Indian man charged in US crash that killed pregnant teen partner; victim's mother seeks deportation
The mother of a pregnant teenager who, along with her unborn child, was killed in a Range Rover Velar crash in Ohio, United States, has said she wants Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport the Indian man charged in the case. Annette Holmes said she does not want 33-year-old Tarsem Singh to remain in the country.
According to a NDTV report citing Newsweek, the victim’s family stated that Singh, an Indian national allegedly living in the US illegally, was the father of 17-year-old Ashlee Holmes’ unborn child.
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A video showing hundreds of people participating in a vibrant Indian cultural festival in Toronto has gone viral on social
media, sparking intense discussions about immigration, diversity and multiculturalism in Canada.
The report added that Ashlee’s relatives said she had tried to leave the relationship several times but was not successful.
Peel Regional Police have arrested 17 men tied to an international criminal network known as For Brothers, targeting what investigators describe as a campaign of intimidation, threats, and escalating violence aimed at South Asian business owners across Canada and the US.
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Manny Malhotra was hired as coach of the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.
The former Canucks forward takes over for Adam Foote, fired last month after Vancouver finished last in the NHL during his only season behind the bench. Malhotra becomes the 23rd head coach in franchise history and the latest Canucks player to be promoted by the team as it begins its rebuild.
“Manny and I have been in the battle together before, so I know firsthand what a good teacher, leader, and quality
The clip was widely shared alongside the caption: “Canada has turned into an Indian colony!!!!
Canadians are now a minority in Toronto and the flood of immigrants is larger than ever before. We cannot let this happen to us. Wake up!!!!”
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person he is,” general manager Ryan Johnson said in a statement.
The pair previously worked together in the minors with the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks.
“Manny is a great coach who has the right skill set and mentality to help players develop and get better each day,” Johnson said. “We both believe that pressure is a privilege, and learning to become a good pro takes patience, dedication and a ‘be better than yesterday’ mindset.”
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India and US have finalised most elements of the legal text of the first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement, with negotiations now focused on "commas and full stops", commerce and industry minister said Monday, but the treaty, in the works for 15 months, will only be sealed after there is clarity on how the Trump administration deals with the tariff mechanism once the current 10% levy goes away next month.
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An alleged foot soldier for a cross-Canada extortion network told an immigration hearing Friday he was an innocent victim of circumstance whose only crime was failing to ask a visiting friend why he showed up with a gun police later linked to shootings in Edmonton and Surrey.
Jashandeep Singh told an Immigration and Refugee Board tribunal member he was only fooling around with what he believed to be a replica handgun when he was filmed holding the weapon to a friend's head.
The Indian national claimed he didn't know anything about the activities of the gun's owner, Arshdeep Singh, who has since been deported for his role in shootings, arsons and vehicle fraud in Ontario, Alberta and B.C.
"It was my bad. Why didn't I ask them at that
point in time?" Singh testified through a Punjabi interpreter.
"At that point, I didn't know if I held the gun, they would connect me with extortion."
Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship wants to deport Jashandeep Singh for organized criminality.
He told his admissibility hearing he came to Canada as a student in December 2022, completing his studies at Campbell College in Edmonton. He said he is currently awaiting word on an application for a post-graduate work permit. Much of his testimony centred around events in mid-August 2025 that have proven pivotal in the attempts of Edmonton police to investigate a series of extortions allegedly linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Edmonton police Const. Kevin St. Louis, the primary investigator for Project Garter — also known as Project Al-Extortion — told the tribunal on Thursday that Jashandeep Singh came to police's attention while they were tracking Arshdeep Singh's movements through Edmonton.
Police believe Arshdeep Singh, who came to Canada on a student visa in August 2022, was a mid-level player in the extortion network.
Officers saw social media video of Arshdeep Singh firing a gun on a gravel road and then managed to recover shell casings from the weapon, which they later matched to ammunition used at an extortion-related incident in Surrey months before.
another friend of mine who was living in the house with me, I started kidding with him. I just jokingly put it on his head as we were watching films."
Jashandeep Singh told the tribunal he later travelled in Arshdeep Singh's Mustang along with others to a spot where Arshdeep Singh fired the weapon into the air multiple times.
Jashandeep Singh testified that Arshdeep Singh was a friend from college. Both men also worked in an Amazon warehouse at some point, but Arshdeep Singh wound up in Calgary while Jashandeep Singh remained in Edmonton.
Arshdeep Singh
On the night before the shooting incident in Edmonton, Jashandeep Singh said Arshdeep Singh called to say the following day was his birthday, asking if he could stay overnight at the home Jashandeep Singh shared with seven or eight other men. "Arshdeep had a bag. He took out a gun from that bag and showed us. I did not know whether it was a licensed or unregistered gun," Jashandeep Singh testified.
"When I picked it up, I was just holding it and
The Immigration and Refugee Board member overseeing the tribunal, Warren Puddicombe, pressed Jashandeep Singh on his apparent lack of interest in his friend's activities.
"If I was at a party and someone I knew pulled out a gun —I may have some thoughts about where he got it, why he had it? What were your thoughts?" Puddicombe asked.
"Nothing like that came to my mind," Jashandeep Singh responded.
"Had I asked him if he would tell me about it, I would have not held it. I could have told him at that point in time to just leave our house."
Arshdeep Singh was arrested the day after the shooting incident last August.
According to previous testimony, police believe Jashandeep Singh got rid of the gun by giving it to a female friend.
But Jashandeep Singh claimed in his testimony that he gave the woman his passport and other vital certificates — not weapons. He claimed he was scared police would take his paperwork when they raided his home.
Surrey police say officers are investigating a shooting Thursday morning at a home in the South Newton neighbourhood. The shooting is believed to be extortion-related.
The home, owned by Cricket Canada president Arvinder Khosa, was previously shot at on May 20.
Front-line officers responded to reports of a shooting near 57 Avenue and 148 Street just after 4 a.m. PT Thursday, according to a news release from the Surrey Police Service (SPS).
The home was occupied at the time of the shooting but no one was injured, police said.
"The investigation is in its early stages; however, it is believed to be extortion related due to previous threats and a shots fired incident outside the residence on May 20, 2026," the release said.
The B.C. Financial Services Authority has issued a consumer alert about Matthew Kuras, the real estate licensee it has accused of operating a shortterm rental fraud in Vancouver.
“BCFSA has received recent complaints from property owners in the Lower Mainland alleging that Kuras is making demands for payments of additional fees and is withholding rent payments,” the consumer alert issued Thursday reads.
“Kuras is not authorized to provide real estate services and BCFSA advises against making any payments to him.”
The SPS extortion response team has taken over the investigation. Anyone with information, including CCTV or dashcam footage, or who may know the suspects' identities is asked to contact police. Cricket Canada was the focus of a fifth estate investigation published in April that revealed broader allegations of corruption, influence by organized crime and attempts to fix parts of matches by major figures at Cricket Canada. Those accused deny the allegations.
It also revealed Khosa, who has maintained his position as the president of Cricket B.C., was connected to local players who claimed to be part of the Bishnoi gang and had allegedly threatened a national men's player in 2025. He previously denied those allegations.
him to share tax documents and other personal information, and his refusal to do so.
Kuras’ unlicensed status appears to be a recent development. As recently as last month, he was still listed in the BCFSA’s directory as a licensed trading representative and property manager. This, despite being in the midst of a months-long legal battle with the regulator over its “order in urgent circumstances” directing
In a news release accompanying the consumer alert Thursday, the BCFSA says Kuras’ real estate licence “was surrendered” and he was terminated by his former employer TRG – The Residential Group on May 22.
According to the regulator, Kuras lost his licence and job because he was “conducting property management services under his unlicensed company, MetroVan Realty,” which does business as MetroVan Realty Property Management. It is through this company, the regulator says, that Kuras has been making his recent monetary demands. “MetroVan Realty has never been licensed to conduct real estate transactions in B.C.,” the BCFSA says in its release.
Accused al-Qaeda sleeper agent's deportation case needs to be re-evaluated, court says
The Federal Court hit pause on the government's decades-long attempt to deport accused al-Qaeda sleeper agent Mohamed Harkat, ordering the case to be reviewed by fresh eyes on Thursday.
Harkat was first taken into custody in Ottawa in December 2002 on suspicion of being a member of the al-Qaeda network after coming to Canada.
in 2014, paving the road for his deportation. In 2018, a senior decision-maker with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a delegate for the minister at the time, said Harkat should not be allowed to remain in Canada "based on the nature and severity of acts committed."
He is recognized as a refugee under the UN Refugee Convention, due to a credible fear of persecution if returned to his home country.
The Ottawa man has denied any involvement in terrorism and argues he will be tortured or killed if he returns to Algeria.
The federal government has been trying to deport the former gas station attendant using a security certificate — a controversial legal tool for removing non-citizens suspected of ties to extremism.
A Federal Court judge who reviewed the certificate ruled in 2010 there were grounds to believe Harkat is a security threat who maintained ties to Osama bin Laden's terror network after coming to Canada and operated a guest house for the militant Ibn Khattab in Pakistan.
The ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court
The opinion said Harkat was complicit in the crimes of those he's accused of helping.
The Algerian refugee asked for judicial review, arguing it was unreasonable and unfair. The case was heard in 2024.
Ina decision released on Thursday, Justice John Norris largely sided with Harkat, setting the 2018 decision aside and sending the matter for redetermination.
While Norris said he was not persuaded that the process breached the requirements of procedural fairness, he did conclude "that the [decisionmaker]'s determination that the applicant should not be allowed to remain in Canada on the basis of the nature and severity of acts committed is unreasonable."
The justice ruled that "a key finding by the delegate — that the applicant was complicit in acts of terrorism committed by Chechen extremists — is not reasonably supported by the delegate's analysis of the record" and that "the inference of complicity also rests on speculation, unfounded assumptions and extrapolations."
Civil rights advocates have criticized the security certificate process as unjust because they're difficult to challenge. Former prime minister Justin Trudeau's brother, Alexandre Trudeau, has advocated for Harkat to stay in Canada, arguing his deportation could lead to torture.
Man who killed his children granted conditional discharge
A family representative for the victims of child killer Allan Schoenborn says the British Columbia Review Board's decision to grant him a conditional discharge is "baffling" and reveals shortfalls in the province's mental health and justice systems.
Board chairperson Geneviève Boudreau says in a ruling that took effect on Tuesday that Schoenborn will report to a psychiatric clinic and live under supervision, but he must return to the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam, B.C., if ordered to do so.
Schoenborn was found not criminally responsible for the first-degree murders of his three children — five-year-old Cordon, eightyear-old Max, and 10-year-old Kaitlynne — at
their Merritt, B.C., home in 2008.
The ruling notes that Schoenborn cannot possess a firearm or weapon, use alcohol, cannabis or prohibited drugs, and he must submit to alcohol and drug testing. Dave Teixeira, who represents the family of the three slain children, says Schoenborn will live in a facility in the Vancouver area, where's he's lived for the past year.
He says the family was disappointed but not surprised by the review board's decision, and that Schoenborn's violent tendencies and unwillingness to participate in drug and alcohol counselling could pose a risk to the public, as he would be allowed into the community without supervision.
B.C. MLA facing criminal sex assault charge
Peace River North independent MLA Jordan Kealy says he was arrested and released on Wednesday and charged with sexual assault.
He tells Global News the allegation involves a former family friend — an adult — and occurred in 2024 in the Peace region.
He declined to give further details but says he is innocent and will fight the charge.
“I want my constituents to know that I’ve done nothing wrong,” Kealy told Global News over the phone.
“I’mcompletely innocent … I’ll prove that in court. And I’ll continue to do my job as an MLA to help my constituents. And, and once … this is
proven in court that I’m innocent, I’ll continue to do this. I’ll continue to … do my job and I’ll, I’ll stay doing my job.”
Kealy said he has no plans to take a leave of absence. Kealy added he has told new BC Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay that he’ll remain an independent while the case unfolds in court.
However, in a statement, B.C.’s Minister of Labour, Jennifer Whiteside, said it is “inappropriate” for someone facing serious criminal charges to continue serving as an MLA.
“His constituents deserve an MLA that they can have confidence in and who is focused solely on the job of representing them,” she said.
“British Columbians would expect KerryLynne Findlay to tell Jordan Kealy to step down immediately. She enthusiastically accepted his support throughout the leadership race, including standing on stage with him just days ago. She has been clear about her plans to bring him back into the caucus.
“She should use that relationship and advise him to resign.” Whiteside also stated that Findlay should disclose when she learned about the complaint.
Kealy was elected as a BC Conservative in 2024, but left the party the following year after fellow MLA Dallas Brodie was ejected from caucus.
There was speculation he’d return to the party after appearing on stage at this past weekend’s convention after Findlay was selected leader.
Kealy is the second former BC Conservative facing a criminal charge:
In March, Richmond MLA Hon Chan was removed from caucus after being charged with assault, assault by choking and uttering threats.
As for Kealy, his first court appearance is scheduled for July 6 in Fort St. John.
The province’s decision to pause the June opening of a planned overdose prevention site in downtown Vancouver after a landlord did not renew the lease on the previous permanent location earlier this year means taxpayers are on the hook for an empty building drug users say could have taken them off the streets.
Following pushback from residents and businesses who claim they were not properly consulted, B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne said on May 27 that Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) would not proceed with the overdose prevention site at 900 Helmcken Street at this time.
RainCity’s lease for the property began on June 1 and is still in place, VCH confirmed.
The lease, which runs for a term of two years at a cost of $179,000 annually or almost $15,000 per month, includes the building and a rear parking lot next to the Murray Hotel SRO at 1119 Hornby Street.
“I think they should use the building to bring these people inside,” drug user Gary Demsey said. “Look at them(drug users) on the sidewalks, you know what I mean we have FIFA here…let’s get these guys indoors instead of on the street.”
Open drug use continues to be pervasive in the city’s Downtown Eastside (DTES), where police are directing people to the nearest overdose prevention site (OPS).
that makes people feel unsafe.
The department shared a video to its social media sites on May 28, showing Addison asking two individuals in Chinatown to take their drugs to the OPS in the alley. “I understand the situation you’re in, but we’re not putting up with this out here,” Addison told the pair, who agreed to move to the alley.
“Oh, I don’t blame (you),” one of the men responded. “It looks bad, it looks bad on the city.”
In an interview Wednesday, Addison said when police approach people who are openly using drugs, they often ask them to get up and go for a walk, and redirect them to area overdose prevention sites.
“The officers who work here are here because they know the community, they know the people
Seven of eight VCH OPS facilities are located in the DTES, where the VPD has increased its visible presence to combat violence, street disorder and open drug use since the launch of District 5 earlier this year. While officers have compassion for people whose life circumstances have brought them to the neighbourhood, Sgt. Steve Addison said Vancouver police cannot tolerate behaviour
who live here and we interact with people on a regular basis and we find that if we use common sense and we ask them to use common sense, we get a lot of buy-in,” Addison told Global News. “Most of them understand and they agree.”
Overdose Prevention Society executive director Sarah Blyth said having the VPD point people who are using outside towards OPS’ is “absolutely the right thing to do.”
If you are going to a FIFA World Cup match this summer, be aware of a recent policy change by FIFA that is drawing some backlash.
Ticketholders recently received an update saying reusable water bottles will not be permitted at any stadium, including BC Place.
The facility previously allowed empty plastic water bottles to be filled at water fountains.
At a press conference in May, BC Place general manager Chris May said that for repeat visitors to the facility, it’s important to note that FIFA World Cup 26 policies differ in several ways from our standard event policies.
“There’s also differences to the prohibited items list,” May said.
“For instance, only empty, transparent soft-sided water bottles up to one litre are permitted inside.” However, in a statement on Thursday, a spokesperson for FIFA said that “FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff. FIFA made the decision to prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees.
“Outside bottles are already prohibited at several of these venues for safety considerations, and FIFA is applying this consideration across its tournament stadiums.
“FIFA works closely with each Host City Committee and local authorities on heat mitigation factors for fans travelling to the stadium, which can include resources such as misting stations,
fans, hydration stations, cooling tents, and more around the stadium footprint.
“Inside the stadium footprint, pricing for water bottles for the FIFA World Cup 2026 will remain consistent with other events held at each stadium.”
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New B.C. Conservative leader would maintain 'economic relations' with an
OTTAWA — Newly elected B.C. Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay says she’d maintain commercial ties with neighbouring Alberta if Albertans vote to leave Canada.
“I would maintain relations, economic relations,”
Findlay told National Post when asked how she’d react to a successful Alberta independence vote as premier of B.C. One of the big questions surrounding Alberta independence is how it would affect the landlocked jurisdiction’s ability to get exports to the Pacific via B.C. Findlay said Alberta’s future in Canada is a matter of “determination by those in Alberta,” adding that she was wary of “dealing in hypotheticals” about the subject.
“It’s so hard to know. Often things you think might go this way or that way end up going a third way,” said Findlay.
Findlay, known to her supporters as “KLF,” narrowly won the B.C. Conservative leadership vote over the weekend, after running on a populist platform focused on reining in Indigenous land claims and increasing the influence of western provinces within Confederation.
She promised in a fiery victory speech to defend B.C. from the whims of “eastern and global elites.”
She said she understood the “frustration behind things like the (Alberta) referendum,” and laid much of the blame at the feet of former prime minister Justin Trudeau and successive B.C. NDP governments for limiting the flow of Alberta oil and gas to new markets overseas.
“(I couldn’t) believe it when… Trudeau said there was no ‘business case’ for developing our (liquefied natural gas) when Japan and Germany were asking for it. How can you have a commodity and people wanting to buy it and say there’s no business case? It’s ridiculous,” said Findlay.
Findlay, who campaigned on scrapping the federal oil tanker ban and clearing the way for a northwest coast crude oil pipeline, said that B.C. and the other western provinces have a common interest in growing offshore energy exports.
“I see the whole thing, in my mind, about building these western alliances as well,” said Findlay. “The idea to get resources to market, infrastructure built
and double (export) capacity will resonate across B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan.”
Findlay noted that Canada’s three westernmost provinces are united in frustration over the federal equalization program.
“(We’re) feeling like we’re not being heard, and yet we’re being looked to for equalization payments and relied on to basically fund a lot of what’s relied on back east,” said Findlay. She added that the region’s underrepresentation in the House of Commons and Senate adds to these frustrations.
Findlay, who was a Conservative MP for a decade before losing her seat in last year’s federal election, said she gained a begrudging respect for the separatist Bloc Québécois during her time in Parliament. “When I was serving in Ottawa… the Quebecois there would just look at us and say, ‘well, nothing’s stopping you from having a B.C. party, or an Alberta party,'” said Findlay.
Findlay said other provinces, including hers, could learn from the way Quebec successfully pushed for
independent Alberta
more autonomy over things like immigration.
“I think that we have a number of areas where the provinces should push for a bigger say,” said Findlay.
Findlay said she’s keeping a close eye on nine constitutional and immigration-related questions that will be put to Albertans in the province’s Oct. 19 referendum. “(I’ll be watching) because I’m looking at all these things as well,” said Findlay.
Findlay, a lawyer by training, said she’s especially interested in ballot question no. 6, which asks if Albertans support amending the Constitution to transfer the power to appoint provincial appeal court judges from the federal government to the provinces.
She said the current norm of federal governments appointing provincial judges contributes to the centralization of power.
“You do end up with the (federal) government of the day directly influencing who gets those appointments, with very little provincial and local input,” said Findlay.
Former B.C. RCMP officer charged in national security investigation
A former officer with the B.C. RCMP was arrested Thursday and charged with 13 offences related to the alleged sharing of protected or classified information.
Michael Scoretz, 47, was taken into custody on Bowen Island after a search of his residence, the RCMP’s Federal Policing – Pacific Region Integrated National Security Enforcement Team said in a statement.
security investigations, nor were any investigations compromised as a result of these incidents.”
Scoretz was charged with six counts of unauthorized communication of special operational information and seven counts of breach of trust, according to authorities.
The offences are alleged to have been committed between 2020 and 2023, when Scoretz was a member of the Pacific Region Integrated National Security Enforcement Team.
“The charges allege that work-related material was found at the suspect’s home and that he shared protected and/or classified information with individuals he was in a relationship with,” the statement from Mounties said.
“None of the charges involve current national
Scoretz retired from the force in 2025.
“It is deeply troubling when a member of law enforcement is drawn into any kind of criminal allegations. It is unsettling for the public and for fellow law enforcement officers,” Insp. Bryan Pyatt said in the statement.
“However, the results of this investigation show a deep commitment by our investigators to hold individuals accountable no matter their employment or background.”
The RCMP said no further information will be provided while the case is before the courts.
Saskatchewan woman who starved girl to death and harmed sister granted day parole
REGINA — A Saskatchewan woman found guilty of starving to death a young girl in her care and abusing the child’s sister has been granted day parole.
The Parole Board of Canada says in a written decision that Tammy Goforth is to reside at an unidentified community residential facility in Saskatchewan for six months.
Goforth was convicted in 2016 of seconddegree murder and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
She was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years.
The two sisters, who were in foster care with Goforth and her husband in Regina, were rushed to hospital in 2012 and found to be malnourished, dehydrated and covered with bruises.
The four-year-old died of a brain injury following cardiac arrest and her sister, who was
two at the time, survived.
The parole board says Goforth is subject to a curfew and can’t have contact with children.
The woman struggled to provide insight into her attitude toward the girls, but the board says she’s at a low risk of reoffending.
It says Goforth recognizes the importance of asking for help and views herself as a changed person.
Manitoba man wins largest-ever Lotto 6/49 prize in province
An eastern Manitoba man is speaking out about his plans for a historic $46 million lottery windfall—the largest Lotto 6/49 prize ever awarded in the province.
Earl Giesbrecht of Whitemouth claimed the prize at a ceremony Thursday with his family in attendance. The winning ticket was purchased at Whitemouth First Stop Grocers, in the town located approximately 80 kilometres east of Winnipeg. Giesbrecht, 70, said he almost didn’t bother checking his tickets on the day of the May 16 draw—which also happened to be his son Travis’ wedding day. He said he first heard on the radio around 3:30 p.m. that someone in Manitoba had won.
When he returned to the store to scan his tickets, the results came up short—until they didn’t.
“I was to the point that I was frustrated that I never win,” he said, speaking at the ceremony held at Western Canada Lottery Corporation’s Hargrave Street location. “It said not a winner, not a winner, and then it said free play— and then the other one came out, and I thought I won $46,000.” When a store clerk clarified the actual amount, Giesbrecht said he called his brother in a panic. “He thought I was having a heart attack. He came down and I leaned on him.”
winnings, he nodded toward his children sitting at the ceremony.
“They will tell dad what to do and not what to do—besides the financial advisors,” he said.
Giesbrecht said each of his children will receive a vehicle of their choice. He also intends to pay off bills for his ex-wife and help set her up financially, and a family trip abroad is in the works.
“Me and my family are going out of the country for a couple of weeks just to get away and talk as a family should,” he said.
Giesbrecht also plans to donate to the Whitemouth Fire Department to help secure a new water tanker and to heart disease and cancer charities in memory of his first wife, who died of cancer. He also wants to support children born with cleft lips and palates.
‘Don’t blow it all, you guys’
As for himself, he has his eye on a Denali Ultimate, though he’s not ready to part with his well-worn 2014 Silverado just yet. He also said he hopes to help his grandchildren and future generations of his family—with a caveat. “I hope you keep the Earl Giesbrecht legacy going. Don’t blow it all, you guys,” he said, eyeing his family in attendance.
The win still hasn’t fully sunk in, he said, noting his previous biggest prize was $1,200 years ago.
“It’s a very unreal feeling. It doesn’t seem real. Your mind goes blank,” he said. “I’ve dreamt about this for the last 30 years that I’ve been buying tickets.” When asked about his plans for the
Giesbrecht added he’s glad the win didn’t come when he was younger, noting there are “too many temptations in the world”—but that he may now have enough life experience to spend it wisely. Giesbrecht grew up in Whitemouth before spending roughly 40 years away, returning after semi-retiring. He said the community’s reaction has been warm.
Giant Canada flag unfurled on Grouse Mountain ahead of FIFA World Cup
If you looked up at the North Shore mountains of Metro Vancouver at some point today, you might have done a double-take, as it looks quite a bit more patriotic than usual.
A giant Canadian flag was unfurled across the lowest ski slope area of Grouse Mountain on Tuesday. The flag has been positioned sideways near the bottom of The Cut ski run — an elevation of roughly 900 metres above sea level. As this run faces the southeast, the best view of the flag is from East Vancouver and Burnaby.
Over at Vancouver International Airport, another massive patriotic installation has been
installed — a giant “Go Canada!” message embedded into a grassy area next to the airport’s North Runway, which is primarily used for landings.
Additionally, the transformation of the geodesic dome of Science World into the adidas Triondaon — the official match soccer ball of the 2026 FIFA World Cup — is very close to 100 per cent completion.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, just one of the 131 panels covering the dome has yet to be installed. Its full completion is anticipated later today or tomorrow.
Cutting
development fees alone won’t solve housing affordability, CMHC says
Slashing municipal development charges could help spur building in some of Canada’s most expensive markets but those cuts wouldn’t be enough to fix the affordability gap on their own, according to a new analysis from the federal housing agency.
Development charges are fees cities impose on developers that are mainly used to pay for infrastructure that supports new builds.
The federal government is spending billions of dollars to encourage municipalities to cut development fees in half to boost housing supply and improve affordability.
Cutting or eliminating costly development charges could go a long way toward filling the housing supply gap in the greater Toronto and Vancouver areas, said Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. chief economist Mathieu Laberge.
Laberge published a report Wednesday that says reducing or eliminating development charges could increase the number of viable projects, but the numbers vary by city.
Targeting those fees is not a cure-all for Canada’s housing affordability woes, he found.
“Reducing or even eliminating development charges wouldn’t solve the housing crisis facing Canada,” Laberge wrote.
“While it may incent greater supply, the increase is not enough to reach pre-pandemic affordability levels in many cities.”
In an interview with The Canadian Press, Laberge said slashing development fees could help to make the math work for projects in cities where high costs for financing or land are major barriers to getting shovels in the ground.
Toronto would see a boost of more than 10 per cent to the number of viable projects if development charges were cut by 90 to 100 per cent, the CMHC projections show. That increase moderates to roughly five per cent with a 50 to 60
per cent reduction in development charges.
Eliminating development charges entirely could lead to an extra 10,000 to 16,250 units annually in Toronto, the CMHC says. It estimates that number would fill up to half of the supply gap and reduce housing prices to 2019 affordability levels.
“All in all, development charges change this landscape and they have an impact on both the number of projects that are viable and the number of housing starts down the road,” Laberge said.
CMHC says Burnaby, B.C. would see the biggest bump from the near-elimination of development charges – a 14 per cent increase in viable projects.
In the same scenario, Ottawa would see only a three per cent increase in the number of viable projects.
Laberge said eliminating development fees can pose a fiscal challenge for cities, which rely on those levies to fund local infrastructure. He said those charges do have a place in some cities’ fiscal frameworks, given their modest influence on housing supply.
In recent years, governments have put development fees in their crosshairs as an obstacle to scaling up housing supply across the country.
Mohammad Hussain, spokesperson for the office of Housing Minister Gregor Robertson, said in a media statement Wednesday that the CMHC report affirms that targeting development charges can “reinvigorate housing supply in major cities across Canada.”
17 Indian arrested in Peel Expose Canada’s Diaspora Extortion Pipeline, From Student Visas to Shootings-for-Hire
Continued from Page 1...
In what police called one of the largest extortion cases the region has ever seen, and the latest enforcement strike against a crisis that The Bureau‘s investigations have traced to the wholesale exploitation of Canada’s immigration and international-education systems.
The network operated mainly out of Brampton, Caledon, and Mississauga, touching Surrey, British Columbia, with ties extending well beyond Ontario into India and California.
At a news conference Monday, Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said the investigation was international in scope. “This investigation is far beyond Peel; it has ties to British Columbia, as well as the United States and India,” he said, noting that one of the accused has been linked to an attempted homicide in India. The violence, he reiterated, was deliberate: “(Victims) were specifically targeted and escalated over time.”
In all, the 17 accused are connected to 24 incidents. Investigators linked 16 of those — including arson and multiple shootings — to For Brothers, accounting for 324 rounds discharged. Deputy Chief Nick Milonovich said members of the network are believed to be responsible for roughly half of the 620 rounds fired from illegal firearms in Peel Region this year.
At Monday’s news conference, police underscored the brazenness of the campaign by sharing surveillance footage of the attacks. In one nighttime clip, set against snowbanked suburban driveways, figures move between parked vehicles firing multiple shots at a home; in another, recorded
on a residential street, a person in a red hooded sweatshirt is seen with an arm extended toward a home, a flash visible in the dark.
The investigation, led by Peel Regional Police’s Extortion Task Force, began in December 2025 as a Joint Forces Operation drawing in the Ontario Provincial Police, the Canada Border Services Agency, the Surrey Police Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada. Several businesses — among them restaurants and trucking companies — were repeatedly targeted after refusing to meet extortion demands. In one incident, two of the accused are alleged to have carried out a shooting and arson at a residential address in Caledon, followed minutes later by a second shooting targeting a business in Brampton.
The network’s reach extended into the drug trade. Police seized illicit drugs alongside six firearms, cell phones, SIM cards, and fraudulent identification cards — a haul that places For Brothers within the same currents of narcotics and violence The Bureau has traced across Indian transnational smuggling networks linking Canada, the United States, and India, with alleged ties to Mexican cartel proxies in Canada. The Bureau has reported how Ryan Wedding, an alleged Canadian cartel proxy indicted in major U.S. prosecutions, exploited Indian long-haul trucking networks running out of Peel Region and across Greater Toronto to move cartel narcotics.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said none of the 17 accused are Canadian citizens.
Centrists regroup and Rustad weighs future under new B.C. Conservative Leader
As the dust settles on the B.C. Conservative leadership race, one of the first tasks for party Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay is to figure out how to secure a seat in the legislature for herself through a byelection.
But she’ll need a seat to open up.
On Tuesday, former party leader John Rustad didn’t rule out stepping down himself to clear a path for her in a safe riding. Rustad represents Nechako Lakes in Northern B.C., which he won handily, defeating the NDP’s Murphy Abraham 67.5 per cent to 27.2 per cent. “I don’t know,” he said in an interview with Black Press Media when asked if he would step down. “We’ll have to see what her thoughts are.”
Accused short-term rental fraudster Matthew Kuras loses B.C. real estate licence
Continued from Page 2...
“Tenants are advised to work directly with their landlord property owners, and to contact BCFSA if they have information about Kuras’ activities,” the consumer alert concludes.
“Any landlord clients who have engaged Kuras’ services are also advised to contact BCFSA directly.”
The BCFSA is not responsible for enforcing provincial short-term rental rules. Rather, it has been investigating Kuras for what it sees as contraventions of the provincial Real Estate Services Act and associated regulations, particularly those regarding conduct unbecoming of a licensee. Kuras may also have committed professional misconduct through his
failure to co-operate with the investigation of his alleged fraud, according to the BCFSA.
The regulator imposed $27,000 in administrative penalties on Kuras in November 2025 over his refusal to provide documents sought by BCFSA investigators.
The BCFSA has ordered Kuras to hand over the documents in question, but he has fought that order in the B.C. Financial Services Tribunal and sought a judicial review in B.C. Supreme Court.
The regulator held a hearing in March to determine whether Kuras’ failure to provide the documents amounts to professional misconduct. A liability decision following the hearing has not yet been issued.
and see how the “conversations go” with Findlay.
The new leader’s other task is to reintegrate party factions after a contentious leadership campaign. This will likely require some diplomacy.
Shewas asked immediately after her victory about the idea of her husband, Brent Chapman, who is recovering from cancer, stepping down as Surrey South MLA. She left that possibility open too, saying she and Chapman would have those discussions.
Rustad points out that he is the only sitting Conservative MLA with cabinet experience (from his time in the B.C. Liberal government), but says he is willing to do what he can to help out in caucus
“She’s got a good opportunity here to pull us together and to make sure that we have a united front,” Rustad said.
Conservative MLAs on the centre right ideologically seem willing to hope for the best and give Findlay that chance. Milobar sought to tamp down speculation about division after his loss.
“The assumption by media and the broader public that there are massive rifts within caucus has been greatly overstated,” he said.
Milobar said now is the time to “take a breath and refocus.”
With Findlay at the reins, at least one former Conservative, now Independent, MLA is definitely not rejoining the party — but might form one of her own.
Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Elenore Sturko said she feels “politically homeless” with Findlay and her “extremely socially conservative” stances at the helm of her former party.
Continued from Page 1...
While US is expected to rely on Section 301, under which India faces two probes, along with several other countries, govt wants to ensure that exports from the country retain tariff advantage compared with rival nations. $140bn trade ties move closer to new framework agreement Separately, India has questioned the investigations under Section 301 with one related to structural overcapacity in sectors such as solar modules, processed food, steel and aluminium in 15 countries. The second one relates to failure to act against forced labour by several countries.
US trade representative Jamieson Greer is expected to visit India once there is clarity on the new mechanism as the earlier “reciprocal tariffs” imposed by Donald Trump, using emergency provision, were junked after the US Supreme Court termed it illegal. The idea seems to be to
keep the text of the treaty ready and once the new tariffs are finalised, the rates will be worked out. India and US had agreed to an interim framework in early Feb, but had to put it on hold in the wake of the court ruling. American trade negotiators are in the capital with three-day talks scheduled to start Tuesday.
“...mostly everything is finalised. As you know, US Ambassador Sergio (Gor) said that 99% of the things have been finalised. Discussions are going on about small issues, commas and full stops. While finalising, how will the legal changes that have taken place in the US be reflected in the final agreement, and what kind of changes will be made accordingly. After finalising that, I am fully confident that, with the US, we will conclude the first tranche of the BTA as soon as possible, sign it and start further discussions on how to have a more comprehensive BTA,” Goyal told reporters.
The CESG can add up to $7,200 to your child’s RESP
When your child turns six, they can receive an additional $1,200 from the B.C. Government.
Foote was fired on May 19 after the Canucks went 25-49-8 last season. Malhotra immediately emerged as a prime candidate to replace him, with Johnson saying he would sit down with the 46-year-old former NHL player and “talk about the future.”
Malhotra previously served as a development coach and an assistant coach for the Canucks, then spent four seasons as an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs before becoming Abbotsford’s head coach.
There, he guided the AHL team to a Calder Cup championship during the 2024-25 campaign. The club then missed the playoffs last season as several players dealt with long-term injuries.
It was the way Malhotra led Abbotsford through a challenging year that showed exactly the kind of coach and person he is, Johnson said.
“To see that when you can rely on the foundation of the consistent environment and the coaching through the worst of times and really continue to propel players forward, even though the wins and losses aren’t there, it tells you a lot about him,” he said.
“That entire staff showed that they’re
Continued from Page 1... The event, reportedly held in Toronto, highlighted different aspects of Indian culture, with visitors enjoying regional cuisine, folk performances, cultural showcases and family-oriented activities celebrating India's rich heritage. A user wrote, “Horrible dancing and they continue to do this everywhere.”
Another reacted, “Completely unwanted. I too lived in the US for a decade but I felt that time was exploratory - melting pot, variety of food, freedom to go to clubs & casinos etc etc. Let America and Canada be what it is. Keep your traditional stuff in a private ground or at home.”
champions based off of not the year before, but of what they did last year, and what people around them took out of a pretty tough season.”
The promotion reunites Malhotra with former teammates Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who were named Vancouver’s co-presidents of hockey operations on May 14.
Malhotra, from Ontario, spent 16 seasons playing in the NHL after getting drafted by the New York Rangers in 1998.
He had 116 goals and 295 points in 991 regular-season games with Vancouver, New York, the Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes.
Malhotra took a puck to the face while playing for the Canucks in March 2011, an injury that left him with limited vision in his left eye. He missed much of the team’s run to the Stanley Cup Final that year and was given a reduced role the following season.
“He loves the game and getting to know what makes his players tick, and I am very confident Manny will help us ice a competitive and hardworking team that our fans will be proud of moving forward,” Johnson said.
A third commented, “How miserable you have to be to hate people for having fun.” A fourth said, “Isn’t Canada built on immigrants? Just like the USA, Australia, and New Zealand? Who are the original people of Canada?"
Indian man charged in US crash that killed pregnant teen partner; victim's
Continued from Page 1...
mother seeks deportation
“Nobody should ever deserve to die while pregnant with their first kid,” Ashlee’s mother told Newsweek. “I’m OK with him being kicked out of the country permanently… I don’t want him in the States no more,” she added.
According to reports, Ashlee Holmes was a passenger in a Range Rover Velar that crashed on February 16 after Singh allegedly failed to stop for law enforcement and led deputies on a high-speed chase. The vehicle was initially overspeeding and later reportedly reached speeds of over 120 mph during the pursuit. It eventually failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the centre line and struck a Jeep before overturning multiple times.
Ashlee was ejected from the vehicle and died of her injuries. Her unborn child also did not survive, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol crash report cited by Newsweek.
Tarsem Singh has been indicted
on charges including involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide and aggravated vehicular homicide. He is currently in custody on a $1 million bond and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
US authorities said Singh entered the country illegally in 2017 and was later released on bond by a judge. ICE has lodged a detainer against him, and deportation proceedings may follow depending on the outcome of the criminal case. A jury trial is scheduled for August 17-21.
Police to care for intoxicated persons under new Bill
POLICE officers would be required to take care of intoxicated people and release them once they sober up under provisions contained in the proposed Police Bill 2026.
The legislation, tabled in Parliament last week, allows officers to take intoxicated individuals into custody if they are deemed a danger to themselves, other people or property.
Under Clause 121, police may detain a person found intoxicated in a public place or while trespassing on private property if they reasonably believe the individual is unable to protect themselves from harm, is likely to harm someone else, or could cause significant damage to property.
However, the Bill makes it clear that detention should only be used as a last resort. Before taking someone into custody, officers must first consider whether it is reasonably practicable to care for the person by taking them home or to a temporary shelter.
“A police officer who finds a person intoxicated in a public place, or intoxicated while trespassing on private property, may detain and take the person into custody,” the Bill states.
The proposed law also includes safeguards on how long a person can be held.
An intoxicated person must be released as soon as they are no longer intoxicated and, in most cases, cannot be detained for more than 12 hours.
A longer detention period may only be authorised by a medical practitioner, who must be satisfied that the person remains intoxicated, is unable to protect themselves from harm and does not require separate medical treatment.
Even then, any extension cannot exceed a further 12 hours.
The Bill defines intoxication as being visibly affected by alcohol, drugs or other substances to the extent that a person’s speech, balance, coordination or behaviour is clearly impaired.
Ministry reaches out to homeless Fijian worker in Australia
The Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations says it is working to locate and assist a Fijian national living in vulnerable circumstances in Sydney after disengaging from employment under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme.
The ministry issued a statement following the circulation of a viral video and media reports showing the worker homeless in Australia.
According to the ministry, the worker was deployed to Australia in 2023 for employment in the meat processing sector in Tamworth, New South Wales, before disengaging from his approved employment arrangements in 2024.
FCCC
THE Fiji National Provident Fund is working to further restrict early withdrawals as concerns grow over members reaching retirement with low savings. Finance Minister Immanuel Esrom confirmed this, saying while section 44 of the FNPF Act already limits access to members’ funds, more work was being done to protect retirement savings.
Mr Esrom said the issue was not only about withdrawals, but also the level of contributions being made by workers.
“There’re a few issues there,” he said.
The ministry said its Country Liaison Officers in Australia are now attempting to establish contact with the individual and determine what assistance can be provided.
Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations Maritino Nemani said the situation highlights the importance of workers remaining connected to support systems available under the PALM Scheme.
“Participation in the PALM Scheme is both an opportunity and a responsibility. Workers are selected through a competitive process and are expected to maintain satisfactory work performance, comply with workplace requirements, and uphold the values and reputation of Fiji while employed overseas.”
Nemani acknowledged that workers can face personal, financial and social challenges while abroad but stressed that abandoning approved employment arrangements was not the solution.
“We recognise that challenges can arise while workers are overseas. However, disengagement from employment is not the answer.”
defends record fuel prices for June
The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) has defended the latest fuel price increases, saying it deliberately cushioned the impact on vulnerable households and businesses despite unprecedented volatility in global fuel markets.
In a statement issued following the June 2026 fuel price review, the regulator acknowledged growing concerns over rising fuel costs but said the increases were driven by international factors beyond Fiji’s control. “The June 2026 adjustment reflects unprecedented volatility in international fuel markets over the past two months, driven by global forces beyond Fiji’s control,” the FCCC said.
The Commission said it had taken deliberate steps to shield consumers who rely most heavily on fuel products for daily living and economic activity.
“The products that vulnerable households, outerisland communities and maritime users depend on
most were cushioned the most,” the regulator stated. Under the new prices, kerosene increased by 14 cents per litre and premix by 29 cents, while petrol and diesel rose by around 80 cents per litre.
“As can be seen, kerosene rises by only 14 cents and premix by 29 cents per litre, while petrol and diesel rise by around 80 cents,” FCCC noted.
The Commission said it had spread fuel price adjustments across successive reviews to avoid passing the full impact of rising international costs onto consumers at once.
“FCCC phased the adjustment over successive reviews to avoid a sudden price shock, moderating over time rather than passing the impact of sharp international fuel cost increases through to consumers and businesses in a single adjustment.”
Despite those measures, the regulator acknowledged that fuel prices in Fiji have now reached record highs.
Government prepares fuel relief package
The Government is moving early to cushion the impact of expected global fuel price hikes, with the National Security Council beginning work on a “preemptive package” aimed at protecting households, transport operators and small businesses before higher costs hit consumers.
Chaired by Prime Minister
Rabuka at the Cabinet Chambers in Suva yesterday, the Council reviewed international warnings that fuel prices are
likely to climb further as tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt global oil shipping routes.
The angle emerging from the high-level meeting is Government’s attempt to position itself as acting ahead of the crisis rather than reacting after fuel prices rise locally.
Ministers attending included Pio Tikoduadua, Ioane Naivalurua, Viliame Naupoto, Siromi Turaga, Sakiasi Ditoka and Ro Filipe Tuisawau.
“They’re trying to restrict withdrawal because now there’s two funds for every employee or every member.
“One is the level of contribution itself. The other is the withdrawal.” He said FNPF was looking at ways to assist members with lower retirement benefits, particularly those who may not have enough savings by the time they leave the workforce.
“FNPF, my view, needs to look at areas where we can assist those with lower benefits.
Opposition MP Premila Kumar has accused the Coalition Government of benefiting from rising fuel prices while failing to provide meaningful relief to households and businesses struggling with escalating living costs.
In a social media post, Kumar claimed the Government collects almost a dollar in taxes from every litre of diesel sold, arguing that higher fuel prices are boosting Government revenue at the expense of ordinary Fijians.
“For every litre of diesel ($4.58/L) government collects 97 cents in tax, consisting of 46 cents in duty and 51 cents in VAT,” Kumar said. She noted that a motorist purchasing 50 litres of
“So you can only withdraw on a few areas only that you can withdraw. Before it used to have a range of areas where you can withdraw.
“But now there are only two or three areas. So one is already restricted.” Mr Esrom said the remaining concern was how much members were saving during their working life.
“We should encourage savings, especially for those with lower income, or look at other sources of income that can go directly to the contributions.”
He said money received from relatives overseas or family members could also be directed towards FNPF contributions instead of being used only for consumption. “Because, as we are aware, for us, Fijians, once we have a lot of funds, we have a lot of expenses.
diesel would pay $48.50 in taxes alone.
Kumar said fuel was not just another commodity but a cost that flowed through every sector of the economy, driving up transport costs, freight charges, food prices and business expenses.
“The result is a further squeeze on family budgets,” she said.
She argued that as fuel prices rise, VAT collections also increase, creating a situation where Government revenue grows automatically while consumers bear the full impact of higher prices.
“In other words, the higher the fuel price, the more revenue the government receives without lifting a finger to provide meaningful relief.”
Sitiveni
in Mohali
The State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Mohali, has thwarted a terror conspiracy with the arrest of two associates of a foreign-based terror operative and seized an RDX-based improvised explosive device (IED), weighing approximately 2.5 kg, from their possession.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said those arrested were” Mani Singh (32), a resident of Gujjarpura in Amritsar, and Abhishek Kumar (28), a resident of the Gillwali Gate locality in Amritsar.
potentially catastrophic threat to public safety and security, he said.
The DGP said that further investigations were underway to uncover the entire terror network, including handlers, associates and all linkages involved in the conspiracy.
The seized IED was fully assembled and ready for use. The operation, therefore, resulted in the foiling of a nefarious plot aimed at targeting critical public infrastructure in Mohali and averted a
Police teams apprehended both suspects from near a park opposite YPS Chowk, Mohali, who travelled from Amritsar to Mohali by bus along with the explosive device. During the operation, the police seized the RDX-laden IED from their possession, he said. Considering the grave threat posed by the device, the bomb disposal squad was immediately summoned to the spot, which successfully dismantled the IED by following all prescribed safety protocols, he added. Preliminary investigation revealed accused Mani Singh had come in contact with foreign-based handler via a social media platform recently and he also introduced his brother-in-law Abhishek Kumar to him. During their interactions, foreign-based handler offered financial assistance in return for carrying out certain tasks and both agreed to work for him owing to their financial difficulties, he added.
A case was registered under various sections of the BNS and the Explosive Substances Act at the Mohali SSOC police station on June 3.
Statewide
The Punjab Police have been put on high alert after five prominent temples, including the iconic Durgiana Temple in Amritsar, received bomb threat emails days before the 42nd anniversary of Operation Bluestar.
Besides Durgiana Temple, bomb threats were also received for Mukteshwar Dham Temple (Pathankot), Devi Talab Mandir (Jalandhar), Maisar Khana Temple (Bathinda) and Mata Kali Temple (Patiala). The threats have put the Punjab Police and intelligence agencies on maximum alert amid heightened security arrangements already in place for the sensitive anniversary period.
Confirming the development, Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said while the threats appeared similar to the series of hoax emails sent earlier to educational institutions, the Punjab Civil Secretariat, the Punjab and Haryana High Court and other key establishments, the authorities are treating the matter with utmost seriousness.
Police (ITBP), have been deployed across the region. Earlier, Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav and Special DGP (Law and Order) PK Sinha conducted review meetings for security arrangements in the border belt, particularly in Amritsar and adjoining districts.
Sinha emphasised that security agencies should remain vigilant against attempts by anti-national elements and hostile forces across the International Border to disrupt peace in Punjab. “We are fully
“Security agencies are not taking any chances. Comprehensive security arrangements have been put in place and all threat inputs are being thoroughly investigated,” Bhullar said.
The bomb threats come at a time when Punjab has already been placed under a robust security grid ahead of June 6. Eleven companies of the Central Armed Police Forces, including personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF), Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Indo-Tibetan Border
aware of the designs of hostile neighbours and anti-national elements trying to create unrest in the border state, especially on this occasion. All necessary preventive and security measures have been implemented to ensure peaceful observance of the anniversary and maintaining public safety,” he had stated.
Security has been intensified around religious places, transportation hubs and other sensitive installations across the state, with the police maintaining round-the-clock surveillance and checking operations.
Pakistan rapists sentenced to death for attacking French tourist in front of her three children
The men sentenced to death for gang-raping a French tourist in Pakistan in front of her three children six years ago have been pictured.
Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali were convicted of gang rape, kidnapping, robbery and terrorism offences back in March 2021 over the attack on the SialkotLahore Motorway and were handed the death penalty. Both appealed their conviction, with the defence arguing that there were gaps in the prosecution's version of events and that the judge’s decision was unjust. But on Wednesday, two judges dismissed the appeal after the prosecution argued that there was overwhelming evidence against the two men, according to the English-language Pakistani news outlet, Dawn.
Police said the woman was left traumatised, but she was able to provide them with some basic descriptions of her attackers. They were tracked down via mobile phone data and arrested days after the incident. DNA samples taken from the crime scene matched theirs. The survivor identified the two men during a hearing, and Ali confessed to the crime before a magistrate. An anti-terrorism court handled the 2021 trial for expediency. The case drew widespread condemnation on social media, with some activists demanding that those involved be hanged in public.
Nepali climber alive after six days missing on Everest
A Nepali climbing guide who went missing on Mount Everest for six days and was feared dead has been found alive after crawling back to Base Camp, officials told AFP on Thursday.
The experienced Hillary Dawa Sherpa vanished on the upper reaches of the world's highest mountain early on May 30.
He was found on Thursday morning close to Base Camp by the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), a Nepali team that helps set routes on Everest and clean up waste left behind.
"He was crawling down," Pemba Sherpa of 8K Expeditions, which was overseeing search and rescue efforts, told AFP.
"A helicopter has been sent to bring him to a hospital in Kathmandu."
"It had been a long summit push. What should have been five days to the summit and back took us 11 days, that's how challenging the conditions were," said Thrall.
"So, do I go back for Sherpa, who's probably going to rock up and be fine, as he has done hundreds of times before?" he added.
"Or do I help my fellow climber, who's got no oxygen, frostbite in his fingers, and obviously you're never far off hypothermia up there?"
Malhi and Ali unleashed their attack on September 9, 2020, after the woman and her three children became stranded on the motorway leading out of Lahore after running out of fuel. She had locked the car doors while she waited for help, but the attackers broke a window and dragged her outside, where they raped her at gunpoint in front of her terrified children.
The men also stole money, jewellery, and bank cards before fleeing.
It also led to mass protests across Pakistan, after a policeman questioned why the woman had been out late on her own. The day after the attack, a senior police official in Lahore, Umer Sheikh, appeared in front of the media and implied the woman was partly to blame. He questioned why she had not taken a busier road, given that she was alone with her young children. His remarks prompted a widespread reaction on social media, with Pakistanis calling him out for victim-blaming. The decision to maintain the death penalty comes after human rights activists urged the government to introduce harsher penalties for rapists.
Sri Lanka care home manager arrested after fire kills 12
The manager of a Sri Lankan care home was arrested Thursday, a day after a fire killed 12 residents and injured six others, officials said.
The manager of the Maupiya Sewana Elders Home was arrested as forensic experts combed through the wreckage and discovered seven more charred bodies, raising the death toll to 12. An AFP photographer saw the manager in handcuffs being escorted to the scene on Thursday, as police interviewed survivors and neighbours.
The youngest victim was a 17-year-old boy, police said.
In addition to elderly residents, the facility also housed young people with mental issues. Police
Internal rift explodes
in
spokesman Fredrick Wootler said 51 residents and staff rescued on Wednesday had been moved to a nearby government facility. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire.
Pakistan's Tehreek-iInsaf as disgruntled KP lawmakers revolt over "lack of efforts" to free Imran Khan
A faction of lawmakers from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has exposed deep internal rifts and severe administrative failure, expressing grave concerns over a "lack of efforts" by the top leadership to secure the freedom of jailed party founder Imran Khan.
According to a report by Dawn, the legislators also slammed deteriorating governance issues across the province, demanding a comprehensive and organised action plan to address the systemic crisis.
The disgruntled members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs), reportedly sidelined and denied positions during the recent cabinet expansion, convened an emergency meeting in Peshawar before dispatching an explosive letter to PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali.
The correspondence highlighted a growing sense of betrayal, stating that the handling of the movement for Imran Khan's release and his health was fuelling widespread "anxiety among workers, supporters and patriotic citizens".
Exposing the superficial nature of the party's current political agitation, the letter noted, "Workers feel the release movement has deviated from its core direction and become limited merely to health and treatment matters. The ongoing movement for the leader's release appears largely limited to formal statements, restricted protest activities and symbolic measures. A new strategy should be formulated to make the movement effective, organised and result-oriented." The rebel lawmakers cautioned that if these foundational issues were not handled swiftly and productively, the party risked facing severe political fallout.
Dawn reported that the legislators openly revolted against corruption and nepotism within the provincial administration, raising serious red flags regarding "interference by irrelevant individuals in the provincial government's affairs, deviation from merit, unfair distribution of resources and lack of proper consultation with relevant MPAs in decisions about their constituencies' powers and development resources".
Climber Chris Thrall, a former British Royal Marine, said he successfully summited the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) peak with Sherpa around 5:00 pm on May 29.
He posted a video message on Instagram on Wednesday mourning what he thought was the death of Sherpa.
He called Sherpa an "absolute gentle giant of a man and a true 'tiger of the mountains'", in a post that assumed the worst.
Thrall described how on May 30 he had begun to descend from Camp Four -- at around 7,950m -- and just below the low-oxygen "death zone".
He said that as he descended, Sherpa stopped.
"He sat down for a rest with his backpack, these guys carry huge loads," he said.
"And I turned and I said, 'Hillary, are you okay, brother?' He said, 'Yes, yes, fine Chris, please go, go!' This is nothing new, you know, I'd go ahead, he'd go ahead."
As Thrall went down he found a Polish climber who was struggling after running out of supplementary oxygen and had suffered frostbite.
Thrall described tough conditions, sharing his oxygen cylinder with the Pole as they descended, taking 11 hours to get to Camp Three. It would usually take two hours.
He said: "I realised we had a really serious situation." Search teams set out to find Sherpa but he was not seen again until Thursday morning, having made his way down on his own.
The climb was one of the last of the season, meaning that there were few other mountaineers on the peak. At least five people have died this season -- two Indians and three Nepali climbers involved in Everest preparations.
More than one thousand climbers reached the summit of Everest this season, according to initial tallies by Nepali officials, making it the busiest season on record.
Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez visits India: Will oil talks lead to an energy deal?
Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's acting president, is in India and will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday for talks on trade, investment, healthcare and renewable energy.
But the relationship between the two countries still revolves around a single commodity: oil.
India, the world's third-largest importer of oil, has sharply increased purchases of Venezuelan crude in recent months, turning the South American producer into an increasingly useful supplier just as the Iran war has choked energy flows from the Gulf.
India imports about 90% of its oil. Roughly half its crude imports - around 2.5-2.7 million barrels a day - pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow Gulf chokepoint now effectively closed by the conflict. That gives Venezuela an importance that far exceeds its place in India's trade statistics. Bilateral trade was worth just $679m in 2024-25
- a tiny fraction of India's global commerce. Yet whenever Delhi seeks to diversify its oil suppliers, Caracas becomes hard to ignore.
Venezuela was India's fifthlargest source of crude oil imports in May, supplying about 266,000 barrels a day, or roughly 5.3% of India's total crude imports, according to maritime analytics firm Kpler. Only Russia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Brazil supplied more. After a year-long interruption triggered by US measures against buyers of Venezuelan crude, Indian refiners resumed imports in February following a sanctions-easing agreement between Washington and Caracas.
world's largest proven oil reserves become hard to ignore. That is the backdrop to Rodríguez's sixth visit to India, where she is due to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.
Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow for South Asia at the Atlantic Council, said Venezuela offers India an opportunity to diversify its energy supplies beyond the Middle East, while potentially aligning with Washington's preference that India reduce its reliance on Russian oil.
"Ramping up imports from Venezuela could also give a boost to India's ties with Washington," Kugelman told the BBC.
energy partnership and that Delhi "will also need to be careful not to appear to be seeking energy alternatives to Russia at the behest of Washington".
According to Kpler, India imported around 280,000 barrels a day of Venezuelan crude in April and May, the first cargoes after a nine-month hiatus, with June arrivals expected to rise to above 300,000 barrels a day. Venezuelan crude's return coincides with growing concerns about supply disruptions in the Middle East and uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz.
"However, the timing of the initial cargoes suggests they were likely secured well before the recent disruptions, highlighting a longer-term sourcing strategy rather than a purely reactive response," Sumit Ritolia, lead research analyst at Kpler, said.
Whenever Delhi seeks to diversify crude supplies away from the Middle East now, the
However, he cautioned that Venezuela's political volatility could complicate any new
For Indian refiners, however, the attraction is not merely geopolitical.
Now you can hire people to carry your shopping bags
Imagine if someone could carry your bags as you move from shop to shop. Or push your toddler's pram while you shop.
That's exactly what a new start-up is offering shoppers in a busy market in the Indian capital, Delhi.
Launched in April, CarryMen offers male and female assistants to shoppers in Lajpat Nagar market for up to four hours - starting at 79 rupees ($0.83; £0.62) for 30 minutes. An hour costs 149 rupees. The service has gone down well with customers who say these CarryMen are making their lives a lot easier.
But it has also started a debate over whether the Indian middle class is too entitled and whether these assistants are just glorified "coolies" in exploitative jobs. The start-up has been founded by friends Ritu Kandari Srivastava and Kanishka Malhotra - both mums of toddlers.
"The idea was born last year when Kanishka and I went to Lajpat Nagar with our toddlers. We found it really tough to manoeuvre our prams while carrying all our shopping bags," Ritu told the BBC. "Also, we saw an older woman struggling with her bags and we wanted to help her. But we could barely manage our own things. That was very frustrating. Lajpat and many other markets frequented by Ritu, Kanishka and millions of Indians are not malls with even surfaces, escalators and air-conditioning. These are overcrowded
in Delhi?
open-air bazaars with footpaths that are missing or uneven or have been encroached upon by vendors, making it hard to navigate prams or sometimes even walk. The start-up quickly went viral, with thousands sharing the news and dividing opinions on social media.
Many hailed it as an ingenious idea that could be
scaled up to create thousands of jobs in a country where urban unemployment has consistently been higher than 5% with millions unable to find work. But critics called it peak entitlement displayed by lazy affluent Indians who outsource all menial work and chores to domestic helpers.
Some of the backlash came after AI-generated photos appeared on social media, imagining welldressed affluent women as prospective customers for the service.
"It sounded like the service would be catering to the ultra-rich woman who's just got a manicure and doesn't want her nails spoiled," said labour rights activist and sociologist Akriti Bhatia.
Singapore court jails Indian IT consultant for cheating on insurance claims
An Indian national was on Thursday sentenced to 20 weeks' jail by a Singapore court for forging medical invoices over two years to obtain at least SGD 12,000 in medical reimbursement from his company's healthcare insurer. Bhutra Ravi, 51, pleaded guilty to one charge of cheating, with another three charges taken into consideration, according to a Channel News Asia report.
The court heard that Bhutra worked as a principal consultant at Temenos Singapore, a software company, from September 2017 and was eligible for the company's healthcare insurance policy. He could also claim reimbursement of healthcare expenses incurred by his wife and children, it was told.
Between March 2023 and August 2025, Bhutra made fraudulent claims for services such as dental work and services from an eye hospital on 57 occasions for medical reimbursement by using software to forge the medical invoice using an existing invoice. The insurance company disbursed a total of SGD12,349.88 (USD9,300) to Bhutra's bank account. Around September 2025, the insurance company representative detected abnormalities in his invoices and lodged a police report, court documents stated.
Bhutra later made full restitution of the sum to the insurance company.
The prosecution sought five to six months' jail for Bhutra while his lawyer, Tania Chin sought no more than three months' jail claiming "the cumulative effect of the medication that Bhutra was on, coupled with his son's major depressive disorder, and his job uncertainty, led to the foolish commission of these offences."
He was suspended from September 25, 2025 and became unemployed from December 1, 2025, according to the Channel report.
Family's dreams shattered as Iran strike kills Madhya Pradesh man in Kuwait
For nearly 30 years, Manzoor Ahmed worked as a tailor in Kuwait to support his family in Madhya Pradesh. He was looking forward to joining them for his nephew's wedding back home when an Iranian strike at Kuwait airport killed him, shattering those plans.
Manzoor's family members said on Thursday that government officials informed them about his death and shared more details about the arrival of his mortal remains.
A resident of Ujjain district, the 55-year-old was scheduled to board a flight from Kuwait around 7.30 am on Wednesday for Mumbai, from where he was to take a train to his hometown. His family had planned to welcome him at the railway station with garlands.
The tailor had packed his bag to attend his nephew's wedding in the neighbouring Ratlam
district on June 8, they said. His 18-year-old son Anas Ahmed said he had spoken to him on Tuesday, unaware that it would be their last conversation.
"Around 2.30 pm on Wednesday, we received a call from the Indian Embassy informing us that Manzoor had died in the airport attack," his brother-in-law Mohammed Ismail told PTI over the phone. Besides being part of the wedding celebrations, Manzoor was looking forward to meeting several relatives after a long time, he said.
BJP picks Tarun Chugh, Satish Poonia for RS poll; Ravneet Bittu not on list of 11
The ruling BJP on Thursday nominated its national general secretary Tarun Chugh and Haryana state in-charge Satish Poonia for the Rajya Sabha elections, due on June 18.
In a list of 11 nominees, the party announced the name of Chugh, who belongs to Amritsar, from Madhya Pradesh and Poonia from Rajasthan. That a Cabinet reshuffle may be imminent is indicative considering the BJP list does not feature Union Minister Ravneet Bittu, whose Rajya Sabha term from Rajasthan is coming to an end soon.
Another minister who has not been renominated is George Kurian, who was representing Madhya Pradesh in the Upper House.
The list has come barely hours after Bittu expressed a desire to work in Punjab having spent nearly 17 years in Parliament. He said he wanted to contest the Assembly elections in the state. The Tribune had reported earlier that after a revamp of the BJP organisation, which began with the appointment of new presidents in states, including Punjab and Delhi recently, a Union
Cabinet reshuffle could be on the cards.
Lack of renominations for Bittu and Kurian means they may be moved from the Council of Ministers to the organisation. Bittu is likely to be drafted for a role in the Punjab elections.
In Rajasthan and MP, where the BJP expects to win two seats each out of the three going to the polls, the party has named both candidates.
Alka Gurjar and Satish Poonia have been named from Rajasthan. Senior BJP hands Tarun Chugh and Rajneesh Agrawal are BJP nominees from MP. Chugh’s nomination is significant on the eve of the Punjab elections, as he is a senior Hindu face of the party in the state.
From Odisha, the BJP has named Debashish Samantaray, who recently quit the Biju Janata Dal for the BJP. The Election Commission had on May 22 announced the elections for 26 Rajya Sabha seats on June 18. Among the outgoing MPs are former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and Shakti Sinh Gohil and NCP’s Sunetra Pawar.
Lack of preparation holding India back from becoming Vishwaguru: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today said lack of preparation was holding India back from becoming a “Vishwaguru”.
“There are people among us who sow discord, and the forces which do not want India to become great are ready to create unrest in social life by finding small pretexts,” he said at the conclusion of an RSS volunteer training camp in Nagpur. He, however, declared that “India’s time has come” as the world grapples with conflict-driven models of development, soaring oil prices and deep systemic confusion. The Nagpur event was also attended by prominent industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla as the chief guest.
Bhagwat asserted that India was uniquely
positioned to offer the holistic solutions the global community currently lacked. Referring to the West Asia conflict and how countries not directly connected to it were also getting affected, Bhagwat said the world listened to those who wielded power, and “we need to make our country supremely prosperous”.
“Countries that have no direct connection to the conflicts of the world are nevertheless being drawn into them. The war is between Iran and the US, and oil prices are rising here,” the RSS chief said.
“We need to make our country supremely prosperous...the world listens to those who hold power,” he said, adding that even though the “world knows that India speaks the truth, it is not accepted merely because it is the truth”. India, being a nation of spiritual and religious life, was meant to offer “dharma” to the world, he said.
Sebi flags Rs 15-lakh crore revenue gap in
firm, Cong questions 10% LIC stake
Gold refiner and jewellery manufacturer Rajesh Exports Ltd (REL) allegedly inflated its consolidated revenues by more than Rs 15 lakh crore over five years by attributing massive revenues to overseas subsidiaries, according to an interim order by Sebi. Following this revelation, the Congress has raised questions over Life Insurance Corporation's (LIC) 10.8 per cent stake in the company.
The regulator has raised serious concerns over what it described as a prima facie misrepresentation of the company's financial position, noting that almost entire of the REL's reported revenues were attributed to overseas subsidiaries whose financial statements were not made publicly available.
On its part, the REL on Thursday denied any financial irregularities, saying its reported revenues were correct and that there seemed to be a communication gap between the regulator and the firm.
"The revenues declared by the company are
correct, and there is no over-stating of revenues. There seems to be some type of communication gap and confusion between Sebi and the company," it said in a BSE filing.
According to Sebi, the REL reported consolidated revenues of about Rs 15.18 lakh crore between FY21 and FY25. Of this, approximately Rs 15.15 lakh crore, or 99.8 per cent of the revenues attributed to subsidiaries, could not be reconciled with the audited standalone financial statements of Switzerland-based Valcambi SA, the group's principal operating subsidiary.
Valcambi SA, a precious metals refiner, earns revenue from refining services and the sale of branded bullion products. However, its audited standalone accounts, prepared under the Swiss law and audited by KPMG SA, recorded only processing charges or value addition as revenue. Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday questioned the LIC for investing in the REL.
Indian police arrest hotel owner after deadly fire in New Delhi
Indian police have arrested the owner of a New Delhi hotel where a fire killed 21 people, as investigators probe safety failures.
Police said owner Lavkesh Bajaj was arrested late Wednesday, hours after the blaze gutted the building, killing at least nine Indians and several foreigners. Two foreigners have so far been identified — one a citizen of Liberia and another from Mozambique. Building fires in India are common due to a lack of firefighting equipment and routine disregard for safety regulations.
People trapped on upper floors were seen jumping onto mattresses below as fire ripped through the Flourish Stay hotel in a densely packed neighbourhood of the city.
Several residents were taken to hospital suffering from severe burns, as well as fractured bones after leaping into the street.
In a separate fire on Thursday morning, at least four people died in an intensive care ward in a hospital in Muzaffarpur in the eastern state of Bihar, district government official Subrat Kumar Sen said.
“The world says it needs a new path, and that path will be provided by India. So India’s time has come. But time alone does not make things happen. One must prepare for that time,” he said.
