor is there a possibility of “his absconding from the trial”. He has further contended that one of the conditions imposed on him while being granted anticipatory bail in the Aircel Maxis case was that he cannot leave the country without informing the trial court. He has also contended in his application that both the CBI and ED case arise out of the same financial transaction and therefore, there cannot be separate remand for both. Another ground he has cited for grant of the relief is that the other accused, including his son KartiChidambaram,intheINXmediacorruption and the money laundering cases are out on bail.

Notice to five leaders as Cong cracks whip over indiscipline The Congress today appointed former three-term MLA Subhash Chopra the new president of Delhi unit and cricketer-turned politician Kirti Azad the campaign committee chief for the state ahead of February 2020 polls. Congress president Sonia Gandhi approved the appointments three months after former CM Sheila Dikshit, then president of Delhi Congress, passed away on July 20. The Congress chief further cracked the whip on indiscipline in party ranks with the disciplinary committee issuing a show-cause notice to five senior state leaders for publicly attacking Delhi AICC in charge PC Chacko last week. Those put on notice are former Delhi ministers Kiran Walia, Mangatram Singhal and Ramakant Goswami and former councillors Rohit Manchanda and Jitendra Kumar Kochar. The committee had asked for an explanation within 15 days as to why action should not be taken against them for issuing public statement against the senior party leaders, said disciplinary committee chief Motilal Vora. The move signals Sonia Gandhi’s decision to come down on rebellion with a heavy hand, having done nothing against former

Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar, who publicly accused senior party leaders of selling party ticket. With elections due in Delhi and the Congress house in a disarray, Gandhi took the decision of naming Subhash Chopra the successor of late Sheila Dikshit at a time when latter’s son and former MP Sandeep Dikshit was also in the fray for the position. Sandeep Dikshit, at loggerheads with Chacko, had recently accused him of leaking to the media a personal letter he wrote to the state Delhi in charge. Delhi state leaders close to the late Sheila Dikshit last week accused Chacko of the same (leaking a personal letter) and asked him to step down from the post. The war between Chacko and this section in Delhi Congress has been brewing since and took a new turn today with show-cause notices to top state leaders whose next moves would be interesting to watch. While Chopra has his task cut out and must forge unity in a divided house, a section of Congress leaders were anxious today over Kirti Azad, a recent entrant to the Congress from the BJP, being named the party’s campaign in charge in the state.

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SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, October 26, 2019

‘30 years of Islamic jihad, terror in Kashmir perpetrated by Senior Indian journalist from Kashmir, Aarti Tikoo Singh at the US House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on ‘Human Rights in South Asia’ has said that there is no human rights activist and press in the world which feels it’s their moral obligation to talk about victims of Pakistani terror in Kashmir. “The 30 years

of Islamic jihad and terror in Kashmir perpetrated by Pakistan has been completely ignored and overlooked by the world press,” she said. Lashing out further, Aarti Tikoo Singh said, “Why did they (terrorists) kill him (Shujaat Bukhari)? Because Shujaat wanted Pakistan to end violence.

None of them lost their own to terrorism’: J&K governor hits out at separatists and mainstream leaders Satya Pal Malik also alleged that “affluent and powerful” sections have crushed the dreams of the youths in Kashmir and urged the people to join the Centre’s efforts to usher peace and progress in the state. Hitting out at the separatist and mainstream leaders in the state, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik

Tuesday said none of them have lost their own to terrorism but instead used their influence to get the children of ordinary Kashmiris killed. He also alleged that “affluent and powerful” sections have crushed the dreams of the youths in Kashmir and urged the people to join the Centre’s efforts to usher peace and progress in

Pakistan’s nuclear proliferation in news again amid Turkey’s quest for nukes Pakistan’s nuclear proliferation is once again coming under scrutiny following Turkey’s reported quest for nuclear weapons. Buried for nearly 15 years after Pakistan’s nuclear smuggler AQ Khan confessed to nuclear smuggling and illicit exports, the issue has resurfaced in recent

days after Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was reported conveying his desire for Turkey to go nuclear at a party convention. “Some countries have missiles with nuclear warheads … (But the West insists) we can’t have them.

US expresses concern over human rights situation in Kashmir, slams Pakistan for backing terror Influential American lawmakers on Tuesday expressed concern over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of the special status of the state and said that as the world’s largest democracy India needs to uphold its commitment to human rights. US lawmakers express concern over human rights situation in Kashmir Sponsored Crossover Suvs Worth

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FIJI

Saturday, October 26, 2019

We are planning to plant as many trees as possible to reduce the climate change threat - Naiqamu Minister for Forestry, Osea Naiqamu says they are planning to plant as many trees as possible to reduce the threat of climate change. N a i q a m u highlighted this while speaking at a consultation with the people of Navuniivi village in Ra with regards to the 4 Million Trees in 4 Years program. He says as 91 percent of land in Fiji is

owned by the iTaukei, the government will hold consultations with the villagers before the trees are planted on their land.

Amenoni Nasilasila sentenced to 8 years imprisonment Former Fiji 7s player, Amenoni Nasilasila has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment for raping a 24-year-old woman on 22nd December last year. The incident took place at a settlement in Sigatoka. High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar overturned the not guilty opinion of the three assessors and convicted 27-year-old Nasilasila

for a count of rape last month. Justice Goundar has set a non-parole period of six years. While sentencing Nasilasila, Justice Goundar stated that the woman had told the court that she was subjected to victimisation on social media by Nasilasila’s fans after she had accused him of rape but did not suggest that Nasilasila was personally responsible for the actions of his fans.

Man who stabbed Police Officer charged with murder and faces 3 other counts of serious offenses The man who allegedly stabbed 24-year-old Police Constable Siuta Niumataiwalu to death on Monday night has been charged with one count of murder and faces three more counts of serious offences for two separate cases that allegedly occurred the same night.

The accused will be produced in the Lautoka Magistrates Court today. Police say several hours after he was released on bail from the Nadi Magistrates Court on Monday for a separate case of theft, the 20-year-old accused allegedly seriously assaulted and robbed a farmer

Water levels recede in part of Savusavu Town affected by flash flooding Water levels have started to recede in the part of Savusavu Town affected by flash flooding after heavy rain early this morning. Lesiaceva Road in Savusavu is currently closed to all light vehicles due to flooding. This has been confirmed by the Fiji

Roads Authority. Debris have also blocked off Lesiaceva Road at Korovesi. Resident Ronil Ritesh says the road is not accessible to vehicles at the moment. The area in front of Courts Fiji in Savusavu Town was affected by flooding and Savusavu Town Council workers are currently working on clearing drains

Auckland’s SkyCity Convention Centre fire closes down nearby offices & roads A massive fire has engulfed the underconstruction SkyCity Convention Centre in central Auckland. Masses of black smoke are billowing into the Auckland skyline and people can be seen on the roof of the building. A witness said she could see billowing black smoke coming from the SkyCity Convention centre in Auckland central. The thick plumes of smoke have darkened the sky surrounding central Auckland streets. Police are establishing cordons and people are massing to watch in stunned silence. A spokesperson for Fire and Emergency New Zealand said hundreds of calls had been received about the fire at 1.10pm. “People are advised to stay out of the CBD area,” they said. A construction worker said police had closed down nearby roads, including busy Hobson St. “There are masses of black smoke coming out the top of the building.” The construction worker said the fire started on the roof. Workers had been using “a torch, like a blow torch” to heat and seal waterproofing material, which had started the fire, he said. There were about 400 employees on site. The nearby hotel had also been evacuated.

Electrician Lindsay Rowlands was working on the floor below where the fire erupted.He said it was understood the fire started when a torch was being used on a butanoyl rubber waterproofing membrane when it caught fire. No one was injured or trapped when the fire

started, he said. “It (the evacuation) was very well organised. But everyone moved pretty quickly.” Judging by the volume of smoke the damage inside would be extensive, he said. The damage would be even worse if it rained overnight and the nearby finished building became waterlogged, he said. Sam Veamoi, 19, said he was at a business across the road when he saw masses of smoke and huge flames shoot from the upper stories of the half-finished buildings.

5 traders issued infringement notices and 2 others warned after being found not following retail price set by FCCC The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued infringement notices to five traders while two others have been warned after it was found they were not following the retail price set by the Commission. FCCC conducted 278 inspections of LPG traders around the country following a drop in LPG prices issued by the Commission which came into effect on 15 October 2019. FCCC CEO, Joel Abraham says failure to comply with the

prices set by FCCC is a very serious breach of the FCCC Act 2010 and any trader found doing this will be taken to task by the Commission. Abraham says they will not tolerate anyone attempting to take advantage of Fijians adding that for many Fijians, LPG is an essential commodity used for cooking and taking advantage of this is both unethical and illegal. FCCC inspection teams found a 97% compliance level by LPG traders.

Landslide at Lesiaceva Road at Korovesi, Savusavu A landslide has occurred at Lesiaceva Road at Korovesi in Savusavu cutting off access to residents there. Resident Ronil Ritesh says the road is not accessible to vehicles at the moment. The Fiji Roads Authority contractor is working to clear the landslide and debris along Lesiaceva Road in Savusavu which is currently closed to all light vehicles due to flooding. Water levels have receded in the parts of Savusavu Town affected by flash flooding after

heavy rain early this morning. The area in front of Courts Fiji in Savusavu Town was affected by flooding. Savusavu Town Council workers are currently working on clearing drains and debris. It started raining heavily in Savusavu from 2 o’clock this morning. The rain has now stopped. The Nadi Weather Office says the rain affecting parts of the Northern Division is being brought by a trough of low pressure that remains slow moving over the Northern division.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, October 26, 2019

PM Khan directs Punjab govt to extend best medical care to former PM Sharif Khan has

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran directed the Punjab government to be certain that former premier Nawaz Sharif will get the best attainable medical care in accordance with the desires of his household, media stories mentioned on Wednesday. Sharif, 69, was shifted to the Companies Hospital in Lahore on Monday after his situation deteriorated with critically low platelet rely. The three-time former prime

minister and supreme chief of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) is serving a seven-12 months jail time period since December 24,

Why calls for independence are getting louder in Pakistani Kashmir Pakistan-ruled Kashmir is becoming increasingly restless as pro-independence protesters are clashing with security forces there. Experts say India’s recent Kashmir “annexation” seems to have triggered this movement. Security forces firing teargas and using baton against unarmed protesters is probably a common scene in Indiaadministered Kashmir, particularly in the city of Srinagar. Pakistan-controlled Kashmir has its own problems, but violent demonstrations have been rare on this side of the Line of Control (LoC), which divides India- and Pakistancontrolled Kashmir regions. But not anymore. Lately, there have been increasing reports about large demonstrations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir — officially called Azad Kashmir in Pakistan. On Tuesday, clashes broke out between protesters and police in Muzaffarabad, the region’s capital. The police were reportedly

trying to disperse a protest rally organized by the People National Alliance (PNA), a group that seeks an independent Kashmir. At least 100 people were reportedly injured in the clashes, with police detaining dozens of activists. The protesters were demanding that Azad Kashmir’s existing legislative assembly be converted into a constitutional assembly and the area’s unification with the Gilgit-Baltistan region. Pakistan and India both rule part of the disputed Himalayan territory of Jammu and Kashmir, but claim it in full. The restive region is a flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed archrivals. China, too, has some territorial claims in the area. Tuesday’s clashes were not an isolated event. Earlier this month, police stopped thousands of Kashmiri protesters from reaching the highly militarized LoC. The demonstrators were protesting against New Delhi’s decision to abrogate India-administered Kashmir’s special status on August 5.

Nawaz Sharif’s daughter hospitalised in Lahore Vice president of her party & the daughter former PM Sharif Maryam Nawaz has been admitted at Services Hospital in Lahore. According to a document issued by the Services Hospital Lahore Accident and Emergency Services, Maryam was admitted at 10.03 p.m. in VVIP II, reports Dawn news. The same night she met her father at the hospital, sources within the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said. The development had come after a letter was sent by the opposition Pakistan Muslim

League-Nawaz (PML-N) to the Punjab Home Department asking for special permission to be granted. “It is already in your knowledge that Sharif is unwell and has been shifted to Services Hospital for treatment. His daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif is an undertrial prisoner at Kot Lakhpat Jail Lahore. She has not been able to inquire about the health of her father. It is requested that special permission be granted to (her) to visit her ailing father to inquire about his health,” the letter said.

Former PM Sharif’s condition deteriorated because he ‘might have been poisoned’: Son Pakistan’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif ’s condition deteriorated because he might have been given ‘poison’ in the custody of the anti-graft body, his son Hussain Nawaz alleged on Tuesday. The three-time former prime minister and supreme leader of the PML-N was shifted to the Services Hospital Lahore late on Monday night after his condition deteriorated. Sharif, 69, is serving a seven-year prison term since December 24, 2018 when the accountability court convicted him in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case – one of

the three corruption cases filed in following the Supreme Court’s 2017 order in the Panama Papers scandal. “My father might have been given poison as his platelets were critically low when he was shifted to hospital,” Hussain tweeted from London. He said the Imran Khan government will have to answer for not shifting Sharif to a hospital on time despite his critically low platelets count – 16,000, as per his fresh medical reports. “While a substantially reduced platelets count is in itself very serious and potentially life-threatening why he was not

Religious persecution, violence against women salient features of Pakistan: Sindhi Activitist Religious persecution and violence against women are some of the most salient features of Pakistan, said Sindhi-American Human Rights activist Fatima Gul at the United States House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on `Human Rights in South Asia` here on Tuesday (local time). “Religious persecution remains a salient feature of Pakistan. Hindus, Christians, Ahmedis, Shias, Balochs continued to be victimised by religious extremists who operate with the

government impunity. Pakistan is the only country in the world that legislated against its own citizens,” Gul informed the US House panel over incidents related to violence committed by Pakistan against the ethnic minorities in its own soil.” Pakistan ranks as Sixth most dangerous country for women in regards to violence and rape. According to Human Rights Watch, child sexual abuse remains disturbingly common in Pakistan. Around 141 cases have been reported just in Lahore in Punjab province of Pakistan.

2018 when the accountability courtroom convicted him within the Al-Azizia Metal Mills case – one of the three corruption circumstances filed following the Supreme Courtroom’s 2017 order within the Panama Papers scandal. In a tweet on Wednesday, the government’s chief spokesperson Firdous Ashiq Awan mentioned Prime Minister Khan

had sought an in depth report from the Punjab government concerning Sharif ’s well being. Khan additional directed the Punjab government to be certain that Sharif will get the best attainable medical care in accordance with the desires of his household. Awan mentioned the premier had “prayed for Sharif and wished him a speedy recovery”, the Daybreak reported. A medical board headed by Dr Ayaz Mahmood on Tuesday examined Sharif on the hospital and transfused platelets to him.

Baloch women & children hold protest against enforced disappearances Relatives of missing Baloch people, a majority of them women and children, held a protest rally in Quetta city of Balochistan on October 22 to demand immediate release of their loved ones. They demanded immediate release of their loved ones. A large number of political activists and intellectuals are being abducted allegedly by security forces from various parts of Balochistan

province. Rashid Hussain was abducted from UAE and later deported to Pakistan. His mother along with other missing persons’ families protested in Quetta for his safe recovery and other Baloch missing persons. An online campaign is also going using hashtag #SaveRashidHussain and #SaveBalochMissingPersons has also been launched.

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PM Modi congratulates Trudeau as his party returns to power PM Narendra Modi congratulated Canda’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for returning to power. Trudeau’s Liberal Party held onto power in a nail-biting election on Monday. But it emerged weaker as a minority government. “Congratulations @ JustinTrudeau. India and Canada are connected by shared values and a strong commitment to democracy as well as plurality. Looking forward to working

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further strengthen bilateral relations,” PM Modi tweeted. Trudeau would now require at least 13 legislators from his leftleaning rival parties to reach the ‘’magic number’’ of 170 to form a Liberal Party-led minority government in the 338seat House of Commons.

NRI

Saturday, October 26, 2019

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Why the US needs more of India’s and China’s best and brightest In the tempestuous debates about immigration policy, the humble H-1B temporary visa tends to be overlooked. Streams of desperate Central Americans marching toward the border tend to evoke strong emotions on all sides, while tech professionals from India working in Silicon Valley elicit fewer objections. But H-1B workers are important to national prosperity, and the program is under threat from the Donald Trump administration.

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Though these visas normally expire after six years, the H-1B effectively functions as a trial period for high-skilled immigrants. Often, it gives a worker a chance to become established and apply for permanent residence, while it gives their employer the ability to try them out. Without it, fewer skilled immigrants would be able to work in the U.S.

NRI accuses cops of inaction in theft case Munish Kumar, an NRI, originally hailing from Kartarpur, alleged inaction by the police for failing to register an FIR over his complaint or to initiate an investigation against miscreants who had allegedly stolen his luggage from an Indo-Canadian bus while he was returning to Jalandhar from the Delhi airport on October17. Munsih said on October 16 he took a flight from Canada for the New Delhi International

Airport and on October 17 around 3.15 am, he reached the Delhi airport from where he took the Indo-Canadian bus for Jalandhar at 6:15 am. He said after taking passengers from Delhi, the bus stopped at the Phagwara IndoCanadian office and many of the passengers got off the vehicle. He said after reaching Jalandhar when he asked the conductor for his luggage, he realised that one of his bags was missing.

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