Heavy snow and windchill to -10 C possible in Metro Vancouver this weekend
The seven-day Metro Vancouver weather forecast includes the possibility of widespread snowfall as Arctic air combines with a low-
pressure system.
Environment Canada Meteorologist Derek Lee says two wet weather systems will bring precipitation to the Lower Mainland over the next week. However, the second has a higher likelihood of snowfall at sea level.
On Thursday, Jan. 30, a stream of moisture from the Pacific will bring rainfall to the Lower Mainland through Friday. Rainfall warnings have been issued for Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, and the North Shore mountains, with over 50 mm of precipitation expected.
Continued on Page 10...
Trump says Canada tariffs coming Saturday, ‘may not’ include oil
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would likely decide by the end of the day Thursday whether to put a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian oil imports that he confirmed will take effect on Saturday. “We may or may not. We’re going to make that determination probably tonight on oil,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
“We’ll see. It depends on what the price is. If the oil is properly priced, if they treat us properly –which they don’t.”
That comment came moments after he said “oil is going to have
nothing to do with it as far as I’m concerned” when asked if energy imports from Canada will be exempt from 25 per cent tariffs he plans to impose on all goods from Canada and Mexico. Trump has repeatedly warned Mexico and Canada — two of the United States’ top trading partners — he will impose tariffs if the two countries do not end shipments of fentanyl and the flow of migrants across U.S. borders, but has also complained about deficits in trade after both countries took steps to boost security. Continued on Page 6...
Trump says India 'will do what's right' on illegal immigration
US President Donald Trump has said India "will do what's right" on the deportation of illegal migrants following a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The leaders spoke on Monday, their first conversation since Trump's inauguration last week.
They discussed immigration, security issues and trade in what the White House described as a "productive call".
Continued on Page 10...
Surrey leads population booms in Metro Vancouver
Surrey is population growth leader with 191,500 more residents. Surrey grew 34 per cent in the past 10 years, to 700,459 people as of July 1, 2024. Vancouver remains B.C.’s most-populous city, but Surrey is nipping at its heels. Vancouver’s population is 756,008, after adding 23,790 people in 2023-24. Continued on Page 10...
South Asian man charged with attempted murder in Surrey double shooting with child nearby
A Squamish, B.C., man has been charged with attempted murder in a shooting in Surrey that injured two people while a child was nearby.
Surrey police say the gunfire broke out on Dec. 16, on 67B Avenue near 126 Street. First responders arrived to find a woman and her husband who had been shot. Their young child, who was in a nearby car, escaped without injury.
On Wednesday, Surrey police announced the arrest of Gagandeep Singh Bakshi, 21. Along with attempted murder, he’s also charged with discharging a firearm with intent, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon.
Baskshi remains in custody pending a Feb. 10 court appearance in Surrey.
Homicide investigators have been deployed to Langley, B.C., where one person was found dead after a fire at a homeless encampment.
Langley RCMP says officers responded to the fire near Tank Hill on Highway 1 at 4:30 a.m. Police are working with the Township of Langley Fire Department and the BC Coroners Service to investigate.
Crews are still determining the circumstances that led to the fatality.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said there was no additional risk to the public.
The majority of British Columbia’s newly minted NDP cabinet ministers and parliamentary secretaries have published either empty work calendars or have outright refused to disclose them – potentially flouting requirements under freedom of information laws. Despite not being set to sit in the legislature until Feb. 18, Eby gave a pay raise to his caucus to nearly all of his cabinet ministers except for one MLA, Rohini Arora. The legislature hasn’t met since May 16.
According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Eby’s new cabinet will put B.C. taxpayers on the hook for at least $1.9 million after hiring an enlarged number of cabinet
appointees—the B.C. NDP voted to give ministers an additional $60,000 top-up to their base salary of $120,000.
Ministers of the state will receive an additional $42,000 and parliamentary secretaries can bank on an extra $18,000 to their base salary.
The B.C. government is required by law to reveal the schedules to the public. According to the calendar information obtained by the B.C. Conservatives the schedules show that Eby only had one single reported cabinet meeting in November following their victory, and it skipped one other meeting.
Nine parliamentary secretaries reported “no work-related meetings or calls whatsoever.”
BC woman pleads guilty in Langley human trafficking operation
A B.C. woman has pleaded guilty to more than a dozen charges related to a human trafficking investigation.
Jennifer Lynn Stephens entered 17 guilty pleas in New Westminster Law Courts on Thursday to offences between January 2022 and January 2023, connected to human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of minors.
Stephens showed little emotion as the charges against her were read aloud.
Police arrested Stephens after one of her victims called 911 from a gas station near a hotel in the Township of Langley in March, 2023.
The gas station attendant told police that a distressed and injured woman had come in and asked to call the police. Responding officers were directed to the nearby hotel, starting an investigation that ultimately led them to Stephens.
She was charged in December 2023, with offences including assault, assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and receiving the material benefit of trafficking a person under the age of 18. Stephens remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing.
A 21-year-old hitman who admitted to the 2022 murder of Air India bombing suspect Ripudaman Singh Malik has been sentenced to life in prison. The B.C. Supreme Court handed down the sentence Tuesday.
Tanner Fox was told by the New Westminster court he has no chance of parole for 25 years.
Fox, who entered the guilty plea last year in connection to the July 2022 murder of Malik, appeared in court alongside his defence team on Tuesday where he apologized for his actions.
“I know nothing I say will bring him back and I’m sorry for the role I played in this crime. Not a day goes by that I don’t feel remorse for my actions,” said Fox. “I’ve grown to see the error of my ways, and I’m sorry for all the hurt and pain I’ve caused.”
The victim, Malik, was a well-known figure in Surrey and the larger Sikh diaspora community. Acquitted for his suspected involvement in the 1985 Air India bombings that killed 331, Malik long maintained his innocence in connection to the tragic event before
being shot and killed on July 14, 2022 in the parking lot of a Surrey business complex.
Fox and another man convicted in the murder shot Malik seven times outside his clothing business at 8236 128th St. before parking a stolen Honda CRV into a laneway and lighting it on fire.
According to at least one source, Malik was set to meet with representatives with the government of India just moments before his murder.
In a statement made after Fox’s sentencing, Malik’s son, Jaspreet Singh Malik, pleaded with Fox and his alleged co-conspirator to “do the right thing (and) tell the RCMP who hired you.”
Canada deports BC climate activist to Pakistan
An activist, arrested multiple times in B.C. for his role in climate protests, has been deported back to Pakistan.
“We’re nervous and devastated that it’s come down to this,” Zain Haq, 24, told Saturday, hours before he was deported.
“I would not be myself without Zain. I feel like I am losing half of me,” said Sophia Papp, Haq’s wife of two years. It’s a move Haq’s
immigration lawyer calls harsh and unjustified.
“Zain is not a serious criminal. The sentencing judge in his criminal case said he would make an impact,” said Randall Cohn, Haq’s lawyer.
Haq was ordered deported last year over alleged violations of his 2019 study permit. That deportation was initially cancelled when his wife applied to sponsor him as a permanent resident.
Surrey mayor joins alliance of border communities ahead of possible tariffs
Surrey, B.C., Mayor Brenda Locke has signed onto an alliance advocating for Canadian border communities, saying U.S. tariffs would put hundreds of jobs in her city at risk.
Locke said Thursday that 20 per cent of businesses in Surrey have direct trade ties with the United States, amounting to roughly $2.8 billion in crossborder commerce each year. "The introduction of these tariffs threatens to disrupt vital supply chains impacting cities and communities across the country, and therefore demands a Canada-first approach," Locke said.
The Border Mayors Alliance includes about 20 Canadian mayors and was formed in response to the threat from U.S. President Donald Trump to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all goods imported from Canada as early as Saturday.
Surrey is home to two border crossings, including the Peace Arch crossing, one of the busiest
in Canada. Locke said the city is also the "hub" of B.C.'s trucking industry. A statement from the City of Surrey says it has approximately 113 import and export businesses and 900 transportation and warehousing companies that may experience "spillover consequences" if there is a disruption in manufacturing and exporting activities. The alliance's co-founder, Creston, B.C., Mayor Arnold DeBoon, told CBC News tariffs would undoubtedly affect major employers in the Creston Valley too, including three lumber mills and the Kokanee beer brewing company. Creston, located in southeastern B.C., is about 10 kilometres from the Rykerts border, which crosses into Idaho.
"It's going to have an impact," said DeBoon. "We are going to see mills possibly close, or at least very much curtail their activities. And they are good paying jobs."
Canada Post gets $1 billion loan from feds despite claiming no taxpayer funding
The Liberals are bailing out Canada Post by loaning the Crown corporation over $1 billion right before its cash reserves ran out. However, if the financial losses over the last six years continue, the Canadian taxpayers will never recover that loan. Canada Post revealed on Friday that the Liberals will provide them with the $1.034 billion repayable loan for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
“This approach will maintain continuity of Canada Post’s operations but will not solve the Corporation’s structural issues. It will, however, provide a temporary financial bridge while Canada Post and the government work together on a plan to secure the long-term viability of a service that millions of Canadians consider
essential,” reads Canada Post’s news release.
Canada Post recorded a financial loss of $748 million in 2023, following a loss of $548 million in 2022. While the Crown corporation delivered 5.5 billion letters in 2006, it delivered only 2.2 billion in 2023.
The Crown corporation revealed that it has been losing money since 2018 due to high labour costs and regulatory measures impeding the company’s ability to evolve and compete. “As the Corporation shared in its 2023 Annual Report, without this short-term financing measure, the company would completely deplete its cash reserves by the second quarter of 2025,” reads the release.
The corporation said it is already improving its service through facilities upgrades, new sorting equipment, digital platforms, and more.
The Crown corporation recently increased postage rates by around 25%, citing inflation and operational challenges.
The recent Canada Post strike lasted 32 days after over 55,000 workers walked off the job on Nov. 15 as the Canadian Union of Postal Workers looked to increase wages, pensions, and improve employees’ health benefits.
The Liberal government has maintained, most recently in a question period note for Minister of Public Services Jean-Yves Duclos, that the corporation was not taxpayer-funded.
“Canada Post is a Crown Corporation that operates at arm’s length from the Government, and its operations are funded by the revenue generated by the sale of its products and services, not taxpayer dollars,” reads the response. One popular X commenter showcased the financial
losses over the last six years in a post to X.
“Canada Post has just secured a $1 billion loan from taxpayers,” said the commenter. “To stay alive.”
Another person on X said that isn’t how it should work.
“If a corporation cannot sustain itself, let it go bankrupt, and Canada Post is no exception. Privatization is the answer,” wrote the user on X.
“Remember this the next time Canada Post claims they aren’t funded by taxpayer dollars,” wrote another user.
Man arrested at Burnaby mall, charged with violating fifth deportation order
A 21-year-old American and South Korean citizen is back in jail in Canada after being removed from the country multiple times.
Junseo Hagh, also known as Ethan Hagh, was handed a 120-day jail sentence on Dec. 11 for violating a deportation order.
It was his fourth deportation order and the fifth time he had been removed from the country, and B.C. provincial court Judge James Sutherland said the court needed to impose a
sentence with "serious consequences" to deter law breakers and assure law-abiding citizens and other people subject to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. "It's a message to lawabiding citizens as well as potential violators," Sutherland said. Hagh, who has not spoken at
any of his court appearances because he is "nonverbal," according to his lawyer, Roy Kim, had 43 days left to serve on his sentence on Dec. 11 after getting enhanced credit for time he had already spent in jail. It's unclear when he was released, but Burnaby RCMP have confirmed he was arrested again on Jan. 16 at Lougheed Mall.He now faces more charges under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act: one count of unauthorized return after removal in Burnaby on Jan. 8 and one count of failing to appear to determine his right to stay in Canada.
Hagh was scheduled for a bail hearing in Vancouver provincial court Tuesday, but his lawyer asked to have the hearing adjourned to Feb. 4. Hagh first came to Canada in February 2016 on a study permit and attended Pinetree Secondary in Coquitlam, according to information presented at his last sentencing hearing. His immigration status first became an issue when his permit expired in February 2021 and he didn't leave. When the Burnaby NOW reached out to the Canada Border Services Agency in December for information about how Hagh was able to return to Canada five times after being removed, the agency said it is not its practice to provide details on individual cases.
Surrey realtor who took $215k from family to purchase Aldergrove house 'repugnant' says judge
A Surrey couple who lost more than $200,000 to a realtor who purchased an Aldergrove property in his name will finally receive their money back, plus interest, ordered the Supreme Court of British Columbia on Jan. 24. The realtor is also facing several unrelated assault charges.
Honourable Justice Marzari found that Alden Ashneil Chand, who worked for Surrey-based Century21 Coastal Realty Ltd. at the time, breached his agreement with Surrey couple Amandeep Kaur Rahil and Jagvil Singh Rahil as their realtor and misappropriated funds entrusted to him by the couple for property investment.
the couple, whom he lived across the street from, if he could display a for-sale sign on their front lawn for a week to give him exposure. The Rahils agreed, as "they found him to be friendly" but had no intent to sell their house.
Chand was ordered to pay a total of $285,800 to the Rahils, including $215,000 which was the total advanced by the Rahils to Chand; $42,000 in interest the Rahils had to pay on a loan; punitive damages of $25,000; and pre-judgement interest of $3,800.
The couple met Chand in 2018, not long after he obtained his realtor license, when he asked
Some time after, the couple asked Chand if he might have driving work for Mr. Rahil, who worked as a driver for a window factory. Instead, Chand told them if they gave him between $10,000 to $15,000 he would invest it in a Surrey property for sale and give them the profit. Believing Chand, the couple took out a bank draft for $15,000 that they had saved for their children's education, and signed a contract saying the money was "for a deposit" on a Surrey property selling for $340,000.
One month later, Chand told the Rahils he had an offer on the property for $360,000 and that they had made a $20,000 profit. He advised them they had nothing further to sign.
The property did sell, but to unrelated third parties for $346,000.
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OPINION
The latest dirty trick from Canada's revenue agency
'No taxation without representation!' It's still the principle we operate by but it looks as if the CRA is trying to collect an unauthorised tax while Parliament is prorogued.'
Devin Drover- General Counsel and Atlantic Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation: The Canada Revenue Agency is pushing ahead with a capital gains tax hike that hasn’t been approved by elected representatives in Parliament. This is a direct attack on democracy. Last year, the Trudeau government proposed increasing the capital gains tax for the first time in years. The government did this through a procedural step called a ways and means motion. But here’s the catch: a ways and means motion is not a law. It’s simply a tool that allows the government to propose tax changes. It doesn’t give the government the legal authority to enforce those changes.
In Canada, tax hikes require full parliamentary approval. This means the government must introduce legislation and debate and pass it through a vote by our elected representatives. That’s how our parliamentary democracy is supposed to work. But the Liberals never introduced the necessary legislation to make this tax hike official. Instead, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prorogued Parliament to clear the way for a Liberal leadership race. By doing so, he left this proposed tax hike unauthorized. Despite this, the CRA is acting like the tax hike is a done deal. It’s pressing forward with enforcement plans, completely ignoring the fact Parliament hasn’t approved it. This is an outrageous overreach by unelected bureaucrats and it sets a dangerous precedent — especially when the law is dead on arrival.
Parliament doesn’t resume until March 24, 2025. The opposition Conservatives, NDP and Bloc Québécois are all gearing up to topple the Liberal government. And polls suggest the Conservatives, who oppose this tax hike, are likely to form the next government.
Yet the CRA is ignoring these political realities and plowing ahead. This isn’t just reckless, it’s unconstitutional. Canada’s Constitution is clear: No taxation without representation.
Section 53 of the Constitution Act, 1867, enshrines this principle, stating all taxation must originate with the elected representatives in the House of Commons. This ensures taxes can only be imposed with the approval of those we elect to represent us.
A man convicted of sexually assaulted four strangers in Vancouver in 2023 won't serve any jail time for his offences.
On Wednesday, a judge granted 25-year-old Hussein Al-Shami a conditional discharge and sentenced him to 30 months of probation, the B.C. Prosecution Service said.
Al-Shami pleaded guilty to the offences in October, saying he had sexually assaulted four people in April and May of 2023.
At the time, the Vancouver Police Department said four women between the ages of 25 and 40 had been assaulted over the
span of two days. The women all reported being groped while walking late in the evening near the downtown core.
VPD says it was tips from the public after the department released photos of Al-Shami that led police to him.
The NDP outspent all contenders for the Richmond-Queensborough seat in the legislature — but the Conservatives came out on top on election day.
On Jan. 28, Elections BC released 2024 provincial general election financial reports. The reports detail the finances of political parties and candidates in the Oct. 19 provincial election, including campaign incomes and expenditures.
Four candidates ran in RichmondQueensborough: Steve Kooner, Conservative Party; Errol E. Povah, independent; Aman Singh, BC NDP; and Cindy Wu, independent.
Kooner topped the polls with 10,042 votes, beating out Singh, the NDP incumbent, who received 8,713 votes. The two independent candidates trailed far behind in the polls, with Wu receiving 721 votes and Povah getting 258 votes.
Kooner may have topped the polls, but Singh was tops in spending, according to the newly released documents from Elections BC.
In his re-election bid, Singh’s campaign had a total income of $84,556 — all of it from the BC NDP. He had expenditures of $79,805.
Singh’s campaign expenses, which included some that were subject to election expenses limits and some that were not (like accounting and audit services). His campaign expenses included: advertising ($42,139); salaries and benefits ($5,000); office rent, utilities, insurance, etc. ($3,229); postage and courier ($2,060); and conventions, workshops, meetings, and social functions, such as thank-you parties ($1,825).
Singh’s advertising expenses included $20,537 for commercial canvassing, in person or by telephone or other electronic means. He also
spent money on: promotional materials such as brochures ($5,298); printed newspapers and periodicals ($3,604); social media ($3,498); and signs — $8,373 on new signs and $829 on reused signs.
Kooner, who is the riding’s new MLA, had a total income of $84,592 and expenses of $46,035 — far below the $79,805 spent by Singh’s campaign. He had a balance of $25,250 remaining in his campaign account at the time his election financing paperwork was filed.
Wu’s election finance report shows she spent $3,597 on her campaign, with all but $5 going to advertising. That included printed newspapers and periodicals ($913), promotional materials such as newsletters, brochures, and novelty items ($1,691), and social media (988).
With no political party to back her bid to become MLA, Wu’ s campaign received contributions of $3,600 — three $1,000 donations from individuals and a $600 donation from another individual.
Of all the Richmond-Queensborough candidates, Povah ran the most frugal election campaign, spending a total of $630. That included $180 for advertising, $200 for personal expenses, and $250 for his nomination deposit.
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U.S. President Donald Trump said he would likely decide by the end of the day Thursday whether to put a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian oil imports that he confirmed will take effect on Saturday. “We may or may not. We’re going to make that determination probably tonight on oil,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
“We’ll see. It depends on what the price is. If the oil is properly priced, if they treat us properly – which they don’t.”
That comment came moments after he said “oil is going to have nothing to do with it as far as I’m concerned” when asked if energy imports from Canada will be exempt from 25 per cent tariffs he plans to impose on all goods from Canada and Mexico.
Trump has repeatedly warned Mexico and Canada — two of the United States’ top trading partners — he will impose tariffs if the two countries do not end shipments of fentanyl and the flow of migrants across U.S. borders, but has also complained about deficits in trade after
both countries took steps to boost security. U.S. President Donald Trump said he would likely decide by the end of the day Thursday whether to put a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian oil imports that he confirmed will take effect on Saturday. “We may or may not. We’re going to make that determination probably tonight on oil,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
“We’ll see. It depends on what the price is. If the oil is properly priced, if they treat us properly – which they don’t.”
That comment came moments after he said “oil is going to have nothing to do with it as far as I’m concerned” when asked if energy imports from Canada will be exempt from 25 per cent tariffs he plans to impose on all goods from Canada and Mexico. Trump has repeatedly warned Mexico and Canada — two of the United States’ top trading partners — he will impose tariffs if the two countries do not end shipments of fentanyl and the flow of migrants across U.S. borders, but has also complained about deficits in trade after both countries took steps to boost security.
Vancouver mayor quits regional district meetings over ‘accountability’ issues
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says he’s taking a step back as turmoil in the Metro Vancouver Regional District continues over issues of spending and transparency. Earlier this month, mayors who serve on various boards like the Metro Vancouver Regional District and TransLink are had their salaries called into question. Some are earning hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, and in certain cases, more than B.C. Premier David Eby.
Eby addressed the lack of transparency during an unrelated news conference last week.
“It is disappointing to be disappointed yet again by Metro Vancouver,” he said. Eby’s comments came after the regional district confirmed at the end of last year that a review into its spending was being done.
members who serve on regional or provincial organizations, including but not limited to EComm911, Municipal Finance Authority, TransLink, and Metro Vancouver.”
On Thursday, Mayor Sim confirmed to 1130 NewsRadio that he would be following Heed’s lead.
“I do have confidence in the independent governance review that’s underway at Metro Vancouver,” Eby added at the time. “We’ll make sure that the scope includes all aspects of governance.”
Since then, board members held a meeting, looking at where the district can cut costs amid a burgeoning financial crisis within the region. But the meeting was inconclusive.
On Monday, Richmond City Coun. Kash Heed successfully filed a motion, asking his city to prepare an annual, public report on the total compensation received by “Richmond Council
“Metro Vancouver’s governance is broken. Moving forward, I will not be attending Metro meetings and supporting a system that lacks accountability,” said Sim.
“Metro Vancouver’s lack of good governance and transparency needs to be addressed. I applaud Councillor Kash Heed’s principled stand in declining his meeting stipend. Metro Vancouver’s costs to taxpayers and Vancouverites are out of control. We need real, meaningful change more than ever.”
In response to Sim, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says she will push for changes from within the board. Locke says that despite political differences, abandoning Metro Vancouver isn’t the responsible choice. Locke says with all of the controversy surrounding the region’s spending, the compensation issue needs to be addressed.
“That’s part of the governance issue that I think we have to address, and we have to address that immediately. And I raised that at the last meeting. I’ve raised that before and I will make sure that we are addressing those issues because I absolutely understand that concern,” Locke said.
Killer Kelly Ellard arrested for breaching parole conditions
One of B.C.’s most notorious killers has been arrested and accused of breaching her parole conditions.
Kelly Ellard, who changed her name to Kerry Sim, was arrested on Tuesday in South Surrey where she had been living in a halfway house. It is
unclear if she is still in custody.
In a statement, Correctional Service Canada said, “With respect to information regarding Kerry Sim, we are unable to disclose personal information regarding an offender without their consent.”
Sim was convicted of second-degree murder for the killing of 14-year-old Reena Virk in 1997. She and a group of teens beat Virk before Sim and another teen drowned her. Sim was given a life sentence and in 2017 was granted periodic day parole, which was renewed last October.
At the time, the Parole Board of Canada says Ellard has recently demonstrated “some level of remorse and victim empathy.”
Her parole conditions include not consuming drugs or alcohol, no contact with the Virk family, following a treatment plan and reporting all intimate relationships. It remains unclear what condition she is accused of breaching.
Sim had two children while behind bars.
Charge laid in B.C. drive-thru crash that left worker with serious hot oil injuries
A B.C. man is facing Motor Vehicle Act charges over a North Vancouver drive-thru crash that left a worker with serious hot oil injuries last year.
The collision happened at an A&W on Marine Drive in March 2024. North Vancouver RCMP said a driver in the drive-thru struck the restaurant’s north wall, causing a deep fryer inside the building to spill oil on an employee and seriously injure them.
“This incident had devastating consequences for the victim and our thoughts remain with them as they continue their recovery,” North Vancouver RCMP spokesperson Const. Mansoor Sahak said.
On Thursday, police said North Vancouver resident George Collins had been charged with one count of driving without due care and attention.
APPLIANCES REPAIR SERVICE
BC court finds Criminal Code first-degree murder parole provision unconstitutional
The B.C. Supreme Court has found a section of the Criminal Code unconstitutional because it treats all offenders convicted of first-degree murder the same, regardless of the number of people they kill.
murderers be sentenced to 25 years in prison before being eligible for parole violated Charter guarantees against cruel and unusual punishment.
The case involves the murder of Caroline Bernard who was beaten to death with a baseball bat by her former partner Luciano Mariani while in her Bowser, B.C., home on Vancouver Island.
Mariani pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in June 2023, but he challenged the law requiring him to serve 25 years before being eligible for parole. The BC Prosecution Service says in a written statement that the law could still be “saved” by the Charter’s reasonable limits clause, but a hearing has not been set.
Justice David Crossin’s ruling says that Canada’s so-called “faint hope” regime had been overhauled in the last three decades, but amendments to the code in 2011 prohibited offenders from “applying for a reduction in their parole ineligibility period.”
1 man arrested, 1 still wanted in Brampton gas station robbery
Peel Regional Police have arrested one man and are on the hunt for a second suspect in connection with a Brampton robbery.
Officers say the two suspects allegedly robbed a gas station near Hunontario Street and Bovaird Drive West on Friday.
According to police, the suspects “displayed an imitation firearm” and made a demand for cash. The victim did not sustain any injuries, but the suspect made off with an unspecified quantity of money. A short while later, police located 30-year-old Jagtar Singh of Brampton and placed him under arrest. He has been charged with three offences, including robbery, wearing a disguise with the intent to commit an indictable offence and
using an imitation firearm. Authorities say they have successfully identified the second suspect as 30-year-old Taranjot Singh. He is still outstanding and wanted for the same three charges.
Investigators encourage anyone with information to contact police.
Richmond shooter sentenced 25 years for restaurant killing
A man convicted in the murder of a Richmond restaurant patron has been sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole for 25 years.
Trial judge Justice Jodie Watchuk convicted Richard Charles Reed of the Sept. 18, 2020, firstdegree shooting murder of Jian Jun Zhu.
Watchuk also convicted Reed of careless discharging of a firearm and possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm without a licence.
Watchuk has retired since the trial, leaving B.C. Supreme Court Justice Alan Ross to sentence Reed. The Jan. 14 decision was released Monday.
CCTV footage shown during the trial showed diners at Richmond’s Manzo sushi restaurant scrambling for cover as a person blasted several
rounds of bullets through a large window, ultimately killing alleged professional money launderer Zhu and injuring his associate, Paul King Jin. “Zhu’s cause of death was a single bullet wound to the back of his head,” Watchuk said. She said much of the eyewitness testimony and CCTV evidence tendered was consistent in identifying the shooter.
“I find that Mr. Reed was the person who was the shooter who killed Mr. Zhu,” Watchuk said.
“Mr. Reed intended to cause the death of Mr. Zhu,” she said. The judge said one witness at the restaurant described hearing “pop, pop, pop” as the shots were fired. That led to people yelling, screaming and leaving the restaurant.
DTES shooting leaves man in critical condition
A 25-year-old-man is in critical condition following a shooting in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside on Thursday. Vancouver police said the incident happened just after 10:30 a.m. near East
Hastings and Main Street. VPD investigators said they believe the shooting was targeted. Anyone with information is asked to contact VPD’s Major Crime Section at 604-717-2541.
Surrey realtor who took $215k from family to purchase Aldergrove house 'repugnant' says judge
A Surrey couple who lost more than $200,000 to a realtor who purchased an Aldergrove property in his name will finally receive their money back, plus interest, ordered the Supreme Court of British Columbia on Jan. 24. The realtor is also facing several unrelated assault charges.
Honourable Justice Marzari found that Alden Ashneil Chand, who worked for Surrey-based Century21 Coastal Realty Ltd. at the time, breached his agreement with Surrey couple Amandeep Kaur Rahil and Jagvil Singh Rahil as their realtor and misappropriated funds entrusted
to him by the couple for property investment. Chand was ordered to pay a total of $285,800 to the Rahils, including $215,000 which was the total advanced by the Rahils to Chand; $42,000 in interest the Rahils had to pay on a loan; punitive damages of $25,000; and pre-judgement interest of $3,800.
The couple met Chand in 2018, not long after he obtained his realtor license, when he asked the couple, whom he lived across the street from, if he could display a for-sale sign on their front lawn for a week to give him exposure.
The court ruled in a decision released this week that the code’s provision requiring first-degree
Trump says India 'will do what's right' on illegal immigration
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Trump told reporters after the call that Modi was likely to visit the United States "sometime in February".
Since taking office on 20 January, Trump has announced a number of immigration-related executive orders, paving the way for a widespread effort to crack down on undocumented migrants in the US.According to the Pew Research Center, there are an estimated 725,000 undocumented Indian immigrants in the US as of 2024.
Last week, India's foreign ministry said Delhi would take in Indians overstaying "anywhere in the world" as long as their documents were shared and nationality was verified.
In their phone call on Monday, the ministry said, Trump and Modi discussed the bilateral relationship, "including in the areas of technology, trade, investment, energy and defence".
The two leaders also discussed security in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Europe.
According to a White House statement, Trump emphasised the importance of India increasing its procurement of US-made security equipment and moving towards a "fair" bilateral trading relationship.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi called Trump a "dear friend" and said they were "committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership".
The White House said both leaders emphasised their commitment to advancing their countries' strategic partnership and the Indo-Pacific Quad partnership, which also includes Japan and Australia.
India will be hosting Quad leaders for the first time later this year. Modi and Trump shared cordial relations during the US president's first term between 2017 and 2021.
BC
man accused of laundering $47M though online cannabis sales
Mounties say a 30-year-old British Columbia man is facing multiple charges for his alleged role in laundering approximately $47 million through illegal online cannabis sales. Burnaby resident Harry Seo was arrested by Vancouver police on Dec. 30, 2024. Investigators with the RCMP’s federal financial crime team allege Seo laundered the proceeds of crime and operated an unregistered money services business, contrary to the federal Proceeds of Crime and Terrorist Financing Act, between September 2018 and August 2020. Seo is also charged with unauthorized possession of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking and commission of an offence for a criminal organization.
Investigators believe Seo used illicit online cannabis sales in B.C. and Alberta to launder money for a criminal network.
Six other people have already been charged in the case, including five who were convicted in earlier court proceedings.
Those individuals were not identified by name in a statement Thursday from the RCMP. The group includes four people from Edmonton ranging in age from 25 to 35, and one 30-year-old Chilliwack resident, according to investigators. Seo is scheduled to appear in provincial court in Vancouver on Jan. 31.
Surrey leads population booms in Metro Vancouver
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Surrey is growing more quickly, adding 44,799 people in 2023-24.
If the pace continues, Surrey could have a larger population than Vancouver by 2027.
Statistics Canada recently released new population numbers for what it calls “Census Metropolitan Areas”, or CMAs. Andy Yan is the director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University. He put the StatsCan data into a chart that showed growth over the last 10 years in B.C. and across Canada.
The Vancouver CMA is the same as Metro Vancouver, 23 cities and municipalities up to Langley and Maple Ridge in the east, Lions Bay to the northwest and the U.S. border to the south. According to Yan’s chart, the District of Langley led Metro Vancouver in growth by percentage, growing over 40 per cent, from 115,782 in 2014 to
162,269 in 2024.
In raw numbers, Burnaby had larger growth, adding 62,471 in the last decade, a 24.3 per cent increase. Burnaby’s population as of July 1, 2024 was 298,986. Richmond grew by 42,525 to 242,966, a 19.5 per cent increase. Coquitlam grew by 36,378 to 174,248, just over 23 per cent. Abbotsford isn’t in the Vancouver CMA, but grew by 34,766 to 175,087, also just over 23 per cent. Kelowna led population growth in the Okanagan, adding 41,523 residents to bring its population to 165,200, a 30.7 per cent increase in 10 years.
The overall population growth tends to be around the larger population centres: Metro Vancouver, the Victoria CMA, the AbbotsfordMission CMA, and the Okanagan. Yan said the question is whether those places “are ready for growth or not.” The rapid growth in Surrey, for example, has led to some frustration.
Heavy snow and windchill to -10 C possible
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Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Delta, and Vancouver are expected to see 20 to 40 mm of rain.
Lee notes that places at higher terrain could see up to 4 cm of snow, while areas near sea level may see mixed precipitation, although it is unlikely to stick.
On Friday night and through the weekend, temperatures will fall as a blast of Arctic air moves into the region from the Yukon. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Metro Vancouver, warning locals of "wintery conditions" into next week.
Lee says a low-pressure system over Vancouver Island will bring bands of moisture to the Lower Mainland, making it difficult to predict snowfall amounts and timing.
"It's not like a system where a whole cloud is [producing snow] over an area and then moves away; it is rotating narrow bands of precipitation," he notes. "It may or may not hit certain areas." While significant uncertainty is associated with the system, temperatures will be low enough for snow on several days next week. "I want to emphasize that we could get a lot of snowfall. The temperatures are low enough that snow could also stick around," he notes.
"It could be nothing or a lot."
Outflow winds from the interior gusting up to 30 km/h will also make frigid temperatures feel colder. Temperatures will drop as low as -3 C or -4 overnight heading into next week and feel as cold as -5 C or even -10 C with the wind chill.
Environment Canada will issue snowfall and Arctic outflow warnings as necessary.
Three charged for robbing and killing a beggar in Labasa Nadi police carry out operation to curb crime
A 20-year-old and two men aged 22 years have been charged with murder in Labasa. They are alleged to have killed an elderly person from Wainikoro, Labasa on January 23. The 68-year-old dead man was found two meters away from his home. He was a known
beggar and carried a lot of coins with him. Police state after extensive investigation, Police received information that a youth who went to buy liquor from a nearby shop used coins.
This led to the arrest of the said person and his two accomplices. Investigation revealed that they had assaulted the deceased and walked away with his money to purchase liquor.
The three will be produced in custody today at the Labasa Magistrate Court.
PM backs Trump's deportation policy
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has expressed support for US President Donald Trump’s plans to deport illegal immigrants, saying it is a matter of national sovereignty.
“It is a sovereign right, and those who are there illegally should be sent back,” Mr Rabuka stated.
Mr Trump’s plan has raised concerns about the potential impact not only on Fijians living in the US, but their families here in Fiji as well.
According to the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF), remittances from Fijians overseas have been Fiji’s second-largest source of foreign income since 2004, following tourism. “For many individuals and households, personal
remittances help support consumption for their families, which include purchases of household goods and motor vehicles. They may be used for social activities such as weddings, funerals, and other community projects. These funds may also be used for investment purposes like constructing houses, starting up new or supporting existing small businesses, and education,” states the RBF report on personal remittances in Fiji. Meanwhile, the US Department of Homeland Security recently announced it would end a policy that limited Immigration and Customs agents from arresting undocumented people in sensitive locations such as churches, schools, and hospitals.
Flood waters enter Ba town
Flood waters have entered parts of Ba town a short while ago.
Businesses are either closing down in the town or moving their stock inside the shops to higher ground.
The Nadi weather office had issued a flood warning for Ba town this morning This morning the water level at Ba Fiji Sugar Corporation was 3.5m above warning level and increasing.
PSH Hospitals launches Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
In a first for the western division and a major boost for the tourism sector as well as the greater Pacific, an advanced Hyperbaric Chamber has been officially launched by Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH Hospitals). The Hyperbaric Chamber has been setup at PSH Hospitals Nadi facility and caters for the western division as well as the tourism industry and the neighboring Pacific Island states.
Hyperbaric Chambers are used to provide life saving Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Of the many services provided through HBOT, some important and critical services include. The bends, also known as decompression sickness (DCS)
Decompression sickness is a condition that occurs when gas bubbles form in the blood or tissues due to a rapid decrease in pressure most commonly caused due to uncontrolled and rapid ascent during dives. Decompression sickness in our region mostly affects scuba and deep
sea divers. Decompression sickness can be fatal if hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not provided promptly. When a patient is suffering from decompression sickness, the patient is treated with oxygen in the hyperbaric chamber under high pressure which emulates dive depths. With Fiji being one of the best dive destinations, this HBOT service by PSH Hospitals is a massive boost to the tourism industry and divers in general, assuring divers have a reliable specialist hospital should a dive not go as expected.
Diabetic amputations is a major health concern in Fiji. Not only does this NCD place an enormous load on public infrastructure, it also severely impacts families and places undue financial burden and limitations on a family's prosperity. Diabetic amputations mostly occur due to severe infections and tissue damage.
Diabetic amputations happen primarily due to lack of advanced treatment of wounds and ulcers. With PSH Hospitals' Hyperbaric Chamber, HyperBaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) significantly enhances the healing process of wounds and ulcers which promotes new blood vessel formation which in turn increases oxygen and nutrient supply to wounds. This ensures faster wound healing negating the need for an amputation.
Twenty-two criminal cases were registered with police during a two-week operation in Nadi.
Divisional Police Commander West Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Iakobo Vaisewa said the offences ranged from assault, theft, damaging property, serious assault, common nuisance and drugs.
SSP Vaisewa said the officers were also able to conduct community perception surveys with a way forward mapped between Police and the business communities to improve community police collaboration in addressing safety concerns. “We take all the concerns raised on board and will continue to review our operations for the safety and security of all,” said SSP Vaisewa. He added the operation will
February 7.
George Soros' son Alex, who backs idea of independent Kashmir, meets Bangladesh govt head Yunus
Alex Soros, the chairman of the Open Society Foundations (OSF), a body accused of supporting independent Kashmir, has met Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka.
Alex is son of US billionaire George Soros, who is considered a controversial figure in India.
The office of the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh announced on Thursday, "The Open Society Foundations leadership on Wednesday met the Chief Adviser to discuss Bangladesh's efforts to rebuild the economy, trace siphoned-off assets, combat misinformation and carry out vital economic reforms."
The meeting between Alex and Yunus comes days after the US administration led by Donald Trump stopped foreign aid to Dhaka.
This is the second meeting between Soros and Yunus after the regime change in Bangladesh following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led government. Alex and Yunus had earlier met on October 2, 2024. Nobel laureate Yunus, who is also award-winning founder of Grameen Bank, is known for his work in microfinance and social business, also has longstanding financial ties to George Soros.
These relations date back to a 1999 agreement when Yunus secured a $11 million loan from the Soros Economic Development Fund, managed by the Open Society Foundations.
The loan enabled Grameen Telecom, a nonprofit entity linked to Yunus' Grameen Bank, to acquire a 35 per cent stake in Grameenphone Ltd, Bangladesh's largest telecom operator. This loan played a critical role in the development and financial structuring of Grameenphone, allowing it to grow into a major player in Bangladesh's telecom industry.
To
end impasse with Imran, Pak PM proposes Parliament panel
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday proposed the formation of a parliamentary committee to advance negotiations with jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after talks faltered with the opposition party.
The two sides on December 23 last year initiated talks but the process entered into a dead alley just after three sittings when the PTI walked away over the issue of delay in the formation of judicial commissions on events of May 9, 2023, and November 26 last year.
As the parleys ran aground, the PTI announced a re-launch of agitations and said February 8 would be observed as a “Black Day” to protest the alleged rigging in the polls held last year. It plans to hold rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swabi and Punjab’s Lahore on February 8. Shehbaz while addressing a meeting of the federal Cabinet made a bid to cool the tempers and offered a way forward by saying that a bipartisan committee be formed to probe the events.
Pakistani security forces neutralise 6 TTP terrorists, loses Major and Soldier in crossfire
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [Pakistan], January 31 (ANI): A Pakistan Army Major and a soldier were killed during a North Waziristan Intelligence Based Operation as the security forces gunned down six Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists also referred as Khwarij, ARY News reported.
According to InterServices Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was conducted in Mir Ali
Women
area of the North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The troops got into a gunfight at the TTP's location and killed six terrorists while reporting 2 casualties - Major Hamza Israr, 29, and Sepoy Muhammad Naeem, 26, ARY News reported.
The ISPR further said that the security forces are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve.
being prevented from engaging
in recreational activities; interim govt expresses concerns
Dhaka (Bangladesh), January 30 (ANI): The Interim Government in Bangladesh has expressed deep concerns over the reports of incidents of women being prevented from engaging in recreational activities.
"We specifically condemn the actions of hooligans who have forcefully disrupted girls' football matches. Women are equal citizens of Bangladesh and enjoy the same human and civil rights as men. The IG is doing everything in its power to ensure that they enjoy their full rights as Bangladeshi citizens", a statement from the Chief Adviser's Press Wing said on Thursday.
any attempt to discriminate against or oppress any group of citizens", the statement said. The Office of the Chief Adviser has ordered district administrations in Dinajpur and Joypurhat to take the necessary steps to resume the stalled football matches. The district administrators told us that they recently organised women football, cricket, and kabaddi match in their districts. Hundreds of people watched the matches, and they were appreciated by all sections of people in their districts, the statement said.
Anyone who imposes their restrictions on girls and women in violation of their rights will be held accountable for their actions according to the laws of Bangladesh, it added. "The Interim Government will take stern actions against
The Interim Government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, said it had recently organised one of the largest Youth Festivals in the country, which included women's sports matches held in hundreds of rural district and subdistrict towns, and thousands of girls took part in the football, cricket and Kabaddi matches, even in many remote rural districts.
School kids in villages fare poorly in reading Punjabi
Only 34% students of Class III at Punjab Government schools in rural areas can read a Class II-level text, reveals the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)-2024 for Rural India.
However, government schools have performed better than private ones when it comes to reading ability and solving the arithmetic problems.
Shockingly, over 15% of the Class III students, both of government and private schools, can
just read alphabets in Gurmukhi script but not words, and 4.6% students couldn’t even read Punjabi letters.
Punjab betters national average on infra front
Mid-Day meal was served in 97.4% of the schools, compared with the national figure of 91.9%
2.8% of the schools surveyed had no library compared with the national figure of 17.5%
81.2% had useable toilets against the national average of 79%
77% of the schools have separate usable toilets for girls against the national average of 72%
31.7% students use computers against national average of 11.1%
The survey on learning levels of children in rural Punjab revealed that 28% per cent of Class III students can read Class I-level text while only 34% of them were able to read Class II-level text.
EC team reaches Mann’s Delhi house after ‘cash distribution’ complaint
A major controversy erupted on Thursday when the Election Commission’s Flying Squad Team (FST) along with the Delhi Police reached Kapurthala House, the residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here, after it was alerted about alleged distribution of cash from there. However, officials present there did not allow the team to enter the CM’s house following which the Returning Officer of the New Delhi constituency, OP Pandey, also reached the spot to speak to Punjab Government officials about the matter.
According to officials, the Returning Officer had received a complaint regarding the alleged
falls under the jurisdiction of the New Delhi Assembly constituency. The complaint was received via the cVIGIL app, a platform where any citizen can report alleged violations of the model code of conduct.
Punjab Police bust terror module linked to Lakhbir Landa, 4 held
A module linked to foreign-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa was busted with the arrest of four people following a brief exchange of fire in Tarn Taran, Punjab Police said on Thursday.
The accused were reportedly being operated by US-based Gurdev Singh alias Jaisal Chambhal and Canada-based Satbir alias Satta Naushehra, said DGP Gaurav Yadav on Thursday.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Robinjeet Singh alias Robin of Muradpura in Tarn Taran, Harpreet Singh alias
Happy of Usman in Tarn Taran, Navjot Singh alias Nav of Kalanaur in Gurdaspur, and Jagdeep Singh alias Jagga of Ghuman Kalan in Gurdaspur. Police also recovered two hand grenades, two sophisticated .30 bore pistols, ammunition and three magazines from their possession. Yadav said that during questioning, the accused confessed that the seized hand grenades and weapons were supplied by Jaisal Chambhal through his unidentified associate.
Punjab jail authorities under fire for delaying
justice,
possible ‘unholy nexus’ with accused
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has called for strict vigilance and corrective action against erring jail authorities in Punjab following repeated lapses in producing accused persons before the trial courts on scheduled dates.
Admonishing the jail authorities for complete disregard for statutory duties, the court asserted that such lapses delayed the administration of justice and raised serious concerns about potential malpractices within the system.
Expressing apprehensions over the possibility of an “unholy nexus” between certain jail officials and accused persons, Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul of the high court further warned that such practices would amount to a blatant violation of judicial orders.
“The authorities would be well advised to take steps to prevent such lapses in the future and to root out such malpractices,” the court asserted. It
Punjab Home Secretary for necessary action and compliance.
The directive came during the hearing of a case where the court was compelled to intervene due to the repeated non-production of the accused before the trial court.
“Before parting, this court would want to comment upon the conduct of the jail authorities in the present matter, which is appalling and reflects an utter disregard for their statutory duties,” the court observed.
Justice Kaul asserted this was not the first time that the accused were not produced before the trial court.
“It has been coming to this court’s notice time and again that on the scheduled dates, the accused are not produced before the trial court resulting in the cases being adjourned as a consequence of which conclusion of the trials are
Trump, Modi discuss trade and potential White House visit
US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed trade and a potential state visit to Washington in a phone call on Monday. The White House said Trump emphasized the importance of "moving toward a fair bilateral trading relationship" as well as the importance of India procuring American-made security equipment.
The two leaders also discussed plans for Modi to visit the White House. "We are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership," Modi said on social media. "We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security."
Modi keeping close to Trump
Houston, where Trump addressed some 50,000 Indian-Americans, marking a significant moment in US-India relations.
That rally was followed by a "Namaste Trump" event in India's Gujarat state in February 2020, where Trump vowed to solidify US-India ties. What are the US and India's shared interests?
Modi was among the first world leaders to congratulate Trump both after he was projected to win a second term in the White House as well as after his recent inauguration, calling him a "dear friend." During Trump's first term, Modi also stressed his willingness to work with the US leader to the benefit of both their countries.
In September 2019, the two showcased their camaraderie by holding a "Howdy Modi" event in
US-India relations have grown over the course of numerous presidencies as both democracies share a common goal of containing China in the Indo-Pacific region.
Observers are confident that this shared aim will mean security ties remain stable. India purchased tens of billions of dollars of US military hardware from the previous Biden administration. However, trade may be a different story, owing to Trump's expressed willingness to use tariffs as a foreign policy tool.
"Trump previously labeled India a 'tariff king' and indicated intentions to implement a reciprocal tax system if he got re-elected, which would further complicate trade dynamics between the two nations," foreign policy expert C Raja Mohan told DW before last year's election.
30 dead, 60 injured; UP CM orders judicial probe on Maha Kumbh stampede
At least 30 people were killed and 60 injured in a pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh early Wednesday as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of one of the most auspicious days of Mauni Amavasya.
Several hours after the incident took place between 1-2 am, Maha Kumbh DIG Vaibhav Krishna gave the details of the casualties at a press conference here in the evening.
“The incident took place due to the pressure of the crowd. The crowd broke barricades and jumped to the other side, crushing those waiting there. Over 90 injured were rushed to the hospital,
of whom 30 died,” he said. The officer said 25 of the deceased have been identified. Four of them are from Karnataka and one each from Assam and Gujarat. Among those injured, 36 are undergoing treatment at the hospital and the rest have been sent with their families. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the devotees who lost their family members in the stampede, describing the tragedy as “extremely saddening”. Later in the night, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a three-member judicial commission, comprising Justice Harsh Kumar, former DG VK Gupta and retd IAS VK Singh to look into the reasons behind the stampede. He also announced an ex gratia of Rs 25 lakh each for the kin of the deceased.
“It is important to get to the bottom of the whole episode on how such a tragedy occurred,” a visibly emotional Adityanath said, adding that the chief secretary and DGP would visit the Maha Kumbh on Thursday for an in-depth probe into the tragic incident. DIG Krishna said barricades have been placed in the mela and akhara areas for lane management but they gave way under the pressure of the jostling.
Supreme Court relaxes norms for appointment of ad hoc judges in High Court
Citing huge pendency of cases in high courts across India, the Supreme Court on Thursday relaxed the conditions for appointment of ad hoc judges in high courts.
"Each HC may appoint ad hoc judges by taking recourse to Article 224A of the Constitution of India. The appointment of judges shall not exceed 10 per cent of the sanctioned strength. The ad hoc judges will sit in a bench presided over by a sitting judge of the High Court and decide pending criminal appeals," a Special Bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna said. Relaxing the conditions for appointment of ad hoc judges in high courts, the Bench -- which also included Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant -- decided to keep in abeyance the condition in its April 2021 judgment that ad hoc judges as per Article 224 of the Constitution can be appointed only if the vacancies are more than 20% of the sanctioned strength.
Article 224A provides for appointment of retired high court judges as ad hoc judges. Acting on a PIL filed by NGO Lok Prahari seeking invocation of Article 224A for appointment of ad hoc judges to tackle the problem of mounting case arrears in high courts, the top court had in April 2021 issued certain guidelines regarding the appointment of ad hoc judges in high courts. There were more than six million cases pending in 25 high courts which had 371 vacancies against the combined sanctioned strength of 1,122 judges as on January 1, 2025.
The joint committee of Parliament examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill submitted its report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday.
Panel Chairperson Jagdambika Pal met Birla at his Parliament House office and handed over the report.
The panel on Wednesday adopted by a majority vote its report that contained changes suggested by members of the ruling BJP, prompting the opposition to dub the exercise an attempt to destroy Waqf boards. The Joint Committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill adopted the report on the draft legislation by a 1511 majority vote.
Opposition members submitted dissent notes to the report. BJP members insisted that the Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha in August last year, seeks to bring modernity, transparency
and accountability in the management of Waqf properties. On the other hand, the opposition termed it an attack on the constitutional rights of the Muslim community and interference in the functioning of Waqf boards.
leaves note seeking changes in dowry act
The wife of a photographer who committed suicide and three of her kin were booked in Indore in Madhya Pradesh for alleged abetment of the act, a police official said on Thursday.
Nitin Padiyar (28) had ended his life on January 20 after leaving behind a suicide note in which he urged the government to make changes to the Dowry Prohibition Act to stop women from "misusing" it, Banganga police station house officer Siyaram Gurjar told PTI. "An FIR for abetment of suicide has been registered against his wife, and three of her family members, comprising her mother and two sisters.
The third piece of the knife used to attack actor Saif Ali Khan at his Bandra home on January 16 has been recovered, a police official said on Thursday. Khan was allegedly attacked by Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir (30), alias Vijay Das, a Bangladeshi national staying illegally in the country.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai police has deployed two constables in two shifts outside the Bandra residence of the actor. "We have provided
Padiyar's wife had filed a dowry case against him in Rajasthan, from where her parents hail. They were allegedly demanding money from Padiyar to withdraw the case," Gurjar said. "I, Nitin Padiyar, request the Government of India to change the law because women are misusing it. If you do not change it, then many more men and their families will get ruined every day. I request youth of India not to get married and if they do, they should strike an agreement before it. Seek justice for me after my death if you feel I have been bullied. Or wait for your turn," Padiyar's note stated.
temporary police protection outside Khan's Satguru Sharan building in Bandra West. Two constables from Bandra police station will be posted there in two shifts. CCTV cameras and widow grills have also be installed as part of security," a police official said. Meanwhile, the accused will be produced in court on Friday to seek extension of his police remand, the official added. He was remanded in five-day police custody on Sunday.
Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal was detained by the police Thursday afternoon after she dumped three mini-truckloads of garbage outside the residence of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in protest.
Earlier in the day, Maliwal visited Vikaspuri, where she claimed that the streets were choked with waste, posing severe health and hygiene issues for residents. Maliwal, along with a group of supporters, collected the garbage in three mini trucks and headed to Kejriwal’s residence at 5, Ferozeshah Road. Accompanied by hundreds of women holding placards that read, “Muskuraiye, AAP Delhi Mein Hain,” Maliwal dumped the garbage outside Kejriwal’s house, using a shovel to throw waste onto the ground. Soon after, she was confronted by female police personnel and removed from the site. She was subsequently detained and taken to the Parliament Street Police Station. According to Maliwal, she was released after a few hours and an FIR was registered against her under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for
violating prohibitory orders. After her release, Maliwal told reporters, “For the past ten years, Arvind Kejriwal has ensured that Delhi becomes a giant garbage dump. Roads are broken, drains are overflowing, and waste is piling up everywhere. Women and children are forced to live in unhygienic conditions, and yet the government does nothing.”
Earlier, Maliwal shared a video on X, showing her and others collecting garbage from Vikaspuri. “There have been heaps of garbage on the roads in Vikaspuri for years. People are very angry. They are going to collect all this garbage and dump it at Kejriwal’s house,” she wrote in the post.
She added, “The condition of the entire Delhi has deteriorated. The filth and stink that Delhiites face daily will be faced by Kejriwal ji today. The public is coming, Kejriwal ji, don’t be afraid.”
Maliwal has had a strained relationship with AAP and Kejriwal since last year when she alleged that she was misbehaved with at his residence by his personal secretary. The matter is currently being heard in court.
