The Asian Star March 13 2021 by The Asian Star Newspaper

www.theasianstar.com Vol 20 - Issue 6

Daylight saving time returns this weekend It’s that time of year again. British Columbians should be prepared to lose an hour of sleep as the province is scheduled to “spring forward” in recognition of daylight saving time this weekend. On Sunday, March 14, clocks will move forward one hour at 2 a.m. The change will see evenings brighter for longer, though mornings will be darker in the early hours. While the majority of British Columbians are opposed to the annual time change, daylight saving time is not expected to end any time soon. In 2019, the B.C. government passed legislation to allow the province to observe permanent daylight saving time, after more than 200,000 British Columbians overwhelmingly supported ending the annual time change in an online survey. Continued on page 6

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Saturday, March 13, 2021

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Experts say Canada ‘tripped’ in race to get people vaccinated for Covid-19 As of 10:32 a.m. Friday, 2,225,238 doses of a Covid-19 vaccine had been delivered into the arms of Canadians. That’s almost as many needles as are getting stuck into American’s arms every day. In the global vaccination arms race, Canada has fallen behind most of the developed and much of the developing world. With 5.5 per cent of our population vaccinated, as of Friday we are the 42nd ranked country in

the world. According to Covid19Tracker.ca, Nova Scotia ranked last among Canadian provinces and territories with 3.8 per cent of our population vaccinated. If we were a country we would sit at number 50 in the world, between Azerbaijan and Latvia. So what happened and does it matter if, as Premier Iain Rankin suggested this week, we’ll all have the Continued on page 3

Jagmeet Singh’s brother-in-law in altercation under police probe as South-Asian Canadian factions clash over India unrest The unrest sparked by massive farmer protests in India appears to be spilling over into Canada and its south-Asian community, with a close relative of NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh at the centre of one recent confrontation. A widely viewed video appears to show Singh’s brotherin-law pushing a pro-India demonstrator to

the ground at an Ontario rally, an incident now under police investigation. The man is also related to Liberal MP Ruby Sahota. A separate encounter at the same event has already led to an assault charge against another man. Continued on page 7

10 million girls at risk of child marriage due to Covid-19: UNICEF A new analysis from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) suggests that 10 million additional child marriages may occur globally before the end of the decade because of Covid-19. The analysis, released on March 8 for International Women’s Day, warns that school

closures, economic stress, service disruptions, pregnancy, and parental deaths due to the pandemic are putting girls at increased risk of child marriage. “Covid-19 has made an already difficult situation for millions of girls even worse.

India really stands out in terms of its vaccine policy, says IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath

On Sunday, March 14, move your clocks 1 hour forward as daylight saving begins.

India has been at the forefront in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and “really stands out in terms of its vaccine policy, Chief Economist of the IMF Gita Gopinath said on Monday, as she hailed the country for playing a very important role during the crisis by manufacturing and shipping the

COVID-19 vaccines to several nations. Gopinath made the comments in an interactive session during the Inaugural Dr. Hansa Mehta Lecture organised on occasion of International Women’s Day. I also want to mention that India really stands out in terms of its vaccine policy.

41-year-old South Asian unemployed Oxford graduate sues parents, demands ‘Lifelong Financial Support’ While it may be quite common for parents to financially help their kids in India, the rest of the world doesn’t function quite similarly. It isn’t assumed that your parents’ money is yours or vice-versa. In an attempt to get financial help from his parents, a 41-year-old in England has sued his parents and asked for “lifelong financial support”. The shocking event is made

even more surprising as the plaintiff is an Oxford graduate but is currently jobless. Faiz Siddiqui, who is taking his parents to court, claims he is entitled to this demand. The parents, Rakshanda (69) and Javed (71) are currently living in

Dubai and according to Siddiqui, are quite “wealthy.” He says he is a “vulnerable” grown-up child due to his health issues and therefore, his parents owe him the money. He has formerly worked in a number of law firms and claims if his parents deny him this rightful compensation, it would be a violation of human rights.

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Vol 20 - Issue 6

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Insinuation of reward for bad behaviour ‘absolutely wrong,’ BC city says of vaccine backlash A B.C. port city is responding to backlash from the public over its accelerated COVID-19 vaccination plan. In most of the province, vaccine appointments are only available to B.C.’s oldest residents, but the decision was made in Prince Rupert to offer shots to all adults in the area between mid-March and early April. The reasoning is simple. The northwestern B.C. city has seen high positivity and case rates and, unlike elsewhere in the province, these rates are not going down. So the local health authority and the provincial ministry of health decided to offer those who live in Prince Rupert, and in nearby Port Edward, the opportunity to be vaccinated early. “Quickly vaccinating the entire community is a great way to protect everyone in Prince Rupert, and keep them safe,” said Northern Health’s chief medical health officer, Dr. Jong Kim, in a statement. But not everyone agrees with the choice, and some comments made on social media following

the decision suggested the city is breaking the rules, or getting an unfair advantage over other municipalities. Blair Mirau, a city councillor, reached out to CTV News to address some of the backlash on behalf of the city. “With some of the highest per capita case counts in B.C., the tragic deaths of 14 of our loved ones in Acropolis Manor, dozens of health-care workers testing positive, and numerous active exposure advisories in our schools and homeless shelter, it obviously is a bittersweet moment,” Mirau said as he expressed the city’s gratitude for the customized vaccine plan. “Unlike other cities that have seen anti-mask and anti-lockdown protests, the majority of Rupertites have been asking their leadership to be incredibly stringent,” he said in an email. The city was one of the first municipalities to declare a local state of emergency, and one of the first with a mask mandate, he said.

From page 1

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Experts say Canada ‘tripped’ in race to get people vaccinated for Covid-19

the opportunity to get a dose by the end of June? “April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire.” When English Poet T.S. Elliott penned his master piece nearly a century ago, he could just as well have been looking at a recently published graph by Caroline Colijn. “The curve of the variants are growing toward exponential growth behind the declining curve of (standard Covid-19),” said the epidemiologist and mathematician at Simon Fraser University. Her model of the highly transmissible U.K.’s variant’s growth within the population shows it breaking out from the overall decline of standard Covid-19 cases and causing exponential growth in April. According to her math the pandemic could make a turn for the worse. “These models are like headlights, not crystal balls,” said Colijn. “When you’re driving at night and you see a landslide across the road in your headlights doesn’t mean you run into it. It means you take corrective action.”

For provinces with community spread that would mean renewed lockdowns to combat variants with an estimated increased transmissibility of 40-80 per cent. It would also mean the prioritization of who gets the vaccine first should change. Based on modelling of an outbreak of the U.K. variant in British Columbia’s population, Colijn and fellow epidemioligists Chris McCabe and Paul Tupper, found that prioritizing the vaccination of essential workers after everyone over 80 years old had got their shots would result in 200,000 fewer infections and 600 fewer deaths. “By vaccinating younger people with many contacts we can greatly reduce the amount of virus in the population,” reads the brief Vaccinating Essential Workers (https://www.sfu. ca/magpie/blog/vaccinating-essential-workers. html). “This will mean that very few elderly people are ever exposed to the virus. Fewer exposures means many fewer infections among the elderly, whether they have been vaccinated or not.”

OPINION

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Should Canada follow New Zealand’s lead in cooling housing markets The idea that Canadian residential real estate prices are rising at an unsustainable pace is no longer just a subject for Twitter rants and COVID-era chats with family. The international media are paying attention.

The New York Times described “a soonto-burst real estate bubble.” Reuters declared “Canada’s red-hot housing market has become a bonfire.”But while many Canadians worry, the government of New Zealand — a country often

likened to Canada for its soaring home prices — is attempting a solution by making it harder to get a mortgage. There’s little doubt Bank of Canada officials are keeping a close eye on the New Zealand experience. There are some here who say we should follow suit. Asked directly at his most recent news conference last month whether Canada would adopt the New Zealand plan, Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem appeared dismissive, implying getting the economy back on track after the pandemic recession was more important “Do we need measures right now with respect to housing?” said Macklem. “Right now, the economy is weak, we’re just out of the second wave. I think we need the support — we need the growth we can get.” Just before that news conference, Macklem had told an Alberta audience there were “early signs” of overheating in the residential property market as some people seemed to be buying based on the assumption prices would continue to rise. However, much of the pressure was also due to people looking for more space during COVID-19 lockdown measures, he said. Monday’s latest data from the Canadian Real Estate Association will offer a fresh reading on whether the property boom is slowing. Later today, the Bank of Canada is expected to announce it is holding interest rates steady at record lows, something critics here and in New Zealand say has helped inflame house prices, and not just in big cities. With signs the global economy is heating up, those concerns may intensify. It is the fear of speculative investment in housing — based on high demand, low rates and rising prices — that has prompted action from the New Zealand government and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ), the Kiwi equivalent of the Bank of Canada. After COVID-19, “the availability of affordable housing — that was the No. 2 issue identified as being most important,” national pollster Emanuel Kalafatelis told Radio New Zealand last weekend.

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Saturday, March 13, 2021

BC government going after money made by host of Vancouver ‘makeshift nightclub’ The B.C. government is using civil forfeiture laws to go after the money made by the owner of a downtown Vancouver penthouse when he allegedly held an illegal nightclub in his suite. Mohammad Movassaghi, 42, was arrested in January after police found about 80 people packed into his 1,100 square foot apartment, which had menus, tables and cash registers. Vancouver police handed out more than $17,000 in fines and now the province has confirmed it is going after the money and equipment seized that night. “I think it certainly sends a message to people who are engaged in illegal activity,” B.C. Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth said Thursday. “There are public health orders out there for reasons to keep people safe, and at the same time if you think that ignoring them is just going to get you a ticket, there can be other consequences that flow from your decision”. In addition to the civil forfeiture action, Movassaghi is facing two charges of failing to comply with the orders of a health officer and unlawfully purchasing grain alcohol. He is

scheduled to appear in court later this month. Police allege that they had received at least six complaints about the unit in January, and first attended on Jan. 23. When guests arrived at what Vancouver police described as the “makeshift nightclub” they were told to remove their shoes to prevent making noise. Exotic dancers were spinning on a stripper pole that ran from the second floor down to the first in the three-level suite. There was a DJ booth and bartenders making and serving drinks available for purchase. Spotlights and “mood lighting” gave the room the look of a club that would normally be packed in Yaletown or on the Granville Strip any given weekend before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. None of the 50 to 100 people “standing shoulder to shoulder” inside were wearing masks. These and other details are included in a search warrant application filed in Vancouver Provincial Court early in the morning on Jan. 31, which was obtained by Global News in early February. Movassaghi’s lawyer, Bobby Movassaghi, has said the allegations against his client are unproven and will not comment further until more information is given by prosecutors.

Data shows that Covid-19 has made Canadians among the most miserable people in the World The Macdonald-Laurier Institute has released a COVID-19 Misery Index that shows how miserable people in developed countries have been throughout the pandemic. While places like Norway and New Zealand got A+ scores, Canada didn’t fare so well. In fact, Canada fell way below the global average, receiving a C grade and proving that Canadians have been pretty miserable over the past year.

What’s plagued us the most is “economic misery,” where we actually fall down near the bottom, beating out only the U.K. and Spain for rates of misery on account of the economy. Other factors of misery include COVID-19 and the pandemic response. Canada seems to be in a pretty dark place.

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine begins arriving in BC Supplies of a third vaccine for COVID-19 have begun arriving in B.C., a fridgestable option that will be used mainly for community outbreak response and highrisk industries in B.C. The AstraZeneca vaccine is being used in addition to the larger age-based vaccination program that is currently booking appointments for people aged 90 and up living at home, and Indigenous people aged 65 and up. Health Minister Adrian Dix told the B.C. legislature March 10 that issues with appointment call centre staffing are being worked out and wait times for people to call their health authority

phone lines are reduced from the surge of Monday morning when the system went into operation. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry reported an additional 531 cases of the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, similar to recent daily totals, and one additional death. The new cases include 51 of virus variants being tracked, after 182 new variant cases were confirmed Tuesday. Of the total of 627 variant infections found so far in B.C., 109 remain active and the remaining people have recovered.

Saturday, March 13, 2021 From page 1

India really stands out in terms of its vaccine policy, says IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath

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If you look at where exactly is one manufacturing hub for vaccines in the world – that will be India, Gopinath said. Gopinath lauded the Serum Institute of India, saying it produces the most number of vaccines in the world in a regular year and has been manufacturing the COVID-19 vaccine doses that are delivered to COVAX and then distributed to countries around the world. India has been at the forefront in fighting this pandemic, she said, noting that India has been providing vaccines through grants to several of

its neighbour countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar, and through commercial arrangements as well. The country has been playing a very important role in helping the world in the global health crisis through its vaccination policies, she said. Gopinath was responding to a question on India, which is a vaccine hub of the world, and the role the country can play in contributing to global economic recovery. Gopinath pointed out that India makes up about 7 per cent of world GDP based on purchasing power parity terms.

Daylight saving time returns this weekend From page 1

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However, the province says it will only do so once year-round DST is passed in the American states of Washington, Oregon and California. In 2020, B.C. Premier John Horgan said the move to permanent daylight saving time had been delayed on both sides of the border due to COVID-19. “I think it’s quite clear that in the middle of a pandemic,

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making changes to daylight saving is not an urgent issue on people’s minds,” said Horgan in a statement on Sept. 18, 2020. “Our government is currently focused on putting in place the details of the economic recovery while taking the steps we need to protect British Columbians during this pandemic,” he said.

Saturday, March 13, 2021 Jagmeet Singh’s brother-in-law in altercation under police probe From page 1

The drama occurred amid competing demonstrations, angry online rhetoric and accusations of intimidation, much of it related to the protests that have roiled India for months. While many Sikh-Canadian activists have come out in support of the farmers and decried the controversial strongarm tactics New Delhi has used against them, other Indian Canadians, many of them Hindu, have made a point of voicing support recently for the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian high commission in Ottawa lodged a protest about the most recent altercation, warning such incidents could harm the “warm and friendly relations” between the two countries. “I have been here for 35 years and I’ve never seen anything like this in Canada,” said rally participant Azad Kaushik, president of the National Alliance of Indo-Canadians. “This has shocked me, to tell you the truth.” But a spokesman for a major Sikh group blamed tensions on the pro-Modi media and demonstrations themselves. He called the rallies an attempt to divert attention from an oppressive government, while creating the false narrative of religious strife in Canada. “It’s not a Hindu-vs-Sikh issue, it really isn’t,” said Jaskaran Sandhu of the World Sikh Organization. “This is an attempt to kind of provoke the (Sikh) community. It’s a very nefarious attempt to change the issue and make it a communal issue.” Motives aside, the opposing factions clashed just over a week ago on the streets of Brampton, Ont., west of Toronto, when Sikh counter-protesters met a pro-India car rally. In an incident captured on video, a man resembling Jodvhir Singh

10 million girls at risk of child marriage due to Covid-19: UNICEF Shuttered schools, isolation from friends and support networks, and rising poverty have added fuel to a fire the world was already struggling to put out. But we can and we must extinguish child marriage,” UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a press release. “International Women’s Day is a key moment to remind ourselves of what these girls have to lose if we do not act urgently -- their education, their health, and their futures.” According to UNICEF, 100 million girls were at risk of child marriage in the next decade before COVID-19, despite global efforts in recent years to help end the practice. UNICEF reported that the number of young women globally who were married as children has decreased by 15 per cent in the last 10 years. Approximately one in five girls are married as children, down from one in four, which UNICEF says is the equivalent of roughly 25 million marriages averted. However, the agency noted that this “gain is now under threat.” In the analysis, UNICEF reported that COVID-19 is “profoundly affecting” the lives of girls with travel restrictions and physical distancing making it difficult for young women to access health care, social services, and community supports that protect them from child marriage, unwanted pregnancy, and gender-based violence.

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Dhaliwal, who’s married to the sister of the New Democrat leader’s wife, strides toward an India supporter, shoving the man in the chest and sending him toppling backwards onto the pavement. The victim got up almost immediately and did not appear injured. The shoving is under investigation by Peel Region Police, a spokeswoman said Tuesday, though no charges had been laid. Lawyer Harval Bassi, a criminallaw specialist representing Dhaliwal, said his client had no comment on the affair. The NDP leader’s office would not address the episode directly, but said Jagmeet Singh and the party have been clear that “everyone, everywhere should have the right to protest peacefully.” “No one should be confronted by violence for expressing their point of view,” said a party statement. The statement also pointed to the accusations of human-rights abuses by India in handling the protests there.

Saturday, March 13, 2021

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Saturday, March 13, 2021

West Vancouver woman fined $6,900 for breaching quarantine rules A West Vancouver woman has been fined almost $7,000 for allegedly breaching quarantine rules after returning to Canada from the U.S. The 59-year-old woman entered B.C. at the Pacific Highway border crossing on March 4, West Vancouver police said in a news release. COVID-19: West Vancouver woman fined$6,900forbreachingquarantinerules The Public Health Agency of Canada alerted the police department at 10:25 p.m. that same day, alleging the woman failed to provide an adequate negative COVID-19 test upon arrival and had visited someone at Lions Gate Hospital. The next day, an officer visited the address where the woman was

supposed to be quarantining and spotted her coming home from a walk. She was issued two tickets totalling $6,900 for the alleged violations on both days. “This is a stark reminder that we all have a responsibility to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Const. Kevin Goodmurphy of the West Vancouver police in a statement. “There are strict government guidelines that specify how a person must quarantine upon entry to Canada, which includes a requirement to travel directly to their address of quarantine and to remain there for 14 days.” The woman said she was exempt from the quarantine rules but didn’t produce any official documents to support the exemption, police said.

Saturday, March 13, 2021 BC govt won’t release Telus contract on vaccine appointment call centres

British Columbia’s premier and health minister refused to directly answer questions Wednesday about the government’s contract with Telus, the provider whose call centres for COVID-19 vaccine appointments got off to a chaotic start. The Opposition Liberals repeatedly asked Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix during question period to release the contract and to provide basic information including its monetary value and the number of staff promised to the centres. Both Horgan and Dix did not provide specifics, but instead repeated earlier remarks that Monday was a “bad day,” when Vancouver Coastal Health was only able to book 369 appointments, but that steps have been taken to improve the situation. “People have bad days all the time,” Horgan said. “I’m fairly confident that Wayne Gretzky didn’t score in every game he played in, but he kept getting on the ice and doing the best he could. That’s exactly what we did in Vancouver Coastal Health.” The health authority was the only one that did not have a backup call centre to the system provided by Telus. More staff were added and 4,000 appointments were booked in Vancouver Coastal on Tuesday and 2,500 more as of 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dix said. Telus apologized for the performance of the call

centres on Monday, when residents 90 and up and Indigenous people over 65 became eligible to book appointments, but many experienced repeated busy signals and messages telling them to call back later. The company has said it was asked to provide 156 agents to answer calls at all times across the province, and it increased that number to 250 by Tuesday afternoon. The Opposition Liberals said only 33 call-takers were originally assigned to Vancouver Coastal — the second-largest authority in the province. The Liberals asked why the government thought it would be an adequate level of staff as well as who signed the contract and when. Liberal Renee Merrifield, a member of the legislature for Kelowna-Mission elected last fall, called on the premier to take full responsibility for the “botched” rollout of the system. “I fully appreciate that accountability ends with me,” Horgan said. “If that doesn’t meet the bar set by the newly minted member for Kelowna, I apologize to her as well.” Dix said that 35,500 appointments have been booked over the past three days. He has previously said about 54,000 people are eligible to book this week. He said each health authority signed an agreement with Telus to provide call centre capacity under a long-standing master agreement with the company.

BC officials plead for patience as 1.7 million Covid-19 calls flood in B.C.’s health ministry opened its call centre Monday for signing up COVID-19 vaccination appointments for seniors aged 90 and up, and the flood of calls that was warned about hit immediately. Health Minister Adrian Dix confirmed Monday morning that 1.7 million calls were received in the first three hours, many times the number of people who are eligible this week. Dix said there are 47,000 people aged 90 and over in B.C., and 35,000 Indigenous people aged 65 and up. Many have already received vaccine as residents of assisted living or longterm care. Dix said the system is not first-come, first-served and clearly many people are calling

in before they are eligible or multiple times on behalf of elderly people who are eligible. “There are lots of appointments,” Dix said March 8. “We have five days to book appointments for people 90 and up, and Indigenous people 65 and over. If you’re not in those categories, please don’t call us today.”Fraser Health, B.C.’s largest health authority, has a website that is taking appointments for 90-plus seniors. Other health regions are taking appointments by phone, and will move to online appointment booking as the mass vaccination program moves to 80-plus, 70-plus and the rest of the adult population in the coming months, Dix said.

Fraser Health declares COVID-19 outbreak at Surrey long-term care facility Fraser Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Fleetwood Place. In an information bulletin Tuesday (March 9), the health authority said one resident and one staff member have tested positive for the virus and are now isolating. Fleetwood Place is a contracted long-term care facility that is privately owned and operated, Fraser Health says. Meantime, the health authority says the

outbreak at Fleetwood Villa is now over. According to the BC Centre for Disease Control’s March 4 report on outbreaks at long-term care, assisted and independent living, the outbreak at Fleetwood Villa was first declared March 17. There were four cases at the assistedliving facility, with three among residents and one staff member infected.

Police looking for witnesses to serious confrontation in Walmart parking lot Vancouver police are seeking witnesses to a serious confrontation involving a man and a woman outside an East Vancouver Walmart on Sunday. They believe the woman may have been in distress. VPD investigators say the incident occurred around 8:15 p.m. on Sunday night in a parking lot outside the Walmart on Grandview Highway near Boundary Road. Police say a number of people say they saw or heard a possibly violent confrontation between a man and woman, who were said to be standing near a black Dodge Challenger. “We don’t know exactly what happened, but we believe a woman may have been in distress and we urgently need to find out more,” said VPD spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison “We think a number of people saw this confrontation, but left the area before speaking to police.” VPD officers were close by and responded quickly to a 911 call, but the vehicle

drove away before the officers arrived and has not been located. Unfortunately, none of the first-hand witnesses stayed behind to speak to police and the man and woman involved in the confrontation have not been located. “We don’t know the relationship between the two people involved in this incident, whether anyone was injured, or even if there was a crime,” said Addison. “We’d like speak to anyone who saw what happened, or even with the man and woman who were involved so we can better understand what happened.” The primary witness is believed to be a white man in his 60s with grey hair and a beard. He was driving a grey SUV. Anyone who can help identify the witness, or the people involved in the incident, is asked to call detectives at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Gas prices at many Metro Vancouver pumps nearing $1.50/litre Metro Vancouver gas prices have soared to highs not seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, fuel was being sold at pumps for less than a dollar per litre, but the dip in Canadian fuel prices was short-lived. As of Wednesday, the cost of gas has climbed to $1.50 per litre at many Metro Vancouver pumps – including several in Burnaby, Surrey, Maple Ridge and Langley, according to GasBuddy.com. Others, further east in the Fraser Valley, were charging slightly less. Pumps in Abbotsford were reported offering gas for as much as $1.37 per litre. Canadian gas analyst Dan McTeague attributed the steep hike in prices to three things: the growing U.S. demand for fuel, the “deep-freeze” still affecting the oil industry in Texas and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting’s recent decision not to increase global output. “What makes these prices particularly

noticeable is that Vancouver continues to boast the highest taxes and prices anywhere on the continent,” McTeague told Black Press Media. “Taxes amount to 52 cents per litre and B.C.’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulation – at around $350 a tonne – adds another 12 to 13 cents per litre to the total cost for drivers.” McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, predicts gas prices will hit $1.60 per litre following COVID-19 improvements made this April. Similarly, the U.S. demand for fuel has grown as mass vaccinations provide relief from fear and immobility caused by the onset of the pandemic. “I am still holding fast to the idea that we will see a return to those higher prices at times this summer,” McTeague said, predicting local pumps charging as much as $1.70 per litre.

Bank of Canada holds fast on rates, bond buying; sees economy gathering steam The Bank of Canada held fast on its ultralow interest rate and pace of government-bond buying on Wednesday, while acknowledging that the economy weathered the second wave of the pandemic better than expected and is beginning to gather steam. The central bank kept its policy interest rate at 0.25 per cent, and reiterated that it does not expect to start raising rates until 2023. It also said that it would continue buying $4-billion worth of government of Canada bonds each week, giving few hints as to when it might begin to “taper” its quantitative easing program. The key question heading into Wednesday was how the bank would navigate growing optimism in the wake of better-than-expected economic data in both Canada and the United States. Long-term government bond yields have spiked in recent weeks, with the market pricing in faster economic growth, higher

inflation and rate hikes as early as next year. The bank acknowledged the changing outlook while maintaining a somewhat cautious tone because of continuing weakness in the labour market. Analysts suggested that the bank opted for a “do no harm” approach, postponing any meaningful revisions to its outlook and policy position until April 21, when it will publish a new economic forecast alongside its next rate decision. “The economy is proving to be more resilient than anticipated to the second wave of the virus and the associated containment measures,” the bank said in Wednesday’s one-page statement. It noted that GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2020 was 9.6 per cent on an annualized basis, twice what the bank had forecast in January, and that GDP is now expected to grow in the first quarter of 2021 rather than contract. “Consumers and businesses are adapting to containment measures, and housing market activity has been much stronger than expected. Improving foreign demand and higher commodity prices have also brightened the prospects for exports and business investment,” it said.

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LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Active Covid-19 cases in Delta climb for fifth straight week The number of active Covid-19 cases in Delta rose again last week, according to the latest weekly figures released by the BC Centre for Disease Control. Every Wednesday, the BC CDC releases a map showing the geographic distribution of Covid-19 cases by local health area of residence. The latest weekly map shows Delta had 116 cases for the week of Feb. 28 to March 6, an increase over the previous seven weeks (90 active cases for the week ending Feb. 28, 80 for week ending Feb. 20, 73 for the week ending Feb. 13, 65 for the week ending Feb. 6, 59 for the week ending Jan. 30, 69 for week ending Jan. 23 and 100 for the week ending Jan. 16). The overall number of active

cases in the Fraser Health region increased as well last week to 2,077, up 72 cases from the week before and the highest number of active cases since the week ending Jan. 9 (2,053). Four of the other 12 local health areas in the region also saw increases over the previous week, most notably Surrey, which saw its number of active cases climb to 863, up from 674 the previous week.From the start of the pandemic through the end of February 2021, there were a total of 2,723 Covid-19 cases in Delta, with 317 new cases from Jan. 31, 2021. Meanwhile, there are currently no outbreaks at any Delta long-term care, assisted living or independent living facilities.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

BC POLICE ACT SHARE YOUR VIEWS by Friday, April 30

The Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act wants to hear your views on policing and related systemic issues. The Committee will review all input and invite interested participants to make presentations. For full details, visit our website or call the Parliamentary Committees Office at 250-356-2933 or toll-free 1-877-428-8337.

Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act

www.leg.bc.ca/cmt/rpa

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Two men sent in jail for hosting party during pandemic Vancouver police arrested two men early Saturday morning and alleged they were hosting a party in a downtown condo, a violation of B.C.’s provincial COVID-19 restrictions. Before Saturday’s arrests, VPD Sgt. Steve Addison said police had received 10 complaints dating back to Feb. 3 concerning parties in the highrise tower in the 1100-block of Alberni Street. After the 11th complaint, officers, armed with a search warrant, charged into the suite around 2 a.m. Saturday and broke up an eight-person party.

“After repeated complaints from the public and unsuccessful efforts to convince these hosts to stop having parties, our officers obtained a search warrant and forced entry into the condo Saturday to arrest two men,” said Addison. “The alleged hosts were taken to jail, and six guests were issued $230 tickets for being at the gathering.” B.C.’s COVID-19 restrictions prohibit social gatherings of any kind with anyone outside of one’s household or core bubble.

10-year-old girl, recently arrived to Canada, robbed, assaulted in Vancouver A 10-year-old girl was waiting in line outside a restaurant in downtown Vancouver Saturday morning when she was reportedly approached by a woman, Vancouver police said. The girl, who had a $50 bill in her pocket, was waiting in the 200-block of Keefer Street to buy breakfast for her family as their stove was broken. Police said the woman who had approached her allegedly reached inside the girl’s pocket, took the money and left. The girl followed her and that’s when police said the woman elbowed her in the face, splitting her lip and causing her nose to bleed.

Multiple witnesses called 911 and a bystander intervened and kept the suspect there until police arrived. The woman was arrested for robbery and taken to jail, police said. The $50 bill was found and paramedics treated the girl and her father took her home. When investigating officers learned the family had recently arrived in Canada from Mexico, Vancouver police members took up a collection from their fellow officers and presented the family with more than $200.

BC blames Telus for vaccine appointment fiasco in Vancouver Coastal Health region For the second straight day, seniors and their caregivers in the Vancouver Coastal Health region spent Tuesday trying book Covid-19 vaccine appointments by phone. All British Columbians 90 and older and Indigenous people 65 and older are now eligible for their first dose. But with phone lines jammed, only 369 seniors under Vancouver Coastal managed to book their appointments on Day 1. “We decided to contract specifically with Telus, and Telus would do all this work. And the service provider let us down,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix. “We were repeatedly told as late as 9 o’clock Sunday night that they had the situation in hand, and they did not.” The premier also blasted Telus. “The contractor was a highly regarded contractor, we had every expectation that they would be able to meet the conditions

of their contract. They didn’t,” said John Horgan In a statement, Darren Entwistle, the president and CEO of Telus, said: “We are incredibly sorry for the frustrations that British Columbians have experienced trying to connect to the call centres. We can and will do better, and we are working diligently to make this right.” Vancouverite Meena Sandhu, who has spent two days trying unsuccessfully to book a vaccine appointment for her 93-year-old grandmother, says while Telus may be the contractor, the responsibility to provide a successful booking platform lies with the province. “One, they need to fess up and say they screwed up, I would appreciate it if they would own up to that. And then really clearly outline what they’re going to do next,” said Sandhu.

BC Liberal statement on International Women’s Day Press release Official Opposition Leader Shirley Bond and that we value the voice and participation MLA Stephanie Cadieux, BC Liberal Critic for of women in every aspect of our society. Gender Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion, “Achieving gender equality takes women released the following joint statement and men working together to challenge today for International Women’s Day: stereotypes, fight discrimination, and create “Today on International Women’s Day a future where generations to come have we join women across the province and endless possibilities regardless of their gender. around the world as together we challenge “We can only expect positive change when and call out gender bias and inequity. We we all work together to ensure our schools, also celebrate the amazing achievements our workplaces, and our communities and contributions that women have respect the vital role that women play. made in British Columbia and beyond. “The BC Liberal Caucus is continuing to “This past year our province faced make equality a priority, which is why we have unprecedented challenges, and women have once again tabled our Equal Pay Reporting been at the forefront of many of the efforts Act in the Legislature with the hope that it in British Columbia to tackle the COVID-19 will be called by the government for debate. pandemic and care for our most vulnerable “On International Women’s Day populations. For that we are grateful. let’s all take a moment to celebrate and “For decades women have been fighting recognize the social, economic, cultural, hard for equality. While we have made and political achievements of women some progress on issues like the right to and commit to taking action that leads to vote and equal pay for equal work, much increased inclusion and gender equity.” more needs to be done. We need to ensure

NATIONAL

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Federal, BC govt’s announce $517-million rent aid program A joint federal and B.C. government housing program announced today aims to help pay the rent for up to 25,000 people living in vulnerable situations. Ahmed Hussen, federal families, children and social development minister, says the 10-year, $517-million CanadaB.C. Housing Benefit will provide financial assistance to top up monthly rent payments for those who can’t make ends meet. Hussen told a news conference the average benefit to participants across Canada has been about $2,500 a year, but the payment amount in B.C. can be increased depending on rent costs and household circumstances. David Eby, B.C.’s minister responsible for housing, says the benefits will be

provided to households currently not eligible for the province’s Rental Assistance Program or Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters. Eby and Hussen say the benefits are aimed at helping women fleeing family violence, Indigenous and racialized people, veterans, youth leaving care, people with disabilities and those experiencing homelessness or at risk of being homeless. Ahmed calls the benefit a game changer that will help more people stay in their homes or find homes. He says the federal government’s National Housing Strategy commits more than $70 billion towards affordable housing programs over 10 years.

Daughter of high-profile Toronto businesswoman and political fundraiser charged with murder The Toronto area’s Chinese-Canadian community is abuzz this week after the daughter of a high-profile and politically connected local businesswoman was charged with murder along with her boyfriend. Yun Lu “Lucy” Li, 25, and Oliver Karafa, 28, have so far eluded capture after fleeing the scene in a late-model Land Rover, say police in Hamilton, Ont. Daughter of high-profile Toronto businesswoman and political fundraiser charged with murder A Vancouver man, Tyler Pratt, 39, was killed and a woman, 26, injured in the Feb. 28

shooting behind a building in an industrial part of the city. All four were known to each other and were “ a s s o c i a t e s ,” said Hamilton Police Service spokeswoman Jackie Penman Tuesday. Mother Hong Wei “Winnie” Liao runs financial-management business Respon International Group, holds a glitzy annual charity gala and seems to have ties to both local politicians and Chinese diplomats in Canada.

Liberals rule out March budget as Ottawa assesses economic impact of recent shutdowns, new vaccine timelines unprecedented economic and health crises brought on by the coronavirus. The last time the government presented a budget was on March 19, 2019. A federal website lists budget dates as far back as 1968. During that period, there has never been a gap of more than two years between budgets until now.

The Liberal government will not release a budget in March as it takes more time to assess the impact of the pandemic, meaning that more than two years will have passed since the last federal budget was released. A senior government official told The Globe and Mail that March has been ruled out as a window for unveiling the budget, which will have to address the

Website ranks most liveable communities in Canada The pandemic has prompted many Canadians to seek new living arrangements and a website specializing in rate comparisons has ranked the best communities to live in. RATESDOTCA commissioned a survey that found that of the 12 per cent of those who plan to buy or already have bought a primary residence since April 2020, almost a quarter said the pandemic played a role in their decision making. One in five said they would move or had moved from a big city to a small town or rural area. Housing prices have gone up dramatically in many of Canada’s urban centres and 61 per cent of respondents said affordability was a key point in their deciding to relocate. The survey found that 51 per cent of those who moved in 2020 because of the pandemic did so to “live in an area with more nature” and 36 per cent felt pressure to find a less expensive home. Several towns in British Columbia ranked in top ten

The website ranked over 150 communities based of affordability, the potential for growth in the investment and lifestyle. The top destination it chose was Langford in the western province of British Columbia (B.C.). It got high marks for growth, affordability, property tax costs, desirable climate and proximity to spectacular nature. It is on Vancouver Island, not far from the Pacific Ocean and the provincial capital Victoria, and has a provincial park nearby. Next came Kelowna, also in B.C., Trois-Rivières in the province of Quebec, Bathurst in New Brunswick and Rossland, BC. “Canada has some incredible hidden gems if you’re relocating for a change in lifestyle; places people seldom think about,” said Robert McLister, Mortgage Editor, RATESDOTCA. “We set out to discover which of these areas have the best combination of affordability,

7832 120 132 ST St. #106 - 7565 SURREY BC Surrey, BC BUS: 604-572-3005 604.572.3005

14103 110 AVE., N.SURREY

26964 28 AVE., LANGLEY

Truly delightful huge basement entry app. 7200 sqft. home sits on rectangular 9965 sqft. lot. House features 11 bedrooms & 10 washrooms build by good reputation builders. Main floor has 5 bedrooms & 4 bath with huge family room,living room,kitchen,& spice kitchen.Ground level basement has 27'x15' media room with bar & washroom for upstairs use.House has 3 spacious ground level basement suites (3 bed.+3 bed & bachelor suite).Total rent of the suites is $3500/month.Very nice tenants.Easy access to Pattulo bridge, Port Mann bridge & shopping center.Motivated sellers.Easy to show.

Truly delightful fully renovated 6 bedroom basement entry home sits on rectangular 7920 sf flat lot in most demanding area Aldergrove Langley.Main floor features 3 bed ,2 bath with new kitchen /island ,new flooring,new tiles , new woodwork,new fixtures,splash back,granite counters,new tiles,new cabinet, new windows,new zebra drapes,4 new washrooms & much more .Newly built 3 bedroom unauthorized basement suite with rear separate entry.Excellent renovated covered 333 sf Patio & deck.Landscape front & fully fenced back yard. Storage shed.Walking distance to both schools,shopping,community center with pools,water Park,ice arena,playing fields& to all major routes.

$1,779,000

$920,000

#125 32850 GEORGE FERGUSON WAY, ABBOTSFORD

Hot deal! First Time Buyers or Investors, great investment property with reliable tenants, centrally located in a great neighbourhood. 2 bedroom and 1 bath spacious ground level apartment. Well maintained complex, with many updates on the complex over the last couple of years including, roof, windows, balconies, boilers, security cameras, fob access systems and landscaping. There is shared laundry on every floor. Wheelchair access, elevators secure underground parking. Close to Bus stop, walking distance to shopping, restaurants, banks and

$210,000

9420 119 ST., N.DELTA

10520 128 ST., SURREY

NORTH DELTA! - Starter family home or holding property - 2 level 4 bedroom home has been was been well maintained - 3 bedroom up and 1 bedroom down. Fully finished basement with great suite potential - separate entry. Lots of parking for cars and RV - private yard with large covered deck - great patio area. Quiet family friendly street in central/high demand N. DELTA neighbourhood. NEED 24 NOTICE TO VIEW.

Absolutely gorgeous family-home with TWO mortgage helper suites and plenty of room on the main floor with 4 large bedrooms, master bedroom with a walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom, multiple living areas with 2 fireplaces, and a spacious kitchen. Kitchen lets out to a large covered sun-deck to enjoy a cup of coffee in the summer or host a BBQ. Large backyard with a brand new fully-surrounded fence with plenty of room for children or pets. Entire property is beautifully landscaped with a large decorative palm tree and multiple fruit trees including fig, apple, pear and cherry trees.

$1,070,000

$1,448,880

5843 180 STREET, CLOVERDALE 14030 GROSVENOR RD., NORTH SURREY

$912,500

Solid family home on almost 10,000 square foot rectangular lot in Cloverdale with loads of potential. Large open lot offers plenty of space for a pool, playground & trampoline; or use the extra space to build your dream home. Great central location close to shopping, transit & schools. Same owners since 1987. Three bedrooms up, one down in partially finished basement (just needs a closet). Walkout basement with its own entrance offers potential for two bedroom suite. Large covered patio off the living area overlooks the private, sunny backyard. Transform it into a modern, functional family home

$955,000

This well-maintained family home w/3-beds up, suite-potential down and a detached workshop/garage has everything you and your family needs, all located centrally. It's a 5 -10min drive to Guildford Town Centre & Hwy 1; only a 3min drive to Gateway Skytrain Station. The 2level home has a brand-new furnace, dishwasher & washing machine +plenty of other extras including a mobile accessible alarm system and a cozy living room gas fireplace for winter nights. The back deck located off the dining room is perfect for summer barbecues! In addition to the carport and the driveway that fits up to 4-5 vehicles, the 10,200sf lot (60x170) has a massive 1100sf detached workshop that will hold 3 cars, an RV or boat, and meet all of your storage needs.

Saturday, March 13, 2021

INDIA Tirath Singh Rawat is new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Tirath Singh Rawat, BJP’s Lok Sabha MP from Garhwal, appointed as the new chief minister of Uttarakhand on Wednesday. The decision was taken at the legislative party meeting of the BJP in Dehradun. Rawat (56), who has been an MLA in the past, also served as the Uttarakhand BJP chief from 2013 and 2015. Trivendra Singh Rawat made the announcement in Dehradun on Wednesday, day after resigning as CM. He told reporters that he was happy that Tirath Singh Rawat has been given this opportunity by the party. Rawat’s name was chosen over other candidates,

including BJP MP Anil Baluni, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Uttarakhand minister Dhan Singh Rawat. Several BJP MLAs reached the party’s state headquarters in Dehradun Wednesday along with parliamentarians including Pokhriyal,AjayBhatt,MalaRajyaLakshmi,Naresh Bansal and central observers Dushyant Gautam and former Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh. Trivendra Singh Rawat resigned as the chief minister of Uttarakhand Tuesday, following a meeting with party president J.P. Nadda Monday night.

Is India becoming more authoritarian? The answer isn’t as simple as social media would have us believe Five minutes walk up the road, there was strange silence which tyranny enforces: And an excellent thing it was, the proprietors of Bright College believed. The previous summer, Delhi University students and their teachers had been hauled into Tihar Jail and charged with crimes against the State. “After years of turmoil, discipline returns at last to the Temples of Learning”, Bright College proclaimed in an advertisement issued in The Indian Express on 1 August, 1976, “thanks to our worthy Prime Minister who has put the student community on the right track again”. The last 10 years had seen university students appear around Bright College, in Kamala Nagar market, terrorising the stray cows and the locals with their Rajdoot GTX175 ‘Bobby’ motorcycles and loud music. “Lotharios”, “Fast Girls” and “Loafers”: the world of the conservative shopkeeping community Kamala Nagar had suddenly been populated by strange, shaggy-haired, jeans-clad beasts. Now, the streets had been swept clean. “Indira Gandhi is leading the nation to a bright future”, the advertisement went on, “and, under her dynamic leadership, Bright College is leading the students to a bright career”. “You too can hope of gaining such glory”! The generation to whom that exhortation was addressed, though, discarded Prime Minister Gandhi’s socialism. Instead, they threw weight behind economic liberalisation, and a new cosmopolitan aesthetic. For some five years now, as the government has unleashed what some claim is an unprecedented assault on democratic rights and civil liberties, the idea that we are living through an “Undeclared Emergency” has gathered growing intellectual momentum. As so-called “hurt sentiment” and sedition prosecutions have grown, along with efforts at internet censorship and media control, there is growing global concern over the future of India’s democratic institutions.. The idea is a seductive one — if it wasn’t for the fact that Indian democracy has been in a more-or-less perpetual state of crisis, from the 1950s on. Authoritarianism has, in important senses, been as much part of the story of India as its democratic values. In 1950, the Supreme Court shot down the Government of Madras’s ban on the left-wing weekly, Crossroads. Then, the Court stopped the Delhi government from pre-censoring the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s magazine, Organiser. In Bihar, the high court allowed Shaila Bala Devi to publish a leaflet proclaiming: “I am the blood-thirsty goddess Kali who lives and moves about in the cremation ground. I am thirsty. I want blood. I want revolution”. Egged on by then home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru amended the Constitution and systematically strengthened colonial-era restrictions on speech — a story superbly told

by the legal scholar Abhinav Chandrachud. The brutal use of force and forcible resettlement of Adivasis to fight the Telengana uprising of 1946-1951, recounted by Jonathan Kennedy and Sushil Purushotham; former Indian Administrative Service officer VS Jafa’s account of the savageries which accompanied the counterinsurgency campaign in Mizoram; the largescale extra-judicial executions of Bengal Maoists by former chief minister Siddharth Shankar Ray: Together, these accounted for tens of thousands of shattered lives. Little Emergencies — witness Assam, Punjab, Kashmir, Chhattisgarh — have since claimed tens of thousands more, and, though at levels far diminished from their peak intensity in the 1990s, remain part of the everyday lives of millions of Indian citizens. Anand Teltumbde — now controversially held on charges of aiding a Maoist plot against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s life — perceptively noted in a 2012 scholarly essay that the Indian State no longer needed Emergencies. It had realised that repression could coexist with the institutions of a democracy. This is, of course, exactly what an analyst of conflict would expect. Like so many other post-colonial orders, the India birthed in 1947 was anaemic in both its resources and reach— compelled, as it were, to use force because other instruments of social control and transformation were simply unavailable to it. Even today, the Indian state shares authority with a variety of actors, ranging from caste Panchayats to criminal organisations of various kinds. In spite of its considerable coercive resources, the legitimacy of the Indian State itself remains tenuous, a fact which accounts for the paranoiac conduct of successive governments. The targets have changed from time to time — communists, “foreign hands”, Muslims — but the use of large-scale repression has been remarkably consistent. It is not that one period was significantly more or less authoritarian; the question was on what particular heresy the witch-hunt focussed its efforts. For anyone not blighted by extraordinary historical amnesia, it ought be clear the authoritarian tendencies are not a a departure from the Indian Republic’s course: in very real senses, this is the norm. In some important senses, the first decades of the Indian republic’s life were an evasion. Though the toxic impact of caste was acknowledged, there was no thoroughgoing programme to annihilate it, something thinkers like BR Ambedkar understood to be key to India’s future. The dangers of communalism were also clearly understood, yet there was no coherent programme to rebuild a polity around a secular idea of equal citizenship; tyrannies of ethnic and religious identity flourished, unchecked. The

Learn more at

gov.bc.ca/bcseniorsﬁrst

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Vaccines to boost BC economy more than previously expected: RBC RBC economists are now forecasting B.C.’s real GDP will grow 5.9% in 2021 — up from the 5.1% growth projected in December 2020. Canadian regulators had only approved two vaccines as of December, while doses from Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Moderna Inc. (NYSE:MRNA) were trickling in at a snail’s pace. Health Canada has since given the nod to two more vaccines and the country is expecting a total of eight million doses from three manufacturers by the end of March. “British Columbia started to ease restrictions before many other provinces, which will speed up the recovery of many of its service industries. We expect consumers will show up en force when the time comes,”

RBC economists Robert Hogue and Carrie Freestone wrote in their March 10 forecast. “Business and public sector plans will see capital expenditures rise by 5.7% this year. The province has major projects underway, including the LNG Canada terminal in Kitimat, Site C hydroelectric dam and Coastal Gas Link pipeline.” The bank is also boosting its housing starts forecast for the province to 37,200 units — up nearly 3,000 units since the December forecast.

“ S i m i l a r developments across the continent bode well for British Columbia’s wood products industry and exports,” the economists noted, adding the province’s own housing market will see growth resulting from strong demand and declining inventories. Immigration, a long-time driver of housing demand on the West Coast, has been throttled

during the pandemic amid border restrictions. But Ottawa revealed plans in October 2020 to bring in 1.2 million immigrants over the next three years to address labour shortages and boost the economy. The return of throngs of international students is also likely to drive up demand for housing in the coming year. B.C.’s projected 5.9% growth still trails forecasts for Quebec (6.5%), Ontario (6.2%) and New Brunswick (6.1%).“The respective speed and extent of the phasing out of restrictions will largely determine when the economic engine in each province will rev up. The rebound in commodity markets and prices have boosted the prospects for resource-heavy provinces,” the outlook stated.

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Saturday, March 13, 2021

INDIA Joe Biden appoints Indian American Maju Varghese as WHMO Director Indian-American Maju Varghese has been formally appointed as Director of the White House Military Office, announced US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday, 9 March. His appointment as the Military Office Director was reported by Politico early March and was shared by Varghese on LinkedIn. The official confirmation came in on Tuesday from The White House. Varghese will oversee military operations and provide support to The White House for Presidential missions worldwide, including transport, food, medical support and emergency services for President Biden. A statement released by the White House announced other additional staff members who will serve in the Office of Administration, White House Counsel’s Office, Office of Legislative Affairs, Office of Management and Administration, White House Military Office, Office of Presidential Correspondence, and Speechwriting.

Supreme Court refuses to hear firm’s plea alleging “anarchists masquerading as protestors” occupying warehouse Supreme Court refused to entertain a plea by Punjab based company seeking a direction to the Centre and the state government to remove the “anarchists masquerading as protestors”, who have allegedly occupied its warehouses in the name of protests against the contentious farm laws. The firm claimed that its warehouse is used to store goods of three companies-Adani Wilmar Ltd, Capital Foods Pvt. Ltd. and Technova Imaging Systems Pvt. Ltd.-in temperature controlled environment and it has not been able to access its place of business since February 19. A bench of Justices U U Lalit and K M Joseph, which asked the company to withdraw the plea and move Punjab and Haryana High Court for the relief and gave liberty to the firm to amend its petition and make the protesting organisation/group as parties. The top court said that if the plea is filed within three days before the High Court, it should be considered at the earliest. During the brief hearing, the bench asked advocate Siddharth Batra, appearing for firm SM Logistics & Warehousing Co. Pvt. Ltd, that how can a corporate entity seek an enforcement of fundamental right.

INDIA

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Aurangabad renaming proposal to be sent to the Center for apprvoval Maharashtra Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray decided that he will write to the Centre, proposing to rename Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar as the state government does not have the jurisdiction to do so. This comes amid firm objection from the Congress party, the Shiv Sena’s ally in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. The Chief Minister’s statement came as a written response to a starred question asked by BJP legislator Yogesh Sagar at the state Assembly. The question was regarding whether the state government received a proposal on renaming Aurangabad in March 2020 and the action taken on it. Thackeray replied, ““The government received a detailed proposal from Divisional Commissioner of Aurangabad on renaming

Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar on March 4, 2020.” The Chief Minister further said that the Maharashtra government “will seek opinion from the law and judiciary department and accordingly, with all proper documentation, submit the proposal to the Centre.” In 1995, when the Shiv Sena-led government was in power, a draft notification was issued by the revenue and urban development departments on November 9, however, it was challenged by then Congress corporator Mushtaq Ahmed at the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court, which rejected his petitions, Thackeray elaborated.

More demand for luxury housing in Delhi- NCR amid price fall The demand for luxury housing properties in the national capital has improved in the last six months on low prices and home loan interest rates, but there is a need to reduce stamp duty to give a further boost, according to industry experts. Addressing a webinar on luxury housing market of Delhi-NCR, India Sotheby’s International Realty CEO Amit Goyal said the circle rates in Delhi should be rationalised as

market prices are 30-40% lower than the circle rates. Rahul Bhargava, Joint General Manager, HDFC Ltd, Anubhav Jain, CEO, Silverglades Group and Ravinder Singh Ahuja, CA, Founder RS Ahuja & Co also participated in the webinar. “In the last 8-9 years, property prices have only come down. So, it’s high time that the circle rates are rationalised now. I wish there is a stamp duty cut.

Shantanu Muluk created farmers toolkit, intended to spread rumours: Delhi Police to court Police are attacking peaceful protestors using tear gas, batons and water canons. Hundreds injured, many disappeared and many individuals are reported dead.” “Police have also cut food and fresh water supplies in an attempt to starve people @IndianFarmers_ @ UNHumanRights are you watching?” These were some of social media post templates that the Delhi Police came across

in a communication package (CommsPack), or toolkit, on the farmers’ protest, allegedly designed by activist Shantanu Muluk, who has been arrested in connection with the formulation of the toolkit. The Delhi Police has claimed that the toolkit was used for inciting disaffection against India. Muluk faces charges of sedition, promoting hatred among various communities and criminal conspiracy.

Apple starts assembling iPhone12 in India Apple is beginning to assemble the iPhone 12 in India as it ramps up its production capacity in the world’s second-largest smartphone market. Foxconn, a contract manufacturing partner of Apple, is assembling the iPhone 12 model — though currently no other iPhone 12 model — Pro and Pro Max, and Mini — in the country. The move underscores how India is emerging as a big production hub for global smartphone makers. Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and OnePlus have been assembling their smartphone models in India for more than half a decade and have increased their production capacities in recent years. To attract global giants, New Delhi has been offering tax benefits to firms that locally produce in India and in recent quarters has significantly increased the perks.

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Recent activities along the Line of Actual Control with China have opened India’s eyes to what cooperative effort with others might mean for their own defensive needs, a top Pentagon commander told lawmakers on Tuesday observing that New Delhi, in the very near term, will deepen its engagement with the Quad. “India has long had an approach called strategic autonomy, you know, a nonligned approach with others, but I think certainly the activities along the Line of Actual Control with China has opened their eyes to what cooperative effort with others might mean for their own defensive needs,” Admiral Phil Davidson, Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command,told members of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee during a Congressional hearing.

Airplane-shaped balloon with PIA written on it seized in Jammu and Kashmir An airplane-shaped balloon with ‘PIA’ written on it was found in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday evening as pictures of it went viral on social media. PIA stands for Pakistan International Airlines while the balloon was shaped exactly in the form of an aircraft with windows and doors painted on it. Citing Jammu and Kashmir Police, news agency ANI reports that the white and greencoloured balloon landed in the Sotra Chak village of the Hiranagar sector. The balloon was seized by police immediately. Here’s the picture of the balloon, tweeted by ANI, which is doing the rounds of the internet. As the image went viral, social media users posted their thoughts and opinions in the comments section of the post. Many posted hilarious emoticons in response to the post.

FIJI

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Punjab

Police officer’s son on robbery charges remanded

Night time curfew in Ludhiana, Patiala after Covid-19 cases surge District administrations of Patiala and Ludhiana imposed night curfews as COVID-19 cases continued to rise in both districts. Restrictions on movement will be enforced between 11 pm and 5 am beginning March 12. The new restrictions will apply until further orders, similarly worded orders from both districts said. However, the police and army personnel on duty, government officials or employees,

essential services or medical emergency, and any other emergency related to the safety of the public or property would be exempted from these orders. Ludhiana has seen its infection numbers quadruple in a week. Thursday brought in 186 fresh infections and four more deaths, taking the district’s infection numbers to 32,793 and 1,576 deaths.

Free travel for women on govt buses schemes aimed at empowering and protecting women. The chief minister on Monday took to Twitter to say: “I am happy to share that Punjab Govt has decided to make travel free for women across the state in all Government buses. We have been persistent in our efforts to empower our women and we will continue doing the same.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced that the state government has made some changes in the state budget to allows travel-free services for women across the state on all government buses. The state government has also announced to start eight new

Farmers caught between fences at India-Pak border Raghbir Singh Bhangala often stands looking at his fields beyond the barbedwire fence that marks the border between India and Pakistan. He stands on five acres of his own farmland in the Tarn Taran district of India’s Punjab state, while the remaining eight acres is on the other side of the fence. Bhangala, now 78, has spent more than 25 years of his life fighting for the right to till his land, ever since it was declared a restricted

area because it falls between the fence and the so-called “zero line” – the international border between India and Pakistan. When the Khalistan rebellion, a separatist movement seeking to create a sovereign Sikhmajority state, was at its peak in Punjab between 1988 and 1991, the Indian government installed barbed-wire fences and gates along the 553-km (343-mile) international border, restricting access to 21,300 acres of farmland.

Pakistan Pakistan starts vaccinating people 60 and older Pakistan has started vaccinating people who are 60 years old or above to protect them from Covid-19 amid a steady increase in cases and fatalities from the disease. Pakistan is currently using China’s Sinopharm vaccine. Pakistan hopes to start receiving the AstraZeneca this month under W.HO. the World Health Organization’s COVAX Facility also. Authorities say Pakistan will receive 17 million doses of the

vaccines under scheme from March to June. Fatalities and confirmed cases from the Covid-19 cases have increased steadily since March 1, when Pakistan resumed regular schools. On Wednesday, authorities were expected to decide whether schools should again be closed until further notice.

Teen who had to eat through straw receives surgery in Toronto An operation at a Toronto hospital, believed to be the only one of its kind in the world, is helping a Pakistani teen to live a normal life. Muneeb Shahzad was born with a condition called hemifacial microsomia, which means that one side of his face failed to develop normally. A first effort to repair

the left side of his jaw as a child failed. The operation in Pakistan, when Shahzad was nine to ten years old, involved using a rib bone to try and fix his underdeveloped left jaw. But instead, the jaw fused, resulting in something called ankylosis.

Court orders TikTok ban in Pakistan High Court ordered P.T.A. (Pakistan Telecommunication Authority) to ban social media platform TikTok in the country citing “immoral content”. Chief Justice presided over the hearing of the petition filed against the social media platform. The telecommunication authority’s

director-general, provincial deputy attorney general and the petitioner’s counsel were present in the court. “The kind of videos being uploaded on TikTok are not acceptable for our society as they are spreading obscenity and must be stopped immediately,” the CJ remarked during the hearing.

US blocks delivery of Turkish gunships to Pakistan The United States has prevented Turkey from supplying 30 locally-made attack helicopters to Pakistan, diplomatic sources in Washington told Dawn. According to Bloomberg News, Turkey’s

presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told reporters on Monday that “the US has blocked Turkey’s helicopter sale to Pakistan, which will likely lead to Islamabad buying it from China.”

Pakistan to get 45 million ‘Made In India’ vaccine under GAVI alliance Pakistan will be getting 45 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine, under the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi) being manufactured in India. The international vaccine alliance, GAVI, will provide free Covishield vaccine doses.

According to earlier reports, Pakistan aims to tackle the Covid-19 challenge through herd immunity and donated vaccines. As per officials, Pakistan would receive the first batch of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine made by the Serum in mid-March and rest of it is expected by June.

A Police officer’s son, who allegedly robbed a man of his mobile phone, was remanded in custody by the High Court in Suva. Timoci Turagaluvu Lutuciri is charged with one count of aggravated robbery. It is alleged that Lutuciri, with another on October 5, last year, stole one Huawei brand mobile phone from Ronald Kumar in Suva. The accused allegedly also used force on Mr Kumar in the process. The case was called before Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena yesterday, for the accused’s bail.State prosecutor, Zenith

Zunaid told the court that the accused had proposed two sureties in his bail application, one of which is his mother who is a Police officer at the Raiwaqa Police Station. He told the court that the State had tried to contact his mother for a reference check, however, she did not respond to the telephone. He added that there was also a concern of the State whether a Police officer could stand as a surety in court. The matter has been set for trial to begin on March 22 and conclude on March 28.

Thousands attended Nadi Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple celebrations of Maha Shiv Ratri As thousands of Hindus are celebrating Maha Shiv Ratri or festival for Lord Shiva today, more than 5,000 people are expected to attend and give their offering at the Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple in Nadi through out the day. Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple is the largest Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere. The temple management says all COVID-19 restrictions will be followed where people will be required to register at the entrance and all social distancing regulations are being applied as well. Temple Head Priest, Mohan Somasiva Gurukkal says more than a thousand people have

already visited the temple since this morning. He adds the Hindu religion is not about just praying for our own wellbeing but is also about praying for the benefit of every living being and even for rain or sunshine. Meanwhile, Shree Sanatan Dharam Brahman Purohit Maha Sabha of Fiji President, Vinod Shandil says on this day Lord Shiva stopped a war by appearing with a divine light. Hindus offer prayers to Lord Shiva on this day and fast that often culminates in a special prayer ceremony at midnight.

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is safe and it is the key to our economic recovery – PM Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine works, they are safe and they are the key to our economic recovery. While speaking at the National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan Consultations, Bainimarama says we began vaccinating yesterday, targeting 6,000 frontline individuals.

He says that is the first step on the road to national recovery, and he appeals to all Fijians to support the Health Ministry as they roll out the vaccination program for COVID-19. The Prime Minister thanked the World Health Organisation and the COVAX facility for providing those first 12,000 doses of vaccine, and they look forward to receiving the rest of the vaccines under this arrangement soon.

Saturday, March 13, 2021

Our names are Muskan, Jayna, Sahara and Sevina and we are Youth Helping the Girls. We work in partnership with the Canadian organization Create Change Now. Create Change works to provide educational opportunities and support to girls in Ghana. Create Change also supports these girls to become leaders in their own communities so they can continue to make an impact. For more information you can visit their website https://www.createchangenow.ca/ Our team’s purpose is to support these girls by planning fundraising events and initiatives. So far we have raised just over $2,500. For more information about our team follow us on Instagram @youthhelpingthegirls below are a few ways that you can support our cause:

Youth Helping the Girls, Chipotle Event 1. You can make a donation online. Go to https://www. createchangenow. ca/donate and you can make an online donation there. Be sure to include our team name “Youth Helping the Girls” so they know who sent you! 2. If you love Mexican food and you live in the Surrey area this event is for you. Chipotle Guildford and Youth Helping

the Girls are teaming up for a fundraising event on March 20th from 4 pm - 8pm. It is very simple and you can choose one of two different ways to support us. You can order online and use our promo code C9FDBG3 or you can show them our Eat For Change Flyer

at the in store checkout. Be sure to tag us #youthhelpingthegirls once you have grabbed your Chipotle. 3. On March 27th and 28th we are holding a Krispy Kreme sale at Walmart in South Surrey (160th & 24th ave). So if you like donuts and supporting a good cause we will have a booth on both the 27th and 28th from 12 pm - 4pm. Be sure to tag us #youthhelpingthegirls after you grab your sweet treat. We want to get our community involved to support this amazing cause so mark your calendar for our back to back March events!!! For more information about our team you can visit our Instagram @ youthhelpingthegirls

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Saturday, March 13, 2021