Surrey Mayor calls for terror tag on Indian based Lawrence Bishnoi gang
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has formally urged the Canadian federal government to designate the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and other violent transnational networks as terrorist organisations under Canadian law.
In her statement, Locke described the Bishnoi gang as a transnational crime syndicate based in India but operating in Canada through local proxies. She said the gang is involved in murders, extortion, and threats targeting South Asian businesses in cities like Surrey, Brampton, and Calgary. Top Indian intelligence sources, while welcoming the move, told CNN-News18 that the Bishnoi gang has a global network of over 700 operatives. “The group uses encrypted messaging apps, cryptocurrency
laundering, and social media to coordinate threats and extortion. A number of businesses in Canada have reportedly paid money under fear of violence, with 10 major extortion cases reported in Surrey alone in the last six months," they said.
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Filmmaker Mira Nair's son Zohran Mamdani wins New york primary
Mamdani, son of renowned Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, a Ugandan author of Indian ancestry, was declared victorious in the Democratic mayoral primary Tuesday night. “In the words of Nelson Mandela: it always seems impossible until it's done. My friends, it is done. And you are the ones who did it. I am honoured to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City,” Mamdani said in a post on X.
Mamdani was born in Kampla, Uganda, on October 18, 1991, and raised in New York City. He moved to New York with his parents when he was seven. His mother Mira Nair has won applause for films like ‘Monsoon Wedding’ and ‘Salaam Bombay!’. Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens and a democratic socialist running for Mayor, is married to Brooklyn- based Syrian-born artist Rama Duwaji.
Canada signs new security and defence partnership with Europe Ottawa's foreign aid chief, Randeep Sarai, eyes red tape, visibility as Canada resists cutbacks
Canada and the European Union opened a new era of transatlantic co-operation Monday by signing a security and defence partnership at a joint summit in Brussels.
The agreement commits Canada and Europe to collaborating on defence and is a step toward Canada participating in the continent’s massive new defence procurement program, known as ReArm Europe.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who travelled to Brussels for the EU-Canada summit, is pursuing more options for defence procurement as Canada seeks to reduce its trade and security reliance on the United States.
“We are going to build trading relationships with like-minded partners, reliable partners,” Carney told a news conference after the summit.
“The future of trade does have this defence cooperation,” Carney added, saying that some NATO allies are pursuing “an allied industrial policy that will make us stronger. That’s the future of the trade, not a narrow discussion on tariffs.”
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The MP overseeing foreign aid says Canada must take a more efficient, more visible approach to development and humanitarian assistance to make the case for maintaining aid spending as the United States pulls back.
"Those that are staying the course need to be more nimble and need to be more versatile," said Randeep
Sarai, secretary of state for international development, in his first major interview since taking on the role.
Sarai said his top priorities in the job are to ensure Canadian aid dollars are being spent efficiently and to give Canadians and aid recipients a better idea of where the money goes.
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Ceremonies held in major Canadian cities to mark 40th anniversary of Air India terrorist bombing
A ceremony was held Monday to mark the 40th anniversary of the Air India attack, the
worst terrorist attack in Canadian history. On June 23, 1985, 329 people including 268 Canadian citizens, were killed by a terrorist bomb aboard an Air India Flight from Montreal. The wreckage landed 190 kilometres offshore of Cork, Ireland.
An annual commemoration ceremony was held at the Air India monument at Dow’s Lake on Monday to mark the tragedy with victim’s families, friends and other community members remembering those lost.
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Sarai (left) being sworn in Parliament
Few BC arrests in heightened extortion battle frustrating for Surrey residents
The head of a national team set up to support police departments investigating cases of extortion in cities across Canada said Surrey’s municipal police force is working well with the RCMP, but could not comment on why significant arrests have been made in Ontario and Alberta and not B.C.
His team was created in the fall of 2023 to increase coordination between police departments in Canadian cities, such as Brampton, Edmonton and Surrey, which were all seeing a rise in extortion cases at that time. Since then, police in Brampton and Edmonton have made arrests, while the attacks in Surrey appear to be ramping up again, with two more shootings this week, including one at Surrey’s Nijjar Trucking and another at the Maple Ridge home of a Punjabi music producer.
MacIntosh was unable to comment on any possible links between the extortions in Brampton and Edmonton and those in Surrey, including the suggestion that the Bishnoi gang, an organized crime group based in India, might be connected to the violence in Surrey. Earlier this week, B.C. Premier David Eby asked the federal government
to classify the gang as a terrorist group.
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke said Thursday the lack of clarity on who is behind the extortions is frustrating. “That’s why I’m calling on the province
and our national police, the RCMP, to really put their shoulder into this,” she said. The possibility of international organized crime involvement means “it’s going to take our national police.”
Speaking at a public safety forum last weekend, the mayor said a single national dashboard that flags extortion incidents within hours, not weeks, is needed. She also wants a joint provincial-federal task force to audit the impact of the Surrey police transition on “organized crime activity with the authority to redirect resources on the spot.”
Police in British Columbia have finally identified the mysterious man who helped test a bomb on Vancouver Island a few weeks before the Air India bombing on June 23, 1985.
RCMP Assistant Commissioner David Teboul told that the previously unidentified suspect in the mass murder case recently died without ever facing charges. He said he couldn’t release the name of the man due to privacy laws even though the suspect is now dead.
Teboul and several other RCMP officers are part of the Canadian delegation here to mark the 40th anniversary of the Air India bombing. Dozens of relatives of victims are arriving to attend the service at a memorial to the 329 people who died when a B.C.-made bomb exploded on Air India Flight 182 off the coast of Ireland.
Leading the Canadian delegation will be federal Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree.
Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin is scheduled to attend, along with local officials and a representative of the Indian government.
Teboul, who is commander of federal policing in B.C., said that despite the acquittals of two key
bombing suspects in 2005, investigators have continued to work on the file “to tie up some loose ends and discover more truth that’s independent of judicial process.” That’s what led them to uncover the identity of the mystery suspect, dubbed Mr. X, who travelled to Duncan on June 4, 1985, with terror plot mastermind Talwinder Singh Parmar. The two men then joined up with electrician Inderjit Singh Reyat.
The trio went into the woods and tested a bomb all while they were being followed by agents from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. The agents heard the blast but thought it was a gunshot. Parmar, founder of the Babbar Khalsa Sikh separatist group, was killed by police in Punjab in 1992 before he could be charged in the Air India terrorism plot. Reyat was convicted of manslaughter for building another bomb that exploded at Japan’s Narita Airport 54 minutes before the Air India blast. Two baggage handlers were killed. He pleaded guilty to assisting Mr. X and Parmar in building the Air India bomb. But he testified at the trial of his co-accused that he didn’t know X’s name. He was later convicted of perjury.
The provincial government and City of Vancouver provided some answers to the longsimmering FIFA World Cup funding questions on Wednesday, and promptly raised a host of new questions.
The overall costs of planning, staging and hosting seven FIFA World Cup 2026 matches will cost the province between $532 million and $624 million — a total split between several jurisdictions — and one counterbalanced by a predicted revenue of $1 billion for the tournament. But in their estimation of gross revenue of $448 million to $478 million, strictly derived from taxes, venue rentals fees and transportation, is a line of $116 million in a federal contribution. Which, since it’s funded by taxpayers, could actually make the total cost as much as $740 million, not $624 million. A provincial spokesperson provided a response, but not quite an answer: “The Government of Canada’s commitment of up to $115.660 million is counted as revenue as it offsets gross core hosting costs (operational and capital expenditures) related to the hosting of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Vancouver.” The bid to be a World Cup host city, a roller-coaster in itself, was a polarizing process.
Even as recently as last July, an Angus Reid poll showed that B.C. residents felt it “wasn’t worth it” by a three-to-one margin. But that is short-term thinking, said Professor Jarrett Vaughan of the UBC Sauder School of Business.
“As expert in the field of tourism, it is an excellent thing for this city and this province — and we need more of this,” he said. ‘We need more events like the World Cup coming to Vancouver to showcase our city on the world stage — because we have something to showcase. Cities who don’t have something to showcase need these events to bring people in one-time. We need these events to bring people back a second, third, fourth and fifth time, because once they experience it, they typically want to come back.
BC public safety minister silent on Surrey woman's murder
Public Safety Minister Garry Begg – in Surrey for an announcement about a special investigations program targeting repeat violent offenders – had nothing to say to the family of a Surrey woman who was murdered in her home last June by a repeat violent offender.
Tori Dunn, 30, was found with life-threatening injuries in her home in Begg's riding in Port Kells on June 16, 2024. She later died in hospital.
Adam Mann was charged with second-degree murder on June 28, 2024 connected to Tori's death. He is currently in court on three unrelated charges, not including the murder. None of these charges have been proven in court, and a publication ban currently covers the details of these charges.
At the time of Tori's murder, Mann was out on bail in connection with one of the unrelated charges. Mann has a lengthy criminal record, including convictions in B.C., Alberta, New Brunswick and Ontario.
Begg has not spoken to the Dunn family. Several other politicians, including Premier David Eby, MLA Elenore Sturko, and federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, have spoken to Tori's father, Aron Dunn, and other members of the Dunn family over the past year. An investigator from the IHIT team also reached out to Tori's father, Aron Dunn, on the anniversary of Tori's death.
At a press conference outside of King George SkyTrain station in Surrey, Begg had announced that the province would be boosting funding for
a special investigations program targeting repeat violent offenders.
When asked if he had anything to say to the Dunn family, he said, "I can't speak specifically to the Dunn family, but I can speak to all citizens of British Columbia that our government is ensuring as best we can that people should feel safe in their community, walking the streets wherever they are, that is a responsibility of the police in this province," he said.
Tori's father, Aron Dunn, told the Surrey NowLeader that Begg's response disheartened him.
"It sounds like he doesn't even know who we are," Aron said.
Begg also did not specify, when asked, how this program would help ensure that what happened to the Dunn family never happens again.
"You're talking specifically about the ReVOII program, which is the repeat violent offender program. We also have programs in place that monitor people who have been in conflict with the law, and it's been very successful. I can't speak specifically about the Surrey case, but I mentioned earlier some of the stats from Vancouver city, which, again, are a result of this kind of activity," Begg said.
The Vancouver Police Department credits Special Investigation and Targeted Enforcement Program (SITE) funded initiatives for a 27-per-cent drop in violent crime in Hastings Crossing and a 45-percent drop in weapons-related assaults in Gastown from October 2024 to January 2025.
The ReVOII program is supported by SITE.
Sturko, who has supported the Dunn family, criticized Begg's response in a post on X.
"Tori Dunn’s killer was on probation when he murdered her inside her own home. SITE & REVOII existed when Tori’s life was stolen by a violent repeat offender. Our broken bail system failed the Dunn family. Shame on you," she said.
Fence fight leads to costly legal battle between neighbours
Two neighbours duked it out in a BC Civil Resolution Tribunal hearing, and the legal fight stemmed from a fence between the neighbours’ properties. The applicants in the case (KL and BL) alleged that the respondents’ fence encroached onto their yard, causing damage to their property. They claimed $1,000 in damages.
In response, the neighbours (PB and CS) filed a counterclaim, alleging that their fence and plants were damaged, and that KL and BL dumped garbage on their property and cut off their access to cedar wood. They claimed a total of $2,580 in damages.
The tribunal sided with the applicants and here’s why. The respondents built a fence around their property, primarily made out of tarps, in 2021. According to the applicants, the tarps have been deteriorating, shedding pieces into their yard, and contaminating the soil.
“The respondents deny that the tarps are deteriorating. They say the applicants damaged the
fence by slashing it, using a high-pressure hose, and by using a fire pit near the fence. They also say the applicants never raised this issue with them and they were unaware of any damage on the applicants’ side of the fence,” the tribunal decision says.
They did admit that a blizzard damaged the fence in 2022, but that they’ve since repaired it. The tribunal didn’t accept the claim that the applicants slashed the fence, with the exception of one portion of the fencing that the applicants admitted to.
“The applicants do admit they slashed one tarp, but say this was necessary because, on two occasions, the respondents shoved a ‘stove insert’ through their fence, which stretched the applicants’ wire fence,” the tribunal’s decision states. “The photos in evidence show that the tarps are disintegrating in multiple places and gradually coming apart. I find it obvious that an ordinary garden hose and a small fire cannot damage a tarp in the way alleged by the respondents,” the tribunal added.
A Liberal MP took aim at the federal New Democrats on the final day of the House of Commons’ spring session, calling the party “more and more irrelevant” as MPs departed for their 12week summer recess.
Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North), parliamentary secretary to the Government House Leader, made the remark Friday while reflecting on the results of the April 28 federal election, which reduced the NDP to just seven seats — their worst showing since 1935.
“Let us be very clear,” Lamoureux told the Commons. “The New Democrats are becoming more and more irrelevant for the simple fact they are not putting Canadians first.”
Despite the reduced caucus, NDP leader Don Davies said the party remained committed to
advocating for working people.
“We certainly made a strong impact in this Parliament,” Davies said. “We’re going to continue to hold this government to account, to fight for progressive values and policies that help working families across this country.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney has ruled out any formal cooperation agreement with the NDP, saying on May 2 he had no interest in reviving the 2022 Supply and Confidence Agreement that had kept the Liberal minority government afloat through the 44th Parliament.
Former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh had pledged to honour the supply agreement even as polls showed his party losing support. In the end, Singh was defeated in his own Burnaby Central, B.C. riding by more than 12,000 votes.
Average wages for working Canadians outpaced inflation on a year-over-year basis in April, according to data from Statistics Canada.
April’s earnings sheet, which was released on Thursday morning, reports Canadians earned $1,297 per week on average. That’s a 4.4 per cent increase year-over-year, while inflation increased just 1.7 per cent in the same period.
Average wages also rose 0.8 per cent compared to the month prior. Certain Canadian industries have fared better than others in terms of wages.
Among the sectors that saw the largest gains were information and cultural industries, where average weekly wages grew just over 10 per cent. Canadians in that sector earned $1,875 per week, on average.
Real estate also got a bump over the last year. Average weekly earnings grew 9.7 per cent for an average of $1,361 per week, or about $120 more than the same time last year.
Employees in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction made $2,492 per week on average –the highest yield of any recorded sector – and saw those wages rise about five per cent from the year before.
Accommodation and food services saw a similar rise (4.6 per cent) but remained at the bottom among recorded sectors. Employees in that industry made $521.16 per week. Workers in arts, entertainment and recreation made $759.63, landing that sector at second from the bottom of the list. Year-over-year declines were recorded
in health care and social assistance (-23.9 per cent), accommodation and food services (-21.7 per cent), and construction (-13.8 per cent).
That contraction was felt most in B.C., where vacancies fell 8.5 per cent, Alberta (-9.4 per cent), New Brunswick (-16.8 per cent), and Newfoundland and Labrador (-26.3 per cent).
Vacancies were little changed in the remaining six provinces.
The average Canadian may be making more year-over-over and beating out inflation, but one economist explains why it may not feel that way.
“These are the types of calculations that economists do,” said David Macdonald, senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. “We talk about real wages and what you’re gaining against inflation. But folks are upset that prices are going up on things like regular everyday purchases like food. They’re upset that prices for (rent) or the price of purchase for houses has been going up and really hasn’t been coming down all that much.”
Macdonald says wages have been gaining against inflation since 2023, making up some ground after the skyrocketing inflation the two years prior, which has largely been blamed on the COVID-19 pandemic.
But Macdonald adds that the positive trajectory has now been interrupted by the instability involving U.S. President Donald Trump and the potential for new tariffs, making the near future very difficult to predict.
Police in B.C. say suspect known as ‘Mr. X’ in 1985 Air India bombing is dead
Police in British Columbia believe they have solved a decades-long mystery by identifying a suspect known as “Mr. X” who is thought to have helped test a bomb before the 1985 Air India terror attack.
But they say the suspect died before facing charges, and police will not be releasing his name.
The statement from the RCMP’s Pacific Region on Monday comes as families commemorate the 40th anniversary of the attack, when two bombs targeting Air India flights exploded, including one that killed 329 people, most of them Canadians.
Police said in an email that investigators had “uncovered information related to a suspect they believe was involved in testing an explosive device prior to the Air India terrorist attack on June 23, 1985.” RCMP did not name the suspect, saying the evidence was not sufficient to unequivocally confirm the identification of the person.
“Investigators confirm the suspect is deceased,” the statement said.
In a later response, police said investigators “made extensive and deliberate efforts over the last several years to identify the suspect.”
A 2010 commission of inquiry report heard that Canadian Security Intelligence Service officers watched Mr. X among a group of suspects entering a forest on Vancouver Island where the bomb test was heard, a few weeks before the bombs were placed on two planes.
But the officers did not have a camera and the suspect went unidentified for decades, in a failure the report called “the nadir of ineffectiveness of CSIS pre-bombing surveillance.”
Only one person was ever convicted of involvement in the attack, bombmaker Inderjit Singh Reyat, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2003 and was later convicted of perjuring himself to protect his co-conspirators.
Two men, Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri, were acquitted in 2005 after a trial that cost almost $60 million.
The trial, a 2005 federal investigation report and the commission of inquiry all concluded the attack was rooted in radical sections of the Sikh community seeking an independent homeland in India, known as Khalistan.
The identification of Mr. X was first reported by Postmedia last week, citing an interview with RCMP Asst. Commissioner David Teboul, who reportedly said the name of the suspect could not be released due to privacy laws.
A bomb on Air India Flight 182 exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, killing everyone on board, while a second suitcase bomb exploded before being transferred onto an Air India jet, killing two baggage handlers in Tokyo’s Narita Airport.
In a statement, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the tragedy is one that Canadians “must never forget.”
“As we mark the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, we remember the victims of the Air India bombing and all others who have lost their lives to terrorism,” Carney said.
“Canada’s new government unequivocally stands against terrorism, and we will deliver on our mandate of change to keep communities safe.”
B.C. Premier David Eby said in a separate statement that the province “must stand against the hate, intolerance and division that fuel terrorism,” and his government was renewing its resolve “to create a safer society for everyone in honour of those we have lost.”
“They were entire families, businesspeople and students with their whole lives ahead of them,” Eby said. “Tragically, they became victims of the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history when a bomb exploded onboard their flight.
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B.C.’s measles caseload has risen again. The B.C. Centre for Disease Control reported a total of 63 confirmed measles cases in the province in its latest update Thursday afternoon.
That’s an increase of 14 from the 49 reported on Tuesday, with most of the latest cases detected in the Northern Health region. A total of 41 measles infections have been confirmed in Northern Health in 2025 so far, compared to single-digit totals in the mainland’s other regional health authorities and none on Vancouver Island. The Northern Health total is considered an undercount, because “some communities have a large disease burden, and not everyone is presenting to Northern Health for diagnosis and health care support,” according to the BCCDC.
The latest update also included several new public exposure notices.
Such notices are issued when health officials are unable to directly contact everyone who may have been exposed to a known case of the virus at a given place and time. The latest exposure notices include several flights and airports, as well as a spa and a sports complex in Kamloops. Anyone who may have been exposed to measles should monitor for symptoms, which include “fever, cough, runny nose, and red and inflamed eyes that are often sensitive to light,” according to the BCCDC.
“These symptoms are followed by a rash, which starts first on the face and neck, and spreads to the chest, arms and legs.”
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily through the air, and symptoms can develop between seven and 21 days after exposure. Those who are completely unvaccinated against the virus – including children under one year old – are at greatest risk.
Most people in Canada are immune to measles due to vaccination or previous infection. However, the prevalence of the disease has been increasing in recent years as vaccination rates have dropped.
In B.C., the vaccination rate among seven-year-olds was 72.4 per cent in 2023, the latest year for which data is available. That’s down from a rate of 90.9 per cent a decade earlier.
On Wednesday, Premier David Eby described this year’s measles surge as “the sadly predictable outcome” of the “recklessness” of politicians who question vaccine safety.
“I will encourage all British Columbians to ensure that they are vaccinated,” Eby said. “Measles is no joke. It kills kids. It’s a preventable disease, and we don’t want that to be the story of the summer for our province.”
South Asian MMA fighter who crashed into Aldergrove building avoids extra jail time
An Abbotsford, B.C., MMA fighter who crashed a car into a community policing centre in Aldergrove two years ago won’t serve any additional time behind bars.
Kultar Singh Gill pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm on Wednesday.
He was handed a conditional sentence — to be served in the community — of two years less a day, which was reduced to 544 days after credit for time served. Gill is listed as the head coach of the Mamba MMA Gym in Abbotsford, where he
is described as fighting under the name “Black Mamba.”
Video of the incident appears to show a woman being dragged as she hangs on to the open driver side door of a damaged black car, with a man behind the wheel.
The vehicle drives over a traffic median before crashing into the Aldergrove Community Police Station.
Gill’s sentence also includes a year of probation after his conditional sentence expires, along with a 10-year firearms prohibition and a $200 victim surcharge.
Alberta premier expects proposal for new oil pipeline to BC within weeks
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expects a private-sector firm to propose a new oil pipeline to the British Columbia coast within weeks in a bid to become one of the first entrants on the Canadian government’s list of nationally important projects.
Smith said she is in active discussions with major energy companies and that a line to northwest B.C. “is the most credible and the most economic of all of the pipeline proposals the private sector would consider.” She declined to name which company she expects to bring forward the project. Pipelines to the west coast have long been at the top of the Canadian energy industry’s wish list because they would reduce producers’ reliance on the U.S. market and allow them to fetch higher prices for their oil. An expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline that was
completed last year has opened the way for Canada to ship larger volumes of crude to markets in Asia, raising and stabilizing local oil prices.
Canada’s House of Commons cleared a bill Friday to accelerate the building of infrastructure such as pipelines and electrical transmission lines. The legislation, known as Bill C-5, allows proposals that are deemed in the “national interest” to receive a quicker review for environmental and other impacts. The goal of the law is to see major projects approved within two years, creating more certainty for companies before they embark on multibillion-dollar investment plans. Representatives for Calgarybased Enbridge, the largest publicly traded oil pipeline company in North America, didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Ceremonies
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Susheel Gupta lost his 37-year-old mother Ramwati Gupta in the attack, along with 21 other close friends.
“Certainly, over the years, we’ve gotten to know many of the other victim’s families as well. I’m here in her honour and in honour of all the victims who died in this tragedy,” said Gupta, who serves as the director of the Air India Victim’s Families Association.
He was 12-years-old when he lost his mother.
“It’s important to be here, to not only remember our loved ones but to remind Canadians that terrorism is something that happens in Canada. It has happened in Canada,” Gupta said.
Susheel connected with his wife Nidhi through the tragedy after she lost her best friend in the attack at 10 years old. Nidhi Gupta says they went to school together, danced and participated in the Indian culture together.
“Just trying to understand that they were gone and in the brutal way that they were gone. Not understanding how anybody could do something like that. Just trying to grasp the fact that I’d never see her again. She was going away for the summer. We were going to reconnect in September when school started,” said Nidhi Gupta.
Jagmohan and Yash Humar were close
friends with the Sait’s, a family of five who were killed.
“A very promising family. We were together always,” said Jagmohan Humar. “The youngest one, Ankur his name. He was one and a half years at the time. I had given him his name.”
Jagmohan says he often sings and says a prayer for them.
“Although it’s been 40 years, still the memories are still the same,” says Aruna Gupta, whose friends died in the attack, “Not a day goes by I don’t think of those innocent children. The families who lost mothers, brothers, sisters, fathers, friends. I just send my prayers every time I think of them everyday.”
June 23 is now recognized by the Canadian government as the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, not only remembering the victims of Air India but also paying tribute to those affected by terrorism worldwide.
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On trade talks with the U.S., Carney said he’s focused on getting the “right deal” during the 30day negotiating window.
Following the recent G7 summit, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed a continued fondness for tariffs while acknowledging Carney has a “different concept” of trade.
Carney ducked a question during Monday’s press conference about whether he feels more comfortable in Brussels than in Washington D.C.
The prime minister talked about the hot, humid weather in Washington right now and joked that he’s “sure the dinner will be better” in Brussels.
Carney met with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the summit, before the final deal was signed.
Costa said Canada and the EU are “looking at the world through the same lens” and this meeting has taken the partnership to a new level.
Von der Leyen told Carney he was “here among friends.” She said Canada and the EU are two strong democracies bound by historic ties and connected by a “dynamic, fair and open” trade partnership. She said the EU wants not just to reaffirm the friendship and partnership with Canada but also to reshape it. She said the agreement is the “most
comprehensive” ever completed.
“We know we can count on you and you can count on us,” she said.
Carney said the leaders are putting into practice some of what they discussed at the G7 and have been working on for years. Under the terms of the agreement, Canada and the EU will hold an annual “security and defence dialogue” involving top officials. The agreement also commits both partners to expanding co-operation in support of Ukraine, improving Canadian military mobility in Europe and enhancing maritime co-operation in regions of “mutual interest” like the Indo-Pacific.
Von der Leyen said that the “door’s open” for Canada to enter joint military procurement with Europe after the summit.
“It is important to do these joint procurements, not only for the scaling up of the industry, because the more you scale you can have better, cheaper and faster results, but also to improve the interoperability between our troops,” she said.
Canada will need to sign a second agreement with the European Commission before it can take part in the 150-billion-euro ReArm Europe initiative. The security and defence agreement also pledges further collaboration on emerging issues in cybersecurity, foreign interference, disinformation and outer space policy.
BC launches campaign urging South Asian community to report extortion threats
The provincial government has launched a new campaign encouraging members of the South Asian community to report information tied to a disturbing rise in extortion threats, but some critics say the B.C. still isn’t doing enough to protect people living in fear.
The Crime Stoppers digital media campaign, unveiled Thursday, aims to raise awareness and urge victims and witnesses to come forward. It comes amid a wave of threats and violence targeting South Asian-owned businesses in Surrey.
“It is important that the police have the information to work so that they can do their job,” said Public Safety Minister Gary Begg. In recent months, several Surrey businesses have received chilling phone calls demanding millions of dollars, followed by targeted gunfire.
the part of the police. I think there is a shortage of information,” Begg said.
Still, some critics believe the province’s new $100,000 campaign doesn’t go far enough.
“One hundred thousand dollars is a drop in the bucket. It doesn’t send a serious message to the South Asian community that it’s really scared right now,” said Steve Kooner, a B.C. Conservative MLA and the party’s critic for the Attorney General.
Similar extortion patterns have been reported across Canada. Police made mass arrests linked to organized crime in Ontario and Edmonton earlier this year, but so far, no arrests have been made in Surrey.
“My message to the public is number one, report. But number two, know that we are working extremely hard to really find these people and hold them accountable,” said Surrey Police Service Chief Const. Norm Lipinski.
Both Lipinski and Begg insist police have the resources they need, but not the co-operation.
“I don’t think there is a shortage of expertise on
“If this government wants to take this matter seriously, it really needs to look to different levels of government, and it needs to come up with solutions that are legislation-based.”
Begg says intelligence links the Lawrence Bishnoi gang — an organized criminal group — to some of the extortion cases. The premier has formally asked the federal government to label the group a terrorist organization.
“The federal designation would unlock additional tools and resources not just in British Columbia but across the country,” Begg said.
Surrey Police have said they are actively investigating 12 extortion files, but believe many more have gone unreported. Lipinski also said some of the cases may be linked to individuals “beyond the borders of Canada,” and that they’re working with the RCMP on the complex cases.
The new awareness campaign will run for 60 days and is also available in Punjabi.
BC Ferries receives $1B federal bank loan for Chinese-made ships
B.C. Ferries has secured a $1 billion loan by a federal Crown corporation to help obtain four Chinese-made ships, a purchase that federal Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland recently said should not involve federal funds.
Freeland expressed dismay about the selection of China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards in a June 16 letter to B.C. Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth, and asked the province to confirm "with utmost certainty that no federal funding will be diverted to support the acquisition" of new ferries from the Chinese state-owned shipyard.
On Thursday the Canada Infrastructure Bank confirmed the loan and said the province's new electric ferries "wouldn't likely be purchased" without the financing.
B.C. Premier David Eby said B.C. Ferries went through a five-year procurement process and the
vessels were "desperately needed." "Anyone who sat on the tarmac waiting for a ferry because the propeller fell off knows that we need to replace these boats and that the need is urgent," Eby said "We have goals around building Canada's economy, absolutely, and part of it means ferries to act for business to access markets, and people are able to get to where they need to get."
B.C. Ferries CEO Nicolas Jimenez said in an interview with The Canadian Press that he "was surprised and disappointed" by Freeland's letter, and would "have expected more engagement and dialogue" from Ottawa.
"You know we haven't built a ship, a large ship, in this province for 30 years. So there's a lot that has to happen for the domestic capacity to be there," Jimenez told CBC's On the Island on Thursday.
Calls grow to cap Board of Metro Vancouver member’s pay
A Deloitte report for Metro Vancouver recommends that they “consider introducing a cap or maximum remuneration threshold for total income from all local government-related appointments.”
It suggests mayors not earn more than cabinet ministers, which is $183,000. Some want the recommendation adopted.
New Westminster coun. Daniel Fontaine says, “If the application of that recommendation to bring it down to the provincial cabinet minister had been applied in 2023 alone, for just those seven politicians, taxpayers would have saved about $611,000 in salaries.”
Surrey coun. Linda Annis also commented, “I’m hearing from a lot of residents here in Surrey, they’re very concerned about the ongoing saga about what politicians are getting paid.” In 2023,
many mayors were compensated far beyond any cabinet minister.
Among top earners, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie earned $312,000, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley took home $330,000, Delta Mayor George Harvie made $291,000 and Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West earned $276,000.
West says he supports the pay cap.
He told Global News, “I think having that move forward is the right thing to do, and that’s why I actually put it forward quite some time ago now, as something that I thought would be worth moving forward with.”
Metro Vancouver says all recommendations from the governance review will be looked at.
On Friday, the board will consider draft revisions for eliminating double meeting fees and meeting fees while travelling on Metro Vancouver business.
Jamaican doing life for 'execution style' Ontario killing wins shot at 'faint hope' release
A Jamaican man sentenced to life in prison for an “execution style” killing north of Barrie in 2007 will get a shot at early release under Canada’s “faint hope clause.” Sean Lenworth Anthony Spence didn’t pull the trigger, but he planned the murder of Jonathan Chambers over $52,000 Spence blamed him for losing in a drug deal Chambers arranged. Spence was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years for kidnapping and killing Chambers, who had introduced Spence to buyers who pretended they were in the market for 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, but then paid with fake money and escaped with the drugs.
After serving more than 15 years of his sentence, Spence applied to Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice for a “faint hope” hearing before a jury so
he can ask that his parole ineligibility period be reduced. “While it is ultimately up to a jury to determine whether or not Mr. Spence may apply for parole sooner than the 25 years imposed as part of his sentence, I cannot say that his application is doomed to failure. On a balance of probabilities there is a substantial likelihood that the application might succeed,” Justice Mark Edwards wrote in a recent decision out of Barrie.
“Mr. Spence’s application is granted, and a jury shall be empaneled to hear his application.”
Chambers was killed March 7, 2007.
“Two vehicles were stopped on the side of a country road north of Barrie,” said the judge’s decision, dated June 18. Spence was in one vehicle. Four individuals, including Chambers, were in the other.
6 victims of Lapu Lapu tragedy remain in hospital 2 months later
It has been two months since the Lapu Lapu tragedy in Vancouver.
In an update, Vancouver police said six people who were injured in the April 26 incident remain in the hospital.
Officials said they cannot give specific details about the victims’ injuries or their medical status; however, they were able to confirm that a child has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. The family of an international student who suffered multiple broken bones in his legs said he is now able to stand up and will be undergoing physiotherapy to help him walk again.
Eleven people were killed and dozens more were injured when an SUV sped through a crowd of people at the festival to celebrate Filipino culture.
Suspect Kai-Ji Adam Lo is facing nine counts of second-degree murder and remains in custody.
BC man sentenced for ‘very serious sexual offences’ against five women
A B.C. man found guilty of six sexual assaults against five female victims has been sentenced to 10 years and five months in prison.
Joel Eric Carlson was found guilty after a trial by jury last year and sentenced in B.C. Supreme Court in Kamloops earlier this month.
“These were very serious sexual offences, punctuated by multiple aggravating features,” Justice W. Paul Riley wrote in his sentencing decision, “All five victims were significantly impacted, traumatized, by Mr. Carlson’s conduct. Each of the offences involved a serious violation of the victim’s bodily integrity and sexual autonomy, and some of the counts involved the use of physical force to control or subdue the victim.” After credit for time served, Carlson is set to serve an additional eight years and four months
behind bars.
The sentencing decision contains detailed descriptions of the sexual assaults and the impact on the victims – all of whom Carlson knew, some of whom he had a romantic relationship with.
The women who provided victim impact statements to the court described the wide-ranging emotional and psychological impact the attacks had on their lives which included insomnia, shame, loss of self-esteem, persistent fear, an inability to trust, and flashbacks.
The judge described all the assaults, committed between 2013 and 2018, as “highly intrusive.” Four of the six convictions were for raping a woman without a condom, and several “involved the abuse of vulnerable victims who were asleep or incapacitated,” the judge wrote.
Canadian citizen dies while in ICE custody in Florida
A Canadian citizen and U.S. permanent resident has died while in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Florida and awaiting removal from the United States, the agency says.
The Canadian, identified as 49-year-old Johnny Noviello, was found unresponsive Monday at the Federal Detention Center in Miami and was attended to by medical staff, but was pronounced dead the same day, ICE said in a statement Wednesday.
The cause of death remains under investigation.
Global Affairs Canada said it was “aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in Florida” and was in contact with U.S. authorities to gather
information. It would not provide further details due to privacy considerations.
ICE said it provided notification of Noviello’s death to the Canadian consulate by telephone. ICE said that after Noviello was found unresponsive, medical staff “immediately” performed CPR and used an electronic defibrillator to try and revive him, before calling 911. He was pronounced dead by the Miami Fire Rescue Department at 1:36 p.m. local time, less than an hour after he was found at 12:54 p.m.
The Federal Detention Center in Miami is roughly a 12-minute drive from the nearest hospital, Jackson Memorial, according to Google Maps.
Ottawa's foreign aid chief eyes red tape, visibility as Canada resists cutbacks
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"It doesn't mean that a sack of grain needs to have a Maple Leaf on it," he said. While branding can play a role, Sarai said, the government can also spread its message through social media, outreach campaigns in recipient countries and possibly through provincial governmentapproved textbooks.
"Canadians would be happier, and I think those recipients would have a better value and respect and admiration for Canada and its aid," he said. "So that's definitely a priority."
Sarai said Canadians should know how their aid dollars work to, for example, flood-proof areas prone to natural disasters or provide farmers with climate-resilient crops.
"A potato seed that comes from Prince Edward Island to a remote part of the Philippines can take a family from barely sustaining themselves to being able to not only feed themselves but also
put their children through education," he said.
Sarai worked as a lawyer in Surrey, B.C. before running for federal office in the 2015 election, when the Liberals under Justin Trudeau won a majority government. He became parliamentary secretary for veterans affairs in fall 2023.
While his current role falls short of a full ministerial portfolio, it puts him in charge of overseeing Canada's aid budget and allows him to participate in some cabinet meetings.
Ottawa spent $12 billion on foreign aid in the fiscal year that ended in spring 2024, the latest year fully reported by Global Affairs Canada.
Half of that was core foreign aid spending, while $2.6 billion was for loans and development financing, mostly for Ukraine. Another $2.6 billion went to services for refugees arriving in Canada, while the rest largely went to global projects such as United Nations humanitarian appeals and preventive health projects.
Surrey's 10,000-seat arena plans: Who might play there, where, and what's next
Arena construction pitches and proposals in Surrey aren't new, but this time Mayor Brenda Locke sounds firmly committed to building a 10,000-seat stadium in City Centre over the next few years, with the help of development and operating partners.
"I'd like to see it built yesterday, and I wish it was built 10 years ago," Locke told the Now-Leader. "It's our time, there's no doubt about it. Surrey needs this kind of facility and there's a lot of interest, of course. We're not going to disclose those names (of possible arena users), they can't be yet, but we're absolutely moving forward to do all that."
June 26 is the closing date for job applications in Surrey's search for a development advisor to help create a City Centre Entertainment District and Arena, a year after the city hired U.S. firm Hunden Partners to prepare feasibility plans.
"Based on the plans developed to date," says a post on surrey.ca, "it is anticipated that the Entertainment District will be comprised of a 10,000-seat arena, 100,000 square feet of commercial retail/office and a 150-key hotel with 60,000 square feet of ballroom, meeting and conference facilities."
Construction could start as early as 2027 based on designs drawn and approved in 2026, according to the Request for Proposal (RFP).
Locke sees the arena as more than a sports-only facility, "with concerts and music and conventions, other big events that could happen there," she said. "We want to make sure that we're keeping our families and our people here. This is about trying to make sure that Surrey becomes a city of its own, not a city that has to rely on (other cities in the region) to host bigger events."
Some question if such an arena should be built in Surrey, for various reasons, but proponents
see it as a facility that will "transform Surrey’s entertainment and recreation landscape," as the mayor trumpeted in her 2025 State of the City address.No price tag is yet estimated, but Coun. Linda Annis pins it in the $600 million range, "with no anchor tenant in sight" for the arena, which she calls an unwanted "vanity project" that "no one is asking for" at a time when Surrey "needs more neighbourhood parks, pools, rinks and playing fields instead."
A few weeks ago Annis' comments triggered a war of words with Locke, who points out that Annis voted in favour of advancing the arena/ entertainment district project during closed-
door meetings in 2024. Locke first hinted about a new arena for Surrey City Centre in spring 2024, and similar plans were proposed in 2017 — in Bridgeview — by local investment banker Inde Sumal. City Centre is an ideal location for a new arena, the mayor contends, but finding an exact site is among many tasks for the incoming development advisor, once hired.
"We're really looking for that perfect location," Locke said. "We certainly are looking at options in this area and we will continue to do that."
All will be considered, for sure, and potential arena users have been knocking on Surrey's door, Locke said.
Surrey Mayor calls for terror tag on Bishnoi gang
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The gang’s Canada-based associate Goldy Brar, who publicly claimed responsibility for the murder of singer Sidhu Moose Wala, is also believed to be involved in drug trafficking and political violence across Canadian provinces.
The sources reiterated that several other violent networks operating from Canada are also working against Indian interests. These include Khalistani extremist groups such as Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), both of which remain active in Canada.
“These groups are believed to be involved in fundraising, recruitment, radicalisation of youth, and planning violence in India. Many of them operate under the front of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which has been accused of using political activism as a cover for extremist activities, including student recruitment and extortionbased financing."
Sikhs for Justice is a US-based separatist group that advocates for the creation of ‘Khalistan’, carved out from India’s Punjab region. The Indian government has banned SFJ as an unlawful organisation due to its alleged involvement in inciting violence, radicalising youth, and promoting anti-India propaganda. Its founder, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, is considered a designated terrorist by Indian authorities.
Authorities have also linked these groups to drug and money-laundering networks involving Dubai-based operatives and connections to Mexican cartels and heroin smuggling via the UAE. The Brothers Keepers, another Canadian street gang led by Maninder Singh Dhaliwal, has been implicated in extortion schemes targeting South Asian businesses in British Columbia. Indian officials continue to press for international cooperation in dismantling these networks and protecting diaspora communities from organised criminal and extremist threats.
'Mai
kana' (Let's Eat)
A tour through Fiji's culinary renaissance
For many, Fiji conjures up images of pristine tropical waters and island zen, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Fiji's dining scene is burgeoning, and its waterside bars, cool cafés, exceptional restaurants and farm-to-table experiences present an exciting new breadth of cultural opportunities for visitors.
"Fijian cuisine is undergoing a renaissance," says Rakesh Kumar, executive chef of Tatavu Bar & Grill, which was named Fiji's Best Hotel Restaurant in the World Culinary Awards 2024. Kumar is also president of the Fijian Chef's Association and references the confident new menus being delivered in restaurants around the islands.
"Chefs are blending traditional flavours with contemporary techniques," Kumar says. "The farm-to-table movement, and a growing appreciation for indigenous ingredients are shaping the future of dining in Fiji.
"Food in Fijian culture is more than just nourishment; it is a symbol of hospitality, community and heritage."
When it comes to heritage, Kumar explains that traditional feasts, or 'Lovo', an earth oven style of cooking upon hot stones, are what Fijian food is known for. Lovo is often enjoyed after 'Kava' or 'Yaqona', a local drink made from the powdered root of a pepper plant (Piper methysticum) and which creates a calm, easygoing, social vibe. Kumar champions another traditional cooking method called 'Tatavu', at the aptly named Tatavu Bar & Grill.
"The hero of the menu is the 'Tatavu' grilling method, an ancient Fijian technique that uses wood fire and coconut husks to infuse dishes with a deep, smoky aroma," he says. "The origins of this method trace back to traditional village cooking, where the open flame enhanced the natural flavours of fresh-caught seafood and locally sourced vegetables and meats."
Many of the ingredients are sourced from the Sheraton's farm, which is a five-acre property located on Denarau Island and run by the resort operator.
"I'm personally involved in selecting ingredients, and I ensure that every dish reflects the farm-to-table philosophy, reducing the carbon footprint [compared to imported ingredients] while celebrating Fiji's agricultural bounty," Kumar says.
Kumar trained in culinary arts at the Fijian Institute of Technology and has spent more than 20 years working in Fijian resort kitchens. His inspiration to become a chef came from his upbringing, where food played a powerful role in family gatherings and bringing people together.
"Being a chef is more than just cooking – it is a form of storytelling, a tribute to heritage, and a pursuit of innovation through flavour," Kumar says. His menu at Tatavu Bar & Grill celebrates the elements that he believes define Fiji.
"Water symbolises the bountiful seafood offerings, fire represents the grilling techniques that intensify flavours, sand reflects the raw, earthy essence of traditional cooking, and sky embodies the limitless possibilities of culinary innovation," he says.
When it comes to classical Fijian cuisine, Kumar suggests visiting a local seafood market for a 'Kokoda'. This traditional fish dish, similar to a ceviche, can also be found on many resort menus. Organic farmer Eileen Chute, the owner of Bulaccino Café, agrees that 'Kokoda' is a must-
try dish when visiting Fiji.
"'Kokoda' (pronounced Kokonda) is cubed raw fish, soaked in lemon juice for at least one hour (the acidity will cook the fish). The lemon juice is then strained out. Chopped onions, chillies, salt and pepper are topped on the fish, and fresh coconut milk is poured in," Chute explains.
Her favourite local dish is called 'Rourou' – taro leaves cooked in coconut milk, which she likes to accompany with fried fish and boiled yam. Chute's Bulaccino Café operates in two locations, specialising in coffee, smoothies and modern café fare, with many of the ingredients sourced from her Poetcom Certified Organic Farm.
"I'd been out of Fiji for about 25 years, living in Papua New Guinea, the Netherlands, Aruba, Singapore and Thailand," Chute says. "Over the years, I'd experienced so many lovely cafés all over the world and wanted to bring that to Fiji.
"Fiji's food culture has been evolving since I can remember. Initially, Fijian food was all about the staple root crops, local veggies cooked in coconut milk, and whichever protein was available. Over the years, a few food cultures have had a big impact on the local food scene such as Indian, Chinese and British." Like Kumar, Chute agrees contemporary Fijian dining is defined by its fusion of traditional flavours with innovative cooking techniques and influences. Her 30-acre farm is nestled in a valley below the Sleeping Giant Mountain Range, about a 20-minute drive from Nadi, the location of Fiji's international airport and tourism mecca. Here, she grows tropical fruits such as pineapples, guavas, bananas, pomelos and soursop, alongside traditional ingredients such as 'Cassava' tapioka and 'Dalo' taro. In addition, the farm rears chickens, ducks, sheep and bees for honey, along with a selection of hardwood trees.
"The organic farm started four years after the café did, in 2010," Chute says. "It was always my dream to bring more awareness of the benefits of organic farming and eating as naturally and sustainably as possible."
The Bulaccino Farm can be toured, with a twohour experience providing authentic insights into agriculture in Fiji.
"One of our farm boys will guide the group around the farm, along our tour trail," Chute says. "Along the way, he'll share interesting points about the trees, fruits, animals, or anything else that comes up. There are certain spots along the way, where, if in season, he will pick and share some of our fruits for the guests to taste."
The farm is a family affair for Chute, who credits its success to the work and contributions of relatives from her home in the remote area of Udu Point, Vanua Levu, who visit Nadi to help.
"At the family level, food is something that brings everyone together," she says. "Traditionally everyone sits on a Fijian mat on the floor, around a spread of food. This strengthens family bonds, and facilitates socialising, and lets everyone see and speak eye to eye.
Chute recommends that while in Fiji, travellers enjoy its abundant natural attractions.
"You can go for long hikes in the Abaca Highlands, ziplining and river swimming at the foot of the Sleeping Giant Mountain, and there's world-class fishing, snorkelling, diving or surfing just off the coast," she says.
Chute's happiness and vitality really stand out when talking about her cafés, farm and zest for the Fijian lifestyle and culture.
"I believe we are happy because we have everything we need," she says. "Living off the land and sea is just who we are and how we do it, and everything else is a bonus. It doesn't take much to be happy, or make someone else happy, and I believe that's something that Fijians know very well."
SOUTH
Union MoS Nityanand Rai highlights India's civil registration system's success at ministerial conference
Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai delivered India's country statement at the 3rd Ministerial Conference on
of India's civil registration system and brought to attention innovative solutions like the DigiLocker in his speech.
Central Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific on Thursday, the Embassy of India in Thailand said.
In a post on X, the Embassy noted that the statement was delivered on the topic- 'Towards the shared vision of universal and responsive civil registration and vital statistics', which was organised by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok.
In his remarks, Rai highlighted the success
As per the Embassy's statement, MoS Rai met the Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, Armida Alisjahbana and exchanged views on how India and ESCAP can work together to support other development partners in the region through the sharing of experiences and best practices.
The Embassy wrote in a post on X, "Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Government of India, delivered the country statement at the 3rd Ministerial Conference on Central Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific on the topic 'Towards the shared vision of universal and responsive civil registration and vital statistics', organized by UNESCAP in Bangkok. He highlighted India's success in enhancing coverage of civil registration system through digitalization and administrative reforms, and a robust vital statistics system for responsive policy planning and implementation."
Indian-American Zohran Kwame Mamdani’s victory in the Democratic mayoral primary has shaken up New York City politics, community members said, even as US President Donald Trump lashed out at the young lawmaker, calling him a “100% Communist Lunatic”.
Mamdani, 33, son of Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, a Ugandan author of Indian ancestry, was declared victorious in the Democratic mayoral primary Tuesday night.
“It’s finally happened, the Democrats have crossed the line. Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary, and is on his way to becoming Mayor,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday.
“We’ve had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous. He looks TERRIBLE, his voice is grating, he’s not very smart, he’s got AOC+3, Dummies ALL, backing him, and even our Great Palestinian Senator, Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, is groveling over him. Yes, this is a big moment in the History of our Country!” he said.
Sree Sreenivasan, CEO of Digimentors and long-time observer of media and politics, said that Mamdani’s win had “shaken up NYC politics” in ways he has not seen in his four decades in the city. Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra, citing Trump’s comment on Mamdani, said a defunder of police was a
nominee. He added that this was an “SOS by NYC and a truly new Eric Adams has to step up”.
Batra said, as a legal immigrant, like most immigrants before or after, “we came to America because we love her. We came to America to cherish it...None of us came to America to change it to become the land we left behind. And yes, as honourable members of the diaspora, we wished that the land we left behind would become durable American allies”.
Ajay Bhutoria, former advisor to US President Joe Biden, said Mamdani’s historic win in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary as the first South Asian and Muslim candidate to secure a major-party nomination was a significant moment for the community’s representation.
Abhinandan captor and Pak Major killed
An officer of the Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group, who had claimed to have captured Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman after his jet was shot down in a dogfight in 2019, was killed in a clash with militants.
According to the army. Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah, 37, was killed on Tuesday in a clash with the Taliban militants in the Sararogha area of South Waziristan near the Afghan border, according to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations.
Irrefutable proof to nail big fish: Mann on Majithia’s arrest
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today said the state government had gathered “substantive and irrefutable proof” against the “big fish” arrested on charges of running drug rackets and amassing huge wealth through drug money.
Without naming Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau on Tuesday, Mann said, “The seized 29 mobile phones, eight laptops and other documents, along with investigations into business and hawala transactions, have given us enough evidence to nail him. A proper money trail has been established.” Denying the allegations of political vendetta, the Chief Minister said the “big crocodile in the illicit drug trade had been caught and investigations during his police remand will
establish his role”. He said another big fish would be caught soon and any property built with illicit drug money would be razed.
“With this arrest, we have started arresting the kingpins in the drug business. Earlier, all opposition parties would accuse my government of arresting only drug peddlers. Now that I have arrested the kingpin, they have all joined hands and started accusing me of political witchhunt.
Those supporting him may themselves be involved in similar clandestine operations,” said Mann. Those going in for this conversion will deposit 90 per cent of the charges in the state treasury and the PSIEC will get 10 per cent of those charges. This remission will be 75 per cent for allottees that do not have the clause to pay unearned increase.
Industrial areas in Punjab to now have malls, multiplexes, hotels
The state government on Thursday decided to allow conversion of plots from leasehold to freehold, besides change in land use of industrial plots for setting up hospitals, hotels, banquet halls, commercial spaces, institutes and even rental housing.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Industrial plots measuring between 1,000 sq yd and 4,000 sq yd can be put to use under 10 different categories. The policy would also be applicable for industrial parks spread over 40,000 sq yd, provided the park has a 100-footwide road abutting it and the developer would have to pay 12.5 per cent conversion charges. Multiplexes, shopping malls and retail shops could
The change in land use (CLU) charges for individual plots would range between 10 and 50 per cent, and the width of the approach road would be 45-60 feet.
The decision seems to have been taken to strengthen the state’s sagging economy, and considering the fact that services sector contributes the largest share to Punjab’s Gross State Value Added (GSVA) at 48 per cent, and is growing rapidly. Comparatively, industry contribution to the GSVA is around 28 per cent. The services sector also gives employment to 41 per cent of the workforce. “Though there was a conversion policy earlier as well, it was restrictive and did not serve much purpose. Industry had been demanding this for a long time,” said RS Sachdeva, former
Centre writes to Punjab, Haryana CMs for July talks to end SYL dispute
The Centre on Thursday said it was making every possible effort to resolve the vexed decadesold Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue of water sharing between Punjab and Haryana and had sought the convenience of the chief ministers of both states to discuss the issue at the earliest.
The Jal Shakti Ministry has written to Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann for a meeting and mediation talks are likely around July 10 in Delhi.
Top sources today told The Tribune that Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil took the initiative to
issue,” Paatil told this correspondent. The issue pertains to the construction of a 214 km SYL canal of which 122 km was to be constructed in Punjab and 92 km in Haryana. While Haryana completed its part, Punjab shelved the project in 1982. The matter goes back to 1981 when a water-sharing agreement between the two states was reached and a decision to build the SYL Canal taken for better water sharing.
In January 2002, the SC ruled in favour of Haryana asking Punjab to construct the canal as per terms of the agreement. However, the Punjab Assembly, in 2004, passed a law to terminate the 1981 agreement. This 2004 Punjab law was struck down by the SC in 2016.
hold an arbitration between the two states after previous rounds led by his predecessor Gajendra Singh Shekhawat failed.
The Supreme Court in May again directed Punjab and Haryana to cooperate with the Centre to resolve the matter. The apex court had earlier appointed the Jal Shakti Minister as the chief arbiter in the issue asking him to play a proactive role rather than be just a “mute spectator”.
Paatil today confirmed to The Tribune that efforts to resolve the conflict were on.
“The SC has issued certain orders in the matter and as per the SC directions, we will move
The matter has since lingered on in the highest court, which has now fixed August 13 as the next date of hearing if Punjab and Haryana, under the Centre’s mediation, again fail to reach an agreement.
After the Centre-led talks in January 2023, Mann had said Punjab did not have even a single drop of water to share and could not build the canal.
Mann also suggested that the SYL nomenclature be changed to YSL to save the Sutlej, which, he said, “had been reduced to a mere nullah”. “If the Yamuna can go to Shahdara, why can’t it go to Rohtak,” Mann said, arguing that over 78 per cent of Punjab’s 150 blocks were in the dark zone with even the groundwater drying up.
Haryana has, meanwhile, sought its share of fair waters under the 1981 agreement. Haryana Government sources say that as per the Centre’s March 24, 1976, orders, 3.5 MAF (million acre feet) of water was allocated to Haryana out of the surplus water of the Ravi-Beas but due to an incomplete SYL canal, Haryana was receiving 1.62
India sends its first astronaut into space in 41 years
Jubilant Indians have been celebrating the successful launch of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission which has taken off with a multi-country crew, including an Indian astronaut.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who's piloting the mission, has become only the second Indian to travel to space.
In just over 26 hours - when the spacecraft docks at the International Space Station (ISS) - Group Captain Shukla will become the first ever Indian to visit Nasa's orbiting laboratory.
His trip comes 41 years after cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian to fly to space aboard a Russian Soyuz in 1984. Led by former Nasa astronaut Peggy Whitson - a space veteran who has been commander of ISS twice, has spent more than 675 days in space and done 10 space walks - Ax-4 lifted off from Nasa's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 02:31 EDT, (06:31 GMT; 12:01 India time) on Wednesday.
The trip to ISS aboard Ax-4 - a commercial flight operated by Houston-based private company Axiom Space - is a collaboration between Nasa, India's space agency Isro, European Space Agency (Esa) and SpaceX. Its four-member team also includes Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. They will also be taking their countries back to space after more than four decades. The astronauts spent weeks in quarantine before Wednesday's launch. The flight has generated huge interest in India with Isro saying the experience Group Captain Shukla will gain during his trip to the ISS will help its efforts immensely. The 39-year-old was among four Indian air force officers shortlisted last year to travel on the country's first-ever human space flight, scheduled for 2027. India has also announced ambitious plans to set up a space station by 2035 and send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
How a new Insurance protects India’s poorest women
As Deviben Dhaundhaliya, 45, a streetside seller of artificial jewelry, waits for her husband Devabhai to arrive and help her shift their iron-frame mobile ‘shop’ to the Bhadra Fort open-air marketplace in Ahmedabad city, she tells of how “as heat increased, my wares started melting under the direct exposure to the sun, or they got discolored.”
It was not the first time Deviben’s wares got heat-damaged. It has been happening most years ever since Gujarat’s Ahmedabad city in May 2010 experienced an unprecedented week-long deadly heat wave spiking to 46.8°C. Deviben says she feels an unrelenting anxiety deep within her as summer approaches.
“For over a decade our income plummets, sickness stalks us through the hottest months.”
However, succour has arrived in India in the form of a newer kind of income protection insurance against extreme heat. A parametric microinsurance has informal sector self-employed women like Deviben covered, building their resilience to growing extreme heat in India.
Parametric insurance depends on one or a few predetermined indexes or parameters, and if these are triggered, a pre-agreed payout happens quickly, which is its attraction. The payout is regardless of the quantum of loss. This creates a much lower risk and time-effort for daily-wage-dependent insurance participants. Whereas traditional indemnity-based insurances necessitate a loss-assessing survey, taking months for compensation payout.
Parametric insurance beneficiaries often pay a small premium, which is subsidized in these initial stages, but group insurers like SEWA visualize beneficiaries realizing benefits and eventually paying.
“Livelihoods and incomes decrease by 30-50 percent due to decreased work efficiency, reduced work hours, increased raw material expenses, spoilage of goods, loss of customers, and reduced workdays due to heat-related illnesses,” according to Sahil Hebbar, Senior Coordinator in charge of the parametric micro-insurance pilot at Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA).
‘Spurned’ Chennai woman issues bomb threats across 12 states to wreak havoc in man’s life, arrested
A probe into e-mails threatening blasts at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and different places in 12 states has unravelled a tale of unrequited love and vengeance allegedly unleashed by a woman consultant of an MNC in Chennai to defame a man, leading to her arrest.
After the man who she dreamt would be her husband, married another woman, the accused, identified as Rene Joshilda, decided to avenge the 'rejection' and used deception to wreak havoc in his life. According to police, she used fake email IDs, virtual private networks (VPNs), and the dark web to hide her identity and location.
She was arrested by the Ahmedabad cyber crime from her residence in Chennai on Saturday following an extended technical surveillance, which involved picking the digital trail, an official said on Monday.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sharad Singhal on Monday said Joshilda created different email IDs, some of which were in the name of Divij Prabhakar, who she wanted to marry.
An engineer trained in Robotics, Joshilda has been working as a senior consultant at a multinational firm in Chennai since 2022.
"She has done her engineering from Chennai and a course in Robotics. Currently, she is a senior consultant at Deloitte. She loved Divij Prabhakar and wanted to marry him but it remained onesided," Singhal told reporters.
Her dreams crashed when Prabhakar married another girl in February, filling her with revulsion and revenge.
"In a bid to frame him, she created different email IDs, some of which were in the name of Prabhakar," the police officer added.
Blinded by love, Joshilda used her technical knowledge to spread panic, blissfully unaware of the impact of her action on innocent people who became unintentional targets due to hoax emails.
The police officer said Joshilda sent emails from anonymous accounts threatening to blow up the Narendra Modi Stadium, BJ Medical College, and at least two schools in Ahmedabad.
"She allegedly sent emails to various locations in 11 other states also (besides Gujarat) timing them ahead of some religious processions or visits by VIPs," he said. Police from various states coordinated with the cyber crime police of Ahmedabad. "The accused used virtual numbers to create fake email IDs and used the dark web," Singhal added. Explaining the virtual cat-andmouse game, the police officer said Joshilda played her moves smartly and covered her virtual trail. However, a small mistake on her part led investigators to her. "We were tracking her for a long time. She was very smart and didn't reveal her virtual trail, but due to a small mistake of hers, we tracked her and caught her from her house in Chennai," Singhal said.
EAM Jaishankar speaks to Qatar PM Al Thani, discusses bilateral agenda
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar spoke to the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, on Thursday and discussed the bilateral agenda between the two nations.
EAM Jaishankar, in a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Al Thani, appreciated his assessment of the regional situation.
Qatar's Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, played a key role in securing Iran's approval for the US-proposed ceasefire in the conflict with Israel, with Al Thani obtaining Tehran's agreement during a phone
call with Iranian officials, as reported by Reuters, quoting an official briefed on the negotiation. Al Thani's conversation followed Trump's communication with Qatar's Emir, in which the US President informed him that Israel had accepted the ceasefire proposal and requested Doha's assistance in convincing Tehran to agree to the deal, as reported by Reuters.
However, moments after the announcement, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out a limited strike on an Iranian radar installation north of Tehran, following which Iran launched two ballistic missiles at Israel, as reported by The Times of Israel.
Rajnath Singh urges for end to terrorism at SCO Defence Ministers' meeting in China's Qingdao
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Defence Ministers' meeting in China's Qingdao said India has zero tolerance for terrorism and that the members of the SCO should condemn terrorism.
"We have shown that epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe and we will not hesitate to target them," Singh said.
The Defence Minister was joined Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun and other counterparts for a group photograph as part of the official engagements.
"It is my pleasure to be here in Qingdao to participate in the SCO Defence Ministers meeting. I would like to thank our hosts for their warm hospitality. I would also like to congratulate Belarus on joining the SCO family as a new member. The world we live in is undergoing a
drastic transformation. Globalisation, which once brought us closer together, has been losing momentum. The weakening of multilateral systems has made it harder to address urgent challenges from maintaining peace and security to rebuilding economies after the pandemic," Singh said in his address to the forum.
10% drop in Amarnath Yatra registrations postPahalgam attack: L-G
ollowing the Pahalgam terror attack, the number of registrations for the Amarnath Yatra has declined by 10.19 percent than last year, said Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday. Sinha, however, added that the number of registration was increasing now.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, the L-G assured pilgrims that complete security arrangements had been made for the yatra, which begins from July 3.
He said last year, the Amarnath Yatra had witnessed the highest number of pilgrims in 12
years. A large number of devotees were registering even this year before the April 22 attack.
“After the unfortunate incident, there was a slight decline in registrations. In comparison to last year, registrations have reduced by 35,000-40,000 (10.19 percent). However, the rate is increasing now,” he said.
As many as 2.36 lakh pilgrims had registered before the Pahalgam attack. These people were asked to give confirmation for the yatra, and more than 85,000 people have confirmed their participation so far.
US asks visa applicants to list social media details
Emphasising that each visa adjudication was impacted national security, the US has asked applicants to share their social media usernames and handles of each platform they have used in the last five years. The US Embassy in India shared this information in a brief statement issued on Thursday. It also cautioned the applicants against
“omitting” social media information, saying omission could lead to “visa denial and ineligibility for future visas”.
The statement posted on X read, “Visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form.
Drop ‘secular, socialist’ from Constitution: RSS
The RSS on Thursday called for reviewing the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ in the preamble of the Constitution, saying these were included during Emergency and were never part of the Constitution drafted by BR Ambedkar.
Addressing an event on 50 years of Emergency here, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabole said, “Babasaheb Ambedkar never used these words in the preamble. The words were added during Emergency, when fundamental rights were suspended, Parliament did not function and the judiciary became lame.” He said discussions were held on this issue later but no effort was made to remove the two words from the preamble.
“So whether these words should remain must
be considered. The preamble is eternal. Are the thoughts of socialism as an ideology eternal for India,” he asked.
The suggestion from the RSS’ second most senior functionary to consider removing the terms secular and socialist came as he hit out at the Congress for the excesses during Emergency, demanding an apology from the party.
Recalling the days of Emergency, which was announced on June 25, 1975, Hosabale said while thousands were put in jail and tortured during that period, the freedom of the judiciary and media was also curtailed. The days of Emergency also witnessed large-scale forced sterlisation, the RSS leader said.
