South Asian man accused of organizing Edmonton extortions arrested in UAE
The head of a criminal organization accused of an extortion series targeting South Asian homebuilders in Edmonton has been arrested, multiple sources said.
Maninder Dhaliwal is in custody on separate charges in the United Arab Emirates, more than six months after police issued a Canada-wide warrant for his arrest.
Several people have been arrested in connection to Project Gaslight,
an extortion series that has resulted in at least 40 incidents, including fires, arson attempts and shootings in Edmonton since 2023.
Last summer, the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) accused Dhaliwal of organizing the extortions from overseas.
“It’s been a significant issue in the community,” former EPS officer and chair of justice studies at NorQuest College Dan Jones said.
Continued on Page 10...
India set to take back 18,000 citizens from US to placate Trump
India’s government is prepared to work with Donald Trump’s administration to identify and take back all its citizens residing illegally in the U.S., an early signal from New Delhi that it’s willing to comply with the incoming American president and avoid a trade war.
The U.S. has identified some 18,000 illegal Indian migrants to be sent back home, for which India will verify and start the process of deportation, according to people familiar with the matter. The figure could be much higher than that, though, given that
it’s unclear how many illegal Indian migrants live in the U.S., the people added, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private. Youth from western India, in particular the states of Punjab and Gujarat, are believed to constitute a majority of the illegal immigrants in the U.S., the people said.
Like several other nations, India is working behind the scenes to appease the Trump administration and avoid the brunt of its trade threats.
Continued on Page 14...
U.S. President Donald Trump says his country does not need to import Canadian oil, gas, autos or lumber.
“We’re going to be demanding respect from other nations ... Canada has been very tough to deal with over the years,” he told the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday. Appearing via video conference before an audience of the world’s most powerful business and political leaders. Continued on Page 10...
Remittances ($125 bn) greater than FDI ($72 bn), India bats for legal migration
India’s stance of advocating greater legal migration and maintaining a clear position on accepting deported nationals, as elucidated by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the US on Wednesday, stems from the global leverage New Delhi seeks for its vast pool of skilled and semiskilled professionals. The other significant factor is the influence and leverage of the 3.5-crore-strong Indian diaspora across the world. Information on the World Bank website mentions that India received a substantial $125 billion in remittances (money sent by workers abroad to their families back home) in 2023. Continued on Page 10...
Fentanyl money laundering in Canada linked to online betting sites
Canada’s financial intelligence agency suspects online gambling platforms are being used to launder proceeds from fentanyl dealing and production.
In an operational alert, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada says there is reason to believe people are depositing and withdrawing funds at online casinos to disguise proceeds from the traffic in deadly fentanyl and other opioids as wagers and winnings.
The newly published alert says known fentanyl traffickers have frequently sent money to digital
gambling sites and received funds in return from associated payment processors in Canada, Malta and the United Kingdom.
Continued on Page 4...
Donald Trump will not impose new tariffs on Canada and Mexico on his first day in office — but the threat could take form within weeks.
Speaking while signing executive orders at the White House after his inauguration Monday night, Trump said he planned to impose 25 per cent tariffs on the United States’ North American neighbours by Feb. 1.
“We’re thinking in terms of 25 per cent on Mexico and Canada because they’re allowing vast numbers of people, Canada is a very bad abuser also, and fentanyl to come in,” Trump claimed. Earlier reports by U.S. media had suggested Trump would delay on the tariff threat, and instead issue an executive order that would direct federal agencies to investigate accusations of unfair trade and
currency practices. Responding to Trump’s comments, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Canada was prepared for whatever action the president took “One thing we’ve learned is that President Trump at moments can be unpredictable,” LeBlanc said.
“We have spent the last number of weeks preparing potential response scenarios for the Government of Canada in partnership with provinces and Canadian business leaders and union leaders.
So our country is absolutely ready to respond to any one of these scenarios.
During Trump’s inauguration, he said he plans to “overhaul” the U.S. trade system, and “tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens.”
Metro Vancouver meeting about cost savings cost taxpayers more than $20K
A special Metro Vancouver board meeting was held on Thursday morning with cost savings on the agenda. The meeting cost taxpayers more than $20,000 as each director present – 39 –received a $534 stipend each, totalling $20,826.
However, there will have to be another meeting as it wrapped with no final solution. Metro Vancouver has come under intense
Council meetings and they’re charging extra to attend a meeting that they should be doing as just part of their job as being a mayor and that’s what’s raising a lot of eyebrows,” said New Westminster City Councillor Daniel Fontaine.
Since 2019, the fee for Metro Vancouver Board members to attend meetings has climbed from $397 to $534. That fee doubles if the meeting goes over four hours.
scrutiny recently, starting with the North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is billions over budget.
Mayors have also faced questions about their compensation packages, as they earn their salaries and are paid additional remuneration to sit on various boards. The regional district has at least 16 different committees and paying all the elected officials to attend can add up.
According to 2019 financial plans, there was $2.9 million budgeted for administrative services. That jumped to $4.6 million in 2024.
Metro Vancouver said the increase was because more politicians were appointed to standing committees and task forces.
“You have mayors who are attending Mayors’
“How much of this can the taxpayer take?” Richmond councillor Kash Heed said.
“And we have to really question whether the authority, which is the provincial government, will intervene and say enough’s enough.”
The board is now looking at the feasibility of cutting millions in external contributions and program spending, including the half million it spends every year at the PNE, along with other cost-cutting measures.
But in a budget that is more than $3 billion annually, the potential savings amount to a few dollars per household per year.
The board did not come to a conclusion on Thursday, instead asking staff to prepare further reports on several line items that could be eliminated or reduced. Earlier this week, B.C. Premier David Eby said he was “disappointed to be disappointed again by Metro Vancouver.”
He added that he does have confidence in the review that is underway into Metro Vancouver and that it will include all aspects of governance such as spending.
A British Columbia elementary school principal has been suspended for five days after duct-taping a student to their chair, allegedly to help the child focus on their schoolwork.
The details of the principal’s misconduct were published Tuesday in a summary of a consent resolution agreement signed by the principal and the B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation.
According to the summary, the misconduct occurred during the 2023-2024 school year, when Renee Dawn MacCormack was employed by the Southeast Kootenay school district.
MacCormack “gave permission to an employee at the school to use duct tape to tape a student to their seat to help the student focus on their work,” according to the summary, which noted the principal “also put duct tape on the student to attach the student to their seat.”
When MacCormack returned later, she took a picture of the student’s work before helping to remove the duct tape and giving the student “a prize for completing the assigned work,” the summary says.
As a result of the commissioner’s investigation, MacCormack signed the consent resolution agreement on Jan. 3, admitting that her actions constituted misconduct contrary to the Professional Standards for B.C. Educators.
As part of the agreement, MacCormack’s teaching certificate was suspended for five days and she was ordered to complete a
training course on creating a positive learning environment before the end of March.
The school district launched an investigation into the duct-taping incident, but MacCormack did not admit to any involvement, the provincial regulator said.
As a result of the district’s investigation, MacCormack was suspended without pay for 20 days and reassigned to another school on June 18, 2024.
One week later, commissioner Ana Mohammed ordered her own investigation into the incident after receiving a complaint about the principal from the school district.
The principal “did not act in the student’s best interests nor treat the student with dignity and respect,” the commissioner found.
“MacCormack had a leadership role as a principal and she ought to have known that ducttaping a student to a chair was inappropriate; other staff at the school were aware that it was inappropriate,” according to the consent agreement.
“MacCormack did not act with integrity when she did not disclose to the district in a timely manner her participation in the ducttaping of the student. This conduct undermines the perception of the profession as a whole.”
Canada's immigration department cutting roughly 3,300 jobs over 3 years
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced plans to cut about 3,300 jobs, or about a quarter of its workforce, over the next three years.
The federal department emailed employees on Monday about its "budget situation" and the impact on staffing, which IRCC later confirmed with CBC.
The email stated it was unclear who would be impacted by these cuts, but it would reach every sector and branch. Those affected would be notified starting in mid-February. "We estimate that about 80 per cent of these reductions can be achieved by eliminating planned staffing, terms, and other temporary staffing commitments. The remaining 20 per cent of reductions will need to be achieved though the WFA (workforce adjustment) process and will affect indeterminate employees," the email read.
"Although the affected functions have been identified, the individual positions have not."
Some term contracts could be terminated early, it said, and those affected would be given at least 30 days notice. Why the cuts?
In a statement to CBC, IRCC said the department has expanded rapidly in recent years to address global crises like the pandemic and that growth relied on temporary funding. Immigration has also buoyed Canada's economy while pressuring housing, infrastructure and social services.
According to the Treasury Board, IRCC had about 13,100 employees as of the end of March 2024, up from about 7,900 in 2019 and 5,900 in 2014. The planned cuts represent about a 25 per cent reduction from those March 2024 levels, back to around where the department was in 2021.
Canada bracing for possible influx of asylum claimants after Trump immigration orders
Canadian refugee advocates, federal government departments and immigration lawyers are bracing for a potential influx of asylum claimants following U.S. President Donald Trump's executive orders this week.
But as they prepare, they all say they have no idea what exactly to expect.
"With Trump, crystal balls are hard to keep clear," said Gabriela Ramo, past chair of the Canadian Bar Association's immigration section. "We share a border with an elephant and he is talking about deporting 11 million people."
On Monday, Trump signed a series of executive orders that risk having a sweeping effect: Ending birthright citizenship for those born in the U.S. whose parents were in the country illegally or temporarily.
Increasing security at the border.
Tightening enforcement of immigration laws including promised mass deportations of millions of immigrants.
Suspending the U.S. refugee assistance program. Recognizing only male and female gender identities.
Donald Trump’s imperialistic aim has Canada directly in his crosshairs
Eric Ham: What started out as a meaningless joke or innocent trolling has morphed into potentially dangerous foreign policy. For more than a month, newly inaugurated President Donald Trump’s seemingly innocuous ribbing of America’s northern neighbour becoming a state has now turned into something darker and more nefarious.
The mercurial convicted felon’s expansionist ambitions are now threatening alliances, global supply chains, and Western democratic ideologies. The U.S. commander-in-chief’s plans of annexing Greenland, the Panama Canal, and possibly even Canada, has put the entire world on notice. Now,
BC government confirms UBC SkyTrain extension to be a key priority
nation-states along with multilateral entities, that have served as a bulwark against fascism since the Second World War, are bracing as the world’s largest proponent of democracy has gone rogue. Continued on Page 7... Monday-Friday - 12:00pm - 9:30pm & Saturday-Sunday - 12:00pm - 10:00pm
The dust has now settled for the newly recalibrated Government of British Columbia following the October 2024 provincial election. Last week, Premier David Eby issued mandate letters to his cabinet ministers, outlining the priorities each Ministry is expected to make progress on. For Mike Farnworth, the new BC Minister of Transportation and Transit, he has been directed by the premier to “lead work to advance progress on the Broadway extension to UBC, including by working with the federal government, UBC, the City of Vancouver, First Nations, and all relevant government agency stakeholders.”
Also, in relation to this extension of SkyTrain’s Millennium Line from Arbutus to the University of British Columbia (UBC), Farnworth will work with Ravi Kahlon, BC Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, to “advance related government objectives on housing density and identify opportunities to achieve reduced carbon
pollution and economic development.”
This suggests the advancement of the approximate seven-km-long SkyTrain extension from Arbutus to UBC is closely linked with pursuing high-density transit-oriented development near the future stations.
Additionally, more broadly, they will “identify and champion transit-oriented development sites with local governments, stakeholders, and the private sector in order to maximize success of this initiative.”
Fentanyl money laundering in Canada linked to online betting sites
Continued from Page 1...
The federal centre, known as Fintrac, identifies cash linked to money laundering and terrorism by sifting through millions of pieces of data annually from banks, insurance companies, securities dealers, money service businesses, real estate brokers, casinos and others.
The agency then discloses the resulting intelligence to its partners, including Canada’s spy agency, the RCMP and other police services.
The operational alert flags numerous telltale signs to help businesses detect and report suspicious dealings that may be linked to highly addictive fentanyl, which has driven an alarming overdose crisis in Canada.
In preparing the alert, Fintrac analyzed a sample of about 5,000 suspicious transaction reports related to fentanyl and synthetic opioids filed between 2020 and 2023. Most of the reports involved the suspected distribution of synthetic opioids within Canada.
The transaction reports also revealed suspected imports of precursor chemicals, essential ingredients and equipment from China — and to a lesser extent India — for the domestic production of synthetic opioids, the Fintrac alert says.
The intelligence agency also looked at data from foreign counterparts, assessments from other partners and open source information to help identify trends.
The alert says the illegal supply of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids in North America has been driven by the growing involvement of organized crime groups known to use shady financial services in the darker corners of the internet. “These groups are importing or diverting essential precursor chemicals and lab equipment from China and other Asian countries for the production of illegal synthetic opioids,” the alert says. “These threat actors are also using darknet marketplaces and virtual currencies to distribute and facilitate payments for fentanyl and other illegal synthetic opioids on an international scale, among other traditional methods.”
Fintrac says that in one case, an individual received a few hundred high-value email money transfers from a payment processor closely aligned with online gambling. Large exports of fentanyl are likely emanating from the lower B.C. mainland and the Greater Toronto Area, the alert adds. “Exports often leave these jurisdictions by marine, air cargo and land passenger modes.”
Proposal for Metro Vancouver's tallest tower in Metrotown features a public observation deck attraction
A bold new vision for Burnaby’s Metrotown district is emerging with the proposal of Metro Vancouver’s tallest building, featuring a striking high-calibre design, diverse mixed-use spaces, and a rooftop public observation deck as a major attraction.
With a structural height of 853 feet, this first McCarthy Plaza tower would surpass all existing buildings as well as proposed, planned, or under-construction towers in Metro Vancouver, making it the new tallest building in Western Canada.
Currently, Metro Vancouver’s tallest building is the newly constructed Two Gilmore Place tower, located near SkyTrain’s Gilmore Station in the Brentwood district, surpassing the previous record held by the 659-ft-tall Living Shangri-La tower in downtown Vancouver. But the 708-ft-tall Two Gilmore Place will soon be eclipsed by the 755-ft-tall Sky Park tower of the first phase of Concord Metrotown, which is under construction at the northeast corner of Metropolis at Metrotown mall and set to reach completion by 2028.
At some point in the future, Sky Park and Western Canada’s current tallest building, the
823-ft-tall Stantec Tower in Edmonton, will be overtaken by the 850-ft-tall tower of Pinnacle Lougheed next to SkyTrain’s Lougheed Town Centre Station. This first phase of Pinnacle International’s project received Burnaby City Council’s approval in Fall 2024. When the high elevation of the site atop the Metrotown ridge is factored in, this tower would not only be a defining feature for Metrotown but also a highly visible landmark across the Metro Vancouver region.
With the 853-ft-tall structure perched on top of the site elevation of 426.5 ft above sea level, the tower would boast a geodetic height of 1,279 ft — exceeding the height of the 1,214-ft-tall Burnaby Mountain in the distance.
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OPINION
Feds hiking taxes again in 2025
The Trudeau government’s latest round of upcoming tax hikes will hit Canadians hard with higher payroll, carbon and alcohol taxes
Franco Terrazzano: New year, same plan from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: take more money from Canadians. In 2025, the Trudeau government will reduce Canadians’ takehome pay by increasing mandatory Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance contributions, costing workers up to an additional $403 annually. Federal payroll taxes will cost a worker making $81,200 or more a total of $5,507 in 2025. Their employer will also be forced to pay $5,938.
At the same time, the Trudeau government is adding to financial pressures by raising the carbon and alcohol taxes, further driving up the cost of living. On Apr. 1, Trudeau will again crank up his carbon tax to 21 cents per litre of gasoline, 25 cents per litre of diesel and 18 cents per cubic metre of natural gas. The Trudeau government claims “families are going to be better off” with its carbon tax and rebates. But the government’s own non-partisan, independent budget watchdog shows the government is using magic math.
According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the carbon tax will cost the average family up to $477 more than the rebates they get back in 2025. You could be forgiven if Trudeau’s tax hikes drive you to drink. But Trudeau will be reaching deeper into your pockets when you pick up that case of Canadian, a bottle of Pinot or Mickey of rum.
On Apr. 1, Trudeau will again hike alcohol taxes by two per cent, costing taxpayers about $40 million. And even that downplays the impact of Trudeau’s booze tax binge.
In 2017, Trudeau imposed an alcohol escalator tax that automatically increases excise taxes on beer, wine, and spirits every year without a vote in Parliament. According to Beer Canada, the tax has cost taxpayers more than $900 million since its enactment. And don’t forget about the tax hikes Trudeau imposed following his most recent budget. University of Calgary economist Jack Mintz estimates “1.26 million Canadians (almost five per cent of taxpayers) will be affected by the increase in the capital gain tax on individuals, half of whom earn less than $117,000 per year.”
Mintz also estimates that because of the capital gains tax increase, “Canada’s capital stock will fall by $127 billion; employment would decline by 414,000; GDP will fall by almost $90 billion; and real per capita GDP will decline by three per cent.”
Ontario has a new multimillionaire. Elizabeth Trafford of Fergus, Ont., a small community north of Guelph, won the big $40 million Lotto Max jackpot in the Dec. 10 draw.
It’s a big time win for the small-town retiree.
“It’s surreal, but deep down inside, I’m actually quivering.” While picking up her winnings, Trafford said she was following her usual Saturday morning routine when she stopped at her local gas station, Blinkhorn’s Corner Variety, to check her tickets. “The first one came up, ‘Not a winner,” she said Thursday. “The second one blew the machines in the store – they all went off at the same time. All I saw was, ‘Big winner! Big winner!’” Nathan Ladd was working the till during Trafford’s lifechanging moment.
“I swear she was going to fall down so I propped myself up on her,” he recalled.
Ladd said he helped her into a seat in the store’s back room before she could start making the memorable calls to her family. Her win was kept under wraps for weeks – until now. Word has
spread fast, and customers were visiting the store hoping lightning – or rather, the lottery – strikes twice.
“You just keep those winners coming,” said customer Robert Booker, speaking with staff as they checked his tickets.
On Thursday, when CTV News stopped by, he took home $59.
“I usually do pretty good up here at Blinkhorn’s,” Booker said. Other customers, like Dianne, said she would not even know how to react if she won.
“Holy crap,” she said. “Here comes my villa in Antigua.” Dianne was hoping Ladd’s lucky ‘touch’ would rub off on her tickets.
“I’m going to cash in my $40 ticket, not $40 million though. Dang.” Ladd, meantime, said store owner Rob Blinkhorn certainly doesn’t benefit from any supposed luck.
“I don’t know what it’s about,” he told CTV News. “Apparently, I have luck for other people, but not me. Every time I get a scratch ticket, it has never won.”
A realtor charged with interfering with B.C. wildfire-fighting operations in 2023 says he made a mistake by launching a drone on Okanagan Lake to get a photo of a burnt-out hotel.
But Derek Leippi of Kelowna says he was unaware firefighters were still at work in the area, 10 days after the McDougall Creek wildfire caused widespread devastation and destroyed hundreds of homes.
Court records say the alleged offence occurred on Aug. 27, 2023, when Leippi says he was on his boat and launched his drone to get a photo of the destroyed hotel. He says he didn’t know that fire suppression activities were still occurring, and he recalled his “pocket drone” as soon as he was instructed by police.
Leippi says he didn’t intend to interfere with firefighting efforts, and co-operated by giving a statement afterwards.
He says he hopes to resolve the charge, but he’s yet to speak to Crown prosecutors or to retain a
lawyer. “It was a stupid thing to do, you know, to even try to launch a drone … even if it was almost two weeks after the fires,” he said in an interview. “I guess they still were trying to snuff out some certain spots that were in the area.”
He said he wasn’t trying to film any active wildfires or intentionally interfere with wildfire operations.
“It was a mistake for sure, absolutely a mistake,” he said. Leippi is due in B.C. provincial court in Kelowna on Feb. 11.
Toronto police say they seized $83 million worth of cocaine, the largest bust in the service’s history, following a drug squad probe involving a violent Mexican drug cartel.
The seizure was announced at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon where officials released details of an months-long investigation dubbed Project Castillo.
Police said about 835 kilograms of cocaine was confiscated and six people were arrested in connection with the investigation, which police described as an “extensive joint forces investigation into drug importation and trafficking in the Greater Toronto Area.”
The suspects, police said, include two Mexican nationals and four Canadians. Arrest warrants have been issued for three additional suspects.
“Taking these drugs off our streets prevents violence, protects lives, and dismantles dangerous criminal networks. This impact is only possible through the dedication of our members and the invaluable collaboration of our partners,”
were confiscated from a truck that travelled from Mexico, through the United States, and into Canada.
He said police received information back in August about cocaine being distributed in the GTA when someone tried to transport the illicit substance through a shipping company.
“We started to investigate… At some point we realized that an 18-wheeler was coming from Mexico through the United States up into Canada. It travelled through the states, got to our border, when it crossed into Canada, we asked the CBSA and the Mounties to stop it for us,” MacIntyre said.
Chief Myron Demkiw said in a news release issued Tuesday. The investigation included members of the York Regional Police Service, Canada Border Services Agency, and border officials in Windsor, Ont.
Speaking at Tuesday’s news conference, Supt. Paul MacIntyre, of the Toronto Police Service’s Organized Crime Enforcement unit, said about half of the cocaine was seized during a bust at the border. He said about 475 kilograms of cocaine
“In and around that time, we were also executing search warrants at which time we were arresting several people at what we will call stash houses.”
He described the suspects who were arrested as “highlevel distributors.” Of the three suspects that are outstanding, investigators said they believe only one of them, identified as 60-yearold Niagara Falls resident Robert Nolin, is still in Canada. MacIntyre said the bust is linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
“That is a very violent cartel operating out of Mexico. How long it has been operating in Canada, I can’t say for certain, but we do believe that the cartel is associated to this,” he said.
“Hopefully we really did some damage to them with this. Certainly they will continue, but this hurt them.”
BC premier lays out 3-part plan to respond to US tariff threat
Premier David Eby says retaliatory tariffs, targeted tariffs, and specific embargos are not out of the question in B.C.’s response to the threat of U.S. tariffs.
Speaking near the Port of Vancouver Tuesday, Eby announced his government’s three-part plan to address the proposal U.S. President Donald Trump has made to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all goods imported from Canada.
“For our province, the tariffs mean potentially the loss of tens of billions of dollars; more than 100,000 jobs. It is a big deal for British Columbia,” said Eby.
“It’s not a fight that we picked, and in fact, we think this is going to hurt Americans as badly as it does Canadians, but we’re going to stand; we’re going to support federal efforts to respond with targeted tariffs to make sure that the Americans understand that we will not surrender.”
that is bringing these tariffs to us understands why trade increases the prosperity of our countries,” said Eby.
Secondly, Eby says B.C. is forming a “task force on trade and economic security for the province” co-chaired by notable local business people, CEOs, and Indigenous leaders. The task force, he says, will help ensure that the province doesn’t remain dependent on trade with the U.S.
“What President Trump has done has let us know that a partner that we’ve had for many, many years, that we trust, that we rely on, that’s like family for us, can no longer be relied on. And I, for one, will not allow British Columbia to stay in a position of being dependent on a partner that we can’t count on.”
On Monday, B.C.’s finance minister Brenda Bailey told reporters that targeting Republican-held states for possible retaliatory tariffs could be one of the “strategic ways” to influence people in Trump’s own party.
Eby confirmed Tuesday that the red statetargeted tariffs will be part of the province’s three-part plan. “We’re supporting the federal government in direct-response targeted tariffs at Republican districts to make sure that the party
To achieve that independence, Eby says the province will, thirdly, diversify its portfolio, deepening and expanding trade relationships with other countries around the world — especially those also under threat of U.S. tariffs. Eby says B.C. might follow Ontario’s lead, possibly declining to purchase American alcohol products. As B.C. is one of the “biggest purchasers” of American booze, Eby says it would “definitely send a message.” He also detailed the possibility of taxing American trucks travelling through B.C. to supply Alaska and changing the provision of electricity B.C. supplies to some states.
Donald Trump’s imperialistic aim has Canada directly in his crosshairs
Continued from Page 4...
In a recent phone call with Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Fredericksen, the 47th president of the United States reiterated with her his quixotic desires to make Greenland part of the United States.
The twice-impeached president even went so far as to threaten debilitating tariffs. Already, 10 congressional Republican lawmakers have signed onto the “Make Greenland Great Again” Act which authorizes Trump to enter into formal negotiations to purchase Greenland from Denmark. Should Trump get his wish, no doubt Canada is next, as Trump announced stinging and debilitating tariffs as early as Feb. 1.
Taxes, that if implemented, will ignite a long, arduous and costly trade war between the 150-year-old partners. Of course, Washington’s looming fight will leave Ottawa no choice but to retaliate with equally paralyzing tolls. For what lies at the heart of this confrontation is a nation’s very sovereignty and independence.
During the leadup to Trump’s historic inauguration, the uber-wealthy, national leaders, and multinational corporations all swiftly abandoned norms, policies, and even traditions in order to court favor with the commander-in-chief.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg eliminated DEI initiatives and fact-checking tools for Facebook and Instagram a la Elon Musk with X, to find a way into MAGA’s good graces.
Jeff Bezos single-handedly neutered The Washington Post, the paper that uncovered Watergate, in a naked show of loyalty to Trump.
Heads of state are learning golf lessons, Trump’s favorite pastime, to curry goodwill with him. Also, corporate behemoths like Google, fearing Trump’s wrath, are loosening restrictions on speech and expression.
The adoration, abject cowering, and subjugation has only emboldened the American strongman.
By placating his fascist bent, the quadrupleindicted former reality television show host seems to believe the world is his for the taking.
BC man’s sasquatch-seeking expeditions used against him in spousal support case
A man’s ongoing efforts to track down the elusive sasquatch in remote areas of British Columbia suggest he’s capable of working, and therefore not entitled to spousal support, a judge has ruled. The unusual circumstances were detailed in a recent divorce decision handed down in B.C. Supreme Court, which makes multiple references to the 57-year-old’s sasquatch-seeking expeditions.
It was one such venture that led to the couple’s separation in August 2020.
His wife told the court he went on a camping trip on Vancouver Island that month in search of the mythical ape-like creature – and brought along an ex-girlfriend without telling her.
“The respondent was extremely upset by this,” Justice Robin Baird wrote, in his Jan. 17 decision.
“Before the claimant returned home she fired off
a text to him declaring that their marriage was over, and she never changed her mind.” The husband’s claim for spousal support also hinged on him being unable to work due to a mishap that occurred during a previous sasquatch outing years earlier.
The court heard he was staying at a hotel in Sayward – a tiny village of around 300 people on northeast Vancouver Island – when he slipped on an icy staircase and fell in January 2016, suffering a range of injuries including fractures to an ankle and vertebrae. That unfortunate incident led to chronic and sometimes severe pain that continues to this day, the court heard.
“The claimant continues to enjoy camping, fishing, hunting, riding ‘quad’ motorcycles, and exploring remote areas of B.C. in search of sasquatch,” the judge wrote.
APPLIANCES REPAIR SERVICE
Vancouver to transform Downtown Eastside by pausing supportive housing, cracking down on crime
The City of Vancouver says it will not approve any new construction of new supportive housing units in the city as it works to transform the Downtown Eastside (DTES).
“The Downtown Eastside reflects our city’s resilience, but also its struggles,” Sim said at the Save Our Streets Forum. “For too long, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent without delivering meaningful change. It’s time for a new direction — one that prioritizes recovery, inclusivity, and public safety while integrating the DTES into the broader Vancouver community.”
In what Sim called a pivotal moment in the city’s approach to addressing addiction, crime and housing challenges in the DTES, he outlined three proposed policy shifts. The first is an update of the Downtown Eastside Area Plan to encourage a
'I died as well':
mix of housing, businesses, and services. Sim said this approach will aim to break the cycle of hyperconcentrated services in the DTES, including supportive housing, shelter services, and social services.
“This allows for the integration of the DTES neighbourhood into Vancouver’s broader community, ensuring a more balanced, supportive environment for residents, businesses, and visitors,” Sim said in a statement.
The city will also launch a city-wide crackdown on organized crime and gangs operating in the DTES. Sim said that in collaboration with the Vancouver Police Department, the city will address street-entrenched violence by dismantling criminal networks that exploit vulnerable residents and undermine community safety.
Grief of slain Surrey teen's family shared in court
The young man convicted of manslaughter in connection to the November 2022 death of Mehakpreet Sethi won't spend any more time in jail.
In Surrey provincial court Tuesday morning (Jan. 21), Judge Mark Jetté sentenced the accused to a custody and supervision order.
The custody order of time served is calculated as 12 days already served in custody, multiplied by 1.5 days per day, which is to be 18 days of time served. He also faces a supervision order of two years minus a day, to be served in the community.
The individual was a minor at the time of his arrest and was
sentenced Tuesday (Jan. 21) in Surrey provincial court as a youth under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, so his name can not be released.
Sethi, 18, of Surrey, died after being stabbed outside Tamanawis Secondary School (12600 66 Ave.) in Newton on Nov. 22, 2022.
The Crown read victim impact statements on behalf of Mehakpreet’s mother, Simranjeet, his sister, Harshpreet and younger brother, Bhavpreet. Each statement spoke about the immense toll Mehakpreet’s death has had on their lives.
Simranjeet’s statement spoke about the feeling she had the day her son was killed. She felt “something was off.”
RCMP says three alleged human smugglers charged with conspiracy in Quebec
Montreal — Three men are facing conspiracy charges in Quebec after allegedly helping to smuggle temporary foreign workers across the border into the United States, the RCMP said Tuesday.
Edward Alejandro Rojas Sanchez, 24, Julian Camilo Rojas Murcia, 27, and Fernando Esparza Dominguez, 33, are charged with conspiracy to commit an offence in the United States. Two of the accused are from Montreal and one is from the city’s Laval suburb.
The police force says an investigation by the Estrie integrated border enforcement team found that the suspects allegedly conspired to bring a group of people from Montreal to an unguarded location along the border in the Montérégie region on at least one occasion.
RCMP Cpl. Martina Pillarova says the investigation began in December 2023 based on a tip from a member of the public. She says the investigation, led by the RCMP’s eastern region unit, found that a “network of suspected smugglers” were working to transport and guide temporary foreign workers from Montreal into the United States.
“They were promised a very safe route to the United States, and the clients actually were guided remotely by a cellphone,” Pillarova said, adding that the three accused allegedly charged each person $4,000. She said the men were arrested last spring, and charges were laid last week. The three are not detained.
Fatal shooting in North Delta likely connected to BC gang conflict: police
The man injured in a shooting in North Delta on Monday morning has died, turning the case into a homicide.
Delta police said that officers were called to the area of 81st Avenue and 112B Street at about 7:18 a.m., following reports of a shooting.
When they arrived they found one man injured. He was transported to the hospital for treatment. “BC Emergency Health Services received a call at 7:21 a.m. (on Monday) about a police incident in the 8100 block of 112B Street in Delta. An ambulance with primary care paramedics and an ambulance with advanced care paramedics and a supervisor responded to the scene. Paramedics provided emergency medical treatment and transported one patient to hospital in critical condition,”
public information officer Rachelle Bown said in a statement. The victim, 29-year-old Delta resident Gurvinder Uppal, succumbed to his injuries in hospital. A white Ford truck was seen leaving the area following the shooting, police said. At 7:26 a.m., Delta police responded to a reported vehicle fire in the 7300 block of Blake Drive, where officers found a white pickup truck that was on fire.
Remittances ($125 bn) greater than FDI ($72 bn), India bats for legal migration
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The amount far exceeded the $71.92 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) India attracted in 2023-24. The primary sources of remittances to India include the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia and the UK. During a press briefing in Washington DC on Wednesday night, Jaishankar clarified India's stance, saying New Delhi was open to the “return of Indian nationals living illegally abroad, including in the US”. He said India's stance had been “consistent and principled” and he conveyed it to the new US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. He said India was “firmly opposed to illegal migration as it was associated with unlawful activities, which harmed any nation’s reputation”.
“We want Indian talent and skills to gain maximum global exposure," he said.
Also, the minister raised the issue of delayed visas with Rubio. “Delays impact business, tourism and overall relationship… If it takes 400-odd days
to get a visa, I don't think the relationship is well served by this,” he said.
Indian immigrants have made contributions across various sectors and leading Fortune 500 companies have India-origin CEOs. Among them are Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella, who head two of the largest corporations globally, Alphabet and Microsoft. Besides, Ajay Banga and Gita Gopinath are seated on prominent positions in the financial world. Usha Vance, the wife of new US Vice-President JD Vance, traces her roots to Andhra Pradesh.
There also are Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements (MMPAs), which are comprehensive in nature and cover shortstay visas, mobility of students, researchers, professionals for economic reasons and preventing and combating irregular migration and trafficking in human beings. India has signed these with France, UK and Germany.
Edmonton police apply to extradite man accused of organizing extortion series
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“Having this individual arrested in the UAE, it shows great cooperation from international law enforcement partners, which is great to see, and it shows the tenacity of the investigators in this one.
“This was nerve-wracking. People’s livelihoods, their businesses, were kind of going through it, and people were afraid to come to the police because of retaliation and repercussions.”
Jones said the next step would be to extradite Dhaliwal, whom he called a “massive flight risk,”
to Canada. However, there is no extradition treaty between the two countries.
Kash Heed, British Columbia’s former public safety minister, said the arrest is “very good news.”
Extortion attempts have decreased significantly in B.C. in recent months, Heed told CTV News Edmonton on Monday. EPS has not linked these incidents to ones in other provinces.
Five of six people arrested in connection to Project Gaslight last summer are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
Trump tells World Economic Forum US doesn’t need Canadian oil, gas, autos or lumber
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“We don’t need them to make our cars, and they make a lot of them. We don’t need their lumber because we have our own forests,” he continued. “We don’t need their oil and gas, we have more than anybody.”
Trump also reiterated his suggestion that Canada could become part of the U.S., calling it an escape route from the sweeping 25 per cent tariffs he said he could impose by Feb. 1.
That threat has loomed large over the Canadian business and political classes for weeks. Ottawa has warned Trump that if he follows through, Canada’s response will be sharp.
If the United States were to wean itself off of Canadian exports, it would upend the established trade relationship between the two countries.
For example, Canada supplies the lion’s share of the United States’ crude oil imports – more than the rest of the world combined. In 2023, 60 per cent of the crude oil imported to the United States came from north of the border, according to the Government of Canada. As for natural gas, Canada provided 99 per cent of the U.S.’s imported supply that year.
The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association calculated that 92 per cent of Canada’s motor vehicle exports went to the U.S. in 2022. Moreover, the parts that make up those cars may cross Canadian-U.S.-Mexican borders as many as eight times before final assembly.
Also in 2022, Canada’s total forestry exports were valued at $45.6 billion, with the majority destined for the United States, according to Statistics Canada.
Some $3.6 billion in goods cross the border every day, according to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The U.S.-Canada trade relationship is directly related to 3.7 million jobs between the two countries.
Business experts have warned that a trade war could lead to hundreds of thousands of layoffs across Canada.
Scott Crockatt, vice president of the Business
Council of Alberta, said 25 per cent tariffs would be “devastating” for the country, and David Adams, CEO of Global Automakers of Canada, said Wednesday that auto production facilities could face closures if the tariff environment becomes too challenging. Speaking to reporters in the halls of Parliament’s West Block Thursday, Trudeau said Canada is “ready to respond in a strong way, but in a way that will be stepping up, gradually.”
A senior source revealed to CTV News last week that the retaliation will happen in three rounds. The first phase would require no consultation and immediately slap tariffs on a liszt of items, including Florida orange juice and Kentucky bourbon. The prime minister would also explicitly tell Canadians not to purchase those items. The second round would happen after a two-week consultation and cover $37 billion of U.S. goods. Then, depending on how significant the initial U.S. tariffs on Canada are, the federal government may also announce consultations on tariffs covering another $110 billion or so of American imports.
If the U.S. wages a trade war, “two things will happen,” said Trudeau. Firstly, Canada will have a “strong, robust response,” and “prices for American consumers on just about everything will go up.”
“I don’t think he wants that,” the prime minister said, adding that if Trump wants to usher America into a golden age, he will need “more of the things that Canada is already sending them as a reliable and trustworthy partner.”
Sayed-Khaiyum is a cry baby dictator – Prof. Prasad
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad has labelled former Attorney General, Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum as a little cry baby dictator who is misleading people on many issues.
Professor Prasad has highlighted this after Sayed-Khaiyum claimed that the Fijian economy is not doing well because of his policies.
In an interview, Professor Prasad says that Sayed-Khaiyum has not changed in the 16 years as he misinformed people about a lot of things. He says Sayed-Khaiyum was giving lectures about what the media should do, about using facts and statistics however he is the man who muzzled the media with Bainimarama, where he wouldn't let journalists ask questions, let alone
use facts. The Deputy Prime Minister says the Coalition Government was left with no choice but to increase VAT to clean the financial mess left by Sayed-Khaiyum and his cohort and save Fiji from bankruptcy. He says if you look at the statistics, in 2023-2024 the actual deficit was 3.4 percent of GDP, and because the government put in policies to fund appropriately they were able to do a lot more. Professor Prasad says the funding for social pension increased by 15 percent where people aged between 65 to 70 are receiving $115 from $100 and an increase of 25 percent for people aged 70 years are receiving $125 from $100. He says he is misleading that bus fare and social welfare pension has been partially taken away.
Trial for Bainimarama, Sayed-Khaiyum and Sharma to start in August
A tentative trial date has been set by the Suva Magistrates Court for the case of abuse of office against Voreqe Bainimarama, Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum, and Neil Sharma.
They appeared before Magistrate Sufia Hamza.
The trial will commence on the 18th of August.
State Counsel, Laisani Tabuakuro says 13 prosecution witnesses will appear for this matter.
The counsel representing Sharma will call five witnesses while two witnesses will be called for Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum.
Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum's lawyer, Devanesh Sharma informed the court that they are waiting for the result of a motion regarding the charges sanctioned by the then Acting DPP, John Rabuku.
The matter is adjourned to the 26th of next month for motion ruling.
Bainimarama, Sayed-Khaiyum and Sharma's presence have been excused from the motion hearing. Bail has been extended.
The three have been charged with allegedly failing to comply with statutory requirements for tenders as stipulated under the 2010 Procurement Regulations. It is alleged Bainimarama, who is charged with one count of abuse of office, on 13th September 2011, being the Minister of Finance, Bainimarama recklessly abused his position as the Minister of Finance by granting a waiver of tender process without lawful justification for a Ministry of Health Tender CTN 66/2011 in
violation of the Procurement Regulation.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with one count of abuse of office and one count of obstructing the course of justice.
It is alleged that on 20th October 2011, being employed as the Acting Minister of Finance, Sayed-Khaiyum recklessly abused his position as the Minister of Finance by granting a waiver
of the tender process without lawful justification for a Ministry of Health Tender CTN 153/2011 in violation of the Procurement Regulation.
It is also alleged that on 29th June 2012, being employed in the public service as the Attorney General, Sayed-Khaiyum intentionally obstructed the FICAC investigation against Dr Neil Sharma relating to a Health Tender CTN 66/2011 by directing all investigations to be shelved until further notice which resulted in the cessation of the FICAC investigation and no criminal charges being filed against Dr Neil Sharma for the past 10 years.
Single moms plea for lease extension
SINGLE mothers living at Lovu Hart Homes in Lautoka have requested for an extension of the 15-year tenancy limit in place for each resident.
Speaking at a talanoa session with Housing and Local Government Minister Maciu Nalumisa this week, the women, mostly widows left to care for their grandchildren and disabled children, expressed concern at the time limit.
Owners demand return of land after Resort land remains idle for 7 years
Landowning units (LOU) of Vatulele Island Resort are calling on Government to return their land so they can sublease to potential investors who are interested in redeveloping the site.
The land has remained idle for almost seven years.
TLTB general manager estate Isoa Tuwai said a notice had been issued to the current lessee and they were yet to decide whether to terminate the lease or not.
Speaking on behalf of the LOUs, Amenatave Veitamani said they were skeptical, especially after the lease ownership changed three times prior to the current lessee.
Now, the LOUs are pleading with the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) that the land be
returned to them, which they would sublease to potential investors with interest in redeveloping the site. “The three mataqali request that we lease our own land so we can sublease it to interested investors,” he said.
Mr Veitamani said they had also noticed discrepancies in lease payments over the years.
“The initial agreement with the first owner included provisions for employing local youths and making lease payments every six months.
“However, over the years, through ownership changes, those agreements were not upheld with discrepancies in payments.
“A few years ago, I had made a random visit to TLTB for our statement, and to my surprise, it was only $4 in balance.
“A lot of us have been living here for a while. Some of us for more than 15 years. We are worried that we will be told to leave.
“Others depend on their children to find work, but they have gone on to start their own lives.
“Most of us have lost our husbands and we have been left to take care of our grandchildren,” said one of the women.
“We don’t have the money to build our own homes.” The women suggested Government provide them alternative and affordable housing options.
In response, Mr Nalumisa said he understood that not every resident would be able to move out.
“What you are sharing with us is true. Life is not easy for a lot of people, especially single mothers,” he said.
“At the moment there is no housing assistance for single mothers, but we will need to see the kind of plans that the Government has to assist you.”
SP, DSP suffer burns while disposing of seized drugs
Two senior police officers from Khanna suffered burns while disposing of confiscated drugs in Amritsar on Thursday.
The officers, SP Tarun Ratan and DSP Sukh Amritpal Singh, were part of a team that had travelled to Amritsar to destroy narcotics in the boilers and furnaces of Khanna Paper Mill. The incident occurred around 1.45 pm when the operator opened the furnace lid to put drugs into it. A sudden burst of fire from the furnace reached the drugs lying outside and soon the entire confiscated stock of drugs caught fire. SP Tarun Ratan suffered 25 per cent burns, while DSP Sukh Amritpal Singh suffered burns on the arms. The injured were taken to a private hospital. Tarun Ratan is still admitted there, while Sukh Amritpal Singh was discharged after treatment. All other police personnel and operators escaped unhurt in the incident. The Khanna Paper Mill has the state’s largest incinerator, which is a designated facility for the safe destruction of seized narcotics.
Karachi faces severe water shortages amid another leak at Dhabeji pumping station
Karachi: The water crisis in Karachi has worsened as a recently repaired pipeline at the Dhabeji pumping station has sprung another leak, as reported by the Express Tribune.
According to the Express tribune, the situation has been exacerbated by reduced water supply at government hydrants and a halt in operations at several regional pumping stations. Citizens are now forced to purchase water from tankers at inflated prices. The city's water supply system relies on 24 pumps, but currently, only 14 are operational, further compounding the crisis.
Pakistan security forces abduct young individual from Balochistan
Balochistan: Pakistani security forces have reportedly abducted a young man during a raid in Balochistan's Kech district on Monday night, as reported by the Balochistan Post.
Local sources claimed that armed personnel stormed a residence in the Gomazi area, detaining Fahad, the son of Rasheed. Eyewitnesses alleged that the raid involved the use of violence against women and children present at the scene. Enforced disappearances have become a frequent occurrence in Balochistan, with numerous human rights organisations accusing Pakistan's military and intelligence agencies of being complicit.These allegations are typically denied or ignored by Pakistani authorities, further exacerbating concerns about the state's involvement in such practices. Despite mounting criticism, the situation continues to unfold with little accountability. The ongoing issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan continues to raise serious human rights concerns, particularly with the involvement of Pakistani security forces. The recent abduction of Fahad highlights the growing pattern of such incidents, where victims' families often face intimidation or indifference from authorities. SOUTH
US calls for respect for human rights in Bangladesh
The US on Tuesday called for respect for fundamental freedoms, including religious and basic human rights, in Bangladesh amid attacks on minorities.
India has been expressing concerns over attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in that country. “We are consistent with every government in which we have a relationship with. We are clear that there needs to be the respect of fundamental freedoms,” State Department Deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told mediapersons.
“Governments need to respect the rule of law, they need to respect basic human rights as part of that. That’s something we’ll continue to emphasise,” Patel said. There needs to be respect for religious freedom and basic human rights. Any kind of protests should be and need to be peaceful, he said. “We continue to stress and emphasise that even those who are in detention need to be afforded appropriate representation and need to be treated with basic fundamental freedoms and human rights,” Patel said in response to a question.
Court sentences former Pakistani leader Imran Khan to 14 years in prison
ISLAMABAD — A Pakistani court on Friday sentenced the country's already-imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife to 14 and seven years in jail after finding them guilty of corruption, officials and his lawyer said.
It's yet another blow for the former premier who has been behind the bars since 2023.
The couple are accused of accepting a gift of land from a real estate tycoon in exchange for laundered money when Khan was in power.
Prosecutors say the businessman, Malik Riaz, was then allowed by Khan to pay fines that were imposed on him in another case from the same laundered money of 190 million British pounds ($240 million) that was returned to Pakistan by British authorities in 2022 to deposit to the national exchequer. Bibi was taken into custody by prison officials after the announcement of the verdict, according to officials. She had earlier served a prison sentence in another graft case until she was freed on bail by a court in October.
She recently led a rally to demand her husband's release.
Faisal Chaudhry, a defense lawyer, said the court verdict could be challenged in the superior courts. Shortly after the announcement of the verdict, lawmakers from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, party rallied outside the parliament in the capital, Islamabad, saying the former premier had been wrongly punished.
"This is a bogus case, and we will approach an appeals court against this decision," said Omar Ayub Khan, a senior party leader who is not related to the former premier.
Imran Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April 2022, had previously been convicted on charges of corruption, revealing official secrets and violating marriage laws in three separate verdicts and sentenced to 10, 14 and seven years respectively. Under Pakistani law, he is to serve the terms concurrently — meaning, the length of the longest of the sentences.
Ahead of Delhi Assembly polls, Punjab Police cops withdrawn from Kejriwal's security
Punjab Police personnel deployed in the security of Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal have been withdrawn, the state police chief said on Thursday. “Time to time, we get reports of threats to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal and we share them with the concerned agencies. “Following the directions of the Delhi police and the Election Commission today, we withdrew the component of the Punjab police in the security of Kejriwal ji,” DirectorGeneral of Police Gaurav Yadav told reporters in Patiala. “We showed our concerns to them. We will remain in touch with them. We will share our inputs with the Delhi police,” he said. The development comes ahead of the election to the 70-member Delhi Assembly on February 5. The poll results are set to be declared on February 8.
Punjab Cong goes full throttle against AAP in Delhi elections
The Punjab Congress has thrust into the Delhi poll campaign its 250 leaders, mounting a scathing attack against the Aam Aadmi Party over its unfulfilled promises in the state, including the commitment to provide the women with a monthly stipend.
The state Congress has also set up a control room, with its leaders divided in 14 teams focusing on door-to-door canvassing in Punjabispeaking areas spread over 15 Assembly segments like Kalkaji, New Delhi, Badli, Janakpuri, Tilak Nagar and Rajouri Graden. Among the top leaders canvassing there are Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, OP Soni, Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Rana Gurjeet, Sukhpal Khaira and Dr Amar Singh.
tell Delhi voters that AAP had failed to win more than three seats in Punjab in the Lok Sabha poll last year due to its “misgovernance” despite bagging 92 of 117 seats in the 2022 Assembly poll and dislodging the Congress. “It is like a rehearsal for the 2027 Assembly poll in Punjab,” said a former minister as the Congress seeks to replace AAP in Delhi, where it ruled for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2013 before losing the Assembly poll to the Arvind Kejriwal-led party. “During the 2022 Punjab Assembly poll, AAP led by Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann showcased the Delhi model and took state voters for a ride. Now, they are trying to fool Delhi voters by highlighting their Punjab model. We are here to show Delhi voters
India set to take back 18,000 citizens from US to placate Trump
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The crackdown on illegal migration has been a signature campaign pledge for Trump. Within hours of his inauguration Monday, the new president moved to fulfill that promise as he pushed to end birthright citizenship and mobilize troops on the U.S.-Mexico border.
In return for its cooperation, India hopes that the Trump administration would protect legal immigration channels used by its citizens to enter the U.S. such as student visas and the H-1B program for skilled workers. Indian citizens accounted for almost three-fourths of the 386,000 H-1B visas granted in 2023, according to official data.
Any slack in taking back illegal U.S. migrants could also adversely affect India’s labor and mobility agreements with other countries, the people said. With a jobs shortage back home, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has signed migration agreements with an array of countries in recent years, including Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Israel and others.
“As part of India-U.S. cooperation on migration and mobility, both sides are engaged in a process to deter illegal migration. This is being done to create more avenues for legal migration from India to the U.S.,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs. “The latest deportation of Indian
nationals from the U.S. by a chartered flight is a result of this cooperation,” he added, referring to an October repatriation action.
India is a relatively modest contributor of illegal migrants to the U.S., with its citizens accounting for about 3% of all unlawful crossings encountered by U.S. border patrol officials in fiscal 2024, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. Latin American countries such as Mexico, Venezuela and Guatemala account for a far larger share.
However, the tally and share of Indian illegal migrants has been rising in recent years. In particular, it has shot up at the less-trafficked northern U.S. border, where Indians account for almost a quarter of all illegal crossings and also the biggest share of unlawful migrants stopped at that entry point, the data show.
“India will have do things in the domain where it is easy to deliver,” said Harsh Pant, a professor of International Relations at King’s College London. It will be difficult to deliver on trade and tariff because of “broader structural issues” and as the “two countries are in different stages of development” While the total number of illegal Indian migrants in the U.S. isn’t certain, a report published last year by the Department of Homeland Security estimated some 220,000 unauthorized Indian immigrants resided in the US as of 2022.
Foreign Secy Misri to begin two-day China visit on January 26 to revive bilateral ties
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will embark on a two-day visit to China on January 26-27, marking the third high-level contact between the two nations in over two months. This development comes after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval held separate meetings with Chinese officials in November and December last year.
Misri’s visit aims to revive the bilateral mechanism at the Foreign Secretary-level between India and
Saif Ali Khan may lose 15,000 Crore family property INDIA
The properties of the Pataudi family, worth around Rs 15,000 crore, might soon be controlled by the government. The Madhya Pradesh High Court removed a block placed on these properties back in 2015. This decision could allow the government to take over the properties under the Enemy Property Act of 1968. Several key properties are involved, including the Flag Staff House, where Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan grew up, along with Noor-UsSabah Palace, Dar-Us-Salam, Bungalow of Habibi, Ahmedabad Palace, and Kohefiza Property.
Justice Vivek Agarwal, who made the decision, stated that there is a legal way to handle this under the updated 2017 Enemy Property Act. He instructed those involved to submit their case within 30 days. The court also mentioned that if they do this on time, their appeal will be considered on its own merits without worrying about time limits. The Enemy Property Act lets the Indian government take properties left by people who moved to Pakistan after the country was divided. The last Nawab of Bhopal, Hamidullah Khan, had three daughters. His oldest daughter, Abida Sultan, went to Pakistan in 1950. His second daughter, Sajida Sultan, stayed in India and married into the Pataudi family,
China. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that this visit follows the ‘agreement at the leadership level’ to discuss the next steps for IndiaChina relations, encompassing political, economic, and peopleto-people domains.
The ‘agreement at the leadership level’ was announced in October last year, following a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS summit at Kazan, Russia.
making her the rightful heir. Her grandson, Saif Ali Khan, got some of these properties.
But because Abida Sultan moved to Pakistan, the government now claims these properties as “enemy property.” Although in 2019, a court said Sajida Sultan was the legal owner, a new decision has started the family’s property fight all over again.
Bhopal’s collector, Kaushalendra Vikram Singh, said they will look into who has owned the disputed properties since 1952. He mentioned that people living there might be seen as tenants according to local rental laws. This news has made 150,000 residents very worried. They’re scared they might have to leave their homes because the government wants to check who really owns the land.
Life in jail for Indian man convicted of doctor's rape and murder
A court in India has sentenced a man to life in prison for the rape and murder of a junior doctor, in a case that sparked nationwide outrage and protests. The judge rejected demands for the death penalty but said that Sanjay Roy, a hospital volunteer in Kolkata city who was convicted over the weekend, would spend the rest of his life in jail.
Roy has maintained he is innocent and is expected to appeal against the verdict in a higher court. The victim's family said they wanted him to be hanged, and that they were "shocked" by the sentence.
"We will continue our fight, and won't let investigations stop... Come what may, we will fight for justice," the woman's father told AFP news agency. Indian law prohibits revealing the identity of victims of sexual violence and that of their family members. Immediately after the
sentencing, dozens of doctors protested outside the court, saying they were not satisfied with the investigation and the sentence.
The trainee doctor's murder last August at the state-run hospital in Kolkata in West Bengal state sent shockwaves across the country.
The 31-year-old had gone to sleep in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital after a night shift. Her half-naked, severely injured body was later discovered near a podium by a colleague.
The autopsy report indicated that the woman had been strangled and had injury marks that showed she fought back.
The crime sparked widespread protests and concerns over the safety of healthcare workers in India, especially women. In Kolkata, doctors went on strike for weeks, demanding action against the accused and officials who they said were complicit in delaying or derailing the investigation.
Roy was arrested a day after the crime. According to the charge sheet filed by federal investigators, which the BBC has seen, Roy went to the hospital in a drunken state and found the female doctor sleeping alone.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)India's premier crime agency that investigated the case - had demanded the death penalty for Roy.
India, UK renew 5-yr partnership to strengthen health cooperation
India and the United Kingdom renewed their health and life sciences partnership on Thursday, signing a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for further collaboration in areas like digital health and fight against antimicrobial resistance.
The agreement was formalised at a ceremony here in the presence of Union Health Minister JP Nadda, UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting and UK High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron. The health sector collaboration is a key element of the India-UK’s strategic partnership and has been instrumental in advancing cooperation in the
field of healthcare.
“Our close cooperation during Covid-19 pandemic and for the development of Malaria vaccine has been a remarkable example of what we can achieve together. India with its vast and qualified health workforce, especially doctors and nurses, and with its large pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities is willing to partner with the UK to achieve common goals,” said Nadda.
He added that the fresh MoU could become an anchor for further collaboration in areas like digital health, fight against anti-microbial resistance and resilient supply chains.
Man who attack on Saif is an illegal immigrant
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 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.
Devotees from Russia, Ukraine participate in Maha Kumbh Mela, chant 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna'
Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 23 (ANI): Several devotees from Russia and Ukraine -- two countries embroiled in deadly conflict for close to three years -- attended the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 in Prayagraj on Thursday and presented a message of spiritual unity. The atmosphere in Prayagraj turned sublime, as devotees in the cold winter evening gathered to perform kirtan, and sang 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna'. Speaking to ANI, a devotee from Russia shared a message of unity and peace and stated
that monks of different nationalities are present at the gathering.
"I came here from Russia, and my Guru Maa came from Ukraine. Many of my Guru sisters and brothers have come from countries like Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Europe, and the USA. We all came here for the Maha Kumbh to take a bath in the Ganga on this auspicious day. As we know, all deities and divine energies come to bathe in the Ganga waters, so we follow their example," the devotee said.
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