The British Columbia’s New Democrats released the party’s platform Thursday days after the Greens unveiled a plan for government ahead of the election on Oct. 19.
NDP
Leader David Eby made perhaps the biggest promises in the fall campaign before it even began, promising that a re-elected NDP government would open involuntary-care facilities for those with overlapping addictions, mental illness, and brain injuries.
Eby also promised that the NDP would scrap B.C.’s long-standing carbon tax if the federal government dropped its requirement for the tax, and would instead shift the burden to “big polluters.” On the campaign trail, Eby has promised that the NDP will exempt $10,000 of individual income from taxes every year, which translates to an annual tax reduction of
about $1,000 for most households and $500 for individuals. Housing remains a central issue for the NDP, which vows to expand the existing speculation tax and prioritize building homes on public land, while also promising to eliminate no-pet clauses in purpose-built rentals. The NDP has promises to complete the SkyTrain line to Langley as well as move toward SkyTrain or light rail to the North Shore of Metro Vancouver. Free transit for seniors during off-peak hours is also pledged.
BC Conservatives
One of BC Conservatives Leader John Rustad’s first announcements in the campaign was the “Rustad Rebate,” a plan to exempt $3,000 a month of rent or mortgage interest costs from income taxes, beginning with $1,500 monthly in the 2026 budget.
Continued on Page 6...
Indian-origin man linked with Hezbollah pager blasts
Rinson Jose, an Indian-origin man, who has been linked to the Hezbollah pager blasts in Lebanon, has been reported missing since the detonations. An international arrest warrant was also issued by the Norwegian authorities against him.
Jose, who is reportedly from Kerala's Wayanad, was purportedly behind the sale of the communication devices used by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
The man has been reported missing since the blasts that killed over 30 people in Lebanon prompting security forces to issue an international arrest warrant against him, Norwegian police said on Thursday.
Here are key points on Indianorigin man involved in Hezbollah pager blasts:
Continued on Page 7...
Jinny
Sims talks to The Asian Star
By: Harvinder Sandhu Jinny Sims, the incumbent MLA for Surrey-Panorama in the provincial NDP government, is campaigning to retain her seat. "I have this motto: we've done a lot, but there is much more to do," she emphasizes. Continued on Page 10...
Jagrup Brar talks about Surrey's progress
By: Harvinder Sandhu Jagrup Brar, the incumbent MLA candidate for SurreyFleetwood, is focused on the new SkyTrain project connecting Langley to Surrey and Vancouver. The Asian Star sought his insights on the SkyTrain's progress and its impact on housing along Fraser Highway. Continued on Page 10...
SABA has donated $20,000 to the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation (RCHF). The funds were received by the CEO of RCHF. Jeff Norris at a special ceremony hosted by SABA under the guidance of new SABA president, Lakhvinder Gill, Vice President Puneet Sandhar, directors and the new executive team. SABA thanked its directors who attended the luncheon ceremony as well as Kuldip’s Gill for his past services.
BC Conservatives go nuclear with plan for
to meet the demands we have and certainly, the demands going forward.”
Along with the nuclear proposal, Rustad would reverse what he calls the NDP’s “radical” electric vehicle and heat pump goals.
The BC NDP has passed legislation requiring all new vehicles sold in B.C. to be zero emission by 2035. The NDP has also proposed plans to shutter the province’s last gas-fuelled power plant and bar the installation of stand-alone gas home heating systems, both by 2030. The NDP plan would allow some new forms of gas heating, provided it is 100 per cent efficient, such as a dual-fuel system that incorporates a heat pump.
Crane drops load at Oakridge construction site one day after new safety regulations
secure and unoccupied space to the ground.
“No injuries occurred and a full investigation is underway. We are cooperating fully with WorkSafeBC. ” The City of Vancouver and WorkSafeBC confirmed they are aware of the incident. In a statement, WorkSafeBC said an “officer was deployed to the site and WorkSafeBC has launched an investigation to identify the causes, as well as any contributing factors.
“We are unable to discuss specific details or provide timeframes while the investigations are
This construction site is the same where Yuridia Flores, a mother of two from Mexico, was killed on the job in February when a crane’s load came crashing down on top of her.
Tax cut, seniors transit, pet-friendly rentals anchor BC NDP platform
New Democrat Leader David Eby has released his party’s British Columbia election campaign platform promising to find solutions to “today’s tough challenges” in the province.
The 65-page platform lists about $2.9 billion in what it calls new investments until 2027, while mentioning rival BC Conservative Leader John Rustad by name 56 times, compared with 29 times for Eby. Among what the party says are new pledges are a $1,000-per-household grocery rebate, allowing pets in purpose-built rentals and free off-peak transit for seniors, while pledges that have already been unveiled include a middle-class tax cut.
The platform also forecasts reductions in revenue of more than $1.5 billion by 2027, mostly due to the tax-cut pledge. Eby released
the campaign platform, “An Action Plan For You,” on Thursday in Surrey.
It pledges to make life better for families, youth and older people.
“I hear you, and I see you,” says Eby in the platform document. “The challenges we are facing together are what drive me. And working to solve them is what gets me out of bed each morning.” Eby also promised to ensure every public school has a mental health counsellor and to end bias against pet owners by getting rid of ‘no-pet’ clauses in purpose-built rental apartment buildings.
Rustad features heavily in the document, with breakout sections titled “What’s the Rustad risk?” Rustad said ICBC has “lost its edge,” but he still believed it could be competitive.
Bloc's $16 billion pension demand may conflict with Liberal political and economic strategy
The government has just weeks to decide if it will meet the $16-billion demand from the Bloc Quebecois to stave off an election for a few more months, but the stipulation may be at odds with the political and fiscal plans of the Liberals.
The Liberals have taken great pains in the last year to mould their political strategy around a sense of injustice among millennials and generation-Z Canadians who feel their work isn’t paying off like it did for previous generations.
While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been touting policies aimed at “fairness for every generation,” the Bloc has given him until Oct. 29 to green light spending for its private member’s bill to increase old age security for seniors under
the age of 75.
If the government doesn’t support the bill by then, Bloc Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet says he will enter talks with other parties to bring down the Liberal minority government before the new year.
“I don’t see clearly what the political upside is for the Trudeau Liberals to spend more on seniors,” said Andrew Perez, a Liberal strategist with Perez Strategies. That does appear to be the only demographic the Liberals are still competitive with, Perez said.
The younger voters who helped Trudeau soar to popularity in 2015 seem, according to the polls, to have drifted to the right to support Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
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Wages and salaries lower in every province compared to all 50 U.S. states
VANCOUVER, British Columbia: The median employment earnings—wages, salaries and selfemployment income—of workers were lower in every Canadian province than in every state in the United States, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.
“Canadian workers earn less compared to American workers, regardless of the province or state,” commented Alex Whalen, senior policy analyst at the Fraser Institute and co-author of Our Incomes Are Falling Behind: Earnings in the Canadian Provinces and U.S. States, 2010-2022.
Specifically, among the 10 provinces and 50 U.S. states, median employment earnings in 2022 (the latest year of available data), stated in Canadian dollars, were lowest in Prince Edward Island ($28,784), followed by New Brunswick, ($32,175), Nova Scotia ($32,178), Newfoundland and Labrador ($32,713), Manitoba ($33,221), Saskatchewan ($34,932), Quebec ($36,430), Ontario ($36,749), British Columbia ($37,801) and Alberta ($38,969).
Consequently, every province trailed every state including states such as Mississippi ($42,430), Louisiana ($43,318) and top-ranked Maryland ($52,192).
“Canadians should want to know why workers in states such as Mississippi and Louisiana make more money than workers here at home,” Whalen said.
“In light of the close connection between incomes and living standards, policymakers in Ottawa and every province should make economic growth a top priority.”
Three women sexually assaulted in North
Vancouver, spurring RCMP warning
RCMP in North Vancouver are warning the public after a trio of recent sexual assaults.
All three assaults happened in the Lower Lonsdale area, and while police say there are similarities in the incidents, they’ve yet to conclude whether they involve different suspects.
“Investigators are working diligently on all three cases,” North Vancouver RCMP Const. Mansoor Sahak said. “Although there appear to be similarities in each incident, investigators are not ruling out that there might be three different suspects. Over the last month, extensive efforts have been made by Serious Crime investigators to identify any suspects. We are now at the point where we’re seeking public assistance to help further these investigations.” The first incident happened around 9 p.m. on Sept. 8, when a man riding an electric bike groped a woman who was walking in the 300 block of East Keith Road.
Two bystanders chased the suspect, who was
last seen riding westbound. However, police have been unable to locate the witnesses, a man and a woman, whom they are asking to come forward. The suspect is described as five feet 11 inches tall with a muscular build and was wearing baggy shorts and a baggy peach-coloured tank top.
The second incident happened around 2 p.m. on Sept. 19 on the Spirit Trail south of the 600 block of East First Street. Police said the suspect, again on an electric bike, groped a woman who was walking on the trail before riding away westbound. Investigators were able to obtain CCTV video of the suspect. The third incident happened around 8:45 p.m. on Sept. 23.
S. Hayer and Isabelle Martinez
Dave S. Hayer and Isabelle Martinez
Hayer started Named Endowed Fund to help communities with The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International
It provides general support to the World Fund, SHARE, Rotary Peace Centers or general support to a global grant developed around the world in one of 7 Rotary International's areas of focus:
1. Peace Building and Conflict Prevention/ Resolution, 2. Disease Prevention and Treatment, 3. Water Sanitation & Hygiene, 4. Maternal and Child Health, 5. Basic Education and Literacy, 6. Supporting Environment
7. Community Economic Development
Only a portion of the earnings are used annually for program spending.
Hayer's were presented special Endowment Pins by Rotary International President
Continued from Page 1...
Rustad has also promised to end the Insurance Corporation of B.C.’s “monopoly” on car insurance and open the market to other providers to lower prices for consumers.
The Conservatives have touted energy independence as a goal if they are elected, which includes a feasibility study into nuclear power as a possible future source in a bid for “affordable” and “reliable” baseload electricity.
Rustad promised to eliminate existing provincial mandates on electric vehicles and heat pumps and would only support alternative energy sources such as solar and wind when it makes “economical” sense.
The Conservatives have made public safety a major battleground issue and tied it to B.C.’s drug-decriminalization policy, vowing to implement “zero-tolerance” for public drug use while increasing the police presence.
The party has also put forward a plan for “economic reconciliation,” where Indigenous communities partner with the province to support projects with “both economic and environmental benefits.”
The Conservatives say they will end bans on plastic straws and cutlery and remove compulsory fees for plastic bags in order to “restore freedom of choice and focus on real solutions for our environment.”
BC Greens
Green Leader Sonia Furstenau says her party’s platform is aimed at people’s “wellbeing” and includes a promise to create frameworks to measure B.C.’s social and environmental performance instead of using GDP as the standard measurement.
Furstenau promised the Greens will address
Mário César Martins de Camargo (2025-2026) and President Holger Knaack (2020-2021) and Endowment Major Gifts Adviser of The Rotary Foundation Carol Tichelman on September 21,2024 in Toronto at Rotary International's Action Zones 28 & 32 Conference.
root causes of issues with long-term solutions, such as increasing social and disability insurance and “wraparound support” for youth aging out of care to combat poverty.
A major part of the Green platform is promising to tax the wealthy, with proposals to double property tax rates for homes valued at $3 million or more and to implement an 18 per cent tax of corporate profits over $1 billion.
In turn, the Greens promise to invest on a number of climate action, renewable energy and infrastructural fronts, including $650 million annually for municipal infrastructure to support new housing and $250 million to expand child care.
The Greens have also promised a number of health-centric proposals, including removing all tobacco sales from pharmacies and making all vaccines free for B.C. residents.
The party is the only one in the B.C. election pledging to maintain the carbon tax with or without federal mandates, and Furstenau has also vowed to “introduce a windfall profits tax on oil and gas companies,” and redirect revenue from industrial carbon pricing to fund community climate action.
Two new directors for PICS
The Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS) has appointed two new directors to its leadership team.
They are Dr. Raminder Kang, Director of Settlement & Integration Services and Kanika Mehra, Director of Youth Programs and Community Services
as a front-line worker and has recently served as Senior Manager for Settlement and Integration Services at PICS. He is actively involved as a volunteer with the Inter Cultural Online health Network (iCON), a community-driven initiative that promotes chronic disease prevention and management for multicultural communities across British Columbia.
With nearly twenty years of experience in the social service sector, Raminder began his career
With over seven years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Kanika brings a wealth of expertise in program development, project management, and strategic planning. Her commitment to supporting clients from diverse cultural backgrounds enables her to facilitate employment opportunities and life skills training, fostering successful integration into Canadian society.
Burnaby barred from ‘negative public communications’ about Trans Mountain under $20M deal
Less than a month after releasing a report into the potential for disaster from a major incident at a Trans Mountain Pipeline facility, the City of Burnaby has struck a deal with the company.
And the terms of the agreement have already sparked controversy.
“(Trans Mountain) has essentially bought the silence of the city, and at the same time, the city has essentially gagged itself, and that’s not democratic or ethical, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a strong argument could be made that it’s also illegal in
violation of constitution or provincial or federal law,” said Duff Conacher with Democracy Watch. In a sparse statement posted to its website, the City of Burnaby said it had finalized a “community contribution agreement” with Trans Mountain that will deliver $20.1 million to the municipality to “support emergency planning and safety enhancements.” “The agreement highlights a shared commitment to collaborating in emergency response to any event involving Trans Mountain facilities,” the city said.
Indian-origin man, Rinson Jose linked with Hezbollah pager blasts
Continued from Page 1...
1- As per media reports, Rinson Jose was born in Kerala's Wayanad and went to Norway for higher studies a few years ago. He briefly worked in London before he went back to Oslo, where he was settled with his wife before disappearing.
2- Jose's relatives, who are confident that he has no involvement with these blasts, told news agency IANS that he lives in Oslo with his wife. "We speak daily over the phone. However, for the last three days, we have had no contact with Jose. He is a straightforward person and we trust him fully," one of the relatives said.
3- According to his LinkedIn profile, Jose also worked as digital customer support for Norwegian press group DN Media for almost five years, a fact confirmed by news agency AFP. DN Media, however, told a local news outlet that they have not been able to contact him.
4- In 2022, Jose founded Sofia-based company
Norta Global Ltd, Bulgaria's corporate registry shows. His company declared revenue of 650,000 euros ($725,000) for consulting activities outside the European Union, AFP reported.
5- Jose also spoke to Reuters recently on the phone but declined to comment on the pagers and hung up when asked about the Bulgarian business. He has been unreachable ever since. Meanwhile, Bulgaria has probed the Jose's company's role in the supply of booby-trapped pagers, but has found no evidence that they were made or exported from the country.
Hezbollah pager blasts
For the unversed, last month, thousands of pagers, as well as walkie-talkies, used by Hezbollah operatives, detonated in Lebanon, killing at least 39 people and wounding thousands. The attacks were widely believed to have been carried out by Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.
BC court rejects attempt to stop tree removal in Stanley Park
The B.C. Supreme Court will not grant an injunction to stop the removal of tens of thousands of trees in Vancouver's Stanley Park after a group claimed the work was doing more harm than good. The court ruled this week that the challenge raised "novel" issues about whether park users are owed a duty of care by the city and park board, but said it is "unlikely" that a trial would establish such a responsibility. The case was filed by park users Michael and Katherine Caditz, Anita Hansen and Jillian Maguire, who
claim the removal of trees because of a looper moth infestation caused them "emotional and psychological harm." The three say the city and the park board were negligent in ordering tree removal work, and relied on a "fundamentally flawed report" by a forestry consulting company hired to carry out the logging.
1st-degree murder charge laid in suspicious Vancouver Island death
RCMP on Vancouver Island say a man has been charged with murder in relation to a suspicious death discovered on Saturday morning.
Lake Cowichan RCMP were called to a home in the Ditidaht First Nations, about 150 kilometres northwest of Victoria, around 7 a.m. on Sept. 28. Officers arrived to find a man dead at the scene. A suspect was arrested with the support of the Vancouver Island Emergency Response Team.
Mounties said Tuesday that Derian Tate had been charged with first-degree murder. Tate is due in court on Oct. 8.
27-year-old woman arrested in man’s East Vancouver death
Vancouver police have arrested a 27-yearold woman in the killing of a 34-year-old man in the Joyce-Collingwood neighbourhood on Thursday. Police were called to a home near Kingsway and Melbourne Street shortly after midnight. The victim was found with stab
wounds and died before he could be taken to hospital. Police have identified the victim as Brian Mathew Clayton. Investigators believe the suspect and victim knew one another.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Vancouver police at 604-717-2500.
Narinder Sabharwal in American Beard & Moustache Championship
The Murder City Facial Hair Crew and the North American Competitive Beard & Moustache Alliance (NACBMA) organized North America’s ultimate charity facial hair championship at Detroit, Michigan’s historic Masonic Temple on September 21, 2024, for the Honest Amish 2024 Great American Beard & Moustache Championship. Every even-numbered year, the GABMC gathers international competitors showcasing the finest, biggest, and best beards and mustaches from North America and beyond, all for charity. 100% of the proceeds raised from the GABMC are donated to vetted, worthy charities that support both local and national causes. Formed in 2011, the NACBMA is a grassroots coalition of 60 facial hair clubs across the United States and Canada. These clubs work together to grow and support local and regional charity beard and mustache competitions. In 2018, NACBMA collectively donated $411,493 to help local
charities in their hometowns. The Great American Beard & Mustache Championship is the pinnacle event that represents the collaboration and support between these clubs. This year, Narinder S. Sabharwal was honored to be a judge at the competition, alongside six other judges. Notably, this was the first time a Sikh personality was invited to serve as a judge at the Great American Beard & Mustache Championship 2024.
BC court rejects attempt to stop tree removal in Stanley Park
The B.C. Supreme Court will not grant an injunction to stop the removal of tens of thousands of trees in Vancouver's Stanley Park after a group claimed the work was doing more harm than good. The court ruled this week that the challenge raised "novel" issues about whether park users are owed a duty of care by the city and park board, but said it is "unlikely" that a trial would establish such a responsibility. The case was filed by park users Michael and Katherine Caditz, Anita Hansen and Jillian Maguire, who claim the removal of trees because of a looper moth infestation caused them "emotional and psychological harm."
The three say the city and the park board were negligent in ordering tree removal work, and relied on a "fundamentally flawed report" by a forestry consulting company hired to carry out the logging. Caditz said they are exploring other legal options because they still believe the decision to cut down thousands of trees in the park was based on "bad science," and that upcoming logging activity in the park should be halted.
"We feel there was gross negligence involved and we disagree with the judge's decision and we're analyzing the decision to determine how to proceed," Caditz said in an interview on Thursday.
Continued from Page 1...
Born in India and raised in England, Jinny initially pursued a career in education instead of aviation—“I was half an inch too short to become a pilot,” she quips. Her early involvement in social work included teaching English to young inmates lacking basic reading and writing skills, igniting her passion for advocating for students and teachers. As president of the BC Teachers Federation, she fought for students' rights and secured crucial concessions from the BC Liberal government after a lengthy court battle.
"In 2000, the BC Liberal government decimated our agreement and stripped away essential learning conditions," she recalls. The government’s actions impacted not only class size but also safety protocols for emergencies like earthquakes.
Jinny Sims Talks to The Asian Star
Jinny recounts the organized resistance that followed: “In 2005, the BC Liberals attempted to revoke our bargaining rights. We called our strike ‘civil disobedience,’ emphasizing our commitment to class size and support for special needs students. It was a success, thanks to strong public support.”
As an MLA with the NDP, Jinny reflects on the strides made in Surrey, one of the province's fastest-growing cities. “The BC Liberals, now the Conservative Party of BC, sold land designated for schools and a critical second hospital just to balance their budget. We’ve created 15,000 new elementary school seats and are building that second hospital in Cloverdale, along with additional healthcare facilities across the province.” To those questioning why it took so long to start building, she explains the complexities involved in these developments, particularly
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regarding land use: “We had to transfer educational land for healthcare purposes, negotiating with our three First Nations. Their cooperation helped expedite this process, reducing what typically takes ten years to just eighteen months.” She adds that she is very thankful to the three First Nations for expediting this process.
Jinny continued, reminding voters that John Rustad was part of the BC Liberals party – the party that did nothing for the fastest growing city in BC –: “They had no concept plan for the hospital. We have laid out a comprehensive plan and are now in the construction phase, which takes time.”
Looking ahead, Jinny touts the NDP’s investments in healthcare, including Canada’s first new
medical school in a century, set to open in Surrey. Her message to residents is clear: “We’re moving in the right direction. Now is not the time to elect John Rustad, who proposes to cut $4.5 billion from healthcare. There’s no excess in our system—cuts would mean closing hospitals and not hiring necessary healthcare staff.”
Jagrup Brar talks about Surrey's progress
Continued from Page 1...
"The new SkyTrain is on schedule," he states. "Originally, it was planned in two phases—from downtown Surrey to 166th Street, then to Langley. When the BC NDP took over from TransLink, we decided to complete it in one phase, allowing us to accelerate construction and save both time and money."
He explains that the initial two-phase project was due to a lack of funding. "The BC NDP committed to fully fund this project and secured additional federal funding. It's now being managed by the BC Ministry of Transportation."
Mr. Brar shared that the government has purchased four acres of land at 152nd Street for a station that will include 700 units of affordable housing, providing residents with easy access to public transportation. "This model will be replicated at every station along the SkyTrain line to Langley."
David Eby and his team for taking comprehensive steps to address these issues."
He reiterated the BC NDP's commitment to tackling the challenges that have arisen from Surrey's rapid growth over the past thirty years. "We’ve opened a new hospital in Surrey, established the Surrey-Newton Urgent and Primary Care Centre at 6830 King George Blvd to address the shortage of family doctors, and created 15,000 new elementary school seats— equivalent to 20 new schools. This is an issue the BC Liberals neglected."
He emphasizes that affordable housing will involve government initiatives through BC Housing, non-profit organizations, and religious groups. "We’re currently building a significant project called Diversity Village in collaboration with PICS."
This election marks Mr. Brar's seventh, having been elected five times previously. "I want to thank the people of Surrey for their continued support."
When asked about the main issues facing his constituents, Mr. Brar noted, "Surrey is the fastest-growing city in the province, which brings both opportunities and challenges. As a result, residents face significant hurdles regarding housing, schools, and healthcare. I’m proud of
Mr. Brar also highlighted the establishment of a new medical school in Surrey to train more family physicians and the hiring of 6,000 nurses across BC, with over 70 additional doctors now providing care in Surrey. He pointed out that the BC NDP has granted prescription rights to pharmacists for minor illnesses, alleviating pressure on a strained healthcare system.
"In contrast, John Rustad is part of the BC Liberal government, now the Conservative Party of BC, which neglected Surrey by selling land earmarked for a new hospital and schools—21 properties in total. They cut healthcare funding and laid off 8,000 healthcare workers, primarily affecting women in support roles, while providing tax cuts to corporations and increasing class sizes."
Mr. Brar warns, "If John Rustad and his team regain power, we can expect similar outcomes. They’ve already stated intentions to cut healthcare and have no concrete plan for the housing crisis. This is what Surrey and BC residents can anticipate from the new Conservative Party of BC."
Army accepts Mercy Commission’s decision
The Mercy Commission has followed due process under the 2013 Constitution, and the RFMF will respect its decision, says Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) commander MajorGeneral Jone Kalouniwai. He made the comment in light of the recent release of George Speight and Shane Stevens who were both involved in the 2000 coup. The commander led his officers to the warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers mess earlier this week where he sought forgiveness for the leadership decisions made during the 2000 and 2006 coups. RFMF said discussions were marked by a consensus that both events were not merely historical incidents, but pivotal leadership decisions that left lasting scars on the nation. The officers engaged in a candid dialogue about the ramifications of their actions on families, communities, and the overall
fabric of Fijian society. “The motivation of this reconciliation is not for us to find who is at fault or who is the perpetrator of the past political crisis, but for us to find a common ground where we can stand together to move forward,” Maj-Gen Kalouniwai said. He addressed current events, specifically the release of Mr Speight and Mr Steven from prison.
“Their release must not move us, and we must remain steadfast in our pursuit to continue with our commitment to the RFMF reconciliation process.” RFMF said it planned to engage in further discussions and initiatives aimed at deepening understanding and fostering reconciliation within the military and the wider community. Meanwhile, the RFMF held a traditional matanigasau on Thursday with current and former officers.
Couple facing fraud charges in custody
A FORMER accountant at the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) and his partner were remanded in custody overnight until their case is called for a decision on bail today. Pawan Deo and Subhashni Mudaliar made their first appearance before senior Magistrate Sufia Hamza yesterday, charged with a count each of conspiracy to defraud, obtaining a gain and obtaining financial advantage. It is alleged that while being the sole proprietors of Sports Supplies Limited (SSL) and Mr Deo also being FRU’s financial accountant, he conspired with Ms Deo and dishonestly obtained $53,788.75 from FRU. The alleged offence occurred between February 1 and July 31, 2022.
It is also alleged the duo fraudulently facilitated payments to SSL and as a result obtained $7,291.83 for the company knowing that it was not eligible to receive the sum.
The alleged incident occurred between February 1 and May 11, 2022.
Sayed-Khaiyum, Voss and another senior Fiji Airways Manager being questioned by Police
Former Attorney General, Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum, retired Fiji Link CEO Shaenaz Voss and another senior Fiji Airways Manager are currently being questioned by Police.
Assistant Police Commissioner – Crime Mesake Waqa confirms the three are being questioned at Nadi Police Station.
He says they are being questioned in regards to the alleged breach of the Civil Aviation Security Regulation in 2018.
The allegations deal with the unlawful carriage of firearms and ammunition in domestic flights.
The earlier charge of failure to comply with the requirements of the operator’s airline security programme against Voss, was withdrawn by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions last week. Voss was charged in relation to unlawful carriage of firearms on board a flight from Nausori to Labasa Airport in 2018.
The case related to Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum's bodyguards allegedly carrying firearms on the Fiji Link flight.
Parliament to debate on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
date
Parliament will debate on the Bill to establish the Truth and Reconciliation Commission at a later date.
The Bill was tabled for the first time by Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka in Parliament this evening. Speaker, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu says in accordance to Standing Order 84(1) the
Bill has been read for the first time and will now be listed in the order paper to be set down for a second reading at a future sitting date.
Ratu Naiqama adds the Prime Minister will give notice for the second reading and has encouraged MPs to utilise the time in reading the Bill and prepare for debate.
Rescue ops on as over 200 people killed in floods, landslides in Nepal
Search and rescue operations continued in Nepal for the third consecutive day on Monday after monsoon-induced floods and landslides killed more than 200 people in one of the worst rain-related disasters in the Himalayan nation in recent years. Incessant rainfall over the weekend triggered floods and landslides, wreaking havoc in Kathmandu and most of the districts of Nepal. At least 205 people have been killed with 24 others still missing in the continuous rainfall, floods, landslides and inundation, Home Ministry officials said, adding that Kathmandu alone recorded 56 deaths related to the natural disaster.
According to the officials, 130 people have been injured nationwide in the disaster. The Home Ministry said all security agencies have
been deployed for relief efforts following the floods and landslides, and the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel have rescued around 4,500 disasteraffected individuals so far. While those injured are receiving free treatment, food and other emergency relief materials have been provided to others affected by the floods.
Hundreds of people are facing a shortage of food, safe drinking water and sanitation in Kathmandu following the natural disaster, according to eyewitnesses. Market prices have also soared as vegetables coming from India and other districts of the country have been temporarily halted due to obstruction in major highways due to landslides.
Singapore court jails Indian-origin ex-minister to 12 months for graft
Singapore's Indian-origin former transport minister S Iswaran has been sentenced to 12 months jail on Thursday by the High Court for obtaining gifts worth about SGD 403,300 over seven years, from two businessmen he considered his friends. The 62-year-old pleaded guilty to four charges relating to receiving gifts and one blocking justice on September 24, the first day of trial proceedings, cutting short what was set to be a protracted trial with 56 prosecution witnesses.
In sentencing, Justice Vincent Hoong said he had considered submissions on sentence from both prosecution and defence but was “ultimately unable to agree with both the positions taken”. In his
sentencing remarks, Justice Hoong emphasised that trust and confidence in public institutions are the bedrock of effective governance. The judge added that the former minister abused the position to accept gifts worth about SGD 403,300 (USD313,200). He said, “This can all too easily be undermined by a public servant who falls below standards of integrity and accountability.”
The judge said it was significant that Iswaran had made public statements rejecting the charges as false. “In a letter to the Prime Minister, Iswaran said he rejected the charges and was innocent, and believed he would be acquitted. Thus, I have difficulty believing that he was remorseful,” The Straits Times quoted the Judge as saying.
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Centre opposes in Supreme
Court pleas to criminalise marital rape
The Centre on Thursday opposed before the Supreme Court petitions challenging a criminal law provision that treated ‘marital rape’ as an exception to rape even as it asserted that a woman's consent was not obliterated by marriage and its violation should result in penal consequences.
In an affidavit filed in the top court, the Centre said, “That a husband certainly does not have any fundamental right to violate the consent of the wife, however, attracting the crime in the nature “rape” as recognised in India to the institution of marriage can be arguably considered to be excessively harsh and, therefore, disproportionate.”
Maintaining “that the act colloquially referred to as 'marital rape' ought to be illegal and criminalised, it said the consequences of such violations within marriage differ from those outside it. The Centre said Parliament has provided different remedies, including those in criminal laws and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, to protect consent within marriage and to ensure serious penal consequences for such violations. It said that striking down the exception to rape that protected husbands will have a far-reaching effect on the institution of marriage if sexual intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his wife was made punishable as ‘rape’.
“It may severely impact the conjugal relationship and may lead to serious disturbances in the institution of marriage. In the fast-growing and ever-changing social and family structure, misuse of the amended provisions can also not be ruled out, as it would be difficult and challenging for a person to prove whether consent was there or not, the Centre stated.
CBI arrests TMC student wing leader in corruption case against Sandip Ghosh
The CBI on Thursday arrested TMC youth leader Ashish Pandey in connection with the alleged corruption case against former principal of Kolkata's RG Kar hospital Sandip Ghosh, officials said. Pandey, who is said to be close to Ghosh, was under the probe agency's scanner and was questioned by the CBI on September 30, they said. Ghosh was arrested in the corruption case on September 2. Later, the agency took his custody in the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor
at the state-run medical college on August 9. The ruling TMC in West Bengal reacted with caution, while the BJP expressed happiness over the development, saying with this arrest, the CBI has shown it is moving on the right path. Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (students' unit) state president and party spokesperson Trinankur Bhattacharya told PTI, “We are yet to hear details about the case. But as of now, we can say that the law will take its own course and we have faith in the justice system.”
India trashes US panel report; describes it as 'malicious'
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended to the US State Department to designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern” over what it said was the “deteriorating and concerning trajectory” of religious freedom in India. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected the report saying, "USCIRF is a biased organisation with a political agenda. It continues to misrepresent facts and peddles a motivated narrative about India. We reject this malicious report, which only serves to discredit USCIRF further.” Jaiswal added, “USCIRF should desist from such agenda-driven efforts and it would be well advised to utilise its time more productively on addressing human rights issues in the United States."
The Delhi Police has summoned YouTuber Elvish Yadav, comedian Bharti Singh and three more in an app-based scam involving a fraud of Rs 500 crore, an officer said on Thursday. Police received over 500 complaints alleging that many social media influencers and YouTubers promoted the HIBOX mobile application on their pages and lured people into investing through the app, the officer said. The main accused in the scam, Sivaram (30), a resident
of Chennai, has been arrested, police said. As per the complaint, social media influencers and YouTubers including Saurav Joshi, Abhishek Malhan, Purav Jha, Elvish Yadav, Bharti Singh, Harsh Limbachiya, Lakshay Choudhary, Adarsh Singh, Amit, and Dilraj Singh Rawat promoted the application and lured people into investing through the app. “HIBOX is a mobile application that was part of a well-planned scam,” DCP (IFSO Special Cell) Hemant Tiwari said.
SC bans caste-based discrimination in prisons
In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court on Thursday banned caste-based discrimination like division of manual labour, segregation of barracks and bias against prisoners of de-notified tribes and habitual offenders by holding as "unconstitutional" the jail manual rules of 10 states for fostering such biases. Observing that "right to live with dignity extends even to the incarcerated", a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said,
"Criminal laws of the colonial era continue to impact the postcolonial world." It asked the Centre and the states to amend their prison manuals and laws within three months, and file compliance reports before it. It dealt with certain discriminatory provisions of jail manuals of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, Maharashtra Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh and set them aside. It said Article 17 enunciates that everyone is born equal.
Despite 300 units of free electricity, Punjab
reports Rs 2,600 crore theft
Power theft in Punjab has assumed alarming proportions, despite domestic consumers getting free electricity. The losses touched a whopping Rs 2,600 crore in 2023-24.
In lieu of 300 units of free power, the state government gives a subsidy of over Rs 6,000 crore, and Rs 1,400 crore was given against Rs 2.50 rebate to domestic consumers — up to 7kW load. There are 20 notorious theft-prone divisions of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), which account for half of the Rs 2,600 crore revenue loss. The maximum power theft occurs in the border zone, followed by west and south zones of PSPCL. Tarn Taran circle, with four divisions; and Ferozepur circle,
Suburban Amritsar and Sangrur circle, with three divisions each, are among the major theftprone areas. As far as revenue loss is concerned, Bhikhiwind, Patti and Zira divisions have crossed Rs 110 crore each, followed by West
Amritsar with Rs 92 crore. The total loss from these four divisions accounts for Rs 435 crore.
Pak court's registrar office denies NGO's request to hand over judicial records related to Bhagat Singh
A Pakistani court's registrar office on Thursday denied a request by a non-profit foundation seeking the judicial records related to the independence war hero Bhagat Singh and his two associates Rajguru and Sukhdev.
Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Pakistan chairman Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi filed an application with the registrar office of the Lahore High Court requesting the judicial records of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev from the three-member special tribunal of the LHC dated October 7, 1930. The LHC registrar's office refused to entertain the request, saying it can't provide the records to the foundation "LHC
the LHC orders to provide the judicial record of Bhagat Singh and others to the foundation, his office can't do it on its own," Qureshi said, adding that the refusal of the registrar's office to provide the judicial record is a grave injustice. He said he would file a petition in the LHC in this regard. Bhagat Singh fought for the independence of the subcontinent. Singh was hanged at the age of 23 by British rulers on March 23, 1931, along with his comrades Rajguru and Sukhdev following their trial on charges of hatching a conspiracy against the British regime. His courage and spirit of sacrifice in the face of likely death and his idealism made him one of the most popular
