Trudeau will resign after Liberals choose successor
Justin Trudeau says he plans to step down as Canada’s prime minister and leader of the Liberal party.
Trudeau made the announcement on Monday, saying he will stay on until a replacement is chosen, while also asking the Governor General to prorogue the Parliament until March 24.
“Despite best efforts to work through it, Parliament has been paralyzed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority parliament in Canadian history,” Trudeau said, speaking in front of his residence in Ottawa.
“That’s why this morning I advised the Governor General that we need a new session of Parliament. She has granted this request and the House will now be prorogued until March 24.”
Trudeau also added that over the holidays, he had a chance to reflect over his own political future and has decided to step aside to make way for a new leader. “I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide competitive process,” Trudeau said.
Continued on Page 10...
Elections BC is looking into a complaint of voting irregularities in a riding where a narrow NDP win gave it a one-seat majority in October’s election, with B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad highlighting allegations about improper voting at an addiction recovery facility. Continued on Page 5...
An Islamic group facing a withering reception to plans for a conference dedicated to overthrowing governments to start a Muslim caliphate has
issued a rare media statement denying it poses a security risk, and accusing critics of creating fake news.
The organization’s own materials, however, including a detailed manifesto, bluntly outline the group’s starkly anti-democratic, totalitarian, misogynistic, intractably monotheistic, militantly antisemitic worldview, where unprovoked jihad is a routine duty, Islamic law is paramount, and Israel must be exterminated — not even “a square inch” of the Jewish state can exist without constant war.
Continued on Page 7...
The Ministry of Health expects masking rules to remain in place in B.C. healthcare facilities until the spring. The ministry says it has brought in the temporary measure due to the increasing spread of respiratory illness.
Continued on Page 3...
Ways Canada's immigration rules are changing this year
The new year has ushered in tighter immigration policies as the federal government attempts to cool the country’s accelerated population growth. Last
year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted to “mistakes” the government made when it comes to its immigration policy.
“Looking back, as the post-pandemic boom cooled and business no longer needed the additional labour help, as a federal team, we could have acted quicker and turned off the taps faster,” he stated in a video posted in November.
The Canadian government announced several immigration policies last year, including tightening limits on newcomers and stricter rules on temporary foreign workers.
Continued on Page 6...
A B.C. man who abducted and murdered a 10-year-old girl in Surrey 24 years ago was denied day parole on Wednesday.
Shane Ertmoed is serving a life sentence for the first-degree murder of Heather Thomas in October 2000.
Thomas vanished while playing outside in Cloverdale, prompting a massive police and volunteer search. Her body was found weeks later in Alouette Lake in Maple Ridge.
Ertmoed was arrested that November, and confessed he had tried to sexually assault the girl, then strangled her when she fought back.
Jody Aspin, Heather’s mother, attended the hearing in person on Wednesday to read a victim impact statement and said it was the first time she had the chance to express herself to her daughter’s killer’s face. “They underscored the fact that he was deceptive as well as
manipulative,” she said.
“For once I rattled his chains. I feel that it was helpful for me to do so. And it got my point across for once towards him. I think he finally for once heard me after 24 years,” she said.
“He also today admitted that he had deliberately murdered Heather when she had resisted so that she would not be able to complain and he would not suffer any consequences.” Get the day's top stories from BC and surrounding communities, delivered to your inbox once a day.
Aspin said her daughter’s killer continued to try and paint himself in the best possible light.
At one point, she said, he offered an apology to the parole board itself, and “the people in the back” — his victim’s family.
“Just another lie, just another joke he plays to manipulate and victimize us,” she said.
Teen fatally stabbed outside BC school had sought to confront killer, court hears
The victim of a deadly 2022 stabbing outside a Surrey high school had come to the site looking to confront his killer, a B.C. court heard on Thursday.
Thursday’s sentencing hearing was suspended and rescheduled for a future date, after the victim’s mother collapsed in the courtroom and was taken away in an ambulance.
Mehakpreet Sehti, 18, was fatally stabbed shortly after noon in a parking lot outside Tamanawis Secondary in Newton on Nov. 22, 2022.
His killer, who cannot be identified because he was a youth at the time, was originally charged with second-degree murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter.
Sethi, who did not attend the school, worked as a delivery driver at the time, while his killer was a Grade 12 student at Tamanawis, a sentencing hearing heard Thursday.
Crown prosecutors told the court that Sethi’s girlfriend had told him that the offender had disrespected her. Sethi went to the school in a pickup truck with several other people the following day looking to confront the offender, the Crown said.
The offender approached Sethi with a group of six to 10 other boys, leading to an altercation that turned physical when one of them pushed Sethi.
In the course of the confrontation, Sethi either pushed or grabbed the accused, who responded by stabbing him once in the chest before driving away in his vehicle and leaving Sethi lying on the ground, the court heard.
Paramedics rushed Sethi to hospital, where he died of a stab wound to an artery feeding his heart.
The accused later sent a Snapchat message to a friend reading, “Bro, I just shanked the kid in the parking lot. You gonna have to meet me later or smt, bro. I gotta hide out,” the court heard. Police later found Sethi’s blood on the accused’s clothing and a knife.
According to a psychiatrist’s report, the offender said the incident was meant to be selfdefence, and that Sethi “didn’t deserve to lose his life.”
The offender’s flight from the scene of the stabbing and the fact that Sethi was not armed at the time were aggravating factors in the killing, Crown prosecutor Catherine Rose told the court.
Mitigating factors include his early guilty plea and the fact that he did not instigate the confrontation.
Prosecutors acknowledged that there was an element of panic in the offender’s actions and that Sethi, who was larger, approached him in a threatening manner with several other people. The Crown is seeking a sentence of two years of house arrest. The defence has yet to make its submissions, and the sentencing hearing has been put over to a future date.
Premier David Eby says his government is "on track" to open facilities in Surrey and Maple Ridge as part of its involuntary care program under the provincial Mental Health Act.
Surrey Pretrial Services Centre will host 10 beds to treat individuals with mental-health and addiction challenges being held in custody, while Maple Ridge's Alouette Correctional Centre (Monarch Homes) will host 20 beds for individuals needing long-term care and housing.
Speaking Tuesday, (Jan. 7), at his first media availability of 2025, Eby says two facilities scheduled to open in the spring are "modest-sized" considering the "demand and the need that is out there."
But Eby adds that they will serve as "templates for a significant expansion" of involuntary care first announced in mid-September of 2024 as part of a "new phase" of B.C.'s response to the opioid addiction crisis.
community at large.
"So we are full speed ahead on that project (involuntary care)," he says.
Government, meanwhile, has backed down from plans to limit drug use in the public by repealing the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act first passed in November 2023.
The legislation removed by a Dec. 19 order-in-council has been the object of a long-running legal dispute since December 2023. That is when Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson of the B.C. Supreme Court temporarily blocked it because it “poses a sufficiently high probability of irreparable harm” by pushing drug users into places where it would be less safe to consume drugs.
Eby says it is "urgent" for the province to support individuals who are "struggling with serious mental health issues" as well as brain injuries and addictions.
"We can see people struggling in our streets as well as in some cases involved in very violent and scary incidents," he says. These comments allude to two stranger attacks in Vancouver in early September 2024 that left one man dead and another man seriously injured.
Eby, who previously opposed involuntary care, but later appointed UBC's Daniel Vigo as B.C.’s first chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders, says it is "critically important" for impacted individuals to receive the care they need while protecting the
The law itself was a response to public concerns about the effects of B.C.'s threeyear-long decriminalization trial of certain drugs underway since Jan. 31, 2023. Government efforts in 2024 to repeal the injunction first filed by the Harm Reduction Nurses Association — which also challenged the legislation on constitutional grounds -— failed.
Government also points to a changed context.
A statement from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General says the province worked with Health Canada to change the decriminalization pilot, making it clear that public drug use is not legal. According to the ministry, people can now only possess drugs in private residences or designated health-care sites, such as overdose prevention, drug-checking, or addiction treatment service locations. The changes also include an exception for homeless individuals in legal overnight sheltering locations.
Two Canadians legally challenge Trudeau’s decisions to prorogue
A constitutional rights group will represent two Canadians in a legal challenge to overturn Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s prorogation of Parliament, alleging it to be “incorrect, unreasonable or both.”
The challenge seeks to have a Federal Court judge cancel the prime minister’s demand to shut down Parliament, forcing a return of the House of Commons.
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announced that it will be providing lawyers to David MacKinnon and Aris Lavranos, filers of a court application on Tuesday, which contends that Trudeau’s decision to prorogue “was not made in furtherance of Parliamentary business or the business of government, but in service of the interests of the LPC [Liberal Party of Canada].”’
While the lawsuit must meet a high threshold to be successful, if so, Parliament would have to resume as early as Jan. 27, likely forcing a confidence vote immediately upon its return.
Trudeau’s rationale for his prorogation request was that the Liberal party needed time to have a leadership race following his resignation as party leader. However, the prorogation also
thrusts Parliament into a reset, bringing all business on the Order Paper to a halt including bills, motions and committee work. MPs are relieved of their Parliamentary duties until the next session is summoned, which also applies to all Parliamentary committees. Any unfinished business of bills which have not yet been passed before prorogation takes place will be dropped or die on the Order Paper.
“No explanation was provided as to why Parliament could not recess instead. No explanation was provided as to why Members of Parliaments could not immediately exercise their right to vote on a motion of nonconfidence in the government,” reads the JCCF release. “A majority of MPs have now repeatedly promised to do just that, which would trigger an election and provide the needed “reset” in a democratic and legitimate way.” Any unfinished business of bills which have not yet been passed before prorogation takes place will be dropped or die on the Order Paper.
“We will invite the Court to conclude that the Prime Minister’s decision to advise the Governor General to prorogue Parliament was without reasonable justification,” said Manson.
Mask mandate returns to BC healthcare facilities
Continued from Page 1...
“Current surveillance trends show that influenza and RSV activity is increasing, and COVID-19 activity is stable but showing early signs of an increase,” the ministry statement said.
“Temporary measures like these have been regularly used in health-care settings both pre- and post-pandemic, including last year. In conjunction with existing infection control practices, they will
help curb the spread of respiratory illness this season and keep patients, residents and healthcare workers safe.”
The statement said the masking requirement will be in effect until the risk decreases, which is likely this spring.
"Public health experts will continue to monitor risk levels throughout the respiratory illness season."
An American fugitive’s snowboard trip to Whistler was cut short this week, four years to the day after he illegally entered the U.S. Capitol building with throngs of rioters.
Antony Vo, 32, arrived in Whistler on Christmas Eve after reportedly entering the country via Saskatchewan. Claiming political persecution, Vo filed for refugee asylum, as he awaited President-elect Donald Trump to take office and fulfil his promise to pardon the Jan. 6 rioters.
“We can confirm that Mr. Vo, a fugitive from U.S. justice, was arrested without incident in Whistler, B.C. on Jan. 6, 2025 on warrant under the [Immigration and Refugee Protection Act],” a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services
Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol rioter arrested in Whistler City
Agency (CBSA) told Pique in a statement.
Vo told The Toronto Star this week he was an irregular entry into Canada, crossing into the country either through North Dakota or Montana “pretty unimpededly.” The CBSA spokesperson confirmed the agency has no record of Vo entering Canada “at Regway, SK or any other official port of entry.
“The CBSA has a legal obligation to remove all foreign nationals who are inadmissible to Canada under the IRPA and who have a removal order in force,” the spokesperson said, adding more than 14,000 foreign nationals were removed from Canada between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31, 2024. “There’s a lot of tyranny and corruption in the world, and I want to do my part to bring light to it,” he said.
A Canadian court has granted bail to four Indian nationals accused of killing Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The accused—Karan Brar (22), Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh (22), and Karanpreet Singh (28) —were charged with first-degree murder and a conspiracy to commit crime in connection with Nijjar’s death in 2024. On June 18, 2023, Nijjar was shot dead in the parking lot of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. His assassination has been a focal point of diplomatic tension between Canada and India, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing — an accusation that New Delhi has consistently denied. The bail is seen as a setback for the Canadian Government, with reports indicating delays in the prosecution’s presentation of evidence during preliminary hearings. Critics argue that
these delays and the perceived lack of substantial evidence have undermined Canada’s position on the matter. The Surrey Provincial Court granted them bail ahead of the trial in British Columbia Supreme Court. The next hearing is scheduled for February 11. The Canadian Government has issued a “direct indictment”, moving the case from Surrey Provincial Court to the British Columbia Supreme Court. This process skips a preliminary inquiry, thus fast-tracking the case to trial.
As per media reports, the court documents revealed that the accused were released under a “stay of proceedings” while awaiting trial.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s assassination on June 18, 2023, has been a focal point of diplomatic tension between Canada and India, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging potential involvement of Indian agents — an allegation denied by New Delhi.
Last month, just before Christmas, the City of Delta approved a preliminary schematic design outlining the scope and size of the new, expanded Winskill Aquatic and Fitness Centre, which will completely replace the existing facility.
The new facility will be built at Winskill Park — on the east side of the park, directly fronting 56 Street, and immediately north of the existing east baseball field.
Currently, the existing aquatic centre is located at the southern end of the park, just south of the centre baseball field.
By building the new aquatic centre at a different area of the park, this enables the existing facility to remain operational during construction, until the new facility is ready for public use. Spanning a total building floor area of about 90,000 sq ft, the new twostorey facility will feature a 10-lane, 25-metre lap swimming pool, a four-lane teaching pool, a leisure pool with a lazy river and water slide, and sauna, hot tub, and cold plunge pools, as well as a gymnasium, a fitness gym, multi-purpose rooms, and space for Boys-Girls Club South Coast.
pools in the existing facility. Additionally, the 6,000 sq ft fitness gym in the new facility will be double the size of the current one.
“This is an exciting stage as we begin to see the community’s vision for this facility take shape,” said Delta Mayor George V. Harvie in a statement. The footprint of the existing aquatic centre building and some of the adjacent green spaces
The combined surface area of the swimming pools will be 14,000 sq ft — twice the size of the
Toronto-based KingSett Capital, the lender who initiated receivership proceedings against three projects by Burnaby-based real estate developer Thind Properties, has initiated creditor protection proceedings against a fourth project by Thind, according to filings in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
Over the past decade, Thind Properties has been developing four towers across a large site immediately south of The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby, near Still Creek Drive. Those towers include the Lumina Waterfall at 2311 Beta Avenue, Lumina Starling at 2351 Beta Avenue, and Lumina Alpha at 2288 Alpha Avenue, all three of which were completed around 2020 and 2021. At 2381 Beta Avenue, Thind — who owns the property under Beta View Homes Ltd. and Lumina Eclipse Limited Partnership — has been developing a 34-storey tower called Eclipse Brentwood that will deliver around 330 strata units — 329 according to Thind's corporate website, 335 according to KingSett Capital.
According to KingSett Capital, construction on Eclipse Brentwood — referred to as "Brentwood Tower C" — is now approximately 95% complete, with approximately 224 units subject to presale agreements.
at the south side of the park will be turned into a significantly expanded surface vehicle parking lot to accommodate the expected increased visitation demand to the new aquatic centre and the park’s improved baseball fields and other amenities. The number of parking stalls serving the aquatic centre will grow from the current 140 stalls to up to 250 to 275 stalls.
In its Petition to the Court dated January 7, KingSett Capital said that they entered into a loan agreement with the owners in April 2021 for a first-ranking mortgage in the principal amount of $124,000,000. On the same day in April 2021, KingSett Capital and the owners entered in a loan agreement for a second-ranking mortgage in the principal amount of $65,400,000, comprised of a first loan facility of $50,000,000 and a second loan facility of $15,400,000. Both agreements were later amended in June 2021, July 2022, May 2023, June 2023, and March 2024.
According to KingSett, Thind owes $189,196,038.21 as of December 27, 2024, with interest accruing at a daily rate of $28,349.08 on the first mortgage, $20,608.05 on the second mortgage's first facility, and $4,905.76 on the second mortgage's second facility.
KingSett says it issued a demand for payment on December 27 and that it also holds six additional mortgage charges registered against 2381 Beta Avenue, as a result of crosscollateralization with the Minoru Square and Highline Metrotown projects.
Although Eclipse Brentwood is nearly complete, KingSett says that construction on the project has halted.
Ph: 604-591-5423
Fax: 604-591-8615
editor@theasianstar.com
Editor: Umendra Singh
Associate Editor: Harvinder Sandhu
Marketing and Sales: Ravi Cheema 604-715-3847
Shamir Doshi 604-649-7827
Harminder Kaur 778-708-0481
Parminder Dhillon 604-902-2858
Pre-Press: Avee Waseer
Production: Ozmo Media
www.theasianstar.com
Publication Mail Agreement No 428336012
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept.
# 202 - 8388, 128 St., Surrey, BC V3W 4G2
Elections BC to probe election complaint lodged by BC Conservatives
Continued from Page 1...
Rustad says other alleged irregularities include voting by non-citizens and non-residents of specific ridings, and he wants assurances for B.C. voters that “it’s only Canadian citizens who are voting.”
The Conservative leader says his party wants an independent review of the election process, while Surrey-Guildford candidate Honveer Singh Randhawa says he plans to follow his complaint to Elections BC by petitioning the B.C. Supreme Court to invalidate the result in the riding.
Elections BC says Randhawa’s complaint filed last Friday is “under review.”
The NDP’s Garry Begg was declared the winner in Surrey-Guildford by 22 votes after a judicial recount conducted by hand, giving Premier David Eby’s government a bare majority.
Confirmation of Begg’s victory came nearly three weeks after election when no majority could be declared.
The result gave the NDP 47 seats in the 93-seat legislature, while the B.C. Conservatives won 44 seats, and the Greens two.
Weddings in India are a big deal and families don't shy away from making them as grand as possible. But sometimes all the grandeur does is cause noise pollution, annoying the people around. The issue came to light again when a person in Canada had to endure the pompous baaraat with drums being beaten all night. Posted on X from the Canadian girl profile, the video shows baaraatis celebrating wedding through the night. The woman Sadie Crowell, who first shared the video on TikTok, said that the celebrations continued into the morning till 9 am, while she was trying to sleep.
She shared the video filmed from her room upstairs while the Indian crowd danced to the music on the road. This is me sleeping on my f**king bed, and there is a wedding going on all night," she says in the video. "It's 9 am!" she added.
Not many on social media came to the defence of the baaraatis as almost everyone found it unacceptable. "Hate to say it. But I agree with you. This is pathetic . Such things wouldn't even happen here in Delhi. Most of us are shocked, where do they get the guts to behave like this? Dancing in public? Throwing trash everywhere?" a viewer commented.
Continued from Page 1...
Here’s how Canada’s immigration rules are changing this year.
Canada cuts immigration targets
Last October, the federal government announced that it would reduce the number of immigrants it brings in over the next three years, aiming to pause population growth over the next two years.
Previously, the government’s permanent resident targets for the next two years stood at 500,000 per year. Now, the target for 2025 is set to 395,000 and will taper even further in 2026 (380,000) and 2027 (365,000). Ottawa also plans to reduce temporary residents to 5% of the population by the end of 2026, adding that the population will “decrease over the next few years as significantly more temporary residents will transition to being permanent residents or leave Canada compared to new ones arriving.”
Cap on international students
The Canadian government announced last October that the number of new international student study permits issued in 2025 will be 10% less than the 2024 target of 485,000 permits.
“For 2025, this means reducing study permits issued to 437,000,” wrote the feds in a release, adding it will stabilize the intake cap at that same
number in 2026.
Graduates from public college programs will still be eligible for a PGWP of up to three years if they graduate from a field of study linked to jobs in a long-term shortage.
Automatic 10-year multiple-entry visa ends
Under new immigration rules, travellers visiting Canada will no longer be automatically granted a 10-year multiple-entry visa.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced this change last November, stating that multiple-entry visas issued to maximum validity “are no longer considered to be the standard document.”
Before making these changes, visitors could be approved for multiple-entry visas valid for up to 10 years, during which they could travel in and out of Canada. Now, the 10-year visa validity is no longer the standard.
No work permit applications for visitors
The IRCC ended the temporary policy allowing visitors to apply for a work permit effective last August.
The policy was initially set to end on February 28, 2025, but the IRCC said it changed the date to “recalibrate” how many temporary residents are in Canada and to “preserve the integrity of the immigration system.”
A decade after the City of Vancouver approved a plan to remove the twin viaducts serving the downtown core, a major developer has unveiled plans that could see the plan move forward.
Concord Pacific, which owns the last major slice of undeveloped land along False Creek has revealed a proposal to build 12 towers with 5,000 homes in what it is calling “Concord Landing.”
The Northeast False Creek site is currently home to two parking lots that sit between the waterfront and the viaducts.
The land has sat stagnant since it was used for Expo 86, with occasional use for events such as Cirque du Soleil. In April 2024, Concord Pacific and the City of Vancouver inked a land agreement transferring three undeveloped sites in the area, with plans for the city to develop 670 affordable rentals, along with a firehall and child care facility.
Peter Webb, senior vice-president of development for Concord Pacific, said the proposal is similar to ideas floated in 2018 when Vancouver city council approved the Northeast False Creek Plan. “The only thing that’s changed really is that as a result of the view cones changing the nature of how tall the buildings can be has changed in an effort to create supply,” he told Global News on Wednesday.
Vancouver city council voted last summer to amend its “view cone” policy, which limits building rights to preserve mountain views, in
order to allow for more housing construction. Under the changes, Concord Pacific is now proposing towers of up to 65 storeys, which would be the tallest in the city.
The 2018 plan envisions the removal of the viaducts, with Georgia Street reconfigured to connect directly to a new major arterial along Pacific Boulevard. The city’s own studies, he added, have determined pulling them out will actually improve traffic flow in the area by removing major bottlenecks and allowing drivers better access to local neighbourhoods.
That’s hard for people to believe, but its because the existing viaducts don’t serve this neighbourhood at all. They fly right over it,” he said.
“The connectivity that provides both for the city at large and for the neighbourhood, in particular, (is) significant, and it actually reduces a lot of traffic that is otherwise trying to make a short trip but has to make a long trip to do it.”
Trump’s ‘economic force’ threat against Canada sparks concern, disbelief
Incoming U.S. president Donald Trump’s threats to use “economic force” against Canada and its industries are sparking worry and disbelief. Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, Trump said he could use economic levers to push Canada toward becoming part of the United States, while also once again raising issues with the trade deficit and saying the U.S. doesn’t need to buy Canadian lumber, dairy or automobiles.
Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, said Trump’s comments show he doesn’t understand how interconnected the Canada-U.S. auto business is.
Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods coming in from Canada and Mexico, citing border security concerns.
Volpe said the threat is madness and would lead to immediate pushback by U.S. automakers
and their shareholders through court action and other means. Trump’s wider comments about Canada becoming part of the U.S., along with his statements about seizing the Panama Canal and Greenland, show he wants to sow chaos, said Volpe. “I mean, what are we talking about?” said Volpe. He said the threats raise issues bigger than the Canadian parts sector and the automotive sector itself.
“This is much, much bigger than a tool maker in Windsor or a blow-moulded plastic supplier in Markham,” said Volpe.
“Some men just like to watch the world burn, and I think he’s one of them.”
Trump on Tuesday characterized the U.S.’s trade deficit with Canada as a subsidy, a comment he’s made before.
“We don’t need anything they have,” he said. “We have more than they have.”
Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt said Trump’s comments demonstrate that he doesn’t understand trade.
“(Trump) sees it like a balance sheet. If they don’t need Canadian goods, why would they keep buying Canadian goods? It’s not a subsidy,” said Bratt. He said Canada benefits when it remains below the radar.
Mounties seize 171,000 packs of illicit cigarettes on Vancouver Island
Mounties on Vancouver Island say officers have seized more than $1.7 million worth of contraband tobacco after executing a search warrant at a property in Langford.
West Shore RCMP say in a news release that the warrant was granted in relation to suspected trafficking of the tobacco, and was executed by officers on Dec. 30 at a residential property on Setchfield Ave.
Police say they seized about 17,100 cartons, containing more than 171,000 packs of contraband cigarettes.
Todd Preston, superintendent in charge
of West Shore RCMP, says it was the “largest seizure of illicit tobacco” by the department to date, adding that the illicit tobacco trade often uses the same “drug pipelines” set up by organized crime groups.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and no arrests or charges have yet been laid, though they anticipate charges and fines once it is complete.
The Mounties say the sale of illicit tobacco helps fund organized crime groups and has economic impact for Canada through lost tax revenue.
Nanaimo syringe stabbing reignites calls for involuntary care
The brutal stabbing last month of a 58-yearold city employee in Nanaimo, B.C., made national headlines. The man was stabbed multiple times with a syringe after he asked two men who were using drugs in a public park washroom to leave.
The worker sustained multiple injuries to his face and abdomen and was hospitalized. As of Jan. 7, the RCMP were still investigating the suspects.
The incident comes on the heels of other violent attacks in the province that have been linked to mental health and substance use disorders.
On Dec. 4, Vancouver police fatally shot a man armed with a knife inside a 7-Eleven after he attacked two staff members while attempting to steal cigarettes. Earlier that day, the man had allegedly stolen alcohol from a nearby restaurant.
Islamic conference coming to Ontario is guided by manifesto calling for 'jihad against all non-muslims'
Continued from Page 1...
Their goal, Hizb ut-Tahrir’s manifesto says, is to ensure “Islam encapsulates the world.”
Unnamed officials of Hizb ut Tahrir Canada, a branch of a strict international organization that is banned in several countries, issued a stern denial their conference poses a threat after a public outcry to its planned resurrection of their Khilafah Conference, a meeting that was abruptly cancelled last year after its sister organization was declared a terrorist entity in Britain. “Hizb ut Tahrir categorically rejects the use of violence or material means in its methodology. The accusations linking the party to terrorism, extremism and violent activities are fabrications aimed at tarnishing its reputation,” said the statement released
Tuesday night.
“In light of the recent false accusations directed against Hizb ut Tahrir, it is necessary to clarify the truth and expose the baseless nature of these claims,” it said.
Their statement, however, seems at odds with the political organization’s internal guiding documents, and perhaps uses linguistic nuance and ambiguity to gain wiggle room.
The planned Khilafah Conference, calling for a Muslim caliphate where everyone lives under Islamic Shariah law, was originally scheduled for Jan. 18 at a secret location in Mississauga, just west of Toronto, but over the weekend, after a backlash from city officials, it was rescheduled for a secret location in Hamilton.
APPLIANCES REPAIR SERVICE
Oliver winery fined, banned from hiring temporary foreign workers
A vineyard in Oliver owned by Randhir Toor, has received a second non-compliance fine and a permanent ban from hiring temporary foreign workers.
In 2022, a $90,000 fine was levelled against Toor Vinyards for the part it played in a province-wide immigration fraud scheme. The vineyard has now been fined $118,000 for noncompliance with policies relating to the hiring of temporary foreign workers.
Toor Vinyards, which is also known as Desert Hills Estate Winery is located at 4078 Black Sage Road in Oliver, B.C.
On Dec. 16, 2024 the company was found noncompliant of three regulatory issues in a decision from the Immigration and Citizenship branch of the government of Canada.
The non-compliance fines and restrictions were imposed after Toor Vinyards failed to present government inspectors with the correct documents. Additionally, the pay or working conditions were inferior to what was listed on the foreign worker's offer of employment.
Lastly, Toor Vinyards also "did not put in enough effort to make sure the workplace was free of; physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, financial abuse or reprisal," said the Government of Canada in the listed reasons for the decision.
The now retired former owner of Toor Vinyards and Desert Hills Estate Winery, Randhir Toor, is under investigation for an incident involving allegations of sexual assault on a migrant worker from Mexico.
While Toor has not been charged and the allegations have not been tested in court, the allegations became public after the B.C. RCMP issued a public call for information.
“Considering the seriousness of this allegation, and the potential for additional victims, police are reaching out to the community to speak with those who have yet to come forward,” said Cpl.
James Grandy, a BC RCMP spokesperson in January 2024. “If you have been a victim, or have any information, we’re encouraging you to speak with us."
3 arrested after break-in on Abbotsford farm
Three men are in custody following a breakand-enter incident at a farmland property in Abbotsford Tuesday morning. The Abbotsford Police Department says it responded to a property on Interprovincial Highway and Number 3 Road around 7:30 a.m.
Sgt. Paul Walker tells 1130 NewsRadio that the homeowner called police after witnessing the incident through home security.
“They had things put in place, such as video cameras and things, to alert them if people were on their property. And that worked well today,
providing that information in real time to us,” Walker explained.
When officers arrived, they reportedly saw a suspect vehicle trying to flee the area, and police deployed a spike-belt to stop it.
“As a result of that, two men fled that vehicle on foot into neighboring properties that were in the general area. Police dogs were called in to assist our patrol officers and as a result of their actions, two men were located and arrested in that area,” said Walker. He says another man found in the area was later arrested.
CBSA says it acted in 'good faith' detaining solar panels in forced labour probe
The Canada Border Services Agency says it acted lawfully and in "good faith" when it detained nearly 50 containers of solar panels belonging to a Victoria, B.C., company over concerns they were made using forced labour.
Charge Solar Renewables Inc. sued the border agency in Federal Court in November 2024, alleging the detention of solar panels from China worth more than $5-million caused it to lose its "dominant market share."
The company's lawsuit says border guards detained the shipments that came through ports in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto between February and April 2024, but later lifted the detentions after determining the panels weren't prohibited under rules that came into force in 2020. The border agency's statement of defence
filed last month in Federal Court says the company "made the economic decision" to purchase and import the panels knowing they were subject to examination and possible detention.
The agency says it owes no "duty of care" to importers because the law doesn't oblige border guards "to consider the impacts of detention decisions on private business interests and their commercial relationships."
The statement of defence says there are "important policy reasons" against allowing the company's lawsuit for negligence because it "would create indeterminate liability" over each decision made by border officers regarding imported or exported goods.
The Charge Solar shipments were eventually released in June and July.
Canada Post alleges $449K package label fraud in lawsuit
Canada Post is alleging a B.C. energy drink company operator defrauded it of $449,439 through manipulating prepaid postal labels.
“Canada Post is entitled to the return of the evaded postage, or items and proceeds traceable to it which were acquired through business transactions using the manipulated return labels,” the corporation said in a Jan. 3 B.C. Supreme Court notice of civil claim.
Canada Post alleged Jackson Lam operated an energy drink business under the name Prime Hydration Co. and through primehydrationco. ca (the website appears to be out of service). It alleged the business address was a UPS store in Burnaby. The claim said Lam had a Canada Post Small Business Solutions account under the name TROUBLEMAKERZ.
The claim alleges Lam began a scheme in August 2022 to manipulate post office shipping
labels from various retail clients including Bell Canada, COGECO, Eastlink and Shaw Communications – called the merchants in the claim. The claim said customers could enter their outgoing shipping address on the merchants’ websites and receive labels to return products to those merchants. Canada Post then invoiced the merchants for those upon the dispatching of the packages bearing such labels.
The claim alleges Lam obtained 11,328 such labels between August 2022 and April 2023. It further said that Lam, through the TROUBLEMAKERZ account, then manipulated the labels to replace addresses with those corresponding to Prime Hydration. The claim said Canada Post received complaints for Bell Canada in January 2023 about labels issued in its name for purported returns that never arrived.
SATURDAY,
JANUARY 11,
confirms 2 found dead in Abbotsford car fire
After the Lower Mainland’s homicide team was called in to help investigate when human remains were found in a burnt-out car in Abbotsford last week, police confirmed on Wednesday that two people were found dead.
The incident happened on Jan. 3, when Abbotsford Police Department officers were called out to Sumas Mountain Regional Park shortly before 3 p.m, where they found a 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander that had been set on fire. After fire crews extinguished the blaze, officers found human remains inside the vehicle. “The Abbotsford Police Major Crime Unit is in the preliminary stages of the investigation working with the BC Coroners’ Service to identify the remains in the vehicle,” the AbbyPD said at the time.
According to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, the remains of two people have been located inside the burnt vehicle.
“Although the circumstances surrounding the
deaths are still being examined, we do not believe this was a random incident, and therefore, there is no ongoing risk to the public,” said Sgt. Freda Fong on Wednesday. “We would like to thank several patrons at the park who rendered assistance and came forward to speak with the police. The details of this case may be disturbing to some and those who are feeling affected are encouraged to seek support. IHIT Victim Services is available to anyone in need of assistance,” Fong added.
Anyone who has information about the case is being urged to contact IHIT at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Canadian college dubbed ‘beyond scandalous’ for employing convicted synagogue bomber
A Canadian university has come under fire from prominent alumni after employing a convicted terrorist as a professor in “social justice”.
Hassan Diab was convicted of terror offences in absentia by a French court. The trial related to the 1980 bombing of a Paris synagogue, with Diab accused of planting the explosive device which killed four and injured 46.
He had previously been jailed after a bitter extradition row but was released in 2018 due to a lack of evidence. The charges were reinstated in 2021 and upheld by France’s highest court of appeal, leading to his 2023 conviction while he remained in Canada.
was a former ‘forced participant observer’ in detention centers in Canada and France.”
“Students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by participating in class debates and discussions to acquire firsthand knowledge of the behind-the-bars world as experienced for years by a sociologist.”
The case was highlighted by Elon Musk on January 21 when he wrote on X that the “mass murderer” is “living free as a professor in Canada.”
Some 21 million accounts viewed the post.
A review of the Carleton University’s website found that Diab, 71, taught Sociology 3170A, named “Social Justice in Action” in the Fall 2024 term. Among the things that the course addressed, according to a syllabus, were “miscarriages of justice” and “critically” examining “Canada’s Extradition Law and its shortcomings.”
One of the course readings was a fundraising website dealing with Diab’s own case. The course plan added: “This is a unique class as its instructor
The university’s sociology and anthropology department even hosted a rally to support Diab on Nov. 13, 2022, “demanding that the Canadian government protect professor Hassan Diab from further injustice, stop the baseless prosecution he is facing and refuse any future request for Hassan’s extradition.”
It is not clear if Diab is scheduled to teach a course again in the coming academic year, with university listing him as a “contract instructor” in the autumn but not this winter.
A French court convicted Diab, then 69, in absentia and sentenced him to life in 2023 for the Oct. 3, 1980 synagogue bombing in Paris that killed four and wounded dozens on Simchat Torah. A BBC report of the tragedy stated: “The Rue Copernic attack was the first to target Jews in France since World War II and became a template for many other similar attacks linked to militants in the Middle East in the years that followed.”
Trudeau will resign after Liberals choose successor Prorogues Parliament
Continued from Page 1...
“Last night, I asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin that process. This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”
Trudeau’s announcement came amid growing calls from within the Liberal caucus for Trudeau to resign as the party’s popularity in public opinion polls continues to plunge.
During the winter break, the Ontario, Atlantic and Quebec caucuses all concluded that Trudeau needed to step aside, saying it was time for a new leader to lead the Liberals into the next federal election.
Multiple high-profile cabinet ministers have resigned in recent weeks, including the shocking exit last month of Chrystia Freeland as deputy prime minister and finance minister.
Freeland, who until recently was a longtime staunch ally of Trudeau, publicly blamed the prime minister for her decision to resign, which she announced hours before she was set to announce the government’s fall economic update. Her resignation letter stated she was “at odds” with Trudeau over recent economic
policy decisions.
Over the past few months, the Liberals saw the end of its supply-and-confidence agreement with the NDP and lost the backing of the Bloc Quebecois, which had helped the government survive multiple non-confidence motions but failed to advance its own policy priorities.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said after Freeland’s resignation that his party would no longer keep the government afloat, and vowed his own non-confidence motion after the House of Commons was set to return on Jan. 27.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Trudeau’s resignation is to “trick voters” months before the next election.
“Canadians desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history might be relieved today that Justin Trudeau is finally leaving, but what has really changed?” Poilievre said in a video.
He questioned the timing of the announcement, saying Liberal MPs’ only objection appears to be that Trudeau is no longer popular enough to win an election and keep the party in power.
Two juvenile students arrested on New Year’s Day for drug possession
Two juvenile students were among the 18 people arrested for been in possession of illicit drugs in the first five days of 2025.
Fiji Police Force said two juvenile students were arrested on New Year’s Day and a female was arrested yesterday.
A female was arrested yesterday along Nailuva for being in possession of one clear plastic containing white crystals believed to be methamphetamine.
On New Year’s Day, a 17-year-old student was arrested around Lami Village after been found with a clear zip lock bag containing dried leaves and five sachets of dried leaves believed to be marijuana. A 16-year-old student from Nauluvatu was arrested after he was found in possession of 11 sachets of dried leaves believed to be marijuana. A 30-year-old baker of Wailea settlement, a 42-year-old unemployed man of
Qelewaqa Labasa and a 35-year-old farmer of Kilikoso, Labasa were also included in arrest list.
“On the second day of this year, a 35-yearold farmer of Nakoba Village was found with 3 sachets and a 32-year-old laborer of Naodamu was found with 9 sachets of dried leaves believed to be marijuana,” Police said.
“On the third day while on Patrol, Police came across four young men along the Queens Road at Velovelo, Lautoka and arrested them for being in possession of 48 sachets of dried leaves believed to be marijuana.”
A 24-year-old man of Verata Street, Nausori was also arrested on Saturday for being in possession of two clear zip lock plastic bag containing white crystals believed to be methamphetamine.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations (ACPO) Livai Driu said drug arrest continued every day, and he acknowledged the support from stakeholders.
“We are receiving drug information from the Turaga ni Koros and leaders of certain groups who doesn’t want drugs to spoil their children’s future,” ACP Driu said.
“We will continue with the war against drugs, but we cannot do it alone. We need everyone’s support.”
Suspect charged with rape & assault of Beijing Airways crew
A suspect has been charged for a count each of rape and sexual assault in the matter involving a flight crew from Virgin Australia.
Acting Police Commissioner Juki Fong Chew confirmed to this newspaper that an investigation on the alleged theft was still ongoing.
“As for the investigation for rape/sexual assault, the investigation has completed,” he said.
“A suspect has been charged for two counts that is sexual assault and rape. Suspect is in custody and now will be produced in court on Monday.”
The man is expected to appear before the Nadi Magistrate’s Court.
Meanwhile, the crew members affected by the ordeal returned home yesterday.
One of Fiji’s largest privately-owned enterprises has unveiled its new $55million distribution centre in the Western Division ahead of its 90th anniversary next year.
Owned by Punjas Group of Companies, manufacturers and distributors of fast-moving consumer goods in Fiji and the region, this multimillion-dollar development is part of its expansion strategy and is likely to be largest warehouse in the Pacific with storage capacity of 24,000 pallets.
Presently under construction in Lautoka, the cutting-edge facility signals Punjas’ commitment to strengthen its supply chain capabilities across Fiji and the broader Pacific region to meet the growing demand for food and non-food consumables.
as a key player in the Pacific’s growing market,” the DPM said.
Punjas, established in 1935 and now employs more than 1500 workers, is gearing up for its 90th anniversary next year.
Mr Prasad toured the corporate headquarters
The Punjas team hosted Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Prof Biman Prasad and his team on a tour of the facility at the weekend, and where the management team highlighted the company’s role in not just the local economy, but also its growing international presence through the Fijian-made product portfolio. Mr Prasad said this multimilliondollar investment represented a significant milestone not only for Punjas but for the entire Pacific region.
“It will undoubtedly enhance the efficiency of regional supply chains and create new economic opportunities, while strengthening Fiji’s position
‘Go to hell’
| Women accuse minister of verbal abuse
2 women who called Government Minister Charan Jeath Singh to complain about a robbery at his Lautoka hotel have accused him of verbally abusing them.
Prinal Priya Devi and her partner, Nalini Ranjani Prasad, of Tavua, said they rang Mr Singh, who is the Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry, after they were rudely dismissed by the hotel manager when they followed up on their complaint.
One of Mr Singh’s companies owns the hotel.
The women released what they said was a recording of the call.
A man they claimed was Mr Singh could be heard telling them “go to hell” and adding “Why should I help you? You didn’t vote for me!”
The Fiji Times has not independently verified the recording. Speaking to The Fiji Times, Ms
Devi expressed her shock and disappointment at Mr Singh’s alleged conduct. “We first called his manager to follow up on our case because we got robbed in that hotel,” Ms Devi said.
“The manager dismissed us rudely and did not want to speak to us.
“So, we called Mr Singh, hoping he would address the issue since he is the director of the hotel.
“But what he said to us is absolutely disappointing. I can’t believe a minister in the Government would talk to his citizens like this.”
Ms Devi said she and her partner are still in shock after the robbery of their room and after this call with Mr Singh, they are absolutely distraught.
Police have confirmed that investigations into the alleged robbery were ongoing.
and the company’s biscuit manufacturing operations, which continue to innovate and support the company’s vast distribution network.
He also met senior directors Kanti Punja and Jagjiwan Punja who discussed the company’s vision for the future and its role in fostering economic growth.
last Wednesday, Punjas also celebrated the expansion of the Punjas Medical Centre with a $2.25 million investment through its Punjas Charity Trust focused on ensuring medical care is accessible to as many people possible.
It also extended the Punjas Children’s Park in Lautoka, part of ongoing commitment to improve the quality of life for Fijians.
$55 million centre
Pakistan's passport ranks among world's weakest, stands 103rd in passport index
Pakistan's passport has been ranked among the weakest in the world, securing the 103rd spot in the Henley Passport Index 2025, a significant drop from its position in the previous year, as reported by The News International.
This year, Pakistan shared the same rank as Yemen, offering visa-free access to only 33 countries--starkly contrasting the leading passports globally. The Henley Index, which ranks the passports of 199 countries based on their visafree travel accessibility, relies on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), The News International reported.
According to The News International, the passport ranking highlights a concerning reality for Pakistani citizens, with Pakistan now falling behind other nations in terms of global mobility.
In comparison, Singapore holds the top spot, with its passport granting visa-free access to 195 countries. Following closely behind are Japan and several European nations, including France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, which now rank third with access to 192 destinations. Countries like Finland and South Korea, once higher on the list, also dropped a place in the past year.
Iraq (104th), Syria (105th), and Afghanistan (106th) are among the countries with weaker passports than Pakistan. Meanwhile, nations such as Somalia, Nepal, Palestine, and Bangladesh rank just above Pakistan. Somalia holds the 102nd position, only one spot ahead of Pakistan.
Bangladesh condemns India's claims of mistreatment of fishermen
The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Thursday called India's allegation of the "mistreatment of Indian fishermen" as "baseless and fabricated".
The Bangladeshi MOFA said that the allegations undermine the spirit of trust between the two countries.
"Bangladesh expresses its utter dismay and deep disappointment over the unfounded remarks and fabricated allegations of illtreatment including physical abuses of the detained Indian fishermen by the Bangladesh authorities. Bangladesh firmly rejects such unfounded allegations which undermines the spirit of trust, goodwill and mutual respect between Bangladesh and India. Concerned authorities of Bangladesh have confirmed that, under no circumstances, were the detained fishermen physically abused. The matter was thoroughly investigated and it was found that no such ill-treatment or incident of physical abuse happened," the statement said.
The MOFA further claimed that they treated the Indian detainees appropriately.
"Bangladesh wishes to mention that the detained 95 Indian fishermen/crew members were treated appropriately during their stay in Bangladesh. As per international norms, consular accesses were duly granted to the representatives of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, who visited the fishermen during their detention. The representatives of the Indian diplomatic missions were also present during the release of Indian fishermen from the jails on 02 January 2025 and during the fishermen's departure from Mongla on 04 January 2025.
The MOFA said that they expected the repatriation from India to be amicably solved.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder calls for bail, release of party leaders, workers
Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Salman Akram Raja on Thursday stated that PTI Chairman Imran Khan has demanded the federal government to release party leaders and workers currently in custody, as reported by ARY News.
According to ARY News, Raja explained that PTI founder Imran Khan had instructed Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who met with him recently, to push for the formation of a judicial commission during the third round of talks with the government committee.
Khan has also emphasised that if the government refuses to establish the judicial commission, PTI will not participate in the fourth round of talks. He reiterated that his main focus is the release of PTI workers and leaders, asserting that the charges against him are baseless and will be dismissed in court, ARY News reported.
Raja further mentioned that PTI members have met with Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who leads the talks committee. However, Sadiq is aware of PTI's current stance and added that PTI has informed the government of its readiness for the next session of talks.
"We have informed the government that PTI is ready for the next session of talks," Salman Akram Raja said as quoted by ARY News.
Tehreek-e-Insaf employees protest over non-payment of salaries amid financial crisis
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is facing a deepening financial crisis as employees at the central secretariat in Islamabad have not been paid their salaries for the past three months, ARY News reported on Thursday.
More than 25 employees of the PTI central secretariat staged a protest over the delayed payments, voicing their concerns to the PTI leadership. The issue was raised with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and PTI Secretary Information Sheikh Waqas Akram, as reported by ARY News. To address the situation, PTI has initiated a fundraising campaign, urging party parliamentarians and ticket holders to contribute funds to cover the salaries of the employees.
According to ARY News attributing sources, the monthly salary budget for the PTI central secretariat is approximately PKR 4.5 million, but the party's funds have been depleted due to significant legal expenses incurred by the lawyers representing PTI in various court cases.
In addition to the salary issue, PTI has launched another fundraising effort to support its operations, ARY News reported.
A letter sent to party members acknowledged the party's severe financial difficulties and requested they contribute PKR 240,000 annually to the party fund.
The payment can be made in two instalments of PKR 120,000 each, with the first due by January 2025, ARY News reported. This financial appeal comes at a time when PTI founder Imran Khan has urged overseas Pakistanis to stop sending remittances to Pakistan as part of a civil disobedience movement to pressure the government.
Sex ratio down from 902 to 864 in a year, Pathankot worst in Punjab
The latest sex ratio figures available through the civil registration system in Punjab have pointed to an alarming trend in the border belts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur.
From 902 in 2023, the sex ratio in Pathankot declined by 38 points to 864 in 2024. In simple terms, 864 girls were born in the district against 1,000 boys last year.
Gurdaspur stood close at 888, although three notches better than in 2023. The overall sex ratio in Punjab was 918 in 2024, an improvement of just two points. At 987, Kapurthala topped the state once again even as the ratio declined by 5 points from 992 in 2023. The Muslimdominated district of Malerkotla fared well in maintaining the second position with a gender ratio of 961 and improving significantly by 39 points. Experts in the border belts agree that the sex ratio in the 0-1 age group is dismally low. Civil Surgeon Bharat Bhushan attributes it to female foeticide. “When the PNDT Act
came into existence, we were of the opinion that the sex ratio would improve significantly. However, the situation didn’t change much because of extremely low literacy rates in the border areas. Gurdaspur and Pathankot share land borders with J&K and Himachal Pradesh. There have been instances when women were taken to these states for foeticide. Recently, our teams raided Kathua and nabbed some people. Families living below the poverty line do not want girls and often visit quacks for the termination of pregnancy.”
Eminent sociologist Prof Rajesh Gill, however, differs on such a reasoning for the skewed sex ratio in the border belts and calls for an immediate intervention of the authorities. “There are pockets inhabited by poor and backward people in every district. The administration in districts with a sex ratio of less than 900 need to immediately start a tracking system for every pregnant woman. They just can’t sit over reports.”
Amid SKM call for unity among farm unions, Shambhu protester ends life
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, which led the 2020-21 farmers’ protest on the borders of Delhi, today passed the “Ekta Resolution”, emphasising the need for broad unity among various unions to press for their long-standing demands.
Septuagenarian leader of the SKM (Nonpolitical) Jagjit Singh Dallewal, fasting for 45 days now, has asked all political parties of Punjab to clarify their stand on whether they will come out in support of the farmers, who are demanding a legal guarantee for the MSP among other things. While this bid for unity among farmer unions marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing agitation,
Government’s alleged “anti-farmer” policies, an unfortunate incident at the Shambhu barrier cut short the celebratory mood of the possibility of a joint agitation. A 50-year-old farmer from Tarn Taran, Resham Singh, died by suicide by consuming an insecticide at the Shambhu border. Later, a press note reportedly found on his person stated, “I, Resham Singh, son of Jagtar Singh, Pahuwind village, am a member of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee. As per my understanding, sacrificing lives is important in order to wake up the Modi government and the Punjab Government. So, first and foremost, I am
An explosion took place outside the Gumtala police chowki here on Thursday evening, triggering panic. The police, however, denied any blast due to explosive material.
Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said it was apparently an explosion in the radiator of a policeman’s car. “People took it for a bomb blast, which is not the case,” he said.
ACP (West) Shiv Darshan Singh, in a video message, said the chowki incharge, ASI Harjinder Singh, was present when the incident occurred around 8 pm. During examination, the radiator was found damaged. The front windshield was damaged too. The ACP said there was no need to panic and
people shouldn’t spread rumours. This is the ninth such incident at a police establishment in Punjab in the past month and a half.
UT won’t allot alternative site to furniture market traders
Shopkeepers of the furniture market in Sector 53 and 54 face eviction as the UT Administration has turned down their request for allotment of an alternative site.
According to an order issued by the Estate Officer, the demand of the shopkeepers was rejected as the land upon which they were running their business was acquired in 2002. A total 227.22 acres (114.43 acres of Kajheri village, 69.79 acres of Badheri village and 43 acres of Palsora village) was acquired for development of third phase of Sectors 53, 54 and 55 and original landowners had been awarded the compensation as well as the enhanced compensation.
Further, the persons illegally running business on government land are trespassers and hence they would have no right to seek preferential allotment of plots for running business.
Officials said that notices would be issued to the shopkeepers to vacate the land within 15 days.
Nearly 15 acres of the land has been encroached upon by the shopkeepers in the market. On June 22, 2024, the Land Acquisition Department had
the shopkeepers to demolish their shops and vacate the government land within a week.
In the notice served on the shopkeepers, the department had clarified that the land was acquired by the Chandigarh Administration in 2002. Despite efforts by the shopkeepers to seek stay order from the High Court, all petitions were disposed of. The court upheld the Administration’s right to reclaim the land, having already compensated the original landowners. As per the notice, the shopkeepers were instructed to dismantle the illegal structures and restore the land to its original state by June 28, last year.
As many as 29 shops in the illegal furniture market in Sectors 53 and 54 were demolished on June 30, as these shopkeepers had failed to submit their replies to the Land Acquisition Officer (LAO). Of the total shopkeepers who had been served demolition notices, 116 had filed their replies to the LAO.
The official reiterated that the furniture market had been running illegally on the government land and the UT Administration was duty bound
PM Modi flags off Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for NRIs
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday remotely flagged off the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for the Indian diaspora.
The train will travel to various tourism and religious destinations across India over three weeks. This initiative is part of the Pravasi Teertha Darshan Yojana of the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Express is a special stateof-the-art tourist train, exclusively designed and built for the Indian diaspora, and that too for the age group between 45 and 65 years.
Starting from its launch day, January 9, the train will travel to multiple destinations across the nation, including prominent tourist and religious places, for three weeks.
The date for flagging off the special train has also been deliberately chosen by the Modiled government. The date January 9, 2025, commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India on this date in the year 1915. The departure of the train is from Safdarjung Railway Station in New Delhi and the route isNew Delhi - Ayodhya - Patna- Gaya - Varanasi - Mahabalipuram - Rameswaram - Madurai - Kochi - Goa - Ekta Nagar (Kevadia) - AjmerPushkar - Agra. The train can accommodate 156
passengers.
To connect the Indian diaspora to their roots, this tour is being organised under the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).
Indian Embassies across the world had invited applications from participants, giving a preference to Persons of Indian Origins (PIOs) belonging to the low-income category who would otherwise not be able to afford to visit India on their own.
A statement of the ministry said that it will bear all expenses for the aforesaid conducted train tour besides also bearing 90 per cent of the return airfares for the eligible people from their countries of origin to India. The participants need to bear only 10 per cent of their return airfares. The travellers will be accommodated at 4-star or similar category hotels as per the tour itinerary.
Supreme Court dismiss petitions seeking review of same-sex marriage verdict
The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed petitions seeking review of its October 17, 2023, verdict refusing to recognise same-sex marriages in India, saying no interference was warranted as there was no error apparent on the face of the record.
“We have carefully gone through the judgments delivered by Hon’ble Mr S Ravindra Bhat (exJudge) speaking for himself and for Hon’ble Ms Justice Hima Kohli (former Judge) as well as the concurring opinion expressed by one of us (Hon’ble Mr Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha), constituting majority view.
“We do not find any error apparent on the face of the record. We further find that the view expressed in both the judgments is in accordance with law and as such, no interference is warranted,” a fivejudge Constitution Bench led by Justice BR Gavai said, dismissing over a dozen review petitions.
The other four judges on the Bench were Justice
Justice Suryakant, Justice BV Nagarathna, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Dipankar Datta. Justice Narasimha was the only judge who was on the original Bench that refused to recognise same-sex marriages in India. The other four judges on the original Bench were CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice SK Kaul, Justice Ravindra Bhat and Justice Hima Kohli, who all have retired.
Review petitions are generally heard “in chamber”—and not in an open court—by a procedure called “hearing by circulation” where advocates representing the parties are not allowed to argue. But in exceptional cases, the top court allows open court hearing, if convinced about its need. A five-judge Bench led by CJI Chandrachud (since retired) had on October 17, 2023, unanimously turned down petitions seeking to allow same-sex marriages under the Special Marriage Act, saying it’s for Parliament to effect changes in the law for validating such unions.
"Trudeau paid huge price by souring his international relations": Punjab BJP Vice-President Bajwa
Following the release of the documents by the Justice Department of British Columbia, Canada, that showed that all four alleged accused in the murder of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar were no longer in custody, Punjab BJP Vice President Fatehjung Singh Bajwa on Thursday criticised Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's earlier allegations against the Indian government, claiming that his actions have caused significant damage to his international relations.
On Thursday, the documents released by the Justice Department of British Columbia, Canada, showed 'N' against the status of being in custody against the four men--Karan Brar, Amandeep Singh, Kamalpreet Singh and Karanpreet Singh--who were charged with the murder of Nijjar and conspiracy to commit murder by the Canadian police.
Notably, ties between India and Canada have been strained after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused agents of the Indian government of killing Nijjar.
However, India has dismissed the accusations as "absurd" and "motivated."
According to the Punjab BJP Vice President, Trudeau had failed to provide evidence for his claims and suggested that even Canadians are no longer supporting him. "Today, a Canadian court granted bail to all accused in Hardeep Singh Nijjar's murder case. Justin Trudeau levelled a huge allegation against the Indian government... The government said that he should produce evidence if he has any... So, I think Justin Trudeau has paid a huge price by souring his international relations. Justin Trudeau used to stand in support of hardliners; today even Canadians are not standing in his support," Bajwa said.
Brar, 22; Karanpreet Singh, 28; and Kamalpreet Singh, 22, were all taken into custody in Edmonton on May 3, 2024. A fourth accused, identified as Amandeep Singh (22), was already in custody of Peel Regional Police in Ontario for unrelated firearms charges and was also arrested for the said crime on May 11, 2024.
Overcrowding and 'unregulated token distribution' triggered the deadly stampede which killed six persons at the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple, popularly known as the Tirupati, in Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday night.
People started queuing from as early as Wednesday for the tokens to visit the almost 2,000-year-old temple and pushed and jostled leading to the stampede.
According to officials, nearly 5,000 people came in together as the gates for tickets were opened. Dozens of others were injured in the incident.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Chairman BR Naidu said, “A DSP opened the gates…and immediately everybody pushing ahead led to this stampede.”
Thousands of devotees had turned up from across the country for the 10-day Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam commencing from January 10. “A
few devotees dying in a stampede near Vishnu Nivasam in Tirupati while trying for Vaikuna Dwara Darsanam has grieved me intensely,” said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in a post on 'X'.
According to the TTD Chairman, Naidu conducted a teleconference and expressed dissatisfaction over the temple employees and said such an incident was unfortunate.
There is some suspicion that it happened due to (the temple) administration, he said. “The CM directed us that these kinds of incidents should not recur”, he added.
Tirupati Collector S Venkateswar said that police personnel have been deployed outside the ticket counters and 1.2 lakh tickets have been sold for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam.
“...Elaborate arrangements have been made for Vaikunth Ekadasi this year by TTD and the district administration.
A 53-year-old Indian-origin South African disbarred attorney who scammed 17 couples across the country by taking money from them for the same venue on the same day has been arrested after she was tracked down by a private security company.
But promises by her attorney and family to repay all the scam victims have led to her possibly escaping serving jail time for fraud.
Although the scammer, arrested on Tuesday, was not initially named because she had not appeared in court yet, security company Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) said on its Facebook page that the woman is Prelyn Mohanlall, whose attorney Chris Gounden contacted them with the offer to make arrangements to pay back all victims that were scammed and are in possession of proof of payments. Mohanlall allegedly convinced lovestruck couples planning their weddings to pay large sums in advance for a venue without having
any link to the place.
When the couples arrived at the venue, they would find it deserted, with no water or electricity, ruining their special wedding days.
“It's not a scam and I am not a scammer. My company went through so much. Late last year, I had nine cancellations and I sent out letters to each of the couples to notify them that they would get a full refund. But I could not repay them timeously because my partners pulled out in October,” she told the weekly. A man who was scammed shared how he and his fiancée had to suffer the embarrassment of cancelling their wedding and starting to save from scratch to plan it again for several months later this year.
“Based on what she ‘stole' from us, it drastically impacted our planning and what we hoped to be our dream day has now become an event where we have to settle for what we can afford,” the man, who did not want to be identified, said.
Chandra Arya, Member of Parliament for Nepean, announced on Thursday that he would join the race to become the next Prime Minister of Canada. In a video statement, Arya emphasised that he would lead an efficient government to rebuild the nation.
"I am running to be the next Prime Minister of Canada to lead a small, more efficient government to rebuild our nation and secure prosperity for future generations. I have always worked hard for what is best for Canadians. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must make bold decisions that are absolutely necessary," he said.
"If elected, as the next leader of the Liberal Party, I offer my knowledge and expertise to do so. We are facing significant structural problems
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reiterated that “the future does not lie in war” and emphasised India’s commitment to peace, drawing on the teachings of Lord Buddha.
Over the past year, Modi has consistently highlighted the futility of war, advocating for peace in the context of the Ukraine-Russia conflict and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while formally inaugurating
that haven't been seen for generations and solving them will require tough choices. Our economic growth and fiscal strength are not benefiting many Canadians. Today, many Canadians, especially younger generations, face significant affordability issues," he said. He also promised that he would revitalise the economy if elected.
"The working middle class is struggling today and many working families are retiring directly into poverty. We must make tough decisions now, not only to revitalize our economy but also to ensure a stable society. I have the solutions and the real determination to make it happen. With prudence and pragmatism as my guiding principles, I will make the big and bold decisions needed to rebuild our economy and foster prosperity for all generations," he said.
the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Addressing the Indian diaspora, he said, “Due to the strength of its heritage, India is able to tell the world that the future does not lie in war but in Buddha (peace).” “India is not only the mother of democracy but democracy is a way of life here,” Modi added. He also highlighted that the world now listens to India, a nation that presents not only its own perspectives, but also the voices of the Global South.
