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Outlook for Tuesday, May 13th, 2008
On tonight's South Asian Edition (8pm - OMNI.2),Hundreds of school kids gathered at a Mississauga school to learn about the children who were affected by the cyclone in Myanmar last week. Bilaal Rajan, an 11-year-old UNICEF Child Ambassador, issued a special challenge to all Canadian children, aimed at collecting monetary donations that will go towards helping thousands of needy children in Myanmar. Reporter Rima Kar has the full story.
Today's News Headlines
- Fire Memorial:
Toronto police are looking for a suspect after someone defaced a memorial for an Ontario firefighter killed in the line of duty. It took the vandal just minutes to throw black paint on the face of one of five stones that make up the Queen's Park memorial, while spray painting phrases on the four other sections. The phrases include "Liberal lackeys," "The Dalton Gang," and "Firemen for McGuinty.” Brian George, director of the association for Ontario's firefighters, calls the act disgusting. Police are viewing surveillance videos in hopes of identifying the suspect.
- Bird Flu:
South Korean officials say they have killed Seoul's entire poultry population to help prevent the spread of bird flu following a fresh outbreak of the virus. Quarantine officials destroyed 15,000 chickens, ducks, pheasants and turkeys raised in farms, restaurants, schools and homes in the city. The slaughter began on Sunday, just hours after authorities recorded Seoul's second outbreak of bird flu in less than a week. Bird flu began sweeping southern parts of the country last month, forcing the slaughter of about 6.8 million birds. According to the World Health Organization, at least 240 people have died from bird flu since 2003.
South Asians Largest Visible Minority In Canada
A New Kind of Banking is Introduced
Scotiabank has launched a new banking program for immigrants.
As reporter Rima Kar found out, it's called "Start Right" and it's designed to meet the needs of recently arrived, new Canadians.
With over 200,000 immigrants arriving into Canada each year the banking industry is evolving with the times.
Scotiabank announced their “Start Right” program, a new program for newcomers who have been in Canada for less than three years. It's a simplified process that helps new immigrants get their specific banking needs efficiently, without getting bogged down by multiple complicated products and services.
The service was created after extensive research with newcomers
"They needed a bank account, they needed a place they could put their funds in, they needed the ability to very safely and quickly transfer funds to their home country, and they needed lockers to put their valuables in, and they needed to start a credit history in this country, and find the best way to get a mortgage," says Pankaj Mehra, Scotiabank Vice President for Pacific and South Asian Markets.
Logan Logendralingam, who publishes a weekly paper for the Sri Lankan community, says although better late then never, it's a great service for new immigrants. "This is the bridge to get more clients for Scotiabank..there are no barriers. It is very easy to reach the ethnic people."
According to bank representatives, this is just an extension of what they've done in the past since Scotiabank has already had a long history with India.
"Well Scotiabank is proud to say that we have been in India for over 20 years and we have 5 branches currently in India...in Mumbia, Delhi, Banglore and Hyderabad We provide primarily commercial and corporate services through our branch network, " says Rani Llewelleyn, of Scotiabank Multicultural Banking.
The program also includes helpful tips to help with job searches and starting a business among other services.
The following are web links, or names, of major South Asian media outlets in the region and in Canada:
www.hindustantimes.com
www.indianexpress.com
www.sify.com
www.dawn.com
www.nepalitimes.com
www.theacademic.org (Sri Lanka)
www.newagebd.com (Bangladesh)
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