More than three years after an Indian family froze to death while trying to cross into the US, a US court has sentenced an Indianorigin man and his accomplice for human trafficking that resulted in the deaths.
In January 2022, four members of a family from India were attempting to illegally cross
New satellite images reveal greater damage to Pakistan airbase after India strike
New satellite imagery suggests that India's missile strike on Pakistan's Nur Khan airbase this month may have caused significantly more damage than initially thought. The images, shared by open-source intelligence researcher Damien Symon, reveal that a major operations complex at the Rawalpindi-based airbase has been completely demolished.
The facility, targeted during India's Operation Sindoor, sits near some of Pakistan's most sensitive military and nuclear infrastructure. The scope of the damage appears broader than previously believed, hinting at a deeper strategic impact from the Indian strike.
The Nur Khan airbase is one of Pakistan's most strategically important facilities, housing transport aircraft and surveillance systems, and is just miles from the Strategic Plans Division and Pakistan Army headquarters. Continued on Page 14...
over from Canada to the US when a blizzard hit the area and temperatures dropped to -36°C. The entire family – two adults and their 11-year-old daughter and three-yearold son -- froze to death in the incidents.
Making the details of the case public on Thursday, the US Department of Justice said Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel (29), an Indian national from Florida, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Patel will be removed from the United States following his sentence.
His co-conspirator, Steve Anthony Shand (50) of Florida, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
Continued on Page 10...
India’s Foreign Minister said he had spoken to his Canadian counterpart as the two sides seek to ease fraught relations. The telephone call, which took place late on May 25, is the highest diplomatic contact between Ottawa and New Delhi since Mr Mark Carney became Canadian Prime Minster in March.
Ties between Canada and India were strained following accusations of New Delhi’s involvement in the 2023 assassination of a Canadian Sikh, claims India denied. India’s Mr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said he had “discussed the prospects of India-Canada ties” with newly appointed Foreign Minister Anita Anand and he had “wished her a very successful tenure”. Continued on Page 15...
One morning in January, Byju Raveendran sat in the back seat of his shiny black Cadillac as it sped through Dubai. Just three years prior, the schoolteachers’ son had appeared on the Forbes list of richest Indians as founder and CEO of Byju’s, then one of the world’s most valuable education technology companies. He was dressed casually in a T-shirt and jeans, while his driver, Hashim, was more formally attired in a collared shirt. Raveendran, square-jawed and muscular at 45, told me he typically rides beside Hashim in the passenger seat, seeming intent on underscoring his down-to-earthness. “I always sit there, no, Hashim?” he asked, with a boyish laugh. Hashim nodded.
Former Byju’s employees had told me about Raveendran’s love for staying at the world’s finest hotels, and the upscale properties and luxury cars his family owned when he was based in Bengaluru. Continued on Page 15...
India overtakes Japan to become 4th largest economy: NITI Aayog
NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer (CEO) BVR
Subrahmanyam has said that India has overtaken Japan to become the world's fourthlargest economy, citing data by the International Monetary Fund.
Addressing a press conference of the 10th NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting on 'Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat 2047', Subrahmanyam said India's economy has reached the USD 4 trillion mark. "We are the fourth largest economy as I speak.
We are a USD 4 trillion economy as I speak, and this is not my data. This is IMF data. India today is larger than Japan. It's only the United States, China, and Germany which are larger, and if we stick to, you know, what is being planned, what is being thought through, it's a matter of another two to three years that we would become the third largest economy," said BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog.
Continued on Page 15...
An Edmonton-area youth, linked to a violent online network that targets vulnerable children, has been arrested for a terrorism-related offence, RCMP said Thursday.
RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region's National Security Enforcement Team arrested the 15-year-old on May 12, police said in a news release. The youth is in custody and police have commenced proceedings "by way of a terrorism peace bond pursuant to section 810.011 of the Criminal Code – fear of terrorism offence."
A peace bond allows investigators to monitor people who appear likely to commit a crime when there's no evidence of an actual offence. Investigators believe the youth would commit terrorism offences related to the 764 online network. The 764 network targets vulnerable
children by prowling gaming sites like Minecraft and Roblox and then luring victims into private online chats on Discord and Telegram.
RCMP said the network is an "online ecosystem of violent online predators who routinely lure youth, particularly those in vulnerable sectors, and encourage them to commit sexual acts, self-harm, and the torture of animals."
Elements of the network "are known to have extreme ideological views and are victimizing children through desensitizing and radicalizing them to violence," the news release said.
The youth, who can not be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing at the Alberta Court of Justice in Edmonton on June 3.
Partial human remains have been found at a Hamilton landfill and police suspect they belong to missing Hamilton woman Shalini Singh.
Police are awaiting DNA confirmation, which can take weeks, they said Thursday morning at a news conference.
"The remains we have located are within the target zone for this investigation. So I am hopeful and optimistic that we will receive the DNA results that we are looking for," said Det.-Sgt. Daryl Reid.
The 40-year-old was last heard from on Dec. 4. The homicide unit took over the investigation early on and police began searching the landfill in February. Singh's parents Anita and Dalip Singh told CBC Hamilton police knocked on the door of their Burlington, Ont., home on May 21 to deliver the news they'd likely found some of her remains.
for Hamilton police. Now in its fifteenth week, the search will continue as they look for more remains and evidence, police said. Along with DNA testing, the remains are also being examined by the Office of the Coroner and forensic experts, said Reid.
"I'm so afraid to find out what happened to her," said Anita, through tears.
"But we have to know what happened to her. And I hope she didn't suffer too much. She didn't deserve this. She deserved the best of everything. Not this." One of the last times anyone heard from Singh was when she called Anita on Dec. 4. "She just kept saying, 'I love you, mom, I love you mom, I love you, mom.' And I said, 'What's the matter with you, Shalini? Are you all right?'" Anita told CBC Hamilton in February. "And she hung up all of a sudden."
"We wanted to hear that she's safe and she's going to be back home," Dalip said. "But we got the worst news we could've had."
"They didn't tell us exactly what they found," Anita said. "They said it's better if we don't know."
A landfill search of this scale has been a first
Police say a four-year-old boy is dead and his mother is in critical condition after they were pinned under a bus in West Vancouver, B.C.
West Vancouver Police say a second woman, believed to be a family friend, is in a stable condition after the Wednesday afternoon tragedy at the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal.
Police say the boy was pronounced dead at the scene and his mother and her friend were transported to Lions Gate Hospital.
TransLink confirms one of its buses and a driver were involved in the incident and says it's supporting the West Vancouver Police Department, which is leading the investigation.
Police say the driver is co-operating fully with investigators and is being interviewed by police.
They say the bus has been seized for mechanical inspection.
"While the investigation is still in its early stages, preliminary findings suggest that speed was not a contributing factor," police said in a statement.
"The West Vancouver Police Department is working in collaboration with the Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service and the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement
A new law passed on Tuesday bans B.C. MLAs from concurrently holding office in local governments, such as serving on a council, a school or park board or as a mayor.
The Eligibility to Hold Public Office Act is expected to receive royal assent and become law on Thursday.
Any MLAs will be removed from their local elected office as of that day.
Misty Van Popta serves as both the Conservative MLA for Langley-Walnut Grove and a councillor for the Township of Langley.
"The fact that this bill is effective immediately means that it's a targeted attack, and it's disappointing," said Van Popta on Wednesday.
"As an MLA, I have been here the 14 hours a day just like everyone else. I'm clearly doing this job 100 per cent." Van Popta said in her municipality, being a councillor is a part-time position, and many of her co-councillors have separate full-time jobs.
In the days following, Anita and Dalip said they frantically tried to get in touch with her — calling her and her boyfriend's phones and going to their apartment in downtown Hamilton. On Dec. 10, they went to the police station and reported her and her boyfriend missing.
branch to determine the full circumstances surrounding this tragic event."
Police say a criminal offence has not been ruled out. The public is being asked to avoid the area.
RCMP Cpl. Dave Noon said a nearby intersection would remain closed for several hours as police investigate.
Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam or other video footage from Keith Road and Bay Street around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday to come forward.
They said investigators would only release confirmed information "in a manner that respects the privacy and well-being of the victims and their families and preserves the integrity of the investigative process."
"This is a life-altering and heartbreaking incident that has profoundly impacted the victims, their families, witnesses, and the broader community as a whole," the police statement said.
"We encourage anyone who is struggling after witnessing this event to reach out."
TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn issued a statement, saying they are heartbroken by this tragic incident.
The bill was brought forward by EsquimaltColwood MLA Darlene Rotchford, supported by the NDP and Greens and opposed by the Conservatives.
"MLAs should be focused on their work in the legislature, not splitting their time and focus while collecting two taxpayer-funded salaries," said Rotchford in a Wednesday news release.
Rotchford says she resigned her seat on Esquimalt council when she became an MLA.
"I love the people in my community and ran for this full-time job to represent and support them." Denis Pilon, a politics professor at York University, said there is already a law in place to prevent politicians from holding federal and provincial seats, so it is logical that the law should also apply to municipal positions.
"You can't hold two positions at once and do justice to both. And you certainly can't do justice to the people who need the representation you're supposed to be providing," Pilon said.
Federal Liberals allowing 1 million foreign students is costing Canadians their jobs and homes
Bank of Canada research shows that the federal Liberals’ decision to allow one million foreign students into the country had a “significant” impact in some employment sectors and cost Canadians job and wages.
The latest study confirmed a 2022 employment department report that foreign labour led to Canadian workers being replaced, per Blacklock’s Reporter.
“They accounted for a larger share of workers in low-skilled occupations, replacing Canadian-born workers who moved out of these jobs,” said the Bank report ‘The Shift In Canadian Immigration Composition and its Effects On Wages.’
Many were foreign students typically from India, the report said.
“Since 2015, non-permanent residents have become a primary driver of Canadian immigration inflows, reversing previous trends where this group was small and permanent residents played a predominant role,” the report added. “Public data suggest this surge in temporary immigration mostly reflects a sharp rise in the international mobility program work permits which are generally granted without any requirement for labour market impact assessments and a pick-up in international study
permits.” There were 2.3 million foreigners in Canada in 2023, according to the Department of Immigration. Figures included 1,040,985 foreign students, 766,250 migrant workers and 471,550 landed immigrants.
“Between 2015 and 2024, temporary foreign workers have become younger, less experienced and more likely to migrate from lower-income countries,” the report said. “As well, shares of temporary workers in skilled occupations have declined moderately.”
“The number of new immigrants to Canada increased substantially over 2023 and 2024,” it added. “The composition of newcomers has changed such that non-permanent residents have replaced permanent residents as the main contributor to population growth.”
“In 2024, the share of non-permanent resident workers studying either part time or full time reached 16.4%, an increase of 6.6 percentage points from 2014,” researchers wrote. Their wages were typically 22.6% lower than Canadian-born workers.
The report said that the impact was notable in certain workplaces.
“Reliance on temporary workers has increased across all sectors in line with the larger share of nonpermanent residents in aggregate employment,” it said. “However, this gain has been particularly acute for certain industries such as accommodation and food services, business, building and other support services and retail trade.”
The Bank of Canada report followed Department of Employment research three years ago that determined the impact of foreign labour “may be significant” in some sectors.
“Wage suppression might be occurring in specific sectors and situations,” said the Evaluation Of The Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Shame over Indian woman eating with bare hands
A video circulating on social media has Indians talking due to its subject. Shared by a British national, the footage features a woman eating a meal with her bare hands in London metro. While many Indians reacted strongly against the act, the westerners were grossed out and brought in the issue of immigration.
Posted by Radio Genoa on X, the video was titled "RIP London" as a show of opposition by the west to the influx of foreign nationals "taking over their country." Reacting to the footage, social media users who assumed she was Indian slammed the woman for eating on public transport and not adapting to the local culture. "Why people need to eat on public transportation? Ew," one viewer commented.
"When you immigrate, you leave your culture behind and embrace the culture of the country you are moving to. There is always the option to
go back home if you do not like the culture of the country that is hosting you," wrote another. "If you're a guest in someone's country. Be grateful and adapt," another commented. "London has completely changed after 2014-15. Who eats like this on a train?" a third user questioned. Others expressed concerns over the lack of hygiene in trains saying, "It's sort of like eating while sitting on the toilet."
Even Indians joined the foreigners in criticising the woman for her behaviour. "All metros in India have clear instruction of not eating. I enjoy eating with my hands, but I need to respect the place where I am eating," a user commented. "As an Indian I am ashamed. Eating with hands is not problem but eating without washing your hands after touching many things on train," wrote another."
Throne Speech from King Charles becomes a rallying cry for Carney’s Liberals
The King was clearly invited as a statement that Canada is not the U.S., a message both for Donald Trump and Canadians.
If you thought the moment of crisis had subsided, the King was here to tell you it is still on.
The Carney government’s Speech from the Throne wasn’t mainly about outlining a governing agenda. It was about pointing to a moment of danger and transformation.
It wasn’t just a bunch of symbols to tell Donald Trump that Canada is taken. The King read a speech about the dangerous moment Canada faces in the world and how it now will undergo its greatest economic transformation since the Second World War. Opinion polls suggest the feeling of crisis that propelled Mark Carney to election victory a month ago is already subsiding. Perhaps U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of trade war, and his desire to make Canada the 51st state, are now seen as less of an immediate danger.
But the Prime Minister needs to muster a sense of national purpose to do all the big things he says he plans to do.
All of the imagery of the Throne Speech, starting with King Charles III reading it, was mustered to underline the moment. The King was clearly invited as a statement that Canada is not the U.S., a message both for Mr. Trump and Canadians –evoking images of wartime sacrifice at Juno Beach and Vimy Ridge, and Canada’s British, French and Indigenous roots. And repeatedly asserting Canada’s sovereignty.
The fact the King was in Canada to do that was a sign of unusual times. Much of the speech was about Canada facing a watershed moment.
He remarked that when his mother, Queen Elizabeth, first opened a session of Canada’s Parliament in 1957, “the Second World War remained a fresh, painful memory” and “the Cold War was intensifying.”
And “today, Canada faces another critical moment.”
There were passages about the worries many Canadians feel about the “drastically changing world around them” and an assertion that the times also provide “an opportunity for Canada to embark on the largest transformation of its economy since the Second World War.”
Wow. If change is unsettling – as His Majesty told us – then the parts of the speech that Mr. Carney’s government drafted told us that we should prepare for the country to be unsettled
But that potential disruption has been the basis for Mr. Carney’s election and his tenure so far. And his whole agenda. The speech promised to break down internal trade barriers to create one Canadian economy, which requires co-operation from provincial governments that might suffer their own political consequences.
It promoted the need to build “projects of national significance,” to approve them quickly, to
strip out layers of federal and provincial reviews –something that would require a level of sustained practical federal-provincial co-operation this country has rarely seen.
Perhaps it should be no surprise that the most pointed opposition objection to the speech came from Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet. He said it represented a massive centralizing agenda, with Mr. Carney acting as the country’s chief executive and expecting everyone else to implement his decisions. The Bloc had no interest in a call to unite behind a national purpose. Whether Mr. Carney can get others to respond remains an open question. The hair-onfire terror about Mr. Trump’s trade war appears to be subsiding in Canada.
A Nanos Research poll released this week found just 16 per cent rated Mr. Trump and U.S. relations as the top issue of concern – roughly half as many as a month ago. (The poll surveyed 1,088 Canadians in weekly tracking ending May 23.)
That’s not the same galvanizing force behind Mr. Carney’s agenda. And in truth, he has barely set the outlines for that agenda. Tuesday’s Throne Speech provided almost no new elements. It’s often the details that raise resistance.
Mr. Carney has now spent five months trying to build up demand for his agenda. Fulfilling the demand will be harder.
Carney welcomes U.S. court decision striking down parts of Trump's tariffs agenda
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday he welcomed a U.S. court decision that struck down parts of Donald Trump's tariffs regime, with judges saying the president overstepped his constitutional authority by imposing sweeping levies on global goods.
That decision was later "stayed" — or paused — by an appellate court "until further notice" while it considers other legal arguments from the Trump administration, keeping the tariffs in effect for now.
Before that decision, Carney said the lower court's findings were "consistent with Canada's long-standing position" that Trump's tariffs are "unlawful as well as unjustified."
But Carney warned that the court decision nullifies only some of Trump's Canadian-focused tariffs — the border security ones imposed to apparently spur a crackdown on drugs and migrants are now in jeopardy — but other U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum and autos are unaffected by this particular judgment.
there's a risk Trump could use that section to target other "strategic sectors" in the Canada, including lumber, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.
"We recognize that our trading relationship with the U.S. is still profoundly and adversely affected," he said.
Carney said it remains a top priority for his government to "establish a new economic and security relationship" with the U.S. even after judges handed Trump a loss. The United States Court of International Trade dealt a possibly fatal blow to big chunks of Trump's trade agenda Wednesday by ruling he didn't have the authority to do what he's done with so-called "reciprocal" tariffs on imports from virtually every country because imposing tariffs should generally be the responsibility of lawmakers in Congress.
Importantly, the court's decision also voids the border-related tariffs that were slapped on Canadian goods to supposedly rein in fentanyl exports and migrants, with the court ruling imposing tariffs using emergency powers for this reason was inappropriate because there's no straight line between trade action and the problem Trump is trying to solve. Monday-Friday - 12:00pm - 9:30pm & Saturday-Sunday - 12:00pm - 10:00pm
Carney said those remaining levies — called "Section 232" tariffs because of the section of the trade law used to impose them on "national security" grounds — are also "unjustified," and
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OPINION
Thanks to Jagmeet Singh, NDP’s collapse rightly cost them official party status
Michael Taube: Rules are rules. That, in a nutshell, is why the NDP wasn’t granted official party status in the House of Commons on Monday. Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Liberals, to their credit, made the right decision.
Let’s examine why.
The 1963 Senate and House of Commons Act passed an amendment that gave an annual allowance to party leaders other than the prime minister and leader of the Opposition. In doing so, the Canadian government had to establish what constitutes a “political party.” The definition they came up with was a sensible one: it had to have a “recognized membership of 12 or more persons in the House of Commons."
The NDP fell from 24 to a paltry seven seats in last month’s federal election. (There are a total of 343 seats in the House of Commons.) They finished with 1,234,673 votes, or 6.29 per cent, which was behind the Liberals, Conservatives and Bloc Québécois. Party leader Jagmeet Singh, who had represented the former Burnaby South riding since 2019, finished a distant third in the newly created Burnaby Central riding and resigned.
The NDP’s seven seats is well below the 12-seat requirement needed for official party status. This means Canada’s socialist alternative won’t be able to ask questions in the House of Commons and will lose out on money for research purposes.
Or, to put it another way, they’re plumb out of luck.
Hold on, some people said. They pointed out that the NDP’s seat count and popular vote only plummeted because many progressive voters backed Carney and the Liberals as the best option to counter U.S. President Donald Trump and his tariffs. They felt that the NDP’s long history as a champion for unions and the working class should count for something. They suggested there should be an exception to the rule.
Guess what? They’re wrong.
This is the worst election result in the party’s history. Even its predecessor, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), did marginally better in its first campaign. The CCF won seven out of 245 seats—and earned 410,125 votes, or 9.31 per cent—in the 1935 election. Party leader J.S. Woodsworth, who had represented the riding of Winnipeg North Centre as an Independent Labour MP since 1925, comfortably held his seat.
Meanwhile, this won’t be the first time they’ve ever lost official party status.
A Surrey widow says she has gone into financial distress following a tragic incident in Boston Bar and must sell her house because ICBC’s death benefits were so minimal.
On July 11, 2022, Kelly and Christine O’Reilly were enjoying a ride on their motorbike. Suddenly, a truck travelling in the opposite direction lost its load of bricks.
“The whole thing just collapsed almost on top of us,” she told Global News.
“I could feel my husband gearing down and trying to steer, and it was really bumpy … I guess I was going through the air, and then I hit the pavement and felt the air get knocked out of me.” Christine survived with several broken bones.
Her 63-year-old husband suffered catastrophic injuries and died at the scene.
Christine’s death benefit was minimal, as Kelly
was unemployed at the time of his death: about $69,000. “We have provided the family with coverage for funeral expenses, grief counselling and death benefits as well, since the passing of Mr. O’Reilly,” ICBC Spokesperson Greg Harper said.
“Ms. O’Reilly suffered some injuries in that crash, and we’ve been working with her on that to help her recover.”
Christine said she’s been left financially devastated.
“I’ve been living on a line of credit, and it just hit $90(000),” she said. “I have to sell my house, and I am going to downsize.”
The fatality did not fall within any of the exceptions under B.C.’s no-fault system. And since no criminal charges were laid, she’s unable to pursue legal action against the truck driver.
Political space should not be given to extremist elements: MEA on Khalistan issue in Canada
India has consistently conveyed security concerns to Canada regarding pro-Khalistan elements, urging them not to give any "political space to extremist elements advocating violence and secession," said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday.
Addressing weekly briefing, Jaiswal stated, "Our position has very been very consistent over several months and years now, we've told we've conveyed our security concerns to the Canadian side, and we have also urged them not to give any political space to extremist elements, those who advocate violence and those who talk about secession or talk about separatism."
"I hope that the Canadian side will take due note and will take new action against those who advocate anti-India," he added.
a discussion on the prospects for India-Canada ties going forward," he added.
On April 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Mark J. Carney on his election as the Prime Minister of Canada, extending warm wishes to the Liberal Party for their electoral victory.
Fax:
Further, the MEA highlighted the recent conversation between Jaishankar and his Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, marking the first call between the two foreign ministers since the new Canadian government took office.
Taking to social media platform X on May 26, the EAM stated, "Appreciate the telecon with FM Anita Anand of Canada. Discussed the prospects of India-Canada ties. Wished her a very successful tenure."
"Our external affairs minister had a telecon with the Canadian counterpart. It happened last week or this week. This was the first call between the two foreign ministers. Earlier, our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and our External Affairs Minister also congratulated their counterparts," Jaiswal stated.
"In its latest conversation, the External Affairs Minister greeted the Canadian Foreign Minister on her new responsibilities, and both leaders had
Posting on X, PM Modi wrote, "Congratulations Mark J Carney on your election as the Prime Minister of Canada and to the Liberal Party on their victory. India and Canada are bound by shared democratic values, a steadfast commitment to the rule of law, and vibrant people-to-people ties. I look forward to working with you to strengthen our partnership and unlock greater opportunities for our people." Carney had taken over the leadership from Justin Trudeau, who resigned towards the end of his term after losing the confidence of his party. Unlike his predecessor, Trudeau, whose tenure saw strained relations with India following his allegations regarding the killing of NIAdesignated terrorist Hardeep Nijjar, Carney has publicly advocated for improving ties with India. He notably extended condolences following the Pahalgam terror attack, signalling a commitment to strengthening India-Canada relations.
BC NDP takes fire from allies over contentious bills as legislature sitting ends
Can a government have a “great session” if its flagship legislation draws condemnation from a coalition of historical allies?
B.C. NDP house leader Mike Farnworth thinks so, celebrating the end of the legislature’s spring sitting that culminated Wednesday night with the passage of two controversial bills that fast-track infrastructure projects, thanks to rare tiebreaking votes from Speaker Raj Chouhan.
“Yeah, Bill 14 and Bill 15 were controversial,” Farnworth said Thursday after the final question period of the session.
“There were a lot of people opposed and a lot of people in favour, but we made it clear that we want to get things done in this province. The public expects us to be doing that.” The bills had become a flashpoint for the government, attracting criticism from the First Nations Leadership Council, environmentalists and some business groups.
They said the fast-track bills undermined environmental standards and constitutional obligations to consult First Nations.
Farnworth said the federal government and other provinces have been grappling with the same issues of how to expedite big projects amid a trade war with the United States.
“At the end of the day, we made it clear that these bills were going to get through, our agenda was going to get through this session and that is what happened.”
To the very end, the bills came under fire. As legislators were sitting down to vote on Wednesday night, Farnworth’s former cabinet colleague Melanie Mark added her voice to the chorus.
Mark, the first First Nations woman elected to B.C.’s legislature, called the government’s behaviour “astounding and disheartening” as she accused Eby and his cabinet of “turning their backs” on First Nations, local governments and environmentalists. Bill 14 speeds up renewable energy projects and transmission lines, while Bill 15 speeds up public and private infrastructure projects like hospitals, schools and mines.
5 men linked to Wolfpack gang handed multi-year sentences for Vancouver drug dealing
Police say five men linked to the Wolfpack gang have been handed multi-year sentences after pleading guilty to trafficking drugs in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC), B.C.’s provincial gang unit, began investigating in July 2020. Police searched several properties over the following year, leading to charges against five suspects.
Vinod Kanna Aruldevarajan, 28, has been sentenced to 4.5 years and Roger Bardales Medina, 32, was sentenced to five years, both after pleading guilty to trafficking a controlled substance.
Howjeen Saed, 29, was sentenced to 10 years, Hemen Hewa Saed, 32, was sentenced to nine years, and Diego Saed, 26, was sentenced to 6.5 years, after each of them pleaded guilty to both trafficking a controlled substance and conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance.
$10,000 reward offered for information in 2019 slaying of Richmond notary
Police and colleagues of a murdered Richmond notary are hoping a $10,000 reward will spur someone to come forward with information that can help solve the case.
Stephen Chong was found dead in his secondfloor office at a strip mall in the 8200 block of Granville Avenue on the evening of Oct. 18, 2019.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) says Chong had no record of criminal activity, and despite years of investigation and following up on tips, his case remains open. “Mr. Chong went to work like any other day, and he never returned home to his family. This case remains unsolved and ongoing, and we need people’s help to come forward with information,” said IHIT Sgt. Freda Fong.
“He was found deceased inside his office, and the people who are
responsible or the person responsible would have known he was there at the time. So it is believed to be an isolated incident, and not random.”
Now the Society of Notaries Public of B.C. is going public with the reward, which it says it will pay out to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and charge of Chong’s killer or killers. “Stephen was only 58 and was looking forward to spending time with his wife and family members. His death had a tremendous impact to his family, friends, clients and all the other notaries in the province,” said Joan Letendre with the society.
“He was a well-respected legal professional known for his honesty, reliability and as a person of integrity to both his clients and fellow notaries. Stephen was a mentor and confidante to many in the legal community.”
Known sex offender re-arrested in Vancouver, accused of indecent act
Vancouver police have arrested a high-risk sex offender who has been the subject of multiple warnings after he was accused of masturbating in a lane and looking into houses on Wednesday.
Skylar Wayne Pelletier, 25, has been charged with committing an indecent act.
Police arrested him near Woodland Drive and East Broadway after a woman reported Pelletier’s alleged activities. Pelletier is a convicted sex offender currently serving a five-year long-term supervision order on convictions for sexual assault, assault and breaking and entering.
In 2019, a B.C. provincial court judge declined to declare Pelletier a dangerous offender, but
agreed to the supervision order, accepting testimony from a forensic psychologist that he was “treatable” but remained a risk. “If the accused does not receive close community supervision and treatment specific to his needs, there is a substantial risk that the accused will re-offend,” provincial court Judge Gregory Rideout ruled.
Pelletier was previously arrested in March 2024, just days after Vancouver police issued a warning that he would be living in the community.
At the time, police warned he posed “a risk of significant harm to women.”
He was also the subject of a similar warning in 2021.
A homeless encampment in Penticton has ignited a political dispute, with city and provincial officials trading blame over how to handle the growing crisis.
The site, located at Highway 97 and Fairview Road, is home to around 30 people and falls under the jurisdiction of the B.C. Ministry of Transportation.
BC Conservative MLA Amelia Boultbee, who represents Penticton–Summerland and is a former Penticton city councillor, has publicly criticized the City of Penticton for excluding her from discussions.
“My responsibility to taxpayers is much bigger than my reluctance to step on the mayor’s toes,” Boultbee said.
She claims a meeting was held this week to address the encampment, but no city councillors
were present. The meeting comes after a previous talks she was part of in January with city staff. Mayor Julius Bloomfield responded, saying the emergency meeting was called on short notice. “She subsequently called an emergency meeting with a couple hours’ notice,” he said. “I was at an anti-racism symposium at Okanagan College and was unavailable.”
Bloomfield added that city staff are navigating legal limits, since the encampment is not on municipal land. “Legally, it’s not in our jurisdiction. If we went in there and started moving people around or off-site, we would open the city to a lawsuit,” he said.
Boultbee, meanwhile, insists the responsibility lies with the province, but also questioned whether the city has clearly communicated its needs.
Williams Lake wants to enact state of emergency over public disorder
City council in Williams Lake, B.C., is looking to impose a state of local emergency over an increase in street disorder and violence — but the proposal has received pushback, and it's unclear if the B.C. government would fully support it.
Coun. Scott Nelson put forward a motion on Tuesday to ask staff for options regarding a state of local emergency in response to "increased threats to public safety" in the city of around 20,000 people located 324 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.
Nelson and the city's mayor, Surinderpal Rathor, say that there has been a sharp increase in public drug use, mental health challenges and fires in the city's downtown core, and the motion gives the city options to deal with it.
But civil libertarians and a local First Nation have expressed opposition to the motion, and the province has not said if it would support it. "If they are a person who the RCMP feels may need to go to the hospital because of mental illnesses,
they're going to go to the hospital and we're asking that they be looked at, put into involuntary treatment," said Nelson, describing his motion on CBC's Daybreak South.
The councillor says that multiple B.C. municipalities are struggling with crime and mental health issues, and the province hasn't stepped up to the plate. He's calling for a "clean sweep" of the city to deal with repeat offenders.
"The municipalities don't have the wraparound services, don't have the resources, and yet these people are laying fires to buildings," he said.
"These people are threatening their own lives.
"It's becoming chaotic, and the province has downloaded this. We need to upload this back into provincial hands so that the appropriate resources can be put in place to help people with mental health issues." Rathor supported the motion, and said he sympathized with people who needed help, but there was a need to protect the business community in the B.C. Interior city.
Vancouver SkyTrain stations reopen after body found next to tracks
A pair of Vancouver SkyTrain stations were closed for more than two hours Thursday as police investigated the discovery of a body “next to” the tracks. The Vancouver Police Department confirmed in an email to CTV News that the deceased person found at Commercial–Broadway Station was missing UBC student Matthew Hutchings. They said the 20-year-old’s death “does not appear to be the result of a crime.”
Metro Vancouver Transit Police confirmed that a person had been found deceased “next to the SkyTrain tracks” at Commercial–Broadway Thursday and referred further questions to the
In a statement, TransLink said the station’s Millennium Line platform had been closed, along with VCC–Clark Station.
Extra bus service was added at VCC–Clark, Commercial–Broadway and Renfrew stations, the transit provider said, adding that the Expo and Canada lines were unaffected. TransLink first posted about the incident on social media shortly before 11:30 a.m., initially describing it as a “medical emergency.”
Around 1:50 p.m., the transit agency confirmed the stations had reopened.
BC driver charged after homeless woman struck and seriously injured while sleeping
A B.C. driver has been arrested and charged after a homeless woman was struck while sleeping in a back alley in Campbell River, B.C., last November, police say.
Amberlee Joan Herman, 38, has been charged with:
• Two counts of impaired operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm.
• One count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
• One count of assault with a weapon.
• One count of uttering threats.
The incident happened at 12:30 a.m. on November 10, 2024, near Shopper's Row.
At the time, police said the driver had been
apprehended at the scene. The B.C. Prosecution Service says the charges were laid on April 10. Earlier this month, the prosecution service and Const. Maury Tyre with the Campbell River RCMP said there was a warrant out for Herman's arrest. The prosecution service says the warrant was executed on May 20, and Herman was released on an undertaking that same day. Herman's next court appearance is June 16, 2025, in Campbell River.
Smith's sister, Samantha Billy, said earlier this month that Smith was back living on the streets, following the incident. Billy previously told CBC News that Smith had faced a long, intense recovery after she was hit.
Slew of Canadians on Interpol's radar for murder, other crimes
Suspected Canadian fentanyl kingpin Cody Casey hit the end of the line in the desert kingdom of Oman.
The B.C. man had been on the list of this country’s most wanted fugitives, on the run since 2020 for 17 drug- and firearm-related charges, including producing fentanyl. Cops said the seized drugs allegedly tied Casey had a street value of about $5 million.
In October 2024, Casey was busted by Royal Omani Police and has since been extradited to Canada. Like a lot of other Canadians who flee to more hospitable environs after being accused of crimes, the suspected fentanyl pooh-bah had an Interpol red notice attached to
his name. Casey had no safe space on the planet. There are 49 Canadian men tagged with red notices for everything from terrorism to murder.
Another 14 non-citizens are wanted by law enforcement in this country.
These are a few of the most wanted by Interpol. 411: Hit-man Rabih Alkhalil, who busted out of a B.C. prison in July 2023, is wanted by the RCMP for murder, being unlawfully at large and conspiracy to commit murder. He is described as a “very dangerous criminal.”
If you know of the whereabouts of any of these suspects, contact your local police service, the RCMP, Interpol or Crime Stoppers.
Carney says Canada is looking to join major European military buildup by July 1
Prime Minister Mark Carney signalled he hopes Canada will be able to sign on to a major European defence rearmament plan by July 1, a step toward reducing the country’s dependency on the United States for weapons and munitions.
He made the remarks on CBC’s Power & Politics following the speech from the throne, which committed his government to joining ReArm Europe.
The speech did not set out a timeline, but Carney said he wants to move aggressively.
“Seventy-five cents of every dollar of capital spending for defence goes to the United States. That’s not smart,” Carney told host David Cochrane.
Canada has been engaged in talks with the European Union since Carney took office — before the spring federal election — about joining the plan which foresees the nations on the continent spending $1.25 trillion on defence over the next
five years. “We’re making great progress on that, and by Canada Day we’d like to see something concrete there,” Carney said.
Not long after the prime minister made the pitch for closer defence co-operation with Europe, U.S. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to say that his administration was negotiating with Canada about joining his “Golden Dome” missile defence system, which “will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State. They are considering the offer!”
Carney, in his own Oval Office meeting with Trump, has made it clear Canada was not interested in joining the U.S. “We are going to have to spend more, sooner,” the prime minister said.
“That’s one of the reasons why we will have a fall budget, not a budget tomorrow, because we’re part of deeper discussions on the defence side.”
2 face deportation after dragging BC man more than a kilometre under car
The family of the victim killed in a 2024 pedestrian collision say the two men charged in connection with his death treated him “like a piece of garbage, dumping him on the side of the road.”
Victim impact statements were read in court on Thursday, May 22 during a sentencing hearing for Gaganpreet Singh and Jagdeep Singh. The two pleaded guilty in Surrey provincial court on Jan. 6 and Feb. 7, respectively, to the dangerous operation of a conveyance, failing to stop after hitting a person, and interfering with a dead body.
The charges stem from a collision on Jan. 27, 2024, when Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a pedestrian hit in the 13400-block of 105 Avenue around 1:45 a.m. The pedestrian had been dragged under the car for 1.3 km.
accused men's lack of apology and remorse. They also spoke about the impact of not being able to view their loved one's body due to the severity of his injuries and about being “unable to follow the cultural and spiritual protocols that come with death in our culture, which include having an
The two accused were in Surrey Provincial Court Thursday (May 22) for a sentencing hearing before Judge Mark Jetté.
The Crown read two victim impact statements, one from the victim's wife and the other from his mother-in-law.
The family of the victim asked for privacy and that their family member not be named.
Both statements described the kind of man the victim was. He was a loving husband and father to his two children; a strong, caring, Cree man who taught his children about their Indigenous culture and heritage. He was an intergenerational residential school survivor.
His family said he also had a strong work ethic and was proud of the projects he had worked on.
“(The victim) was known and loved by many for his approachable nature, wit, and kind spirit,” his family said.
The victim impact statements noted the accused prolonged the harm to the family by continuing to drag the victim for 1.3 km after the collision. The family noted the worst part was the
open casket.”
The family asked the court not to just see the death of the victim but also the impact it has had on his family, community and culture.
“I ask that the justice system acknowledge the full weight of this harm and the magnitude of loss, and the urgent need for accountability and healing be reflected," a statement read. Crown prosecutor Adam Janun noted several mitigating factors in this case, including that the two accused pleaded guilty, were young – both being 22 years old – and had no previous criminal record in Canada or in their home country of India.
What made this such a serious offence was not the initial collision, the Crown said, “although tragic" – it was how the accused responded after hitting the victim.
The Crown and defence counsel for Gaganpreet Singh presented a joint submission recommending he be sentenced to three years jail, a three-year driving prohibition, and a DNA order.
“The sentence breakdown is one year jail, consecutive on each count,” the Crown said.
2 sentenced in America for Indian family’s death at US-Canada border
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The District of Minnesota sentenced them after they were convicted at a jury trial for their roles in an international human trafficking conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of four Indian nationals.
Despite repeated warnings about the approaching blizzard, Patel and Shand organised the smuggling of 11 people from Canada into the US on foot on January 18 and 19, 2022.
US Border Patrol agents found Shand’s van stuck in the snow and arrested Shand, along with two illegal immigrants. Later that day, the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) found the bodies of the family in an isolated area on the Canadian side of the International Border.
The boy was wrapped in a blanket with his father’s frozen glove covering his face. It was proven at the trial that Patel and Shand had been paid to smuggle the family into the United States.
Patel organized the logistics from Manitoba, Canada, into the United States, while other coconspirators and Shand picked up the people just south of the Canadian border in the US and drove them to Chicago.
Life in jail for Nadi man who killed his wife and buried her body in a dry water well
A Nadi man who killed his wife, dumped ger body in a well and hired an excavator and covered the well with soil has been jailed for life.
The murder took place on September 11, 2018, in Malamala, Nadi.
Moneel Narayan was married to the deceased, Sonika Singh and both had two children.
The deceased was living separately at the time of the offence after a family dispute which ended up in court.
The deceased had obtained a DVRO against Moneel and a custody matter was pending in the Family Court. “This murder was clearly intentional, motivational and premeditated; it involved violence and affected the deceased’s young children,” said Justice Aruna Aluthge in his May 16 rulimg.
Barbara Malimali has been suspended with immediate effect as Commissioner of FICAC pending investigation by the Fiji Police Force of allegations against her raised in the Commission of Inquiry report.
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka confirms that President, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has decided this after advice from the Prime Minister and Minister responsible for the Commission of Inquiries Act. Rabuka says Lavi Rokoika has been appointed with immediate effect as Acting Commissioner of FICAC.
Lisiate Fotofili’s appointment as Deputy Commission of FICAC has been rescinded with immediate effect and he returns to his substantive position in the Judiciary. Rokoika has assumed
“However, in terms of community protection, an early release during the offenders’ lifetime will have comparatively less concern for society given the isolated matrimonial dispute that had led to the offending and lack of evidence of previous violent behaviour on the part of the offender.”
The judge set a non-parole period of 18 years.
office as Acting Commissioner of FICAC and met with Malimali, Fotofili and FICAC Managers at the FICAC Headquarters in Suva this afternoon.
Rabuka asks the people of Fiji to remain patient as they carefully map the implementation of the COI Report.
He stresses he is committed to release of the report which is funded by the people of Fiji however this will be done in a manner to ensure that investigations are not prejudiced, civil rights of accused persons are respected and the rule of law maintained. The final report of the COI was transmitted on 14th May 2025 with eight chapters and ten annexures with a total of 648 pages including the ten annexures. Malimali is yet to reveal what she will do.
Beware of new scammers talking about Bitcoin ATMs
Beware of scammers as a new text message is being circulated to many people regarding a HR Manager from Seek talking about installing Bitcoin ATMs in Suva and Lautoka and the hiring of remote assistants.
Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor, Ariff Ali
confirms RBF has not approved the purchase or use of Bitcoins. Acting Commissioner of Police, Livai Driu says if it is too good to be true, do not fall into it. Driu says seek advice and opinions from relevant authorities before making any decisions.
Fuel and gas prices to drop in Fiji from tomorrow
Good news as people will be able to save a little more money as fuel and gas prices will drop from tomorrow.
The price of motor spirit will drop by 10 cents to $2.58 per litre, premix falls to $2.41 while diesel decreases by 12 cents to $2.19.
The price of kerosene goes down to $1.66 per litre.
The price of a 12kg gas cylinder drops by 46 cents to $40.38, the 4.5kg cylinder decreases to $15.14, bulk gas is down to $3.12 per kg, and the price of autogas will now be $2.19 per litre.
Ratu Sukuna’s vision for unity, fairness and progress remains relevant today - Chaudhry
The Fiji Labour Party says Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna’s unwavering commitment to fairness, progress, and the welfare of all Fijians resonates deeply with the core tenets of the party.
While honouring the extraordinary legacy of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna – chief, soldier and statesman, FLP Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says it is a day when we reflect on the values and principles that guided Ratu Sukuna’s leadership. He says Ratu Sukuna’s belief in the 3-legged stool stands as relevant today as it did 80 odd years ago when Fiji was still a fledgling colonial state.
Chaudhry says Ratu Sukuna championed a Fiji where indigenous rights were protected, education was prioritized, and opportunities were accessible - the very ideals they continue to fight for today. He says although he strongly advocated preserving the identity of the indigenous people, he also came to realise that Fiji was a multi-racial community where
each component needed to be treated equally for its advancement and progress – hence the concept of the 3-legged stool.
The former Prime Minister says this found realisation in his land policy in the early 1940s.
Chaudhry says Ratu Sukuna believed that land that was surplus to the needs of the indigenous community should be made available to the other races – to advance our economic interests.
He says his vision, foresight and leadership, laid crucial foundations for modern Fiji as his land policy eventually led to the growth of the sugar industry, contributing enormously to the economic development of independent Fiji. Chaudhry says today as we face so many uncertainties - torn by bad governance, divisive policies and suspicions – it is timely to reflect on the values and legacy of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna and his commitment to the principles of nation building.
"Pakistan has been behaving and acting like a rogue state": Manish Tewari in South Africa
Congress leader Manish Tewari, who is part of the all-party delegation visiting key capitals including South Africa as part of Modi government's big diplomatic outreach said on Thursday that Pakistan has been behaving and acting like a "rogue state".
He also stated that the delegation during their visit to South Africa conveyed the need to isolate states using terorrism as an instrument of state policy, in an apprent reference to Pakistan.
"African National Congress and India have a long-standing relationship which is underpinned by the mutual respect for Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. The Indian delegation very clearly conveyed it to the African National Congress, our interlocutors, that there is a need to isolate those states which use terrorism as an instrument of state policy...," he told ANI
it is important for democracies to stand together, united against terror.
"India bought a very important message to South Africa today. We condemn the use of terror anywhere in the world, and it is important for democracies to stand together, united against terror... Any measures to counter terrorism need to be welcomed. As democracies, we need to find ways to combat terror globally... India is a very important strategic partner for South Africa as both are members of the BRICS," John Steenhuisen told reporters.
Steenhuisen's comment came after a meeting with the NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule-led delegation in Cape Town.
He also said that Pakistan sponsored terorism has been creating "instability" in Aghanistan and Iran as well.
"We also sensitised them about the fact that it is not only India which has been hit for the past 4.5 decades by terrorism being sponsored from Pakistan. Pakistan has been creating instability in Afghanistan and Iran. Pakistan has been behaving and acting like a rogue state, now going back many decades... The African National Congress expressed its solidarity, saying that they will not be a party, and will not, in any manner, endorse a state which uses terror as an instrument of state policy...," Tewari added. Earlier today, John Steenhuisen, Federal Leader and Minister of Agriculture of South Africa extended support to India in its fight against terrorism and said that
Speaking to ANI after the meeting, Supriya Sule said, "We held detailed discussions. They promised to stand with India. The G-20 Summit is going to be held here. India has deep bilateral relations with South Africa." Sule-led delegation held talks with Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) of South Africa along with Members of the Parliament of South Africa and conveyed India's stance on combating terrorism.
In a post on X, India's High Commission in Pretoria stated, "Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Province (NCOP) of South Africa, P (Les) Govender, along with other Members of the Parliament of South Africa, met All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, MPs from India at the National Council of Provinces of South Africa. Delegation members explained the background of terrorist incidents in India, including the Pahalgam Attack, and conveyed India's united message of Zero tolerance for terrorism."
SOUTH ASIA
Free Baloch Movement marks Nuclear Test anniversary in London, demands removal of weapons from Balochistan
The Free Baloch Movement (FBM) commemorated the anniversary of Pakistan's nuclear tests conducted in 1998 in Balochistan by organising a protest and awareness campaign in London, advocating for international intervention against the ongoing militarisation and nuclear presence in the area. The gathering was led by FBM Vice President Shahzavar Baloch, who delivered an impassioned speech denouncing the Pakistani government's choice to use Balochistan as a site for nuclear weapon testing. The protest took place outside major international institutions to highlight the enduring suffering experienced by the Baloch people as a result of nuclear fallout.
Shahzavar Baloch characterised May 28 as a "terrible day" in the history of Baloch people, reflecting on how the Pakistani establishment, particularly its leadership from Punjab, exploited Balochistan for nuclear tests without seeking
consent from the local population. "From the very beginning, the Baloch opposed these nuclear bomb tests. It constitutes a violation of our homeland," he remarked, noting the region's increase in unexplained health issues, despite the absence of any independent investigation.
He emphasised that nuclear weapons were not meant for external defence, but rather as a method of internal oppression. "The Pakistani government utilised Balochistan for their military objectives, not to secure the nation, but to intimidate ethnic groups such as the Baloch and Pashtuns pursuing independence."
In his address to the international community, Shahzavar called upon global human rights organisations and anti-nuclear activists to urge Pakistan to permit an independent investigation into the health and environmental consequences of the tests.
Baloch community protests in Scotland, Finland; demand global accountability for Balochistan
The Free Baloch Movement (FBM) commemorated the anniversary of Pakistan's nuclear tests conducted in 1998 in Balochistan by organising a protest and awareness campaign in Germany, Scotland and Finland, advocating for international intervention against the ongoing militarisation and nuclear presence in the area.
The protest drew attention to what the organisers called "enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and extrajudicial killings" carried out by Pakistani security forces in Balochistan. Members of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) also participated in the protest to express their solidarity. The organisers called on the international community to pay attention
to the situation in Balochistan and to pressure the Pakistani government to halt what they referred to as "a campaign of political repression"
In Germany, the Baloch diaspora organised a similar demonstration, urging the international community to take action against Pakistan's human rights abuses in Balochistan. The protesters posed two critical questions to global institutions: "Where were you on 28th May 1998?" referring to Pakistan's nuclear tests in Balochistan, and "Where are you now?" as the Baloch continue to suffer from cancer and other diseases linked to radioactive contamination. They emphasised that Balochistan is experiencing a silent genocide under the occupation of Pakistan and Iran.
Punjab gives nod to try revenue officer in Rs 140-cr guava scam
The Punjab Government on Thursday granted sanction to prosecute a revenue officer in the Rs 140-crore Mohali guava orchard scam involving several senior bureaucrats and high-profile people.
Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner (Revenue) Anurag Verma ordered the prosecution of Naib Tehsildar Jaskaran Singh, paving the way for his trial in the court.
Jaskaran was allegedly instrumental in the disbursement of over Rs 123 crore compensation to 101 beneficiaries, including the wives of two senior IAS officers, for “guava orchards” on the land acquired for a new township close to the Chandigarh airport in Mohali in 2022.
Taking cognisance of complaints that no such guava orchards existed on the ground, the Vigilance Bureau had registered a case of corruption, cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy in May 2023.
Confirming the development, Verma told The Tribune that action was taken following the government’s “zero tolerance against corruption” policy.
This is the third prosecution sanction in the case in which seven government employees and 16 private persons have already been arrested even as investigation is underway. In January, sanction was granted to prosecute Horticulture Development Officers Jaspreet Singh Sidhu and Vaishali.
The four-page prosecution order said Jaskaran, as Naib Tehsildar in the office of the Land Acquisition Collector (LAC), Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), was responsible for conducting surveys, verifying land records, ensuring proper documentation and liaising with stakeholders during the acquisition proceedings.
“Before his joining, Rs 16.8 crore compensation for fruit-bearing trees was released to only right
123.36 crore were released to the remaining 101 beneficiaries during his stint without visiting and inspecting any site and vehemently ignoring the specific conditions imposed by the GMADA Chief Administrator on June 1, 2021,” the order stated.
The GMADA Chief Administrator had categorically instructed to check revenue records to ascertain the age and fruit-bearing capacity of the guava plants for which compensation was sought. Being a revenue officer, Jaskaran was the expert person to analyse the record in the LAC office.
Verma observed that Jaskaran was “well aware of the activities of the land mafia headed by main accused Bhupinder Singh in connivance with other co-accused officials to get compensation released in accordance with tailor-made assessment reports of the Horticulture Department and the conditions imposed by the GMADA CA before release of such payments”.
Even as GMADA had stopped all payments pertaining to compensation for fruit-bearing trees in July 2021, the LAC office initiated a noting in November 2021 seeking approval from the GMADA CA for release of such payments. Surprisingly, this note was not routed through the GMADA ACA and was directly dealt by the GMADA CA on the same day to accord his approval.
“Accused Jaskaran Singh, Land Acquisition Collector Jagdish Singh Johal and patwaris Surinderpal and Suinderpal were found to have deliberately ignored the instructions of the GMADA CA before verifying payment forms of 101 beneficiaries, resulting in release of over Rs 123 crore as compensation,” the order read.
Verma said undue haste was observed in the process for obtaining approval and release of the compensation amount, which was done on the
Uncertainty over Sikh jatha's visit to Pakistan
However, uncertainty prevails over the visit of the pilgrims to cross over to the neighboring country. The movement through the Attari-Wagah route has been restricted with very bleak chances for the situation to get normal in near future.
Nonetheless, sources said the SGPC was looking forward to sending its jatha.
For visa processing, request has been submitted for around 324 aspirants who were inclined to visit Pakistan, confirmed Palwinder Singh, SGPC’s pilgrimage department in charge.
“We have sent the list of aspirants for Pakistan visit on Maharaja's death anniversary to the Punjab Government, with a copy each to the Union Home Ministry and Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi for approval, but the response is awaited,” he said, saying it solely depended on the Union Government’s discretion to
grant permission. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Union government had imposed restrictions on travel to Pakistan through the AttariWagah border and suspended all types of visas, including those under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES). Just days ahead of the Pahalgam attack, 6,000 Indian pilgrims had returned from Pakistan after celebrating Baisakhi in April — the largest Sikh jatha to visit Pakistan since Partition, with nearly 7,000 visas being issued.
'Wedding bomb' murderer gets life sentence in India
A former college principal in the eastern Indian state of Odisha has been sentenced to life in prison for sending a parcel bomb that killed a newlywed man and his great aunt in 2018.
A court found Punjilal Meher, 56, guilty of murder, attempted murder, and use of explosives in what became known as the "wedding bomb" case that stunned India.
The bomb, disguised as a wedding gift, was delivered to the home of Soumya Sekhar Sahu, a 26-year-old software engineer, just days after his wedding.
When the couple opened the package, it exploded - killing Sahu and his great aunt, and leaving his wife, Reema, who opened the package, critically wounded. While acknowledging the prosecution's argument that it was a "heinous" crime, the court declined to classify it as a "rarest of the rare" case deserving the death penalty.
After a prolonged investigation, police arrested Meher, then 49, a teacher and former principal of a local college where Soumya's mother worked. Investigators had told me then that Meher harboured a grudge over professional rivalry and meticulously planned the attack. He used a false name and address to mail the bomb from Raipur, choosing a courier service without CCTV or parcel scanning.
The bomb travelled over 650km by bus, passing
The February 2018 explosion took place in Patnagarh, a quiet town in Odisha's Bolangir district.
The victims had been married just five days and were preparing lunch when a parcel arrived at their home. It was addressed to Soumya and appeared to be a wedding gift, allegedly sent from Raipur in Chattisgarh state, over 230km (142 miles) away.
As Soumya pulled a thread on the parcel to open it, a powerful blast tore through the kitchen, killing him and his 85-year-old great-aunt Jemamani Sahu. Reema, then 22, survived with serious burns, a punctured eardrum, and trauma.
through multiple hands before being delivered. Investigators said it was a crude but deadly device wrapped in jute thread, rigged to detonate on opening.
The parcel carrying the explosive bore a fake name - SK Sharma from Raipur. Weeks passed with no clear suspects. Investigators scoured thousands of phone records and interrogated over 100 people, including one man who had made a threatening call after Reema's engagement - but nothing stuck. Then, in April, an anonymous letter reached the local police chief.
While Pakistan promotes terrorism, India grows economically
The all-party parliamentary delegation, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, met with leaders of Indonesia's National Mandate Party and highlighted the Aprill 22 Pahalgam attack, where innocent people were killed based on their religion. Jha emphasised Pakistan's role in promoting terrorism, contrasting it with India's economic growth. The Indonesian leaders acknowledged the involvement of the Pakistan Army in supporting such activities. Sanjay Kumar Jha said, "We explained in detail the incident that occurred in Pahalgam, where innocent people were killed solely based on their religion,
in front of their families. We also highlighted how Pakistan is promoting terrorism, while India continues to grow economically.
"They acknowledged that the Pakistan Army supports such activities and assured us of their full support," he added. According to the Embassy of India Jakarta, the delegation also interacted with prominent think tanks and academia, Resident Ambassadors of friendly foreign missions in Indonesia, and the leaders of the National Mandate Party (PAN), a Modernist Muslim Party of Indonesia.
The math tutor and the missing $533 million
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I’d heard his wife and co-founder, Divya Gokulnath, described as a jet-setter who networked with Silicon Valley elites.
But beyond the Cadillac, Raveendran didn’t seem keen for me to get a glimpse of his wealth. He was facing accusations of defrauding U.S. lenders for hundreds of millions of dollars, while tens of thousands of his employees had been laid off. I’d hoped to be invited to his home — one source told me it was a mansion in a gated community of
Dubai. Instead, he showed up at my hotel on short notice to take me to a South Indian restaurant for a simple breakfast of idli, vada, and sambar — his staple meal during a modest upbringing in a village in Kerala. Raveendran wanted to show he hadn’t let success get to his head, and wouldn’t let his company’s staggering problems, either. He was defiant that his entrepreneurial journey wasn’t over yet. “Why I am confident of a comeback is that the most valuable thing I had is still with me,” he said, referring to himself.
New satellite images reveal greater damage to Pakistan airbase after India strike
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Its proximity to the institutions gives the airbase outsized importance in Pakistan's military ecosystem. The demolition of an entire operations center would suggest the strike had penetrated a critical node in Pakistan's defense infrastructure.
Symon posted the new satellite images on social media, showing that the 7,000-square-foot operations complex near the site of the May 10 strike has been dismantled. Earlier imagery showed damage to two specialized military trucks, but the full teardown of the facility points to deeper internal damage.
Symon told Hindustan Times that the decision to demolish the complex indicates restoration was "uneconomical or not viable," likely because
of extensive structural and systemic damage. Its proximity to the blast zone may have compromised essential components such as wiring, internal systems and the building's physical integrity. The strike on Nur Khan was part of India's broader retaliation under Operation Sindoor, launched after a deadly attack in the Kashmir town of Pahalgam on April 22. That attack, which India blamed on Pakistan-based militants, killed 26 civilians and was among the deadliest incidents in the region in recent years. In response, India launched strikes on eight Pakistani airbases using air-launched cruise missiles. A four-day military confrontation followed, involving drones, long-range artillery and missile systems, before both sides agreed to halt operations.
India goes on diplomatic offensive after Kashmir attack
India last week sent parliamentary delegations to 33 countries on a diplomatic mission to drum up support for countering Pakistan-based militant groups Delhi has said are behind recent cross-border attacks.
Tensions between India and Pakistan remain high following the killing of Hindu tourists in India-administered Kashmir on April 22. The attack resulted in the death of 26 people, causing outrage in India.
Indian officials have said the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Islamist militant group was behind the attack. On May 7, the military launched strikes, dubbed Operation Sindoor, targeting what New Delhi said was terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Pakistan responded with its own strikes, and four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes followed, until both sides agreed to a ceasefire on May 10.
The Indian delegations, which included several political parties, were equipped with countryspecific dossiers detailing Pakistan's alleged history of fostering terrorism, India's "zerotolerance" policy on terror and evidence linking the April attack to Pakistan-based groups.
"This is a political mission. We want to make a strong outreach to the world, to convey our resolve to fight terrorism," said Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of India's Ministry of External Affairs.
"We want to exhort the world to hold those responsible for cross-border terrorism accountable, those who have been practicing this for 40 years against India — that is Pakistan — their actions need to be called out," added Jaiswal. Pakistan's government has strongly denied providing support for militant groups and maintains it had nothing to do with the April attack.
Amitabh Bachchan reacts to India overtaking Japan, becoming World's fourth-largest economy: 'Incredible…'
Amitabh Bachchan voiced his pride in India’s recent economic milestone, as the nation ascends to the position of the world’s fourth-largest economy. On Monday morning, the actor took to social media to commend the Agniveers, India’s new-generation soldiers, in a heartfelt tribute.
On his official X handle (formerly Twitter), Amitabh shared a collage showcasing Agniveer troops and wrote, “Agniveer Zindabad. Bharat Mata Ki Jai!! Jai Hind.” In a separate post, he tweeted, “T 5390(ii) -Jai Hind! India 4th largest economy in the World .. USA, China, Germany, India ..and 2.5 – 3 yrs will become 3rd largest. United States: With a GDP of $30.51 trillion. China: With a GDP of $19.23 trillion. Germany: With a GDP of $4.74 trillion. India: approx $ 4 trillion.”
The legendary actor later expanded on his reflections in a blog post. Contemplating the nation’s progress since independence, he wrote, “.. and as I said on the X .. we become the 4th largest economy in the World, beating Japan .. (man dancing emoji).. and in another 2.5 to 3 yrs shall become the 3rd largest economy in the World !! What an incredible achievement for a country
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Ms Anand, whose parents hailed from India, said on X she looked forward to “strengthening Canada-India ties, deepening our economic cooperation, and advancing shared priorities”. Canada is home to the largest Sikh community outside of India and includes activists for “Khalistan”, a fringe separatist movement seeking an independent state for the religious minority carved out of Indian territory.
Ottawa previously accused India of orchestrating the 2023 killing in Vancouver of 45-year-old naturalised Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistan campaigner, and targeting other Sikh activists connected to the movement.
India has repeatedly dismissed the allegations, which sent diplomatic relations into free fall, with
that became Independent just 75 yrs + ago ..How many other nations that got Independent 75 yrs back, have attained this kind of achievement.”
In the same blog, he offered a moving tribute to the Agniveers, the young soldiers enlisted under the Indian government’s Agnipath scheme. Expressing his admiration for their courage and dedication, he wrote, “.. and what of the AgniVeers .. the young fighters that fought to protect us during this recent attack on our land ..The Agniveers are young, dynamic fighters serving under India’s Agnipath scheme. Trained with discipline and patriotism, they embody courage and commitment.”
both nations in 2024 expelling a string of top diplomats.
The Khalistan campaign dates back to India’s 1947 independence and has been blamed for the assassination of a prime minister and the bombing of a passenger jet.
It has been a bitter issue between India and several Western nations with large Sikh populations.
New Delhi demands stricter action against the Khalistan movement, which is banned in India, with key leaders accused of “terrorism”. Canada will host the Group of Seven summit in June.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to attend previous summits since 2019, when France invited him to Biarritz. There are no details as to whether Mr Modi has been invited to Canada.
India overtakes Japan to become 4th largest economy: NITI Aayog
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According to the IMF's April edition of the World Economic Outlook report, the nominal GDP for fiscal 2026 is expected to reach around USD 4,187.017 billion. This is marginally more than the likely GDP of Japan, which is estimated at USD 4,186.431 billion. India was the fifth largest economy in the world till 2024. The global
financial body projects that India will remain the fastest-growing major economy over the next two years.
India's economy is expected to grow by 6.2 per cent in 2025 and 6.3 per cent in 2026, maintaining a solid lead over global and regional peers, the April 2025 edition of the IMF's World Economic Outlook added.
