The Asian Star May 28 2022

www.theasianstar.com Vol 22 - Issue 17

Canada Soccer cancels controversial Iran match in Vancouver Canada and Iran will no longer be facing off in Vancouver next month. Canada Soccer has announced Thursday that their June 5 friendly against Iran scheduled for BC Place in Vancouver has been called off.No official reason was offered for the cancellation for the match originally announced two weeks ago, on May 12. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among those critical of the match’s initial scheduling, when asked about how the Iranian team were granted visas given the political history between the two countries.A total of 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents were among the 176 people killed when a commercial airplane was shot down by an Iranian missile minutes after it took off from Tehran on January 8, 2020.

IPL 2022 Final

Indian Premier League Cricket 2022 Final is scheduled to take place this Sunday at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Passport bottlenecks & lineups spilling over to EI, CPP applicants

Continued on page 7

She was able to get the paperwork filed on her third attempt, after showing up at the Coquitlam office at 8 a.m. with a lawn chair and waiting five hours. She got two parking tickets in the process.

“What was frustrating me was there were a lot of people for passports, but there were other folks just needing to do day-to-day business,” she said.

Backlogs and bottlenecks in passport processing through Service Canada appear to be causing problems for clients seeking other core services through the facilities, such as death benefits or employment insurance.

Lower Mainland resident Kim Boechler told Global News she waited more than 13 hours cumulatively over three separate attempts to submit Canada Pension Plan death benefit paperwork for a cousin with mobility problems.

Continued on page 7

Indian court sentences top Kashmiri separatist to life in prison An Indian court on Wednesday ordered life in jail for Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik for funding “terrorist” activities and many other charges, prompting street protests outside his residence and condemnation from Pakistan’s prime minister.

Malik, head of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), had pleaded guilty to the charges but on Wednesday told the special court where his trial was held that he had been practising non-violent politics in Kashmir after giving up arms in the 1990s.

Mainly Hindu India has been fighting an armed militancy in Muslim-majority Kashmir, also claimed by neighboring Pakistan, for decades.

“It is high time that it is recognized that terror funding is one of the gravest offences and has to be punished more severely,” Special Judge Parveen Singh said in the court in New Delhi, announcing Malik’s life imprisonment under a section of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The court is designated for cases brought by

Young South Asian woman faces 9 charges for head-on crash in Abbotsford a year ago A Surrey woman faces nine charges in relation to a head-on crash in Abbotsford one year ago that injured six people.

The Abbotsford Police Department announced Tuesday (May 24) that Anureet Dosanjh, 23, has been charged with six counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm and three counts of

Tel:604-591-5423

the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which mainly handles offenses deemed to affect the sovereignty, security and integrity of India.

According to the Indian government, Malik had been at the “fore-front of separatist activities and violence since 1988” in the Kashmir valley.

It says many Kashmiri Hindus had to flee because of violence committed against them by Malik’s group in 1989.

Malik, who was convicted last week, had pleaded guilty to the 10 charges brought against him by the NIA, including waging or attempting to wage war against the government, and helping raise funds for anyone to “commit a terrorist act”.

Women walk past a banner of Bollywood movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ outside a cinema hall in the old quarters of Delhi on March 21, 2022.

India’s latest box office smash ‘The Kashmir Files’ exposes deepening religious divides The court said Malik “did not want any trial and therefore, he was ready to plead guilty.”

India’s exams are plagued by cheating As india’s exam season kicked off earlier this year Facebook groups dedicated to helping with preparations were inundated with offers of guaranteed academic success.

“Get leaked questions and answers before your upcoming exam, 100% guaranteed and secured,” read one. “Get certificate without sitting exams 100% legal,” promised another.

India’s education system is brutal. The bar for entry to university is extraordinarily high.

There is a near-unlimited pool of applicants for the top institutions. Until it changed its policies this year, Delhi University, among the best, required prospective students to have scored at least 99% in their school-leaving exams. Stratospheric parental expectations only add to the pressure. Getting into university is not the end of it, either. High marks are necessary there, too, so that graduates can go on to foreign universities or find jobs at home.

USD 5 trillion economy: The curious case of India’s rise to the top 5 Did India break into the top league as the world’s fifth-largest economy taking over the UK? It did, but didn’t. According to the IMF, in 2019, India became the world’s fifth-largest economy with a nominal GDP of $2.94 trillion overtaking France ($2.71 trillion) and the UK ($2.83 trillion). But the trouble with GDP numbers is that they undergo a series of revisions and the final data comes only with a lag of 2-3 years. In other words, first estimates of national

output are ballpark figures and are subjected to revisions, both upwards and downwards.

So, India’s $2.94 trillion for 2019 was revised down to $2.83 trillion, while France’s and the UK’s were revised upward to $2.73 trillion and $2.88 trillion, respectively. The joy was shortlived and what seemed like cracking into the top 5, overtaking our colonial masters Britain didn’t materialise even now with India Continued on page 7

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LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Suspect arrested, charged after 3-year-old groped in Surrey store, police say Multiple charges have been laid against a man who allegedly touched a young child inappropriately inside a Surrey store over the weekend.In a news release, Surrey RCMP said they received reports that the suspect had groped a three-year-old child at a business in the 12400 block of 88 Avenue at approximately 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

“The nature of this incident and the fact it involved a young child in a public place is very concerning,” Cpl. Vanessa Munn said in the release.The child’s father and bystanders kept the suspect on scene until police arrived.Upon arrival, Mounties spoke with witnesses, reviewed CCTV footage from the store and arrested the suspect. The man was later released with

a court date while the investigation continued.

Surrey RCMP’s Special Victims Unit then took over the investigation and submitted a report to Crown counsel recommending charges.

On Wednesday, 24-year-old Adam Alexander Newbigging was charged with sexual assault and sexual interference.

Newbigging was arrested the following day and remains in custody, pending a court appearance.

“This incident had an emotional impact on all parties involved and we have taken steps to ensure appropriate referrals have been made so that everyone gets the support they need,” said Munn.

Victoria airport shutdown was triggered by inert grenades in luggage of man flying overseas: RCMP Incident led to cancellation of 20 flights; Mounties expect to recommend charge of mischief against man in 40s.

Police say the closure of the Victoria International Airport on Tuesday was triggered by a man travelling out of Canada with inert grenades in his luggage.

RCMP Cpl. Andres Sanchez described the items as looking and feeling like “the real thing,” but lacking the internal parts required to detonate.

He said airport security staff called 911 and held the bag in the X-ray machine until police arrived and found that a second bag belonging to the same man was also inside the machine, but it had yet to be scanned.

The inert grenades in the first bag were “manual,” Sanchez said, meaning someone

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would have had to trigger any potential blast had they contained explosives.

Man whose suspicious luggage caused closure of Victoria airport released, given court date: police Sanchez said the second bag couldn’t be safely scanned and police were concerned about potentially dangerous contents, prompting officials to shut down the airport entirely for several hours.

He said Mounties expect to recommend a mischief charge against the man who claimed responsibility for the bags.

Passenger has ‘some criminal history’ The man in his 40s was arrested Tuesday and released with a court date and conditions, including that he not go to the airport, Sanchez said.

He has “some criminal history” but it’s not related to anything police are investigating in connection to the airport incident, he added.

He’s not a current serving member of the Canadian military and “it’s still to be determined the level of, if any, of his service previously,” Sanchez said.

Asked about the mischief charge, he said “a reasonable person would know” that bringing such items to the airport would likely cause an issue.

“One of the ways that you can look at mischief is stopping the lawful enjoyment and lawful use of a business, which is the airport,” he said.

Man injured in shooting in Maple Ridge residential area

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One man was injured in an early morning shooting at a residence in a Maple Ridge neighbourhood on Wednesday. At around 5:30 a.m., Ridge Meadows RCMP were called out to a report of multiple shots fired in the 11300-block of McDougal Street. When they arrived, police found one man suffering from gunshot wounds.

His condition is unknown at this time.

Mounties say the man is known to police.

A news release Wednesday didn’t say whether it’s believed the shooting was gangrelated, however Ridge Meadows RCMP have joined with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit to investigate this incident.

The Mounties also said the shooting doesn’t appear to be random.

Investigators would like to speak to any witnesses who haven’t already spoken to police or if you have dashcam video, or residential video surveillance footage.

Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation is asked to call the Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251

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Saturday, May 28, 2022

Nearly half of Canadians are finding it difficult to feed their families amid spiraling inflation: survey Nearly half of all Canadians say that they are finding it difficult or very difficult to feed their families amid spiralling inflation that has sent grocery bills skyrocketing, a new survey has found.

The Angus Reid Institute surveyed 1,992 Canadian adults who are members of the Angus Reid Forum about their household finances and what they believe the Bank of Canada should do in response to a rate of inflation which is now at a 31-year high.

It found that 49 per cent of respondents now report finding it difficult or very difficult to feed their families due to food prices that rose 8.7 per cent year-over-year in March.

That number is up from only 36 per cent the last time Angus Reid conducted a similar survey in April, 2019.

It also appears that Canadians have an increasingly pessimistic outlook when it comes to their finances.

The survey found that 36 per cent of respondents reported being in worse financial shape than one year ago, compared to 24 per cent who said that their finances had improved over the last 12 months. Another 39 per cent said that their finances were about the same, despite the rising cost of living.

The proportion of respondents who believed their financial situation would be worse one year from now (28 per cent) also exceeded those who believed it would improve (24 per cent).

While a plurality of respondents still felt their financial situation would be about the same (38 per cent), Angus Reid said that the number of Canadians who anticipate a deterioration in their financial situation represents a “peak in financial gloom for Canadians” since 2010.

The results were particularly pronounced among those who said that they were “struggling” with the cost of living.

Among that group, 63 per cent said that they expected to be worse off financially a year from now and only six per cent expected their situation to improve.

“At this stage, you know, jobs are abundant.

What the challenge is, of course, is people’s

Two suspects charged with auto theft in Surrey Two suspects were arrested by the Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team (IMPACT) after a pair of vehicles was stolen in Surrey on May 17.

Ryan Schaap, of IMPACT, said police located a stolen vehicle with two occupants near 152 Street and Canary.

“IMPACT members observed the passenger leave the vehicle and allegedly steal a second vehicle,” he said. “Both vehicles then drove away together.”

IMPACT arrested Mike Inthapanya, 31, in the 10600 block of 132 Street when the suspect allegedly attempted to discard the stolen vehicle and Erin Norman, 29, was arrested in the 14400 block of 104 Avenue.

“Great work by the team to get both these suspects safely into custody and off of our roads,” states Corporal Jordan Davies, acting Operations Officer for IMPACT. Inthapanya is charged with theft of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen property.

Norman is charged with theft of a motor vehicle, possession of break in instruments, possession of stolen property, driving while disqualified and breach of release order.

IMPACT is made up of RCMP office, Vancouver Police, Delta Police, New Westminster Police, Transit Police and ICBC Special Investigations Unit.

ability to access disposable income in a way that they have relative to years past. So you’re feeling squeezed because your grocery bill is now more or you are blanching at the cost of a litre of gas, it is all of those things layered on top of the potential either for rising mortgage rates down the road or higher credit card debt rates down the road,” Angus Reid Institute President Shachi Kurl told CP24 on Tuesday afternoon.

“It all represents a period of real uncertainty.”

What should Bank of Canada do?

While the Angus Reid survey found that a significant proportion of respondents are struggling with the cost of living, there was little consensus on the course of action that the Bank of Canada should take as it aims to bring inflation under control.

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Saturday, May 28, 2022 OPINION Canadian intelligence experts are worried about the polarized, unpredictable US

A new report by Canadian national intelligence experts says that country faces new threats from a once unlikely source: the United States.

The paper, published by a task force that includes two former directors of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (Canada’s counterpart to the CIA), former national security advisors to Canada’s prime minister,

academics, and other ex-diplomats and ministers, raises concerns about the effects of polarization and a “less predictable partner” in the US. “Liberal democracy is increasingly being challenged by authoritarian governments who seek to weaken the rule of law, open trade, multilateralism, and human rights,” the authors write (PDF). “For Canada, such

developments are especially concerning because they are occurring not only in states such as Hungary, Turkey, Poland, and Brazil, but also in the United States.”

“The United States is and will remain our closest ally, but it could also become a source of threat and instability,” the report states.

The trans-border effects of Fox News and US conservative media Much of the task force’s assessment is focused on Canada’s preparedness for new and everevolving security risks from around the globe— whether they originate from the usual sources such as China and Russia, or are connected to extreme ideologies, new technological threats, or the effects of pandemics and climate change. Canada’s allies, including the UK and the US, have “a more sophisticated national security culture,” the authors write.

But a section about the threat to democracy from domestic sources in Canada looks specifically at the US influence on that growing problem, such as during the monthlong truck convoy protest in Ottawa earlier this year, and related blockades of the US-Canada border. The convoys were “a disturbing taste of the harm a small group of determined protestors could inflict on people and the economy,” the authors write.

During the protests, which were sparked as a response to pandemic restrictions but became a general anti-government display, some supporters reportedly called for an attack like that seen at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. About half of the international funding raised for the protests came from the US, and Americans both crossed the border to join the protest and help jam Ottawa’s 911 lines, according to Politico.

It “quickly became apparent that there were ties between far-right extremists in Canada and the United States,” the new report says, specifically naming open support for the convoy from “conservative media, including Fox News,” as part of the problem.

The authors continue: “This may not have represented foreign interference in the conventional sense since it was not the result of actions of a foreign government.

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LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Man arrested after 4 women sexually assaulted at Granville SkyTrain station A 37-year-old man has been arrested and released from jail after four women were sexually assaulted at or near the Granville SkyTrain station in downtown Vancouver.

Metro Vancouver Transit Police have recommended the Surrey man be charged with four counts of sexual assault. He was released on May 14 under several conditions, including a ban from the nearby Pacific Centre shopping mall and all SkyTrain properties.

“Transit Police would like to thank the bystanders who assisted the women,” said Const. Amanda Steed in a Thursday news release. “We would

never ask that anyone to put themselves into harms way, but these individuals’ actions can only be described as heroic.”

According to transit police, the suspect approached his first victim as she sat on a bench in the mall around 4:30 p.m. on May 13.

He allegedly touched her hip and tried to pull her toward him, but a security guard intervened and called police.

The suspect then entered the Granville SkyTrain station and tried to grab another woman’s “pubic area,” police said, but she blocked him with her hand.

One dead following ammonia leak at industrial park in Kamloops One person is dead following an ammonia leak at the Mount Paul Industrial Park in Kamloops, according to city officials.

The leak happened Thursday morning, with the City of Kamloops confirming that one person had died as a result of the incident.

“Public safety is our top priority – the scene is now stable and the evacuated businesses and other citizens can go about their business in the area,” said the city.

Originally, the city asked residents to avoid the area of 790 Sarcee Street East.

In a notice on social media on Thursday morning, the City of Kamloops said a hazardous materials team was en route and that RCMP were assisting with road closures.

Following that notice, CFJC Today said sources at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops indicated that one person had died due to the leak.

CFJC Today also said that according to a source at Royal Inland Hospital, a “code orange” was called to prepare staff to accept mass

casualties, but that it was called off before 12 p.m.

B.C. Emergency Health Services told Global News that one person had been taken to hospital in critical condition after a call came in at about 10:30 a.m., and that five paramedic crews and two supervisors responded.

BCEHS said another two patients were transported to hospital in stable condition, while around six other patients said to be in stable condition were assessed at the scene.

In an email to Global News, Interior Health confirmed that the hospital made preparations to receive patients from an incident in Kamloops and was notified that eight patients would be brought in.

Click to play video: ‘WorkSafeBC lists several violations following investigation into deadly Fernie arena ammonia leak’ During the incident, Interior Health asked residents with non-urgent needs to avoid visiting the emergency department.

Prolific Kelowna offender known for newspaper carrier crash back in court for kidnapping, extortion A Kelowna, B.C., man who has been in and out of prison repeatedly throughout the last decade has found himself of the crosshairs of police yet again.

Nathan Fahl, a prolific offender who was once charged in the high-profile mowing down of a newspaper carrier during a high-speed chase with police, is back in court, now charged with robbery, extortion, kidnapping and the confinement of two people in Lake Country from Feb. 10 to Feb. 16.

He’s not alone in facing charges relating to these allegations.

Court documents indicate Russell Jordan Elliot Newman and Natasha Dyanne Roshuk are also charged with the same list of crimes.

Crown seeking 10 years for accused in Kelowna crash that caused life altering brain damage in victim – Nov 14, 2017

He is currently in custody and they will be in court for a bail hearing on May 31.

Fahl has an extensive criminal history dating back to 2007. Among the long list of convictions, there are a multitude of bail breaches, a 2017 conviction for stealing a bait car and driving without a licence, a 2012 conviction for dangerous operation of motor vehicle and driving with a suspended licence in 2011.

It was Dec. 6, 2013, however, when he was part of his arguably most high-profile crime.

That was the night when he and two of his buddies allegedly tried to avoid a police road check on Springfield Road after leaving a house party in Rutland, drove into a fire hydrant and then 41-year-old newspaper carrier Steve Kania, who was seriously injured.

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Minister defends pricey rebuild of Royal B.C. Museum, says ‘there is a risk to doing nothing’ After two weeks of criticism, Tourism Minister Melanie Mark attempted to win over a skeptical public Wednesday on plans to rebuild the Royal B.C. Museum by outlining the business case for the $789-million project.

The province released more than 2,300 partially redacted pages of reports and appendices supporting the contentious project and held a 90-minute technical briefing with journalists before the minister’s news conference in an attempt to explain why it’s necessary to completely rebuild the museum.

Mark described the museum in its current state as “not functional,” explaining that it’s seismically unsafe, filled with hazardous materials like asbestos and lead, inaccessible to people with disabilities and

structurally insufficient to maintain its current collection or host major exhibits.

“I understand that this investment is a lot of money, but we will not simply kick this project down the road.

We will not risk wiping out our collective history,” Mark said.

B.C. government put on defensive after ‘tone deaf ’ $789M museum upgrade announcement She said the business case shows rebuilding the facility is cheaper than upgrading or repairing the current building.

“There is a risk to doing nothing,” Mark said.

The project has been a source of intense controversy since Premier John Horgan announced it at a news conference earlier this month, joking that it was “mammoth” news for the province.

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Saturday, May 28, 2022 From page 1

Passport bottlenecks & lineups spilling over to EI, CPP applicants

“Application for death benefits, social insurance numbers, EI and immigration. We were about maybe 20 per cent of the lineup.

When I left I was incensed this was happening … we’re talking about old people with canes, people with all kinds of mobility and barrier issues.”

The Canada Employment and Immigration Union, which represents Service Canada workers, told Global News it has been raising concern with management about stress on the system when the economy reopened for at least a year.

Union national vice-president Crystal Warner said the agency should have been staffing up in anticipation of demand at least six months before it did, given the complexity of training workers need.

“We knew this was coming … I think anyone with some common sense could have anticipated that,” she said.

“We had been asking are we going to staff up, are we going to ensure there are additional pop-

up centres for example …. do we have an ability to triage the lineup so that we can put somebody looking for (employment insurance, the Canada Pension Plan or Old Age Security), can we put those folks at the front of the line. And unfortunately the employer has not listened to us.”

With delays reported across the country and people sometimes camping for days outside Service Canada locations, Warner said tempers have flared, leaving workers on the front line to bear the brunt of people’s frustrations.

“We have had computer screens thrown at our members, we’ve had our members spat at, we’ve had cursing, all sorts of horrible incidents of violence.”

In a statement, Employment and Social Development Canada said it continues to exceed standards for processing times of EI and death benefits applications, but did not address wait times at service centres to actually submit those applications.

The curious case of India’s rise settling at the sixth spot since . he good news is, Asia’s third-largest economy is likely to not only break into the top 5 this fiscal, but also move one spot ahead to takeover Germany in the next 5 years, as per the latest IMF projections.

The forecasts are somewhat believable this time around given the gap between projected output between India and the UK for this year, and between India and Germany for 2027 are a good $20 billion-plus, which means, despite factoring a downward revision in both first and second estimates, chances are that India’s spot in the top five appears confirmed.

In 2021, India’s GDP stood at $3.18 trillion, just a notch below the UK’s at $3.19 trillion.

Of course, these numbers are subject to revision, but the fact remains that the Indian economy is closing the gap faster. The pace of output growth is slowing down in the UK, thanks to Brexit uncertainity, Covidrelated disruptions and the ongoing UkraineRussia war is also adding to India’s ascent.

Young South Asian woman faces 9 charges of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

The announcement comes on the oneyear anniversary of the crash, which took place May 24, 2021 at 8:13 p.m. at Whatcom Road and North Parallel Road.

Police at the time said a Honda Civic was heading west on North Parallel at a high speed when it travelled into the oncoming lane and crashed head-on with a Volkswagen Jetta.

The Volkswagen was occupied by the driver, a passenger and two small children. All were taken to hospital, and police said the passenger sustained “severe, life-altering injuries.”

The driver and passenger of the Honda were also taken to hospital. The passenger had serious injuries and was placed on a ventilator.

Sgt. Chris Brown-John said Tuesday that investigators were grateful for the assistance from the public, which included witnesses and businesses in the area.

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Saturday, May 28, 2022

Court date for man who brought bags with inert explosives to Victoria airport: RCMP The RCMP say a man who was carrying luggage with suspicious contents that led to the closure of the Victoria International Airport on Tuesday afternoon has been released from custody with an upcoming court date.

The Mounties did not provide the man’s name or details of any charges.

They say members of their explosives disposal unit were called to examine items flagged during typical security scanning for departures and determined that two bags contained “inert military surplus explosives.”

A statement released Wednesday by Cpl.

Andres Sanchez says the RCMP were called when an airport security employee became concerned upon finding the first bag with two items that appeared to be “incendiary devices.”

It says officers from the Sidney and North Saanich detachment went to the airport and took the man who claimed responsibility for the bag into custody, while a portion of the airport was cordoned off.

The second bag was found but could not be safely examined until specialized experts arrived, it says.

The departures wing was closed out of an abundance of caution, the RCMP statement says,

Missing Alberta woman’s cellphone tracked to Cultus Lake A woman missing from the Alexander First Nation, northwest of Edmonton, may have travelled to B.C. Morinville RCMP said 26-year-old Samantha Auigbelle was last seen on May 21 at approximately 11 p.m. leaving her home on foot. Police said her cellphone was tracked to an area near Cultus Lake, B.C. Auigbelle is described as 26 years old with black hair and brown eyes. She is about five-feet-nine-inches tall and weighs about 210 pounds. She was last seen wearing black pants, a black ¾ length black shirt, wearing black glasses, and having an orange

purse with different colour stripes on it.

Morinville RCMP and Auigbelle’s family are concerned for her safety.

If anyone has any information on Auigbelle’s whereabouts, they are asked to contact the Morinville RCMP at 780-939-4520 or local police.

For anyone wishing to remain anonymous, they can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477 (TIPS) online at www.P3Tips. com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

BC ferry needs tug after breakdown, prompts cancellations before long weekend Travellers aboard a B.C. ferry heading to Nanaimo endured an epic late-night sailing when the vessel had engine trouble mid-voyage. .C. Ferries says the Queen of Oak Bay left Horseshoe Bay at about 8 p.m. Wednesday and was expected to reach Departure Bay on Vancouver Island before 10 p.m.

But the 90-minute trip became a five-hour

marathon when the company says the ship had mechanical difficulty with its steering gear.

It says a tug was needed to bring the vessel into the dock in Nanaimo at about 1 a.m.

Repairs forced cancellation of numerous sailings between Nanaimo and the mainland on Thursday, adding to service

BC financial regulator advises three day ‘cooling off’ period for homebuyers The regulator for British Columbia’s real estate sector has recommended that the province adopt a so-called “cooling-off ” period of three business days to protect people buying a home, through legislation tabled this spring. A report from the B.C. Financial Services Authority says buyers should not be allowed to waive the period in which they would be allowed to back out of a purchase agreement, with exceptions such as court-ordered sales or auctions.

RCMP searching for suspect after victim sexually assaulted during break-and-enter Police in Surrey are looking for a suspect following an alleged sexual assault at a home in the Saint Helen’s Park neighbourhood.

Officers were called to the 12900 block of 101A Avenue at about 6:40 a.m. Police in Surrey are looking for a suspect following an alleged sexual assault at a home in the Saint Helen’s Park neighbourhood.

Officers were called to the 12900 block of 101A Avenue at about 6:40 a.m.

Saturday for a report of a break-and-enter.

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Police say the woman who lived in the home reported she had been sexually assaulted by an unknown male suspect.

The victim was taken to hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect is described as a man in his mid 30s with light coloured skin, approximately 5’6” tall, wearing dark coloured clothing.

The Special Victims Unit has taken control of the investigation and is asking anyone with information to please contact police.

3211 - 152 st., Unit 205, Surrey, BC, V3S 3M1

The report released Thursday advises that sellers be required to provide reasonable access for a property inspection during the threeday homebuyer protection period, which would start the day after an offer is accepted.

Other recommendations include a fiveday “pre-offer” period after a property is listed, when a seller may not accept any offers, as well as a “modest” termination fee of 0.1 to 0.5 per cent of the price of a home to be paid by buyers who pull out of a deal.

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LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Russia suspended from human rights council after UN general assembly vote A

A A The resolution received a two-thirds majority of those voting, minus abstentions, in the 193-member Assembly, with 93 nations voting in favour and 24 against.

Fifty-eight abstained from the process.

Russia, China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Syria, Vietnam, were among those who voted against.

Those abstaining, included India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia.

The meeting marked the resumption of a special emergency session on the war in Ukraine and followed reports of violations committed by Russian force. This past

weekend, disturbing photos emerged from the city of Bucha, a suburb of the capital, Kyiv, where hundreds of civilian bodies were found in the streets and in mass graves following Russia’s withdrawal from the area.

Prior to the vote, Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya urged countries to support the resolution.

“Bucha and dozens of other Ukrainian cities and villages, where thousands of peaceful residents have been killed, tortured, raped, abducted and robbed by the Russian Army, serve as an example of how dramatically far the Russian Federation has gone from its initial declarations in the human rights domain. That is why this case is unique and today’s response

An actual load of crap was just dumped at office of BC premier There’s a smelly situation at BC Premier John Horgan’s office on Vancouver Island.

Supporters of Save Old Growth deposited fresh manure outside his office in Langford, complete with signs — one reading, “John doesn’t give a sh*t, so we gave him some.”

In a release, the group says it is tired of the NDP government’s inaction to protect old-growth forests, despite the government’s campaign promises to implement all 14 recommendations of the old-growth strategic review panel. “The premier himself promised a ‘paradigm shift’ for the forestry industry in BC, an overdue and necessary step in protecting old growth. Instead, we’re continuing the same outdated, crappy policies

and practices we’ve had for decades,” said Alexi Hu, a supporter of Save Old Growth.

The group apparently has one simple, demand: that the NDP Horgan government enact legislation to immediately end all old-growth loggingin the province ofBC. The group says in a release that “after years of petitions, marches, and letterwriting campaigns to protect old-growth forests, it’s clear that everyday BC citizens must hold the government accountable; we have a moral responsibility to uphold the government’s own promises. The provincial government’s inaction to protect these old-growth forests amounts to

Adult, 2 youths in custody after deadly stabbing outside Abbotsford mall Three people, including two youths, are in custody after a man died following an assault outside a shopping mall in Abbotsford, B.C., on Wednesday.Police were called to the parking lot of Sevenoaks Shopping Centre on South Fraser Way at about 10:30 p.m. PT, where they found a man with life-threatening injuries.

The man was taken to hospital but died a short time later. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) said one adult and two youths are

in custody “for their suspected involvement.”

Police did not release any further details on the arrests. The victim, 41, was from Abbotsford and did not have any gang connections, IHIT said. His name was not released as police have not finished notifying his next of kin. Anyone with dashcam footage or CCTV from the area within the 32900-block of South Fraser Way from around 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday is asked to contact IHIT.

BC govt wants to keep $120,000 found in dead trafficker’s Coal Harbour condo The B.C. government wants to keep $120,000 sent to a Vancouver trafficker the day before he was found dead of an overdose in his Coal Harbour condo last year. Ezra Beau Sametz had been “engaged in trafficking controlled drugs and substances and associated to organized crime,” according to a statement of claim filed recently by the B.C. Civil Forfeiture Office.

Last Aug. 16, the concierge at Sametz’s highrise building at 1077 West Cordova St. in Vancouver received a package addressed

to his suite on the 31st floor. The next day, the 37-year-old died inside the luxury one-bedroom unit, currently assessed as being worth $1.35 million. On Aug. 19, the concierge called Vancouver police after seeing “a controlled substance in the residence.”

The concierge turned a package full of cash over to the officers who arrived.

“The VPD opened the package and located 18 bundles of Canadian currency bound with elastic bands totalling $120,000,” says the statement of claim filed late last month against Sametz’s estate.

Canada ignored warnings of virus infecting farmed and wild salmon Canada was warned in 2012 by its own scientists that a virus was infecting both farmed and wild salmon, but successive governments ignored the expert advice, saying for years that risks to salmon were low.

Justin Trudeau’s government has said it will phase out open-pen industrial fish farms off the coast of British Columbia by 2025.

But both his government and the previous Conservative government were in possession

of a newly released report that linked largescale farms and wild salmon to the highly contagious Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV).

In 2012, biologists with the department of fisheries and oceans investigated the presence of the virus, which has been found in both farmed and wild salmon. In March, a federal information commissioner ordered the report be released, after a multi-year access-toinformation battle between the group Wild First,

Saturday, May 28, 2022 Former Richmond MP said Canada’s recent ban on Huawei’s 5G network is ‘too late’ Canada announced Thursday that it’s banning Huawei from helping develop Canada’s fifth-generation networks to protect national security - a decision a former Steveston-Richmond MP felt should have come much sooner.

“The decision has come too late. (Not banning Huawei) has hurt Canada’s reputation already,” said Kenny Chiu, former Steveston-Richmond MP. Chiu said it has been more than three years since the Conservatives began pushing the Trudeau government to ban Huawei’s involvement in Canada’s 5G network. They cited privacy concerns, saying the Huawei technology would allow China to spy on Canadians.

“It all started with Andrew Sheer when

he was a leader. After him, Erin O’Toole repeated the same message. It tells you how long this has been going on for,” said Chiu.

While Canada had been debating whether or not to allow Huawei to be involved in the country’s 5G network, three of Canada’s partners in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance - which also consists of the United States, Britain and Australia - have already taken decisive steps to curb the use of Huawei gear in their countries’ respective 5G networks.

New Zealand rejected a bid by a telecommunications company to use 5G technology from Huawei, citing national security concerns, although in 2020 it said it would not ban any provider outright.

“It’s damaging for Canada’s reputation compared with our allies. They (our allies) have already banned Huawei and moved on.

Arijit Singh in Vancouver on June 3 The wait is over as the British Columbians are eagerly awaiting the ‘ First Bollywood Concert Of 2022 ‘ !

Playback singer Arijit Singh will touch Vancouver for his first stop in Canada on Friday, June 3rd.

Arijit , who’s on a World Tour , has already played to sold out audiences in Dubai , UK & several cities in North America and

as he brings an ensemble of world class musicians to the Pacific Coliseum, PNE, the excitement to see & experience a musical concert post pandemic is reaching new levels. Tickets starting from $ 45+ S.C. are selling well at ticketleader. ca and please call Kamal Sharma at 604- 833-1977 for more information as all roads will lead to the Pacific Coliseum on Friday , June 3rd at 8 pm.

LOCAL / NATIONAL

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Obituary It is with great sadness that the family of Mrs. Vijay Varsha Sidher shares the news of her passing away on April 27, 2022.

Her antim sanskar was held at the Riverside Crematorium on May 9 in Delta, B.C. Vijay was born in Lyallpur, Pakistan. She completed her Bachelors in Science followed by her Masters in English Literature. Vijay went on to become a science and english teacher in a girls’ high school in Malpur, Punjab. In 1977 she immigrated to Canada with her husband, Dr. Harmesh Sidher.

For twenty-three years, Vijay worked as a public servant with the BC government.

She volunteered with several community organizations including: the Vancouver and Surrey Hindu Temple kitchens every Sunday for many years, the Surrey Art Gallery library and was instrumental in Vivek Canada activities towards providing education to rural children in India.

She will forever be remembered for her gentle and caring nature. Om Shanti

Canada Soccer is paying Iran’s team $400K to play in Vancouver, team official says Canada Soccer is paying Iran’s soccer federation $400,000 to play a controversial exhibition game next month in Vancouver, according to the head of Iran’s national team.

The team’s director, Hamed Estili, told Iranian state-affiliated media outlet Tasnim that for the first time in 22 years, Iran’s soccer federation will make a profit off a friendly match.

Canada Soccer did not confirm or deny the quoted sum or answer CBC News’s questions about where the money is coming from. The organization did say it’s normal practice to pay teams for matches like this.

“As is the standard in international soccer, match appearance fees are generally provided to the visiting team to cover expenses that may not be included within the agreement, such as international and or domestic travel, ground costs and insurance,” said Canada Soccer in a statement.

Estili told Iranian media that after it pays for the team’s expenses, Iran’s soccer federation

could bank $200,000 of the payment.

Families of Flight PS752 victims call for cancellation of soccer match with Iran Estili said Iran negotiated with more than 20 other lower-ranked teams to try to arrange exhibition matches — and they all said Iran’s soccer federation would have to pay them a fee in order to play.

His comments come as Canada Soccer comes under heavy pressure to call off the nearly sold-out June 5 match at BC Place.

Victims who lost loved ones on Flight PS752 have called the game a slap in the face.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shot down Flight PS752 in 2020 shortly after takeoff in Tehran. Surface-to-air missiles took down the Ukrainian aircraft, killing everyone onboard — including 85 Canadians and permanent residents.

Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart has condemned the game and Prime

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Star & Style

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Aishwarya, Kareena, Rani Mukerji & Preity pose at Karan Johar’s birthday bash On Wednesday, filmmaker Karan Johar hosted a grand bash on the occasion of his 50th birthday at Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai. Many Bollywood stars attended KJo’s birthday celebration and the pictures from the party are still surfacing over the internet.

Now, Preity Zinta took to her Instagram to share photos from the night. In the first picture, she can be seen posing with Karan as they twin in green attires. The next picture featured Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Rani Mukerji and Preity posing for a selfie.

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Saturday, May 28, 2022

SRK at Karan Johar’s birthday bash Mil Gaya’ from ‘Kuch Kuch Karan Johar’s 50th Hota Hai’ is now going crazy birthday bash was an viral on the internet. Scroll extravagant affair with below to watch the video. almost all the A-list Although the paps didn’t celebrities attending it. spot SRK making a grand Last night will go down entry at KJo’s bash, but his in fashion history as dance video has surprised iconic. We saw so much everyone on the internet. His bling last night; from fans were desperately waiting Karan to Ranveer Singh for him to grace the event and to Kareena Kapoor Khan, he did but in a savage way. it was an extraordinary The video will make you feel bling affair we must say. nostalgic and we can’t wait Amid the same, a video for the superstar and Johar of Shah Rukh Khan dancing on the title track of his iconic film ‘Koi to collaborate soon for yet another iconic film.

Aamir Khan to host & premiere LSC trailer during T20 Aamir Khan will be present at the IPL 2022 final as a host and will also launch the trailer of his new movie ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ during the second strategic timeout of the first innings on television on Sunday.

The filmmakers of the movie took to social media to confirm the news through a video that announced the release date and venue of the trailer

of the movie through Amir Khan himself.

Aamir Khan to host IPL 2022 final to launch Laal Singh Chaddha trailer during strategic timeout File photo of Amir Khan (centre) with former cricketers and current cricket analysts Harbhajan Singh (left) and Irfan Pathan. Twitter

Nawazuddin Siddiqui to kickstart shooting of Laxman Lopez in winter The magic of Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s versatile talent has made him an actor that this era will always remember.

After concurring the hearts of millions of his Indian fans, the actor is eyeing his International association these days.

While taking to his social media today, the actor shared a picture of himself along with the director of his upcoming International venture Laxman Lopez director, Roberto

Girault, and writer Sammy Sarzoza as he finishes up his reading and is all set to start the shoot from this Christmas.

He further wrote the caption “Just finished the virtual reading of #LaxmanLopez in this beautiful weather & now thinking about filming this during the Christmas Month in New York with my Director #RobertoGirault & Writer #SammySarzoza

Hansal Mehta weds Safeena Hussain Filmmaker Hansal Mehta married with Safeena Husain, in an intimate ceremony in San Francisco, California and the pictures are proof it was a simple and sweet celebration. Hansal has delivered several award-winning films and Safeena works for education of girls. Also read: Scam 2003 teaser: Hansal Mehta finds the perfect actor to play Telgi in his Scam 1992 follow-up.

Sharing a few pictures from the wedding ceremony on Instagram, Hansal wrote on

14

Saturday, May 28, 2022 SFU’s Varshney Visiting Scholar to address interventions for optimal heart health on May 30 in Vancouver

Press release

Professor Prabhakaran Dorairaj arrived at the SFU Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) in February 2020 to complete the first half of his appointment as a Visiting Professor.

He had originally planned to return later during the Fall 2020 term to complete the last half of his appointment. The split visits were intended to allow the renowned cardiologist, epidemiologist, and researcher to attend to his ongoing projects at the Public Health Foundation of India where he serves as the VicePresident of Research and Policy.

After wrapping his first six weeks at FHS, Dorairaj made it back to India mere days before countries around the world shut down their borders, curtailing international travel in the hopes of stopping the rapid spread of the virus now known as SARS-CoV-2.

When COVID-19 vaccines were distributed around the globe in 2021-22 and there was improved confidence in the ability of governments and corporations to facilitate safe international travel, Canada’s borders opened up to international travel and Dorairaj returned to SFU. He’s been happily renewing relationships with Canadian colleagues and communities, and completing what he started two years ago.

Dorairaj’s time with FHS is drawing to a close, but before he returns home, he will deliver the 2022 Varshney Visiting Scholar Public Lecture on Monday, May 30 at 7:00 pm. His talk, “The Right Diet and Lifestyle for a Healthy Heart,” will focus on how conditions such as heart disease and diabetes can be potentially prevented or postponed by following the right life lifestyle and diet. His research has illuminated the underlying mechanisms for the high propensity of diabetes and heart disease among South Asians, and he will be

highlighting this population during his lecture.

“There is a lot of conflicting advice about what a diet for optimal heart health looks like,” says Dorairaj. “Here in Canada where the population is very diverse, the needs of specific groups – such as South Asians who are especially vulnerable to heart diseases and diabetes – is at best not well understood and at the worst highly confusing. During my lecture, I hope to offer my research and experience to help clarify which diet and lifestyle choices should be prioritized to achieve and/or maintain optimal heart health for everyone, with a special emphasis on South Asian community.”

The lecture and Dorairaj’s appointment as a Visiting Professor with the Faculty of Health Sciences was made possible by an endowment provided by the Hari and Madhu Varshney Visiting Scholars Program in Indian Studies.

This program was first established by SFU and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) through donations made

by Hari and Madhu Varshney for whom the endowment is named. The program fosters and strengthens cultural relations by hosting world-class Indian scholars from a wide range of disciplines such as international studies, contemporary arts, business, world literature and now, health sciences.

Members of the public are invited to attend the 2022 Varshney Visiting Scholar Public Lecture either in-person at the Fletcher Theatre at SFU Harbor Centre or virtually via a YouTube livestream. Those attending the talk in-person will be invited to stay for a networking reception following the talk. Tickets and event details are now available online. https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-rightdiet-and-lifestyle-for-a-healthy-hearttickets-317170644937

Average detached home prices in Surrey, Langley seeing double-digit drop While home prices in Metro Vancouver remain sky-high, the price for single-family detached homes in two of the region’s fastestgrowing markets have seen a significant dip recently, according to one industry group.

HouseSigma uses AI to compare historical listings and estimate current values in realtime. Its latest data compared prices from February and May of 2022.

In Surrey, the average price dropped from $1.9 million to $1.59 million – a decrease of 16.3 per cent. In Langley, the price dropped from $1.75 million to $1.5 million – a decrease of 14.3 per cent.

While higher interest rates are said to be

cooling the market in B.C. and beyond, Ho u s e S i g m a agent Hao Li says there is likely something else at play in these two places. As people flocked outside of the city looking for cheaper housing, the population boom drove up prices. Now, Li says the demand has eased. “One of the reasons that it is going downward even more is because it’s been rising much quicker in those two cities compared to other cities of Greater Vancouver for the past two years,” he says.

Strata ordered to build hillside tram for disabled senior living in B.C. seaside community Owners in a North Vancouver strata have been ordered to pay an elderly disabled resident $35,000 for discrimination after they refused his request to build an elevator tram so he could leave his home.

Gerald Testar, 84, has multiple disabilities that make any sort of exercise challenging, according to a recent decision from the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal.

He and his wife live in a detached home at the bottom of a steep hillside in Deep Cove, and must climb 102 steps in total to reach the parking lot at the top, a feat that Testar’s doctor described as “next to impossible” in a letter to the strata council.

As a result, Testar hasn’t left the house in

more than two years, but his strata has refused his request for approval to build a hillside elevator tram, according to the tribunal.

In her decision last week, tribunal member Amber Prince found the strata council had discriminated against Testar on the basis of disability, and ordered the owners to “make all reasonable efforts” to approve and build the tram within the next six months.

B.C. senior who was called a ‘loser’ for demanding accessibility in condo building wins $35K Prince described Testar as “essentially a prisoner in his own home” because of the discrimination he’s experienced.

Saturday, May 28, 2022

New owner of Tsawwassen Mills looking to add entertainment offerings Adding and expanding immersive experiences at Tsawwassen Mills will be a priority for its new owners.

Last week, Daily Hive Urbanized reported that BC-based Central Walk, a 1.2-million-squarefoot indoor outlet mall with 200 businesses,

was sold earlier in May by Montreal-based real estate firm Ivanhoe Cambridge.

In an email to Daily Hive Urbanized, Central Walk indicated that its shortterm strategies for the property include focusing on establishing a “major entertainment presence”, as well as diversifying and strengthening food use, retail and services. with.

“We have built a wellprepared leasing team and look forward to all the opportunities ahead,” Central Walk chairman Hong Liu said in a memo.

“Our marketing department will progressively innovate and try out new ideas to increase both traffic and length of stay. They will need time to plan and execute many of their ideas, but please look forward to seeing unique and exciting developments in the times to come.”

Additionally, under the ownership

of Central Walk, there will be increased maintenance on the property.

Aside from these perspectives, there will be no significant changes to Tswasen Mills’ operations while the new owners plan for the long-term future of the 107-acre property, which is surrounded by 5,000 surface vehicle parking stalls.

“Retail will always be a core part of commercial real estate, but it calls for innovation and progressive change at the end of every cycle. We work with world-class teams to assess, research and implement the latest in

retail business-mix and technology. Plotting their trajectory now by manufacturing or working with them,” Hong continued.

“Retail faces the need for an imminent departure from shopping as a singular function, and instead becomes a multi-function community hub where people from all walks of life can find inclusion, representation and connectedness.

Real Estate

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Lawsuit targets Realtor price fixing; masks advised despite mandate removals: CBC’s Marketplace cheat sheet Price fixing has sent Realtor commissions soaring in an already hot market, lawsuit alleges Much of the discussion about Canada’s real estate market has been dominated by the meteoric rise in the cost of housing.

But what’s often missing from that conversation is the parallel increase in what Canadians pay in real estate commissions nearly every time a home is bought or sold.

Commission structures vary across the country, but typically real estate agents and their brokerage charge a percentage-based commission on the sale price of a home.

Those fees are split between the brokerage representing the seller and the one representing the buyer. But they’re all paid by the seller, a practice a proposed class-action lawsuit alleges is unfair.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Toronto resident Mark Sunderland in April 2021, argues that some of the country’s largest brokerages, as well as the Canadian Real Estate Association and the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, have “conspired, agreed or arranged with each other to fix, maintain, increase or control the price ... for buyer brokerage services in the GTA.” The practice of making sellers pay both commissions also leaves the door open for allegations of steering, the case alleges,

#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005

b e c a u s e the rule gives buyer brokerages the incentive to “steer” buyers away from sellers offering lower commission r a t e s .

A 2021 Marketplace investigation into the issue found that consumers’ fears around steering are not unfounded.

The Canadian Real Estate Association told CBC News it would not comment on the Sunderland case because it’s before the courts.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, another defendant in the case, said it “has no involvement with and does not consider or discuss REALTOR® commissions.” Read more In a lucrative housing market, the cost of real estate commissions is rising — but a Canadian lawsuit suggests that price-fixing on commissions is also driving up costs. (Reuters) Masks are optional in most public spaces.

But experts say you should still wear one With mask restrictions lifted in most public spaces across Canada, it can be tempting to just forgo them all together.

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Saturday, May 28, 2022

17

INDIA

Saturday, May 28, 2022

India repeating mistakes made by Rajapaksas in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka’s default on an overhanging debt of $12.6 billion of overseas bonds has become a flashing warning sign for investors in other developing nations, that is, for those in South Asia and outside, at a time when surging inflation and stagflation (low growth-high inflation-low production-higher unemployment) continue to take a toll.

As I argued a few weeks ago in some detail, Sri Lanka’s passage into darkness needs to be viewed as part of a culmination of consistently pursued poor economics in a populist policymaking

Magala Samaraweera, Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister at the time, called the campaign move to be a “dangerous pledge”, whereby reducing the VAT from 15% to 8% would be catastrophic for an economy that already had a low tax-revenue base, high foreign-denominated debt, and large

environment, where decisions were made without caring for consequences – much like what is being seen in India now.

For example, ahead of the November 2019 election, Sri Lankan presidential challenger Gotabaya Rajapaksa proposed tax cuts so reckless that the incumbent government thought it to be a campaign gimmick.

Interest Rates & ‘White Elephants’: Why is Sri Lanka Buried in Chinese Debt?

Samaraweera’s Prophetic Warning

Pakistan national to visit ancestral village in Bathinda after 75 years

Sri Lanka Tamils fleeing to India to escape economic crisis Dozens of poor families from Sri Lanka have fled to southern India over the past few weeks amid an acute economic and political crisis gripping the Indian Ocean island nation.

The country of 22 million people has been battling severe shortages of essential items, including food, fuel and medicine, as foreign reserves run dangerously low.

The resulting public fury targeting the government triggered mass street protests and political upheaval.

The resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Cabinet — and the appointment of a new prime minister — has done little to soothe public anger.

Armed soldiers are currently patrolling the streets to maintain order.

Forty-one-year-old Rani, who asked that her real name not be used, told DW how eight of her family members, including small children, fled to India by boat to escape the economic misery.

Pakistan national Sadiq Khan could not ask for more, for he will be visiting his ancestral village Phulewal in Bathinda district, east Punjab for the first time since partition in 1947. Sadiq Khan, accompanied by his brother Sikka Khan, crossed over to India via Attari-Wagah joint check post on Tuesday evening. “Sikka stayed with me at my home at Bogran village, distt Lyallpur (now Faisalabad), Pakistan for couple of months. I am excited to visit my ancestral village in Bathinda, about which I have only vague memories. I have brought clothes, toys and other items for my family,” Sadiq says.

The two brothers got separated during the Partition. Sadiq and his father moved to

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Pakistan in 1947, while his mother and brother stayed back at Phulewal village.

“I was just 10 in 1947.

After that, we lost contact with India. After 74-long years, I could relocate my family. I am thankful to India and Pakistan governments for granting us visas without any hassle,” says Sadiq.

It was Pakistan-based web blogger Nasir Dhillon who came in contact with Sadiq and posted his story on YouTube in 2019 to trace his family roots in India. Sadiq narrated how he missed his family and specially mentioned his brother Sikka.

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INDIA

Saturday, May 28, 2022 Biden launches Indo-Pacific economic framework to counter China US President Joe Biden has launched a new economic framework geared towards countering Chinese influence in Asia and announced the 12 regional partners who will cooperate on shared standards in areas such as clean energy and 5G network advancements.

Biden, in his first visit to Japan as president, presented the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity in a speech on Monday, citing four essential pillars -- trade, supply chains, sustainable energy, and infrastructure -- as well as tax and anti-corruption. Meanwhile, the White House claimed that the framework -- as based on these pillars -- will ensure that supply chains in the region develop greater

resilience to protect against higher prices for consumers.

“We’re here today for one simple purpose: the future of the 21st Century economy is going to be largely written in the Indo-Pacific,” Biden said in Tokyo. “[The framework is a commitment to] improving security and trust in the digital economy, protecting workers, strengthening supply chains, and tackling corruption that robs nations of their ability to serve their citizens.

Biden added the framework would work towards eliminating critical supply chain bottlenecks, carbon from the economy, and work towards clean energy and developing “early warning systems” to identify problems before they happen.

At Davos World Economic Forum all states represent one India Aditya Thackeray Maharashtra Tourism and Environment Minister Aditya Thackeray, who is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, has said that all parties had put their rivalries behind and were representing India on behalf of their state governments at the global event.

“Here we are all Indians.

This is for our country,” he said.

Speaking on the competition over inviting investments to their respective states, Thackeray said: “Healthy competition is always good. We are trying to charm investors, of course. But in the end, we are all bringing it [investments] home to India.”

He said that the state had signed around 24

MoUs worth Rs 30,000 crore with 6-8 countries at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Earlier, Thackeray inaugurated the Maharashtra pavilion at Davos with ministers Subhash Desai, Nitin Raut and other leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

The WEF started on May 22 and will continue till May 26.

“We signed around 24 MoUs worth Rs 30,000 crore with 6-8 countries here. I had a good meeting with representatives of HCL as well,” he said.

Saturday, May 28, 2022

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INDIA

Saturday, May 28, 2022

26-year-old Abhilasha Barak from Haryana becomes Indian Army’s first woman combat aviator Having grown up in military Cantonments across the country, joining the forces was a natural career choice for Captain Abhilasha Barak. On Wednesday, the 26-year-old from Haryana became the first woman combat aviator of the Indian Army.

Captain Abhilasha Barak graduated at a ceremony held at the Combat Army Aviation Training School in Nashik. D G of Army Aviation, A K Suri, was the chief guest at the event. “While growing up in military Cantonments, and being surrounded by people in uniform, it always seemed like an ordinary affair. I never realised it (that it was different) until our family moved out of the military life, after my father’s retirement in 2011. The feeling only grew stronger after seeing my elder

brother’s passing out parade at Indian Military Academy in 2013. That was the moment I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Captain Barak said in an inhouse interview shared recently by the Indian Army. Captain Barak is an alumnus of The Lawrence School, Sanawar. She completed her graduation in B Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Delhi Technological University in 2016 and was placed at Deloitte, USA. In 2018, she was commissioned into the Indian Army from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai. During her attachment with Corps of Army Air Defence, she was selected as a Contingent Commander for Presentation of Colours to Army Air Defence by President Ram Nath Kovind.

Defence ministry extends date for pensioners to complete personal records to June 25 The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has extended the date for defence pensioners to complete the process of submitting their annual life certificate to June 25. The earlier deadline was May 25. Non-updation of records by many pensioners in time had resulted in the pension of several thousand exservicemen across all ranks not being credited to their bank accounts earlier this month.

“Upon verification of data received till May 25, 2022, it has been noticed that 34,636 pensioners who have been migrated to the System for Pension Administration Rakshasa (SPARSH) have not completed their annual identification,” the MoD said in a statement issued today. Till May 17, the number of pensioners whose documents were pending since November 2021 was 43,774.

Indian men’s hockey team qualifies for knockout stage with 16-0 win over Indonesia Rising to the occasion, a young India men’s hockey thrashed hosts Indonesia 16-0 to qualify for the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup on Thursday.

The massive win not only secured India’s passage into the knockout stage of the tournament but also shut the door on Pakistan.

Both India and Pakistan finished on four points each in Pool A behind Japan but the holders qualified for the Super 4s

on the basis of a better goal difference (1).

India needed to beat Indonesia by a 15-0 margin or more to make it to the next round and the defending champions rode on splendid show from Dipsan Tirkey, who hammered five goals, and Sudev Belimagga, who sounded the board thrice.

Veteran SV Sunil, Pawan Rajbhar and Karthi Selvam scored a brace each while Uttam Singh and Nilam Sanjeep Xess scored a goal each.

PM Modi seeks end to dynasty politics, attacks KCR on his home turf Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lashed out at Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR), accusing him of corrupt dynastic politics that was keeping people away from their rights and aspirations.

In an impromptu address to his party leaders at the Begumpet Airport, the prime minister said he was aware of the personal growth of KCR and his family at the cost of the development of the people.

The PM was visibly upset, possibly over

the report of anti-Modi posters coming up in Hyderabad asking the PM about unfulfilled promises. Also, the Chief Minister KCR violated protocol by skipping meeting the PM as he left for Bangaluru when PM Modi was in town.

Modi told his party colleagues that he was also aware of the poor treatment being meted out to BJP and leaders as if the struggle for statehood for Telangana was just for the benefit of KCR and his family.

Gas cylinder explosion at restaurant in UAE killed one Indian, one Pakistani natioanl An Indian national and a Pakistani citizen were killed in a gas cylinder explosion at a restaurant in UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi early this week that also left 120 others injured, including 106 Indians, according to a media report.

The incident happened on Monday afternoon in a restaurant in Abu Dhabi, the Khaleej Times reported on Wednesday.

“According to information provided by the UAE authorities, one Indian national is among those deceased and 106 Indian nationals suffered injuries,” the report said, quoting a statement from the Indian Embassy.

It said that it is in regular contact with the local authorities for early repatriation of the mortal remains of the deceased.

Karti Chidambaram appears before CBI in visa scam case Congress MP Karti Chidambaram reached the CBI headquarters on Thursday to join the investigation into an alleged scam pertaining to the issuance of visas to 263 Chinese nationals in 2011 when his father P Chidambaram was the home minister, officials said. A special court had ordered him to join the CBI investigation within 16 hours of his arrival from the UK and Europe, where he had gone with the permission of the Supreme Court and the special court.

The MP returned from his trip on Wednesday.

He arrived at the CBI office on Thursday morning to answer questions related to the case.

Speaking to reporters outside the CBI headquarters, Karti said the case against him was “bogus”, and claimed that he had not facilitated the issuance of visa to any Chinese national.

The case pertains to allegations of Rs 50 lakh being paid as bribe to Karti and his close associate S Bhaskararaman by a top executive.

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Saturday, May 28, 2022

Punjab Faridkot jail superintendent suspended An inquiry by DIG Prisons indicted the official for dereliction of duty leading to availability of phones to the inmates.

Karan Sharma, an inmate, arrested for possessing illegal weapons, allegedly shot his video in the jail and sent it to people outside.

Faridkot jail is known for rampant use of mobile phones by the inmates. On an average, 100 to 150 mobile phones are recovered from the jail every year, putting the jail authorities under the scanner.

During the search of the Faridkot jail,

five mobile phones, two phone chargers and two set of headphones were recovered.

While three mobile phones were recovered from three inmates, two mobile phones, two set of chargers and headphones were found abandoned in a toilet, said Faridkot SHO Sandeep Singh.

Police registered a case against Karan Sharma, who is accused of making a video call from the jail to his relative Sunil Kumar of Faridkot.

He is accused of showing the inside view of the jail, including its barracks, in the video.

Punjab and UK agree for further tie-up in agriculture, IT and food processing sectors Punjab and UK o agreed for further tie-up in agriculture, information and technology, food processing, higher education, sports, public transport (electric buses) and biomass sectors.

The decision was taken at a meeting between Punjab Chief Minister

Bhagwant Mann and British High Commissioner Alex Ellis, who called on the former at his official residence here.

At the meeting, it was agreed that there is a huge potential of collaboration between Punjab and the UK in these sectors.

Court denies bail to 34 cops accused of killing 10 Sikhs in 1991 n a significant order, the Allahabad High Court has denied bail to 34 constables of the Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC) who have been accused of killing 10 Sikh men in an alleged fake encounter in 1991, treating them as terrorists.

The bench of Justices Ramesh Sinha and Brij Raj Singh observed that the accused cops had indulged in a barbaric and inhuman killing of

innocent persons by calling them terrorists.

“Besides, if some of the deceased were involved in anti-social activities and criminal cases were registered against them, then too, procedure established by law should have been adhered to, to bring them to task and not indulging in such a barbaric

Ousted minister Dr Vijay Singla acted via his ‘group of 4’ The ousted Health Minister, Dr Vijay Singla, functioned through a “group of four”, comprising his nephew, a dentist friend and two acquaintances from Mansa.

A senior Health Department official said three of them held no official position, yet

they were passing directions on behalf of Singla. They were identified as Pradeep Bansal, son of Singla’s cousin sister; Vishal, alias Lavi, a pesticide dealer, and Jogesh Kumar, a brick-kiln owner, both of Mansa.

The fourth, Dr Girish Garg, is a dentist .

Pakistan Former PM Imran Khan gives 6-day ultimatum to interm govt to announce fresh elections Former prime minister Imran Khan gave six-day notice to interim govt of Shehbaz Sharif for dissolving National & Provincial assemblies and announce fresh elections in the country, warning that if the “imported government” failed to do so, he would return to the capital Islamabad with “entire nation”.

Addressing a rally of thousands of protesters of ‘Azadi March’ at Jinnah Avenue in Islamabad on Thursday, Khan lashed out at the government for using “tactics” like raids and arrests to stop his party’s march, even as he thanked the Supreme Court (SC) for taking notice of the matter.

250 opposition party activists arrested Police fire teargas, baton-charge supporters of PTI party workers of former prime minister, Imran Khan. Over 250 activists arrested, one policeman killed in clashrd in Punjab on Tuesday, a day before Pakistan Tehreek-

e-Insaf ’s planned mega march to Islamabad for early elections. Imran Khan has given call for long march in capital Islamabad on May 25, followed by dharna (sit in)to force the government to call for snap polls.

Pak headed for instability as Shehbaz’s political and economic woes mount Pakistan is headed for long term instability with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif facing a political challenge from his ousted predecessor Imran Khan Niazi in the form of long-march to Islamabad tomorrow amidst free falling Pakistani Rupee and a neutral Pakistan Army. According to reports reaching New Delhi, PTI chairman Imran Khan Niazi would depart from Peshawar on the morning of May 25 for Islamabad to lead the long march. Apparently, the call for the march was primarily for people from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab with parallel protests

in Quetta in Balochistan and local protests in Sukkur, Larkana, Hyderabad and Karachi of Sindh Province. As PTI leaders have said that Niazi will announce his next action plan on June 3, there is a possibility that the former pace bowler may plan a sit-in protest in Islamabad.

However, the Shehbaz Sharif government is taking the political challenge head-on with section 144 declared in Sindh province and mounting a country-wide crackdown on the supporters of Imran KHAN

Pak foreign minister writes to UN on situation in Kashmir Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has written to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to urge India to acquit Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik from all charges and ensure his immediate release from prison so that he can be reunited with his family.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in a statement that the foreign minister, as part of Pakistan’s

ongoing efforts to draw the attention of the international community to the situation in Kashmir, sent the letter to Bachelet on May 24.

“The letter apprises the High Commissioner, in particular, of the Indian government’s ongoing attempts to persecute and repress the Kashmiris and their leadership and to implicate them in fictitious and motivated cases,” according to the FO.

FIJI ‘Secrecy’ behind China’s visit to Fiji is ‘concerning’ Fiji’s National Federation Party Leader Biman Prasad says there has been a “weakening of democracy” in the Pacific – following China’s “concerning” plan to visit Fiji.

Mr Prasad said China’s visit to Fiji needs to be open and transparent.

“The secrecy behind concerning,” he told Sky “Something that we’ve about in the Pacific … weakening of democracy

the visit is News Australia. been concerned we’ve seen the in the Pacific.”

Concerns raised by USP Council on the financial and operating risks arising out of Fiji’s withheld grant compounded by the COVID-19 Concerns have been raised by the University of the South Pacific Council on the financial and operating risks arising out of Fiji’s withheld grant compounded by the COVID-19 economic impacts.

Fiji has not paid more than $62 million in grants to the USP.

It was discussed during the USP Council meeting that apart from the continued dialogue attempts with the Government of Fiji, the Council was looking at other measures to deliver its core business without compromising the quality of learning and teaching, research and student support.

Penny Wong tells Pacific nations ‘we have heard you’ as Australia and China battle for influence The new foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has promised to treat Pacific island countries with respect, telling an audience in Fiji that Australia is “a partner that doesn’t come with strings attached” and won’t “impose unsustainable financial burdens”.

Wong promised to respect Pacific priorities and institutions as she set out an implicit contrast with China, which is pursuing a sweeping

regional economic and security deal with Pacific nations that would dramatically expand Beijing’s influence and reach into those countries.

When asked on Thursday whether she would actively encourage Pacific island countries to opt out of China’s proposed deal, Wong said each nation would make its own choices – but suggested leaders should think about long-term implications.

New Foreign Minister Penny Wong to visit Fiji after returning from Quad meeting Penny Wong will fly to Fiji on Thursday on her first solo overseas trip as Foreign Minister. Senator Wong will make the visit less than 24 hours after returning to Australia from the Quad leaders meeting in Tokyo, where she joined the newly sworn in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the summit.

Her visit to Fiji will also coincide with the beginning of the whirlwind Pacific tour

conducted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who will meet with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara on Thursday. The Australian High Commission in Suva has requested meetings with Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama as well as the secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum, Henry Puna, for the Foreign Minister.

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Saturday, May 28, 2022 Press release

BC Liberal statement on unconvincing and incomplete museum business case

BC Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon has issued the following statement in response to the unconvincing and incomplete business case released today for the NDP’s Royal BC Museum (RBCM) billion-dollar vanity project: “Even after intense backlash from the public, media, and the BC Liberals, John Horgan and the NDP are still plowing ahead with their tone-deaf billion-dollar museum vanity project in the middle of an affordability crisis.

“The business case released today by the NDP fails to justify such an out-of-touch expenditure at a time where British Columbians are facing the highest gas prices in North America, higher-than-ever rents and housing costs, skyrocketing grocery costs, and one in five people don’t have access to a family doctor.

“Not only does this business case fail to convince British Columbians of the need for such a project, the most damning information about this billion-dollar boondoggle has been kept from the public,

with a third of the plan’s pages featuring redactions. “It’s unacceptable that today’s plan, informed by zero public consultation, fails to disclose vital information such as the value for money analysis, construction costs breakdowns, or even the project’s risk matrix.

“Once again, this NDP provincial government, deemed the most secretive in the country by the Canadian Association of Journalists, is failing to be open and transparent with British Columbians. People rightfully have no faith in the NDP to deliver this project, especially given that the first phase, a new collections centre, is already nearly 30 per cent over budget.

“This half-baked project must be cancelled before it’s too late, and the money reinvested in people. British Columbians need help today, whether it’s accessing healthcare or addictions supports, finding affordable housing, or getting some relief from the pain at the pumps. It’s not the time for John Horgan’s billion-dollar vanity project.”

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