Appliance Repair in Delhi, CA

Additional capacity will strengthen travel and business ties

TORONTO, Nov. 14, 2022 /CNW/ - From visiting friends and family to getting goods to markets around the world, Canadians rely on the aviation industry to provide diverse international air services. Expanding Canada's existing air transport relationships allow airlines to introduce more flight options and routings, which benefit passengers and businesses by providing greater choice and convenience.

The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, today announced the recent conclusion of an expanded air transport agreement between Canada and India. The expanded agreement allows designated airlines to operate an unlimited number of flights between the two countries. The previous agreement limited each country to 35 flights per week.

This significant move will allow airlines of Canada and India to better respond to the needs of the Canada-India air transport market. Going forward, officials of both countries will remain in contact to discuss further expansion of the agreement.

The new rights under the expanded agreement are available for use by airlines immediately.

"The expanded air transport agreement between Canada and India is a positive development for air transport relations between our countries. We are pleased to expand this relationship with additional flexibility for airlines to serve this growing market. By making the movement of goods and people faster and easier, this expanded agreement will continue to facilitate trade and investment between Canada and India and help our businesses grow and succeed."

The Honourable Omar AlghabraCanada's Minister of Transport

"The Canada-India economic relationship is built on deep-rooted people to people ties. With this expanded air transport agreement, we are facilitating even more exchanges of professionals, students, business people, and investors. As we strengthen our trade and investment relationship with India, we will continue building bridges like this that enable our entrepreneurs, workers, and businesses to access new opportunities."

The Honourable Mary NgCanada's Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news or stay connected through RSS, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.

SOURCE Transport Canada

For further information: Nadine Ramadan, Press Secretary and Communications Advisor, Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, Ottawa, Nadine.Ramadan@tc.gc.ca; Media Relations, Transport Canada, Ottawa, media@tc.gc.ca, 613-993-0055

Damage is estimated at $600,000 in a garage fire that spread to two nearby homes on Orchard Avenue in Delhi early Sunday morning.

Article content

The garage fire was fully involved when Norfolk County firefighters responded to the call at about 2:20 a.m.

The home owners, who were sleeping at the time, were able to safely evacuate, he said.

No injuries were reported.

“Thanks to the quick action of the firefighters the fire was brought under control before the homes became engulfed,” said James Robertson, assistant fire chief, in a media release.

Firefighters from Delhi, Courtland, and Simcoe stations responded.

Robertson issued a public reminder about the importance of having working smoke alarms.

“Fire grows and spreads extremely fast, especially when modern construction and modern furniture is involved. Smoke alarms give people a fighting chance to get your family safety evacuated,” he said. “This morning (Sunday) as you are resetting your clocks for the time change, please spend a couple of minutes and check your smoke alarms.”

The fire remains under investigation.

The country’s electric push is fuelled by sales of two- and three-wheelers

A faded battery-powered rickshaw weaves in and out of traffic in New Delhi's northwestern Jahangirpuri neighbourhood on a weekday morning, looking for passengers before sputtering into a narrow space in a row of brightly-coloured three-wheelers to charge its dying battery.

Behind the wheel is Suman, a 36-year-old mother of four, who takes pride in her chosen profession. Suman, who like many Indians goes by only one name, fought against the wishes of her husband and extended family to drive an e-rickshaw to provide for her daughters, who range from four to 18 years old.

"I told them that I don't care what anyone says, I need to drive to give my daughters a better life," said Suman.

"I don't want my girls to have the same fate as me. I want them to get an education," she added. "If I have to drive this rickshaw for that to happen, I will."

Suman is one of many drivers clogging the streets of India's capital region who see the e-rickshaw as an opportunity to earn more money and be their own boss, while environmental groups and the Indian government view the steep rise in low-cost electric vehicles as a key tool in the country's fight to reduce carbon emissions.

"The best thing about an e-rickshaw is that you are not working under someone," Suman told CBC News. "You can make some money, then take a break when the kids need to be sent to school."

This is India's EV revolution, a messy and at times chaotic push that has grown organically over the last decade in the Delhi area and several northern Indian states, which have seen the rapid proliferation of largely unregulated e-rickshaws, some of which are now available to buy for less than $1,500.

It's a homegrown, people-driven model for a green mobility shift that relies heavily on two- and three-wheeled electric vehicles — one that many experts say could serve as a template for other developing countries that are trying, like India, to fight climate change and crippling air pollution.

"If you are looking to embark on a mobility transition, it's probably better and wiser to look at what's the path of least resistance," said Gagan Sidhu, director of the Centre for Energy Finance, housed within the Council of Energy, Environment and Water, a New Delhi-based think tank. "Which means don't necessarily start at four wheelers, start at the cheaper end of the spectrum."

There are roughly 1.75 million electric three-wheelers in India, according to industry data, although the actual figure is likely higher since many are not registered or tracked.

In the fiscal year ending in March 2022, some 430,000 electric vehicles were sold in India, more than three times as many as the previous year. The vast majority, 95 per cent, were two- and three-wheelers, according to data compiled by the country's Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations.

Electric vehicles are still a tiny percentage of total automobile sales but that proportion is growing fast, with EVs capturing more than five per cent of the market in August of this year, up from two per cent in 2021.

On the ground, Ishaq Pradhan has seen the growth firsthand.

He has spent the last 10 years running an e-rickshaw charging station, perched at the side of a Delhi road, with electric cords stretching over a ditch filled with water to reach the precariously hung charging ports on a nearby concrete wall.

Demand for his electricity has doubled, and the number of new drivers keeps soaring.

"A person who would make money as a daily wage worker before is now driving an e-rickshaw," Pradhan said, because the electric three-wheelers are far cheaper to buy than those that run on gas or diesel.

"The average income is higher and you can make ends meet more easily which is why everyone likes it," he added.

What started as a consumer-driven push had the country's auto industry initially playing catch-up to harness the potential. At a large exposition staged on the outskirts of Delhi in September, booth after booth showcased the latest models from manufacturers of electric vehicles, charging docks and batteries.

"The adoption rate is so high that the future of electric in India is really good. Everyone is adopting," said Abhimanyu Singh, in charge of northern India corporate sales for Mahindra, which makes rickshaws and other types of electric vehicles.

"The running cost of the vehicle is very low and also, it is emission free. So all of these things combined, it means a very good value case."

India's government also sees the value in low-cost electric vehicles, embracing them as part of its wider strategy to reduce carbon emissions. It has prioritized incentives for those buying green, including a tax cut and subsidies for certain EV models.

The ambitious aim is to have electric cars make up 30 per cent of all automobile sales by 2030, even though current sales of more expensive four-wheelers are dismally low.

"There are only two four-wheeler models out there [that qualify for a subsidy] and the charging infrastructure across India is sorely lacking," said Sidhu, the energy finance expert.

The government is looking to fix that issue, offering business subsidies to increase the number of public charging stations, currently sitting at 934. That pales in comparison to China's more than two million charging locales.

Indian officials have also drafted policy aimed at pleasing drivers of e-rickshaws, with the goal of expanding the number of battery swapping stations, which allow drivers to exchange discharged batteries with newly-charged ones in order to get back out on the road quickly.

The government is committed to promoting the electric transition, even if transportation only accounts for about 10 per cent of India's total emissions, a far smaller percentage than countries like Canada, where it's 24 per cent.

A lot depends not only on how India manages its transition to electric vehicles, but also on how the country tackles its more polluting sectors — such as agriculture and power-generation — which produce far higher emissions than transportation.

It's a task with global implications, since India is now the world's third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, lagging behind only China and the United States, even though its per capita emissions are far lower.

With a rapidly growing economy and acute energy demands, India is adamant it will continue to produce coal, the dirtiest of fossil fuels, for the foreseeable future — even as the country invests heavily in renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

Nearly three-quarters of the country's power is generated by coal, leaving the end sum of all the e-rickshaws and other battery-powered vehicles on the roads decidedly less green.

Still, rickshaw models powered with energy from coal production release fewer greenhouse gas emissions than three-wheelers running on gas.

Despite the reliance on coal, experts point to India's electric two- and three-wheeler expansion as a strong local solution, a path that grew spontaneously from the ground up, with little initial support from the government.

WATCH | Indian government cuts taxes on electric rickshaws and offers subsidies to buyers:

"If you look at the figures for states like Tripura and Assam, almost 100 per cent of the electric vehicles sold there were actually e-rickshaws," said Sidhu.

"We're still trying to figure out exactly why."

For Suman and her fellow e-rickshaw drivers jockeying for space by the side of the road in Delhi, the environmental impact of their chosen work couldn't be further from their minds.

When speaking about the benefits of her vehicle, the young mother mentioned her bolstered confidence from driving on her own, the ability to work flexible hours, the increased earning potential and lower costs — but not the rickshaw's lower carbon footprint.

She said it's those economic advantages that attract all of the drivers she knows to EVs, and there are unintended consequences that have come with the rapid growth in e-rickshaws in Delhi: more competition.

"There are way more rickshaws on the street so there isn't much work left," she bemoaned. She's had to find another job to supplement the fewer hours she and her husband now spend driving the family's e-rickshaw.

"It used to be better," she said. "We could make more money."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Salimah Shivji is CBC's India correspondent, based in Mumbai. She has been a senior reporter with CBC's Parliamentary Bureau and has covered everything from climate change to corruption across Canada.

(Adds: Stellantis, Ancora Holdings Group, Intesa Sanpaolo, New Delhi Television Ltd; Updates: Ant Group, United Rentals)

Nov 14 (Reuters) - The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 2050 P.M. GMT on Monday:

** Indian conglomerate Adani Group moved a step closer in its takeover of news broadcaster New Delhi Television Ltd with an approval from the market regulator to buy an additional 26% stake, according to a person familiar with the matter.

** Italy's Intesa Sanpaolo said it was selling its entire 5.1% stake in Nexi, in an effort to cash in on a recent rally in shares of the payments group.

** Activist investor Ancora Holdings Group said on Monday Ritchie Bros Auctioneers Inc's $7.3 billion buyout deal for U.S.-based vehicle marketplace IAA Inc was a "poorly structured sweetheart deal" and it will push for better terms.

** Solar battery storage company Electriq Power Holdings Inc said it would go public through a merger with blank-check firm TLG Acquisition One Corp, in a deal valuing the combined company at $495 million.

** United Rentals Inc said it would acquire the assets of smaller rival Ahern Rentals Inc for about $2 billion in cash, as the equipment rental firm looks to expand its U.S. presence. ** Temasek Holdings is considering selling Advanced MedTech, multiple sources told Reuters, after the medical devices firm, fully-owned by the Singaporean state investor, received interest from suitors including buyout funds. ** Asset manager Kalrock Capital Partners said that probes into its investor Florian Fritsch have no impact on its acquisition of Indian airline Jet Airways. [USN:nL4N32A162] ** The board of British clothing company Joules said it planned to appoint administrators after failing to find a new investor, becoming the latest retailer to face collapse as consumer finances are squeezed. ** Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has sold a 10% stake in stock exchange operator and owner Saudi Tadawul Group through a secondary share offering, raising 2.3 billion riyals ($612 million), it said in a statement on Sunday. ** German military equipment manufacturer Rheinmetall said on Sunday it has agreed to acquire Spanish explosives and ammunition maker Expal Systems for an enterprise value of 1.2 billion euros ($1.24 billion). ** Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has sold a 10% stake in stock exchange operator and owner Saudi Tadawul Group through a secondary share offering, raising 2.3 billion riyals ($612 million), it said in a statement on Sunday. ** Crypto exchange FTX filed for U.S. bankruptcy protection on Friday and its founder Sam Bankman-Fried resigned as chief executive, after the biggest blowup in the crypto industry drew calls for tighter regulation. (Compiled by Sriparna Roy and Granth Vanaik in Bengaluru)

Dear reader, we're asking for your help to keep local reporting available for all. Your financial support keeps stories like this one free to read, instead of hidden behind paywalls. We believe when reliable local reporting is widely available, the entire community benefits. Thank you for investing in your neighborhood.

The stairway is covered in hundreds of flickering candles, illuminating the night. There are 122 pillars and 129 archways covered in intricate hand carvings of tales of devotion, lit up in multiple colors. A whiff of ghee and cardamom fills the air.

You’re in a crowd of people, but you feel a sense of serenity and hope for the new year. The ornate pink sandstone temple in Chino Hills resembles a palace, making you forget you’re in Southern California.

It’s Diwali, and the energy is always unbeatable.

As an Indian girl growing up in L.A., I often looked for pieces of my culture in my surroundings.

Diwali is one time of year I find my piece of India in Southern California, with household ceremonies full of beautiful symbolism, and lots of delicious food.

The Five Days Of Diwali

Diwali, known as the festival of lights, is one of India’s biggest holidays. The five-day festival celebration 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 or good over evil. The holiday is always held around the last week of October or the first week of November, but the date can change based on the timing of the new moon.

The festival commemorates fresh starts and is literally full of light. Here’s my guide to celebrating Diwali in L.A.

Part of the beauty of Diwali is that there are five days, each representing a special part of the festival, with its own customs and symbolic meanings, all tying into bringing in a new year filled with light.

On the first day of Diwali (Dhanteras), celebrated this year on Monday, Oct. 24, homes are cleaned to prepare for the new year, and rangoli — a multi-colored decoration made of rice, sand, and flowers — is created. The rangoli represents the happiness and positivity of a household, and is intended to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good luck.

My mom usually used this as a time to put up Christmas lights across the house; they'd stay up until January, serving the purpose of celebrating two holidays. She would also use these lights to decorate every area of our home. People usually buy silver utensils, silver coins and gold for themselves and their families on what is considered to be a day full of blessings. The house is also lit with diyas, oil-filled lamps that stay lit for the next five days.

The second day of Diwali — Choti diwali, or "small Diwali" — is Diwali on a smaller scale, and also a major day for purchasing festive foods, particularly sweets. There is no Diwali without boxes of “mithai” or sweets. In Indian culture, boxes of sweets are often given as gifts, especially during Diwali. My personal favorite part is stashing away the best sweets before my brother gets to them!

The most important day of Diwali is the third day. This day is about asking for good fortune and prosperity from the goddess Lakshmi. People perform a special prayer (puja) and then celebrate with fireworks and — you guessed it — more food. On this day homes and temples are officially lit up with lights if they aren’t already. If you skip all the other celebrations, this is the day you celebrate.

This is the day my mom usually makes a feast full of food and sweets. (I know I’ll be paying for it later at the gym!) There is something very special about homemade Indian sweets. They're unique in every way from texture to temperature to ingredients.

My personal favorite is Gulab Jamun, soft delicious balls made with flour and soaked in rose-flavored sugar syrup, best enjoyed warm.

The fourth day is the actual beginning of the Hindu New Year. It is also celebrated with an Annakut, meaning “a mountain of food.” Several delicacies are cooked and offered in a devotional prayer to show gratitude and seek blessings for the new year. And yes, they are created into a literal mountain of food.

The best part? You get to sample it all after.

Part of the beauty of finding pieces of your culture in the city you grew up in is when you find the pieces that feel like home.

Places To Eat

If at this point in the article you’re craving Indian food, or are trying to celebrate Diwali without the cooking, here are some of my recommendations:

Manohar's Delhi PalaceManohar's Delhi Palace is a popular restaurant among the Indian community that's surprisingly not in Little India in Artesia. Every great memory of take-out Indian food comes from this family-owned gem.

Manohar's Delhi Palace581 Azusa Way, La Puente, CA 9174411:30 AM–2:30 PM, 5–9 PMTuesday-Sunday

Udupi PalaceIf you happen to be in Little India and want to try something different than the standard chicken tikka masala, I would recommend trying some South Indian eats over at Udupi Palace. One of the great aspects of India is that every region has not only a different dialect and customs but also food. South Indian food is one of my personal favorites, and you can’t go wrong with a masala dosa, a savory pancake-like dish made with a fermented rice and lentil batter filled with a potato curry filling.

Kapoor’s AkbarAnother place for noteworthy quick Indian food is Kapoor’s Akbar. This was a hidden gem when I made it my mission to try as many Indian food places in L.A. as possible. They offer delivery for those who live in the area, and their menu has everything from classic items to fusion. I have yet to be disappointed.

Kapoor’s Akbar701 W Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 9001211 AM-3 PM, 5-9:30 PM Monday through Friday4-9:30 PM Saturday and Sunday

Best Places To Buy Indian Sweets

You can find a variety of great places in Little India in Artesia. Here are my go-to spots:

Ambala Sweets & Snacks

I feel like an (Indian) kid in a candy store in Ambala, where there’s an actual buffet of sweets to create your custom box. There are so many different types I couldn’t even tell you what they all are, but my personal favorites are pistachio barfi, rasmalai, and gulab jamun. You can also dine in and enjoy some “sweets or snacks.”

Indian Sweets and Spices

Indian Sweets and Spices is a chain of Indian grocery stores across Southern California that is bound to have everything you need for cooking anything Indian. Pro tip: turmeric is about 80% cheaper than the Whole Foods version, so get all your spices here.

Indian Sweets and Spices3126 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039 9409 Venice Blvd., Culver City, CA 9023210 AM-9 PM 7 days a week

Diwali Celebrations Around L.A.

Monday, Oct. 24: Chino Hills Hindu Temple Diwali 15100 Fairfield Ranch Rd, Chino Hills, CA 917096 PMFree

Visit a local temple to see the lights fill the area and enjoy traditional food.

Wednesday, Oct. 26: Chino Hills Hindu Temple Indian New Year/Annakut15100 Fairfield Ranch Rd, Chino Hills, CA 91709All dayFree

Radha Krishna Mandir 12634 Pioneer Blvd. Norwalk, CA 906505 PM

Friday, Oct. 28:Culinary Cookout - Diwali Festival of LightsRitz Carlton Laguna NiguelOne Ritz Carlton Dr, Dana Point, CA 926296-9 PMChef de Cuisine and New Delhi-native Sanjay Rawat celebrate Diwali with a colorful spread of traditional regional Indian cuisine with a modern twist, vibrant lights, and other special touches.https://www.exploretock.com/ritzcarltonlagunaniguel/event/354331/culinary-cookout-diwali-festival-of-lights

Saturday, Oct. 29: Chino Hills Hindu Temple Kids Diwali Fair 15100 Fairfield Ranch Rd, Chino Hills, CA 9170911 AM-7 PM

Indian Culture Society Diwali Royal Delhi Palace 22323 Sherman Way, Canoga Park6:30 PMEmail toiscinfo@gmail.com for tickets or https://allevents.in/los%20angeles/ics-diwali-2022/10000431084604657

Friday, Nov. 4: Walnut Sikh Temple20001 E Walnut Dr. S, Walnut, CA 91789