www.theasianstar.com
Vol 19 - Issue 10
Saturday, April 4, 2020
Canadians stuck in India told to pay $2,900 each for special flight home Canadians stuck in India have been given the option of a special flight back home — but they’ll have to foot the $2,900 bill themselves, according to the federal government. The government recently sent an email to all Canadians registered in India informing them of the availability of these special flights intended to bring them back to Canada. The letter “strongly” encourages Canadians to take advantage of the flights, which come at an estimated cost of $2,900 per passenger. A return flight from India currently costs less than $2,000, making the $2,900 price tag seem far more expensive. “I’m happy that we’re getting the flights, I’m happy that we’re getting home, however the cost which they’re expecting us to pay - it’s outstanding,” Melissa Chadha, a Canadian stuck in India with her
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NRIs in the eye of COVID storm Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), who normally become centre of attraction, have come in the eye of storm in the wake of coronavirus (Covid19) scare across the country. Residents claimed that they have been maintaining distance from their NRI friends and relatives, especially the ones who have come back in February and March. Sandhya Maudgil, an NRI from Norway, said she was disappointed as she had to reschedule her programmes keeping in mind apprehensions of her friends and relatives. “I arrived in India a month ago. I cannot complete all my assignments due to Covid-19 scare,” said Maudgil. “I am trying to follow advisory of the government and of authorities in Norway,” added she said. NRIs Darshan Singh Dhaliwal and his wife Harpal Kaur Dhaliwal Continued on page 6
Canada’s 75% wage subsidy is coming, but not for several weeks: finance minister Businesses hoping to apply for Canada’s 75 per cent wage will have to wait several weeks to get that money, according to Finance Minister Bill Morneau. Morneau unveiled more details about the wage subsidy that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced, and then updated, in recent days. The wage subsidy will provide 75 per cent of each employee’s salary for business – of any size – that has lost at least 30 per cent of its gross revenue since this time last year due to COVID-19. Companies will have to reapply every month and Morneau said there will be
“severe” consequences for anyone who tries to take advantage of the system. The subsidy will apply to the first $58,700 of each employee’s salary and provide up to $847 a week per employee for up to 12 weeks, with a possible extension if the crisis continues. The money is available to companies of all sizes, as well as charities and non-profits, and will be retroactive to March 15. “Funds will be available in approximately
six weeks,” the finance minister said Wednesday. Businesses will be able to apply through a Canada Revenue Agency portal “soon,” Morneau said, and money is supposed to begin flowing in six weeks. For businesses that cannot show revenue from the previous year, the previous month’s revenue may be an option. Companies that are signed up for CRA direct deposit will receive funds faster. Companies will be required to “show what the pre-crisis income was of an employee and show that they’re Continued on page 9
India is forced to implement all three strategies of combating Coronavirus all at once
A delivery of thanks to Langley hospital workers battling COVID-19
Thomas Hobson owned a stable of about 40 horses for hire in 17thcentury Cambridge, but a customer who approached him for a horse could take either the one next to the door or nothing — this way, all horses got to be used, and not just the best animals. Hence the phrase, Hobson’s choice: there might seem to be many options, but effectively there is only one. That is what India is looking at right now. A lockdown retards the spread of the virus from those who contracted it from exposure to carriers of the infection coming from abroad.
Back in February, Langley businessman Hiten Gupta was dancing to celebrate Family Day with his daughter when his outstretched right hand made accidental contact with a sharp metal object. It was a deep gash that required a trip to the Langley Memorial Hospital ER and seven stitches to close. On Sunday, March 29th, Gupta, owner of Pizza Mantra, returned to the ER to say thank you by delivering 112 gourmet pizzas of every type, ranging from Mantra’s signature butter chicken pizza, to Hawaiian, veggie and classic pepperoni recipes. He also brought 10 special-recipe “Keto-Zaa bowl” meals for people on keto diets.
Saudi Arabia tells pilgrims wait on Hajj plans amid COVID-19 crisis Saudi Arabia has asked Muslims to wait until there is more clarity about the coronavirus pandemic before planning to attend the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the Minister for Hajj and Umrah said on state TV on Tuesday. Earlier
this month, Saudi Arabia suspended the yearround Umrah pilgrimage over fears of the new coronavirus spreading to Islam’s holiest cities, an unprecedented move that raised uncertainty over the annual Hajj. Some 2.5 million pilgrims
from around the world usually flock to Mecca and Medina cities for the week-long ritual scheduled to begin in late July. The pilgrimage is also a significant source of income for the kingdom.
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