Canadian auto parts companies say the current North American trade agreement is helping them manage headwinds from south of the border, even as tariff disruptions intensified over the past months.
With recent earnings reports from Martinrea International Inc. and Linamar Corp., both firms highlighted compliance with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement
A source of inspiration is behind a 51-foot statue of a Hindu God in Mississauga
On Sunday, an event organized by the Hindu Heritage Centre in Streetsville gathered over 10,000 people for the unveiling of a 51-foot statue of Hindu God Shri Ram Murti, also known as Lord Ram.
Continued on Page 10...
as a source of shelter from the harsh tariffs imposed by the United States.
“Despite the myriad of tariffs put in place over the last several months, Linamar can continue to have minimal bottom-line impact. We have some impact in a few areas, but not at a material level,” Linda Hasenfratz, Linamar’s executive vice-chair, said on an earnings call.
“For products produced in Canada and Mexico, our products are USMCA compliant for virtually everything we ship into the U.S., meaning no tariffs for our customers on the mobility side, where they are the importers of record or for us on our industrial products, where we are the importer of record,” she said. Continued on Page 6...
Trump
is forcing a marriage of convenience between
India and China
Their relationship is defined by a bloody border dispute, a vast power imbalance and a fierce contest for influence across Asia. Yet, President Donald Trump’s latest trade war may be achieving the unthinkable: pushing India and China into a wary but tactical embrace.
Trump’s announcement of a new base tariff rate of 25% in India – later set to rise to a staggering 50% as additional punishment for purchasing Russian oil. Continued on Page 10...
Cowichan title lands encompass multimillion-dollar mansions in Richmond
The stretch of semi-rural land on No. 6 Road in Richmond, B.C., is home to blueberry farms, multimillion-dollar mansions and an 18-hole
golf course. Those Metro Vancouver properties are all now encompassed by a landmark Aboriginal title claim that was successfully established by the Cowichan Nation last week.
The ruling in B.C. Supreme Court confirmed Cowichan Aboriginal title and fishing rights over the stretch of land on Lulu Island next to the south arm of the Fraser River, where the nation historically had a summer village and members fished for salmon.
Continued on Page 7...
Federal Conservatives call for terror label on India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang
The federal Conservative party has joined the chorus of voices calling for the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang to be added to Canada’s list of terrorist organizations.
The gang is suspected to be behind the surge of extortion threats in B.C., Alberta and Ontario that have terrified the South Asian community. It has also claimed responsibility on social media for shooting at buildings, including the recent attack on Bollywood star Kapil Sharma’s cafe in Surrey. Continued on Page 10...
star Thomas Muller touches down
New Vancouver Whitecaps player Thomas Muller greets fans after arriving from Germany at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. The Whitecaps pulled off the biggest signing in the soccer club's history, adding the 2014 World Cup champion and longtime Bayern Munich star to a club that has spent the entire season pushing for top spot in the MLS Western Conference.
The House of Commons and Canada's cybersecurity agency are investigating a significant data breach caused by an unknown "threat actor" targeting employee information.
According to an internal email obtained by CBC News, the House of Commons alerted staff on Monday that there was an information breach. It said a malicious actor was able to exploit a recent Microsoft vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to a database containing information used to manage computers and mobile devices.
Some of the information obtained by the hacker is not available to the public, according to the email. That includes employees' names, job titles, office locations and email addresses, as well as information regarding their House of Commonsmanaged computers and mobile devices.
Canada's Communications Security Establishment (CSE) said it is aware of the incident and is working with the House of Commons to provide support, but could not confirm who was behind the attack.
The CSE defines a threat actor as a group or individual that aims "with malicious intent" to "gain unauthorized access to or otherwise affect victims' data, devices, systems and networks."
A recent threat report from the CSE found that adversarial nations, including the People's Republic of China (PRC), Russia and Iran, are increasingly behind cyber threats to Canada. But the agency said it's too early to tell who — or what — was behind this breach.
"Attribution of a cyber incident is difficult. Investigating cyber threat activity takes resources and time, and there are many considerations involved in the process of attributing malicious cyber activity," said the CSE in a statement.
The cyberattack happened on Friday, according to the email sent to employees.
It calls on employees and members of the House of Commons to be especially vigilant as information accessed during the breach could be used in scams, or to target and impersonate parliamentarians.
If you thought Monday felt like stepping into a sauna, you weren’t wrong. Metro Vancouver just smashed a heat record that had been standing since the late 1970s, and it wasn’t the only place in B.C. turning into a furnace.
Abbotsford took the crown for the biggest local temperature flex, hitting a scorching 35.8°C on August 11. That’s more than a full degree hotter than the previous 1977 high of 34.6°C. Over in White Rock, the thermometer reached 32.2°C, edging past its old record of 31.1°C from the same year. The heat wasn’t just a Metro Vancouver problem, half the province seemed to be cooking. Cities like Victoria (33.8°C), Nanaimo (35.3°C), Campbell River (34.2°C), and Pemberton (37.4°C)
A 57-year-old woman has been sentenced in Campbell River to 13 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to trafficking charges related to what the RCMP describe as one of the largest drug busts in the region's recent history.
Campbell River RCMP reported that on Feb. 21, 2024, police executed a search warrant at a Nursery Road property, described as “fortress-like” in court documents. According to police, officers seized 3,500 Dilaudid (hydromorphone) tablets that are believed to be diverted from B.C.’s safe supply program and two kilograms of fentanyl, which could mean "potentially hundreds of thousands of lethal doses."
all set new daily records. Even Port Hardy, usually known for its cooler coastal vibe, saw an unusually toasty 26.9°C.
Environment Canada had heat warnings in place for much of southern B.C., and health officials reminded everyone to stay cool, hydrate, and check on friends and family who might be vulnerable to the heat. The good news? Cooler temps are finally on the way mid-week, with some areas dipping below 20°C by Friday. This latest streak of high temps is just another reminder that B.C. summers are getting more unpredictable, and a lot hotter. So if you’ve been putting off buying that second fan or portable AC, now might be the time.
"Evidence showed the fentanyl was being diluted, dyed, flavoured and moulded into shapes like dinosaurs and Lego bricks," states a media release from the Campbell River RCMP.
Additionally, authorities seized one kilogram of cocaine, one kilogram of methamphetamine, as well as cash, firearms, and materials related to drug trafficking.
The guilty pleas were entered, and the accused, Leah Marie Lewis, was sentenced on Thursday, July 31, at the provincial court in Campbell River. Earlier this year, separate charges against Lewis in Port Alberni for breaching release conditions were stayed.
Musqueam slam 'disappointing' ruling on rights and title, but Cowichan maintain it corrects injustice
The fallout from last week's B.C. Supreme Court ruling on a rights and title case that favoured the Cowichan Nation is continuing, with other Indigenous groups saying they are "devastated" by the decision and the province filing an appeal.
The Cowichan Nation, which consists of five First Nation communities on Vancouver Island — the Cowichan Tribes, Halalt, Lyackson, Penelakut and Stz'uminus — was successful in arguing they have a right to fish in the Fraser River, and that they have Aboriginal title to a parcel of land in Richmond, B.C.
But while Cowichan members are celebrating the historic win, other First Nation communities with traditional ties to the Fraser River voiced their disappointment, with legal counsel for the Musqueam and Tsawwassen First Nations
reviewing the decision.
Chief Wayne Sparrow of the Musqueam said the decision was "surprising and disappointing," noting that the lands in question are "in the heart of [Musqueam] traditional territory."
Sparrow said Indigenous jurisdiction was being decided through colonial court systems and "now we have to review what our options are and how we move forward." But Robert Morales with the Cowichan Tribes said the ruling rectifies injustice.
Morales, who has been the chief negotiator of the Cowichan Tribes and Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group for 20 years, says 80-90 per cent of the Cowichan Nation's traditional territory was privatized and given away. He said "the nations are not seeking to displace private land owners, who own homes and properties through this process."
'Explosive' wildfire growth near Port Alberni, unusual for Vancouver Island: wildfire service
Rain is expected to fall on an out-of-control wildfire on Vancouver Island on Friday, but wildfire crews are focusing their efforts on the edge closest to the community of Port Alberni, B.C., as winds push the fire in that direction.
The Mount Underwood fire jumped to 21.56 square kilometres (2,156 hectares) Wednesday morning, and is burning more than 10 kilometres south of Port Alberni, a small city home to about 19,000 people.
The fire, which is roughly the same size as the City of Victoria, has prompted the city, AlberniClayoquot Regional District (ACRD) and Tseshaht First Nation to declare states of local emergency.
More than 500 properties in the Bamfield and Anacla areas are still without power due to the blaze, according to B.C. Hydro's outage list.
Those properties haven't had power since around 6 p.m. PT on Monday. The fire rapidly expanded Tuesday, ballooning from about 6.3 square kilometres Monday night to almost 14.5 square kilometres Tuesday night, before growing again Wednesday.
ACRD chair and Huu-ay-aht First Nations Chief Coun. John Jack said the quick growth of the fire is concerning.
"This is a fire that hasn't really been seen on Vancouver Island," he told CBC's On the Island Wednesday morning. Three evacuation alerts are also in effect, issued by the ACRD, the City of Port Alberni for the Cameron Heights neighbourhood, and the Tseshaht First Nation.
The alerts, which require residents to be ready to leave at a moment's notice, cover almost 200 affected properties.
Air Canada says it will begin cancelling flights ahead of possible weekend strike
Air Canada says it will begin cancelling flights on Thursday ahead of a potential strike that could see more than 10,000 flight attendants walk off the job this weekend.
The countrys largest airline said the gradual suspension of flights — which would see more cancellations on Friday, before a complete cessation of flying by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge by the weekend — would allow for an orderly shutdown.
About 130,000 customers a day could be affected by a disruption, according to Air Canada.
Are you worried about Air Canada cancelling your upcoming flight? We want to hear from you. Send an email to ask@cbc.ca.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) gave the carrier a requisite 72-hour strike notice overnight after the two sides reached an "impasse" in negotiations on Tuesday.
Air Canada flight attendants can walk off the job as early as Saturday at 12:58 a.m. ET.
CUPE representatives said that in response to their strike action, Air Canada issued a notice of lockout to start at 1:30 a.m. ET on Saturday. Air Canada confirmed the lockout on Wednesday.
"We regret the impact a disruption will have on our customers, our stakeholders and the communities we serve," Air Canada chief executive Michael Rousseau said in a statement.
Air Canada had said that any passengers booked to travel between Aug. 15 and Aug. 18 can change their flight if desired, provided their ticket was purchased no later than Aug. 13.
The airline was also going to allow these passengers to change their flights for free to another date between Aug. 21 and Sept. 12.
"If your flight is cancelled, we will do our very best to rebook you on the first available flight, exploring options with over 120 international
and domestic carriers," the airline said on its website. "As we are in peak summer travel season, we know that space will still be very limited. If your travel is disrupted, you can always choose a refund."
"On behalf of the flight attendants, obviously we are sorry and empathetic toward this, but we also need to bargain a collective agreement. And unfortunately, this was the next stage in the process," said Lesosky.
John Gradek, co-ordinator of the aviation management program at McGill University in Montreal, said Air Canada has several obligations to travellers under Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations.
First, the carrier has to communicate flight cancellations and get in touch with travellers via text, voicemail or email to advise travellers of their options.
Usually, that means finding another carrier at Air Canada's expense to fly you to your next destination within 48 hours of the arrival time on your original ticket. Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu said in a social media post on X Tuesday evening that she continues to monitor the situation. "Federal mediators will remain available until a deal is reached," she wrote. "The best agreements are the ones the parties reach themselves."
Inder Buttar announces her candidacy for White Rock City Council
Inder Buttar, a registered nurse from White Rock, announced she will run for the White Rock City Council by election to be held shortly to fill two vacancies on the Council.
Ottawa funds $25M for companies to build EV chargers, buy natural gas-powered trucks
The federal government announced $25 million in funding today for companies to build more than 850 electric vehicle chargers, mostly in Quebec.
The money will also help companies finance the purchases of natural gas-powered transport and recycling trucks to help companies lower emissions.
According to the government nearly one quarter of Canada's total annual emissions comes from transportation, with a significant amount
from medium to heavy-duty vehicles — such as eighteen-wheelers.
A report released last year suggested Canada continues to fall behind on meeting the need for EV charging stations.
Montreal-based consultant Dunsky Energy and Climate estimated Canada needed 52,000 chargers by this year.
A database maintained by Natural Resources Canada shows the country currently has about 36,000.
Ph: 604-591-5423
Fax: 604-591-8615
editor@theasianstar.com
Editor: Umendra Singh
Marketing and Sales: Ravi Cheema
604-715-3847
Shamir Doshi 604-649-7827
Harminder Kaur 778-708-0481
Parminder Dhillon 604-902-2858
Pre-Press: Avee Waseer
Production: Ozmo Media
www.theasianstar.com Publication
India must not fall into Trump’s tariff trap
By Kaushik Basu: Economic relations between India and the United States have been thrown into disarray after US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping 50% tariff on nearly all Indian imports, with the exception of iPhones and certain pharmaceutical products. The move places India among the five most heavily targeted countries under Trump’s tariff regime, alongside Brazil (50%), Syria (41%), Laos (40%), and Myanmar (40%).
The announcement caught Indian policymakers off guard, particularly given Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s open support for Trump’s re-election campaign. The White House’s harsh statement, framing the move as punishment for India’s purchases of Russian oil, has only added to the confusion.
As the Wall Street Journal recently noted, this reasoning does not hold up, since China – the largest buyer of Russian oil – has not been penalized for its purchases. So, what explains Trump’s decision?
Paradoxically, India’s policy of unquestioningly siding with Trump may have made India easier to take for granted, to the point that even a minor departure from Trump’s preferences is treated as unacceptable.
This dynamic is reminiscent of Anton Chekhov’s short story “The Ninny,” in which an employer withholds the equivalent of nearly a month’s salary from his children’s governess for arbitrary reasons.
The governess accepts each cut without protest – a passivity that the employer chastises as spineless. The economist Ariel Rubinstein later drew on Chekhov’s story to develop a model illustrating how submission can invite exploitation. India’s current subservience to Trump marks a sharp departure from its longstanding role as a strong, independent country. As a co-founder of the Non-Aligned Movement, it once championed strategic autonomy, balancing relations with multiple countries while avoiding subordination to any major power, be it the US or the Soviet Union.
It is time for India to draw on that legacy and cultivate economic and diplomatic ties with countries like Mexico, Canada, and China. This also means strengthening trade and cooperation with other governments concerned about the impact of Trump’s tariffs, particularly in Europe and Latin America.
Driver seriously injured after West Coast Express train strikes vehicle in Port Moody
The driver of a pickup truck was seriously injured, police say, after his vehicle was struck by a West Coast Express commuter train in Port Moody, B.C., Tuesday morning, causing a one-hour delay for passengers.
The Port Moody Police Department says the train hit the truck just before 7:30 a.m. PT at the Reed Point Marina crossing.
The driver received serious but non-lifethreatening injuries when he was "ejected from the vehicle," police said, and was taken to hospital.
The man who fired the stray bullet that killed 21-year-old Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa in Canada has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, an official said.
Hamilton Police, who arrested 32-year-old Jerdaine Foster at Niagara Falls in Ontario on Tuesday, also charged him with three counts of attempted murder, CBC News quoted Acting Det-Sgt Daryl Reid as saying in a news conference.
Randhawa, a second-year student enrolled in a physiotherapy course in Mohawk College, was hit by a stray bullet while standing near a bus stop at the intersection of Upper James Street and South Bend Road on April 17. She succumbed to the injury in the hospital.
Const. Sam Zacharias said no one on the train was injured.
Investigators say the driver of the truck did not yield at the train crossing and was hit by the westbound train. He said police are still looking for information from witnesses.
"Our initial information from speaking to witnesses is that the vehicle was on the tracks, crossing the tracks around the arm signal that had been down at the time when it was struck by this moving train," Zacharias told CBC News.
bullet struck her.
At least seven people in four cars were involved in a dispute that led to the shooting. Shots were fired between the cars and at least two guns were involved, the report said. "Harsimrat was an innocent bystander," the report quoted Reid as saying on Thursday, "She was simply trying to make her way home from a local gym when she was struck and killed."
No other arrests have been made in the case.
"The investigation is still ongoing, and we will do everything in our power to identify, locate and arrest all these people that are involved in this death," Reid said.
The Indian student had reportedly just got off the bus and was waiting to cross the street when the
He added that Foster, who has ties to Hamilton, Halton and Niagara regions and lived in shortterm rental properties, was previously known to police.
Continued from Page 1...
Hasenfratz also highlighted a strategy of producing products in the same continent as its customers, while not “chasing low-cost labour around the world.” In contrast, she said making products in Europe or Asia and shipping them into the United States would trigger tariffs.
She also said fewer U.S. plants means fewer tariffs overall.
“I would note that our U.S. footprint is reasonably small at just 10 of 75 plants globally, meaning tariffs on any imported product from a supply chain perspective is not material to our overall business performance,” Hasenfratz said.
Martinrea also said its tariff impact is manageable.
“Recall that USMCA-compliant auto parts are exempt from section 232 auto tariffs, which is a positive for us as well as our industry. This is a very good thing,” said chief executive Pat D'Eramo on an earnings call.
“We do have some tariff exposure on some
products that we get from tier two suppliers and from parts affected by steel and aluminum tariffs. So there is some tariff impact in our results.”
Robert Wildeboer, Martinrea's executive chairman of the board, said that the company is anticipating next year to be “fairly solid,” although it would depend on how the North American economy performs in the coming months.
"The tariff bite has not been nearly as bad as the tariff bark," he said.
Going forward, Hasenfratz said she has concerns about the impact of tariffs on automaker customers.
“The cost to our customers, as we've seen, are in the billions. I do have some concern about the potential impact of vehicle pricing and therefore demand longer term,” she said.
Martinrea reported a drop in profit during the second quarter. The Toronto-based company said it made a profit of $38 million during the second quarter, down from $40.97 million during the same quarter last year.
‘Axe the China BC Ferries deal’: BC Conservatives
The Conservative Party of BC wants the ChinaBC Ferries $1-billion contract dissolved and replaced with a Canadian-made contract, but major domestic shipyards say they’re at capacity.
Seaspan’s North Vancouver shipyard is building ships for the Canadian Coast Guard, and the Royal Canadian Navy.
In fact, both Seaspan and the country’s largest shipyard, Davie Shipyard, are at capacity until the end of the decade. Despite that, leader of the Conservative Party of BC, John Rustad, is calling on the province to cancel the $1-billion contract with China to build the new vessels for BC Ferries.
Tuesday night, he took to social media, stating “Where is the anger with China’s tariffs on western Canadian farmers from David Eby? Why is Eby silent on China’s tariffs — why won’t he axe the China BC Ferries deal?”
Rustad, argues B.C. taxpayers shouldn’t be funding jobs in China, especially following China’s tariffs on Canadian farmers.
“They are hurting British Columbians, they are costing us jobs. Why wouldn’t we be creating jobs in Canada by building ferries in Canada. This contract needs to be cancelled,” he said.
But last month, Canada’s Minister of Transport, Chrystia Freeland sent a letter to her counterpart in B.C. to ensure the money doesn’t go towards funding vessels made in China.
Eric McNeely, president of the BC Ferry & Marine Workers’ Union (BCFMWU) agrees that the ships should be made domestically.
“Potentially we have a ferry system that is now vulnerable to a trade war, political dispute. And if there are delays to ferry construction as a result,
‘A
that is going to leave people waiting on the tarmac like the premier said,” McNeely said.
He said there are benefits to building ferries domestically, even if there are higher costs initially.
“I think when you look at increased costs, that’s increased labour standards, that’s increased quality, that’s increased safety. I think those are all things that Canadians, and Canadian workers hold valuable,” McNeely said.
And even though no Canadian shipyard bid on the BC Ferries contract, Rustad says the ships could have been built on Canadian soil.
The Conservative leader says the China contract is due to a lack of foresight and financial flexibility.
“They should have been working over the years with Seaspan and Canadian shipbuilding to say this is what we have coming down the pipes. We’re willing to have these contracts, gear up for it, give us a price that is reasonable. Let’s make sure that we keep these jobs, and these investments in British Columbia,” Rustad said.
The BCFMWU has launched a campaign called Build Them Here to pressure public officials to prioritize domestic shipbuilding. The union is the largest Maritime union in Canada and represents more than 4,500 members.
source of inspiration,’ Here’s what’s behind a 51-foot statue unveiled in Mississauga
Continued from Page 1...
The large-scale event included a grand parade, a formal ceremony, complementary lunch to attendees, and even speeches by local leaders Kushagr Sharma, who is a spokesperson for the Hindu Heritage Centre and one of the event organizers, tells Now Toronto that Lord Ram’s inspiring story was what inspired the new monument.
According to Sharma, Lord Ram was born to a famous Indian king, thousands of years ago, but was banished from his kingdom for 14 years after his stepmother conspired against him. While banished, a so-called “demon king” kidnapped his wife, and he saw himself having to fight for her freedom. After rescuing her, he was able to return to the kingdom as a king, becoming a symbol of resilience and courage.
“It’s a source of inspiration. And that’s the whole reason we had this statue there, [it] is so it inspires all of us, and not just Hindus,” he said. Sharma also revealed that out of the thousands of people who
took to Mississauga’s streets to celebrate the new monument, about 30 per cent were not Hindu, with even a nearby church’s priest and local seniors joining the celebration.
According to him, while Lord Ram is a typical Hindu figure, his story aims to send a positive message that can inspire anyone, from members of the community to all Canadians.
“I think that brought the most joy to me seeing that it’s accepted by our community here. And, you know, that reflects what Canada is, right? We’re all just different cultures coming together and celebrating the best of one another,” he added.
Sharma also shared that engineers making the statue guaranteed that its structure will be able to stand strong for over a hundred years, and withstand up to 200 km/h of wind and extreme winter conditions.
While the project received support from the City of Mississauga for its inauguration event, Sharma says that it was fully funded by the centre with the use of private donations.
Cowichan title lands encompass multimillion-dollar mansions in Richmond
Continued from Page 1...
Now it is occupied by Crown and City of Richmond holdings — as well as private properties that include a 10,600- square-foot home with 11 bathrooms and an official valuation of $7.78 million, other multimillion-dollar homes and the Country Meadows Golf Course. The ruling by Justice Barbara Young says the Cowichan did not seek a declaration that private titles in the area were "defective and invalid," unlike those for the land owned by the Crown and city that makes up much of the claim. But the judge ruled the province has a duty to negotiate with the nation when it comes to the private land, whose titles were granted in what she called an unjustifiable infringement of the Cowichan's Aboriginal title.
Lawyer David Robbins, who represented the Cowichan in the trial that lasted more than 500 days, said Tuesday that the nation did not bring its
case against private titleholders "and did not seek to invalidate their interests in this case."
"It is the Crown in right of British Columbia that has the legal relationship with the holders of private fee simple interests. The Cowichan Nation has no direct relationship with those titleholders," he said. But a map of the Cowichan title lands that was part of the court ruling, combined with publicly available land documents, identify the mansions and other properties along Richmond's No. 6 Road, south of Blundell Road. Harry Hogler co-owns the Country Meadows Golf Course and lives across the road in a 8,900-square-foot home, featuring a fountain and a classic car in the circular driveway.
However, B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma said on Monday that the case could have "significant unintended consequences" for private property rights in the province, and the government would appeal the ruling.
Repeat offender pleads guilty to assaulting tourist near Vancouver cruise ship terminal
A repeat offender who attacked a tourist in downtown Vancouver last year has pleaded
attention at hospital.”
Investigators said the attack was random.
guilty in the case, but to a lesser offence.
The attack happened on Oct. 13, 2024, as the 35-year-old victim was walking near the Canada Place cruise ship terminal.
Vancouver police said the woman was “repeatedly punched and kicked in the face, and sustained multiple injuries that required medical
Massimo Rosario Falvo was arrested at a residential building in the Downtown Eastside and initially charged with aggravated assault. The BC Prosecution Service confirmed that he pleaded guilty on July 22 to the lesser offence of assault causing bodily harm.
A judge has ordered him to undergo a psychiatric risk assessment ahead of a future sentencing date.
Falvo is well known to law enforcement and was on probation at the time of the October assault, according to Vancouver police.
He was convicted of assaulting four people in 2024, with each of the incidents involving him punching someone in the head.
He was sentenced to three years of probation and one day in custody, after credit for time served, in that case.
Even Falvo was surprised by that outcome, posting “3 years probation for 4 separate assault charges. I’m lucky I didn’t go to jail” on social media.
Murder charge laid in death of man in Coquitlam
A 59-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with a death in Coquitlam earlier this month.
Coquitlam RCMP was called to reports of an assault with a weapon in the 400 block of Midvale Street on the morning of Aug. 1.
Officers found a seriously injured man at the scene. He was taken to hospital where he later died. Steven Mosdell, 59, was arrested and initially
Person dead following shooting in Maple Ridge, homicide team called in
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team was deployed to Maple Ridge, B.C., on Wednesday morning after reports of a shooting.
Ridge Meadows RCMP said they received reports around 12:20 a.m. of a shooting near 246 Street and 124 Avenue.
Officers found an unresponsive victim with what appeared to be gunshot wounds inside a car in the 24000 block of Dewdney Trunk Road. Despite life-saving measures, the person did not survive, police said. Investigators have not disclosed the
connection between the two scenes, however, the area surrounding both will be cordoned off for a significant amount of time, police said.
The victim has not been identified and IHIT has not provided any further details about the suspect or a potential motive.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation can contact IHIT through its information line 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email. Additionally, if anyone has dash camera or CCTV footage from either area, contact IHIT.
Port Alberni RCMP investigating 3 suspicious deaths in 9 days
First, a fatal house fire. Then, a fiery car containing human remains. And most recently, a fatal assault.
Three people have died in Port Alberni, within a nine-day period in early August, each of them under circumstances RCMP are investigating as suspicious.
restaurant, is one of many voicing unease on local social media groups.
charged with aggravated assault. Those charged were later upgraded to second-degree murder.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said the two men knew one another.
Anyone with information or with video shot in the area between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, is asked to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@ rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
The deaths — along with the limited information released about the investigations into them — have prompted concern among some members of the central Vancouver Island community, which reported a population of 18,259 in the 2021 census.
"We've been here waiting, holding our breath to hear something, and the only thing that we've been told as citizens of the community is that they're doing an investigation," said John Robert, a resident of Port Alberni for 43 years.
Robert, who works as a dishwasher at a local
With the Mount Underwood and Wesley Ridge wildfires also burning nearby, locals are already on edge, he says — and they are hoping to hear soon from the RCMP whether there is a connection between the suspicious deaths. Cpl. Alex Bérubé, media relations officer for the RCMP, said it's too early to determine whether the deaths are connected, as they are still under investigation by the RCMP and B.C. Coroners Service.
He said police have been working to identify and locate suspects since the start of their investigation.
"The risks to the public remains unknown at this time," said Bérubé. "The co-operation from the public plays a vital role in advancing investigations."
Federal Conservatives call for terror label on India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang
Continued from Page 1...
Sources have told the Bishnoi gang is also believed to be linked to the murder of Surrey Gurdwara president and Khalistan independence activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
“Given the terror that they are imposing on the South Asian community, with South Asian Canadians, they do meet the criminal code definition of a terrorist organization,” Conservative public safety critic and Kamloops-ThompsonCariboo Frank Caputo told.
B.C. Premier David Eby and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, along with the mayors of Surrey and Brampton, have already called on Ottawa to designate the gang a terrorist organization.
Caputo, a former Crown prosecutor, said putting the gang on the list would give law enforcement new tools to crack down on its activities.
“We’re looking at three or four different
implications here. One is with respect to property, you can seize the property of a terrorist organization and its associates,” he said.
“Financially, banks can then start freezing accounts and financial transactions.
Criminal law, you’re liable to a greater punishment; you are liable to punishment simply by virtue of participating in a terrorist organization. And then lastly, law enforcement will have access to additional resources.”
India’s counterterrorism law enforcement agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), describes the group as a criminal gang headed by Lawrence Bishnoi, whose lawyer says he contests more than 40 cases accusing him of crimes such as murder and extortion.
The NIA alleges he operates his “terror-syndicate from jails in different states” in India and through an associate in Canada.
BC doctor fired for refusing COVID-19 vaccine loses appeal
The B.C. Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal from a doctor who was fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine in 2021.
Dr. Theresa Szezepaniak was appealing a 2023 decision from the B.C. Hospital Appeal Board (HAB), which largely upheld the Interior Health authority's decision to suspend her hospitalist privileges at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, B.C.
The appeal board had ruled that Szezepaniak's refusal of the shot in 2021 amounted to neglect of her obligations as a hospitalist.
Szezepaniak, who had to sell her home and move to a different town to find work after the decision, said that her Charter rights were breached by the HAB decision and asked a Supreme Court justice to set it aside.
However, Justice Steven Wilson said the Charter did not apply to Interior Health's decision to suspend Szezepaniak's privileges, as it was an operational decision and not one that was directly controlled by government.
"I do not accept that a hospital board's ability to exclude a practitioner from the hospital for failing to comply with the [bylaws] is a decision that is governmental in nature," his decision, published Thursday, read. Szezepaniak had argued that the HAB was upholding discipline based on
government legislation, in which case her Charterprotected rights to life, liberty and security of the person — and specifically her right to earn an income to support her family — would have been breached.
But the court disagreed, and said that even if the Charter were to apply to the HAB's decision, Szezepaniak's rights were not breached in this instance.
That was because, the court noted, the Charter does not protect the right to work in a particular job or position, and Szezepaniak's firing was a result of her decision to not get vaccinated.
Szezepaniak's contract with Interior Health was terminated on Nov. 16, 2021, after she declined the vaccine, which was required to continue working in B.C. hospitals under an order from Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. Her privileges, which granted her the right to provide care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, were officially cancelled by the health authority in August 2022, and Szezepaniak cited the Charter in an appeal to the HAB shortly thereafter.
In both the current Supreme Court case and that HAB decision, the issue was not whether the doctor would be forced to get the vaccine — but rather, the consequences that arose from her decision to decline it.
Trump is forcing a marriage of convenience between India and China?
Continued from Page 1...
In some ways mirrors the long pressure campaign he’s waged against China and creates a shared interest between New Delhi and Beijing. While a thaw in India and China’s fractious relationship was already underway, analysts say Trump’s actions have added to this shift.
New Delhi and Beijing now find themselves navigating a volatile and unpredictable Washington that treats strategic partners and geopolitical rivals with the same transactional disdain, be they in Europe or Asia.
But in chastising India for not having a more open economy and its energy ties to Russia, the Trump administration is punishing the very nation the US has spent years cultivating as a democratic counterweight to China’s power –creating an opening for Beijing. This tactical realignment is underscored by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reported plans to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit later this month, which would be his first trip to China in seven years.
When asked to confirm Indian media reports about Modi’s attendance, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Beijing “welcomes” Modi for the meeting. “We believe that with the concerted effort of all parties, the Tianjin summit will be a gathering of solidarity, friendship and
fruitful results,” said spokesperson Guo Jiakun. Yet, as the niceties play out in public, analysts say this is an alliance of convenience, not conviction. The deep-seated strategic distrust between Asia’s two giants, born from their border conflict and struggle for regional dominance, remains firmly in place. For now, they are aligned partly not by a shared vision, but by a shared antagonist in the White House.
“We may see a greater thaw in India-China ties in face of a tough United States,” said Farwa Aamer, Director of South Asia Initiatives, Asia Society Policy Institute.
But she warned that New Delhi must not lose sight of Washington and “risk reversing the growth in relations it has long worked hard on to achieve.” Since Modi, a right-wing Hindu nationalist, swept to power in 2014, the relationship reached new heights, partly driven by the personal rapport he developed with Trump during his first term, during which the Indian leader cast aside staid diplomatic protocol to campaign for his counterpart’s second term during a rally in Houston.
New Delhi’s growing alignment with Washington became even more critical as its own relationship with Beijing cratered after deadly border clashes in 2020 pushed the two Asian giants further apart than at any time in decades.
High Court to hear Madigibuli murder case in 2026
Murder accused Apisai Madigibuli says he still wishes to represent himself in the trial, which is set to begin in April 2026 at the High Court in Suva.
Mr Madigibuli appeared this morning before Justice Dane Tuiqereqere for a mention.
He is charged with a count of
murder. Mr Madigibuli is alleged to have fatally stabbed Kitiana Baravilala with a knife on April 25 last year.
State counsel Monisha Naidu appeared for the State. Mr Madigibuli is further remanded in custody, and the case has been adjourned to August 26.
Drug cartel operating with
‘blessings
of local politicians’
As Fiji awaits the sentencing of nine individuals convicted in the country’s largest drug bust, High Court judge Justice Aruna Aluthge has raised disturbing concerns about the possible involvement of local politicians.
In his ruling on July 31, Justice Aluthge said there was “alarming evidence” that the foreign drug cartel behind the 4.15-tonne, $2billion methamphetamine shipment was operating with “the blessings of local politicians”.
He didn’t state any names in his ruling.
“Despite the many challenges our law enforcement agencies face, this case proves they are still capable of tackling sophisticated drug cartels — cartels that were equipped with superyachts, satellite phones, encrypted messaging apps, and the blessings of local politicians,” Justice Aluthge
stated in open court. He credited law enforcement for securing convictions despite facing cartels armed with superyachts, satellite phones, and encrypted messaging apps.
He said the drug shipment likely originated from a Latin American country and was destined for Australia or New Zealand, where methamphetamine commands a high market price. Fiji, he noted, continues to be exploited as a transit point in the global narcotics trade.
“It was evident that a small quantity infiltrated the local market and was used by intermediaries to drug recruits to work as peddlers and couriers or mules.” Justice Aluthge also confirmed evidence suggesting collaboration between a foreign cartel made up of Russians, Latinos, and Australians, and local Fijian counterparts.
National Budget launched in 3 languages for people
A Citizens Guide to the National Budget for the year 2025 to 2026 has been written in the English, iTaukei and Hindi languages for people to understand.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad says they hope to bridge the communication gap between the Government and the people.
Fiji Council Of Social Services Director
Vani Catanasiga says this is something people should not shy away from and the launching provides a good platform for transparency and accountability.
Catanasiga says people should use this as a tool for development in the community and years of struggling to explain various components of the budget to the i-Taukei for example will become a thing of the past now.
MP seeks probe into land sale
The Savusavu Town Council’s financial mismanagement led to the sale of a parcel of land, now worth $7million, for a mere $350,000.
Presenting the Parliamentary Standing Committee’s review of the council’s consolidated 2011 to 2015 annual reports, Opposition MP Rinesh Sharma called for the sale to be investigated.
“One of the most serious issues raised was the historical financial mismanagement,” he said.
“From 2011 to 2015, the council failed to maintain proper records, used a single general accounting system, and made land transactions without accountability.
“A parcel of land sold for $350,000 during this period is now valued over $7million. The committee recommends that these matters be referred to the appropriate authorities for independent investigation and proper legal action.” Mr Sharma said there was also a need for better asset management.
“The council must improve its asset management, as evidenced by a compactor truck donated in 2015 that remains unused to this day.
“We recommend the development of a formal asset management policy and proper maintenance schedule.
called Police chief about his brother's case
Former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama had called former Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu three times to raise concerns about a picture a police officer took of his brother, Jonacani, in May 2021.
Sergeant Laitia Temo, who took the stand yesterday in a case where the former PM is accused of making unwarranted demands made by a public officer between May 21 and August 18, 2021, said he had analysed the incoming and outgoing call records of four phone numbers from May 1 to December 31, 2021.
He also assisted the interviewing officer during Mr Bainimarama’s caution interview.
Sgt Temo testified that on May 22, 2021, there were three phone calls between Mr Bainimarama and his brother Jonacani. Additionally, Mr Bainimarama spoke to Mr Tudravu once that day and also communicated with him on May 30 and June 25. In the transcript of his recorded interview, the former PM confirmed his brother had reached out to him, and it was about the photographs
taken by Sergeant Penieli Ratei and Constable Tomasi Naulu, which were uploaded to a police Viber group chat.
Mr Bainimarama said he requested Mr Tudravu to investigate the matter, not as his brother but as a concerned citizen.
When the interviewer asked if Mr Tudravu acted on his suggestion, Mr Bainimarama replied he was unsure.
Meanwhile, director CID Serupepeli Neiko testified that Mr Tudravu instructed him to record Jonacani’s statement on May 22, 2021, concerning the issue of his photographs being taken.
Another witness, Inspector Suliasi Dulaki, informed the court that he retrieved Mr Tudravu’s appointment letter as acting commissioner, as well as that of former commissioner of police Sitiveni Qiliho, from the office of the President on August 7, through a search warrant.
Defence lawyer Devanesh Sharma indicated that he would be questioning Mr Tudravu tomorrow when he takes the stand about his appointment.
Bainimarama
US, Pak to cooperate in tackling terror outfits
Pakistan and the US have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation to tackle leading militant groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), ISIS-Khorasan and the Pakitsan Taliban.
It transpired during their bilateral counterterrorism dialogue in Islamabad on Tuesday, a day after the US designated the Pakistan-based BLA a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Nabeel
Munir, Pakistan’s Special Secretary for the UN, and Gregory D LoGerfo, the Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the US Department of State.
Both delegations emphasised the importance of building stronger institutional frameworks and developing capabilities to respond to security challenges and to counter the use of emerging technologies for militancy. Pakistani security forces have killed 50 terrorists in a fourday operation in Balochistan.
3 killed, over 60 injured in reckless aerial firing on Independence Day celebrations in Karachi
Three people, including a senior citizen and an 8-year-old girl, were killed during Independence Day celebrations in Pakistan's Karachi due to "reckless" aerial firing, while over 60 others sustained gunshot injuries, Geo News reported, citing a rescue official.
The incidents occurred across the city, with the young girl hit by a stray bullet in Azizabad and a man named Stephen killed in Korangi. At least 64 others suffered gunshot wounds in the citywide incidents, Geo News reported.
Rescue officials said dozens were injured due to celebratory gunfire. Authorities condemned the practice as reckless and dangerous, urging citizens to mark Independence Day in safer ways.
Police have initiated their investigation and assured that strict action will be taken against those found involved in aerial firing.
According to a report obtained by ARY News, at least 42 people, including five women, lost their lives in firing incidents across Karachi in January. Additionally, 233 people, including five women, were injured in these incidents.
Five people were killed while thwarting robbery
attempts in the firing events, which were reported in different regions of the city. In other instances, individuals lost their lives as a result of stray gunshots or aerial fire. However, none of the seven people who died in firing incidents--including a woman--have been named.
Police officers attributed the episodes to several factors, including disagreements, personal animosities, and resistance to robbery attempts, ARY News reported.
Road accidents, robbery resistance, and aerial firing also contributed to a spike in deaths in Karachi earlier in January. According to the Chipa Foundation, 528 people, including children and the elderly, were injured in road accidents, and 36 people died as a result. In addition, robbery resistance incidents resulted in three fatalities and fifteen injuries.
SOUTH ASIA
"Short-term, motivated by financial gain": Former diplomat Vikas Swarup on reset in US-Pak relations
Former diplomat Vikas Swarup has described the United States' current relationship with Pakistan as a short-term, tactical arrangement driven largely by financial interests, while stressing that US-India ties remain strategic in nature.
In an interview with ANI, Swarup, a former High Commissioner to Canada and renowned author, said, "We have to look at the US' relationship with Pakistan in a different lens from the US' relationship with India. I believe the current relationship with Pakistan is tactical and short-term, primarily driven by the financial gain the Trump and Witkoff families hope to make from the cryptocurrency assets in Pakistan. I think the relationship with India is much more strategic. It is not so transactional as it is with Pakistan. That
is why I personally feel that it is a passing phase. I call it a storm, not a rupture. You just have to wait out the storms. All storms eventually pass."
Earlier, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce maintained that Washington's relationship with both Pakistan and India "remains unchanged" and that US diplomats remain "committed to both nations." The statement followed provocative comments by Pakistan Army chief Gen Asim Munir in Florida, where he said Pakistan could use nuclear weapons to "take down India and half the world" in an existential crisis.
Swarup further said that Pakistan may have leveraged intermediaries to gain favour with the US President, potentially contributing to a softer approach towards Pakistan.
The corruption trial against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 17 others, including her nieces Azmina Siddiq and British MP Tulip Siddiq, in a housing plot scam started on Wednesday at a Dhaka court with depositions of the complainant, media reports said.
Afnan Jannat Keya, a complainant who is an assistant director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), testified before Judge Md Rabiul Alam of the Special Judge's Court-4 in Dhaka in the afternoon, The Daily Star newspaper reported.
in another case filed against 17 people, including Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Tulip.
Earlier, ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin, also the complainant of another graft case, gave his statement before Judge Alam
London-based Siddiq, who represents the UK capital's Hampstead and Highgate constituency for the governing Labour Party, resigned as Treasury minister earlier this year after allegations of corruption against her family following the ACC's investigations.
The 42-year-old politician, who has consistently denied allegations of wrongdoing, has accused the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Dhaka of an orchestrated “smear campaign” to damage her reputation.
in Punjab
The Centre has scrapped road projects worth over Rs 800 crore allotted to Punjab under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III due to “delays” by the state government in floating tenders and starting construction work.
The move has dealt a double blow to the cashstrapped Punjab Government as the Centre had already withheld grants of over Rs 7,000 crore under the Rural Development Fund (RDF), which is crucial for repairing infrastructure and roads in rural parts. Tribune has learnt that under the PMGSY-III, the Centre had initially sanctioned projects to upgrade 64 roads (measuring 628.48 km) and build 38 bridges (length exceeding 15 metres each). Punjab was to ensure the work on
these projects, estimated at Rs 828.87 crore, started before March 31.
Questioned over the delay, state government officials argued that 59 of these works were to be executed using Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) technology, for which a very few consultancy firms had the expertise. “As per the sanction letter’s conditions, tenders for hiring a consultancy firm were invited several times, but a firm could be engaged only in the fourth attempt on May 29,” said a senior officer in the Punjab Public Works Department. He said another project comprising four roads and 35 bridges, which was sanctioned in March 2025, was in the tendering stage and the work was scheduled to start this month.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann goofs up on count of drug-free villages
In a faux pas, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday claimed that 700 panchayats in Fatehgarh Sahib had “given him in writing” that their villages were now drug-free, when the district had only 429 villages.
The CM made the statement addressing a gathering after paying obeisance at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib.
One of the officers tried to correct him but he continued mentioning the same number, which resulted in laughter.
Mann also claimed that drug peddlers and anti-social elements, won’t be spared as his government was determined to eliminate the drug menace.
Without taking any names, Mann claimed that people were happy as the big fish had been put behind bars. He also claimed that the Revenue Department had been almost freed from corruption. “Earlier, people used to pay hefty bribes to get their work done,” he added.
Mann, however, skipped interaction with the media.
Earlier in the day, he flagged off a special train carrying women panchayat members to Maharashtra’s Nanded, where they
The Amritsar Commissionerate Police has solved the pro-Khalistan graffiti case reported during the night of August 6-7 outside a prominent educational institute, district courts and a temple in the city, said the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, on Friday.
According to the police, two accused, including a minor and both residents of Dargabad village in Batala, have been apprehended within 24 hours of the incident.
Banned pro-Khalistani organisation ‘Sikhs For Justice’, headed by designated terrorist Gurpatwant
Singh Pannu based in US, had claimed the responsibility in a video message uploaded on social media. “In a major breakthrough, Amritsar Commissionerate Police cracks the Pro-Khalistan Graffiti case reported on the night of August 6-7 at three locations in the city. Two accused, including a minor—both residents of Dargabad village, Batala—have been apprehended within 24 hours,” said DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav in a social media post on Friday. Pannu has also given a call to stop Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann from hoisting the national flag on Independence Day.
Akal Takht ex-Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh elected president of Shiromani Akali Dal
The Akal Takht-appointed five-member committee on Monday unanimously elected Giani Harpreet Singh as the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in a meeting of the delegate session held at Gurdwara Burj Akali Phoola Singh in Amritsar.
Apart from this, Satwant Kaur has been elected as chairperson of the 'Panthic' council.
The political group led by Giani Harpreet Singh, former acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht, was seen as a parallel to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), while the Panthic council was carved out to guide the group. The elected heads claim to represent the original Akali Dal and intend to approach the Election Commission of India (ECI) for ratification.
(guilty of religious misconduct) for SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal and other Akali leaders on December 2, 2024. In February, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had dismissed the services of Giani Harpreet Singh as the Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib.
Known for his oratory skills, Giani Harpreet Singh is the first head of any Akali Dal faction to come from the Scheduled Caste community.
Giani Harpreet Singh, the former Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, was part of the
Satwant Kaur is the daughter of the former head of the All India Sikh Students Federation, Amrik Singh, who was killed inside the Golden Temple during Operation Bluestar in 1984. Meanwhile, during the poll process, Bibi Jagir Kaur and Gobind Singh Longowal, both former presidents of the SGPC, along with Prem Singh Chandumajra, were present, sending a clear message that these prominent Akali leaders
Army foils 'infiltration' bid in Uri as soldier is killed
A soldier was killed in an exchange of fire with terrorists as the Army foiled an "infiltration bid" along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector on Wednesday, sources said.
A senior security official said a “short, intense” exchange of fire took place in the sector and one soldier who sustained bullet injuries later succumbed.
The slain soldier has been identified as Ankit Kumar, a resident of Bihar.
The sources said alert personnel foiled an infiltration bid in the sector and the terrorists were pushed back. The terrorists were suspected to have been assisted by Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT), the sources said. However, the Army
has not confirmed whether BAT was involved in the infiltration bid on Wednesday. Soon after the incident, a massive search operation was launched in the area. Though no statement was issued about the incident, Srinagar-based Chinar Corps paid tributes to the deceased soldier.
“Chinar Corps honours the supreme sacrifice of braveheart Havildar Ankit Kumar, who laid down his life while undertaking operational duty along the Line of Control in Uri, Baramulla,” the Army posted on X.
“Chinar warriors salute his immense valour and sacrifice, express deepest condolence and stand in solidarity with the bereaved family,” it said.
US warns of additional tariffs on India if Trump-Putin peace talks fail
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that Washington could increase secondary tariffs on India. He said the decision would depend on the outcome of President Donald Trump's meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
"We've put secondary tariffs on Indians for buying Russian oil. And I could see, If things don't go well, then sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up," Bessent said in an interview to Bloomberg TV on Wednesday.
Earlier this month, Trump imposed a 25% penalty on India in addition to 25% tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia.
The US has been trying to mediate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, and on Wednesday, Trump warned of "severe consequences" if Moscow did not agree to a peace deal. Trump and Putin are set to meet in Anchorage on Friday to discuss how to end the war in Ukraine.
"President Trump is meeting with President Putin, and the Europeans are in the wings carping about how he should do it, what he should do. The Europeans need to join us in these sanctions.
The Europeans need to be willing to put on these secondary sanctions," Bessent said.
Delhi's increased imports of cheap Russian crude since the Ukraine war have strained India-US relations and disrupted ongoing trade talks with Washington. Russian oil made up 35% to 40% of India's oil imports in 2024 - up from 3% in 2021.
Delhi has defended its purchases of Russian oil, arguing that as a major energy importer, it must buy the cheapest available crude to protect millions of poor Indians from rising costs.
Bessent's comments come after he called India a "bit recalcitrant" on trade negotiations in an interview with Fox Business on Tuesday.
Trump says his tariffs are part of his administration's plan to boost the US' economy and make global trade fairer.
He has repeatedly called India a tariff abuser and is keen to trim a $45bn (£33bn) trade deficit with Asia's third largest economy. Trade negotiations between Delhi and Washington have been under way for several months, and are set to renew with US negotiators expected to arrive in India on 25 August.
Top court cancels Olympian Sushil Kumar’s bail in murder case
The Supreme Court on Wednesday cancelled the bail of Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar in a 2021 murder case of former junior national wrestling champion Sagar Dhankar at the Chhatrasal Stadium here. It further ordered him to surrender within a week.
The order came from a Bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra on a petition filed by the victim's father, Ashok Dhankar, challenging the Delhi High Court’s March 4 order granting bail to the Olympian.
in circumstances, before the appropriate court to be decided on its own merits.”
The Bench, however, said, “It shall be open for the accused to apply afresh for bail, with a change
Noting that of the 35 witnesses examined, 28 had turned hostile, the Bench set aside the high court’s order, saying, “This pattern underscores the possibility of interference into the trial by the accused.”
“Undoubtedly, the accused is a celebrated wrestler and an Olympian who has represented the nation at the international level. It cannot be doubted that he carries societal impact. In such circumstances, it cannot be said he would have no domineering influence over witnesses or delay the proceedings of the trial," the Bench said.
98% Haryana jail staff flunk key dept exam
The results of the departmental exams for Haryana jail staff, including superintendents, deputy superintendents, assistant superintendents and sub-assistant superintendents, paint a dismal picture, with a majority failing across key subjects. The exams were held in March this year.
The worst performance was in the Financial Rules paper, where 40 out of 41 (98 per cent) candidates failed.
According to the Home (Jail Department) notification dated August 7, 23 of the 41 candidates (over 55 per cent) failed the Punjab Jail Manual (excluding appendices) paper, with only four clearing in the “pass higher standard” bracket and the remaining in the “pass lower standard” category. The Jail Manual paper saw a 50 per cent failure rate. Of 26 staff members who appeared in
the exam, 13 failed. Among those who cleared, only two came in the “higher standard” bracket.
The Criminal Law paper recorded a staggering 75 per cent failure rate, with 18 of 24 staffers having failed. Among the six who passed, five were in “lower standard”.
Surprisingly, despite Hindi being the primary language in the state, half of the 32 candidates who appeared for the Hindi exam failed. Eight passed in the “higher standard” and an equal number in the “lower standard” bracket.
The Punjab Departmental Examination Rules 1965 stipulate two passing standards -- “higher” (two-thirds of the total marks) and “lower” (50 per cent marks). If one obtains three-fourths or more of the total marks, the candidate is said to have passed with “credit”.
