Vancouver Canadians shortstop Arjun Nimmala is a 19-year-old who is the Toronto Blue Jays’ best prospect, and he speaks as passionately about being a role model as he does about trying to climb his way to the big leagues one day.
The No. 1 ranked minor leaguer in the Blue Jays’ system, according to MLB Pipeline, Nimmala was born and raised in Florida. His parents Balu and Neeru Nimmala had moved to the U.S. from India, and Arjun talks readily about wanting to help pave a path for youngsters with similar backgrounds.
Athletes of Indian descent in North America’s big four pro team sports are few and far between. We’ve seen it in hockey with the likes of Vancouver Canucks farmhand Arshdeep
SABA hosts Enbridge in Surrey
South Asian Business Association (SABA) held an information meeting with the representatives of Enbridge to have a better understanding about Enbridge and pipelines. SABA president Lakhvinder Gill and senior vice president Puneet Sandhar are pictured presenting SABA support letter to Enbridge director of Corporate Citizenship & Strategic Partnership, Lorraine Little.
Bains. Texas Rangers right-hander Kumar Rocker was pegged as the first player with Indian roots to appear in the big leagues when he debuted last season. The C’s are Toronto’s high-A farm club, and their opening homestand of the Northwest League season continues through Sunday at Nat Bailey Stadium, with the San Francisco Giants’ farmhands who make up the Eugene Emerald providing the opposition. Tickets are available at the team website, starting at $22.
“I was born to Indian parents and I’m very proud of that background,” Nimmala said ahead of batting practice at the Nat earlier this week.
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India and the U.S. have come to the table to discuss the trade deal amid the ongoing tariff war.
The publication cited an Indian official who said the two countries have finalized "terms of reference" over the first segment of a bilateral trade deal. A "win-win shape and form" to the deal is possible within the next 90 days.
“India is far ahead of other countries in negotiating a trade deal," the official added.
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The U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has identified $1.4 billion in fentanyl-linked suspicious transactions, naming China, Mexico, Canada, and India as key foreign touchpoints in the global production and laundering network. The analysis, based on 1,246 Bank Secrecy Act filings submitted in
2024, tracks financial activity spanning chemical purchases, trafficking logistics, and international money laundering operations.
The data reveals that Mexico and the People’s Republic of China were the two most frequently named foreign jurisdictions in financial intelligence gathered by FinCEN.
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rent drops to a two-year low but still highest in Canada
Canada’s rent deceleration has continued for the sixth month in a row, but Vancouver renters still pay the highest price in the country.
Zumper, a digital marketplace for renters and property managers, has released its latest rent report, which tracks asking rent prices on sites with apartment listings. Vancouver remains in the top spot for the priciest one-bedroom rentals at a median $2,500 per month, down 1.6 per cent in March. Two-bedroom rentals also saw a slight dip month-over-month to $3,450, up 1.10 per cent.
According to Zumper, Vancouver’s asking rent is at the lowest level since January 2023, which marks an over two-year low.
“The era of double-digit annual rent increases seen in the last few years appears to be over,” said Zumper in the report. “The highest annual growth now comes from Saskatoon at just 5.7 per cent, while rent drops were noticeably more pronounced, with Calgary leading the way, down 9.8 per cent year-over-year.”
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The downward trend in the B.C. real estate market continues: the number of home sales in the province has been falling drastically in 2025.
According to the BC Real Estate Association, this year’s March saw a 9.6 per cent drop in residential unit sales compared to last year’s numbers. The drop translates into a 13.9 per cent decrease in the province’s real estate market revenue, or $900 million.
The association says the decline is due to increased economic uncertainty driven by U.S.imposed tariffs.
“Buyers continued to shift back to the sidelines in March,” said BCREA Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson.
“The economic uncertainty surrounding potential tariffs on Canadian goods has some potential buyers hesitant, particularly in the province’s larger markets.” In fact, that uncertainty has skyrocketed so much that sales
were 35 per cent lower than the ten-year March average.
Prices in most markets in the province have fallen, especially in the biggest markets of Greater Vancouver, Fraser Valley, and Victoria. However, they have gone up in smaller markets, such as Vancouver Island and Northern B.C. Currently, the residential average price across B.C. stands at $963,323 — a 4.8 per cent drop compared to last year’s price.
Canadians are sticking to their guns amid the trade war between Canada and the United States, with travel to the U.S. plummeting drastically in the past month.
New data from the U.S. Customs Border Patrol (CBP) shows that 4,105,516 people crossed the
border from Canada to the U.S. in March.
That’s a drop of 864,844 visitors compared to the same month last year, which saw 4,970,360 Canadians travelling down south. Broken down by modes of travel, 2.5 million people travelled from Canada to the U.S. by car in March 2025, compared to the 3.4 million passenger vehicles that crossed the northern border the same month last year. That’s a 900,000 drop in visitors by land.
In contrast, travel by air in March 2025 increased by about 47,000, with 923,000 people flying from Canada to the U.S. compared to 876,000 people in March 2024.
Air travel seems to have increased despite Canadian airlines cutting thousands of seats to certain U.S. states in response to a significant dip in travel.
unsold condo inventory could soar by 60% in 2025: forecast
Although borrowing costs are now on a downward trend, driven by the Bank of Canada’s recent decreases to the policy interest rate, the demand for strata market ownership condominium homes in Metro Vancouver is expected to remain weak for the foreseeable future.
According to a new forecast released today by local real estate marketing firm Rennie, the number of unsold condominium inventory is projected to jump by 60 per cent in 2025 — from 2,179 units in completed projects to 3,493 units by the end of 2025.
It is anticipated that roughly 1,500 sales will be made for completed or completing homes,
based on the current absorption rates, and the number of projects that have already completed construction or will complete this year.
Generally, “housing starts” are defined as the beginning of construction work on the building. Ryan Berlin, the head economist and vice president of intelligence for Rennie, notes that the number of homes under construction overall today remains highly elevated, and housing completions are forecast to surge in 2025.
If this pattern persists, there will be higher carrying costs for developers holding this elevated number of unsold inventory, which could reduce their ability to start other development projects.
Vaping among school-age children is on the rise across Canada. Abbotsford Senior Secondary School’s vice-principal, Brent Schroeder, routinely has a desk drawer full of confiscated vapes.
“This isn’t a here problem, it’s an everywhere problem, I would say,” Schroeder told Global News. “But it is eye-opening when you are doing the actual work and see how much of a problem it is.” One in five students in B.C. has tried vaping, according to Statistics Canada. In 2022, one in 10 Canadians aged 20 to 24
and one in 15 youth aged 15 to 19 vaped daily compared with one in 50 Canadians aged 25 and older. But Schroeder said even one in five seems low to him. “It’s a huge level of concern,” he said. Addressing the vaping culture is a top priority for the Abbotsford School Board, especially after a nationwide survey out of UBC and co-authored by Dr. Nathan Njieng, the school district deputy superintendent, found that vaping is the number one issue being dealt with in schools.
Changes to BC’s Graduated Licensing Program would remove 2nd road test
Changes are being proposed to B.C.’s graduated licensing program. In an announcement on Wednesday, the B.C. government says it has introduced legislation to create a simpler and more accessible process for new drivers.
If approved, the changes will remove the requirement for a second road test for someone with their learner’s licence to obtain a Class 5 licence. Instead, there will be a 12-month restriction period for anyone wanting to get a Class 5 where the driver “must demonstrate safe driving behaviour to progress,” according to a release from the province. The government states that evidence has shown that having an extended period with restrictions and enhanced driver-record reviews promotes safer and more confident drivers.
The province hopes this will cut down on the wait times for road tests. The proposed legislative changes will also establish a new Motorcyclist
BC
Licensing Program that all new motorcycle riders will need to complete.
The new MLP will also have a restriction period and enhanced safety measure requirements for protective gear, which will be established through regulations.
If this legislation passes, Ontario will be the only province that still requires a second road test to exit the Graduated Licensing Program.
urged to cut ties with U.S. LifeLabs owner amid Trump tariffs
A public health advocacy group is urging the British Columbia government to end a contract with an American company that owns LifeLabs, the province’s main provider of outpatient lab services.
The BC Health Coalition has issued an open letter urging Premier David Eby to follow through on a directive he issued last week for all government bodies to review their connections to U.S. firms amid the tariff dispute, then cancel its contract with Quest Diagnostics. The American firm acquired LifeLabs across Canada last year for $1.35 billion, and the company is now involved in a labour dispute with
its B.C. workers who are eight weeks into strike action. About 1,200 striking LifeLabs workers are members of the B.C. General Employees Union and have been conducting rotating job action, temporarily closing labs on certain days. The coalition’s letter now urges the province to bring laboratory services into the public system. The letter says that a public system would reduce wait times, save money, and improve working conditions and service deliveries.
The release of the letter comes ahead of LifeLabs workers job action outside the B.C. legislature on Wednesday.
Surrey Election candidates hosted by SBOT
Surrey Board of Trade held a 2025 federal election candidates debate last week to introduce the candidates in Surrey. Pictured above are the candidates from various parties, including Liberals Sukh Dhaliwal and Randeep Sarai. SABA president Lakhvinder Gill (right) welcoming candidates to a meeting organized by Surrey Board of Trade in Surrey.
Charges dismissed in fiery Peace Arch border crash that killed BC pastor
A provincial court judge has dismissed a charge of dangerous driving against a Washington state man in a deadly crash that killed a B.C. pastor at the Peace Arch border crossing in 2019.
Gurbinder Singh, 40, pleaded not guilty in 2024 to dangerous driving causing death in the explosive collision that left Pastor Tom Cheung dead on May 2, 2019.
Cheung left behind a wife and two sons.
Justice Daniel Weatherly said on Thursday that Singh’s mental state was profoundly impaired at the time of the crash and dismissed the charge against him.
Singh was certified under the Mental Health Act after the collision and had suffered a mental health crisis the day before the crash.
Many of the facts of the deadly collision were not disputed, and the case hinged on Singh’s intentions at the time.
On Thursday, the court heard that Singh was watching TV the day before the crash, May 1, 2019, and started hearing voices. He said he was shocked at his thoughts, but when he looked outside, he saw he was still on Earth, and then he took his clothes off and walked outside naked.
Singh was hospitalized and given antipsychotic medication and was later released.
The next day, May 2, he said he felt clearheaded and not hazy.
The agreed facts in the case included that Singh was travelling north at 120 kilometres per hour in a 30 km/h zone on Highway 99 in a Porsche Cayenne at the time of the crash.
How an 'unofficial' Conservative is giving the party headaches in a formerly safe BC seat
OTTAWA — A former British Columbia provincial cabinet minister whose candidacy the federal Conservatives rejected is now threatening the party’s chances of recapturing a historically safe seat. “What ultimately tipped the scales for me was when lifelong Conservatives said to me ‘we have seen what has happened here, it is unfair’,” said Mike de Jong, who is running as an Independent in Abbotsford—South Langley. It comes as others who campaigned in the hopes of becoming a Conservative candidate are speaking out about the party’s handling of the nomination process in certain ridings, raising concerns about its behind-the-scenes operations, as it spent months publicly pushing for a federal election. “I felt I was betrayed. Totally betrayed,” said Keshav Mandadi,
who tried to become a candidate in Mississauga and now no longer supports the party. Successive public opinion polls suggest the Conservatives are tied or trailing the Liberals in public support during the federal election campaign, which concludes on April 28.
Some in the party also question whether internal decisions are to blame for the reversal of fortune of the Tories, who led in polls by wide margins for over a year until Liberal Leader Mark Carney replaced unpopular prime minister Justin Trudeau in the middle of a trade war with U.S. President Donald Trump. For de Jong, his journey to registering as an Independent began when Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was running to become party leader, back in 2022.
‘You don’t know my dad’: Daughter of late Conservative MP running for the Liberals
Visitors to the Liberal campaign office in Calgary East are greeted by a smiling picture of one of the longest serving Conservative MPs.
And next to it is an ornate green vase of blown glass that contains some of the ashes of Deepak Obhrai.
The vase, the picture and the Liberal campaign office all belong to Obhrai’s daughter, Priti Obhrai-Martin.
The 50-year-old, who grew up running campaigns for the Tory blue, now acknowledges that while she has crossed over to run in Liberal red, she remains in harmony
with the ideals she learned on her dad’s knee.
“My dad’s literally here because I was guided to do this by him,” Obhrai-Martin said in an interview. “I get Conservatives quite often on my Facebook page telling me that he’s disappointed.
“(To that) I say, ‘You don’t know my Dad.’ “He evolved with the times. You can’t have the same policies, you can’t have the same ideologies that worked 20, 30 or 40 years ago.” Deepak Obhrai was a long-time Calgary P, serving with the Reform Party, Canadian Alliance and Conservative Party before his death from cancer in 2019.
OPINION
Geopolitical Gaslighting And India-US Relations – OpEd
By Dr. Samit Gupta
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In April 2025, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) once again pulled no punches in calling out India’s deepening descent into religious authoritarianism. The latest report paints a grim picture—not of isolated incidents, but of a structural, state-enabled ecosystem of religious repression. For the fifth consecutive year, the USCIRF has recommended India’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), placing the world’s largest democracy in the company of notorious human rights abusers.What makes the 2025 edition especially jarring is not just the repetition of accusations—it’s the pattern of normalization. Mob violence, mosque demolitions, draconian laws, and the weaponization of nationalism are no longer outliers; they are becoming standard operating procedures. The report meticulously outlines how Hindutva, once an ideological current pushed by fringe groups, has now been mainstreamed into statecraft. Under the Modi-led BJP government, majoritarian narratives have shaped everything from law enforcement priorities to public discourse. And ahead of the 2024 elections, the weaponization of communal divisions became particularly vicious. Hate speeches from top political leaders—including Prime Minister Narendra Modi— were amplified, legitimizing vigilante groups and emboldening attacks against Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and even Dalits. The line between state and sectarianism has all but vanished. The “bulldozer justice” phenomenon, where homes and businesses of Muslims are demolished without due process, is no longer regional—it’s national. Entire neighborhoods in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have been razed, often under the guise of “unauthorized construction,” despite legal protections and ongoing court cases. The USCIRF rightly calls out the misuse of UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) and FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act)—both of which have been deployed not against terrorists or financial fraudsters, but against civil society, minority leaders, and rights defenders. In effect, India has created a legal scaffold for selective repression. Journalists, Muslim clerics, Dalit activists, and Christian charity workers have all faced arrests, funding cuts, and character assassinations.
The leaders of Canada’s major federal political parties squared off against each other in the English-language debate in Montreal Thursday, a day after they faced each other in a Frenchlanguage debate.
Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet faced each other in a bid to sway voters with 10 days to go before the election on April 28. The Leaders Debate Commission cancelled a planned post-debate scrum between journalists and the party leaders.
Michel Cormier, executive director of the Leaders’ Debates Commission, told reporters after the debate that the scrum was cancelled because the commission didn’t feel “that we can actually guarantee a proper environment for this activity.” The first theme of the night was “tariffs and threats to Canada,” giving the leaders a chance to address one of the biggest issues facing voters
this election campaign. Carney, who is leading in the polls, was criticized by the other three leaders for his approach to dealing with the uncertainty around the tariffs. Poilievre criticized Carney for not backing an oil pipeline connecting Alberta to the East Coast, while Singh said Carney had not done enough to expand Employment Insurance benefits for workers. Blanchet accused Carney of saying “one thing in French and another in English.” Carney said that the old relationship that Canada shared with the United States was over. He said counter-tariffs should be designed to minimize the impact on Canadians and that his government would work to reduce interprovincial trade barriers. Carney faced questions from both Singh and Blanchet about his investments with Brookfield Investments and possible conflicts of interest.
“I have always acted with integrity, served the shareholders of Brookfield when I was there. I have left and I have followed all the rules,” Carney said.
More than three in four Canadians would support publicly funding an oil pipeline to carry crude from Alberta to eastern Canada, according to a poll commissioned by Bloomberg. Such a project, crossing thousands of kilometres from the oilsands of Alberta to Canada’s east, where many of the country’s refineries are located, would reduce Canada’s reliance on exporting to the U.S. market.
The survey, by Nanos Research, was taken in the same week United States
President Donald Trump escalated a global trade war, adding tariffs on foreign-made automobiles, in addition to tariffs on steel and aluminum and so-called “reciprocal tariffs” against most trading partners.
on most Canadian products and a 10 pr cent duty on oil. Those tariffs are still on the books, but for now they’ve been suspended for goods shipped in compliance with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, known as CUSMA. He has also threatened sectoral tariffs on goods Canada is a leader in producing, such as lumber.
Ties between the U.S. and Canada have soured in recent months as Trump targeted Canada specifically with a number of trade actions, suggested it should become the 51st state, and mocked the former prime minister by repeatedly calling him “governor.”
Within days of his inauguration, Trump signed an executive order to put 25 per cent import taxes
Nearly all of Canada’s crude exports go to the U.S. because of a lack of pipelines running to Canadian ocean ports. Even the pipelines that carry oil from Alberta to eastern Canadian refineries cross through the U.S. on their routes, a potential vulnerability in a trade war.
The poll showed strong support for a new pipeline that would flow across Canada. Some 77 per cent support or somewhat support the idea of the national government funding a pipeline’s construction, according to the survey. Just 15 per cent are opposed or somewhat opposed, and the rest were unsure. The Nanos poll also found that about four in five Canadians say they care or somewhat care about the size of the federal budget deficit, which was projected to be about $48 billion this year.
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“They’re very proud of their Indian backgrounds and I’m carrying that on, too, while also being proud to be an American.
“It’s my heritage. It’s very important to me because it’s who I am. It’s my identity. I am Indian. That’s something I’m very proud of and I’m going to do my very best to show everyone who I am.
“I didn’t know much about Vancouver prior to the draft, but I am here now and I understand that there’s a large Indian population. Toronto is similar. I’m excited. Hopefully, I can show people what can be done — American-Indian, Indian, whatever.You can play sports at a high level, you can follow your dreams.”
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Note that U.S. President Donald Trump announced a pause on tariffs for 90 days on Apr. 9; China, however, remained the exception on which he hiked tariffs to 125%.
U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance is likely to visit India soon for the talks.
The two countries have a bilateral trade worth $191 billion as of now, which India is trying to more than double to $500 billion by 2030.
India’s commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said, "India is very efficiently handling the whole thing. PM Narendra Modi and President Trump had already come to
Nimmala is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed hitter the Blue Jays selected out of Strawberry Crest high school in Dover, Fla., with the No. 20 pick in the 2023 MLB amateur draft. He received a $3-million signing bonus from the club. His 17 home runs in 90 games last summer (he hit 16 in 83 games with single-A Dunedin) led all minor leaguers age 18 or younger.
There was always a chance the Blue Jays were going to assign him to Vancouver, but it wasn’t a certainty when the C’s announced their gameday promotions schedule in February. The team’s South Asian Heritage Night set for May 27 is a coincidence. It does have extra meaning to it now, of course.
a decision in February that they would sign a bilateral trade agreement to boost mutual relations in order to ease trade between the two nations, which will take trade to $500 billion, will generate more employment opportunities, and strengthen the nation's economy... Our talks are progressing well."
"We never negotiate at gunpoint,” Goyal remarked. The crypto market is reacting positively to the developments so far. The total market cap soared 2.8% over the last 24 hours to $2.7 trillion. Bitcoin was trading only slightly below the $83,000 mark. At press time, it was exchanging hands at $82,861.65 as per Kraken’s price feed.
China, Mexico, Canada and India flagged in $1.4 billion fentanyl trade by USA financial watchdog
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Most of the flagged transactions originated in U.S. cities, the report notes, due to the “domestic nature” of Bank Secrecy Act data collection. Among foreign jurisdictions, Mexico, China, Hong Kong, and Canada were cited most often in fentanyl-related financial activity.
The FinCEN report points to Mexico as the epicenter of illicit fentanyl production, with Mexican cartels importing precursor chemicals from China and laundering proceeds through complex financial routes involving U.S., Canadian, and Hong Kong-based actors.
that leveraged the Chinese export sector,” the report says.
The findings also align with testimony from U.S. and Canadian law enforcement veterans who have told The Bureau that Chinese state-linked actors sit atop a decentralized but industrialized global fentanyl economy—supplying precursors, pill presses, and financing tools that rely on tradebased money laundering and professional money brokers operating across North America.
“Filers also identified PRC-based subjects in reported money laundering activity, including suspected trade-based money laundering schemes
A point emphasized by Canadian and U.S. experts—including former U.S. State Department investigator Dr. David Asher—that professional Chinese money laundering networks operating in North America are significantly commanded by Chinese Communist Party–linked Triad bosses based in Ontario and British Columbia—is not explored in detail in this particular FinCEN report.¹ Chinese chemical manufacturers— primarily based in Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Hebei provinces—were repeatedly cited for selling fentanyl precursors via wire transfers and money service businesses. These sales were often facilitated through e-commerce platforms, suggesting that China’s global retail footprint conceals a lethal underground market— one that ultimately fuels a North American public health crisis. In many cases, the logistics were sophisticated: some Chinese companies even offered delivery guarantees and customs clearance for precursor shipments, raising red flags for enforcement officials.
While China's industrial base dominates the global fentanyl supply chain, Mexican cartels are the next most prominent state-like actors in the ecosystem—but the report emphasizes that Canada and India are rising contributors.
“Subjects in other foreign countries—including Canada, the Dominican Republic, and India— highlight the presence of alternative suppliers of precursor chemicals and fentanyl,” the report says.
Vancouver rent drops to a two-year low, still highest in Canada
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Vancouver’s year-over-year rent drop currently sits at -5.70 per cent for a onebedroom and -9 per cent for a two-bedroom.
Burnaby remains the city with the secondhighest median asking rent nationwide, with average asking rent coming in at $2,300 and $2,990 for one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, respectively.
Victoria, Kelowna, and Abbotsford also make the top 20 most expensive markets for renters in Canada. “This report’s Canadian national rent index declined both monthover-month and year-over-year for the sixth
consecutive month, signaling a broader cooling across the rental market,” added Zumper.
“This sustained slowdown can be attributed to a combination of factors, including increased supply in some markets, shifting migration patterns, and affordability constraints that have pushed renters to seek more costeffective options or delay moves altogether.
“Additionally, economic uncertainty may be tempering demand, as some potential renters may opt to stay in their current units longer rather than potentially face costs related to finding new housing.”
Police seize 10 kilos of meth, arrest 6 accused of trafficking drugs from BC to Manitoba
Six people have been charged in connection with what police say was a drug-trafficking operation that brought narcotics from British Columbia to Manitoba. The Winnipeg Police Service's guns and gangs unit joined forces with Surrey RCMP on an investigation last December, which led to the southwestern B.C. force intercepting a Winnipeg-bound package containing 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and two kilograms of cocaine on Jan. 3, Winnipeg police said in a news
release Wednesday. The drugs had an estimated street value of $180,000, police said.
Police say between January and March, they executed search warrants at the Stony Mountain federal prison just north of Winnipeg, along with several Winnipeg locations: a Donald Street apartment, a home on Main Street north of Kildonan Park, two commercial businesses on Main Street, and a commercial business on Sanford Street, near Polo Park mall.
62-year-old Vancouver security guard had fingertip bitten off: VPD
One man has been charged after being involved in an incident with a security guard in Vancouver last week. According to the Vancouver Police Department, a 62-year-old security guard had his fingertip bitten off during what the force is calling a “violent confrontation” with a stranger.
Police began an investigation on April 10 after responding to a call of an assault in progress outside of Granville Square, which is located near Granville and West Cordova streets. According to the VPD, the victim was working as a security guard when he encountered the suspect outside the building in a plaza sometime around 10:30 am.
The VPD says that there was a “brief interaction” that led to the victim being allegedly assaulted and suffering a severed fingertip. The victim was later taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Officers were able to successfully locate the suspect and arrest him nearby. They have also named the suspect as 32-year-old Derek Driscoll, who has now been charged with one count of
aggravated assault “and has been detained by the court.” He is expected to make his next court appearance on April 16.
This violent incident follows two other notable happenings in Vancouver over the last week.
Last week, we reported that multiple people assaulted a 92-year-old Chinatown resident before he succumbed to his death. Police are still trying to figure out whether or not the assault directly contributed to his death.
BC dump truck driver found drunk at 9:30 a.m.
A 64-year-old Abbotsford man is facing serious consequences after BC Highway Patrol officers intercepted his fully-loaded dump truck on the Trans Canada Hwy. in Chilliwack for impaired driving.
The incident occurred on the morning of April 9, just before 9:30 a.m., when a concerned passerby reported the dump truck was being driven dangerously eastbound near Vedder Road.
The caller provided detailed information about the truck’s behavior and location, allowing officers to respond quickly.
Two BC Highway Patrol vehicles located and stopped the vehicle near Popkum Road, where they determined the driver was impaired.
“We are obviously very concerned whenever a professional dump truck driver makes the decision to drive while impaired,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol.
“The caller who alerted police did a great job describing the driving behaviour and location of the truck.” The driver has been issued a 90-day driving suspension and had to be picked up and driven home by his wife.
His dump truck, still fully loaded at the time of the stop, was towed from the scene by a heavy-duty tow truck and will remain impounded for 30 days.
The Abbotsford-based company that owns the truck will be responsible for covering the towing and storage fees associated with the impoundment.
Lack of services, Stigma leave male survivors of intimate partner violence without support, SFU study finds
Men experiencing intimate partner violence turn to harmful coping strategies due to limited services and persistent social stigma, according to a new Simon Fraser University study.
Using survey data from the Statistics Canada General Social Survey on victimization as well as interviews with 16 male survivors, the study found men were significantly less likely to seek outside help compared to women.
“When intimate partner violence happens to men, it often feels like they're left to cope alone,” says Alexandra Lysova, SFU criminology professor and co-author of a new study published in the Journal of Family Violence. “Many deny the abuse, withdraw from social activities and relationships and throw themselves into work to avoid what’s happening at home.”
These avoidant strategies can prevent men from seeking support such as therapy or separation, she says. As a result, male survivors may experience worsening depression, substance misuse, and emotional distress, which can escalate the risks in the relationship.
This is especially concerning, says Lysova, because while violence is mainly bi-directional, women tend to experience the most severe consequences — 79 per cent of intimate partner
homicide victims are women, for example.
This research highlights a critical gap in support services and the importance of addressing intimate partner violence as a human issue — not just a gendered one, Lysova argues.
"There is a lack of gender-inclusive public awareness campaigns, training and protocols for front-line professionals — such as police, social workers and doctors — who are often the first point of contact for someone seeking help,” she explains. “Even when governments issue reports or expand services, they typically highlight female victims, leaving male survivors invisible.”
“When we help men, we also help women and children, and ultimately, society,” Lysova explains. “Abuse is abuse. We need to stop treating violence against women and violence against men as separate issues. Addressing violence in all its forms — regardless of the victim’s gender — helps create safer communities for everyone.”
WHERE TO GO FOR HELP
The government of Canada offers a list of national and provincial resources for men here. Help is also available at:
Canadian Centre for Men and Families
Canadian Suicide Prevention Service
1.833.456.4566
Lighthizer gives private trade-war advice to Canada’s conservatives
57-year-old former school teacher, Kishore Kumar will avoid spending time behind bars again as his 1 year 10 months sentence has been suspended for five years in the Lenora Qereqeretabua case. He was sentenced by Magistrate Seini Puamau this afternoon. Kumar pleaded guilty to six counts of causing harm by electronic communication and one count of criminal intimidation.
He had made false claims on his facebook page, “Kishore Kumar Publications” that there was a porn video of Qereqeretabua.
Magistrate Puamau says if it wasn't for his mental health he would have been serving immediate jail time for the misogynistic and disturbing videos.
She considered factors including mental conditions, time spent in remand, remorse and his guilty plea before giving the conviction.
Magistrates Puamau says the Police, Online Safety Commission and the Office of the Director of the Public Prosecution must monitor him and prosecute if he reoffends. She adds that she doesn't want to see Kumar again in her court. Kumar's remand will end after he is registered
as an outpatient at the Saint Giles Hospital and a case manager is assigned. “In the final analysis, the relationship between the United States and Canada is going to be as good or better than it has ever been, and the business relationship will be fine,” Lighthizer said, according to a recording of the closed-door event obtained by POLITICO.
The former trade representative has no role in the current Trump administration but his views were welcomed and hotly anticipated in a country looking for clues on how to counter the economic threats from its closest neighbor and top trading partner.
“He is still relevant. I would view him as the godfather of American trade policy for this administration,” said Jason Easton, who was a trade adviser to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and was at the event.
Lighthizer’s 2023 book, “No Trade is Free,” has now likely surpassed Trump’s own “Art of the Deal” as essential reading for Canadian politicians and policy makers trying to steer their country through its current economic crisis over Trump’s tariffs, Easton said.
Ministry for Housing launches National Housing Policy 2025–2030
With an aim to improving access to affordable, adequate, and inclusive housing across the country, the Ministry of Housing has officially launched the National Housing Policy 2025–2030.
Minister for Housing and Local Government, Maciu Katamotu Nalumisa says the new policy focuses on enhancing housing supply, improving affordability for low-income households, and strengthening capacity in the housing sector. He says the policy also reinforces Fiji’s commitment to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11, which promotes inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable communities.
Nalumisa further highlighted that the key priorities outlined in the National Housing Policy 2025–2030 include strengthening regulation and legislation to improve the supply and quality of housing and rental accommodation, expanding
housing assistance through targeted support mechanisms for low-income families, and investing in skills development, housing data systems, and construction sector capacity to enhance overall service delivery.
The Minister states the successful implementation of the policy would require a whole-of-sector approach, involving collaboration between government ministries, statutory entities, the private sector and communities.
Kishore Kumar avoids jail time again as 1yr 10 months sentence suspended for 5 years for making false claims online
57-year-old former school teacher, Kishore Kumar will avoid spending time behind bars again as his 1 year 10 months sentence has been suspended for five years in the Lenora Qereqeretabua case. He was sentenced by Magistrate Seini Puamau this afternoon.
Kumar pleaded guilty to six counts of causing harm by electronic communication and one count of criminal intimidation.
He had made false claims on his facebook page, “Kishore Kumar Publications” that there was a porn video of Qereqeretabua. Magistrate Puamau says if it wasn't for his mental health he would have been
serving immediate jail time for the misogynistic and disturbing videos.
She considered factors including mental conditions, time spent in remand, remorse and his guilty plea before giving the conviction.
Magistrates Puamau says the Police, Online Safety Commission and the Office of the Director of the Public Prosecution must monitor him and prosecute if he reoffends. She adds that she doesn't want to see Kumar again in her court. Kumar's remand will end after he is registered as an outpatient at the Saint Giles Hospital and a case manager is assigned.
Pakistan accelerates deportation of Afghans: UN
Pakistan has ramped up the forced mass deportation of Afghan refugees and migrants, with nearly 60,000 having crossed the border since the start of April, the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. Nearly three million Afghans in Pakistan are facing deportation after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced in October a three-phase plan to send them back to their home country. The IOM said in a statement on Tuesday that it has assisted more than one million people returning from Pakistan and Iran. Amid the second phase of the plan, the IOM said it had registered a sharp rise in forced returns. Between April 1
and April 13, nearly 60,000 individuals crossed into Afghanistan through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border points, it noted.
Bangladesh asks Pakistan to apologise for atrocities during 1971 Liberation War
Dhaka: Bangladesh on Thursday raised historical unsettled issues with Pakistan, including a formal public apology for the atrocities committed against Bangladesh during the 1971 War of Liberation by the Pakistani forces and pending financial claims from Pakistan.
During Operation Searchlight, Pakistani army killed an estimated three million Bengalis as well as raped over a million women.
Bangladesh also raised unsettled issues like the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis and the transfer of foreign aid funds sent to the victims of the 1970 cyclone.
Pakistan had an undivided share of Bangladesh's wealth of USD 4.32 billion. Moreover, Pakistan did not allocate Bangladesh its share of the USD 200 million in aid that came from abroad following the 1970 Bhola cyclone.
Bangladesh also called for the return of more than 300,000 stranded Pakistani citizens who have been living in several camps since the 1971 war. Notably, they refused to take Bangladesh's citizenship and wished to return to their own country, Pakistan.
Bangladesh also flagged a figure of USD 4.32 billion as part of its financial claim demanded from Pakistan, comprising its fair share of undivided Pakistan's pre-1971 assets, including aid money, provident funds, and savings instruments.
The camps date from 1971, when fighting during the establishment of the Bangladeshi state forced the Urdu-speaking minority into temporary dwellings.
"These issues need to be resolved for having a solid foundation of our relations", Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin told reporters after bilateral consultations with Pakistan.
No coercive action against Punjab LoP Partap Bajwa till April 22, HC tells Punjab
In a relief to Leader of Opposition (LoP)
Partap Singh Bajwa, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday directed the Punjab Government not to initiate any coercive action against him till April 22 in connection with an FIR lodged over his “50 bombs have reached Punjab” remarks.
Justice Deepak Gupta's Bench issued a notice to the state government on Bajwa’s plea seeking quashing of the FIR, while directing
the Congress leader to cooperate with the investigation. The case will next be heard on April 22. The controversy stems from Bajwa’s TV interview where he claimed “50 bombs have reached Punjab, out of which 18 were used”. Following a complaint by a cybercell constable alleging the statement aimed at disturbing peace, an FIR was registered against the Congress leader.
The court specifically barred Bajwa from making any press statements about the case until the next hearing. Bajwa's counsel, APS Deol pointed out that the FIR was politically motivated and violated free speech rights, noting no preliminary inquiry was conducted as required. “My client was merely highlighting Punjab’s law and order situation. This is a political vendetta by the AAP government,” he contended.
2 govt hospital staff held for issuing false dope test reports in Punjab’s Kapurthala
Two employees of a civil hospital in Kapurthala district have been arrested for issuing false negative dope test reports in exchange of bribe, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau said on Thursday. Dope tests are required to obtain arms licence in Punjab. Acting on a complaint filed on the chief minister’s anti-corruption helpline, the Vigilance Bureau arrested a ward attendant named Manpreet Singh alias Sonu and Bholu alias Ismail, a contractual computer operator, for accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000. Further investigation indicated that the accused
were routinely accepting bribes to fudge dope test results, the spokesperson said.
A case has been registered against the accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the relevant section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), he added. The roles of Mohitpal, a doctor posted at the civil hospital in Bholath, and Maan Singh, a contractual lab technician, are under investigation, a spokesperson for the bureau said. The probe revealed that the accused accepted Rs 10,000 from the complainant for the issuance of a negative dope test report.
Probe blows lid off illegal biomedical waste trade
A government investigation into the seizure of 8 tonnes of biomedical waste, which falls in the red category, meant to be ferried to the National Capital Region (NCR), has blown the lid off this illegal trade thriving in Punjab.
Initially, concentrated in the periphery of Chandigarh — Nayagaon, Dera Bassi, Kharar and Dhanas — many scrap dealers had shifted near Rajpura and Dakala due to the rising real estate prices and population density.
Adarshpal Vig, Chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), said, “There are six common biomedical waste treatment facilities (CBWTFs) situated in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Muktsar, Mohali, Nakodar and Pathankot. They collectively handle around 19,841 kg of biomedical waste per day.” The seized biomedical waste was marked with barcodes from an authorised waste treatment facility in Mohali, indicating that it had been diverted from legitimate disposal routes. The driver involved in the nexus dropped the biomedical waste bags from a moving vehicle at a particular location from where it landed in the hands of a scrap dealer. It has come to the fore that the PPCB had earlier banned Mohalibased unit from treating biomedical waste due to
Heavy rain in Chandigarh; storm in parts of Himachal
Heavy rain and strong winds hit Chandigarh early Thursday morning, but the weather cleared up by the time people woke up, and the sun came
irregularities. However, a court allowed it to operate as a collection agency. The revelation that biomedical waste is landing in the hands of those operating the illegal toy and medical equipment refurbishing industry has sent shockwaves through environmental and pollution control agencies. Officials have not ruled out the involvement of a well-oiled network in the illegal trade. The experts said the use of biomedical waste by illegal toy manufacturers was not new. They said, “The biomedical waste is considered to be high-grade plastic, which is available at cheaper rates, and makes the toys cost effective.” They feared that syringes, oxygen masks, gloves, catheters, urine bags and plastic glucose bottles could have been repackaged by the people involved in this illegal trade. A scrap dealer said the biomedical waste was being segregated further in the NCR, with glucose bottles being melted into plastic beads and injections recycled and sold in secondary markets.
out. Chandigarh received 8.3 mm of rain. Punjab and Haryana also received shower. Meanwhile, a sudden storm hit many parts of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday night, causing a lot of damage.
Power was cut in many areas, while trees fell and damaged vehicles. Crops and fruits were badly affected, especially in upper Shimla. Apple and other fruit growers suffered major losses due to the strong winds.
Vance to visit India as Trump intensifies tariff war with China
US Vice-President JD Vance will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a four-day visit to India next week as their two countries negotiate a bilateral trade deal. The two leaders are scheduled to meet on 21 April, the first day of Vance's trip, for discussions on economic, trade and geopolitical ties.
"The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review the progress in bilateral relations," India's foreign ministry said in a statement. Vance's first visit to India since taking office comes as the countries work to conclude a trade agreement by fall. The vice-president will be accompanied by his children and wife Usha
Vance whose parents migrated to the US from the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
The visit comes against the backdrop of an intensifying trade war between the US and China with President Donald Trump placing tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods, with levies on some goods possibly reaching 245%. China has hit back with tariffs of 125% on US products. India was also among the countries which faced 27% US tariffs on 2 April, before a 90day pause was announced. Since then, Delhi and Washington have been working towards an early conclusion of trade negotiations.
Waqf protest turns violent in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas; several injured, vehicles torched
Supporters of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) on Monday clashed with the police at Bhangar in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district during protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, leading to several injuries and torching of multiple police vehicles. The clash erupted when police stopped ISF supporters from heading towards Ramlila Maidan in central Kolkata to attend an anti-Waqf (Amendment) Act rally addressed by party leader and Bhangar MLA Naushad Siddique.
According to police sources, the rallyists were stopped near Bhojerhat on the Basanti Highway, where a large number of ISF workers had gathered from Bhangar as well as neighbouring areas such as Minakhan and Sandeshkhali. Tension escalated when the crowd attempted to break through police barricades, leading to a clash between the two
protesters and a few police personnel were injured when the agitators attacked the law enforcers,” a senior police officer said. Eyewitnesses said police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters, as the rally at Ramlila Ground didn’t have proper police permission, leading to at least one ISF worker sustaining a head injury.
The situation spiralled quickly, prompting ISF activists to sit on a protest on the highway, leading to long traffic snarls along the stretch.
Wave of Kindness & Love" Reaches Italy, Spreading the Message of Oneness and Humanity
Parma, Italy – The spiritual movement titled "Wave of Kindness & Love" which originated from the sacred Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar under the guidance of Sant Baba Baldev Singh Ji of Bulandpuri Sahib, has now reached the city of Parma, Italy. This initiative aims to inspire and educate the global community on the universal values of oneness, humanity, love, and compassion, emphasizing that these are the highest virtues shared by all human beings.
The international conference, held in Parma, witnessed participation from spokespersons and representatives of various faiths, symbolizing unity in diversity. Thousands of devotees and well-wishers from across the globe gathered to take part in this uplifting event, creating an atmosphere of peace, harmony, and mutual respect. The event served as a powerful reminder that love and kindness transcend all boundaries, and that humanity thrives when individuals come together in the spirit of unity and understanding.
