Gunmen kidnapped the father of Afghanistan’s national cricket team captain near his home in an eastern city, officials said Friday, according to Associated Press.

There has been no ransom demand since Mohammad Nabi’s 60-year-old father Khobi Khan was abducted from his car in the city of Jalalabad, cricket board president Shazada Masoud said.

Police are searching for Khan, but there have been no leads or any contact since he was taken Tuesday morning, said Ahmad Zia Abdulzai, spokesman for the province of Nangarhar, where Jalalabad is the capital.

Masoud said he’s spoken to Nabi, who says his family has no personal disputes and he is shocked at the abduction. Kidnapping is fairly common in Afghanistan amid the violence of the Taliban insurgency.

Nabi has been influential in promoting Afghan cricket. He learned to play while at age 10 while living in a refugee camp in Peshawar, Pakistan.

The 28-year-old Nabi was the architect of Afghanistan’s progress to cricket World Cup qualifiers in South Africa in 2009 and was named national team captain in March.

Alberta Progressive Conservatives are chiding the Wildrose party over comments on the party’s Facebook page by people angry at Leader Danielle Smith for attending a Sikh parade, according to The Canadian Press.

Photos taken at the Calgary event earlier this month show Smith wearing a head scarf while she stands smiling with members of the Sikh community.

Two comments were, “I like you, but this photo is inappropriate. You represent Alberta, not India. When did Wildrose change?”, and “If you emulate the Muslim faith, I will NEVER vote for you.”

Service Alberta Minister Manmeet Bhullar said in a news release Wednesday that such racism and bigotry has no place in Alberta, adding that if the Wildrose had changed, it would have not left them up for nearly a week.

Bhullar said he was at the parade with Smith and it was “extremely disappointing” that she hadn’t commented on the postings.

Smith apologized, saying her party should have been more diligent in moderating their comment page over the long weekend, but as soon as they saw the postings, they removed them.

“I agree with Minister Bhullar, some of the comments were disgusting and out of line and bigoted and there is no place in our party for that kind of attitude.

“If people won’t vote for me because I celebrate our cultural diversity, then good riddance.

“We’re a party that embraces all people of all background and culture. The only way to confront bigotry is head-on, so I intend to continue going and celebrating our cultural events all over the province.”

Bhullar said Smith “needs to issue an immediate apology for the reprehensible behaviour of her party’s supporters.”

Smith said she has no idea if the posters are Wildrose members or supporters, adding it’s irrelevant because there’s no place for their comments.

“We get hundreds and hundreds of comments on my Facebook page and we do have staff that regularly delete inappropriate comments. We missed a few this weekend, I apologize for that. It in no way reflects my views or the views of my MLAs or our party.”

A newer model Porsche abandoned on the Spirit of Vancouver Island at Tsawwassen terminal Wednesday night delayed the vessel’s final sailing by more than an hour while B.C. Ferries staff and police scrambled to find the owner.

B.C. Ferries’ cameras captured images of the car as it and its lone male driver went through the ticket booth and onto the ferry at Swartz Bay. But when the ship docked at Tsawwassen at 8:50 p.m., the Porche was left behind as all other vehicles disembarked.

Delta police traced the licence plates and phoned the driver’s cellphone, said B.C. Ferries spokesman Darin Guenette.

If police are to believe the story, the fast car did not have a quick driver.

“He said he forgot, and got the bus,” Guenette said Wednesday night.

Police were dealing with the matter but when they tried to call the driver back, he wasn’t answering his phone.

Upon inspection, police discovered the vehicle was uninsured. The case has been handed over to the Vancouver Police Department.

At 10:15, the ferry left Tsawwassen for its final sailing back to Vancouver Island — 75 minutes late.

A second bear sighting in less than a month had several Surrey schools on alert Tuesday morning.

The bear was first spotted near Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Newton, near 72nd Avenue and 126th Street at around 7: 30 a.m.

“It was heading through somebody’s back yard,” said Bert Paquet of the Surrey RCMP, who said conservation officers attended.

According to Doug Strachan, spokesperson for the Surrey school district, notices were sent out to schools nearby, which included Princess Margaret Secondary and Cougar Creek Elementary.
“The officers were watching out for it, conservation was there,” Strachan said.

Strachan said this time around, the RCMP contacted the schools directly as well as alerting the district, ensuring the right information was getting to the right people, and making sure nobody was blowing anything out of proportion.

The sun’s out, spirits are high and everyone’s in the mood for some adventure. From July 4th-13th, the ultimate getaway experience will take place right here on the shores of Vancouver. For its third year, the Indian Summer Festival will provide locals with a beguiling glimpse of the Indian subcontinent. This 10-day event is a joyful celebration that uses music, literature, film, business, politics, and food to bridge the cultural gap.

Produced by the Indian Summer Arts Society (ISAS) in collaboration with Teamwork Productions, and presented by Simon Fraser University, the festival is a cultural cocktail that mixes luminary speakers with performance arts, hands-on activities, and sumptuous tasting events.

Over the past two festival editions, audiences were spellbound as politician and philosopher MJ Akbar explored the dichotomy of India and Pakistan, renowned violinist Dr L Subramaniam put on a virtuoso performance, and Bollywood star Tabu discussed Life of Pi with its author Yann Martel. Pair this heady cultural concoction with food tastings, well-being workshops and free public dance classes, and it becomes clear why this festival has quickly become a landmark on the Vancouver calendar.

“We’ve had an incredible response to the festival so far,” says Indian Summer co-founder Sirish Rao. “Our 2013 lineup takes things to the next level – from discussions on global politics, and what constitutes urban happiness, to free laughing yoga and dance classes, there is something for everyone. This is what cultural democracy is all about.”

Highlights this year include the Opening Gala, which launches with a tasting event curated by culinary guru Vikram Vij. Sample South Asia’s frying, simmering, sizzling diversity as you chomp your way through the regions. Musical group Rajasthan Josh will lend their distinct blend of rumbling percussions punctuated by soulful strings to the festivities. Additionally, activists like actor Shabana Azmi and director Deepa Mehta will weigh in on issues impacting the global community.