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VOL 26 - ISSUE 23

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026

Punjab travel agent ‘linked’ to Calgary work permit row

Report reveals how India’s Bishnoi gang uses Canada’s student visa program

The ongoing protest by over 1,000 Punjabi students, who have been on Calgary streets protesting against the denial of post-graduation work permits (PGWPs) for the past nearly 10 days, allegedly has a Jalandhar connection. They were reportedly lured by an immigration firm in Jalandhar whose owner also co-owned the Canadian Institute of Osteopathic Therapy (CIOT). This designated learning institute operated via a public-private partnership with Protage College, where the students were enrolled in various diploma courses, spanning eight months to two years. While the owner is currently learnt to be in Dubai, where he is running a realty business, the students are at a crossroads. Continued on Page 10...

The top lieutenant of the Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar arrived in Canada in 2017, ostensibly to attend Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. But it is “unknown” if he ever went to class, records show. Instead, he helped Bishnoi expand his criminal organization into Canada, allegedly instigating high-profile murders, a political assassination and an extortion crisis. A classified intelligence report obtained by Global News reveals the

Crime by Indian Students increased by 8800%

Alberta Premier tells Indian students without visa to go home Alberta Premier Danielle Smith reacted to the ongoing protest of the Indian students of

TEL: 604-591-5423

Portage College who have been denied a postgraduation wowork permit and said if their student visas have to leave. "Our view is that if you come here as an international student and your visa expires and youdon't have permanent residency, you need to go home ," said Smith at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Smith stopped short of blaming Portage for the situation and said she won't call Portage a diploma mill. Continued on Page 10...

UN investigators urge Canada to step up protection for threatened Sikh activist Five UN special rapporteurs have written to the government of Canada seeking answers to a series of questions about threats to the life of a Sikh Canadian activist, Moninder Singh of British Columbia. The rapporteurs also urge the federal government "to accelerate the investigations into these allegations" and to "hold perpetrators accountable." They write that they have "serious concern" over what they say is "an imminent threat" to the lives of Singh and his family, and that it falls "within a broader pattern of transnational repression by Indian authorities against Sikh activists in different countries, including Canada." Continued on Page 2...

Bishnoi gang’s Canadian franchise has relied heavily on Indian youths who, like Brar, entered the country on student visas. Continued on Page 7...

Burnaby man jailed for killing man who shared intimate images of his wife

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133 Wilson Street 250-572-5444 A recently published court decision is shedding light on the shocking details of how and why a married couple armed with kitchen knives stabbed a man to death in Metro Vancouver. Riza Jafari and his wife Hatice Haydari were charged with second-degree murder in June of 2024, the day after a man died on a Burnaby street. Jafari was convicted of the lesser offence of manslaughter after a trial by jury and sentenced to 10 years in prison last month— with the judge describing the attack on the victim as “prolonged and brutal,” characterized by “extreme” callousness, and “motivated by strong animus.” Haydari pleaded guilty to manslaughter and is set to be sentenced this month. The victim, 40-year-old Fred Sangan, died after suffering 35 “sharp-force injuries,” according to Justice Michael Tammen’s sentencing decision. Continued on Page 9...

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026

Richmond RCMP announce charges in historical sexual exploitation case

Mounties say a 53-year-old North Vancouver man is facing charges following an investigation into historical allegations of sexual exploitation involving a minor. The investigation began in September 2024 after the Richmond RCMP received a report alleging offences that occurred between 2004 and 2008, police announced Tuesday. Following the investigation, Zahid Hassandeen Zade Nanji was charged with sexual exploitation and sexual assault, police said. Investigators allege the offences occurred while the complainant was a youth and the accused was in a position of trust or authority. “Reporting

incidents of sexual abuse can be extremely difficult, particularly when the events occurred many years ago,” Cpl. Frank Bryson of the Richmond RCMP said in a statement. “We recognize the courage it takes for victims to come forward and encourage anyone who may have information related to this investigation, or who believes they may have experienced a similar incident, to contact police.” The Richmond RCMP says it will not provide further details about the allegations, which have not been tested or proven in court. The identity of the complainant is protected by a publication ban, police said.

Metro Vancouver wildfire prompts evacuation alerts as Fraser Canyon residents go home

A few dozen properties in a village in Metro Vancouver are under evacuation alert due to a nearby wildfire, while evacuees in British Columbia’s Fraser Canyon may start returning home. The blaze burning in Belcarra Regional Park has prompted those from 35 properties in the village of Anmore, north of Port Moody, to pack essential items and be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Acting Mayor Doug Richardson says staff are working to provide support to the community as needed. The alerts come as residents in and around

the Interior community of Boston Bar begin returning after weeks-long evacuation orders were downgraded to evacuation alerts. The Fraser Valley Regional District says residents must stay ready to leave as the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek wildfires, spanning more than 480 square kilometres, continue to burn out of control. Wildfire destruction in the Interior mounted Wednesday, as authorities confirmed structures had been lost on about 120 properties outside Clinton, in addition to at least 230 homes razed near Okanagan Lake west of Vernon.

Housing minister says B.C. in talks with Ottawa over cutting development cost charges

Areas of Practice ICBC/Personal Injury Immigration Law Corporate / Commercial Real Estate / Property Development

British Columbia’s housing minister says her government is working with Ottawa to help fund the infrastructure needed as it pushes to build more homes in the province. B.C.’s housing partnership with Ottawa calls for cuts in fees charged to developers that would normally help fund roads, transit, water systems and parks, while municipalities have long complained they don’t have the money to pay for those items. Housing Minister Christine Boyle says the province is talking with the federal government about cutting development costs in high-growth areas, while compensating municipalities so “that local governments aren’t left holding the bag.” Boyle says she has heard the concerns around funding infrastructure from municipalities, but couldn’t say how much money might come from senior governments or where those high-growth areas might be. The housing partnership announced in June will see the federal and B.C. governments match funds over 10 years up to $3.2 billion to lower development charges for multi-housing units by up to 50 per cent in priority communities. Boyle says her government is working on an approach that works for B.C. and final details

could be announced in the fall. Fall is also when government plans to release details about plans to convert more than 2,200 unsold condominiums into affordable homes, Boyle says. When first announced, the plan drew criticism as a bailout for developers who couldn’t sell their condominiums, and Boyle declined to give more information as discussions on the idea are ongoing. “Obviously, the details matter on this,” she says. “So, we want to make sure that we are able to bring a full rollout of the plan to the public in the fall, and we are doing that work right now.” The Union of British Columbia Municipalities, which has lobbied for more infrastructure funding, will hold its annual general convention Sept. 14 to 18 in Vancouver, B.C.

UN investigators urge Canada to step up protection for threatened Sikh activist

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Continued from Page 1... The letter was written on June 3 but not published immediately, because UN rapporteurs typically give countries 60 days to respond and then publish the letter and the response together. In this case, the letter was published without an answer from Ottawa. Canadian govt. has not made any comments. The Modi government has never acknowledged any role in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar or any other acts of violence in Canada. The UN communication details the four "duty to warn" letters received by Moninder Singh from Canadian police. The most recent is from February 2026, after the Carney government moved to restore normal diplomatic relations with India. The rapporteurs note that the duty to warn letter

was the most alarming Singh had received to date. "This warning was reportedly based on intelligence assessed by the Canadian police as sufficiently serious as to require direct notification to his home of a plan to assassinate Mr. Moninder Singh, his wife and two children," the letter said. "This was the first time that such notice included his wife and children." Singh told media that he became aware the UN was looking more deeply into his case when the Geneva-based International Service for Human Rights forwarded a report to the UN secretary general. The UN's letter calls on Canada to do more to protect Singh and his family along with "similarly situated individuals on Canadian soil" and to report back on steps taken.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026

Wildfire smoke and air quality warnings make their way to B.C.'s Lower Mainland

The Metro Vancouver Regional District has upgraded an air quality warning for the eastern Fraser Valley on Tuesday, urging people residing in the area to avoid outdoor activities. As of the afternoon of Aug. 4, an orange alert — indicating a "very high health risk" — is in place for Chilliwack, Agassiz and Hope. It was previously at yellow, indicating a high health risk, with officials asking people to reduce outdoor exercise. "The joke we often like to make is if you're ever looking for an excuse for an off day for your workout routine, this is it — you can take that break today," said Christopher Lam, president of the B.C. Lung Foundation. It comes as major wildfires across the province have forced thousands of evacuations, while blanketing some regions in smoke, greying out skies and tinting the sun a red-orange colour. Metro Vancouver said wildfire complexes near Clinton and Boston Bar — some of which have been burning since the start of July — are to blame for widespread smoky skies in the Lower Mainland.

Vancouver area home sales dropped nearly 10% last month, 18.6% below seasonal average

"I'm asthmatic, so I'm a little worried about going out too often in this," said Diana Pentland, who was going out for a walk in Chilliwack when she spoke to CBC News. According to the province's Air Quality Health Index map, there is a moderate health risk in much of the Okanagan, where the fast spread of the Bradley Creek and Quilpituk fires near Vernon has forced thousands of people to evacuate. As of Tuesday afternoon, Kamloops is recording a moderate health risk, while the rating in the eastern Fraser Valley is very high risk. Much of the province is at low risk, including the Metro Vancouver area, where smoky skies were a feature Tuesday morning. However, things may not stay this way. "A part of it has to do with the way the smoke has travelled, and it is starting to come down," said Lam. "You will see over the next couple of days — unfortunately for us living in Metro Vancouver — that pollution level will start to spike on those monitors."

Vancouver's real estate board says the region saw a nearly 10 per cent drop in home sales in July compared with a year ago, erasing June's gains that kicked off the summer. Greater Vancouver Realtors says there were 2,061 home sales last month, 9.8 per cent lower than July 2025. This was also 18.6 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average. Andrew Lis, the board's chief economist and vice-president of data analytics, says over the past few years, the sales activity story has often been one step forward, one step back, adding that the June and July data are a prime example of this pattern. The composite benchmark price for all types of residential

properties in Vancouver was $1,088,800, a 6.2 per cent decline from July 2025 and a 0.9 per cent dip from June 2026. There were 4,991 new listings on the market last month, down 11.5 per cent yearover-year but matching the 10-year average. Meanwhile, total inventory fell four per cent annually to 16,476, which was 26.8 per cent above the long-term average. The areas and municipalities covered by Greater Vancouver Realtors are Bowen Island, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, South Delta, Squamish, the Sunshine Coast, Vancouver, West Vancouver and Whistler.

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A Range Rover connected to an extortion-related shooting and arson in Surrey in February should be forfeited to the B.C. government, a new lawsuit says. The director of civil forfeiture said the 2010 vehicle was used by Dayajeet Singh Billing to scout out the Crescent Road location, then to purchase gasoline and a lighter used to set the fire. Billing was one of three men who pleaded guilty in June in connection to the attack, which took place at 3:50 a.m. on Feb. 1 at a residence near 132nd Street. Billing, 21, Harjot Singh, 21, and Taranveer Singh, 19, were arrested a short time later by Surrey Police officers who were patrolling in the area. All three are foreign nationals, according to an Surrey Police Service news release. Billing pleaded guilty to throwing an explosive substance and has received a sentence of 27 months, less time served. Taranveer Singh pleaded guilty to reckless discharge of a firearm and was handed five years, less time served. Harjot Singh also admitted to throwing an explosive substance and received 25 months, less time served. More details of the events of the night are laid out in the director of civil forfeiture’s statement of claim, filed on July 31. It says that Surrey Police stopped the Range Rover before the attack and found Billing driving, with both his associates as passengers. “Shortly after the traffic stop, D. Billing used the vehicle to drive by a residence on or near Crescent Road,” the director said. He then drove to a gas station to buy the lighter and $10 worth of gasoline, before travelling to 28th Avenue and 132nd Street, where he parked the Range Rover and got into a Mitsubishi Outlander. “The Mitsubishi travelled to the victim’s residence where D. Billing and H. Singh threw Molotov cocktails. … T. Singh used a firearm to fire shots,” the claim said. The trio then fled in the Mitsubishi, which Surrey Police tried to stop. But the vehicle kept going and

was later abandoned on a dead-end street. The suspects fled on foot and were then arrested inside a ride-share vehicle.

Billing is the registered owner of the Range Rover, although a woman named Jasmine Kaur, who lived at the same Surrey address, has claimed a financial interest in the vehicle. Police obtained search warrants for both the Range Rover and Mitsubishi. Inside Billing’s car, they found a wallet containing identification and credit cards, as well as keys for a Ford Mustang owned by Harjot Singh. In the Mitsubishi they found a plastic two-litre bottle on the floor behind the passenger seat which contained accelerant, two blue latex gloves, and a credit card in the name of Taranveer Singh. Six days later, a loaded Glock firearm “was located in a ditch along the same path that D. Billing, T. Singh, and H. Singh fled from police on foot,” the director said. Given that the Range Rover was “proceeds or instruments of unlawful activity,” it should be handed over to the government, the lawsuit said. CBC reported in June that the three men were paid $1,000 each by a subcontractor for the Bishnoi gang to attack the house. The report said one of the trio told police that they were hired by someone named Goldy Dhillon. A recent U.S. indictment stemming from an investigation into the Bishnoi gang and other transnational criminal organizations said the India-based group recruited vulnerable and impoverished youth in India and sent them to Canada and the U.S. to commit crimes.

Trump orders ‘birth tourism’ ban in new bid to limit birthright citizenship

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U.S. President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Thursday in a new but narrower attempt to curtail birthright citizenship, renewing his challenge to a provision of the U.S. Constitution after the Supreme Court rejected his previous effort. Limiting birthright citizenship has been one of the top priorities in the Republican president’s crackdown on immigration, with the White House taking particular aim at what it calls “birth tourism,” in which pregnant foreigners travel to the U.S. to give birth. After his June 30 setback in the Supreme Court, Trump called on Congress to act, but on Thursday he opted for executive orders, which set policy but are not legally binding. The court said Trump’s earlier effort to restrict birthright citizenship was unconstitutional. The administration argues the new directive does not fall within the limits of the Supreme Court ruling, allowing it to expand who would be considered ineligible for birthright citizenship, including those who would arrive for “birth tourism” purposes. The categories, Trump’s order said, “do not fall within the rule of birthright citizenship as announced by the Supreme Court.” “That practice of birth tourism is, as of the signing of this order, hereby banned. What that means is that no one in the world is anymore allowed to obtain a visa for this fraudulent purpose,” White House aide Stephen Miller said at the Thursday signing ceremony in the Oval Office. The Center for Immigration Studies, which supports lower levels of immigration, estimated in an analysis in 2020 that between 20,000-25,000

mothers came to the U.S. for birth tourism in a year-long period between 2016-2017. There were 3.6 million births in ‌the U.S. in 2025. The executive orders also limit the rights of children born to foreign government employees in the U.S. and children of people who are classified as alien enemies. The orders could also affect people born in U.S. territories, should Congress enact a proposed law to end automatic citizenship there. Trump’s new orders are likely to be challenged in court. “We had a very unfortunate decision in the Supreme Court concerning birthright. It was close, but a very, very unfortunate decision,” Trump said of the 6-3 vote. Trump’s prior executive order, issued on his first day in office in 2025 as part of a suite of policies to crack down on immigration, directed U.S. agencies not to recognize the citizenship of children born in the United States if neither parent is an American citizen or legal permanent resident, also called a “green card” holder – barring babies of immigrants in the U.S. illegally or temporarily.

OPINION

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026

Will Canada get deal with U.S. before new tariffs?

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It remains to be seen whether Canada and the U.S. will agree to a trade deal before U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping 50 per cent tariffs hit on Aug. 19, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Thursday. “With respect to a deal, we’re interested in a more comprehensive deal, more global deal that addresses the strategic sectors,” Carney told reporters in Quebec on Thursday. Ottawa is seeking a “win-win deal” that includes steel, aluminum, forestry and automobile sectors, he said. “Will we get all of that by the 19th of August? We’ll see. But we want to have pathways in order to get that,” he added. Lastmonth, Trump vowed to impose 50 per cent tariffs on the vast majority of Canadian goods in response to “discriminatory” measures, including provincial boycotts of American booze. Those measures are set to go into effect on Aug. 19. Ottawa’s negotiating team has been advocating for Canada’s forest sector at the table with Washington, Carney said. “We bring up the forest sector every time we discuss with the United States,” he said. Canada’s approach for a deal includes discussions on all sectors, not just on a few specific sectors, he added. “There are many things that the Americans want from Canada. They say they don’t want them, but they do want them. It’s critical minerals. It’s aluminum. And for us, it’s all connected. We’re one country. We care about all these sectors,” Carney said. Following Carney’s remarks, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said he and chief trade negotiator Janice Charette held a “constructive and detailed meeting” with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington on Thursday. It marked LeBlanc’s second trip to the U.S. capital since Trump issued his latest tariff threat. “Our focus has been and will continue to be on striking a comprehensive deal that addresses sectoral tariffs and benefits Canadian workers, farmers and businesses,” LeBlanc posted on X.

“Canada’s nasty. They are. They’re nasty,” Trump said. “I love the people, but they’re nasty. Nasty leadership.” Asked about those remarks Thursday, Carney acknowledged the trade negotiations with the U.S. were difficult. “Yes, it’s a tough negotiation. You can change the adjective and say ‘nasty,’ but for Canada it’s a question of Canadian jobs, it’s a question of the future of Canadian enterprises,” Carney said. Trump last month signed three executive orders, each one using a different justification for the new tariff: the provincial and territorial boycotts on American alcohol products, Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S.-made vehicles and auto parts and quotas on American dairy imports under Canada’s supply management system. Carney said in French on Thursday his government remains “loyal” to supply management. “I’ve been clear since the start of my campaign for the Liberal leadership … because I believe in supply

management. It’s important to stabilize prices for Canadian consumers and protect a way of life for small farms,” Carney said. Carney has meanwhile deferred to the provinces on whether to keep or drop their boycotts of U.S. alcohol in order to avoid Trump’s tariffs. Ontario Premier Doug Ford and B.C. Premier David Eby, among others, have said they have no intention to back down and have called for retaliatory measures like dollar-for-dollar tariffs and threatening to withhold energy and critical minerals exports. At a meeting with Canada’s premiers last month, Carney said retaliation remained a possibility but declined to specify exactly what the “full range” of available options are. “We don’t need to respond in advance,” he told reporters at the time. “In fact, I think it would be counterproductive at this stage to respond in advance. But it’s important to know what your options are.”

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026

Report reveals how India’s Bishnoi gang uses Canada’s student visa program Continued from Page 1... Written by the Canada Border Services Agency, the report cites the gang’s “growing operational presence in Canada” and “demonstrated use of Canada’s immigration programs for criminal purposes.” “Investigations increasingly identify Indian foreign nationals on study permits and work permits as participants in these organized criminal activities,” the CBSA’s Intelligence and Investigations Directorate wrote. “The sustained expansion of Bishnoi-linked extortions and the involvement of student permit and work permit holders raises significant concerns for CBSA operations.” The “Tactical Guide,” titled “The Bishnoi Gang: An Emerging Threat in Canada,” was circulated in December 2025 to help immigration officers tackle the crime group as it preyed upon the country’s South Asian communities. Although classified, a copy made public by the court shows how the government’s controversial foreign student program may have contributed to Canada’s Indian gang problem. According to the report, Canada’s overall extortion rate had dipped 10 percent in 2024. But the number of Indian citizens charged with extortion that year spiked 47 per cent. The increase reflected a growing trend in which South Asian Canadians reported receiving calls from Bishnoi members demanding large sums of money, the CBSA said. As police investigated the extortions, the report said two similarities emerged: the name Goldy Brar and suspects who were in Canada on student and work visas. “The upwards trend in extortion charges mirrors a similar trajectory seen with serious and organized crime charges within the Indian student permit holder demographic,” the report added. Crimes by Indian student permit holders soared 8,800 per cent between 2016 and 2024, said the report, which ranked India the “top source” country of foreign students charged with crimes. “It would be prudent to recognize that these statistics likely underrepresent the extent of the issue as many crimes go undetected and unreported,” it noted. Between 2019 and 2023, 4,000 Indian citizens who entered Canada on study permits were charged with 17,929 offences. A third of the charges, or 4,920, were considered serious or organized crime-related, while 97 per cent of those offences were deemed violent, it added. In 2024, more than 13,040 criminal charges were laid against Indian citizens in Canada on study visas, which was a significant jump, according to the report. The report does not mention that the 2,418 who were charged represent just over one per

cent of the 188,125 Indian students that year, but rather emphasizes the upward trend. When the government capped foreign student visas in late 2024, it cited pressure on housing for the change, but the CBSA report examines another possible consequence. Amid a surge of international students that reached more than 800,000 in 2022, Canada appears to have opened the door to India’s most notorious crime group. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, which issues student visas, did not answer questions about whether it had inadvertently helped the Bishnoi gang take root in Canada. A spokesperson said the international student program was down 83 per cent since two years ago, while Indian nationals now account for a quarter of visas as opposed to 41 per cent. But Prof. Kelly Sundberg, a criminologist and former CBSA officer, said the immigration department’s “wide-open, honour-based” foreign student program was clearly exploited by the Bishnoi gang. Lacking adequate screening, the program let gang leaders into the country and gave them a pool of youths from which to recruit, said Sundberg, one of several experts who reviewed the CBSA report for Global News. “It’s a perfect storm of nonsensical policy and law resulting in a flood of young foreigners into Canada with limited supports for them once here, leaving them prey for the criminals of their home country to recruit them here,” he said. “Ottawa is 100 per cent to blame.” The Bishnoi gang has been a student-based crime group from the start. Lawrence Bishnoi emerged in student politics at Panjab University. After losing in the 2011 student election, he allegedly shot the winning candidate and became president, using his position to wage violence and thefts. He has been in an Indian prison since 2015, but has still become such a menace to Canada that the government added the Bishnoi gang to its list of terrorist groups last September. “Evidence suggests the Bishnoi gang’s major operations continue to be orchestrated by Bishnoi from behind bars,” the CBSA intelligence report said. To do so, he has allegedly relied on cell phones and lieutenants like Brar who in turn recruit members of Canada’s surging Indian student population to do their dirty work. As a recent example, the intelligence report cited the case of Abjeet Kingra, who came to B.C. on a student visa in 2018 before being recruited as a gunman. While working at a Winnipeg moving company, a colleague offered him $4,000 to accompany him to Vancouver Island for a shooting, Kingra testified at his deportation hearing.

The Richmond Night Market is permanently closing after this Summer

The Richmond Night Market has been a summertime staple for many Metro Vancouverites, but the event is sadly coming to an end after this season. Announced today by organizers, the famous night market will be permanently closing. The Richmond Night Market The Richmond Night Market got its start twenty-six years ago by founder Raymond Cheung, with the very first event taking place in 2000 at Continental Centre on Cambie Road. From these humble beginnings has sprung a massive, sprawling marketplace that annually attracts over one million visitors from all over the Lower Mainland and beyond. It is the largest night market in North America, and is a beloved community event

for many. From regional treats to festival fun, the Richmond Night Market is one of those things that you have to experience at least once if you’re in the city during summer. The End of an Era: Richmond Night Market’s Closure On August 5, organizers announced that the Richmond Night Market will be permanently closing after this summer’s season due to its lease ending. In a press release, Cheung said, “Although it is heartbreaking to say goodbye, I am filled with gratitude rather than regret. The memories we have created together over the past 26 years will continue to live on in the hearts of our visitors, vendors, performers and everyone who has been part of this amazing journey.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026

Fort St. John RCMP investigate 2nd drive-by shooting Operating expenses of B.C. municipal governments

Fort St. John RCMP are investigating what's believed to be another targeted drive-by shooting in the northeastern B.C. city. Officers were called shortly after 1:30 a.m. Thursday to a residential multiplex across from a seniors apartment building near the city's downtown. Police said bullet holes were found in a travel trailer as well as two neighbouring homes and a vehicle. No occupants or bystanders were injured, police said. “This is believed to be a targeted incident in which thankfully, nobody was injured," Const. Christiaan Dreyer said. Dreyer said RCMP are focusing its resources, including the serious crimes unit and street enforcement team, to target a recent spike in gun violence in the city. It's the second drive-by shooting in Fort St. John in recent weeks, after a July 22 drive-by shooting in a different neighbourhood led to one arrest. "This is and was scary for residents in the

neighbourhood," city councillor Trevor Bolin wrote on social media. "Council does not take this lightly and will exhaust all resources in our ability to get answers and preserve neighbourhood safety." The area remains closed as investigators canvas the neighbourhood and collect evidence. RCMP said the crime scene is being held pending the approval of a search warrant. Police currently have no suspects or vehicle descriptions. Anyone with information about the incident, including video, is asked to contact police or CrimeStoppers.

Burnaby man jailed for killing man who shared intimate images of his wife Continued from Page 1... It was published online Friday. “Although it is impossible to determine how many sharp force injuries each of Mr. Jafari and Ms. Haydari inflicted, clearly Mr. Jafari inflicted more than did Ms. Haydari. Mr. Jafari both commenced the fatal attack and definitively ended it,” the judge wrote. At the time, homicide investigators said “the parties were all known to one another” but did not provide any additional details. At Jafari’s sentencing, the court heard how the couple knew the victim. “The backdrop against which the fatal assault occurred was an extramarital relationship between Ms. Haydari and Mr. Sangan during which Mr. Sangan obtained various videos and photographs

of Ms. Haydari of an intimate nature. In the days leading up to the killing, Mr. Sangan and his partner, Sophia Soltani, created a fake social media account in Ms. Haydari’s name and sent links to various family members of Ms. Haydari,” the decision said. “Ms. Haydari sought assistance from the police but received none.” On the day of the killing, Haydari agreed to meet Sangan “hoping to persuade him to turn over the photos and videos to her and to cease his campaign to shame her,” the judge wrote. Audio and video submitted as evidence captured many of the “critical events” that subsequently unfolded, according to the judge, who noted husband and wife were each armed with concealed knives.

far outpaces population growth and inflation

Municipal operating spending across British Columbia nearly doubled over a 14-year period, growing substantially faster than both population and inflation, according to a new report from the Business Council of British Columbia (BCBC). The business organization estimates that B.C. municipal governments accumulated about $6.5 billion in spending beyond a benchmark tied to population growth and inflation between 2010 and 2024. That amounts to approximately $1,280 for every resident covered by the analysis. Across the 153 municipal governments eamined, total operating spending rose from approximately $6.3 billion in 2010 to $12.3 billion in 2024 — an increase of 94 per cent. Over the same period, their combined population grew by 28 per cent and inflation reached approximately 36 per cent. Had spending increased only to reflect the larger population and higher cost of delivering the same services, the report calculates that it would have grown by about 75 per cent — approximately 19 per cent less than the actual increase. The report uses the term “excess spending” for the difference between the actual operating expenses and that population/inflation benchmark. The calculation does not, by itself, determine whether the additional spending was wasteful or unnecessary, as municipal governments could have expanded services, improved service quality, or faced specific local costs beyond general inflation. However, BCBC argues that taxpayers should receive clearer evidence that those additional expenses resulted in better services. “Population growth and inflation naturally increase the cost

of delivering municipal services,” said Jairo Yunis, BCBC’s director of policy and a co-author of the report. “The concern is that, in most municipalities, spending has consistently grown well beyond those pressures. Unless residents are receiving significantly better services, it’s reasonable to ask whether local governments are delivering those services as efficiently as they could.” The study found that inflation-adjusted operating spending grew faster than population in 135 of the 153 municipal governments examined, representing 88 per cent of the total. In 84 municipal governments, the annual gap between real spending growth and population growth was at least one per cent. BCBC notes that the pace of spending above its benchmark has also accelerated during each municipal election cycle. Average annual “excess spending” grew from approximately $128 million — or $31 per resident — during the 2011 to 2014 cycle to $432 million during the 2014 to 2018 period. It then reached $560 million annually from 2018 to 2022 and $800 million — or $163 per resident — during the first two years of the current 2022 to 2026 term.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026

New Simon Fraser University medical school welcomes first 48 students Simon Fraser University (SFU) welcomed its first class of 48 students to B.C.'s newest medical school in Surrey on Wednesday. The SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine will be a three-year, year-round program (including summer studies), which the school says will allow students to graduate a year earlier than traditional programs. Dr. David Price, dean of SFU's faculty of medicine, told CBC's On the Coast last October that the program will focus on training community-based, primary care physicians and emphasize roles like family physicians, pediatricians, psychiatrists, obstetricians and gynecologists. Jennifer Whiteside, B.C.'s minister of labour, said this is the first new medical school

in Western Canada to be established in nearly 60 years, and the second in B.C. "This is a historic milestone, not just for the city, not just for the university, but for every single family who knows they will be able to see a doctor when they need one," she said at a news conference Wednesday. Students will learn to care for patients in community clinics, primary-care settings and hospitals in the Fraser Heath region, according to an SFU news release. "In the future, they will also provide care through a team-based primary care clinic in the school’s permanent home adjacent to SFU’s Surrey campus, expanding access to health care for people in Surrey while strengthening the region's health-care system," said the release. The permanent location for the school is expected to be complete in 2030; current students will start their classes in an "interim learning space." The province said students will graduate with a doctor of medicine degree, and they could start their residencies as early as 2029. The number of students per cohort will increase in phases, eventually reaching a "steady state" of 120 students annually by 2035.

Punjab travel agent ‘linked’ to Calgary work permit row

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Continued from Page 1... The immigration agent-turned-realtor, who allegedly owns a plush house in New Jawahar Nagar locality here and is developing a high-end residential locality in the city, did not respond to repeated phone calls. His close friends in the immigration business in Jalandhar maintained that he had no role in what had happened. “The Canadian government keeps on changing its rules for international students, which has led to the situation. On his part, he had taken the students to Canada in a legal manner,” one of them said. Kanwar Sierah, an immigration lawyer based in Canada who first gave the details about the CIOT’s connection with the immigration firm, claimed that he had received a legal notice from Jalandhar for his statement. The protesting

students reportedly passed out last year and after that applied for the permit. However, mass refusals came from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada around mid-July. Their applications were rejected on the grounds that their programmes were “non-credit”, making them ineligible for the permit. The students, who paid an annual fee of 16,000 Canadian dollars (nearly Rs 10 lakh) were hoping to secure Canadian work experience and eventually permanent residency there. However, now they have been forced to apply for a judicial review for which they have been seeking support from the Canadian Punjabi community. The students had also approached Punjab-origin Canadian MP Sukh Dhaliwal. Punjabi singer Amrit Mann too recently joined them at the protest site in Calgary.

Alberta Premier tells Indian students without visa to go home Continued from Page 1... "There have been instances where unscrupulous operators have set up diploma-granting programs and taking advantage of students," Smith said to a question from Juno News. "I think perhaps Portage, maybe overstated the pathway to permanent residency." If those students have the skills we need, then we are best positioned to offer them permanent residency. At the moment, we only have 6,400 spots. I think we've got 40,000 people who have sought permanent residency from us, and so that's why I think we need a bit of a better balance," Smith said. Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke before Danielle Smith, and when he was asked about the protesting students, he said he was not familiar with the details, but he said there is a process to follow when such situations arise. Hundreds of Indian students who graduated from Portage College in Alberta said they were told that their course did not make them qualified for a post-graduation work permit. But they claimed that when they enrolled two years ago, they were told that they would get a work permit

through those courses. The rule was tweaked in between and now, after spending two years in Canada, paying over $30k in tuition fees, they have no legal status in Canada. They are not allowed to work; they are not students anymore and so they have to return to India.

The college asked the students to take the help of immigration experts and said they don't make immigration decisions and it's completely IRCC's decision to deny work permit to these students. After days of protest, some students started a hunger strike.

FIJI

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026

$40k fine for violating ban A hefty penalty is what villagers in Yasawa and the Mamanucas could face if they do not adhere to the restrictions of a biosecurity control to prevent the spread of a Tongan fruit fly that was detected in the two maritime groups. The government restriction was made official in a gazette from the Ministry of Agriculture which ordered the controls be imposed on villagers travelling from Yasawa and Mamanuca to Viti Levu. Produce that have been listed as restricted include mango, guava, papaya, breadfruit, citrus, chilli, tomato, eggplant, capsicum, cucumber, starfruit and other homegrown fruit and vegetables. Under the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji Act 2008, anyone caught illegally transporting banned fruits or hosting materials from the Yasawa and Mamanuca groups faces immediate legal prosecution with individuals facing a fine of up to $40,000 and companies a maximum of $200,000. Naviti district spokesperson Meciusela Vuli said villagers had been observing the restriction since the first few months of 2026. “The Ministry of Agriculture team came to our seven villages, they carried out awareness for our people, and they

put up traps for this fruit fly,” Mr Vuli said. “Right now, we can’t take any type of fruit including uto (breadfruit), vudi (plantain), pawpaw, mangoes, moli (lemon) and vegetables.“So, we are listening and we have been reminding our people to follow the law.” He said while majority of villagers had been adhering to the restrictions, some had been fined. “We had a villager whose child was carrying a piece of dawa in their bag. “They found it at the wharf when the family arrived in Lautoka. They were fined on the spot, $1000. After that everyone feared they could be fined too so we made sure we followed what is being said.” Mr Vuli said checkpoints had been set up at offloading points where government officers had been checking bags and produce. Kese Village headman Rusiate Buli said livelihoods had not been adversely affected by the restrictions. “Most of us that live on the island live off what we plant and what we get from the sea,” he said. “A lot of us also work in the nearby resorts. What we take to Lautoka is mainly seafood to sell so we cannot say we have been affected.

Migration leaves villages with empty homes

Many homes across the three villages on Mali Island now stand empty as families relocate to Labasa in search of better education and employment opportunities. Tui Mali Ratu Apenisa Bogiso said the island’s population had steadily declined over the years as young people and their families moved to the mainland. Ratu Apenisa said the migration was not driven by the lack of electricity or water but by the desire to access schools, jobs and improved services. “There are not many people left. Many houses are now empty because families have moved away,” he said.

He said most families returned to the island during school holidays and special occasions to visit relatives and maintain their ties with the village. “Despite these visits, the number of permanent residents continued to decrease, affecting daily village life and community activities.” He said the trend showed the challenges faced by remote maritime communities where employment opportunities were limited. “I hope that ongoing development projects and improved infrastructure would encourage more people to remain on the island or eventually return to live there.”

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Bangladesh: Cultural evening commemorates 85th death anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore Dhaka [Bangladesh], August 6 (ANI): The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) and the High Commission of India in Dhaka organised an evening of Rabindra Sangeet and poetry titled "Iti Rabindranath" on Thursday, to commemorate the 85th Death Anniversary of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. As per a release by the Indian High Commission and the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, the program highlighted the enduring cultural bonds between India and Bangladesh through the universal language of music and poetry. The evening featured captivating performances

by renowned Bangladeshi artist Shwapnil Shojib, whose soulful renditions of Rabindra Sangeet captivated the audience, followed by a stirring poetry recital by Samiul Islam Poluck, a distinguished Bangladeshi reciter, the release mentioned. Speaking at the occasion, High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi highlighted Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's timeless literary legacy as an unbreakable bridge of shared heritage, peace, and mutual affection between India and Bangladesh, continuing to inspire generations across borders through his universal humanism.

Sons of jailed Pakistani leader Imran Khan raise urgent health concerns London: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's sons, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan, have voiced severe concerns regarding their father's well-being, alleging that Pakistani authorities have barred family members, legal counsel and medical professionals from seeing him over the preceding seven months. Speaking to CNN on the third anniversary of the former premier's detention, the brothers asserted that they lack credible updates regarding his condition because access has been stringently restricted. "We have no updates because his family, doctors and lawyers haven't been allowed to see him for seven months," the brothers told CNN.

The statements coincided with nationwide demonstrations staged across Pakistan by supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party, demanding the immediate release of the party's founder and his spouse, Bushra Bibi. Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 until he was ousted through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022, has been incarcerated since 2023 following convictions in several cases, including graft charges and the alleged disclosure of official secrets. Khan and his political aides have consistently maintained that the legal proceedings are politically motivated to block his political return.

SOUTH ASIA

Seven years after Article 370: Two Kashmirs, two different stories across LoC New Delhi: Seven years after Article 370 was revoked, the two sides of Kashmir are telling different stories. Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed massive infrastructure growth, including new roads, railway projects, investment proposals and record tourist arrivals since 2019. Across the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistanoccupied Kashmir (PoK) has witnessed protests over rising electricity bills, subsidised flour and demands for greater political representation. Seven years later, the difference between the two sides of Kashmir is easier to see than it was in 2019. J-K’s post-2019 changes On August 5, 2019, the Centre revoked the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir and reorganised the erstwhile state into two union territories. The government said the move would improve governance, attract investment and speed

up development. The Centre says investment proposals worth more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore have been received since 2019, with officials saying a part of those proposals has translated into operational projects and employment. Officials also say tourism has reached record levels, with more than 2 crore visitors arriving in a single year. Attractions such as the Tulip Garden, the Gulmarg Gondola and Srinagar's recognition as a UNESCO Creative City have added to the tourism push. Since then, several major infrastructure projects have been completed or launched. These include the railway link connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India, featuring the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge. The government has also undertaken 47 highway projects to improve connectivity across the region.

Pakistan on the brink: The gathering storm behind the Western media blackout The unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has in recent days claimed over one hundred lives at the hands of firing by the Pakistan Rangers. Unarmed demonstrators were shot in cold blood. Tear gas was used. Water cannons too. Yet, there is a near-blackout in the Western media. The internet has been cut off, and the only places where foreign media can operate freely are the far-away cities of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. The foreign media need NOCs to travel elsewhere. Al Jazeera has been banned for its reporting on PoK despite being from a fellow Islamic country. Still, the Western media could have done more to report on the issue. As Prof

Shamika Ravi highlighted in her recent tweet on X, “How @nytimes covers protests: 40 deaths in PoK → 1 report 1 resignation / in Delhi → 16 reports”. By way of contrast, the recent CJP protests in New Delhi received unrestricted and gleeful coverage in the Western media and internet-based mediums.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026

PUNJAB

Duped by travel agent, Jalandhar youth left stranded in Moscow forest, warns against Russian job scams

Duped by a travel agent and left to languish in the jungles of Russia, a Jalandhar youth who spent over a month in harrowing conditions has now urged others not to undertake similar misadventures after being lured by fraudulent agents. Forced to stay in tiny, dingy rooms inside scrapyards and surviving a drone attack, the youth, who has now returned to Jalandhar, shared his ordeal with the press on Thursday. Akashdeep, a Jalandhar resident from the district’s Ramnagar area, said he boarded a flight to Moscow on June 15 after his agent promised him a job packing fruits in Moscow. However, he was instead left to fend for himself in a forest outside Moscow when he refused to join the Russian army. He said he had been promised a work visa, good pay and an air-conditioned stay with decent working conditions provided by the company, but all these assurances turned out to be false. Sharing details of his ordeal in Jalandhar, he said he spent Rs 8-9 lakh on his journey and stay in Russia. Akashdeep has filed a complaint with the Jalandhar police against

Ramnagar-based agent Pawan Kumar and his Delhi-based associates. A series of videos that Akashdeep posted from Russia on Instagram have also gone viral. Speaking to the press, Akashdeep said, “I was promised a job paying Rs 1.20 lakh per month packing fruits in

Moscow by Ramnagar-based cloth merchant Pawan Kumar, who was also working as a travel agent. He fixed the deal with my brother for Rs 6 lakh. On June 13, the ticket to Moscow that I was originally sent to Delhi with turned out to be fake, as it had already been used by a Russian national on June 8. After a two-day stay in Delhi, I was sent to Moscow on June 15.” Akashdeep alleged that the agent’s middlemen dropped him off at a deserted establishment in the middle of a jungle in Russia, where he was forced to share a tiny room with 10 other people. He said the other youths with him were from Haryana and Rajasthan. He further claimed that he was pressured to join the Russian army and, after refusing, was abandoned by the agent in the jungle, where he was left lost and clueless. Akashdeep alleged, “Indian youths are promised jobs paying over Rs 1 lakh with 10hour work shifts, but once they reach there, they are forced to work for 15 hours until they are exhausted. We were kept in extremely poor conditions. The agent asked me to either join the army or take up other difficult jobs. When I refused a 15-hour shift in the army, he told me I was on my own. Agents work with touts there who look for Indians to recruit into the army. Once there, youths are persuaded to join the army with promises of earning lakhs. But in reality, many gullible youths trapped in this situation are not paid as promised.” Abandoned in the jungle, he said he was caught in a drone attack while many other youths fled or scattered. Akashdeep added, “I, along with a Rajasthani youth, followed railway tracks through the forest and reached a railway station. There, a kind Russian helped us by arranging tickets and helped us return to a friend in Moscow. From there, with their assistance, I returned to India.” Akashdeep said, “I only want my Rs 6 lakh back and action against the agents. I appeal to the youth to beware of fraudulent agents. Instead, they should stay in India and work here.”

Punjab and Haryana HC stays trial court proceedings against Mallikarjun Kharge Just over two months after All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge was summoned by a Sangrur court in a criminal defamation complaint, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday stayed further proceedings before the trial court. Taking up the petition, Justice Aman Chaudhary also issued notice of motion on his petition challenging the summoning order. The Bench also fixed November 26 as the next date of hearing in the matter. Appearing before Justice Chaudhary’s Bench on the petitioner’s behalf, senior advocate Dr. Anmol Rattan Sidhu contended that the summoning order had been passed "without affording any opportunity of hearing at pre-summoning stage." Sidhu added that the summoning order was, as such, "noncompliant with Section 223(1) of BNSS rendering the impugned order void ab initio." The provision requires a magistrate to examine the complainant and witnesses on oath when taking cognisance of an offence on a complaint. It mandates, through its first proviso, that no cognisance can be taken without giving the accused an opportunity of being heard. In support of the submission, Sidhu placed reliance on a Supreme Court judgment. Sidhu further argued

that "the report called under Section 225 of BNSS, erstwhile Section 202 of the CrPC, was also not taken into account while passing the impugned order." In an attempt to buttress his arguments, he placed reliance on another Supreme Court decision. Before parting with the order, Justice Chaudhary asserted: “Till the next date of hearing, proceedings before the trial Court shall remain stayed.” In his petition, Kharge was seeking the quashing of the criminal complaint, and the summoning order dated June 8 passed by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sangrur, and all consequential proceedings arising therefrom. Among other things, Justice Chaudhary’s Bench was told that the present petitioner was residing outside the territorial jurisdiction of the Sangrur court. “Thus, it was imperative for the trial court to carry out an inquiry or investigation into the alleged offence before summoning the present petitioner vide the impugned summoning order.” It also suffered from the vice of being a nonspeaking “insofar as no reasons/grounds have been assigned for summoning the present petitioner”.

Punjab jails see surge in Buprenorphine supply, report says 8.87 crore tablets issued this year As many as 43.44 crore tablets of Buprenorphine — a drug used to help wean addicts off substance dependence — were purchased by the Punjab government in the past four-and-a-half years and supplied to lakhs of people seeking treatment for drug abuse. The major concern, however, is the substantial rise in the number of these tablets supplied in the state's jails, indicating the extent of drug addiction a m o n g inmates lodged across Punjab prisons. This year alone, 8.87 crore tablets have so far been supplied in jails by the Punjab Health Systems Corporation, a sharp rise from 1.17 crore tablets supplied in 2022. As many as 40,830 inmates have been registered for treatment in jails between 2022 and the present. The figures were shared by Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Bathinda, Jagrup Singh Gill, while presenting the 129th Report of the Committee on Public Undertakings on the general working of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation for 2026-27. The figures have been mentioned in the 30-page report tabled in the Vidhan Sabha. Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, reacting to the report, said the increase in tablet

supply was due to the government's decision to set up treatment centres and Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) clinics in jails. “Doctors and psychologists have been appointed there to help addicts leave drugs and sports and skill development centres have been made there to help them leave their addiction,” he said. The report stated that the 13-member committee of MLAs, headed by Gill, found that 7 crore tablets were purchased in 2022, 9.44 crore in 2023, 10 crore in 2024, 11 crore in 2025 and 6 crore tablets have been purchased through the Punjab Health Systems Corporation so far this year. All these tablets have been supplied through Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment Clinics. The report also highlighted that the number of patients seeking treatment at these clinics has increased from nearly 2 lakh in 2022 to 3.17 lakh currently. “Some treated addicts once again succumbed to the addiction and they are being retreated. After the state government started its Yudh Nasheyan Virudh campaign, the number of persons seeking inpatient treatment had increased and the government had to increase the number of beds in treatment centres (where free treatment is given) to 5,000. Earlier, the number of addicts seeking treatment and admission was 600, which has now increased to 3,400,” the report said. The report also stated that while 70,766 patients are admitted in these centres, the number has increased by one-and-a-half times.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026

INDIA

Christian leaders meet Shah, oppose FCRA Amendment Bill

A clutch of Christian bodies, along with lawmakers, on Thursday urged Home Minister Amit Shah to withdraw the contentious Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill, 2026, and refer it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for wider consultations. They also sought the removal of the controversial Clause 16 of the Bill, which envisages a framework for vesting (taking over) assets created through foreign contributions in a government-designated authority. The concerns were raised as the government reached out to Christian organisations amid indications that the Bill may be introduced in the Lok Sabha next week during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament. Government sources said the Bill could be introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 12, a day before the session concludes. Sources privy to the discussions said Shah was also likely to hold similar consultations

with religious bodies on August 7. If the Bill faces opposition in the Lok Sabha after its introduction, it may be referred to a JPC, sources added. Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson of the DMK, who met Shah in Parliament along with a delegation from the Joint Action for Minorities, a body of Christian organisations, said Clause 16 of the proposed legislation was aligned with Section 15 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010. Under the existing provision, assets created out of foreign contributions can be vested in an authority if an entity’s FCRA certificate is cancelled or surrendered. “We gave our clause-by-clause representation on the Bill to the Home Minister. We essentially had three prayers — to withdraw the Bill, send it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for wider consultation and remove the controversial Clause 16. The Home Minister gave us a patient hearing

with an open mind. That’s what I could see. Let us wait and see what he decides on it,” Wilson said. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, regulates the acceptance and utilisation of foreign funds, donations and assets by individuals, associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to safeguard national security and ensure transparency. The proposed amendment Bill, however, introduces a designated authority to supervise, manage or vest assets and unutilised foreign contributions of organisations whose certificates are surrendered, cancelled or deemed to have ceased due to non-renewal. Apart from the Joint Action for Minorities, a 10-member delegation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) also met Shah in Parliament. “The Christian community perceives that the Bill will lead to increased scrutiny of missionary institutions receiving foreign funds. There are also concerns regarding certain provisions in the Bill. We also fear that the law would operate retrospectively,” Rev Dr Mathew

Koyickal, Deputy Secretary General of the CBCI, told The Tribune. The community’s concerns centre on the proposed framework for vesting assets created through foreign contributions in a governmentdesignated authority when an organisation’s FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered or ceases to exist. “This has caused anxiety among Christian organisations because many churches and institutions have been built using foreign contributions,” another CBCI member said. Rev Dr Koyickal said certain provisions of the Bill were problematic and needed to be addressed without delay. Section 14B of the Bill introduces the concept of “cessation” of an FCRA certificate. It provides that a certificate shall be deemed to have ceased if an organisation fails to apply for renewal, its renewal is refused, or it expires without being renewed. Section 16A provides that once a certificate has ceased, foreign contributions received by the organisation and assets created from them shall vest in a Designated Authority.

Bombay HC convicts Tarun Tejpal of rape, sentences him to 10 years' jail The Bombay High Court on Thursday convicted journalist Tarun Tejpal of raping a junior colleague in 2013 and sentenced him to 10-year rigorous imprisonment as it reversed a Goa trial court’s 2021 verdict, terming it “untenable”, “perverse” and “directly contrary to the evidence on record”. While convicting Tejpal under Section 376(2) (f) and (k) (rape), 354 (Outraging Modesty), 354A (Sexual Harassment), 354B (Assault with Intent to Disrobe) 341 (Wrongful Restraint) and 342 (Wrongful Confinement) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the high court also imposed a fine of 10,21,000 rupees, which would be go to the victim. A Bench of Justice Neela Gokhale and Justice Amit Jamsandekar of the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court slammed the trial court for falling prey to the notion that a complainant (rape survivor) in such cases should be a "perfect victim" and behave in a certain way. “The appreciation of evidence by the Trial Court is not only unreasonable but perverse. The conclusions arrived at by the Trial Court are untenable and, in the facts and circumstances of the case, the view expressed by it is not a possible view,” it said, allowing the state’s appeal against Tejpal’s acquittal. “The conclusions arrived at by the Trial Court are untenable and, in the facts and circumstances of the case, the view expressed by it is not a possible view,” the HC concluded. A judge does not preside over a criminal trial merely to see that no innocent man is punished.

A judge also presides to see that a guilty man does not escape,” the high court said, adding, “We find it surprising that the (trial) court allowed the defence to use this time to harass and humiliate her.” "I am 62, and I believe I am a victim. I have a wife, and that's not much else to say. All that I can say is we can go and appeal. Please be lenient with me…," Tejpal – who claimed to be a political victim -- told the high court after the conviction verdict. However, on behalf of the Goa Police, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed his leniency plea. "Despite the victim being a girl of his daughter's age, he committed an offence... He was a father figure… shouldn’t have indulged in this... A precedent must be set... The victim refused, but he kept advancing on two subsequent days... This court must give out a clear message to society that when a girl says no, it means no. A ‘no’ means ‘no’," Mehta submitted. Tejpal is expected to challenge the high court's verdict before the Supreme Court.

Canada Admits India Was Right, Names Khalistani Terrorists 41 Years After the Kanishka Bombing For 41 years, India insisted that the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing was planned by Khalistani

extremists operating from Canadian soil. Now, Canada's own intelligence agency has finally acknowledged that reality. Why did Ottawa take more than four decades to officially say what investigators, victims' families and India had maintained all along? This report examines the CSIS statement, the devastating Air India Flight 182 bombing that killed 329 people, the intelligence failures, the destruction of crucial evidence, and the political calculations that delayed an official acknowledgment. It also explores how this admission could reshape India-Canada ties under Prime Minister Mark Carney, what it means for the global debate on Khalistani extremism, and why this moment represents diplomatic vindication for India. Was this simply overdue honesty, or the beginning of a broader policy shift?

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026

INDIA

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat backs Gen-Z's 'right to protest' RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday defended the right of India's younger generation to protest, saying Gen Z should not be branded "antinational" for raising concerns. Speaking at the 15th anniversary celebration of the India International Model United Nations (IIMUN), Bhagwat said democratic dissent should aim at correcting the system rather than targeting individuals. Responding to a question on protests by young people, Bhagwat said democracy provides constitutional ways to express dissent and urged people to understand the reasons behind demonstrations instead of dismissing them. "If Gen Z is raising its voice, it is not doing so merely to oppose someone. There is some problem, some pain, and that should be addressed," he said. "Agitation should not be against you or me. It should be for correcting the system." He added that dialogue between those in authority and those protesting should begin early so that issues do not escalate unnecessarily. Gen Z is not anti-national' Addressing concerns that young protesters are often labelled "anti-national", Bhagwat rejected such characterisations. "Gen Z is our own next generation. They are not anti-national," he said, stressing that there must be a sense of belonging and dialogue between generations. "When that relationship is recognised, both sides understand each other better." Bhagwat also praised the younger generation, saying he considered Gen Z and Gen Alpha to be more honest than previous generations. "I believe this new generation is more honest. Appeals based on patriotism and service resonate honestly with them," he said. Asked about incidents in which young protesters have allegedly faced police action, including lathicharge and pellet firing, Bhagwat declined to comment on specific cases, saying he did not have complete information. "To understand why such incidents happen, we need to examine the facts. I do not have complete information, and I don't think you do either," he said. "But if I am asked to

trust someone without knowing all the facts, I will trust Gen Z." ‘Education should not become business’ Bhagwat also spoke extensively on education after being asked about the lack of basic infrastructure in many schools, including toilets for girls and drinking water facilities. Calling education a national priority, he said the system should not be driven by commercial interests. "Education is not a business. It is a necessity of life," he said, adding that quality education should be accessible to everyone and that issues such as school fees require serious consideration. He said improving education was not solely the government's responsibility but that of society as a whole. "Our children's education is our collective responsibility. If facilities are lacking, society should actively help improve schools while also remaining vigilant," he said. Bhagwat cited examples of villages where residents and volunteers had pooled resources to improve local schools by creating basic infrastructure and arranging equipment such as computer screens through community support. 'Teacher training must come first' Along with improving infrastructure, Bhagwat stressed the need to invest in teachers. "We have to start with teachers and train them," he said, adding that curriculum reforms should also happen alongside teacher training. He said education should ultimately focus on building the next generation rather than running schools as businesses. Concluding his remarks, Bhagwat encouraged IIMUN to undertake projects aimed at strengthening education through community participation, saying such efforts could significantly contribute to improving the country's education system. The event was attended by Boman Irani, Nadir Godrej, Ravi Dubey, Shamak Davar, Amish Tripathi, Ashwin Sanghi, VP Malik, AS Kiran Kumar, Ajay Piramal, Deepak Parekh, PT Usha, Saina Nehwal, Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, Leslee Lewis, JD Majethiya, Nand Kishore Yadav and Harshwardhan.

Indian-origin heart surgeon jailed for sex offences struck off from practising in UK A senior Indian-origin heart surgeon jailed for abusing his position to sexually assault female members of staff at a National Health Service (NHS) hospital in northern England has been struck off from practising as a doctor in the UK. Dr Amal Krishna Bose, 55, was sentenced to six years imprisonment in September last year after being convicted of 12 counts of sexual assault, including inappropriate touching and making sexualised comments to five female members of staff at the Blackpool Victoria Hospital in Lancashire between 2017 and 2022. Following a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing which concluded last week, Bose has been suspended and will officially face "erasure" from the General Medical Council (GMC) register at the conclusion of an appeal period. "This person [Dr Amal Krishna Bose] has been suspended from the Medical Register and may not practise as a doctor in the UK," his GMC registration notes. "This registrant will be erased, pending an appeal period," it adds. Bose, who had denied the charges against him claiming his actions were just "flirting"

and "workplace banter", was sentenced at Preston Crown Court after a jury found him guilty at the end of a trial in June 2025. "Everyone should feel able to go to work and feel safe, confident and secure but Mr Bose has undermined that by abusing his position of power to sexually assault these female members of staff and by doing so has caused enormous damage," Detective Chief Inspector Kirsty Wyatt of Lancashire Police said after his sentencing hearing. During the course of the trial, Bose was described as the root cause of a toxic and sexualised culture at the hospital. Sacha Coyne, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) North West's Rape and Serious Sexual Offence Unit, said the medic had abused his senior position and "appeared not to recognise the serious and lasting impact his actions would have, describing his behaviour at trial as workplace banter". The court also heard how some of the women had taken time off sick due to the surgeon's actions or even left their role to avoid him. They told the judge about feeling unsafe at work and less trusting of male colleagues.

Israel's Netanyahu dials PM Modi, both discuss developments in West Asia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday reviewed the progress of the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership and exchanged views on the evolving situation in West Asia during a telephone conversation. Sharing details of the call on X, Modi said he and Netanyahu reviewed the progress made across various facets of the bilateral relationship, which he described as continuing to grow "from strength to strength". "Received a phone call from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We reviewed progress on various aspects of the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership which continues to grow from strength-to-strength. We also exchanged views on the current situation in West Asia," Modi posted. According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to

further strengthening cooperation across a range of sectors for the mutual benefit of India and Israel. "The two leaders reviewed sustained progress in India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the bilateral cooperation across various sectors," the PMO said in a statement. The conversation also focused on the rapidly evolving situation in West Asia, though neither side disclosed specific details of the discussions. The call comes at a time when the region continues to witness heightened geopolitical tensions, with India closely monitoring developments while maintaining engagement with all key stakeholders in West Asia. New Delhi has consistently called for dialogue, de-escalation and the peaceful resolution of regional conflicts. The PMO said Modi and Netanyahu agreed to remain in touch.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026