The Asian Star March 2 2019

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Vol 19 - Issue 5

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Toronto man’s disappearance shows Canada’s lax justice system One night in April 2016, RCMP officers were trailing a man driving west from Montreal to Toronto in a grey Hyundai Genesis, according to affidavits filed by the RCMP. The vehicle would not have appeared suspicious to other drivers on Highway 401. But according to a senior RCMP officer, police had watched the driver — a wealthy North York currency exchange owner named Farzam Mehdizadeh — travel the onerous route from Toronto to Montreal and back, 81 times in a single year. At 10:20 p.m., as Mehdizadeh drove past the village of Trenton, RCMP contacted an Ontario Provincial Police unit and asked them to pull Mehdizadeh over for speeding. One night in April 2016, RCMP officers were trailing a man driving west from Montreal to Toronto in a grey Hyundai Genesis, according to affidavits filed by the RCMP. The vehicle would not have appeared suspicious to other drivers on Highway 401.

But according to a senior RCMP officer, police had watched Continued on page 6

PM Trudeau refuses to resign despite scandal Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, rejecting an opposition call for his resignation, disputed allegations on Wednesday by his former justice minister that government officials inappropriately pressured her to help a major company avoid a corruption trial.

The remarks by Jody Wilson-Raybould, made during a testimony to the House of Commons justice committee, deepened the worst crisis of Trudeau’s tenure months before an October election.

Wilson-Raybould said she had confronted Trudeau over what she said were persistent efforts by officials to help construction firm SNC-Lavalin Continued on page 6

‘If Pak attacks with one atomic bomb, India can finish us with 20,’ says Pervez Musharraf Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf on Sunday ruled out prospects of any nuclear attack from Pakistan on India even after the relations between the two nuclear countries have reached “dangerous level�. Pervez Musharraf Pervez Musharraf “If Pakistan will attack India with one atomic bomb then the neighbouring country could finish us by attacking with 20 bombs,� Musharraf was quoted saying by Dawn. Addressing the press conference in UAE on Friday, Musharraf said: “Indian and Pakistan relations have again reached a dangerous level.

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Indian Air Force pilot gets hero’s welcome

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was handed over to Indian officials near a border crossing with Pakistan

After a suspenseful wait lasting hours, Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman finally returned home from captivity in Pakistan on Friday,

a major step towards defusing a near-war situation triggered

by India’s retaliation over Continued on page 7

Canadian man arrested in Fiji after being found with $31M worth of cosaine A 24-year-old Canadian national who was allegedly found with $31 million worth of cocaine, will have his bail hearing on the 20th of this month. It is alleged that Joshua Aziz Rahman was found in possession of 39.5kg of cocaine in Caubati on the 14th of last month. Rahman’s lawyer has made the bail application and prosecution has indicated they object to it.

Why some Chinese immigrants living in Canada live in silent fear On the surface, it seems that many people from China living in Canada do not shy away from voicing their political opinions. This month, at McMaster University, a Chinese student group issued a statement condemning a Uyghur activist’s speech at the university that criticized the Chinese government’s treatment of the Uyghur minority in China. At the University of Toronto, Chinese students signed a petition protesting the election of a Tibetan student who supports greater freedom for Tibetans in China to be student union president.

And since December, many Chinese immigrants in Vancouver have taken to the streets to protest the Canadian authorities’ arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. But this fervent “patriotism� – the motivation behind the petitions and protests cited by many of the participants – is only part of the story.

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Saturday, March 2, 2019

USA, UK, France ask United Nation to blacklist militant leader behind Kashmir attack U.S., UK, France ask U.N. to blacklist militant leader behind Kashmir attack However, the move is likely to be opposed

by China, which previously prevented the Security Council’s Islamic State and al Qaeda sanctions committee from sanctioning JeM leader Masood Azhar in 2016 and 2017. China’s U.N. mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new proposal.

The Feb. 14 attack, the most deadly in Kashmir during a 30-year-long insurgency, increased tensions between Pakistan and India with the nucleararmed neighbours both saying they had shot down each other’s fighter jets on Wednesday.

The United States, Britain and France have asked the 15-member Security Council sanctions committee to subject Azhar to an arms embargo, global travel ban and asset freeze. The committee operates by consensus and members have until March 13 to raise objections, according to the proposal seen by Reuters.

When the council committee previously considered blacklisting Azhar in 2017 the Chinese Foreign Ministry said there were clear rules for listing a person or group as a terrorist, and that China has always believed the relevant U.N. committee should operate on the principles of objectivity.

JeM is a primarily anti-India group that forged ties with al Qaeda and was blacklisted by the U.N. Security Council in 2001. In December 2001, Jaish fighters, along with members of another Pakistanbased militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba, attacked India’s parliament, which almost led to a fourth war. The Security Council condemned the Feb. 14 attack in a statement last week, which was agreed after several days of negotiation.

Diplomats said China had been opposed to a reference of JeM, however the agreed statement did eventually note that JeM has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has written at least twice to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and they spoke on the phone on Tuesday. In a Feb. 26 letter, seen

by Reuters, Qureshi called on Guterres and the Security Council to urge India to halt “acts of aggression.” India’s U.N. Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin told Reuters on Wednesday: “Our efforts are focused on countering terrorism and we are working with many global partners in pursuit of that objective.” U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that the United Nations has had contacts with India at “various levels.” He said on Wednesday

Douglas Todd: Is B.C. immigration program a back door for millionaire house buyers?

How did it come to pass that thousands of people who came to Metro Vancouver through a provincial immigration scheme bought pricey houses? A Statistics Canada report shows 2,370 people who recently arrived in B.C. through a provincial immigration program have bought singlefamily houses worth an average of $2.38 million in Metro Vancouver, which is $800,000 above the norm for Canadian-born house buyers.

It’s a startling figure, in part because politicians often trumpet how the relatively small provincial immigration programs were created primarily to fine-tune Ottawa’s bulkier immigration policy by pinpointing the right skilled workers for each local labour market. Given that the emphasis of

so-called “provincial nominee programs” is supposed to be on newcomers looking for a job, how have thousands since 2009 been able to quickly buy pricey Metro Vancouver real estate? It’s difficult to get an answer from officialdom. So we’re left to our own devices to figure out this irregular access.

I’m not alone in suggesting one of the last things most young people need in Metro Vancouver’s unaffordable housing market is to be squeezed out by another stream of foreign capital. The B.C. NDP government is among those trying to crack down on this price-inflating phenomenon associated with “satellite families” who buy stately homes.

But the revealing data is there in the particulars of a January Statistics Canada report. Its charts point to the way many

Jody Wilson-Raybould called ‘courageous’ and a ‘hero’ for ‘stunning’ testimony Jody Wilson-Raybould is being hailed for her courage by some B.C. voters and politicians who followed her stunning testimony on Wednesday.

At a hearing of the Commons justice committee, Wilson-Raybould described a “consistent and sustained effort” to prevent construction giant SNC-Lavalin from being prosecuted in a bribery case. The former justice minister accused senior ranks of the federal government, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, of targeting her with “veiled threats” as they tried to interfere.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer called for Trudeau’s resignation, while Green party Leader Elizabeth May and

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said they want a public inquiry into the allegations.

Trudeau said Wednesday evening that he “completely” disagreed with WilsonRaybould’s characterization of the events.

While Wilson-Raybould’s fellow Liberal members of parliament deferred to Trudeau, others said they believed her and offered her praise. “I think she’s a hero,” said Peter Julian, NDP MP for New Westminster–Burnaby.

Julian said he was dismayed by Trudeau and his government’s alleged conduct, and said he believes Wilson-Raybould lost her job as justice minister as a direct result of her standing up for the integrity of Canada’s court system.

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Vol 18 - Issue 5

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Unconfirmed videos show captured Indian pilot being beaten up by locals in presence of Pakistani troops Unconfirmed videos which show the Mig21 pilot captured by Pakistan being beaten up by locals immediately after the crash have emerged on social media. In the video, the pilot appears to have been captured by the locals after the crash and can be seen lying on the ground as Pakistani troops try to drag him.

Earlier in the day, Islamabad had claimed to have shot down two Indian fighter jets and captured more than one Indian pilot. A pilot

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in Pakistan’s custody has reportedly been identified as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Soon after, a video in which the pilot can be seen confirming his identity had emerged on social media. In that video, most of the alleged pilot’s face had been covered with a cloth, apparently to hide his wounds.

Interestingly, no wounds are visible on his face in the video which shows the pilot being captured and dragged by Pakistani troops.

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Jessie Kaur Sidhu - New CEO for Khalsa Credit Union THE Board of Directors of Khalsa Credit Union on Thursday announced that Jessie Kaur Sidhu will be joining their credit union as CEO effective March 1.

KCU said Sidhu brings with her a wealth of experience in retail banking as she has worked with one of Canada’s chartered banks for over 25 years and is now looking forward to working with KCU employees as

well as its members.

Sidhu brings with her over 12 years of experience in progressive senior leadership roles in both a regional and national capacity. Her priority is to positively impact both the employee and member experience while maintaining her high level of devotion to the community, KCU said in a press statement.

Continued on page 10

4 Over, ghters

EDITORIAL

Saturday, March 2, 2019

British Columbia’s money laundering is an emergency. The public deserves an inquiry In June 2018, former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Peter German released his report into money laundering in British Columbia. His independent review found that more than $75 million (or 100 million Canadian dollars) had been laundered through the province’s casinos. Canada’s westernmost province is home to about 4.8 million people, so that’s a hefty sum per capita. In January, we learned that German’s figure was probably low — very, very low — given that an international report put the total amount laundered at more than 1 billion Canadian dollars per year. (The Canadian government knew this, evidently, but didn’t share with British Columbia in the summer.) The new report also includes

details about sources of gangsterism not found in the German report. Now, British Columbia is undertaking two parallel processes to better understand what’s happening: a second German report, this time focused on real estate, horse racing and luxury vehicles, and a Department of Finance review. All of that is perfectly fine — and perfectly inadequate.

Wise and wily governments survive in the long run because they can anticipate and manage crises. Journalist John Ibbitson calls it the “Rhodes Maxim,” citing Paul Rhodes, a former Progressive Conservative press secretary in Ontario, who once told him that the government he served handled controversies by asking itself “How will this end?” and then going

there. Smart. The maxim comes to mind today, with demands in British Columbia for a public inquiry into money laundering in the style of Quebec’s 2011 Charbonneau Commission, which probed public works corruption. That commission’s findings led to millions of dollars in fines, the resignation of politicians and a handful of high-profile arrests — alongside 60 reform recommendations. British Columbia’s largest union, the Government

LETTER:

Let us work together to eradicate crime Crime in Surrey has shown up its ugly face once again. News appear in a community base newspaper about four different type of crime took place at various places in a less than week. There were unfortunate incident of pellet gun, deadly assault, paper sprayed and stabbing crime mostly carried out by our teenagers folk.

When last time crime statics revealed crime rate in Surrey was low. People took a breath of relief and considered it is a result of effective measures have been in fully force by Police and crime preventation squad. When crime happen surrounding us than we plunge in a ponder and feel not to remain in a false conjecture. But be more constant vigilant to bring crime under control without relying on statics.

It is lamentable to see our young kids involved in a mischievous crime and violence activities and ruin the precious time of their prime life rather than persuading their career to build better future.

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Saturday, March 2, 2019

SIMPSON, THOMAS & ASSOCIATES

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Saturday, March 2, 2019 From page 1

PM Trudeau refuses to resign despite scandal firm SNC-Lavalin Group Inc evade trial on charges of bribing Libyan officials. “I strongly maintain that I and my staff always acted appropriately and professionally,” Trudeau told a televised news conference in Montreal.

“I, therefore, completely disagree with (Wilson-Raybould’s) characterisation of events,” he added, brushing off a demand from Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer that he step down. The case forced the resignation of Trudeau’s principal private

secretary, Gerald Butts, earlier this month.

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Why some Chinese immigrants living in Canada live in silent fear When their political opinions run afoul of the positions of the Chinese government, it appears Chinese immigrants in Canada feel compelled to hold their tongues.

Over the course of the past eight months, I interviewed dozens of Chinese immigrants in Canada from various backgrounds for a Human Rights Watch report on the Chinese government’s activities undermining humanrights abroad. Many expressed deep fear of the Chinese government, saying that while they are outraged by the human-rights abuses in China, they worry that if they criticize the government openly, their job prospects, business opportunities and chances of going back to China would be affected or that their family members who remain in China would be in danger. A student at the University of British Columbia told me that during a public talk on environmental issues in China at the university, she did not dare to ask the speaker questions because she was afraid there were Chinese government agents watching. Several interviewees told me that they had chosen not to attend events in Canada commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre because

they feared the presence of Chinese agents.

A Toronto-based journalist said she stopped writing stories critical of the Chinese government ever since Chinese police harassed her China-based parents seven years ago. A businessman in B.C. decided not to meet me an hour before our scheduled interview because he could not be sure of my intention, worrying that I was sent by the Chinese government.

My interviewees’ fears are justified. Despite the Chinese government’s repeated claims that it protects free speech, authorities have harassed its critics on foreign soil, banned them from entering China, detained them when they did, abducted them from abroad or harassed or detained their family members in China.

In 2002, Chinese agents abducted Canadabased democracy activist Wang Bingzhang in Vietnam, brought him back to China and sentenced him to life in prison. Chinese police have continually harassed the China-based family members of Canadian human rights activist Anastasia Lin, banning them from travelling abroad and threatening to persecute them “like in the Cultural Revolution.”

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Why some Chinese immigrants living in Canada live in silent fear behind the petitions and protests cited by many of the participants – is only part of the story. When their political opinions run afoul of the positions of the Chinese government, it appears Chinese immigrants in Canada feel compelled to hold their tongues.

Over the course of the past eight months, I interviewed dozens of Chinese immigrants in Canada from various backgrounds for a Human Rights Watch report on the Chinese government’s activities undermining humanrights abroad. Many expressed deep fear of the Chinese government, saying that while they are outraged by the human-rights abuses in China, they worry that if they criticize the government openly, their job prospects, business opportunities and chances of going back to China would be affected or that their family members who remain in China would be in danger. A student at the University of British Columbia told me that during a public talk on environmental issues in China at the university, she did not dare to ask the speaker questions because she was afraid there were Chinese government agents watching. Several interviewees told me that they had chosen not to attend events in Canada commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre because they feared the presence of Chinese agents.

A Toronto-based journalist said she stopped writing stories critical of the Chinese government ever since Chinese police harassed her China-based parents seven years ago. A

businessman in B.C. decided not to meet me an hour before our scheduled interview because he could not be sure of my intention, worrying that I was sent by the Chinese government.

My interviewees’ fears are justified. Despite the Chinese government’s repeated claims that it protects free speech, authorities have harassed its critics on foreign soil, banned them from entering China, detained them when they did, abducted them from abroad or harassed or detained their family members in China.

In 2002, Chinese agents abducted Canadabased democracy activist Wang Bingzhang in Vietnam, brought him back to China and sentenced him to life in prison. Chinese police have continually harassed the China-based family members of Canadian human rights activist Anastasia Lin, banning them from travelling abroad and threatening to persecute them “like in the Cultural Revolution.”

More often, Chinese authorities resort to less discernible, insidious ways to punish those in the diaspora who are outspoken. Chinese officials have demanded that businesses stop advertising in critical overseas Chineselanguage newspapers and put pressure on other Chinese-language news media outlets to drop journalists and columnists for their hard-hitting reporting. Beijing has cowed international commercial giants such as Air Canada and Mercedes-Benz into adhering to its political positions on Taiwan and Tibet.

Toronto man’s disappearance shows Canada’s lax justice system the driver — a wealthy North York currency exchange owner named Farzam Mehdizadeh — travel the onerous route from Toronto to Montreal and back, 81 times in a single year.

At 10:20 p.m., as Mehdizadeh drove past

the village of Trenton, RCMP contacted an Ontario Provincial Police unit and asked them to pull Mehdizadeh over for speeding.

Canada fails to convict cash-cleaning criminals

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Saturday, March 2, 2019 From page 1

Pakistan’s continued support for terrorism. Hoping to give a hero’s welcome to Wing Commander Varthaman, thousands of Indians gathered on the border carrying the Tricolour and garlands since morning. But as the day wore on and night fell, there was no sign of the pilot, who was captured on February 27 by Pakistan following a dogfight between the two air forces in which his MIG-21 was shot down. He finally emerged at 9.10 pm (IST) at the Wagah checkpost on the Pakistani side, accompanied by Pakistani rangers, the Indian air attache posted in the High Commission in Islamabad. He was wearing civilian clothes—a dark jacket and khakhi trousers, walking proudly toward the gates that separated his captors’ country from his homeland.

“Wing Commander Abhinandan has just been handed over to us. He will be taken now for a detailed medical checkup. This check-up is mandatory as he had to eject from an airplane which would have put his entire body under stress,” Vice-Chief Marshal R G K Kapoor told reporters in a brief statement in Attari, near Amritstar, on the other side of Wagah.

Addressing a public rally in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Every Indian is proud of brave pilot Abhinandan.”

Several political leaders, including Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee welcomed the IAF hero back home.

Tensions between India and Pakistan flared up after a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-eMohammad killed 40 CRPF personnel in Kashmir on February 14.

Amid mounting outrage, Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting what it said was a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26.

The next day, Pakistan retaliated with a large air formation, comprising 24 fighter jets, including F-16s.

Varthaman was in one of the eight MIG-21s that took on the invader and shot down an F-16, according to officials.

During the dogfight, his plane was hit and he bailed out, landing in PoK, where he was taken into custody by the Pakistani Army.

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Indian Air Force pilot gets hero’s welcome

On Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan told a special joint sitting of Parliament that his government was releasing the pilot as a “peace

gesture”. However, India has been maintaining that Pakistani decision is in consonance with the Geneva Conventions.

After the pilot’s release, the Pakistan Foreign Office described him as a Prisoner of War. The Pakistan government was under tremendous international pressure to de-escalate the tensions with India and release the captured pilot.

As analysts painstakingly debated each nuance of India-Pakistan relations in TV studios, anchors went hoarse keeping up the constant commentary, and journalists looked for information on when and how he would be handed over to India. The government decided to keep it all under

wraps. Patriotism was the mood of the day.

There was garba in Ahmedabad, dancing in Bangalore, a sand sculpture of the officer in Puri and ‘yagnas’ in several places.

Forty CRPF personnel were killed and many injured on February 14 in one of the deadliest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

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Saturday, March 2, 2019

Who is Masood Azhar, and why did India release him in 1999?

For a short and portly man, who once himself said that he was unfit for Jihadi training, the Pakistan-based Masood Azhar has cast quite a wide shadow in the world of terrorists. In the limelight once again for the Pulwama attack, Azhar has survived and continued to build his group, Jaish-e-Mohammed, in Pakistan.

What did he mastermind?

He was jailed in India for five years, inspiring the 1999 hijacking that led to his release by the Indian government.

The JeM, led by Azhar, carried out an

assassination attempt on a Pakistani President (Gen. Pervez Musharraf, 2003), masterminded the attack on the Indian Parliament and worked in tandem with al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden on a number of terror projects. Far from paying for his crimes, intelligence sources say Azhar has built a veritable fortress in Bahawalpur town, adding new sections to the JeM’s infrastructure there

regularly. In 2009, U.S. news portal McClatchy was able to send a reporter to the JeM’s latest five-acre compound “surrounded by a high brick and mud wall,” which included a tiled swimming pool, stables, and even an ornamental fountain.

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What is the Kashmir link?

In recent years, the JeM has been accused of a series of attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and the Pathankot attack.

The JeM claimed responsibility for the Pulwama strike, yet Azhar appears to retain a free hand from the government in Islamabad, and has Beijing’s powerful backing. China, despite okaying a ban against the JeM more than a decade ago, has vetoed all attempts to place Azhar on the UN Security Council’s list of terrorists. India, the U.S., France and the U.K. have tried at various times to have Azhar branded as a global terrorist by the 1267 Committee, but China has vetoed the move by putting technical holds. If Azhar is listed as a terrorist by the Security Council, he will face a global travel ban and assets freeze.

Where did he train?

Details of his early life come from Azhar’s confession during interrogation by various agencies in Jammu and Kashmir after he was arrested there in 1994. Born in Bahawalpur on July 10, 1968, Azhar, whose father was the headmaster of a government school, was sent to study at the madrasa in Karachi’s Binori mosque after completing his Standard VIII examination. The Binori mosque’s Jamia Islamia was seen as a training school for Jihadis internationally at the time (he graduated in 1989). Azhar recorded studying with “like-minded” students from Bangladesh, Sudan and various Arab countries, who then went to fight against Soviet forces in Afghanistan, funded in part by the U.S. Azhar too enlisted to fight with the Harkat-ulMujahideen at the time, but owing to what he called his “poor physique” he couldn’t complete the mandatory 40 days of training, and was put to work in bringing out the terror outfit’s monthly magazine Sada-e-Mujahid. In the years that followed, as militancy grew in Jammu and Kashmir, and changed leadership from local groups that were essentially “pro-independence” like the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front to the Pakistani-controlled groups like the Hizbul Mujahideen, Azhar was tasked with merging two splinter groups, Harkatul-Jihad Islami (HuJI) and Harkat-ulMujahideen, into the Harkat-ul-Ansar (HuA). It was during Azhar’s visit to the Kashmir Valley to meet with the cadre in January 1994 that security forces arrested him. During his years in prison, Azhar continued to radicalise fellow prisoners, but as in the past, was hampered by his girth from anything more active. When HuA commander Sajjad Afghani tried to help Azhar out from prison, the plan failed and Afghani was killed, as Azhar couldn’t fit in the tunnel they dug out of the Kot Balwal prison. Who protects him? In December 1999, when Azhar and other terrorists were handed over

by Indian officials, including the then Intelligence Bureau operative and now National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, in Kandahar, few imagined that a man so publicly released in exchange for hostages would still pose the threat that Azhar does two decades later.

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Surrey Board of Trade pleased with National Energy Board ruling on Trans Mountain Expansion Project The National Energy Board (NEB) released their report on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project after months of consultations with a range of groups from business advocacy groups, such as the Surrey Board of Trade, to environmental protection groups. The 700-page reconsideration report has been given to the Federal Government.

The NEB has finished its reconsideration report regarding the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion and has decided the project is in the public interest of Canadians and should go forward, subject to 156 recommendations. The NEB has also made 16 new recommendations to the Government in Council. “The Surrey Board of Trade is pleased that the NEB

has recommended the Trans Mountain project to proceed,” said Anita Huberman, Surrey Board of Trade CEO. “Now we wait for the 90-day window for the Federal Government to make their decision on the pipeline.” “Canada needs to move our crude oil to ports through the pipeline to lucrative overseas markets. We hope the project moves forward expediently.” “The Trans Mountain Expansion Project – a $7.4-billion project – will spur significant economic activity, locally and globally.

Moving crude oil by rail through suburbs is far more hazardous than using stateof-the art pipeline technology. A portion of the new construction of the Trans Mountain Pipeline will go through Surrey, British Columbia.”

The Harper government passed a measure 13 years ago to catch Liberal scandals. It worked perfectly As the Liberal government descends into full-blown crisis, Conservatives could take some satisfaction that this is all happening in part because of a long-ago measure they implemented precisely to catch Liberal scandals.

In 2006, one of the first actions of the new government of Stephen Harper was the Director of Public Prosecutions Act, a measure designed to prevent future occurrences of the Sponsorship Scandal.

Now, that act is at the centre of events apparently showing an attempt by the government of Justin Trudeau to halt a criminal prosecution for political reasons.

“Gerry (Gerald Butts, former principal secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) talked to me about how the statute was set up by Harper (and) that he does not like the law,” former attorney general Jody WilsonRaybould said in Wednesday testimony before the House of Commons justice committee.

“I said something like ‘That is the law we have.’” Wilson-Raybould said she was subjected to “hounding” and then ultimately shuffled out of her job as Attorney General because she failed to stop a criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin, a Montreal construction and engineering firm accused of bribing the government of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Specifically, Wilson-Raybould refused to

overrule the Director of Public Prosecutions, an independent office created by the 2006 act in order to prevent political interference in criminal prosecutions.

Previously, Canadian attorneys general had full discretion over which criminal cases were pursued and which were abandoned.

Since the Attorney General is also a sitting cabinet member, the door was left open for easy – and quiet – political meddling in the judicial process.

The 2006 act created an independent prosecution service shielded from interference. The Attorney General can still overrule the director, but any such decision has to be publicly announced.

Wilson-Raybould has done this in other cases, such as in November when she advised prosecutors to drop criminal charges in certain cases of people having sex without informing their partners of their HIV positive status. In the case of SNCLavalin, Wilson-Raybould decided it was “not appropriate” to overrule the director despite repeated requests to do so.

“I explained to (Trudeau) the law and what I have the ability to do and not do under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act,” Wilson-Raybould said Wednesday. “I told him that I had done my due diligence and made up my mind … that I was not going to interfere with the decision of the (director of public prosecution).”

LOCAL

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LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Prostitution ring renting through Airbnb, Victoria police find A prostitution ring exploiting young women has been renting space using the short-term rental service Airbnb, Victoria police say.

Major crime investigators have been working with other police departments and have contacted Airbnb in an effort to identify the people involved, said Const. Matt Rutherford.

“It’s a very active investigation,” Rutherford said. “The investigators really want to get the information out to the public that people who are renting out their properties or suites or rooms can take a few simple steps to stop the ring.”

Rutherford said he expects information on arrests and charges, if they occur, will

be available in the coming weeks.

The officer did not know exactly how old the women are but said no youths are involved.

Police are also investigating the trashing of an Airbnb suite where thousands of dollars worth of furniture was stolen.

The investigators have noted a pattern in their investigations, Rutherford said: t ćF IPNFPXOFS GBJMT UP NFFU UIF

from being exploited, Rutherford said.

Owners should meet all renters at check-in and require them to show government identification or to complete Airbnb’s verified identification process.

Hosts should consider setting a minimum stay and should not set the rental to be available immediately.

Owners using a third-party service to rent out space should talk to the service to ensure that they are checking identification and not putting people or t ćF "JSCOC BQQ XBT TFU UP i*OTUBOU the property at risk.

Booking,” which allows renters to book Hosts should take payment in advance at any time. The rental is immediately and read reviews of renters to make sure available without a minimum stay or they have a good rental history. with a very short minimum stay. In some Anybody with information on these cases, the owner is using a third-party cases is asked to call Victoria police service to rent their space on their behalf. at 250-995-7654. Information can be Investigators want people who rent out anonymously provided through Crime their spaces to take a few simple steps to Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. prevent and protect these young women renter at checkin and fails to verify the guests’ identity through government identification or through Airbnb’s verified identification process.

Jessie Kaur Sidhu - New CEO for Khalsa Credit Union From page 2 In addition to her extensive experience in the financial services industry, Sidhu holds a dual major in business administration and psychology from Simon Fraser University.

She also holds the certified financial planner designation.

KCU said Sidhu will be joining a successful credit union with assets in excess of $450 million and more than 16,000 members

across six branches spanning the Lower Mainland and Victoria.

“We are confident that our employees, members, and fellow co-operators will extend a warm welcome and support her efforts to ensure our organization flourishes,” said KCU’s Gurminder Kaur Malik.

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Ottawa approves extradition process for Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou Canada has announced that an extradition hearing against Meng Wanzhou, the embattled executive of Chinese tech giant Huawei, can move forward.

“Today, Department of Justice Canada officials issued an authority to proceed, formally commencing an extradition process in the case of Ms. Meng Wanzhou,” read a statement from the federal department.

Ottawa had until midnight Friday, three months after Meng’s arrest, to decide whether to approve the proceedings.

The United States wants to try Meng on charges related to conspiring to violate international sanctions against Iran.

Meng’s defence team said in a statement that Meng maintains she is innocent of any wrongdoing and that the U.S. prosecution

and extradition is an abuse of legal process.

The team said it is disappointed that an authority to proceed was issued given the political nature of the charges and that U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he would interfere in the case if he thought it would assist with trade negotiations with China.

Meng leaves her home with a security guard in Vancouver on Dec. 12, 2018, the day after she was released on $10-million bail. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press) Meng, 46, was detained at Vancouver International Airport en route from Hong Kong to Mexico on Dec. 1, 2018, enraging Chinese leaders and catapulting both countries into an ongoing diplomatic dispute.

China has repeatedly called for Meng’s release since her arrest. Prime Minister

11

MPs hold emergency debate to respond to Wilson-Raybould’s testimony There was an emergency debate in the House of Commons Thursday night on the subject of former justice minister and attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould’s testimony before the justice committee.

Conservative House leader Candice Bergen asked for the debate early Thursday, a request that was supported by the NDP. “Somebody is lying, and I would say that it is not the former attorney general,” Bergen said.

Emergency debates are held to discuss urgent matters and must take place on the day the request is approved unless the Speaker rules otherwise.

Trudeau’s former top adviser to testify at committee probing SNC-Lavalin affair Trudeau mulls Wilson-Raybould’s fate in Liberal caucus as Scheer makes formal bid for RCMP probe The debate, which lasted until midnight,

came as the NDP and the Greens continued a push for the government to call a public inquiry into allegations made by WilsonRaybould that she is improperly pressured by 11 Prime Minister’s Office and other government officials in the SNC-Lavalin affair.

Wilson-Raybould told the committee that she experienced sustained and improper pressure to allow the Quebecbased infrastructure company to avoid a trial on bribery charges through a deferred prosecution agreement.

The corporation faced a 10-year ban on bidding on government contracts if convicted of the criminal charges of bribery.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, meanwhile,continuestocallforPrimeMinister Justin Trudeau to step down over the affair.

Travellers struggling to rebook after Air Canada forced to briefly halt Toronto-Delhi flights After the sudden cancellation of multiple flights between Toronto and Delhi, some travellers and their families are scrambling to figure out what to do next. On Thursday, Air Canada announced its flights from Toronto and Vancouver to Delhi are back on their normal schedules, but some travellers are still struggling to rebook.

The Pakistani government closed the country’s airspace on Wednesday amid rising tensions with India, forcing many airlines, including Air Canada, to reroute flights.

“Canadians should know that Air Canada was advised not to fly over certain airspaces, and therefore cancelled its flight to New Delhi,” federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau said.

“Until further notice I would encourage people to check with the Air Canada website if they’ve got plans to go to India, as well as travel advisories,” he added.

Air Canada flight to India turns back after Pakistan closes airspace Some frustrated people took to social media to try to find a resolution, including Satwant Singh.

“@AirCanada My parents are supposed to fly back on Friday from India and now their flights cancelled. Is there anything we can do to ensure they have a flight back home?” Singh wrote on Twitter. “We have put in place a flexible rebooking policy for customers,” an Air Canada spokesperson wrote in an email. But customers reported issues with the process on Twitter.

“The link says unfortunately no flights available,” Singh tweeted.

January, February ‘very busy time’ for Canada-India flights Mandhur Shah, who manages Ashok Travel, says he’s been monitoring the situation very closely. Booking flights to India makes up 80 per cent of his business, especially at this time of year.

South Asian man gets 6-year jail for cross-border drug conspiracy A B.C. man who was convicted of conspiring to ship large quantities of ecstasy to the U.S. in return for cocaine has been sentenced to six years in prison.

Tarsem Singh Jawanda pleaded guilty to the drug-conspiracy count that occurred between January and August 2015. He also pleaded guilty to trafficking ecstasy in B.C. from February to August 2015.

The offences happened in the context of an RCMP investigation into Jawanda’s suspected drug dealing and included the use of a police agent, undercover officers and authorized police interceptions of private communications.

Jawanda and several others conspired to transport 12 1/2 kilograms of MDMA,

commonly known as ecstasy, to the U.S. The plan called for the police agent and an undercover officer to pick up a substantial amount of cocaine in the U.S. and bring it back to Canada.

The accused admitted to being a broker of the drugs and that the operation was sophisticated in nature, including the use of encrypted cellphones and the ability to erase messages on the phones remotely.

He was also involved in dealing with 10 separate sales of ecstasy to an undercover officer in B.C. totalling 15 kg of the drug and valued at between $100,000 and $150,000. He obtained the drugs from at least two suppliers and provided them to the purchaser.

12

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Teachers honoured for saving student suffering cardiac arrest Two Okanagan teachers were honoured

by BC Emergency Health Services in Oliver on Tuesday for helping save the life of a student who went into cardiac arrest during gym class about a month ago.

South Okanagan Secondary School teachers Steve Podomorow and Mike Russo resuscitated 13-year-old, Dilshaan Dhaliwal, using CPR and an

automated external defibrillator or AED. “[The AED] gave him the best chance he could have possibly had. So, the AED was paramount in the success of this,” said Russo.

During a joint gym class Jan. 30 with Russo’s Grade 8 class and Podomorow ‘s senior class, Dhaliwal collapsed after a 12 minute run, Podomorow told Daybreak South host Chris Walker.

The Grade 8 student had just handed in his running results to Russo and was walking past Podomorow, when he went into cardiac arrest.

“I’m the first aid person at the school and checked him out quickly, got 911 on the phone

and started the CPR process,” said Russo.

Oliver student Dilshaan Dhaliwal was flown to B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver for treatment after going into sudden cardiac arrest in gym class at school. Podomorow said the 911 dispatcher stayed on the line with them the entire time, helping them throughout the process.

“We had the AED on and starting CPR probably within two to three minutes,” said Russo.

He estimates that he performed CPR for about eight or nine minutes.

Dhaliwal was later flown to the B.C. Children’s Hospital for treatment.

“We were very fortunate to have the AED really close by,” said Podomorow. He said the easy accessibility to the defibrillator helped them and the paramedics use it quickly.

Russo said he believes the AED, in addition to CPR, saved Dhaliwal’s life.

“He was in a shockable rhythm and so when you have the AED there, we can hopefully reset the heart, and it was able to do that,” said Russo.

‘Stay on the line’: 911 dispatcher helps teacher save student’s life Many schools across the Okanagan have AEDs, but not all do.

The AED at South Okanagan Secondary School had been donated by the Advanced Coronary Treatment Foundation.

The North Okanagan-Shuswap School District announced last week that it would be adding defibrillators to all of its schools over the next three years.

Maple Ridge fire destroys homeless camp Maple Ridge first responders were called to another fire at a homeless camp overnight.

Residents said it’s the second fire at the Anita Place camp this week, since officials with the City of Maple Ridge seized propane tanks, heaters and barbecues last

this latest fire. (Gian-Paolo Mendoza/CBC) ‘They have to resort to setting fires’ “These people won’t have any measure of staying warm … they won’t let them have electricity,” Hajdu said.

“They have to resort to setting fires in the

weekend as part of a court injunction.

The fire reportedly started in a tent around 2 a.m. PT Friday, before spreading to some other structures near the back of the camp on 222nd Street.

Ted Hajdu, who works regularly with people at the camp, was at the scene after the fire was contained. He said these fires are often a result of people trying to stay warm without the sources of heat that were recently seized.

Ted Hajdu said he’s worried for some of the residents he knows in the camp after

warming tent to stay warm. That’s not right.”

The camp was raided over the weekend by city officials saying there were several fire hazards in the camp.

Officials seize propane tanks from Maple Ridge homeless camp RCMP say they don’t believe anyone was injured in this latest fire but they are searching for one resident who was believed to be living in the tent where the fire started.

The exact cause is under investigation.

LOCAL

Saturday, March 2, 2019

RCMP seizes illicit drugs after Guildford home raid A two-week investigation by Surrey RCMP led to a drug bust in Guildford last week.

On Feb. 21, members of the RCMP drug section searched a home in the 15600-block of 99B Avenue and seized

approximately 50 doses of suspected cocaine, 34 doses of suspected fentanyl/ heroin, $1,900 cash and two vehicles.

Three people were arrested but later released pending further investigation.

“These alleged illegal activities posed not only a significant threat to those who use illicit drugs, but also to the general public, due to these activities being connected to the Lower Mainland gang conflict,” said Surrey RCMP Supt. Shawn Gill.

“Through prevention, education, interdiction and enforcement, the Surrey RCMP will continue to strategically investigate individuals and locations involved in the illegal drug trade.”

Anyone with information on the investigation can contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Liberals move to grant pardons for old pot possession convictions The Liberal government is moving on its plan to grant fast, free pardons for Canadians who were convicted of pot possession before the drug was legalized last fall.

Bill C-93, tabled in the House of Commons on Friday, amends the Criminal Records Act (CRA) and aims to break down barriers to employment, housing or travel for Canadians with a criminal record for pot.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale hopes the bill will pass into law by summer.

“We believe it’s good public policy to remove roadblocks to the successful reintegration of previous offenders who have fully served their sentences, especially after such major renovations in the laws as occurred with C-45 last fall,” he said.

The Cannabis Act, which legalized and regulated the possession, cultivation and distribution of marijuana, came into force Oct. 17.

The normal fee of $631 for a pardon will be waived under the bill. The five-10 year waiting period to apply for a pardon will also be waived.

Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction Minister Bill Blair said research indicates as many as 400,000 Canadians have criminal records for simple possession, but the government expects between 70,000 and 80,000 are eligible to apply.

He said the criminal record is disproportionate to the offence, and has significantandlife-lastingimpactontheperson.

“We all know someone in our lives, in our community, who have as a result of some

youthful indiscretion, a record for simple possession of cannabis and since that conviction have led exemplary lives,” he said. “We believe they deserve an opportunity for a fresh start.”

Blair said the decision to limit the bill to simple possession is because other offences such as trafficking and cultivation are more complex and are more likely to include a criminal element.

A pardon, or record suspension, does not erase the fact you were convicted of a crime, but it keeps the record separate from other criminal records.

The NDP has maintained that record suspensions are not enough, and called for expungements.

Asked why the government did not opt for expungement, which would erase all records of the conviction, Goodale said expungements are the option when a law is deemed unconstitutional and should never have been on the books.

Along with a historic apology to LGBT Canadians on Nov. 28, 2017, the Liberal government brought in legislation that aimed to correct a “historical injustice” of past criminalization of same-sex activity by consenting adults. That allowed for the removal of record convictions that would today be inconsistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Liberal MP Greg Fergus said racialized Canadians like blacks and Indigenous communities are no more likely to consume marijuana, but have been far more likely to be convicted of cannabis-related offences.

13

CJ Sidhu’s mother passes away It is with a heavy heart to share the news of Joginder Kaur Sidhu’s passing. She was the mother of a renowned community support provider & financial advisor CJ Sidhu .

She passed away peacefully at CJ’s brother Jasvir Sidhu’s home in Calgary, Alberta. Funeral services took

place on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, at Country Hills Crematorium, NE Calgary, followed by paath (final prayers) at the Gurdwara Dashmesh Culture Centre.

She left behind a family of 4 children, 13 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Thank you all for your support

City of Surrey selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers The City of Surrey has been selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2019. Canada’s Best Diversity Employers recognizes employers across the country that have exceptional workplace diversity and inclusiveness programs, including programs for five major employee groups: Women; Members of visible minorities; Persons with disabilities; Aboriginal peoples; and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered/Transsexual (LGBT) peoples.

“We are honoured to receive this award and all that it represents,” said Mayor Doug McCallum. “Diversity is an important part of our city’s culture. Recognition on this level speaks volumes about the work we have done to promote, support, and celebrate diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and to advance Surrey as a welcoming community for all.”

The City of Surrey was selected based on innovative and progressive initiatives offered to create a more inclusive and respectful workplace. Highlights include: Creating an Inclusive Employer Awards program to recognize local businesses that create welcoming environments for persons with disabilities and partnering with Avia Employment Services and Surrey WorkBC to host an inclusive hiring fair.

Adapting the City of Surrey’s recreational sports programming to support individuals with disabilities, such as wheelchair tennis, sledge hockey, power soccer, wheelchair basketball and an “I AM Game” initiative to introduce adapted sports to a broad audience.

Developing a pilot program to help improve the economic prosperity of Indigenous peoples, refugees and youth aging out of care

14

LOCAL

Saturday, March 2, 2019

South Asian asbestos remover permanently barred A longtime Lower Mainland asbestos removal company and its operator, who repeatedly violated the province’s worker safety rules, have been permanently barred from the industry.

In a B.C. Supreme Court ruling released last week, Justice Francesca V. Marzari issued a decision that prohibits Seattle Environmental Consulting Ltd. and Mike Singh from carrying out asbestos removal work in any capacity for an indefinite period beginning April 15.

“Seattle is responsible for repeated and egregious breaches of the (Workers Compensation) Act and regulation, including significant failures to properly dispose of asbestos waste, to ensure adequate containment during high-risk work and to provide safe supervision of workers,” Marzari said in her 177-page decision.

Marzari noted that in two cases there were reasonable grounds to believe that Seattle issued clearance letters — which would allow unprotected workers to enter a site — before all asbestos had been removed.

WorkSafe B.C. sought an injunction against Seattle Environmental and Singh “on evidence of the likelihood of Mr. Singh breaching the regulation and the resultant significant threat to workers,” Al Johnson, WorkSafe B.C.’s vice-president of prevention services said Thursday in a written statement.

Asbestos removal work commonly takes place at older homes slated for demolition or renovation that can contain materials with asbestos such as drywall compound, loose insulation and vinyl tiles.

The judge found that Singh breached the workplace safety laws more than 20 times at 11 different work sites — including homes in Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond and

West Vancouver — between 2013 and 2017.

Those breaches included that the company failed to ensure workers wore fullface respirators, failed to test for airborne asbestos during high-risk work and failed to seal containers of asbestos waste.

Exposure to asbestos — tiny fibres that can’t be seen, smelled or tasted — can result in permanent damage to the lungs and is the leading cause of death in the construction industry, according to WorkSafe B.C. From 2007-2016, 605 B.C. workers died from asbestos-related diseases, according to statistics from WorkSafe B.C. Singh came to the attention of WorkSafe B.C. nearly a decade ago, after which the safety regulator wrote more than 230 orders against Singh and his companies for workplace safety violations.

By 2012, WorkSafe B.C. had successfully obtained an order from the B.C. Supreme Court to force Singh to follow the rules.

In 2013, a B.C. Supreme Court judge found Seattle Environmental, Singh and his son, Shawn Singh, in contempt of breaching the 2012 order not to break the rules.

In the latest decision, the judge found that Singh was again in contempt for not following the rules, while Shawn was not found in contempt.

Marzari has asked the parties to make submissions on sentencing.

Contempt can result in fines or jail time.

Singh and his companies have already been issued fines of about $635,000 by WorkSafe B.C. since 2010.

Seattle Environmental and Singh had argued their case was not egregious and the evidence showed they complied with orders after WorkSafe B.C. inspections.

Seattle and Singh also argued that

CMHC sets target to make housing affordable for every Canadian by 2030 A federal housing agency hopes to see every Canadian with an affordable home by 2030 with a plan that lays out a path of experimentation to make it happen.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says today that meeting that 2030 target will take help from governments and the economy — hence the aspirational nature of the goal.

A construction worker shingles the roof of a new home in a development in Ottawa on Monday, July 6, 2015. A federal housing agency is setting an aspirational goal of providing every Canadian with an affordable home by 2030 in a plan that lays out a path of experimentation to make it happen.

An estimated 1.6 million households are considered in “core housing need,” meaning that people live in places that are too expensive for them or that don’t meet their needs.

The plan says hitting the mark will also require removing barriers to housing based on gender, race, sexual orientation and gender identity.

The target is one that the corporation had talked about with stakeholders for months as it took the lead on delivering most of the money in the federal government’s 10-year, $40-billion housing strategy.

Over the next year, the agency plans to dole out some $2.4 billion in loans and funding as part of the strategy and to build 8,300 units and repair 15,000 more by this time next year.

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, an

More charges laid against Kang group after major gang investigation Vancouver Police say four men have been in the murder conspiracy because on-going court proceedings. charged with conspiracy to commit murder of Butshedidsaythepersonwassomeone“very after a successful multi-agency investigation to disrupt gang violence on the Lower Mainland. much someone involved in the gang lifestyle.”

Pashminder Boparai, 30, of Abbotsford, Newly charged in the Project Territory investigation are Surrey resident Moeen and Moeen Khan, 22, of Surrey have Khan, 22, Abbotsford resident Pashminder been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and are Boparai, 30, and currently wanted on two Ottawa men Canada-wide warrants.

– Mustapha Ali of The indictment, Ottawa, 28, and obtained by Postmedia, Nobin Malongasays the four men Massamba, 23. conspired to commit The Ottawa men, murder with “Sameet who are also facing Pashminder Boparai, 30, Moeen Khan, 22 Kang, Gary Kang additional firearms and others” between counts, are in custody but VPD Acting Insp. Lisa Byrne said Tuesday that June 4 and June 19, 2018 in Vancouver, police have not yet located Boparai or Khan. Burnaby, Langley and Maple Ridge.

The firearm counts against Ali and Byrne told reporters that she couldn’t comment on who was targeted Malonga-Massamba stem from a dramatic police take-down in Langley last June 18.

The Kang brothers, who are linked to the Red Scorpion gang, were among several people charged last August with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, as well working to benefit a criminal organization.

The Kang brothers and the RS have been involved in a violent conflict with the Brothers Keepers gang.

So far, the Project Territory probe has led to 209 charges against 38 people.

“The Vancouver Police Department continues to engage regional and national partners to combat gang crime,” Vancouver Police Supt. Mike Porteous said. “These arrests represent the success of ongoing partnerships and cooperation at a national level, including the Ottawa Police Service, to combat this serious public safety issue.”

Vancouver Police formed a task force in March 2017 to address escalating gang violence in Metro Vancouver. The task force now includes the anti-gang Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, the RCMP, the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team and local municipal police departments.

CFSEU Supt. Paul Dadwal said Lower Mainland gangs “operate through multiple jurisdictions and are not bound by borders.”

“The police response must also be strategic and intelligence led throughout

BC BUDGET

Saturday, March 2, 2019

L

egislation to further protect fertile, farmable land in B.C. from the effects of large developments and commercial projects is now in force.

Regulations that strengthen B.C.’s Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) came into force under Bill 52 on Feb. 22, 2019, enhancing food security and encouraging farming in the ALR over commercial projects or residential developments. “I’m very happy to see this law come into full force and effect,� said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture. “This new law will encourage farming and better protect farmland by banning mega-mansions, stopping the illegal dumping of waste on farmland and reinstating the one-zone system.

It’s a great step in our effort to revitalize the Agricultural Land Reserve so that British Columbians can count on a safe, secure supply of locally grown food on their tables for years to come.�

The Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act, 2018 provides three key changes.

Firstly, it restricts the removal of soil and puts forward increased penalties for the dumping of construction debris and other harmful fill in the ALR. Secondly, the amendment directly addresses megamansions and property speculation in the ALR by limiting primary residence size on ALR lands and allowing the Agricultural

Legislation to protect BC farmland comes into effect Land Commission (ALC) to approve additional residences if they are for farm use.

Thirdly, the amendment reunifies the ALR as a single zone, ensuring consistent rules with strong protections for all provincial ALR land. “At the same time, we’re supporting larger farming families by ensuring that those who need extra living space to support their farming operations have a path forward at the ALC to build a larger home,� said Popham. “Multigenerational farming families are the backbone of agriculture throughout B . C . �

Bill 52 was introduced on Nov. 5, 2018, and received royal assent three weeks later. It required a regulation to bring the law into force.

The legislative changes make it clear that British Columbia’s ALR is for farming and ranching, not for building megamansions and dumping construction waste.

Established in 1973, the ALR is administered by the ALC, an independent tribunal mandated to preserve agricultural land and encourage farming on agricultural land. The ALR includes over 4.7 million hectares of B.C. that are preserved for agricultural use – less than five per cent of B.C.’s total land base. * Farming families who need the extra space to farm have a path forward at the ALC to build a larger home to support their farming operations.

Surrey schools plead government to remove portables The Surrey school board is pleading for more than $10 million from the provincial government to pay for extra portables needed for students next year.

The board passed a motion this month asking for a special $10.5 million grant from the Ministry of Education to pay for 20 to 30 new portables needed to accommodate growing enrolment, said board vice-chair Terry Allen. “That $10.5 million comes directly out of our budget,� said Allen. “There’s no offset for it at all. The board’s position is throughout the province there’s money for declining enrolment, there’s money for northern allowance, but there’s no allocation whatsoever in the budget for growth. And the growth in Surrey is absolutely huge. This year alone we’ve got 1,200 more students. We’re actually asking the province for some relief from that cost.�

The money for portables could otherwise be used by the district to hire 100 additional teachers, or 200 additional education assistants, said Allen.

Premier John Horgan’s government promised in the 2017 election to eliminate the use of portables in Surrey schools within four years and cut their use in half within two years.

However, executing on that promise has proven difficult so far and Horgan has admitted the timelines won’t be met. The number of portables in Surrey has continued to climb because the district has the fastest-growing enrolment in the province.

Surrey is set to have approximately 355 portables for the school year beginning in September, said Allen. Each new portable costs $210,000 with additional

15

costs of $75,000 per portable to move a unit to a new school location as the district tries to shift and adjust to demand. “In my time it’s the most we’ve ever had,� said Allen.

* To ensure fairness, people who have all their permits and authorizations in place on Feb. 22, 2019, when the regulations became law, will be grandfathered under the old system provided they begin substantial construction by Nov. 5, 2019. * Under Bill 52, dumping construction

waste and other damaging substances on farmland is prohibited, with strong penalties and new tools for enforcement. * New offences for illegal fill and soil removal have been created under the new act, with maximum penalties of $1 million or six months imprisonment for a first offence.

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16

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Metro Vancouver services to increase $43 each year until 2023 The price of necessary services, including sewage and waste removal, is going up in Metro Vancouver. A presentation at the annual Council of Councils meeting shows the average household will see an increase of $43 per year for the next four years.

Mayor Jonathan Cote of New Westminster, who is also the chair of Metro Vancouver’s regional planning committee, said it’s something the committee can’t control.

“The reality is maintaining and building infrastructure is really expensive work, and a lot of that work isn’t optional,” Cote said. “We need to be able to provide the water service, the sewer service, the sewage service to the region.”

The cost for all Metro Vancouver regional services (water, sewage etc.) is going up by an average of $43 per household a year.

But Cote said the

committee is open to change.

“Potentially there are some discussions we can have with different levels of government, mainly the provincial government, on how can we can fund a more sustainable infrastructure that we know needs to be put in place, but our current taxation

structure does have its limitations,” he said.

The average home will pay around $534 for Metro Vancouver services in 2019, the report said. By 2023, that total price will be up to $722.

The Council of Councils meeting is the first time most of the mayors and councillors from across the Metro Vancouver region have sat down together since the October municipal election.

Workshop on stress and Trauma Relief at India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas in Richmond India Cultural Centre of Canada Gurdwara Nanak Niwas on Richmond’s Highway to Heaven (8600 #5 Road, Richmond) is always in the forefront of promoting healthy living. From time to time well respected resource people are invited to the Gurdwara to share their expertise with the congregation and the management committee. Mrs. Manjit Kaur Johal, an active member of the Gurdwara Management Committee is also a wellrespected and prominent advocate and certified instructor of Art of Living. On Thursday, February 21, Manjit invited her friend and a full time international faculty member with the Art of Living Foundation, Dr.Hiteshini Jugessur, to share her expertise

with some members of the Gurdwara Management as well as Richmond’s Fire and Rescue Chief Tim Wilkinson and Richmond RCMP’s Officer-in-Charge, Superintendent Will Ng and Inspector Sonny Parmar. Dr. Jugessur specialises in stress and trauma relief programs. She has been delivering these workshops in North America and Africa for 19 years. Gurdwara Nanak Niwas Management Committee considered this as an excellent opportunity to connect Dr. Jugessur with our top Fire and Rescue as well as local police officials so that their staffs could benefit from her expertise. It was a very valuable experience for all of the participants.

Canada announces shipwreck plan that could sting dumpers with $6M in fines And this year, there were more new faces than old.

Water rates to rise by an average of 4.5 per cent across Metro Vancouver this year Cote, who is one of the few incumbents in Metro Vancouver, said it’s strange being around so many new faces.

“In the meeting here today, when they said, ‘Show of hands, first Council of Councils meeting,’ it looked like 75 per cent of the room put up their hand,” he said.

But the two-term mayor said it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“Given the enthusiasm and interest that I’m seeing around with new members, once we get through that learning stage, I think the region is going to be in good hands,” he added.

The Council of Councils meeting sees mayors and councillors go over topics that impact the entire region, including waste disposal and transit plans.

Other topics included TransLink’s plan to invest $9 billion into new services in the region.

The government have announced new laws to crack down on shipwrecks and mariners abandoning their vessels.

As part of the five-year $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan, Bill C-64: the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act has been passed which increases owner liability and sanctions the removal of hazardous or abandoned boats.

Canada is not the only country keen to map and remove shipwrecks. The Spanish government, in a slightly more romantic initiative, announced that they have completed the first phase in their efforts to map 681 of their sunken galleons in the Caribbean and off the Eastern U.S. seaboard. Many of the ships are believed to contain religious artifacts, mercury, cloth and gold. Reports say that 91.2 per cent of the ships were found have been destroyed by severe weather, 4.3 per cent ran on to reefs or had other navigational problems, and 1.4 per cent were lost to naval battles with other countries’ navies. Only 0.8 per cent are thought to have been sunk by pirates.

On the Saanich Peninsula, the

act is of interest to local mariners.

Swartz Bay and Piers Island wharves Commissioner Mike Smart is frustrated with people who abandon their boats.

“Any sort of cleaning up of dumped or derelict boats is time well spent,” he said. “There isn’t a junkyard facility for people who abandon their boats.”

The act prohibits vessel abandonment and brings into Canadian law the International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007. It also seeks to addresses irresponsible vessel management and enables the government to remove problem vessels.

Individuals failing to comply with the act could get hit with a $50,000 fine, while companies could have to pay $250,000.

Regulatory offence prosecution rises to a maximum fine of $1 million for individuals and $6 million for companies.

In 2017, the government launched two short-term funding programs to support coastal communities in removing and disposing of smaller high priority vessels.

This was part of a national strategy and the programs were called Transport Canada’s Abandoned Boats Program and Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program.

“Abandoned and wrecked vessels can pose hazards, clutter our shorelines, affect sensitive marine habitats and species, and disrupt community activities. This strengthened legislation ensures these problems are addressed quickly, before they become more serious,” said Jonathan Wilkinson the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

To date, funding has been approved to assess 87 boats for a total of $267,560, and to remove 44 boats for a total of $597,993.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Abandoned and Wrecked Vessels Removal Program is providing up to $1.325 million to Harbour Authorities and other eligible parties to remove and dispose of wrecked vessels located in federal small craft harbours. So far, 23 boats have been removed and disposed of across Canada through the program, and funding has been awarded to gain possession of an additional 11 vessels.

Superwoman Lilly Singh comes out as bisexual?

Famous YouTube sensation Lilly Singh aka Superwoman has confessed on social media that she is bisexual and has even called it a “superpower”.

She shared the news on Twitter and followed it up with a similar post on Instagram too. Throughout my life these have proven to be obstacles from time to time. But now I’m fully embracing them as my superpowers.

No matter how many “boxes” you

check, I encourage you to do the same x” And guess what?! Her fans are welcoming the news with open arms. In fact, quite a few of them

are saying that they knew of it already. Here’s a quick look at some of the best reactions from her social media followers: I commend you for your courage to speak your truth. I know it wasn’t easy for you, but just know that you have the love and support of so many people.

Sending Love and support from a YouTube

sensation “Superwoman”. She has explained that the name Superwoman was prompted by a childhood idea that she had an invisible “S” on her chest, making her believe she can do anything. Punjabi culture is frequently portrayed in her videos, which also contain satirical takes on everyday life and people’s

favorite complaints.[16] Her most popular video is How Girls Get Ready and her most popular series features her fictional parents, Paramjeet and Manjeet, both played by Singh herself, reacting to trending and controversial videos.[16] [17][18] She also frequently collaborates

18

Saturday, March 2, 2019

After Anup Jalota, Jasleen finds love in shivashish

604-566-3111

7233 - Fraser St., Vancouver, BC

The twelfth season of the controversial reality show, Bigg Boss had garnered mixed reviews from the audiences.

But the one thing that grabbed the attention of the au d i e n c e s the most was the g u r u shishya pair Anup Jalota and Jasleen Matharu.

Internet went mad and was also divided on Jasleen and Anup’s relationship status. Later, after their eviction from the show, both of them denied that the two were dating and of course the viewers felt cheated But as they say,’past is past’, seems like Jasleen has moved on and has found new love. Over the weekend, she partied hard with her Bigg Boss buddy Shivashish Mishra and the man has shared a picture from the party on his Instagram account. In the photo, we see the two posing happily and also are quite close and comfy with one another. But not the picture, it’s basically the long caption and Jasleen’s ‘Love You’ comment for Shivashish

which makes us believe that the two might be in love. Have a look at it below: If you have followed the last season of

Bigg Boss, after Anupji’s exit, Jasleen got quite close to Shivashish Mishra in the house. Well, we do not want to jump to any conclusions, but if Jasleen and Shivashish are really dating then we say, all the best! Jasleen started learning music at early age and won the best singer title at inter-college competition at the age of 16. She has also performed with Mika Singh’s troupe for over 3years all over India. As a result of her upbringing in an environment at home where interest in different art forms was encouraged, Jasleen became a trained dancer in bharatnatyam, hip-hop, salsa, belly-dancing and is a pro at Bollywood jhatkas too! She is also a brown belt in kickboxing and has been practicing it

Saturday, March 2, 2019

HOROSCOPE

Arjun Kapoor tying the knot with Malika Arora!

Malaika Arora have been in the news lately for dating. Latest reports suggest that Now Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor, both will

away from public appearances together. Arjun and Malaika were earlier spotted at the airport heading to Switzerland to attend Akash Ambani

Aries

March 21 - April 20 After last week’s rather emotional events, this week could seem much more placid. The sun in your spiritual sector encourages you to take a

interested in enjoying greater peace of mind, taking up meditation or yoga might be a positive

Mars might see you doing just that. Walking your talk and having the discipline to take on new and

you keep it up.

Taurus

April 21 - May 20

be tying the knot by April 2019. The two will reportedly get married in a Christian ceremony.

Reports suggest that Arjun and Malaika will be getting married by April 2019. Reportedly, it will be an intimate wedding which will be attended by family and a few close friends.

Even though they have not opened up about their relationship to anyone, they never shy

and Shloka Mehta’s Pre-wedding bash. Malaika was seen donning an off white high neck sweater which she teamed it with denims and maroon knee length boots. Arjun, on the other hand, sported a yellow sweatshirt which he teamed with denims and sneakers. The two got down from the same car together. While Arjun walked ahead, Malaika followed him.

Guneet Monga Makes India Proud Guneet Monga’s Sikhya entertainment co-production titled Period - End of Sentence based on the deep stigma associated with menstruation and delving upon the work of real life Pad Man Arunachalam Muruganantham, has won itself the Oscar for Best Documentary Short at the 91st Academy Awards. Guneet Monga is the executive producer and her production firm, Sikhya has co-produced the

short film. Here’s her reaction after the victory, “Thank you to the Academy for the highest honour and for recognising the efforts of the young girls from Oakwood school in LA to Kathikera in UP in helping us shatter the glass ceiling.

Periods are normal and in no way do they stops us from achieving anything. This has been more than 10 years of work of Action India run by Gauri

Newlyweds Yuvraj Hans & Mansi Sharma in punjabi film Different on-screen couples are creating a buzz with each announcement. If a particular on-screen pairing is loved by the audience then the makers keep repeating them over and over again. But not very often do we see real life couples coming on-screen. Seems like this trend shall start with the newlyweds Yuvraj and Mansi.

From an insider, we’ve got to know that Mrs and Mr Yuvraj Hans would be seen together in an upcoming Punjabi movie.

The project is yet untitled but it is confirmed that it will be directed by Manbhavan Singh.

The movie is produced by Bobby Sachdeva. From what we’ve been told, it shall go on floor in May and the shoot shall happen in Amritsar.

! through your sign, the coming week could see you energized and ready to give your all to an idea or project. Your patient approach can bring rewards because you enjoy building things up slowly. You understand the process of growth, and this can be a big advantage that leads to success. Don’t hesitate to invite others on board if you need a helping hand.

Someone else’s input could prove valuable, especially midweek.

Gemini

May 20 - June 21 With the sun in a prominent sector, this is your chance to relish the spotlight and make others aware of your special skills and abilities.

A positive aspect midweek encourages you to listen to your instincts concerning an opportunity, especially if it’s one you haven’t

someone or take some other kind of action, following through could make you aware of

in the future.

Cancer

June 22 - July 23

Reaching out for new ideas and opportunities and being willing to learn new

in your sector of travel and adventure, you might be ready to explore ideas that can

suggestion could lead you in a new direction "

Leo

June 24 - August 23 # ! $ your sector of goals and career, you might be motivated to give more time and energy to success. However, underlying this could be a desire for greater security, which could see you seeking out more traditional roles if they promise this. You might not be so motivated to take risks this time, preferring a path that guarantees results.

Kriti gets green signal to live-in with boyfriend So, few days back, we read Kriti Sanon saying that she comes from a conservative family who would be averse to her having a live-in relationship’. To each his own, but when we caught up with the Luka Chuppi heroine on Friday at Novotel (Juhu) for an interview Kriti told us that her mother had

a chat with recently and asked her that ‘how had she assumed that she would be against her live-in relationship if she had one’. Thus, Kriti conveyed that her mom is now okay if she has a live-in partner. “But Dad would still say ‘No’,� she continued, and then quickly added, “Lekin shayyad Luka Chuppi release honeke baad, he will also...� and she trailed off.

19

Bollywood

Virgo Your focus might be on others and improving relationships, working as part of a team, and generally contributing to people’s happiness. This % might get better results by working with others and pooling your skills and abilities. A dynamic aspect midweek could see you taking things one step further, traveling solo or with a group for pleasure.

Libra

Sept. 24 - Oct 22 The sun’s presence in your lifestyle sector could be a call to look to your health and & ' be to treat yourself to a little self-care and pampering, especially if you’ve been busy helping others. The coming week is your chance to treat yourself in any way you desire. A luxurious massage or even a new hairstyle or clothes could leave you feeling on top of the world.

Scorpio

Oct 23 - Nov 22 This isn’t a time to hide your skills and talents or keep them under wraps but to be willing to market them. The sun’s presence in a dynamic sector is perfect for promoting your art, no matter what form it takes. And the more you indulge in your favorite hobbies and pastimes, the more therapeutic this can be. Channeling any frustration into your creations could produce excellent work and might also be very healing.

Sagitarius Nov 23 - Dec 22

As dynamic Mars continues its journey through your lifestyle sector, you might be focused on honing your physique.

The presence of lively Mars here could give you extra energy to channel into exercise and

#

from connecting with a personal trainer who can help you keep up the momentum. You might be determined at the outset, but your patience could quickly fade if you don’t see results. Getting support could be crucial to continuing.

Capricorn Dec 23 - Jan 20

While you may have been busy lately, the presence of dynamic Mars in your leisure sector can act as a tonic, inspiring you to take a break from any pressure and simply $ body, getting involved in a competitive sport, hiking, or generally moving around can help it to dissipate. On a similar note, a romantic trip with your partner or a new lover could be equally relaxing.

Aquarius

Jan 21 - Feb 19 A new broom sweeps clean, and as feisty Mars continues its journey through your domestic sector, your desire to get your house looking lovely could see you very busy.

% # positive midweek aspect between the sun and dynamic Mars could encourage you to sell items you no longer need, especially any that

idea to look at prices because some things might be more valuable than you realize.

Pisces

Feb 20 - March 20 The sun continues its journey through your

you with excitement.

Don’t feel you have to keep any of this to yourself, though, because reaching out to others for advice and support can bring your plans to life more quickly.

ideal time to do so.

20

Bollywood

Amitabh Bachchan remembers ‘Coolie accident’

Amitabh Bachchan is till date grateful for everyone’s prayers, which brought him back to life after he sustained a near-fatal injury while shooting for the 1983 film ‘Coolie’.

Fans across the globe are marking the day by wishing the 75-year-old ‘Happy Rebirth Day’. Big B took to social media to thank everyone who prayed for him when he was fighting for his life.

“To them that have sent greetings for my 2nd birthday Aug 2, a recovery from my Coolie accident, I send my gracious thanks .. it shall be difficult for me to acknowledge and thank all .. but I do know that it was your prayers that saved my life,” tweeted the ‘Thugs of Hindostan’ star.

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Shankar Ehsaan Loy & Farhan Akhtar to perform first time in Vancouver This SEPTEMBER 2nd, 2018 is going to be a musical treat for all Bollywood music lovers as the famed trio of SHANKAR EHSAAN LOY, also known as the AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY of Hindi film music, are coming to perform with well known Singer & Actor FARHAN AKHTAR for the first time at Vancouver’s iconic Queen Elizabeth Theatre for what promises to be an evening of foot tapping & heart pleasing music for all ages.

During his 18 year film journey from 20012018 so far, Farhar Akhtar has produced, directed, acted & sang in many films and while Shankar Ehsaan Loy started their music journey together with Mukul Anand’s incomplete DUS, it was Farhan’s DIL CHAHTA HAI ( 2001 ) which brought them together and ever since, they’ve collaborated in films like DON, ROCK ON, ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA, BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG & DIL DHADAKNE DO etc.

Shankar Mahadevan has won several individual awards as a singer and as composers with Ehsaan Noorani & Loy Mendonsa, the trio have won National , FilmFare, Star Screen, Zee, IIFA & many state awards for

their compositions in films like BUNTY AUR BABLI, KAL HO NA HO , KABHI ALVIDA NAA KEHNA, SALAAM-E-ISHQ, TAARE ZAMEEN PAR, MY NAME IS KHAN, LUCK

BY CHANCE, HOUSEFULL, PATIALA HOUSE, DON 2, 2 STATES , MIRZYA, ROCK ON 2 & RAAZI. Acclaimed as pioneering music directors for their innovative music style which compliments all genres, they’ll be performing for the first time with Farhan Akhtar in North America and already the buzz is high amongst all music lovers. Carrying on the tradition of bringing quality artists especially after the sold out May 13th concert of ATIF ASLAM & NEHA KAKKAR, KVP Entertainers promises yet another musical entertainer on the Labour Day Long Weekend as all roads will lead to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Sunday, September 2nd, 2018 at 7 PM. Tickets at $35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 100, 125 & VIP are available at www.vtixonline.com and www.kvpentertainers.com or visit Kamal’s Video Palace (8268-120th St., Surrey) and call KAMAL SHARMA at (604)833-1977 / (604) 592-9777 for more information

21

Saturday, March 2, 2019

RBC offers $300 cash for switching by April 1 RBC® is offering new customers a great incentive to open an account with the bank. When you open an all-inclusive banking account, you can get $300 cash, as well as the following advantages: You get unlimited free Interac e-Transfer transactions. Automatically save money when you turn on NOMI Find & Save in the RBC Mobile app plus, you save 3¢ per litre at Petro-Canada every time, when you pay using your linked RBC debit card. Getting started is easy. New customers have to open an RBC Signature

No Limit Banking® or RBC VIP Banking® account by April 1, 2019. You can set up your payroll or pension as a direct deposit, or two preauthorized payments (PAP)

by June 28, 2019 to qualify.

RBC will then deposit $300 cash directly into your new banking account. You are free to spend it any way you like. It’s that easy! To learn more, visit rbc.com/specialoffer

ALL-NEW 2019 SHOW FROM NEW YORK • WITH LIVE ORCHESTRA

Where Art Connects Heaven & Earth

‘Guddiyan Patole’

Sonam Bajwa is not new to setting new trends in our industry. Nowadays Sonam is setting the temperatures high with her new tight curls that she’s got done especially for her “Canada-returned-girl’s” role in upcoming Punjabi film - Guddiyan Patole!

The trailer of the same got released two days back and has quickly become the talk of the town. One of the reasons for its

hitting it big is the new look of Sonam. She’s literally got into the skin of her character, looking all boho with both her locks as well as funky outfits.

Releasing on 8th March, Guddiyan Patole marks the debut of Gurnam Bhullar as a male lead.

5,000 YEARS OF CIVILIZATION REBORN

“Absolutely the No. 1 in the world.”

show

—Kenn Wells, former lead dancer of the English National Ballet

“Exquisitely Beautiful! it was an extraordinary experience for us and the children.”

—Cate Blanchett, Academy Award-winning actress

“Inspirational and educational.

I encourage everyone to see and all of us to learn from.”

—Donna Karan, fashion designer, creator of DKNY

MARCH 22–31 • QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE 888.974.3698 ShenYun.com/Van Sold Out Across North America Last Season. Secure Your Best Seats Now!

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22

Saturday, March 2, 2019

For more Updates, Visit our Website

www.theasianstar.com

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Press release

23

Statement from Andrew Wilkinson on Pink Shirt Day Leader of the Official Opposition, Andrew Wilkinson, released the following statement today for Pink Shirt Day: “Today marks the twelfth annual Pink Shirt Day in British Columbia, an official effort to bring awareness to the issues of bullying and intimidation in our province.

“Every British Columbian, especially our children, deserves an unquestionably safe and inclusive environment to work and play.

“We must pledge to pay all kindness forward and ensure that students feel safe in the classroom, on the playground, at home, and on the internet. It is only though education and a commitment

Despite a campaign commitment, the NDP’s 2019 budget doesn’t provide any funding for Burke Mountain schools.

“In April 2017, the NDP promised to fast track schools in Burke Mountain,” says Coquitlam-Burke Mountain MLA Joan Isaacs. “It’s time for the

government to deliver on their promise.”

In 2017 School District 43 secured land for a second elementary school. To expedite the process, school trustees approved a motion to complete the project development report and begin design for Sheffield Elementary. “Parents

to kindness that we can triumph over bullying and intimidation.

“It is important that both parents and educators teach and provide our children with the supports and resources necessary to thrive and succeed in our province while the rest of us foster a climate of respect and inclusivity.

“Today, the BC Liberal Caucus is

proud to wear pink shirts and re-affirm our commitment to provide those safe environments and supports as well as bring attention to the ongoing problem of bullying in British Columbia. We may only wear pink shirts once a year, but we can stand up against inequality, intimidation, and unkindness every day.

Burke Mountain schools allocated no funding in 2019 budget

Premier dodges responsibility for softwood lumber dispute At a time when B.C. forestry-based communities are hurting throughout British Columbia, Premier John Horgan declared in the Legislature today that it’s not his job to stand up for the province in softwood lumber negotiations, even though he regularly meets with Washington State Governor Jay Inslee.

“Last week the premier of New Brunswick headed a joint mission with other premiers to Washington and met with all state

Question Period today for putting pressure on the government to act. The Premier said nearly two years ago that he would be directly involved in negotiations, but we haven’t seen or heard anything since.”

“Premier Horgan held a joint news conference with Governor Inslee just weeks ago and never even raised the topic of softwood lumber,” said Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett. “We have a premier who appears in

governors, yet Premier John Hogan was notably absent,” said Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Critic and Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad. “British Columbia is responsible for 50 per cent of all softwood lumber exports to the United States; Horgan should be on the forefront of Canadian efforts to resolve the dispute.”

“There are 140 forestry-dependent communities in our province that are suffering without a softwood lumber deal,” said Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart. “I have had constituents come into my office literally in tears because of rolling layoffs at the local mill. I am appalled the Premier of this province called MLAs ‘whiners’ during

lots of photo ops but seems afraid to act on behalf of the forest industry.” “I use every opportunity to get this government’s attention when it comes to forestry and supporting the families who depend on this industry to make a living,” said Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes. “The softwood lumber dispute can only be solved through leadership that this premier is sadly lacking.”

During a heated debate during Question Period today, Premier Horgan said this is “….an arrangement between two nation-states that has been a perennial problem between our two countries.” Horgan also accused Opposition MLAs of “…whining about it.”

are expecting the NDP to fulfill their promise and provide funding,” Isaacs says.

Isaacs adds that the City of Coquitlam, Wesbild and School District 43 worked in partnership on a designated school site that would advance the middle-

secondary school scheduled for completion in 2023.

But the NDP has not allocated funding for this project. Isaacs is concerned that the increase of people moving to the area will result in overcrowded classrooms.

24

Vol. 10 No. 4

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Saturday - February 23, 2019

Tel: 604-591-5423

E-mail: ads@theasianstar.com

Sales slump could signal tough times ahead for BC realtors

S

low housing market could lead to tough times for some realtors, especially those who have recently entered into the profession, said the president of the Fraser Valley real estate board. The days when all a Vancouver realtor needed was a sign and pen to make a sale may be behind us. “I think it’s going to be tougher for the more-inexperienced realtors, those who are three or four years in,� said John Barbisan. “What they’re used to is not what real estate is typically like.� The 35-year veteran said agents will be forced to be more like “consultants than auctioneers� as they help to connect buyers and sellers. While the Real Estate Council of B.C. hasn’t seen a significant drop in the

number of realtors across the province, there are signs uncertain market conditions are impacting local agents.

According to the council, there were 25,987 licensed real estate professionals in B.C. as of Dec. 31 — a 36-person drop from Sept. 30, although still slightly higher than June 30. The dramatic increase in the number of licensees — from about 21,000 in 2012 to 26,000 in 2018

reater Victoria’s housing market is now “moderately overvalued,� an improvement from its status as being “highly overvalued,� according to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp. The capital region and Toronto are the two areas among 15 in Canada to see their previous overvaluation rating decreased to moderate from high.

Even so, the degree of overall vulnerability remains high in Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto and Hamilton, the federal agency said Thursday in its quarterly housing

market assessment report. Although those areas remain overvalued, it is easing, which is why Victoria is now holding a moderate rating.

That is because house prices are “moving closer to levels supported by housing market fundamentals such as population, personal disposable income, and interest rates,� CMHC said. The federal body releases quarterly reports examining how many vulnerable markets are within the country. If an area is

— seems to be slowing. The president of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver said agents must be able to manage sellers’ expectations in a challenging market. “Communication is going to be important,� said Phil Moore. “It’s not like it was two years ago. Properties are sitting longer on the market.�

Housing Matters host Stuart McNish speaks with B.C. Minister of Housing Selina Robinson, opposition critic Sam Sullivan, and Vancouver Sun columnist Dan Fumano

Victoria housing market remains overvalued: CMHC vulnerable, that means it is imbalanced, which occur through overbuilding, overvaluation, overheating, and price acceleration. “We are seeing overvaluation pressures unwinding in Toronto and Victoria, despite the fact that Canada’s overall vulnerability remains high,� said Bob Dugan, CMHC’s chief economist.

Braden Batch, a senior analyst for CMHC, said the change in rating took place in the third quarter of last year.

about how different levels of government can find solutions to Metro Vancouver’s housing affordability crisis. Subscribe to Housing Matters on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and Spotify. While the board’s membership has grown by about 1,000 members over the last two years, it has declined slightly in recent months. At the same time, home sales in Metro Vancouver have dropped, with about 40-per-cent less sales in January compared with the same month a year earlier. “In my experience, most people give (real estate a try for) four years,� said Moore. “Because our industry is open to part-time, you’ll find that some keep another job for the first two years while they’re learning.�

“The population of young adults, which is a key driver of household formation, increased in the third quarter adding support for house price growth,� he said. “However, the support from population growth was mitigated by a slight decline in disposable income and an increase in mortgage rates.�

Housing sales have been slowing in Greater Victoria from more than a year ago, he said in an interview. However, “What you don’t hear often is that sales are still at about

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Saturday, March 2, 2019

Real estate market expected to mederate over next 2 years

#106 - 7565 132 St. Surrey, BC 604.572.3005

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the country’s real estate market is expected to moderate over the next two years as the growth in housing prices is expected to slow to more in line with economic fundamentals.In its 2018 housing market outlook released today, the national housing agency projects housing starts and sales are both expected to decline

in 2019 and 2020.It predicts housing starts for single and multi-unit starts will fall to between 193,700 and 204,500 in 2019, while sales are anticipated to be between 478,400 and 497,400 units. Prices are anticipated to range between $501,400 and $521,600.

CMHC says it expects economic indicators

26

Community / News

Saturday, March 2, 2019 Name change I, Jaswinder Singh S/o Gurdeep Singh, holder of Indian Passport No. M8056247 issued at Jalandhar , on 01/04/2015, permanent resident of Village Heran, Tehsil Nakodar, Jalandhar (Punjab) India 144630

and presently residing at 9-13670 84 Avenue, Surrey BC Canada V3W 0T6, do hereby change my name from Jaswinder Singh to Jaswinder Singh Hayer with immediate effect.

Saturday, March 2, 2019

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29 17

30 18

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Mother of patient with new Vancouver measles case alarmed after Delta doctors missed diagnosis The mother of one of two new confirmed measles cases in Metro Vancouver is telling her story to Global News, saying she’s concerned how long it took health officials to diagnose her child’s case. Jill Bennett reports.

The mother of a patient with one of the two new measles cases reported in Metro Vancouver on Friday says her child may have exposed people to the contagious disease as far away as Delta — and that doctors there missed the diagnosis.

Her concerns come as Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) struggles to contain a growing measles outbreak that now stands at 10 cases, including one whose source of exposure has yet to be confirmed.

That case relates to the mother, who contacted Global News on Friday night, saying she took her child to Delta Hospital on Feb. 20 after showing symptoms of measles, including a rash, despite receiving a measles vaccination.

The mother did not want herself or her child to be identified in order to protect the family’s privacy.

During this visit to Delta Hospital, the mother said doctors never considered measles a possibility.

Instead, they said the symptoms were likely a reaction to medication from an earlier misdiagnosis of strep throat and sent the two home.

Two Burnaby residents pay $4.8 million in penalties to BCSC in Ponzi scheme fraud Two Burnaby residents have paid the British Columbia Securities Commission $4.8 million in administrative penalties over defrauding investors in a Ponzi scheme.

Hundreds of people lost their investments in Bossteam E-commerce Inc., which described itself as an online advertising business. Its website allowed advertisers to post links to their own webpages.

The BCSC distributed $6.5 million to 464 investors with

validated claims, including their losses plus interest of five per cent.

The penalty was paid from funds that remained after investors were reimbursed. The BCSC received a $3.1 million payment this week following a $1.7 million payment last July.

The funds came from two bank accounts controlled by Bossteam cofounders Yan Zhu, also known as Rachel Zhu and Guan Qiang Zhang. The BCSC froze the accounts during investigation.

Contineud on page 31

Crime Stoppers “MOST WANTED’’ Subject: 1 Name: BRAATEN, Gordon Wayne Age: 35 - Height: 6’ (183 cm) Weight: 165 (74 kg) Hair: Brown Eyes: Green Wanted: Homicide (Kamloops) Warrant in effect: Feb 20, 2019 ********** Subject: 2 Name: BOPARAI, Pashminder “Jason” Age: 30 - Height: 6’ (183 cm) Weight: 175 (79 kg) Hair: Black Eyes: Brown Marks: “Life” on left hand, “Pain” on right hand Wanted: Conspiracy to commit murder Warrant in effect: Feb. 26, 2019 ********** Subject: 3 Name: KHAN, Moeen Age: 22 Height: 5’7” (170 cm) Weight: 160 (72 kg) Hair: Black Eyes: Brown Wanted: Conspiracy to commit murder Warrant in effect: Feb. 26, 2019.

If you have any information regarding the individuals listed here, please contact Crime Stoppers anonymously. You could be eligible for a reward of up to $2000 upon arrest and charge. You will never be asked your name or have to appear in court.

Please distribute this information widely.

LOCAL / NATIONAL

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Canadian ‘ISIS bride’ in Syria: ‘I should be allowed to go home’ A pregnant Alberta woman who moved to Syria with her ISIS-supporting husband and their two young boys says she wants to return to Canada. The woman, whose first name is Amy, is one of four Canadian ISIS brides who spoke to CTV News from inside the Kurdish-run AlHawl refugee camp in eastern Syria. Amy, who is 34, told CTV’s London Bureau Chief Paul Workman the story of how she ended up in such a dangerous situation. It all started when she married a Muslim man and converted to Islam. “He started learning about the religion more and he just felt like it wasn’t suitable for us to stay in Canada anymore,” she said. “At first, it’s terrifying,” she added. “It’s absolutely terrifying when you’re just walking on the street and you hear a plane coming. You just freeze.”

Amy and her family were constantly on the run inside Syria as the terrorist group attempted to establish a caliphate.

After Amy’s husband was killed, she

married a Bosnian man. He was killed about three months later. She is pregnant with his child.

“I don’t regret this,” she said. “I want to be able to raise him or her in a safe environment,” she added. Before ending up at Al-Hawl, talking about going home was not an option.

“If you do hear about it ... it’s trouble,” she said.

“I think I should be allowed to go home,” Amy added. “I don’t believe I did anything wrong. I didn’t kill nobody. I didn’t do any harm to anybody.” “I want to be with my family,” she went on. “I want my kids to go to school and get a proper education.” The non-profit group Families Against Violent Extremism is lobbying for the return for Canadians who travelled to Syria. It says there are at least 27 currently detained and more than half are children under the age of five. Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said earlier this month that repatriating foreign fighters and their families is not a priority.

NDP MP Nathan Cullen isn’t running again Longtime NDP MP Nathan Cullen, among the party’s most high-profile parliamentarians, is not running in the next federal election.

Cullen, the party’s British Columbia liaison and democratic reform critic, was first elected in 2004. Thirteen NDP MPs, nearly a third of the 44 members who were elected in 2015, have announced they will not stand again as candidates for the social democratic party in the fall federal election.

In a statement, Cullen said his work defending the environment and Indigenous

rights was a “powerful vocation and calling.”

I have given it my full heart and mind. And now I believe it is time for someone else to have the honour and responsibility of representing our great region and its people on the national stage.

On Thursday, NDP B.C. MP Murray Rankin announced he would not be running in the next election.

The 13 NDP MPs who are not running again in the upcoming federal election.

Two Burnaby residents pay $4.8 million in penalties to BCSC in Ponzi scheme fraud The BCSC panel found that Zhu, Zhang and Bossteam created the false impression that members and businesses were paying to advertise on its website.

The panel found in 2015 that ‘Zhu and Zhang committed fraud, illegally distributed securities, withheld information from BCSC investigators, and instructed employees and investors to do the same.’

After imposing an administrative penalty of $14 million, the accounts — along with $123,000 from the sale of land owned by Zhu — were transferred to a court-appointed receiver for distribution.

The BCSC has not been able to identify any other assets belonging to Zhu and Zhang.

Zhu, who was living in Burnaby in 2017, and Zhang, who was deported to China in 2012, are permanently banned from trading on the capital markets, including trading in securities (with limited exceptions), purchasing securities or exchange contracts, being a registrant or promoter, or engaging in investor relations.

Accounting and advisory firm Grant Thornton Limited was appointed as the receiver and made the determination about investor claims and distributed funds to creditors, including the BCSC. BCSC is an independent government agency that regulates capital markets in B.C.

31 19

Still cutting cheques to your 30-something kid? You’re not alone, RBC poll suggests Canadian parents are still financially supporting their children well into adulthood, sometimes even into their 30s, a new poll sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada has found.

The bank commissioned polling firm Leger to survey 1,004 Canadian parents last October and November and asked them about the impact that their adult children were having on their own retirement plans.

Because the poll was conducted online it can’t be considered to be truly randomized, but for comparison purposes only, a random sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Not-so-empty nesters: Millennial parents putting financial future in jeopardy The survey found that, on average, 96 per cent of parents who have adult children were still financially supporting them past the age of 18. On average, respondents said they were spending an average of $5,623 a year supporting their adult children, by helping them to pay for things like their education and living expenses such as rent. More than half of them said their financial involvement goes all the way down to paying for things like monthly cellphone bills.

Parents are “very conscious about the challenges their kids are facing and are looking to support them as they enter the

workforce,” Rick Lowes, RBC’s vice-president of retirement strategy, said in an interview.

“But this living gifting will potentially be impacting their retirement savings and plans.”

While the vast majority — 88 per cent nationally — are happy to help and happy to be in a position to be able to, Lowes says that help is clearly having an impact on their own financial lives.

A third of parents responded that helping their adult kids is delaying their own retirement plans, but the ratio jumps to 43 per cent among British Columbians, while it drops to 21 per cent among Quebecers.

Millennials 2.0: Young families feel the squeeze in Vancouver’s housing market “For certain people this is going to be an easier burden than other people,” is how Lowes described it.

And the parental giving doesn’t stop in the typical post-secondary years either. Almost half — 48 per cent — of respondents said they were still giving money to their kids aged between 30 and 35. As much as $3,729, on average, across the country. But as with most things, the figure is higher in some places than others.

The level of support was highest in Canada’s two most expensive housing markets of British Columbia and Ontario.

“It’s probably not unreasonable to conclude that rapid increase in housing prices puts a bit more pressure on children today,” Lowes said.

20 32

NATIONAL

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Trudeau speaks to Trump about tariffs, sources see little progress Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday about American tariffs on steel and aluminum, Trudeau’s office said on Friday, but well-placed sources said there was little sign of progress.

Ottawa strongly objects to the tariffs, which Trump imposed last year citing security concerns, and has pressed many times for them to be removed.

“The Prime Minister raised the issue of steel and aluminum tariffs and expressed the need for the removal of tariffs,” a statement from Trudeau’s office said.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said on Thursday he was working hard to persuade Trump that the U.S. steel industry could be adequately protected by

tariff rate quotas, rather than plain tariffs, on imports from Canada and Mexico.

Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau said on Sunday that Canada might find it hard to ratify a new continental free trade pact unless the measures were lifted beforehand.

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement was concluded last October.

Yet despite the pressure campaign, two Canadian industry sources with close ties to Washington said they had heard nothing to suggest a breakthrough was near.

“There are no talks planned on this right now,” said one of the sources, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Canada is the single largest supplier of both aluminum and steel to the United States.

Measles unlikely to spread but everyone should be vaccinated: Vancouver doctor A medical health officer in Vancouver says measles is not expected to spread beyond a cluster of patients but anyone travelling to other parts of the world should ensure they are vaccinated against the contagious disease.

Dr. Reka Gustafson of Vancouver Coastal Health says people often go to a travel clinic before a trip to get protection against diseases that don’t circulate locally and it’s a good opportunity to ensure all childhood vaccinations are up to date.

She says most people in B.C. are vaccinated and older adults may already have had measles but anyone born after 1970 should ensure they have two doses of a vaccine, which is routinely given to children at age one and then between the ages of four and six.

Two new cases were reported in the province Sunday, bringing the total to 13, with most of them linked to two French-language schools after an unvaccinated child contracted the disease during a trip to Vietnam.

Gustafson says it took a week to get all the students’ immunization records and improvements are needed to ensure a quicker system limits disruption to families as well as use of health-care resources.

Symptoms of measles include a runny nose, cough, fever, red, itchy eyes and sometimes a rash, and Gustafson says parents who suspect their child has the disease should call their doctor’s office in advance in order to get a separate room

Quebec’s top court rejects appeal of landmark $15B tobacco ruling Quebec’s Court of Appeal has upheld a Quebec Superior Court ruling in two class-action lawsuits against tobacco companies awarding billions of dollars in damages to 100,000 people.

In the 422-page ruling, the court said that the Superior Court’s decision was correct, except for some small technicalities.

The adjustment in damages amounts to about $2 million of the approximate $15 billion the companies were ordered to pay, the prosecution said Friday.

“It’s excellent news for the victims that have been waiting for this day for a long time,” said Philippe Trudel, one of the lawyers representing the smokers.

The prosecution estimates the damages the companies will eventually pay out to the smokers will amount to over $17 billion.

Interest on the damages continues to accrue as the case moves through the court system.

A lawyer representing Imperial Tobacco Canada said the company will review the ruling before considering

its next steps, which may include an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.

JTI-Macdonald Corp. is also considering taking the case to the Supreme Court.

“The government has closely regulated every facet of the tobacco business for decades,” the company said in a statement.

“JTI-Macdonald Corp. complies with all Canadian and Quebec laws and regulations and follows a strict code of conduct in the way it does business.”

In 2015, a Quebec Superior Court justice ruled in favour of two groups representing Quebec smokers, which argued the companies didn’t warn their customers about the dangers of smoking.

Imperial Tobacco, Rothmans Benson & Hedges and JTI-Macdonald were ordered to pay for punitive and moral damages. The companies appealed the decision in 2016.

“It’s a lot of money, but when you look at the number of people concerned in that class action, 100,000 people, it’s not that much,” said Mario Bujold.

Five things the government could do to help Canada’s stressed out home buyers With housing affordability dominating discussions in living rooms and coffeeshops across the country, policy wonks in Canada’s political parties are looking for some way to turn the issue in their side’s favour in the federal election scheduled for the fall.

“I’m not sure there will be direct measures” on housing in next month’s budget, Finance Minister Bill Morneau told reporters in Victoria, B.C. a few weeks ago.

That could mean the government is saving popular policies for an election campaign later this year, that it will stand pat on the house market, or that it is considering some kind of indirect measures.

Whatever the plan, here are a few policy ideas the government could consider.

Allow longer amortization periods Since 2012, a 25-year amortization has been the maximum for anyone looking for a CMHC-insured mortgage.

As housing affordability worsens, some have called for the government to

reintroduce the option for 30-year terms.

A longer amortization period will increase the amount of interest the buyer pays, but it also allows people to spread the mortgage cost over more years. For example, a hypothetical $300,000 mortgage on a 30-year amortization period with an

interest rate of four per cent would result in a monthly mortgage payment about $150 cheaper than a mortgage on a 25year term. However, the buyer will end up paying about $40,000 more in total interest payments over the life of the loan.

Some potential buyers struggling to get into the market might jump at that deal.

Saturday, March 2, 2019

C

Canada’s economy practically grinds to a halt — and nobody saw it coming

anada’s economy practically came to a halt in the final three months of 2018, in a much deeper-thanexpected slowdown that brings the underlying strength of the expansion into doubt.

The country’s economy grew by just 0.1 per cent in the fourth quarter, for an annualized pace of 0.4 per cent, Statistics Canada said Friday from Ottawa. That’s the worst quarterly performance in two and a half years, down from annualized 2 per cent in the third quarter and well below economist expectations for a 1 per cent annualized increase.

While a slowdown was widely expected in the final months of the year due to falling oil prices, it’s a much bleaker picture than anyone anticipated with weakness extending well beyond the energy sector. Consumption spending grew at the slowest pace in almost four years, housing fell by the most in a decade, business investment dropped sharply for a second straight quarter, and domestic demand posted its largest decline since 2015.

The only thing that kept the nation’s economy from contracting was a build-up in inventories as companies stockpiled goods.

At the very least, the numbers suggest that heightened uncertainty — everything from the impact of higher interest rates to potential trade wars and oil-sector woes — has made a real impact on both consumer and business sentiment. The question now is what the weaker-than-expected data suggests about the economy’s ability to rebound back to more normal growth levels.

Most economists had been expecting the soft patch would come to an end by this spring and growth would accelerate closer to 2 per cent for the rest of the year. No one, however, expected the economy would need to come back from such a low point. The Bank of Canada’s latest forecast, from January, is for annualized growth of 1.3 per cent in the fourth quarter and 0.8 per cent in the first quarter, before the expansion accelerates back to above 2 per cent growth by next year.

Byelection results suggest struggles ahead for major parties Liberals, Conservatives and New Democrats might all be asking themselves that question today after seeing the results from last night’s three federal byelections. On one hand, each party scored a win and made some gains in popular support — the NDP in Burnaby South, the Conservatives in York–Simcoe and the Liberals in Outremont. On the other, each party also suffered a hit in support in electoral battlegrounds key to their hopes for success in October’s federal vote. Turnout was abysmal, even by byelection standards. It hit a new low in this session in York– Simcoe, where preliminary turnout figures stand at just 19.9 per cent. Bad weather undoubtedly played a role in that, but neither Outremont nor Burnaby South had the same excuse. Turnout was just 21.4 per cent in Outremont and 29.9 per cent in Burnaby South — both below average levels for a byelection. That makes it difficult to draw wider conclusions from the results but — notwithstanding the low turnout — the voting patterns still fit within the broader historical trends in each riding. Liberal Rachel Bendayan speaks at her election night party following her win in the federal byelection for the Outremont riding, as Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie Melanie Joly, right, looks

on in Montreal on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019.

The path to re-election for Justin Trudeau’s Liberals in the fall is to win new seats in Quebec — largely at the expense of the NDP — to compensate for what appear to be inevitable losses in places like the Greater Toronto Area. That strategy looks intact after Monday, with the Liberals gaining 6.9 percentage points in the Montreal riding of Outremont and taking the seat away from the NDP. With 40.4 per cent of the vote, Rachel Bendayan put up the best result for the Liberals in Outremont since 2004. If the party can repeat these gains in other parts of Quebec, the New Democrats will be hard-pressed to hold any of the 16 seats they won in the province in 2015.

But the Liberals will struggle to hold or win suburban seats in the rest of Canada if they repeat the kind of losses they suffered in Burnaby South (a drop of 7.9 points from the previous vote) and York–Simcoe (a drop of 8.8 points). The big winner on Monday has to be NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. He staked his political future on the voters of Burnaby South and his gamble paid off. This is the first win Singh can boast of since he became leader in October 2017 and it’s only the second byelection of the 17 held in the current Parliament which saw the NDP increase its share of the vote.

Trump boasts that threat of tariffs forced Canada to agree to new NAFTA deal President Trump boasted Monday that his threat of auto-tariffs helped force Canada’s hand when agreeing to the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement.

CUSMA, called USMCA in the U.S., is the replacement to the former North American Free Trade Agreement that Trump wanted to renegotiate. It was signed on Nov. 30, after months of tense talks between the three countries.

“It was very tough to negotiate, you know, we think of ‘O Canada,’” Trump joked. “’O Canada’ is tough, they’re tough.”

Speaking to reporters on Monday morning, Trump said he was able to get Canadian officials to sign the deal by threatening to impose tariffs on Canadian-made automobiles.

“It’s a deal that nobody thought we’d be able to get it approved. I was able to get it approved to be honest with you by using tariffs. I was putting very substantial tariffs – or was

getting ready to – on Canada,” he said.

“And I said, ‘You’re either going to do this, or we’re going to put 20-25 per cent tariffs on your cars that you ship in here by the million.’”

Asked about the boast from Trump, officials from Global Affairs said they held out for a “good deal for Canada.”

“Since day one of the NAFTA negotiations, we said that we wanted a good deal for Canada,” spokesperson John Babcok told Global News. “We held out for that good deal and that is what we achieved.”

Trump did in fact publicly threaten to put tariffs on cars in September 2018. At the time, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the economic impact would have been devastating for both Canada and the U.S. The deal was signed by the leaders of the three countries but has not yet been ratified.

Transport Minister Marc Garneau said Parliament will struggle to pass the deal if the currentU.S.tariffsonsteelandaluminumpersist.

NATIONAL

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INDIA

Saturday, March 2, 2019

PM Modi desperate only for re-election, alleges Congress The Congress on Thursday alleged that PM Modi “misplaced priorities” and that he was “desperate only for re-election”.

It also accused the saffron party leaders of politicising the bravery of the armed forces, while referring to Karnataka BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa’s comment that India’s “pre-emptive strikes” on terror camps in Pakistan have created a wave in favour of PM Modi and will help his party win over 22 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala (pictured), in a tweet, alleged that the Prime Minister was “hell-bent on creating a videoconference record” when the entire country was praying for the return of its braveheart pilot. An IAF pilot was captured by Pakistan after an air combat on Wednesday during

which the two sides said they shot down each other’s warplanes that followed an unsuccessful attempt to target Indian military installations in retaliatory strikes that sparked fears of war. IAF sources identified the pilot as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. “Glaring case of misplaced priorities! 132 Cr Indians pray for safe & immediate return of India’s brave-heart Wing Comm, Abhinandan but Modiji desperate only for re-election.

Congress cancelled its imp CWC & Rally today. Pradhan Sevak hell-bent on creating a Video Conf. record (sic)!” Surjewala wrote on Twitter. The Prime Minister on Thursday had direct dialogue with BJP workers and volunteers as part of the party’s ‘Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot’ programme through, what the party claims, the “world’s largest video conference”.

Environment Minister launches anthem on ‘plastic-free India’ in seven languages Union Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday launched an anthem as a part of a campaign to make India plastic-free by 2022, and stressed on strengthening plastic waste management and recycling ecosystem in the country.

The ‘Plastic Waste-Free India’ has been anthem, prepared and produced by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Smriti Manch (PDUSM), a non-profit organisation which claims to be working on various social and environmental issues. The anthem has been launched in seven languages—Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Malyalam and Kannada. While

launching the anthem at his residence here, the Union Environment Minister said to address the problem of plastic pollution, there was a need to educate the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.

“This is an important time for humanity since the actions taken by this generation will decide the course of the future of our planet. We are working with the stakeholders to completely abolish the use of single-use plastics by 2022 and strengthen plastic waste management and recycling ecosystem in our country,” Vardhan said.

PM Modi launches ‘Khelo India’ App Inaugurating the revamped Khelo India School Games PM Modi said it was the first step towards making the country a strong contender at the Olympic level. A revamped version of the original National School Games which used to have two participants in every discipline from each state, Khelo India will see 16 athletes in each discipline. It will also feature only eight disciplines which have been identified as most likely to win medals at the Olympic Games. A generation of sport stars is getting ready to change the way world sees Indian sports. With hands on their hearts,

they have taken the #KheloIndia Pledge along with our PM Shri @ narendramodi ji. Let us all pledge to stand behind them and for them in their journey throughout! “The best athletes will be given the best training and the best coaches. If needed we will send them abroad for better training,” Modi said at the launch of the tournament. The best 1,000 athletes at the Khelo India Games will get scholarship of Rs 5 lakh every year.

“This is to ensure that sports persons from poor backgrounds are not forced to give up sports due to lack of funds,” the Prime Minister said.

Gen VK Singh takes on Yeddyurappa on his statement on air strikes Following Karnataka BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa’s statement, a political war has started with the allegations that the BJP is trying to take political advantage of the prevailing war-like situation. Countering Yeddyurappa, BJP leader and Union Minister Gen VK Singh (retd) said the action taken by the government is to safeguard the nation and ensure safety of citizens, not to win votes. “@BSYBJP ji, I beg to differ. We stand as one nation, action taken by our government is to safeguard our nation & ensure safety of our citizens, not to win a few extra seats. “#WingCommanderAbhinandan is an embodiment of a mentally tough, selfless

and courageous soldier. During these testing times the country stands, as one, behind him & his family. Our efforts are on & under the #GenevaConvention we hope that the brave pilot would return home soon,” he also wrote. @BSYBJP ji, I beg to differ. We stand as one nation, action taken by our government is to safeguard our nation & ensure safety of our citizens, not to win a few extra seats.

Earlier in the day, Yeddyurappa said India’s air strikes on a terror camp in Pakistan had created a wave in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and would help the party win over 22 of 28 seats in the state in the general election.

2 held with fake currency in Kolkata The Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police has arrested two men from the city and recovered fake Indian currency notes with a face value of Rs 7 lakh from their possession.

The anti-FICN team of the STF arrested the men from the Hare Street Police Station limits on Wednesday night. All fake notes were in the denomination of Rs 2,000, a senior police

officer said.

The arrested duo has been identified as Razzak Sk, a resident of Kumbhira in West Bengal’s Malda, and Vikash Kumar Gautam alias Vikash Kumar Lodi of Unnao in Uttar Pradesh, he said. Both were booked under various sections of the IPC, he said.

“Blatant Politicisation Of Armed Forces’ Sacrifice”: 21 Parties Blast BJP Leaders of 21 opposition parties today said they stood with the armed forces and issued a sharp takedown of the “leaders of the ruling party” for “blatant politicisation of the sacrifices of the armed forces”. The reference was to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pulwama, had attacked the Congress at the inauguration of the National War Memorial earlier this week. The opposition meeting at the parliament came amid a huge escalation in hostilities with Pakistan since yesterday’s airstrikes on a Jaish-e Mohammed terror camp in Balakot by the Indian Air Force.

Today, Pakistani Air Force, while attempting to target Indian military installations, was engaged by the IAF. While one Pakistani F-16 aircraft was shot down, India lost a plane, the pilot was declared “missing in action”.

Indicating the Balakot air strikes and their aftermath, the opposition leaders said the government has failed to take them into confidence. A statement released at the end of the meeting read: “The Prime Minister has, regrettably, not convened an all-party meeting as per the established practice in our democracy”.

Man gets 20 years jail for raping minor girl A fast-track court in Gujarat awarded 20 years of rigorous imprisonment to a migrant labourer for raping a 14-month-old girl in Gujarat’’s Sabarkantha district in September last year. The incident had led to violence against migrant labourers in some parts of Gujarat, leading to an exodus.

While special public prosecutor Rashmikant Pandya demanded death penalty for 19-year-old Ravindra Sah, a native of Bihar, Sabarkantha sessions court judge K B Gujarati awarded him 20 years in prison considering his young age.

The public prosecutor said he will seek the state government’s approval to file an appeal in the high court for enhancement of the

punishment. Apart from the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Sah was found guilty under the newly introduced section 376-AB of the Indian Penal Code which provides for the maximum punishment of death sentence for raping children. Following the state government’’s request, the Gujarat High Court had set up a fast-track court to try the case.

The incident took place at a village near Himmatnagar on September 28, 2018. Sah, a factory worker, was arrested the same day.

Following the incident, migrant workers from Hindi-speaking states were attacked in parts of Gujarat.

PUNJAB

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Rahul to hold rally in Moga Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address a mega rally in Moga on March 7. The decision to this effect was taken on Tuesday and Moga was picked as Congress wants Rahul to address partymen from all parts of the state.

“Moga would be easily approachable for leaders and participants from all parts of the state, be it Malwa, Doaba or Majha,” said a party leader.

A source said AICC had already sent a communique to Punjab Congress for organising the rally. The party was busy with Vidhan Sabha session during the last fortnight. With tension building up on the border after Tuesday’s air strike on Pakistan and with CM Amarinder Singh deciding to camp in border areas for next three days, the party has decided to finalise the rally on March 7.

The party also expects that by that time, the Lok Sabha election may be announced and the time would be ripe for the rally. The Congress is eying all the 13 seats in Punjab as the party is in powerful position in the state having 78 seats in a 117-member Assembly. It is confident that with the opposition SAD and AAP divided, the Congress stands a chance to secure most of the Lok Sabha seats.

“We will ensure MLAs, and leaders from all Assembly segments mobilise as many people as possible. The arrangements for their transport would have to be done. All this will require time,” said a party leader.

He added that learning from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s poor show in Chandigarh recently — his rally was thinly attended, political parties are taking any chances. “It was a lesson for everyone that a rally has to be managed.”

Capt tells border villagers to ignore rumours Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has welcomed Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s announcement on the release of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan tomorrow, terming it a goodwill gesture that would help ease the prevailing tension at the border. Interacting with BSF personnel at Khalra observation post during a tour of the border areas in this district today, the CM said the Pulwama attack by Pakback terror forces was an act of cowardice, necessitating retaliation by the Indian government. He extended support to the BSF to deal with the heightened tension along the border. “We are there for you,” he told them. Capt Amarinder recalled his days in 1965, when he was with the Indian Army, and said he still remembered his own 22 days in the region.

During his tour, the CM interacted with residents of at least 15 border villages, including Masatgarh, Shaheed Baba Tara Singh Wala, Rajoke, Kalia Shatara, Dholan, Lakhna and Kals. He urged the residents

MLA’s former assistant arrested for fraud The police have booked Manpreet Singh, a former personal assistant (PA) of local SAD MLA Kanwarjit Singh ‘Rozy Barkandi’, for an alleged immigration fraud of Rs 5.55 lakh.

The complainant, Gurjeet Singh, a resident of the Abohar road here, alleged to the police that Manpreet Singh had last year made him deposit Rs 2.55 lakh in his bank account and took Rs 3 lakh cash for sending him to Canada. “However, later, neither Manpreet attended my phone call, nor returned the money,” he alleged.

Afghan man held for gold smuggling The Customs Department arrested an Afghan resident who was involved in smuggling a 32-kg gold consignment at the Integrated Check Post on December 5 last year.

The accused has been identified as Adel Saeed Ghulam. The place of his arrest has not been disclosed as it may hamper further investigation, officials said.

On December 5, the Customs Department had seized gold having a market value of Rs 10 crore, which came in an apple consignment from Afghanistan, loaded in a Pakistani truck.

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Chief Minister lays stone of college, stirs row As Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today laid the foundation stone of a Government Degree College for Girls, he annoyed the Dalits by failing to honour a commitment made to the community of naming it after Dr BR Ambedkar.

The name of Dr Ambedkar for the college was not just missing in his speech but also in the foundation stone, the hoarding at the backdrop of the stage and even in the press release of the function that followed. The

college name as Dr BR Ambedkar Degree College for Girls’ was, however, read on few hoardings bearing the picture of local MLA Sushil Rinku that led to the venue.

The announcement regarding starting the college had been made at the state-level Ambedkar Jayanti function in Jalandhar on April 14 last year by the CM. Since the constituency where the college is slated to be constructed at a cost of Rs 13 crore is reserved, reactions followed almost immediately after the laying of the stone.

Congress distances itself from Navjot Sidhu’s remark Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu insisted that ‘dialogue and diplomatic pressure will count for in seeking a long-term solution to terror outfits operating across the border’, amid strain in India-Pakistan ties in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack and subsequent developments. “I stand by my conviction that dialogue and diplomatic pressure will count

for a great deal in seeking a long-term solution to the presence and practice of terror outfits that operate within and across the border,” the cricketer-turned-politician said in a twopage statement titled “We have a choice.” “The solution to terror is peace, development and progress and not unemployment, hatred and fear,” he said.

36

INDIA

Saturday, March 2, 2019

India is considering new e-commerce rules that may restrict Amazon and Walmart India has outlined a new draft policy to govern its growing e-commerce sector that would protect domestic firms and may further restrict the way foreign companies operate within the country. New Delhi appears to be trying to follow China’s playbook in successfully nurturing the likes of Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent to become global tech giants. Beijing has many restrictions on how foreign tech companies can operate in the world’s second-largest economy. The draft, published Saturday, calls for data to be stored locally and for setting up more data centers and server farms within the country. It would not only give a boost to computing in India but would lead to local job creation, policymakers argued in the document. Foreign companies would have three years to prepare or build

the infrastructure they need to comply with the regulation, which could add to their cost of operations. “India’s data should be used for the country’s development,” the draft said. “Indian citizens and companies should get the economic benefits from the monetization of data.” Foreign e-commerce firms would also have to become registered business entities in India to continue selling in the country, according to the draft rules.

The 41-page document also addressed issues such as the sale of counterfeit goods and the protection of consumers. Companies have been invited to provide comments on the draft policy by Mar. 9. While e-commerce in India is still at its nascent stage, compared to the overall retail sector, the market is predicted to reach $200 billion by 2026 from under $39 billion in 2017.

India seeks to control rivers into Pakistan as punishment India says it is building dams to stop its share of water from flowing into Pakistancontrolled Kashmir as it seeks to punish its longtime rival for an attack on paramilitary soldiers last week that left 40 dead.

Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari said that India will harness its share of unused water from three rivers to help Indian states. Pakistan, a country of 200 million people with a largely agriculture-based economy, fears that India may tamper with the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, which calls for the unimpeded flow of three other rivers through Kashmir and farther into Pakistan proper. The treaty has worked despite three wars between the two countries since 1947.

“Our Govt. has decided to stop our share of water which used to flow to Pakistan.

We will divert water from eastern rivers and supply it to our people in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab,” Gadkari tweeted late Thursday. Public pressure is mounting on the Indian government to consider revoking the water treaty if Pakistan did not accept its demand to stop training and arming insurgent groups fighting for Kashmir’s independence or its merger with Pakistan. Pakistan denies the charge and says it offers only moral and diplomatic

support to insurgent groups and accuses India of human rights violations in the Indian portion of Kashmir. On Friday, Pakistan’s Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda said that according to the Indus Water Treaty, India has eastern river waters and “they can’t even tap that.’”

“So think about that, thinking of doing something to us is irrelevant and a joke. India is playing blame game for its elections which is not our weakness,’” Vawda tweeted.

India’s national elections are to be held by May and Prime Minister Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to secure another five-year term in power.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a television interview early this week said that Indian leaders “have shown extreme irresponsible behaviour by blaming Pakistan without going into investigation about the incident.”

He said that the Indian government had threatened to review the Indus Water Treaty. Talking of holding up waters from rivers coming to Pakistan, Qureshi said, “This is an act of war and after seeing all these irresponsible statements of Indian leaders, I have written a letter to the secretary-general of the United Nations apprising him of Indian threats.”

‘India punching above weight in tech space’ Some of the interesting trends to watch for in India will be around transportation, says Michael McQueen, award-winning speaker and trend forecaster. A bestselling author (How to Prepare for What’s Next, The ‘New’ Rules of Engagement), Mr. McQueen has helped some of the world’s most successful brands navigate disruption and maintain momentum. He spoke with The Hindu on the sidelines of the International Advertising Association World Congress here on Thursday: How optimistic are you about India’s growth story? What’s interesting about India’s demographics is, you have got a huge proportion of population under 35 years.

Just looking at the millennial part, it’s 34% of your population under 35. You have got a generation coming through, who

are inspired, ambitious, and committed to environmental causes. They are such an integral part of any growing economy, coming to the world not expecting to stay in the same place where they were born.

India is not only a growing economy, but a flourishing one too. It’s the place to watch out for, it’s interesting. For a person like me, looking at what’s happening on the economic side in the market place, India is gaining a lot of attention at this moment.

Which are the areas in which India could accelerate its growth potential globally?

India is already doing so well in the tech space. There is no doubt about that.

Just remember the number of CEOs and executives in the Silicon Valley from India.

It is something that you guys bring in as a culture that makes you different.

Pakistan touches new low, makes calls to civilians residing in border areas asking whereabouts of Indian Army Pakistan, baffled by India’s gutsiness after the Indian Airforce struck the Jaish camps in Pakistan, has embraced a new low. Reports are emerging that Pakistan has been making calls to civilians located in the Indo-Pak border areas and enquiring about the Indian Army’s whereabouts.

According to a report by Patrika, the locals living in Sriganganagar district, Rajasthan, which happens to share its border with Pakistan, have been receiving fraudulent calls from thirteen digit numbers. These calls, which are being made through the internet, are trying to persuade the locals to reveal the locations and other important information regarding the Indian Army.

One such call was received by the Sriganganagar village Panchayat head, Rakesh Bishnoi. As per information passed on by Rakesh, he received a call from one such thirteen digit number at 10.30am.

The caller asked him whether the Indian army was present at the border. He was also asked for how long had the army been present in his area and also sought information regarding the army activities.

However, Bishnoi claimed that pretending to be ignorant, he asked the caller to contact the police for such information.

Bishnoi furthered that the caller also sought information regarding the Indian Army tanks and ammunition which he did not pass on. He received a call from a thirteen digit number (+3444172258965) and the call lasted for 2 minutes 24 seconds, confirmed Bishnoi. The situation in the border areas is very sensitive, post the Indian Army’s laudable endeavour. Areas like Sriganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer of Rajasthan and the Barmer border areas have been put on high alert. Superintendent of Police.

Saturday, March 2, 2019

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SOUTH ASIA

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Nepal asks India, Pakistan not to engage in any action that would threaten regional security

This Rae Bareli man used Balakot as a jihadi launch pad 200 years ago, here’s his story 200 years before the IAF bombed the terror camps at Balakot, Syed Ahmad Rai Barelvi used it as a launch pad for ‘Jihad’.

Syed’s main aim was his tahrik-e-jihad or Mujahidin movement against the Sikhs of Punjab.

According to a historian Ayesha Jalal, Balakot is said to be the “epicentre of jihad in South Asia”. ‘For these militants, Syed Ahmad Rai Barelvi and Shah Ismail are great heroes, whose jihad their admirers wish to emulate, to redress what they perceive as current injustices’, Jalal had written in the book. Syed Ahmed Rai Barelvi is often depicted in several Talibani videos as a jihadi role model to the militants of Tahrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, writes Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi. Rightly so, in many of JeM propaganda material, Syed Ahmed is extensively mentioned.

According to Jalal, the location of Balakot

Expressing concern over the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, Nepal on Wednesday said that as the current Chair of SAARC it underlines the importance of peace and stability in South Asia and calls on both sides not to engage in actions that would threaten security in the region. The Foreign Ministry in a statement said the Nepal government is concerned about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack on February on February 14.

It may be recalled that Nepal immediately condemned the heinous terrorist act, noted the Foreign Ministry. As the current Chair of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), Nepal, while underlining the importance of peace and

is away from the LoC which made it a ‘safe heaven’ for terrorist training.

In a letter to the Nawab of Tonk (Rajasthan), Barelvi hoped, “Since Balakot is located at a secure place, surrounded by hills on one side and bounded by the river on the other, God willing, the kuffars (infidels) will not be able to reach us.”

The Balakot training facility had at the time of the strike nearly 350 terrorists and was a state of the art training camp, The terror camp spreads over an area of around 6 acres in the forest of Balakot and has a capacity to hold more than 600 people.

Photos released by intelligence agencies show that amid the several features of the Balakot terror camp were staircases painted with the images of flags of US, UK and Israel - countries considered to be the enemy by Islamic terrorist organisations.

stability in South Asia, calls on both sides to exercise utmost restraint and not engage in actions that would threaten peace and security in the region,” it said. Nepal government has also called both the countries to seek solution through dialogue and peaceful means in order to ease tension and normalise the situation.

Forty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in a suicide attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-eMohammed (JeM) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district on February 14, sparking outrage in India. Following the incident, India bombed and destroyed JeM’s biggest training camp in Balakot in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, about 80-km from the Line of Control (LoC) early Tuesday, killing a “very large number” of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders.

Suspected plane hijacker carried toy gun - Bangladesh police Only seven people knew of the timing of air strike on Balakot Between 3.40am and 3.53am on Tuesday, 12 days after the Pulwama bombing by a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist killed 40 CRPF troopers, four Mirage 2000 fighters of the Tiger Squadron launched either Crystal Maze missiles or SPICE 2000 smart bombs — the aircraft were equipped with both — at Markaz Syed Ahmad Shaheed training camp at Balakot, Manshera, Pakistan, killing, according to intelligence officials, 325 militants and terror recruits.

The JeM camp, the officials said citing photographic evidence, which they said was not shared with the media, was obliterated.

A Bangladeshi man who was shot dead after he tried to hijack a plane had been carrying a toy gun and did not have any explosives on him, police said on Monday.

The passenger had tried to enter the cockpit of a state-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight after waving a gun and threatening to blow up the plane, airline and aviation authority officials said.

“The pistol with the suspect was a toy pistol and he had no bomb attached to his body,”

The Crystal Maze missiles have a 100km radius and the SPICE 2000 smart bombs can use the same guidance technology as the missiles to convert conventional bombs into smart ones. After Pakistan responded divergently, initially terming the attacks a failure (but admitting that its airspace was breached), and later calling them an “act of aggression” and reserved its right to react, PM Narendra Modi reviewed the operational preparedness of the country’s security forces with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, three service chiefs, and two heads of intelligence agencies in the evening.

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Kusum Dewan, additional commissioner of police in the southeastern city of Chittagong told Reuters news agency.

“He appeared to be mentally imbalanced. We heard he had a personal issue with his wife and demanded to speak to the prime minister.

But we are still investigating. We don’t want to come to any conclusion right now,” said the commissioner.

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Saturday, March 2, 2019 India hits Terror Camps across line of control days after Pulwama attack India carried out pre-dawn air strikes on terror training camps across the Line of Control on Tuesday, two weeks after 40 soldiers were killed in a terror attack in Kashmirâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pulwama. At around 3:30 this morning, 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force dropped 1,000 kg bombs on terror camps of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Sources told NDTV that the strikes were â&#x20AC;&#x153;100 per cent successfulâ&#x20AC;? and went on â&#x20AC;&#x153;exactly as plannedâ&#x20AC;?. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with top ministers in the cabinet committee on security at his home in Delhi, after which Home Minister Rajnath Singh flashed a thumbs-up sign at reporters.

Terror launch pads across the Line of Control were destroyed by the laserguided bombs and so were control rooms of the Jaish, reported ANI. The operation lasted around 19 minutes, say sources. â&#x20AC;&#x153;CredibleinformationwasreceivedthatJeM was attempting other attacks in the country.

A pre-emptive strike became absolutely necessary. India struck the biggest camp of JeM in Balakot,â&#x20AC;? Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale told reporters in a brief statement. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The military has taken this necessary step for the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s security. It was an act of extreme valour. PM Modi had earlier given the armed forces the freedom to

Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hindu MP appeals for peace in the region, offers to play role of mediator A Hindu parliamentarian from Pakistan benefit the most if the two countries joined made fervent appeal to the governments of hands. On the rising tension post the terror India and Pakistan to defuse tension in the attack, the lawmaker from Pakistan premier wake of the Pulwama terror attack, saying Imran Khanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s party said his government â&#x20AC;&#x153;does New Delhi will benefit the most if the two not want such a situationâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you have any neighbours joined hands. Pulwama attack apprehension, tell me about it. I will share site Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, a member of it with my government. I will also speak to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External offered to play the role of a mediator between Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in this regard,â&#x20AC;? the two governments and expressed hope that he said. Vankwani said he shares a spiritual connection with India and visits the the two countries â&#x20AC;&#x153;donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t indulge in any blame game and together country twice every year, even if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move ahead on the path of not a government-sponsored trip. peace and prosperityâ&#x20AC;?. The Forty CRPF personnel were killed patron of the Pakistan Hindu and many wounded when a suicide Council was in India as part of bomber rammed an explosivea 220-member delegation from laden vehicle into their bus in 185 countries who attended Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir MP Ramesh Kumar the Kumbh Mela on an invite of on February 14. The Pakistan-based the government. Also Read Post Pulwama, Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility India looking at something very strong says for the attack. The Indian government Donald Trump The two countries should not has been working diplomatic channels to allow the use of their soils against each other, â&#x20AC;&#x153;isolate Pakistanâ&#x20AC;? at international forums for Vankwani said, adding that India would providing support to terrorism.

Afghanistan begins exports to India through Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chabahar port Afghanistan on February 24, 2019 began exports to India through the Chabahar port in Iran. This is the first time Afghanistan has exported goods to India bypassing the Pakistan route. The first consignment of exports to India was flagged off by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. While inaugurating the new route, the President said that the Chabahar port is the result of healthy cooperation between India, Iran and Afghanistan and it will ensure economic growth.

Highlights t "DDPSEJOH UP SFQPSUT UXFOUZ

three trucks carrying 570 tonnes of dried fruits, textiles, carpets and mineral products were dispatched from the western Afghan DJUZ PG ;BSBOK UP $IBCBIBS JO *SBO t Ä&#x2021;F consignment will then be shipped from $IBCBIBS UP UIF *OEJBO QPSU DJUZ PG .VNCBJ t Afghanistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exports are expected to increase from $1 billion to $2 billion after the opening PG UIF OFX USBEF SPVUF t Ä&#x2021;F $IBCBIBS QPSU is expected to help Afghanistan transform from an importer country into an exporter country.

Indian held over plot to kill Lankan President Sirisena acquitted An Indian national held in Sri Lanka over an alleged plot to assassinate president Maithripala Sirisena was acquitted on Wednesday, court officials said.

Marceli Thomas, from Kerala, was arrested in October following a complaint by Namal Kumara, a police informant, who had alleged a plot to assassinate Sirisena and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the former top defence ministry bureaucrat and brother of ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Colombo Fort Magistrateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Court acquitted Thomas of the charges of conspiring to assassinate the VIPs when the case was taken up for hearing on Wednesday.

Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga

Dissanayake on February 13 informed the CID to present to court evidence against the suspect regarding the plot in two weeks.

However, the CID has not been able to produce any evidence against Thomas implicating him in the conspiracy charges.

Thomas had denied the allegation in the court and claimed that he is innocent and that an attempt was being made to frame him. Considering the facts in the case, the Magistrate said he cannot order to keep a person in remand without evidence as the police wanted. However, Thomas has been remanded further on charges of staying in the country without a valid visa.

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India, Pakistan both claim shooting down each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s war planes after Pulwama terror attack Pakistan and India said that they had shot down each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s warplanes, in a dramatically escalating confrontation that has fueled concerns of an all-out conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals.

Calling for talks with India to defuse the situation, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan warned of the potentially catastrophic consequences should â&#x20AC;&#x153;better senseâ&#x20AC;? not prevail. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Can we afford any miscalculation with the kind of weapons that we have and you have?â&#x20AC;? he said in a televised statement.

While both sides have sought to play down the threat of war, the rare aerial engagement over the divided and disputed territory of Kashmir significantly raises the stakes in a standoff sparked by a suicide attack on the Indian-controlled side earlier this month. Pakistan initially said it downed two Indian jets in its airspace and captured two pilots, but later its military spokesman tweeted that there was â&#x20AC;&#x153;only one pilotâ&#x20AC;? in Pakistani custody. Pakistanis hold national flags as they gather during an anti-Indian protest in Karachi on Febraury 27, 2019.

Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foreign ministry demanded the â&#x20AC;&#x153;immediate and safe returnâ&#x20AC;? of the pilot, calling on Pakistan to ensure no harm comes to him. The pilot â&#x20AC;&#x153;gives Islamabad a key bargaining chip that may affect just how muscular Delhiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next move could be,â&#x20AC;? tweeted US analyst Michael Kugelman.

New Delhi also confirmed the loss of one of its planes and said it had shot down a Pakistani fighter jet. In a sign of the deepening crisis, Pakistan closed its airspace â&#x20AC;&#x153;until further notice.â&#x20AC;? At least six

airports were shuttered in India, and a vast area north of New Delhi was closed to civilian flights. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We do not want to go towards war,â&#x20AC;? Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s military spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor told a press conference. International passenger planes are seen in a parking area at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on February 27, 2019.

Airplanes of international airlines are stuck in Nepal as tensions between neighboring India and Pakistan escalate.

Ghafoor said the jets had been shot down after Pakistani planes earlier flew across the Line of Control, the de facto border in Kashmir, to the Indian side in a show of strength, hitting non-military targets including supply depots. Afterwards, he said, the two Indian planes crossed the LoC into Pakistani airspace. One fell into Pakistani-held Kashmir, while the second crashed on the other side, he said.

He denied initial reports that a Pakistani plane had been shot down, saying accounts an F-16 had been lost were incorrect.

Later, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Rajeesh Kumar said a Pakistani jet was hit as it took part in an operation â&#x20AC;&#x153;to target military installations on the Indian side.â&#x20AC;? He said the Indian plane flown by the captured pilot â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a Mig-21 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; was lost in that operation. Indian soldiers and Kashmiri onlookers stand near the remains of an Indian Air Force aircraft after it crashed in Budgam district, some 30 kilometers from Srinagar on February 27, 2019.

40

FIJI

Saturday, March 2, 2019

No construction on Botanical Gardens and it is not a burial site - Sudhakar Minister for Lands Ashneel Sudhakar has made it clear that no structure will be built on the Suva Botanical Gardens and there is no official record showing that the land proposed for the construction of the Indian High Commission is an ancestral burial site for the people of Suvavou.

In an interview with Fijivillage, Sudhakar was asked to clarify whether the state land in question, includes the current gardens as claimed by some people.

Although the three yavusa and 9 mataqali from Suvavou Village have said that the land in question is their ancestral burial site, Sudhakar said that their records do not

show this.The three yavusa and 9 mataqali led by Tui Suva’s younger brother, Solomoni Kinitavaki have presented more than 1,000.

The three yavusa and 9 mataqali led by Tui Suva’s younger brother, Solomoni Kinitavaki have presented more than 1,0001,000 signatures to the Suva City Council, objecting to the re-zoning of the land for the Indian High Commission. Sudhakar also says that the piece of land is not a meke ground as said by the Fiji Museum. When asked by Fijivillage, Sudhakar assured people that access will not be cut off into the Fiji Museum. He says that there will also be no public restriction to get into the museum or the gardens.

iTaukei people should not be easily swayed by what people say about them and their identity - Adimaitoga The Assistant Minister for Itaukei Affairs Selai Adimaitoga has stressed that the iTaukei should not be easily swayed by what other people are saying about them and their identity. While speaking in the Ra Provincial Council meeting today, Adimaitoga says it is important for the iTaukei to know that everything about

them is protected. Adimaitoga says this government has made that possible.

The Assistant Minister also highlighted that no one or no law will ever take away the existence of the Provincial Council meetings in Fiji.

She says this also applies to other meetings that is being held which includes the iTaukei.

RFMF signs partnership with US Nevada National Guard The Republic of Fiji Military Forces together with the Nevada National Guard will now work together with coordinated efforts in the fields of counter-terrorism, counter narcotics, peace keeping operations and disaster preparedness.

This comes after they signed a partnership today for Fiji to enter into the state’s partnership program.

RFMF Commander Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto says they are honored to enter this new partnership as it is a wonderful tool to fulfil the vow that they had made to serve the people of Fiji better.

Naupoto says he knows that this partnership was discussed for a while and now it has grown to see the light of day.

More than 80% of Fijians dying as a direct result of NCDs - Rokomalani Non-communicable Diseases remains the main cause of death in the country with more than 80% of Fijians dying as a direct result of NCDs. This has been highlighted by the Acting National Advisor Dietetics and Nutrition Wellness Centre Maca Rokomalani saying that half of all the deaths in Fiji are caused by cardiovascular diseases.

She adds that unlike mortality patterns

in other countries, mortality caused from heart diseases continue to rise in Fiji. Rokomalani says the Ministry of Health has implemented a number of public health initiatives through the development of the National NCD strategies and also through the increase of funding and expansion of diabetic services.

FNPF takes 100 employers to court for failing to comply with employee contribution FNPF has taken about 100 employers to court for failing to comply with provisions of employee contributions.

Speaking to Fijivillage, the Chief Financial Officer Pravinesh Singh says under the law, FNPF is required to do at least one employer inspection every year.

Singh has also encouraged employees to use the My FNPF app which is their digital platform to find out whether their contributions are being paid.

He also highlighted that their ratio for inspector to employer is low and that is where employees need to take that extra step to check their digital platform.

New ambulance for Labasa Divisional Hospital People of Labasa will now be able to access the services of a brand new Ambulance worth $154,029 which was handed over today to the Labasa Divisional Hospital.

The Labasa hospital had one ambulance that catered for the needs of the people but over the years it had deteriorated in condition.

The fully equipped, brand-new, 4WD Ambulance was donated by the Government of Japan, through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Programme.

Speaking at the hand over Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Alex O’Connor says one of the fundamental and most needed commodities is transportation, and ambulances are an

integral part of the service.

He says effective, reliable and dependable 24-hour ambulance service is crucial to all medical services.

O’Connor says recently they have received many complaints regarding the ambulance services.

He says ultimately some were beyond their control however with this new fleet of ambulance vehicles they hope to provide and also cut down the response time whilst at the same time deliver the much needed services to the people of Fiji.

Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Alex O’Connor and Ambassador of Japan Masahiro Omura with new ambulance for Labasa

Man charged with theft of $17,792.40 remanded in custody A Suva man, Asif Ali who is charged with the theft of $17,792.40 has been remanded in custody by the Suva Magistrates Court.

He is charged with one count of theft and one count of causing loss. Ali is alleged to have stolen the money from

his employer Gold Hold Seafood Limited between 24th July to 17th October last year.

Magistrate Liyanage Wickeramasekara has adjourned the matter tio next Monday so that Ali can provide a proper surety. The two sureties he presented before court today were not suitable for the Magistrate.

Former executives of of a major supermarket chain to take plea on March 8 Three former executives of a major supermarket chain appeared in the Suva High Court today. Abhisaeth Abhimaanu, Kavishay Abhimaanu and Amrita Anand have been charged for their alleged involvement in deceptively obtaining more than $200,000 between 2011 and 2016 whilst employed at the Supermarket’s headquarters in Nasinu. Abhisaeth Abhimaanu is the company’s former Chief Finance Officer, Kavishay Abhimaanu is the former CEO and Amrita Anand is the former

Human Resources Payroll Clerk. Abhisaeth Abhimaanu is charged with seven counts of money laundering, Kavishay Abhimaanu is charged with four counts of money laundering while Amrita Anand is charged with 79 counts of money laundering. It is alleged that three paid additional salaries to themselves which was picked up during an internal audit conducted by the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service in 2017 and the matter was referred to the Criminal Investigations Department’s Anti-Money Laundering Unit.

PAKISTAN

Saturday, March 2, 2019 Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has admitted that Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan and is “unwell”, but said the government could act against him only if India presented “solid” and “inalienable” evidence that could stand in a court of law. Mr Qureshi’s remarks came amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after the February 14 terror attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-

Foreign minister Qureshi admits Masood Azhar is in Pakistan Mohammed (JeM) in Pulwama that left 40 CRPF personnel dead. India has handed over a dossier to Pakistan with “specific details of the JeM complicity in Pulwama terror attack and the presence of JeM terror camps and its leadership in Pakistan”. India

Pakistan suspends Samjhauta Express service in view of prevailing tensions with India Authorities in Islamabad have indefinitely suspended the Samjhauta Express, a decades-old train service between India and Pakistan. A statement by Pakistan’s foreign office said that the train service with India has been suspended “till further notice”. The move by Islamabad comes amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack. Bilateral ties between the two countries have taken a severe beating after Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed or JeM carried out its latest terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, in which more than 40 paramilitary soldiers were killed. While India has revoked

the ‘most favoured nation’ status to Pakistan, raised tariffs on Pakistani goods by 200 per cent and stopped India’s share of river water from flowing into Pakistan, authorities in Islamabad today suspended the Samjhauta Express train service.

“The operation of Samjhauta Express has been suspended today (Thursday) in view of the prevailing tensions between Pakistan and India,” Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson said in a statement. “Samjhauta Express will resume its operations as soon as the security situation improves between India and Pakistan,” Pakistan’s foreign office said, without giving any specific date for resuming the train service.

Foreign minister Qureshi makes ‘urgent’ phone call to Chinese FM, briefs him on Indo-Pak tensions Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi called Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday and briefed him on the evolving regional situation post Pulwama incident in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.

The foreign minister thanked China for its steadfast support to Pakistan, said the official press release. FM Qureshi underscored Pakistan’s desire for peace and stability in the region and resolution of all issues through negotiations and dialogue with India. He also

highlighted the steps taken by Pakistan to deescalate the situation. State Councilor Wang Yi thanked his Pakistani counterpart for the call and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for peace. Yi agreed that the unfolding regional situation was serious with implications for peace and security of the entire region. He also acknowledged Pakistan’s invaluable contributions in the fight against terrorism for which Pakistan has paid a heavy price. The two Foreign Ministers agreed to stay in contact with each other to discuss the regional developments.

also expressed regret at the denial by Pakistan’s political and military leadership at the presence of terrorist infrastructure in territories under its control. “He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he can’t leave

his house, because he’s really unwell,” Qureshi was talking with western media when asked about Azhar.

India has been repeatedly trying to list him as a “global terrorist” by the UN. However, China, an ally of Pakistan, has blocked India’s efforts by using veto. Qureshi also emphasied Pakistan would take action against if presented with evidence.

Gunmen attack High Court judge A senior judge of Pakistan’s Peshawar High Court has been battling for his life after being ambushed on his way to court by some bike-borne gunmen here on Thursday, police said. The assailants opened indiscriminate fire at the vehicle of Justice Muhammad Ayub Marwat in the upscale Hayatabad area when he was going to the court, senior police

officer Wasim Riaz said.

The judge and his driver, who was also injured in the incident, were rushed to hospital in a critical condition, he said.

Lawyers in Peshawar staged a demonstration against the attack and called for a strike. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, police added.

US President Trump says hopefully Pakistan, India conflict coming to an end U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he hoped the conflict between India and Pakistan will be coming to an end, after the two nuclear powers clashed across a contested border in the disputed Kashmir region.

Speaking at a news conference in Vietnam after a second summit with North Korean

leader Kim Jong Un, Trump said he had some “reasonably decent” news from India and Pakistan. He did not elaborate. World powers have urged restraint as tensions escalate following tit-for-tat air strikes this week after a suicide car bombing that killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary police in Indiancontrolled Kashmir on Feb. 14.

US Secretary of State Pompeo urges Pakistan, India to avoid military action U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke separately with the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan and urged them to avoid “further military activity” following an air strike by India inside Pakistan. “I expressed to both Ministers that we encourage

India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, and avoid escalation at any cost,” Pompeo said in a statement issued in Washington on Tuesday. “I also encouraged both Ministers to prioritize direct communication and avoid further military activity,” he said.

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NRI

Saturday, March 2, 2019 Indian-Americans protest outside Pak Consulate in New York against Pulwama attack A large number of Indian-Americans held a protest in front of Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN and its Consulate, strongly condemning the terror attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama and demanding swift action against Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed and its leader Masood Azhar.Members of the IndianAmerican community from the New York and New Jersey area raised slogans against

Pakistan and carried placards as they waved the Indian tri-colour during the protest outside the Pakistani Consulate and Permanent Mission premises in Manhattan Friday afternoon. The agitated protestors also waved the Indian tri-colour and the American flag as they demanded justice for the terror attack, saying the deaths of the 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel will not go in vain.

H-1B visa denials and delays jump As the administration of President Donald Trump cracks down on the controversial H-1B visa, increasing denials and delays, legitimate applications are getting rejected and snarled in red tape and laws are being broken, immigration lawyers say. The administration is delaying and denying more H-1B visa applications than at any time since at least 2015, according to a Reuters report Friday.

The delays arise from “requests for evidence” in which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration

Services demands more information to confirm applications are legitimate.

Immigration attorneys claim many of the denials and evidence requests violate laws and regulations governing the visa program, according to Reuters. However, Citizenship and Immigration says it adjudicates all applications “fairly, efficiently, and effectively on a caseby-case basis.” Trump has promised to come down hard on misuse of the H-1B, a work visa widely used by the Silicon Valley technology

Burqa-clad NRI jailed for jewellery shop robbery in UK An Indian-origin robber who dressed up in a burqa to steal from a jewellery store while threatening a shop worker with a knife in the city of Leicester has been jailed for over four years behind bars. Imtiaz Patel, 42, had pleaded guilty to the knifepoint robbery and possession of a bladed weapon. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment for the robbery and a concurrent nine-month imprisonment for possession of the weapon at Leicester Crown Court on Monday. Patel was also sentenced to an additional two months imprisonment for breaching a community order, with the

total jail time adding up to four years and two months. “It was thanks to the quick-thinking and excellent response of the officers on patrol that Patel was detained so quickly. Their actions of catching Patel as he left the scene of the crime left him with no choice but to admit the offence,” said Detective Constable Anna Thorpe of Leicestershire Police. The court was told how Patel was wearing a burqa and had a scarf across his face when he had entered the jewellery store in Haymarket area in the heart of Leicester last month. He was looking at a Rolex watch, valued at around 7,000 pounds,

Indian-origin man upset after being served beef pizza in UK A strictly vegetarian Indian-origin man has spoken of his shock and anger after he ended up taking a bite out of a beef pizza in a restaurant mix-up in the Midlands region of England. Abhishek Bhartiya was at a Pizza Hut in Nottingham with wife Prerna Goel when they opted for the buffet option, which included vegetarian and nonvegetarian options. The staff assured them that all pizzas with a green spatula were vegetarian, which turned out not to be the

case. “I had never eaten meat in my life until this moment and it has left me very upset. It is shocking that this could have happened,” Bhartiya, a software engineer, told the local ‘Nottingham Post’ newspaper on Wednesday. “I am very troubled by the fact I ate beef. It is the very sentiment of my religion not to eat beef as we worship cows,” said the devout Hindu.

Singapore’s Indian community pays homage to CRPF personnel killed in Pulwama terror attack The Indian diaspora held a candle light vigil on Friday in memory of the killed soldiers. More than 200 members of the Indian community here have paid homage to the CRPF personnel killed in the recent Pulwama terror attack. The Indian diaspora held a candle light vigil on Friday in memory of the killed soldiers. Representatives from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at the vigil, which was held at the Indian High Commission’s Grange Road Complex near the business district here.

India’s High Commissioner to Singapore,

Jawed Ashraf, said this spontaneous outpouring of grief and support for the killed paramilitary personnel reflected a deep sense of anguish in the Indian diaspora globally.

The UN Security Council has strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which left 40 securitymen dead and many injured. The Foreign Minister of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan has sent a letter to External Affairs Minister of India expressing condolences for the victims and condemning “this senseless act of terror“.

Indian student dies in pool incident in Rhode Island University The University is “saddened by the recent loss of one of our community members, Suhail Habeeb, it said. He had been enrolled at the University since Fall 2016.

In a tragic incident, a student from India died at a campus pool in the University of Rhode Island (URI) in the US. Suhail Habeeb, a graduate student in physics from India, died on Sunday following an incident that occurred in a Tootell

Physical Education Center pool on the Kingston Campus, the University said.

The University is “saddened by the recent loss of one of our community members, Suhail Habeeb, it said. He had been enrolled at the University since Fall 2016.

Staff from Campus Recreation, URI Police Department, and URI Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to Tootell late afternoon on Sunday.

OPINION

Saturday, March 2, 2019

43

Meet the fighter jet pilot whose conduct may have averted an India-Pakistan war He parachuted out over enemy territory.

Fired in the air to keep back angry locals.

Jumped into a pond and then destroyed documents by eating them.

That’s what Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, an Indian fighter jet pilot, reportedly did after his plane crashed in Pakistan on Wednesday. He also may have helped defuse one of the worst crises between the two nuclear armed neighbours in decades. Pakistan releases bizarre video showing captured Indian pilot sipping tea, praising interrogators Pakistan handed the pilot over to Indian authorities late Friday night. Under bright floodlights amid a heavy security presence, Varthaman crossed into India on foot at the Wagah border crossing in the state of Punjab, wearing a blue sport coat, white dress shirt and gray slacks.

A massive metal gate opened as Varthaman walked into India — he seemed relaxed — and shook hands with security officials who whisked him away. Then he disappeared in a convoy of Indian government vehicles.

His plane had been hit in the first aerial dogfight between India and Pakistan in nearly 50 years. He was subsequently captured by the Pakistani military in a particularly dramatic development to an already volatile conflict.

In a scene that could have been out of a movie, Varthaman parachuted out of his flaming plane and then asked the gathering crowd where he was. Upon finding out he was in Pakistan, he ran backward, firing his pistol in the air to keep back the angry young locals.

When they got too close, he jumped into a pond and destroyed sensitive documents and maps by swallowing some and soaking others before he was captured.

Now the pilot Indians consider a hero is on his way home as the two countries de-escalate the worst military tensions in decades.

“Having received the pilot back, you can’t go back to war,” said Happymon Jacob, an associate professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University’s School of International Studies in New Delhi.

A Pakistani watches a broadcast of captured Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s handover to Indians at the Wagah border in Pakistan, Friday, March 1, 2019. AP Photo/B.K. Bangash On Friday, Pakistan reopened its airspace partially to allow travel to four major cities.

The country had closed its airspace on Wednesday following the escalation, causing disruptions to international air traffic.

In India, the Election Commission said that national elections due in April-May would be held on schedule.

Experts said a detailed debrief and medical check would be conducted after Varthaman, a 38 year-old from the city of Chennai, returned.

Indians have watched every twist and turn in Varthaman’s saga this week.

An alleged video of his initial capture shows him being dragged from the crash site as enraged locals attempt to hit him.

A Pakistani soldier is heard asking people to stop.

A second, more controversial video that may run afoul of Geneva Conventions was tweeted by Pakistan’s Information Ministry.

The clip showed the blindfolded pilot with a bloodied face, answering questions calmly while in Pakistani custody.

After the Foreign Ministry in India “strongly objected to Pakistan’s vulgar display of an injured personnel,” the Pakistan military posted a fresh video saying the pilot was being treated “as per norms of military ethics.”

Seen sipping a cup of tea, Varthaman declines to answer any question on his operation or aircraft details, while praising his treatment by the Pakistan Army. Spoken like a “true soldier,” his father Simhakutty Varthaman said in a statement.

Flying runs in the family: the elder Varthaman, now retired, was a decorated senior officer in the Indian Air Force who reached the rank of air marshal. In an ironic twist, Simhakutty Varthaman once advised a filmmaker who made a movie about a pilot jailed in Pakistan after being captured in war.

In the movie, the hero is ultimately reunited with his family. After the capture, Simhakutty Varthaman expressed hope for his son’s safe return and said the family was praying that he “does not get tortured.” On Thursday night, the pilot’s parents flew to Delhi ahead of their son’s release. As passengers on the flight realized who the couple was, they burst out in applause and cheers. Varthaman, the son, appeared on a popular Indian television show eight years ago with several other fighter pilots. The hosts asked the guests what the main prerequisite was to be a fighter pilot. “Attitude,” said one.

“Bad attitude,” added Varthaman with a smile.

Even as India and Pakistan traded charges over the last two days, Varthaman’s behaviour in captivity united people from both sides of the border, mostly in praise. Videos of his capture and questioning were shared by thousands on social media. Pakistani citizens joined the chorus asking their government to return Varthaman as a gesture of peace.

This is not the first time that an Indian pilot has been taken hostage by Pakistan. In 1999, the rivals fought a brief but intense conflict high in the Himalayas. In that clash, known as the Kargil conflict, India deployed fighter jets but Pakistan did not. During the fighting, an Indian fighter pilot named Kambampati Nachiketa was captured by Pakistani forces after his plane crashed. Nachiketa said he was tortured during his eight days of captivity, after which he was released.

SUPER

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Saturday, March 2, 2019