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VOL 26 - ISSUE 25
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
3 Punjabi men facing U.S. drug smuggling charges could seek trial in Canada
Three men facing extradition to the United States over their alleged involvement in transnational drug trafficking may seek to be tried in Canada, but the British Columbia Supreme Court says the prospect is "speculative at this Continued on Page 4... point."
Canada & US ‘very close’ to finalizing tariff deal as deadline approaches Canadian trade representatives have arrived in Washington for more talks amid a tentative trade deal with the U.S. It comes after U.S. President Donald Trump delayed imposing new tariffs on Canada until later this week. LeBlanc and Chief Negotiator Janice Charette were seen arriving shortly after noon ET at the U.S. Trade Representative offices to meet with their American counterpart Jamieson Greer. They were joined by Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S. Mark Wiseman and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s chief of staff Marc-André
India seems immune to global warming and nobody knows why It was pre-monsoon season and sweltering when Harvard University’s Prof Dan Schrag arrived in Delhi, India, to give the opening speech at a climate conference in March 2025. The temperature was already creeping over 30ºC (86 ºF) – hot enough to feel the first swell of summer, especially in a country where, as Schrag notes, the vast majority live without air conditioning. The previous summer, the heat in the city soared to 52ºC (126 ºF) – a temperature Schrag calls “insane”. But what’s perhaps more insane is that these temperatures aren’t even as high as
some predictions show they should be. Because, as Schrag pointed out in his speech, India’s climate trend isn’t tracking the same route as the rest of the world. Continued on Page 15...
India’s Independence day celebrated in Vancouver
The Consulate General of India in Vancouver welcomes guests at Independence day last saturday
The Consulate General of India in Vancouver observed India’s 80th Independence Day at its premises on 15 August, 2026, bringing together
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more than 150 members of the ex-servicemen, the Indian diaspora and community organizations. Continued on Page 10...
Blanchard. Canada and the U.S. now have until Saturday to reach a deal before Trump imposes 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. Continued on Page 9...
2 Khalistani men warned about threats to their lives
Two B.C. pro-Khalistan activists say police have warned them of threats to their lives as they continue campaigning for an independent Sikh state. Manjinder Singh of Abbotsford organizes a monthly rally outside of Vancouver’s Indian consulate and said RCMP issued him a dutyto-warn notice last week. Narinder Singh Randhawa says Surrey police also warned him on the weekend. Both men blame the Indian government for the threats, an allegation New Delhi has denied in response to previous accusations involving the targeting of Khalistan supporters, including the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. “I think the Indian government is doing transnational repression in Canada,” Randhawa said. “That must be stopped. They’re doing Canadian citizen killing in Canadian soil.” The RCMP would not confirm the individual cases but said duty-to-warn notifications have been carried out by law enforcement agencies across the country involving members of the South Asian community.
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
One dead after plane makes emergency landing About 150 structures damaged, destroyed by Bald Range wildfire, as most of Summerland returns on road in Prince George
One person has died and two others were injured when a plane made an emergency landing on a road in Prince George. RCMP said they were called at approximately 2:20 p.m. to Foothills Boulevard, about 1.5 kilometres north of North Nechako Road. When investigators arrived on the scene, they saw two vehicles were involved in the incident and one person inside one of the vehicles died. RCMP are urging people to stay away from the landing sight. “Investigators would like to remind the public that this is an active investigation and that they need to stay away from the area. It removes valuable
police resources from this investigation as well as the regular calls for service if RCMP must station police officers at every access point to Foothills Boulevard to keep the curious onlookers away, of which there have already been too many. “Please allow room for our first responders to work safely,” Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP, said in a release. Foothills Boulevard has been closed to vehicle traffic in both directions and will remain that way overnight and into Friday; drivers should make plans to use alternate routes in the meantime, RCMP said. The Transportation Safety Board has assumed conduct of the investigation.
The Regional District of OkanaganSimilkameen says about 150 structures have been damaged or destroyed by the Bald Range wildfire. This is a preliminary number and may change as damage assessments continue. Approximately 110 damaged or destroyed structures are in Electoral Area “F”, including the Faulder and Meadow Valley areas, and 40 are in the District of Summerland. “Structures (are) any structure of note on a property, including things like barns, which are very important for farmers, as well as homes,” Kelly Greene, the B.C. Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, said. “I will leave it to the local government to communicate structure losses with residents before we release specific details about the losses that have been experienced by people on the ground.” During the Summerland Stage 1 re-entry (Friday, Aug. 14), 400 properties were moved from evacuation order to evacuation alert. During the Summerland Stage 2 re-entry (Sunday, Aug. 16), approximately 800 more properties were moved from evacuation order
to evacuation alert. Stage 3 re-entry is being planned, but due to the impacts of the wildfire, there will be some properties that will remain under evacuation order. Re-entry is being assessed area by area, the regional district states. There is no fixed date for the entire fire area. “Ninety per cent of the town is now back. So that’s another 3,380 properties or something, in addition to the 1,200 that came back on the weekend. So everywhere except a couple of valleys that were most affected, and we’re still doing geotech work and moving danger trees and restoring power and stuff like that, and then the rest of it will come back as well.” Meanwhile, most of the evacuees from the district of Summerland were told on Tuesday morning that the evacuation order is being downgraded to an evacuation alert. This affects Summerland proper, west of Highway 97, up to and including a portion of Cartwright Avenue, a portion of Haddrell Avenue (south of Dale Meadows Road). “Pretty much the whole town now,” Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes said
BC government will lose millions on purchase of notorious Granville SRO
Areas of Practice ICBC/Personal Injury Immigration Law Corporate / Commercial Real Estate / Property Development
A Vancouver real estate consultant said the province will likely lose millions on its purchase of a notorious single-room occupancy (SRO) building in the Granville Entertainment District, which continues to house one tenant a month and a half after the B.C. government promised to close it down. The province, through BC Housing, paid well above the assessed value for the 110-room Howard Johnson Hotel at 1176 Granville Street, as part of a long-term plan to build a mix of affordable homes. Accrding to a June 24, 2020 news release, the B.C. government paid approximately $55 million to purchase the former hotel and the “neighbouring development site”. At the time, the combined assessed value of 1176 Granville Street and the adjacent parking lot included in the deal was $38.6 million. Today, both sites are assessed at approximately $27.5 million. “I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume the province will lose about half of what they paid for this property,” said urban planner and retired architect Michael Geller. Geller said governments often pay more than properties are worth when they intend to use the
real estate to create supportive housing, in this case, the Luugat SRO. “When I say the province is losing half, what I’m really saying is the taxpayers of British Columbia are losing half of what was spent on this building,” Geller said in an interview. “And that ignores all the other costs that have been associated with it over the years.” After six years as supportive housing, several fires and more than 200 floods soaking Alan Goodall’s Aura nightclub on the ground floor, the Luugat SRO building was recently assessed at $22.2 million. “Right after 2020, it really took a nosedive,” Goodall told Global News Tuesday. “It’s a little disheartening, it’s a bit of a slap on the face of Granville Street.” The former Granville Strip hotel has seen thousands of police and fire calls and been the subject of numerous street disorder complaints since it began housing people from encampments during COVID-19. Sim said from a social outcome perspective of taking care of individuals and vulnerable populations, the supportive housing has not been successful. Former residents have claimed the Luugat SRO was destroyed in less than a year.
Video of woman dumping garbage into Abbotsford lake sparks police investigation
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Videos being circulated online showing a woman dumping garbage into an Abbotsford, B.C., lake have prompted a police investigation. The Abbotsford Police Department, in a statement Wednesday, said authorities have contacted people who have posted the video in order to obtain more information. “Incidents ofthis nature are unacceptable and can have a significant impact on our parks, waterways, and community spaces,” the statement from the department said. Police said the first incident occurred at Mill Lake Park in late July, and the second “more recently” near Bluejay Elementary School. “AbbyPD is reminding anyone who witnesses incidents like these to report them directly to police as soon as possible,” the statement said. “Timely reporting helps to ensure relevant information can be gathered and appropriate
follow-up can occur.” In one of the videos, the person shooting it confronts the woman—alleging she dumped the contents of a Dollarama bag into the Mill Lake, telling her the behaviour is “inappropriate” and “disgusting” because “there’s wildlife in this water.” The woman denies responsibility and asks to be left alone. Photos show ducks swimming amid lily pads and a smattering of trash.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
B.C. gang unit plans deployment to Fort St. John after 3 targeted shootings leave 4 injured B.C.'s gang task force says it's working with RCMP in Fort St. John to respond to a spike in gun violence over the past month. City officials have called for more police resources in the wake of three targeted shootings near local schools since July 22. Four people have been injured and one man has
been charged in the attacks, while police say they are working to identify several other suspects who remain at large. Sgt. Sarbjit K. Sangha with B.C.'s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) says the agency has received a request for support from local RCMP, and are working to deploy the Uniform Gang Enforcement Team "in a timely manner." Several homes and vehicles have been hit by bullets during the shootings, and Mayor Lilia Hansen says she's worried about innocent people getting hurt. "We've seen bullets go through people's walls that have nothing to do with what's going on," Hansen said. "We need a stronger presence." The recent violence has also led to calls from a local city councillor for more municipal powers to seize property linked to gangs and violent crime. Trevor Bolin says cities need more tools to
3
Human remains found in Regina backyard identified
respond to public safety matters faster. He plans to bring two motions forward that would increase fines against properties that repeatedly draw on police, fire and bylaw resources. “It is now severely more expensive when we dispatch police to shootings and resources to houses that continue to steal people’s stuff,” Bolin said. “If a property endured $10,000 to $15,000 of emergency services resources, we will bill them that within a certain time frame and that will become a public record.” Bolin is also proposing a "good neighbour" bylaw similar to one he says is in place in Williams Lake in B.C.'s central Interior. He says a "three-strike" policy could target nuisance properties repeatedly subject to public complaints with as much as a $1,200 fine. “It pays to be a good neighbour, it’s costly to be a bad one,” Bolin said. “When we look at the province not maybe acting as quickly as we’d like to on the provincial level, at some point in time you have to be liable for how you decide to live in Fort St. John.” Sangha could not say when the gang unit will arrive in Fort St. John, but noted CFSEU was deployed to the city last November for similar circumstances. Sgt. Jaime Moffat, detachment commander of the Fort St. John RCMP, says the shootings are "deeply concerning" for police and the community, and appealed for the public's help. "If you see something that doesn't seem right, report it," she said in a statement. "Information that may appear insignificant today could be the missing piece investigators need, and early reporting of suspicious or concerning activity may help prevent future incidents from occurring."
Human remains discovered in a Regina backyard earlier this year have been identified, according to police. In an update issued Thursday morning, the Regina Police Service (RPS) announced that human remains discovered outside a home on the 1300 block of Retallack Street in June have been identified as Wayne Joseph Breed. Breed was not listed on any missing persons databases, and a match was only found by searching the national RCMP DNA database, according to RPS. An investigation into the circumstances of the suspicious death is ongoing. Breed’s family has been notified of the development. As of today’s date, Breed would have been 34-years-old. RPS noted that information from the public was crucial to identifying Breed, and thanked those who reached out with tips.
The discovery of human remains was reported to Regina police on June 9. Police determined the remains were buried at the property for a minimum of five years. The current landlord of the property told CTV News he has owned the home since 2009 and said around seven to eight tenants have come through the property since then. The news of the discovery shook those living nearby in Regina’s North Central neighbourhood. Amber Button told CTV News on June 19 that while she was saddened by the news, she was not surprised given the location - adding the discovery raises questions for other properties in the area. “That makes me question how many other houses around the city or this area in particular, could there be remains sitting there? Right?” she said. “Which is crazy, but yeah, and then to find out it’s been there for about five years.”
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
B.C. Conservative president and vice-president exit as Kerry-Lynne Findlay continues rebrand B.C. Conservative party president Aisha Estey and vice-president Sharon White left their positions this week, less than three months after new leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay took over from interim leader Trevor Halford. “A big thank you to Aisha Estey for everything she has done for the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Her commitment and dedication have made a real difference, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside her. She has put in tremendous effort in building this party, and that work has delivered real results,” Findlay posted to social media on Wednesday night. “My thanks also to Sharon White for her excellent contributions as our party Vice President.” Estey had served as the party president since June 2023 and oversaw, along with the also recently departed Angelo Isidorou, the B.C. Conservatives’ rise from a party that received less than two per
cent of the vote in 2020 to one that came within a single highly contested seat of forming government in 2024. White was a longtime adviser to former B.C. Liberal premier Christy Clark and that party’s
president from 2011 to 2018 before stepping into the role of B.C. Conservative vice-president. Mauro Francis, who supported Findlay opponent Caroline Elliott during the leadership race and was the Conservative Party of Canada candidate for Burnaby North-Seymour in the last federal election, is taking over as president. Francis was also a Progress Vancouver candidate during the 2022 municipal elections and was disqualified by Elections B.C., along with mayoral candidate Mark Marissen and the rest of his slate, for failing to follow campaign finance disclosure requirements. “I’m honoured to take on the role of president, and I want to thank the board for their confidence,” said Francis in a statement. “There is a lot of positive work ahead, and I’m proud to support Kerry-Lynne Findlay as our leader and to help advance a strong Conservative vision for British Columbia.” The role of vice-president will be filled by Pavneet Singh, the B.C. United candidate for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream in the last election before the party’s exit from the race. Findlay has been busy making changes to the party and caucus staff since becoming leader at the end of May. Other changes include the exit of Isidorou as executive director and the appointment of former B.C. Unity party leader Chris Delaney as her chief of staff, former Juno News reporter Cosmin Dzsurdzsa as coming in as caucus communications director and former Alberta Republican party executive director Apollo Chung becoming director of operations. Last week, Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar left the party to sit as an independent.
Transparency issues raised over B.C. gov't decision to remove public employee directory The B.C. government says it took down its public employee directory due to cybersecurity and privacy concerns, but now some are worried the restricted access amounts to a loss of transparency. With the B.C. Government Directory now offline, members of the public no longer have access to individual government employees' contact information, including emails and phone numbers. A B.C. charity says this isn't just a small administrative change. Ryan Stuart, community engagement lead with the Outdoor Recreation Council of B.C., said the directory restriction will make finding the right officials even more difficult than it already can be. "It was really valuable to be able to go online and be able to find … an actual person I can call or email and say, 'Here's my problem, are you the right person?'" Many of the charity's members are small, volunteer-run groups trying to create outdoor opportunities in their communities — which often comes with a great deal of co-ordinating government approvals and permissions. Without a direct contact, people have to reach out to a general email mailbox or phone number, which Stuart described as feeling like a "black hole." "That just makes their job even harder," Stuart said. Getting in touch with the right official, at the right time, can make the difference between a project being approved or getting delayed. Stuart added he doesn't question the legitimacy of the government's decision, noting that cybersecurity is a real concern. "But we think there are easy solutions out there
that they could be looking at, that are somewhere between a fully open database and directory and no access whatsoever." Michael Harvey, B.C.'s information and privacy commissioner, said there's no question the cybersecurity environment at present is deteriorating, and he added it's a valid concern. But he said taking away access to the directory is also a "very serious transparency issue." "Our public bodies, they're paid for by public funds and they are accountable to the public and they must remain so," Harvey said. He said
anytime information once available to the public is taken away, it's a decrease in transparency. "It leads people to be less trusting," the commissioner said. Harvey said there needs to be a creative solution that doesn't compromise transparency for the sake of privacy and security. The commissioner himself said he used the directory everyday to understand who was doing what and to contact key officials. "It is a vital resource for people in the system and for people outside the system." He noted that while the government has said it is also protecting employee privacy, contact information for employees is not considered private personal information under B.C. legislation.
Man struck by TransLink bus in Surrey has died A man struck by a TransLink bus in Surrey last month has died. It happened on July 11 around 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of 128th Street and 96th Avenue. B.C. Emergency Health Service paramedics treated the man, in his 60s, at the scene before he was taken to hospital with “critical, potentially
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life-threatening injuries,” police had said at the time of the incident. A Coast Mountain bus driver remained at the scene and co-operated with police. On Wednesday, Surrey police said the pedestrian died in hospital on Tuesday evening. No further updates were available in the investigation, which continues.
3 Punjabi men facing U.S. drug smuggling charges could seek trial in Canada Continued from Page 1... Gurtej Smagh, Jaskarn Baghri and Ravinder Dhanda were arrested last month in B.C. and are being pursued by American authorities for their alleged involvement in cross-border drug trafficking. The CBC successfully applied to lift a publication ban on evidence presented at the men's bail hearings, which their lawyers had argued could jeopardize a fair trial in the United States. The ruling says the men also claimed media coverage about their case has created a "false impression" that they were connected to India's Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Justice Elizabeth McDonald rejected the idea that publication of information at their bail hearings would pose a risk to a fair trial in the United States, saying the jury screening process would be more effective than maintaining a broad publication ban in Canada. Smagh was denied bail in July, while Dhanda's hearing has taken place with a decision expected Monday. The judge agreed to keep secret the information about the men's sureties — those putting up money to have them released on bail — citing
a "potential risk of serious harm to innocent parties." The U.S. Justice Department announced last month the arrests of 24 suspects around the world, including Smagh, Dhanda and Baghri.
American authorities linked the arrests to India-based criminal groups whose alleged crimes include the high-profile assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., in June 2023. The killing was attributed to the Bishnoi gang, now a terrorist entity in Canada, but Smagh, Dhanda and Baghri were charged under a separate indictment for allegedly smuggling cocaine and methamphetamine into Canada from the U.S.
OPINION
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
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Modi’s Independence day speech and India’s case for a multipolar world 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
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India marked its 80th Independence Day this morning. Vande Mataram, now 150 years old, was performed as part of the official Red Fort programme for the first time, and the celebrations were themed around the national song and the role of Yuva Shakti in the journey to 2047. It was Narendra Modi’s thirteenth consecutive address from the ramparts. He used it to unveil ‘Shakti Ki Saptadhara’, the seven strengths he identified as manufacturing, agriculture and food processing, technology and innovation, connectivity, defence production, green energy and the Blue Economy, and soft power. The announcements attached to them included artificial intelligence training for one crore young Indians, a target of 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, seven to eight new semiconductor plants within two years, and the opening of former offshore ‘no-go areas’ for deep-sea exploration under the Samudra Manthan initiative. On defence, Modi said India cannot remain merely a market for the world and must supply next-generation technology to others. Every item on that list addresses a dependency that currently gives other governments leverage over Indian decisions. Fuel, chips, weapons and capital have each been used as instruments of pressure on New Delhi within the past two years. The Saptadhara will be the industrial programme underneath India’s foreign policy, and the past twelve months have shown why the government believes it needs one. The clearest test of India’s willingness to absorb pressure has been Russian crude. Russia supplied India fewer than 100,000 barrels a day in 2021, roughly 2.5 per cent of imports, according to US Energy Information Administration figures; that rose to about 740,000 bpd in 2022 and nearly 1.8 million bpd by 2023. Washington moved against the trade in the summer of 2025. A 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods announced on 31 July was doubled to 50 per cent on 7 August, explicitly over continued Russian purchases, the highest rate then applied to any American trading partner. India conceded ground and recovered it within weeks. An interim trade agreement in early February 2026 cut the cumulative tariff to 18 per
cent, with Russian oil at the centre of the bargain, and Kpler recorded imports falling to 1.16 million bpd that month, down from a 2025 average of 1.71 million. The US Supreme Court then ruled that tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act lacked legal authority, which removed the enforcement mechanism behind the demand. July’s figures show how quickly the trade rebuilt. Refiners took a record 2.8 million bpd of Russian crude, about 55.5 per cent of total imports of just over 5 million bpd, against roughly 1.8 million bpd on average in 2024. Kpler’s analysts attribute the resilience to commercial factors: narrowing discounts were offset by disruption at Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, and almost every major Indian refinery can process Russian grades without modification. The pricing data also exposes how loosely the Western sanctions system holds. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air puts Urals at
$60.22 a barrel in July, well above the G7 and EU price cap of $44.10 that took effect in February 2026, and records India’s €6.4 billion in Russian hydrocarbon purchases that month. The same body found that refineries processing Russian crude in India, Türkiye, Brunei and Georgia shipped €633 million of products to sanctioning countries in July, including €234 million to the United States and €214 million to the European Union. The states demanding that India stop buying the crude continue to buy the diesel it produces. India’s capacity to hold that position rests on having alternative markets, and the winter of 2025 and the start of 2026 were spent securing them. On 27 January, in New Delhi, India and the European Commission concluded a free trade agreement two decades in the making, covering a market of two billion consumers and building on existing two-way trade worth more than €180 billion a year. The accord liberalises 96.6 per cent of goods trade.
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
21-year-old Alberta driver fined for excessive speeding on B.C. highway A 21-year-old driver from Alberta recently had an expensive trip to B.C. On Aug. 13, just after 12:45 p.m., a black Chevrolet Trax was stopped on Highway 97 south of Taylor, after a B.C. Highway Patrol officer clocked a speed of 142 km/h in a 70 zone. “Whether you’re a visitor or a local, it’s your responsibility to know the speed limit and stay within it,” Sgt. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol said in a release. “Some people have the idea that police officers don’t patrol rural roads. That can be an expensive mistake.” The driver from Athabasca was issued a sevenday impound for excessive speeding (with the tow and impound at her expense), a ticket for excessive speed with a fine of $483, and at least three years of high-risk driver premiums and escalating insurance that will bring the total costs
to over $2,000. “If the monetary cost of excessive speeding doesn’t bother you, consider the hassle,” McLaughlin added. “Nobody wants to be calling for a ride on the side of a rural highway. Better decision-making will make your life safer and more convenient.”
Neighbours of U.S. consulate suspect say newcomers should leave political troubles behind The bomb scare at Halifax’s U.S. consulate that shut down much of the city’s downtown last week had its echoes in Clayton Park, the suburb established in the 1960s that in recent years has been a magnet for the port city’s burgeoning population of immigrants. As downtown was swarmed by police, including bomb experts who found potentially explosive items in a car outside the consulate, the investigation took Halifax police to the quiet culde-sac home of the man charged in the episode. Although no alleged motive has been discussed, the suspect is from Iran, where the Islamic Regime is fighting a war with the United States. Days later, neighbours told a visiting reporter that the family was new to the area. They also said newcomers should leave their political troubles behind when they come to Canada. “Everyone has their opinion, but it should not impact others’ lives,” said Ashok Kumar, who lives near the suspect and his family. “If you’ve got an opportunity to come to a developed nation, you should do your job and feed the family, pay taxes and follow the rules … Why do you want to take all the baggage here and dump it?” The suspect’s legal aid lawyer confirmed his client is Iranian, but could not confirm reports that he came to Canada in 2024. Kumar, who came to Canada from India nine years ago and became a Canadian citizen in 2023, cautioned against painting all immigrants with the same brush. “It should not be generalized.” The father of two young children isn’t particularly worried about safety in the neighbourhood. “When somebody already
informs the authorities that ‘I am doing this,’ to me it looks like they just want to get caught or give a message,” said the registered nurse. “It’s definitely different than a school shooting or something like that, which is really scary.”
The suspect was arrested last Monday morning, shortly after police investigating a bomb threat received the day before discovered his vehicle in the parkade at Purdy’s Wharf, the harbourfront office and retail complex where the U.S. consulate is located. The headquarters of Canada’s East Coast navy is also nearby. A propane tank was visible in the vehicle, along with several containers believed to contain flammable liquid, prompting Halifax Regional Police to call in their explosive disposal unit and evacuate a large area of the downtown. A suspicious bag was also found nearby. Kumar is pleased police took the alleged threat seriously by evacuating a good chunk of the city’s downtown core around Purdy’s Wharf. “One hundred per cent,” Kumar said. “I’m really happy. You never know.” Kumar has lived on the street for two years and he believes the suspect’s family was already living there when he moved in. He’s never exchanged words with the suspect, who speaks Farsi and Arabic.
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High-risk sex offender facing new charges in Langley after being released again A man deemed a high-risk sex offender is facing new charges in Langley. Michael Wayne Carpenter was charged with trespassing after a person spotted a stranger in their backyard in the Willoughby area on the night of Aug. 12. Carpenter was released, and five days later he was arrested again after a person reported a stranger in their apartment suite on 64th Avenue. Carpenter is currently on a long-term supervision order for sexual assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and uttering threats.
He has been charged with break and enter and obstruction of a peace officer. He remains in custody awaiting a bail hearing on his most recent charges. “Residents should never have to fear for their safety inside their own homes,” Supt. Harm Dosange, officer in charge of the Langley RCMP, said. Langley RCMP encourages anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the areas of these incidents, or who may have information relevant to these investigations, to contact the Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200.
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
Consulate General of India in Vancouver celebrates India’s 80th Independence day
Continued from Page 1... For the first time in the history of Independence Day celebrations, India’s National Song, Vande Mataram, was played. It was followed by the unfurling of the National Flag by His Excellency Consul General Masakui Rungsung. Consul General Rungsung read the address to the nation by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, on the eve of the 80th Independence Day. In her address, President Murmu extended her greetings not only to Indians
in the country but also to the Indian diaspora worldwide. “All Indians, living in the country and abroad, celebrate this festival with great joy. Our Tricolour is the symbol of our freedom. We unfurl it with immense pride,” President Murmu said. The President lauded the contributions of students and teachers, scientists and engineers, doctors and healthcare workers, industrious workers and Annadata farmers in nation-building. She also acknowledged the contributions of
sportspersons, craftspeople and artists, intellectuals, workers in the private and public sectors, elected representatives, members of the judiciary, civil servants, investors, social workers and Safai Mitras serving on the frontline of the Swachhata Abhiyan. President in her address, emphasised how India is moving from Swatantra Bharat towards building a Viksit Bharat by the centenary year of our Independence in 2047. “Guided by the spirit of Antyodaya, it is our resolve to ensure that the fruits of development reach every individual. Embracing our rich heritage and the ideals of the freedom
movement, we march ahead on the path of modern development.” The celebrations at the Consulate also featured vibrant dance and musical performances showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage. As part of the celebrations leading up to Independence Day, the Consulate had organized a series of online competitions, including painting, photography and quiz competitions. The occasion also provided an opportunity to felicitate community members—young and old—who participated with great enthusiasm and shared their vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The celebration reflected the spirit of India’s Independence Day—honouring the nation’s journey, celebrating its rich heritage and looking ahead with hope and resolve towards a developed India in 2047.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
Pakistan Independence Day at Bear Creek Park
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Pakistan's independence and the strong cultural ties that enrich British Columbia's diverse communities. The evening began with a beautiful recitation of the Holy Quran by Saad Salis, followed by a Nasheed performed by Abdul Rasool Salis. Attendees then stood for the national anthems of Pakistan and Canada, reflecting the shared values and enduring friendship between the two countries.
City of Surrey's spending per resident lowest among Metro Vancouver's 17 largest municipal governments Municipal governments across Metro Vancouver are spending and collecting substantially more money per resident than they did 15 years ago, even after accounting for population growth and inflation. The new analysis by Fraser Institute examined the finances of Metro Vancouver’s 17 largest municipal governments between 2009 and 2024. Across these municipal governments, inflation-adjusted spending averaged $2,387 per resident in 2024 — up from $2,085 in 2009. All figures are expressed in 2024 dollars. That represents an increase of $303 per person or 14.5 per cent beyond inflation. As the figures are also calculated on a per-person basis, the increase was greater than population growth and inflation combined. Municipal government revenues grew nearly twice as quickly. The average reached $3,101 per resident in 2024 — up by $670 or 27.5 per cent from $2,431 in 2009. The differences between municipalities were
considerable. The District of West Vancouver recorded the highest spending in 2024 at $3,879 per resident. That was $802 more than the City of Vancouver, which ranked second at $3,076, and more than twice the City of Surrey’s spending of $1,646 per person — the lowest among the 17 jurisdictions. The City of New Westminster placed third at $2,940 per resident, followed by the District of North Vancouver at $2,533 and the City of Delta at $2,525.At the lower end, the City of Langley spent $1,842 per resident, the City of Maple Ridge spent $1,846, and the City of Port Coquitlam spent $1,959. However, the municipal governments with the highest overall spending were not necessarily the ones where spending grew the fastest. The City of Vancouver’s spending climbed from $2,582 to $3,076 per resident, representing a 19.1 per cent increase and the fourth-largest growth rate in the region.
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Canada & US ‘very close’ to finalizing tariff deal as deadline approaches: trade minister Continued from Page 1... In a Truth Social post Tuesday night, the U.S. president stated that he would delay his tariffs for three days and added that the two countries have reached a tentative deal. He also said that the Keystone XL pipeline “may be awoken from the grave.” PM Carney asks premiers to remove U.S. booze ban as officials try to finalize trade deal Carney’s own statement released Wednesday did not mention a deal or a pipeline, but said that “substantial progress has been made.” CanadaU.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc shared an update following a more than three-hour meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on Thursday, saying they are “very close” to an agreement. Chief Trade Negotiator Janice Charette, Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Mark Wiseman and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Chief of Staff Marc-André Blanchard were also involved in the meeting. Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham says Canada’s premiers have agreed to return U.S. alcohol to store shelves as part of the tentative trade deal with the U.S. Several of the premiers have not commented publicly on the issue. U.S. alcohol products remain off the shelves in every province except Alberta and Saskatchewan. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said the tentative trade deal that could see U.S. alcohol returned to store shelves “will not be right for him,” while urging Canadians to keep buying domestic
products. While Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham said all provinces agreed to return U.S. alcohol to store shelves, Kinew seemingly took a stand against the decision, telling Canadians, “let’s send a message that even though the prime minister and the government of Canada might think it’s important for us to put things back on the shelf… that we don’t like Donald Trump’s approach to trade or his way of treating Canada.” Kinew said that if the deal goes ahead, U.S. alcohol could return to Manitoba shelves “relatively quickly,” with some returning “within a few days,” while full catalogues could take “a few weeks” due to labelling standards. U.S. VicePresident JD Vance weighed in on the latest trade deal with Canada at a fundraising event Wednesday, saying Prime Minister Mark Carney tried to “out-tough” U.S. President Donald Trump while crediting his longtime friend Conservative MP Jamil Jivani as a helpful advocate for Canada. Reid, who served as director of communications for former prime minister Paul Martin, suggests the Carney government will sell the agreement by saying it’s the best deal possible. “Canadians won’t like it, but they will accept it,” Reid said. “I think they’re still at a stage where this issue is so complex, the stakes are so high, and the issues are so complicated, that they are willing to defer to Mark Carney.” Bloodworth described the trade deal as a “seesaw.” explaining that.
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
FIJI
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
New market laws to ban sales of meat, fish and mixed kava
The sale of prohibited meat and fish and mixed kava will be forbidden in municipal markets across Fiji under proposed new regulations endorsed by Cabinet. The restrictions are among key changes arising from a review of the Market By-Laws under the Local Government Act 1972, with new Local Government (Municipal Market) Regulations now set to be drafted. Under the proposed framework, municipal, mini and satellite markets will operate under more consistent rules, including tighter controls over products offered for sale. The regulations will specifically prohibit the sale of prohibited meat and fish, while the sale of mixed kava will also be banned. Wholesale activities within markets will also be prohibited. The changes form part of wider efforts to
strengthen health and food safety standards and provide greater protection for consumers and vendors. Cooked food vendors operating from markets will be required to comply with applicable food safety and health standards. The new regulations will also require vendors to display prices in writing, aimed at providing consumers with greater transparency over the prices they are being charged. Other changes will cover market operating arrangements, dispute resolution, fee and revenue collection, environmental management and accountability in the operation of markets. The proposed regulations are intended to establish a standard framework for market operations across Fiji, replacing differing practices with consistent requirements for vendors and market authorities.
Police HQ to relocate The Fiji Police Headquarters will soon be relocated from Centrepoint in Nasinu to the old Parliament complex in Veiuto, Suva. Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe confirmed the move yesterday, saying the Government had approved the relocation. “The Government, through the Prime Minister, has given to police the approval of shifting the police HQ,” he said. He said funding previously provided by the Australian government through the Australian Federal Police for the construction of a new police headquarters would instead be used to renovate the old Parliament complex.
“So, the fund that was given by Australia to build a new one will be used to renovate,” he said. The development comes after AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw met Minister for Policing Ioane Naivalurua earlier this year to discuss police support, AI capabilities and the development of the new headquarters.
American deported from Fiji over alleged $165M ponzi scheme A United States citizen facing federal wire fraud and money laundering charges over an alleged Ponzi scheme worth more than US$165 million has been deported from Fiji to the United States. The US Embassy said Edward Zimbardi was deported on August 14 following cooperation between Fiji’s Ministry of Immigration, the Fiji Police Force and several United States law enforcement agencies, according to the U.S. Embassy in Suva. The operation involved the U.S. Embassy Suva’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Department of Justice Office of International Affairs and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation. Zimbardi is accused of involvement in an alleged Ponzi scheme that authorities say victimised thousands of people. The Embassy said the deportation followed a years-long investigation involving both U.S. and international authorities. It commended Fiji’s authorities for their handling of the case, praising “the speed and proficiency” of the Ministry of Immigration and Fiji Police Force. The deportation saw Zimbardi escorted from Fiji by U.S. authorities to face the federal charges in the United States.
Security measures questioned THE Palestinian solidarity movement is calling for greater transparency over the security arrangements surrounding the Israeli Embassy. Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre coordinator Shamima Ali, representing the movement, questioned what specific threat had prompted the heightened police presence around the embassy after police confirmed the additional security was provided at the request of the embassy. Ms Ali said the public had a right to know why additional security measures had been put
in place. “We believe these resources would be better directed toward serving the needs of Fijians, particularly at a time when many communities continue to express concerns about delays and inadequate responses from the police. She said the Palestinian solidarity movement had also encountered heightened police monitoring during its peaceful gatherings and demonstrations. “As Fijians, we also have a right to know what specific threat has been identified against the embassy.”
Chinese language to be taught in schools THE Ministry of Education is set to introduce a Chinese language pilot program in 12 schools in the Central Division, as Fiji strengthens educational cooperation with China. The program will involve six primary and six secondary schools and will introduce students to the Chinese language and culture while creating opportunities for greater cultural exchange and international learning.
The initiative was discussed last week during a meeting between Education Minister Aseri Radrodro, the Director of the Chinese Language Education Centre and representatives of the Chinese Embassy. The discussions also covered the development of learning materials, teacher training, and opportunities for students to access scholarships and other Chinese language programs.
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Father, son in custody A Church minister and his teenage son have been remanded in custody by the Sigatoka Magistrate’s Court over their alleged involvement in the death of a man along the Queens Highway on August 2. Fifty-one-year-old Ratu Vula Maimuri Ratuva and his 19-year-old son, Ratu Kinijoji Ranovo Ratuva, appeared before Magistrate Veniana Diroiroi yesterday jointly charged with one count of murder and one count of assault. Ratu Kinijoji faces an additional charge of assault. The charges stem from an alleged confrontation that took place between Kulukulu and Naqere in Nadroga on Sunday, August 2. Police allege the accused pair, who were looking for three missing horses, confronted Vimal Nand, his son, and another student while they were riding horses. Mr Nand was later found unconscious by his brother, suffering from severe head
injuries. He was rushed to the Sigatoka Hospital, transferred to Nadi, and subsequently moved to the Lautoka Aspen Hospital, where he died. Police prosecutor Inspector Shamim Hassan strongly objected to bail, telling the court that Ratu Vula failed in his duty to keep the peace by accompanying his son to assault the victim instead of reporting the three missing horses to police.
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
SOUTH ASIA
BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir elected Bangladesh President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, a longtime secretary-general of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a close ally of former premier Khaleda Zia, was on Thursday elected as the country’s new President in the first contested poll for the post in 35 years. The 78-year-old BNP stalwart defeated his lone rival Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed, the 84-year-old Liberal Democratic Party chairman and the nominee of the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party opposition alliance, Chief Election Commissioner and also Election Returning Officer AMM Nasir Uddin announced after the counting of votes. Of the total 349 registered voters, 343 voted in the election. Six lawmakers didn’t vote, he said. Alamgir secured 255 votes while Oli Ahmad bagged 88 votes. He will take the oath as Bangladesh’s 23rd President on Friday evening at the Darbar Hall of
Bangabhaban. It is the first contested presidential election in Bangladesh since 1991, as the office had largely been filled through consensus and uncontested polls in recent decades. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman congratulated Alamgir on his victory in the presidential polls. Lawmakers also congratulated the President-elect by thumping their desks. As opposition lawmakers, including Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman and Deputy Leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, approached the treasury bench, Alamgir came forward and embraced Rahman, the state-run BSS news agency reported. The presidential election was necessitated after Mohammed Shahabuddin, a close aide of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, resigned last month on health grounds before completing his five-year tenure.
Two Women, two children reportedly go missing after Quetta raid in Balochistan by Pakistani forces Two women and two young children from the same family have reportedly gone missing after personnel of Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and Frontier Corps (FC) raided a house in Quetta's Gashkori Town, according to family sources cited by The Balochistan Post. The raid was reportedly carried out at around 4 am on August 19, when security personnel entered the house and detained the four family members, who are from Mastung. Their whereabouts have remained unknown since, according to the report. According to the report, the two women were identified as 27-year-old Umaira and 28-yearold Najma, both daughters of Abdul Rasool and described as housewives. Also reported missing are eight-year-old Parisa, a Montessori student and daughter of Man Dost, and one-and-a-half-yearold Zakir, son of Abdul Haq. The Baloch Women Forum (BWF) has condemned the reported disappearances, saying the four have been denied contact with their relatives since they were taken
from the house. In a post on X, the group described the incident as "the brutal reality of enforced disappearances in Balochistan" and said women and children were also being subjected to such alleged disappearances. The BWF said the reported disappearance of one-and-a-half-year-old Zakir was "particularly horrifying", arguing that it demonstrated that even women and infants were not being spared. The group further said that taking minors without a transparent and lawful judicial process constituted a serious violation of their fundamental rights and the legal protections owed to children.
Chances of Rahman’s visit to India before BRICS Summit remain slim: Bangladesh PM’s Adviser The chances of Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visiting India before the BRICS Summit remain slim, with Dhaka signalling that a high-level engagement will not be rushed unless New Delhi creates what it considers an appropriate environment and extends a “dignified invitation”. The remarks were made by Rahman’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir in an interview with Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news portal on August 17,
published on Thursday, amid continuing uncertainty over whether the Bangladesh Prime Minister will travel to New Delhi for the September 12-13 BRICS Summit outreach session. “There is no justification for rushing into a top-level visit by going beyond the national interest,” Kabir said, making it clear that Dhaka’s decision would be guided by its assessment of national interests rather than the calendar of the summit. “The possibility of the Prime Minister
visiting India ahead of the upcoming BRICS Summit remains slim unless an appropriate environment is created based on consensus between the two countries on specific issues and a dignified invitation,” he said. Kabir also linked the uncertainty to what Dhaka sees as India’s handling of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled Bangladesh in August 2024 and has remained in India since then. Dhaka has repeatedly sought her extradition, while New Delhi has maintained that the request
is being examined through established processes. He accused India of allowing political and media space to Hasina despite her conviction in Bangladesh, saying this had become a major source of public anger. On Tuesday, the MEA said India’s position on the former Bangladesh Prime Minister’s press interaction “needs no repetition” and reiterated that its approach towards Dhaka remained focused on “positive, constructive and forward-looking relations”.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
PUNJAB
Haunted by ghosts of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, ex-Congress MP Sajjan Kumar dies Haunted by the ghosts of the 1984 antiSikh riots, which clouded much of his political career, former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar died on Thursday while serving two concurrent life sentences at Tihar Jail.
Kumar, 80, was declared dead at Safdarjung Hospital after being taken there following complaints of uneasiness. Ironically, he died on the same day the Supreme Court was to hear his parole application. Kumar had sought three weeks’ parole to tend to his ailing wife. A former three-time Lok Sabha MP from Outer Delhi, Kumar remained the only high-profile Congress leader to ever face justice for his role in the riots that led to the killing of more than 2,700 Sikhs in the aftermath of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination on October 31, 1984. Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment in two separate cases. The first involved killings of five members of Jagdish Kaur’s family, who resided in Delhi’s Palam Colony’s Raj Nagar at the time of the crimes on November 1 and 2, 1984. The second was for the murders of Jaswant Singh and his son in the Saraswati Vihar area.
Jagdish Kaur, whose relentless quest for justice led to Kumar’s first conviction on December 17, 2018, when the Delhi High Court convicted him in the Raj Nagar murders, said she had always wanted Kumar to be hanged. “Sajjan Kumar should have been hanged to death or lynched in full public view for the crimes he committed. I will never be able to make peace with the fact that he died a natural death in jail. The brutality he heaped on my family members will stay with me like a festering wound which will never heal. The mobs he incited crushed my husband’s head till he dropped dead. My young son was made to run for his life and then torched to death. My three cousins were also burnt alive. Humanity had died,” Kaur told The Tribune, speaking on Kumar’s demise. Settled in Amritsar with her only surviving son, who was six years old at the time of the murders, Jagdish Kaur broke down on Thursday as she recalled the anguishing moments that followed the killings. “No one helped me even with the last rites. I prepared the pyres myself, using furniture lying at home. I remember going to the police station to get help for the cremations and the officer incharge telling me: ‘Abhi toh aur marenge, phir sabka ek saath karenge’ (more will die, we will perform mass cremations),” Kaur said, adding that Kumar was delivering speeches from inside police stations asking mobs to kill Sikhs as well as Hindus who sheltered Sikhs. In February 2025, Kumar was convicted in the second case involving the murders of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in Saraswati Vihar and handed a second life sentence.
Centre notifies appointment of 9 additional Judges to Punjab and Haryana HC More than three months after the Supreme Court Collegium cleared the name of 10 advocates for elevation as Additional Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Centre on Thursday notified the appointment of nine, including Haryana Advocate-General Pravindra Singh Chauhan. They will be administered oath by Acting Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra in the High Court on Friday. The nine advocates appointed as Additional Judges are Monica Chhibber Sharma, Harmeet Singh Deol, Pravindra Singh Chauhan, Rajesh Gaur, Puja Chopra, Sunish Bindlish, Minderjeet Yadav, Divya Sharma and Ravinder Malik. Justice Mishra’s name has already been cleared by the Supreme Court Collegium for appointment as regular Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and notification by the Centre is expected soon. Chauhan’s appointment as an Additional Judge has also heated up the race for the next AdvocateGeneral of Haryana. With Chauhan moving to the Bench, the state government will now have to choose a new “top” law officer to head its legal team and represent it before the Supreme Court
and the High Court. The appointments of Additional Judges have been made by the President in exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant. The move comes at a time when the common High Court for Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh is functioning with only 55 judges against a sanctioned strength of 85. The need to strengthen the Bench assumes greater urgency in view of the mounting pendency of cases before the High Court. Official figures released by the National Judicial Data Grid indicate that over 4.22 lakh cases are pending adjudication. Of these, 2,55,274 are civil matters and 1,67,587 are criminal cases, many involving questions of personal liberty, bail, incarceration and other issues requiring expeditious judicial consideration.
Fix responsibility for delay in pension, High Court tells Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh Taking a strong view of repeated delays in release of pension and other retirement benefits that the administration is required to process under rules framed decades ago, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that retired government employees should not be forced to approach the Court for their legitimate dues. Justice Sudeepti Sharma has ruled that the “Head of Office” is responsible for such lapses and “should be penalised”. The assertion came as the Bench directed the Chief Secretaries of Punjab,
Haryana and Chandigarh to fix responsibility on erring officials. “Head of Office is duty bound starting from preparing the list of employees due for retirement till the completion of paper. Therefore, it is only Head of Office, who is responsible for delayed payment of retirement benefits,” Justice Sharma ruled. The ruling came in case of a government employee, whose interest on delayed payment of gratuity, leave encashment and provident fund was “wrongly” rejected through an order passed in July 2019.
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Centre empowers DCs in Punjab, J-K, other border states to grant citizenship In a major move meant to cut delays in the grant of citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, the Centre has amended the Citizenship Rules, 2009, empowering district collectors to grant citizenship. New ules say jurisdictional District Collectors can receive, scrutinise and dispose of applications for registration or naturalisation under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act (which allows Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist and Parsi minorities to seek Indian citizenship) from applicants ordinarily residing in Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and certain other states and Union Territories. The Ministry of Home Affairs has notified the Citizenship (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026, to this effect. A new sub-rule (6) has been inserted in Rule 11A of the Citizenship Rules for the purpose and the revised mechanism will apply to
applicants ordinarily residing in border states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Assam and Tripura (except the tribal areas of Assam and Tripura), and the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. So far, empowered committees and district committees under CAA are empowered to grant citizenship. The amendment gives the Collector a substantive role in the citizenship process. On receiving an application, an acknowledgement in Form IX will be generated electronically. The Collector will verify the documents submitted by the applicant and can conduct any inquiry considered necessary to determine the applicant's suitability. The Collector will also administer the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in the Second Schedule to the Citizenship Act and determine the applicant's eligibility under Section 6B.
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
India to host 12th BRICS Communication Ministers Meeting tomorrow under its chairship
India is set to host a high-level virtual and in-person assembly on August 21 under its BRICS Chairship, and Union Minister of Communications, Jyotiraditya M Scindia will chair the meeting. Communications Ministers and senior representatives from BRICS member countries will participate in the meeting in Pune to discuss cooperation in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), digital transformation, innovation and resilient digital infrastructure. The meeting will be organized under India's overarching BRICS Chairship theme- "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" while the ICT track will specifically focus on the theme: "Innovate, Cooperate and Transform (ICT) for a Resilient Future." Key priorities on the ministerial agenda include: Emerging Tech & Infrastructure: Deliberations on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), future networks, and building resilient connectivity across
member states. It also includes strengthening joint mechanisms for cybersecurity, capacity building, and digital governance. The meeting will provide an opportunity for BRICS member countries to share best practices to accelerate digital adoption and empower economies across BRICS and the wider Global South. The discussions will focus on reviewing progress led by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the BRICS Working Group for ICT cooperation. Building upon the framework established during the 11th Ministerial Meeting hosted by Brazil in 2025, India's leadership emphasises fostering secure, inclusive, and sustainable tech ecosystems. As part of the schedule, Union Minister Scindia will address a press briefing on the outcomes of the summit and inaugurate the Digital BRICS Forum Expo, an exhibition designed to showcase cuttingedge digital innovations and facilitate technology transfer across member nations.
CJP Protest: Former SC judge R Subhash Reddy to head 5-member panel to probe alleged police excesses The Supreme Court has set up a five-member High-Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) headed by former top court judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy to look into alleged police excesses against student protesters and violence against police personnel during the CJP protests here last month. The other members of the panel are former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court Judge Shalinder Kaur, former CBI director Rishi Kumar Shukla and ex-Meghalaya DGP L R Bishnoi. An order to this effect passed by a Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana passed on August 18
was made public by the top court. The committee will examine use of excessive force and violence against protesters by the police, including the deployment of pellet guns, as well as the alleged use of force and violence by protesters against police officials and other security personnel and damage caused to public and private property. The panel will also examine the allegations pertaining to the monitoring and surveillance of protestors by police personnel, and the extent to which such measures, if undertaken, were consistent with the protestors’ constitutional rights to privacy and free assembly as also the provision of medical and other requisite support, including award of compensation.
INDIA
Top US diplomat says Kashmir is important part of India US Ambassador Sergio Gor’s declaration from Srinagar that Jammu and Kashmir is “an important part of India” is not just Washington’s public affirmation of New Delhi’s long-standing position on J&K, but it is also being seen as a message to Islamabad and Beijing, especially post the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. A close confidant of President Donald Trump, Gor is also his special envoy to South and Central Asia. His meeting with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah signals both acknowledgement and engagement with J&K’s first elected government post the 2019 constitutional changes. For New Delhi, this has significance given that the India-US chill was precipitated by the India-Pak conflict amid Trump’s repeated claims of brokering the ceasefire following Operation Sindoor last year. From Srinagar, however, Gor has reinforced Trump’s approach on Kashmir – from his first term itself – viewing it as an “internal matter” of India. This is the first standalone visit to the Valley by a serving US Ambassador since 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated and the State of J&K bifurcated into two Union Territories. In January 2020, Kenneth Juster, who was the US Ambassador then, had been there as a member of a government-facilitated delegation of 15 foreign envoys. This was around the time groundwork was
being done for Trump’s visit to India in February that year. Between the visits by Juster and Gor, at least two American delegations travelled to Kashmir. In May 2023, a US delegation attended a G20 working group meeting on tourism. Another delegation from the US embassy visited in August 2024, before the elections in the Union Territory and met Omar Abdullah, in his capacity as the NC chief, and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha. Ever since the abrogation of Article 370, the evolution of the US position has been noteworthy from India’s perspective – it saw least interference by the Trump 1.0 administration in 2019-2020. The US administration’s statements were quite carefully crafted. On August 5, 2019, when J&K’s special status was ended, US State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus had said, “We are concerned about reports of detentions and urge respect for individual rights and discussion with those in affected communities.” Ortagus had called on “all parties to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Control” between India and Pakistan. On August 8, a US State Department spokesperson had said that the US was “closely following” the broader implications of these developments, including the potential for increased instability in the region.
India removes security barricades outside Pakistan High Commission in Delhi after Islamabad action and US envoy Kashmir statement India has removed the external security barricades outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, three days after Pakistan removed similar barriers outside the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, as tensions rise over Kashmir. The move comes amid renewed IndiaPakistan tensions and follows US envoy Sergio Gor’s statement describing Jammu and Kashmir as an “important part of India”. Earlier on Wednesday, US Ambassador Sergio Gor visited Srinagar and met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Gor said Jammu and Kashmir was an “important part of India” and praised security measures taken by the Central and Union Territory governments.
“This is an important part of India and so I am here visiting for the first time. It is an incredibly beautiful place and I'm thrilled to be here, thrilled to see this place,” he said. Gor also said Washington could review its travel advisory for the region. He said the US regularly assesses travel guidance based on security conditions. “I cannot make any big announcements here today, but it is something we are going to look at,” he said. “We will be looking at if the travel warning that is recommended by the US is something that should be downgraded because, as I said earlier, this is a beautiful area. I think a lot of Americans would enjoy coming here and seeing the beauty,” he added.
India works out Chabahar handover to Iran amid US sanctions India is finalising the modalities of handing over operations at Chabahar Port’s Shahid Beheshti terminal to the Iranian government after a US sanctions waiver for the project expired in April, while seeking safeguards to get back control when sanctions end, sources said. “India is taking the US sanctions against Iran seriously. We do not want SBI or Union Bank of India to be sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and kicked out of SWIFT, as it would affect millions of Indians. That is why we are handing over control of the Shahid Beheshti terminal to the Iranians and asking them to operate it for the time being,” a source tracking the development told businessline. When the ongoing disruptions in West Asia and Iran settle down in the future and the US sanctions on the Chabahar Port are lifted, India would want to get the control of the terminal back and the terms for this are being worked out, the source added. “India wants the Shahid Beheshti terminal to
continue operating as it has significant stakes in its long-term future. It seeks to preserve its operational rights and regain control once the sanctions are lifted. The two sides are currently working out the terms under which India can resume operations at a later stage,” the source said.
Chabahar is strategically important to India as it provides access to Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan. The Shahid Beheshti terminal is also a key link in the International NorthSouth Transport Corridor (INSTC), connecting India with Central Asia, Russia and Europe.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026
INDIA
India Proposes New Rules To Open Nuclear Sector To Private, Foreign Firms India has proposed a tightly supervised approval regime for private nuclear power generation, opening the sector to foreign reactor technologies with proven operating track records, according to a report in Reuters. The draft rules and regulations provide the clearest indication yet of how New Delhi plans to open the tightly controlled sector to private and foreign investment while retaining oversight over entry and operations. Under the draft rules framed under the nuclear energy act, companies would first be able to secure an in-principle approval, allowing them to engage vendors, carry out preliminary development work and acquire land before applying for a formal licence, according to Reuters. Once licensed, projects would be subject to regulatory scrutiny at each stage, including design, site selection, construction, commissioning and operations. The proposed regulations would also give regulators powers to halt work at key stages of
project development. India's nuclear power industry has historically remained under state control, while access to foreign fuel and technology was restricted for decades after the country's 1974 nuclear test triggered international sanctions and other restrictions. India amended its nuclear energy act last year to allow private companies to build and operate nuclear projects while retaining government control over licensing and strategic nuclear materials. The country, the world's third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, plans to increase nuclear generation capacity 12-fold to 100 gigawatts over the next two decades. Private investment and access to foreign technology are expected to play a key role in meeting that target. Reuters had earlier reported that India invited domestic conglomerates, including Adani Green, Tata Power and Reliance Industries, to invest in nuclear power projects. The amendments to the nuclear energy act also capped the liability of nuclear equipment suppliers in the event of accidents, addressing a longstanding concern among international vendors. The changes were aimed at reviving interest from foreign nuclear technology suppliers, including General Electric, Westinghouse Electric and France's EDF.
India must stop seeking foreign validation As the tricolour rose across the country on Independence Day, the conversation around India's journey ended up, as always, in a debate. On one side, restless Gen Z people chasing startups and global opportunity. On the other, a louder, more insistent national debate about shedding the country's colonial hangover. Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council and a historian, believes these are not two separate conversations at all. "The issues you have raised are actually not unconnected," Sanyal said. "They are the same issue - a nation with decades of survival behind it, sitting on enormous unrealised potential, trying to find its footing in a world where the old certainties have certainly broken down," he added. That uncertainty, he argued, isn't limited to the geopolitical flashpoints next door in Iran and the Gulf. It runs through everything -- artificial intelligence upending supply chains and entire industries, and a demographic bulge India will ride for the next 25 to 30 years, with a narrowing window to make the most of it before the clock runs out. Sanyal's central argument is that there is no master plan, and there shouldn't be one. "Anybody who wants a grand plan, where we know exactly how things are going to play out. I'm afraid you can't do that," he said, pointing to how comprehensively COVID-19 upended every projection made in January 2020. His prescription, instead, is what he called flexibility and optionality -- building a system resilient enough to absorb shocks, whichever way they come. He extended this logic to India's foreign policy, where the country sits simultaneously in the G20, the Quad, at G7 tables as an invitee, and within BRICS. The same principle, he said, drives India's expanding web of free-trade agreements. On the numbers, Sanyal noted India is now the third-largest economy in the world by purchasing
power parity, contributing close to 8 per cent of global output, and the fifth-largest in current dollar terms at roughly $4.2 trillion -- just behind Japan, and currently the fastest-growing major economy. But he was quick to temper the optimism: divide that economy by the world's largest population, and India remains, in per capita terms, a fairly poor country -- which is why, he said, safety nets have to be built even as the country tries to climb. Asked what single policy shift could unlock the scale of wealth creation India aspires to -tracing the arc from the scarcity of the post-1947 decades, through the licence raj of the 1970s and 80s, to today's top-three global economy ambitions -- Sanyal was unequivocal that no such single lever exists. Where Sanyal turned most animated was on decolonisation -- a subject he has long argued extends well beyond textbooks, though he was clear that the battle is largely won. School textbooks up to Class 9, he said, have already shed the colonial and Marxist framing that dominated Indian education for decades, and he was directly involved in rewriting the economics portions. But he flagged three areas where the hangover persists, often invisibly. The first is academia: Indian professors, he said, are effectively forced to publish in international journals -- specifically those on the ABDC list, an index issued by an Australian body -- to get promoted, regardless of the quality of work published in Indian journals. "We have consequently colonised ourselves," he said, "by perpetuating a system where we seek foreign validation." The second is certification. Sanyal pointed out that Indian industry -- and even the Indian government itself -- routinely demands foreign certification for products and processes where India has never built its own equivalent systems, something even Thailand, he noted pointedly, has managed to do.
India seems immune to global warming and nobody knows why Continued from Page 1... Bizarrely, recent research suggests India is actually warming slower than the global average. Despite regularly recording temperatures around the mid-40s degrees celsius mark (110–117 ºF), its own average has shifted by less than 0.9ºC (1.62ºF) since the start of the 20th century. Meanwhile, the overall planet has warmed by 1.4ºC (2.5ºF) in less than 50 years, since 1980. Weird, right? The contrast is illustrated by a grainy, rainbow-coloured world map that NASA created to show how temperatures changed between 1980 and 2025. On this map, hot colours (reds and oranges) indicate temperature increases; blues and greens show decreases. Since 1980, the world has warmed as expected… except India Image credit: NASA Goddard Institute of Space Studies Unsurprisingly, there’s barely any blue. But while most of Europe, the Middle East and Asia are coloured deeper shades of red and orange (marking out big temperature hikes), India’s piece of the pie appears pale – a lemony yellow or white. “You can see the much reduced, or even lack of, warming over India during this time period,” says Dr Benjamin Cook, a climate change researcher at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Columbia University, in the US. Some experts now refer to this climate quirk as a ‘warming hole’, a phrase also adopted in a white paper recently published by Schrag’s Harvard colleagues. The paper suggests the effect is driven largely by weak warming – and even cooling – in northern regions of the country through the dry Indian winter. While no one knows exactly what’s causing it,
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there are some decent theories being batted about. The reaon it’s important, though, is this: right now, something is protecting India’s 1.5 billion people from the full force of climate change, and if that something suddenly goes away, today’s already stifling temperatures could become unsurvivable. So, what’s behind the warming hole? Is there a
good reason India is warming so slowly, or is it just a meaningless fluctuation – a mere blip in the climate data – that we can write off as ‘noise’? Some experts have already ruled out noise as an explanation, including Cook, who says it’s “possible” but not likely. He doesn’t buy it. Because if the phenomenon was – as some scientists have suggested – related to India’s location in the tropics, or its monsoon season, we’d be seeing it elsewhere. “Like Southeast Asia, for example, or southern China,” Cook says. “These are other monsoonal regions in the tropics, in the same area as India, and we don’t see the same kind of warming hole.” Which suggests there are more satisfactory explanations. And there are, in fact, several other candidates – though, for Schrag, only a couple of these are key contenders.
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SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 2026