www.theasianstar.com Vol 21 - Issue 9
Saturday, April 2, 2022
US criticizes India on Russia talks as Lavrov visits Delhi
USA and Australia criticized India for considering a Russian proposal that would undermine sanctions imposed by America and its allies, showing a deepening rift between the emerging security partners as Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov traveled to Delhi for talks. “Now is the time to stand on the right side of history, and to stand with the United States and dozens of other countries, standing up for freedom, democracy and sovereignty with the Ukrainian people, and not funding and fueling and aiding President Putin’s war,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told reporters in Washington on Wednesday. She called reports of the arrangement “deeply disappointing,” while adding that she hadn’t seen details. Dan Tehan, Australia’s trade minister who also spoke at the briefing, said it was important for democracies to work together “to keep the rules-based approach that we’ve had since the second world war.” The comments reflect growing unease with India among fellow members of the
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Canada lays out C$9.1B roadmap to meet 2030 climate targets Canada released its first real roadmap to meeting 2030 climate targets on Tuesday, laying out detailed plans and C$9.1 billion ($7.3 billion) in new spending to cut planet-warming carbon emissions after years failing to meet its goals. The Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) is the first time Canada has had a comprehensive plan, rather than just a collection of policies, setting out how it will meet its international commitment to cut carbon emissions 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030. Environmental think tanks called it a “watershed moment” for Canadian climate policy, but warned Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government
needed to follow through. “A plan is just a plan without action. Expedited implementation will be key to success, and Canada now needs to shift into high gear,” said Rick Smith, president of the Canadian Climate Institute. Canada has missed every emissions reduction target it has ever set but Trudeau said fighting climate change was one of his government’s top priorities during last year’s election campaign, and a recent deal with the opposition New Democrats should ensure the passage of climate legislation for the next three years.
Canada sees all-time record for immigration in 2021 Newly released population estimates by Statistics Canada for the fourth quarter of 2021 show an all-time record for immigration for any quarter and year since records began post-war in 1946. A total of 405,750 immigrants were recorded throughout 2021, with 138,182 in the fourth quarter alone. Immigration flows grew throughout the year, with 70,467 in the first quarter, 74,353 in the second quarter, and 122,748 in the third quarter, the second highest quarter ever. The record volumes for the first and second quarters of 2021 beat the previous quarterly record of 119,956 in the second quarter of 1957, when Canada accepted tens of thousands of refugees during Hungary’s revolution against Joseph Stalin. The final three months of the year typically see lower levels of movements than other periods of the year, with immigration and emigration usually highest in the second and third quarters. But that was not the case for 2021.
Key measures include a zero-emissions vehicle mandate that is more ambitious than anything proposed by Canada’s neighbor the United States, and a target for reducing emissions from the oil and gas sector 42% below current levels by 2030. Factbox of key measures: read more The ERP was introduced under the requirements of Canada’s NetZero Accountability Act, which the government adopted last summer in a bid to produce more binding climate policies. The country is the world’s fourth largest oil producer and 10th largest carbon emitter. The oil and gas industry is its highest polluting industry, followed by transportation. She died resisting abduction -
Hundreds of minority girl are forced into marriage every year in Pakistan Every year at least 1,000 girls from religious minorities in Pakistan are abducted and experience forced marriage and religious conversions. Pooja Kumari wasn’t your typical teenager. Lively, quick-witted and resourceful, the 15-year-old was a talented seamstress who would stitch beautiful clothes for her entire neighbourhood in Pakistan’s southeastern city of Sukkur. The eldest daughter of a working class Hindu family, Kumari had set up a sewing station at home, where she babysat her four younger sisters while her parents worked. “She was a brave little girl with a courageous heart. She took care of the whole family,” Oad, her uncle, told VICE World News. Oad has only been identified by his surname for safety. Early in March, a Muslim man from an influential family, Wahid Bux Lashari, 24, allegedly began harassing Kumari to get her to convert to Islam and marry him. Continued on page 7
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Bring back masks, says BC Human Rights Commissioer British Columbia’s human rights watchdog wants public health officials to reinstate the provincial mask mandate to protect the most vulnerable from severe COVID-19 outcomes. The “hasty” end of the mask mandate is placing elderly, disabled, immunocompromised and racialized people, as well as children too young to be vaccinated, at elevated risk, said human rights commissioner Kasari Govender. “Lifting the mask mandate will do disproportionate harm to those who are already marginalized, forcing many to withdraw from activities of daily life in an effort to protect their health, and reducing the capacity to enjoy their human right to their full extent,” Govender wrote in a March 16 letter to provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry released Monday. “While many of us have the good fortune to simply move on with life, thousands of British Columbians will be left behind because of their age, disability, or other protected characteristic under B.C.’s Human Rights Code.” The letter was written just days after Henry lifted the indoor mask mandate on March 11. Continued on page 7
First Nations delegates meet with Pope Francis to ask for apology Chief Gerald Antoine says he hopes the meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican can forge the beginning of an important relationship. “Despite our collective grief and pain, there comes hope for change,” the Assembly of First Nations delegation lead said Thursday following the meeting with the Pontiff. “This change will bring dignity, equality, trust and an opportunity for this change to happen.” The delegates were emotional as they walked out of the meeting surrounded by the drumming of family and community
members who waited in St. Peter’s Square. The meeting with the head of the Roman Catholic Church lasted for two hours, although the encounter had only been scheduled to take place for one. The delegates said they shared stories of residential schools and requested the doctrine of discovery be rescinded and Indigenous lands be returned. They also requested Pope Francis travel to Canada to apologize for the church’s role in residential schools. Continued on page 7
MANMOHAN SEKHON M.Sc., M.Phill Life and Health insurance Advisor
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