Compares Mark Carney to late Indian PM Dr Manmohan Singh
By UMENDRA SINGH:
Randeep Sarai plans to continue working hard for Surrey Centre (previously known as Surrey North) as he has done for the past ten years as a Liberal Member of Parliament.
“The campaign has been going well... volunteers are coming, and support is pouring in. I am happy with the enthusiasm generated by the outpouring of support,” Sarai told the Asian Star in an interview.
He said things have changed over the past few weeks because Canadian have seen and now realized
who is the best person to lead Canada. He said there is no doubt that federal Liberal Leader and Prime Minister Mark Carney has shown himself to be the best person for the job. “He has been educated at Oxford and Harvard; he has been the governor of the Bank of Canada as well as Bank of England and people know he has the experience to do the job,” Sarai.
Comparing Carney’s education and achievements to Conservative leader Pierrie Poilievre would convince anyone that Carney is the best choice, Sarai said.
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Canada is launching 25 per cent tariffs on all vehicles imported from the United States that are not compliant with CUSMA, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Thursday. Vehicle parts are exempt. It’s a countermeasure to a similar tariff U.S. President Donald Trump placed on Canada and the latest move in the two countries’ enduring trade war. Previously imposed tariffs on a number of Canadian goods remain in place, and so do Canada’s countermeasures.
Prime Minister Mark Carney paused his campaign as Liberal leader to deal with the tariffs. He returned to the campaign trail in Montreal this evening. Meanwhile, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre campaigned in Ontario, making stops in Kingston and Oshawa. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh started his day Ottawa, where he announced his “nation-building, war-time measures to Trump-proof Canada.”
B.C. Premier David Eby says he wants to be able to bring in more immigrants from the United States to help bolster the local economy.
He also revealed he will be meeting with Mark Carney in person next week, denounced the idea that western separatism could be an outcome of the current federal election campaign and
called out a B.C. Conservative MLA accused of posting a graphic suggesting Western Canada could become a "protectorate" of the United States.
"We're not Guam," Eby said, referring to the U.S. island territory. "We are a proud, amazing province. We are a proud, amazing country." Continued on Page 6...
Today’s market plunge hit some Canadian companies hard, including Ottawa-based Shopify, which sank nearly 20 per cent. Concerns over a global economic slowdown, fueled by steep tariffs, are weighing on businesses that depend on e-commerce and consumer spending.
Apparel companies are also feeling the impact. Tariffs on major textile producers like Vietnam, Sri Lanka and China will drive up costs in the U.S. Vancouver-based Aritzia, which has a strong retail presence south of the border, also dropped 20 per cent, while Lululemon, founded in B.C., was down 10 per cent.
Can Trump's sweeping global tariffs spark a manufacturing boom in India?
Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs have shaken global trade, but disruption often creates opportunity. Starting 9 April, Indian goods will face tariffs of up to 27% (Trump's tariff chart lists India's rate as 26%, but the official order says 27% - a discrepancy seen for other nations too).
Before the tariff hike, US rates across trading partners averaged 3.3%, among the lowest globally,
compared to India's 17%, according to the White House. However, with the US imposing even higher tariffs on China (54%), Vietnam (46%), Thailand (36%) and Bangladesh (37%), India "presents an opportunity" in textiles, electronics and machinery, according to the Delhi-based think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).
Continued on Page 7...
Conservative candidate Lourence Singh for the New Westminster-Burnaby-Maillardville riding is no longer running in the federal election race, marking the third candidate exit in a single day.
A Conservative campaign spokesperson confirmed Singh’s exit in a brief, single sentence statement Tuesday evening, but did not elaborate on the reason behind his departure.
“Mr. Lourence Singh will not be a candidate for the Conservative Party,” the statement read. Singh joins two other candidates who dropped from the race Tuesday, including Mark McKenzie from Ontario’s Windsor-TecumsehLakeshore and Stefan Marquis from Montréal’s Laurier-Sainte-Marie. Earlier Tuesday, Marquis wrote in a post on social media that he is no longer a candidate for the party, while it was announced McKenzie would no longer be running in this federal election campaign in light of unearthed unsavoury comments made during a podcast in 2022.
Continued from Page 1...
He said Poilievre does not have any real achievements and he has been copying Donald Trump’s stye of just using slogans (with no real plans) and claiming that “Canada is broken, and Canada needs to be remade.
“In fact, a lot of people are comparing Mark Carney to former Indian Prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who was first the chief of Reserve Bank of India and worked in United Nations (Just like Carney) before becoming the Prime Minister of India and is credited with opening up India to an economic success,’ Sarai said, Carney is trending along the same path.
“Really, there is no comparison – Carney is so far ahead in education and experience in economics and managing this country’s economy that Poilievre is not even in the picture,” he said.
Carney has eliminated the carbon tax, eliminated the increase in capital gains tax and promised to bring n legislation to assist Canadian build thousands upon thousands of homes every year and then doubling on that.
To start that trend, Carney immediately upon becoming Prime Minister eliminated the GST on new homes valued at up to $1 million. Sarai said this will allow developers and builders to build and sell more homes.
“That is already happening, and we will build upon that,” he said.
Talking about the historic deficits and debts created under the federal Liberals and previous Prime minister Justin Trudeau, Sarai said that the federal deficit debt started rising during the COVID years to help people who were facing financial difficulties and crises. That continued into the years after COVID and now the government is streamlining spending and will do more under Carney’s leadership to reduce the deficit and trim the federal debts.
He pointed how during the economic crisis of 2008, Carney then as the governor of Bank of Canada managed to stabilize the economy and save Canada from a devastating recession.
On the issue of the overflow a huge number of international students and temporary foreign workers in Canada who flooded into the country under Trudeau’s leadership, Sarai blames the provinces and provincial governments.
He said education is really a provincial issue. And provinces administered how many foreign students could attend universities and colleges. The federal government’s responsibility was to facilitate students’ visas upon the recommendation of each province after the students met minimum requirements. The federal government had no say in ow many students could attend universities in each province.
Some provinces, specifically British Columbia and Ontario went out of their way in allowing thousands upon thousands of students to attend colleges and universities and apply for visas. Things got so bad that Ontario’s foreign student population doubled and then rippled in a matter of months, he said. This led to many social problems. Such as lack of rental housing and lack of proper facilities for students. Some of the students did not even attend classes.
When the federal government found out that most of the foreign students were concentrated in Surrey (British Columbia) and Brampton (Ontario), it stepped in and clamped down on the process by insisting on a cap on number of foreign students in each
province and at each university. The problem was really created by BC and Ontario allowing too many students to register for classes in their provinces. Othe provinces were more diligent.
Sarai understands that all foreign students with student and temporary foreign workers may not get to stay in Canada permanently.
He said Craney’s government will work towards trying to get as many foreign students as possible and foreign workers in Canada to stay here but ultimately some of them may have to return to their home countries.
Talking about threats from Donald Trump, Sarai said: “Ask any Canadian who would they want to protect their economy and country from Donald Trump – the answer will overwhelmingly be Mark Carney,”
“Poilievre is about slogans (like Trump) –axe the tax, jail, no bail – etc. but he offers no solutions at all to problems”” Sarai said.
Sarai listed his achievements for Surrey Central (formerly Surrey North) over the past 10 years. The riding, which elected NDP and Conservative candidates previously for many years before Sarai won it for the Liberals in 2015. He said he has worked hard to bring infrastructure spending into the area.
Like Simon Fraser University engineering campus, the new SFU Medical school, Pacific Development Economic Agency, which is the first federal agency to be headquartered in North Surrey and only second in BC with 200 employees, the RCMP E division forensic lab is now here, the veterans affairs Centre, sky train extensions, etc.
“We are now getting all that spending that did not happen before,” he said.
“But people are still nervous in Surrey Central, like elsewhere in Canada – we are a big logistics hub and trucking is big here. Sixty percent of people work in medium and small businesses and half of those are working in the building industry. So, people are concerned about what will happen with trucking and house building etc. in the current atmosphere and trade war.” he said.
“That is what I am hearing on doorsteps, and I am taking the message back to the government,” he said/
Sarai highlighted the significant IndoFijian community in his riding and recalled his first Parliament speech, discussing aid for Fiji after the 2015 cyclone.
After he spoke in Parliament, the Canadian government agreed to donate $200,000 for relief efforts in Fiji but Sarai asked for more and the government eventually relented and increased its donation for relief efforts to $1 million.
“I take care of each community in my riding – no matter how small or how big,” he said.
By
Renowned Hindu priest passes away
UMENDRA SINGH: A renowned Canadian Hindu priest (Pandit ji or Brahmin) passed away last weekend.
He was Pujya Pandit Ji Ajay Sharma, who lived in New Westminster but served the whole of Metro Vancouver as well as the rest of British Columbia and Canada. He served various Hindu temples in Metro Vancouver. He passed away at the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster last Saturday after a short illness. He would have turned 82 years of age next week.
Pandit Ji’s sudden passing has left the Fijian community as well as the larger Hindu community in shock. He was a great defender of the Hindu faith and always urged members of the community to follow the religion they inherited from their parents diligently and never give up. He believed in fairness and kindness for everyone.
teachings of Hinduism at an early age from his father and grandfather.
His moved to Canada in June,1972, first living in Edmonton and then moving to Vancouver in 1976. He brought his practices of Hindu priesthood to Canada but only started practicing as a full-time priest after 1977.
“He was very active and always seemed to be living to seize every moment of the day, and that’s how he was in his life,” his daughter, Seetal said.
He also believed in donating to the needy and urged everyone he met to donate to the less fortunate, irrespective of race, creed or color. He had a habit of making regular trips to downtown Vancouver to donate food and clothing items to the homeless and to the Union Gospel Mission. A strict vegetarian, Pandit ji enjoyed tasting coffee from various cafes with his younger daughter, Seetal. Born in Fiji in a traditional Brahmin family, he was one of twin boys. He and his twin were one of five brothers and three sisters.
His elder brother, Harish Sharma, a lawyer in Fiji, is a former leader of the National Federation Party and a former Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji.
Pandit ji learnt the craft of priesthood and
“He went to the gym everyday - if he wasn't at the gym, he would be outdoors - he loved outdoor activity in summer and would find a track to do his walking but he never missed a day of exercise,” she said.
“He loved his practice of being a Hindu priest and teaching people about his religion. He was a true devotee of God and that really brought out the happiness in him, whether it was praying at home, the Mundir, or at someone's home, uniting people in marriage or saying goodbye to the departed, he did everything with love, courage kindness and respect for others and their families and he did everything with a smile on his face,” Seetal said.
She said her father was foodie who enjoyed home cooked vegetarian food and trying coffee at various coffee places.
Pandit Ji leaves behind his widow, Lalita Darshani Sharma, two daughters, Seetal and Neelam, one son, Prabhat, and thousands of fans.
His funeral services will be held at the Hamilton Funeral Home on Fraser Street in Vancouver this Saturday (April 5) at 1.30 pm. Hindu prayers will be heldin evenings at the house next to the Shiv Mandr on Dorsett Avenue in New Westminster, following the funeral services and cremation.
Double blow as S&P and Moody’s downgrade B.C.’s credit rating again, citing deficit
Credit rating agencies S&P and Moody’s have both downgraded B.C.’s rating, citing the province’s ballooning deficit and the apparent lack of a plan to dig the province out of its fiscal hole. S&P Global Ratings cut the province’s long-term issuer credit rating to A+ from AA- on Wednesday, while Moody’s Ratings downgraded its key baseline assessment to aa2 from aa1.
Moody’s said in a news release that its downgrade reflected a “structural deterioration in British Columbia’s credit profile” and it predicted this year’s deficit would soar to $14.3 billion. That’s more than 31 per cent higher than the forecast in Finance Minister Brenda Bailey’s budget last month.
Moody’s said its credit outlook for B.C. remained negative with no “clear visibility” on how the province would balance its finances.
“The uncertain trade environment with potential
further negative implications on the provincial economy and fiscal position adds further risks to British Columbia’s credit profile,” Moody’s said. A lower credit rating can make it harder for a government to get loans and attract investment, and can force it to offer higher rates on its bonds. S&P said there was a “fiscal mismatch” in the government’s operations, blaming its fourth downgrade in four years on “considerable” deficits and rapid debt accumulation continuing through to the 2028 fiscal year.
After consumer carbon tax dropped, here’s how much an expert says Canadians will save on gas
CALGARY — Gasoline prices are coming down in Canada as the consumer carbon charge drops to zilch from 17.6 cents per litre, but motorists had yet to feel the full impact of the change on Tuesday. "The pace is going to vary province to province, city to city, station to station," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at price tracking website GasBuddy.com. "There are some complexities behind the scene that may cause some stations to have to wait to pass it along." For instance, some retailers may still need to reprogram their software to account for the decrease. "I would expect that most stations would have the price adjusted today and at latest tomorrow," said De Haan.
GasBuddy had the national average for a litre of regular unleaded gasoline at $1.49 per litre, a drop of six cents, around late afternoon ET.
But De Haan said that data tends to lag what stations are actually posting as price reports from volunteers come in. The GasBuddy system may also need time to validate such a big drop.
De Haan is expecting relief in the order of 15 cents a litre at the pumps, accounting for other factors that affect the price.
"Gas prices move for many different reasons all at the same time," he said, pointing to spring refinery maintenance and increased demand as the weather warms.
A refinery fire in northern California in February has pinched the market all along the west coasts of Canada and the U.S., said De Haan.
"Unfortunately there are some abnormal circumstances happening there preventing this 17.6 cent rollback from being visible" in B.C., he said.
Liberal Paul Chiang ‘standing aside’ after comments Mark Carney called ‘deeply offensive’
Liberal incumbent Paul Chiang will not be running in the ongoing federal election after suggesting earlier this year that people should try to claim a Chinese bounty on a Conservative candidate. In a statement posted to X late Monday night, Chiang called the federal election “uniquely important,” saying he does “not want there to be distractions in this critical moment.”
“That’s why I’m standing aside as our 2025 candidate in our community of MarkhamUnionville,” he wrote. Chiang’s decision not to run comes just hours after Liberal Leader Mark Carney repeatedly defended him on Monday after facing questions from reporters at a housing announcement in Vaughan, Ont.
“The comments were deeply offensive. This is a terrible lapse of judgment by Mr. Chiang. He has apologized for those comments,” Carney said, later calling Chiang a “person of integrity who served this community as a senior police officer for more than a quarter century.” On Tuesday, Carney said the party is moving on to find a new candidate for the riding, but didn’t elaborate when asked whether the issue was a “teachable moment” or why he chose to stand by Chiang.
“Mr. Chiang made his resignation, offered his resignation last night. I accepted it, as I said yesterday, his comments were deeply, deeply troubling and regrettable,” Carney said following a factory tour in Winnipeg. In an interview with Chinese-language media last January, Chiang suggested that Conservative rival Joe Tay should be turned over to the Chinese Consulate in Toronto. Last year, Hong Kong police offered a HK$1-million reward for information leading to the arrest of Tay for violations of the National Security Law. Tay has been an outspoken critic of
Hong Kong’s violations of civil rights. Politicians of all stripes condemned the bounty when it was first announced in December 2024. Earlier on Monday, Tay released a statement saying “Mark Carney must fire Paul Chiang” and that “no apology is sufficient.” “Suggesting that people collect a bounty from the Chinese Communist Party to deliver a political opponent to the Chinese Consulate is disgusting and must never be condoned,” Tay wrote. In an email statement to CTV News, RCMP spokesperson Andrew DiRienzo said the national police service is looking into the case, but there is currently no formal investigation underway.
“The RCMP is looking into the matter, however no specific details can be provided at this time,” DiRienzo wrote. “If there are criminal or illegal activities occurring in Canada that are found to be backed by a foreign state, it is within the RCMP’s mandate to investigate this activity.”
“To ensure the integrity of our investigations, the RCMP typically does not disclose information relating to investigations unless criminal charges are laid, rendering it a matter of public record,” DiRienzo added.
On Friday, Chiang called his comments “deplorable” and “a complete lapse of judgment on the seriousness of the matter.” “As a former police officer, I should have known better,” Chiang said in the post. “I sincerely apologize and deeply regret my comments.”
Prior to Chiang’s decision to step aside, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called Carney “compromised” and “unwilling to protect a Canadian citizen against a foreign government,” while NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh accused him of “putting his party ahead of his country.”
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'No democracy': Frustration with Conservatives as Calgary candidates appointed without contest
Several federal Conservative activists in northeast Calgary are criticizing their party after they'd organized and sold memberships for a year or longer in hopes of running in the election, only to watch the party appoint other candidates at the last minute in two key ridings.
There were no incumbent Conservative candidates in the new riding of Calgary McKnight or in Calgary Skyview, the lone city riding the Conservatives lost last election.
That made them hotly coveted among several local party activists and experienced politicians — but some of them are publicly expressing frustration that the party chose candidates without holding nomination contests.
And they wonder whether it will motivate the swaths of northeast voters they'd courted to refuse to support the Conservatives.
"I think this is not a fair way of treating a loyal member of your party, the person who is selling thousands of memberships, the person who's trying to make sure he can secure the seat for the party in the next election," said Naeem Chaudhry, a taxi company owner who'd hoped to run in McKnight against Liberal candidate George Chahal. As The Hill Times reported earlier this week, Chaudhry and Ranvir Parmar both say they had been preparing their campaigns since late 2023, and formally applied last summer to be nomination contestants for the new Calgary riding. But in early March, both received letters from a party official that their applications were incomplete and they were therefore ineligible to run.
Neither received specifics about the problems with their candidate papers. Nor were they allowed to appeal.
"I don't know what's going on behind the doors, but there's no transparency," Parmar told CBC News.
Dalwinder Gill, a real estate agent, was named to carry the Conservative banner in McKnight on March 23, the eve of the election call. So was Amanpreet Singh Gill (no relation) in Calgary Skyview.
In that riding, at least eight candidates had been doorknocking, holding fundraisers and selling memberships in hopes of winning the nomination. They include Jag Sahota, who was Skyview's MP from 2019 to 2021, and Josephine Pon, a former provincial MLA and cabinet minister for the UCP.
Following US President Donald Trump's announcement of reciprocal tariffs, Canada Prime Minister Mark Carmey said that the country will impose a 25 per cent tariff on all US vehicle imports that do not comply with the free trade agreement.
The Canadian PM further said that the revenue generated from these tariffs would be directed toward supporting the country's auto workers and the industry. Sharing a post on X on Thursday (local time), Carney said, "In response to President Trump's tariffs on our auto sector, Canada will impose a 25% tariff on all US vehicle imports that do not comply with our free trade agreement. All revenues from these tariffs will be used to support our Canadian auto workers and their industry."
"For US vehicles that comply with The CanadaUnited States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), Canada will also impose a 25% tariff on the content which is not from either Canada or Mexico. The revenue from those tariffs will also go directly to supporting Canada's auto workers and their
industry," the post added.
Carney further said that Canada's tariffs would differ from those imposed by the US and stated that the tariffs, unlike President Trump's, will not affect auto parts.
"Our tariffs, unlike President Trump's, will not affect auto parts because we know the benefits of our supply chain. Canada will also develop a support framework for auto producers that incentivises production and investment in Canada," Carney wrote on X. Following the announcement of reciprocal tariffs, Carmey called the United States' tariffs, particularly on automobiles, "unjust" and stated that the "global economy is fundamentally different today than yesterday."
"The global economy is fundamentally different today than yesterday. We must respond with purpose and force and take every step to protect Canadian workers and businesses against the unjust tariffs imposed by the United States, including on automobiles.
As U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariff on global auto imports takes effect, Canada’s industry minister says she has received assurances auto companies in this country won’t move their business elsewhere.
Speaking in an interview on CTV’s Power Play Thursday, Anita Anand says she spoke to auto companies, and “every one of them” have indicated they do intend to stay in Canada.
“They do intend to produce in Canada, and that they want to work with the Government of Canada to ensure that that continues to be possible,” Anand said.
Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on all foreign-made automobiles are in effect as of midnight Wednesday, though the U.S. administration has yet to “establish(es) a process” to tax exclusively the non-American vehicle components of CUSMA-compliant products.
In response, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Thursday that Canada will slap 25 per cent tariffs on all U.S. vehicles not compliant with CUSMA. Carney said Canada’s levies will not affect auto parts, nor would they apply to vehicles from Mexico.
Continued from Page 1...
Eby made the comments while speaking to reporters Thursday, responding to yesterday's tariff announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump, which largely spared Canada. The premier was asked a question about S&P and Moody's downgrading British Columbia's credit rating on April 2, citing the province's ballooning deficit. Eby placed some of the blame on the chaotic economic situation brought on by Trump, and also said the province's fiscal growth is being hampered by cuts to the provincial nominee program, which allows provinces and territories to nominate individuals with specific skills, education, and work experience to be offered a path to permanent residency.
In January, the federal government cut B.C.'s program by about half as part of a broader effort to stabilize population growth amidst a housing
Trump has been explicit in trying to justify auto tariffs by saying he wants to move the sector from Canada and other countries back to the U.S. Anand said her conversations with auto companies were about “ensuring that the auto manufacturers know that the Canadian government will be there for them to continue to develop, manufacture and invest in Canada.”
“We have agreements in place with the auto manufacturers. That’s our Strategic Investment Fund, and we will continue to ensure that we come forward to maintain a healthy and vibrant auto manufacturing sector,” she told Kapelos.
Anand also said the government would be creating a “remission framework” that will offer relief for auto manufacturers as long as they continue their business in Canada.
When asked for more details about the framework, Anand said they are still being ironed out as the government will consider feedback from the companies and other key stakeholders. She did point out that providing loans is not part of the framework at this time.
crisis. Eby said this cut comes at a time when American entrepreneurs, medical professionals, researchers and workers are expressing higher levels of interest in coming to Canada, and he would welcome their contributions to British Columbia. Earlier this week, a physician recruiter told CBC News that since Trump's election there has been a "floodgate" of medical professionals enquiring about relocating to Canada.
Other immigration agencies have reported similar upticks in interest from people living in the United States. "They have skills that we desperately need [and] we're unable to offer them a space," he said. Eby also acknowledged that the downgrade was primarily based on the province's ballooning deficit, saying his government "has committed to protect front-line services" while reviewing administrative spending in an effort to "return to a balanced budget."
Mounties confiscated two handguns and arrested three people after back-to-back, unrelated weapons calls on the same Nanaimo, B.C., street.
Police said the incidents took place between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Monday on Cavan Street near Highway 1.
The first involved a large fight, with reports of a person who had a suspected handgun. Nanaimo RCMP attended and found an airsoft pistol in a grocery bag, but said they couldn’t determine who
owned it or whether it had been pointed at anyone or used in a threatening way. In a Tuesday news release, RCMP said a 19-year-old was arrested at the scene on an outstanding warrant for assault causing bodily harm and taken into custody. A second man was arrested but later released. Two hours later, in the same area, officers were tipped off about a handgun in a vehicle.
They responded, removed its occupants and found a man in possession of a flare gun that was modified to fire 22-calibre bullets.
Can Trump's sweeping global tariffs spark a manufacturing boom in India?
Continued from Page 1...
Machinery, automobiles and toys - sectors led by China and Thailand - are ripe for tariff-driven relocation. India can capitalise by attracting investment, scaling production and boosting exports to the US, according to a note by GTRI.
But will India be able to seize the moment?
High tariffs have increased costs for companies dependent on global value chains, hobbling India's ability to compete in international markets. Despite growing exports - primarily driven by services - India runs a significant trade deficit. India's share of global exports is a mere 1.5%.
Trump has repeatedly branded India a "tariff king" and a "big abuser" of trade ties. With his new tariffs, the fear is that Indian exports will be less competitive. "Overall, the US's protectionist tariff regime could act as a catalyst for India to gain
from global supply chain realignments," says Ajay Srivastava of GTRI.
"However, to fully leverage these opportunities, India must enhance its ease of doing business, invest in logistics and infrastructure and maintain policy stability. If these conditions are met, India is well-positioned to become a key global manufacturing and export hub in the coming years." That's easier said than done. Biswajit Dhar, a trade expert from the Delhi-based Council for Social Development think tank, points out that countries like Malaysia and Indonesia are possibly better positioned than India.
"We may regain some lost ground in garments now that Bangladesh faces higher tariffs, but the reality is we've treated garments as a sunset sector and failed to invest. Without building capacity, how can we truly benefit from these tariff shifts?"
Who are Canada’s billionaires?
Forbes releases 2025 list
Forbes released its global list of billionaires this week, with dozens of Canadians making the cut. With 77 on the list, Canada was far behind the countries with the most billionaires. The United States dominated the list with 902 billionaires, China was second with 516 and India third with 205.
Here are the 77 people with Canadian citizenship who were included in the ranking:
Elon Musk (No. 1)
The wealthiest person in the world is Elon Musk, who happens to have Canadian citizenship through his mother, though his country is listed in the Forbes list as the United States.
Changpeng Zhao (No. 24)
Changpeng Zhao was the second highestranking Canadian, claiming the 24th spot on the list. The 48-year-old cryptocurrency exchange magnate, known as CZ, is the founder and former CEO of Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange.
Sherry Brydson (No. 125)
Sherry Brydson took the 125th spot. Her net worth in 2025 was US$16.7 billion. FThe 78-year-old is one of the six billionaire heirs to her late grandfather Roy Thomson’s media and publishing empire.
David Cheriton (No. 163)
Cheriton is professor emeritus of computer science at Stanford University in California.
Joseph Tsai (No. 195)
Joseph Tsai, 61, is the co-founder and chairman of Alibaba Group.
Jim Pattison (No. 213)
Jim Pattison’s net worth rose from US$9.3 billion in 2024 to US$11.4 billion this year.
David Thomson (No. 264)
David Thomson, 67, is one of the heirs to the
Thomson Reuters media and publishing giant.
Taylor Thomson (No. 264)
Taylor Thomson is tied with David Thomson in the 264th spot. She is also a Thomson Reuters heir.
Peter Thomson (No. 264)
Peter Thomson is among the Thomson Reuters heirs.
Tobi Lutke (No. 337)
Shopify co-founder and CEO Tobi Lutke sits at No. 337 on the list.
Linda Campbell (No. 382)
Linda Campbell is one of the Thomson Reuters heirs.
Gaye Farncombe (No. 382)
Thomson Reuters heir Gaye Farncombe is tied with Campbell in the 382nd spot.
Dennis ‘Chip’ Wilson (No. 498)
Dennis “Chip” Wilson is the former CEO of Lululemon, which he founded in Vancouver in 2000.
Alain Bouchard (No. 512)
Alain Bouchard, co-founder of convenience store behemoth Alimentation Couche-Tard, saw his wealth dip from last year. The 76-year-old’s net worth was US$6.6 billion this year, down from US$8 billion in 2024.
Peter Gilgan (No. 540)
Mattamy Homes founder Peter Gilgan saw his net worth rise from US$3.3 billion in 2023 to US$6.4 billion this year.
Stuart Hoegner (No. 561)
Stuart Hoegner has been general counsel for Tether and its sister company Bitfinex since 2014.
Mark Scheinberg (No. 581)
Mark Scheinberg, co-founder of online poker giant PokerStars.
says Mr Dhar.
Since February, India has ramped up efforts to win Trump's favour - pledging $25bn in US energy imports, courting Washington as a top defence supplier and exploring F-35 fighter deals. To ease trade tensions, it scrapped the 6% digital ad tax, cut bourbon whiskey tariffs to 100% from 150% and slashed duties on luxury cars and solar cells. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's Starlink nears final approval. The two countries have launched extensive trade talks to narrow the US's $45bn trade deficit with India.
"India should be concerned - there was hope that ongoing trade negotiations would shield it from reciprocal tariffs. Facing these tariffs now is a serious setback," says Abhijit Das, former head of the Centre for WTO Studies at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. One upside: pharmaceuticals are
exempt from reciprocal tariffs, a relief for India's generic drug makers. India supplies nearly half of all generic medicines in the US, where these lowercost alternatives account for 90% of prescriptions. However, exports in key sectors like electronics, engineering goods - automobile parts, industrial machines - and marine products could take a hit. It would be especially troubling for electronics, given the heavy investments through India's flagship "production-linked incentives" (PLI) schemes to boost local manufacturing.
"I'm apprehensive about our exporters' capacity - many are small manufacturers who will struggle to absorb a 27% tariff hike, making them uncompetitive. High logistical costs, rising business expenses and deteriorating trade infrastructure only add to the challenge. We're starting at a major disadvantage," says Mr Dhar.
DNA match leads to arrest in Hamilton sexual assault from 2015
A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection to a sexual assault that occurred back in 2015 in Hamilton. Police say it happened around 3 a.m. on August 14, 2015 in the area of Quigley Road and Veevers Drive. It’s alleged the suspect pulled the victim into a wooded area when she was walking along and assaulted her. She managed to escape by kicking the suspect in the face with her boot. Investigators
collected DNA evidence from the boot but no match was found at the time. In Dec. 2021, a DNA match was identified, leading to further investigation and the eventual arrest of the suspect on March 4, 2025.
He has been released on an undertaking and will appear in court at a later date. The suspect has not been identified as he was a youth at the time of alleged assault.
2 in custody after multiple Metro Vancouver bus drivers threatened in 2 days: police
Two people were taken into custody after threatening Metro Vancouver bus drivers in separate incidents over the weekend.
In the first incident Saturday afternoon, the Metro Vancouver Transit Police (MVTP) says they were called to White Rock after a person boarded a bus and pointed a gun at the driver. “The individual was arrested and the firearm, which was determined to be a replica, was seized,” police explained.
On Sunday evening, officers were called to New Westminster
for reports that a man had boarded three buses in the space of a few minutes.
“He threatened the bus operators as he tried to assault them,” police allege. “The individual was arrested before he could board additional buses.”
One of the suspects is still in custody and both are reportedly known to police.
The MVTP is reminding transit riders that bus operators keep the system moving, and those threatening their safety are held accountable to the full extent of the law.
Correctional service seizes $140K worth of contraband found at BC prison
Over $140,000 worth of contraband, including illicit drugs, was seized near a B.C. prison last week.
Correctional Service Canada (CSC) says staff found a package containing contraband items on the perimeter of the Mountain Institution, a medium-security federal penitentiary in Agassiz, on Thursday, March 27.
The agency says the package contained methamphetamine, shatter, card readers, cellphones, charging cords, SIM cards, and tobacco.
“The total estimated institutional value of these
seizures is $140,300,” said CSC. The service says local police have been notified and the institution is investigating.
Calgary man charged in $200K stolen vehicle, revinning operation
A Calgary man is facing multiple charges in what RCMP allege was a significant vehicle revinning operation.
The Cochrane RCMP Crime Reduction Unit started to investigate the case in January, believing an individual was re-vinning and fraudulently registering stolen vehicles in the Cochrane area.
An investigation eventually determined the operation spanned across Alberta and into Saskatchewan.With assistance from the Wynyard RCMP, Saskatchewan RCMP’s Auto Theft Unit, and Saskatoon Police Service, officers were able to seize a Ford Expedition and a Lexus RX350,
3 suspects arrested after masked robbery in Kitsilano
Vancouver Police say three people have been arrested after $22,000-worth of clothing was stolen from a Kitsilano store Monday afternoon.
The Vancouver Police Department says officers were called to a clothing
retailer near West 4th Avenue and Yew Street after three people in masks ran in around 6:30 p.m.
The masked trio allegedly grabbed over $22,000 in merchandise before “speeding off” in a vehicle.
Police say an employee called 911 and officers were able to “track down and arrest the suspects—one of whom was wanted for a separate theft.”
They say the stolen property was recovered.
One suspect was also arrested.
In March, Cochrane RCMP recovered a Ford F150 and then searched a Calgary home, resulting in the seizure of a re-vinned Dodge Ram.
The total value of recovered vehicles across the two provinces is more than $200,000, according to police. Thirty-two-year-old Jason Clarke has been charged with fraud over $5,000, altering a VIN, uttering forged documents, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and possession of trafficking a controlled substance.
He is scheduled to appear in court later this month.
As Poilievre plays to his B.C. base, experts say he may have to change tack to win
Pierre Poilievre began a 40-minute speech Thursday night at a packed warehouse in Surrey with memories of a childhood camping trip in Penticton. The story involved Jet Skis driven by “rich kids” who splashed the young Poilievre, causing him to go to his father in tears. He was told that if he wanted to rent a Jet Ski, he would have to get a job to pay for it.
“The lesson: If you want nice things in life, you have to work for them,” he said, as the crowd of roughly 5,000 people cheered. Over the course of a rally that at times had the atmosphere of a hockey game, the Conservative leader blamed the federal Liberal government for putting the country “under the American thumb” and promised to put working people first. University of B.C. political scientist Stewart Prest said it was no surprise Poilievre chose Surrey for his first B.C. rally. According to the
338Canada website, several federal Surrey ridings are expected to be close, including South SurreyWhite Rock, Cloverdale-Langley City and Langley Township-Fraser Heights, where Conservative incumbents are hoping to hold onto their seats. Surrey’s other three ridings are predicted to be Liberal “safe.”
Prest said the Conservatives have a calculation to make. The party can focus on the issues that appeal to its base, including unaffordability, housing, crime, and the carbon tax, which remain a source of frustration for many Canadians, and hope that in doing so it can expand that base and draw votes away from the Liberals. Or it can try to strengthen its message around U.S. President Donald Trump and standing up for Canada. “The problem with that is that the Liberals seem to own that issue,” said Prest.
Border agents at Vancouver airport seize 149 kilos of meth bound for export
Canadian border agents seized 149 kilograms of methamphetamine bound for export to Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong in six separate searches of passenger luggage at the Vancouver International Airport earlier this year.
The Canada Border Services Agency announced the seizures in a statement Monday, estimating the street value of the drugs at half a million dollars.
Nina Patel, director of the CBSA’s Pacific region, says the seizures were a demonstration of the agency’s “detection and intelligence” capabilities.
“Our border services officers are combatting illegal drug smuggling and disrupting domestic and international crime networks,” Patel said in the statement. Drugs giftwrapped
The first seizure was made on Jan. 18, when border officials found 35.7 kilograms of methamphetamine giftwrapped in Baby Yoda wrapping paper inside two suitcases, according to the statement. The agency says the drugs were destined for export to Hong Kong. Less than two weeks later, officials searched two more suitcases bound for Hong Kong and discovered 28.5 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed inside coffee bags, the agency said. On Feb. 16, border services officers searched the luggage of an Australia-bound passenger and found 23.5
kilograms of methamphetamine. “The narcotics were concealed in packages wrapped in towels soaked with vinegar and cayenne pepper in an attempt to mask the smell,” the statement said.
Later that week, on Feb. 19, border agents at the airport made three separate seizures, intercepting two shipments of methamphetamine
– one weighing 19.2 kilograms and the other 16.4 kilograms – from the luggage of two passengers bound for Australia.
The third seizure that day netted approximately 25.5 kilograms of methamphetamine from a passenger destined for New Zealand. The drugs were concealed inside vacuum-sealed packaging along with a mixture of coffee and pepper, the CBSA said. All six travellers were arrested and taken into custody by the RCMP, according to the agency.
Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension closes stretch of Fraser Highway until end of October
Commuters who use the Fraser Highway in Surrey should be prepared for some big delays beginning Tuesday.
As of April 1, a stretch of the highway between 140 Street and 96 Avenue will be closed as part of the construction of the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension and its Green Timbers Station. The closure will be in place for the entire summer through the fall, set to wrap up around the end of October. The closure includes vehicle lanes, sidewalks, and bike lanes. The Ministry of
Transportation and Transit says the best alternate route is 96 Avenue.
Along with the full closure of that stretch of the highway, there will also be intermittent overnight closures of the stretch just east, between 96 Avenue and 148 Street.
“These intermittent overnight closures (8 p.m. – 5 a.m.) will be in place as required. Vehicles travelling on Fraser Highway will be directed to 96 Avenue via 148 Street,” the ministry said in a statement.
Why Canada is on Trump's 'Dirty 15' list but Russia and Iran are not
If misery loves company, Canada could take comfort in knowing this country and Mexico are far from the only specific targets for potential tariffs from the U.S. administration.
Perhaps you have heard the term “Dirty 15.”
It refers to countries identified by the Trump administration as having significant trade imbalances with the United States and seen to be engaging in practices perceived as unfair to U.S. trade interests. The label was introduced earlier this month by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as part of a broader tariff policy aimed at addressing these disparities. Here’s what we know about the “Dirty 15” list so far.
Is there a list of included countries?
The administration hasn’t released a specific list, reports the Wall Street Journal. Instead it refers to countries characterized by:
Trade deficits: These countries collectively account for a significant portion of the $1.2 trillion U.S. trade deficit.
High tariffs on U.S. goods: Many impose duties that exceed those applied by the U.S.
Non-tariff barriers: Examples include domestic production requirements or restrictive inspections unrelated to safety standards.
Currency manipulation, labor practices or tax systems that distort trade dynamics.
Pages torn off from holy Ramayan in an alleged case of sacrilege in Labasa
The Vunicuicui Shiv Mandir in management in Labasa have reported an alleged case of sacrilege at their place of worship, with pages from the holy Ramayan torn off.
On a social media page named Vunicuicui Shiv Mandir, it is stated that “the devotees of Vunicuicui Shiv Mandir pray for the lost souls who have conspired and done this shameful deed.” “Every faith tradition holds its scriptures as a
source of wisdom, guidance, and spiritual solace for millions.” “When you disrespect these texts, you aren’t just attacking paper and ink—you’re wounding the hearts of those who find meaning, hope, and divine connection in them.”
The social media post adds freedom of expression is a fundamental right, but true strength lies in using that freedom responsibly.
“If you disagree with a religion, engage in dialogue. If you seek change, educate rather than desecrate.”
“Sacred texts, whether the Ramayana, Bible, Quran, Gita, have shaped civilizations, inspired justice, and comforted souls for centuries.”
“Disrespecting them only deepens divisions.”
Instead, let’s build a world where differing beliefs are met with curiosity, not contempt.
Questions have been sent to the Fiji Police Force
Disproportionate and unfair, Fiji on 32% tariff imposed by Donald Trump
The Ministry of Finance states the imposition of a 32 percent across the board tariff on Fijian exports into USA is quite disproportionate and unfair.
In a statement, the Ministry said this is due to the fact 96 percent of US imports into Fiji attracts either zero duty or just 5 percent.
“We are still trying to get more details on the exact rationale and application of the newly announced retaliatory tariff by the US and will work with our key stakeholders and US counterparts to get this,” said the Ministry.
“The United States (US) is an important trade partner for Fiji, accounting for around 10 percent of total trade (exports and imports).”
“The US is also an important source market for Fiji’s tourism (10 percent), remittances inflows (approx. 30 percent) and a key development partner for the last many decades.”
The Ministry states Fiji’s exports to the US were just below F$500m for the past 3 years while imports grew from $190m in 2022 to $425m in 2024. “Fiji’s major exports to the US includes mineral water, kava, fish products, sugar confectionary and wood artefacts.”
“Major imports from the US includes, medical equipment’s, aircraft parts, machinery and electrical equipment.
Those attempting to destroy religious tolerance will have no place in this country – Prof. Prasad
All those in the minority who may be inadvertently, in any way, trying to destroy tolerance, will not have a place in this society, country, and in this environment.
This has been voiced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad while addressing students, parents and teachers at Samabula Primary School's Ram Naumi celebration today.
He says today's occasion, marking the birth of Lord Ram, is one of the most revered Hindu festivals in Fiji, alongside Diwali.
He further says the history of Ramayan and Lord Ram’s teachings are deeply intertwined with the history of Girmitiyas and the identity of
Fijian Hindus. Professor Prasad says struggles of Girmitiyas under the indenture system mirrored Lord Ram’s exile, shaping their resilience, humility, and respect for others remains relevant today, offering strength during adversity.
The Deputy Prime Minister says Fiji is a multireligious, multicultural and multi-ethnic nation and there is no place for religious intolerance.
He says while schools impart academic knowledge, moral values and respect must begin from home.
Professor Prasad says Lord Ram's fundamental teaching that good always triumphs over evil should inspire students and parents to face challenges with courage and determination.
Electoral Reform consultation will be people's first step in democracy - Fatiaki
The Electoral Reform consultation will be people’s first genuine attempt to participate in democracy and people should turn up, and speak to us.
Chair of the Electoral Reform Commission and former Chief Justice, Daniel Fatiaki highlighted this during fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan.
Fatiaki says the review of electoral laws is part of the democratic process and they want people to tell them what they like and don’t like about the current electoral system which was brought in through decrees.
He says people should tell them how they think the system could be improved and what they see about people being elected to the Parliament.
The Chair says he has lived through the 1997 Constitution and what happened under that Constitution's electoral system, frankly, was a disaster.
Fatiaki says people are inviting them to go back to the 1997 Constitution and he said that they don’t want to go back, however, they have an opportunity to recommend to this country an electoral system that won't allow us to go back there.
Fatiaki and Electoral Reform Commissioner and economist, Professor Wadan Narsey are part of the Commission to review the electoral system of Fiji.
Nationwide consultations for the electoral law reforms start on Monday.
A fireball from a burst gas pipeline in Malaysia injures 145 people
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A fireball that erupted from a burst gas pipeline soared into the sky outside Malaysia’s largest city and injured 145 people as it burned for several hours before being put out, authorities said Tuesday.
National oil company Petronas said the fire started at one of its gas pipelines outside Kuala Lumpur. The inferno caused 20-story flames and a huge crater in an empty area near a residential neighborhood. Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad was quoted by the New Straits Times daily as saying 145 people including three children were injured. He said 67 people were still being treated at public hospitals, mostly for second and thirddegree burns, while 37 others sought treatment
from clinics and private hospitals.
The fire department said the fire damaged 190 houses and 148 cars. Investigations were underway into the cause of the fire. Authorities said homes within 290 meters (yards) of the site will remain off-limits for now.
“There is a lot of damage across housing areas,” said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who visited affected residents and announced financial aid for victims. He told them the government and Petronas will be responsible for repairing affected homes, which could take months.
The Man Who Would be King Again? Former Nepal King’s Delusions of Power
A protest in Kathmandu demanding the restoration of King Gyanendra Shah to the throne and declaring Nepal a Hindu state turned violent on March 28, 2025. The protest left two dead and several injured, besides large-scale arson and looting, in its wake.
Public outcry drove King Gyanendra out of power in 2007. Now Nepal is witnessing a series of protests, especially in Kathmandu, to bring him back. Since 2015, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) of Nepal has spearheaded the demand for Nepal to be declared a Hindu state and for the restoration of monarchy.
The Shah dynasty ruled Nepal for 240 years, beginning with its founder, King Prithivi Narayan Shah, who unified what is now Nepal. It ended with the last King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah.
On June 1, 2001, the entire family of the late King Birendra (Gyanendra’s elder brother) was shot dead by his son and Crown Prince Dipendra. After shooting every family member present, Dipendra shot himself and died of the injuries three days later.
This paved the way for Gyanendra Shah, a businessman until then, to ascend the throne.
As a constitutional monarch, King Gyanendra overstepped the powers vested in him and sacked the elected Prime Minister on February 1, 2005, dissolving parliament. This proved to be the turning point for his own future.
The Nepali political parties and the Maoists, who were leading an armed insurgency, reached a consensus through dialogue to abolish the direct rule of King Gyanendra.
Trump trade tariffs put Asian economies in a bind
President Donald Trump unveiled a barrage of sweeping reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners on Wednesday, billing it as the dawn of a new "golden age" that would see industry and manufacturing jobs return to the country in droves. The move is seen as marking a stunning departure from the decades-old consensus on the benefits of unimpeded commerce and globalization. It could prompt other countries to announce retaliatory measures and erect trade barriers, potentially unleashing a new era of trade protectionism. Asia's export powerhouses, including China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam, have been among those being slapped with the steepest duties. Will it escalate into a full-scale trade war?
This means the total tariff rate on China will jump to 54% within a week, when the new rates take effect on April 9. It threatens bilateral trade estimated to be $582.4 billion (€524 billion) last year, where the US exported products worth $143.5 billion to China while importing goods amounting to $438.9 billion.
Trump is hitting imports from China with a 34% tariff, on top of the 20% levies, he had already imposed since returning to the White House in January.
Beijing blasted the decision and vowed retaliation. A tit-for-tat tariff escalation could push the world's top two economies deeper into a trade war and upend global supply chains. It could also complicate Beijing's plan to spur economic growth, targeted at roughly 5% in 2025.
"We think the tariffs could trigger protectionism and severely strike a blow to the world economy," said Fang Dongkui, secretary general of the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU, calling for negotiations between the US and its trading partners to resolve the disagreements, instead of confrontation.
Buddhist monk highlights strong India-Sri Lanka ties ahead of PM Modi's visit
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Sri Lanka, Buddhananda, the Buddhist monk who speaks Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Pali, spoke about the cultural and historical ties between India and Sri Lanka and highlighted the relationship between the two nations.
While speaking in Sanskrit, Buddhananda said, "India and Sri Lanka have had close relations for a long time. Sri Lanka went through a difficult period, and the Indian government helped us."
Buddhananda also spoke about the efforts to promote Buddhism, including the development
of an ndian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) centre in Sri Lanka. He added, "I went to India some time ago. PM Narendra Modi is going to do some marvelous projects to develop Buddhism. He is trying to develop Buddhism in India... An ICCR centre is being developed in Sri Lanka."
On the cultural connection between India and Sri Lanka, Buddhananda said, "Sanskrit, Magadhi, and Prakrit languages are native to India and very important over there... Our language, Sinhala, has derived many words from Sanskrit, more than 70%, and also from Magadhi and English."
Punjab is witnessing record-breaking drug arrests this year, with enforcement efforts intensifying sharply following the Aam Aadmi Party’s Delhi poll debacle. The police have arrested an average of 64 suspects daily (totalling 5,835 by March 31), surpassing the previous high of 47 daily arrests (17,001 total) in 2014.
leading to subsequent crackdowns.
This pattern continued when the Congress government took office in 2017. The police arrested 12,356 alleged smugglers, averaging 34 arrests per day under then CM Capt Amarinder Singh, who had vowed to eradicate drugs within weeks of coming to power.
The current “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh” operation has already netted 4,706 arrests in March alone, dwarfing last year’s daily average of 33 arrests (12,255 total) and 2023’s 41 arrests (14,951 total).
The intensity of Punjab's anti-drug operations has consistently followed political imperatives, with enforcement efforts peaking around election periods. The watershed moment came in 2014 when political and public pressure forced the ruling SAD-BJP coalition to act on rampant drug smuggling and addiction. Even the BJP had prominently promised to tackle the issue as a top priority during that year’s Lok Sabha elections,
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However, despite a massive rise in the number of arrests, glaring gaps remain. The police recently admitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court that they had managed to arrest 875 wanted smugglers from a list of 1,846 absconders, while the remaining 971 were still at large. The Opposition dismisses the surge in arrests as “political theatre”. SAD spokesperson Dr Daljeet Cheema contends, “The police action is limited to small consumers only to inflate arrest numbers. These crackdowns have become mere political gimmicks. If the government was truly successful, hospitals would be overflowing with addicts suffering withdrawal symptoms -which we're not seeing.”
AAP spokesperson and MP Malvinder Jit Singh Kang countered sharply, accusing the opposition parties of protecting drug smugglers. “We've made a strong beginning and will show more encouraging results in coming months. We have acted against cops who had been conniving with drug smugglers whereas the Akali and Congress used to post them as SSPs or other important posts.”
,000 schools to get infra upgrade in 54 days under new ‘Sikhya Kranti’ initiative
In an unprecedented move, the AAP government will inaugurate upgraded infrastructure in 12,000 state government schools in 54 days, between April 7 and May 31. The exercise to “showcase” the upgraded school infrastructure, under the government’s new campaign “Punjab Sikhya Kranti”, will see top political functionaries inaugurating repaired boundary walls, new classrooms, new or repaired toilets, additional chairs and tables. Each school will install the inaugural plaque at a cost of Rs 5,000.
Under the new instructions issued today, all top political functionaries, including the Chief Minister, Education Minister, MPs, MLAs and other elected representatives, will only be “competent” to inaugurate the new or upgraded infrastructure under the campaign.
Meanwhile, questioning the inauguration programme, Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) state president Vikram Dev Singh said, “Instead of ending the VVIP culture, the government is promoting it in the schools. They have made the principals and teachers event managers instead of them focusing of education”.
Education Minister Harjot Bains said elected representatives had been doing inaugurations in previous governments. “We are inaugurating the facilities in 12,000 schools. There is nothing wrong in it. The government wants the elected representatives to have first-hand account of the schools and the improvements being done there. The interactions will add to the improvement
Punjab Governor launches six-day padyatra to tackle drug menace in state
With an aim to spreading awareness against the peril of drugs and bringing every organisation working in this direction on a common platform, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria launched a sixday padyatra from Kartarpur Corridor here on Thursday.
“No government can eradicate the menace of drugs plaguing the border state until every section of society joins hands with the government and the police for the cause,” he said, urging people to make it a “jan andolan” (public movement) to save society, especially the youth, from the hazards of drugs.
Hundreds of children from various schools participated in the yatra that culminated at St Francis Convent School after passing through various streets and markets of the border town.
“Though there has been drug problem in every part of the country, Punjab has attained the notoriety of being number one in this case. The government and the police force cannot alone end it, and people have to come forward and join the cause,” he said, urging educationists, religious heads and intellectuals to take the initiative.
he said the neighboring nation was trying to weaken the young generation by unleashing a narco-terror war against us.
Speaking to The Tribune over the issue, Kataria said the Centre had provided 23 more anti-drone system to the BSF while the Punjab Government had also allocated funds for the same. He added that every one, including the Army, BSF and people, was making efforts in this direction, but it had failed to bring about the desired results.
He appreciated the Punjab Government for its recent campaign against drugs and added that “our aim should be to save our youth”. He said the police should also catch the big fish involved in the illegal trade. The Centre has also been working since 2020 to make the country drug-free. He stressed young girls and children were getting hooked to the deadly scourge.
He said during his previous visits to border villages, he observed that drug smuggling from Pakistan via drones remained a formidable challenge. Terming it a big conspiracy by Pakistan,
“In my opinion, every person has to contribute his bit to this common cause and the Punjab Government alone cannot end the menace. Many organisations and NGOs have been making efforts in the past, but by launching this padyatra, I wanted to bring all of them on a common platform. We would hopefully succeed in it soon,” he said.
The Governor also held meetings with village defense committees at Kartarpur Corridor, Pul Kanjri in Attari and Punjab State War Heroes’ Memorial and Museum.
The six-day padyatra will continue tomorrow at Fatehgarh Churian in Gurdaspur and culminate at Jallianwala Bagh on April 8.
of the schools.” The Minister further said that this was a statutory provision of the School Management Committee under the Right of children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009. “It is the statutory responsibility of the public representatives to ensure that schools function effectively and public representatives are expected to monitor the schools frequently and remove shortcomings, if any. To ensure that the government fulfils its mandate and assures the parents that their children are being taken care of, the local MLA, sarpanch, ward councillor and other public representative should frequently visit schools. Such visits do not cause any disturbances in teachers’ learning process. In fact, these enhance the accountability of schools towards parents,” he added.
Incidentally, Sisodia, who has been appointed AAP’s Punjab incharge, along with the state Education Minister Harjot Bains, had recently visited certain schools in Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran to get a first-hand account of schools’ infrastructure.
Only recently, the Punjab cabinet had decided to expand the management committees of the state-run schools by increasing the members from 12 to 16 in the panels. The four new members would include a representative of the area MLA and the respective urban local body member.
In the last instructions issued today, the school heads were told to strictly follow a given standard operating procedure (SOP) like preevent preparations event day preparations and minute-to-minute programme. The schools are being given funds — Rs 20,000 (senior secondary school), Rs 10,000 (secondary school), Rs 5,000 (elementary school) and Rs 5,000 for the inaugural plaque. In the data collected by the Education Department, 6,812 schools have new or repaired boundary walls, 5,399 new classrooms have been added, 2,976 have been built in 2,934 schools, 7,166 toilets have been repaired in 4,889 schools, besides 1,16,901 desks and chairs have been added.
All SC judges to declare assets amid chorus for judicial accountability
Amid a raging debate over judicial accountability following the alleged recovery of a huge amount of burnt cash at Justice Yashwant Varma’s house in the national capital, all 33 judges of the Supreme Court have unanimously decided to declare their assets.
The decision was taken in a full court meeting of the Supreme Court judges on April 1, sources said, adding that it would bind both current and future judges. In a shift from the current practice of making details public on a voluntary basis, now the infromation on assets would be mandatorily placed on the Supreme Court website, they said.
made public the report of an in-house fact-finding committee of Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya into the alleged cash recovery.
The decision has been taken at the initiative of CJI Sanjiv Khanna. It is seen as a step towards transparency in the judiciary in the backdrop of the row surrounding the alleged discovery of the burnt cash during a fire incident on March 14 at the residence of Delhi HC judge Justice Yashwant Varma, who has since been transferred to the Allahabad HC.
Last month, the Chief Justice of India had also
There is already a 1997 full court resolution requiring the Supreme Court judges to declare their assets to the CJI. “Every judge should make a declaration to the Chief Justice of all assets in the form of real estate or investment held in their names, in the name of their spouses or any other person dependent on them,” it stated. Following mounting public pressure, the Supreme Court judges had for the first time in 2009 decided to make public their assets on the top court’s website. However, the September 2009 full court resolution made it voluntary. In case of high court judges, the asset details are required to be submitted to the Chief Justice of the HC concerned.
Former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar welcomed the willingness of the Supreme Court judges to subject themselves to public scrutiny “as far as the sources of their wealth were concerned”, terming it a step towards judicial transparency.
No intent to hurt Muslims: Govt in RS
The government on Thursday strongly defended the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 as being “in the national interest”, rejecting Opposition claims that it “targeted religious sentiments” or was “unconstitutional or illegal”.
Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and Mussalman Wakf Repeal Bill in the Rajya Sabha, a day after the Bills were cleared in the Lok Sabha with 288 in its favour and 232 against it.
Speaking in the Upper House, the minister said the government had no intention to hurt religious sentiments of the Muslims and that an extensive process was undertaken by the Joint Parliamentary Committee while deliberating on the Bills
Rijiju detailed the proposed structure for Waqf governance, saying the Central Waqf Council would comprise 22 members, with no more than four non-Muslim representatives. The council will include three MPs, 10 Muslim community members (with at least two women) and two retired judges from higher courts. The state Waqf
boards would have 11 members, with a maximum of three non-Muslims.
He justified the reforms by referencing key reports documenting systemic issues. The 1976 Waqf Enquiry had found the boards dominated by mutawallis (caretakers), while the 2006 Sachar Committee recommended strengthening governance. He said while the Waqf lands had the potential to generate Rs 12,000 crore, only about Rs 160 crore was generated. Rijiju recalled just before the enforcement of the model code of conduct ahead of 2014 LS elections, the then UPA government denotified 123 prime properties and handed these over to Delhi Waqf Board. These properties belonged to the Housing and Urban Affairs ministry, he said, adding at 8.72 lakh, the Waqf had the maximum number of properties in the world.
“Objections arise when the benefit from such properties are not transferred to poor Muslims. Proper management could transform millions of lives within 3-4 years,” Rijiju said.
Trump slaps additional 27% tariffs on Indian imports, 75% of goods to be impacted
US President Donald Trump has slapped sweeping reciprocal tariffs ranging from 10 to 49 per cent on imports from major trading partners, including India, escalating tensions with allies and adversaries alike.
Trump imposed a steep 27 per cent tariff on all goods, barring pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, energy and certain minerals not available in the US, that are imported from India, calling the country “one of the worst offenders of unfair trade practices”. The goods that were exempt make up for just over 25 per cent of the total exports from India to the US.
Reacting cautiously, India said it was “carefully examining the implications”. It fears a decline in the trade of electronics, gems, jewellery and fisheries. On the positive side, it looks to explore opportunities to gain wider access to the US markets as an alternative to China and other competing Asian nations, using the tariff differential to its advantage. A White House official said the baseline duty of 10 per cent would be effective on India from April 5 and an additional 27 per cent from April 9. The 27 per cent duty would be over and above any existing levy that Indian products entering the US may
currently attract. The US President set the tone for the tariffs in the wee hours of Wednesday, saying the country had been “looted, pillaged and raped by its trade partners for decades”. Trump declared April 2 as “Liberation Day”, calling it as “one of the most important days in American history”. Trump said he was being “kind by imposing discounted reciprocal tariffs” on India and China, “charging only half of what the two nations imposed on the US”.
The White House official said several countries, including the UK, Singapore, Chile, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Turkiye, Colombia, Argentina, El Salvador, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, would only face the 10 per cent base rate.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament as a "watershed moment" in the country's collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth.
He said this would particularly help those who have long remained on the margins, thus being denied both voice and opportunity.
In posts on X, he said the waqf system for decades had been synonymous with the lack of transparency and accountability, especially harming the interests of Muslim women, poor Muslims and Pasmanda Muslims.
He said, "The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth." He added that the legislations passed by Parliament would boost transparency and also safeguard people's rights.
PM Modi said India would now enter an era where the framework would be more modern and sensitive to social justice. He said, "On a larger note, we remain committed to prioritising the dignity of every citizen. This is also how we build a stronger, more inclusive and more compassionate India." The Prime Minister thanked all members of Parliament who participated in the parliamentary and committee discussions, voiced their perspectives and contributed to the strengthening
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today countered Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus over his recent remarks in China where he claimed India’s Northeast was landlocked and Dhaka was the only guardian of the Indian Ocean.
Dismissing the assertion while speaking at the 20th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in Thailand where Bangladeshi representatives were also present, Jaishankar said cooperation was an integrated outlook and not one subject to cherrypicking.
“We have the longest coastline in the Bay of Bengal, spanning almost 6,500 km. India shares borders not only with the five BIMSTEC members, connecting most of them, but also provides much of the interface between the Indian subcontinent
of these legislations. He offered special thanks to the countless people who sent their valuable inputs to the Parliamentary committee.
He said, "Yet again, the importance of extensive debate and dialogue has been reaffirmed."
Parliament clears Waqf Amendment Bill; 'We believe in real service, not lip service,' says Nadda
The discussion witnessed staunch objections from opposition parties, which termed the Bill "anti-Muslim" and "unconstitutional" with the government responding that the "historic reform" would benefit the minority community.
The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it. It was passed in the Lok Sabha early Thursday, with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it.
Parliament also approved the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025, with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod. The Lok Sabha has already given its assent to the Bill. Participating in the discussion, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress and other opposition parties of scaring the Muslim community with the Bill and asserted that the Union Government worked for all with the motto of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'.
Rijiju said the Waqf Board is a statutory body and, as such, like all government bodies, it should be secular. He said the inclusion of a few nonMuslims on the Waqf Board would not alter the decisions of the body and instead would add value.
and the ASEAN grouping,” the minister said.
India’s north-eastern region was emerging as a connectivity hub for the BIMSTEC members, having in place a myriad network of roads, railways, waterways grids and pipelines, he said.
The minister said countries should work together on all important issues, rather than picking only the ones that suited their interests.
During his China visit, Yunus had urged Beijing to extend its economic influence to Bangladesh, controversially mentioning India’s north-eastern states.
“The seven eastern states of India are called the seven sisters. They are a landlocked region and have no way to reach out to the Indian Ocean,” he had said.
Social media influencers pose a "new and increasing threat" for uncontacted indigenous people, a charity has warned after the arrest of a US tourist who travelled to a restricted Indian Ocean island.
Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, allegedly landed on North Sentinel Island in an apparent attempt to make contact with the isolated Sentinelese tribe, filming his visit and leaving a can of coke and a coconut on the shore.
Survival International, a group that advocates for the rights of tribal people, said the alleged act endangered the man's own life and the lives of the tribe, calling it "deeply disturbing". The US said it was aware and "monitoring the situation". Andaman and Nicobar Islands' police chief HGS Dhaliwal told news agency AFP that "an American citizen" had been presented before the local court and was remanded for three days for "further interrogation".
AFP, citing Mr Dhaliwal, said Mr Polyakov blew a whistle off the shore of the island in a bid to attract the attention of the tribe for about an hour. He then landed for about five minutes, leaving his offerings, collecting samples and recording a video. The police chief told AFP: "A review of his GoPro camera footage showed his entry and landing into the restricted North Sentinel Island." It is illegal for foreigners or Indians to travel
within 5km (three miles) of the islands in order to protect the people living there.
According to police, Mr Polyakov has visited the region twice before - including using an inflatable kayak in October last year before he was stopped by hotel staff.
On his arrest earlier this week, the man told police he was a "thrill seeker", Indian media reported. Survival International said the
Sentinelese have made their wish to avoid outsiders clear over many years and underlined that such visits pose a threat to a community which has no immunity to outside diseases. Jonathan Mazower, spokesperson for Survival International, told the BBC they feared social media was adding to the list of threats for uncontacted tribal people. Several media reports have linked Mr Polyakov to a YouTube account, which features videos of a recent trip to Afghanistan.
